Hello, friends and
welcome to Thompsonville,
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Illinois and also
the 3ABN Worship Center
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where the Lord has a
meal prepared for you,
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a spiritual meal and
we like to welcome you.
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As the Lord is going to
give you a sharper vision
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of what's
happening in our world today,
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not only in the
United States, but movements
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taking place around
our world as it pertains to
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Religious Liberty. Our
guest speaker for today
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is Lincoln Steed,
one who has spend many,
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many years not
only in Washington,
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in the house of
congress understanding and the
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movements, a
politics and religion,
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but one who knows
the Lord and he is a
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Christian and
today God has given him
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a message
entitled Back to Egypt.
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Religion Freedom,
there's really nothing more
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basic to a
Christian. And in fact,
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there's nothing more
basic to anybody who has
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a faith in
Religious Freedom, but I was
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disturbed only a
few days ago to hear a
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report from the Pew
Forum for religion based
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in Washington D.C. an
internationally recognized
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study organization.
And the Pew Forum says
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that 70% of the
world's population live under
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severe civil and
religious restrictions.
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So, Religious
Freedom is not something as
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Americans often tell
themselves and others
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and privileged maybe
western countries that
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you know we have it,
one day we may lose it.
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Many people in the
world do not have it now.
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It's my privilege to
edit Liberty Magazine.
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A magazine
produced by the Seventh-day
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Adventist Church,
but distributed widely
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starting from the
President of United States,
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the Prime Minister of
Canada and in particular
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these countries in
North America are targeted,
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politicians, lawyers,
judges, mayors and so on
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we want these
thought leaders to read about
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our principles of
Religious Freedom.
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And the reason that
I'm on 3ABN right now
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apart from our regular
Liberty Insider programs.
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I want to bring
before not just my fellow
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Seventh-day Adventist
Church, but all people
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around the world who
would watch a program
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like this, who value
their Religious Freedom.
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They may not be, you
may not be religious,
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but you have to
know that when there's
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restrictions on such
a basic human activity,
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no human activity is
safe. And as a Christian
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as the Seventh-day
Adventist I know how
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important it is to
exercise our God given
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Religious Freedom. I
do want to encourage those
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here in, in our
audience and of course those
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who are listening, and
watching on television,
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if you can support what
we do with the Religious
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Liberty, now is
the time to do it.
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There is no budget;
there is no allocation that
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we get that enables us
to do what, what we do.
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It's only as people are
moved at this time of the
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year to facilitate the
distribution of daily two
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hundred thousand
copies of Liberty Magazine.
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Every issue that
this does indeed happen.
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I've been traveling a
lot the last few weeks
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and my family is
starting to wonder if I maybe
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coming home. And in
fact, I'll be flying home
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late tonight and it'll
be about the third day and
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the third evening in
the year that I'll be home.
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I've been to Australia
back where I came from;
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I've been to Guatemala,
where my wife's family
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come from. And my wife grew up.
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I've been all over
the United States already,
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backwards and
forwards on the plane,
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speaking about
Religious Liberty and every time
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I've spoken this year
I've started off with an
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example that has moved
me as nothing has moved
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me in the last few
years because just as the
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year ended, the
closing days of 2009,
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I remember sitting in a
Church in the Washington
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D.C. area, the
Metropolitan Church and
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with several hundred
other people listening
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to the life of a great
Religious Liberty worker
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portrayed in testimony
and, and some of it was
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by video, some
of it was written.
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And there in front
of us in a, in a coffin,
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an open coffin
which doesn't suite my
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Australian sensibilities,
but it's very common in
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the United States, I
saw a, a great colleague of
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mine Dr. Adrian
Westney. A Religious Liberty
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leader from the
Columbia Union of the
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Seventh-day
Adventist on the East coast.
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For ten years, since
I've been editing Liberty
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Magazine, I've been
become used to appearing
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with, with Adrian on
his weekly Religious Liberty
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television, Religious
Liberty Radio Broadcast.
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I become used to
hearing his voice on the
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phone saying, where can you go?
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Are you, you free on
such a day to talk about
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Religious Liberty and
other times he'd call up
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and say, have you
heard such and such,
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either a law that might
restrict Religious Liberty
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in this country
in the United States,
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or something that
was happening elsewhere.
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He was a man that
lived and breathed the
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principles of
Religious Liberty, he was also a
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man that showed I
believed in his life that
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God honored such
a commitment because
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when I began editing
Liberty Magazine just a
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little over ten years
ago, within a few weeks
00:06:15.29\00:06:18.68
we were startled to
discover that Dr. Westney
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had terminal cancer
and was given just a few
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weeks to live. And I
remember we all prayed,
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we all prayed that the
Lord would spare him to
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work more vigorously
and, and for a little while
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longer for Religious
Liberty and God's prayers
00:06:31.76\00:06:34.37
were surely
answered, because just toward
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the end of last year I
think it was late October
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as he and I
recorded some messages.
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I remember asking
him, how his health was?
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And I said you know,
God, God has spared you
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for nearly ten
years, it's a great miracle.
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And we agreed on
that. And then in the next
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few weeks unknown to
me he kept very quiet
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about it, his health
suddenly tumbled and there
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about 4 or 5 days
before Christmas we were
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gathered to celebrate
his life and to commit his,
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his life record
for the Lord's keeping.
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As I looked there
and saw him in that open
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coffin and heard,
heard all the testimonials,
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I thought how
different is it from some other
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belief systems? You
know, I had the thing as
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the Seventh-day
Adventist where we have
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such remembrance
and a proclamation of
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Revelation chapter 14,
I had to think there in
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verse 13, close to
the messages of those
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Three Angels it
says: Blessed are the dead
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who die in the Lord
from now on that they may
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rest from their
labors, and their works follow
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them. You know I
thought of older belief systems.
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You know, what about
Ancient Egypt that figures
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so prominently in
Old Testament history.
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In Egypt, you would be
taken to the after life
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by a whole system
of embalmment and of
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worship and of, and
of making little motifs
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and boats and
preparing for the voyage,
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it was almost as if
their entire life was to
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prepare them for the
projection into an after
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life that they hoped
for, but they knew nothing
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about. And we're
inclined as Christians and
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people of faith and
now we're to think that
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Egypt was not a
religious culture,
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it was most
religious, too religious.
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They believed in
as many as two hundred
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deities, but they really
didn't believe in the God
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that created heaven and earth.
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Sometime ago, when I
was casting about in,
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in my study of
literature I came across a poem
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by D.H. Lawrence and
when I was growing up
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in Australia I just
remember D.H. Lawrence is
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the author of a book
called Lady Chatterley's
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Lover that was
banned there and I've never
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read it. And I don't
really care to read that sort
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of thing, but when
I came across a poem
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written by D.H.
Lawrence in his last year
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of life as he was
dying from cancer.
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I read it with
interest and I saw there that
00:09:02.52\00:09:04.52
this man like many
people in the world around
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us without a real
comprehension of God was
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reaching out to these,
these false philosophies
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that Egypt
exemplified, and he spoke there
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metaphorically about
preparing the soul for it's
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journey to another life
and he, and he said with
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some truth that the
only thing that could be
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taken on their
journey to the great beyond
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through this little
bark that he likened to the
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Egyptian boats
was the character,
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the character that
had been prepared in his
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life and, and
as I read his poem,
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I know that he had
no comprehension of God
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and even though he
figured out the value of
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character was really
in absolute desperation
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about this voyage to
nothing this as he pointed
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it out, pointed it
out, but of course we're not
00:09:46.34\00:09:49.26
on a voyage to
nothingness. And of
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course he was
right about character.
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As the Bible says,
their works follow them,
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there's a
reason that we're here.
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And it's not for a, a
dark voyage across that
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that river and, and
you know, in a dismal
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progression through
the cavalcade of the Gods.
00:10:05.33\00:10:07.62
No, we are prepared
to proclaim in the light
00:10:08.24\00:10:12.13
that Jesus said,
something important about
00:10:12.14\00:10:14.63
the freedom that
He has given to us,
00:10:14.64\00:10:16.31
and to be witnessing
in this life and preparing
00:10:16.63\00:10:19.56
for a, a great bright
beautiful life to come.
00:10:19.57\00:10:23.29
I was watching
television recently and not
00:10:25.13\00:10:29.35
3ABN which I often
watch, but I was watching
00:10:29.36\00:10:31.83
television and there
was a, a, a wonderful
00:10:31.84\00:10:33.86
sequence where a
musical group played a
00:10:34.17\00:10:37.63
song and we had a
fantastic song before I
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got up to speak
and I appreciated that,
00:10:40.42\00:10:42.14
but the song that
I saw was a, a negro
00:10:42.38\00:10:44.95
spiritual that I've
heard many times over the
00:10:44.96\00:10:46.80
years, but it was well
presented by this group
00:10:46.81\00:10:48.91
and it's a song
that resonates with me,
00:10:49.81\00:10:51.53
it says: Go down
Moses, way down in Egypt
00:10:51.54\00:10:56.36
land Tell old
Pharaoh, let My people go.
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And you don't have
to be very perceptive.
