We have a quite a
number of young people here
00:01:00.60\00:01:04.38
from Souls, and they're
going to be sharing with us
00:01:04.39\00:01:07.51
about their
school and their program
00:01:07.52\00:01:09.90
and what's going on
down there in Souls.
00:01:09.91\00:01:12.49
The first person that's
going to be up here with us
00:01:12.50\00:01:14.41
this morning is, Rocky.
00:01:14.42\00:01:15.56
Rocky, how are
you doing? I'm great.
00:01:15.57\00:01:17.36
Absolutely fantastic.
00:01:17.37\00:01:19.08
And as I was
gonna say, absolutely,
00:01:19.09\00:01:21.24
you better be great, right?
00:01:21.25\00:01:23.12
And so Rocky,
tell us, what is Souls?
00:01:23.13\00:01:25.45
Souls is a college of
discipleship in evangelism.
00:01:25.46\00:01:30.60
It's a place where
those who want to learn
00:01:30.61\00:01:32.45
the Bible and
learn how to be effective
00:01:32.46\00:01:34.47
in both personal
and public evangelism
00:01:34.48\00:01:36.61
can come to study.
00:01:36.62\00:01:38.56
Jesus said, if we
know and follow Him
00:01:38.57\00:01:41.47
godly
character, disciple making,
00:01:41.48\00:01:43.66
and evangelistic fruitfulness
00:01:43.67\00:01:45.21
will be in the natural
and spontaneous result.
00:01:45.22\00:01:48.14
And at Souls we
mentor our students to know
00:01:48.15\00:01:50.64
and follow Jesus. Amen.
00:01:50.65\00:01:52.60
So how long has
Souls been around,
00:01:52.61\00:01:54.49
when did it get started?
00:01:54.50\00:01:55.74
It started in 1998.
00:01:55.75\00:01:58.18
In the mid 90s Joe Holloway,
00:01:58.19\00:01:59.82
the Publishing Director
of the Florida Conference
00:01:59.83\00:02:02.35
realized that a school
up in the Review and Herald
00:02:02.36\00:02:04.79
named George King
Institute was effective
00:02:04.80\00:02:07.81
in training
literature evangelism.
00:02:07.82\00:02:09.99
He felt that a school
modeled after that sort
00:02:10.00\00:02:12.82
would be profitable
for the Southern Union.
00:02:12.83\00:02:15.35
And where is it located, I mean,
00:02:15.36\00:02:17.49
is it close by here, Florida?
00:02:17.50\00:02:19.65
Not too far from here. Okay.
00:02:19.66\00:02:20.91
Actually it's 45 minutes
east of Orlando, Florida.
00:02:20.92\00:02:24.52
Just off the Turnpike.
00:02:24.53\00:02:26.13
Okay. And what
was the campus there.
00:02:26.14\00:02:27.82
Is it a trailer park with
a bunch of rundown trailers
00:02:27.83\00:02:29.95
or what's the campus like there?
00:02:29.96\00:02:31.29
Well, last time I was there,
00:02:31.30\00:02:32.33
it was actually a
very nice place. Okay.
00:02:32.34\00:02:34.71
A few days ago, it
was a facility built
00:02:34.72\00:02:37.90
once upon a time to be a school.
00:02:37.91\00:02:39.61
So there is
dormitory there, a cafeteria,
00:02:39.62\00:02:42.41
administration
building, classrooms.
00:02:42.42\00:02:44.53
It's a beautiful setting.
00:02:44.54\00:02:45.82
There is places there for RVs
00:02:45.83\00:02:47.80
and the Florida
Conference actually operates
00:02:47.81\00:02:50.51
it much like
they do Camp Kulaqua.
00:02:50.52\00:02:52.09
It's a place where people come
00:02:52.10\00:02:53.31
and have
meetings just like this.
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Awesome, awesome.
00:02:54.97\00:02:56.12
So what makes
Souls unique or different
00:02:56.13\00:02:59.19
from let's say any other
00:02:59.20\00:03:01.36
type of Bible school or college?
00:03:01.37\00:03:03.45
I think there are
two or three things maybe
00:03:03.46\00:03:06.68
that I would like to
point out that makes Souls
00:03:06.69\00:03:08.68
effective and unique.
00:03:08.69\00:03:10.98
One is in our school,
you can come to school
00:03:10.99\00:03:13.58
therefore one year
receive a pastoral degree
00:03:13.59\00:03:16.22
and a certificate
in pastoral ministry.
00:03:16.23\00:03:18.71
Or two year
associates degree in religion.
00:03:18.72\00:03:21.88
But during those
school years we provide
00:03:21.89\00:03:24.47
two practicums, ten
weeks long each time
00:03:24.48\00:03:28.55
and our teachers
actually not only teach
00:03:28.56\00:03:30.83
in the classroom but they
will come out in the field
00:03:30.84\00:03:33.46
and mentor the students there.
00:03:33.47\00:03:35.48
So if you come for
one year you've received
00:03:35.49\00:03:38.05
two ten week practicums,
if you come for two years
00:03:38.06\00:03:41.31
at Souls, you receive four.
00:03:41.32\00:03:43.19
Not only that but
then when you graduate,
00:03:43.20\00:03:45.92
Souls diligently works
to find full time employment
00:03:45.93\00:03:49.64
for you in the
ministry. Awesome.
00:03:49.65\00:03:52.04
Some of our graduates
are working as pastors,
00:03:52.05\00:03:54.23
we have some that are
working as publishing leaders
00:03:54.24\00:03:57.24
in some of the conferences
across North America.
00:03:57.25\00:04:00.31
Some are working as chaplains
00:04:00.32\00:04:01.66
and youth leaders in
academies and colleges,
00:04:01.67\00:04:05.21
and some are
working as Bible workers
00:04:05.22\00:04:07.08
holding evangelistic
series and such. Amen.
00:04:07.09\00:04:09.68
So who are these people
up here with on the podium?
00:04:09.69\00:04:12.76
This is some of our
staff. I'm glad you asked.
00:04:12.77\00:04:15.27
To my far left is James Detrick
00:04:15.28\00:04:17.66
and his wife Sarah.
00:04:17.67\00:04:19.15
James is the Director of Souls.
00:04:19.16\00:04:20.96
He has his bachelor's degree
00:04:20.97\00:04:22.06
from Southern
Adventist University.
00:04:22.07\00:04:24.64
Sarah is a
graduate from South Western
00:04:24.65\00:04:26.92
Adventist University,
also with a degree in religion.
00:04:26.93\00:04:30.77
Omar Rivera is just graduated
00:04:30.78\00:04:33.85
with his master's divinity
from the Andrews University.
00:04:33.86\00:04:37.74
And we have other
professors and teachers
00:04:37.75\00:04:39.29
that come in and teach us.
00:04:39.30\00:04:40.27
Well, in fact James,
I believe you've come
00:04:40.28\00:04:41.69
three times now
and taught a class
00:04:41.70\00:04:43.31
on Daniel and Revelations.
00:04:43.32\00:04:44.29
I have been there a
couple of times indeed,
00:04:44.30\00:04:45.86
yes, and it has been a joy,
00:04:45.87\00:04:47.25
it has been a
blessing to be there.
00:04:47.26\00:04:49.03
So lets, anything else you want
00:04:49.04\00:04:51.42
to share with us about Souls.
00:04:51.43\00:04:53.08
Just want to
emphasis that there is anyone
00:04:53.09\00:04:55.61
listening today that
is interested in learning
00:04:55.62\00:04:58.10
how to do effective Bible work
00:04:58.11\00:05:00.16
and public evangelism,
log on to our website
00:05:00.17\00:05:03.02
it's soulscollege.com
00:05:03.03\00:05:05.33
give us a call, send us an email
00:05:05.34\00:05:07.29
we will be happy to
answer your questions.
00:05:07.30\00:05:09.24
Okay, let me talk to
couple of these folks
00:05:09.25\00:05:11.38
and see what they have to share.
00:05:11.39\00:05:12.54
Omar, come on up
here and talk to us.
00:05:12.55\00:05:14.68
You just getting started
with Souls, I understand?
00:05:14.69\00:05:18.84
That's right. Tell
us a little bit about
00:05:18.85\00:05:20.17
your relationship with Souls
00:05:20.18\00:05:22.27
and what Souls has to offer?
00:05:22.28\00:05:23.71
Well, my relationship with Souls
00:05:23.72\00:05:25.19
is I will be teaching there,
the Dean of Religion classes.
00:05:25.20\00:05:28.52
And the classes that
we are offering right now
00:05:28.53\00:05:30.70
our classes that
covers varieties areas
00:05:30.71\00:05:34.64
between New
Testament, Old Testament,
00:05:34.65\00:05:36.61
and church management. Okay.
00:05:36.62\00:05:38.12
The student can be
able to have a knowledge
00:05:38.13\00:05:41.59
and practical
skills in church management
00:05:41.60\00:05:44.88
and souls management leadership,
00:05:44.89\00:05:47.60
as well as studies
in academies field like,
00:05:47.61\00:05:50.45
Daniel, Revelation,
history of Old Testament,
00:05:50.46\00:05:55.33
SDA history and so forth.
00:05:55.34\00:05:57.11
Okay, and how if a
student comes to Souls,
00:05:57.12\00:06:00.20
are they just taking a year off
00:06:00.21\00:06:01.64
and doing something on the side,
00:06:01.65\00:06:03.17
that it's kind of a diversion
from college or education,
00:06:03.18\00:06:06.55
or is Souls
something that is accredited
00:06:06.56\00:06:09.22
and part of
furthering your education.
00:06:09.23\00:06:11.50
Well, we have an
aggressive program
00:06:11.51\00:06:13.48
that includes the combination
of a practical and theory
00:06:13.49\00:06:17.02
together like
Ellen White advised,
00:06:17.03\00:06:19.74
to any educational institution.
00:06:19.75\00:06:22.41
And as well when
you finish the first
00:06:22.42\00:06:24.39
or second year whatever
you choose, one of them,
00:06:24.40\00:06:26.95
you have the
opportunity to transfer
00:06:26.96\00:06:28.62
most of the 90% of the classes
00:06:28.63\00:06:30.81
to any other accredited
educational institution
00:06:30.82\00:06:34.95
in United States
because we are affiliated
00:06:34.96\00:06:37.18
with Drake University
too and that's why right now
00:06:37.19\00:06:42.14
it make us stronger than before.
00:06:42.15\00:06:44.28
Okay, so basically a
young person is gonna be
00:06:44.29\00:06:46.86
able to take what
they're learning here
00:06:46.87\00:06:48.42
and apply them to
their continuing education
00:06:48.43\00:06:50.44
if they want to go
further. Absolutely.
00:06:50.45\00:06:51.78
Or they can take
what they're learning
00:06:51.79\00:06:52.89
and go right into
the field of ministry
00:06:52.90\00:06:54.53
and working for God. Sure.
00:06:54.54\00:06:56.29
If you want to
continue or they want to stop
00:06:56.30\00:06:58.46
the education right
there, but most of them
00:06:58.47\00:07:00.56
they continue to study.
00:07:00.57\00:07:01.69
That's the best
of both worlds. Sure.
00:07:01.70\00:07:03.49
Thank you,
Omar. Appreciate that.
00:07:03.50\00:07:05.35
Who else do we have over here?
00:07:05.36\00:07:07.49
Crystal James,
how are you doing?
00:07:07.50\00:07:09.26
Good. All right.
