Please bow your
heads for prayer.
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Dear Heavenly
Father, we thank You so much
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for the blessings
You bestowed on us,
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especially here at ASI
during these days, Lord.
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And I thank You for the music.
I thank You for the sermons.
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But Lord, my
biggest prayer tonight
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is just that we
would not leave here
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without applying the things
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that we have heard
to our lives, Lord.
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Help us to be Your children
and help us never to forget.
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Lord, we thank You
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that we have
another meeting tonight
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that we can come together
once more and worship You.
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We praise You for who
You are, Jesus' name, amen.
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All creatures
of our God and King
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Lift up your
voice and with us sing
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Alleluia, alleluia
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Thou burning
sun with golden beam
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Thou silver moon
with softer gleam
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O praise Him
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O praise Him
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Alleluia
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Alleluia
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Alleluia
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Thou rushing wind
that art so strong
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Ye clouds that
sail in Heaven along
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O praise Him
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Alleluia
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Thou rising moon
in praise rejoice
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Ye lights of
evening find a voice
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O praise Him
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O praise Him
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Alleluia
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Alleluia
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Alleluia
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Let all things their
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Creator bless
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And worship Him in humbleness
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O praise Him
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Alleluia
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The whole earth
is full of His glory
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The whole earth
is full of His glory
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The whole earth
is full of His glory
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Holy is the Lord
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And all ye men of tender heart
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Forgiving others
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Take your part
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O sing ye
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Alleluia
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Praise, praise the
Father, praise the Son
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And praise the
Spirit three in one
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O praise Him
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O praise Him
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Alleluia
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Alleluia
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Alleluia
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Good evening.
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Did you have a good Sabbath?
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Yes. Yes.
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You know, that year
after year when he come to you
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and tell you the
rest of the story.
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Basically what we tell you
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it's what
happened from last year
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when we met at
convention till now.
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Now we have the
rest of the story
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only from few hours ago.
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And the morning
we had the challenge,
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we talk about
going to the Philippines,
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going to different countries,
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doing this New
Beginning DVD training
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and many of you
came to me and said,
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I would like to do it.
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I would like to go to
the country to train people.
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I would like to preach it.
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I would like to
do it in my house.
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So Benny More with
ShareHim and Elder Folkenberg
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came and said, let's do
more like the Philippines.
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How do you do it?
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We know that
the gospel it's free
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because Jesus Christ
paid with His blood for me
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and for you and for--
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But takes money to
distribute it, you know.
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That's right.
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And who's paying for
that, Ben, would you tell us?
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Well, I'll tell you
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there are number
of people involved,
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but one that we
didn't mention this morning
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that was very much involved
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in the Philippians
was the Quiet Hour.
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In the Philippines
the training was for--
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we did 1,000 in Manila.
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You did 1,000 in Mindanao.
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There were 4,000 all together
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and then a
couple of weeks later,
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I mean, a couple of
months later we did another 300.
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So 4,300 laymen were
trained in the Philippines.
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Because of the
generosity of the Quiet Hour
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we were able to take
more than 50 speakers
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including Elder
Snider to the Philippines
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to conduct evangelistic series
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to reap the
results of the sowing
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of these over 4, 000
people that were trained.
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Amen. Amen.
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And so we want you to
be aware of the involvement
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of the Quiet Hour in
furnishing these sites.
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If it hadn't been
for the Quiet Hour,
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ShareHim would not
have been in the Philippines
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because they
sponsored the site feast
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for those 51 or 52
sites that we had there.
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But there's more
that the Quiet Hour does
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than even the
sponsorship of these sites
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you also sponsor the
people from Fountainview Academy
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that were there,
but in addition to that
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what else do you
do with students?
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We sponsor every year
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and since 2001 we have been
in partnership with ShareHim.
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It's a seamless arrangement
and I appreciate the fact
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that we can do
collaborative efforts together,
00:08:03.41\00:08:06.11
network together as we
seek to finish the work.
00:08:06.15\00:08:09.78
But we have been
doing between 250
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and this year
350 teams of students
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from all of our colleges
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and
universities in North America
00:08:21.30\00:08:23.67
and 10 outside of North America.
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Amen. That's right.
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And what are the plans for
next year for these students?
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We want to keep that going,
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but it takes about $440,
000 of commitment every year.
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So we're not talking about
some insignificant something
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but this is giving our students
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the chance to preach an
entire evangelistic series
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between 300 and 400 per year.
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This is giving
them that opportunity
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because of the Quiet Hour
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furnishing part
of the travel funds
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for these students to go.
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So it's a double blessing
for the students going there
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and for people who
receive the training.
00:09:01.47\00:09:03.44
And it becomes a
life changing experience.
00:09:03.47\00:09:06.94
And we say thank
you ASI for your support
00:09:06.98\00:09:10.88
in making it happen.
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Amen.
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Thank you,
ShareHim. Thanks, Viorel.
00:09:13.65\00:09:14.98
Thank you Quiet Hour. Bye-bye.
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Now it's my privilege and honor
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to introduce the
speaker of tonight.
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A man of God, I
mean, asked to be leader
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of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church worldwide,
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Dr. Jan Paulsen.
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A few years ago while
I was living in England
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I received an
invitation to come and preach
00:10:01.00\00:10:03.43
one Sabbath morning in
one of our churches in Wales.
00:10:03.47\00:10:09.10
And I made my way to the church
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and the time for the
service to begin was there
00:10:11.27\00:10:13.88
and I was comfortably seated.
00:10:13.91\00:10:17.11
Well, seated at
least on the platform.
00:10:17.15\00:10:20.22
And the pastor of our church
leaned over to me and said,
00:10:20.25\00:10:24.69
did you notice the man
that just walked in the door?
00:10:24.72\00:10:27.99
And I had and I
said, yes. I noticed him.
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Well, he said,
00:10:31.96\00:10:33.29
that is the
local Anglican vicar.
00:10:33.33\00:10:38.43
He is the Anglican
priest of the church
00:10:38.47\00:10:40.70
here in this town.
00:10:40.74\00:10:42.14
We have good
relationships with him
00:10:42.17\00:10:44.04
and he wanted to come
and hear what you had to say.
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The Holy Spirit
00:10:50.45\00:10:54.68
gently spoke to
my spirit and said,
00:10:54.72\00:10:58.22
probably a good idea
00:10:58.25\00:10:59.59
if you change this
topic you had in mind.
00:10:59.62\00:11:04.33
And that's what I did.
00:11:04.36\00:11:06.90
I took up a subject other
than the one I had thought
00:11:06.93\00:11:11.60
that I was going to preach on.
00:11:11.63\00:11:14.90
You know...
00:11:14.94\00:11:16.97
sometimes we are
asked to submit the title
00:11:17.01\00:11:21.58
weeks even months in advance
of it actually being delivered
00:11:21.61\00:11:25.45
and we suggest the title.
00:11:25.48\00:11:27.85
May be we're
working on something
00:11:27.88\00:11:29.35
that we are sort of
warm on that at that time
00:11:29.38\00:11:32.15
and feel yes, this is
what I want to speak about.
00:11:32.19\00:11:34.76
But weeks pass and time
pass and there comes a moment
00:11:34.79\00:11:37.99
where you say,
00:11:38.03\00:11:40.53
are you sure that's
really what you want to do?
00:11:40.56\00:11:43.60
And there are times when,
00:11:43.63\00:11:45.03
when I feel may be I
should choose a generic title
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like "Hearken O
people unto the Lord."
00:11:49.47\00:11:55.81
I could preach all the sermons
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I'm gonna preach the
rest of my life on that title
00:11:57.48\00:12:00.78
because anything
is fitted into it.
00:12:00.82\00:12:02.92
So what I'm
gradually getting to is,
00:12:02.95\00:12:04.65
scratch the title you find
in the program for the night.
00:12:04.69\00:12:07.86
That's not what
I'm gonna preach about.
00:12:07.89\00:12:10.76
What I want to
talk about tonight
00:12:10.79\00:12:12.13
is something which
keeps me a bit closer
00:12:12.16\00:12:16.36
to the theme that
you've had during this week.
