¤¤ [ Piano plays ]
00:00:00.20\00:00:10.54
>> I'm just gonna ask real
quick -- First of all, happy
00:00:10.54\00:00:13.27
Sabbath. >> All: Happy Sabbath.
00:00:13.27\00:00:14.98
>> Amen. Now,
it's such a beautiful
00:00:14.98\00:00:17.75
Sabbath, but specifically for
me 'cause this week was a little
00:00:17.75\00:00:20.38
bit tougher for me. It
was the last week before
00:00:20.38\00:00:24.69
finals exams. This
was the time of the week
00:00:24.69\00:00:26.76
where everything
was just piling up.
00:00:26.76\00:00:29.12
In the beginning of this week,
I'm not gonna act like I was in
my perfect happy mind.
00:00:29.29\00:00:34.50
I was a little bit down. But I
believed in God when -- [ Sighs
00:00:34.50\00:00:38.93
] I believe that, because He's
done it before, He's gotten me
through so many weeks like this,
00:00:38.93\00:00:43.74
that He would do it again. So
when I say happy Sabbath, it's a
00:00:43.74\00:00:48.01
beautiful Sabbath. Can we say
that one more time? Can we just
say, "Happy Sabbath"?
00:00:48.01\00:00:51.51
>> All: Happy Sabbath. >> It's a
beautiful day where I can just
rest and just praise
00:00:51.51\00:00:54.88
Him and just declare His glory
and how indescribably wonderful
00:00:54.88\00:01:01.42
He is. Can we sing that?
00:01:01.42\00:01:02.82
"From the heights of
heights." [ Congregation sings ]
00:01:02.99\00:01:07.50
¤¤ Sing it with us.
00:01:12.53\00:01:15.00
¤¤ ¤¤
00:01:19.01\00:01:38.93
¤¤ Sing it with your heart!
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¤¤ We have an amazing God.
00:01:47.00\00:01:53.14
Just listen to
what you're singing to.
00:01:57.38\00:01:59.88
¤¤ God, You are.
00:02:04.12\00:02:12.26
¤¤ I love this
part. "Who has..."
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¤¤ ¤¤
00:02:24.67\00:02:36.08
This God who imagined
everything into existence.
00:02:36.08\00:02:39.02
¤¤
00:02:43.63\00:02:52.03
"None can..." Sing
it with your heart, come
00:02:53.74\00:02:56.71
on.
00:02:56.71\00:02:57.74
¤¤ ¤¤
00:03:02.74\00:03:18.26
Sing it to Him!
00:03:18.26\00:03:19.89
¤¤ You're
singing this, declaring
00:03:24.60\00:03:27.80
who God is. With
all of your heart.
00:03:27.80\00:03:32.41
¤¤ And You are God.
00:03:36.98\00:03:47.79
Just listen to what
you're singing about Him.
00:03:51.13\00:03:53.86
¤¤ ¤¤
00:03:58.87\00:04:18.89
¤¤ Can we just state it and just
00:04:18.89\00:04:21.99
declare that?
00:04:21.99\00:04:23.39
¤¤ ¤¤
00:04:28.06\00:04:40.54
Our God is so amazing!
Can we just sing that to Him?
00:04:40.54\00:04:44.28
¤¤ ¤¤
00:04:49.32\00:05:01.60
Our God is so great. He
madeeverythingwith just a
00:05:01.60\00:05:05.67
single thought.
There's nothing too strong for
00:05:05.67\00:05:08.87
our God. "All powerful."
00:05:08.87\00:05:11.11
¤¤ ¤¤
00:05:15.61\00:05:26.65
I love this next
part. "Incomparable."
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[ Volume lowers ]
00:05:29.29\00:05:30.69
¤¤ Whoo!
00:05:35.70\00:05:40.24
Do you understand what...
We don't even see the depths of
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ourownhearts, and God knows
everything we're ashamed of but
00:05:45.67\00:05:48.81
still loves us.
Keep singing that.
00:05:48.81\00:05:51.11
Ah!
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My sinful heart. You
don't love me just enough,
00:05:58.92\00:06:03.19
but You love me just the same.
Can we sing that one last time?
00:06:03.19\00:06:08.73
Just sing it to Him.
00:06:11.67\00:06:13.50
¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:18.54\00:06:31.39
Somebody needs to
hear that, just the voices.
00:06:31.39\00:06:33.29
Somebody needs to
hear that. "Incomparable."
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This is for someone.
00:06:38.53\00:06:40.36
¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:45.23\00:06:57.48
Amen. Amen.
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[ "Agnus Dei" plays ]
00:07:05.72\00:07:08.49
This is the song I imagine we're
gonna sing in heaven, when we
just pour our crowns down to
00:07:12.66\00:07:17.57
Him, when we're shielding our
faces. This song is so simple
00:07:17.57\00:07:24.37
because all you can just say is
just, "Alleluia, for the Lord
God Almighty reigns."
00:07:24.37\00:07:30.21
Holy are You, Lord God Almighty.
Worthy is the Lamb. Sometimes, I
00:07:30.21\00:07:37.72
don't even need to ask God for
anything. All I just do is
praise Him, praise Him because I
00:07:37.72\00:07:42.12
know He's taking care of my
problems before I even ask. Can
we do that when we sing this
00:07:42.12\00:07:47.23
song? Can we just simply praise
Him, not asking anything, just
00:07:47.23\00:07:52.37
praise Him
because it's already done?
00:07:52.37\00:07:54.47
"Alleluia."
00:07:58.47\00:08:00.08
¤¤ Sing it to Him.
00:08:04.38\00:08:09.42
¤¤ Imagine
being right in heaven,
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God before him,
just declaring to him.
00:08:24.13\00:08:27.90
¤¤ "For the Lord."
00:08:32.71\00:08:44.09
¤¤ Just sing it
to Him 'cause it's
00:08:48.16\00:08:52.86
His song.
00:08:52.86\00:08:54.23
¤¤ ¤¤
00:08:58.53\00:09:18.55
¤¤ Sing to Him!
00:09:18.55\00:09:23.29
¤¤ ¤¤
00:09:28.30\00:09:43.65
Sing it to Him.
00:09:43.65\00:09:45.31
¤¤ ¤¤
00:09:48.88\00:10:08.80
¤¤ ¤¤
00:10:08.80\00:10:19.58
Sing that again.
00:10:19.58\00:10:21.15
¤¤ ¤¤
00:10:24.39\00:10:44.31
¤¤ Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
00:10:44.31\00:10:48.64
[ Song ends,
"Total Praise" plays ]
00:10:48.64\00:10:51.31
¤¤ This is your song for Him.
00:10:56.35\00:11:01.49
¤¤ Sing it to Him.
00:11:05.83\00:11:10.53
Our help comes from Him.
00:11:10.53\00:11:12.77
¤¤ We all have
things that we need
00:11:17.54\00:11:20.91
to give to God.
00:11:20.91\00:11:22.64
¤¤ ¤¤
00:11:27.68\00:11:39.89
Don't worry about
anyone around you.
00:11:39.89\00:11:42.43
Don't worry
about anything you see.
00:11:42.43\00:11:44.93
Don't worry
about feeling insecure.
00:11:44.93\00:11:47.44
Give God the praise
that's on your heart.
00:11:47.44\00:11:50.31
This is you and
God. Sing it to Him.
00:11:50.31\00:11:56.75
¤¤ It's your time with God.
00:12:01.78\00:12:07.72
¤¤ ¤¤
00:12:12.76\00:12:32.65
¤¤ Sing, "Lord."
00:12:32.65\00:12:34.98
¤¤ Just give it to Him in this
00:12:39.12\00:12:50.17
moment. I don't
know what's on your
00:12:50.17\00:12:52.33
heart, what you need to tell
Him, but tell Him right now.
00:12:52.33\00:12:55.57
This is your time with God.
It doesn't matter how long it's
00:12:55.57\00:12:59.14
been since you talked to
God. It doesn't matter how long.
00:12:59.14\00:13:02.68
You're here right now.
You're here right now with Him.
00:13:02.68\00:13:06.82
You're here right now.
00:13:06.82\00:13:08.62
¤¤ Sing it to Him.
00:13:13.59\00:13:17.19
¤¤ Lord, You're so good.
00:13:20.83\00:13:28.24
No matter what we're going
through, You can take care of
00:13:28.24\00:13:30.31
it, God. Somebody
needs to hear this,
00:13:30.31\00:13:34.34
God. Somebody
needs to hear this.
