Hello. You got me again.
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I'm gonna be doing a
message with you today
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entitled, "Bad
Press, Good Press."
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Another very important message.
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As Adventist we
should be in tune
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with this sort of a message
and hopefully most of us are.
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Okay, but before I begin,
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I need to set the
stage a little bit.
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So I want you to turn to
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Deuteronomy 4:5-6.
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Deuteronomy 4:5-6.
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This should be
if it's not already
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a famous Adventist
text. Chapter 4 verse 5 and 6.
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I love this.
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Moses says to the
children of Israel.
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"Surely I have taught
you statutes and judgments,
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just as the Lord
my God commanded me
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that you should
act according to them
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in the land which
you go to possess.
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Therefore be
careful to observe them,
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for this is your wisdom
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and your understanding
in the sight of the peoples
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who will hear all these
great statutes, and say,
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'Surely this great nation
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is a wise and
understanding people.'"
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You know, you think
about what's being said there.
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He got through Moses, he's
letting the Israelites know
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that if you follow Him,
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you will be such an example
of moral goodness and excellence
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that the outside
nations are gonna be drawn in.
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You will fulfill your mission
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as a light to
the Gentiles, okay.
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That's what
you've been called to,
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light to the Gentiles.
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Now this doesn't end here.
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People think, you know,
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Israel separate from
modern day Christianity.
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They're two
different things. No, no.
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God has always had a plan
and the plan has not changed.
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It has not changed.
He didn't have to fix it.
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It was never broke.
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And God's law is
attractive, if it's understood.
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The law of selfless love.
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Turn to Matthew 5. Matthew 5.
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Matthew 5:14.
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Jesus says, "You are
the light of the world.
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A city that is set on
a hill cannot be hidden.
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Nor do they light a lamp
and put it under a basket,
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but on a
lampstand, and it gives light
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to all who are in the house."
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This is the good one right here.
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"Let your light
shine-- so shine before men,
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that they may
see your good works
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and glorify your
Father in heaven."
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See, this is
good stuff right here.
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I love the
Bible. I love the Bible.
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Jesus is saying,
"Look, they're gonna see you
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and they're gonna be drawn
to your father through you.
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If you really let your
light shine in front of people
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and the people will see.
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You don't do it to be seen,
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but you let it be seen
that you're a follower of God.
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And when they see that,
they'll be drawn to it."
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Okay, now set the stage
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and I just want--
before we move on here,
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I just want to ask for prayer.
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So that they don't mess
up, so that my voice holds out,
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and so that I get the
message across effectively.
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So let's bow our heads.
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Our dear, precious eternal,
Father God, Lord, in Jesus name
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I request that You would
pour Your spirit out on me,
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and do help my words to
be clear as I pass them on,
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the words that You told me,
the words that You taught me.
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Lord, and I thank
You for this message
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that I needed to hear.
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And, Lord, I just pray that
everybody else will be blessed
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by the message
that You give them.
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Father, may we all
walk away from here
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with the renewed interest
and being the best Christians
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we can be to
Your glory and honor.
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And we ask these things in the
precious name of Jesus, amen.
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Okay, now as I said before
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the title of this message
is "Bad Press, Good Press."
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And I want to begin
it with an illustration
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I think you're gonna--I
think you're gonna be amused by.
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Now, you know,
about 10 years ago,
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maybe a little longer than that,
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I was working at
a job in Inkster,
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which is the city I grew up
in, on the outskirts of Detroit,
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and I was working
as a security guard.
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Now-- and the reason I
had the job was 'cause I did--
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I did a lot of work for my band,
you know, I did all the artwork
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and the writing and everything,
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that was pretty,
pretty convenient for me.
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And that's why I worked there.
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Now they had another guard
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who worked on the
other side of the building,
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they had just hired
him, they had just hired.
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I hadn't even met the guy.
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I don't--I had no idea
what he looked like, nothing.
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Well, as I'm sitting
there one night in my shack,
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I get a phone call, you know,
I was working on something,
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I don't know, I might
have been on the phone,
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I don't know.
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But he calls, I get on
the other line and he says,
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"I'm got to be away from
the desk for a few minutes."
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So I said, "Okay."
Gets off the phone.
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A couple of hours
later he calls me again.
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Now remember I'm not a
Christian when this happened.
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He says, "I got to be away
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from the desk
again for a few minutes."
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So I said, "Listen, man,
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you ain't got to
tell me every time
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you got to go to the bathroom."
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I said, "You
just go ahead and go."
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And the guy snaps at me.
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He says, "I was told
that I'm supposed to tell you
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every time I go to the bathroom
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and walk away from the desk!"
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And so he snapped at
me, so I snapped back.
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And I said, "Listen, you,
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blah-buddy,
blah-blah blankety-blank.
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I'll come over to you
and blah-buddy, blah-blah."
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And he hangs up
the phone on me, okay.
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So that's the end of
the story for now, okay.
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Now about 2½ months later,
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my band had done a show
out in the Jackson area,
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big show, six
bands, crazy, crazy.
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And when my band
had got done playing,
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we still had plenty of time to,
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you know, drink and get
crazy, etcetera, etcetera.
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And so that's what we did.
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Before the night was over,
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I ended up getting
into a wrestling match
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with one of the guys
it was there, Nakima.
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And in this wrestling
match, I--I went charging at him
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and I grabbed
him around the waist.
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And when I did that,
he kind of kneeled over me
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and grabbed me around my waist,
and then the two of us did
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somewhat of a
Charlie Brown spin in the air
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and when we came down,
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he landed so hard on
my ribs that they broke.
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He broke my ribs.
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Now for anybody who
is listening to this.
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If you've ever had broken ribs,
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you know, I don't
need to tell you. It hurts.
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I mean, you can't--
you can't breathe long,
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you can't sneeze, you
can't cough, you can't laugh,
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I mean, you can't do anything.
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You can't do anything
when you have broken ribs.
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That's horrible.
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So, I mean, I
remember laying on the ground
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after it happened the
only thing I could say was.
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I mean, I couldn't even talk,
I couldn't breathe, nothing.
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So anyway a couple of
weeks after I had broken my--
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I'm serious, not
more than two weeks later
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I finally meet that
other security guard
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who I had it out
with on the phone.
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So I mean here it
is three months later
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I've never met him.
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So I'm at work
with my broken ribs
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and I show up to work
and I go up to my shack,
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my shanty, and
this guy is there.
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He is the guy I'm relieving.
So he comes out of the shanty.
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And I just tell
you, this guy had maded
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greasy hair
like he just woke up,
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his uniform was
dirty and, you know,
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he just-- he just
looked like he was a--
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he was a wreck as he came out,
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and he had this
very demented angry look
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on his face, very angry.
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And as he's
coming out he says to me
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"Are you the guy who
bowled me out on the phone
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at one time
three months earlier?"
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And I said, "Yeah."
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And he goes,
"Well, why don't we go
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and discuss this
outside of the gate.
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We'll take care
of this right now."
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So, you know, I just couldn't
back down from this guy,
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I couldn't do it. I
said, "All right, let's go."
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So we went outside the
gate and I misjudged this guy
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because this guy
started throwing those punches.
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I knew immediately I
was gonna get beat up,
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and I did. I got beat up.
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I got beat up so bad
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that I finally was
just laying on the ground
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trying to guard my broken ribs.
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Now as I'm laying there,
I quit, you know, I quit.
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I've got my ribs in this
guy just keeps beating me
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and pounding me and
kicking me and punching me,
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and I--and you
know, I finally yelled up.
00:11:02.72\00:11:04.71
I go, "Get off
from me you weirdo!"
00:11:04.74\00:11:07.58
And the guy says to
me, and I kid you not.
00:11:07.61\00:11:09.40
This is exactly what he said.
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He stops and I looked at
him, I see him and he goes,
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"You're right, I am a weirdo!
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The Bible says we're
strange and peculiar people."
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And boom, kicks
me again. True story.
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And it was just like
that, just like that.
00:11:22.58\00:11:25.42
Now--and the reason
I told you the story.
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I've had-- I can't tell you
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how many stories I
have that are similar,
00:11:29.65\00:11:32.00
but that one's awful.
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Can you imagine?
00:11:33.56\00:11:35.19
Me having to go back
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and tell all my tough
punk rocker and hardcore biker
00:11:36.62\00:11:40.40
and all these
different people I hung out."
00:11:40.43\00:11:42.68
Yeah, I got beat up by born
again Christian the other day.
00:11:42.71\00:11:45.90
He was trying to convert me.
00:11:45.93\00:11:48.31
Anyway, but the
point is this guy,
00:11:48.34\00:11:53.95
he presented me with a
false "image" of who God was.
00:11:53.98\00:12:01.57
A false image of who God was.
00:12:01.60\00:12:03.57
But even then, now I
wasn't a Christian at the time,
00:12:03.60\00:12:07.51
but even then I knew
that he had it wrong.
00:12:07.54\00:12:13.11
I knew this guy had it
wrong. And I was not impressed.
00:12:13.14\00:12:17.99
It was a false image, I
was not impressed. Okay.
00:12:18.02\00:12:22.08
Well, let's think
about the Great Controversy
00:12:22.11\00:12:23.74
for just a second.
