¤¤
00:00:00.86\00:00:03.73
>> We invite you to join your
voices with us as we lift up and
00:00:08.47\00:00:12.04
praise our Lord.
We're gonna start with
00:00:12.04\00:00:14.44
"He Is Exalted." [
"He Is Exalted" plays ]
00:00:14.44\00:00:18.15
[ Congregation sings ]
00:00:28.66\00:00:31.56
Amen. [ "Shout
to the Lord" plays ]
00:02:17.77\00:02:22.90
[ Congregation sings ]
00:02:31.65\00:02:34.55
>> ¤ Nothing compares
to the promise I have ¤
00:05:38.93\00:05:44.71
¤ Oh, nothing compares to
the promise I have in You ¤
00:05:44.71\00:05:56.25
>> Amen. And that's the message
I think God is trying to give us
00:05:56.42\00:06:01.96
-- that nothing compares to what
He gives us. Everything else is
00:06:01.96\00:06:07.20
counterfeit. Everything else is
counterfeit. Jesus is the only
real thing, and He offers us
00:06:07.20\00:06:15.50
truth -- truth. So, right now
I'm gonna invite you to stand
with us now as we sing to our
00:06:15.50\00:06:21.44
amazing God. We're going to lift
our voice, talking about this
great, amazing God.
00:06:21.44\00:06:26.15
And if you have a special prayer
request or a special praise for
2017, we invite you to come
00:06:26.15\00:06:32.09
forward as we sing. But please
join us and stand now as we sing
00:06:32.09\00:06:38.33
to our God. [ "How
Great Is Our God" plays ]
00:06:38.33\00:06:41.20
[ Congregation sings ]
00:06:47.70\00:06:50.61
[ "How Great Thou Art"
plays ] [ Congregation sings ]
00:10:08.70\00:10:16.85
>> Well, good morning, boys and
girls. A blessed first Sabbath
00:12:42.69\00:12:49.10
of the new year to you. What
is this -- 2-0-1-7? Is that it?
00:12:49.10\00:12:53.67
>> Yep. >> 2017, the first
Sabbath. You know, when I saw
00:12:53.67\00:12:58.24
the thermometer this morning --
10 degrees -- I said, "Oh, there
won't be a boy or girl in church
00:12:58.24\00:13:02.38
today. I'll be all alone."
But thank you for coming out.
00:13:02.38\00:13:05.78
Okay, so, today's story is
about Durkee. Durkee received a
00:13:05.78\00:13:12.92
beautiful pair of red shoes from
his parents. Anybody here got
red shoes on? >> No.
00:13:12.92\00:13:19.33
>> When he opened the -- When
he opened the package, here were
00:13:19.33\00:13:23.37
these red shoes. They fit
perfectly. And his mother and
father said, "Now, Durkee, these
00:13:23.37\00:13:27.87
are your Sabbath red shoes.
You only wear these red shoes on
00:13:27.87\00:13:34.11
Sabbath. Do you understand
that?" "Well, of course I
00:13:34.11\00:13:37.35
understand it. But, boy, I can
hardly wait to go to church with
00:13:37.35\00:13:40.48
these red shoes." And that's
what Durkee did that first
Sabbath. And then the second
00:13:40.48\00:13:44.49
Sabbath, he wore them again. And
then the next week, his little
friend Morrie came over.
00:13:44.49\00:13:50.03
"Hey, Morrie, come here. I got
to show you something. Take a
00:13:50.03\00:13:52.83
look at these." And Durkee went
into the closet, and he said,
"Look at those shoes.
00:13:52.83\00:13:58.03
Wow! You want to see
them on me?" "Yeah, I do."
00:13:58.03\00:14:00.94
"Okay." He put them on. He put
his little red shoes, Sabbath
00:14:00.94\00:14:03.64
red shoes on. He said, "Ta-da!
How do you like them? Pretty
00:14:03.64\00:14:08.54
cool, huh?" "Yeah." So, the
boys fell into conversation, and
00:14:08.54\00:14:11.18
about, you know, a half-hour
later, Morrie said, "You know
what? It's great weather.
00:14:11.18\00:14:14.12
Let's go outside and play. Let's
do it." And -- boom! -- they're
00:14:14.12\00:14:17.29
gone. They're through the hedge,
through the hedge, out to the
00:14:17.29\00:14:22.79
farm fields. Durkee has
forgotten all about his red
Sabbath shoes. And the farmers
00:14:22.79\00:14:29.70
had just plowed up the field, so
as those boys were playing tag
-- "You're it!" "No, me!"
00:14:29.70\00:14:33.44
"You, you, you!" As they're
racing back and forth, guess
00:14:33.44\00:14:36.74
what's happening to the red
shoes. And after an hour or so
goes by, Durkee says, "You know
00:14:36.74\00:14:41.64
what? I probably ought to go
home, Morrie." And he happened
00:14:41.64\00:14:47.18
to look down. "Uh...uh-oh! Where
are my red shoes?! They're all
00:14:47.18\00:14:56.16
brown and muddy and -- Oh, no.
Morrie, what am I gonna do? I'll
tell you what -- I'm gonna
00:14:56.16\00:14:59.86
sneak through the hedge. I'm
gonna sneak through the hedge.
00:14:59.86\00:15:01.90
I'll get back into the house.
You go home. Bye-bye. We'll play
00:15:01.90\00:15:05.83
again." And Durkee -- now his
heart is just beating. His
little palms are turning
00:15:05.83\00:15:09.50
sweaty. He said, "What am I
gonna do? I can't let Mother see
00:15:09.50\00:15:12.81
me. I can't let Father see me.
So I'll shoot through the hedge.
I'll go through the back door."
00:15:12.81\00:15:17.88
So, he came crawling through the
hedge, he shot into the yard,
and just as he did --
00:15:17.88\00:15:21.95
"Hey, Durkee, there you are."
It was his dad. His dad was out
00:15:21.95\00:15:27.99
front of the house with his
camera on a tripod, and he was
taking pictures of the house.
00:15:27.99\00:15:31.76
He said, "This is perfect,"
Daddy did. "Durkee, come here.
