Hi, there. My
name is Kelly Linder.
00:01:00.85\00:01:04.00
And I'm a Bible
worker from the Detroit area.
00:01:04.01\00:01:08.28
I'm going to be
presenting a message today
00:01:08.29\00:01:10.44
entitled, "Where Were You."
00:01:10.45\00:01:13.70
Not where were you
but where were you.
00:01:13.71\00:01:17.69
And before I start
I'd like to ask for prayer
00:01:17.70\00:01:23.49
on this very,
very important subject.
00:01:23.50\00:01:26.14
So let's bow our heads.
00:01:26.15\00:01:28.49
Dear Heavenly Father,
Lord, I want to thank you
00:01:28.50\00:01:33.26
so much for the way you lead us
00:01:33.27\00:01:36.42
and the many
messages that you give us.
00:01:36.43\00:01:39.52
Lord, you gave me this message
because I needed to hear it.
00:01:39.53\00:01:43.66
And Lord I believe that you have
00:01:43.67\00:01:45.81
inspired me to
give it to other people
00:01:45.82\00:01:49.29
who need to hear it as well.
00:01:49.30\00:01:51.68
Lord, I pray that
you'd be with me today.
00:01:51.69\00:01:56.50
Please pour your
presence into all of us
00:01:56.51\00:01:58.96
and pour your Holy Spirit on us.
00:01:58.97\00:02:01.47
We ask these things
in Jesus name, amen.
00:02:01.48\00:02:06.34
Now as I said,
I'm a Bible worker
00:02:06.35\00:02:09.32
in the Detroit area and
in my work a lot of times,
00:02:09.33\00:02:13.72
I run into--I would say,
actually most of my studies
00:02:13.73\00:02:18.27
are with nonreligious people.
00:02:18.28\00:02:21.95
People that are irreligious.
00:02:21.96\00:02:23.24
They weren't
brought up in religion
00:02:23.25\00:02:26.05
and most of them
have rejected religion.
00:02:26.06\00:02:28.88
I myself was not
brought up in religion.
00:02:28.89\00:02:33.39
And actually I'd like to share
a little bit of my testimony.
00:02:33.40\00:02:38.62
Prior to my conversion,
Seventh-day Adventism
00:02:38.63\00:02:44.33
I had kind of grown up on
the wrong side of the tracks.
00:02:44.34\00:02:48.00
I was, you know, one of many,
00:02:48.01\00:02:50.01
I was in a
Detroit hardcore band.
00:02:50.02\00:02:52.94
I was the singer
and a lot of the people
00:02:52.95\00:02:56.84
I hung out with were, you know,
00:02:56.85\00:02:58.97
it was kind of--it was
kind of like the junky,
00:02:58.98\00:03:01.59
drunkard, criminal, violent
00:03:01.60\00:03:04.47
sort of crowd,
you know, dysfunction.
00:03:04.48\00:03:08.33
Lot of people I knew
grew up with broken homes
00:03:08.34\00:03:11.05
without their
father etcetera, etcetera.
00:03:11.06\00:03:13.44
And most of us had pretty much,
00:03:13.45\00:03:17.79
like I said, rejected religion.
00:03:17.80\00:03:20.36
Now part of the
reason we rejected religion
00:03:20.37\00:03:23.87
is because the things that
we had ever seen in religion
00:03:23.88\00:03:27.69
were very
unattractive, very unappealing.
00:03:27.70\00:03:30.03
The last thing in
the world that we wanted
00:03:30.04\00:03:32.41
was to be church people.
00:03:32.42\00:03:34.53
Okay, and so we embraced
that decadent in lifestyle.
00:03:34.54\00:03:39.36
I would say that, we
were the modern day equivalent
00:03:39.37\00:03:41.79
of the tax collectors,
sinners, prostitutes,
00:03:41.80\00:03:45.48
drunkards, lepers, and publicans
00:03:45.49\00:03:48.69
who had rejected religion.
00:03:48.70\00:03:51.93
And there came a time
00:03:51.94\00:03:54.19
when I finally was
able to see true religion.
00:03:54.20\00:03:57.59
But you know, at this point,
00:03:57.60\00:03:59.60
like I said, I had indulged
in that decadent lifestyle.
00:03:59.61\00:04:02.66
I myself, you know,
was an alcoholic prior
00:04:02.67\00:04:06.30
to having
become a heroin addict.
00:04:06.31\00:04:09.02
I had about a $150 to
$200 a day heroin addiction.
00:04:09.03\00:04:14.06
And I really
just didn't feel like
00:04:14.07\00:04:16.24
there was any place
for me in this world
00:04:16.25\00:04:18.45
or any real reason to live.
00:04:18.46\00:04:20.94
And so again,
religion wasn't part of my hope
00:04:20.95\00:04:24.10
I embraced that lifestyle.
00:04:24.11\00:04:25.24
But in the
process of being an addict
00:04:25.25\00:04:28.29
I came to a point where
I finally hit rock bottom.
00:04:28.30\00:04:32.38
And it was at that
point that I fell on the rock
00:04:32.39\00:04:34.60
and was broken by that rock.
00:04:34.61\00:04:36.84
Now what I can
tell you about myself
00:04:36.85\00:04:41.21
is that when that happened
00:04:41.22\00:04:44.25
I realized I needed to find God.
00:04:44.26\00:04:46.43
I needed to go out and find God.
00:04:46.44\00:04:50.25
But I wasn't going to settle
00:04:50.26\00:04:53.85
for anything
that was counterfeit.
00:04:53.86\00:04:56.00
I wanted to have relief
from the pain and suffering
00:04:56.01\00:04:59.33
I was in but not enough
00:04:59.34\00:05:01.62
that I was gonna
throw reality to the side.
00:05:01.63\00:05:04.57
If I was gonna find God
it had to be a real God.
00:05:04.58\00:05:08.00
It had to be the real deal.
00:05:08.01\00:05:11.03
Well, I remember I ended up
00:05:11.04\00:05:13.88
going to a church,
a Christian Church.
00:05:13.89\00:05:16.21
I don't remember
what denomination it was
00:05:16.22\00:05:18.64
but I walked in
with my old boss.
00:05:18.65\00:05:22.11
I sit down and I
just started to listen
00:05:22.12\00:05:24.74
and it's the same old thing
I had ever heard anywhere else.
00:05:24.75\00:05:29.63
Here I'm on a
mission to find God
00:05:29.64\00:05:31.84
and I go into church
00:05:31.85\00:05:33.32
and I find the same old nonsense
00:05:33.33\00:05:35.08
I ever found
before that I rejected.
00:05:35.09\00:05:37.57
And I remember the
voice of reason speaking to me
00:05:37.58\00:05:39.80
which I now recognized to
have been the voice of God
00:05:39.81\00:05:43.01
saying to me, "Get up and leave
00:05:43.02\00:05:45.71
you're not gonna find it here."
00:05:45.72\00:05:47.16
And that's exactly what I did.
00:05:47.17\00:05:48.55
I got up and walked out.
00:05:48.56\00:05:51.56
I went back home.
I was very depressed.
00:05:51.57\00:05:54.86
And I thought, "You know,
what is there to live for?"
00:05:54.87\00:05:58.46
And I was desperate.
00:05:58.47\00:06:00.00
I had no noble
reasons for coming to Christ.
00:06:00.01\00:06:03.78
It was desperation and pain.
00:06:03.79\00:06:07.71
I got down on my
knees that very day.
00:06:07.72\00:06:09.60
And this is the
prayer that I prayed.
00:06:09.61\00:06:13.01
"God, I know you exist.
00:06:13.02\00:06:15.67
It's intellectually sound
00:06:15.68\00:06:17.27
you can't get away from
it, there must exist a God.
00:06:17.28\00:06:21.76
But I don't have
enough intelligence or time
00:06:21.77\00:06:24.34
in this world to look under
00:06:24.35\00:06:26.08
every rock and
to read every book
00:06:26.09\00:06:27.61
and to visit every
religion, every church.
00:06:27.62\00:06:29.98
You need to show me.
00:06:29.99\00:06:33.22
If you want me and I want you,
00:06:33.23\00:06:36.93
I ask you to show me
the way you want me to go.
00:06:36.94\00:06:40.66
And I pray that you
would give me an indicator
00:06:40.67\00:06:43.39
that this is the
way you want me to go."
00:06:43.40\00:06:45.02
Within days of
saying that prayer
00:06:47.67\00:06:51.30
I was introduced to
Seventh-day Adventism.
00:06:51.31\00:06:54.53
And not only was
I introduced to it
00:06:54.54\00:06:57.07
but I was given the indicator
00:06:57.08\00:06:59.11
that I was asked--
that I had asked for.
00:06:59.12\00:07:01.57
The indicator
that signaled to me
00:07:01.58\00:07:03.44
that this is
something I need to look into.
00:07:03.45\00:07:06.07
And so as I said
before, I'm coming from this
00:07:06.08\00:07:08.39
really rough background.
00:07:08.40\00:07:09.87
I rejected
religion my whole life.
00:07:09.88\00:07:11.68
But all of a
sudden here is something
00:07:11.69\00:07:14.57
I'd seen that
had authority to it.
00:07:14.58\00:07:16.83
Over here I'm seeing
something that made sense to me.
00:07:16.84\00:07:21.40
Over here I'm seeing
something that wasn't
00:07:21.41\00:07:23.58
unattractive and
I jumped right in.
00:07:23.59\00:07:27.40
I jumped right in, I
read the "Great Controversy."
00:07:27.41\00:07:29.86
I went through "The
Conflict of the Ages."
00:07:29.87\00:07:31.30
I studied prophesy. I was in it.
00:07:31.31\00:07:33.71
And I'm even more in it today
00:07:33.72\00:07:35.60
seven years
later than I was then.
00:07:35.61\00:07:37.98
So with that said,
I wanna tell you that
00:07:40.61\00:07:43.56
in the work I
do, doing Bible work
00:07:43.57\00:07:46.75
what I have discovered
is a lot of people I studied
00:07:46.76\00:07:49.01
with are my old
friends, punk rock friends,
00:07:49.02\00:07:51.60
you know, bikers, and you know,
00:07:51.61\00:07:53.62
a lot of these
people from the underbelly.
