Music...
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Hello and welcome once again
to the Secrets Unsealed Summit:
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The Hour of His Judgment.
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Allow me to join with my
fellow Speakers in thanking you
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for joining us for what we feel
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will be a time of
preaching and prayer and praise
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and very important messages
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that are designed
to help prepare us all
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for the second coming of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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It is my desire this day
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to do something
just a bit different.
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I have three messages to preach,
this... the first of three.
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I have seen parallels in
the crossing of the Red Sea
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and the crossing of the Jordan
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and so, in today's message,
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we're going to take a
look at those two experiences
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as God's people
crossed the Red Sea
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and as they crossed the
Jordan into the Promised Land.
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I see parallels
in the condition...
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the circumstance of
God's people in these days.
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We find ourselves in
the hour of His judgment...
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we find ourselves as pilgrims
and strangers in this world...
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we have crossed the
Red Sea into the kingdom...
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we're now in the...
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when I say "the kingdom" I
mean, the kingdom of the Lord...
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we've given our hearts to Him
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and we'll unpack
this out a little bit more
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but we're now in
the wilderness time
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getting ready to cross over the
Jordan into the Promised Land
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so, as we are in this time
that we have chosen to call:
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The Hour of His Judgment,
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I see parallels in the crossing
of the two bodies of water...
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the second one... taking God's
people into the Promised Land
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and, of course,
when we cross over,
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we will be in the
Promised Land also,
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so, it is my prayer
that we will be able to
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make those connections
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to give you an understanding
of where we're going
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and what we're trying to say.
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The next message: A Call to Arms
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deals specifically with the hour
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of His judgment
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and then the final
message unpackages that
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even a bit more
looking at Daniel chapter 12
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comparing it
with Daniel chapter 7
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and taking a look at
how those two passages
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of Scripture
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bind themselves to
the book of Revelation
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and to each other
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and have much to say for us
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in these last
days as God's people.
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So, we've got a
lot to talk about
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during our three
sittings together
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and we pray that God will
be the center and circumference
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of all that we do...
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will be our
teacher... our instructor...
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and that we will know His will
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and more
importantly... do His will
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as each day brings
us that much closer
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to the coming of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
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and brings us closer
hopefully spiritually to Him
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as we get closer
physically to the day
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when we shall see
Christ face to face.
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I would ask you to turn
with me to the book of Joshua...
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the book of Joshua in the
Old Testament... chapter 3
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and we want to
consider verses 1 through 6.
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Joshua chapter 3
verses 1 through 6.
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Pause...
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Shall we pray...
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"Father God, would You please
be our instructor this day.
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We turn to You and
ask You to bless us...
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to teach us...
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to show us Your
will and Your way...
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to help us... to enable us...
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to embolden us to
follow You and to serve You
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and to surrender
our lives to You,
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for we know that
the time is short.
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This Summit has
been put together
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to emphasize that fact
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that we don't
have a lot of time.
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We are in the hour of
judgment and that God's people
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must make up their minds
to fully surrender themselves
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to You and to receive Your power
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for successful living
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as we await the return of Jesus.
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Bless us just now we do pray
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and thank You, in
Jesus' name, amen. "
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We are reading from Joshua
chapter 3 verses 1 through 6.
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The book is Joshua
chapter 3 1 through 6
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and I'm reading from the
New King James Version...
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the Bible says,
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"Then Joshua rose
early in the morning;
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and they set out
from Acacia Grove
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and came to the Jordan,
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he and all the children
of Israel, and lodged there
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before they crossed over.
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So it was, after three days,
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that the officers
went through the camp
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and they
commanded the people saying,
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'When you see the ark of the
covenant of the Lord your God,
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and the priests and
Levites, bearing it,
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then you shall set out from
your place and go after it. '"
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Now the "go after it"
doesn't mean to chase it,
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it means to
follow in line behind it.
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So, that's what
"go after it" means.
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"Yet there shall be a
space between you and it,
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about two thousand
cubits by measure... "
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little less than half a mile...
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"do not come near it,
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that you may know the
way by which you must go,
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for you have not
passed this way before.
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And Joshua said to the people,
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'Sanctify yourselves for
tomorrow the Lord will do
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wonders among you. '"
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And verse 6,
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"Then Joshua spoke
to the priests, saying,
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'Take up the ark of the covenant
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and cross over
before the people. '"
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And I think we'll
stop our reading there
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and we'll come back
to this in just a moment
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because there's something
very important that happens
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in just a little bit.
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Ellen White describes in the
book: Patriarchs and Prophets,
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the Jordan valley
in the days of Abraham
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as one of the most
beautiful in all of Palestine.
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When she talks
about the Jordan valley
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and the Jordan river,
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she says it's one of
the most beautiful rivers
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and river valleys
in all of Palestine
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equal to the Nile
valley in Egypt and Ethiopia
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and reminding one of
beholding paradise lost.
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The Jordan valley certainly
was and is... in many respects
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a valley of surpassing beauty,
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it's not quite what it once was
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because so much of the Jordan
River has been siphoned off
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for farming
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but it is still a very
beautiful river valley.
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One of the most beautiful
experiences that I have had
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the privilege of having is
to be on the Sea of Galilee
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on the Sabbath,
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I've had that privilege a number
of times... my wife and I...
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on the Sabbath day
to be in a wooden boat
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on the Sea of Galilee...
on the Sabbath mornings
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singing songs of God
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with brothers and
sisters of like faith...
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it is really quite
a heady experience...
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really quite a wonderful
experience to be there...
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the sun shining on
that historic river
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in that historic sea
on the Sabbath morning...
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it's really quite something.
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The... the Sea of Galilee
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is actually a bulge
in the Jordan River.
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The Jordan River comes down
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and then you've
got this wide bulge...
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almost like a bulge in a vein
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and then it... it
narrows at the bottom
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and it continues
its trip southward...
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the Sea of Galilee
is about 13 miles long
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about 8 and a 1/2 miles wide...
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it's not a very,
very big body of water,
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at its greatest depth
it's about 141 feet deep,
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so, it's actually
just a decent size lake
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much smaller
than... oh, by comparison...
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any of the great lakes in...
in the United States of America.
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The smallest of the
Great Lakes is Lake Erie
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and I grew up on Lake Erie...
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growing up in Buffalo, New
York, there right on Lake Erie.
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Lake Erie is 241 miles long...
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about 57 miles
wide in average...
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with an average
depth of about 62 feet...
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undulates...
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it goes down to 210
feet then comes back up.
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So, the Sea of
Galilee really is rather small
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as part of the Jordan River.
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It is crucial to
four particular nations.
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Israel draws from
the Jordan River...
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Lebanon draws from
the Jordan River...
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Jordan draws
from the Jordan River
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and, of course, Syria
draws from the Jordan River.
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So, it's always been
an important water way
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and I suspect it always will be.
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The headwaters
of the Jordan River
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begin the north
near Mount Hermon
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near where Lebanon, Israel, and
Syria actually come together.
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That's where we find the
headwaters or the beginning
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of the Jordan River.
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That is the area occupied
by Israel since the Six-Day War
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in 1967... the war
that they had with Syria,
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the area is still called to
this day... the Golan Heights.
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It is up near the Druze
area of... of northern Israel.
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They annexed it in 1981.
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This, of course,
includes Mount Hermon
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as I said from
which the headwaters flow
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and I have heard
Israelis say in Israel
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that they will never
give that land back...
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that land will
never be seceded back
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because they don't want Lebanon
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or even worse... Syria,
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to be in control of the
most important water system
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in all of Israel.
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Whoever controls Mount Hermon...
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whoever controls
the Golan Heights
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really controls the
flow of the Jordan River
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and so, Israel will
never relinquish that land
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because they
want to be in control
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of their own water source
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and don't want any
other country to be in control
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of that water source.
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So, the Sea of
Galilee is in Israel proper.
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So historically,
it has great import
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as it does today.
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Below the Sea of Galilee,
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the Jordan River
flows out of the south end
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and forms the boundary
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between Israel and the Royal
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,
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continuing
southwards for a 156 miles
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and, of course,
ending in the Dead Sea.