00:13:34.34\00:13:36.58
I believe in Your power. I
declare Your power in the Name
00:13:36.58\00:13:40.08
of Jesus.
00:13:40.08\00:13:41.72
¤¤ [ Applause ]
00:13:46.25\00:13:55.33
¤¤ ¤¤
00:13:59.53\00:14:16.92
Give it to God right now.
Don't worry about the people
00:14:16.92\00:14:20.59
around you.
00:14:20.59\00:14:22.02
Amen.
00:14:27.03\00:14:28.53
¤¤ Such a
powerful, mighty God we
00:14:32.40\00:14:44.05
have. All we can
say is amen to Your
00:14:44.05\00:14:47.32
glory and Your Name.
00:14:47.32\00:14:49.58
¤¤ ¤¤
00:14:54.46\00:15:12.14
[ Flourish ] Hallelujah!
00:15:12.14\00:15:15.18
[ Song ends, applause ]
00:15:15.18\00:15:16.91
>> Happy Sabbath to you. Is
this the last Sabbath of April?
00:15:19.35\00:15:22.62
It is! This is the last Sabbath
at Andrews University, except
00:15:22.62\00:15:25.79
they start May Express in just a
few days, and then they'll go
plowing right through the
00:15:25.79\00:15:29.62
summer. And you have a few more
weeks at your schools, I know.
00:15:29.62\00:15:32.66
I know you do, but it's nice to
see you on this beautiful,
beautiful -- as Chaplain José
00:15:32.66\00:15:38.50
said, "At last, a Sabbath in
spring." Nice to have you. God
00:15:38.50\00:15:44.71
bless you. Say, I was in
Thailand just a few days ago,
00:15:44.87\00:15:49.58
and so we're in this
beautiful "Garden of Eden."
00:15:49.58\00:15:53.15
I'd never been in a place like
this, and there were a bunch of
missionaries with their
00:15:53.31\00:15:57.49
children -- over 200 of them --
and we were meeting together and
worshiping every day, and
00:15:57.49\00:16:01.92
they're just getting rested
and refreshed from the Adventist
00:16:01.92\00:16:05.63
Frontier Missions global
retreat. They came from all over
the world, and I want to show
00:16:05.63\00:16:08.63
you a beautiful place that they
went to. This is in Chiang Mai,
00:16:08.63\00:16:11.17
the second-largest city in
Thailand. So there's some of the
places where they were staying.
00:16:11.17\00:16:16.87
Let's see the dining room. Oh,
there's a -- Look at all those
00:16:16.87\00:16:20.48
lily pads. You can see some
of them budding. But I must tell
00:16:20.48\00:16:23.45
you this, boys and girls. It was
like a garden. It was like the
00:16:23.45\00:16:26.08
Garden of Eden, and I saw
animals there. I saw animals,
very strange animals, but I'm
00:16:26.08\00:16:32.52
gonna show them to you, and I
want to see how good you are in
spotting animals, okay?
00:16:32.52\00:16:36.29
So you have your eyes ready to
go? Look at these two screens.
00:16:36.29\00:16:39.49
Here we go. First
animal, please. Oh, there he is.
00:16:39.49\00:16:42.46
What is that? >> Bunny rabbit?
>> A bunny. You nailed it.
00:16:42.46\00:16:46.60
It is a bunny. Can't you see
that bunny? Look at those floppy
00:16:46.60\00:16:51.21
ears and that eye just watching.
Very good. Well, do you know
00:16:51.21\00:16:54.44
what that bunny's made out
of? Let's see another one. We'll
00:16:54.44\00:16:57.01
find out. Oh! I bet you can't
recognize those. >> Together:
00:16:57.01\00:17:00.78
Elephants! >> Those are
elephants. Do you see the mommy
elephant and the little baby
00:17:00.78\00:17:03.92
holding on to the mommy's tail?
Oh, look at those elephants.
Those are all bushes.
00:17:03.92\00:17:08.56
You see the bush here? The
elephant comes right up out of
the bush, and the gardeners,
00:17:08.56\00:17:13.03
hundreds of gardeners, who just
shape the branches until it
turns into the shape of an
00:17:13.03\00:17:17.47
elephant. Let's see the next
one. You won't get this one.
00:17:17.47\00:17:20.64
Oh! Out of -- [ Indistinct
shouting ] Can you see the
00:17:20.64\00:17:24.24
dolphins? Boy, you got good
eyes. I didn't think you'd see
those at all, jumping over the
00:17:24.24\00:17:28.44
water. They're made out of --
It's just a growing bush. Oh,
you're not gonna get the
00:17:28.44\00:17:32.21
next one. I know you
won't get the next one.
00:17:32.21\00:17:34.58
Yeah! >> Together:
Dinosaur! >> Oh, I'm sorry.
00:17:34.58\00:17:37.59
[ Chuckles ] You got it. Yeah,
look at that dinosaur. "Boom,
00:17:37.59\00:17:43.69
boom, boom, boom!" >> It's made
of a bush! >> What? >> It's made
00:17:43.69\00:17:46.73
out of a bush. >> It's made out
of a bush. You're absolutely
right. Let's see if this next
00:17:46.73\00:17:49.70
one is made out of a bush.
Ooh! More -- What are those? >>
00:17:49.70\00:17:54.07
Together: Bunnies! >> Hey,
listen, if somebody could shape
your life and grow your life and
00:17:54.07\00:18:00.81
turn your branches this way and
that way, would you want to be
made to look like a bunny?
00:18:00.81\00:18:05.08
>> Together: No! >> Would you
like to look like a dinosaur?
00:18:05.08\00:18:08.42
>> Together: No! >> How 'bout
an elephant? >> Together: No!
00:18:08.42\00:18:12.65
>> Do you know what? Jesus
says, "I'm the vine, you're the
00:18:12.65\00:18:16.62
branches. I'll train you
until you look like... me!"
00:18:16.62\00:18:20.83
He says, "You'll look just like
me." I don't want to grow up and
00:18:20.83\00:18:23.97
look like an animal, do you? >>
Together: No! >> I want to grow
00:18:23.97\00:18:27.44
up and look just like Jesus. He
says, "I can do it. I'll be the
00:18:27.44\00:18:32.44
vine, you be the branches, and I
will train your little life to
look just...like...me."
00:18:32.44\00:18:37.51
How many want Jesus to just keep
working on us till we look just
00:18:37.51\00:18:42.98
like Him? Yep. Me too. And,
Jovan, you got me before the
00:18:42.98\00:18:50.33
service began. I had you on
hold. Come on. Come on up.
Jovan, grab a microphone when
00:18:50.33\00:18:54.76
you come. There's got to
be one somewhere. There it is.
00:18:54.76\00:18:58.37
We're gonna pray with Jovan.
He's gonna lead us in prayer.
He's gonna thank Jesus for
00:18:58.37\00:19:02.24
[Whispering] shaping us into His
own likeness. [ Normal voice ]
00:19:02.24\00:19:05.77
Let's close our eyes and fold
our hands. Jovan? >> Dear God,
00:19:05.77\00:19:09.94
we give You thanks for bringing
all of us together as a family,
and we ask that You bless all of
00:19:09.94\00:19:14.92
us who may be going through hard
times and ask You to bless
everyone who is sitting here
00:19:14.92\00:19:18.89
today. And we give You thanks
for having us all together as we
worship You, dear Father.
00:19:18.89\00:19:23.12
>> Amen. >> In the
Name, we pray. Amen. >> Amen.
00:19:23.12\00:19:25.96
Beautiful prayer, Jovan. You can
be saying that as you go back to
00:19:25.96\00:19:30.97
your seat now with Jovan. Just
say, "Thank you, Jesus. You're a
00:19:30.97\00:19:34.90
wonderful Savior." Bless
you. Happy Sabbath, everybody.
00:19:34.90\00:19:37.41
>> Oh, God, we are glad to be
alive. We are glad to be here.
00:19:40.51\00:19:43.55
We are glad to know that it
is Your house and this is Your
00:19:43.55\00:19:48.12
presence. We linger just a
little longer. If You have a
word for us, now would be the
00:19:48.12\00:19:53.09
time to send it through, clean
out the distractions and the
clutter, get through to our
00:19:53.09\00:20:00.26
hearts. Somebody's gonna get
called to do the impossible
through You. And we want to
00:20:00.26\00:20:09.94
know, "Are You thinking about
me? Are You thinking about him,
00:20:09.94\00:20:13.48
about her?" Speak, Lord. Your
servant heareth. In Jesus' name,
00:20:13.48\00:20:19.88
we pray. Amen.
