From Arcadia, California,
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the Carter report presents
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"The Living
Word" around the world.
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"Witch doctors,
Devil worshippers,
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God's amazing grace."
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We have with us
today from Australia,
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Pastor Wayne Boehm
and his beautiful family
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Carole and the two boys.
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And Pastor Boehm is the
president of the mission,
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the great mission
in the Solomon Island.
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You're going to be blessed.
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You're going to
be thrilled today.
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But right now let me
introduce to you a very special,
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beautiful lady who came
with us to the Solomon Islands.
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Would you please
welcome today, Sharon Verde?
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When the night is long
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When I yearn for
deep peace to come
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I strain to hear Your song
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But suddenly I
know I'm not alone
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For You settled over me
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Dispelling all my fears
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My Father
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I know You are here
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And may Yours be
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The only smile I need to see
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And may You be the healing
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Watching over me
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With Your arms around me
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And Your peace surrounds me
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And may it only be You
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I cling to
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I set out on this road
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So many voices call to my soul
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They try to fill my cup
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But I have found sweet Lord
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That You're my enough
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So Lord staying close to You
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You hold me to Your side
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My Father
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The joy of my life
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And may Yours be
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The only smile I need to see
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And may You be the healing
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Watching over me
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With Your arms around me
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And Your peace surrounds me
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And may it only be You
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I cling to
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Break any hold
this world has on me
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I'm letting go
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And I throw myself at Your feet
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There's just one thing
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One single thing I need
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It's to know the very One
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Who found me
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And may Yours be
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The only smiles I need to see
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And may You be the healing
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Watching over me
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With Your arms around me
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And Your peace surrounds me
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And may it only be You
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And may Yours be the only
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Smile I need to see
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And may You be the healing
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Always watching over me
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With Your arms around me
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And Your peace surrounds me
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And may it only be You
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And may it only be You
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I cling to
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The topic today
is "Witch doctors,
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Devil worshippers
and God's amazing grace."
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Our special guest
today is Pastor Wayne Boehm
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from the land down under.
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Before going to
the Solomon Islands,
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he and his beautiful family were
in the beautiful Apple Isle.
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That's Tasmania where he
was the president of the church.
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He is now the
president of the church
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out in the Solomon Islands
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and in charge of a
vast, vast work there.
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I want you folks
to take your Bibles
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and turn over
here to Isaiah 42:1-8.
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And you folks watching
at home, go get a Bible.
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Turn to the text with me.
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Jesus said, "It is written: 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
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but by every word that proceeds
out of the mouth of God."
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We take this
seriously in this church.
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You folks got the text,
Isaiah 42:1 and onwards.
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"Here is my
servant whom I uphold,
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my chosen one in whom I delight,
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I will put my Spirit on Him
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and he will bring
justice to the nations.
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He will not shout or cry out,
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or raise his
voice in the streets.
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A bruised reed
he will not break,
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and a smoldering wick
he will not snuff out.
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In faithfulness he
will bring forth justice,
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he will not
falter or be discouraged
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till he
establishes justice on earth.
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In his law the
islands will put their hope."
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And that includes the Solomon's.
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"This is what
God the Lord says--
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he who created the
heavens and stretched them out,
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who spread out the earth
and all that comes out of it...
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'I, the Lord, have
called you in righteousness,
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I will take hold of your hand.
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I will keep you and
make you to be a covenant
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for the people and a
light for the Gentiles,
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to open eyes that are blind,
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to free captives from prison
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and to release from the dungeon
those who sit in darkness.
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I am the Lord, that is my name!
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I will not give my
glory to another."'
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I want you to notice
verse 7 in particular.
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The Bible says, "To
open eyes that are blind,
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to free captives from prison
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and to release from the dungeon
those who sit in darkness."
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Now everybody knows that
this is a messianic prophecy
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that is fulfilled in
our Lord Jesus Christ.
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But it is also
fulfilled in His church,
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commissioned to
take to the world
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the blessed gospel
of God's amazing grace.
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Listen, carefully
the theme of scripture
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is that all men and women
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are members of
Adam's guilty sinful race.
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That means you, that mean me.
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We're all members
of Adam's guilty race.
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Without Christ we're blind,
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without Christ we're captives
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bound in the prison house
of sin, darkness and death.
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It is this belief in the
lostness of the human race.
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It is this
belief in the Redeemer,
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the Lord Jesus Christ,
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it is this great belief
that drove men and women
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to leave their
comfortable homes in Australia,
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in Tasmania, in
Marangar, in Los Angeles,
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in America around the
world, Christian countries.
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And take the gospel of
Christ to the dangerous islands
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of the South
Pacific and other places
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there was steeped in
the darkness of heathenism.
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It is my privilege
today to introduce to you
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my colleague from
the land of Australia.
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My friend and my
colleague Pastor Wayne Boehm,
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the president of the
Solomon Islands mission.
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Would you please
welcome him today?
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We Australians don't
do, we never do this.
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Can I give you a hug?
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It is a quick hug
you know, I'm sure is.
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We're glad to have you
with us today, God bless you.
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Thank you.
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Well, good morning every one.
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What a joy it is to be
here with you in Los Angeles.
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Even though I drive on the wrong
side of the road over here,
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on the wrong side of a
car, it's a delight to be here.
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And I haven't had
too many accidents
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since been here either.
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The boys remind
me if I'm verging
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on the other side
of the road, "dad."
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That's a real
delight to be here.
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Friends, over
the last few months
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you'd have heard so much
about the Solomon Islands.
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And it's
interesting as I talk to people
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about the Solomon Islands.
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After the politeness has
gone, they asked the question
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"Where is the Solomon Islands?"
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That's a good question,
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where about is
the Solomon Islands.
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We've got a map
for you this morning.
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If you go to the coast
of Australia of Brisbane,
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we get the
flight out of Australia
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and head sort of north
for about four hours by plane.
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You will arrive
at the delightful
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beautiful islands of Solomon's.
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You know what,
as the name suggest
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there's more than one island.
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And if I was to
asked you to guess
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this morning
here or you at home.
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How many islands does the
Solomon Islands consist of?
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Some of you might
say well, 3, 4, 5.
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The Solomon Islands consists
of just under 1,000 islands.
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And so as I say that
number you will understand
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why it's so important for us
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to establish a radio ministry
there in the Solomon Islands.
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Because it's difficult to
travel from island to island
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and cover all thousands islands
within a year or even two years.
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These islands are
separated by water, by reefs,
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they're scattered
around the Pacific.
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The Solomon Islands cover around
28,000 kilometers in area.
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Or in your language,
00:14:10.66\00:14:12.70
put my accede on for
this 11,000 square miles.
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Population of
around 556,000 people.
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And this is the
other interesting thing
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as we look at
the Solomon Islands,
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there are over 700 language
groups in the Solomon Islands
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and so again communication
00:14:32.16\00:14:35.40
in the islands is
somewhat difficult.
00:14:35.43\00:14:38.13
But before the
missionaries arrived,
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it was a very different place.
00:14:42.33\00:14:44.81
A place that was
full of heathenism,
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of cannibalism and cultural,
various cultural practices.
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The early
missionaries came in 1914.
00:14:53.42\00:14:56.39
Captain G.F.
Jones got on his boat
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and traveled from Australia,
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from Sydney to
the Solomon Islands.
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And early missionaries like
00:15:05.96\00:15:07.08
Pastor Norman Ferris
and Pastor J.D. Anderson,
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their families
went to the islands
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and they were dropped off
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in key locations
around the islands.
