The head that once was crowned
00:00:42.10\00:00:46.07
With thorns
00:00:46.11\00:00:48.94
Is crowned with glory now
00:00:48.98\00:00:54.45
The Savior knelt to wash
00:00:54.48\00:00:58.42
Our feet
00:00:58.45\00:01:01.22
Now at His feet
00:01:01.26\00:01:03.46
We bow
00:01:03.49\00:01:07.23
The one who wore our sin
00:01:20.04\00:01:23.98
And shame
00:01:24.01\00:01:26.92
Now robed in majesty
00:01:26.95\00:01:31.99
The radiance
00:01:32.02\00:01:33.46
Of His perfect love
00:01:33.49\00:01:38.83
Now shines for all to see
00:01:38.86\00:01:44.93
Your name, Your name is victory
00:01:44.97\00:01:51.77
All praise will rise to Christ
00:01:51.81\00:01:56.34
Our king Your name,
00:01:56.38\00:02:00.25
Your name is victory
00:02:00.28\00:02:05.25
All praise will rise to Christ
00:02:05.29\00:02:09.82
Our king
00:02:09.86\00:02:14.63
The fear that held us
00:02:24.94\00:02:28.04
Now gives way
00:02:28.08\00:02:31.95
To Him who is our peace
00:02:31.98\00:02:37.19
His final breath
00:02:37.22\00:02:39.42
Upon the cross
00:02:39.45\00:02:44.26
Is now alive in me
00:02:44.29\00:02:49.00
Your name, Your name is victory
00:02:53.50\00:03:00.38
All praise will rise to Christ
00:03:00.41\00:03:04.88
Our king Your name,
00:03:04.91\00:03:08.65
Your name is victory
00:03:08.68\00:03:13.76
All praise will rise to Christ
00:03:13.79\00:03:18.26
Our king
00:03:18.29\00:03:21.73
By Your spirit I will rise
00:03:21.76\00:03:25.10
From the ashes of defeat
00:03:25.13\00:03:28.90
The resurrected King
00:03:28.94\00:03:32.21
Is resurrecting me
00:03:32.24\00:03:35.14
In Your name I come alive
00:03:35.18\00:03:38.41
To declare Your victory
00:03:38.45\00:03:42.25
The resurrected King
00:03:42.28\00:03:45.52
Is resurrecting me
00:03:45.55\00:03:48.46
By Your spirit
00:03:48.49\00:03:50.19
I will rise From
the ashes of defeat
00:03:50.23\00:03:55.66
The resurrected King
00:03:55.70\00:03:59.00
Is resurrecting me
00:03:59.03\00:04:01.90
In Your name I come alive
00:04:01.94\00:04:05.21
To declare Your victory
00:04:05.24\00:04:08.98
The resurrected King
00:04:09.01\00:04:12.31
Is resurrecting me
00:04:12.35\00:04:17.22
Hallelujah!
00:04:22.19\00:04:27.10
You have won the victory
00:04:27.13\00:04:32.93
Hallelujah!
00:04:35.97\00:04:40.91
You have won it all for me
00:04:40.94\00:04:46.75
'Cause death could not hold
00:04:46.78\00:04:49.18
You down
00:04:49.22\00:04:53.62
You are the risen
00:04:53.66\00:04:56.89
King Seated
00:04:56.93\00:05:01.53
In majesty
00:05:01.56\00:05:07.37
You are the Risen King
00:05:07.40\00:05:13.64
Hallelujah!
00:05:16.75\00:05:21.82
You have won
00:05:21.85\00:05:23.75
The victory
00:05:23.79\00:05:27.49
Hallelujah!
00:05:30.66\00:05:34.46
You have won it all
00:05:34.50\00:05:35.86
You have won it all for me
00:05:35.90\00:05:40.24
Death could not hold You down
00:05:40.27\00:05:41.80
Death could not hold You down
00:05:41.84\00:05:47.01
You are the risen King
00:05:47.04\00:05:48.74
You are the risen King
00:05:48.78\00:05:53.82
Seated in majesty
00:05:53.85\00:05:55.58
Seated in majesty
00:05:55.62\00:06:00.86
You are the risen King
00:06:00.89\00:06:02.59
You are the risen King
00:06:02.62\00:06:08.60
By Your spirit
00:06:12.03\00:06:13.87
I will rise From
the ashes of defeat
00:06:13.90\00:06:19.37
The resurrected
King is resurrecting me
00:06:19.41\00:06:25.78
In Your name I come alive
00:06:25.81\00:06:29.15
To declare Your victory
00:06:29.18\00:06:33.12
The resurrected
King is resurrecting me
00:06:33.15\00:06:39.89
The resurrected King
00:06:39.93\00:06:43.30
Is resurrecting me
00:06:43.33\00:06:46.70
The resurrected King
00:06:46.74\00:06:50.17
Is resurrecting me
00:06:50.21\00:06:55.31
For the beauty of the earth
00:07:28.44\00:07:35.42
For the glory of the skies
00:07:35.45\00:07:41.49
For the love
00:07:41.52\00:07:44.76
which from our birth
00:07:44.79\00:07:48.96
Over and around us lies
00:07:49.00\00:07:52.97
Over and around us lies
00:07:53.00\00:07:56.74
'Lord of all, to Thee
00:07:56.77\00:08:00.78
See raise
00:08:00.81\00:08:05.35
This our joyful hymn of praise
00:08:05.38\00:08:11.55
For the beauty of each hour
00:08:17.59\00:08:24.57
Of the day
00:08:24.60\00:08:26.60
And of the night
00:08:26.63\00:08:31.01
Hill and vale
00:08:31.04\00:08:36.34
And tree and flower Sun
00:08:36.38\00:08:39.31
And Moon and stars of light Sun
00:08:39.35\00:08:42.78
And Moon and stars of light
00:08:42.82\00:08:46.35
'Lord of all, to Thee
00:08:46.39\00:08:50.36
We raise
00:08:50.39\00:08:55.03
This our joyful hymn of praise
00:08:55.06\00:09:01.17
For the joy of human love
00:09:07.38\00:09:11.48
For the joy of love
00:09:11.51\00:09:14.88
Brother, sister, parent, child
Brother, sister, parent, child
00:09:14.92\00:09:20.69
Friends on
earth Friends on earth
00:09:20.72\00:09:23.99
And friends
above And friends above
00:09:24.03\00:09:28.20
For all gentle thoughts and mild
00:09:28.23\00:09:30.97
'Lord of all, to Thee
00:09:35.97\00:09:39.97
We raise
00:09:40.01\00:09:44.61
This our joyful
hymn Our joyful hymn
00:09:44.65\00:09:47.98
Of praise
00:09:48.02\00:09:53.22
For each perfect gift
00:09:53.25\00:09:55.62
Of Thine
00:09:55.66\00:10:00.73
To our race so freely given
00:10:00.76\00:10:06.53
Graces human
00:10:06.57\00:10:09.84
And divine Flowers
00:10:09.87\00:10:14.28
Of earth
00:10:14.31\00:10:17.91
And buds of heaven
00:10:17.95\00:10:21.75
'Lord of all, to Thee
00:10:21.78\00:10:25.69
We raise
00:10:25.72\00:10:30.26
This our joyful hymn
00:10:30.29\00:10:33.80
Our joyful hymn of praise
00:10:33.83\00:10:40.04
Our joyful hymn
00:10:40.07\00:10:45.37
Of praise
00:10:45.41\00:10:49.38
Amen.
00:10:59.89\00:11:01.22
You however know
all about my teaching,
00:11:13.13\00:11:17.01
my way of life, my
purpose, faith, patience,
00:11:17.04\00:11:21.64
love, endurance,
persecutions, sufferings,
00:11:21.68\00:11:26.92
what kinds of things
happened to me in Antioch,
00:11:26.95\00:11:29.68
Iconium, and Lystra,
the persecutions I endured,
00:11:29.72\00:11:33.32
yet the Lord
rescued me from all of them.
00:11:33.36\00:11:36.62
In fact,
everyone who wants to live
00:11:36.66\00:11:38.96
a godly life in Christ
Jesus will be persecuted.
00:11:38.99\00:11:43.73
For I am
already being poured out
00:11:43.77\00:11:45.63
like a drink offering,
00:11:45.67\00:11:47.27
and the time for
my departure is near.
00:11:47.30\00:11:50.57
I have fought the good fight,
00:11:50.61\00:11:52.57
I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith,
00:11:52.61\00:11:56.78
now, there is in store for
me the crown of righteousness,
00:11:56.81\00:12:00.72
which the Lord,
the righteous judge,
00:12:00.75\00:12:03.25
will award to me on
that day, and not only to me,
00:12:03.28\00:12:07.46
but also to all who have
longed for His appealing.
00:12:07.49\00:12:12.26
The life of Paul that
intrepid warrior that you
00:12:28.21\00:12:32.18
and I have been
tracking these last few Sabbaths
00:12:32.21\00:12:37.79
came to an end
00:12:37.82\00:12:40.46
with this sound,
00:12:40.49\00:12:41.82
the razor sharp edge
00:12:50.07\00:12:53.23
of a silver blade
00:12:53.27\00:12:56.81
in a Roman executioner's hand,
00:12:56.84\00:13:00.84
just one split second.
00:13:00.88\00:13:02.44
And Paul was beheaded,
00:13:05.65\00:13:06.98
his lips now silent,
00:13:09.05\00:13:11.79
his heart now stopped,
00:13:13.82\00:13:18.69
his brilliant intellect,
00:13:18.73\00:13:22.13
darkness.
00:13:22.16\00:13:25.73
And yet he died unafraid.
00:13:25.77\00:13:30.04
How could that
be? How could that be?
00:13:30.07\00:13:35.88
And can you and
I die the same way?