00:12:16.40\00:12:19.53
And I wanted to share
with you some thoughts
00:12:19.57\00:12:22.44
on what I have
entitled "Dressed for Combat."
00:12:22.47\00:12:26.94
Throughout the Bible,
Old Testament and New,
00:12:30.35\00:12:33.78
you find a constant
reference to the battle
00:12:33.82\00:12:36.92
that's going on
that we're involved in,
00:12:36.95\00:12:38.75
battle between good and evil,
00:12:38.79\00:12:40.12
battle between God
and forces oppose to God.
00:12:40.16\00:12:43.59
One of the classical
passages in the Old Testament
00:12:43.63\00:12:46.39
you will remember is
when King Jehoshaphat
00:12:46.43\00:12:49.46
was facing the combined forces
00:12:49.50\00:12:52.10
of the Moabites
and the Amalekites
00:12:52.13\00:12:55.00
and the messenger of
the Lord said to him,
00:12:55.04\00:12:58.91
do not be discouraged or afraid
because of this vast army,
00:12:58.94\00:13:04.98
for the battle is
not yours but God's.
00:13:05.01\00:13:09.75
And that is a signal
text for the believers
00:13:09.78\00:13:15.56
who have committed themselves
to remain faithful to God
00:13:15.59\00:13:18.43
and to His truth.
00:13:18.46\00:13:20.56
They will face difficult
times there's no doubt about it.
00:13:20.60\00:13:23.73
They will face difficult times,
00:13:23.77\00:13:25.53
but the battle is not
ours, it is of the Lord.
00:13:25.57\00:13:29.37
And Jesus Christ
00:13:29.40\00:13:30.74
during the last few hours
He had with His disciples,
00:13:30.77\00:13:33.38
before He went into
the Garden of Gethsemane.
00:13:33.41\00:13:36.21
You remember the prayer
that He offered to the Father
00:13:36.24\00:13:40.52
recorded in, in John Chapter 17.
00:13:40.55\00:13:45.82
He said Father,
00:13:45.85\00:13:47.72
I'm not asking you to
take them out of this world,
00:13:47.76\00:13:51.73
but protect them
from the evil one.
00:13:51.76\00:13:55.76
Christ...
00:13:59.93\00:14:01.27
all of the inspired
writers of the Bible
00:14:04.64\00:14:09.41
have been
constantly aware of the fact
00:14:09.44\00:14:11.68
that the community of
faith will face forces
00:14:11.71\00:14:16.05
which are opposed to
Christ and opposed to the truth.
00:14:16.08\00:14:20.86
There is a battle
that will engage us
00:14:20.89\00:14:24.63
and we have to be
prepared for that.
00:14:24.66\00:14:26.73
So that is the subject
00:14:26.76\00:14:28.30
on which I want to
share with you a few thoughts.
00:14:28.33\00:14:32.23
Ephesians Chapter 6 is
of course our key chapter,
00:14:32.27\00:14:35.74
the second half of
Ephesians Chapter 6.
00:14:35.77\00:14:38.17
The scene is set there
with Paul's acknowledgement
00:14:38.21\00:14:42.04
of the conflict that lies ahead.
00:14:42.08\00:14:44.61
This one he says, is
not like any other war.
00:14:44.65\00:14:49.55
This one is a war
against the powers of darkness.
00:14:49.58\00:14:53.99
It's against
evil spiritual forces.
00:14:54.02\00:14:57.96
They will come to you in
various shapes and forms.
00:14:57.99\00:15:00.80
Some will be very open
in the way they present
00:15:00.83\00:15:02.86
or others will be more subtle,
00:15:02.90\00:15:05.03
that they are
always destructive.
00:15:05.07\00:15:07.80
Destructive in terms of
what they do to your faith
00:15:07.84\00:15:10.84
and to your
confidence in the Lord.
00:15:10.87\00:15:13.54
And so Paul
00:15:13.58\00:15:16.54
as he describes
the suitable attire
00:15:16.58\00:15:22.68
that the Christian
should have on in this warfare,
00:15:22.72\00:15:26.99
he does it by using the
imagery of a Roman soldier
00:15:27.02\00:15:30.96
who is armed for combat.
00:15:30.99\00:15:32.69
He must be armed both
in terms of being prepared
00:15:32.73\00:15:36.56
to defend himself
and in terms of attack
00:15:36.60\00:15:41.80
and his opening salvo
00:15:41.84\00:15:43.54
which you find that
in Ephesians 6:10 is,
00:15:43.57\00:15:49.04
"Be strong in the Lord
and in His mighty power."
00:15:49.08\00:15:53.78
The phrase in the Lord
is a phrase which Paul uses
00:15:53.82\00:15:58.02
in this short epistle
no less then about 30 times
00:15:58.05\00:16:01.52
and it's a key phrase to him.
00:16:01.56\00:16:04.76
It's the secret to the victory.
00:16:04.79\00:16:07.13
We are either in Him, we
either abide in Him and succeed.
00:16:07.16\00:16:13.50
All we are on our own
00:16:13.54\00:16:16.44
and our own stamina and strength
00:16:16.47\00:16:18.84
will let us down
and we will fail.
00:16:18.87\00:16:23.35
As Jesus said to the apostles
00:16:23.38\00:16:26.88
just before He walked
into the garden He said,
00:16:26.92\00:16:31.42
"Apart from Me
you can do nothing."
00:16:31.45\00:16:34.82
On the personal level
in the spiritual warfare
00:16:38.43\00:16:42.56
which we all face, no
one comes away unscathed,
00:16:42.60\00:16:47.47
no one does.
00:16:47.50\00:16:49.87
No one is untouched by this war.
00:16:49.90\00:16:53.88
You are either a conqueror
or you are a causality.
00:16:53.91\00:16:59.35
We are all
affected by it individually.
00:16:59.38\00:17:04.15
But in a more primary
sense and at a higher level
00:17:04.19\00:17:08.16
the question is not really about
00:17:08.19\00:17:10.33
who is going to win the battle,
00:17:10.36\00:17:13.40
because in a sense
that's already decided.
00:17:13.43\00:17:16.93
When Jesus Christ died
on the cross for you and me
00:17:16.97\00:17:21.07
the devil was
dealt a mortal blow
00:17:21.10\00:17:25.44
from which he will not recover.
00:17:25.47\00:17:29.01
The universe knows it.
00:17:29.04\00:17:30.45
They know that the--
00:17:30.48\00:17:31.81
they know how the
war between good and evil
00:17:31.85\00:17:34.02
ultimately will end.
00:17:34.05\00:17:35.48
Christ at that time through
down the prince of this world,
00:17:35.52\00:17:40.49
He gained the
victory at that time.
00:17:40.52\00:17:43.76
The irreversible outcome is
in a sense already in place.
00:17:43.79\00:17:47.76
Christ has already
secured the victory.
00:17:47.80\00:17:50.83
At the end of the day
00:17:50.87\00:17:52.27
there is no doubt
about who is victorious.
00:17:52.30\00:17:54.60
When you read the
Book of Revolution
00:17:54.64\00:17:56.54
which is a story,
which in graphic ways
00:17:56.57\00:17:59.54
presents the warfare,
00:17:59.57\00:18:00.98
the battle between the
forces of good and evil,
00:18:01.01\00:18:03.28
it is really a
book about victory.
00:18:03.31\00:18:05.85
The outcome is never uncertain.
00:18:05.88\00:18:09.68
It's a
description of how the church,
00:18:09.72\00:18:11.99
how the people of God
will be affected by it
00:18:12.02\00:18:14.79
and what they have to expect,
but the message is very clear,
00:18:14.82\00:18:20.73
Jesus has gained the victory.
00:18:20.76\00:18:23.13
This is why you
find in Revelation,
00:18:23.16\00:18:26.74
you find that
the choirs of heaven
00:18:26.77\00:18:29.34
in poetic sections of
the Book of Revelation,
00:18:29.37\00:18:32.84
the hymns that the choir sing.
00:18:32.87\00:18:36.31
They bring forth this theme
00:18:36.34\00:18:38.11
that Jesus
Christ was victorious.
00:18:38.15\00:18:41.28
He has gained victory.
00:18:41.32\00:18:43.55
Just share with you
a couple of passages.