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As they landed
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in this particular
place of the Solomon Islands,
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there was no one
there to greet them.
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They were dropped off in
key locations with some timbers,
00:15:22.87\00:15:26.87
with some tin for the roof,
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with some fly screens
to keep the mosquitoes out,
00:15:28.70\00:15:31.91
with a Bible in hand
and said this is home.
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And these
faithful men and women,
00:15:36.18\00:15:38.74
these faithful boys and
girls that went with him,
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moms and dads to the islands,
endured incredible hardships
00:15:41.25\00:15:45.96
because they were not always
welcome in particular locations.
00:15:45.99\00:15:50.41
And they endured hardships
for the sake of the gospel.
00:15:50.44\00:15:56.82
Now living outside of
our culture in Australia,
00:15:56.85\00:16:01.98
we're learning so much.
00:16:02.01\00:16:04.15
We're incredibly
blessed to be working
00:16:04.18\00:16:07.28
in the place like
the Solomon Islands.
00:16:07.31\00:16:09.48
To learn of their
rich cultural practices.
00:16:09.51\00:16:13.12
To gain new perspectives
and new insights into life,
00:16:13.15\00:16:17.99
into scripture and this morning
00:16:18.02\00:16:20.28
I want to share
with you two things
00:16:20.31\00:16:24.01
that we've learned this year.
00:16:24.04\00:16:27.57
Two things that have
made a difference in our life,
00:16:27.60\00:16:30.69
two things that have
really being drummed home to us
00:16:30.72\00:16:37.17
with the work that
we're doing in there.
00:16:37.20\00:16:39.67
Now lesson number one.
00:16:39.70\00:16:41.85
The Great Controversy
is not just a theory.
00:16:41.88\00:16:47.44
You turn in your Bibles with me.
00:16:47.47\00:16:49.10
The Book of Revelation,
00:16:49.13\00:16:53.79
we got a picture here
of where it all began.
00:16:53.82\00:17:00.77
Passage that is
well known to each of us.
00:17:00.80\00:17:04.25
Revelation 12:7.
00:17:04.28\00:17:10.01
Reading from the New
International Version
00:17:13.01\00:17:14.47
this morning.
00:17:14.50\00:17:15.65
It says "And there
was war in heaven."
00:17:15.68\00:17:18.02
In the short few words,
00:17:18.05\00:17:20.55
scripture sets the
scene of where it began.
00:17:20.58\00:17:24.27
And there was war in heaven.
00:17:24.30\00:17:26.56
Before war began in this world,
00:17:26.59\00:17:28.81
before World War I and II,
00:17:28.84\00:17:30.85
before the Vietnam
War, before the war in Iraq,
00:17:30.88\00:17:35.20
war had broken out in heaven.
00:17:35.23\00:17:39.79
Before war had
broken in our homes,
00:17:39.82\00:17:43.10
in our communities,
in our neighborhood,
00:17:43.13\00:17:46.70
war had broken out in heaven.
00:17:46.73\00:17:51.31
And Bible goes on to say,
00:17:51.34\00:17:52.68
"Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon,
00:17:52.71\00:17:55.51
and the dragon and
his angels fought back.
00:17:55.54\00:17:58.46
But he was not strong enough,
00:17:58.49\00:18:00.23
and they lost
their place in heaven.
00:18:00.26\00:18:04.11
The great dragon was
hurled down of the earth,
00:18:04.14\00:18:06.28
that ancient serpent
called the devil, or Satan,
00:18:06.31\00:18:09.18
who leads the
whole world astray.
00:18:09.21\00:18:11.39
He was hurled to the
earth, and his angels with him."
00:18:11.42\00:18:14.35
Verse 10, "Then I heard a
loud voice in heaven saying,
00:18:14.38\00:18:19.02
'Now have come the
salvation and the power
00:18:19.05\00:18:21.61
and the kingdom of our God,
00:18:21.64\00:18:23.45
and the authority of his Christ.
00:18:23.48\00:18:26.12
For the accuser of our brothers,
00:18:26.15\00:18:27.36
who accuses them
before God day and night,
00:18:27.39\00:18:29.92
has been hurled down."'
00:18:29.95\00:18:32.94
But we have hope.
00:18:32.97\00:18:35.03
John has given us a
glimpse to give us hope,
00:18:35.06\00:18:38.53
to give us courage
as we face this battle.
00:18:38.56\00:18:41.19
Verse 11 "They overcame
him by the blood of the Lamb
00:18:41.22\00:18:45.60
and by the word
of their testimony,
00:18:45.63\00:18:48.05
they did not love their lives
so much as to shrink from death.
00:18:48.08\00:18:52.41
Therefore, rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them.
00:18:52.44\00:18:56.35
But woe to the
earth and the sea,
00:18:56.38\00:18:58.90
because the devil
has gone down to you!
00:18:58.93\00:19:01.41
He is filled with fury, because
he knows his time is short.''
00:19:01.44\00:19:08.93
As I read that passage,
00:19:08.96\00:19:11.64
how many times have we
gone over that as individuals
00:19:11.67\00:19:14.58
or as a church and read that
passage together...in our study.
00:19:14.61\00:19:20.63
And we have a
clear understanding
00:19:20.66\00:19:22.15
that war did breakout in heaven.
00:19:22.18\00:19:23.81
We have a clear
understanding that heaven
00:19:23.84\00:19:27.41
that Satan came from
heaven to earth...to do battle.
00:19:27.44\00:19:34.35
To battle for men, for
women, for boys and girls.
00:19:34.38\00:19:38.44
Yet how often does
that sink to our hearts.
00:19:41.56\00:19:45.25
From a head
knowledge to heart experience
00:19:45.28\00:19:47.68
that the battle that you and I
00:19:47.71\00:19:49.14
are engaged in is a
true and real battle.
00:19:49.17\00:19:54.04
Not just a theory
but real and true.
00:19:54.07\00:19:59.09
The Book of
Ephesians again gives us
00:19:59.12\00:20:03.54
a glimpse into this battle.
00:20:03.57\00:20:07.96
And Paul in taking to
the church at Ephesus--
00:20:07.99\00:20:13.69
Ephesians 6,
00:20:13.72\00:20:17.21
we have this
admonition given to us--
00:20:17.24\00:20:20.33
given to them at the time
of writing Ephesians 6:10.
00:20:20.36\00:20:27.07
Paul and his
pastoral writer says
00:20:27.10\00:20:32.25
"Finally, be strong in the
Lord and in his mighty power.
00:20:32.28\00:20:36.42
Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand
00:20:36.45\00:20:39.41
against the devil's schemes."
00:20:39.44\00:20:42.60
See Paul knew too that
this wasn't just a theory.
00:20:42.63\00:20:45.73
This was something
that he would face daily.
00:20:45.76\00:20:47.53
This was something
00:20:47.56\00:20:48.59
that the church
members were facing daily.
00:20:48.62\00:20:52.51
It's Great Controversy.
00:20:52.54\00:20:53.76
Verse 12, "For our struggle
is not against flesh and blood,
00:20:53.79\00:20:58.69
but against the rulers,
against the authorities,
00:20:58.72\00:21:01.42
against the
powers of this dark world
00:21:01.45\00:21:03.57
and against the spiritual
forces of the heavenly realms.
00:21:03.60\00:21:08.12
Therefore, he says, put
on the full armor of God,
00:21:08.15\00:21:13.78
so that when the
day of evil comes,
00:21:13.81\00:21:16.60
you may be able to
stand your ground."
