Participants: Michael Duncan
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000827
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01:01 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN On the Road today.
01:04 We're coming alive from the great, 01:07 big city of Chicago, Illinois. 01:10 And we're here to Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church. 01:14 And I'm standing with Pastor Famous Murray, 01:18 and it's thank you for letting us come here today 01:21 and be apart of your Sabbath school, 01:23 your divine worship service 01:25 and joining in fellowship this afternoon. 01:28 Danny, it is a privilege to have you and the 3ABN 01:31 ministry here at Shiloh this weekend. 01:34 Oh! We are rejoicing. 01:36 Well, I'll tell you what, you got a great crowd here, 01:39 a great group of people. 01:40 I can tell they love Jesus 01:41 because they have been smiling already. 01:43 Nobody is fighting or hitting each other, 01:45 so it looks like they are all in good spirit this morning. 01:48 This is the type of congregation that we have 01:50 here, loving congregation. Yeah, loving. 01:52 They love each other, they love those 01:53 who come and worship with us. 01:55 Well, I don't know about you pastor, 01:57 but I think that Christians 01:59 and Seventh-Day Adventist Christians we have an end 02:01 times message to give to the world. 02:03 I think we ought to be the happiest, 02:05 most excited people on planet earth. I agree. 02:07 And so, I like it, I like to go to the church 02:12 where people talk back to you. 02:14 You know, I'm saying, that you don't just sit here 02:16 and I tell people only get nervous, 02:18 two things can make me nervous. 02:20 Now I've been in this 22 years going on 23 talking 02:23 in front of thousands of people sometimes 02:25 and live programs around the world, 02:27 but only two things make me nervous you know, 02:28 what that is? What are they? 02:30 Number one English teachers, 02:32 they scare me to death. 02:34 If you are an English teacher, 02:35 I don't want to know about it 02:36 till after the programs today. 02:38 And secondly is when the audience is too quite, 02:41 now that makes me nervous. 02:42 I don't want to feel like I'm by myself. 02:43 We're up here today all in this together, aren't we? 02:46 We're about her fathers business, 02:47 so our prayer today is that we uplift 02:50 and magnify and glorify 02:52 the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 02:54 because Jesus says I, 02:55 if I be lifted up from this earth, 02:57 will draw all men unto me. 03:01 Pastor tell us a little bit about Shiloh Church, 03:03 where you are located, 03:04 little bit about your outreach. 03:06 Do you have church school and maybe there are folk 03:08 watching here, that's looking for home church. 03:10 Yes, we're located on the south side of Chicago, 03:14 7000 South Michigan Avenue. 03:18 We have been here for quite a few years. 03:21 As a matter of fact last year we celebrated 03:23 our hundred anniversary. 03:26 So the Lord has been good to us here. Amen! Great! 03:32 By the grace of God, we try to make sure that 03:34 we carry a holistic religious approach. 03:39 As a matter of fact we attend to every aspect 03:43 of the human life. 03:44 Including education we have a wonderful school here, 03:48 this church carry the educational program 03:52 for this school for number of years, 03:53 but recently the school has become an area school 03:58 and now we are grade one K through eighth 04:03 and of course we have a special 04:04 high school program going 04:06 on over there, so we have some wonderful teachers, 04:08 wonderful young people that the Lord is using 04:11 to prepare them to carry this message across the world. 04:15 All right, again we appreciate what you do 04:19 and the light that you are shining here in South Side, 04:22 Chicago and today around the world. 04:25 And I know that you have a burden for souls. 04:28 And I know that you believe that Jesus 04:30 is coming very soon. Yes, we do. 04:32 We do, we believe that this church should be 04:37 about the masses business. All right. 04:39 And that is to share the good news of the soon 04:43 coming Savior to a dying world. All right. 04:46 We have that responsibility 04:47 and we are just happy that 04:49 we can partner with 3ABN to help 04:51 carry this message to the world. 04:55 All right, what I like you to do, 04:56 I know there are folk at home right now that 04:58 they are going through a lot of things in their lives, 05:01 whether its domestic, whether its health 05:02 problems, spiritual issues. 05:05 There are people that are watching from around 05:07 this world, they are incarcerated, 05:09 can't get out and go to church, 05:10 people in hospital beds. 05:12 And I know there are many needs and we believe the 05:14 Seventh-day Adventist Christians that God can 05:16 supply all of our needs, right, 05:18 according to his riches and glory through Christ Jesus. 05:21 So we're gonna ask you to say not only special 05:23 blessing for folks at home today, 05:25 but also for the anointing of the Holy Spirit 05:27 upon the programs through out the day here at Shiloh. 05:30 Why don't we do that right now. Let us pray. 05:32 Father in heaven, we, first of all surrender 05:36 ourselves to you, asking that those things that 05:40 will prevent, thee anointing of your Holy Spirit 05:43 upon our lives to use us to your names 05:46 on in glory be removed. 05:47 We confess that we're but sinners in need 05:50 of Your saving grace and Your mercy. 05:53 We asked you Lord that you might through 05:56 the 3ABN move into homes where there are problems, 06:01 where there are burdens, where there are 06:02 heartaches, where there are crushed aspiration. 