God of wonders beyond our galaxy
00:00:31.13\00:00:36.64
You are holy, holy
00:00:36.67\00:00:43.83
The universe
declares Your majesty
00:00:43.86\00:00:49.25
You are holy, holy
00:00:49.28\00:00:56.23
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
00:00:56.26\00:01:02.00
You are holy, holy
00:01:02.03\00:01:09.33
The universe
declares Your majesty
00:01:09.36\00:01:14.97
You are holy, holy
00:01:15.00\00:01:20.83
Lord of heaven and
earth Lord of heaven and earth
00:01:23.37\00:01:29.51
Lord of heaven and earth
00:01:29.54\00:01:34.84
From the highest of
heights to the depths of the sea
00:01:49.57\00:01:54.69
Creation's
revealing Your majesty
00:01:58.36\00:02:03.08
From the colors of fall
to the fragrance of spring
00:02:06.66\00:02:12.07
Every creature unique
in the song that it sings
00:02:14.99\00:02:21.17
All exclaiming
00:02:21.20\00:02:23.55
Indescribable, uncontainable
00:02:23.58\00:02:27.48
You placed the stars in the sky
00:02:27.51\00:02:30.38
And You know them by name.
00:02:30.41\00:02:34.06
You are amazing, God
00:02:34.09\00:02:40.95
All powerful, untamable,
00:02:40.98\00:02:44.87
Awestruck we fall to our
knees as we humbly proclaim
00:02:44.90\00:02:51.16
You are amazing, God
00:02:51.19\00:02:55.52
Who has told every lightning
bolt where it should go
00:03:02.18\00:03:07.18
Or seen heavenly
storehouses laden with snow
00:03:10.60\00:03:15.71
Who imagined the sun and
gives source to its light
00:03:19.06\00:03:24.45
Yet conceals it to
bring us the coolness of night
00:03:27.54\00:03:33.51
None can fathom
00:03:33.54\00:03:36.10
Indescribable, uncontainable
00:03:36.13\00:03:39.90
You placed the stars in the sky
00:03:39.93\00:03:42.66
And You know them by name
00:03:42.69\00:03:46.28
You are amazing, God
00:03:46.31\00:03:52.73
All powerful, untamable
00:03:52.76\00:03:56.48
Awestruck we fall to our
knees as we humbly proclaim
00:03:56.51\00:04:03.05
You are amazing, God
00:04:03.08\00:04:06.93
You are amazing, God
00:04:11.46\00:04:16.11
You are amazing, God
00:04:20.45\00:04:26.26
Sing with us I love You, Lord.
00:04:35.28\00:04:37.56
I love You, Lord
00:04:37.59\00:04:44.46
And I lift my voice
00:04:44.49\00:04:50.31
To worship You
00:04:52.87\00:05:00.05
O my soul, rejoice
00:05:00.08\00:05:07.92
Take joy, my King
00:05:09.03\00:05:13.61
In what You hear
00:05:16.19\00:05:23.95
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
00:05:23.98\00:05:31.37
In Your ear
00:05:32.11\00:05:37.37
I invite you to be seated
as we sing the second verse.
00:05:37.40\00:05:41.38
I love You, Lord
00:05:41.41\00:05:48.49
And I lift my voice
00:05:48.52\00:05:53.98
To worship You
00:05:56.88\00:06:03.56
O my soul, rejoice
00:06:03.59\00:06:10.79
Take joy, my King
00:06:12.84\00:06:20.08
In what You hear
00:06:20.11\00:06:25.67
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
00:06:28.10\00:06:35.70
In Your ear
00:06:37.66\00:06:41.84
Our Lord reigns, let
all the earth rejoice
00:06:58.85\00:07:02.81
Let the islands
of the sea be glad
00:07:02.84\00:07:04.73
Come people, lift their voice
00:07:04.76\00:07:07.01
Righteousness and
judgment shall remain
00:07:07.04\00:07:10.88
The heavens declare His
glory for our Lord reigns
00:07:10.91\00:07:15.38
Our Lord reigns, let
all the earth rejoice
00:07:15.41\00:07:19.33
Let the islands
of the sea be glad
00:07:19.36\00:07:21.29
Come people, lift their voice
00:07:21.32\00:07:23.70
Righteousness and
judgment shall remain
00:07:23.73\00:07:27.48
The heavens declare His
glory for our Lord reigns
00:07:27.51\00:07:32.61
A fire goes before Him
00:07:32.64\00:07:34.87
Burning unbelief
00:07:34.90\00:07:36.76
All idols fall before Him
00:07:36.79\00:07:38.84
Slain by heaven's heat
00:07:38.87\00:07:40.77
For you, O Lord, are worthy
00:07:40.80\00:07:42.82
Before you all shall bow
00:07:42.85\00:07:44.99
And worship you
forever as King of glory now
00:07:45.02\00:07:51.17
Our Lord reigns, let
all the earth rejoice
00:07:51.20\00:07:55.12
Let the islands
of the sea be glad
00:07:55.15\00:07:57.23
Come people, lift their voice
00:07:57.26\00:07:59.63
Righteousness and
judgment shall remain
00:07:59.66\00:08:03.38
The heavens declare His
glory for our Lord reigns
00:08:03.41\00:08:07.92
Our Lord reigns, let
all the earth rejoice
00:08:07.95\00:08:11.86
Let the islands
of the sea be glad
00:08:11.89\00:08:13.96
Come people, lift their voice
00:08:13.99\00:08:17.29
Righteousness and
judgment shall remain
00:08:17.32\00:08:20.11
The heavens declare His
glory for our Lord reigns
00:08:20.14\00:08:28.01
Our Lord reigns
00:08:30.70\00:08:35.92
Over the years that I've
had the privilege of pastoring
00:08:44.77\00:08:48.65
in this university parish
00:08:48.68\00:08:53.34
my heart has
sensed a growing burden
00:08:53.37\00:08:56.65
for revival at
Andrews University.
00:08:56.68\00:09:03.65
There is no question in my mind
00:09:03.68\00:09:05.87
that this
institution was raised up by God
00:09:05.90\00:09:11.20
for a legacy of leadership
00:09:11.23\00:09:13.13
for our global
community of faith.
00:09:13.16\00:09:20.92
As the years go by I wonder,
00:09:20.95\00:09:22.93
I wonder about
myself, I wonder about us.
00:09:22.96\00:09:29.89
Are we drifting
00:09:29.92\00:09:32.33
from our divine destiny?
00:09:32.36\00:09:37.89
Preoccupied with our financial
and institutional survival,
00:09:37.92\00:09:43.17
distracted by the
siren songs of a morally
00:09:46.23\00:09:51.91
fallen culture and society.
00:09:51.94\00:09:56.74
I just keep asking myself,
00:09:56.77\00:10:02.16
am I being lulled to sleep?
00:10:02.19\00:10:06.52
Are we being lulled
to sleep when in fact
00:10:06.55\00:10:10.02
the times are
calling for what could be,
00:10:10.05\00:10:14.62
what should be our finest hour.
00:10:14.65\00:10:21.87
As I search my own heart,
00:10:21.90\00:10:27.07
I've been
earnestly praying of late
00:10:27.10\00:10:28.65
that the spirit of God
00:10:28.68\00:10:33.22
would awaken within
me, would awaken within us
00:10:33.25\00:10:36.20
corporately this hunger for Him.
00:10:36.23\00:10:43.63
He would somehow
revive our flagging spirits,
00:10:43.66\00:10:48.95
restore our moral vision,
00:10:48.98\00:10:53.32
re-ignite our spiritual mission.
00:10:53.35\00:10:57.20
I know I'm not
alone in those prayers.
00:10:57.23\00:11:01.11
Our pastoral staff has been
00:11:01.14\00:11:02.44
on our knees
recently, earnestly praying.
00:11:02.47\00:11:06.48
I know there are men,
women and young adults
00:11:06.51\00:11:08.96
on this campus and
about this community
00:11:08.99\00:11:12.11
who also are praying.
00:11:12.14\00:11:15.10
Beginning of the school year
00:11:15.13\00:11:16.29
three young freshmen
men came into my office.
00:11:16.32\00:11:19.86
Their young hearts burdened
00:11:19.89\00:11:22.09
for the spiritual
revival of this institution.
00:11:22.12\00:11:26.87
After opening convocation
at Andrews University,
00:11:26.90\00:11:29.62
a graduate student came
into my office and he said,
00:11:29.65\00:11:32.83
"Pastor, what are we gonna do?
00:11:32.86\00:11:34.14
What is it going to take?"
00:11:34.17\00:11:40.63
It is in this context of
a deep seeking after God,
00:11:40.66\00:11:46.57
seeking for revival,
seeking for reformation
00:11:46.60\00:11:49.92
on this campus that this series,
00:11:49.95\00:11:52.00
"The Chosen" is being
shared, you and I together.
00:11:52.03\00:11:58.84
So that none might be lost,
00:11:58.87\00:12:00.24
so that all might sense
God's calling to the chosen.
00:12:00.27\00:12:04.22
And now in this series we come
00:12:04.25\00:12:06.85
to four communal realties
about life and its institution.
00:12:06.88\00:12:13.11
These presentations
are gonna be controversial,
00:12:15.92\00:12:18.93
I understand that.
00:12:18.96\00:12:20.96
But you asked the questions,
00:12:20.99\00:12:24.00
students, faculty, and
community members alike,
00:12:24.03\00:12:27.44
when we surveyed
this congregation
00:12:27.47\00:12:28.95
this last spring,
you raised the questions
00:12:28.98\00:12:32.51
and now we are going to
explore for the answers.
00:12:32.54\00:12:38.18
Four of them tucked inside
the series of "The Chosen."
00:12:38.21\00:12:42.65
And in the second service only,
00:12:42.68\00:12:45.38
we will end each presentation
as we will today with live Q&A.
00:12:45.41\00:12:52.91
Question number one,
00:12:52.94\00:12:54.04
what about the
spirit of prophecy
00:12:54.07\00:12:55.42
at Andrews University?
00:12:55.45\00:12:57.63
Today's presentation
"How to stone the prophet."
00:12:57.66\00:13:01.06
Question number two, what about
drinking and diet at Andrews?
00:13:01.09\00:13:05.36
Presentation "How to eat, drink,
00:13:05.39\00:13:07.00
and be merry
without getting stoned."
00:13:07.03\00:13:13.41
I'm glad you got it.
00:13:13.44\00:13:16.75
Question number three
what about dress and jewelry
00:13:16.78\00:13:20.63
at Andrews University?
00:13:20.66\00:13:23.08
How much of naked is acceptable?
