"All I have needed
00:00:27.33\00:00:31.84
Thy hand hath provided
00:00:31.87\00:00:37.02
Great is Thy faithfulness!
00:00:37.05\00:00:43.18
Lord unto me!"
00:00:43.21\00:00:47.88
"We stand and lift up our hands
00:01:05.61\00:01:09.60
For the joy of the
Lord is our strength
00:01:09.63\00:01:16.47
We bow down and worship Him now
00:01:16.50\00:01:20.94
How great, how awesome is He
00:01:20.97\00:01:25.37
And together we sing
00:01:25.40\00:01:31.11
Ev'ryone sing
00:01:31.14\00:01:36.37
Holy is the Lord, God, Almighty
00:01:36.40\00:01:42.49
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:01:42.52\00:01:47.43
Holy is the Lord, God, Almighty
00:01:47.46\00:01:53.52
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:01:53.55\00:01:58.73
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:01:58.76\00:02:03.90
We stand and lift up our hands
00:02:07.80\00:02:11.85
For the joy of the
Lord is our strength
00:02:11.88\00:02:18.67
We bow down and worship Him now
00:02:18.70\00:02:23.02
How great, how awesome is He
00:02:23.05\00:02:27.55
And together we sing
00:02:27.58\00:02:33.34
Ev'ryone sing
00:02:33.37\00:02:38.49
Holy is the Lord, God, Almighty
00:02:38.52\00:02:44.69
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:02:44.72\00:02:49.32
Holy is the Lord, God, Almighty
00:02:49.35\00:02:55.11
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:02:55.14\00:03:00.66
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:03:00.69\00:03:06.16
It's rising up all around
00:03:08.75\00:03:14.12
It's the anthem
of the Lord's renown
00:03:14.15\00:03:20.07
It's rising up all around
00:03:20.10\00:03:25.15
It's the anthem
of the Lord's renown
00:03:25.18\00:03:32.28
And together we sing
00:03:32.31\00:03:38.76
Ev'ryone sing
00:03:38.79\00:03:44.05
Holy is the Lord, God, Almighty
00:03:44.08\00:03:50.22
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:03:50.25\00:03:55.18
Holy is the Lord, God, Almighty
00:03:55.21\00:04:01.24
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:04:01.27\00:04:06.49
The earth is
filled with His glory"
00:04:06.52\00:04:12.92
Amen. You may be seated.
00:04:12.95\00:04:15.73
This next pray song is
called from the inside out
00:04:19.86\00:04:23.10
and it's a
beautiful song that describes
00:04:23.13\00:04:25.26
that no matter how
time-- how many times we fail
00:04:25.29\00:04:29.67
our Lord is always there
to pick us up, to rescue us
00:04:29.70\00:04:34.85
and simple from that we
owe Him our lives in service.
00:04:34.88\00:04:41.20
Let's sing this song together.
00:04:41.23\00:04:43.26
A thousand times I've failed
00:04:46.82\00:04:49.97
Still your mercy remains
00:04:50.00\00:04:53.90
And should I stumble again
00:04:53.93\00:04:57.11
Still I'm caught in Your grace
00:04:57.14\00:05:01.29
Everlasting
00:05:01.32\00:05:03.64
Your light will
shine when all else fades
00:05:03.67\00:05:08.68
Never-ending
00:05:08.71\00:05:10.78
Your glory goes beyond all fame
00:05:10.81\00:05:16.13
It's a Beautiful,
that's a beautiful verse.
00:05:18.56\00:05:21.36
Let's sing it one more time.
00:05:21.39\00:05:23.93
A thousand times I've failed
00:05:23.96\00:05:25.91
But still your mercy remains
00:05:25.94\00:05:30.15
A thousand times I've failed
00:05:30.18\00:05:33.28
Still your mercy remains
00:05:33.31\00:05:37.00
And should I stumble again
00:05:37.03\00:05:40.49
Still I'm caught in Your grace
00:05:40.52\00:05:44.60
Everlasting
00:05:44.63\00:05:46.79
Your light will
shine when all else fades
00:05:46.82\00:05:51.82
Never-ending
00:05:51.85\00:05:54.04
Your glory goes beyond all fame
00:05:54.07\00:06:01.24
In my heart and my soul
00:06:01.27\00:06:04.68
Lord, I give You control
00:06:04.71\00:06:08.59
Consume me from
the inside out, Lord
00:06:08.62\00:06:15.58
Let justice and praise
00:06:15.61\00:06:19.52
Become my embrace
00:06:19.55\00:06:23.04
To love You from the inside out
00:06:23.07\00:06:28.05
Everlasting
00:06:28.08\00:06:30.12
Your light will
shine when all else fades
00:06:30.15\00:06:35.16
Never-ending
00:06:35.19\00:06:37.19
Your glory goes beyond all fame
00:06:37.22\00:06:42.07
And the cry of my heart
00:06:42.10\00:06:45.22
Is to bring You praise
00:06:45.25\00:06:49.35
From the inside out, Lord
00:06:49.38\00:06:52.87
My soul cries out, Lord
00:06:52.90\00:06:58.56
Your will above all else
00:07:09.79\00:07:13.79
My purpose remains
00:07:13.82\00:07:17.23
The art of losing myself
00:07:17.26\00:07:20.99
In bringing You praise
00:07:21.02\00:07:24.42
Everlasting
00:07:24.45\00:07:26.91
Your light will
shine when all else fades
00:07:26.94\00:07:31.43
Never-ending
00:07:31.46\00:07:33.54
Your glory goes beyond all fame
00:07:33.57\00:07:40.34
In my heart and my
soul, I give You control
00:07:40.37\00:07:47.68
Consume me from
the inside out, Lord
00:07:47.71\00:07:54.20
Let justice and
praise become my embrace
00:07:54.23\00:08:01.44
To love You from the inside out
00:08:01.47\00:08:06.50
Everlasting
00:08:06.53\00:08:08.45
Your light will
shine when all else fades
00:08:08.48\00:08:13.28
Never-ending
00:08:13.31\00:08:15.51
Your glory goes beyond all fame
00:08:15.54\00:08:20.36
And the cry of my heart
00:08:20.39\00:08:23.43
Is to bring You praise
00:08:23.46\00:08:27.45
From the inside out, Lord
00:08:27.48\00:08:30.88
My soul cries out, Lord
00:08:30.91\00:08:36.58
"Lord, I give You my heart
00:08:43.63\00:08:46.75
I give You my soul
00:08:46.78\00:08:50.71
I live for You alone
00:08:50.74\00:08:54.27
Ev'ry breath that I take
00:08:54.30\00:08:57.15
Ev'ry moment I'm awake
00:08:57.18\00:09:01.11
Lord, have Your way in me
00:09:01.14\00:09:05.54
This is my desire
00:09:11.98\00:09:14.27
This is my desire
00:09:14.30\00:09:19.00
To honor You
00:09:19.03\00:09:24.53
Lord, with all my heart
00:09:24.56\00:09:28.12
I worship You
00:09:28.15\00:09:34.73
All I have within me
00:09:34.76\00:09:39.39
I give You praise
00:09:39.42\00:09:45.00
All that I adore is in You
00:09:45.03\00:09:51.97
Lord, I give You my heart
00:09:56.03\00:09:59.33
I give You my soul
00:09:59.36\00:10:02.96
I live for You alone
00:10:02.99\00:10:06.79
Ev'ry Breath that I take
00:10:06.82\00:10:09.89
Ev'ry moment I'm awake
00:10:09.92\00:10:13.30
Lord, have Your way in me
00:10:13.33\00:10:17.23
Lord, I give You my heart
00:10:17.26\00:10:20.32
I give You my soul
00:10:20.35\00:10:24.04
I live for You alone
00:10:24.07\00:10:27.74
Ev'ry breath that I take
00:10:27.77\00:10:30.77
Ev'ry moment I'm awake
00:10:30.80\00:10:34.61
Lord, have Your way in me"
00:10:34.64\00:10:39.98
Hold of him, early of him.
00:13:59.76\00:14:01.90
How sweet are the tidings
that greet the pilgrim's ear,
00:14:01.93\00:14:05.81
He is coming,
coming, coming soon I know.
00:14:05.84\00:14:10.00
That's what ignited
the hearts of the pioneers
00:14:10.03\00:14:15.70
for whom this
church is a memorial,
00:14:15.73\00:14:18.39
Pioneer Memorial Church.
00:14:18.42\00:14:21.37
Before we plunge
into a very unusual story
00:14:21.40\00:14:24.38
I want to turn to
some red letter words.
00:14:24.41\00:14:26.47
So open your Bibles
please to the Word of Jesus,
00:14:26.50\00:14:29.00
Sermon on the
Mount and Matthew 7.
00:14:29.03\00:14:31.47
I want to read these words,
00:14:31.50\00:14:33.04
have a prayer and then
plunge into our teaching today.
00:14:33.07\00:14:36.44
Matthew Chapter 7,
00:14:36.47\00:14:37.50
Sermon on the Mount
words of our Lord himself.
00:14:37.53\00:14:44.14
If you have Red Letter
Bible this words are bright red,
00:14:44.17\00:14:47.33
Matthew Chapter 7:15
00:14:47.36\00:14:52.28
not gonna put them on the screen
00:14:52.31\00:14:53.50
if-- oh, by the way if
you don't have a Bible,
00:14:53.53\00:14:54.72
grab the pew Bible, let
me give you a page number.
00:14:54.75\00:14:56.98
Pew Bible page
number will be page 653.
