Music...
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As they just said,
welcome to 2018 Australia
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3ABN Australia Homecoming.
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It is a pleasure
for us to be here...
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us being... Tim Parton...
I am the General Manager
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of the Praise and Music
Network back in the States,
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the United States...
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and this is Jill Morikone...
she is the 3ABN General Manager
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and what a
privilege for our 3ABN Team
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to have come over
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to be a part of this
great event... the Homecoming.
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I was just
thinking, last year was...
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we had the great
privilege to go over to Russia
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and be a part of some
meetings over at 3ABN Russia
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and it's just wonderful to
know that God has His people
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situated all around the world
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and what a great
thing that we are family
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and so, I welcome you
as part of the 3ABN family,
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as part of the family
of the... a family of God.
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Thank you for watching
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and I hope that this
is a blessing to you.
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Amen, absolutely
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and we're so thankful
for each one of you here
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in the Avondale
Memorial Church as well.
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You are right, last
year we were in Russia,
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this year here in Australia
and to see what God is doing
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through John and
Rosemary Malkiewycz
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and the incredible
team that they have here
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with 3ABN Australia.
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They're General Managers
and they've been for 15 years
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and they do a great job.
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They do a wonderful
job, they are great leaders
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and their
personalities are... they're...
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their leadership does...
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does not only
lead the "ship" of 3ABN
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but we are guests in their home
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and they have been
such a pleasant and loving
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and hospitable people
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in their
leadership in their home...
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John... I love that he is
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knocking on
everyone's door every morning...
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Jill: For breakfast...
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Tim: Even before
we're ready to get up
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he is... he is... he is
a... "Yes Sir, we are...
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we are your servants, John. "
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So it is a pleasure
to... to be under their...
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be in their home and to...
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to serve with them
in this great ministry.
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Amen, they're
incredibly hospitable,
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they're doing a great job here
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and the message today
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will be brought to
us by John Malkiewycz.
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The whole theme of this
Camp Meeting is "Knowing God"
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John 17 verse 3,
"And they shall know thee
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the only true God,
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and Jesus Christ,
whom thou has sent... "
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and we're going to hear,
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"Knowing God through
prayer and Bible Study"
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and I know that the
anointing of the Holy Spirit
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will be upon him as he
brings the word of God to us
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but before he comes,
we have some music...
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His beautiful
wife, Rosemary Malkiewycz
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is going to sing the
lovely song, "Who Am I?"
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and I'm going to accompany her.
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Pause...
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Piano...
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more piano...
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When I think of how He came
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so far from glory
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Came and dwelt among the lowly
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such as I
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To suffer shame
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and such disgrace
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On Mount Calvary take my place
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Then I ask myself the question
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Who am I?
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Who am I
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that The King
would bleed and die for?
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Who am I that He would pray
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"not my will, Thy Lord"
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The answer I may never know
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Why He ever loved me so
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To an old rugged cross
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He would go
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Who am I?
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When I'm reminded of His words
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I'll leave You never
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Just be true
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I'll give to you life forever
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There's nothing
I could have done
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To deserve God's only Son
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To fight my battles
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till they're won
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Who am I?
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Who am I
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The King would bleed and die for
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Who am I that He would pray,
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"not my will, Thy Lord"
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The answer I may never know
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Why He ever loved me so
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To an old rugged cross
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He would go,
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who am I?
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Who am I
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that a King
would bleed and die for
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Who am I that He would pray,
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"not my will, Thy Lord"
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The answer I may never know
00:07:03.52\00:07:09.79
Why He ever loved me so
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To an old rugged cross
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He would go,
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who am I?
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To an old rugged cross
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He would go,
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who am
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I?
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Piano.
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Did you take
note of those words...
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"Who am I
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that a King
should live and die for?"
00:08:01.21\00:08:04.68
The words of a song
are as powerful as a sermon
00:08:04.71\00:08:09.35
so, I want to
thank Tim and Rosemary
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for that beautiful song.
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I remember her
singing that the first time...
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I just want to
mention something,
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I asked Tim
yesterday, "Do you preach?"
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and they said, "He sings"
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but I want to tell you,
"Your music and your song
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is as powerful as
a sermon keep it up"
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and I know that they're
planning a 3ABN Music Channel
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for the whole world
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and that's preaching
the gospel, thank you.
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Pause...
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I'm going to be
looking at a subject
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of knowing God through
prayer and Bible Study.
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For me, those
two go hand in hand
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and there's no one here
in my audience or at home
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who will ever get to know
God unless they take the two:
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prayer and Bible Study
00:09:04.57\00:09:06.98
to actually get to know God.
00:09:07.01\00:09:09.01
Before I begin, I
ask you to bow your heads
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as I offer a word of prayer
to my God and my Savior Jesus.
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"Father in heaven,
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it is a joy and a privilege
to have your Scriptures to read,
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to learn and to understand
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what you want for each
one of us living on this earth
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from the time you created
it until the time you come
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and I thank you Father,
00:09:38.41\00:09:40.31
that the Holy Spirit
may be here in a measure
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that will touch
each and every heart
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that is hearing in this
audience and around the world
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that they may know
you and Jesus Christ
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whom you have sent.
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I pray this in the name
of the Father and of the Son
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and the Holy Spirit
in Jesus Christ, amen. "
00:10:00.53\00:10:03.90
Pause.
00:10:03.97\00:10:05.53
I want to look for a moment,
00:10:05.60\00:10:07.64
you know, we've
been hearing our Speakers
00:10:07.67\00:10:09.64
talking about "Knowing God"
00:10:09.67\00:10:13.17
but I'm going to
ask you a question
00:10:13.21\00:10:16.21
and I think we
are all human beings
00:10:16.24\00:10:19.15
that have minds that
are capable of reading...
00:10:19.18\00:10:22.15
deciphering
what is being told us
00:10:22.18\00:10:25.15
and then we can make a decision
00:10:25.19\00:10:28.09
so I want to ask
you about knowing God,
00:10:28.12\00:10:30.83
"Why would you
want to know God?"
00:10:30.86\00:10:34.03
The reasons why you
would want to know God.
00:10:34.10\00:10:38.23
And I believe the
best way to look at this
00:10:38.27\00:10:42.40
is from this point.
00:10:42.44\00:10:43.81
Jesus when He
actually quoted that verse
00:10:43.84\00:10:47.68
in His prayer to His Father,
00:10:47.71\00:10:49.04
there are five words
in the beginning of it
00:10:49.08\00:10:52.45
about why you
were born to know God
00:10:52.48\00:10:55.52
and it says like this,
00:10:55.55\00:10:57.85
"And this... " if
you have your Bibles,
00:10:57.89\00:11:00.16
it's in John chapter 17 verse 3,
00:11:00.19\00:11:02.26
and it says, "And
this is eternal life...
00:11:02.29\00:11:07.00
and this is eternal life. "
00:11:07.03\00:11:11.33
That's why God
wants you to know Him...
00:11:11.37\00:11:16.54
"the only true God,
00:11:16.57\00:11:17.91
and Jesus Christ,
whom He has sent. "
00:11:17.94\00:11:20.28
So the reason
becomes very logical...
00:11:20.31\00:11:22.71
the Scripture reveals
that we all have an opportunity
00:11:22.74\00:11:28.78
to enjoy eternal life.
00:11:28.82\00:11:31.32
Now, if you look
around the world now
00:11:31.35\00:11:34.06
in many of the
big cities in America,
00:11:34.09\00:11:36.56
there's a thing
called, "Cryogenics"
00:11:36.59\00:11:38.99
most people want to
get their bodies frozen
00:11:39.03\00:11:43.77
so that some time
when science catches up
00:11:43.80\00:11:47.64
they will be able to
bring you back to life
00:11:47.67\00:11:51.47
but you know the Bible tells us
00:11:51.54\00:11:54.51
"If you know the only
true God and Jesus Christ,
00:11:54.54\00:12:00.42
you are not only guaranteed...
you are assured of eternal life
00:12:00.45\00:12:05.32
but you have to know God. "
00:12:05.35\00:12:07.06
And so, this morning,
00:12:07.09\00:12:10.43
I thought the
best way to do this
00:12:10.46\00:12:13.90
is to examine what
happens in people's lives,
00:12:13.93\00:12:16.77
in their
lifetime... while they live.
00:12:16.80\00:12:20.97
and I want to start like this,
"When a child is conceived... "
00:12:21.00\00:12:25.34
take note...
