Have you heard the story told
00:00:34.16\00:00:38.70
Of the Man whose heart was sold
00:00:38.73\00:00:43.00
To save my dying soul?
00:00:43.04\00:00:47.38
Oh, what love untold
00:00:47.41\00:00:51.65
To the end He's always sought me
00:00:51.68\00:00:55.78
To the end He's always loved me
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To the end I long to follow
00:01:00.16\00:01:04.36
For He bore my cross of sorrow
00:01:04.39\00:01:08.60
I will stay here in
the hollow of His care
00:01:08.63\00:01:14.34
And I will go anywhere
00:01:14.37\00:01:19.44
To the end
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This witness I will bear
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To the end
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In the grove I heard Him say
00:01:34.09\00:01:38.13
"Oh my Father please just stay"
00:01:38.16\00:01:42.26
Through broken hearted pain
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He did pave the way
00:01:46.57\00:01:50.54
To the end His heart is faithful
00:01:50.57\00:01:54.58
To the end His hand is able
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To the end I can now follow
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For He bore my cross of sorrow
00:02:02.85\00:02:06.69
I will stay here in
the hollow of His care
00:02:06.72\00:02:12.26
And I will go anywhere
00:02:12.29\00:02:17.03
To the end
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This witness I will bear
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To the end
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As they took Him off to die
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There His friendship I denied
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Forgiveness in His eyes
00:02:39.82\00:02:43.76
He did not despise
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To the end His
love constrains me
00:02:47.86\00:02:51.93
To the end He has restored me
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To the end I will still follow
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For He bore my cross of sorrow
00:02:59.81\00:03:03.91
I will stay here in
the hollow of His care
00:03:03.95\00:03:09.42
And I will go anywhere
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To the end
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This witness I will bear
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This witness I will bear
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To the end
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To the end
00:03:30.11\00:03:35.08
You may be seated.
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Good morning, and happy Sabbath.
00:03:44.52\00:03:47.79
Have you been
blessed this morning?
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How many of you
went to the prayer room?
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Praise the Lord, amen?
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Latter rain
power right in there.
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It's my privilege this
morning to introduce to you
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our morning devotional speaker,
00:04:00.34\00:04:02.34
you'll be hearing
him every morning.
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His name is Michael Goetz.
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How many of you
heard about Michael before?
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All right, I see
a couple of hands.
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Praise the Lord.
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Michael is
originally from Oregon.
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And he's
currently the lead pastor
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at the Campion Adventist Church.
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But he began his ministry
serving as a police chaplain.
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He served as a
pastor also in Pennsylvania,
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and on the campus
of Andrews University.
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When I asked him,
"Michael, mountains or beach?"
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He said mountains.
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Which makes sense,
since he loves climbing
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and currently he
pastors in Colorado,
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a place that has a
couple of mountains, I think.
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His favorite
food is Italian food.
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So if you ever
want to take him out,
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you know where to go.
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When I asked him
about his favorite place
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that he has ever visited,
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he said South Africa and
Germany which is a bummer,
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considering that my
home country of Austria
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exceeds them all.
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I'm mostly kidding.
00:05:02.23\00:05:04.20
Michael is married to Melanie,
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and they had probably
the most dramatic honeymoon
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you can imagine.
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They almost died
because of a storm
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and the landslide,
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and were stuck on an
island for three days
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without proper
access to food or water.
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But praise God,
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it only made
their marriage stronger.
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And today, they're
thankful for two children,
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Cana and Michal.
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Amen? Amen.
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If Michael could give
advice to his 20-year-old self,
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he would say the following,
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"Be a radical for God
and for every part of life."
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So let's listen to
that kind of advice.
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I first met Michael
a bit over 10 years ago
00:05:47.24\00:05:50.38
in Germany
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at the
equivalent of GYC in Germany
00:05:51.81\00:05:54.22
called Youth in Mission.
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It was a very
special time in Europe
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because we had just started
these movements over there.
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And Michael spoke
there at Youth in Mission.
00:06:02.29\00:06:04.86
He and others were used
by God to influence thousands
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to have a closer walk
with Jesus, including myself.
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And I thank God every day
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for doing that
and for using Michael
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in such a special way.
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And it is my
prayer that God will do
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the same for you this morning.
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Open your Bibles with
me to the scripture reading
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for Michael's presentation
this morning in Acts 1:4 and 5.
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Acts 1:4 and 5,
the Bible says...
00:06:32.62\00:06:36.62
"And while staying with them,
00:06:39.83\00:06:43.33
He ordered them not
to depart from Jerusalem
00:06:43.37\00:06:47.40
but to wait for the
promise of the Father,
00:06:47.44\00:06:51.74
which he said,
'You heard from me.'
00:06:51.77\00:06:54.28
For John baptized with water,
00:06:54.31\00:06:57.88
but you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit
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not many days from now.'"
00:07:02.08\00:07:04.89
Amen.
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Let us bow our heads as we pray.
00:07:06.42\00:07:10.89
Father in heaven,
thank You for the Sabbath.
00:07:10.93\00:07:16.43
Thank You that we can
unplug from the world,
00:07:16.46\00:07:19.23
the stress,
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and plug into You to
enter into this holy time,
00:07:20.64\00:07:25.14
into the present
of Your presence.
00:07:25.17\00:07:27.91
And, Lord, as we have already
been refresh this morning
00:07:27.94\00:07:30.51
in the prayer room,
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as we have experienced
00:07:32.45\00:07:34.72
the glimpse of the
power of the Holy Spirit,
00:07:34.75\00:07:36.72
Lord, we pray for more.
00:07:36.75\00:07:39.19
This morning, I pray
that You will anoint Michael
00:07:39.22\00:07:41.49
as he speaks to us.
00:07:41.52\00:07:43.49
Speak through him,
speak through Your Word,
00:07:43.53\00:07:46.19
and touch our
hearts, convert us, Lord,
00:07:46.23\00:07:48.96
we need more of You
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and make us radically
committed to Your cause.
00:07:51.47\00:07:55.94
Lord, may only You
be seen this morning.
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This is our earnest plea.
00:08:00.18\00:08:02.34
And we pray it in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:08:02.38\00:08:05.01
If you'll listen, my friend
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Tonight 'ere you rest
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I'll tell you the story
00:08:32.41\00:08:36.41
The best in the world
00:08:36.44\00:08:39.71
How a marvelous thing that
00:08:39.75\00:08:43.75
All people should know
00:08:43.79\00:08:48.42
Happened in Bethlehem
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Long, long ago
00:08:52.53\00:08:57.20
There were stars in the heavens
00:09:09.28\00:09:13.68
All shining and bright
00:09:13.72\00:09:17.25
And a new star was rising
00:09:17.29\00:09:21.52
O'er Judah that night
00:09:21.56\00:09:25.29
For within a poor stable,
00:09:25.33\00:09:29.60
A baby was born
00:09:29.63\00:09:33.54
And that
beautiful baby was Jesus
00:09:33.57\00:09:40.24
Our Lord
00:09:40.28\00:09:41.94
It's a story of wonder
00:09:41.98\00:09:46.21
And glory and awe
00:09:46.25\00:09:49.68
Filled with heavenly love
00:09:49.72\00:09:53.36
And the goodness of God
00:09:53.39\00:09:57.29
Learn it well
00:09:57.33\00:09:59.33
Take it with you
00:09:59.36\00:10:01.36
Wherever you go
00:10:01.40\00:10:07.10
The most beautiful story
00:10:07.14\00:10:11.84
That's ever been told
00:10:11.87\00:10:16.34
Though the folk in the village
00:10:28.86\00:10:33.33
Were all fast asleep
00:10:33.36\00:10:36.73
There were
shepherds out watching
00:10:36.77\00:10:41.20
That night with their sheep
00:10:41.24\00:10:44.87
When a legion of angels
00:10:44.91\00:10:49.24
Came down from on high
00:10:49.28\00:10:53.52
Singing and bringing
00:10:53.55\00:10:56.92
Great tidings of joy
00:10:56.95\00:11:01.12
It's a story of wonder
00:11:01.16\00:11:05.39
And glory and awe
00:11:05.43\00:11:08.73
Filled with heavenly love
00:11:08.76\00:11:12.43
And the goodness of God
00:11:12.47\00:11:16.24
Learn it well, take it with you
00:11:16.27\00:11:20.44
Wherever you go
00:11:20.48\00:11:26.25
The most beautiful story
00:11:26.28\00:11:31.05
That's ever been told
00:11:31.09\00:11:35.02
In a manger, He lay
00:11:35.06\00:11:39.56
As the angels had said
00:11:39.59\00:11:43.53
While Mary and Joseph
00:11:43.57\00:11:47.80
Kept watch by His bed
00:11:47.84\00:11:51.47
For the babe was our Savior
00:11:51.51\00:11:55.68
The Father's own Son
00:11:55.71\00:11:59.38
Sent to love all His children
00:11:59.41\00:12:03.72
And bless everyone
00:12:03.75\00:12:08.39
It's a beautiful story
00:12:13.33\00:12:17.57
The sweetest I've heard
00:12:17.60\00:12:21.27
Full of comfort and hope
00:12:21.30\00:12:25.27
And it's true every word
00:12:25.31\00:12:29.41
So remember it always
00:12:29.44\00:12:33.82
And everywhere you go
00:12:33.85\00:12:38.69
Tell this sweet story
00:12:38.72\00:12:42.46
To someone you know
00:12:42.49\00:12:46.76
It's a story of wonder
00:12:46.80\00:12:50.97
And glory and awe
00:12:51.00\00:12:54.44
Filled with heavenly love
00:12:54.47\00:12:58.11
And the goodness of God
00:12:58.14\00:13:02.04
Learn it well
00:13:02.08\00:13:03.91
Take it with you
00:13:03.95\00:13:06.11
Wherever you go
00:13:06.15\00:13:11.85
The most beautiful story
00:13:11.89\00:13:16.73
That's ever been told
00:13:16.76\00:13:23.73
Wow. Beautiful.