00:11:02.64\00:11:04.93
Amazingly the, the
slave owners didn't seem to
00:11:06.00\00:11:07.89
be perceptive enough
to grasp, but you don't
00:11:07.90\00:11:09.65
have to be so
perceptive to realize that
00:11:09.66\00:11:11.37
there was a double
meaning in the, but the
00:11:11.38\00:11:14.16
ultimate meaning in
that hymn and that's negro
00:11:14.17\00:11:16.95
spiritual was that
yes, we live in a land of
00:11:16.96\00:11:20.46
bondage and we
need to tell Moses.
00:11:20.47\00:11:24.16
Or we need to be a
Moses to go down to Egypt
00:11:24.17\00:11:27.48
and say, let my people
go, we must have liberty,
00:11:27.49\00:11:31.52
we must have
freedom. Even in Egypt,
00:11:31.53\00:11:34.86
even in a
Religious Center. I shocked a
00:11:34.98\00:11:39.69
number of our
Religious Liberty attendees
00:11:39.70\00:11:41.69
at a, at a regional
conference in, in the
00:11:41.70\00:11:45.66
Dominican Republic,
not too many months ago.
00:11:45.67\00:11:48.05
And the Dominica is
right across the mountain
00:11:48.06\00:11:49.77
on the same island
as, as Haiti where we,
00:11:50.04\00:11:52.20
we're transfixed to
watch that incredible
00:11:52.35\00:11:54.26
tragedy unfold. But
in the Dominican Republic
00:11:54.27\00:11:57.53
we spoke about
Religious Liberty and I got up
00:11:57.54\00:11:59.92
and I said there is
way too much religion in
00:11:59.93\00:12:02.87
this country, in
this world, way too much
00:12:02.88\00:12:06.00
religion, but not
enough spirituality.
00:12:06.01\00:12:09.37
And that's really the
case with Religious Liberty.
00:12:10.45\00:12:13.04
Those who don't
understand what religion
00:12:13.44\00:12:16.12
is about, but just
think that it's a, an activity
00:12:16.13\00:12:18.81
of humanity and even
those that are convinced
00:12:18.82\00:12:20.74
that it's a
necessary activity of humanity,
00:12:20.75\00:12:23.60
or often those who are
most incline to restrict
00:12:23.61\00:12:26.40
someone else's
practice of that thing because
00:12:26.41\00:12:28.98
they become
convinced that they know how
00:12:28.99\00:12:30.66
to do it better.
But those who understand
00:12:30.67\00:12:34.63
that it's our spiritual
obligation to God and that
00:12:34.64\00:12:38.59
God determines how we respond.
00:12:38.60\00:12:41.23
Not another fellow human being,
00:12:41.40\00:12:42.75
those people will
defend it vigorously.
00:12:42.76\00:12:45.74
Our Bible reading
as we began this, this
00:12:46.40\00:12:48.93
worship period
today was from Exodus
00:12:48.94\00:12:51.99
chapter 3 and it's a
story everybody knows well.
00:12:52.56\00:12:56.02
I grew up hearing that story,
00:12:56.46\00:12:57.76
I grew up reading
about it in Uncle Arthur's
00:12:57.77\00:12:59.87
Bible stories, but it
never ceases to impress
00:13:00.82\00:13:05.84
me as a model of
how we should behave.
00:13:05.85\00:13:08.57
You know Moses,
think about Moses,
00:13:10.41\00:13:12.31
like many of us. He
had been exposed to the,
00:13:12.75\00:13:15.34
the greatest education,
the greatest privileges
00:13:16.24\00:13:19.25
that the world of his
day could give to him.
00:13:19.26\00:13:21.21
We haven't grown up in a palace,
00:13:21.75\00:13:23.33
but many of us
compared to others in the
00:13:23.48\00:13:25.49
world literally have
been spoiled and pampered
00:13:25.50\00:13:28.64
and, and given
advantages that others
00:13:28.99\00:13:30.81
don't have. We think
we know a lot about the
00:13:30.82\00:13:33.98
world, not just
electronics and scientific
00:13:33.99\00:13:36.64
advances and so on,
but we think we understand
00:13:36.65\00:13:39.23
the philosophy of
what makes the world tick.
00:13:39.24\00:13:41.40
We've been educated.
And yet in many different
00:13:42.35\00:13:47.40
ways God has to be
bring us as He did with
00:13:47.41\00:13:50.30
Moses to an
understanding of that our
00:13:50.31\00:13:53.41
way of looking at
stuff is not usually right.
00:13:53.42\00:13:56.15
Moses knew as we do,
as I remind myself all
00:13:57.33\00:14:00.87
the time that God had
a purpose for his life.
00:14:00.88\00:14:03.18
We have to believe that
or else life is, is just
00:14:04.17\00:14:06.56
nihilistic and
aimless. Of course, God has a
00:14:06.57\00:14:09.81
purpose for our
life, but you know,
00:14:09.82\00:14:13.27
as you look back
through the history of
00:14:13.28\00:14:14.70
religious dealings
in the Middle Ages,
00:14:14.71\00:14:16.44
for example you know,
priests and Pilates and
00:14:16.45\00:14:20.61
fanatics of various
types were convinced of
00:14:20.62\00:14:23.53
that and they
persecuted, they harmed other
00:14:23.54\00:14:25.79
people, they restricted
the knowledge of faith,
00:14:25.80\00:14:27.81
that's not enough to
believe that God has a
00:14:27.82\00:14:30.29
purpose in your life,
it's most important that
00:14:30.30\00:14:33.38
you meet God and
understand viscerally what
00:14:33.39\00:14:36.76
He is and what He wants for you.
00:14:36.77\00:14:38.39
And when God
didn't, when Moses didn't
00:14:39.33\00:14:40.97
understand that you
know, He was self-centered
00:14:40.98\00:14:43.60
enough to even strike
against those who were
00:14:43.61\00:14:46.44
harming God's
people, he killed a man.
00:14:46.45\00:14:49.38
And I don't think
the, the Bible record says
00:14:50.41\00:14:52.76
he did it
selfishly, he didn't do it self
00:14:52.77\00:14:55.66
centeredly, he did it
with an honest application
00:14:55.67\00:14:58.78
of religious
fervor, but it was wrong,
00:14:58.79\00:15:00.94
as most
religious persecution is.
00:15:02.02\00:15:04.07
And he fled for his
life and spent almost an
00:15:05.29\00:15:08.69
equal amount in the
desert as he would spend
00:15:08.70\00:15:11.13
in training in Egypt.
And here at the end of
00:15:11.49\00:15:13.80
that long period of
surging as the shepherd
00:15:13.81\00:15:16.31
in the desert you
know, in the shadow of God's
00:15:16.32\00:15:19.49
Holy Mountain, if you
like it, I'm not really sure
00:15:19.50\00:15:21.86
he knew much about
that mountain till this
00:15:21.87\00:15:23.81
moment. He comes
face-to-face with God, the
00:15:23.82\00:15:27.48
burning fire. It
troubles me a little bit in
00:15:27.49\00:15:35.24
many Churches and
sometimes even in my own
00:15:35.25\00:15:37.62
Adventist Churches
to go there and hear
00:15:37.94\00:15:39.87
people express a
relationship to God that's
00:15:39.88\00:15:43.34
overly familiar like he
is a Hail-fellow-well-met.
00:15:43.35\00:15:46.12
God wants our good;
God is our Father as
00:15:47.34\00:15:50.75
Jesus said, Abba. God
is a benevolent Father
00:15:50.76\00:15:55.71
and a protector of
all those that seek Him,
00:15:55.72\00:15:57.98
but He is not to
be try for worth.
00:15:57.99\00:16:00.36
And Moses had to
learn that lesson,
00:16:00.73\00:16:02.65
there as He saw
that burning bush and He
00:16:03.17\00:16:05.79
drew close at a
curiosity. I go again to those
00:16:05.80\00:16:11.92
verses, in verse 2 it
says: And the Angel of
00:16:11.93\00:16:14.00
the Lord. And we
know that's capitalized A,
00:16:14.01\00:16:18.52
that was God. We
believe as Christian
00:16:18.72\00:16:22.58
Seventh-day Adventist
that was Jesus appearing
00:16:22.59\00:16:25.25
there to Him:
Appeared to him in a flame of
00:16:25.26\00:16:27.60
fire from the midst
of a bush. He looked,
00:16:27.61\00:16:30.01
and behold, the bush
would burning with fire,
00:16:30.15\00:16:32.02
but the bush was not consumed.
00:16:32.03\00:16:33.37
Then Moses said, 'I
will now turn aside and
00:16:33.38\00:16:36.57
see this great
sight, why the bush does not
00:16:36.58\00:16:39.03
burn? He still just
wanted to figure out the
00:16:39.04\00:16:42.41
wise and way-fores of religion.
00:16:42.42\00:16:44.05
Basically a little
experiment on the divine
00:16:44.69\00:16:48.21
of the supernatural
and it says: When the
00:16:48.22\00:16:50.20
Lord saw that he
turned aside to look,
00:16:50.21\00:16:52.84
God called to him
from the midst of the bush
00:16:53.16\00:16:54.93
and said, "Moses,
And he said, "Here I am."
