い
00:00:00.20\00:00:06.57
[ "O Come, All
Ye Faithful" plays ]
00:00:09.44\00:00:16.61
い [ Congregation sings ]
00:00:16.61\00:00:29.52
[ "You Are The
Living Word" plays ]
00:03:34.21\00:03:38.88
い い
00:03:38.88\00:03:57.17
い [ Performer sings ]
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[ "Thou Didst
Leave Thy Throne" plays ]
00:06:52.01\00:06:56.81
>> I'm sure you all know this
one, so sing out, for our Savior
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did leave the throne to
come down here and be with us.
00:07:01.48\00:07:06.49
So let's show Him our praise. い
00:07:06.49\00:07:15.60
い [ Performers sing ]
00:07:15.60\00:07:24.31
As Jesus is calling and you are
welcoming Him into your heart, I
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invite you forward to lay
your burdens down at the throne
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before God. い
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[ Performers sing ]
00:10:00.53\00:10:03.40
>> Say, nice to see you. Is this
the first day of -- Is this the
00:10:53.18\00:10:57.35
first Sabbath of
December? Is that -- >> Yes.
00:10:57.35\00:10:59.59
>> [ Exhales sharply ] Already?
[ Chuckles ] Say, listen, hey,
nice to have the rest of you.
00:10:59.59\00:11:04.46
Did you -- Have you been
noticing -- This is a quiz now.
Have you been noticing the deer
00:11:04.46\00:11:10.63
that are all over
this community? >> No!
00:11:10.63\00:11:14.24
>> Huh?
00:11:14.24\00:11:15.80
Those aren't
reindeer, just plain old deer.
00:11:15.97\00:11:19.37
They're everywhere. >> Yeah.
00:11:19.37\00:11:21.11
>> Yeah? Have you seen them?
>> I've seen a family of them.
00:11:21.11\00:11:23.78
>> You've seen a family of them?
Well, we got a family -- we got
about three families living
00:11:23.95\00:11:27.52
there where we are. And they
just wander around, walk right
00:11:27.52\00:11:30.95
in front of you, right in front
of the cars. "Hey, you're gonna
00:11:30.95\00:11:34.76
stop." Beep! Ah. Apparently,
not only in Michigan, but in
00:11:34.76\00:11:39.93
Mississippi. Anybody here from
Mississippi? Yo, here's a story
00:11:39.93\00:11:44.07
from Mississippi. Thank you,
Sharon Dudgeon, for finding it.
00:11:44.07\00:11:46.43
Here we go. Just a few days ago
-- Listen to this. Listen to
this. The Enterprise Middle
00:11:46.43\00:11:52.71
School, which is down in
Mississippi, about 100 miles
from Jackson -- The Enterprise
00:11:52.71\00:11:58.11
Middle School -- So, the kids
are coming to school. It's kind
00:11:58.11\00:12:01.22
of a cool morning. Mississippi
doesn't get the kind of chill we
have. It's kind of cool.
00:12:01.22\00:12:04.45
The kids are jumping out of the
car. And that's when they notice
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that somebody came to their
playground while they were not
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here. A doe -- do you know
what a doe is? It's a girl deer.
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A doe is in the middle of the
playground, out on the grass. [
Imitates munching ]
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Oh, the doe -- But the doe
doesn't know that the boys and
girls with their moms and dads
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and all the cars and school
buses are coming, and the doe's
just going...until she looks up.
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[ Gasps ] There are
kids coming from this way.
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[ Gasps ] There are
kids coming from behind.
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[ Gasps ] There's a car
over here. "Ohh! What am I gonna
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do?!" That's what she thought.
She said, "I got to run." So she
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started running. She said -- She
turned here, turned -- "I can't,
can't, can't, can't," and then
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all of a sudden, she said, "I
know where I can go." And I want
to show you the video
00:12:47.86\00:12:51.97
clip that the school's security
camera got. Take a look at these
00:12:51.97\00:12:54.94
screens. Take a
look at these screens.
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Get them on the big
screen, too, please.
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There we go. There
we go. Watch that door.
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Watch that door.
Another student's coming.
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"Oh, it's so nice
to be in school today."
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She opens the
door, turns around.
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"What was that behind me?" [
Laughing ] Oh! Keep going. Keep
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going, deer. There's another
door out, surely. Can you find
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it? Okay. Slide! [
Laughter ] Isn't that great?
00:13:14.19\00:13:21.73
Wow! Safe at home!
You're safe at home!
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You made it. Wow. When I
saw that -- You know what -- You
00:13:27.37\00:13:32.71
know what that -- You know what
that little doe deer was
thinking? You know what that doe
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deer was thinking? "I do
not belong in this place." [
00:13:36.01\00:13:40.82
Laughter ] And when Jesus came
down and got born in a barn, I
am so glad that He didn't look
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around and smell -- [ Sniffs
] "Ew, I do not belong in this
00:13:45.85\00:13:51.13
place." Jesus had a very poor
and sad sort of beginning, but
He never said, "I'm out of here.
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I'm going back to where I really
love living." He stayed here.
00:13:58.87\00:14:03.61
He became one with us so that He
could save every boy and girl
because He's the creator.
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He made every one of us. "I want
to save all of you." He stayed
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until He died and rose, and He's
coming back." Isn't that the
great Christmas story?
00:14:16.45\00:14:19.75
So, this season that we begin
celebrating today -- thank you,
Jesus, for not being like the
00:14:19.75\00:14:25.26
deer and just running away when
you saw what a mess we were in.
You stayed with us, and we'll
00:14:25.26\00:14:31.67
love you forever. Amen.
Who would like to thank Jesus
00:14:31.67\00:14:35.84
for staying with us? Sissy, come
on up here. Who would like to
00:14:35.84\00:14:41.88
thank Jesus for staying with us
and not running away? There we
00:14:41.88\00:14:47.22
go. Sissy, what's your
first name? >> Zaya. >> Zaya.
00:14:47.22\00:14:50.65
Let's fold our hands and close
our eyes as Zaya thanks Jesus.
>> Dear Jesus, thank you for
00:14:50.65\00:14:56.32
this day. Thank you that you
died for us. Thank you that we
00:14:56.32\00:15:01.20
get to have a wonderful Sabbath.
Amen. >> Amen. Thank you, Zaya.
00:15:01.20\00:15:04.60
And thank you, boys and girls,
as you go quietly, reverently
back to your seats.
00:15:04.60\00:15:08.14
You say, "Thank you, Jesus, for
staying with us and not running
00:15:08.14\00:15:14.81
away." [
Indistinct conversations ] い
00:15:14.81\00:15:19.08
い い い
00:15:38.43\00:16:07.46
い い い
00:16:07.46\00:16:36.42
い い い
00:16:36.42\00:17:05.42
い い い
00:17:05.42\00:17:34.38
い い い
00:17:34.38\00:18:03.38
い い い
00:18:03.38\00:18:32.34
い い い
00:18:32.34\00:19:01.34
い い い
00:19:01.34\00:19:30.30
い い い
00:19:30.30\00:19:59.26
い い
00:19:59.26\00:20:18.41
>> Father, we are thankful for
our student musicians. They make
Andrews what it is.
00:20:23.18\00:20:29.49
We're thankful for Advent
season. You've made it what it
00:20:29.49\00:20:33.86
is, and we're here. A few
more moments, let's reflect.
