¤¤
00:00:00.70\00:00:03.57
>> Good morning, church family.
00:00:08.30\00:00:10.57
I am so very excited to be
here on this particular Sabbath,
00:00:10.74\00:00:15.68
because we're talking I believe
as a whole on a topic that,
00:00:15.68\00:00:19.18
until recently, I hadn't really
given much thought to, and that
00:00:19.18\00:00:22.88
is the difference between
wants and needs a little bit.
00:00:22.88\00:00:27.06
I take so many things for
granted, including waking up.
So, I wake up and I just kind of
00:00:27.22\00:00:32.06
go throughout the day like, "Oh,
this was meant to happen," but
in reality, there's so many
00:00:32.06\00:00:36.83
things that are a gift from God.
And oftentimes, I think I want
God, I think I want the things
00:00:36.83\00:00:43.37
that He can do for me. But to
actually get to a place where I
recognize the need for
00:00:43.37\00:00:48.88
Him and to have that be the
longing of my life and
everything that I do, I think
00:00:48.88\00:00:54.15
that is very important. So, I
would invite you to bow your
heads and close your eyes
00:00:54.15\00:00:59.92
with me as we say our opening
prayer, and then we're gonna go
right into a song, and I believe
00:00:59.92\00:01:05.13
it should be familiar to
you. So, let's bow our heads for
00:01:05.13\00:01:09.06
prayer. Dear heavenly Father,
Lord, we thank You so much for
this gift of the Sabbath, Lord.
00:01:09.06\00:01:13.80
We thank You so much for all the
gifts that You give us and all
of the things that You provide
00:01:13.80\00:01:19.01
for us that meet our needs. And
so, Lord, today may we recognize
that need for You in
00:01:19.01\00:01:24.15
our lives. In Your name, amen.
00:01:24.15\00:01:27.72
¤¤
00:01:27.88\00:01:30.79
[ "Praise to the
Lord, the Almighty" plays ]
00:01:56.44\00:02:02.18
Sing "praise to the Lord."
00:02:02.18\00:02:04.09
¤¤
00:03:42.02\00:03:44.92
[ "Enough" plays ]
00:03:51.26\00:03:54.13
¤¤
00:05:33.26\00:05:36.13
¤¤
00:07:50.07\00:07:52.97
[ "Draw Me Close" plays ]
00:08:01.58\00:08:04.48
¤¤
00:09:43.88\00:09:46.78
Amen.
00:12:02.38\00:12:03.75
>> Good morning, boys and girls.
Nice to see you on this -- What
is this? -- the first Sabbath of
00:12:06.02\00:12:11.39
June. You look so
Juney. So spring/summer.
00:12:11.39\00:12:14.66
Nice to have you. Say, you
know what? Here's what happened.
00:12:14.66\00:12:18.47
I got a gift for you. I have
a gift for you today. A man came
00:12:18.47\00:12:21.74
in. I do not know the name of
the man. Connie, who was working
00:12:21.74\00:12:27.61
the guest welcome station
downstairs, told me a gentleman
came in and he gave me four
00:12:27.61\00:12:33.45
packs of money and he said, "The
pastor is to use this in a
children's story, please."
00:12:33.45\00:12:40.22
And he disappeared. Well, now I
have four packs of money, and
I'm thinking, "What
00:12:40.22\00:12:44.19
kind of a children's story
do you get out of four packs of
00:12:44.19\00:12:46.93
money?" "Ohh! Wow!" I said. "I
do see this." Can you see this
00:12:46.93\00:12:53.97
from where you are seated? Where
am I supposed to show this?
00:12:53.97\00:12:55.94
Right here? Can you see this?
This is a silver dollar, pure
00:12:55.94\00:13:00.44
silver, one ounce. Don't know
what it's worth. But this is a
00:13:00.44\00:13:05.91
silver dollar that a friend of
mine gave me. This is not what
00:13:05.91\00:13:09.28
I'm giving to you. A friend
of mine gave this to me. And I'm
00:13:09.28\00:13:13.09
telling you what. Did you know
this about American money? Any
coin that America mints, any
00:13:13.09\00:13:18.26
currency that America prints has
four English words on it. Four
00:13:18.26\00:13:24.20
English words. A special prize
to you if you can guess the four
00:13:24.20\00:13:29.94
English words. Okay, because so
many hands go up, just call it
out. >> In God we trust!
00:13:29.94\00:13:35.08
>> "In God we trust." Isn't that
something? All American money
00:13:35.08\00:13:42.85
says "In God we trust."
Go figure. In God we trust.
00:13:42.85\00:13:49.52
Hey. Anybody here -- Come on --
Anybody here know what it means
00:13:49.52\00:13:53.19
to trust? This is really a
difficult word. What does it
00:13:53.19\00:13:57.30
mean to trust? Anybody here know
what it means to trust? See, I
told you it was hard.
00:13:57.30\00:14:00.14
You're thinking right now, and
you're thinking, "I don't know
what kind of answer to give the
00:14:00.14\00:14:03.64
pastor." Yes, sir. >>
You know you can trust them.
00:14:03.64\00:14:06.88
>> It means that you know you
can trust them. That's exactly
00:14:06.88\00:14:10.45
right. Very good. And how about
you to add? >> Also that you
00:14:10.45\00:14:13.75
know that you can believe them.
>> You know that you can believe
00:14:13.75\00:14:16.48
them. The two of you have chosen
a word. Those two words are what
00:14:16.48\00:14:19.72
we call synonyms.
Perfect. "Believe."
00:14:19.72\00:14:21.42
You know that you can trust. So,
American money -- Hey, can you
00:14:21.42\00:14:26.39
see this? Who can I show this to
so that everybody knows that I'm
not making this up?
00:14:26.39\00:14:30.23
Anybody here read? Anybody here
read? All right, sissy with the
00:14:30.23\00:14:33.74
glasses. I know
you read. Look at this.
00:14:33.74\00:14:36.17
Can you read those words? >>
In God we trust. >> In God we
00:14:36.17\00:14:39.97
trust. You want to see that?
