Participants: Pr. Helvius Thompson
Series Code: HG
Program Code: HG000010
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00:35 This is the day
00:37 This is the day This is the day 00:41 That the Lord has made 00:44 That the Lord has made 00:47 I will rejoice, I will rejoice 00:51 And be glad in it 00:54 And be glad in it 00:57 This is the day 00:59 That the Lord has made. 01:02 I will rejoice 01:04 And be glad in it 01:07 This is the day This is the day 01:11 That the Lord has made. 01:14 Come on, say that again! 01:15 This is the day 01:17 This is the day 01:20 This is the day. 01:21 That the Lord has made 01:24 That the Lord has made. 01:26 And I will rejoice. 01:27 I will rejoice. 01:29 I will rejoice, I will rejoice. 01:31 And be glad in it 01:32 And be glad in it 01:34 And be glad in it. 01:37 This is the day 01:39 That the Lord has made. 01:41 And I will rejoice and be glad in it. 01:43 I will rejoice and be glad in it. 01:46 This is the day, this is the day 01:51 That the Lord has made. 01:54 How about what a mighty God we serve? 01:56 Say it. 01:57 What a mighty God we serve 02:02 What a mighty God we serve 02:06 Angels bow before him. 02:07 Angels bow before him 02:09 Heaven and earth adore him Heaven and earth adore him 02:11 What a mighty God 02:15 Say again. What a mighty God... 02:17 What a mighty God we serve 02:22 What a mighty God we serve What a mighty God we serve 02:26 Angels bow. 02:27 Angels bow before him Heaven and earth 02:30 Heaven and earth adore him 02:32 What a mighty God we serve 02:34 Come on and sing, victory is mine 02:36 Say it 02:38 Victory is mine, victory is mine 02:42 Victory today is mine. 02:46 I told Satan 02:47 I told Satan to get thee behind 02:52 Victory today is mine. 02:55 Victory today 02:57 Victory is mine Victory is mine 03:02 Victory today is mine. 03:05 I told Satan I told Satan... 03:08 You better get behind 03:10 To get thee behind 03:12 Victory today is mine. 03:15 Happiness is mine, Happiness is mine 03:22 Happiness today is mine. 03:25 'Cause I told Satan 03:27 I told Satan to get thee behind 03:31 Happiness today is mine. 03:34 Nobody told me like Jesus 03:37 There's nobody 03:40 Do we like Jesus? 03:42 There's nobody Do we like the Lord? 03:45 Do we like the Lord? 03:46 Ain't nobody do be like Jesus 03:47 There's nobody 03:50 Do be like Jesus 03:55 Take nobody 03:58 Do we like Jesus 04:03 Do we like the Lord 04:06 Ain't nobody 04:08 Do be like Jesus 04:11 He's my savior 04:14 This is the day, this is the day. 04:20 That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. 04:24 And I will rejoice I will rejoice 04:27 Said I will rejoice I will rejoice 04:30 And be glad in it, and be glad in it. 04:36 This is the day that the Lord has made. 04:41 I will rejoice and be glad in it. 04:46 This is the day, this is the day 04:50 That the Lord has made. 04:55 Hallelujah 04:59 You are Alpha 05:06 And Omega 05:14 We worship you our Lord 05:21 You are worthy to be praised 05:27 We give you all the glory 05:30 We give you all 05:37 The glory 05:43 We worship you our Lord 05:49 You are worthy to be praised 06:00 You are Alpha 06:07 And Omega 06:16 We worship you our Lord 06:22 You are worthy to be praised 06:29 We give you all the glory, Lord 06:32 We give you all 06:39 The glory 06:45 We worship you our Lord 06:51 You are worthy to be praised 06:59 We give you all the glory 07:06 We give you all the glory 07:11 Oh, yes, Lord 07:14 We worship you our Lord 07:20 You are worthy to be praised 07:26 With our hands lifted up 07:27 we give you all the glory, Lord! 07:30 We give you all 07:37 The glory 07:41 We worship We worship you our Lord 07:48 You are worthy to be praised 07:55 Let's lift our voice and say it one more time. 07:57 We give you all... 07:59 We give you all 08:05 The glory 08:11 We worship you our Lord 08:18 You are worthy to be praised 08:24 We worship you, we worship you, 08:28 We worship you 08:30 We worship you our Lord 08:36 You are worthy 08:40 To be praised 08:45 In the city, in the field we worship you Lord 08:48 We worship you our Lord 08:55 You are worthy to be praised 09:03 Let's give the Lord a hand clapping praising. 09:35 We shall overcome, 09:44 We shall overcome 09:51 We shall overcome 09:58 Someday 10:06 Oh 10:09 Deep in my heart 10:17 I do believe 10:25 That we shall overcome 10:31 Someday 10:42 We shall see his face 10:50 We shall 10:53 See his face 10:59 We shall see his face 11:05 Someday 11:16 Deep in our heart 11:25 We do love him 11:32 That we shall see his face 11:40 Someday 11:47 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 11:49 Keep on praising the Lord 11:52 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 11:55 Keep on praising him the Lord 11:57 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 12:00 Keep on praising the Lord 12:03 I'm gonna praise him till I make it home 12:06 Make it home 12:08 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 12:11 Keep on praising the Lord 12:13 