00:12:23.77\00:12:25.38
Now God creates all of
His creatures with freewill
00:12:25.41\00:12:29.59
because He wants us to love
Him freely and intelligently
00:12:29.62\00:12:35.09
to chose to love Him,
not just be program to,
00:12:35.12\00:12:40.05
I mean that means
nothing. I love you, daddy.
00:12:40.08\00:12:43.36
I love you, daddy. I
mean, that means nothing.
00:12:43.39\00:12:44.89
The thing that
makes my children's love
00:12:44.92\00:12:46.63
valuable to me is in fact that
they could choose to hate me
00:12:46.66\00:12:49.92
if they wanted
to, but they don't,
00:12:49.95\00:12:52.13
they chose to love me
00:12:52.16\00:12:53.53
intelligently and
willfully, willingly. Okay.
00:12:53.56\00:12:58.70
So God creates all
creatures like that,
00:12:58.73\00:13:00.59
but unfortunately
the byproduct of freewill
00:13:00.62\00:13:05.99
is the option to
rebel. You have that option.
00:13:06.02\00:13:10.76
And God can't
take it away, okay.
00:13:10.79\00:13:14.74
Prior to the fall of Satan,
00:13:14.77\00:13:18.76
nobody had ever
explored that unexplored option.
00:13:18.79\00:13:24.75
Nobody had ever gone that route.
And nobody knows why he did it.
00:13:24.78\00:13:28.40
He's called the
mystery of iniquity.
00:13:28.43\00:13:30.45
To give a reason for,
it would be to excuse it.
00:13:30.48\00:13:33.96
There is no excuse.
00:13:33.99\00:13:35.40
Why did you go that route?
00:13:35.43\00:13:37.75
How could you
have gone that route?
00:13:37.78\00:13:39.49
What in a world
were you thinking?
00:13:39.52\00:13:41.34
Where did that come from?
00:13:41.38\00:13:43.22
Okay. But he went that route.
00:13:43.25\00:13:46.40
Now I want you to imagine.
00:13:46.43\00:13:48.70
Satan comes back from
exploring that option.
00:13:48.73\00:13:52.05
I mean, I'm just
putting it in the nutshell,
00:13:52.08\00:13:54.86
but he shows up and he
goes to the angels and he says,
00:13:54.89\00:13:59.74
"All right, listen.
Okay, I know you're content."
00:13:59.77\00:14:04.68
By the way, this
is a great argument.
00:14:04.71\00:14:06.56
I mean, I can't imagine what
it might have been like for me,
00:14:06.59\00:14:09.58
if I'd been there
hearing this argument.
00:14:09.61\00:14:11.64
He says, "I know you're content,
00:14:11.67\00:14:14.00
but the only
reason you're content
00:14:14.03\00:14:16.39
is because you don't realize
00:14:16.42\00:14:18.17
there's a
higher place you can go
00:14:18.20\00:14:21.12
and God does
not want you to know
00:14:21.15\00:14:23.11
that you can go
there 'cause He's selfish,
00:14:23.14\00:14:26.57
He's hogging all
the glory to Himself.
00:14:26.60\00:14:29.28
He wants to keep you
shackle down to His standard
00:14:29.31\00:14:31.93
or right or wrong. Right?
This is what he comes out.
00:14:31.96\00:14:35.66
And look--he says, "Look,
you guys, I have gone there.
00:14:35.69\00:14:40.00
And my eyes have been opened.
00:14:40.03\00:14:41.98
And I've gone to a higher place
00:14:42.01\00:14:44.16
and I'm no longer
shackle down to that.
00:14:44.19\00:14:46.82
In spite of his selfishness,
I've come to a higher place
00:14:46.85\00:14:51.67
and I have my own
standard of right and wrong.
00:14:51.70\00:14:53.69
And look, I'm not
dead, I'm not dead.
00:14:53.72\00:14:58.80
Maybe he can't kill me.
00:14:58.83\00:15:00.31
Who knows what he was thinking?
00:15:00.34\00:15:01.85
I mean, who knows
what Satan was thinking?
00:15:01.88\00:15:03.62
Maybe He can't kill me.
00:15:03.65\00:15:05.88
You know, I've gone to that
higher place, I become like God.
00:15:05.91\00:15:08.46
Maybe He can no longer kill me.
00:15:08.49\00:15:10.18
Maybe that's why
He wanted to keep me
00:15:10.21\00:15:11.58
away from exploring that
option in the first place
00:15:11.61\00:15:13.27
'cause He didn't want
me to be equal to Him.
00:15:13.30\00:15:15.89
You know, anyway the point is
00:15:15.92\00:15:19.63
he comes after
having explore that option
00:15:19.66\00:15:23.69
and he goes to those angels
00:15:23.72\00:15:26.00
and he presents to them an
image of God that he devised,
00:15:26.03\00:15:31.47
a false image that he crafted.
00:15:31.50\00:15:34.03
This is what God's
like. This is what God's like.
00:15:34.06\00:15:38.15
And of course, we
know a third of them
00:15:38.18\00:15:41.18
were impressed, were impressed.
00:15:41.21\00:15:44.41
Two-thirds of
them were not impressed
00:15:44.44\00:15:46.77
and they stayed back.
00:15:46.80\00:15:48.17
They said, we never
had a reason to doubt God,
00:15:48.20\00:15:49.65
we're staying back.
00:15:49.68\00:15:51.05
One-third says, "Well, he does
have a pretty good argument.
00:15:51.08\00:15:53.22
How do we really know?"
00:15:53.25\00:15:54.75
So they go. Very
bad move. Very bad move.
00:15:54.78\00:15:58.17
And then we know
he follows to earth.
00:15:58.20\00:16:00.30
He shows up in the
garden, same exact argument.
00:16:00.33\00:16:04.78
Eve-- now did God really say
00:16:04.81\00:16:09.64
that you can't eat of
every tree in the garden?
00:16:09.67\00:16:13.21
In other words, God's
holding back something.
00:16:13.24\00:16:16.25
He's selfish, He's
holding back something.
00:16:16.28\00:16:20.24
He's holding back that option.
00:16:20.27\00:16:22.64
She says, now we can
eat of all the trees,
00:16:22.67\00:16:24.69
but the one if we
eat of that we will die.
00:16:24.72\00:16:26.75
Satan says, "You will not die.
00:16:26.78\00:16:29.80
I'm not dead. I'm not dead.
00:16:29.83\00:16:32.90
But God doesn't want you to know
00:16:32.93\00:16:35.38
that in the day you
partake of that fruit,
00:16:35.41\00:16:37.97
your eyes will be open,
00:16:38.00\00:16:39.37
and you'll be like
God, knowing good from evil.
00:16:39.40\00:16:42.10
He wants to keep
you shackle down.
00:16:42.13\00:16:43.76
He doesn't want
your eyes to be open.
00:16:43.79\00:16:45.25
He doesn't want you to
know that you can be as high
00:16:45.28\00:16:48.16
and as grand as He is."
See, he does the same thing.
00:16:48.19\00:16:52.13
He presents that
same false image.
00:16:52.16\00:16:54.63
From the beginning of time,
00:16:54.66\00:16:56.60
Satan has
presented a false image
00:16:56.63\00:17:00.07
of who God is meant to make
00:17:00.10\00:17:02.01
a wrong impression
or false impression,
00:17:02.04\00:17:04.39
but those who are true,
those who are true seekers
00:17:04.42\00:17:07.51
and those who
are truly committed
00:17:07.54\00:17:09.25
will not be impressed. Okay.
00:17:09.28\00:17:12.87
Now when it comes to
falsely representing God,
00:17:12.90\00:17:20.37
I have to say and I think
most people here will agree,
00:17:20.40\00:17:25.06
but the way--
the method he uses.
00:17:25.09\00:17:28.00
The most affective way
00:17:28.03\00:17:30.72
that Satan keeps
people away from religion,
00:17:30.75\00:17:35.98
away from God I should say,
00:17:36.01\00:17:37.86
away from Christ
is through religion.
00:17:37.89\00:17:42.28
See, we need to, you know,
00:17:42.31\00:17:43.81
I really believe we need
to realize this all the time.
00:17:43.84\00:17:47.02
Satan has a vested interest
in turning the Adventist Church
00:17:47.05\00:17:50.47
into just another denomination.
That's not the case.
00:17:50.50\00:17:54.75
The Adventist Church has
a special, special mission.
00:17:54.78\00:17:59.33
We're not just
another denomination.
00:17:59.36\00:18:02.33
We can't afford to
pretend that we are one.
00:18:02.36\00:18:05.68
We need to realize that.
00:18:05.71\00:18:07.17
Satan's very hard at
work through false religion.
00:18:07.20\00:18:09.39
He is a counterfeiter, okay.
00:18:09.42\00:18:11.32
And he uses
religion most effectively
00:18:11.35\00:18:13.51
to keep people
from finding Christ.
00:18:13.54\00:18:16.66
He creates the false
image of who God is in religion.
00:18:16.69\00:18:20.04
It leaves a wrong impression
on those who accepted,
00:18:20.07\00:18:22.95
but those who are true seekers
00:18:22.98\00:18:24.58
and committed to
Christ will not be impressed.
00:18:24.61\00:18:27.18
When I--back in those
days when I was in my band.
00:18:27.21\00:18:30.75
We--we used to
make fun of these guys
00:18:30.78\00:18:33.06
who were, you
know, they were like
00:18:33.09\00:18:35.73
the Satan worship cheese metal.
