A mighty fortress is our God
00:00:44.47\00:00:50.30
A bulwark never failing
00:00:50.33\00:00:56.54
Our helper He, amid the flood
00:00:56.57\00:01:02.67
Of mortal ills prevailing
00:01:02.70\00:01:08.89
For still our ancient foe
00:01:08.92\00:01:14.00
Doth seek to work us woe
00:01:14.03\00:01:18.79
His craft and power are great
00:01:18.82\00:01:23.99
And armed with cruel hate
00:01:24.02\00:01:28.82
On earth is not his equal
00:01:28.85\00:01:36.53
Did we in our
own strength confide
00:01:36.56\00:01:42.81
Our striving would be losing
00:01:42.84\00:01:48.58
Were not the
right man on our side
00:01:48.61\00:01:54.18
The man of God's own choosing
00:01:54.21\00:02:00.48
Dost ask who that may be?
00:02:00.51\00:02:05.50
Christ Jesus, it is He
00:02:05.53\00:02:10.52
Lord Sabaoth His name
00:02:10.55\00:02:15.40
From age to age the same
00:02:15.43\00:02:20.66
And He must win the battle
00:02:20.69\00:02:26.16
And though this
world, with devils filled
00:02:30.34\00:02:35.17
Should threaten to undo us
00:02:35.20\00:02:41.83
We will not fear,
for God hath willed
00:02:41.86\00:02:48.08
His truth to triumph through us
00:02:48.11\00:02:54.09
The prince of darkness grim
00:02:54.12\00:02:59.07
We tremble not for him
00:02:59.10\00:03:04.10
His rage we can endure
00:03:04.13\00:03:09.29
For lo, his doom is sure
00:03:09.32\00:03:14.65
One little word shall fell him
00:03:14.68\00:03:22.17
That word above
all earthly powers
00:03:22.20\00:03:28.83
No thanks to them, abideth
00:03:28.86\00:03:34.86
The Spirit and
the gifts are ours
00:03:34.89\00:03:41.07
Through Him who with us sideth
00:03:41.10\00:03:47.06
Let goods and kindred go
00:03:47.09\00:03:52.02
This mortal life also
00:03:52.05\00:03:56.87
The body they may kill
00:03:56.90\00:04:01.86
God's truth abideth still
00:04:01.89\00:04:07.54
His kingdom is forever
00:04:07.57\00:04:13.01
In the secret,
in the quiet place
00:04:25.76\00:04:32.37
In the stillness, You are there
00:04:32.40\00:04:38.91
In the secret, in the quiet hour
00:04:38.94\00:04:42.24
I wait only for You,
'cause I want to know You more
00:04:42.27\00:04:49.24
I want to know You, I
want to hear Your voice
00:04:52.27\00:04:58.69
I want to know You more
00:04:58.72\00:05:05.01
I want to touch You
00:05:05.04\00:05:08.38
I want to see Your face
00:05:08.41\00:05:11.72
I want to know You more
00:05:11.75\00:05:18.14
I am reaching
for the highest goal
00:05:18.17\00:05:24.65
That I might receive the prize
00:05:24.68\00:05:31.17
Pressing onward,
pushing every hindrance aside
00:05:31.20\00:05:35.52
Out of my way, 'cause
I want to know You more
00:05:35.55\00:05:42.68
I want to know You, I
want to hear Your voice
00:05:44.34\00:05:50.95
I want to know You more
00:05:50.98\00:05:57.53
I want to touch You,
I want to see Your face
00:05:57.56\00:06:03.87
I want to know You more
00:06:03.90\00:06:10.42
I want to know You, I
want to hear Your voice
00:06:10.45\00:06:17.08
I want to know You more
00:06:17.11\00:06:23.52
I want to touch You,
I want to see Your face
00:06:23.55\00:06:30.04
I want to know You more
00:06:30.07\00:06:34.60
Let's pray together.
Oh, God, just the melody
00:11:03.02\00:11:09.83
of what we heard,
sweeping us heavenward.
00:11:09.86\00:11:15.37
Kim's testimony
just before this.
00:11:18.40\00:11:24.18
You are one awesome God
00:11:24.21\00:11:28.15
we are worshipping today.
00:11:28.18\00:11:30.83
If You're able to do
that in the life of a skeptic,
00:11:30.86\00:11:35.65
turn her heart into a believer,
00:11:35.68\00:11:38.36
what can You do with all of us?
00:11:38.39\00:11:41.50
Be eternal now. Let
Your power be manifested
00:11:41.53\00:11:47.37
in Holy Scripture as we
plunge into this teaching.
00:11:47.40\00:11:51.01
We pray in Christ
Jesus' name. Amen.
00:11:51.04\00:11:57.66
Could it be that God is
calling you and me to become
00:11:57.69\00:12:04.21
involved in the greatest revival
00:12:04.24\00:12:06.52
in the history
of the human race?
00:12:06.55\00:12:10.71
493 years ago Sunday past,
00:12:13.74\00:12:19.82
a young German monk strode
00:12:19.85\00:12:23.49
through the red and yellow
leaf-strewn village square
00:12:23.52\00:12:30.30
in his hometown perched on
the side of the Elbe river.
00:12:30.33\00:12:36.25
In his eye a steely
glint of determination,
00:12:36.28\00:12:42.13
clutched in his
hand a freshly crafted,
00:12:42.16\00:12:46.16
by his own hand, document.
00:12:46.19\00:12:51.25
He strode to the
bulletin board of the university
00:12:51.28\00:12:54.95
where he taught. It
happened to be the door
00:12:54.98\00:12:59.01
to the campus church.
And with hammer in hand,
00:12:59.04\00:13:05.55
he affixed into
that wood his 95 theses,
00:13:05.58\00:13:12.10
95 challenges to the ruling
00:13:12.13\00:13:14.79
theology and church of
the Dark and Middle Ages.
00:13:14.82\00:13:22.31
Little did he know
that with every hammer blow,
00:13:22.34\00:13:28.11
he was igniting the spark
00:13:28.14\00:13:32.63
that would set
ablaze the inferno
00:13:32.66\00:13:34.99
of what we still remember
as the Protestant Reformation.
00:13:35.02\00:13:41.91
Few moments ago,
we sang what became
00:13:41.94\00:13:44.55
the battle hymn
of the Reformation.
00:13:44.58\00:13:47.63
Luther's own composition,
"A mighty fortress is our God,
00:13:47.66\00:13:53.22
a bulwark never failing,
our helper He amidst the flood
00:13:53.25\00:13:59.50
of mortal ills prevailing."
00:13:59.53\00:14:02.32
493 years ago,
00:14:02.35\00:14:07.20
a 130 years ago, a little woman,
00:14:07.23\00:14:13.77
5'2" tall was brooding one day
00:14:13.80\00:14:19.03
over the life
ministry of this Martin Luther
00:14:19.06\00:14:23.15
and clutching a
pen she began to spread
00:14:23.18\00:14:25.62
and inscribe in ink words
00:14:25.65\00:14:28.16
upon a manuscript
that would eventually
00:14:28.19\00:14:31.26
become a part of
that apocalyptic classic
00:14:31.29\00:14:34.82
"The Great Controversy."
00:14:34.85\00:14:36.70
Let me put the words
on the screen for you.
00:14:36.73\00:14:39.92
"Precious was the
message which Luther bore
00:14:39.95\00:14:41.82
to the eager crowds
that hung upon his words.
00:14:41.85\00:14:46.48
Never before had such teachings
fallen upon their ears.
00:14:46.51\00:14:50.32
The glad tidings
of a Savior's love,
00:14:50.35\00:14:53.19
the assurance of
pardon and peace through
00:14:53.22\00:14:55.17
His atoning blood,
00:14:55.20\00:14:56.46
rejoiced their
hearts and inspired
00:14:56.49\00:14:58.30
within them an immortal hope.
00:14:58.33\00:15:00.55
At Wittenberg a light
was kindled whose rays
00:15:00.58\00:15:03.64
should extend to the
uttermost parts of the earth,
00:15:03.67\00:15:06.36
and which was this light
to increase in brightness
00:15:06.39\00:15:08.94
to the close of time."
00:15:08.97\00:15:14.10
Could it be that
the prophetic ministry
00:15:14.13\00:15:17.97
of that little
woman named Ellen White
00:15:18.00\00:15:22.30
was raised up by God
to play a pivotal role
00:15:22.33\00:15:26.88
in this
Reformation that would extend
00:15:26.91\00:15:29.18
to the end of time
and the return of Christ?
00:15:29.21\00:15:31.61
Could it be you and I
have been called to have a part
00:15:31.64\00:15:37.72
in the greatest revival in
the history of this planet.
00:15:37.75\00:15:42.54
Open your Bible with
me, please, to some broad
00:15:42.57\00:15:45.87
stroked depictions of that
revival. The Bible's last book,
00:15:45.90\00:15:51.20
the Book of Revelation.
00:15:51.23\00:15:52.72
You've got to see
this for yourself.
00:15:52.75\00:15:54.10
Open your Bible, please.
00:15:54.29\00:15:55.84
Revelation Chapter 12.
You didn't bring a Bible?
00:15:55.87\00:15:58.94
Grab that pew
Bible in front of you.
00:15:58.97\00:16:00.49
You need to follow this.
00:16:00.52\00:16:02.13
Take a look at this painting
00:16:02.16\00:16:06.15
in the campus of the apocalypse.
00:16:06.18\00:16:07.71
Revelation Chapter 12.
00:16:07.74\00:16:10.39
If you grab the pew
Bible, it will be page 829.
00:16:10.42\00:16:15.32
Those of you
who're sitting up here,
00:16:15.35\00:16:16.38
glad to have you.
00:16:16.41\00:16:17.44
Look at the
screens above and below,
00:16:17.47\00:16:19.33
you'll be able to follow along.
00:16:19.36\00:16:20.88
All right.
00:16:20.91\00:16:22.04
Revelation Chapter 12,
00:16:22.07\00:16:23.10
let's drop to the
right bottom of that chapter.
