Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP100309
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00:28 Brokenness, brokenness
00:32 is what I long for 00:35 Brokenness is what I need 00:42 Brokenness, brokenness 00:45 is what You want from me 00:53 So, take my heart and form it 01:00 Take my mind, transform it 01:07 Take my will, conform it 01:14 To yours, to Yours, oh, Lord 01:22 You may be seated. 01:25 In the last several weeks 01:29 we have been hearing sermons about the temple 01:36 where God's throne is 01:40 and this next song is one that I believe was done 01:42 a couple weeks ago as a special music. 01:46 This morning we want to do that same song in a way that 01:52 might be a little more recognizable. 01:54 It's a song called "Before the Throne of God Above" 01:58 and if you know it, we just invite you 02:00 to join with us 02:01 and if you are just learning it for the first time 02:03 and you want to just get the melody 02:06 for that first verse, that's not a problem at all. 02:09 This is "Before the Throne of God Above." 02:15 Before the throne of God above 02:20 I have a strong and perfect plea 02:26 A great High Priest whose name is "Love" 02:32 Who ever lives and pleads for me 02:38 My name is graven on His hands 02:43 My name is written on His heart 02:49 I know that while in heav'n He stands 02:54 No tongue can bid me thence depart 03:00 No tongue can bid me thence depart 03:10 When Satan tempts me to despair 03:15 And tells me of the guilt within 03:21 Upward I look and see Him there 03:26 Who made an end to all my sin 03:31 Because the sinless Savior died 03:37 My sinful soul is counted free 03:42 For God the just is satisfied 03:48 To look on Him and pardon me 03:53 To look on Him and pardon me 04:03 Behold Him there the risen Lamb 04:08 My perfect, spotless Righteousness 04:13 The great, unchangeable I AM 04:18 The King of glory and of grace 04:24 One with Himself I cannot die 04:29 My soul is purchased by His blood 04:34 My life is hid with Christ on high 04:39 With Christ, my Savior, and my God 04:45 With Christ, my Savior, and my God 04:55 Come, Thou Fount of every blessing 05:01 Tune my heart to sing Thy grace 05:07 Streams of mercy, never ceasing 05:13 Call for songs of loudest praise 05:19 Teach me ever to adore Thee 05:25 May I still Thy goodness prove 05:30 While the hope of endless glory 05:36 Fills my heart with joy and love 05:46 Here I raise mine Ebenezer 05:51 Hither by Thy help I'm come 05:57 And I hope, by Thy good pleasure 06:02 Safely to arrive at home 06:08 Jesus sought me when a stranger 06:13 Wandering from the fold of God 06:19 He to rescue me from danger 06:24 Interposed His precious blood 06:33 Oh, to grace how great a debtor 06:40 Daily I'm constrained to be! 06:45 Let Thy goodness, like a fetter 06:50 Bind me closer still to thee 06:56 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it 07:01 Prone to leave the God I love 07:06 Here's my heart, Oh, take and seal it 07:12 Seal it for Thy courts above 07:17 Here's my heart, Oh, take and seal it 07:22 Seal it for Thy courts above 07:29 Take my heart and form it 07:36 Take my mind, transform it 07:44 Take my will, conform it 07:52 To Yours, to Yours, oh, Lord 08:05 Hold on! Hold on! Hold on! 08:09 Lawd! Just a-hold on! 08:11 Noah, Noah, let me come in 08:14 De door's all fastened an' de winders pinned! 08:17 Just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you hold on, 08:22 Yes, you got to hold on! 08:25 Noah said, "You lost yo' track, 08:28 You can't plow straight an' keep a-lookin' back" 08:31 Just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you got to hold on, 08:36 yes, you got to hold on! 08:37 Well, my brother, hold on! 08:41 Yes, you got to hold on! 08:43 Yes, just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you got to hold on, 08:48 Yes, you got to hold on! 08:50 If you want to get to heaven, 08:52 let me tell you how Jus' keep yo' hand on 08:55 de gospel plow 08:56 Just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you got to hold on, 09:01 Yes, you got to hold on! 09:03 If dat plow stay in yo' hand, 09:05 land you straight in de promised land 09:08 Just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you got to hold on, 09:12 Yes, you got to hold on! 09:14 Well, my sister, hold on! 09:16 Yes, you got to hold on! 09:19 Yes, just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you got to hold on, 09:24 Yes, you got to hold on! 09:26 Mary had a little babe, 09:29 an' everyone called my Jesus' name 09:32 Just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you got to hold on, 09:37 Yes, you got to hold on! 09:39 Keep on climbin' an' don't you tire, 09:41 'cause ev'ry rung goes higher an' higher! 09:44 Just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you got to hold on, 09:49 Yes, you got to hold on! 09:50 Well, my brother, hold on! 09:53 Yes, you got to hold on! 09:55 Yes, just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you got to hold on, 10:01 Yes, you got to hold on! 10:02 Well, my sister, hold on! 10:05 You got to hold on! 10:08 Yes, just keep yo' hand on de plow, an' you got to hold on, 10:11 Yes, you got to hold on! 10:15 Hmm, hmm, yes! Hmm, hmm, yes! 10:18 Hold on! Prayin'! Hold on! Prayin'! 10:21 Hold on! Singin'! Hold on! Shoutin' Lawd! 10:25 Just keep yo' hand 10:28 on de plow, an' you... 10:34 Just hold on! 10:41 Just hold on! 10:51 Amen. 11:01 Powerful one. Thank you, thank you. 11:04 Hold on, put your hand on the gospel plow, hold on. 11:09 Thank you very much. 11:11 Let's pray together. 11:13 Oh, God, that's what we want to do, hold on tight. 11:16 We're on the ride of our lives, hold on. 11:24 And in this hour 11:26 in which we have the high honor of living 11:29 how then shall we live, may today's teaching 11:36 be guided by the spirit for us all. 11:40 We pray in Christ's name, amen. 11:44 I don't know about you but I would have yelling 11:45 at the top of my lungs to spur that bus driver on. 11:52 Did you read the story? 11:54 Did you see that one? 11:55 This week, Wednesday morning, 11:58 6:48 local time a bus packed with passengers 12:04 making its usual commute 12:05 to the tiny island of American Samoa. 