00:18:35.76\00:18:38.35
You know, they had the big hair
00:18:38.38\00:18:39.75
and took themselves very serious
00:18:39.78\00:18:41.58
and their skin tightly at large.
00:18:41.61\00:18:43.61
Their black outfits and
their upside down crosses.
00:18:43.64\00:18:46.74
We worship the devil,
all this kind of stuff.
00:18:46.77\00:18:50.17
My friends and I
basically laughed at them.
00:18:50.20\00:18:53.32
I thought, well
they're just stupid.
00:18:53.35\00:18:55.21
We just thought what
in the world you guys,
00:18:55.24\00:18:57.24
come on, it's a show.
00:18:57.27\00:18:59.57
If I knew them guys
now, I would tell them, look,
00:18:59.60\00:19:04.11
"If you really want to
serve your master well,
00:19:04.14\00:19:07.64
go join the ministry
00:19:07.67\00:19:09.60
'cause that's where his highest
ranking officials are at,
00:19:09.63\00:19:13.30
keeping people away from
God. Ministry, ministry."
00:19:13.33\00:19:18.54
I want to give a
few examples. Okay.
00:19:18.57\00:19:22.28
You've turned on the
TV however many times,
00:19:22.31\00:19:25.57
you find on the TV
the "Televangelist."
00:19:25.60\00:19:28.49
The "Televangelists"
are the modern day
00:19:28.52\00:19:31.61
equivalence of the--
the traitors in the temple.
00:19:31.64\00:19:36.57
Christ needs to
drive them out with a whip.
00:19:36.60\00:19:39.54
These are the
traitors in the temple.
00:19:39.57\00:19:41.46
You run into these guys, some
of them are fake faith healers,
00:19:41.49\00:19:46.70
we need to call it what it is.
00:19:46.73\00:19:48.55
And I am unapologetic
00:19:48.58\00:19:50.94
when I state
they're fake faith healers.
00:19:50.97\00:19:54.58
You have the
prosperity preachers
00:19:54.61\00:19:56.42
that think that God's
all about you making money,
00:19:56.45\00:19:59.40
that's the richest that
Christ wants you to have, wrong.
00:19:59.43\00:20:03.51
It's very shallow,
it's very superficial,
00:20:03.54\00:20:05.91
and it's more
greedy than it is godly.
00:20:05.94\00:20:09.92
You have the
prosperity, name and claim.
00:20:09.95\00:20:14.09
And, guys, when you
pray God, give me a Cadillac,
00:20:14.12\00:20:16.90
you tell Him what
color. This is ridiculous.
00:20:16.93\00:20:23.03
You know, and
then you have people
00:20:23.06\00:20:24.45
who mean well, I think,
00:20:24.48\00:20:26.96
but they actually
will reduce the Bible
00:20:26.99\00:20:30.63
to be just a
psychology self help book.
00:20:30.66\00:20:35.97
Now I have to say
since I've been a Christian,
00:20:36.00\00:20:39.92
I have come to realize
00:20:39.95\00:20:41.47
that this is a
psychological self help book.
00:20:41.50\00:20:44.73
It has helped me--
helped me many, many times.
00:20:44.76\00:20:47.91
But with that said, it's
way, way, way more than that.
00:20:47.94\00:20:52.86
I mean, that's an aspect of it.
00:20:52.89\00:20:54.26
There are other things
that you get from this book.
00:20:54.29\00:20:58.25
A lot of other things.
00:20:58.28\00:21:00.17
So anyway, I see
these "Televangelists"
00:21:00.20\00:21:02.62
and I asked myself, you
know, even in the old days
00:21:02.65\00:21:05.80
it's just really
what Christ had in mind?
00:21:05.83\00:21:09.60
Is this what He had in mind?
00:21:09.63\00:21:11.24
I mean, ask
yourself that somebody
00:21:11.27\00:21:12.64
you might watch these--
00:21:12.67\00:21:14.04
these "Televangelists,"
and you might enjoy them,
00:21:14.07\00:21:15.90
but you got to ask them always,
is this what Christ wanted?
00:21:15.93\00:21:22.52
Oh, yeah, there it is.
00:21:22.55\00:21:24.03
There is Christianity.
It was always like that.
00:21:24.06\00:21:25.82
Even in Jesus day, He was
just like these "Televangelist."
00:21:25.85\00:21:29.48
I don't think so. This
is a method Satan uses.
00:21:29.51\00:21:32.59
This is the false image of God,
meant to make an impression,
00:21:32.62\00:21:38.50
but the people of God
will not be impressed by it,
00:21:38.53\00:21:42.34
and the true seekers of God
will not be impressed by it.
00:21:42.37\00:21:45.54
Another method He
uses is fanaticism.
00:21:45.57\00:21:49.20
I, you know, a lot
of people don't know it,
00:21:49.23\00:21:51.51
but when I was a
teenager for about a year
00:21:51.54\00:21:54.97
I was involved in
a fanatical church,
00:21:55.00\00:21:57.43
a huge fanatical church.
00:21:57.46\00:21:59.53
I had a good friend
in the church with me
00:21:59.56\00:22:01.16
by the name of Dave, okay.
00:22:01.19\00:22:03.84
Now Dave and I we
didn't act fanatical,
00:22:03.87\00:22:07.06
but the truth is we felt guilty
because we didn't act fanatical.
00:22:07.09\00:22:11.75
We thought we
didn't have any guts.
00:22:11.78\00:22:13.53
We thought that we
were shame to the gospel,
00:22:13.56\00:22:15.73
because we didn't act fanatical.
00:22:15.76\00:22:18.37
And there was a guy we
knew in the church, name Bell,
00:22:18.40\00:22:20.88
who was a serious fanatic
00:22:20.91\00:22:24.31
and he was regarded
highly in the church
00:22:24.34\00:22:27.32
because he was fanatical.
00:22:27.35\00:22:29.58
And we decided, well
maybe this is the guy
00:22:29.61\00:22:32.63
we should hangout with, maybe
some of him will rub off on us.
00:22:32.66\00:22:35.75
So we hooked with this guy
00:22:35.78\00:22:37.29
and we decided to go to
the Fairlane mall over Inkster,
00:22:37.32\00:22:40.63
I mean over in Dearborn,
and we walked into this place
00:22:40.66\00:22:45.19
and it was
absolutely horrifying.
00:22:45.22\00:22:47.87
I mean, it was just awful.
00:22:47.90\00:22:49.53
This guy was walking up
to every person he's seen.
00:22:49.56\00:22:53.91
I went, just wanted
to go buy some records
00:22:53.94\00:22:55.94
or you know, look at
some clothes or something.
00:22:55.97\00:22:58.75
He is walking up to every
person he sees in the mall
00:22:58.78\00:23:02.17
and getting in
their face and saying,
00:23:02.20\00:23:03.57
"Do you know Jesus
Christ as your Lord and Savior?"
00:23:03.60\00:23:05.77
Brother, 'cause I'm telling you,
if you don't there's gonna be
00:23:05.80\00:23:08.09
repercussions
etcetera, etcetera.
00:23:08.12\00:23:09.92
And people are looking
at him like he's insane
00:23:09.95\00:23:12.53
and here's Dave and I were
embarrassed out of our mind
00:23:12.56\00:23:14.93
and feeling guilty
for being embarrassed.
00:23:14.96\00:23:19.42
Well, now I look
back and I'm glad
00:23:19.45\00:23:21.26
that I was
embarrassed, I'm glad.
00:23:21.29\00:23:23.77
Now I want to read.
00:23:23.80\00:23:26.98
Fanaticism is a serious
deadly spiritual condition.
00:23:27.01\00:23:31.60
I just want to say that.
00:23:31.63\00:23:33.00
Fanaticism is false
zeal, counterfeit zeal.
00:23:33.03\00:23:37.79
I have to say, you know,
00:23:37.82\00:23:39.43
when I'm giving Bible
studies, especially in prophecy,
00:23:39.46\00:23:42.11
when I'm teaching prophecy,
00:23:42.14\00:23:44.11
can I go deep into
prophecy with people.
00:23:44.14\00:23:46.73
And I want them to
be firmly rooted in it,
00:23:46.76\00:23:49.23
either church
members or outsiders,
00:23:49.26\00:23:51.08
I want them to see who we are.
00:23:51.11\00:23:53.11
When I start teaching
prophecy, I can tell you now.
00:23:53.14\00:23:55.92
Sometimes my-- I
can start out lethargic
00:23:55.95\00:23:59.24
and as the study
goes, my blood starts to--
00:23:59.27\00:24:01.73
starts to flow and then
pretty soon I'm standing up
00:24:01.76\00:24:04.78
and I'm doing body language
00:24:04.81\00:24:06.18
and I'm--I'm just--
I'm hammering it in.
00:24:06.21\00:24:08.71
My actual physicality
is altered by the truth.
00:24:08.74\00:24:12.19
And I call tell you it's not
fanatical, it's genuine zeal.
00:24:12.22\00:24:15.64
Matter of fact, I
have to calm myself down
00:24:15.67\00:24:19.08
so that I don't look ridiculous.
00:24:19.11\00:24:20.60
I have to go, take
it easy, take it easy.
00:24:20.63\00:24:24.08
So I mean, I'm
really, really into it.