00:07:53.63\00:07:56.85
These are the
people I study with.
00:07:56.86\00:07:57.95
And what I've
discovered is just like me.
00:07:57.96\00:08:00.76
They--most of them
have rejected religion
00:08:00.77\00:08:04.34
but when they hear the message
of the Seventh-day Adventist.
00:08:04.35\00:08:08.92
When I share that with
them they are forced to
00:08:08.93\00:08:11.33
recognize something real here.
00:08:11.34\00:08:13.62
And most of them do acknowledge
00:08:13.63\00:08:15.34
that they're hearing
something that's different.
00:08:15.35\00:08:18.53
Something that's better
than anything they ever heard.
00:08:18.54\00:08:21.37
Now I'm gonna talk about
that more in a few minutes.
00:08:21.38\00:08:24.93
At this point,
I'd like to say that
00:08:24.94\00:08:27.04
one of the most
commonly asked questions
00:08:27.05\00:08:29.36
that I get as a Bible
worker, especially from those
00:08:29.37\00:08:33.28
friends of mine I just
mentioned is the question,
00:08:33.29\00:08:37.48
Where was God? Where was God?
00:08:37.49\00:08:42.38
09/11/2001, where was God?
00:08:42.39\00:08:46.73
New Orleans, where was God?
00:08:46.74\00:08:50.19
The Tsunamis, where was God?
00:08:50.20\00:08:53.48
The Holocaust, where was God?
00:08:53.49\00:08:56.85
Homelessness,
famine, pestilence, age, war,
00:08:56.86\00:09:01.61
etcetera, etcetera,
on and on, where was God?
00:09:01.62\00:09:07.85
Where are you,
God? Where are you?
00:09:07.86\00:09:12.59
Well, for the record, God
has answered that question.
00:09:12.60\00:09:17.07
He has answered that question.
00:09:17.08\00:09:19.55
And we're gonna
talk about that later.
00:09:19.56\00:09:20.85
I'm gonna share that answer
that many of you already know.
00:09:20.86\00:09:25.47
But now I wanna go back
to my nonreligious friends
00:09:25.48\00:09:28.94
that I was just speaking of.
00:09:28.95\00:09:31.07
Now as I was saying
before when it comes to sharing
00:09:31.08\00:09:34.76
the wonderful, incredible
truths of the SDA message?
00:09:34.77\00:09:38.60
Most of the
un-church people I know
00:09:38.61\00:09:41.09
are really open to hearing it.
In fact most of them accepted.
00:09:41.10\00:09:46.74
So I'm thinking this is great.
I'm leading people to God.
00:09:46.75\00:09:50.16
I'm leading people to
Christ. They're accepting it.
00:09:50.17\00:09:54.81
Now all I have
to do is to get them
00:09:54.82\00:09:57.02
to transition into the
church. Now we have a problem.
00:09:57.03\00:10:02.42
This is where we run
into a real stumbling block.
00:10:02.43\00:10:05.18
When I ask
these friends of mine,
00:10:07.45\00:10:09.16
what it is that stops them from
00:10:09.17\00:10:14.45
becoming a part of the church,
from coming to the church,
00:10:14.46\00:10:16.61
from getting
involved in the church.
00:10:16.62\00:10:19.85
I get all kind of
answers. All kinds of answers.
00:10:19.86\00:10:23.13
You know, some
people just aren't ready.
00:10:25.33\00:10:27.40
You know, that's a
valid, that's a valid answer.
00:10:27.41\00:10:30.22
You know, they have
to come in their time.
00:10:30.23\00:10:31.33
They can acknowledge the truth.
00:10:31.34\00:10:32.69
A lot of people learn the truth.
00:10:32.70\00:10:33.97
They are impressed by truth
00:10:33.98\00:10:34.99
but they never
come into the truth.
00:10:35.00\00:10:36.79
It's not
convenient enough, okay.
00:10:36.80\00:10:39.35
So there's and
I can accept that,
00:10:39.36\00:10:40.89
I can accept that that happens.
00:10:40.90\00:10:42.43
When I first heard it I
was in the overnight success.
00:10:42.44\00:10:45.21
It took me two years
before I fully came in
00:10:45.22\00:10:48.33
and was baptized
before I get over smoking,
00:10:48.34\00:10:50.88
drug addiction,
alcoholism, etcetera, etcetera.
00:10:50.89\00:10:54.01
So I can understand that
00:10:56.22\00:10:58.02
but then I get
these kind of answers.
00:10:58.03\00:11:00.49
These are the ones that stump me
00:11:00.50\00:11:03.11
or at least they
used to stump me.
00:11:03.12\00:11:05.90
This is the real obstacle.
00:11:05.91\00:11:09.10
These are the valid objections.
00:11:09.11\00:11:10.95
People say, church
people are boring, okay.
00:11:10.96\00:11:14.92
They say church
people are hypocrites.
00:11:14.93\00:11:18.20
We're talking
about church people here.
00:11:18.21\00:11:20.28
Church people are generic.
Church people are phony.
00:11:20.29\00:11:26.57
Church people
are one dimensional.
00:11:26.58\00:11:29.22
Church people are weird.
Church people are arrogant.
00:11:29.23\00:11:33.45
Church people are weak.
Church people are gullible.
00:11:35.37\00:11:39.65
So you're gonna hear all these.
00:11:39.66\00:11:41.25
Church people are stupid.
00:11:41.26\00:11:43.47
Church people have blind faith.
00:11:43.48\00:11:46.03
Church people are judgmental.
Church people gossip too much.
00:11:46.04\00:11:51.76
Church people are Fanatics.
00:11:51.77\00:11:54.79
Church people are narrow-minded.
00:11:54.80\00:11:56.26
Church people are
grumpy. Church people are mean.
00:11:56.27\00:11:58.86
Church people are insane.
Now that's my old attitude.
00:11:58.87\00:12:03.63
You know, what I, I
stand to gain nothing
00:12:03.64\00:12:05.47
by becoming a church person.
00:12:05.48\00:12:06.89
I didn't come into
this to be a church person.
00:12:06.90\00:12:09.04
Church calls it turns me off.
00:12:09.05\00:12:10.81
I came in because I love Christ.
00:12:10.82\00:12:14.18
I love the man and
He makes sense to me.
00:12:14.19\00:12:17.66
He touches my heart.
That's what brings me into it.
00:12:17.67\00:12:21.30
What keeps me into it.
00:12:21.31\00:12:22.73
Well, that's what
we're talking about today.
00:12:22.74\00:12:25.55
Okay, now with that said I
have to say again these are--
00:12:25.56\00:12:33.30
I admit these are
all valid objections.
00:12:33.31\00:12:35.36
These are
things I struggle with.
00:12:35.37\00:12:37.55
I still struggle
with when I first came
00:12:37.56\00:12:39.41
into the church it was hard.
00:12:39.42\00:12:43.09
You know, I'm
hearing hymns and you know
00:12:43.10\00:12:45.90
and I'm running into, you know,
00:12:45.91\00:12:48.43
the way people talk
and the way people dress
00:12:48.44\00:12:51.25
and it was just-- it was foreign
00:12:51.26\00:12:53.03
and I just
wasn't impressed by it.
00:12:53.04\00:12:56.32
Again that's not
what impressed me.
00:12:56.33\00:12:59.08
Those are valid
obstacles that people run into.
00:12:59.09\00:13:02.43
Church people do display some
of those objectionable traits
00:13:02.44\00:13:05.69
that I just
mentioned those flaws.
00:13:05.70\00:13:09.39
And Satan is so
cunning, so crafty,
00:13:09.40\00:13:14.62
such a antichristian,
antichristian genius.
00:13:14.63\00:13:21.98
You know, the way
he uses these flaws
00:13:21.99\00:13:25.11
and these defects
to turn people away.
00:13:25.12\00:13:27.73
He uses every one of these flaws
00:13:27.74\00:13:30.45
to either repel the outsiders,
00:13:30.46\00:13:33.29
keep them away, or to
drive out the insiders.
00:13:33.30\00:13:39.91
Again I ought to know.
00:13:39.92\00:13:42.05
Before I was a Christian
00:13:42.06\00:13:44.35
these were the very
same types of things
00:13:44.36\00:13:46.45
that repelled me.
00:13:46.46\00:13:48.83
Okay and I'll give
you another for instance.
00:13:48.84\00:13:51.40
Probably about 15 years ago,
00:13:51.41\00:13:53.84
no, actually about 17 years ago
00:13:53.85\00:13:56.40
I was working as a gas
station attendant, cashier.
00:13:56.41\00:14:00.85
It was the middle of the night.
00:14:00.86\00:14:03.00
I worked the midnight
shift and you know I'm in there.
00:14:03.01\00:14:06.70
I told you I was in
the punk rock and hardcore.
00:14:06.71\00:14:10.17
And I'm in there
working, you know,
00:14:10.18\00:14:11.81
and I can remember what I
was wearing and everything.
00:14:11.82\00:14:13.58
I had a black T-shirt on it
00:14:13.59\00:14:14.92
had little white
skulls all over it, okay.
00:14:14.93\00:14:17.49
I had dyed black hair.
You know, the pierced ear.
00:14:17.50\00:14:21.75
Pair of ripped up Levis jeans on
00:14:21.76\00:14:25.39
and Brooks leather jacket,
00:14:25.40\00:14:28.11
you know the motorcycle leather.
00:14:28.12\00:14:29.25
And I had music
cranking in there.
00:14:29.26\00:14:30.86
It was really super loud
00:14:30.87\00:14:32.28
and it was the band
Jane's Addiction, okay.
00:14:32.29\00:14:35.51
About his
decadent as you can get.
00:14:35.52\00:14:37.72
This was really I was into.
00:14:37.73\00:14:40.06
And I seeing this
station wagon pulls up.
00:14:40.07\00:14:45.81
And all these people get
out of the station wagon.
00:14:45.82\00:14:49.63
And right away I
don't know how I knew it,
00:14:49.64\00:14:52.47
but I knew, I knew that
these guys were "Christians."
00:14:52.48\00:15:01.25
I knew that, I
don't know how I knew
00:15:01.26\00:15:03.13
but they were clean-cut.