06:05 We pray dear Lord that you will lift those 06:07 burdens from their hearts, 06:09 give them that freedom that they are in 06:11 search for this morning. 06:13 So that they might indeed unite with this worship 06:16 service throughout this day and be blessed, 06:19 mend those homes, bring those husbands, 06:22 wives and children together. 06:24 Lord, so that home might be a reflection of heaven. 06:28 Lord, where there are financial difficulties, 06:31 where there are those who are incarcerated, Lord, 06:35 we pray that you will be near and dear unto them, 06:38 bring about those essentials that they 06:41 might recognize that you can even work 06:45 in the prison, you can work in the hospital, 06:49 you can work in broken homes, 06:51 you can work where ever you are needed. 06:54 So father we pray today that each participant 06:58 on the program throughout this day will be anointed 07:02 by your Holy Spirit and Lord we pray that 07:04 you will do that which only you can. 07:07 We thank you for our brother Shelton, 07:09 we thank you for the 3ABN program. 07:13 And we ask your complete blessing, 07:15 your complete anointing upon every facet, 07:19 every face, every person, every worry that shall be 07:24 presented here today. 07:25 This is our prayer, in Christ name we pray, amen. 07:29 Amen, thank you Pastor Murray. 07:31 You are welcome. God bless you. 07:35 We're gonna have... you all like special music. Yes. 07:38 All right, we have a young man here name Todd Matthews. 07:41 Anybody know Todd, oh, all right. 07:44 Todd's among friends, Todd why don't you come 07:45 out now, you are among friends here today. 07:48 And I was going to announce that he was 07:50 going to sing a song, 07:51 then I saw he had a violin out here. 07:53 So I ask him if he could sing and play at the same time. 07:56 I don't know that he will do that, he probably can, 07:58 looks like a guy of many talents to me. 08:00 Todd where are you from? 08:02 And I don't know if this mic is, 08:03 here you share this one with me, 08:05 where are you from? 08:06 I'm from Chicago, Illinois. 08:07 All right, what do you do? 08:09 I'm a violinist and I'm also a music teacher. 08:12 Music teacher, where do you teach? 08:14 I teach at Chicago State University 08:16 and I also have a private studio in Homewood, Illinois. 08:20 All right, well, we're so privilege 08:22 to have you here today 08:23 and what song you are gonna be doing for us. 08:27 "Great is Thy Faithfulness". 08:28 Thank you. Amen. 08:34 [music] 14:23 Wow! 14:28 What a gift, isn't that amazing talent. Amen. 14:32 I'd love to be able to play like that Pastor Murray, 14:36 I'll do everything it takes, 14:37 except all the hard work 14:40 and that way people feel sometimes. 14:42 My brother, Tommy, plays a piano, 14:44 he's really great on the piano 14:46 and I've had people and he has played 14:47 ever since he was a little boy 14:48 and people will come up and say, oh, 14:50 I give anything to play like that. 14:51 Well, I don't want to work at it so hard, 14:53 but I didn't have to spend 40 years 14:55 of my life, I would like to play that well, 14:57 what a great talent. 14:58 Once again and I want to introduce we didn't while 15:01 ago Pastor Famous Murray, your wife and I don't know 15:05 if you both of you can just standup for a 15:07 second and maybe look back to our camera here. 15:10 We want folks to know we appreciate. 15:13 And Murray also and I know there is another, 15:17 Murray that sings but I got a feeling you can sing too. 15:20 All right she does, all right. 15:22 Right now, I'd like to bring out Alicia Roberts 15:25 and Alicia, where are you from? 15:30 I'm here from Chicago. From here Chicago, 15:32 you are born and raised in Chicago? Yes. 15:35 All right you look like you are happy excited Christian. 15:38 You love Jesus? Yes I do. 15:40 All right and what do you do? 15:43 I'm a student, I go to school. 15:44 You are a student, all right. 15:46 What grade you are in? 15:47 I'm a freshmen in college. 15:48 A freshman in college, all right, 15:49 isn't it wonderful that she is already got 15:52 here perspectives right? 15:54 She is not out singing in the world today, 15:56 but she is singing here for Jesus. 15:58 And that's her testimony, 16:00 Jesus is shining out of you today. 16:02 You are gonna be doing a beautiful song 16:03 "He's Been Faithful". Yes. 16:22 In my moments of fear 16:29 Through every pain every tear 16:33 There's a God whose been faithful to me 16:43 When my strength it was all gone 16:49 When my heart had no song still in love 16:57 He's proved faithful to me 17:04 Every word he's promised, is true 17:14 What I thought was impossible 17:19 I see my God do 17:27 He's been faithful, faithful to me 17:39 Just looking back his love and mercy I see 17:49 Though in my heart I have questioned 17:55 even failed to believe 17:59 Yes, he's been faithful, faithful to me 18:16 When my heart it's looked away 18:21 The many times I could not pray 18:27 Still my God, He was faithful to me 18:35 All the days I spent so selfishly 18:41 reaching out for what pleased me 18:46 Even then my God proved faithful to me 18:55 Every time that I come back to him 19:04 Oh, I always find then his arms are open while 19:10 And they know once again 19:19 He's been faithful, faithful to me 19:30 Oh, just looking back, his love and mercy I see 19:40 Though in my heart I have questioned 19:47 even failed to believe 19:50 Yes, he's been faithful 19:57 Though in my heart I have questioned 20:06 even failed to believe 20:10 Yes, he's been faithful 20:15 Lord in my heart I have questioned 20:19 you even failed to believe 20:28 You are so faithful, faithful to me 20:40 You are so faithful, you are faithful to me. 20:58 Wow! 21:00 Thank you Alicia, beautiful, what a gift, wow! 21:04 Aren't you glad God's been faithful to you? 21:08 Ellen White makes a statement, 21:09 we have nothing to fear for the feature, why not? 21:14 Look back in the past 21:15 and see where God has guided, right? 