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 12:16 Keep on praising the Lord 12:19 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 12:22 Keep on praising the Lord 12:24 I'm gonna praise him till I make it home 12:28 Make it home 12:29 Oh, through trial 12:31 Through trial 12:33 Tribulation 12:34 Tribulation 12:35 Keep praising 12:37 Keep praising 12:38 Every day 12:39 Every day 12:41 I'm determined 12:42 Determined To go with him all the way 12:46 So, I praise him till I make it home 12:49 Make it home 12:51 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 12:54 Keep on serving the Lord 12:56 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 12:59 Keep on serving the Lord 13:02 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 13:05 Keep on serving the Lord 13:07 I'm gonna serve him till I make it home 13:11 Make it home 13:12 Oh, through trial 13:14 Through trial 13:16 Tribulation 13:17 Tribulation 13:18 Keep serving 13:20 Keep serving 13:21 Every day 13:22 Every day 13:24 I'm determined 13:25 Determined to go with Him all the way 13:29 So I serve him till I make it home 13:32 Make it home 13:34 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 13:37 Keep on working for the Lord 13:39 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 13:42 Keep on working for the Lord 13:44 No matter what I'm gonna keep on 13:47 Keep on working for the Lord 13:50 I'm gonna work till I make it home 13:53 Make it home 13:55 Oh, through trial 13:57 Through trial 13:58 Tribulation 13:59 Tribulation 14:01 And Keep working 14:02 Keep working 14:04 Every day 14:05 Every day 14:06 I'm determined 14:08 Determined to go with Him all the way 14:11 So I work it till I make it 14:14 I'm gonna work it till I make it 14:16 I'm gonna work it till I make it 14:19 I'm gonna work it till I make it 14:22 I'm gonna serve it till I make it 14:24 I'm gonna serve it till I make it 14:27 I'm gonna serve it till I make it 14:30 I'm gonna serve it till I make it 14:32 I'm gonna praise him till I make it home 14:36 Make it home 14:42 On Jordan's stormy banks 14:49 I stand, and cast 14:55 A wishful eye 15:00 To Canaan's fair 15:05 And happy land 15:09 Where my possessions lie 15:16 I am bound 15:19 For the promised land 15:25 I am bound 15:27 For the promised land 15:31 Oh, who will come 15:35 And go with me? 15:39 I am bound 15:42 For the promised land 15:52 Freedom 15:53 Freedom is in my view 15:58 Freedom is in my view 16:02 Starting with Jesus I'm going through 16:07 Freedom Freedom 16:09 Freedom! Freedom! 16:12 Freedom is in my view 16:16 Freedom is in my view 16:19 Yeah! 16:21 Freedom is in my view 16:25 Starting with Jesus I'm going through 16:30 Freedom Freedom 16:32 Freedom! Freedom! 16:35 Freedom is in my view 16:38 I am bound 16:41 For the promised land 16:48 I am bound 16:50 For the promised land 16:57 Oh, who will come 17:01 And go with me? 17:07 Freedom 17:09 Freedom 17:12 Freedom is in my view 17:15 I am bound 17:17 For the promised land 17:24 I am bound 17:27 For the promised land 17:34 Oh, who will come 17:38 And go with me? 17:44 Freedom 17:46 Freedom! 17:49 Freedom is in my view 17:53 Freedom is in my view 17:58 Freedom is in my view 18:03 Starting with Jesus I'm going through 18:07 Freedom! Freedom! 18:12 Freedom is in my view 18:16 I am bound 18:18 For the promised land 18:25 I am bound 18:27 For the promised land 18:34 Oh, who will come 18:39 And go with me? 18:44 Freedom! Freedom! 18:49 Freedom! 18:51 Freedom! Freedom! 18:56 Freedom! 18:58 Freedom! Freedom! 19:03 Freedom is in my view 19:15 Well, the preachers are always in a dilemma 19:18 and that is that some folks say after the sermon. 19:23 "Boy, he sure preached." "What did he preach about?" 19:25 "I don't know but he sure preached." 19:29 Or they say, "Rev took his text and his text took him." 19:38 So we depend upon the holy spirit to church. 19:42 I live from the call from the altar 19:45 and ask God for He his mighty God. 19:47 Let us pray as we open the word of God. 19:48 Father in heaven, 19:50 today thank You for this wonderful privilege 19:53 an opportunity to come back to the people of God 19:56 and His marvelous and powerful pastor 19:59 and the leadership and growth 20:01 that this church had this experienced. 20:04 And Lord we now ask for You 20:08 to visit us through Your word. 20:11 It is not a preacher, 20:13 it is the power of the Holy Spirit. 20:16 And so take us this morning 20:18 and take the preach of the young himself 20:20 and give us the eyes to see, ears to hear up, 20:24 heart's that will understand, 20:25 comprehend your word as our prayer 20:29 in the worthy name of Jesus, our Lord 20:31 and for His sake we pray. 20:32 Amen. Amen. 20:35 Joshua Chapter 4 verses 18 through 24. 20:41 Joshua Chapter 4. 20:46 And verse 18 through 24. 20:53 It says, "And it came to pass." You have it there? 20:58 "Priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord 21:04 were come up out of the midst of Jordan, 21:09 and the soles of the priests' feet 21:11 were lifted up unto the dry land, 21:15 that the waters of the Jordan returned unto their place, 21:20 and flowed over all his banks, as they did before. 