Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP090107
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00:27 Give thanks with a grateful heart
00:31 Give thanks to the Holy One 00:35 Give thanks because 00:38 He's given Jesus Christ, His Son 00:44 Give thanks with a grateful heart 00:48 Give thanks to the Holy One 00:52 Give thanks because He's given 00:56 Jesus Christ, His Son 01:01 And now, let the weak say, I am strong 01:07 Let the poor say I am rich 01:11 Because of what the Lord has done for us 01:18 And now, let the weak say I am strong 01:24 Let the poor say I am rich 01:28 Because of what the Lord has done for us 01:35 Give thanks 01:45 Give thanks 01:54 The song we introduced on last week, 01:57 it simply says it's Sabbath and my rest has arrived. 02:00 It's Sabbath, a day God set a side. 02:03 It's Sabbath, it's a joy and delight. 02:06 It's Sabbath. 02:21 It's Sabbath, and my rest has arrived 02:29 It's Sabbath, a day God set aside 02:37 It's Sabbath, it's a joy and delight, 02:44 It's Sabbath 02:52 It's Sabbath, and my rest has arrived 02:59 It's Sabbath, a day God set aside 03:06 It's Sabbath, it's a joy and delight, 03:13 It's Sabbath 03:18 O Holy God 03:20 O Holy God, this Holy Day 03:27 Please purify our lives we pray 03:34 O Holy God, this Holy Day 03:41 Please purify our lives we pray 03:48 It's Sabbath, it's a joy and delight 03:55 it's Sabbath 04:00 Let's try once more. 04:02 It's Sabbath, and my rest has arrived 04:09 It's Sabbath, a day God set aside 04:16 It's Sabbath, it's a joy and delight 04:23 It's Sabbath 04:28 This is our prayer, O Holy God. 04:30 O Holy God, this Holy Day 04:37 Please purify our lives we pray 04:44 O Holy God, this Holy Day 04:51 Please purify our lives we pray 04:58 It's Sabbath, it's a joy and delight 05:05 It's Sabbath 05:30 Deep river 05:38 My home is over Jordan 05:49 Deep river 05:55 Lord, I want to cross 06:00 Over into camp ground 06:08 Deep river 06:16 My home is over Jordan 06:26 Deep river 06:32 Lord, I want to cross 06:39 Over into camp ground 06:45 Oh don't you want to go to that 06:55 That Promised Land 07:03 That land where all is peace? 07:16 Deep river 07:23 My home 07:26 Is over Jordan 07:36 Deep river, Lord 07:47 I want to cross over 07:52 I want to cross over 07:57 I want to cross 08:01 Over into campground 08:24 Amen. 09:03 I want to cross over, don't you? 09:08 I want to cross over. 09:13 I want to cross over. 09:15 Hallelujah. 09:23 To a generation once 09:25 on a very verge of crossing over, 09:30 these words were spoken. 09:35 And when the Lord your God brings you in to the land 09:38 which you go to posses and is cast out the nations 09:43 before you the Hittites and the Gargashites, 09:51 and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, 09:56 and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, 10:01 and the Jebusites 10:05 all the other termites. 10:09 When you go in to posses that lands 10:11 seven nations greater and mightier 10:13 than you will be there and when the Lord, 10:14 your God delivers them over to you, 10:18 you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. 10:23 You should not make marriages with them. 10:26 You should not give your daughter to their son 10:30 nor take their daughter for your son 10:33 for they will turn your sons and daughters away 10:35 from following me to serve other gods. 10:39 For you listen, 10:41 for you our holy people to the Lord your God, 10:49 the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, 10:56 a special treasure above all the peoples 10:59 on the face of the earth. 11:04 Let us pray. 11:06 Oh, God, what the choir sang we were praying. 11:12 I want to cross over, 11:15 I want to cross over. 11:18 One of these days the crossing over generation will be here, 11:24 and oh, God, may we be a part of it, 11:30 I humbly pray. 11:32 Teach us this morning. 11:34 Teach us, 11:37 so that we might indeed cross over 11:40 through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen. 11:47 Have you ever wondered what it was like 11:51 the night or the day that you are conceived? 11:56 I got to be honest with you, 11:57 I have never wandered in my life 12:00 until I came across a book this summer. 12:05 Founded in the Philadelphia airport book store, 12:09 Karen and I had just flown back from Italy, 12:13 four glorious days with a bus full 12:16 of Andrews University students, they're all architects. 12:18 Architect majors and we had the honor 12:21 of spending four days up in the green valleys 12:25 of the North West Italian Alps. 12:28 And in fact, that, that experience for me 12:30 and I think for them was so significant that 12:32 four weeks from today on this very platform, 12:36 I'm gonna have those architects students help me tell-- 12:39 tell you what happened, all right. 12:41 Four weeks from today. 12:43 So now we are coming back 12:44 from Milan into Philadelphia and we got two hours 12:47 before we make our domestic connection to Chicago. 12:50 And I always go into a book store 12:51 if I have some time and so I looked, 12:52 oh, I've never seen this title before caught my eye, 12:55 Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To. 12:59 Now wouldn't that catch your eye? 13:01 Yeah, sub titled Divine Answers 13:03 to Life's Most Difficult Problems. 13:04 It's written by an author 13:05 I never heard him before Anthony DeStefano. 13:09 So I'm looking at these ten prayers, 13:11 prayer one boom, boom, boom. 13:12 Yeah, yeah, okay, okay, well, that make sense, 13:14 yeah, yeah that till I get to prayer number ten. 13:17 And when I get to prayer number ten, 13:18 here is prayer number ten, God lead me to my destiny. 13:23 I said, that's I have never heard 13:24 anybody pray that prayer. 13:25 So I started to read and before long 13:27 I ran in to these words. 13:29 Did you ever think about all the factors 13:31 that had to be in place for you to be born? 13:35 For I never thought about that. 13:36 About all the millions of tiny details 13:39 that had to converge at just the right time 13:42 and just the right place for you 13:44 to come into this world. 13:46 Haven't thought about that either 13:47 and just like a hook 13:49 he described the night I got conceived, 13:52 the night you got conceive. 