21:17 Where he has provide, where He has guided for us, 21:19 so we have nothing to fear, 21:20 because God has been faithful. 21:23 I'm so thankful for that 21:24 and you can come and sing for down at 3ABN. 21:28 In fact our Pastor John Lomacang would probably 21:31 buy her one way ticket down to Southern Illinois 21:34 to sing in his church all the time you know, 21:36 in our local church down there. 21:38 But we will invite her 21:42 and Todd to come at 3ABN anytime, 21:43 we are around, they can get down 21:45 and do some music because they have got talents 21:47 and world needs to hear, needs to see that God has 21:50 people with talents and gifts and abilities 21:53 on his side, they are not all out in the world, are they? 21:56 They are in his side and I'm glad this folk are on 21:58 God side because they could do lot of damage 22:00 against because of God out in the world, right? 22:02 So we need to be praying for them. 22:04 God will protect them and keep them faithful for sure. 22:07 Now we would like to bring out Michael Duncan 22:09 and Michael he is an elder here at the Shiloh 22:13 Seventh-day Adventist Church, 22:15 and great meeting you here this morning. 22:20 I see that they have put double mics on you, 22:22 so I don't know if you are gonna give us 22:24 a double message or what all that means this morning. 22:26 But tell me little bit about yourself Michael. 22:30 Well, I'm originally from Gary, Indiana 22:32 which is just about an hour away here from Chicago. 22:35 I've been living and working in the Chicago 22:37 area now for about past 15 years or so. 22:40 Okay, what kind of work do you do? 22:41 I actually do software training 22:43 for Software Company. Really, all right. 22:46 So today you have been asked 22:47 to give the Sabbath school lesson. 22:49 We are looking forward to it. 22:51 He seems soft spoken, but I have a feeling when he 22:53 gets round up, we are gonna hear, don't we? 22:56 All right, thank you. Thank you. 22:59 As you know our Sabbath school lesson study 23:01 for this week is taken from Ecclesiastes the 9th 23:05 Chapter, where Solomon he speaking to us about 23:09 death and he is also speaking to us about life. 23:14 He makes some rather perplexing statements 23:16 and so I would like you to just bow your heads for a 23:18 moment, as we invite the Holy Spirit to be with us 23:21 as we study the word of God. 23:26 Our father, who head in heaven, 23:29 oh we just give you thanks for your holy word 23:30 which is a lamp unto our feet 23:33 and a light unto our path. 23:36 But we realize that we cannot understand it 23:37 without the aid of your Holy Spirit and so we ask 23:40 now that you would come 23:41 and give a spiritual comprehension. 23:45 Lord bless us with the understanding 23:47 that we need to the joy and rejoicing of our hearts, 23:50 because we ask in Jesus name and for His sake 23:53 we pray, amen. Amen. 23:58 It was about four years ago, 24:01 I made a good friend, a co-worker whose cubicle 24:06 sat directly next to my own, his name was Scott. 24:11 Just to tell you little bit about Scott, 24:14 in terms of a description he was about six feet 24:17 tall, about 225 pounds of muscle. 24:23 He was captain of his football team in high 24:25 school, captain of his football team in college 24:28 NBA, employee of the year in the department 24:33 where I worked, had a lovely wife, two daughters, 24:37 one two years old, the other was 6 years old. 24:41 Scott, he is people person. 24:45 In December of 2005 on the evening of our 24:50 Christmas day, I took it off from Ohio airport on 24:54 a vacation out of the country and returned on 24:57 January the 3rd of 2006 only to receive the news 25:03 that my friend and co-worker. 25:06 Scott Nogress had had gone into the hospital 25:09 at 5 AM on Christmas day. 25:13 He was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic 25:17 anemia, a very rear blood disease where by your 25:22 body just wakes up one day and suddenly 25:24 the signs to begin attacking 25:26 your own red blood cells destroying them. 25:30 Seven days later, my friend Scott had past away. 25:38 Scott was 42 years old. 25:41 In our lesson for this week the question is asked. 25:47 How do we make sense of things like this that 25:48 defy all rational explanation? 25:52 If there are two things that characterize 25:54 the human experience, one is that we have limited 25:56 knowledge and two that we have limited understanding. 26:01 And because of that the Bible tells us in Hebrews 26:03 the 11th Chapter and verse 6 that without 26:05 faith it is impossible to pleased God. 26:13 We must learn to trust in the goodness of God for 26:16 the things that we simply cannot explain. 26:21 In Ecclesiastes, the 9th Chapter Solomon is making 26:23 some observations about life, 26:26 but as you page through the scriptures 26:27 what you find is that he is making 26:29 these observations from a 26:31 secular perspective in order to help us to 26:36 understand the futility and the meaninglessness 26:40 of our life that is lived without God. 26:44 And sun is outline in God's hands. 26:47 Solomon focuses on death, while at the same time 26:50 speaking to us about life and exactly how we should 26:54 live it, beginning with the very first verse. 