00:16:23.13\00:16:25.92
Chapter 12:17. By the way,
00:16:25.95\00:16:28.09
I'm in the New
King James Version,
00:16:28.12\00:16:29.52
which is the same translation
as the pew Bible today.
00:16:29.55\00:16:33.53
Revelation 12:17,
00:16:33.56\00:16:34.85
"And the dragon was
enraged with the woman."
00:16:34.88\00:16:37.39
Hit the pause
button right there. Dragon,
00:16:37.42\00:16:39.26
who's this dragon?
00:16:39.29\00:16:40.72
Come on, you read the chapter,
00:16:40.75\00:16:42.98
you just drop back to
verse 9 and you discover
00:16:43.01\00:16:44.72
that the great dragon
was cast out of heaven
00:16:44.75\00:16:46.79
once upon a time,
that serpent of old
00:16:46.82\00:16:48.47
called the devil and Satan.
00:16:48.50\00:16:49.98
It's the fallen
rebel angel Lucifer.
00:16:50.01\00:16:53.44
Apocalyptic symbol, the dragon
00:16:53.47\00:16:55.39
and the dragon,
read it again, verse 17,
00:16:55.42\00:16:57.56
"And the dragon was
enraged with the woman."
00:16:57.59\00:17:01.63
Hit the pause button
again. Who's this woman?
00:17:01.66\00:17:04.21
I'll tell you what,
you spend a little time
00:17:04.24\00:17:05.79
in Revelation Chapter 12
00:17:05.82\00:17:06.95
and it becomes
crystal clear the woman
00:17:06.98\00:17:09.15
represents the faithful of God
00:17:09.18\00:17:13.01
post Calvary in the
history of Christianity.
00:17:13.04\00:17:16.53
That's who she is.
00:17:16.56\00:17:19.54
"And the dragon was
enraged with the woman
00:17:19.57\00:17:21.79
and he went to make war
00:17:21.82\00:17:23.16
with the rest of her offspring,"
00:17:23.19\00:17:24.87
moving to the very end of time.
00:17:24.90\00:17:28.17
The old King James
calls it, "and the remnant."
00:17:28.20\00:17:30.56
I proceed.
00:17:30.59\00:17:32.83
"The dragon was
enraged with the woman
00:17:32.86\00:17:34.02
and he went to make war
00:17:34.05\00:17:35.08
with the rest of her offspring."
00:17:35.11\00:17:36.26
Who are they? "Who keep,"
00:17:36.29\00:17:37.55
number one, "the
commandments of God"
00:17:37.58\00:17:40.00
and number two,
00:17:40.03\00:17:41.23
"who have the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
00:17:41.26\00:17:45.23
Revelation
Chapter 12 and stunning
00:17:45.26\00:17:47.46
apocalyptic
symbolism describes the history
00:17:47.49\00:17:50.59
of Christianity post Calvary
00:17:50.62\00:17:52.52
all the way
through to the end of time.
00:17:52.55\00:17:54.92
There will be a
community at the end of time
00:17:54.95\00:17:57.07
that will be noted
for its twin passions,
00:17:57.10\00:18:00.14
radical passion number one,
obedience to the law of God,
00:18:00.17\00:18:03.11
His commandments, it
would include the ten.
00:18:03.14\00:18:05.41
It would include
the fourth commandment.
00:18:05.44\00:18:06.67
It will be, therefore,
a Sabbatarian community.
00:18:06.70\00:18:09.28
Whatever community
this is, twin passions.
00:18:09.31\00:18:12.35
Passion for radical obedience
00:18:12.38\00:18:13.56
to God's commandments
and a passion for allegiance
00:18:13.59\00:18:17.23
to the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:18:17.26\00:18:20.98
So what's this testimony
of Jesus Christ business?
00:18:21.01\00:18:24.57
The phrase is used six
times in the apocalypse.
00:18:24.60\00:18:28.26
What does it mean?
00:18:28.29\00:18:29.39
John doesn't
leave us in the dark,
00:18:29.42\00:18:30.72
turn just a page,
just a little page
00:18:30.75\00:18:32.62
farther to
chapter 19. Chapter 19.
00:18:32.65\00:18:37.49
He's not gonna leave--
00:18:37.52\00:18:38.55
He's not gonna
leave us in the dark.
00:18:38.58\00:18:39.66
Chapter 19, drop
down to verse 10.
00:18:39.69\00:18:42.57
There's been an angel messenger
00:18:42.60\00:18:43.81
that has been bringing to John
the visions of the apocalypse.
00:18:43.84\00:18:48.97
He's been talking to
that angel in these visions.
00:18:49.00\00:18:52.29
He now is so overwhelmed
by this angelic being
00:18:52.32\00:18:55.64
that he responds
by worshipping it.
00:18:55.67\00:18:58.15
Notice the
response of the angel,
00:18:58.18\00:18:59.33
this should be verse 10.
00:18:59.36\00:19:00.59
"And I fell at his
feet to worship him.
00:19:00.62\00:19:05.18
And he said to
me-- But he said to me,
00:19:05.21\00:19:07.67
'See that you do not do that!'"
00:19:07.70\00:19:08.92
Oh, woah, we are
both created beings,
00:19:08.95\00:19:11.68
we don't receive worship
from each other. No, no no.
00:19:11.71\00:19:13.98
"See that you do not do that.
00:19:14.01\00:19:15.09
I am your fellow
servant, and of your brothers
00:19:15.12\00:19:18.39
who have the
testimony of Jesus."
00:19:18.42\00:19:20.10
Oh, there's that word.
00:19:20.13\00:19:21.32
"Worship God!" If
you want to worship.
00:19:21.35\00:19:23.61
"For the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy."
00:19:23.64\00:19:29.57
That point is so
critical, I wish you'd grab your
00:19:29.60\00:19:31.72
study guide that's in
your worship bulletin today
00:19:31.75\00:19:34.15
and let's jot it down
before we get past it.
00:19:34.18\00:19:36.86
Grab your study guide,
00:19:36.89\00:19:38.30
you have it in
front of you there
00:19:38.33\00:19:39.90
in your worship bulletin.
00:19:39.93\00:19:41.92
You didn't get a study guide?
Our ushers are coming your way.
00:19:41.95\00:19:44.31
All the way up in the balcony,
00:19:44.34\00:19:45.38
please, ushers. And those of you
00:19:45.41\00:19:46.95
in overflow just
put your hand up,
00:19:46.98\00:19:48.29
we'll make sure we get a
study guide to you as well.
00:19:48.32\00:19:52.32
By the way, I want
to say to those of you
00:19:52.35\00:19:53.39
who are watching on television,
we're delighted to have you.
00:19:53.42\00:19:56.01
You can have the
same study guide.
00:19:56.04\00:19:57.76
Here's what you
do. Go to our website,
00:19:57.79\00:19:59.26
I'll put it on
the screen for you.
00:19:59.29\00:20:01.51
There it is, you see at
the bottom of the screen
00:20:01.54\00:20:03.31
www.pmchurch.tv.
00:20:03.34\00:20:06.01
That's our website.
00:20:06.04\00:20:07.76
You're looking for the
series entitled "The Gift."
00:20:07.79\00:20:10.24
All this semester we
have been examining the gift.
00:20:10.27\00:20:12.66
The gift of
prophecy from the gates
00:20:12.69\00:20:14.48
of the garden of Eden
00:20:14.51\00:20:15.54
all the way down,
woven through Scripture,
00:20:15.57\00:20:16.88
to the very-- to
the very end of time.
00:20:16.91\00:20:18.49
You're looking for "The Gift."
This is part 7. By the way,
00:20:18.52\00:20:21.93
if you've missed any
of the previous parts
00:20:21.96\00:20:23.93
right there at that website,
you can get the podcast,
00:20:23.96\00:20:25.42
the videocast, everything's
there waiting for you,
00:20:25.45\00:20:27.09
but you're looking
for today's teaching
00:20:27.12\00:20:29.07
and it's entitled "Ellen
White: How Did It Really Work."
00:20:29.10\00:20:33.96
Last week, in the
midst of this series,
00:20:33.99\00:20:36.00
we plunged into a
critical examination
00:20:36.03\00:20:38.18
of the life
ministry of Ellen White.
00:20:38.21\00:20:39.91
We're going deeper today.
00:20:39.94\00:20:41.71
You've got to
get the study guide,
00:20:41.74\00:20:42.91
you're gonna want this.
Where you see study guide
00:20:42.94\00:20:45.47
underneath today's teaching,
00:20:45.50\00:20:48.02
click on there and you'll
have the identical study guides.
00:20:48.05\00:20:50.69
So let's go. All
right, everybody have it?
00:20:50.72\00:20:54.03
Hold your hand up,
ushers still coming your way,
00:20:54.06\00:20:55.50
but we got to move.
00:20:55.53\00:20:57.01
Study guide.
00:20:57.04\00:20:58.07
The apocalypse
declares, Revelation 12:17,
00:20:58.10\00:21:00.56
here it goes,
00:21:00.59\00:21:01.62
"The final community of
God's faithful will be--"
00:21:01.65\00:21:03.81
Jot it down, please. Number one,
00:21:03.84\00:21:05.54
radically
obedient, "radically obedient
00:21:05.57\00:21:08.81
to the commandments
of God that would include
00:21:08.84\00:21:10.52
the fourth commandment
about the seventh-day Sabbath."
00:21:10.55\00:21:13.61
You'd expect that in the
community at the end of time.
00:21:13.64\00:21:17.53
And number two, radically loyal,
00:21:17.56\00:21:19.98
radically
obedient to God's commands.
00:21:20.01\00:21:21.90
Number two, "Radically loyal
to the testimony of Jesus."
00:21:21.93\00:21:26.15
So what's the
testimony of Jesus?
00:21:26.18\00:21:27.41
We just looked at
it in Revelation 19:10,
00:21:27.44\00:21:29.01
keep your pen moving.
00:21:29.04\00:21:30.29
"The testimony of Jesus'
is 'the spirit of prophecy'
00:21:30.32\00:21:34.32
or the prophetic gift."