00:18:43.59\00:18:45.29
"Now have come the
salvation and the power
00:18:45.32\00:18:48.32
and the kingdom of our God,
00:18:48.36\00:18:49.92
and the authority of his Christ.
00:18:49.96\00:18:51.69
For the accuser of our
brothers who accuses them
00:18:51.73\00:18:54.86
before our God day and
night, has been hurled down.
00:18:54.90\00:18:59.27
They overcame him by
the blood of the lamb.
00:18:59.30\00:19:03.37
And therefore the
heavenly choir sings,
00:19:03.41\00:19:05.84
worthy is the lamb who
were slain to receive power
00:19:05.87\00:19:09.28
and wealth and
wisdom and strength
00:19:09.31\00:19:11.05
and honor and glory and praise."
00:19:11.08\00:19:13.45
The heavenly choirs affirmed
00:19:13.48\00:19:17.75
the victory of Jesus Christ.
00:19:17.79\00:19:20.46
And therefore
the chorus continues
00:19:20.49\00:19:23.16
as assurance to you and
me as followers of Jesus.
00:19:23.19\00:19:26.19
They will make
war against the lamb,
00:19:26.23\00:19:28.60
but the lamb will overcome them
because He is the Lord of lords
00:19:28.63\00:19:33.87
and the King of
kings and with Him
00:19:33.90\00:19:36.94
will be His called
chosen and faithful followers.
00:19:36.97\00:19:42.54
So however troublesome
00:19:42.58\00:19:46.28
and uncertain the
days ahead may seem
00:19:46.31\00:19:50.25
and however
stress testing and trying
00:19:50.29\00:19:53.59
your and my
personal experience may be.
00:19:53.62\00:19:57.56
The question is not
about the outcome of the war.
00:19:57.59\00:20:02.16
The question is about
whether you and I will celebrate
00:20:02.20\00:20:05.93
the victory with Christ?
00:20:05.97\00:20:09.70
So one may ask...
00:20:09.74\00:20:11.77
since the final
outcome of the war is assured
00:20:14.81\00:20:20.85
what's the point of the battle?
00:20:20.88\00:20:24.25
If the devil knows
that he's already defeated,
00:20:24.29\00:20:27.66
if he knows it,
00:20:27.69\00:20:29.62
why does he carry on?
00:20:29.66\00:20:35.10
The plan of the devil is,
00:20:35.13\00:20:37.40
in one way, I think very simple.
00:20:37.43\00:20:40.57
He will try to detract
00:20:40.60\00:20:43.67
from the
glorious victory of Christ
00:20:43.71\00:20:47.34
by defeating some
of Christ followers,
00:20:47.38\00:20:50.88
some of Christ
soldiers, you and me.
00:20:50.91\00:20:55.18
To somehow,
00:20:55.22\00:20:56.85
to somehow
distract from the quality
00:20:56.89\00:20:58.79
of this victory that
Christ has won by seeing to it
00:20:58.82\00:21:03.29
that as many as possible of
those who Christ has claimed
00:21:03.32\00:21:07.50
that His somehow will falter
and leave their commitment
00:21:07.53\00:21:13.30
and drift off in
other directions.
00:21:13.34\00:21:16.27
I have to tell you
there will be casualties.
00:21:16.30\00:21:20.04
On our own we are unevenly
matched against the evil one.
00:21:23.35\00:21:29.58
His cunning and intelligence
is far beyond any of us.
00:21:29.62\00:21:35.66
He is a master of setting traps.
00:21:35.69\00:21:39.73
And some of us sadly get caught.
00:21:39.76\00:21:45.93
But we will succeed
00:21:45.97\00:21:48.70
by the power of
the victorious Christ.
00:21:48.74\00:21:52.51
We will succeed by
what Paul describes
00:21:52.54\00:21:55.84
as the power of
His resurrection.
00:21:55.88\00:21:58.81
This is a wonderful
imagery that we find
00:21:58.85\00:22:01.45
of what happened
on this, this weekend,
00:22:01.48\00:22:03.89
this final weekend
00:22:03.92\00:22:05.92
of Christ's mortal humanity.
00:22:05.95\00:22:11.06
His death on the cross
00:22:11.09\00:22:14.53
and later on the same
weekend His resurrection.
00:22:14.56\00:22:18.80
He laid down His
life at which point?
00:22:18.83\00:22:23.41
The victory over the evil
one was secured and guaranteed.
00:22:23.44\00:22:28.21
He resurrected, he
was resurrected by God
00:22:28.24\00:22:31.21
and this is God the
Father's affirmation
00:22:31.25\00:22:34.08
that Christ Jesus Christ
00:22:34.12\00:22:35.58
was everything He
presented himself to be.
00:22:35.62\00:22:37.95
The resurrection
was not self generated
00:22:37.99\00:22:41.66
but it was divinity
00:22:41.69\00:22:43.06
that displayed
its creative power.
00:22:43.09\00:22:46.09
It's the way by which God
says, this is a new creation.
00:22:46.13\00:22:50.17
For the Christ that
came out of the grave,
00:22:50.20\00:22:53.27
while in one way
00:22:53.30\00:22:54.64
of course the same one
as laid and gave His life.
00:22:54.67\00:22:58.14
Yet there is-- it was different.
00:22:58.17\00:23:00.08
It was different.
00:23:00.11\00:23:03.21
The body had different qualities
00:23:03.24\00:23:06.05
and yet it was
real, it was physical.
00:23:06.08\00:23:08.52
Somehow, I think
it signals the newness
00:23:08.55\00:23:12.75
that we will experience
in resurrection as well.
00:23:12.79\00:23:15.69
They will be continuity
between what we are now
00:23:15.72\00:23:18.73
and that which will
be in the resurrection.
00:23:18.76\00:23:21.03
We will know each other. We
will have our personalities.
00:23:21.06\00:23:25.13
We will have our qualities
and yet it is different.
00:23:25.17\00:23:31.74
The corruptible has
put on incorruption.
00:23:31.77\00:23:37.01
And that which can be destroyed,
00:23:37.05\00:23:40.05
has been laid to rest
00:23:40.08\00:23:41.42
and the
indestructible comes out.
00:23:41.45\00:23:43.15
This is all a power--
00:23:43.18\00:23:46.15
a display of
God's creative power.
00:23:46.19\00:23:50.03
And it is that which
Paul has in mind when he says,
00:23:50.06\00:23:53.19
I want you to experience
the power of His resurrection.
00:23:53.23\00:23:57.60
What is he talking about?
00:23:57.63\00:23:59.37
He is talking
about the creative power
00:23:59.40\00:24:01.44
of the Almighty one
00:24:01.47\00:24:04.04
which 6,000 years ago
00:24:04.07\00:24:07.14
cost life to
emerge out of nothing
00:24:07.18\00:24:11.85
and who can take
you and me and can do
00:24:11.88\00:24:13.88
absolutely
incredible things with us.
00:24:13.92\00:24:16.15
He can take us who really
when all the said and done
00:24:16.18\00:24:19.29
are nothing and
make wonderfully strong
00:24:19.32\00:24:22.62
and effective and
accomplished believers
00:24:22.66\00:24:27.16
and witnesses for Christ of us.
00:24:27.20\00:24:29.76
So we will succeed
00:24:29.80\00:24:34.30
by the power of
the victorious Christ,
00:24:34.34\00:24:37.37
by the power of
His resurrection.
00:24:37.41\00:24:40.58
In describing this
battle the Lord servant writes,
00:24:40.61\00:24:46.18
"Satan is ever on the
alert to deceive and mislead.
00:24:46.21\00:24:51.55
He is using every enchantment
00:24:51.59\00:24:55.09
to lead us into the
broad road of disobedience.
00:24:55.12\00:24:58.89
He is working to
confuse the senses
00:24:58.93\00:25:02.06
with erroneous sentiments,
and to remove the landmarks
00:25:02.10\00:25:06.20
by placing his false
inscription on the signposts
00:25:06.23\00:25:12.14
which God has established
to point the right way."
00:25:12.17\00:25:17.28
The text says, that our battle
is not against flesh and blood.
00:25:21.15\00:25:26.89
Then I'm referring back to
now to Paul again in Ephesians.
