Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP160820A
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00:37 Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
00:44 To receive the food of Your Holy Word 00:52 Take Your truth, plant it deep in us 00:58 Shape and fashion us 01:02 In Your likeness 01:07 That the light of Christ might be seen today 01:14 In our acts of love 01:17 And our deeds of faith 01:24 Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us 01:30 All Your purposes for Your glory 01:40 I invite you to stand for us to pray this morning. 01:55 Holy God, we recognize you 01:59 as a supreme being of all of the universe. 02:04 If there is anyone 02:06 who by virtue of their essence, 02:08 by virtue of character, authority, 02:12 and power can speak into our lives, it's You. 02:17 You are the light of the world. 02:20 You are the author of love here. 02:25 You are the master storyteller. 02:30 And so we come to You this morning, Father, 02:32 to receive the truth that You have for us. 02:36 The truth that will change us, 02:40 in Jesus, name we pray, amen. 02:44 I'm so excited, 02:45 this is a Sabbath of many new things. 02:49 We have new freshmen. 02:51 We have new graduate students. 02:53 We have new transfer students. 02:55 I bet you, we have new faculty and new staff. 02:58 We probably have some new neighbors here. 03:00 And I want you to take a moment and just welcome them, 03:03 give them a hearty PMC welcome. 03:05 Everyone that's beside you and say, welcome to Sabbath, 03:08 welcome to being with one another. 03:29 Isn't it good to be home? 03:32 For all of those of you 03:33 who are coming back in here early, 03:35 we welcome you home. 03:37 We're excited that you are here 03:40 and get to worship with us this morning. 03:43 Our opening song this morning, 03:45 our opening anthem is Days of Elijah. 03:48 You know the song really well 03:50 and what it says there is very truth. 03:52 These are different kind of days. 03:56 And if you listen right in the middle of the song 03:59 there is a bridge. 04:02 And it says there is no God like Jehovah. 04:05 You're familiar with it. 04:07 There is no God like Jehovah. 04:08 And here is the picture that I want you to paint. 04:11 Here's what I want you to envision 04:13 when you think of there is no God like Jehovah, 04:15 think that we're in army, right? 04:18 We're happy, noisy army, 04:20 we're glad to be here 04:22 whose general is the King of the universe, our God. 04:26 And here's what we're doing. 04:28 We're coming after the enemy 04:30 because we're gonna strike a deathly blow. 04:32 We have Jesus, Michael the archangel with us. 04:36 And we're coming from a distance, 04:38 so it's gonna start off real low. 04:39 There is no God like Jehovah. 04:41 But as we're getting closer and closer and closer, 04:44 it gets louder and louder and louder. 04:45 I'm gonna let you know on the song 04:47 when that part happens because we are in army 04:51 that's here to serve the direction of the Lord, 04:52 and we are gonna take out the enemy 04:54 and we want him to know we're coming for him. 05:05 Here we go. 05:14 These are the days of Elijah 05:18 Declaring the word of the Lord 05:23 And these are the days of Your servant 05:26 Moses Righteousness being restored 05:31 And though these are days of great trials 05:35 Of famine and darkness and sword 05:39 Still we are the voice in the desert crying 05:43 Prepare ye the way of the Lord! 05:47 Behold He comes, riding on the clouds 05:51 Shining like the sun, at the trumpet's call 05:55 Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee 05:59 Out of Zion's hill, salvation comes 06:05 We gotta tell people Jesus is coming. 06:11 And these are the days of Ezekiel 06:15 The dry bones becoming as flesh 06:19 And these are the days of Your servant, David 06:24 Rebuilding the temple of praise 06:28 And these are the days of the harvest 06:32 The fields are as white in the world 06:36 And we are the laborers in Your vineyard 06:40 Declaring the Word of the Lord 06:44 Behold He comes, riding on the clouds 06:48 Shining like the sun, at the trumpet's call 06:52 Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee 06:57 Out of Zion's hill, salvation comes 07:01 Here it is. Here it is. 07:02 Real quiet at first. Real quiet at first. 07:04 Here we go. 07:09 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:11 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:13 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:15 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:17 Little more. 07:18 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:20 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:22 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:24 There's no God like Jehovah! Now dig deep. 07:26 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:28 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:31 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:33 There's no God like Jehovah! Cry it out. 07:35 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:37 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:39 There's no God like Jehovah! 