00:15:03.14\00:15:04.68
They had the Alligator shirt on.
00:15:04.69\00:15:06.82
You know, the clean-cut,
00:15:06.83\00:15:07.85
the squeaky
hairdo, etcetera, etcetera.
00:15:07.86\00:15:10.39
They're coming into
the store and I know
00:15:10.40\00:15:13.32
they're coming into
witness to me, "To Witness."
00:15:13.33\00:15:17.37
So I'm standing
there behind the,
00:15:17.38\00:15:19.29
behind the-- behind the register
00:15:19.30\00:15:22.42
and the guy who was
driving he comes in.
00:15:22.43\00:15:25.97
I see him come in, like I said
00:15:25.98\00:15:27.39
I know what he is about to do.
00:15:27.40\00:15:29.11
And he's heading
for the cash register
00:15:29.12\00:15:31.63
and he comes up and I tell
you I'm not making this up.
00:15:31.64\00:15:34.71
He says to me, just
like a game show host.
00:15:34.72\00:15:37.46
This guy says to me.
00:15:37.47\00:15:38.75
"Hey, guy, what's
that shirt all about?"
00:15:38.76\00:15:42.43
I mean, just like
that, just like that.
00:15:42.44\00:15:44.83
I'm not making this
up and I look at my shirt
00:15:44.84\00:15:47.03
and I'm almost
embarrassed to answer
00:15:47.04\00:15:48.68
because of, I know he
knows what skulls represent.
00:15:48.69\00:15:53.06
They represent death.
Just plain and simple.
00:15:53.07\00:15:56.85
But I answered him anyway.
I said, "Represents death."
00:15:56.86\00:16:03.43
And he says, "Hey,
I'm here to tell you about
00:16:03.44\00:16:06.57
life, death, who needs that.
00:16:06.58\00:16:08.92
Do you know Jesus Christ is
00:16:08.93\00:16:10.19
your personal Lord and Savior?"
00:16:10.20\00:16:12.81
And I said to
him, "Okay, I get it.
00:16:12.82\00:16:17.90
You're witnessing to me."
00:16:17.91\00:16:18.98
And then I went to my knees
00:16:18.99\00:16:20.02
and I accepted Christ
and the rest is history.
00:16:20.03\00:16:22.54
Right? Right? Wrong.
00:16:22.55\00:16:27.28
This--what this guy did
was actually turn me off
00:16:27.29\00:16:29.93
and push me that
much further away.
00:16:29.94\00:16:31.35
And I said to him, "Look, man,
00:16:31.36\00:16:32.88
I understand what
you're trying to do here
00:16:32.89\00:16:34.30
you're witnessing to me.
I go but it's not working.
00:16:34.31\00:16:38.22
So I can--I realize you
have nothing to tell me,
00:16:38.23\00:16:41.96
nothing real to
say, except for your
00:16:41.97\00:16:44.26
preprogrammed
rhetoric so you can just
00:16:44.27\00:16:46.83
turn around and
walk right back out."
00:16:46.84\00:16:49.26
Which is exactly what I said
00:16:49.27\00:16:50.61
and that's exactly what he did.
00:16:50.62\00:16:52.75
Now with that said
that's another one of those
00:16:52.76\00:16:56.23
characteristics I
was just talking about.
00:16:56.24\00:16:57.78
I was repelled by that.
00:16:57.79\00:16:59.74
This is--these
are the kind of things
00:16:59.75\00:17:01.24
that I would run
into and that my friends
00:17:01.25\00:17:03.91
would run into to
create this idea of
00:17:03.92\00:17:07.13
what church people are like.
00:17:07.14\00:17:09.42
So now we come to
the Adventist message,
00:17:09.43\00:17:11.52
yes, yes, yes, but we run into
00:17:11.53\00:17:13.77
church culture
and it's no, no, no.
00:17:13.78\00:17:16.41
That's the hard
part as I said before.
00:17:16.42\00:17:19.47
Now that you know, as I said,
00:17:19.48\00:17:21.83
that's what kept me out before
00:17:21.84\00:17:22.91
but now that I'm an insider
I can't even begin to tell you
00:17:22.92\00:17:29.91
how many times Satan has tried
to drive me out of the church.
00:17:29.92\00:17:35.75
How many times I've
been tempted to walk, okay.
00:17:35.76\00:17:39.09
But I reject that answer.
Walking is not the solution.
00:17:39.10\00:17:43.11
Staying out is not the solution.
00:17:43.12\00:17:44.86
If you're a true seeker of God
00:17:44.87\00:17:47.30
or you're truly
committed to Christ
00:17:47.31\00:17:49.63
you're not gonna leave for
such shallow stupid reasons.
00:17:49.64\00:17:53.71
That, that is no
reason to walk away
00:17:53.72\00:17:56.22
from your responsibility
and your commitment to Christ.
00:17:56.23\00:17:59.47
Now I'll talk more
about that as we go.
00:17:59.48\00:18:02.90
Just stay with me.
Stay with me, okay.
00:18:02.91\00:18:08.84
By the way I don't
want to separate myself
00:18:08.85\00:18:12.23
from the defects
that I mentioned earlier.
00:18:12.24\00:18:14.62
I have defects
too. I'm imperfect.
00:18:14.63\00:18:17.85
I've played a part in
those collective flaws.
00:18:17.86\00:18:21.94
I can't separate
myself from that so I won't.
00:18:21.95\00:18:24.59
I have to admit I
play a part in it.
00:18:24.60\00:18:27.84
Now I'm gonna change gears here
00:18:27.85\00:18:29.74
for a minute,
for a little while.
00:18:29.75\00:18:32.42
Did you know that each one of us
00:18:32.43\00:18:36.06
has been called of God by name?
00:18:36.07\00:18:40.72
Every single human
being that has ever existed
00:18:40.73\00:18:45.77
has been called
of God by name, okay.
00:18:45.78\00:18:51.70
And hopefully when
this message is over
00:18:51.71\00:18:56.09
all of us will
have an easier time
00:18:56.10\00:18:59.30
being able to recognize
His voice calling us by name.
00:18:59.31\00:19:03.97
Okay, now these are
things I haven't always known.
00:19:03.98\00:19:06.97
I've learned it in hindsight
00:19:06.98\00:19:09.71
that God has called me by name
00:19:09.72\00:19:11.85
and called other people by name.
00:19:11.86\00:19:14.14
Now if you have your Bible handy
00:19:14.15\00:19:18.41
turn to Revelation
Chapter 2, verse 17.
00:19:18.42\00:19:24.44
Very interesting passage.
00:19:24.45\00:19:26.76
That's Revelation
Chapter 2, verse 17.
00:19:26.77\00:19:34.04
Where it says, "He
who has an ear to hear,
00:19:34.05\00:19:39.34
let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.
00:19:39.35\00:19:42.59
To him who overcomes,
00:19:42.60\00:19:44.88
I will give some of
the hidden manna to eat.
00:19:44.89\00:19:47.83
And I will give
him a white stone
00:19:47.84\00:19:49.99
and on the white
stone a new name written
00:19:50.00\00:19:53.73
which no one knows
except him who receives it."
00:19:53.74\00:19:57.17
Now I know this isn't filler.
00:19:57.18\00:19:59.48
I've come to realize
in my study of the Bible--
00:19:59.49\00:20:01.84
I'm a Bible student,
and I've come to realize
00:20:01.85\00:20:04.72
and I'm convinced there are
no filler words in the Bible.
00:20:04.73\00:20:09.19
You hear
something like this said
00:20:09.20\00:20:11.17
you need to
automatically realize
00:20:11.18\00:20:13.98
that there is a purpose to it.
00:20:13.99\00:20:17.03
It means something
and I would look at that
00:20:17.04\00:20:20.08
and I would wonder
what does that mean?
00:20:20.09\00:20:22.39
I will receive a new name
that nobody knows accept me
00:20:22.40\00:20:25.35
and of course the one
who gave me that name, okay.
00:20:25.36\00:20:28.46
And that's the name
we've been called by.
00:20:28.47\00:20:31.38
Now I have to quote
one of my favorite writers.
00:20:31.39\00:20:36.28
He is not an Adventist.
00:20:36.29\00:20:38.74
I'm not in--I'm
not in complete harmony
00:20:38.75\00:20:41.29
with everything he
says but I believe that
00:20:41.30\00:20:43.87
God gifted this man to
be the greatest apologist
00:20:43.88\00:20:46.98
of our--of our times C.S. Lewis.
00:20:46.99\00:20:50.66
And I want to read a
couple of quotes by him
00:20:50.67\00:20:53.22
on the subject and
they're absolutely amazing.
00:20:53.23\00:20:56.52
So go with me one moment, okay.
00:20:56.53\00:21:02.47
This is what he says.
00:21:02.48\00:21:03.53
This is from the book
"The Problem of Pain."
00:21:03.54\00:21:06.01
Now anybody who
has read C.S. Lewis
00:21:06.02\00:21:08.39
knows that this
man has intellect.
00:21:08.40\00:21:11.08
You can feel
your Christian brain
00:21:11.09\00:21:13.09
growing larger as
you read his writings.
00:21:13.10\00:21:16.93
God really did gift him.
00:21:16.94\00:21:17.96
It says, it is said,
"To him that overcometh
00:21:17.97\00:21:21.60
I will give a white
stone, and in the stone
00:21:21.61\00:21:23.95
a new name
written, which no man knows
00:21:23.96\00:21:26.91
saving him that received it.
00:21:26.92\00:21:29.90
What can be more a
man's own than this new name
00:21:29.91\00:21:32.97
which even in eternity remains
a secret between God and Him.
00:21:32.98\00:21:38.63
And what shall we
take this secrecy to mean?
00:21:38.64\00:21:41.69
Surely, that
each of the redeemed
00:21:41.70\00:21:45.14
shall forever know
and praise some one aspect
00:21:45.15\00:21:49.73
of the divine beauty better
than any other creature can.
00:21:49.74\00:21:55.44
Why else were individuals
created but that God,
00:21:55.45\00:21:59.18
loving all infinitely,
should love each differently?