00:13:23.11\00:13:26.46
And finally
question number four,
00:13:26.49\00:13:29.63
what about sex and
sexuality at Andrews?
00:13:29.66\00:13:32.19
How to live
without sex for a while?
00:13:32.22\00:13:35.16
I hope you'll join me
00:13:39.20\00:13:40.28
for all four of these
aspects of communal life
00:13:40.31\00:13:43.26
that I believe are part
and parcel of any reformation
00:13:43.29\00:13:47.19
and revival that
we are waiting for,
00:13:47.22\00:13:49.95
that we are praying
for at Andrews University.
00:13:49.98\00:13:53.63
Let's pray.
00:13:53.66\00:13:55.14
O God, hear our prayers
00:13:55.17\00:13:56.24
and revive our
soul as a university,
00:13:56.27\00:14:01.75
as a
congregation, as a denomination,
00:14:01.78\00:14:03.49
as a civilization.
00:14:03.52\00:14:07.10
May the glory the
living God illumine our minds,
00:14:07.13\00:14:10.97
may the spirit of the
living Christ possess our lives
00:14:11.00\00:14:14.53
as never before for
the honor of Your kingdom
00:14:14.56\00:14:17.38
and for the sake of Your glory.
00:14:17.41\00:14:20.69
We humbly pray in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:14:20.72\00:14:26.58
Why anybody in his
right mind would ever want
00:14:26.61\00:14:29.18
to be a leader is beyond me.
00:14:29.21\00:14:32.39
Huh?
00:14:32.42\00:14:33.90
I mean I pulled out a
piece of paper this last week,
00:14:33.93\00:14:36.14
and I decided to write
down all the leadership crises
00:14:36.17\00:14:39.28
that Moses went through,
00:14:39.31\00:14:42.52
leading that pack of
the children of Israel
00:14:42.55\00:14:45.68
across those hot
desert sands for 40 years.
00:14:45.71\00:14:48.72
I started writing them down.
00:14:48.75\00:14:49.93
When I got through, I
could not believe my eyes,
00:14:49.96\00:14:52.25
12 of them, 12 major
leadership crises that Moses,
00:14:52.28\00:14:59.97
12 showdowns in the desert
that Moses had to encounter.
00:15:00.00\00:15:02.57
Number one, before
they've even crossed
00:15:02.60\00:15:04.38
the Red Sea, they're out.
00:15:04.41\00:15:05.47
Ten supernatural
plagues have liberated
00:15:05.50\00:15:08.09
the children of Israel.
00:15:08.12\00:15:09.15
They're coming to the Red Sea.
00:15:09.18\00:15:10.22
The Egyptians are
behind and the people cry out,
00:15:10.25\00:15:13.71
"Were there not
enough graves in Egypt
00:15:13.74\00:15:15.86
that you had to bring us out
here that we might be buried?"
00:15:15.89\00:15:18.67
Leadership crisis number 1.
00:15:18.70\00:15:20.14
Crisis number 2,
after supernaturally
00:15:20.17\00:15:22.93
the Red Sea is parted, they
get on the other side, no food.
00:15:22.96\00:15:27.54
What is the-- If
only we could be back
00:15:27.57\00:15:30.06
by the flesh pots of Egypt.
00:15:30.09\00:15:32.12
God says, "All
right, I'll give you manna."
00:15:32.15\00:15:34.34
Crisis number 3,
they run out of water.
00:15:34.37\00:15:37.46
Now God has prepared the way
for them every step of the way.
00:15:37.49\00:15:40.55
But now again the crisis,
00:15:40.58\00:15:43.03
and this time they
threatened to stone Moses.
00:15:43.06\00:15:47.53
Crisis number 4, where is He?
00:15:47.56\00:15:51.28
40 days and we haven't
seen hide nor tail of Him.
00:15:51.31\00:15:54.90
Tell you what,
Aaron, give us a God,
00:15:54.93\00:15:56.09
give us something gold
00:15:56.12\00:15:57.19
and give us something to follow.
00:15:57.22\00:15:58.99
Crisis number 4, the meltdown
of the community of faith
00:15:59.02\00:16:02.60
after the Ten
Commandments have been verbally,
00:16:02.63\00:16:05.29
personally
spoken by God Himself.
00:16:05.32\00:16:07.61
Crisis number 5,
this is incredible.
00:16:07.64\00:16:13.29
This crisis number 5
of leadership got so bad.
00:16:13.32\00:16:17.30
You'll find it in Numbers 11,
Moses goes to God and he says,
00:16:17.33\00:16:20.14
"Kill me, kill
me, just kill me now.
00:16:20.17\00:16:22.05
Let's get it over with."
00:16:22.08\00:16:23.76
That's how bad it was.
00:16:23.79\00:16:24.82
Crisis number
6, crisis number 6,
00:16:24.85\00:16:29.05
ooh, they wanted meat.
00:16:29.08\00:16:31.63
We're tired of this
manna, give us meat.
00:16:31.66\00:16:34.52
Crisis number 7,
his own flesh and blood.
00:16:34.55\00:16:36.82
Crisis number 8,
this is the major,
00:16:36.85\00:16:39.35
major meltdown,
12 spies come back.
00:16:39.38\00:16:41.72
We can't do it, we can't go in.
00:16:41.75\00:16:44.34
They want to stone him again.
00:16:44.37\00:16:46.39
Crisis number 9, Korah, Dathan,
00:16:46.42\00:16:48.21
Abiram challenges
leadership, earth swallows them.
00:16:48.24\00:16:51.44
The very next day crisis
number 10, the people say,
00:16:51.47\00:16:53.72
"You, Moses, you
killed those guys."
00:16:53.75\00:16:56.82
Crisis number 11, the
reader himself melts down.
00:16:56.85\00:17:03.09
Cast a disrepute
upon the name of God
00:17:03.12\00:17:05.23
and forfeits the promised land.
00:17:05.26\00:17:07.89
Crisis number 12,
the people again no food,
00:17:07.92\00:17:11.96
no water and serpents
come into the community.
00:17:11.99\00:17:15.74
12 of them, 12
showdowns in the desert.
00:17:15.77\00:17:19.54
Why for the life of me
anybody would want to be
00:17:19.57\00:17:21.80
a spiritual leader is beyond me.
00:17:21.83\00:17:24.60
But you know what the answer is?
00:17:24.63\00:17:26.09
The answer is, ah,
00:17:26.12\00:17:27.20
because when you've been
called by God to be a prophet,
00:17:27.23\00:17:29.50
you have to be willing to pay
00:17:29.53\00:17:31.31
the price of
that divine calling.
00:17:31.34\00:17:33.14
Of course,
they're gonna reject you.
00:17:33.17\00:17:34.49
Of course,
they'll spit in your face.
00:17:34.52\00:17:36.09
But when you're
called, you're called.
00:17:36.12\00:17:38.92
You got to do
what you got to do.
00:17:38.95\00:17:41.01
Open your Bible with
me to crisis number 7,
00:17:41.04\00:17:43.27
crisis number 7, Numbers 12,
00:17:43.30\00:17:50.08
fourth book of the
Pentateuch, Numbers 12.
00:17:50.11\00:17:53.18
What's the page
number for those of you
00:17:53.21\00:17:54.53
that are grabbing a pew Bible,
00:17:54.56\00:17:55.59
'cause you got
to follow the story.
00:17:55.62\00:17:56.65
We're gonna stick to this story,
00:17:56.68\00:17:57.89
Number 12, it will be
page 102 in your pew Bible,
00:17:57.92\00:18:02.31
same translation
that I'll be reading here,
00:18:02.34\00:18:04.28
the New King James version.
00:18:04.31\00:18:05.49
Take a look at this
story, crisis number 7.
00:18:05.52\00:18:10.68
Numbers 12:1 "Then Miriam
and Aaron spoke against Moses
00:18:10.71\00:18:15.95
because of the Ethiopian
woman whom he had married;
00:18:15.98\00:18:19.75
for he had married
an Ethiopian woman."
00:18:19.78\00:18:23.05
From the Hebrew it is clear
00:18:23.08\00:18:24.49
that Miriam is the
instigator of this crisis.
00:18:24.52\00:18:26.89
She is listed first and the verb
00:18:26.92\00:18:28.86
is both feminine and singular.
00:18:28.89\00:18:31.12
Both older
brother and older sister,
00:18:31.15\00:18:32.79
Moses' older brother
and sister, are involved,
00:18:32.82\00:18:34.63
but Miriam leads the way.
00:18:34.66\00:18:36.45
Moses' wife Zipporah,
let me just remind you
00:18:36.48\00:18:39.61
is the daughter of
Jethro the Midianite.
00:18:39.64\00:18:41.88
They are direct
descendants of father Abraham,
00:18:41.91\00:18:45.06
but apparently her skin is
darker than the Hebrew skin.
00:18:45.09\00:18:51.85
And so she's referred to here
as a Cushite or an Ethiopian.
00:18:51.88\00:18:55.72
Miriam uses that little--
that little visible difference
00:18:55.75\00:18:59.71
as a pretext for her jealousy
for her kid brother's high
00:18:59.74\00:19:05.97
and uplifted row of leadership.
00:19:06.00\00:19:09.30
Obviously Miriam
is jealous of Moses.
00:19:09.33\00:19:11.25
Verse 2, "So they," that
would be Aaron and Miriam,
00:19:11.28\00:19:15.22
"And so they said,
00:19:15.25\00:19:16.79
'Has the Lord indeed
spoken only through Moses?
00:19:16.82\00:19:20.60
Has He not
spoken through us also?'
00:19:20.63\00:19:22.79
And the Lord heard it."
00:19:22.82\00:19:24.52
Aren't we pretty important, too?
00:19:24.55\00:19:28.28
Huh?
00:19:28.31\00:19:30.06
And the Lord heard it.
00:19:30.09\00:19:31.30
I want you to
catch that last line.
00:19:31.33\00:19:32.75
And the Lord heard it
00:19:32.78\00:19:34.60
because private
criticism of a leader
00:19:34.63\00:19:36.82
is very public to God.
00:19:36.85\00:19:41.78
You may have thought
00:19:41.81\00:19:42.91
that your backroom conversations
00:19:42.94\00:19:44.20
and private emails against
00:19:44.23\00:19:45.41
that leader were
hidden from ear and eye,
00:19:45.44\00:19:48.31
but there is the
watcher of Israel
00:19:48.34\00:19:50.26
for whom such
criticism is very public indeed.
00:19:50.29\00:19:55.96
I have chosen in my
brief sojourn on this earth
00:19:55.99\00:19:59.95
to abide by David's
policy with King Saul.
