Music...
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Hello and welcome to the second
in our Series of Presentations
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under the theme: The
Hour of His Judgment.
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We're calling our
Presentation for today:
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A Call to Arms...
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A Call to Arms.
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The Scripture lesson is one that
I have certainly used before
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and perhaps, you here at
other times during this Summit
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because it is so
appropriate to the times
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in which we find ourselves.
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Turn with me, if you
will, to the book of Romans...
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the book of Romans chapter 13...
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I will give you
just a moment to find it.
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When you get to
Romans 13, we want to zero in
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on verses 11 through 13...
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Romans 13:11 through 13
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will serve as
our foundation text
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for our message today.
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Before we read
from the Word of God,
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let's go to the Lord in prayer,
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"Father God, again we
praise you and thank you
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for the privilege that is ours
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not only to attend
this virtual summit
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but to hear words
of impress and import
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that our soul
very much calculated
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to prick our
minds and consciences
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as we get closer and closer
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to the time when Christ
shall come to take us home.
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We ask, Lord, that You
would teach us those things
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that You'd have us to know...
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that You would bless us,
Father, with Your presence...
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Your power...
Your Holy Spirit...
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for we need not only to
hear a word from the Lord
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but we need the
power of the Lord
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to put into
practice those things
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that will help prepare us
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for that day when
Christ comes again,
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we know that it is soon
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but we want more
than anything, Lord,
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to be ready for that day.
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Would you be
pleased, dear Father,
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to equip us anew
and again on this day
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so that we can be
prepared for that day
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which we know is soon to come
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and we thank you and praise you,
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in Jesus' name, amen and amen. "
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I'm in Romans 13
beginning at verse 11
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and reading through to verse 13.
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The Bible says,
"And do this... "
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I'm reading from
the New King James...
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verse on screen.
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And I'll just go
on and read verse 14
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since it's the last
one in the chapter...
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concludes this thought...
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"But put on the
Lord Jesus Christ,
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and make no
provision for the flesh,
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to fulfill its lusts. "
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On February 6 in the year 1890,
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some 130 years ago,
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Ellen White delivered
a morning worship talk
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to a group of students.
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These students had
braved the chilly February
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Battle Creek, Michigan air
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and on that cold, frigid day,
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they came to hear
words of special import
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to her and to them.
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She chose as directed
by God and the Holy Spirit,
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to interweave themes
dealing with war and sin
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and Satan and the
plight of the remnant...
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in fact, her message
dealt very much with the idea
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of the remnant and how
the remnant were called
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to carry on the
age-old fight with Satan.
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She talked about the
never-ceasing conflict
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that each of us
must find ourselves in.
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Her words were,
perhaps, a little more sober...
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a little more somber.
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They expressed a
bit more gravitas
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than perhaps at other times.
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They gave
voice... I would dare say
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to a rising burden in her soul.
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You see, throughout
the 1880s and the 1890s
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and even to a greater extent
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throughout the
rest of her life...
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through the turn of the century
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and into the early
teens of the 20th century,
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she became keenly aware
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of this idea that the
hour of His judgment had come
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but more than that,
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special preparation must be made
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by the people of God
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to address and redress the
times in which we were living.
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She was aware that the
ancient Day of Atonement...
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the typical... the
anti-typical atonement services
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the 2300-year/day
prophecy... October 22, 1844...
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the realigning of our preaching
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and its
theological underpinnings
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all were very, very important
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and all were
part of present truth.
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It gave a very
special tenor to her speaking
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and to her
addressing the days in which
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this Adventist
church was finding itself.
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She knew and understood
that Christ needed to be
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the center of all that we do
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and all that we say
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and all that we are
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given what He was and is doing
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in the sanctuary.
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She was convinced
that we needed to move
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Christ and the
doctrine of Christ
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which we call: Christology
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from the
periphery of our preaching
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to the very heart and
center of our preaching
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and our teaching.
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She understood that
Jesus had to be at the center.
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It all had to surround Christ...
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it was all about
lifting up Christ.
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The idea...
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the understanding that Christ
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was not on the
edge of our theology...
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He was indeed at the
heart of our theology...
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and now, mind you... that this
Battle Creek worship address
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was just a
year... year and a half
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after that tectonic 1888
Minneapolis General Conference
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that we've talked
about so many, many times
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and that Adventists
are so familiar with...
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Adventism was still in
the throes, dare I say,
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of its own internal
counter reformation.
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As the doctrines of grace
and righteousness by faith
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and faith in general
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had moved along with
the doctrine of Christ
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and His sacrifice had
moved... or were being moved
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from the edges of our teaching
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to the very
heart of our teaching.
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Remember... we were a
people who got our identity...
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got our name... got our identity
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from what Christ was
doing in the heavenly sanctuary
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in October of 1844
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and this understanding
of the centrality of Christ
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and the importance of Christ
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and the work of Christ
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and the sacrifice of Christ
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was being buried under
an avalanche of law keeping
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and law preaching
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and Ellen White struggled
along with Jones and Waggoner
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and others in the church
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who saw that the way we
were going was not the way
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that God would have us to go...
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that Christ needed
to be the foundation
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and the super structure
of all that we were doing
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and all that was
happening in the church
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yet this idea struggled to
gain traction and acceptance
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in the highest echelons of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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In the book third
Selected Messages, page 183,
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Ellen White decries
where the church was going
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and where it was headed.
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She says this,
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"There have been
entire discourses
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dry and Christless
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in which Jesus has
been scarcely named.
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'Why'" she asked...
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"are our lips so silent
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upon the subject of
Christ's righteousness
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and His love for the world?"
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She saw the direction
that the church was heading in
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and she tried as
best she could...
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as God gave her
strength to reverse that course
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as did Jones...
as did Waggoner...
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and, of course,
this was the burden...
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the overriding burden
of the 1888 Minneapolis
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General Conference.
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She continues...
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"We have preached
law until our messages
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are as dry as
the hills of Gilboa
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which received
neither dew nor rain... "
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Again, third
Selected Messages, page 183.
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My paraphrase...
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Some preachers were
actually afraid of... in fear of
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teaching and
preaching the message
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of righteousness by faith.
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They thought that
the preaching of grace
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would give
people license to sin.
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They thought that the
preaching of cheap grace...
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the idea... the understanding
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that all we had to
do is believe in Christ
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and accept Christ
and surrender to Christ
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and our sins were forgiven
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would encourage
men and women in sin.
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They did not
understand the working
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of the power of the Holy Spirit
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and so, "Justification"
was not preached...
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"Sanctification"
certainly was not preached...
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it was Law...
Law... Law... Law...
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and as she said,
we have preached "Law"
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until our messages are as
dry as the hills of Gilboa
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which received
neither dew nor rain...
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we had skewed our
theology over to the right
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leaning too much on Law
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and squeezing out
the love of Jesus Christ.
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Ellen White continues...
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"Because this work
has not been done...
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lifting up of
Christ in His character
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the remnant
has... or rather... is...
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unprepared for
battle... they have no strength.
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The churches are
ready to die" she says,
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"because so little
of Christ is presented.
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The churches are ready to die
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because so little
of Christ is presented.
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They... " that
is the churches...
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"have no spiritual
life or discernment. "
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Now as you're
listening to these words
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from a 130 years ago,
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I want you to ask
yourself a question,
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Look at your church...
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look at the
Adventists that you know...
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the Christians that you know.
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Do you think in
the last 130 years,
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the churches have
gotten stronger or weaker?
00:13:20.80\00:13:25.03
Have we gotten better...
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even though we've gotten bigger,
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have we gotten better?
00:13:31.54\00:13:34.48
Are we better now than
we were a 130 years ago?
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Are we closer to Christ now
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than we were 130 years ago?
00:13:42.75\00:13:45.02
We are closer to His coming
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but is this Laodicean church
in which we now find ourselves,
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is it closer to Christ
or is it further from Him?
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Is it stronger in
Christ or is it weaker?
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Is it more prepared
for the coming of the Lord
00:14:03.14\00:14:06.81
or less prepared?
00:14:06.88\00:14:09.28
I daresay that,
for many of us we have
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and I will use this
term, "Zombied our way"
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to this hour in
which we find ourselves.