00:24:24.11\00:24:26.31
But that's
different, that's different.
00:24:26.34\00:24:28.21
Fanaticism is counterfeit zeal,
00:24:28.24\00:24:30.07
and you can spot
it, you can see it.
00:24:30.10\00:24:32.67
When you see counterfeit zeal,
you know, it's counterfeit.
00:24:32.70\00:24:36.29
I want to read this
from Life Sketches page 85.
00:24:36.32\00:24:40.49
Fanaticism.
00:24:40.52\00:24:41.89
You wanna hear what a
problem fanaticism is.
00:24:41.92\00:24:45.16
I was so happy when I came
in the church and read this.
00:24:45.19\00:24:48.33
She says, "As I
returned to Portland,
00:24:48.36\00:24:50.88
there were increasing evidences
00:24:50.91\00:24:52.45
of the desolating
effects of fanaticism.
00:24:52.48\00:24:55.12
Some seemed to
think that religion
00:24:55.15\00:24:56.67
consisted in great
excitement and noise.
00:24:56.70\00:24:59.15
They would talk in a manner
that would irritate unbelievers,
00:24:59.18\00:25:03.15
and have an influence to
arouse hatred against themselves
00:25:03.18\00:25:06.70
and the doctrines they taught.
00:25:06.73\00:25:08.73
Then they would rejoice
that they suffered persecution.
00:25:08.76\00:25:12.67
Unbelievers could see no
consistency in such a course.
00:25:12.70\00:25:16.46
The brethren in some
places were prevented
00:25:16.49\00:25:19.33
from assembling for meetings.
00:25:19.36\00:25:20.95
The innocent
suffered with the guilty.
00:25:20.98\00:25:24.23
I carried a sad and
heavy heart much of the time.
00:25:24.26\00:25:26.76
It seemed so cruel
00:25:26.79\00:25:28.16
that the cause of
Christ should be injured
00:25:28.19\00:25:30.90
by the course of
these injudicious men.
00:25:30.93\00:25:33.23
They were not only
ruining their own souls,
00:25:33.26\00:25:35.54
but placing upon the cause--
00:25:35.57\00:25:38.39
placing upon the cause a
stigma not easily removed.
00:25:38.42\00:25:43.31
And Satan loved to have it so.
00:25:43.34\00:25:45.02
It suited him
well to see the truth
00:25:45.05\00:25:47.22
handled by unsanctified men,
to have it mixed with error,
00:25:47.25\00:25:51.83
and then all
together trampled in the dust.
00:25:51.86\00:25:54.92
He looked with
triumph upon the confused,
00:25:54.95\00:25:57.44
scattered state
of God's children."
00:25:57.47\00:25:59.67
And you know,
what's interesting?
00:25:59.70\00:26:01.07
She says, "They're
placing upon the cause
00:26:01.10\00:26:03.31
a stigma not easily removed."
00:26:03.34\00:26:07.04
What would she think now
if she lived in our time?
00:26:07.07\00:26:09.49
What would she say?
She was so right, so right.
00:26:09.52\00:26:14.91
So fanaticism, for me, that's
a big one, that's a big one.
00:26:14.94\00:26:18.38
I absolutely despise
it to be honest with you.
00:26:18.41\00:26:21.16
It makes me sick.
Okay, I--all right.
00:26:21.19\00:26:26.93
Now I want to talk
about the hell doctrine, okay.
00:26:26.96\00:26:31.38
You know, I think I
said before in my testimony.
00:26:31.41\00:26:34.24
I had prayed to God that He
would show me the right way.
00:26:34.27\00:26:37.89
I said, "God, I
don't know the right way.
00:26:37.92\00:26:40.35
I know You exist.
00:26:40.38\00:26:41.75
Intellectually,
it's undeniable."
00:26:41.78\00:26:43.46
Though it's unfathomable,
it's also undeniable.
00:26:43.49\00:26:46.92
So but what-- what do I know?
00:26:46.95\00:26:48.32
I don't know
the right way to go,
00:26:48.35\00:26:49.72
I need You to show me.
00:26:49.75\00:26:51.12
I throw my hands up and
say, show me, show me the way.
00:26:51.15\00:26:57.81
And I also said,
this is the point.
00:26:57.84\00:27:00.67
"Give me an indicator
00:27:00.70\00:27:03.13
that this is
something worth looking into.
00:27:03.16\00:27:06.19
Adventism showed up in
my life very soon after that
00:27:06.22\00:27:10.82
and the indicator God gave me
00:27:10.85\00:27:13.10
as a part of my prayer request
answered was the hell doctrine.
00:27:13.13\00:27:19.68
I discovered that
Adventist don't teach it
00:27:19.71\00:27:22.36
and they show me
the truth about hell.
00:27:22.39\00:27:24.66
And when they
show me that truth,
00:27:24.69\00:27:26.66
Christianity look
that much more plausible."
00:27:26.69\00:27:29.50
And I said, "Maybe
this is God's answer.
00:27:29.53\00:27:31.42
Maybe I should look into this."
00:27:31.45\00:27:32.82
And I looked into it
and it was the right way.
00:27:32.85\00:27:35.90
But hell, I'm
just saying I feel so,
00:27:35.93\00:27:38.54
so strongly about this.
00:27:38.57\00:27:41.22
Hell, the idea of the
hell burns forever and ever
00:27:41.25\00:27:44.15
torturing you for all eternity
00:27:44.18\00:27:46.83
is so absolutely
horrifying and so evil.
00:27:46.86\00:27:51.53
I mean, it would drive a person
00:27:51.56\00:27:53.08
absolutely out of their
mind to try to comprehend it,
00:27:53.11\00:27:56.26
try holding a hot match to your
finger for three seconds, okay.
00:27:56.29\00:28:01.49
Now imagine your whole body.
00:28:01.52\00:28:02.89
Imagine you
putting your kids in--
00:28:02.92\00:28:06.89
you know, taking your kid's hand
00:28:06.92\00:28:08.29
and putting on the
stove for five seconds.
00:28:08.32\00:28:10.46
Could you do that?
00:28:10.49\00:28:11.86
That is so unbelievably cruel
00:28:11.89\00:28:13.36
and yet God, our
Father is gonna put us
00:28:13.39\00:28:16.04
into a place of eternal
torment for all eternity.
00:28:16.07\00:28:18.85
I don't think so.
00:28:18.88\00:28:20.25
Now when I used to
do door-to-door work.
00:28:20.28\00:28:25.16
I had a question
on my survey, okay.
00:28:25.19\00:28:28.27
And I did a real survey.
00:28:28.30\00:28:29.67
I wanted to find
out what people thought.
00:28:29.70\00:28:31.67
And on my survey,
one of my questions was,
00:28:31.70\00:28:35.36
"Do you find it difficult to
reconcile supposedly loving God
00:28:35.39\00:28:39.73
with the God that
sentences sinners to an eternity
00:28:39.76\00:28:43.56
in the
torturing flames of fire."
00:28:43.59\00:28:45.60
And I thought this
was a good question.
00:28:45.63\00:28:47.18
I thought this will get
a lot of people interested.
00:28:47.21\00:28:50.38
I was surprise.
00:28:50.41\00:28:51.78
I was shocked to find out
00:28:51.81\00:28:53.76
that probably
about 90% of the people
00:28:53.79\00:28:56.16
I talked to said, "No, I
don't have a problem with it.
00:28:56.19\00:28:59.27
They chose to go to hell."
And I'd say, "No, they didn't.
00:28:59.30\00:29:04.90
Nobody would
choose to go to hell."
00:29:04.93\00:29:06.91
And if God was as
merciful as He says He is,
00:29:06.94\00:29:09.75
He wouldn't put them there.
00:29:09.78\00:29:11.15
He would just
take the life away.
00:29:11.18\00:29:12.69
What's the point in
teaching them a lesson
00:29:12.72\00:29:16.39
from which they could never had
benefited from having learnt.
00:29:16.42\00:29:19.86
There's no point.
00:29:19.89\00:29:21.51
So anyway the hell doctrine,
00:29:21.54\00:29:23.45
I had a debate with a
guy, one of my old jobs
00:29:23.48\00:29:26.56
and he and I were
talking about this very subject,
00:29:26.59\00:29:31.46
and at the end of
the conversation he says,
00:29:31.49\00:29:33.22
"All right, Kelly, tell me this.
00:29:33.25\00:29:35.79
If there is no hell,
why should I be a Christian?
00:29:35.82\00:29:38.07
Why should I go on
being a Christian?"
00:29:38.10\00:29:39.97
I said, "Man, if the only
reason that you're Christian,
00:29:40.00\00:29:44.38
is because you're afraid of
God frying you for all eternity,
00:29:44.41\00:29:46.94
then you're not one." It's true.
00:29:46.97\00:29:49.82
How can you be a Christian
if that's your motivation?"
00:29:49.85\00:29:53.10
I mean, Romans 2:4 says,
"It's the goodness of God
00:29:53.13\00:29:57.56
that leads us to repentance."
The goodness of God.
00:29:57.59\00:30:01.02
See, I'm attracted
to God's character,
00:30:01.05\00:30:03.67
that's what wins me over,
00:30:03.70\00:30:05.07
has nothing to
do with punishment.