00:21:34.35\00:21:36.68
All right?
00:21:36.71\00:21:37.76
"Spirit of
prophecy," write that in.
00:21:37.79\00:21:39.72
Whatever this
testimony of Jesus is,
00:21:39.75\00:21:41.36
it is the spirit of
prophecy or the prophetic gift.
00:21:41.39\00:21:43.37
You say, Dwight, I'm not sure
about the prophetic gift part.
00:21:43.40\00:21:45.93
Let me assure you,
00:21:45.96\00:21:47.27
that's a correct interpretation.
00:21:47.30\00:21:48.62
In fact watch this, just
turn, turn one more page,
00:21:48.65\00:21:51.23
maybe two pages
in your translation
00:21:51.26\00:21:52.71
to the end of the Bible.
00:21:52.74\00:21:53.92
that would be
Revelation:22, Poor John,
00:21:53.95\00:21:56.97
he is so enraptured by
this celestial being, an angel,
00:21:57.00\00:22:04.62
that he repeats, he
repeats what he was warned
00:22:04.65\00:22:07.21
not to do in chapter 19.
00:22:07.24\00:22:08.34
He falls down again
to worship the angel
00:22:08.37\00:22:10.69
and the angel has to
repeat what he told John in 19.
00:22:10.72\00:22:13.69
John's forgotten it
already by chapter 22.
00:22:13.72\00:22:16.51
This would be in verse 9.
00:22:16.54\00:22:18.84
Then the angel,
"Then he said to me,"
00:22:18.88\00:22:21.53
here comes the repetition,
00:22:21.56\00:22:22.72
almost identical
wording, except a slight change
00:22:22.75\00:22:25.63
and it's the slight change
00:22:25.66\00:22:26.76
that's a clue we're looking for.
00:22:26.79\00:22:28.31
And he, the angel, said to
me, "See that you do not do that
00:22:28.34\00:22:31.29
for I am your fellow servant."
00:22:31.32\00:22:35.51
Now in 19, it said,
I'm your fellow servant
00:22:35.54\00:22:37.06
of those who have
the testimony of Jesus.
00:22:37.09\00:22:39.07
Now notice what he says,
"I am your fellow servant
00:22:39.10\00:22:42.98
of your brothers the prophets,
00:22:43.01\00:22:46.13
and of those who
keep the words this book.
00:22:46.16\00:22:48.01
Worship God."
00:22:48.04\00:22:49.62
See what's going on
here? Over here, chapter 19,
00:22:49.65\00:22:52.00
he says, "Hey, listen,
I'm of your fellow servants,
00:22:52.03\00:22:53.68
your brothers who had
the testimony of Jesus."
00:22:53.71\00:22:56.23
Over here, he says,
"I'm of your fellow servants,
00:22:56.26\00:22:58.51
your brothers, the prophets."
00:22:58.54\00:23:02.40
Absolutely clear that
the testimony of Jesus
00:23:02.43\00:23:06.64
is linked to the
ministry of a prophet.
00:23:06.67\00:23:09.39
In fact would you jot
00:23:09.42\00:23:10.45
that down, please,
in your study guide?
00:23:10.48\00:23:11.64
Revelation 22:9 "The
spirit of prophecy is manifested
00:23:11.67\00:23:16.11
through the
ministry of a prophet."
00:23:16.14\00:23:18.41
Write that down.
00:23:18.44\00:23:19.47
How's this testimony of Jesus,
00:23:19.50\00:23:21.13
the spirit of
prophecy thing work?
00:23:21.16\00:23:22.98
It works through a prophet,
00:23:23.01\00:23:24.57
through the
ministry of a prophet.
00:23:24.60\00:23:25.95
Keep your pen
moving, "Clearly, therefore,
00:23:25.98\00:23:28.65
God's final
community of faithful on earth
00:23:28.68\00:23:32.14
will have the ministry of
a prophet in their midst."
00:23:32.17\00:23:38.55
Jot that down. You say,
"Okay, okay, Dwight, okay,
00:23:38.59\00:23:40.91
look, okay, so that's
fine. Fact of the matter is
00:23:40.94\00:23:44.27
there are spiritual
communities all over this planet
00:23:44.30\00:23:46.18
who boast the presence
of a prophet in their midst.
00:23:46.21\00:23:48.71
So how in the world are
you supposed to figure it out?
00:23:48.74\00:23:50.71
I mean, come on, some of these,
00:23:50.74\00:23:51.99
some of these manifestations
00:23:52.02\00:23:53.13
are in blatant
contradiction to each other.
00:23:53.16\00:23:55.47
How could it possibly work?"
00:23:55.53\00:23:57.89
Yeah, it's a bright
question, good question.
00:23:57.92\00:24:00.86
So how's a
thinking mind to determine?
00:24:00.89\00:24:03.93
No wonder God makes
this very unusual command.
00:24:06.45\00:24:10.61
You probably
haven't read it before,
00:24:10.64\00:24:12.58
but he makes this
command in the New Testament.
00:24:12.61\00:24:14.34
I need you to see
this for yourself.
00:24:14.37\00:24:15.74
Don't just read
it on the screen.
00:24:15.77\00:24:16.80
Let's just go back
to the little book,
00:24:16.83\00:24:18.44
1 Thessalonians.
00:24:18.48\00:24:21.13
Because it's
gonna take you so long
00:24:21.16\00:24:22.20
to find 1Thessalonians,
you're gonna want to
00:24:22.23\00:24:23.77
read it off the
screen, but don't do it.
00:24:23.80\00:24:25.09
Just force yourself to
find it. You can do it.
00:24:25.12\00:24:28.30
You can do it. By the
way, the page number--
00:24:28.33\00:24:31.93
Now you wish you
had the pew Bible,
00:24:31.96\00:24:33.03
it's page 796. All right,
00:24:33.06\00:24:36.00
1 Thessalonians,
just a little tiny book.
00:24:36.03\00:24:38.88
Chapter 5, three in
pair, it's just boom,
00:24:38.91\00:24:41.58
boom, boom,
one-liners. Watch this.
00:24:41.61\00:24:44.00
Paul, the brilliant and
mighty apostle writing here.
00:24:44.03\00:24:47.73
1 Thessalonians 5:19.
00:24:47.76\00:24:51.27
Paul writing,
says, hey, Christians,
00:24:51.30\00:24:55.48
"Do not quench the Spirit."
00:24:55.51\00:24:58.62
Okay? The Spirit
is gonna be at work,
00:24:58.65\00:25:00.60
moving among the
community of faith,
00:25:00.63\00:25:02.63
don't throw water. You
know, you try to put a fire out,
00:25:02.66\00:25:04.55
you throw water
on it to quench it.
00:25:04.58\00:25:05.94
Don't throw water on
what the Spirit is doing.
00:25:05.97\00:25:08.50
Let it go, watch the Spirit.
00:25:08.53\00:25:10.79
Verse 19. Here comes verse 20.
00:25:10.82\00:25:12.35
"Do not despise prophecies."
00:25:12.38\00:25:15.86
Don't despise
them. Someone says,
00:25:15.89\00:25:17.98
if he were writing
to us third millennials,
00:25:18.01\00:25:20.64
don't despise prophecies.
00:25:20.67\00:25:22.45
Finally, verse
21, "Test all things,
00:25:22.48\00:25:24.88
hold fast what is good."
00:25:24.91\00:25:29.88
Paul is saying, "Hey
you, you third millennials,
00:25:29.91\00:25:33.39
watch out for your
third millennial needs,
00:25:33.42\00:25:35.72
your skepticism that dismisses
00:25:35.75\00:25:37.35
all manifestations
of the supernatural
00:25:37.38\00:25:40.31
as anti-intellectual
or pseudo metaphysics.
00:25:40.34\00:25:43.70
No, don't you do that.
00:25:43.73\00:25:45.25
Test the
manifestations, check them out,
00:25:45.28\00:25:48.42
see if they are right or
wrong, and then follow your mind
00:25:48.45\00:25:52.42
and your heart
holding on to what is good."
00:25:52.45\00:25:56.43
Yeah, but how am
I supposed to know?
00:25:56.46\00:25:58.60
Come on, how am
I supposed to know?
00:25:58.63\00:26:00.38
Did you know that
there are four tests,
00:26:00.41\00:26:02.91
at least four tests
given in Holy Scripture,
00:26:02.94\00:26:05.58
whereby we might
determine the veracity,
00:26:05.61\00:26:08.46
or the lack thereof,
of the gift of prophecy,
00:26:08.49\00:26:11.17
four tests.
Because let's face it,
00:26:11.20\00:26:13.07
we're living in a time
when there are a lot of quacks
00:26:13.10\00:26:15.34
and fakes out there.
00:26:15.37\00:26:17.30
Every time I go to
Wal-Mart with Karen,
00:26:17.33\00:26:19.85
I love to get up
to the checkout line
00:26:19.88\00:26:21.33
where she's doing
the business transaction,
00:26:21.36\00:26:23.51
so I'm falling behind,
because I want to check out,
00:26:23.54\00:26:26.58
you know, these
supermarket tabloids.
00:26:26.61\00:26:29.72
The first thing
I do is I make sure
00:26:29.75\00:26:30.82
none of you is nearby.
00:26:30.85\00:26:33.55
Once I'm sure
00:26:33.58\00:26:34.61
that you're not
shopping in Wal-Mart today,
00:26:34.64\00:26:37.18
I pick that little
thing, and I got to read this,
00:26:37.21\00:26:39.50
whoa, predictions for
2011, you got to be kidding me.
00:26:39.53\00:26:45.45
The world is filled
with quacks and fakes.
00:26:45.48\00:26:49.01
We have to know. so
there are four tests.
00:26:49.04\00:26:53.73
Here we go,
fasten your seatbelt,
00:26:53.76\00:26:55.82
four tests that will separate
00:26:55.85\00:26:57.60
the authentic from the
counterfeit, four tests.
00:26:57.63\00:27:01.02
Jot them down, let's go.