00:14:57.01\00:15:01.28
I like you to track
this, Matthew Chapter 7:15
00:15:01.31\00:15:06.77
Jesus speaking, "
Beware of false prophets,
00:15:06.80\00:15:10.61
which come to you
in sheep's clothing,
00:15:10.64\00:15:12.33
but inwardly they
are ravening wolves.
00:15:12.36\00:15:15.74
You will know
them by their fruits.
00:15:15.77\00:15:18.63
Do men gather
grapes from thorns bushes,
00:15:18.66\00:15:20.98
or figs of thistles?"
00:15:21.01\00:15:23.67
Verse 17 "Even so every good
tree bears forth good fruit,
00:15:23.70\00:15:27.89
but a bad tree bears bad fruit."
00:15:27.92\00:15:29.99
Verse 18 "A good tree
cannot bear bad fruits,
00:15:30.02\00:15:33.83
nor can a bad
tree bear good fruit.
00:15:33.86\00:15:37.89
Every tree that
does not bear good fruit
00:15:37.92\00:15:39.88
is cut down, and
thrown into the fire."
00:15:39.91\00:15:42.40
Punch line Jesus, verse 20
00:15:42.43\00:15:45.05
"Therefore by their
fruits" by their fruits
00:15:45.08\00:15:50.88
"you will know them."
00:15:50.91\00:15:52.60
Let's pray.
00:15:52.63\00:15:53.75
Oh, God, trees and
fruits by their fruits,
00:15:56.87\00:16:03.96
let today's teaching be clear
00:16:05.68\00:16:07.58
to both our minds and our hearts
00:16:07.61\00:16:11.35
as we ponder these
words of Christ our Lord
00:16:11.38\00:16:15.22
we praying His name, amen.
00:16:15.25\00:16:19.26
On November 26, 1827
in a little rural village
00:16:19.29\00:16:25.29
not far from Portland Maine,
00:16:25.32\00:16:29.26
the autumn leaves already down
00:16:29.29\00:16:31.22
and brown strewn upon
that cold New England earth.
00:16:31.25\00:16:37.36
Robert and Eunice Harmon,
their family already bulging
00:16:37.39\00:16:41.37
with two boys
and four daughters,
00:16:41.40\00:16:45.69
overnight, overnight suddenly
00:16:45.72\00:16:50.00
see their
family expanded by two.
00:16:50.03\00:16:53.58
The birth of fraternal
twins, one they named Elizabeth
00:16:53.61\00:16:58.38
and called Lizzie
the other they Ellen.
00:16:58.41\00:17:04.14
Robert Harmon hard
working New Englander farmer
00:17:04.17\00:17:08.80
trying to make ends
meet resorted to hat making
00:17:08.83\00:17:11.95
during the frigid months
of those New England winters
00:17:11.98\00:17:15.39
10 mouths to feed now.
00:17:15.42\00:17:18.84
Let me tell you a
bit about the world
00:17:18.87\00:17:21.71
that these little twins
Ellen and Lizzie grew up in.
00:17:21.74\00:17:24.80
It was a formidable
one and which to survive.
00:17:24.83\00:17:26.72
Let me read some
statistics to you,
00:17:26.75\00:17:31.54
statistics from those
years indicate the children--
00:17:31.57\00:17:33.82
listen to this,
"Children under 10
00:17:33.85\00:17:35.74
often constituted close
to 50% of deaths in a year."
00:17:35.77\00:17:41.17
That's not counting
stillborns by the way.
00:17:41.20\00:17:43.46
Reading on "Here
stated differently
00:17:43.49\00:17:44.86
the average age of death
during 1841" the twins were 13
00:17:44.89\00:17:48.64
"average age of
death was 22.6 years.
00:17:48.67\00:17:53.93
Which the advertiser
which is the Portland newspaper
00:17:53.96\00:17:56.07
claimed demonstrated
00:17:56.10\00:17:57.65
'the superior degree of
health enjoyed in Portland.'"
00:17:57.68\00:18:01.08
Come to our city 'cause
you live longer here 22.6.
00:18:01.11\00:18:05.59
Formidable times, it was
not an easy time to grow up,
00:18:05.62\00:18:08.26
but isn't it fascinating. "
00:18:08.29\00:18:11.85
Typhoid fever, typhus cholera,
measles scarlet's fever."
00:18:11.88\00:18:14.68
Scarlet fever consumption
we know as tuberculosis today.
00:18:14.71\00:18:18.02
Isn't it fascinating
not one of those diseases
00:18:18.05\00:18:20.94
nearly killed one of the
twins but rather anger itself.
00:18:20.97\00:18:24.70
One sunny afternoon the
two little girls nine-years-old
00:18:24.73\00:18:27.98
with the classmate of
theirs are making the way,
00:18:28.01\00:18:29.84
their way home
when an older student 13
00:18:29.87\00:18:32.93
with threatening
words follows them.
00:18:32.96\00:18:35.84
They hear her threats,
00:18:35.87\00:18:39.11
raised by a god fearing
mother to never retaliate.
00:18:39.14\00:18:42.78
The twins hurriedly cross
the street to the other side
00:18:42.81\00:18:46.29
and little Ellen
happen to look back to gauge
00:18:46.32\00:18:49.71
the distance to their tormentor
when in that split second
00:18:49.74\00:18:54.36
the stone that the
teenager had thrown
00:18:54.39\00:18:57.82
struck Ellen in the
face and she collapsed.
00:18:57.85\00:19:02.52
She writes of what happened,
00:19:02.55\00:19:04.41
I put it in the screen
for you, take a look at this.
00:19:04.44\00:19:06.80
"I was stunned by the blow,
00:19:06.83\00:19:08.73
and I fell
senseless to the ground.
00:19:08.76\00:19:10.85
When consciousness returned,
00:19:10.88\00:19:12.32
I found myself in
a merchant's store.
00:19:12.35\00:19:14.33
A kind stranger offered to
take me home in his carriage,
00:19:14.36\00:19:16.60
but I, not
realizing my weakness,
00:19:16.63\00:19:18.39
told him that I
preferred to walk.
00:19:18.42\00:19:20.39
Those present were not aware
that my injury was so serious,
00:19:20.42\00:19:22.82
and allowed me to go
00:19:22.85\00:19:23.95
but after
walking only a few rods,
00:19:23.98\00:19:26.06
I grew faint and dizzy.
00:19:26.09\00:19:27.83
My twin sister and my
schoolmate carried me home.
00:19:27.86\00:19:30.34
I have no
recollection of anything further
00:19:30.37\00:19:33.07
for some time
after the accident.
00:19:33.10\00:19:35.53
My mother said
that I noticed nothing,
00:19:35.56\00:19:37.89
but lay in a
stupor for three weeks.
00:19:37.92\00:19:40.21
No one but herself thought
it possible for me to recover,
00:19:40.24\00:19:43.11
but for some reason
she felt that I would live.
00:19:43.14\00:19:46.31
I was reduced
almost to a skeleton."
00:19:46.34\00:19:50.99
Weeks later one day a
neighbor lady drops by
00:19:51.02\00:19:53.55
and little Ellen
overhears the neighbor lady say,
00:19:53.58\00:19:56.71
what a pity, I wouldn't
have even recognized her.
00:19:56.74\00:20:02.53
The tiny invalid calls for
a glass into which to peer.
00:20:02.56\00:20:07.39
She describes her reaction.
00:20:07.42\00:20:11.44
"Every feature of
my face seemed changed.
00:20:11.47\00:20:16.38
The sight was
more than I could bear.
00:20:16.41\00:20:19.32
I did not wish to live,
00:20:19.35\00:20:20.92
but I dared not die,
for I was not prepared."
00:20:20.95\00:20:25.34
I tell you what
ladies and gentlemen,
00:20:25.37\00:20:27.16
is a society like yours and mine
00:20:27.19\00:20:28.70
were physical attraction
00:20:28.73\00:20:30.82
and beauty is so
highly passionately emphasized
00:20:30.85\00:20:37.09
it isn't hard for
you and me to imagine
00:20:37.12\00:20:40.18
the
heartbreaking horror of staring
00:20:40.21\00:20:43.83
into a mirror
with that discovery.
00:20:43.86\00:20:46.93
But the most crushing blow came
00:20:46.96\00:20:49.69
when her beloved father
away in Georgia in business
00:20:49.72\00:20:52.34
at the time of the
tragedy returned home.
00:20:52.37\00:20:55.23
She describes
that moment as well.
00:20:55.26\00:20:57.27
"When he returned, he
spoke to my brother and sisters,
00:20:57.30\00:20:59.47
and inquired for me."
00:20:59.50\00:21:00.53
Hey listen,
where's little Ellen.
00:21:00.56\00:21:02.61
Nice to see you
Lizzie, but where is your sis?
00:21:02.64\00:21:04.14
Where is your twin?
00:21:04.17\00:21:05.59
Oh, papa, we haven't
been able to tell you
00:21:05.62\00:21:08.13
and the story tumbles out
00:21:08.16\00:21:09.68
and father now
walks into the room
00:21:09.71\00:21:12.00
where little Ellen lies.
00:21:12.03\00:21:15.71
"It was hard to make him
believe that I was his Ellen.
00:21:15.74\00:21:22.65
This cut me to the heart,
00:21:22.68\00:21:24.66
yet I tried to put on an
appearance of cheerfulness,
00:21:24.69\00:21:27.56
when my heart ached. "
00:21:27.59\00:21:30.67
Has your heart ever ached
over how you wished you looked?
