I'll be reading
from Micah 6:1-8,
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Micah 6:1-8.
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And it reads,
"Hear what the Lord says,
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'Arise, plead your
case before the mountains,
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and let the
hills hear your voice.'
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Hear, you mountains,
the indictment of the Lord,
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and you enduring
foundations of the earth.
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For the Lord has an
indictment against His people,
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and He will contend with Israel.
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'O My people, what
have I done to you?
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How have I wearied you?
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Answer me!
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For I brought you up
from the land of Egypt,
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and redeemed you
from the house of slavery,
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and I sent before you
Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
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O My people, remember what
Balak, King of Moab devised,
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and what Balaam the
Son of Beor answered him.
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And what happened
from Shittim to Gilgal,
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that you may know the
righteous acts of the Lord.'
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" Verse 6,
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"With what shall I
come before the Lord,
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and bow myself
before God on high?
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Shall I come before
him with burnt offerings,
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with calves of a year old?
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Will the Lord be
pleased with thousands of rams,
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with ten
thousands of rivers of oil?
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Shall I give my
firstborn for my transgression,
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the fruit of my body
for the sin of my soul?
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He has told you,
O man, what is good.
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And what does the
Lord require of you
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but to do justice,
and to love kindness,
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and to walk
humbly with your God?"
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I have the
privilege of introducing
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our evening speaker tonight.
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He has a heart for GYC.
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In fact, he was a
speaker at the very first GYC.
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His firstborn
Israel was six months old.
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Today, he's 16
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and he's attending the 17th GYC.
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He's a thinker,
he's a lover of bow ties,
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that's why I'm
wearing one tonight.
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He's a relationship
and family specialist.
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You kind of earn that
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when you have four
very active children.
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Steve Conway is also pastor
of the Cherry Hill at Detroit,
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Northwest Churches,
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and married to the beautiful
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and perennial, sanguine Tambi.
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He brings to the table
a very unique experience
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that adds weighty
depth to his preaching.
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First lasting memory of
him was when I heard that
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an African-American
brother was going to pastor
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a Korean Church.
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And I remember
thinking that's going to be
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very interesting.
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The Lord blessed.
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In fact, he
pastored two Korean churches.
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He also served as the chaplain
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on the campus of the University
of Michigan with campus,
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the center for
Adventist ministry
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to public university students,
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and has also
served as boys' dean
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at one of our academies.
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You can expect
from Brother Conway,
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the preaching of the word
that both activates the mind
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and resonates with your soul.
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Here at GYC,
we've all accustomed
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to hearing
profound, straightforward
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biblical preaching
numerous preachers that torch,
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that baton will be
held very high tonight
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and each evening to the end.
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Let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
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Heavenly Father,
we thank You so much
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for the Word of God.
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I pray that You'll be
with Pastor Steve Conway,
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that You'll anoint
his lips that the words
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that are
preached are not his own,
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but from on high.
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In the name of Jesus, amen.
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Wonderful, merciful Savior
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Precious Redeemer and Friend
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Who could have
thought that a Lamb
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Could rescue the souls of men
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Oh, You rescue the souls of men
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Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
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Spirit we long to embrace
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You offer hope
when our hearts have
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Hopelessly lost the way
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Oh, we've
hopelessly lost the way
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You are the One that we praise
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You are the One we adore
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You give the healing and grace
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Our hearts always hunger for Oh,
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our hearts always hunger for
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Almighty, infinite Father
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Faithfully loving Your own
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Here in our weakness You find us
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Falling before Your throne
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Oh, we're bowing
before Your throne
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You are the One that we praise
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You are the One we adore
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You give the healing and grace
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Our hearts always hunger for
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Oh, our hearts always hunger for
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You are the One that we praise
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You are the One we adore
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You give the healing and grace
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Our hearts always hunger for
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Oh, our hearts always hunger for
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Let's hear another hearty amen.
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Amen.
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Bow your heads together with me.
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"Father, we are grateful
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for the
privilege of Your presence
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and for the power of Your Word.
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Now we ask that
You would be with us
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as we spend time together
considering eternal things.
00:10:02.33\00:10:07.97
It is our prayer that
we would leave different
00:10:08.00\00:10:10.04
than we entered in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
00:10:12.37\00:10:16.28
Bring you greetings from
00:10:16.31\00:10:17.65
the Cherry Hill
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:10:17.68\00:10:19.51
and Garden City, Michigan,
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and the Detroit Northwest
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Seventh-day Adventist
Church in Detroit, Michigan.
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I'm grateful that
00:10:28.52\00:10:30.53
our congregations have
allowed us to come here
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and to spend time
together with you and share.
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In the Book of Acts Chapter 1,
00:10:38.73\00:10:43.81
beginning with verse 6.
00:10:43.84\00:10:48.31
The Bible says, "When they
therefore were come together,
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they asked of
him, saying, 'Lord,
00:10:51.25\00:10:55.75
wilt thou at this
time restore again
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the kingdom to Israel?'
00:10:59.79\00:11:05.19
" Wilt thou at
this time restore again
00:11:05.23\00:11:09.23
the kingdom to Israel?
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Verse 7, "And he said unto them,
00:11:11.27\00:11:12.73
'It is not for
you to know the times
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or the seasons,
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which the Father
hath put in His own power.
00:11:17.51\00:11:21.84
But ye shall receive power,
00:11:21.88\00:11:24.35
after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon you,
00:11:24.38\00:11:26.75
and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem,
00:11:26.78\00:11:31.35
and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria,
00:11:31.39\00:11:34.82
and unto the
uttermost part of the earth'"
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or as the theme is to
the ends of the earth.
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The first thing that
jumps into my mind is
00:11:43.67\00:11:47.17
found in verse 6.
00:11:47.20\00:11:48.80
The Bible tells us that
when they were come together,
00:11:48.84\00:11:52.31
they asked him, and
in the original language,
00:11:52.34\00:11:55.84
they did not
merely ask one time,
00:11:55.88\00:11:58.15
but they
persistently pressed Jesus.
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So they asked over
and over and over again.
00:12:02.55\00:12:07.29
It's like one of my
children, when I've told them
00:12:07.32\00:12:10.33
that I'm going to
do something for them,
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they will never let me forget.
00:12:12.93\00:12:15.90
They press over and
over and over again.
00:12:15.93\00:12:21.87
But it is not this pressing
00:12:21.90\00:12:23.94
so much as it is
what the disciples ask
00:12:23.97\00:12:27.18
that is at the very
least puzzling to me.
00:12:27.21\00:12:31.55
Lord, wilt thou at
this time restore again
00:12:31.58\00:12:36.02
the kingdom to Israel?
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If you're familiar with
Jesus' teachings on the kingdom,
00:12:39.02\00:12:42.72
which all of us
should be to some degree,
00:12:42.76\00:12:46.76
Jesus had much to
say about the kingdom,
00:12:46.80\00:12:50.47
but actually He said very little
00:12:50.50\00:12:52.90
about the restoration
of the kingdom to Israel.
00:12:52.93\00:12:57.17
In His parables, you will read
about the kingdom being removed
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or taken away from Israel
and given to another nation
00:13:01.08\00:13:04.55
bringing forth fruits.
00:13:04.58\00:13:07.58
And so my question is,
00:13:07.62\00:13:09.35
where does the
disciples question come from?
00:13:09.38\00:13:14.46
Beloved, I
believe that it came from
00:13:14.49\00:13:18.76
the theological interpretations
of the Pharisees.
00:13:18.79\00:13:24.50
Now the reason why
this is troubling to me
00:13:24.53\00:13:27.67
is because the
crucified, and resurrected,
00:13:27.70\00:13:31.97
and glorified savior
was standing right there
00:13:32.01\00:13:35.84
in front of the disciples.
00:13:35.88\00:13:37.25
They had spent the last
40 days with their master.
00:13:37.28\00:13:44.09
And, beloved,
Jesus was not enough.
00:13:44.12\00:13:48.12
What did I say?
