Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP101406
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00:27 "You alone are my heart's desire
00:32 And I long to worship thee 00:38 You alone are my strength, my shield 00:43 To you alone 00:46 May my spirit yield 00:52 You alone are my heart's desire 00:57 And I long to worship thee" 02:45 "Be still, my soul 02:49 The Lord is on thy side 02:55 Bear patiently 02:59 The cross of grief or pain 03:05 Leave to thy God 03:09 To order and provide 03:15 In every change 03:19 He faithful will remain 03:25 Be still, my soul 03:29 Thy best, thy heavenly, Friend 03:35 Through thorny ways 03:39 Leads to a joyful end 03:46 Be still, my soul 03:50 Thy God doth undertake 03:56 To guide the future 04:01 As He has the past 04:06 Thy hope, thy confidence, 04:11 Let nothing shake 04:16 All now mysterious 04:20 Shall be bright at last 04:26 Be still, my soul 04:30 The waves and winds still know 04:36 His voice who ruled them 04:41 While He dwelt below 04:47 Be still, my soul 04:51 The hour is hastening on 04:58 When we shall be 05:01 Forever with the Lord 05:08 When disappointment 05:13 Grief, and fear are gone 05:18 Sorrow forgot 05:22 Love's purest joys restored 05:29 Be still, my soul 05:33 When change and tears are past 05:39 All safe and blessed 05:45 We shall meet at last" 06:15 Sing to the Lord a jubilant song 06:18 Sing to the Lord a jubilant song 06:22 Rejoice and sing and let the earth be glad 06:25 Let the heavens be filled with joy 06:30 And a jubilant song 06:38 Sing alleluia to the Lord 06:42 Alleluia to the Lord 06:44 Alleluia to the Lord 06:46 Alleluia to the Lord 06:48 Alleluia to the Lord 06:50 Alleluia to the Lord 06:51 Alleluia to the Lord 06:54 Alleluia 06:56 Tell of His salvation from day to day 06:59 Shout His marvelous works among the people 07:03 For great is the Lord 07:04 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised 07:11 Sing to the Lord a jubilant song 07:15 Sing to the Lord a jubilant song 07:18 Rejoice and sing and let the earth be glad 07:21 Let the heavens be filled with joy 07:26 And a jubilant song 07:36 Lord, you have been out refuge 07:40 From one generation to another 07:46 Before the mountains were made 07:50 Or the land and the sea were born 07:55 From age to age you are God 07:59 And we pray for the coming of your Kingdom 08:04 We shall rejoice 08:07 We shall be glad 08:08 All the days of our lives 08:18 Sing to the Lord a jubilant song 08:22 Sing to the Lord 08:23 A jubilant song 08:25 Rejoice and sing and let the earth be glad 08:29 Let the heavens be filled with joy 08:34 And a jubilant song 08:38 And a jubilant song 08:42 Sing to the Lord 08:52 A jubilant song 09:04 Amen. 09:09 Let's pray together. 09:13 Oh, is a choir who just sung 09:17 that You would draw from our hearts 09:20 a new, a new song, a new expression of praise 09:25 for our sleep deprive lives in the west. 09:31 Oh, this invitation of rest, what is that mean? 09:36 How do we connect with it? 09:39 And how in the world 09:42 can this secular postmodern civilization 09:48 ever get a hold of Your offer. 09:52 Its got to start with us, 09:53 teach us today that we might have that 09:56 which out of our own experience 09:58 we can share, in Jesus name, amen. 10:05 The last time you and I were together 10:10 we were considering 10:11 God's radical call to Islam 10:19 and I'm grateful for the dialogue, 10:21 the debate, the discussion that that teaching has engendered. 10:25 I have heard from many of you, 10:27 we email, heard from some of our viewers 10:29 on television as well. 10:32 We need to be wrestling with so immense a challenge 10:35 and as the Aussie say "Good on you, mate." 10:37 Good on you. Good for you. 10:39 We got to wrap our minds around this. 10:42 One of you wrote an email to me stating that 10:44 you've been in dialogue for sometime now 10:46 with a professor for Islamic studies 10:51 in Middle Eastern country that needs to remain unnamed 10:55 and he said, I'm gonna share this teaching with him. 10:57 Have him listen to, downloaded 10:58 from the website and examine as himself. 11:00 By the way, if you weren't here our last time together 11:05 "Star Rising Over Islam" 11:06 is the title of the teaching two weeks ago 11:08 and you can get it on our website. 11:10 I'll give you that website in just a minute. 11:11 It's on the new study guide that you're gonna receive. 11:14 I got another email 11:15 from one of our leading contacts in the Muslim world. 11:18 This particular individual 11:20 has direct relations with imam's 11:23 and he was praising God for the teaching 11:25 that is here in Holy Spirit 11:27 that which you and I were sharing just a few days ago. 11:30 And then on the other side of the coin 11:32 I did receive an email 11:33 from one of our viewers that greatly disturbed 11:37 that we would like Allah with the one true God 11:42 and deeply upset that we would have the audacity 11:45 to call young adults to commit 11:47 to a mission to Islamic countries. 11:50 I wrote back to that viewer and I shared with him, 11:54 you know, well, its clear we don't, 11:57 we don't hold to the same perspectives. 12:00 I'm certain that you join me in praying for God's 12:04 outpouring of blessing upon this great people, 12:06 the great people of Islam irrespective 12:08 of what your or my perspective might be. 12:13 But today what I want to do jetlagged in all, 12:15 I want to switch gears. 12:17 I want to shift from the religious east, 12:21 Islam I want to shift to the west 12:24 to the secular postmodern west. 12:26 Because having returned just a few hours ago 12:28 as I mentioned from Australia, Karen and I. 12:31 I must confess to you that 12:32 I have been brooding in my heart and mind 12:35 how in the world Islam is one challenge 12:37 but how in the world 12:38 where the everlasting gospel penetrate 12:41 the secular, postmodern west? 12:44 Every time I visit Australia I'm taken aback 12:47 by the bold almost brash western secularism 12:52 that it's so powerfully displaced. 12:54 Let me just put some snaps. 12:55 We were preaching in Sydney eight times 12:57 there in Sydney, pictures that we took a few days ago. 13:01 Sydney obviously the most telegenic, photogenic, 13:05 most recognized urban skyline in the world I'm sure. 13:10 When you look at Sydney the towering glass and steel 13:14 you realize this is the heart of Australia. 13:16 It is a nation on a cutting edge. 13:19 They are, they coined 13:21 the word contemporary as it were. 13:23 They live with state of the art. 13:25 You watch their televisions, 13:26 we did, you read the newspapers as I did, 13:27 you get a sense of their, you review their history 13:30 and you realize the indomitable pluck, 13:33 the raw energy that raised up this nation 13:37 clustered only on the seacoast of Australia. 13:39 This is barren wilderness in the middle 13:41 but that raised up this mighty nation. 