00:13:35.91\00:13:39.48
That's the question.
00:13:39.51\00:13:42.05
Let's pray.
00:13:42.08\00:13:45.12
Oh, Father,
00:13:45.15\00:13:47.82
teach us how to die
00:13:47.86\00:13:51.56
so that we might
learn how to live.
00:13:51.59\00:13:55.86
In Jesus,
00:13:55.90\00:13:58.60
we pray,
00:13:58.63\00:14:00.74
amen.
00:14:00.77\00:14:02.80
I've got to tell you,
00:14:02.84\00:14:04.17
it is an utterly
00:14:04.21\00:14:06.81
surreal narrative
00:14:06.84\00:14:11.45
the way this
warrior's life ends.
00:14:11.48\00:14:14.92
I mean, where were we last week?
00:14:14.95\00:14:16.65
The brethren,
remember the brethren?
00:14:16.69\00:14:19.25
Paul makes the concession,
00:14:19.29\00:14:21.46
seven days in the temple,
00:14:21.49\00:14:24.59
the inevitable happens.
00:14:24.63\00:14:27.13
There's a flash mob
00:14:27.16\00:14:30.57
when they recognize
this most recognizable face
00:14:30.60\00:14:33.34
in the Roman Empire,
00:14:33.37\00:14:35.30
a flash mob that
nearly lynches him.
00:14:35.34\00:14:39.37
Romans intervene
00:14:39.41\00:14:41.14
under the cover of night.
00:14:41.18\00:14:43.75
With the Roman
army escort, in chains,
00:14:43.78\00:14:47.52
Paul is slipped
out of Jerusalem.
00:14:47.55\00:14:51.95
And now begins
00:14:51.99\00:14:54.56
the dragging of the wait,
00:14:54.59\00:14:58.23
three long years
of waiting in chains,
00:14:58.26\00:15:03.20
in Caesarea.
00:15:03.23\00:15:04.57
Cut off from the church,
00:15:08.30\00:15:10.11
which by the way
didn't step forward
00:15:10.14\00:15:12.51
to seek his release.
00:15:12.54\00:15:14.91
Cut off from the churches
00:15:14.94\00:15:16.64
he has planted Gentile churches,
00:15:16.68\00:15:19.35
who have to be wondering,
00:15:19.38\00:15:20.72
"Where in the world is Paul?
00:15:20.75\00:15:23.12
Anybody hear from him?"
00:15:23.15\00:15:26.99
Two consecutive Roman governors,
00:15:27.02\00:15:31.83
four public hearings,
00:15:31.86\00:15:36.53
in which he is not released,
until finally in desperation
00:15:36.56\00:15:40.40
in that Roman
courtroom in Caesarea,
00:15:40.44\00:15:43.30
he speaks the faded words,
00:15:43.34\00:15:46.81
"I appeal to Caesar."
00:15:46.84\00:15:52.65
And if you're a Roman citizen,
00:15:52.68\00:15:54.72
you are granted that appeal.
00:15:54.75\00:15:58.42
And so Paul was
turned over to a centurion
00:15:58.45\00:16:00.59
named Julius to
stand trial in Rome
00:16:00.62\00:16:04.53
before an emperor named Nero.
00:16:04.56\00:16:08.10
Yeah, Nero.
00:16:08.13\00:16:11.33
And now we enter into the mists,
00:16:11.37\00:16:13.80
the mystery of Paul's ending.
00:16:13.84\00:16:15.44
I mean, come on.
00:16:15.47\00:16:17.24
The Book of Acts ends
with this triumphant two years
00:16:17.27\00:16:19.54
of house arrest in the
city on the seven hills,
00:16:19.57\00:16:23.91
and it stops.
00:16:23.95\00:16:25.71
Paul is in house arrest.
00:16:25.75\00:16:28.28
He has visitation rights with
his friends and acquaintances.
00:16:28.32\00:16:33.22
Boom, the end.
00:16:33.25\00:16:34.82
That's not the end.
00:16:34.86\00:16:38.19
What happens next?
Nobody's sure. Does it end?
00:16:38.23\00:16:42.53
Not a word in Acts
about a hearing before Nero?
00:16:42.56\00:16:46.67
Not a word in Acts
about multiple hearings
00:16:46.70\00:16:50.17
before the execution?
00:16:50.21\00:16:52.91
Nobody knows.
00:16:52.94\00:16:55.34
Did his prayer, did his dream,
00:16:55.38\00:16:57.18
there in Romans 15,
00:16:57.21\00:16:58.55
"I will go to Spain
before I die for Christ.
00:16:58.58\00:17:01.68
I will go to Spain."
00:17:01.72\00:17:03.05
Did that dream come true?
00:17:03.08\00:17:04.59
We don't know.
00:17:04.62\00:17:07.76
Nobody knows.
00:17:07.79\00:17:10.53
All we have is
the last hurriedly
00:17:10.56\00:17:13.96
scribbled out
letter Paul ever writes.
00:17:14.00\00:17:18.03
And from that letter,
00:17:18.07\00:17:19.77
there are pieces of
embedded evidence that give us
00:17:19.80\00:17:24.21
a suggested ending.
00:17:24.24\00:17:27.14
We will look at those right now.
00:17:27.18\00:17:30.08
Because also embedded in
that last will and testament
00:17:30.11\00:17:35.68
is the secret on
how to die unafraid.
00:17:35.72\00:17:41.96
And that's the secret I want.
00:17:41.99\00:17:44.93
Open your Bible to 2 Timothy.
00:17:44.96\00:17:47.56
2 Timothy,
00:17:47.60\00:17:49.23
near the end of
the New Testament.
00:17:49.26\00:17:51.50
If you get to
Hebrews, you've gone too far.
00:17:51.53\00:17:53.44
Pull it back.
00:17:53.47\00:17:54.80
2 Timothy, it's just
two pages in my Bible.
00:17:54.84\00:17:57.97
2 Timothy, some evidence emerges
00:17:58.01\00:18:01.78
right near the very end.
00:18:01.81\00:18:04.58
And we're going to imagine
what this could be telling us.
00:18:04.61\00:18:09.25
2 Timothy,
00:18:09.28\00:18:11.52
this is a letter
by the way that begins
00:18:11.55\00:18:14.06
with this tender salutation,
00:18:14.09\00:18:17.66
to my beloved Son, Timothy.
00:18:17.69\00:18:23.26
Paul's not
married, he has no children.
00:18:23.30\00:18:26.94
Timothy, will you
remember that name
00:18:26.97\00:18:28.30
in this journey that you
00:18:28.34\00:18:29.84
and I have been walking through?
00:18:29.87\00:18:31.47
We remember,
wasn't he the young boy
00:18:31.51\00:18:33.21
that was converted
there by Paul in the city
00:18:33.24\00:18:35.34
of Lystra?
00:18:35.38\00:18:36.71
Yep, that one.
00:18:36.75\00:18:38.08
That was the boy that
stood there and watched
00:18:38.11\00:18:39.45
the people in
Lystra stone Paul to death.
00:18:39.48\00:18:41.65
Yes, that same Timothy.
00:18:41.68\00:18:43.42
Watching the corpse
00:18:43.45\00:18:45.15
he thought being
dragged out of the city
00:18:45.19\00:18:47.06
and dumped outside the
gates, same young Timothy
00:18:47.09\00:18:50.16
who wept over the
stilled form of Paul
00:18:50.19\00:18:54.20
who leaps to his feet.
00:18:54.23\00:18:59.20
Marches back into
town, but after that moment,
00:18:59.23\00:19:02.60
they are bound
together at the heart.
00:19:02.64\00:19:06.91
Aging prisoner,
00:19:06.94\00:19:08.94
young pastor.
00:19:08.98\00:19:11.31
That's the Timothy.
00:19:11.35\00:19:14.78
Let's go to the
end. Let's go to the end.
00:19:14.82\00:19:16.62
So go over to Chapter 4.
00:19:16.65\00:19:20.09
Paul gives us now a clue.
00:19:20.12\00:19:22.66
It's a big one, it's helpful.
00:19:22.69\00:19:26.19
1 Timothy 4:16.
00:19:26.23\00:19:28.40
At my first defense,
00:19:28.43\00:19:29.76
hit the pause
button right there.
00:19:29.80\00:19:31.13
Okay. Now what do we know?
00:19:31.17\00:19:32.57
There is a first defense.
00:19:32.60\00:19:35.27
We weren't sure how many
times he appeared before Nero.
00:19:35.30\00:19:37.37
Did he appear
before Nero in any of them?
00:19:37.41\00:19:40.21
We don't know.
00:19:40.24\00:19:41.58
"At my first defense,
no one came to my support,
00:19:41.61\00:19:44.91
but everyone deserted me.
00:19:44.95\00:19:47.98
May it not be held
against them all alone."
00:19:48.02\00:19:52.32
We'll keep reading.
00:19:52.35\00:19:53.86
"But the Lord stood at my
side and gave me strength,
00:19:53.89\00:19:57.06
so that through me
00:19:57.09\00:19:58.43
the message might
be fully proclaimed,
00:19:58.46\00:20:00.10
and all the
Gentiles might hear it.
00:20:00.13\00:20:03.26
And I was delivered
from the lion's mouth."
00:20:03.30\00:20:05.63
Now, is that a
cryptic description of Nero?
00:20:05.67\00:20:07.74
We don't know.
00:20:07.77\00:20:09.20
I was delivered
from the lion's mouth.
00:20:09.24\00:20:10.94
That's the devil for sure.
00:20:10.97\00:20:13.11
Right?
00:20:13.14\00:20:14.48
A roaring lion,
Peter would remind us.
00:20:14.51\00:20:17.71
I was delivered
from the lion's mouth.
00:20:17.75\00:20:19.98
So the first defense has ended.
