Hello and welcome back
to 3ABN Fall Camp Meeting.
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Y'all having a good time?
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Amen! Wow! Now what did I
tell you folks that came early?
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I said: "Before this is
over in about 30 minutes
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the place will be
packed. " See this?
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Sure enough. I won't tell them
what I said about missing heaven
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by 20 minutes. That's a
secret between us, right?
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Those who were here early.
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But we're glad that you all are
here and those of you at home.
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Thank you for joining us
as you do each and every day.
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Tonight we're
having a spiritual feast.
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We've already had some
very spiritual uplifting music.
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And then tonight
it's my privilege
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to introduce the
president of the SDA church
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Elder Ted Wilson.
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And he and his
wife Nancy are here
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and was at our
board meeting today.
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We got to have lunch with them
and hear his dreams and visions
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and what's happening
for the church as a whole
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around the world. 21,000,000
plus SDA baptized members.
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Many more than that go to church
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every Sabbath
all around the world.
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Millions more.
The church is growing
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and we're getting
closer to Jesus' coming.
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And so he talked to
us today about Laodicea.
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We don't need to be in
Laodicea right now, right?
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We need to be
preparing for the Latter Rain.
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And that's why we love
having these Camp Meetings.
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Getting you all
here together with us
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so that we can have a
great time in the Lord
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and look forward to
the second coming of Jesus
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and sitting at the feet
of Jesus through eternity
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in heaven. That's time forever!
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No more sickness; no more pain.
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No more sorrow; no more death.
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Hard to imagine, isn't it?
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That's why the Bible
says: "Eye hath not seen
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nor ear heard
neither has it entered into
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the heart of man the things
that God has prepared for him. "
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So tonight it's my
privilege to introduce...
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The next voice you will hear
after Yvonne Shelton sings...
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She's going to be
singing a beautiful song:
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Praise His Holy Name
written by Lanny Wolfe.
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And right after that
the next voice you will hear
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will be Elder Ted Wilson.
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Praise the Lord
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from whom all blessings
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flow.
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For He has
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washed and
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made me white as snow.
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I'm redeemed
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from all my sin and shame.
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For now
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and forever
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praise His holy name.
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Praise His holy name!
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Praise His holy name!
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To God be the glory
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now and forever
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praise His holy name.
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God is great
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and greatly to be
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praised.
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Above all
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others
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let His name be raised.
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Saints
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and angels
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evermore
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proclaim
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that He alone
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is worthy:
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praise His holy name!
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Praise His holy name!
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Oh, praise
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His holy name!
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To God be the glory
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now and forever...
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praise His holy name!
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Praise His holy name!
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Praise His holy name!
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To God be the glory...
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to God be the glory...
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to God be the glory...
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to God be the glory...
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To God be the glory
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now and forever!
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Praise His holy - Your holy -
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name.
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Praise His name!
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Praise His name!
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To God be the glory
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now and forever!
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Praise
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His holy
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name!
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AMEN!
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Truly praise His holy name!
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Amen! What a blessing!
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Thank you, Yvonne, for
that marvelous rendition
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of giving God the glory
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in the right way.
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Turn to Revelation chapter 4.
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Revelation chapter 4 is
a magnificent explanation
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of one of the most
powerful aspects of worship.
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I begin reading with
verse 1 through verse 4.
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"After these things
I looked, and behold
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a door standing open in heaven
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and the first voice which
I heard was like a trumpet
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speaking with me saying:
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"Come up here. "
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Now I pause for a
moment before reading further
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for 3ABN Homecoming Camp Meeting
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has chosen as its theme
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Living Above the Crowd.
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"Come up here
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and I will show you
things which must take place
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after this.
Immediately I was in the spirit
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and behold, a
throne set in heaven
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and One sat on the throne.
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And He who sat
there was like a jasper
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and a sardius
stone in appearance.
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And there was a
rainbow around the throne
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in appearance like an emerald.
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Around the throne
were twenty-four thrones
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and on the thrones I
saw twenty-four elders
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sitting clothed in white robes
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and they had crowns
of gold on their heads. "
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What an amazing
place to come up to!
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John, the beloved disciple,
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who was one of God's
greatest agents in helping us
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to understand what
the future would hold
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through God's revelation
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gave us this magnificent
book, the book of Revelation,
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which is a
revelation about Jesus Christ.
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What a powerful
way for John to be
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invited to come up higher.
00:11:06.43\00:11:11.33
Living Above the Crowd.
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Living on higher ground.
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Living on holy ground.
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Thank you, Danny, for
singing that song earlier
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about we are
standing on higher ground.
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What a privilege
it is to be at 3ABN.
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Thank you for being here
tonight. And for those of you
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who will be staying
through the Camp Meeting,
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by God's grace it will
be a spiritually-enriching
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experience. Amen!
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Not simply because of
the music... which is good...
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Not simply because of the
fellowship... which is good...
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but because the
Word of God is lifted up.
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Amen!
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And this is the written
Word pointing to the Living Word
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Jesus Christ. Amen!
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And that's what John was doing.
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And God called him up higher.
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Living Above the Crowd.
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I really appreciate
3ABN choosing this theme
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which we will
develop and which undoubtedly
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my good friend Doug
Batchelor, Pastor Batchelor will
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be developing even more over
the weekend and even tonight.
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I want to express
great appreciation to 3ABN
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for its continuing ministry
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for God's
world-wide church. Amen!
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It is a vital part,
along with many other ways,
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that the church is
using, to touch people's lives
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in all countries
around this globe
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preparing people for
that great and wonderful final
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call when the Lord
says: "Come up higher.
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Be with Me forever. "
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What a marvelous opportunity
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to work together
in a powerful way!
00:13:17.23\00:13:20.10
This afternoon we
had an opportunity
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to do a nice
roundtable discussion
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with Danny and Yvonne
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and Greg and Jill.
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What a privilege it was to be
also with the 3ABN family here.
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I want to thank you on
behalf of your world church
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for what you are doing.
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What a privilege to be part
of this great Advent movement:
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a movement that is focusing
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upon revival and reformation.
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An opportunity for us
to be revived in the Lord
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just as you will be
here at Camp Meeting
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and then to do something
extraordinary through the
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reformation process that
Christ alone does through you
00:14:02.60\00:14:06.57
to tell somebody else about it.
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To be involved with
understanding God's Word
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and reading His holy
Word and believe His prophets.
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Reading the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:14:18.12\00:14:20.39
Understanding that we
need to reach the big cities
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of the world in
mission to the cities.
00:14:23.46\00:14:25.93
In helping people to
understand better health -
00:14:26.13\00:14:28.76
complete health - through
comprehensive health ministry.
00:14:28.96\00:14:32.60
All of us working together
00:14:32.80\00:14:34.94
to focus upon
Christ's soon coming.
00:14:35.14\00:14:37.61
Total member involvement:
00:14:39.94\00:14:42.81
everybody doing
something for Jesus
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for Jesus is coming soon. Amen!
00:14:47.05\00:14:51.35
I believe it with all my
heart and I know you do, too,
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otherwise you
wouldn't be here tonight.
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All of us doing
something for the Lord
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not only for
ourselves in coming up higher
00:15:00.46\00:15:03.60
but grabbing the hand
of someone else and saying:
00:15:03.80\00:15:06.43
"Come along with me
to a higher ground. "
00:15:06.63\00:15:11.07
Amen! Living above the crowd.