00:21:16.63\00:21:20.14
Paul knew the Great Controversy
was just not a theory.
00:21:20.17\00:21:24.42
It was something
that he would battle
00:21:24.45\00:21:26.15
and experience day
after day after day.
00:21:26.18\00:21:29.36
It was an experience
that the church at the Ephesus
00:21:29.39\00:21:31.34
would battle day
after day after day.
00:21:31.37\00:21:35.78
That's the battle
that you and I face,
00:21:35.81\00:21:37.85
day after day after day.
00:21:37.88\00:21:43.59
I want to take you this morning
to the Island of Malaita.
00:21:43.62\00:21:49.45
Now the Island of Malaita--
00:21:49.48\00:21:52.80
how many islands were
there in the Solomon's?
00:21:52.83\00:21:55.51
Thousand islands.
00:21:55.54\00:21:57.02
The Island of
Malaita, we have the capital,
00:21:57.05\00:22:00.32
which Honiara is located on.
00:22:00.35\00:22:03.19
Now these maps won't be drawn
to scale this morning, okay.
00:22:03.22\00:22:07.23
We have the Florida Islands,
00:22:07.26\00:22:08.39
a beautiful part
of the Solomon's--
00:22:08.42\00:22:11.53
great diving and
fishing and so forth.
00:22:11.56\00:22:13.75
And then across a
little bit further,
00:22:13.78\00:22:15.46
we take a day's boat ride.
00:22:15.49\00:22:18.09
And we end up at
the Island of Malaita.
00:22:18.12\00:22:21.98
And as they were
sailing up the passage,
00:22:22.01\00:22:24.48
every one on
the boat was singing
00:22:24.51\00:22:26.81
and that was the singing that
attracted the local villagers,
00:22:26.84\00:22:31.30
they were local village people.
00:22:31.33\00:22:32.44
They hadn't heard
this sort of singing,
00:22:32.47\00:22:34.07
melodious singing before.
00:22:34.10\00:22:36.71
And as they are
sailing at the passage,
00:22:36.74\00:22:38.49
they've sailed out
to the local people
00:22:38.52\00:22:41.27
that sailed out to
meet the Melanesia.
00:22:41.30\00:22:44.28
To see and
experience what this was.
00:22:44.31\00:22:49.79
They sat and
listened to this music
00:22:49.82\00:22:54.60
but they didn't come in a
sense just to listen with music,
00:22:54.63\00:22:58.26
to the music there,
they came to investigate
00:22:58.29\00:23:01.79
who was coming
into their territory
00:23:01.82\00:23:05.85
and deal with them accordingly.
00:23:05.88\00:23:09.69
And so they arrived in 1924
00:23:09.72\00:23:11.47
and many faithful men and women
00:23:11.50\00:23:13.11
have been to
this area ever since,
00:23:13.14\00:23:15.42
to share the good
news of God's ability
00:23:15.45\00:23:19.11
to transform
people from death to life.
00:23:19.14\00:23:24.03
And it was in this small village
00:23:24.06\00:23:25.42
that I went to a
regional camp meeting.
00:23:25.45\00:23:28.08
At a little
place called Aabtina.
00:23:28.11\00:23:30.80
And I've heard much about
this little village of Abatina.
00:23:30.83\00:23:34.17
And I was looking
forward to being there to visit
00:23:34.20\00:23:36.55
and to see what
this village was like.
00:23:36.58\00:23:40.73
And now we have
an Adventist church
00:23:40.76\00:23:41.94
in this particular village.
00:23:41.97\00:23:46.50
And I stood in the
high place of this village,
00:23:46.53\00:23:52.15
this mountainous village.
00:23:52.18\00:23:54.57
To look over all
that had taken place
00:23:54.60\00:23:56.95
because it was in
place that the villages
00:23:56.98\00:23:59.93
would summon the devil sharks.
00:23:59.96\00:24:03.47
And these sharks would
travel in from the ocean
00:24:03.50\00:24:06.50
and they would come
into this particular place.
00:24:06.53\00:24:08.88
And then the locals would
get on board these sharks.
00:24:08.91\00:24:13.26
And the sharks would transport
them around the island groups
00:24:13.29\00:24:17.11
from one island to the
next island, to the next island.
00:24:17.14\00:24:20.12
People would ride these sharks.
00:24:20.15\00:24:23.26
The devil priests would
put out a particular call
00:24:23.29\00:24:26.26
and these people would
and the sharks would come in
00:24:26.29\00:24:29.58
and people would get
on board and ride them.
00:24:29.61\00:24:34.02
If someone was lost at sea,
00:24:34.05\00:24:35.39
or someone in the canoe
had fallen over--tipped over.
00:24:35.42\00:24:39.64
They would send again
these devil sharks out
00:24:39.67\00:24:41.85
to collect those
that had fallen overboard,
00:24:41.88\00:24:45.70
to bring them back into shore.
00:24:45.73\00:24:50.72
I stood at the grave of
one of the devil priest.
00:24:50.75\00:24:54.43
There they use to
summon the sharks in.
00:24:54.46\00:24:59.10
And I was told that on
the day that he was buried,
00:24:59.13\00:25:02.96
the sharks and the
crocodiles and the snakes
00:25:02.99\00:25:05.93
rolled down the hills
into the particular location
00:25:05.96\00:25:09.18
where the devil
priest was buried.
00:25:09.21\00:25:11.80
And from that day forward
the sharks and the snakes
00:25:11.83\00:25:17.30
and the crocodiles
haven't come on to the shore
00:25:17.33\00:25:19.98
in that particular
area-- no more devil sharks.
00:25:20.01\00:25:24.99
The Great Controversy
is not just the theory.
00:25:25.02\00:25:28.53
It is something that is taking
place in every part of our life.
00:25:28.56\00:25:33.09
In the Solomon Islands
we see this in a very real
00:25:33.12\00:25:35.89
and tangible way of
how the devil continues
00:25:35.92\00:25:38.95
to work amongst the people.
00:25:38.98\00:25:41.73
Let me take you from Abatina,
00:25:41.76\00:25:43.65
just a background
of the corner there
00:25:43.68\00:25:46.20
to a little
place called Ardavithi.
00:25:46.23\00:25:48.13
Now for many of
you may have heard
00:25:48.16\00:25:49.76
of a little
community we have at Ardavithi,
00:25:49.79\00:25:54.12
where we have a hospital
00:25:54.15\00:25:57.14
and some faithful
men and women servicing,
00:25:57.17\00:25:59.33
women servicing out
there at the moment.
00:25:59.36\00:26:02.05
This hospital is a lighthouse
amongst the heathen culture.
00:26:02.08\00:26:08.78
Amongst the cultures
that is still absorbed
00:26:08.81\00:26:12.30
in devil worship
and devil priest.
00:26:12.33\00:26:16.19
And was on this particular day
00:26:16.22\00:26:17.43
I was sitting in the
transit house at Ardavithi.
00:26:17.46\00:26:22.09
I had my Bible opened reading
through the Book of Romans
00:26:22.12\00:26:25.02
and as I peaked out the window,
00:26:25.05\00:26:27.11
I noticed some men
gathering around under a tree.
00:26:27.14\00:26:33.14
And I watched one man come
00:26:33.17\00:26:35.03
and then two and
three and four and so on.
00:26:35.06\00:26:38.83
And I began to wonder
what is this gathering up to.
00:26:38.86\00:26:45.65
What are these men doing
in this particular location?