In God we trust. You want to see
00:14:39.97\00:14:43.24
that? In God we trust. Anybody
want to -- Little boy that's
00:14:43.24\00:14:46.92
crying, do you want to hold the
silver dollar? >> I want my mom.
>> You want your mom?
00:14:46.92\00:14:50.72
You'll be with her very soon. [
Laughter ] Yeah, she's not gonna
00:14:50.72\00:14:56.79
lose you. Yeah. What do you
think about that little coin?
00:14:56.79\00:15:00.66
Doesn't it feel heavy?
That's a silver dollar. Wow!
00:15:00.66\00:15:04.33
Wouldn't you like to have a
silver dollar? Tell your mother.
00:15:04.33\00:15:08.60
All right. [ Laughter ]
Thank you. She's gonna find you.
00:15:08.60\00:15:13.68
Let's do it out loud together.
In...God...we...trust. Do you
know what that means?
00:15:13.68\00:15:21.15
That means no matter what
happens, God's gonna take care
00:15:21.15\00:15:24.49
of us. No matter what happens to
you, no matter what happens to
me, no matter what happens to
00:15:24.49\00:15:29.22
you, God is gonna take care of
you, and I think that's just the
greatest news I've heard all
00:15:29.22\00:15:33.93
day. How many are thankful that
God will take care of us no
matter what happens?
00:15:33.93\00:15:40.00
In God we can trust. Now, before
I give you your gift -- because
00:15:40.00\00:15:44.77
we're gonna give you the gift.
You're gonna go home with money
00:15:44.77\00:15:47.38
today. I need a young prayer,
somebody to pray. Somebody to
00:15:47.38\00:15:54.28
pray. Sissy, your hand went up
first. You have to come all the
way through, but come on down.
00:15:54.28\00:15:57.12
I'll get your microphone ready
while you're coming. Okay, let's
00:15:57.12\00:16:00.92
close our eyes. Let's fold our
hands. Here comes sissy. Here
00:16:00.92\00:16:04.36
comes sissy. What's your
first name, sissy? >> Cassie. >>
00:16:04.36\00:16:07.30
Cassie? All right, let's close
our eyes and fold our hands as
Cassie thanks Jesus for being
00:16:07.30\00:16:14.10
the God we can trust. >> Dearly
Father, thank You for this day.
00:16:14.10\00:16:17.37
Thank You for everything
that You gave us. Thank You for
00:16:17.37\00:16:20.94
Sabbath school today. Thank You
that You let us came to church
00:16:20.94\00:16:24.51
to worship You. >> Amen. >>
Thank You for the surprises that
we end with pastor.
00:16:24.51\00:16:29.12
Thank You for everything that
we got, dearly father. Amen. >>
00:16:29.12\00:16:32.75
Amen. Cassie, that was a
beautiful prayer. Beautiful
00:16:32.75\00:16:35.66
prayer. All right, now, here's
what we're gonna do. We're gonna
00:16:35.66\00:16:38.96
start with Cassie. Cassie's
gonna get to come to the front
of the line, and then you have
00:16:38.96\00:16:42.93
to be -- The youngest kids here
get to go first, 'cause Pastor
Rodney has money that you're
00:16:42.93\00:16:47.60
gonna take home. Pastor Jose has
money you're gonna take home.
This man gave it to us.
00:16:47.60\00:16:51.07
And Pastor Ben has money you're
gonna take home. So you can go
00:16:51.07\00:16:54.91
there, here, or there. Can't
go to all three. Just go there,
00:16:54.91\00:16:58.01
here, or there, all right? As
you go back to your seats, boys
and girls, God go with you.
00:16:58.01\00:17:01.72
And you're saying those four
little words in your heart. "In
00:17:01.72\00:17:08.09
God I trust." [ Piano plays ]
00:17:11.03\00:17:13.93
>> ¤ Sweet hour of prayer
¤ ¤ Sweet hour of prayer ¤
00:17:19.27\00:17:27.48
¤ That calls me
from a world of care ¤
00:17:27.48\00:17:35.05
¤ And bids me at my Father's
throne ¤ ¤ Make all my wants and
00:17:35.22\00:17:50.33
wishes known ¤ ¤ In
seasons of distress and grief ¤
00:17:50.33\00:17:59.67
¤ My soul has often found
relief ¤ ¤ And oft escaped the
00:17:59.67\00:18:15.39
tempter's snare ¤ ¤ By thy
return, sweet hour of prayer ¤
00:18:15.39\00:18:28.20
¤¤
00:18:28.20\00:18:31.11
>> ¤ Sweet hour of prayer ¤ ¤
Sweet hour of prayer ¤ ¤ May I
00:18:35.44\00:18:50.09
thy consolation share ¤ ¤ Till
from Mount Pisgah's lofty height
00:18:50.09\00:18:59.27
¤ ¤ I view my home and take
my flight ¤ >> ¤ In my immortal
00:18:59.27\00:19:14.25
flesh I'll rise ¤ ¤ To
seize the everlasting prize ¤
00:19:14.25\00:19:25.53
¤ And shout while passing
through the air ¤ ¤ Farewell,
00:19:25.53\00:19:41.04
farewell, sweet
hour of prayer ¤ ¤¤
00:19:41.04\00:19:49.68
>> ¤ Sweet hour of prayer ¤ ¤
Sweet hour of prayer ¤ ¤ Thy
wings shall my petition
00:19:52.02\00:20:07.87
bear ¤ ¤ To Him whose
truth and faithfulness ¤
00:20:07.87\00:20:17.78
¤ Engage the waiting soul to
bless ¤ >> ¤ And since He bids
00:20:17.78\00:20:33.03
me seek His face ¤ ¤ Believe
His Word and trust His grace ¤
00:20:33.03\00:20:45.64
¤ I'll cast on Him my every
care ¤ ¤ And wait for thee ¤
00:20:45.64\00:21:04.03
¤ And wait for thee ¤
¤ Sweet hour of prayer ¤
00:21:04.03\00:21:26.38
>> Thank you, Jeannie.
