Worthy is the Lamb
00:00:35.33\00:00:41.34
That was slain
00:00:41.37\00:00:43.41
Do you feel The world is broken?
00:01:00.12\00:01:03.96
We do
00:01:03.99\00:01:07.00
Do you feel The shadows deepen?
00:01:07.03\00:01:10.80
We do
00:01:10.83\00:01:13.70
But do you know
That all the dark
00:01:13.74\00:01:16.60
Won't stop the light
00:01:16.64\00:01:18.44
From getting through?
00:01:18.47\00:01:21.14
We do
00:01:21.18\00:01:24.31
Do you wish that
00:01:24.35\00:01:25.81
You could see it all made new?
00:01:25.85\00:01:31.99
We do
00:01:32.02\00:01:33.36
Is all creation groaning?
00:01:38.76\00:01:42.63
It is
00:01:42.66\00:01:45.90
Is a new creation coming?
00:01:45.93\00:01:49.54
It is
00:01:49.57\00:01:52.77
Is the glory of the Lord to be
00:01:52.81\00:01:56.44
The light within our midst?
00:01:56.48\00:02:00.22
It is
00:02:00.25\00:02:03.32
Is it good that we remind
00:02:03.35\00:02:05.92
Ourselves of this?
00:02:05.95\00:02:10.86
It is
00:02:10.89\00:02:12.23
Is anyone worthy?
00:02:17.83\00:02:21.30
Is anyone whole?
00:02:21.34\00:02:24.67
Is anyone able to break
00:02:24.71\00:02:27.41
The seal and open the scroll?
00:02:27.44\00:02:32.05
The Lion of Judah
00:02:32.08\00:02:35.42
Who conquered the grave
00:02:35.45\00:02:38.75
He is David's root and the Lamb
00:02:38.79\00:02:41.39
Who died to ransom the slave
00:02:41.42\00:02:45.96
Is He worthy?
00:02:45.99\00:02:49.60
Is He worthy?
00:02:49.63\00:02:53.34
Of all blessing
And honor and glory
00:02:53.37\00:02:59.07
Is He worthy of this?
00:02:59.11\00:03:03.55
He is
00:03:06.75\00:03:11.35
Does the Father truly love us?
00:03:11.39\00:03:16.79
He does
00:03:16.83\00:03:19.83
Does the Spirit move among us?
00:03:19.86\00:03:23.33
He does
00:03:23.37\00:03:26.77
And does Jesus, our Messiah
00:03:26.80\00:03:29.57
Hold forever those He loves?
00:03:29.60\00:03:33.51
He does
00:03:33.54\00:03:36.75
Does our God intend
00:03:36.78\00:03:38.68
To dwell again with us?
00:03:38.71\00:03:43.59
He does
00:03:43.62\00:03:45.59
Is anyone worthy?
00:03:50.26\00:03:53.56
Is anyone whole?
00:03:53.60\00:03:56.73
Is anyone able to break
00:03:56.77\00:03:58.93
The seal and open the scroll?
00:03:58.97\00:04:03.14
The Lion of Judah
00:04:03.17\00:04:06.37
Who conquered the grave
00:04:06.41\00:04:09.44
He is David's root and the Lamb
00:04:09.48\00:04:11.88
Who died to ransom the slave
00:04:11.91\00:04:15.92
From every people and tribe
00:04:15.95\00:04:17.72
Worthy
00:04:17.75\00:04:19.09
Every nation and tongue
00:04:19.12\00:04:20.82
Worthy
00:04:20.86\00:04:22.19
He has made us a kingdom
00:04:22.22\00:04:23.83
And priests to God
00:04:23.86\00:04:25.23
To reign with the Son
00:04:25.26\00:04:26.59
Is He worthy
00:04:26.63\00:04:28.33
Is He worthy?
00:04:28.36\00:04:31.53
Is He worthy?
00:04:31.57\00:04:34.70
Of all blessing
And honor and glory
00:04:34.74\00:04:39.77
Is He worthy?
00:04:39.81\00:04:43.28
Is He worthy?
00:04:43.31\00:04:46.58
Is He worthy of this?
00:04:46.61\00:04:51.59
He is!
00:04:57.23\00:04:58.99
Is He worthy?
00:05:03.57\00:05:06.63
Is He worthy?
00:05:06.67\00:05:10.07
He is!
00:05:10.11\00:05:11.91
He is!
00:05:16.11\00:05:17.71
He is!
00:05:22.78\00:05:24.35
Amen. Amen.
00:05:38.73\00:05:42.60
You know I'm so humbled.
00:05:42.64\00:05:45.51
Isn't God good? Yes!
00:05:45.54\00:05:47.84
I can't wait for heaven.
00:05:47.88\00:05:50.98
All right.
00:05:51.01\00:05:52.55
I want to let you know
00:05:52.58\00:05:53.92
a lot of people
have been asking,
00:05:53.95\00:05:56.08
how can they
give and you can also
00:05:56.12\00:05:57.89
go to gycweb.org/give
00:05:57.92\00:06:02.69
and your
investment into the future
00:06:02.72\00:06:06.83
will be muchly appreciated.
00:06:06.86\00:06:10.57
For our scripture
reading for today,
00:06:10.60\00:06:12.40
if you will turn with
me to Daniel Chapter 3.
00:06:12.43\00:06:16.47
Daniel 3:13-18.
00:06:16.50\00:06:21.08
Daniel 3:13-18.
00:06:24.15\00:06:29.95
Once you're there so that
00:06:32.99\00:06:34.39
I know you're there if
you could say good, amen.
00:06:34.42\00:06:36.62
Amen!
00:06:36.66\00:06:38.39
Daniel 3:13-18,
00:06:38.43\00:06:43.67
the Bible says,
00:06:43.70\00:06:45.70
"The Nebuchadnezzar,
in rage and fury,
00:06:45.73\00:06:49.44
gave the command to
bring Shadrach, Meshach,
00:06:49.47\00:06:52.21
and Abednego.
00:06:52.24\00:06:53.88
So they brought
these men before the king.
00:06:53.91\00:06:57.05
Nebuchadnezzar
spoke, saying to them,
00:06:57.08\00:06:59.71
'Is it true,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
00:06:59.75\00:07:04.32
that you do not serve my god
00:07:04.35\00:07:06.39
or worship the golden
image which I have set up?
00:07:06.42\00:07:11.16
Now if you are ready at the time
00:07:11.19\00:07:13.19
you hear the sound of the horn,
00:07:13.23\00:07:15.40
the flute, the harp,
and the lyre, the psaltery,
00:07:15.43\00:07:18.73
in symphony with
all kinds of music,
00:07:18.77\00:07:21.47
and you fall down
and worship the image
00:07:21.50\00:07:23.81
which I have made, good!
00:07:23.84\00:07:27.64
But if you do not worship,
00:07:27.68\00:07:29.01
you shall be cast immediately
00:07:29.04\00:07:31.11
in the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
00:07:31.15\00:07:34.65
And who is the god
00:07:34.68\00:07:36.89
who will deliver
you from my hands?'
00:07:36.92\00:07:40.22
Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego answered
00:07:40.26\00:07:42.59
and said to the
king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar,
00:07:42.62\00:07:45.69
we have no need to
answer you in this matter.
00:07:45.73\00:07:49.80
If that is the case,
00:07:49.83\00:07:51.37
our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us
00:07:51.40\00:07:53.77
from the burning fiery furnace,
00:07:53.80\00:07:56.00
and He will deliver us
from your hand, O king.
00:07:56.04\00:07:59.77
But if not, let it
be known to you, O king,
00:07:59.81\00:08:03.55
that we do not serve your gods,
00:08:03.58\00:08:05.78
nor will we
worship the gold image
00:08:05.81\00:08:09.35
which you have set up.'"
00:08:09.38\00:08:14.09
Our speaker for the hour
00:08:14.12\00:08:17.39
is none other
than Samuel Thomas Jr.
00:08:17.43\00:08:21.06
He's the Director of
the New Leaf Program,
00:08:21.10\00:08:24.63
Prophecy and
Doctrinal Learning Center
00:08:24.67\00:08:28.10
and Senior Pastor of
the Central Seventh-day
00:08:28.14\00:08:31.37
Adventist Church
in Columbus, Ohio.
00:08:31.41\00:08:35.44
Prior to that,
00:08:35.48\00:08:36.81
he served as the Senior
Pastor of the City Temple,
00:08:36.85\00:08:39.68
Seventh-day Adventist
Church in Detroit, Michigan.
00:08:39.71\00:08:44.15
He has been in
ministry for 34 years
00:08:44.19\00:08:48.56
and serves as a pastor.
00:08:48.59\00:08:51.03
He has
ministered around the world
00:08:51.06\00:08:53.50
and his latest
evangelistic efforts in India.
00:08:53.53\00:08:58.47
The Holy Spirit blessed
00:08:58.50\00:08:59.83
his meetings
with 2,000 baptisms.