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But over two millennia before,
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Ellen White describes
the coming of God's people
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to the crossing of the
Jordan as a watershed experience
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and I see parallels in
the crossing of the Jordan
00:12:04.42\00:12:08.62
into the Promised Land
00:12:08.66\00:12:09.99
and the crossing of God's people
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over into our heavenly Canaan.
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The crossing of the
Jordan was a "God" thing.
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The crossing of the
Jordan was an act of faith.
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The crossing of the Jordan
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was acceptance
of God's call to war
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and a sign of their
belief in His power to win.
00:12:29.54\00:12:33.95
They're instructed to
celebrate the Passover
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on the 14th day
after crossing the Jordan
00:12:38.32\00:12:42.59
into the Promised Land.
00:12:42.62\00:12:43.96
The rite of
circumcision was re-instituted
00:12:43.99\00:12:46.83
after they crossed the Jordan.
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The manna that had flowed
for so many years in the desert
00:12:50.43\00:12:54.54
ceased before
they crossed the Jordan
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and they had to rely
on what they could gather
00:12:58.04\00:13:00.74
and grow for themselves
00:13:00.78\00:13:03.21
and so, the relationship
between God and His people...
00:13:03.24\00:13:07.18
once they crossed the
Jordan changed significantly.
00:13:07.22\00:13:11.12
Ellen White describes
the coming to the Jordan
00:13:11.15\00:13:14.39
as I said, as a
watershed experience.
00:13:14.42\00:13:17.59
So, what I want
to see and consider
00:13:17.63\00:13:21.13
is the difference
and the dissonance
00:13:21.16\00:13:24.40
between the
crossing of the Jordan
00:13:24.43\00:13:27.60
and that which took
place some 40 years earlier...
00:13:27.64\00:13:32.21
the crossing of the Red Sea.
00:13:32.27\00:13:34.84
Forty years earlier,
they sent out twelve spies.
00:13:34.88\00:13:38.78
This time in
crossing the Jordan,
00:13:38.81\00:13:41.68
they sent out two spies.
00:13:41.72\00:13:43.79
Forty years
before, the Bible says,
00:13:43.82\00:13:46.92
the people sent out 12 spies
00:13:46.96\00:13:49.26
and those 12 spies
reported back to everybody.
00:13:49.32\00:13:52.73
This time, the two spies
00:13:52.76\00:13:54.83
reported back
directly to Joshua.
00:13:54.86\00:13:58.00
Joshua had already
gotten God's assurance
00:13:58.03\00:14:02.40
that they would
succeed in conquering Jericho
00:14:02.44\00:14:06.78
and indeed all
of the Canaan land.
00:14:06.81\00:14:09.24
It was theirs
00:14:09.28\00:14:11.18
but there was no
substitute for preparation.
00:14:11.21\00:14:15.88
There is, I
believe, a... a... a parallel
00:14:15.95\00:14:20.59
in the crossing of the Jordan
00:14:20.62\00:14:22.02
because the crossing
of the Jordan is a type
00:14:22.06\00:14:25.96
of us crossing over, I believe,
into the Promised Land...
00:14:25.99\00:14:31.33
our heavenly home.
00:14:31.37\00:14:33.94
Heaven is guaranteed
00:14:34.00\00:14:36.50
even as the conquering of
the Canaan land was guaranteed
00:14:36.54\00:14:41.64
but it is guaranteed for those
00:14:41.68\00:14:44.41
who have given their
hearts to the Lord...
00:14:44.45\00:14:47.25
for those who have surrendered
their lives to the Lord...
00:14:47.28\00:14:51.85
for those who are
one with the Lord.
00:14:51.89\00:14:55.52
In Revelation
chapter 22 verse 12,
00:14:55.56\00:14:59.09
Christ says very
plainly... very matter-of-factly
00:14:59.13\00:15:03.53
"Behold I am coming quickly,
00:15:03.57\00:15:07.07
and My reward is with Me,
00:15:07.10\00:15:10.54
to give to every one
according to his work. "
00:15:10.57\00:15:15.54
That's the promise
that Christ has given...
00:15:15.58\00:15:20.48
so, heaven is a sure thing.
00:15:20.52\00:15:23.35
Heaven is promised to
those who love the Lord.
00:15:23.39\00:15:27.39
In Revelation
chapter 22 and verse 7,
00:15:27.42\00:15:30.93
the Bible says, "Blessed is he
00:15:30.96\00:15:34.13
who keeps these words... "
00:15:34.16\00:15:37.50
blessed is he who
keeps the words as given
00:15:37.53\00:15:42.37
by Jesus Christ.
00:15:42.40\00:15:44.74
This text is backed up
by Revelation chapter 22
00:15:44.77\00:15:49.61
and verse 14... I'm
reading from the Word of God
00:15:49.64\00:15:54.58
turn to it quickly,
Revelation 22 and verse 14,
00:15:54.62\00:15:59.32
you will see a pattern here.
00:15:59.35\00:16:01.22
I'm in Revelation 22
and we're at verse 14,
00:16:01.26\00:16:04.59
the Word of God says,
00:16:04.63\00:16:05.96
"Blessed are those
who do His commandments,
00:16:05.99\00:16:09.00
that they may have a
right to the tree of life,
00:16:09.06\00:16:12.20
and may enter through the gates
00:16:12.23\00:16:14.94
and into the city. "
00:16:14.97\00:16:17.21
Revelation 22:7,
00:16:17.24\00:16:19.44
"Blessed are those
who keep the words... "
00:16:19.47\00:16:22.68
Revelation 22:14,
00:16:22.71\00:16:24.68
"Blessed are
those who do His will...
00:16:24.71\00:16:28.82
who do His commandments... "
00:16:28.85\00:16:31.22
we can further buttress that
by looking at Titus chapter 3...
00:16:31.25\00:16:36.26
Titus chapter 3 and verse
8 where the Bible tells us
00:16:36.29\00:16:42.53
by the grace of God
to maintain good works.
00:16:42.56\00:16:48.50
I want to read that for you,
00:16:48.54\00:16:49.94
Titus chapter 3 and
we've got verse 8...
00:16:49.97\00:16:53.98
"This is a faithful saying,
00:16:54.01\00:16:55.34
and these things I
want to affirm constantly,
00:16:55.38\00:16:58.61
that those who
have believed in God
00:16:58.65\00:17:00.85
should be careful to
maintain good works... "
00:17:00.88\00:17:04.82
the Bible says in
Titus chapter 3 verse 8...
00:17:04.85\00:17:08.76
you see a pattern here...
00:17:08.82\00:17:10.29
doing the work of God...
00:17:10.33\00:17:11.99
keeping the will of God...
00:17:12.03\00:17:13.63
doing the commandments of God...
00:17:13.66\00:17:15.80
Titus says,
"Maintaining good works... "
00:17:15.83\00:17:19.00
Ephesians chapter 2...
one of my very favorite texts
00:17:19.03\00:17:24.07
in the Word of God...
00:17:24.11\00:17:25.44
Ephesians chapter 2 and
verse 8 is a powerful text,
00:17:25.47\00:17:30.28
we... we know Ephesians...
00:17:30.31\00:17:32.31
I'm sorry, Ephesians
chapter 2, I want verse 10.
00:17:32.35\00:17:36.38
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8
00:17:36.42\00:17:39.09
is one that comes
to mind very quickly
00:17:39.12\00:17:41.36
because it's says, "By grace
are ye saved through faith;
00:17:41.39\00:17:43.96
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God... "
00:17:43.99\00:17:46.53
but I want to go to
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10
00:17:46.59\00:17:50.10
for it says, "For
we are His workmanship,
00:17:50.13\00:17:54.34
created in Christ
Jesus for good works,
00:17:54.37\00:17:58.47
which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them. "
00:17:58.51\00:18:03.14
You notice, all of these
texts and many, many others
00:18:03.21\00:18:06.41
in the Word of God
commend us to good works
00:18:06.45\00:18:11.12
as we are
preparing to cross over
00:18:11.15\00:18:14.72
into God's heavenly Canaan,
00:18:14.76\00:18:17.33
we must work the works
of Him who died for us.
00:18:17.36\00:18:22.13
We must be busy about
our Father's business.
00:18:22.16\00:18:26.63
Part of the preparation
for getting into heaven
00:18:26.67\00:18:31.11
is doing heavenly
works here on earth
00:18:31.14\00:18:34.88
and even now
00:18:34.91\00:18:36.75
as we are directed
by the Spirit of God.