00:15:31.76\00:15:35.06
I want you and me to be in this
picture together." And Durkee
00:15:35.06\00:15:41.10
gulped, trying to hide his
covered, muddy shoes as he came
over to his daddy. His daddy
00:15:41.10\00:15:49.01
just smiled. He said, "Sit down
here, son. Sit down here. I'll
get right beside you."
00:15:49.01\00:15:53.58
And his daddy had this big smile
on his face. How do you think
00:15:53.58\00:15:58.22
Durkee's smile was? Very weak.
The camera went -- [ Imitates
00:15:58.22\00:16:03.79
camera shutter clicking ] And
that's all the camera took
because what happened next
00:16:03.79\00:16:09.86
should not be on any camera.
00:16:09.86\00:16:12.13
Papa looked down. "Durkee, are
those your red Sabbath shoes?!"
00:16:17.34\00:16:28.02
[ Imitating crying ] "Yes,
Daddy. I didn't mean to do it.
00:16:28.02\00:16:30.89
I don't know what I was doing.
I went out with Morrie. We were
00:16:30.89\00:16:34.36
playing. I just ran
out. Oh, Daddy." [ Sighs ]
00:16:34.36\00:16:42.10
Do you think Durkee's
mother was happy? Was she sad?
00:16:42.10\00:16:50.14
Yeah, but do you think Durkee's
mother forgave him? Why did she
00:16:50.14\00:16:55.64
forgive him? Because she loved
him with all her heart. You
know, that picture was a
00:16:55.64\00:17:03.59
black-and-white picture. I still
look at it. I look at it, and I
00:17:03.59\00:17:08.59
see my daddy there with that big
grin on his face and I'm looking
at my smile and it is pitiful
00:17:08.59\00:17:15.53
because I knew what was gonna
happen next. And it happened.
Hey, do you have a mother?
00:17:15.53\00:17:22.90
Oh, you have a mother? Does
mother want you to obey her --
00:17:22.90\00:17:28.88
yes or no? >> Yes! >> Oh.
Do you obey mother? Of course.
00:17:28.88\00:17:31.61
Why do you obey mother? Because
you love your mother. Do you
know why you love your
00:17:31.61\00:17:35.72
mother? Because your
mother first loved you.
00:17:35.72\00:17:38.65
She loved you first, and now you
love her back. And you love her
00:17:38.65\00:17:42.42
with all your heart, and that's
what I want you to do today. I
want you to go back to the pew
00:17:42.42\00:17:45.56
if your mother's here in church
with you and I want you to put
your arms around Mommy's neck
00:17:45.56\00:17:49.13
and I want you to just give her
a big hug. And then I want you
00:17:49.13\00:17:52.07
to whisper in her ear, "Mother,
I love you." Because Jesus is
00:17:52.07\00:17:58.44
like a mother, the Bible says,
and He loves us just like a
mother loves us. And Jesus --
00:17:58.44\00:18:03.18
one day we'll be able to put our
arms around his neck and say,
"Jesus, I love you."
00:18:03.18\00:18:08.75
You forgave me and loved me
through it all. [ Chuckles ]
00:18:08.75\00:18:13.59
Who would like to thank Jesus
for our mothers today on the
first Sabbath of this new year?
00:18:13.59\00:18:19.39
Young man, I'm gonna
call on you. Come on here.
00:18:19.39\00:18:22.80
Nice to have you on the front
row. What's your first name?
00:18:22.80\00:18:26.50
>> Kudzanai. >> Kudzanai.
We're gonna bow our heads with
00:18:26.50\00:18:29.50
Kudzanai as he prays. And
he's gonna thank Jesus for our
00:18:29.50\00:18:34.68
mothers. >> Thank you, Jesus,
for this wonderful day. And
bless us to be good boys and
00:18:34.68\00:18:39.38
girls. In Jesus' -- >>
"Thank you for our mothers."
00:18:39.38\00:18:42.65
>> And thank you for our
mothers. In Jesus' name. Amen.
00:18:42.65\00:18:45.89
>> Amen. Kudzanai, beautiful
prayer. As you go quietly and
00:18:45.89\00:18:49.76
reverently back to your seats,
your mother's love is Jesus'
00:18:49.76\00:18:53.26
love to you. You just give her
a big hug for me. Will you do
00:18:53.26\00:18:56.87
that? Find your mother right
now with a big hug and kiss.
00:18:56.87\00:19:01.90
¤¤ >> ¤ If with all your hearts
00:19:05.84\00:19:14.58
ye truly seek me ¤
00:19:14.58\00:19:18.29
¤ Ye shall ever surely find me ¤
¤ Thus saith our God ¤ ¤ If with
00:19:18.45\00:19:35.47
all your hearts ye truly seek me
¤ ¤ Ye shall ever surely find me
¤ ¤ Thus saith our God ¤
00:19:35.47\00:19:48.88
¤ Thus saith our God ¤ ¤ Oh,
that I knew where I might find
00:19:48.88\00:20:01.23
Him ¤ ¤ That I might even come
before His presence ¤ ¤ Oh, that
I knew where I might
00:20:01.23\00:20:12.87
find Him ¤ ¤ That I might
even come before His presence ¤
00:20:12.87\00:20:21.18
¤ Come before His presence ¤
¤ Oh, that I knew where I might
00:20:21.18\00:20:41.64
find Him ¤ ¤ If with all your
hearts ye truly seek me ¤ ¤ Ye
shall ever surely find me ¤
00:20:41.64\00:20:58.15
¤ Thus saith our God ¤ ¤
Ye shall ever surely find me ¤
00:20:58.15\00:21:12.90
¤ Thus saith our God ¤ ¤¤
00:21:12.90\00:21:25.41
[ Song ends ]
00:21:35.19\00:21:37.43
>> Thank you, Ryan. That was
what we needed today, this first
00:21:41.36\00:21:50.24
Sabbath of a new year -- "If
with all your hearts, you truly
00:21:50.24\00:21:57.35
seek me." There is no easy
way to blurt out that the first
00:21:57.51\00:22:09.29
woman you ever loved in
your life, the woman who without
00:22:09.29\00:22:18.93
question had the most formative
influence in your life, has
00:22:18.93\00:22:27.74
died. We all knew that
Mother would die at some point.