13:53 Could have been a day I don't know, doesn't matter. 13:55 Now, he described it. 13:59 So when I get back, 14:00 I'm talking to the scientist on this campus. 14:02 I'm saying, hey, I called three of my biologist friends 14:07 who teach here at Andrews University. 14:09 So I'm talking to David Steen 14:10 and Bill Chobotar and Robert Zdor, 14:13 all right three of our scientists. 14:15 I said, is it like DeStefano portrays in his book. 14:18 They said, yep. 14:19 I said, do you have any pictures 14:21 of a conception taking place? 14:22 Yep. 14:23 You do? 14:24 I want it for this Sabbath. 14:26 And so I'm gonna show you 14:28 an actual conception taking place. 14:31 I figure this is a university audience 14:33 and you can handle it, all right. 14:36 But before I run those clips on the screen 14:39 I need to set the table for you, okay. 14:41 So, here it is. 14:43 This is-- this is a scenario, you understand this, 14:46 your father and your mother came together, true or false? 14:50 It's true. 14:51 Now, you need to hear this, 14:53 whether your father and mother stayed together? 14:55 Ever really got together or were strangers 14:59 is immaterial to the fact that it happened, all right. 15:03 So all of this that you're about to see 15:05 has happened, all right. 15:08 So when your father and mother came together, 15:11 he deposited in your mother 15:14 500 million tiny little male reproductive cells 15:20 called sperm, you understand that? 15:22 Five hundred million. 15:24 Now I want you to think about this, 15:27 he the man gives 500 million cells, 15:34 the mother gives one egg. 15:36 I'm telling you it is never been fair 15:38 from the very beginning. 15:42 Has it? Look at that. 15:45 Okay, so you got the picture, 15:50 five-- half a billion, 15:52 half a billion little sperm have a very short lifespan 15:56 and they know one thing find the ovum, the egg, 16:00 as fast as possible, all right. 16:02 I'm gonna show you the sperm first. 16:03 Let's put this sperm on the screen here. 16:05 You guys watching in the-- 16:06 you see it on the monitors here. 16:07 Okay, so those are the sperms, those are these little guys 16:09 a half a billion of them are going to work, all right. 16:12 There they are, all right. 16:14 Now I want to give you another-- another clip here, 16:18 you are gonna see now 16:21 an egg be penetrated by a sperm, all right. 16:25 So this is what it looks like, the night you are conceived. 16:27 There it is, watch on, 16:28 just this is a move, so watch it. 16:31 There is the sperm, you see it there 16:33 and now he's found the egg 16:35 and he is working his way in to that egg. 16:38 We'll run it one more time. You see that, watch it. 16:41 See, it starts to wiggle. 16:42 This is it, this is his moment and he gets in. 16:46 Final clip, this is a little longer clip, 16:48 we not gonna play this one twice. 16:50 Final clip, watch what happens-- 16:52 little further back photography watch what happens 16:55 when the sperm penetrates the egg. 17:00 You will see a shield. 17:02 You're gonna see a fertilization envelope develop. 17:04 Now see the point of sperm entry, 17:06 watch that now. 17:07 Watch out the egg begins to get pushed in 17:09 where the sperm has entered. 17:11 Do you see a mysterious shield 17:13 immediately going up around the egg, 17:14 do you see it? 17:15 Okay, give us a little close up. 17:17 Now you watch this fertilization envelope, 17:19 okay, here is magnification. 17:21 Now watch the side of that egg 17:23 being pushed in, that's a sperm now 17:26 that is penetrated the egg, all right. 17:29 So you see it being pushed in. 17:30 The moment that sperm enters a shield is instantly created 17:35 because, you can't have two sperm, 17:37 nature goes crazy, you have to have 17:40 just one penetration, all right. 17:44 Now I want you to think about-- 17:45 do the numbers with me. 17:47 The night that you and I were conceived 17:49 or whenever it was, okay, 17:52 a single sperm, a single sperm 17:56 that has who you are right now, all through it, 18:00 a single sperm has to win the race. 18:07 Robert Zdor was telling me 18:09 that when it comes to winning that race 18:11 it's first come first serve. 18:14 The first little sperm that gets there, 18:18 and you understand that, 18:19 that when that little sperm gets there 18:20 that little shield goes up 18:22 and that means that 499 million, 999,999 18:28 other little sperm have to perish 18:31 they will now die because the sperm 18:34 that was you made it instead. 18:38 I have never thought about any of this before as you? 18:42 Leading days to find, 18:43 I'm gonna put his words on the screen. 18:44 This-- this is significant. Look at his conclusion. 18:47 Anthony DeStefano, listen to this. 18:49 "Half a billion potential human beings, 18:52 each one completely different from you, 18:55 could have been born in place of you had not that one, 18:58 unique sperm cell fertilized that one, unique ovum. 19:03 In a very real sense, 19:07 half a billion other potential human beings 19:09 had to forgo life to make way for you. 19:13 Half a billion other men and women, 19:15 each with their own distinct physical traits, 19:17 their own hair, eyes and voices, 19:18 each with his or her own unique personality, 19:21 never saw the light of day, so that you could live." 19:24 But I'm telling you of these-- 19:25 this is the wow factor, there is even more. 19:28 Because you understand this in that month 19:30 there is a very small window. 19:32 Do you understand what I'm talking about? 19:33 There is a small window when that egg is available. 19:37 Right, a very small window, 19:40 and depending on when your mother and father 19:43 came together, it will depend 19:45 on those particular sperms that will go in. 19:47 True or false? 19:48 But of course, 19:49 so if you miss that small window, 19:51 you say what's the big deal, Dwight? 19:53 You get the window again next month. 19:54 That's right, 19:55 but your little sperm got created this month, 19:57 it will be-- it will be curtains next moth. 20:00 You have to have this month to get you here, 20:03 we had to have this month 20:05 and it couldn't been Friday night, 20:06 and it couldn't be Thursday night for you, 20:07 it had to be Wednesday night. 