00:26:45.68\00:26:50.51
And as the group continued it
sort of got to around 15 people.
00:26:50.54\00:26:56.03
They sat in the
circle and continue to talk
00:26:56.06\00:27:00.91
or what it
appeared to be talking.
00:27:00.94\00:27:02.86
I asked some people afterwards.
00:27:02.89\00:27:04.13
I said I saw some men come
up to this particular area.
00:27:04.16\00:27:07.65
Who were they?
00:27:07.68\00:27:08.83
And what were they doing?
00:27:08.86\00:27:11.68
And I was told that
these are local devil priests
00:27:11.71\00:27:13.69
that come down from
the highlands of Malaita.
00:27:13.72\00:27:17.82
They come down for medical care
00:27:17.85\00:27:20.82
and they were meeting
in this particular place.
00:27:20.85\00:27:22.83
And now we can say, well,
yeah, they are devil priests.
00:27:22.86\00:27:26.19
And it seems to roll very easily
and quickly off their tongues
00:27:26.22\00:27:30.26
as to what a devil priest is.
00:27:30.29\00:27:31.92
We have this
intellectual understanding
00:27:31.95\00:27:35.10
of what a devil priest is.
00:27:35.13\00:27:38.71
But, friends, just to
sit there in my room reading
00:27:38.74\00:27:43.07
through the Book of Romans.
00:27:43.10\00:27:46.48
And to see people
outside of under--
00:27:46.51\00:27:48.80
gathering under this
tree of devil priest.
00:27:48.83\00:27:51.13
People who still
worship the devil.
00:27:51.16\00:27:53.41
People who
still offer sacrifices
00:27:53.44\00:27:55.34
to the devil and
to their ancestors.
00:27:55.37\00:27:57.35
This is not something that was
00:27:57.38\00:27:59.09
that is taking
place 2,000 years ago,
00:27:59.12\00:28:01.24
this is
something that is happening
00:28:01.27\00:28:03.00
right here today in
the Solomon Islands.
00:28:03.03\00:28:09.28
There was war in heaven.
00:28:09.31\00:28:13.21
And that war is, is
taking place all around us.
00:28:13.24\00:28:19.77
And in the Solomon Islands
we see it very, very clearly.
00:28:19.80\00:28:23.82
There's peoples that still
offer sacrifices to the devil
00:28:23.85\00:28:28.15
to appease his anger
or to their ancestors.
00:28:28.18\00:28:32.38
Our battle is not
against flesh and blood
00:28:36.17\00:28:39.82
but against the spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly room.
00:28:39.85\00:28:44.69
The Great
Controversy is not a theory.
00:28:44.72\00:28:49.38
It is not an
intellectual concept
00:28:49.41\00:28:51.47
that we try to understand,
00:28:51.50\00:28:55.12
it is a very real battle
00:28:55.15\00:28:56.78
that it is taking
place in the world around us.
00:28:56.81\00:28:59.73
I wonder friends, if we
truly understand the extent
00:29:04.32\00:29:08.97
and the nature of the battle.
00:29:09.00\00:29:12.64
As I reflect through
the writings of Ellen White,
00:29:12.67\00:29:15.83
I recall a
statement she says that
00:29:15.86\00:29:18.62
as much as Jesus
Christ did to save us,
00:29:18.65\00:29:21.33
the devil is
doing to destroy us.
00:29:21.36\00:29:25.20
Isn't that incredible?
00:29:25.23\00:29:26.88
That's the battle that you and I
00:29:26.91\00:29:28.67
are a part of
this Great Controversy.
00:29:28.70\00:29:34.13
The Great
Controversy is not a battle
00:29:34.16\00:29:36.27
simply
contained within scripture
00:29:36.30\00:29:38.46
or within 600
pages of a book entitled,
00:29:38.49\00:29:41.26
"The Great Controversy."
00:29:41.29\00:29:43.39
It's a very
real, you read through
00:29:43.42\00:29:45.85
the Book of Revelation 12.
00:29:45.88\00:29:49.14
John is very clear,
he gives us the warning
00:29:49.17\00:29:52.05
that devil is going
down to you filled with fury
00:29:52.08\00:29:57.19
because he knows
his time is short.
00:29:57.22\00:30:01.07
Friends, that the
battle that we're courting.
00:30:02.27\00:30:06.46
That is the battle that
is taking place in around us.
00:30:06.49\00:30:10.48
That is the
battle that we see raging
00:30:10.51\00:30:13.32
in the Solomon
Islands on a daily basis.
00:30:13.35\00:30:17.42
And I share
these stories not to be
00:30:17.45\00:30:19.78
melodramatic with you.
00:30:19.81\00:30:21.25
But to illustrate
their point of the realness
00:30:21.28\00:30:24.71
of this battle
that we're courting
00:30:24.74\00:30:27.07
and that we're experiencing.
00:30:27.10\00:30:30.26
So lesson one that
I've learned this year
00:30:30.29\00:30:32.24
the Great Controversy
is not just a theory.
00:30:32.27\00:30:36.57
Lesson number two,
Christianity is not a theory
00:30:36.60\00:30:44.57
but brings everlasting change.
00:30:44.60\00:30:48.21
This one might
surprise you again
00:30:52.93\00:30:56.71
because something that we
have intellectual understanding
00:30:56.74\00:31:00.13
of, we know that Christianity
is not just a theory.
00:31:00.16\00:31:03.61
We know that it
is something real
00:31:03.64\00:31:04.90
because it gives us hope
in a world that is hopeless.
00:31:04.93\00:31:11.20
But let me ask
you this question.
00:31:11.23\00:31:13.83
How has believing in
Jesus changed your life?
00:31:13.86\00:31:18.05
I'm not here simply
talking of modified behaviors
00:31:21.72\00:31:24.71
or having a
particular belief system--
00:31:24.74\00:31:28.11
these are all part of it but not
the total sum of Christianity.
00:31:28.14\00:31:33.47
And yet there is
a very real danger
00:31:33.50\00:31:35.19
that having
certain behaviors, beliefs
00:31:35.22\00:31:38.11
and attitudes that we say
00:31:38.14\00:31:41.70
we fit the criteria
of being a Christian.
00:31:41.73\00:31:46.46
Friends, there's more truth.
00:31:46.49\00:31:51.12
Jesus saves
people, not churches.
00:31:51.15\00:31:57.60
We are not talking about
a mechanical Christianity
00:31:57.63\00:31:59.74
whereby we can tick the
box after we've completed
00:31:59.77\00:32:03.10
all the different things
for a day or for the week.
00:32:03.13\00:32:06.02
We're talking about a
very real heart experience
00:32:06.05\00:32:09.74
with Jesus that
brings true reformation
00:32:09.77\00:32:12.38
and revival to our hearts.
00:32:12.41\00:32:15.09
Let me illustrate this.
00:32:15.12\00:32:16.15
Turn with me again
to the Book of Romans.
00:32:16.18\00:32:18.74
To the chapter that I
was reading on this day
00:32:22.03\00:32:23.95
when I was looking at the window
00:32:23.98\00:32:25.54
seeing the devil
priests gathered together.
00:32:25.57\00:32:29.29
Romans 8:5 the Bible says
00:32:29.32\00:32:37.29
"Those who live
according to the sinful nature
00:32:37.32\00:32:41.13
have their minds set on
what that nature desires,
00:32:41.16\00:32:45.98
but those who live in
accordance with the Spirit
00:32:46.01\00:32:48.45
have their minds set on
what the Spirit desires.