00:22:27.74\00:22:33.15
And when the phone rang on
Monday morning and I look at the
screen and it's my sister's
00:22:33.31\00:22:36.79
name -- and she's in the
Dominican Republic -- and I'm
thinking, "This is it."
00:22:36.79\00:22:46.43
And when she starts sobbing...
I knew. I just spent three days
00:22:46.43\00:22:58.14
with Mom on her 88th birthday,
just before Thanksgiving. And it
was just -- Oh, I was
00:22:58.14\00:23:04.18
just thanking God again and
again for giving me those three
00:23:04.18\00:23:09.75
days. We talked. Mother's weaker
now, and she doesn't -- she's
00:23:09.75\00:23:15.02
not quite the conversationalist
she used to be. I finally
crawled into bed with
00:23:15.02\00:23:20.20
her so that she wouldn't have
to, you know, crank her head,
her neck, and just laid there
00:23:20.20\00:23:25.17
right beside her, face to face,
pillow to pillow. And I said,
00:23:25.17\00:23:30.97
"Mom, you remember this?" and,
"Hey, mom, do you remember this
and...?" "Oh, yeah. Yeah."
00:23:30.97\00:23:38.25
I wrote a blog a few days ago as
a tribute to my mother -- seven
of the great life lessons
00:23:38.25\00:23:50.96
that she taught me. Don't read
it now, but I hope you will read
00:23:50.96\00:23:57.60
it sometime. I only wish you
could have known her the way I
did. I sent a picture in for the
00:23:57.60\00:24:04.34
blog, and Rachelle Offenback,
our graphic designer -- she
said, "Dwight, I got the
00:24:04.34\00:24:09.41
picture." She said, "It's
a beautiful picture of your
00:24:09.41\00:24:11.88
mother. Who's that fat baby
she's holding?" [ Laughter ]
00:24:11.88\00:24:16.25
Can you put it on the screen?
She said, "Seriously. I don't
know who that baby is."
00:24:16.25\00:24:21.49
Well, number one, that's not
fat. That's pleasantly plump,
00:24:21.49\00:24:24.26
okay? So let's just get
that part straight. [ Laughter ]
00:24:24.26\00:24:28.06
And that is me. Look at that
woman. I want you to look at
00:24:28.06\00:24:34.37
her. Do you know what? She was
24 when she gave birth to me --
00:24:34.37\00:24:39.14
24. I grew up with a
girl as mother. Wow. 88.
00:24:39.14\00:24:48.65
Fell asleep in Jesus. The only
reason I'm not out there now --
as I just told you,
00:24:48.65\00:24:57.69
Kari, our littlest sibling, the
youngest -- she's a pastor, and
her husband is a pastor of the
00:24:57.69\00:25:04.97
beautiful Carmichael Church in
Sacramento, California. They
took 80 of their church
00:25:04.97\00:25:09.37
members down to the D.R., the
Dominican Republic, to build a
church out in the jungles, and
00:25:09.37\00:25:13.91
they can't get out until
tomorrow. And they're gonna get
00:25:13.91\00:25:16.88
home Monday morning early. And
she said, "Dwight, I just -- I
can't go Tuesday to have a
00:25:16.88\00:25:23.69
service in Calimesa, California.
Nah, we'll wait. So, we'll fly
00:25:23.69\00:25:31.56
out next week. We'll have the
service and remember Mother's
life." I want to thank you for
00:25:31.56\00:25:39.27
your kind expressions. I guess
the word has kind of gotten out,
00:25:39.27\00:25:43.27
and bless you for your kind
words and your prayers. You
know, the last quote I put
00:25:43.27\00:25:49.28
in the blog -- Let me see. If
you look at page five of your
worship bulletin, the very last
00:25:49.28\00:25:53.58
quote -- 100 years ago, these
words were written. Boy, oh,
00:25:53.58\00:26:00.62
boy, oh, boy. One day in heaven,
speaking of that reunion, "Many
will raise their crowns in sight
00:26:00.62\00:26:07.30
of the assembled universe and,
pointing to their mother, say,
'She made me all I am through
00:26:07.30\00:26:15.10
the grace of God. Her
instruction, her prayers, have
been blessed to my eternal
00:26:15.10\00:26:21.24
salvation.'" And I'm gonna
be at the front of that line.
00:26:21.24\00:26:26.41
And I'm gonna lay the crown down
at Jesus' feet and point at my
mother and say, "That's why I'm
00:26:26.41\00:26:36.73
here. You heard her prayers."
00:26:36.73\00:26:39.66
I know -- I know my mother's
coming up in the resurrection. I
know my dad -- and we'll put
00:26:44.50\00:26:51.01
her ashes right besides Dad's.
I know Dad is coming up in the
00:26:51.01\00:26:56.28
resurrection. And you know what
else I know? I know that you and
00:26:56.28\00:27:01.05
I are coming up. We're gonna go
up to meet the Lord in the air
by His grace. We have this hope.
00:27:01.05\00:27:06.22
Jesus says, "Because I live,
you live also." "Look, I am the
00:27:06.22\00:27:10.76
resurrection and the light. She,
who believed in me, though she
dies, yet shall she live."
00:27:10.76\00:27:16.30
We got hope. Man, I tell you
what, singing "How Great Thou
00:27:16.30\00:27:21.84
Art" -- that was a -- that was
-- I can hear my mother --
beautiful contralto voice.
00:27:21.84\00:27:27.88
I want to sing that last stanza.
I want to sing just that last
stanza -- "When Christ shall
00:27:27.88\00:27:31.91
come with shout of acclamation."
If you don't know it -- well,
00:27:31.91\00:27:36.95
you'll know it. And you know the
chorus. "Then sings my soul."
"When Christ shall come."
00:27:36.95\00:27:44.93
Let's do it. [ "How
Great Thou Art" plays ]
00:27:44.93\00:27:47.60
[ Congregation sings ]
00:27:54.44\00:27:57.34
>> ¤ Then sings my soul
¤ ¤ My Savior God to Thee ¤
00:28:46.15\00:28:55.36
¤ How great Thou art
¤ ¤ How great Thou art ¤
00:28:55.36\00:29:09.54
[ Song ends ] Oh, God, one
day we will -- we will shout out
00:29:09.71\00:29:15.05
those words to you. We can't
quite figure out this life.
00:29:15.05\00:29:21.12
Why do people suffer long?
