Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP161029A
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00:23 We have heard a joyful sound
00:27 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 00:30 Spread the gladness all around 00:34 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 00:38 Bear the news to every land 00:41 Climb the steeps and cross the waves 00:45 Onward, 'tis our Lord's command 00:50 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 00:55 Waft it on the rolling tide 00:59 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 01:03 Tell to sinners, far and wide 01:07 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 01:11 Sing, ye islands of the sea 01:14 Echo back, ye ocean caves 01:18 Earth shall keep her jubilee 01:22 Jesus saves, Jesus saves. 01:28 Sing above the battle's strife 01:32 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 01:36 By His death and endless life 01:40 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 01:44 Sing it softly through the gloom 01:48 When the heart for mercy craves 01:52 Sing in triumph o'er the tomb 01:57 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 02:03 Give the winds a mighty voice 02:07 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 02:11 Let the nations now rejoice 02:15 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 02:19 Shout salvation full and free 02:23 Highest hills and deepest caves 02:27 This our song of victory 02:32 Jesus saves, Jesus saves 02:55 My God is awesome, He can move the mountains 03:02 Keep me in the valley 03:07 Hide me from the rain 03:11 My God is awesome 03:15 Heals me when I'm broken 03:19 Gives strength where I've been weakened 03:24 Forever He will reign 03:29 My God is awesome 03:35 Awesome 03:39 Awesome 03:43 Awesome 03:46 My God is awesome 03:51 Awesome 03:55 Awesome, Awesome 04:02 My God is awesome 04:06 Savior of the whole world 04:10 Giver of salvation 04:14 By His stripes I am healed 04:19 My God is awesome, today I am forgiven 04:26 His grace is why I'm living 04:30 praise His holy name 04:35 My God is awesome 04:38 My God is awesome 04:43 My God is awesome 04:48 Awesome 04:51 My God is awesome 04:53 Sing it out. 04:56 Awesome, my God is awesome, 05:04 Awesome 05:08 He's mighty He's mighty 05:10 He's mighty He's mighty 05:13 He's mighty He's mighty 05:14 He's mighty He's mighty 05:16 Awesome 05:20 Awesome 05:22 He's my help 05:24 My help, my Deliverer 05:28 My God is My God is awesome 05:35 awesome 05:36 My protector 05:39 Protector, protector, 05:43 protector, protector 05:46 Awesome 05:49 My God is awesome 05:54 Awesome 05:56 He can move mountains 06:00 Keep me in the valley 06:04 Hide me from the rain 06:08 My God is awesome, heals me when I'm broken 06:15 Gives strength where I've been weakened 06:20 praise his Holy name 06:24 My God is awesome 06:27 My God is awesome 06:31 My God is awesome 06:38 Awesome 06:42 Is awesome 06:45 Is awesome 06:50 Awesome, awesome 06:57 Our God is an awesome God He reigns 07:03 From heaven above 07:05 With wisdom power and love Our God is an awesome God 07:13 Our God is an awesome God He reigns 07:19 From heaven above 07:21 With wisdom, power and love Our God is an awesome God 07:28 When he rolls up His sleeves 07:30 He ain't just puttin' on the Ritz 07:32 Our God is an awesome God 07:36 There is thunder in His footsteps 07:38 And lightning in His fists 07:40 Our God is an awesome God 07:43 Well the Lord He wasn't jokin' 07:45 When He kicked 'em out of Eden 07:47 And it wasn't for no reason 07:49 That He shed His blood 07:51 His return is very close and so you better be believin' 07:55 That our God is an awesome God 07:58 Our God is an awesome God He reigns 08:03 From heaven above 08:06 With wisdom, power and love Our God is an awesome God 08:12 Sing it out. 08:13 Our God is an awesome God He reigns 08:18 From heaven above 08:20 With wisdom, power and love 08:24 Our God is an awesome God Our God is an awesome God 08:32 Our God is an awesome God 08:35 Our God is an awesome God 08:49 Well, good morning, boys and girls. 08:51 Nice to see you on this last Sabbath of October. 08:55 Hard to believe. 08:57 Oh, you are looking just as fine as ever. 09:00 Nice to have all of you, thank you, thank you, 09:03 that's so kind of you. 09:05 Bless you. 09:06 See I got a little show and tell here 09:08 but I want to thank my story scout. 09:12 I got a couple of story scouts, 09:14 they are always finding good stories, 09:15 so this one is from Sharon Dujon. 09:18 Thank you, Sharon. 09:19 This is story from... 09:21 Well, it actually is from Utah 09:24 that ends up in the Turks 09:29 and Caicos Islands. 09:33 Young man from Utah named Clint Buffington. 09:35 Clint is out walking on the beach. 09:37 Do you like walking on the beach to see that... 09:42 in come the waves, you walking on the beach. 09:44 And while Clint was walking on, oh, look at that shell. 09:48 We don't have those in Utah. 09:49 We don't have those kind of shells in Utah, trust me. 09:52 Oh, wait a minute, what is that? 09:54 He could not believe his eyes. 09:55 He looked, he got a little closer, 09:57 he said, what in the world is that 09:59 because he saw something 10:00 sticking up above about like this, 10:03 but sticking up above the sand about like this. 10:07 Can you see it? 10:08 What is it? 10:10 It's a bottle. 10:11 He said that's a bottle. He got down. 10:14 I wonder, what kind of a bottle it is? 10:17 Looks like it's been here a while 10:18 so he dig in around the sand out, 10:21 out, out and oh, 10:24 wow, still has a cork in it. 10:27 Wow, something is in it. 10:31 It's a piece of paper. 10:32 It has writing. 10:36 Now how am I gonna get this out? 10:40 How am I gonna get this piece of paper out? 10:44 Break the bottle. 10:46 I should have thought of that. 10:47 Break the bottle. 