00:07:09.27\00:07:10.24
Thank you. So you are connected
00:07:10.25\00:07:12.35
with Souls and have
actually attended there. Yes.
00:07:12.36\00:07:15.62
Why did you
choose to attend Souls?
00:07:15.63\00:07:16.97
Well, James, I chose
to attend Souls because
00:07:16.98\00:07:20.35
I was tired of
running from God. Okay.
00:07:20.36\00:07:22.81
You know, the world has success
00:07:22.82\00:07:24.21
but I really
wanted to be successful
00:07:24.22\00:07:26.02
in the eyes of God himself.
00:07:26.03\00:07:27.64
You know, like
having the Godly character,
00:07:27.65\00:07:30.35
making disciples, and
being evangelistically fruitful.
00:07:30.36\00:07:33.98
And wanting to do that Souls
was the place for me to be.
00:07:33.99\00:07:37.86
He had been showing me in my
life for a couple of years now
00:07:37.87\00:07:41.87
taking me stepby
step patiently, amen,
00:07:41.88\00:07:44.53
God is patient
and I just love that.
00:07:44.54\00:07:46.70
And He just showed me, Crystal,
00:07:46.71\00:07:49.03
this is where I want you
at this time in your life
00:07:49.04\00:07:51.71
and I said, yes
Lord, I'll follow you.
00:07:51.72\00:07:53.60
Amen, amen.
00:07:53.61\00:07:54.87
So you went through
the program there? Yes.
00:07:54.88\00:07:57.19
and now what you are doing?
00:07:57.20\00:07:58.67
Well, I just got
through my ten week practicum
00:07:58.68\00:08:01.83
doing Bible work at
the Clermont Seventh-day
00:08:01.84\00:08:04.01
Adventist Church and
James that was awesome.
00:08:04.02\00:08:06.52
It was phenomenal.
00:08:06.53\00:08:07.82
We got a chance to
give over 25 Bible studies,
00:08:07.83\00:08:11.38
and for Bible study
there was a church member
00:08:11.39\00:08:13.80
always there and I
just really thank Souls
00:08:13.81\00:08:16.04
for teaching me that.
00:08:16.05\00:08:17.69
And also just God for
guiding me and leading me
00:08:17.70\00:08:21.24
in the place where I
needed to be whenever
00:08:21.25\00:08:23.50
was ready to bring
others into His kingdom.
00:08:23.51\00:08:25.94
So when you're
talking about when you do
00:08:25.95\00:08:27.29
Bible work you're
going in to these homes
00:08:27.30\00:08:29.33
and doing Bible studies
but you're also bringing Church
00:08:29.34\00:08:31.76
members with you
and connecting them
00:08:31.77\00:08:33.27
to those Bible studies. Yes.
00:08:33.28\00:08:34.78
That is awesome because
that's just what we need
00:08:34.79\00:08:36.44
as a church, isn't it? Yes.
00:08:36.45\00:08:37.67
We need to get
involved in missionary work
00:08:37.68\00:08:39.48
and of course,
we can be motivated
00:08:39.49\00:08:40.86
by these young
people to do that.
00:08:40.87\00:08:42.58
So anything else you want
to share with us, Crystal?
00:08:42.59\00:08:44.32
Well, I just
want to tell everyone
00:08:44.33\00:08:46.99
that if you're
ready to just let go
00:08:47.00\00:08:49.61
and let God work in your life
00:08:49.62\00:08:51.33
especially all the
young people out there
00:08:51.34\00:08:53.25
that Souls is a
great place for you to be.
00:08:53.26\00:08:56.00
If you're mission minded
and you want to do God's will
00:08:56.01\00:08:58.52
and learn how you
can be more effective
00:08:58.53\00:09:00.69
in evangelistic
witnessing, amen,
00:09:00.70\00:09:02.99
then you should come
on down to our school.
00:09:03.00\00:09:05.07
Amen, thank you,
Crystal. Praise the Lord.
00:09:05.08\00:09:07.10
Miguel, come on up here.
00:09:07.11\00:09:08.69
I've know
Miguel for a long time,
00:09:08.70\00:09:10.38
well, my long time
but there are few sessions
00:09:10.39\00:09:12.62
and we become friends
and God has really blessed
00:09:12.63\00:09:15.82
our friendship and I
know He has been blessing
00:09:15.83\00:09:18.19
leading your life, Miguel.
00:09:18.20\00:09:19.39
You are a student
that went through Souls,
00:09:19.40\00:09:21.98
you went through
the whole experience.
00:09:21.99\00:09:23.50
So tell us about
that experience at Souls?
00:09:23.51\00:09:25.98
Well, just to be
completely honest
00:09:25.99\00:09:29.51
it was wonderful.
00:09:29.52\00:09:30.68
I mean, it was such
a blessing to be there.
00:09:30.69\00:09:33.26
Just imagine a school
that your main text book
00:09:33.27\00:09:36.73
is the Bible,
is the word of God.
00:09:36.74\00:09:38.76
You come to class with
your Bible in your hand
00:09:38.77\00:09:41.20
and also some other
books that be a such blessing.
00:09:41.21\00:09:43.95
And then each class
is focused on one thing,
00:09:43.96\00:09:47.33
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:09:47.34\00:09:48.70
Every single class
is so gospel centered,
00:09:48.71\00:09:51.72
it's really
been such a blessing.
00:09:51.73\00:09:52.95
And what it has
done for me has taken me
00:09:52.96\00:09:55.45
from a dry, traditional
relationship with Christ,
00:09:55.46\00:09:59.96
you know, grew up as Adventist.
00:09:59.97\00:10:01.40
And has turned it into
an exciting vibrant growing
00:10:01.41\00:10:05.54
experience with Christ.
00:10:05.55\00:10:07.10
And I've begin to see
how real Christ really is,
00:10:07.11\00:10:10.40
how real the gospel
really is, so-- Amen.
00:10:10.41\00:10:14.25
It has been quite a
blessing for me. Amen.
00:10:14.26\00:10:16.42
Now, did you go
through the one year program
00:10:16.43\00:10:17.95
or you go to the
two year program?
00:10:17.96\00:10:19.12
I went through the
one year program. Okay.
00:10:19.13\00:10:20.96
And what you're doing now,
00:10:20.97\00:10:21.94
I mean, tell us you've
gone through the program,
00:10:21.95\00:10:24.81
you've been blessed spiritually,
00:10:24.82\00:10:26.03
you've grown in the Lord,
00:10:26.04\00:10:27.01
you found a vibrant
experience with God.
00:10:27.02\00:10:30.68
So what has that led to?
00:10:30.69\00:10:31.89
Well, when I finished there,
00:10:31.90\00:10:33.88
well, actually
while I was still there,
00:10:33.89\00:10:35.49
I was doing a
practicum, doing Bible work here
00:10:35.50\00:10:38.64
in Florida for a little
bit and then now I'm working
00:10:38.65\00:10:41.18
in a Atlanta,
Georgia finishing up
00:10:41.19\00:10:42.72
one year Bible work
for Loganville SDA Church,
00:10:42.73\00:10:46.60
and that has been
such a blessing doing that.
00:10:46.61\00:10:48.64
They also allowed me to
do the evangelistic series
00:10:48.65\00:10:50.70
back in September
00:10:50.71\00:10:51.93
and has got 18 nice series.
00:10:51.94\00:10:53.91
The Lord really
blessed with that.
00:10:53.92\00:10:55.78
We are able to
put the series on DVDs
00:10:55.79\00:10:57.70
and now we're able
to go into the community
00:10:57.71\00:10:59.17
and share those DVDs with people
00:10:59.18\00:11:00.51
who didn't get a chance
to come out to the meetings.
00:11:00.52\00:11:03.03
And so thanks to Tori Jenkins,
00:11:03.04\00:11:05.85
I also have a website
now and we're able to put
00:11:05.86\00:11:08.67
those DVDs on the website,
00:11:08.68\00:11:10.88
that you can view them straight
00:11:10.89\00:11:11.93
from your computer if
you high speed Internet.
00:11:11.94\00:11:14.22
So a lot of
people have been blessed
00:11:14.23\00:11:15.76
going to that website
and there is other things
00:11:15.77\00:11:17.60
there also and just so you know,
00:11:17.61\00:11:19.08
that website is
OneTrueGospel.com.
00:11:19.09\00:11:22.53
So please check it
out and get your blessing.
00:11:22.54\00:11:24.76
OneTrueGospel.com. Amen.
00:11:24.77\00:11:27.28
So Miguel, you are
about 19 years of age?
00:11:27.29\00:11:31.08
Twenty actually. Twenty, okay,
00:11:31.09\00:11:32.43
just turned twenty,
gone through the twenty.
00:11:32.44\00:11:34.20
Okay and in the last
year or so you've gone
00:11:34.21\00:11:38.25
from just kind of, you
know, to a vibrant relationship
00:11:38.26\00:11:43.12
with the Lord and
are doing evangelism
00:11:43.13\00:11:45.85
and Bible work, have a website,
00:11:45.86\00:11:48.13
have DVDs on the
website and you are encouraging
00:11:48.14\00:11:50.17
everyone to access that website
00:11:50.18\00:11:52.52
in order to do
evangelism, witness and share.
00:11:52.53\00:11:56.11
Praise the Lord,
isn't that what we want
00:11:56.12\00:11:58.24
for our young people
today, and we can have that,
00:11:58.25\00:12:01.01
we can actually get
that experience for them
00:12:01.02\00:12:03.86
through this school, Souls.
00:12:03.87\00:12:06.68
And I love the
acronym, I really,
00:12:06.69\00:12:08.58
really love the T-shirts too.
00:12:08.59\00:12:10.53
Every time I go down there
00:12:10.54\00:12:11.51
they give me another
one of their T-shirts
00:12:11.52\00:12:13.14
and they've got hats now too
00:12:13.15\00:12:14.72
and I want to get
one of those hats.
00:12:14.73\00:12:16.61
Anything else you
want to share with us here?
00:12:16.62\00:12:19.05
Well, I just want to say
that for any young person
00:12:19.06\00:12:21.29
that's out there right now,
00:12:21.30\00:12:22.27
if you are currently
experiencing this gospel
00:12:22.28\00:12:24.91
and you're
seeing how real God is,
00:12:24.92\00:12:26.32
please don't sit
there and be ideal and just,
00:12:26.33\00:12:28.60
you know, let it fade away.
00:12:28.61\00:12:29.80
But come to Souls
and learn how to relate
00:12:29.81\00:12:32.78
your experience to other people.
00:12:32.79\00:12:34.32
Or if you're somebody in search
00:12:34.33\00:12:36.00
of a closer
experience, come to Souls
00:12:36.01\00:12:37.92
and they will
most likely bring you
00:12:37.93\00:12:39.81
to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:12:39.82\00:12:41.02
And let me tell you
it's a whole lot more
00:12:41.03\00:12:42.92
than what we've heard it to be.
00:12:42.93\00:12:44.69
The gospel is so powerful
00:12:44.70\00:12:46.24
so I would
encourage you all to go.
00:12:46.25\00:12:48.91
Romans 1:16 says,
well, I am not ashamed
00:12:48.92\00:12:50.96
of the gospel of Jesus Christ
because it is the power of God
00:12:50.97\00:12:54.65
unto salvation and
I've truly been learning
00:12:54.66\00:12:57.53
that the gospel has some
amazing incredible power.
00:12:57.54\00:13:00.02
Miguel, Crystal, Omar,
Rocky, James, and Sarah,
00:13:00.03\00:13:03.92
thank you so much
for sharing this morning
00:13:03.93\00:13:05.71
those powerful testimonies.
