¤¤
00:00:00.43\00:00:02.30
>> Let's bow our heads and pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we just
00:00:11.37\00:00:16.18
want to thank you for this
wonderful Sabbath day and just
thank you for all that you've
00:00:16.18\00:00:20.75
been doing for us, for bringing
us here today. We just ask that
you be with us during this time
00:00:20.75\00:00:25.82
of worship and
praise. In Jesus' name, amen.
00:00:25.82\00:00:29.39
Happy Sabbath,
Church. Happy Sabbath.
00:00:29.42\00:00:32.76
So, we're gonna
do a quick warm-up.
00:00:32.76\00:00:35.26
We tried this in the summertime,
so I believe that you can do it.
00:00:35.26\00:00:38.50
It's a song that
you already know.
00:00:38.50\00:00:40.47
Can you give me an "F"? ¤¤
00:00:40.47\00:00:43.67
¤ Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu,
hallelujah ¤ >> ¤ Praising the
00:00:43.71\00:00:50.91
Lord >> ¤ Hallelu, hallelu,
hallelu, hallelujah ¤ >> ¤
00:00:50.91\00:00:58.55
Praising the Lord >> ¤ Praising
¤ Hallelujah >> ¤ Praising the
00:00:58.55\00:01:04.66
Lord >> ¤ Hallelujah >>
¤ Praising the Lord >> ¤
00:01:04.66\00:01:09.73
Hallelujah >> ¤ Praising the
Lord >> Amen. So, you guys are
ready to worship and praise,
00:01:09.73\00:01:16.17
is that correct? >>
Amen. >> Amen. Alright.
00:01:16.17\00:01:18.81
So, I just invite you to stand
as we sing "Open the Eyes of My
00:01:18.81\00:01:23.95
Heart Lord." You may
be seated. Christ alone.
00:04:06.01\00:10:28.26
Amen. Christ alone. He
is Lord of all and He's
00:12:20.67\00:12:25.64
always with us
through the storm.
00:12:25.64\00:12:28.04
And he also sent us a
comforter, the Holy Spirit.
00:12:28.04\00:12:31.08
So, as we're about to sing this
song, I just invite you to stand
00:12:31.08\00:12:35.88
and come forward if you have any
burdens or prayer requests or
00:12:35.88\00:12:39.39
any praises that you would just
like to bring before our Lord,
00:12:39.39\00:12:42.92
because He will take us through
whatever storm that we're going
00:12:42.92\00:12:46.16
through. So
please stand as we sing
00:12:46.16\00:12:48.96
"Holy Spirit Rain Down."
00:12:48.96\00:12:51.97
¤¤
00:17:03.02\00:17:04.95
>> Thank you, brass. Thank
you, organ. Thank you, boys and
00:20:30.03\00:20:34.23
girls. Good to see you on this
beautiful Sabbath. Oh, it's just
00:20:34.23\00:20:39.47
hard to believe that, a few
months ago, where were we? We
00:20:39.47\00:20:42.60
were in the Howard Performing
Arts Center? We'd have our
children stories up front on the
00:20:42.60\00:20:48.34
big stage. Well, here we
are back, and I must tell you,
00:20:48.38\00:20:52.31
we didn't share the secret
with you while it was happening.
00:20:52.31\00:20:54.85
We can only tell
you the secret now.
00:20:54.85\00:20:56.52
Shh! We can only
tell you the secret
00:20:56.52\00:20:59.69
now, and that is
while you were gone, we put
00:20:59.69\00:21:04.93
a little camera right there
on the front of the balcony.
00:21:04.93\00:21:08.93
It has, now, sound-absorbent
panels there, but right in the
00:21:08.96\00:21:13.20
middle, we put a secret camera,
and it took a picture every day.
It not only took a picture
00:21:13.20\00:21:18.74
every day, it took a picture
every hour. It not only took a
00:21:18.74\00:21:22.24
picture every hour, it took
a picture every minute. Do you
00:21:22.24\00:21:26.21
want to see what the workmen
were doing while we were away?
00:21:26.21\00:21:30.92
Yeah. Okay. Let's put them on
the screen. Make sure they're on
the screens down here, guys, as
00:21:30.92\00:21:34.99
well. Here we go. ¤¤
00:21:34.99\00:21:38.83
Wow! Hey! [ Applause ]
So, here's the question,
00:22:33.15\00:22:41.32
boys and girls. I wonder how
fast Jesus could build a house.
00:22:41.32\00:22:45.53
Well, I sure hope he can do
a house fast, because he said,
00:22:45.53\00:22:49.03
"I'm going away and I'm gonna
make a house for you and I'm
gonna make a house for you
00:22:49.03\00:22:51.17
and I'm gonna make a house for
you and I'm gonna make a house
for you and you and you
00:22:51.17\00:22:53.70
and you and you and you and you.
And when I'm done, I'm coming
00:22:53.70\00:22:59.87
back." I have no idea how long
it takes Jesus to make a house,
but what I know is, He loves you
00:22:59.87\00:23:05.91
with all his heart and He can
hardly wait to get back so that
00:23:05.91\00:23:09.25
He can take all his little boy-
and girl-friends and all his all
his mommy and daddy friends
00:23:09.25\00:23:13.02
and take us to the houses. The
mansions -- "In my Father's
house are many mansions."