00:30:05.10\00:30:07.04
Well, there is--
there is a little bit,
00:30:07.07\00:30:09.05
there is a little
bit of motivation there,
00:30:09.08\00:30:10.55
but by enlarge God's character
has really won me over.
00:30:10.58\00:30:16.32
I see God is the
most excellent thing
00:30:16.35\00:30:18.81
that it is possible to obtain.
00:30:18.84\00:30:20.78
I mean, it's
everything I believe in it,
00:30:20.81\00:30:23.78
it's everything
I want to be, okay.
00:30:23.81\00:30:26.73
So anyway Romans 2:4.
00:30:26.76\00:30:31.03
"The goodness of God leads
you to repentance not hell."
00:30:31.06\00:30:33.92
The hell doctrine is
Satan creating a false image
00:30:33.95\00:30:36.96
of who God is which
makes a wrong impression,
00:30:36.99\00:30:39.98
but the true people of God
00:30:40.01\00:30:41.71
and the true seekers
of God are not impressed.
00:30:41.74\00:30:44.46
They're not impressed.
Okay. Cheap grace, legalism.
00:30:44.49\00:30:50.34
Cheap grace, I can
earn my salvation, legalism.
00:30:50.37\00:30:54.09
I mean, cheap grace, Christ died
00:30:54.12\00:30:56.13
so that I can
conveniently go on sinning
00:30:56.16\00:30:58.11
and still expect to
eat from the tree of life.
00:30:58.14\00:31:01.34
Legalism, I can
earn my salvation.
00:31:01.37\00:31:03.77
Righteousness by works,
00:31:03.80\00:31:05.17
but we know righteousness is
not by works, it is by faith.
00:31:05.20\00:31:08.84
I have been won
back over to Christ.
00:31:08.87\00:31:11.84
I have been won
back over the evidence.
00:31:11.87\00:31:14.49
The witness is that God is good.
00:31:14.52\00:31:17.30
I've been won back to
Him, He's reconciled me.
00:31:17.33\00:31:20.55
These two doctrines, cheap grace
00:31:20.58\00:31:22.17
and legalism are
another false image,
00:31:22.20\00:31:26.74
meantally make a wrong, a
false impression on people,
00:31:26.77\00:31:29.89
but the true people of God
00:31:29.92\00:31:31.29
and the true seekers
of God are not impressed.
00:31:31.32\00:31:34.18
And finally, 'cause I
can go on and on all day.
00:31:34.21\00:31:37.02
But this is the
final one I wanna use.
00:31:37.05\00:31:38.92
During the Dark
Ages, the church,
00:31:38.95\00:31:41.83
"The Church" in
the name of "Christ"
00:31:41.86\00:31:45.50
murdered so many-I mean,
think about the martyrdom
00:31:45.53\00:31:48.96
and the tortures,
Spanish inquisition,
00:31:48.99\00:31:50.82
the imprisonment, the
fines, the war etcetera.
00:31:50.85\00:31:54.24
I mean, so many evil things.
00:31:54.27\00:31:57.43
I don't know if
anybody here has read the book,
00:31:57.46\00:31:59.80
"Foxe's Book of Martyrs."
00:31:59.83\00:32:01.53
I did and I can
say it was hard reading
00:32:01.56\00:32:04.21
not because it was wordy,
00:32:04.24\00:32:05.65
but because it was so
absolutely horrifying.
00:32:05.68\00:32:09.22
I had to stop reading
at two-thirds of the way,
00:32:09.25\00:32:11.62
I had to put it away 'cause
00:32:11.65\00:32:13.02
it was too hard
to read, you know.
00:32:13.05\00:32:15.59
These are the
things we're looking at.
00:32:15.62\00:32:17.10
Satan uses these things.
00:32:17.13\00:32:19.44
I've heard people say,
"More wars have been in fought
00:32:19.47\00:32:21.89
in the name of Christianity
than any other reason."
00:32:21.92\00:32:24.57
And sadly, that's the truth.
00:32:24.60\00:32:27.38
Okay, the devil
misrepresents God,
00:32:27.41\00:32:29.56
does it through religion.
00:32:29.59\00:32:30.96
He creates a false image,
00:32:30.99\00:32:32.74
he crafts a false
image of who God is,
00:32:32.77\00:32:36.65
meant to make a
false impression,
00:32:36.68\00:32:38.89
but the true people of God
00:32:38.92\00:32:40.74
and the true seekers of
God are not impressed, okay.
00:32:40.77\00:32:45.59
Satan in attempting
to ruin God's image,
00:32:45.62\00:32:47.31
he creates a false
image of who God is
00:32:47.34\00:32:49.95
with the intension of
leaving a wrong impression
00:32:49.98\00:32:52.01
or making a mark on those
00:32:52.04\00:32:54.09
who accept this
inaccurate portrayal.
00:32:54.12\00:32:57.23
There's two kinds of people
that are impressed by this.
00:32:57.26\00:33:00.36
First, there is the people
who accept this false image
00:33:00.39\00:33:03.68
and worship this false image,
00:33:03.71\00:33:05.55
but then there
is the other group.
00:33:05.58\00:33:06.96
And these people are the ones
00:33:06.99\00:33:08.42
who are repelled
by this false image
00:33:08.45\00:33:10.18
and they throw the
baby out with the bathwater.
00:33:10.21\00:33:13.55
Satan loves it. Satan loves it.
00:33:13.58\00:33:16.14
Some people reject religion
for all the right reasons,
00:33:16.17\00:33:19.64
and Satan loves it when they do.
00:33:19.67\00:33:23.39
Okay, now turn
to 2nd Peter 2:1-2.
00:33:23.42\00:33:29.55
2nd Peter 2:1-2.
00:33:29.58\00:33:34.99
It says, therefore--I'm
sorry, I'm on the wrong one.
00:33:39.00\00:33:42.23
2nd Peter 2:1-2.
00:33:42.26\00:33:48.58
It says, "But there were also
false prophets among the people,
00:33:48.61\00:33:52.25
even as there will be
false teachers among you,
00:33:52.28\00:33:55.66
who will secretly bring
in destructive heresies,
00:33:55.69\00:33:58.72
even denying the
Lord who bought them,
00:33:58.75\00:34:01.12
and bring on
themselves swift destruction."
00:34:01.15\00:34:03.21
You deny God with your actions.
00:34:03.24\00:34:05.11
You can claim to be a Christian
and pay Him lip service all day,
00:34:05.14\00:34:07.95
but you deny Him
with your actions.
00:34:07.98\00:34:09.76
Action speak louder than words.
00:34:09.79\00:34:13.30
Verse 2, "And many will
follow their destructive ways,
00:34:13.33\00:34:18.55
because of whom the way
of truth will be blasphemed."
00:34:18.58\00:34:24.12
These are the false
prophets that are in the church,
00:34:24.15\00:34:26.42
they're among you
and because of whom
00:34:26.45\00:34:30.09
the way of truth
will be blasphemed.
00:34:30.12\00:34:32.98
Satan's false image
makes its mark on the mind,
00:34:33.01\00:34:37.29
the core, the
heart, the character.
00:34:37.32\00:34:40.22
And ultimately it's revealed
in the behavior of those
00:34:40.25\00:34:43.97
who are impressed by it,
00:34:44.00\00:34:46.88
but God's people who truly
know Him will not be impressed,
00:34:46.91\00:34:49.91
it will not make
its mark on them.
00:34:49.94\00:34:51.97
God's people are to
be a courtroom witness
00:34:52.00\00:34:54.29
of the true character of God.
00:34:54.32\00:34:56.20
They're to remove
the obstacles of belief
00:34:56.23\00:34:58.61
and bring the baby
back, bring the baby.
00:34:58.64\00:35:02.22
You don't wanna throw this away.
00:35:02.25\00:35:04.28
Now I believe and I know
00:35:04.31\00:35:06.19
that God will have
people at the end of time.
00:35:06.22\00:35:09.24
An end time Elijah
00:35:09.27\00:35:10.64
who does a work of
reform and restoration.
00:35:10.67\00:35:12.45
Jesus said, "Elijah is coming
and he will restore all things."
00:35:12.48\00:35:17.57
And he's already
come. Jesus said that.
00:35:17.60\00:35:19.71
We know there is an
end time Elijah, right?
00:35:19.74\00:35:24.27
End time Elijah does a
work of reform and restoration.
00:35:24.30\00:35:27.95
Elijah restores all
things, working in correlation
00:35:27.98\00:35:31.11
with the
cleansing of the sanctuary.
00:35:31.14\00:35:32.90
He repairs the
altar, literally Elijah
00:35:32.93\00:35:36.00
and restores God's image
in the minds of the people.
00:35:36.03\00:35:41.65
He prepares the way for
Elisha, a type of Christ.
00:35:41.68\00:35:45.26
John the Baptist,
another Elijah restores religion
00:35:45.29\00:35:50.73
and prepares the way for
the first coming of Christ.
00:35:50.76\00:35:52.95
End time Elijah
working in correlation
00:35:52.98\00:35:55.29
with the
cleansing of the sanctuary
00:35:55.32\00:35:57.75
restores the true image of
God in the minds of the people
00:35:57.78\00:36:02.45
paving the way for the
second coming of Christ, okay.
00:36:02.48\00:36:06.51
Elijah restores God's
image in the mind of the people
00:36:06.54\00:36:09.75
and gives glory to
the true God of heaven.