00:13:05.72\00:13:07.04
I know there are people
here and out there listening
00:13:07.05\00:13:09.60
who are going to be blessed
00:13:09.61\00:13:10.58
and encouraged to
get a hold of you.
00:13:10.59\00:13:12.92
So be ready for
the phones to ring.
00:13:12.93\00:13:15.71
God bless you.
00:13:15.72\00:13:16.69
Well, that is powerful to
me and I've been affiliated
00:13:19.52\00:13:24.35
with Souls off
and on for a few years
00:13:24.36\00:13:26.26
doing a Revelation, Daniel,
Revelation intensive there.
00:13:26.27\00:13:29.16
But for those of
you who maybe interested
00:13:29.17\00:13:31.04
in sponsoring a true missionary
00:13:31.05\00:13:34.51
to the country
of America. America.
00:13:34.52\00:13:40.16
Now we do send
missionaries overseas, don't we?
00:13:40.17\00:13:42.90
In fact, America is
still the number one missionary
00:13:42.91\00:13:45.34
country in the
world we're followed
00:13:45.35\00:13:47.07
close behind by South Korea.
00:13:47.08\00:13:49.37
I don't know if you knew that,
00:13:49.38\00:13:50.75
they are gaining on us.
00:13:50.76\00:13:51.98
They are preparing to be
the number one missionary
00:13:51.99\00:13:55.38
country in the world, but
America is still number one
00:13:55.39\00:13:58.87
But sometimes we
forget about this country,
00:13:58.88\00:14:02.12
isn't that right?
00:14:02.13\00:14:03.44
Souls is an
opportunity to send missionaries
00:14:03.45\00:14:07.41
to America and
we need missionaries
00:14:07.42\00:14:10.04
right here in America.
00:14:10.05\00:14:11.76
And so I want to
encourage you to get
00:14:11.77\00:14:13.04
hold of Souls
college and that's what it is
00:14:13.05\00:14:16.01
that's the way you get
hold of them SoulsCollege.com,
00:14:16.02\00:14:20.36
www.SoulsCollege.com
Get on their website,
00:14:20.37\00:14:28.70
get hold of them,
00:14:28.71\00:14:30.18
allow them to be a part
of encouraging the young
00:14:30.19\00:14:34.38
people that you
know, the young people
00:14:34.39\00:14:35.69
in your life, to have a vibrant,
00:14:35.70\00:14:38.44
experience for the Lord to learn
00:14:38.45\00:14:40.84
how to do literature evangelism.
00:14:40.85\00:14:42.79
To learn how to do
speaking evangelism.
00:14:42.80\00:14:45.04
To learn how to Bible
work and to be part of a church
00:14:45.05\00:14:48.33
where young people
can encourage and stir up
00:14:48.34\00:14:53.22
the older ones and the
members to be a part of outreach
00:14:53.23\00:14:56.52
and witnessing and
evangelism and sharing
00:14:56.53\00:14:58.34
and grow in that
church to be strong
00:14:58.35\00:15:00.39
and spiritual in the Lord. Amen.
00:15:00.40\00:15:03.43
Amen. Amen.
00:15:03.44\00:15:04.45
Now we're going to
have a special music,
00:15:04.46\00:15:07.74
so stay with us.
00:15:10.14\00:15:11.41
You know I'm so glad
that we serve the Lord
00:15:16.77\00:15:18.51
that places us
where He needs us to be,
00:15:18.52\00:15:20.67
and now where we wanna be.
00:15:22.65\00:15:26.11
And sometimes
those two come together
00:15:26.12\00:15:28.36
in a beautiful way.
00:15:28.37\00:15:29.80
I don't know about you
but I had one of those weeks
00:15:29.81\00:15:31.50
where I was really
frustrated with where
00:15:31.51\00:15:33.18
God has placed me,
00:15:33.19\00:15:34.41
but it's when we
give our lives over to Him
00:15:37.04\00:15:39.60
that He is able to
use us in those places.
00:15:39.61\00:15:42.21
Don't ever stop
working with me Lord
00:15:58.08\00:16:02.38
No matter how
hard I push you away
00:16:05.58\00:16:10.95
I can see the tears
streaming down your face
00:16:12.61\00:16:19.75
As I walk away
again I need your love
00:16:20.32\00:16:29.32
And I need to feel
your light inside me
00:16:29.33\00:16:33.55
I need to reach out for
your hand that leads me home
00:16:33.56\00:16:41.26
And if I turn away,
oh, Lord I pray today
00:16:41.27\00:16:49.24
Don't ever stop
working with me Lord
00:16:49.25\00:16:56.61
So much temptation in this world
00:16:56.62\00:17:03.61
I can't count the
times I've let you down
00:17:03.62\00:17:10.55
Forgive me Lord,
I cry out once more
00:17:10.56\00:17:17.76
As you hang on that cross again
00:17:17.77\00:17:23.30
I need your love and I need
to feel your light inside of me
00:17:23.31\00:17:31.34
I need to reach out for
your hand that leads me home
00:17:31.35\00:17:39.04
And if I turn away,
oh, Lord I pray today
00:17:39.05\00:17:46.92
Don't ever stop
working with me Lord
00:17:46.93\00:17:52.56
I need your love
00:17:52.57\00:17:56.53
I need to feel
your light inside of me
00:17:56.54\00:18:00.89
I need to reach out for
your hand that leads me home
00:18:00.90\00:18:08.16
And if I turn away,
oh, Lord I pray today
00:18:08.17\00:18:18.13
Don't ever stop
working with me Lord
00:18:18.14\00:18:25.55
Don't ever stop
working with me Lord
00:18:25.56\00:18:34.14
Don't ever stop
working with me Lord.
00:18:34.15\00:18:45.51
Well, this is our
Sabbath school lesson time,
00:18:46.49\00:18:48.92
we have about 40 minutes
00:18:48.93\00:18:50.15
and we're gonna get right
into our lesson this morning.
00:18:50.16\00:18:52.57
We are in lesson 10 of our
quarterly families of faith.
00:18:52.58\00:18:57.25
Families of faith. And
we're just gonna follow
00:18:57.26\00:19:00.65
the lesson here this
morning and move through it
00:19:00.66\00:19:03.75
point by point as
we have opportunity.
00:19:03.76\00:19:06.59
And as we do
that I'm just going to
00:19:06.60\00:19:07.83
ask you to pause
with me for a moment
00:19:07.84\00:19:09.55
and let's just ask God to
be here through His spirit,
00:19:09.56\00:19:12.48
in prayer. Father in heaven,
00:19:12.49\00:19:14.47
we wanna thank you
for the testimonies
00:19:14.48\00:19:16.75
that been born this
morning to your goodness
00:19:16.76\00:19:19.77
and power in
working in our lives.
00:19:19.78\00:19:21.33
We want to thank you
for the creators you give us
00:19:21.34\00:19:23.21
for the opportunities you
have give us to come apart
00:19:23.22\00:19:26.79
and to enjoy
nature and your creation.
00:19:26.80\00:19:30.62
Want to thank you, Father,
00:19:30.63\00:19:31.60
for this
opportunity to open your word
00:19:31.61\00:19:33.58
and I wanna pray that
you'll draw our minds away
00:19:33.59\00:19:36.00
from the distractions of
the world of the weak of life
00:19:36.01\00:19:40.33
and that You will cause us
to focus now on the lessons
00:19:40.34\00:19:43.69
that You would like us to learn,
00:19:43.70\00:19:45.48
as we open and study
and look to Jesus Christ.
00:19:45.49\00:19:48.94
Our author and our finisher,
00:19:48.95\00:19:50.96
we pray this now in His
wonderful name, amen. Amen.
00:19:50.97\00:19:55.47
Hebrews Chapter 12,
I told you last night,
00:19:55.48\00:19:59.09
but I thought it was
providential that I was here.
00:19:59.10\00:20:02.07
One of the reasons I
feel that it's providential
00:20:02.08\00:20:03.95
that I'm here is
because of Hebrews Chapter 12.
00:20:03.96\00:20:08.34
See, I felt impressed
for this weekend to study
00:20:08.35\00:20:12.39
and share with you
from Hebrews Chapter 12
00:20:12.40\00:20:14.36
and it wasn't until I got
the quarterly, the lesson,
00:20:14.37\00:20:17.83
the outline because I
was asked to do the quarterly
00:20:17.84\00:20:19.71
for this weekend.
00:20:19.72\00:20:20.85
It wasn't until I
receive that quarterly
00:20:20.86\00:20:23.62
that I realize that the
very theme that I was sharing
00:20:23.63\00:20:27.02
and studying and
preparing was the very
00:20:27.03\00:20:28.85
same theme for the
quarterly for this week,
00:20:28.86\00:20:31.88
Hebrews Chapter 12.
00:20:31.89\00:20:33.98
In the quarterly they quote
parts of Hebrews 12:1 and 2.
00:20:33.99\00:20:37.61
I would like for
us to read all of it
00:20:37.62\00:20:39.43
this morning,
Hebrews 12:1 and 2.
00:20:39.44\00:20:41.41
Wherefore see we
also are compassed,
00:20:41.42\00:20:46.95
surrounded with so
great a cloud of witnesses,
00:20:46.96\00:20:49.60
let us lay aside every weight,
00:20:49.61\00:20:52.90
and the sin which
doth so easily beset us,
00:20:52.91\00:20:56.27
and let us run
with patience the race
00:20:56.28\00:21:00.75
that is set before us. How?
00:21:00.76\00:21:03.80
Looking unto
Jesus, who is the author
00:21:03.81\00:21:07.11
and the finisher of our faith.
00:21:07.12\00:21:10.54
Who for the joy
that was set before Him
00:21:10.55\00:21:14.82
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
00:21:14.83\00:21:17.77
and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God
00:21:17.78\00:21:21.41
What was the joy
that was set before Jesus?
00:21:21.42\00:21:27.16
Yes, you this
morning are the joy
00:21:27.17\00:21:30.03
that was set before Him.
00:21:30.04\00:21:31.87
If you think that it
was joyful to hear those
00:21:31.88\00:21:34.80
testimonies and even experience
00:21:34.81\00:21:37.13
the testimonies this
morning of Souls being
00:21:37.14\00:21:40.12
one of the Lord, can
you imagine how God feels,
00:21:40.13\00:21:42.36
how Jesus feels?
00:21:42.37\00:21:43.42
He is so happy all
heaven rejoices of a one sinner
00:21:43.43\00:21:47.48
that is saved.
00:21:47.49\00:21:48.46
I have to say,
that's what motivates me.
00:21:48.47\00:21:50.54
Many times people
will ask me, James,
00:21:50.55\00:21:53.99
how did you ever get
to the place you're at.
00:21:54.00\00:21:55.83
I mean, you're on television,
00:21:55.84\00:21:57.91
you're doing
ministry and evangelism.
00:21:57.92\00:22:00.64
And I always
respond, well let me tell you
00:22:00.65\00:22:02.63
how I got here.
00:22:02.64\00:22:04.47
I woke up Thursday morning,
00:22:04.48\00:22:08.29
always tried to
travel a day early
00:22:08.30\00:22:10.74
when I'm going
to the east coast.
00:22:10.75\00:22:12.63
I woke up at 4
O'clock in the morning.
00:22:12.64\00:22:14.21
My alarms were set
for 4.30 but I woke up
00:22:14.22\00:22:17.25
at 4 because
that's when the Lord
00:22:17.26\00:22:18.31
wanted me to get up.