00:15:11.27\00:15:13.38
I read from a book
written by Ellen White.
00:15:15.94\00:15:21.58
And I make no apologies for
using the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:15:23.05\00:15:26.19
Amen! It is one of
God's greatest gifts
00:15:26.39\00:15:29.46
to the Seventh- day
Adventist Church. Amen!
00:15:29.66\00:15:31.99
It does not take the
place of this Holy Word
00:15:32.19\00:15:35.26
but it points us to
this Word and to Christ
00:15:36.33\00:15:39.77
and helps to further
explain beautiful aspects
00:15:39.97\00:15:44.87
of living for Jesus. Amen.
00:15:45.87\00:15:48.81
I read in the book
Testimonies Vol. 9 page 117.
00:15:49.01\00:15:53.42
"The work of God in this
earth can never be finished
00:15:53.92\00:15:56.92
until the men and
women... " That's all of us...
00:15:57.12\00:15:59.89
"comprising our
church membership
00:16:00.09\00:16:03.02
rally to the work and
unite their efforts with those
00:16:03.22\00:16:06.83
of ministers and
church officers. "
00:16:07.03\00:16:10.30
Everyone doing
something for Jesus.
00:16:10.90\00:16:14.47
Amen. Total member involvement.
00:16:14.67\00:16:17.37
So total member involvement
does not only involve
00:16:18.77\00:16:21.11
you coming up to a higher
plane and living above the crowd
00:16:21.31\00:16:25.75
but it involves you
inviting someone else
00:16:26.25\00:16:30.95
to be part of
that rich experience...
00:16:31.15\00:16:34.29
all through the
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:16:34.79\00:16:37.76
You see, not all of us
00:16:39.79\00:16:45.23
can be called like John was.
00:16:45.43\00:16:48.40
John had a unique opportunity.
00:16:49.57\00:16:52.87
He was asked of God to
write the book of Revelation.
00:16:53.07\00:16:57.38
Want to just take a
parenthesis here and tell you
00:16:58.25\00:17:00.45
as Seventh-day Adventists,
as vibrant Christians,
00:17:01.28\00:17:04.35
whatever church
you may belong to
00:17:04.55\00:17:06.69
make yourself a student of the
books of Daniel and Revelation.
00:17:07.36\00:17:12.76
Amen! And God
will then bring you
00:17:12.96\00:17:15.86
up to a higher
plane of understanding.
00:17:16.06\00:17:19.50
Higher ground. But not
all of us can experience
00:17:19.70\00:17:23.91
what John did, but I
want to tell you all of us
00:17:24.11\00:17:26.31
can live above the crowd
00:17:26.51\00:17:29.54
through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:30.51\00:17:33.28
Through reading God's Word and
being drawn into a relationship
00:17:33.48\00:17:37.45
with Him where we
can understand better
00:17:37.65\00:17:40.62
what plans He
has in store for us.
00:17:40.82\00:17:44.79
One of those
individuals who was called
00:17:46.43\00:17:49.60
to a higher
ground - a holy ground -
00:17:49.80\00:17:54.47
was that
magnificent leader Moses.
00:17:55.34\00:17:58.14
I invite you to turn
to the book of Exodus
00:17:58.94\00:18:03.91
and in the third
chapter of Exodus we read
00:18:04.68\00:18:08.75
this magnificent account of his
00:18:08.95\00:18:14.19
experience with the Lord.
00:18:14.56\00:18:17.69
In chapter 3 and
beginning with verse 1
00:18:18.83\00:18:22.96
it tells us here that
Moses was tending the flock
00:18:23.16\00:18:27.00
of Jethro. Now
Moses had fled Egypt.
00:18:27.20\00:18:30.94
You know that he was destined
to become the next pharaoh.
00:18:31.14\00:18:34.51
He was a leader in
Egypt, and I have to tell you
00:18:34.91\00:18:38.15
I love Egypt. That's
where I grew up as a young boy.
00:18:38.35\00:18:43.32
I grew up in
Cairo in Heliopolis.
00:18:43.85\00:18:46.09
Egypt is part of my DNA.
00:18:46.29\00:18:50.63
It's part of my
background. I knew nothing about
00:18:51.36\00:18:54.33
any other place
outside of the Middle East
00:18:54.63\00:18:57.30
and Italy for that matter
because we visited there also
00:18:57.50\00:19:00.67
when I was a young boy.
00:19:01.17\00:19:02.50
The only thing I knew
about the United States
00:19:02.67\00:19:04.61
was that's where
blue jeans came from.
00:19:04.81\00:19:07.64
And once in a while my dad
would come back from a meeting
00:19:09.54\00:19:12.75
in America and he
would bring a record -
00:19:12.95\00:19:15.45
some of you will remember this -
00:19:15.65\00:19:17.05
of Eric B. Hare stories.
00:19:17.45\00:19:20.16
That's about all I knew
about the United States.
00:19:21.39\00:19:23.46
So Egypt is a
precious place for me.
00:19:24.89\00:19:27.16
BUT Moses - who had
been destined by God
00:19:27.36\00:19:30.77
to be the leader for Israel -
00:19:30.97\00:19:32.70
thought he
could do it on his own
00:19:33.37\00:19:37.04
and failed miserably.
00:19:37.34\00:19:39.87
God has called each one
of you to a special work.
00:19:40.54\00:19:43.65
A work to come up
higher above the crowd
00:19:44.11\00:19:47.88
but He asks you to
make Him first and foremost
00:19:48.28\00:19:52.89
so that He can take
you to higher ground
00:19:53.09\00:19:55.86
not you yourself. Amen.
00:19:56.06\00:19:58.19
Moses tried it on his own
00:19:58.89\00:20:02.06
and failed miserably.
00:20:02.26\00:20:03.87
And because pharaoh
and others were after him
00:20:04.07\00:20:08.24
he fled and he went into Midian.
00:20:08.44\00:20:11.74
Now it says that he
was tending the flocks
00:20:12.41\00:20:15.08
of Jethro, his father-in-law.
00:20:15.28\00:20:18.11
Actually he
offered some kindness
00:20:18.61\00:20:24.52
in terms of being
able to show sympathy
00:20:24.92\00:20:29.49
to the seven
daughters of Jethro.
00:20:29.69\00:20:34.20
And because he was so
sympathetic and helpful
00:20:34.60\00:20:37.87
Jethro gave him
one of his daughters.
00:20:38.27\00:20:41.14
Now that's quite
a gift, isn't it?
00:20:41.34\00:20:42.77
I'm sure that his wife
was a great blessing to him
00:20:44.11\00:20:49.88
because God had ordained
and opened the way for her
00:20:50.91\00:20:54.75
to be part of
his special ministry.
00:20:54.95\00:20:57.89
But as he was tending the flocks
00:20:58.09\00:21:00.99
it says here he came to
Horeb, the mountain of God.
00:21:01.19\00:21:05.43
Obviously,
because the Bible says
00:21:07.10\00:21:09.60
that Jethro was
a priest of Midian,
00:21:09.80\00:21:12.80
obviously he was a
believer in the true God.