00:21:30.70\00:21:35.38
Some 50 years later
the grown up Ellen returned
00:21:39.47\00:21:42.68
and a visit to her
hometown of Portland
00:21:42.71\00:21:44.88
stood on that spot where that
tragedy took place she writes.
00:21:44.91\00:21:49.37
"I visited the spot
where I met with the accident
00:21:49.40\00:21:51.48
that has made me a
life-long invalid."
00:21:51.51\00:21:53.91
She never recovered,
the breathing apparatus
00:21:53.94\00:21:56.33
just never fully recovered
from that tragic accident.
00:21:56.36\00:22:01.18
"I visited the spot
where I met with the accident
00:22:01.21\00:22:02.81
that has made me
a life-long invalid.
00:22:02.84\00:22:04.73
This
misfortune, which for a time
00:22:04.76\00:22:06.88
seemed so bitter
and was so hard to bear,
00:22:06.91\00:22:10.27
has proved to be a
blessing in disguise.
00:22:10.30\00:22:13.02
The cruel blow which
blighted the joys of earth,
00:22:13.05\00:22:16.18
was the means of
turning my eyes to heaven.
00:22:16.21\00:22:19.30
I might never have known
Jesus," can you believe this?
00:22:19.33\00:22:26.09
"I might never have
known Jesus, had not the sorrow
00:22:26.12\00:22:30.04
that clouded my early years
00:22:30.07\00:22:32.23
led me to seek comfort in him."
00:22:32.26\00:22:35.76
I'll tell you what
ladies and gentlemen,
00:22:35.79\00:22:36.99
that is what quite
a testimony is it not?
00:22:37.02\00:22:39.39
How did she put it, I
might never have known
00:22:39.42\00:22:41.09
Jesus had this tragedy
has not been falling me.
00:22:41.12\00:22:44.40
How did Jesus put
it? How did Jesus put it?
00:22:44.43\00:22:48.00
"A good tree
cannot bear bad fruit,
00:22:48.03\00:22:51.64
nor can a bad
tree bear good fruit.
00:22:51.67\00:22:55.44
Therefore by their fruits"
00:22:55.47\00:23:00.57
you will know
"you will know them."
00:23:00.60\00:23:04.58
In 1814, itinerant baptized
farmer turned preacher named
00:23:04.61\00:23:08.33
William Miller
came into the Portland
00:23:08.36\00:23:10.42
and soon held his
audience spellbound
00:23:10.45\00:23:13.24
with the fascinating
Bible prophecy teachings
00:23:13.27\00:23:15.74
that seemed to suggest
00:23:15.77\00:23:17.31
that Jesus were soon
to return to this earth
00:23:17.34\00:23:20.33
and little 13-year-old
Ellen sat on the edge
00:23:20.36\00:23:23.25
of her pew drinking
in every single word.
00:23:23.28\00:23:27.98
She'd always had a
heart for spiritual things
00:23:28.01\00:23:31.77
but theologian and historian
Herbert Douglas describes
00:23:31.80\00:23:34.83
what was going on in
that young 13-years-old heart.
00:23:34.86\00:23:38.47
"Her primary
motivation" however,
00:23:38.50\00:23:41.67
"her primary
motivation was fear,
00:23:41.70\00:23:45.95
fear of not being ready
00:23:45.98\00:23:47.25
when Jesus would
come, fear of failure
00:23:47.28\00:23:49.72
because of her
limited schooling,"
00:23:49.75\00:23:51.92
she never had formal
education after the third grade.
00:23:51.95\00:23:54.92
She attempted to go to a what
they called a female seminary,
00:23:54.95\00:23:57.93
a girl school, so dizzy,
00:23:57.96\00:24:01.84
so unable to focus
she had to dropout.
00:24:01.87\00:24:06.72
"Her fear of failure because
of her limited schooling "
00:24:06.75\00:24:08.46
and weekend body, and
a fear that in some way"
00:24:08.49\00:24:11.10
some of you know this fear
00:24:11.13\00:24:12.78
"that in some way
God had afflicted her
00:24:12.81\00:24:14.96
with her
horrid, physical burden.
00:24:14.99\00:24:19.98
One day Ellen was
pouring out her fears to her mom
00:24:20.01\00:24:24.72
and her mother
wisely instantly says Ellen,
00:24:24.75\00:24:29.16
you go to our
Pastor Levi Stockman.
00:24:29.19\00:24:31.17
She goes to the
pastor pours out her fears.
00:24:31.20\00:24:33.45
The wise man listens
to that little 13-year-old
00:24:33.48\00:24:38.34
and then begins to
tell the story of God
00:24:38.37\00:24:40.17
is reflected in
the life of Jesus.
00:24:40.20\00:24:42.95
Listen to what happened.
Ellen's words on the screen.
00:24:42.98\00:24:46.82
"Faith now took
possession of my heart.
00:24:46.85\00:24:51.27
I felt an
inexpressible love for God,
00:24:51.30\00:24:53.50
and had the
witness of His Spirit
00:24:53.53\00:24:54.66
that my sins were pardoned.
00:24:54.69\00:24:56.17
My views of the
Father were changed.
00:24:56.20\00:24:58.26
I now looked upon Him as
a kind and tender parent,
00:24:58.29\00:25:00.98
rather than a stern tyrant
00:25:01.01\00:25:02.75
compelling men to
a blind obedience.
00:25:02.78\00:25:05.27
My heart went out toward
Him in a deep and fervent love.
00:25:05.30\00:25:08.51
My heart was so
filled with love to God
00:25:08.54\00:25:11.21
and the peace that
passeth understanding
00:25:11.24\00:25:13.51
that, I loved to
meditate and pray."
00:25:13.54\00:25:19.70
Wow, soon young
Ellen and her family joined
00:25:19.73\00:25:23.09
tens of thousands of Americans
00:25:23.12\00:25:24.79
who will hope for
heart were hanging on
00:25:24.82\00:25:26.92
to the Bible teachings
of the this William Miller
00:25:26.95\00:25:29.51
as the Millerite
revival swept like fire
00:25:29.54\00:25:32.33
up and down the
eastern seaboard.
00:25:32.36\00:25:34.77
Jesus, October 22 pass the word,
00:25:34.80\00:25:37.19
1844 Jesus is coming.
00:25:37.22\00:25:41.06
Sixteen-year-old Ellen
experienced the jubilant
00:25:41.09\00:25:43.25
but sober countdown
00:25:43.28\00:25:45.44
and with the
disappointment Millerites
00:25:45.47\00:25:48.73
she too wept over hopes dashed.
00:25:48.76\00:25:53.72
Had their hopes been misplaced,
00:25:53.75\00:25:56.50
that God somehow forgotten them.
00:25:56.53\00:26:01.75
And the
December morning in 1844,
00:26:01.78\00:26:03.70
17-year-old Ellen
was at her friend's home
00:26:03.73\00:26:06.15
in a prayer circle
with four other women.
00:26:06.18\00:26:09.98
She described what
happened next this way.
00:26:10.01\00:26:13.88
"While we were praying,
00:26:13.91\00:26:16.16
the power of God came upon me
as I had never felt it before.
00:26:16.19\00:26:21.31
I seemed to be
surrounding with light
00:26:21.34\00:26:23.59
and to be rising higher
and higher from the earth.
00:26:23.62\00:26:26.93
I turned and look
for the advent people"
00:26:26.96\00:26:28.74
because that's what
they called each other
00:26:28.77\00:26:30.27
hoping the soon
coming of Christ.
00:26:30.30\00:26:31.83
"I turned and looked for
the advent people in the world,
00:26:31.86\00:26:33.62
but could not find
them, when a voice said to me,
00:26:33.65\00:26:37.05
'Look again, and
look a little higher.'
00:26:37.08\00:26:39.67
At this I raised my
eyes and I saw a straight
00:26:39.70\00:26:41.74
and narrow path, cast
up high above the world.
00:26:41.77\00:26:44.69
On this path the advent people
were traveling to the city
00:26:44.72\00:26:47.44
which was at the
farther end of the path.
00:26:47.47\00:26:50.03
They had a bright
light set up behind them
00:26:50.06\00:26:52.01
at the beginning of the path,
00:26:52.04\00:26:53.33
which an angel told me
was the 'midnight cry.'"
00:26:53.36\00:26:56.07
That's straight out of
Jesus parable in Matthew 25
00:26:56.10\00:26:58.29
the ten virgins, you remember?
00:26:58.32\00:26:59.81
The bridegrooms
delay, they all fall asleep
00:26:59.84\00:27:01.68
and then in the
midnight a cry goes out
00:27:01.71\00:27:03.70
behold the bridegroom cometh.
00:27:03.73\00:27:06.15
So that they
called that movement
00:27:06.18\00:27:07.88
the midnight cry movement.
00:27:07.91\00:27:09.64
The angels said
that bright light
00:27:09.67\00:27:12.85
was a midnight cry at
the beginning at the path.
00:27:12.88\00:27:16.07
Go on reading.
00:27:16.10\00:27:17.13
"This light shone
all along the path,
00:27:17.16\00:27:19.44
and gave light for their feet,
00:27:19.47\00:27:21.19
so that they might not stumble."
00:27:21.22\00:27:23.29
Now notice "If they kept
their eyes fixed on Jesus,
00:27:23.32\00:27:27.30
who was just before
them, leading them to the city,
00:27:27.33\00:27:30.74
they were safe."