13:45 I mean that any, any culture that can come up 13:48 with get on your made and no worries, 13:49 they are a wonderful people, a fun people to be around. 13:53 But for them and for the west all of this comes at a price. 13:58 Karen and I were walking through one of the resorts, 14:00 surfers of Sydney called Manly 14:02 and it came on a psychiatrist or psychologist office. 14:06 She had a big metal plaque outside her door 14:09 and it was her name 14:10 and then all these initials after. 14:12 So she is obviously highly trained. 14:14 And then underneath she advertises 14:16 what it is the service she provides 14:19 and she indicates that she is in fact a counselor 14:22 for stress relief and sleep disorders. 14:27 This is in a lovely seaside resort 14:30 on the outskirts of Sydney. 14:33 You realize that for all that 14:35 we have accomplished in the west 14:38 it is come at a high, high price. 14:41 This consumption of all the daylight hours, 14:44 all the night time hours, 14:45 24/7 working, surviving, partying, playing 14:49 but in the consumption of it all 14:52 what do we end up with? 14:53 We end up with this massive sleep depravation. 14:56 Not from jetlag but just from simply living 14:59 in the west, sleep depravation. 15:04 And by the way not in Australia alone, 15:06 come on, it's a whole west. 15:07 This is USA Today, three months ago. 15:10 Thank you Larry Ulery, one of the faculty here 15:12 at Andrews who is sending this to me. 15:13 Look at this headline, 15:15 I mean, wouldn't this catch your eye 15:16 "A call to honor the Sabbath." 15:19 So I'm instantly intrigue, it turns out this piece 15:22 is written by a Presbyterian pastor, 15:24 all right, pastoring in Fairfax, Virginia. 15:27 I'm gonna read just a line or two 15:29 from the middle of his essay. 15:31 This is a editorial essay. 15:34 "Whether religious or not, people know" okay, 15:36 people in the west, Australia, Western Europe, UK. 15:40 We got some friends here from Brazil today. 15:41 Brazil fits into the category the postmodern west. 15:46 "Whether religious or not, 15:47 people know that they need to take a day off 15:49 in order to maintain their sanity 15:51 and remain efficient and productive at work. 15:53 But I'm convinced" writes this Presbyterian pastor 15:55 "I'm convinced that downtime is not enough. 15:59 We need a formal day of rest. 16:01 A true Sabbath gives us time to refresh 16:03 and renew ourselves, regain proper perspective 16:06 and redirect our lives to what is good 16:07 and true and worthwhile. 16:08 There is something positive and even creative about 16:11 allowing ourselves to take a break, 16:13 as noted in the Bible 16:15 when it says God finishes the work 16:16 of creation on the seventh day by resting" 16:19 and then he writes in "Genesis 2:2. 16:21 Resting is an act of creativity." 16:26 You know I got the thinking 16:27 just part of this brooding post Australia brooding, 16:30 could it be, come on think little for a moment. 16:32 Could it be that the secular west sleep deprivation 16:36 which is really pandemic, 16:39 pandemic in our western culture. 16:41 Could it be that sleep deprivation 16:43 in fact is opening a massive door 16:47 to the postmodern world? 16:49 I mean, you think about postmodern. 16:52 They simultaneous start for community and rest. 16:56 They want to belong, 16:58 they want to be a part, they need rest. 16:59 The two most passionate of their needs 17:02 community and rest they lose one, 17:04 rest in pursuit of the other community. 17:06 Could it be that we've discovered the perfect gift 17:08 that if they could embrace the gift 17:10 they meet their deepest felt needs. 17:12 With this caveat, with this caveat. 17:17 If that perfect gift however, 17:19 if that perfect gift hardly impacts our own existences 17:24 how can we possibly be effective 17:27 in communicating that gift 17:30 to the secular west and to the secular east? 17:34 Open your Bible with me that caveat in place 17:37 and let's take a look at rumor number two. 17:39 We are doing a series here called, 17:40 rumors from the east. 17:42 Open to the Bible's last book, this is rumor number two. 17:44 These first few sessions we've spent together 17:47 have been devoted to rumor number one. 17:48 There are only three rumors, only three, 17:50 these rumors from the east, 17:51 titled the series, rumors from the east. 17:52 Today we take a look at rumor number two, 17:56 the Apocalypse, Revelation Chapter 7. 17:59 I want you to read some verses right here 18:01 at the outset with me please. 18:02 Revelation Chapter 7, 18:03 I'll be in the New King James Version today. 18:05 If you didn't bring a Bible there will a pew Bible 18:07 in the rack in the front of you. 18:09 It's page, page 826 in the pew Bible, 18:14 whatever translation you have read along with me please. 18:17 Revelation Chapter 7, let's just read 18:18 the first three verse of Revelation 7:1 18:21 "After these things I saw four angels standing 18:24 at the four corners of the earth, 18:26 holding the four winds of the earth, 18:28 that the wind should not blow on the earth, 18:30 on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree." 18:32 And then verse 2, I saw a fifth angel. 18:34 All right there are already four 18:35 there now here comes a fifth. 18:36 "I saw another angel ascending from the east," 18:39 Key words, three rumors about the east, 18:40 only three in the Apocalyptic literature. 18:43 So we're now moving to number two. 18:45 "I saw another angel ascending from the east, 18:47 having the seal of the living God. 18:49 And he cried with a loud voice" in the Greek, megalaphone. 18:52 Megaphone, this is a huge voice. 18:54 "And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels 18:56 to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea," 18:58 verse 3 "And he said to them, 18:59 'Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees 19:03 until we have sealed the servants 19:05 of our God on their foreheads.'" 19:08 Stop it right there. 19:09 Would you scribble this down, please? 19:10 Take out your new study guide 19:12 and make note that this is rumor number two. 19:16 The study guides ought to be in your worship bulletin today. 19:19 Ushers, thank you for getting us-- 19:21 if you do that gentlemen, just hold your hand up 19:24 if you came in and you didn't get 19:25 a worship bulletin when you came in 19:27 or several of you with just one bulletin 19:29 I would like you to have please, 19:30 one of these study guides for yourself. 19:32 The opening quotation is worth it. 19:33 Write there Presbyterian pastor's quotation 19:36 we are gonna get to that in just a second here. 19:37 Hold your hand up. 19:38 And those of you who are watching on television 19:39 you get the same study guide. 19:41 Let me put that website on the screen right now, 19:43 www-- there it is 19:45 www.pmchurch.tv pioneer church.TV. 19:50 Click on to this teaching series 19:52 "Rumors from the East" This is part five, 19:55 this one is entitled "East Winds." 