Heavenly Father, we thank You
00:00:59.85\00:01:01.92
that we can trust You
00:01:01.96\00:01:03.29
when we ask for
the power to comedown.
00:01:03.32\00:01:05.59
You will send it in the measure
00:01:05.63\00:01:07.60
that You know each
of us is a need of.
00:01:07.63\00:01:10.13
And so Father,
right now begin a work,
00:01:10.17\00:01:12.10
those watching, those listening
via satellite, television
00:01:12.13\00:01:15.27
whatever medium they're using
00:01:15.30\00:01:16.64
we pray that even now
00:01:16.67\00:01:18.01
Your Holy Spirit
will find each person
00:01:18.04\00:01:20.21
at the place of
their particular need
00:01:20.24\00:01:23.04
and begin to
prepare their hearts,
00:01:23.08\00:01:25.01
prepare the soul for the
receiving of this message.
00:01:25.05\00:01:28.45
We also pray a
blessing on Pastor Stephen Bohr
00:01:28.48\00:01:31.05
that you will give him
what he hasn't written down.
00:01:31.09\00:01:33.99
And that You will fill
him with Your Holy Spirit
00:01:34.02\00:01:35.86
to communicate
not only information
00:01:35.89\00:01:37.99
but the will of
God for this hour.
00:01:38.03\00:01:40.10
And for these things
that we shall receive,
00:01:40.13\00:01:42.16
we thank You, in the worthy name
00:01:42.20\00:01:43.53
of Jesus we pray, amen.
00:01:43.57\00:01:47.24
Just before the message
I've been asked to share a song
00:01:47.27\00:01:50.77
you know, last year or
so I, about two years ago
00:01:50.81\00:01:54.41
I should say, I got
a call from a pastor
00:01:54.44\00:01:56.04
who said to me, he said,
00:01:56.08\00:01:57.41
"You know, I've walked around
00:01:57.45\00:01:58.78
and I've looked at
songs that are available
00:01:58.81\00:02:00.92
but I've been looking for
those old standards again like,
00:02:00.95\00:02:05.72
"Softly and Tenderly,"
"There is a Fountain,"
00:02:05.75\00:02:09.06
"Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross,"
00:02:09.09\00:02:10.49
"Lord, I'm Coming Home"
and, and then "Pass Me Not."
00:02:10.53\00:02:14.30
And I remember
when I was growing up,
00:02:14.33\00:02:16.10
a pastor of mine who
just passed away this year.
00:02:16.13\00:02:19.17
God bless him,
Pastor. E. T. Mimms,
00:02:19.20\00:02:22.37
pastored the Bethel
Church in Brooklyn, New York,
00:02:22.40\00:02:25.01
married my wife and I
and we thought about him
00:02:25.04\00:02:27.41
in particular, because
of our 25th anniversary.
00:02:27.44\00:02:29.88
But every time
he made an appeal,
00:02:29.91\00:02:31.28
he would have us
sing "Pass Me Not."
00:02:31.31\00:02:33.35
And a couple of other hymns too.
00:02:33.38\00:02:35.42
But I remembered him so well.
00:02:35.45\00:02:37.19
And I dedicate this
not only to his memory
00:02:37.22\00:02:39.49
but also those who realize that
when the Lord calls on them,
00:02:39.52\00:02:43.19
He's asking them,
not to pass Him by
00:02:43.22\00:02:46.49
and we're asking the
Lord not to pass us by.
00:02:46.53\00:02:48.56
May this minister to your heart.
00:02:48.60\00:02:52.07
Savior, savior,
00:02:52.10\00:02:59.07
hear my humble cry
00:02:59.11\00:03:06.08
While on others thou art calling
00:03:06.11\00:03:13.09
Do not pass me by
00:03:13.12\00:03:19.56
Pass me not, O gentle Savior
00:03:24.13\00:03:31.11
Hear my humble cry
00:03:31.14\00:03:38.11
While on others
00:03:38.15\00:03:41.95
thou art calling
00:03:41.98\00:03:45.59
Just do not pass me by
00:03:45.62\00:03:52.59
Savior,
00:03:52.63\00:03:56.46
Savior,
00:03:56.50\00:04:00.27
hear my humble cry
00:04:00.30\00:04:07.24
For while on others
00:04:07.28\00:04:10.95
thou art calling
00:04:10.98\00:04:14.55
Just do not pass me by
00:04:14.58\00:04:21.12
Let me at thy throne of mercy
00:04:26.29\00:04:33.07
Find a sweet relief
00:04:33.10\00:04:40.08
Kneeling there
00:04:40.11\00:04:43.04
in deep contrition
00:04:43.08\00:04:47.15
Lord help my unbelief
00:04:47.18\00:04:54.16
While I'm trusting
00:04:54.19\00:04:57.09
only in thy merits
00:04:57.13\00:05:02.16
Would I seek thy face?
00:05:02.20\00:05:09.17
Heal my wounded, broken spirit
00:05:09.20\00:05:16.14
And then save me by thy grace
00:05:16.18\00:05:22.58
For I'm crying Savior,
00:05:22.62\00:05:27.42
O my Savior
00:05:27.46\00:05:31.09
Just hear my, hear my humble cry
00:05:31.13\00:05:38.03
For while on others
00:05:38.07\00:05:41.84
thou art calling
00:05:41.87\00:05:45.41
Just do not,
00:05:45.44\00:05:48.21
do not pass me by
00:05:48.24\00:05:53.48
You the spring of all my comfort
00:05:57.05\00:06:02.79
And you are more
00:06:02.82\00:06:05.66
than life to me
00:06:05.69\00:06:11.70
Whom have I on
earth beside thee?
00:06:11.73\00:06:18.64
And whom in heaven but thee?
00:06:18.67\00:06:24.38
So I'm crying Savior,
00:06:24.41\00:06:29.18
O my Savior
00:06:29.22\00:06:32.55
Won't You hear my humble cry
00:06:32.59\00:06:39.39
For while on others
00:06:39.43\00:06:43.53
you are calling
00:06:43.57\00:06:47.37
Just do not, do not pass me by
00:06:47.40\00:06:53.44
For I'm crying Savior,
00:06:53.48\00:06:58.15
O my Savior
00:06:58.18\00:07:01.78
Just hear my humble cry
00:07:01.82\00:07:08.49
For while on others
00:07:08.52\00:07:12.79
thou art calling
00:07:12.83\00:07:17.77
Do not pass me by
00:07:17.80\00:07:24.07
Oh, my Lord,
00:07:31.61\00:07:35.12
just do not pass me by
00:07:35.15\00:07:42.12
Amen, amen.
00:07:51.87\00:07:53.27
Let us now make
welcome Pastor Stephen Bohr
00:07:58.51\00:08:01.24
with the hearty amen.
00:08:01.28\00:08:02.61
Amen.
00:08:02.64\00:08:03.98
Good morning. Good morning.
00:08:10.42\00:08:12.92
I see a lot of new faces
that I didn't see yesterday.
00:08:12.95\00:08:16.12
Praise the Lord. The
saints are rolling in.
00:08:16.16\00:08:18.26
This morning we're going to do
a little bit of introspecting,
00:08:23.23\00:08:27.07
we're gonna do a little
bit of looking at ourselves
00:08:27.10\00:08:30.91
in our Sabbath observance.
00:08:30.94\00:08:33.27
However, before
we do we want to ask
00:08:33.31\00:08:36.04
the Lord's
blessing in a special way.
00:08:36.08\00:08:37.88
So let's just bow our
heads for a word of prayer.
00:08:37.91\00:08:40.48
Father, we thank You
for the awesome privilege
00:08:40.52\00:08:43.65
of being at 3ABN camp meeting.
00:08:43.69\00:08:48.02
Father, we just wish that
we were in heaven right now
00:08:48.06\00:08:50.26
celebrating that great
camp meeting with Jesus.
00:08:50.29\00:08:52.46
Amen.
00:08:52.49\00:08:53.83
But we know that we
have a task to perform
00:08:53.86\00:08:56.56
before that can happen.
00:08:56.60\00:08:58.53
I ask Lord that
as we open Your word
00:08:58.57\00:09:00.64
and we study about the Sabbath
as that applies to Your people
00:09:00.67\00:09:04.67
that Your Holy Spirit
will be hear to speak with us.
00:09:04.71\00:09:08.81
There needs to
be great movements
00:09:08.84\00:09:11.48
since Sabbath
reformed among ourselves.
00:09:11.51\00:09:14.42
Help us to see
what we need to do.
00:09:14.45\00:09:16.99
And we thank You
Father for hearing our prayer
00:09:17.02\00:09:19.15
for we ask it in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:09:19.19\00:09:21.86
Amen.
00:09:21.89\00:09:23.22
Please turn with
me in your Bibles
00:09:23.26\00:09:24.93
to Isaiah Chapter 58,
00:09:24.96\00:09:28.36
Isaiah Chapter 58.
00:09:28.40\00:09:32.70
And as we begin
our study this morning,
00:09:32.73\00:09:34.90
I would like to read a statement
00:09:34.94\00:09:37.81
that we find in
manuscript 36, 1897
00:09:37.84\00:09:42.91
written by Ellen White.
00:09:42.94\00:09:45.81
She is talking
about Isaiah Chapter 58
00:09:45.85\00:09:49.25
and to which period of
history this chapter applies.
00:09:49.28\00:09:53.66
And she says this in
a very short statement,
00:09:53.69\00:09:57.73
the whole chapter,
how much of the chapter?
00:09:57.76\00:10:01.53
Whole.
00:10:01.56\00:10:02.90
"The whole chapter is applicable
00:10:02.93\00:10:07.04
to those who are living
00:10:07.07\00:10:09.54
in this period
of earth's history,
00:10:09.57\00:10:14.28
consider this
chapter attentively
00:10:14.31\00:10:18.48
for it will be fulfilled."