10:48 Well, to save breaking a bottle, 10:50 I have an exact duplicate of the paper in my pocket 10:53 and exact duplicate here. 10:56 Anybody know how to read in this big group here? 10:58 Does anybody read, 10:59 and listen don't just be tricking me. 11:02 I need to know do you know how to read. 11:06 Somebody up close, all right. 11:08 Lilly Rose, I want to ask you to read this. 11:10 Now listen, he broke the bottle, 11:12 he pulled the note out and here is what he read. 11:16 You can start right up here. 11:17 "Return to 419, 11:22 Ocean Boulevard and receive a reward... 11:27 A reward of how much? 11:30 A hundred and... 11:31 Sorry for the handwriting. 11:33 A $150 from... 11:37 Tina, owner of the Beachcomber. 11:43 That's a motel. 11:46 A $150 turn this in and you get a $150. 11:51 Wait a minute, it doesn't say, it just says the beachcomber, 11:54 it doesn't say where? 11:55 So you know what Clint did, 11:56 he put in his pocket 11:58 and when he was to vacationing east of Cuba 12:00 on the Turks and Caicos Islands. 12:03 He flies back to Utah and he gets to Google. 12:08 Well, obviously there is nobody in Turks, 12:11 and he kept trying the address and guess what? 12:13 It finally popped up. 12:17 He found where the bottle had come from. 12:20 I want to put it on the screen. 12:21 First I want to show, okay, here is Clint. 12:23 Yo Clint. 12:25 There is a paper inside. 12:26 Next picture, please. 12:27 Wow, the bottle came from the top of that map, 12:32 all the way down to the Turks and Caicos Islands. 12:35 The bottle came from Hampton beach, 12:39 New Hampshire. 12:41 New Hampshire, 12:42 1,500 miles... 12:48 all the way down. 12:50 Well, you know what I'm going to do? 12:52 I'm going to go find, 12:53 I'm going to find the person that sent this 12:56 and so he got on a bus, he got on the train, 12:58 he finally ended up in Hampton beach, 13:00 New Hampshire. 13:02 And he says anybody know the beachcomber? 13:04 Yeah, that used to be a motel here. 13:08 He's not any more? 13:09 No, the people that owned it they're dead. 13:12 No. 13:13 Yes. 13:15 They owned it in 1960. 13:18 They figured this note was put in a bottle 13:20 in the 1960-1961. 13:24 This note had been in the bottle 13:26 for 53, 54, 55 years 13:31 just bouncing around on the Atlantic currents. 13:34 Well, but they have a daughter. 13:37 Her name is Paula. 13:39 Well, I want to see Paula. 13:41 Let's put Paula on the screen with Clint. 13:43 There they are in Hampton beach, 13:45 New Hampshire. 13:47 Hey Paula, she says, that's my daddy's handwriting. 13:49 Wow. 13:51 Do I get the money? 13:54 She said, because my daddy wrote that, 13:56 you get a 150 bucks. 14:00 Can you believe that? 14:02 This bottle look, look, look, 14:03 this bottle, boing, boing, boing, 14:06 just wherever 14:09 and it ends up 1,500 miles away. 14:14 Sometimes we think our life, look you see this bottle, 14:16 see this bottle, sometimes we think 14:18 our life is just like that, 14:19 we're bouncing around, nobody cares, 14:20 nobody is in control, wrong, wrong, wrong. 14:23 Sometimes we think about America, 14:25 'cause we're talking about America today. 14:26 Sometimes we think America is just bouncing around, 14:29 nobody is in control, not so. 14:32 America is not like a floating bottle. 14:34 You're not like a floating bottle, 14:35 God has His eyes on you. 14:37 He has His eyes on you 14:39 and He's going to lead you every step of the way. 14:43 You're not an accident where you are now, 14:45 Jesus is still leading. 14:47 How many are thankful that Jesus leads us, 14:49 no matter what's going on in our lives 14:51 and who would like to thank Him for leading us. 14:54 And oh, Jesus would you please lead America too? 14:57 Can I have a young man now 'cause I had a girl read. 15:00 So I want a young man, you come here sir. 15:02 Yep, you come on up. 15:05 All right, now let's fold our hands, 15:07 let's close our eyes 15:09 and we're going to pray together. 15:11 What's your first name? Dovey. 15:13 Davey? Dovey. 15:14 Dovey. Yeah. 15:16 Davey, all right. 15:17 Hey, we're going to close our eyes 15:19 and pray with Davey. 15:20 All right, close your eyes and, Davey, 15:21 thank Jesus for leading us please. 15:23 Okay, dear Jesus, thank You for this day, 15:25 thank You for everything You've given to us, 15:27 thank you for buzzing us 15:28 and please lead us to Your home, 15:32 so we could be with You for eternity. 15:34 Amen. Amen. 15:36 Davey. Beautiful prayer. 15:37 As you go quietly, thank you, Davey. 15:39 As you go quietly back to your seats, 15:40 you can say that Jesus I'm not a bottle, 15:43 you're leading me and I thank you very much. 15:48 Happy Sabbath. 16:54 Sing to the Lord Sing a new song 16:58 Sing to the Lord 17:00 Sing, all the earth 17:03 Sing to the Lord Bless His Name 17:08 Sing to the Lord His glory proclaim 17:20 I will sing a new song 17:26 I will sing, yes, I will sing 17:30 To the Lord 17:31 I will sing, yes, I will sing 17:36 Sing a new song I will sing, yes, I will sing 17:39 Sing a joyful song I will sing a joyful song 18:37 Sing to the Lord Sing a new song 18:42 Sing to the Lord Sing, all the earth 18:47 Sing to the Lord Bless His Name 18:51 Sing to the Lord His glory proclaim 19:04 I will sing a new song 19:09 I will sing, yes, I will sing 19:13 To the Lord Sing a new song 19:15 I will sing, yes, I will sing 19:21 Sing a joyful song 19:32 I will sing a joyful song 20:13 Amen. 20:19 Very well done, that was beautiful. 20:22 Thank you very much 20:24 "Sing to the Lord", Hallelujah. 20:26 Oh, God we mean that with all our hearts, 20:29 that was You, You were in our midst, 20:33 same You, same midst right now. 20:37 Take these moments that are left. 20:40 We're at a critical moment 20:43 in the history of this nation and this planet. 20:47 How should we engage society now? 20:51 What should we be doing? 20:53 Make it clear through ancient scripture, 20:56 we pray in Christ name, amen. 21:01 Anybody know where this country is headed? 