00:20:19.88\00:20:21.45
Speaking of joy and attitude, a
joyful attitude, somebody wrote
00:20:21.62\00:20:25.55
this. It says, "Author unknown."
00:20:25.55\00:20:27.79
Probably by that famous author
"Anon E. Moose." [anonymous]
00:20:27.79\00:20:31.43
[ Laughter ] This is just 10
lines long, but let me share it
00:20:31.59\00:20:35.43
with you. "There once was a
woman who woke up one morning,
looked in the mirror, and
00:20:35.43\00:20:40.30
noticed that she only had
three hairs on her head." It can
00:20:40.30\00:20:43.87
happen. "'Well,' she said,
'I think I'll braid my hair
00:20:44.04\00:20:46.37
today.'" [ Laughter ]
"So she did, and she had a
00:20:46.37\00:20:48.14
wonderful day. The
next day, she woke up and
00:20:48.14\00:20:50.11
looked in the mirror and saw
that she had only two hairs on
00:20:50.11\00:20:53.31
her head. 'Mm,'
she said, 'I think I'll
00:20:53.31\00:20:56.05
part my hair down
the middle today.'"
00:20:56.05\00:20:58.69
[ Laughter ]
00:20:58.69\00:20:59.59
"And she did and had a grand
day. The next day, she woke up
00:20:59.75\00:21:02.39
and looked in the mirror and
noticed that she had only one
00:21:02.39\00:21:05.29
hair on her head. 'Well,' she
said, 'today I think I'll wear
my hair in a ponytail.'"
00:21:05.29\00:21:07.96
[ Laughter ] "And she did,
and she had a fun, fun day.
00:21:07.96\00:21:11.03
The next day --" [ Gasps ]
"The next day, she woke up and
00:21:11.03\00:21:13.60
looked in the mirror and noticed
that there wasn't a single hair
00:21:13.60\00:21:16.94
on her head. 'Yippee!' she
exclaimed. 'I don't have to fix
00:21:16.94\00:21:20.74
my hair today!'" [ Laughter,
applause ] That's the deal with
attitude -- attitude, attitude.
00:21:20.74\00:21:26.48
Attitude of joy. Yes can
do. That's what we're calling it
00:21:26.48\00:21:29.68
around here, the "yes can do"
attitude. I love the way that
00:21:29.68\00:21:32.99
popular writer Chuck Swindoll
put it. We open this little
three-parter that ends right now
00:21:32.99\00:21:37.56
-- we opened it
with Swindoll's words.
00:21:37.56\00:21:39.29
Put it on the
screen for you again.
00:21:39.46\00:21:41.03
Take a look at this.
Isn't this something that just
00:21:41.03\00:21:43.23
kind of pump you up?
"This may shock you," Swindoll
00:21:43.23\00:21:45.83
writes, "but I believe the
single most significant decision
00:21:45.83\00:21:49.10
I can make on a day-to-day
basis is my choice of attitude."
00:21:49.10\00:21:53.11
Attitude. Living with a 'tude.
00:22:19.20\00:22:22.10
That's the kind of 'tude
I'd like to have, yes can do.
00:22:22.10\00:22:26.84
It's what we've been
reflecting on together --
00:22:26.84\00:22:28.88
"Yes Can Do: How to Live With an
Attitude," "Yes Can Do: How to
00:22:28.88\00:22:31.51
Pray With an Attitude," and
today, "Yes Can Do: How to Dare
00:22:31.51\00:22:35.08
With an Attitude." Some
of you are gonna go out of
00:22:35.08\00:22:37.62
this place, and you are gonna be
confronted with an impossibility
00:22:37.62\00:22:40.82
that anybody else without your
conviction and attitude would
00:22:40.82\00:22:43.79
turn back and say,
"I quit. It's over.
00:22:43.79\00:22:46.03
I'm not going ahead."
00:22:46.03\00:22:47.93
But because of what God is gonna
say to you in His Word today,
you're gonna realize, "I can go
00:22:48.06\00:22:52.87
over that." Yes can do. I
was amazed how many verses in
00:22:52.87\00:22:57.84
the Bible really have "can do"
in it. [ Chuckles ] I started a
00:22:57.84\00:23:00.71
collection of them. We opened
up with the famous Philippians
00:23:00.71\00:23:04.55
4:13. "Ican doall things through
Christ --" Let's read these out
00:23:04.55\00:23:07.92
loud. "I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens
me." Here was the second one --
00:23:07.92\00:23:11.99
Deuteronomy,
Moses praying to God.
00:23:11.99\00:23:14.39
And now today. Oho,
you're gonna love this one. Job.
00:23:18.76\00:23:21.40
We're talking about Job, who
went through hell in his book.
We're talking about the same
00:23:21.40\00:23:25.57
Job, chapter 42, the last words
in the Book of Job, from the
00:23:25.57\00:23:30.87
lips of Job. Can you believe
this? Go back to the book before
the Psalms, and it's Job, and
00:23:30.87\00:23:35.84
find the last page of Job. That
would be Job 42. Take a look at
00:23:35.84\00:23:39.45
this. I'm in the New
International Version. Whatever
translation you have or
00:23:39.45\00:23:42.85
what you got on your phone's
fine by me. Didn't bring any of
00:23:42.85\00:23:46.25
that, grab the pew
Bible in front of you.
00:23:46.25\00:23:48.16
Job 42:1. And verse
1 simply reads, "Then
00:23:48.32\00:23:51.66
Job replied to the Lord --"
Well, we got to get on to verse
00:23:51.66\00:23:54.20
2. Here it is.
00:23:54.20\00:23:55.03
"I know that You --"
What? "You can do all things; no
00:23:55.03\00:24:00.60
purpose of Yours
can be thwarted."
00:24:00.60\00:24:04.37
"I've been to hell and back, and
one thing I know, and that is,
00:24:04.37\00:24:10.38
oh, God, you can do all
things." [ Chuckling ] Wow.
00:24:10.38\00:24:15.65
"You can do." And that's exactly
-- By the way, that's exactly
00:24:15.82\00:24:20.02
what Jonathan believed, and
because he did, you are about to
experience one of the most
00:24:20.02\00:24:23.93
stunning attitude-adjustment
stories in all of sacred
00:24:23.93\00:24:27.10
literature. You may have never
heard this story before, but
00:24:27.10\00:24:30.30
it's in the Bible. But before we
go to the story, I want you to
[Exhaling sharply] focus your
00:24:30.30\00:24:34.64
eyes on a picture. We'll put it
on the screen for you. Take a
look at this picture.
00:24:34.64\00:24:38.11
Can you believe that? Take a
look at that. That, my friends,
00:24:38.11\00:24:42.18
is the Wadi -- that's Arabic for
"valley" or "ravine --" that's
00:24:42.18\00:24:47.72
the Wadi Suweinit. It's a deep
gorge that ran beneath the
ancient Philistine garrison at a
00:24:47.72\00:24:53.22
place called Michmash. That's
it, the ravine between two
00:24:53.22\00:24:57.43
cliffs. Now, keep looking at
this picture because, on either
side of the picture, you'll see
00:24:57.43\00:25:00.96
cliffs. On the north side of
the picture -- that would be the
00:25:00.96\00:25:03.53
left side of the picture --
you'll see a cliff that they
00:25:03.53\00:25:06.50
called Bozez. And on the right
side of the picture -- that
would be the south side --
00:25:06.50\00:25:10.91
you'll see a cliff called Seneh.
Take a good look at it because
right here, 3,400 years ago, a
00:25:10.91\00:25:16.51
young prince and his
armor-bearer changed the course
00:25:16.51\00:25:22.35
of history. Come on. Let's look.
1 Samuel 14. Find it in your Old
00:25:22.35\00:25:26.89
Testament, 1 Samuel 14.
Unbelievable story. 1 Samuel 14.
00:25:26.89\00:25:32.16
We'll begin in verse 1.
"One day, Jonathan --" Oho.
00:25:32.33\00:25:35.30
That's the young prince.
"One day, Jonathan, son of Saul,
00:25:35.30\00:25:38.87
said to his young
armor-bearer, 'Come, let's go.
00:25:38.87\00:25:41.94
Let's go over to the Philistine
outpost on the other side.'
00:25:41.94\00:25:45.17
But --" Shh! [
Whispering ] He did not tell
00:25:45.17\00:25:47.28
his father. [ Normal
voice ] You know why?
