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00:00:01.06\00:00:07.74
>> Let's start the
service with a word of prayer.
00:00:10.34\00:00:12.71
Bow your heads with
me. >> Heavenly Father,
00:00:12.71\00:00:16.68
it is Your beautiful
Sabbath. The sun is out.
00:00:16.68\00:00:21.35
You assured us that
You are with us here.
00:00:21.35\00:00:24.19
But now we ask for a special
anointing of Your Holy Spirit
00:00:24.19\00:00:27.12
because today is
Sabbath and today is church.
00:00:27.12\00:00:31.59
As we praise, I ask
that You open our hearts,
00:00:31.59\00:00:34.56
fill us with Your
Spirit, and bring us joy and
00:00:34.56\00:00:38.63
a gratitude that we are
here together in community.
00:00:38.63\00:00:41.77
In Jesus' name.
Amen. Once again,
00:00:41.77\00:00:45.71
good morning, happy Sabbath.
I want to start by asking you
00:00:45.71\00:00:51.55
all to stand up.
00:00:51.55\00:00:53.01
And I want to do something a
little different today. So stand
00:00:53.05\00:00:57.19
up with me. And I want you to
look at your neighbor. I want to
say, "Hey, neighbor.
00:00:57.19\00:01:02.76
It's Sabbath. God
is good. And we are
00:01:02.76\00:01:07.66
in the Father's
house." Amen. Amen.
00:01:07.66\00:01:11.87
So as we start,
this is a new song.
00:01:11.90\00:01:14.74
Sing this with me.
00:01:14.74\00:01:16.67
For those of you who wish
to stay standing, you may.
00:05:52.31\00:05:55.35
But if you also need to sit
down, you can do so as well.
00:05:55.35\00:05:57.92
But join us.
Freely worship with us.
00:05:57.92\00:06:00.52
¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:00.52\00:06:09.16
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00:06:09.16\00:06:17.61
So I wanted to share
with you guys this passage
00:10:21.02\00:10:25.52
in Matthew 9:19.
This is how it says.
00:10:25.52\00:10:27.92
This is the Word of
God saying, "So Jesus
00:10:27.92\00:10:29.89
and His disciples
got up and went with Him.
00:10:29.89\00:10:32.59
Just then, a woman who
had suffered for 12 years
00:10:32.59\00:10:35.10
with constant
bleeding came up behind Him.
00:10:35.10\00:10:37.30
She touched the fringe of
His robe, for she thought,
00:10:37.30\00:10:41.40
'If I can just touch
His robe, I will be healed.'
00:10:41.40\00:10:45.17
She drew close. Jesus
turned around, and when
00:10:45.17\00:10:47.98
He saw her, He said,
'Daughter, be encouraged.
00:10:47.98\00:10:50.21
Your faith has made you well.'"
Oh, how He's faithful to us.
00:10:50.21\00:10:55.35
"And the woman was
healed at that very moment."
00:10:55.35\00:10:59.19
And at this time, those of
you who want to draw close,
00:10:59.19\00:11:03.63
want to touch Jesus'
robe, please come forward.
00:11:03.63\00:11:07.30
And for the ones that decided
to sing, stand up for this
00:11:07.30\00:11:10.17
last song. Meditate with us on
00:11:10.17\00:11:12.27
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness." ¤¤
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00:11:20.31\00:11:38.53
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00:17:05.22\00:17:11.49
>> Well, good morning, boys and
girls. Nice to see you on this
00:17:15.06\00:17:17.40
"Oh, thank you, Jesus, for the
sunshine" Sabbath. And you got
00:17:17.40\00:17:22.77
sunshine in your faces, and I
love it. So today, this
children's story, I've got to
00:17:22.77\00:17:28.04
set up -- I got to set
up my car seat right here
00:17:28.08\00:17:30.31
because I got a story
from jolly old England.
00:17:30.31\00:17:34.68
Al right. So in England --
00:17:34.68\00:17:38.75
I'm sitting in the car seat
right here. And it's the story
00:17:38.79\00:17:44.03
about Jason and Jane. Jason's
the father. Jane's the mother.
00:17:44.03\00:17:49.46
Only she's not the mother yet,
because they're driving on the
00:17:49.46\00:17:53.67
M5. Now, that's a big traffic
highway in southwest England,
00:17:53.67\00:17:58.61
okay? It's like I-94 out here.
They're driving on the M5. Boy,
00:17:58.61\00:18:03.41
these cars are going fast today.
See, I'm driving on this side of
00:18:03.41\00:18:06.78
the -- Karen sent me a note
between services. "Dwight, you
00:18:06.78\00:18:09.15
drove on the wrong side at first
service." So I'm on this side. I
00:18:09.15\00:18:12.72
hope you see that. I'm on this
side. This is the wrong side.
But all Americans drive
00:18:12.72\00:18:16.42
on the wrong side, anyway. So
what does it matter? So his wife
00:18:16.42\00:18:19.73
is sitting right here. She's
pregnant. She's for 40 weeks
00:18:19.73\00:18:24.87
pregnant. Ooh. 40 weeks. That's
pretty big. That is really big.
00:18:24.87\00:18:29.37
So they're going to the
hospital. Well, why not?
00:18:29.37\00:18:31.71
After 40 weeks. So Dad,
he's just driving away here.
00:18:31.71\00:18:35.58
Yes, he is. "How you
doing, love? You you look fine.
00:18:35.58\00:18:40.15
You are great with child. I can
hardly wait to see that child.
00:18:40.15\00:18:44.25
But we got time, so don't
you worry about it." A lot of
00:18:44.25\00:18:47.09
traffic here. Oh, and the road
is under construction. They got
these orange things
00:18:47.09\00:18:49.49
on this side and orange things
on this side. No shoulder.
00:18:49.49\00:18:52.23
You can't turn off. You're just
stuck in these two lanes, and
00:18:52.23\00:18:55.33
one lane is going faster than
the other. And Jason is going
about 50 miles an hour.
00:18:55.33\00:18:58.97
Vroom! "That's not
bad. Traffic's moving pretty
00:18:58.97\00:19:01.64
good today, wouldn't you say?"
And then she said, "Oh!" "Excuse
00:19:01.64\00:19:06.51
me?" "Oh!" "Is something
happening to you? Listen, don't
00:19:06.51\00:19:12.01
worry. Just hold it, hold it,
hold it. It's not gonna be that
far to the hospital.
00:19:12.01\00:19:15.25
I can't make it. We'll
just get around this traffic."
00:19:15.25\00:19:17.65
So she's getting ready to have
a baby. "You're fine. Hold on."
00:19:17.65\00:19:22.26
Vroom! "I gotta get
this thing going faster.
00:19:22.26\00:19:25.19
You okay? Good." When
all of a sudden -- "Oh!"