00:19:59.98\00:20:02.45
Rotten, fallen
king, but David said,
00:20:02.48\00:20:05.11
"I will not put forth my hand
against the Lord's anointed."
00:20:05.14\00:20:10.56
So backroom scuttlebutt
00:20:13.80\00:20:15.58
and underground
campaigns against any leader,
00:20:15.61\00:20:17.95
I will not participate
in such duplicitous action.
00:20:17.98\00:20:21.67
And I encourage
you to do the same.
00:20:21.70\00:20:26.62
Verse 3, now-- Oh, by the way,
00:20:26.65\00:20:30.16
verse 3 says, oh, by the way,
00:20:30.19\00:20:32.57
"Now the man Moses was
very humble, more than all men
00:20:32.60\00:20:37.14
who were on the
face of the earth."
00:20:37.17\00:20:39.86
Let me remind you that
Moses was not naturally humble,
00:20:39.89\00:20:41.97
he was not naturally meek,
00:20:42.00\00:20:43.30
as his murder of
the Egyptian task master
00:20:43.33\00:20:45.24
40 years earlier
certainly proves.
00:20:45.27\00:20:47.18
It took 40 long years
in the wilderness for God
00:20:47.21\00:20:50.73
to instill in this future leader
00:20:50.76\00:20:52.87
the critical virtue
of humility and meekness.
00:20:52.90\00:20:56.30
You can't lead without it.
00:20:56.33\00:20:57.96
Oh, you can throw your
weight around without it,
00:20:57.99\00:21:00.72
but nobody will
really follow you in the end.
00:21:00.75\00:21:03.61
It's only a meekman,
00:21:03.64\00:21:04.67
it's only a meek
woman that we will follow.
00:21:04.70\00:21:08.28
One commentator put it this way,
00:21:08.31\00:21:10.33
"Only a meek or humble man knows
00:21:10.36\00:21:12.14
how to be submissive to
God and to his subordinates
00:21:12.17\00:21:14.58
and at the same time to be
00:21:14.61\00:21:15.73
a courageous
and dynamic leader."
00:21:15.76\00:21:18.98
" All right, and now
comes God's woodshed.
00:21:19.01\00:21:20.72
You ready for this?
00:21:20.75\00:21:21.83
They're going to the woodshed.
00:21:21.86\00:21:23.38
Verse 4, "Suddenly,"
00:21:23.41\00:21:27.20
I wouldn't want
to have been there,
00:21:27.23\00:21:28.31
I wouldn't want
to have been there,
00:21:28.34\00:21:29.85
"Suddenly the
Lord said to Moses,
00:21:29.88\00:21:33.03
Aaron, and Miriam,
00:21:33.06\00:21:35.66
'Come out, you three, to
the tabernacle of meeting!'
00:21:35.69\00:21:39.74
So the three came out."
00:21:39.77\00:21:42.97
Verse 5, "Then the Lord
came down in the pillar of cloud
00:21:43.00\00:21:47.15
and stood in the
door of the tabernacle,
00:21:47.18\00:21:48.84
and called Aaron and Miriam."
00:21:48.87\00:21:50.18
You two, you come forward.
00:21:50.21\00:21:52.37
"And they both went forward."
00:21:52.40\00:21:54.20
And then verse 6, "He
said, 'Hear now My words:
00:21:54.23\00:21:58.62
If there is a prophet among you,
00:21:58.65\00:22:00.38
I, the Lord, make Myself
known to him in a vision;
00:22:00.41\00:22:04.17
I speak to him in a dream.'"
00:22:04.20\00:22:06.60
Let me just tell you
00:22:06.63\00:22:07.66
something Miriam and Aaron
about spiritual leadership.
00:22:07.69\00:22:10.06
The pre-incarnate
Christ is speaking.
00:22:10.09\00:22:12.16
By the way 1
Corinthians 10 is clear.
00:22:12.19\00:22:13.73
This is the pre-incarnate
Jesus Himself speaking.
00:22:13.76\00:22:16.89
Let me just tell
you, tell you something,
00:22:16.92\00:22:18.77
you do not call
yourself to be a prophet.
00:22:18.80\00:22:21.07
I do the calling.
00:22:21.10\00:22:22.37
It may be through a dream,
it may be through a vision,
00:22:22.40\00:22:24.53
but it will
only come through Me.
00:22:24.56\00:22:27.88
Ladies and gentlemen,
that point is so critical,
00:22:27.91\00:22:29.38
I wish you'd scribble it down
right now in the study guide
00:22:29.41\00:22:32.90
that you have in
your worship bulletin.
00:22:32.93\00:22:34.63
Will you pull your study
guide out please right now?
00:22:34.66\00:22:37.12
Jot that point down.
00:22:37.15\00:22:39.24
Ushers, thank you for
going through one more time
00:22:39.27\00:22:41.77
because people
may not have known
00:22:41.80\00:22:42.83
what you were going
through a moment ago for.
00:22:42.86\00:22:44.63
Hold your hand up.
00:22:44.66\00:22:45.69
This is a study guide
00:22:45.72\00:22:46.76
you're gonna want to
ruminate on long past this day.
00:22:46.79\00:22:49.64
Hold your hand up.
00:22:49.67\00:22:50.74
I see hands all
the way to the back.
00:22:50.77\00:22:52.11
Thank you, ushers.
00:22:52.14\00:22:53.21
Make sure that
everybody gets a study guide.
00:22:53.24\00:22:55.49
And those of you
watching on television
00:22:55.52\00:22:57.34
let me put our
website on the screen for you.
00:22:57.37\00:22:59.00
And you can go to that
website and get the study guide.
00:22:59.03\00:23:01.11
There it is on the
screen, www.pmchurch.tv,
00:23:01.14\00:23:04.26
go to that website.
00:23:04.29\00:23:05.32
You're looking for the series
00:23:05.35\00:23:06.38
that we're in the
midst of called "The Chosen."
00:23:06.41\00:23:09.06
Title of this teaching today,
"How to stone the prophet."
00:23:09.09\00:23:11.78
When you click,
click and you get that,
00:23:11.81\00:23:13.34
it says study
guide, you click there,
00:23:13.37\00:23:15.29
you will have the
identical study guide.
00:23:15.32\00:23:18.99
And you can fill it in with us.
00:23:19.02\00:23:20.87
Ushers, thank you,
come right back through.
00:23:20.90\00:23:22.49
Yep, all the way in the balcony.
00:23:22.52\00:23:23.86
Thank you, keep your hand up,
00:23:23.89\00:23:24.95
you will want to have
this particular study guide
00:23:24.98\00:23:28.21
I do believe.
00:23:28.24\00:23:29.83
All right, let's fill
it out, right at the top.
00:23:29.86\00:23:31.97
Here's the critical point.
00:23:32.00\00:23:33.05
You don't call
yourself to be a prophet,
00:23:33.08\00:23:35.42
God does the calling.
00:23:35.45\00:23:37.01
And I'm gonna insert
here, and not the church.
00:23:37.04\00:23:40.67
The community of faith does not
call anybody to be a prophet.
00:23:40.70\00:23:43.24
God does the calling.
00:23:43.27\00:23:44.44
You don't call
yourself, God does the calling.
00:23:44.47\00:23:46.59
Keep your pen moving.
00:23:46.62\00:23:47.77
In Numbers 12:6 it says
if Jesus Christ were saying,
00:23:47.80\00:23:50.58
"It may be through a dream,
it may be through a vision,
00:23:50.61\00:23:53.01
but it will only be through Me."
00:23:53.04\00:23:55.66
Only Christ calls to that
00:23:55.69\00:24:00.23
role of spiritual
leadership to being a prophet.
00:24:00.26\00:24:02.23
Which by the way, was
precisely Peters point
00:24:02.26\00:24:03.95
and in his mighty
day of Pentecost servant.
00:24:03.98\00:24:06.33
Keep your pen moving,
Acts 2 which is quoting Joel 2.
00:24:06.36\00:24:10.02
Acts 2, please
note, Peter preaching,
00:24:10.05\00:24:12.25
"And it shall come to past
in the Last days, says God,
00:24:12.28\00:24:15.74
that I" Now this
word's coming from that
00:24:15.77\00:24:18.46
"I will pour out My
Spirit on all flesh,
00:24:18.49\00:24:20.91
and your sons
and your daughters"
00:24:20.94\00:24:23.22
women too can
receive the gift of prophecy,
00:24:23.25\00:24:26.19
please note that,
00:24:26.22\00:24:27.27
"your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy
00:24:27.30\00:24:30.27
and your young
men shall see visions,
00:24:30.30\00:24:31.83
your old men shall dream dreams.
00:24:31.86\00:24:33.76
And on My menservants
also on My maidservants
00:24:33.79\00:24:36.70
I will pour out My
Spirit in those days."
00:24:36.73\00:24:39.74
Write it down, it is
God how calls men and women
00:24:39.77\00:24:43.17
to the prophetic
office, let us be clear.
00:24:43.20\00:24:45.90
God is the one
who does the calling,
00:24:45.93\00:24:47.57
not the church, not you, not me,
00:24:47.60\00:24:49.01
not nobody but God himself.
00:24:49.04\00:24:51.56
All right, read
it again verse 6,
00:24:51.59\00:24:54.59
"Then God said,
"Hear now My words,
00:24:54.62\00:24:57.12
if there is a prophet among you,
00:24:57.15\00:24:58.37
I, the Lord, make Myself
known to him in a vision,
00:24:58.40\00:25:00.81
I speak to him in a dream."
00:25:00.84\00:25:02.05
Verse 7, "Not so
with My servant Moses,
00:25:02.08\00:25:05.41
he is faithful in all My house.
00:25:05.44\00:25:07.36
I speak with him face
to face, even plainly,
00:25:07.39\00:25:10.00
and not in dark sayings,
00:25:10.03\00:25:11.31
And he sees the
form of the Lord.
00:25:11.34\00:25:13.72
Why then were you
not afraid to speak
00:25:13.75\00:25:16.08
against My servant Moses?"
00:25:16.11\00:25:19.22
Whoa, did you
catch that write it down,
00:25:19.25\00:25:20.96
God calls His
prophet "My servant."
00:25:20.99\00:25:25.80
He did that of
Abraham. He did of Job.
00:25:25.83\00:25:27.49
He does it of Moses,
00:25:27.52\00:25:28.78
in other words
keep your pen moving,
00:25:28.81\00:25:30.20
a prophet is under
the personal employ
00:25:30.23\00:25:33.65
of the Almighty God.