00:25:26.92\00:25:29.82
But against the
evil power of Satan.
00:25:29.86\00:25:33.09
So the choice we must
make, the primary choice
00:25:33.13\00:25:36.33
that each of us has to
make personally for ourselves
00:25:36.36\00:25:40.54
is essentially a
choice of allegiance.
00:25:40.57\00:25:44.64
I stand either under
the bloodstain banner
00:25:44.67\00:25:47.48
of Prince Emmanuel
00:25:47.51\00:25:49.44
or under the black banner
of the powers of darkness.
00:25:49.48\00:25:54.32
These are the only
two choices we have.
00:25:54.35\00:25:57.52
If our choice is Christ,
00:25:57.55\00:26:00.29
we must know and be assured
that heaven has laid plans
00:26:00.32\00:26:05.66
so that we should not
for one moment be alone.
00:26:05.69\00:26:10.47
We do not go
into the battle alone.
00:26:10.50\00:26:13.03
It's critically important
that we keep that in mind.
00:26:13.07\00:26:15.70
There is no point at which
heaven abandons his children.
00:26:15.74\00:26:21.04
This is not our battle,
00:26:21.08\00:26:23.75
it is God's and He's
gonna see us through to success.
00:26:23.78\00:26:28.25
That I think is critically
important for us to remember.
00:26:28.28\00:26:31.75
But we must make our choice.
00:26:31.79\00:26:36.32
It's personal.
00:26:36.36\00:26:38.66
It is an individual decision
00:26:38.69\00:26:41.60
which you and l must
be very clear about it.
00:26:41.63\00:26:45.57
If our choice is
the victorious Christ,
00:26:45.60\00:26:50.01
the power to
conquer is also ours.
00:26:50.04\00:26:55.98
And so let us come to
the garment for the battle
00:26:56.01\00:27:00.12
which the garment
which heaven has selected.
00:27:00.15\00:27:05.29
And to those who have
chosen Christ, Paul writes,
00:27:05.32\00:27:10.23
"Put on the full armor of God"
00:27:10.26\00:27:15.23
in verse 12.
00:27:15.26\00:27:17.73
So that you can
stand your ground he says.
00:27:17.77\00:27:20.84
And so he uses the
symbolism of the Roman soldier
00:27:20.87\00:27:24.37
who is dressed for combat.
00:27:24.41\00:27:27.04
And the first part
of the armor he says,
00:27:27.08\00:27:29.61
is the belt of truth.
00:27:29.64\00:27:33.28
It's important for us
as Seventh-day Adventist.
00:27:33.31\00:27:35.72
We are close to this
book, we use it frequently.
00:27:35.75\00:27:39.45
All of our preaching
and teaching of our values
00:27:39.49\00:27:41.82
arise from what
this book brings us.
00:27:41.86\00:27:46.86
This is where we
start. This is the first.
00:27:46.90\00:27:50.40
God's truth is His
word. Yes, true doctrines.
00:27:50.43\00:27:55.80
The Lord said
that He is the truth,
00:27:55.84\00:27:58.81
He is the divine saving
truth holding on to God's truth
00:27:58.84\00:28:03.04
gives us a
heavenly sense of direction
00:28:03.08\00:28:06.61
for it is based on the word
00:28:06.65\00:28:08.38
and not our own
personal philosophy,
00:28:08.42\00:28:11.09
nor is it based on the
value which the environment
00:28:11.12\00:28:14.02
which we find
ourselves in brings to us.
00:28:14.06\00:28:16.93
It comes through us
from the sacred word.
00:28:16.96\00:28:20.70
But I think may be
00:28:20.73\00:28:22.23
that I think is
primarily what is in His mind.
00:28:22.26\00:28:25.97
This is the first point in you,
the first item in your armor.
00:28:26.00\00:28:31.87
Without this
00:28:31.91\00:28:33.34
you haven't got a
chance to stand in the battle.
00:28:33.38\00:28:36.54
This is the first piece of armor
00:28:36.58\00:28:39.28
you must have with you.
00:28:39.31\00:28:42.62
This is what will teach you
00:28:42.65\00:28:43.99
but I wonder if He doesn't
also have another thing in mind
00:28:44.02\00:28:46.55
when He says the belt of truth.
00:28:46.59\00:28:49.46
And that is...
00:28:49.49\00:28:53.36
of honesty and
integrity, truthfulness.
00:28:53.40\00:28:59.73
One translation of the
Bible says, put on integrity.
00:28:59.77\00:29:03.74
I think it is
important that God's people
00:29:07.14\00:29:09.34
be known for
their personal quality
00:29:09.38\00:29:12.71
of integrity and truthfulness.
00:29:12.75\00:29:16.92
A few months ago
on a trip to Africa,
00:29:16.95\00:29:21.12
I visited as happens from
time to time on my journeys
00:29:21.16\00:29:25.43
with a head of state
or a head of government.
00:29:25.46\00:29:28.70
And in this case he
was the president of Malawi
00:29:28.73\00:29:31.53
and we had a
whole hour together.
00:29:31.57\00:29:33.00
He was well
acquainted with our church
00:29:33.03\00:29:36.74
and had at one stage as a
child I discovered afterwards,
00:29:36.77\00:29:40.14
been a student at our
school at the Malamulo Hospital.
00:29:40.18\00:29:45.08
And he knew some of the songs
00:29:45.11\00:29:47.88
that were
taught to the children.
00:29:47.92\00:29:50.39
He still
remembered some of those.
00:29:50.42\00:29:52.59
But he had
traveled a long journey
00:29:52.62\00:29:54.66
internationally since then.
00:29:54.69\00:29:56.02
This is a highly qualified man
00:29:56.06\00:29:57.63
who worked with the World Bank
in New York and in Washington
00:29:57.66\00:30:02.13
and had various
assignments internationally.
00:30:02.16\00:30:05.37
He was now back as the
president of the Country
00:30:05.40\00:30:08.24
and he said to me,
00:30:08.27\00:30:11.61
one of the big
problems we have in Africa--
00:30:11.64\00:30:14.64
He was speaking about Africa,
00:30:14.68\00:30:16.58
however this is not unique
to Africa let me tell you.
00:30:16.61\00:30:19.15
You know it as well as I do.
00:30:19.18\00:30:21.08
It's not unique
just the developing world
00:30:21.12\00:30:23.25
what he described
as an African problem.
00:30:23.28\00:30:26.25
We find it also
here in the western world
00:30:26.29\00:30:28.19
and that is people who
sell their integrity for money.
00:30:28.22\00:30:33.70
Greed is so powerful
00:30:33.73\00:30:36.97
that people will get let go
of their own personal integrity
00:30:37.00\00:30:43.61
and it's
basically sold for cash.
00:30:43.64\00:30:46.34
And there are many examples
00:30:46.37\00:30:48.81
of nations and leaders
on the African continent
00:30:48.84\00:30:51.25
who sold themselves in this way.
00:30:51.28\00:30:53.48
But I want to tell you
there are many examples
00:30:53.52\00:30:55.85
in the western world
today that's similarly.
00:30:55.88\00:31:00.12
Not just in a hidden manner,
00:31:00.16\00:31:02.32
but even people who
occupy leadership positions
00:31:02.36\00:31:06.33
in government and
trusted elected positions.
00:31:06.36\00:31:12.03
But I think it's important
that we have the Word of God,
00:31:12.07\00:31:15.90
but I think its
important then as His followers
00:31:15.94\00:31:18.47
you and I protect our integrity,
00:31:18.51\00:31:22.24
our honesty, our truthfulness.
00:31:22.28\00:31:26.65
The second piece of armor
00:31:26.68\00:31:29.15
is the
breastplate of righteousness.
00:31:29.18\00:31:32.52
This is no doubt referring
to the righteousness of Christ,
00:31:32.55\00:31:36.83
thereby meaning the protection
which comes from being covered
00:31:36.86\00:31:41.60
by the
righteousness of Jesus Christ.
00:31:41.63\00:31:45.10
This is the white robe
in the Book of Revelation.
00:31:45.13\00:31:48.67
And he who keeps it
on is pronounced blessed
00:31:48.70\00:31:52.84
and he who is
without it goes naked
00:31:52.87\00:31:55.64
and is shamefully exposed.