07:42 Behold He comes, riding on the clouds 07:46 Shining like the sun, at the trumpet's call 07:50 Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee 07:55 Out of Zion's hill, salvation comes 07:59 Behold He comes, riding on the clouds 08:03 Shining like the sun, at the trumpet's call 08:08 Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee 08:12 Out of Zion's hill, salvation comes 08:17 Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee 08:21 Out of Zion's hill, salvation comes 08:35 You are holy You are holy 08:39 You are mighty You are mighty 08:43 You are worthy You are worthy 08:47 Worthy of praise Worthy of praise 08:51 I will follow I will follow 08:55 I will listen I will listen 09:00 I will love you I will love you 09:04 All of my days All of my days 09:08 I will sing to, You are Lord of lords 09:10 and worship You are the King of kings 09:12 You are mighty God, Lord of everything 09:16 I will love You're Emmanuel, 09:18 and adore Him You're the great I Am 09:20 And I will bow down You're the prince of Peace, 09:22 before Him Who is the lamb 09:24 I will sing to, You're the living God, 09:26 and worship You're my saving grace 09:28 The King You will reign forever, 09:31 who is worthy You are Ancient of Days 09:33 I will love You are Alpha, Omega, 09:35 and adore Him Beginning and End 09:37 And I will bow down You're my Savior, Messiah, 09:39 before Him Redeemer and Friend 09:41 You are my Prince of Peace, 09:43 And I will live my life for You 09:47 That's what she said today, she says I will live for you. 09:53 You are holy You are holy 09:58 You are mighty You are mighty 10:02 You are worthy You are worthy 10:05 Worthy of praise Worthy of praise 10:10 And I will follow I will follow 10:14 And I will listen I will listen 10:18 I will love you I will love you 10:22 All of my days All of my days 10:26 I will sing to, You are Lord of lords 10:29 and worship You are the King of kings 10:31 You are mighty God, Lord of everything 10:35 I will love You're Emmanuel, 10:37 and adore Him You're the great I Am 10:39 And I will bow down You're the prince of Peace, 10:41 before Him Who is the lamb 10:43 I will sing to, You're the living God, 10:45 and worship You're my saving grace 10:48 The King You will reign forever, 10:50 who is worthy You are Ancient of Days 10:52 I will love You are Alpha, Omega, 10:54 and adore Him Beginning and End 10:56 And I will bow down You're my Savior, Messiah, 10:58 before Him Redeemer and Friend 11:00 You are my Prince of Peace, And I will live my life for You 11:09 You are my Prince of Peace, And I will live my life for You 11:28 There is none like You 11:36 No one else can touch My heart like You do 11:43 I could search For all eternity long and find 11:50 There is none like You 11:57 There is none like You 12:04 No one else can touch My heart like You do 12:11 I could search For all eternity long and find 12:18 There is none like You 12:26 There is none like You 12:33 No one else can touch My heart like You do 12:40 I could search For all eternity long and find 12:47 There is none like You 12:54 I could search For all eternity long and find 13:03 There is none like You 13:11 We could spend an eternity looking in other places 13:17 but why not decide today. 13:20 I'm reminded of the story of the woman at the well 13:26 who is searching 13:27 and looking and looking in all the wrong places 13:29 and then she encounters this carpenter, 13:33 she encounters this Messiah, 13:36 this one that the scriptures put spoke off 13:38 and this is what He said to her, He says, 13:41 "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again." 13:44 He's talking about those places that don't really satisfy. 13:48 He says, "But whoever drinks the water, 13:51 I give them will never thirst. 13:53 Indeed the water I give them will become in them 13:57 a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 14:01 Don't you want that kind of water? 14:04 The kind that you will never thirst again. 14:09 Let's not waste another moment. 14:13 Let's invite Him in and tell Him to speak to us. 14:15 We're back to that opening intro. 14:18 I'm gonna invite you to stand 14:20 because we're making a petition before God right now 14:24 to speak to us all. 14:33 Speak, O Lord, as we come to You 14:40 To receive the food 14:44 Of Your Holy Word 14:48 Take Your truth, plant it deep in us 14:55 Shape and fashion us 14:59 In Your likeness 15:04 That the light of Christ might be seen today 15:11 In our acts of love 15:15 And our deeds of faith 15:22 Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us 15:28 All Your purposes for Your glory 15:36 You may listen, but you need to act as well. 15:49 Teach us, Lord, full obedience 15:55 Holy reverence, true humility 16:03 Test our thoughts and our attitudes 16:10 In the radiance 16:13 Of Your purity 16:19 Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see 16:26 Your majestic love 16:30 And authority 16:36 Words of pow'r that can never fail 16:42 Let their truth prevail 16:46 Over unbelief 16:51 Some of you are here this morning 16:52 and you have several things unresolved. 16:56 You're not financially cleared, 16:57 you aren't done with registering for your classes. 17:00 Some of you are here this morning 17:02 and you have aches and pains and burdens 17:05 that have been pressing on you all week. 17:09 But here's what I want to tell you that 17:11 our God is special and unique 17:14 and unlike any other God because He says, 17:17 "Ask and I will give it to you." 17:20 He says, "Seek and you will find. 17:23 Knock and the door will be opened." 17:27 If you have that kind of courage 17:30 to ask a high request of the King of the universe, 17:34 I want to invite you to come forward right now 17:36 for our prayer time this morning. 17:38 And get as close to the cross, don't be shy. 17:40 Get as close to the cross as possible. 17:42 We're gonna sing his verse 17:43 and come and make your petition known 17:46 before our Lord God as Pastor Rodley prays for us. 17:50 Come forward. 