From the campus
of Andrews University
00:00:05.94\00:00:08.68
this is New Perceptions
with Dr. Dwight K. Nelson
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Praise the
Almighty, my soul, adore Him!
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Yea, I will
laud Him until death,
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With songs and
anthems I'll come before Him
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As long as He
doth give me breath
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From Him my life
and all things came
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Bless, O my soul, His holy name
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Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
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"Make a joyful shout
to the Lord all you lands!
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Serve the Lord with gladness,
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Come before His
presence with singing.
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Know that the Lord, He is God,
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It is he who has made
us, and not we ourselves,
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We are His people and
the sheep of His pasture.
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Enter into His
gates with thanksgiving,
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And into his courts with praise.
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Be thankful to
Him, and bless His name.
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For the Lord is good,
His mercy is everlasting,
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And His truth
endures to all generations."
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All things bright and beautiful
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All creatures great and small
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All things wise and wonderful
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The Lord God made them all
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Each little flower that opens
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Each little bird that sings
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He made their glowing colors
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He made their tiny wings
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All things bright and beautiful
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All creatures great and small
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All things wise and wonderful
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The Lord God made them all
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The purple-headed mountains
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The river running by
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The sunset, and the morning
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That brightens up the sky
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All things bright and beautiful
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All creatures great and small
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All things wise and wonderful
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The Lord God made them all
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The cold wind in the winter
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The pleasant summer sun
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The ripe fruits in the garden
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He made them every one
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All things bright and beautiful
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All creatures great and small
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All things wise and wonderful
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The Lord God made them all
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He gave us eyes to see them
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And lips that we might tell
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How great is God Almighty,
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Who has made all things well
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All things bright and beautiful
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All creatures great and small
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All things wise and wonderful
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The Lord God made them all
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Fairest Lord Jesus,
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Ruler of all nature
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O Thou of God
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And man the Son!
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Thee will I cherish,
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Thee will I honor
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Thou art my glory,
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Joy and crown
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Fair is the sunshine
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Fairer still the moonlight
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And all the twinkling,
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Starry host
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Jesus shines brighter,
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Jesus shines purer
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Than all the angels
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Heaven can boast
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Beautiful Savior,
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Lord of all the nations
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Son of God
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And Son of Man!
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Glory and honor,
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Praise, adoration
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Now and forevermore be Thine!
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Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
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The King of creation!
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O my soul, praise Him
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For He is thy
health and salvation!
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All ye who hear,
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Now to His temple draw near
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Join ye in glad adoration!
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Praise to the Lord
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Who o'er all things
so wonderfully reigneth
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Shieldeth thee under His wings,
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Yea, so gently sustaineth!
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Hast thou not seen,
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How thy desires e'er have been
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Granted in what He ordaineth?
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Praise to the Lord
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Who doth prosper
they work and defend thee
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Surely His goodness
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And mercy here daily attend thee
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Ponder anew
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What the Almighty can do
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If with His
love He befriend thee
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Today's words of joy
are taken from Psalms 98.
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"Oh, sing to
the Lord a new song,
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for He has done
marvelous things,
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His right hand and His holy
arm have gained Him the victory.
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The Lord has made His salvation
known to all the nations.
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His
righteousness He has revealed
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in the sight of the nations.
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He has remembered His mercy
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and His faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
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All the ends of the earth have
seen the salvation of our God.
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Shout joyfully to
the Lord, all the earth,
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break forth in song,
rejoice, and sing praises.
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Sing to the Lord with the harp,
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with the harp and
the sound of a psalm,
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with trumpets and
the sound of a horn.
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Shout joyfully
before the Lord, the King.
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Let the sea roar,
and all its fullness,
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the world and
those who dwell in it.
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Let the rivers clap their hands,
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let the hills be joyful
together before the Lord,
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for He is coming
to judge the earth.
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With righteousness He
shall judge the world,
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and the peoples with equity."
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This is God's word.
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May we be touched by
God's abundant joy today?
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We come this Sabbath to
the special time of praise.
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We invite you to kneel
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where you are for a
prayer of rejoicing.
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Dear precious heavenly Father,
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we come before You with
thankfulness in our hearts
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for the many
blessings You have given us.
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We thank You for
this beautiful Sabbath day
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that You have
created for us to lay aside
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all of the burdens of our week
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and to simply sit at
Your feet to worship You.
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Often when we come to Your feet
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we have more
petitions than praises.
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When we send a
thank you card to someone
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the whole purpose of the card
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is to show appreciation
not to ask for more.
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So Lord, today, right now,
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this is our
thank you cards prayer.
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We don't want to ask anything,
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we only want to
praise You for blessing us
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with the
privilege to know the truth
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and for the opportunities
You continue to give us
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to share Your truth
with those around us.
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We thank You for this
community of believers
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for our loved ones and
for the extended family
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we have through
the blood of Christ.
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We rejoice in Your willingness
to send Your only son
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to give us the
opportunity to one day
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cast our crowns at Your feet.
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Lord, we are all looking
forward to that soon coming day
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when we will stand blameless
in Your perfect presence.
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Father, Your plan of salvation
will ever be our theme of study.
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Thank You for speaking to us
personally through Scripture,
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for providing us
with the weapons necessary
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to fight against
principalities of darkness.
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Thank You for sending angels
to invisibly battle for us.
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Lord, You are so good to us,
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Psalms 40:5 declares,
Your thoughts towards us
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cannot be
recounted to You in order.
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You think of us
and bless us so often
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that we can't even
count these in order
00:15:10.54\00:15:12.65
because You
worked simultaneously.
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You are amazing, God.
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There is no other artist
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who paints two
masterpieces every day,
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one with sunrise
and one at sunset.
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And there is no other doctor
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who can heal by simply speaking.
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Lord, we are grateful for
all the incredible healings
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in this community
and in our families
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throughout this past year.
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We thank You in advance
00:15:40.42\00:15:42.54
for the healing
of Eland Robertson.
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Lord, we mourn with the
family of Betty Lou Hartline
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and also with Joyce Jones
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on the death of
her daughter Joya.
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But we praise
You for the comfort,
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peace and hope You give through
these times of tragedy and loss.
00:15:56.25\00:16:01.79
Lord, You are
worthy to be praised.
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There is none like You.
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You are the only
true and living God.
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As we come for You
00:16:11.56\00:16:13.04
with different
pasts and experiences
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we praise You for creating
each of us to be unique.
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Still no matter how different
we are we can all agree
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that You deserve praise
and our deepest devotion.
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Now Lord, I know that I said
00:16:30.56\00:16:32.96
we didn't want
to ask for anything
00:16:32.99\00:16:36.07
but we do want to
ask for one thing,
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please God, help us
appreciate and praise You more.
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We come reverently before You
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in the faithful
name of our Savior
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and Mediator, Jesus.
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Amen.
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Set me as a seal
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Upon your heart
00:17:23.74\00:17:27.60
As a seal upon your arm
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Set me as a seal
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Upon your heart
00:17:37.85\00:17:41.90
As a seal
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Upon your arm
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For love is strong as death
00:17:50.61\00:17:58.26
For love is strong
00:17:58.29\00:18:01.92
As death
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Set me as a seal
00:18:07.62\00:18:10.10
Upon your heart
00:18:10.13\00:18:11.48
As a seal upon your arm
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For love is strong as death
00:18:15.22\00:18:22.86
For love is strong
00:18:22.89\00:18:26.61
As death
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Many waters cannot quench love
00:19:00.37\00:19:03.30
Many waters cannot quench love
00:19:03.33\00:19:06.56
Many waters cannot quench love
00:19:06.59\00:19:09.72
Many waters cannot quench love
00:19:09.75\00:19:17.72
Many waters cannot quench love
00:19:22.80\00:19:26.13
Many waters cannot quench love
00:19:26.16\00:19:29.81
Many waters cannot quench love
00:19:29.84\00:19:37.02
Set me as a seal
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Upon your heart
00:20:15.45\00:20:19.67
As a seal upon your
arm As a seal upon your arm
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Set me as a seal upon your heart
00:20:26.25\00:20:31.89
As a seal upon your arm
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For love is as strong
00:20:35.58\00:20:39.87
As death
00:20:39.90\00:20:44.31
For love is as strong as deaths
00:20:44.34\00:20:52.31
Oh, God, on this
distinctly American holiday
00:21:25.56\00:21:28.53
we have come to do just that
00:21:28.56\00:21:33.19
to ponder and knew
what that Almighty has done
00:21:33.22\00:21:38.57
as You have befriended us.