00:20:20.02\00:20:23.55
And we can conclude,
00:20:23.59\00:20:24.92
misty as it is that
something takes place.
00:20:24.95\00:20:29.66
Now, this has us curious,
00:20:29.69\00:20:31.26
this business of
nobody stepping forward,
00:20:31.29\00:20:34.30
not even Dr. Luke,
00:20:34.33\00:20:35.83
who will be
there the second time,
00:20:35.86\00:20:37.57
what's happened in Rome?
00:20:37.60\00:20:40.10
Ah, could it be
that the Christians,
00:20:40.14\00:20:44.01
this fledgling infant church
00:20:44.04\00:20:46.24
is under intense
persecution in Rome right now?
00:20:46.27\00:20:50.41
Could it be that the city
00:20:50.45\00:20:52.25
of Rome has been set on fire,
00:20:52.28\00:20:54.58
as the rumors indicate,
by the Emperor Nero himself,
00:20:54.62\00:20:58.62
who wanted to rebuild
00:20:58.65\00:21:00.36
the trashy center of
the city on the seven hills,
00:21:00.39\00:21:06.33
sets the fire?
00:21:06.36\00:21:07.80
The greatest Roman
historian Tacitus describes
00:21:07.83\00:21:12.73
what happens.
00:21:12.77\00:21:14.10
By the way, five
days the fire rages.
00:21:14.14\00:21:17.57
We just celebrated a few
weeks ago Chicago's big fire,
00:21:17.61\00:21:20.68
you remember this?
00:21:20.71\00:21:22.04
Well, you don't remember
it, but its 100 years ago.
00:21:22.08\00:21:24.51
The fire of Chicago
everybody still talks about it.
00:21:24.55\00:21:28.25
Five days that fire raged.
00:21:28.28\00:21:31.35
Seven of the 14 divisions
00:21:31.39\00:21:33.36
were either totally
destroyed or damaged.
00:21:33.39\00:21:36.46
Half of the city is in ashes.
00:21:36.49\00:21:39.36
Now Tacitus says,
00:21:39.39\00:21:40.73
"Let me tell you
what happened next."
00:21:40.76\00:21:44.40
Therefore, he's
writing this in Latin,
00:21:44.43\00:21:47.37
"To Scotch the rumor,
Nero substituted culprits,
00:21:47.40\00:21:51.34
and punished with the
utmost refinements of cruelty,
00:21:51.37\00:21:54.81
a class of men, scapegoats,"
00:21:54.84\00:21:56.31
that's what they're called,
"loathed for their vices,
00:21:56.34\00:21:59.48
whom the crowd
styled Christians,
00:21:59.51\00:22:04.19
Christus, from
whom they got their name
00:22:04.22\00:22:06.52
had been
executed by the sentence
00:22:06.55\00:22:07.92
of the
procurator Pontius Pilate,
00:22:07.96\00:22:09.72
when Tiberius was Emperor.
00:22:09.76\00:22:11.26
Their execution was
made a matter of sport.
00:22:11.29\00:22:13.66
Some were sewn up in
the skins of wild beasts
00:22:13.70\00:22:15.86
and then savaged
to death by dogs,
00:22:15.90\00:22:19.17
others were fastened to
crosses as living torches,
00:22:19.20\00:22:22.10
to serve as lights
when the daylight failed."
00:22:22.14\00:22:25.67
A massive
persecution is broken out.
00:22:25.71\00:22:30.11
Why should we be
surprised or condemned
00:22:30.15\00:22:32.18
the fact nobody came forward?
00:22:32.21\00:22:33.92
Why would you come forward now?
00:22:33.95\00:22:35.42
Assuming that Paul was released
after his first defense,
00:22:39.75\00:22:43.29
I escaped the jaws of the lion
00:22:43.32\00:22:45.69
and spent two years
because that is what scholars
00:22:45.73\00:22:48.26
would estimate
would be the break,
00:22:48.30\00:22:49.90
two years traveling
around maybe getting to Spain,
00:22:49.93\00:22:53.10
who knows?
00:22:53.13\00:22:54.47
What is clear now
00:22:54.50\00:22:56.20
is that he has been
incarcerated all over again
00:22:56.24\00:22:59.77
in the same city of Rome.
00:22:59.81\00:23:02.01
Only there's no
house arrest now.
00:23:02.04\00:23:03.38
No, no,
00:23:03.41\00:23:04.75
he's in that
subterranean dungeon
00:23:04.78\00:23:06.45
called Mamertine.
00:23:06.48\00:23:10.79
And he knows that
his time is running out.
00:23:10.82\00:23:12.65
In fact, just before he
talks about his first defense,
00:23:12.69\00:23:14.72
this line,
"Timothy, my beloved son,
00:23:14.76\00:23:17.93
do your best to
come to me quickly."
00:23:17.96\00:23:20.93
He'll end the letter,
"Please come before winter."
00:23:20.96\00:23:24.17
Why?
00:23:24.20\00:23:25.53
Winter shuts down the sea lanes,
00:23:25.57\00:23:26.90
that's why nobody can
come from Asia Minor to Rome.
00:23:26.94\00:23:29.50
"Come now.
00:23:29.54\00:23:31.04
Come to me.
00:23:31.07\00:23:33.17
Come quickly."
00:23:33.21\00:23:34.74
That's all we know.
00:23:34.78\00:23:37.41
So he turned to his
last will and testament
00:23:37.45\00:23:39.68
and from that will
00:23:39.71\00:23:41.52
and testament on the
eve of his execution,
00:23:41.55\00:23:43.72
a confession treasured
by all of Christendom today
00:23:43.75\00:23:47.89
is uttered.
00:23:47.92\00:23:49.26
At in the confession,
00:23:49.29\00:23:51.03
the secret to dying
unafraid, here we go.
00:23:51.06\00:23:56.03
"For I am already being
poured out like a drink..."
00:23:56.06\00:23:58.47
Word here is the sacrificial
pouring out at the altar.
00:24:01.54\00:24:05.47
"I am already being poured
out like a drink offering,
00:24:05.51\00:24:09.18
and the time for
my departure is near."
00:24:09.21\00:24:11.98
Where's the secret? That's here.
00:24:18.12\00:24:20.06
Embrace your mortality.
00:24:23.59\00:24:26.46
Whatever we just read
00:24:26.49\00:24:27.83
the first secret jumps
right out so we grab it.
00:24:27.86\00:24:30.10
Secret number one,
embrace your mortality.
00:24:30.13\00:24:32.10
The time for my
departure is near.
00:24:32.13\00:24:34.14
What's going on with that word?
00:24:34.17\00:24:36.34
The word departure is
actually a very poignant word,
00:24:36.37\00:24:40.81
because Paul has
spent a life saying goodbye.
00:24:40.84\00:24:43.78
Some of you grown up
with a life that has said
00:24:43.81\00:24:45.68
too many
goodbyes, you already know.
00:24:45.71\00:24:47.98
Just getting on a
plane is bad and sad enough.
00:24:48.02\00:24:53.36
But when Paul would
leave, there was no plane.
00:24:53.39\00:24:56.16
Oftentimes he's on a ship.
00:24:56.19\00:24:57.99
The word for
departure is loosing,
00:24:58.03\00:25:01.16
the time of my loosing has come.
00:25:01.20\00:25:03.10
And what's loosing?
00:25:03.13\00:25:04.47
Loosing is that
braided rope that is bound
00:25:04.50\00:25:09.07
to the shoreline that
tethers the boat to land.
00:25:09.10\00:25:12.87
When they're ready to
leave, the rope is unwound,
00:25:12.91\00:25:15.81
it's thrown to the
sailors, puff of wind
00:25:15.84\00:25:18.58
and the vessel
sails out of the harbor.
00:25:18.61\00:25:23.18
The time of my loosing has come.
00:25:23.22\00:25:25.02
What's he really saying?
00:25:25.05\00:25:26.39
The time for me
00:25:26.42\00:25:27.76
to say goodbye for
the last time has come.
00:25:27.79\00:25:33.13
There may be a lump in the
throat of this intrepid man.
00:25:33.16\00:25:38.93
If you don't get
here soon enough,
00:25:38.97\00:25:41.64
we will have already
said our last goodbye.
00:25:41.67\00:25:45.07
Paul, by the way,
00:25:48.21\00:25:50.01
speaking of
embracing your mortality,
00:25:50.05\00:25:51.85
Paul has lived constantly
00:25:51.88\00:25:54.28
with this idea
that he's going to die.
00:25:54.32\00:25:56.12
Watch this.
00:25:56.15\00:25:57.49
He's scribbled to the,
his church plan in Corinth,
00:25:57.52\00:25:59.75
I face death every day.
00:25:59.79\00:26:01.32
The old King James
reads, I die daily.
00:26:01.36\00:26:06.46
I'm facing death every day.
00:26:06.49\00:26:08.83
He is considering
his end every day.
00:26:08.86\00:26:12.10
But that's the secret.
00:26:12.13\00:26:13.74
If you don't want
to be afraid of death,
00:26:13.77\00:26:15.20
you got to talk about death.
00:26:15.24\00:26:16.77
You have to face death.
00:26:16.81\00:26:18.17
You have to deal with death.
00:26:18.21\00:26:19.61
You can't just put it off.
00:26:19.64\00:26:20.98
Some of you
think, I'll be jinxed
00:26:21.01\00:26:22.34
if I say
anything about my death.
00:26:22.38\00:26:24.08
So I'm not going to
say anything about it,
00:26:24.11\00:26:25.48
then nobody hears
it, and then I won't die.
00:26:25.51\00:26:27.32
Rubbish.
00:26:27.35\00:26:28.78
You still die.
00:26:28.82\00:26:31.79
You got to talk about it.