00:27:30.77\00:27:34.28
Isn't that amazing?
00:27:34.31\00:27:35.57
If they kept
their eyes on Jesus,
00:27:35.60\00:27:38.46
that was the admonition of
the 17-year-old teenage girl
00:27:38.49\00:27:41.16
who relate to the four
women gathered in prayer
00:27:41.19\00:27:43.48
what she had just seen.
00:27:43.51\00:27:46.23
Little did she
know, it was the beginning
00:27:46.26\00:27:48.94
of a life
ministry 70 years long.
00:27:48.97\00:27:52.64
A ministry woven with over
2,000 other visions and dreams.
00:27:52.67\00:27:57.60
A life ministry ever focused on
that first visions admonition.
00:27:57.63\00:28:02.07
If we keep our eyes
on Jesus we will be safe.
00:28:02.10\00:28:09.28
That point is so critical
00:28:09.31\00:28:10.34
I need you to
write it down right now.
00:28:10.37\00:28:11.60
Come on, reach in to
that worship bulletin
00:28:11.63\00:28:13.15
and pull out your
study guide for today.
00:28:13.18\00:28:15.30
Jot it down, will you?
00:28:15.33\00:28:16.81
Brand new study
guys sitting there
00:28:16.84\00:28:17.89
with the worship bulletin.
00:28:17.92\00:28:18.95
Ushers, lets do
this real quickly please.
00:28:18.98\00:28:20.84
Just hold your hands up
00:28:20.87\00:28:21.93
you want to get
these quotations,
00:28:21.96\00:28:23.06
hold your hand up
they are coming your way.
00:28:23.09\00:28:24.37
If you didn't get a study guide,
00:28:24.40\00:28:26.05
up in the
balcony the same for you,
00:28:26.08\00:28:27.60
those of you sitting in
overflow the same for you,
00:28:27.63\00:28:30.55
and I want to
say to those of you
00:28:30.58\00:28:31.62
who are watching right
now, I'm delighted you are here.
00:28:31.65\00:28:34.46
Join us, you need
the sane study guide
00:28:34.49\00:28:36.48
so let me put our
website on the screen for you,
00:28:36.51\00:28:38.30
and then you can
go to your computer
00:28:38.33\00:28:40.23
get the identical study guide.
00:28:40.26\00:28:41.88
There you see it on
your screen www.pmchruch.tv.
00:28:41.91\00:28:47.71
That's our website.
00:28:47.74\00:28:49.83
You're looking for
the teaching series,
00:28:49.86\00:28:52.86
"The Gift."
00:28:52.89\00:28:54.47
This actually is
part of this series
00:28:54.50\00:28:56.61
and so today's
teaching is entitled,
00:28:56.64\00:28:58.29
"Ellen White, What
Was She Really Like?"
00:28:58.32\00:29:01.54
When you see
that teaching title,
00:29:01.57\00:29:03.43
you'll study guide you click
on you have the same quotations,
00:29:03.46\00:29:06.09
you'll have the same study guide
00:29:06.12\00:29:07.44
and I hope you'll take a moment
00:29:07.47\00:29:08.87
and get that study
guide and fill it out with us.
00:29:08.90\00:29:12.17
You see this is the
series of Bible teachings
00:29:12.20\00:29:14.51
in which we're
examining Gods gift or prophecy
00:29:14.54\00:29:16.76
from the gates
of Eden all the way
00:29:16.79\00:29:19.27
to the end a Revelation.
00:29:19.30\00:29:22.14
We're looking at
this gift of prophecy.
00:29:22.17\00:29:24.91
By the way if you've missed
one of teachings along the way,
00:29:24.94\00:29:26.90
they are all building together.
00:29:26.93\00:29:28.47
You can go back to the
website you can get the podcast.
00:29:28.50\00:29:30.82
You listen to
it at your leisure,
00:29:30.85\00:29:32.11
you'll get the study guide
you fill them out in your time.
00:29:32.14\00:29:36.72
But today now, we're
ready now in this series
00:29:36.75\00:29:39.38
we're gonna move
deeper now, we're gonna focus.
00:29:39.41\00:29:43.21
Today's teaching "Ellen White,
What Was She Really Like?"
00:29:43.24\00:29:48.04
Four of these are coming now,
00:29:48.07\00:29:49.10
"Ellen White, What
Was She Really Like?"
00:29:49.13\00:29:50.33
Next week "Ellen White,
How Did It Really Work?"
00:29:50.36\00:29:54.36
Third week "Ellen White,
But What About Those Critics?"
00:29:54.39\00:29:59.48
And finally "Ellen White,
00:29:59.51\00:30:00.61
Taste Them Again
For The First Time."
00:30:00.64\00:30:02.12
Four teachings,
we're moving deep now.
00:30:02.15\00:30:07.18
Well, just as surely as
I have had the opportunity
00:30:07.21\00:30:08.86
to teach and
preach around the world
00:30:08.89\00:30:10.44
people will ask me I
can just promise you this,
00:30:10.47\00:30:12.47
Yo, Dwight, hey, what's up
with this Ellen White person
00:30:12.50\00:30:18.40
that you have in
your community of faith?
00:30:18.43\00:30:20.32
What can you tell me about her?
00:30:20.35\00:30:21.41
For the next four
weeks I want to tell you,
00:30:21.44\00:30:23.07
I want to answer that
question for the next four weeks
00:30:23.10\00:30:25.03
don't miss it,
share the journey.
00:30:25.06\00:30:28.30
But I wish it begin
today with that line
00:30:28.33\00:30:30.22
straight out of her
recounting of that first vision
00:30:30.25\00:30:33.10
"If they kept their
eyes fixed on Jesus,
00:30:33.13\00:30:35.38
who was just before
them, leading them to the city,
00:30:35.41\00:30:37.86
they were safe."
00:30:37.89\00:30:38.99
As it turns out
ladies and gentlemen,
00:30:39.02\00:30:40.74
that single
life, that single line
00:30:40.77\00:30:42.67
rather becomes the life focused
00:30:42.70\00:30:46.54
of Ellen White's 70
years life in ministry.
00:30:46.57\00:30:49.76
That single line, I want
to put it in the present tense
00:30:49.79\00:30:51.56
that way we won't forget it.
00:30:51.59\00:30:52.62
So let's put it on the
screen, this is the first line
00:30:52.65\00:30:54.72
in your study
guys fill it in please.
00:30:54.75\00:30:56.36
"If we keep our
eyes" all of scripture
00:30:56.39\00:30:59.89
is replete with this line.
00:30:59.92\00:31:02.22
"If we keep our eyes
fixed on Jesus, we are safe."
00:31:02.25\00:31:07.98
The ringing
appeal of God in His word
00:31:08.01\00:31:10.81
and it was the
dominant note in the ensuing
00:31:10.84\00:31:13.27
70 year ministry of
this 17-year-old girl,
00:31:13.30\00:31:16.71
this teenager name Ellen.
00:31:16.74\00:31:20.10
How did Jesus put it?
00:31:20.13\00:31:22.20
Let's look at it
again, Sermon on the Mount,
00:31:22.23\00:31:23.79
"A good tree
cannot bear bad fruit,
00:31:23.82\00:31:25.47
nor can a bad
tree bear good fruit.
00:31:25.50\00:31:27.83
Therefore" Jesus
says "by their fruits
00:31:27.86\00:31:31.49
you will know them."
00:31:31.52\00:31:33.79
All right, so
here's the question,
00:31:33.82\00:31:35.71
what kind of a
woman was she really?
00:31:35.74\00:31:37.31
I mean come on please,
00:31:37.34\00:31:38.92
what kind of a
woman was she really?
00:31:38.95\00:31:41.56
This woman who
at 19 fell in love
00:31:41.59\00:31:43.58
and married at 25-year-old
00:31:43.61\00:31:44.91
itinerant
preacher name James White
00:31:44.94\00:31:46.63
and at 20,
listen to this ladies,
00:31:46.66\00:31:48.40
and at 20 became the mother
of first of their four boys.
00:31:48.43\00:31:53.25
Wife, mother, homemaker,
00:31:53.28\00:31:59.29
visionary, church leader,
00:31:59.32\00:32:02.01
public speaker, intrepid travel,
00:32:02.04\00:32:03.62
institutional builder,
publish best selling author.
00:32:03.65\00:32:06.93
What was she really like?
00:32:06.96\00:32:08.99
A friend of mine
named Horace Shaw
00:32:09.02\00:32:11.26
some of you remember him
00:32:11.29\00:32:13.64
he used to be
at this university.
00:32:13.67\00:32:16.99
He wrote his
doctoral dissertation
00:32:17.02\00:32:18.10
of Michigan State
University and East Lansing
00:32:18.13\00:32:20.29
and in this
dissertation fascinating
00:32:20.32\00:32:21.94
he focused on the
rhetorical analysis
00:32:21.97\00:32:24.78
of Ellen White speaking styles,
00:32:24.81\00:32:26.55
since she was widely
acclaimed as a public speaker.
00:32:26.58\00:32:28.55
By the way she could speak
to the crowd of 20,000 people.
00:32:28.58\00:32:31.26
They counted them, 20,000 no P.A
00:32:31.29\00:32:35.14
and they could hear
hers as clear as a bell.