00:16:54.94\00:16:58.68
And then God
said: Counter intuitive,
00:16:59.23\00:17:01.87
do not draw near to
this place. Take your
00:17:02.11\00:17:04.89
sandals off your
feet, for the place where
00:17:04.90\00:17:07.38
you stand is holy
ground. And that was
00:17:07.39\00:17:12.26
the beginning of Moses
rehabilitation that was
00:17:12.27\00:17:14.75
the beginning of His
empowerment to go back
00:17:14.76\00:17:18.51
to Egypt. The place
that He had served God
00:17:18.52\00:17:21.33
to the, to the point
of murder, to the place
00:17:21.34\00:17:24.72
where He realized
that He had, He had a,
00:17:24.73\00:17:26.67
a destiny, but He
never realized that it was
00:17:26.68\00:17:29.93
only fulfilled in God,
through the place where
00:17:29.94\00:17:32.20
He was convicted
that His people were in
00:17:32.21\00:17:34.69
slavery wrongly, but
He didn't know how God
00:17:34.70\00:17:37.85
would release them.
And it's amazing there to
00:17:37.86\00:17:40.57
hear the dialogue
there in between Moses and
00:17:40.58\00:17:43.95
the angel of the
Lord therein the desert,
00:17:43.96\00:17:45.99
this broken man, I
believe he was about
00:17:46.58\00:17:49.28
80 years old and I
don't know when they're
00:17:49.29\00:17:52.01
80 and I can feel my
strength ebbing away,
00:17:52.02\00:17:54.46
what that this
man you know, hobbling
00:17:54.47\00:17:56.77
behind the, the
sheep. It does say,
00:17:57.13\00:17:59.80
later on when he
died at a 120 that his eye
00:18:00.00\00:18:02.51
wasn't dim and you
know his strength hadn't
00:18:02.52\00:18:04.82
abated, I'm not so
sure that was true at this
00:18:04.83\00:18:06.96
point. Moses was
basically a lost man.
00:18:06.97\00:18:11.45
And God said to him,
I have surely heard the
00:18:13.09\00:18:16.97
cry of my people. In
verse 7, I have surely
00:18:16.98\00:18:20.25
seen the oppression
of my people who are in
00:18:20.26\00:18:22.34
Egypt and have heard their cry.
00:18:22.35\00:18:24.21
And when I deal with
Religious Liberty issues
00:18:26.33\00:18:28.22
I pray that those
that support Liberty
00:18:28.42\00:18:30.53
Magazine and those
that haven't taken the
00:18:30.54\00:18:32.16
chance will remind
themselves of that,
00:18:32.17\00:18:34.02
it's not just an
abstraction when people
00:18:34.27\00:18:37.56
are denied their
Religious Freedoms.
00:18:37.57\00:18:39.64
It is as real as
those slaves who are
00:18:40.79\00:18:43.16
burdened day and
night by the lash, by the,
00:18:43.59\00:18:46.61
you know the persecution, by the
00:18:48.21\00:18:50.01
you know the killing
as we know when, when
00:18:50.28\00:18:52.52
Moses was born of their
first born of their male
00:18:52.53\00:18:56.67
children. These are real things.
00:18:56.68\00:18:59.94
And God hears it,
and if God hears it,
00:19:00.32\00:19:03.25
if it's
something that moves God,
00:19:03.26\00:19:05.02
why shouldn't we be moved by it?
00:19:05.28\00:19:06.97
I know within the
Seventh-day Adventist
00:19:07.87\00:19:09.33
Church we have lots
of different departments
00:19:09.34\00:19:11.31
and it's easy
for someone to think,
00:19:11.64\00:19:13.03
well today is the day
that when our Religious
00:19:13.04\00:19:15.90
Liberty gets up.
Tomorrow it's maybe
00:19:15.91\00:19:17.51
ministerial or
something or you know,
00:19:17.52\00:19:19.51
the day after maybe
it's ADRA. So you know,
00:19:19.75\00:19:22.97
they're all sort
of just divisions of
00:19:23.23\00:19:25.69
functionality. I
can't speak about the other
00:19:25.96\00:19:29.65
departments, but I
know Religious Liberty
00:19:29.66\00:19:31.89
is not just
something convenient that was
00:19:32.16\00:19:34.51
settled down, it's
the very heart and soul
00:19:34.52\00:19:36.98
of what we are called
to do in releasing the
00:19:36.99\00:19:39.78
captive and in Egypt
is where the captives are.
00:19:39.79\00:19:42.64
And to take the
figurative analogy it's
00:19:43.28\00:19:47.64
all the way, we are
in Egypt. Whether it's in
00:19:47.65\00:19:52.29
the United
States, which is you know,
00:19:52.30\00:19:54.29
constantly
reminding itself it is,
00:19:54.30\00:19:56.31
as President Bush
said, you know God's
00:19:57.21\00:19:58.66
favorite country.
Well, we don't know if God
00:19:58.67\00:20:00.90
favors it, but it
is nominally religious,
00:20:00.91\00:20:03.78
but other countries
believe that God is looking
00:20:04.46\00:20:07.87
their way, but there
is just too much religion
00:20:07.88\00:20:11.30
and not enough
understanding of the God
00:20:11.31\00:20:13.59
of the universe.
And God said to him,
00:20:13.85\00:20:17.99
I've heard the
oppression, I've heard the
00:20:18.00\00:20:20.47
cries. And he said,
I want you to go down
00:20:20.48\00:20:23.76
to Egypt. I want
you to proclaim liberty,
00:20:24.62\00:20:27.66
I want you to make
a difference there and
00:20:28.02\00:20:30.32
like most of us
Moses said, I can't do it,
00:20:30.33\00:20:32.52
I can't talk, which
is very interesting.
00:20:32.53\00:20:34.71
I'm sure he had the
debating skills in Egypt,
00:20:34.72\00:20:37.07
but in the desert he
probably heard the wind
00:20:37.50\00:20:39.80
whistling and heard
his unconscious beating
00:20:39.81\00:20:42.17
on him day and
night, that He was not good
00:20:42.18\00:20:44.16
enough and, and He
become convinced after
00:20:44.17\00:20:46.77
these years in, in
the desert that that
00:20:46.78\00:20:48.82
you know, He was
hardly more than just a
00:20:48.83\00:20:51.23
sheep herder. And God said,
00:20:51.24\00:20:53.81
I can use you, I can
use you. And He says,
00:20:54.04\00:20:57.02
you go down to Egypt
and of course this is
00:20:57.03\00:20:59.56
where the hymn
came from, or the Negro
00:20:59.57\00:21:02.97
spiritual, go down
to Egypt and this is
00:21:02.98\00:21:04.87
verse 18 of chapter
3. Say to the King of
00:21:04.88\00:21:08.65
Egypt, the Lord God
of the Hebrews has met
00:21:08.66\00:21:12.32
with us; and now
please let us go three
00:21:12.33\00:21:16.70
days' journey
into the wilderness,
00:21:16.71\00:21:18.20
that we may
sacrifice to the Lord our God.
00:21:18.21\00:21:20.51
God's met with me. I
think last time I spoke
00:21:21.43\00:21:25.91
on 3ABN and in this
Church I was connecting
00:21:26.59\00:21:30.87
Religious Liberty
to evangelism and I'm
00:21:31.16\00:21:33.60
more-and-more
convinced that evangelism
00:21:33.61\00:21:36.24
is not complicated,
it's exactly what God said
00:21:36.25\00:21:40.39
to Moses to say,
tell this person,
00:21:40.75\00:21:45.05
tell the Pharaoh
that I have met with God.
00:21:45.06\00:21:47.88
And if I had met
with God I am changed,
00:21:48.92\00:21:50.91
you'll see that. And
on no ones authority but
00:21:50.92\00:21:54.23
God, it doesn't
matter what I say,
00:21:54.24\00:21:55.98
but I am now
speaking for God. And I say,
00:21:56.03\00:21:59.19
let my people go.
And God says, you'll,
00:21:59.51\00:22:03.46
you'll tell him this
and He says, but I'm sure
00:22:03.47\00:22:05.89
He will not let you
go. Very interesting
00:22:05.90\00:22:08.02
description from
God, He says, I'm sure he
00:22:09.61\00:22:11.49
will not let you go.
No, not even by a mighty
00:22:11.50\00:22:14.61
hand. Remember,
later in the, in the
00:22:14.62\00:22:18.50
New Testament, in
the Old Testament in
00:22:18.51\00:22:20.45
the Exodus. Moses
had to hold his hand up,
00:22:20.46\00:22:22.90
but he needed other
people to hold it firm,
00:22:24.69\00:22:26.66
he was not a
mighty man in that sense.
00:22:26.76\00:22:28.80
No, Pharaoh will not
let them go, not even
00:22:28.91\00:22:32.17
by a mighty hand,
which you don't have,
00:22:32.18\00:22:34.41
but God says, so I
will stretch out my hand.
00:22:34.86\00:22:38.44
Amen. My hand and
strike Egypt with all my
00:22:39.08\00:22:43.97
wonders which I will
do in its midst and after
00:22:43.98\00:22:46.11
that He will let you
go. And there was another
00:22:46.12\00:22:49.72
thing that
impressed me. You know, Paul
00:22:49.73\00:22:53.93
said that the Greeks
are seeking signs I think
00:22:53.94\00:22:56.68
that's the sum of
the text there, there's a
00:22:57.60\00:22:59.31
lot of people that
were in, in Paul's age in
00:22:59.32\00:23:02.91
the New Testament
and many more in our day
00:23:02.92\00:23:05.58
that want a sign,
they want some sort of
00:23:05.90\00:23:09.47
miracle healing. They
want some sort of burning
00:23:09.54\00:23:13.73
bush for them, they
want some alternation of
00:23:13.74\00:23:18.49
wet and dry fleeces
to prove to them that God
00:23:18.50\00:23:21.60
is in this thing.
