And I want to begin with the text 00:00:34.17\00:00:35.60 that ought to be well familiar to all of us. 00:00:35.63\00:00:38.65 It's in Revelation 12:17. 00:00:38.68\00:00:41.14 You know this text, don't you? 00:00:41.17\00:00:43.07 "And the dragon was wroth" 00:00:43.10\00:00:45.60 That's an old English word for angry. 00:00:45.63\00:00:49.41 "The dragon was wroth with the woman, 00:00:49.44\00:00:51.84 and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, 00:00:51.87\00:00:54.85 which keep the commandments of God, 00:00:54.88\00:00:56.80 and have the testimony of Jesus." 00:00:56.83\00:01:00.74 In fact that is basically 00:01:00.77\00:01:02.26 the message of Revelation Chapter 12. 00:01:02.29\00:01:04.90 We have conflict, we have war 00:01:04.93\00:01:07.50 and we have an enemy that is angry. 00:01:07.53\00:01:12.68 Actually needs a little bit of angry management, 00:01:12.71\00:01:14.98 if you think about it. 00:01:15.01\00:01:16.57 And by the way, God has committed Himself 00:01:16.60\00:01:18.87 to providing a little bit of angry management. 00:01:18.90\00:01:22.15 He is not gonna let you get totally out of control, 00:01:22.18\00:01:25.44 but nevertheless he is angry 00:01:25.47\00:01:27.02 and he is angry with whom? 00:01:27.05\00:01:28.88 He is angry with the people of God. 00:01:28.91\00:01:31.41 And though we know that God has His people 00:01:31.44\00:01:33.65 scattered throughout Christianity 00:01:33.68\00:01:36.18 we believe that Seventh-day Adventist are unique 00:01:36.21\00:01:39.70 that God's purpose in the reformation, 00:01:39.73\00:01:42.45 now follow me, that God's purpose on the reformation 00:01:42.48\00:01:45.15 will find it's full fulfillment through the advent movement. 00:01:45.18\00:01:49.67 When all things will be restored 00:01:49.70\00:01:51.71 Jesus refers to this the Matthew 17:10. 00:01:51.74\00:01:55.33 And the work of God will be finished on earth. 00:01:55.36\00:01:59.04 Yes indeed Satan is angry, 00:01:59.07\00:02:02.63 he is angry with God's remnant people 00:02:02.66\00:02:04.94 who keep the commandments of the God 00:02:04.97\00:02:06.74 and have the testimony of Jesus which Revelation 19:10 00:02:06.77\00:02:11.33 identifies as the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:02:11.36\00:02:14.25 And by the way, we believe that Ellen White was called 00:02:14.28\00:02:17.89 to that prophetic ministry. 00:02:17.92\00:02:20.61 The evil one, the evil one has declared war against us 00:02:20.64\00:02:24.43 and he is working to undermine our sense of identity 00:02:24.46\00:02:27.45 as God's remnant people to confuse our understanding 00:02:27.48\00:02:31.87 of the message entrusted to us 00:02:31.90\00:02:34.40 and to silence the prophetic voice 00:02:34.43\00:02:36.18 among us thus preventing us 00:02:36.21\00:02:38.03 from fulfilling the worldwide mission 00:02:38.06\00:02:40.52 we've been called to. 00:02:40.55\00:02:42.82 While we are in our Laodicean condition-- you know about 00:02:42.85\00:02:47.20 the Laodicean condition don't you? 00:02:47.23\00:02:49.40 Take Revelation 3 out this afternoon 00:02:49.43\00:02:51.23 if you want to re-familiarize yourself 00:02:51.26\00:02:54.39 with the seventh church it's the last church 00:02:54.42\00:02:57.53 and as we have it in sequence there chapter 1-3. 00:02:57.56\00:03:01.38 Well, we remain in our Laodicean condition, 00:03:01.41\00:03:04.04 my friend, he is working feverishly to derail 00:03:04.07\00:03:08.41 and destroy this movement. 00:03:08.44\00:03:11.16 Though we must never forget that the Lord Jesus will defend 00:03:11.19\00:03:14.98 and preserve His people, 00:03:15.01\00:03:17.11 we cannot afford to be passive. 00:03:17.14\00:03:20.15 We must act our part boldly 00:03:20.18\00:03:22.44 in the love and the Spirit of Jesus 00:03:22.47\00:03:24.41 in defending our message and mission. 00:03:24.44\00:03:29.50 And my friend, there is a defense 00:03:29.53\00:03:30.58 that needs to be put up, 00:03:30.61\00:03:32.59 because remember again, whose ought to get us? 00:03:32.62\00:03:36.79 Who is angry with us? 00:03:36.82\00:03:39.59 Who is determined to take us down? 00:03:39.62\00:03:43.77 Satan, yes. Satanist, yes. 00:03:43.80\00:03:49.08 And so my friend, as we talk about our Laodicean condition 00:03:49.11\00:03:52.74 and all these things that are taking place against us 00:03:52.77\00:03:56.53 it means that one of our greatest needs 00:03:56.56\00:03:59.19 is for revival and reformation 00:03:59.22\00:04:03.41 is one of if not the most important of our needs. 00:04:03.44\00:04:07.36 And I want to remind you of some of the elements 00:04:07.39\00:04:10.64 that are vital in the process of revival and reformation. 00:04:10.67\00:04:16.32 Number one, it is a call 00:04:16.35\00:04:17.99 to a re-committed relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:04:18.02\00:04:22.58 In a committed relationship with Jesus 00:04:22.61\00:04:25.08 and if we're in the committed relationship with Jesus 00:04:25.11\00:04:27.38 it means that we are going to have 00:04:27.41\00:04:29.08 a daily experience in the Word of God. 00:04:29.11\00:04:33.18 The Bible is foundation 00:04:33.21\00:04:35.33 to our relationship with the Jesus Christ. 00:04:35.36\00:04:37.66 And number three, I would add 00:04:37.69\00:04:39.40 the importance of the study of the Sprit of Prophecy. 00:04:39.43\00:04:43.48 The prophetic gift is vital 00:04:43.51\00:04:47.48 if there is gonna be revival among us as the people. 00:04:47.51\00:04:51.25 And number four, we need to be active in prayer. 00:04:51.28\00:04:53.62 And if we're in this relationship 00:04:53.65\00:04:55.37 I mean if you're not, if you are 00:04:55.40\00:04:56.97 in the relationship you know 00:04:57.00\00:04:58.77 that there is this interaction 00:04:58.80\00:05:00.99 that must take place between two individuals 00:05:01.02\00:05:04.76 and suddenly it's true in a relationship 00:05:04.79\00:05:06.57 with God through Jesus Christ 00:05:06.60\00:05:08.62 that is why our prayer life is so vitally important to us. 00:05:08.65\00:05:13.23 And number five, if we are really 00:05:13.26\00:05:15.83 in the committed relationship 00:05:15.86\00:05:17.11 we will be sharing our faith, our faith with others. 00:05:17.14\00:05:22.64 My friend, as we talk about the importance 00:05:22.67\00:05:25.95 of the scriptures, the Bible, 00:05:25.98\00:05:27.95 the Bible is fundamental to our understanding, 00:05:27.98\00:05:31.06 to understanding our message 00:05:31.09\00:05:33.49 and is vital to every genuine revival. 00:05:33.52\00:05:37.41 The Scriptures alone are the foundation of our teachings 00:05:37.44\00:05:41.46 and must continue to be so. 00:05:41.49\00:05:44.35 This we must never lose sight of. 00:05:44.38\00:05:48.23 It is our fidelity to the scriptures 00:05:48.26\00:05:51.15 in our commitment to Jesus 00:05:51.18\00:05:52.85 that will preserve us 00:05:52.88\00:05:54.47 from the dissections of the evil one. 00:05:54.50\00:05:57.25 We must through faith make God's word 00:05:57.28\00:06:00.24 the foundation of our individual experiences 00:06:00.27\00:06:03.49 the focal point of our worship services 00:06:03.52\00:06:06.63 and in the process I believe we need 00:06:06.66\00:06:08.80 to reexamined the vital role 00:06:08.83\00:06:11.13 of our Sabbath school programs within the church, 00:06:11.16\00:06:16.91 uniquely designed 00:06:16.94\00:06:19.03 where we can come together in small groups 00:06:19.06\00:06:21.60 to open the Word of God to discuss the Word of God. 00:06:21.63\00:06:25.87 My friends, Sabbath school is vital in our process 00:06:25.90\00:06:29.09 of continuing the study of the scriptures 00:06:29.12\00:06:31.38 and to make them the focal point of the life of the church. 00:06:31.41\00:06:34.78 Worship is important, but it cannot take the place. 00:06:34.81\00:06:38.26 I believe on bias I'll admit it 00:06:38.29\00:06:41.50 cannot take the place of our Sabbath schools. 00:06:41.53\00:06:44.96 Seem now I don't know if you agree with me or not? 00:06:44.99\00:06:47.74 I guess it doesn't really matter, 00:06:47.77\00:06:49.02 because I'm the one up here preaching. 00:06:49.05\00:06:52.19 And then I take you to this statement 00:06:52.22\00:06:54.95 that Ellen White makes in the book 00:06:54.98\00:06:56.53 Christian Experience and Teaching of Ellen G. White 00:06:56.56\00:07:00.38 where she says "We have nothing to fear for the future, 00:07:00.41\00:07:04.00 except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, 00:07:04.03\00:07:08.36 and His teaching in our past history." 