00:32:48.48\00:32:52.53
The mind of sinful man is death,
00:32:52.56\00:32:56.24
but the mind controlled by
the Spirit is life and peace."
00:32:56.27\00:33:00.72
Now friends, I have to
say when I was in that room
00:33:00.75\00:33:03.50
and I was looking out
the through the window
00:33:03.53\00:33:05.40
and seeing these devil priests
00:33:05.43\00:33:07.56
nevermore was this
particular passage of scripture
00:33:07.59\00:33:10.48
illustrated to me
then at that very moment.
00:33:10.51\00:33:13.72
As I'm looking to people the
mind of a sinful man is death.
00:33:13.75\00:33:17.81
As I was seeing these men
gathering this in this circle
00:33:17.84\00:33:23.27
to talk of the
devil and his work.
00:33:23.30\00:33:28.48
The mind of the
sinful man is death.
00:33:28.51\00:33:33.93
But again we have some hope.
God has given to us some hope.
00:33:33.96\00:33:38.75
Paul has given us hope
and he but the mind controlled
00:33:38.78\00:33:41.49
by the spirit is life and peace.
00:33:41.52\00:33:44.00
Isn't that simple?
00:33:44.03\00:33:45.11
A life controlled by
the sinful nature is death.
00:33:48.67\00:33:53.48
But a mind controlled
by the spirit is life.
00:33:53.51\00:33:58.76
And Bible continues
00:34:02.57\00:34:03.83
"The sinful mind
is hostile to God.
00:34:03.86\00:34:05.60
it does not submit to
God's law, nor can it do so."
00:34:05.63\00:34:12.34
I spoke with the couple of
these devil priests afterwards.
00:34:12.37\00:34:17.43
And you could see in their eyes
00:34:17.46\00:34:22.20
how Satan had changed them.
00:34:22.23\00:34:26.21
we read through the stories
of the demoniac in Mark 5.
00:34:26.24\00:34:30.02
And we see this picture
that Mark paints of his demoniac
00:34:30.05\00:34:33.68
out of his right mind.
00:34:33.71\00:34:35.69
That is what I saw on that day.
00:34:35.72\00:34:40.78
And I saw this group of
15 men that needed to hear
00:34:40.81\00:34:43.77
the transforming
power of the gospel.
00:34:43.80\00:34:48.31
That there was no need
to continue to sacrifice
00:34:48.34\00:34:50.98
their pigs to the
devil or to their ancestors.
00:34:51.01\00:34:54.98
Jesus had
sacrificed once and for all.
00:34:55.01\00:34:59.08
And was offering a
much far superior way
00:34:59.11\00:35:02.31
than what they were
currently experiencing.
00:35:02.34\00:35:05.04
The gospel
brings transformation.
00:35:05.07\00:35:10.38
And it's this
transformation that the people
00:35:10.41\00:35:12.24
of the Solomon
Islands need to know.
00:35:12.27\00:35:14.82
It's a
transformation that the people
00:35:14.85\00:35:16.89
of America need to know.
00:35:16.92\00:35:18.03
It's a
transformation that people
00:35:18.06\00:35:19.13
of Australia need to know,
00:35:19.16\00:35:21.14
that Jesus offers life.
00:35:21.17\00:35:25.21
Because they're currently
on a track to experience death.
00:35:25.24\00:35:33.13
That's why the
gospel is so important
00:35:33.16\00:35:36.26
and so crucial to
share with people,
00:35:36.29\00:35:38.88
who are on this
pathway to death.
00:35:38.91\00:35:45.17
"The mind of
sinful man is death,
00:35:45.20\00:35:47.57
but the mind controlled by
the Spirit is life and peace."
00:35:47.60\00:35:54.70
Friends, that is
good news to us this day.
00:35:54.73\00:36:01.30
It's the life that we
can have in Jesus Christ.
00:36:01.33\00:36:05.47
A life that He
freely gives to us.
00:36:05.50\00:36:09.72
And I don't think
there is anyone better
00:36:09.75\00:36:13.02
to write of this
than Paul himself.
00:36:13.05\00:36:15.76
Because you think
of the transformation
00:36:15.79\00:36:17.48
that Paul
himself had experienced.
00:36:17.51\00:36:20.66
You notice
something that I saw that day
00:36:20.69\00:36:22.30
and as people
needing to hear the gospel.
00:36:22.33\00:36:24.44
But do you think of the man
00:36:24.47\00:36:25.51
that is writing
this particular passage?
00:36:25.54\00:36:28.30
Turn with me to the Book of Acts
and just let's remind ourselves
00:36:28.33\00:36:31.70
of this transformation
that Paul received himself.
00:36:31.73\00:36:36.21
Acts 9--and
reminded of the context
00:36:40.53\00:36:48.39
of this particular
passage of scripture.
00:36:48.42\00:36:52.07
Paul has just witnessed
00:36:52.10\00:36:54.82
the stoning of Steven martyrdom.
00:36:54.85\00:37:01.24
The Bible says
"And Saul was there
00:37:01.27\00:37:03.02
giving approval to his death."
00:37:03.05\00:37:07.87
This is the context,
this is the background
00:37:07.90\00:37:10.45
to this particular passage
00:37:10.48\00:37:11.74
and we see here the
conversion of Paul verse 1:6.
00:37:11.77\00:37:18.41
"Meanwhile, Saul was still
breathing out murderous threats
00:37:18.44\00:37:21.54
against the lord's disciples.
00:37:21.57\00:37:23.20
He went to the high
priest and asked him for letters
00:37:23.23\00:37:25.95
to the synagogues in Damascus.
00:37:25.98\00:37:28.37
So that if he found any
who belonged to the Way,
00:37:28.40\00:37:31.02
whether men or women,
00:37:31.05\00:37:32.08
he might take them as
prisoners to Jerusalem.
00:37:32.11\00:37:34.70
As he neared
Damascus on his journey,
00:37:34.73\00:37:36.46
suddenly a light from
heaven flashed around him.
00:37:36.49\00:37:38.93
He fell to the ground
and heard a voice say to him,
00:37:38.96\00:37:40.98
'Saul, Saul, why
do you persecute me?'
00:37:41.01\00:37:44.82
'Who are you, Lord? Saul asked.
00:37:44.85\00:37:47.72
'I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting,' he replied.
00:37:47.75\00:37:51.95
'Now get up and go into the city
00:37:51.98\00:37:54.29
and you will be
told what you must do.'
00:37:54.32\00:37:57.90
' And we know the story.
00:37:57.93\00:38:01.09
It was Paul who
met Jesus on this road.
00:38:01.12\00:38:03.72
It was Jesus who brought
transformation to Paul's life.
00:38:03.75\00:38:09.36
It was Jesus who changed him
00:38:09.39\00:38:11.18
from being receiving
death to receiving life.
00:38:11.21\00:38:16.71
Paul experienced Jesus.
00:38:16.74\00:38:21.64
But friends, this transformation
00:38:21.67\00:38:25.23
that we along with
the people of the world
00:38:25.26\00:38:28.17
need to know and experience.
00:38:28.20\00:38:30.57
In a deeper
fashion, in a deeper way
00:38:30.60\00:38:32.63
than we ever have
before in world's history,
00:38:32.66\00:38:36.33
we need to
experiencing the transforming
00:38:36.36\00:38:38.64
grace of Jesus Christ.
00:38:38.67\00:38:42.40
Many of other Christians
I'm asked lot as I share some
00:38:42.43\00:38:45.32
stories of what the Lord is
doing in the Solomon Islands.