00:13:41.98\00:13:46.86
Father in heaven,
00:13:46.89\00:13:49.02
would it be that this morning
00:13:49.06\00:13:51.36
You have a word for us?
00:13:51.39\00:13:55.73
Let it be a gentle
tap to our shoulder
00:13:55.76\00:13:58.40
or an arrow to our heart.
00:13:58.43\00:14:01.57
But let us leave here
changed from the inside out
00:14:01.60\00:14:06.68
because of
exposure to Your Word.
00:14:06.71\00:14:11.55
In the name of Jesus, amen.
00:14:11.58\00:14:14.75
Amen.
00:14:14.78\00:14:18.02
I have a little tradition,
00:14:18.05\00:14:21.36
little experience
00:14:21.39\00:14:25.06
on Sabbath mornings for me.
00:14:25.09\00:14:30.00
I go to the pantry
00:14:30.03\00:14:32.73
and get to choose my cereal.
00:14:32.77\00:14:38.37
There are three Sabbath cereals.
00:14:38.41\00:14:44.25
I am not trying to sanctify
these particular cereals,
00:14:44.28\00:14:50.59
but there are
three that I choose from
00:14:50.62\00:14:52.72
on Sabbath morning.
00:14:52.75\00:14:55.59
The other
cereals have their chance
00:14:55.62\00:14:57.73
Sunday through Friday,
but on Sabbath morning,
00:14:57.76\00:15:01.06
I choose from cornflakes,
oat squares, or puffins.
00:15:01.10\00:15:07.67
Those are my
three options, choices.
00:15:07.70\00:15:11.44
And any one of the three
00:15:11.47\00:15:14.68
in my opinion
00:15:14.71\00:15:16.64
work for a
Sabbath morning breakfast.
00:15:16.68\00:15:20.78
Grab your Bibles,
00:15:20.82\00:15:22.48
go to the first chapter of Acts.
00:15:22.52\00:15:25.99
Our theme is birthed
out of this narrative,
00:15:26.02\00:15:30.43
Acts 1:4,
00:15:30.46\00:15:34.06
just read to us moments ago.
00:15:34.10\00:15:37.67
Acts 1:4,
00:15:37.70\00:15:39.70
"And being
assembled together with them,
00:15:39.73\00:15:44.27
He, Jesus commanded them
not to depart from Jerusalem
00:15:44.31\00:15:49.04
but to wait for the
promise of the Father."
00:15:49.08\00:15:51.71
Did you hear the
language, Dr. Luke?
00:15:51.75\00:15:55.18
Employees, He commanded them.
00:15:55.22\00:16:00.02
This is the same master
00:16:00.06\00:16:02.92
that used His command
00:16:02.96\00:16:04.89
to remove the
demons from the demoniacs
00:16:04.93\00:16:09.36
and throw them into the pigs.
00:16:09.40\00:16:12.03
This command, non
negotiable, cogent, unequivocal.
00:16:12.07\00:16:18.07
It must be done,
there is no option.
00:16:18.11\00:16:22.31
"He commanded them, not
to depart from Jerusalem,
00:16:22.34\00:16:26.15
but to wait for the promise
of the Father which He...
00:16:26.18\00:16:30.72
"You've heard from me,"
00:16:30.75\00:16:32.09
He says,
00:16:32.12\00:16:36.56
"you've heard it from me.
00:16:36.59\00:16:40.76
For John truly
baptized with water,"
00:16:40.80\00:16:42.40
verse 5, "but
you shall be baptized
00:16:42.43\00:16:44.37
with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now."
00:16:44.40\00:16:47.40
And so comes this
command, not an option,
00:16:47.44\00:16:51.21
but a command from Jesus.
00:16:51.24\00:16:52.71
You've got to stay here
00:16:52.74\00:16:54.78
and wait for the
promise of the Father.
00:16:54.81\00:16:56.78
Everything is going
to be a result of this.
00:16:56.81\00:17:00.78
John 3:16, "For
God so loved the world
00:17:00.82\00:17:03.02
that He sent Jesus."
00:17:03.05\00:17:04.39
And then Jesus is now saying,
00:17:04.42\00:17:05.75
"Look, everything I've done
is now going to be poured out
00:17:05.79\00:17:10.26
through this gift.
00:17:10.29\00:17:11.63
So don't move without it."
00:17:11.66\00:17:15.86
It's not like my
Sabbath morning practice
00:17:15.90\00:17:18.87
of going to the
pantry and choosing.
00:17:18.90\00:17:22.64
There are
things, there are options
00:17:22.67\00:17:24.81
that we can choose.
00:17:24.84\00:17:26.94
But when it comes to this,
00:17:26.98\00:17:29.28
this was a command from Jesus.
00:17:29.31\00:17:32.15
You must wait and pray
and work with the Holy Spirit.
00:17:32.18\00:17:36.52
You can't do it without Him.
00:17:36.55\00:17:40.49
This was not an
option of different cereals.
00:17:40.52\00:17:43.32
You do it your
way, I'll do it my way.
00:17:43.36\00:17:46.80
This was the way.
00:17:46.83\00:17:49.53
Amen.
00:17:49.56\00:17:50.90
So let's journey
through the narrative,
00:17:55.30\00:17:57.51
verse 12.
00:17:57.54\00:18:00.98
We're in Acts Chapter 1.
00:18:01.01\00:18:03.08
"Then they returned to Jerusalem
00:18:03.11\00:18:04.88
from the mount called
Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,
00:18:04.91\00:18:08.22
a Sabbath day's journey."
00:18:08.25\00:18:11.32
So they're coming
off the higher plain,
00:18:11.35\00:18:14.69
there of Mount Olivet,
about a Sabbath day's journey.
00:18:14.72\00:18:19.03
It's led some to wonder.
00:18:19.06\00:18:20.73
Could it have been
that Jesus ascended
00:18:20.76\00:18:22.33
on a Sabbath?
00:18:22.36\00:18:26.27
And when they entered,
they went into the upper room
00:18:26.30\00:18:29.37
where they were staying,
00:18:29.40\00:18:30.74
and then it begins
to list off their names
00:18:30.77\00:18:32.74
as they've come together.
00:18:32.77\00:18:34.14
Verse 14, "These all
continued with one accord
00:18:34.18\00:18:38.35
in prayer and supplication,
00:18:38.38\00:18:39.71
with the women and
Mary the mother of Jesus,
00:18:39.75\00:18:41.92
and with his brothers."