00:20:33.86\00:20:37.30
What's the meaning of all this?
And will it make any difference
00:20:37.30\00:20:42.80
in my life anyway? Come and
speak to us through Scripture.
Let it be your voice, not mine,
00:20:42.80\00:20:46.31
just your voice we hear deep
in our souls. I pray in Jesus'
00:20:46.31\00:20:51.68
name. Amen.
00:20:51.68\00:20:53.11
I just loved -- You
remember these, don't you?
00:20:53.28\00:20:55.25
I just loved those, as a kid
growing up -- Did you grow up
00:20:55.25\00:20:58.95
with these, too? Those
"Where is Waldo?" books.
00:20:58.95\00:21:03.86
Did you ever see those?
00:21:03.86\00:21:06.96
Yeah, okay. I loved
them. I just loved them.
00:21:07.13\00:21:11.10
Let me put a little puzzle.
Jatniel Rodriguez, who is my
PowerPoint partner today -- he
00:21:11.10\00:21:17.27
said, "Dwight, I found that
Waldo right away." Can you find
00:21:17.27\00:21:21.68
it? I'll give you three seconds.
One, two, three. Okay, change
00:21:21.68\00:21:24.41
the picture. Let's look at the
next one. That's supposed to be
the hardest "Where's Waldo?" in
00:21:24.41\00:21:29.08
the world. How much time do you
have? Okay, you say, "Dwight,
00:21:29.08\00:21:33.96
lookit, I'm not from America. I
don't know this kind of stuff."
00:21:33.96\00:21:36.62
Let me show you who Waldo is.
Next screen, please. There's
Waldo, always red and
00:21:36.62\00:21:41.66
white stripes, little beanie
cap, and he's always hidden by
the master artist somewhere in
00:21:41.66\00:21:47.17
the scene. He's always hiding
somewhere. But he's always
00:21:47.17\00:21:53.61
there. So, let's do this.
For Christmas, Advent season
00:21:53.78\00:21:56.88
beginning, let's play
"Where's Waldo?" with the
00:21:56.88\00:22:00.28
Christmas story.
00:22:00.28\00:22:01.68
No, seriously. There is a
Waldo-like missing person in the
00:22:01.85\00:22:06.99
Christmas story. You're not
gonna believe this. He shows up
in not a single painting.
00:22:06.99\00:22:12.93
He shows up not in a single
story of the narrative. And
00:22:12.93\00:22:20.54
guess what. He shows up only
once in one of the Christmas
carols. And you haven't sung it
00:22:20.54\00:22:27.34
in a long time. Where's Waldo?
Don't worry about him feeling
00:22:27.34\00:22:33.31
bad by me saying this because
he's used to it. Nobody ever
00:22:33.31\00:22:38.35
sees him. In fact, Jesus called
him the wind. I found a piece
00:22:38.35\00:22:44.43
that just came out in the latest
Christianity Todaywritten by
00:22:44.43\00:22:48.20
J.D. Witvliet. He's right up the
road, Grand Rapids, Calvin
College and Calvin Seminary,
00:22:48.20\00:22:52.13
Professor of Worship. Title
of the piece -- "A Pentecostal
00:22:52.13\00:22:56.34
Christmas." Let me put it on the
screen for you. You have to fill
00:22:56.34\00:22:59.17
in a little word
here on the screen.
00:22:59.17\00:23:00.81
What were you
in the school play?
00:23:07.98\00:23:10.72
Write it down in
your study guide.
00:23:24.90\00:23:26.17
That's the Holy Spirit.
00:23:26.17\00:23:28.07
Eight appearances. Come on.
Check it out. In fact, let's
00:23:28.24\00:23:33.68
make a little graph right now, a
little table. You got a study
guide? Did they give you a study
00:23:33.68\00:23:37.21
guide? Grab your study guide.
Let's make a little table. It's
in your worship bulletin.
00:23:37.21\00:23:39.85
Thank you, ushers.
00:23:39.85\00:23:41.08
If you didn't get a study
guide, just hold your hand up.
00:23:41.25\00:23:44.05
Those of you watching
on live-stream right now or
00:23:44.05\00:23:46.52
television right now, go
to our website, please --
00:23:46.52\00:23:49.06
www.newperceptions.tv.
You're looking for this
00:23:49.06\00:23:53.83
homily -- "Have Yourself
a Windy Merry Christmas."
00:23:53.83\00:23:56.93
"Have Yourself a
Windy Merry Christmas."
00:23:56.93\00:23:59.57
We'll get to you.
00:23:59.57\00:24:01.37
And if you click onto that,
you'll see a study guide. It'll
be the same study guide.
00:24:01.54\00:24:05.31
Let's put that little
chart together. Let's do it.
00:24:05.31\00:24:07.28
The Holy Spirit shows up, okay?
The Holy Spirit shows up. Notice
the kind of people he
00:24:07.28\00:24:12.68
shows up in. Number one -- jot
it down -- he shows up in utero.
00:24:12.68\00:24:18.35
In utero. What's
that mean? In the uterus.
00:24:18.35\00:24:22.12
That's where he shows up. You
say, "Come on. He does not." He
00:24:22.12\00:24:24.99
does, too. Look at this -- Luke
1. Open your Bible to -- We'll
stay in Luke, this first chapter
00:24:24.99\00:24:30.13
and second chapter this morning,
Luke 1. This is now setting up
00:24:30.13\00:24:34.24
the Christmas story.
00:24:34.24\00:24:35.47
Pick it up in
verse 5. I'm in the NIV.
00:24:35.64\00:24:37.71
"In the time of Herod, king of
Judea --" that would be wicked
00:24:37.71\00:24:40.78
King Herod -- bad. All right.
00:24:40.78\00:24:42.58
"In the time of Herod, king of
Judea, there was a priest named
00:24:42.58\00:24:45.31
Zechariah, who belonged to
the priestly division of Abijah.
00:24:45.31\00:24:47.92
And his wife, Elizabeth,
also a descendant of Aaron."
00:24:47.92\00:24:51.15
They're both Levites.
Verse 6 -- "But both of them --
00:24:51.15\00:24:53.82
Hey, both of them were righteous
in the sight of God, observing
00:24:53.82\00:24:56.66
all the Lord's commandments
and decrees blamelessly.
00:24:56.66\00:24:59.06
But they were childless because
Elizabeth was not able to
00:24:59.06\00:25:02.50
conceive, and they
were both very old."
00:25:02.50\00:25:05.77
You have two friends of God.
That's who they are -- just two
anonymous strangers.
00:25:05.93\00:25:11.04
And God comes along and says, "I
have chosen you for a key part
in the story I'm beginning to
00:25:11.04\00:25:16.85
write." It makes me look at you
and say, "I wonder what God has
00:25:16.85\00:25:20.28
chosen for you." God looks
at you. He says, "I have chosen
00:25:20.28\00:25:22.98
you. You don't know this yet,
but you're gonna play a very
important part in a story I'm
00:25:22.98\00:25:26.72
about to write." Never write
yourself off. That's the deal.
00:25:26.72\00:25:30.79
Don't write yourself off
when God is writing you in, all
00:25:30.79\00:25:34.83
right? So, drop down now to
verse 8. "Once when Zechariah's
00:25:35.00\00:25:38.40
division --" these are all
the priests on duty down in
00:25:38.40\00:25:41.57
Jerusalem, the Temple.