00:14:17.85\00:14:22.39
Interestingly, there
was a program for many years
00:14:22.42\00:14:25.66
on AMC called:
Fear the Walking Dead.
00:14:25.69\00:14:29.13
Now, I must admit,
I've never seen it...
00:14:29.16\00:14:32.53
never watched
one second of it...
00:14:32.60\00:14:35.00
I don't really
have time to waste
00:14:35.04\00:14:37.37
and the Lord has given me X
number of hours on this earth
00:14:37.41\00:14:40.68
and I would never
want to waste any of it
00:14:40.71\00:14:44.01
watching something like that
00:14:44.05\00:14:46.85
but I am told that it
was very, very popular.
00:14:46.88\00:14:50.62
I don't know if it's
still on... ran for many years
00:14:50.65\00:14:53.82
but I... I do
have a very facile mind
00:14:53.86\00:14:56.52
and I found the
title intriguing...
00:14:56.62\00:14:59.43
"Fear the Walking Dead. "
00:14:59.46\00:15:02.43
The Bible tells me in John 6:63
00:15:02.46\00:15:05.30
that it's the... it's
the Spirit that quickeneth...
00:15:05.33\00:15:07.47
the flesh profiteth nothing...
00:15:07.50\00:15:10.94
so, we ought to
fear the walking dead
00:15:10.97\00:15:15.14
and a Christless
church is a dead church.
00:15:15.18\00:15:19.18
Christless
churches are dead churches.
00:15:19.21\00:15:23.32
Christless
Christians are dead Christians
00:15:23.35\00:15:27.16
if we can call
them "Christians" at all
00:15:27.19\00:15:30.83
and we ought to
fear the walking dead.
00:15:30.86\00:15:34.46
In fact, we ought to fear
00:15:34.50\00:15:36.13
becoming part of
the walking dead.
00:15:36.16\00:15:38.57
We need to make sure
that we are not walking dead
00:15:38.60\00:15:43.64
but that we are
full of the Spirit of God
00:15:43.71\00:15:47.41
for it is the
Spirit that quickeneth...
00:15:47.44\00:15:50.15
it is the Spirit that gives life
00:15:50.18\00:15:52.45
and we must have
the Spirit of God...
00:15:52.51\00:15:55.08
the love of Jesus
00:15:55.12\00:15:56.45
if we are to be ready for
the times in which we live...
00:15:56.48\00:16:01.29
if we are to meet
the assaults of Satan...
00:16:01.32\00:16:04.86
if we are to be
given the strength
00:16:04.89\00:16:07.93
to lift up the name of Jesus...
00:16:07.96\00:16:10.07
if we are to be the overcomers
that God has called us to be...
00:16:10.10\00:16:15.64
if we are to be the successful
examples of Christian living
00:16:15.70\00:16:21.21
that Christ wants us to be,
00:16:21.24\00:16:23.01
we must be
filled with the Spirit
00:16:23.04\00:16:25.78
and filled with
the love of Christ
00:16:25.81\00:16:28.48
so that we are not
part of the walking dead.
00:16:28.52\00:16:30.99
How appropriate... that
given the hour of judgment
00:16:31.02\00:16:35.96
in which we find ourselves
00:16:35.99\00:16:37.59
that given the hour
of judgment of this world
00:16:37.63\00:16:41.16
that has come...
00:16:41.20\00:16:42.53
that not only are we
to be aware of the times
00:16:42.56\00:16:47.40
in which we live,
00:16:47.44\00:16:48.77
but we ought to
be awake and alert
00:16:48.80\00:16:53.58
and at our post of duty
00:16:53.61\00:16:56.64
so that Christ can use us
to do a mighty work for Him.
00:16:56.68\00:17:02.82
Ladies and Gentlemen,
00:17:02.85\00:17:04.19
the time for play is past...
00:17:04.22\00:17:06.42
the time for
"Armchair Christianity"
00:17:06.45\00:17:10.63
and you will hear me say this
over and over again... is past,
00:17:10.66\00:17:14.20
it's time to get off the couch
00:17:14.23\00:17:17.20
and in the game for our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:17:17.23\00:17:20.84
This hour demands
00:17:20.87\00:17:24.04
that Christians be
at their post of duty...
00:17:24.07\00:17:26.68
that nothing takes the place
of doing the work of the Lord...
00:17:26.74\00:17:30.35
that nothing takes
the place of being ready
00:17:30.38\00:17:33.21
to go about our Father's
errands and to do His business
00:17:33.28\00:17:39.29
and doing His will.
00:17:39.32\00:17:42.09
Now, let me give you
just a side bar very quickly.
00:17:42.12\00:17:45.53
A few short
months after this speech,
00:17:45.56\00:17:50.17
the brethren shipped
Ellen White off to Australia
00:17:50.20\00:17:55.04
and I say, "shipped
her off to Australia"
00:17:55.07\00:17:57.67
because she wrote in her diary
00:17:57.71\00:18:02.41
and... and
mentioned to her secretary
00:18:02.44\00:18:04.35
that, "I feel no call
from the Lord to go... "
00:18:04.38\00:18:08.45
of course, going to
Australia even today...
00:18:08.48\00:18:11.65
I've been there
once... twice... three times...
00:18:11.69\00:18:14.76
Irma and I have been there
and we ministered in Australia,
00:18:14.79\00:18:18.69
it's an awful trip to
go by plane now a days...
00:18:18.73\00:18:23.10
I think, as I recall,
00:18:23.13\00:18:24.60
it's around 27
hours on the plane...
00:18:24.63\00:18:28.54
that's an awful long
time to be on an airplane...
00:18:28.57\00:18:32.74
back then... during
the days of Ellen White,
00:18:32.77\00:18:36.54
I think it was the better
part of six months by ship...
00:18:36.58\00:18:40.25
an awful trip...
00:18:40.28\00:18:42.72
just beats your body up
00:18:42.75\00:18:45.65
and you get to Australia
and you are just worn out
00:18:45.69\00:18:50.26
and as bad as it is going from
the United States to Australia
00:18:50.29\00:18:55.00
and ministering...
00:18:55.03\00:18:56.93
the trip back is
worse than the trip out.
00:18:56.97\00:19:00.40
When we came back
from... from Australia...
00:19:00.44\00:19:03.81
your body is just out of
sorts for ten days to two weeks.
00:19:03.84\00:19:08.48
You're sleeping in
the middle of the day
00:19:08.51\00:19:10.61
and can't sleep at night
00:19:10.65\00:19:11.98
and you're hungry at one
time and the wrong time...
00:19:12.01\00:19:14.72
it's just... it just...
it just messes with your...
00:19:14.78\00:19:17.75
your... your constitution.
00:19:17.79\00:19:19.32
It's not a good trip and
not one that you want to do
00:19:19.35\00:19:23.02
too often... but the
saints there are beautiful
00:19:23.06\00:19:26.70
and the church
is growing but it...
00:19:26.73\00:19:29.86
it's a tough ministry trip.
00:19:29.90\00:19:32.53
Well, back then...
six months on a boat...
00:19:32.57\00:19:34.90
really, really tough
00:19:34.94\00:19:36.81
and so, shortly
after she went to
00:19:36.84\00:19:39.77
the Minneapolis
General Conference,
00:19:39.84\00:19:42.74
the brethren shipped
her off to Australia...
00:19:42.78\00:19:45.65
she said, "I don't
feel a call from God to go
00:19:45.68\00:19:48.55
but I'm going because
I'm trying to be obedient.
00:19:48.58\00:19:51.39
While there,
interestingly enough,
00:19:51.42\00:19:53.62
once she got to Australia,
00:19:53.66\00:19:55.02
she wrote that
she suffered worse
00:19:55.09\00:19:58.49
during the next
couple of months...
00:19:58.56\00:20:01.90
six weeks or two months...
I don't remember exactly...
00:20:01.96\00:20:04.77
the worst suffering of her life.
00:20:04.80\00:20:07.00
She was crippled...
she was paralyzed...
00:20:07.04\00:20:09.40
she could not move...
00:20:09.44\00:20:11.11
sometimes only her hand was able
to move so that she could write
00:20:11.17\00:20:14.68
but everything else ached...
everything else was in pain...