00:08:59.87\00:09:04.21
His personal mission in
life is to acquaint pastors
00:09:04.24\00:09:07.58
and congregations
with the biblical answers
00:09:07.61\00:09:10.71
to current events
and spiritual growth
00:09:10.75\00:09:14.75
through the unique message
00:09:14.78\00:09:16.15
that is given to us
as Seventh-day Adventist.
00:09:16.18\00:09:21.62
He's a man who
loves his wife Deidra
00:09:21.66\00:09:25.29
and has four grown kids,
00:09:25.33\00:09:27.40
adult kids of whom
he is very proud of.
00:09:27.43\00:09:31.40
He happens to also be
a great friend of mine
00:09:31.43\00:09:33.74
and a great friend of GYC,
00:09:33.77\00:09:36.14
but above all of those
things, he is a man of God.
00:09:36.17\00:09:41.84
The next person
whom you will hear
00:09:41.88\00:09:43.71
after the sound of my voice,
00:09:43.75\00:09:45.58
will be none other
than Pastor Samuel Thomas.
00:09:45.61\00:09:49.72
God bless you.
00:09:53.72\00:09:55.06
Good morning, GYC.
00:10:01.86\00:10:05.47
Well, with the thousands
that are in attendance,
00:10:05.50\00:10:07.74
I believe that our
voices could be stronger.
00:10:07.77\00:10:10.94
Good morning, GYC. Good Morning!
00:10:10.97\00:10:13.81
Amen.
00:10:13.84\00:10:15.18
It's good to let
the folks out there
00:10:15.21\00:10:16.54
know that you're here.
00:10:16.58\00:10:18.81
This morning,
00:10:18.85\00:10:21.52
I am going to
adopt you as my church.
00:10:21.55\00:10:27.82
Amen? Amen!
00:10:27.86\00:10:31.36
Throughout the years of ministry
00:10:31.39\00:10:33.50
that I have been
granted from the Lord.
00:10:33.53\00:10:37.70
It has been my privilege
00:10:44.54\00:10:46.07
to pastor numerous congregations
00:10:46.11\00:10:49.61
around the country.
00:10:49.64\00:10:52.55
And when I speak on
a Sabbath elsewhere,
00:10:52.58\00:10:57.19
I have to adopt you
00:10:57.22\00:10:59.99
and make you a
part of my family.
00:11:00.02\00:11:02.82
I hope that you will adopt me.
00:11:02.86\00:11:05.66
Amen.
00:11:05.69\00:11:09.43
This morning we
are here to venture
00:11:09.46\00:11:13.07
into an understanding
00:11:13.10\00:11:16.57
of scripture.
00:11:16.60\00:11:19.81
We have looked at this
passage many times before,
00:11:19.84\00:11:25.28
but we are going to approach it
00:11:25.31\00:11:28.22
with fresh eyes today.
00:11:28.25\00:11:32.42
And before we do that,
00:11:32.45\00:11:33.79
a couple of
special acknowledgments
00:11:33.82\00:11:36.32
that I want to
make at this point.
00:11:36.36\00:11:41.33
Normally because
the time is so precious,
00:11:41.36\00:11:46.77
there isn't
given the opportunity
00:11:46.80\00:11:50.04
based on the
clock that's running.
00:11:50.07\00:11:54.11
The privilege of
giving special greetings,
00:11:54.14\00:11:57.28
but I'm going to take that time
00:11:57.31\00:11:59.48
and recover it
on the other side.
00:11:59.51\00:12:04.25
I want to acknowledge my son,
00:12:04.29\00:12:10.19
Samuel III,
00:12:10.23\00:12:13.53
who drove from Huntsville,
Alabama late last night
00:12:13.56\00:12:16.63
after a full day of
work to be with his dad.
00:12:16.67\00:12:22.14
And that's meaningful to me.
00:12:22.17\00:12:26.24
And when we have so
many that are so concerned
00:12:26.27\00:12:29.08
about their young people
00:12:29.11\00:12:31.61
and the direction that
00:12:31.65\00:12:33.62
they are going and the decisions
00:12:33.65\00:12:35.28
that they're making,
00:12:35.32\00:12:36.99
I am grateful and humbly honored
00:12:37.02\00:12:40.86
that my son and I
00:12:40.89\00:12:43.49
are so strongly bonded.
00:12:43.53\00:12:47.73
Amen.
00:12:47.76\00:12:50.83
I also want to give a
special acknowledgement
00:12:50.87\00:12:52.77
this morning to a person
00:12:52.80\00:12:55.37
that you probably know
00:12:55.40\00:12:58.41
and Pastor Chris Holland,
00:12:58.44\00:13:02.28
you may know him from his work,
00:13:02.31\00:13:04.98
It is Written, Canada,
00:13:05.01\00:13:07.12
and also his
present responsibilities
00:13:07.15\00:13:10.99
at Hope Lives.
00:13:11.02\00:13:12.62
I think it's 360 or 365
00:13:12.65\00:13:15.66
with Pastor Mark Finley.
00:13:15.69\00:13:19.39
He was my pastor for a season.
00:13:19.43\00:13:22.93
And he is a
wonderful man of God,
00:13:22.96\00:13:25.50
and I appreciate him deeply.
00:13:25.53\00:13:27.24
And why am I making
this a public statement
00:13:27.27\00:13:29.70
because he took the time
00:13:29.74\00:13:31.67
to coordinate a
special prayer with me
00:13:31.71\00:13:33.61
this morning.
00:13:33.64\00:13:34.98
And I think
that's meaningful. Amen.
00:13:35.01\00:13:38.31
Well, let's go
to the Word of God.
00:13:38.35\00:13:40.82
Let's see what the
Word of God has to say.
00:13:40.85\00:13:44.72
Father in heaven,
00:13:44.75\00:13:46.09
thank You
00:13:49.66\00:13:50.99
for this moment
00:13:55.46\00:13:58.03
where You have
invited us into Your presence.
00:13:58.07\00:14:03.54
Give us Your
Holy Spirit we pray.
00:14:03.57\00:14:06.98
In Christ's name.
00:14:07.01\00:14:09.28
Amen.
00:14:09.31\00:14:12.78
I wanna express my
gratitude to Pastor Ratsara
00:14:12.81\00:14:17.49
and the GYC
leadership for the opportunity
00:14:17.52\00:14:21.26
to stand here
00:14:21.29\00:14:23.12
and to share with each of you
00:14:23.16\00:14:25.39
what the Lord
has laid on my heart.
00:14:25.43\00:14:29.63
I think that we are
mature enough as Christians,
00:14:29.66\00:14:34.14
those who are
gathered here today
00:14:34.17\00:14:38.21
to recognize that
00:14:38.24\00:14:43.08
in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:14:43.11\00:14:46.05
we have an identity crisis.
00:14:46.08\00:14:50.72
We're not quite sure
00:14:50.75\00:14:52.92
of who we are or
who we want to be.
00:14:52.95\00:14:58.33
And the purpose of our message
00:14:58.36\00:14:59.86
this morning is to bring us back
00:14:59.89\00:15:02.23
to God's calling in our lives,
00:15:02.26\00:15:06.33
individually and corporately
00:15:06.37\00:15:10.27
because ultimately,
when we fail to recognize
00:15:10.31\00:15:13.27
what God has assigned to us,
00:15:13.31\00:15:18.08
we will venture
into mission practices
00:15:18.11\00:15:23.69
and belief
systems that are driven
00:15:23.72\00:15:26.69
by humanistic values
00:15:26.72\00:15:28.92
and the broken,
carnal, sinful heart.
00:15:28.96\00:15:32.06
I believe that
there's not another gathering
00:15:36.50\00:15:39.83
that I can
identify where young adults
00:15:39.87\00:15:44.31
convened to spend time
00:15:44.34\00:15:46.98
building their
biblical Christian experience
00:15:47.01\00:15:50.45
and congregating in prayer,
00:15:50.48\00:15:54.22
planned Bible study,
00:15:54.25\00:15:56.99
appropriate
Christian socialization
00:15:57.02\00:15:59.85
and instructions
and prophecy, like GYC.
00:15:59.89\00:16:06.26
This group
represents a rare, unique,
00:16:06.29\00:16:11.00
special group of Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
00:16:11.03\00:16:15.10
You are indeed few among many.
00:16:15.14\00:16:20.48
Now that should not
surprise any of us today,
00:16:20.51\00:16:24.61
or viewers on
various media outlets.
00:16:24.65\00:16:31.22
God's people are not
00:16:31.25\00:16:34.39
and have never
been the majority.
00:16:34.42\00:16:39.79
According to
Google, as of December 2019,
00:16:39.83\00:16:43.70
the global population stands
00:16:43.73\00:16:45.63
at 7.8 billion people,
00:16:45.67\00:16:50.37
7.8 billion people.
00:16:50.41\00:16:55.24
The four most populous
cities on the planet are Tokyo
00:16:55.28\00:16:59.41
with 38.1 million,
00:16:59.45\00:17:02.02
Delhi, India 25.7 million,
00:17:02.05\00:17:05.72
Shanghai, China 23.74 million,
00:17:05.75\00:17:10.69
Sao Paulo, Brazil 21 million.