"While Zechariah was on duty, he
00:25:41.57\00:25:44.71
was serving as a
priest before God."
00:25:44.71\00:25:46.91
Now, watch this.
Verse 9 -- "He was chosen by
00:25:46.91\00:25:50.88
lot, according to the custom of
the priesthood, to go into the
00:25:50.88\00:25:54.42
temple of the
Lord and burn incense."
00:25:54.42\00:25:56.92
Now, this is fascinating 'cause
you know what they did with
00:25:57.09\00:26:00.09
these priests? They said, "All
right, guys, are you all
assigned today? Okay, good.
00:26:00.09\00:26:02.82
Stand in a semi-circle." So,
they stand in a semi-circle, and
then the president, like the
00:26:02.82\00:26:06.36
chairman of the board of elders
or whatever -- he would say,
"Okay, guys, here's what we're
00:26:06.36\00:26:09.93
gonna do. I want you to
put a finger out on your hand.
00:26:09.93\00:26:12.43
You can put one finger. You can
put five. You can't put zero.
00:26:12.43\00:26:15.27
You have to put a finger out,
all right? Okay? You ready?"
00:26:15.27\00:26:18.37
So, everybody's deciding. "Will
I put four? Should I put three?
00:26:18.37\00:26:20.58
How about just one? I'll fool
him." There's no way to know
00:26:20.58\00:26:23.55
because once he says, "You pick
the number," he says, "and I'm
gonna choose a random number.
00:26:23.55\00:26:28.42
Here we go. The number is 37.
Let's go." And he starts on this
00:26:28.42\00:26:32.49
end of the semi-circle, and he
starts counting fingers. And
when he comes to finger
00:26:32.49\00:26:35.12
number 37, you are it. And let
me tell you something. This is a
00:26:35.12\00:26:41.80
big "it" to be because this is
gonna go into the curtain that's
just before the holy place, that
00:26:41.80\00:26:46.13
curtain, and in front of the
curtain, to put incense onto the
golden altar, and the smoke
00:26:46.13\00:26:51.11
symbolizes the prayers of all
the worshippers crowded into the
00:26:51.11\00:26:54.71
courtyard. Oh, it's a very big
deal. And Zechariah got chosen.
Drop down to verse 11.
00:26:54.71\00:27:01.15
"And then --" ooh! -- "the angel
of the Lord appeared to him --"
00:27:01.32\00:27:07.02
So, he's in there doing
this. He's dropping the incense.
00:27:07.02\00:27:09.99
[ Sniffs ] Smells wonderful.
And it's just ascending before
00:27:09.99\00:27:12.89
that curtain. And
then the angel of the Lord
00:27:12.89\00:27:14.76
appeared to him, standing on
the right side of the altar of
00:27:14.76\00:27:17.20
incense. And when
Zechariah saw him, he
00:27:17.20\00:27:19.07
was startled and
gripped with fear."
00:27:19.07\00:27:20.84
I would be.
Wouldn't you? Come on. Schoo!
00:27:20.84\00:27:25.04
This towering, divine
being standing in front of him.
00:27:25.04\00:27:29.21
Now, all the scholars point out
it's on the right side of the
00:27:29.21\00:27:31.85
altar, so you should
have figured that out.
00:27:31.85\00:27:33.82
I would not be thinking about,
"Which side of the altar is he
00:27:33.82\00:27:36.32
standing right now?"
I'd just be petrified, and
00:27:36.32\00:27:38.85
that's Zechariah. But
it's on the side of favor.
00:27:38.85\00:27:42.82
The angel will tell
Zechariah who he is.
00:27:42.82\00:27:44.99
It's Gabriel.
He'll tell him later.
00:27:44.99\00:27:47.23
"But the angel says --" verse
13 -- "But the angel said to
00:27:47.23\00:27:49.90
him: 'Do not be afraid.'"
And by the way, we know it's
00:27:49.90\00:27:52.13
Gabriel because every
time Gabriel shows up in the
00:27:52.13\00:27:54.04
New Testament, those are the
first words out of his mouth.
00:27:54.04\00:27:56.14
To the shepherds
-- "Don't be afraid."
00:27:56.14\00:27:57.64
To Mary -- "Don't be afraid."
To Zechariah -- "Yo, don't be
00:27:57.64\00:27:59.81
afraid."
Apparently, he was intimidating
00:27:59.81\00:28:02.28
when he showed up.
"Calm down, guys. Don't --
00:28:02.28\00:28:06.11
It's okay. It's
okay. It's okay."
00:28:06.11\00:28:08.58
"'Don't be afraid, Zechariah;
your prayer has been heard.'"
00:28:08.58\00:28:13.72
Hit the pause button again
because a lot of people read
00:28:13.72\00:28:15.12
that line, and you
know what they say?
00:28:15.12\00:28:17.09
"Zechariah and Elizabeth had
been praying for a baby."
"You're gonna have a baby."
00:28:17.26\00:28:20.06
That's not what they're praying.
When you're their age, you're
not praying for a baby anymore.
00:28:20.06\00:28:23.57
Trust me. [ Laughter ]
They're not praying for a baby.
00:28:23.57\00:28:27.87
You know what the prayer they're
praying is? "Even so, Messiah
00:28:27.87\00:28:32.41
come. Come, Lord Messiah." "Your
prayer has been heard." There's
some of you praying that
00:28:32.41\00:28:38.25
prayer right now. Some of you
not-so-young have been praying
00:28:38.25\00:28:41.38
that prayer all your lives.
Wouldn't it be something if one
of these days your angel shows
00:28:41.38\00:28:44.42
up and he says, "Sister,
brother, I have good news for
00:28:44.42\00:28:48.86
you. Your prayer is about
to be answered. He's coming."
00:28:48.86\00:28:53.53
[ Chuckles ] Wow. So don't let
go of that hope. "Your prayer
has been answered."
00:28:53.53\00:28:59.93
"'Your wife, Elizabeth, will
bear you a son, and you're gonna
00:29:00.17\00:29:03.54
call him John.'" Verse
14 -- "'And he will be a
00:29:03.54\00:29:05.84
joy and a delight to you, and
many will rejoice because of his
00:29:05.84\00:29:08.48
birth, for he will be
great in the sight of the Lord.
00:29:08.48\00:29:10.78
He is never --'"
Zechariah says, "What did you
00:29:10.78\00:29:14.58
say?" He says, "He is never..."
00:29:14.58\00:29:19.82
"What was that again?"
"'He is never to take wine or
00:29:19.82\00:29:23.86
other fermented drink.'"
00:29:23.86\00:29:26.26
You know why? Because when
you're a friend of God and
you're on call 24/7,
00:29:26.43\00:29:31.13
like, to be in touch when I need
you, you can't afford -- you
can't afford to put your brain
00:29:31.13\00:29:37.47
to sleep. So, when you're
on mission, not a drop, not a
00:29:37.47\00:29:46.35
single drop of this inebriating
liquid passes between your lips,
00:29:46.35\00:29:51.25
not a drop. Why? Because you
can't afford it. If you put your
mind to sleep, I promise you --
00:29:51.25\00:29:56.83
If you put your mind to sleep,
there's only one being in the
universe who, with his horde of
00:29:56.83\00:30:02.63
demons, will kick the door down
while you're asleep, move in,
and you will do stuff you would
00:30:02.63\00:30:07.74
never do if you were thinking.