00:21:40.33\00:21:42.20
Let's pray. Oh, God, what a
poignant reminder that we've
00:21:50.04\00:22:00.55
been designed, created, and bred
by the God of the universe for
that sweet hour along with You,
00:22:00.55\00:22:12.53
hearts open to each other.
Please give us the grace and the
courage to insert it into our
00:22:12.53\00:22:25.57
already busy lives. Given the
journey of this nation right
now, now more than ever,
00:22:25.57\00:22:35.08
dear God. That sweet hour of
prayer. Bless us now in the Word
00:22:35.08\00:22:40.12
we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:22:40.12\00:22:44.36
History is woven with the lives
of brave and influential widows.
00:22:44.53\00:22:53.37
Famous widows. You know them. In
fact, I'm gonna put them on the
screen for you right now.
00:22:53.54\00:22:58.11
You guess who it is. When
you see the face, guess who that
00:22:58.11\00:23:02.01
widow would be. Face number one.
Who's that? You have to be a
00:23:02.01\00:23:06.55
history major to get that.
That's Mary Todd Lincoln. Mrs.
00:23:06.55\00:23:10.19
Lincoln. Face number two. Now,
you have to be from the U.K. to
00:23:10.19\00:23:15.26
get that one. That's Queen
Victoria. Come on. That's Queen
Victoria. Face number three.
00:23:15.26\00:23:21.43
Yeah, Americans know that
face quite well, actually.
00:23:21.43\00:23:24.20
Face number four. Still
alive very much and well.
00:23:24.37\00:23:28.97
Coretta Scott
King. Face number five.
00:23:28.97\00:23:33.34
Let's see how
you do on this one.
00:23:33.34\00:23:35.21
Alive today. Do you
recognize that face?
00:23:35.21\00:23:38.11
She is the national hero,
Nobel Peace Prize winner of
00:23:38.11\00:23:41.82
Burma, Myanmar,
Aung San Suu Kyi.
00:23:41.82\00:23:47.16
There she is. And
well-known newscaster.
00:23:47.16\00:23:49.99
Put the last face up. Do
you know who that belongs to?
00:23:49.99\00:23:53.33
Yep, that's Katie Couric.
The list of famous widows is a
00:23:53.33\00:23:57.23
long one, but the list of
not-so-famous widows is even
00:23:57.23\00:24:01.94
longer. Reading a
book review about a
00:24:01.94\00:24:06.81
widow author named Becky Aikman.
Her book -- "Saturday Night
00:24:06.81\00:24:11.11
Widow." "Saturday Night Widows."
00:24:11.11\00:24:13.42
From the review -- Put
it on the screen for you.
00:24:13.42\00:24:16.79
Some of you
listening right now that know.
00:24:30.47\00:24:33.70
Brave widows, young widows,
not-so-young widows, elderly
widows in this parish.
00:24:57.09\00:25:03.16
We have many of you. You may be
sitting near one of these women
00:25:03.16\00:25:14.64
right now. We're talking about
human beings to whom I tip our
00:25:14.64\00:25:26.09
collective hat. Let's do a
little mini series, "The Widow
Factor." We're talking about
00:25:26.09\00:25:30.46
human beings who have to go on
living and loving and who have
to go on serving and working,
00:25:30.46\00:25:36.56
who have to go on worshipping,
who must survive without that
young or not-so-young life
00:25:36.56\00:25:45.54
partner. And in the midst of the
grief, they go on suffering,
because a widow's grief never
00:25:45.54\00:25:51.68
ends. The mourning subsides, but
the grieving never fully wanes,
even if she remarries.
00:25:51.68\00:25:59.82
And I happen to know, because my
mother, God bless her, my
mother, no matter how happy her
00:25:59.82\00:26:08.30
remarriage, will never stop
missing my father. And so we
00:26:08.30\00:26:17.04
begin "The Widow Factor" --
three widows, three stories,
three compelling reasons why we,
00:26:17.04\00:26:22.21
too, like they, can live on the
edge with God. Let's go. Story
00:26:22.21\00:26:28.72
number one. This dramatic story
begins with the words "The brook
dried up." Go with me to 1 Kings
00:26:28.72\00:26:36.69
17 in your Bible. 1
Kings 17. 1 Kings 17.
00:26:36.69\00:26:43.57
I'll be in the New International
version. Didn't bring a Bible,
00:26:43.57\00:26:47.54
you got your little device. Find
it there. Pull the pew Bible
00:26:47.54\00:26:50.27
out. It's page 247 in your pew
Bible. 1 Kings 17:7. "Some time
00:26:50.27\00:26:58.81
later" -- This is from the NIV.
00:26:58.81\00:27:00.78
Now, look, we haven't even
gotten to the widow yet, but we
run headlong into this
00:27:08.06\00:27:12.49
compelling piece of truth. And I
want you to stick this away
because you're gonna call
00:27:12.49\00:27:17.13
it back one day. And here's that
piece of truth. When the nation
00:27:17.13\00:27:21.60
is under judgment, divine
judgment, the good and the bad,
the righteous and the
00:27:21.60\00:27:28.94
unrighteous mutually suffer the
consequences. That seemingly
innocuous point is vital for you
00:27:28.94\00:27:36.32
and me to learn as we face the
future in a nation that is
rapidly -- and I've got to say
00:27:36.32\00:27:41.72
this up front -- rapidly before
our very and stunned eyes, you
cannot believe what we're seeing
00:27:41.72\00:27:49.73
now in this nation. You
want to talk about the political
00:27:49.73\00:27:52.23
process? Let's not.
Let's keep worshipping.
00:27:52.23\00:27:54.90
The nation is moving under
judgment from Almighty God. My
friend Tim Aka, a chartered
00:27:58.81\00:28:09.45
investment finance analyst,
presently investment officer for
the General Conference, a member
00:28:09.45\00:28:14.46
of this congregation. He flies
back and forth. His wife Sharon
00:28:14.46\00:28:17.53
is here heading up the Distance
Learning at the NAD and here on
campus. Tim wrote a provocative
00:28:17.53\00:28:21.60
book entitled "End Game
Economics," in which are these
words -- put them on the screen
00:28:21.60\00:28:26.10
for you. Just track the cycles.
