Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:01:13.81\00:01:23.47
Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:01:24.09\00:01:33.75
With all the cause
we lived Jesus name
00:01:34.49\00:01:44.16
Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:01:44.90\00:01:53.73
Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:01:55.63\00:02:05.09
Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:02:05.82\00:02:15.28
With all the cause
we lived Jesus name
00:02:16.32\00:02:26.38
Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:02:26.82\00:02:35.35
Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:02:37.66\00:02:46.56
Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:02:47.48\00:02:56.81
With all the cause
we lived Jesus name
00:02:58.09\00:03:07.57
Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:03:08.45\00:03:16.65
With all the cause
we lived Jesus name
00:03:19.23\00:03:28.54
Oh, Lord, how marvelous
Oh, Lord, how marvelous
00:03:29.40\00:03:38.45
Oh, Lord, how
marvelous is your name
00:03:39.80\00:03:51.79
Amen, Amen, wasn't that
wonderful Pastor Murray?
00:03:55.73\00:04:00.12
Amen, what a perfect way
to begin a worship service,
00:04:01.65\00:04:04.77
that's right, by
praising the name of Jesus.
00:04:04.80\00:04:07.08
And this is one of
the first times that the
00:04:07.11\00:04:09.44
Thompsonville
Adventist Church Choir has sung,
00:04:09.47\00:04:13.25
and oh it was first
time on television and one of
00:04:13.28\00:04:16.07
their first times
period, they've only sang
00:04:16.10\00:04:17.81
a few times together and
they already are sounding
00:04:17.84\00:04:20.74
very good aren't
they? Praise the Lord,
00:04:20.77\00:04:22.51
we love them
Thompsonville Adventist Church
00:04:22.54\00:04:24.39
meets here at the
3ABN Worship Center.
00:04:25.03\00:04:28.13
This is the place
where we have our camp
00:04:28.73\00:04:30.30
meetings where we
do a lot of our taping,
00:04:30.33\00:04:33.89
we have studios even in
the back where Kids Time
00:04:33.92\00:04:37.45
is done and some of
the other programs are
00:04:37.48\00:04:40.48
done there. And so this
is the multipurpose building.
00:04:40.51\00:04:44.44
It's a building that
was built by your donations
00:04:44.47\00:04:48.11
and by your faithfulness
to 3ABN and we thank
00:04:48.14\00:04:52.00
you that we have
such a tremendous place,
00:04:52.03\00:04:54.93
to have these camp
meetings and other events
00:04:54.96\00:04:58.06
as well as the
Sabbath Church service meeting
00:04:58.09\00:05:01.56
here each week.
Well, listen we've got some
00:05:01.59\00:05:04.84
tremendous things today
and we're looking forward
00:05:04.87\00:05:07.50
to this morning. It is
not a common event for the
00:05:07.53\00:05:11.27
division President to
spend some time with us,
00:05:11.93\00:05:13.50
but we're fortunate
that he took time from his
00:05:13.53\00:05:15.60
schedule to join us
today. And this is a man who
00:05:15.63\00:05:18.30
is very experienced.
He came immediately he was
00:05:18.33\00:05:22.54
elected at the
General Conference Session
00:05:22.57\00:05:24.70
in Atlanta and before
that he was the President
00:05:25.36\00:05:30.72
of the Seventh-Day
Adventist Church in Canada
00:05:30.75\00:05:33.46
and now the Canadian
Union we call it is also
00:05:34.16\00:05:37.86
apart of the North
American Division which
00:05:37.89\00:05:40.86
encompasses all of
the 50 states of the
00:05:40.89\00:05:43.96
United States plus
Canada and Bermuda.
00:05:43.99\00:05:47.48
And so now this
territory is served by Pastor
00:05:48.15\00:05:52.81
Dan Jackson, they've
only been four Presidents
00:05:52.84\00:05:56.92
of the actual
division. The first President of
00:05:56.95\00:06:01.10
the division was Elder
Bradford and the second
00:06:01.13\00:06:03.95
was Elder McClure, Don
Schneider was the third
00:06:03.98\00:06:08.53
President and he is
the one that serves up
00:06:09.34\00:06:11.17
until this past
General Conference,
00:06:11.20\00:06:13.24
and now Elder Dan
Jackson, before that the
00:06:13.27\00:06:17.88
North American
Division was operated by a
00:06:17.91\00:06:21.11
Vice President of
the General Conference,
00:06:21.14\00:06:23.49
the one in the 70's
who was looking after this
00:06:24.19\00:06:29.07
assignment was
Elder Neal Wilson,
00:06:29.10\00:06:31.58
the father of our current
President Elder Ted Wilson.
00:06:32.20\00:06:36.02
He was later elected
to be General Conference
00:06:36.64\00:06:39.82
President in 1980s. So
in the 80's he served as
00:06:39.85\00:06:42.97
President of the
General Conference.