00:21:59.19\00:22:03.08
And this difference,
so far from impairing,
00:22:03.09\00:22:05.97
floods with meaning the
love of all blessed creatures
00:22:05.98\00:22:10.01
for one another, the
communion of the saints.
00:22:10.02\00:22:14.54
If all experienced
God in the same way
00:22:14.55\00:22:17.10
and returned Him
an identical worship,
00:22:17.11\00:22:20.61
the song of the
church triumphant
00:22:20.62\00:22:22.00
would have no symphony,
it would be like an orchestra
00:22:22.01\00:22:25.62
in which all the instruments
played the same note.
00:22:25.63\00:22:28.89
For doubtless the
continual successful
00:22:28.90\00:22:31.34
yet never completed
attempt by each soul
00:22:31.35\00:22:33.75
to communicate its unique vision
00:22:33.76\00:22:36.63
to all others and that by means
00:22:36.64\00:22:38.49
whereof earthly
art and philosophy
00:22:38.50\00:22:40.13
are but clumsy imitations
is also among the ends
00:22:40.14\00:22:44.03
for which the
individual was created."
00:22:44.04\00:22:47.55
That's incredible. That
is absolutely incredible.
00:22:47.56\00:22:50.62
And he is
absolutely right on the money,
00:22:50.63\00:22:54.16
we're not
clones, we're not clones.
00:22:54.17\00:22:57.82
God didn't intend
for us to be conformist.
00:22:57.83\00:23:01.40
And as David Asscherick says,
00:23:01.41\00:23:04.00
"Unity is not the
same as uniformity."
00:23:04.01\00:23:07.61
God created us
to be individuals.
00:23:07.62\00:23:09.60
Bring your personality
into the church we want it.
00:23:09.61\00:23:13.64
Now I wanna read one more quote.
00:23:13.65\00:23:15.57
Another one,
it's a little shorter
00:23:15.58\00:23:17.16
but it's just as
potent in connection.
00:23:17.17\00:23:21.74
It says--I love
this quote. I love it.
00:23:21.75\00:23:24.90
It says, "I
would prefer to combat
00:23:24.91\00:23:27.26
the I'm special
feeling not by the thought
00:23:27.27\00:23:30.09
that I'm no more
special than anyone else
00:23:30.10\00:23:32.75
but by the feeling
everyone is as special as me."
00:23:32.76\00:23:37.94
Okay, "In one way
there is no difference
00:23:37.95\00:23:40.65
I grant for both,
remove the specialty.
00:23:40.66\00:23:43.61
But there is a
difference in another way.
00:23:43.62\00:23:46.11
The first might
lead you to think,
00:23:46.12\00:23:48.11
I'm only one in the
crowd like everyone else.
00:23:48.12\00:23:51.00
But the second
leads to the truth
00:23:51.01\00:23:53.75
that there isn't any crowd.
00:23:53.76\00:23:56.17
No one is like anyone else.
00:23:56.18\00:23:58.40
All are members,
organs in the body of Christ.
00:23:58.41\00:24:03.38
All different and all
neccessary to the whole
00:24:03.39\00:24:08.80
and to one another.
00:24:08.81\00:24:10.45
Each loved by God individually
00:24:10.46\00:24:13.84
as if it were the only
creature in existence."
00:24:13.85\00:24:17.69
Man, that's incredible.
00:24:17.70\00:24:18.79
"Otherwise you might get
the idea that God is like
00:24:18.80\00:24:22.54
the government which can only
deal with people in a mass."
00:24:22.55\00:24:27.25
That brings me
so close to Christ
00:24:27.26\00:24:29.74
to hear this touches my heart.
00:24:29.75\00:24:32.19
'Cause I look at
my children like that.
00:24:32.20\00:24:34.93
They're not--
they're individuals.
00:24:34.94\00:24:36.30
I love them. I
love their personality.
00:24:36.31\00:24:38.49
God feels that way about
us. And I know it's true.
00:24:38.50\00:24:42.22
This strikes a quote
in me and it brings me
00:24:42.23\00:24:44.63
that much closer to the Father
00:24:44.64\00:24:47.14
to hear this and I know
its right, I know its right.
00:24:47.15\00:24:51.80
Okay, now what's
the purpose of a name
00:24:51.81\00:24:56.77
to take that
concept a little further?
00:24:56.78\00:24:59.72
A name is what we
employ to distinguish
00:24:59.73\00:25:02.90
one person, place,
or thing from another.
00:25:02.91\00:25:06.59
Person, place, or
thing. There is Detroit.
00:25:06.60\00:25:12.73
Here comes, Larry.
00:25:12.74\00:25:14.95
That thing over
there is a nutcracker.
00:25:14.96\00:25:17.57
You know these are the titles.
00:25:17.58\00:25:19.19
These are the
titles we give them.
00:25:19.20\00:25:20.83
Now when it comes to people
00:25:20.84\00:25:24.69
let's use last
names as an example.
00:25:24.70\00:25:27.91
Okay, in English
we have last names
00:25:27.92\00:25:30.46
that are, that are titles.
00:25:30.47\00:25:33.09
Names like Miller
and Smith and Farmer
00:25:33.10\00:25:37.75
and Hunter and
Johnson and Robertson,
00:25:37.76\00:25:42.37
Jackson and Hanson
and so it goes, okay.
00:25:42.38\00:25:47.28
So we have that
example, last names.
00:25:47.29\00:25:49.30
Last names tell
who these people are.
00:25:49.31\00:25:52.15
We have first names.
00:25:52.16\00:25:54.37
Now a lot of
people don't realize it
00:25:54.38\00:25:56.95
and I hope nobody will make
00:25:56.96\00:25:58.16
fun of me after they hear this.
00:25:58.17\00:26:00.74
But my first name
is Sherman, Sherman.
00:26:00.75\00:26:05.97
And I'm just saying
that because in the movies
00:26:05.98\00:26:08.83
and in stories every time
there is a kid name Sherman,
00:26:08.84\00:26:11.67
he's always a short
fat kid with glasses, okay.
00:26:11.68\00:26:15.23
So don't tell anybody.
My first name is a Sherman.
00:26:15.24\00:26:19.56
Now in the old English,
the meaning of the Sherman
00:26:19.57\00:26:24.83
is literally
the shear man, okay.
00:26:24.84\00:26:29.21
And what
they're talking about is
00:26:29.22\00:26:30.78
there was a guy
who was down there
00:26:30.79\00:26:33.59
cutting the wool of the
sheep that's what he did.
00:26:33.60\00:26:38.13
He was the
cutter of sheep's wool,
00:26:38.14\00:26:41.46
pretty interesting.
00:26:41.47\00:26:43.05
Well, I'm gonna tell
you why I go by Kelly.
00:26:43.06\00:26:46.23
That's my middle
name. My middle is a Kelly.
00:26:46.24\00:26:48.68
And I know, it's been
turned into a girl's name
00:26:48.69\00:26:51.33
but it hasn't
always been a girl's names.
00:26:51.34\00:26:52.87
It used to be primarily
a boy's name, a man's name.
00:26:52.88\00:26:57.18
And from what I
understand in Gaelic,
00:26:57.19\00:27:00.66
the name means, courageous,
00:27:00.67\00:27:03.84
brave warrior,
faithful to the king.
00:27:03.85\00:27:08.82
See why I go by that name?
00:27:08.83\00:27:10.39
Why would go I by
Sherman if I can go by Kelly?
00:27:10.40\00:27:13.36
You know that's the name I like.
00:27:13.37\00:27:14.99
Hopefully I live up
to that title, okay.
00:27:15.00\00:27:18.39
And I wanna use another
example, the Native Americans.
00:27:18.40\00:27:23.39
I'm not sure if
everybody knows it,
00:27:23.40\00:27:25.49
but the Native Americans,
they don't name themselves
00:27:25.50\00:27:29.04
like, Bob, or Jerry or Louis.
00:27:29.05\00:27:32.17
The name they give each
other is what that person is.
00:27:32.18\00:27:37.09
I'll give you an
example from a movie.
00:27:37.10\00:27:40.13
A film called
"Dances with Wolves."
00:27:40.14\00:27:42.61
I had seen this movie.
I still love this movie.
00:27:42.62\00:27:44.24
Anybody seen it?
You'll know that,
00:27:44.25\00:27:46.99
the main character
played by Kevin Costner,
00:27:47.00\00:27:51.14
that's his name in the movie.
00:27:51.15\00:27:54.04
His name appointed
to him by the natives.
00:27:54.05\00:27:57.60
The natives
Americans, this particular tribe
00:27:57.61\00:28:00.99
is watching Kevin
Costner, you know,
00:28:01.00\00:28:03.51
as they're spying
on him and they see him
00:28:03.52\00:28:05.74
out there
frolicking with the wolves.
00:28:05.75\00:28:08.79
And so they name
him, "Dances with Wolves."
00:28:08.80\00:28:11.71
That's him right
there. That's his title.
00:28:11.72\00:28:13.55
That's what does. So these just,
00:28:13.56\00:28:16.00
these are just a
few examples, okay.
00:28:16.01\00:28:19.40
Again names are titles.
00:28:19.41\00:28:22.24
They tell others who you are,
00:28:22.25\00:28:26.48
what you are and
what it is that you do.
00:28:26.49\00:28:29.98
God designed who I am, what I am
00:28:32.22\00:28:36.88
and what it is that I should do.
00:28:36.89\00:28:38.76
Whether or not I do
it's a different story
00:28:38.77\00:28:40.29
but God has
designed my name, my title.
00:28:40.30\00:28:45.19
He created me
with a purpose, okay.
00:28:45.20\00:28:50.19
And only He knows the full
extent of the name He gave me.
00:28:50.20\00:28:53.57
I don't even
know it at this point.
00:28:53.58\00:28:55.00
According to Revelation
I won't know until the end.
00:28:55.01\00:28:57.68
When He gives me
that white stone, okay.
00:28:57.69\00:29:00.69
I'm sure it's unpronounceable
in this world, okay.
00:29:00.70\00:29:05.07
Now he--now I think of
God sometime an artist.
00:29:05.08\00:29:08.62
You know, I paint
and I draw and I sculpt.
00:29:08.63\00:29:11.74
And you know, I've
always been creative, you know,
00:29:11.75\00:29:14.81
that's why I was
in a hardcore band.