12:10 Now you know. 12:12 Somewhere between 13 and 25 minutes later 12:16 somebody on the bus happened to look out toward the shoreline 12:22 and saw a massive 15 to 20 foot 12:27 wall of water racing 12:32 toward that tiny little island territory 12:34 of America, American Samoa. 12:38 Scientists, listen to this, scientists estimate 12:40 that is a result of a magnitude 8.0 earthquake 12:43 beneath the sea floor 125 miles to the south, 12:48 four of them, four consecutive walls 12:50 of water race towards Samoa and American Samoa 12:54 at the speed of a 747 in flight, 530 miles an hour. 13:01 Four tsunamis. 13:03 Somebody sees it, the whole bus freezes 13:08 as that bus driver swings the vehicle around 13:12 and races the wave to the highest spot 13:16 on little American Samoa. 13:18 Listen to this Associated Press release here, "'I was scared. 13:22 I was shocked,' said Didi Afuafi, 28-years-old, 13:27 who was on the bus when the giant waves 13:28 came ashore on American Samoa. 13:30 Didi went on 'All the people on the bus 13:31 were screaming, crying, trying to call their homes. 13:34 We couldn't get on cell phones. 13:35 The phones just died on us. 13:37 It was just crazy.' 13:40 With the water approaching fast, 13:42 the bus driver sped to the top of a nearby mountain, 13:44 where 300 to 500 people were gathered already, 13:47 including patients evacuated from the main hospital. 13:49 Among them were newborns with IVs, 13:50 crying children and frightened elderly people." 13:52 The clergy arrived and a prayer service began. 13:57 I'm telling you what, ladies and gentlemen, 13:59 it's true, isn't it? 14:01 How quickly life as we know it can change 14:06 and the paradigm shift in an instant 14:09 and our hearts go out today to the survivors 14:13 on Samoa and American Samoa. 14:15 We got students here from there, as well as the survivors 14:19 in Western Sumatra, Indonesia 14:22 which 24 hours later you heard 14:24 of course those killer quakes that struck Indonesia. 14:28 How quickly life as we know it change 14:33 so that they would never forget that there is coming a day 14:39 when business as usual will no longer pass. 14:45 Into the sacred calendar of the community of Israel 14:48 God stuck a single day, a day to remind them 14:54 that for the human race a day of reckoning is coming, 14:56 for the human race there will be a day of judgment 15:00 and they call the day the Day of Atonement. 15:05 I have tried to imagine 15:07 and I need you to help me out here. 15:09 What it would have been like if you and I were living 15:11 in that community of Israel 15:14 back as they're wandering through the wilderness. 15:15 What would it have been like to come to the Day of Atonement 15:18 when by the literally tens of thousands 15:21 the entire community gathers around the church 15:24 planted in the middle, 15:27 in the middle of that mobile nation. 15:31 Only today the church is empty. 15:33 Every human being has been commanded to leave-- 15:36 they called it the sanctuary but it was their church. 15:38 Everybody is out except one lone individual 15:42 who today is granted divine permission to do 15:45 what is forbidden every other day of the year. 15:48 That is to walk all alone into that sacred space 15:55 called the most holy place. 15:58 And get this, get this, we can't track him, 16:02 we cannot tell where he is, any other day of the year, 16:06 his-- the high priest magisterial garments 16:09 along the hem are sewn in bell, pomegranate, 16:12 bell, pomegranate, bell, pomegranate, 16:14 bell, pomegranate. 16:15 So whenever the high priest moves, 16:16 tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, 16:18 but today, no sound. 16:22 He stripped off of those magisterial garments 16:25 and today it's just sacred white linen. 16:29 In fact, some traditions say 16:32 that the congregation eventually came along 16:34 and tied a rope to the ankle of the high priest. 16:39 Should he as a representative of the community of Israel 16:42 bearing their sins as it were, 16:44 should he be stricken down by the Shekinah Glory, 16:47 they would then be able to drag him out for burial. 16:52 There is no record ever that that happened 16:55 but you and I today, you and I are today 16:57 with those tens of thousands 16:58 and we already know Aaron's boys, 17:01 those two preachers' kids have already inebriated DUI, 17:06 they have gone in, died in an instant. 17:11 So, guys, ladies and gentlemen, 17:15 what would it have been like to live 17:19 in the Day of Atonement back then? 17:22 I want to go to a passage with you 17:23 that we have not been to before. 17:25 There are two cryptic clues in this passage. 17:28 It's possible that we can surmise 17:31 not only what it would have been like back then 17:33 but maybe these cryptic clues are a guide 17:36 to how we should live right now. 17:39 Open your Bible please to the third book of the Bible, 17:40 the Book of Leviticus. 17:42 We are not going to Leviticus 16 17:44 where you and I have been before. 17:46 Let's now go to a brand new passage, Leviticus 23. 17:49 By the way, you didn't bring your Bible, 17:51 grab the Bible right in front of you, 17:52 it will be the New Kings James. 17:54 Our pew Bible is New King James, 17:55 you've got to see these two cryptic clues for yourself. 17:58 Grab the pew Bible, 17:59 it will be page 86 in your pew Bible, 18:04 I'm gonna be in the New International Version, the NIV. 18:07 Leviticus 23, 18:10 let's find Leviticus 23 together. 18:13 Just note three short verses, Leviticus 23, 18:20 and let's pick it up in verse 26, all right. 18:22 Leviticus 23:26, "The Lord said to Moses," 18:25 here comes now verse 27 18:27 "The tenth day of this seventh month 18:30 is the Day of Atonement. 18:32 Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, 18:35 and present an offering made to the Lord by fire." 18:37 Verse 28, "Do no work on that day," 18:39 by the way, ladies and gentlemen, 18:41 this is the only day of the year 18:43 where work was forbidden. 18:45 No other holy or holidays we call them today, 18:48 no other holiday, sacred holiday 18:50 was work forbidden except the seventh day Sabbath. 18:52 Always the seventh day Sabbath 18:54 and then the Day of Atonement as well. 18:57 So verse 28, "Do no work on that day, 18:59 because it is the Day of Atonement, 19:00 when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God." 19:03 Verse 29, "And anyone who does not deny himself on that day 19:08 must be cut off from his people." 