00:18:36.78\00:18:41.02
What ought God's people to
be doing in these last days?
00:18:41.05\00:18:46.19
We ought to be
doing the works of God.
00:18:46.22\00:18:48.92
We ought to be
employed and involved
00:18:48.96\00:18:51.59
in doing the works of God.
00:18:51.66\00:18:52.99
Our lives ought to be consumed
in doing God's holy works.
00:18:53.03\00:19:00.04
Now, I need to just say here,
00:19:00.07\00:19:02.97
we're not talking about
legalistically doing works
00:19:03.00\00:19:06.21
trying to please God...
trying to get into the kingdom.
00:19:06.24\00:19:09.24
No... no... we are saying...
00:19:09.28\00:19:11.78
these works flow out of an...
00:19:11.81\00:19:14.28
I've used this term many times,
00:19:14.32\00:19:15.75
a pre-existing condition...
00:19:15.78\00:19:18.15
the pre-existing
condition is a surrendered life
00:19:18.19\00:19:22.29
to Jesus Christ...
00:19:22.32\00:19:23.69
it's a life full
of the Spirit of God.
00:19:23.73\00:19:26.70
The works that we do flow
out of our love for Jesus.
00:19:26.73\00:19:32.57
We don't work to
get Him to love us...
00:19:32.60\00:19:35.70
we don't work to
get Him to save us...
00:19:35.74\00:19:39.37
we work because
He does love us...
00:19:39.41\00:19:43.91
we work because
He has saved us...
00:19:43.95\00:19:47.62
we work out of the understanding
00:19:47.65\00:19:51.22
of the work that He has
done for us on the cross...
00:19:51.25\00:19:55.99
He is doing for us in judgment
00:19:56.02\00:19:59.26
and that He will do for
us in coming to take us home.
00:19:59.29\00:20:03.40
So, I go now to 2nd
Timothy chapter 3 and verse 6,
00:20:03.43\00:20:08.64
2nd Timothy chapter 3
and verse 16 is what I want.
00:20:08.67\00:20:13.84
2nd Timothy 3 and
16... the Bible says,
00:20:13.88\00:20:18.65
verse on screen...
00:20:18.68\00:20:39.83
So, the Bible is
saying that Scripture is given
00:20:39.87\00:20:44.34
to equip us... to enable us...
00:20:44.37\00:20:47.91
to understand and to do what
works God has called us to do.
00:20:47.94\00:20:54.62
No one should think
00:20:54.65\00:20:56.18
that given the work that
Christ has done for us...
00:20:56.22\00:21:00.26
that we will not have to
labor in the Master's vineyard
00:21:00.29\00:21:05.09
while time lasts
00:21:05.13\00:21:07.30
as we prepare to
cross over the Jordan
00:21:07.33\00:21:11.00
into our heavenly home.
00:21:11.03\00:21:13.13
The watch word for this time
is: work the works of Jesus.
00:21:13.17\00:21:20.84
The watch word for this
time is not sitting and knitting
00:21:20.88\00:21:25.91
and waiting for Christ...
00:21:25.95\00:21:27.62
the watch word is:
standing and walking
00:21:27.65\00:21:31.15
and working for Jesus
00:21:31.19\00:21:32.95
occupying until He comes.
00:21:32.99\00:21:36.66
So, the Bible says...
Joshua sent out two spies
00:21:36.69\00:21:39.29
who tell them what
they've got to do...
00:21:39.33\00:21:45.67
these two witnesses...
00:21:45.70\00:21:47.57
that reminds me of
the two witnesses...
00:21:47.60\00:21:49.60
the Old
Testament and New Testament
00:21:49.67\00:21:51.64
in the book of Revelation
00:21:51.67\00:21:53.07
they... they tell us
what to do and how to live
00:21:53.11\00:21:55.14
but Joshua sent out two spies...
00:21:55.18\00:21:56.85
they... they inform them
of what is waiting for them
00:21:56.88\00:22:01.42
on the other side.
00:22:01.45\00:22:02.78
The Bible tells us
who we're fighting...
00:22:02.82\00:22:05.89
when we're fighting...
00:22:05.92\00:22:07.39
what we're fighting...
00:22:07.42\00:22:08.79
why we're fighting...
00:22:08.82\00:22:10.23
where we're fighting...
00:22:10.26\00:22:11.59
and how we are
fighting in these last days
00:22:11.63\00:22:14.93
as we prepare to
serve and to enter
00:22:14.96\00:22:18.90
into our heavenly home.
00:22:18.93\00:22:20.84
You know, in
Revelation chapter...
00:22:20.87\00:22:23.10
Revelation
chapter 20 and chapter 21,
00:22:23.14\00:22:25.27
Christ says, "Behold,
I make all things new. "
00:22:25.34\00:22:30.18
It's a wonderful
promise that one day
00:22:30.25\00:22:33.11
this earth that
we've had to fight with
00:22:33.15\00:22:36.02
and fight through
00:22:36.05\00:22:37.42
and which fights against us
00:22:37.45\00:22:39.19
is going to be changed
into a brand-new earth...
00:22:39.22\00:22:45.49
a new heaven...
00:22:45.53\00:22:46.86
no more sin...
00:22:46.90\00:22:48.23
no more sorrow...
00:22:48.26\00:22:49.60
no more pain...
00:22:49.63\00:22:50.97
no more ugly things...
00:22:51.00\00:22:53.80
the beauty of Christ
will be shown in His people
00:22:53.84\00:22:58.87
and in a brand-new earth,
00:22:58.94\00:23:01.34
so, the spies return and
they came back with a report
00:23:01.38\00:23:05.48
and basically, the
report was the same
00:23:05.51\00:23:10.09
as the 12 spies had
given 40 years before.
00:23:10.12\00:23:14.66
The report was the same...
00:23:14.69\00:23:16.96
there were still
giants in the land...
00:23:17.03\00:23:19.39
there were still
obstacles to faced...
00:23:19.43\00:23:21.80
there were still
wars to be fought...
00:23:21.83\00:23:24.17
but the difference was...
00:23:24.20\00:23:26.23
where the spies
40 years before said,
00:23:26.27\00:23:29.87
"We can't do this...
they are too big for us...
00:23:29.90\00:23:33.81
they are too much for us...
00:23:33.84\00:23:36.21
the spies 40 years later...
00:23:36.24\00:23:38.55
came back with the
universal declaration
00:23:38.61\00:23:42.05
that though
these things are there,
00:23:42.08\00:23:45.62
we are able.
00:23:45.65\00:23:48.82
We are able because He is able.
00:23:48.89\00:23:53.73
I see a parallel
in our lives today.
00:23:53.80\00:23:57.57
We each have
Jordan rivers to cross.
00:23:57.60\00:24:01.54
We each have
trials in our lives...
00:24:01.57\00:24:05.44
we each have times when
things are going to oppose us...
00:24:05.47\00:24:12.08
I just got some news
before... a few minutes ago
00:24:12.11\00:24:15.98
before beginning this
message about a good friend
00:24:16.02\00:24:19.65
who is... who is suffering...
00:24:19.69\00:24:21.66
someone known and
loved for many, many years...
00:24:21.69\00:24:24.39
that's the lot of this life...
00:24:24.43\00:24:28.36
my own mother-in-law...
my wife's mother
00:24:28.40\00:24:32.83
at 100 and...
well... oh, in a few days
00:24:32.87\00:24:37.31
will be 101 as of this recording
00:24:37.34\00:24:42.41
and we don't know how
things are going to end
00:24:42.44\00:24:46.92
but that's the lot in life...
00:24:46.95\00:24:49.15
we are called to fight...
00:24:49.18\00:24:51.32
we are called to... to
wrestle our way through life
00:24:51.35\00:24:55.76
and since the entrance of sin,
00:24:55.79\00:24:59.73
this has been man's lot in life
00:24:59.76\00:25:03.37
but the truth is... we are able
00:25:03.43\00:25:06.84
and when we're faced with trials
00:25:06.87\00:25:09.57
and when we're
faced with calamities
00:25:09.60\00:25:12.24
and when we're faced
with trials and challenges,
00:25:12.27\00:25:16.31
we as God's people need
to hold on to the truth...