And they forget that when
00:23:21.61\00:23:24.20
there is a Thus
saith the Lord in a God's,
00:23:24.21\00:23:27.07
in God's Holy word,
that should be enough
00:23:27.23\00:23:28.90
for them. And God
said to Moses, he says,
00:23:28.91\00:23:31.50
I'm with you, I'll do
this, I will make you the
00:23:31.51\00:23:34.68
liberator, you can
bring Religious Freedom
00:23:34.69\00:23:37.46
to the suppressed
people and he says and
00:23:37.47\00:23:39.41
the proof of it is this.
And it's found in verse 12
00:23:39.42\00:23:45.51
of chapter 3, it's
interesting he says:
00:23:45.52\00:23:47.39
"I will certainly be
with you, and this shall be
00:23:47.40\00:23:51.24
a sign to you that
I've sent you: when you
00:23:51.25\00:23:54.51
have brought the
people out of Egypt,
00:23:54.52\00:23:56.59
you shall serve
God on this mountain.
00:23:57.59\00:23:59.71
That that's an
interesting sign, because it's a
00:24:00.08\00:24:04.43
sign that's only
valid after the fact.
00:24:04.44\00:24:06.91
And we have-to-
have that faith as,
00:24:08.29\00:24:10.42
as Adrian Westney I
know did in talking to
00:24:10.43\00:24:13.17
him, that this was
not a futile endeavor,
00:24:13.18\00:24:15.96
that beating against
the, the barricades of,
00:24:16.23\00:24:18.90
of, of, of those
who would deny Religious
00:24:19.25\00:24:23.75
Freedom was not
futile because God was
00:24:23.76\00:24:26.52
in this thing. And no
matter how many millions
00:24:26.53\00:24:29.60
of magazines we
might send out, no matter
00:24:29.61\00:24:32.00
how many times we
meet with, with stony-faced
00:24:32.01\00:24:34.92
officials, which is
not always the case I must
00:24:34.93\00:24:37.03
say, no matter how
many times our message
00:24:37.04\00:24:39.25
of liberation seems
to fall on deaf ears.
00:24:39.26\00:24:41.77
The message has been
given and God's mighty
00:24:41.98\00:24:45.47
hand will substitute
for what we think we can
00:24:45.48\00:24:48.00
or cannot do, can
or cannot do. Amen.
00:24:48.01\00:24:50.69
And one day in God's
Holy Mountain as that
00:24:51.13\00:24:54.11
chapter you know in,
in Revelation I read to
00:24:54.12\00:24:56.76
about the deeds of
the dead following them.
00:24:56.77\00:24:58.65
Well, they will be
there raised again and in
00:24:59.28\00:25:01.80
God's side we will see
the fruit of this labor,
00:25:01.81\00:25:04.35
we will see that a
great multitude has come
00:25:04.58\00:25:07.99
out of Egypt, has seen
a Religious Liberty issue,
00:25:08.00\00:25:10.81
has seen the fact that
it's not just the right
00:25:10.82\00:25:13.16
to you know, to
work or what not,
00:25:13.17\00:25:16.40
work on certain
days of the week.
00:25:16.41\00:25:17.94
We've seen that is an
obligation to honor God,
00:25:18.38\00:25:21.50
the God of the
burning bush, the God of the
00:25:21.56\00:25:25.39
liberation from all
that this world represents.
00:25:25.40\00:25:28.74
I've been told now
and then that I should
00:25:31.87\00:25:33.43
be careful what I say
about the United States
00:25:33.44\00:25:35.34
because I grew up
in Australia, but it's
00:25:35.35\00:25:36.76
nothing against the
United States, but I must
00:25:36.77\00:25:39.78
say it troubles me.
Those that live in the
00:25:39.79\00:25:42.37
United States say
always you know we, we
00:25:42.38\00:25:44.14
have freedom you
know, like it's a given.
00:25:44.15\00:25:47.03
We've got to be
careful that we're not proud
00:25:47.94\00:25:50.23
in our apparent
freedom, there is only one
00:25:50.52\00:25:54.00
freedom and that is
absolute with God is,
00:25:54.01\00:25:56.34
we understand Him
and as we obey Him.
00:25:56.57\00:25:59.18
And I really believe
that the ultimate test is
00:26:00.94\00:26:03.71
coming to many of us
who live under what we
00:26:03.72\00:26:05.84
think are benign
systems that in actuality
00:26:05.85\00:26:08.83
maybe the most
pernicious deniers of faith
00:26:08.84\00:26:11.68
the world has seen. As
I said Egypt, religious,
00:26:11.69\00:26:15.51
200 Gods, they had
space for another God.
00:26:16.15\00:26:19.07
There's no real
evidence that Pharaoh rejected
00:26:21.16\00:26:23.90
God out of hand he
said, who is He that I need
00:26:23.91\00:26:26.02
to obey Him, but he
wasn't at all condemnatory
00:26:26.03\00:26:30.48
of their recognizing
their God, he says you can
00:26:30.49\00:26:34.03
worship Him. Where the
conflict came and as you
00:26:34.04\00:26:38.42
study that that, that
great battle there in,
00:26:38.43\00:26:41.65
in Exodus. The
conflict came between the
00:26:41.66\00:26:44.27
array of Egyptians
Gods and the one God.
00:26:44.28\00:26:47.21
And the plates
were not by chance,
00:26:47.84\00:26:49.66
they were striking
at every principle of
00:26:49.67\00:26:52.76
Egyptian belief. And
in our world today in
00:26:52.77\00:26:57.18
Western democracies,
but more particularly
00:26:57.19\00:27:00.36
Western capitalistic
systems, the very system
00:27:00.40\00:27:03.49
of self is apposed to
everything that God holds
00:27:03.50\00:27:06.70
high and holy. Amen.
Where greed is sanctified,
00:27:06.71\00:27:10.83
where you know, your
care for your fellowman
00:27:11.64\00:27:13.66
is swept away and
it's made public policy.
00:27:13.67\00:27:17.52
We need to
recognize these things,
00:27:18.69\00:27:20.26
not to be apposed to
this system as in Egypt
00:27:20.28\00:27:23.48
where they made
those bricks till the last
00:27:23.60\00:27:25.83
minute, we are to do
whatever necessary as
00:27:25.84\00:27:30.24
citizens of whatever
land, but we should never
00:27:30.25\00:27:33.41
think that whether
it's capitalist, communist
00:27:33.42\00:27:36.86
or whatever,
that any of these are
00:27:36.87\00:27:38.14
inherently holy,
there's no burning bush in,
00:27:38.15\00:27:41.15
in Washington,
there's no burning bush in any
00:27:41.52\00:27:44.18
other place. Amen.
The burning bush is in
00:27:44.19\00:27:47.35
your heart, as you
answer to the great I Am
00:27:47.36\00:27:50.21
who says the proof
of you following me is
00:27:50.56\00:27:52.82
that we will meet
again on my Holy Mountain.
00:27:52.83\00:27:55.96
Amen. And we really
need to recognize as
00:27:56.50\00:28:01.22
Moses was a little
slow to come at that if
00:28:01.23\00:28:03.64
God is in this thing,
nothing can stop it and
00:28:03.65\00:28:06.59
that while I think
and I'm speaking as Moses,
00:28:06.60\00:28:09.63
I think that I've
escape that pernicious system.
00:28:09.64\00:28:12.15
I must go back to it
and proclaim liberty,
00:28:12.50\00:28:16.62
proclaim liberty. In
Isaiah chapter 60 verse
00:28:17.31\00:28:23.53
2 it says: For
behold, and I like this text
00:28:23.54\00:28:26.53
because when I
reexamine my life and I
00:28:26.54\00:28:31.72
was gonna say late
teens, but it might even
00:28:31.73\00:28:33.37
have been a bit later than that,
00:28:33.38\00:28:35.16
as I reexamine my
life and, and was tilting
00:28:35.55\00:28:39.94
on the edge, tilting
at the edge of whether
00:28:39.95\00:28:41.59
I should just leave
religion alone or come
00:28:41.60\00:28:44.48
into it all the way. I
listened to the Messiah,
00:28:44.49\00:28:46.86
handles Messiah which
of course is good music,
00:28:47.50\00:28:49.86
if you like
baroque music as, as I do.
00:28:50.43\00:28:52.58
The power of that
that, that piece is in the,
00:28:53.60\00:28:56.38
the recitation of
biblical text brought together
00:28:56.39\00:28:58.80
in a way to speak of
the coming Messiah and
00:28:58.81\00:29:01.04
he quotes from
Isaiah chapter 60 verse 2
00:29:01.05\00:29:04.79
that says: For, behold
the darkness shall cover
00:29:05.13\00:29:07.82
the earth, and
gross darkness the people,
00:29:07.83\00:29:10.96
but the Lord shall
arise upon thee, and his
00:29:12.26\00:29:14.38
glory shall be
seen upon thee. Amen.