00:25:47.28\00:25:49.38
Because his father is
moody, mercurial, newly crowned
00:25:49.38\00:25:52.31
King Saul, who is so insecure
in his administration that he's
00:25:52.31\00:25:56.18
required this ragtag army to
hang around in his sight, he's
00:25:56.18\00:25:58.79
got them under his thumb,
and, "Nobody leaves without my
00:25:58.79\00:26:01.36
permission." "Shh!
We won't tell my dad."
00:26:01.36\00:26:06.16
Verse 2.
00:26:06.16\00:26:07.86
"...among whom was Ahijah,
who was wearing an ephod."
00:26:14.34\00:26:16.91
That's the
clothing of a high priest.
00:26:16.91\00:26:18.81
"He was a son of Ichabod's
brother Ahitub, son of Phinehas,
00:26:18.81\00:26:21.78
son of --" the famous high
priest Eli -- everybody knows
00:26:21.78\00:26:24.58
Eli -- "the
Lord's priest in Shiloh.
00:26:24.58\00:26:26.55
No one was aware
that Jonathan had left."
00:26:26.55\00:26:28.72
Now verse 4. "On
each side of the pass that
00:26:28.72\00:26:31.12
Jonathan intended to cut across
to reach the Philistine outpost
00:26:31.12\00:26:34.29
was a cliff --" we just saw that
picture -- "one was called Bozez
00:26:34.29\00:26:37.53
and the other was Seneh."
00:26:37.53\00:26:39.09
Where Saul is camped. Put it on
the screen again. Take a look so
00:26:46.30\00:26:51.54
now you can picture this. The
boys are on the right side of
the picture, all right?
00:26:51.54\00:26:54.64
That's the south side. At
this moment, they're behind a
00:26:54.64\00:26:59.31
boulder. They have no
binoculars, no little telescope.
They have to shield their eyes.
00:26:59.31\00:27:02.88
They're looking around the rock,
and Jonathan is saying, "Hey,
00:27:02.88\00:27:05.59
see. [ Whispering ] Look, look,
look. That's it, other side.
We'll have to go up the north
00:27:05.59\00:27:09.86
face, but up atop, you see the
garrison there, the soldiers.
Shh, shh, shh! There they are."
00:27:09.86\00:27:14.30
[ Normal voice ] As they survey
the scene, you could see the two
of them scanning the north face.
00:27:14.30\00:27:20.17
"Where would we go?"
00:27:20.17\00:27:21.57
Then Jonathan speaks. Verse
6. "Jonathan said to his young
00:27:21.74\00:27:24.54
armor-bearer, 'Come, come.
Let's go over to the outpost of
00:27:24.54\00:27:27.31
those uncircumcised men."
That's code language for pagan.
00:27:27.31\00:27:30.58
"Let's go to those
pagans. We're gonna go to that
00:27:30.58\00:27:33.82
fortress." "Perhaps
the Lord will act in
00:27:33.82\00:27:36.55
our behalf." Oho,
this is something else.
00:27:36.55\00:27:39.42
Hey, listen, ladies and
gentlemen, don't you just love
that kind of an attitude?
00:27:45.36\00:27:47.96
Yes can do! I mean, here he
is. "Bro, I think we can do it.
00:27:47.96\00:27:55.17
We'll go down this cliff, and
then we'll cross the ravine, and
00:27:55.17\00:27:59.11
we'll call them. [ Whistles ]
We'll get their attention. And
00:27:59.11\00:28:04.78
then we'll go up. We'll climb up
the north face all the way to
the top." [ Scoffs ]
00:28:04.78\00:28:11.12
Can -- "Listen, by way I got it
figured, there are only two of
us -- 600 back with my dad, but,
00:28:11.12\00:28:15.29
listen, what's that matter? 2,
600 -- doesn't matter how many
00:28:15.29\00:28:18.46
God needs. He can do it by two,
He can do it by many. He can
00:28:18.46\00:28:24.37
save Israel." And then notice
verse 7. The armor-bearer
responds. You put yourself in
00:28:24.37\00:28:27.27
the armor-bearer's place,
and you've just heard this
00:28:27.27\00:28:30.04
proposal." The armor-bearer
says in verse 7, "Yo, prince..."
00:28:30.21\00:28:33.21
You know why that man
is responding that way?
00:28:41.22\00:28:42.78
I'll tell you why.
00:28:42.78\00:28:44.19
Because people love hanging
around a leader with a "yes can
00:28:44.35\00:28:47.76
do" attitude. People love to
follow somebody who says, "Yes
can do. We can do it."
00:28:47.76\00:28:50.93
If the leader's wimpin' around,
if the leader's whining around
-- "The circumstances are
00:28:50.93\00:28:54.86
poor for us. We're just not
gonna make it. I'm so sad that
00:28:54.86\00:28:58.23
the story has turned out this
way." Nobody wants to hang
around with a leader like that.
00:28:58.23\00:29:01.74
You want to hang around with
somebody, you hang around with a
man or a woman that believes,
00:29:01.74\00:29:05.81
"We can do this in the
power of God. We can do this.
00:29:05.81\00:29:08.38
Let's not turn back. Let's keep
going forward. We'll go up that
00:29:08.38\00:29:13.05
rock." "Yes, sir. I'm with you
all the way." "Patriarchs and
00:29:13.05\00:29:18.85
Prophets," by the way, tells us
that, when they're hiding behind
that boulder before they go
00:29:18.85\00:29:21.92
down, the boys bow down on their
faces before the God of Israel.
00:29:21.92\00:29:25.29
Put "Patriarchs and
Prophets" on the screen for you.
00:29:25.46\00:29:28.23
"With earnest prayer to the
--" capital G -- "Guide of their
00:29:28.23\00:29:31.37
fathers, these two young men
agreed upon a sign by which they
00:29:31.37\00:29:34.57
might determine how to
proceed." Now, I got to tell you
00:29:34.57\00:29:37.51
something. This
sign is ingenious.
00:29:37.51\00:29:39.47
It is a gutsy sort of sign.
You're gonna have to admit this.
00:29:39.47\00:29:42.84
And Jonathan now says, "I'm
thinking we ought to do this."
00:29:43.01\00:29:47.55
"Are you serious?" Lookit. Go
down to verse 8. So, Jonathan,
after they pray, says, "Okay,
00:29:47.55\00:29:52.79
look, look, look. Come on, then.
Here's what we do. We'll cross
over toward them and
00:29:52.79\00:29:56.12
let them see us." So that's that
whistle. [ Whistles sharply ]
00:29:56.12\00:29:58.86
"We'll call them. They'll
have to see us." Now, look.
00:29:58.86\00:30:02.06
"If they say to us --" verse 9
-- "'Wait there until we come to
you,' we will stay where we
00:30:02.06\00:30:07.70
are and not go up to them. But
if they say, 'Come up to us,
boys, and we'll teach you a
00:30:07.70\00:30:13.54
thing or two,' we will climb up,
because that will be our sign
that the Lord has given them
00:30:13.54\00:30:19.58
into our hands.'" Hit
the pause button right there.
00:30:19.58\00:30:23.15
I want you to catch something
that you don't catch the first
time you go through this, and
00:30:23.15\00:30:26.79
that is that Jonathan -- You
know what he'snotsaying?
Jonathan is not embedding a
00:30:26.79\00:30:32.69
coward's retreat into any
strategy that they're imagining.
Jonathan is not saying, "If they
00:30:32.69\00:30:40.07
say, 'Yo, boys, come on up
here...'" Jonathan is saying,
00:30:40.07\00:30:47.64
"Look... no matter what they
say, we're holding this ground."
Do you notice that, ladies and
00:30:47.64\00:30:53.82
gentlemen? There is no escape.
"If they say, 'Yo, boys we're
00:30:53.82\00:30:57.15
coming down,' that doesn't mean
'get out of here.' No, we're
holding this ground,
00:30:57.15\00:31:01.52
no matter which way they
respond." Jonathan is convinced
00:31:01.52\00:31:07.03
he will engage the battle.
Isn't that amazing? Isn't that
00:31:07.03\00:31:13.30
amazing. No way out. "We fight
to the death." [ Exhales deeply
00:31:13.30\00:31:20.51
] Sure you want to follow a
leader like that? [ Scoffs ]
00:31:20.51\00:31:24.11
I love that picture, by the way.
You know why I love it? Because
it's a picture of the
00:31:27.65\00:31:31.79
church, that's why. There's a
line Jesus speaks, and we've
totally gotten the line
00:31:31.79\00:31:34.69
wrong, and you'll see what we've
done with it. Do you remember
00:31:34.69\00:31:37.33
when Jesus turned to Peter and
He turned to his disciples and
said, "Hey, I want to tell you
00:31:37.33\00:31:40.56
something"? Let's put it on the
screen here, Matthew 16:18.