00:38:45.35\00:38:48.09
Well how come
it's happening there
00:38:48.12\00:38:51.60
and it doesn't happen here.
00:38:51.63\00:38:53.34
It's a good
question that you and I
00:38:53.37\00:38:54.71
need to give consideration to
00:38:54.74\00:38:56.54
not everybody
else but for ourselves.
00:38:56.57\00:39:01.52
We need to give
consideration to the question
00:39:01.55\00:39:05.18
why ain't I
experiencing transforming
00:39:05.21\00:39:06.83
grace of Jesus Christ.
00:39:06.86\00:39:09.52
This happens in the islands.
00:39:09.55\00:39:12.29
It happened 2,000 years
ago a transforming power
00:39:12.32\00:39:14.98
of God's grace but
does it happen today.
00:39:15.01\00:39:20.77
Let me illustrate again.
00:39:20.80\00:39:25.00
We met up with a
man by the name of Alec.
00:39:25.03\00:39:29.15
Alec continues to call by
my office on a regular basis.
00:39:29.18\00:39:34.06
To give me an update report
00:39:34.09\00:39:35.61
of all that is
happening in his life.
00:39:35.64\00:39:38.48
And where he is ministering.
00:39:38.51\00:39:40.29
He is a layperson
with a heart for God.
00:39:40.32\00:39:44.27
And he continues to
share at every opportunity
00:39:44.30\00:39:49.79
transforming grace that
he himself has experienced.
00:39:49.82\00:39:53.27
As Alec wasn't always
a member of the church.
00:39:53.30\00:39:55.87
Alec spend 18 years of
his life behind bars in jail.
00:39:55.90\00:40:01.51
For violent crimes Alec
was committed to prison.
00:40:01.54\00:40:07.78
Upon his release
Alec was determined
00:40:07.81\00:40:10.36
to do something for the Lord.
00:40:10.39\00:40:12.46
To do something that would show
00:40:12.49\00:40:16.45
what the grace of God can do
in the life of an individual.
00:40:16.48\00:40:23.09
And so he came out of jail
determined to make a difference
00:40:23.12\00:40:29.44
but this was not
going to happen easily.
00:40:29.47\00:40:32.83
Devil was not
about to release him
00:40:32.86\00:40:34.44
from the clutches of
his hand very quickly.
00:40:34.47\00:40:39.68
As upon his release he
came home and discovered
00:40:39.71\00:40:42.27
that his wife was
studying with a pastor.
00:40:42.30\00:40:46.29
Alec was not impressed with this
00:40:46.32\00:40:51.83
and he tells me that every
time that pastor came to visit,
00:40:51.86\00:40:56.99
he would give him
threats that he would kill him
00:40:57.02\00:41:00.47
and send him away and
told him not to come back.
00:41:00.50\00:41:05.95
But God bless this
pastor, he continued to comeback
00:41:05.98\00:41:09.65
week after week after week
to share this gospel message
00:41:09.68\00:41:15.06
that they so
desperately needed to hear.
00:41:15.09\00:41:20.31
As the pastor was
studying with them one night
00:41:20.34\00:41:22.20
and sharing with the
wife around the kitchen table.
00:41:22.23\00:41:27.01
There was a text that the
pastor used that the spirit used
00:41:27.04\00:41:31.84
in a mighty way
to soften Alec heart.
00:41:31.87\00:41:35.94
"If you love me you
will keep my commandments."
00:41:35.97\00:41:41.32
And this began a
whole new journey for Alec.
00:41:41.35\00:41:45.51
As he understood
the love of God for him,
00:41:45.54\00:41:49.85
as he understood the
need for Alec to love God
00:41:49.88\00:41:52.63
with all his heart, with
all his mind, and with his soul.
00:41:52.66\00:41:56.86
And so Alec began a new
journey and I met him this year.
00:41:56.89\00:42:03.04
You notice on his
forehead, he has a large scar.
00:42:03.07\00:42:08.68
This scar was
received in a public place
00:42:08.71\00:42:13.11
as Alec would carry a
bush knife around with him.
00:42:13.14\00:42:16.43
You might say
what's a bush knife?
00:42:16.46\00:42:18.94
And we have, you
know, little sort of knife.
00:42:18.97\00:42:22.24
In our minds
what a bush knife is.
00:42:22.27\00:42:23.95
A bush knife is a big knife
and these are carried around
00:42:23.98\00:42:27.30
everywhere in
the Solomon Islands.
00:42:27.33\00:42:29.31
And not wanting to
be left out of this,
00:42:29.34\00:42:31.51
we also bought some bush knives.
00:42:31.54\00:42:34.54
Cut some grass
or do some things.
00:42:34.57\00:42:37.14
But Alec used to carry
these knives around with him
00:42:37.17\00:42:39.48
and strapped to his
back and at a moments notice,
00:42:39.51\00:42:43.53
that knife could
be used for anything.
00:42:43.56\00:42:48.94
And on this particular occasion
00:42:48.97\00:42:50.00
as Alec is
walking down the street.
00:42:50.03\00:42:53.66
A knife came out of
somebody else's back
00:42:53.69\00:42:57.54
and somebody else's hand
00:42:57.57\00:42:59.59
and cut him across the forehead.
00:42:59.62\00:43:05.85
Alec couldn't do
anything at that time,
00:43:05.88\00:43:07.35
he went to the
hospital and was healed.
00:43:07.38\00:43:11.29
But then something
incredible took place
00:43:11.32\00:43:15.25
because Alec is quite
notorious in Solomon Islands.
00:43:15.28\00:43:18.63
People know him, people
know the man that he used to be.
00:43:18.66\00:43:22.26
As Alec has come healed
00:43:22.29\00:43:26.64
and meant that he has been
walking down the street again.
00:43:26.67\00:43:28.69
He'd seen the man that
cut him on his particular day.
00:43:28.72\00:43:33.36
And he's going over to
grab him and this man thought,
00:43:33.39\00:43:35.69
this is it, this is
going to be my last.
00:43:35.72\00:43:40.35
But Alec turned him and
said, I want to pray with you.
00:43:40.38\00:43:44.60
I forgive you.
00:43:44.63\00:43:46.30
And he's turned to
this man and said, you know,
00:43:46.33\00:43:48.25
let's pray and if Alec has gone
through in the middle of street,
00:43:48.28\00:43:51.76
going to pray with him.
00:43:51.79\00:43:52.97
And the man
felt somewhat uneasy,
00:43:53.00\00:43:54.93
wanted to pull him to the side.
00:43:54.96\00:43:56.78
And you know in a
quite place to pray.
00:43:56.81\00:43:59.27
Alec said to him you cut me
in public, we'll pray in public.
00:43:59.30\00:44:02.61
Amen. Such is the
transforming grace of this man.
00:44:02.64\00:44:10.61
One of the interesting
stories while Alec was in jail,
00:44:10.64\00:44:17.53
his wife found another man.
00:44:17.56\00:44:24.15
And on this particular day
when Alec has been released
00:44:24.18\00:44:27.42
from jail and time
elapse Alec was aware
00:44:27.45\00:44:30.47
of what had taken place.
00:44:30.50\00:44:33.45
Alec was in the
market with his wife,
00:44:33.48\00:44:35.66
all had been
forgiven and restored
00:44:35.69\00:44:37.34
and grace had been shown.