00:19:25.19\00:19:29.13
What? No. He didn't crash.
He's keeping an eye on his mommy
00:19:29.13\00:19:34.14
because she's going to
have a baby. And he looks down.
00:19:34.14\00:19:36.81
"Oh! The b-- Give me -- Give
me the phone. Dial -- Dial the
00:19:36.81\00:19:41.58
number." They dial the emergency
number. "Hello, operator. I'm
00:19:41.58\00:19:45.98
driving down M5. I'm -- I'm
going 50 miles an hour. And my
00:19:45.98\00:19:49.15
wife -- my wife. Oh, the baby is
coming. What do I do?" And the
00:19:49.15\00:19:52.42
operator said, "Sir, sir, sir,
sir. Calm down. Calm down. Let
00:19:52.42\00:19:56.49
that baby come. Just let it
come. Now, you're going 50 miles
00:19:56.49\00:19:59.16
an hour. Just begin to slow your
car. Slow it down. Slow it down.
00:19:59.16\00:20:02.60
The traffic will get around you.
Slow it down. Put your flashers
00:20:02.60\00:20:05.00
on!" Pzz! Pzz! Pzz! "Okay, got
your flashers on? Now slowly
bring it to a stop."
00:20:05.00\00:20:10.14
"Okay. I am. But I'm telling
you what. The baby's coming!
00:20:10.14\00:20:12.54
The baby's coming!" A big truck
comes up behind. They call it a
00:20:12.54\00:20:15.41
lorry over there. The big truck
stops. He puts his big flashers
00:20:15.41\00:20:18.85
on. Traffic's going around. The
car comes to a stop. "What do I
00:20:18.85\00:20:22.85
do now? Oh, no! The baby's
here!" [ Laughter ] The baby was
00:20:22.85\00:20:29.39
there. In two minutes, that
baby was born. In two minutes.
00:20:29.39\00:20:34.23
"What do I do now?"
"Well, hold the baby." "Okay."
00:20:34.23\00:20:37.57
[ Laughter ] Then the ambulance
got there. Finally the ambulance
00:20:37.57\00:20:42.74
got there. They took care of
Mother and the newborn baby.
They named the baby Harry.
00:20:42.74\00:20:46.68
I wonder where they got that
name. And so Harry and Mother
00:20:46.68\00:20:50.91
are fine. Father's very
harried, but they're going to
00:20:50.91\00:20:55.68
the hospital now in the
ambulance. And the ambulance
00:20:55.68\00:20:58.82
driver -- The attendants in the
back. "Okay, let's fill out this
00:20:58.82\00:21:03.09
birth certificate. Place of
birth. What am I gonna put? M5."
00:21:03.09\00:21:05.69
That's what they put on
the birth certificate. M5.
00:21:05.69\00:21:08.76
Can you imagine growing up and
they say, "Hey, where were you
00:21:08.76\00:21:11.20
born?" "M5. Front seat,
7:57 a.m." That's when it was.
00:21:11.20\00:21:17.17
Oh, my. Can you believe
that? Sometimes you can look
00:21:17.17\00:21:19.91
at something and say, "Well, we
got lots of time yet. Oh, we got
00:21:19.91\00:21:24.05
lots of time." And it turns out
time's up. people are looking at
the world right now, and they're
00:21:24.05\00:21:28.88
saying, "Oh, we got lots of
time. Jesus is not coming yet.
00:21:28.88\00:21:33.52
We got time. Someday, but not
now." Boom. And then it happens.
00:21:33.52\00:21:41.53
Oh, boy. Jesus says, "Listen.
I'm not telling you when I'm
00:21:41.53\00:21:44.27
coming. I'm coming soon. But
I need you to help prepare your
00:21:44.27\00:21:48.00
friends and neighbors in your
neighborhood. All those boys and
girls that are your age.
00:21:48.00\00:21:51.57
Tell them about me. Tell them
I'm coming soon." That's what
00:21:51.57\00:21:56.68
Jesus said. You don't have to be
afraid. But it's gonna be like
that. Just be ready. Be
00:21:56.68\00:22:04.95
prepared. Oh, who -- Aren't you
glad that Jesus is coming soon?
How many are glad that Jesus
00:22:04.95\00:22:09.29
is coming soon? Let me just
see your hands. Yeah, I figured.
00:22:09.29\00:22:11.49
That would be everybody.
Who would like to pray today and
00:22:11.49\00:22:15.93
say, "Jesus, I want you to help
us prepare our little world for
00:22:15.93\00:22:23.20
your soon coming"? Who would
like to pray today? I need a
little girl today. I got one
00:22:23.20\00:22:27.68
right there, because we
had a boy in the first service.
00:22:27.68\00:22:29.48
Alright. Sissy, I'm gonna stay
seated. Can you just grab that
little microphone over there?
00:22:29.48\00:22:34.12
Alright. Come on over here.
Madam, come on over here. What's
00:22:34.12\00:22:39.25
your first name? >>
Talia. >> Natalia? >> Talia.
00:22:39.25\00:22:41.46
>> Talia. I love that name
-- Talia. Come on over here.
00:22:41.46\00:22:43.39
Alright, boys and girls, fold
your hands and close your eyes.
00:22:43.39\00:22:47.40
And Talia is going to thank
Jesus for helping us prepare.
00:22:47.40\00:22:51.87
Alright? >> Lord, thank you for
all you have done. Lord, thank
00:22:51.87\00:22:55.27
you for helping us come to
church safely. Thank you for
preparing us for your coming
00:22:55.27\00:22:59.67
soon. Lord, thank you for all
you have done. Lord, forgive our
00:22:59.67\00:23:03.65
sins and soon, once church is
over, we'll go home safely. Help
00:23:03.65\00:23:06.82
us all to have a wonderful day.
In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. >>
00:23:06.82\00:23:09.72
Amen. Talia, that was a
beautiful prayer, sister. Thank
00:23:09.72\00:23:13.12
you very much. As you go quietly
and reverently back to your
seats, what Talia prayed.
00:23:13.12\00:23:16.52
You pray the same. Dear Jesus,
thank you, thank you, thank you.
00:23:16.52\00:23:20.86
Happy Sabbath.
00:23:20.86\00:23:21.96
>> Let's pray. Dear God, thank
you for that. It is good enough
00:23:24.53\00:23:30.07
for us. So, what do we do with
it, given this moment in
history? What do we do with it?
00:23:30.07\00:23:35.88
Make it clear,
please. In Jesus' name. Amen.
00:23:35.88\00:23:40.88
A friend of mine
named Jean Sequeira sent me
00:23:40.92\00:23:42.98
a story this last
week. I read the story.
00:23:42.98\00:23:45.22
It's unbelievable. I'm
going to share it with you
00:23:45.22\00:23:47.22
right now. It's short story.