00:17:10.73\00:17:17.67
And our global membership
00:17:17.70\00:17:19.37
as a church Google reports
00:17:19.40\00:17:24.11
as a mere 25 million.
00:17:24.14\00:17:28.34
Oh, we're proud of that number.
00:17:28.38\00:17:32.21
But in reality, we are 0.33%
00:17:32.25\00:17:37.85
of the world's
total inhabitants.
00:17:37.89\00:17:42.06
We are a minority of humanity
00:17:42.09\00:17:45.19
and minority
within Christianity.
00:17:45.23\00:17:47.83
We are few
00:17:47.86\00:17:49.70
or are we?
00:17:53.30\00:17:56.50
When the news
story broke in California
00:17:56.54\00:18:01.21
based on their state
legislature's proposal
00:18:01.24\00:18:03.65
to control the
content of Christian sermons,
00:18:03.68\00:18:08.38
it came in without a whimper
00:18:08.42\00:18:10.39
from the general
Christian community.
00:18:10.42\00:18:14.02
Many did not understand
00:18:14.06\00:18:15.39
the serious implication
of the law being proposed.
00:18:15.42\00:18:19.86
The headlines read,
"California senate passes
00:18:19.89\00:18:23.50
resolution telling pastors
00:18:23.53\00:18:25.57
to embrace LGBTQ beliefs
00:18:25.60\00:18:30.64
carried by the
Christian Broadcasting Network."
00:18:30.67\00:18:33.58
Their correspondent
Andrea Morris acknowledged
00:18:33.61\00:18:38.18
that the passage of
the resolution meant that
00:18:38.21\00:18:41.82
it was telling Christians,
00:18:41.85\00:18:43.28
"Telling Christians,
00:18:43.32\00:18:45.45
Christian clergy to accept
and support LGBTQ ideology,
00:18:45.49\00:18:51.03
even if doing so
00:18:51.06\00:18:53.56
violated their
Christian beliefs.
00:18:53.60\00:18:57.80
The Assembly
Concurrent Resolution 99 ACR-99
00:18:57.83\00:19:03.30
was introduced
by democratic state
00:19:03.34\00:19:05.44
Assemblyman Evan Low of
San Jose on June 4 of 2019
00:19:05.47\00:19:10.65
as a way to gather
support for the LGBTQ
00:19:10.68\00:19:15.65
identity and behaviors."
00:19:15.68\00:19:18.29
But Protestant
America was caught off guard.
00:19:18.32\00:19:21.82
Quickly political influencers
00:19:21.86\00:19:24.33
were mobilized to
construct social guardrails
00:19:24.36\00:19:28.00
for the Christian community.
00:19:28.03\00:19:30.10
They didn't see it coming.
00:19:30.13\00:19:32.23
The question needs to be asked,
why didn't they see it coming?
00:19:32.27\00:19:36.50
They didn't see it coming
00:19:36.54\00:19:37.87
because they had
forgotten the Holy Scripture.
00:19:37.91\00:19:40.44
In Luke 17:28, the Bible says,
00:19:40.48\00:19:43.24
Jesus says, "Likewise also
as it was in the days of Lot,
00:19:43.28\00:19:48.15
they did eat, they
drank, they bought, they sold,
00:19:48.18\00:19:51.55
they planted, they builded.
00:19:51.59\00:19:54.06
Lot was a resident of Sodom."
00:19:54.09\00:19:58.49
Paul further expands
our view of the last days
00:19:58.53\00:20:01.63
in 2 Timothy 3:1-3.
00:20:01.66\00:20:04.87
"This know also,
00:20:04.90\00:20:06.23
that in the last days
perilous times shall come.
00:20:06.27\00:20:08.70
For men shall be
lovers of their own selves."
00:20:08.74\00:20:12.01
And it goes down
to as it granulates
00:20:12.04\00:20:14.68
to this point
without natural affection.
00:20:14.71\00:20:19.95
The Bible has warned us
00:20:19.98\00:20:22.58
about the condition of
the people in the last days.
00:20:22.62\00:20:26.52
How do we respond to the crisis?
00:20:26.55\00:20:29.59
Where can we find
biblical solutions
00:20:29.62\00:20:36.00
for the expanding
crisis of immorality?
00:20:36.03\00:20:41.50
Can we find the answer
in popular Christianity?
00:20:41.54\00:20:46.57
That's the question
00:20:46.61\00:20:47.94
I want you to
ponder for just a moment.
00:20:47.98\00:20:50.51
And while you give
that consideration,
00:20:50.55\00:20:52.38
and before we pursue the answer,
00:20:52.41\00:20:54.78
I invite you to consider
00:20:54.82\00:20:56.48
what the Bible says
about a small group of people
00:20:56.52\00:21:01.32
in the last days.
00:21:01.36\00:21:04.29
In Revelation
14:12, the Bible describes
00:21:04.33\00:21:07.06
the characteristics
of the small group.
00:21:07.10\00:21:10.37
In these words,
00:21:10.40\00:21:11.73
"Here is the
patience of the saints."
00:21:11.77\00:21:13.50
If you know the
passage, say it with me.
00:21:13.54\00:21:15.24
"Here is the
patience of the saints,
00:21:15.27\00:21:17.27
here are they that keep
the commandments of God,
00:21:17.31\00:21:20.48
and the," what?
00:21:20.51\00:21:21.84
"Faith of Jesus."
00:21:21.88\00:21:23.21
Now, let's go back to
our previous question.
00:21:23.24\00:21:26.08
Can we find the solution
00:21:26.11\00:21:27.98
for the crisis in
popular Christianity?
00:21:28.02\00:21:30.59
And the answer
is a resounding no.
00:21:30.62\00:21:35.96
Why?
00:21:35.99\00:21:37.99
And as your pastor today,
I wanna share this with you.
00:21:38.03\00:21:42.96
This is gonna be
a tough statement,
00:21:43.00\00:21:44.83
but hear me
00:21:44.87\00:21:46.30
because all
Protestant denominations
00:21:46.33\00:21:49.07
have forsaken the
Bible as their only guide.
00:21:49.10\00:21:52.37
They profess to love Jesus,
00:21:55.68\00:21:57.98
but they failed to prove it
00:21:58.01\00:22:00.58
because obedience to God
00:22:00.62\00:22:02.58
is the evidence
of love toward God.
00:22:02.62\00:22:06.09
In popular Christianity,
obedience to God's Word
00:22:06.12\00:22:09.69
and His commands
00:22:09.72\00:22:11.39
are not expected or encouraged.
00:22:11.43\00:22:15.56
However, Jesus said,
00:22:15.60\00:22:16.93
If you love me, what did He say?
00:22:16.97\00:22:19.87
Keep my
commandments, and they don't.
00:22:19.90\00:22:24.21
Further they corrupt
00:22:24.24\00:22:25.57
the prophetic messages
of Daniel in Revelation
00:22:25.61\00:22:28.11
by their
erroneous interpretations
00:22:28.14\00:22:29.94
of spirit of scripture.
00:22:29.98\00:22:32.21
Spiritualism has infiltrated
their worship services
00:22:32.25\00:22:35.42
that members pursue
00:22:35.45\00:22:36.79
an emotional high
through an experience
00:22:36.82\00:22:39.39
based form of worship.
00:22:39.42\00:22:41.56
Scripture is a platform
00:22:41.59\00:22:43.73
to propagate the
elevation of the self,
00:22:43.76\00:22:48.16
rather than the
pursuing of biblical truth.
00:22:48.20\00:22:51.43
They only wanna feel good.
00:22:51.47\00:22:54.47
They follow in the ways of Cain.
00:22:54.50\00:22:57.34
They seek to please
themselves, but not God.
00:22:57.37\00:23:01.34
They trample on the
plainest scriptural principles.
00:23:01.38\00:23:05.35
They openly
disregard God as sovereign
00:23:05.38\00:23:09.28
by disregarding His directive
to remember Him as Creator.
00:23:09.32\00:23:14.92
For human beings,
this is inevitable.
00:23:14.96\00:23:20.30
Consider this, we were
warned this would happen.
00:23:20.33\00:23:25.63
This is what it looks like
now not only in our country,
00:23:25.67\00:23:29.04
but around the world.
00:23:29.07\00:23:30.41
In 2019, major world religions
00:23:30.44\00:23:33.38
and environmentalists
expressed hope and promise
00:23:33.41\00:23:37.35
in the papal
encyclical Laudato si':
00:23:37.38\00:23:40.98
On Care for Our Common
Home from Pope Francis.
00:23:41.02\00:23:45.62
The papal call
for environmental care
00:23:45.65\00:23:47.32
is used as a common ground
00:23:47.36\00:23:48.82
for all religious
belief systems to unite.
00:23:48.86\00:23:53.73
It seems harmless,
00:23:53.76\00:23:55.10
but there is a hidden
agenda behind the invitation.