Then Tim inserts a rather
graphic illustration to buttress
00:29:00.04\00:29:05.71
his point. And this is his line
here that the financial world is
00:29:05.71\00:29:08.68
being led by those who are
looking out for their own
survival. He says let's imagine
00:29:08.68\00:29:11.81
that the global economy is a
crowded airplane. You're on the
00:29:11.81\00:29:14.95
plane, I'm on the plane. This
plane is running out of fuel.
00:29:14.95\00:29:17.42
It is almost on empty, and it
is way too far from a runway to
00:29:17.42\00:29:22.82
possibly land. And so what does
the pilot do? He throttles up,
he lifts the nose of that plane,
00:29:22.82\00:29:27.96
it's climbing higher and higher
and higher until he can reach
the right height so that those
00:29:27.96\00:29:33.37
who have the golden parachutes
can jump out of the plane while
the rest of us are strapped in.
00:29:33.37\00:29:38.74
And you can picture it.
00:29:38.74\00:29:40.14
Now, Aka makes this point.
"Sadly, many passengers" -- in
00:29:40.31\00:29:44.18
this imaginary plane -- "are
convinced at this ascent" -- in
00:29:44.18\00:29:48.65
the economy...
00:29:48.65\00:29:50.55
The truth is, ladies and
gentlemen, in a nation under
divine judgment, your golden
00:29:59.53\00:30:03.57
parachute will not save
you in the end. Trust me, all
00:30:03.57\00:30:06.87
parachutes
collapse. Verse 7. 1 Kings 17.
00:30:06.87\00:30:13.58
In case you haven't noticed, the
brooks in our land are already
00:30:20.65\00:30:23.75
drying up. I'm not just talking
about physical brooks. I'm
talking about financial
00:30:23.75\00:30:26.76
brooks. I'm talking about
moral brooks. I'm talking about
00:30:26.76\00:30:29.59
spiritual brooks.
They are drying up. Gone!
00:30:29.59\00:30:33.70
Oh, and we can save and hoard
all the water we wish. "Oh, I'm
gonna save this for a
00:30:33.70\00:30:38.07
rainy day." But when we go
back to it, it has evaporated.
00:30:38.07\00:30:43.81
It's all going. And the
brooks dried up. Even for the
00:30:43.81\00:30:48.78
righteous, the water is gone,
which means that Elijah, a very
close friend of God's, as it
00:30:48.78\00:30:53.21
turns out, because one day when
God will become flesh and stand
on a mount of transfiguration,
00:30:53.21\00:30:57.75
Elijah will show up from heaven
and say, "I've come, dear divine
friend, to encourage you in your
00:30:57.75\00:31:03.36
mission." Even the closest
friend of God in the Book of
00:31:03.36\00:31:11.97
Kings, the water dries up, the
brook dries up for him. There's
no "get out of jail
00:31:11.97\00:31:16.60
free" card for the righteous,
which is not to suggest that God
won't take care of you.
00:31:16.60\00:31:22.64
I mean, look at Elijah, enjoying
room service with a flock of
ravens morning and evening,
00:31:22.64\00:31:27.15
bread and meat, bread and meat,
bread and meat. Of course, he is
00:31:27.15\00:31:32.25
on the lam. He's running, he's
having to hide for his life
because all the king's horses
00:31:32.25\00:31:36.46
and all the king's men have been
searching for this
bushy-bearded, camel-haired,
00:31:36.46\00:31:42.20
wind-bitten stranger from out of
that little village of Tishbe,
the gall to come storming into
00:31:42.20\00:31:48.97
the king's inner throne room.
Before a guard could lift a
finger, the prophet pointed his
00:31:48.97\00:31:54.31
finger at this apostate and
wicked king named Ahab, and he
thundered, "As the Lord God of
00:31:54.31\00:31:59.28
Israel lives before whom I
stand, there will not be a drop
of water, not a drop of dew
00:31:59.28\00:32:04.19
until I say so," and then he
vanishes to God's hiding place,
which turns out to be the brook
00:32:04.19\00:32:09.32
of Cherith. We used to
say "Chair-ith," but it's
00:32:09.32\00:32:14.73
"Care-ith." 1 Kings 17:7.
00:32:14.73\00:32:16.60
"Then," verse 8, "the word of
the Lord came to Elijah," verse
00:32:20.04\00:32:25.61
9, "go at once to Zarephath in
the region of Sidon and stay
there. I have directed a widow"
00:32:25.61\00:32:31.68
-- there she is -- "I have
directed a widow there to supply
00:32:31.68\00:32:39.12
you with food." May I point out
to you that this widow we are
about to meet is Pagan?
00:32:39.12\00:32:44.19
She's from Zarephath. That's
in the region of "Side-on" or
00:32:44.19\00:32:50.23
"Si-don," which happens to be
the neighborhood, the very land
happens to be the neighborhood
00:32:50.23\00:32:56.34
of the very wicked Jezebel, who,
through matrimony, has brought a
demonic infestation to the
00:32:56.34\00:33:01.51
people of God through the
prophets of Baal. This lady's
next-door neighbors with
00:33:01.51\00:33:05.71
Jezebel. She works with the same
false God. She calls on the same
00:33:05.71\00:33:08.72
"Bi-el" or "Bale." And yet
the God of Israel -- Isn't that
00:33:08.72\00:33:13.42
something? The God of Israel
knows this woman by name, and he
00:33:13.42\00:33:17.89
knows her address. What's up
with that? Pagan, though she is.
00:33:17.89\00:33:22.83
Wow. Clearly God has a heart for
Pagans, doesn't He? Chooses her
00:33:22.83\00:33:31.51
to serve His appointed
messenger. In fact, Jesus' own
words evoked this very point so
00:33:31.51\00:33:40.25
unmistakably that the
worshippers in his hometown that
day when Jesus spoke these words
00:33:40.25\00:33:43.92
are ready to kill him and
attempt to do it as soon as the
worship service is over.
00:33:43.92\00:33:46.92
And he's standing at the back
shaking hands. They're out to
00:33:46.92\00:33:50.06
kill him now. Let me put Jesus'
words on the screen for you.