00:23:47.22\00:23:50.03
I have it written up right here.
it appears on the website --
00:23:50.03\00:23:52.53
This is where you can get
it. If you'd like a copy of it,
00:23:52.53\00:23:55.13
it appears on the website
RevivalAndReformation.org.
00:23:55.13\00:23:59.67
You go to that website.
You'll know what story you're
00:23:59.67\00:24:02.10
asking for. Alright?
00:24:02.10\00:24:04.27
It's written by -- It's
titled "Angels All Around," by
00:24:04.27\00:24:07.84
Melony Coleman.
00:24:07.84\00:24:09.44
And at the bottom, it says,
"Melony Coleman is a pastor's
00:24:09.48\00:24:12.65
wife and mother of three. She
and her family live in southern
00:24:12.65\00:24:16.69
Oregon." Well, Karen and I used
to pastor in southern Oregon
before coming here.
00:24:16.69\00:24:20.22
So kind of picture that area.
She's writing now, okay? "I'm
00:24:20.22\00:24:25.03
going to share an almost
unbelievable story, but it's
true. It just happened
00:24:25.03\00:24:27.93
a couple weeks ago." So we're
talking about fairly fresh here.
00:24:27.93\00:24:31.03
"My husband is a pastor in the
U.S. state of Oregon." So this
00:24:31.03\00:24:34.80
is an international website.
So it just explains where Oregon
00:24:34.80\00:24:38.87
is. "And it was opening night of
our evangelistic series,
'Revelation of Hope.'
00:24:38.87\00:24:44.55
I've been encouraging
more prayer in our church, so I
00:24:44.55\00:24:47.48
decided that I would oversee the
prayer room during the series.
My team consists of mostly
00:24:47.48\00:24:51.35
homebound elderly friends or
people praying from their homes.
So I wasn't sure how much
00:24:51.35\00:24:55.96
participation I would have
during the meetings. I decided
00:24:55.96\00:24:59.53
to create a prayer room anyway,
hoping that some of the church
members would be willing to come
00:24:59.53\00:25:03.13
in and pray periodically during
the meetings. That first Friday
00:25:03.13\00:25:09.97
night, it was just me. I
felt alone, but I prayed anyway.
00:25:09.97\00:25:14.24
Again, Sabbath evening,
it was just me. I felt a bit
00:25:14.24\00:25:18.78
more discouraged. I put on
a beautiful rendition of 'The
00:25:18.78\00:25:22.38
Lord's Prayer.' And while it
played, I prayed. 'I know that
where two or three are gathered
00:25:22.38\00:25:27.59
together in Your name, You are
there, Lord. But what if it's
just me?' I prayed silently.
00:25:27.59\00:25:34.46
When the song finished, I opened
my eyes, and the room was full
00:25:34.46\00:25:43.44
of angels. I started crying as I
looked around the room in
amazement. The angels were tall,
00:25:43.44\00:25:47.34
as tall as the ceiling, with
broad shoulders. They stood
shoulder to shoulder
00:25:47.34\00:25:50.91
with their backs to the wall all
around the edges of the room.
00:25:50.91\00:25:54.12
I felt tiny compared to them.
They had wings and wore flowing
00:25:54.12\00:25:59.42
robe-like clothes. I was drawn
to their faces. They looked like
men. Very handsome.
00:25:59.42\00:26:03.32
Their eyes were so kind, and
they smiled gentle, comforting
00:26:03.32\00:26:07.96
smiles. Their facial features
were defined, and they had a
warrior-like atmosphere
00:26:07.96\00:26:11.83
boldness about them. Their
dark hair flowed down to their
00:26:11.83\00:26:16.34
shoulders, and they looked
almost iridescent. While I
couldn't see through them, I
00:26:16.34\00:26:23.01
almost could. Their forms shown
with yellow-white color. I was
only able to see them
00:26:23.01\00:26:27.35
for four or five seconds, and
then they were gone. But I
couldn't stop crying
00:26:27.35\00:26:30.89
for the rest of the evening. I
had been so discouraged,
wondering if God could work
00:26:30.89\00:26:36.56
if it was only me in the
prayer room. He showed me in a
00:26:36.56\00:26:40.96
miraculous way that if
one person is praying, it is
00:26:40.96\00:26:46.63
enough." >> Amen. >> "I feel so
unworthy and humbled that He
would give me this great gift.
00:26:46.63\00:26:50.14
I still cry often as I think
about this sacred experience. I
00:26:50.14\00:26:55.84
continued to pray in our church
prayer room alone, but I'm no
longer discouraged, for I know
00:26:55.84\00:27:00.88
the room is full of angels, even
though I can't see them. I just
00:27:00.88\00:27:05.45
had to share. We must never
underestimate the power of
prayer. Even if just one person
00:27:05.45\00:27:10.66
is praying, that's enough. God
is at work even when we can't
00:27:10.66\00:27:17.40
see." You know, a bunch of women
came back from the tomb. They
said, "We saw angels."
00:27:17.40\00:27:23.81
And the men, skeptics that men
are, just kind of laughed.
"Yeah, you were crying awfully
00:27:23.81\00:27:29.28
hard, weren't you?" Turns
out the Gospel writers believed
00:27:29.28\00:27:36.69
those women. In every Gospel
that records it, is because a
woman testified through tears.
00:27:36.69\00:27:41.66
"I saw angels." So I'm
not just quickly dismissing
00:27:41.66\00:27:46.03
that story and saying,
"Emotionalism." Can you believe
00:27:46.03\00:27:52.93
it? I have a feeling one day
that in eternity we're going to
00:27:52.93\00:27:55.77
discover that the angels were
absolutely enmeshed with us in
the mission of God on this earth
00:27:55.77\00:28:01.71
to save every man, woman, and
child alive, and we never knew
it. That singing that we had
00:28:01.71\00:28:07.58
today, William and your
team, thank you. That was just
00:28:07.58\00:28:10.15
beautiful. And I'm sure the
angels who are lining these
walls were singing with us.
00:28:10.15\00:28:16.02
They love it when God is
glorified and His name is
00:28:16.02\00:28:22.23
praised. Turns out that we're
beginning a brand-new series
00:28:22.26\00:28:25.13
right now, and the
series is titled "Prepared?"
00:28:25.13\00:28:30.04
Are we? The
teaching today begins --
00:28:30.04\00:28:33.11
wouldn't you know it
-- with an angel story.
00:28:33.11\00:28:36.04
An angel who showed up to an old
man in church. And when the old
00:28:36.08\00:28:39.91
man walked out to all the
worshipers who were waiting for
him, and he said, "Hey,
00:28:39.91\00:28:42.72
listen, I have seen an angel."
He communicated to them. [
00:28:42.72\00:28:47.92
Scoffs ] [ Chuckles ] The
story is so familiar to us.
