Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
00:01:12.53\00:01:15.18
Father in heaven,
we thank You so much
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for the privilege
of being here today.
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And we ask that as
we open Your Holy Word
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that Your Spirit
will come to be with us.
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Teach us the lessons
that we need to learn
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from the story of
Korah's Rebellion.
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And we thank You
for hearing our prayer
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for we ask it in
Jesus name, Amen.
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As I mentioned in my prayer
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today we are going to
speak about Korah's Rebellion.
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It's a very interesting story
00:01:44.53\00:01:45.95
that we find in
Numbers Chapter 8.
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Now in order to
understand this story
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I have to give you a
little bit of background.
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God shows Moses to
be the ruler of Israel
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and He also chose
Aaron to be His spokesman.
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In other words,
Moses was supposed to sit
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under throne of Israel
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and Aaron was supposed to
be the mouthpiece of Moses
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before the congregation.
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And we can express it
as Moses being the king
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and Aaron being the priest.
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Actually, we're gonna find
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that the roles
of Moses and Aaron
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represented the same
roles of God the Father
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as the ruler of the universe
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and Jesus Christ the
spokesperson for the Father
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and actually the
Priest of the God the Father.
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Now we need to say a few things
about the identity of Korah.
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Korah actually
decided at a certain point--
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we're gonna notice in our study
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to challenge the leadership
of Moses and also of Aaron.
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Even though God had
chosen Moses as the leader
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and Aaron as the
priest Korah decided
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that he was going to
challenge this arrangement
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which God had established.
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Now who was Korah?
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Korah was a member
of the tribe of Levites.
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But he was not of
the house of Aaron.
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So that's a very
important distinction
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because all priests had
to be from the house of Aaron
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and Korah was not
of the house of Aaron
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even though he was a Levite.
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Now the Levites
fulfilled very important tasks
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in relationship
to the sanctuary,
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very important
ministries and services
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on behalf of the congregation.
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In fact, we
know that the Levites
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had many functions
relating to the sanctuary
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and that actually
they were set aside
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by God by the lane on of hands.
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In other words,
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they were
separated for their ministry,
00:04:06.69\00:04:09.32
they were
separated for their functions
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by God having
hands laid upon them.
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This will be a very important
detail as we study along.
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Now we're ready,
to turning our Bibles
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to the Book of Numbers Chapter 8
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and let's read verse 10.
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"So you shall bring the
Levites before the Lord,
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and the children of Israel
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shall lay their
hands on the Levites."
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So the Levites were
chosen and ordained by God
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to the position
which they occupied
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in the sanctuary.
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It's important to realize that
the Levites were not priests.
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They were called
to a special ministry,
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they were ordained
by the lain on of hands
00:05:01.13\00:05:04.53
but they did not have the
function of the priesthood
00:05:04.56\00:05:08.10
but they had very important
functions in the sanctuary.
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For example, they
provided the music
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in the sanctuary service.
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Not only the choral music
but also the instrumental music.
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They were the ones who gathered
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the tithes of Israel.
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They bore the
Arch of the Covenant.
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They pitched and
tore down the tent
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as Israel walked
through the wilderness.
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They were the
custodians of the temple
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and of the sanctuary.
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They actually
flayed the animals.
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And they also taught
the law to the people.
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They were teachers in Israel.
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Now all though
they were ordained
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they were not ordained
as priest before the Lord.
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They were set aside for
the function of a Levite
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not for the
function of the priesthood
00:06:04.39\00:06:06.94
which belonged to
the family of Aaron.
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This is a very important detail.
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I'm sure that
many of the Levites
00:06:13.27\00:06:15.98
were well
qualified to serve as priest.
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In other words,
they probably knew
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how to perform the
work of the priest.
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And may be some of them
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could even perform
the work of the priest
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better than some of the priests.
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But you see,
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their function was
determine not by their abilities
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but by the fact that
God had set them aside.
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Now, we are going to notice
00:06:41.72\00:06:43.15
in our study
today a parallel between
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what happened
with Korah's Rebellion
00:06:46.92\00:06:49.65
and what happened
with the rebellion
00:06:49.68\00:06:51.72
of Lucifer in heaven.
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Because, what
happened in the days of Korah
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was earthly
small scale reflection
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of the original
rebellion of Lucifer
00:07:00.47\00:07:04.14
against God in heaven.
00:07:04.17\00:07:06.49
You see, Moses and Aaron
would represent God the Father
00:07:06.52\00:07:10.74
who is the ruler of the universe
00:07:10.77\00:07:12.52
and Jesus Christ who is
the spokesman of the Father.
00:07:12.55\00:07:16.26
He is the Word of God.
00:07:16.29\00:07:18.45
He is the Voice of
God in other words.
00:07:18.48\00:07:22.61
And Jesus was set aside in
a special way as God's Son.
00:07:22.64\00:07:28.16
He had a special
position of honor and dignity.
00:07:28.19\00:07:33.49
But there was another individual
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who had also been
anointed because he is called
00:07:35.04\00:07:37.50
the anointed
Cherub in Scripture.
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In fact, this anointed
cherub his name was Lucifer
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was actually also
a master musician.
00:07:45.90\00:07:51.13
He was the director
of the heavenly choirs
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just like the Levites
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where the musicians in
the sanctuary in Israel
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and we know that Lucifer
was also an instrumentalist.
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Because we are
told in Ezekiel 28
00:08:03.19\00:08:05.39
the timbrels and
pipes were prepared for him
00:08:05.42\00:08:09.08
the day in which he was created.
00:08:09.11\00:08:12.32
In other words,
00:08:12.35\00:08:13.38
he was also set aside
for a specific function
00:08:13.41\00:08:16.15
but he could not occupy
the function of God the Father
00:08:16.18\00:08:19.90
and the
function of Jesus Christ.
00:08:19.93\00:08:23.88
And so the time came going
back to the story of Israel
00:08:23.91\00:08:28.53
that Korah became
unsatisfied with his position.
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He aspired to the
position of being a priest
00:08:33.83\00:08:38.26
because he considered
this to be a higher office
00:08:38.29\00:08:41.42
and a higher calling
than of a mere Levite.
00:08:41.45\00:08:45.80
And eventually we're
gonna find in this story
00:08:45.83\00:08:48.45
that he not only aspired
00:08:48.48\00:08:50.00
to occupy the
position of a priest
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but he also aspired to
overthrow Moses from his throne
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and become the ruler of Israel.
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We find these
very significant words
00:09:03.20\00:09:05.26
in Patriarchs and
Prophets Page 395.
00:09:05.29\00:09:07.49
I'm gonna be
using several quotations
00:09:07.52\00:09:09.28
from the chapter
on Korah's Rebellion
00:09:09.31\00:09:11.57
because Ellen White describes
this in such vivid terms.
00:09:11.60\00:09:16.73
She says "Korah became
dissatisfied with his position
00:09:16.76\00:09:23.00
and aspired to the
dignity of the priesthood.
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The bestowal upon Aaron
00:09:28.29\00:09:30.18
and his house of
the priestly office,
00:09:30.21\00:09:33.48
which had formerly devolved
00:09:33.51\00:09:35.24
upon the first-born
son of every family,
00:09:35.27\00:09:38.81
had given rise to
jealousy and dissatisfaction."
00:09:38.84\00:09:45.97
So you see that those who
have been set aside as priests
00:09:46.00\00:09:50.76
were looked upon as rivals
by Korah, interestingly, enough.
00:09:50.79\00:09:58.04
Now the same thing
happened in heaven.
00:09:58.07\00:10:01.29
Lucifer desired the
position of the king.
00:10:01.32\00:10:07.67
He desired the position
of Jesus the spokesman of God
00:10:07.70\00:10:12.55
We all know the
verses of Isaiah 14:13, 14.
00:10:12.58\00:10:16.80
Now I'm gonna read those.
00:10:16.83\00:10:19.04
Speaking about Lucifer it says,
00:10:19.07\00:10:20.83
"For you have
said in your heart,
00:10:20.86\00:10:23.40
I will ascend into heaven,
00:10:23.43\00:10:25.94
I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God,
00:10:25.97\00:10:30.08
I will also sit on the
mount of the congregation
00:10:30.11\00:10:33.37
on the farthest
sides of the north.
00:10:33.40\00:10:36.39
I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds,
00:10:36.42\00:10:39.43
and I will be
like the Most High.'"
00:10:39.46\00:10:42.73
I'm not gonna be a
second-class citizen anymore.
00:10:42.76\00:10:45.46
I'm not happy with the
position of the covering cherub.
00:10:45.49\00:10:48.69
I want to be like Jesus.
00:10:48.72\00:10:50.84
And eventually, he
also wants to overthrow
00:10:50.87\00:10:53.91
the Father from his throne.
00:10:53.94\00:10:57.00
Ellen White perceptively
00:10:57.03\00:10:59.04
in Patriarchs
and Prophets Page 35
00:10:59.07\00:11:02.14
describes the
rebellion of Lucifer.