00:10:18.51\00:10:23.82
So Isaiah 58 has
not yet been fulfilled
00:10:23.85\00:10:27.86
according to the
Spirit of Prophecy at least,
00:10:27.89\00:10:29.79
not when she wrote in 1897
00:10:29.82\00:10:32.36
and she says
that the whole chapter
00:10:32.39\00:10:34.40
applies to this
period of human history.
00:10:34.43\00:10:38.73
Now let's examine
this chapter verse by verse
00:10:38.77\00:10:41.67
and see in
which sense it applies
00:10:41.70\00:10:44.31
to this period of
history and to whom it applies.
00:10:44.34\00:10:48.61
Let's go to verse 1,
and here we're gonna find
00:10:48.64\00:10:52.21
to whom this
chapter particularly applies
00:10:52.25\00:10:55.82
at least the first
half of the chapter.
00:10:55.85\00:10:58.79
It says in verse 1,
"Cry aloud, spare not,
00:10:58.82\00:11:05.56
lift up your
voice like a trumpet."
00:11:05.59\00:11:09.66
Tell the
Philistines their transgression.
00:11:09.70\00:11:13.44
Tell the
Babylonians their transgression.
00:11:18.17\00:11:22.74
Tell the Egyptians
their transgression.
00:11:22.78\00:11:27.52
Tell the Presbyterians
their transgression.
00:11:27.55\00:11:31.72
No.
00:11:31.75\00:11:33.49
"Tell My people
their transgression.
00:11:33.52\00:11:38.29
And the house of
Jacob their sins."
00:11:38.33\00:11:44.17
Ellen White is a
little more specific
00:11:44.20\00:11:46.23
then just to apply this chapter
to Christianity in general.
00:11:46.27\00:11:51.87
She tells us that it applies
particularly and especially
00:11:51.91\00:11:57.41
to the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:11:57.45\00:11:59.85
In fact, I read from
Testimonies to the Church,
00:11:59.88\00:12:02.55
Volume 2 Page 36
where she says this,
00:12:02.58\00:12:07.56
"The prophet is
addressing Sabbath keepers."
00:12:07.59\00:12:13.50
That takes it all of the
realm of the Presbyterians
00:12:13.53\00:12:16.00
and the
Methodists and the Lutherans
00:12:16.03\00:12:17.83
and the Jehovah's Witnesses
00:12:17.87\00:12:19.20
and all of these
other denominations.
00:12:19.23\00:12:21.74
This chapter applies especially,
00:12:21.77\00:12:25.07
and I would say at least,
00:12:25.11\00:12:28.41
the main content of the chapter
00:12:28.44\00:12:30.21
applies to Sabbath keepers,
to Seventh-day Adventists.
00:12:30.25\00:12:33.98
She says, "The prophet is
addressing Sabbath keepers
00:12:34.02\00:12:38.29
not sinners, not unbelievers."
00:12:38.32\00:12:43.12
And then she says this,
00:12:43.16\00:12:47.46
he is addressing
00:12:47.50\00:12:49.13
"those who make great
pretensions to godliness."
00:12:49.16\00:12:56.07
Amen.
00:12:56.10\00:12:58.11
"Great
pretensions to godliness."
00:12:58.14\00:13:00.91
And she is not talking
off the top of her head.
00:13:00.94\00:13:02.94
She is in
harmony with scripture.
00:13:02.98\00:13:05.01
In fact, let's go to verse 2.
00:13:05.05\00:13:08.02
It says there, and I'm reading
00:13:08.05\00:13:09.38
from the New King James Version.
00:13:09.42\00:13:11.55
"Yet they seek Me
daily," speaking about
00:13:11.59\00:13:14.16
the house of Jacob,
speaking about Sabbath keepers,
00:13:14.19\00:13:16.49
"they seek Me daily."
00:13:16.52\00:13:18.89
"And delight to know My ways."
00:13:18.93\00:13:21.46
Actually, a better translation
00:13:21.50\00:13:23.37
is they seem
eager to know my ways.
00:13:23.40\00:13:29.24
As a nation that
did righteousness."
00:13:29.27\00:13:31.91
A more accurate
translation would be
00:13:31.94\00:13:33.81
as if they were a
nation who did righteousness.
00:13:33.84\00:13:38.65
"And did not forsake
the ordinance of their God.
00:13:38.68\00:13:44.19
They asked of me the
ordinances of justice,
00:13:44.22\00:13:49.62
they take delight
in approaching God."
00:13:49.66\00:13:52.29
A better translation
would be they seem eager
00:13:52.33\00:13:55.86
for God to come near them.
00:13:55.90\00:14:00.24
So you have a people
here that are very religious.
00:14:00.27\00:14:07.18
They like to draw near
to God and they seem eager
00:14:07.21\00:14:10.51
to draw near to God,
00:14:10.55\00:14:11.88
they seem eager for
God to draw near to them.
00:14:11.91\00:14:14.45
And yet Isaiah 58 tells
us that God has a rebuke
00:14:17.25\00:14:22.62
for His people,
for the house of Jacob
00:14:22.66\00:14:26.83
because of their
transgressions and their sins
00:14:26.86\00:14:29.90
and it applies
to Sabbath keepers.
00:14:29.93\00:14:33.34
Now what was the problem
that Isaiah was addressing
00:14:33.37\00:14:37.91
that applies to this
period of human history.
00:14:37.94\00:14:41.44
We need to go back
to Isaiah Chapter 1
00:14:41.48\00:14:44.05
to see what their problem was.
00:14:44.08\00:14:47.05
Isaiah 1: 11-14.
00:14:47.08\00:14:51.45
Their problem was religiosity,
00:14:51.49\00:14:56.83
formalism, ritualism,
00:14:56.86\00:15:02.40
religion for religion's sake,
00:15:02.43\00:15:06.90
very, very
religious, but not spiritual.
00:15:06.94\00:15:11.77
Isaiah 1: 11, God is
speaking to His people
00:15:11.81\00:15:15.61
and He says, "For what purpose
00:15:15.64\00:15:17.28
is the multitude of
your sacrifices to Me?
00:15:17.31\00:15:20.52
Says the Lord.
00:15:20.55\00:15:22.32
'I have had enough of
burnt offerings of rams
00:15:22.35\00:15:26.76
and the fat of fed cattle."
00:15:26.79\00:15:29.99
Let me ask you, who was that,
00:15:30.03\00:15:31.36
that asked Israel
to make sacrifices?
00:15:31.39\00:15:33.29
God.
00:15:33.33\00:15:35.06
But God says, here,
I've had enough of them.
00:15:35.10\00:15:39.30
He continues
saying, "I do not delight
00:15:39.33\00:15:41.97
in the blood of
bulls or of lambs or goats.
00:15:42.00\00:15:46.34
When you come to
appear before Me,
00:15:46.37\00:15:48.71
who has required
this from your hand,
00:15:48.74\00:15:51.15
to trample my courts?
00:15:51.18\00:15:53.48
Bring no more futile,"
that means empty, meaningless.
00:15:53.52\00:15:58.29
Bring no more futile sacrifices,
00:15:58.32\00:16:02.06
incense is an
abomination to Me."
00:16:02.09\00:16:05.83
Who had told
them to bring incense?
00:16:05.86\00:16:07.50
God.
00:16:07.53\00:16:09.93
The New Moons, the Sabbaths
00:16:09.96\00:16:13.97
and the calling of assemblies,
00:16:14.00\00:16:17.84
like 3ABN camp meeting.
00:16:17.87\00:16:21.64
"I cannot endure
iniquity and the sacred meeting,
00:16:21.68\00:16:26.92
your New moons
and your appointed
00:16:26.95\00:16:29.32
feasts My soul hates.
00:16:29.35\00:16:32.09
They are a trouble to me.
00:16:32.12\00:16:34.02
I'm weary of bearing them."
00:16:34.06\00:16:37.46
Let me ask you,
00:16:37.49\00:16:38.83
were the people in
Isaiah's day very religious?
00:16:38.86\00:16:42.03
Oh yes, they were.
00:16:42.06\00:16:44.07
They were going through
all of the forms of religion
00:16:44.10\00:16:47.67
but they had a
deep spiritual problem.
00:16:47.70\00:16:51.01
Their religion was the sham.
00:16:51.04\00:16:52.47
By the way, the
condition of the people
00:16:52.51\00:16:54.48
in the days of Isaiah is
identical to the condition
00:16:54.51\00:16:58.48
that existed in
the days of Christ.
00:16:58.51\00:17:00.75
That's why Jesus on
several occasions quoted Isaiah.
00:17:03.32\00:17:08.16
For example, in Mark
Chapter 7:6, He says,
00:17:08.19\00:17:12.49
"These people,"
notice, He doesn't say,
00:17:12.53\00:17:14.80
My people, He says,
00:17:14.83\00:17:16.16
"These people
honored me with their," what?
00:17:16.20\00:17:19.83
"With their lips but
their heart is far from Me."
00:17:19.87\00:17:24.71
In other words,
outside they were going through
00:17:24.74\00:17:27.14
the religious forms but
their heart was far from God.
00:17:27.18\00:17:31.21
And Jesus addressed
this time and again,
00:17:31.25\00:17:34.02
"I desire mercy, not sacrifice."
00:17:34.05\00:17:38.69
Quoting from Isaiah Chapter 6:6,
00:17:38.72\00:17:42.32
you know, Jesus constantly
dealt with this problem
00:17:42.36\00:17:44.63
in His day, the same problem
as in the days of Isaiah,
00:17:44.66\00:17:47.50
of people who are
religious but not spiritual,
00:17:47.53\00:17:50.23
whose religion was
external but not internal?