00:32:35.17\00:32:37.62
So he is
studying, I'm not interested
00:32:37.65\00:32:39.02
in his conclusions
about her rhetorical style,
00:32:39.05\00:32:41.86
but what's
fascinating is he was able to--
00:32:41.89\00:32:45.36
this dissertation was written
near at the end of the 50's,
00:32:45.39\00:32:48.30
he was able to find 366
people and interview them
00:32:48.33\00:32:52.47
who had
actually heard her speak,
00:32:52.50\00:32:55.07
and what's intriguing
is they're actually emerges
00:32:55.10\00:32:57.30
a physical
description of Ellen White,
00:32:57.33\00:33:00.53
and I want to
share that with you.
00:33:00.56\00:33:01.59
I'm not interested in
their rhetorical analysis.
00:33:01.62\00:33:04.61
Here's what we know
from those interviews,
00:33:04.64\00:33:06.61
get this she was
a short woman 5.2.
00:33:06.64\00:33:09.19
Anybody here
5.2? Be proud of it.
00:33:09.22\00:33:12.48
we can't see you
but be proud of it.
00:33:12.51\00:33:15.20
We know you're here
raise your hand, all right.
00:33:15.23\00:33:19.03
She's a short
woman 5.2 all right,
00:33:19.06\00:33:25.50
interestingly
enough it was her face
00:33:25.53\00:33:27.67
that was remembered the
longest by this interviewees.
00:33:27.70\00:33:32.04
Here are some of the
comments about here face.
00:33:32.07\00:33:33.99
Features round and
full, sweetest smile broke out
00:33:34.02\00:33:37.86
occasionally,
face seem to light up.
00:33:37.89\00:33:41.15
Then they spoke of her
eyes, beautiful brown eyes
00:33:41.18\00:33:44.49
and far away look,
her eyes were large
00:33:44.52\00:33:46.73
and became larger if she
was in earnest or excited,
00:33:46.76\00:33:48.97
and grew
smaller when she smiles.
00:33:49.00\00:33:51.40
Her hair, plain hairstyle,
hair dark and always parted
00:33:51.43\00:33:55.77
and combed back
simply to a braded
00:33:55.80\00:33:58.65
knot in the back of her neck.
00:33:58.68\00:34:01.27
Her dress, black velvet
or silk, two piece garment,
00:34:01.30\00:34:04.25
white cuffs and collars as
accent, gold watched chain,
00:34:04.28\00:34:07.42
silver watch in her
pocket and the silver brooch.
00:34:07.45\00:34:11.27
We found an old black
and white picture of her
00:34:11.30\00:34:12.91
and I want you to take
a look at it, there it is.
00:34:12.94\00:34:14.93
Isn't that something?
00:34:14.96\00:34:16.93
What do you think she
did? What do you think of her?
00:34:16.96\00:34:19.51
You thought she's gonna walk
of the cover of Vogue magazine?
00:34:19.54\00:34:22.91
No, she is Victorian woman,
that's what she look like.
00:34:22.94\00:34:27.82
Now when I say Victorian woman
00:34:27.85\00:34:28.90
because you have to
be a Victorian woman
00:34:28.93\00:34:30.60
when you're living in a 1800's.
00:34:30.63\00:34:31.95
I do not wish to suggest
00:34:31.98\00:34:33.31
that she was some sort of prude.
00:34:33.34\00:34:35.34
Let me tell you another story.
00:34:35.37\00:34:37.60
On one occasion she
attended the wedding
00:34:37.63\00:34:39.95
of a young preacher
named Daniel Bardou,
00:34:39.98\00:34:42.05
who for three years,
some of you guys know
00:34:42.08\00:34:44.38
what this is like,
who for three years
00:34:44.41\00:34:46.10
have been searching
for a wife all right.
00:34:46.13\00:34:49.56
Finally he found one.
00:34:49.59\00:34:51.53
And James White officiated
at the private home wedding.
00:34:51.56\00:34:55.02
Now because the
service was late in the day
00:34:55.05\00:34:57.24
the newly weds accept to
the invitation of their host
00:34:57.27\00:34:59.60
to spend their first
night in the host home
00:34:59.63\00:35:02.01
and White's were also
invited to stay as house guest.
00:35:02.04\00:35:06.46
So Herbert Douglas now
the theologian historian
00:35:06.49\00:35:09.51
we recounts that moment, I
put it on the screen for you.
00:35:09.54\00:35:12.23
"When Ellen
White" who by the way
00:35:12.26\00:35:13.50
she's 33 years
old at this moment.
00:35:13.53\00:35:16.35
"When Ellen White
went upstairs to retire,
00:35:16.38\00:35:19.75
she saw a very
nervous young man pacing
00:35:19.78\00:35:22.38
back and forth in front
of the close bedroom door.
00:35:22.41\00:35:27.87
She suspected a problem.
00:35:27.90\00:35:30.62
Gently she said to
the young bridegroom
00:35:30.65\00:35:33.31
as the bride later quoted her
00:35:33.34\00:35:34.63
husband's
recital of the incident"
00:35:34.66\00:35:35.91
so the bride
told about it later.
00:35:35.94\00:35:38.25
"'Daniel, inside
that room is a frightened
00:35:38.28\00:35:43.06
young woman in bed
petrified with fear.
00:35:43.09\00:35:48.37
Now you go in to her now,
00:35:48.40\00:35:50.59
and you love her,
and you comfort her.
00:35:50.62\00:35:52.53
And Daniel, you
treat her tenderly,
00:35:52.56\00:35:55.20
and you treat her lovingly.
00:35:55.23\00:35:56.82
It will do her good.'
00:35:56.85\00:35:59.05
And then she added, 'hey Daniel,
00:35:59.08\00:36:01.08
it will do you good too!'"
00:36:01.11\00:36:04.95
Oh, my.
00:36:04.98\00:36:07.28
What was she like
as a wife and a mother?
00:36:07.31\00:36:11.44
A letter she wrote to James,
00:36:11.47\00:36:12.65
two days after his on
a preaching itinerary.
00:36:12.68\00:36:16.21
We have the letter.
00:36:16.24\00:36:17.27
I put a portion of the
letter on the screen for you.
00:36:17.30\00:36:19.46
"We are all well as usual."
00:36:19.49\00:36:21.64
He actually came
here to Battle Creek,
00:36:21.67\00:36:23.04
that's where he was headed.
00:36:23.07\00:36:24.25
"We are all well as usual.
00:36:24.28\00:36:25.42
It takes a little
time to get settle down
00:36:25.45\00:36:27.08
from the
excitement of your going.
00:36:27.11\00:36:28.91
You may be assured we miss you.
00:36:28.94\00:36:30.89
Especially do we feel
the loss of your society
00:36:30.92\00:36:33.66
when we gather about
the fireside evenings.
00:36:33.69\00:36:36.90
We feel your absence
00:36:36.93\00:36:38.15
when we sit
around the social board"
00:36:38.18\00:36:40.24
that would be the
dining room table.
00:36:40.27\00:36:42.46
And a couple weeks later
he's still on the same trip
00:36:42.49\00:36:44.23
she writes another letter.
00:36:44.26\00:36:46.91
"I had written you quite
a lengthy letter last night,
00:36:46.94\00:36:49.04
but the ink was spilled upon it,
00:36:49.07\00:36:50.82
making an unsightly
blotch, and I will not send it.
00:36:50.85\00:36:54.49
We received" listen to this
00:36:54.52\00:36:55.95
"We received your few words
last night on a postal card."
00:36:55.98\00:36:59.23
So that's a
postcard. He sends a postcard.
00:36:59.26\00:37:00.97
She quotes
everything on the postcard
00:37:01.00\00:37:02.57
now in this letter.
00:37:02.60\00:37:03.63
This is James
White's postcard home.
00:37:03.66\00:37:05.77
"Battle Creek, April 11.
00:37:05.80\00:37:08.01
No letters from
you for two days.
00:37:08.04\00:37:09.69
Signs James White."
00:37:09.72\00:37:15.42
She goes out now having
quoted his postcard back to him.
00:37:15.45\00:37:19.05
"This lengthy letter
was written by yourself.
00:37:19.08\00:37:22.86
Thank you, for we
know you are living.
00:37:22.89\00:37:27.28
I will write every
morning. Will you do the same?"
00:37:27.31\00:37:32.65
She loved her
boys, her four boys
00:37:32.68\00:37:34.20
just as much as young mother did
00:37:34.23\00:37:38.75
which is why it broke her heart
00:37:38.78\00:37:39.94
when little John Herbert
died at three months of age.
00:37:39.97\00:37:43.89
The 33-year-old mother
would later describe that lose.
00:37:43.92\00:37:48.58
"My babe was worse.
00:37:48.61\00:37:50.36
I listened to his
labored breathing,
00:37:50.39\00:37:52.27
and I felt his pulseless wrist.
00:37:52.30\00:37:54.35
I knew that he must die.
00:37:54.38\00:37:56.40
That was an hour
of anguish for me.
00:37:56.43\00:38:00.59
I fainted at the funeral.
00:38:00.62\00:38:04.09
My heart ached as
though it would break,
00:38:04.12\00:38:06.97
yet I could not shed a tear."
00:38:07.00\00:38:09.49
Some of you know
a grief that deep
00:38:09.52\00:38:13.35
that not even a tear will come.
00:38:13.38\00:38:18.57
Three years later
her first born son
00:38:18.60\00:38:19.98
Henry died at the age of 16.
00:38:20.01\00:38:22.92
They were living in Battle Creek
00:38:22.95\00:38:24.15
not far from us
here and Henry was known
00:38:24.18\00:38:26.29
he was working in the Review
and Herald Publishing House
00:38:26.32\00:38:28.65
and he was known
as the sweet singer.