00:23:13.02\00:23:18.76
He's going to take us to live
there with him forever and ever.
00:23:18.76\00:23:26.20
And to that, I say "Thank you,
Jesus." Aren't you glad He's
00:23:26.20\00:23:30.01
coming soon? Yep. Me too. Aren't
you glad He's got a house ready
00:23:30.01\00:23:33.01
for you and mommy and daddy,
too? Yep, me too. Who would like
00:23:33.01\00:23:37.58
to thank Jesus? Who would like
to thank Jesus for getting us
00:23:37.58\00:23:44.89
ready when He comes? Sissy,
I saw your -- >> Thank God for
00:23:44.89\00:23:50.43
making creatures big and small.
>> God made creatures big and
00:23:50.43\00:23:55.76
small. That's a beautiful prayer
to pray. I saw another hand
00:23:55.76\00:23:58.80
right over here. Sissy?
Did I see your hand over here?
00:23:58.80\00:24:01.87
Was your hand up? Yep. Come
on up here. Let's have a prayer
00:24:01.87\00:24:05.87
in the microphone. We've just
had a prayer that we could all
00:24:05.87\00:24:08.58
hear up front, but now let's
do one in the microphone. What's
00:24:08.58\00:24:11.65
your name, sissy? >> Ziana. >>
Ziana. Let's close our eyes and
00:24:11.65\00:24:14.62
fold our hands as Ziana thanks
Jesus for the houses. >> Thank
00:24:14.62\00:24:20.09
you, Jesus, for helping us from
making the beautiful houses.
Thank you for helping us
00:24:20.09\00:24:29.03
having good ideas and
making the houses beautiful and
00:24:29.03\00:24:34.17
nice-looking. >> Amen. >> And
thank you, Jesus. Amen. >> Amen.
00:24:34.17\00:24:39.11
Thank you, Ziana. As you go
quietly and reverently back to
your seats, you can say, "Thank
00:24:39.11\00:24:41.84
you, Jesus," just as she prayed.
Thank you for the houses you're
00:24:41.84\00:24:47.58
making for us. ¤¤
00:24:47.58\00:24:49.52
¤¤ >> ¤ I've got good news to
00:25:24.99\00:25:33.26
bring ¤ ¤ And that is why I sing
00:25:33.26\00:25:36.73
¤ All my joys
with you, I'll share ¤
00:25:36.73\00:25:41.70
¤ I'm gonna take a trip
¤ On the old Gospel ship
00:25:41.70\00:25:45.94
¤ And go sailing
through the air ¤
00:25:45.94\00:25:56.42
¤ Oh, I'm gonna take a
trip on the old Gospel ship ¤
00:25:56.42\00:26:00.96
¤ I'm going far beyond the sky ¤
I'm gonna shout and sing ¤ Until
00:26:00.99\00:26:09.13
the heavens >> ¤ Ring >> ¤ Ring
>> ¤ When I'm bidding this world
00:26:09.13\00:26:13.64
goodbye ¤ >> ¤
Goodbye >> ¤ Goodbye
00:26:13.64\00:26:16.54
>> ¤ Goodbye >> ¤ Oh, I can
scarcely wait ¤ I know I won't
00:26:16.54\00:26:25.81
be late ¤ I'll spend all my time
in prayer ¤ ¤ And when my ship
00:26:25.81\00:26:32.12
comes in ¤ I'll not be seen
again ¤ As I'm sailing through
00:26:32.12\00:26:38.39
the air ¤ ¤ Oh, I'm gonna take a
trip on the old Gospel ship ¤ ¤
I'm going far beyond the sky
00:26:38.39\00:26:46.97
¤ I'm gonna shout and sing
¤ Until the heavens >> ¤ Ring
00:26:46.97\00:26:51.77
>> ¤ Ring >> ¤ When I'm
bidding this world goodbye ¤
00:26:51.77\00:26:56.04
>> ¤ Goodbye >> ¤
Goodbye >> ¤ Goodbye
00:26:56.04\00:27:03.15
>> ¤ If you're ashamed of me ¤
You really ought not be ¤ It's
time to give yourself
00:27:03.15\00:27:09.66
some care ¤ >> ¤ If it's
too much fault you find ¤
00:27:09.66\00:27:13.66
¤ Then you'll be left behind >>
¤ You'll be left behind >> ¤
When I'm sailing through
00:27:13.66\00:27:22.97
the air ¤ >> ¤ Sailing through
the >> ¤ Sailing through the air
00:27:22.97\00:27:29.24
¤ Oh, I'm gonna take a trip on
that old Gospel ship ¤ ¤ I'm
going far beyond the sky
00:27:29.24\00:27:37.85
¤ I'm gonna shout and sing
¤ Until the heavens >> ¤ Ring
00:27:37.85\00:27:42.66
>> ¤ Ring >> ¤ When
I'm bidding this world ¤
00:27:42.66\00:27:45.96
>> ¤ When I'm bidding this world
¤ >> ¤ When I'm bidding this
00:27:45.96\00:27:50.23
world goodbye ¤ >>
¤ Goodbye >> ¤ Goodbye
00:27:50.23\00:27:53.10
>> ¤ Goodbye ¤¤
00:27:53.10\00:27:56.64
¤ If sorrows fill your day ¤
With troubles on the way >> ¤
And your road is weary with
00:28:11.89\00:28:22.73
despair ¤ >> ¤ Your
journey won't be long ¤
00:28:22.73\00:28:29.44
¤ If you live a life of song ¤
And go sailing through the air ¤
00:28:29.44\00:28:37.78
¤ Your journey won't be long ¤
If you live a life of song >> ¤
00:28:37.78\00:28:47.39
A life of song >> ¤ A life of
song >> ¤ And go sailing through
00:28:47.39\00:28:56.60
the ¤ >> ¤ Sailing through the
>> ¤ Sailing through the air ¤
Oh, I'm gonna take a trip
00:28:56.60\00:29:03.81
on that old Gospel ship ¤ ¤ I'm
going way beyond the sky ¤ I'm
gonna shout and sing
00:29:03.81\00:29:12.31
¤ Until the
heavens >> ¤ Ring >> ¤ Ring
00:29:12.31\00:29:15.95
>> ¤ Ring >> ¤ Ring >>
¤ When I bid this world
00:29:15.95\00:29:26.29
>> ¤ Goodbye >> ¤
Goodbye >> ¤ Goodbye
00:29:26.29\00:29:32.20
¤ Goodbye
00:29:32.20\00:29:36.84
¤¤
00:29:45.31\00:29:47.25
>> Thank you, brass. Thank
you, brass. Thank you, choir.