00:25:33.68\00:25:35.62
Nobody else may understand
00:25:35.65\00:25:37.24
and everybody
else may criticize,
00:25:37.27\00:25:39.67
but the prophet answers
directly to God himself.
00:25:39.70\00:25:42.89
In fact, jot this
down, Numbers 12:8
00:25:42.92\00:25:46.27
in the Hebrew reads literally,
00:25:46.30\00:25:47.86
"I speak with
him, mouth to mouth."
00:25:47.89\00:25:50.99
I know the Bible
says face the face
00:25:51.02\00:25:52.99
but the Hebrew is
literally mouth to mouth.
00:25:53.02\00:25:56.65
Keep writing, in
other words, for a prophet,
00:25:56.68\00:25:58.88
God communicates
"mouth to mouth,"
00:25:58.91\00:26:00.86
whereas for you and me he
communes "heart to heart."
00:26:00.89\00:26:05.43
You see, a prophet
experiences through a vision,
00:26:05.46\00:26:08.20
through a dream, through
some internal expression.
00:26:08.23\00:26:11.85
The prophet experiences direct
00:26:11.88\00:26:13.71
and specific
communication from God.
00:26:13.74\00:26:16.48
And you say, hey,
but pastor, I do too.
00:26:16.51\00:26:18.79
I get impressions from
God. Yep, you're right.
00:26:18.82\00:26:20.54
You and I do.
00:26:20.57\00:26:21.60
God may impress us, hey,
00:26:21.63\00:26:22.89
I'm just getting
ready to pick that up
00:26:22.92\00:26:24.21
but it belongs to my neighbor
and the spirit says hey,
00:26:24.24\00:26:26.90
that belongs to somebody else.
00:26:26.93\00:26:27.99
Don't you dare take it.
00:26:28.02\00:26:29.39
I get impressions
from God and so do you,
00:26:29.42\00:26:31.27
but the
difference between you and me
00:26:31.30\00:26:32.57
and a prophet is God
comes along to the prophet
00:26:32.60\00:26:34.63
and the prophet says,
00:26:34.66\00:26:35.75
I not only know
what you were going to do
00:26:35.78\00:26:37.70
I know what you took
and I know what you took.
00:26:37.73\00:26:42.02
So that when
Ananias and Sapphira
00:26:42.05\00:26:44.37
are standing in front of Peter.
00:26:44.40\00:26:46.66
He says, hey,
guys, this is wonderful.
00:26:46.69\00:26:48.53
What a wonderful,
generous gift to the church,
00:26:48.56\00:26:52.32
is this everything?
00:26:52.35\00:26:53.46
Oh, yes, it is.
Is this everything?
00:26:53.49\00:26:55.60
Oh, but of course it is.
00:26:55.63\00:26:56.91
You're giving everything to God?
00:26:56.94\00:26:58.30
But of course we have.
00:26:58.33\00:26:59.98
Peter than looks
into their faces,
00:27:00.01\00:27:01.42
how long will you
lie to the Holy Spirit?
00:27:01.45\00:27:05.40
The feet of the men
that just buried your husband
00:27:05.43\00:27:08.16
are at the doors of Sapphira
00:27:08.19\00:27:09.67
and they're gonna bury
you now, boom, she goes down.
00:27:09.70\00:27:13.42
I don't have that gift.
00:27:13.45\00:27:15.71
I'd like to have it
when I drive to traffic
00:27:15.74\00:27:17.09
in Barrin Springs
00:27:17.12\00:27:18.25
but I do not have that
gift and neither do you.
00:27:18.28\00:27:22.30
Well, because we--
00:27:22.33\00:27:23.61
this is a heart
to heart community
00:27:23.64\00:27:24.77
with the Holy Spirit.
00:27:24.80\00:27:25.83
It's "mouth to mouth"
00:27:25.86\00:27:27.83
direct communication.
00:27:27.86\00:27:31.76
Moses in his farewell address,
the book of Deuteronomy,
00:27:34.26\00:27:37.15
which happens to be our
theme book for this series.
00:27:37.18\00:27:40.00
Go back to-- keep
your finger right here
00:27:40.03\00:27:41.38
'cause we got to
finish the story.
00:27:41.41\00:27:42.87
But in Deuteronomy 18,
00:27:42.90\00:27:44.54
I wish you'd
take a look at this,
00:27:44.57\00:27:46.09
just go over one more book.
00:27:46.12\00:27:48.07
Deuteronomy 18
what's the page number
00:27:48.10\00:27:50.51
in the pew Bible, page 136.
00:27:50.54\00:27:53.80
All right, Deuteronomy
18, drop down to verse 15.
00:27:53.83\00:27:57.81
Moses in our theme book,
00:27:57.84\00:28:00.02
makes some very
significant observations
00:28:00.05\00:28:03.03
about those who are
called to be a prophet.
00:28:03.06\00:28:04.83
Take a look at this,
drop down to verse 15,
00:28:04.86\00:28:06.86
Deuteronomy 18,
00:28:06.89\00:28:08.21
"The Lord your God
00:28:08.24\00:28:09.51
will raise up for you a Prophet"
00:28:09.54\00:28:11.64
now in my translation
that prophet is a capital P
00:28:11.67\00:28:14.73
"a Prophet like
me from your midst,
00:28:14.76\00:28:17.09
from your brothers.
00:28:17.12\00:28:18.26
Him you shall hear,"
00:28:18.29\00:28:19.55
and in the New
Testament it is clear
00:28:19.58\00:28:21.14
that people knew this
statement in Deuteronomy
00:28:21.17\00:28:23.80
and believe that
the Messiah himself
00:28:23.83\00:28:25.43
would be the capital
P, the ultimate prophet.
00:28:25.46\00:28:29.32
And so they said,
where-- is this the prophet,
00:28:29.35\00:28:31.72
John 6, is this the prophet?
00:28:31.75\00:28:33.97
Moses says, "Gods gonna do it."
00:28:34.00\00:28:35.33
Now drop down to verse
18, God is now speaking,
00:28:35.36\00:28:37.56
Moses is quoting God,
00:28:37.59\00:28:38.90
"I will raise up for
them a Prophet like you,
00:28:38.93\00:28:41.53
Moses, from
among their brethren,
00:28:41.56\00:28:43.76
and will put My
words in His mouth,
00:28:43.79\00:28:45.50
and He shall speak to
them all that I command Him."
00:28:45.53\00:28:47.59
Verse 19 "And it shall be that
whoever will not hear My words,
00:28:47.62\00:28:51.93
which He speaks in My name,"
00:28:51.96\00:28:53.14
please notice, it's very direct.
00:28:53.17\00:28:54.62
What he saying is
for me, directly for me.
00:28:54.65\00:28:57.19
"Whoever will not hear My words,
00:28:57.22\00:28:58.97
which He speaks in My name,
00:28:59.00\00:29:00.11
I will require it of him..."
00:29:00.14\00:29:01.66
Verse 20, "But the prophet
00:29:01.69\00:29:02.97
who presumes to
speak a word in My name,
00:29:03.00\00:29:05.46
which I have not
commanded him to speak,
00:29:05.49\00:29:08.08
or who speaks in
the name of other gods,
00:29:08.11\00:29:09.92
that prophet shall die."
00:29:09.95\00:29:12.46
Verse 21, "And if
you say in your heart,"
00:29:12.49\00:29:14.42
hey, how am I gonna know
00:29:14.45\00:29:15.60
whether this word is
from the Lord or not?
00:29:15.63\00:29:17.50
Here's Moses responds verse 22,
00:29:17.53\00:29:20.12
"When a prophet speaks
in the name of the Lord,
00:29:20.15\00:29:22.61
if the thing does not
happen or come to pass,
00:29:22.64\00:29:25.21
that is the thing which
the Lord has not spoken;
00:29:25.24\00:29:27.35
the prophet has
spoken it presumptuously,
00:29:27.38\00:29:29.58
you shall not be afraid of him."
00:29:29.61\00:29:32.11
i.e., write the
point down please,
00:29:32.14\00:29:33.76
Moses' point is crystal clear--
00:29:33.79\00:29:36.20
God communicates directly
to and through his prophets.
00:29:36.23\00:29:41.39
To and through,
couldn't be more clear could he?
00:29:41.42\00:29:46.23
His very thoughts,
00:29:46.26\00:29:47.88
His very words communicated
through to the prophet.
00:29:47.91\00:29:51.73
Now there's one other statement,
00:29:51.76\00:29:52.85
just turn a few
pages back to chapter 13.
00:29:52.88\00:29:54.93
One other critical
piece we got to put in here
00:29:54.96\00:29:56.95
and then we'll wrap the story.
00:29:56.98\00:29:59.38
three verses here,
00:29:59.41\00:30:02.67
take a look at this.
00:30:02.70\00:30:03.77
So Moses is talking
about prophets again.
00:30:03.80\00:30:06.34
A bit earlier, verse 1
of chapter 13 Deuteronomy,
00:30:06.37\00:30:09.67
"If there arises
among you a prophet
00:30:09.70\00:30:12.58
or a dreamer of dreams,
00:30:12.61\00:30:15.31
and he gives you
a sign or a wonder,
00:30:15.34\00:30:18.04
and the sign or the
wonder comes to pass,"
00:30:18.07\00:30:20.07
he makes a
supernatural prediction
00:30:20.10\00:30:22.08
and it comes to pass,
00:30:22.11\00:30:24.41
"of which he spoke to
you, and then he says,
00:30:24.44\00:30:27.15
'Let us go after other
gods' which you have not known
00:30:27.18\00:30:30.39
'and let us serve them,"
here's the point verse 3,
00:30:30.42\00:30:32.59
"you shall not listen to
the words of that prophet
00:30:32.62\00:30:35.27
or that dreamer of dreams,
00:30:35.30\00:30:36.62
for the Lord your
God is testing you
00:30:36.65\00:30:38.31
to know whether you
love the Lord your God
00:30:38.34\00:30:40.13
with all your heart
and with all your soul."
00:30:40.16\00:30:44.51
Ladies and gentlemen, in
the Christian community today,
00:30:44.54\00:30:46.14
this is a no brainer.
00:30:46.17\00:30:47.20
There are men and women
00:30:47.23\00:30:48.29
who are claiming to be prophets.
00:30:48.32\00:30:50.00
If you watch your
religious television
00:30:50.03\00:30:51.48
you will see them on television.
00:30:51.51\00:30:52.91
You this-- you
read the tabloids,
00:30:52.94\00:30:54.57
you'll read them
even in national news
00:30:54.60\00:30:56.74
once in a while,
00:30:56.77\00:30:57.85
you'll run into
somebody that says,
00:30:57.88\00:30:59.12
I am a prophet of the Lord.