00:12:25.41\00:12:26.78
"it has no choice in choosing
their parents, their religion,
00:12:26.81\00:12:32.95
their gender, the
color of their skin,
00:12:32.98\00:12:36.52
the country of birth,
00:12:36.55\00:12:38.39
or any physical characteristic"
00:12:38.42\00:12:40.66
doesn't happen...
00:12:40.69\00:12:42.42
in fact, they don't
even choose their birth date
00:12:42.46\00:12:47.80
or their death date
00:12:47.83\00:12:50.40
but let me tell you,
"The ability to choose
00:12:50.47\00:12:54.77
what they do individually
will come as they grow older. "
00:12:54.80\00:12:59.61
Parents who have
trained their children
00:12:59.64\00:13:03.85
will hopefully see good
decisions being made by them.
00:13:03.88\00:13:07.95
The Christian
parents are hopeful
00:13:07.98\00:13:12.12
in the training they
give them that their children
00:13:12.15\00:13:15.66
will choose to know God and
Jesus Christ for themselves.
00:13:15.69\00:13:20.70
It's the wish of
every parent here...
00:13:20.73\00:13:23.80
and, you know, many
times I speak to people
00:13:23.87\00:13:26.74
and they say to me,
"John, please pray for my son
00:13:26.77\00:13:31.64
or my daughter,
00:13:31.67\00:13:34.08
they've wandered
away from the Lord. "
00:13:34.11\00:13:36.54
Every parent desires to see
00:13:36.58\00:13:41.28
their children with them
in the kingdom of heaven.
00:13:41.32\00:13:45.59
In regard to the death date...
00:13:45.62\00:13:48.79
when we die... the
ability to choose anything ends.
00:13:48.82\00:13:55.73
Do you understand that, it ends.
00:13:55.80\00:13:57.87
It's the legal, official
record of life... when it ceased
00:13:57.90\00:14:03.61
and that's it...
00:14:03.64\00:14:06.57
got to repeat it, "that's it. "
00:14:06.61\00:14:10.95
Pause.
00:14:10.98\00:14:15.68
Guess when and where
these birth and death dates
00:14:15.72\00:14:21.49
are normally seen together?
00:14:21.52\00:14:25.06
You're right, at the grave...
00:14:25.09\00:14:27.40
and it's very interesting,
00:14:27.43\00:14:31.10
you see the birth
date... the death date...
00:14:31.17\00:14:35.47
and it's always together.
00:14:35.50\00:14:39.11
Looking a little
closer at the inscription,
00:14:39.14\00:14:44.31
most begin with
the loving memory...
00:14:44.35\00:14:46.65
the person's name...
00:14:46.72\00:14:48.05
often followed by Born: Died:
00:14:48.08\00:14:51.89
a mention of the dead
person's immediate family,
00:14:51.92\00:14:55.66
and a selected
thought often reflecting
00:14:55.69\00:14:59.09
their understanding of death.
00:14:59.13\00:15:01.40
Things like,
"Sleeping till Jesus comes. "
00:15:01.43\00:15:06.20
"Until the Master returns. "
00:15:06.23\00:15:08.50
"Peacefully sleeping in Jesus. "
00:15:08.57\00:15:10.81
And I'm sure you
all know this, "R.I.P."
00:15:10.84\00:15:13.04
Rest in peace.
00:15:13.07\00:15:14.54
But I want you
to notice something,
00:15:14.68\00:15:17.15
the stark reality is this,
00:15:17.18\00:15:19.55
that is the picture
here that I'm leaning over,
00:15:19.58\00:15:23.25
there's the memorial
of the Name... Born...
00:15:23.28\00:15:26.89
and then there's a little
dash between those two dates
00:15:26.96\00:15:32.36
that's the bit that
holds everything the person did
00:15:32.39\00:15:37.80
while they were alive.
00:15:37.83\00:15:39.83
Did you notice that?
00:15:39.90\00:15:41.90
When they were alive...
00:15:41.94\00:15:43.91
it's their life record
and the choices they made
00:15:43.94\00:15:48.71
through their life.
00:15:48.74\00:15:50.08
You remember I said...
00:15:50.15\00:15:51.48
when you're born, you
don't have any choices,
00:15:51.51\00:15:53.95
but while you're alive,
God is giving you the ability
00:15:54.02\00:16:00.46
to choose
00:16:00.49\00:16:01.82
and I'm telling you this
because now listen carefully,
00:16:01.86\00:16:05.39
this life... this
life... is the only time
00:16:05.46\00:16:11.40
that you will have to
choose to know God for yourself
00:16:11.43\00:16:15.70
that's it...
00:16:15.74\00:16:18.91
pause...
00:16:18.94\00:16:22.08
now, let's compare
the dash of two people...
00:16:22.11\00:16:26.35
one who chooses to know God...
prays... studies the Bible
00:16:26.38\00:16:33.19
and someone who
chooses to live without God
00:16:33.22\00:16:37.13
because if we
see the comparison,
00:16:37.16\00:16:39.79
I'm hoping... and I'm not
going to apologize for this,
00:16:39.83\00:16:43.47
I want you and
everyone here in the audience
00:16:43.50\00:16:47.64
to know God for themselves.
00:16:47.67\00:16:49.14
First, let's consider
what is common in a dash
00:16:49.17\00:16:54.08
of two people and
it's most people in fact,
00:16:54.11\00:16:58.98
they are born...
00:16:59.01\00:17:00.95
that's the birth that we
all celebrate until we die.
00:17:00.98\00:17:07.06
We go to school, we work,
00:17:07.09\00:17:10.93
we choose a life partner,
00:17:10.96\00:17:14.30
marry, have children,
00:17:14.33\00:17:17.50
we choose sporting
venues, recreational activities,
00:17:17.57\00:17:22.44
or church on the weekend.
00:17:22.47\00:17:24.57
We establish a home,
00:17:24.61\00:17:27.48
we have family and children,
00:17:27.51\00:17:32.01
we plan for retirement,
00:17:32.08\00:17:35.95
we look forward to
spoiling our grandchildren
00:17:35.98\00:17:39.49
and sending them on
00:17:39.52\00:17:41.52
only to get old,
00:17:41.56\00:17:43.53
spend time at the
doctors... surgery...
00:17:43.56\00:17:46.90
in the waiting room...
00:17:46.93\00:17:48.36
only to get to
arrange for a funeral
00:17:48.40\00:17:54.17
and then die and set
a date on the gravestone
00:17:54.24\00:18:00.18
with a dash...
00:18:00.21\00:18:02.24
isn't that crazy?
00:18:02.31\00:18:04.28
To live life like that,
only to establish a death date
00:18:04.31\00:18:10.69
pause...
00:18:10.72\00:18:14.42
I know that's a simple overview
00:18:14.46\00:18:16.16
but I'm sure some
of you who are older
00:18:16.19\00:18:20.40
and could relate to
what I've said... is true.
00:18:20.43\00:18:23.70
Is this all there is? Is it?
00:18:23.77\00:18:27.64
And if you are young out there
00:18:27.67\00:18:31.44
and you've not experienced
that this is what's common,
00:18:31.47\00:18:36.34
to even those
who say they know God
00:18:36.38\00:18:41.12
and those who don't.
00:18:41.15\00:18:42.48
This is the
normal basis of life.
00:18:42.52\00:18:46.79
In fact, I want to tell
you the reason I know this...
00:18:46.86\00:18:51.39
because when I was a young lad,
00:18:51.43\00:18:54.83
I thought... my
worldview... I actually thought
00:18:54.86\00:19:00.77
that when you died, that's it.
00:19:00.84\00:19:03.71
I just felt you had
to live your life...
00:19:03.74\00:19:07.21
do the best you could
00:19:07.28\00:19:08.61
and you came to the
end of it... you died.
00:19:08.64\00:19:12.21
How many animals have
you seen come back to life?
00:19:12.25\00:19:15.68
How many pieces of
grass that have died
00:19:15.72\00:19:20.26
sprout again and come
to life? The seed does...
00:19:20.29\00:19:22.59
I never saw it...
00:19:22.62\00:19:25.63
so, for me,
life was very simple,
00:19:25.66\00:19:28.83
just as I explained it,
00:19:28.86\00:19:31.60
you live, you
listen to your parents,
00:19:31.63\00:19:34.64
you're obedient,
00:19:34.67\00:19:36.14
you're a good
citizen in the world,
00:19:36.17\00:19:37.67
you achieve many things,
00:19:37.71\00:19:39.71
but the reality is, you do die.