19:58 When you click on the East Winds 19:59 it will say study guide. 20:00 Say yes, I want that study guide 20:02 and you will have the same study guide 20:03 right there on your computer screen 20:05 and you can go through the study guide with us. 20:07 If you are watching it on DVD just hit the pause button, 20:09 get that study guide and then please, 20:12 examine this teaching with us. 20:14 So would you jot this down, please? 20:15 Let's put it up on the screen, Rumor 2, 20:17 just write in the number 2, 20:18 this is the second of the three rumors from the east. 20:21 This whole teaching series devoted 20:22 to just these three rumors from the east. 20:25 Rumor 2 is Revelation 7 20:26 and then a verse from Revelation 14. 20:29 Now let's go to that quotation 20:30 from the Presbyterian pastor, you have it right there. 20:32 You have to fill it in, 20:33 in order for this to be complete. 20:35 Henry G. Brinton, pastor of Fairfax, 20:39 Virginia Presbyterian Church wrote this essay 20:41 in USA Today three months ago. 20:45 The problem, now these are Brinton's words. 20:47 "The problem with ignoring the Sabbath" 20:49 would you write that in please? 20:50 That's his word, "The problem with ignoring the Sabbath 20:54 is that it hurts us as individuals, 20:57 families and communities." 20:59 And then he quotes an author 21:01 whose book I have in my library, Wayne Muller, okay. 21:03 "Wayne Muller, therapist, minister 21:05 and best-selling author, is convinced that 21:07 modern life has become a violent enterprise. 21:10 We make war on our bodies by pushing them 21:13 beyond their limits, war on our children 21:15 by failing to give them our time, 21:17 and war on our communities by failing to be kind 21:19 and generous and connected to our neighbors." 21:21 Now "To bring an end to this destruction," 21:24 here's where the pastor is going 21:25 "we have to establish a healthier balance 21:27 between work and rest." 21:29 Write in the word rest. 21:30 We need this balance between work and rest. 21:33 "But I'm convinced" now this is Brinton not Muller. 21:35 "I'm convinced that downtime is not enough. 21:38 We need a formal day of rest. 21:41 A true Sabbath." His words. 21:45 Now what in the world 21:46 does this Presbyterian pastor's essay in USA Today 21:50 and the need for a formal Sabbath have to do 21:52 with a fifth angels cry in Revelation Chapter 7? 21:54 These words we read just a moment ago. 21:57 The cool eyes tucked away 21:58 in a rather of skewer phrase the seal, 22:01 the seal of the living God. 22:04 Let's hit the table again. 22:05 Let check our envision 22:06 what we just read in Revelation 7. 22:08 So you have four angels, right? 22:09 Four angels, four corners of the world 22:11 holding the four winds. 22:12 The number four is inclusive. 22:14 When the number four appears in Apocalypse 22:16 it indicates the entire globe. 22:18 That makes sense, north, south, east, west 22:20 four corners, all right. 22:21 So you got four angels holding back the four winds. 22:24 By the way, we know the scene comes 22:26 just before the return of Christ 22:28 because the last description in chapter 6 22:30 is this glorious depiction of the second coming. 22:36 So in the context of the end of human existence 22:39 as we know it these first three verses 22:41 of Revelation 7 take place. 22:43 Now, what we know from Revelation 7 22:46 there are two realities we know. 22:47 Jot this down in your study guide, 22:48 put it on the screen for you. 22:49 This much we know, the friends of God 22:52 "The friends of God will be sealed in their foreheads." 22:56 We know that just from our cursory reading 22:58 which we've just done. 22:59 Number one the friends of God 23:00 will be sealed in their foreheads. 23:01 And number two, "The four winds will be let loose" 23:05 all four winds will be let loose 23:06 "in a final global cataclysm." 23:09 And by the way, I really don't blame 23:11 the residents of New Orleans 23:14 for thinking that one of those winds got loose a little early. 23:17 Just a few weeks ago as you know 23:19 I was down in New Orleans on the one year anniversary 23:21 of Hurricane Katrina destroyed the New Orleans 23:23 first Seventh-day Adventist Church, 23:24 so they are opening the church after rebuilding it. 23:27 On the one year anniversary 23:29 toward the still raw destruction 23:33 of some of their perishes there in New Orleans 23:35 and then after the final sermon 23:37 one of the church members hands me a DVD. 23:40 He says, you need to take a look at this 23:41 when you get home. 23:42 Our senior leadership team sat down 23:44 and looked at it, it is amazing. 23:46 I want to share with you just a brief clip. 23:47 These are home movies taken by a gentleman 23:51 who is on the second floor of his house 23:54 as the waters are ascending 23:57 from the broken levy not far from his home. 24:00 So that's the setting. 24:01 You are gonna see, this is amateur video, 24:04 we will put it on the screen right now. 24:07 The levy has broken 24:09 and that's the front yard, folks. 24:10 I mean, it looks like a massive sea. 24:12 You can see the wind, 24:14 the fury of the raging hurricane. 24:17 That's the balcony of the second floor. 24:19 Keep your eyes on this. 24:20 So he is on the second floor of his home, 24:23 the water has already penetrated the first floor 24:26 and in just a moment he is gonna give you-- 24:28 look at the waves, 24:29 those are the waves in his front yard. 24:34 Now watch this, this is his front door. 24:37 This is first floor. 24:38 You see the water, it's now one foot 24:40 from the top of the front door on the first floor. 24:44 He is standing there at the top of the stairs 24:47 and you have to wonder what is going through 24:49 this man's mind as he takes this picture. 24:51 Because the water is rising as you watch-- 24:53 Now it's coming under the door, second floor. 24:56 The water now is coming under the door. 24:59 He shoots again outside. 25:01 The place is a raging maelstrom, ugly dark water. 25:08 And now the water is beginning to burst underneath the door 25:11 and you can see little spurts of it. 25:13 It now penetrates the second floor. 25:15 In a moment you are gonna see his shot of the veranda. 25:19 So this is a second floor of veranda, 25:21 he is gonna look out the glass doors to that veranda 25:24 and you will notice now the water beginning 25:26 to pound on the second floor. 25:28 There is the veranda, look at that water, second floor. 25:30 There is only one way for him to go, 25:32 he has to cut a hole in his roof to survive 25:34 and you know, that's what they did. 25:35 Get into the attic, cut a hole in the roof above the attic 25:37 and then sit on the roof for, for a hopeful rescue. 25:41 I mean, you take a look at that clip 25:43 and you realize the unrestraint raw power of nature gone wild. 25:48 It is a terrible thing to behold. 