00:26:31.82\00:26:33.36
Years ago, there was a book
called Tuesdays with Morrie.
00:26:33.39\00:26:35.62
You remember that
book? I read the book.
00:26:35.66\00:26:37.66
It's a great book
written by Mitch Albom
00:26:37.69\00:26:40.20
who still, by the way,
00:26:40.23\00:26:41.66
sports journalist for
the Detroit Free Press.
00:26:41.70\00:26:44.07
All right?
00:26:44.10\00:26:45.43
So Mitch, he had this
beloved mentor in college.
00:26:45.47\00:26:48.54
Twenty years ago,
when he was in college,
00:26:48.57\00:26:51.27
this mentor, this
professor meant so much to him,
00:26:51.31\00:26:53.91
and now Mitch has heard
that this mentor has contracted
00:26:53.94\00:26:58.38
Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS.
00:26:58.41\00:27:02.45
He's dying.
00:27:02.48\00:27:04.65
And somehow Mitch arranges
for him to visit the mentor.
00:27:04.69\00:27:07.96
And every Tuesday
they would get together
00:27:07.99\00:27:09.69
and this dying man
who embraces his mortality
00:27:09.72\00:27:12.86
is giving Mitch
lessons for life.
00:27:12.89\00:27:15.10
And when you read the
book, you get the lessons,
00:27:15.13\00:27:17.33
Paul embraces his mortality.
00:27:17.37\00:27:20.40
That's a key.
00:27:20.44\00:27:22.34
And by the way,
for us as Christians,
00:27:22.37\00:27:23.94
is that not a huge reality?
00:27:23.97\00:27:28.34
I mean, what
has happened for us?
00:27:28.38\00:27:30.65
We just sang about it.
00:27:30.68\00:27:32.01
The resurrected
King resurrects me.
00:27:32.05\00:27:36.75
Early in the book,
00:27:36.79\00:27:38.12
Paul writes these
words to remind Timothy,
00:27:38.15\00:27:40.72
"Hey boy,
00:27:40.76\00:27:42.22
it's not like we
don't have hope."
00:27:42.26\00:27:44.06
And so here at the
beginning of the book,
00:27:44.09\00:27:46.59
Timothy, this
grace that has saved you,
00:27:46.63\00:27:48.76
Paul says, "This
grace has now been revealed
00:27:48.80\00:27:50.83
through the
appearing of our Savior,
00:27:50.87\00:27:52.77
Christ Jesus, who
has destroyed death.
00:27:52.80\00:27:56.20
The great
English poet, John Donne,
00:27:56.24\00:27:57.94
wrote the poem
death be not proud.
00:27:57.97\00:27:59.84
It opens with those
words, it ends with these words,
00:27:59.87\00:28:02.04
"Oh, death, thou shalt die."
00:28:02.08\00:28:07.28
Death will die.
00:28:07.32\00:28:09.05
Jesus has destroyed
death, and has brought life
00:28:09.08\00:28:12.72
and immortality to
light through the gospel."
00:28:12.75\00:28:16.12
So when we
embrace our mortality,
00:28:16.16\00:28:17.93
we have this sub story,
00:28:17.96\00:28:21.10
this subplot thoroughly
imbedded in our minds.
00:28:21.13\00:28:26.33
Death is not the last...
00:28:26.37\00:28:28.00
It's not the last word.
00:28:28.04\00:28:29.37
Oh, it's true.
00:28:29.40\00:28:30.74
Death can take your life,
but it cannot keep your life.
00:28:30.77\00:28:35.21
It can't keep it.
00:28:35.24\00:28:36.88
It'll have to give you back.
00:28:36.91\00:28:38.65
But the time my
departure is at Him.
00:28:41.98\00:28:47.09
Yeah, that day,
00:28:47.12\00:28:49.29
when the one who
is the resurrection
00:28:49.32\00:28:51.73
and the life will sit
on that cloud of glory
00:28:51.76\00:28:54.10
and all you love is appearing,
00:28:54.13\00:28:55.96
you know that
that day is coming.
00:28:56.00\00:29:00.24
Jesus who said, I
am the resurrection
00:29:00.27\00:29:01.87
and the life.
00:29:01.90\00:29:03.24
She who believes
in me though she dies,
00:29:03.27\00:29:05.97
yet shall she live."
00:29:06.01\00:29:08.58
That hope.
00:29:08.61\00:29:09.94
Oh, yes, death
can take our life,
00:29:09.98\00:29:11.85
but it cannot keep our life.
00:29:11.88\00:29:13.21
Can we get a hallelujah to that?
00:29:13.25\00:29:15.18
It cannot keep our life.
00:29:15.22\00:29:17.25
So embrace your mortality.
00:29:20.52\00:29:22.79
And by the way,
do not embrace death.
00:29:22.82\00:29:24.76
Do not embrace death.
00:29:24.79\00:29:26.33
Death is an enemy,
never embrace death.
00:29:26.36\00:29:29.33
Rage, rage against the darkness.
00:29:29.36\00:29:32.23
Don't embrace it.
00:29:32.27\00:29:33.67
What you embrace is
you make peace with Jesus.
00:29:33.70\00:29:36.74
You make peace with
Jesus, who is your friend,
00:29:36.77\00:29:39.57
your savior and your
deliverer from death.
00:29:39.61\00:29:42.84
That's why Paul is
not afraid of dying.
00:29:42.88\00:29:45.68
The secrets on how to die
00:29:45.71\00:29:48.82
unafraid are
embedded right here.
00:29:48.85\00:29:50.89
We've just
looked at the first one.
00:29:50.92\00:29:52.25
Now we go to the second one.
00:29:52.29\00:29:54.32
Not before being reminded that
Paul himself wrote this line.
00:29:54.36\00:29:57.59
I love this line.
00:29:57.63\00:29:59.33
This is scribbled to
his church plant in Ephesus,
00:29:59.36\00:30:01.60
"Wake up sleeper."
00:30:01.63\00:30:03.13
Oh, this is great.
00:30:03.16\00:30:04.50
"Wake up sleeper,
rise from the dead,
00:30:04.53\00:30:07.17
and Christ will shine on you."
00:30:07.20\00:30:09.87
For Paul and every
writer in the New Testament
00:30:09.90\00:30:12.01
and every writer
in the Old Testament
00:30:12.04\00:30:13.38
death is a sleep from
which you can be awakened.
00:30:13.41\00:30:18.01
Death can take you,
but it cannot keep you.
00:30:18.05\00:30:23.85
All right, secret number two.
00:30:23.89\00:30:25.79
Verse 7, the last
will and testament
00:30:25.82\00:30:28.66
of the intrepid warrior goes on.
00:30:28.69\00:30:31.83
I have fought the good fight,
00:30:31.86\00:30:34.90
I have finished the race,
00:30:34.93\00:30:37.73
I have kept the faith.
00:30:37.77\00:30:41.10
Secret number one,
embrace your mortality.
00:30:41.14\00:30:43.34
Secret number two,
fulfill your destiny.
00:30:43.37\00:30:47.04
What's going on here?
00:30:47.08\00:30:48.64
By the way, when it
says, fulfill your destiny,
00:30:48.68\00:30:51.85
don't forget
your destiny either.
00:30:51.88\00:30:53.95
Come on.
00:30:53.98\00:30:55.32
Some of you just like young
Timothy grew up in the faith.
00:30:55.35\00:30:59.79
Yes, you did.
00:30:59.82\00:31:01.16
Timothy who was blessed
with this godly grandmother.
00:31:01.19\00:31:03.06
What was her name? Lois.
00:31:03.09\00:31:04.43
Godly mother. What was her name?
00:31:04.46\00:31:05.79
Eunice. Has a
Greek pagan father.
00:31:05.83\00:31:09.13
But his, but
the maternal leaders
00:31:09.16\00:31:10.87
of his family are believers,
00:31:10.90\00:31:13.84
first as Jews and
then as Christians.
00:31:13.87\00:31:17.74
Timothy is growing up
singing Jesus love me,
00:31:17.77\00:31:20.58
loves me this I know,
for the Bible tells me so.
00:31:20.61\00:31:25.41
Well, they didn't
have that song back then.
00:31:25.45\00:31:27.98
But he grew up believing.
00:31:28.02\00:31:29.82
Some of you have you
grown up with that song.
00:31:29.85\00:31:31.22
Yes, you have. You've
grown up with the Bible.
00:31:31.25\00:31:35.09
Never apologize for
that huge spiritual advantage
00:31:35.12\00:31:39.23
you are given.
00:31:39.26\00:31:40.60
And by the way, if
you're young parents,
00:31:40.63\00:31:41.96
and I see a bunch of
you young parents here,
00:31:42.00\00:31:44.40
do not do anything to forbid
00:31:44.43\00:31:46.80
and prevent your children
from enjoying that same huge
00:31:46.84\00:31:50.47
advantage you had.
00:31:50.51\00:31:52.24
We got young parents
now, they were grown up
00:31:52.27\00:31:55.21
with the songs and the stories.
00:31:55.24\00:31:56.98
Are they doing that
with their children?
00:31:57.01\00:31:58.75
Oh, I wish.
00:31:58.78\00:32:00.12
Oh, how I wish.
00:32:00.15\00:32:02.15
We cannot raise a new generation
00:32:02.18\00:32:04.75
that has not grown up
00:32:04.79\00:32:08.19
with a faith of our
fathers and mothers.
00:32:08.22\00:32:12.69
Embrace your mortality,
00:32:12.73\00:32:14.96
fulfill your destiny,
00:32:15.00\00:32:18.27
because God has wired you.
00:32:18.30\00:32:21.14
I am what I am, what
we shared last Sabbath.
00:32:21.17\00:32:24.31
You know, when
Taznia was singing up here
00:32:24.34\00:32:26.57
and she said, "You
know, I just love to sing."