00:20:14.71\00:20:18.18
she suffered mentally...
physically... spiritually...
00:20:18.21\00:20:21.12
attacked by the devil...
00:20:21.15\00:20:22.68
the worst
suffering of her life...
00:20:22.75\00:20:25.05
but she did say... she
did say in praise to God
00:20:25.09\00:20:29.12
that that suffering
drove her closer to the Lord
00:20:29.16\00:20:33.19
than at any time in her life
00:20:33.23\00:20:35.33
but she did suffer greatly.
00:20:35.36\00:20:37.43
God used her during that trip
to start Avondale College...
00:20:37.47\00:20:42.30
the publishing
work in Australia...
00:20:42.34\00:20:46.71
the health work in Australia...
00:20:46.74\00:20:48.08
the... the... an
orchard was purchased
00:20:48.11\00:20:51.48
that was giving no fruit
00:20:51.51\00:20:53.85
and God showed her how
to do a couple of things...
00:20:53.88\00:20:57.15
add a couple of changes
00:20:57.19\00:20:58.52
and the orchard began
to bloom wonderfully...
00:20:58.55\00:21:01.49
just a number of
miracles at the hand of God
00:21:01.52\00:21:04.36
to let her know that
even though she was sent there
00:21:04.39\00:21:07.56
because the Brethren were
trying to get her out of the way
00:21:07.60\00:21:10.40
for a while,
that God was with her
00:21:10.43\00:21:12.10
and that wherever she went,
00:21:12.13\00:21:13.60
the hand of the
Lord was upon her.
00:21:13.64\00:21:15.47
She bought a German Shepherd dog
that she named: Tiglath Pileser
00:21:15.50\00:21:19.37
and a number of very nice things
happened when she was there
00:21:19.41\00:21:23.28
because the Lord was
with her during that time
00:21:23.31\00:21:25.78
but I digress
00:21:25.81\00:21:27.25
because on that
freezing morning...
00:21:27.32\00:21:30.75
that February
1890 freezing morning,
00:21:30.79\00:21:34.16
she spoke to older
saints and to the young people
00:21:34.19\00:21:40.23
at Battle Creek
00:21:40.26\00:21:41.70
and she laid her
burden upon them.
00:21:41.73\00:21:46.00
Among other
things, she said this,
00:21:46.03\00:21:50.24
"We shall have to battle
with the enemy of our souls
00:21:50.27\00:21:54.81
until the
coming of the Lord... "
00:21:54.84\00:21:57.65
and so, she wanted her
people to have no illusions
00:21:57.68\00:22:01.52
as to the battles that they were
going to be called to fight.
00:22:01.55\00:22:05.15
She wanted them
to understand clearly
00:22:05.19\00:22:07.69
that this battle with the enemy
00:22:07.72\00:22:10.03
is a battle that will continue
till the coming of the Lord.
00:22:10.06\00:22:14.10
No detour... no reproachment...
00:22:14.13\00:22:16.10
no vacations... no breaks...
00:22:16.13\00:22:18.13
no pauses... no downtime...
00:22:18.17\00:22:20.14
no timeout
00:22:20.17\00:22:21.50
that we will have to constantly
fight against the enemy
00:22:21.54\00:22:25.31
until Jesus comes again
00:22:25.34\00:22:27.91
or until we close
our eyes in death.
00:22:27.94\00:22:31.08
Things will not
get any better...
00:22:31.11\00:22:32.75
the battle is
going to get more fierce
00:22:32.78\00:22:35.72
and it's going to
wax hotter and hotter
00:22:35.75\00:22:38.65
until Christ comes.
00:22:38.72\00:22:40.66
That's the legacy of
being a Christian in God,
00:22:40.69\00:22:44.86
you see the... the... the...
the burden of the Christian...
00:22:44.89\00:22:48.60
the thing that... that...
00:22:48.63\00:22:51.30
that you got to watch
out for and understand
00:22:51.33\00:22:53.34
is that you never get vacation
from fighting the enemy.
00:22:53.37\00:22:57.67
You fight from the time
you give your heart to the Lord
00:22:57.71\00:23:01.88
until the time you
close your eyes in death.
00:23:01.91\00:23:05.61
No breaks... no stops...
00:23:05.68\00:23:07.45
no vacations...
00:23:07.48\00:23:08.98
one continual warfare...
00:23:09.02\00:23:11.55
praise God we are
assisted in that warfare
00:23:11.59\00:23:14.99
with and by our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ
00:23:15.02\00:23:18.43
and our victory is assured.
00:23:18.46\00:23:21.40
She continues...
00:23:21.43\00:23:23.20
this is from that
February 1890 message,
00:23:23.23\00:23:27.77
"When Christ was upon the earth,
00:23:27.80\00:23:30.01
He contended with the enemy
for the salvation of men... "
00:23:30.04\00:23:34.78
of man rather...
00:23:34.84\00:23:36.28
"and when He left the world,
00:23:36.31\00:23:38.88
He committed the
conflict to His followers. "
00:23:38.91\00:23:43.05
So, Christ carried on
the battle while He was here
00:23:43.08\00:23:46.09
and when He left,
00:23:46.12\00:23:47.46
He put the war in our hands.
00:23:47.49\00:23:50.89
He committed the
conflict to His followers
00:23:50.93\00:23:54.60
to be carried
forward in His name. "
00:23:54.63\00:23:58.37
I'm so glad that
we are called to fight
00:23:58.40\00:24:02.10
in the name of Jesus
00:24:02.14\00:24:03.64
for in the name of
Jesus, there is victory.
00:24:03.67\00:24:07.14
She continues,
00:24:07.18\00:24:09.44
"We are to wage
this war day by day...
00:24:09.48\00:24:15.32
hour by hour...
00:24:15.35\00:24:18.42
minute by minute. "
00:24:18.45\00:24:21.42
So, there's no
break... there's no downtime.
00:24:21.46\00:24:25.43
This war had to be
carried on and even more so
00:24:25.46\00:24:29.40
as we see... the Bible says,
00:24:29.43\00:24:31.77
'the day approaching. '
00:24:31.83\00:24:33.80
To every soul of us
belongs the battle. "
00:24:33.84\00:24:39.71
Now, if these words
were present truth in 1890,
00:24:39.74\00:24:44.65
some 130 years ago,
00:24:44.68\00:24:46.92
we are 130 years closer
now to the coming of our Lord.
00:24:46.95\00:24:53.49
There's certainly our present
truth for you and for me today.
00:24:53.52\00:24:58.73
They are the watch word
for this hour of judgment
00:24:58.76\00:25:04.17
which has come.
00:25:04.20\00:25:06.97
This is a call to arms...
00:25:07.00\00:25:11.27
this is, as it were,
reveille for the world
00:25:11.31\00:25:16.21
and certainly for
the people of God.
00:25:16.24\00:25:19.18
This is God's
wake-up call for His church
00:25:19.21\00:25:24.55
and for His people.
00:25:24.59\00:25:27.02
The truth is... like it or not,
00:25:27.06\00:25:29.66
believe it or not...
00:25:29.69\00:25:31.99
accept it or
not... ready or not...
00:25:32.03\00:25:36.36
the judgment is
set... Daniel chapter 7...
00:25:36.40\00:25:40.47
the books are opened
and we will discuss this
00:25:40.50\00:25:44.54
and examine this a little bit
more closely in our next message
00:25:44.57\00:25:49.24
and the Court is in session
00:25:49.28\00:25:53.88
and eternal
destinies are being determined
00:25:53.92\00:26:00.06
even as we speak.
00:26:00.09\00:26:03.43
God's people must
be about God's business
00:26:03.46\00:26:08.53
because judgment
is going on even now
00:26:08.56\00:26:13.54
and we are in the throes
00:26:13.60\00:26:16.54
of a cosmic conflict.
00:26:16.57\00:26:19.47
You see, the... the
conflict... the controversy
00:26:19.51\00:26:22.54
is between Christ and Satan
00:26:22.58\00:26:24.71
and we, His people,
are but collateral damage.
00:26:24.75\00:26:27.82
Satan doesn't care about us.