17:57 Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds 18:02 Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us 18:10 Truths unchanged from the dawn of time 18:17 That will echo down 18:20 Through eternity 18:26 And by grace we'll stand on Your promises 18:33 And by faith we'll walk 18:36 As You walk with us 18:43 Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built 18:49 And the earth is filled with Your glory 19:04 Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built 19:11 And the earth is filled with Your glory 19:35 Arise, my soul, arise! 19:38 Stretch forth to things eternal 19:42 And haste thee to the feet of thy Redeemer God 19:48 Though hid from mortal eyes He dwells in light supernal 19:54 Yet worship him in humbleness and own him Lord 20:01 His banquet of love Awaits thee above 20:06 Behold the marriage festal of the Lamb is come 20:12 Rejoice, my soul, rejoice 20:15 To heaven lift up thy voice 20:18 Alleluia, alleluia, 20:20 alleluia 20:27 Listen to the harps of heaven 20:30 Hark to the song victorious 20:34 The never-ending anthem sounding through the sky 20:40 To mortals is not given 20:43 To chant its strains all-glorious 20:48 Yet sing, my soul, the praise of him 20:51 Who reigns on high 20:54 Who bought with his Blood 21:00 The ransomed of God 21:07 To him be everlasting power 21:14 And victory 21:22 And let the great 21:24 Let the great resound through heaven again 21:28 Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia 21:38 Amen. 21:49 Hey, gentlemen, 21:50 just what we needed for today's singing about the cross, 21:53 blood bought, rejoice, rejoice, 21:57 hallelujah. 21:59 He has bought us with His blood. 22:03 And if you will direct your attention to that board 22:05 high over head, 22:07 every name on that board is on that board 22:11 because she, he, they made a decision last night 22:17 to become more leaders, to put their lives, 22:19 put their names on the line 22:22 for more leadership on this campus. 22:25 God knows we need more leadership in this nation 22:27 as a presidential election campaign is showing us. 22:30 We need leaders in America, 22:34 and I'm so grateful to God for those names, praise God. 22:39 By the time you come next Sabbath, 22:43 back you come to opening convocation 22:46 that canvas will be hanging there 22:48 for all the world to see. 22:50 Four years in a row now, 22:52 that's who all these names are individuals 22:54 who has said, "I'm putting my name on the line for Christ." 23:00 Good for you. 23:02 Let's pray. 23:04 Oh, God. 23:05 Rejoice, rejoice, hallelujah 23:09 as the men just sang. 23:11 We've been worship from the moment we walked in 23:16 nothing stopped, 23:19 we're bending our ear, 23:20 we're hoping to hear from You through Your word, 23:23 don't disappoint us please, 23:25 don't let this frail voice get in the way of Yours. 23:31 Speak to us in Christ we pray in His name, amen. 23:34 Amen. 23:36 Once every four years 23:37 the whole world catches this Olympic bug. 23:41 This quadrennial celebration of youth, 23:46 where the young of the world on a stage of earth perform 23:51 and everybody who is old wishes 23:53 I could be young again just like them. 23:56 Even though the August, 23:58 Wall Street Journal has to get in on the act this last week. 24:02 I want to share an op-ed piece written by the Rabbi 24:06 and minister of Congregation Shearith Israel 24:10 in Manhattan. 24:11 I can share this 24:12 because my friend Don Wilson tore out of his 24:15 Wall Street Journal and shared with me. 24:17 The story is straight out of the summer Olympics, 24:21 not the Olympics in Rio, but the summer games in Paris. 24:26 1924, two British runners, okay, 24:31 so we got two more runners on the scene, 24:32 two British runners. 24:34 A Jew named Harold Abrahams 24:37 and the Scot named Eric Liddell, 24:42 a devout Christian. 24:45 The whole world knows this story 24:48 because 35 years ago this very year, 24:50 that story was immortalized in the great chariots of fire, 24:53 you remember that. 24:57 All right, well, there they are. 24:59 I'll spare you the soundtrack. 25:01 There they are. 25:03 World knows their story. 25:04 So the rabbi takes that story and he opines, 25:08 he comments on it. 25:10 And I just want to read a line or two from his op-ed piece. 25:12 Abrahams as depicted in the film, 25:15 feels stung by the latent anti-Semitism 25:18 he encounters in elite English society. 25:21 Seeing his Jewishness as a social handicap, 25:24 he runs competitively to gain acceptance. 25:27 Yet from a Jewish perspective, Abrahams's life remains tragic. 25:31 As a rabbi, a fellow Jew. 25:33 As a rabbi, I actually draw 25:35 inspiration from the life of Eric Liddell, 25:38 a devout Christian. 25:43 The Scottish runner's religious identity 25:45 also motivates his athletics though in a very different way. 25:47 In the film, Liddell's father, a missionary. 25:50 By the way a missionary to China 25:52 and Eric was born in China. 25:58 In the film, father tells his son, 26:00 I'm quoting "You're the proud possessor of many gifts, 26:02 and it's your sacred duty to put them to good use." 26:06 The father's point is that 26:08 people of faith should sanctify the world. 26:09 The rabbi says, 26:11 sanctify the world, don't reject it. 26:12 Liddell's explanation for why he runs is the most 26:14 memorable quote from the film, and you will recall it 26:18 "I believe God made me for a purpose, 26:20 but He also made me fast, 26:22 and when I run I feel His pleasure. 26:30 Now the story that we all know. 26:33 While Americans rightly exult 26:35 in the achievements of U.S. medalists, 26:36 "Chariots of Fire" also serves as a reminder 26:39 that athletics and even patriotism only mean so much. 26:43 When Liddell is informed that a qualifying heat 26:46 takes place on Sunday, 26:49 his Sabbath, this is Jew writing says, well, 26:51 that's his Sabbath. 