00:11:02.17\00:11:06.18
She says "Not
content with his position."
00:11:06.21\00:11:08.62
Did you see this parallel here?
00:11:08.65\00:11:10.08
"Not content with his position,
00:11:10.11\00:11:12.66
though honored
above the heavenly host."
00:11:12.69\00:11:15.73
As Korah was honored
above the congregation of Israel
00:11:15.76\00:11:21.42
"He ventured to covet
homage due alone to the Creator.
00:11:21.45\00:11:26.95
Instead of seeking to make
God supreme in the affections
00:11:26.98\00:11:31.01
and allegiance of
all created beings,
00:11:31.04\00:11:33.81
it was his endeavor
to secure their service
00:11:33.84\00:11:36.56
and loyalty to himself.
00:11:36.59\00:11:39.94
And coveting the glory
with which the infinite Father
00:11:39.97\00:11:44.30
had invested His Son,
00:11:44.33\00:11:46.44
this prince of
angels aspired to the power
00:11:46.47\00:11:51.06
that was the
prerogative of Christ alone."
00:11:51.09\00:11:55.84
Dissatisfied with his position
00:11:55.87\00:11:58.81
to which he had
been ordained by God
00:11:58.84\00:12:02.02
for which he had
been anointed by God
00:12:02.05\00:12:04.19
and aspiring to a higher office
00:12:04.22\00:12:07.62
and being unhappy
about the Father and the Son
00:12:07.65\00:12:10.30
having higher positions than he.
00:12:10.33\00:12:13.65
And so now a
secret conspiracy began.
00:12:13.68\00:12:18.60
It's described like this
00:12:18.63\00:12:20.13
in Patriarchs and
Prophets Page 395.
00:12:20.16\00:12:24.06
She says, "A deep-laid
conspiracy was formed."
00:12:24.09\00:12:29.81
And you can find this
in Numbers Chapter 16.
00:12:29.84\00:12:34.20
"The result of a
determined purpose to overthrow
00:12:34.23\00:12:39.49
the authority of the leaders
appointed by God Himself."
00:12:39.52\00:12:46.64
Notice the description
00:12:46.67\00:12:47.88
a deep-laid
conspiracy was formed
00:12:47.91\00:12:50.56
the result of a
determined purpose to overthrow
00:12:50.59\00:12:54.06
the authority of the leaders
appointed by God himself.
00:12:54.09\00:13:00.32
It's interesting to notice that,
00:13:00.35\00:13:01.77
Korah at first worked
undercover by using deception.
00:13:01.80\00:13:08.67
We find these words
00:13:08.70\00:13:09.73
in Patriarchs and
Prophets Page 395.
00:13:09.76\00:13:13.45
"For some time
Korah had been secretly
00:13:13.48\00:13:18.39
opposing the
authority of Moses and Aaron,
00:13:18.42\00:13:23.07
though he had not ventured
upon any open act of rebellion."
00:13:23.10\00:13:28.92
In other words he had
harbored these feelings
00:13:28.95\00:13:31.09
deep in his heart
secretly undercover
00:13:31.12\00:13:34.92
wanting to occupy the
position of Moses and Aaron.
00:13:34.95\00:13:38.57
Just like Lucifer wanted to
occupy the position of Jesus
00:13:38.60\00:13:43.19
and ultimately
the position of God.
00:13:43.22\00:13:46.43
In Patriarchs
and Prophets Page 37
00:13:46.46\00:13:49.24
Ellen White tells us
about Lucifer in heaven
00:13:49.27\00:13:52.90
"Lucifer went forth
to diffuse the spirit
00:13:52.93\00:13:57.48
of discontent among the angels."
00:13:57.51\00:14:00.24
And now notice this.
00:14:00.27\00:14:01.88
"He worked with
mysterious secrecy,
00:14:01.91\00:14:06.05
and for a time
concealed his real purpose
00:14:06.08\00:14:10.55
under an appearance
of reverence for God."
00:14:10.58\00:14:16.13
In other words he says,
00:14:16.16\00:14:17.19
I'm not really
fighting to overthrow God
00:14:17.22\00:14:20.43
I really want to improve
upon the government of God.
00:14:20.46\00:14:24.30
I'm doing this for the
good of God in other words,
00:14:24.33\00:14:27.47
but actually he is
opposing God as Korah
00:14:27.50\00:14:31.63
was opposing Moses and Aaron.
00:14:31.66\00:14:36.22
It's interesting, to notice that
00:14:36.25\00:14:38.73
Korah had a
couple of coconspirators
00:14:38.76\00:14:42.50
that are mentioned by name.
00:14:42.53\00:14:44.68
Their names are
Dathan and Abiram.
00:14:44.71\00:14:48.18
Interestingly
enough Dathan and Abiram
00:14:48.21\00:14:51.12
were actually from
the tribe of Reuben.
00:14:51.15\00:14:55.24
And Reuben was the
eldest son of Jacob.
00:14:55.27\00:14:58.40
And so they said, the eldest
son has the ruler ship function.
00:14:58.43\00:15:02.62
So we should be the ones sitting
00:15:02.65\00:15:05.61
upon the throne
instead of Moses.
00:15:05.64\00:15:09.83
And so now the feelings
00:15:09.86\00:15:12.14
that had begun
with Korah in his heart
00:15:12.17\00:15:15.24
which he had harbored
00:15:15.27\00:15:17.10
he begins whispering
among the leaders of Israel.
00:15:17.13\00:15:24.30
And we are told in
Patriarchs and Prophets Page 396
00:15:24.33\00:15:29.55
the following.
00:15:29.58\00:15:31.58
"Professing great interest
in the prosperity of the people,
00:15:31.61\00:15:38.08
they first whispered
their discontent to one another
00:15:38.11\00:15:43.95
and then to the
leading men of Israel."
00:15:43.98\00:15:48.64
So it starts with Korah.
00:15:48.67\00:15:50.96
He whispers it
to Dathan and Abiram
00:15:50.99\00:15:54.57
and then they
start whispering it
00:15:54.60\00:15:57.02
among other
prominent leaders in Israel
00:15:57.05\00:16:01.65
because in order for this
rebellion to be successful
00:16:01.68\00:16:04.71
they have to recruit followers.
00:16:04.74\00:16:07.68
And so we're told in Numbers 16
00:16:07.71\00:16:10.43
that they were
able to recruit 250
00:16:10.46\00:16:14.92
of the cream of
the crop of Israel.
00:16:14.95\00:16:20.86
We're told in Numbers 16
00:16:20.89\00:16:22.81
if you read with
me Numbers 16:2, 3.
00:16:22.84\00:16:27.92
"And they rose up before Moses
00:16:27.95\00:16:31.48
with some of the
children of Israel,
00:16:31.51\00:16:34.32
two hundred and fifty
leaders of the congregation,
00:16:34.35\00:16:38.47
representatives
of the congregation,
00:16:38.50\00:16:41.43
men of renown.
00:16:41.46\00:16:44.48
They gathered together
against Moses and Aaron,
00:16:44.51\00:16:47.90
and said to them,
00:16:47.93\00:16:49.67
'You take too
much upon yourselves,
00:16:49.70\00:16:53.32
for all the
congregation is holy,
00:16:53.35\00:16:57.45
every one of them, and
the Lord is among them.
00:16:57.48\00:17:01.95
Why then do you exalt
00:17:01.98\00:17:05.06
yourselves above the
congregation of the Lord?"
00:17:05.09\00:17:09.96
What you makes you
Moses think you're so great
00:17:09.99\00:17:13.05
that you can rule over Israel
00:17:13.08\00:17:15.22
and what makes you Aaron think
00:17:15.25\00:17:17.43
that you can be the only priest
00:17:17.46\00:17:20.07
along with your
household in Israel?
00:17:20.10\00:17:23.25
Don't laud it over the people.
00:17:23.28\00:17:26.73
Commenting about this
in Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:17:26.76\00:17:29.60
Page 396 Ellen White remarks,
00:17:29.63\00:17:33.59
"Korah and his
fellow conspirators were men
00:17:33.62\00:17:40.81
who had been favored
with special manifestations
00:17:40.84\00:17:45.08
of God's power and greatness."
00:17:45.11\00:17:47.56
Did you notice this?
00:17:47.59\00:17:49.13
They had been given
special manifestations
00:17:49.16\00:17:54.06
of God's power and greatness.
00:17:54.09\00:17:56.69
She continued saying,
"They were of the number
00:17:56.72\00:17:59.78
who went up with
Moses into the mount
00:17:59.81\00:18:03.00
and beheld the divine glory."
00:18:03.03\00:18:06.68
In other words they were
not the common folk of Israel
00:18:06.71\00:18:09.53
down in the
valley at Mount Sinai.
00:18:09.56\00:18:12.01
These 250 leaders had actually
00:18:12.04\00:18:14.14
gone all the way to
the top of Mount Sinai
00:18:14.17\00:18:16.69
and they had beheld
directly the glory of God.