Luke Chapter 4, in that sermon
00:33:50.06\00:33:53.43
in hometown Nazareth...
00:33:53.43\00:33:55.30
He's just one of the boys.
00:34:00.54\00:34:02.44
Go figure. God chooses a Pagan
widow over all the saved widows
00:34:20.82\00:34:26.86
in that land. Can you imagine
that? What's up with this?
00:34:26.86\00:34:32.37
Apparently God's eye is not only
on the sparrow but also on the
Pagan who is living up to all
00:34:32.37\00:34:39.44
the light she, little or almost
no light, but she's living up to
it as best as she knows how.
00:34:39.44\00:34:49.25
And God's eye is on her.
Remember the Chinese woman I
00:34:49.25\00:34:56.89
told you about? Remember that,
last time we were together?
Yeah, just came back from that
00:34:56.89\00:35:01.63
two-week evangelistic mission to
China, in the city of Xiamen.
You remember? Buddhist temple?
00:35:01.63\00:35:06.90
I see her, crowd whirling around
her. She's acting as if she's
00:35:06.90\00:35:10.71
all alone with her God, a golden
Buddha. And you remember that
00:35:10.71\00:35:14.51
look of anguish that I describe,
this utter desperation.
Something is breaking this
00:35:14.51\00:35:18.75
woman's heart, and I'm standing
there absolutely frozen. I
00:35:18.75\00:35:22.78
cannot move. I can't take a
picture. This is too holy a
moment. She is pleading her
00:35:22.78\00:35:28.12
heart out. And by the way, I
want to thank those of you, God
bless you, who have contacted me
00:35:28.12\00:35:31.53
and said, "You know what,
Dwight? I'm praying for that
00:35:31.53\00:35:33.56
woman, too." Good on you. Good
on you, 'cause I'm still praying
00:35:33.56\00:35:38.00
for her. Her heart is break--
Something has broken it. She's
00:35:38.00\00:35:44.91
pleading. And I made the point
then, and I'm gonna make it all
00:35:44.91\00:35:49.08
over again. Wrong God, but the
right God hears the misguided
prayer [snaps fingers] and
00:35:49.08\00:36:00.52
answers it. Got a letter from a
viewer saying, "Hey, that can't
00:36:00.52\00:36:02.99
be true. You got to come to God
in the name of Jesus." Oh, yes,
you do, if you're a
00:36:02.99\00:36:06.13
follower and disciple of Jesus,
you got to come in the name of
00:36:06.13\00:36:09.43
Jesus. But what about the
billions who lived before Jesus
was here? Were their prayers all
00:36:09.43\00:36:13.47
not answered? Of course not.
I can't imagine the God of this
00:36:13.47\00:36:17.97
universe saying, "Oh,
wrong language. Can't hear you.
00:36:17.97\00:36:20.88
Talk to my hand. My face
ain't listening." [ Laughter ]
00:36:20.88\00:36:24.98
I can't imagine that at
all. Clearly God has a heart for
00:36:24.98\00:36:30.32
Pagans. This widow has been
pleading with God to save her
life. "Save the life of my
00:36:30.32\00:36:33.42
little boy." And guess what?
Praying to the wrong God, but
00:36:33.42\00:36:35.46
the right God hears her prayers
and answers her prayer. It's
just about to be answered
00:36:35.46\00:36:40.56
while we're watching. One more
reason, by the way, why you and
I need to have hearts
00:36:40.56\00:36:44.67
for -- We need to have hearts
for the Pagans, as well, our
Pagan associates, our Pagan
00:36:44.67\00:36:48.84
acquaintances, our Pagan
neighbors, our Pagan playmates,
00:36:48.84\00:36:57.61
our Pagan world. We need to have
God's heart for them, as well.
So, what is this? Verse 10.
00:36:57.61\00:37:03.75
So, Elijah -- God gives the
instructions. Elijah went to
00:37:03.75\00:37:07.82
Zarephath -- verse 10 -- And
when he came to the town gate, a
widow was there gathering
00:37:07.82\00:37:11.16
sticks. And so Elijah's
thinking, "Man, I wonder if this
is the widow. I wonder if this
00:37:11.16\00:37:14.86
is the woman. How do I know?
There could be a widow beyond
00:37:14.86\00:37:17.23
the gate. Let me just try this
out." And so he calls out to the
woman picking up the sticks.
00:37:17.23\00:37:23.20
"Would you bring me a little
water in a jar so that I may
00:37:23.20\00:37:28.98
have a drink?" And something in
this bushy-bearded,
camel-hair-clothed stranger
00:37:28.98\00:37:34.78
obviously not from these parts,
probably an Israelite, maybe a
00:37:34.78\00:37:39.69
holy man. Something about him
impresses her. She turns to get
00:37:39.69\00:37:45.16
him a few drops of water she'll
find somewhere when he says,
"Yo, just a minute.
00:37:45.16\00:37:48.63
I thought about something else.
I'm really hungry. Sorry to do
00:37:48.63\00:37:52.63
this to you. I'm really hungry.
Could you also make me some
00:37:52.63\00:37:55.60
food? Bring me a little bit of
bread then you take care of your
family, whatever needs you
00:37:55.60\00:38:00.08
have." [ Chuckling ]
Wow. The woman turns to him in
00:38:00.08\00:38:04.48
verse 12 and says that "surely
as the Lord your God" -- aha, he
00:38:04.48\00:38:08.78
is an Israelite. I know the name
of that God -- Yahweh. "And
surely as Yahweh, your God
00:38:08.78\00:38:12.62
lives," she replied, "I don't
have any bread, only a handful
of flour in a jar and a little
00:38:12.62\00:38:17.46
olive oil in a jug. I'm
gathering a few sticks to take
home and make a meal for
00:38:17.46\00:38:21.66
myself and my son that we may
eat it and die." It'll be the
00:38:21.66\00:38:25.90
last meal on Earth 'cause
there's nothing left in that
pantry. Zero. Nada. Nothing.
00:38:25.90\00:38:30.51
It's not easy being a widow, is
it? Unless your husband left you
00:38:38.01\00:38:43.85
a nest egg of earnings, of
savings, of a retirement fund.