00:30:59.15\00:31:01.53
Moses is clear here,
00:31:01.56\00:31:02.66
and I need you to jot this down.
00:31:02.69\00:31:04.13
If a prophet
displays supernatural powers
00:31:04.16\00:31:07.15
but teaches contrary,
write in the word "contrary."
00:31:07.18\00:31:10.40
Teaches contrary
to the word of God,
00:31:10.43\00:31:14.01
we are to reject
that prophet as false.
00:31:14.04\00:31:18.63
By the way,
prophets are not to be judged
00:31:18.66\00:31:20.43
by predictions at all.
00:31:20.46\00:31:23.64
Do you know that
Moses and John the Baptist,
00:31:23.67\00:31:25.14
the two greatest prophets
00:31:25.17\00:31:26.26
in the entire
corpus of sacred history.
00:31:26.29\00:31:28.51
Neither one made a prediction,
00:31:28.54\00:31:30.78
so it isn't a prediction
that makes you a prophet.
00:31:30.81\00:31:33.94
Prophets are not to
be judgeed by prediction,
00:31:33.97\00:31:35.53
they ought to be
judge by faithfulness.
00:31:35.56\00:31:38.05
Faithfulness to the word of God.
00:31:38.08\00:31:40.80
Oh, and by the way,
speaking of the word of God.
00:31:40.83\00:31:42.92
You don't have to write
a book in the word of God
00:31:42.95\00:31:45.02
to be a great prophet.
00:31:45.05\00:31:46.08
In fact, Jesus said,
of John the baptize--
00:31:46.11\00:31:48.28
John the
Baptist to the baptizer,
00:31:48.31\00:31:50.33
this is the greatest
prophet who has ever lived--
00:31:50.36\00:31:53.70
and he never wrote a book
that made it into the Canaan.
00:31:53.73\00:31:57.57
You don't have to write a book
in the Bible to be a prophet.
00:31:57.60\00:32:02.93
But the point is faithfulness,
00:32:02.96\00:32:04.59
faithfulness to the word of God.
00:32:04.62\00:32:07.81
How does the
story end? Very quickly.
00:32:07.84\00:32:10.51
Take a look at the end.
00:32:10.54\00:32:12.31
Go back to where you
were holding your finger,
00:32:12.34\00:32:14.39
go back to at
verse 9 of Numbers 12.
00:32:14.42\00:32:17.29
So God makes this,
makes this statement about
00:32:17.32\00:32:19.49
being a prophet then verse 9,
00:32:19.52\00:32:20.83
"So the anger of the
Lord was aroused against them,
00:32:20.86\00:32:24.66
and He departed."
00:32:24.69\00:32:25.75
Verse 10, "And
when the cloud departed
00:32:25.78\00:32:27.75
from above the tabernacle,
00:32:27.78\00:32:29.63
suddenly Miriam became leprous,
00:32:29.66\00:32:32.48
as white as snow.
00:32:32.51\00:32:33.79
Then Aaron turned toward Miriam,
00:32:33.82\00:32:35.75
and there she was, a leper."
00:32:35.78\00:32:39.87
Jot it down, write it down.
00:32:39.90\00:32:42.31
Miriam's fundamental
error was disrespect for
00:32:42.34\00:32:46.28
and rebellion against
00:32:46.31\00:32:48.24
God's lawfully constituted
authority in his prophet.
00:32:48.27\00:32:53.79
That was the issue,
00:32:53.82\00:32:56.05
she rejected the
prophets authority for her life.
00:32:56.08\00:33:01.22
And oh, my,
Aaron suddenly gets it
00:33:01.25\00:33:04.66
and he gets it fast.
00:33:04.69\00:33:05.72
Verse 11 and so
Aaron said to Moses,
00:33:05.75\00:33:07.64
by the way
remember these are two.
00:33:07.67\00:33:09.49
This is Moses' older brother
00:33:09.52\00:33:11.27
and Miriam is older
is his oldest sister.
00:33:11.30\00:33:12.43
These are the two they said,
00:33:12.46\00:33:13.50
hey, come on, can't we
lead just like our kid brother?
00:33:13.53\00:33:16.51
But now notice the
reformation in Aaron's heart
00:33:16.54\00:33:19.48
when he comes to
Moses in verse 11
00:33:19.51\00:33:21.32
and he says to Moses.
00:33:21.35\00:33:22.91
Oh, my Lord, he's talking
about his kid brother here,
00:33:22.94\00:33:26.72
"Oh, my lord."
00:33:26.75\00:33:29.68
You got the point,
00:33:29.71\00:33:31.48
"Oh, my lord! Please
do not lay this sin on us,
00:33:31.51\00:33:34.12
in which we have done foolishly
and in which we have sinned."
00:33:34.15\00:33:38.18
Would you please note
it as you write it down.
00:33:38.21\00:33:40.59
It is both foolish and a sin
to reject the prophet of God.
00:33:40.62\00:33:48.07
Write it down,
we've done foolishly.
00:33:48.10\00:33:50.45
We have sinned,
00:33:50.48\00:33:52.44
which is why Gods
query bears repeating
00:33:52.47\00:33:54.89
again there in
verse 8, jot it down.
00:33:54.92\00:33:56.81
"Why then were you
not afraid to speak
00:33:56.84\00:34:00.60
against my servant?"
00:34:00.63\00:34:06.30
Well, Moses cries out
to God on behalf of his
00:34:06.33\00:34:08.99
older sister
Miriam and in seven day,
00:34:09.02\00:34:11.01
she was healed of her
leprosy, hallelujah, the end.
00:34:11.04\00:34:17.01
Story number two,
00:34:17.04\00:34:19.12
story number two
once upon a time,
00:34:19.15\00:34:22.60
there was a
second great movement
00:34:22.63\00:34:24.22
just like the children of Israel
00:34:24.25\00:34:25.94
that was raised up by God
00:34:25.97\00:34:27.71
to lead his people
into the promise land.
00:34:27.74\00:34:31.60
They too were the chosen,
00:34:31.63\00:34:33.68
not for there significance
00:34:33.71\00:34:35.10
they were the
most in significant
00:34:35.13\00:34:36.49
of all religious body.
00:34:36.52\00:34:37.87
They were chosen
by God for this sake
00:34:37.90\00:34:40.74
of his passionate mission
00:34:40.77\00:34:42.33
to save a final
generation on earth
00:34:42.36\00:34:44.50
and lead it back
to him and His truth.
00:34:44.53\00:34:48.49
And because
they were the chosen,
00:34:48.52\00:34:50.36
they too were sent a prophet,
00:34:50.39\00:34:55.49
who did not call
herself a prophet
00:34:55.52\00:34:58.32
for her divine mission entailed
much more than a prophet.
00:34:58.35\00:35:01.12
Who instead referred to herself
as the messenger of the Lord.
00:35:01.15\00:35:07.66
Can you get there from here?
00:35:07.69\00:35:08.80
Can you build a biblical case
00:35:08.83\00:35:11.82
for that prophetic
gift today, absolutely.
00:35:11.85\00:35:15.29
Keep that pen moving, let's go.
00:35:15.32\00:35:16.71
We're not gonna not
gonna look these verses up.
00:35:16.74\00:35:17.81
They're all there
their in your study guide.
00:35:17.84\00:35:18.94
Amos 3 we'll put it
on the screen for you,
00:35:18.97\00:35:20.60
Amos 3:7 "Surely
the Lord does nothing,"
00:35:20.63\00:35:23.53
write it in "Surely
the Lord does nothing,
00:35:23.56\00:35:25.90
unless He reveals His secret
to His servants, the prophets"
00:35:25.93\00:35:30.10
" keep your pen moving,
00:35:30.13\00:35:31.17
"in every major
epoch of sacred history,"
00:35:31.20\00:35:36.29
help me check this out
00:35:36.32\00:35:37.36
"in every major
epoch of sacred history,
00:35:37.39\00:35:39.51
God has raised up a
prophet to prepare his people
00:35:39.54\00:35:42.68
for what is impending."
00:35:42.71\00:35:44.95
Write in the word impending.
00:35:44.98\00:35:46.34
Now I need you to help me
here, so something's coming.
00:35:46.37\00:35:48.67
When the flood was
coming, who did God raise up?
00:35:48.70\00:35:51.53
Whom did God raise up?
00:35:51.56\00:35:53.45
No one, when God was
gonna raise up a chosen people.
00:35:53.48\00:35:56.51
Who was the father of
Israel? Whom that God raise up?
00:35:56.54\00:35:59.23
Father Abraham,
he was a prophet.
00:35:59.26\00:36:00.89
When them exodus
came, whom did God raise up?
00:36:00.92\00:36:03.08
Moses.
00:36:03.11\00:36:04.86
When the
monarchy came to Israel,
00:36:04.89\00:36:07.30
whom did God raise up?
00:36:07.33\00:36:08.79
Samuel, when the
exile came for that kingdom,
00:36:08.82\00:36:12.47
both kingdoms,
whom did God raise up?
00:36:12.50\00:36:14.86
A handful of them,
Jeremiah, Isaiah and on and on.
00:36:14.89\00:36:19.05
When the Messiah was
coming the first time,
00:36:19.08\00:36:21.03
whom did God raise up?
00:36:21.06\00:36:22.83
John the baptizer.
00:36:22.86\00:36:24.35
When the gospel was
to go to the Gentiles
00:36:24.38\00:36:27.36
and all the world
whom did God raise up?
00:36:27.39\00:36:29.75
Paul.
00:36:29.78\00:36:31.10
When the messiah is
coming the second time
00:36:31.13\00:36:34.12
whom will God raise up?
00:36:34.15\00:36:36.32
Question?
00:36:36.35\00:36:37.58
Would it not be
logical to conclude
00:36:37.61\00:36:41.20
that even as he as has raised up
00:36:41.23\00:36:43.15
the prophetic gift over
and over and over again.
00:36:43.18\00:36:46.29
The most glorious of
that in human history.
00:36:46.32\00:36:49.40
Would he leave
it? Would he leave it?
00:36:49.43\00:36:52.72
Without that
prophetic gift manifested
00:36:52.75\00:36:55.09
at the end of time.
00:36:55.12\00:36:57.24
The book of
revelation comes along and says,
00:36:57.27\00:36:59.03
no he would
not, it's no brainer.