00:07:08.39\00:07:14.07 We have nothing to fear except if we forget, 00:07:14.10\00:07:20.56 we forget our past history, if we forget who we are, 00:07:20.59\00:07:26.05 that God historically establish this movement 00:07:26.08\00:07:30.83 and that He entrusted us with a message 00:07:30.86\00:07:33.82 and He has commissioned us to take it, 00:07:33.85\00:07:35.60 take it to the whole world. 00:07:35.63\00:07:38.77 My friend, it's a drift that's taking place in the church 00:07:38.80\00:07:43.75 and we're losing impart a sense of again this throaty 00:07:43.78\00:07:48.69 of the place of our message as relates 00:07:48.72\00:07:50.78 to our commitment to Jesus Christ 00:07:50.81\00:07:53.78 and we must not let that happen. 00:07:53.81\00:07:57.82 We must never forget that the things 00:07:57.85\00:08:00.07 that the elements that make up 00:08:00.10\00:08:02.23 the essence of our message 00:08:02.26\00:08:06.34 my friend, have our historically sound. 00:08:06.37\00:08:09.98 God has entrusted us with, with that message. 00:08:10.01\00:08:13.13 This morning I want to focus in on the prophetic gift 00:08:13.16\00:08:16.85 that is been so vital in our experience as a people. 00:08:16.88\00:08:20.37 I invite you to your Bibles 00:08:20.40\00:08:21.75 and turn with me the Daniel Chapter 9, 00:08:21.78\00:08:24.36 Daniel 9 we're gonna be looking at verse 10. 00:08:24.39\00:08:27.15 And as we come to Daniel 9:10 we find that Daniel 00:08:27.18\00:08:30.32 is an interstitial prayer for his people. 00:08:30.35\00:08:33.06 He is been in captivity with many of his people, 00:08:33.09\00:08:36.73 in Babylon some 70 years. 00:08:36.76\00:08:40.37 And he knows that the time of restoration has come 00:08:40.40\00:08:43.82 and so we find that impart 00:08:43.85\00:08:45.96 he is confessing the sins of his people. 00:08:45.99\00:08:49.48 And notice what we find as we look at Daniel 9:10 00:08:49.51\00:08:53.83 he confesses "Nor have we obeyed 00:08:53.86\00:08:56.45 the voice of the Lord our God, 00:08:56.48\00:08:58.96 to walk in His teachings which He set before us 00:08:58.99\00:09:02.93 through His servants the prophets." 00:09:02.96\00:09:05.21 That was one of the great mistakes 00:09:09.38\00:09:11.94 of God's people in the Old Testament. 00:09:11.97\00:09:15.62 Indeed the people of God 00:09:15.65\00:09:16.84 in past ages had paid an awful price 00:09:16.87\00:09:20.75 for neglecting or rejecting 00:09:20.78\00:09:23.06 the prophetic gift in their midst. 00:09:23.09\00:09:25.55 And my friend, we cannot afford to make the same mistake. 00:09:25.58\00:09:29.89 We must reject an emphasis in our time on a spirituality 00:09:29.92\00:09:35.49 that is not clearly linked to God's word. 00:09:35.52\00:09:41.57 It's what I called the Oprah Winfrey 00:09:41.60\00:09:44.14 spirituality, mentality. 00:09:44.17\00:09:47.29 And as in many churches 00:09:47.32\00:09:49.17 and it's seeping into our church as well. 00:09:49.20\00:09:52.27 It's an emphasis on a spirituality 00:09:52.30\00:09:54.30 again that is not embedded in the teachings 00:09:54.33\00:09:57.53 the foundational teachings of the Word of God. 00:09:57.56\00:10:00.44 And my friend, you can always count on it 00:10:00.47\00:10:03.13 in the life of the church 00:10:03.16\00:10:04.42 if somehow the Bible is been undermined, 00:10:04.45\00:10:07.40 is becoming secondary in the life of the church. 00:10:07.43\00:10:10.17 You have to know that something is not right. 00:10:10.20\00:10:14.00 It's not just a fuzzy warm feeling. 00:10:14.03\00:10:16.78 Oh yes, I believe that there is joy in the love 00:10:16.81\00:10:18.86 and the grace of Jesus to be sure. 00:10:18.89\00:10:22.38 But my friend, that love and joy 00:10:22.41\00:10:24.02 that we find in Jesus will always recognize 00:10:24.05\00:10:26.88 how vitally important the Bible 00:10:26.91\00:10:29.60 is to us individually and to us as a people. 00:10:29.63\00:10:34.51 Historically we've been known as the people of the book 00:10:34.54\00:10:38.14 and may that never change. 00:10:38.17\00:10:40.84 When I was in Kenya 00:10:40.87\00:10:42.62 during the series of meeting years ago, 00:10:42.65\00:10:45.50 I was in the conference 00:10:45.53\00:10:46.56 where they had over 180,000 members. 00:10:46.59\00:10:49.99 I have never been in that size of conference 00:10:50.02\00:10:52.05 in my life and they said, 00:10:52.08\00:10:53.86 you know, we're gonna advertise 00:10:53.89\00:10:55.35 that the Adventist are having meetings. 00:10:55.38\00:10:57.31 And when the people hear 00:10:57.34\00:10:58.40 that Adventist are be going to putting on meetings 00:10:58.43\00:11:00.57 they are going to becoming 00:11:00.60\00:11:01.63 by the hundreds and the thousands, 00:11:01.66\00:11:04.73 because they know that when Adventists put on meetings 00:11:04.76\00:11:08.20 that they are going to get 00:11:08.23\00:11:10.18 the true teachings of the Word of God. 00:11:10.21\00:11:13.43 Now that's a great reputation to treasure. 00:11:13.46\00:11:17.96 And my friend, that goes again 00:11:17.99\00:11:19.61 to the heart of our identity too, doesn't it? 00:11:19.64\00:11:24.53 We also must recognize that there is a danger 00:11:24.56\00:11:28.27 that the Spirit of Prophecy is becoming marginalized among us 00:11:28.30\00:11:32.17 as a people and it's been relegated 00:11:32.20\00:11:35.02 to the backwaters of the church. 00:11:35.05\00:11:36.93 And I'm speaking specifically here in North America, 00:11:36.96\00:11:39.48 I'm not gonna speak for other parts of the world, 00:11:39.51\00:11:42.14 but I know something about the church here in America. 00:11:42.17\00:11:45.59 It's as if its inspired messages are irrelevant 00:11:45.63\00:11:50.38 to the life of the church for too many. 00:11:50.41\00:11:53.89 Some are simply neglecting or ignoring 00:11:53.92\00:11:56.23 the messages given us by God through this agency 00:11:56.26\00:12:00.23 and often it's stemming from confusion 00:12:00.26\00:12:03.13 or misunderstanding of the proper role 00:12:03.16\00:12:05.57 of the prophetic gift in the church. 00:12:05.60\00:12:08.54 Others have given themselves over to unbelief 00:12:08.57\00:12:12.18 and have rejected the inspired councils 00:12:12.21\00:12:14.20 that God has given us. 00:12:14.23\00:12:17.38 The pendulum swing, the pendulum swing 00:12:17.41\00:12:20.70 that's taken place among us as a people in recent decades 00:12:20.73\00:12:23.94 particularly as it relates to our understanding 00:12:23.97\00:12:26.34 of righteousness by faith has contributed, 00:12:26.37\00:12:30.02 I believe significantly to the problem. 00:12:30.05\00:12:33.12 Rightfully we reject extremism of legalism, 00:12:33.15\00:12:37.26 but many have gone to the opposite extreme 00:12:37.29\00:12:41.32 where practical godliness as reflected in Christian values 00:12:41.35\00:12:45.33 and lifestyle issues have come to be seen 00:12:45.36\00:12:47.87 as legalistic and irrelevant. 00:12:47.90\00:12:52.24 As a result the practical councils 00:12:52.27\00:12:55.52 that we find in the Spirit of Prophecy 00:12:55.55\00:12:58.46 that call us out of the world 00:12:58.49\00:13:01.37 as a distinctive people are too often looked 00:13:01.40\00:13:04.99 upon with suspicion or outright rejection. 00:13:05.02\00:13:09.97 I remember it was back, 00:13:10.00\00:13:11.11 I believe it was the summer of 1990 00:13:11.14\00:13:13.85 I was in workers meeting, pastors meeting 00:13:13.88\00:13:17.24 that summer and I remember that one of our pastors 00:13:17.27\00:13:20.25 have been appointed to make a presentation. 00:13:20.28\00:13:22.17 And during the course of his presentation 00:13:22.20\00:13:24.17 it's the first time that I've been heard the idea, 00:13:24.20\00:13:27.14 let alone heard it articulated as it was, 00:13:27.17\00:13:31.01 but a pastor publicly declared that he believed 00:13:31.04\00:13:37.03 that it was inappropriate for us ever 00:13:37.06\00:13:40.86 to quote the Spirit of Prophecy publicly. 00:13:40.89\00:13:44.29 And in the intervening years 00:13:49.23\00:13:51.36 it's seems that many others have become confused 00:13:51.39\00:13:54.05 about the role of the Spirit of Prophecy 00:13:54.08\00:13:55.86 in the life of the church as well. 00:13:55.89\00:13:58.35 Knowing the conference president that period of time, 00:13:58.38\00:14:02.16 I know that Jerry do not buy into what was being represented. 