00:13:48.16\00:13:51.19
I heard three people
here on the front row.
00:13:51.23\00:13:55.06
Jesus was not enough.
00:13:55.10\00:13:56.63
What did I say?
00:13:56.67\00:13:58.00
Jesus was not enough.
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Please imagine with me that
00:14:01.07\00:14:03.00
the man that you
have seen raise the dead
00:14:03.04\00:14:04.94
and feed 5,000 on one occasion
00:14:04.97\00:14:07.11
and 4,000 on another occasion,
00:14:07.14\00:14:09.84
and that's not even
counting the women and children,
00:14:09.88\00:14:13.68
a man that you have
seen calm stormy seas,
00:14:13.72\00:14:16.99
a man that you
have seen cast demons
00:14:17.02\00:14:20.02
out of countless individuals,
00:14:20.06\00:14:22.09
and then imagine with me
that you see this same man
00:14:22.12\00:14:25.43
hanging on a cross.
00:14:25.46\00:14:27.36
Your hopes in Him as
the Messiah are dashed,
00:14:27.40\00:14:31.97
destroyed.
00:14:32.00\00:14:33.34
And then, you see
Him after He has risen.
00:14:36.20\00:14:41.21
Imagine that you're
inside of a house for fear
00:14:41.24\00:14:44.31
of what the Jews
are going to do to you,
00:14:44.35\00:14:46.41
and the same Jesus
walks through the wall,
00:14:46.45\00:14:50.42
comes into the midst,
00:14:50.45\00:14:52.55
approaches Thomas,
00:14:52.59\00:14:54.89
and says, "Touch me, touch me."
00:14:54.92\00:15:00.30
And then imagine
that you and Jesus
00:15:00.33\00:15:02.30
spent 40 days together.
00:15:02.33\00:15:05.63
And at the end of this,
the only thing on your lips
00:15:05.67\00:15:09.60
is a twisted
theological interpretation.
00:15:09.64\00:15:12.87
When will you restore
the kingdom to Israel?
00:15:12.91\00:15:18.55
Not Jesus.
00:15:18.58\00:15:20.12
How many more people
are going to be resurrected?
00:15:20.15\00:15:22.95
Not Jesus.
00:15:22.98\00:15:24.32
What grand things do
you have in store for us,
00:15:24.35\00:15:27.32
but when will you
restore the kingdom to Israel?
00:15:27.36\00:15:30.39
It makes me wonder tonight
00:15:30.43\00:15:32.33
for how many of us
is Jesus not enough?
00:15:32.36\00:15:37.00
How many of us need a new car?
00:15:37.03\00:15:39.23
How many of us
need another degree?
00:15:39.27\00:15:41.40
How many of us need
a better relationship?
00:15:41.44\00:15:44.04
How many of us
need to make more money?
00:15:44.07\00:15:46.47
How many of us
need something else
00:15:46.51\00:15:50.11
other than Jesus?
00:15:50.15\00:15:53.21
The disciples asked
this ridiculous question,
00:15:53.25\00:15:56.82
but Jesus in His manifold wisdom
00:15:56.85\00:15:59.69
does not directly
address the question.
00:15:59.72\00:16:04.66
"It is not for you to
know the times or the seasons
00:16:04.69\00:16:08.03
which the Father has
put in His own power.
00:16:08.06\00:16:11.63
But ye shall receive power,
00:16:11.67\00:16:13.37
after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon you.
00:16:13.40\00:16:16.81
And ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem,
00:16:16.84\00:16:21.31
and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria,
00:16:21.34\00:16:23.38
and unto the
uttermost part of the earth."
00:16:23.41\00:16:27.82
This is a wonderful promise,
00:16:27.85\00:16:30.05
and we've heard a
little bit about it today.
00:16:30.09\00:16:34.32
Your theme takes
the end of verse 8
00:16:34.36\00:16:37.69
and seeks the
focus our minds on that.
00:16:37.73\00:16:40.06
But I want to
take your minds away
00:16:40.10\00:16:42.13
from the ends of the earth.
00:16:42.16\00:16:44.73
And I want to take
your minds to the beginning.
00:16:44.77\00:16:50.21
Jesus tells them
to go to Jerusalem.
00:16:50.24\00:16:53.68
He tells them to go where?
00:16:53.71\00:16:55.04
Jerusalem.
00:16:55.08\00:16:56.95
Now I don't know if
you're awake this evening,
00:16:56.98\00:17:01.02
but if you are like me
and I'm one of the disciples,
00:17:01.05\00:17:03.45
I'm like, "What, Jesus?
00:17:03.49\00:17:07.42
You want us to go where?"
00:17:07.46\00:17:10.63
After all, it was in
Jerusalem that Jesus had been...
00:17:10.66\00:17:16.03
Yeah.
00:17:16.06\00:17:17.40
In the 11th
chapter of John's gospel,
00:17:17.43\00:17:19.67
the Bible tells us how Jesus'
apostles felt about Jerusalem,
00:17:19.70\00:17:24.91
when Jesus said,
"Let us go into Judaea,"
00:17:24.94\00:17:28.04
because He wanted
to resurrect Lazarus.
00:17:28.08\00:17:30.05
They say, "Well, yeah.
00:17:30.08\00:17:31.41
Come on, let's go so
we can die like Him."
00:17:31.45\00:17:33.68
This was not a place that
any one of Jesus' followers
00:17:36.69\00:17:40.92
would covet going,
00:17:40.96\00:17:42.56
and yet it is
the very first place
00:17:42.59\00:17:44.63
that Jesus commanded
that His disciples must go.
00:17:44.66\00:17:51.27
I would submit
to you this evening
00:17:51.30\00:17:54.17
that Jesus was
borrowing from a principle
00:17:54.20\00:17:57.34
or an idea that is in scripture.
00:17:57.37\00:18:00.88
Again, if I'm
one of the disciples,
00:18:00.91\00:18:02.58
I don't want to go to Jerusalem
00:18:02.61\00:18:04.35
because they've crucified Jesus.
00:18:04.38\00:18:06.95
Not only have
they crucified Jesus
00:18:06.98\00:18:09.68
but they've already
heard Jesus preaching.
00:18:09.72\00:18:13.29
They've seen
Jesus perform miracles.
00:18:13.32\00:18:17.19
Humanly speaking,
one would conclude
00:18:17.23\00:18:19.66
it would be a
waste of time to go
00:18:19.69\00:18:21.96
and take the
gospel message to those
00:18:22.00\00:18:24.80
who have
apparently already heard.
00:18:24.83\00:18:29.04
If there were classes of
people who were deserving
00:18:29.07\00:18:33.58
to receive the gospel,
00:18:33.61\00:18:35.34
I believe that
those in Jerusalem
00:18:35.38\00:18:37.11
would probably be considered
amongst the most undeserving.
00:18:37.15\00:18:42.98
And yet, Jesus said,
00:18:43.02\00:18:44.95
before you reach
the ends of the earth,
00:18:44.99\00:18:49.12
you must first go to Jerusalem.
00:18:49.16\00:18:53.29
What is this
principle that we suggested?
00:18:53.33\00:18:57.87
Turn with me to Micah 6.
00:18:57.90\00:19:00.47
It was our scripture
reading this evening.
00:19:00.50\00:19:05.57
Micah 6.
00:19:05.61\00:19:09.58
People have
composed beautiful music,
00:19:09.61\00:19:11.58
beautiful songs
about these verses.
00:19:11.61\00:19:14.55
But tonight, we
will try to extract
00:19:14.58\00:19:17.72
something that helps us
understand Jesus' command
00:19:17.75\00:19:22.22
in the first chapter of Acts.
00:19:22.26\00:19:26.03
"Hear you now
what the Lord says,
00:19:26.06\00:19:29.10
Arise, contend thou
before the mountains,
00:19:29.13\00:19:33.07
and let the
hills hear your voice."