00:31:55.68\00:31:58.48
So the thought is
that being clothed
00:31:58.51\00:32:00.55
with the righteousness of
Christ you are impregnable.
00:32:00.58\00:32:06.45
The righteousness of
Christ will cover you
00:32:06.49\00:32:09.49
and you will be safe.
00:32:09.52\00:32:12.99
But probably also in Paul's mind
00:32:13.03\00:32:17.47
is our own response,
00:32:17.50\00:32:21.24
how we act out what we are.
00:32:21.27\00:32:24.74
The choices we make in
terms of the lives we live.
00:32:24.77\00:32:27.98
That is about
imputed righteousness
00:32:28.01\00:32:29.91
and imparted righteousness.
00:32:29.94\00:32:31.45
That is both that which
is God's gift that covers us,
00:32:31.48\00:32:35.62
Christ gift to us
of His righteousness
00:32:35.65\00:32:38.45
and there is the
decisions we make,
00:32:38.49\00:32:41.92
you and I make
every day in regard to
00:32:41.96\00:32:44.43
how we conduct our
lives, how we live our lives.
00:32:44.46\00:32:48.46
A man, a woman
of upright character
00:32:48.50\00:32:51.23
is respected and protected
from slanderous accusations.
00:32:51.27\00:32:56.74
The numerous
injunctions in the Bible
00:32:56.77\00:32:59.31
about the right
conduct, about good living
00:32:59.34\00:33:03.91
should make it very clear
00:33:03.95\00:33:06.72
that in matters such as these.
00:33:06.75\00:33:11.25
It has very much to
do with how we behave.
00:33:11.29\00:33:15.26
And therefore this
passage here in Ephesians
00:33:15.29\00:33:21.90
you find described as
living as children of light
00:33:21.93\00:33:25.00
in one of the passages,
00:33:25.03\00:33:26.37
the second half of
the fourth chapter,
00:33:26.40\00:33:27.97
living as children of light.
00:33:28.00\00:33:29.47
Look, it makes a huge
difference, how we live.
00:33:29.50\00:33:33.98
Please don't misunderstand me.
00:33:34.01\00:33:35.84
We are all fault.
00:33:35.88\00:33:39.48
We all make our mistakes
and we all look at things
00:33:39.51\00:33:43.05
which we wish were
not there but it's there
00:33:43.08\00:33:46.05
and there isn't a
lot we can do about it.
00:33:46.09\00:33:48.66
But its still is important
that we make the right choices.
00:33:48.69\00:33:52.99
It is not good enough to
say, Christ will cover me
00:33:53.03\00:33:56.06
irrespective of
the choices I make,
00:33:56.10\00:33:58.27
irrespective of how I
conduct my life today.
00:33:58.30\00:34:02.20
It is important
00:34:02.24\00:34:03.57
that the righteousness of Christ
00:34:03.61\00:34:07.01
which is heavens gift to me
is allowed to express itself
00:34:07.04\00:34:10.75
also in the way I
make my decisions.
00:34:10.78\00:34:14.68
Interestingly the breastplate
has no cover for the back.
00:34:14.72\00:34:21.29
Do not turn your
back on the enemy,
00:34:21.32\00:34:24.39
face him squarely.
00:34:24.43\00:34:26.63
Meet what comes at you and do it
00:34:26.66\00:34:28.90
in the strength
of knowing the word
00:34:28.93\00:34:31.80
and with the assurance
that you are in the Lord.
00:34:31.83\00:34:35.97
He said be strong in the Lord.
00:34:36.00\00:34:41.74
The next piece of the
armor, the dress for combat
00:34:41.78\00:34:47.22
He refers to are the shoes.
00:34:47.25\00:34:51.35
This He
describes as the readiness
00:34:51.39\00:34:54.72
which comes from
the gospel of peace.
00:34:54.76\00:34:57.56
The shoes, they signify
both agility and sure footing.
00:34:57.59\00:35:04.40
You have to know
where you stand on issues
00:35:04.43\00:35:07.37
and challenges
which come before you.
00:35:07.40\00:35:09.80
You have to know
what you stand for
00:35:09.84\00:35:12.71
in order to succeed
in the battle ahead.
00:35:12.74\00:35:16.04
We must know these things.
00:35:16.08\00:35:18.45
And this knowledge clearly rests
00:35:18.48\00:35:21.18
on the knowledge
of the Word of God
00:35:21.22\00:35:23.72
and the commitment
which you and I make
00:35:23.75\00:35:25.75
with respective
obeying the Word of God.
00:35:25.79\00:35:28.76
Sadly too many,
even among our own people
00:35:28.79\00:35:33.63
are not sure about
what they stand for.
00:35:33.66\00:35:36.10
And not certain,
00:35:39.17\00:35:41.60
and they are not able to
present from the Word of God
00:35:41.64\00:35:46.34
a rational and a good reason
for the choices they have made.
00:35:46.37\00:35:51.18
Why?
00:35:51.21\00:35:52.55
Because they are not
sufficiently familiar
00:35:52.58\00:35:54.78
with this book.
00:35:54.82\00:35:56.35
They don't use it
enough. It is not ready.
00:35:56.38\00:35:58.92
It isn't part
of the family life.
00:35:58.95\00:36:01.52
It is not the document
00:36:01.56\00:36:02.89
that they go to and
consult on a daily basis.
00:36:02.92\00:36:06.83
And so that is a
lack of knowledge
00:36:06.86\00:36:08.96
and they don't know and
they are not able to define
00:36:09.00\00:36:12.10
either what they
believe adequately,
00:36:12.13\00:36:14.37
nor are they able to
define from the Bible
00:36:14.40\00:36:16.54
the values they have chosen.
00:36:16.57\00:36:19.14
This, my friends,
00:36:19.17\00:36:20.51
is the consequence of not
being familiar with the Bible.
00:36:20.54\00:36:24.15
And that lack of familiarity
00:36:24.18\00:36:26.55
comes from a failure
to read it reflectively.
00:36:26.58\00:36:33.22
But I see in this
reference to shoes
00:36:33.25\00:36:37.26
as also having meaning
in the context of mission.
00:36:37.29\00:36:42.73
A Christian is always eager
and ready to tell the world,
00:36:42.76\00:36:46.97
to take the news of
Christ to the unbelieving world
00:36:47.00\00:36:51.54
and somehow as I read Isaiah
00:36:51.57\00:36:55.74
which of course is
the evangelist if you wish
00:36:55.78\00:36:59.35
of the Old Testament.
00:36:59.38\00:37:00.78
There's so much
of what Isaiah writes
00:37:00.82\00:37:03.39
is God's message compelling
His people to engage in mission
00:37:03.42\00:37:09.82
and the assurances
that God gives to the people
00:37:09.86\00:37:12.99
who make the decision to
become engaged in mission.
00:37:13.03\00:37:16.03
And I find this
well known passage here.
00:37:16.06\00:37:19.63
"How beautiful on the
mountains are the feet
00:37:19.67\00:37:22.04
of those who bring good
news, who proclaim peace,
00:37:22.07\00:37:24.77
who bring good
tidings, who proclaim salvation,
00:37:24.81\00:37:27.28
who say to Zion,
'Your God reigns!'"
00:37:27.31\00:37:33.01
This I think is
an apt description
00:37:33.05\00:37:34.55
to shoes of scaling
the mountains if you wish
00:37:34.58\00:37:39.82
bringing good news
and proclaiming peace.
00:37:39.85\00:37:42.46
As a young, very young student
00:37:45.79\00:37:48.50
18, 18 years of
age, 19 years of age
00:37:48.53\00:37:53.03
and I was reminded of
that just a couple of weeks ago
00:37:53.07\00:37:56.07
when I was back in
home country of Norway.
00:37:56.10\00:37:59.94
This was a text that
spoke so strongly to me
00:37:59.97\00:38:04.38
as a young student.
00:38:04.41\00:38:06.08
As I--
00:38:06.11\00:38:07.45
my wife and I, we
went on a sort of this
00:38:07.48\00:38:09.98
nostalgic trip up
one of the valleys.