00:14:02.19\00:14:07.02 If you've ever heard of the Jerry Potter preached 00:14:07.05\00:14:10.33 and do you know 00:14:10.36\00:14:11.66 it has been a year and a half since we've lost him. 00:14:11.69\00:14:17.37 You know, that he was a sound Biblical preacher Jerry was, 00:14:17.40\00:14:23.33 but had a high regard for the Spirit of Prophecy 00:14:23.36\00:14:25.84 in his councils and actively used it in his preaching 00:14:25.87\00:14:30.65 and we are blessed, 00:14:30.68\00:14:32.60 we are blessed here in this church 00:14:32.63\00:14:34.16 that we have a pastor 00:14:34.19\00:14:37.21 that believes in the scriptures and the message 00:14:37.24\00:14:39.99 and believes in a sound use of the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:14:40.02\00:14:46.47 Because you see, if we shutdown the voice of the messenger, 00:14:46.50\00:14:51.20 if it's inappropriate ever for her voice to ever be heard 00:14:51.23\00:14:54.55 in the life of the church 00:14:54.58\00:14:56.24 whether we're talking about in the worship service, 00:14:56.27\00:14:58.53 it was being preached, or in our Sabbath schools 00:14:58.56\00:15:02.96 then where is that voice gonna be heard for many of us? 00:15:02.99\00:15:05.79 Unfortunately we're not students of the word 00:15:05.82\00:15:08.65 or of the Spirit of Prophecy as we really ought to be, 00:15:08.68\00:15:12.62 you know, that, I'm saying that by observation, but it's a fact. 00:15:12.65\00:15:16.91 It's like, she is not relevant 00:15:16.94\00:15:19.51 and she is my friend, she is relevant. 00:15:19.54\00:15:25.08 Unfortunately there are those knowingly or unknowingly 00:15:25.11\00:15:29.27 who are working as revisionist of the message 00:15:29.30\00:15:32.02 that the Spirit of God has affirmed among us time 00:15:32.05\00:15:35.15 and time again throughout our history. 00:15:35.18\00:15:38.51 Its happening, it's happening. 00:15:38.54\00:15:43.16 Impart as a result we have an upcoming generation 00:15:43.19\00:15:48.99 that understand little of the prophetic gift. 00:15:49.02\00:15:53.32 Often they are unacquainted with the Spirit of Prophecy 00:15:53.35\00:15:56.06 and I've heard little of his councils in the church. 00:15:56.09\00:15:59.03 And again as we talked about that 00:15:59.06\00:16:00.57 pendulum swing a few moments ago, 00:16:00.60\00:16:02.85 I understand the pendulum swing 00:16:02.88\00:16:04.94 it does affect our understanding 00:16:04.97\00:16:07.07 our appreciation of the gift of prophecy. 00:16:07.10\00:16:10.58 But my friend, I understand, 00:16:10.61\00:16:12.25 you know, some decades ago that they were those 00:16:12.28\00:16:16.22 who felt that it was been stuff down their throats. 00:16:16.25\00:16:23.07 And some of you know this. It did happen. 00:16:23.10\00:16:26.76 But let me tell you the same thing 00:16:26.79\00:16:28.12 is done with the Word of God. 00:16:28.15\00:16:30.90 Are we going to cast out the baby with the bathwater 00:16:30.93\00:16:33.68 just simply because somebody has misused the Bible 00:16:33.71\00:16:36.16 or the Spirit of Prophecy? 00:16:36.19\00:16:38.33 And my friend, the answer is no. 00:16:38.36\00:16:40.44 We are not going to as a people. 00:16:40.47\00:16:46.39 We're not, are we? 00:16:46.42\00:16:50.20 See, sometimes it seems like we're bouncing off the walls 00:16:50.23\00:16:53.68 from the trends come and go, but my friend, 00:16:53.71\00:16:57.13 if we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, 00:16:57.16\00:17:01.03 if we keep our eyes focused on the teachings 00:17:01.06\00:17:04.32 and the Revelation of His word 00:17:04.35\00:17:06.95 and if we take council from the Spirit of Prophecy 00:17:06.98\00:17:10.38 we will be blessed, 00:17:10.41\00:17:13.69 and we will be kept in balance. 00:17:13.72\00:17:18.04 Now we won't be tossed to and fro with the latest trend 00:17:18.07\00:17:23.88 that seems to watch over the church from time to time. 00:17:23.91\00:17:30.51 Impart as I said we have a generation 00:17:30.54\00:17:34.46 that knows little about the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:17:34.49\00:17:37.59 What does that say for the Church in 20-30 years 00:17:37.62\00:17:42.32 if the Lord today to have a generation 00:17:42.35\00:17:46.43 that knows almost nothing about this gift. 00:17:46.46\00:17:53.42 It's troubling and that's important 00:17:53.45\00:17:56.24 why I'm preaching on it this morning. 00:17:56.27\00:18:00.94 What does a future hold for the church 00:18:00.97\00:18:02.64 without the benefits of the inspired guidance 00:18:02.67\00:18:05.62 that has been such a blessing 00:18:05.65\00:18:07.36 to this people, to God's people it has. 00:18:07.39\00:18:10.33 I bear witness of it in my own experience. 00:18:10.36\00:18:14.66 My relationship with Jesus has been enriched. 00:18:14.69\00:18:18.98 First of all by the Scriptures, 00:18:19.01\00:18:20.95 but secondarily by the councils 00:18:20.98\00:18:22.96 that we find in the Spirit of Prophecy 00:18:22.99\00:18:26.21 and then if you compare the same witness. 00:18:26.24\00:18:29.87 My understanding of scripture has been deeply enriched 00:18:29.90\00:18:33.82 by the Spirit of Prophecy 00:18:33.85\00:18:35.35 for it bares witness to the truth. 00:18:35.38\00:18:37.87 And so without the benefit of these inspired councils 00:18:42.67\00:18:46.09 too many are going through a drift 00:18:46.12\00:18:49.15 away from the centrality of the message. 00:18:49.18\00:18:52.80 Now you know I'm an evangelist, 00:18:52.83\00:18:54.11 so the message is pretty close at heart to what I do. 00:18:54.14\00:18:58.35 You see, those of us in ministry 00:18:58.38\00:19:00.34 and church leadership have a responsibility 00:19:00.37\00:19:04.10 before God to hold the line 00:19:04.13\00:19:06.67 against the incursions of the enemy. 00:19:06.70\00:19:10.76 We have a responsibility. 00:19:10.79\00:19:13.44 I know I don't share these concerns alone. 00:19:13.47\00:19:17.52 I'm not alone in them. 00:19:17.55\00:19:19.74 Several years ago Max and I had a conversation after church. 00:19:19.77\00:19:23.99 Our former conference president 00:19:24.02\00:19:26.31 and we were talking about this very issue 00:19:26.34\00:19:28.60 and Max was telling me, he said, 00:19:28.63\00:19:30.46 we've been discussions about this at the conference office 00:19:30.49\00:19:32.94 what are we gonna do? 00:19:32.97\00:19:34.43 You look at the ABC sales, 00:19:34.46\00:19:36.47 talk to Herman Schreven our ABC manager 00:19:36.50\00:19:38.99 and he has told me, he said, man, 00:19:39.02\00:19:41.31 in the last 20 years the sales of Ellen G. 00:19:41.34\00:19:44.21 White books has gone down dramatically. 00:19:44.24\00:19:49.96 And Max says we're trying to find a way to, 00:19:49.99\00:19:52.86 to arouse the interest of our people 00:19:52.89\00:19:55.90 in the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:19:55.93\00:20:02.93 So how do we relate to the ministry 00:20:02.96\00:20:07.23 of Ellen White as a prophet? 00:20:07.26\00:20:09.70 Is she a prophet or something less? 00:20:09.73\00:20:12.38 Was she inspired in the sense 00:20:12.41\00:20:14.05 of Biblical prophets were inspired? 00:20:14.08\00:20:16.69 Are there different levels of inspiration 00:20:16.72\00:20:20.01 and what is her relationship to the Bible anyway? 00:20:20.04\00:20:23.38 Take your Bible and turn with me to John 16:12. 00:20:23.41\00:20:27.62 John 16:12, the setting, 00:20:27.65\00:20:30.68 the setting we will find is the upper room, 00:20:30.71\00:20:32.98 Jesus is spending these last quite moments 00:20:33.01\00:20:35.12 with His disciples and over and over again 00:20:35.15\00:20:38.26 He comes to back to the theme of the promise 00:20:38.29\00:20:41.23 of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. 00:20:41.26\00:20:44.89 And here John 16 beginning with verse 12 He said, 00:20:44.92\00:20:48.11 Jesus said, "I have many more things to say to you, 00:20:48.14\00:20:51.93 but you cannot bear them now." 00:20:51.96\00:20:55.37 Think of it after three and a half years 00:20:55.40\00:20:57.93 as His closest disciples Jesus is saying to them 00:20:57.96\00:21:02.00 there is more and there is much more, 00:21:02.03\00:21:06.41 but you're not ready to here it, you're not ready. 00:21:06.44\00:21:11.16 And my friend, they wouldn't be ready to hear 00:21:11.19\00:21:12.95 what Jesus had to say and tell they went 00:21:12.98\00:21:15.02 through initially it was to them crushing 00:21:15.05\00:21:17.45 when Jesus died on the cross of Calvary 00:21:17.48\00:21:21.16 and then that wondrous joy 00:21:21.19\00:21:23.67 when Jesus was resurrected on the third day. 00:21:23.70\00:21:28.49 I don't know that we can really appreciate 00:21:28.52\00:21:30.07 what those disciples went through. 00:21:30.10\00:21:31.99 And in the process their hearts were open, 00:21:32.02\00:21:34.32 their minds were open to receive a greater revelation. 