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In Jesus name we
are praising you, amen.
00:21:41.17\00:21:45.29
So knowing the story that
was coming up in our series
00:21:50.74\00:21:53.92
"The Last Word" the stunning,
healing of the blind man.
00:21:53.95\00:21:59.35
I went to Google and I typed in
00:21:59.38\00:22:01.27
"Thanksgiving and blind,
is there any connection?"
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Google took me to
the message board of the
00:22:04.69\00:22:08.94
American
Foundation for the Blind.
00:22:08.97\00:22:11.36
This is a national
non-profitable organization
00:22:11.39\00:22:13.40
that serves over 25 million
Americans with vision loss.
00:22:13.43\00:22:20.62
Helen Keller by
the way spent 40 years
00:22:20.65\00:22:22.74
associated with AFB.
00:22:22.77\00:22:24.54
So on the message board
sure enough here the linkage,
00:22:24.57\00:22:28.74
Thanksgiving and
seeing impairment.
00:22:28.77\00:22:32.58
As it turns out
appropriate for today,
00:22:32.61\00:22:34.59
this post was
written by a college student,
00:22:34.62\00:22:37.09
I don't know if it's a
she or he but here we go.
00:22:37.12\00:22:40.14
"I'm so excited,
00:22:40.17\00:22:43.40
I have school this week
00:22:43.43\00:22:44.55
and Monday and
Tuesday of next week
00:22:44.58\00:22:46.34
then I get to go home,
00:22:46.37\00:22:48.41
I'm in college for
Thanksgiving break."
00:22:48.44\00:22:51.06
Sounds like us.
00:22:51.09\00:22:52.54
"I'm so ready for a break
00:22:52.57\00:22:54.24
but next Wednesday is
the day after I get out,
00:22:54.27\00:22:57.18
I'm having
surgery on my bad eye.
00:22:57.21\00:22:59.33
It's a cataract surgery
00:22:59.36\00:23:00.55
but they say it's gonna
be complicated and messy
00:23:00.58\00:23:02.94
so they're put me to sleep,
00:23:02.97\00:23:04.30
usually they don't
for cataracts stuff
00:23:04.33\00:23:06.96
and they're gonna dehydrate
me for two, kind of nervous,
00:23:06.99\00:23:10.92
and it's the day
before Thanksgiving.
00:23:10.95\00:23:13.55
I don't like that
but it can't wait.
00:23:13.58\00:23:16.14
What are y'all doing
for Thanksgiving break?
00:23:16.17\00:23:18.42
It must be from the south.
00:23:18.45\00:23:21.59
There's several
posts here in reply
00:23:21.62\00:23:23.55
and I will read them all.
00:23:23.58\00:23:24.61
The first one is from zumer7,
just a few minutes later,
00:23:24.64\00:23:29.48
"I hope your
surgery goes smoothly
00:23:29.51\00:23:31.08
and as for what I'm
doing on Thanksgiving
00:23:31.11\00:23:33.35
whatever I can to get
away from my deranged family."
00:23:33.38\00:23:38.42
Not a lot of warm
fuzzes in that post.
00:23:38.45\00:23:42.08
Here's another one
from Thrill Monster,
00:23:42.11\00:23:43.99
"Going on vacation to Florida."
00:23:44.02\00:23:46.22
Some of you may
be doing the same.
00:23:46.25\00:23:48.12
And then I like this on,
Joe S, he's a party of the AFB,
00:23:48.15\00:23:50.95
The American
Foundation for the Blind staff,
00:23:50.98\00:23:53.17
"We will be
sending positive thoughts
00:23:53.20\00:23:54.58
and vibes for
you and your surgery.
00:23:54.61\00:23:56.23
Enjoy the break.
00:23:56.26\00:23:57.29
I know we all look
forward to having time off.
00:23:57.32\00:24:00.35
Enjoy the vacation."
00:24:00.38\00:24:01.99
Well put for a college community
00:24:02.02\00:24:04.44
and the cusp of
this holiday break.
00:24:04.47\00:24:09.41
Thanksgiving and blindness,
you can get there from here.
00:24:09.44\00:24:12.78
The stunning saga of what
we are about to read will link
00:24:12.81\00:24:17.54
Thanksgiving and blindness
00:24:17.57\00:24:19.91
on this Sabbath
before Thanksgiving.
00:24:19.94\00:24:21.71
And so without further due
00:24:21.74\00:24:22.86
I want to plunge
into Holy Scripture.
00:24:22.89\00:24:24.86
I put the title slide
up, just to remind you
00:24:24.89\00:24:26.92
we are part of
"The Last Word" series.
00:24:26.95\00:24:29.24
As you see there
today's teaching Shabbat Shalom.
00:24:29.27\00:24:34.82
I am in the New
Kings James version,
00:24:34.85\00:24:36.15
whatever translation
you have, it's fine with me.
00:24:36.18\00:24:39.08
If you didn't bring a Bible,
00:24:39.11\00:24:40.14
this is one of the most dramatic
healings in all of Scripture.
00:24:40.17\00:24:43.28
So grab he pew
Bible in front of you
00:24:43.31\00:24:45.19
and it'll be also in
the New King James Version.
00:24:45.22\00:24:47.35
Let's go, John Chapter 9,
we're just going through John.
00:24:47.38\00:24:50.14
Only one more piece
left before Christmas,
00:24:50.17\00:24:52.01
we'll get to that right
after the Thanksgiving holiday.
00:24:52.04\00:24:55.20
This is John Chapter 9,
let's pick it up in verse 1,
00:24:55.23\00:24:59.54
"Now as Jesus passed by
00:24:59.57\00:25:01.75
He saw a man who
was blind from birth."
00:25:01.78\00:25:04.79
There we go.
00:25:04.82\00:25:06.61
"And His
disciples asked Him saying,
00:25:06.64\00:25:07.98
'Rabbi who sinned,
this manor his parents,
00:25:08.01\00:25:10.26
that he was born blind?'
00:25:10.29\00:25:12.34
" You see the faith
community at the time of Christ
00:25:12.37\00:25:14.27
believed that somehow
suffering was linked to sin,
00:25:14.30\00:25:18.82
a punishment from God.
00:25:18.85\00:25:20.87
If you were majorly suffering
00:25:20.90\00:25:23.29
you are
obviously majorly sinning.
00:25:23.32\00:25:26.80
In fact, some
Rabbis even suggested
00:25:26.83\00:25:29.29
that prenatal sin can occur
00:25:29.32\00:25:31.35
and the use of story
of Esau approve that.
00:25:31.38\00:25:33.88
So the disciples aren't asking,
00:25:33.91\00:25:35.02
is there a connection
between sin and suffering,
00:25:35.05\00:25:36.63
they already know there is
00:25:36.66\00:25:37.83
but we want to know was it
this man or was it his parents
00:25:37.86\00:25:40.14
who were the
cause of his blindness?
00:25:40.17\00:25:42.15
and Jesus answer in verse 3.
00:25:42.18\00:25:44.14
and I praise God
for Jesus answer.
00:25:44.17\00:25:46.12
Jesus said, hey
wait in the fellows,
00:25:46.15\00:25:48.05
"Neither, this man
nor his parents sin
00:25:48.08\00:25:51.13
but that the works of God
should be revealed in him."
00:25:51.16\00:25:54.34
Isn't that great news to know?
00:25:54.37\00:25:56.06
Your suffering is not at
the hands of an angry God.
00:25:56.09\00:25:59.71
So I got intended,
00:25:59.74\00:26:00.94
inserted intentionally into
the canon of sacred scripture
00:26:00.97\00:26:04.42
the Old Testament,
00:26:04.45\00:26:05.48
the story of Job to remind us
00:26:05.51\00:26:08.10
that most of our human suffering
00:26:08.13\00:26:09.86
is directly upon
the personal orders
00:26:09.89\00:26:12.55
and through the
personal hand of Satan himself.
00:26:12.58\00:26:18.39
Jesus goes on verse 4,
"I must work the works Him
00:26:18.42\00:26:22.66
who sent me while it is
day, the night is coming,"
00:26:22.69\00:26:25.72
Oh, boys, this draws us in
as a generation, doesn't it?
00:26:25.75\00:26:27.98
"The night is coming
when no one can work."
00:26:28.01\00:26:30.67
We got to do
what we got to do now
00:26:30.70\00:26:32.71
before night falls.