00:38:28.68\00:38:30.29
He just had this melodies voice.
00:38:30.32\00:38:33.37
What happened was in November
that year he caught a cold,
00:38:33.40\00:38:38.15
and the called
turned into pneumonia
00:38:38.18\00:38:39.72
and the toxic drug
concoctions used in the day
00:38:39.75\00:38:41.81
exacerbated in his condition
00:38:41.84\00:38:43.39
and his last words to
his mother were these,
00:38:43.42\00:38:48.08
"mother I shall
meet you in heaven
00:38:48.11\00:38:50.73
in the morning
of the resurrection
00:38:50.76\00:38:52.90
for I know you will be there."
00:38:52.93\00:38:55.05
He then back into his
brothers and parents and friends
00:38:55.08\00:38:57.25
and gave them
all the partying kiss
00:38:57.28\00:38:58.99
after which she pointed upward
and whispered heaven is sweet,
00:38:59.02\00:39:04.29
those were his last words.
00:39:04.32\00:39:06.69
I'll tell you what
ladies and gentlemen,
00:39:06.72\00:39:08.41
it doesn't matter, it does
not matter your life calling,
00:39:08.44\00:39:12.79
if you are a mother and
two of your four boys die
00:39:12.82\00:39:18.40
you are cut to the
quick and your heart is broken
00:39:18.43\00:39:22.29
no matter what you do
or don't do for a living.
00:39:22.32\00:39:29.44
But how about
some cheerful, Dwight?
00:39:29.47\00:39:31.65
Glad you asked. I
got some cheerful.
00:39:31.68\00:39:34.99
So about three
or four weeks ago,
00:39:35.02\00:39:36.15
you heard David Benner up
here talking about Paul Sanchez,
00:39:36.18\00:39:38.26
he used to be our pastor
for Finance and Stewardship.
00:39:38.29\00:39:40.80
So Paul and I on the phone
00:39:40.83\00:39:41.86
three or four
weeks ago one evening
00:39:41.89\00:39:43.44
and we're
talking to the other end
00:39:43.47\00:39:44.86
the talk turned into fishing.
00:39:44.89\00:39:46.48
If you talk with Paul long
it always turns to fishing.
00:39:46.51\00:39:49.73
Paul taught Kirk, my
son and me how to fish.
00:39:49.76\00:39:53.74
So we're talking about
fishing and he said Dwight,
00:39:53.77\00:39:55.77
I got a letter
you have got to read.
00:39:55.80\00:39:58.64
So I got hold of the
letter. He made sure I got it.
00:39:58.67\00:40:02.51
It's a letter Ellen
White writes to her family.
00:40:02.54\00:40:04.81
She's just dropped them of
in the Rockies of Colorado.
00:40:04.84\00:40:08.92
It's her turn to be on
the preaching itinerary,
00:40:08.95\00:40:10.93
so she's leaving the
family for some honor,
00:40:10.96\00:40:13.20
for some vacation in the Rockies
00:40:13.23\00:40:15.41
and she writes a letter to
them after she's left them.
00:40:15.44\00:40:18.26
They're knows
beautiful rugged peaks.
00:40:18.29\00:40:20.91
So I put the
letter on the screen,
00:40:20.94\00:40:22.43
portion of the letter.
00:40:22.46\00:40:23.55
She's writing "Father" she
is writing to James of course.
00:40:23.58\00:40:25.89
"Father, our writing"
00:40:25.92\00:40:27.81
they were both prolific writers,
00:40:27.84\00:40:29.65
"our writings can
be done in the winter.
00:40:29.68\00:40:31.50
Lay it aside now.
00:40:31.53\00:40:32.79
Throw off every burden,
and be a carefree boy again."
00:40:32.82\00:40:35.53
I like that.
00:40:35.56\00:40:36.76
"Will and Mary,
00:40:36.79\00:40:37.82
if they stay in the
mountains a few weeks longer,
00:40:37.85\00:40:39.73
should neither study nor write."
00:40:39.76\00:40:41.18
Don't make the
kids study, all right.
00:40:41.21\00:40:44.02
"They should be made
happy for this season,
00:40:44.05\00:40:47.23
that they may be able
to look back to this time
00:40:47.26\00:40:49.11
as a season of
unalloyed pleasure."
00:40:49.14\00:40:53.61
Oh, and "The few days you
now have together, improve.
00:40:53.64\00:40:56.29
Roam about, camp out, fish"
00:40:56.32\00:40:59.27
and when Paul
Sanchez saw that he says,
00:40:59.30\00:41:01.05
yes, ain't that good.
00:41:01.08\00:41:05.45
I like that,
"Roam about, camp out,
00:41:05.48\00:41:07.61
fish, hunt, go to
places that you have not seen,
00:41:07.64\00:41:11.74
rest as you go,
enjoy everything.
00:41:11.77\00:41:13.59
Then come back to your
work fresh and vigorous.
00:41:13.62\00:41:16.49
Father needs to be a boy again."
00:41:16.52\00:41:19.10
Every man needs to
hear that in his life.
00:41:19.13\00:41:22.12
Father needs to be a boy again.
00:41:22.15\00:41:23.95
"Roam all around.
Climb the mountain steeps.
00:41:23.98\00:41:25.88
Ride horseback.
00:41:25.91\00:41:27.02
Find something new
each day to see and enjoy.
00:41:27.05\00:41:29.77
This will be
for Father's health.
00:41:29.80\00:41:31.54
Do not spend any
anxious thought on me.
00:41:31.57\00:41:33.30
You will see how well I appear
00:41:33.33\00:41:35.06
after the camp
meetings are over."
00:41:35.09\00:41:38.06
Ladies and gentlemen,
she sought to experience
00:41:38.09\00:41:40.31
the buoyant and the best of life
00:41:40.34\00:41:43.55
and then asked
other to do the same.
00:41:43.58\00:41:49.74
But what was the spark?
00:41:49.77\00:41:51.61
What was the spark
that ignited her mind
00:41:51.64\00:41:56.57
and heart and
soul of this woman,
00:41:56.60\00:42:01.06
in her 70 year life ministry?
00:42:01.09\00:42:03.84
I've read Ellen White
for years you know that.
00:42:03.87\00:42:08.17
I've discovered
that her ministry
00:42:08.20\00:42:11.87
was ignited by three passions,
00:42:11.90\00:42:15.98
get into any thing
she wrote and before long
00:42:16.01\00:42:19.28
you are head long
into these three passion
00:42:19.31\00:42:23.10
and I want you to
jot them down right now.
00:42:23.13\00:42:24.46
From here on out
you're writing the whole way.
00:42:24.49\00:42:26.47
Let's go. Three
passions, jot them down.
00:42:26.50\00:42:29.34
Passion number one,
00:42:29.37\00:42:30.40
that ignited her
life in ministry.
00:42:30.43\00:42:32.17
A passion for the Savior.
00:42:32.20\00:42:34.38
Would you fill that in please?
A passion for the Savior.
00:42:34.41\00:42:38.11
So I go on my CD-ROM
00:42:38.14\00:42:39.46
that has the entire
collection of her writings,
00:42:39.49\00:42:41.15
letters everything.
00:42:41.18\00:42:42.21
I go on my CD-ROM,
what do I discover?
00:42:42.24\00:42:44.79
Jot it down.
00:42:44.82\00:42:45.85
I discover that she
writes of Jesus 37,038 times.
00:42:45.88\00:42:51.51
My computer counted
them in a split second.
00:42:51.54\00:42:54.27
I discovered that she
writes of "Christ" 69,277 times,
00:42:54.30\00:43:00.57
and then I found out that
00:43:00.60\00:43:01.63
she referred to the
"Savior" 11,583 times.
00:43:01.66\00:43:07.68
A passion, a
passion for the Savior.
00:43:07.71\00:43:11.40
In that little
spiritual classic of hers
00:43:11.43\00:43:13.39
by the way
translated into more languages
00:43:13.42\00:43:15.70
than anything
else she ever wrote,
00:43:15.73\00:43:17.22
the little books Steps to Cries.
00:43:17.25\00:43:18.72
Here are these words,
you have in your study guide,
00:43:18.75\00:43:20.23
I put them on the screen.
00:43:20.26\00:43:21.88
Ellen White writing "You
are not to look to yourself,
00:43:21.91\00:43:26.11
not to let the
mind dwell upon self,
00:43:26.14\00:43:28.50
but look to Christ.
00:43:28.53\00:43:30.37
Let the mind dwell upon
His love, upon the beauty,
00:43:30.40\00:43:33.61
the perfection,
of His character.
00:43:33.64\00:43:35.74
Christ in His self - denial,
Christ in His humiliation,"
00:43:35.77\00:43:39.11
Calvary "Christ in
His purity and holiness,
00:43:39.14\00:43:42.25
Christ in His matchless love--
00:43:42.28\00:43:44.01
this is the subject for
the soul's contemplation.
00:43:44.04\00:43:47.16
It is by loving
Him, copying Him,
00:43:47.19\00:43:50.06
depending wholly upon Him,
00:43:50.09\00:43:51.77
that you are to be
transformed into His likeness."
00:43:51.80\00:43:55.36
She had a passion for Christ.
00:43:55.39\00:44:00.27
What was that first
line from her first vision?
00:44:00.30\00:44:04.01
"If we keep our
eyes fixed on Jesus
00:44:04.04\00:44:06.33
we will be safe."