00:23:55.13\00:23:59.53
This moment of promoting
unity of different religions
00:23:59.57\00:24:02.60
under one banner is
called an Ecumenical Movement.
00:24:02.64\00:24:08.04
Within the Documents 184 pages,
00:24:08.08\00:24:10.85
Pope Francis introduces readers
to the gospel of creation.
00:24:10.88\00:24:16.48
He defines it in Chapter 2,
00:24:16.52\00:24:20.72
where he calls for humanity
00:24:20.76\00:24:23.93
to respect the laws of nature.
00:24:23.96\00:24:27.80
He writes, "This responsibility
00:24:27.83\00:24:31.53
for God's earth
means that human beings,
00:24:31.57\00:24:34.64
endowed with intelligence,
00:24:34.67\00:24:36.30
must respect
the laws of nature."
00:24:36.34\00:24:38.77
Along these same lines,
"Rests on the seventh day."
00:24:38.81\00:24:43.21
What day did he say?
00:24:43.24\00:24:45.11
"Seventh day is meant
not only for human beings,
00:24:45.15\00:24:48.92
but also 'that your ox
00:24:48.95\00:24:51.02
and your donkey may have rest.'"
00:24:51.05\00:24:54.92
He defines the meaning of
seventh day in these words.
00:24:54.96\00:24:59.79
Listen carefully.
00:24:59.83\00:25:01.73
"All it takes is one good person
00:25:01.76\00:25:03.50
to restore hope!
00:25:03.53\00:25:05.03
The biblical
tradition clearly shows that
00:25:05.07\00:25:08.57
this renewal entails recovering
00:25:08.60\00:25:11.47
and respecting the
rhythms described in nature
00:25:11.51\00:25:14.88
by the hand of the Creator.
00:25:14.91\00:25:17.31
We see this, for example,
in the law of the Sabbath.
00:25:17.35\00:25:22.25
On the seventh day, God
rested from all His work.
00:25:22.28\00:25:25.55
He commanded Israel to
set aside each seventh day
00:25:25.59\00:25:28.89
as a day of rest, a Sabbath."
00:25:28.92\00:25:32.49
So now listen to
your pastor today.
00:25:32.53\00:25:35.50
The Sabbath he is
referring to is not Saturday,
00:25:35.53\00:25:41.20
but Sunday,
00:25:41.24\00:25:43.64
not God's Sabbath.
00:25:43.67\00:25:47.71
The Ecumenical Movement
00:25:47.74\00:25:49.08
has solidified united
around common interests
00:25:49.11\00:25:51.81
in vain pursuit of
justice in a sin sick world.
00:25:51.85\00:25:55.15
Protestant denominations
00:25:55.18\00:25:56.52
are seeking to find
peace and safety on a planet.
00:25:56.55\00:25:59.89
My Bible says, your Bible says,
00:25:59.92\00:26:02.46
it's fast hitting to an end.
00:26:02.49\00:26:06.70
They do not see
the prophetic agenda.
00:26:06.73\00:26:10.47
They are promoting.
00:26:10.50\00:26:12.13
Here's a tough
statement, a false gospel,
00:26:12.17\00:26:17.27
but the few should
understand what is going on.
00:26:17.31\00:26:22.21
You and I should see the truth
00:26:22.24\00:26:24.05
of what is developing to believe
00:26:24.08\00:26:26.58
as we do makes us
an even smaller group.
00:26:26.61\00:26:33.02
What does that look like?
00:26:33.05\00:26:34.89
Consider the
headlines of November 2019.
00:26:34.92\00:26:38.46
Headlines read, "Using 'Hate'
Labels to Demonize Christians,
00:26:38.49\00:26:44.60
the SPLC," that's the Southern
Poverty Leadership Center,
00:26:44.63\00:26:49.44
"Put This
Christian Ministry on Par
00:26:49.47\00:26:52.17
with the Ku Klux Klan."
00:26:52.21\00:26:56.21
"The D. James
Kennedy Ministries,
00:26:56.24\00:26:58.41
a Christian media outlet
or ministry founded in 1974
00:26:58.45\00:27:02.45
by the late Dr. D. James Kennedy
00:27:02.48\00:27:04.85
as Coral Ridge Ministries,
00:27:04.89\00:27:07.09
is fighting back against
the Southern Poverty Law Center
00:27:07.12\00:27:10.93
for putting it on
the center's hate map."
00:27:10.96\00:27:15.10
Why would they
identify as haters?
00:27:15.13\00:27:18.93
Because they
took a opposing view
00:27:18.97\00:27:24.64
of the LGBTQ agenda.
00:27:24.67\00:27:28.18
Headlines, September 12, 2019,
00:27:32.01\00:27:37.22
"Pope Francis
announced an initiative."
00:27:37.25\00:27:40.06
What was it?
00:27:40.09\00:27:41.62
It was an initiative
inviting global heads of state,
00:27:41.66\00:27:44.09
business leaders, academics,
00:27:44.13\00:27:45.46
sports personalities
to Rome May 14, 2020.
00:27:45.49\00:27:49.10
His theme, "Reinventing
00:27:49.13\00:27:51.90
the Global
Educational Alliance."
00:27:51.93\00:27:55.07
What does it mean?
00:27:55.10\00:27:56.74
Reeducating the
world to a new perspective
00:27:56.77\00:28:00.58
in environmental stewardship.
00:28:00.61\00:28:03.01
His goal, the unification
00:28:03.04\00:28:05.35
of people and religions.
00:28:05.38\00:28:09.58
Why don't we hear
anybody talking about this?
00:28:09.62\00:28:15.02
Why are the Protestants
not able to define it
00:28:15.06\00:28:19.59
in a prophetic context?
00:28:19.63\00:28:23.13
And their silence is deafening.
00:28:23.16\00:28:28.97
What does it mean
00:28:29.00\00:28:31.21
about the current
Protestant churches?
00:28:31.24\00:28:35.58
I wanna introduce you to
someone, Dr. Ronald Cooke.
00:28:35.61\00:28:38.55
He's President of Breckbill
Bible College in Virginia.
00:28:38.58\00:28:43.22
He is an Irish Protestant.
00:28:43.25\00:28:45.89
This is his
takeaway in his book,
00:28:45.92\00:28:47.96
"The
Deprotestantizing of America."
00:28:47.99\00:28:50.66
He writes, "In
many ways Vatican II,
00:28:50.69\00:28:53.53
a watershed council before it,
00:28:53.56\00:28:55.56
there had been all controversy
00:28:55.60\00:28:57.57
between the
Protestant Bible believers
00:28:57.60\00:28:59.90
and their Humanistic
and Jesuitical opponents.
00:28:59.93\00:29:03.81
The majority of
Protestants in North America
00:29:03.84\00:29:06.88
were still looked
upon as conservative
00:29:06.91\00:29:09.84
in their beliefs
00:29:09.88\00:29:11.21
before Vatican II,
but after Vatican II,
00:29:11.25\00:29:15.55
this was no longer the case.
00:29:15.58\00:29:18.82
Dr. Cook continues,
"The new age angelicals
00:29:18.85\00:29:21.19
began to agree with the Jesuits
00:29:21.22\00:29:23.59
of the old conservative
way of trying to reach people
00:29:23.63\00:29:27.23
that it was too rigid.
00:29:27.26\00:29:29.73
It was not
reaching people fast enough.
00:29:29.76\00:29:32.93
And the world population
00:29:32.97\00:29:34.30
was outstripping church growth."
00:29:34.34\00:29:37.51
You ever heard that before?
00:29:37.54\00:29:40.28
Dr. Cook's response
is one potential answer,
00:29:40.31\00:29:43.75
but the Bible gives
us more so much more
00:29:43.78\00:29:47.42
as Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
00:29:47.45\00:29:50.42
Scripture gives us
the best understanding
00:29:50.45\00:29:52.85
when we examine the context
00:29:52.89\00:29:54.49
of inspirations view of the few.
00:29:54.52\00:29:57.89
In the Book of
Revelation, Christ discloses
00:29:57.93\00:30:00.43
His final representatives
to the world as a small group,
00:30:00.46\00:30:05.13
He calls them a remnant.
00:30:05.17\00:30:10.04
Remnant.
00:30:10.07\00:30:12.81
A remainder or residual
00:30:12.84\00:30:16.31
that had escaped
00:30:16.34\00:30:19.11
left posterity.
00:30:19.15\00:30:22.95
And what is so fascinating
00:30:22.98\00:30:24.32
about this understanding
of the remnant it is that
00:30:24.35\00:30:28.92
it is supported elsewhere,
00:30:28.96\00:30:31.93
if we actually take
the time to research it.
00:30:31.96\00:30:37.00
The remnant only have
value and significance
00:30:37.03\00:30:39.30
if placed in a
larger meaning or context.
00:30:39.33\00:30:43.74
To be identified as
a remnant of anything
00:30:43.77\00:30:45.54
there must be a
setting or context,
00:30:45.57\00:30:49.98
a remnant of whom or
what, why, where, and when.
00:30:50.01\00:30:55.95
What is a remnant?