00:22:18.32\00:22:19.29
And there was a reason
for that because living
00:22:19.30\00:22:21.03
in Eugene, Oregon
it very rarely snows
00:22:21.04\00:22:23.81
but this morning it was snowing.
00:22:23.82\00:22:27.06
I didn't know
that so I got outside.
00:22:27.07\00:22:29.24
It was snowing and I
needed four wheel drive
00:22:29.25\00:22:32.27
to get to the airport.
00:22:32.28\00:22:33.80
When I got there
got on the plane,
00:22:33.81\00:22:35.94
they deiced it twice.
00:22:35.95\00:22:39.68
Finally we left and we
got into Salt Lake City,
00:22:39.69\00:22:42.34
well, we didn't
get into Salt Lake City
00:22:42.35\00:22:43.61
we got to Salt Lake City.
00:22:43.62\00:22:45.40
We circled it a few
times and we're running out
00:22:45.41\00:22:47.66
of fuel so they had to
take us to Twin Falls, Idaho.
00:22:47.67\00:22:50.55
We landed there and refueled
00:22:50.56\00:22:51.96
got into Salt Lake City,
00:22:51.97\00:22:53.05
we had blizzard conditions there
00:22:53.06\00:22:54.18
for a while and
by the time we landed
00:22:54.19\00:22:56.09
my plane was gone and so
was every other connection
00:22:56.10\00:23:00.65
through every other city
00:23:00.66\00:23:01.73
that they could
think of to Orlando.
00:23:01.74\00:23:04.70
So I had one of two options.
00:23:04.71\00:23:06.55
One, I could go
standby on a 5 O'clock flight
00:23:06.56\00:23:09.94
to Orlando
hoping I could get on,
00:23:09.95\00:23:12.35
or two since I had to
get here by last night
00:23:12.36\00:23:15.47
I could leave at 12
O'clock that night fly all night
00:23:15.48\00:23:19.55
to Atlanta have a
three hour level over there
00:23:19.56\00:23:22.32
and then leave at 7
O'clock from Atlanta
00:23:22.33\00:23:24.55
to here, getting
here Friday morning.
00:23:24.56\00:23:28.54
You asking me how I got here,
00:23:28.55\00:23:29.82
you asking me many
times how is that you get to,
00:23:29.83\00:23:33.25
to do television program.
00:23:33.26\00:23:34.68
So I'm telling the very basics
00:23:34.69\00:23:36.33
and that is it's by
doing the little things,
00:23:36.34\00:23:38.82
it's by the little duties,
00:23:38.83\00:23:39.87
it's by just living
life and reaching out.
00:23:39.88\00:23:44.78
So I'm sitting in the
airport going this try,
00:23:44.79\00:23:47.30
you know how trials are.
00:23:47.31\00:23:49.40
Going through this
trial and thinking to myself,
00:23:49.41\00:23:51.26
what am I going to
do, what am I going to do.
00:23:51.27\00:23:54.40
And as I'm sitting
there praying the peace of God
00:23:54.41\00:23:57.51
comes upon me and all of
the sudden God just tells me,
00:23:57.52\00:24:02.15
James, it doesn't matter,
00:24:02.16\00:24:03.99
it doesn't matter just trust
me for this, just trust me.
00:24:04.00\00:24:07.07
Just relax and trust me.
00:24:07.08\00:24:08.32
So I open up my
Bible, open up my computer
00:24:08.33\00:24:10.20
and I start
studying because that's what
00:24:10.21\00:24:11.69
I was going to do anyway.
00:24:11.70\00:24:12.67
When I got ther I
was going to study.
00:24:12.68\00:24:13.98
So I said I'm
just going to study,
00:24:13.99\00:24:15.82
I'm just going to trust
that God is going to work
00:24:15.83\00:24:18.83
this out for me,
and I decided to call
00:24:18.84\00:24:20.70
my airline travel
agent and I called her
00:24:20.71\00:24:23.38
and talked to her
and she said, James,
00:24:23.39\00:24:25.16
she said that
they always have seats
00:24:25.17\00:24:26.79
available on airplanes.
00:24:26.80\00:24:28.89
Even though you're
going standby and she said
00:24:28.90\00:24:30.96
I'm seeing this flight
and I'm see that is oversold
00:24:30.97\00:24:33.87
but there are always
seats in first class.
00:24:33.88\00:24:37.42
You need to go up to
the counter and you need to
00:24:37.43\00:24:39.91
tell them that you
know they have some seats
00:24:39.92\00:24:43.11
and you need to get
a seat in first class.
00:24:43.12\00:24:46.81
I said okay, I
left to the counter
00:24:46.82\00:24:49.57
told them my situation,
00:24:49.58\00:24:50.55
told them if they had
said I could get on the plane,
00:24:50.56\00:24:52.54
told them I needed
to get to this location
00:24:52.55\00:24:54.59
because I was
going to be on television
00:24:54.60\00:24:56.46
all over the world.
00:25:01.01\00:25:01.98
And they said, well, just
hold on just a second here.
00:25:04.25\00:25:06.66
Just hold on just a second,
00:25:06.67\00:25:07.85
let's see what we can
do and in a few minutes
00:25:07.86\00:25:10.39
they produced for me
a first class ticket.
00:25:10.40\00:25:15.08
And I was praising the Lord,
00:25:15.09\00:25:16.36
and I just started studying
00:25:16.37\00:25:17.82
and I just started praising God,
00:25:17.83\00:25:19.54
sitting in that airport
I had a smile on my face.
00:25:19.55\00:25:21.66
Even though I got
there at around 11.30
00:25:21.67\00:25:24.83
and my plane
didn't leave until 5,
00:25:24.84\00:25:26.28
I was very, very happy.
00:25:26.29\00:25:28.89
I left there at 5 O'clock.
00:25:28.90\00:25:30.84
Do you believe in
divine appointments? Yes.
00:25:30.85\00:25:32.50
I left there at 5 O'clock
00:25:32.51\00:25:34.47
I got into my first class seat
00:25:34.48\00:25:36.08
see next to another man
who neither one of us were,
00:25:36.09\00:25:38.77
you know, the normal
first class passengers
00:25:38.78\00:25:42.15
and we began to talk.
00:25:42.16\00:25:43.35
His name was David.
00:25:43.36\00:25:46.65
Ask me what I did.
00:25:46.66\00:25:47.89
Now, you know
how that is for me.
00:25:47.90\00:25:50.75
I want to use that as an
00:25:50.76\00:25:52.22
opportunity to
share about the Lord.
00:25:52.23\00:25:55.11
And normally in a
situation like this
00:25:55.12\00:25:57.78
I'm tired maybe a little
bit, you know, grumpy because,
00:25:57.79\00:26:00.55
you know, I've
been sitting in airport
00:26:00.56\00:26:01.98
for hours but in
this occasion I was happy.
00:26:01.99\00:26:05.13
And I believe that God
was in control and he was.
00:26:05.14\00:26:07.71
Because David was a
brand new Christian.
00:26:07.72\00:26:12.24
Had just started attending
church with his daughter.
00:26:12.25\00:26:18.81
David asked me as we
got our complimentary meals
00:26:18.82\00:26:25.47
if I would like
to pray with him.
00:26:25.48\00:26:28.17
He said, you pray and I'll pray.
00:26:28.18\00:26:31.01
He said now I'm
not really experienced
00:26:31.02\00:26:33.44
at praying, he is a
geologist and basically atheist,
00:26:33.45\00:26:38.01
believing in
evolution and yet he said,
00:26:38.02\00:26:41.49
I would like to pray too.
00:26:41.50\00:26:42.61
And so I prayed and he prayed
00:26:42.62\00:26:44.07
this simple earnest prayer.
00:26:44.08\00:26:46.11
David is part of
the family of God. Amen.
00:26:46.12\00:26:51.36
David is not where I
am, he's not where you are
00:26:51.37\00:26:53.74
but David has
began this journey,
00:26:53.75\00:26:56.60
and as we sat
there talking together
00:26:56.61\00:26:59.01
and sharing together
I was just praising God
00:26:59.02\00:27:01.65
for this divine appointment.
00:27:01.66\00:27:03.32
I had been on cloud nine
ever since. Amen. Even since.
00:27:03.33\00:27:07.60
Our lesson this morning is about
00:27:07.61\00:27:09.96
the family of God,
the family of faith.
00:27:09.97\00:27:12.45
And friends
sometimes we think about
00:27:12.46\00:27:14.10
family of God, we
narrow it down don't we.
00:27:14.11\00:27:17.36
We think about perhaps
Adventists or maybe just
00:27:17.37\00:27:21.48
Christians, but I
believe the family of God
00:27:21.49\00:27:24.44
is all over this
world, in every church,
00:27:24.45\00:27:28.41
in every
religion and non religion.
00:27:28.42\00:27:30.64
I believe that God has
his people every where.
00:27:30.65\00:27:33.95
And the Bible bears this out,
00:27:33.96\00:27:35.41
in fact when you read
the Bible you find point
00:27:35.42\00:27:39.60
after, point after, point,
00:27:39.61\00:27:40.75
time after time you
find that God is working
00:27:40.76\00:27:44.88
in the lives in the
hearts of different individuals.
00:27:44.89\00:27:48.24
One of these
experiences is found right here
00:27:48.25\00:27:50.98
in the first part of
our lesson on Sunday.
00:27:50.99\00:27:53.81
Acts Chapter 10, let's
just look there this morning.
00:27:53.82\00:27:56.87
Acts Chapter 10, here is
a powerful story friends,
00:27:56.88\00:28:03.74
a powerful story
of how God is working
00:28:03.75\00:28:06.72
in the life of a man who is
part of the family of faith.
00:28:06.73\00:28:12.02
What is his name? Cornelius.
00:28:12.03\00:28:15.05
What does
Cornelius do for a living?
00:28:15.06\00:28:19.18
He is a soldier, he is
in the military, right.
00:28:19.19\00:28:23.76
Yes, he is a leader,
he's in charge of others
00:28:23.77\00:28:28.29
but Cornelius is also a
part of the family of faith.
00:28:28.30\00:28:35.57
Now this is
challenging to say the least.
00:28:35.58\00:28:38.95
For Peter, for the Apostles,
00:28:38.96\00:28:40.76
for the disciples,
they are challenged in many
00:28:40.77\00:28:44.69
ways to
recognize that Cornelius,
00:28:44.70\00:28:49.89
a Roman soldier will be
part of the family of faith.
00:28:49.90\00:28:54.16
You ever been
challenged that way.
00:28:54.17\00:28:57.03
Now I have to tell you that
00:28:57.04\00:28:58.18
when I was talking with David,
00:28:58.19\00:29:01.48
he was drinking vodka tonic.
00:29:01.49\00:29:07.96
Do you think he is part
of family of faith? Yes.
00:29:07.97\00:29:11.93
I can go back to
my own experience,
00:29:11.94\00:29:13.95
I can go back to the
time when I was converted.
00:29:13.96\00:29:16.56
When I accepted the
Lord is my savior and was
00:29:16.57\00:29:19.55
still listening to
rock and roll music,
00:29:19.56\00:29:21.74
going to church on the wrong day
00:29:21.75\00:29:24.49
and doing all
kinds of other things.
00:29:24.50\00:29:26.01
But Jesus was
still my savior.Amen.
00:29:26.02\00:29:28.93
I didn't
understand, I hadn't grown,
00:29:28.94\00:29:31.98
I didn't have the
lights that we all have
00:29:31.99\00:29:34.49
but Jesus was
still my Savior. Amen.