26:58 I'm reading from the New King James, it says, 27:00 "For I considered all that is in my heart, 27:02 so that I could declare it all, 27:05 that the righteous and the wise and their works 27:10 are in the hand of God". 27:12 And that's good news. 27:14 But then he follows with this peculiar statement. 27:16 He says people know neither love nor hatred 27:19 by anything that his before them. 27:21 If you read that in the New Living translation it says, 27:23 "But no man knows whether or not God will favor him". 27:30 Christianity does not guaranty freedom from 27:34 tragedy, misfortune, pain, 27:39 suffering or death in this life. 27:42 When we talk about suffering immediately 27:45 of course the story of Job comes to mind. 27:47 And as I page through the scriptures 27:50 and as I consider the experience of Job, 27:53 it seems to me that no where is he given any 27:56 specific explanation as to the reason for his suffering. 28:02 After having lost his health, 28:04 after having lost his wealth, 28:06 after having lost his children, 28:08 even his wife said to him, 28:10 why don't you curse God and die. 28:14 He turns to his wife and say, 28:15 you speak as a foolish woman, 28:16 shall we not receive good at the hand of God 28:18 and not also receive evil. 28:22 "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. 28:23 Blessed be the name of the Lord". 28:25 The Bible tells us that in all of his affliction 28:29 Job sinned not with his lips, 28:31 neither did he charged God falsely. 28:36 Job is a model of faith in the midst of suffering. 28:42 The one thing that we need to keep upper most 28:44 in our mind is that relative to sin 28:48 and the effects that it has had on us. 28:51 We are prone to think about our individual experience. 28:55 However what we must bare in mind is that the one 28:57 who has suffered most of all as a result of the 29:01 entrance of sin is none other than God himself. 29:07 From the Book Education page 263 we read these words. 29:11 "Those who think of hastening or hindering 29:14 the gospel think of it in relation 29:16 to themselves and to the world. 29:18 Few think of its relation to God. 29:20 Few give thought to the suffering that sin 29:24 has caused our Creator. 29:27 The sufferings of Christ did not begin or end 29:31 with His manifestation in humanity. 29:36 The cross is a revelation to our dull senses 29:41 of the pain that, from its very inception, 29:44 sin has brought to the heart of God. Amen. 29:47 When we considered from the perspective 29:50 then we can come to realize that no matter what we are 29:53 experiencing in this life, we are not alone. 29:57 In Isaiah the 53rd Chapter, 29:58 "Jesus is called a man of sorrows 30:01 acquainted with grief." 30:05 We are told in Hebrews the 4th Chapter 30:06 in verse 15, that we had not an high priest 30:09 who cannot be touched 30:10 with the feeling of our infirmities, 30:12 but that He was in all points tempted 30:15 like as we are and yet 30:17 in spite of it he did not sin. 30:21 Jesus sympathizes yet empathizes 30:24 with the human experience. 30:26 In fact in the second Chapter 30:27 of the Book of Hebrews we are told, "Forasmuch then 30:30 as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, 30:32 he also himself likewise took part of the same. 30:37 Inasmuch as He has suffered being tempted, 30:40 He is able to succor. 30:41 That word means He is able to assist, 30:44 He can come to the aid up, 30:45 He can comfort all of us who in this life 30:49 experienced suffering. 30:52 We are prone to ask the question, 30:55 why do bad things happen to good people. 30:58 When in fact perhaps the question that we really 31:01 should ask is why do good things 31:04 happen to bad people. 31:07 You remember in Matthew the 19th Chapter 31:09 a rich young ruler came to Jesus 31:10 and he asked a question. 31:11 Good master, what must I do 31:13 that I may inherit eternal life? 31:15 And Jesus look at him and he said, 31:17 why callest thou me good, there is none good 31:21 but one God who is in heaven. 31:25 In Romans the 3rd Chapter we are told 31:26 that there is none righteous, no not one, 31:29 none that understand it, none that of himself 31:33 seek it after God. 31:35 You see the good news is only good news 31:38 to those who know that they need a Savior. Amen. 31:43 In Matthew the 9th Chapter you remember that 31:44 Jesus was sitting at meat, He was dining it, 31:47 and He was criticized by the publican... 31:49 well, by the Pharisees that is 31:51 and by the religious leaders of His day, 31:53 because He is dining with publicans, 31:55 tax collectors, prostitutes, 31:57 outcasts and known sinners. 31:59 And Jesus knowing their thought declared 32:01 "They that behold need not a physician 32:04 but they that are sick 32:05 I came not to call the righteous, 32:08 but sinners to repentance." 32:11 You see there is only two kinds of people 32:13 in the world, those who know Jesus 32:16 and those who do not know Jesus. 32:19 Those who need Jesus includes everybody, 32:23 but unfortunately not everybody knows 32:25 that they need Jesus. 32:27 And, you know, interestingly enough 32:29 one of the most difficult challenges, 32:31 one of the biggest problems that God 32:33 has is saving religious people. 32:38 I grew up in the Seventh-day AdventistChurch. 32:42 Attended Sabbath school AY, prayer meeting, 32:46 didn't smoke, didn't drink, didn't do drugs, 32:48 not sleeping around. 32:49 One of the dangerous of growing up in the church 32:52 is that at some point, we begin to develop the idea 32:57 that we are not quite as sick 33:01 or as twisted as everybody else. 33:06 But when we read the scriptures Romans 33:08 the 3rd Chapter we find that we all stands 33:10 spiritually on the same plateau. 