00:38:10.02\00:38:12.55
If some of you have
traveled into Norway,
00:38:12.59\00:38:15.26
you know that
there are many valleys
00:38:15.29\00:38:16.62
as you travel from the
southern part of Norway,
00:38:16.66\00:38:18.69
there are three
or four main valleys
00:38:18.73\00:38:21.43
that cut up for hundreds of
kilometers into the country.
00:38:21.46\00:38:25.47
And two summers in
the row as a student
00:38:25.50\00:38:29.37
I canvassed all the
farms in this particular valley
00:38:29.40\00:38:32.87
on a bicycle from farm house
to farm house, up the hills.
00:38:32.91\00:38:36.98
Sometimes I had to
walk and lead by bicycle
00:38:37.01\00:38:40.52
for a whole hour
from the main road
00:38:40.55\00:38:42.65
until I reach some
farms that were way up there.
00:38:42.68\00:38:45.85
And this text came back to me.
00:38:45.89\00:38:49.72
And many times
when I read it then,
00:38:49.76\00:38:52.23
I sort of sense that
that God saw me with the books
00:38:52.26\00:38:58.10
loaded on my bicycle
scaling the mountains that the--
00:38:58.13\00:39:02.80
yeah, difficult terrain
but on the mission of God.
00:39:02.84\00:39:07.91
Repeatedly Isaiah states
00:39:07.94\00:39:10.65
that when you
engage in mission--
00:39:10.68\00:39:14.82
he says, I want you to remember
00:39:14.85\00:39:17.32
you're never,
never going to be alone.
00:39:17.35\00:39:21.36
And he says--
00:39:21.39\00:39:24.39
and now this is
what the Lord says,
00:39:24.43\00:39:25.89
"He who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel.
00:39:25.93\00:39:29.76
Fear not, for I
have remembered you,
00:39:29.80\00:39:32.07
I have summoned you
by name and you are mine.
00:39:32.10\00:39:35.57
When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you.
00:39:35.60\00:39:39.27
When you pass
through the rivers,
00:39:39.31\00:39:41.04
they will not sweep over you.
00:39:41.08\00:39:42.54
When you walk through the
fire, you will not be burned,
00:39:42.58\00:39:45.28
the flames will
not set you ablaze.
00:39:45.31\00:39:47.38
For I am the Lord your God,
00:39:47.42\00:39:48.98
the Holy One of
Israel, your Savior."
00:39:49.02\00:39:50.92
And I have chosen You
and you're precious to me.
00:39:50.95\00:39:54.12
Is there a better
message we can take with us
00:39:54.16\00:39:56.83
as we go into both
mission and into the battle
00:39:56.86\00:40:00.60
that lies ahead for us.
00:40:00.63\00:40:03.97
The next piece of the armor
00:40:04.00\00:40:05.90
that He brings our attention
to is the shield of faith.
00:40:05.93\00:40:10.87
In another passage
in a New Testament,
00:40:10.91\00:40:12.91
the Apostle John in his
first epistle chapter 5 verse 4
00:40:12.94\00:40:17.05
he writes for, "For
everyone born of God
00:40:17.08\00:40:19.31
overcomes the world.
00:40:19.35\00:40:20.98
This is the victory
that has overcome the world,
00:40:21.02\00:40:23.92
even our faith.
00:40:23.95\00:40:25.65
Who is it that
overcomes the world?
00:40:25.69\00:40:27.89
Only he who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God."
00:40:27.92\00:40:33.66
We often hear the
phrase righteousness by faith.
00:40:33.70\00:40:38.27
Do we know what
we're talking about?
00:40:38.30\00:40:41.70
Do we understand
00:40:41.74\00:40:43.07
that as righteousness is
a gift from God so is faith.
00:40:43.10\00:40:49.74
Faith is also God's gift to
us in a very fundamental sense.
00:40:49.78\00:40:55.32
But it is
activated and appropriated
00:40:55.35\00:40:58.59
at the moment of surrender
to Jesus Christ as Lord.
00:40:58.62\00:41:02.99
Faith, born of God and
implanted in our hearts
00:41:03.02\00:41:08.13
cannot and does not become
an active dynamics in our lives
00:41:08.16\00:41:12.33
apart from our
surrender to Jesus Christ.
00:41:12.37\00:41:16.37
And at that point
00:41:16.40\00:41:18.24
our faith becomes a
big body sized shield
00:41:18.27\00:41:24.58
that Paul describes here,
00:41:24.61\00:41:26.11
that he's
talking about the shield
00:41:26.15\00:41:28.08
that protects us from
the fiery darts of the enemy.
00:41:28.12\00:41:33.79
This is what
God said to Abraham,
00:41:33.82\00:41:36.42
surrounded by hostile forces
00:41:36.46\00:41:38.53
after he
responded to God's call.
00:41:38.56\00:41:41.10
He said, don't be afraid,
Abraham, I am your shield.
00:41:41.13\00:41:47.44
And as you know
Abraham went down in history
00:41:47.47\00:41:50.84
as the father of the faithful.
00:41:50.87\00:41:54.31
These fiery
arrows from the enemy
00:41:54.34\00:42:00.75
can come from many quarters.
00:42:00.78\00:42:02.38
And not only from the
enemy's of God's people,
00:42:05.69\00:42:11.93
some I fear come
from within our own camps.
00:42:11.96\00:42:18.53
They can take the form
of fear, of discouragement,
00:42:18.57\00:42:23.51
of envy, of anger,
of false acquisition
00:42:23.54\00:42:28.28
and despair and
they can come to you
00:42:28.31\00:42:31.51
in a great
variety of temptations,
00:42:31.55\00:42:34.95
but these fiery
arrows will come at you
00:42:34.98\00:42:39.22
and they will be destructive.
00:42:39.25\00:42:41.82
Only the shield of faith
00:42:41.86\00:42:45.23
will deflect
them and protect you.
00:42:45.26\00:42:49.76
Faith is the complete,
00:42:49.80\00:42:53.23
an unqualified
trust in Jesus Christ.
00:42:53.27\00:42:58.04
When we walk close to Him
on our pilgrimage, we are safe.
00:42:58.07\00:43:04.31
By knowing Him we are safe.
00:43:04.35\00:43:07.25
By knowing Him we walk with Him.
00:43:07.28\00:43:10.62
Faith is this complete
unqualified trust in Christ.
00:43:10.65\00:43:15.99
I'm reminded of the
words of Ellen White,
00:43:16.02\00:43:19.63
when she considered
unity in our church.
00:43:19.66\00:43:22.00
She used the phrase
press together, press together.
00:43:22.03\00:43:27.34
I believe that
without this shield,
00:43:27.37\00:43:30.37
individually as
well as, as a community
00:43:30.41\00:43:34.61
we are too vulnerable.
00:43:34.64\00:43:37.18
Standing alone, you're exposed
00:43:37.21\00:43:40.85
and it is difficult
to protect yourself.
00:43:40.88\00:43:43.69
Together, caring for each other,
00:43:43.72\00:43:46.72
strengthening the bond of unity
00:43:46.76\00:43:48.69
that holds us
together as one family,
00:43:48.72\00:43:51.49
offering the dynamics
00:43:51.53\00:43:53.96
of a community of
believers to each other,
00:43:54.00\00:43:57.47
we are stronger
and we are safer.
00:43:57.50\00:44:02.47
The next piece of the armor
00:44:02.50\00:44:05.24
is the helmet of salvation.
00:44:05.27\00:44:09.51
In another text
00:44:09.54\00:44:11.91
as Paul touches on the
armor for the spiritual warfare,
00:44:11.95\00:44:14.98
he says,
00:44:15.02\00:44:16.35
"Let us put on the hope
of salvation as a helmet"
00:44:16.38\00:44:21.79
writing in his 1
Thessalonians epistles.
00:44:21.82\00:44:24.96
The head which symbolizes
the center of our intelligence,
00:44:24.99\00:44:29.30
the center of our knowing,
the center of our decision,
00:44:29.33\00:44:32.07
the centre of our
choices, the center of the place
00:44:32.10\00:44:34.57
where we hold our values,
needs special protection.