25:50 And here is Revelation 7 indicating 25:53 that the day is coming when all four winds get lose. 25:57 But I wish you scribble this down 25:58 because I'm not afraid about that day 26:00 and you and I don't have to be afraid. 26:01 Write this down, you know, I'm not afraid 26:02 because we have Psalm 46:1. 26:05 Write down that reference. 26:06 That is so, that is such a beautiful assurance. 26:09 Psalm 46:1, God is our, do you know this one? 26:12 Say it out loud if you do. 26:13 "God is our refuge and strength, 26:15 A very present help in trouble. 26:18 Therefore we will not be fear. 26:21 Though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, 26:23 though its waters roar and be troubled." 26:25 Hallelujah, we have nothing to fear for the future 26:28 we have that assurance. 26:29 But before the, before the four winds 26:33 are released in that final cataclysm 26:35 the fifth angel has a mission 26:37 and that's where we are headed here. 26:38 Let's take a look again at verse 2, 26:40 "Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, 26:44 having the seal of the living God." 26:46 Hit the pause button right there 26:47 because there is the, there is the word to clue 26:50 that we are looking for the word east. 26:52 And we reminded ourselves already in rumor number one, 26:54 that something happens everyday of the year in the east. 26:57 What is that that ascends 26:58 out of the east everyday of the year? 26:59 What comes up? 27:01 Jot it down in your study guide. 27:02 Would you please? 27:04 But of course, in the east the sun rises. 27:08 Which is the very same imaginary we saw 27:09 on rumor number one in Revelation 18:1, 27:11 the sun of righteousness is rising one last time 27:13 in the east higher and higher 27:15 until the earth is flood with her shine. 27:17 One last spectacular burst of God's glory 27:21 and then the end comes. 27:22 We call it the last sunrise. 27:24 In fact, this was, this was an amazing recognition. 27:32 Do you realize that the Bible actually 27:34 in one case names Jesus as sunrise? 27:37 Take a look at this. 27:38 The Greek word, you have it 27:39 in your study guide for east is anatole. 27:41 Anatole means the rising. 27:43 And so that's why the east is where the sun rises. 27:46 Dr. Luke uses the very same word 27:48 as a proper name for Christ. 27:50 In fact, jot this down, will you? 27:51 Luke 1:78, calls Christ the promised "A" 27:55 as it were Anatole or the "Sunrise." 27:59 New American Standard Version actually calls Him, 28:01 He is the Messiah is the Sunrise. 28:03 Let's put those versus on the screen. 28:05 Luke 1:78 28:07 "Because of the tender mercy of our God, 28:10 with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us." 28:13 What's the good news? 28:14 "He will shine on those who sit in darkness 28:16 and the shadow of death, 28:17 it will guide our feet into the way of peace." 28:20 Luke's point is Christ is the promise sunrise. 28:22 The Messiah as first coming as the sunrise, 28:25 John comes along in the apocalypse 28:26 and says he is the promise sunrise at the second coming 28:29 because, jot this down, the Son always shines. 28:34 The Son always shines when Jesus shows up. 28:37 You know, if we only would spend 28:41 that extra time in the presence of Christ. 28:44 He is going to shine on you if you just allow yourself 28:49 in your sleep deprive run ragged schedule. 28:54 If you just keep yourself that extra moment in His presence. 28:59 The sun was shining on Moses. 29:00 Remember the story about Moses who would go up 29:02 and have this personal communion 29:04 with the pre-incarnate Christ. 29:06 And you remember when he would come down 29:07 from those moments of worship 29:08 they would actually have to put, 29:10 remember what they put over his face. 29:11 What they would put? They put a veil over his face. 29:13 You can't hide it, when you been along with Jesus 29:16 it will shine from your light. 29:18 Not like Moses. Not physically. 29:19 But it will shine intellectually, 29:21 it will shine emotionally, 29:22 it will shine socially, it will shine personally. 29:26 Whatever is happening here, 29:28 what's clear as it this sunrise means that 29:31 Jesus is saturated in this last scene, 29:36 this vision of Revelation 7, 29:38 it is saturated with the glory of Jesus Himself. 29:40 So the question is what's happening here? 29:41 Verse 2, read it again. 29:43 "Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, 29:44 having the seal of the living God. 29:46 And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels 29:48 to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 29:51 and he said" verse 3, 29:52 "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees 29:55 until we have sealed the servants of our God 29:57 on their foreheads." 30:00 Now add verse 4. 30:02 "And I heard the number of those who were sealed. 30:05 One hundred and forty-four thousand 30:07 of all the tribes of the children of Israel 30:10 are sealed on their foreheads." 30:13 Now we are gonna sidestep the whole question of the, 30:15 of the 144,000. 30:16 I put it in your study guide. 30:18 We had a major teaching on this some time ago. 30:20 John the Baptist generation part four we get into 30:23 and you get a study guide with that 30:24 and you can take a look at that in your leisure. 30:26 Let's just forget the 144,000 expect suffice it to say 30:30 and jot this down please. 30:31 "The 144,000 represent a final generation of loyal," 30:36 write in the word "loyal friends of God." 30:40 The 144,000 a loyal generation to God. 30:45 And by the way in between services 30:46 our minister music came to me. 30:48 He said Dwight, you know hear the Silhouettes 30:50 what's singing today. 30:51 James Lee III used to sing with the Silhouettes. 30:54 He's a graduate of Andrew's Academy, 30:55 he went to Andrew's University 30:56 also went to University of Michigan. 30:59 And get this, this I can't scribble this down for me. 31:02 This coming Thursday night in the Kennedy, 31:04 in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 31:07 one of the most famous performing art centers 31:09 in this nation. 31:11 James Lee III one of our own right here, 31:15 James Lee III is providing the music to be performed 31:20 by the National Symphony Orchestra, 31:22 the title of his composition "Beyond Rivers of Vision" 31:27 and in the third moment James has intentionally 31:30 inserted the numbers 144,000, 144,000. 31:36 I said, how could that be? 31:37 He says, well, you will sign a numeric value 31:39 to the numbers with middle C being zero, 31:41 C short being one, 31:42 D being two and so on he goes up to 11 up to B 31:46 and there is a sequence sea shape EECCC, 31:51 144,000. 31:57 Just thought he needs to be know that. 31:59 Doesn't fit into the teaching at all 32:01 but-- You know I thought, 32:04 here is this kid that grew in our midst 32:06 and his-- this is the first time in the history 32:09 right in the community of faith I can say to those 32:10 who are watching on television. 