20:10 Do you understand what I'm saying? 20:11 Because that's the only time 20:13 the little half of you got to the other half 20:17 and made the creation that you become. 20:19 Is this too much information for this audience? 20:22 Am I getting too specific? You understand what I'm saying? 20:25 This is DeStefano, Anthony DeStefano. 20:27 And I'm saying, wow, look it, 20:30 if that little sperm doesn't get there 20:32 do you know what we get instead of you? 20:33 We get your sister. 20:36 Think of that, plus, plus, 20:41 don't forget about this, miscarriages. 20:42 One out of every-- one out of every five 20:46 pregnancies ends in miscarriage. 20:48 Think about this, still born 20:49 one out of every 100 births ends as a still born. 20:53 Think about this, abortions 20:55 one out of every four births is terminated in abortion. 20:59 Do you understand that the fact that 21:01 you made it all the way through the nine months gestation. 21:04 In fact Robert Zdor told me, 21:07 he said Dwight, I tell you what, 21:08 the reality is of the-- of the sperm egg unions 21:12 in the mother uterus only one third of those 21:15 will ever make it to see the light a day. 21:18 Ladies and gentleman, something big happened 21:23 'cause you are here, you are here, 21:28 leaving Anthony DeStefano to make a point 21:30 that I hope you will never forget. 21:31 In fact, this point is so important, 21:33 it's a very first quotation in our study guide. 21:35 Brand new series, brand new study guide, 21:37 grab your study guide 21:38 in your worship bulletin right now 21:41 and I don't want you to forget this point. 21:46 Ruminate on this will you? 21:47 You just kind of cogitate on it after this day. 21:50 Come on ushers, let's go, let's go. 21:51 Ushers, would you stand please 21:53 and make sure that everybody here gets a study guides. 21:56 Four of you came in with one bulletin. 21:58 Some of you are new in this church 21:59 and you didn't realize you got to get a bulletin every week, 22:01 'cause that's how you get your study guide. 22:02 Hold your hand up, don't have to be embarrassed, 22:04 it's worth-- the study guide worth this one quotation. 22:06 So hold your hand up 22:07 all the way in back of the balcony, 22:09 I will make sure that our choir's got it, 22:10 we are in business. 22:12 All right, now those of you watching on television 22:14 let me just say a word to you. 22:16 You can get this identical study guide 22:19 you may, if you go to our website. 22:21 Let me put it on the screen for you. 22:22 There it is www.pmchurch.tv. 22:25 This is the beginning of our brand new series 22:27 entitled "The Chosen." 22:29 The teaching that you're looking for, 22:31 for this number one, 22:32 is "Why You Are the Most Unique Person on Earth." 22:36 Don't miss next week by the way, 22:37 "Why We Are the Most Unique People on Earth." 22:40 That's a whole another study, that's coming next week. 22:42 So you click on to that one, 22:44 "Why You Are the Most Unique Person on Earth, 22:46 " it say studied guide, one more click 22:47 and you will have the identical study guide that we have. 22:51 I want to open up with this powerful DeStefano quotation. 22:55 All right so you have it there. 22:57 The ushers will keep making their way back, 22:58 but I need to keep moving. 22:59 So let's put that quotation on screen please, 23:01 and we'll read it together. 23:03 DeStefano powerful reminder 23:05 "From a strictly statistical point of view, 23:08 your presence on this planet is a miracle." 23:12 Hallelujah. Write it down. 23:14 You today being here it's a miracle. 23:18 "At the very dawn of your life, 23:20 you had to overcome overwhelming odds, 23:22 odds higher than any you will ever after face 23:26 it in other situation. 23:28 No matter what you may think of yourself right now, 23:29 you are already an 'overachiever' 23:31 of the highest caliber. 23:33 No matter what ills may be fall you in life, 23:35 no matter what suffering you may be forced to endure, 23:38 no matter what family or money problems 23:40 you may eventually have to face, 23:41 it is imperative that you understand this, 23:44 " here we go "you came into this world as a Champion." 23:49 I like that. 23:50 I never heard anybody say that before. 23:52 You just by getting here, 23:53 you came in to the world as a champion. 23:56 Last sentence "Victory" isn't that good? 23:59 "Victory was your starting point." 24:02 Keep your pen moving. 24:03 "For it is more than clear that somebody has chosen you." 24:10 Write that down, somebody has chosen you 24:14 which is precisely the point that God do us this morning. 24:16 Take your Bible out please, 24:17 we are plunging into a brand new book. 24:20 Most of you haven't even read the book, 24:21 you never even read from the book, 24:23 but we are going to that book, for this new series The Chosen. 24:26 The book is the fifth book of the Bible, 24:27 it's called Deuteronomy, 24:29 the last book of the Pentateuch, 24:30 Deuteronomy. 24:32 Find Deuteronomy, find Deuteronomy, 24:34 and while you are finding that fifth book of the Bible, 24:36 let me just set the table for you, 24:38 so that we understand what we're about to read 24:40 in just one split second. 24:41 All right, here is the setting. 24:44 The crossing over generation, 24:45 what the choir just sang about a moment ago, 24:48 this crossing over generation has finally arrive 24:51 at the borders of the Promised Land, 24:53 the only thing between them and Canaan 24:56 is the raging and muddy Jordan. 24:58 So they are there boom, all right. 25:01 Their parents and grandparents had failed God's mission 25:07 and that is why for 40 years, 25:10 for 40 years burial mounds have dotted 25:15 the hot sands of their wandering. 25:17 For 40 years they've been waiting 25:19 for that generation to die off. 25:23 An entire generation is dead now 25:26 because of unbelief. 25:27 In fact, get this there only three, 25:29 there only three of that generation left, only three. 25:31 One is in his 70s his name is Caleb, 25:33 one is in his 80s his name is Joshua 25:35 and one the oldest one of them all is the leader of them all, 25:39 he is a 120 years of age today at what is his name? 25:43 Moses. Moses. 