00:30:55.98\00:30:58.45
Let me share this with you
00:30:58.49\00:31:00.36
from Adventist Affirm fall 1933,
00:31:00.39\00:31:04.93
Dr. Gerhard Hasel wrote.
00:31:04.96\00:31:07.43
Listen to this,
00:31:07.46\00:31:09.40
"Since there is not
another religious body
00:31:09.43\00:31:12.50
today outside of
Seventh-day Adventists
00:31:12.53\00:31:15.20
which uniquely and specifically
00:31:15.24\00:31:17.04
has the characteristics
00:31:17.07\00:31:18.41
of the remnant faith
and carries their marks,
00:31:18.44\00:31:21.18
it follows that Adventists
00:31:21.21\00:31:23.28
as they meet all the
aspects of the remnant
00:31:23.31\00:31:26.51
are the final
remnant of the end-time.
00:31:26.55\00:31:31.15
This does not mean that
there are no other Christians
00:31:31.19\00:31:33.86
who live temporarily on
the basis of limited light.
00:31:33.89\00:31:37.69
They too are children of God.
00:31:37.73\00:31:40.53
But until they join
the commandment-keeping,
00:31:40.56\00:31:43.37
faith-of-Jesus holding remnant,
00:31:43.40\00:31:45.70
they are not part
of the final remnant.
00:31:45.73\00:31:49.60
In the course of
time all children of God
00:31:49.64\00:31:52.37
whether in Christian churches
or non-Christian religions,
00:31:52.41\00:31:55.71
who listen to the Spirit of God
00:31:55.74\00:31:57.91
and follow His wooings
will be drawn by the faithful,
00:31:57.95\00:32:01.85
global proclamation of
the 'everlasting gospel'
00:32:01.88\00:32:06.19
of the final remnant of faith,
00:32:06.22\00:32:09.19
which even now proclaims
00:32:09.22\00:32:11.03
this message with
power and conviction."
00:32:11.06\00:32:16.23
The scripture reveal
00:32:16.26\00:32:18.10
a more
comprehensive view of the few,
00:32:18.13\00:32:21.60
by example, or as
tight for us to study.
00:32:21.64\00:32:26.94
There are three Hebrew young men
00:32:26.98\00:32:30.85
who are a type of
the few, the remnant.
00:32:30.88\00:32:36.28
In the Book of Daniel,
00:32:36.32\00:32:37.65
we read the
historical documentation
00:32:37.69\00:32:39.32
about King Nebuchadnezzar
00:32:39.35\00:32:40.86
sending an invitation
to gather all the rulers
00:32:40.89\00:32:44.43
of the provinces to come
00:32:44.46\00:32:46.39
to the dedication of
the image he had set up.
00:32:46.43\00:32:50.00
The catch, he
wanted the attendees
00:32:50.03\00:32:53.03
to worship an image of himself.
00:32:53.07\00:32:57.17
It was prompted by music
and motivated by ecumenism,
00:32:57.21\00:33:01.28
the integration
of all religions.
00:33:01.31\00:33:04.71
All those who
came had to bow down.
00:33:04.75\00:33:09.88
Does this sound familiar
00:33:09.92\00:33:11.25
with what
Christ said will happen
00:33:11.29\00:33:12.95
in the end-times?
00:33:12.99\00:33:15.52
A supreme leader of
a civil religious power
00:33:15.56\00:33:18.69
will command the people
00:33:18.73\00:33:20.56
of the world under his banners
00:33:20.60\00:33:22.90
to worship the
image he has created.
00:33:22.93\00:33:28.74
Among the people
who gathered there,
00:33:28.77\00:33:30.74
three Hebrew men refused
00:33:30.77\00:33:33.31
to worship the
king and his image.
00:33:33.34\00:33:37.65
They were the few
who stood and withstood.
00:33:37.68\00:33:42.08
They kept the
commandments of God.
00:33:42.12\00:33:46.35
Daniel 3:13,
let's go back to it.
00:33:46.39\00:33:48.19
This is what the Bible says,
00:33:48.22\00:33:49.56
"Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage
00:33:49.59\00:33:51.06
and fury commanded to
bring Shadrach, Meshach,
00:33:51.09\00:33:54.63
and Abednego.
00:33:54.66\00:33:56.00
And then they brought
these men before the king.
00:33:56.03\00:33:57.93
Nebuchadnezzar
spake and said unto them,
00:33:57.97\00:33:59.97
'Is it true,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
00:34:00.00\00:34:03.00
do not ye serve my gods,
00:34:03.04\00:34:05.04
nor worship the golden
image which I have set up?
00:34:05.07\00:34:07.74
Now if ye be ready
that at what time you hear
00:34:07.78\00:34:10.71
the sound of the
cornet, the flute, the harp,
00:34:10.75\00:34:13.48
the sackbut, the
psaltery, and the dulcimer,
00:34:13.52\00:34:16.15
and all kinds of
music, you fall down
00:34:16.18\00:34:19.69
and worship the
image which I have made,
00:34:19.72\00:34:21.46
well, but if you worship not,
00:34:21.49\00:34:24.36
you shall be cast the same hour
00:34:24.39\00:34:26.43
into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace."
00:34:26.46\00:34:30.23
What a choice.
00:34:30.27\00:34:31.60
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
00:34:36.14\00:34:38.24
by faith,
intersected with obedience
00:34:38.27\00:34:42.58
and fulfilled the first
half of Revelation 14:12,
00:34:42.61\00:34:46.78
they kept the
commandments of God,
00:34:46.82\00:34:50.29
but the verse
does not stop there.
00:34:50.32\00:34:52.05
The second half of the
verse says of Revelation 14:12
00:34:52.09\00:34:55.49
that they have
the faith of Jesus.
00:34:55.52\00:34:57.56
Let's see how they
stand up to that test.
00:34:57.59\00:35:01.36
Verse 16 says, "Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego,
00:35:01.40\00:35:04.23
answered and said to the king,
00:35:04.27\00:35:06.20
O Nebuchadnezzar, we
are not careful to answer
00:35:06.23\00:35:08.60
thee in this matter."
00:35:08.64\00:35:10.07
In the margin, it
literally is translated
00:35:10.11\00:35:12.57
like this, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego answered
00:35:12.61\00:35:15.91
and said to the
king, "O Nebuchadnezzar,
00:35:15.94\00:35:18.05
we have no need to return a
word to you in this matter."
00:35:18.08\00:35:23.45
Do we have that
kind of boldness?
00:35:23.49\00:35:27.56
Do we have that kind
of determined commitment?
00:35:27.59\00:35:32.06
Are we as focused
on serving the Lord,
00:35:32.09\00:35:36.50
not in doing
something for the Lord,
00:35:36.53\00:35:38.93
but not bending toward evil?
00:35:38.97\00:35:41.20
They continue
speaking, "If it be so,
00:35:44.94\00:35:48.38
our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us
00:35:48.41\00:35:51.15
from the burning fiery furnace,
00:35:51.18\00:35:52.58
and He will deliver us
out of your hand, O king."
00:35:52.61\00:35:56.85
Now pay attention
to this next verse.
00:35:56.89\00:35:58.52
Listen to what it says,
00:35:58.55\00:35:59.89
"But if not, be
it known unto thee,
00:35:59.92\00:36:01.52
O king, that we
will not serve thy gods,
00:36:01.56\00:36:04.63
nor worship the golden
image which thou hast set up."
00:36:04.66\00:36:09.36
They have the
faith that God is indeed
00:36:09.40\00:36:13.34
able to fulfill His
promise in Isaiah 43:2.
00:36:13.37\00:36:18.77
Isaiah 43:2 says, if
you're not familiar with it,
00:36:18.81\00:36:22.01
listen to what it says,
00:36:22.04\00:36:23.38
"When thou
walkest through the fire,
00:36:23.41\00:36:26.25
you shall not be consumed."
00:36:26.28\00:36:29.05
Amen.
00:36:29.08\00:36:31.49
But even if God
did not deliver them,
00:36:31.52\00:36:33.89
they will keep His commandments.
00:36:33.92\00:36:35.99
Where did they get
that kind of power?
00:36:36.02\00:36:37.49
Where did they get
that kind of conviction?
00:36:37.53\00:36:39.09
Where do they have
that kind of source?
00:36:39.13\00:36:41.80
What source do they have to be
00:36:41.83\00:36:43.60
able to stand fast
and make that declaration
00:36:43.63\00:36:46.67
in the face of power?
00:36:46.70\00:36:48.17
They echo the word of Job,
00:36:52.57\00:36:55.01
"Though he slay me,
yet will I trust in him,
00:36:55.04\00:37:00.98
but I will maintain
mine own ways before him."
00:37:01.02\00:37:05.19
These three men were the few.
00:37:05.22\00:37:09.42
We often put them
as supersized heroes,
00:37:09.46\00:37:12.76
almost like a Marvel comic book
00:37:12.79\00:37:14.96
out on the plain of Dura,
00:37:15.00\00:37:16.67
not recognizing that
all around them were people
00:37:16.70\00:37:20.94
who were related to
them, if not by end,
00:37:20.97\00:37:24.04
if not by direct
blood, by ancestry.