00:18:41.95\00:18:43.59
They knew
00:18:43.62\00:18:46.49
that this was not optional.
00:18:46.52\00:18:50.09
This was a command of Jesus.
00:18:50.13\00:18:51.46
It was the only way in
which it could be effective,
00:18:51.49\00:18:55.70
that is the life of Jesus.
00:18:55.73\00:18:59.20
The life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus
00:18:59.23\00:19:01.47
was now all
centered in this gift.
00:19:01.50\00:19:06.17
It was to be
mobilized through its power.
00:19:06.21\00:19:10.25
So they came
together in one accord.
00:19:10.28\00:19:12.55
Luke likes to
use that expression.
00:19:12.58\00:19:18.12
It's only used one other time.
00:19:18.15\00:19:19.79
Paul uses it in
Romans Chapter 15.
00:19:19.82\00:19:22.29
But Luke uses it 10
times this one accord,
00:19:22.32\00:19:26.59
and it's a
difficult word to express.
00:19:26.63\00:19:31.53
It's a combination of two words
00:19:31.57\00:19:34.67
homo, we're
familiar with that word.
00:19:34.70\00:19:39.11
Vitamin,
00:19:39.14\00:19:40.48
we're not so familiar
with how to combine those two.
00:19:40.51\00:19:47.28
But it's some likeness,
00:19:47.32\00:19:49.72
they came
together in some agreement.
00:19:49.75\00:19:53.69
We know it wasn't
absolute agreement
00:19:53.72\00:19:55.32
about everything
00:19:55.36\00:19:56.69
because the next thing
they do in the narrative
00:19:56.73\00:19:59.33
is they elect a
replacement for Judas.
00:19:59.36\00:20:02.23
And in that replacement,
00:20:02.26\00:20:03.80
they have
options that apparently
00:20:03.83\00:20:05.83
they disagree on.
00:20:05.87\00:20:07.47
Some thought, well, Matthias.
00:20:07.50\00:20:10.71
Some thought, "No, no, no,
00:20:10.74\00:20:13.61
we've got to look
for someone else."
00:20:13.64\00:20:16.98
So between Joseph
Justus and Mathias,
00:20:17.01\00:20:19.61
they have to make decision.
00:20:19.65\00:20:20.98
We know that they
think this through.
00:20:21.02\00:20:23.62
So they're not in just
total agreement about everything
00:20:23.65\00:20:29.42
but they are...
00:20:29.46\00:20:30.79
There is a sense of mission,
00:20:30.83\00:20:33.03
missional agreement
that draws them together.
00:20:33.06\00:20:37.30
Jump down to verse 15,
00:20:37.33\00:20:39.13
"In those days,
00:20:39.17\00:20:40.50
Peter stood up in the
midst of the disciples, "
00:20:40.54\00:20:42.57
altogether this is a
parenthetical statement
00:20:42.60\00:20:44.54
in our Bibles.
00:20:44.57\00:20:45.91
"Altogether the
names were about 120."
00:20:45.94\00:20:48.84
Interesting note.
00:20:48.88\00:20:50.21
According to Jewish law,
00:20:50.25\00:20:51.58
in order to
start a new community,
00:20:51.61\00:20:53.58
you had to have
120 people together.
00:20:53.62\00:20:58.49
So Dr. Luke says,
"Hey," parenthetically,
00:20:58.52\00:20:59.89
"I just want to let you know,
00:20:59.92\00:21:01.72
that they met the requirement
to start a new movement."
00:21:01.76\00:21:06.29
A hundred and
twenty, Jewish law.
00:21:06.33\00:21:10.53
Peter stood up,
00:21:10.57\00:21:13.80
and now begins
00:21:13.84\00:21:15.17
this
conversation of an election,
00:21:15.20\00:21:17.07
church in business.
00:21:17.11\00:21:18.81
Jumping down to verse
24, they prayed about it.
00:21:22.11\00:21:26.31
They said, "Lord,
00:21:26.35\00:21:31.52
you know the hearts of all,"
00:21:31.55\00:21:35.59
which implies that we don't.
00:21:35.62\00:21:38.43
And let me just
add as an aside here
00:21:38.46\00:21:41.06
that we ought
to be very beloved,
00:21:41.10\00:21:44.23
very careful
00:21:44.27\00:21:47.54
on how we interpret and decide
00:21:47.57\00:21:50.44
what someone
else's motive or heart is.
00:21:50.47\00:21:54.91
Church, be very careful
00:22:00.68\00:22:05.29
in interpreting the
hearts of someone else.
00:22:05.32\00:22:11.73
The implied though is
we don't know their hearts.
00:22:11.76\00:22:14.56
You alone, oh, God,
know the hearts of men,
00:22:14.60\00:22:17.47
and so we've got to leave
this choice in Your hands,
00:22:17.50\00:22:20.54
but we will use
the practical methods
00:22:20.57\00:22:22.94
we know to follow Your lead.
00:22:22.97\00:22:26.68
And so they cast lots.
00:22:26.71\00:22:28.74
That would get you cast
out of the church today.
00:22:28.78\00:22:32.45
They cast lots.
00:22:32.48\00:22:35.38
We would just do
it by majority vote.
00:22:35.42\00:22:37.29
But that, birthed in
prayer and couched in prayer,
00:22:41.26\00:22:45.96
they understood,
00:22:45.99\00:22:47.33
would lead them to
understand God's guiding.
00:22:47.36\00:22:52.00
But they didn't all agree.
00:22:52.03\00:22:53.37
Otherwise, Joseph Justus
00:22:53.40\00:22:54.74
wouldn't have
been on the docket.
00:22:54.77\00:22:57.31
He was the one not elected.
00:22:57.34\00:22:58.67
And some theologians say,
00:23:02.11\00:23:03.45
"Hey, look at
where Paul shows up."
00:23:03.48\00:23:05.51
Just a short while
later, Paul shows up.
00:23:05.55\00:23:07.32
It's almost as if God had
Him in the wings that he was...
00:23:07.35\00:23:10.52
But Dr. Luke
doesn't mind any of this.
00:23:10.55\00:23:14.96
He's not distracted by the fact
00:23:14.99\00:23:21.20
that the church
had to do business,
00:23:21.23\00:23:24.47
that they came together
and made some elections,
00:23:24.50\00:23:26.84
and made some decisions.
00:23:26.87\00:23:28.87
That was okay.
00:23:28.90\00:23:30.41
But what they
could not disagree on
00:23:30.44\00:23:32.81
was coming together
00:23:32.84\00:23:34.18
in a missional
movement of prayer
00:23:34.21\00:23:36.95
for the Holy Spirit.
00:23:36.98\00:23:38.48
That was commanded.
00:23:38.51\00:23:40.15
But the church,
00:23:43.45\00:23:44.79
as it came
together and did business,
00:23:44.82\00:23:46.55
and then as it came together
and prayed for the Holy Spirit,
00:23:46.59\00:23:50.83
as those two things
came together in a community,
00:23:50.86\00:23:57.30
John Stott says,
00:23:57.33\00:23:59.03
"The stage was then
set for the Holy Spirit."
00:23:59.07\00:24:03.51
Church, beloved,
these two elements,
00:24:06.47\00:24:11.58
the church coming
together to do business,
00:24:11.61\00:24:13.48
making decisions,
it can be distracting.
00:24:13.52\00:24:17.95
But Dr. Luke, "No, that's fine.
The church can do its business.
00:24:17.99\00:24:23.53
It's necessary.
00:24:23.56\00:24:24.89
But it must have
this component of prayer,
00:24:28.43\00:24:31.80
praying for the Holy Spirit."
00:24:31.83\00:24:33.67
The stage was then set
00:24:36.71\00:24:39.64
for the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit.
00:24:39.67\00:24:43.61
Oh, could we
set the stage again?
00:24:43.65\00:24:48.32
Could we set the stage again?
00:24:48.35\00:24:50.25
I wanna take you
00:24:54.16\00:24:57.93
to pulling back the curtain
00:24:57.96\00:25:00.00
and looking at what
was happening in heaven
00:25:00.03\00:25:04.07
during this time.