00:21:13.00\00:21:15.44
And this particular
mountain of Horeb was an unusual
00:21:15.64\00:21:19.91
place where God would interact
00:21:20.11\00:21:22.74
and where He was to
be a blessing to people.
00:21:24.11\00:21:27.22
"And the angel of the Lord
appeared to him... " verse 2...
00:21:27.42\00:21:30.59
in a flame of fire
from the midst of a bush. "
00:21:30.79\00:21:34.42
Now unfortunately this
country and other places have
00:21:37.16\00:21:41.06
experienced a lot of
fires in the recent past.
00:21:41.26\00:21:45.47
The terrible fire that
took lives and incredible
00:21:45.87\00:21:51.67
amounts of property in the
region of northern California
00:21:51.87\00:21:56.64
not too long ago:
Paradise, California.
00:21:57.58\00:21:59.95
Fire can move
quickly; fire destroys.
00:22:01.25\00:22:05.02
Fire consumes... but
this bush did not burn up.
00:22:05.22\00:22:10.13
"So he looked and behold,
the bush was burning with fire
00:22:12.46\00:22:15.40
but the bush was not consumed.
00:22:15.60\00:22:17.40
And Moses said: 'I will
now turn aside and see this
00:22:17.60\00:22:20.94
great sight why the
bush does not burn. ' "
00:22:21.14\00:22:24.87
"Now this is really
amazing. Let me find out.
00:22:26.17\00:22:28.48
Let me get closer. I
want to see what is happening
00:22:28.68\00:22:32.11
with a bush that
doesn't burn up. "
00:22:32.31\00:22:36.25
I have to stop and tell you:
00:22:40.26\00:22:42.62
when I was about 6 years old
00:22:43.69\00:22:46.03
my father allowed me
to go on a trip with him -
00:22:47.20\00:22:51.73
living in Cairo -
00:22:52.13\00:22:54.04
but leaving Cairo
and going to Mt. Sinai.
00:22:54.24\00:22:57.31
My father took many
many people on tours
00:22:57.91\00:23:00.74
of Mt. Sinai, and
when I was 6 years old
00:23:00.94\00:23:04.55
he said: "OK, time
for you to go with me. "
00:23:04.75\00:23:07.22
I was greatly privileged.
I don't have time tonight
00:23:08.05\00:23:10.79
to tell you all about that
trip. It was a fascinating trip
00:23:10.99\00:23:13.92
for me. I can remember
00:23:14.12\00:23:17.26
as we crossed the Suez Canal.
00:23:17.66\00:23:21.06
We went over on
some kind of ferry,
00:23:23.43\00:23:26.70
but there were some in our party
00:23:26.90\00:23:28.64
that decided to swim from one
side of the canal to the other.
00:23:28.84\00:23:33.61
And why would they do that?
00:23:34.24\00:23:36.04
Because they
could go home and brag
00:23:36.24\00:23:39.21
that they had been
swimming from Africa to Asia.
00:23:39.41\00:23:44.35
Anyway, we got
over to the other side.
00:23:46.79\00:23:48.32
Made our way down
through the Wilderness of Sin
00:23:48.52\00:23:51.49
and all the different
places that we don't have time
00:23:51.69\00:23:54.10
to talk about tonight
00:23:54.30\00:23:55.63
and we came to
the base of Mt. Sinai.
00:23:56.00\00:24:00.14
Now there's a traditional mount
00:24:00.64\00:24:03.24
that people claim
to be the mountain.
00:24:03.44\00:24:07.14
And then there is
another mountain that
00:24:07.64\00:24:09.44
others have said is more
likely to be the exact location.
00:24:09.94\00:24:15.68
In fact, I think
they call it Jebel Musa
00:24:18.99\00:24:21.29
which means in
Arabic Moses' mountain.
00:24:21.49\00:24:24.49
And it is a mountain
which better is situated
00:24:25.49\00:24:29.20
to be explained by how
Patriarchs and Prophets
00:24:29.40\00:24:34.40
explains the
encampment of the Israelites
00:24:34.60\00:24:37.77
from the top of Mt. Sinai.
00:24:38.54\00:24:40.71
We had the privilege
of going up Mt. Sinai.
00:24:41.51\00:24:43.75
And I can remember as
a little boy climbing up.
00:24:43.95\00:24:46.01
And I made it, but my
father helped me along.
00:24:46.21\00:24:48.28
Let me tell you, parents:
00:24:48.68\00:24:50.19
first of all, take a spiritual
interest in your children.
00:24:51.25\00:24:55.22
Take an interest in
helping them know about things
00:24:56.36\00:24:58.99
of the Bible. Make it
relevant; make it happy.
00:24:59.19\00:25:02.76
Make it enjoyable.
00:25:02.96\00:25:04.37
That's what my father did.
00:25:04.57\00:25:06.13
What a privilege. And my mother.
00:25:06.33\00:25:08.47
Precious parents.
00:25:08.67\00:25:10.07
I'll see them soon.
00:25:10.47\00:25:12.01
They're both dead, but
soon Jesus is coming. Amen!
00:25:12.21\00:25:16.11
And so we walked up the
mountain... got up to the top.
00:25:17.81\00:25:20.98
Beautiful setting. Had
a nice service at the top.
00:25:21.18\00:25:23.79
Prayed. It was a
marvelous experience!
00:25:24.19\00:25:27.16
But back down at the bottom
00:25:27.56\00:25:30.29
of Mt. Sinai is a monastery.
00:25:30.49\00:25:34.10
An orthodox monastery.
00:25:34.50\00:25:36.63
It's been there for centuries.
00:25:36.83\00:25:38.63
In fact, those
monks in the monastery,
00:25:39.13\00:25:42.24
it's called St.
Catherine's Monastery...
00:25:42.44\00:25:45.31
It's there today if you visit.
00:25:46.11\00:25:48.24
They know how to
exist... the monks.
00:25:49.24\00:25:53.62
In fact, the monks
at one particular time
00:25:54.12\00:25:59.65
heard that a group
of Islamic believers
00:25:59.85\00:26:05.06
were coming to attack
them. And as Christians,
00:26:05.26\00:26:07.83
they would have been decimated.
00:26:08.03\00:26:09.43
And so they built very
quickly a mosque in the middle
00:26:09.63\00:26:13.64
of the monastery, and
when the invaders came
00:26:13.84\00:26:17.11
and saw the
mosque and the minaret
00:26:17.31\00:26:21.11
they said: "Oh, no,
we cannot attack that"
00:26:21.31\00:26:23.45
and St.
Catherine's continued to exist.
00:26:23.85\00:26:27.58
Those monks knew
what they were doing.
00:26:27.98\00:26:30.89
If you were an
especially important monk,
00:26:32.12\00:26:34.89
well actually, any
of the monks who died,
00:26:35.29\00:26:37.29
they would bury them in the
ground and after a few years
00:26:37.49\00:26:40.46
they would dig up the
bones and downstairs underneath
00:26:40.66\00:26:44.80
the monastery,
and I visited there,
00:26:45.00\00:26:46.84
you can go into one room and
you will see all the leg bones.
00:26:47.04\00:26:50.87
In another room
you'll see all the skulls.
00:26:51.27\00:26:53.51
In another room
you'll see all the arm bones.