00:32:26.61\00:32:27.94
You know why? Because
that's the way God wired her.
00:32:27.98\00:32:30.48
He hasn't wired me that way.
00:32:30.51\00:32:32.08
But He wired her that way.
00:32:32.11\00:32:33.45
And what a beautiful expression
00:32:33.48\00:32:35.02
of her devotion to
God as she worships.
00:32:35.05\00:32:37.22
We are all wired uniquely.
00:32:37.25\00:32:41.02
No, there's
nobody just like you.
00:32:41.06\00:32:44.56
So you got to
show up, number one.
00:32:44.59\00:32:47.06
And number two,
00:32:47.10\00:32:48.50
you got to know
that you have a destiny.
00:32:48.53\00:32:51.43
Some of you have found it.
00:32:51.47\00:32:52.90
Some of you have
not. That's okay.
00:32:52.93\00:32:54.37
You don't have to
have found it yet.
00:32:54.40\00:32:55.90
But some of you have found it.
00:32:55.94\00:32:57.91
Paul has kept
true to his destiny.
00:32:57.94\00:33:00.18
I have finished
the race I was given,
00:33:00.21\00:33:02.51
and I have kept
the faith I was taught.
00:33:02.54\00:33:04.95
Yeah, but, Dwight, I
thought we're talking about
00:33:08.08\00:33:09.42
how to die unafraid.
00:33:09.45\00:33:10.79
What's this have to
do with dying unafraid?
00:33:10.82\00:33:12.62
Glad you asked.
00:33:12.65\00:33:15.19
Let me tell you why.
00:33:15.22\00:33:18.29
There's a line in
Scripture that I have memorized.
00:33:18.33\00:33:21.46
I say it all the time to myself.
00:33:21.50\00:33:24.27
It's been a
huge blessing for me.
00:33:24.30\00:33:26.70
And it's from the old NIV.
00:33:26.74\00:33:28.50
So I've got the new NIV here.
00:33:28.54\00:33:30.47
It's the one before this one.
00:33:30.51\00:33:32.41
But I'm going to put the
line on the screen for you.
00:33:32.44\00:33:34.64
I love for you to
memorize it, because it's true.
00:33:34.68\00:33:38.25
See what you think.
This is Psalm 138:8.
00:33:38.28\00:33:40.88
This is 2 Timothy 3:14.
00:33:44.55\00:33:46.96
I just need you to know
before I give you this line,
00:33:50.53\00:33:52.73
don't go anywhere.
00:33:52.76\00:33:54.10
I want you to get
this line before you leave.
00:33:54.13\00:33:56.20
I just want you to know
00:33:56.23\00:33:58.17
that I wasn't making
up this stuff about Paul
00:33:58.20\00:34:00.70
telling Timothy,
00:34:00.74\00:34:02.07
"Man you grown up
singing Jesus love me,
00:34:02.10\00:34:03.84
loves me this I know."
00:34:03.87\00:34:05.21
I'm not making that up.
00:34:05.24\00:34:06.57
Just sentences
before this last will
00:34:06.61\00:34:09.28
and testimony, covenant.
00:34:09.31\00:34:11.31
Here we go.
00:34:11.35\00:34:12.68
Chapter 3, "But
as for you, my son,
00:34:12.71\00:34:15.22
my beloved Son, Timothy,
00:34:15.25\00:34:16.58
continue in
what you have learned
00:34:16.62\00:34:18.69
and have become
convinced of, because you know
00:34:18.72\00:34:20.76
those from whom you learned it."
00:34:20.79\00:34:22.62
Yes, mommy and grandma.
"And how from infancy..."
00:34:22.66\00:34:27.06
This is what I'm talking about.
00:34:27.10\00:34:28.43
You want your
children from infancy.
00:34:28.46\00:34:30.67
That's why we got these great
Sabbath schools downstairs.
00:34:30.70\00:34:34.37
They are filled with
children. You know why?
00:34:34.40\00:34:36.37
Because parents want
their children from infancy
00:34:36.40\00:34:39.27
to be filled with the
truth as it is in Jesus.
00:34:39.31\00:34:42.74
No apology.
00:34:42.78\00:34:44.45
You're not taking some
great heroic risk for showing up
00:34:44.48\00:34:47.55
with your
children to Sabbath School.
00:34:47.58\00:34:49.22
Hundreds are showing up.
00:34:49.25\00:34:53.09
"Oh, you remember Timothy,
00:34:53.12\00:34:54.46
how from infancy you have
known the Holy Scriptures,
00:34:54.49\00:34:56.86
which are able to
make you wise for salvation
00:34:56.89\00:34:59.23
through faith in Christ Jesus."
00:34:59.26\00:35:00.90
Yes, boy, you, you know.
00:35:00.93\00:35:04.83
That's why you must fulfill
your destiny that was begun
00:35:04.87\00:35:08.80
when you were just a toddler.
00:35:08.84\00:35:11.71
Oh, that's good.
00:35:11.74\00:35:14.08
Now, that line from Psalm 138:8,
00:35:14.11\00:35:19.68
it's great, memorize this.
00:35:19.71\00:35:22.05
"The Lord will
fulfill His purpose for me."
00:35:22.08\00:35:24.75
Oh, Dwight, that's too short.
00:35:24.79\00:35:26.15
No, it's not too short.
00:35:26.19\00:35:27.52
So you can memorize it,
00:35:27.56\00:35:28.89
the Lord will
fulfill His purpose for me.
00:35:28.92\00:35:31.19
I say that all the
time to myself. Why?
00:35:31.23\00:35:32.79
Because there are
times when I'm wondering,
00:35:32.83\00:35:34.23
"Is my purpose for
living still in place?"
00:35:34.26\00:35:38.80
And if not, what am I
supposed to do about it?
00:35:38.83\00:35:41.30
Nothing.
00:35:41.34\00:35:42.97
Because if God has a
purpose for your life,
00:35:43.00\00:35:44.67
and here's how
it's going to help you
00:35:44.71\00:35:46.04
with your fear of death.
00:35:46.07\00:35:47.61
If God has a
purpose for your life,
00:35:47.64\00:35:49.31
listen carefully now.
00:35:49.34\00:35:50.68
If God has a
purpose for your life,
00:35:50.71\00:35:52.78
and He does, you've been
wired for a unique purpose.
00:35:52.81\00:35:56.62
If God has a
purpose for your life...
00:35:56.65\00:36:00.19
You're saying, Dwight,
you're repeating yourself.
00:36:00.22\00:36:02.29
Well, they sang
one line in the chorus
00:36:02.32\00:36:04.53
13 times.
00:36:04.56\00:36:08.33
I guess
repetition links it harder
00:36:08.36\00:36:12.03
and stronger into the mind.
00:36:12.07\00:36:14.00
Listen, if God has a
divine purpose for your life,
00:36:14.04\00:36:18.74
then guess what?
00:36:18.77\00:36:21.08
God being God
00:36:21.11\00:36:22.54
is not stopping your
life till the purpose is done.
00:36:22.58\00:36:26.95
If you're alive right now,
00:36:26.98\00:36:29.38
and you look alive
to me from up here.
00:36:29.42\00:36:32.35
If you're alive right now,
00:36:32.39\00:36:33.76
the purpose of God for your life
00:36:33.79\00:36:35.46
is still in place.
00:36:35.49\00:36:37.56
It is still happening.
00:36:37.59\00:36:39.33
You have no idea
what is happening,
00:36:39.36\00:36:41.66
but it is
happening for you, my friend,
00:36:41.70\00:36:44.00
and it is happening for me,
00:36:44.03\00:36:45.37
the Lord will
fulfill His purpose for me.
00:36:45.40\00:36:48.80
That's huge good news,
about not having to worry.
00:36:48.84\00:36:52.94
Because if he's going to
fulfill His purpose for me,
00:36:52.97\00:36:54.91
I'm not going to die
till the purpose is over.
00:36:54.94\00:36:58.51
There's nothing wrong with that.
00:36:58.55\00:36:59.88
Listen, that doesn't give you
00:37:02.58\00:37:03.92
the consolation that
you're going to live forever.
00:37:03.95\00:37:06.39
That's not saying,
therefore I will live forever.
00:37:06.42\00:37:08.39
No, your purpose
may be done at 28.
00:37:08.42\00:37:12.09
I'm serious.
00:37:12.13\00:37:14.40
My purpose could
end tomorrow, today.
00:37:14.43\00:37:20.30
But it's okay,
because when I die,
00:37:20.34\00:37:23.41
my family will know
His purpose was fulfilled.
00:37:23.44\00:37:27.48
Why would God have let him die
before finishing His business?
00:37:27.51\00:37:32.21
I know it's not consolation
00:37:32.25\00:37:33.92
when we've lost a young
teen, a teen so full of promise,
00:37:33.95\00:37:37.72
we say how could this happen?
00:37:37.75\00:37:41.06
It's heartbreaking.
00:37:41.09\00:37:42.42
But let us not minimize
the truth that God can fulfill
00:37:42.46\00:37:47.03
a teen's life in
those first fruitful years
00:37:47.06\00:37:51.00
of living to the place that boy,
00:37:51.03\00:37:53.30
that girl has fulfilled
her mission on this planet
00:37:53.34\00:37:56.64
before she died.
00:37:56.67\00:37:58.84
Don't tell God He can't do it.
00:37:58.87\00:38:01.78
You need at least 40
years. He says I do not.
00:38:01.81\00:38:06.18
Jesus died at 35.
00:38:06.21\00:38:07.55
If you're alive,
there's a purpose for you.
00:38:11.49\00:38:15.52
And I hope you
find it if you haven't.
00:38:15.56\00:38:19.73
Embrace your mortality.