They call it "under the
00:30:07.74\00:30:11.27
influence." Guess whose
influence it is. "No. You're my
man. You're my girl.
00:30:11.27\00:30:20.92
You're not going to. I
need you. We're getting close."
00:30:20.92\00:30:27.19
Oh, this turns out to be a big
deal. "'He is never to take wine
00:30:27.19\00:30:31.79
or other fermented drink, and
--'" Oh, here it comes now --
first appearance of the Holy
00:30:31.79\00:30:36.36
Spirit in the
pre-Christmas story.
00:30:36.36\00:30:37.60
"'And he will be filled with the
Holy Spirit --'" Write that down
00:30:37.77\00:30:41.34
in your study guide, please.
"'And he will be filled with the
00:30:41.34\00:30:45.01
Holy Spirit even
before he is born.'"
00:30:45.01\00:30:47.58
Put that study
guide blank up there.
00:30:47.58\00:30:50.05
There it is. Fill that out.
"'He will be filled --'" boy
00:30:50.05\00:30:54.32
John, boy John -- "'will be
filled with the Holy Spirit even
00:30:54.32\00:30:57.95
before he is
born.'" [ Laughing ] Wow.
00:30:57.95\00:31:04.53
Did you know, young mother,
young father -- And we got a lot
of young mothers and fathers.
00:31:04.69\00:31:09.36
Did you see all these kids
up here? We got a lot of young
00:31:09.36\00:31:11.83
mothers and fathers. Did you
know, young mother-to-be -- We
00:31:11.83\00:31:15.47
got a lot of young mothers-to-be
right here, young fathers-to-be
right here. Did you know that
00:31:15.47\00:31:21.14
it's your -- it is your contact
with the King of Kings that will
determine whether your child is
00:31:21.14\00:31:26.61
born with the spirit even before
birth, in utero? You say,
"Dwight, you're making
00:31:26.61\00:31:32.25
that up."
00:31:32.25\00:31:33.32
No -- "Desire of
Ages" on the screen.
00:31:33.49\00:31:34.86
Put it on the screen, please.
00:31:34.86\00:31:36.76
That baby has no faith. That
baby has no nothing but hunger.
00:31:42.43\00:31:48.20
But you have faith. And for that
baby, God says, "I'll take her
00:31:48.20\00:31:54.64
faith. I'll take his faith. It's
good enough for me." Isn't that
00:31:54.64\00:31:59.81
something? Keep reading.
00:31:59.81\00:32:00.95
In utero. "I'm there. I
can show up anywhere I want.
00:32:08.79\00:32:13.66
And I'll show up in a uterus if
I need to, in a fetus." That's
00:32:13.66\00:32:21.30
what he did. Wow. What a
profound blessing a believing
00:32:21.30\00:32:27.81
young mother is. Come on, all
you dads that sent your kids up
a moment ago. I'm talking to
00:32:27.81\00:32:31.18
you. What a profound blessing
a believing young father is for
00:32:31.18\00:32:37.29
his little tykes. Ah. So, write
that down. Okay, here comes
number two. In a teenager.
00:32:37.29\00:32:40.36
So, number one is in utero.
We're taking these in
consecutive order as they appear
00:32:40.36\00:32:43.66
in Luke. Number one is in utero,
and number two is in a teenager.
00:32:43.66\00:32:46.39
And who's this teenager?
We already know. Just turn the
00:32:46.39\00:32:49.70
page. Let's just read this one.
00:32:49.70\00:32:51.43
This is verse 26.
"In the sixth month of
00:32:51.60\00:32:53.67
Elizabeth's pregnancy --"
because she did get pregnant --
00:32:53.67\00:32:55.84
"God sent the angel Gabriel --"
yep, same angel -- "to Nazareth,
00:32:55.84\00:32:59.27
a town in Galilee, to a virgin
pledged to be married to a man
00:32:59.27\00:33:02.58
named Joseph, a
descendant of David.
00:33:02.58\00:33:04.68
And the virgin's name was Mary."
Drop down to -- Drop down to
00:33:04.68\00:33:10.42
verse 30. "But the
angel said to her --"
00:33:10.42\00:33:12.72
it's Gabriel again --
"'Do not be afraid, girl.
00:33:12.72\00:33:16.12
Don't be afraid. You
have found favor with God."
00:33:16.12\00:33:20.06
And then he tells her
she's gonna get pregnant.
00:33:20.06\00:33:22.16
Look at her response, verse 34.
00:33:22.16\00:33:24.07
Write it down one more
time. "'The Holy Spirit, teenage
00:33:34.44\00:33:37.51
girl,'" 'cause she's, some
scholars think, maybe 14, could
00:33:37.51\00:33:40.58
be even 13 years
of age. She's young.
00:33:40.58\00:33:44.52
"'The Holy
Spirit's gonna come on you.
00:33:44.52\00:33:46.92
Something's gonna happen to you
that has happened to no human
being and will never happen
00:33:47.09\00:33:49.69
again in the history of this
universe. The Holy Spirit will
00:33:49.69\00:33:54.10
come into you." Whoa.
Number three -- jot this one
00:33:54.10\00:33:58.77
down. So, we have in utero, we
have in a teenager, and now we
00:33:58.77\00:34:01.67
have in an adult because
actually -- Actually, it's a
middle-aged adult since priests
00:34:01.67\00:34:06.31
were required to retire
by the age of 50. So, we know
00:34:06.31\00:34:08.88
Zechariah's under 50. He has
to be. He wouldn't be doing what
00:34:08.88\00:34:10.88
he's doing. So, he's still,
we can say, middle-aged, right?
00:34:10.88\00:34:13.65
Middle-aged, 50 years old.
Elizabeth, his wife, would be
about the same age.
00:34:13.65\00:34:17.95
Guess what. She gets pregnant.
And Mary, who's so embarrassed
about being pregnant and having
00:34:17.95\00:34:22.82
no husband -- she flees her
little village of Nazareth and
goes to be with Elizabeth.
00:34:22.82\00:34:27.60
And the moment Mary walks in
the door, the baby in utero go,
00:34:27.60\00:34:32.90
"Whoo!" And Elizabeth cries out.
Where is this? Elizabeth cries
00:34:32.90\00:34:37.01
out. Verse 41 -- "And when
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
00:34:37.17\00:34:40.48
the baby leaped in her womb, and
Elizabeth was filled with the
00:34:40.48\00:34:43.28
Holy Spirit." In a
loud voice, she praises
00:34:43.28\00:34:46.21
God. So, you can be middle-aged.
00:34:46.21\00:34:48.88
Apparently, the Holy Spirit --
You can be middle-aged, and the
00:34:48.88\00:34:50.79
Holy Spirit will come into you.
And by the way, it's true for
00:34:50.79\00:34:52.85
her husband, also middle-aged.
By the way, there's been a lot
00:34:52.85\00:34:55.82
of quiet around the house
because he didn't believe that
00:34:55.82\00:34:58.16
Gabriel was --
"You can't do that.
00:34:58.16\00:34:59.73
You can't do it. Do you
know how old my wife is?"
00:34:59.73\00:35:01.86
Gabriel says,
"What's your problem?
00:35:01.86\00:35:03.63
Do you know who I am?" "No."
00:35:03.63\00:35:06.57
"I'm Gabriel."
That's when he introduces
00:35:06.57\00:35:08.80
himself. "I'm
Gabriel, and you're not
00:35:08.80\00:35:10.87
gonna talk for nine months."