21:25 And the people came up out of Jordan 21:31 on the tenth day of the first month, 21:34 and encamped." 21:36 In where everybody? 21:38 "In Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. 21:42 And those twelve stones, 21:44 which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch." 21:48 Where everybody, in? 21:50 "Gilgal, and he spake unto the children of Israel, 21:53 saying, 'when your children shall ask their fathers in 21:57 time to come, saying, 'What mean these stones?' 22:02 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, 22:04 Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 22:09 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan 22:12 from before you, until ye were passed over, 22:15 as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, 22:18 which He dried up from before us, 22:21 until we were gone over. 22:23 That all the people of the earth might know 22:27 the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, 22:32 that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever. 22:38 " Pray with us this movement. 22:39 We've talked about stopping at Gilgal. 22:43 40 years after God had delivered 22:47 the children of Israel 22:48 out of the suffering bondage of Egyptian slavery 22:52 and had let them through wildness of the wilderness 22:57 on the leadership of Moses. 22:59 At last they reached the final barrier 23:04 to the promised land, the Jordan river. 23:09 They could liberally look over across the Jordan 23:12 and see the land that float with milk and honey. 23:17 At the Exodus, Egypt Exodus, 23:20 God had miraculously opened the dry path, 23:25 highway to the drive through deep waters of the Red sea. 23:30 And now, 40 years later, 23:32 they have reached a second by the water 23:36 which was now the only obstacle 23:39 that stood between them and the promise land. 23:43 Now the Jordan river was much was a much smaller body 23:45 of water by the Red sea. 23:47 In fact, when I saw it, I was pretty disappointed. 23:50 It's only 90 to 100 feet wide, 23:52 only about ten feet deep 23:54 and its lowest point certainly is not Mississippi. 23:58 By now, the tortured leadership has passed 24:01 through Moses to Joshua. 24:04 And the first command that God gave to Joshua 24:07 was to lead the people forward 24:10 and cross over the Jordan into the land 24:13 that God had promised to Abraham, 24:16 Isaac, and Jacob. 24:18 However, it was spring time when the Jordan river 24:22 was added was to yearly flood stage 24:24 and had swell to overflow by the melting snow 24:29 of Mount Hermon in the north. 24:32 In fact, it's been reported that many people had lost 24:35 their lives, trying to cross the Jordan 24:37 in its dangerous flood season. 24:41 Though the river is not very wide, 24:43 its waters are swift and treacherous 24:45 and causing whirlpools and rapids 24:48 that make crossing dangerous if not impossible. 24:53 There was no bridge over the Jordan. 24:56 And they didn't have any boats or ferry 24:58 to navigate the swollen river. 25:01 And so Israel's final entrance 25:03 in the kingdom was blocked by the barrier 25:06 of the surging flood waters of the Jordan. 25:11 All but the same God, 25:13 who opened our highway through the Red sea, 25:17 who was abundantly able 25:19 to make the flooded surge in Jordan crossable. 25:23 You know that it tells me that it has no situation 25:26 that God can't solve. 25:29 No problem He cannot penetrate. 25:31 No trouble He cannot transform. 25:34 No storm He cannot calm. 25:36 No struggle He cannot conquer. 25:38 There are no impossibilities with God. 25:42 He can open any door, move in a mountain. 25:46 Re-direct any the river, river down any wall. 25:51 Wilt any wind, stop any storm 25:54 and be victorious in anywhere. 25:57 I love to hear Keller say God spoke unto Joshua 26:02 and to the river he pointed the way Jordan uncrossable. 26:06 Things seemed impossible, but the water has divided 26:10 as they marched and obey. 26:13 So have you gone any rivers you think are uncrossable? 26:18 Have you got in any mountains you can't stumble through? 26:22 But God specializes in things man think are impossible. 26:28 And he can do what others cannot do. 26:32 Now, the sacred record declares that 26:34 as soon as the feet of the priest 26:37 that carried the Ark of the Covenant merely 26:39 touched the waters of the Jordan, 26:42 suddenly and miraculously, 26:44 something happened to the Jordan. 26:46 The flood waters parted 26:48 and the downstream waters were blocked up like a wall 26:51 and the rest of the waters ran on 26:54 and left a dry bed for the people of God to cross. 26:58 So I'm gonna tell you, 26:59 that day Israel march over the Jordan mud 27:03 between their toes but dust hold their feet 27:06 because God can do the impossible. 