00:19:39.74\00:19:44.71
But for the
Christian, it's very different.
00:19:44.75\00:19:49.02
Now look at what is
different in their lives.
00:19:49.05\00:19:53.22
The one who doesn't know
God even if they profess to...
00:19:53.25\00:19:57.53
has a life as
I've mentioned before,
00:19:57.56\00:19:59.76
and may be... it may
have been a really good life
00:19:59.79\00:20:03.26
by worldly standards
00:20:03.30\00:20:05.23
but when their
life ends that's it.
00:20:05.30\00:20:09.24
Pause.
00:20:09.27\00:20:11.81
What about the one who
knows God through prayer
00:20:11.84\00:20:16.18
and by-the-way,
00:20:16.21\00:20:18.01
prayer is talking
to God as a friend.
00:20:18.05\00:20:21.48
What about the
person who knows...
00:20:21.52\00:20:24.89
knows God through
prayer and Bible Study?
00:20:24.92\00:20:28.46
That person goes through
life... as we mentioned before,
00:20:28.49\00:20:34.43
We all go through the same
life also in the general way,
00:20:34.46\00:20:40.34
but their life is
governed by a love relationship
00:20:40.37\00:20:44.91
believing in God.
00:20:44.94\00:20:47.68
They have this
relationship because they have
00:20:47.71\00:20:50.65
come to know God
00:20:50.68\00:20:52.51
through their prayers
and their Bible Studies.
00:20:52.55\00:20:55.55
They may have had
struggles and you will
00:20:55.58\00:20:59.92
and trials...
00:20:59.95\00:21:01.76
they know God
will take care of them
00:21:01.79\00:21:04.93
so that they can
have peace of mind
00:21:04.96\00:21:08.03
during their troubles.
00:21:08.06\00:21:09.46
Also, they choose to
live a different life.
00:21:09.50\00:21:12.60
You notice I'm
using the word "choose. "
00:21:12.67\00:21:15.70
We all have that one
time in our life to choose,
00:21:15.74\00:21:19.97
Life that is different in
the sense of what they eat...
00:21:20.01\00:21:27.35
of what God has
given to us as food.
00:21:27.42\00:21:30.29
What they drink,
what they believe,
00:21:30.32\00:21:33.15
how they speak,
00:21:33.22\00:21:35.02
how they show love to others
00:21:35.09\00:21:38.79
and at the end, when they die,
00:21:38.83\00:21:42.53
they sleep in the grave
00:21:42.56\00:21:46.37
knowing God will raise
them to eternal life one day.
00:21:46.40\00:21:51.21
They die in faith
believing the Bible and God
00:21:51.24\00:21:58.21
and know that it's going to
be true... what God has said.
00:21:58.25\00:22:02.65
Come with me now to
the beginning of the Bible
00:22:02.68\00:22:07.16
I want to turn... because we're
told that we are to know God
00:22:07.19\00:22:12.56
through His Word
00:22:12.59\00:22:13.93
and I want you to open your
Bibles to Genesis chapter 1.
00:22:14.00\00:22:17.70
You know, I've
read through the Bible
00:22:17.73\00:22:21.47
several times
in my married life.
00:22:21.50\00:22:25.17
My wife and I start the
day by reading the Scriptures
00:22:25.21\00:22:29.31
from Genesis to Revelation.
00:22:29.34\00:22:32.01
I want to tell you
something very funny...
00:22:32.08\00:22:33.92
when I first became a
Seventh-day Adventist Christian,
00:22:33.95\00:22:37.75
I never read the Bible...
00:22:37.79\00:22:39.32
never read the
Bible in its entirety.
00:22:39.35\00:22:42.89
We always had pieces
taught to us from here and there
00:22:42.92\00:22:47.80
and that's what the Bible says,
00:22:47.83\00:22:49.16
here... there...
a little there...
00:22:49.23\00:22:50.57
but you know for you
to know God properly,
00:22:50.60\00:22:52.80
you need to go to the Scriptures
00:22:52.83\00:22:55.40
because the
Scriptures are God's Word
00:22:55.44\00:22:58.14
and they are the one
that will reveal Him to you.
00:22:58.17\00:23:03.28
I like it because
it's the person...
00:23:03.35\00:23:08.68
it's such an
interesting book... the Bible...
00:23:08.72\00:23:13.15
I don't know how to say to you
00:23:13.19\00:23:14.52
but take time to
open the Word of God,
00:23:14.56\00:23:17.93
you'll discover
many wonderful things.
00:23:17.96\00:23:20.80
This God that
we're talking about...
00:23:20.83\00:23:23.60
the only one and true God,
00:23:23.67\00:23:25.10
talks about the
faith and beliefs...
00:23:25.13\00:23:27.97
they're not
talking about this God,
00:23:28.04\00:23:30.81
I want you to know this
God... the God of the Scriptures
00:23:30.84\00:23:36.24
and the Bible
begins... who is He?
00:23:36.28\00:23:38.58
He says, "In the beginning,
00:23:38.61\00:23:40.72
God created the
heaven and earth. "
00:23:40.75\00:23:42.68
This is the true God
and I love the first chapter
00:23:42.72\00:23:47.16
because this is
a fiat creation...
00:23:47.19\00:23:50.13
God spoke... and it was...
00:23:50.16\00:23:53.43
five days... God
spoke... and it was...
00:23:53.50\00:23:58.33
God spoke... and it was
00:23:58.37\00:24:00.64
and as you read down,
00:24:00.67\00:24:02.77
you'll find that God
ends that each day...
00:24:02.80\00:24:05.67
and by the way, it
is a literal day...
00:24:05.71\00:24:08.51
because the Bible defines
it as morning and evening
00:24:08.58\00:24:12.11
and at the end, God
would say, "It was good. "
00:24:12.15\00:24:15.98
Next day... it was good...
00:24:16.02\00:24:19.12
next day... it was good
00:24:19.15\00:24:21.82
the next day... it was good.
00:24:21.86\00:24:24.49
Five days...
00:24:24.53\00:24:26.46
and then we read in Genesis
chapter 1, verses 26 and 27,
00:24:26.49\00:24:33.13
I want you to read with me,
00:24:33.17\00:24:34.50
because now God
is doing something
00:24:34.54\00:24:37.51
that is not a "fiat" creation
00:24:37.54\00:24:39.74
and I want you to listen,
00:24:39.77\00:24:41.94
"And God said, Let Us
make man in Our image,
00:24:41.98\00:24:46.15
and Our likeness:
00:24:46.18\00:24:48.02
and let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea,
00:24:48.05\00:24:51.09
and over the fowl of the
air, and over the cattle,
00:24:51.12\00:24:54.16
and over all the earth,
00:24:54.19\00:24:55.52
and over every creeping thing
that creepeth upon the earth.
00:24:55.59\00:24:59.56
So God created man in His image,
00:24:59.59\00:25:02.10
in the image of
God created He him;
00:25:02.13\00:25:05.10
male and female
created He them. "
00:25:05.13\00:25:08.24
This is not a
fiat creation anymore
00:25:08.27\00:25:11.31
because in this
instant when God creates man...
00:25:11.34\00:25:15.24
we read in Genesis
chapter 2 and verse 7,
00:25:15.28\00:25:20.05
and the Lord God formed man
of the dust of the ground... "
00:25:20.12\00:25:25.19
now, if you're a
sculptor or an artist,
00:25:25.22\00:25:28.59
you take a piece of clay
00:25:28.62\00:25:30.96
and I can imagine God
taking that dust of the earth...
00:25:30.99\00:25:35.53
the clay...
00:25:35.56\00:25:37.27
and making them
all stand up like that,
00:25:37.30\00:25:40.07
and He makes that
creature... that man
00:25:40.14\00:25:44.77
in exact, perfect
detail and then...
00:25:44.81\00:25:49.41
and then... this is the
personal, personal touch,
00:25:49.44\00:25:53.72
he takes...
breathes into his nostrils...
00:25:53.75\00:25:58.15
and the man
becomes a living soul.
00:25:58.19\00:26:02.96
Every one of you
here is a living soul
00:26:02.99\00:26:07.73
and it's only attributed
to God and His personal touch.