00:36:59.06\00:37:02.13
You can conclude
it without Revelation
00:37:02.16\00:37:04.01
now let me show
it you in Revelation,
00:37:04.04\00:37:05.08
keep your
moving, Revelation 12:17,
00:37:05.11\00:37:08.14
the apocalypse declares
00:37:08.17\00:37:09.71
"And the dragon,
that would be satan,
00:37:09.74\00:37:11.82
was enraged with a women
that's the community of God
00:37:11.85\00:37:14.31
and he went to make war
with the rest of her offspring
00:37:14.34\00:37:16.69
at the end to time,
00:37:16.72\00:37:17.97
who keeps the
commandments of God
00:37:18.00\00:37:19.69
and have the testimony."
00:37:19.72\00:37:22.29
Write that word
"testimony of Jesus."
00:37:22.32\00:37:25.30
Testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:37:25.33\00:37:26.57
So we ask the question,
00:37:26.60\00:37:27.63
what does the
testimony of Jesus Christ
00:37:27.66\00:37:29.23
mean in the apocalypse.
00:37:29.26\00:37:30.56
We let the book of
Revelation interpret itself,
00:37:30.59\00:37:32.56
keep your pen moving
chapter 19 and Revelation 10.
00:37:32.59\00:37:35.68
"For the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy."
00:37:35.71\00:37:40.54
Write it in,
"spirit of prophecy."
00:37:40.57\00:37:43.38
By the way Revelation 22: 9
links the testimony of Jesus
00:37:43.41\00:37:47.05
to the presence of a prophet
in the community of faith.
00:37:47.08\00:37:50.18
So it's the
presence of a prophet,
00:37:50.21\00:37:53.30
a testimony of Jesus,
00:37:53.33\00:37:55.66
i.e., now you fill this in,
00:37:55.69\00:37:57.25
one of the identifying marks
00:37:57.28\00:37:58.88
of God's
community of faith and truth
00:37:58.91\00:38:00.66
at the end of
time will be presence
00:38:00.69\00:38:02.05
of his prophetic
gift in their midst.
00:38:02.08\00:38:07.37
I mean come on, folks,
is it not utterly consistent
00:38:07.40\00:38:10.55
with the divine
modus operandi for God
00:38:10.58\00:38:12.70
to raised up a
messenger to prepare,
00:38:12.73\00:38:14.85
to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord.
00:38:14.88\00:38:17.36
Wouldn't it make sense?
00:38:17.39\00:38:20.21
But of course,
having graciously given
00:38:20.24\00:38:22.79
the prophetic gift for ever
00:38:22.82\00:38:24.57
other major epic
and sacred history,
00:38:24.60\00:38:26.64
why would not
the same God bestow
00:38:26.67\00:38:29.00
that same gift for
the most crucial time
00:38:29.03\00:38:31.68
in human history.
00:38:31.71\00:38:33.53
Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
00:38:33.56\00:38:35.78
today and forever.
00:38:35.81\00:38:39.50
Amos 3:7 "Surely
the Lord does nothing,
00:38:39.53\00:38:43.77
without revealing his secret
00:38:43.80\00:38:45.80
to his servants, the prophets."
00:38:45.83\00:38:48.03
Her name was Ellen White.
00:38:52.66\00:38:57.36
She was a woman of
remarkable spiritual gifts
00:38:57.39\00:38:59.90
who lived most of
her life in 19th century.
00:38:59.93\00:39:03.58
Yet through her
writings and public ministry,
00:39:03.61\00:39:06.76
she has made a
revolutionary impact
00:39:06.79\00:39:09.44
on millions of people
right into the 21st century.
00:39:09.47\00:39:15.18
From the age of 17
until she died 70 years later
00:39:15.21\00:39:19.03
Ellen White
received nearly 2,000 visions
00:39:19.06\00:39:22.96
and dreams from a few
moments, varying in length,
00:39:22.99\00:39:26.61
to nearly four hours.
00:39:26.64\00:39:28.72
It was those
revelations that resulted
00:39:28.75\00:39:30.87
in her prodigious literary
output that includes today,
00:39:30.90\00:39:34.48
100 books
available in English titles.
00:39:34.51\00:39:38.40
55, 000 pages of manual script,
5,000 periodical articles.
00:39:38.43\00:39:43.84
One of her book,
00:39:43.87\00:39:45.53
her life changing masterpiece
on the Christian life
00:39:45.56\00:39:48.39
"Steps to Christ."
00:39:48.42\00:39:50.17
When I was a graduate student
here in Andrews University,
00:39:50.20\00:39:52.95
I got a hold of that
book and reading that book
00:39:52.98\00:39:56.78
was a catalyst for a
re-conversion in my life
00:39:56.81\00:39:59.78
to the Lord Jesus.
00:39:59.81\00:40:02.27
If you don't
have that little books
00:40:02.30\00:40:03.36
step to Christ,
right afterwards,
00:40:03.39\00:40:05.57
after our Q and A you get one.
00:40:05.60\00:40:08.04
I'll have one for
you here right in front.
00:40:08.07\00:40:10.54
This little book
alone has been translated
00:40:10.57\00:40:13.27
into 135 different
languages on earth.
00:40:13.30\00:40:19.47
Prodigious she was, in fact,
00:40:19.50\00:40:21.34
she may well be the
most translated women writer
00:40:21.37\00:40:24.43
in literature and
the most translated
00:40:24.46\00:40:26.61
American author
of either gender.
00:40:26.64\00:40:30.30
As a further consequence
of the prophetic gift,
00:40:30.33\00:40:33.01
she helped raised up a
Christian movement today
00:40:33.04\00:40:35.35
that offers the largest
protestant educational system
00:40:35.38\00:40:38.43
including Andrews University.
00:40:38.46\00:40:41.82
As a result of that gift,
00:40:41.85\00:40:43.99
this Christian movement today
00:40:44.02\00:40:46.18
offers the most extensive
protestant heath system
00:40:46.21\00:40:48.70
on earth including
Loma Linda University
00:40:48.73\00:40:51.20
and hospital.
00:40:51.23\00:40:52.59
National Geographic
Magazine two years ago
00:40:52.62\00:40:55.11
carried a cover story
extolling the health benefits
00:40:55.14\00:40:57.58
of the health message
00:40:57.61\00:40:58.71
Ellen White received
00:40:58.74\00:40:59.80
an championed
during her lifetime.
00:40:59.83\00:41:01.83
A message by the way
far ahead of the medical
00:41:01.86\00:41:04.89
and nutritional
knowledge of her day
00:41:04.92\00:41:06.70
but validated in our generation
00:41:06.73\00:41:08.42
by extensive
scientific research and study.
00:41:08.45\00:41:14.01
A result of her
visionary leadership,
00:41:14.04\00:41:16.48
the Seventh-day Adventist church
00:41:16.51\00:41:18.10
which she helped found,
00:41:18.13\00:41:21.36
is in more nations on earth
00:41:21.39\00:41:23.38
than any of their
protestant denomination.
00:41:23.41\00:41:27.52
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:41:27.55\00:41:28.67
I do not believe
there is a human explanation
00:41:28.70\00:41:32.06
for so prolific and fruitful
00:41:32.09\00:41:35.42
a life in ministry.
00:41:35.45\00:41:37.38
Do her writings then
take the place of the Bible
00:41:41.51\00:41:43.23
in my life in my
church, absolutely not.
00:41:43.26\00:41:46.67
You know me better than
that, in fact, you know what,
00:41:46.70\00:41:49.37
you know how she
referred to her writing?
00:41:49.40\00:41:50.51
She described her
writings as a lesser light
00:41:50.54\00:41:52.89
that points to the--
to the greater light.
00:41:52.92\00:41:54.89
Like the moon
keeps reflecting back
00:41:54.92\00:41:56.97
to the glory of the sun.
00:41:57.00\00:41:59.44
I can personally testify though,
00:41:59.47\00:42:01.54
that her writings
constantly point the reader
00:42:01.57\00:42:04.33
to Jesus and his word.
00:42:04.36\00:42:07.41
I have not read
a more passionately
00:42:07.44\00:42:10.00
Christ centered
author in my life
00:42:10.03\00:42:12.91
and I have read hundreds
and hundreds of authors.
00:42:12.94\00:42:20.55
Her love for
Jesus and her passion
00:42:20.58\00:42:22.51
for pointing lost
people to her savior,
00:42:22.54\00:42:25.82
have deeply
influenced my walk with God.
00:42:25.85\00:42:30.80
Two friends of mine,
00:42:30.83\00:42:31.92
Roger Dudley
and Des Cummings Jr.
00:42:31.95\00:42:35.99
undertook a
study some years ago.
00:42:36.02\00:42:38.41
Where they surveyed
more than 8,200 members
00:42:38.44\00:42:40.87
of 193 Seventh-day
churches here in North America,
00:42:40.90\00:42:44.42
20 different
categorizers of spiritual life
00:42:44.45\00:42:47.08
were being
measured in this survey
00:42:47.11\00:42:48.56
including one
question that went like this.
00:42:48.59\00:42:50.80
Have you read the
writings of Ellen White or not?
00:42:50.83\00:42:54.91
Do you read them or not?
The results are stunning.
00:42:54.94\00:42:58.06
I want you to
jot that numbers down
00:42:58.09\00:42:59.46
and you can go home
and concentrate on this.
00:42:59.49\00:43:01.82
Jot the numbers
down in your study guide.
00:43:01.85\00:43:03.67
82% write that in,
00:43:03.70\00:43:05.44
82% of the regular readers
of Ellen White's writings
00:43:05.47\00:43:08.80
assessed their relationship
with Jesus as intimate.
00:43:08.83\00:43:12.15
The figure was only
56% for the non readers
00:43:12.18\00:43:16.04
of Ellen White in
our community of faith.
00:43:16.07\00:43:18.29
Ladies and gentlemen,
that is a 26% difference.
00:43:18.32\00:43:23.19
Number two, write it down,
00:43:23.22\00:43:24.32
82% of the regular
readers of Ellen White
00:43:24.35\00:43:26.32
indicated a high
degree of assurance
00:43:26.35\00:43:28.40
of being right with God,
00:43:28.43\00:43:29.49
compared to 59%
of the non-readers.
00:43:29.52\00:43:32.34
Number three, readers of
Ellen White were 24% more
00:43:32.37\00:43:36.29
involved in Christian outreach
00:43:36.32\00:43:37.80
and service activities
than were the non-readers.
00:43:37.83\00:43:40.35
And finally number four,
00:43:40.38\00:43:41.75
82% of those who
read Ellen White regularly
00:43:41.78\00:43:44.93
also have daily
personal Bible study
00:43:44.96\00:43:47.70
as compared 47%
for the non- readers,
00:43:47.73\00:43:51.54
exactly the opposite
effect which false prophets
00:43:51.57\00:43:54.80
tend to have
upon their followers.