00:37:24.07\00:37:29.24
Have we even thought about
00:37:29.28\00:37:30.61
what the peer
pressure must have been like
00:37:30.65\00:37:32.48
on the plain of Dura?
00:37:32.51\00:37:35.42
And generally,
when we go to any event,
00:37:35.45\00:37:38.02
we always go with our friends.
00:37:38.05\00:37:43.16
So doubtless, when Hananiah,
00:37:43.19\00:37:45.03
Azariah, and
Mishael attended that event,
00:37:45.06\00:37:48.90
they didn't go by themselves,
00:37:48.93\00:37:50.63
but they are the
only three standing,
00:37:50.67\00:37:52.53
what's happening to
the rest of the Hebrews
00:37:52.57\00:37:55.54
that are around them?
00:37:55.57\00:38:00.08
What's happening to
the rest of the Hebrews
00:38:00.11\00:38:01.58
who say they believe in God,
00:38:01.61\00:38:03.58
who say they trust
God, who say they love God?
00:38:03.61\00:38:06.75
These three
Hebrew men are the few.
00:38:13.36\00:38:17.86
They represent the remnant.
00:38:17.89\00:38:21.33
They are type of those who
throughout the ages displayed
00:38:21.36\00:38:25.07
an unshakeable
loyalty to Christ.
00:38:25.10\00:38:27.50
They are a type of the
remnant of Bible prophecy.
00:38:27.54\00:38:31.64
I wanna be a
part of the remnant.
00:38:31.67\00:38:33.01
How about you? Amen!
00:38:33.04\00:38:36.38
We as Seventh-day Adventists
have a tremendous advantage.
00:38:36.41\00:38:41.48
And let me dispel
this notion now that
00:38:41.52\00:38:46.12
when these types of
messages are preached,
00:38:46.15\00:38:48.42
we always default to wow,
00:38:48.46\00:38:51.99
there we go saying that
we're better than others.
00:38:52.03\00:38:56.20
No, that is not
what we are saying.
00:38:56.23\00:38:59.97
If you ever
without a pilot's license,
00:39:00.00\00:39:03.97
head to the cockpit,
00:39:04.01\00:39:07.21
before the plane
actually taxis to the runway
00:39:07.24\00:39:12.25
and you get in the pilot seat,
00:39:12.28\00:39:14.22
without the experience required
00:39:14.25\00:39:16.25
to fly the plane that I am on,
00:39:16.28\00:39:18.69
I'm getting off.
00:39:18.72\00:39:22.56
It's not about better then,
00:39:22.59\00:39:24.39
it is really about
us understanding that
00:39:24.43\00:39:27.36
God has given us a
special assignment.
00:39:27.40\00:39:30.03
And that
assignment looks different
00:39:30.07\00:39:32.17
than any other Christian faith.
00:39:32.20\00:39:36.71
GYC, God has given us a job.
00:39:36.74\00:39:42.68
It's time to do it.
00:39:42.71\00:39:45.55
It's time to do it with
faith and boldness and courage.
00:39:45.58\00:39:49.68
It's time for us to
believe the message,
00:39:49.72\00:39:55.22
the truth,
00:39:55.26\00:39:57.89
the prophetic
declarations for this time.
00:39:57.93\00:40:02.80
And I know that
00:40:02.83\00:40:04.17
when we hear messages like this,
00:40:04.20\00:40:05.90
we are prone to say,
00:40:05.93\00:40:07.70
but we live in
an imperfect world
00:40:07.74\00:40:11.44
and there are so
many imperfect elements
00:40:11.47\00:40:13.14
within the church.
00:40:13.17\00:40:14.51
Well, obviously,
00:40:14.54\00:40:18.61
we have imperfections.
00:40:18.65\00:40:22.28
Clifford Goldstein makes
00:40:22.32\00:40:23.65
this profound statement
00:40:23.69\00:40:25.19
in his book The
Remnant, he said,
00:40:25.22\00:40:26.82
"The Seventh-day
Adventist Church,
00:40:26.86\00:40:28.89
like ancient Israel,
00:40:28.92\00:40:30.26
has been given far more
light than any other faith,
00:40:30.29\00:40:34.96
and that light alone gives it
00:40:35.00\00:40:37.53
corporate remnant status."
00:40:37.57\00:40:43.20
Like the ancient Israelites,
00:40:43.24\00:40:46.37
with all of our corporate
and individual imperfection,
00:40:46.41\00:40:49.28
Christ has assigned us
the distinct classification
00:40:49.31\00:40:52.28
as His remnant people.
00:40:52.31\00:40:55.68
We are the remnant
people of Bible prophecy.
00:40:55.72\00:40:58.65
Amen.
00:40:58.69\00:41:02.29
We know that God will
have to purify the church.
00:41:02.32\00:41:05.79
And the time will come
when the harvest is ready
00:41:05.83\00:41:08.06
and the tares and the
wheat are fully matured
00:41:08.10\00:41:10.87
and God will separate
the wheat from the tares,
00:41:10.90\00:41:14.00
it must come, it
will surely come.
00:41:14.04\00:41:17.31
But the question
is not will it come
00:41:17.34\00:41:20.14
or when will it come,
00:41:20.18\00:41:22.18
but which one will you be?
00:41:22.21\00:41:27.08
Consider the sobering
message from Ezekiel 18:20,
00:41:27.12\00:41:31.12
"The soul who sins shall die.
00:41:31.15\00:41:33.39
The son shall not bear
the guilt of the father,
00:41:33.42\00:41:35.36
nor the father bear
the guilt of the son.
00:41:35.39\00:41:37.33
The
righteousness of the righteous
00:41:37.36\00:41:39.09
shall be upon himself,
00:41:39.13\00:41:40.56
and the wickedness of the wicked
00:41:40.60\00:41:41.96
shall be upon himself."
00:41:42.00\00:41:43.33
Friends, salvation,
00:41:43.37\00:41:44.87
although we are in
a corporate remnant,
00:41:44.90\00:41:47.34
salvation is an
individual matter.
00:41:47.37\00:41:53.34
The Hebrew
background of Hananiah, Azariah,
00:41:53.38\00:41:55.64
and Mishael did not save them.
00:41:55.68\00:41:58.58
It wasn't because
they hung out as a group
00:41:58.61\00:42:03.62
that they were saved.
00:42:03.65\00:42:05.45
They had to decide
00:42:05.49\00:42:06.99
for themselves
to stand for Jesus.
00:42:07.02\00:42:10.79
How is your standing with Jesus?
00:42:10.83\00:42:13.63
What are you really like
00:42:13.66\00:42:15.06
when you leave
these types of gatherings?
00:42:15.10\00:42:19.43
What do you like in your home,
00:42:19.47\00:42:21.07
on your job, and your schools?
00:42:21.10\00:42:24.61
I want us to learn
00:42:28.68\00:42:30.05
three lessons today
00:42:30.08\00:42:32.75
about Hananiah,
Azariah, and Mishael.
00:42:32.78\00:42:37.92
I used their
Hebrew names intentionally
00:42:37.95\00:42:40.66
because ultimately,
00:42:40.69\00:42:43.66
their names have meaning.
00:42:43.69\00:42:47.63
The first thing Nebuchadnezzar
could not comprehend
00:42:47.66\00:42:50.17
about those three men
was he had brought them
00:42:50.20\00:42:53.67
forcibly to Babylon
as they conquered people,
00:42:53.70\00:42:57.14
but they were determined
00:42:57.17\00:42:59.14
not to become Babylonians.
00:42:59.17\00:43:03.65
Hananiah, Azariah, and
Mishael purposed in their heart
00:43:03.68\00:43:06.85
that they would
not defile themselves
00:43:06.88\00:43:08.52
with the lifestyle
of the Babylonians.
00:43:08.55\00:43:10.42
The goal of the Babylonians
did not impress them.
00:43:10.45\00:43:13.69
The opulence and
power did not entice them.
00:43:13.72\00:43:17.13
And although they were few,
00:43:17.16\00:43:19.56
they constantly rely
on the power of Jesus.
00:43:19.59\00:43:23.47
Christ made them
stalwart in conviction,
00:43:23.50\00:43:26.30
focused in commitment
and determined in attitude.
00:43:26.33\00:43:29.90
They belonged to Jesus,
00:43:29.94\00:43:32.11
and they would
not break that bond.
00:43:32.14\00:43:34.78
They defied the influence
of culture and paganism.
00:43:34.81\00:43:40.02
When you go in so
many of our circles,
00:43:40.05\00:43:42.32
the question has to be asked,
00:43:42.35\00:43:43.95
what is the most
important thing to you?
00:43:43.99\00:43:46.96
And when it comes to Americans,
00:43:46.99\00:43:49.19
the most
important thing for them,
00:43:49.22\00:43:51.09
I'm an American.