25:48 Moses has been their shepherd 25:49 and pastor for 40 long wearying and discouraging years, 25:55 but what has kept him going all these decades 25:58 has been his passion for God, his love for the people of God 26:01 and the shining promise that one day he with them 26:05 would cross over into camp ground, 26:08 they cross over into the Promise Land. 26:13 And by the way he was that close, 26:19 he was that close until just a few days ago. 26:26 In a moment of raging frustration 26:29 with this congregations stiff neck obstinacy, 26:34 Moses lost his temper in front of them all 26:36 and smeared the character of God 26:39 before their gaping mouths 26:41 and swift was a divine sentence. 26:44 Do you know why that divine sentence was swift? 26:46 Because to whom much is given, much is required. 26:49 If you are a leader much has been given to you 26:52 and much will be required of you to answer for. 26:56 Swift for these words from God to Moses 26:59 because "you did not believe Me, 27:01 to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, 27:03 therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land 27:06 which I have given them." 27:08 Moses wept, he pleaded for God 27:10 to reverse his sentence and finally it was so bad, 27:13 finally that God said, this-- this God 27:17 who had been face to face with Moses in communion 27:20 unlike any other human being in the history of time, 27:22 this God finally looked at Moses and said, 27:24 don't you ever bring that up to me again, 27:26 I don't want to hear another word about it. 27:27 Do you know why God brought it up? 27:29 Because every time Moses wept, it broke two hearts. 27:33 It broke Moses' heart and it broke God's heart. 27:37 And He said I can't handle this anymore, 27:39 I'm sorry, enough, 27:43 you'll die this side of the Promised Land. 27:47 And so that little purple peak just a few miles away 27:53 that's where he gonna die. 27:56 All alone Mount Nebo, he will have to climb it. 27:59 Nobody to bury him but God Almighty Himself. 28:03 So what we have here ladies and gentlemen, 28:05 this is his farewell address. 28:06 This is it. 28:08 He says good bye, 28:09 it's a longest farewell address in history. 28:11 He says good bye in the Book of Deuteronomy 28:14 to the generation that without him gets to cross over. 28:18 Do you think this was an easy speech to give? 28:22 I can't go with you, don't ask me, 28:25 I cannot go with you. That's a setting. 28:29 Seven chapters into his farewell address. 28:32 Find Deuteronomy 7, will you? 28:33 Seven chapters into this farewell address. 28:36 Take a look at this. 28:39 We're gonna be turning to this book 28:40 for the next few weeks of this new season, 28:42 you know why? 28:43 Because want to think about The Chosen. 28:45 But you see in the story this long ago 28:46 congregation are surely lessons 28:48 for another generation also on the borders 28:51 of the Promised Land, that's why? 28:53 There are lessons to be learned 28:55 when you are this close to Canaan 28:59 and we will learn from them, won't we? 29:01 We really will learn from them, won't we? 29:04 All right, Deuteronomy seven chapters in, Deuteronomy 7. 29:07 Okay, I'm in New Kings James. 29:08 If you didn't bring a Bible 29:10 grab that Bible right in front of you, 29:11 same translation I'm using right now. 29:13 Grab your pew Bible, bring your Bible next week, 29:15 if you are a new student here just get used to it. 29:17 We use the book here, 29:18 it's page 128 in the pew Bible, grab it. 29:21 Page 128 in the pew Bible. I want to drop down to verse 6. 29:25 put it on the screen please. 29:28 Moses, God's speaking through Moses to the children Israel. 29:32 You see these are the children of the parents 29:35 and the grandparents who are dead. 29:37 So these children plus their children 29:38 plus a few of their children, so that's it. 29:40 All the former generation 29:43 who because of unbelief could not make it, 29:44 they are dead, they're gone, 29:45 so now He's talking to the kids. 29:47 They really are kids to him. 29:49 Verse 6, Deuteronomy 7, 29:51 "For you" children, you hey, children you 29:56 "Are a holy people to the Lord your God, 29:59 the Lord your God has chosen you 30:01 to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above 30:04 all the peoples on the face of the earth." 30:06 Why we get chosen Moses? Why did God choose us? 30:09 He goes on verse 7 30:10 "The Lord" I want to tell you something 30:11 "He did not set His love on you nor choose you 30:14 because you were more in number than the other people." 30:16 Are you kidding? 30:17 You are the least of all peoples. 30:19 Nothing desirable about you trust me, 30:21 Moses is saying, you-- 30:22 You want to know why you got chosen, 30:23 look at verse 8. 30:24 "Because the Lord loves you." 30:27 By the way the Hebrew word there for love 30:28 its' the same love that Jacob and Rachel had, 30:31 not Jacob and Leah, Jacob and Rachel 30:34 that same love, God had it for you 30:38 because the Lord loves you. 30:39 "And He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, 30:41 the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, 30:43 and redeemed you from the house of bondage, 30:45 from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 30:46 Therefore" final verse 9 "Know that I the Lord your God, 30:50 He" now that "He is God, the faithful God 30:54 who keeps covenant and mercy for a" I love this 30:57 "He keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations 31:01 with those who love Him and keep His commandments." 31:03 Hit the pause button right there because you know what, 31:06 Moses and DeStefano are both right. 31:08 You have been chosen. 31:10 Would you write that down please in your study guide, 31:12 "The Lord your God chose you." 31:16 Put it on the screen please, 31:17 "The Lord your God has chosen you." 31:20 Now I know folks, 31:21 you don't have to come and tell me. 31:22 Hey, Dwight, really this is plural here, 31:24 these are whole a lot of people. 31:25 We will get in to the plurality 31:26 its' a very-- it's a very radical 31:29 and it would be controversial next week message, 31:31 just trust me it will be controversial. 