00:29:34.50\00:29:37.20
Cornelius is in the
army, the Roman army.
00:29:37.21\00:29:40.07
The Romans that were responsible
00:29:40.08\00:29:42.38
for the
crucifixion of Jesus Christ,
00:29:42.39\00:29:43.98
is Cornelius part of
family of faith. Yes.
00:29:43.99\00:29:46.88
Absolutely. Does
Peter know that? Not yet.
00:29:46.89\00:29:52.84
It's going to take some
supernatural experiences
00:29:52.85\00:29:57.63
for Peter to
realize that that man
00:29:57.64\00:30:00.96
is part of the family of faith.
00:30:00.97\00:30:03.00
Is that what it takes for us?
00:30:03.01\00:30:04.78
Sometimes, sometimes
that's what it takes.
00:30:04.79\00:30:11.10
But I believe,
friends, this morning
00:30:11.11\00:30:12.95
that God wants to open our
hearts and minds to help us
00:30:12.96\00:30:15.91
to recognize that
He has his people out
00:30:15.92\00:30:17.70
there everywhere. Amen.
00:30:17.71\00:30:19.34
I was just in Thailand
00:30:19.35\00:30:20.51
just a few weeks
ago at Mission College.
00:30:20.52\00:30:22.89
Mission College, Thailand,
00:30:22.90\00:30:25.43
700 plus students,
00:30:25.44\00:30:28.26
it is a Seventh-day
Adventist institution.
00:30:28.27\00:30:31.76
They have 3ABN
over there by the way.
00:30:31.77\00:30:33.89
High to Mission
College if you're watching
00:30:33.90\00:30:35.41
this morning, no they won't be
00:30:35.42\00:30:36.91
because they're
15 hours ahead of us.
00:30:36.92\00:30:38.98
If they're watching
this evening and 60%
00:30:38.99\00:30:42.47
of the students at
Mission College are Buddhists.
00:30:42.48\00:30:48.12
Told it was a Mission College,
00:30:48.13\00:30:50.15
it lives up to
its name. Amen. Amen.
00:30:50.16\00:30:52.85
Now these students,
these Buddhist students
00:30:52.86\00:30:57.40
most of them are from Thailand.
00:30:57.41\00:31:01.11
The Thai people are
a very unique people.
00:31:01.12\00:31:05.31
You heard about
all of the controversy
00:31:05.32\00:31:08.39
that's taking place
today, in our world today,
00:31:08.40\00:31:11.32
concerning those cartoons,
00:31:11.33\00:31:14.45
those Muslim cartoons.
00:31:14.46\00:31:16.29
We have the
right to free speech,
00:31:16.30\00:31:19.33
we have the right to
exercise our free speech
00:31:19.34\00:31:21.70
and we're going to
print whatever we feel like
00:31:21.71\00:31:24.31
printing no
matter what it causes,
00:31:24.32\00:31:27.34
no matter who it offends.
00:31:27.35\00:31:28.61
That is the mindset
of the west isn't it?
00:31:28.62\00:31:31.09
Indeed we are
moving forward in that way
00:31:31.10\00:31:33.58
and causing all
kinds of death and problems
00:31:33.59\00:31:36.11
because of our rights.
00:31:36.12\00:31:38.27
But in Thailand
there was a young man,
00:31:38.28\00:31:41.33
a rap singer,
musician, very popular
00:31:41.34\00:31:45.88
who put together an album
and in one of those albums
00:31:45.89\00:31:49.38
he used some
words from the Qur'an
00:31:49.39\00:31:52.34
that offended the Muslims.
00:31:52.35\00:31:56.86
So this man when
he found about this
00:31:56.87\00:31:59.64
publicly
apologized, withdrew his song
00:31:59.65\00:32:04.30
and his album though
00:32:04.31\00:32:05.72
they had
thousands, perhaps hundreds
00:32:05.73\00:32:07.94
of thousands of them duplicated,
00:32:07.95\00:32:10.63
withdrew it from the
market at the personal
00:32:10.64\00:32:13.30
cost of much money.
00:32:13.31\00:32:16.06
Because he did not
want to offend a religion
00:32:16.07\00:32:20.79
that was different from his.
00:32:20.80\00:32:22.73
That is the attitude,
00:32:22.74\00:32:24.74
that is the nature
of the Thai people.
00:32:24.75\00:32:27.02
They are humble,
likable, friendly people and God
00:32:27.03\00:32:32.71
is responsible for that. Amen.
00:32:32.72\00:32:35.40
Because
whenever we see goodness,
00:32:35.41\00:32:36.75
whenever we see grace,
00:32:36.76\00:32:38.60
whenever we see
that kind of an attitude
00:32:38.61\00:32:40.30
coming from anywhere we
know that God is the source.
00:32:40.31\00:32:44.75
He is the author as
well as the finisher.
00:32:44.76\00:32:48.01
I was privileged
to be in Thailand,
00:32:48.02\00:32:49.45
I was privileged to
share a Mission College
00:32:49.46\00:32:51.20
there and talk to those
700 students many of them
00:32:51.21\00:32:55.19
Buddhist students and
the belief by faith that many
00:32:55.20\00:32:58.87
of them are part of the family.
00:32:58.88\00:33:00.17
They just perhaps
haven't seen God, you know,
00:33:00.18\00:33:02.15
or known God have
been introduced to him
00:33:02.16\00:33:04.26
and that was my responsibility
00:33:04.27\00:33:06.06
and as I did that
my night for that week,
00:33:06.07\00:33:08.84
we made an appeal
at the end of the week
00:33:08.85\00:33:11.11
we asked people if they wanted
00:33:11.12\00:33:12.79
to begin Bible studies.
00:33:12.80\00:33:14.24
If they would like to
accept Christ as their savior,
00:33:14.25\00:33:16.30
if they would
like to be baptized
00:33:16.31\00:33:18.27
and over 100 of
those students responded
00:33:18.28\00:33:22.02
positively. Praise the Lord.
00:33:22.03\00:33:24.64
Every where you go,
people are sitting next to you,
00:33:24.65\00:33:30.61
walking by you,
rubbing shoulders with you
00:33:30.62\00:33:33.44
they are part of
the family of faith.
00:33:33.45\00:33:37.20
Yes they are part
of the family of God,
00:33:37.21\00:33:39.31
the family of faith.
00:33:39.32\00:33:40.38
And so Cornelius is
part of the family of faith.
00:33:40.39\00:33:43.60
But what has to happen in order
00:33:43.61\00:33:45.44
for peter to recognize this.
00:33:45.45\00:33:46.75
Well, Peter is tired
and hungry and it says there
00:33:46.76\00:33:50.07
in Acts Chapter 10 verse 9 that,
00:33:50.08\00:33:53.85
Peter went up to the
house top to pray about
00:33:53.86\00:33:56.43
the sixth hour and he became
very hungry verse 10 says.
00:33:56.44\00:34:00.11
He would have eaten
but while they made ready
00:34:00.12\00:34:02.67
he fell into a trance,
a vision and he saw heaven
00:34:02.68\00:34:07.61
open and he saw
vessels descending like
00:34:07.62\00:34:10.16
a big sheet held
up with the corners,
00:34:10.17\00:34:13.39
and in this vision
there was all manner of four
00:34:13.40\00:34:18.01
footed beasts of
the Earth, wild beasts,
00:34:18.02\00:34:20.34
and creeping things,
and fowls of the air.
00:34:20.35\00:34:22.15
There were snakes, you know,
00:34:22.16\00:34:23.52
and reptiles and may
be some monkeys in there,
00:34:23.53\00:34:25.93
all kinds of creatures,
all kinds of creatures.
00:34:25.94\00:34:30.95
And a voice came to Peter,
00:34:30.96\00:34:32.82
rise up, Peter, kill and eat.
00:34:32.83\00:34:36.52
What do you
think, would you do it?
00:34:36.53\00:34:40.61
I don't think there were
any big franks on that sheet.
00:34:40.62\00:34:45.52
And so Peter
says, no way, no way.
00:34:45.53\00:34:48.96
I'm not eating.
00:34:48.97\00:34:50.16
That is not my
regular Loma Linda diet.
00:34:50.17\00:34:53.05
I'm not eating any
of that stuff, Lord,
00:34:53.06\00:34:55.28
there is no way that
I'm gonna touch that.
00:34:55.29\00:34:57.23
I've haven't
anything verse 14 says,
00:34:57.24\00:34:59.38
that is common or unclean.
00:34:59.39\00:35:04.06
Now unclean of course
is the food that the Bible
00:35:04.07\00:35:06.54
says we shouldn't eat
because it wasn't made
00:35:06.55\00:35:08.73
to be eaten it was
made to scavenge the Earth.
00:35:08.74\00:35:10.97
Common can be that
food or it can be clean food
00:35:10.98\00:35:15.26
that is simply
become defiled in some way.
00:35:15.27\00:35:19.83
So Peter saw all of
this food on the sheets both
00:35:19.84\00:35:23.22
the unclean and the
common, and the voice,
00:35:23.23\00:35:26.53
verse 15, spake to
him again the second time
00:35:26.54\00:35:29.67
and said "what
God hath cleansed,
00:35:29.68\00:35:35.38
that call not thou" what?
00:35:35.39\00:35:38.36
I think it's interesting
that God doesn't say unclean.
00:35:38.37\00:35:42.33
When he interprets
his dream to Peter,
00:35:42.34\00:35:44.37
see some people
think that Jesus Christ
00:35:44.38\00:35:47.56
came to die on the cross
in order to make pig clean.
00:35:47.57\00:35:53.47
Now the Bible doesn't say
that anywhere that I know of.
00:35:53.48\00:35:56.89
Even in this verse
that is not in the intend,
00:35:56.90\00:36:01.90
but Jesus did come
to die on the cross
00:36:01.91\00:36:05.75
so that we could recognize
that he is the savior of all
00:36:05.76\00:36:09.84
people 1 Timothy 4 verse 10.
00:36:09.85\00:36:12.87
Jesus said in John
Chapter 12 and verse 32
00:36:12.88\00:36:16.40
if I be lifted up
will draw all unto me.
00:36:16.41\00:36:21.02
And in John Chapter 10
he says I have many sheep
00:36:21.03\00:36:24.16
that are not of this folds,
00:36:24.17\00:36:25.65
then will I call and
they will hear my voice
00:36:25.66\00:36:28.80
and hopefully they'll
hear His voice through us,
00:36:28.81\00:36:31.28
amen. Amen.
00:36:31.29\00:36:32.50
And so Peter is
confused, he is wondering here
00:36:32.51\00:36:37.02
God is saying that there
are those in this context
00:36:37.03\00:36:40.28
the gentiles, he doesn't
know that yet who are unclean,
00:36:40.29\00:36:43.81
who are common I should say.
00:36:43.82\00:36:45.58
Because of their association,
00:36:45.59\00:36:47.23
because of their
lack of association,
00:36:47.24\00:36:48.72
because of their
uncleanness of life
00:36:48.73\00:36:50.70
or whatever and God
has come to cleanse them.
00:36:50.71\00:36:54.45
This was done three
times and then the vessel was
00:36:54.46\00:36:56.44
received up into
heaven and Peter was doubting
00:36:56.45\00:36:58.55
he was not
understanding what it meant.
00:36:58.56\00:37:01.54
And as he was thinking about it,
00:37:01.55\00:37:06.35
there was a knock on the door.