00:29:14.82\00:29:16.33
I wrote lyrics. I
drew all the band logos.
00:29:16.34\00:29:19.92
And the flyers and you
know I did all the PR work.
00:29:19.93\00:29:25.10
And you know I can
relate to an artist
00:29:25.11\00:29:29.12
because of that and
I always think of God,
00:29:29.13\00:29:30.71
God is the original artist.
00:29:30.72\00:29:33.44
God is the original--He
not only is my Father.
00:29:33.45\00:29:35.65
He is my Father but he's
also the original artist, okay.
00:29:35.66\00:29:41.40
Now not--He is not merely
creating a piece of art, okay.
00:29:41.41\00:29:47.27
See I create pieces of
art and then I sell them,
00:29:47.28\00:29:50.96
you know, or I print them
or I hang them on my wall.
00:29:50.97\00:29:54.50
There is my art, I
don't lay down with that art.
00:29:54.51\00:29:57.60
I don't kiss that
art. I don't hug my art.
00:29:57.61\00:30:00.40
I don't use my art
for any particular thing.
00:30:00.41\00:30:02.98
It just hangs there on the wall
00:30:02.99\00:30:05.22
and it has aesthetic value.
00:30:05.23\00:30:07.03
There it is.
Look at my painting.
00:30:07.04\00:30:08.34
Does it touch your
heart? There it is, okay.
00:30:08.35\00:30:10.75
It might touch your
heart. It might move you.
00:30:10.76\00:30:12.93
It might, you
know, make you sad,
00:30:12.94\00:30:15.35
you know, whatever.
00:30:15.36\00:30:17.31
But when it comes to God,
00:30:17.32\00:30:19.20
boy, His art is so
much more interesting,
00:30:19.21\00:30:22.80
so much more interesting,
human being, being the canvas.
00:30:22.81\00:30:26.99
The original artist created us
00:30:27.00\00:30:29.66
as living functional
works of art. One of a kind.
00:30:29.67\00:30:35.46
The only one of our kind
00:30:35.47\00:30:37.73
and I like what
C. S. also says here,
00:30:37.74\00:30:39.46
"A species unto
our individual selves."
00:30:39.47\00:30:44.60
Man, how can you not love that?
00:30:44.61\00:30:47.82
That's who we are.
00:30:47.83\00:30:49.31
I want you to
remember that, okay.
00:30:49.32\00:30:51.71
I want you to remember that
00:30:51.72\00:30:53.59
and decide that
you're gonna live
00:30:53.60\00:30:54.94
according to that
in God's service, okay.
00:30:54.95\00:31:01.47
And as David says,
00:31:01.48\00:31:03.18
"Fearfully and
wonderfully made," right?
00:31:03.19\00:31:07.37
I've heard people say,
00:31:07.38\00:31:08.40
"Until you realize what
a scumbag maggot you are
00:31:08.41\00:31:11.31
God can't help you.
00:31:11.32\00:31:13.36
Well, I understand humility
00:31:13.37\00:31:15.31
but I'm not going
that row, you know.
00:31:15.32\00:31:18.52
If that was the case
I'd be--if I said that
00:31:18.53\00:31:21.44
I'd be insulting
God's workmanship.
00:31:21.45\00:31:23.78
God created me to be fearfully
and wonderfully made, okay.
00:31:23.79\00:31:30.23
And we need to
see ourselve in light.
00:31:30.24\00:31:34.95
Ellen White says, in
light, not an exact quote
00:31:34.96\00:31:37.74
but she says
something to the effect.
00:31:37.75\00:31:39.77
We need to see
ourselves in accordance
00:31:39.78\00:31:42.99
with the price He paid for
us. That's pretty valuable.
00:31:43.00\00:31:47.60
That's pretty valuable.
That's pretty precious, okay.
00:31:47.61\00:31:50.95
I need to see myself that way.
00:31:50.96\00:31:52.91
I need to see each
and every one of you
00:31:52.92\00:31:54.60
that way, okay.
00:31:54.61\00:32:00.74
We are specifically
designated and designed to do
00:32:00.75\00:32:07.94
what no other
creature in all existence,
00:32:07.95\00:32:12.51
not merely human, but
even in the infinite heavens
00:32:12.52\00:32:16.07
we are designed to do something
00:32:16.08\00:32:17.70
and to be
something and to be someone
00:32:17.71\00:32:20.74
that nobody else
can't do or can be, okay.
00:32:20.75\00:32:25.83
Now don't forget
that this message,
00:32:25.84\00:32:28.01
"Where Were You?" Okay.
00:32:28.02\00:32:31.41
Is written as
an appeal to people
00:32:31.42\00:32:32.99
to either come into this church
00:32:33.00\00:32:35.16
or to stay in this church.
00:32:35.17\00:32:38.94
Now let's talk
about the word church.
00:32:38.95\00:32:43.51
A lot of people don't know
00:32:43.52\00:32:44.56
but that word comes for
the Greek word Ecclesia.
00:32:44.57\00:32:48.58
I hope I'm saying it right.
00:32:48.59\00:32:50.00
But that's how it reads to
me, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesia.
00:32:50.01\00:32:54.34
The word Ecclesia translates
into the English literally
00:32:54.35\00:32:58.53
I mean no variation called out.
00:32:58.54\00:33:02.19
When you say church
00:33:02.20\00:33:03.28
what you're saying in
definition is called out.
00:33:03.29\00:33:07.26
The called out ones.
00:33:07.27\00:33:09.10
Now sadly Satan
using human agency
00:33:09.11\00:33:13.66
has reduced the
word church to merely men
00:33:13.67\00:33:17.28
or that building
we go to every Sabbath
00:33:17.29\00:33:20.01
and that we sit at.
00:33:20.02\00:33:21.74
No, no, no, man,
get this, get this.
00:33:21.75\00:33:27.14
This is a special thing we
go to when we go to church.
00:33:27.15\00:33:32.06
Very, very special.
00:33:32.07\00:33:36.20
Church is a
brotherhood fellowship.
00:33:36.21\00:33:40.78
A brotherhood fellowship
of those who have been
00:33:40.79\00:33:45.05
called out by God, by name,
00:33:45.06\00:33:50.21
you know like, come
out of her my people.
00:33:50.22\00:33:52.46
We are called
out by God by name.
00:33:52.47\00:33:57.18
You know, I'll just
say it seven years ago,
00:33:57.19\00:34:00.05
I heard God calling my name
00:34:00.06\00:34:01.78
but I didn't know I heard Him
00:34:01.79\00:34:02.86
calling my name but He was.
00:34:02.87\00:34:04.75
When I sat in that
church and I recognized that,
00:34:04.76\00:34:07.55
that typical nonsense
that was going in that church
00:34:07.56\00:34:11.08
I heard God calling me.
00:34:11.09\00:34:12.81
Get up and leave
you're not gonna find it here.
00:34:12.82\00:34:15.44
You know, He was calling me
00:34:15.45\00:34:16.55
by name in a
deep, deep sense, okay.
00:34:16.56\00:34:21.68
Again church is a
brotherhood fellowship
00:34:21.69\00:34:24.53
of those God has
called out by name,
00:34:24.54\00:34:29.27
called out individually
00:34:29.28\00:34:31.15
and specifically to
bring a secret recipe,
00:34:31.16\00:34:33.63
dish to pass to
the proverbial potluck.
00:34:33.64\00:34:37.59
Okay, I bring into
that makes an angle,
00:34:37.60\00:34:39.96
a flavor, a
viewpoint, a musical note
00:34:39.97\00:34:44.15
that no one else
has been selected
00:34:44.16\00:34:46.86
to bring to this body but me.
00:34:46.87\00:34:49.26
I'm a member of this body, okay.
00:34:49.27\00:34:54.27
If I'm a foot and I
stay away the body limps.
00:34:54.28\00:34:58.12
Without the foot the body limps.
00:34:58.13\00:34:59.95
I have something
to share with you
00:34:59.96\00:35:02.36
and you have
something to share with me.
00:35:02.37\00:35:06.83
Here's the point.
Again here is the point.
00:35:06.84\00:35:10.01
The point of this whole
message. Come to church.
00:35:10.02\00:35:14.14
Can you do that?
00:35:14.15\00:35:15.73
Come to church
the called out ones.
00:35:15.74\00:35:20.64
Come into this God
is calling you, okay.
00:35:20.65\00:35:25.05
And stay in
church. Stay in the church.
00:35:25.06\00:35:29.32
Don't just be a church
person come into this church
00:35:29.33\00:35:32.79
and fulfill your destiny, okay.
00:35:32.80\00:35:37.83
When you-- When you avoid
00:35:37.84\00:35:39.86
the ecclesiastical gathering
of the called out by name
00:35:39.87\00:35:44.49
you deprive yourself
from something that you need
00:35:44.50\00:35:48.36
and can only get from the body.
00:35:48.37\00:35:52.39
And at the same time you
deprive the body of something
00:35:52.40\00:35:57.30
that only you are
prepared to supply to the body.
00:35:57.31\00:36:00.42
And God will
hold you accountable.
00:36:00.43\00:36:03.15
God will hold you
accountable for holding back
00:36:03.16\00:36:07.41
and barring the talent
that He gave you to gain more,
00:36:07.42\00:36:11.70
something that
would have benefited
00:36:11.71\00:36:13.16
and served the fellowship
or else He will reward us
00:36:13.17\00:36:18.30
for putting our two
pennies into the dish, okay.
00:36:18.31\00:36:21.61
The old woman didn't have much.
00:36:21.62\00:36:23.11
She put in what
she had and Jesus said,
00:36:23.12\00:36:25.44
"She put in more
than all of you."
00:36:25.45\00:36:27.85
See God holds us accountable.
00:36:27.86\00:36:29.61
He rewards us or He punishes us.
00:36:29.62\00:36:32.89
He holds us accountable for
what we bring in to the mix.
00:36:32.90\00:36:37.55
Now I also wanna say
a couple of things here.
00:36:37.56\00:36:41.02
Jesus said, "If you
separate yourself from the vine
00:36:41.03\00:36:44.91
you're gonna die."
00:36:44.92\00:36:45.97
Basically, in a
nutshell you're going to die.