And he doesn't, can't talk.
00:35:10.87\00:35:14.14
[ Mumbles ] When
the baby's born and they
00:35:14.14\00:35:17.41
come to Zechariah and say, "What
do you want to name him?" --
00:35:17.41\00:35:19.78
"Give me a -- Give me a
tablet. His name is John."
00:35:19.78\00:35:25.32
And poof! His lips are open.
00:35:25.32\00:35:28.86
Look at this. Verse
67 -- "And his father,
00:35:28.86\00:35:31.49
Zechariah, was filled with
the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
00:35:31.49\00:35:34.63
'Praise be to God the
Savior.'" There it is again.
00:35:34.63\00:35:37.03
So, what do we have
here? What do we know?
00:35:37.03\00:35:38.57
How does the Holy Spirit --
With whom does the Holy Spirit
00:35:38.57\00:35:40.57
show up? Number
one, he shows up in
00:35:40.57\00:35:42.04
utero. Number
two, he shows up in a
00:35:42.04\00:35:43.57
teenager. Number
three -- and four -- he
00:35:43.57\00:35:45.27
shows up in two middle-aged
-- Now, we have to take this in
00:35:45.27\00:35:49.48
consecutive order, and you
need to go to the very last line
00:35:49.48\00:35:52.38
before Luke tells
the birth of Christ.
00:35:52.38\00:35:54.38
So, it's verse 80 in chapter 1.
It's the boy John who's grown up
00:35:54.38\00:35:58.49
a little. Watch this.
00:35:58.49\00:36:00.42
Fill it in in your study guide.
00:36:00.42\00:36:02.32
Apparently, he even comes into
children, not just in utero, but
once you're out of the utero,
00:36:08.40\00:36:13.57
he can come into you. Can you
believe that? The truth is --
00:36:13.57\00:36:18.81
Come on, guys. Let's be honest,
you and me. Let's be honest. The
truth is, we sell our
00:36:18.81\00:36:22.41
children too short too often,
don't we? We just sell them
00:36:22.41\00:36:26.45
short. "Dwight, you can't be
talking about my 3-year-old. You
cannot be talking about my
00:36:26.45\00:36:29.68
5-year-old. Do you know
what my 5-year-old is like?
00:36:29.68\00:36:31.89
You should." No. I
don't see any parameters here.
00:36:31.89\00:36:40.90
Apparently, the Holy Spirit can
make a difference in any age,
including your child.
00:36:40.90\00:36:45.83
Let me put this on the screen.
100 years ago, Ellen White wrote
00:36:45.83\00:36:49.04
these words. Then
I'll go to a psychologist.
00:36:49.04\00:36:50.61
We'll look at the next line.
"The promises spoken by the
00:36:56.54\00:36:58.51
great Teacher" --
that would be Christ...
00:36:58.51\00:37:01.38
3 years old -- Hey, wait a
minute, come on, serious. 3
years old and the Holy Spirit
00:37:04.39\00:37:07.79
is gonna come into
my child at 3? Yes.
00:37:07.79\00:37:10.56
2! 1! Doesn't matter.
00:37:10.56\00:37:15.36
"I'll come in." You ever watch
the children's story on the big
00:37:15.36\00:37:20.80
screen up here? Those kids, they
just... Why? Because their minds
00:37:20.80\00:37:24.74
are like a sponge. They're just
soaking everything in. That's
why a parent -- listen to
00:37:24.74\00:37:28.61
me -- that's why a young mother,
young father, parents to be,
guardian gets placed before the
00:37:28.61\00:37:33.58
inquisitive eyes and ears of
your children -- they're soaking
it all up, all of it.
00:37:33.58\00:37:39.25
They don't know that you don't
soak this part, but you do soak
00:37:39.25\00:37:42.52
this. They don't know. Here
comes the psychologist. Jean
00:37:42.52\00:37:46.46
Twenge. She wrote the book
"iGen." We've quoted now this
will be the third Sabbath in a
00:37:46.46\00:37:50.30
row because it's a critical
book. Anyway, this is a secret
that you need to know.
00:37:50.30\00:37:57.17
On the screen -- You have
to fill this out -- On the
00:37:57.34\00:37:59.94
screen -- "Many tech CEOs"
-- Okay, tech CEOs, you know who
00:37:59.94\00:38:02.88
we're talking about...
00:38:02.88\00:38:05.08
Now, here is Steve Jobs' reply.
00:38:16.96\00:38:19.09
Can you believe
that? Keep reading.
00:38:27.50\00:38:32.11
And here's Twenge
kind of editorializing.
00:38:43.02\00:38:46.45
They're not letting their kids.
And what are we doing? We're
buying up Best Buy with
00:39:04.44\00:39:10.11
all the gadgets we can for our
3-year-olds now, our
4-year-olds, iPads for anybody
00:39:10.11\00:39:15.68
up at this age. You figured out.
Our little granddaughter, she
00:39:15.68\00:39:20.36
knows, pft, pft, pft, pft.
But at what cost? At what price?
00:39:20.36\00:39:25.53
If the guys who have invented
this are saying, "I'm not
letting my kids have this," then
00:39:25.53\00:39:30.37
maybe they're
telling us something. Maybe.
00:39:30.37\00:39:34.07
They're now finding 19-year-olds
iGen'ers, 19-year-old. This
little screen they become
00:39:34.07\00:39:40.18
addicted to. There actually now
is a chemical addiction at 19
00:39:40.18\00:39:44.61
years of age. "I got to have it,
I got to have it, I got to have
it. Don't take it away, please."
00:39:44.61\00:39:49.95
Like gold, "This is mine.
My precious." [ Laughter ]
00:39:49.95\00:39:57.89
Isn't that what's happening?
"Don't take it away from me!"
Actually going through
00:39:57.89\00:40:04.03
withdrawal now, chemically. Oh,
I'm telling you, Mom and Dad,
don't put a screen in front
00:40:04.03\00:40:09.80
of your little 3-year-old, your
little 5-year-old. "What age
00:40:09.80\00:40:13.64
should I do it?" I have no idea.
I just know we gave our
cellphone too early to our
00:40:13.64\00:40:17.38
daughter. If I could do
that story over again, she would
00:40:17.38\00:40:21.42
never get it. All her friends
were getting it, and the
pressure was on, but I now
00:40:21.42\00:40:27.16
realize if I had just had the
gumption to say, "Too bad. I'm
the king of this fort." [
00:40:27.16\00:40:33.29
Laughter ] I didn't. We made a
mistake. And you may have
already made a mistake.
00:40:33.29\00:40:39.47
It's okay. God says, "I
can do business with this.
00:40:39.47\00:40:42.84
It's not the end of the world."
But don't do it on purpose,
00:40:42.84\00:40:48.74
young parent. Don't do it on
purpose, please. "What am I
gonna do with my kids, then?"
00:40:48.74\00:40:52.68
Try this. R-E-A-D. Do
you know what that spells?
00:40:52.68\00:40:55.38
R-E-A-D. [ Laughter ] You
probably don't 'cause it's
00:40:55.38\00:40:59.35
not on the
screen. Read! [ Laughter ]
00:40:59.35\00:41:02.46
Read! Buy them books this
Christmas and read to them.
00:41:02.46\00:41:08.26
All right. Here
we go. Number five.