00:43:51.13\00:43:54.66
But the answer should be,
00:43:54.70\00:43:56.06
I'm a Seventh-day
Adventist Christian.
00:43:56.10\00:43:59.23
Somebody say amen. Amen!
00:43:59.27\00:44:01.40
That needs to be
00:44:01.44\00:44:02.77
what's
important in our thinking,
00:44:02.80\00:44:05.24
in our minds, in our outlook.
00:44:05.27\00:44:09.24
The second thing is
that Nebuchadnezzar could not
00:44:09.28\00:44:11.28
comprehend that he
had changed their names,
00:44:11.31\00:44:15.78
which represents a change
in identity and character,
00:44:15.82\00:44:18.85
but they had not
changed their loyalty to God.
00:44:18.89\00:44:23.89
Every time Hananiah, Azariah,
00:44:23.93\00:44:25.63
and Mishael stepped
out of their prayer closet,
00:44:25.66\00:44:27.76
they knew who they were,
and they knew whose they were.
00:44:27.80\00:44:32.03
They were in Babylon,
but Babylon was not in them.
00:44:32.07\00:44:35.30
They had prayed
and ask our Savior
00:44:35.34\00:44:37.77
to give them His heart,
00:44:37.81\00:44:39.64
His mind, His convictions,
His desires, His thoughts,
00:44:39.67\00:44:42.88
His outlook, His
values, His vision.
00:44:42.91\00:44:45.18
Every day they stepped
00:44:45.21\00:44:46.55
into their
positions of leadership
00:44:46.58\00:44:48.45
and responsibility,
00:44:48.48\00:44:49.82
they had a simple objective
00:44:49.85\00:44:51.62
to live a
sold-out life to Jesus.
00:44:51.65\00:44:56.96
They were
captives, but they were free.
00:44:56.99\00:45:00.50
They were in bondage,
00:45:00.53\00:45:02.30
yet they had unrestricted faith.
00:45:02.33\00:45:07.74
Thirdly, Nebuchadnezzar
could not comprehend that
00:45:07.77\00:45:12.31
he had moved
Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael
00:45:12.34\00:45:16.78
far away from the sanctuary.
00:45:16.81\00:45:19.61
Somebody is gonna hear this,
00:45:19.65\00:45:20.98
this morning, far
away from the sanctuary,
00:45:21.02\00:45:23.28
but he could not erase
00:45:23.32\00:45:24.65
the significance of
the sanctuary out of them.
00:45:24.69\00:45:28.26
Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael
00:45:28.29\00:45:30.33
knew the significance
00:45:30.36\00:45:31.69
of the Shekinah
Glory evidenced above
00:45:31.73\00:45:35.26
or over the mercy seat,
00:45:35.30\00:45:37.03
above the Ark of the Testament
00:45:37.07\00:45:39.03
were in were the
tablets of a covenant,
00:45:39.07\00:45:41.34
The Ten Commandments.
00:45:41.37\00:45:42.70
They knew the
sanctuary's importance.
00:45:42.74\00:45:45.57
Do we still
remember the importance?
00:45:45.61\00:45:48.04
They knew the
importance and history
00:45:48.08\00:45:49.98
and position in relationship
to their personal salvation.
00:45:50.01\00:45:53.31
They knew serving Jesus
00:45:53.35\00:45:54.72
was not cultural, but
relational with Jesus.
00:45:54.75\00:45:58.95
They knew obedience
was not circumstantial,
00:45:58.99\00:46:01.66
but transcendent
location and environment.
00:46:01.69\00:46:05.76
Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael
00:46:05.79\00:46:08.00
would not
succumb to peer pressure.
00:46:08.03\00:46:11.53
Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael
00:46:11.57\00:46:14.14
would not
relinquish their convictions.
00:46:14.17\00:46:17.01
The more civil
00:46:17.04\00:46:18.37
and religious
pressure was applied,
00:46:18.41\00:46:20.11
the more determined
they were to live for Christ.
00:46:20.14\00:46:24.68
They exhibited a
resistance to unbiblical values
00:46:24.71\00:46:29.72
and unbiblical diet
and unbiblical worship.
00:46:29.75\00:46:33.25
How is it with you, GYC?
00:46:33.29\00:46:37.03
They model the characteristics
of the final remnant.
00:46:37.06\00:46:43.20
Let me take a page
00:46:43.23\00:46:45.07
out of Dr. Norman McNulty's book
00:46:45.10\00:46:47.87
recently published by Remnant.
00:46:47.90\00:46:51.07
Commentary in the Book
of Daniel - Practical Living
00:46:51.11\00:46:53.41
in the Judgment Hour.
00:46:53.44\00:46:54.78
He writes, "The war raged
00:46:54.81\00:46:56.58
on the remnant is
seen in Revelation 13
00:46:56.61\00:46:59.18
with the issue of worship
and the image to the beast.
00:46:59.21\00:47:03.25
Ancient Babylon specifically
King Nebuchadnezzar manifested
00:47:03.28\00:47:07.79
the same wrath toward
00:47:07.82\00:47:09.26
the Faithful
Remnant of Daniel 3,
00:47:09.29\00:47:13.73
by ordering the
three Hebrew boys
00:47:13.76\00:47:15.56
to be killed
00:47:15.60\00:47:16.93
just as there will be a
death decree in Revelation 13
00:47:16.97\00:47:20.80
placed upon those who
do not worship the image
00:47:20.84\00:47:23.77
or receive the
mark of the beast."
00:47:23.81\00:47:27.54
When Hananiah,
Azariah, and Mishael
00:47:27.58\00:47:29.74
stood and faced the
tyrannical ruler Nebuchadnezzar,
00:47:29.78\00:47:33.78
everything about their
visage, demeanor, their posture,
00:47:33.82\00:47:37.45
their stalwart gaze spoke
more loudly than their words.
00:47:37.49\00:47:42.99
They weren't going
to change their minds.
00:47:43.02\00:47:46.39
They weren't going to
change their convictions.
00:47:46.43\00:47:49.50
Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael
00:47:49.53\00:47:51.10
were not going to
change their allegiance.
00:47:51.13\00:47:53.37
They were all in.
00:47:53.40\00:47:56.71
Dr. McNulty clarifies how
this became a focused few,
00:47:56.74\00:48:02.44
in this statement,
00:48:02.48\00:48:03.81
"The three Hebrew young man
glorified God in their decision
00:48:03.85\00:48:07.48
to put their lives on the
line and not worship the image.
00:48:07.52\00:48:12.22
And God decisively honored them
00:48:12.25\00:48:15.19
by sending His Son
to be in their midst
00:48:15.22\00:48:18.33
and preserve their lives
00:48:18.36\00:48:20.16
from being
consumed by the flames."
00:48:20.20\00:48:23.30
Amen.
00:48:23.33\00:48:25.27
When Hananiah,
Azariah, and Mishael
00:48:25.30\00:48:26.97
were thrown into the
furnace of destruction,
00:48:27.00\00:48:29.00
they have proven
their love, their loyalty,
00:48:29.04\00:48:31.57
and their
devotion to the Savior.
00:48:31.61\00:48:34.18
Therefore, Jesus made
Himself personally responsible
00:48:34.21\00:48:38.68
for their outcome.
00:48:38.71\00:48:40.38
They made Christ everything
00:48:40.42\00:48:42.18
and Christ took them seriously.
00:48:42.22\00:48:46.79
Notice, if you will
that when Jesus showed up,
00:48:46.82\00:48:52.36
He had stopped all of
His celestial business.
00:48:52.39\00:48:57.63
He disrupted His
heavenly operations.
00:48:57.67\00:49:01.10
Suspended His heavenly schedule
00:49:01.14\00:49:04.67
and appeared in their midst.
00:49:04.71\00:49:06.98
Amen.
00:49:07.01\00:49:08.74
GYC, we have a very,
very, very difficult day
00:49:08.78\00:49:14.18
or days ahead of us.
00:49:14.22\00:49:16.95
We know the players.
00:49:16.99\00:49:19.15
We have seen Satan's agenda.
00:49:19.19\00:49:21.72
We have studied the
significance of the battle
00:49:21.76\00:49:23.96
revealed in the 1260
years of papal oppression.
00:49:23.99\00:49:28.46
We have been
forewarned that Christ,
00:49:28.50\00:49:31.03
propped by Christ's
prophet to the remnant church
00:49:31.07\00:49:34.54
recorded that we
are not prepared.
00:49:34.57\00:49:39.44
The final onslaught
is overrunning the shores
00:49:39.47\00:49:42.91
of our predictable
sometimes placid lives,
00:49:42.94\00:49:46.25
and we have a semblance
of peace like this Sabbath,
00:49:46.28\00:49:50.55
but a violent storm
is rapidly approaching.
00:49:50.59\00:49:54.82
The commitment of today
00:49:54.86\00:49:56.26
is your resistance for tomorrow.
00:49:56.29\00:49:58.83
The trust of today is
your assurance in tomorrow.
00:49:58.86\00:50:03.06
The submission of today
00:50:03.10\00:50:05.50
is your
transformation for tomorrow.