00:17:50.27\00:17:54.00
For example, Jesus
once saw a fig tree,
00:17:54.04\00:17:58.87
beautiful leaves.
00:17:58.91\00:18:01.44
Jesus would have
never come to the fig tree
00:18:01.48\00:18:03.24
unless it had leaves
00:18:03.28\00:18:04.61
because the leaves
were supposed to announce
00:18:04.65\00:18:06.28
that it had fruit and so
he comes to this fig tree
00:18:06.31\00:18:09.12
which represents
the Jewish nation,
00:18:09.15\00:18:10.79
by the way, and it
had beautiful leaves.
00:18:10.82\00:18:14.32
But it had no fruit.
00:18:14.36\00:18:17.59
Externally it looked
good but it had no fruit.
00:18:17.63\00:18:22.03
We find the same issue in the
story of the rich young ruler.
00:18:22.06\00:18:25.63
"What do I need to do
to have eternal life?"
00:18:25.67\00:18:28.27
Jesus says, well, you
know, "Keep the Commandments,"
00:18:28.30\00:18:31.27
That's a good
Seventh-day Adventist answer.
00:18:31.31\00:18:32.97
And the young man
wants to make sure
00:18:36.44\00:18:37.88
that he can believe his
ears, "which Commandments?
00:18:37.91\00:18:41.45
Jesus, well, you know which ones
00:18:41.48\00:18:43.32
and He quotes the
last six Commandments
00:18:43.35\00:18:44.92
only he takes out the
Commandment that says,
00:18:44.95\00:18:47.16
"Thou shalt not covet."
00:18:47.19\00:18:48.52
And puts in "Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself."
00:18:48.56\00:18:51.06
Because love is the
opposite of covetousness.
00:18:51.09\00:18:54.00
It's a positive way of
putting "thou shalt not covet."
00:18:54.03\00:18:59.43
Let me ask you with
this rich young ruler
00:18:59.47\00:19:01.70
have made a good head
elder in the Adventist Church?
00:19:01.74\00:19:05.77
He sure would have.
00:19:05.81\00:19:07.58
Was he a Sabbath keeper? Yes.
00:19:07.61\00:19:10.35
Was he a tithe payer? Yes.
00:19:10.38\00:19:13.38
Did he eat clams?
00:19:13.42\00:19:16.79
Did he eat oysters and pork? No.
00:19:16.82\00:19:21.49
He had all of the
forms of religious right
00:19:21.52\00:19:23.99
but Jesus said, the
problem is you have no love.
00:19:24.03\00:19:29.30
Go sell all that you
have and give to the poor
00:19:29.33\00:19:31.77
and you'll have love.
00:19:31.80\00:19:33.13
He was keeping the commandments,
00:19:33.17\00:19:34.77
"Without love."
00:19:34.80\00:19:38.11
His religion was
an external religion,
00:19:38.14\00:19:40.68
not a religion of the heart.
00:19:40.71\00:19:43.51
Jesus dealt with
this same problem
00:19:43.55\00:19:45.38
in the story of
Pharisee and the Publican.
00:19:45.41\00:19:48.82
Pharisee and the
Publican come to temple to pray
00:19:48.85\00:19:51.19
and the Pharisee says,
00:19:51.22\00:19:52.55
"I thank you Lord that
I'm not like other men.
00:19:52.59\00:19:55.96
I tithe and I keep the Sabbath."
00:19:55.99\00:20:01.20
And you know, "I
fast twice a week,"
00:20:01.23\00:20:04.13
he says, and especially Lord,
00:20:04.17\00:20:06.97
I thank you that
I'm not like this
00:20:07.00\00:20:08.94
miserable sinful publican here.
00:20:08.97\00:20:13.07
He had no love. No
love for the publican.
00:20:13.11\00:20:18.18
He was very religious.
00:20:18.21\00:20:19.55
He did fast twice a
week. He did keep the Sabbath.
00:20:19.58\00:20:21.98
He did tithe, he did
do all of these things
00:20:22.02\00:20:24.42
but it was a sham
00:20:24.45\00:20:26.12
because it was not out of
love, it was not from the heart.
00:20:26.15\00:20:29.19
He had external religion right
00:20:29.22\00:20:31.69
but it was with
the wrong motivation.
00:20:31.73\00:20:34.96
We find it in the
story of the prodigal son.
00:20:35.00\00:20:37.57
You know, the real
prodigal was the older brother.
00:20:37.60\00:20:40.80
You know, we focus sometime
so much on the younger brother
00:20:40.84\00:20:43.30
that we forget that there
was older brother in the story.
00:20:43.34\00:20:46.41
And he is the real
focus of the story.
00:20:46.44\00:20:49.58
You know, at
the end of the story
00:20:49.61\00:20:51.51
this younger son who's gone out
00:20:51.55\00:20:54.58
and wasted his
father's inheritance,
00:20:54.62\00:20:56.35
he broken the
commandment that says,
00:20:56.38\00:20:57.75
"Honor your
father and your mother."
00:20:57.79\00:21:00.49
It says, at least, his
brother accused him of going out
00:21:00.52\00:21:02.86
and living it up with harlots.
00:21:02.89\00:21:05.99
Now he comes
home and the dad says,
00:21:06.03\00:21:08.30
"Let's receive
him with open arms."
00:21:08.33\00:21:10.93
And he calls a party.
00:21:10.97\00:21:12.93
And so the
brother, the older brother
00:21:12.97\00:21:14.67
who represents the
Jews of Christ' day,
00:21:14.70\00:21:17.07
he says to his, to his father,
00:21:17.11\00:21:18.91
he doesn't say you know,
my brother says, your son.
00:21:18.94\00:21:21.98
And he doesn't even
say father, he says, you.
00:21:25.51\00:21:29.68
He says, "I have served you."
00:21:29.72\00:21:32.65
Trouble is he was a son
00:21:32.69\00:21:34.02
who's served his
father as a slave.
00:21:34.06\00:21:36.79
"I've served you all these years
00:21:36.83\00:21:39.69
and I've never gone astray
for one of your commandments,
00:21:39.73\00:21:42.70
you've never even
given me a little party.
00:21:42.73\00:21:45.53
And here this sinner comes home
00:21:45.57\00:21:48.50
after he's
wasted your inheritance,
00:21:48.54\00:21:50.57
after he lived with the harlots.
00:21:50.61\00:21:52.24
And you call a party for him.
00:21:52.27\00:21:54.68
If anyone deserves
a party, it is me."
00:21:54.71\00:21:57.25
Jesus dealt with
this in Matthew 23
00:22:00.48\00:22:02.95
when He talked about
00:22:02.98\00:22:04.32
the woes upon the
scribes in the Pharisees.
00:22:04.35\00:22:07.52
"Woe to you, scribes
and Pharisees, hypocrites,
00:22:07.56\00:22:10.13
because you clean up
the outside of the glass
00:22:10.16\00:22:14.63
but you leave
the inside filthy."
00:22:14.66\00:22:18.73
In other words, it's dealing
with an external religion,
00:22:18.77\00:22:22.90
of religions of forms
and ceremonies and ritual
00:22:22.94\00:22:26.34
without love.
00:22:26.37\00:22:29.94
By the way, the same is true,
00:22:29.98\00:22:31.65
the same condition
exists in the Laodicean Church.
00:22:31.68\00:22:36.28
Because Laodicea
has the same problem
00:22:36.32\00:22:38.85
that the Jews
had in Christ's day
00:22:38.89\00:22:40.59
and Israel had in
the days of Isaiah.
00:22:40.62\00:22:43.06
Because Laodicea,
which is by the way,
00:22:43.09\00:22:46.63
of course, the
Baptist and the Methodists.
00:22:46.66\00:22:48.36
Nice try.
00:22:52.30\00:22:56.20
Laodicea, Ellen White says,
00:22:56.24\00:22:58.14
is primarily the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:22:58.17\00:23:01.38
And Laodicea says, "I am
rich and increased with goods
00:23:01.41\00:23:06.98
and I have need of nothing."
00:23:07.02\00:23:10.35
Does that sound like
00:23:10.39\00:23:11.72
the arrogance of the
Jewish nation in Christ's day
00:23:11.75\00:23:14.62
and the people in Isaiah's day?
00:23:14.66\00:23:16.16
It is the same disease.
00:23:16.19\00:23:19.69
Now let's go to
verse 3 of Isaiah 58.
00:23:19.73\00:23:23.80
Notice the motivation
for what they're doing.
00:23:23.83\00:23:27.97
They're speaking to God.
00:23:28.00\00:23:29.37
"'Why have we fasted,'
00:23:32.14\00:23:35.54
they say 'and you have not seen?
00:23:35.58\00:23:38.88
Why have we afflicted our souls,
00:23:41.88\00:23:44.29
and you take no notice?'
00:23:44.32\00:23:47.96
"What is their
motivation for their religion?
00:23:47.99\00:23:51.06
Earning brownie points with God,
00:23:51.09\00:23:54.26
trying to impress God
00:23:54.30\00:23:55.96
and trying to
impress their fellowmen.
00:23:56.00\00:23:59.17
Why they say have we fasted
and you don't even notice it,
00:23:59.20\00:24:03.51
why is at that we
have afflicted our souls
00:24:03.54\00:24:05.87
and you don't
even pay any attention
00:24:05.91\00:24:07.98
to what we're doing?
00:24:08.01\00:24:10.28
Is that similar to
what the older son said?
00:24:10.31\00:24:13.28
Absolutely.
00:24:13.31\00:24:15.05
By the way, this
whole passage of Isaiah 58
00:24:15.08\00:24:19.92
is speaking about
the Day of Atonement.
00:24:19.95\00:24:24.96
God's people in the
midst of the Day of Atonement.