00:44:37.37\00:44:39.09
And his wife and Alec were
walking through the marketplace
00:44:39.12\00:44:41.78
on this particular
day and Alec saw the man
00:44:41.81\00:44:45.07
that his wife had been with
and quickly grabbing his wife,
00:44:45.10\00:44:49.76
he's going over this man
and grabbed him also by the hand
00:44:49.79\00:44:53.78
and again this man is thinking
00:44:53.81\00:44:55.05
knowing the
history of Alec this is it.
00:44:55.08\00:45:00.12
And Alec uttered these
words as he looked to his wife,
00:45:00.15\00:45:02.46
I forgive you. And I look--
00:45:02.49\00:45:05.26
I forgive you as he looked
into the face of this man.
00:45:05.29\00:45:08.43
And he's brought them together
00:45:08.46\00:45:10.35
in there in there
in the marketplace.
00:45:10.38\00:45:12.26
They've prayed to
the Lord for restoration
00:45:12.29\00:45:16.13
and for grace
and for forgiveness.
00:45:16.16\00:45:20.18
Such is the transforming
power of God's grace.
00:45:20.21\00:45:27.04
Peter was a man that was working
for a different denomination
00:45:27.07\00:45:33.55
and Peter
started feeling impressed
00:45:33.58\00:45:38.27
that there was more than what he
had been currently experiencing,
00:45:38.30\00:45:43.20
it was more to life,
there was more to church
00:45:43.23\00:45:45.26
than what he had
currently been experiencing.
00:45:45.29\00:45:48.49
And over the years the
Lord seemed to be leading him
00:45:48.52\00:45:51.48
in a particular
direction opening up
00:45:51.51\00:45:52.80
some different
passages of scripture.
00:45:52.83\00:45:56.63
And on this particular occasion,
00:45:56.66\00:45:58.62
Peter is sitting on
a streets of Malaita.
00:45:58.65\00:46:03.28
And who should
walk by? But Alec.
00:46:03.31\00:46:07.26
And Alec has spoken to
Peter wait, you go nowhere.
00:46:07.29\00:46:12.53
You go where.
00:46:12.56\00:46:15.42
And before the
Peter could answer,
00:46:15.45\00:46:18.17
Alec just said you come with me.
00:46:18.20\00:46:19.60
And they jumped up
in the truck together
00:46:19.63\00:46:21.08
and then Alec shared his
favorite passage with him.
00:46:21.11\00:46:23.69
"If you loves me you
will keep my commandments."
00:46:23.72\00:46:29.11
There and then on the
spot, Peter was transformed.
00:46:29.14\00:46:35.45
Peter knew and
understood what the transforming
00:46:35.48\00:46:40.52
power of God's
love and grace can do.
00:46:40.55\00:46:44.84
Love and obedience hand in hand.
00:46:44.87\00:46:51.85
The Carter Report
came and conducted
00:46:51.88\00:46:54.36
a large evangelistic
program in the Solomon Islands
00:46:54.39\00:46:57.70
and over this 10
day period around
00:46:57.73\00:47:00.19
people
00:47:00.22\00:47:06.89
came to this program.
00:47:06.92\00:47:09.60
People were holding up mobile
phones to the speaker tower.
00:47:09.63\00:47:13.54
So that people back
in their home village
00:47:13.57\00:47:15.40
could hear the message.
00:47:15.43\00:47:16.95
People recorded the
message on to their phones,
00:47:16.98\00:47:19.53
so that they could hear
00:47:19.56\00:47:20.68
and keep it later
to share with others.
00:47:20.71\00:47:27.02
Peter came to this program
00:47:27.05\00:47:30.46
and was baptized at the end
of the Carter Report program
00:47:30.49\00:47:35.52
along with 524 other men
and women, boys and girls.
00:47:35.55\00:47:40.74
But that's not
the end of the story
00:47:40.77\00:47:43.02
because Alec--oh,
Peter returned back home
00:47:43.05\00:47:45.39
to his village and guess what.
00:47:45.42\00:47:48.07
There is 39 other
baptisms that have taken place
00:47:48.10\00:47:50.83
back in his village.
00:47:50.86\00:47:53.51
The message has gone right
around the Solomon Islands.
00:47:53.54\00:47:57.01
There's the prime minister
of the Solomon Islands said,
00:47:57.04\00:47:59.55
"This mission has
taken the nation by storm."
00:47:59.58\00:48:04.39
And that's glory to God.
00:48:04.42\00:48:07.20
For all that he has done
00:48:07.23\00:48:11.24
but that's only
one story of thousands
00:48:11.27\00:48:13.80
that I could share with you.
00:48:13.83\00:48:15.85
Hensley was a man who again
00:48:15.88\00:48:20.81
I saw on the Sabbath
morning of the baptism.
00:48:20.84\00:48:23.04
I hadn't seen this man before
00:48:23.07\00:48:26.18
and he stood or he
sat at the right hand side
00:48:26.21\00:48:28.80
of the church, two of them.
00:48:28.83\00:48:34.32
And they caught my
eye and I went down
00:48:34.35\00:48:36.04
to greet them on
this Sabbath morning.
00:48:36.07\00:48:39.04
As I was
greeting them I discovered
00:48:39.07\00:48:40.43
that these two men that
were sitting here in their pew
00:48:40.46\00:48:43.74
were former
inmates in the local jail.
00:48:43.77\00:48:47.49
And here they were
about to be baptized
00:48:47.52\00:48:49.65
to become brothers in Christ.
00:48:49.68\00:48:53.24
God will transform
people from death to life.
00:48:53.27\00:48:58.43
It's not a
theory, it's not a myth.
00:48:58.46\00:49:01.68
This is the good
news of the gospel.
00:49:01.71\00:49:05.30
That Jesus
Christ transforms lives.
00:49:05.33\00:49:12.87
The gospel
brings transformation.
00:49:12.90\00:49:16.26
One last story before I close.
00:49:16.29\00:49:19.30
Just three or four weeks ago,
00:49:19.33\00:49:21.26
we had news from one
particular island Finafu.
00:49:21.29\00:49:25.82
One particular village
where a baptism was conducted.
00:49:25.85\00:49:29.29
And we have all seen
what a baptism is like.
00:49:29.32\00:49:33.44
Immersion, full immersion,
00:49:33.47\00:49:36.45
on this particular day
this was a different baptism.
00:49:36.48\00:49:40.26
This was a baptism like
I have never seen before
00:49:40.29\00:49:43.12
because among the 30
member or 30 candidates,
00:49:43.15\00:49:48.51
two of them were
former devil priests.
00:49:48.54\00:49:54.02
The Great Controversy
which is raging all around us
00:49:54.05\00:49:58.15
is a real battle.
00:49:58.18\00:49:59.98
And here were two men and their
wives clutched from the fire.
00:50:00.01\00:50:07.87
Clutched from
death and give it life.
00:50:07.90\00:50:12.62
One of the
powerful story they have.
00:50:12.65\00:50:17.52
This village once rejected the
Seventh-day Adventist message.
00:50:17.55\00:50:22.78
Set us out from that area
00:50:22.81\00:50:24.78
and now they're
requesting us to come back
00:50:24.81\00:50:29.27
because they see the
story of Jesus Christ.
00:50:29.30\00:50:34.71
Friend's stories like this don't
just happen in the islands.
00:50:34.74\00:50:40.96
Whether here this
morning or watching at home,
00:50:40.99\00:50:44.20
each of our lives
need the transforming
00:50:44.23\00:50:47.01
power of God's grace.
00:50:47.04\00:50:49.38
We need to experience that
00:50:49.41\00:50:51.94
because it's the
life and death matter.