19:12 Clearly it's a day of judgment, cut off. 19:17 And you'll say oh, come on, Dwight, 19:18 please give me a break. 19:21 All this Old Testament stuff, I mean, I'm New-- 19:24 I'm post New Testament as a Christian. 19:27 I'm not into this little superstitious, 19:30 you know, ancient ritual. 19:33 It matters not a thing to me and you know what, my friend, 19:35 I'm with you absolutely right on 19:38 really, please, except, 19:44 except for the stunning discovery 19:46 as we have shared it in the last four teachings 19:49 that that little Day of Atonement, 19:51 that one day on the calendar for the community of Israel 19:54 was in fact a divinely designed enactment 19:59 of an eventual day for the entire human race. 20:03 A day of reckoning, a day of judgment, 20:05 a day when there will no longer be business as usual. 20:09 And as we noticed just last week 20:10 in that prophecy Daniel 8:14 20:12 the two-- the final two minute warning, 20:14 the final two minute warning of the human race. 20:17 Throw in a time out if you want. 20:19 Throw in time outs until you're out of time outs 20:21 but then that clock runs to zero. 20:24 Because of that, two cryptic clues here, 20:28 maybe they are a clue as to how then we should live today. 20:32 Let's take a look. 20:33 Take your study guide out, 20:34 let's jot that two clues down real quick 20:35 and then I'll go home. 20:37 Grab the study guide in your worship bulletin. 20:38 Reach into your worship bulletin, 20:39 pull out that study guide. 20:41 If you didn't get a worship bulletin 20:42 or you need a study guide, thank you, ushers, 20:44 let's get study guides please to those who need them, 20:47 hold your hand up and here they come. 20:49 By the way, those of you watching 20:50 on television right now, we are delighted to have you. 20:52 Let me put our website 20:53 on the screen for you right now, 20:55 you can get the same study guide. 20:56 You see it on the screen now www.pmchurch.tv. 21:02 You're looking for the series "The Temple." 21:05 And this is, this is what, part five of "The Temple." 21:08 Outside the Curtain, 21:09 that will be outside the curtain, the most holy place 21:11 but inside the camp. 21:12 What was life like inside the camp? 21:16 Maybe that's a clue to what life 21:17 ought to be like today. 21:18 Let's check it out, figure it out. 21:20 All right, two clues. 21:22 You got a study guide, keep your hand up, 21:23 they are coming your way. 21:24 Two clues, jot it down, clue number one, deny yourself. 21:29 "Deny yourselves," 21:32 Moses was speaking to the whole, 21:33 to the whole community. 21:34 Deny yourselves. 21:37 Let's read that verse again, verse 27, 21:39 you'll see it right there. 21:40 God speaking to Moses, 21:41 "The tenth day of this seventh month 21:42 is the Day of Atonement. 21:43 Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, 21:46 and present an offering made to the Lord by fire." 21:50 Now keep your pen moving, jot this down. 21:52 To "deny yourself" depicts an intense personal, 21:56 that's the key word, personal, 21:58 intense personal seeking after God. 22:02 But the truth of the matter is we don't know what it means. 22:06 By that I mean you can't go to the books of Moses 22:08 and find any clue as to what does this 22:09 "deny yourself" mean. 22:11 In the Hebrew it can be translated, 22:13 those of you that have the New King James 22:14 or the King James, it says afflict yourself. 22:16 You have the New American Standard Bible 22:18 it says humble yourself. 22:19 We just looked at the NIV, it says deny yourself. 22:22 So what? 22:23 What's up with that? 22:25 Roy Gane, who teaches Old Testament here 22:29 in our theological seminar at Andrews University. 22:32 Listen to this, Roy Gane was invited 22:35 by Zondervan Publishing, huge publishing 22:40 in the Christian world, all right. 22:41 Roy Gane was invited by Zondervan Publishing 22:43 to author the Leviticus, Numbers volume 22:47 of their NIV application commentary 22:51 which by the way was not only a professional honor for Roy 22:55 but which also gave a scholar within our community of faith 22:58 the opportunity to carefully exergy 23:01 for the wider Christian world, 23:02 the Bible sanctuary teaching of the Day of Atonement. 23:06 Amazing. 23:08 I've been reading it through 23:09 just for my devotional experience 23:12 and I got to tell you his book 23:13 for this series has been extremely helpful. 23:16 Now Roy notes this. 23:18 He says you know what, you can't find this, 23:19 this phrase "deny yourself" in the writings of Moses 23:22 but there are three other places 23:23 it appears in the Old Testament 23:25 and from those three places, ah, that's what it means. 23:29 Would you jot it down please, in Psalm 35:13, 23:33 Isaiah 58:3, you can check these out later, 23:36 and Ezra 8:21, the practice of "denying yourself" 23:39 or "humbling oneself" is linked with fasting. 23:43 Write the word in please, "fasting." 23:46 So what's up with that, fasting? 23:49 Roy concludes... 23:51 This is Gane writing here, put it on the screen for you. 23:53 You need to fill it in, in your study guide. 23:54 "Thus, practicing self-denial is an outward expression 23:58 accompanying supplication to God 24:00 at a time of inner distress." 24:03 Hold on now. 24:04 "Temporary suspension of normal activities, 24:07 including eating that sustains life" 24:10 and then I put in brackets there, that's obviously fasting. 24:12 "Including eating that sustains life," 24:14 suspension of that 24:15 "focuses on God without interruption 24:18 and acknowledges," jot it down, 24:20 "total dependence upon God at a time of special need." 24:24 Did you catch that? 24:26 Denying oneself means you undertake a sign 24:31 of total dependence upon God at a time of special need. 24:37 The Day of Atonement was the only day by the way, 24:40 of all the sacred holy days or holidays, 24:43 it was the only one where God commanded fasting. 24:46 In fact, it's mentioned in the Book of Acts. 24:49 It says on the Fast day 24:51 capital "F," Fast day near the end of Acts. 24:54 We know that's the Day of Atonement, 24:55 it's the only one. 24:57 So here's the question, 24:59 what's the big deal about fasting? 