00:26:07.76\00:26:14.07
Pause...
00:26:14.14\00:26:19.34
Six days...
that was the six days
00:26:19.37\00:26:21.68
and you know what God
said, "It was very good. "
00:26:21.71\00:26:24.65
Now, sometimes,
I tell my children,
00:26:24.68\00:26:27.12
when they were
young, "You are good"
00:26:27.15\00:26:29.45
and when they did
a little bit better,
00:26:29.48\00:26:31.75
"You're very good. "
00:26:31.79\00:26:33.12
But they want to
hear something else,
00:26:33.15\00:26:35.59
you know that something else...
00:26:35.62\00:26:38.96
"Kids, you were excellent!
00:26:38.99\00:26:41.66
You've done
more than 'very good'
00:26:41.73\00:26:43.77
you are excellent. "
00:26:43.80\00:26:45.13
You know what? God
didn't get to that stage
00:26:45.17\00:26:48.30
until the seventh day
00:26:48.34\00:26:50.74
where it says, "God
rested from His work"
00:26:50.81\00:26:54.64
and you know, He
made the Sabbath day
00:26:54.68\00:26:58.51
for you...
00:26:58.55\00:27:00.75
He didn't make man...
00:27:00.82\00:27:03.32
He didn't make
the Sabbath for man...
00:27:03.39\00:27:06.76
He made... I got it...
00:27:06.79\00:27:09.32
He made the Sabbath for man
00:27:09.36\00:27:12.59
and not man for the Sabbath.
00:27:12.63\00:27:15.83
Thank you.
00:27:15.86\00:27:17.20
It's... it's just
amazing what God did.
00:27:17.27\00:27:20.97
So the creation
week was complete,
00:27:21.00\00:27:23.91
seven days...
00:27:23.94\00:27:25.64
it was not good...
it was not very good...
00:27:25.67\00:27:29.61
but it was perfect,
00:27:29.64\00:27:32.05
absolutely perfect,
00:27:32.08\00:27:34.38
at the end of the Creation Week,
including the Sabbath rest,
00:27:34.45\00:27:37.95
the world was
perfect not only in beauty
00:27:38.02\00:27:42.09
but also in the
absence of evil or discord.
00:27:42.12\00:27:45.99
Everything was uninterrupted,
harmony and happiness...
00:27:46.06\00:27:49.83
all life was to enjoy
a harmonious existence,
00:27:49.86\00:27:54.17
and a relationship
built on mutual trust.
00:27:54.24\00:27:58.44
It was a beautiful world,
00:27:58.47\00:28:01.04
worthy of its Creator
and was meant to be that way
00:28:01.08\00:28:05.68
for eternity.
00:28:05.71\00:28:08.02
All was to be only
harmony, unity and love.
00:28:08.05\00:28:15.39
Let me tell you
something, now you're listening,
00:28:15.46\00:28:18.86
it was God's plan
that man should love Him
00:28:18.89\00:28:21.83
and live forever
with God for eternity
00:28:21.86\00:28:24.77
and that was possible
00:28:24.80\00:28:27.07
and you read it in the
first books of Genesis,
00:28:27.14\00:28:31.27
because of the Tree of Life...
00:28:31.31\00:28:33.68
in the garden
was the Tree of Life
00:28:33.71\00:28:36.98
and everyone that
remained obedient to God
00:28:37.05\00:28:43.39
would have access
to the Tree of Life
00:28:43.42\00:28:46.35
and you and I
would have lived forever.
00:28:46.39\00:28:49.32
Pause.
00:28:49.36\00:28:53.16
That's what God wants.
00:28:53.19\00:28:54.83
That's what He
wants you to know.
00:28:54.86\00:28:57.40
He wants you to
know about eternal life.
00:28:57.47\00:29:00.44
Now at the end of the Bible
00:29:00.47\00:29:03.00
and I want you to come
with me to the end of the Bible
00:29:03.07\00:29:06.04
to Revelation
chapter 21 and verse 5,
00:29:06.11\00:29:09.68
at the end of the Bible,
00:29:09.71\00:29:11.05
we discover
something unusual in respect
00:29:11.08\00:29:15.08
to what we've just
learnt about creation...
00:29:15.12\00:29:19.22
the creation account of
the world... in Genesis 1:2
00:29:19.25\00:29:22.79
and I want to go there with you,
00:29:22.86\00:29:24.93
it's going to
be up on the screen
00:29:24.96\00:29:27.00
and I want you to notice
00:29:27.10\00:29:30.37
what John the Revelator saw.
00:29:30.40\00:29:33.34
And he says, "And I saw a
new heaven and a new earth;
00:29:33.37\00:29:37.77
for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away;
00:29:37.81\00:29:42.11
and there was no
more... was no more sea.
00:29:42.18\00:29:46.35
And I John saw the
holy city, new Jerusalem,
00:29:46.38\00:29:50.52
coming down from
God out of heaven,
00:29:50.59\00:29:54.26
prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband...
00:29:54.29\00:29:58.39
and I heard a great
voice out of heaven saying,
00:29:58.46\00:30:02.53
Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men,
00:30:02.60\00:30:06.13
and He will dwell with them,
and they shall be His people,
00:30:06.17\00:30:10.21
and God Himself
shall be with them,
00:30:10.24\00:30:12.81
and be their God...
00:30:12.84\00:30:14.41
and God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes;
00:30:14.44\00:30:17.95
and there shall
be no more death,
00:30:17.98\00:30:20.05
neither sorrow, nor crying,
00:30:20.12\00:30:22.62
neither shall
there be any more pain:
00:30:22.65\00:30:25.12
for the former
things are passed away...
00:30:25.15\00:30:27.49
and he that sat
upon the throne said,
00:30:27.56\00:30:29.79
Behold, I make all things new.
00:30:29.82\00:30:33.73
And He said unto me,
00:30:33.80\00:30:35.73
Write: for these words
are true and faithful. "
00:30:35.76\00:30:40.54
What a picture of the world
after living in this world,
00:30:40.57\00:30:46.68
is worth looking
forward to more than this.
00:30:46.71\00:30:49.81
So what happened?
00:30:49.84\00:30:53.08
Why is God creating a
new heaven and a new earth
00:30:53.15\00:30:58.85
if the original
creation was perfect?
00:30:58.89\00:31:03.09
Something must
have happened but what?
00:31:03.12\00:31:06.90
I want you to come
back with me to Genesis,
00:31:06.93\00:31:09.96
let's go back to
Genesis chapter 1 and 2
00:31:10.00\00:31:13.03
and we're looking at 3 too.
00:31:13.07\00:31:14.57
When God created man,
00:31:14.60\00:31:16.81
He gave them the freedom
to choose to obey or disobey.
00:31:16.84\00:31:23.14
Man was created in
the image of God...
00:31:23.18\00:31:28.18
man was created with
the ability to choose.
00:31:28.22\00:31:32.55
Sadly, the Bible record shows us
00:31:32.59\00:31:37.89
that in disobedience to God,
00:31:37.96\00:31:40.73
Adam and Eve
chose to eat the fruit
00:31:40.80\00:31:43.77
He had said they
were not to eat...
00:31:43.80\00:31:46.77
and if they did, they would die.
00:31:46.84\00:31:49.74
Pause.
00:31:49.77\00:31:52.47
More Pause.
00:31:52.51\00:31:56.31
I want you to look at Genesis
chapter 3 and verse 6 with me,
00:31:56.34\00:32:00.52
Genesis chapter 3 and verse 6.
00:32:00.55\00:32:05.32
Pause...
00:32:05.35\00:32:08.59
"And when the woman saw
that the tree was good for food,
00:32:08.62\00:32:12.96
and it was pleasant to the eyes,
00:32:12.99\00:32:15.46
and a tree to be
desired to make one wise,
00:32:15.53\00:32:18.50
she took of the
fruit thereof, and did eat,
00:32:18.53\00:32:21.37
and gave also unto her husband
with her; and he did eat. "
00:32:21.40\00:32:26.98
Pause.
00:32:27.01\00:32:28.91
Now all mankind now
was subject to death.
00:32:28.94\00:32:34.32
In actual fact, if you come
with me to Genesis chapter 5,
00:32:34.35\00:32:38.89
the Bible says... this is
the genealogy of the patriarchs,
00:32:38.92\00:32:43.43
that's all those
descendants of Adam
00:32:43.46\00:32:46.03
down to the time
of the flood of Noah
00:32:46.06\00:32:48.60
and it's very interesting
00:32:48.63\00:32:51.10
because the
genealogy goes like this,
00:32:51.13\00:32:54.24
it says, "This is the book
of the generations of Adam.