00:26:27.85\00:26:29.18
Satan knows that
hurting us hurts Jesus.
00:26:29.22\00:26:32.05
Satan is a liar and a murderer.
00:26:32.09\00:26:34.22
That's his M.O.
00:26:34.26\00:26:35.82
when he had
Christ in his clutches,
00:26:35.86\00:26:39.09
he immediately set
out to murder Him...
00:26:39.13\00:26:42.30
he did so at His birth...
00:26:42.33\00:26:44.03
he did so in the
years following His birth...
00:26:44.07\00:26:46.87
he did so
throughout His ministry
00:26:46.90\00:26:48.94
and finally, after
33 years of service,
00:26:48.97\00:26:53.11
he succeeded in his end
00:26:53.17\00:26:56.24
but death could not
hold Jesus, praise God...
00:26:56.28\00:27:00.82
Christ defeated Satan
when He defeated death
00:27:00.85\00:27:05.62
and became victor
in the cosmic conflict.
00:27:05.65\00:27:10.36
So, then... this cosmic conflict
now has a personal dimension
00:27:10.39\00:27:19.17
because we are the
saints for whom Christ had...
00:27:19.20\00:27:26.04
has died.
00:27:26.07\00:27:27.71
Didn't start out that way...
00:27:27.74\00:27:29.78
this war did not begin with us,
00:27:29.81\00:27:31.78
it was ongoing... and when
we gave our life to the Lord,
00:27:31.81\00:27:36.79
we stepped in... we
enlisted, as it were.
00:27:36.82\00:27:40.16
The moment you
decided to follow Jesus,
00:27:40.19\00:27:43.29
the moment you decided to
surrender your life to Him,
00:27:43.32\00:27:47.70
that's the same
moment Satan decided
00:27:47.73\00:27:51.17
to put you on his "Enemies List"
00:27:51.20\00:27:53.94
and to fight against you
00:27:53.97\00:27:57.07
and the cosmic
conflict became personal
00:27:57.11\00:28:02.14
because you
enlisted in the Lord's army.
00:28:02.18\00:28:07.18
Satan says, "No" when
you say, "Yes" to Christ.
00:28:07.22\00:28:11.99
The idea of what heaven is like,
00:28:12.02\00:28:16.22
eyes have not seen...
ears have not heard...
00:28:16.26\00:28:20.43
neither has it
entered in your heart
00:28:20.46\00:28:23.37
what's in heaven
00:28:23.43\00:28:26.00
and the fact that you've
decided to go to heaven...
00:28:26.03\00:28:29.54
Satan says, "You don't
know what heaven is like
00:28:29.57\00:28:33.04
but I used to live there
00:28:33.07\00:28:34.54
and I want to make sure that
you never get a chance to... "
00:28:34.58\00:28:38.91
and so, the cosmic conflict
now becomes a personal conflict.
00:28:38.98\00:28:43.89
I'm so glad that we
serve a personal savior
00:28:43.92\00:28:49.76
who can help us
00:28:49.79\00:28:51.99
in this personal
fight with the enemy.
00:28:52.06\00:28:55.93
There is a cosmic conflict.
00:28:55.96\00:28:58.00
There is a conflict between
dark angels and good angels
00:28:58.03\00:29:02.34
and Satan as the
accuser of the Brethren
00:29:02.37\00:29:05.14
and so, there's
this meta-physical cosmic
00:29:05.17\00:29:08.28
aspect to this
00:29:08.31\00:29:10.51
but there is also a
very personal aspect to it.
00:29:10.55\00:29:13.88
Satan wants to hurt you...
00:29:13.92\00:29:15.45
Satan wants to destroy you...
00:29:15.48\00:29:16.99
Satan wants to
separate you from the Lord.
00:29:17.02\00:29:20.36
That is why, it is so important
00:29:20.39\00:29:22.72
that we accept Christ
as our personal Savior
00:29:22.76\00:29:26.70
to help us in
this personal conflict
00:29:26.73\00:29:31.33
in which we are all involved.
00:29:31.37\00:29:34.17
I'm reminded... I'm
reminded of those powerful words
00:29:34.20\00:29:38.44
of the Reformist Martin Luther
00:29:38.47\00:29:41.54
when he wrote that
powerful hymn of the church:
00:29:41.58\00:29:45.38
A Mighty Fortress is our God.
00:29:45.41\00:29:48.38
Listen to these words,
00:29:48.42\00:29:49.78
he says, "For
still our ancient foe
00:29:49.82\00:29:55.09
doth seek to work us woe;
00:29:55.12\00:29:58.56
his craft and power are great,
00:29:58.59\00:30:03.20
and armed with cruel hate,
00:30:03.23\00:30:07.27
on earth is not his equal. "
00:30:07.30\00:30:10.97
True and sobering words.
00:30:11.01\00:30:14.61
The equal of Satan does
not exist on this earth.
00:30:14.64\00:30:19.01
We are no match for
the wiles of the enemy
00:30:19.08\00:30:23.35
but Christ is...
00:30:23.39\00:30:25.65
and that's why you need
to have Christ in your life
00:30:25.69\00:30:28.52
if you're going to defeat Satan
00:30:28.56\00:30:30.49
because only
Christ is powerful enough
00:30:30.53\00:30:32.83
to defeat Satan.
00:30:32.89\00:30:34.23
You want to read
a chilling account
00:30:34.26\00:30:35.73
in the book: Early Writings...
00:30:35.76\00:30:39.80
Ellen White was
shown in vision... Satan.
00:30:39.83\00:30:43.94
She says she saw him sitting
with his head in his hands...
00:30:43.97\00:30:51.01
sort of sitting like this...
00:30:51.05\00:30:53.25
she describes his frame...
00:30:53.28\00:30:55.38
she says he's
large-framed individual...
00:30:55.42\00:30:58.32
she says his skin hung
loosely about his... his...
00:30:58.35\00:31:02.82
his... his frame...
00:31:02.89\00:31:05.06
she talks about the
slyness and the cunningness
00:31:05.09\00:31:09.06
and the evil that has
etched itself in his face.
00:31:09.10\00:31:13.07
She says, he was once
a beautiful shining angel
00:31:13.10\00:31:16.84
and there are still
vestiges of that beauty there
00:31:16.87\00:31:20.58
but they have
been marred by the evil
00:31:20.61\00:31:23.35
to which he's bent
himself for so long.
00:31:23.38\00:31:26.08
She talks about
his... his head...
00:31:26.11\00:31:28.05
she says, the...
the... the skull...
00:31:28.08\00:31:29.95
the... the... the...
the.. the... the forehead
00:31:29.98\00:31:33.02
receded back from the eyes
00:31:33.05\00:31:36.12
and she talked about his
eyes deep and penetrating
00:31:36.16\00:31:40.53
and very, very scary.
00:31:40.56\00:31:42.26
She said... when she saw him,
he was thinking very deeply...
00:31:42.33\00:31:45.93
head in hand... thinking.
00:31:45.97\00:31:48.17
She says... as
she saw and looked...
00:31:48.20\00:31:51.47
she saw a smile begin
to go across his face.
00:31:51.51\00:31:55.64
She said it was Satanic and...
and evil and very frightening
00:31:55.68\00:32:00.62
and she says... that's
the smile that Satan gets
00:32:00.65\00:32:05.55
just about the time he
is catching a Christian
00:32:05.59\00:32:10.43
in his snare.
00:32:10.49\00:32:11.99
That's the kind
of smile that he gets
00:32:12.03\00:32:14.60
when he is closing the trap door
00:32:14.63\00:32:17.80
on one of God's children
00:32:17.83\00:32:20.37
when he has wounded Christ
00:32:20.40\00:32:23.04
by seizing and taking hostage
00:32:23.07\00:32:25.71
one of His children...
00:32:25.74\00:32:28.34
one of those for whom
Christ had... had died...
00:32:28.38\00:32:31.71
has died... so, she talks about
the reality of this warfare
00:32:31.75\00:32:37.49
and understanding
the wiles of the enemy.
00:32:37.52\00:32:42.79
The truth is, one of the
mistakes that we can make
00:32:42.82\00:32:48.76
is under estimating our enemy.