Test number one, Isaiah 8:20,
00:27:01.05\00:27:04.04
"The word of the true
prophet is in agreement
00:27:04.07\00:27:06.86
with the word of God."
00:27:06.89\00:27:11.26
In agreement.
00:27:11.29\00:27:13.14
The true
prophet, the word will be
00:27:13.17\00:27:15.31
in agreement
with the word of God.
00:27:15.34\00:27:16.37
Let's put it up on the screen.
00:27:16.40\00:27:17.43
I'm not gonna read
the rest of the verses
00:27:17.46\00:27:18.49
out of
Scripture, we've got to fly.
00:27:18.52\00:27:20.09
Let's put Isaiah
8:20 on the screen.
00:27:20.12\00:27:21.83
"To the law and
to the testimony."
00:27:21.86\00:27:23.88
Now the law is the Torah,
00:27:23.91\00:27:26.26
people tend to think of
this as the writings of Moses,
00:27:26.29\00:27:28.22
the testimony, technical word,
00:27:28.25\00:27:29.96
refers to the
writings of the prophets, okay?
00:27:29.99\00:27:32.49
So "To the law
and to the testimony.
00:27:32.52\00:27:34.15
If they do not speak
according to this word,
00:27:34.18\00:27:36.97
it is because there
is no light in them."
00:27:37.00\00:27:41.64
Gerhard Pfandl.
00:27:41.67\00:27:44.21
Put his words on
the screen for you.
00:27:44.24\00:27:45.57
He wrote the
book "Prophetic Gift."
00:27:45.60\00:27:47.83
You see his words there?
00:27:47.86\00:27:48.89
"Every true
prophet," I like this.
00:27:48.92\00:27:50.24
"Every true prophet
has made the writings of
00:27:50.27\00:27:52.31
previous
prophets the benchmark."
00:27:52.34\00:27:54.74
I like that. "Every true prophet
00:27:54.77\00:27:56.24
makes the previous
prophets the benchmark
00:27:56.27\00:27:58.79
for his or her own ministry."
00:27:58.82\00:28:02.37
The teaching of anybody
who claims the gift of prophecy
00:28:02.40\00:28:05.24
must be judged by
the objective standard
00:28:05.27\00:28:07.73
of the word of God.
00:28:07.76\00:28:08.95
You check it out right here.
00:28:08.98\00:28:10.06
If they do not agree
here, there's no light in them.
00:28:10.09\00:28:14.40
You've got to match.
00:28:14.43\00:28:16.83
You got to be in
agreement and harmony
00:28:16.86\00:28:18.62
with the objective
standard of the word of God.
00:28:18.65\00:28:20.89
All right,
that's test number one.
00:28:20.92\00:28:22.19
Here comes test
number two, Jeremiah 28:8, 9
00:28:22.22\00:28:25.19
"The prediction of the
true prophet comes true."
00:28:25.22\00:28:29.46
This is the one you and
I are most familiar with.
00:28:29.49\00:28:31.28
Hey, did what he said come true?
00:28:31.31\00:28:33.41
Did what she say come true?
00:28:33.44\00:28:35.74
Immediately,
that's how we determine
00:28:35.77\00:28:37.66
the authenticity of the gift.
00:28:37.69\00:28:40.19
In fact, let's
put it on the screen,
00:28:40.22\00:28:41.26
Jeremiah Chapter 28,
where God gives this test,
00:28:41.29\00:28:44.11
"The prophets who
have been before me,"
00:28:44.14\00:28:45.62
this is Jeremiah speaking,
"and before you of old,
00:28:45.65\00:28:49.29
these prophets prophesied
against many countries
00:28:49.32\00:28:51.15
and great kingdoms of war
and disaster and pestilence."
00:28:51.18\00:28:55.12
But watch this,
"As for the prophet
00:28:55.15\00:28:57.70
who prophesies of peace,
00:28:57.73\00:29:00.01
when the word of the
prophet comes to pass,
00:29:00.04\00:29:02.68
the prophet will be known
00:29:02.71\00:29:04.33
as one whom the
Lord has truly sent."
00:29:04.36\00:29:07.76
Yeah, we're
familiar with that test,
00:29:07.79\00:29:09.69
but I have to tell you,
00:29:09.72\00:29:10.80
this test is a
bit more complicated
00:29:10.83\00:29:13.25
than it first appears.
00:29:13.28\00:29:15.35
For example, Nostradamus,
you ever heard of that
00:29:15.38\00:29:18.70
Parisian, that French physician?
00:29:18.73\00:29:22.21
Died in 1566.
00:29:22.24\00:29:24.07
Nostradamus supposedly predicted
00:29:24.10\00:29:27.56
the great fire of London
in 1666 with his quatrain,
00:29:27.59\00:29:32.27
that's a little four
line rhyme, a century earlier.
00:29:32.30\00:29:35.46
Let me read the quatrain to you.
00:29:35.49\00:29:37.04
"The blood of the just
will be demanded of London
00:29:37.07\00:29:40.35
burnt by the
fire in the year '66."
00:29:40.38\00:29:45.22
So does that make
Nostradamus a prophet of God?
00:29:45.25\00:29:48.02
How about the Irish seer Cheiro?
00:29:50.22\00:29:53.44
Cheiro twice warned
the journalist W.T.Stead
00:29:53.47\00:29:56.51
in 1894 and again in 1911
00:29:56.54\00:29:59.30
that he would
drown in April 1912.
00:29:59.33\00:30:02.14
Twice he warned him.
00:30:02.17\00:30:04.41
W.T.Stead drowned in April 1912
00:30:04.44\00:30:08.96
for he was a
passenger on the Titanic.
00:30:08.99\00:30:11.94
Does that make
Cheiro a true prophet then?
00:30:11.97\00:30:15.04
How about Jeane
Dixon, you ever heard of her?
00:30:15.07\00:30:17.43
Our own
home-grown Jeane Dixon, 1956,
00:30:17.46\00:30:20.45
she predicted the
election of a Democrat
00:30:20.48\00:30:22.18
as president of the
United States in 1960,
00:30:22.21\00:30:24.97
but that he would be
assassinated in office.
00:30:25.00\00:30:26.77
Guess what?
00:30:26.80\00:30:27.83
John Kennedy was
elected president, a Democrat,
00:30:27.86\00:30:30.10
and was assassinated in office.
00:30:30.13\00:30:32.11
Does that make Jeane
Dixon a true prophet of God?
00:30:32.15\00:30:36.14
No, God says to
Moses in Deuteronomy,
00:30:36.17\00:30:38.82
no, no, no, no, hold on.
00:30:38.85\00:30:40.63
We're not gonna look this up,
00:30:40.66\00:30:41.69
but you need to write this down.
00:30:41.72\00:30:42.89
Deuteronomy 13:1-4,
you check it out later,
00:30:42.92\00:30:45.68
declares, you see
this in the study guide,
00:30:45.71\00:30:47.81
that test number two,
00:30:47.84\00:30:49.26
making a correct prediction
00:30:49.29\00:30:50.92
is only valid if
test number one is true
00:30:50.95\00:30:54.75
that the prophet is
speaking in harmony,
00:30:54.78\00:30:56.78
total agreement
with the word of God.
00:30:56.81\00:30:58.25
In other words,
here's where you fill it in,
00:30:58.28\00:31:00.14
"Fulfilled
predictions must be matched
00:31:00.17\00:31:02.38
by the prophet's
genuine harmony."
00:31:02.41\00:31:06.32
Harmony with
God's word. All right?
00:31:06.35\00:31:10.39
Look, the devil
himself can make predictions
00:31:10.42\00:31:12.70
and he can make his
predictions come true, can't he?
00:31:12.73\00:31:15.18
Yeah, so you don't want
to just make predictions,
00:31:15.21\00:31:17.17
kind of your
benchmark line for interpreting
00:31:17.20\00:31:19.74
the gift of prophecy.
00:31:19.77\00:31:21.69
All right, test number
three, let's go, 1 John 4:1, 2
00:31:21.72\00:31:24.78
"The focus of the true prophet
00:31:24.81\00:31:26.00
is on the truth
about Jesus Christ."
00:31:26.03\00:31:29.48
Would you write
that down, please?
00:31:29.51\00:31:31.43
The truth of Jesus Christ.
00:31:31.46\00:31:34.25
If this prophet is genuine,
the prophet will be focusing
00:31:34.28\00:31:37.17
on the truth of Christ.
Is that really in the Bible?
00:31:37.20\00:31:39.77
Sure it is. Just
put it up, 1 John 4:1
00:31:39.80\00:31:42.73
"Beloved, do not
believe every spirit,
00:31:42.76\00:31:45.27
but test," here it
goes, Paul tells us to test.
00:31:45.30\00:31:48.29
John comes along and
says you got to test it,
00:31:48.32\00:31:49.97
use your brains, you
got a bright IQ, use it.
00:31:50.00\00:31:53.15
"Beloved, do not
believe every spirit
00:31:53.18\00:31:54.52
but test the spirits,
whether they are of God,
00:31:54.55\00:31:57.04
because many false prophets,"
00:31:57.07\00:31:58.98
that's the big
deal, "false prophets
00:31:59.01\00:32:01.16
have gone out into the
world." Now watch this.
00:32:01.19\00:32:03.73
"By this you know
the Spirit of God:
00:32:03.76\00:32:06.83
Every spirit that confesses
00:32:06.86\00:32:08.75
that Jesus Christ has
come in the flesh is of God."
00:32:08.78\00:32:15.24
Keep your pen moving,
00:32:15.27\00:32:16.76
"no wonder revelation defines
the endtime manifestation
00:32:16.79\00:32:20.47
of the 'spirit of prophecy'
as the 'testimony of Jesus.'"
00:32:20.50\00:32:24.16
It's got to be. Any
genuine gift of the end of time
00:32:24.19\00:32:27.27
has to be
saturated with Jesus Christ.
00:32:27.30\00:32:30.67
In fact that's the next one,
00:32:30.70\00:32:31.73
jot it down, "A genuine
prophet at the end of time
00:32:31.76\00:32:33.65
will be saturated,"
write in the word "saturated".