00:19:33.10\00:19:36.17
Whenever God has a
problem with His people,
00:19:36.20\00:19:38.74
and they're not listening,
00:19:38.77\00:19:40.41
God calls nature to
witness against His people.
00:19:40.44\00:19:44.88
Verse 2, "Hear, ye, O mountains,
00:19:44.91\00:19:47.42
the Lord's controversy,
00:19:47.45\00:19:49.32
and ye strong
foundations of the earth.
00:19:49.35\00:19:52.65
For the Lord has a
controversy with His people
00:19:52.69\00:19:55.89
and He will plead with Israel.
00:19:55.92\00:20:00.66
O My people, what
have I done unto you?
00:20:00.70\00:20:03.63
And wherein have I wearied you?
00:20:03.67\00:20:05.90
Testify against me.
00:20:05.93\00:20:08.10
For I brought you up
out of the land of Egypt,
00:20:08.14\00:20:10.81
and redeemed you out
of the house of servants.
00:20:10.84\00:20:13.38
And I sent before you
Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
00:20:13.41\00:20:16.75
O My people, remember now
00:20:16.78\00:20:19.01
what Balak, King
of Moab, consulted,
00:20:19.05\00:20:21.28
and what Balaam, the
son of Beor answered him
00:20:21.32\00:20:24.52
from Shittim onto Gilgal,
00:20:24.55\00:20:26.55
that ye may know the
righteousness of the Lord."
00:20:26.59\00:20:31.39
Now here's where
it gets interesting.
00:20:31.43\00:20:35.40
Verse 6.
00:20:35.43\00:20:36.87
Israel personify is
responding to God's accusations.
00:20:36.90\00:20:42.60
And I want you to notice
the tinner of their response.
00:20:42.64\00:20:47.14
"Wherewith shall I
come before the Lord,
00:20:47.18\00:20:50.55
and bow myself
before the high God?
00:20:50.58\00:20:53.85
Shall I come before
Him with burnt offerings,
00:20:53.88\00:20:57.12
with calves of a year old?
00:20:57.15\00:20:59.59
Will the Lord be pleased
with ten thousands of rams
00:20:59.62\00:21:02.52
or with ten
thousands of rivers of oil?
00:21:02.56\00:21:05.63
Shall I give my
firstborn for my transgression,
00:21:05.66\00:21:09.13
the fruit of my body
for the sin of my soul?"
00:21:09.16\00:21:13.87
So God says,
00:21:13.90\00:21:15.30
"I've got a
controversy with My people."
00:21:15.34\00:21:19.54
And Israel's response is,
00:21:19.57\00:21:21.54
"Well, what do you want from us?
00:21:21.58\00:21:24.31
What do you want?
00:21:24.35\00:21:25.68
Do you want
thousands of burnt offerings?
00:21:28.38\00:21:31.29
Do you want thousands of rams,
00:21:31.32\00:21:33.05
ten thousands of rivers of oil?"
00:21:33.09\00:21:36.76
Those things
are all in reference
00:21:36.79\00:21:38.49
to the sacrificial
00:21:38.53\00:21:40.43
or the ceremonial services.
00:21:40.46\00:21:43.00
"Do you want us
to just keep going
00:21:43.03\00:21:44.83
through a round of
religious practices?
00:21:44.87\00:21:48.17
Is that what you want, God?
00:21:48.20\00:21:50.24
More churches,
00:21:50.27\00:21:52.87
more grand events like this one,
00:21:52.91\00:21:55.58
more seminars,
00:21:55.61\00:21:57.55
more explanations on
how we are to do this,
00:21:57.58\00:21:59.85
and how we are to do that.
00:21:59.88\00:22:01.58
Is that what you desire?"
00:22:01.62\00:22:04.15
And then, Israel
goes a step further
00:22:04.19\00:22:06.52
and suggests that God is
unfair in what He desires
00:22:06.55\00:22:12.83
beyond the religious rituals.
00:22:12.86\00:22:16.60
"Do you want Me to
give the fruit of My body
00:22:16.63\00:22:21.20
for the sin of My soul?
00:22:21.24\00:22:24.04
Are You asking me for that
00:22:24.07\00:22:25.97
which it is uncharacteristic
of You to request,
00:22:26.01\00:22:31.15
illogical of You to request.
00:22:31.18\00:22:34.75
God, what is it
that You want from me?"
00:22:34.78\00:22:38.65
I imagined that
there are some of you
00:22:38.69\00:22:40.22
who are listening
to this right now,
00:22:40.26\00:22:43.96
who have asked
yourself the very same question.
00:22:43.99\00:22:47.86
God, I go to church every week.
00:22:47.90\00:22:49.40
God, I try to study my Bible.
00:22:49.43\00:22:51.60
I try to spend time with You,
00:22:51.63\00:22:53.60
but it seems like
things are just not clicking.
00:22:53.64\00:22:56.24
"What else do You want from me?
00:22:56.27\00:22:59.24
I've sacrificed,
and I've given up music,
00:22:59.27\00:23:01.44
and I've given up
the partying scene,
00:23:01.48\00:23:03.48
and I've tried to get
away from the old life,
00:23:03.51\00:23:06.11
but what else is
it that You desire?"
00:23:06.15\00:23:08.78
Listen to God's response.
00:23:11.99\00:23:13.46
Verse 8.
00:23:16.93\00:23:19.86
What does it say? You
probably can quote it.
00:23:19.89\00:23:22.16
"He hath shewed thee,
00:23:22.20\00:23:26.23
O man, what is..."
00:23:26.27\00:23:28.17
"Good."
00:23:28.20\00:23:29.54
"And what doth the..."
00:23:29.57\00:23:30.91
"Lord."
00:23:30.94\00:23:33.07
Now the interesting
thing is, if you're like me,
00:23:33.11\00:23:36.28
I'm looking at that
and I'm saying to myself,
00:23:36.31\00:23:38.15
"Okay, God has shown
them what it is that is good,
00:23:38.18\00:23:42.05
and what He requires of them,
00:23:42.08\00:23:44.29
so they already know."
00:23:44.32\00:23:45.89
They already what?
00:23:45.92\00:23:47.99
They already know.
00:23:48.02\00:23:50.36
But if you're
like me, I didn't know.
00:23:50.39\00:23:54.70
Here's the
punch-line if you will.
00:23:54.73\00:23:59.93
Israel had been shown
what God required of them
00:23:59.97\00:24:05.51
based on his
treatment of Israel.
00:24:05.54\00:24:09.64
Let me say that again.
00:24:09.68\00:24:11.61
Israel had been showed
00:24:11.65\00:24:14.28
or shown what
God required of them
00:24:14.32\00:24:17.12
based on his
treatment of Israel.
00:24:17.15\00:24:21.56
Listen to this.
00:24:21.59\00:24:23.59
Verse 4,
00:24:23.63\00:24:26.09
"For I brought you up
out of the land of Egypt,
00:24:26.13\00:24:29.43
and I redeemed you out
of the house of slavery.
00:24:29.46\00:24:33.94
And I send before you
Moses, Aaron, and Miriam."
00:24:33.97\00:24:37.61
God is saying, "I
have liberated you."
00:24:37.64\00:24:40.34
I have what? Liberated.
00:24:40.38\00:24:42.28
"I have liberated you.
00:24:42.31\00:24:45.11
And I also gave you
guidance and leadership."
00:24:45.15\00:24:48.38
I gave you what?
00:24:48.42\00:24:49.75
Guidance and leadership.
00:24:49.78\00:24:51.35
"I liberated you,
00:24:51.39\00:24:52.75
I provided guidance
and leadership for you."
00:24:52.79\00:24:56.79
Verse 5, "Remember now
00:24:56.83\00:24:59.16
what Balak king
of Moab consulted,
00:24:59.19\00:25:01.46
and what Balaam the son
of Boer answered him..."
00:25:01.50\00:25:05.00
Now listen, you
guys remember this.
00:25:05.03\00:25:06.80
This is from the
Book of Numbers, right?