00:26:53.71\00:26:56.68
And if you are a
particularly important monk
00:26:57.08\00:27:01.02
they would fit the
bones back together
00:27:01.22\00:27:03.65
and put your robes on and
you would be standing there
00:27:04.05\00:27:07.06
as a skeleton
with your robes on.
00:27:07.26\00:27:09.22
I saw it.
00:27:09.62\00:27:10.99
However, just before
you get into that area
00:27:12.33\00:27:15.13
of the monastery
00:27:15.33\00:27:19.00
you will come to a
bush inside St. Catherine's.
00:27:19.73\00:27:24.57
It's a large bush,
and the monks claim
00:27:25.34\00:27:29.94
that that was
Moses' burning bush.
00:27:30.95\00:27:35.58
Now I doubt it...
00:27:36.28\00:27:37.89
but it made a good story
00:27:38.95\00:27:40.32
and it made a good attraction
00:27:40.72\00:27:42.29
because that
bush did not burn up.
00:27:43.36\00:27:47.50
"When the Lord saw
that he turned aside to look
00:27:49.43\00:27:51.83
God called to him from the
midst... " verse 4... "of the
00:27:52.03\00:27:54.57
bush and said:
'Moses, Moses. ' And he said:
00:27:54.77\00:27:57.04
'Here I am. '
00:27:57.24\00:27:58.74
Then He said: 'Do
not draw near this place.
00:27:59.14\00:28:03.75
Take your sandals off
your feet, for the place
00:28:03.95\00:28:07.68
where you stand
is holy ground. ' "
00:28:07.88\00:28:12.85
Come up above the crowd.
00:28:15.96\00:28:19.53
Come up to a higher place.
00:28:20.13\00:28:23.93
Come up to holy ground.
00:28:24.43\00:28:28.74
"Moreover, He said, I
am the God of your father,
00:28:29.37\00:28:32.04
the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac,
00:28:32.24\00:28:34.11
and the God of Jacob.
' And Moses hid his face
00:28:34.31\00:28:37.78
for he was
afraid to look upon God.
00:28:37.98\00:28:39.98
And the Lord said: 'I
have surely seen the oppression
00:28:40.18\00:28:42.92
of My people who are in Egypt
00:28:43.12\00:28:44.75
and have heard their cry
because of their taskmasters.
00:28:44.95\00:28:47.99
For I know their sorrows.
00:28:48.19\00:28:50.59
So I have come down to
deliver them out of the hand
00:28:50.99\00:28:53.76
of the Egyptians and to
bring them up from that land
00:28:53.96\00:28:56.60
to a good and large
land... to a land flowing with
00:28:56.80\00:28:59.27
milk and honey... ' " Etc, etc.
00:28:59.47\00:29:01.90
Moses said to God -
because God called Moses
00:29:04.11\00:29:08.88
to a higher
position, to higher ground,
00:29:09.08\00:29:12.41
to be the leader of His people -
00:29:12.61\00:29:14.22
And Moses said
to God in verse 11:
00:29:14.38\00:29:16.79
"Who am I that I
should go to pharaoh? "
00:29:16.99\00:29:19.95
Can you imagine
now Moses, who had been
00:29:20.16\00:29:23.49
a great leader in Egypt,
00:29:23.69\00:29:25.83
one of the greatest in strat-
egy - in military strategy -
00:29:26.03\00:29:31.57
now humbled by his
experience in the wilderness.
00:29:31.77\00:29:36.17
Let me tell you my
brothers and sisters
00:29:36.57\00:29:38.44
if the Lord leads you
into the wilderness of life
00:29:38.64\00:29:41.21
sometimes... it's for a reason.
00:29:41.41\00:29:43.04
Amen! To teach
us to lean on Him.
00:29:43.24\00:29:47.62
So Moses unlearned all
the things that he thought
00:29:49.18\00:29:53.05
he knew in Egypt, and
now he was even saying to God
00:29:53.25\00:29:57.29
"Who am I that I
should go to pharaoh
00:29:57.69\00:30:00.46
and that I should
bring the children of Israel
00:30:00.66\00:30:02.93
out of Egypt? "
00:30:03.13\00:30:04.47
So He said... God said:
00:30:04.50\00:30:07.70
"I will certainly be with you
and this shall be a sign to you
00:30:07.90\00:30:11.27
that I have sent you. When
you have brought the people
00:30:11.47\00:30:13.78
out of Egypt you shall
serve God on this mountain. "
00:30:13.98\00:30:17.15
And God kept His word.
00:30:18.38\00:30:21.42
They did come out.
There on Mt. Sinai God gave
00:30:21.82\00:30:25.42
the Ten Commandments.
You are going to be able
00:30:25.62\00:30:30.29
to get a copy of the
book The Ten Commandments
00:30:30.49\00:30:33.80
written by Danny. And
what a marvelous opportunity
00:30:34.00\00:30:37.23
to focus upon
those Ten Commandments.
00:30:37.43\00:30:39.70
And then it says:
"Then Moses said to God
00:30:40.47\00:30:42.84
'Indeed when I come to the chil-
dren of Israel and say to them
00:30:43.04\00:30:46.01
'The God of your
fathers has sent me to you'
00:30:46.21\00:30:49.08
and they say to me
'What is His name? '
00:30:49.28\00:30:52.21
what shall I say to them? "
00:30:52.41\00:30:54.92
Now when God calls you
to live above the crowd,
00:30:55.45\00:30:59.25
when He calls you to be
part of something that is
00:30:59.65\00:31:02.39
on higher ground, He
will give you the power
00:31:02.59\00:31:06.46
not only to live that life
00:31:06.66\00:31:08.73
but to tell people who
made it possible. Amen!
00:31:08.93\00:31:13.70
And so God said to Moses:
00:31:14.90\00:31:17.21
"I AM who I AM. "
00:31:17.41\00:31:22.28
And He said: "Thus you shall
say to the children of Israel
00:31:23.41\00:31:26.68
'I AM has sent me to you. ' "
00:31:27.45\00:31:33.39
I AM.
00:31:35.56\00:31:36.96
The I AM is
calling you right now
00:31:37.99\00:31:42.93
to be part of something
much bigger than you have ever
00:31:43.13\00:31:47.24
imagined.
Something much grander;
00:31:47.44\00:31:50.21
something much more
filled with potential
00:31:50.41\00:31:53.88
because God has an
eternity to spend with you
00:31:54.08\00:31:59.08
at a higher
level above the crowds.
00:31:59.28\00:32:04.29
"I AM the great I AM. "
00:32:05.19\00:32:09.42
John 8 verse 58:
00:32:09.92\00:32:13.29
"Jesus said to them:
00:32:13.50\00:32:15.60
'Most assuredly I say
to you before Abraham was
00:32:15.80\00:32:19.93
I AM. ' "
00:32:20.14\00:32:22.80
The same I AM
that spoke to Moses
00:32:23.61\00:32:26.37
spoke to those in
New Testament times
00:32:26.57\00:32:29.81
and speaks to us tonight
here in Thompsonville, Illinois
00:32:30.01\00:32:35.15
at the 3ABN
Homecoming Camp Meeting.
00:32:35.55\00:32:39.32
"I AM who I AM. "
00:32:39.72\00:32:42.66
In the Spirit
of Prophecy we read
00:32:44.26\00:32:48.53
this marvelous
explanation about the I AM.