00:26:32.74\00:26:34.45
"I am the light in the world,"
00:26:34.48\00:26:37.04
I am the water of
life, I am the bread of life,
00:26:37.07\00:26:41.58
"I am the light of the world,"
00:26:41.61\00:26:43.29
twice now He's declared
Himself the light of the world.
00:26:43.32\00:26:47.85
And then to dramatically prove
He is a light for our darkness,
00:26:47.88\00:26:51.65
here we go over verse 6,
00:26:51.68\00:26:52.85
"And when He had
said these things,
00:26:52.88\00:26:54.75
He spat on the ground and
make clay with the saliva,
00:26:54.78\00:26:58.63
and He anointed the eyes of
the blind man with the clay."
00:26:58.66\00:27:01.90
Try to imagine yourself being
the blind man for a moment.
00:27:01.93\00:27:05.42
You can't see a thing but
you hear the voice of Jesus
00:27:05.45\00:27:07.59
coming closer and closer until
finally 13 pairs of sandals
00:27:07.62\00:27:11.04
are crunched all
around you in a circle.
00:27:11.07\00:27:13.40
You have acute hearing,
you know what's happening,
00:27:13.43\00:27:15.97
silence and then the next thing
00:27:16.00\00:27:17.20
you hear is somebody going...
00:27:17.23\00:27:18.62
You hear the...
00:27:22.28\00:27:24.71
You do not know
what is happening next,
00:27:24.74\00:27:26.84
all you know is
that the silence.
00:27:26.87\00:27:29.30
You cannot see
that Jesus is down
00:27:29.33\00:27:31.38
with His own sputum in
the mud making a concoction.
00:27:31.41\00:27:36.28
Now you know that
sometimes, this often happens,
00:27:36.31\00:27:38.93
when somebody comes
behind you from the side
00:27:38.96\00:27:40.97
and touches you when
you're not expecting it,
00:27:41.00\00:27:43.50
isn't there's an
immediate response,
00:27:43.53\00:27:45.32
especially if they
are touching the face.
00:27:45.35\00:27:46.63
So imagine the blind person,
00:27:46.66\00:27:48.07
he doesn't know what's happening
00:27:48.10\00:27:49.50
and until
suddenly some warm fingers
00:27:49.53\00:27:51.94
touch his eyelids
and he jerks back.
00:27:51.97\00:27:55.35
And then He feels this,
oozy, oozy, grainy stuff,
00:27:55.38\00:28:00.02
slime rub over both
eyes and then Jesus speaks.
00:28:00.05\00:28:04.65
What is this?
00:28:04.68\00:28:05.71
Verse 7, "And Jesus said him,
00:28:05.74\00:28:07.90
'Now go, wash in
the pool of Siloam,
00:28:07.93\00:28:11.96
which is translated, Sent.
00:28:11.99\00:28:13.89
So he went and
washed," and I love this,
00:28:13.92\00:28:16.44
"And came back seeing."
00:28:16.47\00:28:20.85
Somebody gets
him the 1200 meters,
00:28:20.88\00:28:24.16
1.2 kilometers from
where he is to that pool,
00:28:24.19\00:28:27.60
somebody gets him there
00:28:27.63\00:28:29.46
and as he scoops down
into that fresh cool water,
00:28:29.49\00:28:33.03
begins to
splashing, rubbing the grit,
00:28:33.06\00:28:35.07
rubbing the mud,
now dried and cake,
00:28:35.10\00:28:38.18
rubbing his eyes
lids, scrubbing them
00:28:38.21\00:28:40.14
and then one eye goes open.
00:28:40.17\00:28:42.11
One eye looks around.
00:28:42.14\00:28:44.50
The other eye
goes open, both eyes.
00:28:44.53\00:28:48.07
Can you imagine?
00:28:48.10\00:28:50.06
No, you and I cannot.
00:28:50.09\00:28:52.58
We cannot fathom what
it would be to see light
00:28:52.61\00:28:56.47
for the first time
in your adult life.
00:28:56.50\00:29:02.30
Full high definition,
mega, mega, mega pixel colors.
00:29:02.33\00:29:08.08
He's heard the
sounds all his life
00:29:08.11\00:29:09.79
but now sounds
are matched to sites.
00:29:09.82\00:29:12.71
Unbelievable.
00:29:12.74\00:29:15.77
"Therefore" verse
8, "the neighbors"
00:29:15.80\00:29:18.14
because now he's raising back,
00:29:18.17\00:29:20.02
"Therefore the neighbors
and those who previously
00:29:20.05\00:29:22.12
had seen that he was blind said,
00:29:22.15\00:29:24.50
'Isn't this he
who sat and begged?'
00:29:24.53\00:29:27.81
" Verse 9, "And some
said, 'Yep this is he'.
00:29:27.84\00:29:30.03
Others said, 'He
just looks like him,
00:29:30.06\00:29:31.87
he just like him."
00:29:31.90\00:29:33.22
I had a neighbor,
when we're in Coquille,
00:29:33.25\00:29:35.39
Oregon pastoring,
00:29:35.42\00:29:36.45
we had a neighbor
ended up baptizing both,
00:29:36.48\00:29:38.08
the neighboring and his wife.
00:29:38.11\00:29:39.66
But he never wore
dentures, ever, ever.
00:29:39.69\00:29:41.55
He was a fairly young man
but he just didn't wear them,
00:29:41.58\00:29:43.27
he ate everything
with just the gums.
00:29:43.30\00:29:46.38
You know that
your face eventually
00:29:46.41\00:29:47.75
adapts to whatever you do.
00:29:47.78\00:29:49.64
If Carl had ever put dentures
00:29:49.67\00:29:51.97
I knew I wouldn't
have recognized him.
00:29:52.00\00:29:54.28
Imagine a man who's
grown up will sockets,
00:29:54.31\00:29:57.06
the eyeballs
just were never there.
00:29:57.09\00:29:59.70
Suddenly you put white,
00:29:59.73\00:30:02.10
white eyeballs with
bright brown irises,
00:30:02.13\00:30:06.02
they are not playing a
game, they're not sure.
00:30:06.05\00:30:08.74
Are you sure this is
he? He looks like him.
00:30:08.77\00:30:12.15
And he pipes up in
Verse 9, he said, "I am he."
00:30:12.18\00:30:18.54
In fact in the
Greek, he kept piping.
00:30:18.57\00:30:20.89
Hey, wait, wait, it is me.
00:30:20.92\00:30:22.01
No, no. It is. I
am, I am, I am, I am.
00:30:22.04\00:30:26.84
And "Therefore they
said to him," in verse 10,
00:30:26.87\00:30:28.75
"How were your eyes opened?
And he answered and said,
00:30:28.78\00:30:31.00
'A Man called Jesus
made clay an anointed my eyes
00:30:31.03\00:30:33.24
and said to me, "Go to
the pool of Siloam and wash."
00:30:33.27\00:30:35.28
So I went and
washed and I receive site.'
00:30:35.31\00:30:37.62
Then they said to
him, 'Where is he?'
00:30:37.65\00:30:39.16
He said, 'I don't know.'
00:30:39.19\00:30:41.84
He was blind when he left.
00:30:41.87\00:30:44.62
I don't know where he went.
00:30:44.65\00:30:46.67
"They" verse 13, "brought him
00:30:46.70\00:30:48.79
who formerly was
blind to the Pharisees."
00:30:48.82\00:30:55.16
The next line,
now it was a Sabbath.
00:30:55.19\00:31:02.78
Oh, oh.
00:31:02.81\00:31:05.23
"It was a Sabbath
when Jesus made the clay
00:31:05.26\00:31:08.36
and opened his eyes.
00:31:08.39\00:31:09.42
Then the Pharisees
also asked him again
00:31:09.45\00:31:11.18
how he had received his sight.
00:31:11.21\00:31:12.75
He said to them,
'He put clay on my eyes,
00:31:12.78\00:31:14.80
and I washed, and I see.'
00:31:14.83\00:31:16.20
Therefore some of
the Pharisees said,
00:31:16.23\00:31:17.61
'This man is not from God.'"
00:31:17.64\00:31:18.71
By the way they know exactly
who did this, know exactly.
00:31:18.74\00:31:21.87
"This man is not from God,
00:31:21.90\00:31:23.01
because he does
not keep the Sabbath."
00:31:23.04\00:31:24.45
Other said, "How can a man
who is a sinner do such signs?"
00:31:24.48\00:31:27.31
And there was a division
among the spiritual elite,"
00:31:27.34\00:31:30.86
among the
leaders they are divided.