00:25:06.84\00:25:09.70
Did Israel know
00:25:09.74\00:25:11.24
what Balaam and Balak were doing
00:25:11.27\00:25:13.51
on the mountain?
00:25:13.54\00:25:15.38
Did Israel know
00:25:15.41\00:25:17.58
that an attempt was being
made to curse the entire nation?
00:25:17.61\00:25:22.08
Come on, yes or no?
00:25:22.12\00:25:25.09
Listen to me, friends,
00:25:25.12\00:25:27.56
God was saying, "I
protected you from dangers
00:25:27.59\00:25:32.96
that you did not
even know existed.
00:25:32.99\00:25:37.23
I protected, and
I preserved you."
00:25:37.27\00:25:40.27
Amen.
00:25:40.30\00:25:43.54
"I caused blessings
to come from your enemies
00:25:43.57\00:25:46.88
and you didn't even know it."
00:25:46.91\00:25:48.24
And so this, beloved,
00:25:51.28\00:25:52.88
is the foundation
for what God says,
00:25:52.91\00:25:56.25
"I have shown you what is good,
00:25:56.28\00:26:00.06
and I have shown you
what I require of you."
00:26:00.09\00:26:02.92
Listen to what He says
00:26:06.36\00:26:09.36
in the end portion of verse 8,
00:26:09.40\00:26:12.77
"To do justly,
00:26:12.80\00:26:14.77
to love mercy,
00:26:14.80\00:26:16.50
and to walk
humbly with thy God?"
00:26:16.54\00:26:20.08
To do justly.
00:26:20.11\00:26:21.84
That is to do what is right,
00:26:21.88\00:26:25.75
to do what is right.
00:26:25.78\00:26:28.75
And to love mercy,
00:26:28.78\00:26:31.69
and then to walk in humility.
00:26:31.72\00:26:35.52
We should love mercy.
00:26:35.56\00:26:37.93
Israel was being
encouraged to love mercy
00:26:37.96\00:26:42.13
because God had
been merciful to them.
00:26:42.16\00:26:46.33
Israel was being
encouraged to do what was right
00:26:46.37\00:26:49.64
because God had
done right by Israel.
00:26:49.67\00:26:54.31
Israel was being
encouraged to walk in humility
00:26:54.34\00:26:58.01
because the blessings
that they enjoy were not
00:26:58.05\00:27:00.48
because they had
been faithful to God
00:27:00.52\00:27:02.88
but because God had
been faithful to them.
00:27:02.92\00:27:04.89
And so God says this, beloved,
00:27:07.92\00:27:11.03
"I want you to treat others
00:27:11.06\00:27:14.00
the way that I
have treated you."
00:27:14.03\00:27:17.77
Did you get that
or did you miss it?
00:27:17.80\00:27:21.17
"I want you to treat others
00:27:21.20\00:27:23.87
the way I have treated you."
00:27:23.91\00:27:29.31
But what if they're undeserving?
00:27:29.34\00:27:33.01
Well, guess what?
00:27:33.05\00:27:35.18
You're undeserving too.
00:27:35.22\00:27:38.49
This principal difference
00:27:38.52\00:27:40.86
I believe is what Jesus...
00:27:40.89\00:27:45.73
What Jesus
concentrates in the Acts 1.
00:27:45.76\00:27:50.57
It's the reason why Jesus told
00:27:50.60\00:27:52.77
the disciples that they
must first go to Jerusalem.
00:27:52.80\00:27:57.67
It was the most
hazardous mission
00:27:57.71\00:27:59.64
that they could undertake
00:27:59.67\00:28:01.08
to the most
undeserving of people
00:28:01.11\00:28:03.85
on the face of planet earth,
00:28:03.88\00:28:05.85
and yet Jesus says,
"You must start there."
00:28:05.88\00:28:11.19
Now let me ask you.
00:28:11.22\00:28:14.29
Did the disciples
stick close to Jesus' side
00:28:14.32\00:28:18.36
when He was going
through His passion?
00:28:21.46\00:28:23.26
You know, I had a friend
00:28:26.27\00:28:28.50
when I was young about 15 or 16,
00:28:28.54\00:28:32.17
and I remember my brother and I,
00:28:32.21\00:28:33.54
we got into a
fight, we got junked.
00:28:33.58\00:28:35.98
And it was three of us
walking down the street.
00:28:36.01\00:28:39.51
And this brother was
ruptured away instantly
00:28:42.55\00:28:46.86
when the fight broke out.
00:28:46.89\00:28:48.22
And two hours
later, he reappeared.
00:28:51.43\00:28:53.66
I'm like, "Man, what happened?"
00:28:57.03\00:28:58.73
"Oh, man, I ran, I
thought Saul was running too."
00:28:58.77\00:29:00.74
Bible says that one of
Jesus' followers ran so fast
00:29:04.21\00:29:08.18
that the brother ran
up out of his clothes.
00:29:08.21\00:29:11.41
Now I know some of you
are fast in here tonight,
00:29:11.45\00:29:13.28
but you ain't that fast.
00:29:13.31\00:29:15.58
His brother ran up
out of his clothes.
00:29:15.62\00:29:18.69
The disciples...
My point is this,
00:29:18.72\00:29:20.39
the disciples were undeserving
of the mercies of God
00:29:20.42\00:29:24.59
because they had forsaken Jesus
00:29:24.63\00:29:27.20
at the time when
He needed them most,
00:29:27.23\00:29:29.93
and yet, He had
extended mercy to them.
00:29:29.96\00:29:34.97
And now Jesus
says, "I want you to go
00:29:35.00\00:29:38.21
and extend mercy
to the undeserving
00:29:38.24\00:29:43.14
just as I've
extended mercy to you."
00:29:43.18\00:29:47.98
Let me ask you a
question tonight.
00:29:48.02\00:29:51.39
Who do you think is
undeserving of the gospel?
00:29:51.42\00:29:55.62
Let me ask it another way.
00:29:55.66\00:29:59.36
Who are you least inclined
to share the gospel with?
00:29:59.39\00:30:02.80
I want you to think about that.
00:30:05.87\00:30:07.84
Somebody alluded
to it earlier today
00:30:07.87\00:30:09.97
in one of the presentations,
00:30:10.01\00:30:11.51
I like the fact that
Jerusalem was a city.
00:30:11.54\00:30:13.64
Jerusalem was a what?
00:30:13.68\00:30:15.01
City.
00:30:15.04\00:30:16.38
Now I know as all good
Seventh-day Adventists,
00:30:16.41\00:30:18.48
we're trying to
make our way to the hills
00:30:18.51\00:30:20.22
and get away from the cities.
00:30:20.25\00:30:22.05
So we can prepare
00:30:22.08\00:30:25.12
to be translated to
heaven without seeing death.
00:30:25.15\00:30:31.53
But I just want to put
this in your ear tonight.
00:30:31.56\00:30:34.46
There was work to
be done in the cities.
00:30:34.50\00:30:38.83
And I know some of us
00:30:38.87\00:30:40.44
talk about being
afraid of going to the cities.
00:30:40.47\00:30:44.24
I hear no amens on that.
00:30:44.27\00:30:47.68
I know some of us talk
about being afraid of going
00:30:47.71\00:30:50.35
into the cities because,
00:30:50.38\00:30:51.71
"Oh, all the crime
and all the violence,
00:30:51.75\00:30:54.32
I heard that about Detroit,
00:30:54.35\00:30:56.69
but they pack out for field
00:30:56.72\00:30:58.29
with 80,000 people all the time.
00:30:58.32\00:31:01.52
They pack out
tigers, not Tiger Stadium,
00:31:01.56\00:31:03.66
but Comerica Park.
00:31:03.69\00:31:05.26
All the folks going down
to see the baseball game,
00:31:05.29\00:31:09.53
and they pack out
the hockey arenas.
00:31:09.56\00:31:12.50
And people tend
to go to the cities
00:31:12.53\00:31:15.47
for what they want
to go to the cities for.