00:25:04.10\00:25:06.53
I wish we had more, but
we do have just a glimpse.
00:25:06.57\00:25:10.31
We're back in...
00:25:10.34\00:25:11.67
We're still here
in Acts Chapter 1,
00:25:11.71\00:25:14.21
now the very first verse.
00:25:14.24\00:25:16.44
I'm sorry, we're
in Acts Chapter 2.
00:25:21.02\00:25:23.55
I said the very first verse
of Acts Chapter 1 is also good.
00:25:23.59\00:25:26.82
But Acts 2:1,
00:25:26.86\00:25:28.26
"When the day of
Pentecost had fully come,
00:25:28.29\00:25:30.89
they were all with one accord."
00:25:30.93\00:25:32.33
There's Luke
using the word again,
00:25:32.36\00:25:34.00
in one place.
00:25:34.03\00:25:36.73
"And suddenly, there
came a sound from heaven,
00:25:36.77\00:25:40.27
a rushing mighty wind,
00:25:40.30\00:25:42.47
and it filled the whole
house where they were sitting."
00:25:42.50\00:25:45.47
These 120 coming together,
00:25:45.51\00:25:48.78
doing business,
and praying together,
00:25:48.81\00:25:52.28
heaven opened its
doors and poured out on them
00:25:52.31\00:25:57.09
the Holy Spirit.
00:25:57.12\00:26:00.46
Verse 33, Acts 2:33,
00:26:00.49\00:26:06.09
Peter is giving a
sermon, preaching,
00:26:06.13\00:26:10.43
and he gives us a glimpse.
00:26:10.47\00:26:13.87
He says, "This
Jesus was raised up
00:26:13.90\00:26:15.67
of which we are all witnesses."
00:26:15.70\00:26:17.37
Verse 32, verse 33,
00:26:17.41\00:26:19.27
"Therefore, He
been highly exalted
00:26:19.31\00:26:22.44
to the right hand of God
00:26:22.48\00:26:23.85
and having
received from the Father
00:26:23.88\00:26:25.35
the promise of the Holy Spirit,
00:26:25.38\00:26:26.72
He then poured out this
00:26:26.75\00:26:28.28
what you now see and hear."
00:26:28.32\00:26:31.12
Luke says, "Look,
Jesus was resurrected,
00:26:31.15\00:26:35.06
He went back to heaven,
00:26:35.09\00:26:36.46
and then He was exalted
00:26:36.49\00:26:37.83
to the right hand
of the throne of God."
00:26:37.86\00:26:39.96
That is an interesting thought.
00:26:40.00\00:26:46.84
We'll get there in a minute.
00:26:46.87\00:26:48.50
The Father then gives permission
00:26:48.54\00:26:51.47
for the Holy
Spirit to be poured out.
00:26:51.51\00:26:53.07
Jesus takes that permission,
00:26:53.11\00:26:54.44
and He pours it out
without a hesitation.
00:26:54.48\00:26:58.28
He can't wait until
His church is mobilized,
00:26:58.31\00:27:02.22
His community.
00:27:02.25\00:27:05.65
Because everything He had done,
00:27:05.69\00:27:07.89
His life, His
death, His resurrection
00:27:07.92\00:27:10.29
was now going to be
funneled through the Holy Spirit
00:27:10.33\00:27:16.13
and ultimately, through us.
00:27:16.16\00:27:18.80
John, John the revelator.
00:27:23.91\00:27:29.71
Now, you wanna
leave your little...
00:27:29.74\00:27:32.48
You got these little
ribbons in your Bible.
00:27:32.51\00:27:34.85
You wanna leave
that little ribbon
00:27:34.88\00:27:36.22
in Acts Chapter 1.
00:27:36.25\00:27:37.59
But go to the
Book of Revelation,
00:27:37.62\00:27:40.39
the final picture.
00:27:40.42\00:27:45.73
Revelation Chapter 12.
00:27:45.76\00:27:47.20
We read this
verse just last night
00:27:51.27\00:27:52.83
or this passage.
00:27:52.87\00:27:55.80
Acts Chapter...
00:27:55.84\00:27:57.31
Revelation
Chapter 12, stick with me.
00:27:57.34\00:28:02.84
Starting in verse 1,
00:28:02.88\00:28:06.35
what was heaven
doing during this moment?
00:28:06.38\00:28:12.39
We'll back up.
00:28:17.06\00:28:18.39
John starts,
00:28:18.43\00:28:21.93
"Now a great sign
appeared in heaven.
00:28:21.96\00:28:24.27
A woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
00:28:24.30\00:28:28.84
on her head a
garland of 12 stars."
00:28:28.87\00:28:34.68
Beloved, we could
spend a lot of time
00:28:34.71\00:28:36.64
in Revelation Chapter 12.
00:28:36.68\00:28:38.01
So I invite you
00:28:38.05\00:28:40.68
just to move quickly with me.
00:28:40.72\00:28:45.25
From our study of
Revelation Chapter 12,
00:28:45.29\00:28:47.52
and this sign,
00:28:47.56\00:28:49.02
this symbolic picture of a woman
00:28:49.06\00:28:51.59
clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet,
00:28:51.63\00:28:54.13
on her head a
garland of 12 stars,
00:28:54.16\00:28:56.00
we understand that to be...
00:28:56.03\00:29:00.54
We call it the church.
00:29:00.57\00:29:02.47
That can be confusing to some
because the church isn't until,
00:29:02.50\00:29:05.87
at least the terminology
00:29:05.91\00:29:07.58
that we use isn't
until the New Testament,
00:29:07.61\00:29:09.54
but we could say
the community of God.
00:29:09.58\00:29:13.85
All right.
00:29:13.88\00:29:15.98
"Then being with
child, she cried out in labor
00:29:16.02\00:29:18.79
and in pain to give birth."
00:29:18.82\00:29:20.82
Here is the
faithful community of God.
00:29:20.86\00:29:24.79
And she becomes
pregnant with a child.
00:29:24.83\00:29:27.46
She cries out in labor
and pain to give birth.
00:29:27.50\00:29:30.50
That child is Jesus.
00:29:30.53\00:29:36.44
So John is watching
the symbolic movement.
00:29:36.47\00:29:41.21
Here's this woman
representing the community,
00:29:41.24\00:29:45.41
the faithful church of God.
00:29:45.45\00:29:49.62
And that child will
be delivered, Jesus.
00:29:49.65\00:29:55.22
Then he introduces us
to these other players,
00:29:55.26\00:29:59.69
verse 3, "And another
sign appeared in heaven.
00:29:59.73\00:30:02.86
Behold a great, fiery red
dragon having seven heads,
00:30:02.90\00:30:05.47
and ten horns, and seven diadems
00:30:05.50\00:30:09.00
on his heads."
00:30:09.04\00:30:10.44
Who is this?
00:30:10.47\00:30:13.11
We don't have to guess, beloved.
00:30:13.14\00:30:14.48
Who is this?
00:30:14.51\00:30:16.38
This is Satan.
00:30:16.41\00:30:19.48
Satan shows up.
00:30:19.51\00:30:20.85
And there's this
bit of sequential order
00:30:20.88\00:30:24.15
as John is
introducing these players.
00:30:24.19\00:30:30.09
Here's the woman.
00:30:30.13\00:30:31.49
Now she's pregnant
00:30:31.53\00:30:33.19
and she's in
labor to give birth.
00:30:33.23\00:30:35.93
On the scene, shows
up this fiery red dragon,
00:30:39.13\00:30:42.00
"His tail, by
the way," John says,
00:30:45.51\00:30:47.51
"drew a third of the
stars of the heavens,
00:30:47.54\00:30:49.48
and threw them to the earth."
00:30:49.51\00:30:51.88
What's that about?
00:30:51.91\00:30:55.28
That's the beginning,
00:30:55.32\00:30:57.15
the visible beginning
of the great controversy.
00:30:57.19\00:31:01.02
When Satan was
separated from heaven,
00:31:01.06\00:31:03.86
He said, "You can't
be here any longer."
00:31:03.89\00:31:08.33
A third of the angels,
00:31:08.36\00:31:10.97
so we think
there's something to this.