00:50:05.53\00:50:09.14
I wanna close
with this admonition
00:50:09.17\00:50:11.81
for what the pen of
inspiration says we must be.
00:50:11.84\00:50:16.48
As in the days of
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
00:50:16.51\00:50:19.45
so in the closing
period of earth's history,
00:50:19.48\00:50:22.48
the Lord will work mightily
00:50:22.52\00:50:24.29
in behalf of those
who stand steadfastly
00:50:24.32\00:50:27.36
for the right.
00:50:27.39\00:50:28.89
He who walked with
the Hebrew worthies
00:50:28.92\00:50:31.29
in the fiery furnace
will be with his followers
00:50:31.33\00:50:34.10
wherever they are.
00:50:34.13\00:50:35.80
In the midst of a
time of trouble, trouble,
00:50:35.83\00:50:38.43
such as has not been
since there was a nation,
00:50:38.47\00:50:41.17
His chosen ones
will stand unmoved.
00:50:41.20\00:50:44.67
Angels that excel in
strength will protect them
00:50:44.71\00:50:47.44
and in their behalf,
Jehovah will reveal Himself
00:50:47.48\00:50:51.01
as a God of gods able
to save to the uttermost
00:50:51.05\00:50:56.62
those who have put
their trust in Him.
00:50:56.65\00:51:01.96
So how do we get there?
00:51:01.99\00:51:07.53
How do we get there?
00:51:07.56\00:51:11.97
Ellen White gives us
these sobering words.
00:51:12.00\00:51:16.47
It is intended for
men and women alike,
00:51:16.50\00:51:21.88
"The greatest want
00:51:21.91\00:51:24.48
of the world is the want of men.
00:51:24.51\00:51:29.92
Men who will not
be bought or sold,
00:51:29.95\00:51:33.96
Men who in their in
most," what everybody?
00:51:33.99\00:51:37.73
"Souls are true and honest,
00:51:37.76\00:51:42.60
Men who do not fear to call sin
00:51:42.63\00:51:46.80
by its right name,
00:51:46.84\00:51:48.87
Men whose
conscience is as true to duty
00:51:48.90\00:51:52.91
as the needle to the pole,
00:51:52.94\00:51:56.01
Men who will stand for the right
00:51:56.04\00:51:59.45
though the heavens fall."
00:51:59.48\00:52:03.89
Do you wanna
have these qualities?
00:52:03.92\00:52:06.65
Do you wanna be
a part of the few
00:52:06.69\00:52:09.62
who will stand for the right
00:52:09.66\00:52:12.39
though all men forsake you?
00:52:12.43\00:52:16.16
The quote continues,
00:52:16.20\00:52:19.13
"But such a character is
not the result of accident,
00:52:19.17\00:52:24.37
it is not due to special favors
or endowments of Providence.
00:52:24.41\00:52:29.98
A noble character
00:52:30.01\00:52:31.35
is the result
of self-discipline,
00:52:31.38\00:52:34.22
of the subjection
00:52:34.25\00:52:35.58
of the lower to
the higher nature,
00:52:35.62\00:52:37.85
the surrender of self
00:52:37.89\00:52:40.32
for the service of love to God
00:52:40.36\00:52:43.09
and man."
00:52:43.12\00:52:46.70
GYC, will you follow Jesus
00:52:46.73\00:52:53.13
wherever He leads?
00:52:53.17\00:52:57.57
Will you be the few?
00:52:57.61\00:53:01.01
The hymn that he's playing
is entitled Just As I Am,
00:53:06.28\00:53:12.02
without one plea,
00:53:12.05\00:53:15.59
but that thy
blood was shed for me.
00:53:15.62\00:53:19.69
O Lamb of God, I come!
00:53:19.73\00:53:23.90
I come!
00:53:23.93\00:53:27.64
But the third verse
is what's important.
00:53:27.67\00:53:31.14
Just as I am, though tossed
00:53:31.17\00:53:33.38
about with many a conflict,
00:53:33.41\00:53:37.61
many a doubt fightings within
00:53:37.65\00:53:42.75
and fears without.
00:53:42.78\00:53:46.12
O Lamb of God, I come.
00:53:46.15\00:53:51.39
I'm gonna make a
very unique appeal today.
00:53:51.43\00:53:53.60
People follow their leaders.
00:53:58.07\00:53:59.60
And leadership today
00:54:03.37\00:54:04.74
is more important now than ever.
00:54:04.77\00:54:10.51
There are three
categories of leaders
00:54:10.55\00:54:12.31
that are in our midst today.
00:54:12.35\00:54:16.18
They are church leaders,
00:54:16.22\00:54:20.16
pastors, and parents.
00:54:20.19\00:54:25.53
Doesn't matter
what your occupation is.
00:54:25.56\00:54:29.76
Those three categories
I want to challenge you
00:54:29.80\00:54:33.30
to be an example to
those who are here today,
00:54:33.34\00:54:37.71
these youth and young
adults to make it known
00:54:37.74\00:54:42.54
by taking a stand
00:54:42.58\00:54:45.21
that you're all in.
00:54:45.25\00:54:48.98
If you're all in for
the Lord, and we don't know
00:54:49.02\00:54:52.45
what 2020 holds, we
don't know what 2021 holds.
00:54:52.49\00:54:55.56
I invite you, leader, pastor,
00:54:55.59\00:55:01.10
parent to get up from your place
00:55:01.13\00:55:04.63
and come down front
and let's pray together.
00:55:04.67\00:55:09.84
Youth and young adults, I
don't want you to move yet.
00:55:09.87\00:55:13.84
I want you to see who's coming.
00:55:13.88\00:55:15.28
But that Thy blood
00:55:32.03\00:55:36.50
Was shed for me
00:55:36.53\00:55:40.80
And that Thou bid'st me
00:55:40.84\00:55:45.97
Come to Thee
00:55:46.01\00:55:49.81
O Lamb of God
00:55:49.84\00:55:54.65
I come!
00:55:54.68\00:55:57.32
I come
00:55:57.35\00:56:03.29
Just as
00:56:03.32\00:56:06.19
I am, and waiting not
00:56:06.23\00:56:12.13
To rid my soul of
00:56:12.17\00:56:16.97
One dark blot
00:56:17.01\00:56:20.34
To thee whose blood
00:56:20.38\00:56:24.61
Can cleanse each spot
00:56:24.65\00:56:28.58
O Lamb of God
00:56:28.62\00:56:32.99
I come, I come
00:56:33.02\00:56:37.59
Leaders you have so much
00:56:40.90\00:56:44.13
that is hanging
on your influence
00:56:44.17\00:56:49.77
with those you lead
and those you parent,
00:56:49.80\00:56:55.14
they're watching you.
00:56:55.18\00:56:58.45
Your influence with them
00:56:58.48\00:57:02.18
is only as good as your life
00:57:02.22\00:57:06.99
and your
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:57:07.02\00:57:11.16
You cannot say one thing to them
00:57:11.19\00:57:15.40
and do another.
00:57:15.43\00:57:18.40
The greatest
test of your influence
00:57:18.43\00:57:22.67
with your children is
them being able to say,
00:57:22.70\00:57:27.04
my parents, my
parents are consistent
00:57:27.08\00:57:31.45
in their walk with Jesus.
00:57:31.48\00:57:35.05
That's the most powerful gift
00:57:35.08\00:57:38.52
your children can give to you,
00:57:38.55\00:57:43.09
your members,
00:57:43.12\00:57:45.73
and all those with
whom you have influence.
00:57:45.76\00:57:50.33
And now that you are here,
00:57:50.37\00:57:52.77
and there's really not
much room for anybody else.
00:57:52.80\00:57:56.67
You can see
that you are in fact,
00:57:56.71\00:57:59.41
the most important link in GYC
00:57:59.44\00:58:02.48
be what it needs to be.
00:58:02.51\00:58:05.88
The youth, the young
adults will follow you.
00:58:05.91\00:58:10.85
They may not always
00:58:10.89\00:58:12.22
like the role
that you're taking,
00:58:12.25\00:58:13.62
they may not always
like the instruction given,
00:58:13.66\00:58:16.12
they may not always
understand the wisdom
00:58:16.16\00:58:18.43
that you impart,
00:58:18.46\00:58:19.79
but if you are
willing to be bold,
00:58:19.83\00:58:22.40
if you're willing to be strong,
00:58:22.43\00:58:24.50
if you're willing to be
faith-filled and faithful,
00:58:24.53\00:58:27.74
God will do
something through you.
00:58:27.77\00:58:29.90
Now for my young people,
00:58:34.38\00:58:37.88
these leaders
have made a decision.
00:58:37.91\00:58:41.68
I want you to
make a decision too.
00:58:41.72\00:58:44.92
If you're all in,
00:58:44.95\00:58:46.79
in 2020 and beyond,
00:58:46.82\00:58:51.63
I want you to stand to your feet
00:58:51.66\00:58:52.99
right where you are.
00:58:53.03\00:58:54.36