00:31:15.50\00:31:19.04
And I'm not just
talking about worldly folks,
00:31:19.07\00:31:22.64
I'm talking about us too.
00:31:22.68\00:31:25.91
Welcome to the city for GYC.
00:31:25.95\00:31:29.92
But we won't go to
labor amongst those
00:31:29.95\00:31:32.72
who are needy in the cities.
00:31:32.75\00:31:35.89
And yet, what we're reading
tonight from God's Word is,
00:31:35.92\00:31:38.83
God says, "Have I
extended mercy to you?"
00:31:38.86\00:31:43.06
"Yes."
00:31:43.10\00:31:44.67
"Then I expect
you to extend mercy
00:31:44.70\00:31:47.07
even to those that you
may deem to be undeserving."
00:31:47.10\00:31:53.01
"Well, Lord, I'm afraid
of what's going to happen
00:31:53.04\00:31:55.78
if I go into the cities."
00:31:55.81\00:31:57.71
Let me tell you. I used to...
00:31:57.75\00:32:01.08
For many years, like many of you
00:32:01.12\00:32:04.42
or some of you, anyway,
00:32:04.45\00:32:06.09
go door to door, canvassing,
00:32:06.12\00:32:08.72
and I lay up
programs, big booked,
00:32:08.76\00:32:10.39
and all of that stuff.
00:32:10.43\00:32:11.76
And you know what
they would tell us
00:32:11.79\00:32:13.13
when we would go door
to door, and, you know,
00:32:13.16\00:32:15.43
you don't know the people
that were telling me this,
00:32:15.46\00:32:17.13
so don't think anything.
00:32:17.17\00:32:20.67
They would tell us
there are certain communities
00:32:20.70\00:32:22.54
that you want to look for.
00:32:22.57\00:32:25.01
Don't say amen too loud.
00:32:25.04\00:32:28.61
Young families with...
00:32:28.64\00:32:33.11
Young families with kids.
00:32:33.15\00:32:36.08
These are the communities
that we want to target.
00:32:36.12\00:32:42.12
And when we conduct
our evangelistic crusades,
00:32:42.16\00:32:45.69
listen to me beloved,
00:32:45.73\00:32:47.66
who are we expecting to get?
00:32:47.70\00:32:52.13
If you're
honest with yourselves,
00:32:52.17\00:32:54.37
you want
nicely-dressed professionals
00:32:54.40\00:33:00.04
who have well-mannered families,
00:33:00.08\00:33:04.68
who have good jobs
to join your church.
00:33:04.71\00:33:10.59
I heard one amen.
00:33:10.62\00:33:11.95
We want people
who are as close to us
00:33:15.89\00:33:18.79
as they possibly can be to
come and join our churches,
00:33:18.83\00:33:23.37
and we are uncomfortable
when people don't look like us.
00:33:23.40\00:33:28.47
We're uncomfortable
when we smell them.
00:33:28.50\00:33:33.58
We're uncomfortable
when their coming means
00:33:33.61\00:33:36.85
that our church is
going to have to expend
00:33:36.88\00:33:39.31
more of its
budget in order to bless
00:33:39.35\00:33:41.82
and care for them.
00:33:41.85\00:33:44.85
You mean we spent all
this money on evangelism
00:33:44.89\00:33:47.29
and now we're going
to have to keep spending?
00:33:47.32\00:33:50.79
I thought we were
trying to get good.
00:33:50.83\00:33:52.29
And yet Jesus says,
00:33:58.20\00:34:01.40
"You didn't deserve
my mercy or my grace."
00:34:01.44\00:34:05.94
And so I'm
imploring you to extend
00:34:05.97\00:34:09.44
My mercy and My grace to others
00:34:09.48\00:34:12.15
just as I've
extended it to you."
00:34:12.18\00:34:13.92
In fact,
beloved, let me say this.
00:34:13.95\00:34:17.89
The love and mercy of
God ought to change us.
00:34:17.92\00:34:21.59
Amen.
00:34:21.62\00:34:23.06
It ought to change
us at our very core
00:34:23.09\00:34:26.29
so that we are willing
to go first to the people
00:34:26.33\00:34:29.76
and the places that
are most undeserving
00:34:29.80\00:34:33.03
or that redeem
as most undeserving,
00:34:33.07\00:34:35.90
the people and places
that we are most uncomfortable
00:34:35.94\00:34:38.94
going to.
00:34:38.97\00:34:42.74
If you only want
people who look like you
00:34:42.78\00:34:46.25
and who are in the same social,
economic bracket as you are,
00:34:46.28\00:34:50.72
what gospel are
you talking about?
00:34:50.75\00:34:53.05
Mercy.
00:34:53.09\00:34:55.49
What message are you taking?
00:34:55.52\00:34:59.23
If I read my Bible correctly,
00:34:59.26\00:35:01.40
Jesus went to
the sick, diseased,
00:35:01.43\00:35:04.00
and the outcast
of society, first,
00:35:04.03\00:35:09.20
the most undeserving.
00:35:09.24\00:35:10.71
Why?
00:35:10.74\00:35:12.07
Because they were the most
likely to accept His message
00:35:12.11\00:35:16.14
and be transformed by it.
00:35:16.18\00:35:20.52
But you and I want folks
who are readymade Christians.
00:35:20.55\00:35:26.76
Let me tell you, we
had a precious sister.
00:35:26.79\00:35:29.02
We had outside service
at the Cherry Hill Church.
00:35:29.06\00:35:33.23
Precious sister,
00:35:33.26\00:35:34.60
she would drove up and
down the street five times.
00:35:34.63\00:35:37.73
She ended up coming in,
00:35:37.77\00:35:40.50
and she says she wanted
to bring her whole family.
00:35:40.54\00:35:42.50
We say, "Sure, come on in."
00:35:42.54\00:35:44.24
And so she came with her family,
00:35:44.27\00:35:47.41
precious family,
beautiful family.
00:35:47.44\00:35:50.01
Five children,
00:35:50.05\00:35:52.61
two of her
children were autistic.
00:35:52.65\00:35:56.75
And this made our
church uncomfortable.
00:35:56.79\00:36:00.99
Now here we're praying
that the Lord brings souls,
00:36:01.02\00:36:04.03
then He brings some,
and we're like, "Oh!"
00:36:04.06\00:36:06.66
But here's what
He forced us to do.
00:36:11.00\00:36:12.73
And I praise God for
my saints at Cherry Hill.
00:36:12.77\00:36:16.37
We decided to get
together and pray,
00:36:16.40\00:36:18.17
and say God has sent
us these precious souls,
00:36:18.21\00:36:21.54
and we need to be equipped,
00:36:21.58\00:36:23.41
so that we can minister to them.
00:36:23.45\00:36:25.18
Amen.
00:36:25.21\00:36:27.95
And so we had a whole
big thing and had folks
00:36:27.98\00:36:31.15
from the Autism
Alliance come in and tell us
00:36:31.19\00:36:33.49
how we could
better equip our church.
00:36:33.52\00:36:36.09
Here is the thing we learned.
00:36:36.12\00:36:37.56
Our Sabbath School was
set up for our children
00:36:37.59\00:36:40.20
and our grandchildren,
00:36:40.23\00:36:42.53
but it wasn't set up
for autistic children.
00:36:42.56\00:36:46.77
Now as I'm
listening to this presentation
00:36:46.80\00:36:48.87
that these folks from
Autism Alliance are sharing,
00:36:48.90\00:36:51.77
it begins to
settle in on my mind,
00:36:51.81\00:36:54.11
"Hey, it's not just
our Sabbath School Program,
00:36:54.14\00:36:57.51
our entire church service
is set up for our own comfort."
00:36:57.55\00:37:02.18
And just like an
autistic child could come
00:37:06.49\00:37:08.99
into a Sabbath School room
00:37:09.02\00:37:10.73
and be completely out of place,
00:37:10.76\00:37:12.89
and we don't
even understand why,
00:37:12.93\00:37:15.06
and it means that we must invest
00:37:15.10\00:37:17.03
and take the time to
get to know that child
00:37:17.07\00:37:19.40
so that we can minister
to them in a relevant way.