00:29:14.39\00:29:18.17
We've got to
recognize that God's ready to
00:29:19.41\00:29:21.47
move powerfully and
you know as, as we said
00:29:21.48\00:29:24.17
in the introduction,
I can give you lots of
00:29:24.18\00:29:26.18
illustrations through
the world of Religious
00:29:26.19\00:29:29.05
Liberty denied,
it's gonna get worse,
00:29:29.06\00:29:32.35
but something you
need to understand
00:29:33.85\00:29:36.28
about Religious
Liberty it seldom as blatant
00:29:36.29\00:29:39.90
as I saw in Ambon,
Indonesia. And by the way
00:29:40.58\00:29:44.46
in a, in a few weeks
I'm planning a trip with
00:29:44.47\00:29:46.99
Dr. John Graphs for
going down to East Timor
00:29:47.43\00:29:50.86
to see what's happening there,
00:29:50.87\00:29:52.12
there's direct
religious conflict between
00:29:52.48\00:29:55.58
Christians and
Moslems down in that place.
00:29:55.94\00:29:57.63
But as we went to
Ambon that was incredible
00:29:57.64\00:30:00.56
to see the
devastation not quite as bad as,
00:30:00.57\00:30:02.84
as the earthquake
produced in Haiti,
00:30:03.29\00:30:05.36
but pretty close
25-30% of everything that
00:30:05.37\00:30:09.40
we ever came upon was burned and
00:30:09.41\00:30:11.91
abandoned in
religious warfare between
00:30:11.92\00:30:14.46
Christians and
Moslems. An amazing scene,
00:30:14.47\00:30:18.03
but violent as that
was that's really not the
00:30:18.98\00:30:23.26
way Religious Liberty
is mostly fought up and
00:30:23.27\00:30:27.33
it's negative. Religious
Liberty is the far most
00:30:27.34\00:30:30.13
subtle thing where
the social pressures mean
00:30:30.14\00:30:33.50
that you feel that
you dare not dare move
00:30:33.51\00:30:36.51
out and take a spiritual stand.
00:30:36.52\00:30:38.37
Religious Liberty is
restricted where there are
00:30:38.57\00:30:40.86
an array of little nit
picky laws that may make
00:30:40.87\00:30:44.22
it impossible or hard
for you to buy a Church
00:30:44.23\00:30:47.01
or to meet in a
Church, may make it very
00:30:47.26\00:30:49.75
hard for you to
organize, that's the most
00:30:49.76\00:30:54.37
efficient level that
the Pharaohs of the world
00:30:54.38\00:30:57.50
have found to strike
against another belief
00:30:57.66\00:31:00.42
system. Take
away the, the straw.
00:31:00.43\00:31:03.57
And Religious Liberty
is not always as clear
00:31:06.25\00:31:09.08
cut as people
imagine, but it's importance is
00:31:09.09\00:31:13.28
always singular.
It's subtle many times in
00:31:13.49\00:31:18.27
countries they'll
say, oh! We have Religious
00:31:18.28\00:31:20.13
Freedom, but the
majority of our people
00:31:20.14\00:31:22.46
are of such-and-such
belief, so it's not
00:31:22.47\00:31:24.19
important. What that
means is if you come into
00:31:24.20\00:31:27.45
that country or if
you were someone that
00:31:27.46\00:31:29.38
moved to think
differently, every
00:31:29.39\00:31:31.53
structure of
society will be against you.
00:31:31.88\00:31:34.28
And we need to pray
that God's mighty arm
00:31:36.65\00:31:39.69
can intervene there,
because there is little
00:31:39.70\00:31:41.68
that we can do to
stop that. We certainly
00:31:41.69\00:31:45.56
don't have the means
and even if, if, if all of
00:31:45.57\00:31:48.38
our viewers send
us all of their means,
00:31:48.39\00:31:50.62
we will hardly likely
have enough to by force
00:31:50.63\00:31:54.16
of money turn
back such a tide of, of
00:31:54.17\00:31:56.63
prejudice and, and
tradition. But as we said
00:31:56.64\00:32:01.85
at the beginning of
the printing revolution
00:32:02.10\00:32:04.15
you know the pen is
mighty than the sword,
00:32:04.16\00:32:05.95
but we might be
moving into the computer era
00:32:05.96\00:32:08.71
where it's bits and
bites that we're dealing
00:32:09.40\00:32:13.57
with. The reality is
that ideas are far more
00:32:13.58\00:32:17.36
powerful than ads or
mechanical things that
00:32:17.51\00:32:21.85
we can do and ideas
are what God deals with,
00:32:21.86\00:32:24.93
because who could
have such an idea as God
00:32:26.64\00:32:28.71
to take a guy in the
desert, to take someone
00:32:29.03\00:32:33.13
in the desert who to
all intends and purposes
00:32:33.14\00:32:36.47
you know, well he may
have appeared to, to his
00:32:36.83\00:32:39.38
wife as a pretty
great leader when he,
00:32:39.39\00:32:42.70
when he first appeared,
she wanted to marry him,
00:32:42.71\00:32:45.44
but you know after
40 years I know my wife
00:32:45.45\00:32:47.71
doesn't think as much as
me, I'm, I'm a little bit
00:32:47.72\00:32:49.54
more decrepit and
so. And he didn't have
00:32:49.55\00:32:51.51
great prospects, but
it was only because God
00:32:51.52\00:32:55.89
was willing to work
with him. There's an aspect
00:32:55.90\00:32:58.92
to the story that I
really want to bring out and
00:32:58.93\00:33:02.02
it may not get
strong support for Religious
00:33:02.03\00:33:04.93
Liberty, but if you
understand it I'll be
00:33:04.94\00:33:07.45
satisfied. When I
was a young person,
00:33:07.46\00:33:10.28
there was a great
figure in the Seventh-day
00:33:12.48\00:33:13.98
Adventist Church
H.M.S. Richards, Sr. and I
00:33:13.99\00:33:17.88
many times listened
to his program and at the
00:33:18.17\00:33:20.69
end he always
finished it by saying,
00:33:20.70\00:33:22.71
have faith in God dear
friend, have faith in God.
00:33:22.72\00:33:25.54
And that's seen me
through some, some bad
00:33:26.14\00:33:29.30
moments remembering
not his idea, but his
00:33:29.31\00:33:32.47
words that were
thoroughly biblical,
00:33:32.48\00:33:34.19
but he preached a
sermon once that impressed
00:33:34.58\00:33:37.80
me and I've actually
got a Book of Sermons
00:33:37.81\00:33:40.33
where it's printed
and it was titled with a
00:33:40.34\00:33:42.83
curious title, The
Man God Tried To Kill.
00:33:42.84\00:33:46.35
Who did God try to
kill? That is found in the
00:33:49.13\00:33:53.34
same sequence in
verse 19 of chapter 4.
00:33:53.35\00:33:56.69
As after Moses had
listen to God at the
00:33:57.22\00:33:59.18
burning bush and for
the first time in 40 years
00:33:59.19\00:34:01.94
had his harps
stirred that something might
00:34:01.95\00:34:04.87
happen through him that
God was going to enable,
00:34:04.88\00:34:07.71
that he was
indeed called to go back,
00:34:08.05\00:34:09.89
proclaim liberty,
first call of Jesus remember
00:34:10.00\00:34:12.69
as He began His
ministry, it's not a little
00:34:12.70\00:34:14.77
secondary part of
what God's on about,
00:34:15.02\00:34:16.78
it's central. And
Moses told his father-in-law
00:34:16.79\00:34:22.25
I must go back, I'm
sure his father-in-law
00:34:22.26\00:34:24.19
thought he's
crazy because he knew he
00:34:24.20\00:34:25.48
fled for his life.
Even though the angel of the
00:34:25.49\00:34:29.21
Lord said, those who
seek your death are dead,
00:34:29.22\00:34:31.25
but he had to go back
to the center of you know,
00:34:31.54\00:34:36.40
the belly of the
beast, no. But He did it,
00:34:36.84\00:34:40.04
he took his wife and
his son and he headed off
00:34:40.19\00:34:43.02
and as it says in
verse 19, I'm sorry verse 24
00:34:43.63\00:34:48.20
it says: And it
came to pass on the way,
00:34:48.90\00:34:51.74
on the way back to
Egypt, at the encampment,
00:34:51.82\00:34:54.42
that the Lord met him
and sought to kill him.
00:34:55.08\00:34:57.95
Very
interesting, what did he do?
00:34:59.53\00:35:03.79
He immediately rose
up and circumcised his
00:35:04.24\00:35:07.70
son, started a
little bit of a family feud
00:35:07.71\00:35:10.84
you know, his
wife Zipporah said,
00:35:10.94\00:35:13.16
you've become a
man of blood to me.
00:35:13.17\00:35:14.77
And the Lord spared
him and he continued
00:35:16.68\00:35:18.19
on his way. I'm not
really sure that the
00:35:18.20\00:35:21.62
mechanics of that
could be worked out or
00:35:21.63\00:35:23.26
should be worked out in our day,
00:35:23.27\00:35:24.64
but the principle is the same.