00:25:16.34\00:25:20.32
the fact that we are able...
00:25:20.38\00:25:24.32
we are able because He is able
00:25:24.35\00:25:28.26
and He enables us to meet
and overcome the challenges
00:25:28.29\00:25:34.36
of these days in
which we find ourselves.
00:25:34.40\00:25:39.13
We are...
Ladies and Gentlemen...
00:25:39.17\00:25:42.10
on the borders of the kingdom.
00:25:42.14\00:25:45.54
We're on the edge of Paradise.
00:25:45.57\00:25:48.88
We are just about
ready to cross over
00:25:48.91\00:25:53.15
and it is too late for God's
people to be faint of heart
00:25:53.18\00:25:57.99
to lose hope...
to lose courage...
00:25:58.02\00:26:01.62
to lose faith...
00:26:01.69\00:26:03.43
we need to be strong in
the Lord as never before
00:26:03.46\00:26:09.13
because the trials
are going to come...
00:26:09.16\00:26:12.40
the challenges
are going to come...
00:26:12.43\00:26:15.54
they are going to
increase and get greater
00:26:15.57\00:26:19.17
but the truth is...
00:26:19.24\00:26:21.24
"Greater is He that is in us
than he that is in the world"
00:26:21.31\00:26:27.08
and so, when you
are faced with trials...
00:26:27.12\00:26:29.32
hold that thought...
00:26:29.35\00:26:31.19
let that thought
surround you and enfold you
00:26:31.25\00:26:37.06
and give you
courage and strength.
00:26:37.09\00:26:39.63
We shall overcome
because He has overcome
00:26:39.66\00:26:47.37
and my Bible says...
00:26:47.40\00:26:49.00
has sat down at the
right hand of the Father.
00:26:49.04\00:26:53.07
So, we stand at the
edge... at the border as it were
00:26:53.11\00:26:58.41
of the Promised Land.
00:26:58.45\00:27:01.62
Now, the kings on
the other side of Jordan
00:27:01.68\00:27:05.72
were... were afraid...
00:27:05.75\00:27:07.12
they had heard about the...
00:27:07.16\00:27:10.79
the seven kingdoms
that had been conquered
00:27:10.83\00:27:15.13
on the way to Jordan...
the five Midianite kings and...
00:27:15.16\00:27:19.03
and Og of Bashan...
00:27:19.07\00:27:21.94
and Sihon... King
of the Amorites and...
00:27:21.97\00:27:23.71
and the word had gone out
00:27:23.74\00:27:25.71
that Israel had
conquered these...
00:27:25.74\00:27:29.34
these kings before
getting to the Jordan
00:27:29.38\00:27:33.15
and they had become successful.
00:27:33.21\00:27:36.48
I see a parallel in that
we too will be assaulted...
00:27:36.52\00:27:42.06
you know, we've
got this Corona deal
00:27:42.09\00:27:44.19
and we've got financial things
00:27:44.23\00:27:47.36
and here in
California, we've got fires...
00:27:47.40\00:27:50.37
you know, no one
ever said it's...
00:27:50.40\00:27:53.47
it's going to be easy.
00:27:53.50\00:27:54.84
Getting into heaven
is not going to be easy
00:27:54.87\00:27:58.51
but getting into
heaven is going to be possible
00:27:58.54\00:28:02.34
because Christ
has made it possible.
00:28:02.38\00:28:05.58
God gives us these challenges
00:28:05.61\00:28:09.52
and He gives us
these... these testimonies
00:28:09.55\00:28:14.96
so that we can look at
the way God has fought for us
00:28:15.02\00:28:19.03
and through us
00:28:19.06\00:28:20.40
and we can give glory to Him.
00:28:20.43\00:28:22.86
Ellen White says in the book,
00:28:22.93\00:28:25.83
Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 485,
00:28:25.87\00:28:29.17
"To the
Canaanites, to all Israel,
00:28:29.20\00:28:32.47
and to Joshua himself,
00:28:32.51\00:28:34.34
unmistakable
evidence had been given
00:28:34.41\00:28:38.15
that the living God, the
King of heaven and earth,
00:28:38.18\00:28:41.75
was among His people,
00:28:41.78\00:28:44.25
and that He would not
fail them nor forsake them. "
00:28:44.29\00:28:51.13
You know, there's a wonderful
text in 1st John chapter 5
00:28:51.16\00:28:53.96
verse 13,
00:28:54.00\00:28:56.13
I won't turn to it, I'll
just sort of paraphrase it,
00:28:56.16\00:28:57.97
it says, "We ought to know...
00:28:58.00\00:29:00.20
we ought to know...
that we have eternal life. "
00:29:00.24\00:29:03.20
God doesn't want us to be hazy
about our eternal salvation.
00:29:03.24\00:29:08.01
God wants you to know
where you stand with Him.
00:29:08.04\00:29:11.71
You... as a Christian...
00:29:11.75\00:29:14.02
ought to be able to
look back through your life
00:29:14.08\00:29:17.22
and you ought to
be able to see times
00:29:17.25\00:29:21.82
when you know God put
His hand into your life.
00:29:21.86\00:29:25.93
You know that what
you are going through...
00:29:25.96\00:29:29.96
that what you experienced
was orchestrated by God.
00:29:30.00\00:29:34.64
Look over your life
and see the blessings
00:29:34.67\00:29:37.84
that God has done in your life
00:29:37.87\00:29:41.94
and you shouldn't
have to look too far
00:29:41.98\00:29:44.85
or to look too hard.
00:29:44.91\00:29:46.48
You ought to be
able to see a pattern
00:29:46.51\00:29:49.12
of what I call,
Providential Interposition...
00:29:49.18\00:29:53.29
that is to say, that at
certain times in your walk
00:29:53.32\00:29:57.66
towards heaven,
00:29:57.69\00:30:00.00
you can see where God
inserted Himself in your life
00:30:00.03\00:30:07.14
and spiritual muscles
accrue from being able to see
00:30:07.17\00:30:12.77
where God has blessed
you in a very specific way.
00:30:12.81\00:30:18.38
You ought to know
when God was in control.
00:30:18.41\00:30:22.18
Certain decisions you made...
00:30:22.22\00:30:23.62
certain places He took you...
00:30:23.65\00:30:25.29
certain
experiences you went through...
00:30:25.32\00:30:27.06
even though they may
have been tough experiences,
00:30:27.09\00:30:30.26
you ought to be able
to see, as a Christian,
00:30:30.29\00:30:33.43
times in your life...
00:30:33.46\00:30:35.36
and I'm not saying just "time"
00:30:35.40\00:30:36.97
times in your life
00:30:37.03\00:30:39.13
when God has put
His hand in your life
00:30:39.17\00:30:43.84
and He has blessed you
and kept you through this day.
00:30:43.87\00:30:48.64
One of the things that
00:30:48.71\00:30:50.41
recounting those
blessings of God does
00:30:50.45\00:30:53.01
is... it gives you
strength to go forward...
00:30:53.05\00:30:57.39
so, as we stand here on
the edges of the Jordan,
00:30:57.59\00:31:02.42
you ought to be
able to look back
00:31:02.46\00:31:06.43
and see that since
you crossed the Red Sea
00:31:06.46\00:31:10.20
which was the time you
gave your heart to the Lord...
00:31:10.27\00:31:13.40
which was the time that
you signed on with Jesus...
00:31:13.44\00:31:16.37
which was the time that
you surrendered to Him...
00:31:16.40\00:31:20.18
to this day...
heading across the Jordan...
00:31:20.21\00:31:23.98
you ought to be able to see
00:31:24.01\00:31:26.15
where God has put
Himself in your life...
00:31:26.18\00:31:30.29
has inserted
Himself in your existence
00:31:30.39\00:31:33.99
and those times...
recalling those times...
00:31:34.02\00:31:37.56
remembering those times...
00:31:37.59\00:31:39.39
recounting those times...
00:31:39.46\00:31:41.20
ought to encourage
you to go forward...
00:31:41.23\00:31:44.20
I always say, "If
you can't see ahead,
00:31:44.27\00:31:47.20
then look back
over your shoulder
00:31:47.24\00:31:49.64
and see from whence
God has brought you.