00:32:48.80\00:32:52.37
The cold reality of these times
in which we find ourselves,
00:32:52.43\00:32:56.77
is the undeniable fact
00:32:56.81\00:32:59.41
that Satan... the
dragon... the devil...
00:32:59.44\00:33:02.84
the adversary is
enraged with the Church of God.
00:33:02.91\00:33:08.65
You never want to
underestimate him...
00:33:08.68\00:33:12.25
by the same token,
00:33:12.29\00:33:13.62
you don't want to
give him too much credit
00:33:13.66\00:33:15.66
because he's a defeated foe
00:33:15.69\00:33:17.73
and though he is
trying to take as many
00:33:17.76\00:33:20.73
of God's people
with him as he can,
00:33:20.76\00:33:23.67
the truth is,
he's a defeated foe.
00:33:23.70\00:33:27.60
Judgment has not
been executed on him
00:33:27.64\00:33:31.04
but Christ
defeated him at the Cross.
00:33:31.07\00:33:34.28
When Christ was
obedient unto death...
00:33:34.31\00:33:37.45
even the death at the Cross,
00:33:37.48\00:33:39.11
that marked the
death knell for Satan
00:33:39.18\00:33:42.68
and when Christ came
forth from the grave,
00:33:42.72\00:33:46.25
he defeated death
00:33:46.32\00:33:47.92
given the promise that
all of those who die in Christ
00:33:47.99\00:33:52.63
will also defeat death.
00:33:52.69\00:33:54.23
The last enemy that
will be destroyed is death
00:33:54.26\00:33:58.63
but before death is destroyed,
00:33:58.67\00:34:01.20
Satan will be destroyed
so he is a defeated foe.
00:34:01.24\00:34:05.34
As powerful as he
is... as wily as he is...
00:34:05.37\00:34:08.58
as strong as he is...
00:34:08.61\00:34:10.21
we must put above his
name the word: Defeated.
00:34:10.25\00:34:16.08
Not executed
yet... but defeated...
00:34:16.12\00:34:19.42
on death row as it were
00:34:19.45\00:34:22.22
and awaiting his destruction
which one day will come.
00:34:22.26\00:34:29.06
So, this battle...
00:34:29.10\00:34:30.97
this Corporate battle
that we're talking about,
00:34:31.00\00:34:33.40
is just as real as any battle
in... that has ever been fought
00:34:33.44\00:34:40.04
and the consequences
are as real as any battle
00:34:40.08\00:34:46.65
that has ever been fought.
00:34:46.68\00:34:48.98
Ellen White says, if the
curtain could be pulled back
00:34:49.02\00:34:52.45
and we can see and witness
00:34:52.49\00:34:54.56
the pitched battles
between the forces of good
00:34:54.59\00:34:57.33
and the forces of evil,
00:34:57.36\00:34:58.86
we would be shocked
and amazed and impressed
00:34:58.89\00:35:02.03
with the reality of the state
in which we find ourselves.
00:35:02.06\00:35:05.77
One of the
things that shocked me
00:35:05.80\00:35:10.54
and... and really is sobering
00:35:10.57\00:35:13.64
is this idea
that in the last days,
00:35:13.68\00:35:17.01
when the seven last plagues fall
00:35:17.05\00:35:20.35
and the protecting power of
the Lord is being withdrawn...
00:35:20.38\00:35:24.55
the kinds of things...
the kinds of turmoil...
00:35:24.59\00:35:27.32
and Satan...
00:35:27.36\00:35:29.52
and chaos that Satan is
going to put this world through
00:35:29.59\00:35:31.93
when the restraining
power of the four angels
00:35:31.96\00:35:35.03
which are holding
back the winds of strive...
00:35:35.06\00:35:37.67
and Satan is loosed
for a little while...
00:35:37.70\00:35:40.27
the kinds of chaos and mayhem
00:35:40.30\00:35:42.87
that this world is
going to go through...
00:35:42.90\00:35:44.91
but again... and we'll
talk about this a little more
00:35:44.94\00:35:47.84
in the next... in
our next Presentation...
00:35:47.88\00:35:49.94
God's people will be delivered.
00:35:49.98\00:35:52.51
That's the thing
that... that settles my heart
00:35:52.58\00:35:55.02
and gives me
courage and understanding
00:35:55.05\00:35:56.79
that God is going to
take care of His own...
00:35:56.82\00:35:59.92
God will not lose any of those
who are sealed unto salvation
00:35:59.95\00:36:04.16
but a war is being fought for
your souls Brothers and Sisters,
00:36:04.19\00:36:08.36
don't miss that
point... as important as it is.
00:36:08.43\00:36:11.40
Satan would like to have you...
would like to destroy you...
00:36:11.43\00:36:15.57
but God has promised to
protect you and give you victory
00:36:15.60\00:36:19.71
and deliver you
in these last days.
00:36:19.74\00:36:23.21
I turn now to Titus
chapter 2 and verse 12.
00:36:23.24\00:36:27.12
I'm going to ask you to turn to
that text with me if you will.
00:36:27.15\00:36:31.19
The book is
Titus... chapter 2...
00:36:31.22\00:36:35.79
and verse 12...
00:36:35.82\00:36:38.53
Titus 2:12...
00:36:38.56\00:36:41.23
pause...
00:36:41.26\00:36:46.80
give you a moment to find it,
00:36:46.84\00:36:48.44
Titus chapter 2... just
a tiny book tucked there,
00:36:48.47\00:36:52.67
it only has three chapters,
00:36:52.71\00:36:54.34
Philemon and
then follows Hebrews
00:36:54.38\00:36:58.75
if you go to Hebrews and work
your way back just a little bit,
00:36:58.78\00:37:01.15
Philemon... a very short book...
00:37:01.18\00:37:03.55
and Titus...
just a tad longer...
00:37:03.59\00:37:06.02
I'm in Titus
chapter 2 and verse 12.
00:37:06.05\00:37:08.42
The Bible says... Titus 2:12,
00:37:08.46\00:37:10.63
in fact, I'm going to
go against myself here
00:37:10.69\00:37:14.83
and go back to verse 11
00:37:14.86\00:37:16.20
and then we can pick it
up on the screen at verse 12.
00:37:16.23\00:37:19.53
"For the grace of
God that brings salvation
00:37:19.57\00:37:22.47
has appeared to all men... "
00:37:22.50\00:37:24.81
that text is a sermon in itself.
00:37:24.87\00:37:27.91
Here's Titus 2:12,
00:37:27.94\00:37:29.61
"teaching us that,
denying ungodliness
00:37:29.64\00:37:33.98
and worldly lusts,
00:37:34.02\00:37:35.78
we should live
soberly, righteously,
00:37:35.82\00:37:40.96
and godly in this present age. "
00:37:41.02\00:37:46.09
So the grace of God that
has appeared to all men...
00:37:46.13\00:37:50.40
teaches us that
denying ungodliness
00:37:50.43\00:37:55.14
and worldly lusts...
00:37:55.17\00:37:57.47
we should live soberly.
00:37:57.51\00:37:59.71
The... the New
Testament word for "soberly"
00:37:59.74\00:38:04.88
is a word that lets us
know that we need to live
00:38:04.91\00:38:11.35
with an awareness of the times,
00:38:11.39\00:38:14.49
the Bible says,
"Don't get caught up...
00:38:14.52\00:38:16.22
so caught up in this world
00:38:16.26\00:38:17.89
that so overcharged
with the drunkenness
00:38:17.93\00:38:21.70
and the wildness of this world,
00:38:21.73\00:38:23.37
that you forget the times
in which we find ourselves.
00:38:23.43\00:38:26.87
Over and over
again, we find this.
00:38:26.90\00:38:29.60
The Bible says in
Romans chapter 12,
00:38:29.64\00:38:31.94
"Be not conformed
to this world... "
00:38:31.97\00:38:34.08
you know, we...
we... we are told
00:38:34.11\00:38:36.18
and I think I want
to just turn to that
00:38:36.21\00:38:39.08
because it's a good text
00:38:39.11\00:38:40.62
and Romans chapter 12 verse 1,
00:38:40.65\00:38:44.15
I didn't have it
in my list of texts
00:38:44.19\00:38:49.82
but I want to just...
just... just add this,
00:38:49.86\00:38:52.26
it says, "I beseech
you therefore, brethren,
00:38:52.29\00:38:54.66
by the mercies of God,
00:38:54.70\00:38:56.03
that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice,
00:38:56.06\00:38:58.73
holy, acceptable to God,
00:38:58.77\00:39:00.60
which is your
reasonable service... "
00:39:00.64\00:39:02.80
and verse 2...