21:07 The following people listed in alphabetical order, 21:09 please catch that. 21:11 Listed in alphabetical order. 21:13 There are some sensitivities here. 21:14 The following people listed in alphabetical order 21:17 do not know. 21:19 Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, 21:25 Jill Stein, 21:27 Donald Trump. 21:30 There is only one being alive 21:34 who knows where we were headed. 21:37 Don't you wish you knew the mind of God? 21:39 Oh, my. 21:41 What he knows? 21:42 What he knows at this very second in time? 21:46 I read a very provocative piece this summer 21:48 in Liberty magazine entitled 21:50 " Slouching Toward Democratic Totalitarianism," 21:52 it's apiece written by Elijah Mvundura. 21:56 Fascinating. 21:58 He looks at the 20s and 30s in Europe, 22:01 The rise of fascism, 22:02 the rise of Nazism, 22:04 these would be totalitarian, tyrannical regimes. 22:07 And he suggests we're at the time again, 22:11 astounding. 22:13 His words on the screen. 22:14 "Primal passions: fear, egoism, 22:17 anger, and hatred, 22:18 the kind that Mussolini 22:20 and Hitler exploited and mobilized, 22:22 are once again potent factors 22:25 in the politics of Western democracies. 22:28 Driving these passions is the same disillusionment 22:31 with liberal democracy..." 22:33 I know this feels like a civics class, 22:34 but it better be, 22:36 you better be awake to what's happening. 22:39 Let me repeat that, 22:40 "Driving these passions is the same disillusionment 22:42 with liberal democracy, 22:43 the same gnawing sense of overwhelming crisis 22:46 that things are falling apart and the center cannot hold. 22:50 The parallels with Europe 22:51 in the 1920s are ominously striking." 22:54 And then he notes 22:55 some of the brightest thinkers 22:57 and intellectuals of the time who were totally caught, 23:00 flatfooted, had no clue. 23:03 And it makes me wonder, 23:04 how many of our leaders today on this planet have no clue. 23:08 What's next? 23:10 Elijah's words back on the screen. 23:13 Now with much greater detail. 23:15 This is rather apprehension in my humble opinion. 23:17 "Not only do we today have a thoroughly interconnected 23:20 and interdependent global economy..." 23:22 Check, check, check, we know that's true. 23:24 "Not only do we have social media 23:27 that connects people globally, 23:28 that allows them to speak with one voice." 23:30 Let me just tell you this about Hope Trending, 23:32 there are two reports in today's bulletin, 23:33 they'll still be in the bulletin 23:35 when the service is over so hold it. 23:36 There are two reports, read them both, 23:38 870 plus thousand and it's rising as we speak 23:43 this is to Facebook Live and Hope Trending, 23:46 870, 000 plus we're going to hit a million, 23:51 in social media today, 23:52 first time in history. 23:54 The churches see social media and did what you did. 24:00 Elijah is right, 24:01 "Social media connects people globally 24:03 which allows them to speak with one voice. 24:04 Now imagine a catastrophic global economic collapse... 24:09 Lot of doom and gloom talking heads out there 24:11 speaking of that, against a background, 24:13 oh here is the key. 24:14 "Against a background of social unrest, 24:16 radical jihadist..." 24:18 Think of the Orlando nightclub 24:20 that was shot up in the name of a religion. 24:23 Jihadist and anarchist violence, 24:25 think also of hordes of extremists 24:27 inflaming passions and speeches, 24:30 think also of blogs or tweets of demagogues going viral, 24:34 and new totalitarianisms become conceivable. 24:39 As a matter of fact, 24:40 democracy has been in retreat worldwide. 24:43 This drift toward authoritarianism brings to mind 24:47 Christ's words, 24:48 'If people do these things when the tree is green, 24:50 what will happen when it is dry?"' 24:56 For a few moments 24:57 I invite you please to reflect with me 25:01 on three critical divine biblical premises 25:03 that must guide our thinking, 25:05 as believers within the community 25:08 of the Unites States. 25:10 And by the way 25:11 let me disabuse you of the notion 25:12 that this sermon is only 25:14 for those who live in America, of course that's all of us, 25:16 but only those who belong to America. 25:17 No, no, no, this is for every nation on earth. 25:20 Andrews University, 25:22 you saw the flags flying over our president's inauguration 25:24 this last week beautiful scene, 25:26 beautiful service. 25:27 And we're almost a hundred nations 25:29 here at Andrews University, 25:30 so let's keep that in mind. 25:33 There will be some specific, you'll see it as we come to it. 25:36 There will be some specific realities 25:39 that only America understands. 25:41 We'll get to that. 25:45 I want you to take your study guide and let's go. 25:46 Three premises, 25:48 put your study guide out, let's go, 25:49 jot them down. 25:51 Ushers, thank you for making sure 25:52 everybody here has a study guide. 25:53 Thank you friendly ushers, there you are. 25:55 Put your hand up, 25:56 if you didn't get the study guide, 25:58 you will want the study guide, trust me, 25:59 you will want the study guide. 26:01 In the back, okay, and then in balcony, 26:03 we'll make sure you get it. 26:05 Those of you who are watching right now, 26:06 we're delighted to have you. 26:07 This is a significant time, in just a few days 26:09 this nation goes to the ballot box, 26:12 what will happen in America. 26:13 Before you vote, 26:15 we're having this quiet moments together. 26:17 This is continuing our little series #RxF4Now 26:22 tangentially but it will deal with part of it 26:24 as you'll see in a moment. 26:26 You go to our website, 26:28 you'll see the title of this teaching, 26:29 "If Righteousness Exalts a Nation, 26:31 " Pastor Jose just led us in that. 26:33 "If righteousness exalts a nation, 26:34 what's going to happen to the USA?" 26:36 Well, let's find out. 26:38 Take your study guide please. 