00:35:24.78\00:35:26.54
We are called to a
high and holy business,
00:35:27.35\00:35:29.93
we are called to
proclaim liberty and God
00:35:30.01\00:35:33.81
holds us the
messengers of such a
00:35:33.82\00:35:36.38
message to a very
high standard and God
00:35:36.39\00:35:41.46
sough to kill
Moses not because he was
00:35:41.47\00:35:44.02
against Moses, but Moses Himself
00:35:44.03\00:35:46.55
understood it, he was
out of harmony with God
00:35:46.56\00:35:48.91
because his first
inclination was to bring
00:35:51.35\00:35:53.71
himself in line with
God's requirement and
00:35:53.72\00:35:56.30
there's nothing
magical about it as Paul
00:35:56.31\00:35:58.12
pointed out, but
it was a sign that was
00:35:58.13\00:36:00.61
given there and he
was not willing to mark
00:36:00.62\00:36:03.46
himself and his family
with dedication to God,
00:36:03.47\00:36:06.09
not till that moment.
And then he realized that
00:36:06.29\00:36:09.17
it was important to
God had changed him and
00:36:09.18\00:36:11.92
there's a text very
few people seem to have
00:36:11.93\00:36:14.36
noticed as Moses
and Aaron then appeared
00:36:14.37\00:36:17.73
before Pharaoh and,
and repeated the Lord's
00:36:17.74\00:36:20.09
word and they
said, you know, let us go
00:36:20.10\00:36:21.92
into the wilderness,
we want these, these,
00:36:21.93\00:36:24.05
little disingenuous
I guess, but three days
00:36:24.91\00:36:27.02
journey, I've studied
on that and three days
00:36:27.03\00:36:29.73
was as long as you
could last in the desert.
00:36:29.74\00:36:31.93
And so, Pharaoh I
think understood it from
00:36:32.24\00:36:34.12
the upset, they
go three days they're
00:36:34.13\00:36:36.39
beyond recall. They're
gone into the desolation,
00:36:36.40\00:36:40.88
but they said to
Pharaoh we want to go.
00:36:42.31\00:36:45.26
This is in verse 3
of chapter 5 of Exodus,
00:36:46.02\00:36:49.13
Exodus chapter 5
verse 3 and they said to
00:36:49.45\00:36:52.44
Pharaoh. Well, of
course after that Pharaoh said:
00:36:52.45\00:36:54.88
Who is the Lord
that I should obey him.
00:36:55.03\00:36:56.79
And they said to
Pharaoh: The God of the
00:36:57.18\00:36:59.28
Hebrews has met
with us. This is what God
00:36:59.29\00:37:01.77
told him to say.
And then they continue.
00:37:01.78\00:37:04.03
Please, let us go
three days journey into the
00:37:04.44\00:37:07.40
desert and
sacrifice to the Lord our God,
00:37:07.41\00:37:09.78
lest He fall upon us
with pestilence over the
00:37:10.10\00:37:14.22
sword. God is not
to be trifled with, and
00:37:14.23\00:37:20.17
when God says I
have heard their cry,
00:37:20.18\00:37:23.52
I have heard what
the pew forum is saying
00:37:23.75\00:37:26.25
that 70% of the
world is suffering under
00:37:26.26\00:37:29.29
the restriction of
civil and religious liberties.
00:37:29.30\00:37:31.39
Something has to
be done about it.
00:37:31.61\00:37:33.66
And it's time now to
get your act together
00:37:34.22\00:37:37.00
to be serious about
it, not just you know,
00:37:37.39\00:37:39.85
something that's
listed on departments,
00:37:40.82\00:37:42.58
or publications, or
good works that you do.
00:37:42.59\00:37:44.90
This is not you know,
like how many items of
00:37:44.91\00:37:47.04
literature given
out this week and so on,
00:37:47.05\00:37:48.97
that's not
gonna cut it with God.
00:37:49.21\00:37:51.10
We have to show
that we are serious that
00:37:52.53\00:37:55.15
our life is in
accordance with this and that
00:37:55.16\00:37:58.07
we will go even to
a Pharaoh, he says I
00:37:58.08\00:38:00.59
don't know your
God. And say, we must go
00:38:00.60\00:38:04.20
because our own life
is on the line and by
00:38:04.74\00:38:07.46
extension, if you
deny God you're at risk.
00:38:07.47\00:38:10.08
That that's a message
that is not told enough
00:38:10.91\00:38:13.54
today, it doesn't
cast God as some vindictive
00:38:13.55\00:38:16.93
evil destructive
being, not at all,
00:38:17.24\00:38:19.41
it shows God as we
would expect him to be.
00:38:19.42\00:38:22.01
Someone intimately
concerned with human
00:38:22.35\00:38:24.53
events,
determined to make it happen,
00:38:24.54\00:38:26.83
determined to free the captives,
00:38:27.12\00:38:28.71
determined for us to
proclaim Religious Liberty,
00:38:29.04\00:38:31.78
has to be, has to
be serious business.
00:38:33.68\00:38:36.69
I don't know if I've
shared it before on 3ABN,
00:38:37.32\00:38:40.07
but every time I, I
see it and I read it again
00:38:40.08\00:38:42.89
last night, it
impresses me that the Apostle
00:38:42.90\00:38:45.26
Paul who admittedly
he was always a hard
00:38:45.27\00:38:48.75
case you know, he's
a perfect persecutor
00:38:48.91\00:38:51.92
and then became a
perfect promoter of the
00:38:52.55\00:38:56.74
truth. But there in
his ministry as he was
00:38:56.75\00:38:59.50
traveling around
the world attempting to
00:38:59.51\00:39:02.14
spread the wonderful
news that God was not
00:39:02.46\00:39:06.17
just set to save
the promised people,
00:39:06.18\00:39:09.15
but he would save
anybody, the Gentiles
00:39:09.61\00:39:11.67
there he came to
Caesarea and they met
00:39:12.19\00:39:15.31
in the home as it says
of Philip the evangelist
00:39:15.32\00:39:17.70
and he had four
daughters who prophesied,
00:39:18.47\00:39:23.33
which is
interesting. You know, we should
00:39:23.34\00:39:24.91
expect more not
so much prophesies,
00:39:24.92\00:39:27.34
but we should
expect this we're dedicated
00:39:27.35\00:39:29.24
to God that God will
communicate to us more
00:39:29.25\00:39:31.98
directly then we think he does.
00:39:31.99\00:39:33.56
And a prophet
named Agabus came down
00:39:35.08\00:39:37.56
from Judah, he had
been told something from
00:39:37.57\00:39:39.67
God, given a more
than intimation and he
00:39:39.68\00:39:42.22
took Paul's belt,
bound his own hands and
00:39:42.23\00:39:46.41
feet and he says:
Thus says the Holy Spirit,
00:39:46.42\00:39:49.24
So shall the Jews at
Jerusalem bind the man
00:39:50.20\00:39:52.66
who owns this belt,
and deliver him into the
00:39:52.67\00:39:55.17
hands of the
Gentiles. What would you do?
00:39:55.18\00:39:59.82
I don't know what I
would do I mean I know
00:40:00.16\00:40:02.13
what I, I should
do and that's what I'm
00:40:02.14\00:40:03.81
preaching about,
but that's the moment of
00:40:03.82\00:40:05.55
truth. You've
dedicated your life,
00:40:05.56\00:40:08.23
you've decided that
you will proclaim God,
00:40:08.50\00:40:11.99
you'll go out and say, you know,
00:40:12.00\00:40:12.97
God has freed us all,
God has freed us from sin,
00:40:12.98\00:40:15.58
He had freed from
the more abundant life.
00:40:16.43\00:40:18.45
That all sounds
good, but when the crunch
00:40:20.57\00:40:22.61
comes and you know
for sure in this case
00:40:22.62\00:40:25.05
God was prophesying that Paul,
00:40:25.36\00:40:27.08
if he went back to
Jerusalem would be bound
00:40:27.30\00:40:29.49
and imprisoned? What do you do?
00:40:29.50\00:40:31.49
As Moses,
determined to go back after he
00:40:34.56\00:40:38.34
had been impressed
at the burning bush.
00:40:38.35\00:40:39.73
Paul said you know,
they started to weep and
00:40:39.88\00:40:43.49
whale, but he
says, what do you mean by
00:40:43.50\00:40:45.83
weeping and breaking my heart?
00:40:45.84\00:40:47.55
For I'm ready
not only to be bound,
00:40:48.22\00:40:50.81
but also to die at
Jerusalem for the name of
00:40:51.65\00:40:54.75
the Lord Jesus.
Amen. We often say in our
00:40:54.76\00:40:58.52
Religious Liberty
work that we believe in
00:40:58.53\00:41:02.99
Religious Freedom
and we will defend,
00:41:03.00\00:41:05.15
we'll defend to the
death you're right to be
00:41:05.37\00:41:08.06
wrong. You're right
to believe something that
00:41:08.07\00:41:11.28
I might find
obnoxious and it's very hard for
00:41:11.29\00:41:15.82
people of faith
to understand that,
00:41:15.83\00:41:17.37
it's extremely hard
in the United States at
00:41:17.64\00:41:19.85
the moment and we
just passed a period with
00:41:19.86\00:41:22.90
the religious right
for want of a better term
00:41:22.91\00:41:24.86
have been
empowered and you know,
00:41:24.87\00:41:26.69
they were on
their way to structuring
00:41:27.10\00:41:29.43
United States as a
happy haven for such a
00:41:29.44\00:41:31.71
belief system,
that's not Religious Freedom
00:41:31.72\00:41:34.50
that's religious
exclusivity. Amen.