00:32:48.73\00:32:52.93
It says in
Testimonies Volume 9 page 260:
00:32:53.67\00:32:57.17
"No one should for a
moment fancy that he is able to
00:32:57.37\00:33:01.48
manage those things that
belong to the great I AM.
00:33:01.68\00:33:05.81
God in His
providence is preparing a way
00:33:06.41\00:33:09.62
so that the work may
be done by human agents.
00:33:09.82\00:33:12.62
Then let every man
stand at his post of duty
00:33:12.82\00:33:16.76
to act his part for
this time and know that God
00:33:16.96\00:33:21.93
is his Instructor. "
00:33:22.13\00:33:25.27
The great I AM.
00:33:26.13\00:33:28.80
In the book Desire
of Ages pages 24 and 25
00:33:30.17\00:33:34.81
we read: "By His humanity
Christ touched humanity.
00:33:35.74\00:33:39.11
By His divinity He lays
hold upon the throne of God.
00:33:39.31\00:33:42.78
As the Son of Man He gave
us an example of obedience.
00:33:42.98\00:33:48.19
As the Son of God He
gives us power to obey.
00:33:48.39\00:33:52.49
It was Christ who
from the bush on Mt. Horeb
00:33:52.89\00:33:57.60
spoke to Moses
saying: 'I AM that I AM. '
00:33:57.80\00:34:01.10
Thus shalt thou say
unto the children of Israel:
00:34:01.50\00:34:04.31
'I AM hath sent me unto you. '
00:34:04.51\00:34:06.88
This was the pledge
of Israel's deliverance.
00:34:07.08\00:34:09.91
So when He came in
the likeness of men
00:34:10.11\00:34:13.28
He declared Himself the I AM.
00:34:13.48\00:34:16.79
The Child of Bethlehem,
the meek and lowly Savior,
00:34:17.19\00:34:20.19
is God manifest in the flesh.
00:34:20.39\00:34:22.36
And to us He says: 'I
AM the Good Shepherd. '
00:34:22.76\00:34:28.36
'I AM the Living Bread. '
00:34:28.56\00:34:31.80
'I AM the Way, the
Truth, and the Life. '
00:34:32.20\00:34:36.40
'All power is given unto
Me in heaven and earth. '
00:34:36.60\00:34:40.21
'I AM the
assurance of every promise. '
00:34:40.41\00:34:44.95
'I AM... be not
afraid. ' " Amen!
00:34:45.15\00:34:50.32
As God calls you to
live above the crowd
00:34:50.75\00:34:54.99
in these very last
days of earth's history,
00:34:55.19\00:34:57.36
He is saying: "I am
capable of accomplishing it
00:34:57.56\00:35:02.80
in your life. I am able to
bring you up to a higher level
00:35:03.00\00:35:08.50
so that you can be a
real missionary for Me. "
00:35:08.70\00:35:13.41
The great I AM.
00:35:14.21\00:35:18.28
You see, God intends for us -
00:35:18.98\00:35:21.82
each of us - to be
part of God's final last-day
00:35:22.02\00:35:27.02
movement. Nancy... my wife and I
00:35:27.22\00:35:30.83
travel around the
world. We see and understand
00:35:31.03\00:35:34.56
that we are living
in the very last days.
00:35:34.76\00:35:37.13
And as we see what God
is doing around the world
00:35:37.63\00:35:41.57
we see that we can
answer the questions
00:35:41.97\00:35:45.77
who will lead us into
the uncertain days ahead?
00:35:45.97\00:35:49.34
I AM.
00:35:50.28\00:35:52.25
Who will
strengthen us and encourage us
00:35:52.65\00:35:55.35
in the difficulties we
face today and in the future?
00:35:55.55\00:35:58.59
I AM.
00:35:59.45\00:36:00.79
Who will open the way for
the accomplishment of TMI:
00:36:00.82\00:36:05.59
every one of us being a part
of God's great proclamation?
00:36:05.79\00:36:10.30
I AM.
00:36:10.93\00:36:12.27
Who will help us today
in our work and in our homes
00:36:12.33\00:36:15.70
and in our lives in
witnessing for the Lord?
00:36:15.90\00:36:20.34
The great I AM.
00:36:21.21\00:36:23.88
The I AM will lift
you above the crowd
00:36:24.28\00:36:27.68
and give you the power to
proclaim this amazing message.
00:36:27.98\00:36:33.92
You see, in that beautiful hymn
00:36:34.96\00:36:39.46
Higher Ground it says: I'm
pressing on the upward way;
00:36:40.70\00:36:46.00
new heights I'm
gaining every day.
00:36:46.74\00:36:48.80
Still praying as I onward bound
00:36:49.20\00:36:52.37
"Lord, plant my
feet on higher ground. "
00:36:52.57\00:36:54.84
Lord, lift me up
and I shall stand
00:36:55.34\00:36:58.48
by faith on heaven's tableland.
00:36:58.78\00:37:02.05
A higher plane than I have found
00:37:02.25\00:37:04.29
Lord, plant my
feet on higher ground.
00:37:04.49\00:37:09.56
That last verse:
00:37:09.96\00:37:11.99
I want to scale
the utmost height
00:37:12.99\00:37:17.03
and catch a
gleam of glory bright.
00:37:17.80\00:37:22.37
But still I'll pray
till heaven I've found:
00:37:23.20\00:37:26.17
"Lord, lead me on
to higher ground. "
00:37:26.37\00:37:30.98
Lord, lift me up
00:37:31.38\00:37:34.42
and I shall stand
00:37:35.32\00:37:37.55
by faith on heaven's tableland.
00:37:37.95\00:37:41.92
A higher plane than I have found
00:37:42.52\00:37:45.93
Lord, plant my
feet on higher ground.
00:37:46.76\00:37:52.20
Amen.
00:37:52.40\00:37:53.74
What an opportunity for
each of us to understand
00:37:53.90\00:37:55.97
that in a
practical sense of living
00:37:56.17\00:37:59.07
God is calling for us
not only to be justified
00:37:59.27\00:38:02.84
by His righteousness.
00:38:03.24\00:38:05.58
I want to tell you we are
only saved by the grace of Jesus
00:38:05.78\00:38:09.35
Christ. Amen! There is
no way the Bible tells us
00:38:09.55\00:38:12.59
in Ephesians 2 that we
can work our way to heaven.
00:38:12.79\00:38:15.89
It is a gift of God.
00:38:16.29\00:38:18.56
And we praise
God for that. Amen!
00:38:19.79\00:38:22.06
But along with justification
comes sanctification.
00:38:22.80\00:38:28.77
Both of them part of
Christ's all-encompassing
00:38:29.17\00:38:32.91
righteousness. And when you
accept the Lord in your life
00:38:33.11\00:38:37.31
to lead you to higher ground
00:38:37.51\00:38:39.81
He then works in
you to will and to do of
00:38:40.22\00:38:43.35
His own good pleasure
00:38:43.55\00:38:44.92
to make you a wonderful,
powerful missionary for Him.
00:38:45.32\00:38:50.86
A person who lives a pure life.
00:38:51.26\00:38:54.16
A happy life; an enjoyable life;
00:38:54.36\00:38:56.87
a powerful life...
00:38:57.27\00:38:58.73
all through the
power of the great I AM.