What's up with that? We don't
00:29:21.12\00:29:34.60
know. But somehow that
confession is a declaration
that, no matter what happens,
00:29:34.60\00:29:47.15
your love triumphs. Your mercy
reigns. And we will bow at your
feet with our mothers.
00:29:47.15\00:30:01.13
And we will cry out, "How
great is our God." Thank you.
00:30:01.13\00:30:08.54
Now we shift gears and...
Speak to us. We got to go home,
00:30:08.54\00:30:17.95
Father. We got to go home. This
planet is shot. There's a storm
00:30:17.95\00:30:27.69
coming. Repair us. In Jesus'
name, amen. It's one of the
great storm and sailing stories
00:30:27.69\00:30:36.10
in Scripture. I love it, and so
do you. It's been a long and
wearying day, and I tell you the
00:30:36.10\00:30:40.80
truth -- Jesus is dog-tired. I
mean, we're talking about weary
00:30:40.80\00:30:49.74
to the bone. In fact, He is so
tired -- get this -- it's His
idea. He turns to His friends,
00:30:49.74\00:30:57.02
and He says, "Hey, guys, we got
to get out of here. I am dead on
00:30:57.02\00:31:05.13
my feet." "Desire of Ages" --
"All day Jesus had been teaching
and healing, and as evening came
00:31:05.13\00:31:10.13
on, the crowds still pressed
upon Him. Day after day He had
00:31:10.13\00:31:13.74
ministered to them --" get this
-- "scarcely pausing for food or
00:31:13.74\00:31:17.11
rest. And now the close of the
day found Him so utterly wearied
that He determined to seek
00:31:17.11\00:31:23.08
retirement in some solitary
place across the lake." "Come
00:31:23.08\00:31:27.15
on, guys. Let's get out of
here." Open your Bible to Mark
chapter 4, this beloved story.
00:31:27.15\00:31:34.16
While you're finding
Mark 4, this is a new series.
00:31:34.16\00:31:37.16
It's called "Storm" -- you
see it there on the screen --
00:31:37.33\00:31:39.59
"Finding Jesus in the
Gathering Dark," part 1.
00:31:39.59\00:31:44.63
There will be
seven parts to this.
00:31:44.63\00:31:47.27
Hope you don't
miss a one of them.
00:31:47.27\00:31:52.11
Mark chapter 4.
00:31:52.11\00:31:54.01
There's a study guide, but it's
only quotations today. So, those
of you watching, if
00:31:54.18\00:31:57.65
you'd like a copy of all the
quotations, you can get the
study guide right there on our
00:31:57.65\00:32:01.32
livestream. If you're watching
on television, you can do the
00:32:01.32\00:32:03.72
same thing. But Mark chapter 4.
00:32:03.72\00:32:06.96
Here comes the story, verse
-- Mark chapter 4 -- I'm in the
00:32:07.12\00:32:10.23
NIV -- verse 35.
00:32:10.23\00:32:12.13
And how was He? It
says they took Him along as
00:32:27.11\00:32:28.78
He was. How was He?
00:32:28.78\00:32:29.64
He's tired. That's what.
00:32:29.64\00:32:31.38
In fact, no sooner than do they
shove off from that rocky --
because that's all it is, the
00:32:31.55\00:32:35.75
beach in Galilee, trust me. As
they shove off from that rocky
beach, Jesus finds His way
00:32:35.75\00:32:42.29
to the back bench near... the
stern. And before you can say
00:32:42.29\00:32:50.67
"Jack Robinson," His head is on
that bench, and He's asleep --
not before one of His boys,
00:32:50.67\00:32:58.47
in a gesture of love, shoves
across to Him the helmsman's
00:32:58.47\00:33:04.95
cushion. "Sorry, Peter. You
don't need it." And with a weary
00:33:04.95\00:33:10.35
but grateful smile on His face,
Jesus lays down His head. In
00:33:10.35\00:33:18.13
deference to their slumbering --
shh -- slumbering master, the
decibels fall as the men
00:33:18.13\00:33:28.17
converse into the night. Placid
Lake Galilee. Just a little poof
in the sail, and the skiff sails
00:33:28.17\00:33:38.75
on... when suddenly -- Oh you
know this. Verse 37. Suddenly...
00:33:38.75\00:33:42.28
Have you ever -- Seriously. Have
you ever been in a storm in
which you are absolutely
00:33:51.86\00:33:56.46
convinced you're going down,
hmm? Have you ever been through
00:33:56.46\00:33:59.90
one of those humdingers? I was
flying with my friend,
Melchizedek Ponniah.
00:33:59.90\00:34:02.94
It was our Sabbath School
Superintendent Day. We were
flying across India one
00:34:02.94\00:34:06.91
night in a very crowded Indian
Air flight, so crowded that we
00:34:06.91\00:34:11.58
had to carry our carry-ons on
our laps. Yeah. [ Chuckles ]
"Wow. We're crowded."
00:34:11.58\00:34:18.19
At 30,000 feet, sheets of white
electricity just off either wing
00:34:18.19\00:34:27.13
tip. And every time the
lightning explodes in thunder,
that plane, in a bubble of
00:34:27.13\00:34:34.77
turbulence, shoots up and
drops down to the place. The man
00:34:34.77\00:34:40.31
beside me's arm is turning white
because I'm hanging onto him. [
00:34:40.31\00:34:44.58
Laughter ] You ever done that in
a plane, when a plane suddenly
-- You just grab instinctively.
00:34:44.58\00:34:48.72
I don't know what there is about
it, but you just don't want to
00:34:48.88\00:34:50.62
go down. I can't
imagine the adrenaline,
00:34:50.62\00:34:54.42
fear pumping through those
hardy, experienced fishermen who
00:34:54.42\00:34:57.79
have done this a thousand times.
They know this is different.
00:34:57.79\00:35:01.40
Water is
exploding into the boat.
00:35:01.40\00:35:03.60
You've been to the jetty
during a storm in St. Joe.
00:35:03.60\00:35:07.00
And you know that when water
hits a stationary, flat surface,
00:35:07.17\00:35:12.27
it explodes. And I've seen those
waves go over the lighthouse.