00:18:16.72\00:18:22.13
You know, it makes
me think of Lucifer.
00:18:22.16\00:18:25.26
Lucifer had also been in
the very presence of God.
00:18:25.29\00:18:30.34
He had been next
to the throne of God.
00:18:30.37\00:18:33.57
He had actually
shared in a certain sense
00:18:33.60\00:18:36.32
the glory of the throne of God
00:18:36.35\00:18:39.33
just like these
leaders in Israel.
00:18:39.36\00:18:44.19
Now what actually did
Korah, Dathan and Abiram
00:18:44.22\00:18:48.04
and the 250 leaders want?
00:18:48.07\00:18:51.16
Actually, what they wanted to do
00:18:51.19\00:18:52.83
was supposedly to
improve the government.
00:18:52.86\00:18:57.53
They actually wanted
to get rid of the laws
00:18:57.56\00:19:00.14
which restricted
the freedom of Israel.
00:19:00.17\00:19:03.41
In Patriarchs and
Prophets Page 397,
00:19:03.44\00:19:06.71
we find these words.
00:19:06.74\00:19:08.83
"They felt confident
of making a radical change
00:19:08.86\00:19:15.85
in the government
and greatly improving
00:19:15.88\00:19:20.60
upon the administration
of Moses and Aaron."
00:19:20.63\00:19:26.92
What is that they wanted to do?
00:19:26.95\00:19:29.45
Supposedly they wanted
to improve the government
00:19:29.48\00:19:33.34
make a radical
change in the government
00:19:33.37\00:19:36.07
and they wanted to improve
00:19:36.10\00:19:37.75
the administration
of Moses and Aaron.
00:19:37.78\00:19:41.49
And so now they start
repeating among the people
00:19:41.52\00:19:44.34
you know Moses and
Aaron they lauded over you,
00:19:44.37\00:19:47.49
they command you.
00:19:47.52\00:19:48.94
You know, if you really
accepting our leadership
00:19:48.97\00:19:52.59
thinks would go much better
00:19:52.62\00:19:54.23
and you would have
a lot more freedom.
00:19:54.26\00:19:59.42
And soon the
people started repeating
00:19:59.45\00:20:01.27
what they heard
from the leaders.
00:20:01.30\00:20:03.65
And then the leaders said,
00:20:03.68\00:20:04.71
see the people
feel the same way we do.
00:20:04.74\00:20:08.29
But the leaders had
planted this in the minds
00:20:08.32\00:20:11.03
of the people already.
00:20:11.06\00:20:12.28
So it wasn't the attitude
of the people originally
00:20:12.31\00:20:14.78
it was the
attitude of the leaders.
00:20:14.81\00:20:17.25
Speaking about the
rebellion of Lucifer in heaven
00:20:17.28\00:20:20.74
we find something very similar.
00:20:20.77\00:20:23.41
These words come from Patriarchs
and Prophets, Page 37.
00:20:23.44\00:20:27.10
Speaking about Lucifer
00:20:27.13\00:20:28.52
"He began to insinuate
doubts concerning the laws
00:20:28.55\00:20:33.44
that governed heavenly beings,
00:20:33.47\00:20:36.51
intimating that though
laws might be necessary
00:20:36.54\00:20:40.04
for the
inhabitants of the worlds,
00:20:40.07\00:20:42.68
angels, being more exalted,
needed no such restraint,
00:20:42.71\00:20:48.41
for their own wisdom
was a sufficient guide.
00:20:48.44\00:20:52.96
They were not beings that
could bring dishonor to God
00:20:52.99\00:20:56.18
all their thoughts were holy."
00:20:56.21\00:20:58.83
Interesting expression
because Korah and Dathan
00:20:58.86\00:21:01.97
and Abiram says all
of the people are what?
00:21:02.00\00:21:04.72
All of the people are holy.
00:21:04.75\00:21:07.36
"All there thoughts were holy,
00:21:07.39\00:21:09.86
it was no more
plausible for them
00:21:09.89\00:21:12.15
then for God himself to err.
00:21:12.18\00:21:15.21
The exaltation of the Son of
God has equal with the father
00:21:15.24\00:21:19.03
was represented as
an injustice to Lucifer,
00:21:19.06\00:21:22.54
who, it was claimed, was also
entitled to reverence and honor.
00:21:22.57\00:21:28.54
If this prince of angels
could but attain to his true,
00:21:28.57\00:21:32.51
exalted position,
great good would accrue
00:21:32.54\00:21:37.22
to the entire host of
heaven for it was his object
00:21:37.25\00:21:41.63
to secure the freedom for all.
00:21:41.66\00:21:45.63
But now even the liberty
00:21:45.66\00:21:47.66
which they had
hitherto enjoyed was at an end
00:21:47.69\00:21:51.58
for an absolute Ruler
had been appointed them,
00:21:51.61\00:21:55.12
and to His authority
all must pay homage."
00:21:55.15\00:22:00.76
So as what Lucifer is saying is
00:22:00.79\00:22:03.05
God and his Son
Jesus are dictators.
00:22:03.08\00:22:07.12
And we need to
overthrow those dictators
00:22:07.15\00:22:09.28
and if we do things will improve
00:22:09.31\00:22:12.13
we'll have liberty and freedom
00:22:12.16\00:22:14.37
and everything
will function better.
00:22:14.40\00:22:18.24
Patriarchs and Prophets Page 38,
00:22:18.27\00:22:21.53
Ellen White amplifies
this rebellion in heaven.
00:22:21.56\00:22:25.21
"He cunningly drew his hearers
00:22:25.24\00:22:29.68
on to give
utterance to their feelings,
00:22:29.71\00:22:32.94
then these
expressions were repeated by him
00:22:32.97\00:22:36.19
when it would serve his purpose,
00:22:36.22\00:22:38.26
as evidence that the
angels were not fully in harmony
00:22:38.29\00:22:42.84
with the government of God.
00:22:42.87\00:22:44.87
While claiming for
himself perfect loyalty to God,
00:22:44.90\00:22:48.83
he urged that
changes in the order
00:22:48.86\00:22:53.34
and laws of
heaven were necessary
00:22:53.37\00:22:56.86
for the stability of
the divine government."
00:22:56.89\00:23:01.98
Do you see how things
are developing on earth
00:23:02.01\00:23:05.87
just like they
developed originally in heaven
00:23:05.90\00:23:08.68
because the prince of darkness
was behind both rebellions?
00:23:08.71\00:23:13.89
And so now Korah
would have began with Korah
00:23:13.92\00:23:16.69
and continued
with Dathan and Abiram
00:23:16.72\00:23:19.36
and continued
with a 250 princess
00:23:19.39\00:23:22.38
now begins to
spread among the people.
00:23:22.41\00:23:27.19
In fact, there was
envy that led Korah to rebel
00:23:27.22\00:23:30.40
against the
authority of Moses and Aaron.
00:23:30.43\00:23:32.56
Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 37
00:23:32.59\00:23:34.84
tells us "Jealousy
had given rise to envy
00:23:34.87\00:23:38.93
and envy to rebellion."
00:23:38.96\00:23:42.00
In the same way Story
of Redemption Page 14,
00:23:42.03\00:23:45.14
Ellen White says
"Lucifer was envious
00:23:45.17\00:23:47.77
and jealous of Jesus Christ."
00:23:47.80\00:23:50.88
And so now these
leaders have to recruit
00:23:50.91\00:23:53.58
people from
among the congregation
00:23:53.61\00:23:55.82
to proliferate the rebellion.
00:23:55.85\00:23:59.39
And they felt that the
best way to win them over
00:23:59.42\00:24:03.58
was to flatter them
and make them feel good
00:24:03.61\00:24:07.88
about themselves
and make them think
00:24:07.91\00:24:11.38
that Moses was an
overbearing leader
00:24:11.41\00:24:16.06
who needed to be
thrown of the throne.
00:24:16.09\00:24:20.66
I read from Patriarchs
and Prophets, Page 398,
00:24:20.69\00:24:24.43
"Korah's success with the
people increased his confidence
00:24:24.46\00:24:29.09
and confirmed him in his belief
00:24:29.12\00:24:32.72
that the usurpation
of authority by Moses,
00:24:32.75\00:24:36.61
if unchecked, would be fatal
to the liberties of Israel."
00:24:36.64\00:24:41.36
In other words if they
still kept Moses on the throne
00:24:41.39\00:24:43.91
this would be a risk to
the liberties of Israel.
00:24:43.94\00:24:47.62
"He also claimed that God
had opened the matter to him,
00:24:47.65\00:24:52.37
and had authorized him
to make" and now notice this
00:24:52.40\00:24:55.99
"to make a
change in the government
00:24:56.02\00:24:59.06
before it should be too late."
00:24:59.09\00:25:03.34
In other words Korah is saying,
00:25:03.37\00:25:05.23
if I could be
placed on the throne
00:25:05.26\00:25:08.11
everything would
function well in Israel.