00:50:51.97\00:50:56.13
It's not something
that is just a theory.
00:50:56.16\00:50:59.07
Each of us need to
experience the transforming
00:50:59.10\00:51:02.13
grace of God's power.
00:51:02.16\00:51:07.68
Christians, from the
book, Patriots and Prophets.
00:51:07.71\00:51:10.22
"Christians should be preparing
for what is soon to break
00:51:10.25\00:51:12.79
upon the world as an
overwhelming surprise,
00:51:12.82\00:51:16.41
and this preparation they
should be making diligent study
00:51:16.44\00:51:19.53
of the word of God,
00:51:19.56\00:51:20.80
striving to conform
their lives to its precepts.
00:51:20.83\00:51:24.32
The tremendous issues
of eternity demand of us
00:51:24.35\00:51:27.07
something besides
an imaginary religion."
00:51:27.10\00:51:30.61
Or we might add this morning
or a theoretical religion.
00:51:30.64\00:51:35.94
"A religion of words and forms,
00:51:35.97\00:51:37.78
where truth is
kept in the outer court.
00:51:37.81\00:51:40.35
God calls for
revival and reformation."
00:51:40.38\00:51:45.00
And we've been blessed this year
00:51:45.03\00:51:47.94
to have the Carter team
comes to the Solomon Islands,
00:51:47.97\00:51:52.32
into a bold way
share the message
00:51:52.35\00:51:54.79
of a crucified risen Christ.
00:51:54.82\00:52:00.58
And a God who can
bring transformation
00:52:00.61\00:52:03.55
to lives that are in such
a desperate need of change.
00:52:03.58\00:52:11.24
You and I need to experience
00:52:11.27\00:52:13.73
that same
transforming power as well.
00:52:13.76\00:52:16.22
There will be areas in your life
that God needs to transform,
00:52:16.25\00:52:21.47
surrender them to Him.
00:52:21.50\00:52:23.83
Surrender all your ways
to Him and allow God's grace
00:52:23.86\00:52:28.72
to flood through your life.
00:52:28.75\00:52:31.00
That you may
experience His power
00:52:31.03\00:52:33.29
in a new way
that you've never seen
00:52:33.32\00:52:36.72
or experienced Him in this way.
00:52:36.75\00:52:39.30
May God bless you in
your journey with Him.
00:52:39.33\00:52:41.79
I was blessed this
morning, were you not?
00:52:55.26\00:52:58.95
I want you to take your
Bibles and turnover here
00:52:58.98\00:53:01.31
to Romans 10, I believe it is.
00:53:01.34\00:53:05.84
Romans 10, this
is like a therefore,
00:53:05.87\00:53:11.52
Romans 10:10 and onwards.
00:53:11.55\00:53:17.29
"For it is with your heart that
you believe and are justified,
00:53:17.32\00:53:20.99
and it is with your mouth
that you confess and are saved.
00:53:21.02\00:53:24.63
As the Scripture says,
00:53:24.66\00:53:26.47
'Anyone who trusts in him
will never beput to shame.'
00:53:26.50\00:53:29.96
For there is no difference
between Jew and Gentile,
00:53:29.99\00:53:33.23
the same Lord is Lord of
all and richly blesses all
00:53:33.26\00:53:36.77
who call on Him, for,
00:53:36.80\00:53:38.43
'Everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved."
00:53:38.46\00:53:42.64
Now here it is folks.
00:53:42.67\00:53:44.92
"How then can they call on the
one they have not believed in?
00:53:44.95\00:53:48.79
And how can they believe in the
one of whom they have not heard?
00:53:48.82\00:53:52.63
And how can they hear without
someone preaching to them?
00:53:52.66\00:53:57.52
And how can they
preach unless they are sent?
00:53:57.55\00:54:02.52
As it is written, 'How
beautiful are the feet of those
00:54:02.55\00:54:06.41
who bring good news!'"
00:54:06.44\00:54:12.00
Because of the
overwhelming need,
00:54:12.03\00:54:15.46
because of the
blood of the cross,
00:54:15.49\00:54:18.46
we need to support the
preaching of the gospel.
00:54:18.49\00:54:23.37
I want to thank
the man in Australia
00:54:23.40\00:54:25.48
who sent us last week $8,000
00:54:25.51\00:54:30.02
to help build a radio
station in the Solomon Islands.
00:54:30.05\00:54:35.64
May many others catch
the vision and let us arise
00:54:35.67\00:54:40.69
and build and let
us preach His word.
00:54:40.72\00:54:45.21
And so we say today,
glory be to the Father
00:54:45.24\00:54:49.72
and to the Son and
to the Holy Spirit.
00:54:49.75\00:54:53.73
Amen and amen.
00:54:53.76\00:54:57.84
The Carter report is a
self supporting ministry
00:54:57.87\00:55:01.15
with a global mission.
00:55:01.18\00:55:02.72
We believe that the
most important thing
00:55:02.75\00:55:04.81
that we can do in
this tremendous hour
00:55:04.84\00:55:07.50
is to tell people
about the Lord Jesus Christ
00:55:07.53\00:55:10.83
because Jesus said,
00:55:10.86\00:55:12.29
"I am the way, the
truth and the life."
00:55:12.32\00:55:15.26
We do not believe that
this is business as usual.
00:55:15.29\00:55:19.25
We believe that we are
living in the closing hours
00:55:19.28\00:55:22.65
in the history of this world.
00:55:22.68\00:55:24.31
Bless your heart, friend.
00:55:24.34\00:55:26.00
Look at the signs that are being
fulfilled almost every day.
00:55:26.03\00:55:29.74
The signs of the
times are shouting at us
00:55:29.77\00:55:32.71
and they are saying
Jesus is coming soon.
00:55:32.74\00:55:36.23
I want you to be my
partner in global mission.
00:55:36.26\00:55:39.90
I want you to be
my partner in helping
00:55:39.93\00:55:42.23
to tell the world
about the coming of Jesus.
00:55:42.26\00:55:45.42
I want you to be my
partner in the preaching
00:55:45.45\00:55:48.62
of the distinctive truths
of the Three Angels' Messages.
00:55:48.65\00:55:53.30
Please check us out
at the new Carter Report
00:55:53.33\00:55:57.57
website, catereport.org.
00:55:57.60\00:56:00.35
We have a special section
whereby you can ask questions
00:56:00.38\00:56:05.10
and I will give you the answers
00:56:05.13\00:56:07.10
from the living
Word of the living God,
00:56:07.13\00:56:10.65
that is the cartereport.org.
00:56:10.68\00:56:15.30
My friend, we
want you to join us
00:56:15.33\00:56:18.17
in the mission
to preach the gospel
00:56:18.20\00:56:20.91
in China, in India,
in Australia, in Africa,
00:56:20.94\00:56:26.53
in United States of
America wherever people are lost
00:56:26.56\00:56:30.66
and wherever people need to hear
the good news that Jesus saves.
00:56:30.69\00:56:36.74
Please check us out, the
new carter report website,
00:56:36.77\00:56:40.76
cartereport.org. I
want to hear from you today.
00:56:40.79\00:56:45.88
God I'm bowing down
00:56:58.49\00:57:04.60
My eyes have seen
00:57:04.63\00:57:08.81
And I'm finally
free Love came for me
00:57:08.84\00:57:16.81
This manger King My everything
00:57:21.47\00:57:29.47
Love came for me
00:57:29.50\00:57:37.47
Jesus came for you and me
00:57:43.45\00:57:51.45