00:44:34.60\00:44:41.24
If you are vague or
unclear in our understanding,
00:44:41.28\00:44:45.11
both of what God is saying to us
00:44:45.15\00:44:47.18
and how we should relate
and respond in faith to Him,
00:44:47.22\00:44:50.42
then our decisions are feeble
00:44:50.45\00:44:53.69
and our choices of
direction are unsafe.
00:44:53.72\00:44:59.29
Our misguided conduct
is the public testimony
00:44:59.33\00:45:04.33
of either our
failure to understand
00:45:04.37\00:45:07.07
or our failure to
make the right choices.
00:45:07.10\00:45:12.44
And then finally
the sword of the spirit.
00:45:12.47\00:45:18.45
The sword of the
spirit is nothing
00:45:18.48\00:45:20.82
other then the Word of God.
00:45:20.85\00:45:22.18
This is why we
began and this is somehow
00:45:22.22\00:45:24.79
where inspiration and Paul
00:45:24.82\00:45:26.65
takes us back
to the Word of God.
00:45:26.69\00:45:29.32
God's message to
unrepentant, I mean, He--
00:45:29.36\00:45:33.60
it's interesting.
00:45:33.63\00:45:34.96
He uses the term the
sword, the cutting effect,
00:45:35.00\00:45:39.03
interesting that in the message,
00:45:39.07\00:45:42.17
in Hosea.
00:45:42.20\00:45:44.77
Listen to the words, God
speaking to unrepentant Esra.
00:45:48.61\00:45:54.72
He said, "Come, let
us return to the Lord.
00:45:54.75\00:45:56.92
He has torn us to
pieces but he will heal us,
00:45:56.95\00:46:00.72
he has injured us
00:46:00.76\00:46:02.09
but he will bind up our wounds."
00:46:02.12\00:46:04.13
God and God's word will correct.
00:46:04.16\00:46:07.76
It will cut into our
lives and it may hurt,
00:46:07.80\00:46:12.00
but it has the
healing qualities in it.
00:46:12.03\00:46:14.40
And so at one
point here He says,
00:46:14.44\00:46:16.20
what more can I
do for you, Ephraim.
00:46:16.24\00:46:19.11
It says, God almost
in exasperations says,
00:46:19.14\00:46:22.41
have I not done
everything I can for you?
00:46:22.44\00:46:24.71
This is in their waywardness,
in their unrepentant Israel.
00:46:24.75\00:46:29.82
And may be God
speaks to you and me
00:46:29.85\00:46:32.75
in our waywardness as well.
00:46:32.79\00:46:34.42
What more can I do for you,
my child, my son, my daughter?
00:46:34.46\00:46:37.63
Have I not tried?
Did I not rebuke you?
00:46:37.66\00:46:41.16
Did I not love you?
Did I not show you the way?
00:46:41.20\00:46:44.43
What more, what
else can I do for you?
00:46:44.47\00:46:46.80
And interestingly He
uses this expression,
00:46:46.84\00:46:49.10
"I cut you in
pieces with my prophets."
00:46:49.14\00:46:53.61
The Word of God as a
sword, the symbol sword
00:46:53.64\00:46:59.21
is both the
defensive and an attack weapon.
00:46:59.25\00:47:03.22
And very fittingly
the apostle writes.
00:47:03.25\00:47:07.19
The Word of God
is living and active,
00:47:07.22\00:47:10.13
sharper than
any two edged sword,
00:47:10.16\00:47:13.19
it penetrates even two
dividing soul and the spirit.
00:47:13.23\00:47:18.30
It judges the thoughts and
the attitudes of the heart.
00:47:18.33\00:47:21.74
Hebrews 4:12.
00:47:21.77\00:47:24.11
Listen to the description
00:47:24.14\00:47:25.91
of what happened on
the day of Pentecost.
00:47:25.94\00:47:28.48
"The Spirit came upon the
waiting, praying disciples
00:47:28.51\00:47:32.51
with a fullness
that reached every heart.
00:47:32.55\00:47:36.08
The Infinite One revealed
Himself in power to His church.
00:47:36.12\00:47:40.82
It was as if for ages
00:47:40.86\00:47:42.96
this influence had
been held in restraint,
00:47:42.99\00:47:45.56
and now Heaven rejoiced
in being able to pour out
00:47:45.59\00:47:49.13
upon the church the
riches of the Spirit's grace.
00:47:49.16\00:47:52.73
And under the
influence of the Spirit,
00:47:52.77\00:47:55.27
words of
penitence and confession
00:47:55.30\00:47:57.87
mingled with songs of
praise for sins forgiven.
00:47:57.91\00:48:01.94
Words of thanksgiving
and of prophecy were heard.
00:48:01.98\00:48:05.51
All heaven bent low to
behold and to adore the wisdom
00:48:05.55\00:48:09.38
of matchless,
incomprehensible love.
00:48:09.42\00:48:13.09
Lost in wonder, the apostles
exclaimed, 'Herein is love.'
00:48:13.12\00:48:18.03
They grasped the imparted
gift. And what followed?
00:48:18.06\00:48:22.10
The sword of the
Spirit, newly edged with power
00:48:22.13\00:48:26.43
and bathed in the
lightings of heaven,
00:48:26.47\00:48:28.74
cut its way through unbelief
00:48:28.77\00:48:31.17
and thousands were
converted in one day."
00:48:31.21\00:48:36.85
Acts of Apostles, page 38.
00:48:36.88\00:48:40.38
The spirit speaks and he
speaks to us through this word.
00:48:40.42\00:48:46.15
It's important
that we remember that
00:48:46.19\00:48:48.09
because we meet people who have,
00:48:48.12\00:48:50.59
who suggest there are
other more occurrence,
00:48:50.63\00:48:55.23
more dynamic ways
00:48:55.26\00:48:56.70
by which the spirit speaks to us
00:48:56.73\00:48:59.03
and who will put this one
aside and that their minds
00:48:59.07\00:49:02.90
be guided by sprit
filled messages so called,
00:49:02.94\00:49:07.94
whose origin is
not the Word of God,
00:49:07.98\00:49:11.25
but the spirit speaks
00:49:11.28\00:49:13.18
on an almost
unlimited range of issues,
00:49:13.21\00:49:16.38
primarily and
essentially through this book.
00:49:16.42\00:49:22.02
This is the instrument through
which heaven speaks to us.
00:49:22.06\00:49:26.83
The spirit is not the
inventor of a new message.
00:49:26.86\00:49:31.23
He brings no new gospel.
00:49:31.27\00:49:33.47
It is the ministry of the spirit
00:49:33.50\00:49:34.84
to focus on Jesus Christ
and to help us to understand
00:49:34.87\00:49:37.84
what Jesus Christ
talk, therefore Jesus said,
00:49:37.87\00:49:40.51
when He comes,
00:49:40.54\00:49:42.14
He will help you to understand
everything I have told you
00:49:42.18\00:49:46.21
and He will remind
you of these things.
00:49:46.25\00:49:49.08
As you know when Jesus
faced the battle with the devil,
00:49:49.12\00:49:55.26
it was the word
which was His tool.
00:49:55.29\00:49:57.66
It is written.
00:49:57.69\00:50:00.13
That is the safe,
an effective formula
00:50:00.16\00:50:03.90
facing any temptation
or compromising situation,
00:50:03.93\00:50:07.80
but it's a tool
which you can use only
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if you are familiar
with it, if you know it.
00:50:11.84\00:50:14.44
This underscores the need
for each of us individually
00:50:18.51\00:50:21.95
to read the Word of God
00:50:21.98\00:50:24.42
and to know where
to go for our answers.
00:50:24.45\00:50:28.02
And I say to you, my
brothers and sisters,
00:50:28.06\00:50:31.03
if it is not be sure you make
00:50:31.06\00:50:33.46
this part of
your every day life.
00:50:33.50\00:50:37.63
Help your children to
understand the Word of God.
00:50:37.67\00:50:40.70
Take time with your children.
00:50:40.74\00:50:42.94
Tell them both the stories
00:50:42.97\00:50:45.31
that will hold their
attention and the values
00:50:45.34\00:50:48.88
which they need to build
into their life decision.
00:50:48.91\00:50:51.65
Take time, would you
and they are never too young
00:50:51.68\00:50:54.45
to learn, begin to learn
the values that this book,
00:50:54.48\00:50:57.85
but take time with your children
00:50:57.89\00:51:00.02
for that to happen.