26:40 Three premises, jot them down. 26:41 Here comes premise number one. 26:44 Premise number one, God is in control. 26:47 He rules. 26:49 Our God is an awesome God, 26:50 as we just sang a moment ago. 26:52 He rules heaven and earth, amen. 26:55 God rules. 26:57 Go to the Book of Daniel 2. 26:59 Daniel 2, let's go. 27:01 Daniel 2:1, 27:04 I'm in the New International Version. 27:05 You didn't bring your Bible, 27:06 pull the pew Bible out in front of you. 27:08 It's page 596, Daniel 2:1, 27:11 "In the second year of his reign, 27:12 Nebuchadnezzar..." 27:14 By the way hit the pause button. 27:15 We're talking rank pagan, all right, 27:17 rank pagan monarch. 27:20 "In the second year of his reign 27:22 Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, 27:23 his mind was troubled and he could not sleep." 27:25 You know the story, 27:27 the king calls his wise men and astrologers in, 27:29 "Hey, guys, I had a dream. 27:31 Tell me it. 27:32 We can't king, too bad, you're dead." 27:34 Why because he knew them, 27:35 they've been playing a charade this whole time, 27:37 this is just a... 27:38 Daniel and his young companions are also counselors 27:40 to the king but they were not there 27:41 when he summoned them in. 27:43 Daniel hears about it, 27:44 and he rushes into the king's attendant. 27:46 Time out, please give me time. 27:49 We got to pray. 27:50 Daniel and his three buddies, Hebrew buddies, 27:53 they pray all night, all night they pray. 27:56 By the way we're having a prayer meeting 27:58 this Wednesday night, 27:59 I'll say more about it in a moment. 28:01 A prayer meeting for the United States 28:02 and every nation on this planet. 28:05 It's time to pray, trust me. 28:09 They had a prayer meeting all night. 28:10 And what's so astounding, 28:12 God not only answered their prayers, 28:13 he gave Daniel the very dream 28:15 and the interpretation that goes with the dream 28:17 that the king had. 28:19 Daniel embrace into song, 28:20 when he gets that word from God. 28:22 Pick it up in verse 19, Daniel 2:19, 28:25 "During the night the mystery was revealed 28:26 to Daniel in a vision. 28:28 Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 28:29 and he said", verse 20, 28:30 "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever, 28:32 wisdom and power are his. 28:34 He changes times and seasons, 28:36 he deposes kings and raises up others. 28:39 He gives wisdom to the wise 28:40 and knowledge to the discerning." 28:41 Verse 22, 28:43 "He reveals deep and hidden things, 28:44 he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." 28:50 That is a power packed word of praise 28:55 because of what it reveals about God. 28:57 You want to know why? 28:58 Premise number one is true, 29:00 God is in control and He reigns. 29:01 There are four portraits, 29:02 I want you to jot them down here. 29:04 There are four portrayals of God 29:05 that in the verses we just read. 29:07 Jot them down portrayal of God number one, 29:08 "He is the ultimate time keeper." 29:13 What did he just say? 29:15 He changes times and seasons, I love the New Living. 29:16 He determines a course of world events. 29:18 In other words, 29:19 God is not an absentee landlord. 29:21 God is writing earth's history in advance, 29:25 not making the decisions, 29:27 but He's making the observations. 29:29 He's writing our calendar in advance. 29:31 Desire of Ages, I like this line. 29:33 "But like the stars 29:34 in the vast circuit of their appointed path, 29:37 God's purposes know no haste and no delay." 29:42 Listen to me, my friend, 29:43 your life right now feels like a twisted pretzel, 29:46 you are torn with anxiety, 29:49 you're twisted with fear, 29:50 you have no idea what's coming ahead. 29:53 I need you to take a deep breath right now. 29:56 Take a deep breath and remind yourself, 29:59 there is a God who is in control and He rules. 30:04 He rules. 30:06 You can trust Him. 30:08 He's not too early, I love that. 30:11 He's not too late, no haste, no delay. 30:13 He's always on time for you, He rules. 30:17 You may trust Him, 30:18 even in the US of A He rules by the way. 30:21 All right, portrayal number two, 30:22 portrayal number one was this God 30:24 who is the ultimate time keeper. 30:25 Here comes the God who is the ultimate king maker. 30:28 We just read that, didn't we? 30:29 He takes down kings, 30:30 deposes kings and raises others up. 30:32 He is the ultimate king maker. 30:36 We have nothing to fear for the upcoming election. 30:38 Nothing to fear. 30:40 God gets the last word. 30:41 You may vote the way you wish, He gets the last word. 30:44 Vote anyway you wish, He will get the last word. 30:47 It won't be you, it will be He. 30:50 Is that clear? 30:51 You have nothing to fear for the impending election. 30:57 And by the way, may I just remind you, 31:00 God hangs around some 31:02 very surprising kinds of people. 31:05 Not the kind of people you and I would hang with. 31:08 I mean, you won't talk about Nebuchadnezzar, let's not. 31:12 Four portrayals, 31:14 we get to Nebuchadnezzar in just a moment. 31:17 Portrayal number one, the ultimate time keeper. 31:19 Portrayal number two, the ultimate king maker. 31:21 Here comes the portrayal number three, 31:22 he is the ultimate mystery solver. 31:24 I love that in verse 22, 31:25 He reveals deep and hidden things. 31:29 That's why I love this promise, 31:30 I've been claiming this promise since this summer, 31:32 Jeremiah 33:3, 31:33 I claimed it for a long time, 31:35 but I particularly hang on to these words of God. 31:38 "Call on Me, and I will show you great 31:42 and unsearchable things you do not know." 31:48 I can tell you. 31:51 I'm not going to show you everything you want to know, 31:53 but I promise to show you what you need to know, 31:56 you call on Me, you ask Me, you trust Me. 32:00 Four portrayals of God in this power packed 32:03 bit of praise from Daniel. 