00:31:30.89\00:31:32.58
Is he for real? Could he be?
00:31:32.61\00:31:36.97
"They said" verse 17,
"to the blind man again,
00:31:37.00\00:31:38.80
'What do you say about him
because He opened your eyes?'"
00:31:38.83\00:31:40.90
We want to hear from you.
00:31:40.93\00:31:42.15
He said, 'He is a prophet."
00:31:42.18\00:31:45.01
But the Jews did not
believe concerning him,
00:31:45.04\00:31:46.55
you're not a blind
man, you just faking it,
00:31:46.58\00:31:48.87
"until they
called his parents of him
00:31:48.90\00:31:50.46
who had received the site."
00:31:50.49\00:31:51.52
Verse 19, "And they asked them."
00:31:51.55\00:31:52.83
Now this gets comical, it almost
ludicrous as this story goes.
00:31:52.86\00:31:55.87
They get to the parent
and they said, He, listen,
00:31:55.90\00:31:58.24
"Is this your boy, who
you say was born blind?
00:31:58.27\00:32:02.14
How can he see?"
00:32:02.17\00:32:03.98
His parents answer them
and their knees are knocking,
00:32:04.01\00:32:06.52
"We know that this is our son,
00:32:06.55\00:32:07.97
and that he was born blind,
00:32:08.00\00:32:09.16
but by what means he
now sees we do not know,
00:32:09.19\00:32:11.25
or who open his
eyes we do not know.
00:32:11.28\00:32:12.64
Look, he is of age ask him."
00:32:12.67\00:32:13.93
He is old enough, just ask him.
00:32:13.96\00:32:16.49
"He will speak for himself.
00:32:16.52\00:32:18.32
His parents said these things"
00:32:18.35\00:32:19.38
verse 22, "because
they feared the Jews,"
00:32:19.41\00:32:21.27
for the word was out.
00:32:21.30\00:32:22.36
And by the way, remember Jews,
00:32:22.39\00:32:23.59
code word for the leadership.
00:32:23.62\00:32:25.15
There are all Jews in the story.
00:32:25.18\00:32:27.63
Code word for the leadership,
00:32:27.66\00:32:28.69
"The leadership had agreed
already that if anyone confessed
00:32:28.72\00:32:31.32
that He" Jesus "was
Christ," the Messiah
00:32:31.35\00:32:33.65
"he would be put
out of the synagogue."
00:32:33.68\00:32:35.23
Excommunicado, you are out.
00:32:35.26\00:32:39.21
"Therefore his parents
said, 'He is of age, ask him.'"
00:32:39.24\00:32:41.49
Verse 24, "So
they called the man
00:32:41.52\00:32:43.19
who was born blind
and they said to him,
00:32:43.22\00:32:45.99
'Give God the glory!'"
00:32:46.02\00:32:47.05
Now this is a technical phrase,
00:32:47.08\00:32:48.42
they did that ache
him, Give God the glory,
00:32:48.45\00:32:50.33
did you steal
this-- did you steal gold?
00:32:50.36\00:32:52.36
Give God the glory,
that means you better--
00:32:52.39\00:32:54.15
you better do what
we're asking you to do.
00:32:54.18\00:32:55.80
"Give God the glory!"
00:32:55.83\00:32:57.27
What they want him to
do is say, you're right,
00:32:57.30\00:32:58.95
the man didn't
heal me, God healed me,
00:32:58.98\00:33:01.08
I give God the glory.
00:33:01.11\00:33:03.31
But he doesn't take the cue.
00:33:03.34\00:33:04.57
"Give God the glory!
00:33:04.60\00:33:06.63
We know that
this Man is a sinner."
00:33:06.66\00:33:08.86
And he, the healed
blind man answered,
00:33:08.89\00:33:10.87
verse 25, I love this,
00:33:10.90\00:33:12.42
"Whether he is a
sinner not, I do not know.
00:33:12.45\00:33:14.96
One thing I know that
though I was blind, now I see."
00:33:14.99\00:33:20.88
Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound
00:33:20.91\00:33:24.69
that saved a wretch like me.
00:33:24.72\00:33:28.72
I once was, but now
I am, was, but now I.
00:33:28.75\00:33:35.69
They got, John Newton got
it right out of the story.
00:33:35.72\00:33:38.82
Now I see, I once
was blind but now I see.
00:33:38.85\00:33:43.81
I want to-- no, they
come right after him.
00:33:46.95\00:33:51.85
Verse 26, "Then
they said him again,
00:33:51.88\00:33:54.33
'What did He do to you?"
00:33:54.36\00:33:55.97
I want to run
through his one more time.
00:33:56.00\00:33:57.30
How did he open up your eyes?
00:33:57.33\00:33:58.76
They are now
attempting to confuse him.
00:33:58.79\00:34:00.61
And I need to insert right here
little lie from Desire of Ages,
00:34:00.64\00:34:02.90
I want you to see this.
00:34:02.93\00:34:04.29
You will no read this
in any other commentary
00:34:04.32\00:34:06.25
on this story, trust me.
00:34:06.28\00:34:07.69
Put it on the screen,
please, Desire of Ages.
00:34:07.72\00:34:09.70
"With many words
they tried to confuse him,
00:34:09.73\00:34:12.17
so that he might
think himself deluded.
00:34:12.20\00:34:14.07
Satan and his evil angels were
on the side of the Pharisees,
00:34:14.10\00:34:18.60
and united their energies
00:34:18.63\00:34:19.88
and subtlety
with a man's reasoning
00:34:19.91\00:34:21.85
in order to counteract
the influence of Christ.
00:34:21.88\00:34:24.04
They blunted the convictions
00:34:24.07\00:34:26.41
that were
deepening in many minds."
00:34:26.44\00:34:29.16
Now watch this,
00:34:29.19\00:34:30.36
"Angels of God
were also on the ground
00:34:30.39\00:34:33.67
to strengthen the man who
had had his site restored."
00:34:33.70\00:34:38.41
I want to tell you something,
00:34:38.44\00:34:40.40
if you are ever put on the
spot for the Lord Jesus Christ
00:34:40.43\00:34:43.70
you will never be alone.
00:34:43.73\00:34:47.43
God wants to win every time
you open your mouth for Him.
00:34:47.46\00:34:53.20
You are not
gonna be there alone.
00:34:53.23\00:34:55.30
In that instance the forces
of having will surrounds you
00:34:55.33\00:34:59.68
and they will give to you--
00:34:59.71\00:35:00.80
I tell you Jesus said it
in Luke 12:12 and I love it
00:35:00.83\00:35:02.95
from the New Living
translation, He said,
00:35:02.98\00:35:04.72
"While you are standing there
00:35:04.75\00:35:06.95
the spirit of My Father will
give you the words to speak."
00:35:06.98\00:35:09.62
While you're standing,
00:35:09.65\00:35:10.68
you don't have to have
00:35:10.71\00:35:12.27
your little crypt
notes to pull out.
00:35:12.30\00:35:13.87
Nothing written on
your hand, nothing,
00:35:13.90\00:35:16.07
He'll give you the words.
00:35:16.10\00:35:18.01
And I want to know note now,
00:35:18.04\00:35:19.88
you'll be raised to a level
you could never get on your own.
00:35:19.91\00:35:25.44
Watch what the angels of God do
00:35:25.47\00:35:28.29
through this healed blind man
00:35:28.32\00:35:29.55
who takes charge of this moment.
00:35:29.58\00:35:33.03
Okay, where are we?
00:35:33.06\00:35:34.12
So they asked the
questions in verse 36,
00:35:34.15\00:35:35.52
Oh, come on we
want to here again,
00:35:35.55\00:35:36.58
tell us, tell us, tell
us, trying to confuse him.
00:35:36.61\00:35:38.02
And he answered,
here we go, verse 27,
00:35:38.05\00:35:40.59
"I told you already
and you did not listen.
00:35:40.62\00:35:44.69
Why do you want
to hear it again?
00:35:44.72\00:35:46.99
Do you want to
become His disciples?
00:35:47.02\00:35:48.88
Then the reviled
him" naturally "and said,"
00:35:53.03\00:35:55.75
You, isn't
emphatic in the Greek,
00:35:55.78\00:35:57.64
"You are His disciple,
we are Moses' disciples."
00:35:57.67\00:36:00.86
Now verse 29, "We know
that God spoke to Moses,
00:36:00.89\00:36:03.13
as for this fellow,
00:36:03.16\00:36:05.00
we do not know
where He is from."