00:28:47.92\00:28:55.00
Maybe it doesn't even need to
be repeated. But, you see, the
00:28:55.00\00:28:59.73
angel that showed up had a line
tucked in his very last line,
00:28:59.73\00:29:05.64
and it's a line that becomes the
meme and the mission of this
generation right now.
00:29:05.64\00:29:11.61
And I'm talking about, yeah, Gen
Zers and Millennials and Gen
Xers, and, like I said,
00:29:11.61\00:29:16.48
"Okay, Boomers," and the Silent
Generation and all. One line.
00:29:16.48\00:29:24.49
Let's go to that angel speaking
to that elderly man. Open your
00:29:24.49\00:29:27.76
Bible to the Gospel of
Luke. You've got to see this for
00:29:27.76\00:29:30.63
yourself. Luke chapter 1. Didn't
bring a Bible? Grab the pew
00:29:30.63\00:29:33.20
Bible in front of you. Page 688
in the pew Bible. Didn't bring a
00:29:33.20\00:29:36.87
pew Bible? Grab that phone in
front of you and find it. Luke
00:29:36.87\00:29:41.21
chapter 1. We're going to begin
with the words of the angel.
00:29:41.21\00:29:44.05
That's verse 13. I'm in the New
International Version. Whatever
00:29:44.05\00:29:47.45
you have is
going to work perfect.
00:29:47.45\00:29:48.72
"But the angel --" And
we know the angel's name
00:29:51.19\00:29:53.29
because he introduces
himself a few moments later.
00:29:53.29\00:29:56.39
Gabriel.
00:29:56.39\00:29:58.06
Now, let me just show you
what's going on at this moment.
00:30:12.81\00:30:16.48
So go back to verse
7. You see verse 7 there?
00:30:16.48\00:30:19.75
"But they --"
Zechariah and Elizabeth...
00:30:19.75\00:30:22.55
There is no in vitro
fertilization taking place here
for that elderly couple.
00:30:28.12\00:30:32.66
We're talking about a pure,
real-life miracle. They're gonna
00:30:32.66\00:30:37.30
give birth to a baby. Speaking
of that baby, John, keep
00:30:37.30\00:30:41.77
reading, verse 14.
And, "He" -- John...
00:30:41.77\00:30:43.71
And here comes verse 17.
We're looking for our meme.
00:30:59.59\00:31:02.96
"Is there a mission for
me today," you're asking.
00:31:02.96\00:31:05.79
Here it is -- verse 17.
"And he" -- John -- "will go on
00:31:05.79\00:31:09.03
before the Lord" -- our Lord,
Christ Himself -- "in the spirit
00:31:09.03\00:31:13.10
and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the
00:31:13.10\00:31:16.24
parents to their
children and the disobedient
00:31:16.24\00:31:18.37
to the wisdom of
the righteous" --
00:31:18.37\00:31:19.77
and here it is -- "to
make ready a people" --
00:31:19.77\00:31:23.61
What? "A people prepared
00:31:23.61\00:31:27.45
for the Lord."
00:31:27.45\00:31:30.25
That's quite a line. The
predicted birth of John the
00:31:30.29\00:31:36.69
Baptizer, miraculously born to
herald Christ's First Coming. I
00:31:36.69\00:31:44.83
got to think out loud with you.
Let's kind of check the logic of
00:31:44.83\00:31:47.20
this. See if I'm off base here.
Check it out. If God raised up a
00:31:47.20\00:31:56.41
baby, a man, to prepare the
world for the Messiah's First
Coming, would it be okay
00:31:56.41\00:32:04.72
to maybe conclude that before
the Messiah's Second Coming, he
will raise up not one man,
00:32:04.72\00:32:12.96
he will raise up a generation
before Jesus comes? Does that
00:32:12.96\00:32:21.47
make any sense? Now, I need to
tell you something -- our friend
Gabriel, and he's gonna be a
00:32:21.47\00:32:25.94
friend of ours one day. The most
majestic living angel in the
universe took the place
00:32:25.94\00:32:32.35
of our dreaded enemy. Our friend
Gabriel has quoted -- When he's
00:32:32.35\00:32:38.42
speaking to old man Zechariah,
he has actually quoted the words
of a prophecy on the last page
00:32:38.42\00:32:44.66
of the Old Testament that
has Second Coming, fire and
00:32:44.66\00:32:49.70
judgment, written all over it.
He's quoting a Second Coming
prophecy to talk about
00:32:49.70\00:32:56.34
the First Coming. You've
got to check this out. So go to
00:32:56.34\00:32:59.61
Malachi. That's the last book
of the Old Testament. Go to the
00:32:59.61\00:33:02.04
last page of the Old Testament.
So you get back to Matthew and
then just go one page
00:33:02.04\00:33:05.65
before Matthew, and that's
Malachi. The last chapter of
00:33:05.65\00:33:08.45
Malachi is Malachi chapter 4.
Watch this. This is what Gabriel
00:33:08.45\00:33:12.72
quotes to Zechariah.
00:33:12.72\00:33:15.26
Let's just set it up. Verse 1.
00:33:15.29\00:33:16.62
So this is Malachi 4:1.
"'Surely the day is coming;
00:33:16.62\00:33:20.80
it will burn like a furnace.
All the arrogant and every
00:33:20.80\00:33:25.37
evildoer will be stubble,
and the day that is coming
00:33:25.37\00:33:29.44
will set them on fire,'
says the Lord Almighty,"
00:33:29.44\00:33:31.64
the Lord of Hosts,
"'Not a root or a branch
00:33:31.64\00:33:34.84
will be left to them.'"
00:33:34.84\00:33:37.01
It's a picture of absolutely
cataclysmic destruction. It's
what the Bible calls
00:33:37.05\00:33:43.05
the Day of the Lord, which
always describes the Second
00:33:43.05\00:33:47.12
Coming of Christ. Now watch
this. Drop down to verse 5.
"See" -- Now here's where
00:33:47.12\00:33:49.56
Gabriel borrowed
heavily for Zechariah.
00:33:49.56\00:33:52.99
That's about as cataclysmic as
you can imagine. So Gabriel goes
00:34:08.28\00:34:13.15
to the Second Coming picture of
Jesus, and he says, "By the way,
00:34:13.15\00:34:19.45
that's what John is going to
do." So now we don't have to
guess. Is the logic strong?
00:34:19.45\00:34:23.59
Are you kidding? The
corroboration, we just saw it.
00:34:23.59\00:34:27.03
The conclusion is that just as
John the Baptizer was raised up
00:34:27.03\00:34:31.53
to prepare for the Messiah's
Second Coming, there will be a
people at the end of time
00:34:31.53\00:34:35.70
also raised up to prepare for
the Messiah's Number-Two Coming.