31:33 But we talk about that plural. 31:34 The fact that matter is I know God shows a whole people 31:37 but He also chose you, you wouldn't be here, 31:39 you wouldn't be here if God had not chosen you. 31:41 You been chosen, that's the point. 31:44 And by the way this is-- 31:45 this is the stunning truth of scripture. 31:48 Not only where you chosen to be born, 31:50 hold on to your pew, you are chosen to be born 31:53 before you were even conceived. 31:56 Now think about that one, will you? 31:59 That is an amazing Bible truth. 32:00 You don't believe me? 32:02 Let me just run these verses by. 32:03 You keep your pen moving right now, 32:04 I'll put it on the screen. 32:05 Jeremiah 1:5, 32:06 God is speaking to a young adult. 32:09 He is speaking to a young adult named Jeremy. 32:12 He is talking to the boy and He said 32:13 I want to tell something Jeremy, before write it in 32:15 "Before I formed you in the womb, 32:19 I knew you, before you were born." 32:23 I said I got a dream for that boy, 32:25 I set you apart. 32:26 Paul comes along millennia later. 32:28 Paul comes along. 32:30 You now, about this 700 years later 32:32 Paul comes along. 32:34 Galatians 1:15 look at this Paul is making the same point, 32:36 the greatest Christian who ever lived. 32:38 "For it pleased God in His kindness to choose me 32:41 and call me, even before I was born!" 32:45 But what if your life turns out to be rotten? 32:46 What if you just meltdown and you ruined everything? 32:50 Are you still chosen by God before you're born? 32:52 David the king, did he meltdown? 32:55 Did David meltdown and shame the eternal kingdom? 32:58 Yes, he did. Was he forgiven? 32:59 You bet he was forgiven. 33:01 Even when you meltdown and God knows it in advance 33:04 in this great song appraised to God, 33:06 Psalm 139, look at David singing to God. 33:08 "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body" 33:12 oh, God, "you knit me together in my mother's womb. 33:15 You saw me before I was born." Keep going. 33:19 Every-- this is something 33:21 "Every day of my life was recorded in your book. 33:24 Every moment was laid out 33:26 before a single day had passed." 33:30 You wrote my whole story before I was even conceived. 33:34 Isn't that amazing? Isn't that amazing? 33:37 Knowing how you would turn out at this point in your life, 33:41 God still said I want that boy, I want that girl. 33:44 Isn't that amazing? 33:46 Pastors keep us praying this morning that was-- 33:47 that was a moving prayer and he said you know, 33:50 come we've got already this short distance 33:54 in to the New Year and I failed you God. 33:56 God said, I knew you gonna fail me, 33:58 its okay, I still want you 'cause I have it, 34:00 I have-- I have another plan. 34:03 I got another plan for you. Amazing. 34:05 By the way do you know this would be true, 34:07 keep writing in your-- in your study guide. 34:09 This would have to be true. Put it on the screen please. 34:12 As surely as John the Baptist 34:13 and the Lord Jesus were born with a divine density, 34:16 so were you, and so was I. 34:18 I have that same destiny. 34:19 Oh, no, no, no not-- not the identical calling. 34:22 In fact, let's keep this-- keep this screen going please. 34:25 Not the same destiny, but the same divine chooser 34:30 who chose you to become the chosen. 34:33 Same chooser, you got chosen by the same chooser 34:36 as Jesus and John the Baptist. 34:38 I tell you what my friend's, good news, 34:42 I can rephrase that, glorious news. 34:45 For the next time, 34:46 the next time you and I do we do this or do we do it? 34:50 The next time you and I whimper with our self pitying tears 34:56 complaining to ourselves, complaining to God 34:59 whimpering to anybody who will stop and listen to us. 35:02 Moaning and groaning about how worthless my life is, 35:05 how-- how pointless, how meaningless life is, 35:08 I should never have been born. 35:10 Give me a break. 35:15 Say oh, pastor, you don't know about me. 35:17 Pastor, you do not know the truth about me. 35:22 I really was an accident. 35:24 My parents never planed for me. 35:29 They never stayed together. 35:31 It was just man and woman and here I am, 35:35 I am one huge oops for the human race. 35:40 I want to say this and I want to be respectful 35:42 of your observation, you know what you write, 35:44 you may be, yeah, I'm not gonna argue with, 35:46 you may be right about the man and woman 35:49 who conceived you, but I want you to read my lips. 35:54 There is a God in this universe 35:57 who chose them to create you, 36:02 to get you in to this life. 36:08 Don't you ever-- don't you ever tell me 36:11 you are not here by divine destiny 36:13 died that night 36:21 so that you, you could come. 36:28 It's got a proof-- it's got to be-- 36:30 it's got to be the proof of the truth that 36:32 when you are chosen by God to live 36:36 you have everything to live for with God. 36:39 Would you write that down please, 36:41 no matter your parents, write it down, 36:42 no matter your parents, 36:43 I don't care who your daddy was, 36:45 I don't care who your mama was it doesn't matter now, 36:47 God just made sure He got you, and you're here. 36:51 Hallelujah. 36:54 You say, I'm the pastor, I want to tell you something. 36:57 You don't know my story. 36:59 You see, 37:02 I have been born with a terrible handicap. 37:07 My feet don't work, 37:09 my ears can't hear, my eyes can't see, 37:14 I'm truly an accident of nature. 37:21 I got a letter this last week from a blind friend of mine, 37:26 wrote a poem and wanted to share with me, 37:29 just this last week. 37:32 I got the poem right here 37:33 I want you to listen to this blind man writing. 37:43 All right, it's entitled, 37:45 "The Work of the Blind," written two weeks ago. 37:51 The Work of the Blind, Oh, God, writes this poet. 37:55 "Oh, God, let me be one blind in body 37:59 but who can see You in spirit most clearly 38:04 and who can You to others and lead others to You, 38:08 to Your love, to Your providence, 38:11 and in so doing I may help others 38:13 who are blind in spirit 38:15 but sighted in body receive sight." 