00:32:33.68\00:32:36.53
"Will be saturated
with the truth about Jesus
00:32:36.56\00:32:38.79
that He is the incarnated God,
00:32:38.82\00:32:40.73
that He is the atoning Savior,
00:32:40.76\00:32:42.40
that He is the
mediating High Priest,
00:32:42.43\00:32:44.12
that He is the divine Judge,
00:32:44.15\00:32:45.48
and that He is the
soon coming Deliverer."
00:32:45.51\00:32:48.23
Four tests, four
tests and you got to put
00:32:48.26\00:32:51.24
all four up. Here
comes number 4, the last one.
00:32:51.27\00:32:54.67
Matthew 7: 15-20.
We spent some time
00:32:54.70\00:32:57.97
with this last week actually.
00:32:58.00\00:33:00.06
By the way if you weren't
here for last week's teaching,
00:33:00.09\00:33:02.63
you've got to get it.
It's just a series of stories,
00:33:02.66\00:33:05.24
get a hold of last
week's podcast, videocast.
00:33:05.27\00:33:08.84
All right.
00:33:08.87\00:33:10.45
Fill this one out.
Here's test number four.
00:33:10.48\00:33:11.85
"The life and
influence of the true prophet
00:33:11.88\00:33:13.85
demonstrate the fruits
of the Spirit of Jesus."
00:33:13.88\00:33:19.82
They call this the orchard test.
00:33:19.85\00:33:21.69
I like that.
00:33:21.72\00:33:22.75
The orchard test.
What kind of fruit
00:33:22.78\00:33:24.45
is growing on this tree?
00:33:24.48\00:33:26.34
Somebody just make that
up? No, are you kidding?
00:33:26.37\00:33:28.18
From the sermon on the mountain.
00:33:28.21\00:33:29.25
Jesus himself made it up.
00:33:29.28\00:33:30.75
Jesus himself calls us to
exercise test number four,
00:33:30.78\00:33:35.19
these are the words of
jesus in sermon on the mountain,
00:33:35.22\00:33:37.46
"Beware of false
prophets, who come to you
00:33:37.49\00:33:39.97
in sheep's clothing but inwardly
00:33:40.00\00:33:41.76
they are ravenous wolves.
00:33:41.79\00:33:44.39
You will know
them by their fruit."
00:33:44.42\00:33:46.25
Jesus goes on, "A good
tree cannot bear bad fruit
00:33:46.28\00:33:49.18
nor can a bad
tree bear good fruit.
00:33:49.21\00:33:52.11
Therefore, by their
fruits you will know them."
00:33:52.14\00:33:58.23
Would you jot it down,
please? A prophetic ministry
00:33:58.26\00:34:00.13
that bears the fruits
of the Spirit demonstrates
00:34:00.16\00:34:03.08
its divine authority
00:34:03.11\00:34:05.16
and corroborates
its divine calling,
00:34:05.19\00:34:09.93
has God's
fingerprints all over it.
00:34:09.96\00:34:11.94
If it's bearing the
fruits of the Spirit,
00:34:11.97\00:34:13.54
divine fingerprints all over it.
00:34:13.57\00:34:15.21
How did Jesus put it?
00:34:15.24\00:34:16.27
"Therefore by their
fruits you shall know them."
00:34:16.30\00:34:20.81
Okay, so Ellen White,
let's talk about her now.
00:34:20.84\00:34:24.50
How does she measure up
00:34:24.53\00:34:27.07
this 19th and
early 20th century wife,
00:34:27.10\00:34:31.25
who was a mother,
who was a homemaker,
00:34:31.28\00:34:33.96
who was a visionary,
who was a church leader,
00:34:33.99\00:34:36.44
who was a public speaker,
who was an intrepid traveler,
00:34:36.47\00:34:38.46
who was an
institutional builder,
00:34:38.49\00:34:40.13
who was a best-selling
00:34:40.16\00:34:41.24
and most translated
American author in history,
00:34:41.27\00:34:43.80
how does her
prophetic life ministry stand up
00:34:43.83\00:34:46.58
to these four compelling tests
00:34:46.61\00:34:49.23
of the genuine gift of prophecy?
00:34:49.26\00:34:54.12
Let's find out.
But before we do,
00:34:54.15\00:34:56.40
I need to share
something fascinating.
00:34:56.43\00:34:58.31
This is gonna--
You're gonna say "Wow."
00:34:58.34\00:35:02.19
Watch this, George Barna,
00:35:02.22\00:35:06.70
have you ever
heard of George Barna?
00:35:06.73\00:35:08.01
The celebrated
Christian demographer?
00:35:08.04\00:35:10.38
I think most
everybody knows George Barna.
00:35:10.41\00:35:12.05
So I subscribed
to his newsletter.
00:35:12.08\00:35:14.11
So I'm reading his
newsletter, and I'm reading,
00:35:14.14\00:35:17.22
he's conducting a
survey in this newsletter
00:35:17.25\00:35:19.89
because he's big on surveys.
00:35:19.92\00:35:21.41
It's a survey of
American clergy to determine
00:35:21.44\00:35:23.64
what pastors considered
the most influential authors
00:35:23.67\00:35:26.74
and the most
helpful books they had read.
00:35:26.77\00:35:29.23
So he's going
through all of this,
00:35:29.26\00:35:30.66
I'm reading the newsletter.
00:35:30.69\00:35:32.28
And then Barna
shares his discovery,
00:35:32.31\00:35:35.30
that for pastors,
now listen to this,
00:35:35.33\00:35:37.26
pastors underthe age of 40,
00:35:37.29\00:35:39.91
that would be most of
you, you're not pastors
00:35:39.94\00:35:41.70
but under the age of 40,
00:35:41.73\00:35:43.20
for pastors under the age of 40,
00:35:43.23\00:35:46.98
he found out what
they were reading.
00:35:47.01\00:35:48.52
This will catch you
by surprise. I'll put--
00:35:48.55\00:35:50.31
I don't want you to
take my words for it,
00:35:50.34\00:35:51.59
we'll put it on the
screen. And in your study guide
00:35:51.62\00:35:53.75
you have the website address,
00:35:53.78\00:35:55.60
you can check it
out for yourself.
00:35:55.63\00:35:56.78
"The under-40
pastors championed,"
00:35:56.81\00:36:00.84
isn't this is interesting?
00:36:00.87\00:36:01.90
"Championed several authors
who are not ranked highly
00:36:01.93\00:36:05.78
by older church
leaders. Those authors included
00:36:05.81\00:36:08.62
business
consultant James Collins."
00:36:08.65\00:36:10.87
You've heard of Jim Collins,
good to great, all right.
00:36:10.90\00:36:14.02
"Seminary professor Thom Rainer,
00:36:14.05\00:36:16.39
19th century Seventh-day
Adventist icon Ellen White,
00:36:16.42\00:36:22.33
and Pastor John Ortberg."
00:36:22.36\00:36:24.20
Isn't that amazing?
00:36:24.23\00:36:27.33
A national survey
of all denominations,
00:36:27.36\00:36:30.35
a national survey of pastors
under the age of 40 discovers
00:36:30.38\00:36:35.52
that this little
5'2" woman's life ministry
00:36:35.55\00:36:40.13
is continuing to bear
fruits in the third millennium.
00:36:40.16\00:36:47.30
Isn't that amazing?
00:36:47.33\00:36:52.64
But as we apply
these four tests,
00:36:52.67\00:36:54.74
I wish you'd keep in mind
00:36:54.77\00:36:56.82
that Ellen White never
called herself a prophet.
00:36:56.85\00:37:01.03
Put it on the screen for
you, you need to fill this in.
00:37:01.06\00:37:03.16
She's writing here,
"Others," she writes,
00:37:03.19\00:37:05.78
"have called me a prophetess,
00:37:05.81\00:37:07.34
but I have never
assumed that title.
00:37:07.37\00:37:09.55
I have not felt
that it was my duty
00:37:09.59\00:37:11.71
thus to designate myself.
00:37:11.74\00:37:13.60
I regard myself as a
messenger," write that in.
00:37:13.63\00:37:17.21
"I regard myself as a messenger
00:37:17.24\00:37:19.05
entrusted by the Lord
with messages for His people."
00:37:19.08\00:37:24.09
Ladies and
gentlemen, she did not seek
00:37:24.12\00:37:25.50
the prophetic office.
You can't find one prophet,
00:37:25.53\00:37:28.45
genuine prophet
whoever sought the job.
00:37:28.48\00:37:31.23
If you knew what
went into the job,
00:37:31.26\00:37:32.91
you would never ask for the job.
00:37:32.94\00:37:35.09
She never flaunted
her spiritual gift,
00:37:35.12\00:37:37.72
she never
boasted of her calling.
00:37:37.75\00:37:40.00
Quite the contrary.
00:37:40.03\00:37:41.49
Listen to this, 17,
she's just days into being 17
00:37:41.52\00:37:47.70
and she is wrestling
with this overwhelming
00:37:47.74\00:37:50.42
sense of inadequacy,
00:37:50.45\00:37:52.64
sensing God's call
to prophetic ministry
00:37:52.67\00:37:54.53
and she is pleading with God,
"Release me from this ministry,
00:37:54.56\00:37:58.03
please. You can't
be-- You can't be serious."
00:37:58.06\00:38:00.63
These are her words.
00:38:00.66\00:38:01.69
Put it on the screen for
you, "In my second vision,
00:38:01.72\00:38:05.73
about a week after the first,"
00:38:05.76\00:38:09.17
she's just 17 by 3 weeks old,
00:38:09.20\00:38:11.21
she's 17 plus 3 weeks.
00:38:11.24\00:38:14.00
"In my second vision
about a week after the first,
00:38:14.03\00:38:16.25
the Lord gave me
a view of the trials
00:38:16.28\00:38:19.16
through which I must pass,
00:38:19.19\00:38:20.41
and told me that I
must go and relate to others
00:38:20.44\00:38:22.72
what He had revealed to me.