00:37:19.43\00:37:22.17
Likewise, it's not
just with autistic children,
00:37:22.20\00:37:25.71
but it's with
everybody, beloved.
00:37:25.74\00:37:27.64
Before you go to
the ends of the earth,
00:37:34.85\00:37:39.45
first, start in the
most undesirable place.
00:37:39.49\00:37:42.96
1997, I was supposed to
go to Korea to teach English.
00:37:42.99\00:37:46.73
The plans fell through.
00:37:46.76\00:37:48.40
I was reading somewhere
in the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:37:48.43\00:37:50.80
and this
powerful quotation came,
00:37:50.83\00:37:53.57
and it said,
00:37:53.60\00:37:55.44
it said that,
00:37:55.47\00:37:56.81
"Those who seek to be
missionaries in a foreign land
00:37:56.84\00:37:59.41
must first learn
to become missionaries
00:37:59.44\00:38:01.44
in their own homes."
00:38:01.48\00:38:02.98
Amen.
00:38:03.01\00:38:04.91
In their own homes.
00:38:04.95\00:38:07.38
Lord, have mercy.
00:38:07.42\00:38:10.49
It ain't easy at home, is it?
00:38:10.52\00:38:13.66
'Cause folks know you.
00:38:13.69\00:38:15.02
No matter how high
you were walking at GYC,
00:38:20.06\00:38:23.13
they're like, "I'm
going to give it a week."
00:38:23.16\00:38:26.84
See if you aim back to
doing the same old foolishness
00:38:26.87\00:38:29.07
you were doing before you went.
00:38:29.10\00:38:32.14
And it's uncomfortable
when people want to test
00:38:32.17\00:38:34.68
the validity of our
experience, isn't it?
00:38:34.71\00:38:37.51
No, we just
want people to accept
00:38:37.55\00:38:39.08
that we've
changed and we're new.
00:38:39.11\00:38:41.62
But the people in
our homes are like,
00:38:41.65\00:38:43.79
"Let's see how long this
is going to last this time."
00:38:43.82\00:38:45.55
'Cause they've been
on that rodeo before.
00:38:48.79\00:38:52.03
Oh, my heart was touched.
00:38:52.06\00:38:54.26
Let's see if you're going
to continue to be patient.
00:38:54.30\00:38:57.73
Let's see if you're going to
continue to walk with humility.
00:38:57.77\00:39:00.30
And beloved, here it
is, Jesus wants us to begin.
00:39:00.34\00:39:03.97
He wants us to what?
00:39:04.01\00:39:05.84
He wants us to begin in
the most difficult places.
00:39:05.87\00:39:10.01
I was in Tennessee
00:39:13.55\00:39:15.95
and...
00:39:15.98\00:39:19.32
pastor by the
name of George Shaw
00:39:19.35\00:39:20.92
came and visited me.
00:39:20.96\00:39:23.22
I was a boys' dean at
Lowbrook Academy, and...
00:39:23.26\00:39:27.03
he came and sat me
down, he says, "Steve, listen,
00:39:27.06\00:39:29.26
I think that God has
placed His hand on you
00:39:29.30\00:39:31.80
for pastoral ministry.
00:39:31.83\00:39:33.17
Have you ever considered that?"
00:39:33.20\00:39:34.54
I'm like, "No, not really."
00:39:34.57\00:39:37.61
And this silver haired
wise man laid the burden on me
00:39:37.64\00:39:41.84
for over an hour.
00:39:41.88\00:39:43.21
And, beloved, I came
face to face with this reality
00:39:46.18\00:39:50.19
that I had
surrendered to the Lord Jesus,
00:39:50.22\00:39:52.45
but I had told them two things.
00:39:52.49\00:39:57.53
I said, "Lord, I
don't want to be a pastor.
00:39:57.56\00:39:59.39
I'll do anything,
00:39:59.43\00:40:02.30
but I'm about to be no pastor.
00:40:02.33\00:40:05.27
Lord, I'll go anywhere, jungles,
00:40:05.30\00:40:10.27
desert,
00:40:10.31\00:40:13.34
but don't send me
back to Cleveland.
00:40:13.38\00:40:17.18
That's where I was born
and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.
00:40:17.21\00:40:20.12
And I'm like, "No,
no, no, no, no, Lord.
00:40:20.15\00:40:21.78
Literally, Lord,
you can send me anywhere
00:40:21.82\00:40:25.35
except for home.
00:40:25.39\00:40:28.06
And, Lord, I'll do anything
00:40:28.09\00:40:30.16
except for pastor."
00:40:30.19\00:40:33.06
And at the end of
that conversation,
00:40:33.09\00:40:34.73
and I've been
walking with the Lord
00:40:34.76\00:40:36.46
for about five or
six years at this point.
00:40:36.50\00:40:38.73
At the end of that conversation,
00:40:38.77\00:40:40.84
I realized that I had
never truly surrendered to God.
00:40:40.87\00:40:47.28
Now let me rephrase that.
00:40:47.31\00:40:50.65
I realized that my
surrender was not thorough.
00:40:50.68\00:40:55.22
I had indeed surrendered,
00:40:55.25\00:40:57.75
but it was not thorough
00:40:57.79\00:40:59.72
because I was
with holding things.
00:40:59.75\00:41:03.46
There were places
I did not or a place,
00:41:03.49\00:41:06.03
excuse me, singular, a
place I did not want to go.
00:41:06.06\00:41:09.43
And there was a task
00:41:09.46\00:41:11.10
that I had no
interest in fulfilling.
00:41:11.13\00:41:16.94
Beloved, we read
Acts 1:8 and we think,
00:41:16.97\00:41:20.31
"Ye shall receive power,"
and that's where we focus.
00:41:20.34\00:41:23.35
But you got to
understand, folks.
00:41:23.38\00:41:25.65
The disciples were not
thinking about the power,
00:41:25.68\00:41:28.58
they were thinking about where
Jesus was telling them to go.
00:41:28.62\00:41:33.46
Jerusalem.
00:41:33.49\00:41:36.12
They would have preferred
to go to the ends of the earth
00:41:36.16\00:41:41.46
but not Jerusalem.
00:41:41.50\00:41:42.83
But that's precisely
where Jesus sent them.
00:41:46.00\00:41:51.14
Why?
00:41:51.17\00:41:53.04
Because there would
be no greater evidence
00:41:53.07\00:41:55.28
that their hearts
had been transformed
00:41:55.31\00:41:57.65
by the love of God.
00:41:57.68\00:41:59.75
Then for those men
to go to Jerusalem,
00:41:59.78\00:42:03.08
and labor intensely
00:42:03.12\00:42:05.55
and passionately
for the same people,
00:42:05.59\00:42:08.92
who had not
only crucified Jesus,
00:42:08.96\00:42:11.76
listen to me, beloved,
00:42:11.79\00:42:14.43
but who had
seen their cowardice.
00:42:14.46\00:42:18.80
The same people
who had witnessed
00:42:18.83\00:42:20.57
as they abandoned their master.
00:42:20.60\00:42:25.44
Jesus said, "I want
you to start right there."
00:42:25.47\00:42:28.94
I want to ask you
something this evening.
00:42:32.25\00:42:36.85
Have you been
changed by the mercy
00:42:36.89\00:42:41.29
and grace that God
has extended to you?
00:42:41.32\00:42:46.06
Have you truly been transformed?
00:42:46.09\00:42:48.00
I'm going to suggest
tonight that perhaps,
00:42:51.23\00:42:53.57
you have been,
00:42:53.60\00:42:54.94
but like me, in Tennessee,
00:42:54.97\00:42:57.04
you need a more
thorough transformation.
00:42:57.07\00:43:00.88
Last year, I was reading a book
00:43:00.91\00:43:02.41
'cause I wanted to
become a better father,
00:43:02.44\00:43:05.28
specifically for my daughters.