00:36:05.03\00:36:06.81
Probably illegitimate birth,
00:36:06.84\00:36:08.35
a little hint going on here
00:36:08.38\00:36:10.09
and then now the bar gets raised
00:36:10.12\00:36:12.38
and this man steps
into the divine spotlight.
00:36:12.41\00:36:14.60
"The man answered" verse
30, "and he said to them,
00:36:14.63\00:36:17.19
'Why, this is a
marvelous thing, that you,'"
00:36:17.22\00:36:20.99
who are the leaders of Israel,
00:36:21.02\00:36:22.35
"you do not
know where he's from,
00:36:22.38\00:36:24.01
yet He has opened my eyes!"
00:36:24.04\00:36:25.50
Now verse 31, "We know
that God dos not hear sinners
00:36:25.53\00:36:27.91
but if anyone is
a worshipper of God
00:36:27.94\00:36:29.83
and does His will he hears him."
00:36:29.86\00:36:31.38
Look, verse 32, "Since the
world began it has been unheard
00:36:31.41\00:36:35.18
of that anyone
could open the eyes of one
00:36:35.21\00:36:38.24
who was born blind.
00:36:38.27\00:36:40.25
If this man were not from God,
00:36:40.28\00:36:42.74
he could not do anything."
00:36:42.77\00:36:45.92
Wow.
00:36:48.54\00:36:51.11
Desire of Ages, you
need to see this line,
00:36:51.14\00:36:52.95
put it on the screen,
00:36:52.98\00:36:54.04
"The man had met his
inquisitors on their own ground.
00:36:54.07\00:36:56.89
His reasoning was unanswerable.
00:36:56.92\00:36:59.51
The Pharisees were astonished
and they held their peace."
00:36:59.54\00:37:02.54
Now, hold on, Spellbound
00:37:02.57\00:37:05.68
"Spellbound before his
pointed, determine words.
00:37:05.71\00:37:10.09
For a few moments
there was silence."
00:37:10.12\00:37:14.76
In the court chamber.
00:37:14.79\00:37:16.60
Silence with unassailable logic,
00:37:16.63\00:37:21.81
a man who has never seen
00:37:21.84\00:37:23.84
the face of Jesus
Christ steps forward
00:37:23.87\00:37:27.20
and defends the
incarnate word made flesh.
00:37:27.23\00:37:32.62
Wow.
00:37:32.65\00:37:33.80
Somebody finds His
voice, verse 34 and finally,
00:37:37.42\00:37:40.92
"They answer and
they said to him,
00:37:40.95\00:37:42.93
'You were
completely born in sins,'"
00:37:42.96\00:37:47.14
I thought you would be blind,
00:37:47.17\00:37:48.90
"'and you are teaching us?'
00:37:48.93\00:37:51.57
And they cast him
out." Excommunicated.
00:37:51.60\00:37:55.89
And then I love
the next two words,
00:37:55.92\00:37:57.61
verse 35, "Jesus heard."
00:37:57.64\00:38:01.67
I tell you what
someone you're going
00:38:01.70\00:38:03.10
through a
miserable time right now.
00:38:03.13\00:38:06.72
Your life feels
like it's unraveling
00:38:06.75\00:38:08.71
in front of your
very seeing eyes.
00:38:08.74\00:38:12.28
I need you note those
two words, Jesus hears.
00:38:12.31\00:38:16.66
Whatever it is you're
going through right now,
00:38:16.69\00:38:18.96
He has heard about
it and when He hears,
00:38:18.99\00:38:22.39
guess what, He
goes looking for you.
00:38:22.42\00:38:27.27
Jesus heard, you
never going to be alone,
00:38:27.30\00:38:30.28
you will never suffer alone.
00:38:30.31\00:38:32.27
He's already heard about you.
00:38:32.30\00:38:35.72
"Jesus heard that
they had cast him out,
00:38:35.75\00:38:37.40
and when He had found
him" isn't that amazing?
00:38:37.43\00:38:39.68
What had happed, we
bump into each other?
00:38:39.71\00:38:40.74
Are you kidding.
00:38:40.77\00:38:41.80
Jesus went out to
find the blind man healed.
00:38:41.83\00:38:45.84
"And He had found
him, He said to him,
00:38:45.87\00:38:48.07
'Do you believe
in the Son of God?'"
00:38:48.10\00:38:50.14
The man has never
seen Him in his life
00:38:50.17\00:38:51.81
but the acute hearing gift
of the seeing impaired means
00:38:51.84\00:38:56.30
he recognizes the voice
instantly, this is my healer.
00:38:56.33\00:39:01.65
"Jesus says to him,
00:39:01.68\00:39:03.29
'Do you believe
in the Son of God?'
00:39:03.32\00:39:05.84
And he answered and
said, 'Who is he, Lord,
00:39:05.87\00:39:08.06
that I may believe in him?'
00:39:08.09\00:39:09.79
And Jesus said to him,
'You have both seen Him
00:39:09.82\00:39:12.74
and it is He who
is talking with you.'
00:39:12.77\00:39:14.90
Then he said, 'Lord, I believe!'
00:39:14.93\00:39:17.47
And he worshiped Him."
00:39:17.50\00:39:18.88
He fell down and worshiped Him.
00:39:18.91\00:39:24.29
But when it comes
time to give thanks
00:39:24.32\00:39:26.94
what else can you do
00:39:26.97\00:39:28.72
but bow down and worship the God
00:39:28.75\00:39:31.30
who has already
given you so much.
00:39:31.33\00:39:35.63
And so we are here.
00:39:35.66\00:39:37.90
But Dwight, what that has
to do with Shabbat Shalom?
00:39:37.93\00:39:40.16
That's the Hebrew greeting.
00:39:40.19\00:39:41.35
Sabbath, peace be upon you.
00:39:41.38\00:39:43.39
What's that have to do?
00:39:43.42\00:39:45.63
Craig Keener, to the
New Testament commentator
00:39:45.66\00:39:49.33
points out that
John has intentionally
00:39:49.36\00:39:52.13
taken two
miracles in his gospel.
00:39:52.16\00:39:53.91
One we've
already been to, John 5,
00:39:53.94\00:39:55.68
the healing up the
invalid, the Pool of Bethesda,
00:39:55.71\00:39:57.95
you remember that?
00:39:57.98\00:39:59.01
He has taken these two miracles
00:39:59.04\00:40:00.19
and he has nearly made
them identical for a point.
00:40:00.22\00:40:04.99
Watch how similar
these two miracles are.
00:40:05.02\00:40:07.17
I couldn't believe
this when I saw his list.
00:40:07.20\00:40:09.81
In both accounts,
okay, so John 5, John 9,
00:40:09.84\00:40:12.83
invalid blind man.
00:40:12.86\00:40:14.44
In both accounts the history,
00:40:14.47\00:40:16.34
the case
history is stated first.
00:40:16.37\00:40:18.47
This man had been, had
been lame for 38 years,
00:40:18.50\00:40:21.18
had been blind all his life.
00:40:21.21\00:40:23.07
In both accounts
Jesus takes the initiative,
00:40:23.10\00:40:25.38
neither one comes to Him,
Jesus goes to the sick one.
00:40:25.41\00:40:28.73
In both accounts there is a pool
00:40:28.76\00:40:30.73
that is linked to healing,
00:40:30.76\00:40:33.17
Bethesda and Shalom.
00:40:33.20\00:40:34.76
In both accounts
Jesus heals on the Sabbath.
00:40:34.79\00:40:37.87
In both accounts
00:40:37.90\00:40:38.93
Jesus is accused of
violating the Sabbath.
00:40:38.96\00:40:41.04
In both accounts the
authorities ask the one healed
00:40:41.07\00:40:43.49
who healed them,
and in both accounts
00:40:43.52\00:40:45.17
the man doesn't know
where or who Jesus is
00:40:45.20\00:40:47.35
and in both accounts
Jesus findings the man
00:40:47.38\00:40:50.10
and invites him to believe.
00:40:50.13\00:40:51.47
Now the accounts
change because in one account
00:40:51.50\00:40:56.56
Jesus implies the relationship
between sin and suffering,
00:40:56.59\00:41:00.51
"You got to quit doing
that sin or it will kill you,
00:41:00.54\00:41:03.64
something worse
will come on you."
00:41:03.67\00:41:05.07
And in the other one
00:41:05.10\00:41:06.13
He says, "There is
no relationship at all
00:41:06.16\00:41:07.71
between sin and suffering."