32:05 Number one, He's the ultimate time keeper. 32:07 Number two, He's the ultimate king maker. 32:09 Number three, 32:10 He's the ultimate mystery solver. 32:11 Number four, jot it down, 32:13 He's the ultimate light shiner. 32:16 I find great comfort in verse 22, 32:18 He knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with Him. 32:23 You know who they're speaking about, 32:25 when they're singing that praise? 32:26 They're speaking about the one who will come to earth 32:28 and eventually say, I'm the light of the world. 32:30 They're speaking of Jesus. 32:32 He is the ultimate light shiner. 32:36 We have nothing to fear. 32:38 What's happening with these confederacies? 32:40 What's happening with the cabals? 32:41 What's happening in secret chambers? 32:44 We have no idea, 32:46 but there is somebody who is there with him, 32:52 writing it all down. 32:53 Check, checkmate. 33:00 He never loses. 33:01 He can't lose. 33:03 It can look like losing to you and me. 33:05 Look what just happened to America? 33:07 And God is saying are you kidding, 33:09 do you understand what I'm about to do? 33:11 Calvary is the greatest defeat in the history of the universe 33:14 we thought. 33:17 Seventy-two hours later 33:18 turns out to be the most spectacular triumph 33:21 in the history of time. 33:22 Amen. Come on. 33:24 He never loses, He can't lose. 33:27 How can He lose when you win? 33:29 He can't lose. 33:31 Wow, the ultimate light shiner. 33:34 Reminds me of these words of Ellen White, 33:36 put them on the screen for you. 33:37 "Those who place themselves under God's control, 33:38 to be led and guided by him, 33:40 will catch the steady trend of events 33:42 ordained by him to take place." 33:45 I know what lies in the darkness, 33:47 you can trust me. 33:49 Isn't this something, 33:51 all that in that little bit of praise 33:52 that Daniel lifts up in gratitude to God. 33:57 Four portrayals of God that prove true the premise, 33:59 God is in control, He rules. 34:02 Yeah, but Dwight, come on, time out, please. 34:04 How does this possibly inform the upcoming election 34:08 in just a few days? 34:09 Wow, you need to ask God that. 34:13 But here is what I can tell you. 34:16 God will put the individual in office 34:19 who will advance 34:20 His ultimate plan and will, trust me. 34:23 He will. 34:26 And quite frankly 34:28 which one of the major candidates 34:30 would fit most neatly and nicely 34:31 into God's strategic master plan 34:32 is beyond our ability to discern. 34:37 It is reported that one candidate consoles 34:41 for the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt. 34:44 I heard the candidate's spouse say so himself. 34:48 It is reported that both candidates play fast 34:51 and lose for the truth and integrity 34:52 and money personal and public. 34:55 It is reported that one candidate is embraced 34:58 at particularly in moral lifestyle 35:01 to the place Christianity today 35:02 and a scathing editorial has already rendered judgment, 35:05 and what it calls one candidate's idolatry 35:07 that defines that candidate's life. 35:11 Both candidates are significantly flawed enough. 35:14 It is reported that the public has already rendered 35:17 unusually high unfavorable ratings for them both. 35:23 Are we surprised? 35:26 Apparently God is not surprised. 35:29 He has on His hands with Nebuchadnezzar, 35:31 the worlds' greatest narcissist, 35:33 egoist and abuser, 35:39 and political hack. 35:42 And God looks at that pagan king, 35:44 He says you know what, 35:45 Gabriel, I think I can do business with this guy. 35:50 And spends a rest of Nebuchadnezzar's life 35:52 trying to save Nebuchadnezzar. 35:55 Don't you ever write anybody off. 35:58 Our little sensibilities that are offended, 36:02 God says, not a problem for me. 36:06 And by the way not just Nebuchadnezzar, 36:07 the king of Nineveh nameless as he is 36:10 with a bloody reputation. 36:14 God says, let me get a hold of that king, Jonah. 36:17 Vagabond preacher boy, go preach in that city. 36:19 I'm going for the king. 36:21 He gets the king and everybody down from the king 36:22 to the slave in the stall repents 36:26 and we have city wide revival. 36:28 God can revive any nation when He wants 36:30 if there is a willing heart and He found it at the top. 36:32 You never would have picked the king of Nineveh, 36:34 nor would I. 36:35 You know what? 36:36 Perhaps you and I are a bit to quick 36:38 for God's liking when it comes to judging the moral worth 36:41 of those he has to deal with. 36:42 Since you don't have to deal with him, 36:44 why don't you just lay off? 36:45 Judge not that you be not judged. 36:51 Four candidates, two candidates, 36:54 judge not that you be not judged. 36:57 Pharaoh one, 36:58 I can do business with him with Joseph. 37:00 Pharaoh two, bad, 37:03 can't do business with him. 37:05 Pharaoh three, with Josiah, Pharaoh Neco, 37:07 I can do business with him. 37:08 Two out of three is not bad for pharaohs. 37:11 And then there is Cyrus, and then there is Darius, 37:13 and then there is Xerxes and then there is Artaxerxes 37:15 and then along comes Tiberius, I can do business with him. 37:21 God will do the ultimate choosing in the end. 37:23 Will He not? 37:25 Tell me, will He not? 37:27 Come on. I didn't know you were here. 37:30 Can He not do the ultimate choosing in the end? 37:32 Yes or no? Yes. 37:33 Come on, He can. 37:35 Wake up, we got election coming. 37:39 Premise number two, 37:42 "God's purpose in Earth politics is always 37:44 to display His character 37:45 as revealed in His people who carry out His mission." 