26:55 He chooses not to compete in that race. 26:59 And by the way it was that decision 27:02 to miss the 100 meter dash 27:05 for which he was considered a certain gold medalist. 27:10 Instead he tried to run the 400 meter race 27:14 where everybody is saying, 27:15 he's not going to be able to do it. 27:16 It was that decision that catapulted him to global fame. 27:20 In the end Eric Liddell won the gold 27:24 on the 400 meter race. 27:30 Returned to China, 27:32 now himself a missionary and 21 years later 27:35 after winning the gold medal, died in China 27:38 in a Japanese prisoner war concentration camp, 27:42 just months before World War II ended. 27:47 I love this poster that they produced 27:49 for the life testimony this young man and this athlete, 27:52 put it on the screen please. 27:53 This athlete who became a missionary. 27:55 You see it there, can you read the words there, 27:58 "Not for crowds, not for country, 28:01 not for fame, not for glory, 28:04 he ran for God." 28:07 But that's the way to live your life. 28:09 You knew start not here, 28:11 that's the way to live your life. 28:12 Run for God, 28:14 whatever it is you do, run for Him. 28:18 There is something in the heart of even a secular world 28:20 as the world has become today. 28:22 There is a deep admiration, 28:25 there is something that the man of the world, 28:29 the woman of the world finds extremely appealing 28:32 to see a human being go deep inside of him, 28:36 deep inside of her for the sake of conviction. 28:41 The world rises up in awe. 28:44 As we'll see speaking of deep conviction in today's story. 28:49 Title of today story, "The Well Digger, 28:51 How to Live Deeply in a Sun-Scorched Land." 28:53 It's rather obscure story, I dare say, 28:55 nobody here has really spend any time on it. 28:57 But perhaps in this forgotten piece of narrative, 29:00 there is a secret embedded for us 29:02 third millennials that we need to get, 29:04 so without any further ado open your Bible with me 29:06 to book of beginnings Genesis 26, let's go. 29:10 Genesis 26, bring your Bible new students, 29:15 every Sabbath I guarantee you, we will use it. 29:18 Genesis 26, 29:20 I'm in the New International Version 29:21 whatever translation you have is find by me, 29:23 you got a device, that's okay. 29:24 You didn't bring anything, there is a pew Bible, grab it. 29:27 We're going to stay here, so you want to track the story. 29:30 Genesis 26:1, 29:32 "Now there was a famine in the land 29:35 besides the previous famine in Abraham's time and Isaac, 29:39 that's the boy of Abraham, 29:40 went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar." 29:45 Now hit the pause button right there, 29:47 hold it time out. 29:49 Something sounds very familiar here 29:52 and that's what's happening, 29:53 the writer of Genesis 29:54 who happen to been Moses has embedded 29:57 in the opening salvo to this story, 30:00 key words that will remind the reader 30:03 who's reading consecutively through Genesis. 30:05 Wait a minute, 30:06 I read a story just like this a moment ago. 30:07 And yes, you did in Genesis 20 as a matter of fact. 30:10 Let me show you six parallels 30:12 between Genesis 20 and 26 where we are. 30:15 Parallel number one, same family tribe, 30:17 we got Abraham, we got Isaac, same tribe. 30:20 Parallel number two, 30:22 same land in the dry Negev region 30:24 of South Philistine, deserty, arid. 30:27 Parallel number three, same city of Gerar 30:30 which is the seed of the Philistine fiefdom. 30:35 Parallel number four, same king Abimelek, 30:39 although scholars have finally concluded 30:40 based on this two stories. 30:42 You know what? 30:43 Abimelek can't be his personal name, 30:45 stories wait you can't have that 30:46 same king in the same story, 30:47 in two stories rather, it's like pharaoh, 30:49 it just means king. 30:50 So we have the king of the Philistines. 30:53 Parallel number five, same God shows up in the story. 30:55 Parallel number six, and so does the same sin. 31:01 Keep reading verse 2. 31:03 "And the Lord appeared to Isaac and said, 31:06 "Do not go down to Egypt, 31:08 live in the land where I tell you." 31:10 Verse 3, "Stay in this land for a while." 31:14 Hit the pause button again. 31:16 I want you to know that 31:17 with every command of go from God, 31:20 there is a command to stay. 31:23 You see some people spend their whole life 31:26 chasing after a dream somewhere else, 31:29 usually over the rainbow. 31:34 But here is the story to remind us, 31:38 that happy are they who realize 31:40 that a dream is in what you pursue somewhere else, 31:43 a dream is what you become where you are. 31:49 Stay where you are Isaac. 31:55 And so those of you who are new students here, 31:58 I'm going to make a little prophecy. 32:00 There will be some moments in your journey 32:02 at Andrews University 32:03 when you're going to say, I'm out of here. 32:07 And I hope in those moments 32:09 you will hear the quiet voice of God whisper to you, 32:13 what he whispered to Isaac. 32:17 Verse 3 again, 32:20 "Stay in this land for a while, 32:24 and I will be with you and I will bless you. 32:26 For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands 32:29 and will confirm the oath 32:31 I swore to your father Abraham." 32:32 Stay in this land of learning, because you're going to learn, 32:35 you're going to learn outside of textbooks, 32:37 you're going to learn outside of laboratories, 32:38 you're going to learn life, 32:40 and the only way Isaac will learn the lesson, 32:43 he needs to learn is to stay right there. 