27:10 He can make the uncrossable a cake walk. 27:14 Now the sacred record says that 27:16 after they had crossed the Jordan, 27:18 the king walked out of the river bed 27:21 and they arrived and stopped at little place called Gilgal. 27:27 It wasn't a city. 27:30 In fact, it was nothing. 27:32 They went on leg about from the Jordan five miles 27:37 through the place called Gilgal. 27:40 They stopped there because by divine direction, 27:44 they were only allowed to go five miles inland 27:48 to this place called Gilgal. 27:51 And when they stopped and camped at Gilgal, 27:54 they were only two and a half miles 27:57 from one of the major cities of Canaan, 28:00 the great wall city of Jericho. 28:03 In fact, they were so close to Jericho 28:05 that not only could they see the wall fortress of the city 28:08 but the people of Jericho 28:10 could see them camped at Gilgal. 28:13 They watched them as they have crossed the borders 28:16 of the Jordan. 28:18 Jericho would be the first major battle 28:20 for them to occupy the land of Canaan. 28:23 But here's what I wanted you to see. 28:25 God did not command them to go directly 28:29 and march around Jericho immediately. 28:34 God haven't had a problem taking care of Jericho 28:38 but He ordered them to stop at Gilgal. 28:42 They were not to go any further towards their final destination 28:45 until they had stopped at this place called Gilgal. 28:50 They were on the right road, 28:53 they were following the right path, 28:55 and their blessed destination was just ahead of them. 28:59 But God had decreed that before they should go in to possess 29:04 the land that was already ordained for them, 29:08 they had to stop off at a place called Gilgal. 29:13 You see, there is a blessing, 29:15 that was a blessing waiting for them right down the road. 29:20 But God did not allow them to rush head long 29:24 into the blessing before they stopped in Gilgal. 29:28 It was the blessing that had been promised 29:31 long time ago to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 29:35 Let me tell you, that God didn't have to do anything 29:38 to get the blessing rain for them. 29:41 He had to get them read to seek the blessing 29:43 or I just said something. 29:46 God didn't have to do anything to get the blessing. 29:48 Well, He had to get them ready to receive the blessing. 29:52 He had to get them the stop of the Gilgal to get them prepare 29:57 for what God had already prepaid for them. 30:01 He had to get them ready for the blessing 30:03 that he already had in store for them. 30:08 They stopped at Gilgal to be prepaid 30:11 to receive the full blessing God had for them 30:15 in the land that flowed with milk and honey. 30:18 Well, then we leave this row and come to your house now. 30:21 I got some good news for you, no matter who you are 30:24 and what situation you are in, I come to tell you this morning 30:27 that God has a blessing with your name right on it, 30:30 upfront that was right up the road. 30:33 And God doesn't have to think of ways to bless you. 30:36 He doesn't have to make up ways to bless you. 30:39 He already has a blessing just for you, 30:43 it has your name written right on it. 30:46 Amen. 30:47 But He wants us to get ready to receive that blessing. 30:51 He has to get us spiritually ready 30:53 to walk into that blessing. 30:55 We have to stop off in a place called Gilgal 30:59 so that we can be prepared to receive that blessing. 31:03 So, now I know where Israel, Gilgal was. 31:08 But where's our Gilgal? 31:11 Where do we need to stop to receive our blessings? 31:14 Where for us Gilgal, we need faith, 31:18 prayer, surrender and obedience. 31:20 But I checked it out more than the average pastor. 31:22 I found out our Gilgal is found in Malachi 3:10, 11. 31:28 When the Lord invites us to bring Him His tithe 31:31 and an offering into the storehouse. 31:34 Gilgal is where we recognize God's creatership 31:39 and his ownership of all that we have 31:42 and all that we hope to get by returning unto Him 31:46 a faithful time and offering. 31:49 Oh, I would be sweeping into this morning for us 31:51 Gilgal was a tied envelope. 31:53 And our worship in giving as faithful students 31:57 so that we can uphold the church of God. 32:01 Some of us go through a whole Sabbath service, 32:05 We're not stopping at Gilgal with our faithful giving to go. 32:10 Let me tell you that you running to trouble 32:12 after all without his help 32:15 if you don't stop at your given Gilgal. 32:19 But if you stop at your Gilgal, 32:22 let me tell you there is a guaranteed blessing 32:25 just waiting for you. 32:27 God has promised to bless our side 32:29 if we will stop there like. 32:31 He said that He is going open the windows of heaven. 32:34 Now, I mean the full windows in heaven 32:37 and pour such a blessing up 32:40 that there will not be room enough to receive it 32:42 if we would stop at Gilgal. 32:45 I check my Bible. 