00:25:08.14\00:25:11.67
I wouldn't be dictatorial.
00:25:11.70\00:25:13.42
I wouldn't tell you what to do.
00:25:13.45\00:25:15.22
Everybody would be free
to follow their own will.
00:25:15.25\00:25:19.87
There would be freedom indeed.
00:25:19.90\00:25:23.45
Patriarchs and
Prophets, Page 398,
00:25:23.48\00:25:27.47
we find that the rebellion now
00:25:27.50\00:25:30.44
proliferates
among the congregation.
00:25:30.47\00:25:32.55
It says "For a while
00:25:32.58\00:25:34.34
the work of Korah had
been carried out secretly,
00:25:34.37\00:25:38.51
but now he came
forward publicly."
00:25:38.54\00:25:40.93
Notice that first
of all it was secret,
00:25:40.96\00:25:42.68
it was underhanded it
was quite but now it says,
00:25:42.71\00:25:46.45
"He came forward
publicly and openly challenged
00:25:46.48\00:25:50.83
the leadership
of Moses and Aaron.
00:25:50.86\00:25:53.77
He openly charged that
the people had been deprived
00:25:53.80\00:25:58.32
of their liberty
and independence."
00:25:58.35\00:26:02.59
And so now the
secret underhanded rebellion
00:26:02.62\00:26:05.79
becomes open rupture and revolt
00:26:05.82\00:26:10.81
among the children of Israel
00:26:10.84\00:26:12.62
and the congregation
begins taking sides.
00:26:12.65\00:26:17.01
I'd like to read an
interesting statement
00:26:17.04\00:26:19.02
from Patriarchs and--
00:26:19.05\00:26:20.08
actually it's from
Volume 3 of the Testimonies
00:26:20.11\00:26:21.93
where the strategy of Korah,
Dathan and Abiram is described,
00:26:21.96\00:26:28.32
how they were able
to win over the people.
00:26:28.35\00:26:32.39
It says there, "There is nothing
00:26:32.42\00:26:35.38
which will
please the people better
00:26:35.41\00:26:38.23
than to be praised and flattered
00:26:38.26\00:26:40.50
when they are in darkness
00:26:40.53\00:26:41.98
and wrong, and deserve reproof."
00:26:42.01\00:26:44.20
By the way this is
happening immediately after
00:26:44.23\00:26:46.52
Israel has been
excluded from the land of Canaan
00:26:46.55\00:26:48.99
if you look at the context.
00:26:49.02\00:26:50.99
Moses says, we're not
going to going to Canaan now,
00:26:51.02\00:26:52.90
we're gonna spend 40
years in the wilderness.
00:26:52.93\00:26:56.25
And the people
sent in a delegation
00:26:56.28\00:26:58.02
and they were
defeated in the Promised Land.
00:26:58.05\00:27:01.04
And so they came back and cried,
00:27:01.07\00:27:02.52
they said Moses
is to blame for this.
00:27:02.55\00:27:04.94
See if we didn't
have Moses as our leader
00:27:04.97\00:27:06.89
Korah said I would take
you into the Promised Land.
00:27:06.92\00:27:10.40
And so the people
didn't want to hear
00:27:10.43\00:27:11.85
that they didn't go
into the Promised Land
00:27:11.88\00:27:13.36
because it was so bad
00:27:13.39\00:27:14.67
because they
sinned against Lord.
00:27:14.70\00:27:16.08
They wanted to
hear how good they were.
00:27:16.11\00:27:18.57
She continues saying
00:27:18.60\00:27:20.18
"Korah gained the
ears of the people,
00:27:20.21\00:27:24.70
and next their sympathies,
00:27:24.73\00:27:28.14
by representing Moses
as an overbearing leader.
00:27:28.17\00:27:33.49
He said that he was too harsh,
00:27:33.52\00:27:35.93
too exacting, too dictatorial,
00:27:35.96\00:27:40.99
and that he
reproved the people as though
00:27:41.02\00:27:43.59
they were sinners when
they were a holy people,
00:27:43.62\00:27:47.35
sanctified to the Lord,
and the Lord was among them.
00:27:47.38\00:27:52.76
Korah, the leading spirit,
00:27:52.79\00:27:55.21
professed great wisdom in
discerning the true reason
00:27:55.24\00:27:59.60
for their trials
and afflictions."
00:27:59.63\00:28:03.28
So the way in which Korah
00:28:03.31\00:28:04.99
was able to win
over many of the people
00:28:05.02\00:28:07.47
was unflattering them
00:28:07.50\00:28:09.34
and telling them
what they wanted to hear,
00:28:09.37\00:28:12.21
to make feel good about
themselves if you please.
00:28:12.24\00:28:16.99
And so multitudes among Israel
00:28:17.02\00:28:19.74
now started
joining the rebellion.
00:28:19.77\00:28:22.86
In fact, in Patriarchs
and Prophets, Page 400
00:28:22.89\00:28:25.61
we are told "A large
part of the congregation
00:28:25.64\00:28:29.72
openly sided with Korah."
00:28:29.75\00:28:33.63
Now what have
been very easy for God
00:28:33.66\00:28:36.33
to simply snuff out Korah,
00:28:36.36\00:28:39.15
Dathan and Abiram,
the 250 and all of those
00:28:39.18\00:28:43.24
who had
participated in this rebellion
00:28:43.27\00:28:47.38
but it's interesting to notice
00:28:47.41\00:28:48.77
that God did not
destroy them immediately.
00:28:48.80\00:28:52.81
Because it was
necessary for Israel to see
00:28:52.84\00:28:55.60
the fruits of this rebellion
before they were destroyed.
00:28:55.63\00:29:00.71
Interestingly, enough
00:29:00.74\00:29:02.70
when Lucifer rebelled in
heaven God did not destroy him
00:29:02.73\00:29:07.09
and those who he
recruited all at once.
00:29:07.12\00:29:10.62
In fact, we are told in
Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:29:10.65\00:29:12.60
Page 41,
00:29:12.63\00:29:13.98
"God permitted Satan
to carry forward his work
00:29:14.01\00:29:17.93
until his spirit of disaffection
00:29:17.96\00:29:21.12
ripened into active revolt."
00:29:21.15\00:29:26.04
And Revelation
Chapter 12 tells us
00:29:26.07\00:29:28.64
that there was war in heaven.
00:29:28.67\00:29:32.23
"Michael and his
angels fought with the dragon,
00:29:32.26\00:29:34.73
and the dragon and
his angels fought."
00:29:34.76\00:29:37.82
What has began as a
secret underhanded endeavor
00:29:37.85\00:29:41.97
now became open revolt
00:29:42.00\00:29:45.97
both in the days of
Korah and also in heaven.
00:29:46.00\00:29:51.52
Now how did Moses
confront this crisis in Israel?
00:29:51.55\00:29:58.79
We might have thought that
Moses would have stepped forward
00:29:58.82\00:30:01.24
and said Korah,
Dathan and Abiram,
00:30:01.27\00:30:04.09
"folks you want to
know who I'm? I'm Moses.
00:30:04.12\00:30:10.42
I have been called by the Lord.
00:30:10.45\00:30:13.58
I'm the ruler of the Israel.
00:30:13.61\00:30:16.55
And don't you forget it."
00:30:16.58\00:30:19.09
He could have done that
00:30:19.12\00:30:21.01
but do you know
that Moses actually
00:30:21.04\00:30:22.62
didn't even defend himself.
00:30:22.65\00:30:25.37
He must allow God to defend
and describe his position.
00:30:25.40\00:30:31.95
Notice Numbers
16:4-5, Numbers 16:4-5,
00:30:31.98\00:30:37.41
it says "So when Moses heard it,
00:30:37.44\00:30:41.67
he fell on his face
and he spoke to Korah
00:30:41.70\00:30:45.54
and all his company, saying,
00:30:45.57\00:30:48.53
'Tomorrow morning the
Lord will show who is His"
00:30:48.56\00:30:52.10
who will show?
The Lord will show.
00:30:52.13\00:30:55.15
"Who is His and who is holy,
00:30:55.18\00:30:58.24
and he will cause
him to come near to Him.
00:30:58.27\00:31:02.25
That one whom He chooses
00:31:02.28\00:31:05.01
He will cause to
come near to Him."
00:31:05.04\00:31:09.89
Interesting,
00:31:09.92\00:31:11.32
Ellen White commenting on this
00:31:11.35\00:31:13.41
in Patriarchs and
Prophets, Page 400
00:31:13.44\00:31:16.03
has this to say, "It was evident
00:31:16.06\00:31:19.44
that the
sympathies of the people
00:31:19.47\00:31:21.83
were with the disaffected party
00:31:21.86\00:31:24.50
but Moses made no
effort at self-vindication.
00:31:24.53\00:31:29.75
He solemnly appealed to God,
00:31:29.78\00:31:32.52
in the presence
of the congregation,
00:31:32.55\00:31:34.95
as a witness to the
purity of his motives
00:31:34.98\00:31:37.61
and the
uprightness of his conduct,
00:31:37.64\00:31:40.26
and implored Him
to be his judge."