00:34:35.70\00:34:42.34
That's the point. What's that
line? Put it on the screen again
00:34:42.34\00:34:46.48
for us, please. The tag line of
John's mission has everything to
do with the mission
00:34:50.95\00:34:55.66
of the end-time generation.
And that would be you. And that
00:34:55.66\00:34:59.66
would be me. And that includes
the angels who will join in this
00:34:59.66\00:35:07.07
sprint to the end zone... to
make ready a people prepared for
00:35:07.07\00:35:13.34
the soon-coming Lord. I'm
going to admit something to you.
00:35:13.34\00:35:17.05
For months now, I've been
brooding over that one line that
was just on the screen.
00:35:17.05\00:35:24.99
What do I do with
this? God. In fact, that line
00:35:24.99\00:35:30.96
is so important to me, I've
printed it out and I've taped it
00:35:30.96\00:35:33.93
on the wall where I have worship
and I meet Him every morning. I
brooded over this line
00:35:33.93\00:35:39.87
with seven questions -- brooding
kind of questions in my mind,
00:35:39.87\00:35:43.91
and I don't mind sharing them
with you. Question number one,
as I look at that line,
00:35:43.91\00:35:47.24
I wonder, is the faith community
I belong to, from the youngest
00:35:47.24\00:35:51.71
to the oldest, even aware
anymore of our raison d'être, as
the French would put it?
00:35:51.71\00:35:56.42
Our reason for existence. Are
we aware of it? Question number
00:35:56.42\00:36:01.92
two, do the newest among us
-- and I'm talking about you Gen
00:36:01.92\00:36:04.69
Zers. Do the newest among us
have any inkling to the high
destiny that you've been born
00:36:04.69\00:36:11.07
to? Has anybody told you yet?
Question number three -- Oh,
00:36:11.07\00:36:16.34
God, I wonder, is this the time
to sound the earnest call for
00:36:16.34\00:36:20.08
those who believe in the soon
coming of Christ to rise up and
embrace this divine mission?
00:36:20.08\00:36:25.08
Or question number four, have we
already abandoned our mission?
00:36:25.08\00:36:29.12
Have we already given up
our hope? Are we settling down
00:36:29.12\00:36:33.19
for a long winter's nap?
Question number five, should I
fear for my church?
00:36:33.19\00:36:40.66
Should I fear for my own soul?
Question number six, dear God,
isn't it time for us?
00:36:40.66\00:36:49.90
Lookit. I understand that all 10
virgins in Jesus' parable slept,
00:36:49.90\00:36:54.74
right? They all -- All 10 slept.
I understand that. But is this
00:36:54.74\00:37:00.28
the time for us to be aroused
from paralyzing lethargy, from
our dangerous slumber?
00:37:00.28\00:37:06.19
God, what would you do if
you were here? Question number
00:37:06.19\00:37:10.46
seven, the last one -- When will
we hear God's high calling to
00:37:10.46\00:37:14.93
a radical Christianity and a
radical Adventism that has not
even been tried yet?
00:37:14.93\00:37:23.30
Apparently, we're not alone
in this lethargic miasma. One of
00:37:23.30\00:37:30.18
the bright minds and luminary
thinkers of this generation is
David Brooks. He's a writer and
00:37:30.18\00:37:35.25
commentator. His latest book,
"The Second Mountain: The Quest
00:37:35.25\00:37:40.76
for a Moral Life." I'm reading
the book thanks to the gift of a
friend, okay? In the book,
00:37:40.76\00:37:46.43
Brooks describes what he calls
-- I'll put this on the screen
for you because it's a tongue
00:37:46.43\00:37:49.76
twister -- what he calls
the "moral directionlessness" of
00:37:49.76\00:37:54.60
this generation. Because this is
our generation. And by the way,
when he says "generation,"
00:37:54.60\00:37:57.24
he's not talking about Gen
Zers or Millennials or Xers or
00:37:57.24\00:38:01.78
Boomers. No, no. He said he
means everybody alive right now
00:38:01.78\00:38:05.11
in this culture. That's the
miasma that we suffer from --
moral directionlessness.
00:38:05.11\00:38:12.65
And, by the way, he describes
moral directionlessness as
coming from a loss.
00:38:12.65\00:38:20.06
Listen, listen, listen. It
arises out of a loss of purpose.
00:38:20.06\00:38:24.90
"I don't know why I
exist." Wow. So Brooks --
00:38:24.90\00:38:36.14
loss of purpose leads to moral
directionlessness. David Brooks
00:38:36.14\00:38:43.39
on the screen. Now, you're gonna
have three graduation speakers
standing on this platform
00:38:51.76\00:38:54.96
in just a few weeks. And they're
gonna tell you you can dream
00:38:54.96\00:38:58.77
anything you want, you can go
anywhere you want, you can be
anything you want, the future is
00:38:58.77\00:39:03.54
limitless for you. But if
you don't know why you exist,
00:39:03.57\00:39:06.61
that only ups the pressure,
as Brooks notes correctly.
00:39:06.61\00:39:11.75
Brooks goes on,
"Eventually, there's no escaping
00:39:11.75\00:39:15.08
the big questions." Alright.
00:39:15.08\00:39:16.52
So I love the way he formulates
these three questions.
00:39:16.52\00:39:19.12
When's the last time you asked
yourself these three questions?
00:39:19.12\00:39:21.12
They don't sound like anything
you would have thought to ask,
00:39:21.12\00:39:23.76
but I'm gonna put
them in front of you.
00:39:23.76\00:39:25.03
Look at David
Brooks. Question number one,
00:39:25.03\00:39:26.76
what's my best life?
Am I living my best life?
00:39:26.76\00:39:30.13
Are you living
your best life now?
00:39:30.13\00:39:31.93
Is this the best that
life gets? Am I living?
00:39:31.93\00:39:35.37
What's my best
life? Question number two,
00:39:35.37\00:39:38.54
what do I believe in?
When's the last time you did
00:39:38.54\00:39:40.91
inventory of your
beliefs? I mean, really,
00:39:40.91\00:39:43.55
what do you
believe in? Do you believe?
00:39:43.55\00:39:46.58
And then question number
three, where do I belong?
00:39:46.58\00:39:49.25
Am I where I
belong? Where do I belong?
00:39:49.25\00:39:53.62
And then he quotes the
Danish Christian philosopher
00:39:53.62\00:39:55.79
Soren
Kierkegaard, on the screen.
00:39:55.79\00:39:58.13
"Kierkegaard once
summarized the question" --
00:39:58.13\00:40:00.40
the big question --
"this way." Quoting him now.
00:40:00.40\00:40:03.00
"What I really need to be
clear about is what I am to do,
00:40:03.00\00:40:08.17
not about what I must know.