00:34:25.76\00:34:29.46
Thank you, congregation. And,
really, here's the whole point
00:34:29.46\00:34:33.57
of this worship service today.
Thank you, God. Thank you, God.
00:34:33.57\00:34:37.07
You have done all things well.
They're setting us up for our
00:34:37.07\00:34:43.98
Gen Z guests that I have the
privilege of interviewing in a
few moments. And you're going to
00:34:43.98\00:34:47.85
have the joy of seeing four
phenomenal pieces of creation.
This is Creation Sabbath
00:34:47.85\00:34:52.19
the world over. And, so, you're
going to look at some human
00:34:52.19\00:34:56.52
creation, gifts straight from
the Creator. And I know you're
00:34:56.52\00:35:02.46
gonna be blessed. Thank you,
gentlemen. Bless you. You got
00:35:02.46\00:35:09.44
it. You nailed it. Let's pray.
God, we're just saying these
00:35:09.44\00:35:12.51
words to you. Praise and honor
to the Father. Praise and honor
to the Son. Praise and honor to
00:35:12.51\00:35:17.35
the Spirit. Ever three and
ever one. One in mind and one in
00:35:17.35\00:35:21.72
glory while unending ages run.
Oh, God, you have truly done all
00:35:21.72\00:35:28.92
things well, and you're not even
through yet, to which we say
hallelujah in Jesus' name.
00:35:28.92\00:35:35.00
Amen. Listen,
would it be alright,
00:35:35.03\00:35:39.97
in the midst of all of
this, if we talk about God
00:35:39.97\00:35:44.41
and Major League
Baseball? Is that okay?
00:35:44.41\00:35:48.14
I mean, this is the
World Series season, isn't it?
00:35:48.14\00:35:53.25
Have you noticed about
God -- whatever he starts,
00:35:53.25\00:35:59.05
he finishes?
00:35:59.05\00:36:00.39
Have you noticed that about God?
Have you noticed about Major
00:36:00.42\00:36:06.16
League Baseball pitchers --
whatever they start, they do not
finish? I mean, once upon a time
00:36:06.16\00:36:15.40
-- This name might ring a bell
to you baseball aficionados. The
00:36:15.40\00:36:22.51
name Cy Young, the greatest
pitcher in the history of
baseball. And those of you that
00:36:22.51\00:36:27.35
aren't hanging around American
baseball as much, just bear with
me. Cy Young -- get this -- the
00:36:27.35\00:36:32.59
greatest pitcher -- he actually
finished, from the 1st inning
00:36:32.59\00:36:37.19
all the way through the 9th
inning, 749 different games.
That's a huge number, because
00:36:37.19\00:36:43.80
I found out this last week doing
a little study for this. Good
00:36:43.80\00:36:48.74
Major League pitchers today only
finish between 1 and 2 games a
season. Man, that's incredible.
00:36:48.74\00:36:56.78
749? Now, I'll tell you, there's
another little factor involved,
00:36:56.78\00:37:01.62
and that is -- Major League
Baseball has invented something
00:37:01.62\00:37:06.92
called the closer. You ever
heard about the closer?
Wikipedia defines the closer
00:37:06.92\00:37:11.13
this way. He's a pitcher,
alright. "The closer is a relief
pitcher who specializes in
00:37:11.13\00:37:16.53
getting the final outs in a
close game when his team is
leading by a margin of three
00:37:16.53\00:37:22.50
runs or less." Now, look, if
they have four or five runs, the
manager is going to leave the
00:37:22.50\00:37:25.57
pitcher in all the way to
the end. He said, "This boy can
00:37:25.57\00:37:28.54
finish this game." But if it's a
little dicey and this team --
the opponents are coming on
00:37:28.54\00:37:32.65
strong, the manager will send
the starting pitcher to the
dugout and he'll bring in his
00:37:32.65\00:37:36.95
closer, and the closer's task
is to finish what the starting
00:37:36.95\00:37:45.49
pitcher began. Now, we're
talking about God and baseball,
but gets even better,
00:37:45.49\00:37:50.40
because listen to this. Do you
know how they rank a closer
doing his 9th-inning
00:37:50.40\00:37:55.40
job very well? They call
what he does the save. The save.