00:24:24.99\00:24:27.56
Let me ask you, are we
in the midst of the Day
00:24:27.60\00:24:30.20
of Atonement now?
00:24:30.23\00:24:31.57
We sure are.
00:24:31.60\00:24:32.93
You say, "How do we know that?"
00:24:32.97\00:24:34.30
Number one, because the
passage begins by saying
00:24:34.34\00:24:38.67
let the trumpet ring
00:24:38.71\00:24:41.08
to announce my
people their sins.
00:24:41.11\00:24:43.98
And the trumpets were blown
before the Day of Atonement.
00:24:44.01\00:24:46.88
Secondly, the only Hebrew priest
00:24:46.92\00:24:49.78
that was
ordained by God by Moses
00:24:49.82\00:24:51.85
on which people were
to afflict their souls
00:24:51.89\00:24:54.26
and to fast was on
the Day of Atonement.
00:24:54.29\00:24:58.49
And besides, it's called
the acceptable day of the Lord.
00:24:58.53\00:25:03.37
This is speaking
about the Day of Atonement,
00:25:03.40\00:25:05.27
M. L. Andreasen in his
book, Isaiah the Gospel Prophet.
00:25:05.30\00:25:09.80
Page 37 had this to
say about the time period
00:25:09.84\00:25:15.08
that Isaiah 58 is referring to.
00:25:15.11\00:25:18.28
He says, the only
fast known to the law
00:25:18.31\00:25:22.05
was that of the
Day of Atonement.
00:25:22.08\00:25:25.25
Then he puts Leviticus 16:29,
00:25:25.29\00:25:27.16
where the phrase
afflict your soul
00:25:27.19\00:25:28.82
refers to fasting.
00:25:28.86\00:25:30.23
"Later on, other
feast days were appointed
00:25:30.26\00:25:33.40
but as mentioned above,
00:25:33.43\00:25:34.76
the fast of the Day of Atonement
00:25:34.80\00:25:36.63
was the only one
recognized by the law.
00:25:36.67\00:25:40.74
This is interesting
and view over the fact
00:25:40.77\00:25:42.67
that the whole chapter
00:25:42.70\00:25:44.04
has a special
application to this time
00:25:44.07\00:25:46.71
and that we are now living
00:25:46.74\00:25:48.31
in the
antitypical Day of Atonement."
00:25:48.34\00:25:53.75
So this applies to God's people
00:25:53.78\00:25:55.52
in the
antitypical Day of Atonement.
00:25:55.55\00:25:58.25
God is speaking to
us, a religious people
00:25:58.29\00:26:01.32
but the people whose
religion perhaps is a sham
00:26:01.36\00:26:04.86
because it's all external
00:26:04.89\00:26:06.49
without the
heart being involved.
00:26:06.53\00:26:11.23
Now let's go to verse 3, part 2.
00:26:11.27\00:26:15.14
God says to
them, in fact, in fact,
00:26:15.17\00:26:17.87
notice, what their problem is.
00:26:17.91\00:26:19.97
In fact, "In
the day of your fast
00:26:20.01\00:26:24.71
you find pleasure and
exploit all your laborers."
00:26:24.75\00:26:31.25
I want you to know that the--
00:26:31.29\00:26:32.62
notice that their problem
has to do with human relations,
00:26:32.65\00:26:36.56
with the loving
relationship with people.
00:26:36.59\00:26:39.36
So God says, "And
exploit all your laborers.
00:26:39.39\00:26:42.73
Indeed, you fast for," what?
00:26:42.76\00:26:45.73
"For strife and for debate
00:26:45.77\00:26:48.74
and to strike with
the fist of wickedness.
00:26:48.77\00:26:53.54
You will not fast
as you do this day
00:26:53.58\00:26:56.14
to make your
voice heard on high."
00:26:56.18\00:27:00.62
In other words,
their external religion
00:27:00.65\00:27:02.48
appears to be good
00:27:02.52\00:27:03.85
but they're
striking with the fist,
00:27:03.89\00:27:05.22
they are fighting
00:27:05.25\00:27:06.59
and they're
debating with other people.
00:27:06.62\00:27:09.09
They're mistreating, they're
practicing social oppression,
00:27:09.12\00:27:12.73
if you please, and yet, they say
00:27:12.76\00:27:14.93
that the religion
is a true religion
00:27:14.96\00:27:17.40
and that they should
recommend themselves to God.
00:27:17.43\00:27:21.57
And so God asked
the question in verse 5,
00:27:21.60\00:27:25.91
"Is it a fast that
I have chosen a day
00:27:25.94\00:27:31.08
for a man to afflict his soul?
00:27:31.11\00:27:34.55
Is it to bow down
his head like a bulrush,"
00:27:34.58\00:27:38.62
you can just
almost visualize that,
00:27:38.65\00:27:40.66
somebody who's fain in humility.
00:27:40.69\00:27:42.96
And we have a lot of those.
00:27:46.96\00:27:48.36
"Is it a fast that
I have chosen a day
00:27:51.07\00:27:53.07
for a man to afflict his soul?
00:27:53.10\00:27:54.50
Is it to bow down
his head like a bulrush,
00:27:54.54\00:27:57.94
and to spread out
sackcloth and ashes?"
00:27:57.97\00:28:00.38
You see, that
shows great affliction.
00:28:00.41\00:28:04.91
"Would you call this a fast
00:28:04.95\00:28:07.12
and an
acceptable day to the Lord?"
00:28:07.15\00:28:11.22
And then God
00:28:11.25\00:28:12.69
describes to His
people what a true fast is.
00:28:12.72\00:28:16.93
It's not ceasing from eating.
00:28:16.96\00:28:19.33
It's not primarily
partaking of a vegan diet
00:28:21.50\00:28:26.37
although that's good.
00:28:26.40\00:28:28.04
God defines what
fasting is in verses 6 and 7.
00:28:29.64\00:28:35.91
"Is this not the
fast that I have chosen,
00:28:35.94\00:28:40.85
to loose the
bands of wickedness,
00:28:40.88\00:28:44.69
to undo the heavy burdens,
to let the oppressed go free,
00:28:44.72\00:28:51.16
and that you break every yoke?
00:28:51.19\00:28:53.93
Is it not to share
your bread with the hungry
00:28:53.96\00:28:57.37
and that you bring to your house
00:28:57.40\00:28:59.00
the poor who are cast out,
00:28:59.03\00:29:01.57
when you see the
naked, that you cover him;
00:29:01.60\00:29:04.37
and not hide
yourself from your own flesh?"
00:29:04.41\00:29:07.98
See this is practical religion.
00:29:08.01\00:29:11.15
It is true
religion, clothing the naked,
00:29:11.18\00:29:15.82
helping the poor,
giving bread to the hungry,
00:29:15.85\00:29:20.29
letting the oppressed go free.
00:29:20.32\00:29:22.36
In other words, the
people in Isaiah's day
00:29:22.39\00:29:25.13
were practicing all
of the forms of religion
00:29:25.16\00:29:27.66
but they had no
love for their neighbor.
00:29:27.70\00:29:30.97
And God says, it does no
good to afflict to your soul
00:29:31.00\00:29:34.10
and to do all of these,
go for all of this ritual
00:29:34.14\00:29:36.71
if you don't love.
00:29:36.74\00:29:39.57
By the way, this reminds me
00:29:39.61\00:29:41.11
of the great judgment
seen in Mathew Chapter 25.
00:29:41.14\00:29:46.15
Jesus has seated on
His great white throne
00:29:46.18\00:29:48.98
and all nations are
gathered before Him.
00:29:49.02\00:29:52.92
And Jesus, first of
all, takes the sheep
00:29:52.95\00:29:57.69
and places him
on His right hand.
00:29:57.73\00:30:01.16
And He says "Come,
blessed of the Father,
00:30:01.20\00:30:04.10
inherit the
kingdom prepared for you
00:30:04.13\00:30:05.50
from the
foundation of the world."
00:30:05.53\00:30:07.80
For you kept the Sabbath
00:30:07.84\00:30:09.27
and you tithe and
you never ate pork.
00:30:09.30\00:30:12.77
Now don't misunderstanding me.
00:30:12.81\00:30:14.14
We need the tithe and
we need to eat the Sabbath
00:30:14.18\00:30:15.58
then we need to not eat pork.
00:30:15.61\00:30:19.38
That's not what Jesus says.
00:30:19.41\00:30:22.38
In connection
with what we just read,
00:30:22.42\00:30:23.95
Jesus says, "I was
hungry, and you gave me to eat.
00:30:23.99\00:30:28.02
I was thirsty,
you gave me to drink.
00:30:28.06\00:30:31.13
I was a
foreigner, you took me in,
00:30:31.16\00:30:32.96
I was in prison you visited me,
00:30:32.99\00:30:34.76
I was naked and you clothed me."
00:30:34.80\00:30:37.90
And then the sheep say,
"When did we see You that way?"
00:30:37.93\00:30:40.97
I mean, you went to
heaven in the year 31
00:30:43.20\00:30:45.11
we lived in West
Frankfort and other places
00:30:45.14\00:30:48.31
in the year 2008.
00:30:48.34\00:30:50.18
So when did we see You that way?
00:30:50.21\00:30:51.78
Jesus says, "In
that you have done it
00:30:51.81\00:30:53.82
onto one of these
the least, My brethren,
00:30:53.85\00:30:56.05
you had done it onto me."
00:30:56.08\00:30:58.55
And then he turns to the goats.
00:30:58.59\00:31:01.19
And He says,
"You're gonna go to hell.
00:31:01.22\00:31:02.56
Prepare for the
devil and his angels.
00:31:02.59\00:31:05.29
For I was hungry, and
you didn't give me to eat.
00:31:05.33\00:31:08.36
I was thirsty, and you
did not give me to drink.