00:32:54.27\00:32:58.04
In the day that God created man,
00:32:58.11\00:33:00.58
in the likeness
of God made He him;
00:33:00.61\00:33:02.78
Male and female He
created them; and blessed them,
00:33:02.81\00:33:06.85
and called their name Adam,
00:33:06.92\00:33:09.65
in the day that
they were created.
00:33:09.68\00:33:13.02
And Adam lived an
hundred and thirty years,
00:33:13.05\00:33:17.26
and begat a son
in his own likeness,
00:33:17.33\00:33:20.20
after his image; and
called his name Seth:
00:33:20.23\00:33:24.10
And the days of Adam
after he had begotten Seth
00:33:24.17\00:33:28.24
were 800 years: and he
begat sons and daughters:
00:33:28.27\00:33:32.34
All the days that Adam lived
00:33:32.41\00:33:35.41
were nine
hundred and thirty years:
00:33:35.44\00:33:37.78
and he died. "
00:33:37.81\00:33:41.15
Did you hear
that? "And he died. "
00:33:41.18\00:33:43.79
If you read
through all those verses
00:33:43.89\00:33:46.42
down to the time of Noah,
00:33:46.45\00:33:48.72
they all end
with, "And he died. "
00:33:48.76\00:33:54.66
Pause...
00:33:54.70\00:33:58.10
So what we see here,
00:33:58.13\00:34:00.94
is the beginning of the
workings of disobedience to God.
00:34:00.97\00:34:06.31
That is why... when we have
that dash on that gravestone,
00:34:06.34\00:34:11.68
it ends with a death date.
00:34:11.71\00:34:14.32
We all die.
00:34:14.35\00:34:16.38
The Bible calls
that the first death.
00:34:16.42\00:34:20.36
Now, so, here's the good news.
00:34:20.39\00:34:23.63
We can all have part in
the new earth and eternity
00:34:23.66\00:34:27.50
by understanding
what God has done
00:34:27.53\00:34:30.47
to solve this
problem of sin and death
00:34:30.50\00:34:33.37
and that we don't have to
die, we are all subject to it.
00:34:33.44\00:34:39.07
Now I want you to
see something here...
00:34:39.11\00:34:43.04
the Bible says, "You
have the beginning...
00:34:43.08\00:34:47.02
it was good... it was very good
00:34:47.05\00:34:49.22
then at the end
there's a re-creation. "
00:34:49.25\00:34:52.42
I want to tell you, in
John 3:16 and verse 17,
00:34:52.45\00:35:00.20
the Bible says and
you know this text,
00:35:00.23\00:35:02.26
it's a well-known text
by all Christians around,
00:35:02.30\00:35:04.83
"For God so loved the world,
00:35:04.90\00:35:07.64
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:35:07.67\00:35:10.21
that whosoever believeth in Him
00:35:10.24\00:35:12.67
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
00:35:12.71\00:35:16.14
For God sent not His Son into
the world to condemn the world:
00:35:16.18\00:35:20.92
but that the world
through Him might be saved. "
00:35:20.95\00:35:25.62
You hear the name of Jesus
00:35:25.65\00:35:28.46
used in many ways
among the Christians,
00:35:28.49\00:35:30.73
yes, you hear
it... all the time.
00:35:30.76\00:35:32.89
Jesus is the link
between the first creation
00:35:32.93\00:35:39.20
and the second creation.
00:35:39.23\00:35:41.17
There is no way that
you can go from here to here
00:35:41.20\00:35:46.88
without
personally knowing Jesus.
00:35:46.91\00:35:49.38
Pause...
00:35:49.41\00:35:52.28
"For God sent not
His Son into the world
00:35:52.31\00:35:55.22
to condemn the world,
00:35:55.25\00:35:56.58
but that the world
through Him might be saved. "
00:35:56.62\00:35:59.95
Jesus is the link...
I want to tell you this,
00:35:59.99\00:36:03.32
He is the only means for
you to have eternal life.
00:36:03.36\00:36:06.56
I want you to open your Bibles
00:36:06.59\00:36:09.60
to 1 John chapter 5 and verse 11
00:36:09.63\00:36:12.53
because the Word of
God is very clear here...
00:36:12.57\00:36:16.34
very clear.
00:36:16.37\00:36:17.71
"And this... " it
says in the Word of God,
00:36:17.74\00:36:20.78
"and this is the record,
that God hath given to us
00:36:20.81\00:36:25.31
eternal life and
this life is in His Son. "
00:36:25.35\00:36:30.39
So, if you've
never been a Christian,
00:36:30.42\00:36:34.16
you've heard the name "Jesus"
00:36:34.19\00:36:35.76
and we hear about
Jesus all the time,
00:36:35.79\00:36:38.46
Just love Jesus, just do this...
00:36:38.49\00:36:41.06
but I'm a human
being, I want to know why.
00:36:41.13\00:36:44.17
I just don't want you to
tell me I need to know Jesus,
00:36:44.20\00:36:48.47
everybody's doing that.
00:36:48.50\00:36:51.04
Pause.
00:36:51.11\00:36:53.78
But Jesus plays the
most important part...
00:36:53.81\00:36:57.55
"There is no other
name given among men
00:36:57.58\00:37:01.32
whereby ye must be saved. "
00:37:01.35\00:37:05.45
To really understand
for yourself who Jesus is
00:37:05.49\00:37:11.19
and how important He is to you,
00:37:11.23\00:37:13.16
you need to search
the Scriptures and pray.
00:37:13.19\00:37:17.17
The Word of God... this book...
00:37:17.20\00:37:19.93
the Word of God is a blueprint.
00:37:19.97\00:37:22.64
In my work, as a
Civil Engineering Draftsman,
00:37:22.67\00:37:30.15
I learned to draw plans
00:37:30.18\00:37:31.95
and I want to tell you...
00:37:31.98\00:37:33.72
I drew many plans where
men had to take those drawings,
00:37:33.75\00:37:38.09
and then fabricate
from those drawings
00:37:38.12\00:37:41.26
and if I made a
mistake, they made a mistake
00:37:41.29\00:37:46.90
but the Bible is not like that,
it is perfect in every way.
00:37:46.93\00:37:54.97
Pause.
00:37:55.04\00:37:57.87
God has given us a blueprint...
00:37:57.91\00:37:59.97
if we take time to
read it from cover to cover,
00:38:00.01\00:38:03.95
you will know
not only about God,
00:38:03.98\00:38:07.12
but you will know God
00:38:07.15\00:38:09.02
and your faith
and your zeal for God
00:38:09.05\00:38:12.12
will increase.
00:38:12.15\00:38:15.69
I want to tell you something,
00:38:15.76\00:38:18.76
God wants to
give us eternal life.
00:38:18.79\00:38:21.46
You know, that death
date on the gravestone...
00:38:21.50\00:38:24.50
for you who come to know God...
00:38:24.53\00:38:27.84
every one of you out there,
00:38:27.87\00:38:29.20
this will only be a
"sleep date" did you hear me?
00:38:29.24\00:38:34.78
A sleep date...
00:38:34.81\00:38:36.41
not a final death date.
00:38:36.44\00:38:39.31
In 1st Thessalonians chapter 4,
00:38:39.35\00:38:42.72
if you'd like to go there,
00:38:42.75\00:38:44.09
1st Thessalonians
chapter 4, verses 16 and 17,
00:38:44.12\00:38:47.66
I like this,
00:38:47.69\00:38:49.62
"For the Lord Himself
shall descend from heaven
00:38:49.66\00:38:53.06
with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel,
00:38:53.09\00:38:56.50
and with the trump of God:
00:38:56.53\00:38:58.00
and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:
00:38:58.07\00:39:02.67
Then we... we...
which are alive and remain
00:39:02.70\00:39:07.28
shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds,
00:39:07.31\00:39:09.58
to meet the Lord in the air:
00:39:09.61\00:39:11.71
and so shall we
ever be with the Lord. "
00:39:11.75\00:39:15.35
Pause...
00:39:15.38\00:39:17.99
Do you understand
what God's trying to do
00:39:18.02\00:39:21.46
for each one of you?