32:47 Abraham stopped at Gilgal with Melchizedek 32:50 and God abundantly blessed him, 32:51 he was one of the richest men of the East. 32:54 Jacob stopped at Gilgal 32:55 in his flight from home from his uncle Laban 32:59 and despite all of his problems and all that his uncle did 33:03 God blessed Jacob beyond his father's dream. 33:06 Jacob stopped at Gilgal 33:09 and even though he lost everything that he had, 33:12 in the end God gave him more than what he lost. 33:15 For I want you to know, that if you need God at Gilgal, 33:19 He will bless you every time. 33:22 Some of us had stopped at Gilgal 33:24 but haven't given it to God the way God wants us to give. 33:30 Some of us might have already think 33:32 that God's already blessed you. 33:34 But I want to tell you your only at Gilgal. 33:38 That's the bigger blessing up the roll 33:40 if you just be faithful to him. 33:44 Now the question on the table is, 33:47 what was so special and significant about Gilgal? 33:54 Why did God hope their progress 33:56 into the promise land until they stopped at Gilgal? 34:02 The lessons of truth and the principles of power 34:05 that makes Gilgal a mandatory stop 34:09 on the path of their pilgrimage. 34:12 But I will give you just a few things 34:14 and I will be through this morning. 34:16 The first clue about Gilgal was is found in Joshua 4:19 34:20 where it says, "And they the Israelites, 34:23 came out of Jordan 34:25 on the tenth day of the first month." 34:28 Here it is now, watch it, "And encamped at Gilgal." 34:32 Another Bible version said they tabernacled 34:35 or they pitched their tents at Gilgal. 34:39 Now the word "encamp" comes from the Hebrew word "hanah" 34:43 which means to incline or to recline 34:48 or to assume a position of rest. 34:51 I want you to follow me now. 34:53 Why did God have Israel to stop on their journey 34:57 to the promised land at a place called Gilgal? 35:00 I'll tell you, because Gilgal 35:03 first of all was the place of rich. 35:06 Say rest everybody. Rest 35:09 They had journeyed for 40 long years 35:11 through rough and rugged wilderness. 35:14 And they had crossed the job and they got to Gilgal 35:17 and God told them, "Stop, it's time for you to rest." 35:21 You see God had brought them across the river 35:24 and He now knew that they needed to stop and rest. 35:29 Let me pause and ask you, have you been so tired 35:32 that you just can't go a step further? 35:35 And you had just stop where you were? 35:39 Have yet come from work and all you need to do is 35:42 just lock down and add easy a chair? 35:44 Or sometimes fall in the bed, sometimes with your clothes on? 35:49 Have you been so terribly tired 35:51 that you didn't know how tired you were 35:54 until you stop what you were doing 35:56 and liberally just fell asleep? 35:58 Well, God know that we get extremely tired 36:01 and these hectic lives that we live. 36:04 God know that sometimes we got to stop and rest. 36:09 And now I've got to remind me that 36:11 the word "rest" always is associated 36:13 with one the oldest and greatest gifts 36:15 that God gave to man, a creation 36:18 and it is His blessed sacred sanctified Sabbath of rest. 36:24 The Sabbath means rest. 36:27 And God knew that at end of the week, 36:30 we will need a Sabbath Gilgal. 36:33 So he gave us a Sabbath. 36:35 A Sabbath is a weekly oasis 36:38 at the end of the wilderness of the week. 36:41 It allows us to rest physically, mentally 36:45 and above all, spiritually. 36:47 And while we rest God will renews our spirit 36:51 and He will refreshers our souls. 36:54 Before you tackle the problems and the frustration 36:58 and the toil of another week, 37:00 you better stop at God's Sabbath Gilgal 37:04 and rest up so the Lord can empower you 37:07 to handle the challenges of another week. 37:11 I discovered that Gilgal, actually became for Israelites, 37:15 their base camp, their home base, 37:19 their military headquarters. 37:21 So what happened if they would camp at Gilgal 37:24 and they would go out and battle 37:26 and then they would come back to Gilgal and rest 37:28 and then they would go and fight at AI, 37:31 and they would come back to Gilgal and rest. 37:33 They would go to battle at Bethoma 37:35 and then come back to Gilgal and rest. 37:38 They would go and fight at Jericho 37:40 and come back to Gilgal and rest. 37:43 They would go and battle at Amorite 37:45 and come back and rest at Gilgal. 37:48 Well, we all need a place where we can come and rest 37:52 after battling sins, Satan and mean people all week. 37:56 And Sabbath is the best Gilgal you can find. 38:01 Oh, you all have forgotten some of those old hymns 38:03 that said there is a place of quiet rest 38:07 near to the heart of God, 38:10 a place where sin cannot molest near to the heart of God. 38:15 Oh, Jesus best redeemer, 38:17 sin from the heart of God, who does, 38:20 who wake before the near to the heart of God. 38:24 In fact, you need to look at the Sabbath a different way. 38:26 I see the Sabbath as a... watch this. 38:30 A vacation cruise at the end of the week. 38:37 If you go on a cruise, you get all excited 38:39 and you can't wait for a day to board a ship. 38:42 You start making preparation and packing things 38:46 that you need for cruise way in advance. 