00:43:05.31\00:43:07.28
Wonderful book called
00:43:07.32\00:43:08.65
"Strong Fathers,
Strong Daughters."
00:43:08.68\00:43:10.02
And as I was reading this book,
00:43:10.05\00:43:11.59
I came across a story
00:43:11.62\00:43:14.66
about a father and his daughter.
00:43:14.69\00:43:19.49
Christian family
raising their children
00:43:19.53\00:43:24.07
all to love and serve God.
00:43:24.10\00:43:28.67
And then,
00:43:28.70\00:43:31.27
their oldest daughter
00:43:31.31\00:43:33.34
decides to go
into the parents room
00:43:33.38\00:43:35.64
and steal some precious things
00:43:35.68\00:43:38.18
and money from the
parents and takes off.
00:43:38.21\00:43:43.99
Not a word to the
parents about where she's going,
00:43:44.02\00:43:46.65
why she's taken off.
00:43:46.69\00:43:48.76
In fact, the mother and father
hired a private investigator
00:43:48.79\00:43:53.33
to find out where
their daughter was.
00:43:53.36\00:43:56.46
They lived in Michigan,
00:43:56.50\00:43:57.83
and their
daughter was tracked down
00:43:57.87\00:44:00.17
all the way out in California.
00:44:00.20\00:44:04.07
The father
jumped on an airplane,
00:44:04.11\00:44:06.84
and he caught a
flight out to California.
00:44:06.88\00:44:10.95
His daughter was
working in a convenient store.
00:44:10.98\00:44:14.02
And so for about
an hour and a half,
00:44:14.05\00:44:16.95
the father comes
and he just looks
00:44:16.99\00:44:19.52
at his daughter.
00:44:19.55\00:44:21.99
Doesn't say
anything, just looks at her.
00:44:22.02\00:44:24.63
He hasn't seen her in months.
00:44:24.66\00:44:27.90
The daughter turns around.
00:44:27.93\00:44:30.43
You know how you can tell
00:44:30.47\00:44:31.80
when somebody's been
staring at you for a long time.
00:44:31.83\00:44:33.80
She turns around
and sees her father,
00:44:33.84\00:44:35.70
and when her break comes,
00:44:35.74\00:44:37.97
she comes out to
speak with her dad.
00:44:38.01\00:44:41.08
Instead of
receiving a warm embrace,
00:44:41.11\00:44:45.55
she curses her father out.
00:44:45.58\00:44:47.58
Tells him that it's
your fault that I'm here,
00:44:50.75\00:44:55.09
it's your fault
that I left home.
00:44:55.12\00:44:59.39
"Now I don't know
what home you grew up in,
00:44:59.43\00:45:01.03
but the home I grew up
in, you don't do that."
00:45:01.06\00:45:05.77
You might lose some teeth
00:45:05.80\00:45:07.14
or need some dental
work or something like that.
00:45:07.17\00:45:09.07
Lambasted him,
00:45:13.51\00:45:16.41
refused to talk to him anymore.
00:45:16.44\00:45:18.88
The father cocked on a plane
and went back home by himself
00:45:18.91\00:45:23.52
heartbroken.
00:45:23.55\00:45:24.89
Six months later,
the father comes back.
00:45:27.72\00:45:32.33
Maybe she's had
a change of heart.
00:45:32.36\00:45:34.30
He goes to the convenient store,
00:45:34.33\00:45:35.66
he doesn't see his
daughter, he asks around.
00:45:35.70\00:45:38.03
She doesn't work here anymore.
00:45:38.07\00:45:40.94
The father begins to search
00:45:40.97\00:45:42.40
around the homeless
shelters of the city
00:45:42.44\00:45:44.67
seeking to find his girl.
00:45:44.71\00:45:49.78
He finds her up under a bridge.
00:45:49.81\00:45:54.68
Her clothes are
dirty, she is emaciated.
00:45:54.72\00:46:01.22
He suspects that she's on drugs,
00:46:01.26\00:46:03.16
maybe even prostituting
herself to get the drugs.
00:46:03.19\00:46:09.86
He burst into tears,
and he runs to his girl,
00:46:09.90\00:46:12.50
but there's still this coldness.
00:46:12.53\00:46:14.20
He takes her to a
store, buys her some clothes,
00:46:14.24\00:46:16.94
ask her what's going on.
00:46:16.97\00:46:18.57
She refuses to share anything.
00:46:18.61\00:46:22.48
He discovers that
she has being staying
00:46:22.51\00:46:24.15
with a man who is twice her age.
00:46:24.18\00:46:28.38
He pleads with his
daughter, "Please, come home."
00:46:28.42\00:46:32.75
"No."
00:46:32.79\00:46:35.49
The father returns, goes home.
00:46:35.52\00:46:37.83
All this time, the
father has a ritual.
00:46:41.00\00:46:45.67
He is writing
letters to his daughter
00:46:45.70\00:46:48.70
on a weekly basis.
00:46:48.74\00:46:51.57
And he's putting
the letters away.
00:46:51.61\00:46:53.61
Listen to me, beloved,
he's putting the letters away
00:46:53.64\00:46:57.61
hoping that when she comes home,
00:46:57.65\00:47:00.65
if she comes home,
he'll give the letters to her.
00:47:00.68\00:47:05.05
Not only is he writing letters,
00:47:05.09\00:47:07.09
but unbeknownst
even to his wife,
00:47:07.12\00:47:09.76
he's taking a small sum of money
00:47:09.79\00:47:12.76
and setting it
aside in a special account
00:47:12.79\00:47:15.53
for his daughter.
00:47:15.56\00:47:18.80
One day, the father is at work
00:47:18.83\00:47:22.54
and his phone is just ringing,
and ringing, and ringing.
00:47:22.57\00:47:24.84
He's in a meeting and
he steps out and, "Hello."
00:47:24.87\00:47:29.68
There was no sound on
the other end of the line.
00:47:29.71\00:47:33.75
"Hello, sweetheart, is that you?
00:47:33.78\00:47:37.65
Is that you?"
00:47:37.69\00:47:39.89
He hears his daughter sobs
on the other end of the line.
00:47:39.92\00:47:43.06
"Where are you?
00:47:43.09\00:47:44.43
Tell me where you are,
00:47:44.46\00:47:45.79
and I will come
and get you right now."
00:47:45.83\00:47:47.20
She said, "I'm in a bus
station in Grand Rapids."
00:47:47.23\00:47:49.96
The father hung up the
phone, he jumped in his vehicle,
00:47:50.00\00:47:53.34
told everybody he
will be back tomorrow.
00:47:53.37\00:47:56.00
He drove to that bus station,
00:47:56.04\00:47:58.07
picked up his little
girl and brought her home.
00:47:58.11\00:48:02.94
I've got to
confess to you tonight.
00:48:02.98\00:48:05.85
When I read that story,
00:48:05.88\00:48:08.38
I put myself in
that father's place.
00:48:08.42\00:48:13.36
And I said, "I don't know
00:48:13.39\00:48:14.72
if I could love
my daughter like that
00:48:14.76\00:48:18.09
after she has
treated me like that."
00:48:18.13\00:48:23.16
One reality
settled in on my mind,
00:48:23.20\00:48:25.97
actually two.
00:48:26.00\00:48:27.34
The first reality was this.
00:48:27.37\00:48:30.11
Steven, you don't really know
00:48:30.14\00:48:32.34
what love is yet
00:48:32.37\00:48:35.44
because your love even
for your precious children
00:48:35.48\00:48:38.41
has not been
tested like that yet.
00:48:38.45\00:48:42.78
The second reality that
settled in on my mind is this.
00:48:42.82\00:48:46.22
Steven, why
would you be unwilling
00:48:46.25\00:48:48.86
to love your own
children that way,
00:48:48.89\00:48:51.99
when at all time I've loved you?
00:48:52.03\00:48:53.36
That's how I've loved you.