37:51 There's a mouthful right there, but there is a lot in that. 37:54 In other words, 37:55 God longs for the rulers of the world to know Him. 38:00 Don't you think He loves them? 38:02 Are you the only privileged one? 38:04 Come on, 38:05 He loves us as if there were nobody else on the planet 38:07 except that one candidate. 38:11 That explains by the way the life, 38:13 the life stories of Daniel and Esther, 38:15 the three friends of Daniel by the way, 38:16 Joseph and Paul all friends of God 38:19 that God maneuvered to get them in front of a leader 38:23 He wanted to save. 38:27 That's what He does for His living, 38:28 saving people, 38:30 that's all He does for living, saving people. 38:34 There is no more effective ambassador for God by the way, 38:36 no more effective ambassador for God 38:38 than a personal friend of his. 38:40 I mean, if we just living ourselves to the story 38:42 in Daniel it's all there. 38:43 Daniel 2, 38:44 what does Nebuchadnezzar do at the end of that? 38:46 Wow, there is a God in this universe 38:48 who knows a future. 38:49 Hallelujah, it's Daniel's God. 38:51 What's happening in Daniel 3? 38:52 Nebuchadnezzar wow, 38:54 there is a God in this universe who stand by his men 38:56 and they're in the fire and He delivers them. 38:58 All world, take a look at that God. 39:01 What's happening in Daniel 4? 39:03 Wow, there is no God in the universe 39:05 and I'm the greatest. 39:07 God says fine. 39:08 I'll give you seven years of insanity boy. 39:10 I'll take you out of office 39:13 'cause I'm going to get you. 39:15 And when it's over the end of Daniel 4, 39:17 all the verses are all in your study guide. 39:19 And when it's over the end of Daniel 4, 39:21 there is a God in the universe and He is my God. 39:24 Amen. 39:25 Wow, took all of that 39:28 to just get one narcissist on his side. 39:35 Oh, and by the way Daniel in the lions' den, 39:38 I'm dealing with the new empire, am I? 39:40 I want Darius as well, got him. 39:43 There is a God that Daniel serves, 39:46 let all the empire worship Him. 39:48 Come on, God knows what He's doing. 39:52 He isn't caught by surprise, He wasn't sleeping. 39:55 Something is happening 39:56 we're watching history in advance, 39:59 that's what's happening. 40:01 So whatever the outcome of this rough 40:03 and tumble election, 40:04 the good news is God will be maneuvering behind the scenes, 40:06 and one day He may get you in front of that leader. 40:11 You say not me, not my homeland, 40:13 Yes, you in your homeland or this land. 40:18 Premise number three, the last one. 40:19 Premise number three, 40:20 "God expects political leaders 40:22 no matter their religious persuasion, 40:23 or lack thereof, 40:26 to abide by the principles of righteousness." 40:29 Write that down, righteousness. 40:31 What's righteousness mean? 40:32 It means right doing, this little #RxF4Now, 40:37 I'll just tell you the secret, 40:38 the R certainly stands for righteousness. 40:40 In case you haven't been able to figure out the rest, 40:41 we'll get back to it next week. 40:44 Righteousness. 40:45 Proverbs 14:34, 40:47 Jose read it just a moment ago. 40:48 "Righteousness, right doing, exalts a nation, 40:50 but sin that would be wrong doing 40:53 condemns any people." 40:54 That's true for America by the way. 40:58 Proverbs 16:12, 40:59 "Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne, 41:01 and administration is established 41:03 through righteousness, through right-doing." 41:06 You want a good administration, it will do right. 41:10 Proverbs 20:28, 41:12 Love Chesed, that's a covenant love, 41:14 the deepest love in the Hebrew, Chesed, 41:17 "Love and faithfulness keep a ruler, a king, 41:22 a president safe, 41:24 through love his administration is made secure." 41:28 Ladies and gentlemen, 41:29 just mark this down before you leave today. 41:30 There is a moral character 41:32 that God expects of an elected leader 41:34 in any land at any time. 41:37 There is a moral character God expects of a nation, 41:41 in any land at any time. 41:44 You don't live up to this, you're gone, 41:47 do you understand me. 41:48 Read my lips. 41:49 You're gone. 41:52 Tapping again and again. 41:55 In the United States, 41:56 now here is where we're going to get very specific 41:58 and so the rest of you listen in. 41:59 In the United States the two major political parties 42:03 each champion a particular moral issue. 42:06 See if this doesn't make sense, all right. 42:08 The champion each of the two major 42:10 a particular moral issue. 42:11 Party number one, 42:13 prides itself and championing 42:15 the rights and equalities of minorities. 42:17 Racial minorities, gender minorities, 42:19 sexual minorities, economic minorities, all right. 42:22 We stick up for the little guy, and they're proud of it. 42:27 Party number two, also champions. 42:31 It champions is quite proud of it, 42:32 it champions the rights of the unborn. 42:38 Before you even born were defending you. 42:41 Two different parties. 42:43 What's sad is it both are right in what they affirm 42:47 and both are wrong in what they deny. 42:49 You see this party says, we're not that. 42:52 And this party says, we're not that. 42:54 Two truly moral issues facing the human race 42:59 in the United States today and they're divided, 43:02 we'll take one but not two. 43:03 And God is saying, what are you thinking? 43:06 Are you saying the racial divide in this country 43:08 is of no concern to you, 43:09 just 'cause you're concerned for the unborn? 43:12 What are you thinking God asks? 43:14 Your concerned for the racial divide 43:19 and you're saying nothing for the unborn. 43:23 How can you just sit here? 43:25 You know, what you're doing? 43:27 You're voting your wallet, that's what you're doing. 43:29 You're voting what will bless you, 43:31 not me, God says. 43:35 I want that economic hedging. 43:37 Always looking out for numero uno. 43:40 Who's looking out for these? 