00:31:11.00\00:31:14.10
And so they pack up
and head out with Satan.
00:31:14.14\00:31:18.77
That's way back,
00:31:18.81\00:31:20.78
way back, pre Adam and Eve.
00:31:20.81\00:31:23.38
But now that dragon
stood before the woman
00:31:28.62\00:31:30.69
who was ready to give
birth to devour her child
00:31:30.72\00:31:33.22
as soon as it was born.
00:31:33.25\00:31:34.66
And so now we've moved forward.
00:31:34.69\00:31:37.09
This is an overview
of the Great Controversy.
00:31:37.13\00:31:41.53
And that dragon
has now moved forward,
00:31:41.56\00:31:43.10
he's standing before the woman,
00:31:43.13\00:31:44.47
almost indifferent to
the woman at this point.
00:31:44.50\00:31:48.14
He knows that who he needs
to be targeting is that child.
00:31:48.17\00:31:53.48
Oh, he doesn't like the
woman, the faithful woman.
00:31:58.61\00:32:03.79
But he's almost indifferent
to her in this moment
00:32:03.82\00:32:06.82
as he stands before her,
he wants to devour the child.
00:32:06.86\00:32:11.83
He knows if he can get to Jesus,
00:32:11.86\00:32:14.06
he can get it all.
00:32:14.10\00:32:15.43
Verse 5,
00:32:23.14\00:32:25.64
"She bore a male child
who was to rule all nations."
00:32:25.67\00:32:29.68
And now we know why
he wanted to get at Him.
00:32:29.71\00:32:32.51
"He was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron.
00:32:32.55\00:32:37.72
And her child
was caught up to God
00:32:37.75\00:32:41.96
and His throne."
00:32:41.99\00:32:44.96
He becomes the
problem for the dragon.
00:32:44.99\00:32:47.20
The dragon knows,
00:32:47.23\00:32:48.56
"If I'm going to
rule all nations,
00:32:48.60\00:32:49.93
I've got to get to him."
00:32:49.96\00:32:52.17
But he misses his chance.
00:32:52.20\00:32:54.14
Jesus does His
work and then ascends,
00:32:54.17\00:32:57.14
He's caught up to
the throne of God.
00:32:57.17\00:32:58.67
Peter, in his
sermon, explains it.
00:32:58.71\00:33:01.28
He's caught up to the right hand
00:33:01.31\00:33:02.64
of the throne of God.
00:33:02.68\00:33:04.01
He missed his chance.
00:33:07.52\00:33:09.78
"Then the woman
fled into the wilderness,
00:33:09.82\00:33:12.55
where she had a
place prepared by God
00:33:12.59\00:33:14.76
that they should feed
her there 1,260 days."
00:33:14.79\00:33:20.30
So the woman then
had to go into hiding,
00:33:20.33\00:33:24.97
as it were, a wilderness time,
00:33:25.00\00:33:27.77
538 AD to 1798,
00:33:27.80\00:33:31.27
those years where the church
00:33:31.31\00:33:34.34
almost becomes invisible,
00:33:34.38\00:33:38.81
the faithful church.
00:33:38.85\00:33:41.32
J. Wiley describes
this as the period,
00:33:41.35\00:33:45.95
it's the midnight of the world,
00:33:45.99\00:33:48.76
wasn't a dynamic, faithful,
visible representation of God.
00:33:48.79\00:33:54.16
But you see the
sequential order.
00:33:57.70\00:34:00.00
Beloved, this is important now
00:34:00.04\00:34:02.17
because there's
a sequential order
00:34:02.20\00:34:04.37
where He moves
one player at a time.
00:34:04.41\00:34:06.27
Here's the faithful
woman, she's pregnant,
00:34:06.31\00:34:08.54
introduces the dragon,
00:34:08.58\00:34:09.98
he's going to
stand before the woman,
00:34:10.01\00:34:11.75
he's going to try to
devour the man-child,
00:34:11.78\00:34:13.72
the man-child is taken.
00:34:13.75\00:34:15.12
All right, now he
moves the woman forward
00:34:15.15\00:34:17.32
into the wilderness.
00:34:17.35\00:34:20.36
He moves her forward,
and then he steps back
00:34:20.39\00:34:24.46
and catches up on
the child and the dragon.
00:34:24.49\00:34:30.47
Verse 7,
00:34:30.50\00:34:32.07
"And war broke out in heaven.
00:34:32.10\00:34:33.47
Michael and his angels
fought with the dragon,
00:34:33.50\00:34:35.64
and the dragon and
his angels fought."
00:34:35.67\00:34:38.97
Let me ask you a question,
beloved, and be slow to answer.
00:34:39.01\00:34:42.84
When is verse 7?
00:34:42.88\00:34:46.21
When is verse 7?
00:34:51.79\00:34:53.92
Here we have
this sequential order
00:34:53.96\00:34:56.42
of the players moving forward,
00:34:56.46\00:34:59.56
and then the man-child
00:34:59.59\00:35:01.33
is taken up to
the throne of God,
00:35:01.36\00:35:03.10
the woman then is
moved into the wilderness,
00:35:03.13\00:35:05.33
and then there's war in heaven.
00:35:05.37\00:35:10.21
When does verse 7 happen?
00:35:10.24\00:35:13.07
And within my
community of faith,
00:35:13.11\00:35:15.84
we've often just
written it off as something
00:35:15.88\00:35:19.01
that John is referring
to in the distant past.
00:35:19.05\00:35:22.78
He's been moving
forward the entire time,
00:35:27.96\00:35:29.69
and then we just rip it out.
00:35:29.72\00:35:31.06
So, you know, that was
thousands of years ago.
00:35:31.09\00:35:35.10
There's been war in heaven
ever since the dragon took
00:35:39.37\00:35:42.77
that third of the angels,
00:35:42.80\00:35:46.44
but there was
some sort of pause,
00:35:46.47\00:35:48.48
almost pause, I don't want to...
00:35:48.51\00:35:49.91
There was always war.
00:35:49.94\00:35:51.28
There seems to be
some sort of pause.
00:35:51.31\00:35:56.35
The Book of Job
00:35:56.38\00:35:58.45
lets us know that
Satan stood before God,
00:35:58.49\00:36:01.96
claiming
representation of this planet.
00:36:01.99\00:36:04.33
The Gospel of
John, Jesus Himself says,
00:36:04.36\00:36:07.06
"Satan has been standing
before God accusing you."
00:36:07.10\00:36:12.73
So we know that
Satan had been allowed
00:36:12.77\00:36:15.74
or permitted in some sense
00:36:15.77\00:36:18.57
to stand before
the throne of God.
00:36:18.61\00:36:23.04
But now,
00:36:23.08\00:36:25.75
that man-child has
died and been resurrected,
00:36:25.78\00:36:29.88
and is now
ascended, and Peter says,
00:36:29.92\00:36:32.45
"He is going to take the
place next to the throne of God
00:36:32.49\00:36:35.76
representing this earth."
00:36:35.79\00:36:39.79
And Satan now has,
00:36:39.83\00:36:41.16
for thousands of
years since his removal,
00:36:41.20\00:36:44.27
been standing
before God, saying,
00:36:44.30\00:36:45.77
"I have been going
to and fro on the earth.
00:36:45.80\00:36:48.40
I represent the earth."
00:36:48.44\00:36:50.34
Jesus arrives and
says, "I beg to differ."
00:36:50.37\00:36:55.21
Hallelujah.
00:36:55.24\00:36:58.51
And now we have two standing
before the throne that say,
00:36:58.55\00:37:02.15
"They both represent us."
00:37:02.18\00:37:06.29
There was war.
00:37:06.32\00:37:09.56
There was war in heaven.
00:37:09.59\00:37:11.29
When Jesus returned as
our now representative,
00:37:11.33\00:37:16.06
He said, "I've been chosen.
00:37:16.10\00:37:17.73
I have given my blood.
00:37:17.77\00:37:19.23
I have the right to
represent that planet."
00:37:19.27\00:37:24.31
There was war.
00:37:24.34\00:37:25.67
Satan wasn't about
to give up his position.
00:37:25.71\00:37:28.74
"But he did not
prevail," verse 8,
00:37:31.75\00:37:34.82
"nor was there a place found
for them in heaven any longer."