It's not easy being a widow,
00:38:43.85\00:38:47.89
particularly if you're young.
And we have young widows. You're
too young, you're too
00:38:47.89\00:38:52.99
poor to retire, if you have
children that have to be fed and
clothed and educated and need
00:38:52.99\00:38:56.87
health insurance. It's not easy
being a widow, period, in any
00:38:56.87\00:39:02.44
period of history. But with all
the sincerity I can muster, I
need to say if you're
00:39:02.44\00:39:08.18
a widow listening right now or
watching right now or here right
now, I need to say there is a
00:39:08.18\00:39:13.68
God in this universe who loves
you dearly and is committed to
00:39:13.68\00:39:24.43
care for you. I love this
picture of God. Oh, if you're a
widow, don't ever forget it.
00:39:24.43\00:39:28.80
Psalm 68. The psalm is -- put it
on the screen for you, this word
00:39:28.80\00:39:32.03
picture of God. He's a father to
the fatherless. He's a defender
00:39:32.03\00:39:40.28
of widows. Is God, this God in
his holy dwelling. God, oh, God
00:39:40.28\00:39:46.08
sets the lonely in families. You
know a widow? You know a widow,
00:39:46.08\00:39:50.15
do you? God has given you the
mission to set that lonely one
00:39:50.32\00:39:55.49
in your family. He
sets the lonely in families.
00:39:55.49\00:39:59.96
Wow. Do you
know what that means?
00:39:59.96\00:40:06.00
Sister widow woman.
00:40:06.00\00:40:09.47
That means God will take
care of you. ¤ Be not dismayed ¤
00:40:09.64\00:40:21.45
¤ Whate'er betide ¤ ¤ God will
take care of you ¤ ¤ Beneath his
00:40:21.45\00:40:35.66
wings of love abide ¤ ¤
God will take care of you ¤
00:40:35.66\00:40:41.34
Sing it out.
You know the chorus.
00:40:41.50\00:40:44.17
So Elijah says to the woman,
verse 13, don't miss this.
00:41:16.67\00:41:20.84
Apparently, ladies and
gentlemen, apparently when it
00:42:08.42\00:42:11.56
feels like you're giving away
your future, God steps up and
00:42:11.56\00:42:15.03
gives you a brand-new present,
and that's present spelled
00:42:15.03\00:42:18.43
N-O-W. Let me repeat that.
00:42:18.43\00:42:21.97
When it feels like you're giving
away your future -- and that is
00:42:21.97\00:42:25.37
precisely what
the widow is doing.
00:42:25.37\00:42:27.74
She has one meal left in her
future, and God has just asked
her, "Now, I want you to give
00:42:27.91\00:42:33.11
that meal away. You give it
to me." When you're giving away
00:42:33.11\00:42:37.95
your future is when God steps up
and gives you a brand-new
present, a brand-new now, a new
00:42:37.95\00:42:47.23
paradigm, because you dipped
into the future for the sake of
00:42:47.23\00:42:52.93
my present. Wow. What a God. God
will take care of you. Through
every day or all the
00:42:52.93\00:43:02.51
way, he will take care of you.
That's the point. Malachi 3:10
00:43:02.51\00:43:07.45
-- You ever heard this promise?
Let me put it on the screen for
00:43:07.45\00:43:09.82
you. Malachi
3:10, God speaking...
00:43:09.82\00:43:11.72
And then I want you to do this.
00:43:16.06\00:43:17.96
"I will take care of you through
every day or all the way. Just
bring to me my tithe.
00:43:29.54\00:43:36.08
I want you to bring that water,
bring me that flour, bring me
00:43:36.08\00:43:40.72
that oil. Return it to me. Give
me the security of your future,
and I will open the
00:43:40.72\00:43:45.32
floodgates of heaven and give
you a present like you have
never lived a now before in your
00:43:45.32\00:43:50.79
life." Wow. "I
will take care of you."
00:43:50.79\00:43:58.87
The young widow of Zarephath is
enduring proof that God will
take care of you and God will
00:43:58.87\00:44:05.11
take care of me and God will
take care of us. No matter what
00:44:05.11\00:44:10.28
the times are ahead for this
nation, He will take care of us.
That little widow didn't have
00:44:10.28\00:44:17.19
a -- That little widow didn't
have a tithe envelope like this.
She went home to the cupboard.
00:44:17.19\00:44:22.32
You know what she did? She just
cleared the whole thing, just
00:44:22.32\00:44:26.70
cleared it out. God is not
asking that of you and me. Nope.
00:44:26.70\00:44:30.67
All He quietly asks for is His
tithe. 10 pennies given out to
00:44:30.67\00:44:37.37
these kids -- "One of
those belongs to me," God said.
00:44:37.37\00:44:42.58
"That's my tithe." Oh, and
offerings. 10% and offerings --
Well, whatever you can give.
00:44:42.58\00:44:48.02
"Dip into the future. Sure, but
I'll give you a new present."
00:44:48.02\00:44:53.46
Could be another 10% for the
offerings. There are people here
00:44:58.13\00:45:02.03
that are already doing that, and
there are many people here who
are able to do that.
00:45:02.03\00:45:06.17
Another 10%. Whatever your tithe
was, just spread the rest out.
00:45:06.17\00:45:10.64
It could be another 5% maybe. 5%
of your income. Could be another
00:45:10.64\00:45:17.85
2%. I'm gonna share something
fascinating with you. If
00:45:17.85\00:45:21.18
everybody in this congregation
-- this is a university
congregation. Trust me,
00:45:21.18\00:45:26.09
university professors, you know,
they're not getting wealthy
teaching at Andrews University.
00:45:26.09\00:45:34.93
We're a little university
parish, but last year we gave
over $5 million -- returned over
00:45:34.93\00:45:39.23
$5 million to God. Put that
number on the screen for you.
00:45:39.23\00:45:42.24
$5 million. You multiply that by
10 to know the income of those
00:45:42.24\00:45:47.08
who tithed. The aggregated
income is $50 million sitting
right here beside you right now.