00:41:08.26\00:41:10.50
Oh, boy, does he show up in
utero, not only does he show up
00:41:10.67\00:41:13.50
in a teenager, not only does he
show up in middle-aged adults,
00:41:13.50\00:41:16.44
but he also shows
up in the elderly.
00:41:16.44\00:41:18.31
Would you write that in, please?
In the elderly, the final piece.
00:41:18.31\00:41:22.98
First half of Luke chapter 2,
Jesus gets born. Second half,
Joseph and Mary are
00:41:23.14\00:41:27.38
taking their little boy to
register this baby as a true son
00:41:27.38\00:41:31.52
of Israel. They're going to the
big temple in Jerusalem, and
there's a man in that temple who
00:41:31.52\00:41:36.99
today was told by the Holy
Spirit, "Go to the temple. I
promise you you would not die
00:41:36.99\00:41:41.53
before seeing the Messiah." That
means he's very old. He's close
00:41:41.53\00:41:47.90
to death. And the spirit said,
"Go to the temple. I will show
00:41:47.90\00:41:54.81
you the new king." Fill it
in your study guide, will you,
00:41:54.98\00:41:57.38
please? "Simeon was waiting for
the consolation of Israel, and
00:41:57.38\00:41:59.68
the Holy Spirit was on him.
And it had been revealed to him
00:41:59.68\00:42:01.98
by the Holy Spirit" -- reference
number two -- "that he would not
00:42:01.98\00:42:04.52
die before he had
seen the Lord's Messiah."
00:42:04.52\00:42:06.32
And reference number three
-- "Moved by the Spirit, he went
00:42:06.32\00:42:08.92
into the temple courts and
took the child in his arms and
00:42:08.92\00:42:11.69
praised God."
00:42:11.69\00:42:12.76
Apparently, ladies and
gentlemen, in utero, in a child,
in a teenager, in a middle-aged
00:42:12.93\00:42:17.20
adult, in the elderly,
apparently no matter what age
you are, you are always ripe and
00:42:17.20\00:42:22.27
ready for the in-filling of the
Holy Spirit. Any age you wish.
00:42:22.27\00:42:25.67
You just name your
age. You're ready. Man.
00:42:25.67\00:42:31.28
Which must be why the daily
baptism of the Holy Spirit is
such a big deal to God.
00:42:31.28\00:42:42.49
We left two lines out of Gabriel
talking to Zachariah, stunned
00:42:42.49\00:42:47.40
Zachariah. Go back. Turn back to
chapter 1. We left these two
lines out on purpose, but I want
00:42:47.40\00:42:53.13
you to see why this baptism of
the spirit is such a huge deal
to God. Okay, so where is this?
00:42:53.13\00:42:58.24
Verse 16.
00:42:58.24\00:43:00.64
This is boy John.
00:43:00.81\00:43:03.04
There's gonna be
a revival coming.
00:43:06.08\00:43:09.18
Why? Why, why, why?
Here it comes now...
00:43:17.29\00:43:20.86
I want you to hang that line
on the screen, please, for us.
00:43:23.33\00:43:29.20
Where I have my worship every
morning, that is on the wall,
00:43:29.20\00:43:32.21
scotch tape on the wall, "to
make ready a people prepared for
00:43:32.21\00:43:35.28
the Lord." Because
that's why you and I
00:43:35.28\00:43:37.95
exist. We exist to do this.
00:43:37.95\00:43:41.52
We exist to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord.
00:43:41.52\00:43:44.65
I don't know if you understand
how on the edge our society is
00:43:44.82\00:43:51.26
right now. This sexual
harassment thing, I wrote a blog
on it, this sexual harassment
00:43:51.26\00:43:56.93
thing -- It's a Pandora's box.
This thing is just coming at us
now from every possible angle.
00:43:56.93\00:44:02.17
What's up? All hell is letting
loose. Somebody knows he's
00:44:02.17\00:44:10.81
running out of time. Even
now our leaders are under the
00:44:10.81\00:44:20.59
hypnotic sway. Man. Are you
serious? Some scouts sent me
some material this last week.
00:44:20.59\00:44:25.96
I would share it here, but
I don't want to. I think it's
00:44:25.96\00:44:31.20
premature to point attention to
it, but there's stuff happening
on this planet as we speak.
00:44:31.20\00:44:36.34
We are living on the cusp of the
return of Jesus Christ to this
00:44:36.34\00:44:41.41
planet. Here's the deal. It's
for that reason that the baptism
of the spirit that was
00:44:41.41\00:44:45.95
critical for John, critical for
Mary, critical for Elizabeth,
critical for Zachariah, critical
00:44:45.95\00:44:51.05
for Simeon is critical for
us. We must be baptized by the
00:44:51.05\00:44:57.89
spirit. That's why we started
talking about this back in
September, and that's why we're
00:44:57.89\00:45:01.60
tailing around as the semester
ends now. One more time let's go
back to that theme.
00:45:01.60\00:45:04.80
Let's do, and we have, and we
are. You notice I didn't begin
00:45:04.80\00:45:08.94
this by saying, "Hey, here, I
want to hear from all of you who
have been praying every day for
00:45:08.94\00:45:12.54
the baptism of the Holy Spirit"
since we spent three Sabbaths on
00:45:12.54\00:45:15.61
it in September. I wouldn't do
that. You know why? 'Cause it's
none of my business,
00:45:15.61\00:45:18.31
that's why, or anybody else's
business. You know the answer to
00:45:18.31\00:45:21.68
that. So does the Holy Spirit.
The deal is we're getting close
to the end, and there will be a
00:45:21.68\00:45:28.52
generation that will be raised
up, young and not so young, who
will be warriors in the king's
00:45:28.52\00:45:36.30
army and who will be mobilized
over this planet miraculously.
And who will speak when the God
00:45:36.30\00:45:47.34
inside of him commands him
to speak without fear, without
00:45:47.34\00:45:53.05
fear. And an entire planet
overnight practically will be
alerted to the Messiah's return.
00:45:53.05\00:46:05.19
Wow. It's a huge deal.
It's why Jesus when he was here
00:46:05.19\00:46:09.53
said, "Oh, by the way.
00:46:09.53\00:46:11.10
Let me tell you something."
Put it on the screen, please.
00:46:11.27\00:46:15.20
And itisChristmastime.
Don't buy them something that
00:46:17.87\00:46:21.34
has to be charged necessarily,
but you give good gifts.
00:46:21.34\00:46:25.45
That's how the Greek reads.
Every day are asking, "Please
00:46:33.39\00:46:35.92
fill me. Fill me
with the baptism of the
00:46:35.92\00:46:37.83
Holy Spirit.
00:46:37.83\00:46:39.06
I would give my personal
testimony right now. I've
thought about it, but I
00:46:39.23\00:46:44.07
said, "No, it would feel
too fake. It would look forced.
00:46:44.07\00:46:47.90
It would look like, 'Whoa,
who are you?'" I'm nobody.
00:46:47.90\00:46:51.64
But I need to tell you
something. The Holy Spirit is
00:46:51.64\00:46:56.78
everything. It's everything I
need. And he's everything you
need. He's everything.
00:46:56.78\00:47:06.19
Saw a well-known writer in our
faith community happened to
listen to this humble, little
00:47:06.19\00:47:11.43
series back in September online,
live-streaming. Wrote me a
letter, said, "Hey,
00:47:11.43\00:47:17.27
Dwight, I saw it." He's a
psychologist. He's a writer.