00:37:34.85\00:37:38.62
John is saying, there had
been a place permitted for them
00:37:38.65\00:37:41.82
for a time
00:37:41.86\00:37:44.49
but no longer was there a
place found for them in heaven.
00:37:44.53\00:37:47.86
They had to go, and
they had to go permanently.
00:37:47.90\00:37:53.03
So the great
dragon was cast out,
00:37:53.07\00:37:55.00
that serpent of old
called the devil and Satan.
00:37:55.04\00:37:58.37
Heaven never had a
question about who Satan was.
00:37:58.41\00:38:04.38
But he was finally
removed before the universe,
00:38:04.41\00:38:07.08
the serpent of old
called the Devil and Satan,
00:38:07.12\00:38:08.98
who deceives the whole world,
00:38:09.02\00:38:10.39
he was cast to the
earth and his angels
00:38:10.42\00:38:12.39
were cast out with him.
00:38:12.42\00:38:14.36
"Then," verse 10,
00:38:17.63\00:38:19.16
"I heard a loud
voice in heaven saying,
00:38:19.19\00:38:21.16
"Now salvation and strength
and the kingdom of our God
00:38:21.20\00:38:24.77
and the power of
His Christ has come
00:38:24.80\00:38:26.97
for the accuser of our brethren
00:38:27.00\00:38:28.77
who accused them
before our God day and night."
00:38:28.80\00:38:32.27
Satan's been in heaven a lot
00:38:32.31\00:38:35.48
in those first 4,000 years.
00:38:35.51\00:38:38.91
He'd been accusing us
before God day and night.
00:38:38.95\00:38:43.39
You wanna talk
about a patient God.
00:38:43.42\00:38:47.89
"He'd been accusing...
00:38:47.92\00:38:49.26
But the power
of Christ has come.
00:38:52.49\00:38:54.63
And the accuser of our
brethren who was accused them
00:38:54.66\00:38:56.26
before God, day and
night, has been cast down."
00:38:56.30\00:39:00.34
Verse 11, "And they overcame him
00:39:00.37\00:39:01.70
by the blood of the Lamb,
00:39:01.74\00:39:03.07
and by the word
of their testimony,
00:39:03.10\00:39:04.44
and they did not love
their lives to death."
00:39:04.47\00:39:06.04
Verse 12, "Therefore rejoice,
00:39:06.07\00:39:08.88
O heavens, and you
who dwell in them."
00:39:08.91\00:39:12.08
Heaven is now
forever ridden of Satan.
00:39:12.11\00:39:17.75
He's done. He
can no longer return.
00:39:17.79\00:39:20.79
Spirit of Prophecy clues us in.
00:39:20.82\00:39:22.22
It says, "The
unfallens will not even talk
00:39:22.26\00:39:25.49
to Him anymore."
00:39:25.53\00:39:26.86
They won't even talk.
00:39:30.43\00:39:33.10
"Rejoice, O heavens,
we are done with that."
00:39:33.13\00:39:39.04
Oh, oh.
00:39:39.07\00:39:42.64
"But woe to the inhabitants
of the earth and the sea,
00:39:42.68\00:39:46.51
for the devil
has come down to you
00:39:46.55\00:39:49.22
having great wrath,
00:39:49.25\00:39:50.59
because he knows
he has a short time."
00:39:50.62\00:39:56.22
Did you catch that, beloved?
00:39:56.26\00:39:57.73
The heavens can rejoice now
because they're done with him
00:39:57.76\00:40:02.03
in that place.
00:40:02.06\00:40:03.80
But now, he has moved
00:40:03.83\00:40:05.47
from his
indifference to the woman
00:40:05.50\00:40:07.40
to now turning his undivided...
00:40:07.44\00:40:09.74
The man-child has beat him.
00:40:09.77\00:40:13.27
He's now been removed,
00:40:13.31\00:40:17.78
he can't accuse us
before God day and night,
00:40:17.81\00:40:19.88
so he has only
one thing left to do.
00:40:19.91\00:40:23.59
And that is to plague us.
00:40:23.62\00:40:25.95
"Woe to you,
inhabitants of the earth.
00:40:25.99\00:40:28.52
The devil has come down
being cast out of heaven,
00:40:28.56\00:40:31.23
knowing he has a short time."
00:40:31.26\00:40:33.96
So step back.
00:40:41.50\00:40:42.84
Meanwhile on planet earth,
00:40:45.87\00:40:50.01
the 120 have gathered
together to do church business
00:40:50.05\00:40:54.68
and then to pray
for the Holy Spirit.
00:40:54.72\00:40:59.82
And so they're praying,
they're seeking God's direct,
00:40:59.85\00:41:02.92
they're asking, they're pleading
00:41:02.96\00:41:04.69
for the Holy Spirit.
00:41:04.73\00:41:07.60
That's all that they can see.
00:41:07.63\00:41:10.47
But if you were to
pull back the curtain
00:41:10.50\00:41:14.44
to the supernatural,
00:41:14.47\00:41:17.07
Jesus is now on the right
hand of the throne of God.
00:41:17.11\00:41:20.21
Satan is standing there
saying, "No, no, no, no, no.
00:41:20.24\00:41:23.24
I've been here for
thousands of years."
00:41:23.28\00:41:25.05
I, I.
00:41:25.08\00:41:27.45
And Jesus just
stretches out his hands,
00:41:27.48\00:41:30.95
revealing the
scars of His sacrifice.
00:41:30.99\00:41:35.32
And there's war in heaven.
00:41:35.36\00:41:37.89
Satan is thrown
out, he's removed.
00:41:37.93\00:41:40.66
No longer does he have a
place before the throne of God
00:41:40.70\00:41:43.16
accusing us.
00:41:43.20\00:41:44.60
And the moment
that that happens...
00:41:44.63\00:41:47.50
The moment he's removed
from heaven permanently,
00:41:50.77\00:41:54.61
God says, "We now have
the legal right of pouring
00:41:54.64\00:41:59.25
Our Spirit out on that planet."
00:41:59.28\00:42:04.69
Before Satan could
accuse, "No, no, no, no.
00:42:04.72\00:42:06.62
You can't pull Your
Spirit out. You can't do it.
00:42:06.65\00:42:09.12
I am their representative
and they don't want it."
00:42:09.16\00:42:13.19
But now,
00:42:13.23\00:42:15.46
Jesus stands before
the throne and says,
00:42:15.50\00:42:19.93
"Father, they want it."
00:42:19.97\00:42:23.14
And like a man and a
woman who are deeply in love,
00:42:33.08\00:42:36.25
when they see each other
00:42:36.28\00:42:38.72
after a pause or
after a brief time apart,
00:42:38.75\00:42:43.99
there is no
delay in their reunion.
00:42:44.03\00:42:46.39
They don't look
across the room and say,
00:42:46.43\00:42:49.23
"I'll catch you
after the service."
00:42:49.26\00:42:52.30
They come together immediately.
00:42:52.33\00:42:54.24
And so it is
that Jesus is saying,
00:42:54.27\00:42:56.97
"We've got to pour it out.
00:42:57.01\00:42:58.34
They're ready."
00:42:58.37\00:42:59.71
GYC, let's do it again.
00:43:04.45\00:43:09.78
Beloved, let's do it again.
00:43:09.82\00:43:14.22
Could it be that
that little group
00:43:17.23\00:43:19.66
of faithful
prayer warriors in Acts
00:43:19.69\00:43:23.93
gave Jesus the proof as
He stood before the throne
00:43:23.97\00:43:28.64
that they indeed were
ready for the Holy Spirit?
00:43:28.67\00:43:34.91
Could it be that when a group,
a community come together,
00:43:34.94\00:43:39.11
doing church
business but praying,
00:43:39.15\00:43:43.28
pleading for the Holy Spirit?
00:43:43.32\00:43:46.25
Could it be that
always gives Jesus proof
00:43:46.29\00:43:52.33
that we're ready
for the Holy Spirit?
00:43:52.36\00:43:55.76
Could it be in our final moments
00:43:55.80\00:43:57.50
of earths' history
00:43:57.53\00:43:59.00
that heaven is again in need
00:43:59.03\00:44:03.34
of a community, praying?