33:12 We measure equally below the mark. 33:15 Isaiah, Isaiah declares that all of our 33:19 righteousness is as filthy racks. 33:22 Without Christ, none is able to make it. 33:27 The lesson tells us that from, 33:29 from the human perspective, 33:31 from the human perspective when we think 33:34 about eternity, our lives on this earth are really 33:39 incredibly brief, you know, 33:40 one of my favorite passages of scripture 33:42 has become Psalms the 90th Chapter. 33:44 I would like you turn there Psalms 33:45 the 90th Chapter and I want you to notice 33:48 in Psalms 90 verses 9 through 12. 33:52 Dealing with his issue of brevity of life address 33:56 in our lessons Psalms the 90th Chapter 34:02 and notice verse 9. 34:10 In the New King James the scripture reads us 34:13 follows from Psalm 90 beginning at the 9th verse, 34:19 "for our days have passed away in your wrath, 34:24 we finish our years like a sigh as a tale 34:28 that is told. 34:30 The days of our lives are seventy years, 34:33 threescore years and ten. 34:34 And if by reason of strength 34:35 they are eighty years, 34:37 yet their boast is only labor and sorrow, 34:40 it is not the best years of our lives, 34:43 for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 34:46 Who knows the power of your anger? 34:49 For as the fear, of you so is your wrath. 34:54 And here is the key, verse 12, 34:56 so then addressing the Lord, 34:59 "Teach us to number our days aright, 35:02 that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." 35:06 James the 4th Chapter says, "What is your life, 35:07 but a vapor that appeareth 35:09 for a moment and vanisheth away. 35:13 For some whimsical reason I sat down one day 35:15 and just decided to calculate 35:16 how many days I have been alive 35:18 starting from my birth adding a day 35:20 for each leap year 14552 days and thanking God 35:25 for it 14553 days and thanking God for it. 35:29 Truly His mercies are new every morning. 35:34 In light of the brevity of life, 35:36 Solomon gives us some admonition. 35:39 In the very 2nd verse we are told in our lesson 35:42 that here is the prime example, 35:44 the 2nd verse where he seems to say 35:46 that all suffer the same faith. 35:48 Here is the prime example of how important 35:50 it is to read the scripture 35:52 in its appropriate context. 35:55 If we take these verses out of their appropriate 35:58 context we can begin to think that the Bible 36:00 teach us something that it does not teach. 36:03 What we must do, is we must take a look 36:06 at each verse of scripture in the context 36:07 of what the entire Bible has to say on that subject. 36:11 And then after looking at what all of the Bible 36:14 has to say on any given subject, 36:16 we make our decision as to what the scripture 36:18 is saying to us based on the weight of the evidence. 36:22 And we must allow the clearest verses 36:24 of scripture to interpret those verses of scripture 36:27 that seem to be questionable in our minds 36:31 and certainly this verse appear 36:34 some what questionable because Solomon seems 36:36 to be telling us that death is the end of it all. 36:40 Solomon seems to be telling us 36:42 that there is no difference between the righteous, 36:45 the wicked, the good and evil. 36:46 Here is how it reads from the New Living translation. 36:49 The same destiny he says ultimately waits everyone 36:53 whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, 36:55 ceremonially clean or unclean, 36:57 whether religious 36:59 or whether you be irreligious. 37:02 Good people receive the same treatment 37:04 as sinners and people who make promises to God 37:07 are treated the same as those who do not. 37:13 Is that true? 37:14 Is death the end of it all? 37:17 We will turn to Daniel, Daniel Chapter 12 37:19 and let's look at the answer to that question. 37:22 In Daniel Chapter 12 37:23 I want you to notice the 2nd verse. 37:29 Daniel speaks to us and gives us greater light 37:32 and understanding on what we find 37:34 in the Book of Ecclesiastes, Daniel the 12th Chapter, 37:39 and reading in the 2nd verse. 37:45 The Book of Daniel declares 37:47 and many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth 37:51 shall awake, some to everlasting life, 37:55 and then some he says to shame 37:59 and everlasting contempt. 38:02 Turn to Revelation, Revelation 38:03 the 22nd Chapter and verse 12. 38:06 And in Revelation 22:12 we see the same 38:09 separation there is more after death. 38:13 In Revelation the 22nd Chapter 38:16 reading from the 12 verse. 38:18 The Bible says, Jesus is speaking and He declares 38:24 "Behold, I am coming quickly, 38:27 and my reward is with me, to give to every man 38:32 according as his work shall be." 38:36 So you see that there is a separation but you know 38:38 what's interesting, you don't even have to leave 38:41 the Book of Ecclesiastes to know that Solomon 38:44 does not believe that death is the end of it all. 38:47 When you get to the 12th Chapter, 38:49 he declares in the 13th and 14th verse. 38:52 Let us here the conclusion of the matter, 38:56 "Fear God and keep His commandments, 38:58 for this is the whole duty of man. 39:00 For God will bring every work into judgment 39:03 and every secret thing whether it would be good 39:07 or whether it would be evil." 39:09 So there is a separation so even to understand 39:11 Ecclesiastes the 9th Chapter we need to look 39:13 at the Ecclesiastes the 9th Chapter 39:15 in the context of the entire book. 39:17 The Bible is clear, there is not one faith to all, 39:22 there is more beyond. 39:25 Our lesson I like the statement, 39:26 our lesson author declares. 