00:37:06.36\00:37:08.18
Did you hear that?
00:37:08.19\00:37:09.75
Yes, there was a
man that had come
00:37:09.76\00:37:13.14
that was sent by
Cornelius to fetch
00:37:13.15\00:37:15.53
Peter to the house of Cornelius.
00:37:15.54\00:37:18.85
He was there at the
door and Peter was thinking
00:37:18.86\00:37:21.72
about this, thinking
about this, verse 19,
00:37:21.73\00:37:24.74
and as he thought about it,
00:37:24.75\00:37:27.09
the Spirit said unto him.
00:37:27.10\00:37:30.49
I really like that
phrase right there don't you.
00:37:30.50\00:37:34.33
There are times
when we rely too much
00:37:34.34\00:37:39.72
on the word of God itself
00:37:39.73\00:37:42.22
and become
disconnected from the Spirits.
00:37:42.23\00:37:46.86
Now there are times
when we can't go to the other
00:37:46.87\00:37:48.66
stream of course and
we need to be careful,
00:37:48.67\00:37:51.15
we don't want to
just go by the Spirit,
00:37:51.16\00:37:52.70
the Spirit, the Spirit
and be contrary to God's word.
00:37:52.71\00:37:57.17
But there are times
00:37:57.18\00:37:58.15
when we can hedge
ourselves into the word of God.
00:37:58.16\00:38:00.33
These were one of those times
00:38:00.34\00:38:02.03
when Peter need to
be careful, careful.
00:38:02.04\00:38:04.30
Peter, don't just go
by what you understand
00:38:04.31\00:38:07.93
God is saying, listen
also to what, the Spirits.
00:38:07.94\00:38:12.55
Because there
are times, friends,
00:38:12.56\00:38:14.51
when only the
Spirit can direct us.
00:38:14.52\00:38:17.72
People ask me
questions all the time, James,
00:38:17.73\00:38:20.10
what do you think I
should do in this circumstance.
00:38:20.11\00:38:22.86
What is your counsel
for this kind of a situation
00:38:22.87\00:38:25.35
and I have to tell
them as I share with them
00:38:25.36\00:38:27.93
everything that I
can think of concerning
00:38:27.94\00:38:30.62
what God has to say in
His word I had to tell them
00:38:30.63\00:38:32.59
but ultimately in the end
00:38:32.60\00:38:35.39
only you can make that decision.
00:38:35.40\00:38:36.97
Only the Holy
Spirit can tell you
00:38:36.98\00:38:38.75
what you need to do, amen. Amen.
00:38:38.76\00:38:41.28
The Holy Spirit has
to be the final say,
00:38:41.29\00:38:44.47
the final words.
00:38:44.48\00:38:45.96
We have to have that unction.
00:38:45.97\00:38:48.56
1 John says, that
unction from the holy one
00:38:48.57\00:38:52.16
who teaches us all things.
00:38:52.17\00:38:54.77
I'm so thankful that
Peter had the unction,
00:38:54.78\00:38:56.83
because Jesus told
them earlier in ministry,
00:38:56.84\00:38:58.97
Peter said, Jesus said to Peter,
00:38:58.98\00:39:00.77
the Holy Spirit has
been teaching you Peter,
00:39:00.78\00:39:02.28
you remember that.
00:39:02.29\00:39:03.63
He was taught
of the Holy Spirits
00:39:03.64\00:39:06.54
and it says that he listened.
00:39:06.55\00:39:09.94
Because the Holy Spirit
told him there are three men
00:39:09.95\00:39:11.68
here that seek you arise,
00:39:11.69\00:39:14.30
therefore and go
with them and don't have
00:39:14.31\00:39:17.93
a doubt about anything
00:39:17.94\00:39:19.24
I'm the one that
sent them. Praise God.
00:39:19.25\00:39:21.79
Do you believe that
the Holy Spirit can speak
00:39:21.80\00:39:26.27
to us as clearly and as simply
00:39:26.28\00:39:28.85
and as
powerfully today as it did?
00:39:28.86\00:39:32.36
Yes, God's Holy
Spirit can speak to us today,
00:39:32.37\00:39:37.01
it can communicate to us today.
00:39:37.02\00:39:38.69
And so Peter went with
these men and he entered
00:39:38.70\00:39:43.50
into Caesarea says in verse 24.
00:39:43.51\00:39:46.21
Cornelius was waiting
for them and Cornelius
00:39:46.22\00:39:50.01
had called together all of
his kinsmen and near friends.
00:39:50.02\00:39:55.33
Cornelius wanted to share
this experience with others,
00:39:55.34\00:39:59.09
so he called all of
these people together.
00:39:59.10\00:40:03.18
They were all waiting for Peter.
00:40:03.19\00:40:07.43
Peter was there,
powerfully led by
00:40:07.44\00:40:11.21
the Spirit of God,
sharing there with Cornelius
00:40:11.22\00:40:16.48
one who was part
of the family of faith
00:40:16.49\00:40:18.83
and opening up to
them the word of God.
00:40:18.84\00:40:23.95
He confess, he
was honest, he said,
00:40:23.96\00:40:25.75
you know, I thought
that it was unlawful thing
00:40:25.76\00:40:28.20
for me who was a Jew, verse 28,
00:40:28.21\00:40:30.12
keep company with someone
like you who is a gentile.
00:40:30.13\00:40:33.11
But God showed me, amen. Amen.
00:40:33.12\00:40:38.23
God showed me, it's so
important for us today,
00:40:38.24\00:40:41.54
friends, to recognize that God
00:40:41.55\00:40:43.95
has His people everywhere.
00:40:43.96\00:40:45.78
Because there are
times when we can be confined
00:40:45.79\00:40:49.07
and constricted by
denominational boundaries.
00:40:49.08\00:40:54.41
We can be hindered
and limited by the idea
00:40:54.42\00:40:59.30
that well we are the church.
00:40:59.31\00:41:02.26
You know, and I've
heard that it has been said
00:41:02.27\00:41:04.26
and I like this phrase
that we should consider
00:41:04.27\00:41:06.83
ourselves more the
church of the Remnant
00:41:06.84\00:41:12.30
than the Remnant church.
00:41:12.31\00:41:14.23
See the church
of the Remnant means
00:41:14.24\00:41:17.47
that we are part of a
Remnant of people, amen,
00:41:17.48\00:41:21.81
that are all over the place.
00:41:21.82\00:41:24.38
And that when the time
comes, that testing time,
00:41:24.39\00:41:27.86
there are going to be
people from all different
00:41:27.87\00:41:30.38
walks of life who are
gonna take their stand
00:41:30.39\00:41:32.85
for the truth, they
are gonna stand with us.
00:41:32.86\00:41:35.10
Because they have in
the times we live in,
00:41:35.11\00:41:40.05
in the months and
years previous to the test,
00:41:40.06\00:41:42.88
they've been developing
the character of Christ.
00:41:42.89\00:41:45.15
You see them, you see
them everywhere you go.
00:41:45.16\00:41:47.68
You see people who are
part of this family of faith
00:41:47.69\00:41:50.24
and they are
developing the character
00:41:50.25\00:41:52.13
of Christ, you see the
spirit of Christ in them and,
00:41:52.14\00:41:55.01
you know, those
people are going to learn
00:41:55.02\00:41:56.73
in weeks and months
00:41:56.74\00:41:58.07
what it's taken us
a lifetime to learn.
00:41:58.08\00:42:01.16
They are, but none of
us, none of us are going to
00:42:01.17\00:42:06.86
get into heaven or
gonna past the test,
00:42:06.87\00:42:10.32
are gonna endure this
time just because we know
00:42:10.33\00:42:13.93
intellectually
what the truth is.
00:42:13.94\00:42:15.94
Are you with me? Yes.
00:42:15.95\00:42:17.56
That's not it,
that's not where it's at.
00:42:17.57\00:42:21.12
If we think that
our acknowledgment,
00:42:21.13\00:42:23.39
our ascent to
mental truth constitutes
00:42:23.40\00:42:26.68
righteousness, we are
under a fearful delusion. Amen.
00:42:26.69\00:42:30.59
We must be grounded and
founded on Jesus Christ.
00:42:30.60\00:42:36.79
Amen, amen. This
is so significant.
00:42:36.80\00:42:40.41
I want to share
with you a thought,
00:42:40.42\00:42:41.71
1 Corinthians Chapter 3,
00:42:41.72\00:42:43.57
Paul has a burden for
this when he is talking
00:42:43.58\00:42:47.31
at a church in Corinthians
00:42:47.32\00:42:49.62
and we are not
getting far off our lesson,
00:42:49.63\00:42:51.43
because the next part
of our lesson here that
00:42:51.44\00:42:54.13
we're not getting off
at all 1 Corinthians 2:2,
00:42:54.14\00:42:57.19
in other words
what was the emphasis,
00:42:57.20\00:42:59.66
what was the focus of
the early Christian church.
00:42:59.67\00:43:04.09
Acts 15, 1 Corinthians 2:2,
00:43:04.10\00:43:06.80
1 Thessalonians
Chapter 5 tell us that
00:43:06.81\00:43:09.80
they believe, that they need
to focus not on the militia,
00:43:09.81\00:43:13.66
not on the side
issues but on Jesus.
00:43:13.67\00:43:16.62
Paul called it, I
call it the Pauline pledge.
00:43:16.63\00:43:18.80
Paul said I would
know nothing among you
00:43:18.81\00:43:20.64
but Jesus Christ
and him crucified.
00:43:20.65\00:43:24.05
Prove all things but
hold fast to those thing
00:43:24.06\00:43:25.78
which are good.
00:43:25.79\00:43:28.23
Acts Chapter 15 says,
let's not put false tests
00:43:28.24\00:43:31.09
upon the new believers.
00:43:31.10\00:43:32.68
Friends, don't get side tracked
00:43:32.69\00:43:35.63
by false man made tests. Amen.
00:43:35.64\00:43:38.86
Get your focus on Jesus. Amen.
00:43:38.87\00:43:41.11
Get yourself on the foundation.
00:43:41.12\00:43:44.03
He is the test. Amen.
00:43:44.04\00:43:46.47
And so Paul here
in 1 Corinthians again
00:43:46.48\00:43:48.73
is emphasizing
the same basic truth.
00:43:48.74\00:43:50.74
1 Corinthians Chapter 3,
00:43:50.75\00:43:52.88
powerful, powerful insight.
00:43:52.89\00:43:55.87
He is dealing with a
church that he raised up
00:43:55.88\00:43:57.49
in Corinthian, a very
ungodly city and he is
00:43:57.50\00:44:00.49
concerned for them
because this carnality
00:44:00.50\00:44:03.05
among them they're,
they're slipping away
00:44:03.06\00:44:05.63
from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:44:05.64\00:44:07.71
And he says here in
00:44:07.72\00:44:08.87
1 Corinthians
Chapter 3 and verse 11,
00:44:08.88\00:44:10.68
he says "for
other foundation can no
00:44:10.69\00:44:13.48
man lay than that is laid"
00:44:13.49\00:44:15.29
and that
foundation is Jesus Christ.
00:44:15.30\00:44:19.25
Jesus Christ is the foundation.
00:44:19.26\00:44:22.63
Now, friends, if you
don't have a foundation
00:44:22.64\00:44:25.01
well, let me
illustrate it this way.
00:44:25.02\00:44:27.66
Back at our
ministry we have a home,
00:44:27.67\00:44:30.48
it has five bedrooms,
00:44:30.49\00:44:31.90
two and half
bathrooms and a car port.