00:44:03.37\00:44:07.64
Let's do it again, GYC.
00:44:07.68\00:44:10.31
Let's do it again, church.
00:44:10.35\00:44:12.98
Let's do it again.
00:44:13.01\00:44:17.25
One of my favorite
prayer authors E.M. Bounds
00:44:17.29\00:44:21.29
lays it out very clearly.
00:44:21.32\00:44:23.53
"Praying is a spiritual work.
00:44:23.56\00:44:25.03
Human nature does not
like taxing spiritual work.
00:44:25.06\00:44:27.76
Human nature
wants to sail to heaven
00:44:27.80\00:44:30.00
under a pleasant
breeze in a full smooth sea.
00:44:30.03\00:44:34.87
Prayer's a humbling work,
00:44:34.90\00:44:36.24
it abases our
intellect and pride,
00:44:36.27\00:44:38.07
crucifies vainglory,
00:44:38.11\00:44:39.44
and signals our
spiritual bankruptcy,
00:44:39.47\00:44:42.14
all of these are
hard for the flesh
00:44:42.18\00:44:43.91
and blood to bear.
00:44:43.95\00:44:45.28
The past has not
exhausted the possibilities,
00:44:45.31\00:44:48.15
nor the demands
00:44:48.18\00:44:49.52
for doing great things for God."
00:44:49.55\00:44:52.52
Let's do it again.
00:44:52.55\00:44:54.59
My favorite, favorite lines.
00:44:58.19\00:45:01.40
Someone handed them
to me on a slip of paper,
00:45:01.43\00:45:03.47
I still have in
the back of my Bible.
00:45:03.50\00:45:07.94
It's a letter Ellen White wrote
while she was in Australia,
00:45:07.97\00:45:11.74
1899.
00:45:11.77\00:45:13.64
She addresses
it to Sister Henry.
00:45:13.68\00:45:16.78
Listen to these words.
00:45:16.81\00:45:19.88
"When the third angel's message
00:45:19.91\00:45:21.75
shall go forth
with a loud voice,
00:45:21.78\00:45:23.82
and the whole earth shall
be lightened with His glory,
00:45:23.85\00:45:26.52
the Holy Spirit is
poured out upon God's people.
00:45:26.55\00:45:29.42
Heavens going to do it again.
00:45:29.46\00:45:32.46
The revenue of glory
has been accumulating
00:45:32.49\00:45:35.26
for this closing work of
the third angel's message.
00:45:35.30\00:45:38.63
Of the prayers
that have been ascending
00:45:38.67\00:45:40.87
for the
fulfillment of the promise
00:45:40.90\00:45:43.14
that is sent to the Holy Spirit,
00:45:43.17\00:45:44.67
not one has been lost.
00:45:44.71\00:45:48.34
Each prayer has been a
drop in the vase filling it up.
00:45:48.38\00:45:53.11
Each prayer has
been accumulating,
00:45:53.15\00:45:54.95
ready to overflow
00:45:54.98\00:45:56.32
and pour forth a healing
flood of heavenly influence
00:45:56.35\00:45:59.25
and accumulated
light for the world.
00:45:59.29\00:46:03.69
Let's do it again.
00:46:03.73\00:46:06.46
I live in a little
town called Johnstown
00:46:09.53\00:46:12.30
outside of a larger community,
00:46:12.33\00:46:14.37
Loveland in Fort
Collins in Colorado.
00:46:14.40\00:46:17.61
Our little town
00:46:17.64\00:46:20.11
built a new sports store,
00:46:20.14\00:46:24.31
sporting goods
store called Scheels.
00:46:24.35\00:46:30.29
Scheels puts a Ferris wheel
in the middle of their store.
00:46:30.32\00:46:36.02
It's huge.
00:46:36.06\00:46:38.16
We're a little town, but we're
next to this larger community,
00:46:38.19\00:46:40.60
and they built this
huge sporting goods store.
00:46:40.63\00:46:45.93
And in this
sporting goods stores,
00:46:45.97\00:46:47.30
this huge Ferris wheel.
00:46:47.34\00:46:48.80
For a fundraising
event and publicity,
00:46:52.27\00:46:54.74
Scheels and the
mayor of our little town,
00:46:54.78\00:46:57.61
Johnstown got
together and the mayor said,
00:46:57.65\00:47:01.05
"I'll ride that Ferris
wheel for 50 hours straight
00:47:01.08\00:47:06.62
as a fundraiser."
00:47:06.65\00:47:08.72
Fifty hours on a...
00:47:08.76\00:47:10.09
Have you been on a Ferris wheel?
00:47:10.13\00:47:12.49
Fifty hours?
00:47:12.53\00:47:13.86
I'm good with five minutes.
00:47:13.90\00:47:15.23
Five minutes, done.
00:47:15.26\00:47:17.10
Fifty hours.
00:47:17.13\00:47:19.20
So last year, the
mayor of Johnstown
00:47:19.23\00:47:21.54
got on that
Ferris wheel and rode it
00:47:21.57\00:47:24.27
for the next 50 hours.
00:47:24.31\00:47:31.01
In case you're wondering,
He started on Thursday,
00:47:31.05\00:47:36.25
rode it all Thursday night,
00:47:36.28\00:47:39.15
all day Friday,
all day Friday night,
00:47:39.19\00:47:42.19
all day Sabbath,
into Sabbath night.
00:47:42.22\00:47:46.43
Raised $22,000 for
feeding the hungry,
00:47:46.46\00:47:49.46
$22,000 for 50 hours.
00:47:49.50\00:47:52.80
Seems a little
low for me, but...
00:47:52.83\00:47:54.57
His name is Scott James.
00:47:57.81\00:48:00.28
Reading the story,
00:48:00.31\00:48:02.34
50 hours on the Ferris wheel.
00:48:02.38\00:48:05.08
But here's, beloved,
what I'd like to bring to you.
00:48:05.11\00:48:09.42
If a little town mayor
00:48:09.45\00:48:12.89
is willing to ride a
Ferris wheel for 50 hours
00:48:12.92\00:48:15.46
in order to raise $22,000,
00:48:15.49\00:48:18.83
what is the Church
of Christ willing to do
00:48:18.86\00:48:22.53
for the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit?
00:48:22.56\00:48:25.97
You want to talk
about persistence?
00:48:26.00\00:48:27.50
Talk to the mayor of Johnstown,
50 hours he's stuck with it.
00:48:27.54\00:48:32.24
Ellen White is saying,
00:48:32.27\00:48:33.61
"Look, every prayer
is added to the cup,
00:48:33.64\00:48:35.71
and it will fill up
00:48:35.74\00:48:37.08
and it will one
day be poured out.
00:48:37.11\00:48:38.81
But keep praying the prayers.
00:48:38.85\00:48:42.32
Jesus is beside the
throne representing us.
00:48:42.35\00:48:45.42
He is crowned King,
00:48:45.45\00:48:48.52
He represents us
now, He knows we want it."
00:48:48.56\00:48:53.33
But let's demonstrate it
to the unfallen universe.
00:48:53.36\00:48:57.53
We are ready for the Holy Spirit
00:48:57.57\00:49:02.54
from our crowned representative.
00:49:02.57\00:49:07.14
It's a bit of a cheesy line,
00:49:07.18\00:49:12.78
but it speaks to me.
00:49:12.81\00:49:14.15
A little young boy
went to bed one night.
00:49:14.18\00:49:17.55
Grandfather
clock he would listen
00:49:17.59\00:49:19.12
to in the hallway
would chime, it's hours.
00:49:19.15\00:49:22.36
As the time passed,
00:49:22.39\00:49:24.16
this little boy
is in his bed though,
00:49:24.19\00:49:25.96
and he is sleepless,
he just can't fall asleep.
00:49:25.99\00:49:29.10
He listens to the clock hit 10,
and then 11, and then midnight,
00:49:29.13\00:49:34.54
and he just can't go to sleep.
00:49:34.57\00:49:38.61
He hears the clock chime again
what now should be 1 o'clock,
00:49:42.98\00:49:47.98
but the clock malfunctions
and it begins to chime
00:49:48.02\00:49:52.02
1, 2, 3, 8, 9,
00:49:52.05\00:49:55.49
10, 11, 12, 13.