00:31:40.29\00:31:46.55
Now if you remember when
Lucifer rebelled in heaven
00:31:46.58\00:31:50.32
when his position was questioned
00:31:50.35\00:31:54.19
what did Jesus say?
00:31:54.22\00:31:56.56
He said to Lucifer,
don't you know who I'm.
00:31:56.59\00:32:00.39
I'm the son of the living God.
00:32:00.42\00:32:03.72
I'm your creator.
00:32:03.75\00:32:07.55
How dare you think that
you can take My position
00:32:07.58\00:32:10.18
and my throne is
that what happened? No.
00:32:10.21\00:32:13.38
Actually in
Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:32:13.41\00:32:15.07
Page 36 a statement
00:32:15.10\00:32:16.71
which is rather long
I'm not gonna read it.
00:32:16.74\00:32:19.59
Ellen White says that the Father
00:32:19.62\00:32:21.88
called all of the
heavenly hosts together
00:32:21.91\00:32:24.61
just like the congregation
of Israel is called together.
00:32:24.64\00:32:27.82
And now God the
Father explained the position
00:32:27.85\00:32:33.07
of Jesus Christ to
the heavenly hosts.
00:32:33.10\00:32:36.46
Jesus did not
self-vindicate Himself
00:32:36.49\00:32:40.37
but He allowed His Father
to explain His true position.
00:32:40.40\00:32:46.28
Now you might be wondering
00:32:46.31\00:32:47.34
what was so terrible about Korah
00:32:47.37\00:32:51.96
and the 250 leaders in
Israel wanting to be priests.
00:32:51.99\00:32:56.73
What so bad about that?
00:32:56.76\00:32:58.46
Shouldn't you aspire
to a high and holy office?
00:32:58.49\00:33:02.69
Allow me to read
from Numbers 16:9-11
00:33:02.72\00:33:06.11
where the issue was--
00:33:06.14\00:33:07.61
because we're gonna
come now to the application
00:33:07.64\00:33:09.70
how this applies to us today
00:33:09.73\00:33:12.13
because this whole story
00:33:12.16\00:33:13.67
is written many
times in the church.
00:33:13.70\00:33:17.20
Now notice Numbers 16:9-11.
00:33:17.23\00:33:20.66
Here Moses is
speaking and he says this,
00:33:20.69\00:33:23.57
"Is it a small thing to you
00:33:23.60\00:33:26.82
that the God of
Israel has separated you
00:33:26.85\00:33:29.57
from the congregation of Israel,
00:33:29.60\00:33:32.16
to bring you near to Himself,
00:33:32.19\00:33:34.89
to do the work of the
tabernacle of the Lord,
00:33:34.92\00:33:38.32
and to stand before the
congregation to serve them."
00:33:38.35\00:33:42.73
In other words, you
think it's a small office
00:33:42.76\00:33:44.68
that God has
called you to as Levites?
00:33:44.71\00:33:48.81
Continues saying in verse 10.
00:33:48.84\00:33:51.51
"And that He has
brought you near to Himself,
00:33:51.54\00:33:54.70
you and all your brethren,
the sons of Levi, with you?
00:33:54.73\00:33:59.22
And are you seeking
the priesthood also?"
00:33:59.25\00:34:03.33
What were they doing?
00:34:03.36\00:34:05.19
They were dissatisfied
with their position.
00:34:05.22\00:34:08.79
They wanted an office
00:34:08.82\00:34:10.05
to which God
had not called them.
00:34:10.08\00:34:14.58
They might have had the
necessary qualifications
00:34:14.61\00:34:17.01
and the necessary
abilities to perform it
00:34:17.04\00:34:19.75
but that made no difference
00:34:19.78\00:34:20.98
because they had not
been called to that position.
00:34:21.01\00:34:25.41
In other words, aren't you
satisfied with the position
00:34:25.44\00:34:27.55
that God has given you?
00:34:27.58\00:34:28.61
Why do you aspire
to the priesthood?
00:34:28.64\00:34:32.59
In verse 11 it says
00:34:32.62\00:34:33.82
"Therefore you
and all your company
00:34:33.85\00:34:36.63
are gathered together"
and I want you to notice this
00:34:36.66\00:34:39.49
"are gathered
together against the Lord.
00:34:39.52\00:34:44.23
And what is Aaron that
you murmur against him?"
00:34:44.26\00:34:48.89
Who are they rising against
00:34:48.92\00:34:50.61
when they desired the
office of the priesthood
00:34:50.64\00:34:53.27
and they were not
satisfied with the office
00:34:53.30\00:34:55.56
to which God had called them?
00:34:55.59\00:34:58.84
They were
rebelling against the Lord.
00:34:58.87\00:35:01.99
They were repeating the
story of Lucifer in heaven
00:35:02.02\00:35:05.15
who was
dissatisfied with the position
00:35:05.18\00:35:07.31
for which God had anointed him
00:35:07.34\00:35:09.25
and he wanted a higher position.
00:35:09.28\00:35:11.52
He wanted the
position of the king
00:35:11.55\00:35:13.87
and he wanted the
position of his spokesman.
00:35:13.90\00:35:18.44
You see, only ministers
which have been ordained
00:35:18.47\00:35:23.49
by God for that function
00:35:23.52\00:35:25.95
had the right to
minister in the sanctuary.
00:35:25.98\00:35:31.39
They did not
seek their position.
00:35:31.42\00:35:34.68
They did not
campaign for their position.
00:35:34.71\00:35:38.49
They were called
by God to their office
00:35:38.52\00:35:41.78
and all of the rest no
matter what their ability was,
00:35:41.81\00:35:45.34
were disqualified
00:35:45.37\00:35:47.69
because they were not
called to that holy office.
00:35:47.72\00:35:52.66
I'm sure that many
of those 250 individuals
00:35:52.69\00:35:55.51
were very well
qualified and had the ability
00:35:55.54\00:35:58.43
to perform the
work of the priesthood
00:35:58.46\00:36:01.64
in terms of being able to do it
00:36:01.67\00:36:04.06
but what disqualified
them or qualified them
00:36:04.09\00:36:07.21
was not whether
they were able to do it
00:36:07.24\00:36:10.07
or not whether they
could it well or not
00:36:10.10\00:36:13.21
it was whether
God had called them
00:36:13.24\00:36:15.03
to that particular
function and position.
00:36:15.06\00:36:19.96
They were disqualified
not because of their abilities
00:36:19.99\00:36:23.34
they were disqualified
because God had not called them
00:36:23.37\00:36:27.31
to this sacred office.
00:36:27.34\00:36:30.59
And the same was
true with Lucifer.
00:36:30.62\00:36:32.89
He was called to
a specific position
00:36:32.92\00:36:36.43
to occupy under the leadership
00:36:36.46\00:36:38.78
of God the Father
and his Son Jesus.
00:36:38.81\00:36:41.57
Just like Korah was
to be and the Levites
00:36:41.60\00:36:44.28
were to be under the
direction of Moses as the ruler
00:36:44.31\00:36:48.52
and Aaron as the priest.
00:36:48.55\00:36:51.90
It's interesting to notice
how God chose to vindicate
00:36:51.93\00:36:55.93
the leadership
of Moses and Aaron
00:36:55.96\00:36:58.77
and you know this
is something terrible.
00:36:58.80\00:37:00.73
You know that these are
the passages of scripture
00:37:00.76\00:37:02.95
that we don't we like to read
00:37:02.98\00:37:04.10
when we talk about
the character of God.
00:37:04.13\00:37:06.07
You know we like
to study the gospels
00:37:06.10\00:37:08.27
you know about Jesus being loved
00:37:08.30\00:37:09.95
and by the way
God has loved even
00:37:09.98\00:37:11.82
and what we're
going to read about
00:37:11.85\00:37:14.29
because when you
start aspiring into position
00:37:14.32\00:37:16.51
for which God has not called
you the result is disorder.
00:37:16.54\00:37:21.92
See, God has
established a certain order
00:37:21.95\00:37:24.16
for things to function properly
00:37:24.19\00:37:26.08
and when you try
to occupy a position
00:37:26.11\00:37:28.69
that you were not
been called for to
00:37:28.72\00:37:31.83
then your
position is left vacant
00:37:31.86\00:37:33.79
and the result is
chaos in the congregation,
00:37:33.82\00:37:36.83
chaos in the universe.
00:37:36.86\00:37:38.33
You see the angels
they fulfilled the mission
00:37:38.36\00:37:40.63
for which God has called them.
00:37:40.66\00:37:42.33
And there are
different ranks of angels.
00:37:42.36\00:37:44.74
And all of the loyal
angels fulfill the role
00:37:44.77\00:37:47.41
that God has called them to.
00:37:47.44\00:37:48.56
They don't aspire to a
higher or to a lower position.
00:37:48.59\00:37:51.70
They simply take
their orders from the Lord.