00:38:22.75\00:38:24.63
It was shown me
that my labors would meet
00:38:24.66\00:38:27.45
with great
opposition." If she only knew.
00:38:27.48\00:38:32.48
"And that my heart
would be rent with anguish,
00:38:32.51\00:38:37.22
but that the grace of God
00:38:37.25\00:38:38.28
would be sufficient to
sustain me through all,
00:38:38.31\00:38:40.81
for several days,
and far into the night,
00:38:40.84\00:38:43.18
I prayed that this
burden might be removed from me
00:38:43.21\00:38:45.58
and laid upon someone
more capable of bearing it.
00:38:45.61\00:38:48.41
But the light of
duty did not change,
00:38:48.44\00:38:50.92
and the words of the angel
sounded continually in my ears,
00:38:50.95\00:38:54.96
'Make known to others
what I have revealed to you.'"
00:38:54.99\00:39:01.91
And so this
17-year-old girl resolves
00:39:01.94\00:39:04.22
that by the grace of God,
00:39:04.25\00:39:06.26
she would be
faithful to His life calling
00:39:06.29\00:39:07.95
for the rest of her
life, a 70-year life ministry,
00:39:07.98\00:39:12.58
from the age of 17 to 87.
00:39:12.61\00:39:18.50
So does Ellen
White pass the four tests
00:39:18.53\00:39:21.03
of a genuine prophet?
00:39:21.06\00:39:22.41
Let's find out, all
right? Test number one,
00:39:22.44\00:39:25.30
what's test number one?
00:39:25.33\00:39:26.36
Remember, Isaiah 8:20,
"The word of the true prophet
00:39:26.39\00:39:28.78
is in agreement
with the word of God."
00:39:28.81\00:39:31.32
Let's find out. So I
brought a couple of her classics
00:39:31.35\00:39:35.70
into the pulpit with me.
00:39:35.73\00:39:37.67
I want to-- I want to
show you the Scripture index
00:39:37.70\00:39:41.90
that appears in the
back of most of her books.
00:39:41.93\00:39:44.62
This first one,
and I want a camera
00:39:44.65\00:39:46.35
to come on up here, please.
00:39:46.38\00:39:47.69
This, this first book is
the classic, classic for me,
00:39:47.72\00:39:50.74
the greatest book I've
ever read on the life of Christ.
00:39:50.77\00:39:53.07
I've read numerous
books on the life of Jesus,
00:39:53.10\00:39:54.98
but this is the
"Desire of Ages."
00:39:55.01\00:39:56.53
All right? So
what I want to show you
00:39:56.56\00:39:58.27
and I want you to watch
the screen, don't watch me,
00:39:58.30\00:39:59.90
watch the screen.
I'm gonna take you
00:39:59.93\00:40:01.49
to the Scripture index,
00:40:01.52\00:40:02.60
these appear-- I
don't know how many times
00:40:02.63\00:40:04.27
I've read this book.
00:40:04.30\00:40:05.60
It's just a powerful,
powerful book, but I'm gonna
00:40:05.63\00:40:07.77
take you all the
way to the back. Okay,
00:40:07.80\00:40:10.25
here it is, here it
is, watch this, okay.
00:40:10.28\00:40:12.28
Can you see this?
00:40:12.31\00:40:13.40
Can you see the word
00:40:13.43\00:40:14.52
"scriptural
index," can see that?
00:40:14.55\00:40:16.57
All right, look, what
follows are all quoted
00:40:16.60\00:40:20.75
references to Holy Scripture,
00:40:20.78\00:40:22.94
these are not
allusions. That number would be,
00:40:22.97\00:40:26.31
who knows? These
are just direct quotes.
00:40:26.34\00:40:29.07
So I decided, okay, I'm
gonna count them. And so I went,
00:40:29.10\00:40:32.31
I said, okay, here and
here and here, all right. Whoa,
00:40:32.34\00:40:35.96
here, here, here,
here. Then I counted
00:40:35.99\00:40:38.48
this column right
here, I said, okay,
00:40:38.51\00:40:39.54
let me just take
an average column,
00:40:39.57\00:40:40.65
let's just say I got 40 in this.
00:40:40.68\00:40:42.33
I multiplied the columns,
00:40:42.36\00:40:44.29
960 scriptural
quotations in this single book.
00:40:44.32\00:40:52.07
I'm gonna show you another book,
00:40:52.10\00:40:53.39
this book is this classic
this apocalyptic classic,
00:40:53.42\00:40:57.00
"The Great
Controversy." I want to show you
00:40:57.03\00:40:59.28
whereas in here-- I
want to show you the same.
00:40:59.31\00:41:03.15
All right, so you've got
the Scripture index right here.
00:41:03.18\00:41:05.59
By the way, I want to say
much more about this book,
00:41:05.62\00:41:08.38
this one next week
when we look at the critics.
00:41:08.41\00:41:11.59
Next week, this one, all right.
00:41:11.62\00:41:13.37
So here they are, here we
go, here we go, here we go,
00:41:13.40\00:41:15.72
they're here, here, here, here,
00:41:15.75\00:41:16.91
and you see my
scribbling's up here,
00:41:16.94\00:41:17.97
there's something on
the back, but I said,
00:41:18.00\00:41:19.14
okay, 15 times 40,
600 plus 90 on the back,
00:41:19.17\00:41:21.43
690 Scripture
quotations in these 2 classics.
00:41:21.47\00:41:28.27
What's test number one?
00:41:28.30\00:41:32.14
That the true
prophet will speak in harmony
00:41:32.17\00:41:34.64
with the word of God.
00:41:34.67\00:41:36.43
This is from "The
Great Controversy."
00:41:36.46\00:41:38.60
Thank you very much.
00:41:38.63\00:41:39.67
This is from "The
Great Controversy,"
00:41:39.70\00:41:40.73
the introduction to
"The Great Controversy"
00:41:40.76\00:41:45.19
and I'll put it on
the screen for you,
00:41:45.22\00:41:46.28
she wrote these words.
00:41:46.31\00:41:47.86
"The Spirit was not given,"
you see that on the screen?
00:41:47.89\00:41:49.88
"The Spirit was not given,
nor can it ever be bestowed
00:41:49.91\00:41:54.92
to supersede the
Bible, for the Scriptures
00:41:54.95\00:41:59.94
explicitly state
that the word of God
00:41:59.97\00:42:02.18
is the standard by which
00:42:02.21\00:42:03.71
all teaching and
experience must be tested."
00:42:03.74\00:42:07.89
You always go to
the word, the bedrock,
00:42:07.92\00:42:10.31
bottomline standard
by which everything--
00:42:10.34\00:42:12.76
By the way,
every spiritual gift,
00:42:12.79\00:42:13.83
not just the gift of prophecy,
00:42:13.86\00:42:14.96
every spiritual
gift, speaking in tongues,
00:42:14.99\00:42:17.12
healing,
everything, it has to be tested
00:42:17.15\00:42:20.19
by the holy word of God.
00:42:20.22\00:42:22.25
I tell you what,
there is no false prophet
00:42:22.28\00:42:24.07
in the history of the world
00:42:24.10\00:42:25.24
who would
subordinate his teaching
00:42:25.27\00:42:26.60
or his writings to
the absolute authority
00:42:26.63\00:42:28.29
of the word of God.
00:42:28.32\00:42:29.35
Like that statement just does.
00:42:29.38\00:42:32.19
Everything, every,
everything subliminally,
00:42:32.22\00:42:35.98
subordinated
rather to Holy Scripture.
00:42:36.01\00:42:38.71
All right,
that's test number one.
00:42:38.74\00:42:40.95
Test number two,
what's test number two?
00:42:40.98\00:42:42.25
Jeremiah 28:8, 9
00:42:42.28\00:42:43.79
"The prediction of
the prophet comes true."
00:42:43.82\00:42:48.02
All right,
September, September 1, 1902,
00:42:48.05\00:42:51.59
Ellen White wrote these words.
00:42:51.62\00:42:52.88
I'll put it on
the screen for you.
00:42:52.91\00:42:55.92
September 1, 1902,
00:42:55.95\00:42:58.14
"Well equipped tent
meetings should be held
00:42:58.17\00:43:00.15
in the large cities,
such as San Francisco,
00:43:00.18\00:43:02.99
for not long hence
these cities will suffer
00:43:03.02\00:43:05.25
under the judgments of God.
00:43:05.28\00:43:07.56
San Francisco and
Oakland are becoming
00:43:07.59\00:43:11.02
as Sodom and Gomorrah,
00:43:11.05\00:43:12.48
and the Lord will
visit them in wrath."
00:43:12.51\00:43:17.41
All right? 4 years
later, 4 years later,
00:43:17.44\00:43:20.78
on April 16, 1906,
she received a vision,
00:43:20.81\00:43:24.67
here's her
description of the vision,
00:43:24.70\00:43:26.02
put it on the screen.
00:43:26.05\00:43:27.16
"While at Loma
Linda, California,"
00:43:27.19\00:43:28.95
perhaps you've
heard of that place.
00:43:28.98\00:43:31.30
"While at Loma
Linda, California,"
00:43:31.33\00:43:32.60
where our medical university is,
00:43:32.63\00:43:35.66
"April 16, 1906,
there passed before me
00:43:35.69\00:43:39.20
a most
distressing representation.
00:43:39.23\00:43:41.74
During a vision of the night,
00:43:41.77\00:43:42.92
I stood on an eminence,"
00:43:42.95\00:43:44.08
okay, some kind of
outcropping upon a hill.
00:43:44.11\00:43:47.05
"I stood on an
eminence from which I could see
00:43:47.08\00:43:49.47
houses shaking
like a reed in the wind.
00:43:49.50\00:43:52.19
Buildings great and small
were falling to the ground.
00:43:52.22\00:43:54.45
Pleasure
resorts, theaters, hotels,
00:43:54.48\00:43:56.26
and the homes of the wealthy
were shaken and shattered.