00:31:49.67\00:31:53.07
You don't want to
live in the past...
00:31:53.11\00:31:56.34
but you don't want
to forget about the past
00:31:56.38\00:32:00.02
because the only
thing worse than nostalgia
00:32:00.05\00:32:03.69
is amnesia...
00:32:03.72\00:32:05.42
you want to remember the past
00:32:05.45\00:32:07.82
and see how God has
blessed you in the past.
00:32:07.86\00:32:10.43
So Prophets and Kings tells us
00:32:10.46\00:32:12.03
that Israel had
unmistakable evidences
00:32:12.06\00:32:16.67
that God was with them
00:32:16.70\00:32:18.93
and hopefully, you got
those times in your life
00:32:18.97\00:32:22.17
that you can go back to
and see God has blessed you
00:32:22.20\00:32:25.14
because one of the things
that they will assure you of
00:32:25.17\00:32:28.08
is that... if He's
blessed you in the past,
00:32:28.11\00:32:30.41
He can bless you in the future.
00:32:30.45\00:32:32.01
If He's done it for you once...
He can do it for you again.
00:32:32.05\00:32:35.72
So, you know
that God is with you.
00:32:35.75\00:32:38.05
We've got some things
that we're going through
00:32:38.09\00:32:40.69
in... in our family
00:32:40.76\00:32:42.49
and it's good to know that
God has been there in the past
00:32:42.52\00:32:46.70
because it gives
us hope and courage
00:32:46.73\00:32:48.80
that God will continue
to bless us in the future.
00:32:48.83\00:32:51.93
God, Ellen White
says, is waiting to give us
00:32:51.97\00:32:55.80
unmistakable
evidences of His presence.
00:32:55.84\00:33:00.01
Has any one here ever
had an unmistakable evidence
00:33:00.08\00:33:03.28
of the presence of God?
00:33:03.35\00:33:04.68
You should and you
should look for them
00:33:04.71\00:33:08.08
and bask in them
00:33:08.12\00:33:10.29
as you recount them
to the glory of God.
00:33:10.32\00:33:12.62
You don't need to have many...
00:33:12.65\00:33:14.72
they don't need to
be weekly or monthly...
00:33:14.76\00:33:17.79
they just need to
happen every once in a while
00:33:17.86\00:33:20.66
so that you know that
you're walking with the Lord
00:33:20.70\00:33:23.47
just often enough to assure you
00:33:23.50\00:33:26.23
that God is on your
side as you are on His side
00:33:26.27\00:33:31.87
and we praise the Lord for that.
00:33:31.91\00:33:34.54
Ellen White says... or
rather the Bible says...
00:33:34.58\00:33:37.15
I want to go to
the Bible here...
00:33:37.18\00:33:38.51
in 2nd Corinthians
chapter 10 verse 4...
00:33:38.55\00:33:41.48
2nd Corinthians
chapter 10 verse 4
00:33:41.52\00:33:44.72
that we walk in the flesh
but we don't war in the flesh.
00:33:44.75\00:33:48.89
The weapons of our
warfare, the Word of God says,
00:33:48.92\00:33:52.09
are not carnal
00:33:52.16\00:33:53.50
but they are mighty to the
pulling down of strongholds
00:33:53.53\00:33:56.70
so, God steps in
and fights for us
00:33:56.77\00:34:00.17
and fights through us
00:34:00.24\00:34:01.80
and by the grace of God
we gain victory through Him
00:34:01.84\00:34:05.77
and through His power.
00:34:05.81\00:34:07.81
Pause...
00:34:07.84\00:34:10.38
Knowing that God has
blessed you in the past,
00:34:10.41\00:34:14.32
emboldens and encourages
you to greater feats for Him
00:34:14.35\00:34:21.19
in the future.
00:34:21.22\00:34:22.86
They didn't know what was on
the other side of the Jordan.
00:34:22.89\00:34:28.46
They simply knew
that God has brought them
00:34:28.50\00:34:33.00
to this time
00:34:33.03\00:34:34.40
and when you have your
Jordan-River experience,
00:34:34.47\00:34:38.64
you may not know
what's on the other side
00:34:38.67\00:34:42.38
but you know that the God
who brought you to the Jordan
00:34:42.41\00:34:47.65
will get you across the Jordan
00:34:47.68\00:34:50.29
and that's very, very important
00:34:50.32\00:34:52.89
as we look at something
that we're going to talk about
00:34:52.92\00:34:55.49
in just a minute.
00:34:55.52\00:34:57.13
Crossing the
Jordan was a big deal.
00:34:57.16\00:35:01.86
God had led them
through a wilderness experience
00:35:01.90\00:35:09.77
and all of those faithless
ones had died in the wilderness
00:35:09.80\00:35:14.74
and now, a
brand-new group of people
00:35:14.78\00:35:17.95
were prepared to
cross the Jordan.
00:35:17.98\00:35:21.08
Ellen White says, "It
was the spring of the year
00:35:21.15\00:35:24.85
and the Jordan
00:35:24.89\00:35:26.42
characteristically
overflowed its banks
00:35:26.45\00:35:30.06
due to the melting
snows of Mount Hermon.
00:35:30.09\00:35:34.63
It was impossible
to cross the Jordan
00:35:34.66\00:35:39.17
without assistance from God.
00:35:39.23\00:35:43.37
It was not a man
thing... it was a God thing.
00:35:43.41\00:35:48.98
How many times in our
lives have we faced experiences
00:35:49.01\00:35:54.78
where we could see
that it would be impossible
00:35:54.82\00:35:59.25
to do anything to
conquer this thing...
00:35:59.32\00:36:02.96
to overcome this thing
without the power of God?"
00:36:02.99\00:36:08.23
Ellen White describes the
Jordan River in the spring...
00:36:08.26\00:36:13.17
she uses the terms as:
swollen... raging and angry.
00:36:13.20\00:36:18.07
"As they camped
on the eastern shore,
00:36:18.11\00:36:21.04
God wanted the
people to understand
00:36:21.08\00:36:23.98
that the same God
that had brought them out
00:36:24.01\00:36:28.38
would take them in. "
00:36:28.42\00:36:31.32
You know, God didn't bring
us out of... out of the world
00:36:31.35\00:36:35.26
to have us die
in the wilderness.
00:36:35.29\00:36:38.59
God called you out of the world
00:36:38.63\00:36:41.86
with the intention of
taking you into the kingdom.
00:36:41.90\00:36:46.74
That's why it is so sad...
00:36:46.77\00:36:48.77
and I've had this in my
ministry over the years...
00:36:48.80\00:36:50.67
to see people come
out of the world...
00:36:50.71\00:36:52.67
take hands or hold hands
00:36:52.74\00:36:55.01
or join hands with Jesus
00:36:55.04\00:36:57.28
and then for
some reason to let go
00:36:57.31\00:37:00.28
and to go back to the world.
00:37:00.32\00:37:02.55
The Bible tells us God
brought them out of Egypt
00:37:02.58\00:37:06.99
that He might take them
in to the Promised Land.
00:37:07.02\00:37:11.36
God brought you out of the world
00:37:11.39\00:37:14.86
with the intention of
taking you into the Kingdom
00:37:14.90\00:37:20.07
and nothing less
than that will do.
00:37:20.14\00:37:24.57
So, they camp now
on the eastern shore
00:37:24.61\00:37:29.04
and the river is raging
00:37:29.08\00:37:32.81
and the waters
are swollen and angry
00:37:32.85\00:37:36.42
and they know
they can't get across
00:37:36.45\00:37:39.95
without the power of God.
00:37:39.99\00:37:42.89
In Jeremiah chapter 12 verse 5,
00:37:42.92\00:37:45.49
the Bible says
something very, very interesting
00:37:45.53\00:37:49.73
and very, very important.
00:37:49.76\00:37:51.10
I'm going to turn to
that text, Jeremiah 12:5
00:37:51.13\00:37:54.60
because it... it
bespeaks the challenges
00:37:54.64\00:37:59.04
that God's people face.
00:37:59.07\00:38:01.41
Jeremiah 12 and I'm
looking at verse 5...
00:38:01.44\00:38:05.78
pause...