00:21:34.35\00:21:39.50 And I believe in a similar fashion 00:21:39.53\00:21:41.70 that Jesus is saying to us today 00:21:41.73\00:21:44.31 to you and I as a people of God 00:21:44.34\00:21:47.20 that there is much more, 00:21:47.23\00:21:49.77 there are deeper understandings 00:21:49.80\00:21:52.25 to be gained in this precious message 00:21:52.28\00:21:54.52 that we have been entrusted with. 00:21:54.55\00:21:57.15 But my friend, let it not be said of us 00:21:57.18\00:21:59.27 as it was of the disciples of long ago that 00:21:59.30\00:22:02.33 but they could not bare it. 00:22:02.36\00:22:05.37 You see when we're in this loving relationship 00:22:05.40\00:22:07.31 with Jesus Christ there is a thirsty 00:22:07.34\00:22:11.73 and there is a longing to know 00:22:11.76\00:22:13.59 the heart and the mind of the Savior. 00:22:13.62\00:22:16.99 And my friend, again that is not just something 00:22:17.02\00:22:20.10 that's floating out there in space it's concretely founded 00:22:20.13\00:22:25.04 in the teachings of the Word of God. 00:22:25.07\00:22:28.61 It's like falling in love. 00:22:28.64\00:22:31.13 I remember when I fell in love with Donna. 00:22:31.16\00:22:34.56 Yeah I do remember. I do remember. 00:22:34.59\00:22:37.88 Man, I couldn't spend enough time with her. 00:22:37.91\00:22:41.41 You know, I have my studies 00:22:41.44\00:22:42.85 and now we were eating together, 00:22:42.88\00:22:44.45 we were doing everything we possibly could do together. 00:22:44.48\00:22:47.38 I just was fascinated with this then young woman. 00:22:47.41\00:22:50.53 I didn't need to say that way did I, 00:22:50.56\00:22:52.59 but anyway we were both young 00:22:52.62\00:22:55.20 I just was fascinated with her. 00:22:55.23\00:22:57.05 I couldn't get enough of, you know, the conversations, 00:22:57.08\00:23:00.09 the interaction really getting to know her. 00:23:00.12\00:23:03.11 And my friends, so it is in the relationship 00:23:03.14\00:23:04.94 with Jesus with God, 00:23:04.97\00:23:07.32 we can't get enough of, of getting to really know 00:23:07.35\00:23:09.97 who Jesus is, who God the Father is. 00:23:10.00\00:23:12.99 And my friend, that is where 00:23:13.02\00:23:14.16 the Bible is so vitally important. 00:23:14.19\00:23:16.15 How else are we going to learn 00:23:16.18\00:23:17.94 what is in the heart and the mind of God 00:23:17.97\00:23:20.84 through Jesus Christ except through the Word of God. 00:23:20.87\00:23:25.88 And that's when the dangers of the worship movement 00:23:25.91\00:23:28.46 that has overtaken much of the Christian world 00:23:28.49\00:23:30.45 and they are some positive things 00:23:30.48\00:23:32.89 in the worship movement. 00:23:32.92\00:23:34.27 I mean, let's, you know, let's be fair about it. 00:23:34.30\00:23:37.94 But again that tendency, 00:23:37.97\00:23:40.54 you know, it's like, I'd like to put it this way, 00:23:40.57\00:23:44.09 that when we come and worship 00:23:44.12\00:23:45.45 we're in a conversation with God. 00:23:45.48\00:23:48.89 And in the extremes of the worship movement 00:23:48.92\00:23:50.94 we are dominating the conversation. 00:23:50.97\00:23:54.66 It's all about me, all about my praises, 00:23:54.69\00:23:57.21 all about what I have to say. 00:23:57.24\00:24:00.58 Sadly I was in a church were one of the elders told me, 00:24:00.61\00:24:04.84 it was just oh, I probably should identify how long ago, 00:24:04.87\00:24:08.01 but I was in the church one of the elders told me, 00:24:08.04\00:24:11.09 you know, they had a wonderful praise program. 00:24:11.12\00:24:14.17 I love music, I happen to do praise, 00:24:14.20\00:24:17.90 praise music here once in a while on occasion, 00:24:17.93\00:24:22.08 but the elder told me 00:24:22.11\00:24:23.42 the pastor typically is left about 15 minutes to preach. 00:24:23.45\00:24:28.80 And I don't know ]how you feel about that, 00:24:28.83\00:24:30.36 but 15 minutes is not a sermon, 00:24:30.39\00:24:32.68 15 minutes is hardly getting started on the devotion. 00:24:32.71\00:24:38.28 So anything I said again, anything that tends 00:24:38.31\00:24:41.05 to undermine the centrality of Christ 00:24:41.08\00:24:44.02 and the teachings of this book 00:24:44.05\00:24:46.56 we have to be on guard against. 00:24:46.59\00:24:52.63 It's vital, absolutely vital. 00:24:52.66\00:24:56.00 Let me get back to my notes here. 00:24:56.03\00:24:58.09 Let me take you to John 16 00:24:58.12\00:25:01.74 and looking at the first part of verses 13 00:25:01.77\00:25:04.90 where it says "But when he, when he, 00:25:04.93\00:25:08.23 the Spirit of truth, comes, 00:25:08.26\00:25:10.65 he will guide you into all the truth." 00:25:10.68\00:25:14.33 Notice, how vital this whole subject 00:25:14.36\00:25:17.43 was to Jesus on that occasion. 00:25:17.46\00:25:19.46 There is many more things I'd like to say you, 00:25:19.49\00:25:21.50 you're not ready to hear them 00:25:21.53\00:25:23.98 but you just wait I'm gonna send the Spirit, 00:25:24.01\00:25:28.04 I'm gonna be sending the Holy Spirit to you. 00:25:28.07\00:25:30.08 The Spirit of truth which is a phrasing 00:25:30.11\00:25:34.27 that are used I think four or five times 00:25:34.30\00:25:38.19 that night in that setting 00:25:38.22\00:25:40.39 He kept coming back to the Spirit of truth 00:25:40.42\00:25:42.35 that I'm gonna send to you. 00:25:42.38\00:25:44.73 And He says when the Spirit of truth comes 00:25:44.76\00:25:46.74 He will guide you into all the truth. 00:25:46.77\00:25:49.96 My friend, as a people we are the beneficiaries 00:25:49.99\00:25:52.77 of centuries of Christian development 00:25:52.80\00:25:58.12 and as we talk about the reformation 00:25:58.15\00:26:01.62 we are the recipients of the blessings 00:26:01.65\00:26:03.38 that come out of the reformation 00:26:03.41\00:26:05.35 as it was novel it was actually 00:26:05.38\00:26:09.82 revolutionary for it's period of time. 00:26:09.85\00:26:12.89 It had political and religious ramifications 00:26:12.92\00:26:16.12 on Europe itself as you look at it historically, 00:26:16.15\00:26:19.75 but this idea of, you know, the people of God 00:26:19.78\00:26:23.80 having the scriptures in their own language 00:26:23.83\00:26:25.85 and that we really ought to go by what the Bible teaches, 00:26:25.88\00:26:28.04 not what the church teaches, but what the Bible teaches. 00:26:28.07\00:26:31.63 That is a part of our heritage, 00:26:31.66\00:26:34.07 we do see ourselves in like of the reformation, 00:26:34.10\00:26:36.94 we see ourselves as the part of the reformation 00:26:36.97\00:26:39.53 and we believe as the prophecies 00:26:39.56\00:26:41.46 indicate very clearly that in the end times 00:26:41.49\00:26:43.95 and we are in the end times 00:26:43.98\00:26:47.53 that all things would be restored. 00:26:47.56\00:26:49.95 Jesus said it again in Matthew 17:10. 00:26:49.98\00:26:52.97 If you not acquainted with the Elijah message 00:26:53.00\00:26:55.24 get acquainted with it. 00:26:55.27\00:26:58.57 I believe that's a message that God has given to us. 00:26:58.60\00:27:02.82 And so this movement stands for something, 00:27:02.85\00:27:04.60 this church stands for something. 00:27:04.63\00:27:08.12 Again though we recognize 00:27:08.15\00:27:09.18 there are many Christians on the various churches. 00:27:09.21\00:27:12.32 My friend, this church is unique. 00:27:12.35\00:27:16.18 We don't say that with pride or arrogantly, 00:27:16.21\00:27:22.22 but ought to with humility recognizing the responsibility 00:27:22.25\00:27:26.57 that it lays upon each one of us. 00:27:26.60\00:27:29.71 I tell you, what a blessing it is 00:27:29.74\00:27:32.36 that you and I somewhere in our experience 00:27:32.39\00:27:35.31 came to know Jesus, came to know 00:27:35.34\00:27:36.78 something about this message. 00:27:36.81\00:27:38.39 It impacted our lives on some fundamental level 00:27:38.42\00:27:42.78 and so we are here in fellowship. 00:27:42.81\00:27:46.68 I still love the message, amen. 00:27:46.71\00:27:51.07 Anybody else out there? I still love the message. 00:27:51.10\00:27:54.97 I've known it, I've been raised with it, 00:27:55.00\00:27:56.89 I'm not grown weary with it, I'm not grown tired of it. 00:27:56.92\00:28:00.60 You know, in this typically, you know, I'm preaching 140, 00:28:00.63\00:28:03.45 40 times a year that's a lot, 00:28:03.48\00:28:06.26 but doing this I'm into my 28th year. 00:28:06.29\00:28:10.08 Don't you try to guess my age now, 00:28:10.11\00:28:13.06 I'm younger than you think I'm. 00:28:13.09\00:28:14.42 But anyway, so I've been preach in a long time, 00:28:14.45\00:28:17.88 I have not grown weary with the message, 00:28:17.91\00:28:22.14 because I don't have a grown weary with the messenger. 