00:51:00.06\00:51:01.39
God has provided--
00:51:05.23\00:51:06.63
and I quote again from
the Pen of Inspiration.
00:51:06.66\00:51:09.10
"God has provided
for successful warfare
00:51:09.13\00:51:11.60
against the evil
that is in the world.
00:51:11.63\00:51:15.40
The Bible is the armory
00:51:15.44\00:51:17.74
where we may
equip for the struggle.
00:51:17.77\00:51:20.44
Our loins must be
girt about with truth.
00:51:20.48\00:51:23.24
Our breastplate
must be righteousness.
00:51:23.28\00:51:26.82
The shield of faith
must be in our hand,
00:51:26.85\00:51:29.35
the helmet of
salvation on our brow,
00:51:29.38\00:51:31.92
and with the
sword of the Spirit,
00:51:31.95\00:51:33.62
which is the Word of
God, we are to cut our way
00:51:33.66\00:51:37.36
through the obstructions
and entanglements of sin."
00:51:37.39\00:51:43.47
I command to
you the Word of God.
00:51:43.50\00:51:46.94
Read it and
reflect on its content.
00:51:46.97\00:51:50.04
Consult it daily.
00:51:50.07\00:51:52.47
Through it you will
know Christ and you will hear
00:51:52.51\00:51:55.44
and you will
understand His message.
00:51:55.48\00:51:57.95
You will know right
from wrong, good from evil
00:51:57.98\00:52:01.28
and you will
personally experience
00:52:01.32\00:52:03.79
the power of His
resurrection and then,
00:52:03.82\00:52:07.19
and only then are you
ready for the inevitable battle
00:52:07.22\00:52:11.53
that lies ahead for you and me.
00:52:11.56\00:52:14.16
God bless each
one of you. Thank you.
00:52:14.20\00:52:16.97
Amen. Amen.
00:52:17.00\00:52:18.33
My faith looks up to thee
00:52:40.32\00:52:46.13
Thou Lamb of Calvary
00:52:46.16\00:52:51.63
Savior divine
00:52:51.67\00:52:56.97
Now hear me as I pray
00:52:57.01\00:53:02.48
Take all my curse away
00:53:02.51\00:53:07.98
Nor let me ever stray
00:53:08.02\00:53:13.19
From thee aside
00:53:13.22\00:53:18.63
May thy rich grace impart
00:53:28.74\00:53:34.01
Strength to my healing heart
00:53:34.04\00:53:40.08
My zeal inspire
00:53:40.12\00:53:45.79
As thou hast died for me
00:53:45.82\00:53:51.29
O may my love to thee
00:53:51.33\00:53:56.87
Pure, warm, and changeless be
00:53:56.90\00:54:03.00
A living fire
00:54:03.04\00:54:09.08
Nor let me ever stray
00:54:09.11\00:54:15.35
From thee
00:54:15.38\00:54:17.79
Aside
00:54:17.82\00:54:24.13
Have you been blessed?
00:54:35.67\00:54:37.04
Amen. Amen.
00:54:37.07\00:54:38.77
Hasn't this been a
wonderful Sabbath day?
00:54:38.81\00:54:43.35
We know there's a little
bit of the rest of the story.
00:54:43.38\00:54:46.11
We've been talking
about the rest of the story
00:54:46.15\00:54:48.22
and my husband Denzel has got
some rest of the story for us
00:54:48.25\00:54:52.35
that just started today.
00:54:52.39\00:54:53.86
So you got to hear
what he has to tell us.
00:54:53.89\00:54:57.86
I'm always humbled
and odd at the generosity
00:54:57.89\00:55:02.70
and support of our ASI family.
00:55:02.73\00:55:06.20
And I want to
thank each and everyone
00:55:06.23\00:55:08.14
for the gift that
they have given today
00:55:08.17\00:55:10.17
to help build
these wonderful churches
00:55:10.21\00:55:12.01
and the other
projects that we've had.
00:55:12.04\00:55:14.31
But I'm here to tell you that
since we made the announcement
00:55:14.34\00:55:17.38
of our offering
through our internet site,
00:55:17.41\00:55:21.42
onedaychurch.org
and other pledges,
00:55:21.45\00:55:25.92
we have enough pledges
to do 40 more churches.
00:55:25.95\00:55:31.46
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:55:31.49\00:55:33.70
God is good, isn't He?
00:55:38.57\00:55:40.80
You know it was our hope,
our desire and also our prayer
00:55:40.84\00:55:45.27
that we would Him
better by being here.
00:55:45.31\00:55:48.41
And I don't know if
you read the little quote
00:55:48.44\00:55:50.25
that was in your program,
00:55:50.28\00:55:51.85
but I just want to read
it to you one more time.
00:55:51.88\00:55:55.15
"Only by knowing
Christ, can we know God?
00:55:55.18\00:55:59.12
And as we behold Him,
00:55:59.15\00:56:00.82
we shall be
changed into His image.
00:56:00.86\00:56:04.43
Prepare to meet
Him at His coming."
00:56:04.46\00:56:07.86
I think that pretty sums
up our conviction for 2008.
00:56:07.90\00:56:12.23
I can't believe it's
over with, it just started
00:56:12.27\00:56:15.84
but it's not quiet over
with because the booth area
00:56:15.87\00:56:18.64
will be open and I encourage
you to go there tonight,
00:56:18.67\00:56:21.38
enjoy seeing those
and fellowship again.
00:56:21.41\00:56:24.15
But guess what?
00:56:24.18\00:56:25.51
If Jesus doesn't come,
00:56:25.55\00:56:26.88
I'm gonna see you
in Phoenix next year.
00:56:26.92\00:56:30.52
It will be warm but
I look forward to see
00:56:30.55\00:56:32.85
each and every one of you.
00:56:32.89\00:56:34.26
It's been a
wonderful time here but be sure
00:56:34.29\00:56:37.46
and mark your calendars
for August fifth through eight,
00:56:37.49\00:56:41.43
2009 in Phoenix.
00:56:41.46\00:56:44.07
God bless you and
thank you for coming.
00:56:44.10\00:56:46.70
And I invite you to
stand for our benediction.
00:56:46.74\00:56:50.01
Let's bow our heads.
00:56:58.91\00:57:01.48
Our loving and awesome God,
00:57:01.52\00:57:04.45
our hearts have been
cheered with the fellowship.
00:57:04.49\00:57:08.49
Our spirits have been
uplifted with the stories
00:57:08.52\00:57:12.09
and the
accomplishments of Your people.
00:57:12.13\00:57:16.16
Father, as we come closer
and closer to the end of time,
00:57:16.20\00:57:20.14
we are enjoying these
annual weekends at ASI.
00:57:20.17\00:57:26.54
But we long for a weekend
00:57:26.57\00:57:29.31
as well as an
eternity in Your presence
00:57:29.34\00:57:32.55
and an
environment created by You
00:57:32.58\00:57:36.99
versus this manmade environment.
00:57:37.02\00:57:40.36
We long to be more like Jesus.
00:57:40.39\00:57:42.72
We long to be
filled with His spirit.
00:57:42.76\00:57:45.16
And I pray as we
go from this place
00:57:45.19\00:57:47.56
that we will
take the inspiration
00:57:47.60\00:57:49.33
and daily
surrender our lives to You
00:57:49.36\00:57:52.37
and allow Your
spirit to use us that,
00:57:52.40\00:57:56.77
if we're able to
comeback again next year
00:57:56.81\00:57:59.07
we might be ready to
share again the expose,
00:57:59.11\00:58:03.98
that Your sprit has
led us to accomplish.
00:58:04.01\00:58:07.38
And now we
think of Paul's words,
00:58:07.42\00:58:10.89
Now unto him that is able
to do exceeding abundantly
00:58:10.92\00:58:14.76
above all that we ask or think,
00:58:14.79\00:58:17.06
according to the
power that worketh in us,
00:58:17.09\00:58:20.70
unto him be glory in
the church by Christ Jesus
00:58:20.73\00:58:25.47
throughout all
ages, world without end."
00:58:25.50\00:58:28.74