00:43:54.83\00:43:56.66
False prophets draw you
away from Holy Scripture.
00:43:56.69\00:43:59.15
Follow me, follow my
teaching, the very opposite.
00:43:59.18\00:44:03.92
Within this community of faith,
00:44:03.95\00:44:05.05
those who read her
have a deeper relationship
00:44:05.08\00:44:08.33
in Holy Scripture
with the living God.
00:44:08.36\00:44:11.86
Leading to this conclusion.
00:44:11.89\00:44:13.74
Jot it down, in every one
00:44:13.77\00:44:15.34
of the 20 spiritual
life categories surveyed,
00:44:15.37\00:44:17.71
the regular readers
of Ellen White scored
00:44:17.74\00:44:19.63
higher than the non-readers.
00:44:19.66\00:44:23.89
Dudley and Cummings,
in their conclusion wrote,
00:44:23.92\00:44:26.00
and I'll put their
words on the screen for you.
00:44:26.03\00:44:28.42
"Seldom does a research study
00:44:28.45\00:44:29.83
find the evidence so heavily
weighted toward one conclusion
00:44:29.86\00:44:33.65
in the church growth survey,
00:44:33.68\00:44:35.24
on every single item that
deals with personal attitudes
00:44:35.27\00:44:38.19
or practices of spiritual life,
00:44:38.22\00:44:40.17
the member who regularly
studies Ellen White's books
00:44:40.20\00:44:43.32
tends to rank higher than
does the member who reads them
00:44:43.35\00:44:46.32
only occasionally or never."
00:44:46.35\00:44:50.48
Now listen to me carefully,
if I were the enemy of Christ,
00:44:50.51\00:44:57.38
if I were the
enemy of the chosen,
00:44:57.41\00:45:01.38
you can be certain.
00:45:01.41\00:45:03.29
I would do everything
in my power to destroy
00:45:03.32\00:45:07.53
anything that
would lead a person
00:45:07.56\00:45:10.27
closer to my archenemies.
00:45:10.30\00:45:13.71
Christ of the kingdom of heaven.
00:45:13.74\00:45:18.40
I would do everything to destroy
00:45:18.43\00:45:22.01
that which would
draw people closer to him.
00:45:22.04\00:45:27.60
And by the way,
if I were the enemy,
00:45:27.63\00:45:30.36
I would be particularly
furious at this gift
00:45:30.39\00:45:33.81
because of the devastating
way it repeatedly exposes
00:45:33.84\00:45:37.20
my diabolical modus operandi.
00:45:37.23\00:45:40.27
I would in particular,
00:45:40.30\00:45:42.05
I would in particular set
my sights on a little book
00:45:42.08\00:45:46.51
called "Great Controversy"
00:45:46.54\00:45:47.90
because of its
searing revelation
00:45:47.93\00:45:50.17
of my end time strategies.
00:45:50.20\00:45:53.59
It's a no brainer.
00:45:53.62\00:45:56.85
I would work hard,
24/7 to stone the prophet
00:45:56.88\00:46:02.93
and destroy the
prophet's influence.
00:46:02.96\00:46:08.35
And that community,
I'd do it with an innuendo,
00:46:08.38\00:46:14.85
I'd do it with
a flippant remark.
00:46:14.88\00:46:18.50
I'd do it with email.
00:46:18.53\00:46:21.60
I'd do it with as many websites
I could diabolically raise up.
00:46:21.63\00:46:27.10
I'd it in a
private conversation.
00:46:27.13\00:46:30.52
I'd do it with a
snicker. I'd do it with a laugh.
00:46:30.55\00:46:36.44
I would make certain
that anybody enquiring,
00:46:36.47\00:46:41.67
any young mind still open
00:46:41.70\00:46:44.90
to the possibility of influence,
00:46:44.93\00:46:47.07
I would make certain.
00:46:47.10\00:46:49.88
The door has shut in
that young adults mind.
00:46:49.91\00:46:54.57
I would, if I were the enemy.
00:46:54.60\00:46:59.06
A century ago,
these words were written.
00:46:59.09\00:47:01.39
There are in your study
guide, you need to fill it out.
00:47:01.42\00:47:03.98
The devils M.O.
exposed, listen to this,
00:47:04.01\00:47:06.19
"The very last
deception of Satan
00:47:06.22\00:47:08.71
will be to make
of none, zero, nada,
00:47:08.74\00:47:12.25
effect the testimony
of the spirit of God."
00:47:12.28\00:47:15.97
And going on beyond your
study guide on the screen
00:47:16.00\00:47:18.99
"where there is no vision"
continues to "people perish"
00:47:19.02\00:47:21.58
that's Proverbs 29:19.
00:47:21.61\00:47:23.29
Satan will work
ingeniously in different ways
00:47:23.32\00:47:25.50
and through difference agencies,
00:47:25.53\00:47:26.57
to unsettle the confidence
of God's remnant people
00:47:26.60\00:47:29.15
in the true testimony."
00:47:29.18\00:47:31.88
Let me tell you
a story right now,
00:47:31.91\00:47:33.51
in a previous
parish where I served,
00:47:33.54\00:47:37.36
there was a man who got swept up
00:47:37.39\00:47:38.95
in a new teaching that had
come discarding the Bible truth
00:47:38.98\00:47:46.16
about divine cleansing
of the heavenly sanctuary.
00:47:46.19\00:47:48.76
He swept up, we were friends.
00:47:48.79\00:47:50.50
He got swept up in this
and eventually in response
00:47:50.53\00:47:54.81
he through out Ellen
White and the church, all of it.
00:47:54.84\00:47:58.30
No more I've had.
00:47:58.33\00:48:02.10
Two decades go by
and all of the sudden,
00:48:02.13\00:48:05.13
out of the blue,
just a few months ago,
00:48:05.16\00:48:08.61
I get a packet from
this very individual.
00:48:08.64\00:48:13.38
Turns out he's been watching TV.
00:48:13.41\00:48:15.98
So as some of our
presentations on creationism,
00:48:16.01\00:48:19.39
and said, "Dwight, I
thought you might like to know
00:48:19.42\00:48:21.61
that there is a whole
lot of evidence out here
00:48:21.64\00:48:24.06
that proves that
there is no creation.
00:48:24.09\00:48:26.40
And in fact, that
proves that there is no creator
00:48:26.43\00:48:28.14
and there is no God at
all" and I was dumb founded.
00:48:28.17\00:48:34.13
This man prayed
fervently when I knew him.
00:48:34.16\00:48:38.63
No God, nothing
and then I remembered,
00:48:38.66\00:48:44.32
a century ago
this very regression--
00:48:44.35\00:48:49.70
regression was predicted.
00:48:49.73\00:48:51.83
And these words are so important
00:48:51.86\00:48:53.03
that there're in
your study guide,
00:48:53.06\00:48:54.09
the last quotation you had.
00:48:54.12\00:48:57.18
It is Satan's plan,
00:48:57.21\00:48:58.43
the very pattern to
regression being exposed here.
00:48:58.46\00:49:00.47
"It is Satan's plan to
weaken the faith of Gods people
00:49:00.50\00:49:03.96
in the testimonies."
00:49:03.99\00:49:06.51
All right, now
here's the key word,
00:49:06.54\00:49:07.95
"Next," once you do that,
00:49:07.98\00:49:10.05
there's a next step
watch the steps now.
00:49:10.08\00:49:11.96
"Next follows
skepticism in regard
00:49:11.99\00:49:14.97
to the vital
points of our faith,
00:49:15.00\00:49:16.43
the pillars of
our position then"
00:49:16.46\00:49:18.64
please notice
this is regression now,
00:49:18.67\00:49:20.19
there's another step
00:49:20.22\00:49:21.25
"then doubt as to
the Holy Scriptures,"
00:49:21.28\00:49:25.09
and then there's another step,
00:49:25.12\00:49:26.90
"then the downward
march to perdition."
00:49:26.93\00:49:33.94
I've heard that
word perdition before.
00:49:33.97\00:49:36.29
I heard it on the lips of Jesus.
00:49:36.32\00:49:37.63
Do you know when Jesus,
00:49:37.66\00:49:38.80
when he was praying in his
high priestly prayer in John 17,
00:49:38.83\00:49:42.40
he referred to
Judas as the son of what?
00:49:42.43\00:49:45.46
The son of
perdition. Isn't that amazing?
00:49:45.49\00:49:48.79
The son of perdition.
00:49:48.82\00:49:51.02
Judas who was
called to be a part
00:49:51.05\00:49:52.58
of the inner circle of Christ,
00:49:52.61\00:49:53.84
but who began to doubt
the testimony of Jesus.
00:49:53.87\00:49:56.94
He said, oh,
come on, it can't be.
00:49:56.97\00:49:59.04
And then the
doubting of the testimony
00:49:59.07\00:50:00.44
let to the doubting,
you know may the mission,
00:50:00.47\00:50:02.61
maybe his mission
is really not that big
00:50:02.64\00:50:04.75
and then the
doubting to mission let to--
00:50:04.78\00:50:06.59
may be he's not
who he says he is
00:50:06.62\00:50:08.50
and after that there
is now a tumble, no God,
00:50:08.53\00:50:11.73
no life and he hangs himself.
00:50:11.76\00:50:14.87
And it all begins,
isn't that amazing,
00:50:14.90\00:50:17.08
it all being with the rejection
of the testimony of Jesus.
00:50:17.11\00:50:23.78
There are two reasons why Judas
00:50:23.81\00:50:25.27
did not want the
testimony of Jesus.
00:50:25.30\00:50:27.14
I wonder if these two reasons
00:50:27.17\00:50:28.35
are applicable
today, two reasons.
00:50:28.38\00:50:30.48
Reason number one,
00:50:30.51\00:50:31.79
the testimony of Jesus cut
across Judas' private life.
00:50:31.82\00:50:36.85
And I've wondered at times,
00:50:36.88\00:50:37.96
when I hear those who are making
00:50:37.99\00:50:39.90
a rather big show about
their personal convictions.
00:50:39.93\00:50:44.12
I've wondered to
myself, what is there?
00:50:44.15\00:50:48.13
Could there be something
that has cut across, I hate it.
00:50:48.16\00:50:53.54
When you tell me
not to do something,
00:50:53.57\00:50:55.91
I'll just take
you out of my picture,
00:50:55.94\00:50:58.40
I don't have to
deal with you anymore.
00:50:58.43\00:51:00.68
That was what let
Judas, it cut it his greed.