00:45:47.08\00:45:52.31
It's a little tithes. It's just
all put together. Do you know
what would happen if
00:45:52.31\00:46:00.26
we said, "Hey, what if we gave
2% of our income?" Okay, 10%
00:46:00.26\00:46:04.66
goes back to God. It belongs to
Him. But what if we took 2% from
the other 90% that's left and we
00:46:04.66\00:46:08.36
gave it to church operating just
to keep this church going? Do
you know how much that would
00:46:08.36\00:46:12.30
be? 1% would be -- Come on, just
before you put it on the screen.
00:46:12.30\00:46:15.27
What's 1% of that income? 1%
would be $500,000, right? 2%
would be twice that.
00:46:15.27\00:46:22.78
$1 million. Would you put
that on the screen, please?
00:46:22.78\00:46:25.75
$1 million -- 2%. If everyone
who's tithing just gave 2%, I
00:46:25.75\00:46:29.95
mean, you gave 10, returned 10
-- just 2 more to church
operating. That's line 2 in the
00:46:29.95\00:46:33.96
tithe envelope. It's line
2. Just put 2% there, we'd have
00:46:33.96\00:46:36.93
$1 million every year. Do you
know what that funds? That funds
00:46:36.93\00:46:41.16
a basket full of ministries like
Sabbath schools and periodicals
and office staff and physical
00:46:41.16\00:46:50.21
plant and air and heat and
insurance and a bunch of
outreach ministries. Just 2%.
00:46:50.21\00:46:57.11
We'd have $1 million at
the end of every year. Wow!
00:46:57.11\00:47:01.65
And then if you said, "Oh,
no, wait! What about our church
00:47:01.65\00:47:03.92
schools? Dwight, don't forget
our church schools." Okay, let's
00:47:03.92\00:47:06.29
throw our church schools in. If
we gave only 1% to our church
schools -- You know Ruth Murdoch
00:47:06.29\00:47:08.86
Elementary School and Andrews
Academy? I mean, Byron's up
00:47:08.86\00:47:11.03
here. He's one of our faculty in
both of those schools. If we
gave 1% -- Let's put that
00:47:11.03\00:47:14.93
on the screen. $500,000.
$500,000 -- half a million going
00:47:14.93\00:47:19.53
to our little church schools.
You know what? Our children
00:47:19.53\00:47:23.17
would rise up and call us, bless
it. They'd say, "Wow! Thank
you." When you break it down,
00:47:23.17\00:47:28.44
it's not a lot of money. It's
tapping into your future for a
00:47:28.44\00:47:35.85
new present. And God has a
present for you when you step
out for him. Just ask that
00:47:35.85\00:47:41.22
widow. He'll take care of you.
Yes, He will. And by the way, I
00:47:41.22\00:47:44.69
need to just insert this before
I hurry on. Not a single penny
will go to any of us pastors
00:47:44.69\00:47:48.53
simply because all of us are
paid out of the same -- paid the
same way -- By the way, you can
00:47:48.53\00:47:52.13
pastor a 3,000-member church
like this or a 30-member church
in Michigan, the same in
00:47:52.13\00:47:56.47
California, doesn't matter.
Everybody's paid the same. But
all of our wages come from
00:47:56.47\00:48:03.24
the world tithe fund of the
Seventh Adventist Church. And in
our area, it's Lansing
00:48:03.24\00:48:06.61
that administers that. Which
means even if you don't give a
penny in these offerings,
00:48:06.61\00:48:13.39
even if you don't give a penny,
we're still here to love you and
00:48:13.39\00:48:18.69
to bug you. And we'll keep
bugging you. Mm-hmm. It just
goes with the turf.
00:48:18.69\00:48:24.70
Although the day is coming --
let's get serious -- perhaps
more rapidly than we are aware
00:48:24.70\00:48:28.64
when a moral and spiritual
famine will sweep this nation
into a time of judgment we have
00:48:28.64\00:48:32.51
never experienced before. Just
look at the faces. Just look at
00:48:32.51\00:48:35.91
the faces of Americans now. Ask
yourself, has something happened
00:48:35.91\00:48:39.38
to this country? Of course
something's happened to it.
Somebody knows we're running out
00:48:39.38\00:48:42.92
of time. Someone is ratcheting
it up. It's happening while
00:48:42.92\00:48:45.99
we're watching. Watch this
political process to the end.
00:48:45.99\00:48:48.52
You'll see. Israel, for all
the blessings the Lord God had
00:48:48.52\00:48:53.53
poured upon that chosen nation
rejected their creator,
renounced their savior, and the
00:48:53.53\00:48:58.70
rest is history. The tragic
history of a nation, a land, a
people who abandoned the God who
00:48:58.70\00:49:04.97
had given them their blessing.
Just abandoned. The people who
00:49:04.97\00:49:08.84
printed out all their money "In
God we trust" and who eventually
forgot that God, whoever He was.
00:49:08.84\00:49:15.98
What's gonna happen?
00:49:15.98\00:49:18.45
I scribbled these words on
the page for Revelation 13 in my
00:49:18.62\00:49:21.66
Bible written by a woman who
lived about a century ago, and
00:49:21.66\00:49:24.69
the words go like this.
"Upon all the nations --
00:49:24.69\00:49:27.86
Of all the nations upon which
the sun shines, none has been
00:49:27.86\00:49:33.60
blessed by God more
than the United States."
00:49:33.60\00:49:37.21
None. This nation has been
blessed. We are under judgment.
00:49:37.37\00:49:44.61
You will hear that again
and again as we stretch into the
00:49:44.61\00:49:50.29
future together. The times we
have worried and fretted about
-- [ Scoffs ] "Don't worry," God
00:49:50.29\00:50:00.00
says. "I'll take care of you.
I'll take care of you." That
00:50:00.00\00:50:05.90
little lady in a compilation
called "Last Day Events" -- I'm
gonna put this on the screen
00:50:05.90\00:50:09.44
because this is good. There's a
sentence that's kind of a
throw-in because it's not
00:50:09.44\00:50:12.77
the sentence I'm going to but it
comes first, and so I'm gonna
put it on the screen.