00:44:06.36\00:44:08.81
I read widely, I
think you know that
00:44:08.84\00:44:11.54
and I can testify I
have never in all my reading
00:44:11.57\00:44:15.40
encountered a more crystal
00:44:15.43\00:44:17.75
centric writer than Ellen White.
00:44:17.78\00:44:21.78
She had three passions.
00:44:21.81\00:44:22.84
Passion number one,
a passion for Savior.
00:44:22.87\00:44:24.54
Passion number two, jot it down,
00:44:24.57\00:44:25.92
a passion for the Word of God.
00:44:25.95\00:44:28.04
A passion for Holy Scripture.
00:44:28.07\00:44:32.65
Pick up any one of her books
they were having in the back
00:44:32.68\00:44:34.98
something
called scripture index.
00:44:35.01\00:44:37.28
All the verses that she quotes
in that writing, in that book.
00:44:37.31\00:44:41.86
She is replete,
00:44:41.89\00:44:42.92
she is saturated
with Holy Scripture.
00:44:42.95\00:44:48.45
These words I've written it
my brand new Bible right here,
00:44:48.48\00:44:50.56
Andrews study Bible.
00:44:50.59\00:44:51.64
I put these words in
the cover of this Bible
00:44:51.67\00:44:54.23
and you have it now
in your study guide.
00:44:54.26\00:44:56.13
I'll put them up on the screen.
00:44:56.16\00:44:57.19
She wrote these words.
00:44:57.22\00:44:58.25
"The Bible is God's
voice speaking to us,
00:44:58.28\00:45:01.29
just as surely as though
00:45:01.32\00:45:02.78
we could hear it with our ears."
00:45:02.81\00:45:05.82
Hey, listen
guys, here's her point.
00:45:05.85\00:45:07.98
"If we realized this,
00:45:08.01\00:45:10.75
with what awe
would we open God's word,
00:45:10.78\00:45:13.80
and with what earnestness
would we search its precepts!
00:45:13.83\00:45:17.60
The reading and
contemplating of the Scriptures
00:45:17.63\00:45:20.27
would be regarded as an audience
00:45:20.30\00:45:22.49
with the Infinite One."
00:45:22.52\00:45:25.88
Amazing three passions,
00:45:25.91\00:45:29.88
fire for her souls for
her 70-year-life ministry.
00:45:29.91\00:45:33.40
Passion number one, a
passion for the Savior,
00:45:33.43\00:45:35.46
passion number two, a
passion for the Word of God,
00:45:35.49\00:45:37.81
and finally
passion number three,
00:45:37.84\00:45:39.33
a passion for the
salvation of the lost.
00:45:39.36\00:45:42.10
Write that down please.
00:45:42.14\00:45:46.48
A passion for the
salvation of the lost.
00:45:46.51\00:45:49.19
I've never read any
author more passionate
00:45:49.22\00:45:52.32
about saving lost people
for Christ than Ellen White.
00:45:52.35\00:45:56.08
I scribble these
words down in my Bible
00:45:56.11\00:45:57.92
as well, put them
on the screen for you.
00:45:57.95\00:45:59.40
"Recently in the night season
00:45:59.43\00:46:01.77
I was awakened from
sleep and given a view
00:46:01.80\00:46:04.35
of the suffering
of Christ for men.
00:46:04.38\00:46:06.39
His sacrifice, the
mockery and derision
00:46:06.42\00:46:08.77
He received at the
hands of wicked men,
00:46:08.80\00:46:11.13
His agony in the
Garden of Gethsemane,
00:46:11.16\00:46:13.37
His betrayal and crucifixion,
00:46:13.40\00:46:15.23
all were vividly
portrayed before me.
00:46:15.26\00:46:18.15
As I have thought of that cup
00:46:18.18\00:46:19.96
trembling in the
hands of Christ,"
00:46:19.99\00:46:21.58
in the Garden of
Gethsemane "as I have realized
00:46:21.61\00:46:24.21
that He might
have refused to drink,
00:46:24.24\00:46:27.28
and left the world
to perish in its sins,
00:46:27.31\00:46:30.77
I have pledged that
every energy of my life "
00:46:30.80\00:46:33.77
should be devoted to the
work of winning souls Him.
00:46:33.80\00:46:39.77
Mercy, three passions
00:46:39.80\00:46:44.56
and she was
faithful to all three
00:46:44.59\00:46:48.07
through all her life.
00:46:48.10\00:46:50.03
Called by God at the age of 17
00:46:50.06\00:46:52.71
and gifted with the
spiritual gift of prophecy,
00:46:52.74\00:46:55.08
Ellen White, lived her 70
prolific years of ministry
00:46:55.11\00:46:58.95
ignited by these three.
00:46:58.98\00:47:01.22
No wonder the fruit
that ensued was so bountiful
00:47:01.25\00:47:06.21
and now your pen
will never stop moving.
00:47:06.24\00:47:08.19
Here we go.
00:47:08.22\00:47:09.66
Look up just and
long enough to get it.
00:47:09.69\00:47:12.12
"She is considered today,"
write it down, will you please?
00:47:12.15\00:47:15.00
"She is considered today
the third most translated
00:47:15.03\00:47:18.60
author in history
of all literature."
00:47:18.63\00:47:21.34
Number three.
00:47:21.37\00:47:23.71
Third grade education
was as far as she could go.
00:47:23.74\00:47:26.99
The third most translated.
Keep your pen moving.
00:47:27.02\00:47:30.26
"She is the most
translated American author,
00:47:30.29\00:47:32.96
male or female."
00:47:32.99\00:47:36.13
Keep your pen going.
00:47:36.16\00:47:38.24
"Her literary productions
00:47:38.27\00:47:39.49
totaled
approximately 100,000 pages,
00:47:39.52\00:47:44.20
the equivalent
of 25 million words.
00:47:44.23\00:47:51.07
A decade ago 128 titles
were in print bearing her name,
00:47:51.10\00:47:56.58
including books
that are compilations."
00:47:56.61\00:48:00.08
Now listen to this humbly now
00:48:00.11\00:48:03.16
I read these for
you in your study guide.
00:48:03.19\00:48:06.59
As fruit of her
ministry, fruit of her ministry
00:48:06.62\00:48:12.22
and leadership God raised up
a Seventh-day Adventist church
00:48:12.25\00:48:16.82
to become the largest Protestant
00:48:16.85\00:48:19.13
educational system
in the world today.
00:48:19.16\00:48:23.52
And we are sitting in the heart
00:48:23.55\00:48:26.12
of its major
flagship institution,
00:48:26.15\00:48:29.88
Andrews University.
00:48:29.91\00:48:31.71
Raised up because
of a humble little
00:48:31.74\00:48:34.81
5 foot 2 woman
used mightily by God.
00:48:34.84\00:48:39.57
Keep going.
00:48:39.60\00:48:40.64
As a fruit of her
ministry and leadership
00:48:40.67\00:48:42.19
God raised up the Seventh-day
Adventist church today
00:48:42.22\00:48:44.48
to become the largest Protestant
00:48:44.51\00:48:46.05
health system
in the world today.
00:48:46.08\00:48:49.98
Loma Linda
University Medical School
00:48:50.01\00:48:53.39
making headlines with science.
00:48:53.42\00:48:55.88
Keep going.
00:48:55.91\00:48:56.94
As a fruit of her
ministry and leadership
00:48:56.97\00:48:58.23
God raised up this
church to become the largest
00:48:58.26\00:49:01.11
Protestant publishing enterprise
00:49:01.14\00:49:02.90
in the world today.
00:49:02.93\00:49:06.40
And there is one more.
00:49:06.43\00:49:08.89
As her a fruit of her
ministry and leadership
00:49:08.92\00:49:12.21
God raised up the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:49:12.24\00:49:13.97
to become the most expansive
00:49:14.00\00:49:15.97
Protestant missions
outreach in the world today,
00:49:16.00\00:49:19.04
with the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:49:19.07\00:49:20.20
in more countries than
any other denomination.
00:49:20.23\00:49:26.50
How did Jesus put it?
What did Jesus tell us?
00:49:26.53\00:49:31.44
"A good tree
cannot bear bad fruits,"
00:49:31.47\00:49:35.65
but I want you to catch
the second half of that,
00:49:35.68\00:49:38.91
"a bad tree cannot
bear the good fruit."
00:49:38.94\00:49:42.12
You got to get that one.
00:49:42.15\00:49:44.67
And in three
weeks I'll tell you why.
00:49:44.70\00:49:47.40
"A good tree
cannot bear bad fruit,
00:49:47.43\00:49:48.96
nor can a bad
tree bear good fruit.
00:49:48.99\00:49:50.94
Therefore by their
fruits you will" evaluate them,
00:49:50.97\00:49:56.78
you will come to
conclusions about them,
00:49:56.81\00:49:58.80
"by their fruits
you will know them."
00:49:58.83\00:50:05.75
Which is why I
want to conclude today
00:50:05.78\00:50:06.87
with a personal testimony.
00:50:06.90\00:50:13.76
The reason I'm
so deeply convicted
00:50:13.79\00:50:15.18
about the divine of authenticity
00:50:15.21\00:50:16.69
of Ellen White's
prophetic ministry
00:50:16.72\00:50:18.98
is because of what
the Holy Spirit has done
00:50:19.01\00:50:20.83
in my own heart and
life through her writings.
00:50:20.86\00:50:24.70
I was a graduate student
00:50:24.73\00:50:26.19
a few years ago here
at Andrews University
00:50:26.22\00:50:28.09
and rolled in the
theological seminary.