39:28 The good news is that through Jesus 39:32 here is the good news after all the pessimism 39:34 and synergism that we find in the first 8 verses. 39:37 He says, the good news is that through Jesus 39:40 every human being has the opportunity 39:44 to live forever. 39:47 Christ died as the substitute 39:51 for all of humanity with no one left out 39:57 that's the message to our friends and neighbors. 39:59 Turn to Romans the 5th Chapter 40:02 and you see Paul further expounding on this, 40:03 Romans Chapter 5 and in Romans the 5th Chapter. 40:08 I want to you notice what he tells us 40:13 beginning in the 18th verse, Romans the 5th Chapter 40:19 and note carefully verse 18. 40:26 Paul declares. 40:28 "Therefore as through the offence of one 40:34 and that's reference of course to Adam 40:37 judgment came to all men resulting in condemnation, 40:44 even so, in other words likewise or in the same way 40:48 through one man's righteous act 40:51 and that's the reference to Christ. 40:55 The free gift came to all men 40:58 resulting in justification of life. 41:01 In another words just as all were affected 41:03 by the sin of Adam, all are benefited 41:07 by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Amen. 41:10 In Romans of 3rd Chapter the Bible says 41:11 "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." 41:14 And then when we go over to Romans the 6th Chapter 41:16 and the 23rd verse the scripture says, 41:18 "That the wages of sin is death" 41:22 And if you put two and two together, all have sinned, 41:25 the wages of sin is death. 41:27 Then the question becomes why is it 41:30 that we are all not dead if all have sinned. Amen. 41:36 And the answer is Hebrews 41:37 the 2nd Chapter in verse 9. 41:39 The Bible says that Jesus by the grace of God 41:42 tasted death and that is the second death 41:45 for every man. 41:49 Notice this interesting statement 41:50 this comes from Desire of Ages page 660. 41:55 "To the death of Christ 41:57 we owe even this earthly life. 42:03 The bread that we eat is the purchase 42:06 of His broken body and His spilled blood. 42:11 Never saint or sinner eats his daily food, 42:14 but he is nourished by the body 42:16 and the blood of Jesus Christ. 42:19 The cross of Calvary is stamped on every loaf. 42:23 It is reflected in every water spring." 42:28 In other words even if we decide 42:32 that we want nothing to do with God, 42:35 we are all eternally indebted to Jesus Christ. Amen. 42:39 The three score and ten the second probation 42:41 that we enjoy on this earth whether we choose 42:43 to serve God or not, this was purchased 42:46 by the sacrifice of Christ. 42:48 You see the good news of the gospel is not about 42:50 what God will do for us, if we do something first. 42:54 The good news of the gospel is about 42:56 what God has already done for us. Amen. 43:00 Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, 43:04 that's would it's about. 43:05 I heard one radio preacher make the statement. 43:07 Religion can be summed up in one word, do. 43:10 The gospel can be summed up in one word, 43:12 done. Amen. 43:18 How do we reconcile the fact 43:20 that bad things do happen 43:22 however to "Good people." 43:26 And the good things appear to happen 43:29 to bad people you remember 43:30 that the Psalm has lament this, 43:32 until he gain some insight from the Lord. 43:36 I think of the tragedy, children, 43:40 caught in the cross fire of war, natural disaster, 43:42 famine, flood, earthquake, 43:44 taking the lives of thousands. 43:48 I think of the tragedy 43:51 of a Tuesday morning 8:45 AM, September 11. 43:57 I think of the disaster of Hurricane Katrina 44:00 devastating Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana. 44:05 I think of an earthquake that originated 44:08 in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 44:11 ascending joint walls of water 44:14 some 30 feet high across the Pacific Ocean, 44:17 a giant Tsunami devastating 44:19 multiple countries taking the lives 44:22 of over 250,000 people. 44:28 We cannot conceive of it. 44:30 And when we consider it and we ask ourselves, 44:33 if there is a God in heaven. 44:34 Our neighbors ask us, if there is a God in heaven 44:38 why doesn't He do something 44:40 about all of these disasters and catastrophe? 44:44 Why does He allow innocent people 44:47 to suffer as they do? 44:49 Well, let me ask you a question? 44:52 What if, what if God were to stop every disaster 44:58 and every catastrophe in this world? 45:00 What if God were to prevent anything bad 45:05 from happening to us here on this earth? 45:08 What we need to realize is that the issue 45:09 of the Great Controversy is that God's character 45:13 has been called into question. 45:16 And if God were to prevent every disaster, 45:19 every catastrophe, 45:21 then we would never see the evil of sin. 45:26 And without seeing the evil of sin 45:28 we would never be able to really make 45:30 an intelligent choice between the plan of God 45:35 and the plan of Satan. 45:37 And so He must allow some things. 45:40 We have yet to see what Satan would do 45:42 to this earth if God were to completely allow him 45:46 to have full sway. Amen. 45:48 And we should thank the Lord for it. Amen. 45:52 We need to recognize that these things 45:54 are the work of the enemy. 45:56 Insurance companies refer to acts of God. 45:58 These things are the works of the devils. 46:02 And when we recognize it in that context 46:04 and when we read the Bible realizing this, 46:07 then we can have hope, because we know 46:10 that our lives truly are in God's hands. 