00:38:19.76\00:38:21.20
Mortality, that's
secret number one.
00:38:21.23\00:38:23.10
Secret number two,
fulfill your destiny.
00:38:23.13\00:38:24.87
And by the way,
don't waste your days,
00:38:24.90\00:38:26.30
don't fritter
away the opportunities
00:38:26.33\00:38:28.17
you have right
now to be living out
00:38:28.20\00:38:30.24
and discovering your purpose.
00:38:30.27\00:38:31.77
Don't waste today.
00:38:31.81\00:38:34.64
You won't get another
day like this ever again.
00:38:34.68\00:38:38.78
If you don't want
to be afraid of death,
00:38:38.81\00:38:40.15
and stay focused
on the high calling
00:38:40.18\00:38:41.65
and destiny that God
is growing in your life,
00:38:41.68\00:38:43.99
then no matter when you die,
00:38:44.02\00:38:45.72
you die with your
destiny fulfilled,
00:38:45.75\00:38:48.16
and you can rest in peace.
00:38:48.19\00:38:51.13
You can sleep in peace.
00:38:51.16\00:38:53.33
I have fought a good fight,
00:38:53.36\00:38:55.80
I have finished my race,
00:38:55.83\00:38:58.33
I have kept the faith,
00:38:58.37\00:39:02.40
three secrets total.
00:39:02.44\00:39:04.71
Two of them, we've just heard.
00:39:04.74\00:39:08.31
The last verse.
00:39:08.34\00:39:10.05
"Now there is in store for
me the crown of righteousness,
00:39:10.08\00:39:15.22
which the Lord,
the righteous Judge..."
00:39:15.25\00:39:17.65
By the way, he's
talking about righteous
00:39:17.69\00:39:20.39
Judge because he knows
he will not stand in the end
00:39:20.42\00:39:22.72
before a righteous Judge.
00:39:22.76\00:39:24.69
But I will have one, one day.
00:39:24.73\00:39:27.70
Oh, that's
pregnant with meaning.
00:39:27.73\00:39:30.20
"The Lord, the righteous Judge
will award me on that day,"
00:39:30.23\00:39:34.04
yes, sire, "and not only to me,
00:39:34.07\00:39:36.37
but good news to everybody
listening right now but also
00:39:36.40\00:39:39.31
to all who have
longed for Jesus appearing."
00:39:39.34\00:39:42.74
Got to get an amen for that.
00:39:42.78\00:39:44.68
Come on Adventists,
00:39:44.71\00:39:49.32
this is your promise.
00:39:49.35\00:39:53.36
Secret number three,
00:39:53.39\00:39:55.36
claim your legacy.
00:39:55.39\00:39:58.13
Secret number one,
embrace your mortality.
00:39:58.16\00:40:00.56
Secret number two,
fulfill your destiny.
00:40:00.60\00:40:02.73
And secret number
three, now, claim your legacy.
00:40:02.76\00:40:07.80
Paul says I have a
crown waiting for me.
00:40:07.84\00:40:11.61
Oh, he's claiming it.
00:40:11.64\00:40:13.01
Why should I be afraid
when my crown from Jesus
00:40:13.04\00:40:15.31
is in store for me right now?
00:40:15.34\00:40:17.38
On the eve of
his impending death,
00:40:17.41\00:40:19.18
he claims his legacy,
and he says it's mine.
00:40:19.21\00:40:23.49
And by the way,
00:40:23.52\00:40:25.25
when he writes the
word crown, in Greek,
00:40:25.29\00:40:28.62
as he wrote, it looks like this.
00:40:28.66\00:40:33.80
There should be a
name that jumps out
00:40:33.83\00:40:35.16
of this Greek
word for crown to you.
00:40:35.20\00:40:38.70
It jumps out to
you. What's that name?
00:40:38.73\00:40:41.80
Your mask is on,
what's that name?
00:40:41.84\00:40:44.11
Stephen.
00:40:44.14\00:40:46.27
Every time you think about it,
00:40:46.31\00:40:47.78
every time this apostle
would scribble the word crown,
00:40:47.81\00:40:51.91
Stephanos, the crown of victory.
00:40:51.95\00:40:54.92
Every time he scribbles
that word and looks at it,
00:40:54.95\00:40:58.82
what memories do you
suppose returned to him
00:40:58.85\00:41:02.66
as he stood there
that day, sanctioning,
00:41:02.69\00:41:05.49
supporting the stoning,
00:41:05.53\00:41:07.60
the brutal stoning of Stephanos,
00:41:07.63\00:41:11.63
the first Christian martyr?
00:41:11.67\00:41:15.07
Paul knows that in a few
days, he will be a martyr too.
00:41:15.10\00:41:19.31
It's from the Greek word martus,
00:41:19.34\00:41:21.74
which means witness.
00:41:21.78\00:41:23.11
He will witness as
Steven did, by his death.
00:41:23.14\00:41:26.11
Martyrs.
00:41:29.32\00:41:31.69
I have a book in my library,
00:41:31.72\00:41:33.46
titled Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
00:41:33.49\00:41:37.03
It's gruesome.
00:41:37.06\00:41:39.39
They wouldn't print
something like that today.
00:41:39.43\00:41:41.16
In the Dark and Middle Ages,
00:41:44.80\00:41:46.23
men, women and children
gave their lives for believing
00:41:46.27\00:41:50.04
and standing up
for Jesus in His truth.
00:41:50.07\00:41:52.61
By the tens of thousands,
00:41:52.64\00:41:53.98
some estimates
millions during that long period
00:41:54.01\00:41:57.21
of darkness became martyrs,
00:41:57.25\00:42:02.02
witnesses by their death.
00:42:02.05\00:42:04.02
Unfortunately, for you and me,
00:42:07.16\00:42:08.59
that's all behind us, right?
00:42:08.62\00:42:10.69
Wrong. It's not behind us.
00:42:10.73\00:42:13.23
I can prove it to you right now.
00:42:13.26\00:42:15.63
The apocalypse,
00:42:15.66\00:42:17.27
the Bible's last
book, watch this.
00:42:17.30\00:42:19.83
You'll see it.
00:42:19.87\00:42:21.87
Revelation Chapter 20:4,
00:42:21.90\00:42:23.27
"There will be
martyrs in heaven."
00:42:23.30\00:42:24.64
So that's just, because they've
talked about martyrs in heaven,
00:42:24.67\00:42:26.98
the preceding
verse, I've summarized it
00:42:27.01\00:42:28.34
so that we can
get the next verse.
00:42:28.38\00:42:29.71
"There will be
martyrs in heaven,
00:42:29.74\00:42:31.41
'who had been beheaded.
00:42:31.45\00:42:33.25
There will be martyrs in heaven,
00:42:37.35\00:42:38.85
who had been beheaded
because of their testimony
00:42:38.89\00:42:42.06
about Jesus,
00:42:42.09\00:42:43.43
and because of the Word of God."
00:42:43.46\00:42:45.56
Now keep going,
because there John identifies
00:42:45.59\00:42:48.03
who these martyrs are.
00:42:48.06\00:42:49.76
They had not
worshiped the beast or its image
00:42:49.80\00:42:54.67
and had not received
its mark on their foreheads
00:42:54.70\00:42:57.71
or their hands."
00:42:57.74\00:42:59.37
You don't have to know
much about the apocalypse
00:42:59.41\00:43:01.34
to know that that's
language that describes
00:43:01.38\00:43:03.55
the end game just
before Jesus comes,
00:43:03.58\00:43:06.21
some sort of global enforcement.
00:43:06.25\00:43:12.09
With a command, you will
do it on the pain of death,
00:43:12.12\00:43:16.29
or you will be executed.
00:43:16.32\00:43:21.06
Has that happened
yet? Oh, it hasn't.
00:43:21.10\00:43:23.87
It hasn't happened yet.
00:43:23.90\00:43:27.60
The American
writer Ellen White says,
00:43:27.64\00:43:30.81
"Yeah, that's true.
00:43:30.84\00:43:33.01
That's a good interpretation."
00:43:33.04\00:43:36.54
She writes prior to
the last closing conflict,
00:43:36.58\00:43:39.21
"Many," this is
just before Jesus comes,
00:43:39.25\00:43:42.45
"Many will be imprisoned,
00:43:42.48\00:43:44.49
many will flee for their
lives from cities and towns,
00:43:44.52\00:43:47.92
and many will be
martyrs for Christ's sake
00:43:47.96\00:43:51.59
in standing in
defense of the truth."
00:43:51.63\00:43:54.20
Many.
00:43:57.13\00:44:00.50
Many.
00:44:00.54\00:44:03.74
You mean, in this age? Yep.
00:44:03.77\00:44:08.24
You're talking
about this century?
00:44:08.28\00:44:11.05
Could be.
00:44:11.08\00:44:12.65
Do you mean this decade?
00:44:12.68\00:44:15.98
Could be.
00:44:16.02\00:44:18.62
Many.
00:44:18.65\00:44:19.99
Shall we fear such a death?
00:44:22.96\00:44:25.63
And by the way,
00:44:25.66\00:44:27.96
there are martyrs all
over this planet as we speak.
00:44:28.00\00:44:32.50
The problem is you and I
00:44:32.53\00:44:33.87
with our western
exclusivity have determined
00:44:33.90\00:44:38.41
there's no martyrs
because of our septic world
00:44:38.44\00:44:42.81
where it can't happen.
00:44:42.84\00:44:47.02
But all over this
planet, there are men and women
00:44:47.05\00:44:49.18
laying down their lives
for the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:44:49.22\00:44:52.89
Shall we fear such a death?
00:44:59.66\00:45:01.26
Don't have to. Watch
this, this is beautiful.