00:38:05.81\00:38:08.15
the Bible says,
00:38:08.18\00:38:10.09
"If you have run
with the footmen,
00:38:10.15\00:38:12.99
and they have wearied you,
00:38:13.02\00:38:14.72
then how can you
contend with the horses?
00:38:14.76\00:38:18.09
And if in the land of peace,
00:38:18.13\00:38:21.96
in which you
trusted, they wearied you,
00:38:22.00\00:38:24.93
then how will you do
00:38:24.97\00:38:26.84
in the
swelling... or the floodplain
00:38:26.87\00:38:29.70
of the Jordan?"
00:38:29.74\00:38:31.61
Pause...
00:38:31.67\00:38:34.64
One of the things that
is going to be called for
00:38:34.68\00:38:38.88
in these last
days is perseverance
00:38:38.91\00:38:43.69
and patience by
the people of God.
00:38:43.72\00:38:48.42
We, as a church...
we, as individuals...
00:38:48.46\00:38:52.83
are going to face things
we have never faced before.
00:38:52.86\00:38:57.77
We are going to be called
to fight and overcome obstacles
00:38:57.80\00:39:03.87
as never before.
00:39:03.91\00:39:06.11
The word here for
"swelling" is "gaon"
00:39:06.14\00:39:11.38
gaon... the Hebrew word...
00:39:11.41\00:39:14.95
it means Pride... anger...
00:39:14.98\00:39:18.42
and interestingly
enough: arrogancy.
00:39:18.45\00:39:21.32
Pause...
00:39:21.36\00:39:24.33
We are going to face
things as never before.
00:39:24.36\00:39:29.33
Pause...
00:39:29.36\00:39:32.53
Everybody is going to
have a Jordan-river experience
00:39:32.57\00:39:36.87
in their lives.
00:39:36.91\00:39:38.24
You see, at the Red
Sea... and this is important...
00:39:38.27\00:39:45.55
God did most of the work.
00:39:45.58\00:39:51.42
Forty years earlier, a
mixed multitude left Egypt...
00:39:51.45\00:39:58.69
they did not really know God...
00:39:58.73\00:40:03.97
they had been in Egypt for
several generations... 400 years
00:40:04.00\00:40:11.77
there was a group
embedded and in... in... in...
00:40:11.81\00:40:18.75
in... in...
yeah... embedded in Israel
00:40:18.78\00:40:21.92
that were basically
Egyptian in mind-set
00:40:21.95\00:40:26.32
so, you had
this mixed multitude.
00:40:26.35\00:40:29.26
They had not had an
experience with the Lord...
00:40:29.29\00:40:33.70
they did not know the
Lord in His fuller sense
00:40:33.73\00:40:38.57
so, when they
crossed the Red Sea...
00:40:38.60\00:40:44.01
God did most of the work.
00:40:44.04\00:40:48.34
When they crossed the Jordan,
00:40:48.38\00:40:53.72
they had had 40 years
of experience with the Lord
00:40:53.75\00:41:00.22
and things had changed.
00:41:00.26\00:41:03.69
When you start out in
your Christian experience...
00:41:03.73\00:41:07.83
when you go
through the Red Sea...
00:41:07.86\00:41:10.73
which... which is really sort
of analogous to your baptism
00:41:10.77\00:41:15.04
and the Bible does sort of
give us an invitation of that.
00:41:15.07\00:41:19.31
It's early in
your... in your walk with God
00:41:19.37\00:41:22.18
and God's got to do a
lot to strengthen your faith.
00:41:22.21\00:41:26.18
Sometimes He's got to
take you through on dry land
00:41:26.21\00:41:29.75
because you're...
00:41:29.78\00:41:31.12
you're not
accustomed to trusting Him yet.
00:41:31.15\00:41:33.39
He's got to do some very
special blessings for you
00:41:33.42\00:41:36.66
to strengthen your
faith... to get you to trust Him
00:41:36.69\00:41:39.86
and so, when the Children
of Israel came to the Red Sea,
00:41:39.89\00:41:44.37
you got Pharaoh's army behind...
00:41:44.40\00:41:46.77
you've got the Red Sea before...
00:41:46.80\00:41:49.10
God had to do something
very, very special for them.
00:41:49.14\00:41:53.81
You know the story how the...
00:41:53.84\00:41:57.35
the pillar of fire
which was leading them
00:41:57.38\00:42:00.35
came around behind
them... interposed itself
00:42:00.38\00:42:03.35
between God's people and Pharaoh
00:42:03.39\00:42:05.45
and Moses said, "Stand
still, hold your peace...
00:42:05.49\00:42:11.79
you're not going
to see them anymore. "
00:42:11.83\00:42:13.50
This is the experience
00:42:13.56\00:42:16.30
and they went
through on dry ground
00:42:16.33\00:42:21.60
because they needed to
go through on dry ground
00:42:21.64\00:42:27.48
but 40 years later,
00:42:27.51\00:42:30.75
God is calling for
a little more faith.
00:42:30.78\00:42:34.15
God is calling for a little
more input from His people...
00:42:34.22\00:42:38.55
God is calling for
a different experience
00:42:38.59\00:42:41.66
than He did at the Red Sea.
00:42:41.69\00:42:43.79
So, crossing the Jordan
00:42:43.83\00:42:45.83
is little different
than crossing the Red Sea...
00:42:45.86\00:42:48.66
it's going to take more faith
to get you across the Jordan
00:42:48.70\00:42:53.57
than it did to get
you across the Red Sea.
00:42:53.64\00:42:57.01
I'm reading Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 43,
00:42:57.04\00:42:59.87
Ellen White says,
"Leaving their encampment,
00:42:59.91\00:43:02.94
the host descended to
the border of the Jordan.
00:43:02.98\00:43:06.01
All knew however
that without divine aid
00:43:06.05\00:43:10.39
they could not hope
to make the passage. "
00:43:10.42\00:43:14.49
We're talking about...
00:43:14.52\00:43:15.86
depending on whose
numbers you take...
00:43:15.89\00:43:17.99
between three and
five million people.
00:43:18.03\00:43:20.16
"God willed that the passage
of Israel over the Jordan
00:43:20.20\00:43:26.30
should be miraculous. "
00:43:26.33\00:43:29.00
One of these
things is going to happen
00:43:29.04\00:43:31.67
when you get into heaven...
00:43:31.71\00:43:34.14
when you cross
the heavenly Jordan
00:43:34.18\00:43:36.48
and look back at your life,
00:43:36.51\00:43:38.11
you will realize
that without God,
00:43:38.15\00:43:41.65
it would not have been possible.
00:43:41.68\00:43:45.65
The calling you
out of the world...
00:43:45.69\00:43:48.39
the leading you
through the desert...
00:43:48.42\00:43:51.09
the crossing over the
Jordan was all done...
00:43:51.13\00:43:56.16
was all made possible because
God was leading your life
00:43:56.20\00:43:59.70
and had God not been there...
00:43:59.73\00:44:01.57
had God not taken care of you...
00:44:01.60\00:44:03.37
had God not
surrounded you with His love
00:44:03.41\00:44:05.77
and with angels
00:44:05.81\00:44:07.14
and with the Holy Spirit,
00:44:07.18\00:44:08.51
you know that you
could not have made it
00:44:08.54\00:44:13.42
into the kingdom of God.
00:44:13.45\00:44:15.02
One of the things that
we will be so thankful for
00:44:15.05\00:44:18.65
when we make it to heaven
00:44:18.69\00:44:20.66
is that God put up with us
00:44:20.69\00:44:22.62
sometimes when we weren't even
willing to cooperate with Him
00:44:22.66\00:44:26.13
to save our souls and to
get us across the Jordan.
00:44:26.16\00:44:30.07
Ellen White says,
"Joshua, by divine direction,
00:44:30.10\00:44:33.77
commanded the people
to sanctify themselves
00:44:33.84\00:44:37.44
they must put away
their sins and free themselves
00:44:37.47\00:44:41.98
from all outward impurity
'for tomorrow,' he said,
00:44:42.01\00:44:46.48
'the Lord will do
wonders among you. '"
00:44:46.51\00:44:50.49
Pause...
00:44:50.52\00:44:54.19
This time of God's judgment...