46:14 We are not just victims of circumstance, 46:17 we have some one that we can turn to. 46:19 As the Apostle Paul says in 1st Thessalonians 46:22 Chapter 4 that I would not have you ignoring 46:26 concerning those that fall to sleep, 46:28 so that you sorrow not as those that have no hope. 46:30 Those who do not know God, but on the contrary, 46:35 we have a hope because we know there is a God 46:37 and that God is in control. Amen. 46:40 Now here is the interesting thing. 46:41 The Bible makes it clear that God is in control. 46:46 However not everybody believes 46:48 that God is in control. 46:50 But the fact that we choose not to believe it, 46:53 does not change the fact. 46:56 Just like whether we choose to believe Christ 46:58 died for our sins or not, it doesn't change 47:00 the fact that He did it. 47:04 But here's the kicker, if we choose to believe 47:08 that God is in control. 47:10 If we choose to believe that Christ has paid 47:13 the penalty for all of our sin, 47:15 it does make an incredible and dramatic 47:19 difference in our own personal experience, 47:22 that's where we get our hope. 47:25 I want to share with you a statement. 47:27 This comes from Ministry of Healing page 488 and 489. 47:33 The Father's presence encircled Christ, 47:36 and nothing befell Him 47:39 but that which infinite love permitted. 47:44 For the blessing of the world, 47:46 these things were allowed, 47:47 here was His source of comfort, 47:51 it is for us also. 47:53 He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ, 47:56 and that's a reference to us here today, 47:58 He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ 48:00 abides in Christ. 48:02 Whatever comes to him comes from the Savior, 48:06 who surrounds him with His presence. 48:10 Nothing can touch him 48:11 except by the Lord's permission. Amen. 48:15 All our sufferings and sorrows, 48:18 all of our temptations and trials, 48:22 all of our sadness and grieves, 48:24 all of our persecutions and privations, in short, 48:28 all things work together for good. 48:33 Desire of Ages page 126, 48:35 "In every trial God has a purpose, 48:39 He has a reason, He has a plan, 48:42 He is attempting to accomplish something 48:44 for our good." 48:46 Think of the experience of Daniel who is thrown 48:48 into prison into a lions den, 48:51 not because he did something wrong, 48:52 but because he did something right. Amen. 48:55 Think of the experience of John the Baptist, 48:56 who is thrown into prison and finally beheaded, 48:58 not because he did something good, bad, 49:02 but because he did something good, amen. 49:06 Think of the experience of Joseph, 49:08 faithful Joseph, who is sold as the slave 49:11 to Midianite merchants and carry down to Egypt. 49:14 And I can almost imagine the hot tears of agony 49:18 streaming down his face as he watch the tents 49:21 and feels of his homeland gradually 49:24 disappearing in the distance. 49:27 Being carried down to Egypt, 49:28 he became a servant of Potiphar. 49:31 But I want you to know 49:32 that experience changed Joseph. 49:35 He committed himself to God on his way to Egypt. 49:39 And as a result of that 49:40 God blessed everything that he did. 49:42 It seem like everything that Joseph touched 49:44 seem to turn to gold. 49:46 And so because of that Potiphar, 49:48 the Bible says knew not all that he had except 49:50 the food that he ate, he left everything to Joseph 49:54 to be managed in all of his state, 49:57 but the day comes. 49:59 The Bible tells us the Joseph 50:00 was a handsome young man 50:01 and Potiphar's wife comes in and says 50:03 come lie with me. 50:06 Joseph immediately responds 50:07 how can I do this great wickedness 50:09 and sin against God. 50:10 He wasn't thinking about the consequences of sin. 50:13 He was thinking about hurting his Savior. Amen. 50:18 And so he ends up being lied down 50:20 and cast into prison. 50:22 And you know the story, 50:23 there was a baker and there was butcher or a butler 50:26 and they forget about him after 50:27 he had interpreted their dream 50:28 and then the king had a dream 50:30 and certainly Joseph comes to mind 50:31 and so he goes to Pharaoh, 50:33 the ruler of then the most powerful nation on the earth 50:36 and he interprets the dream 50:37 and as a result of that 50:39 Joseph becomes second in command 50:42 in the nation of Egypt. Amen. 50:44 And now his brothers come down to Egypt 50:46 because of the famine in order to purchase food. 50:48 And Joseph is not vindictive, 50:49 he is not attempting to get revenge. 50:53 But on the contrary he did test 50:55 their characters and saw that they had changed 50:57 and then afterwards he revealed to them, 51:00 the grace that God had it upon him. 51:03 And he says these words so beautiful to me. 51:06 He says you meant it for evil, 51:11 but God meant it for good. Amen. 51:13 You intended to hurt me, 51:16 but God turned it into blessing not just for me, 51:20 but for you as well 51:22 and so whatever our experience, 51:23 we must keep in mind Romans, 51:24 the 8th Chapter write that all things 51:27 truly for the Christian work together for good. 51:30 And so when we are in midst 51:31 of difficulty look for the blessing. Amen. 51:35 In all things the Bible says give thanks. 51:40 God is working on our characters. 51:42 He is preparing us for a place in eternity. 51:47 Job makes an interesting statement 51:48 as well that sound very similar 51:51 to what Solomon makes, 51:53 if you turn to Job the 9th Chapter, 51:56 Job the 9th Chapter and verse 22, Job Chapter 9. 52:08 And looking at the 22nd verse. 52:17 You remember that after Job had suffered 52:19 so much calamity his friends miserable 52:22 counselors came to him ostensibly to comfort him, 52:27 but only added to his grief. 