00:31:08.40\00:31:11.83
I was naked, you
did not cloth me.
00:31:11.87\00:31:14.64
I was in prison,
you did not visit me.
00:31:14.67\00:31:17.41
I was a foreigner, and
you did not take me in."
00:31:17.44\00:31:20.58
And so now they complain.
00:31:20.61\00:31:21.94
They say, well, you went
to heaven in the year 31.
00:31:21.98\00:31:24.98
You know, we were on
earth in the year 2008,
00:31:25.01\00:31:27.52
how is that we saw you that
way and we didn't bless you.
00:31:27.55\00:31:31.89
And then Jesus
speaks about the great sin
00:31:31.92\00:31:33.92
among God's people.
00:31:33.96\00:31:35.29
It's not the sin of commission,
it is the sin of omission.
00:31:35.32\00:31:40.50
"In that you have not
done it onto one of these,
00:31:40.53\00:31:43.77
the least, My brethren,
you have not done it onto me."
00:31:43.80\00:31:47.04
Now that's the bad news.
00:31:52.07\00:31:55.64
Now we need to
go to the good news.
00:31:55.68\00:31:58.88
Because there is
a great day coming
00:31:58.91\00:32:00.52
when God's people
will pay attention
00:32:00.55\00:32:02.38
to what we just studied.
00:32:02.42\00:32:05.39
And God's people
00:32:05.42\00:32:08.22
will receive an
outpouring of God's Holy Spirit
00:32:08.26\00:32:11.29
in their hearts
and in their minds
00:32:11.33\00:32:12.93
and they will live
what we just studied.
00:32:12.96\00:32:17.87
In other words, religion
will not only be external,
00:32:17.90\00:32:20.84
religion will
come from the heart.
00:32:20.87\00:32:24.67
And as a result, God's
people, according to the Bible
00:32:24.71\00:32:28.34
will receive a powerful
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
00:32:28.38\00:32:32.45
In fact, go with me
to Isaiah Chapter 58:8.
00:32:32.48\00:32:37.65
See now what we studied is
the condition of the people.
00:32:37.69\00:32:42.42
What they're doing,
00:32:42.46\00:32:43.79
they're practicing
religion externally
00:32:43.83\00:32:46.09
but their heart is far from God,
00:32:46.13\00:32:48.03
they don't love their
neighbor, they're selfish.
00:32:48.06\00:32:51.30
But now God is
gonna tell us what happens
00:32:51.33\00:32:53.70
when they receive the message,
when they receive this message.
00:32:53.74\00:32:56.27
Notice verse 8,
00:32:56.30\00:32:58.31
"Then," what does
the word then indicate?
00:32:58.34\00:33:02.64
If you do this,
00:33:02.68\00:33:05.08
if you feed the
hungry and you help the poor
00:33:05.11\00:33:07.35
and you give bread to those
and then you cloth the naked,
00:33:07.38\00:33:10.49
He says, "then
00:33:10.52\00:33:13.09
your light shall break
forth like the morning,
00:33:13.12\00:33:17.79
your healing shall
spring forth speedily
00:33:17.83\00:33:21.30
and your righteousness
shall go before you,
00:33:21.33\00:33:24.27
the glory of the Lord
shall be your rear guard."
00:33:24.30\00:33:30.61
What is the earth
gonna be filled with
00:33:30.64\00:33:32.34
when these conditions are met?
00:33:32.37\00:33:35.68
With God's what? Glory.
00:33:35.71\00:33:39.21
Have you ever heard of
anything like that before?
00:33:39.25\00:33:43.52
Revelation 18:9,
00:33:43.55\00:33:47.09
"Then, notice,
once again the word,
00:33:47.12\00:33:49.12
"Then you shall call,
and the Lord will answer.
00:33:49.16\00:33:53.13
You shall cry and He will hear."
00:33:53.16\00:33:55.96
Now notice what
the condition is,
00:33:56.00\00:33:58.00
"If you take away
the yoke from your midst,
00:33:58.03\00:34:00.44
the pointing of the
finger and speaking wickedness,
00:34:00.47\00:34:03.67
if you extend
your soul to the hungry
00:34:03.71\00:34:06.11
and satisfy the
afflicted soul, then."
00:34:06.14\00:34:11.78
We're waiting for the loud cry.
00:34:11.81\00:34:14.22
For the filling of the earth
with God's glory, are we not?
00:34:14.25\00:34:17.92
Is there a
condition that needs to be met
00:34:17.95\00:34:20.32
in order for that to happen?
00:34:20.36\00:34:21.86
Yes. Notice, it
continues saying,
00:34:21.89\00:34:23.83
"Then your light
shall dawn in the darkness
00:34:23.86\00:34:28.46
and your darkness
shall be as the noonday.
00:34:28.50\00:34:33.17
The Lord will
guide you continually
00:34:33.20\00:34:35.60
and satisfy your soul in drought
00:34:35.64\00:34:37.67
and strengthen your bones.
00:34:37.71\00:34:39.37
You shall be
like a watered garden
00:34:39.41\00:34:41.01
and like a spring of water,
00:34:41.04\00:34:44.15
whose waters do not fail."
00:34:44.18\00:34:48.05
Is there a time coming, folks
00:34:48.08\00:34:49.88
when there is going to be
a loud cry on planet earth
00:34:49.92\00:34:53.52
where all of the earth
00:34:53.56\00:34:54.89
will be filled with God's glory?
00:34:54.92\00:34:57.13
Absolutely, and
what is God's glory?
00:34:57.16\00:35:01.10
God's glory is His what?
00:35:01.13\00:35:03.13
His character,
00:35:03.16\00:35:05.33
His character of love
towards the human race.
00:35:05.37\00:35:08.57
The earth is gonna
be filled with that
00:35:08.60\00:35:11.11
according to Revelation 18.
00:35:11.14\00:35:13.01
If you go with me
there. Revelation 18: 1-5.
00:35:13.04\00:35:16.91
See, we have to clean up
our own business in the church
00:35:16.95\00:35:19.68
before we can call people
out of the other churches.
00:35:19.71\00:35:21.88
Amen.
00:35:21.92\00:35:23.75
We have to accept
the Laodicean message
00:35:23.79\00:35:26.15
before we can proclaim
the message to Babylon.
00:35:26.19\00:35:30.73
Those are the two
parts of Isaiah 58,
00:35:30.76\00:35:33.09
first part is
cleaning up our own house,
00:35:33.13\00:35:35.56
the Laodicean message.
00:35:35.60\00:35:36.93
The second half is
what's gonna happen
00:35:36.97\00:35:39.20
when we receive the message,
00:35:39.23\00:35:40.57
the whole earth will
be filled with God's glory
00:35:40.60\00:35:42.87
and multitudes will
come out of Babylon.
00:35:42.90\00:35:45.37
Amen.
00:35:45.41\00:35:46.74
Notice Revelation 18:1,
00:35:46.78\00:35:48.58
"After these
things I saw another angel
00:35:48.61\00:35:50.41
coming down from heaven,
00:35:50.45\00:35:51.78
having great authority,
and the earth was," what?
00:35:51.81\00:35:54.25
"Was
illuminated with His glory."
00:35:54.28\00:35:56.15
See the connection of Isaiah 58.
00:35:56.18\00:35:59.09
"And he cried mightily
with the loud voice, saying,
00:35:59.12\00:36:01.66
"Babylon, the great
is fallen, is fallen
00:36:01.69\00:36:03.73
and is become the
dwelling place of demons,
00:36:03.76\00:36:05.89
a prison for every false spirit
00:36:05.93\00:36:07.66
and a cage for every
unclean and hated bird.
00:36:07.70\00:36:10.93
For all nations
have drunk of the wine
00:36:10.97\00:36:12.63
of the wrath of her fornication,
00:36:12.67\00:36:14.27
the kings of the earth
00:36:14.30\00:36:16.00
have committed
fornication with her
00:36:16.04\00:36:17.67
and the merchants of the earth
00:36:17.71\00:36:19.11
have become rich through
the abundance of her luxury."
00:36:19.14\00:36:21.84
So the earth has been
filled with God's glory
00:36:21.88\00:36:25.05
and what are God's
people going to do?
00:36:25.08\00:36:26.61
Those who have
accepted the Laodicean message,
00:36:26.65\00:36:28.98
who are practicing religion
of love, not only a form,
00:36:29.02\00:36:32.55
they will say in verse 4
00:36:32.59\00:36:34.12
"And I heard another
voice from heaven saying, what,
00:36:34.16\00:36:37.93
'Come out of her my people,
lest you're sharing her sins
00:36:37.96\00:36:42.60
and lest you
receive of our plagues."
00:36:42.63\00:36:44.73
Folks, God's people need
to receive the latter rain
00:36:44.77\00:36:47.27
before we can call
people out of Babylon.
00:36:47.30\00:36:49.24
Amen. Amen.
00:36:49.27\00:36:50.61
God's people have to
shape up their religion
00:36:52.97\00:36:56.81
before they can
call other people out.
00:36:56.85\00:36:59.31
Ellen White says, in
Last Day Events. Page 201.
00:37:05.05\00:37:08.82
Speaking about the loud
cry of this angel she says,
00:37:08.86\00:37:11.99
"It is represented as
being given with the loud voice
00:37:12.03\00:37:16.13
that is with the
power of the Holy Spirit."
00:37:16.16\00:37:20.54
And I love this
statement from Ellen White
00:37:24.71\00:37:26.68
where she
speaks about the exodus
00:37:26.71\00:37:28.31
of multitudes of
Christians from their churches
00:37:28.34\00:37:31.91
as a result of
this powerful Revelation
00:37:31.95\00:37:34.72
of God's character to the world.