00:45:01.30\00:45:03.16
Desire of Ages, "The
disciples were not endowed
00:45:03.20\00:45:06.27
with the courage and fortitude
00:45:06.30\00:45:07.90
of the martyrs until
such grace was needed."
00:45:07.94\00:45:13.27
You don't have the
courage of a martyr right now
00:45:13.31\00:45:15.14
and I could tell you what?
00:45:15.18\00:45:16.95
Neither do I.
00:45:16.98\00:45:20.25
I'm not going to go
out to seek martyrdom.
00:45:20.28\00:45:22.38
Only a fool would do that.
00:45:22.42\00:45:25.22
We just don't have it.
00:45:25.25\00:45:26.59
And by the way, speaking
of the disciples of Jesus,
00:45:26.62\00:45:28.42
guess what?
00:45:28.46\00:45:29.79
Judas who commit
suicide out of the picture,
00:45:29.82\00:45:32.46
they're all martyred
except one, John boy,
00:45:32.49\00:45:35.26
all martyred, all of them.
00:45:35.30\00:45:37.50
Every single one of them
and he tried with John boy.
00:45:37.53\00:45:41.87
The disciples were not
endowed with the courage
00:45:41.90\00:45:43.87
and fortitude of the martyrs
until such grace was needed.
00:45:43.91\00:45:49.71
Do we have to be afraid? No,
00:45:49.74\00:45:51.41
I'm not afraid. Why?
00:45:51.45\00:45:55.32
You'll be fine.
00:45:55.35\00:45:57.25
I will be fine.
00:45:57.29\00:45:59.62
And if like
Paul, it is our destiny
00:45:59.65\00:46:02.62
to lay down our lives
for Christ Jesus our Lord,
00:46:02.66\00:46:04.89
that at that
moment we will be endued
00:46:04.93\00:46:07.26
with the courage and
fortitude of the martyrs.
00:46:07.30\00:46:10.00
That's it.
00:46:10.03\00:46:11.37
And there it is,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:46:11.40\00:46:12.73
the threefold
secret to dying unafraid.
00:46:12.77\00:46:16.54
Put it up again,
secret number one,
00:46:16.57\00:46:18.07
embrace your mortality in Jesus.
00:46:18.11\00:46:21.58
Secret number two,
fulfill your destiny in Jesus.
00:46:21.61\00:46:25.28
Secret number three,
claim your legacy in Jesus.
00:46:25.31\00:46:30.39
And now for one last moment.
00:46:30.42\00:46:32.79
Let's reverently look in on the
final moments of Paul's life.
00:46:32.82\00:46:37.89
Take that moment where,
00:46:37.93\00:46:39.26
when he stands
before the wily Nero.
00:46:39.29\00:46:43.50
You're going to read now
00:46:43.53\00:46:44.87
a striking word
picture collage from Sketches
00:46:44.90\00:46:49.70
from the Life of Paul.
00:46:49.74\00:46:53.21
Ever find that little book?
00:46:53.24\00:46:55.01
Do yourself a favor, get it.
00:46:55.04\00:46:57.85
All right.
00:46:57.88\00:46:59.21
So now they're face to face,
00:46:59.25\00:47:02.28
the protagonist
and the antagonist.
00:47:02.32\00:47:05.29
Here we go.
00:47:05.32\00:47:06.86
Paul and Nero face to face,
00:47:06.89\00:47:09.42
the youthful
monarch and I insert
00:47:09.46\00:47:10.89
the words because it's true,
00:47:10.93\00:47:12.33
he was 32 years old at the time.
00:47:12.36\00:47:14.40
He's just a boy.
00:47:14.43\00:47:15.76
"The youthful
monarch bearing upon his sin
00:47:15.80\00:47:18.27
stamped
countenance the shameful record
00:47:18.30\00:47:20.17
of the passions that reigned
within the aged prisoner's
00:47:20.20\00:47:24.47
calm and benignant face telling
of a heart at peace with God
00:47:24.51\00:47:28.14
and man.
00:47:28.18\00:47:29.51
The wretched whose
soul was stained with incest
00:47:29.54\00:47:32.45
and matricide, he
killed his own mother,
00:47:32.48\00:47:34.32
was robed in purple,
00:47:34.35\00:47:36.42
and seated upon the throne,
while the purest and noblest
00:47:36.45\00:47:39.52
of men stood
before the judgment seat,
00:47:39.55\00:47:41.59
despised, hated and fettered."
00:47:41.62\00:47:47.06
Paul notices that the
place is packed with spectators.
00:47:47.10\00:47:53.00
He is well-known in
the empire after all.
00:47:53.03\00:47:58.21
"As Paul gazed upon the throng
before him in the courtroom,
00:47:58.24\00:48:02.21
Jews, Greeks, Romans,
00:48:02.24\00:48:05.21
with strangers for many
lands, his soul was stirred
00:48:05.25\00:48:08.08
with an intense
desire for their salvation.
00:48:08.12\00:48:11.09
Once more Paul
had an opportunity
00:48:11.12\00:48:13.22
to raise aloft
before a wondering multitude
00:48:13.25\00:48:16.42
the banner of
the cross of Christ.
00:48:16.46\00:48:18.99
With more than human
eloquence and power..."
00:48:19.03\00:48:22.86
What does that mean?
00:48:22.90\00:48:24.57
That's what Jesus promised.
00:48:24.60\00:48:25.93
So I got to hit the
pause button right here.
00:48:25.97\00:48:27.84
Don't ever forget
this promise of Jesus,
00:48:27.87\00:48:29.44
Luke 12:11-12.
00:48:29.47\00:48:31.31
If you can read it in
the New Living Translation,
00:48:31.34\00:48:33.64
it goes like this.
00:48:33.68\00:48:35.18
Don't think in advance
about what you're going to say
00:48:35.21\00:48:37.48
when you stand in front of Nero.
00:48:37.51\00:48:40.45
Because at that
moment, as NLT puts it,
00:48:40.48\00:48:43.15
while you are standing there,
00:48:43.18\00:48:45.05
the spirit of My Father
will give you what to say.
00:48:45.09\00:48:48.52
It will be given to you.
00:48:48.56\00:48:50.39
You don't write a speech
and put it in your shoes,
00:48:50.43\00:48:53.46
hoping you'll have the
speech the day you're arrested.
00:48:53.50\00:48:56.87
It will be given to you.
00:48:56.90\00:48:59.07
Trust God, don't worry.
00:48:59.10\00:49:02.20
I love that.
00:49:02.24\00:49:04.17
With more than
human eloquence and power,
00:49:04.21\00:49:06.37
Paul that day, urged
home upon their hearts
00:49:06.41\00:49:09.94
the truths of the gospel.
00:49:09.98\00:49:13.62
Now, I want you to
try to picture this moment
00:49:13.65\00:49:14.98
because this is a
stunning word picture.
00:49:15.02\00:49:16.52
You got to see it.
00:49:16.55\00:49:17.89
All right, let it
form in your mind.
00:49:17.92\00:49:20.12
His countenance, we're
talking about the prisoner,
00:49:20.16\00:49:21.92
the aged prisoner, Paul.
00:49:21.96\00:49:23.39
"His countenance glows
with the light of heaven,
00:49:23.43\00:49:26.56
as though reflecting
the rays of the sun,"
00:49:26.59\00:49:28.76
like the roof opened
up, and there's this shaft
00:49:28.80\00:49:31.43
of sunlight on his face.
00:49:31.47\00:49:33.07
"Many who looked upon
him in that hall of judgment,
00:49:36.07\00:49:39.57
saw his face
00:49:39.61\00:49:41.11
as it had been
the face of an angel."
00:49:41.14\00:49:44.75
By the way, Acts Chapter 6,
00:49:44.78\00:49:47.08
the trial of Stephen
and it begins the last verse
00:49:47.12\00:49:50.29
of Acts 6 with this very line,
00:49:50.32\00:49:53.36
the face of an angel.
00:49:53.39\00:49:55.59
That was Saul's
impression of Stephen,
00:49:55.62\00:49:58.66
and wouldn't you know it?
00:49:58.69\00:50:00.20
Saul's about to die,
and what he saw in Stephen
00:50:00.23\00:50:03.77
is happening to him, he
has no idea it's happening.
00:50:03.80\00:50:07.50
His face a glow, like an angel.
00:50:07.54\00:50:10.91
There'll be an angel
for you when you die.
00:50:10.94\00:50:15.61
There'll be an angel for me.
00:50:15.64\00:50:19.38
"Many who looked upon
him in that judgment hall,
00:50:19.41\00:50:22.02
saw his face as an angel."
00:50:22.05\00:50:23.39
I'll keep reading.
This is unbelievable.
00:50:23.42\00:50:25.05
"Tears dimmed many eyes
that had never before been seen
00:50:25.09\00:50:30.89
to weep."
00:50:30.93\00:50:32.26
Hardened men
00:50:32.29\00:50:38.23
in the courtroom.
00:50:38.27\00:50:40.30
Tears dimmed many eyes it
had never before been seen
00:50:40.34\00:50:42.80
to weep.
00:50:42.84\00:50:44.17
"The gospel message
found its way to the minds
00:50:44.21\00:50:46.31
and hearts of many
00:50:46.34\00:50:47.68
who would never
have listened to it,
00:50:47.71\00:50:49.41
but for the
imprisonment of Paul."
00:50:49.44\00:50:51.51
There it is,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:50:51.55\00:50:53.18
the shining reason God
will still allow martyrs
00:50:53.21\00:50:55.88
at the end of time
00:50:55.92\00:50:57.45
to lay down their
lives before Jesus comes,
00:50:57.49\00:50:59.89
is for the profound
00:50:59.92\00:51:01.46
and lasting effect
their testimony will have
00:51:01.49\00:51:03.89
in turning witnesses
00:51:03.93\00:51:05.89
who view it to
salvation just in time,
00:51:05.93\00:51:11.47
and so God allows it.