00:38:58.93\00:39:02.60
Jesus Himself gives us
that marvelous opportunity
00:39:04.07\00:39:09.08
of living for Him.
00:39:09.28\00:39:11.15
And when you live for Him
00:39:11.35\00:39:13.31
as Paul says
00:39:14.65\00:39:16.69
chapter 12 of Romans
00:39:17.95\00:39:20.06
"I beseech you,
therefore, brethren
00:39:21.19\00:39:23.26
by the mercies of God
00:39:23.46\00:39:25.23
that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice
00:39:25.43\00:39:28.60
holy and acceptable to
God which is your reasonable
00:39:29.00\00:39:31.93
service. " Give
your all to the Lord.
00:39:32.13\00:39:36.10
If you want to
live above the crowd,
00:39:36.50\00:39:39.24
you are going to be totally sub-
mitted to the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:39:39.64\00:39:44.15
Completely surrendered to Him.
00:39:44.88\00:39:47.22
Verse 2: "And
do not be conformed
00:39:47.62\00:39:50.85
to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing
00:39:51.05\00:39:54.96
of your mind that you may
prove what is that good and
00:39:55.16\00:39:59.13
acceptable and
perfect will of God. "
00:39:59.33\00:40:03.23
Now in the Phillips
translation of that verse
00:40:03.93\00:40:06.94
my father, who
was also a pastor,
00:40:07.94\00:40:10.01
and in fact my
grandfather was a pastor...
00:40:11.27\00:40:13.68
What a privilege
to have a grandfather
00:40:14.18\00:40:17.91
and a father as pastors.
00:40:18.11\00:40:20.22
My father loved the Phillips
translation of this particular
00:40:21.62\00:40:25.39
text, and it said
essentially if you look it up
00:40:25.59\00:40:28.56
"Don't let the world
around you squeeze you
00:40:28.76\00:40:32.43
into its own mold.
00:40:32.63\00:40:34.40
Be transformed by
the living power of God"
00:40:35.36\00:40:38.63
to bring you up
to a higher plane,
00:40:38.83\00:40:41.97
higher ground, holy ground.
00:40:42.17\00:40:44.81
Living above the crowd...
00:40:45.21\00:40:48.04
all through the
power of Jesus Christ
00:40:49.38\00:40:52.61
who imputes to you righteousness
00:40:54.08\00:40:57.45
and imparts to
you His righteousness.
00:40:57.65\00:41:00.99
Justification and sanctification
all Christ's righteousness.
00:41:01.19\00:41:06.53
For living the holy life
is all due to our connection
00:41:07.26\00:41:12.80
with Jesus. Our
daily Bible study,
00:41:13.00\00:41:16.47
our daily prayer, our
daily interaction with God
00:41:16.67\00:41:20.58
an understanding
that in sharing our faith
00:41:20.78\00:41:24.25
we are doing more good for
our own spiritual experience
00:41:24.45\00:41:28.12
than for those who are
even hearing our testimony.
00:41:28.32\00:41:31.15
The Holy Spirit working through
us in a powerful and wonderful
00:41:31.35\00:41:36.02
way. And in that
beautiful rendition
00:41:36.22\00:41:40.23
of powerful Christian
living that Paul explained
00:41:40.43\00:41:45.03
in I Thessalonians chapter 5
00:41:45.23\00:41:48.50
it say in this beautiful chapter
00:41:49.54\00:41:52.34
that we are all sons of
light and sons of the day
00:41:52.54\00:41:55.91
and daughters of
light and of the day.
00:41:56.11\00:41:58.95
"We're not of the night
nor of darkness" in verse 5.
00:41:59.15\00:42:02.58
It says: "Let us watch
and be sober" in verse 6.
00:42:02.98\00:42:06.15
It says that those
who sleep sleep at night
00:42:06.55\00:42:10.93
and those who get
drunk are drunk at night.
00:42:11.13\00:42:13.43
"But let us who are of
the day be sober, putting on
00:42:13.63\00:42:18.10
the breastplate
of faith and love
00:42:18.30\00:42:20.30
and as a helmet
the hope of salvation.
00:42:20.50\00:42:24.21
For God did not appoint
us to wrath but to obtain
00:42:24.61\00:42:27.54
salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ. "
00:42:27.74\00:42:31.05
Living above the crowd.
00:42:31.55\00:42:35.02
Living on a higher plane
all because of our connection
00:42:35.22\00:42:39.69
with Jesus Christ:
our Creator, our Redeemer,
00:42:39.89\00:42:44.29
our High Priest, our coming
King, and our best Friend.
00:42:44.49\00:42:49.10
Amen! Living above the crowd.
00:42:49.30\00:42:53.20
Paul goes on to say in verse 14:
00:42:53.84\00:42:55.84
"Now we exhort you, brethren,
warn those who are unruly.
00:42:56.04\00:42:59.81
Comfort the
fainthearted; uphold the weak;
00:43:00.01\00:43:03.24
be patient with all.
See that no one renders evil
00:43:03.45\00:43:06.88
for evil to anyone but
always pursue what is good
00:43:07.08\00:43:11.09
both for
yourselves and for all. "
00:43:11.29\00:43:14.06
Don't render evil for evil
00:43:14.76\00:43:17.69
but pursue what is good.
00:43:17.89\00:43:21.90
I don't know about you
but I'll just tell you:
00:43:22.20\00:43:24.17
this week and
many weeks, you know, I
00:43:24.33\00:43:28.14
face interesting
challenges, situations.
00:43:28.34\00:43:32.14
I don't know how to get out
of situations that I don't have
00:43:32.34\00:43:34.81
the answers for.
I want to tell you
00:43:35.01\00:43:38.71
I lean on Jesus. Amen!
00:43:39.11\00:43:43.39
I ask Him in
prayer. I mean, I send up
00:43:43.79\00:43:46.32
prayers all day long.
Little sentence prayers,
00:43:46.52\00:43:50.06
little word
prayers, thought prayers.
00:43:50.26\00:43:52.19
Don't be afraid to
pray to God always. Amen!
00:43:53.13\00:43:58.87
I faced a challenge this week.
00:43:59.57\00:44:02.47
Didn't know what to expect.
00:44:02.87\00:44:04.84
It was a tough meeting.
00:44:05.84\00:44:08.84
I went into it with some
apprehension, but finally I just
00:44:09.98\00:44:13.05
basically gave it to the
Lord. What else can you do?
00:44:13.45\00:44:15.98
And I saw God work
in a powerful way! Amen!
00:44:16.82\00:44:22.09
When you lean on Him and
give everything over to Him
00:44:22.29\00:44:25.46
He will take you through.
00:44:25.66\00:44:27.66
Now it doesn't mean that
you're not going to go through
00:44:27.86\00:44:29.63
the wilderness as we've
already understood with Moses.
00:44:29.83\00:44:32.17
But at the end of the road
00:44:32.57\00:44:34.74
as Matthew 28 tells us
in the Great Commission
00:44:34.94\00:44:38.71
He will be with us
to the very end of time.
00:44:38.91\00:44:43.01
Amen! Don't ever doubt God.
00:44:43.21\00:44:45.55
Verse 16: "Rejoice always. "
00:44:46.88\00:44:49.02
This is living
now above the crowd.
00:44:49.42\00:44:51.25
Living on a higher plane.