00:37:51.73\00:37:53.76
Notice, Numbers 16:29-30.
00:37:53.79\00:37:58.10
Here Moses is
speaking and he says this,
00:37:58.13\00:38:00.35
"If these men die
naturally like all men."
00:38:00.38\00:38:04.94
As if they a natural death
00:38:04.97\00:38:06.79
all though there is
nothing natural about death.
00:38:06.82\00:38:09.81
"Or if they are visited by
the common fate of all men."
00:38:09.84\00:38:13.16
In other words, they
pass-away because they got old.
00:38:13.19\00:38:17.30
"Then the Lord has not sent me.
00:38:17.33\00:38:22.56
But if the Lord
creates a new thing,
00:38:22.59\00:38:25.95
and the earth opens its
mouth and swallows them up
00:38:25.98\00:38:29.92
with all that belongs to them,
00:38:29.95\00:38:32.91
and they don't go
down alive into the pit."
00:38:32.94\00:38:37.03
That's a very important
expression "alive into the pit."
00:38:37.06\00:38:40.16
"Then you will understand
00:38:40.19\00:38:43.00
that these men
have rejected the Lord."
00:38:43.03\00:38:46.95
Who were they rejecting
by aspiring to an office
00:38:46.98\00:38:49.50
to which God
had not called them?
00:38:49.53\00:38:51.56
They were rejecting the Lord.
00:38:51.59\00:38:53.51
This is serious
folks, very serious.
00:38:53.54\00:38:57.84
And do you know what happened?
00:38:57.87\00:39:00.04
It tells us in
Numbers Chapter 16
00:39:00.07\00:39:02.45
that "they did not
die a natural death."
00:39:02.48\00:39:06.12
In fact we are told
00:39:06.15\00:39:08.80
that "God
vindicated the leadership
00:39:08.83\00:39:12.74
of Moses and Aaron by
making the earth open up
00:39:12.77\00:39:17.66
and swallow up Korah
and the conspirators,
00:39:17.69\00:39:22.74
the fellow conspirators
were burned with fire
00:39:22.77\00:39:27.25
that fell from
heaven and the people
00:39:27.28\00:39:30.48
who sympathized
with them also perished."
00:39:30.51\00:39:33.44
You know this is
a serious matter,
00:39:33.47\00:39:37.13
this aspiring into a position
00:39:37.16\00:39:39.21
which God has not called you to,
00:39:39.24\00:39:41.30
even if you have
the qualifications
00:39:41.33\00:39:43.07
to perform it.
00:39:43.10\00:39:45.80
Now let's read
Numbers Chapter 16
00:39:45.83\00:39:47.98
beginning with verse 31.
00:39:48.01\00:39:50.08
It describes this moment.
00:39:50.11\00:39:51.78
It says "Now it came to pass,
00:39:51.81\00:39:53.40
as he finished
speaking all these words,
00:39:53.43\00:39:55.82
that the ground
split apart under them,
00:39:55.85\00:39:59.83
and the earth opened its
mouth and swallowed them up,
00:39:59.86\00:40:04.03
with their households
and all the men with Korah,
00:40:04.06\00:40:08.38
with all their goods.
00:40:08.41\00:40:10.70
So they and all those with them
went down alive into the pit."
00:40:10.73\00:40:15.31
I want you to remember
expression alive into the pit.
00:40:15.34\00:40:18.80
"The earth closed over them,
00:40:18.83\00:40:21.23
and they perished from
among the congregation.
00:40:21.26\00:40:25.25
Then all Israel who were
around them fled at their cry,
00:40:25.28\00:40:29.36
for they said, 'Lest the
earth swallow us up also!"
00:40:29.39\00:40:33.80
And notice that
not only did the earth,
00:40:33.83\00:40:36.05
the pit or the
abyss swallows them up
00:40:36.08\00:40:38.66
But it says, "And a
fire came out from the Lord
00:40:38.69\00:40:41.83
and consumed the two
hundred and fifty men
00:40:41.86\00:40:44.98
who were offering
incense before the Lord."
00:40:45.01\00:40:50.73
I guess God takes
very seriously people
00:40:50.76\00:40:53.46
who officiate as ministers
00:40:53.49\00:40:55.41
when they are not
called to be ministers.
00:40:55.44\00:41:00.03
And he wanted God, he
wanted Israel to remember this.
00:41:00.06\00:41:04.34
And so do you know what was done
00:41:04.37\00:41:06.24
with the 250 sensors
because the story says that,
00:41:06.27\00:41:09.81
that the 250
princess brought their senses
00:41:09.84\00:41:12.49
and they were gonna offer
00:41:12.52\00:41:13.81
the incense in the
sanctuary just like priests.
00:41:13.84\00:41:16.92
And Moses said,
"Bring your sensors."
00:41:16.95\00:41:18.90
And that's when
they were swallowed up
00:41:18.93\00:41:20.79
when they were gonna
exercise the position
00:41:20.82\00:41:22.85
for which God
had not called them.
00:41:22.88\00:41:25.52
Do you know what was
done with the sensors?
00:41:25.55\00:41:28.08
The sensors were hammered out
00:41:28.11\00:41:31.56
and they were used as
a covering for the altar
00:41:31.59\00:41:34.85
so that every time that
Israel contemplated the metal
00:41:34.88\00:41:42.79
that had been hammered out
00:41:42.82\00:41:45.30
and that covered the altar
00:41:45.33\00:41:46.91
they would
remember this rebellion
00:41:46.94\00:41:50.42
so that they would not
repeat the same rebellion.
00:41:50.45\00:41:53.39
In fact, it says
00:41:53.42\00:41:56.97
about hammering
out these sensors
00:41:57.00\00:42:00.08
to be a memorial to
the children of Israel.
00:42:00.11\00:42:03.14
Now listen to
this that "no outsider,
00:42:03.17\00:42:07.67
who is not of the
descendants of Aaron,
00:42:07.70\00:42:10.61
should come near to
offer incense before the Lord
00:42:10.64\00:42:14.22
that he might not become
like Korah and his companions
00:42:14.25\00:42:18.25
just as the Lord had
said to him through Moses."
00:42:18.28\00:42:23.67
And so the leadership of
Moses and Aaron was vindicated.
00:42:23.70\00:42:29.57
Have you ever read the way
00:42:29.60\00:42:31.99
in which Satan and his followers
will come to their end?
00:42:32.02\00:42:36.95
In Isaiah 14:15, it says
00:42:36.98\00:42:40.12
"that Satan will end
up swallowed in the pit."
00:42:40.15\00:42:45.02
And Revelation
Chapter 20 in several verses
00:42:45.05\00:42:48.28
speaks about those who are
rebellious against the Lord
00:42:48.31\00:42:51.81
who were outside the
congregation of Israel
00:42:51.84\00:42:54.15
says fire came down from
heaven and devoured them.
00:42:54.18\00:43:00.61
Now do you know
that this story as I,
00:43:00.64\00:43:02.76
as we have noticed in our study
00:43:02.79\00:43:05.18
is actually a type
of the great controversy
00:43:05.21\00:43:07.63
between Christ and
Satan on a narrow scale.
00:43:07.66\00:43:11.34
Allow me to read you a statement
00:43:11.37\00:43:12.76
that we find in Patriarchs
and Prophets, Page 403
00:43:12.79\00:43:17.15
where Ellen White
grasps this parallel
00:43:17.18\00:43:19.24
that I'm sharing
with you this morning.
00:43:19.27\00:43:20.85
It's not an invention of mind
00:43:20.88\00:43:22.93
it's actually found in
Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:43:22.96\00:43:25.33
This is what she says,
00:43:25.36\00:43:26.69
"In the rebellion of
Korah is seen the working out,
00:43:26.72\00:43:31.73
upon a narrower
stage, of the same spirit
00:43:31.76\00:43:36.48
that led to the
rebellion of Satan in heaven.
00:43:36.51\00:43:40.54
It was pride and
ambition that prompted Lucifer
00:43:40.57\00:43:44.72
to complain of
the government of God,
00:43:44.75\00:43:47.40
and to seek the
overthrow of the order
00:43:47.43\00:43:50.42
which had been
established in heaven.
00:43:50.45\00:43:52.89
Since his fall it has
been his object to infuse
00:43:52.92\00:43:56.45
the same spirit of
envy and discontent,
00:43:56.48\00:43:58.71
the same ambition
for position and honor,
00:43:58.74\00:44:02.20
into the minds of men.
00:44:02.23\00:44:04.15
He thus worked upon the minds
of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram,
00:44:04.18\00:44:08.59
to arouse the
desire for self-exaltation
00:44:08.62\00:44:12.63
and excite envy,
distrust, and rebellion.
00:44:12.66\00:44:16.85
Satan caused them to
reject God as their leader,
00:44:16.88\00:44:20.50
by rejecting the men
of God's appointment.