00:06:43.00\00:06:44.91
Just this week he lay
down his life on this earth,
00:06:44.94\00:06:50.24
went to sleep in Jesus waiting
00:06:51.04\00:06:53.30
for the resurrection.
And so our condolences
00:06:53.33\00:06:56.64
go to the Wilson
family. He is survived of course
00:06:56.67\00:07:00.64
by his son Elder Ted
Wilson who is the current
00:07:00.67\00:07:03.89
General Conference President.
00:07:03.92\00:07:05.40
There will be a
memorial service on the 19th of
00:07:06.00\00:07:11.46
January and if you
wanna go online you can get
00:07:12.19\00:07:16.37
more information about
the time it will be at the
00:07:16.40\00:07:18.76
General Conference office
in Silver Spring, Maryland.
00:07:18.79\00:07:23.02
Well, today we
are happy to have the
00:07:23.86\00:07:27.64
Elder Dan Jackson as
we mention the man have
00:07:27.67\00:07:29.44
with experience and I
want to introduce his wife
00:07:29.47\00:07:34.10
to you at this time,
Donna would you stand and
00:07:34.13\00:07:37.75
you've been with Dan
Jackson from the very
00:07:37.78\00:07:40.79
beginning. He told
me one time that you're
00:07:40.82\00:07:43.86
the one that
actually brought him into this
00:07:43.89\00:07:45.66
church and so the Lord, alright,
00:07:45.69\00:07:49.81
but Lord used you and
so we're just thank you
00:07:50.56\00:07:54.94
for being with us
today. And they have served
00:07:54.97\00:07:57.96
overseas in mission
to Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
00:07:57.99\00:08:01.13
I will pronounce it
right here in a minute
00:08:01.84\00:08:03.19
and some other
places. In addition he was
00:08:03.22\00:08:06.49
President of the
Saskatchewan-Manitoba
00:08:06.52\00:08:08.92
Conference, British
Columbian Conference,
00:08:08.95\00:08:11.59
and before he was
President of the Canadian
00:08:12.35\00:08:15.39
Union. He's been
Pastor, been a teacher,
00:08:15.96\00:08:18.36
he's a man of a lot
of varied experience.
00:08:19.07\00:08:22.78
So we're gonna look
forward to having him
00:08:22.81\00:08:26.12
be our speaker
today. Before he comes
00:08:26.93\00:08:29.97
I'm gonna ask Elder
Murray to lead us in a prayer.
00:08:30.00\00:08:34.49
Bow your heads
with us if you will.
00:08:35.80\00:08:37.10
Gracious Father
again we do thank you
00:08:39.02\00:08:40.59
so very much for the
occasion that calls us
00:08:40.62\00:08:43.63
to the house of
prayer and praise this day.
00:08:43.66\00:08:45.93
We thank you for
the Sabbath day and for
00:08:46.97\00:08:50.95
those blessings that
are held in reserve for
00:08:50.98\00:08:55.34
the sacred Sabbath
hours. We know there is
00:08:55.37\00:08:59.06
a very special blessing
as we follow the command
00:08:59.09\00:09:02.19
to not forsake the
assembling of ourselves
00:09:02.22\00:09:04.85
together, but to come
together in prayer and
00:09:04.88\00:09:08.01
praise with you
as our honored guest.
00:09:08.04\00:09:11.03
Oh! Father we thank
you for Jesus, the author,
00:09:11.85\00:09:15.02
the finisher of our
faith, in him we live and move
00:09:15.05\00:09:20.01
and have our being
and we would want you
00:09:20.56\00:09:23.45
to know and the
world to know that we love
00:09:23.48\00:09:27.18
you dear Jesus. And
we are here because we
00:09:27.21\00:09:30.63
want to spend a
little time with you.
00:09:30.66\00:09:33.49
We ask that you would
bless this service that
00:09:34.50\00:09:37.45
you would bless it
so that those who need
00:09:37.48\00:09:40.77
to hear a word from
the Lord will indeed hear
00:09:40.80\00:09:44.43
that word this day.
And those of us who need
00:09:44.46\00:09:48.17
a little encouragement
as we walk this road
00:09:48.20\00:09:50.79
that leads to glory, we
will receive information
00:09:50.82\00:09:55.50
and the inspiration
and the sacred touch
00:09:56.29\00:09:59.28
of the Holy Spirit to
encourage us as we walk
00:09:59.31\00:10:03.18
with you. Bless this
service, bless those of us
00:10:03.69\00:10:07.74
who sit here and in the
special way the thousands
00:10:07.77\00:10:11.13
ye millions around
the world who sit and look
00:10:11.71\00:10:15.30
and listen, may they
receive encouragement
00:10:15.94\00:10:18.82
and
inspiration, bless the music,
00:10:19.26\00:10:21.42
bless in a special way
the speaker of the hour
00:10:22.22\00:10:24.91
we praise you, we
love you and we thank you
00:10:25.55\00:10:28.63
dear Father in
Jesus name Amen. Amen
00:10:28.66\00:10:32.47
We're so privileged
today to be able to bring
00:10:33.34\00:10:36.45
Elder Jackson to you,
and this first opportunity
00:10:36.48\00:10:40.36
that he has had
to address the entire
00:10:40.39\00:10:44.21
North American Division
as well as the World Church
00:10:44.82\00:10:47.61
from this
particular position here in
00:10:47.64\00:10:52.12
Thompsonville,
Illinois. And before he comes
00:10:52.15\00:10:56.51
to speak to us one
of my favorite singers
00:10:57.48\00:11:00.36
John Lomacang is
going to sing for us
00:11:00.88\00:11:03.51
"There is a Savior", Amen, Amen.