00:44:31.91\00:44:34.80
That home would be
worth a lot of money
00:44:34.81\00:44:39.77
if only it had a foundation,
00:44:39.78\00:44:42.12
but it was built on
railroad ties and sand.
00:44:42.13\00:44:45.83
It was built with the
idea that Jesus is coming
00:44:45.84\00:44:48.42
soon and so that five bedroom,
00:44:48.43\00:44:51.51
two and half bathroom
home with the car ports
00:44:51.52\00:44:54.03
is worth almost nothing.
00:44:54.04\00:44:58.20
It is actually deteriorating
00:44:58.21\00:45:00.86
to the place where
you can't live in it.
00:45:00.87\00:45:02.88
Huge cracks are appearing
in the walls and soon it
00:45:02.89\00:45:07.29
will not be safe to
even walk into that home
00:45:07.30\00:45:10.54
because it has no foundation.
00:45:10.55\00:45:12.74
Now, friends, the
Bible is telling us
00:45:12.75\00:45:15.34
that the
foundation of our experience
00:45:15.35\00:45:19.03
of our religion needs
to be who, Jesus Christ.
00:45:19.04\00:45:22.92
Twenty seven
fundamental believes is good,
00:45:22.93\00:45:24.88
that's good but let
me tell you this morning,
00:45:24.89\00:45:29.01
the devil believes
00:45:29.02\00:45:31.02
the seventh-day
is the Sabbath. Amen.
00:45:31.03\00:45:33.88
The devil believes that
Jesus is coming soon. Amen.
00:45:33.89\00:45:38.00
The devil believes
that when you die you sleep.
00:45:38.01\00:45:44.45
So what's the difference
between his faith and ours?
00:45:44.46\00:45:47.50
It better be Jesus. Amen.
00:45:47.51\00:45:50.41
It better be that we have
a foundation underneath us.
00:45:50.42\00:45:53.71
Amen. Amen.
00:45:53.72\00:45:54.97
Paul says, this
is the foundation.
00:45:54.98\00:45:59.38
Then he goes on verse 12.
00:45:59.39\00:46:00.98
Now if any man
builds upon this foundation,
00:46:00.99\00:46:03.11
here it is, gold and
silver and precious stones.
00:46:03.12\00:46:07.50
There are people
in the world today,
00:46:07.51\00:46:10.71
I like to think that
they're the Adventists
00:46:10.72\00:46:14.33
who are building upon the
foundation of Jesus Christ,
00:46:14.34\00:46:17.56
gold and silver
and precious stones.
00:46:17.57\00:46:21.18
See those are the
qualities of truth
00:46:21.19\00:46:25.97
and understanding
that last, that endure,
00:46:25.98\00:46:29.57
gold, silver and
precious stones represent truth.
00:46:29.58\00:46:33.69
True understanding of
the Bible of God's words.
00:46:33.70\00:46:37.93
And then it goes on to say wood,
00:46:37.94\00:46:41.58
hay, and stubble.
00:46:41.59\00:46:43.93
Now here we have in
contrast of those things
00:46:43.94\00:46:46.29
that will endure the fire,
that will endure the flame,
00:46:46.30\00:46:48.83
we have those things
that will be burned up.
00:46:48.84\00:46:50.93
I believe this
represents false doctrine,
00:46:50.94\00:46:53.36
false understanding,
00:46:53.37\00:46:54.39
false
interpretation of God's words.
00:46:54.40\00:46:57.21
Follow me closely this morning,
00:46:57.22\00:46:58.58
there are those in
the family of faith.
00:46:58.59\00:47:00.65
Are you with me?
00:47:00.66\00:47:02.31
That are building upon the
foundation of Jesus Christ,
00:47:02.32\00:47:05.28
good doctrine,
and there are those
00:47:05.29\00:47:07.85
in the family of
faith that are building upon
00:47:07.86\00:47:11.01
a foundation of Jesus
Christ false doctrine.
00:47:11.02\00:47:14.93
True or false? True.
00:47:14.94\00:47:19.81
Paul goes on, every
man's work, verse 13,
00:47:19.82\00:47:22.98
shall be manifest for
the day shall declare it,
00:47:22.99\00:47:25.17
because it will
be revealed by, fire.
00:47:25.18\00:47:29.39
There is going to be test.
00:47:29.40\00:47:30.81
God has a test not a man
made test a heaven bond test.
00:47:30.82\00:47:35.19
And it's going to
test every man's work.
00:47:35.20\00:47:38.10
It will be revealed by fire,
00:47:38.11\00:47:41.93
and fire shall try
00:47:41.94\00:47:43.00
every man's work
of what sort it is.
00:47:43.01\00:47:44.34
Is it good or bad, is it
the gold or is it the wooden,
00:47:44.35\00:47:47.34
and hay and the stubble.
00:47:47.35\00:47:49.33
If any man's work abides
which he's built there on,
00:47:49.34\00:47:53.69
he will receive rewards.
00:47:53.70\00:47:55.61
But if any man's work,
verse 15, be burned up,
00:47:55.62\00:48:00.44
if you're
teaching false doctrine,
00:48:00.45\00:48:02.38
if you believe in
false doctrine and this time
00:48:02.39\00:48:04.67
of test comes and
your doctrine is burned up.
00:48:04.68\00:48:08.71
You will suffer loss.
00:48:08.72\00:48:11.57
But, but he himself
shall be, what's the word,
00:48:11.58\00:48:18.26
saved, yet as so by fire.
00:48:18.27\00:48:20.79
Now this is
incredible, isn't it?
00:48:20.80\00:48:23.50
Think about this there
are people in the world
00:48:23.51\00:48:26.84
today that are part
of the family faith.
00:48:26.85\00:48:29.03
They don't believe
the same way you believe
00:48:29.04\00:48:31.83
and what they believe
isn't necessarily true
00:48:31.84\00:48:34.31
according to God's words.
00:48:34.32\00:48:35.65
It's wood and
hay and it's stubble.
00:48:35.66\00:48:37.00
And there is a
time coming when those
00:48:37.01\00:48:39.03
doctrines are
going to be tested.
00:48:39.04\00:48:42.34
There is a time coming, friends,
00:48:42.35\00:48:44.36
when Jesus return
is going to be eminent
00:48:44.37\00:48:47.93
and not one Christian
believer is going to have
00:48:47.94\00:48:50.79
been ruptured from this Earth.
00:48:50.80\00:48:52.67
Are you with me?
00:48:52.68\00:48:54.31
There is a time
coming when millions
00:48:54.32\00:48:56.64
of believers out
there are going to realize
00:48:56.65\00:48:59.27
that they are here
for the duration. Amen.
00:48:59.28\00:49:01.59
Are you with me?
00:49:01.60\00:49:02.82
They're going to realize
that there is no such thing
00:49:02.83\00:49:05.25
as a secret
pre-rapture or mid oppose
00:49:05.26\00:49:09.43
until Jesus comes.
00:49:09.44\00:49:11.28
Are you with me?
00:49:11.29\00:49:12.51
And it's going to be a terrible
00:49:12.52\00:49:13.76
ordeal to realize that.
00:49:13.77\00:49:14.87
They haven't prepared for that,
00:49:14.88\00:49:16.38
they weren't ready for that,
00:49:16.39\00:49:17.36
they weren't in their
minds and hearts thinking
00:49:17.37\00:49:21.10
this is the way
it was going to be.
00:49:21.11\00:49:23.12
It's going to be terrible
ordeal but you know what,
00:49:23.13\00:49:25.45
they're still gonna be saved.
00:49:25.46\00:49:27.82
They're still gonna
be saved if they have
00:49:27.83\00:49:30.80
Jesus Christ as
their foundation. Amen.
00:49:30.81\00:49:34.37
Are you with me?
00:49:34.38\00:49:35.35
And we're going to
be part of helping them
00:49:35.36\00:49:38.58
to get through
the disappointment
00:49:38.59\00:49:40.55
and the grief and the struggle
00:49:40.56\00:49:43.11
of their disappointment
theological expectations.
00:49:43.12\00:49:47.33
In that time, we who
are part of this family
00:49:47.34\00:49:51.41
of faith and I'm not
going to point at them and say,
00:49:51.42\00:49:52.58
yeah, I told you, I told you,
00:49:52.59\00:49:53.56
you should have believe it.
00:49:53.57\00:49:54.54
We're gonna say brother, sister,
00:49:54.55\00:49:55.84
let me share with
you from God's words.
00:49:55.85\00:49:59.38
The truth, the gold, the silver,
00:49:59.39\00:50:00.82
the precious stones,
let me encourage you,
00:50:00.83\00:50:02.48
let me confront you, it's okay.
00:50:02.49\00:50:04.20
You may not be
ruptured out of here,
00:50:04.21\00:50:07.51
you may have to go
through with us these
00:50:07.52\00:50:10.61
seven last plagues
but God is going to keep
00:50:10.62\00:50:12.54
you and protect you, amen. Amen.
00:50:12.55\00:50:14.37
Let me share
with you the promises
00:50:14.38\00:50:15.61
that I've been
storing in my heart
00:50:15.62\00:50:17.15
and in my mind in
preparation for these events.
00:50:17.16\00:50:20.34
We're going to have the
privilege of encouraging
00:50:20.35\00:50:23.06
one another in
the family of faith.
00:50:23.07\00:50:24.57
That's what Peter did,
Peter didn't say I'm not
00:50:24.58\00:50:26.76
going to Cornelius, I'm
not going to a Roman soldier,
00:50:26.77\00:50:29.08
I'm not going to
go and share with him.
00:50:29.09\00:50:32.57
He listened to the Spirit of God
00:50:32.58\00:50:34.63
and he went to
Cornelius and he testified.
00:50:34.64\00:50:37.76
Now you got to understand,
00:50:37.77\00:50:40.53
it wasn't easy
for Peter to do this
00:50:40.54\00:50:42.90
and it may not be easy for you.
00:50:42.91\00:50:44.76
It wasn't easy
for Peter to do this.
00:50:44.77\00:50:46.57
See Peter received a
lot of flack from the
00:50:46.58\00:50:50.91
brethren for talking to these
00:50:50.92\00:50:53.50
non-Jewish people. Didn't he?
00:50:53.51\00:50:56.43
And he had to
rehearse that vision
00:50:56.44\00:50:58.50
again and again, in
order to convince the brethren
00:50:58.51\00:51:02.65
that the spirit
had led him to do this.
00:51:02.66\00:51:05.95
You may go through some
similar experiences. Amen.
00:51:05.96\00:51:08.88
You may have to go
through a little bit of flack,
00:51:08.89\00:51:11.47
people may not
understand why you're doing
00:51:11.48\00:51:13.37
what you're
doing, but don't deny
00:51:13.38\00:51:15.17
the leading of the spirits.
00:51:15.18\00:51:17.16
God has a foundation,
upon which many people
00:51:17.17\00:51:21.43
some of whom are not
even Christians are building.
00:51:21.44\00:51:26.04
You know, there are
many Muslims in the world
00:51:26.05\00:51:28.15
today who believe
in Jesus Christ. Amen.
00:51:28.16\00:51:31.81
You know, we get a
false understanding
00:51:31.82\00:51:34.93
of the Muslim faith from
the news, from television.
00:51:34.94\00:51:39.24
We come to the conclusion
that all these Muslims
00:51:39.25\00:51:42.33
in the world today, all
one billion of them are all
00:51:42.34\00:51:44.64
terrorists, that's not true,
00:51:44.65\00:51:46.58
that's not true at all.