00:36:45.98\00:36:48.74
If you don't come into the body
00:36:48.75\00:36:51.43
you kill yourself, you hurt us.
00:36:51.44\00:36:53.84
I mean, we're gonna be impaired.
00:36:53.85\00:36:55.50
We're not gonna be
able to work as effectively
00:36:55.51\00:36:57.30
without your presence
00:36:57.31\00:36:59.46
but you will die
spiritually without the church.
00:36:59.47\00:37:05.51
You need us. We need you.
00:37:05.52\00:37:09.22
We want you. We
desire you but you need us.
00:37:09.23\00:37:14.55
We need the church, okay.
00:37:14.56\00:37:18.63
Now again as I
was saying earlier
00:37:18.64\00:37:21.15
from an inside point
of view, I can't count,
00:37:21.16\00:37:25.22
and I mean,
literally, I can't count
00:37:25.23\00:37:27.57
how many times
Satan has tempted me
00:37:27.58\00:37:30.49
to leave the church
and never come back.
00:37:30.50\00:37:32.91
Man, look at these
weirdos. I'm out of here.
00:37:32.92\00:37:35.20
Get away from these people.
00:37:35.21\00:37:36.90
Man, there's so much
fun to have out there.
00:37:36.91\00:37:38.87
Why am I even doing this?
00:37:38.88\00:37:40.46
Seem so
meaningless, so dead, so dry,
00:37:40.47\00:37:43.96
you know, so generic, so phony,
00:37:43.97\00:37:46.13
all the things I said
earlier. Church people do this.
00:37:46.14\00:37:48.98
Church people do that.
So and so was rude to me.
00:37:48.99\00:37:53.46
Thus and so misjudged
me. This person snubbed me.
00:37:53.47\00:37:57.92
Those people talked
about me behind my back.
00:37:57.93\00:38:01.23
That guy gave me a dirty look.
00:38:01.24\00:38:03.83
That person is unfriendly,
blah, blah, blah, blah, okay.
00:38:03.84\00:38:09.21
That's always my
first human nature reaction.
00:38:09.22\00:38:12.35
I'm leaving.
00:38:12.36\00:38:13.40
That's always my
first gut reaction.
00:38:13.41\00:38:15.80
I'm out of here. It's my reflex.
00:38:15.81\00:38:18.83
But then divine
nature trumps my human nature
00:38:18.84\00:38:23.89
and comes to the
rescue and I realized
00:38:23.90\00:38:28.41
that's exactly what
Satan wants me to do.
00:38:28.42\00:38:32.88
Now when I
realized what's going on
00:38:32.89\00:38:35.12
I actually become
even more determined
00:38:35.13\00:38:39.25
and dedicated and
committed to stay in the church.
00:38:39.26\00:38:46.45
To stay in the church
00:38:46.46\00:38:48.46
and to fulfill my
mission, my mission.
00:38:48.47\00:38:51.55
I mean, I actually get fired up.
00:38:51.56\00:38:53.86
When I realized what
the devil is trying to do,
00:38:53.87\00:38:56.80
he's trying to
drive me out. Amen.
00:38:56.81\00:38:59.46
Like everybody else I
must be pretty special.
00:38:59.47\00:39:01.94
Everyone else
is as special as me
00:39:01.95\00:39:03.70
but that doesn't negate the fact
00:39:03.71\00:39:05.15
that I'm special and
I must be really special
00:39:05.16\00:39:08.46
'cause he is
trying to destroy me
00:39:08.47\00:39:10.51
and chase me out of
here. I must have a mission.
00:39:10.52\00:39:14.38
I must have a mission.
00:39:14.39\00:39:15.46
Therefore I'm going to stay here
00:39:15.47\00:39:18.14
in spite of the
trial. I'm on trial.
00:39:18.15\00:39:21.35
Is my faith genuine? Is it fake?
00:39:21.36\00:39:23.11
I am on trial and
I'm gonna stay here
00:39:23.12\00:39:25.61
in spite of my trial
and fulfill my mission.
00:39:25.62\00:39:30.64
We all have
one. We all have one.
00:39:30.65\00:39:34.19
We're all parts of the
body. We all serve a function.
00:39:34.20\00:39:39.93
And what is my mission?
00:39:39.94\00:39:43.24
Now my mission is
what my secret name is.
00:39:43.25\00:39:49.53
That's what my
mission is. My secret name.
00:39:49.54\00:39:52.14
The name He gave me.
The name He called me by.
00:39:52.15\00:39:57.02
Stay with me, okay, just
stay on with me while we--
00:39:57.03\00:40:01.37
while we continue on them.
00:40:01.38\00:40:02.53
Remember names are titles
that distinguish one person,
00:40:02.54\00:40:07.40
place, or thing from
another person, place, or thing.
00:40:07.41\00:40:11.06
And they tell who
you are, what you are,
00:40:11.07\00:40:14.72
and what it is that you do.
00:40:14.73\00:40:17.75
Now we have to go in
this a little deeper.
00:40:17.76\00:40:23.34
If I come into the church
00:40:23.35\00:40:26.34
and I notice
hypocritical behavior.
00:40:26.35\00:40:33.00
That is God saying to me,
00:40:33.01\00:40:36.62
"I showed you that for a reason
00:40:36.63\00:40:38.72
and you noticed
that for a reason.
00:40:38.73\00:40:41.15
Part of the name I give you
00:40:41.16\00:40:43.19
is the opposite
of hypocrisy," okay.
00:40:43.20\00:40:50.05
Do what you're
saying you're gonna do.
00:40:50.06\00:40:52.67
Do practice what you preach.
That's part of your name.
00:40:52.68\00:40:56.37
Now go lead by
example. Go lead by example.
00:40:56.38\00:41:00.85
There is deficiencies
there go lead by example.
00:41:00.86\00:41:04.32
If I noticed judgmental
behavior in the church,
00:41:04.33\00:41:07.19
God is saying to me,
00:41:07.20\00:41:09.32
"I showed you
that for a reason."
00:41:09.33\00:41:11.90
Part of the name I call
you by is non-judgmentalism.
00:41:11.91\00:41:16.49
Go and fulfill your mission.
00:41:16.50\00:41:18.34
I've called you by name
00:41:18.35\00:41:19.89
to go in there
and lead by example."
00:41:19.90\00:41:23.51
If I noticed phony
behavior in the church,
00:41:23.52\00:41:27.60
God is calling me one of
my names authenticity, okay.
00:41:27.61\00:41:33.41
Authenticity, I've
called you by name.
00:41:33.42\00:41:35.37
I showed you that for a reason.
00:41:35.38\00:41:37.06
Go in there to your
brothers and sisters
00:41:37.07\00:41:38.99
and lead by example, okay.
00:41:39.00\00:41:43.48
And on the subject
just a little side note.
00:41:43.49\00:41:46.40
We don't need to try to be real.
00:41:46.41\00:41:48.69
We are real people.
00:41:48.70\00:41:50.50
We're real human beings
with real personalities.
00:41:50.51\00:41:53.69
But we have to remember
00:41:53.70\00:41:55.71
that the devil is
a great counterfeiter
00:41:55.72\00:41:58.01
that's what he
does. He is a phony.
00:41:58.02\00:42:01.02
We must guard
ourselves from being phony.
00:42:01.03\00:42:05.28
We must
vigilantly keep our guard up
00:42:05.29\00:42:08.42
to not become
disingenuous, okay.
00:42:08.43\00:42:13.06
We don't need to try to be real
00:42:13.07\00:42:14.63
but we do have to
try and guard ourselves
00:42:14.64\00:42:17.12
from being a
false counterfeit, okay.
00:42:17.13\00:42:22.12
Finally, I'll use
another one more example.
00:42:22.13\00:42:26.75
If you come in the church
and you noticed that I'm--
00:42:26.76\00:42:31.18
you know, one of my
struggles, I'm being honest,
00:42:31.19\00:42:33.42
is sometimes I come across
00:42:33.43\00:42:35.72
kind of harsh and impatient,
00:42:35.73\00:42:39.71
okay. And I don't mean to.
00:42:39.72\00:42:40.81
I think it's just old habits
00:42:40.82\00:42:42.45
that still kind of
linger on little bit.
00:42:42.46\00:42:45.73
But if you noticed that
00:42:45.74\00:42:48.61
then part of the
name God is calling you by
00:42:48.62\00:42:51.34
is the opposite of
rude and impatient.
00:42:51.35\00:42:54.67
God is calling you
to be patient and kind,
00:42:54.68\00:42:58.71
patient and loving, okay.
00:42:58.72\00:43:05.15
You know, we are
called to lead by example
00:43:05.16\00:43:07.22
in the name of Jesus.
00:43:07.23\00:43:09.86
In the name of Jesus, we
are called to lead by example.
00:43:09.87\00:43:13.09
Jesus sanctifies
my name with His name.
00:43:13.10\00:43:17.69
I have to say that since
I've been in this church,
00:43:17.70\00:43:21.34
since I've been a
disciple of Christ
00:43:21.35\00:43:25.18
all of my
advancements, all of them,
00:43:25.19\00:43:28.22
every single one
of them have come
00:43:28.23\00:43:31.59
as a result of
witnessing christ-like goodness
00:43:31.60\00:43:36.73
in either Christ Himself
or in Christ followers, okay.
00:43:36.74\00:43:43.62
I was supported
in my weaknesses.
00:43:43.63\00:43:46.56
I was supported by their
strengths, their examples.
00:43:46.57\00:43:51.53
Now I wanna give a
few examples, okay.
00:43:51.54\00:43:54.70
Few examples of
their examples, okay.
00:43:54.71\00:43:58.51
When I was early
on in my conversion,
00:43:58.52\00:44:03.04
I would, I would look
at children right now.
00:44:03.05\00:44:07.72
I didn't have
children at that time.
00:44:07.73\00:44:09.23
And frankly I
didn't dislike children
00:44:09.24\00:44:13.33
but I didn't like them
and I was more indifferent.
00:44:13.34\00:44:15.74
I didn't wanna be bothered.
I didn't wanna be bothered.