00:37:55.40\00:38:05.05
I'm happy to report to you today
that the greatest closer in the
history of baseball
00:38:05.05\00:38:11.12
was a New York Yankee. I see I'm
the only one here, but that's
00:38:11.12\00:38:16.76
okay. [ Laughter ] I grew
up in Japan, and my dad grew up
00:38:16.76\00:38:22.76
in New York City. And Dad
was a Yankee fan from the very
00:38:22.76\00:38:26.33
beginning. I never knew there
was another baseball team on
00:38:26.33\00:38:28.84
Earth. It was just Yankees,
Yankees, Yankees. So I've been a
Yankee fan all my life.
00:38:28.84\00:38:31.31
So, the number-one closer in the
history of baseball -- Mariano
00:38:31.31\00:38:38.91
Rivera. Guess how many games
he saved, he won, he closed. 652
00:38:38.91\00:38:48.42
saves. But guess what. I know a
God in the universe who has way
00:38:48.42\00:38:52.59
more saves than that. Can
you give me a "hallelujah"?
00:38:52.59\00:38:58.20
Hallelujah. Yep. I know a God
who has found out that when He
needs a project done
00:38:58.20\00:39:03.74
and He needs to finish it,
he always sends in his champion
00:39:03.74\00:39:08.84
closer. When He decides He's
going to create the universe and
a planet called Earth,
00:39:08.84\00:39:11.98
He sends in his champion closer
and He gets creation. When He
decides, a few thousand
00:39:11.98\00:39:18.09
years later, "We've got to save
the whole human race," He sends
00:39:18.09\00:39:21.86
in his champion closer for that
win. And there is Jesus with the
win. When He decides, one day,
00:39:21.86\00:39:26.90
to bring all His children back,
guess what He's going to do.
He's going to send in His
00:39:26.90\00:39:31.00
champion closer to bring them
home for the big win, the big
00:39:31.00\00:39:36.60
"W." I'm telling you what. All
those saves, it's no wonder we
00:39:36.60\00:39:40.48
call Jesus "save-ior." Yeah, the
greatest closer in history, the
00:39:40.48\00:39:48.62
greatest finisher, if you prefer
that word. The greatest savior
in all the universe,
00:39:48.62\00:39:55.22
and that's our Lord Jesus, to
which I say "amen." Oh, I'd love
00:39:55.22\00:40:00.86
to hear an "amen" from you
right now. I say "amen" for the
00:40:00.86\00:40:03.90
greatest closer in the history
the universe. Amen. I want to
take you to our theme text.
00:40:03.90\00:40:07.50
Before my two new young Gen Z
friends join me on the platform,
00:40:07.50\00:40:11.44
open your Bible, please, to near
the end of the New Testament,
the little Book of Philippians.
00:40:11.44\00:40:15.78
Paul is in prison. He's manacled
to a Roman guard, one of those
00:40:15.78\00:40:21.02
Legionnaires, and Paul is
writing to one of his favorite
little churches. This is a
00:40:21.02\00:40:24.62
church plant that Paul pulled
off, and he is affectionately
tied to these young Christians
00:40:24.62\00:40:28.89
in Philippi. And, so, he writes
to them, and you'll see his
00:40:28.89\00:40:33.60
style with him. The line is
coming, but let's just get a run
00:40:33.60\00:40:37.00
at it with Verse 4, okay?
So, I'm in the NIV. You got your
00:40:37.00\00:40:39.77
phone, pull your phone out. You
got to see this. You didn't
bring a phone either?
00:40:39.77\00:40:42.84
Well, pull the pew Bible out
in front of you, turn it to Page
00:40:42.84\00:40:47.04
790, and you'll get this. Let's
go. Philippians 1:4. "In all my
00:40:47.04\00:40:53.08
prayers for all of you," the
prisoner is writing, "I always
pray with --" What's that word?
00:40:53.08\00:40:57.09
What's the next word?
It's "joy." Do you know what?
00:40:57.09\00:40:59.55
That's his favorite word. That's
his theme word in the letter to
00:40:59.55\00:41:03.93
Philippi. Rejoice, rejoice,
rejoice. Joy, joy. Glad, glad.
That is Paul's theme,
00:41:03.93\00:41:08.16
and he's manacled. He's gonna
be dead. I've been in the prison
00:41:08.16\00:41:11.20
where he was. Okay, Verse 4.
"In all my prayers for all of
00:41:11.20\00:41:16.14
you, I always pray with joy
because of your partnership in
00:41:16.14\00:41:20.01
the Gospel from the first day
until now." And here it comes.
Oh, I love Verse 6.
00:41:20.01\00:41:24.05
"Being confident of this, that
he who began a good work in you
00:41:24.05\00:41:28.92
will carry it on, will carry it
on to completion, will finish it
by the day of Christ Jesus."