00:28:22.17\00:28:27.92 And I believe many of you have that same conviction. 00:28:27.95\00:28:32.70 You see when we become casual 00:28:32.73\00:28:35.23 about our relationship with Jesus 00:28:35.26\00:28:38.21 it always leads to casualness in regards to the teachings 00:28:38.24\00:28:42.67 of the Word of God into the prophetic gift. 00:28:42.70\00:28:45.76 There is that direct cause affect relationship. 00:28:45.79\00:28:48.97 So Jesus promised I gonna send you the Holy Spirit 00:28:49.00\00:28:51.18 when he comes, he will guide you into all the truth. 00:28:51.21\00:28:55.99 And my friend, that means experientially each one of us 00:28:56.02\00:28:59.41 are in this growing experience, growing in Jesus, 00:28:59.44\00:29:03.50 growing in an understanding of Jesus 00:29:03.53\00:29:05.55 in our understanding of the message. 00:29:05.58\00:29:08.90 And it cannot be limited alone to what happens in this place, 00:29:08.93\00:29:13.12 it means that we must have a viable 00:29:13.15\00:29:15.39 and active devotional life right? 00:29:15.42\00:29:19.23 We need to be studying the Word of God, 00:29:19.26\00:29:20.93 we need to learn how the study the Word of God 00:29:20.96\00:29:24.06 and we need to be into the Spirit of Prophecy 00:29:24.09\00:29:27.54 in the process of it. 00:29:27.57\00:29:29.25 Let me take you and yes I'm gonna quote 00:29:29.28\00:29:31.10 from the Spirit of Prophecy this morning, 00:29:31.13\00:29:33.10 beginning with early writings page 78 00:29:33.13\00:29:36.08 where Ellen White one of those beautiful statements 00:29:36.11\00:29:39.38 where she says "I recommend to you dear reader, 00:29:39.41\00:29:42.10 the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice. 00:29:42.13\00:29:46.66 By that Word we are to be judged. 00:29:46.69\00:29:50.34 God has promised, in that Word, 00:29:50.37\00:29:54.07 to give visions in the last days." 00:29:54.10\00:29:58.09 What's that mean? 00:29:58.12\00:29:59.16 That God in His word has promised 00:29:59.19\00:30:00.43 to give us visions in the last days. 00:30:00.46\00:30:03.04 She seems to be referring to a Biblical passage. 00:30:03.07\00:30:06.00 Anybody having idea 00:30:06.03\00:30:07.06 where we would find this passage? 00:30:07.09\00:30:08.36 I think some of you do. 00:30:08.39\00:30:09.79 It's in the Book of Joel Chapter 2 00:30:09.82\00:30:11.40 what is it verses 27, 28 somewhere in their. 00:30:11.43\00:30:14.43 It talks about in the last days 00:30:14.46\00:30:16.89 before the great and terrible day of the Lord 00:30:16.92\00:30:18.75 that refers to the coming of Jesus, 00:30:18.78\00:30:20.50 that there would be prophetic dreams 00:30:20.53\00:30:22.48 and there would be prophetic visions. 00:30:22.51\00:30:24.95 So the prophetic visions 00:30:24.98\00:30:26.51 that we believe some 2,000 of them 00:30:26.54\00:30:28.99 that were given to Ellen G.White 00:30:29.02\00:30:30.85 we believe is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. 00:30:30.88\00:30:34.41 It is biblical, 00:30:34.44\00:30:36.80 it's not actual Biblical, it's Biblical. 00:30:36.83\00:30:39.68 "Not" these visions "were not given 00:30:39.71\00:30:43.14 for a new rule of faith." 00:30:43.17\00:30:47.76 And so one of the things I'd love about being able 00:30:47.79\00:30:50.33 to have this privilege of preaching this message 00:30:50.36\00:30:53.30 and have done so far so long. 00:30:53.33\00:30:56.03 I never want-- I can always stick to the Bible. 00:30:56.06\00:30:59.13 I tell every truth vital truth to us 00:30:59.16\00:31:02.72 as a people is sound biblically, 00:31:02.75\00:31:07.77 have that confidence. 00:31:07.80\00:31:12.35 And how did we come about, 00:31:12.38\00:31:14.83 how did this come about in the Church 00:31:14.86\00:31:16.81 in the Adventist Church? 00:31:16.84\00:31:18.10 Is it because we were just so much smarter 00:31:18.13\00:31:20.05 than anybody else? 00:31:20.08\00:31:21.98 We were just brighter than other Christians? 00:31:22.01\00:31:25.15 No, my friend, I think it bars witness, 00:31:25.18\00:31:27.00 I know what we think, I know that it bares 00:31:27.03\00:31:28.75 witness to the fact that God has been at work 00:31:28.78\00:31:31.68 among us from the very beginning. 00:31:31.71\00:31:35.15 The Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth 00:31:35.18\00:31:37.86 where God is into all the truth 00:31:37.89\00:31:39.54 has borne witness to us of the truth 00:31:39.57\00:31:42.21 and has bidden us to take this message 00:31:42.24\00:31:44.55 to the whole world. 00:31:44.58\00:31:45.61 I believe that and the day 00:31:48.73\00:31:49.77 I start believing it's the day I am lost. 00:31:49.80\00:31:52.73 It's says "not for new rule of faith, 00:31:52.76\00:31:55.16 but for the comfort of His people." 00:31:55.19\00:31:58.33 Notice first of all, it's given to comfort us. 00:31:58.36\00:32:02.00 And my friend, I have found such weak comfort 00:32:02.03\00:32:05.12 through the councils of the Spirit of Prophecy 00:32:05.15\00:32:07.65 that book Steps to Christ is one that 00:32:07.68\00:32:09.55 I always return to time and time again. 00:32:09.58\00:32:12.94 Whenever I feel I need a little bit of 00:32:12.97\00:32:16.40 been reenergized in my spiritual life 00:32:16.43\00:32:18.66 is to the Steps to Christ that I often go to 00:32:18.69\00:32:21.09 and there are other books like Desire of Ages. 00:32:21.12\00:32:23.90 But for the comfort of His people, 00:32:23.93\00:32:26.01 and further more another reason 00:32:26.04\00:32:28.35 why this beautiful gift has been given 00:32:28.38\00:32:30.84 is "to correct those who err from Bible truth." 00:32:30.87\00:32:36.65 Okay, to correct those. 00:32:36.68\00:32:39.25 My friend, we're not in the age 00:32:39.28\00:32:40.32 where some of us really want to go through 00:32:40.35\00:32:42.51 any correction whatsoever. 00:32:42.54\00:32:46.58 But it's a part of our Christian growth. 00:32:46.61\00:32:50.08 And so, my friend, when there are new theories of truth 00:32:50.11\00:32:55.21 then we must always, we always must be sure to 00:32:55.24\00:32:59.50 look carefully what the Bible is teaching. 00:32:59.53\00:33:02.36 But, my friend, secondarily 00:33:02.39\00:33:03.73 we must be looking at what the councils are in regards 00:33:03.76\00:33:07.53 to the matter as we find it in the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:33:07.56\00:33:12.50 And that is one other things that's concerns me 00:33:12.53\00:33:14.79 when the voice of the messenger is often so silent 00:33:14.82\00:33:21.52 and the more we become in time ignorant of the councils 00:33:21.55\00:33:25.07 that we have in the Spirit of Prophecy 00:33:25.10\00:33:27.40 the more we're set in ourselves up for, 00:33:27.43\00:33:31.96 we're setting ourselves up for trouble, we are. 00:33:31.99\00:33:36.94 This gift has kept us on track 00:33:36.97\00:33:39.43 time and time again as you look over the history of this church. 00:33:39.46\00:33:45.00 It is kept us faithful to the mission 00:33:45.03\00:33:49.52 to which we've been called. 00:33:49.55\00:33:51.08 It's kept us faithful to the message 00:33:51.11\00:33:54.34 that we've been entrusted with in the Bible. 00:33:54.37\00:33:56.83 It has over and over again. 00:33:56.86\00:34:00.61 And so the Bible is so vital, 00:34:00.64\00:34:02.36 the Bible must always be our first study 00:34:02.39\00:34:05.32 and the Spirit of Prophecy must be secondary 00:34:05.35\00:34:07.68 in our preaching, in our personal devotional life. 00:34:07.71\00:34:10.67 The Bible is not a substitute for the Bible, 00:34:10.70\00:34:12.91 but it enriches, enriches our experience 00:34:12.94\00:34:15.84 and our understanding of the Bible. 00:34:15.87\00:34:17.97 Earlier this year I was in the Loveland, 00:34:18.00\00:34:20.99 Colorado area holding a series of meetings. 00:34:21.02\00:34:23.14 Doris, Doris was attending my meetings. 00:34:23.17\00:34:25.49 I had the privilege of baptizing her. 00:34:25.52\00:34:27.62 I don't usually baptize, 00:34:27.65\00:34:29.49 I usually look to the pastor to do that, 00:34:29.52\00:34:31.67 but the circumstances 00:34:31.70\00:34:36.58 required my involvement and so I was involved. 00:34:36.61\00:34:39.90 And, you know, about three weeks after her baptism 00:34:39.93\00:34:43.84 I was on the phone, the series was over, 00:34:43.87\00:34:45.94 but I kept in touch and she, she said, you know, 00:34:45.97\00:34:49.61 I've gotten these beautiful books, 00:34:49.64\00:34:51.57 because I introduced people to Ellen G White. 00:34:51.60\00:34:54.72 I preached openly in the meetings. 