32:12 This is a first time in our, 32:13 our little community of faith's history 32:15 where a composition from a member 32:17 of this little community of faith 32:18 is being performed by the National Orchestra 32:21 and Ken Logan our minister of music 32:23 is flying over on Thursday to be a part of that event. 32:26 Isn't that some? 32:27 Yeah, come on, just little moment of joy. 32:30 Hundred and forty four thousand, 32:31 what is it have to do with what we are studying? 32:33 Absolutely nothing, all right. 32:36 Now, I want to go back to that line that we, 32:39 that you just scribbled in. 32:40 The 144,000 represent a final generation of loyal, 32:44 loyal friends of God. 32:45 You say Dwight, how do you know that they are loyal? 32:47 Because of the great New Testament principal 32:50 that we have been reminding ourselves of here 32:52 in the apocalypse that is scholar are clear 32:56 that our most every word, every phrase in the apocalypse, 33:00 in the Book of Revelation is borrowed heavily 33:04 from an Old Testament source. 33:06 So that if we can find the Old Testament sources 33:08 we can unlock the meaning of the apocalypse 33:11 and this passage we just read is no exception. 33:13 Take a look at this verse, amazing. 33:17 The Book of Ezekiel again. 33:18 Rumor number one had us going to Ezekiel, 33:20 rumor number two has is going to Ezekiel 33:22 and I see two of my colleagues sitting out here 33:24 Jon Paulien and Ranko Stefanovic 33:26 and I'm telling you what gentlemen, 33:27 I'm amazed at how often Paul, oh, not Paul, 33:30 how John dips into the Ezekiel well for his imaginary. 33:33 The Ezekiel well, amazed. 33:35 All right, let's go back to Ezekiel Chapter 9. 33:38 What page number would that be? 33:39 Page 562. 33:43 This is a samba story just four verses long 33:47 but as soon as you read the story 33:49 instantly you'll recognize, 33:50 oh, that's where John got that whole metaphor 33:54 that he writes in Revelation 7. 33:55 All right, Ezekiel 4, I got to quit talking and find it. 33:58 Ezekiel 9 rather, Ezekiel 9:1-4. 34:02 There we go. 34:04 "Then He" He that would be God. 34:08 "The God call out in my hear" so Ezekiel is having a vision. 34:11 "He called out with a loud voice, saying, 34:14 "Let those who have charge over the city draw near, 34:16 each with a deadly weapon in his hand." 34:18 Verse 2 "And suddenly six men" materialize 34:21 "six men came from the direction 34:22 of the upper gate, which faces north, 34:24 each with his battle-ax in his hand." 34:26 This is not a pretty scene. 34:27 They have a weapon of destruction 34:30 affixed to their sides. 34:32 "One man among them" so there is a seventh. 34:35 "One man among them was clothed with linen" 34:38 all white he's clothed in the garb 34:41 of the high priest on the Day of Atonement." 34:43 Which is the day symbolizing judgment in the Old Testament. 34:47 The day of Atonement. So he's clothed in white. 34:49 He doesn't have a weapon. Notice what he has here. 34:51 "One man clothed with linen 34:53 had a writer's inkhorn at his side." 34:55 So he had this little fashioned little, 34:57 you know, inkhorn where you dip the quill 34:59 and then you write. 35:00 So he has this writer's inkhorn 35:03 "And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar." 35:05 That would be inside, that would be in the temple. 35:07 Verse 3, "Now the glory of the God of Israel 35:10 had gone up from the cherub," 35:11 there in the most holy place "where it had been, 35:13 to the threshold of the temple. 35:14 And God called to the man clothed with linen, 35:18 who had the writer's inkhorn at his side 35:19 and the Lord said to him," 35:20 Now here it goes, verse 4. 35:22 "Go through the midst of the city, 35:24 through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark" where? 35:28 Put a mark where? 35:30 "Put a mark on the foreheads of the men and women 35:33 who sigh and cry over all the abominations 35:37 that are done within it." 35:38 Now here what so fascinating. 35:40 The Hebrew word for mark there 35:42 is actually the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet 35:45 its taw, taw. 35:47 And in Ezekiel's time when he wrote 35:49 that letter the alphabet he wrote it as an "X." 35:52 So what God is telling the men dressed in white, 35:54 He says, you go through the city 35:56 and those people who share my concern for the collapse, 36:00 the moral collapse of this city, 36:02 when you come to somebody who shares that concern 36:04 I want you to put a little "X" right on the forehead. 36:09 Mark them. 36:12 Notice ladies and gentlemen, 36:13 the one's marked are not marked for destruction. 36:15 Are they? No, no, no, no. 36:17 They are marked for being spared. 36:19 Put a mark, save that one. 36:24 Now what is the behavior of the rest of the populous 36:27 that is so burden some to God? 36:29 Just drop back in chapter 8 the verse 16, look at 8:16. 36:32 What's going on in that city? This will be a clue for you. 36:36 Chapter 8 verse 16, "So He" God "brought me 36:38 into the inner court of the Lord's house 36:39 and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, 36:41 between the porch and the altar, 36:43 were about twenty-five men 36:45 with their backs toward the church" 36:47 their backs are turned "toward the temple of the Lord 36:50 and their faces toward the east, 36:52 and they were worshiping the sun toward the east." 36:58 In other words in the midst of this community of faith 37:02 there are those who are worshipping the sun. 37:07 Those would be the ones 37:08 that would not get the mark of God's allegiance. 37:13 What's Ezekiel's point? 37:16 Jot it down will you please in your study guide? 37:18 "Clearly" the precedent here in "Ezekiel 37:20 is helping us understand that the mark or seal 37:23 that God places in the foreheads of individuals 37:25 is the sign of allegiance" its not deselect 37:29 it's a sign of allegiance "to God." 37:34 In fact, Revelation contrasts too much. 37:37 Remember from your study of Revelation, 37:38 there-- and both marks go in the forehead of individuals. 37:42 In Revelation we just read about the seal of God 37:45 which goes in the forehead 37:46 but there is another mark in chapter 13 37:48 called the mark of the beast and it also goes where? 37:51 It goes in the forehead. Why in the forehead? 37:54 Because the forehead is a sign of proactive 37:56 intentional, personal choice. 37:58 I choose, I choose. 38:01 I choose to be loyal to God in this case 38:04 or to the beast in chapter 13th's case. 38:07 But very interesting about the beast. 38:08 The beast will also identify its loyal adherence 38:11 not only with the mark to the forehead 38:14 but the beast will also put a mark 38:15 where else on the person? 38:17 Remember where else? 38:18 Where is it? On the hand. 38:20 Notice with God there can be no hand, 38:22 no hand mark to identify loyalty to God. 38:24 Why? 38:25 Because the hand simply symbolizes 38:27 compliance without agreement. 