32:45 There are lessons you will learn 32:46 far away from the academics, 32:49 but will take place right here, stay in the land, 32:52 learn with me. 32:55 Verse 4, "I will make your descendants 32:57 as numerous as the stars in the sky, 32:58 like I told you daddy, 33:00 so I'm promising you. 33:01 And I will give them all these lands, 33:03 and through your offspring 33:04 all nations on earth will be blessed," 33:05 because verse 5, "Abraham obeyed me, 33:08 talking about your papa, 33:09 he did everything I required of him, 33:11 keeping my commandments, my decrees and my instructions. 33:14 So Isaac stayed in Gerar." 33:20 And if the story ended right there wow, 33:22 we got a beautifully profound promise 33:25 that we can take to the bank. 33:27 But unfortunately the story, there is more to the story. 33:31 Dr. James Dobson, 33:33 ever heard that name, Dr. Dobson, 33:34 James Dobson still alive but no longer around really. 33:37 The fame child psychologist 33:40 of last century family counselor, 33:42 used to love to tell a story about a young dad 33:44 who is driving down the road, 33:45 okay young dad driving down the road, 33:46 his boy right here beside him the little boy, 33:48 right here beside him. 33:50 And then the dad does something that men do, 33:52 and men cannot explain this. 33:53 We do not know why we do this, 33:54 but dad hits the button and he drops the window down 33:59 and then he expectorates. 34:03 You got to get to be a senior Andrews University 34:05 to know that expectorate means spit. 34:09 So he. 34:12 Out the window. 34:13 He's bringing his eyes back to continue driving 34:16 when he hears the girdling sound, 34:18 the same sound coming 34:20 from a little throat beside him, 34:22 and before the father can react the boy went all over dad. 34:28 Now Dr. Dobson's point is like father like son. 34:32 That's exactly what we have here in Genesis 26, 34:36 you can't believe it. 34:37 Yeah. 34:38 Verse 6 again, "So Isaac stayed in Gerar. 34:43 And when the men of that place asked him about his wife, 34:49 he said, "She is my sister." 34:54 Now the reader of Genesis knows this again, 34:58 this had already happened twice with father Abraham. 35:00 Once when he went down to Egypt, she is my sis, 35:04 almost lost his life. 35:05 He did again in Gerar same place with Abimelek, 35:09 lost his reputation. 35:12 It's possible that Abraham was just too shamed 35:15 to even tell Isaac about it, 35:17 but whether Isaac ever heard from his dad or not, 35:19 he follows in his dad's footsteps. 35:24 Verse 7 again, 35:26 "And when the men of that place asked him about his wife, 35:28 he said, 'She is my sister' 35:30 because he was afraid to say, 'She is my wife.' 35:32 He thought, 'The men of this place might kill me 35:34 on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.' 35:39 " Well there is a seventh parallel 35:40 that we could add to these two stories, 35:41 because both men, 35:43 father and son married 35:45 as I've had the good fortune of doing a beautiful woman. 35:53 And both of them were scared stiff, 35:55 that the men of their community would stiff them 35:58 in order to run off with their girls. 36:03 So they both lied about their wife's, 36:05 she is my sister. 36:06 Really? Yep. 36:08 Wow, pretty good looking sister. 36:10 Yeah, you should have seen our mother. 36:15 The truth is it's never smart or clever or cute to lie, 36:19 the price is too high and the even sadder truth. 36:23 Now listen up if you ever going to be a parent one day 36:25 or you're already a parent 36:26 the even sadder truth is that the sins 36:29 and I whence when I say this, 36:31 the sins of the parents are often perpetuated 36:34 in their children, 36:36 not by divine decree but by frail modeling. 36:42 There is a hard disk daddy, 36:44 mommy there is a hard disk 36:46 that is watching everything you do, 36:50 and recording every word you say. 36:55 It's on the hard disk. 36:58 Oh, my, it's a rather somber reminder. 37:04 The price is too high to lie. 37:07 And so Isaac tears a page 37:09 out of his father's playbook and he lies. 37:12 And then Jacob who is born here, 37:15 is already alive, 37:16 Jacob tears a page out of his daddy Isaac's playbook 37:19 and he lies to his daddy when his daddy is old 37:22 and he cheats him out of that birthright, 37:24 and then when Jacob has boys, 37:26 they all know the story 37:28 and they tear a page out of daddy's playbook 37:31 and they lie to daddy, you know, 37:32 some animal did this must have killed your boy Joseph 37:34 when they sold them as a slave. 37:38 Lying embeds itself deeply within our falling hearts. 37:41 You are still young, 37:43 don't tear a page out of Genesis playbook please, 37:47 just leave the page there. 37:50 And yet this is a glory. 37:52 And yet what a God in this story. 37:56 Do you remember how God described 37:59 Abraham to Abraham's boy Isaac. 38:02 I want you to go back and look at these words, 38:04 we just blew through them here, verse 5. 38:06 God is speaking to Isaac and he said, Isaac, 38:08 let me tell you about your dad. 38:10 "Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, 38:14 keeping my commandments..." 38:16 Are you talking about the eight commandment, 38:17 Thou shalt not bear false witness. 38:19 "Keeping my commandments my decrees 38:21 and my instructions." 38:23 No matter how severe the meltdown 38:26 you have been through, 38:27 for the God of the universe, 38:29 all it takes is one confession and that is washed. 38:33 There is some celestial book in heaven 38:35 that has recorded that meltdown, 38:37 it is washed from the divine record. 