The water is hitting this skiff
00:35:12.27\00:35:16.31
from -- from the gunwales, and
it's just -- [ Imitates water
00:35:16.31\00:35:19.95
splashing ] And the water's all
going in. It's all going in. And
I remind you, it is
00:35:19.95\00:35:23.85
pitch-black. Above the shrieking
gale, it is pitch-black.
00:35:23.85\00:35:28.46
They are drenched like drowned
rats, scrambling over each
other, everybody desperately
00:35:28.46\00:35:34.20
trying to bail with whatever
hand or mechanism they can. This
ship is going down, down,
00:35:34.20\00:35:40.00
down. "We're going
down!" somebody announces.
00:35:40.00\00:35:47.64
Flash of lightning. And then
somebody -- we're not told who.
00:35:47.64\00:35:52.68
Somebody spots Him sound asleep
on the back bench. "Desire of
00:35:52.68\00:36:03.19
Ages." Put it on the screen for
you. "Absorbed in their efforts
00:36:03.36\00:36:06.16
to save themselves, the
disciples had forgotten --"
00:36:06.16\00:36:08.66
Can you believe this?
"They had forgotten that Jesus
00:36:08.66\00:36:11.33
was on board."
00:36:11.33\00:36:13.23
Now, there's a New Year's sermon
for you, just that one line --
00:36:21.61\00:36:23.88
"In Jesus is our only hope.
In Jesus was their only hope.
00:36:23.88\00:36:29.05
In their helplessness
--" Now, that's a key word.
00:36:29.05\00:36:31.15
You're gonna run
into that one again.
00:36:31.15\00:36:32.82
"In their helplessness and
despair, they cried, 'Master,
00:36:32.82\00:36:36.12
Master!'"
00:36:36.12\00:36:41.13
That is some line -- "They
had forgotten that Jesus was on
00:36:41.30\00:36:45.33
board." Hey, come on. What is
there about us Earthling
Christians, us Earthling
00:36:45.33\00:36:50.07
Adventists, that we are so prone
to forget so easily that the
00:36:50.07\00:36:57.91
Lord is with us. Have you
noticed? Man. Bailing furiously
00:36:57.91\00:37:04.99
to save ourselves, to save our
marriage, to save our finances,
to save our church, bailing
00:37:04.99\00:37:11.33
furiously, and we forget He's on
board. Why does it take a storm
to finally get our attention?
00:37:11.33\00:37:25.04
I wonder sometimes if this story
isn't a penetrating morality
tale about our church today.
00:37:25.04\00:37:30.45
Consider this scenario -- the
church makes a major decision
that divides the church.
00:37:30.45\00:37:38.02
People seek to formulate a
policy to cure the church of
00:37:38.02\00:37:43.09
disagreement. But while every
attempt is made, it is met by
further disagreement and debate.
00:37:43.09\00:37:48.90
And all the while, the very
church we're so concerned about
is slowly going down.
00:37:48.90\00:37:54.24
When will it occur to us that
there is no nifty little
human-devised solution to that
00:37:54.24\00:38:01.08
which divides us? You can't vote
a solution. When will somebody
00:38:01.08\00:38:08.58
on board this struggling skiff
remember Jesus and cry out to
00:38:08.58\00:38:15.36
Him, "Yo, Master"? Calling upon
God to deliver us, calling upon
God to save us, calling upon God
00:38:15.36\00:38:19.76
to mend us, calling upon God to
take charge in the fury of the
storm we now enter.
00:38:19.76\00:38:27.37
"Desire of Ages" -- "Would
somebody please call Jesus?"
00:38:27.37\00:38:33.61
"Desire of Ages" on the
screen again -- "In their
00:38:33.78\00:38:35.84
helplessness --"
there's that word...
00:38:35.84\00:38:39.05
Apparently, God doesn't always
jump to -- "Yes, sir" -- when we
00:39:10.91\00:39:15.48
call.
00:39:15.48\00:39:18.09
Apparently, like a dear and
loving mother, He hears it all,
of course, but He waits for our
00:39:18.25\00:39:24.59
need to deepen. He waits
for our prayer to deepen.
00:39:24.59\00:39:27.86
He waits for our
longing to deepen.
00:39:27.86\00:39:31.37
Oh, don't make a --
Make no mistake, please.
00:39:31.53\00:39:35.10
The moment that prayer is
prayed -- "Lord, save me, I'm
00:39:35.10\00:39:38.04
perishing" -- it is
heard and responded to.
00:39:38.04\00:39:41.48
In fact, this is a "Desire of
Ages" line -- "Never did a soul
00:39:41.64\00:39:45.25
utter that cry" -- 'Lord, save
us, we perish -- "unheated."
00:39:45.25\00:39:50.85
Verse 38 -- "Jesus got up,
rebuked the wind, and said to
00:39:51.02\00:39:58.83
the waves, "Quiet! Be still!"
The Greek for "be stilled," by
00:39:58.83\00:40:02.80
the way, is "be muzzled."
00:40:02.80\00:40:04.57
He has said that to demons
already in the Gospel of Mark.
He now speaks to nature and
00:40:04.73\00:40:08.74
says, "Be muzzled." You ever
seen a Doberman pinscher that
00:40:08.74\00:40:12.01
the owners have muzzled because
the dog bites everybody? Why do
you have a dog like that?
00:40:12.01\00:40:15.14
I just don't understand it, but
anyway -- So, he's in -- He's
00:40:15.14\00:40:19.48
got this muzzle. He says, "Be
muzzled, storm." And -- boom! --
then the wind died down, and it
00:40:19.48\00:40:28.39
was completely calm. This is
like a Hollywood set, and
somebody has tripped the
00:40:28.39\00:40:33.63
fuse box and everything --
[ Imitates power fading ] It's
00:40:33.63\00:40:40.64
gone. Placid water, clouds
disappear, twinkling stars, and
the canopy above just like that.
00:40:40.64\00:40:50.75
[ Exhales sharply ] And Jesus
now -- He turns to His closest
00:40:50.75\00:40:55.88
friends. Do you suppose He asked
us the same question on this
00:41:04.16\00:41:06.76
cusp of a new year?