25:01 Come on, tell me, what's the big deal about fasting? 25:04 Well, have you noticed, check this one out, 25:06 I'm gonna run this by you, 25:07 have you noticed ours is an appetite driven culture? 25:14 I want to talk about television commercials, 25:15 only television commercials right now. 25:17 I want you to name for me a single television commercial 25:21 that does not appeal to appetite. 25:24 Fame, food, drink, fortune, 25:29 power, possessions, popularity. 25:33 Tell me one television commercial 25:35 that you can think of that does not appeal 25:37 to one of those appetites we have. 25:39 Tell me one. 25:42 I can only think of one, 25:44 the commercial for Depends. 25:50 There's no appetite involved. 25:52 But my point is, my point is... everything-- 25:58 I mean, sure, of course you can come up one, 26:00 you can come up with one. 26:03 But the dominant focus of our society 26:06 is appetite driven, is it not? 26:11 So here's the deal, what are you hungry for? 26:15 What are you hungry for right now? 26:18 What are you really hungry for? 26:21 And I'm gonna step, I'm gonna step into an area 26:24 you and I have never stepped into before. 26:27 Maybe I want to ask it in the form of a question, 26:30 could it be that maybe as the counter balance 26:35 to our appetite driven culture, 26:38 maybe it's kind of a divine antacid 26:40 to all the hungers that drive us. 26:43 In this hour of the Day of Atonement 26:47 in the throne room turned court room above 26:49 and by the way, it's down here 26:51 in this hour of the Day of Atonement 26:52 in the dorm room, in the class room, 26:54 in the living room, maybe, 26:59 maybe we ought to take seriously 27:03 the notion that every now and then, now hold on, 27:08 every now and then for maybe a day and a night, 27:11 I don't know, but every now and then 27:14 maybe in this hour of history 27:17 we ought to take seriously the idea of fasting. 27:24 Fasting... keeping in mind 27:28 of course Jesus' very balanced counsel 27:32 about anybody who undertakes a fast. 27:35 I want to show you what Jesus said on this, 27:36 very balanced. 27:38 You need to see it in your own Bible, 27:39 the sermon on the mount, 27:40 He didn't leave it out, it's right there. 27:42 Matthew Chapter 6, 27:44 Matthew 6:16, 27:50 Jesus talks about fasting, I want you to get this. 27:53 Take a look at it in your Bible. 27:54 "When you fast," 27:56 by the way there is no command from Christ 27:58 to fast anywhere in the New Testament. 28:01 He never says fast but it is under-- 28:04 this is an implicit understanding 28:06 that you are gonna fast, 28:07 the day will come when you will fast. 28:09 So I'm gonna give you some counsel about it. 28:11 Here we go, "When you fast, 28:12 do not look somber as the hypocrites do, 28:15 for they disfigure their faces 28:16 to show men and women that they are fasting. 28:18 "I tell you the truth," Jesus says, 28:20 "they have received their reward in full. 28:22 But when you fast, put oil on your head 28:25 and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious 28:27 to men and women that you are fasting, 28:29 but only to your Father, who is unseen, 28:30 and your Father, who sees 28:31 what is done in secret, He will reward you." 28:37 What's going on here? 28:38 I love the way, you're gonna love this too. 28:40 Eugene Peterson in the message, 28:42 notice how he paraphrases this very same passage 28:46 and you'll need to fill it in your study guide. 28:48 Peterson taking the same words of Jesus. 28:50 "When you practice some appetite-denying discipline." 28:53 That's what fasting would be, appetite denying, 28:56 the big issue is appetite. 28:57 He hit the nail on the head. 28:59 "When you practice some appetite-denying discipline 29:02 to better," please make sure 29:04 you get that word, "concentrate on God." 29:07 Ladies and gentlemen, let us be clear immediately 29:10 fasting is not about getting God's attention, 29:12 fasting does not make God say, 29:13 oh, man, I am really impressed with junior there. 29:16 I am really impressed with sissy. 29:18 Whoa, look at that fasting. 29:20 Fasting does not move God a wit, 29:23 24/7 He already loves you to the max, all right. 29:26 That's a key point, 24/7 29:28 He already loves you to the max. 29:30 But Peter-- let's put it back up, please. 29:33 What Peterson is saying here, 29:35 if you want to concentrate more clearly. 29:40 He says, Jesus says, "When you practice 29:41 some appetite-denying discipline to better 29:43 concentrate on God, 29:44 don't make a production out of it." 29:46 I love this. 29:47 Keep reading "It might turn you 29:50 into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint." 29:54 Isn't that good? 29:55 Oh, barns, oh, she is fasting, oh. 30:00 By the way, Jesus says that is all the reward you get. 30:04 That's it. 30:05 If you tell anybody that little whoa, is all you get. 30:11 You haven't impressed God. 30:14 Peterson says, hey listen, 30:15 "If you 'go into training' inwardly" I like this 30:17 "If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. 30:21 Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth," 30:24 please "wash your face. 30:27 God does not require," now isn't this good? 30:28 "God does not require attention-getting devices. 30:31 He won't overlook what you are doing, 30:32 He'll reward you well." 30:35 Don't you tell your roommate, "I'm going on a fast today, 30:37 can't go with you to the cafeteria." 30:39 Don't say a word to your housemate, 30:40 to your spouse mate, to your workmate, not a word. 30:44 Mum's the word, shh. 30:48 Just a day and a night where you will hold in check 30:53 an appetite that defines your day 30:57 and sets your schedule. 30:59 You think about it, 31:00 everything we do is run right here. 31:04 Everything we do comes out of here 31:06 but one day comes you say, oh, hold it, stomach, 31:09 I'm not listening to you today 24 hours, 24 hours. 31:15 Hey, listen, for some of us 31:17 it may be that food isn't the only thing we would fast from. 31:19 It may be that you would wish to fast from television. 31:22 Now here's a thought fast from radio, 31:25 fast from your iPod. 31:26 No iPod, no music, off. 31:31 How about a 24 hour internet fast, 31:33 nothing in cyberspace. 