00:44:51.45\00:44:53.52
"Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing.
00:44:53.72\00:44:55.89
In everything give thanks
00:44:56.09\00:44:57.43
for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus
00:44:57.53\00:44:59.86
for you. Do not
quench the Spirit.
00:45:00.06\00:45:03.37
Do not despise prophecy.
00:45:03.57\00:45:05.70
Test all things;
hold fast what is good. "
00:45:05.90\00:45:09.64
I want to tell you,
brothers and sisters,
00:45:10.04\00:45:11.81
we are coming to a
time - and you see it -
00:45:12.01\00:45:14.74
where all manner of strange
theological and religious
00:45:14.94\00:45:20.45
winds are blowing.
Don't ever veer anywhere
00:45:20.65\00:45:25.65
except on this
Word of God. Amen!
00:45:25.85\00:45:28.66
Stay close to this foundation
00:45:28.86\00:45:31.26
and truly you will
through God's power
00:45:31.99\00:45:35.40
live above the crowd.
00:45:35.60\00:45:38.77
The Bible goes on to say:
00:45:39.70\00:45:41.44
"Abstain from
every form of evil.
00:45:41.64\00:45:43.97
Now may the God of
peace Himself sanctify you
00:45:44.37\00:45:48.31
completely. " Verse 23:
00:45:48.51\00:45:50.41
"And may your whole spirit,
soul, and body be preserved
00:45:50.81\00:45:54.42
blameless at the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
00:45:54.62\00:45:59.35
"He... " and this is the promise
00:46:00.22\00:46:02.72
for living on a higher
plane; living above the crowd.
00:46:03.69\00:46:09.43
"He who calls you is faithful
00:46:09.83\00:46:13.27
who also will do it.
" Amen! Praise the Lord!
00:46:13.47\00:46:18.04
Lean and depend
wholly upon Jesus.
00:46:18.87\00:46:24.65
Accept Him: the promise
of justifying and sanctifying
00:46:25.25\00:46:30.09
righteousness.
00:46:31.25\00:46:32.79
Nancy and I yesterday were
00:46:34.09\00:46:37.56
in the Baltimore/Washington
International Airport.
00:46:38.49\00:46:42.00
We had just seated ourselves
00:46:43.50\00:46:47.54
in the Southwest
Airlines section.
00:46:48.64\00:46:53.74
I think it was gate
14 we were to leave.
00:46:54.14\00:46:56.61
And someone came up
to us. "Elder Wilson... "
00:46:57.65\00:47:00.78
I've had to get used to that
because at airports and other
00:47:01.95\00:47:05.69
places people will come
up - people I don't know...
00:47:05.89\00:47:08.32
Be careful what you
do wherever you are!
00:47:10.33\00:47:13.80
People are watching you.
00:47:16.23\00:47:19.17
And a gentleman came up. He
said: "My name's David Ortiz.
00:47:22.37\00:47:26.44
This is my wife Beverly. "
00:47:26.64\00:47:28.61
They don't live too far
from us: Catonsville, Maryland.
00:47:31.65\00:47:35.82
They attend a church
which I have visited.
00:47:36.52\00:47:38.79
And David and Beverly
began to relate their story.
00:47:41.59\00:47:45.56
Some of you who were at the
Camp Meeting a few months ago
00:47:46.06\00:47:49.26
may have heard their testimony.
00:47:49.46\00:47:51.10
And maybe they'll tell it again
here, so I'm not going to steal
00:47:51.30\00:47:53.87
their thunder, but I
want to tell you something:
00:47:54.07\00:47:56.00
I was so impressed
00:47:56.84\00:47:59.31
by how the Holy
Spirit brings someone
00:47:59.51\00:48:03.04
from a
particular living standard
00:48:03.24\00:48:07.05
to higher ground. Amen!
00:48:07.25\00:48:10.32
To living above the crowd
but interacting with the crowd
00:48:10.52\00:48:15.69
ever to give a
witness for Jesus. Amen!
00:48:15.89\00:48:19.43
I praise God for how Beverly
00:48:19.63\00:48:24.57
who grew up knowing the truth,
00:48:24.97\00:48:30.57
never gave up the
truth but somehow drifted
00:48:32.11\00:48:37.21
from perhaps daily
living the truth all the time
00:48:37.65\00:48:41.18
but never gave up
that kernel of truth.
00:48:41.58\00:48:45.55
I want to tell you: you
may have a son or daughter,
00:48:46.42\00:48:49.72
a loved one who once
knew this precious truth
00:48:50.46\00:48:53.93
and lived on higher
ground but has slipped away.
00:48:54.13\00:48:57.60
Don't ever stop
praying for them,
00:48:58.37\00:49:00.27
for that which has been planted
in their hearts will remain
00:49:00.67\00:49:04.21
and the Lord can use it to bring
them back to higher ground.
00:49:04.37\00:49:08.61
Beverly explained
that... and David did...
00:49:10.91\00:49:14.05
they would be
tussling and literally arguing
00:49:16.28\00:49:20.26
about the seventh-day
Sabbath and what it meant.
00:49:20.46\00:49:25.03
And finally Beverly
got tired of arguing
00:49:26.36\00:49:30.03
and didn't want to
pursue it any longer.
00:49:30.23\00:49:32.33
You can read the
story right here in the
00:49:34.20\00:49:39.21
3ABN World.
00:49:39.61\00:49:42.94
Beverly said to the Lord:
00:49:47.95\00:49:50.32
"Do whatever it takes to
help David understand truth. "
00:49:50.52\00:49:56.46
The Lord does not... is
not the originator of sickness
00:49:59.59\00:50:04.27
or difficulty,
00:50:04.43\00:50:06.60
but the Lord allows
certain things to happen.
00:50:07.60\00:50:10.17
I won't tell the whole
story but David developed a very
00:50:12.01\00:50:14.78
serious illness and
he became scared because
00:50:14.98\00:50:19.91
he realized he was a mortal
00:50:20.12\00:50:21.98
and this may be the end.
00:50:22.38\00:50:24.19
And through a
series of events including
00:50:25.02\00:50:27.59
connection with
the local church...
00:50:27.79\00:50:30.46
Let me tell you: there is
no substitute for belonging
00:50:30.66\00:50:34.46
to a local church.
Praise God for 3ABN,
00:50:34.66\00:50:38.33
for Hope Channel, for
AWR, for Amazing Facts...
00:50:38.53\00:50:41.50
all of these things
that are over the networks.
00:50:41.70\00:50:44.57
But I want to tell you:
don't allow that to become
00:50:44.97\00:50:47.71
your substitute for
a local church. Amen!
00:50:47.91\00:50:50.61
Get involved
with a local church.
00:50:50.81\00:50:53.08
And through
connection with the local church
00:50:53.55\00:50:56.25
David realized he
needed spiritual healing
00:50:57.52\00:51:01.76
and he was anointed. He
wasn't a member of the SDA
00:51:02.62\00:51:07.00
church but he was anointed.
00:51:07.20\00:51:09.10
And then somehow he was
able to fix his attention
00:51:09.93\00:51:14.24
as he was going
through channels on 3ABN,
00:51:14.44\00:51:18.64
and the
explanation about the Sabbath
00:51:20.41\00:51:24.41
became a reality to him.