Jesus says, "I will build My
00:31:40.56\00:31:44.57
church," all right? "I'm the
church builder. You're not the
00:31:44.57\00:31:48.17
church builder. You're not the
church builder. I will build My
church --" and now notice this.
00:31:48.17\00:31:51.91
Jot this down in your study
guide, please. "And the gates of
00:31:51.91\00:31:55.28
Hades --" write in the word
"gates," because that's a key.
"And the gates of Hades will not
00:31:55.28\00:32:01.88
overcome it." Now, Jesus
could absolutely be no clearer.
00:32:01.88\00:32:06.49
Do you know why? Because
the gates never go to battle.
00:32:06.49\00:32:09.89
Gates never go to war, do they?
No, it'sarmieswho go to war. The
only time gates ever appear
00:32:09.89\00:32:15.46
in a story of a battle is when
the enemy has retreated to
behind its gates and the chasing
00:32:15.46\00:32:21.20
army is at the gates, pounding
on the gates to get the enemy.
That's what Jesus is describing
00:32:21.20\00:32:27.11
here. This is not a
defensive posture. This is
00:32:27.11\00:32:34.28
anoffensivestance. "I will build
My church, and the gates of
Hades will not overcome it."
00:32:34.28\00:32:39.25
The church battering against the
gates of hell, against the gates
of the kingdom of Satan --
00:32:39.25\00:32:45.43
battering against those gates,
battering them open so that they
can rescue those being held in
00:32:45.43\00:32:50.80
that fortress. That's
the picture of the church.
00:32:50.80\00:32:53.87
This is not a coward's picture.
This is not hell coming to us
and just beating us back and we
00:32:53.87\00:32:59.11
have nowhere to go now. It's
the exact opposite. Amazing.
00:32:59.11\00:33:05.35
Just like Jonathan. We're gonna
engage. "I don't care what they
00:33:05.35\00:33:09.38
say, I don't care what their
response is -- we engage them!"
And that's what Jesus is saying
00:33:09.38\00:33:15.06
to you and me. "Don't you worry
about how the enemy responds.
00:33:15.06\00:33:18.56
Don't you worry about the
enemy's countermoves. Engage
00:33:18.56\00:33:22.33
him. You engage him for me." And
guess who will be with us
always, even to the end of the
00:33:22.33\00:33:28.70
age. Yeah. Once
upon a time, Ellen White
00:33:28.70\00:33:34.98
was shown a picture of the
endgame battle. You got to see
00:33:34.98\00:33:39.28
this. I'll put it on the screen.
It's in your study guide. You
need to fill it out.
00:33:39.28\00:33:42.92
So, she's looking on,
and here's what she sees.
00:33:43.08\00:33:46.19
"The battle raged.
Victory alternated from side to
00:33:46.19\00:33:49.49
side." One time,
oh, there went it.
00:33:49.49\00:33:51.29
Oh, no, there went it.
"Now," she says, "the soldiers
00:33:51.29\00:33:53.56
of the cross give way."
It looks like they're being
00:33:53.56\00:33:55.73
beaten back. And then she quotes
00:33:55.73\00:33:57.23
Isaiah 10:18, "As when a
standardbearer fainteth."
00:33:57.23\00:34:00.77
He drops the flag. But
hold on, hold on, hold on.
00:34:00.77\00:34:03.81
Their apparent retreat was
but to gain a more advantageous
00:34:03.81\00:34:07.48
position."
Sometimes, you are driven back,
00:34:07.48\00:34:10.25
but do you understand this?
00:34:10.25\00:34:11.98
God cannot lose. Do you
understand? It is humanly,
00:34:12.15\00:34:17.39
divinely impossible for God to
lose. He can't lose. He always
wins. It sometimes looks like
00:34:17.39\00:34:24.86
we're in retreat, but He says
-- [ Shushing ] "You watch where
00:34:24.86\00:34:28.80
you -- You're coming around a
corner here. You'll be perfectly
00:34:28.80\00:34:33.77
positioned now." He
doesn't lose. Keep reading.
00:34:33.77\00:34:36.37
When they realized that,
"Shouts of joy were heard.
00:34:36.54\00:34:39.21
A song of praise to God went up,
and the angel voices --" oh, we
00:34:39.21\00:34:43.58
have help, like your
voices, the angel voices join...
00:34:43.58\00:34:50.65
"united in the song, as Christ's
soldiers planted His banner on
00:34:50.65\00:34:54.26
the walls of fortresses --"
now, jot this down -- this is
00:34:54.26\00:34:57.56
unbelievable -- "on the walls of
fortresses till then --" jot in
00:34:57.56\00:35:01.23
those two words.
Until then, these had been
00:35:01.23\00:35:03.83
fortresses held by the enemy.
Do you know what "till then"
00:35:03.83\00:35:07.20
means? The fortress fell.
00:35:07.20\00:35:09.67
Somebody went up against the
gates, and that fortress came
00:35:09.67\00:35:12.77
down. And in a
few days, I'm getting
00:35:12.77\00:35:14.64
on a big jet plane, and I'm
gonna cross the Pacific, and
00:35:14.64\00:35:17.28
I'll be in Japan two
weeks from right now.
00:35:17.28\00:35:19.98
"Why you going to
Japan, Dwight?" [ Scoffs ]
00:35:20.15\00:35:22.12
Why did we have the day of
fasting and prayer a few weeks
00:35:22.12\00:35:24.72
ago? Why? Because there is
a massive fortress called the
00:35:24.72\00:35:29.12
"Land of the Rising Sun," and
the iron grip of the enemy has
held for centuries the Japanese
00:35:29.12\00:35:35.46
people. And he says, "I'm not
letting go. I'm not letting go."
00:35:41.80\00:35:46.04
But Jesus says, "Sorry. Even the
gates of hell will not be able
to keep my people out.
00:35:46.04\00:35:54.28
Do you understand that?
00:35:54.28\00:35:56.12
Sorry. It's over,
Satan. I need you praying.
00:35:56.28\00:36:03.86
That's the deal. I
just need you praying.
00:36:03.86\00:36:05.89
[ Chuckles ] Please don't
wait for two weeks from today.
00:36:05.89\00:36:08.53
Please start
praying immediately."
00:36:08.53\00:36:11.03
Because the day will come --
With all my heart, I believe
this -- yes can do.
00:36:11.20\00:36:15.27
The day will come when the
banner of the Lord Jesus will be
planted on the walls of the
00:36:15.27\00:36:19.87
Land of the Rising Sun. In fact,
I'm gonna share a promise with
00:36:19.87\00:36:25.21
you. You want something to pray?
And certain is -- I'm sorry I
didn't get it into the study
00:36:25.21\00:36:28.85
guide. Didn't get it into my
notes until last night, but I
00:36:28.85\00:36:31.05
want you to see this. Jeremiah
chapter 16. Mercy. Did you know
00:36:31.05\00:36:36.42
that this was in your Bible?
Jeremiah chapter 16. I'm just
gonna read it to you
00:36:36.42\00:36:39.13
'cause we didn't even have
time to put it on the screen.
00:36:39.13\00:36:42.56
Jeremiah 16:19. Jeremiah
is praying to God, okay?
00:36:42.56\00:36:45.37
This is dynamite now.
This is dynamite stuff.
00:36:45.53\00:36:47.97
Jeremiah is praying
to God in Jeremiah 16:19.
00:36:47.97\00:36:52.04
"Oh, Lord, my strength and my
fortress, my refuge in time of
00:36:52.04\00:36:56.08
distress, to You --" hey, God,
to You -- I know -- "to You the
00:36:56.08\00:37:01.92
nations will come from
the ends of the earth."
00:37:01.92\00:37:04.62
They're gonna come to You one
day. Now, I want you to get what
00:37:04.79\00:37:07.76
Jeremiah's prophesying the
nations are gonna say. Watch
00:37:07.76\00:37:10.69
this. Keep reading. "To You the
nations will come from the ends
00:37:10.69\00:37:14.56
of the earth, and they will say
--" now, listen -- "our
ancestors --" Hit the pause
00:37:14.56\00:37:20.97
button right there because Japan
ishugeon ancestors. Ancestor
worship is what has held this
00:37:20.97\00:37:27.28
island nation in an iron grip.
But they're gonna say one day,
"Our ancestors possess nothing
00:37:27.28\00:37:33.18
but false gods." [ Snaps
fingers ] It dawns on them.