00:44:54.22\00:44:56.39
this day of God's judgment
00:44:56.42\00:44:59.19
is the day... are the days
00:44:59.23\00:45:01.93
when we as people of
God must sanctify ourselves.
00:45:01.96\00:45:06.84
We must make sure that
not one drop of impurity
00:45:06.87\00:45:11.67
is in our lives...
00:45:11.71\00:45:13.27
that we are in total
harmony with the Lord...
00:45:13.31\00:45:16.54
that we are doing
the work of the Lord
00:45:16.58\00:45:18.95
and allowing the
Lord to cleanse our lives.
00:45:18.98\00:45:22.28
These are the times...
00:45:22.32\00:45:24.05
these are the days
when that text says,
00:45:24.09\00:45:26.35
"Let this mind be in you,
00:45:26.39\00:45:28.79
which was also
in Christ Jesus... "
00:45:28.82\00:45:31.23
is applicable... why?
00:45:31.29\00:45:33.56
Because we are in the
hour of His judgment...
00:45:33.60\00:45:37.37
we need to fear
God and give Him glory
00:45:37.40\00:45:41.10
and cleanse our lives
00:45:41.17\00:45:43.71
for soon and very soon
00:45:43.74\00:45:46.17
God is going to do a
marvelous and wondrous work
00:45:46.21\00:45:49.68
when He comes to
take His children home.
00:45:49.71\00:45:53.52
Ellen White says,
"The Lord instructed them
00:45:53.58\00:45:57.29
to lead with the Ark of God...
the Ark of the Covenant...
00:45:57.35\00:46:02.06
and the people were instructed
to follow at the distance...
00:46:02.12\00:46:06.80
as I said of about a 1/2 mile.
00:46:06.83\00:46:08.70
Now, this is important
because there was another time
00:46:08.73\00:46:12.10
some 500 years later,
when they took the Ark of God
00:46:12.13\00:46:15.50
into battle... they
led with the Ark of God
00:46:15.54\00:46:18.11
and the Ark of God was
taken by the Philistines
00:46:18.17\00:46:20.71
but this time, they are told
00:46:20.74\00:46:23.78
to lead with the Ark of God.
00:46:23.81\00:46:26.78
They needed to
follow this Ark of God...
00:46:26.82\00:46:32.09
this visible presence of
the Lord that was leading them.
00:46:32.12\00:46:39.33
Now, let's focus on Joshua
chapter 3 verses 15 and 16,
00:46:39.36\00:46:46.50
I want to go back to Joshua
00:46:46.53\00:46:48.94
chapter 3 and I'm
at verse 15 and 16...
00:46:48.97\00:46:56.44
in fact, I'll go
back to verse 14,
00:46:56.48\00:46:59.98
I'll go to 14... 15... and 16...
00:47:00.02\00:47:03.42
"So it was, when the
people set out from their camp
00:47:03.45\00:47:06.59
to cross over the Jordan,
00:47:06.62\00:47:08.16
and the priests
bearing the ark of the covenant
00:47:08.22\00:47:10.86
before the people... "
here we are at verse 15...
00:47:10.89\00:47:14.66
"and as those who bore
the ark came to the Jordan,
00:47:14.73\00:47:18.47
and the feet of the
priests who bore the ark
00:47:18.50\00:47:22.10
dipped in the
edge of the water...
00:47:22.14\00:47:24.87
for the Jordan
overflows all its banks
00:47:24.91\00:47:27.48
during the
whole time of harvest,
00:47:27.51\00:47:30.18
that the waters which came
down from upstream stood still,
00:47:30.21\00:47:34.92
and rose in a heap
very far away at Adam,
00:47:34.98\00:47:41.79
the city that is beside Zaretan.
00:47:41.82\00:47:45.46
So the waters that went
down to the Sea of Arabah,
00:47:45.49\00:47:50.10
the Salt Sea... "
00:47:50.13\00:47:51.60
it's heading down
towards Dead Sea...
00:47:51.63\00:47:53.80
"failed, and were cut off:
00:47:53.84\00:47:55.87
and the people crossed
over opposite Jericho. "
00:47:55.90\00:48:01.08
Now, let's look at
what's happening here,
00:48:01.11\00:48:05.28
before a miracle took place...
00:48:05.31\00:48:11.15
God's people had to
exercise great faith...
00:48:11.19\00:48:18.29
the people in general...
the priests in particular.
00:48:18.33\00:48:22.70
The Bible says,
"God dried up the Jordan
00:48:22.73\00:48:29.60
just as he had
dried up the Red Sea
00:48:29.64\00:48:34.88
but the Jordan didn't dry up
00:48:34.91\00:48:40.62
until the people
stepped in the water.
00:48:40.65\00:48:48.02
The water was raging...
00:48:48.06\00:48:50.66
the river was flooded...
00:48:50.69\00:48:53.19
it had overflowed its banks...
00:48:53.23\00:48:56.63
it was swollen
00:48:56.67\00:48:58.43
but God had them to
exercise unusual faith
00:48:58.47\00:49:04.67
before He performed the miracle.
00:49:04.71\00:49:08.34
There is a pattern here.
00:49:08.38\00:49:10.98
At the Red Sea...
00:49:11.01\00:49:13.01
when God's people
came to the Red Sea,
00:49:13.05\00:49:16.15
God dried the Red Sea for them
00:49:16.18\00:49:20.69
before they ever
stepped into the Red Sea.
00:49:20.72\00:49:24.66
"They crossed over...
" the Word of God says
00:49:24.69\00:49:28.60
"on dry land... "
00:49:28.66\00:49:30.93
but when they
came to the Jordan,
00:49:30.97\00:49:34.14
God said, "You got to
step into the water...
00:49:34.17\00:49:39.71
you've got to get your feet wet
00:49:39.74\00:49:43.28
before the
miracle takes place. "
00:49:43.31\00:49:46.65
Much more faith was needed
00:49:46.68\00:49:53.05
to step into a
flooded flowing river
00:49:53.09\00:49:59.93
than it took to
step into a dry riverbed
00:49:59.96\00:50:06.74
as 40 years before.
00:50:06.77\00:50:08.44
Now, both were a miracle...
00:50:08.47\00:50:10.91
the Red Sea being
dried was a miracle...
00:50:10.94\00:50:14.34
but the Jordan was a
miracle that was a response
00:50:14.38\00:50:20.22
to the faith of the people.
00:50:20.25\00:50:22.38
When you gave your heart
to the Lord at the Red Sea,
00:50:22.42\00:50:27.56
when you came out
of the baptismal pool,
00:50:27.59\00:50:30.86
you were a babe...
00:50:30.89\00:50:32.36
you were a babe in the faith
00:50:32.39\00:50:36.40
but before you go into heaven,
00:50:36.43\00:50:40.37
your faith is
going to have to grow.
00:50:40.40\00:50:45.11
Your faith is going
to have to get stronger.
00:50:45.14\00:50:49.58
Your faith will be tested
00:50:49.61\00:50:53.78
because it will take great faith
00:50:53.82\00:50:57.25
to get you through
this time of trouble...
00:50:57.29\00:51:00.46
it will take great faith
00:51:00.49\00:51:02.66
to get you through
this time of judgment...
00:51:02.72\00:51:05.63
it will take great faith
00:51:05.66\00:51:07.86
to get you through the slings
and arrows and Satanic attacks
00:51:07.90\00:51:12.80
that are going to
be put upon the church
00:51:12.83\00:51:15.77
before you get
into the kingdom of God.
00:51:15.80\00:51:18.67
The baby faith that got
you across the Red Sea is fine
00:51:18.71\00:51:23.35
but the call in these last
days is for God's people to...
00:51:23.38\00:51:27.95
one... grow in faith
00:51:27.98\00:51:30.49
two... grow in
their knowledge of Jesus
00:51:30.55\00:51:34.52
and three...
exercise that stronger faith
00:51:34.59\00:51:38.49
because it will be that stronger
faith... that adult faith...
00:51:38.53\00:51:42.90
that mature faith...
00:51:42.93\00:51:44.43
that will keep you
00:51:44.47\00:51:45.93
in the hour of
trial and temptation
00:51:45.97\00:51:48.84
and rest assured,
Brothers and Sisters...
00:51:48.87\00:51:53.17
everybody and every
thing will be tested...