38:29 I just go along, you know, I'm not into this. 38:31 I don't care. Go ahead leave me. 38:33 So it can go on the hand for the beast or the forehead. 38:36 But God said, no, no, no, no, nothing on the hand for me 38:39 because you can't follow the crowd into heaven. 38:42 You can't just follow somebody, 38:44 you'll have to make the decision yourself. 38:48 When you make the choice I'll put an "X" right on you. 38:52 You are a loyal friend of mine. 38:58 Now back to the question, 39:00 what is this seal of the living God 39:01 that is symbolically places on the foreheads 39:03 of God's end time loyal friends? 39:05 There is one more clue that we have to note. 39:06 Go back to Revelation, last verse here, 39:09 Revelation Chapter 14, take a look at this. 39:12 One more clue. 39:15 Put Revelation 14 with Revelation 7, 39:18 bingo we have it. 39:19 And by the way that's the key, ladies and gentlemen. 39:21 The key is to let the Bible interpret itself. 39:23 I could sit up here and say, you know what, 39:24 I know what those marks are, that's a computer barcode. 39:28 It's a little chip that gets put in your hand 39:30 or in your forehead. 39:31 I mean, I can tell you anything 39:32 and you have no way to disprove it. 39:33 You say, well, maybe so, maybe so. 39:35 But if we let the Bible interpret itself 39:38 we get spared some of the craziness 39:40 that circulates in evangelical circles today. 39:42 People are just grabbing for straws, 39:44 what could that be? 39:45 And so when you buy 39:46 the National Enquirer at the supermarket 39:48 they say barcode found in head of boy. 39:54 Craziness. 39:55 Let the Bible interpret itself, so let's do that. 39:57 Revelation 14:1, "Then I looked, and behold, 40:01 a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him" 40:04 how many people? 40:05 One hundred and forty-four thousand, 40:07 here the same people that were sealed. 40:09 "With Him One hundred and forty-four thousand, 40:11 having His Father's name written" where? 40:15 "Written on their foreheads." 40:17 Ladies and gentlemen, would you write that down please? 40:19 "The 'seal of the living God' in their foreheads, 40:21 7:3 is the equivalent of the 'name'" 40:25 write it in, "is equivalent of the 'name of the Father' 40:28 in their foreheads 14:1." 40:30 A equals B. 40:35 What's the big deal about a name? 40:37 Listen, when you put your name on something 40:41 what does that signify? 40:43 When you put your name, 40:44 when you scribble your name on something 40:46 what you are saying by scribbling your name? 40:48 What are you saying? That belongs to me. 40:52 That is mine. 40:54 I want to, I want to share something with you. 40:59 This was given to us by our friend Doug Martin 41:03 who is over in Hong Kong. 41:05 I bring a camera up here so you can see 41:06 what it is on the screen. 41:09 This is a beautiful little lacquered case 41:14 and if you open the case up inside the case 41:18 is a lovely little something that is called-- 41:23 can you see this? 41:25 This is a seal. 41:27 Now I know that this isn't something Doug just made out 41:30 because I grew up as a missionaries kid in Japan. 41:32 My father used to have a seal. 41:34 Japanese and Chinese use the same characters. 41:37 So my father had a seal made with his own characters 41:41 and Doug has told me 41:42 and I have to accept it by faith, 41:43 it in fact this is my name on these, 41:45 these-- gonna be awful 41:47 if something terrible that you stamp. 41:49 But the point of the seal is whenever you, 41:51 whenever you transact bistre with a seal, 41:54 when you put the seal on that document 41:58 that is as official as official can get in the orient. 42:01 So that what you do, let me turn my notes over here. 42:04 What you do is you take this seal 42:07 and it comes with a nice little red pasty ink. 42:11 So you take the seal and you, 42:12 you just put it in and you make sure 42:13 you get some of that red paste on it 42:15 and then the document, you just take it 42:19 and I don't know if its right side up 42:20 or upside down but who cares. 42:21 So you take it and you just go 42:26 and when you pull it off voila, 42:29 in Chinese this book belongs to me. 42:35 Thank you, Tim. 42:36 Because and would you jot this down please? 42:38 In the orient, in the orient when you use a seal, 42:41 a seal signifies ownership. 42:43 Write that down please. 42:44 We will put that on the screen so we make sure that we get it. 42:46 "The seal in the Orient is considered 42:48 a symbol of ownership." 42:51 Look at, if you invite me to your house for dinner today, 42:53 we would love to come by the way 42:54 except got to be with a small group having dinner. 42:56 But if we came to your house for dinner 42:58 and I brought the sort of seal straight from the sermon 43:00 and while you were in the kitchen, 43:02 while you were in the kitchen getting things ready 43:03 I go to you library and I go stamp, 43:05 stamp, stamp, stamp, stamp, 43:06 my name all through your books. 43:08 Would that work? 43:09 No, it won't work. You know why? 43:11 Because you can only stamp your seal 43:15 on that which belongs to you. 43:17 Seals cannot on that which does not belong to you. 43:22 You would never has us all for dinner again. 43:26 But that's the point of a seal. 43:28 The seal can only be placed on that 43:31 which belongs to the one making the stamp. 43:35 You get it? 43:37 I saw another angel coming up 43:39 in the midst of the fore and he yelled out to the four, 43:41 hey, guys, hold it. 43:43 Don't let, don't let any more of those Katrina's get through. 43:46 Don't let for it once, please, hold it back 43:49 until we have sealed 43:51 the friends of Jesus on their foreheads. 43:54 Nothing on the hand, no following the crowd, 43:57 not for this group they are gonna make the choice 43:59 to follow the eternal Father for the rest of eternity. 44:03 Hold the winds until we can go... 44:08 the name of the Father on the loyal friends of Jesus. 44:16 That's the angel says. 44:19 Which is why it reads 44:20 "Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, 44:22 having the seal of the living God. 44:23 And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels 44:25 to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 44:27 and he said, 'Do not harm the earth, 44:28 the sea, or the trees till we have sealed 44:30 the servants of our God on their foreheads.'" 44:32 Would you write this down please? 44:33 "At the end of time God places his seal of ownership, 44:36 'they belong to Me'" That's what the seal say. 44:38 They belong to Me, its My name, 44:40 I'm putting My name on the "foreheads of those 44:42 who have chosen to be loyal to Me." 44:43 He stamps His name on their foreheads. 44:46 Angels please see little "X" there, 44:48 that little "X" means spare them. 44:50 When the four winds are let loose make sure 44:53 that I do not lose a single loyal friend of Mine. 44:56 Make sure "X" spare, save... 45:05 they belong to me. 45:06 Question, conceivably couldn't God 45:09 declare that about every man, woman 45:12 and child on this planet? 