It is a question of finding
00:40:08.17\00:40:11.24
a truth that is truth for me,
of finding the idea for which
00:40:11.24\00:40:15.58
I am willing to live and
die." Have you found that yet?
00:40:15.58\00:40:20.45
"It is for this my soul thirsts,
as the deserts of Africa
00:40:20.45\00:40:23.99
thirst for water."
Wow. Why do I exist?
00:40:23.99\00:40:29.42
What is the purpose for
my life? Why was I born?
00:40:29.42\00:40:33.40
God, tell me. These are
00:40:33.40\00:40:37.10
existential questions,
and it doesn't matter how old
00:40:37.10\00:40:38.83
you are or how young
you are. Everybody here
00:40:38.83\00:40:41.04
has to answer them.
So, what's the answer?
00:40:41.04\00:40:44.57
What were you born
for? What lights your fire
00:40:44.57\00:40:47.91
and keeps you driven...now?
00:40:47.91\00:40:51.55
I want to say something. And
this is especially true if
you're young right now.
00:40:56.15\00:41:03.83
Because if you don't find the
answer -- Let me rephrase that.
00:41:03.83\00:41:08.96
If you don't find the answers at
the beginning of your life, you
will spend the rest of your
00:41:08.96\00:41:15.10
life trying to find the answers.
Find them now. Find them now.
There's a reason you're here.
00:41:15.10\00:41:24.21
God dreams you into
existence. Find that answer.
00:41:24.21\00:41:28.48
And then he turns to
Friedrich Nietzsche to drive
00:41:28.52\00:41:32.22
the point home, on the screen.
"Nietzsche says" -- Oh, this is
00:41:32.22\00:41:35.76
good -- "Nietzsche says
that he who has a 'why' to live
00:41:35.76\00:41:39.23
for can endure any 'how.'"
Do you know why you live today?
00:41:39.23\00:41:46.47
Why do you exist
"If" -- Keep reading.
00:41:46.47\00:41:49.20
Brooks now. "If you know
00:41:49.20\00:41:51.17
what your purpose is,
you can handle the setbacks."
00:41:51.17\00:41:55.01
Doesn't matter what happens
to you if you know why you live.
00:41:55.01\00:42:00.15
So, what's all this have to do
with John the Baptizer and you
00:42:00.18\00:42:03.45
and me? I tell you what, it
has everything to do. You think
00:42:03.45\00:42:07.42
about it. "To make ready a
people prepared for the Lord" is
00:42:07.42\00:42:14.30
the great why. Look at that
line. Burn that line into your
00:42:14.30\00:42:18.17
consciousness. Never forget it.
"To make ready a people prepared
00:42:18.17\00:42:22.07
for the Lord" is the great why,
not only for John the Baptist to
00:42:22.07\00:42:25.37
prepare the world for the
Messiah's First Coming. It's the
great why for you and me to
00:42:25.37\00:42:30.15
prepare the world for the
Messiah's Coming Number Two.
It's the great why.
00:42:30.15\00:42:35.42
John knew why he existed. He
knew. Do you know why you exist?
00:42:35.42\00:42:43.32
I'll tell you what, brothers
and sisters, this one line
00:42:43.32\00:42:47.86
is a home-run pitch. You
know what a home-run pitch is?
00:42:47.86\00:42:50.97
That means the pitcher throws
this thing so slow -- so slow
00:42:50.97\00:42:54.87
that you're gonna knock it out
of the park. It's the perfect
pitch. You are now given
00:42:54.87\00:42:58.64
the perfect pitch. This
is why you exist. One line.
00:42:58.64\00:43:03.98
Put it on the screen
again for us, please.
00:43:03.98\00:43:07.28
I want to tell you something. In
fact, let me just talk to the
young now for a moment.
00:43:10.15\00:43:14.66
God is offering you,
seriously -- God is offering you
00:43:14.66\00:43:18.19
a reason to live that will clear
your head like a dab of green
00:43:18.19\00:43:23.13
wasabi on your sushi. You ever
eaten wasabi, like us Japanese
00:43:23.13\00:43:30.34
do? I mean, you take a little
bit of wasabi. [ Inhales sharply
00:43:30.34\00:43:33.31
] Sinus problems --
none. Gone. Oh, that's hot!
00:43:33.31\00:43:37.95
Ooh! Clears your
head. To prepare a people
00:43:37.95\00:43:43.79
for the Lord. "To make ready
a people prepared for the Lord"
00:43:43.79\00:43:48.02
will clear your head of the
insufferable questions that have
00:43:48.02\00:43:52.63
been going through your mind
these last few months and even
years. Some of you have been
00:43:52.63\00:43:56.16
wrestling over, number one, what
should I do for the rest of my
life? Number two, what career
00:43:56.16\00:43:59.40
is God calling me to? Number
three, what's my future gonna
00:43:59.40\00:44:02.94
look like? This will clear your
head, because you think about it
now. Think, think, think, think,
00:44:02.94\00:44:06.64
think with me. If you will
embrace this line as the why of
00:44:06.64\00:44:13.88
your life, to make ready the
people you know for the return
of the Lord, it won't matter
00:44:13.88\00:44:19.22
what your career becomes. It
won't matter where your career
00:44:19.22\00:44:25.73
unfolds. It won't matter how
much or how little your career
makes. If you make this one
00:44:25.73\00:44:35.10
line, "To make ready a people
prepared for the Lord," your
00:44:35.10\00:44:42.14
life mission. It will bring such
a razor focus to your living,
not only for the why
00:44:42.14\00:44:45.95
that you exist, but also for the
what you can do and how you can
00:44:45.95\00:44:49.45
do it while you exist. Come
on. Lookit. If you're going into
00:44:49.45\00:44:53.92
medicine -- alright, you're
going into medicine or
healthcare. That's great.
00:44:53.92\00:44:58.59
Face every patient as an
opportunity to help that life
00:44:58.59\00:45:04.93
prepare for the return of Jesus.
You say, "I'm not going into
medicine and healthcare."
00:45:04.93\00:45:08.07
Okay, if you're going into
accounting and law -- Oh, that's
00:45:08.07\00:45:13.21
splendid. Good. Then face
every client as an opportunity
00:45:13.21\00:45:18.05
to prepare that person for the
soon coming of Jesus. You say,
"I'm not going into
00:45:18.05\00:45:22.25
any of that. I'm going
into teaching." Hallelujah.
00:45:22.25\00:45:24.42
You're going into teaching. Then
see every young student that
00:45:24.42\00:45:28.62
sits before you as a divine
opportunity to prepare that
child, in his early 20s,
00:45:28.62\00:45:36.36
for the soon coming of Jesus.
Listen, it doesn't matter. It
doesn't matter whether
00:45:36.36\00:45:42.40
you're going into the arts or
you're in the sciences or you're
in aerospace or you're
00:45:42.40\00:45:45.97
in architecture or you're in the
service industry or you are
applying some sort of trade.