00:37:34.75\00:37:37.49
She says, in Last
Day Events. Page 211,
00:37:37.52\00:37:40.36
"There are many souls
00:37:40.39\00:37:41.79
to come out of
the ranks of the world
00:37:41.82\00:37:44.96
and out of the churches,
even the Catholic Church,
00:37:44.99\00:37:48.93
whose zeal will far
exceed that of those
00:37:48.96\00:37:53.13
who have stood
in the rank and file
00:37:53.17\00:37:55.97
to proclaim the
truth here to forward."
00:37:56.00\00:38:01.28
Amazing,
00:38:01.31\00:38:04.38
but now we reach at
very interesting point
00:38:04.41\00:38:06.45
in the chapter.
00:38:06.48\00:38:07.82
The repairing of the bridge
00:38:10.02\00:38:13.96
and I think as
Adventist we have misunderstood
00:38:13.99\00:38:16.36
what this involves, the
repairing of the bridge.
00:38:16.39\00:38:20.63
Go with me to verse 12.
00:38:20.66\00:38:22.00
This is a continuation of
the argument of the chapter.
00:38:24.80\00:38:28.40
Those
00:38:28.44\00:38:29.77
from among you shall
build the old waste places.
00:38:29.80\00:38:33.07
You shall raise
up the foundations
00:38:33.11\00:38:34.74
of many generations,
00:38:34.78\00:38:37.05
you shall be called
the repairer of the bridge,
00:38:37.08\00:38:40.28
the restorer of
street to dwell in.
00:38:40.32\00:38:43.99
If you turn away your
foot from the Sabbath,
00:38:44.02\00:38:46.42
from doing your
pleasure on my holy day,
00:38:46.45\00:38:49.66
and call the Sabbath a delight,
00:38:49.69\00:38:51.83
the holy day of
the Lord honorable,
00:38:51.86\00:38:53.93
and shall honor him
not doing your ways,
00:38:53.96\00:38:56.67
nor finding your own pleasure,
nor speaking your own words."
00:38:56.70\00:39:01.90
Now you say, how
the Sabbath reformed
00:39:01.94\00:39:04.37
fit with what
we've studied previously?
00:39:04.41\00:39:07.94
Say you have God's
message to His people, you know,
00:39:07.98\00:39:11.45
your religion is a
sham, it's only external,
00:39:11.48\00:39:13.72
you need a heart religion.
00:39:13.75\00:39:15.32
And when you accept that,
00:39:15.35\00:39:17.12
then you're
gonna give the loud cry
00:39:17.15\00:39:18.72
the earth is gonna be
filled with God's glory
00:39:18.75\00:39:20.99
and multitudes are gonna
come out and join God's people.
00:39:21.02\00:39:23.86
But how does this passage
00:39:23.89\00:39:25.63
concerning the
repairing of the bridge
00:39:25.66\00:39:27.80
fit with this?
00:39:27.83\00:39:30.90
Allow me to read you
an interesting statement
00:39:30.93\00:39:32.80
from My Life Today. Page 224
00:39:32.83\00:39:35.57
where Ellen White
caught the connection between
00:39:35.60\00:39:40.14
restoring, or
repairing the bridge
00:39:40.18\00:39:42.71
and what comes
previously in Isaiah 58.
00:39:42.74\00:39:45.31
She says this, "The work
specified in these words,
00:39:45.35\00:39:50.32
is the work God
requires His people to do.
00:39:50.35\00:39:54.19
It is a work of
God's own appointment."
00:39:54.22\00:39:59.73
A work of whose?
00:39:59.76\00:40:02.13
A work of God's own appointment.
00:40:02.16\00:40:05.20
Now notice this,
this is important.
00:40:05.23\00:40:08.04
"With the work of advocating
the commandments of God,"
00:40:08.07\00:40:11.21
which is, includes the Sabbath.
00:40:11.24\00:40:13.44
"With the work of advocating
the commandments of God
00:40:13.48\00:40:16.58
and repairing the breach
00:40:16.61\00:40:18.55
that has been made
in the law of God,"
00:40:18.58\00:40:21.82
that's a Sabbath.
00:40:21.85\00:40:23.18
She says, "We are to mingle
00:40:23.22\00:40:26.59
compassion for
suffering humanity.
00:40:26.62\00:40:30.69
We are to show
supreme love to God;
00:40:30.73\00:40:34.46
we are to exalt His memorial,
00:40:34.50\00:40:37.07
which has been
trodden down by unholy feet;
00:40:37.10\00:40:40.64
and with this,
we are to manifest
00:40:40.67\00:40:45.47
mercy, benevolence,
and the tenderest pity
00:40:45.51\00:40:50.71
for the fallen race."
00:40:50.75\00:40:55.38
Now let's go to
the New Testament
00:40:55.42\00:40:57.55
and bring everything together.
00:40:57.59\00:41:01.52
Let me ask you,
00:41:01.56\00:41:03.32
what was the one ordinance
that the people of Christ's day
00:41:03.36\00:41:08.56
used to show their
great spiritual stature?
00:41:08.60\00:41:13.80
The Sabbath.
00:41:16.30\00:41:19.54
Is that true?
00:41:19.57\00:41:21.61
Did the Jews
strictly keep the Sabbath?
00:41:21.64\00:41:25.15
To the very letter,
they most certainly did.
00:41:25.18\00:41:28.05
It was a sign that
they were very what?
00:41:28.08\00:41:31.29
Religious.
00:41:31.32\00:41:32.69
But how did they treat people?
00:41:35.29\00:41:37.39
Are you with me?
00:41:41.63\00:41:43.87
They mistreated people.
00:41:43.90\00:41:45.33
By the way, let me
ask you this question.
00:41:45.37\00:41:47.37
Which day did Jesus especially
chose to bless people?
00:41:47.40\00:41:51.47
Sabbath.
00:41:51.51\00:41:52.84
On the Sabbath, are you
seeing the connection here?
00:41:52.87\00:41:55.41
Amen.
00:41:55.44\00:41:56.78
You know, as
Adventist many times we believe
00:41:56.81\00:41:59.11
that the Sabbath
has to do with don'ts.
00:41:59.15\00:42:02.98
But the Sabbath has
more to do with dos.
00:42:03.02\00:42:05.75
Amen.
00:42:05.79\00:42:08.19
Because when we're doing
what were supposed to be doing,
00:42:08.22\00:42:11.09
what we're not
supposed to be doing
00:42:11.13\00:42:12.79
will take care of itself.
00:42:12.83\00:42:15.76
I've never seen anybody
00:42:15.80\00:42:17.47
have problems
watching television on Sabbath
00:42:17.50\00:42:19.90
when they're
visiting a nursing home.
00:42:19.93\00:42:22.50
That's right.
00:42:22.54\00:42:23.87
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:42:26.68\00:42:28.64
In other words,
00:42:28.68\00:42:30.01
when we're doing what
we're supposed to be doing,
00:42:30.05\00:42:31.88
we won't do what
we're not supposed to do.
00:42:31.91\00:42:34.58
But we think that
Sabbath is simply idleness.
00:42:34.62\00:42:38.85
Sabbath isn't idleness.
00:42:38.89\00:42:40.39
Sabbath is the day that Jesus
used to do what Isaiah 58 says.
00:42:40.42\00:42:45.23
You see, He had
the forms of religion
00:42:45.26\00:42:47.36
but He used the
Sabbath to reveal God's love.
00:42:47.40\00:42:49.93
Amen. Amen.
00:42:49.96\00:42:51.30
And that's what's gonna
shake up the religious world,
00:42:51.33\00:42:54.87
is the love of Jesus
shown in the Sabbath.
00:42:54.90\00:42:57.64
God's people going
out to nursing homes,
00:42:57.67\00:42:59.71
visiting prisons,
blessing the homeless,
00:42:59.74\00:43:02.41
visiting people in need.
00:43:02.44\00:43:04.65
Then people will say,
"oh, these Adventists,
00:43:04.68\00:43:07.52
they're wonderful,
they keep the Sabbath
00:43:07.55\00:43:09.22
but look how they love."
00:43:09.25\00:43:12.92
So Jesus used the Sabbath.
00:43:12.95\00:43:14.36
Amen.
00:43:14.39\00:43:15.72
And by the way, His
observance of the Sabbath
00:43:15.76\00:43:18.29
made the
religious leaders angry.
00:43:18.33\00:43:19.86
Amen.
00:43:19.89\00:43:21.33
So how are we supposed
to restore that bridge,
00:43:25.67\00:43:28.30
the Sabbath?
00:43:28.34\00:43:31.14
We're supposed to restore
the bridge of the Sabbath
00:43:31.17\00:43:33.21
by doing what
Jesus did on Sabbath.
00:43:33.24\00:43:34.98
Amen.
00:43:35.01\00:43:36.98
You see the Sabbath is
all about human relations.
00:43:37.01\00:43:39.25
What does God do on the Sabbath?
00:43:39.28\00:43:40.68
He makes His sunshine upon us.
He makes His rain fall upon us.
00:43:40.72\00:43:46.45
He continues energizing us,
00:43:46.49\00:43:48.36
so that our hearts can
beat and our lungs can breathe.
00:43:48.39\00:43:51.96
And our
circulatory system can work.
00:43:51.99\00:43:56.03
In other words, God is
sustaining and blessing
00:43:56.06\00:43:59.00
and maintaining His creation.
00:43:59.03\00:44:01.00
That's what we're
supposed to do on the Sabbath.
00:44:01.04\00:44:02.90
It kind of reminds me
00:44:07.61\00:44:08.94
when I began my
ministry in the city of Chicago,
00:44:08.98\00:44:12.35
many years ago
in Spanish church,
00:44:12.38\00:44:14.75
one morning I got a phone
call and in that phone call,
00:44:14.78\00:44:20.46
one of the elders of the church
said, pastor there is just--
00:44:20.49\00:44:22.52
I just got a phone
call from the family
00:44:22.56\00:44:24.36
and they don't
have anything to eat.