00:50:28.12\00:50:29.74
One day our
professor in class teaching
00:50:29.77\00:50:32.75
from Psalm 139 announced to us
00:50:32.78\00:50:35.57
that we ought to
follow David's example
00:50:35.60\00:50:37.60
and ask God to reveal to
us our in aid sinfulness.
00:50:37.63\00:50:42.97
So one night before going to bed
00:50:43.00\00:50:44.76
I decided to give it a whirl.
00:50:44.79\00:50:46.91
After all I was a
fifth generation Adventist,
00:50:46.94\00:50:48.69
fourth generation preacher
00:50:48.72\00:50:50.54
there's nothing
God could show me.
00:50:50.57\00:50:54.54
Nothing happened
after I prayed it,
00:50:54.57\00:50:57.04
until three weeks later
00:50:57.07\00:50:59.10
when all hell
broke lose spiritually
00:50:59.13\00:51:03.28
as I was suddenly overwhelmed
00:51:03.31\00:51:04.59
with the sense of my own
desperate guilt "little sins"
00:51:04.62\00:51:08.52
that I had
laughed of in my youth
00:51:08.55\00:51:10.25
suddenly with a
vengeance returned.
00:51:10.28\00:51:11.93
I'm franticly trying to
purge them out of my mind
00:51:11.96\00:51:14.34
and my memories but I cannot.
00:51:14.37\00:51:17.24
And so I say I'll go
back to the professor
00:51:17.27\00:51:19.45
who told us to do this.
00:51:19.48\00:51:20.57
It was his idea
in the first place
00:51:20.60\00:51:23.45
and I went back to
him but he was old school
00:51:23.48\00:51:26.88
and all he said to me
00:51:26.91\00:51:28.78
in the stairwell
in that building was,
00:51:28.81\00:51:31.94
go read Steps to
Christ, go read Steps to Christ.
00:51:31.97\00:51:35.61
I stumbled back to
our little apartment
00:51:35.64\00:51:37.67
in the Maplewood
apartments here on campus,
00:51:37.70\00:51:41.20
and I pulled down from my shelf
00:51:41.23\00:51:43.15
my army navy
edition of Steps to Christ
00:51:43.18\00:51:46.33
and I have been
given as a boy in Japan.
00:51:46.36\00:51:49.51
I pulled that book out
and I began to turn the pages.
00:51:49.54\00:51:55.88
I read about
God's love from man.
00:51:55.91\00:52:00.82
And then I read about
the sinner's need of Christ.
00:52:00.85\00:52:05.40
And then I come to a
chapter called Repentance,
00:52:05.43\00:52:09.94
then Confession,
then Consecration
00:52:09.97\00:52:16.00
and here's a chapter I
read Faith and Acceptance
00:52:16.03\00:52:20.13
and then another one,
The Test of Discipleship.
00:52:20.16\00:52:24.10
Then another chapter,
Growing up into Christ.
00:52:24.13\00:52:27.41
Wow.
00:52:27.44\00:52:29.79
And then, the Work and
the Life and then a chapter,
00:52:29.82\00:52:34.68
A Knowledge of God,
00:52:34.71\00:52:37.07
the Privilege of
Prayer, another chapter
00:52:37.10\00:52:40.01
and finally the last chapter
no, next the last chapter,
00:52:40.04\00:52:44.09
What to Do with Doubt
and then the last chapter,
00:52:44.12\00:52:46.96
Rejoicing in the Lord.
00:52:46.99\00:52:48.67
I read the little book through.
00:52:48.70\00:52:50.18
Had to read it to get
baptized in the eighth grade.
00:52:50.21\00:52:54.09
I'm standing here
today ladies and gentleman,
00:52:54.12\00:52:56.94
to personally testify to
you that this little classic,
00:52:56.97\00:53:01.04
the title of this classic
00:53:01.07\00:53:02.57
became a self
fulfilling prophecy in my life
00:53:02.60\00:53:05.94
and I found the
steps back to Christ
00:53:05.97\00:53:10.15
right here, right here.
00:53:10.18\00:53:14.65
I'm telling you, I
have tasted of the fruit,
00:53:14.68\00:53:20.43
there is absolutely no
equivocation in my mind.
00:53:20.46\00:53:24.70
The Christ anointed,
blessed, in filled this woman
00:53:24.73\00:53:31.34
with a prophetic ministry
for such a time as this.
00:53:31.37\00:53:37.99
I have found the truth
and I invite you please
00:53:40.16\00:53:47.52
to discover the
same truth for yourself.
00:53:47.55\00:53:53.43
How did Jesus put it,
come on, what did He say?
00:53:53.46\00:53:56.34
Therefore "A good
tree cannot bear bad fruit,
00:53:56.37\00:54:01.19
nor can a bad
tree bear good fruit."
00:54:01.22\00:54:04.08
So I'm telling you Jesus says,
00:54:04.11\00:54:06.82
"Therefore by their
fruits you will know,"
00:54:06.85\00:54:14.15
you will know, "by their fruits
00:54:14.18\00:54:18.77
you will know the truth."
00:54:18.80\00:54:24.36
Stand with me, will you?
00:54:24.39\00:54:26.05
Want to sing that old chores
00:54:26.08\00:54:27.35
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus."
00:54:27.38\00:54:29.59
That line out of
that first visions
00:54:29.62\00:54:31.59
captured in
that familiar chores,
00:54:31.62\00:54:34.34
turn your eyes upon Jesus,
00:54:34.37\00:54:35.85
look full in His wonderful face,
00:54:35.88\00:54:38.64
and the thing of earth
will grow strangely dim,
00:54:38.67\00:54:43.29
in the light of His
glory and His grace.
00:54:43.32\00:54:46.73
Let's sing that together.
00:54:46.76\00:54:48.50
"Turn your eyes
00:54:57.17\00:55:00.77
Upon Jesus
00:55:00.80\00:55:05.67
Look full in His
00:55:05.70\00:55:08.60
Wonderful face
00:55:08.63\00:55:14.14
And the things of earth
00:55:14.17\00:55:18.81
Will grow strangely dim
00:55:18.84\00:55:25.39
In the light of His glory
00:55:25.42\00:55:31.98
And grace
00:55:32.01\00:55:37.37
Now let's sing it even quieter.
00:55:37.40\00:55:39.42
Turn your eyes
00:55:39.45\00:55:44.31
Upon Jesus
00:55:44.34\00:55:49.84
Look full in His
00:55:49.87\00:55:53.73
Wonderful face
00:55:53.76\00:56:00.63
And the things of earth
00:56:00.66\00:56:05.81
Will grow strangely dim
00:56:05.84\00:56:13.77
In the light of His glory
00:56:13.80\00:56:20.47
And grace"
00:56:20.50\00:56:23.05
And so Holy Father,
00:56:26.57\00:56:27.62
we do taking a cue
from this friend of Yours,
00:56:27.65\00:56:34.10
we turn our eyes to Jesus.
00:56:34.13\00:56:37.56
If you keep your eyes on
Him you'll always be safe.
00:56:37.59\00:56:43.41
It's still true,
hold our gaze dear God,
00:56:43.44\00:56:48.42
hold our gaze until Jesus comes.
00:56:48.45\00:56:55.00
And now may the
love of the Father,
00:56:55.03\00:56:57.42
and the grace of His Son,
00:56:57.45\00:57:01.42
and the communion of
the Holy Spirit abide
00:57:01.45\00:57:03.68
with you and me, amen.
00:57:03.71\00:57:08.24
This little classic
was a God sent to me
00:57:11.15\00:57:12.87
when I hit rock
bottom spiritually
00:57:12.90\00:57:15.09
as a graduated student
on this campus years ago.
00:57:15.12\00:57:17.88
The title became
itself fulfilling prophecy,
00:57:17.91\00:57:20.29
Steps to Christ.
00:57:20.32\00:57:22.55
Because that's precisely
what I discovered in the short
00:57:22.58\00:57:25.00
but inspiring and
for me life changing book
00:57:25.03\00:57:28.12
and I'd love for you
to experience the same
00:57:28.15\00:57:30.50
which is why we're setting aside
00:57:30.53\00:57:31.57
a few of this books
for our viewing friends.
00:57:31.60\00:57:33.71
If you'd like your own
copy of Steps to Christ
00:57:33.74\00:57:36.00
call our toll free
number 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:36.03\00:57:39.18
Just punch those two words,
HIS-WILL on your keyboard,
00:57:39.21\00:57:41.79
877-HIS-WILL and
ask for the book.
00:57:41.82\00:57:44.29
If you want it in
Spanish, ask for it.
00:57:44.32\00:57:46.18
It's one of the most
translated books in the world.
00:57:46.21\00:57:48.69
Our friendly
operators are standing by 24/7
00:57:48.72\00:57:51.00
to assist you and
will get the book to you
00:57:51.03\00:57:52.85
as soon as possible
straight to your address.
00:57:52.88\00:57:55.00
So why not go to
the phone right now,
00:57:55.03\00:57:56.83
and see if your walk with Jesus
00:57:56.86\00:57:58.10
is deepen by the
spiritual classic.
00:57:58.13\00:58:00.82
It's our gift to you.
00:58:00.85\00:58:02.37
And until I see
you again next time
00:58:02.40\00:58:04.05
may you sense the living Christ
00:58:04.08\00:58:06.59
walking beside of you
every step of the way.
00:58:06.62\00:58:10.04