38:20 Signed my friend Ray McAllister. 38:27 Doctor of philosophy, student in Andrews University. 38:32 I understand, I understand about physical handicaps. 38:37 I understand about emotional handicaps. 38:40 Some of us have spiritual handicaps, 38:41 we are born with them or we created them 38:43 by the way we live life. 38:45 But you know what ladies and gentlemen, 38:46 you didn't catch-- you and I did not catch God by surprise. 38:49 He knew you are coming, He knew I was coming. 38:54 Fact is we live in imperfect world 38:57 and an imperfect creation now, and we are imperfect creatures 39:00 having to live with imperfect odds 39:02 of even making it to this life, but you made it. 39:04 You know, why you made it? 39:06 I'll tell you why you made it because God said-- 39:08 God said, look in to your tummy. 39:09 God said, you see that fragile little baby, 39:11 you see that fragile little girl, I want her. 39:13 I want her, do everything you can, 39:15 she is going to be born. 39:16 I don't care what the odds, 39:17 I'm having her because I chose her. 39:20 When God looked in to your mother's tummy 39:22 once up on a time He said, 39:23 you see that pitiful little boy, 39:26 I want him. 39:27 He's mine. I've called him. I've chosen for him to live. 39:31 He beat the odds 39:33 because, I'm his-- I'm the chooser. 39:36 I want him, bring him, give him to Me. 39:39 You got chosen and that's why you're here. 39:43 Wow. Anthony DeStefano was right. 39:47 Would you write this down please? 39:48 "We may be statistical miracles, 39:51 but we are not statistical accidents." 39:53 Hallelujah. 39:55 So keep your pen moving. 39:56 No matter you're a handicap, you are still God's chosen, 40:00 you are still God's chosen. 40:04 God's chosen one. 40:05 Oh, I know what some of you are saying, 40:06 all right, all right, all right, 40:07 but the reality is pastor, I'm-- I'm just too old now. 40:11 Are you serious? 40:13 Are you telling me that your divine destiny 40:14 kind of goes away because of your age? 40:17 Please 84-years-old, 40:19 she is a widow, she is 84-years-old, 40:21 her entire-- look at this guys, 40:23 her entire life has been focused, 40:26 she doesn't know it but she's coming down 40:28 to a little five minute window of destiny 40:30 that's all she gonna have, 84-year-widow. 40:33 You know her destiny is? 40:35 She walks into church one day, 40:36 she sees a mother holding a baby 40:37 and it is told to her that is the baby Messiah 40:41 tell everybody now, and Anna the Prophetess 40:44 opens her mouth and proclaims. 40:45 They weren't a whole lot people there, 40:47 but she told everybody there this is the Messiah 40:50 and boom she's gone. 40:51 That's it, that's all we will ever know about her. 40:53 But she was faithful till the 84th year of her life 40:57 and that little five minute window destiny, 40:59 don't you ever tell me that when get old like you are, 41:04 the destiny is over. 41:05 Some of you are waiting for close to your last breath, 41:10 for what you will do, you will do for God. 41:12 You will say something? 41:14 You will be something, you will do something, 41:18 and God says, she did it, it's over. 41:24 Tell that to Moses, he still too old? 41:26 Do you know what Moses is-- Moses, 41:28 I just-- I just discovered this the other day, 41:30 I'm reading through-- you know, I read a Psalm a day. 41:32 So I'm reading Psalm 90 41:33 just seven days ago was Psalm 90. 41:35 Listen to this guys, 41:36 it's the only Psalm in the Bible 41:37 that says Moses-- prayer Moses man to God. 41:41 Psalm 90, do you remember in Psalm 90 what Moses says? 41:43 Here's what Moses says in Psalm 90. 41:44 He said, oh, God, our lives might make it to 70 41:47 if we're really lucky we might make it to 80 years. 41:49 Do you remember that from Psalm 90? 41:50 If we're really fortunate we might make it 80. 41:53 Moses is writing that Psalm, that prayer in the wilderness 41:57 and he believes that he is nearing 41:59 to end of his life, it is curtains, 42:01 he blew it 40 years ago, there is no destiny for him 42:04 and he saying God I'm 70 I might make it to 80 42:07 but I know, it's over then. 42:08 And God is saying in the back of his mind boy, 42:11 you just keep leaning on Me 42:13 because I got a surprise for you, 42:15 I'm gonna infuse you with 40 more years after you turn 80. 42:19 Don't you who ever write God off 42:20 who can keep you going as long as He needs you 42:23 for the destiny you've been called for. 42:25 Man, oh man, and by the way 42:26 don't you give me the opposite either. 42:28 Don't you give me this business I'm too young, 42:29 I'm only a freshman in this university. 42:31 I talk with three freshman boys 42:33 came into my office this last week, 42:34 they said, Dwight, pastor, we have-- 42:37 we have a passion for Andrews University. 42:40 We have a passion. 42:41 I said guys, let me just tell you something. 42:43 You are here not by accident, you are here 42:44 because God is gonna use you on this campus. 42:46 Don't you tell me that because I'm just a freshman, 42:49 I'm not gonna make a difference. 42:50 You will make a difference. 42:51 Some sophomores didn't make a difference, 42:53 some juniors didn't, some seniors didn't, 42:54 and that why we can take a freshman right now 42:57 and God can use you. 42:58 Don't you ever apologize for being too young. 43:00 Explain that to Samuel, do you know how Samuel-- 43:02 do you know how old Samuel is? 43:03 He's five-years-old 43:05 and he starts getting messages from God. 43:06 Is that-- is that a little bit too old to start? 43:09 Five, write it down please, 43:12 No matter your age, no matter your age, 43:17 you're still God's chosen one. 43:19 And by the way if you're God's chosen one, 43:20 keep your moving, 43:21 then that can only mean that he has a destiny. 43:24 Write it in. He has a destiny for you. 43:26 A very unique mission for a very unique creation, 43:30 that's why you were born. 43:31 You're born to fulfill a destiny, 43:34 God's destiny and by the way DeStefano makes this point, 43:38 I don't want to shoot off on to it, 43:39 but it's a significant one. 43:40 He says, a lot of people spend their lives 43:42 following their dreams, 43:43 the odds, hey listen carefully now 43:45 because I've heard preachers around here say, 43:46 oh, find your dreams, find your dreams. 