00:44:24.39\00:44:27.83
They've gonna couple
of days without any food.
00:44:27.86\00:44:30.40
What can we do for this family?
00:44:30.43\00:44:32.20
I said, "you know what,
I've been to the supermarket
00:44:32.23\00:44:34.30
we don't have
anything here at home."
00:44:34.34\00:44:35.67
And he says, you know we're in
the same situation in our house
00:44:35.70\00:44:38.34
but we need to help them."
00:44:38.37\00:44:40.11
So I said, "Don't
worry about that brother,
00:44:40.14\00:44:41.48
I'll take care of it."
00:44:41.51\00:44:43.35
So I went to the
local supermarket
00:44:43.38\00:44:44.85
and did a holy buying.
00:44:44.88\00:44:46.45
I filled a cart
full of groceries
00:44:56.19\00:44:59.43
but unfortunately, as I was
coming out of the supermarket
00:44:59.46\00:45:01.96
there was a Pharisee watching.
00:45:02.00\00:45:03.93
And of course, the
Pharisee never faces you,
00:45:09.57\00:45:11.97
you know, he went
around the church, he says,
00:45:12.01\00:45:13.61
"Pastor Bohr does
his grocery shopping
00:45:13.64\00:45:15.88
on Sabbath."
00:45:15.91\00:45:17.65
And so after this rumor
was all around the church,
00:45:17.68\00:45:21.88
they finally got to me.
00:45:21.92\00:45:23.75
Finally, one of the members
was courageous enough to say,
00:45:23.79\00:45:25.89
pastor, is that true do
you do your grocery shopping
00:45:25.92\00:45:28.02
on Sabbath?
00:45:28.06\00:45:29.99
Now I looked that out, I
could remember for my life,
00:45:30.03\00:45:32.43
you know, that I've
ever been in the supermarket
00:45:32.46\00:45:34.03
because it was such
an exceptional thing.
00:45:34.06\00:45:35.56
I said, "What are
you talking about?
00:45:35.60\00:45:37.90
I don't go to the
supermarket on Sabbath."
00:45:37.93\00:45:39.50
He says, "There's
somebody who swears
00:45:39.53\00:45:40.87
he saw you coming
out of the supermarket
00:45:40.90\00:45:42.70
on such and such a Sabbath."
00:45:42.74\00:45:44.61
And I said, "No, it can't be."
00:45:44.64\00:45:48.44
And then it dawned on
me. Oh, I remember now."
00:45:48.48\00:45:53.18
And I told them the story
00:45:53.21\00:45:54.55
and he lowered his head
he says, "Pastor, I'm sorry."
00:45:54.58\00:45:59.79
What would Jesus prefer,
00:45:59.82\00:46:01.22
to let that family
go hungry on Sabbath?
00:46:01.26\00:46:04.53
Of course, not.
00:46:04.56\00:46:06.33
You know, I heard
a story few years ago
00:46:06.36\00:46:08.13
about an individual
who is driving his car home
00:46:08.16\00:46:13.30
and right near his
home he ran out of gas
00:46:13.34\00:46:16.37
and it was pouring rain
00:46:16.40\00:46:18.84
and he noticed that just
about a quarter of a block,
00:46:18.87\00:46:22.54
ahead of where he was,
there was a gas station.
00:46:22.58\00:46:26.31
So you know, he
had the newspaper,
00:46:26.35\00:46:27.68
he puts a
newspaper over his head
00:46:27.72\00:46:29.22
and he goes to the
gas station, he only,
00:46:29.25\00:46:31.15
he finds a signed that
says, close on Saturdays.
00:46:31.19\00:46:34.96
So he said, "wow, so
much, so much for getting gas."
00:46:37.03\00:46:40.90
But then he noticed
there was a little house
00:46:40.93\00:46:42.26
next to the gas station.
00:46:42.30\00:46:43.87
He said, "Maybe the
owner of gas station lives
00:46:43.90\00:46:46.47
next to the gas
station in the house.
00:46:46.50\00:46:48.94
So he went to the
house and knocked on the door
00:46:48.97\00:46:53.24
and it was about 9
o'clock in the morning
00:46:53.27\00:46:55.74
and this fellow comes up
00:46:55.78\00:46:57.21
and comes out and
he's tying his tie.
00:46:57.25\00:47:03.12
Can you guess what he was?
00:47:03.15\00:47:04.69
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:47:04.72\00:47:06.12
Can you guess
where he was going?
00:47:06.15\00:47:07.49
Church.
00:47:07.52\00:47:08.86
Of course, he
was going to church.
00:47:08.89\00:47:10.63
He was gonna fulfill
the form of religion.
00:47:10.66\00:47:13.46
See that the law requires
us to go to church on Sabbaths.
00:47:13.50\00:47:17.87
That was his view.
00:47:17.90\00:47:19.23
And so this guy
said, "I ran out of gas
00:47:22.17\00:47:23.91
just right around the
corner from the gas station,
00:47:23.94\00:47:26.61
you know, is this
your gas station?"
00:47:26.64\00:47:28.61
He said, "Yes, it is."
00:47:28.64\00:47:30.71
He says, "Could you
please sell me some gas
00:47:30.75\00:47:32.61
so I can make it home?"
00:47:32.65\00:47:33.98
And this man,
00:47:34.02\00:47:35.35
you know, the way we
found out about these stories
00:47:35.38\00:47:36.72
because an LE went
to this man's house
00:47:36.75\00:47:38.72
a few years later
00:47:38.75\00:47:40.22
and when he discover
that they were Adventists,
00:47:40.26\00:47:42.06
he told them this story.
00:47:42.09\00:47:44.49
And he didn't want any
of the books logically.
00:47:44.53\00:47:48.53
But this Seventh-day Adventist
said, "Are you kidding?
00:47:48.56\00:47:53.64
Don't you know that
Exodus Chapter 20 says,
00:47:53.67\00:47:57.61
"Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy."
00:47:57.64\00:48:01.98
Don't you know
that the Bible says,
00:48:02.01\00:48:03.65
that we're not supposed to
buy and sell on the Sabbath?
00:48:03.68\00:48:08.75
I could never sell you
any gas on the Sabbath."
00:48:08.78\00:48:13.02
And he shut the
door in his face.
00:48:13.05\00:48:14.79
There you have an
Isaiah 1 Christian.
00:48:19.96\00:48:22.73
That's why Jesus said, "I
want mercy, not sacrifice."
00:48:27.14\00:48:33.27
Am I saying that we
need to be less strict
00:48:33.31\00:48:35.74
with our Sabbath observance?
00:48:35.78\00:48:37.55
Don't anybody go out of
here and say because, you know,
00:48:37.58\00:48:40.55
I've been accused the
heresy in other little areas.
00:48:40.58\00:48:43.15
But don't let anybody
leave this place saying,
00:48:43.18\00:48:45.85
Pastor Bohr says,
00:48:45.89\00:48:47.22
that we can go eat in
restaurants on the Sabbath,
00:48:47.26\00:48:49.59
no problem with
that and, you know,
00:48:49.62\00:48:51.26
we can do our
grocery shopping on Sabbath.
00:48:51.29\00:48:53.60
You know, and we can do
our laundry on the Sabbath.
00:48:53.63\00:48:56.40
No way.
00:48:56.43\00:48:58.40
If we love Jesus
00:48:58.43\00:48:59.77
we're not gonna do those things.
00:48:59.80\00:49:01.60
We're gonna cease
from doing those things
00:49:01.64\00:49:03.77
but we're also gonna do
00:49:03.81\00:49:05.17
what we're supposed to be doing.
00:49:05.21\00:49:06.68
Amen.
00:49:06.71\00:49:08.04
We're not gonna be
going home after church
00:49:08.08\00:49:10.15
and practicing the so
called lay activities.
00:49:10.18\00:49:14.45
We're gonna go out
00:49:19.29\00:49:20.62
and we're gonna
minister to people.
00:49:20.66\00:49:22.62
We're gonna reveal the
character of Jesus Christ.
00:49:25.43\00:49:27.83
Amen.
00:49:27.86\00:49:29.40
That's what is meant
by restoring the bridge.
00:49:29.43\00:49:31.23
See people don't want to
keep a legalistic Sabbath.
00:49:31.27\00:49:33.64
That, they--
00:49:33.67\00:49:35.60
Christian see
Adventist as a legalist.
00:49:35.64\00:49:37.37
"Oh, they have
this list of things
00:49:37.41\00:49:38.74
that you can't do on Sabbath."
00:49:38.77\00:49:41.24
And sometimes we have
given them bad impression,
00:49:41.28\00:49:43.45
not always, but sometimes
00:49:43.48\00:49:44.81
we've given them bad impression.
00:49:44.85\00:49:46.48
We have to show them
the beauty of the Sabbath.
00:49:46.51\00:49:48.98
Amen.
00:49:49.02\00:49:50.42
We have to show them
the blessing of the Sabbath,
00:49:50.45\00:49:53.25
not for us, you know, we say,
00:49:53.29\00:49:54.62
"Oh, God made the Sabbath
so that I can be blessed."
00:49:54.66\00:49:56.86
No, God made the Sabbath
so you can be a blessing.
00:49:56.89\00:49:59.39
Amen.
00:49:59.43\00:50:00.76
A blessing to other people.
00:50:00.80\00:50:02.13
Do you remember that
Jesus constantly in the gospels
00:50:05.33\00:50:07.54
had to face this problem?
00:50:07.57\00:50:08.90
This man with withered hand.
00:50:08.94\00:50:11.34
The story is in
Mark Chapter 3: 1-6.
00:50:11.37\00:50:16.64
You know, Jesus told
this man "Stand here."