00:44:20.53\00:44:24.98
Yet while in their murmuring
against Moses and Aaron
00:44:25.01\00:44:27.63
they blasphemed
God, they were so deluded
00:44:27.66\00:44:31.38
as to think
themselves righteous,
00:44:31.41\00:44:33.44
and to regard those who had
faithfully reproved their sins
00:44:33.47\00:44:37.18
as actuated by Satan."
00:44:37.21\00:44:42.93
Is His spirit still alive
00:44:42.96\00:44:45.28
and dwell on
planet today? Absolutely.
00:44:45.31\00:44:51.49
Now allow me to give you some
00:44:51.52\00:44:54.60
actual
practical present examples
00:44:54.63\00:45:02.08
and I'm going to get myself
00:45:02.11\00:45:03.14
in a little bit of
hot water right now.
00:45:03.17\00:45:05.80
This is an issue which I
don't usually touch upon,
00:45:05.83\00:45:12.81
the issue of the ordination
of women to the gospel ministry.
00:45:12.84\00:45:19.10
According to the
scriptures has God called
00:45:19.13\00:45:22.74
women to be ordained to
the gospel ministry? No.
00:45:22.77\00:45:29.18
Has He given women a function,
00:45:29.21\00:45:31.91
a very important function
of service in the church?
00:45:31.94\00:45:35.69
Absolutely, like the Levites
00:45:35.72\00:45:39.85
but he has not
called them to be ministers,
00:45:39.88\00:45:45.98
Gospel ministers.
00:45:46.01\00:45:50.45
And you know people
00:45:50.48\00:45:51.52
who argue in favor of
the ordination of women say
00:45:51.55\00:45:53.98
women can do things
just as well as men can.
00:45:54.01\00:45:57.37
True, I'm sure
many of the Levites
00:45:57.40\00:46:00.89
could do things just
as well as the priest
00:46:00.92\00:46:06.59
but what disqualified
them was not ability
00:46:06.62\00:46:09.61
or not having ability
what disqualified them
00:46:09.64\00:46:12.19
was the fact that God
had not called the Levites
00:46:12.22\00:46:17.29
to that particular
branch of ministry.
00:46:17.32\00:46:19.46
It didn't mean
that they were inferior
00:46:19.49\00:46:21.34
but they had a different what?
00:46:21.37\00:46:23.14
They had a different function.
00:46:23.17\00:46:25.80
And, you know, this
falls issue is created
00:46:25.83\00:46:28.56
that the Fresno Central Church
00:46:28.59\00:46:30.80
does not believe that
women and men are equal
00:46:30.83\00:46:35.21
because we don't
believe that we should ordain
00:46:35.24\00:46:37.20
women to the gospel ministry.
00:46:37.23\00:46:38.80
Let me explain
this, the Bible says
00:46:38.83\00:46:42.63
that God the Father
is the head of Jesus.
00:46:42.66\00:46:47.88
Jesus takes His
order from His Father
00:46:47.91\00:46:52.11
even after sin comes to an end.
00:46:52.14\00:46:55.83
The Bible says "that the Son
00:46:55.86\00:46:57.14
would subject
himself to His Father
00:46:57.17\00:46:59.59
so the Father is all in all."
00:46:59.62\00:47:02.76
And so I suppose that
00:47:02.79\00:47:03.82
because Jesus has
subjected Himself to His father
00:47:03.85\00:47:06.75
and He accepts
His father as the head
00:47:06.78\00:47:09.07
that Jesus is
inferior to His Father.
00:47:09.10\00:47:12.06
No, because Jesus said I
and My Father are what? Are one.
00:47:12.09\00:47:18.81
The Father and the Son are equal
00:47:18.84\00:47:20.56
but they have
different functions.
00:47:20.59\00:47:24.31
Are you following me?
00:47:24.34\00:47:26.34
And so it is with the
gospel ministry I love,
00:47:26.37\00:47:29.18
I love the women of the church
00:47:29.21\00:47:32.23
and women in the
church have many ministries
00:47:32.26\00:47:35.69
that they should be involved
00:47:35.72\00:47:36.78
in that God has
opened them for them
00:47:36.81\00:47:39.35
but the gospel
ministry is not one of them.
00:47:39.38\00:47:42.55
Does that mean the pastor
Bohr is a male chauvinist pig?
00:47:42.58\00:47:46.27
No, you know
that I'm not that way.
00:47:46.30\00:47:49.62
It simply means that
we want to preserve here
00:47:49.65\00:47:52.09
the gospel order
that God has established.
00:47:52.12\00:47:55.65
Now if God had not called
women to the gospel ministry
00:47:55.68\00:47:58.78
and they are campaigning
00:47:58.81\00:48:01.19
to be the members
of the gospel ministry
00:48:01.22\00:48:03.76
and they are looking
to occupy that position
00:48:03.79\00:48:06.11
in the gospel ministry.
00:48:06.14\00:48:07.41
Let me ask you in
what way is that different
00:48:07.44\00:48:10.11
then what Korah,
Dathan and Abiram wanted?
00:48:10.14\00:48:15.42
I leave that
for food for thought
00:48:15.45\00:48:16.78
it got very quite in here.
00:48:16.81\00:48:19.91
Do I believe that
women are inferior than men?
00:48:19.94\00:48:22.30
No, what I believe is that
00:48:22.33\00:48:23.81
women have a
different function than man.
00:48:23.84\00:48:26.86
And by the way I'm not alone
there are many denominations
00:48:26.89\00:48:29.22
non-Adventist denominations
that have gone down this road.
00:48:29.25\00:48:32.67
They have
followed the Bible order.
00:48:32.70\00:48:36.42
Is the spirit still
alive today of people
00:48:36.45\00:48:38.82
who criticize the
preacher because he says thanks
00:48:38.85\00:48:41.35
that people don't like?
00:48:41.38\00:48:44.85
No, not at central all
those people have left.
00:48:44.88\00:48:52.08
The spirit is still well alive
00:48:52.11\00:48:55.47
because many
people come to church
00:48:55.50\00:48:56.91
because they want
to hear smooth things.
00:48:56.94\00:48:58.66
They want to hear nice things.
00:48:58.69\00:48:59.96
They want to
hear the preacher say
00:48:59.99\00:49:01.47
about how good they are
and how wonderful they are.
00:49:01.50\00:49:05.33
You know one time
somebody said to Ellen White
00:49:05.36\00:49:07.24
I think you should
preach less about duty
00:49:07.27\00:49:09.39
and more about
the love of Jesus.
00:49:09.42\00:49:11.15
And Ellen White said
00:49:11.18\00:49:12.21
"I will preach what
God asked me to preach."
00:49:12.24\00:49:16.35
Yes the love of
Jesus along with duty.
00:49:16.38\00:49:20.11
It's not either, or.
00:49:20.14\00:49:23.70
Let me ask you, is
this spirit of rivalry
00:49:23.73\00:49:27.96
still alive at
constituency meetings?
00:49:27.99\00:49:32.56
No, now George
Johnson who is here
00:49:32.59\00:49:36.21
he can identify with
this a little bit better.
00:49:36.24\00:49:38.64
Central California has had
00:49:38.67\00:49:39.89
very peaceful
constituency sessions.
00:49:39.92\00:49:41.76
Not much politicking
you know people go in
00:49:41.79\00:49:43.77
we vote everybody back in
and in a matter of half-an-hour
00:49:43.80\00:49:47.05
and then we do
our constructional
00:49:47.08\00:49:49.59
and bylaws business
and then we are gone.
00:49:49.62\00:49:51.83
Praise the Lord.
00:49:51.86\00:49:52.89
But I have been conferences
00:49:52.92\00:49:54.34
where there are
individuals maneuvering
00:49:54.37\00:49:56.97
to get those higher positions
in the conference office.
00:49:57.00\00:50:01.29
Some individuals
even wanting to knockoff
00:50:01.32\00:50:03.79
the president of the conference
so they can be president.
00:50:03.82\00:50:07.28
Whose spirit is that?
00:50:07.31\00:50:09.30
That's a spirit of Lucifer.
00:50:09.33\00:50:11.86
It also happens
in the local church
00:50:11.89\00:50:13.56
around
nominating committee time.
00:50:13.59\00:50:15.90
Oh, bring it
closer to home here.
00:50:15.93\00:50:19.22
There are people who
aspire to a certain position
00:50:19.25\00:50:22.39
and if they are not elected
to that specific position
00:50:22.42\00:50:25.02
they are offended.
00:50:25.05\00:50:26.08
They say how dare
they not have placed me
00:50:26.11\00:50:28.77
as an elder this year
00:50:28.80\00:50:30.72
or how dare they
place as a mere deacon
00:50:30.75\00:50:34.27
when I should be an elder
00:50:34.30\00:50:36.37
or I wanted to be a
Sabbath school superintendent.
00:50:36.40\00:50:39.85
It happens the same
today and all of these issues
00:50:39.88\00:50:43.89
really go back to
the spirit of Lucifer.