00:41:07.74\00:41:09.71
In one account the
man goes to the Jews,
00:41:09.74\00:41:12.32
in the other account
the Jews throw the man out
00:41:12.35\00:41:15.34
but both accounts
end with Jesus declaring,
00:41:15.37\00:41:18.70
"He must do the
works of the Father."
00:41:18.73\00:41:22.82
What's happening here?
00:41:22.85\00:41:23.88
John is intentionally
merging these two miracles
00:41:23.91\00:41:26.13
to put the Seventh-day
Sabbath front and center.
00:41:26.16\00:41:30.98
These two miracles are not about
00:41:31.01\00:41:32.73
Jesus being the
Lord of our bodies
00:41:32.76\00:41:34.40
though that truth is truly true,
00:41:34.43\00:41:37.52
this instead is to
teach us that Jesus,
00:41:37.55\00:41:41.01
the Creator is
Lord up the Sabbath
00:41:41.04\00:41:44.49
and that the Jews
who consider themselves
00:41:44.52\00:41:46.43
very orthodox sabbatarians like
00:41:46.46\00:41:49.79
you and I consider ourselves
00:41:49.82\00:41:51.37
have gotten the
Sabbath all wrong.
00:41:51.40\00:41:54.43
Question, have we gotten
the Sabbath all wrong too?
00:41:54.46\00:41:58.39
Sigve Tonstad, a Norwegian,
00:42:01.91\00:42:05.59
is a Seventh-day
Adventist minister
00:42:05.62\00:42:07.10
and a Seventh-day
Adventist position
00:42:07.13\00:42:09.10
and a New Testament scholar.
00:42:09.13\00:42:10.85
And by the way, he
presently is enjoying
00:42:10.88\00:42:12.55
a joint appointment
at Loma Linda University
00:42:12.58\00:42:15.81
in the School of Religion,
00:42:15.84\00:42:17.33
he is associate professor,
00:42:17.36\00:42:19.88
in the School of Medicine
he's an assistant professor.
00:42:19.91\00:42:23.09
So he is an MD, a
minister and a Bible scholar.
00:42:23.12\00:42:28.45
He's written, what for
me is the most profound book
00:42:28.48\00:42:32.48
I have read on the Sabbath.
00:42:32.51\00:42:35.09
Title of his book, "The Lost
Meaning of the Seventh-day."
00:42:35.12\00:42:38.26
And wouldn't you know it,
00:42:38.29\00:42:39.32
Andrews University
Press has published that book.
00:42:39.35\00:42:42.07
You've got to get that
book you must read that book.
00:42:42.10\00:42:45.29
He writes as a poet,
he writes is a scholar,
00:42:45.32\00:42:47.63
he writes is an ecstasy.
00:42:47.66\00:42:49.03
So I am gonna
go to the turn step
00:42:49.06\00:42:50.31
before I sat down,
00:42:50.34\00:42:51.37
I want to go to
him several times.
00:42:51.40\00:42:53.26
He spends a chapter drawing
00:42:53.29\00:42:54.35
on these two
Sabbath healings in John.
00:42:54.38\00:42:56.78
Notice where he goes
with this probing exploration.
00:42:56.81\00:42:59.51
You have a study guide today,
00:42:59.54\00:43:00.57
these quotes are all in it
so that you can keep the quotes.
00:43:00.60\00:43:02.57
I'm going to put them
on the screen right now,
00:43:02.60\00:43:04.28
let's go.
00:43:04.31\00:43:06.53
"A wonderful
thing has happened,"
00:43:06.56\00:43:07.97
he's writing, "A
wonderful things happen
00:43:08.00\00:43:09.65
in both Sabbath
healings," John 5 and John 9,
00:43:09.68\00:43:12.04
"but the body language of
Jesus critics loudly states
00:43:12.07\00:43:16.93
that people in the audience
00:43:16.96\00:43:18.09
had better
restrain their wonderment."
00:43:18.12\00:43:19.88
Hey, guys, you are
getting too excited.
00:43:19.91\00:43:22.36
"Under normal circumstances
00:43:22.39\00:43:24.31
they should be crowding around
the restore cripple excitedly,
00:43:24.34\00:43:26.91
showering him with questions.
00:43:26.94\00:43:27.97
Hey, how does it feel to walk
again after thirty-eight years?
00:43:28.00\00:43:30.59
They should
descend on the blind man
00:43:30.62\00:43:32.56
like reporters at
a press conference.
00:43:32.59\00:43:34.39
What it's like to
see for the first time?
00:43:34.42\00:43:36.64
But this is not what happens.
00:43:36.67\00:43:38.03
The spirit of awe and gratitude
00:43:38.06\00:43:39.81
that might be
expected is drowned out
00:43:39.84\00:43:42.78
by the narrator's
explanatory remark
00:43:42.81\00:43:45.32
that it happened on the Sabbath.
00:43:45.35\00:43:48.87
All of a sudden the
air is chilled by a logic
00:43:48.90\00:43:51.80
that takes no joy in
what has taken place.
00:43:51.83\00:43:54.09
The passage 'is no
longer soaring aloft
00:43:54.12\00:43:56.00
on the wings of hope'
00:43:56.03\00:43:57.06
but has 'plummeted to the
ground with a decided thud,'
00:43:57.09\00:44:00.58
says Karen Pidcock-Lester."
00:44:00.61\00:44:05.20
Have we done the
same to the Sabbath?
00:44:05.23\00:44:07.78
In our hands, in
our homes this day
00:44:07.81\00:44:11.55
that was meant for soaring
aloft on the wings of hope
00:44:11.58\00:44:14.93
have we turned it into a day
00:44:14.96\00:44:16.79
that has plummeted to the ground
00:44:16.82\00:44:18.63
with a decided thud?
00:44:18.66\00:44:24.24
We who are so right
about the Sabbath day,
00:44:24.27\00:44:28.65
are we right
about the Sabbath way?
00:44:28.68\00:44:32.49
You see, the Jews
had that day down path
00:44:32.52\00:44:37.08
but they blew the way.
00:44:37.11\00:44:40.33
How about us?
00:44:40.36\00:44:43.25
Just turn two pages,
three, four to John 5
00:44:43.28\00:44:46.23
because we are going--
the miracles are linked
00:44:46.26\00:44:47.85
so we go back to
the other miracle
00:44:47.88\00:44:49.40
to catch this line from Jesus.
00:44:49.43\00:44:51.79
This is John 5:16 after
He has healed the invalid
00:44:51.82\00:44:55.14
at the Pool of
Bethesda on that Sabbath,
00:44:55.17\00:44:57.35
"For this reason the
Jews persecuted Jesus,
00:44:57.38\00:44:59.76
and sought to kill Him."
00:44:59.79\00:45:02.26
Can you believe that?
00:45:02.29\00:45:03.78
They are gonna kill him
00:45:03.81\00:45:05.52
"because He had done
these things on the Sabbath."
00:45:05.55\00:45:07.98
Now verse 17, "But
Jesus answered them,
00:45:08.01\00:45:10.16
'My Father has
been working until now,
00:45:10.19\00:45:13.03
and I have been working."
00:45:13.06\00:45:16.22
Now Tonstad writes an essay,
00:45:16.25\00:45:17.48
this summer in
the Adventist Review
00:45:17.51\00:45:19.47
where he goes deeper
with these two miracles,
00:45:19.50\00:45:23.26
it's a great piece.
00:45:23.29\00:45:24.90
I am gonna put a
few lines from the essay
00:45:24.93\00:45:26.27
on the screen for you now,
00:45:26.30\00:45:27.73
driving his point home.
00:45:27.76\00:45:28.90
"It seems," this
is the same Tonstad,
00:45:28.93\00:45:31.16
"It seems as if Jesus
threw down the gauntlet
00:45:31.19\00:45:33.57
by publicly ignoring
Jewish Sabbath regulations.
00:45:33.60\00:45:37.57
Two of the 39 prohibitions
in existence" at Christ time
00:45:37.60\00:45:40.47
"specifically dealt
with carrying a pallet,"
00:45:40.50\00:45:42.06
he said, hey, take
up your man and walk,
00:45:42.09\00:45:43.67
"and kneading dough."
00:45:43.70\00:45:44.86
A woman was not allowed
to mix dough and make it,
00:45:44.89\00:45:47.31
you know, you are
not allowed to do that.
00:45:47.34\00:45:48.49
And so He did that
with the spit and dirt,
00:45:48.52\00:45:51.03
He's kneading dough.