45:13 Couldn't He by virtue of the fact 45:14 that he is our mutual Creator. 45:17 Couldn't He declare the whole earth is mine? 45:20 But of course He could. 45:21 And in fact, that precisely why he gave the human race 45:24 the Seventh-day Sabbath long ago. 45:26 Would you jot this down in your study guide. 45:27 "The Sabbath is a seal" 45:29 its a "seal in time whereby all earth children 45:33 can be reminded that indeed 45:35 they do belong to their Creator." 45:36 Seal goes down. 45:39 That the Creator in fact, 45:40 is there forever friend, they belong to Him. 45:44 Which by the way is the grand 45:46 and glorious teaching of the forth commandment 45:49 in the Decalogue written on the stone. 45:50 Let's put the forth commandment. 45:51 Now in fact, I wish you would look it up in your Bible. 45:54 Don't take the screen worth for just look it up 45:56 please in your Bible, Exodus Chapter 20, 46:01 one last text to look up Exodus 20, look at verse 8. 46:05 This is forth commandment, 46:06 yeah, you remember these words. 46:07 Do you? 46:08 Forth commandment verse 8, 46:09 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 46:14 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 46:18 but the seventh day 46:20 is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 46:22 In it you shall do no work, 46:24 you, nor your son, nor your daughter, 46:27 nor your male servant, 46:29 nor your female servant, nor your cattle, 46:32 nor your stranger who is within your gates" 46:34 why, why, why? 46:35 Verse 11, "For in six days the Lord made the heavens 46:38 and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, 46:41 and rested the seventh day. 46:43 Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day 46:46 and hallowed it." 46:48 Having put His seal upon a perfect creation 46:52 God then rested. 46:53 And He said, when you come to that day 46:55 I wish you would rest with Me. 46:57 In the resting in me it allows My name 47:01 to go on your faking process. 47:03 Let Me stamp that I'm your Creator 47:06 and then you recognize you belong to Me. 47:08 Let me seal you on the day I seal from the very beginning. 47:14 That's why Jesus can come along. 47:15 Look at this Mark Chapter 2, remember these words, verse 27. 47:19 "And Jesus said to them, 47:20 'The Sabbath was made for man and woman 47:22 and not man and woman for the Sabbath. 47:24 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." 47:27 We are going over our PowerPoint yesterday 47:29 with Anthony Wills who is a computing engineer major here 47:33 out wrapping it up at Andrews University. 47:35 And Anthony say, hey Dwight, 47:36 but what is this about the Sabbath 47:38 was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. 47:40 Oh, Jesus is reminding us is that 47:42 on what day of creation was the human race began? 47:46 On day, what number was it? Day six, right. 47:49 Day six, on Friday as it were Adam and Eve were created. 47:53 It's after Friday once God has a new generation of friends 47:59 a race of personal companions for this planet. 48:05 Once He has the friends 48:07 then he makes the day to celebrate the friendship. 48:10 Here's they make the day and say man, 48:11 I need somebody to worship Me on this day, 48:13 I need some humans. 48:14 No, it's the other way around. 48:15 The Sabbath was made for man and woman 48:17 not man and woman for the Sabbath. 48:19 And that's why it's no wonder that Jesus 48:21 who is Lord of the Sabbath 48:22 cries out the invitation of the Sabbath. 48:24 I love these words, in fact, write them in your study guide 48:27 the well known words, Matthew 11:28 48:29 Jesus Christ says, "Come to Me, 48:31 all you who labor and are heavy laden 48:34 and" I will give you" what "I will give you rest." 48:38 Write it down, I'll give you rest, Come to Me. 48:42 The some of righteous is who rises 48:43 one last time with his out stretched arms 48:46 healing in that out stretched arms he said, 48:47 you know, what, postmodern secular west 48:50 if you just come to me 48:52 I can heal your sleep depravation, 48:53 I can heal your stress anxieties. 48:57 Come to Me, I'll give you rest. 49:00 I'll tell you what, if Australia could come 49:02 and America and Europe and China, 49:03 write this down, the world Japan 49:05 they could find this gift of rest 49:06 for the their sleep-deprived, rest-less souls. 49:10 You live in a world of restlessness today 49:14 if only they would come. 49:16 I'll tell you what I need to end by saying, 49:17 if only we would to him for that rest 49:22 for I fear that we'll champion the day of the Sabbath, 49:25 have sadly forgotten the way of the Sabbath. 49:29 We've turned this day loyal friendship 49:31 with the creator into a day of clock watching and bed filling. 49:34 And the way after running ragged 49:37 all week from over work and over study 49:39 we collapse on the Sabbath contented to call 49:41 our extra long afternoon nap 49:43 as the obligatory rest for the seventh day. 49:46 Hallelujah, I got my rest in. 49:48 Oh, day of rest in gladness. 49:50 Can you imagine, do you suppose 49:51 the Creator looks forward to spending the Sabbath with you? 49:53 I'm not asking about you and Creator. 49:55 Does He enjoy spending the Sabbath with you? 49:59 If the Sabbath is simply mean unraveling 50:03 because I've driven myself off of the previous six days. 50:09 And ladies and gentlemen, I repeat, if the Sabbath 50:13 rest is not attractive to us who know better 50:16 how under heaven could we possibly presented 50:21 to the secular postmodern west? 50:22 How can we tell them about something 50:24 we haven't experienced ourselves? 50:26 We can't. 50:30 Let me close with this simple suggestion 50:33 written a century ago. 50:35 "The Sabbath is a golden clasp that unites God and His people" 50:40 his friends, "Daily" write that in please. 50:43 Daily the Sabbath "Daily it will be their prayer 50:46 that the sanctification of the Sabbath 50:48 God's seal of ownership. 50:49 Daily they will pray that it might rest upon them. 50:52 Every day" write that in 50:54 "Every day they will have the companionship of Christ." 50:58 Did you get that guys, 50:59 the Seventh-day Sabbath is most meaningful 51:01 when it becomes a daily and everyday kind of preoccupation. 51:05 Hey, let me ask you a question. 51:06 When a man falls in love with a woman 51:08 though their time each week maybe limited to a day here 51:10 or a dinner there the fact remains that 51:12 when you are in love 51:14 are you not preoccupied with that love 51:16 the whole week through? 51:17 Are you not? 51:19 Come on, 51:20 I'm not talking about heart flashes all day long, 51:24 let's be clear. 