31:36 I would say fast from our cell phones 31:38 but who has the courage and time for that 31:39 so we will just leave cell phones out of it. 31:42 Isn't that right? 31:44 Listen, jot this down please. 31:45 Whatever it is you fast from, here's a deal, 31:48 in its usual place. 31:49 Would you underline that and circle that. 31:51 In the usual place that 31:52 whatever it is you're fasting from 31:54 in that place in your day's schedule 31:55 insert some quiet time alone with God. 31:58 That's the big deal right there. 32:00 Substitution is how we are doing this. 32:02 You pull something out, I'm going without this now, 32:05 you put something in. 32:06 I want some quiet time alone with God. 32:09 That's the deal on fasting. 32:11 In fact, you know, you could do, 32:14 you could take your Bible. 32:16 Wouldn't this be something you got a pocket Bible, 32:17 take your Bible 32:19 to where you have lunch, when you slip away. 32:21 Nobody, hey, where did he go for lunch? I don't know. 32:23 You just slip away with your Bible. 32:25 During that time you normally be eating today, 32:28 I'm not eating, I'm eating here, 32:30 I'm feeding here. 32:32 In fact, jot that down will you please? 32:34 Substitute your appetite for food 32:36 with an appetite for "every word" 32:38 according Jesus "every word that comes 32:41 from the mouth of God" Matthew 4:11. 32:43 May I remind you that when Christ spoke those words 32:48 He is immortal, hand to hand combat 32:53 with the fallen Lucifer himself. 32:55 After 40 days he speaks these words, 32:57 after 40 days of fasting day and night 33:01 he is not asking anybody to be like Jesus there. 33:04 Never, never. 33:06 You know, God doesn't need a 40 fast 33:08 and trust me you don't either 33:10 but he said in the myth of that trust 33:14 "Man and women shall not live by bread alone, 33:16 but by every word that proceeds 33:18 from the mouth of God." 33:19 Take your pocket Bible with you, 33:21 find that little spot 33:22 where you can be alone with God, 33:24 feed on the Word of God. 33:25 Ladies and gentlemen, 33:26 the point is we are living in God's 33:27 final strategic salvation history chapter, 33:31 we are in the judgment. 33:34 I know it doesn't feel like it. 33:37 I know that we are going to dinner as soon as this is over. 33:39 I know that life goes on, we'll have Saturday night 33:41 and then there will be next week 33:43 and I know it doesn't feel like 33:45 we are in the judgment but we are. 33:51 The two minute warning has already sounded. 33:55 You can ignore it, you can play not me, 33:59 or you can sing, no, no, no, no, no. 34:03 Deny myself, I'll deny appetite not fast. 34:10 I love my friends down the road here in Buchanan, 34:13 Life Action Ministries, great leader Byron Paulus said, 34:17 chatted with Byron along the way my time pastoring here, 34:20 they run a wonderful ministry just down in Buchanan 34:22 and they put out this very inspirational magazine. 34:26 Can you get a camera in on that please? 34:29 This is their Revive magazine and this is the latest one 34:32 and look at the cover story, Bible Boredom? 34:35 Reviewing your passion for God's word. 34:38 Inside the magazine is a piece by Howard Hendricks, 34:41 the great theologian from Dallas Theological Seminary. 34:44 In his piece he tells a story 34:46 and I got to share the story with you. 34:48 He tells a story-- let me just read it to you. 34:52 Here it is. Okay. 34:54 "A man I know" all right "A man I know came to Christ, 34:58 so I gave him a New Testament and told him to read it. 35:02 He came back a week later and said, 'I read it.' 35:06 I said, 'I know, but I meant the whole thing.' 35:10 He said, 'I did.' 35:12 He said, 'I read the whole thing, 35:13 including the palms in the back.' 35:15 He thought the word was palms, it's Psalms, 35:17 you know, it's the little New Testament Psalms. 35:19 "'I read the palms, 35:20 I love those palms, I read them.' 35:23 And he said, 'I understand 35:25 there is another section to this thing.'" 35:26 He is talking about the Old Testament. 35:28 "So I gave him the Old Testament, 35:29 and three weeks later he came back 35:31 and said he'd read it!" 35:33 Now Hendricks is talking to you and me "My friend, 35:36 we have elders in our church 35:37 who have never read the Bible through in its entirety! 35:44 But here is this guy who is like a little kid 35:46 with a fire engine so excited to study the Bible. 35:49 Some time later, this same man and I 35:50 were studying the passage where Jesus says, 35:52 Luke 12:15 'One's life does not consist 35:54 in the abundance of the things he possesses.' 35:56 He stopped me and said, 'Whoa, does that mean 35:59 what I think it means?' 36:02 I asked him what he thought it meant, 36:03 and he explained it better than any commentary 36:06 commentary I had ever read. 36:07 So this man went out and liquidated 36:09 a million dollars' worth of property 36:11 to resource the work of Jesus Christ." 36:14 That's called taking the word seriously. 36:16 That's called being excited about that little pocket Bible. 36:18 That's called carrying that pocket Bible with you. 36:20 That's called every chance you get to find a moment 36:22 where you and God can be alone in His word. 36:25 Fast, fasting, pull something out 36:30 so that you can put something in. 36:32 Some of you by the way, 36:33 will pull something out permanently 36:35 and never bring it back. 36:37 That will be the work of the spirit 36:39 and you will have to know what that is. 36:47 We are living in God's judgment up there, 36:52 there must be a spiritual deepening going on 36:55 down here, that's the point. 36:58 And so I'm moving into territory 37:00 where you and I have never been before 37:01 and I'm wondering out loud 37:02 maybe the time has come for us to fast. 37:08 Let me share a line from this apocalyptic classic 37:10 called the Great Controversy. 37:11 You have it in your study guide, 37:13 you have to fill that in. 37:14 "We are living in the most solemn period 37:16 of this world's history." 37:17 Well, there's an under statement. 37:19 "The destiny of earth's teeming 37:20 multitudes is about to be decided. 37:22 Our own future well-being 37:23 and also the salvation of other souls 37:25 depend upon the course which we now pursue. 