00:44:15.75\00:44:19.73
But I'm reading my Bible one day
00:44:19.74\00:44:22.25
and I read the story about how
Jesus was teaching the people,
00:44:22.26\00:44:27.57
the little kids were trying
to get to Him and the disciples
00:44:27.58\00:44:30.68
blocked the little
children from getting to Him.
00:44:30.69\00:44:33.23
First of all, I read
that story and I realized,
00:44:33.24\00:44:37.15
wow, whatever Jesus had
going on in His personality
00:44:37.16\00:44:40.04
and demeanor those
children were attracted to it.
00:44:40.05\00:44:44.09
They were trying
to get Him--to Him.
00:44:44.10\00:44:46.59
And I just--it made me
love Christ even more to imagine
00:44:46.60\00:44:49.81
what He must have been like that
00:44:49.82\00:44:51.09
those little precious children
were trying to get to Him
00:44:51.10\00:44:54.03
I used to be a little kid.
00:44:54.04\00:44:55.70
I know what kind of demeanor
00:44:55.71\00:44:57.15
I was attracted
to when I was little.
00:44:57.16\00:44:58.79
So I remember that and I think,
00:44:58.80\00:45:00.38
wow, Christ had that going on,
00:45:00.39\00:45:02.76
you know, so I
am attract to that.
00:45:02.77\00:45:04.59
Now I looked at
the situation there
00:45:04.60\00:45:09.37
and I--and Jesus,
you know, He stands up,
00:45:09.38\00:45:11.42
He tells the disciples
00:45:11.43\00:45:12.62
suffer the
children and come onto me.
00:45:12.63\00:45:14.64
Stop blocking them. I
want them to come onto me.
00:45:14.65\00:45:18.36
And I read this and here I was--
00:45:18.37\00:45:20.42
I was indifferent
00:45:20.43\00:45:21.85
and yet when I read
that it touched my heart.
00:45:21.86\00:45:25.13
I mean, it
really touched my heart.
00:45:25.14\00:45:26.93
And I thought, man,
00:45:26.94\00:45:28.32
I recognized the
deficiency in myself.
00:45:28.33\00:45:31.79
Christ example made
me realize my deficiency
00:45:31.80\00:45:35.79
but that example
also motivated me
00:45:35.80\00:45:39.52
to be more like Christ.
00:45:39.53\00:45:41.23
From that point on even
though my feelings weren't there
00:45:41.24\00:45:44.58
I went out on my way to
start being nice to children.
00:45:44.59\00:45:47.90
I'd smile at children.
00:45:47.91\00:45:49.36
I'd give the
children a compliment.
00:45:49.37\00:45:51.24
I'd mess their hair up.
I put my arm around them.
00:45:51.25\00:45:54.32
You know,
whatever little opportunity
00:45:54.33\00:45:55.85
I could do successfully
and honestly I would do.
00:45:55.86\00:46:00.10
And you know
what, since that time
00:46:00.11\00:46:03.24
I have come to absolutely
love and adore little children
00:46:03.25\00:46:08.20
and they love me.
See this is amazing.
00:46:08.21\00:46:11.61
That's what happens
when we support each other.
00:46:11.62\00:46:14.09
That is Christ example.
00:46:14.10\00:46:15.75
Now I'll use
another of Christ examples.
00:46:15.76\00:46:17.89
I have a good friend.
00:46:17.90\00:46:19.68
One of my best friends in
the entire Adventist Church
00:46:19.69\00:46:22.29
by the name of Jose
Kaboski and he goes to Oakwood
00:46:22.30\00:46:25.75
where I go to church in Taylor.
00:46:25.76\00:46:27.61
Now when I first came to--
00:46:27.62\00:46:28.85
I can tell you this
guy has mentored me.
00:46:28.86\00:46:31.39
When I first came to
the church I had seen that
00:46:31.40\00:46:34.78
more than anybody else
that I had met in the church
00:46:34.79\00:46:36.67
this guy had leadership ability.
00:46:36.68\00:46:38.95
That was just amazing.
00:46:38.96\00:46:40.30
And whatever the task
was this guy would tackle it.
00:46:40.31\00:46:43.28
He jumped on it in
spite of the criticism,
00:46:43.29\00:46:45.55
in spite of the
inconvenience whatever the case,
00:46:45.56\00:46:49.87
this guy would jump
on it. And I watched Joe.
00:46:49.88\00:46:52.75
You know what, man, he is
a real example of leadership.
00:46:52.76\00:46:57.31
And I thought,
man, I don't have that.
00:46:57.32\00:46:59.54
I don't have that.
I'm deficient there
00:46:59.55\00:47:01.06
but I watched his
example and guess what,
00:47:01.07\00:47:04.53
now I have many of those
same leadership abilities,
00:47:04.54\00:47:08.45
not to the same degree,
but he has taught me something.
00:47:08.46\00:47:11.82
My deficiency was there.
00:47:11.83\00:47:13.18
Christ fills my
deficiency, okay.
00:47:13.19\00:47:16.63
Another example
would be a friend of mine,
00:47:16.64\00:47:19.48
Brad Danowski in the church.
00:47:19.49\00:47:21.27
This guy Brad, he
always has a smile on his face.
00:47:21.28\00:47:24.55
He is always
approachable. Always friendly.
00:47:24.56\00:47:30.01
I just look at Brad sometimes
00:47:30.02\00:47:31.74
and I go, man, I
wish I was that friendly.
00:47:31.75\00:47:33.99
I wish I could smile so easily.
00:47:34.00\00:47:36.51
And guess what,
since having known Brad
00:47:36.52\00:47:39.53
I smile more easily,
00:47:39.54\00:47:40.79
I'm a little more approachable.
00:47:40.80\00:47:42.20
I like that, okay.
00:47:42.21\00:47:45.55
This would be the
last example I use
00:47:45.56\00:47:47.16
but I have a friend,
he went to Arise with me.
00:47:47.17\00:47:50.37
He is from Australia by
the name of Rodney McCallum.
00:47:50.38\00:47:53.30
Probably the one most
responsible for me being
00:47:53.31\00:47:56.35
on this platform today.
00:47:56.36\00:47:59.02
Rodney is probably
the strongest example
00:47:59.03\00:48:04.62
of charm manners and excellence
00:48:04.63\00:48:07.64
that I've ever seen in my life.
00:48:07.65\00:48:10.60
And that's I'm not exaggerating.
00:48:10.61\00:48:12.92
And from the beginning,
for the last two years
00:48:12.93\00:48:16.09
I'm so attracted to that
00:48:16.10\00:48:18.62
Christ-like character attribute.
00:48:18.63\00:48:23.24
I'm absolutely attracted to it.
00:48:23.25\00:48:25.57
And I've noticed
that since I met Rodney
00:48:25.58\00:48:28.30
some of that has rubbed
off on me. Not all of it.
00:48:28.31\00:48:31.26
He has it more than I do
but I have some of that now.
00:48:31.27\00:48:34.03
I recognize the deficiency
pointed out by his strength
00:48:34.04\00:48:37.66
and as a result I am supported.
00:48:37.67\00:48:39.96
I gained that same
strength that he has, okay.
00:48:39.97\00:48:43.58
So these are
just a few examples.
00:48:43.59\00:48:45.57
Comparatively
speaking I'm only a child,
00:48:45.58\00:48:48.37
okay, in my walk with God.
00:48:48.38\00:48:50.05
But I have these
older and much more matured
00:48:50.06\00:48:51.87
brothers and sisters, okay.
00:48:51.88\00:48:54.21
And they lead me by example.
00:48:54.22\00:48:56.42
They lead me by
very good example.
00:48:56.43\00:48:59.84
And every single one of them
have spoken to my deficiencies
00:48:59.85\00:49:03.20
and I've been supported
00:49:03.21\00:49:04.69
by these friends
in my weaknesses.
00:49:04.70\00:49:07.47
Instead of being looked
down upon for my weaknesses
00:49:07.48\00:49:12.56
or being having
people backbite me or,
00:49:12.57\00:49:17.34
you know, gossip-which--
these are horrible
00:49:17.35\00:49:20.94
and spiritually deadly
sins, backbiting, okay, gossip.
00:49:20.95\00:49:26.08
Instead of doing that
I'm tenderly and lovingly
00:49:26.09\00:49:30.18
lead by the examples of
my stronger Christian family.
00:49:30.19\00:49:34.44
And then as I'm strengthened
00:49:34.45\00:49:35.68
I pass on that
strength to my friends,
00:49:35.69\00:49:39.07
my family in the
church who are weak albeit,
00:49:39.08\00:49:43.75
you know, maybe they
gossip. Well, I lead by example.
00:49:43.76\00:49:46.71
I don't gossip and hopefully
they'll catch on to that.
00:49:46.72\00:49:50.12
Get my drift.
00:49:50.13\00:49:51.47
Understand what I'm saying?
00:49:51.48\00:49:53.25
Okay, now I want to say
00:49:53.26\00:49:58.15
I heard a really
awesome illustration
00:49:58.16\00:50:00.88
recently by my pastor,
00:50:00.89\00:50:04.01
Pastor Bill at
the Taylor Church.
00:50:04.02\00:50:06.39
And he said, he went to
visit the Redwood Forest
00:50:06.40\00:50:09.87
and he had seen the giant trees,
00:50:09.88\00:50:11.49
you know, how big they
are. I've never been there.
00:50:11.50\00:50:13.64
But from what I
understand they are huge,
00:50:13.65\00:50:15.45
as big as a house.
00:50:15.46\00:50:17.19
And he said, he thought
those roots must go way,
00:50:17.20\00:50:21.15
way down to support the weight
and the height of these trees.
00:50:21.16\00:50:24.70
Then he came to find out,
00:50:24.71\00:50:25.86
he was surprised to find out
the roots didn't go very deep.
00:50:25.87\00:50:29.70
They didn't go very deep,
00:50:29.71\00:50:30.80
deep at all but they grew out
00:50:30.81\00:50:33.55
and they grasp the roots
of the other redwood trees
00:50:33.56\00:50:36.91
and that's why they
stood. See that's amazing.
00:50:36.92\00:50:39.58
They reach together.
00:50:39.59\00:50:41.24
Ellen White said, "She
got a message from God."
00:50:41.25\00:50:43.51
So that means
it's our message too.