00:37:33.18\00:37:39.22
"I can't believe this. All these
gods, all these centuries."
00:37:39.22\00:37:44.69
[ Chuckles ] "Our ancestors
possessed nothing but false
gods, worthless idols
00:37:44.69\00:37:49.20
that did them no good. Do people
make their own gods? Yes, but
they are not gods," the
00:37:49.20\00:37:55.57
people will say. Isn't that
amazing? The day is coming when
00:37:55.57\00:38:01.11
the unfurled, blood-dipped
banner of Emmanuel will fly atop
the fortress of the
00:38:01.11\00:38:07.45
Land of the Rising Sun. But you
know why? Because they'll let
00:38:07.45\00:38:10.69
it. They'll say, "We've been
fooled." One translation says,
00:38:10.69\00:38:13.79
"Our ancestors were fools."
"We've been fooled. These gods
00:38:13.79\00:38:19.89
are nothing. They're just wood
overlaid with gold. That's not a
00:38:19.89\00:38:22.73
Buddha. That's just wood. There
are no living spirits when you
00:38:22.73\00:38:30.67
die." [ Scoffs ] Now, it's not
over. Now, here's where I need
00:38:30.67\00:38:33.54
you to put your finger when
you're claiming this promise for
00:38:33.54\00:38:36.71
Japan. Verse 21. "Therefore now
G--" So those quotation marks
change. They stop and now
00:38:36.71\00:38:40.65
someone else is speaking. It's
God. "Therefore, I will teach
00:38:40.65\00:38:43.08
them --" these pagans -- "This
time, I will teach them my power
00:38:43.08\00:38:51.76
and might. Then they will know
that my name is the Lord." "I'm
gonna show my might this
00:38:51.76\00:38:57.00
time. I'm gonna
flex my muscle this time.
00:38:57.00\00:38:59.63
I'm gonna show my power." I
have an African prayer partner.
00:38:59.63\00:39:02.84
We meet every Wednesday night.
He's a church administrator,
Gilbert Wari, a great man of
00:39:02.84\00:39:07.44
faith. Anyway, every Wednesday
night, after House of Prayer, we
00:39:07.44\00:39:10.75
meet in my study right here
at the church. And Gilbert was
00:39:10.75\00:39:13.45
telling me this last Wednesday
night -- 'cause we handed out
this text at House of Prayer --
00:39:13.45\00:39:16.42
he was telling me, he said,
"Dwight, I want to tell you
something about pagans.
00:39:16.42\00:39:18.75
I know you're coming with
all these messages, evangelistic
00:39:18.75\00:39:21.99
messages. Let me remind you --"
'cause he grew up in a pagan,
00:39:21.99\00:39:25.96
animist culture. "Let me remind
you that pagans aren't
influenced by the niceties of
00:39:25.96\00:39:30.90
Western philosophy. They're not
moved by that. They're saying,
'[Scoffs] So? That's the
00:39:30.90\00:39:35.94
wayyouthink.'" What reaches a
pagan mind and heart are those
two words, "my power" and
00:39:35.94\00:39:42.14
"might." It is the supernatural
that engages the attention of
the pagan culture -- the
00:39:42.14\00:39:48.95
supernatural. Because now,
as the priests, the magicians in
00:39:48.95\00:39:55.76
Egypt said, "Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh,
ooh. This is the finger of God.
This is not anything usual."
00:39:55.76\00:40:02.83
God says, "Stand back. When I
show my might and my power, then
00:40:02.83\00:40:08.97
the nations will come
to me." Isn't that amazing?
00:40:08.97\00:40:11.94
Unbelievable. Hey, would you jot
that down in the corner of your
study guide just so that you
00:40:11.94\00:40:15.54
hang on to that? Just put
your finger there and claim it.
00:40:15.54\00:40:20.28
Let's go back to that battle
scene, and I want you looking on
00:40:20.45\00:40:22.85
the screen.
00:40:22.85\00:40:24.09
Now here comes the new sentence.
"The Captain of our salvation
00:40:33.03\00:40:36.36
was ordering the battle
and sending support to His
00:40:36.36\00:40:39.20
soldiers." Anytime
you take a moral stand,
00:40:39.20\00:40:42.74
you get support from the eternal
headquarters -- anytime you take
00:40:42.74\00:40:47.98
a moral stand. Talk
about that in a second.
00:40:47.98\00:40:53.21
"And he was sending
support to His soldiers."
00:40:53.21\00:40:55.35
Last line. "His
power --" There it is,
00:40:55.35\00:40:57.19
Jeremiah 16:21.
"His power was mightily
00:40:57.19\00:41:00.79
displayed, encouraging them to
press the battle to --" write it
00:41:00.79\00:41:04.33
down, please -- "to the
gates." This is that "gates."
00:41:04.33\00:41:07.30
This is
offensive, not defensive.
00:41:07.30\00:41:09.36
Yes can do!
00:41:09.36\00:41:11.60
At the very gates of hell. What
did Jesus tell us? "I will build
00:41:11.77\00:41:16.84
my church, and the gates of hell
will not overcome it." Ladies
and gentlemen, we have no
00:41:16.84\00:41:19.71
choice. We have to engage
the enemy -- on the campus of
00:41:19.71\00:41:21.88
Andrews University, off the
campus of Andrews University.
There's no way you can get
00:41:21.88\00:41:24.85
through this life without
engaging the enemy. You have to!
00:41:24.85\00:41:27.68
You have to sign up for this
war, or they'll sign you up on
00:41:27.68\00:41:36.76
the wrong side. Yes can do. We
have no choice. Ah, let's finish
00:41:36.76\00:41:42.20
this little
story. Back to verse 11.
00:41:42.20\00:41:44.13
So, verse 11. "So
the both of them --" So,
00:41:44.30\00:41:47.70
here's these two young men.
They're in the middle of this
00:41:47.70\00:41:49.80
little wadi, and
they're looking up.
00:41:49.80\00:41:51.24
[ Whistles sharply ]
They do the signal, and guess
00:41:51.24\00:41:53.84
what. They're spotted.
00:41:53.84\00:41:55.51
"So the both of them..."
00:41:55.51\00:41:56.91
I want to go
back to that picture.
00:42:04.72\00:42:06.12
Do you see holes in
that picture or what?
00:42:06.12\00:42:08.59
There are holes everywhere. They
said, "Lookit, they've been
hiding in these little holes.
00:42:08.76\00:42:12.79
They're finally getting -- Their
little wimpy spirits are getting
00:42:12.79\00:42:16.06
bold. Look at those two boys
down there." So you can get the
00:42:16.06\00:42:20.40
picture now. This is verse 12.
And so, "The men of the outpost
shouted down to Jonathan and his
00:42:20.40\00:42:25.87
armor-bearer, 'Come on up to us,
and we'll teach you a thing or
00:42:25.87\00:42:30.41
two, boys. Come on up. We're
waiting for you.'" And Jonathan,
00:42:30.41\00:42:36.65
with this glint of faith and
risk-taking conviction, Jonathan
turns to his armor-bearer, and
00:42:36.65\00:42:42.29
he says to the armor-bearer,
"You go first, and I'll be right
behind you." [ Laughter ]
00:42:42.29\00:42:48.16
Can you believe that? Why would
he do that? That isn't what it
00:42:48.16\00:42:51.00
says, does it? What does
he say to the armor-bearer?
00:42:51.00\00:42:52.80
"Come behind me, boy.
We're going now. Get behind me!"
00:42:52.80\00:42:57.04
A leader never sends somebody
out to the front. The leader
00:42:57.04\00:43:00.58
leads. The followers follow --
if the leader has can-do spirit.
00:43:00.58\00:43:05.58
Yes can do. "Come climb with me.
The Lord has given them into the
hand of Israel -- not into your
00:43:05.58\00:43:09.18
hand, not into my hand. He has
given them into the hand of His
00:43:09.18\00:43:12.92
people on earth." And so,
"Jonathan --" verse 13 --
"climbed up, using his
00:43:13.09\00:43:15.69
hand and feet, and his
armor-bearer is right behind
00:43:15.69\00:43:18.09
him, and the Philistines
fell before Jonathan, and his
00:43:18.09\00:43:20.60
armor-bearer followed
and killed behind him."
00:43:20.60\00:43:22.73
And...
00:43:22.73\00:43:23.63
Keep reading. "Then
panic struck the army --"
00:43:28.87\00:43:31.31
that would be the Philistine
army -- "those in the camp and
00:43:31.31\00:43:34.34
the field, and those in
the outposts and the raiding
00:43:34.34\00:43:37.08
parties -- and the
ground literally shook.