37:27 We need to be guided by the Spirit of truth. 37:30 Every follower of Christ should earnestly inquire 37:32 'Lord, what do you want from me?" 37:33 What do You want me to do? 37:35 He will honor that prayer by the way, He will honor 37:38 and He will show you, He will lead you. 37:40 Now here comes, "We need to humble ourselves" 37:42 that's Day of Atonement language 37:44 straight out of the Hebrew. 37:45 "We need to humble ourselves before the Lord, 37:48 with fasting and prayer, " Jot that down, 37:51 fasting and prayer. 37:55 "And to meditate much upon His word, 37:57 especially" this what got me by surprise, 37:59 "especially the scenes of the judgment." 38:02 Why do you ever want to look at those scenes? 38:04 Hey they always make me a little bit nervous. 38:07 Maybe that's the point. 38:13 "Great peace have they which love thy law." 38:15 Look, I understand about peace that passes understanding 38:17 but every, every now and then I need a little reminder. 38:20 Dwight, guess what buddy, your life is just today 38:27 so how's it going you and me today boy, 38:31 because I'm concerned every now and then 38:34 you get them too, the little-- 38:40 you thought about where we are in history right now? 38:45 It's a Day of Atonement language 38:46 straight out of the scripture. 38:48 Humbling ourselves through fasting and prayer. 38:50 So here's a deal, maybe you and I 38:53 are to consider fasting as a demonstration 38:54 as Roy Gane put it of our total dependence upon God 38:58 in a time of special need. 39:00 I don't know when to tell you to do it, 39:02 I don't know how much time you ought to do it, 39:03 for don't ask me. 39:08 But what if we just did it? 39:11 And if you are on a prescribed diet 39:12 check with your physician of fast from 39:13 something beside food or drink. 39:15 All I know is that we are living 39:17 in the time of the judgment 39:18 and it's probably calling for an intensification 39:21 of the spiritual experience we are presently enjoying, 39:23 intensify, intensify. 39:29 Let's read that line again. 39:31 Did you keep your finger in Leviticus 23, 39:34 read it again verse 26. 39:36 "The Lord said to Moses, 39:38 'The tenth day of this seventh month 39:39 is the Day of Atonement. 39:40 Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, 39:43 and present an offering made to the Lord by fire." 39:47 There it is clue number two. 39:48 Clue number one, deny yourself. 39:50 Clue number two, assemble yourselves. 39:54 Hold a sacred assembly. 39:56 Now ladies and gentlemen, look to deny yourself 39:58 depicts an intense, maybe why witness down, 40:00 an intense personal seeking after God. 40:02 But now to "assemble yourselves" 40:05 depicts an intense, write it down, collective, 40:08 a collective seeking after God. 40:10 The Day of Atonement is both a private intensification 40:13 and a collective intensification. 40:14 It's got to happen on both levels, 40:16 privately, collectively. 40:20 I was sharing my heart this last Wednesday night 40:24 with a house of prayer congregation 40:26 and I was wondering aloud with them. 40:30 What do you think it's gonna take? 40:32 Maybe you have an answer to this? 40:33 What do you think it's gonna take 40:35 for God to get the attention of this generation? 40:39 Inside the church, outside the church, 40:41 it doesn't matter to me, just this generation. 40:43 What do you think it's gonna take? 40:46 I mean, you and I might not agree about everything 40:49 that's very okay, but I have a feeling-- 40:52 I mean, please, could there be, 40:55 you help me out, could there be 40:59 a more opportune time for the friends of Jesus 41:04 to be coming together outside of Sabbath worship? 41:08 I mean, we got that one down, hallelujah. 41:11 But could there be an opportune time in history-- 41:14 could there be a more opportune time 41:15 in history than this one, 41:16 the insecurity, the uncertainty? 41:19 I look in the faces of our talking heads 41:22 nobody knows for sure what's going on. 41:26 Wouldn't this be a fairly obvious time 41:29 for the community to have these sacred assemblies? 41:34 Whatever that means, beyond Sabbath worship. 41:39 Jonathan Edwards considered by many 41:41 the greatest theologian in American history. 41:44 Jonathan Edwards, 41:45 I'll put the words on the screen for you. 41:47 Three centuries ago he wrote these words. 41:49 "When God is about to accomplish great things 41:51 for his church," I like this. 41:52 "When God is about to accomplish great things 41:54 for his church, He will begin by a remarkable 41:57 pouring out of 'the Spirit of grace and supplication.' 42:02 " Now hold on, what if we were on the cusp? 42:05 What if we were right now on the cusp of God 42:08 getting ready to do that 42:11 for His church, for the human race? 42:15 Right now, what if we were just almost there? 42:20 What if God were waiting for an intense collective 42:23 seeking after Him like we never have before? 42:27 Did you see that line? 42:28 By the way, you look down your study guide 42:29 because you have there quote there. 42:30 Do you see that line, he is quoting from the, 42:31 from the scripture. 42:32 God will pour "the Spirit of grace and supplication." 42:36 See the quotation marks around it? 42:37 Let me put from his old King James 42:38 because that's all they have back then three centuries ago, 42:40 he only had the King James. 42:42 Here's the line, Zechariah 12:10, fascinating. 42:45 Go and make it in your Bible later sometime. 42:48 God making this promise, isn't this incredible? 42:51 "And I will pour out on the house of David 42:53 and the inhabitants of Jerusalem 42:55 a spirit of grace and supplication." 43:00 That is amazing. 43:02 In fact, jot it down, "I will pour out upon you 43:05 a spirit of grace and supplication." 43:08 The New Living translation renders 43:09 that a spirit of prayer. 43:10 Write that in, a spirit of prayer. 43:12 You go to the English Standard Version 43:13 and it feels like a spirit of pleading, pleading. 43:17 I will pour out the spirit on you. 43:20 And by the way, that's not Holy Spirit, 43:21 He can say I'll pour out my spirit on you. 43:24 No, no, no, no, no, 43:25 before I pour out finally My spirit 43:29 I'm gonna first pour out a spirit of asking. 