00:41:06.76\00:41:07.96
I mean, He stands with you and
me and He looks back over 2016
and He -- and He asks of you, He
00:41:08.13\00:41:13.77
asks of me, "Why are you so
afraid? Do you not have -- Do
00:41:13.77\00:41:19.17
you still have no faith?" Over
the holiday, I read a book by
Jim Cymbala, thanks to the
00:41:19.17\00:41:25.05
kindness of some friends. Title
of the book -- "Storm: Hearing
Jesus for the Times We
00:41:25.05\00:41:29.18
Live In." Jim Cymbala is a
pastor, happens to pastor the
00:41:29.18\00:41:32.09
Brooklyn Tabernacle Church
in New York City. Listen to him
00:41:32.09\00:41:36.69
bear his soul now.
His words on the screen.
00:41:36.69\00:41:38.26
You ever seen that little emoji
face that's supposed to display
00:42:00.58\00:42:05.15
embarrassment? It's a full-teeth
-- full-teeth smile. [ Laughter
00:42:05.15\00:42:10.46
] "Were you talking about me?"
"Yeah, I was talking about you."
Full series on prayer?
00:42:10.46\00:42:17.40
When was the last time? Oh.
"If we believed His promises."
00:42:17.40\00:42:25.44
"How else can we explain why
prayer isn't paramount in our
lives and in our churches?"
00:42:25.44\00:42:28.41
we just read.
Cymbala goes on. Keep going.
00:42:28.41\00:42:31.01
I mean, come on, guys.
Look, if we really believed in
00:42:41.62\00:42:44.03
the power of prayer --
collective prayer I'm talking
00:42:44.03\00:42:46.70
about now, as it demonstrated
in the early church in Acts.
00:42:46.70\00:42:50.47
If we really believe that -- are
you serious? We would make no
00:42:50.63\00:42:54.74
room for prayer when we're
together? Nothing in the middle
of the week for everyone who
00:42:54.74\00:43:01.31
wishes to, to come to? Wow.
I think you know the answer.
00:43:01.31\00:43:08.38
Keep reading.
00:43:08.38\00:43:10.12
Thank you. Wow!
00:43:27.70\00:43:32.14
One more line.
00:43:32.14\00:43:34.04
I mean, look. Come on.
You got to admit, that's a
00:43:41.22\00:43:42.95
little nervy of
Cymbala, isn't it?
00:43:42.95\00:43:44.92
What are you suggesting -- that
we love the status quo, that we
don't think prayer works?
00:43:45.09\00:43:48.92
"Well," he said, "yeah." "The
key to prayer that changes
things is deep sense of
00:43:48.92\00:43:56.16
inadequacy and a helplessness
among God's people." Reminds me
00:43:56.16\00:44:00.34
of a strikingly similar
observation that Paul Miller
makes in his powerful book, "A
00:44:00.34\00:44:05.07
Praying Life: Connecting With
God In A Distracting World." In
this chapter, he's saying,
00:44:05.07\00:44:09.84
"Hey, you know what? You got to
admit this -- Children do
helplessness well."
00:44:09.84\00:44:14.42
Have you noticed
that about kids? "Mommy!
00:44:14.42\00:44:19.29
Would you please help me?
Please?! Daddy! Daddy! Yo,
00:44:19.29\00:44:25.26
Daddy! Come here! Come here!
I need help! I need help! Daddy!
00:44:25.26\00:44:28.60
Daddy! Daddy!" Children do
helplessness beautifully. But
once we grow up, as Miller
00:44:28.60\00:44:32.93
suggests, we become allergic
to helplessness. [ Chuckling
00:44:32.93\00:44:38.14
nervously ] "I'm not -- I don't
need help. I need another
seminar. I need -- I need -- I
00:44:38.14\00:44:42.41
need -- I need -- I need a good
friend who will listen to me.
That's what I need."
00:44:42.41\00:44:48.02
"I have an idea. Hey, yo, I got
a plan." Yeah, we're allergic to
00:44:48.02\00:44:53.89
helplessness.
00:44:53.89\00:44:55.02
Miller writes -- Now
I'll put him on the screen.
00:44:55.19\00:44:56.86
"However," he says, "Look, look,
God wants us to come to Him
00:44:56.86\00:45:00.20
empty-handed --" No solution.
00:45:00.20\00:45:03.16
Don't we? "Let me
just get this all under
00:45:12.81\00:45:14.41
control. Then I'll come.
00:45:14.41\00:45:15.48
We'll have a chat. Oh, boy.
00:45:15.48\00:45:19.38
"If we think we can do life
on our own --" Boy, is he right
00:45:19.38\00:45:23.28
here -- "we will not
take prayer seriously."
00:45:23.28\00:45:27.19
This next line I
think is rather prescient.
00:45:27.19\00:45:30.63
"It's not me failing
to pray. No, no, no, no.
00:45:37.87\00:45:39.67
You know what the problem
is? I don't know how to pray.
00:45:39.67\00:45:41.77
No, no, no, no, no. The
problem is, I don't have
00:45:41.77\00:45:43.04
enough time.
00:45:43.04\00:45:44.27
Collective prayer, group prayer
-- Psch! I don't have -- Do you
00:45:44.44\00:45:46.91
know how busy my life is? Do you
know how important I am?" Yeah,
it's always an excuse.
00:45:46.91\00:45:54.22
Excuses, by the way, are a dime
a dozen, but let us not
patronize God with them.
00:45:54.22\00:45:58.59
There's not an excuse for
noncompliance with prayer that
moves Him at all because you
00:45:58.59\00:46:05.76
know the answer. You have
the time. And you know how.
00:46:05.76\00:46:14.07
[ Exhales sharply ] Cymbala
keeps going here. No, no, no,
this isn't Cymbala.
00:46:14.07\00:46:23.08
Sorry. Miller keeps going here.
00:46:23.08\00:46:24.48
A little something extra I
purchased for the same price.
00:46:34.69\00:46:38.53
"That is why --" Oh, I
wish he hadn't written this.
00:46:38.53\00:46:41.60
Come on, let's just admit this
to each other. Nothing creates
00:46:54.38\00:47:00.22
so profound a sense of
helplessness as suffering --
because what is suffering?
00:47:00.22\00:47:04.75
Suffering is something I
desperately long to be rid of,
but I can't get rid of it.
00:47:04.75\00:47:10.33
Isn't that it? Of course.