00:47:17.27\00:47:20.17
His name is Douglas Cooper. He
said, "I've written a book,
hasn't been published, called
00:47:20.17\00:47:26.01
"The Gentle Spirit." "The Gentle
Spirit: The Holy Spirit, God's
00:47:26.01\00:47:33.75
Greatest Gift," all right?
Fascinating book. He opens the
00:47:33.75\00:47:37.39
book -- Listen to this, and
don't come and ask me for my
copy. And it's not available
00:47:37.39\00:47:41.09
anywhere else, so you just have
to hear this now. He opens the
00:47:41.09\00:47:44.56
book with 43 reasons why you
need to be baptized with the
Holy Spirit every single day.
00:47:44.56\00:47:48.63
43 of them. He says,
"You will never be the same.
00:47:48.63\00:47:50.90
43 reasons."
00:47:50.90\00:47:52.80
I want to share with you number
11, because number 11 describes
00:47:52.97\00:47:56.97
what I've been experiencing, and
that's all I'm gonna tell you.
00:47:56.97\00:47:59.67
Somebody else
wrote it. Fine by me.
00:47:59.67\00:48:01.38
Number 11 why you need the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:48:01.38\00:48:05.31
Listen to this. Synchronicity.
00:48:05.31\00:48:07.75
Synchronicity.
Everything's in sync.
00:48:07.75\00:48:10.15
Synchronicity is experienced.
When the Holy Spirit comes into
00:48:10.15\00:48:13.92
you,
synchronicity is experienced.
00:48:13.92\00:48:15.42
"Once you have placed yourself
at oneness with God, He is
00:48:15.42\00:48:18.16
living in you by His spirit, and
you are connected everywhere you
00:48:18.16\00:48:21.16
go and everywhere you are.
Think broadband, wi-fi, DSL, 4G
00:48:21.16\00:48:25.73
cellular network. You
are connected everywhere
00:48:25.73\00:48:28.17
with the same great creative
super-intelligent force that
00:48:28.17\00:48:31.17
created and sustains the world
and continues to expand the very
00:48:31.17\00:48:34.58
dimensions of the
unfathomably immense universe."
00:48:34.58\00:48:37.61
That power is now in you. Now,
hold on. This gets even better.
00:48:37.78\00:48:43.39
"Your limitations can be
transcended." We're always
worried about, "Oh,
00:48:43.39\00:48:48.86
but I can't, but I can't because
I'm this, I'm that." Forget it.
00:48:48.86\00:48:51.89
Your limitations can be
transcended. He can do it.
00:48:51.89\00:48:54.83
Keep reading. "The
universe will be on your side."
00:48:54.83\00:49:00.20
Now, hold on, hold on.
"Meaningful coincidences --
Meaningful coincidences begin
00:49:00.20\00:49:07.01
to happen," and I love his
definition. "A coincidence is
00:49:07.01\00:49:11.21
God's way of working a miracle
anonymously." I tell you what, I
stand here before you to tell
00:49:11.21\00:49:20.79
you that's exactly what happens.
Sometimes I stop in the middle
of a day and I say, "God, what
00:49:20.79\00:49:25.99
are You doing? What is this?
I mean, I was thinking that, and
00:49:25.99\00:49:29.23
then he comes. I was
thinking this, and there she is.
00:49:29.23\00:49:32.17
What are You doing?" He said,
"Dwight, Dwight, didn't you ask
00:49:32.17\00:49:37.51
Me? Did you ask Me this morning
to fill your life today? Didn't
you ask to be baptized?
00:49:37.51\00:49:43.71
This is what I do for a living.
I do this all the time. It's
just if you don't ask, I
00:49:43.71\00:49:50.65
don't force myself. You
can have this if you want it."
00:49:50.65\00:49:55.69
Jesus said every day
continually, "Ask Him." Oh, one
00:49:55.69\00:50:02.43
more line here. So what happens,
these meaningful coincidences?
"Circumstances begin to work for
00:50:02.43\00:50:06.40
you, not against you. Other
people become helpful to you,
00:50:06.40\00:50:09.54
cooperative." Like, "Wow. Where
did that come from?" No, we're
00:50:09.54\00:50:12.34
on your side. Keep going.
"Chance encounters that bless
and benefit you and others will
00:50:12.34\00:50:15.74
increase. There will be
many more unexpected helpful
00:50:15.74\00:50:18.85
occurrences and other remarkable
synchronistic events in your
00:50:18.85\00:50:21.65
life." Now, here's the last
line. "When the student is
ready, the teacher will appear."
00:50:21.65\00:50:29.56
You ready? Hey, church, are you
ready? If you're ready, He will
00:50:29.56\00:50:37.83
appear. He will show up if He
has your permission. But He has
00:50:37.83\00:50:44.17
to have your permission, because
your free choice is way too
00:50:44.17\00:50:48.08
valuable to Him. He has to have
your permission. If the student
is ready, "when the student is
00:50:48.08\00:50:56.89
ready, the teacher will appear."
So, guys, that's it. That's the
00:50:56.89\00:51:03.89
gift. You can have it
every single day of your life. I
00:51:03.89\00:51:10.50
promise you. Yeah, but, Dwight,
you got to make this simpler
than that. Okay, I'm gonna close
00:51:10.50\00:51:17.54
with this. And you already have
it in your study guide, so I'm
gonna just fly through this.
00:51:17.54\00:51:20.88
I'm gonna give you a way, a
little Christmas primer, on how
to be baptized with the
00:51:20.88\00:51:24.31
Holy Spirit. Over the holiday,
'cause holiday's coming, and
00:51:24.31\00:51:27.22
into the new year, little
four-stepper. Would that be
okay? Let me run these by you.
00:51:27.22\00:51:30.35
You can do this every single
day. You don't have to be a
00:51:30.35\00:51:33.89
rocket scientist to experience
this. Here we go. Number one.
Step number one in your study
00:51:33.89\00:51:39.19
guide, it's called the set-up.
Okay? So you go to a little
place where you can be alone for
00:51:39.19\00:51:43.77
15 minutes. 15 minutes
is a deal. 15 minutes a day.
00:51:43.77\00:51:46.30
Step number one. So I go to my
little corner. What am I gonna
00:51:46.30\00:51:49.20
say there, Dwight? You say
this. Put it on the screen.
00:51:49.20\00:51:51.11
"I'm ready and waiting to
connect with You -- let's talk."
00:51:51.11\00:51:54.51
Okay, that's it. "I'm ready and
waiting to connect with You --
let's talk." "Well, what am I
00:51:54.51\00:51:58.88
supposed to do?" Well, take the
Bible. Just do one story a day
00:51:58.88\00:52:02.52
on Jesus. One story a day on
Jesus. Just read it, re-read it
00:52:02.52\00:52:05.82
to relive it. Just let
it become a part of you.
00:52:05.82\00:52:08.22
That's it. That's it. Now, don't
leave step number two out,
'cause here's the ask.
00:52:08.22\00:52:12.23
And what's the ask? Put
it on the screen, please.
00:52:12.23\00:52:14.76
Here's the ask. Please
baptize me with the same
00:52:14.93\00:52:18.87
Holy Spirit that baptized
Jesus in the story I just read.
00:52:18.87\00:52:21.84
So just let me have the spirit
that was operating in him."
00:52:21.84\00:52:24.87
I ask for that spirit.