43:33 I'm gonna give you a new spirit, 43:34 a spirit that wants to have what I've had all along. 43:39 I'll pour out on you a spirit of supplication. 43:43 A giddiness. 43:44 Now watch this I'll put another line 43:46 from Jonathan Edwards. 43:48 "When God has something very great 43:53 to accomplish for His church, 43:55 it is His will that there should precede it 43:58 the extraordinary prayers of His people." 44:04 Ladies and gentlemen, wouldn't it be something, 44:08 wouldn't it be something if God were waiting 44:11 to find out from you and me, 44:14 if we are intensely serious about wanting that final gift 44:20 the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 44:22 Wouldn't be something, so it is now like, hey, God, 44:25 I would love to have that Holy Spirit 44:26 fill me please, hallelujah. 44:28 That one time request, what if God were holding back 44:33 and saying no, no, no, no, no, 44:35 I want to know do you really want it. 44:39 So He is not promising on that promise we just read. 44:42 He is not saying, I'm gonna pour out My sprit. 44:43 He says, no, I'm gonna give you instead 44:45 a spirit of asking. 44:48 Oh, what happened? 44:49 Oh, what happened if you were the one 44:51 God was waiting to ask on behalf of this campus. 44:54 Listen Dwight, how would I pray that prayer? 44:55 Simple. 44:57 Say, oh, God, I wish you would pour out 44:59 upon Andrews University a spirit of asking, 45:03 a spirit of pleading. 45:05 God, we can go through generation, 45:06 after generation, class after class after class. 45:09 We can go for another millennium 45:10 if You need us to but could it be 45:12 that you are on the cusp of what You have promised to do 45:16 if we were in the Day of Atonement. 45:18 Now would you pour out for us a spirit of asking, 45:23 a spirit of wanting? 45:30 You know, I got two wonderful kids, hallelujah, 45:32 Kirk and Kristin. 45:34 And Kirk and Kristin were very young. 45:37 In November, every year in November Toys "R" Us 45:42 would come out with the new Christmas flyer. 45:43 They used to come out in November 45:44 now they are coming out first of October of course, 45:47 but Toys "R" Us 45:50 and you know my kids would do every Sunday 45:51 they would pull it out 45:52 because they love to drew those pictures. 45:55 So I hey, guys, here's the latest Toys "R" Us 45:59 brochure of full color and they would hurry off 46:02 to a corner of the house and before you know, 46:05 what I mean, in five minutes Kirk is back daddy, 46:08 I found it at last what I have always 46:11 been wanting all my life. 46:14 Daddy, can I have this and point-- 46:17 put his little pudgy finger I want that. 46:20 I've always-- daddy, you know that 46:22 I always wanted this. 46:23 And I'm thinking to myself yeah, right. 46:28 Because if another week goes by and another Toys "R" Us 46:31 flyer comes out guess what, 46:34 he goes back to the same pictures 46:35 but now it's not that one he wants another one. 46:37 Daddy, I'm telling-- you weren't sure last 46:40 but you really be sure now this is the one I want. 46:44 There isn't a parent alive who doesn't know 46:46 what I'm describing right now. 46:48 Come on, isn't that true? 46:49 Of course. 46:50 So what does a wise parent do? 46:53 A wise parent waits. 46:55 Okay, I'm gonna watch this boy for a while. 46:57 If my boy comes back to me week, after week, 46:59 after week, after week, after week, 47:01 and he said I got to have it, I got to have it, 47:03 I got to have it and I love my boy 47:05 and I'm thinking this would be a nice gift for him. 47:07 At that point I take him seriously. 47:11 That little flash in the pan I got to have it now stuff 47:13 hey, I'm not a dummy 47:17 because if I give you that you want something else. 47:21 Our divine parent is no different. 47:24 Oh, God, I got to have the Holy Spirit see You later, 47:26 ciao and we are gone. 47:29 Oh, you really want the spirit, did you? 47:32 I'll see if you bring it up tonight 47:34 and it's not anywhere near on mines. 47:36 What a pastor preached about it today 47:37 I say bring it up. 47:38 But then it's gone. 47:41 Ladies and gentlemen, if this is a Day of Atonement 47:44 up there and down here 47:45 then there is a new intensification 47:47 that God is calling for 47:49 and He is saying, guys, come on, let's get real please. 47:52 How many gifts do you want? 47:53 I have one gift, 47:55 I have one gift that if you get this gift 47:57 it will give you every other gift in My store house, 47:58 ask Me for that gift 48:01 but I want to find out if you really want it. 48:03 Ask Me again tomorrow and then ask me again tomorrow, 48:06 and then ask me again tomorrow, 48:07 and one of these days trust me 48:10 I will give you, your hearts content. 48:13 But I got to find out are you really serious? 48:17 Do you want it? 48:18 A century ago, not three centuries ago 48:19 that's Jonathan Edwards, a century ago 48:22 these words were written, put it on the screen for you. 48:24 "A revival of true godliness among us 48:28 is the greatest and most urgent 48:30 of all our need. 48:32 To seek this should be our first work. 48:33 There must be earnest effort 48:34 to obtain the blessing of the Lord, 48:36 not because God is not willing 48:38 to bestow His blessing upon us, 48:40 but because we are unprepared to receive it." 48:41 You only asked me once. 48:44 If I gave the same to you what would you do? 48:45 You throw it away. 48:47 You're not ready to receive it. 48:48 It's because we are not ready, 48:49 that we must keep asking. 48:52 Oh, that last line, "A revival need be expected 48:54 only in answer to prayer." 48:56 So here's the deal, what if preparatory 48:58 to this final revival that Revelation 18:1 49:01 predicts this outpouring the sprit all over the planet, 49:04 what if God wants us before asking for the spirit, 49:09 what if we started asking for the spirit of asking. 49:14 What if we just said I need a spirit of pleading 49:17 because I don't want it real, I don't want it real much now. 49:20 I'm just not really big on this now. 49:22 God, give me a pleading, create a hunger in me, 49:27 create a thirst in me, I want to ask. 49:32 Deny yourself by fasting. 49:35 Assemble yourselves by praying, sacred assembly 49:42 at the risk of being misunderstood. 