43:48 Follow your dreams, be a great man. 43:51 The object of life is not following our dreams, 43:54 it's finding God's destiny. 43:56 Some of us are dreaming a dream 43:58 that is not in the same direction as God's destiny. 44:00 The object of life is to find the destiny. 44:03 And that's why Stefano says that's prayer number 10, 44:06 you pray this prayer God will show it to you. 44:07 Write it down, oh, God, lead me to my destiny. 44:12 Lead me, that prayer number 10. 44:14 Lead me to my destiny 44:18 because you know what, you're a key 44:22 and the master craftsman has shaped that key 44:25 to open a lock on this planet 44:26 that no other key will ever be able to open it. 44:30 There is a lock that's God's destiny. 44:32 There is a lock on this planet 44:34 that only you can be the insertion 44:37 to accomplish God's mission for you. 44:40 And by the way if you say, I'm not gonna do it. 44:42 I am not gonna do it what God has called me to do. 44:44 Guess what? It will never get done. 44:46 That lock will remain locked for the rest of eternity. 44:49 A door could have been opened 44:51 because you were the key God shaped, 44:55 the only key that could possibly open that door. 44:59 Nobody can pick it up if you leave it. 45:00 It's over, it's just locked. 45:02 We'll never know what could have been 45:05 had you a reason to your high calling a destiny. 45:11 Hundred years ago in this classic on the life, 45:13 on the parables rather of Christ, 45:15 take a look at this, put it on the screen. 45:18 This is little book Christ's Object Lessons, 45:20 this is-- this is incredible. 45:22 Long before DeStefano the point was made. 45:23 "Each has his place in the eternal plan of heaven. 45:26 Each she is to work in cooperation with Christ 45:29 for the salvation of souls." 45:30 Now hold on. 45:31 "No more surely is the place prepared for us 45:34 in the heavenly mansions than is the special" 45:37 write it in, that means unique. 45:39 That means one and only 45:41 "than is the special place designated on earth 45:44 where we are to work for God." 45:46 You have a special place. 45:48 I tell you isn't that a prayer to pray for this New Year? 45:50 Oh, God, lead me to my destiny. 45:52 Help me to find that special place 45:54 that You have for me on this planet. 45:55 That's the object of life. 45:57 You find why you're chosen to get born in the first place. 46:01 There is a reason why you are here. 46:03 You are here by divine appointment. 46:06 What is it? I don't know. 46:08 I do not know, that's between you and God 46:10 to figure out over the journey ahead. 46:12 Let me read it one more time 46:13 in your hearing Deuteronomy 7:6, 46:16 Moses speaking to his people 46:18 the children who about to crossover. 46:19 "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, 46:24 the Lord your God has chosen you 46:27 to be a people for Himself a special treasure above 46:30 all the peoples on the face of the earth." 46:35 Do you know why my friend, you've been chosen? 46:37 Do you know why? You're special today? 46:40 I tell you why? 46:41 Because just on the other side of that purple mountain 46:45 beyond the muddy Jordan there is another mountain 46:49 in the heart of the Promised Land, 46:51 this mountain will eventually be called Calvary. 46:54 And on that mountain the divine chosen one 46:58 gave up His choosiness and chose to die, 47:02 so that the lost ones like you and me 47:04 one day could know we've been chosen 47:07 and we could choose to live. 47:09 Jesus cross is the choosing of you and me for our destiny. 47:15 I'm gonna end with these scriptures, 47:17 that's why Ephesians exclaims, it's been in our praise. 47:21 Ephesians 1:3 "How we praise God, 47:24 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 47:26 who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing 47:28 in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. 47:30 Long ago, even before he made the world, 47:32 God loved us and chose us in Christ." 47:36 Write it down "Chose us in Christ to be holy 47:38 and without fault in his eyes. 47:39 So we praise God for the wonderful kindness 47:42 He has poured out on us 47:43 because we belong to his dearly loved Son. 47:45 He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom 47:50 through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven." 47:53 I repeat Jesus death on the cross 47:55 has sealed our choosiness forever and ever. 48:00 And that is why my friend, you are the most-- 48:02 you are the most unique person on earth 48:07 because you have been created by God an original, 48:10 you are an original. 48:11 There is no copy of you anywhere on this earth 48:15 and get this in the history of the universe, 48:17 there will never be another you. 48:21 You are an original. 48:23 When we were over in Italy 48:24 we went to-- went into a cathedral 48:26 and there hanging up on one of the walls is-- 48:28 is this ancient art work. 48:30 Obliviously a classic worn by time. 48:33 Anybody who knows anything about art knows 48:35 that if you're an original, you are worth a fortune, 48:42 which is the truth about you and me, 48:44 we are divine originals 48:46 and we are worth a fortune to God, 48:51 who has chosen us. 48:52 Which by the way, it means that if there is a refrigerator-- 48:55 if God has a refrigerator in heaven 48:59 your picture is on it right now. 49:04 Welcome, welcome to the chosen ones. 49:12 I was listening to Pastor Gibbs prayer as he prayed. 49:16 We're gonna sing a prayer together in just one movement. 49:21 But as I listen to that prayer I said 49:22 oh, God, we cannot come to this moment 49:24 and just sing the Lord's prayer and hurry out of here. 49:26 I have to make an invitation 49:27 and so I'm gonna do it right now. 49:28 I want to make an invitation, 49:29 if you're a university student here 49:34 and you know that's true, you have been chosen, 49:36 and you would like it on the threshold 49:38 of a New Year to declare, 49:41 I choose the one who has chosen me. 49:44 If you are a university student today, 49:46 would you stand up and come right here 49:48 to the front right now and just say, 49:49 I choose the God who has chosen me. 49:52 I want to be a part of the crossing over generation. 