00:39:02.84\00:39:04.17
"And do not be
conformed to this world:
00:39:04.21\00:39:07.58
but be
transformed... " the Bible says,
00:39:07.61\00:39:10.95
"by the renewing of your mind,
00:39:11.01\00:39:12.81
that you may
prove what is that good,
00:39:12.85\00:39:16.58
and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God. "
00:39:16.62\00:39:19.49
Again, you see
this over and over again
00:39:19.52\00:39:22.26
in the New Testament.
00:39:22.29\00:39:23.63
Don't be
conformed to this world...
00:39:23.66\00:39:25.79
don't be molded to this world...
00:39:25.86\00:39:29.16
don't be compacted by this world
00:39:29.20\00:39:32.43
but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind.
00:39:32.47\00:39:36.27
Here in Paul's letter to Titus,
00:39:36.30\00:39:39.67
we... we see a
similar exhortation...
00:39:39.71\00:39:43.11
live soberly...
00:39:43.14\00:39:45.61
live righteously...
00:39:45.65\00:39:48.02
live Godly in this present age.
00:39:48.08\00:39:53.89
Now, why is it important?
00:39:53.96\00:39:55.62
Why should we do that?
00:39:55.66\00:39:57.26
Because the hour of
His judgment is come.
00:39:57.29\00:40:03.30
It is... it is
too late to trifle...
00:40:03.33\00:40:06.87
it is too late to
mollycoddle sin...
00:40:06.90\00:40:09.17
it is too late
to indulge in sin...
00:40:09.20\00:40:12.94
it is too late
to wallow in sin...
00:40:12.97\00:40:15.51
it's time to get
the victory over sin...
00:40:15.54\00:40:18.75
to overcome sin
00:40:18.78\00:40:20.78
and to be keenly aware of
the times in which we live.
00:40:20.82\00:40:26.82
Our very first text...
00:40:26.86\00:40:28.56
the Scripture lesson
for this particular sermon,
00:40:28.59\00:40:30.93
Romans chapter 13,
00:40:30.96\00:40:33.19
"And do this...
knowing the time... "
00:40:33.23\00:40:37.47
being aware of the time...
00:40:37.50\00:40:39.37
you see, there's a lot of people
who don't know the time...
00:40:39.40\00:40:41.90
who are not aware of the time...
00:40:41.94\00:40:43.74
who don't understand the time...
00:40:43.77\00:40:45.54
their minds are too caught
up in the things of this world
00:40:45.57\00:40:48.94
but we as Christians
ought to be keenly aware
00:40:48.98\00:40:54.62
of the time.
00:40:54.65\00:40:56.38
I like the Darby translation
of Titus chapter 2 verse 12,
00:40:56.42\00:41:00.99
the Bible says... in
the Darby translation...
00:41:01.02\00:41:04.49
"to live soberly... justly...
00:41:04.53\00:41:08.43
piously... in this
present course of things. "
00:41:08.46\00:41:14.57
The thought is the same...
00:41:14.60\00:41:16.07
the burden is the same...
00:41:16.10\00:41:18.17
we've got to be aware.
00:41:18.21\00:41:20.24
We've got to have our feet
planted firmly on the ground
00:41:20.28\00:41:24.21
and our head and our
heart in lockstep with Jesus
00:41:24.25\00:41:28.88
as we address the times
in which we find ourselves.
00:41:28.92\00:41:33.32
God is doing so much for
us... to us... with us...
00:41:33.36\00:41:37.46
through us...
00:41:37.49\00:41:38.96
and we must serve Him faithfully
00:41:38.99\00:41:41.00
in these last days.
00:41:41.03\00:41:42.36
So, Satan now is
angry with the church,
00:41:42.40\00:41:44.33
he always has been
00:41:44.37\00:41:46.17
but he has reserved
a particular animus...
00:41:46.20\00:41:50.07
a particular venom for
the church in these last days.
00:41:50.11\00:41:54.68
The church that exists
just prior to the coming
00:41:54.71\00:41:57.71
of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
00:41:57.75\00:41:59.28
The church is the
object of Satan's rage.
00:41:59.31\00:42:03.72
He wants to
destroy the remnant...
00:42:03.75\00:42:07.96
the last remaining
portion of the people of God.
00:42:07.99\00:42:12.69
I want to nuance
that word "remnant"
00:42:12.73\00:42:16.36
for just a little bit
00:42:16.40\00:42:17.73
because remnant
has always been...
00:42:17.77\00:42:20.47
there has always
been a remnant...
00:42:20.50\00:42:23.24
there is now a remnant...
00:42:23.27\00:42:25.57
there will always be a remnant.
00:42:25.61\00:42:28.11
From the days of
old until this day,
00:42:28.14\00:42:31.51
God has always
had a faithful people
00:42:31.55\00:42:34.72
that could be
termed "the remnant. "
00:42:34.75\00:42:37.69
Faithful men and
women who are loyal soldiers
00:42:37.72\00:42:41.29
in the army of God
have always existed.
00:42:41.32\00:42:43.86
We... we have a view of
them in Hebrews chapter 11.
00:42:43.89\00:42:46.39
We don't have time to read that
very, very beautiful chapter,
00:42:46.43\00:42:49.13
but it is worth
study and contemplation.
00:42:49.16\00:42:51.43
God has never been
without a faithful witness.
00:42:51.47\00:42:55.57
So, this remnant
is the final remnant.
00:42:55.60\00:42:59.07
Satan us wroth with the
remnant of the church's seed...
00:42:59.11\00:43:04.65
he is angry with
that last portion.
00:43:04.68\00:43:07.98
That's the portion that exists
just prior to the second coming
00:43:08.02\00:43:11.62
of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
00:43:11.65\00:43:14.29
He has special
venom for the remnant.
00:43:14.32\00:43:16.89
Remnant is not just the
last portion of something.
00:43:16.93\00:43:20.96
Remnant is a
very wonderful term.
00:43:21.00\00:43:25.23
It... it... it
means that portion
00:43:25.30\00:43:29.50
that exists after trauma.
00:43:29.54\00:43:33.21
What is judged as faithful
00:43:33.24\00:43:36.81
after there has been
a rending or a trauma
00:43:36.85\00:43:40.52
or drama... or conflict...
00:43:40.55\00:43:42.72
a rending... a
forced separation...
00:43:42.75\00:43:46.35
the original has
been tried and tested
00:43:46.39\00:43:49.96
and a declaration has been made
00:43:50.03\00:43:52.23
that that which is left
00:43:52.29\00:43:54.53
is true to the original
00:43:54.56\00:43:56.73
and it is called "Remnant. "
00:43:56.77\00:43:59.47
Now, let me stress this point
because it's very important.
00:43:59.50\00:44:01.47
You cannot have
remnant without judgment.
00:44:01.50\00:44:05.74
Somebody... some
court... some tribunal...
00:44:05.77\00:44:09.54
some judiciary has
looked at the evidence
00:44:09.58\00:44:13.31
before and after trauma
00:44:13.35\00:44:16.22
and made a determination
00:44:16.25\00:44:19.09
that what is
left... what remains...
00:44:19.12\00:44:22.69
what endures...
00:44:22.72\00:44:24.23
that part is
identical to the original part
00:44:24.26\00:44:28.53
and is called: Remnant.
00:44:28.56\00:44:31.33
So, the remnant is
not just what remains,
00:44:31.37\00:44:37.84
remnant is: what has
remained after trial and drama,
00:44:37.87\00:44:47.38
so, the remnant has
gone through something
00:44:47.42\00:44:52.09
and has remained
faithful to the original
00:44:52.12\00:44:56.76
and as such is called: remnant.