00:50:12.77\00:50:16.48
You see it there. And
here is what dying charity is.
00:50:16.48\00:50:22.52
Dying charity is, "You know
what? One of these days, I'm
00:50:22.52\00:50:24.95
gonna die. When I die,
I'm giving a big gift to God.
00:50:24.95\00:50:26.89
Boy, just before I die, a big
gift will go to God. Not now.
00:50:26.89\00:50:30.66
Don't ask me to invest in the
kingdom of heaven now, but when
the day comes, just before I
00:50:30.66\00:50:35.06
die"... "Dying -- Dying charity
is a poor substitute for living
00:50:35.06\00:50:41.00
benevolence." Why hold the
gift off? Why not invest in the
00:50:41.00\00:50:46.44
kingdom while the money is still
worth something? The day is
00:50:46.44\00:50:50.18
coming when that money is dust.
Dust. Nada. Nothing. Worth zero.
00:50:50.18\00:50:55.95
And then how many of us will
look at that now-worthless
account and say, "My Lord, what
00:50:55.95\00:51:03.66
did I do?" [ Scoffs
] Living benevolence.
00:51:03.66\00:51:07.66
That's what life is -- living
benevolence. Keep reading.
00:51:07.66\00:51:10.30
Now, here's the other sentence
I want you to see, the other
00:51:10.30\00:51:14.84
sentence up there. Guess what?
The closer we get to the coming
of Jesus, we're not gonna be
00:51:20.54\00:51:24.11
doing less. We must be
doing more and more and more.
00:51:24.11\00:51:26.82
The wants are gonna go up as the
income drops. The grass will be
00:51:26.82\00:51:32.12
going the opposite ways. Wants,
needs, income -- down. Well,
let's just not give, then.
00:51:32.12\00:51:43.47
We do that at the peril of our
souls. Giving does nothing to
00:51:43.47\00:51:47.87
God. Does nothing to God. Does
everything to you, everything to
00:51:47.87\00:51:51.84
me. When I give, something is
released in me, and my fingers
00:51:51.84\00:51:59.25
let go. And that's what saves
a heart for Jesus. Letting go.
00:51:59.25\00:52:06.22
The wants of the cause will
continually increase as we near
00:52:06.22\00:52:11.06
the close of time. Those wants
go up at a critical time when
economic stability and
00:52:11.06\00:52:16.30
prosperity drop. I'm gonna go to
Tim Aka again. Put it on the
screen for you. So, you heard
00:52:20.40\00:52:26.27
from a little lady from 100
years ago. Listen to this man
who's writing right now.
00:52:26.27\00:52:29.24
I don't know where he is today,
but this is his book, "Economic
00:52:29.24\00:52:33.68
End Game." Here we go.
00:52:33.68\00:52:35.58
A final line. Here it is.
00:52:50.60\00:52:52.50
Let me read that line one more
time, in case you missed it the
00:52:58.47\00:53:03.41
first time. Living on the edge
with God, someday we will really
know what on the edge is.
00:53:10.22\00:53:18.19
But until that day comes, the
little widow of Zarephath models
for us a reaching into the
00:53:18.19\00:53:24.80
future, drawing from what is
security there, bringing it into
the present, giving it to God
00:53:24.80\00:53:33.51
and letting him grant us a
brand-new present. N-O-W. Now.
00:53:33.51\00:53:41.88
I end with this line. "Great
Controversy," that Apocalyptic
00:53:41.88\00:53:45.29
classic, on the screen.
"The people" -- Oh, this is
00:53:45.29\00:53:48.89
beautiful. Do you know why?
Because God will take care of
00:54:07.78\00:54:14.52
you. Through every day or all
the way, God will take care of
00:54:14.52\00:54:25.63
you. So why shouldn't you, why
shouldn't I entrust him with my
00:54:25.63\00:54:40.21
little pennies? Let's pray. Oh,
God, it's not rocket science.
00:54:40.21\00:54:47.62
Talking heads. Brooding over
what lies ahead for this nation.
00:54:47.62\00:54:58.96
The brook will dry up, and then
what? Oh, God, thank you for
00:54:58.96\00:55:05.70
this widow who has modeled for
us a heart willing to return to
you what is yours and then let
00:55:05.70\00:55:20.95
you bring that brand-new
present. In God we trust.
Please, dear God, make that true
00:55:20.95\00:55:34.60
of each of us. In the name of
Him who emptied heaven's
treasury for us, in the
00:55:34.60\00:55:42.24
name of Christ Jesus, amen.
[ "God Will Take Care of You"
00:55:42.24\00:55:50.45
plays ] [ Congregation sings ]
00:56:08.60\00:56:11.50
"Now to Him who was able to do
immeasurably more than all we
ask or imagine, according to His
00:57:03.12\00:57:09.72
power that is at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout
00:57:09.72\00:57:17.67
all generations
forever and ever." Amen.
00:57:17.67\00:57:23.41
>> I wanted to take an extra
moment to let you know how
grateful I am you joined us
00:57:25.67\00:57:29.01
today. I hear from viewers and
listeners like you all across
00:57:29.01\00:57:32.05
this nation and literally around
the world, and I'm thankful,
because it's through the
00:57:32.05\00:57:36.69
generosity of the members of
this congregation and people
like you that we're able to
00:57:36.69\00:57:40.59
bring you this program. So, if
what we shared today has touched
your heart, I'd like to
00:57:40.59\00:57:44.09
invite you to become a financial
partner with us. Just give us a
00:57:44.09\00:57:47.40
call. Toll-free number
877, the two words "his will."
00:57:47.60\00:57:50.73
877-HIS-WILL. Or, if
you'd rather, go to our
00:57:50.73\00:57:54.14
website, www.pmchurch.tv.
Either way, your generosity will
00:57:54.14\00:57:59.74
bless a new generation in
cyberspace all over this planet.
00:57:59.74\00:58:03.61
So thank you. Thank
you very much for your
00:58:03.61\00:58:07.15
partnership.
00:58:07.15\00:58:08.48
¤¤
00:58:09.55\00:58:12.45