00:41:28.92\00:41:34.76
Amen. You know why? Because
whenever God starts something,
00:41:34.76\00:41:40.16
He finishes it. I'm telling you
the gospel truth. When He starts
00:41:40.16\00:41:42.70
something, He will finish it.
I love Eugene Peterson, speaking
00:41:42.70\00:41:46.50
of sports. I love his color
commentary on this line from
"The Message: Bible."
00:41:46.50\00:41:50.11
Put it on the screen for you.
This is great. Eugene Peterson.
00:41:50.11\00:41:53.27
"There has never been the
slightest doubt --" This is Paul
00:41:53.27\00:41:57.15
speaking now. "There has never
been the slightest doubt in my
00:41:57.15\00:42:00.45
mind that the God who started
this great work in you would
keep at it and bring it to a --"
00:42:00.45\00:42:04.12
Oh, I love this -- "a
flourishing finish on the very
day Christ Jesus appears."
00:42:04.12\00:42:10.23
Amen. Man, isn't that great?
That is powerful. The God who
00:42:10.23\00:42:15.43
has started His great and good
work in you -- Hey, listen, I'm
talking about you, by the way.
00:42:15.43\00:42:19.57
And I'm not talking about
yesterday and I'm not talking
00:42:19.57\00:42:22.10
about mañana. I mean, He's at
work in your life right now,
that God. Whatever He started --
00:42:22.10\00:42:28.31
I have no idea what He started
in your life. Some of you have
00:42:28.31\00:42:32.41
been asking -- "God, lookit --
I'm a student here in this
university. I'm trying to grasp
00:42:32.41\00:42:36.15
these great themes in the class.
This is the career track that
00:42:36.15\00:42:39.35
I've chosen. But I'm not getting
it. This stuff is just not
coming through to me.
00:42:39.35\00:42:42.86
God, you've got to help me."
I want to tell you something, my
00:42:42.86\00:42:45.66
friend. Don't you dare give up.
Don't you give up, because God
started this journey
00:42:45.66\00:42:48.56
with you at Andrews University
and He's going to finish this
00:42:48.56\00:42:52.17
journey with you. He can bring
you through, and one day, the
light bulb will go on and God
00:42:52.17\00:42:56.71
will say, "See? I told you.
You would have bailed out too
00:42:56.71\00:43:01.44
early." Some of you are fighting
an addiction that is not going
00:43:01.44\00:43:05.98
to let you go. That addiction is
like a ball and chain, and you
don't know -- You can't shake
00:43:05.98\00:43:09.72
it. It's always there when you
wake up. It's always there when
00:43:09.72\00:43:12.49
you go to bed, that addiction,
and you're saying, "I'm ready to
throw in the towel.
00:43:12.49\00:43:15.56
I'm quitting on this whole
Christianity thing." Don't you
00:43:15.56\00:43:19.03
dare. The God who has begun a
good work in you is going to
bring it to completion
00:43:19.03\00:43:22.53
by the day of Christ Jesus. He's
going to finish what He starts.
00:43:22.53\00:43:25.77
Don't you bail on Him. Trust
me. Some of you are praying
00:43:25.77\00:43:30.71
for God to give you a closer
relationship with Him. You say,
"Listen, I want you
00:43:30.71\00:43:33.61
to raise the bar. I want to
really -- I want to really know
00:43:33.61\00:43:37.38
you, God, like I've never known
you before, but it just doesn't
feel like my prayer life
00:43:37.38\00:43:42.38
is going anywhere." Don't
you give up. Are you kidding?
00:43:42.38\00:43:45.89
He has started something in you
and He's promised, "If I start
00:43:45.89\00:43:50.56
it, I will" what? "I will finish
it. I will finish it for you."
Man! I'm telling you, whatever
00:43:50.56\00:43:55.70
it is God is doing in your life
-- And I have no idea. Don't
00:43:55.70\00:43:59.80
miss Paul's good-news point. God
will send in his champion closer
00:43:59.80\00:44:04.61
to finish the job and to earn
the save and to give you the
win. Isn't that good?
00:44:04.61\00:44:09.38
He earns the save, and you
get the win. You get the "W,"
00:44:09.38\00:44:14.02
but He earns the save. Wow.
Whatever God starts -- That's
00:44:14.02\00:44:19.72
the deal, folks. Whatever God
starts, He finishes. And Jesus
00:44:19.72\00:44:22.96
has always been his His champion
closer. "I want to create the
00:44:22.96\00:44:26.33
world, I need my champion
closer. Christ, go in. Want to
save the human race,
00:44:26.33\00:44:30.27
I need my champion closer. Where
are you, Jesus? Let's go. You
want for the final rescue?
00:44:30.27\00:44:35.30
I'm gonna send in my champion
closer, Jesus, again." He always
00:44:35.30\00:44:42.08
wins when He sends His champion
in. Isn't that good news? Come
00:44:42.08\00:44:46.31
on, tell me. Is that good news
or what? That is absolutely
incredible. Whatever you're
00:44:46.31\00:44:50.79
going through right now, He can
finish it. Some of you are about
ready to throw in the towel.
00:44:50.79\00:44:54.69
Your marriage is on the rocks
and you're saying, "I cannot go
00:44:54.69\00:44:59.16
forward. I am suing for divorce.