38:48 Not, not, the day before, not, not just the hour before. 38:52 Way in advance. 38:53 Finally, when cruise day comes, we arrive, you board the ship. 38:57 And you know what I'm not doing on this cruise day. 39:00 You let the crew take care of you 39:03 and feed you and take care of you. 39:07 All you got to do is just relax 39:10 and enjoy the cruise and have a good time. 39:14 God approves to this morning at the end of every week. 39:18 God has a Sabbath cruiseline. 39:21 At sunset put, ready for bowling, 39:25 and all you have to do 39:27 is prepare for this Sabbath cruise 39:30 and then step on board on Friday evening. 39:33 Just rest in the Lord. 39:35 Just relax and let the Lord, 39:38 as cal gone said, take you away. 39:41 He will take you away. He wants you to go. 39:43 And when that Sabbath cruise in that sunset, 39:47 let me tell you, if you're camping right, 39:49 you will feel refreshed and revived and restored 39:54 and ready to face whatever may come your way the next week. 40:02 That's what Gilgal is all about. 40:05 It's all about rich. 40:08 Now in Deuteronomy 12:15, 40:10 God gave Israel an additional and an important reason 40:13 to absorb His Sabbath 40:15 beyond and being a memorial creation. 40:18 And I want you to get a look at verses. 40:21 And remember thy was 40:24 a servant, 40:27 a slave in the land. 40:29 And see, the Lord didn't say just remember the Sabbath. 40:34 The Lord said, "Don't forget that you were a slave 40:38 in the land of Egypt. 40:39 The Lord, thy God, brought thee out thence 40:43 through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm. 40:46 Therefore the Lord, thy God, 40:48 commandeth thee to keep the Sabbath wholly. 40:51 The slaves of the Israelites had been salves 40:54 under the land of the Egypt 40:55 and got suffered and slavery and get beaten and bondaged. 40:59 But the God in heaven did not leave them 41:02 and in that cruel condition. 41:04 By His Mighty Hand, 41:05 He liberated His suffering people 41:08 and brought them by faith out of Egypt. 41:11 And when He reminded them, He then reminded them, 41:15 that every Sabbath was the day for them 41:18 to celebrate their deliverance from Egyptian slavery 41:22 so that they could truly rest in the Lord. 41:26 And know that it was not man 41:28 but it was God that liberated them. 41:32 I know we're so sophisticated, 41:34 we don't want to remember that we were slaves. 41:39 Some black folks spent entire year 41:40 about Black history and slavery. 41:44 Some other people that don't have our color and they say, 41:46 "We tired of y'all talking about slavery." 41:48 Well, let me tell you something. 41:51 The Germans were never... 41:53 I mean the Jews will never let the Germany 41:55 and the world forget the Holocaust. 42:00 And I got a word from the Lord where he said for you remember, 42:05 you remember that you were a slave. 42:08 And African American people, 42:09 we've known the awful scourge of slavery. 42:12 People went through the middle passage 42:14 on those crowded slave ships 42:15 and then we were sold up and down their land 42:18 like animals on the auction block. 42:20 Black families were divided then. 42:22 Children were snatched from the arms 42:24 of their crying mothers. 42:26 Black slaves were ripped and worked 42:28 from sun up to sun down. 42:30 But God says to us today to remember 42:33 that you were a slave. 42:36 And you should know that it wasn't just a signature 42:39 of Abraham Lincoln that set our ancestors free. 42:43 It was the same mighty hand of God that brought us, 42:48 that liberated us, 42:50 that protected us, and that thus... 42:56 And therefore like ancient Israel, 43:00 Black people have an added reason. 43:03 Watch this... 43:05 To preserve and keep the seventh day Sabbath. 43:08 Amen. 43:10 Even though many of our brothers and sisters 43:12 know nothing about this. 43:16 Every Sabbath we keep celebrates our liberation 43:20 from physical as well as spiritual slavery. 43:25 It gives a refreshing rest that the world cannot give. 43:30 Every Sabbath on reminds it also 43:33 that, we were slaved and that the Lord delivered us 43:39 from both slavery and segregation. 43:42 Amen. 43:43 Israel had many battles but God had made sure 43:47 that they got enough rest 43:48 before they went to the next battle. 43:51 Because God knows if you go out to face the enemy 43:54 tired and fatigued, you'll be most vulnerable. 43:58 Vulnerable to the enemies' attack. 44:01 In fact, you can't even think straight if you are tired. 44:04 You can't make good decisions if you're tired that. 44:08 That's why so many of you all come to church. 44:10 You are easily annoyed and agitated, 44:12 I'm picking on you now. 44:14 And irritated because you just tired. 