38:41 What do you say to that? 38:43 Amen, come on, guys, 38:44 this is clearly the glorious, gospel, 38:48 the everlasting gospel that begins in Genesis 38:51 and goes all the way through Revelation. 38:53 You have nothing to fear from this God who loves you, 38:56 and he will start over just like that, 38:59 wash the record. 39:01 I mean that's a gospel prophet Isaiah, 39:03 isn't that what he said, Isaiah 1:18, 39:04 Though your sins be a scarlet, they shall be?" 39:08 Yeah, we're going to have that reminder in just five months 39:11 white as snow." 39:13 Same gospel prophet chapter 43:25, 39:16 "I will remember your transgressions 39:20 no more, no more." 39:22 Same gospel prophet, Isaiah 44:22, 39:24 "I will banish your sins like the morning mist." 39:29 I mean, I run in every morning before the sun comes up. 39:32 And I'm telling you, 39:33 these last few weeks have been so muggy, so humid, 39:36 75 degrees we're talking about in the dark. 39:41 That they're just, 39:42 they're this low lying sheets of mist 39:45 that you run through and sweat even more. 39:48 God says, like the sun that banishes the mist, 39:52 that's what I'll do with your sin, the record. 39:55 It's a gospel. 39:56 Paul says, here is the gospel, 39:58 here is a faithful and trustworthy saying 40:03 Christ Jesus came into the world 40:05 to save sinners of whom I'm the worst. 40:08 1 Timothy 1:15, 40:10 what a great note by the way to begin a new year, 40:12 don't you think? 40:14 Good news for you and me. 40:15 Okay, verse 8, 40:17 he's lied here comes, now verse 8, 40:18 "When Isaac had been there a long time, 40:22 Abimelek king of the Philistines 40:24 looked down from a window 40:25 and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah." 40:28 We're not told 40:30 what was happening during that caressing, 40:32 all we know is that it would never happen 40:34 between a brother and a sister. 40:41 So verse 9, 40:43 "Abimelek summoned Isaac and said, 40:46 "She is really your wife! 40:48 Why did you say, ''She is my sister''?' 40:50 Isaac answered him, 40:51 'Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her. 40:53 Then Abimelek said, 40:55 "What is this you have done to us? 40:57 One of the men might well have slept with your wife, 41:00 and you would have brought guilt upon us." 41:03 So verse 11, "Abimelek gave orders to all the people: 41:05 'Anyone who harms this man 41:07 or his wife shall surely be put to death.' 41:10 Isaac went on to plant crops in that land 41:12 and the same year reaped a hundredfold, 41:15 because the Lord blessed him." 41:16 Verse 13, "The man became rich, 41:18 and his wealth continued to grow 41:20 until he became very wealthy." 41:23 After public deceit and public exposure 41:26 God is still willing to do business with his man. 41:31 That man, that husband, that father, 41:34 that patriarch of the tribe, 41:36 God keeps His promises. 41:40 He keeps His promises, I will bless you. 41:43 And by the way don't you dare, oh, you can't miss next week. 41:47 Next week we're going to begin a series 41:48 and the title of the series is #RxF4Now 41:54 that series begins next Sabbath. 41:57 And next Sabbath I will share with you a secret 41:59 shared with me by three individuals 42:02 that secret I have found 42:04 and begun incorporating this summer 42:06 and it has already changed my life. 42:09 Next Sabbath, the secret that will change your life forever. 42:16 God keeps His promises 42:18 and blesses Isaac beyond imagining. 42:22 The very same God by the way 42:25 who this New Year will bless you in this place. 42:33 He has promised. 42:37 Put the promise on the screen for I love this promise. 42:41 "Now unto him who is able to do immeasurably 42:43 more than all we ask or imagine, 42:46 according to the power that is at work in us. 42:49 You know what? 42:50 Ladies and gentlemen, 42:53 it's very okay to ask God to bless you intellectually. 42:59 To ask God to bless you academically, 43:01 it's okay. 43:04 In fact there is a prayer I pray a lot, 43:05 and imagine my surprise when I hear Pastor Rodley 43:07 incorporate that prayer 43:09 into his morning pastoral prayer. 43:12 You heard it just a moment ago, it's a prayer of Jabez. 43:15 You know what? 43:16 I was praying that prayer over and over yesterday. 43:20 I'm saying God, 43:21 we're going to be in this sanctuary together, 43:23 God, expand Your territory, don't worry about mine. 43:26 Expand your territory, 43:27 we need a whole new generation of young more leaders. 43:32 And I stand here today humbly to inform you 43:35 that an answer to that prayer, you see that in front of you. 43:40 What's that prayer, Dwight, come on, 43:41 I want to pray it too. 43:42 1 Chronicles 4:10, 43:44 and Jabez prayed, 43:45 here is the little prayer of Jabez, 43:46 "Oh, God that you would bless me indeed 43:50 and expand my territory, 43:53 that Your hand would be upon me, 43:56 so that you keep me from evil so that I may not cause pain" 44:00 and the record reads, God said, you got it boy. 44:04 You got it. 44:06 Pray the prayer. 44:07 It's okay to ask. 44:09 It's very okay to ask God to bless you intellectually, 44:13 academically while you're here. 44:15 John Henry Newman, 44:16 one of the great Christian thinkers of all time 44:19 wrote these words. 44:21 Put it on the screen for you, 44:22 "That perfection of the Intellect, 44:25 which is the result of Education," 44:27 that's why you're here to perfect the intellect, 44:31 "and its beau" 44:32 that's an old English word that means attractive. 44:34 "And its attractive ideal, 44:36 to be imparted to individuals in their respective measures, 44:39 that perfection of the intellect is the clear, 44:42 calm, accurate vision 44:44 and comprehension of all things 44:46 as far as the finite mind can embrace them." 44:51 Wow, that's the goal. 44:54 Comprehend as much as the finite mind can embrace. 