00:51:00.71\00:51:03.36
Jesus never in
public exposed him,
00:51:03.39\00:51:05.65
just little stories
and then he'd look at Judas
00:51:05.68\00:51:08.14
like I know your
hand is in the tier boy.
00:51:08.17\00:51:12.58
It cut across his
personal, private practice.
00:51:12.61\00:51:15.45
And number two, it challenged
Judas' theological paradigm,
00:51:15.48\00:51:20.29
the paradigm doesn't
fit with what I believe
00:51:20.32\00:51:21.98
then Messiah should be.
00:51:22.01\00:51:23.24
Therefore I reject it.
00:51:23.27\00:51:24.70
I wonder again, if
because I have already formed
00:51:24.73\00:51:28.51
theological paradigm
whether I too am quick to that
00:51:28.54\00:51:32.16
reject the prophetic gift
00:51:32.19\00:51:34.98
as challenging my
precious paradigm.
00:51:35.01\00:51:41.69
Son of perdition,
the downward march,
00:51:41.72\00:51:45.93
you know what,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:51:45.96\00:51:46.99
it is no wonder
that II Chronicle 20:20
00:51:47.02\00:51:50.31
reads the way it does
"Believe in the Lord your God,
00:51:50.34\00:51:56.27
and you shall be established
believe His prophets,
00:51:56.30\00:52:01.55
and you shall prosper."
00:52:01.58\00:52:05.85
Listen to me
closely, my last words,
00:52:05.88\00:52:08.57
please listen closely.
00:52:08.60\00:52:11.05
The writings of the messenger
either now C.S. Lewis did this,
00:52:11.08\00:52:16.21
the writings of the messenger
00:52:16.24\00:52:17.61
either bare the signet of
God or the signet of Satan.
00:52:17.64\00:52:21.34
You can't say,
oh, little of both.
00:52:21.37\00:52:23.70
Foolish.
00:52:23.73\00:52:26.84
They cannot be both,
00:52:26.87\00:52:28.37
a good tree cannot bring
forth corrupt fruit, can it?
00:52:28.40\00:52:34.68
So here's the point.
00:52:34.71\00:52:35.94
Maybe it is time
for you to quit taking
00:52:35.97\00:52:41.64
somebody else's word for it
00:52:41.67\00:52:44.11
and taste the fruit yourself.
00:52:44.14\00:52:48.06
Don't take my word for it,
don't you take my word for it.
00:52:48.09\00:52:51.63
You taste the fruit yourself.
00:52:51.66\00:52:54.81
This little book,
"Steps to Christ,"
00:52:54.84\00:52:58.67
you don't have the book?
00:52:58.70\00:53:00.49
You see me right
after the Q and A.
00:53:00.52\00:53:02.41
You ask for this
I'll give you one.
00:53:02.44\00:53:04.48
You go home and see if
this little books title
00:53:04.51\00:53:08.90
will not become a
self fulfilling prophecy
00:53:08.93\00:53:11.24
in your life and
you will find new steps,
00:53:11.27\00:53:13.90
deeper steps,
00:53:13.93\00:53:16.42
to a growing
friendship with the Lord Jesus.
00:53:16.45\00:53:18.30
And by the way,
00:53:18.33\00:53:19.36
if you're watching
on television right now,
00:53:19.39\00:53:20.55
you go that phone
number you'll see at the end.
00:53:20.58\00:53:22.10
You called that
number and I'll make sure
00:53:22.13\00:53:23.52
you'll get one
of these books too.
00:53:23.55\00:53:25.39
Taste it for yourself,
forget other peoples opinions,
00:53:25.42\00:53:30.47
taste the fruit for yourself.
00:53:30.50\00:53:32.60
I have and I believe.
00:53:32.63\00:53:39.65
Let us pray.
00:53:39.68\00:53:41.13
Oh, God, Holy Father, please,
00:53:41.16\00:53:46.98
we cannot let others make
00:53:47.01\00:53:51.12
the decisions for us.
00:53:51.15\00:53:52.52
Not a statement,
00:53:57.02\00:53:59.73
not a quotation, not a website.
00:53:59.76\00:54:02.87
We must taste ourselves and so,
00:54:06.77\00:54:11.04
dear God, this humble prayer
00:54:11.07\00:54:13.89
for this little
community of faith.
00:54:13.92\00:54:16.52
Please, like that old
cornflakes commercial said,
00:54:16.55\00:54:21.54
taste them again for first time.
00:54:21.57\00:54:25.84
Come back, taste the
fruit, is it good fruit?
00:54:25.87\00:54:32.44
From a good tree and oh,
00:54:32.47\00:54:34.94
God, I am confident
that every man, woman,
00:54:34.97\00:54:38.04
young adult and
teenager's mind is opened
00:54:38.07\00:54:42.32
more to sprit of Jesus,
00:54:42.35\00:54:44.66
will know whether
the testimony of Jesus
00:54:44.69\00:54:48.48
is true of not, make it clear.
00:54:48.51\00:54:52.04
The times are
urgent. We need a revival.
00:54:52.07\00:54:56.56
Do your work in our
midst, I humbly pray.
00:54:56.59\00:55:03.76
And now may the
Father who gave the Son
00:55:03.79\00:55:08.99
and the Son who
gave the Holy Spirit.
00:55:09.02\00:55:13.86
And the Holy Spirit
who gave the prophets,
00:55:13.89\00:55:17.46
guide you and me
00:55:17.49\00:55:20.61
in the pathway
of eternity, amen.
00:55:20.64\00:55:27.24
Before you go,
00:55:27.27\00:55:28.47
I wanted to take one more moment
00:55:28.50\00:55:29.56
to let you know,
00:55:29.59\00:55:30.62
how glad I am you
shared this hour of worship
00:55:30.65\00:55:32.76
and Bible teachings with us.
00:55:32.79\00:55:34.29
This is the
Pioneer Memorial Church,
00:55:34.32\00:55:36.04
we're on the campus
of Andrews University
00:55:36.07\00:55:37.76
and the series is The Chosen.
00:55:37.79\00:55:40.21
This is the series
that has been growing
00:55:40.24\00:55:42.68
and it's burned on my heart
and over the last few weeks
00:55:42.71\00:55:46.71
before this new season began.
00:55:46.74\00:55:48.54
And some
concentrated prayer time,
00:55:48.57\00:55:50.72
I believe the
spirit of God led me
00:55:50.75\00:55:52.56
to the series out
of book of Deuteronomy
00:55:52.59\00:55:54.78
for this generation
within our community of faith
00:55:54.81\00:55:57.41
and outside this
community of faith.
00:55:57.44\00:55:59.40
I believe both--
00:55:59.43\00:56:00.99
both communities need to
hear the compelling bible truth
00:56:01.02\00:56:07.27
captured in the
series called the chosen.
00:56:07.30\00:56:08.78
So thank you for joining,
00:56:08.81\00:56:09.86
joining me and all of us
as we continue our journey
00:56:09.89\00:56:12.75
deeper and deeper
into the heart of--
00:56:12.78\00:56:14.33
of this scene.
00:56:14.36\00:56:15.56
Living as you and I do and I'm--
00:56:15.59\00:56:18.01
I'm-- I know I'm
preaching to the choir now,
00:56:18.04\00:56:20.16
living as we do on the
edge of the civilization
00:56:20.19\00:56:23.32
that is surviving through
constant of people in change.
00:56:23.35\00:56:27.35
I'm so grateful
00:56:27.38\00:56:28.58
and I know you are
for the bed rock hope
00:56:28.61\00:56:30.96
we have in Jesus.
00:56:30.99\00:56:33.18
I'm thankful that you
and I been given the--
00:56:33.21\00:56:35.58
privilege by God to
partner to reach this generation
00:56:35.61\00:56:38.71
the world over through
the satellite telecast.
00:56:38.74\00:56:40.85
I don't know how it works,
00:56:40.88\00:56:41.95
I just know that those
satellites drop the signals
00:56:41.98\00:56:45.19
and those foot
prints all over the planet
00:56:45.22\00:56:47.31
are helping
disseminate this divine
00:56:47.34\00:56:50.39
called to become a
part of the chosen.
00:56:50.42\00:56:52.46
Gods last generation on earth.
00:56:52.49\00:56:54.10
So please, here's
what I wanted you to know,
00:56:54.13\00:56:56.10
I thank God for you
and the generous way
00:56:56.13\00:56:58.88
you have partnered
with us in the past,
00:56:58.91\00:57:00.93
in making New
perceptions possible globally.
00:57:00.96\00:57:04.43
Your tax deductible
gifts are being multiplied
00:57:04.46\00:57:06.49
all across the earth.
00:57:06.52\00:57:08.05
I believe for
such a time is this.
00:57:08.08\00:57:09.70
Look, would you like to
order copy of today's teaching
00:57:09.73\00:57:13.98
you can order DVD,
00:57:14.01\00:57:15.31
you get all the
PowerPoint everything is there.
00:57:15.34\00:57:17.22
You can share it
with your friends.
00:57:17.25\00:57:18.41
Share it with your family.
00:57:18.44\00:57:19.55
I want to just insert this here,
00:57:19.58\00:57:21.93
if you go to our website
00:57:21.96\00:57:22.99
and we've been
advertising our website
00:57:23.02\00:57:24.05
all along the way and I'm
gonna insert it right here,
00:57:24.08\00:57:25.76
www.pmchurch.tv
go to that website.
00:57:25.79\00:57:29.35
You'll get a podcast of this,
00:57:29.38\00:57:30.97
we have people now subscribing
to podcasts the world over.
00:57:31.00\00:57:34.69
It's time for this
message to get out.
00:57:34.72\00:57:36.95
Thank you for your partnership
and helping us do that.
00:57:36.98\00:57:39.83
Call one of our
friendly operators.
00:57:39.86\00:57:41.60
It's a toll free
number, won't cost you a penny.
00:57:41.63\00:57:43.80
Here in North
America 877-HIS-WILL,
00:57:43.83\00:57:46.25
you call that
number I promise you
00:57:46.28\00:57:48.38
every penny that
you share we will invest
00:57:48.41\00:57:51.64
your generosity in God's mission
00:57:51.67\00:57:54.19
to reach this
final generation now.
00:57:54.22\00:57:57.07
Thank you very,
very much and be assured,
00:57:57.10\00:57:59.62
I'm looking
forward to seeing you here,
00:57:59.65\00:58:01.36
right here again
next time as we continue
00:58:01.39\00:58:05.07
our fascinating
journey into the Chosen.
00:58:05.10\00:58:08.39
God bless you.
00:58:08.42\00:58:09.92