44:18 Don't take time to pray and ain't got time to wake 44:21 when you are tired. 44:23 So God made sure and He placed a Sabbath Gilgal 44:28 on your journey to make sure that you have rest. 44:32 Gilgal first of all was the place of rest. 44:37 Only got two more. 44:38 Second reason why God had people stop 44:40 and encamp at Gilgal is because Gilgal, watch this now, 44:44 was the place of removal. 44:47 Say, place of removal, everybody. 44:49 Place of removal. 44:50 place of rest, place of... 44:54 God needed, to do something special for them 44:57 and Gilgal's right in the text. 44:59 It's right in the text. 45:01 Joshua 5 and verse 9 it says, "The Lord said unto Joshua, 45:04 This day 45:06 I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. 45:13 Wherefore the name of the place 45:16 is called Gilgal unto this day." 45:20 In Hebrew the name "Gilgal" means "to roll away." 45:23 Why Gilgal? 45:25 Because it was the place of removal. 45:27 And another Bible translation said, 45:28 "This day, I will roll away and remove your shame." 45:33 The word reproach means shame. 45:35 God told Israel, "At Gilgal, I'm gonna take away your sins." 45:39 He said, "I want you to stop and rest at Gilgal. 45:42 And while you rest, I'm gonna roll away your shame. 45:46 I'm gonna remove all of the stigma 45:49 and the shame that is on you at Gilgal." 45:54 I'm gonna make a shift. 45:56 Because Black Americans have suffered through 45:58 a history of ridicule and shame. 46:03 Our ancestors experienced hundreds of years 46:07 of raw ruthless racism. 46:11 And our humiliating ordeal, the slavery, our people 46:15 were captured and stolen from the African homeland. 46:19 Packed like sardines in old slave ships, sold like cattle, 46:25 worked like mules, 46:26 whipped like animals, treated worse than dogs. 46:32 Our women were raped, our men were dehumanized. 46:36 Our children were taken from our families, were divided. 46:40 Our human rights were deprived. 46:42 We had no secure family life. 46:44 We had no respected marriage right. 46:46 We can own no property and receive no education. 46:50 And then we were told that we were inferior, 46:55 abnormal and subhuman, 46:59 only because of the darkness of our skin. 47:04 Worse than that, they called us the most despicable 47:07 despised, and debased names. 47:13 from "boy" to... 47:17 But the same God who liberated Israel 47:22 and removed their shame 47:24 has not only liberated us but he has lifted us, 47:28 from racial ridicule to a place of respectability, 47:33 recognition and restoration. 47:36 Oh, look at Black people now. 47:39 There is not a field or feat in human endeavors 47:43 that Black people have not excelled in 47:46 and they are highly honored and recognized. 47:49 I don't have time to call names 47:51 but our accomplishments have gone from sports to science. 47:55 From medicine to music. 47:57 From law to literature, from acting to aviation. 48:01 From business, to broadcasting. 48:04 From movies to the military. 48:06 From politics to publishing. 48:08 From congress to the clergy. 48:10 The God of love and mercy and righteousness 48:14 has removed our ridicule 48:17 and swept away our shame 48:21 for had it not been for the Lord on my side, 48:25 where would I be? 48:30 Look at you Black people, you were stumped on. 48:35 Dehumanized. 48:37 The loss of the land were against you. 48:39 You were nobody. 48:41 You were nothing. 48:42 You were not even counted as a human being. 48:45 When the founding fathers said, "All men are created equal," 48:48 they weren't thinking about you. 48:52 You weren't created equal. 48:55 You were half human. 48:57 You weren't fully... 48:58 You weren't created equal to them. 49:01 The only problem was that they left, 49:03 and didn't say all white men are created equal. 49:06 And because of that Martin Luther King 49:07 exploited that, "Didn't you write that 49:10 all men are created equal?" 49:12 And look what God has done with us. 49:15 He has taken us from slavery to the Supreme Court. 49:18 From the cotton fields to Congress, 49:21 from segregation to the senate. 49:24 From the plantation to receiving 49:26 the Nobel Peace Prize. 49:28 From the slave house... 49:43 You can't tell me this isn't my whole... 49:47 I believe that one of the greatest signs of the success 49:50 of our Black people's restoration 49:53 and the removal of our ridicule and stigma 49:56 was the election of the first African American 49:59 to be the President of the United States. 50:03 Amen. 50:04 Ain't it interesting how God does things? 50:07 He's not just an African American, 50:09 he's an African African American. 50:18 And to move to Roots, 50:20 they took Kunta Kinte's name and gave him Toby. 50:25 And now all of us got Toby names. 50:28 But when God got rid of the selected black man 50:32 to be the first President in United States, 50:34 he didn't have an American name. 50:37 He didn't have the slave masters name. 50:39 His name is Barack Hussein Obama, Africa. 