49:54 I choose to follow that God who has called me, 49:58 if you are a university student and you're here today 50:02 just come on down here to the front, 50:03 I want to pray with you. 50:05 And then we'll sing a-- we will sing together 50:07 that majestic prayer, Our Father which art in heaven. 50:13 God has-- God has chosen you my, friend. 50:15 You are here by divine destiny. You are not a mistake. 50:19 Your life is an original, 50:22 which means you're worth a fortune. 50:23 I don't know what God's dream for you is, 50:25 I have no clue what it is. 50:27 I just know that God has waited all His life for this day to-- 50:33 for you to get this far, hallelujah. 50:36 I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you. 50:38 Choose the God who has chosen you 50:41 and for the rest of this season we will find out 50:42 what it means to be the chosen, 50:44 you and I together, all of us together. 50:46 All right, there they are, hallelujah. 50:48 How about the rest of you? 50:49 You want to respond to the God who has chosen you? 50:51 I want you to stand on your feet 50:52 and by standing on your feet say I too choose you God, 50:55 you've chosen me that's clear, I too choose you God 50:59 and by Your grace I will a part of the crossing 51:01 over generation that chosen ones, 51:03 I too choose you. 51:06 Oh, Father, we stand today, 51:07 how could we not stand the odds of our being here, 51:12 are almost infinite. 51:15 Must be we have an infinite designer 51:18 who said I need another original 51:20 and so here we are, 51:22 we are as original as they come. 51:24 You chose us, we know that and we stand in honor 51:29 and recognition of that high destiny. 51:33 Oh, God, what is it mean beyond today only You know. 51:36 Moses thought it was over 51:38 and I never knew until that last moment. 51:42 Samuel just a boy and it started. 51:44 Whatever Your will is that destiny 51:47 we pray together the 10th prayer, 51:49 God lead me to that destiny, leads us we pray. 51:53 And so Father in this moment of commitment 51:55 we give everything back to You, we choose You, 51:57 we'll crossover with You one day 52:00 and no matter what. 52:02 And so now we sing, 52:03 we sing the words the Jesus taught us to sing. 52:07 This beginning moment of every school year 52:09 this is when we through our hearts back Father, 52:12 and we mean the Lord's prayer 52:14 for You are our Father in heaven, 52:17 You chose us, 52:19 and we thank you in Jesus name, amen. 52:31 Our Father 52:39 Which art in heaven 52:50 Hallowed be 52:58 Thy name 53:07 Thy kingdom come 53:15 Thy will be done 53:21 In earth 53:26 As it is in heaven 53:51 Give us this day 53:56 Our daily bread 54:03 And forgive us our debts 54:09 As we forgive our debtors 54:21 And lead us 54:24 Not into temptation 54:29 But deliver us from evil 54:37 For Thine is the kingdom 54:44 And the power 54:48 And the glory 54:54 Forever 55:03 Amen 55:31 Before you go I wanted to take one more moment 55:34 and let you know how glad I am 55:36 you shared this hour of worship 55:37 and Bible teaching with us. 55:38 This is the Pioneer Memorial Church 55:40 and we're on the campus of Andrews University 55:42 and the series is The Chosen. 55:44 This is a series that has been growing 55:47 and it's burned on my heart 55:48 and over the last few weeks before this new season began. 55:53 And some concentrated prayer time 55:55 I believe the Spirit of God led me do this series, 55:57 out of the Book of Deuteronomy 55:59 for this generation within our community of faith 56:01 and outside this community of faith. 56:04 I believe both, both communities 56:07 need to hear the compelling Bible truth 56:11 captured in this series called The Chosen. 56:13 So thank you, for joining me 56:15 and all of us as we continue our journey 56:17 deeper and deeper into the heart of this theme. 56:20 Living as you and I do and I'm-- 56:22 I know I'm preaching to the choir now, 56:24 living as we do on the edge of a civilization 56:27 that is surviving through constant upheaval and change. 56:32 I am so grateful and I know you are 56:34 for the bedrock hope we have in Jesus. 56:37 I'm thankful that you and I have been 56:39 given the privilege by God to partner, 56:42 to reach this generation the world over 56:44 through the satellite telecast. 56:45 I don't know how it works, 56:46 I just know that those satellites drop the signals 56:49 and those footprints all over the planet 56:51 are helping disseminate this divine call 56:55 to become a part of The Chosen, 56:56 God's last generation on earth. 56:58 So please, here's what I want you to know, 57:00 I thank God for you in a generous way 57:03 you have partnered with us in the past 57:05 and making New Perceptions possible globally. 57:08 Your tax-deductible gifts are been multiplied 57:11 all across the earth I believe for such a time as this. 57:14 Look, would you like to order a copy 57:16 of today's teaching you can order DVD, 57:19 you get all the PowerPoint, everything is there, 57:21 you can share with your friends, 57:23 share with your family. 57:24 I want to just insert this here, 57:26 if you go to our website 57:27 and we've been advertising our website all along the way 57:29 and I'm gonna insert it right here www.pmchurch.tv, 57:33 go to that website you get a podcast of this. 57:35 We have people now subscribing to podcast the world over, 57:39 its time for this message to get out. 57:42 Thank you for your partnership in helping us do that. 57:44 Call one of our friendly operators 57:46 to toll-free number, it won't cost you a penny 57:48 here in North America, 877-HIS-WILL. 57:50 You call that number. 57:53 I promise you, every penny that you share 57:55 we will invest your generosity 57:57 in God's mission to reach this final generation now. 58:01 Thank you very, very much. 58:03 And be assured, I'm looking forward 58:04 to seeing you here, right here 58:07 again next time as we continue 58:09 our fascinating journey into The Chosen. 58:13 God bless you. |
Revised 2015-02-26