00:50:43.52\00:50:45.39
Press together, press together.
00:50:45.40\00:50:48.28
Church family press together.
00:50:48.29\00:50:50.80
See this is, this is, good news.
00:50:50.81\00:50:52.63
This is wonderful news.
00:50:52.64\00:50:54.34
Man, in comparatively speaking,
00:50:54.35\00:50:55.74
I went to Florida two months ago
00:50:55.75\00:50:57.84
and I had seen long palm trees
00:50:57.85\00:51:00.02
falling over all over the place.
00:51:00.03\00:51:02.00
Blown over by the
wind, all by themselves.
00:51:02.01\00:51:05.16
They're just laying there.
It's a very good illustration.
00:51:05.17\00:51:08.50
We need to press together.
00:51:08.51\00:51:10.05
Go live up to your name,
00:51:10.06\00:51:11.36
your God give a
mission in Christ name.
00:51:11.37\00:51:14.97
God shows
deficiencies for a reason.
00:51:14.98\00:51:16.80
I've heard people saying,
"Don't look at the people
00:51:16.81\00:51:18.75
you'll be
disappointed and you'll leave."
00:51:18.76\00:51:20.44
I agree with
what they're saying.
00:51:20.45\00:51:21.74
We need to keep
our eyes on Christ.
00:51:21.75\00:51:23.73
But Paul does say,
"Follow me as I follow Christ."
00:51:23.74\00:51:27.27
So on the one hand that's true
00:51:27.28\00:51:28.46
but on the other hand we
need to look at other people.
00:51:28.47\00:51:31.51
We need to look at their
strengths and deficiencies
00:51:31.52\00:51:34.58
and then we need to
strengthen each others,
00:51:34.59\00:51:37.09
strengths and deficiencies.
00:51:37.10\00:51:38.84
Be strengthened
by their strengths
00:51:38.85\00:51:40.64
and strengthen
their deficiencies, okay.
00:51:40.65\00:51:44.50
Now I wanna read
this wonderful quote
00:51:44.51\00:51:46.36
from "Steps to Christ."
00:51:46.37\00:51:48.14
One of the most
amazing books I've ever read.
00:51:48.15\00:51:51.41
I've read it
many, many times, okay.
00:51:51.42\00:51:55.05
She says, "The impenitent
sometimes excuse themselves
00:51:55.06\00:51:59.49
by saying of
professed Christians,
00:51:59.50\00:52:01.36
I am as good as they are.
00:52:01.37\00:52:02.91
They are no more
self-denying, sober,
00:52:02.92\00:52:04.62
or circumspect in
their conduct than I am.
00:52:04.63\00:52:07.10
They love pleasure
and self-indulgence
00:52:07.11\00:52:09.04
as well as I do.
00:52:09.05\00:52:10.34
Thus they make
the faults of others
00:52:10.35\00:52:11.79
an excuse for their
own neglect of duty.
00:52:11.80\00:52:14.76
But the sins and defects of
others do not excuse anyone,
00:52:14.77\00:52:18.21
for the Lord has not given
us an erring human pattern.
00:52:18.22\00:52:21.54
The spotless Son of God
has been given as our example,
00:52:21.55\00:52:24.81
and those who
complain of the wrong course
00:52:24.82\00:52:26.94
of professed
Christians are the ones
00:52:26.95\00:52:28.55
who should show better
lives and nobler examples.
00:52:28.56\00:52:33.67
If they have so
high a conception
00:52:33.68\00:52:35.17
of what a Christian
should be, is their own,
00:52:35.18\00:52:37.70
is not their own
sin so much the greater?
00:52:37.71\00:52:40.65
They know what is right,
and yet refuse to do it."
00:52:40.66\00:52:45.52
That's great. That's good stuff.
00:52:45.53\00:52:47.75
It's kind of like of what JFK--
00:52:47.76\00:52:48.95
I think what JFK had said,
00:52:48.96\00:52:50.96
"Ask not what your
country can do for you
00:52:50.97\00:52:53.09
but what for you--
00:52:53.10\00:52:54.18
what you can do
for your country."
00:52:54.19\00:52:56.52
That's beautiful notes.
00:52:56.53\00:52:58.15
I'm not gonna look for
people to make me feel good.
00:52:58.16\00:53:00.15
I'm gonna go out and
make other people feel good.
00:53:00.16\00:53:03.44
Stay in the church.
Come into the church.
00:53:03.45\00:53:05.89
Fulfill your destiny.
00:53:05.90\00:53:08.29
We can look back at 9/11
and question, where was God?
00:53:08.30\00:53:12.55
We can blame God
but the fact remains
00:53:12.56\00:53:15.05
God stands
beyond all accusation.
00:53:15.06\00:53:18.26
I know that most
people here know that.
00:53:18.27\00:53:20.61
And in this "Great Controversy,"
00:53:20.62\00:53:21.83
only He knows all the variables.
00:53:21.84\00:53:24.83
And we know that He allows
bad things to happen, okay.
00:53:24.84\00:53:29.51
In this world He
doesn't violate freewill.
00:53:29.52\00:53:32.30
He doesn't remove
the repercussions of sin
00:53:32.31\00:53:34.95
but what He does do
is He provides grace
00:53:34.96\00:53:37.71
to bear up under it, okay.
00:53:37.72\00:53:40.10
He gives us His Son
to lead us by example.
00:53:40.11\00:53:43.53
Jesus doesn't say,
"Look at all these monstrous,
00:53:43.54\00:53:47.03
you know, abominations,
these human beings.
00:53:47.04\00:53:49.21
I'm going to avoid
them and stay away." No.
00:53:49.22\00:53:51.98
He converts to one of
us. He becomes one of us.
00:53:51.99\00:53:55.60
He comes down to our level
00:53:55.61\00:53:57.25
and leads us by
example as one of us.
00:53:57.26\00:54:00.37
Okay, this is
good. That's our pattern.
00:54:00.38\00:54:03.01
That's our example right there.
00:54:03.02\00:54:05.34
His example
points out my deficiency
00:54:05.35\00:54:07.86
and then fills it.
00:54:07.87\00:54:09.30
Where was God?
00:54:09.31\00:54:10.92
Well, God's grace was
revealed at the cross.
00:54:10.93\00:54:13.83
At 9/11 grace will continued
its work in the firemen,
00:54:13.84\00:54:17.28
the policemen,
the rescue workers,
00:54:17.29\00:54:19.56
the volunteers, those
who donated their money
00:54:19.57\00:54:22.19
and their time
to relief suffering,
00:54:22.20\00:54:25.23
those who sacrifice
their own lives in rescue
00:54:25.24\00:54:28.85
attempts at ground
zero. That's where God was.
00:54:28.86\00:54:32.45
God was at ground zero, okay.
00:54:32.46\00:54:34.69
God is called you
by name to be His,
00:54:34.70\00:54:39.13
to fulfill your mission,
00:54:39.14\00:54:40.35
to join the body
and benefit others,
00:54:40.36\00:54:42.80
to live up to that
name He called you by.
00:54:42.81\00:54:45.47
In the judgment
no one will ask God,
00:54:45.48\00:54:47.68
where He was?
00:54:47.69\00:54:48.83
Everyone will
know in the judgment.
00:54:48.84\00:54:51.26
We don't wanna stand
to that awesome presence
00:54:51.27\00:54:53.95
and hear God say to
us, I called you by name,
00:54:53.96\00:54:57.57
where were you?
00:54:57.58\00:54:59.60
That's what we don't wanna hear.
00:54:59.61\00:55:01.45
We don't wanna hear that.
00:55:01.46\00:55:02.88
Now I've an appeal
today, strong appeal
00:55:02.89\00:55:07.20
to the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:55:07.21\00:55:09.00
and to those who are
making their decisions
00:55:09.01\00:55:11.28
to join this
church. Recommit yourself.
00:55:11.29\00:55:16.49
Recommit
yourselves this very moment
00:55:16.50\00:55:19.68
to follow the masters' example.
00:55:19.69\00:55:22.87
Today, right now,
stand up and if you're unable
00:55:22.88\00:55:28.72
to stand up in your
heart and stand for Christ
00:55:28.73\00:55:33.74
follow His example, take
His name in our own name,
00:55:33.75\00:55:40.11
take His name not in
vain but in true character,
00:55:40.12\00:55:44.82
the character of Jesus
that He may work in us.
00:55:44.83\00:55:49.21
We will not denounce
our Christian family.
00:55:49.22\00:55:52.30
We will not gossip
and tear one another down,
00:55:52.31\00:55:55.47
devouring one and
other, but in His service
00:55:55.48\00:56:00.30
we will lead and be led
in this body in Jesus name
00:56:00.31\00:56:06.43
and this is our prayer.
Let's pray it right now.
00:56:06.44\00:56:10.81
Dear God, Heavenly
Father, we love you so much.
00:56:13.09\00:56:18.56
You teach us
these excellent ways,
00:56:18.57\00:56:21.71
the ways of Christ.
You lead us by example.
00:56:21.72\00:56:24.86
These ways are so attractive
00:56:24.87\00:56:26.40
and so appealing
and so wonderful.
00:56:26.41\00:56:29.67
May we ever live to
glorify you in this world.
00:56:29.68\00:56:34.16
Father, please pour
your Holy Spirit upon us.
00:56:34.17\00:56:38.02
May we be a force for good.
00:56:38.03\00:56:40.46
May we, may we do all the things
00:56:40.47\00:56:43.11
that make you
look good in this world
00:56:43.12\00:56:44.66
and lead people
into the church, Lord,
00:56:44.67\00:56:47.25
and may they
come into the church,
00:56:47.26\00:56:48.86
may they even counter all
those negative stereotypes.
00:56:48.87\00:56:52.53
Father, I pray that
the true seekers of God
00:56:52.54\00:56:55.33
will look at the church and go,
00:56:55.34\00:56:57.50
this is something I desire.
Father, this is my prayer.
00:56:57.51\00:57:03.36
This is the
prayer of the church.
00:57:03.37\00:57:05.99
Lord, this is not
just another moment.
00:57:06.00\00:57:08.69
I thank you for these
things in Jesus' name, amen.
00:57:08.70\00:57:14.31