00:50:16.68\00:50:19.31
You know, Jesus made
it appoint to rub it in.
00:50:19.35\00:50:23.92
Because the healings
of Jesus on the Sabbath
00:50:23.95\00:50:25.95
were all chronic cases.
00:50:25.99\00:50:27.32
He could have
waited till sundown.
00:50:27.36\00:50:30.66
I mean, blind since birth,
00:50:30.69\00:50:35.33
paralyzed for 38 years,
00:50:35.36\00:50:38.83
a woman who had a
problem for 18 years.
00:50:38.87\00:50:42.00
The man, would the man have died
00:50:44.67\00:50:46.71
if Jesus hadn't
heal the withered hand?
00:50:46.74\00:50:49.24
Of course not.
00:50:49.28\00:50:51.11
But Jesus is
saying, I don't want anybody
00:50:51.15\00:50:52.95
to be with the
withered hand at all.
00:50:52.98\00:50:55.78
Amen.
00:50:55.82\00:50:57.15
And so He makes
a place Stand here.
00:50:57.19\00:50:58.79
I want everybody to
see what's gonna happen.
00:50:58.82\00:51:01.59
And then He says to
all of those Pharisees
00:51:01.62\00:51:03.86
who were strict Sabbath keepers,
00:51:03.89\00:51:07.96
who would have
made good Adventist
00:51:08.00\00:51:09.33
in some churches.
00:51:09.36\00:51:10.70
And he says,
00:51:14.77\00:51:17.44
"Is it okay to heal or to kill?"
00:51:17.47\00:51:23.88
So he knew what
their intention was.
00:51:23.91\00:51:26.75
See it's a sin
to heal on Sabbath
00:51:26.78\00:51:30.29
but you can plan
to kill on Sabbath.
00:51:30.32\00:51:32.99
That shows their hypocrisy.
00:51:33.02\00:51:35.56
And so Jesus says,
00:51:35.59\00:51:37.19
I'm gonna show
you that is lawful
00:51:37.23\00:51:40.76
to do good on the Sabbath.
00:51:40.80\00:51:43.37
And so the Bible says,
00:51:43.40\00:51:44.73
that He healed the hand of
that man on the Sabbath day.
00:51:44.77\00:51:48.94
He restored his
hand on the Sabbath day
00:51:48.97\00:51:51.74
and then the
Bible ironically says
00:51:51.77\00:51:53.91
that the Pharisees went
out and they took counsel
00:51:53.94\00:51:57.08
on how they might destroy Him.
00:51:57.11\00:52:00.58
It's okay to plan
to destroy on Sabbath
00:52:00.62\00:52:03.15
but it's a great sin to heal.
00:52:03.18\00:52:07.06
Are you
understanding the problem
00:52:07.09\00:52:09.02
that Jesus is dealing
with in Isaiah Chapter 58?
00:52:09.06\00:52:12.36
Jesus is actually
thinking about this,
00:52:12.39\00:52:14.60
it's in the back of His mind
00:52:14.63\00:52:17.87
and Isaiah 29 this people
00:52:17.90\00:52:21.84
worships me
externally with their lips
00:52:21.87\00:52:26.98
but their heart is far from me.
00:52:27.01\00:52:30.11
And now I want to take us
00:52:30.15\00:52:31.71
to the conclusion of
this passage in Isaiah 58.
00:52:31.75\00:52:34.38
Let me tell you,
folks. There is a reward.
00:52:34.42\00:52:36.12
Amen.
00:52:36.15\00:52:38.59
For all of those who
received the Laodicean message,
00:52:38.62\00:52:42.19
receive the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
00:52:42.22\00:52:44.73
are able to proclaim
the loud cry with power
00:52:44.76\00:52:48.36
that leads multitudes
to come out of the churches
00:52:48.40\00:52:51.40
and join the remnant
church that keeps the Sabbath
00:52:51.43\00:52:54.27
the way God tells
us to keep the Sabbath.
00:52:54.30\00:52:57.07
There is a reward.
00:52:57.11\00:53:00.91
Notice once again,
verse 14 of Isaiah 58.
00:53:00.94\00:53:05.15
It says, "Then you shall
delight yourself in the Lord."
00:53:05.18\00:53:11.59
See, it's when we help
other people that we delight.
00:53:11.62\00:53:14.82
"Then you shall
delight yourself in the Lord
00:53:14.86\00:53:18.63
and I will cause you to ride
00:53:18.66\00:53:21.83
on the high hills of the earth
00:53:21.86\00:53:25.00
and feed you with the
heritage of Jacob your father."
00:53:25.03\00:53:28.10
Do you know what the heritage
of Jacob your father is?
00:53:28.14\00:53:30.04
It's the land of Canaan.
00:53:30.07\00:53:32.74
Look it up in concordance
00:53:32.77\00:53:34.11
you will see that the heritage
of Jacob is the land of Canaan.
00:53:34.14\00:53:37.41
Is God promising
Canaan to His people?
00:53:37.45\00:53:39.88
Yes.
00:53:39.91\00:53:41.25
Which Canaan?
00:53:41.28\00:53:42.78
The heavenly Canaan.
00:53:42.82\00:53:44.62
And so he says,
00:53:44.65\00:53:46.02
"I will cause you to rise
on the high hills of the earth
00:53:46.05\00:53:49.32
and feed you with the
heritage of Jacob your father."
00:53:49.36\00:53:53.06
And then He says, you
can take it to the bank.
00:53:53.09\00:53:55.73
"The mouth of
the Lord has spoken."
00:53:55.76\00:53:59.60
Amen.
00:53:59.63\00:54:00.97
Several years ago when
I was teaching theology
00:54:03.17\00:54:04.97
in our university in
the city of Medellin,
00:54:05.01\00:54:08.21
I had to preach in
the downtown church
00:54:08.24\00:54:09.64
and the central
church and I was way behind.
00:54:09.68\00:54:11.78
At that time I
didn't have the car
00:54:11.81\00:54:13.15
so I took the bus and
there was a lot of traffic
00:54:13.18\00:54:15.65
and so I was going as
fast as I could to the church
00:54:15.68\00:54:19.22
on this Sabbath morning.
00:54:19.25\00:54:21.52
And as I was passing by,
as I was walking up the street
00:54:21.56\00:54:24.23
there were three kids
00:54:24.26\00:54:26.29
you know, you could tell
that they were street kids,
00:54:26.33\00:54:27.76
they were dirty
00:54:27.80\00:54:29.13
and their
clothes were all ripped.
00:54:29.16\00:54:30.70
You know, they
were-- they had, you know,
00:54:30.73\00:54:33.10
they had these
glue bottles and they,
00:54:33.13\00:54:36.30
you know, they smell the glue
because it gives them a high.
00:54:36.34\00:54:39.91
And so, you know,
00:54:39.94\00:54:41.28
and they had kind of like
little cans asking for people
00:54:41.31\00:54:43.81
in order to give them money
00:54:43.85\00:54:45.75
and so I was in
such a hurry you know,
00:54:45.78\00:54:47.92
I walked in I was about
half a block ahead of them
00:54:47.95\00:54:52.05
and I said, you know,
here I'm going to church
00:54:52.09\00:54:54.99
and I'm gonna preach on Sabbath
00:54:55.02\00:54:56.73
and I just passed those kids by.
00:54:56.76\00:54:59.63
So even though I
was behind schedule,
00:54:59.66\00:55:01.43
I went back.
00:55:01.46\00:55:02.80
And they were
talking at that time.
00:55:02.83\00:55:04.17
They weren't asking for money.
00:55:04.20\00:55:05.63
You know, I looked and I said,
"Hi guys, how are you doing?"
00:55:05.67\00:55:09.37
You should have
seemed their faces.
00:55:09.40\00:55:11.47
You know, they were
used to people asking money
00:55:11.51\00:55:12.84
but people talking to them
00:55:12.87\00:55:14.58
and especially
a man in the suit,
00:55:14.61\00:55:18.25
their expression changed.
00:55:18.28\00:55:19.95
I said, guys, I
have something for you
00:55:19.98\00:55:23.18
and I gave each
of them a donation.
00:55:23.22\00:55:26.65
You should have
seemed their faces radiant
00:55:26.69\00:55:30.23
and then I went to church.
00:55:30.26\00:55:32.86
You know what, I was the
one who was greatly blessed
00:55:32.89\00:55:38.03
by what
happened on that Sabbath.
00:55:38.07\00:55:40.84
See just going to
church to preach on Sabbath,
00:55:40.87\00:55:44.47
just going through the
forms of Sabbath observance
00:55:44.51\00:55:46.84
doesn't bring joy.
00:55:46.88\00:55:48.21
It is giving to
others that brings joy
00:55:48.24\00:55:51.41
and happiness to our hearts.
00:55:51.45\00:55:52.78
And I'll tell you
I was jumping for joy
00:55:52.81\00:55:56.38
when I saw the
expression on their faces.
00:55:56.42\00:55:59.09
So, folks, as Adventists,
let's go back to our churches.
00:55:59.12\00:56:03.09
And let's not only
emphasize the don'ts
00:56:03.12\00:56:05.93
but let's get our
church involved in ministering
00:56:05.96\00:56:09.26
to people who are in need.
00:56:09.30\00:56:11.23
And, folks, I assure
you that if we do that
00:56:11.27\00:56:13.60
our lives will be
so filled with joy,
00:56:13.64\00:56:16.10
will be so filled with happiness
00:56:16.14\00:56:18.47
that we will not believe
the change that God will make
00:56:18.51\00:56:22.54
in our lives.
00:56:22.58\00:56:23.91
I pray to God
00:56:23.95\00:56:25.88
that will be our experience
as we return to our homes.
00:56:25.91\00:56:29.05