00:45:45.97\00:45:50.75
It doesn't matter what color the
collar you wear is. It may be a
00:45:50.75\00:45:56.25
blue collar. It may be a white
collar. It may be no collar.
Even if you don't know
00:45:56.25\00:46:03.12
yet what your career is going to
turn out to be, if you embrace
00:46:03.12\00:46:07.76
this life mission, you can wed
it to that eventual choice, and
00:46:07.76\00:46:11.67
you will never be the same
again. It will be fire that will
00:46:11.67\00:46:18.77
compel you to live only for
Jesus, wherever you go, wherever
00:46:18.77\00:46:25.58
he sends you. "To make ready" --
Oh, look at that again. "To make
00:46:25.58\00:46:30.19
ready a people prepared for the
Lord" will bring a razor focus
not only to why you exist,
00:46:30.19\00:46:35.66
but also to what you can do
and how you can do it while you
00:46:35.66\00:46:39.16
exist. Knowing that made all
the difference in the world for
00:46:39.16\00:46:42.53
John. And I'm going to tell you,
knowing that will make all the
difference in the world
00:46:42.53\00:46:48.04
for every year between now
and the end of your life or the
00:46:48.04\00:46:53.14
return of Christ. You got to
know the why. You got to know
the why. Now I'm going to speak
00:46:53.14\00:47:00.78
a warning into your
consciousness right now. I'm
00:47:00.78\00:47:03.99
going to warn you. Listen. You
need to understand this. This is
a dangerous mission.
00:47:03.99\00:47:11.06
The one you were born for. You
will be opposed from the day
that you embrace it.
00:47:11.06\00:47:18.40
Because Gabriel has a
counterforce in this universe
who will seek to crush
00:47:18.40\00:47:25.34
your determination to live
by this solitary line. The story
00:47:25.34\00:47:31.41
does not always end well. I
mean, that's what Dietrich
Bonhoeffer is trying to
00:47:31.41\00:47:35.25
tell us. In these immortal
words of Bonhoeffer -- You know,
00:47:35.25\00:47:37.79
these words. I'll put
it on the screen for you.
00:47:37.79\00:47:41.02
When Christ calls a
woman, he bids her come and die.
00:47:44.56\00:47:53.00
Bonhoeffer died soon after those
words. John the Baptist died a
00:47:53.00\00:48:00.91
brutal death. Do you know that
Jesus one time, the
pre-incarnate Christ, actually
00:48:00.91\00:48:06.78
personally chose. "I want that
baby right there. I want that
baby to be the forerunner
00:48:06.78\00:48:10.52
of my mission on Earth. Hang
on to that baby. Keep an eye on
00:48:10.52\00:48:14.26
him. That's my forerunner." John
was picked before he was born.
00:48:14.26\00:48:20.13
And I need you to know that
on the authority of Jeremiah
00:48:20.13\00:48:23.30
chapter 1 and Galatians chapter
1, you, too, were picked before
00:48:23.30\00:48:28.34
you were born. God has a vision
for you. But the bottom-line
mission is absolutely clear --
00:48:28.34\00:48:33.24
"to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord." That's you.
00:48:33.24\00:48:41.02
John, would end up paying a
tragically very high price, a
00:48:41.02\00:48:48.32
deadly price,
his-head-on-a-silver-platter
00:48:48.32\00:48:55.70
price. Shoo! You're gonna be
opposed. But it's time you had
something to live for.
00:48:55.70\00:49:02.67
It's time to have something
to die for. And your life will
00:49:02.67\00:49:07.44
never be the same again once you
know. This is your why. You were
00:49:07.44\00:49:17.35
born for this. You were. And it
is your why. You want something
00:49:17.35\00:49:21.92
easy? Okay, okay. Then you be a
part of the 80% of young adults
00:49:21.92\00:49:25.93
today who have no clue what
their life purpose is. David
Brooks quotes a study.
00:49:25.93\00:49:29.83
This is amazing. Here's the
study, David Brooks. He found,
00:49:29.83\00:49:35.44
from this study, I'm quoting
now, "Only 20% of young adults
have a fully realized
00:49:35.44\00:49:41.48
sense of purpose." 80%.
No clue, just live for today.
00:49:41.48\00:49:49.75
Eat, drink, and be merry.
Tomorrow we die. Is that what
00:49:49.75\00:49:55.09
you live for? Is that the
passion of your life? Instead, I
want to appeal to you
00:49:55.09\00:50:01.60
to join the elite 20%. Join
the elite 20%. You don't have to
00:50:01.60\00:50:07.74
live in a miasmatic fog. You can
live with clarity to make ready
00:50:07.74\00:50:12.21
a people prepared for the
Lord. Put that up again, please.
00:50:12.21\00:50:15.48
Live for that. That's your
why. Oh, come on, you're right.
00:50:17.55\00:50:22.75
It's high risk. I'm
telling you, this is high risk.
00:50:22.75\00:50:26.69
But I got great news for you.
The higher the risk, the greater
00:50:26.69\00:50:33.43
the reward. You settle for low
risk -- a little low-risk life.
That's what you're living?
00:50:33.43\00:50:38.80
Low reward, low reward. The
higher the risk, the greater the
00:50:38.80\00:50:46.04
reward. Just stand at the
foot of the cross. Just stand at
00:50:46.04\00:50:48.58
the foot of the cross. Look at
that stained, coagulating blood
00:50:48.58\00:50:57.22
on Calvary. The higher the risk,
the greater the reward. "To make
ready a people prepared
00:50:57.22\00:51:02.69
for the Lord." John
died for that. Guess what.
00:51:02.69\00:51:05.53
Jesus died for the same mission.
See, Christ came to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord.
00:51:05.53\00:51:12.47
The mission that John has, the
mission that Jesus had is a
mission you now have --
00:51:12.47\00:51:17.61
you now are granted.
You're invited to embrace it.
00:51:17.61\00:51:21.54
High risk. [
Chuckles ] You got it.
00:51:26.98\00:51:29.68
High reward. You cannot imagine
the reward that's waiting for
00:51:29.68\00:51:36.89
you when you invest your life,
whatever your career turns out
00:51:36.89\00:51:43.10
to be, in this life-and-death
mission. Man, it doesn't get any
00:51:43.10\00:51:49.50
better than this, I'm telling
you. There's only one way to
define this mission.
00:51:49.50\00:51:53.94
I'll spell it for you
and put it on the screen.
00:51:53.94\00:51:57.15
Radical. I have the privilege of
meeting with nine young adults.