00:34:54.75\00:34:57.41 And she got the hold of Desired of Ages 00:34:57.44\00:34:59.39 and several other of her books and immediately she is a reader 00:34:59.42\00:35:03.52 and she told me in just about three weeks 00:35:03.55\00:35:05.90 she had read 2,000 pages into the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:35:05.93\00:35:12.03 And she was glowing as she was sharing with me. 00:35:12.06\00:35:14.83 You know, on page such and such of Desired of Ages. 00:35:14.86\00:35:17.58 I mean this woman was inspired she was telling me. 00:35:17.61\00:35:21.18 And my friend, she was inspired of the Holy Spirit. 00:35:21.21\00:35:28.71 What we think she just was a genius 00:35:28.74\00:35:30.52 and she just kind of came up with this stuff. 00:35:30.55\00:35:34.58 And my friend, if she is not a genius 00:35:34.61\00:35:36.03 and most of us would probably agree, 00:35:36.06\00:35:37.61 she was Godly woman, 00:35:37.64\00:35:39.67 but it didn't come out of anything inherently 00:35:39.70\00:35:42.52 within her then on some level 00:35:42.55\00:35:44.74 it bares witness to the Spirit of God 00:35:44.77\00:35:48.38 that was at work in her life and ministry. 00:35:48.41\00:35:51.79 I don't know how long it's been 00:35:56.49\00:35:57.80 since she you been into the books, 00:35:57.83\00:36:00.67 that's important. 00:36:00.70\00:36:03.05 Again as I move on and I must move on. 00:36:03.08\00:36:10.58 Well, that's the life of an evangelist 00:36:10.61\00:36:12.31 you're she always moving on. 00:36:12.34\00:36:14.56 So the question comes, since the Bible 00:36:14.59\00:36:16.40 is our only rule of faith and practice 00:36:16.43\00:36:19.14 does that mean that the prophetic gift 00:36:19.17\00:36:21.41 has no authority. 00:36:21.44\00:36:24.47 And my friend, my response would be 00:36:24.50\00:36:26.18 you're not gonna back it up. 00:36:26.21\00:36:27.95 Does she have any authority whatsoever her writings that is, 00:36:27.98\00:36:30.81 the revelations given to her? 00:36:30.84\00:36:33.28 And my answer is that she authoritatively 00:36:33.31\00:36:36.69 her councils authoritatively affirms Bible truth. 00:36:36.72\00:36:44.12 Some feel we should go by the Bible 00:36:44.15\00:36:46.55 and the Spirit of Prophecy 00:36:46.58\00:36:47.85 is only good for devotional reading. 00:36:47.88\00:36:50.52 My friend, the difference is found only in the function, 00:36:50.55\00:36:54.71 inspiration is inspiration, the difference is in function. 00:36:54.74\00:36:58.89 It's like the Godhead. 00:36:58.92\00:37:00.81 Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all divine, 00:37:00.84\00:37:02.95 but they have each one unique functions 00:37:02.98\00:37:05.44 as it relates particularly to our salvation, we see that. 00:37:05.47\00:37:09.59 And so her ministry 00:37:09.62\00:37:12.10 impart was given to keep us on track Biblically 00:37:12.13\00:37:16.94 and to keep us from following away from the truth, 00:37:16.97\00:37:20.46 affirming Biblical truth. 00:37:20.49\00:37:22.05 And I'll give you an example of this in own history, 00:37:22.08\00:37:24.23 going back to the General Conference 00:37:24.26\00:37:25.67 of 1888 in Minneapolis, Minnesota 00:37:25.70\00:37:30.02 these two young men A.T. Jones and Dr. Waggoner were, 00:37:30.05\00:37:34.52 they were doing the devotional program. 00:37:34.55\00:37:37.66 This was not really part of the agenda 00:37:37.69\00:37:39.13 of the General Conference in 1888, 00:37:39.16\00:37:42.51 but the Spirit of God was moving in a markedly manner, 00:37:42.54\00:37:46.75 you know, God has this way 00:37:46.78\00:37:48.02 of giving us midcourse corrections. 00:37:48.05\00:37:50.19 I think that's what was going on 00:37:50.22\00:37:52.56 and I think historically God keeps bringing us back 00:37:52.59\00:37:57.14 to the importance of righteousness by faith, 00:37:57.17\00:38:00.31 a proper understanding of righteousness by faith. 00:38:00.34\00:38:03.64 The imputed that's where we are accounted 00:38:03.67\00:38:05.96 righteous through Jesus by accepting Him, 00:38:05.99\00:38:08.20 we accept the righteousness that is His. 00:38:08.23\00:38:11.94 And the beautiful power process by which His life, 00:38:11.97\00:38:16.33 His righteousness is being imparted to us 00:38:16.36\00:38:20.09 something that I don't often I hear it being preached 00:38:20.12\00:38:24.43 that's no refection on anybody specifically, 00:38:24.46\00:38:27.53 but, you know, it's the imputed 00:38:27.56\00:38:29.58 and imparted righteousness, is that process by which 00:38:29.61\00:38:31.94 we become like Jesus. 00:38:31.97\00:38:33.53 And for some that we're in attendance 00:38:33.56\00:38:35.57 and some that got word of what 00:38:35.60\00:38:37.38 was being shared in the devotions 00:38:37.41\00:38:39.23 this became quite controversial. 00:38:39.26\00:38:40.81 What do you mean? 00:38:40.84\00:38:42.54 You know the truth as we've been teaching and preaching it, 00:38:42.57\00:38:47.14 it really wasn't all that relevant. 00:38:47.17\00:38:50.43 It did, it breed controversy. 00:38:50.46\00:38:53.99 And my friend, Ellen White 00:38:54.02\00:38:56.69 through her prophetic gift affirmed that 00:38:56.72\00:39:00.78 what A.T. Jones and Dr. Waggoner 00:39:00.81\00:39:03.28 were preaching was straight from God. 00:39:03.31\00:39:08.27 And that is often how her gift has function within the Church 00:39:08.30\00:39:13.39 is to affirm, to a firm Bible truth. 00:39:13.42\00:39:17.92 So was she a prophet? 00:39:17.95\00:39:21.59 Is it wrong to refer to her as a prophet? 00:39:21.62\00:39:26.90 Let me take you to 1 Selected Messages 00:39:26.93\00:39:30.11 and page 34, 00:39:30.14\00:39:31.17 you gonna find the whole section there 00:39:31.20\00:39:32.92 that deals with some of these primary issues 00:39:32.95\00:39:35.07 in which she said "To claim to be a prophetess 00:39:35.10\00:39:37.71 is something that I have never done. 00:39:37.74\00:39:41.57 If others call me by that name, 00:39:41.60\00:39:43.46 I have no controversy with them. 00:39:43.49\00:39:45.94 But my work has covered so many lines 00:39:45.97\00:39:48.43 that I cannot call myself other than a messenger, 00:39:48.46\00:39:51.41 sent to bear a message from" whom 00:39:51.44\00:39:55.56 "from the Lord" to whom? 00:39:55.59\00:39:58.14 "To his people." 00:39:58.17\00:39:59.75 My friend, this we must never forget 00:39:59.78\00:40:02.99 we must get beyond the instrumentality. 00:40:03.02\00:40:05.56 She was a woman, she was a godly woman, 00:40:05.59\00:40:09.15 a dedicated woman. 00:40:09.18\00:40:11.13 I mean, think of stuff to you're ministering 00:40:11.16\00:40:12.91 the responsibility that was placed on her shoulders. 00:40:12.94\00:40:18.52 We must get beyond the human instrumentality 00:40:18.55\00:40:21.00 and recognize that it is the voice of God Himself, 00:40:21.03\00:40:25.40 it is the Lord Himself that is speaking to us. 00:40:25.43\00:40:31.74 "To His people, and to a work in any line that He points out." 00:40:31.77\00:40:36.26 When in evangelism I am talking about 00:40:36.29\00:40:38.31 this matter of the gift of prophecy 00:40:38.34\00:40:40.52 as it relates to the Bible. 00:40:40.55\00:40:41.58 I use the illustration, by the way 00:40:41.61\00:40:43.65 I am in to see my optometrist on Tuesday, I am over do. 00:40:43.68\00:40:48.76 I think I'm gonna have to upgrade my prescription. 00:40:48.79\00:40:53.28 And anyway I use this example, 00:40:53.31\00:40:55.77 you know, without my glasses I can look at the page 00:40:55.80\00:40:58.20 I could see that there is letters there, 00:40:58.23\00:41:01.94 but I really can't read it. 00:41:01.97\00:41:04.66 But when I put these glasses on 00:41:04.69\00:41:08.22 every thing comes into sharp focus. 00:41:08.25\00:41:11.83 I ask you, did to this instrument 00:41:11.86\00:41:15.54 did this put the words there in the book? 00:41:15.57\00:41:19.78 No. 00:41:19.81\00:41:21.63 It didn't really add, it just brought into focus 00:41:21.66\00:41:25.06 that which I couldn't otherwise have perceived 00:41:25.09\00:41:28.70 and comprehended and that is one of the fundamental reasons 00:41:28.73\00:41:33.63 why the Spirit of Prophecy is so very vital to us. 00:41:33.66\00:41:37.76 And then I take you on Selected Messages, 00:41:37.79\00:41:40.16 book 1 still page 32. 00:41:40.19\00:41:41.92 "Why have I not claimed to be a prophet? 00:41:41.95\00:41:44.34 Because in these days many who boldly claim 00:41:44.37\00:41:47.84 that they are prophets are a reproach 00:41:47.87\00:41:50.42 to the cause of Christ and because my work includes 00:41:50.45\00:41:52.95 much more than the word prophet signifies." 