52:30 And so Job himself begins to make 52:33 some peculiar statements in Job the 9th Chapter 52:35 beginning with the 22nd verse the New King James reads, 52:38 "It is all one thing; therefore I say, 52:42 He and he's talking about God, 52:44 He destroys the blameless and the wicked. 52:49 If the scourge slay suddenly, 52:50 he laughs at the plight of the innocent. 52:53 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, 52:56 he covers the faces of its judges. 53:01 Job is experiencing suffering 53:02 and we also in the midst of suffering, 53:05 our perspective tends to change. 53:08 But if we hold to God, 53:10 He indeed can bring a blessing out of it. 53:12 From the book of gospel workers 53:13 we read these words, "Faith is trusting God, 53:18 believing that He loves us 53:21 and knows what is for our best good. 53:25 Thus instead of choosing our own way, 53:30 it leads us to choose God's way." Amen. 53:36 The writer of the lesson points out 53:37 and the once he has outlined. 53:39 That the most important decision 53:42 of our lives on this earth 53:45 is the decision to place our trust in Christ. 53:50 God upholds universes, 53:51 He sets stars in the heavens, 53:55 maintains the planets in mathematical precision 54:00 as they orbit around the sun. 54:03 Is He not capable of handling 54:05 the circumstances of your life? Amen. 54:08 And so why then do we not trust Him? 54:11 Church attendance, believing in Jesus alone 54:15 that is His existence 54:16 and the fact that he died for our sins 54:18 does not make us a Christian. 54:23 We must have a vital connection with Christ. 54:27 Arnold Valentin Wallenkampf his book entitled 54:29 whatever Christian should know about being justify. 54:32 Tells an interesting story about a family 54:34 that had an apple tree in their backyard 54:35 that begin to bare its first fruit. 54:39 One apple, Jack, son of the family 54:45 was told by his mother be careful 54:47 why you are playing in the backyard that you, 54:49 you don't as you are tossing the ball 54:51 about strike the tree. 54:53 Well, year long the inevitable happened, 54:58 Jack was in the backyard with friends 55:00 and playing ball and totally oblivious to the fact 55:03 that they were near the tree 55:05 and the ball eventually bounced and struck the tree, 55:09 knocked off the apple, 55:12 but rather than to confess 55:13 what it happened Jack goes into the house 55:16 and he finds his mothers sewing basket. 55:20 He pulls out of the spool of thread, 55:22 and he ties a little bit of thread 55:24 to the stem of green apple and then 55:27 ties it back to the twig, 55:28 so now once again the green apple 55:31 is hanging on the tree. 55:36 Mother from time to time would look out 55:37 the back window at the tree anxious for the day 55:41 that would come when it would be right 55:43 for picking and eating, but as day after day past 55:47 eventually she begin to notice that the, 55:49 the apple didn't look as fresh on the tree 55:52 as it once did. 55:54 And so she steps out of the house to the backyard 55:57 and she walks up to the tree 55:58 and now she notices that it is nearly 56:02 hanging by a thread. 56:06 It is not attached to the tree, 56:07 it is receiving no nourishment, 56:10 it is not vitally connected to the branch. 56:16 Jesus said, Jesus said in John the 15th Chapter, 56:20 I'm divine, ye are the branches, 56:25 he that abided in me 56:27 and I'm him the same will bring forth much fruit 56:32 but without me, He says ye can do nothing. Amen. 56:38 When we realize this, 56:39 we will have a greater appreciation 56:42 for the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. 56:48 We will notice that the author of the lesson 56:50 comments on the condition of those in death. 56:55 As Adventists we like to quote. 56:57 Ecclesiastes Chapter 9 and verse 5 from the King James, 57:00 "The living know, that they shall die, 57:01 the dead know not any thing." 57:03 But in reality 57:04 Solomon was not intending to teach 57:07 a doctrine concerning the State of the Dead. 57:09 What he was really saying in this passage 57:11 is the fact that it is better to be alive 57:14 than it is to be dead. 57:16 At least the living know that they are going to die, 57:18 but there are numerous texts 57:20 in the rest of the Bible that give us 57:22 a doctrine concerning the State of the Dead. 57:24 Psalms the 145th Chapter verses 1 through 6, 57:28 would be a good verse that we could use. 57:31 And then also as we page through Psalms 103 57:34 and Psalms the 115th Chapter, 57:36 we also find, as we compare scripture with scripture, 57:39 precept upon precept, line upon line, 57:40 we have numerous verses of scriptures 57:42 that we can use in order to understand 57:46 that very important doctrine. 57:50 The lesson asks, 57:51 how do we comfort those 57:52 to whom life has dealt a cruel below. 57:57 In as much as Solomon is telling us that, 57:59 you know, the same faith appears 58:00 to come to all that eventually death 58:04 is what we are facing, he goes onto say, 58:07 so then enjoy your life. 58:08 It almost sounds like he is promoting 58:10 a hedonistic philosophy, eat, drink and be merry, 58:14 for tomorrow we may die. 58:16 In the 9th Chapter there and in the 10th verse 58:20 and this is our memory verse. 58:21 When he declares 58:22 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, 58:24 do it with all thy might, 58:28 for there is no work, no knowledge, 58:29 no wisdom in the grave 58:31 that is where you are going." 58:32 In other words apply yourself, 58:35 apply yourself to the purpose of your life, 58:39 because so soon it's all going to be over. 58:41 What everyday that God 58:42 has given you to do, exert yourself. |
Revised 2014-12-17