50:51 And I know that God ordained that. 50:54 I got Bible for that. 50:56 Because the saying says of kings. 51:02 Somebody ought to know that they better be careful 51:04 'cause He'll send someone down... 51:09 I went to Philadelphia the first time 51:12 and I went to Constitution Hall. 51:17 And the guy there, 51:19 showed us where the founding fathers sat. 51:23 And all these signs, the Constitution, 51:26 Declaration of Independence, and where everybody sat. 51:30 And much of the furniture's gone 51:34 but the main chair that George Washington sat in 51:37 is still there. 51:38 I was sitting there and looking 51:40 and half of the men that were signing this decoration 51:44 and this Constitution were slave owners. 51:50 Slave owners making this great new nation with slaves. 51:57 They had no idea in their foggy imagination 52:01 what the God in heaven had planned for America. 52:04 So when he finally finished, 52:06 it got all quiet and somebody asked, 52:09 he asked, "Is there a question?" 52:11 With my dumb crazy self, it just came out. 52:15 I couldn't help it, I just go, 52:16 "A black man is president. Yeah!" 52:22 I knew I was wrong but I just couldn't help it. 52:25 God has certainly lifted us, can't you say amen. 52:29 Now, now, when God talked about 52:31 removing Israel's shame with Gilgal. 52:35 The Hebrew word for shame means "to point a finger at." 52:39 It means to ridicule or mark or taunt. 52:43 We see ridicule now and then but the make to fun of. 52:47 Notice God said that, "I will remove 52:50 and roll away the reproach of Egypt." 52:54 That means that there was some shame 52:56 that they had that was connected 52:59 with the exodus from Egypt. 53:02 And, that's stream has caused Egyptians 53:04 and all the nations to point the finger 53:07 and to ridicule Israel. 53:09 Now watch this. 53:11 Embarrassment is always connected with shame. 53:16 But don't confuse the embarrassment with shame. 53:20 Shame is my personal, emotional condemnation 53:25 that comes from me doing what I know 53:28 that's wrong whether any anybody else knows it. 53:33 But embarrassment means when others find out Herman Cain. 53:37 I mean, embarrassment is when others find out. 53:48 I have shame because I did it. 53:51 But I'm embarrassed because others found out what I did. 53:55 So God told Israel, I'm going to remove your shame 53:59 that has caused you embarrassment from Egypt 54:01 and the other nations 54:03 for they are pointing the finger 54:05 and they are ridiculing you. 54:07 So what caused the shame, embarrassment and ridicule? 54:10 It was this. 54:12 Israel had spent 40 years 54:16 wandering around in the wilderness 54:20 after they had left Egypt. 54:22 They claimed to be the children of God. 54:25 God had opened the waters of the Red sea 54:28 and yet though he had delivered them 54:31 they still had not reached their destination. 54:36 They were out there wandering around. 54:40 Just going in circles, just lost in the wilderness. 54:44 In other words, Egyptians will say, 54:47 "If you were the children of God, 54:49 what you doing out there in that wilderness 54:51 with no water and no food? 54:53 If you really the God's own people, 54:55 then why have you been running round in wilderness 54:57 for 40 years in the state of lostness? 55:01 When you left Egypt, 55:02 why didn't you go straight to your destination? 55:05 If you left Egypt 55:07 only to wander in the wilderness 40 long years, 55:10 you might as well stayed in Egypt. 55:13 Are you sure you're the people of God? 55:16 And that God is leading you?" 55:19 That was the source of their shame. 55:23 The problem that brought upon, the shame 55:25 and the ridicule of the nation was their inconstancy. 55:29 Watch this, between who they claimed to be in the wilderness 55:35 and who they had actually been. 55:38 The problem that prompted their shame 55:41 and ridicule was the inconsistency 55:45 between their powerful exodus from Egypt 55:47 and their pathetic wilderness wandering. 55:51 In other words, they claimed 55:52 they're not conformed with their conducts. 55:58 And their potential didn't match their performances. 56:02 They didn't act in the wilderness 56:04 like they claimed they were in Egypt. 56:08 And yet, as Christians and followers of Christ, 56:10 you know, we have the same problem. 56:12 We share the same shame of Israel, that too often 56:16 we look good, but we've got inconsistent lives. 56:20 Worst thing in the world for Adventists when somebody says, 56:23 "What you doing in here? 56:29 I thought you all didn't drink that. 56:33 I thought you all didn't eat that. 56:37 Aren't you all or don't you all go to church on Saturday? 56:39 Well, why you here?" 56:43 Now, it will not be so bad if we did what we did 56:47 and didn't claim to be who we are. 56:50 It wouldn't be so bad if we were who we claim to be 56:54 and did not what we said, we were 56:57 but our pathetic problems is 56:59 that often our conduct is inconsistent with our claim. |
Revised 2016-04-11