00:39:21.49\00:39:22.82
He wants you to
be with Him forever.
00:39:22.86\00:39:27.90
I don't know if there's
anything better than that.
00:39:27.93\00:39:31.97
We're talking
about a God of love
00:39:32.00\00:39:34.87
who is doing everything possible
00:39:34.90\00:39:38.27
for you and me... to be with Him
00:39:38.31\00:39:41.68
but you have to choose...
00:39:41.71\00:39:44.08
you have to take
time in the Word of God,
00:39:44.15\00:39:47.02
you have to pray...
you have to get to know Him
00:39:47.05\00:39:51.15
but for this to
happen, you need to know God.
00:39:51.19\00:39:55.29
You know, listen
to this, John 17:3,
00:39:55.32\00:40:00.50
two-and-a-half-years ago,
that verse jumped out at me,
00:40:00.60\00:40:05.83
and I felt the Lord
say, "You need to tell people
00:40:05.87\00:40:09.00
why they would need to know God
00:40:09.07\00:40:11.07
and why they
need to be Christians.
00:40:11.14\00:40:13.14
Pause...
00:40:13.17\00:40:16.61
It says, "Know God... "
00:40:16.64\00:40:18.15
not know about Him...
00:40:18.18\00:40:19.65
we can know about
many people in this world,
00:40:19.68\00:40:22.95
but never actually
meet them or know them
00:40:22.98\00:40:26.15
and I heard Dr. Allan
Lindsay saying the same thing.
00:40:26.19\00:40:30.23
God's now repeating
it, so listen carefully.
00:40:30.26\00:40:33.19
We are to know God
00:40:33.26\00:40:35.50
as much as we would know
our closest friend on earth,
00:40:35.53\00:40:39.40
are you with your husband?
00:40:39.43\00:40:41.14
Do you know them?
00:40:41.17\00:40:44.01
I know you would know them
00:40:44.04\00:40:47.18
because you'll only
share things with them
00:40:47.21\00:40:50.75
because you
know them intimately.
00:40:50.78\00:40:53.72
You don't share
that with your neighbor,
00:40:53.75\00:40:55.98
you don't share what
you share with your wife
00:40:56.02\00:40:58.05
with your neighbor,
00:40:58.09\00:40:59.42
you don't share what you know
00:40:59.45\00:41:00.79
what you talk about with
your wife... with the Pastor,
00:41:00.86\00:41:04.03
now, let me tell you,
you can share it with God
00:41:04.06\00:41:08.16
because He is trustworthy,
00:41:08.20\00:41:11.30
He wants to hear you,
00:41:11.33\00:41:13.74
He wants to hear husband and
wives talking to Him together
00:41:13.77\00:41:17.94
because you make
a bond of friendship
00:41:17.97\00:41:21.04
by spending time
and talking with Him,
00:41:21.08\00:41:24.08
we are to do the same with God.
00:41:24.15\00:41:27.42
Prayer is the
opening of the heart...
00:41:27.45\00:41:31.59
opening of the heart
to God as to a friend.
00:41:31.62\00:41:35.39
You know, I
have lots of friends,
00:41:35.42\00:41:37.83
I'm sure you do,
00:41:37.86\00:41:39.49
you don't tell them everything
00:41:39.53\00:41:41.63
but I want to tell you,
you can tell God everything.
00:41:41.66\00:41:45.13
In the Bible in
Matthew 26:36 to 39,
00:41:45.17\00:41:51.44
we know that Jesus
opened His heart to His Father.
00:41:51.47\00:41:57.05
Just recently, we
were down in Israel
00:41:57.08\00:42:02.75
and we went to Jerusalem
00:42:02.78\00:42:05.02
and we went across to
the Garden of Gethsemane
00:42:05.05\00:42:09.46
and we went to where
Jesus in His time of crisis,
00:42:09.49\00:42:13.70
in the time of the
greatest ordeal of His life,
00:42:13.73\00:42:17.90
He went there with His disciples
00:42:17.93\00:42:23.41
to pray for the Father
00:42:23.44\00:42:24.84
and I want to read it to you
00:42:24.91\00:42:26.54
because it's...
it's imperative to know
00:42:26.57\00:42:29.01
that no matter what
situation you find yourself in,
00:42:29.04\00:42:32.58
you can always
go to God in prayer
00:42:32.61\00:42:35.65
and it says there,
"Then cometh Jesus with them
00:42:35.68\00:42:39.15
unto a place called Gethsemane,
and says to the disciples,
00:42:39.19\00:42:45.16
Sit here, while I
go and pray yonder.
00:42:45.19\00:42:49.13
And he took with him Peter
and the two sons of Zebedee,
00:42:49.16\00:42:52.83
and began to be
sorrowful and very heavy.
00:42:52.90\00:42:57.24
Then said He unto them,
00:42:57.31\00:42:58.87
My soul is
exceedingly sorrowful,
00:42:58.91\00:43:01.31
even unto death:
00:43:01.34\00:43:02.68
tarry ye here,
and watch with me. "
00:43:02.71\00:43:05.78
And He went a little further
00:43:05.81\00:43:07.55
and fell on His face and prayed,
00:43:07.62\00:43:09.65
saying, O my
Father, if it is possible,
00:43:09.68\00:43:13.66
let this cup pass from me:
00:43:13.69\00:43:16.09
nevertheless not as I
will, but as thou wilt. "
00:43:16.12\00:43:20.10
You see, Jesus opened
His heart to God as a friend.
00:43:20.13\00:43:23.97
He was a friend because
God had continually spent time
00:43:24.00\00:43:27.84
with Him in prayer.
00:43:27.87\00:43:29.20
Pause...
00:43:29.24\00:43:33.38
I want to tell
you the same thing,
00:43:33.41\00:43:35.68
we are living in momentous
times of this earth's history.
00:43:35.71\00:43:39.15
You are going to be
confronted with things
00:43:39.18\00:43:42.12
that will try your
belief in the Word of God.
00:43:42.15\00:43:44.95
It will try your
belief in your marriage.
00:43:45.02\00:43:47.76
It will try your belief in your
relationship with your children
00:43:47.79\00:43:51.76
but be assured,
you can go to God
00:43:51.79\00:43:55.00
and you can talk
with Him any time.
00:43:55.03\00:43:58.17
There are many reasons
we would want to know God...
00:43:58.20\00:44:01.24
not just to gain eternal life
00:44:01.27\00:44:03.27
or to get... you hear
the prosperity gospel?
00:44:03.30\00:44:06.34
Or get material
things that we want,
00:44:06.37\00:44:08.71
some other
reasons about knowing God,
00:44:08.74\00:44:11.05
we can have a better life here,
00:44:11.08\00:44:12.78
God can give you peace
00:44:12.81\00:44:14.42
during the most
difficult times of your life.
00:44:14.45\00:44:17.49
We can gain victory
over sins in our lives,
00:44:17.52\00:44:20.56
do I hear an "Amen. "
00:44:20.59\00:44:21.92
We can understand what
life is actually about...
00:44:21.96\00:44:24.89
the reason for it...
and there is a reason.
00:44:24.93\00:44:28.96
Most
importantly... most importantly,
00:44:29.00\00:44:32.77
we can help our
children and others
00:44:32.80\00:44:36.54
to know God and Jesus.
00:44:36.57\00:44:38.31
That's the gospel
commission, "go ye and teach...
00:44:38.34\00:44:42.64
tell others what I have done,
00:44:42.68\00:44:45.71
show how my relationship
has impacted the lives...
00:44:45.75\00:44:50.69
your relationships
can impact the life...
00:44:50.72\00:44:52.92
the lives of others...
00:44:52.95\00:44:54.39
the Bible is the
place to find answers.
00:44:54.46\00:44:58.63
In 2nd Timothy
chapter 3 verses 16 and 17,
00:44:58.66\00:45:02.43
if you go there, it
says, "All Scripture... "
00:45:02.46\00:45:06.23
that's the
Bible... the Word of God...
00:45:06.27\00:45:08.94
"is given by inspiration of God,
it is profitable for doctrine,
00:45:08.97\00:45:13.91
for reproof, for correction,
00:45:13.98\00:45:16.31
for instruction
in righteousness:
00:45:16.34\00:45:19.31
that the man of
God may be perfect,
00:45:19.35\00:45:22.25
thoroughly furnished
unto all good works. "
00:45:22.28\00:45:25.15
John 17:17 says it like this,
00:45:25.19\00:45:29.26
"Sanctify them by Thy
truth: Thy Word is truth. "
00:45:29.29\00:45:34.43
If you want to know the truth,
00:45:34.46\00:45:36.26
go to the Word of God.