But listen -- why wait till you
00:47:10.33\00:47:19.13
suffer? Why will till we suffer?
May I talk to you about America
for a moment and the world?
00:47:19.13\00:47:25.04
I have no idea -- I have no idea
where America is headed this
00:47:25.04\00:47:29.31
year. In talking with you, you
don't, either. We have no idea
00:47:29.31\00:47:35.72
where the world is headed in
2017, not a one of us. But I do
know this -- Come on.
00:47:35.72\00:47:41.29
Think with me for a moment. I do
know this -- that we as a race,
that we as a nation are
00:47:41.29\00:47:46.36
teetering on a very precarious
edge. There's no political
00:47:46.36\00:47:51.83
solution. There's no economic
solution to what we're in. I
mean, are you catching this?
00:47:51.83\00:47:57.34
Are you sens-- Are you seeing --
I mean, live on Facetime? Live
on Facetime, you did that
00:47:57.34\00:48:04.85
to who? For what reason?
Guys, the beginning of 2017 is
00:48:04.85\00:48:12.09
nothing like the beginning of
2016. We're not raising the bar.
00:48:12.09\00:48:15.99
We're lowering the bar.
It's getting worse. My job is to
00:48:15.99\00:48:22.80
simply remind you of that. Your
job is to already recognize it,
00:48:22.80\00:48:26.53
as you do. You don't need me
saying a word up here, but
that's what I do for a living.
00:48:26.53\00:48:31.74
It's getting worse. Jim
Cymbala -- back to Cymbala now.
00:48:31.74\00:48:40.68
"If we look at society today,
if we look at the challenge of a
00:48:40.85\00:48:44.52
country becoming more
godless by the week --"
00:48:44.52\00:48:47.29
[ Chuckling ] Wow -- "If
we look at laws being passed
00:48:47.29\00:48:51.46
that mock any form of morality,
instead of lamenting and
00:48:51.46\00:48:56.53
protesting --" and I add
wringing our hands -- "wouldn't
00:48:56.53\00:48:59.33
it be better for us to plead
with God to visit His people?
00:48:59.33\00:49:02.27
We need to move toward God, and
it begins with --" two words --
00:49:02.27\00:49:06.51
what are those two
words? "Desperate prayer."
00:49:06.51\00:49:10.68
Do you know what a
desperate prayer is?
00:49:10.68\00:49:13.45
It's a longing for something
that you cannot provide for
00:49:13.62\00:49:17.25
yourself. If God does not
provide it, you will not possess
it. That's a desperate prayer.
00:49:17.25\00:49:21.59
If God does not provide it, you
will not possess it 'cause you
00:49:21.59\00:49:27.96
can't get it. That's a desperate
prayer. You ever remember a
women named Hannah?
00:49:27.96\00:49:31.33
Mm-hmm? Hannah? Prayed
desperately for a child for
00:49:31.33\00:49:41.48
years, right? Nothing. Then one
day, she's on the back pew of
the church -- no kidding.
00:49:41.48\00:49:46.55
She's on the back pew of the
church, and she is pleading with
00:49:46.55\00:49:49.92
God. I want you to see the
language that the Bible
describes for her prayer.
00:49:49.92\00:49:53.52
1 Samuel 1:10 on the screen.
00:49:53.52\00:49:55.26
She's sobbing. She's
rocking. She's swaying.
00:50:01.33\00:50:04.13
Her lips are moving in
tandem with her soul's desperate
00:50:04.13\00:50:06.20
prayer, but nothing's
coming out of her lips.
00:50:06.20\00:50:08.97
She's just in a state of
desperation. And the pastor
00:50:09.14\00:50:14.48
walks by, sees this commotion,
and he rebukes her. He says,
"You are drunk, lady,"
00:50:14.48\00:50:20.68
which is no -- which is a --
which is no reflection on her.
It is a measure of a pastor for
00:50:20.68\00:50:27.36
whom this sort of passionate,
desperate praying is totally
00:50:27.36\00:50:33.93
foreign. How many of us pastors
-- How many of us pastors have
no clue what is a desperate
00:50:33.93\00:50:40.20
prayer? Like Eli, we occupy
positions of leadership and
influence, but we have no clue
00:50:40.20\00:50:46.57
what does a desperate prayer
mean. We forget that when God
was here himself -- do you know
00:50:46.57\00:50:51.45
how He prayed? Hebrews 5:7-8
-- with loud cries and tears, he
00:50:51.45\00:50:57.65
pleaded. That's called a prayer
of desperation because the
father had what Jesus did not
00:50:57.65\00:51:02.76
have. And He was
begging for it. Wow.
00:51:02.76\00:51:10.53
She replies to the pastor
rebuking her -- on the screen...
00:51:10.70\00:51:14.90
My friends, that
is desperation prayer.
00:51:26.65\00:51:29.85
That is a desperate prayer.
And by the way, it's the kind of
00:51:30.02\00:51:36.86
prayer God hears.
Oh, He can't turn an ear.
00:51:36.86\00:51:40.96
Hey, have you
ever been a parent?
00:51:40.96\00:51:43.03
Have you ever been a parent,
and have you heard your child
00:51:43.03\00:51:45.73
sobbing for
something? Do you turn an ear?
00:51:45.73\00:51:48.10
Do you turn an ear? You do not.
00:51:48.10\00:51:52.57
And in answer that desperate
prayer, God sends a radical
00:51:52.57\00:51:57.78
paradigm shift, and the boy born
to Hannah will forever change
00:51:57.78\00:52:03.82
the course of that nation.
00:52:03.82\00:52:06.59
God says, "You got to me." So,
what might we -- what should we,
this new year, be desperate
00:52:06.76\00:52:17.23
for from God? A century
ago, Ellen White, in her book
00:52:17.23\00:52:21.90
"Ye Shall Receive Power," wrote
these words on the screen -- "We
are to pray for the
00:52:21.90\00:52:26.11
impartation --" that would be
the gift -- "of the Spirit as
the remedy for sin-sick souls."
00:52:26.11\00:52:32.45
Well, good night. We ought to
pray 'cause these are sin-sick
00:52:32.45\00:52:35.58
souls. You're talking about the
dormitories on this campus. I
know that's what you mean.