00:48:56.83\00:48:59.83
That's what you've done to me.
00:48:59.87\00:49:02.50
That's how you've
exasperated my love.
00:49:02.54\00:49:04.91
That's how you
resisted and refused my love.
00:49:04.94\00:49:07.98
But, Steven, I've been
writing love letters to you.
00:49:08.01\00:49:10.45
I've been storing
away the blessings for you
00:49:14.78\00:49:17.29
when you come back.
00:49:17.32\00:49:18.65
And, Steven, I don't
just want you to come back,
00:49:22.16\00:49:26.70
but I want you to
go and get others too.
00:49:26.73\00:49:30.73
Go get someone else
00:49:30.77\00:49:32.10
who is exasperated
your patience and your love
00:49:32.13\00:49:35.10
like you've exasperated mine.
00:49:35.14\00:49:38.97
Go, get them.
00:49:39.01\00:49:42.21
As this special
music is shared with you,
00:49:42.24\00:49:47.65
I want you to think
about the love of God,
00:49:47.68\00:49:52.69
and whether you need a
more thorough experience
00:49:52.72\00:49:55.32
with that love.
00:49:55.36\00:49:57.56
I'm going to ask
you to do something
00:49:57.59\00:50:00.16
after this
special music is shared.
00:50:00.20\00:50:03.77
Life was formed in Your hands
00:50:08.70\00:50:12.67
You alone tell my story
00:50:12.71\00:50:16.68
All my hours like sand
00:50:16.71\00:50:20.58
I surrender all
00:50:20.62\00:50:24.75
Through the battle I'll sing
00:50:24.79\00:50:28.52
Lord, I know You are for me
00:50:28.56\00:50:32.26
My whole heart I will bring
00:50:32.29\00:50:36.43
I surrender all
00:50:36.46\00:50:39.70
In You I find rest
00:50:39.73\00:50:44.51
I find rest
00:50:44.54\00:50:48.64
In You I find rest
00:50:48.68\00:50:54.98
In You I find rest
00:50:55.02\00:50:59.65
I find rest
00:50:59.69\00:51:03.46
In You I find rest
00:51:03.49\00:51:10.47
In my deepest of fears
00:51:10.50\00:51:14.40
In my hours of weakness
00:51:14.44\00:51:17.97
From an ocean of tears
00:51:18.01\00:51:22.04
I surrender all
00:51:22.08\00:51:25.95
For Your word is my sword
00:51:25.98\00:51:29.68
And Your arms are my fortress
00:51:29.72\00:51:33.32
I know victory is Yours
00:51:33.36\00:51:37.23
I surrender all
00:51:37.26\00:51:40.43
In You I find rest
00:51:40.46\00:51:45.23
I find rest
00:51:45.27\00:51:49.07
In You I find rest
00:51:49.10\00:51:55.14
In You I find rest
00:51:55.18\00:51:59.91
I find rest
00:51:59.95\00:52:03.79
In You I find rest
00:52:03.82\00:52:11.79
Here's what I want to ask you.
00:52:11.83\00:52:15.43
I want to ask you
to do these two things.
00:52:15.46\00:52:19.50
First thing I want
to ask you is this,
00:52:19.53\00:52:23.41
if you like me can acknowledge
00:52:23.44\00:52:25.81
that you need a
deeper revelation
00:52:25.84\00:52:28.14
of God's love
00:52:28.18\00:52:29.51
because there are places
00:52:29.54\00:52:31.51
that you don't want to go
00:52:31.55\00:52:33.82
and people that
you are uncomfortable
00:52:33.85\00:52:36.79
ministering to,
00:52:36.82\00:52:38.59
but you understand
that if God has loved me,
00:52:38.62\00:52:41.02
then it means that
I've got to love others,
00:52:41.06\00:52:43.59
and I've got to extend
00:52:43.63\00:52:44.96
the same mercy and grace
00:52:44.99\00:52:46.33
that's been extended to me.
00:52:46.36\00:52:47.70
That's appeal number one.
00:52:47.73\00:52:49.06
If you feel that you need
00:52:49.10\00:52:50.43
a deeper
revelation of God's love.
00:52:50.47\00:52:53.97
My second appeal is this.
00:52:54.00\00:52:55.77
If there are people in your life
00:52:59.07\00:53:03.88
that you have
not found the grace
00:53:03.91\00:53:07.02
to be able to forgive,
00:53:07.05\00:53:11.22
and it is stunting
your spiritual growth,
00:53:11.25\00:53:15.66
it is keeping
you from experiencing
00:53:15.69\00:53:18.89
fullness of joy.
00:53:18.93\00:53:21.23
It's keeping you
from experiencing
00:53:21.26\00:53:23.16
rest and peace.
00:53:23.20\00:53:27.04
And you want to say, "Lord,
00:53:27.07\00:53:29.14
transform me by
Your grace and Your love
00:53:29.17\00:53:33.68
so that I'm able to
extend that grace and love
00:53:33.71\00:53:37.08
to these
particular people in my life."
00:53:37.11\00:53:40.22
Two simple things,
00:53:40.25\00:53:42.18
bow your heads with
me and close your eyes.
00:53:42.22\00:53:43.99
I'm not going to ask
you to come forward tonight.
00:53:44.02\00:53:47.06
I want you to
simply talk with God.
00:53:47.09\00:53:52.23
"Lord, help me, help me.
00:53:52.26\00:53:58.30
There are people I
don't love like you do.
00:53:58.33\00:54:01.97
There are places
that I'm unwilling to go,
00:54:02.00\00:54:05.41
the ends of the
earth sounds better to me
00:54:05.44\00:54:08.84
than going to these places.
00:54:08.88\00:54:11.78
And yet, just like Jesus
has commanded the disciples
00:54:11.81\00:54:15.12
before I can reach
the end of the earth,
00:54:15.15\00:54:18.39
I must first
reach the end of myself.
00:54:18.42\00:54:20.52
So, Lord, help me.
00:54:20.56\00:54:23.19
Lord, help me."
00:54:23.22\00:54:25.69
I'll give you a
minute. Just talk to the Lord.
00:54:25.73\00:54:28.00
Loving Father, tonight,
00:54:46.08\00:54:47.42
we just want to say thank You.
00:54:47.45\00:54:49.65
Thank You for liberating us,
00:54:49.68\00:54:52.82
thank You for
giving us guidance,
00:54:52.85\00:54:55.99
thank You for protecting us
00:54:56.02\00:54:57.46
when we didn't know we
needed to be protected.
00:54:57.49\00:55:01.96
Just like You
said to ancient Israel,
00:55:02.00\00:55:05.00
tonight, You have also shown us
00:55:05.03\00:55:08.50
already what is good
and what You require of us.
00:55:08.54\00:55:13.98
It is the righteousness
00:55:14.01\00:55:15.34
that reflects
Your righteousness,
00:55:15.38\00:55:18.51
a righteousness that
extends love and grace and mercy
00:55:18.55\00:55:22.45
even to the undeserving.
00:55:22.48\00:55:27.56
Father, if we don't have
this resonating in our hearts,
00:55:27.59\00:55:30.86
what we say with our
lips does not matter.
00:55:30.89\00:55:36.73
The soundness of our
message is compromised
00:55:36.77\00:55:40.00
if this is not
residing in our hearts.
00:55:40.04\00:55:45.11
Lord, tonight, we want
to be transformed by You.
00:55:45.14\00:55:51.28
I know what You have
done and are doing for us.
00:55:51.31\00:55:56.15
Grab Your loving arms
around each and every one
00:55:56.18\00:55:58.39
of Your precious
children tonight.
00:55:58.42\00:56:01.79
May Your grace richly
and freely bestowed upon us,
00:56:01.82\00:56:05.69
the uppermost in our thoughts
00:56:05.73\00:56:07.46
on this night we pray
00:56:07.50\00:56:10.33
in Jesus name.
00:56:10.37\00:56:11.70
Amen.
00:56:11.73\00:56:13.07