I will not be able to pull this
00:44:59.16\00:45:06.40
baby off." Don't give up. Do not
give up. A relationship has gone
sour for some of you who are
00:45:06.40\00:45:12.21
younger, and you're not even in
marriage, but a relationship has
gone sour, and you thought,
00:45:12.21\00:45:15.71
"Man, this was the one that
Jesus was leading me to. I can't
believe it, because
00:45:15.71\00:45:18.41
this is not working out." Don't
give up. He's not through with
00:45:18.41\00:45:24.49
you yet. What He starts, He
finishes. You can lean on Him.
It's just like an artist.
00:45:24.49\00:45:28.89
When an artist starts,
generally, an artist finishes.
Unless you're an amateur artist,
00:45:28.89\00:45:32.93
and then you got all these
canvases that are half done and
you never finished them.
00:45:32.93\00:45:36.26
But we've got some pro artists
today. They're not even from the
00:45:36.26\00:45:39.00
art department, but we went to
the art department and we said,
00:45:39.00\00:45:42.17
"Give us two shining artists on
this campus," and they did not
00:45:42.17\00:45:45.71
pick art majors. They picked an
architecture major and a
photography major. And they're
00:45:45.71\00:45:51.48
right here, and I want them to
come up. We started working on
this last spring, to be ready
00:45:51.48\00:45:55.52
for this day. Come on,
Jo-Elisa Clarke, from Belize.
00:45:55.52\00:45:58.12
Come on up.
00:45:58.12\00:45:59.45
Second-year architecture.
Nick Collard, come on up.
00:45:59.49\00:46:05.09
Second-year photography, from
the, as I said first service,
00:46:05.09\00:46:08.03
thriving
metropolis of Berrien Springs.
00:46:08.03\00:46:10.43
You grew up in this town.
Welcome home. Hey, listen, guys,
00:46:10.47\00:46:14.24
we're surrounded by four of your
pieces of art. We're going to
00:46:14.24\00:46:17.04
take these in order. But one
thing I've noticed is that if
you really want good
00:46:17.04\00:46:23.24
artwork, it isn't just...sign
it, "You want this?" No, you put
00:46:23.24\00:46:28.28
hours. Come on, Nick, tell us.
You got two -- You've got these
first two paintings,
00:46:28.28\00:46:31.82
because you'll see why. So, how
much time do you spend on this?
00:46:31.82\00:46:36.19
>> On each, 25. >>
25 hours. >> Hours.
00:46:36.19\00:46:39.66
>> Yeah, so, if we were sitting
in that studio with you... would
00:46:39.66\00:46:45.90
be boring or what? Well, maybe
not. Were you bored? >> No. >>
00:46:45.90\00:46:52.07
Good. That's good. 25 hours.
Would you like to watch Nick do
that in 60 seconds?
00:46:52.07\00:46:57.55
Let's watch Nick do it in
60 seconds. Look on that big
00:46:57.55\00:47:01.68
screen. Come on, Nick. Pull that
cover off. Let's go. Pull that
cover off and let's
00:48:07.58\00:48:14.46
take a look at the original.
There it is on the screen, but
we want to have it right here
00:48:14.46\00:48:18.36
in front of us. Yep, you got it.
Yeah. Wow. That is so dramatic,
00:48:18.36\00:48:26.53
Nick. God has obviously gifted
both of you. You know, by the
00:48:26.53\00:48:30.51
way, I just need to insert this
right here. Sometimes, we choose
career paths and assume
00:48:30.51\00:48:34.01
that that's where all our gifts
are, in that career path. Not
00:48:34.01\00:48:37.95
so, not so. You see two people
here who have chosen different
career paths. They didn't go
00:48:37.95\00:48:41.05
into art, but God is already
gifted them in another area, so
they will have twin gifts
00:48:41.05\00:48:45.55
that will be operating all the
way through their lives -- the
00:48:45.55\00:48:48.49
gift of art and their career
choices. Yeah. So, Nick, this is
00:48:48.49\00:48:53.50
-- We're looking at the face of
Jesus here. Why did you choose
00:48:53.50\00:48:57.90
that pose? >> It's kind of
the traditional -- kind of the
00:48:57.93\00:49:00.14
traditional pose. >> Mm-hmm.
00:49:00.14\00:49:01.57
>> I think. I was
working with a model.
00:49:01.57\00:49:04.57
>> Yeah. >> And I
just told him to, you
00:49:04.57\00:49:07.44
know, assume the traditional
pose and gaze upward.
00:49:07.44\00:49:11.91
And so he kind of gave me what
you see. >> Yeah. Mm-hmm. It is
00:49:11.95\00:49:17.79
finished. You know, this is a
classic case of the champion
closer being sent in to score
00:49:17.79\00:49:23.43
the save, the win. By the
billions of human beings --
00:49:23.43\00:49:27.66
billions got saved in that
champion closer stepping in. If
he hadn't stepped in, we'd
00:49:27.66\00:49:31.43
have been lost. Yeah.
Let's go over here to your
00:49:31.43\00:49:36.71
other drawing. We're not gonna
do time lapse on this one, but
00:49:36.71\00:49:41.71
this is as dramatic. This is
another case of the closer at
00:49:41.71\00:49:47.65
work. And I like
the way you drew this.