00:45:51.06\00:45:52.72
"But we missed the
depth of the struggle,"
00:45:52.75\00:45:54.95
Tonstad writes,
00:45:54.98\00:45:56.19
"if we assume that Jesus
was merely picking a fight
00:45:56.22\00:45:58.51
with Jewish leaders over
proper Sabbath observance."
00:45:58.54\00:46:01.54
It is, now hold on,
00:46:01.57\00:46:02.86
"It is not what they see
that creates controversy,
00:46:02.89\00:46:06.14
it is rather
what they don't see."
00:46:06.17\00:46:09.56
This is spot on.
00:46:09.59\00:46:10.92
"Clearly they see
the mat and the mud,
00:46:10.95\00:46:15.04
but they do not see the man.
00:46:15.07\00:46:19.51
Much worse,
they do not see God."
00:46:19.54\00:46:22.66
Jesus says, "Hey, hey, hey,
00:46:25.77\00:46:27.34
my Father has been working
continually till now and yes,
00:46:27.37\00:46:30.01
we both work on
the Seventh-day Sabbath
00:46:30.04\00:46:32.55
its okay because
He works, I work.
00:46:32.58\00:46:35.67
It's okay."
00:46:35.70\00:46:37.91
In fact Jesus,
remember in chapter 9,
00:46:37.94\00:46:39.65
Jesus says, "I need to
do the works My Father now
00:46:39.68\00:46:42.95
because night is coming
and then we can't work at all."
00:46:42.98\00:46:46.60
But how true for you and me,
night is coming we can't work?
00:46:46.63\00:46:48.98
It's okay to do
it's on the Seventh-day.
00:46:49.01\00:46:54.36
Tonstad goes on,
00:46:54.39\00:46:56.75
"On one level, Jesus
active imitation of the Father
00:46:56.78\00:46:59.59
stands in contrast"
00:46:59.62\00:47:01.32
This is poetic.
00:47:01.35\00:47:02.38
"To their tight-lipped
obedience to a commandment,
00:47:02.41\00:47:05.23
frozen in time."
00:47:05.26\00:47:07.42
Tight-lipped, you can see them.
00:47:07.45\00:47:09.37
Want to keep this
day even if it kills us.
00:47:09.40\00:47:12.69
"Tight-lip
commitment to obedience
00:47:12.72\00:47:14.43
to a commanding, frozen in time.
00:47:14.46\00:47:15.91
But on a deeper level,
00:47:15.94\00:47:16.97
Jesus emphasis on the Father
working stands in contrast
00:47:17.00\00:47:20.26
to their view of God resting.
00:47:20.29\00:47:22.38
In the minds of His critics,
00:47:22.41\00:47:23.98
the memory of Creation is
the basis for Sabbath holiness."
00:47:24.01\00:47:27.30
God rested, so to
be holy, we must rest.
00:47:27.33\00:47:29.62
"Jesus, however, has
the audacity to connect
00:47:29.65\00:47:32.32
the Sabbath and working,
00:47:32.35\00:47:34.30
making this
connection again and again."
00:47:34.33\00:47:36.99
And there are the references.
00:47:37.02\00:47:38.52
In other words,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:47:38.55\00:47:40.16
the Jews had reduced the Sabbath
00:47:40.19\00:47:42.04
to a day of inactivity
00:47:42.07\00:47:44.21
but the Word who
created the universe,
00:47:44.24\00:47:46.10
when He has made flesh
00:47:46.13\00:47:47.69
He comes down to
transform the Sabbath
00:47:47.72\00:47:49.70
from inactivity to proactively.
00:47:49.73\00:47:53.57
It's not to rests, it's to
work because night is coming.
00:47:53.60\00:48:00.92
We have to get it done now.
00:48:00.95\00:48:04.21
Which explains why
Tonstad back in his book now
00:48:04.24\00:48:07.63
he writes this,
00:48:07.66\00:48:08.77
this is the final
quotation from Tonstad.
00:48:08.80\00:48:11.33
"The Jewish religious system
00:48:11.36\00:48:13.25
that is reflected in
the Sabbath conflicts
00:48:13.28\00:48:16.51
reduces God to a
distant player in human affairs.
00:48:16.54\00:48:20.29
Beyond keeping the
universe on course,"
00:48:20.32\00:48:22.17
that's all He does,
00:48:22.20\00:48:23.23
"no initiative seems
imminent on God's part.
00:48:23.26\00:48:25.70
The Sabbath has come to
epitomize the stalemate,
00:48:25.73\00:48:28.82
anticipating the view that"
00:48:28.85\00:48:30.40
and this is from
their writings at the time,
00:48:30.43\00:48:32.53
"if Israel kept
the Sabbath properly
00:48:32.56\00:48:35.00
even for one day the
Son of David would come."
00:48:35.03\00:48:39.62
If we would just do it
right, Jesus will come back.
00:48:39.65\00:48:45.56
Now the provocative conclusion,
00:48:45.59\00:48:47.19
here he goes,
00:48:47.22\00:48:48.25
"Maintenance of the
created order will not suffice
00:48:48.28\00:48:51.71
when the created order is
threatened by dissolution,
00:48:51.74\00:48:55.14
and when human beings
00:48:55.17\00:48:56.20
are in the thrall
of disease and death.
00:48:56.23\00:48:58.69
Rather than waiting
for human beings to break
00:48:58.72\00:49:00.68
the deadlock by
impeccable Sabbath observance,
00:49:00.71\00:49:04.12
Jesus brings the
Father's compassion
00:49:04.15\00:49:06.98
to view on the Sabbath.
00:49:07.01\00:49:08.48
In the words of" the
great English preacher,
00:49:08.51\00:49:10.06
"G. Campbell Morgan,
00:49:10.09\00:49:11.62
'There can be no rest for God
while humanity is suffering.'"
00:49:11.65\00:49:16.99
This week there was a
fire on the edge of our campus
00:49:17.02\00:49:20.10
and a little
apartment went up in smoke,
00:49:20.13\00:49:22.00
11 people are homeless
00:49:22.03\00:49:23.56
and one little
three-year-old girl is dead.
00:49:23.59\00:49:27.12
Do you think God is resting now?
00:49:27.15\00:49:31.53
How did Morgan put it,
there can be no rest for God
00:49:31.56\00:49:35.23
while humanity is suffering?
00:49:35.26\00:49:37.32
"Jesus can't
wait until tomorrow,"
00:49:37.35\00:49:39.39
that would be
Sunday or Monday or Tuesday
00:49:39.42\00:49:41.69
"because He's magnifying
00:49:41.72\00:49:42.80
the original
message of the Sabbath
00:49:42.83\00:49:44.50
in the context
of human suffering."
00:49:44.53\00:49:46.42
That's what's happening.
00:49:46.45\00:49:47.60
"Ministering to
the person in need,
00:49:47.63\00:49:49.78
reaching out to
heal and to restore,
00:49:49.81\00:49:51.94
lies at the heart
00:49:51.97\00:49:53.85
of the divine
character and mission."
00:49:53.88\00:49:59.51
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:49:59.54\00:50:01.54
of all people on
earth sabbatarians
00:50:01.57\00:50:05.80
who like the Father and His Son
00:50:08.59\00:50:14.04
hold sacred the
Seventh-day of the week
00:50:14.07\00:50:16.60
of all people in the world
00:50:16.63\00:50:18.86
we must be working.
00:50:18.89\00:50:22.80
In a world going up in
flames we must be working,
00:50:22.83\00:50:27.15
doing the works of our Lord
even on the day He is Lord of.
00:50:27.18\00:50:31.88
We must work for the
night is quickly coming
00:50:31.91\00:50:36.62
and we won't be
able to work again.
00:50:36.65\00:50:39.25
If you were to tweet,
00:50:39.28\00:50:41.00
Jesus teaching in
these two critical miracles,
00:50:41.03\00:50:43.93
He is teaching about
the truth of the Sabbath.
00:50:43.96\00:50:46.05
If you were to
tweet it, two words
00:50:46.08\00:50:48.56
would enable your tweet
to tell the truth, two words.
00:50:48.59\00:50:51.20
I am gonna put the
two words on the screen.
00:50:51.23\00:50:53.48
This is the truth
00:50:53.51\00:50:55.46
of these two
miracles, Rest works.
00:50:55.49\00:51:01.79
Rest works.
00:51:01.82\00:51:04.78
When it comes to
the Sabbath, rest works.
00:51:04.81\00:51:09.63
When the Lord of the
Sabbath is resting in the tomb,
00:51:09.66\00:51:13.45
the Lord of
salvation is still at work.