00:51:11.50\00:51:13.87
And afterwards,
00:51:13.90\00:51:15.27
if He says was
that okay with you?
00:51:15.30\00:51:17.27
But, of course.
00:51:21.84\00:51:23.18
What's going on in
Nero's mind? Watch this.
00:51:26.05\00:51:28.58
"Never had Nero heard the truth
00:51:28.62\00:51:31.09
as he heard it
upon that occasion.
00:51:31.12\00:51:33.02
Never had the enormous guilt
of his own life been revealed
00:51:33.05\00:51:35.49
to him as it was
revealed that day.
00:51:35.52\00:51:37.76
The light of heaven had pierced
the sin-polluted chambers
00:51:37.79\00:51:41.00
of his soul.
00:51:41.03\00:51:42.40
He quaked with
terror at the thought
00:51:42.43\00:51:44.73
of a tribunal before
which he, ruler of the world,
00:51:44.77\00:51:47.67
should be arraigned,
00:51:47.70\00:51:49.04
and where his deeds
should meet a just reward.
00:51:49.07\00:51:52.24
That moment," unbelievable,
"that moment the invitation
00:51:52.27\00:51:56.08
of mercy was
extended even to the guilty
00:51:56.11\00:51:59.11
and hardened Nero.
00:51:59.15\00:52:01.28
But only for a moment."
00:52:01.32\00:52:03.82
Never write off a public figure
00:52:03.85\00:52:07.76
as being beyond the
reach of divine mercy.
00:52:07.79\00:52:11.36
Never write off a public figure
00:52:11.39\00:52:15.06
as too hardened,
00:52:15.10\00:52:17.27
too impervious to be
penetrated by the good news
00:52:17.30\00:52:21.44
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:52:21.47\00:52:24.44
Light shining
into that dark heart,
00:52:24.47\00:52:29.11
but only for a moment.
00:52:29.14\00:52:32.55
We are told that Nero
00:52:32.58\00:52:34.08
is so intimidated by
the God of the Apostle Paul,
00:52:34.12\00:52:39.65
that he dismisses the
court with no decision.
00:52:39.69\00:52:45.09
Paul is sent back to
the Mamertine dungeon.
00:52:45.13\00:52:48.23
And then it reads
00:52:48.26\00:52:49.60
when the dungeon
door snapped shut,
00:52:49.63\00:52:53.60
the door to mercy
for Nero was closed.
00:52:53.64\00:52:58.87
He had a few moments
00:52:58.91\00:53:00.98
to change his mind,
00:53:01.01\00:53:03.75
but he said no.
00:53:03.78\00:53:06.05
Oh, my.
00:53:06.08\00:53:07.68
Only later was the
command by the way given
00:53:07.72\00:53:09.52
to take the
prisoner out and execute him.
00:53:09.55\00:53:11.59
And on the day
of Paul's execution,
00:53:11.62\00:53:13.99
look at his spirit.
00:53:14.02\00:53:17.33
Look.
00:53:17.36\00:53:19.73
Can I be like this?
00:53:19.76\00:53:21.66
Well, I think why not?
00:53:21.70\00:53:23.87
Here it is, "Paul was
led in a private manner
00:53:23.90\00:53:26.13
to the place of execution.
00:53:26.17\00:53:28.04
Few spectators were
allowed to be present.
00:53:28.07\00:53:31.01
But the hardened
soldiers appointed to attend him
00:53:31.04\00:53:33.27
listened to his words,
00:53:33.31\00:53:34.64
and with
amazement saw him cheerful
00:53:34.68\00:53:36.24
and even joyous in the
prospect of such a death."
00:53:36.28\00:53:39.68
Can you believe it?
00:53:39.71\00:53:41.88
Apparently his secret works.
00:53:41.92\00:53:44.95
You can come to
your death unafraid.
00:53:44.99\00:53:48.36
"They saw him cheerful
and even joyous in prospect
00:53:48.39\00:53:51.13
of such a death.
00:53:51.16\00:53:52.49
His spirit of forgiveness
toward his murderers,
00:53:52.53\00:53:56.30
and his unwavering
confidence in Christ
00:53:56.33\00:53:58.37
to the very last proved
a savior of life unto life
00:53:58.40\00:54:02.00
to some who
witnessed his martyrdom."
00:54:02.04\00:54:03.87
Now keep reading.
00:54:03.91\00:54:05.24
"More than one of
those guards erelong accepted
00:54:05.27\00:54:09.74
the Savior whom Paul preached
00:54:09.78\00:54:11.38
and fearlessly sealed
their faith with their blood."
00:54:11.41\00:54:15.35
How did Tertullian put it?
00:54:15.38\00:54:16.92
The blood of Christians is seed.
00:54:16.95\00:54:19.12
It's the only reason
God allows martyrdom.
00:54:22.22\00:54:24.96
Somebody gets saved
00:54:24.99\00:54:28.86
that wouldn't have been saved.
00:54:28.90\00:54:32.07
So you can know
that and I can know that,
00:54:32.10\00:54:35.80
should the day ever come,
00:54:35.84\00:54:38.04
somebody will get saved.
00:54:38.07\00:54:42.31
Wow.
00:54:42.34\00:54:44.78
"Finally, as he stood
at the place of martyrdom,
00:54:44.81\00:54:48.58
he saw not the gleaming
sword of the executioner
00:54:48.62\00:54:52.55
or the green earth so
soon to receive his blood.
00:54:52.59\00:54:55.92
He looked up
through the calm blue heaven
00:54:55.96\00:54:58.09
of that summer's day to
the throne of the Eternal.
00:54:58.13\00:55:01.86
His last thoughts
00:55:01.90\00:55:03.23
and hopes are
centered on the second advent
00:55:03.26\00:55:05.97
of his Lord.
00:55:06.00\00:55:07.34
And as the sword of
the executioner descends,
00:55:07.37\00:55:10.47
and the shadows of death
gather about the martyr soul,
00:55:14.54\00:55:18.15
his latest or last
thoughts springs forward
00:55:18.18\00:55:23.32
as will his
earliest, his first thought,
00:55:23.35\00:55:26.02
coming up on
that great awakening,
00:55:26.05\00:55:27.72
that great getting up morning."
00:55:27.76\00:55:30.16
Where were the
thoughts springing forward to?
00:55:30.19\00:55:33.19
"To meet the Lifegiver,
his Lord Jesus Christ,
00:55:33.23\00:55:36.46
who shall welcome him one
day, to the joy of the blest."
00:55:36.50\00:55:41.00
Amen and amen.
00:55:41.04\00:55:44.87
My, oh my, oh my.
00:55:44.91\00:55:48.48
And thus ends
00:55:48.51\00:55:51.18
the life of this
noble friend of Jesus.
00:55:51.21\00:55:56.35
Life we've lived with
now for a few weeks together.
00:55:56.38\00:56:02.06
A journey we've taken
that I predict will leave none
00:56:02.09\00:56:05.99
of us ever the same again.
00:56:06.03\00:56:10.30
Let's pray.
00:56:14.34\00:56:16.47
Oh, God, grant us the privilege
00:56:16.50\00:56:19.87
of living a life
as faithful as Paul's.
00:56:19.91\00:56:24.31
And if it's to
glorify You, Father,
00:56:24.35\00:56:27.45
and fulfill the destiny
of our lives then grant us
00:56:27.48\00:56:29.82
the privilege of dying a death
00:56:29.85\00:56:32.15
as faithful as Paul's.
00:56:32.19\00:56:37.19
For I know whom I have believed
00:56:37.23\00:56:42.46
and am persuaded that He is able
00:56:42.50\00:56:45.87
to keep that
which I have committed
00:56:45.90\00:56:49.04
unto Him against that day.
00:56:49.07\00:56:51.77
One of the hot
debates on this planet today
00:56:57.01\00:56:59.18
is this collective conversation
00:56:59.21\00:57:01.08
about Creation versus Evolution.
00:57:01.12\00:57:03.69
While there are
a thousand voices
00:57:03.72\00:57:05.05
offering their perspectives,
00:57:05.09\00:57:06.42
the truth is that in God's Word,
00:57:06.45\00:57:08.26
there are some pretty
definitive statements.
00:57:08.29\00:57:11.13
In fact, I
examined those statements
00:57:11.16\00:57:12.59
and the evidence for
creation in a little book
00:57:12.63\00:57:15.10
I wrote Creation and Evolution,
00:57:15.13\00:57:16.46
subtitle thoughtful look
at the evidence that a master
00:57:16.50\00:57:19.20
designer created our planet.
00:57:19.23\00:57:21.70
I'd love for you to
join the conversation
00:57:21.74\00:57:23.41
and check out the
evidence for yourself.
00:57:23.44\00:57:25.47
In fact, if you
call our toll free number
00:57:25.51\00:57:28.01
877-HIS-WILL, the two words,
00:57:28.04\00:57:29.84
HIS-WILL, I'll make sure one
00:57:29.88\00:57:31.68
of these books
at no charge to you
00:57:31.71\00:57:33.42
is in the mail.
00:57:33.45\00:57:34.78
The number again, 877-HIS-WILL.
00:57:34.82\00:57:37.29
Let the operator know
you want the book Creation
00:57:37.32\00:57:39.65
and Evolution,
00:57:39.69\00:57:41.36
and we'll get it in the
mail to you as soon as possible.
00:57:41.39\00:57:44.69
Until we're together again,
00:57:44.73\00:57:46.06
right here on New
Perceptions next week,
00:57:46.09\00:57:48.66
may the grace, and peace,
00:57:48.70\00:57:51.27
and the hope of the
Creator abide with you.
00:57:51.30\00:57:54.40