00:49:47.68\00:49:51.52
We'll put it on the
big screen for everybody.
00:49:51.52\00:49:53.12
Those of you watching the
live stream and you're seeing
00:49:53.12\00:49:55.26
this, you're seeing
amazing artwork right now.
00:49:55.26\00:49:57.13
Nick, stand in
front of this one now.
00:49:57.13\00:49:59.16
Why did you have
Jesus with his back to us?
00:49:59.16\00:50:02.46
>> Starting off the project,
I wanted to create an emotional
00:50:02.50\00:50:07.54
connection between the subject
matter and the viewer. And in
this particular one,
00:50:07.54\00:50:12.57
I wanted it to be with the lamb,
so I had the lamb facing forward
and Christ facing away, 'cause
00:50:12.57\00:50:18.08
I wanted -- The lamb is actually
symbolic of humanity in this
one, so I wanted the viewer
00:50:18.08\00:50:23.92
to connect with the lamb. >>
Yeah, that's the Lamb of God
dying for all of us little
00:50:23.92\00:50:28.02
lambies and sheepies, right?
Yeah. Another closer. The whole
00:50:28.02\00:50:32.93
sacrificial system is
closed now. It's over. No more
00:50:32.93\00:50:35.86
sacrificing. Dynamite. Jo-Elisa,
let's turn this way with you.
00:50:35.86\00:50:41.77
So, we're gonna do a time lapse
for you, but we're saving that
00:50:41.77\00:50:47.71
to the end. Let's do this one,
because this is following a
chronological sequence.
00:50:47.71\00:50:50.31
We've got Calvary. That's
the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus.
00:50:50.31\00:50:53.21
Let's take off your covering
board and let's look at what
00:50:53.21\00:50:58.62
you've done here. Ah! The Lord
Jesus himself, the champion
closer. And you know what
00:50:58.62\00:51:05.49
strikes me, Jo-Elisa? If there
hadn't been this, this would
00:51:05.49\00:51:11.63
have been no good. Paul says, in
1 Corinthians 15, "If it's just
the death of Christ, there's not
00:51:11.63\00:51:16.07
enough." We have to have death
destroyed, and, here, you've
captured it. What do you think
00:51:16.07\00:51:22.84
Jesus is thinking of in that
-- It's almost a beatific smile
00:51:22.84\00:51:25.81
there. What do you
think he's thinking of?
00:51:25.81\00:51:28.05
>> I think He
is relieved that...
00:51:28.08\00:51:29.78
>> Relieved.
Oh, I'd be relieved.
00:51:29.78\00:51:31.52
>> ...his mission
here on Earth is completed
00:51:31.52\00:51:33.72
so that we may be saved.
00:51:33.72\00:51:35.29
>> Nobody can take it away. When
He walked out of that, it was
00:51:35.32\00:51:38.99
over. Devil lost. He knew
it. He knew it. It's curtains
00:51:38.99\00:51:41.50
for him, eventually. Oh, I
love that. Holy Spirit just...
00:51:41.50\00:51:45.00
But now we want to look at your
time lapse, because this is the
00:51:45.00\00:51:49.20
only painting done in full
color. You're gonna watch 60
seconds of her taking 20-some
00:51:49.20\00:51:54.91
hours to do this.
Alright, let's go.
00:51:54.91\00:51:57.45
Now, you're gonna watch
this. Watch this. We're going to
00:53:06.38\00:53:10.02
expose this. Yeah, go ahead.
You can thank her for that. [
00:53:10.02\00:53:13.46
Applause ] Yep. We're
gonna expose this now.
00:53:13.46\00:53:17.59
Look at the dramatic
color in the original now.
00:53:17.63\00:53:20.20
So, now you're going
to see the dramatic color,
00:53:20.20\00:53:22.76
and we're gonna put that
on the big screen for you.
00:53:22.76\00:53:24.83
Isn't that something?
Alright, Jo-Elisa, stay right
00:53:24.83\00:53:27.40
here, because you
did this down in Belize.
00:53:27.40\00:53:29.90
>> Yes, sir. >> Mm-hmm.
00:53:29.90\00:53:31.34
And your family was there,
and you told me, "I put my
00:53:31.34\00:53:34.71
family --" Show us
where your family is.
00:53:34.71\00:53:37.65
>> My family is waiting for the
Second Coming and waiting for
00:53:37.68\00:53:41.85
Jesus and that day. >> These are
your actual family members...
00:53:41.85\00:53:44.02
>> Yes, sir. >> ...who are
watching right now,
live-streaming from Belize?
00:53:44.02\00:53:47.52
>> Yes, sir. >> Oh, that is so
special. Isn't that something?
00:53:47.52\00:53:50.49
But you know what? That's
the point about the closure.
00:53:50.49\00:53:54.40
When the closer gets the win,
it's not just for you and me.
It's for the entire family.
00:53:54.40\00:53:58.73
It's for everybody. And the good
news, as Pastor José, said a
00:53:58.73\00:54:04.47
moment ago, we got to get this
news out. We just got to get it
out. And one day, Jo-Elisa --
00:54:04.47\00:54:09.41
One day, you're going to
meet the savior. Nick, one day,
00:54:09.41\00:54:13.62
you're going to meet the savior.