00:52:35.58\00:52:38.65
Oh, might be talking about
Benton Harbor. Sin-sick souls --
00:52:38.65\00:52:42.66
you got them there. "No," God
says. Read the next sentence.
00:52:42.66\00:52:46.86
"The church
needs to be converted."
00:52:47.03\00:52:50.50
And that would be
you, and that would be me.
00:52:50.50\00:52:53.54
We need to be converted.
00:52:53.54\00:52:56.10
I understand not everybody shows
up when collective prayer takes
00:53:00.81\00:53:03.35
place. Then we'll show up as
00:53:03.35\00:53:04.61
representatives of the church.
00:53:04.61\00:53:06.68
That, my friends, is what you
call a prayer of desperation.
00:53:18.49\00:53:21.23
That's it right there -- with
broken heart, contrite soul,
00:53:21.23\00:53:24.70
earnest supplication.
How does Cymbala put it?
00:53:24.70\00:53:28.40
"We need to move toward God,
and it begins with desperate
00:53:28.40\00:53:31.14
prayer." Ellen
White finishes the
00:53:31.14\00:53:32.91
sentence.
00:53:32.91\00:53:33.98
What would happen if this new
year together we banded and we
00:53:47.72\00:53:52.19
said, "We're gonna
pray for this gift"?
00:53:52.19\00:53:55.46
There's a storm coming the likes
of which this planet has never
seen in its history.
00:53:55.63\00:54:00.14
It will not be survived by the
casual. It will not be survived
00:54:00.14\00:54:04.14
by the nonchalant. It will
not be survived by the sleeping.
00:54:04.14\00:54:07.24
It will not be survived by
the lethargic. It can only be
00:54:07.24\00:54:11.05
survived by people who are
desperately praying, "God, give
me what you have for the storm."
00:54:11.05\00:54:18.55
What would happen if we said,
"Dear Jesus, the gift of the
Holy Spirit, please, like never
00:54:18.55\00:54:25.33
before." So, I open my
quarterly, and I'm so
delightfully surprised that
00:54:25.33\00:54:29.16
we're gonna be studying the Holy
Spirit these next three months
00:54:29.16\00:54:32.60
together. What a gift. I wonder.
God must have some little timing
thing going on here 'cause I'm
00:54:32.60\00:54:37.51
looking at 2017, and I'm saying,
"If there's no divine
intervention here, look out."
00:54:37.51\00:54:43.65
Fort Lauderdale yesterday. Just
look out. There's insanity that
00:54:43.65\00:54:47.75
now is sweeping across the land.
I mean, what gift could we
possibly need more this new
00:54:47.75\00:54:56.49
year? What gift could God
possibly want more to give us
00:54:56.49\00:55:00.76
this year than the gift of His
spirit? Jesus said, "If you ask
for the spirit --" you evil
00:55:00.76\00:55:04.93
parents, you give good gifts to
your kids. What do you think
your father's gonna do?
00:55:04.93\00:55:08.27
You're gonna get it in
abundance. And with this gift,
00:55:08.27\00:55:11.97
every other gift comes with it.
Every other gift comes with this
00:55:11.97\00:55:14.44
gift. Ask for this gift, you get
all the rest. I mean, it's the
00:55:14.44\00:55:17.85
one supreme gift to give. Then
shall we not collectively,
earnest ask Him this year.
00:55:17.85\00:55:24.39
Let's ask Him. Come on. You
and me. Oh, God, the storm is
00:55:24.39\00:55:30.66
coming. ¤¤ Will we just wait and
wait? We hear the call of the
00:55:30.66\00:55:39.83
Spirit. Come to me. Ask me. I'm
on the skiff with you right now.
00:55:39.83\00:55:47.64
It's dark. But you're not alone.
I have brought Jesus to you.
00:55:47.64\00:55:54.52
Take hope. And so, Father, our
hearts long. We got to get home.
00:55:54.52\00:56:04.89
We just got to get home. So,
take this longing. Harness it
00:56:04.89\00:56:13.44
and shape it. And well up within
us a collective cry for the Holy
Spirit this new year.
00:56:13.44\00:56:19.57
It's your gift, but it's
our prayers. Receive them now.
00:56:19.57\00:56:26.95
"And now to Him, who is able to
do immeasurably more than all
that we ask or imagine,
00:56:26.95\00:56:31.32
according to His power that is
at work within us, to Him be
glory in the church and in
00:56:31.32\00:56:37.43
Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, for ever and ever."
Let all of God's people on this
00:56:37.43\00:56:43.20
first Sabbath of the New
Year say, "Amen. Amen." ¤¤
00:56:43.20\00:56:50.44
>> I want to take an extra
moment to thank you for joining
us in worship today.
00:57:02.52\00:57:05.42
It's by the continued support
from viewers like you that we're
able to bring this telecast.
00:57:05.42\00:57:10.29
Today, I want to invite you,
though, to share with us how
this ministry has blessed you.
00:57:10.29\00:57:14.23
Truth is, I get inspiring notes,
e-mails, letters from viewers
literally all over the world,
00:57:14.23\00:57:19.73
sharing with us how God has
blessed them through this
program, and I'd love to hear
00:57:19.73\00:57:23.91
from you, as well.
00:57:23.91\00:57:25.47
It's not that
hard -- simple, really.
00:57:25.64\00:57:27.18
Just visit our
website, newperceptions.tv.
00:57:27.18\00:57:30.01
That's one word
-- newperceptions.tv.
00:57:30.01\00:57:33.38
And click on the contact
link at the top of the page.
00:57:33.38\00:57:35.88
Shoot me that e-mail.
Once again, thank you for
00:57:35.88\00:57:38.12
being with us.
00:57:38.12\00:57:39.69
Thank you, by the way, for your
own support. That support is
00:57:39.85\00:57:43.96
what keeps this telecast week
after week reaching America,
reaching North America, and
00:57:43.96\00:57:48.96
reaching the planet. That kind
of generosity that you share is
00:57:48.96\00:57:54.00
a huge boost and blessing to us.
And I hope you'll join us right
here next time 'cause we'll be
00:57:54.00\00:57:58.24
here. In the meantime, God
be with you and bless you real
00:57:58.24\00:58:05.08
good. ¤¤
00:58:05.08\00:58:07.48