00:41:34.89\00:41:38.11
We have-to-have
the idea which God
00:41:38.51\00:41:40.52
exemplified from
Eden and right up to that
00:41:40.53\00:41:43.70
moment where he
says let him who is holy
00:41:43.71\00:41:45.62
be holy still and he
who has not forever not.
00:41:45.63\00:41:49.24
We have to allow
people, the writers as
00:41:50.38\00:41:53.10
sovereign beings
created by God to choose Him
00:41:53.11\00:41:56.82
or reject Him, if
they reject Him there are
00:41:56.96\00:41:59.88
very bad
consequences, but they are not
00:41:59.89\00:42:02.96
consequences that
we visit upon anybody,
00:42:02.97\00:42:05.25
not consequences that we visit.
00:42:05.79\00:42:07.49
I made a resolution
shortly after 9/11 that
00:42:08.29\00:42:11.43
I would always
share something from a
00:42:11.44\00:42:12.93
wonderful
collection of quotes that the
00:42:12.94\00:42:15.96
Seventh-day
Adventist Church prepared.
00:42:15.97\00:42:17.27
Last day events
and on page 127 of this
00:42:17.40\00:42:24.18
collection and it
was put together at the
00:42:24.19\00:42:25.64
time of the gulf,
from first gulf war.
00:42:25.65\00:42:27.40
So I know that the
custodians of the writings
00:42:27.41\00:42:30.32
of Ellen G. White who
I believe was, was used
00:42:30.33\00:42:33.49
mightily of God. I
know that those custodians
00:42:33.50\00:42:36.14
were impressed that
we were in dangerous end
00:42:36.15\00:42:38.83
times. And writing
in 1889, at a time when
00:42:38.84\00:42:43.98
the Seventh-day
Adventist Church and the
00:42:43.99\00:42:45.71
liberty precursor,
the sentinel were battling
00:42:45.72\00:42:49.21
against a National
Sunday Law in the United
00:42:49.22\00:42:52.02
States. I don't
know how many of you know
00:42:52.03\00:42:55.45
about what's
predicted. Revelation 13 is
00:42:55.46\00:42:58.42
fairly specific
about appall that is easily
00:42:58.43\00:43:01.36
identify where
the United States is
00:43:01.37\00:43:02.86
compelling a certain
religious observance.
00:43:02.87\00:43:05.14
And I don't know
how many of you know
00:43:05.50\00:43:07.21
that in the 1880s
there was a more than
00:43:07.61\00:43:10.68
passing push for a
national Sunday Law,
00:43:10.69\00:43:13.51
not a Blue Law,
but a law that mandated
00:43:13.52\00:43:15.87
worship on Sunday, a wrong day,
00:43:16.59\00:43:18.92
but even if it was the
right day we would have
00:43:19.30\00:43:21.45
opposed it. You
don't mandate by Civil Law
00:43:21.46\00:43:24.90
a day of worship.
Amen. And Ellen White at
00:43:24.91\00:43:28.11
that time wrote this, she says:
00:43:28.12\00:43:30.49
We are not doing the
will of God if we sit in
00:43:30.50\00:43:34.06
quietude, doing
nothing to preserve liberty
00:43:34.07\00:43:37.85
of conscience.
Fervent, effectual prayer
00:43:37.86\00:43:42.44
should be
ascending to heaven that this
00:43:42.45\00:43:44.23
calamity may be
deferred, until we can
00:43:44.24\00:43:47.52
accomplish the
work which has so long
00:43:47.53\00:43:49.75
been neglected. Let
there be most earnest
00:43:49.76\00:43:52.94
prayer and then let
us work in harmony with
00:43:52.95\00:43:56.44
our prayers. Now,
it's easy to pray I mean
00:43:56.45\00:43:59.74
that's hard to pray
properly, but it's easy
00:43:59.75\00:44:01.61
to pray, but it's
very hard to pray correctly
00:44:01.62\00:44:04.43
and then to act on our prayers.
00:44:04.44\00:44:06.19
Then, then one other
quote in 1889 also was
00:44:06.59\00:44:09.69
printed in the
Review & Herald Extra in
00:44:09.70\00:44:12.32
December 24 that
year. And Ellen White said:
00:44:12.33\00:44:15.23
There are many who
are at ease as it were,
00:44:15.24\00:44:17.48
who are as it were
asleep. I mean I don't
00:44:18.25\00:44:21.69
really know how you
could sleep in these days,
00:44:21.70\00:44:23.99
but you could be
asleep to the truth,
00:44:24.45\00:44:26.45
these are shocking
times, but many people are
00:44:27.51\00:44:30.32
oblivious to the real
situation. As she says:
00:44:30.33\00:44:32.79
There are many who are at ease,
00:44:32.80\00:44:34.43
who are as it were
asleep. They say prophecy
00:44:34.58\00:44:39.03
has foretold, if
prophecy has foretold the
00:44:39.04\00:44:41.69
enforcement of
Sunday observance the law
00:44:41.70\00:44:44.73
will surely be
enacted, and having come to this
00:44:44.74\00:44:47.36
conclusion they sit
down in a calm expectation
00:44:47.37\00:44:50.63
of the event,
comforting themselves with the
00:44:50.64\00:44:54.08
thought that God
will protect his people in
00:44:54.09\00:44:57.46
the day of trouble.
But God will not save us if
00:44:57.47\00:45:02.31
we make no effort
to do the work he has
00:45:02.32\00:45:05.03
committed to our
church. That's really
00:45:05.04\00:45:07.55
serious business. She
says as faithful watchmen
00:45:07.56\00:45:10.61
you should see the
sword coming and give
00:45:11.51\00:45:13.62
the warning, that
men and women may not
00:45:13.63\00:45:15.69
pursue a course
through ignorance that they
00:45:15.70\00:45:18.55
would avoid if
they knew the truth.
00:45:18.56\00:45:20.19
I didn't mean
to connect to them,
00:45:21.50\00:45:22.67
but that just puts
me to mind you know
00:45:22.78\00:45:23.92
the sword coming,
right now you know,
00:45:23.93\00:45:26.96
in the United States
as a nation you know,
00:45:28.73\00:45:30.28
we've projected the
sword to other countries
00:45:30.99\00:45:33.19
and you can argue as
people do whether that's
00:45:33.20\00:45:35.56
correct public policy
or not, but the sword is
00:45:35.57\00:45:38.61
not to be trifled
with and you know,
00:45:38.62\00:45:40.70
there is a
curious symbol that's just
00:45:40.71\00:45:42.39
emerged in the last
few days, did you know
00:45:42.40\00:45:44.30
of 300,000 gun
sights that are sitting atop
00:45:44.31\00:45:47.73
the weapons of the
soldiers in the United
00:45:47.74\00:45:50.25
States, 300,000 of
them have Bible texts
00:45:50.26\00:45:53.84
printed into the
metal. If that isn't the most
00:45:53.93\00:45:58.54
profane application
of faith for our day,
00:45:58.55\00:46:01.65
I don't know what could qualify.
00:46:01.66\00:46:03.25
And guns with Bible
texts on them pointed
00:46:04.70\00:46:07.35
against secular or
other religious enemies of
00:46:07.36\00:46:11.07
the state can just as
easily be turned against
00:46:11.08\00:46:14.59
those of us who have
a different view of what
00:46:14.60\00:46:17.15
those texts say.
Amen. Religious Freedom
00:46:17.16\00:46:21.90
needs to be
proclaimed not as a, in a
00:46:22.08\00:46:25.01
political context, but
to any political context.
00:46:25.02\00:46:28.96
Amen. Egypt will
always be with us,
00:46:28.97\00:46:32.58
Egypt will
always be polytheistic,
00:46:33.12\00:46:35.77
even if it calls
itself Christian,
00:46:36.43\00:46:39.10
Moslem or whatever,
because Egypt is the
00:46:39.40\00:46:41.53
potential on the
willingness of man to just
00:46:42.22\00:46:45.74
basically reach out
willy-nilly and embrace
00:46:45.75\00:46:48.60
all views of religion
including self-worship.
00:46:48.61\00:46:52.63
And it takes a
Moses, it takes a Paul,
00:46:53.32\00:46:57.13
and it takes you
and I as we're committed
00:46:57.74\00:47:00.13
to God and emptied
itself, it takes often a
00:47:00.14\00:47:03.50
vision metaphorical for
most realistic and actual
00:47:03.51\00:47:08.48
for some of a burning
bush. And to know that
00:47:08.49\00:47:11.93
a lot is at stake
here, that we might be free
00:47:11.94\00:47:17.44
and that's a hard
thing to do. You know,
00:47:18.04\00:47:20.11
back to that
that, that image of the
00:47:20.12\00:47:23.70
D.H. Lawrence ship
of death, and die the
00:47:24.62\00:47:26.85
death he says the
Long and Painful Death
00:47:26.86\00:47:29.03
that was between
old self and the new,
00:47:29.04\00:47:31.60
he got it right
there. You know that battle
00:47:31.83\00:47:34.22
we have to win
between the old self and
00:47:34.39\00:47:36.50
the new, but the
new man as C.S. Lewis,
00:47:36.51\00:47:39.30
who was nearly
always wrong, but had a
00:47:39.31\00:47:40.99
right in being
Christianity. The new man
00:47:41.00\00:47:44.11
needs to get with
the old God and proclaim
00:47:44.52\00:47:47.91
liberty, liberty
for all. Amen. This is a
00:47:48.15\00:47:52.33
wonderful challenge I
believe that we should
00:47:52.34\00:47:55.41
accept as thoroughly
biblical, the analogy is
00:47:55.42\00:47:58.45
not just for a nice
sermon illustration,
00:47:58.46\00:48:00.49
it's before us and
you know I grew up hearing
00:48:00.50\00:48:03.33
and reading any
numbers of sermons telling
00:48:04.06\00:48:05.99
it's not to go back
to Egypt, you know not to
00:48:06.00\00:48:08.73
go back to Babylon.