Come on over here, guys. You're
going to meet the savior,
00:54:13.62\00:54:16.99
and he's going to say, "Hey,
guys, not bad. I kind of like
00:54:16.99\00:54:21.06
that artwork. We have a copy of
it here in the palace." Wouldn't
00:54:21.06\00:54:25.93
that be something? We have
a copy of it in the palace."
00:54:25.93\00:54:29.30
That's our closer. Thank you for
doing what we couldn't do just
talking. You showed us that the
00:54:29.30\00:54:34.44
champion always comes in for the
win at the end. God bless you
00:54:34.44\00:54:37.91
both. Put your hands together
for these two artists. [
00:54:37.91\00:54:42.21
Applause ] Yep. That's the
gospel truth. Whatever God
starts, He finishes.
00:54:48.02\00:54:54.42
Whatever God starts, He
finishes. So, what's He doing in
00:54:54.42\00:54:58.86
your life? I have no
idea. I'm looking in your faces.
00:54:58.86\00:55:01.90
They look fairly happy, glad to
be in God's presence this
morning, but I have no clue.
00:55:01.90\00:55:06.74
Those of you watching on live
stream right now, I have no clue
00:55:06.74\00:55:10.14
what's going on in your life,
but here's what we all need to
know. Whatever it is that
00:55:10.14\00:55:14.08
God has started He will bring to
completion by the day of Christ
00:55:14.08\00:55:19.28
Jesus. He will bring it to
completion by this moment. It'll
all be done and completed,
00:55:19.28\00:55:24.72
and you get the "W." He
gets the save. You get the "W."
00:55:24.72\00:55:29.12
There's only one condition
to this, and that condition is
00:55:29.12\00:55:31.83
this. Listen very carefully. He
can only finish what He starts
00:55:31.83\00:55:36.46
if you let Him go the whole way.
If you pull Him out for your own
relief pitching, it's curtains.
00:55:36.46\00:55:44.17
We could have done that in here.
We could have said, "Hey, great
roofers, great carpet layers,
00:55:44.17\00:55:48.71
great carpenters, fine painters,
electricians. Whoo! We got the
00:55:48.71\00:55:52.65
best. But you know what? We
changed our minds. We don't want
00:55:52.65\00:55:57.12
you changing our interior. We're
going back to the way it was.
00:55:57.12\00:56:01.36
Goodbye."
00:56:01.36\00:56:02.86
We could have done that,
because when people are there
00:56:02.89\00:56:06.23
by your invitation,
you can send them away.
00:56:06.23\00:56:08.50
But we would have
been fools to do that,
00:56:08.50\00:56:11.20
because they were finishing a
work inside of us that one day
00:56:11.20\00:56:14.30
would look this beautiful.
Don't ever tell Jesus,
00:56:14.30\00:56:17.84
"Get out of my life."
Please don't ever tell Him.
00:56:17.84\00:56:21.11
He's the champion closer.
He's the only way you win
00:56:21.11\00:56:25.38
in the end. You need
Him, and He loves you.
00:56:25.38\00:56:29.18
He loves you with all His heart.
So, here's the prayer to pray.
00:56:29.18\00:56:33.89
Dear God, whatever you started
in my life -- that addiction,
that marriage, my lost child, my
00:56:33.92\00:56:41.23
lost grandchild -- whatever
you have started in my life,
00:56:41.23\00:56:47.84
I'm begging you to finish
it. I'm giving you permission to
00:56:47.84\00:56:51.41
finish it. Send in your champion
closer so that he might save me.
Lord Jesus, save me.
00:56:51.41\00:56:58.51
And He will save
you every single time.
00:56:58.51\00:57:02.85
We've been really
blessed by the financial support
00:57:06.09\00:57:08.26
that comes from our viewers and
we've made a conscious decision
00:57:08.26\00:57:11.09
not to continually
appeal to you for that support.
00:57:11.09\00:57:14.83
Fact is, as everyone in
the industry will tell you,
00:57:14.83\00:57:17.47
we're needing to make constant
upgrades to our technology.
00:57:17.47\00:57:20.80
So, if God has blessed
you and you'd like to further
00:57:20.80\00:57:23.04
the work of this ministry, we
invite you to partner with us.
00:57:23.04\00:57:25.97
Not a single penny of
your donation will go to me.
00:57:25.97\00:57:28.88
Every bit of your gift
goes to the mission of blessing
00:57:28.88\00:57:31.75
your community and our world.
You can donate on our website,
00:57:31.75\00:57:35.05
newperceptions.tv,
or call the number.
00:57:35.05\00:57:37.75
You know the
number -- 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:37.75\00:57:40.36
Again, that number is 877
-- the two words HIS-WILL.
00:57:40.36\00:57:45.16
And may the God who has blessed
you continue to pour into
00:57:45.16\00:57:47.60
your life the gifts
of His joy and His hope.
00:57:47.60\00:57:51.23
Thank you. And
I'm looking forward
00:57:51.23\00:57:52.93
to seeing you right
here again next time.
00:57:52.93\00:57:59.24
¤¤
00:57:59.24\00:58:01.24