51:25 What I'm talking about is in the midst of the phonetic day. 51:28 I can stop and I can think of Karen 51:30 and I tell you what it brings a certain glow and joy to me 51:32 because you know, why, I'm happily married to her. 51:35 Do you know, why now I'm happily married to her? 51:36 Because everyday when I leave the house 51:38 she puts me against the wall and she says repeat after me, 51:40 I'm a happily married man and I repeat it, 51:42 I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm happy. 51:49 Oh, mercy. 51:50 I tell you when I turn on my laptop 51:52 its Karen's picture for my, 51:54 for my desktop that's Karen's picture. 51:56 When I open this wallet right here 51:57 and I do business in this community 51:59 when I open the wallet to take anything out 52:01 the first picture you see is Karen's. 52:02 Why? Because I'm preoccupied with her. 52:04 I can't spend all day with here, I got a life. 52:12 I can't spend all day with her 52:14 and she can't spend all day with me. 52:16 I've given you six days to labor, 52:18 I've given you six days to labor. 52:20 I'm not asking to quit your job, 52:21 I'm not asking to think 52:22 God, God, God, God, God, God, God, 24/7. 52:25 I'm not asking you. 52:26 I've give you six days to do what you got to do 52:28 but I've given also the seventh day to move 52:31 from preoccupation to personal contact. 52:34 I need some time with you. I want to draw you into me. 52:39 If you got to have time with the one you love, 52:40 you can be preoccupied that's good 52:43 but you still need the time when you come together 52:46 and that preoccupation becomes personal contact. 52:51 That's what the Sabbath is, 52:52 personal contact with the Creator. 52:55 I know you got six days you got to study, 52:56 I know you got to get the degree here. 52:58 I know all about it. 53:01 What did that quota-- how did it read, 53:02 "The Sabbath is golden clasp that unites God and His people. 53:05 Daily it will be their prayer." 53:07 Here's the suggestion. 53:08 "It will be their prayer everyday 53:09 that the sanctification of the Sabbath, 53:11 God's seal of ownership may rest upon them. 53:13 Every day they will have the companionship of Christ." 53:16 So here's a suggestion ladies and gentlemen, 53:17 what if we pray everyday 53:19 "O God, may your Sabbath blessing rest upon me today." 53:24 I know its Sunday 53:25 but I'm asking for your Sabbath blessing. 53:27 I know its Monday 53:28 but I'm asking for your Sabbath blessing. 53:30 I know its Wednesday but may your Sabbath rest on me. 53:33 You saying Dwight, what's the Sabbath blessing? 53:34 The Sabbath blessing is resting 53:37 in the realization that He has put His ownership on me. 53:42 No worries, you don't have to worry anymore. 53:46 Why do you have to worry about life? 53:47 Do you understand that the Father has His name, 53:49 has His name on you? 53:50 When I was a kid growing up 53:51 did I ever worry, tell me the truth, 53:53 did I ever worry about a blooming thing? 53:56 No. 53:57 You know why? 53:58 Because I had a dad, I had a father 54:00 and I knew that everything was in my dad's hands 54:02 and there was nothing for me to do but to just have fun. 54:06 When you have a father who is in control 54:08 and he's got your name on you, 54:10 he says you belong to me boy, girl, I'm your dad. 54:13 I'm your oblate father. 54:15 No worries, 54:17 no worries, you don't have to worry about 54:19 getting through Andrews University. 54:20 You get through just fine. 54:22 He got you here, He'll get you through 54:24 and He'll get you out of here. 54:26 Amen. 54:27 No worries. 54:29 You are worried about your bank account, 54:30 you are worried about running out of money. 54:32 You job is down to a final thread, 54:35 your career is on the line, no worries. 54:38 Do you understand 54:39 that in the middle of that pretty forehead of your 54:41 there is a stamp, 54:43 a stamp with the crimson of Calvary it's read to 54:47 with the crimson of Calvary and the stamp says that's mine, 54:51 that boy is Mine. 54:52 You can do what you want devil to him 54:54 but that boy is Mine and I'm gonna protect 54:56 and that X, X marks the spot where a life belongs to me. 55:01 Ladies and gentlemen, no worries. 55:03 Look at the cross, look at the cross. 55:05 When some body has made and infinite investment 55:08 that expensive in your life, 55:11 don't you suppose he is now committed to protecting 55:14 the investment he has already made. 55:15 No worries, no worries. 55:19 Oh, ladies and gentlemen, it is time, 55:21 it is high time to reclaim the rest of the Sabbath 55:24 for the rest of the week. 55:25 The rest doesn't start on the seventh day 55:27 it says on the first, second, third, 55:29 fourth, fifth and six days. 55:31 You rest in Jesus six days, the seventh day then, 55:35 now we are together. 55:37 The world is shut out, the television is off, 55:42 the stereo has now gone through adjustment. 55:47 My reading material is beyond eyesight in my dormitory room. 55:52 The text book are covered by towels. 55:57 I want undistracted communion 56:03 with the father who says boy, 56:05 I've already written My name on your sweaty brow. 56:10 You belong to Me, no worries, no worry. 56:14 Oh, day of rest and gladness 56:17 that's when it becomes glad, that's when we have rest. 56:21 I want to sing that song with you can-- 56:22 let's sing that. 56:23 What is it number 383, 56:27 383 and as we sing these words, 56:30 old words I want you to sing them again for the first time. 56:34 As we sing these words, "O day of rest and gladness, 56:37 O day of joy and light, 56:39 A garden, intersected with streams, 56:41 most beautiful and bright." 56:42 As you sing about the gift of rest, 56:45 would you with me today just say, 56:48 Jesus, by your grace 56:50 I want a seven day a week rest that will climax 56:54 in that day of rest and climax. 56:55 Let's sing that great hymn together as conclude. 57:06 Before you go I wanted to take one more moment 57:08 and let you know how glad I am you shared 57:10 this hour of worship of worship and Bible teaching with us. 57:13 Living in the world that we do now, 57:15 a civilization surviving on the edge 57:16 of constant upheaval and change 57:19 I'm grateful that we have the bedrock hope of Jesus, 57:21 aren't you? 57:22 And I'm thankful that you and I 57:23 can partner together to reach this generation 57:26 the world over through the satellite telecast. 57:29 So please know that I thank God 57:30 and you for the generous way you partner with us. 57:34 Your tax-deductible gifts are being multiplied 57:36 all across the earth for such a time as this. 57:39 If you would like to order a DVD 57:40 or a video tape copy of this teaching today 57:43 or make a donation on your credit card 57:45 please call our friendly operators 57:46 at the number on your screen. 57:47 There it is 877-HIS-WILL, 57:50 just the two words 877-HIS-WILL 57:53 and I promise you, 57:54 we will invest every penny of your generosity 57:56 in God's mission to reach this final generation now. 58:00 Thank you for that partnership 58:02 and I'll see you here again next time. |
Revised 2015-05-11