00:50:43.92\00:50:47.21
The spirit of
wanting to be up there,
00:50:47.24\00:50:50.19
the spirit of one to
have a higher position,
00:50:50.22\00:50:52.79
not being
satisfied with the position
00:50:52.82\00:50:55.72
which God has placed us in.
00:50:55.75\00:50:59.05
You know there
is no better place
00:50:59.08\00:51:00.53
than the place that God
has given to us to serve.
00:51:00.56\00:51:05.01
And Jesus taught that
by saying that the greatest
00:51:05.04\00:51:08.49
is the person
who saves the most.
00:51:08.52\00:51:12.87
Now allow me to get into another
little controversial issue
00:51:12.90\00:51:15.46
before we come to end.
00:51:15.49\00:51:18.74
You know theirs
is this common idea
00:51:18.77\00:51:21.08
that in marriage
there was no order.
00:51:21.11\00:51:24.48
Do you know that God established
a certain order in marriage
00:51:24.51\00:51:27.17
the man is the head of the wife?
00:51:27.20\00:51:32.96
And the apostle Paul said
after Jesus died on the cross
00:51:32.99\00:51:35.82
that the wife is to be
subjected to her husband.
00:51:35.85\00:51:38.36
Oh, no I may get in trouble here
00:51:38.39\00:51:40.21
I have to go up the backdoor.
00:51:40.24\00:51:44.07
Is that the order
God has established?
00:51:44.10\00:51:46.38
Yes.
00:51:46.41\00:51:47.70
And when that order is not
respected what do you have?
00:51:47.73\00:51:51.51
You have chaos,
you have disorder.
00:51:51.54\00:51:56.53
Now at the same time God says
00:51:56.56\00:51:58.77
that wife should be
subject to their husbands
00:51:58.80\00:52:01.46
but he also says
husbands love your wives.
00:52:01.49\00:52:04.34
Let's look at the
other side of the equation.
00:52:04.37\00:52:06.93
See it's not a
problem being subject
00:52:06.96\00:52:08.85
if your husband loves you.
00:52:08.88\00:52:10.98
For Jesus there is no problem
being subject to his Father
00:52:11.01\00:52:14.07
because He knows
His Father loves Him.
00:52:14.10\00:52:16.51
His Father would only do
00:52:16.54\00:52:18.55
that which is in His good
own good interest isn't right?
00:52:18.58\00:52:22.84
And so for Jesus
it's a peace of cake
00:52:22.87\00:52:25.64
to be subject to
the will of His Father
00:52:25.67\00:52:27.72
because He knows
that His loves Him.
00:52:27.75\00:52:31.06
And so it should be in marriage
00:52:31.09\00:52:32.85
the man should be the
head of the household,
00:52:32.88\00:52:35.71
the woman should be
subject to her husband
00:52:35.74\00:52:38.04
but the husband
should love his wife.
00:52:38.07\00:52:42.17
And apostle Paul says
00:52:42.20\00:52:43.38
"he should love
his wife as himself."
00:52:43.41\00:52:47.82
You shall love your
neighbor as yourself,
00:52:47.85\00:52:49.18
you should love
your wife as yourself.
00:52:49.21\00:52:53.47
Basically the Lord
Jesus expressed this concept
00:52:53.50\00:52:56.46
that I'm trying to
share with you today.
00:52:56.49\00:52:59.56
when he says
00:52:59.59\00:53:01.87
"He who exalts
himself will be humbled,
00:53:01.90\00:53:07.72
and he who humbles
himself will be exalted."
00:53:07.75\00:53:11.88
This is the essence of
the teachings of Jesus.
00:53:11.91\00:53:15.41
You see, Jesus gave the example.
00:53:15.44\00:53:17.74
Jesus was way up there in heaven
00:53:17.77\00:53:21.54
and it says in
Philippians Chapter 2
00:53:21.57\00:53:24.01
that He made
himself of no reputation
00:53:24.04\00:53:27.04
He emptied himself
and He became a servant.
00:53:27.07\00:53:31.21
Then have to but He who is
the ruler becomes a servant.
00:53:31.24\00:53:36.86
And then in Philippians 2
00:53:36.89\00:53:38.11
it says that it
because He became a servant
00:53:38.14\00:53:40.70
the Father gave Him a
name that is above every name
00:53:40.73\00:53:45.24
and He has
called upon every knee
00:53:45.27\00:53:47.52
to bow in the name of Jesus.
00:53:47.55\00:53:50.16
Because Jesus humbled
himself, He was exalted.
00:53:50.19\00:53:56.50
Lucifer was
different because with Lucifer
00:53:56.53\00:54:00.45
you have him occupying
this position down here
00:54:00.48\00:54:03.65
and he says I want
that position up there.
00:54:03.68\00:54:07.41
And so instead
of humbling himself
00:54:07.44\00:54:09.46
he exalts himself.
00:54:09.49\00:54:12.46
And where is he gonna end up?
00:54:12.49\00:54:14.79
In the pit down there.
00:54:14.82\00:54:18.06
So you have the
mystery of godliness
00:54:18.09\00:54:19.79
and mystery of iniquity.
00:54:19.82\00:54:21.30
The mystery of godliness
is when you are up here
00:54:21.33\00:54:26.08
and you come down to
serve and then God exalts you.
00:54:26.11\00:54:29.30
The mystery of iniquity
is when you're down here
00:54:29.33\00:54:32.05
and you want to
occupy this high position
00:54:32.08\00:54:34.52
for which God has not called you
00:54:34.55\00:54:36.28
and as a result
you will be humbled.
00:54:36.31\00:54:40.47
I'd like to end
by reading a passage
00:54:40.50\00:54:42.86
from Patriarchs
and Prophets, Page 404
00:54:42.89\00:54:45.82
where Ellen White
making the final application
00:54:45.85\00:54:48.03
of this story of Korah,
Dathan and Abiram says this.
00:54:48.06\00:54:51.05
"It is by sinful indulgence
00:54:51.08\00:54:54.67
that men give Satan
access to their minds,
00:54:54.70\00:54:59.50
and they go from one
stage of wickedness to another."
00:54:59.53\00:55:04.07
It is by sinful indulgence.
00:55:04.10\00:55:05.35
Notice, "The rejection
of light darkens the mind
00:55:05.38\00:55:11.84
and hardens the heart,
00:55:11.87\00:55:14.35
so that it is easier for them
to take the next step in sin
00:55:14.38\00:55:19.16
and to reject
still clearer light,
00:55:19.19\00:55:22.11
until at last their habits
of wrongdoing become fixed.
00:55:22.14\00:55:27.78
Sin ceases to
appear sinful to them.
00:55:27.81\00:55:31.76
He who faithfully
preaches God's word,
00:55:31.79\00:55:35.28
thereby condemning their sins,
00:55:35.31\00:55:38.22
too often incurs their hatred.
00:55:38.25\00:55:42.14
Unwilling to endure the pain
00:55:42.17\00:55:43.72
and sacrifice
necessary to reform,
00:55:43.75\00:55:46.88
they turn upon
the Lord's servant
00:55:46.91\00:55:48.71
and denounce his reproofs
as uncalled for and severe."
00:55:48.74\00:55:54.68
Now there's when the
preacher points out sin
00:55:54.71\00:55:58.46
stone the preacher
don't change the sin.
00:55:58.49\00:56:02.70
She continues to saying
00:56:02.73\00:56:03.98
"Like Korah,
00:56:04.01\00:56:05.87
they declare that the
people are not at fault,
00:56:05.90\00:56:09.48
it is the reprover
that causes all the trouble.
00:56:09.51\00:56:13.82
And soothing their
consciences with this deception,
00:56:13.85\00:56:18.13
the jealous and
disaffected combine
00:56:18.16\00:56:21.21
to sow discord in the church
and weaken the hands of those
00:56:21.24\00:56:26.98
who would build it up."
00:56:27.01\00:56:30.38
Folks, lets not be on that side.
00:56:30.41\00:56:33.54
Ellen White says
that the emptying of self
00:56:33.57\00:56:37.44
is the essence of
the teachings of Jesus.
00:56:37.47\00:56:40.42
Making self of non
effect, making others first,
00:56:40.45\00:56:47.01
humbling yourself
00:56:47.04\00:56:48.52
and do you know what God
some day is gonna exalt us
00:56:48.55\00:56:50.47
don't worry about it.
00:56:50.50\00:56:52.10
You know as "he who
exalts himself will be humbled
00:56:52.13\00:56:57.14
and he who humbles
himself will be exalted."
00:56:57.17\00:57:01.86
And so may God
help us to be satisfied
00:57:01.89\00:57:04.20
with the position that we have
00:57:04.23\00:57:07.06
and do with the smiling with joy
00:57:07.09\00:57:09.72
as a result that the church
will be much more coordinated.
00:57:09.75\00:57:12.45
It will function in the
order that God has established
00:57:12.48\00:57:16.06
and we will have joy
and we will have peace
00:57:16.09\00:57:20.30
in our personal experience
in our walk with the Lord.
00:57:20.33\00:57:24.23