00:49:55.52\00:50:02.13
With horror, he
jumps from his bed
00:50:02.16\00:50:05.10
and runs down the hallway,
00:50:05.13\00:50:06.90
launching himself on to
his parents' bed crying,
00:50:06.94\00:50:09.80
"Wake up, wake up.
00:50:09.84\00:50:13.94
It's later than ever before.
00:50:13.98\00:50:18.15
It's 13 o'clock."
00:50:18.18\00:50:23.39
Beloved, it's 13 o'clock.
00:50:23.42\00:50:26.96
So Jesus Himself
gives us the invitation.
00:50:31.39\00:50:34.56
Luke Chapter 11, just
listen to these words,
00:50:34.60\00:50:37.77
let them cover you.
00:50:37.80\00:50:42.50
"I say to you," says Jesus,
00:50:42.54\00:50:45.47
"ask and it
will be given to you.
00:50:45.51\00:50:47.81
Seek and you will find.
00:50:47.84\00:50:49.64
Knock and the
door will be opened.
00:50:49.68\00:50:52.11
If you then,
though you are evil,
00:50:52.15\00:50:53.92
know how to give good
gifts to your children,
00:50:53.95\00:50:55.92
how much more will your Father
00:50:55.95\00:50:58.19
in heaven give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask Him?"
00:50:58.22\00:51:02.66
That's the invitation
of Jesus thrice repeated,
00:51:02.69\00:51:05.16
so we wouldn't miss the point.
00:51:05.19\00:51:06.86
Ask, seek, knock,
00:51:06.90\00:51:08.56
the Father wants to
give the Holy Spirit.
00:51:08.60\00:51:10.77
Little book in
your registration packet
00:51:15.54\00:51:18.17
called "Steps to
Personal Revival,"
00:51:18.21\00:51:20.58
if you read page
11, it will read,
00:51:20.61\00:51:23.28
"This special
invitation shows us
00:51:23.31\00:51:24.95
that according to Jesus,
00:51:24.98\00:51:26.31
something
essential, something essential,
00:51:26.35\00:51:29.28
it cannot be done
without is missing.
00:51:29.32\00:51:31.55
When we don't persistently
ask for the Holy Spirit,
00:51:31.59\00:51:34.99
He draws it to our attention
00:51:35.02\00:51:36.39
that we absolutely
need the Holy Spirit."
00:51:36.42\00:51:39.79
Who gives it to us?
00:51:39.83\00:51:41.23
Peter tells us,
00:51:41.26\00:51:42.90
our now Representative,
our Crowned Prince
00:51:42.93\00:51:46.74
will take that
promise and pour down on us.
00:51:46.77\00:51:49.60
And so,
beloved, to the very end,
00:51:49.64\00:51:54.18
God is calling a people
00:51:54.21\00:51:57.55
that will ask, seek, and knock.
00:51:57.58\00:52:01.18
They will stay in Jerusalem
to do business, of course,
00:52:01.22\00:52:03.92
but then they will pray
00:52:03.95\00:52:05.42
and plead with
all of their hearts.
00:52:05.45\00:52:07.99
I saw a picture
of the prayer room
00:52:08.02\00:52:09.72
this morning
00:52:09.76\00:52:11.13
while we prepare it in the back.
00:52:11.16\00:52:13.03
Hallelujah. It's happening.
00:52:13.06\00:52:14.93
Let's do it
again. Let's do it again.
00:52:14.96\00:52:18.73
Could it be that Jesus,
00:52:18.77\00:52:20.44
the Crowned
Prince needs a church
00:52:20.47\00:52:22.80
that will press
together one more time
00:52:22.84\00:52:25.57
for a final throw-down of Satan?
00:52:25.61\00:52:28.98
He's been cast
out of the heavens,
00:52:29.01\00:52:30.58
but woe to the earth.
00:52:30.61\00:52:31.95
Let's do it again.
00:52:31.98\00:52:34.08
One more time,
00:52:34.12\00:52:35.45
let's remove him
from this planet now.
00:52:35.48\00:52:37.95
So before the unfallen
00:52:42.02\00:52:44.59
and the fallen
witnesses in this place,
00:52:44.63\00:52:48.03
I would invite
you to make a decision
00:52:48.06\00:52:50.57
that your crowned
representative is Jesus,
00:52:50.60\00:52:55.57
that you will stand for
Him, "Jesus, you're mine."
00:52:55.60\00:53:00.98
And then a commitment
00:53:01.01\00:53:02.41
that you will
press together in prayer.
00:53:02.44\00:53:05.01
Beloved, start a
prayer group in your church.
00:53:05.05\00:53:08.48
Go at 8 AM and pray till 9.
00:53:08.52\00:53:12.12
Invite the pastor, the
elders, invite everyone.
00:53:12.15\00:53:18.03
We must do it again.
00:53:18.06\00:53:22.30
It will happen the same way.
00:53:22.33\00:53:24.97
A group of people praying,
00:53:25.00\00:53:27.47
Jesus, our crowned
prince will come down
00:53:27.50\00:53:31.64
and remove Satan again.
00:53:31.67\00:53:36.08
Let's do it again, GYC.
00:53:36.11\00:53:37.88
I would invite you.
00:53:37.91\00:53:39.65
Could it be that
today we would stand,
00:53:39.68\00:53:42.15
we would stand as a
physical representation
00:53:42.18\00:53:44.65
to the fallen and unfallen
00:53:44.69\00:53:46.09
that we accept Jesus
as our crowned prince?
00:53:46.12\00:53:50.03
He represents us
00:53:50.06\00:53:51.39
and we will press
together in prayer
00:53:51.43\00:53:53.63
until the Holy
Spirit can be poured out.
00:53:53.66\00:53:55.96
Could be that standing here?
00:53:56.00\00:53:58.17
We make that statement.
00:53:58.20\00:54:00.54
Hallelujah.
00:54:00.57\00:54:03.30
I'll invite you in standing,
00:54:03.34\00:54:05.21
then to sing
00:54:05.24\00:54:06.57
this commitment
song "Crown Him."
00:54:06.61\00:54:10.15
Crown Him with many
crowns, let's crown Him again.
00:54:10.18\00:54:13.38
He's our representative.
00:54:13.42\00:54:14.75
And we are ready
for the Holy Spirit.
00:54:14.78\00:54:18.75
Let us sing together.
00:54:27.50\00:54:28.83
Crown Him the Lord of peace
00:54:33.54\00:54:37.54
Whose hand a scepter sways
00:54:37.57\00:54:42.24
From pole to pole
that wars may cease
00:54:42.28\00:54:47.12
And all be prayer and praise
00:54:47.15\00:54:51.85
His reign shall know no end
00:54:51.89\00:54:56.56
And round His pierced feet
00:54:56.59\00:55:01.30
Fair flowers of paradise extend
00:55:01.33\00:55:06.00
Their fragrance ever sweet
00:55:06.03\00:55:11.44
Crown Him the Lord of years
00:55:11.47\00:55:15.71
The potentate of time
00:55:15.74\00:55:20.35
Creator of the rolling spheres
00:55:20.38\00:55:25.05
Ineffably sublime All hail
00:55:25.09\00:55:30.93
Redeemer, hail
00:55:30.96\00:55:34.23
For Thou hast died for me
00:55:34.26\00:55:38.83
Thy praise
shall never Never fail
00:55:38.87\00:55:43.74
Through all eternity
00:55:43.77\00:55:49.14
"And it shall come to
pass in the last days,"
00:55:52.38\00:55:54.35
says God, "I will pour
out My Spirit on all flesh.
00:55:54.38\00:55:57.62
Your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy.
00:55:57.65\00:56:00.02
Your young men
shall see visions.
00:56:00.06\00:56:01.66
Your old men will dream dreams.
00:56:01.69\00:56:03.53
And on my menservants
and on my maidservants,
00:56:03.56\00:56:05.89
I will pour My
Spirit in those days."
00:56:05.93\00:56:11.83
Let it be in our
generation, oh, God, amen.
00:56:11.87\00:56:16.94