44:57 By the way, another great Christian thinker 45:00 living at the very same time as John Henry Newman 45:04 also wrote the same point. 45:06 Her name is Ellen White, 45:08 this is in her classic Christ's Object Lessons, page 333. 45:11 Look at that on the screen. 45:13 "The Lord bids us love Him with all the heart, 45:16 and with all the soul, and with all the strength, 45:18 and with all the mind. 45:23 This lays upon us the obligation of developing 45:25 the intellect to its fullest capacity, 45:29 that with all the mind 45:31 we may know and love our Creator." 45:32 Keep reading. 45:34 "The Lord desires us to obtain all the education possible, 45:39 with the object in view of imparting 45:40 our knowledge to others." 45:42 Here comes the stinger. 45:44 "We should not let slip even one opportunity 45:48 of qualifying ourselves intellectually 45:51 to work for God." 45:54 It's very okay 45:56 to ask God to bless you intellectually. 46:01 And God will bless you to the max, 46:03 and when He does look out, look out. 46:09 Look what happens here, verse 13, 46:14 "The man Isaiah became rich, 46:15 and his wealth continued to grow 46:16 until he became very wealthy. 46:18 He had so many flocks and herds and servants 46:21 that the Philistines envied him. 46:25 So all the wells 46:26 that his father's servants had dug 46:27 in the time of his father Abraham, 46:29 the Philistines stopped up, 46:31 filling them with earth." 46:34 You see when people envy you, 46:38 and God blesses you intellectually. 46:41 When people envy you, do you know what they do? 46:43 They plug up your well. 46:45 That's exactly what they do. 46:47 Truth is there will always be well pluggers, 46:52 yeah those others too, 46:53 well pluggers around you wherever you are. 46:57 There's always going to be somebody throw rocks in there, 46:59 if they're probably your deep convictions, 47:01 all right, you know like Eric. 47:04 Deep convictions, 47:05 you're willing to stand up and say yes, 47:06 you're willing stand up and say no, 47:08 like Joseph, Daniel and Esther did. 47:10 Come on, somebody like Haman 47:12 is going to be around to plug up that well. 47:15 They'll throw rocks and sands, 47:17 they'll go after you with nails. 47:18 I'm talking about well meaning people. 47:20 We're talking about roommates and classmates, 47:23 friends and colleagues 47:24 who can't stand to see somebody advancing 47:28 under the anointing blessing of God. 47:31 There will always be well pluggers in your life. 47:34 Take a page advice playbook here. 47:36 What happens if they plug your well, 47:38 move and dig another one. 47:39 They get you over there, move and dig another well. 47:42 I'm telling you what, if you'll move and dig, 47:44 if you move and dig, 47:46 unplug and dig, unplug and dig, 47:48 you will never be out of water ever, 47:52 and that's the point. 47:54 When you follow the Lord of Isaac, 47:56 you will never be out of water, 48:01 and it doesn't get any better than that. 48:03 In a dry and barren culture and society 48:07 where people are panting, 48:09 trying everything to swallow 48:12 hoping this will bring satisfaction 48:14 and they get no satisfaction in a society like ours. 48:20 There will be people, 48:22 young moral leaders 48:24 who will drink deeply 48:28 off a well that will never run dry. 48:32 I mean, what did Jesus, 48:33 Pastor Hosea read this a moment ago, 48:34 what did Jesus say to the women at the well? 48:36 Come on, put it on the screen. What did He say to her? 48:38 "Jesus answered, 48:40 'Everyone who drinks this water. 48:42 He tells the women, 48:43 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again," 48:44 keep reading, 48:46 "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. 48:48 Indeed, the water I give them 48:50 will become in them a spring of water 48:52 welling up to eternal life.' 48:53 " Do you know what he's saying? 48:55 With Jesus the water 48:56 will never run out 49:00 ever, ever, ever. 49:01 What did He say to His disciples? 49:03 Look at this, all in the Book of John. 49:04 Here is John 6, 49:05 what did He say to his disciples? 49:07 "Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. 49:08 Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, 49:10 and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.' 49:12 " Because with Jesus the water will never run out. 49:15 What did He say to the crowd in John 7? 49:17 Take a look at this, 49:18 "On the last and greatest day of the festival, 49:20 Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 49:21 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 49:24 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, 49:27 rivers of living water will flow from within them.' 49:31 " What's the point? 49:32 With Jesus the water will never run out. 49:35 What did He say to the whole world? 49:37 To end the book of Revelation 22:17, 49:40 here it is. 49:41 "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' 49:43 And let the one who hears say, 'Come!' 49:45 Let the one who is thirsty come, 49:46 and let the one who wishes 49:48 take the free gift of the water of life." 49:50 What's the big point, Dwight? 49:51 With Jesus the water will never run out. 49:54 Not while you're here at Andrews University, 49:55 not while you're on this planet. 49:57 The water will never run out. 49:59 They'll plug your wells, you move. 50:01 They'll plug your wells, you dig, 50:03 dig hard, work deep, 50:06 go beneath the surface. 