49:44 I'm gonna put a screen, 49:45 a slide on the screen right now. 49:47 It's blue and it will say House of Prayer on it 49:52 and it will remind you that every Wednesday night 49:54 the doors of this church are open to human beings 49:59 who don't want to pray alone as we do all week anyway 50:04 but who now say sacred assembly, Day of Atonement, 50:08 assemble ourselves together I want to come. 50:11 It will be over by eight, starts at seven, 50:14 over by eight. 50:16 Don't have an hour in the hour of His judgment, 50:20 tell me, tell me. 50:23 That's not true. 50:25 I'm not making anybody feel guilty. 50:27 I'm not saying you're gonna be lost 50:28 if you don't come to house of prayer. 50:30 All I'm doing is telling you in the middle of every week 50:34 the doors to this church are open 50:37 and you can assemble yourself with others 50:42 who share your passion for the spirit of supplication. 50:46 I'd love to have you come. 50:50 That's it. 50:54 So here's the deal, I want to pray with you. 51:01 I want to kneel with you and in that kneeling 51:06 I want to some how get some words out here 51:09 out of my heart on your behalf to the throne of the temple 51:12 that is occupied right now. 51:15 I'm gonna talk direct, 51:17 directly I'll be in communication 51:21 to that temple room and here's what I'm gonna ask 51:23 and will tell you in advance, 51:24 I'm gonna ask that God would begin 51:28 to pour out a spirit of supplication 51:31 upon Pioneer Memorial Church, Andrews University 51:35 and our little tiny community here in South West Michigan. 51:39 I believe that the time is right for the pleading. 51:46 Let's kneel together. 51:48 By the way, when we are through kneeling 51:50 there will be words on the screen 51:51 and oh, I love this, old gospel hymn only stanza of it, 51:55 "Teach me Father, what to say, 51:57 teach me Father, how to pray." 51:58 It's a beautiful little prayer. 52:00 We'll sing that to conclude our service together. 52:10 Oh, God, so here we are sacred assembly 52:17 on our knees, You are on the throne 52:21 we are on our knees. 52:23 You're hearing our hearts right now, 52:25 not just one voice but all of these heart voices 52:30 ascending to You. 52:32 Dear Father, our prayer is a humble one, 52:35 it is a simple one. 52:37 Would You please pour out the spirit of pleading, 52:42 the spirit of asking, the spirit of supplication 52:48 upon us right here. 52:52 It maybe that little prayer group 52:54 that has been quietly meeting all these weeks 52:59 has been appointed by you 53:01 to become the front edge of a new prayer. 53:05 Keep them Father, praying it might be that young adult 53:10 whose been alone before You pouring our his heart, 53:12 pouring out her heart and saying God, change me. 53:16 Change my university, change my church, 53:19 change my world. 53:21 It may be she is praying that way already, 53:23 he is praying that way now because You raised him up 53:26 You said, I got to have somebody asking 53:28 on behalf of the whole. 53:30 Father, keep the prayers, only now multiply them. 53:34 That hundreds of prayers ascend not just today 53:37 because we looked in the Toys "R" Us catalogue 53:39 and oh, got to have it. 53:42 Create a new hunger for us, 53:44 a new hunger that will drive us back to our knees again 53:47 and again a relentless intensification of our faith 53:52 that will not let you go unless You bless me. 53:58 Just like Jacob I won't let You go 54:01 unless you bless me. 54:03 Grant us that intensification of our faith 54:08 now more than ever 54:14 and one day on the other side 54:19 tell us the story of how these humble prayers 54:26 were seized by the Holy Spirit 54:29 to bring on the grand finale of reaching this world 54:35 for Christ in one generation. 54:39 Oh, God, please do whatever it takes teach us 54:45 how to pray. 54:47 Let's sing that together. 55:03 Teach me, Father, what to say 55:10 Teach me, Father, how to pray 55:18 Teach me all along the way 55:26 How to be like Jesus 55:34 I would be like Jesus 55:43 I would be like Jesus! 55:51 Help me, Lord, to daily grow 56:00 More and more like Jesus! 56:11 Now to him who was able to keep you from falling 56:15 and to present you faultless before His throne 56:19 with great joy 56:21 to the only wise God our Savior be glory and honored 56:26 dominion and majesty both now 56:30 and forever more, amen. 56:36 It's been a pleasure to be able to worship with you today. 56:39 I hope that the Spirit of Jesus has blessed your time with us 56:42 right here in the Pioneer Memorial Church 56:44 on the campus of Andrews University. 56:46 Do you know that around the world 56:47 people join us every week for this hour of worship? 56:49 We're always looking as a consequence 56:51 for new ways to bridge somehow 56:53 to connect with these people 56:55 who come here to worship via the telecast. 56:58 One of the areas that is quickly growing for us 57:00 is our website. 57:01 We had more than a 140,000 visitors last year. 57:05 It's an incredible opportunity 57:07 that God has given us given us to expand His kingdom. 57:10 If you'd like to help partner with us 57:11 as we seek to spread the everlasting gospel 57:14 I would love to have you call our toll free number. 57:17 We've got very friendly operator standing 57:19 by here is the number 877-His-Will. 57:23 877 and then the two words His-Will, 57:25 one of the operators will be happy to give you 57:27 the details of how you can partner 57:29 with this global ministry. 57:31 If you prefer listen, you could do it all online 57:33 go to our website please www.pmchurch.tv. 57:38 I'd be honored to have the privilege 57:39 of partnering with you as we seek to spread 57:41 the truth about God for this generation. 57:43 We are living in urgent times, 57:47 now more than ever we've got to go to the world 57:50 with the good news entrusted to us. 57:52 So once again here is that toll free number 57:54 877-His-Will. 57:56 Thank you in advance for your generosity 57:59 that blesses me and you grow this ministry. 58:02 I pray that the Spirit of Christ 58:03 will abide with you every step of the way 58:06 and I hope you'll come back again next time right here 58:09 as we continue our worship journey together. |
Revised 2015-01-22