This is all in your study guide.
00:52:24.87\00:52:29.71
So, the set-up, the ask, and now
very important, number three,
00:52:29.71\00:52:35.38
the thank you. What
are you talking about,
00:52:35.38\00:52:37.42
Dwight? Well, put it down.
00:52:37.42\00:52:38.65
"Thank you for the fresh baptism
I've received from you today."
00:52:38.65\00:52:41.16
Isn't that taking it a
little bit for granted?
00:52:41.16\00:52:43.36
Maybe I didn't get the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:52:43.36\00:52:45.73
My friend, if you are asking
for the Holy Spirit, guess what?
00:52:45.73\00:52:48.40
You got him. Let me read this.
00:52:48.40\00:52:49.90
Put it on the
screen. 1 John 5:14-15.
00:52:49.90\00:52:53.34
If He says, "Ask me every day
for the Holy Spirit and I will
give it to you," guess what?
00:53:05.68\00:53:09.12
Every day that you ask, you get
it, girl. Boy, you get it every
00:53:09.12\00:53:15.12
single day that you ask. He
said so. Don't wait to feel it.
00:53:15.12\00:53:19.36
That's what kills us. We all,
"Ahhh." No, there's nothing to
00:53:19.36\00:53:23.50
feel. It's faith.
Believe. Just believe.
00:53:23.50\00:53:28.60
You have the gift. Step
four, step four, it's the go.
00:53:28.60\00:53:33.24
Get up out of there. 15 minutes
is done. Let's get going.
00:53:33.24\00:53:37.11
Step four, the go. Oh,
when I found this, this is so
00:53:37.11\00:53:40.18
beautiful. Put it on the screen,
please, for us. Look at this.
00:53:40.18\00:53:42.75
This is from "The
Message" rendition.
00:53:42.75\00:53:44.89
You see that on the
screen? Proverbs 3:6.
00:53:45.05\00:53:48.46
Isn't this beautiful?
00:53:48.46\00:53:50.36
"I'm with you. Lo, I'm with you
always even at the end of the
00:53:59.17\00:54:03.54
age. I'm with you. Ask me."
And we'll turn this world upside
00:54:03.54\00:54:07.51
down, you and me. We'll
turn the world upside down.
00:54:07.51\00:54:11.21
I'm praying to God for 100
pleaders. God, just 100 pleaders
00:54:11.21\00:54:15.75
on the campus of Andrews
University. Berrien Springs,
Michigan. 100 pleaders who will
00:54:15.75\00:54:22.56
every day say, "Please. Please
baptize me today. Fill me with
00:54:22.56\00:54:28.20
Your spirit." Guys, ladies
and gentlemen, it's that simple.
00:54:28.20\00:54:33.57
It's not hard. You just ask, and
you receive. You seek, and you
00:54:33.57\00:54:38.14
find. You... [ Knocking ]
...knock, pssh, and the doors
00:54:38.14\00:54:47.35
open to you. So keep
asking. Please. That's it.
00:54:47.35\00:54:53.12
That's all I have to say. I hope
you do it. I'm praying for you.
00:54:53.12\00:54:57.49
I am praying for you. I need it.
We need. God needs 100 pleaders
00:54:57.49\00:55:05.30
for the new year. 100. And
you're one of them. Adventists
00:55:05.30\00:55:13.88
believe that we're nearing the
end. We need to act. We need to
act on that belief.
00:55:13.88\00:55:18.48
Let's pray. Oh, God,
hear us. Let it well up.
00:55:18.48\00:55:23.25
Oh, come, Emmanuel. Come. Even
so, come, Lord Jesus, we pray.
00:55:23.25\00:55:29.29
And that baptism that you
promised to every man, woman,
and child in this space right
00:55:29.29\00:55:35.26
now, create the hunger and
thirst to receive Your gift
every single morning until Jesus
00:55:35.26\00:55:44.01
comes. We pray
in his name. Amen.
00:55:44.01\00:55:48.31
Karen and I wanted to take this
family moment at the end of our
00:55:51.25\00:55:53.92
worship celebration to let
you know how grateful we are for
00:55:53.92\00:55:56.45
you. I've often
wished that through
00:55:56.45\00:55:58.09
the miracle of technology,
there'd be some way to turn this
00:55:58.09\00:56:00.69
screen into a two-way window
so that we could see you even as
00:56:00.69\00:56:03.29
you're looking at us.
00:56:03.29\00:56:04.69
I guess that would be like
Skyping our little
granddaughter, Ella.
00:56:04.86\00:56:08.56
But what a conversation we could
have together. >> One reason we
00:56:08.56\00:56:12.77
have to be thankful is for your
prayers. You'll never know the
impact your prayers have on this
00:56:12.77\00:56:17.37
ministry, on us, and our entire
team. We get letters literally
00:56:17.37\00:56:21.14
from around the world, and
nothing boosts our confidence
more than to hear that you're
00:56:21.14\00:56:26.18
praying for us. Thank you.
>> Another reason I'm personally
00:56:26.18\00:56:29.02
grateful to God is the very
gifted team of young producers
and techs who lead our
00:56:29.02\00:56:33.49
television, our live-streaming,
and our online ministries. And
get this number -- out of
00:56:33.49\00:56:38.26
the 50 team members, 47 are
volunteers who cheerfully give
00:56:38.26\00:56:42.50
their time to make "New
Perceptions" possible. I say God
bless them all. >> And maybe
00:56:42.50\00:56:47.14
you'd expect us to say this as
another year draws to an end,
but we're also thankful for the
00:56:47.14\00:56:52.17
financial support of viewers
like you who make this ministry
possible. If you've been blessed
00:56:52.17\00:56:57.45
this year, we'd like to ask you
to join the hundreds of people
who financially support our
00:56:57.45\00:57:02.65
"New Perceptions"
ministry. It's simple to do.
00:57:02.65\00:57:05.55
>> It really is. Just
call our toll-free number.
00:57:05.72\00:57:07.56
You'll see it on the screen
now. 877 and then the two words
00:57:07.56\00:57:11.19
"HIS-WILL." One of
our friendly operators
00:57:11.19\00:57:13.50
will be happy to assist
you. You can also click on the
00:57:13.50\00:57:15.86
"donate" link at
the top of our website.
00:57:15.86\00:57:17.73
Trust me. No gift
is too small for God to
00:57:17.73\00:57:20.20
use to spread His good news.
And let me remind you, not a
00:57:20.20\00:57:23.44
single penny of your
donation will come to me.
00:57:23.44\00:57:25.91
Every gift is entirely invested
in our mission to communicate
00:57:25.91\00:57:29.54
God's everlasting Gospel to
what we believe is an end-time
00:57:29.54\00:57:33.11
generation. So once
again, the number to
00:57:33.11\00:57:35.62
call is 877-HIS-WILL. >>
And so this Christmas, from
00:57:35.62\00:57:40.69
our family to yours, we wish for
you God's best gifts wrapped up
00:57:40.69\00:57:44.66
in Jesus day and night, all
through the new year to come.
00:57:44.66\00:57:48.26
>> Because remember, with Jesus,
the best isn't just behind us.
The very best is yet to come.
00:57:48.43\00:57:54.34
So a blessed
holiday to all of you.
00:57:54.34\00:57:58.21
い い
00:58:04.95\00:58:25.00
い
00:58:25.00\00:58:27.74