00:51:46.59\00:51:48.62
There are a small
group, yes they are,
00:51:48.63\00:51:51.32
and they give a
bad name to the rest.
00:51:51.33\00:51:52.89
But I've been to
Muslim countries,
00:51:52.90\00:51:54.98
I've gone to
Pakistan three times
00:51:54.99\00:51:56.62
and they are honest,
00:51:56.63\00:51:58.32
faithful Muslim
people who believe,
00:51:58.33\00:52:01.79
who believe, who I
pray with and share with
00:52:01.80\00:52:04.66
and I've talked with.
00:52:04.67\00:52:06.32
They're honest
people in every religion,
00:52:06.33\00:52:09.24
in every walk of life
00:52:09.25\00:52:10.66
that are part of
the family of faith.
00:52:10.67\00:52:15.45
And really we're
encouraged aren't we
00:52:15.46\00:52:17.01
to be more compassionate,
more understanding
00:52:17.02\00:52:21.24
of the family of faith.
00:52:21.25\00:52:22.84
When we look back at
the experience of God's
00:52:22.85\00:52:25.80
people of old, this
quarter we're looking at
00:52:25.81\00:52:28.78
the experience of
Abraham and Sarah.
00:52:28.79\00:52:31.39
Abraham did a few
things where he kind of fudged
00:52:31.40\00:52:34.00
the truth didn't he.
00:52:34.01\00:52:35.30
Sarah was told she
was going to have a child
00:52:35.31\00:52:38.32
and she laughed.
00:52:38.33\00:52:40.06
She did, she laughed,
she thought, you know,
00:52:40.07\00:52:43.19
there is no
way, there is no way.
00:52:43.20\00:52:46.36
I mean, Abraham was
75 years old when he was
00:52:46.37\00:52:51.12
told he was
going to have a child.
00:52:51.13\00:52:52.80
Seventy five, what
do you think of that?
00:52:52.81\00:52:55.96
He was a 100 years old
00:52:55.97\00:52:57.72
when he actually had
a son, took 25 years.
00:52:57.73\00:53:01.08
I know it
usually takes nine months
00:53:01.09\00:53:02.35
but it took 25 years.
00:53:02.36\00:53:06.64
Why do you think it
took Abraham 25 years?
00:53:06.65\00:53:10.73
Because that's how
long it took for Abraham
00:53:10.74\00:53:12.92
to completely give up on himself
00:53:12.93\00:53:16.07
and begin to trust the Lord.
00:53:16.08\00:53:18.79
We talked about that
last night didn't we.
00:53:18.80\00:53:20.26
You see, we many times doubt,
00:53:20.27\00:53:25.00
and even like Sarah and Abraham,
00:53:25.01\00:53:27.59
the lesson quarterly
asked us this quarter,
00:53:27.60\00:53:29.07
do you think that we
would do as well in their
00:53:29.08\00:53:32.00
position as they
did or better than them.
00:53:32.01\00:53:34.71
I wonder, I wonder if
we are not doing the same
00:53:34.72\00:53:37.27
thing that they did
Abraham and Sarah did them,
00:53:37.28\00:53:39.19
that we're kind of
laughing but that's why
00:53:39.20\00:53:41.11
we are still here because
we are kind of snickering
00:53:41.12\00:53:43.24
we are kind of unbelieving or in
00:53:43.25\00:53:45.85
unbelief at the promises of God.
00:53:45.86\00:53:48.94
We read one last
night, God promised us He said
00:53:48.95\00:53:51.80
that you can lay aside
every weight and the sin
00:53:51.81\00:53:57.48
that's so easily entangles you.
00:53:57.49\00:53:59.57
You can do that, how?
00:53:59.58\00:54:02.03
By looking unto
Jesus, the author
00:54:02.04\00:54:04.66
and the finisher of our faith.
00:54:04.67\00:54:08.01
Praise God.
Amen. But I don't know.
00:54:08.02\00:54:11.26
Do you think we can do it?
00:54:11.27\00:54:13.54
Well, if we look at ourselves
00:54:13.55\00:54:15.44
that's what Sarah did,
00:54:15.45\00:54:17.37
we're gonna
laugh at that promise.
00:54:17.38\00:54:19.65
If we look at ourselves
that's what Abraham did,
00:54:19.66\00:54:23.62
we're gonna
laugh at that promise
00:54:23.63\00:54:25.89
and it's going to take a while.
00:54:25.90\00:54:28.00
One year, two years,
five years, ten years,
00:54:28.01\00:54:32.16
twenty years, twenty five years
00:54:32.17\00:54:36.83
and then it says here in Romans.
00:54:36.84\00:54:38.32
Let's look at the story
here as Paul picks it up
00:54:38.33\00:54:41.14
in Roman's Chapter 4.
00:54:41.15\00:54:43.63
I love this,
this is so powerful.
00:54:43.64\00:54:46.17
Romans Chapter 4
the family of faith,
00:54:46.18\00:54:51.86
verse 19 of Romans Chapter 4.
00:54:51.87\00:54:54.95
"And he," that is Abraham
we're talking about here,
00:54:54.96\00:55:00.33
"being not weak in faith, he
considered not his own body."
00:55:00.34\00:55:09.06
Now, let's just stop
right here just for a second.
00:55:09.07\00:55:11.52
Abraham is 100 years old, okay.
00:55:11.53\00:55:17.86
He is 100 years old
and God has told Abraham
00:55:17.87\00:55:20.80
you are going to have a child.
00:55:20.81\00:55:24.48
What would you think?
00:55:24.49\00:55:27.08
I think that any of us
here that are 50 or over
00:55:27.09\00:55:30.41
would have a
question about that,
00:55:30.42\00:55:33.90
and probably it's a good thing.
00:55:33.91\00:55:37.56
And Abraham has
one of two conclusions
00:55:37.57\00:55:40.28
that he can come to
at a 100 years of age.
00:55:40.29\00:55:42.59
He can say there is
no way that I can have
00:55:42.60\00:55:44.97
a child, because as
the verse says he was dead.
00:55:44.98\00:55:51.45
In other words, there
is no way that he could
00:55:51.46\00:55:52.93
physically do it, okay.
00:55:52.94\00:55:55.76
And Sarah was too.
00:55:55.77\00:55:57.01
Or he can say well God
said it and I believe it.
00:55:57.02\00:56:04.46
It took Abraham 25 years
00:56:04.47\00:56:06.55
to come to that
second conclusion.
00:56:06.56\00:56:08.64
God said it and I believe it.
00:56:08.65\00:56:12.32
I wonder if we're doing
better than Abraham today.
00:56:12.33\00:56:17.56
And so verse 21
says, this is so powerful,
00:56:17.57\00:56:21.68
he staggered not at the
00:56:21.69\00:56:24.36
promise of God through unbelief.
00:56:24.37\00:56:26.76
Oh yeah, well, then
how come it took 25 years
00:56:26.77\00:56:29.97
if he didn't stagger.
00:56:29.98\00:56:33.08
What was the deal with
Hagar if he wasn't staggering.
00:56:33.09\00:56:36.79
Friends, I love
the word of God here,
00:56:36.80\00:56:39.36
because the word of
God does what the gospel
00:56:39.37\00:56:42.01
has promised us it will do.
00:56:42.02\00:56:45.13
Love covers a multitude of sins,
00:56:45.14\00:56:49.45
God turns our
defeats into victory
00:56:49.46\00:56:53.19
and He looks upon
our lives as though
00:56:53.20\00:56:55.56
it was a life of
uninterrupted victory.
00:56:55.57\00:56:59.80
Because of the
blood of Jesus Christ.
00:56:59.81\00:57:02.26
And so Abraham here is
revealed to us as one who
00:57:02.27\00:57:06.05
staggered not at the
promises of God through
00:57:06.06\00:57:09.05
faith and he gave glory to God.
00:57:09.06\00:57:11.11
And really
that's what the essence
00:57:11.12\00:57:12.87
of the everlasting gospel
of the Third Angels message
00:57:12.88\00:57:16.27
is calling us to do, isn't it.
00:57:16.28\00:57:17.81
Fear God and give
glory to Him. Amen.
00:57:17.82\00:57:25.73
He staggered not at
the promises of God through
00:57:25.74\00:57:29.72
unbelief, but
was strong in faith,
00:57:29.73\00:57:31.62
giving glory to God.
00:57:31.63\00:57:32.60
Here it is verse 21,
"and being fully persuaded
00:57:32.61\00:57:38.28
that, what He,
God had promised, He,
00:57:38.29\00:57:41.98
God was able also to perform."
00:57:41.99\00:57:46.19
Amen. Isn't that powerful? Amen.
00:57:47.11\00:57:49.35
I think this morning
it's time for us to become
00:57:49.36\00:57:55.40
fully persuaded Amen.
00:57:55.41\00:57:58.07
Some of us are pretty
much persuaded, right,
00:57:58.08\00:58:02.51
partially persuaded.
00:58:02.52\00:58:04.02
On the way, on the
road of persuasion,
00:58:04.03\00:58:07.77
but God
remember, as the finisher,
00:58:07.78\00:58:09.40
He started our
persuasion of faith
00:58:09.41\00:58:12.55
and he is going to finish
our persuasion of faith. Amen.
00:58:12.56\00:58:16.08
He is going to work
in us in such a manner
00:58:16.09\00:58:19.49
that we will
become fully persuaded.
00:58:19.50\00:58:22.77
Aren't there things in
your life this morning,
00:58:22.78\00:58:24.26
friends, aren't
there things in your life
00:58:24.27\00:58:29.49
that you're
still struggling with.
00:58:29.50\00:58:31.91
Areas where you
know you need to grow,
00:58:31.92\00:58:34.38
I want to give you
some help this morning.
00:58:34.39\00:58:37.58
I want you to
look at those areas
00:58:37.59\00:58:40.70
and I want you to remember
00:58:40.71\00:58:43.08
what God has done
for you in the past.
00:58:43.09\00:58:46.29
I want you to
remember those things that
00:58:46.30\00:58:48.06
you used to struggle with
but you don't struggle with
00:58:48.07\00:58:50.12
anymore, even if it's only one.
00:58:50.13\00:58:53.20
I want you to
remember how it was that
00:58:53.21\00:58:56.80
Jesus Christ
gave you the victory.
00:58:56.81\00:58:59.62
I know how it was in my
life because as a young man
00:58:59.63\00:59:02.35
I was raised at a very
young age tasting alcohol.
00:59:02.36\00:59:08.64
My grandmother was an alcoholic,
00:59:08.65\00:59:10.62
my mother was an alcoholic.
00:59:10.63\00:59:11.70
I was an Aloteen,
when my mom was in AA,
00:59:11.71\00:59:13.66
my dad was an alcoholic.
00:59:13.67\00:59:15.10
I just came
from that background.
00:59:15.11\00:59:17.06
My grandfather ran a bar.
00:59:17.07\00:59:20.36
So in my system, in my
heritage, in my culture,
00:59:20.37\00:59:24.68
it was inevitable
for me and that's exactly
00:59:24.69\00:59:26.64
the way I went,
drinking, drinking, drinking.
00:59:26.65\00:59:30.69
And yet when I gave
my heart to the Lord,
00:59:30.70\00:59:34.49
He took it away.
00:59:34.50\00:59:35.66
He gave me the
victory, He persuaded fully,
00:59:35.67\00:59:39.00
persuaded me but I didn't
have to have that in my life.
00:59:39.01\00:59:42.66