00:41:52.98\00:41:57.46 There is some really key statements in here 00:41:57.49\00:41:59.86 about this whole issue, was she a prophet or not. 00:41:59.89\00:42:03.61 And one other statement on this matter from page 36 00:42:03.64\00:42:06.64 she says "My commission embraces the work of a prophet, 00:42:06.67\00:42:11.60 but it does not end there." 00:42:11.63\00:42:15.39 So it includes the work of a prophet. 00:42:15.42\00:42:18.08 She did not choose to use that terminology. 00:42:18.11\00:42:21.19 I don't believe it's improper to refer to her 00:42:21.22\00:42:24.06 as a prophetess or as a messenger 00:42:24.09\00:42:27.87 which is the terminology I think that she would prefer to use. 00:42:27.90\00:42:32.18 You know this is a part of the 28 fundamental believes 00:42:32.21\00:42:34.93 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:42:34.96\00:42:37.67 I wondered at that time did we really need, 00:42:37.70\00:42:39.90 they were 27 and then we've added 28, 00:42:39.93\00:42:43.93 do we really need to put this down? 00:42:43.96\00:42:45.44 Yeah we do. 00:42:45.47\00:42:47.99 We needed to put it down that this is what 00:42:48.02\00:42:50.20 this church stands for, this is what we believe biblically. 00:42:50.23\00:42:53.92 And number seven, in the fundamental believes 00:42:53.95\00:42:56.49 just give you the actual official position 00:42:56.52\00:42:59.77 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:42:59.80\00:43:00.99 I'm sharing this because there is so much confusion 00:43:01.02\00:43:03.36 over this matter. 00:43:03.39\00:43:05.03 It says "One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. 00:43:05.06\00:43:08.61 This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant Church 00:43:08.64\00:43:11.29 I was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. 00:43:11.32\00:43:15.35 As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing 00:43:15.38\00:43:19.38 and authoritative source of truth which provide 00:43:19.41\00:43:24.31 for the Church comfort, guidance, 00:43:24.34\00:43:26.23 instruction and correction." 00:43:26.26\00:43:29.41 And then it goes on to say "They also make clear 00:43:29.44\00:43:33.04 that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching 00:43:33.07\00:43:36.23 and experience must be tested." 00:43:36.26\00:43:41.92 It's a good clear statement on the whole matter. 00:43:41.95\00:43:44.96 And then in 2 Chronicles 20:20. 00:43:44.99\00:43:49.62 I add, and the words of Scripture says 00:43:49.65\00:43:53.17 "Believe in the Lord your God, so you shall be established, 00:43:53.20\00:43:58.26 believe His prophets, so shall you prosper." 00:43:58.29\00:44:03.82 Again I refer you to what happen in ancient Israel, 00:44:03.85\00:44:06.62 we were there in Daniel 9:10. 00:44:06.65\00:44:09.51 Look at the awful consequence that came to them 00:44:09.54\00:44:11.67 as a people as they were turning themselves off 00:44:11.70\00:44:14.95 to the messages that God in love and mercy 00:44:14.98\00:44:17.53 was sending to them through the prophetic gift. 00:44:17.56\00:44:21.57 I said again this must not happen to us as a people. 00:44:21.60\00:44:27.59 We must not go down that same road. 00:44:27.62\00:44:31.62 We will not prosper, God cannot bless us 00:44:31.65\00:44:37.80 if we do not recognize how vitally important 00:44:37.83\00:44:41.17 the prophetic gift is beginning with the Word of God 00:44:41.20\00:44:45.19 and inclusive of the ministry of Ellen G. White. 00:44:45.22\00:44:50.06 We can afford to be wishy-washy about this whole thing. 00:44:50.09\00:44:55.79 We must be absolutely clear in our thinking. 00:44:55.82\00:44:58.23 Revelation-- John 16:13 00:44:58.26\00:45:03.42 as we continue just a little bit more in the Word of God. 00:45:03.45\00:45:06.50 The first part that we've read. 00:45:06.53\00:45:07.70 " But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, 00:45:07.73\00:45:10.35 He will guide you into all the truth 00:45:10.38\00:45:12.41 for He will not speak on His own initiative, 00:45:12.44\00:45:15.74 " the spirit will not speak on its own initiative 00:45:15.77\00:45:18.21 "but whatever He hears, He will speak 00:45:18.24\00:45:22.38 and He will disclose to you what is to come." 00:45:22.41\00:45:25.83 Now, that tie that into verse 12 00:45:25.86\00:45:27.30 where we were just a little bit ago. 00:45:27.33\00:45:29.17 Where Jesus said, "I have many more things to say to you, 00:45:29.20\00:45:31.52 but you are not ready to hear them." 00:45:31.55\00:45:35.05 So when it says that the spirit is not speaking on 00:45:35.08\00:45:37.29 His own initiative, but whatever He hears, 00:45:37.32\00:45:40.76 He speaking, who is He hearing from? 00:45:40.79\00:45:47.31 What is the Spirit hearing? 00:45:47.34\00:45:49.84 That He then He's communicating to us. 00:45:49.87\00:45:53.77 Who is that send us a Holy Spirit anyway? 00:45:53.80\00:45:56.91 Jesus did. 00:45:56.94\00:45:59.78 And my friend, what He is hearing 00:45:59.81\00:46:01.31 is what Jesus wants to be revealed to us as a people. 00:46:01.34\00:46:06.61 What He hears, but whatever hears 00:46:06.64\00:46:09.90 He will speak and He will disclose it to you, 00:46:09.93\00:46:13.30 He will reveal it you, is what the scriptures tell us, 00:46:13.33\00:46:18.98 reveal it to us. 00:46:19.01\00:46:20.86 Let me take you on the volume 5 00:46:20.89\00:46:22.13 the Testimonies page 667. 00:46:22.16\00:46:27.07 But because of the nature of this presentation 00:46:27.10\00:46:29.62 I am using the Spirit of Prophecy 00:46:29.65\00:46:31.74 more than I normally would 00:46:31.77\00:46:33.28 in a typical sermon on the Sabbath morning. 00:46:33.31\00:46:35.84 But you know why, I think you can handle it. 00:46:35.87\00:46:38.45 It's all right isn't it? 00:46:38.48\00:46:40.79 It's all right. 00:46:40.82\00:46:42.84 In which he said "One stood by my side and said 00:46:42.87\00:46:45.87 'God has raised you up and has given you words to speak 00:46:45.90\00:46:48.80 to the people and to reach hearts 00:46:48.83\00:46:51.07 as He has given to no other one. 00:46:51.10\00:46:55.17 He will make you a means through which to communicate 00:46:55.20\00:46:58.36 His light to the people. 00:46:58.39\00:47:00.23 It is Satan's special object to prevent this light 00:47:00.26\00:47:04.48 from coming to the people of God, 00:47:04.51\00:47:06.67 who so greatly needed it amid the perils of these last days." 00:47:06.70\00:47:12.32 And my friend, some by attitude 00:47:12.35\00:47:14.43 and some actually will state it. 00:47:14.46\00:47:16.64 Oh we don't really need this, 00:47:16.67\00:47:18.23 apparently we out grown this yet this 19th centuries stuff, 00:47:18.26\00:47:21.91 let's get on with it. 00:47:21.94\00:47:27.27 Let's get on with it. 00:47:27.30\00:47:30.42 Some act as if what she has to say 00:47:30.45\00:47:33.10 what God has revealed through her is irrelevant to us. 00:47:33.13\00:47:37.06 My friend, as the end approaches as we advance, 00:47:37.09\00:47:42.06 I hope we're advancing 00:47:42.09\00:47:44.97 we need the gift even more so 00:47:45.00\00:47:49.50 than back there at the beginning. 00:47:49.53\00:47:51.04 Well, we need to the get all along, 00:47:51.07\00:47:53.24 but we needed even more so today, 00:47:53.27\00:47:57.94 even more so today. 00:47:57.97\00:48:00.94 And then what else I'm gonna take you on to, oh yeah, 00:48:00.97\00:48:04.67 1 Selected Messages page 48. 00:48:04.70\00:48:07.65 Notice she says "The very last deception of Satan 00:48:07.68\00:48:10.69 will be to make of none effect the testimony 00:48:10.72\00:48:13.60 of the Spirit of God." 00:48:13.63\00:48:14.66 Remember we have an evil one that is angry with us, 00:48:14.69\00:48:18.17 who is determine to take us down, 00:48:18.20\00:48:20.06 who is gonna oppose us at every step. 00:48:20.09\00:48:25.09 And so this is-- and she said 00:48:25.12\00:48:26.90 "The very last deception of Satan 00:48:26.93\00:48:29.45 will be to make of none effect 00:48:29.48\00:48:31.53 the testimony of the Spirit of God. 00:48:31.56\00:48:34.08 Satan will work ingeniously to unsettle 00:48:34.11\00:48:39.10 the confidence of God's remnant people." 00:48:39.13\00:48:43.24 His people the Church "in the true testimony." 00:48:43.27\00:48:49.52 My friend, we know the design, 00:48:49.55\00:48:51.44 we know this because we have this insight biblically 00:48:51.47\00:48:53.93 and we have the insights from the councils 00:48:53.96\00:48:55.44 of the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:48:55.47\00:48:57.94 His working ingeniously to undermine and to undercut 00:48:57.97\00:49:02.98 the benefit of this gift to us as a people. 