50:07 Don't ever be satisfied with surface work. 50:10 Go deep 50:13 and you'll never ever 50:15 run out of water, ever. 50:20 You say, Dwight, how do I get this water? 50:22 Sixty seconds, 50:23 I'll give it to you in sixty seconds. 50:25 Start the watch. 50:26 How do you get the water? 50:28 Then put them on the screen, just memorize the menu here, 50:30 you'll get it down. 50:31 You want water from Jesus? 50:32 One gospel, you pick the gospel 50:34 but stick with that gospel till it's over, 50:35 one story per day. 50:36 One story a day in your dorm room, 50:38 in the community, faculty staff, 50:40 student, doesn't matter. 50:41 Number two, reread the story to relive it. 50:44 Just go back over it. 50:45 Let the story come alive in your mind. 50:47 Number three, 50:48 what fresh water can I drink from Jesus? 50:50 Ask yourself, where is this water 50:51 in the stories in Jesus' life? 50:53 There is water here. 50:54 Holy Spirit show me where the water is? 50:55 Once you find water 50:57 write an email to Jesus, number four. 50:58 You write him an email. 51:00 You just sit down and you just scribble it out, 51:01 you write it out. 51:03 You just write and respond to the gift of water 51:06 that you just sensed from that reading. 51:08 And finally number five, 51:09 you then kneel down 51:11 before the maker and creator of the universe, 51:12 who is your personal friend 51:14 and you offer your life for that new day to Him 51:17 and then you're gone. 51:18 Everyday fresh water with Jesus, 51:20 it doesn't get any better than that, does it? 51:22 Because I remind you that with Jesus 51:24 the water never stops 51:26 even when they kill him, who? 51:29 Water. 51:33 Even when they kill him, he never runs out. 51:37 With Jesus the water never runs out. 51:40 He's thirsty on the cross 51:43 so that we would never be thirsty again. 51:47 With Jesus the water never runs out. 51:52 Everybody who says that's good news, 51:53 say amen with me. 51:55 Amen and amen. 51:57 All right, I want you to stand, 51:58 we're going to sing a beautiful gospel, 52:00 gospel song. 52:01 I want to sing this gospel song 493, 52:04 like the woman at the well, 52:06 I was seeking for things 52:10 that do not satisfy. 52:12 Let's sing it together. 52:13 Three stanzas. 52:27 Like the woman at the well, 52:31 I was seeking 52:34 For things that could not satisfy 52:41 And then I heard my Savior speaking 52:48 "Draw from My well 52:51 That never shall run dry" 52:56 Fill my cup, Lord, 53:00 I lift it up, Lord! 53:05 Come and quench this thirsting of my soul 53:12 Bread of heaven, 53:16 Feed me till I want no more 53:23 Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole 53:33 There are millions in this world Who are craving 53:40 The pleasure earthly things afford 53:47 But none can match the wondrous treasure 53:54 That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord 54:03 Fill my cup, Lord, 54:06 I lift it up, Lord! 54:11 Come and quench this thirsting of my soul 54:19 Bread of heaven, 54:23 Feed me till I want no more 54:29 Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole 54:40 We're going to sing the last stanza, 54:43 when we get to that course about fill my cup, 54:45 don't be embarrassed, 54:46 this will feel like junior one Sabbath school. 54:49 But let's put our hands, shall we just symbolically, 54:52 when we get to that course fill my cup up, Lord, 54:54 I lift it up and just lift it up, 54:55 you don't have to raise it way over your head. 54:57 But just symbolically let's tell the Lord, 54:59 we're serious, You fill this, fill us with Your water. 55:02 All right, we'll do that on the last chorus. 55:05 So, my children, if the things that this world gave you 55:13 Leave hungers that won't pass away 55:20 My blessed Lord will come and save you 55:28 If you kneel to Him and humbly pray 55:37 Fill my cup, Lord, 55:41 I lift it up, Lord! 55:46 Come and quench this thirsting of my soul 55:54 Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more 56:06 Fill my cup, 56:09 Fill it up and make me whole 56:19 Oh, God, that is our prayer, 56:21 we lift our empty hearts 56:26 and humbly pray today and today and today 56:30 fill this cup 56:33 with the life giving water of Christ Jesus, 56:37 our savior and our friend. 56:44 And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 56:49 in the love of God, 56:51 in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 56:54 be with you all, 56:56 amen. 57:00 May I take an extra moment with you and let you know 57:01 how grateful I am 57:03 that you joined us in worship today? 57:05 I hear from viewers like you across the nation, 57:07 and literally around the world, and I'm thankful. 57:09 If you'd like to explore further 57:11 what we have just shared, 57:12 I hope you'll visit us at our website. 57:14 It's an easy one to remember, 57:15 www.pmchurch.tv. 57:19 We're the Pioneer Memorial Church 57:21 here on the campus of Andrews University. 57:23 So that's www.pmchurch.tv. 57:27 Click onto that website, 57:28 and you'll be able to listen to a podcast of this material. 57:30 You can download the presentation. 57:31 You can print off the study guide. 57:33 You may have a special prayer need that you wish to share 57:35 with our prayer partners, 57:37 or you may wish to partner with us 57:38 through a personal donation to help reach this generation 57:41 with the everlasting good news of Christ. 57:44 If you'd rather talk with someone, 57:45 call one of our friendly operators. 57:47 Here's the toll free number 877, 57:50 and then the two words HIS-WILL. 57:51 877-HIS-WILL. 57:54 In the meantime, may the grace and peace of Jesus be yours 57:57 every step of this adventurous way. |
Revised 2017-01-05