00:45:36.30\00:45:37.80
Pause.
00:45:37.83\00:45:42.30
The truth is... God
wants all to be saved.
00:45:42.34\00:45:48.74
No one needs to be lost,
none of you needs to be lost,
00:45:48.78\00:45:53.82
none of your
children need to be lost,
00:45:53.85\00:45:56.55
none of your
neighbors need to be lost,
00:45:56.58\00:45:59.65
but God calls
you... He calls me...
00:45:59.69\00:46:02.66
He calls anyone that
knows the Word of God
00:46:02.69\00:46:05.86
to share it with others.
00:46:05.93\00:46:07.30
1st Timothy chapter 2,
verses 4 and 5 reads like this,
00:46:07.33\00:46:13.84
the Bible says,
00:46:13.87\00:46:15.20
"Who will have
all men to be saved,
00:46:15.24\00:46:17.51
and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth.
00:46:17.54\00:46:19.57
For there is one God,
00:46:19.64\00:46:21.41
and one mediator
between God and man,
00:46:21.44\00:46:24.05
the man Jesus Christ... "
00:46:24.08\00:46:27.02
there is so much about God
00:46:27.05\00:46:29.95
that infinite
minds can't comprehend
00:46:29.98\00:46:33.09
but there is coming a time
00:46:33.12\00:46:35.42
when we will
know God more clearly
00:46:35.46\00:46:37.76
and I want you to turn with me
00:46:37.79\00:46:40.10
to 1st Corinthians
chapter 13 and verse 12...
00:46:40.13\00:46:42.56
1st Corinthians
chapter 13 and verse 12,
00:46:42.60\00:46:46.57
"For now we see
through a glass, darkly;
00:46:46.60\00:46:50.54
but then face to face:
00:46:50.61\00:46:53.48
now I know in part;
00:46:53.51\00:46:56.34
but then shall I
know even as I am known. "
00:46:56.38\00:47:00.42
The difference folks,
for the person that knows God
00:47:00.45\00:47:05.39
is that one day... when
they are raised from the grave
00:47:05.42\00:47:10.26
they're going to live
with God for eternity.
00:47:10.33\00:47:13.73
Hmmm... hmmm...
00:47:13.80\00:47:15.70
This is the reason why
knowing God through prayer
00:47:15.73\00:47:19.03
and Bible Study is so important.
00:47:19.07\00:47:21.97
I make no apologies...
I want you all here today
00:47:22.00\00:47:26.98
and those who are
watching to know God and Jesus
00:47:27.01\00:47:31.85
so we can be with
Him throughout eternity.
00:47:31.88\00:47:36.32
Pause.
00:47:36.35\00:47:40.36
I want to share
with you for a moment
00:47:40.39\00:47:42.52
I grew up in a family
00:47:42.56\00:47:44.93
who were displaced persons
after the second World War.
00:47:44.96\00:47:50.07
My family came on a boat
across to go to Melbourne
00:47:50.10\00:47:55.17
which is the
city south of Sydney
00:47:55.20\00:47:57.41
and there on that
boat, my mother and my father
00:47:57.44\00:48:00.98
and my eldest
brother and one suitcase...
00:48:01.01\00:48:03.98
one suitcase...
00:48:04.05\00:48:05.95
they were so sick on the
boat that they got off at Perth
00:48:05.98\00:48:09.22
and they went and stayed in...
00:48:09.25\00:48:11.62
those days the Government had
what they called "Nissen Huts"
00:48:11.65\00:48:14.86
they were sheets of corrugated
that were curved in a dome
00:48:14.89\00:48:18.09
and the families were
separated with a curtain.
00:48:18.13\00:48:21.30
it was very hot...
00:48:21.33\00:48:22.93
it was in a
place called "Northern"
00:48:22.96\00:48:24.87
and it was extremely hot
00:48:24.90\00:48:26.77
and they'd just come from Europe
00:48:26.84\00:48:28.77
and you know, they
started out with hardship,
00:48:28.80\00:48:33.88
they didn't really know God,
00:48:33.91\00:48:36.14
my mom was... they
were Russian Greek Orthodox
00:48:36.18\00:48:39.81
they had a belief in
the priesthood type of thing
00:48:39.85\00:48:43.49
and they lived
their life very simply,
00:48:43.52\00:48:46.59
they worked hard,
00:48:46.62\00:48:48.22
my dad actually went out to
build the rabbit-proof fence
00:48:48.26\00:48:52.16
now, they just came from Europe
00:48:52.19\00:48:54.33
you know how
hot it is out there?
00:48:54.36\00:48:57.07
It's hot... but they survived...
00:48:57.10\00:48:59.63
and my mom had in her
heart that I should know God
00:48:59.67\00:49:02.84
from the very childhood...
00:49:02.87\00:49:04.21
very interesting I was
christened in a Catholic Church,
00:49:04.24\00:49:07.58
my mother became
an Anglican Christian
00:49:07.61\00:49:10.85
and I was confirmed
in an Anglican Church.
00:49:10.88\00:49:15.65
Now, I want to tell
you something about that,
00:49:15.68\00:49:18.32
you remember I said, "As you
get older, you make choices... "
00:49:18.35\00:49:20.29
well, I was taught to
be obedient to my parents,
00:49:20.36\00:49:24.23
that's a good thing
00:49:24.26\00:49:25.59
and so, when my mom
said, "Go to church"
00:49:25.63\00:49:28.03
I went to church.
00:49:28.06\00:49:29.73
Even though I didn't really
understand anything about God,
00:49:29.76\00:49:33.54
I went because
my mother asked me
00:49:33.57\00:49:36.91
but then I got older and I said,
00:49:36.94\00:49:40.28
"I... I'm not going to
church, I don't need God. "
00:49:40.31\00:49:42.44
You know why that happens?
00:49:42.48\00:49:44.88
Because I really didn't know God
00:49:44.91\00:49:46.92
I didn't know
what it was all about.
00:49:46.95\00:49:48.85
and so, I... I left God.
00:49:48.88\00:49:52.99
Now, I was not a bad
person, I was a good citizen,
00:49:53.02\00:49:56.32
if I can put it that way,
00:49:56.36\00:49:57.69
I didn't drink...
00:49:57.73\00:49:59.06
you hear the stories about
drinking and drugs and alcohol,
00:49:59.09\00:50:01.40
that's not me...
00:50:01.43\00:50:02.76
but I lived a
life in the outdoors
00:50:02.80\00:50:06.20
and I intended to live
life as I understood it...
00:50:06.23\00:50:10.21
to achieve as much as I could
before I died... that's it.
00:50:10.24\00:50:13.78
Pause.
00:50:13.88\00:50:15.68
But you know, I
met an Adventist person
00:50:15.71\00:50:20.02
who told me something
that was very interesting.
00:50:20.05\00:50:22.82
He said, "You don't
just die and that's it,
00:50:22.85\00:50:25.65
there's more to it. "
00:50:25.69\00:50:27.36
I said, "Sure, you're kidding. "
00:50:27.39\00:50:30.56
Pause.
00:50:30.63\00:50:34.86
You know how I
found out that to be true?
00:50:34.90\00:50:36.77
I began reading the Bible
00:50:36.80\00:50:39.30
and then I discovered
00:50:39.33\00:50:41.77
that there are people out there
that want to share that with you
00:50:41.80\00:50:44.61
you know, Seventh-day Adventists
00:50:44.64\00:50:46.91
are the ones... for
this time to do that
00:50:46.98\00:50:50.65
and to share what they know
00:50:50.68\00:50:53.45
so that people
like me who are ignorant
00:50:53.52\00:50:55.92
would know something more
than this... that is it...
00:50:55.95\00:51:00.36
and there is eternal life
00:51:00.39\00:51:02.52
now, I talked
about the Creation,
00:51:02.56\00:51:05.89
I talked about the Re-creation,
00:51:05.93\00:51:09.20
if that's not a reason
for you to want to know God,
00:51:09.23\00:51:15.14
I don't know what is.
00:51:15.17\00:51:16.50
Are you happy with
this life? How many of...