00:51:53.21\00:51:57.05
all that you believe
and all that you know
00:51:57.08\00:52:00.92
and all that you
understand will be tested
00:52:00.95\00:52:04.75
before we make
it into the kingdom
00:52:04.79\00:52:07.06
and so, the watch
word in these last days
00:52:07.12\00:52:10.83
is to grow...
00:52:10.86\00:52:12.76
the watch word
in these last days
00:52:12.79\00:52:15.43
is to get stronger in the
Lord because crossing the Jordan
00:52:15.46\00:52:20.64
is not like
crossing the Red Sea...
00:52:20.67\00:52:23.04
it's going to take
strong Christianity...
00:52:23.07\00:52:25.77
it's going to
take strong people...
00:52:25.81\00:52:28.08
it's going to take
strong sense of God
00:52:28.11\00:52:30.35
to make it into the kingdom.
00:52:30.38\00:52:32.61
Weak-kneed faith...
00:52:32.65\00:52:34.72
sad faith...
00:52:34.78\00:52:36.72
sorry faith...
00:52:36.75\00:52:38.62
faith that does not
have legs and muscles
00:52:38.65\00:52:42.22
simply will not do
in these last days.
00:52:42.29\00:52:45.79
Indeed, Christ is
calling for great faith...
00:52:45.83\00:52:48.76
great examples of faith...
00:52:48.80\00:52:50.93
great exhibitions of faith
00:52:50.97\00:52:53.03
if we are going to get
into the kingdom of God.
00:52:53.07\00:52:56.74
The waters parted
00:52:56.77\00:52:59.01
but the waters parted
after the children of Israel
00:52:59.04\00:53:03.61
got their feet wet
00:53:03.65\00:53:05.81
and Ladies and Gentlemen,
00:53:05.85\00:53:07.18
we're going to have
to get our feet wet...
00:53:07.22\00:53:09.28
we're going to have
to do all that we can
00:53:09.32\00:53:12.02
to make sure that we
are strong in the faith
00:53:12.05\00:53:15.39
because the Lord is
calling for great faith...
00:53:15.42\00:53:18.73
He's calling for
growth in faith...
00:53:18.76\00:53:22.03
He's calling for
the kind of faith
00:53:22.06\00:53:25.27
that will fight through
the trials and see Jesus
00:53:25.30\00:53:29.40
face to face.
00:53:29.44\00:53:30.94
The Bible says, "Be
ye therefore perfect... "
00:53:30.97\00:53:33.58
not talking about perfect
sinlessness at this time...
00:53:33.61\00:53:38.61
it's talking about
perfect love for Jesus
00:53:38.65\00:53:41.52
which will keep
us during the trials
00:53:41.55\00:53:45.42
that we are going to
face and that we have to face
00:53:45.45\00:53:50.53
in these last days.
00:53:50.59\00:53:52.26
I am so glad that
God does not call us
00:53:52.29\00:53:57.83
to fight in our own strength
00:53:57.87\00:54:02.20
but that He will fight
for us and fight with us
00:54:02.24\00:54:05.81
as we seek to
make it to the kingdom.
00:54:05.84\00:54:07.81
In the book:
Ministry of Healing,
00:54:07.84\00:54:09.74
Ellen White says this,
00:54:09.78\00:54:11.31
"Our hearts must be educated
to become steadfast in God. "
00:54:11.35\00:54:17.95
I say again, "Our
hearts must be educated
00:54:17.99\00:54:22.92
to become steadfast in God... "
00:54:22.96\00:54:25.43
and really,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
00:54:25.46\00:54:27.86
one of the only ways
that we get that steadfastness
00:54:27.90\00:54:31.23
is through trial.
00:54:31.27\00:54:32.60
We don't like trial...
00:54:32.63\00:54:34.27
we shy away from trial
00:54:34.30\00:54:36.07
but trial builds
strong spiritual muscles.
00:54:36.10\00:54:40.68
I continue, "We are
to form habits of thought
00:54:40.71\00:54:44.78
that will ennoble us
or rather... enable us
00:54:44.81\00:54:48.85
to resist temptation.
00:54:48.88\00:54:50.92
Got to have our mind right...
00:54:50.95\00:54:52.65
our thinking
process has to be right.
00:54:52.69\00:54:54.92
Not only what you
do but what you think
00:54:54.96\00:54:57.53
must be in harmony
with the will of God.
00:54:57.56\00:55:00.10
We must learn to look upward.
00:55:00.13\00:55:03.90
The principles of
the Word of God...
00:55:03.93\00:55:06.47
the principles that
are as high as heaven
00:55:06.50\00:55:09.17
and that compass eternity...
00:55:09.20\00:55:11.51
we are to understand in their
bearing upon our daily life.
00:55:11.54\00:55:18.25
If we are going to be
able to cross the Jordan,
00:55:18.28\00:55:23.95
we must prepare for that day...
00:55:23.99\00:55:27.86
each day.
00:55:27.92\00:55:29.29
You don't get to the Jordan
and then try to summon faith...
00:55:29.32\00:55:33.83
you got to have faith
to get across to Jordan.
00:55:33.86\00:55:36.87
Ellen White says,
"Every act... every word...
00:55:36.90\00:55:39.87
every thought is to be in accord
00:55:39.90\00:55:42.24
with these principles.
00:55:42.27\00:55:45.11
All must be
brought into harmony with
00:55:45.17\00:55:48.98
and subject to Christ.
00:55:49.04\00:55:52.11
The precious
graces of the Holy Spirit
00:55:52.15\00:55:55.35
are not
developed in a moment... "
00:55:55.38\00:55:57.89
this is important...
00:55:57.92\00:55:59.85
"courage... fortitude...
meekness... faith...
00:55:59.89\00:56:03.46
unwavering trust
in God's power to save
00:56:03.49\00:56:06.39
are not acquired by...
00:56:06.43\00:56:09.13
are only acquired... " rather...
00:56:09.16\00:56:11.60
"by the experience of years... "
00:56:11.63\00:56:14.00
so, you've got to
start working now...
00:56:14.04\00:56:16.20
particularly those
who got a late start...
00:56:16.24\00:56:18.34
you got to... you can do it
00:56:18.37\00:56:19.71
but you've got to trust
in God with all your heart
00:56:19.74\00:56:22.41
and make up for lost time.
00:56:22.44\00:56:24.45
"By a life of holy endeavor
00:56:24.48\00:56:26.41
and firm
adherence to the right...
00:56:26.45\00:56:29.15
the children of God are
to seal their destinies. "
00:56:29.18\00:56:35.52
Now, there are two ways to go,
00:56:35.56\00:56:40.40
you can go across Jordan
00:56:40.46\00:56:43.10
or you can go back
into the wilderness
00:56:43.16\00:56:45.83
as the Children of
Israel did so many years ago
00:56:45.87\00:56:49.54
but the time is late...
00:56:49.57\00:56:51.27
the kind of faith you will
need to make it into the kingdom
00:56:51.31\00:56:54.34
is not developed in a second...
00:56:54.38\00:56:57.01
it is not developed in trial...
00:56:57.05\00:56:59.61
it is revealed in trial
00:56:59.65\00:57:02.18
and if you are God's
00:57:02.22\00:57:04.69
and if you will make it
into the heavenly kingdom...
00:57:04.72\00:57:07.62
if you will move from
the crossing of the Red Sea
00:57:07.66\00:57:10.53
to the crossing of the Jordan
00:57:10.56\00:57:12.99
and on into the Promised Land,
00:57:13.03\00:57:15.66
then your faith
will be tested...
00:57:15.70\00:57:18.50
your faith must prove its mettle
00:57:18.53\00:57:21.27
and your faith can overcome
even as Christ has overcome
00:57:21.30\00:57:27.44
and is set down by
the right hand of God.
00:57:27.48\00:57:31.95
It is God's
pleasure... we are told,
00:57:31.98\00:57:35.45
to give you the
keys to the kingdom.
00:57:35.48\00:57:38.85
Stay with Him so that after
you have done the will of God,
00:57:38.89\00:57:44.16
you too will see...
00:57:44.23\00:57:47.06
will receive His
mighty and gracious reward.
00:57:47.10\00:57:52.17
May God bless you.
00:57:52.20\00:57:53.54