00:36:09.78\00:36:13.43
Turn to Revelation 14:6-7.
00:36:13.46\00:36:20.13
Revelation 14:6-7.
00:36:20.16\00:36:28.07
Okay.
00:36:29.23\00:36:30.60
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven
00:36:30.63\00:36:33.84
having the everlasting gospel
00:36:33.87\00:36:35.90
to preach to those
who dwell in the earth,
00:36:35.93\00:36:38.00
to every nation,
tribe, tongue and people.
00:36:38.03\00:36:41.51
Saying with a loud voice,
fear God, and give glory to him
00:36:41.54\00:36:47.72
for the hour of
his judgment has come.
00:36:47.75\00:36:51.90
Fear God, and give glory to him
00:36:51.93\00:36:55.89
for the hour of
his judgment has come
00:36:55.92\00:36:57.40
and worship him who made
the heaven, the earth, the sea,
00:36:57.43\00:37:00.23
and springs of
water, give glory to him
00:37:00.26\00:37:03.59
the hour of His
judgment has come."
00:37:03.62\00:37:05.16
What does it mean?
'Cause this is end time Elijah.
00:37:05.19\00:37:08.00
What does it mean
to give glory to God?
00:37:08.03\00:37:12.69
Bible Commentary
Volume 7 page 979,
00:37:12.72\00:37:17.26
that's Bible
Commentary Volume 7 page 979,
00:37:17.29\00:37:22.80
"To give glory to God
00:37:22.83\00:37:24.66
is to reveal His
character in our own,
00:37:24.69\00:37:28.33
and thus make Him known.
00:37:28.36\00:37:30.21
And in whatever way
we make known the Father
00:37:30.24\00:37:33.35
or the Son, we glorify
God." That's so important.
00:37:33.38\00:37:37.73
And I'm gonna read it again.
00:37:37.76\00:37:39.98
"To give glory to God
00:37:40.01\00:37:42.54
is to reveal His
character in our own,
00:37:42.57\00:37:45.99
and thus make Him known.
00:37:46.02\00:37:48.41
And in whatever way
we make known the Father
00:37:48.44\00:37:51.36
or the Son, we glorify God."
00:37:51.39\00:37:56.51
In what way does the
true character of God
00:37:56.54\00:37:59.06
manifested self in us.
00:37:59.09\00:38:01.33
Jesus says, "By their
fruits you'll know them."
00:38:01.36\00:38:04.55
And He also said,
00:38:04.58\00:38:05.95
"By this all men will
know that you are my disciples
00:38:05.98\00:38:07.89
that you have
love one for another."
00:38:07.92\00:38:10.43
Okay, it's the actions of
love, the fruits of the spirits.
00:38:10.46\00:38:17.00
If anybody here has
ever heard the quote
00:38:17.03\00:38:20.46
so and so is too heavenly minded
to be of any earthly good.
00:38:20.49\00:38:26.11
Well, you know, I've heard it
00:38:26.14\00:38:28.40
and I understand what
they mean by that quote.
00:38:28.43\00:38:31.39
What they're
talking about there is,
00:38:31.42\00:38:32.79
the religious person who really
doesn't go in the outside world,
00:38:32.82\00:38:36.16
really doesn't do anything,
but go to church meetings,
00:38:36.19\00:38:38.73
go to church and, you
know, as a part of all these
00:38:38.76\00:38:41.24
church functions
etcetera, etcetera.
00:38:41.27\00:38:43.57
Yeah, I can
understand that respect.
00:38:43.60\00:38:45.80
But the true, the person
who is truly heavenly minded
00:38:45.83\00:38:50.18
will not be of no earthly good.
00:38:50.21\00:38:52.79
Let me read this.
Another CS Lewis quote.
00:38:52.82\00:38:57.00
Okay, let me just
find it here real quick.
00:38:57.03\00:39:02.57
Okay, 178.
00:39:02.60\00:39:04.83
He says, "If you read history
00:39:04.86\00:39:06.23
you will find
that the Christians
00:39:06.26\00:39:08.09
who did most of
the present world,
00:39:08.12\00:39:09.87
for the present
world were just those
00:39:09.90\00:39:13.44
who thought the
most of the next.
00:39:13.47\00:39:15.54
The Apostles
themselves, who set on foot
00:39:15.57\00:39:18.49
in the conversion
of the Roman Empire,
00:39:18.52\00:39:20.40
the great men who
built up the Middle Ages,
00:39:20.43\00:39:22.78
the English Evangelicals
00:39:22.81\00:39:24.29
who abolished the slave trade
all left their mark on earth,
00:39:24.32\00:39:28.51
precisely because their
minds were occupied with heaven.
00:39:28.54\00:39:32.15
It is since
Christians have largely ceased
00:39:32.18\00:39:34.39
to think of the other
world that they have become
00:39:34.42\00:39:37.28
so ineffective in this.
00:39:37.31\00:39:39.53
Aim at heaven and you
will get this world thrown in."
00:39:39.56\00:39:43.13
Free of charge.
00:39:43.16\00:39:44.74
Aim at earth and
you will get neither.
00:39:44.77\00:39:47.23
And I couldn't agree
more, couldn't agree more.
00:39:47.26\00:39:51.77
The Galatians 5:22-23.
00:39:51.80\00:39:59.30
Galatians 5:22-23.
00:39:59.33\00:40:07.13
The fruits of the Spirit.
00:40:07.16\00:40:12.15
"But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace,
00:40:12.18\00:40:17.14
longsuffering,
kindness, goodness,
00:40:17.17\00:40:20.50
faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control.
00:40:20.53\00:40:24.12
Against such there is no law."
00:40:24.15\00:40:26.66
Character, the
character of God, okay.
00:40:26.69\00:40:30.43
1st Corinthians 13:4-8.
00:40:30.46\00:40:34.82
I'm just gonna
rattle off a few here.
00:40:34.85\00:40:37.23
1st Corinthians 13:4-8. Okay.
00:40:37.26\00:40:42.84
"Love suffers long and
is kind love does not envy
00:40:42.87\00:40:46.56
love does not parade
itself, is not puffed up,
00:40:46.59\00:40:49.57
does not behave
rudely, does not seek its own,
00:40:49.60\00:40:52.59
is not provoked, thinks no evil,
does not rejoice in iniquity,
00:40:52.62\00:40:57.03
but rejoices in the truth,
00:40:57.06\00:40:58.85
bears all things,
believes all things,
00:40:58.88\00:41:01.81
hopes all things,
endures all things.
00:41:01.84\00:41:04.62
Love never fails."
00:41:04.65\00:41:08.02
You see, that's
beautiful, that's beautiful.
00:41:08.05\00:41:10.00
Love is powerful.
00:41:10.03\00:41:11.95
It's been reduced in
this world to be fluffy,
00:41:11.98\00:41:15.72
emotionalism and it
does include emotion,
00:41:15.75\00:41:18.96
but love is
powerful. Love is God.
00:41:18.99\00:41:23.88
Love is the character
of the true God, okay.
00:41:23.91\00:41:28.40
Philippians 4:8.
00:41:28.43\00:41:32.24
Philippians 4:8.
00:41:32.27\00:41:34.94
I just got a couple
more, so bear with me.
00:41:34.97\00:41:39.37
Philippians 4. I
forget where it's at.
00:41:39.40\00:41:41.90
Oh, oh. Well, I'll just read
it. I got it written right here.
00:41:47.96\00:41:53.16
It says, "Finally brothers."
00:41:53.19\00:41:54.61
One of my favorite text,
00:41:54.64\00:41:56.01
I guess I should
know where it's at.
00:41:56.04\00:41:57.62
"Finally brethren,
whatever things are true, noble,
00:41:57.65\00:42:01.89
just, pure, lovely, credible,
virtuous, praiseworthy,
00:42:01.92\00:42:09.09
meditate on these things."
00:42:09.12\00:42:12.13
Christ reveals God's character
by coming from the highest place
00:42:12.16\00:42:16.07
to take the lowest place.
00:42:16.10\00:42:18.09
Reveals God's
love and self sacrifice
00:42:18.12\00:42:21.23
and God's just
integrity in His life
00:42:21.26\00:42:23.86
of perfect obedience to
God's law of selfless love.
00:42:23.89\00:42:28.21
And why did He do it?
00:42:28.24\00:42:29.78
Well, it's like
we've been talking about.
00:42:29.81\00:42:31.93
He did it to
duplicate God's image in us.
00:42:31.96\00:42:36.34
His excellence, His
courage, His faithfulness,
00:42:36.37\00:42:39.55
His dignity, His purity,
His integrity, His concern
00:42:39.58\00:42:43.51
and love even for
His enemies. Okay.
00:42:43.54\00:42:47.49
On the other hand,
down here at the end
00:42:47.52\00:42:50.93
we don't want to be
caste in with the mainstream
00:42:50.96\00:42:56.82
who published the
bad press, the bad press.
00:42:56.85\00:43:02.38
2nd Timothy 3:1-5.
00:43:02.41\00:43:08.88
2nd Timothy 3:1-5.
00:43:08.91\00:43:13.86
"But know this,
00:43:17.07\00:43:18.44
that in the last days
perilous times will come.