00:44:56.79\00:45:00.93
Revelation chapter 14... we
want to turn to that quickly,
00:45:00.96\00:45:06.37
Revelation 14 and verse 12,
00:45:06.40\00:45:10.21
Revelation 14 and verse 12...
00:45:10.24\00:45:12.87
and I'm turning quickly to
Revelation 14 and verse 12...
00:45:12.91\00:45:19.28
pause...
00:45:19.31\00:45:24.25
and I got my new
Bible and my pages are...
00:45:24.29\00:45:27.62
there we go,
Revelation 14 and verse 12,
00:45:27.66\00:45:30.96
on screen.
00:45:30.99\00:45:38.37
Remnant is that
group or that portion
00:45:38.40\00:45:47.94
that has endured and persevered.
00:45:47.98\00:45:51.91
"Here is the
patience of the saints... "
00:45:51.98\00:45:56.32
says the New King James...
00:45:56.35\00:45:58.05
there are many translations
that translate this,
00:45:58.09\00:46:02.86
"Here is the
endurance or the perseverance
00:46:02.89\00:46:07.10
of the saints. "
00:46:07.13\00:46:08.86
So, remnant... understand me...
00:46:08.93\00:46:11.90
is a consequence of conflict.
00:46:11.93\00:46:14.84
When we look at Isaiah
chapter 10 verses 20 through 34,
00:46:14.87\00:46:18.14
it's a long passage and we
don't have time to read it now.
00:46:18.17\00:46:21.41
The theme of
remnant after judgment
00:46:21.44\00:46:25.58
is very, very clear.
00:46:25.61\00:46:27.58
You cannot have
remnant without judgment.
00:46:27.62\00:46:32.92
You cannot have
remnant without trauma.
00:46:32.95\00:46:38.19
You cannot have remnant
unless a judgment has been...
00:46:38.23\00:46:42.56
a verdict has been rendered...
00:46:42.60\00:46:44.57
a judgment has been set
00:46:44.60\00:46:46.33
and it had been determined
that that which is left
00:46:46.37\00:46:51.17
is equal to that which
was there at the beginning.
00:46:51.21\00:46:55.61
So, remnant is that part
that's not only left over
00:46:55.64\00:46:59.98
but that has endured
the trial and the drama
00:47:00.02\00:47:04.45
and the
separation and the rending...
00:47:04.49\00:47:08.72
so, remnant then
is defined by crisis.
00:47:08.76\00:47:13.13
The remnant is
that part that remains
00:47:13.16\00:47:17.47
after a crisis has taken place.
00:47:17.53\00:47:21.14
In Isaiah chapter 10,
we see a number of things.
00:47:21.17\00:47:26.54
In Isaiah chapter 7 verse 3...
00:47:26.57\00:47:29.28
Isaiah has two sons...
00:47:29.34\00:47:32.38
one is called: Shearjashub
00:47:32.41\00:47:35.38
which means: a
remnant shall return.
00:47:35.42\00:47:39.22
So, God was...
was... was telling Israel
00:47:39.25\00:47:42.99
that even after the trauma
and drama of Assyrian captivity,
00:47:43.02\00:47:48.53
that there is
going to be a remnant
00:47:48.56\00:47:51.30
but, again
you've got the drama...
00:47:51.33\00:47:54.14
the trauma of
Assyrian captivity.
00:47:54.17\00:47:57.67
The other son
was: Mahershalalhashbaz
00:47:57.71\00:48:01.18
which is a mouthful
00:48:01.21\00:48:02.54
meaning: a remnant shall return.
00:48:02.61\00:48:06.21
Isaiah prophesied in the
days of crisis in Israel.
00:48:06.25\00:48:11.29
There were two major crises...
00:48:11.32\00:48:13.76
the first national crisis came
00:48:13.79\00:48:16.19
when Judah was
threatened by an alliance
00:48:16.22\00:48:19.49
between Israel and
Assyria in about 734 B.C.
00:48:19.53\00:48:22.80
The key issues
were: God's sovere...
00:48:22.83\00:48:27.50
sovereignty... rather
00:48:27.54\00:48:29.87
and His power to
deliver and save.
00:48:29.90\00:48:32.84
In other words,
those very things
00:48:32.87\00:48:35.78
that make you the remnant.
00:48:35.81\00:48:37.25
The second crisis
which came about in 701
00:48:37.28\00:48:40.75
during the siege of Jerusalem
00:48:40.78\00:48:42.98
when people were literally
eating their own children
00:48:43.05\00:48:47.02
and even unclean animals
00:48:47.06\00:48:49.62
and unclean
foods were being sold
00:48:49.69\00:48:51.93
for large sums of money...
00:48:51.96\00:48:53.83
so desperate were the
times during this siege...
00:48:53.86\00:48:58.03
the prophetic call was
the same in both instances.
00:48:58.07\00:49:02.20
Are we going to
trust God or rely on man?
00:49:02.24\00:49:06.74
In this
instance... the politics of man
00:49:06.78\00:49:11.21
and in both instances...
00:49:11.25\00:49:13.55
both times of crisis...
00:49:13.62\00:49:15.82
God assured His faithful
that after the trauma...
00:49:15.88\00:49:21.26
after the drama...
00:49:21.29\00:49:23.09
after the war...
00:49:23.12\00:49:24.96
after the rending...
00:49:24.99\00:49:26.96
after the separation...
00:49:27.00\00:49:28.86
a remnant
00:49:28.90\00:49:30.73
would return to Him.
00:49:30.77\00:49:33.74
So, you understand my point
00:49:33.77\00:49:35.27
that "remnant" is a
consequence of drama and trauma.
00:49:35.30\00:49:40.28
The remnant is not just
that which is left over,
00:49:40.31\00:49:45.21
the remnant is that part
which withstands the trauma...
00:49:45.25\00:49:51.45
which withstands the drama...
00:49:51.49\00:49:53.49
which remains
standing and faithful
00:49:53.52\00:49:57.53
in the face of
opposition and loss.
00:49:57.56\00:50:01.46
So, the remnant is the
part that has been judged by God
00:50:01.50\00:50:05.83
to be faithful even
in times of faithlessness
00:50:05.87\00:50:10.07
and has been judged
by God to be faithful
00:50:10.11\00:50:14.21
to the original after
a rending or a separation
00:50:14.24\00:50:19.61
has taken place.
00:50:19.65\00:50:20.98
So, Isaiah covers the
time from the first crisis
00:50:21.02\00:50:24.15
through the second crisis
00:50:24.19\00:50:25.65
and reaches down to the coming
00:50:25.72\00:50:27.26
of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ
00:50:27.29\00:50:29.76
So, those
prophecies of faithfulness...
00:50:29.79\00:50:32.23
of an abiding presence with God
00:50:32.26\00:50:34.60
even through
wicked and tough times
00:50:34.63\00:50:36.87
can be applied to our times
00:50:36.90\00:50:38.87
so, we are not just a remnant...
00:50:38.90\00:50:41.50
we are the remnant.
00:50:41.54\00:50:43.71
We are those who
will be faithful to God
00:50:43.74\00:50:47.11
through times of trouble...
00:50:47.14\00:50:49.34
through times of drama...
00:50:49.41\00:50:51.51
through times of trauma...
00:50:51.55\00:50:54.08
through times of separation...
00:50:54.12\00:50:55.95
through times of wickedness...
00:50:55.98\00:50:57.85
through times of apathy...
00:50:57.89\00:50:59.72
through times of Laodiceanism...
00:50:59.75\00:51:02.39
God is going to
have a faithful people
00:51:02.42\00:51:05.66
who will stand with Him...
00:51:05.69\00:51:07.53
stand by Him...
00:51:07.56\00:51:08.93
stand for Him...
00:51:08.96\00:51:10.30
who will allow Him
to work with them...
00:51:10.33\00:51:12.73
for them...
00:51:12.77\00:51:14.34
through them
00:51:14.37\00:51:15.84
to do a great work for Him...
00:51:15.90\00:51:18.51
they will be
accounted... the remnant
00:51:18.54\00:51:21.44
and God will deliver them
00:51:21.48\00:51:23.75
because He has promised to do so
00:51:23.78\00:51:26.08
and because God is
faithful to His word.