00:43:56.29\00:43:58.61
Many lives were
blotted out of existence,
00:43:58.64\00:44:00.58
and the air was
filled with the shrieks
00:44:00.61\00:44:02.54
of the injured
and the terrified."
00:44:02.57\00:44:05.54
2 days later, at 5:12 in
the morning April 18, 1906,
00:44:05.57\00:44:10.99
a 270 mile section of the
San Andreas Fault slipped,
00:44:11.02\00:44:15.65
generating a massive 7.7
to 7.9 magnitude earthquake
00:44:15.68\00:44:20.33
that destroyed the mighty
sea port of San Francisco.
00:44:20.36\00:44:25.24
I'll put a picture.
Can you believe they have
00:44:25.27\00:44:27.33
black and white pictures?
That's the city right there,
00:44:27.36\00:44:30.42
went to Google
and got that picture.
00:44:30.45\00:44:33.01
While that picture's
up, I need to tell you,
00:44:33.04\00:44:34.25
property loss was measured
00:44:34.29\00:44:35.47
at a rate of one million dollars
00:44:35.50\00:44:37.86
every 10 minutes and
this is a century ago.
00:44:37.89\00:44:40.52
One million dollar
losses every 10 minutes,
00:44:40.55\00:44:43.10
for greater far than
the earthquake devastation
00:44:43.13\00:44:45.62
were the raging
fires that swept the city.
00:44:45.65\00:44:48.71
The loss of
human life was numbing,
00:44:48.74\00:44:51.00
telegraph lines went wild
00:44:51.03\00:44:52.68
and the rumors began to
spread 'Chicago is in flames.
00:44:52.71\00:44:55.72
New York City has been
destroyed by a tidal wave."
00:44:55.75\00:44:57.91
It was the panic of doomsday.
00:44:57.94\00:45:00.59
Let me share another
prediction with you. 1890,
00:45:07.54\00:45:12.13
some of you
historians know this to be true,
00:45:12.16\00:45:14.23
in 1890s here in
the United States,
00:45:14.26\00:45:16.14
there was a
prevailing "millennial fever,"
00:45:16.17\00:45:20.84
kind of a self-confident,
collective spirit
00:45:20.87\00:45:24.12
that our nation
and that our world were
00:45:24.15\00:45:26.14
on the eve of a millennial age
00:45:26.17\00:45:27.99
of peace and prosperity, 1890.
00:45:28.02\00:45:34.46
In an utterly counter-cultural
00:45:34.49\00:45:37.86
and counter-social way,
Ellen White picked up a pen
00:45:37.89\00:45:43.44
and wrote one of her
most sobering predictions,
00:45:43.47\00:45:45.27
these words appeared in
00:45:45.30\00:45:46.33
"Signs of the Times"
magazine, April 21, 1890,
00:45:46.36\00:45:49.81
put it on the screen for you.
00:45:49.84\00:45:51.56
"The tempest is
coming, and we must get ready
00:45:51.59\00:45:54.99
for its fury by
having repentance toward God
00:45:55.03\00:45:57.53
and faith toward
our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:45:57.56\00:46:00.06
The Lord will arise to
shake terribly the earth.
00:46:00.09\00:46:02.76
We shall see
troubles on all sides.
00:46:02.79\00:46:04.67
Thousands of
ships will be hurled
00:46:04.70\00:46:06.56
into the depths of the sea.
00:46:06.59\00:46:07.90
Navies will go down,
00:46:07.93\00:46:09.85
and human lives will
be sacrificed by millions.
00:46:09.88\00:46:12.77
Fires will break
out unexpectedly,
00:46:12.80\00:46:15.10
and no human effort
will be able to quench them.
00:46:15.13\00:46:18.25
The palaces of
earth will be swept away
00:46:18.28\00:46:20.30
in the fury of the flames.
00:46:20.33\00:46:21.60
Disasters by rail will
become more and more frequent.
00:46:21.63\00:46:24.52
Confusion, collision and death
00:46:24.55\00:46:27.01
without a
moment's warning will occur
00:46:27.04\00:46:28.93
on the great lines of travel.
00:46:28.96\00:46:31.06
The end is near,
probation is closing.
00:46:31.09\00:46:33.13
Oh, let us seek God
while he may be found,
00:46:33.16\00:46:35.40
call upon Him while He is near."
00:46:35.43\00:46:38.87
And of course nobody
had a clue, an inkling
00:46:38.90\00:46:42.01
that the facade of
impending millennial peace
00:46:42.04\00:46:44.36
would be shattered by
World War I in 20 years.
00:46:44.39\00:46:48.96
And after World War I,
30 years later, World War 2,
00:46:48.99\00:46:52.78
entire Navies were sunk,
00:46:52.81\00:46:55.00
millions upon millions perished,
00:46:55.03\00:46:57.38
death on the
great lines of travel.
00:46:57.41\00:46:59.76
Who'd have thought
that automobile deaths
00:46:59.79\00:47:02.52
would number eventually
half a million a year?
00:47:02.55\00:47:06.87
Well, it's true that the
dominant work of a prophet
00:47:06.90\00:47:10.30
is not foretelling, but
it is rather forth telling.
00:47:10.33\00:47:15.21
Prophets don't spend their time
00:47:15.24\00:47:16.45
trying to come
up with predictions.
00:47:16.48\00:47:17.51
No.
00:47:17.54\00:47:18.57
The dominant work
is not foretelling,
00:47:18.60\00:47:19.71
it's forth telling,
it's giving nurture,
00:47:19.74\00:47:21.98
it's giving
guidance, it's giving warning,
00:47:22.01\00:47:23.48
it's giving
exhortation, leadership.
00:47:23.51\00:47:26.69
While it's true
that forth telling
00:47:26.72\00:47:28.98
is the dominant work,
00:47:29.01\00:47:30.40
the fact of the
matter is that nothing grabs
00:47:30.43\00:47:33.50
the human
attention more powerfully
00:47:33.53\00:47:36.42
than a prediction come true.
00:47:36.45\00:47:39.31
And it could be that
the prophet speaks about God
00:47:39.34\00:47:43.72
and what the prophet
speaks I should be obeying.
00:47:43.75\00:47:50.66
Test number three, 1 John 4: 1-2
00:47:50.69\00:47:52.68
"The focus of the true prophet
00:47:52.71\00:47:54.10
is on the truth
about Jesus Christ."
00:47:54.13\00:47:57.62
I testified last week
that of all the authors
00:47:57.65\00:48:00.59
I've read in my lifetime,
00:48:00.62\00:48:01.91
none has been
more Christocentric,
00:48:01.94\00:48:03.24
more Jesus
focused than Ellen White.
00:48:03.27\00:48:06.48
But then, we probably
ought not to be surprised
00:48:06.51\00:48:08.43
since the apocalypse
describes the gift of prophesy
00:48:08.46\00:48:10.48
at the end of time as the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:48:10.51\00:48:13.82
No surprise. My
friend Merlin Burt
00:48:13.85\00:48:17.19
who is the director here on
campus at Andrews University,
00:48:17.22\00:48:20.30
Director of the Center
for Adventist Research,
00:48:20.33\00:48:23.04
has been a tremendous help.
00:48:23.07\00:48:25.21
As I've been doing my
researching and reading,
00:48:25.24\00:48:28.46
I've had conversations with him
00:48:28.49\00:48:29.62
and he shared with me a paper
00:48:29.65\00:48:31.63
that he read
this July in Europe.
00:48:31.66\00:48:34.89
I want to read a line,
00:48:34.92\00:48:35.96
I'll put it up on
the screen for you.
00:48:35.99\00:48:37.16
Merlin Burt, "If
it is true that Jesus
00:48:37.19\00:48:40.90
gave His own testimony
through the prophetic gift
00:48:40.93\00:48:43.21
as explained by
John in Revelation,
00:48:43.24\00:48:45.98
then it is
imperative that we listen.
00:48:46.01\00:48:51.42
The 'testimony of
Jesus,' as revelation calls it,
00:48:51.45\00:48:54.78
"'the testimony of
Jesus' brings us redemption
00:48:54.81\00:48:57.70
and by His loving guidance
in a world broken by sin
00:48:57.73\00:49:02.90
and suffering."
00:49:02.93\00:49:04.32
It brings redemption,
it brings loving guidance
00:49:04.35\00:49:06.86
in this
dysfunctional and broken world
00:49:06.89\00:49:09.77
in which we live.
00:49:09.80\00:49:13.03
Merlin shared
with me, as he calls it
00:49:13.06\00:49:15.86
one of Ellen
White's most touching
00:49:15.89\00:49:17.16
and spiritually
compelling letters,
00:49:17.19\00:49:18.72
it was written
to her twin sister.
00:49:18.75\00:49:20.05
We learned about
her twin last week.
00:49:20.08\00:49:21.65
Her name is Elizabeth,
they called her Lizzy.
00:49:21.68\00:49:24.56
Most of her adult life
she was not even a Christian.
00:49:24.59\00:49:27.76
She's dying, this is
the year that she dies.
00:49:27.79\00:49:30.72
Ellen writes to
Lizzy, the letter was--
00:49:30.75\00:49:34.01
the letter was never published
00:49:34.04\00:49:35.43
and it was
intended to be personal.
00:49:35.46\00:49:39.50
I'm gonna read a line
or two from that letter.
00:49:39.53\00:49:41.16
Put it on the screen for you.
00:49:41.19\00:49:42.22
"Dear Lizzie," and
then a few lines go by,
00:49:42.25\00:49:44.78
let's pick it up.
00:49:44.81\00:49:45.84
"I love to speak of
Jesus and His matchless love
00:49:45.87\00:49:50.34
and my whole
soul is in this work.
00:49:50.37\00:49:53.00
I have not one doubt of
the love God and His care
00:49:53.03\00:49:56.88
and His mercy and ability
to save to the utmost all
00:49:56.91\00:50:00.45
who come to Him.
00:50:00.48\00:50:02.32
Don't you
believe in Jesus, Lizzy?
00:50:02.35\00:50:04.74
Do you not
believe He is your Savior?