00:51:26.51\00:51:28.48
And he says: "I get
it! I understand it! "
00:51:29.22\00:51:31.85
You see, the Holy Spirit
can use anything to bring you
00:51:32.95\00:51:36.32
to the foot of the cross. Amen!
00:51:36.52\00:51:38.29
Wasn't too long after that
00:51:41.30\00:51:43.50
that David and
Beverly were baptized
00:51:46.27\00:51:51.71
and joined the
Seventh-day Adventist church,
00:51:51.91\00:51:54.64
accepting Jesus and all
of His power in bringing them
00:51:55.04\00:51:59.15
up to higher ground.
00:51:59.35\00:52:01.42
What a blessing!
00:52:02.45\00:52:04.15
And I want to
tell you as of today
00:52:04.55\00:52:07.52
David is cancer free. AMEN!
00:52:08.76\00:52:11.89
Praise the Lord for His power!
00:52:12.09\00:52:13.96
And if you want a good story...
00:52:14.63\00:52:16.23
David and Beverly,
just stand for a moment.
00:52:17.63\00:52:20.34
I'm not going to
embarrass you too much...
00:52:20.54\00:52:21.87
Just stand. If you
want a good story sometime
00:52:22.00\00:52:25.24
during this weekend get
acquainted with these two
00:52:25.44\00:52:27.91
precious people. Talk
to them and they will just
00:52:28.11\00:52:31.01
give you a wonderful
testimony. Thank you so much.
00:52:31.21\00:52:34.75
Yes, we are
pressing on the upward way.
00:52:42.02\00:52:47.83
New heights we're
gaining every day.
00:52:48.56\00:52:50.40
And we're praying
as we're onward bound
00:52:51.20\00:52:53.34
saying: "Lord plant my
feet on higher ground. "
00:52:53.54\00:52:57.21
One of these days very soon
00:52:59.61\00:53:01.91
we're going to look
into the eastern sky.
00:53:02.31\00:53:04.65
We're going to see a
little cloud appearing.
00:53:05.35\00:53:07.58
It'll be dark in nature, about
half the size of a man's hand.
00:53:07.78\00:53:12.25
That's what we're told. And it
will get brighter and brighter
00:53:13.19\00:53:16.69
and larger and larger
and it will fill the sky
00:53:16.89\00:53:19.46
with all the glory
that heaven can bring
00:53:19.66\00:53:22.46
for every angel of
heaven will be there.
00:53:22.66\00:53:25.33
And the world will see it
00:53:27.34\00:53:29.84
whether you're in Thompsonville
or whether you're in Mumbai,
00:53:30.24\00:53:35.31
whether in
Johannesburg or in Tokyo,
00:53:35.71\00:53:38.91
whether you're in
New York or in Sydney
00:53:39.11\00:53:41.38
you're going to see
it at the same time.
00:53:41.58\00:53:43.49
Not through satellite television
but through the miracle of God.
00:53:43.69\00:53:47.72
Amen! Every eye will see Him.
00:53:47.92\00:53:50.86
Jesus' coming will
be a visible coming.
00:53:51.99\00:53:55.50
It will be an audible coming.
00:53:55.90\00:53:57.70
The trumpet will sound and the
dead in Christ will rise first!
00:53:57.90\00:54:02.40
And those of us who are alive,
and I hope every one of us
00:54:02.90\00:54:07.21
in this audience will be alive,
00:54:07.41\00:54:09.04
I believe it will be soon,
00:54:09.24\00:54:10.58
we will follow
those into the air.
00:54:10.88\00:54:14.05
And as we see Jesus coming
00:54:14.45\00:54:17.02
we will look up, and Jesus
will call us to the ultimate
00:54:17.55\00:54:23.53
higher ground. Amen!
00:54:23.73\00:54:26.13
To the ultimate
living above the crowd.
00:54:26.33\00:54:29.30
Jesus will call us to
eternal life with Him.
00:54:30.33\00:54:35.57
Amen! I want to
be there that day.
00:54:35.77\00:54:38.24
We'll look up and
we'll say: "This is the God
00:54:39.31\00:54:41.28
whom we have waited
for: He will save us! "
00:54:41.48\00:54:43.75
And Jesus will look
down and say: "Well done,
00:54:45.31\00:54:48.18
good and faithful
servants. Enter into the joy
00:54:48.38\00:54:51.25
of your Lord. "
"Come up higher... "
00:54:51.45\00:54:55.52
in essence
that's what He's saying.
00:54:55.92\00:54:58.06
What a privilege to be
part of God's great movement!
00:54:58.73\00:55:04.67
To understand the He's calling
us to live above the crowd
00:55:04.87\00:55:08.57
but to be part of
sharing in the crowd.
00:55:08.77\00:55:12.67
Living on a higher plane.
00:55:13.48\00:55:16.11
I know the Lord will
bless Pastor Batchelor
00:55:17.35\00:55:20.85
as he speaks to us next.
00:55:21.05\00:55:22.82
But I want to
ask you a question:
00:55:23.59\00:55:25.32
As you prepare in your heart
00:55:26.29\00:55:28.99
to be part of
God's soon second coming
00:55:30.23\00:55:33.40
how many of you would
like to pledge tonight
00:55:34.36\00:55:38.17
"Lord, lead me to higher ground
00:55:38.57\00:55:42.00
and help me to tell
someone else about it. "
00:55:42.20\00:55:46.37
Would you stand to
your feet right now?
00:55:47.14\00:55:49.28
Father in heaven, we come to You
00:55:58.49\00:56:02.02
in the quietness of
this evening with the theme
00:56:02.92\00:56:05.89
Living Above the Crowd.
00:56:06.09\00:56:08.16
We pray Your blessing on the
3ABN Homecoming Camp Meeting.
00:56:08.93\00:56:12.93
We ask that You will
bless every attendee here
00:56:13.34\00:56:16.07
and who are watching
through the amazing ability
00:56:16.27\00:56:21.48
of satellite and cable
and Internet television.
00:56:21.68\00:56:25.65
But help them to know, each one,
00:56:26.45\00:56:28.62
that You are calling
them to a higher ground,
00:56:29.55\00:56:32.85
to a holy ground.
And as You told Moses
00:56:33.05\00:56:36.83
You tell us also
00:56:37.03\00:56:39.79
that when You send
us out You tell people
00:56:40.00\00:56:42.83
that the One who has sent us
00:56:43.03\00:56:46.43
is the great I AM...
the One who can lift us up
00:56:46.63\00:56:50.51
to higher ground and
the One who can lift them up
00:56:50.71\00:56:53.54
to higher ground. So Lord,
we have committed ourselves
00:56:53.74\00:56:56.85
now to living with You
00:56:57.05\00:57:00.38
both now and in the future.
00:57:01.22\00:57:03.85
Be with us as we walk with You
00:57:04.82\00:57:08.59
on higher ground.
00:57:08.99\00:57:11.23
In Jesus' name we
ask it, Amen. Amen!
00:57:11.73\00:57:16.06
Please be seated.
00:57:16.26\00:57:17.60
Thank you very much.
We're pressing on the upward way
00:57:22.34\00:57:24.84
aren't we? New heights
we're gaining every day.
00:57:25.04\00:57:27.11
Stay tuned. We'll be right
back with Pr. Doug Batchelor.
00:57:27.51\00:57:30.25