00:43:37.08\00:43:39.38
It was a panic sent by
--" whom? Sent by whom?
00:43:39.38\00:43:44.09
When you take a stand,
all of heaven is on your side.
00:43:44.09\00:43:48.56
It may feel like you're just me
against the world, me against
all my friends, me against the
00:43:48.72\00:43:54.60
university, me against my
people. It's never just you if
00:43:54.60\00:44:01.60
you take a stand. All of heaven,
[Chuckles] and literally the
00:44:01.60\00:44:09.48
ground is roiling as an
earthquake breaks out, and they
kill each other off. The
00:44:09.48\00:44:13.62
Philistines kill each other
off. They're just gone. You say,
00:44:13.62\00:44:17.15
"Dwight, this is awfully bloody
to be sharing in church." Ladies
and gentlemen, we've been
00:44:17.15\00:44:20.12
playing namby-pamby church for
too long. There's a bloody war
00:44:20.12\00:44:25.16
going on out there, and if we
don't determine to engage the
enemy, we are meat, mincemeat!
00:44:25.16\00:44:33.44
Do you understand that? We
either fight, or we quit. This
university either fights,
00:44:33.44\00:44:39.77
or it quits. No cutting a deal.
No parlaying with the enemy.
00:44:39.77\00:44:46.01
He wants total destruction. "You
cut a deal with me, I'll
decimate all of you."
00:44:46.01\00:44:51.35
We have only one choice. We have
to take a stand. We have to take
00:44:51.35\00:44:57.89
a stand. As a Seventh-Day
Adventist institution, we have
00:44:57.89\00:45:01.16
to take a stand. As one little
tiny Seventh-Day Adventist young
man, you have to take a stand.
00:45:01.16\00:45:06.60
As a young woman, you have
to take a stand. You cannot not
00:45:06.60\00:45:14.98
stand. Wow. But the good news
is, when you take that stand --
00:45:14.98\00:45:18.95
I don't care if you live in a
little village, I don't care if
you're studying in a little,
00:45:18.95\00:45:24.89
tiny village -- you'll wake up
the next morning, and there will
be chariots of fire all around
00:45:24.89\00:45:30.19
the village. Now, how about
that? Is that an intervention or
what? He'll take care of you.
00:45:30.19\00:45:35.63
You take the stand, He'll take
the charge. You take the stand,
00:45:35.63\00:45:42.14
He takes charge. Take a stand.
All it takes is one boy, one
00:45:42.14\00:45:46.78
girl, one man, one woman, and
the rest is history. Attitude --
"yes can do" becomes
00:45:46.78\00:45:51.45
"He can do." Put it easier
-- we can do because He can do.
00:45:51.45\00:45:57.55
That's it. Erwin Raphael
McManus, in his soul-stirring
00:45:57.55\00:46:02.42
book -- oh, I love this book --
title of the book, "Seizing Your
Divine Moment" -- issues an
00:46:02.42\00:46:07.40
important caveat to
tuck into this story.
00:46:07.40\00:46:08.80
So you're gonna see
McManus on the screen now.
00:46:08.96\00:46:10.93
"Jonathan had an unwavering
confidence in God's capacity."
00:46:10.93\00:46:14.50
Now, hold on.
He's talking about you.
00:46:14.50\00:46:16.97
"He had absolute
trust in God's character.
00:46:16.97\00:46:19.67
He seemed resolute and
sure about whether God could be
00:46:19.67\00:46:23.04
trusted or not.
That was settled for him.
00:46:23.04\00:46:26.31
Jonathan's focus was not, 'What
is God's will for my life?' but
00:46:26.31\00:46:30.99
rather, 'How can I give my
life to fulfill God's will?'"
00:46:30.99\00:46:35.22
Some of you have been stumbling
all over this campus and all
00:46:35.22\00:46:37.33
through your lives 'cause you're
a lot older than the students
00:46:37.33\00:46:39.49
here, and youstillhaven't
figured out God's will for your
00:46:39.49\00:46:41.53
life.
00:46:41.53\00:46:42.43
Get over it. He has a
will. Just put yourself in it.
00:46:42.60\00:46:48.27
You'll be fine. Now, you
got to look at this line.
00:46:48.27\00:46:54.84
McManus -- you see it on the
screen -- "I know this may be a
00:46:55.01\00:46:58.15
real stretch --" this might be a
real stretch -- "but it's always
00:46:58.15\00:47:01.55
right to do what's right, even
if it turns out --" what's the
00:47:01.55\00:47:05.82
word? -- "wrong."
[ Scoffs, laughs ]
00:47:05.82\00:47:08.79
Just because you can't
raise enough money to become a
00:47:08.79\00:47:10.66
missionary somewhere doesn't
mean that it isn't God's will
00:47:10.66\00:47:12.66
for you to be a missionary.
00:47:12.66\00:47:14.36
Who said making whether you
raise the money or not the great
determinant whether you become a
00:47:14.56\00:47:19.10
missionary or not? No,
God says, "I need your choice.
00:47:19.10\00:47:21.94
I'll raise the money. You make
the decision." Don't you pansy
00:47:21.94\00:47:25.61
around here, asking, "Well, it
must not be God's will." Forget
00:47:25.61\00:47:30.48
it. Listen, just because you
didn't get accepted into the
medical school of your choice
00:47:30.48\00:47:35.02
does not mean it is not God's
will for you to be a physician.
You just keep trying.
00:47:35.02\00:47:38.79
Yes can do. You don't have to
have that diploma on your wall.
00:47:38.79\00:47:45.19
Five months -- [ Laughs
] I'm thinking out loud.
00:47:45.19\00:47:48.00
Five months after you've started
your practice, nobody gives a
hoot where you went to school.
00:47:48.00\00:47:52.93
"Can you heal me or not, doctor?
That's all I want to know." Just
because you didn't get
00:47:52.93\00:47:59.41
accepted, doesn't mean God has
said no. Just because you prayed
00:47:59.41\00:48:03.24
over a decision -- Oh, oh, oh,
hold on. Just because you prayed
over a decision then made the
00:48:03.24\00:48:06.75
decision you believe was God's
will for you and now all hell is
breaking loose does not mean
00:48:06.75\00:48:11.55
that decision you made was not
God's will. God's will sometimes
00:48:11.55\00:48:16.12
is a tough way to go. McManus
again on the screen -- fill it
00:48:16.12\00:48:19.79
in. "If the Cross --"
[ Laughs ] This is good.
00:48:24.23\00:48:26.80
"If the Cross teaches us
anything, it teaches us that
00:48:26.80\00:48:30.24
sometimes God comes
through afterwe've been killed!"
00:48:30.24\00:48:33.71
"Oh, gulp! Are you serious?
I could die in this thing?!"
00:48:33.71\00:48:38.88
That's what Bonhoeffer meant
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer -- when
00:48:38.88\00:48:40.58
Christ calls a man, He
bids him, "Come and die."
00:48:40.58\00:48:42.92
When He calls a girl -- "Come
and die, come and die." He's not
calling you to come and
00:48:43.08\00:48:46.72
live. You can live
forever later. "Die for me now.
00:48:46.72\00:48:51.69
Die for me now." [
Applause ] Yes can do.
00:48:51.69\00:48:55.23
"I'll stand for You. If I have
to stand alone, I will stand for
00:48:55.23\00:49:00.57
You. Though all men should
forsake Thee, by Thy grace, I'll
00:49:00.57\00:49:05.31
follow Thee." That's what it
is. I can do because He can do.
00:49:05.31\00:49:08.84
Oh, by the way,
McManus one more time.
00:49:09.01\00:49:12.55
"Jonathan wasn't
choosing to die."
00:49:12.55\00:49:14.35
No, no, no, no. He
doesn't got some kind of
00:49:14.35\00:49:16.55
fatalistic spirit, no.
"But he was choosing how he
00:49:16.55\00:49:19.05
wouldlive." Oho, I like that.
00:49:19.05\00:49:20.69
"He left the..."
00:49:20.69\00:49:22.12
That's what you and I
do. God is doing something in
00:49:29.90\00:49:31.93
history, and we
give our lives to it.