Well, on that level, no.
00:48:08.74\00:48:11.65
We're not to
become Egypt, we're not to
00:48:11.80\00:48:13.41
become Babylon,
but if we don't have a
00:48:13.42\00:48:15.91
burden to go back to
Egypt, if we don't see
00:48:15.92\00:48:19.33
that in Egypt there
is a principle and a
00:48:19.34\00:48:22.66
message of liberty
to break proclaims,
00:48:22.67\00:48:24.99
then we are indeed
someone who has never
00:48:25.28\00:48:27.80
left because you
can take Egypt into the
00:48:27.81\00:48:31.25
deserts just as
easily as you can,
00:48:31.26\00:48:33.02
you can tell
it's greenery by the
00:48:33.37\00:48:35.77
waterside, there on the Nile.
00:48:35.78\00:48:37.30
Egypt is the state
of mind, and we need to
00:48:37.91\00:48:41.94
have the state of mind
of God to be proclaiming
00:48:41.95\00:48:44.93
liberty throughout
the land. And obviously
00:48:44.94\00:48:48.46
I stand before you
as someone who edits
00:48:48.47\00:48:50.47
Liberty Magazine,
it's not the only way to
00:48:50.48\00:48:52.49
proclaim liberty, I'd
be foolish to say that.
00:48:52.50\00:48:55.23
But we have been
given many mechanisms
00:48:56.89\00:48:59.31
in the modern world
that will facilitate the
00:48:59.32\00:49:01.30
proclamation. You
know, it started with
00:49:01.31\00:49:03.51
someone with a
capital L I guess, someone
00:49:03.52\00:49:08.46
standing on the
Mount of Blessing,
00:49:08.78\00:49:10.65
I don't know how
those thousands of people
00:49:10.97\00:49:12.68
heard Jesus voice.
No more than I know
00:49:12.69\00:49:15.55
you know, that they
heard Abraham Lincoln
00:49:16.04\00:49:17.38
at the Gettysburg
address. People spoke
00:49:17.39\00:49:19.22
powerfully before
PA, but then came the PA
00:49:19.23\00:49:22.93
and you could have a megaphone,
00:49:22.94\00:49:23.94
you can go to
a, you know a game,
00:49:25.11\00:49:27.74
a football game now
and then think we're
00:49:27.75\00:49:29.67
vibrates
admittedly not very clearly,
00:49:29.68\00:49:31.74
but people can
hear greatly. The Radio
00:49:31.75\00:49:33.93
Broadcasted across. I
remember reading years
00:49:34.08\00:49:37.48
ago about a
philosopher, the Pharaoh
00:49:37.49\00:49:43.27
wrote in his book
Walden Pond against the
00:49:43.28\00:49:46.34
radio giving news
of England, he says,
00:49:46.35\00:49:48.17
what is the great
flapping ear of the United
00:49:48.18\00:49:50.04
States needs to hear
what happens in Europe?
00:49:50.05\00:49:51.89
The reality is,
communication is a gift
00:49:52.29\00:49:54.70
that God has given
to our modern world and
00:49:54.71\00:49:58.31
we can broadcast on the radio,
00:49:58.32\00:50:00.25
we can broadcast
through television and
00:50:00.57\00:50:02.21
simultaneously
contact millions of people,
00:50:02.22\00:50:05.09
we're not just
standing before Pharaoh and
00:50:06.10\00:50:09.04
his few minions
and his magicians,
00:50:09.05\00:50:12.00
we're standing in
some ways not figuratively,
00:50:12.36\00:50:15.81
but literally
before the world and we can
00:50:15.82\00:50:18.30
proclaim liberty. The
liberty that God would
00:50:18.31\00:50:22.21
have us proclaim.
Let's bow our heads in
00:50:22.22\00:50:25.40
a word of prayer.
Dear, Lord we thank you
00:50:25.41\00:50:27.25
that we're your
agents to proclaim freedom,
00:50:27.51\00:50:29.77
we thank you that
that while Egypt can be
00:50:30.26\00:50:33.75
pretty all pervasive
and at delusional reality
00:50:33.76\00:50:38.33
that with your word
and your instruction and
00:50:38.43\00:50:40.77
a vision of your holy
burning fire that we can
00:50:40.78\00:50:43.78
be empowered to
take on anything,
00:50:43.79\00:50:45.60
proclaim liberty
because we have liberty.
00:50:46.06\00:50:48.76
Thank you for this
privilege, for Jesus sake,
00:50:49.04\00:50:51.28
amen. Amen. In the
few minutes that are left,
00:50:51.29\00:50:53.75
I just want to
remind you that today is
00:50:53.76\00:50:56.16
Religious Liberty
Sabbath, but by no means
00:50:56.17\00:50:59.57
is it a one short
thing even within our
00:50:59.58\00:51:01.48
Seventh-day
Adventist Church, a period of
00:51:01.49\00:51:03.84
time to promote
liberty and, and to fund
00:51:03.85\00:51:06.69
what we're doing
for another year goes
00:51:06.70\00:51:08.79
at least in the
Churches till the end of April
00:51:08.80\00:51:11.12
and not every Church
can do it on the one day,
00:51:11.85\00:51:14.43
but we hope that
every Church does it beyond
00:51:15.57\00:51:18.10
the Seventh-day
Adventist Church which is
00:51:18.11\00:51:19.48
an enabler of
Liberty Magazine because
00:51:19.49\00:51:21.15
it's not just your
magazine, only about
00:51:21.16\00:51:23.99
10 to 15,000
Seventh -day Adventist get
00:51:24.00\00:51:27.26
copies of liberty, but
those that are watching
00:51:27.27\00:51:29.94
we hope that you
are moved to send some
00:51:30.18\00:51:32.72
means to
facilitate a cry of Religious
00:51:32.73\00:51:36.16
Freedom. Because it
doesn't matter whether
00:51:36.17\00:51:38.76
you're a
Seventh-day Adventist or a Roman
00:51:38.77\00:51:41.15
Catholic or a
Buddhist or whatever,
00:51:41.16\00:51:42.99
I don't necessarily
believe that all those
00:51:43.10\00:51:45.25
belief systems are
correct, but I believe
00:51:45.26\00:51:47.68
that my God would have
you seek him in however
00:51:47.69\00:51:52.71
means you want
and if you are moved
00:51:52.72\00:51:54.96
toward God I
believe you will respond.
00:51:54.97\00:51:57.07
But in the mean
time you have-to-have
00:51:57.12\00:51:59.36
the ability and the
freedom to seek God.
00:51:59.37\00:52:02.00
And I'm not gonna
deny that and Liberty
00:52:02.21\00:52:04.12
Magazine is holding
out a broad swath of
00:52:04.13\00:52:07.99
freedom for all who
will answer. And please
00:52:08.00\00:52:10.76
give your means toward that.
00:52:10.90\00:52:12.11
Beyond that I'd be
regress, if regressive
00:52:12.95\00:52:17.22
if I didn't remind
those that watch this channel
00:52:17.23\00:52:21.69
regularly that we
have the Liberty Insider
00:52:21.70\00:52:23.63
that appears on,
on 3ABN regularly.
00:52:23.64\00:52:26.45
We will bring examples
of restricted Religious
00:52:26.71\00:52:30.14
Liberty and of course
good examples of freedom
00:52:30.15\00:52:32.79
allowed around the
world, because liberty
00:52:32.80\00:52:35.31
is on the march. It's
not just in around that
00:52:35.32\00:52:38.48
they march and
demonstrate for a new
00:52:38.49\00:52:40.30
government. I
believe there is a spiritual
00:52:40.31\00:52:42.81
steering in the
world and that people are,
00:52:42.82\00:52:46.76
it says there is a
God shaped void that
00:52:47.46\00:52:49.26
people are more-and
-more recognizing and
00:52:49.27\00:52:51.67
as the stresses,
politics of disasters and
00:52:51.68\00:52:57.02
whatever you name
it, of the modern world
00:52:57.03\00:52:58.74
as they hinge upon
people's very souls,
00:52:58.75\00:53:02.40
they recognize
that they must have God.
00:53:02.83\00:53:05.48
And not just God,
but they, they must
00:53:06.67\00:53:09.33
exercise that belief
in God. And at Liberty
00:53:09.34\00:53:12.49
Magazine we call
that Religious Liberty,
00:53:12.50\00:53:15.70
it's something vital,
it's something eternal,
00:53:16.21\00:53:18.80
something God given
and that is something
00:53:19.13\00:53:20.76
that we will fight and die for.
00:53:20.77\00:53:22.52