00:50:04.77\00:50:07.34
That He has
evidenced His love for you
00:50:07.37\00:50:09.25
in giving His own precious
life that you might be saved?
00:50:09.28\00:50:12.71
I pray most
earnestly that the Lord Jesus
00:50:12.74\00:50:15.06
shall reveal
Himself to you and Reuben.
00:50:15.09\00:50:17.38
Dear sister, it
is no wonderful thing
00:50:17.41\00:50:20.00
that you have to do,"
00:50:20.03\00:50:21.06
some spectacular act
that you have to perform.
00:50:21.09\00:50:23.66
No, no, no, no. "But
there is One who died
00:50:23.69\00:50:27.40
that you might live
through eternal ages.
00:50:27.43\00:50:29.79
Just believe that Jesus
will hear your confession,
00:50:29.82\00:50:32.87
receive your
penitence, and forgive every sin
00:50:32.90\00:50:35.48
and make you children of God.
00:50:35.51\00:50:37.95
I long to take you
in my arms and lay you
00:50:37.98\00:50:41.30
on the bosom of Jesus Christ.
00:50:41.33\00:50:46.89
With Jesus as
your blessed friend
00:50:46.92\00:50:49.04
you need not fear to die,
for it will be to you like
00:50:49.07\00:50:52.86
closing your eyes here
and opening them in heaven.
00:50:52.89\00:50:55.84
Then we shall meet
never more to part."
00:50:55.87\00:51:01.07
Test number
four, Mathew 7:15-20,
00:51:04.07\00:51:08.34
"The life and
influence of the true prophet
00:51:08.37\00:51:10.14
demonstrates the fruits
of the Spirit of Jesus."
00:51:10.17\00:51:14.20
Okay, look, here's the question.
00:51:14.23\00:51:16.13
Was Ellen White
perfect? Was she flawless?
00:51:16.16\00:51:19.79
Was she sinless? Hardly.
00:51:19.82\00:51:23.16
She made mistakes, she
had character weaknesses,
00:51:23.19\00:51:26.98
she was fallible and
we're going to examine
00:51:27.01\00:51:28.74
that fallibility in a
special way next week.
00:51:28.77\00:51:32.89
But the trend of her life
was such that upon her death,
00:51:32.92\00:51:36.92
a newspaper, okay,
this is not a church paper,
00:51:36.95\00:51:38.68
this is a city newspaper
commenting on her death,
00:51:38.71\00:51:42.27
The "St. Helena
Star" near where she died,
00:51:42.30\00:51:45.38
the "St. Helena Star"
carried the story entitled
00:51:45.41\00:51:47.54
"Called to her
reward" on July 23, 1915.
00:51:47.57\00:51:50.79
I'll put the words
on the screen for you.
00:51:50.82\00:51:52.71
"The life of Mrs.
White is an example worthy
00:51:52.74\00:51:57.59
of emulation by all.
00:51:57.62\00:52:00.37
She was a humble,
devout disciple of Christ
00:52:00.40\00:52:02.40
and ever went about doing good.
00:52:02.43\00:52:04.74
Her death marks the
calling of another noted
00:52:04.77\00:52:06.79
leader of religious thought
00:52:06.82\00:52:08.41
and one who is almost 90 years
00:52:08.44\00:52:10.82
were full to
overflowing with good deeds,
00:52:10.85\00:52:14.47
kind words and earnest
prayers for all mankind."
00:52:14.50\00:52:19.47
How did Jesus put it?
00:52:19.50\00:52:20.69
"By their fruits
you will know them."
00:52:20.72\00:52:27.69
493 years ago today,
the Protestant Reformation
00:52:27.72\00:52:32.70
was ignited by Martin
Luther. Nearly 500 years later,
00:52:32.73\00:52:37.84
the Reformation still goes on.
00:52:37.87\00:52:39.91
In her apocalyptic
classic "Great Controversy,"
00:52:39.94\00:52:42.17
she writes, "The
Reformation did not
00:52:42.20\00:52:45.24
as many suppose end with Luther.
00:52:45.27\00:52:47.47
It is to be
continued to the close
00:52:47.50\00:52:48.78
of this world's history.
00:52:48.81\00:52:50.33
Luther had a great work
to do in reflecting to others
00:52:50.36\00:52:52.69
the light which God had
permitted to shine upon him,
00:52:52.72\00:52:55.30
yet he did not
receive all the light
00:52:55.33\00:52:57.54
which was to be
given to the world.
00:52:57.57\00:52:59.12
From that time to this,
new light has been continually
00:52:59.16\00:53:02.11
shining upon the Scriptures,
00:53:02.14\00:53:03.87
and new truths have
been constantly unfolding."
00:53:03.90\00:53:07.11
Thus it is that
the apocalypse predicts
00:53:07.14\00:53:09.61
that at the end of time
00:53:09.64\00:53:10.67
God would raise up a
community of faithful,
00:53:10.70\00:53:14.16
whose mission would
be to take that truth
00:53:14.19\00:53:18.73
to an entire generation
00:53:18.76\00:53:20.16
just before the
return of Christ.
00:53:20.19\00:53:22.40
And the same
apocalypse, by the way, predicts
00:53:22.43\00:53:24.95
that to assist in that
mission there would be raised up
00:53:24.98\00:53:28.03
within that community
someone with the prophetic gift
00:53:28.06\00:53:34.24
to point the church
00:53:34.27\00:53:36.03
and the world to
Jesus Christ Himself.
00:53:36.06\00:53:39.95
I believe that Ellen
White was that messenger of God
00:53:39.98\00:53:45.62
and I believe that
her life ministry fulfils
00:53:45.65\00:53:48.08
the four biblical
tests for the authenticity
00:53:48.11\00:53:52.08
of the gift of prophecy.
00:53:52.11\00:53:54.14
You say, "Ah, but,
Dwight, what about those who--
00:53:54.17\00:53:55.57
what about those
who don't believe?"
00:53:55.60\00:53:59.09
I'm aware. Next week
we'll deal with the critics.
00:53:59.12\00:54:03.43
Don't miss next week, please.
00:54:03.46\00:54:05.98
But right now,
it's just you and me,
00:54:06.01\00:54:08.10
all I can ask of you is
that you taste the fruits
00:54:08.13\00:54:12.39
of her ministry for yourself.
00:54:12.42\00:54:15.27
Read her
writings, and I believe...
00:54:15.30\00:54:20.24
that if you do, you
will believe as well.
00:54:23.62\00:54:31.55
Stand with me.
Let's sing that chorus.
00:54:31.58\00:54:36.03
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
00:54:36.06\00:54:39.20
look full in His wonderful face,
00:54:39.23\00:54:42.17
and the things of
earth will grow strangely dim
00:54:42.20\00:54:46.20
in the light of
His glory and grace.
00:54:46.23\00:54:48.99
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
00:54:58.21\00:55:04.15
Look full in His wonderful face
00:55:07.15\00:55:13.15
And the things of earth
00:55:16.26\00:55:20.74
Will grow strangely dim
00:55:20.77\00:55:27.18
In the light of
His glory and grace
00:55:27.21\00:55:35.18
Let's sing it one
more time even quiter.
00:55:39.16\00:55:41.59
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
00:55:41.62\00:55:47.93
Look full in His wonderful face
00:55:52.30\00:55:59.50
And the things of earth
00:56:03.72\00:56:09.00
Will grow strangely dim
00:56:09.03\00:56:16.95
In the light of
His glory and grace
00:56:16.98\00:56:24.95
Holy Father, that's why You gave
00:56:30.19\00:56:33.33
the testimony of Jesus Christ
00:56:33.36\00:56:37.42
so that in reading we
might turn our eyes upon Jesus.
00:56:37.45\00:56:41.97
Holy God, please in
this hour of earth's history,
00:56:42.00\00:56:48.75
lift our gaze higher
and higher and higher
00:56:48.78\00:56:52.46
and lock us on
the face of our Savior
00:56:52.49\00:56:58.05
in whose name we pray.
00:56:58.08\00:57:01.19
Amen.
00:57:01.22\00:57:02.70
This little classic
was a God-sent to me
00:57:17.33\00:57:19.07
when I hit rock
bottom spiritually
00:57:19.10\00:57:21.09
as a graduate student
on this campus years ago.
00:57:21.12\00:57:24.08
The title became a
self- fulfilling prophecy,
00:57:24.11\00:57:26.42
"Steps to Christ,"
00:57:26.45\00:57:28.68
because that's
precisely what I discovered
00:57:28.71\00:57:30.37
in the short but inspiring,
and for me, life changing book.
00:57:30.40\00:57:34.26
And I'd love for you
to experience the same,
00:57:34.29\00:57:36.67
which is why we're setting
aside a few of these books
00:57:36.70\00:57:38.43
for our viewing friends.
00:57:38.46\00:57:39.91
If you'd like your own
copy of "Steps to Christ,"
00:57:39.94\00:57:42.13
call our toll free
number 877-His-Will.
00:57:42.16\00:57:45.38
Just punch those two words,
His-Will on your keyboard,
00:57:45.41\00:57:47.96
877-His-Will,
and ask for the book.
00:57:47.99\00:57:50.51
If you want it in
Spanish, ask for it.
00:57:50.54\00:57:52.31
It's one of the most
translated books in the world.
00:57:52.34\00:57:54.75
Our friendly
operators are standing by 24x7
00:57:54.78\00:57:57.13
to assist you and
will get the book to you
00:57:57.16\00:57:58.94
as soon as possible,
straight to your address.
00:57:58.97\00:58:01.29
So why not go to
the phone right now,
00:58:01.32\00:58:02.86
and see if your walk with Jesus
00:58:02.89\00:58:04.28
isn't deepened by
this spiritual classic.
00:58:04.31\00:58:06.89
It's our gift to you.
00:58:06.92\00:58:08.66
Until I see you again next time,
00:58:08.69\00:58:10.12
may you sense the living Christ
00:58:10.15\00:58:12.74
walking beside you
every step of the way.
00:58:12.77\00:58:16.00