00:43:18.47\00:43:21.41
For men will be
lovers of themselves,
00:43:21.44\00:43:23.64
lovers of money,
boasters, proud, blasphemers,
00:43:23.67\00:43:28.55
disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, unloving,
00:43:28.58\00:43:33.50
unforgiving, slanderers,
without self-control,
00:43:33.53\00:43:37.52
brutal, despisers of good,
traitors, headstrong, haughty,
00:43:37.55\00:43:42.53
lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God,
00:43:42.56\00:43:44.94
having a form of godliness."
You see that's the catch.
00:43:44.97\00:43:49.55
See, everybody
reads and they think,
00:43:49.58\00:43:50.95
oh, these are worldly people.
Well, yeah, they are worldly.
00:43:50.98\00:43:54.55
But they hide behind
the title of Christianity.
00:43:54.58\00:43:58.89
They take the name Christianity
and they take that name in vain.
00:43:58.92\00:44:04.05
They have a form of godliness,
but they deny its power.
00:44:04.08\00:44:08.10
Of course they do.
00:44:08.13\00:44:09.50
All those actions
speak louder than words.
00:44:09.53\00:44:11.66
They deny its power. Okay.
00:44:11.69\00:44:16.43
And then Paul goes on to say,
00:44:16.46\00:44:18.26
"From such people turn away."
00:44:18.29\00:44:21.33
Now that might seem harsh,
00:44:21.36\00:44:23.03
I mean we
sometimes we compromise,
00:44:23.06\00:44:25.93
you know, we
want to join our ranks
00:44:25.96\00:44:28.36
with people
that are, from these,
00:44:28.39\00:44:33.30
you know, these
other belief systems now.
00:44:33.33\00:44:37.10
It's our greatest privilege
00:44:37.13\00:44:39.21
to partake in the
divine nature, okay.
00:44:39.24\00:44:42.70
And we want to do that,
00:44:42.73\00:44:44.10
but we can't
damage our credibility.
00:44:44.13\00:44:47.30
That's why Paul says,
I've nothing to do with them
00:44:47.33\00:44:50.38
because if I show up
for study with somebody,
00:44:50.41\00:44:55.48
you know, somebody that I know
00:44:55.51\00:44:56.89
and bring with me
somebody like that,
00:44:56.92\00:45:00.49
you know, like what
we just described here.
00:45:00.52\00:45:03.61
What does that do
for my credibility?
00:45:03.64\00:45:05.87
This person is
claiming to be a Christian
00:45:05.90\00:45:07.67
and yet they are
acting totally different
00:45:07.70\00:45:09.09
and I'm going oh,
yeah, he's my buddy,
00:45:09.12\00:45:10.58
we're brothers in Christ.
No, we're not. No, we are not.
00:45:10.61\00:45:15.69
And I'm not going to damage
God's name by doing that. Okay.
00:45:15.72\00:45:20.28
And I'm not talking
about struggling with sin,
00:45:20.31\00:45:21.87
we're all strugglers.
00:45:21.90\00:45:23.27
And I'm talking of our
blatant disregard of God's law
00:45:23.30\00:45:26.39
out loud in the open.
00:45:26.42\00:45:28.15
I won't damage my credibility
00:45:28.18\00:45:30.69
by taking a person like
that to a study with me, okay.
00:45:30.72\00:45:35.37
As I said before,
our greatest privilege
00:45:35.40\00:45:37.35
to partake of the divine nature
00:45:37.38\00:45:39.16
and present Christ to the
world through our own character
00:45:39.19\00:45:42.33
and allow God's true
image to be reproduced in us.
00:45:42.36\00:45:48.32
And as God's press agents
00:45:48.35\00:45:49.72
we look for every
opportunity for God's image
00:45:49.75\00:45:53.55
to be vindicated as
it is reproduced in us.
00:45:53.58\00:45:57.41
People will see your good works
00:45:57.44\00:45:58.87
and glorify your
Father in heaven.
00:45:58.90\00:46:01.84
See, I hope when I'm not
around, I hope people will say,
00:46:01.87\00:46:04.68
Kelly Linder,
yes, I know that guy.
00:46:04.71\00:46:07.23
Yeah, he's a Christian,
but he's real, you know,
00:46:07.26\00:46:09.52
I mean he's a real
Christian, you know.
00:46:09.55\00:46:12.67
He's the real
thing, or you know,
00:46:12.70\00:46:15.54
Charlotte, she's
a true Christian.
00:46:15.57\00:46:17.29
She's friendly,
she's affectionate.
00:46:17.32\00:46:21.55
Pastor Bill, here's a
guy, here's a Christian
00:46:21.58\00:46:23.83
who actually
makes God look good.
00:46:23.86\00:46:26.00
Here's Jennifer Dollarhide.
00:46:26.03\00:46:28.21
She always looks for
the best in other people.
00:46:28.24\00:46:30.08
She is always
understanding. Okay.
00:46:30.11\00:46:34.59
Jose
Skrobowski, my friend, okay.
00:46:34.62\00:46:37.85
He really knows how
to back up his belief.
00:46:37.88\00:46:40.97
He has a reason that
he can share with you
00:46:41.00\00:46:43.84
for his belief, okay.
00:46:43.87\00:46:45.55
And I can go on and on and on.
00:46:45.58\00:46:46.96
My wife Sonia Linder, you know,
00:46:46.99\00:46:49.56
people say behind
her back people say,
00:46:49.59\00:46:51.98
wow, your wife is something else
00:46:52.01\00:46:54.46
and that's
because as a Christian,
00:46:54.49\00:46:56.79
she always, always
goes out of her way,
00:46:56.82\00:46:59.77
she always goes the extra mile.
00:46:59.80\00:47:02.21
And she does it unselfishly,
not for the praise of others,
00:47:02.24\00:47:05.91
she does it unselfishly.
00:47:05.94\00:47:07.85
See, this speaks to
people about our God.
00:47:07.88\00:47:11.05
These traits say something about
the God we worship, you know.
00:47:11.08\00:47:15.61
See, I hope that
when we're not around,
00:47:15.64\00:47:19.62
I hope people
will say, I like those
00:47:19.65\00:47:23.14
Seventh-day
Adventists, I like them.
00:47:23.17\00:47:27.34
They really seem to be genuine,
00:47:27.37\00:47:29.46
they seem to be true Christians.
00:47:29.49\00:47:32.19
What they promote make sense.
00:47:32.22\00:47:34.14
What they promote is attractive
00:47:34.17\00:47:36.72
and I'm attracted
to their God, see.
00:47:36.75\00:47:39.45
And actually, you
know, by saying that.
00:47:39.48\00:47:43.87
You know, the
fact is that's what
00:47:43.90\00:47:45.78
our mission is
down here at the end.
00:47:45.81\00:47:48.25
Our mission is to
serve Christ in such a way
00:47:48.28\00:47:53.24
that when we're not around,
the public opinion will be,
00:47:53.27\00:47:58.24
yeah, like the Adventists,
00:47:58.27\00:48:00.20
they have a bright
light shining, you know.
00:48:00.23\00:48:03.67
The nations will
say, surely this is a wise
00:48:03.70\00:48:06.67
and
understanding people, you know.
00:48:06.70\00:48:09.51
Elisha is to restore that,
00:48:09.54\00:48:11.17
that's what end
time Elisha does,
00:48:11.20\00:48:13.88
you know, This is what,
this is what we need to realize
00:48:13.91\00:48:17.83
that our mission is
down here at the end.
00:48:17.86\00:48:20.58
Okay, we're preparing the
way for the second coming.
00:48:20.61\00:48:23.07
We're doing a work of
reform and restoration.
00:48:23.10\00:48:29.64
And I've an appeal,
okay. I've an appeal.
00:48:29.67\00:48:33.27
You know, a lot of people know
me that one of the strongest
00:48:33.30\00:48:35.52
aspects of my ministry is and
I believed God called me to is--
00:48:35.55\00:48:41.22
the fact that I can't,
that I have a very hard time
00:48:41.25\00:48:43.53
stomaching what
to me appears to be
00:48:43.56\00:48:46.98
just counterfeit in
religion just, I mean,
00:48:47.01\00:48:50.94
you know, sometimes its
so obviously counterfeit
00:48:50.97\00:48:53.80
and it makes
God look so, so bad.
00:48:53.83\00:48:58.33
So I have to make
the appeal, you know.
00:48:58.36\00:49:02.47
If you are in the church
and you live a mediocre life,
00:49:02.50\00:49:09.87
you know, you attend
all the church meetings.
00:49:09.90\00:49:16.61
You say all the right things.
00:49:16.64\00:49:18.61
You wear the clothes, you know,
00:49:18.64\00:49:21.24
you talk the talk
etcetera, etcetera, okay.
00:49:21.27\00:49:25.37
You know, you're just
another cog in the machine,
00:49:25.40\00:49:29.15
you know, just
another conformist.
00:49:29.18\00:49:31.68
Your personality has
been checked at the door,
00:49:31.71\00:49:34.23
you just come in and assimilated
yourself to the collective.
00:49:34.26\00:49:41.97
You know, this is
mediocrity, you know.
00:49:42.00\00:49:44.82
We've been called
to higher standard
00:49:44.85\00:49:46.39
and if you're
person who is religious
00:49:46.42\00:49:50.21
and doesn't care whatsoever,
00:49:50.24\00:49:52.08
has no concern with how God
00:49:52.11\00:49:54.30
is misrepresented by
these injudicious men.