00:51:13.48\00:51:16.75
Rest works.
00:51:16.78\00:51:18.65
You don't stop your
mission for the day of rest.
00:51:18.68\00:51:25.02
Rest works.
00:51:25.05\00:51:28.70
When it comes to
the Sabbath, rest works.
00:51:28.73\00:51:33.07
You want to rest, then
work because if rest rests
00:51:33.10\00:51:39.65
how many others
will go up inflame
00:51:39.68\00:51:43.01
because we didn't
get there in time?
00:51:43.04\00:51:45.76
I sat down
yesterday but Bruce Stover,
00:51:45.79\00:51:49.67
who's the fire
chief for Oronoko Township
00:51:49.70\00:51:51.80
in the villages
of Bearings Springs,
00:51:51.83\00:51:53.57
I sat down in his office.
00:51:53.60\00:51:55.87
I said, "Chief,
how you guys doing?"
00:51:55.90\00:52:00.40
He said,
"Pastor, some of my men,
00:52:00.43\00:52:05.21
it was tough
when they had to go in
00:52:05.24\00:52:07.27
to get that little body."
00:52:07.30\00:52:10.11
He says, "Thank
you for your prayers,
00:52:10.14\00:52:11.36
the prayers of the community."
00:52:11.39\00:52:14.30
I was out running
Tuesday morning early,
00:52:14.33\00:52:16.14
heard those sirens racing by,
00:52:16.17\00:52:18.15
something bad
in Berrien Springs.
00:52:18.18\00:52:23.78
We had prayer together.
00:52:23.81\00:52:26.00
But you know what,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:52:26.03\00:52:27.07
prayer is not
enough, prayer is not enough.
00:52:27.10\00:52:30.74
By the way, do you know living
next door two elders of ours,
00:52:30.77\00:52:33.76
Janet and Yearling Sorensen,
00:52:33.79\00:52:36.88
their house by a backdraft,
00:52:36.91\00:52:39.93
fire sucked into the system
when the transformer blew.
00:52:39.96\00:52:42.59
There were out of their
house for two months now.
00:52:42.62\00:52:44.21
There in the
dormitory right now.
00:52:44.24\00:52:46.12
Our own elders.
00:52:46.15\00:52:49.49
Praying is fine
but it's not enough,
00:52:49.52\00:52:51.79
we have to do more than
praying because rest works,
00:52:51.82\00:52:54.86
that's a true of
the Sabbath, rest works.
00:52:54.89\00:52:58.38
Even on the Sabbath it works.
00:52:58.41\00:53:03.01
In fact rest will go on working
until the family is comforted,
00:53:03.04\00:53:06.69
the housing is
restored, clothing is replaced
00:53:06.72\00:53:09.07
and food is provided
00:53:09.10\00:53:10.79
because when Christ
is your Lord, rest works.
00:53:10.82\00:53:13.35
I have been proud of this campus
00:53:13.38\00:53:14.72
that has already
mobilized to respond.
00:53:14.75\00:53:17.71
I want to move
from the theoretical
00:53:17.74\00:53:18.99
now to the practical
and then I am sitting down.
00:53:19.02\00:53:20.63
I may put this on
the screen for you.
00:53:20.66\00:53:22.80
Three ways you can respond,
00:53:22.83\00:53:24.30
take a tithe envelope, right
now and write on it, "Fire."
00:53:24.33\00:53:27.86
The Red Cross is managing
all funding for these families.
00:53:27.89\00:53:31.01
Do you know that little body
00:53:31.04\00:53:32.82
needs to be
transported to North Carolina
00:53:32.85\00:53:35.87
and the family
doesn't have money for
00:53:35.90\00:53:38.29
to get the body
to North Carolina?
00:53:38.32\00:53:41.38
Your gift will help the
family in their grieving.
00:53:41.41\00:53:44.99
Just on your tithe envelop
write in the word, "Fire."
00:53:45.02\00:53:48.44
The next line
is Campus Ministry.
00:53:48.47\00:53:50.30
You are student at
Andrews University,
00:53:50.33\00:53:51.93
Pastor Chaplin Jose
sitting right over there in that
00:53:51.96\00:53:55.13
the campus ministries office,
00:53:55.16\00:53:56.24
they are ground control
for all student responses.
00:53:56.27\00:54:00.55
Drop by, you want to
drop by something physically,
00:54:00.58\00:54:02.33
you want to drop by
something financial, you may.
00:54:02.36\00:54:06.32
Neighbor to
Neighbor, that's N2N.
00:54:06.35\00:54:07.82
Neighbor to Neighbor, that's
a big community service center
00:54:07.85\00:54:09.72
right out here on the highway.
00:54:09.75\00:54:11.44
They are also Union
Station for our response.
00:54:11.47\00:54:16.15
You can drop by,
you got some furniture
00:54:16.18\00:54:17.78
that you would
like a family to have
00:54:17.81\00:54:19.03
as they find new
Zquarters to live,
00:54:19.06\00:54:21.42
see Neighbor to Neighbor.
00:54:21.45\00:54:23.60
But, ladies and
gentleman, rest works.
00:54:23.63\00:54:25.98
It's not enough to pray.
00:54:26.01\00:54:28.21
There are
people who need healing
00:54:28.24\00:54:30.49
and you and I
know that the Healer
00:54:30.52\00:54:33.31
and in His name we can respond,
00:54:33.34\00:54:36.04
we must respond
00:54:36.07\00:54:38.04
because rest really does work.
00:54:38.07\00:54:44.25
Now some instructions as
we prepare for the noisiest
00:54:44.28\00:54:48.31
and perhaps most
delightful offering of the year.
00:54:48.34\00:54:52.10
For a perceptual offering
00:54:52.13\00:54:53.38
you are invited to
bring your gifts of food,
00:54:53.41\00:54:55.33
your tithes and your offerings
00:54:55.36\00:54:57.97
as well as your Thanksgiving
letters to the platform.
00:54:58.00\00:55:00.95
But the loose offering today's
designated for church offering.
00:55:00.98\00:55:05.10
If you wish for
your gift of money
00:55:05.13\00:55:06.59
to go towards the
Thanksgiving baskets
00:55:06.62\00:55:08.53
you must put it in envelope
and mark it Thanksgiving.
00:55:08.56\00:55:12.33
Our deacons will
dismiss you row by row
00:55:12.36\00:55:14.97
and please come
forward using the side aisles
00:55:15.00\00:55:17.57
and return to your pew by
the center or wall aisles.
00:55:17.60\00:55:21.18
So in the process
we invite full hearted
00:55:21.21\00:55:23.23
and full throated participation
in the singing of hymns.
00:55:23.26\00:55:27.15
The words will be on
the screens and hymn number
00:55:27.18\00:55:29.51
and stances are listed
in the worship bulletin.
00:55:29.54\00:55:32.23
And now a time of rejoicing
and singing and giving.
00:55:32.26\00:55:35.57
Rejoice, ye pure in heart!
00:56:06.61\00:56:10.36
Rejoice, give thanks and sing
00:56:10.39\00:56:14.51
Your festal banner wave on high
00:56:14.54\00:56:19.06
The cross of Christ your King
00:56:19.09\00:56:23.31
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice,
00:56:23.34\00:56:29.04
Give thanks and sing!
00:56:29.07\00:56:33.47
With voice as full and strong
00:56:33.50\00:56:38.06
As ocean's surging praise
00:56:38.09\00:56:42.80
Send forth the
sturdy hymns of old
00:56:42.83\00:56:47.23
The psalms of ancient days
00:56:47.26\00:56:51.63
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice,
00:56:51.66\00:56:57.52
Give thanks and sing!
00:56:57.55\00:57:01.44
Praise Him who reigns on high
00:57:13.24\00:57:18.26
The Lord whom we adore
00:57:18.29\00:57:23.48
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
00:57:23.51\00:57:28.59
One God forevermore
00:57:28.62\00:57:33.32
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice,
00:57:33.35\00:57:40.27
Give thanks and sing!
00:57:40.30\00:57:46.09
Let's pray together.
00:57:51.10\00:57:53.17
And the Spirit
the bride say come
00:57:53.20\00:57:56.54
and let him
that here it say come
00:57:56.57\00:57:59.76
and let him that
is the thirst come
00:57:59.79\00:58:02.39
and whosoever will let him
take the water of life freely
00:58:02.42\00:58:06.31
even so come Lord Jesus, amen.
00:58:06.34\00:58:09.93