00:51:16.54\00:51:19.67
you know, we
hear stories every day
00:51:19.71\00:51:21.41
of cancer and this
sickness and this sickness
00:51:21.44\00:51:23.95
and not being able to
walk and not being able to eat
00:51:23.98\00:51:27.95
and... this isn't the life
that God wants for you and me.
00:51:27.98\00:51:32.12
Pause.
00:51:32.15\00:51:34.92
I want to tell you
this, there's another reason
00:51:34.96\00:51:36.52
that you want to know God
00:51:36.56\00:51:38.23
and I'm going to ask them
to show you a little clip.
00:51:38.26\00:51:43.57
It's from the book,
"The Great Controversy"
00:51:43.60\00:51:46.57
you see, Dr. Allan
Lindsay talked about
00:51:46.60\00:51:49.57
the great controversy,
00:51:49.60\00:51:50.94
I want you to
have another reason.
00:51:50.97\00:51:53.24
How many of you look out
into the heavens at night?
00:51:53.27\00:51:55.68
See the stars...
00:51:55.71\00:51:57.58
have you ever
pondered it and considered it?
00:51:57.65\00:52:00.72
That the God
that you will know...
00:52:00.75\00:52:04.49
He's going to
take you out there.
00:52:04.52\00:52:08.62
It's a huge, huge, huge place,
00:52:08.66\00:52:12.66
we're talking of billions
and billions of light years,
00:52:12.69\00:52:16.23
billions of galaxies just
like the one we live in...
00:52:16.26\00:52:19.77
it's huge.
00:52:19.80\00:52:21.50
He said, "This is going
to be your playground. "
00:52:21.57\00:52:26.01
Listen to this.
00:52:26.04\00:52:29.08
Music...
00:52:29.11\00:52:33.92
more music...
00:52:33.95\00:52:38.29
All the
treasures of the universe
00:52:38.32\00:52:39.72
would be open to the
study of God's redeemed.
00:52:39.75\00:52:41.92
Unfettered by mortality,
00:52:41.96\00:52:44.39
they wing their tireless
flight to worlds afar...
00:52:44.43\00:52:47.20
worlds that thrilled with sorrow
00:52:47.23\00:52:49.56
with the spectacle of human woe
00:52:49.60\00:52:51.90
and rang with songs of gladness
00:52:51.93\00:52:54.24
at the tidings
of a ransomed soul.
00:52:54.27\00:52:58.27
With unutterable
delight the children of earth
00:52:58.31\00:53:00.78
enter into the joy and
the wisdom of unfallen beings.
00:53:00.81\00:53:04.25
They share the treasures
of knowledge and understanding
00:53:04.28\00:53:07.62
gained through ages upon ages
00:53:07.65\00:53:09.25
in contemplation
of God's handiwork.
00:53:09.28\00:53:11.59
With undimmed vision,
00:53:11.62\00:53:14.52
they gaze upon the
glory of creation...
00:53:14.56\00:53:16.86
suns and stars and systems,
00:53:16.93\00:53:19.93
all in their appointed order
00:53:20.00\00:53:21.63
circling the throne of Deity.
00:53:21.70\00:53:23.30
Upon all things, from
the least to the greatest,
00:53:23.37\00:53:27.74
the Creator's name is written,
00:53:27.77\00:53:30.01
and in all are the
riches of His power displayed.
00:53:30.04\00:53:33.21
And the years of
eternity, as they roll,
00:53:33.24\00:53:37.78
will bring richer and
still more glorious revelations
00:53:37.81\00:53:41.18
of God and of Christ.
00:53:41.22\00:53:42.55
As knowledge is progressive,
00:53:42.58\00:53:46.19
so will love, reverence,
and happiness increase.
00:53:46.22\00:53:49.49
The more men learn of God
00:53:49.52\00:53:52.13
the greater will be their
admiration of His character.
00:53:52.16\00:53:55.93
As Jesus opens before
them the riches of redemption,
00:53:55.96\00:53:59.70
and the amazing achievements
00:53:59.73\00:54:01.67
in the great
controversy with Satan,
00:54:01.70\00:54:03.74
the hearts of
the ransomed thrill
00:54:03.81\00:54:05.74
with more fervent devotion,
00:54:05.81\00:54:07.38
and with more rapturous joy
they sweep their harps of gold;
00:54:07.48\00:54:10.98
pause...
00:54:11.01\00:54:13.25
and ten thousand
times ten thousand
00:54:13.28\00:54:15.85
and thousands of
thousands of voices
00:54:15.88\00:54:18.39
unite to swell the
mighty chorus of praise.
00:54:18.42\00:54:21.46
I'm reading
from Revelation 5:13,
00:54:21.49\00:54:26.63
"And every
creature which is in heaven
00:54:26.70\00:54:29.06
and on the earth.
and under the earth,
00:54:29.10\00:54:31.47
and such as are in the sea,
00:54:31.50\00:54:33.67
and all that are in
them, heard I saying:
00:54:33.74\00:54:37.11
'Blessing, and
honour, and glory, and power
00:54:37.14\00:54:40.01
be unto Him that
sitteth upon the throne,
00:54:40.08\00:54:42.84
and unto the Lamb
for ever and ever!'"
00:54:42.88\00:54:45.65
Music...
00:54:45.68\00:54:49.25
The great controversy is ended.
00:54:49.28\00:54:51.89
Sin and sinners are no more.
00:54:51.92\00:54:54.59
The entire universe is clean.
00:54:54.62\00:54:57.23
One pulse of
harmony and gladness
00:54:57.33\00:54:59.93
beats through the vast creation.
00:55:00.00\00:55:02.53
From Him who created all,
00:55:02.56\00:55:05.10
flow life and
light and gladness.
00:55:05.13\00:55:07.94
throughout the
realms of illimitable space.
00:55:07.97\00:55:11.57
From the minutest
atom to the greatest world,
00:55:11.61\00:55:15.21
all things,
animate and inanimate,
00:55:15.24\00:55:18.65
in their unshadowed
beauty and perfect joy,
00:55:18.68\00:55:21.95
declare that God is love. "
00:55:21.98\00:55:26.09
Music...
00:55:26.12\00:55:29.56
more music...
00:55:29.59\00:55:33.53
some more music...
00:55:33.60\00:55:41.17
I want to ask you,
"Is there anyone here
00:55:41.20\00:55:44.84
who does not have a reason
to want to know God and Jesus?"
00:55:44.91\00:55:49.78
Pause...
00:55:49.81\00:55:52.61
When I was
learning about speaking,
00:55:52.65\00:55:55.32
a good
instructor told me one time,
00:55:55.35\00:55:57.99
that if you present something,
00:55:58.02\00:56:00.76
you need to get
people to respond
00:56:00.79\00:56:03.32
and I would like to ask
00:56:03.36\00:56:06.39
the simple question,
00:56:06.43\00:56:09.36
and it's going to be
a very pointed question,
00:56:09.40\00:56:11.77
you have seen what knowing
the one and only true God
00:56:11.80\00:56:17.54
and Jesus Christ means,
00:56:17.61\00:56:20.28
is there anyone here
00:56:20.31\00:56:22.91
and those that
are watching at home,
00:56:22.94\00:56:25.18
that want to say,
00:56:25.21\00:56:26.58
and I invite anyone to come
down the front... if you do...
00:56:26.61\00:56:31.42
"Do you make a decision now
that you will want to know God
00:56:31.45\00:56:36.19
that you will want to
have Bible Studies and prayer
00:56:36.22\00:56:38.73
and I want you to
say, "Lord, I do... "
00:56:38.76\00:56:41.13
and I want you to
come down in front...
00:56:41.16\00:56:43.77
God is only...
the whole of heaven...
00:56:43.80\00:56:46.33
the whole of the universe
00:56:46.37\00:56:47.70
is waiting for
people to make that decision
00:56:47.74\00:56:51.74
and if you're in that position
now with the Holy Spirit
00:56:51.77\00:56:55.44
has spoken to you
00:56:55.48\00:56:56.88
and you want to know God
more thoroughly than you have,
00:56:56.95\00:57:00.32
and I'm going to invite
you to come down the front.
00:57:00.35\00:57:02.65
God is good... God is patient...
00:57:02.68\00:57:05.85
and God is waiting for you.
00:57:05.89\00:57:08.62
Until we see you,
may God richly bless you.
00:57:08.66\00:57:12.86