00:49:31.93\00:49:34.00
I have no idea how this is gonna
turn out in Japan. I
don'tcarehow it turns out in
00:49:34.17\00:49:38.11
Japan. God is giving his
life for Japan, and I want to be
00:49:38.11\00:49:41.21
there when he's fighting. I
don't have to give some kind of
report to you when I come
00:49:41.21\00:49:45.81
back. I don't report to
you anyway. [ Laughter ]
00:49:45.81\00:49:51.95
I have to simply be obedient to
what God -- He says, "Dwight,
you lived in Japan for 14 years.
00:49:51.95\00:49:55.56
You speak the language. What are
you doing here? Get over there.
00:49:55.56\00:50:00.36
We'll see. We'll see." Yeah,
that's all I say. "Yes, sir."
00:50:00.36\00:50:06.53
I know you don't think
it's your gift. Doesn't matter.
00:50:06.53\00:50:10.64
In fact, a few days ago, Oswald
Chambers -- You got to get this.
00:50:10.64\00:50:13.11
I read this every day. This
is the little classic "My Utmost
00:50:13.11\00:50:16.68
for His Highest." Just a few
days ago -- this sentence on the
00:50:16.85\00:50:19.41
screen. When it is a question of
God's Almighty Spirit, never say
00:50:19.41\00:50:23.55
'I can't.'" Never,
never, never say "I
00:50:23.55\00:50:26.19
can't." "Never
let the limitation of
00:50:26.19\00:50:28.86
your natural ability come in."
I know you don't think it's your
00:50:28.86\00:50:32.33
gift. I understand that.
00:50:32.33\00:50:33.56
I know you have convinced
yourself that you simply cannot
00:50:33.56\00:50:35.90
do whatever it is that God is
asking you to do -- you're too
00:50:35.90\00:50:38.37
timid, you're too afraid,
you're too ungifted, you're too
00:50:38.37\00:50:40.74
average. The "I
can't" excuses fill the
00:50:40.74\00:50:43.57
ledgers of heaven.
00:50:43.57\00:50:44.97
That's all God hears. Moses
stands in front of Him, and God
00:50:45.14\00:50:48.14
says, "I need you, Moses, to go
back to Egypt." "I can't." God
said, "What do you mean you
00:50:48.14\00:50:50.91
can't?" "I can't. I can't
speak." "What are you doing
00:50:50.91\00:50:53.48
right now?" "I
can't speak. I stutter."
00:50:53.48\00:50:55.75
"I'm telling you, go to
Egypt. I'll be with you."
00:50:55.92\00:50:58.02
"I can't." "Why?"
00:50:58.02\00:50:58.99
"I'm a shepherd. I
can't lead." "Did I make you?
00:50:58.99\00:51:03.02
Did I create your
mouth? Is this my mission?
00:51:03.02\00:51:07.23
Say yes to me. Say
'yes can do' to me.
00:51:07.23\00:51:10.67
I'll do the rest.
00:51:10.67\00:51:12.17
You go with me. Do you
understand me? Read my lips.
00:51:12.33\00:51:16.20
You're going." And Moses got it.
But we have these "I can't, I
00:51:16.20\00:51:21.31
can't, I can't." No wonder Job
finally exclaims, at the end of
his book, "Oh, my God, I know
00:51:21.31\00:51:27.82
that You can do all things."
00:51:27.82\00:51:28.85
Chambers is right. Look at this.
00:51:29.02\00:51:31.55
Here it comes now...
00:51:36.39\00:51:38.29
We began this year
talking about the Holy Spirit.
00:51:42.90\00:51:45.23
We now end it talking about the
Holy Spirit. Because if you and
00:51:45.40\00:51:50.71
I have been baptized daily --
and we've talked a lot about
this. If you and I have been
00:51:50.71\00:51:54.51
baptized daily by the Holy
Spirit -- We're asking every
day, "Holy Spirit, baptize me
00:51:54.51\00:51:58.28
today. Please, pour yourself out
on me today." If you and I are
00:51:58.28\00:52:02.58
baptized daily, "I can't" is not
in the vocabulary. If God says,
"Do it," you do it.
00:52:02.58\00:52:10.69
Baptized daily is what takes
our fear away. Baptized daily is
00:52:10.69\00:52:15.40
what makes a soldier out of a
coward. Baptized daily reminds
us where all the power is coming
00:52:15.40\00:52:21.34
from. It's no wonder
Ellen White, just like Oswald
00:52:21.50\00:52:24.24
Chambers, is so adamant -- last
quotation before I sit down, on
00:52:24.24\00:52:27.61
the screen. "It is beyond the
power of language to express the
00:52:45.03\00:52:48.76
blessings the Holy
Spirit brings to God's people."
00:52:48.76\00:52:52.53
So why don't we
ask Him every day?
00:52:52.53\00:52:56.57
Every day. Every day. Every day.
Attitude. Yes can do. Give me
00:52:56.74\00:53:08.15
that 'tude. We can do because He
can do. And with an attitude
like that, I tell you what, it
00:53:08.15\00:53:14.16
doesn't matter or whether you
live or whether you die, because
"I can do all things
00:53:14.16\00:53:19.23
through Christ, who strengthens
me." What do you say to that?
00:53:19.23\00:53:22.86
>> Together: Amen. >> Amen.
Amen. [ "Jesus Saves" plays ]
00:53:22.86\00:53:29.20
¤¤ [ Congregation sings ]
00:53:34.21\00:53:37.41
¤¤ ¤¤
00:53:42.45\00:54:02.44
¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:02.44\00:54:22.39
¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:22.39\00:54:42.31
¤¤ ¤¤
00:54:42.31\00:55:02.30
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:02.30\00:55:22.25
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:22.25\00:55:42.17
¤¤
00:55:42.17\00:55:46.21
[ Song ends ] Oh, God, we stand
before You, and we sing that
00:55:46.57\00:55:51.35
conviction that salvation is
through our Lord Jesus. If we
stand alone, Jesus saves.
00:55:51.35\00:55:55.98
If we stand as a band of
intrepid disciples, Jesus saves.
As we stand as a university
00:55:55.98\00:56:03.02
campus, Jesus saves. As we
stand as a nation, Jesus saves.
00:56:03.02\00:56:07.40
He saves, Father. But here's my
prayer for these who are
standing now -- that
00:56:07.40\00:56:13.17
man, that woman. The moment
we talked about impossibilities,
00:56:13.17\00:56:19.27
You know what popped into that
mind, oh, God. Yes can do. You
00:56:19.27\00:56:27.55
can do all things. Tell her now,
tell him now that, with You, it
is done. It is done.
00:56:27.55\00:56:38.43
And now, through Him who can do
immeasurably more than all that
we ask or imagine, according to
00:56:38.43\00:56:46.50
His power that is at work within
us, to Him be glory in the
church and in Christ Jesus,
00:56:46.50\00:56:54.21
throughout all generations,
forever and ever. Let all people
00:56:54.21\00:57:00.48
of God say... >> Together:
Amen. >> And amen. [ Organ plays
00:57:00.48\00:57:08.26
"Jesus Saves" ] >> Think of
the last time someone said, "I'm
00:57:14.66\00:57:17.77
praying for you."
Didn't it give you a sense of
00:57:17.77\00:57:19.93
peace and reassurance
that somebody cares for me?
00:57:19.93\00:57:22.30
I know how I feel when I get an
e-mail from one of our viewers
00:57:22.30\00:57:24.97
saying, "Yo, Dwight.
I've been praying for you
00:57:24.97\00:57:27.04
lately." There's
nothing like knowing
00:57:27.04\00:57:28.68
someone is praying for
you. So I want to offer you an
00:57:28.68\00:57:30.85
opportunity to partner -- let
me, let us partner with you in
00:57:30.85\00:57:34.45
prayer. If you
have a special prayer
00:57:34.45\00:57:36.35
request or a praise of
thanksgiving you'd like to share
00:57:36.35\00:57:38.82
with us, I'm inviting you
to contact one of our friendly
00:57:38.82\00:57:41.29
chaplains. It's simple to do.
00:57:41.29\00:57:43.09
You can call our toll-free
number -- 877 -- the two words,
00:57:43.09\00:57:46.16
HIS WILL. 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:46.16\00:57:49.33
That friendly voice that
answers, you tell him, you tell
00:57:49.33\00:57:52.40
her what your prayer need
is, we'll join with you in that
00:57:52.40\00:57:55.54
petition. May the
God who answers prayer
00:57:55.54\00:57:58.11
journey with you these next
few days until we're right back
00:57:58.11\00:58:00.81
here together again next time.
00:58:00.81\00:58:03.08
¤¤ ¤¤
00:58:06.51\00:58:25.53
¤¤
00:58:25.53\00:58:27.40