00:49:03.01\00:49:07.10 Are we gonna let him get away with it? 00:49:07.13\00:49:10.22 I hope not. 00:49:10.25\00:49:11.57 "The workings of Satan will be to unsettle 00:49:11.60\00:49:14.01 the faith of the Churches in them." 00:49:14.04\00:49:17.87 And my friend, that's what he is about, 00:49:17.90\00:49:19.22 he is trying to unsettle our faith 00:49:19.25\00:49:21.57 in regard to the testimonies that have been given to us. 00:49:21.60\00:49:25.45 To question the validity of the testimonies 00:49:25.48\00:49:28.10 that had been given to us. 00:49:28.13\00:49:29.78 To model on and to confuse the whole matter. 00:49:29.81\00:49:32.12 My friend, this gift has been given to prepare us 00:49:32.15\00:49:34.47 for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:49:34.50\00:49:37.16 In volume 5 of the Testimonies page 654 00:49:37.19\00:49:42.61 she says "As the end draws near 00:49:42.64\00:49:44.83 and the work of giving the last warning to the world extends, 00:49:44.86\00:49:48.10 it becomes more important for those who accept present truth 00:49:48.13\00:49:52.17 to have a clear understanding of the nature 00:49:52.20\00:49:56.32 and influence of the Testimonies, 00:49:56.35\00:49:58.77 which God in His providence has linked." 00:49:58.80\00:50:01.68 What has God in His providence has done? 00:50:01.71\00:50:04.37 He's linked the Testimonies. 00:50:04.40\00:50:07.35 Talking about the prophetic gift the ministry of Ellen White 00:50:07.38\00:50:10.30 "Has linked the Testimonies with the work 00:50:10.33\00:50:13.60 of the third angle's message from its very rise." 00:50:13.63\00:50:19.74 My friend, without the ministry of Ellen G. White 00:50:19.77\00:50:21.83 we would not be the people that we are, 00:50:21.86\00:50:23.49 we will not be the church that we are, 00:50:23.52\00:50:25.76 we will not be the seventh largest world church as we are 00:50:25.79\00:50:32.14 if it wasn't for the influence of Ellen White 00:50:32.17\00:50:36.17 and again recognize indeed she was a challenge, 00:50:36.20\00:50:39.25 she was the means by which God was speaking to us 00:50:39.28\00:50:44.27 as the people directing us giving us a vision. 00:50:44.30\00:50:48.65 You know, that Bible says the people perish without a vision. 00:50:48.68\00:50:53.31 And we must have it. 00:50:53.34\00:50:56.23 John 16:14, 15 and then one other text and we'll wrap it up. 00:50:56.26\00:51:03.15 In John 16:14 Jesus continues 00:51:03.18\00:51:06.85 when He is talking about the Holy Spirit, 00:51:06.88\00:51:09.29 "He will glorify me." 00:51:09.32\00:51:13.15 That's fundamental to the ministry of the Spirit. 00:51:13.18\00:51:14.97 He will glorify me, He will bear witness to me. 00:51:15.00\00:51:17.82 "For He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you." 00:51:17.85\00:51:22.79 So when we talk about the ministry the Holy Spirit 00:51:22.82\00:51:26.63 and, my friend, the Spirit of Prophecy 00:51:26.66\00:51:28.30 is the ministry of the Holy Spirit 00:51:28.33\00:51:31.14 in a very unique and powerful way in the end times 00:51:31.17\00:51:34.30 in which Jesus is disclosing and revealing things to us. 00:51:34.33\00:51:42.05 "He will glorify me, 00:51:42.14\00:51:44.16 for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. 00:51:44.19\00:51:46.80 All things that the Father has are Mine therefore I said 00:51:46.83\00:51:49.91 that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." 00:51:49.94\00:51:54.79 And so, my friend, one of the vital parts 00:51:54.82\00:51:58.53 of the ministry of the Holy Spirit 00:51:58.56\00:52:00.89 is that is going to point us to Jesus. 00:52:00.92\00:52:03.57 It's going to lead us into a 00:52:03.60\00:52:05.20 deeper relationship with the Savior, 00:52:05.23\00:52:08.29 its points to Jesus as our intercessor 00:52:08.32\00:52:11.27 in the heavenly sanctuary. 00:52:11.30\00:52:13.38 It points to Jesus as our coming King, 00:52:13.41\00:52:17.20 our deliver and our victor. 00:52:17.23\00:52:22.97 I take you back to Revelation 12:17, 00:52:23.00\00:52:27.55 you know, usually we make this connection. 00:52:27.58\00:52:28.98 Revelation 12:17 they will keep the commandments of God 00:52:29.01\00:52:31.30 and they will have the testimony of Jesus 00:52:31.33\00:52:34.31 and then of course we want to define this biblically, 00:52:34.34\00:52:36.23 so we go to Revelation 19:10 where it says 00:52:36.26\00:52:39.07 the "Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy." 00:52:39.10\00:52:41.63 That's where we get the terminology 00:52:41.66\00:52:43.73 the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:52:43.76\00:52:45.64 But as I've been thinking through this in recent years 00:52:45.67\00:52:48.64 I have come to appreciate with renewed meaning 00:52:48.67\00:52:55.27 the term of Revelation 12:17 00:52:55.30\00:52:58.23 as it relates to the prophetic gift. 00:52:58.26\00:53:01.43 What we have in the ministry and in the councils of-- 00:53:01.46\00:53:07.24 they are given to us through Ellen White 00:53:07.27\00:53:08.74 what we have is the testimony of Jesus. 00:53:08.77\00:53:15.65 In those books, those revelations 00:53:15.68\00:53:19.73 Jesus is speaking to us as a people, 00:53:19.76\00:53:22.84 Jesus is addressing us as His people. 00:53:22.87\00:53:27.39 He is giving us instruction 00:53:27.42\00:53:28.99 and again He is giving us council. 00:53:29.02\00:53:32.64 So we must not forget that we are a prophetic movement 00:53:32.67\00:53:37.07 that God has been at work among us 00:53:37.10\00:53:39.31 and has called us to take His message through the world. 00:53:39.34\00:53:42.38 Oh my friend, let's seek Jesus through His Word, 00:53:42.41\00:53:44.92 let's seek Jesus through the councils 00:53:44.95\00:53:46.64 He has given us through the testimony of His spirit. 00:53:46.67\00:53:49.53 And my friend, if you haven't been spending time 00:53:49.56\00:53:52.21 in the prophetic gift 00:53:52.24\00:53:53.75 I encourage you to begin systematically 00:53:53.78\00:53:57.26 to study the testimonies that we have been given. 00:53:57.29\00:54:01.62 Dust off the books 00:54:01.65\00:54:03.79 if there is somewhere there in your house unused. 00:54:03.82\00:54:07.76 I'm not saying let's put our Bibles aside. 00:54:07.79\00:54:10.32 I'm not saying that whatsoever, 00:54:10.35\00:54:11.93 the Bible must always be the focal point. 00:54:11.96\00:54:14.51 But my friend, we need benefit 00:54:14.54\00:54:17.58 of spending time with Jesus 00:54:17.61\00:54:20.19 through these precious revelations and affirmations 00:54:20.22\00:54:24.43 that have been given to us in the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:54:24.46\00:54:28.75 Let's pray shall we? 00:54:28.78\00:54:31.78 Father, again it's a privilege 00:54:31.81\00:54:34.33 that we've been able to be here this Sabbath morning. 00:54:34.36\00:54:38.20 That worship has been sweet. 00:54:38.23\00:54:42.89 Not only the fellowship that we've enjoyed 00:54:42.92\00:54:44.91 together as believers, 00:54:44.94\00:54:47.27 but fellowship that comes by means of Your spirit 00:54:47.30\00:54:50.83 and knowing that You're present among us. 00:54:50.86\00:54:55.10 And Lord, we acknowledge this morning, 00:54:55.13\00:54:58.42 we acknowledge that, Lord, 00:54:58.45\00:55:01.48 we have fallen short of Your glory. 00:55:01.51\00:55:05.41 We acknowledge this morning 00:55:05.44\00:55:06.60 we are sinners in need of the saving grace of Jesus. 00:55:06.63\00:55:10.76 But we further knowledge that You have called us 00:55:10.79\00:55:14.12 and we have answered 00:55:14.15\00:55:18.38 and we pray that You will bless us as Your people. 00:55:18.41\00:55:21.93 Be with us in this coming week 00:55:21.96\00:55:23.44 is our prayer in Jesus name, amen. 00:55:23.47\00:55:26.24 If My people 00:55:31.83\00:55:37.15 which are called by My name 00:55:37.18\00:55:41.64 Shall humble themselves 00:55:41.67\00:55:45.44 Shall humble themselves and pray 00:55:45.47\00:55:50.69 If My people 00:55:57.29\00:56:02.68 which are called by My name 00:56:02.71\00:56:07.34 Shall seek My face 00:56:07.37\00:56:11.17 and turn from their wicked ways 00:56:11.20\00:56:16.14 Then will I hear from heaven 00:56:21.91\00:56:28.28 Then will I hear from heaven 00:56:28.31\00:56:34.74 And will forgive 00:56:34.77\00:56:38.43 their sin 00:56:42.84\00:56:49.42 If my people 00:56:49.45\00:56:54.96 which are called by My name 00:56:54.99\00:56:59.28 Shall humble themselves 00:56:59.31\00:57:03.06 Shall humble themselves and pray 00:57:03.09\00:57:10.54 I will forgive their sins 00:57:10.57\00:57:17.05 I will forgive their sins 00:57:17.08\00:57:23.52 I will forgive their sins 00:57:23.55\00:57:29.53 And heal their land 00:57:36.89\00:57:43.95