43:41 Both issues are valuable to me, 43:45 righteousness is revealed in both. 43:49 A care of the minority, I'll tell you what. 43:52 If you don't want the care of the minority, 43:54 your days are limited on this planet. 43:56 I'll just tell you this, it's between you and me. 44:02 Proverbs 24, 44:03 God is speaking to both issues 44:05 when He speaks these words. 44:07 "Rescue those being led away to death, 44:08 hold back those staggering toward slaughter, 44:10 the unborn, the minorities. 44:13 If you say, 'But we knew nothing about this, 44:14 ' does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? 44:17 It does not he who guards your life know it? 44:20 Will he not repay everyone 44:21 according to what they have done?" 44:23 I know what you know and I know what you're doing. 44:26 Zero, not or nothing. 44:32 I like the way Eugene Peterson renders this, is good. 44:35 "Rescue the perishing, 44:37 don't hesitate to step in and help. 44:38 If you say, 'Hey, that's none of my business,' 44:41 will that get you off the hook? 44:43 No. 44:44 Someone is watching you closely, you know, 44:45 someone not impressed with weak excuses." 44:51 The fact is Proverbs 24 hits the bull's-eye 44:56 with the two major moral issues 44:58 that the two major political parties are championing. 45:02 And it has Proverbs 24, 45:04 everything to do 45:06 with how we respond to the rights of the minority 45:08 and how we respond to the rights of the unborn. 45:12 You can't half see, half see. 45:15 I'll take this half, you take that out. 45:16 No. 45:17 Righteousness exalts a nation. 45:19 Sin brings it to an end. 45:24 Wow. 45:26 What did Jesus say? Put His words on the screen. 45:28 "Inasmuch as you did this or did not do this, 45:30 to the least of these, 45:32 you did or did not do it to me." 45:34 Jesus has injected Himself into this political campaign. 45:37 It's about me. 45:38 Righteousness is my domain, not your political platform. 45:47 We are culpable whether we vote or not, 45:51 that's the point for us. 45:54 America clearly is at a critical moral crossroads. 45:59 This land of the free, this land of the persecuted, 46:01 this land, this home of the brave is now 46:04 erected upon a moral foundation that is crumbling before us. 46:08 I tweeted last night, 46:11 we are watching in this election 46:13 and beyond it, 46:14 we are watching a slow... 46:15 We're watching a train wreck in slow motion. 46:19 We know what's going to happen. 46:22 November 9 we will be more divided 46:26 than we were on November 8. 46:28 You think the country is rallying around some... 46:32 Doesn't matter who. 46:34 The American writer Ellen White... 46:36 Oh, she had a heart for this nation, 46:38 because this was the birthing place 46:41 for an apocalyptic movement 46:42 that would last till the return of Christ. 46:45 She wrote describing this nation, 46:46 the words on the screen, 46:48 you have them all in your study guide. 46:49 "The Lord has done more for the United States 46:51 than for any other country upon which the sun shines. 46:55 No country more blessed. 46:57 Why? 46:58 Here He provided an asylum for His people, 47:00 where they could worship Him 47:02 according to the dictates of conscience. 47:03 Here Christianity has progressed in its purity." 47:06 In the beginning, 47:09 something has happened to America. 47:13 Something has changed. 47:15 In fact Ellen White identifies 47:16 the secret to national greatness in the beginning. 47:19 This is the apocalyptic classic Great controversy. 47:21 She's speaking about the time of the pilgrims, 47:23 they are colonies. 47:24 Put the words on the screen. 47:25 Back then, "The Bible was held as the foundation of faith, 47:28 the source of wisdom, and the charter of liberty. 47:32 Its principles were diligently taught in the home, 47:34 in the school, and in the church..." 47:35 Please note it. 47:37 It does not say, 47:38 its principles were diligently taught by the government. 47:40 No, no, no, Roger Williams, Rhode Island, 47:43 we're all very clear, 47:45 we're standing with that Baptist preacher, 47:47 keep church and state apart. 47:48 We're all agreed on it. 47:50 She knew that was the secret for America is the separation. 47:53 Tragically it will collapse one day. 47:57 "Its principles were diligently taught in the home, 47:59 in the school, and in the church 48:00 and its fruits were manifest in thrift, 48:03 intelligence, purity, and temperance..." 48:05 Last line, "It was demonstrated 48:07 that the principles of the Bible 48:09 are the surest safeguards of national greatness." 48:13 The principles, righteousness, morality, 48:16 that's what determines national greatness. 48:20 Something has happened to America. 48:23 The safeguards of the Bible have been long ago abandoned. 48:29 Nowhere to be found. 48:32 Our house is divided, and it cannot stand. 48:38 Our morality is compromised, 48:41 and we're falling. 48:44 We have abandoned God 48:47 and now we reap the whirlwind. 48:53 Ellen White again, she see this progression, 48:56 she's worried now. 48:58 "As nations forget God, 49:00 in like proportion they become weak morally. 49:04 It is sin that is ruining nations today. 49:08 A disregard for God's law has brought the sure result." 49:13 She will later scribble this line. 49:15 National apostasy will lead to national ruin. 49:20 Curtains finish, it's over. 49:27 Is it too late now for America? 49:30 Time magazine just a few days ago, 49:31 on the screen. 49:33 "Whatever the outcome in November, 49:35 none of this division in America will end. 49:37 A Clinton victory will not usher in a return to truth 49:40 and accuracy or restore American faith in institutions. 49:43 If anything, a Trump loss could convince his supporters 49:46 that the system is just as rigged 49:48 as they've been led to believe it is. 49:49 Pandora's box has, and I'm adding the word, 49:52 already been opened, 49:54 and once enough people believe something is false, 49:59 it begins to sound almost true." 50:03 The day is coming, 50:05 when a rumor will start, it will be false. 