00:52:02.25\00:52:06.96
They're all undergrads here at
Andrews University. We meet
every other Tuesday
00:52:06.96\00:52:09.69
evening. And I said, "Hey, guys,
I want you to go home and think
00:52:09.69\00:52:14.03
about this word, and I want you
to send me an e-mail. Give me
00:52:14.03\00:52:17.33
your definition of 'radical.' To
a Gen Zer, what is 'radical'?"
00:52:17.33\00:52:20.84
I got their responses
right here. Can't read them all.
00:52:20.84\00:52:24.54
I'll read some of them.
Here's one. Oh, "I believe being
00:52:24.54\00:52:29.74
radical in this sense is to
focus on someone or something so
00:52:29.74\00:52:33.88
earnestly that it changes your
life." Oh, you got that right.
"A radical follower
00:52:33.88\00:52:40.36
is someone who does not only see
God as their savior but
earnestly wants others
00:52:40.36\00:52:44.63
to be saved. As God and the main
goal of radically following --
00:52:44.63\00:52:49.33
As God is that main goal, the
news about His soon coming
should be spread radically,
00:52:49.33\00:52:54.04
as well. More than ever,
our generation seems to be
00:52:54.04\00:52:57.51
the least connected to Jesus. So
it is up to us not to only work
00:52:57.51\00:53:02.38
with people outside the church,"
but listen to this, "But rather
00:53:02.38\00:53:06.45
we are to work for those who are
already in the church who are
desensitized to this mission.
00:53:06.45\00:53:10.65
Many Gen Zers who are in the
church most likely don't care
even about thinking
00:53:10.65\00:53:14.56
about being ready because we're
so absorbed in our own lives,
only thinking about
00:53:14.56\00:53:18.53
where we will be in our worldly
future, rather than putting more
00:53:18.53\00:53:21.90
focus on getting ready for our
future in heaven." You go, Gen
00:53:21.90\00:53:26.17
Zer. Well put. Here's another
one. "I would describe a radical
00:53:26.17\00:53:29.54
follower of Jesus as being
someone that truly does and
follows what God in the Bible
00:53:29.54\00:53:35.01
shows them, even if this means
it is in an opposite direction
that the church they are
00:53:35.01\00:53:39.28
a part of is going." Stand up
and tell the church, "You're
going the wrong way.
00:53:39.28\00:53:44.12
We're supposed be go this way."
Oh, I like that. "They will even
00:53:44.12\00:53:48.66
go in a different direction than
what their friends and family
are. I think that my peers
00:53:48.66\00:53:52.89
would respond in a manner that
does -- in a manner of what does
00:53:52.89\00:53:58.40
this -- They're gonna respond
with, 'What does this mean for
00:53:58.40\00:54:00.97
us today?' I think people would
be receptive if it were shown to
00:54:00.97\00:54:04.47
them that they are included in
the mission right now, not just
when you get older."
00:54:04.47\00:54:10.08
You nailed it. It's good. Here's
another one. "How do I define
00:54:10.08\00:54:14.72
'radical'? Any extreme action
taken to complete a goal you
00:54:14.72\00:54:17.42
desire to complete against the
norm, pushing the limits." Now,
00:54:17.42\00:54:22.06
he unpacks -- This undergrad
unpacks this. "I think one thing
that all young people can agree
00:54:22.06\00:54:26.59
on is that no one likes
being pressured into something."
00:54:26.59\00:54:30.83
Right. Me too. "Oftentimes,
young people are taught that
that their life with God is a
00:54:30.83\00:54:35.84
duty, not a relationship. I
think that the best way to get
people to be interested
00:54:35.84\00:54:39.57
in being someone with the spirit
and power of Elijah is by being
00:54:39.57\00:54:44.21
that yourself. Leadership,
including spiritual leadership,
must always involve
00:54:44.21\00:54:48.18
transparency. We will be people
who make other people's lives
better by having a clear
00:54:48.18\00:54:53.39
mission, love. If our main focus
is to love one another in the
00:54:53.39\00:54:58.26
spirit and truth, we will do
these things. We will prepare
people for the coming of the
00:54:58.26\00:55:01.93
Lord, we will turn the hearts of
the fathers to their children,
and we will cause those who are
00:55:01.93\00:55:05.17
rebellious to accept the wisdom
of the godly." Whoo. You go.
00:55:05.17\00:55:13.68
Two more. "Using the context of
Luke 1, I would define 'radical'
00:55:13.68\00:55:18.51
as that which goes against the
typical status quo of what
secular societal norms
00:55:18.51\00:55:23.18
have taught us to prioritize.
Being radical in the righteous
00:55:23.18\00:55:27.12
sense requires one to forgo what
the rest of the secular world
may deem as typical.
00:55:27.12\00:55:31.63
In today's society, doing the
morally right thing against all
00:55:31.63\00:55:35.40
odds is often seen as a radical
move. However, over time, even
the definition of moral
00:55:35.40\00:55:40.37
objectivity has become frayed
and distorted as postmodernism
continues to hold influence,
00:55:40.37\00:55:46.51
even in the church."
Very well put. One more.
00:55:46.51\00:55:55.15
"In reality, I feel the Gen
Zers may be hesitant to give up
00:55:55.15\00:55:58.65
a life of societal comfort, just
as some were hesitant to follow
00:55:58.65\00:56:03.89
Jesus in his time.
However, I feel there is greater
00:56:03.93\00:56:07.20
opportunity now, more than
ever, to spread the news on how
00:56:07.20\00:56:09.30
important this truly personal
mission is in the greater good
00:56:09.30\00:56:11.53
of everyone's lives.
The mission holds power,
00:56:11.53\00:56:13.87
notably in the
evidence of the impact
00:56:13.87\00:56:16.67
this personal mission has
had on the lives of successfully
00:56:16.67\00:56:19.14
radical followers of Christ.
These personal testimonies
00:56:19.14\00:56:22.44
could lead fellow Gen
Zers to understand the gravity
00:56:22.44\00:56:25.61
and importance of this
mission to make people ready.
00:56:25.61\00:56:29.55
A people prepared for the Lord."
00:56:29.55\00:56:34.66
Pretty impressive.
00:56:34.66\00:56:36.32
You got it.
00:56:36.36\00:56:38.16
Guess what. There is no
more radical reason to live.
00:56:44.13\00:56:49.97
There is no more radical mission
to serve than to join John and
00:56:49.97\00:56:56.11
the Angels in following Jesus to
make ready a people prepared for
00:56:56.11\00:57:01.45
the Lord. >> Amen. >>
Yeah, I join you. Amen.
00:57:01.45\00:57:06.15
>> We've been really blessed by
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00:57:41.49\00:57:43.93
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00:57:43.93\00:57:48.23
And may the God who has blessed
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Thank you. And
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00:57:54.17\00:57:56.07
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00:57:56.07\00:57:59.47
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00:58:02.38\00:58:19.86
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