00:49:54.33\00:50:00.65
Then just keep doing the
same thing you've always done,
00:50:00.68\00:50:04.23
because if you're
unwilling to surrender,
00:50:04.26\00:50:09.13
all of these boring
selfish character traits.
00:50:09.16\00:50:16.87
If you're unwilling to
surrender those to Christ,
00:50:16.90\00:50:20.21
nothing is going to change.
00:50:20.24\00:50:22.21
It's not going to change.
00:50:22.24\00:50:24.26
And I would say, you might as
well not be a religious person,
00:50:24.29\00:50:28.41
you might as well just go
indulge and get married, okay,
00:50:28.44\00:50:32.58
because God wants
the best from His people.
00:50:32.61\00:50:37.04
Daniel and his friends
were found 10 times better.
00:50:37.07\00:50:43.25
This is what God calls us to.
00:50:43.28\00:50:45.75
Not boring
mediocrity, not just going,
00:50:45.78\00:50:49.69
you know, going the extra mile,
00:50:49.72\00:50:51.39
that's what we're called
to do, going the extra mile.
00:50:51.42\00:50:56.61
Always have it in
mind, always think.
00:50:56.64\00:50:59.12
Christ is in my
presence right now.
00:50:59.15\00:51:01.56
God is with me right now.
How do I look to the people?
00:51:01.59\00:51:06.51
Not selfish, not.
00:51:06.54\00:51:07.98
How do I look, you know,
that's totally different.
00:51:08.01\00:51:11.32
I'm saying, how do I
look to the glory of God?
00:51:11.35\00:51:16.23
How do I look to
the glory of God?
00:51:16.26\00:51:19.80
So if you're one of those people
that just really doesn't care.
00:51:19.83\00:51:25.31
You just, you show up to church,
00:51:25.34\00:51:26.98
you're just a
pew warmer, you know.
00:51:27.01\00:51:31.04
You are one of the
choir that's been preached to.
00:51:31.07\00:51:33.81
Again just keep doing the
same thing you've always done.
00:51:33.84\00:51:39.56
But the rest of you,
00:51:39.59\00:51:42.21
the rest of the people in
this church, in God's church,
00:51:42.24\00:51:46.70
whether they're in
the Adventist church
00:51:46.73\00:51:48.10
or whether they're
in the other churches.
00:51:48.13\00:51:51.75
In your heart stand up
00:51:51.78\00:51:54.42
or even physically stand
up and make your decision.
00:51:54.45\00:51:59.63
We want to be
beautifully Christian.
00:51:59.66\00:52:02.96
We want to do incredible amazing
00:52:02.99\00:52:05.89
miraculous things
in the name of Christ.
00:52:05.92\00:52:10.20
We want to have the
fruits of the Sprit.
00:52:10.23\00:52:14.03
We want to be that
light shinning on the hill.
00:52:14.06\00:52:19.33
A light of the world,
the salt of the earth.
00:52:19.36\00:52:22.12
We want to be the light
to the Gentiles, true Israel,
00:52:22.15\00:52:25.71
that we would have
these character traits,
00:52:25.74\00:52:29.44
these laws, these statutes,
00:52:29.47\00:52:31.80
all these wonderful, wonderful
characteristics of God.
00:52:31.83\00:52:36.72
This is who we want to be.
00:52:36.75\00:52:38.97
We want to
surrender all of our weak,
00:52:39.00\00:52:41.25
cowardly, lazy, proud, unloving,
00:52:41.28\00:52:44.46
uncaring petty
imperfection at His feet
00:52:44.49\00:52:48.82
to have Him to modify the
deeds of our human nature,
00:52:48.85\00:52:53.65
our fleshly human nature
to rise above human nature
00:52:53.68\00:52:59.38
and to partake in the divine
nature to the glory of God.
00:52:59.41\00:53:05.28
To be true witnesses
representatives of Him
00:53:05.31\00:53:09.34
to present to the
world, the true image of God.
00:53:09.37\00:53:16.98
This is our prayer, isn't it?
00:53:17.01\00:53:18.96
Every morning, I want to--
actually I want to write out
00:53:18.99\00:53:21.68
every beautiful, incredible,
00:53:21.71\00:53:25.66
character trait
that God has to offer,
00:53:25.69\00:53:27.77
when I write them
all on a piece of paper
00:53:27.80\00:53:29.78
as many as I
think of top to bottom.
00:53:29.81\00:53:32.53
This is what I want to do,
I need to pray this prayer.
00:53:32.56\00:53:35.01
I need it, I
need that excellence.
00:53:35.04\00:53:37.22
God give me that excellence.
00:53:37.25\00:53:38.79
And I want to fold it up
and I want to lay it down
00:53:38.82\00:53:40.81
and I want to pray over God,
00:53:40.84\00:53:42.83
make me like this to Your glory.
00:53:42.86\00:53:44.98
I want to be Daniel.
00:53:45.01\00:53:47.20
May I dare to be
Daniel to Your glory.
00:53:47.23\00:53:51.60
May people in this
world look at us and go,
00:53:51.63\00:53:54.03
wow, I like these people, I
like these people, you know.
00:53:54.06\00:53:58.86
You know what, in
Proverbs, Proverbs 2.
00:53:58.89\00:54:03.47
We really want
to read this, okay.
00:54:03.50\00:54:07.17
Proverbs 2.
Going in the wrong way.
00:54:07.20\00:54:10.98
Hurrying, going to fast.
00:54:11.01\00:54:13.62
Proverbs 2, sorry, okay.
00:54:13.65\00:54:22.51
Sorry Proverbs 3:1-3.
00:54:22.54\00:54:28.33
"My son, do not forget my law,
00:54:28.36\00:54:30.72
but let your
heart keep my commands,
00:54:30.75\00:54:34.25
for length of days and long life
00:54:34.28\00:54:36.04
and peace they will add to you.
00:54:36.07\00:54:39.20
Let not mercy and
truth forsake you,
00:54:39.23\00:54:44.13
bind them around your neck,
00:54:44.16\00:54:46.38
Write them on the
tablet of your heart,
00:54:46.41\00:54:49.22
and so find
favor and high esteem
00:54:49.25\00:54:54.52
in the sight of God and man."
00:54:54.55\00:54:59.18
This is the design right here.
00:54:59.21\00:55:01.64
You know I want to mention.
00:55:01.67\00:55:03.26
Christ had credibility
with those tax collectors,
00:55:03.29\00:55:05.87
sinners, prostitutes,
drunkards and publicans.
00:55:05.90\00:55:09.96
He had credibility with them.
00:55:09.99\00:55:11.36
Religion has lost all
credibility with them.
00:55:11.39\00:55:13.57
But when they met Him,
00:55:13.60\00:55:15.44
they said, whoa,
this guy is different.
00:55:15.47\00:55:17.69
This guy is different.
They saw He had an authority.
00:55:17.72\00:55:19.89
Actually that was my experience
when I came into this church,
00:55:19.92\00:55:22.83
I said, this is different.
00:55:22.86\00:55:24.26
I saw an authority in here,
I didn't see anywhere else.
00:55:24.29\00:55:27.41
I'm not going to
apologize for saying that,
00:55:27.44\00:55:29.15
I'm not being
arrogant, I'm stating a fact.
00:55:29.18\00:55:30.86
I was won over
for a reason. Okay.
00:55:30.89\00:55:34.88
We want to
partake in divine nature.
00:55:34.91\00:55:36.70
We want to be like
Christ, plain and simple.
00:55:36.73\00:55:41.83
'Cause we may we
publish the good press,
00:55:41.86\00:55:44.56
'cause down here
at the end of time,
00:55:44.59\00:55:46.49
there is going to be a movement
00:55:46.52\00:55:47.89
that present a
false image of who God is.
00:55:47.92\00:55:53.14
There is going to be
a large number of people
00:55:53.17\00:55:54.88
that worship that false image.
00:55:54.91\00:55:57.39
They're going to
force, try to force everybody
00:55:57.42\00:55:59.94
to worship that false
image and whoever doesn't,
00:55:59.97\00:56:03.32
who doesn't receive that mark,
00:56:03.35\00:56:05.88
will go through a
terrible trial. Okay.
00:56:05.91\00:56:09.20
We need to stand up and be
those instruments of excellence,
00:56:09.23\00:56:12.20
so that we won't
sell out and fall
00:56:12.23\00:56:15.09
when that testing time
comes. That's what I want, okay.
00:56:15.12\00:56:19.57
I don't know if I'm
there, but that's what I want.
00:56:19.60\00:56:21.91
Let's pray.
00:56:21.94\00:56:23.43
Dear heavenly Father, Lord,
thank you for hearing us today.
00:56:23.46\00:56:27.51
We desire to be the best
Christians You can make us.
00:56:27.54\00:56:31.12
We love You. We honor You.
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We are
absolutely won over to you.
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Our God, You are so much
more than the world can know,
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so much more than we can know.
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Lord, touch our
hearts and strengthen us.
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Fill us with Your Spirit we ask.
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Help us to truly
know and understand
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exactly who You are
and to be inspired by that
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to become more and
more like Jesus everyday
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to have that dignity and
that excellence and goodness.
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Father, be with us,
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we pray in Jesus name. Amen.
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