50:08 But by the time it crosses the nation, 50:12 the public will believe that lie is true. 50:17 They will believe a delusion, 2 Thessalonians, 50:21 they will believe a lie. 50:24 The day is coming and Time Magazine says 50:26 where Pandora is opened. 50:29 Is it too late for America? 50:31 It is not. 50:33 It is time to pray for America 50:36 as we have never prayed before. 50:40 My friend Daniel Augsburger Jr. sent me 50:43 and a few of us a quotation in September that he found. 50:48 They are right here. 50:51 Taking notes all around it. 50:55 I'm not going to read the quotation to you, 50:57 it's too sensitive. 50:59 I gave you the reference, you look it up for yourself. 51:03 Wednesday night, 51:05 I want to unpack this in the choir, 51:07 no live streaming, no radio, nothing. 51:11 Just a few people who want to pray together. 51:14 Wednesday night, I want to unpack this. 51:18 You better wake up. 51:19 We had better suck in fresh air 51:24 and get ready. 51:27 You thought it would never happen. 51:29 It's happening. 51:31 We laughed it off. 51:32 I've been hearing that since I was a kid, 51:34 nothing to it Dwight, nothing to it. 51:38 My friend, something to it. 51:43 We must pray, this is a time to pray. 51:46 America can still be reached. 51:48 Her heart and soul can yet be healed 51:51 but we must pray as we have never prayed before. 51:53 Look at the back cover of your bulletin, 51:54 just put that on your dormitory bulletin board. 51:57 Put it on your refrigerator. 51:59 Wednesday night, 7 o'clock in this place 52:01 right here in the sanctuary. 52:03 Let's pray, if it's just you and me there, 52:04 we'll pray. 52:06 We'll have a great season of prayer. 52:07 I'm going to keep it long, but we got to pray. 52:10 How can we go to this election and just wring your hands oh, 52:12 I don't know what's going to happen. 52:14 Who cares, God knows. 52:17 And we need to call upon the almighty. 52:19 We need to call upon Him. Take out. 52:22 Listen, listen, 52:24 look if the maker of all things loves and wants me 52:27 and that was a one line for ten times 52:30 Hope Trending took to the world. 52:31 The maker of all things loves and wants me, 52:33 ten times we took that to the world. 52:35 If that line is true, 52:37 the maker of all things loves and wants me, 52:39 then we can trust Him to the max right now. 52:43 Call upon me in the day of trouble, 52:45 Psalm 50:15, 52:46 "Call upon me in the day of trouble, 52:47 and I will deliver you. 52:49 And you will glorify me, you call on me." 52:51 I'm not going to do your work for you. 52:53 How serious are you with this? 52:55 Call on me, ask me. 52:59 I'm going to pray with you 53:00 and then I'm going to sing, listen, 53:04 and bring him together. 53:06 Let's pray, oh God, here we are 53:10 before the God of the universe, 53:15 whom we can implicitly and utterly trust 53:19 with our private lives and our very public nation, 53:26 the nations of the world, oh, God we give to you. 53:29 Do whatever it takes. 53:32 We're running out of time, please. 53:40 You do whatever it takes and we will trust You, 53:46 and we will tell the truth about You 53:49 through every open door You provide. 53:53 Have had it dear God, have had it now, 53:56 we pray in Christ name, amen. 54:23 Once to every man and nation 54:28 Comes the moment to decide 54:35 In the strife of truth with falsehood 54:41 For the good or evil side 54:47 Some great cause, God's new Messiah 54:53 Offering each the bloom or blight 55:00 And the choice goes by forever 55:06 Twixt that darkness and that light 55:13 Though the cause of evil prosper 55:20 Yet 'tis truth alone is strong 55:26 Though her portion be the scaffold 55:32 And upon the throne be wrong 55:39 Yet that scaffold sways the future 55:45 And behind the dim unknown 55:51 Standeth God within the shadow 55:58 Keeping watch above His own 56:10 Oh, God, that standeth within the shadow 56:12 keeping watch above His own. 56:15 Praise be to Your name forever and ever 56:18 for wisdom and power Yours. 56:20 You change times and seasons, 56:23 You depose kings and raise up others, 56:25 You give wisdom to the wise 56:27 and knowledge to the discerning. 56:29 You reveal deep and hidden things, 56:31 you know what lies in darkness and light dwells with You. 56:36 All light of the world shine upon these, 56:39 who go force into the world that awaits him. 56:42 May the light of Christ, 56:47 illumine their pathway and shine upon this nation, 56:53 You are yet longing to save, amen. 57:00 May I take an extra moment with you 57:02 and let you know 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, 57:09 and I'm thankful. 57:10 If you'd like to explore further 57:12 what we have just shared, 57:13 I hope you'll visit us at our website. 57:15 It's an easy one to remember, www.pmchurch.tv. 57:20 We're the Pioneer Memorial Church 57:22 here on the campus of Andrews University. 57:23 So that's www.pmchurch.tv. 57:27 Click on to that website, 57:29 and you'll be able to listen to a podcast of this material. 57:31 You can download the presentation. 57:32 You can print off the study guide. 57:34 You may have a special prayer need that you wish to share 57:36 with our prayer partners, 57:38 or you may wish to partner with us 57:39 through a personal donation 57:40 to help reach this generation 57:42 with the everlasting good news of Christ. 57:44 If you'd rather talk with someone, 57:46 call one of our friendly operators. 57:48 Here's the toll free number 877, 57:50 and then the two words HIS-WILL. 57:52 877-HIS-WILL. 57:54 In the meantime, 57:56 may the grace and peace of Jesus be yours 57:58 every step of this adventurous way. |
Revised 2017-01-12