00:51:26.11\00:51:29.52
So, we see in Isaiah...
a love that will not let go
00:51:29.55\00:51:34.29
and a love that will
keep God and His people
00:51:34.32\00:51:37.69
until the second coming of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:51:37.73\00:51:42.06
We see in Isaiah this desperate
determination of God...
00:51:42.10\00:51:49.40
this view of God
that is tenacious
00:51:49.44\00:51:52.47
and will not let us go
00:51:52.51\00:51:54.74
and will hold on to us
until Jesus comes again...
00:51:54.78\00:51:59.65
pause...
00:51:59.68\00:52:03.75
as we approach the
judgment of this world.
00:52:03.79\00:52:06.55
I want to go...
before my time gets away
00:52:06.59\00:52:10.56
to 2nd Peter chapter
3 verses 8 through 10.
00:52:10.63\00:52:14.56
You're in your New Testament...
00:52:14.60\00:52:17.47
we want to go to 2nd Peter...
00:52:17.50\00:52:20.14
James and Peter...
00:52:20.17\00:52:23.71
or rather... Peter...
00:52:23.74\00:52:27.21
and then we go to
2nd Peter chapter 3
00:52:27.28\00:52:32.25
pause...
00:52:32.31\00:52:38.65
2nd Peter chapter 3
00:52:38.69\00:52:40.02
and we consider
verses 8 through 10.
00:52:40.06\00:52:46.70
Pause...
00:52:46.73\00:52:52.33
2nd Peter 3 and we
pick it up at verse 8,
00:52:52.37\00:52:56.74
The word of God says,
00:52:56.77\00:52:58.37
"But beloved do not
forget this one thing,
00:52:58.41\00:53:00.58
that with the Lord one
day is as a thousand years,
00:53:00.61\00:53:04.21
and a thousand
years as one day. "
00:53:04.25\00:53:06.48
That gives us background
for what He says in verse 9,
00:53:06.51\00:53:12.19
"The Lord is not slack
concerning His promise,
00:53:12.22\00:53:15.52
as some count slackness,
00:53:15.56\00:53:17.46
but is longsuffering towards us,
00:53:17.53\00:53:20.96
not willing that
any should perish
00:53:21.00\00:53:24.37
but that all should
come to repentance. "
00:53:24.40\00:53:27.77
Pause...
00:53:27.80\00:53:29.67
and I'll read verse 10,
00:53:29.70\00:53:31.07
"But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night,
00:53:31.11\00:53:33.94
in which the heavens will
pass away with a great noise,
00:53:33.98\00:53:36.78
and the elements will
melt with fervent heat;
00:53:36.81\00:53:39.85
both the earth and
the works that are in it
00:53:39.91\00:53:42.92
will be burned up. "
00:53:42.95\00:53:44.29
The key is tucked right there
in the middle of those verses.
00:53:44.32\00:53:47.99
In verse 9...
00:53:48.02\00:53:49.96
"The Lord is not slack
concerning His promises... "
00:53:49.99\00:53:53.19
whether it be a day
or a thousand years,
00:53:53.23\00:53:55.43
the promises are true
00:53:55.46\00:53:57.13
that God will have a remnant.
00:53:57.17\00:53:59.50
He is longsuffering toward us
00:53:59.53\00:54:02.84
and He is not willing
that any should perish
00:54:02.87\00:54:07.44
for which we can
praise and thank God. "
00:54:07.48\00:54:10.58
So when the question is
asked as it is so often,
00:54:10.61\00:54:15.15
"Where is God?"
00:54:15.18\00:54:16.79
The answer is:
right where you left Him.
00:54:16.82\00:54:19.85
He is right there
waiting for you...
00:54:19.89\00:54:22.72
loving you
00:54:22.76\00:54:24.09
and working in your behalf.
00:54:24.13\00:54:29.90
Luke chapter 19
verse 13 is important
00:54:29.93\00:54:36.34
as respects this idea
of working for the Lord.
00:54:36.37\00:54:41.31
Luke 19:13.
00:54:41.34\00:54:43.08
Matthew... Mark...
Luke... and John...
00:54:43.11\00:54:46.45
17... 18... and 19...
00:54:46.48\00:54:49.85
I like this particular text
00:54:49.88\00:54:52.09
because of the... the...
the Greek language that is used,
00:54:52.12\00:54:56.52
Luke chapter 19 and verse 13.
00:54:56.56\00:55:03.87
Luke 19 and 11...
12... and 13, here we go,
00:55:03.90\00:55:10.44
On screen.
00:55:10.47\00:55:22.08
I want to stop
there... that's verse 13...
00:55:22.12\00:55:24.15
This is the same parable
00:55:24.19\00:55:26.82
that takes place
in Matthew chapter 25.
00:55:26.86\00:55:28.99
In Matthew 25 it's called:
The Parable of the Talents.
00:55:29.02\00:55:32.43
Luke calls it the
parable of the Minas...
00:55:32.46\00:55:36.87
a Mina is about
a 100 days' wages
00:55:36.90\00:55:42.00
so, it's
considerable amount of money.
00:55:42.04\00:55:44.14
These men are
given a... a Mina...
00:55:44.17\00:55:48.38
they're given a fairly
substantial amount of money
00:55:48.41\00:55:50.78
and then the Lord comes back
some time later and asks them,
00:55:50.81\00:55:54.78
"What did you do with
the money that I gave you?"
00:55:54.82\00:55:56.58
What is important here is that
00:55:56.65\00:56:00.82
pause...
00:56:00.86\00:56:04.99
the Lord says, "Do business... "
00:56:05.03\00:56:08.06
in the King James,
it's "occupy" till I come,
00:56:08.10\00:56:12.57
so, this idea of
occupying... of doing business
00:56:12.60\00:56:17.21
is what God wants us
to do in these last days
00:56:17.24\00:56:21.81
while He is away
preparing to return.
00:56:21.84\00:56:26.61
He's saying, "Do business... "
00:56:26.65\00:56:29.18
this word "occupy"
means... transact business.
00:56:29.22\00:56:34.36
It means, "Don't
sit around idle...
00:56:34.39\00:56:37.19
don't just look at the world...
00:56:37.23\00:56:39.89
don't just
observe what's going on...
00:56:39.93\00:56:42.60
be part of what's going on...
00:56:42.63\00:56:44.43
occupy until I come...
00:56:44.47\00:56:47.07
busy yourself with
the work of the Lord
00:56:47.10\00:56:50.07
until I come
00:56:50.11\00:56:51.91
because I am coming quickly
00:56:51.94\00:56:54.84
and I want you to be with me.
00:56:54.88\00:56:58.08
Keep on working until I see you
00:56:58.11\00:57:01.28
face to face... to face. "
00:57:01.32\00:57:04.35
Now, quickly, I want
to go to this last text,
00:57:04.39\00:57:06.49
John chapter 9:4...
00:57:06.52\00:57:08.02
book of John...
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
00:57:08.06\00:57:10.33
chapter 9 and verse 4.
00:57:10.36\00:57:13.16
John 9:4.
00:57:13.19\00:57:14.90
I want to read it very quickly
00:57:14.93\00:57:16.26
before my times gets away,
00:57:16.30\00:57:17.63
John 9 and verse 4,
00:57:17.67\00:57:19.93
on screen.
00:57:19.97\00:57:27.64
Christ is saying,
"Soon work time will be over"
00:57:27.68\00:57:33.62
so, we must
work the works of God
00:57:33.65\00:57:37.75
while we can
00:57:37.79\00:57:39.12
because there is coming a time
00:57:39.15\00:57:41.36
when we will not be able to.
00:57:41.42\00:57:43.56
Again we go
back to our key text,
00:57:43.59\00:57:47.13
Romans 13 and
that knowing the times
00:57:47.16\00:57:50.67
that now it is high time...
00:57:50.70\00:57:53.40
cast off the works of darkness
00:57:53.44\00:57:56.07
and to take on
the works of light...
00:57:56.10\00:57:59.81
the hour is far spent...
00:57:59.84\00:58:01.61
the day is at hand
00:58:01.64\00:58:03.41
and we must be about
our Father's business.
00:58:03.45\00:58:06.35
God bless you.
00:58:06.38\00:58:07.78