00:11:04.22\00:11:09.43
There is a
Savior what joys express
00:11:17.13\00:11:31.99
His eyes are
mercy His word is rest
00:11:32.78\00:11:44.08
For each tomorrow For yesterday
00:11:44.66\00:11:58.89
There is a Savior
Who lights our way!
00:11:59.33\00:12:11.73
Are there burdens in your heart,
00:12:14.76\00:12:17.82
Is you past a
memory that binds you,
00:12:18.72\00:12:25.14
Is there pain inside
that that you've carried
00:12:26.65\00:12:32.42
far too long, Oh there's strengt
00:12:32.45\00:12:40.98
in your heart
with His good news,
00:12:41.01\00:12:50.64
There is a Savior
and He's forgiven you
00:12:51.11\00:13:02.50
There is a
Savior what joys express
00:13:04.10\00:13:17.93
His eyes are
mercy His word is rest
00:13:18.64\00:13:29.96
For each tomorrow For yesterday
00:13:31.08\00:13:44.21
There is a Savior
Who lights our way!
00:13:44.79\00:13:57.07
There is a
Savior what joys express
00:13:58.38\00:14:11.93
His eyes are
mercy His word is rest
00:14:12.51\00:14:24.12
For each tomorrow For yesterday
00:14:24.68\00:14:38.69
There is a Savior
Who lights our way!
00:14:39.24\00:14:53.45
There is a Savior
Who lights our way!
00:14:53.88\00:15:18.04
Well, good
morning. Good morning!
00:15:31.55\00:15:33.20
And happy Sabbath
and praise God for our
00:15:33.91\00:15:38.49
savior. Who loves
us more than he loved
00:15:38.52\00:15:43.37
his own self and
his own convenience,
00:15:43.40\00:15:46.23
but who send his
son Jesus so that you
00:15:47.01\00:15:50.41
and I could have
hope and have quality
00:15:50.44\00:15:53.76
of life here and now
and for all eternity.
00:15:53.79\00:15:56.33
We praise his name
today. You know as my wife
00:15:56.89\00:16:01.32
and drove out here, it
reminded me of the well
00:16:01.35\00:16:06.59
it is the prayer
hearings, it reminded me of
00:16:06.62\00:16:09.94
so much where I
came from in the province
00:16:10.38\00:16:13.52
of Alberta in
Canada and just a lot of
00:16:13.55\00:16:17.13
memories of wheat
fields and the beauty
00:16:17.16\00:16:19.78
of those wheat
fields came back to my mind.
00:16:19.81\00:16:23.24
I want to invite you to bow your
00:16:23.27\00:16:25.07
head with me as we pray.
00:16:25.10\00:16:26.54
Our Heavenly Father
we want to thank you
00:16:28.24\00:16:30.41
today for the
gift of Jesus Christ,
00:16:30.44\00:16:34.44
your son our
savior and heavenly father
00:16:34.47\00:16:38.53
we want to
acknowledge prior to opening up
00:16:38.56\00:16:41.36
your word that we
are in need of your
00:16:41.39\00:16:44.77
Holy Spirit, to
guide us and to direct us,
00:16:44.80\00:16:47.96
so we don't want
to see human beings.
00:16:49.47\00:16:51.67
We want to see
Jesus that's only possible
00:16:52.52\00:16:56.07
through the
gifting of your Holy Spirit
00:16:56.10\00:16:57.98
and we now want
to submit ourselves
00:16:58.01\00:17:00.86
to that same
Spirit in Jesus name Amen.
00:17:01.52\00:17:04.51
Magnificent! The
word carries an awesome
00:17:06.33\00:17:11.98
quality to it. Now we
don't use it to describe
00:17:12.52\00:17:16.25
anything that is
common or mundane when
00:17:16.28\00:17:19.57
Webster defines it in
the dictionary he uses
00:17:19.60\00:17:22.19
these words
splendid, lavish, beautiful,
00:17:22.22\00:17:26.20
etcetera so as to
arouse admiration and wonder.
00:17:26.98\00:17:30.77
You know when you
walkout on a crisp,
00:17:31.55\00:17:34.81
cool, evening and
you look up at the stars,
00:17:35.37\00:17:38.72
the handy work of God,
you say that's magnificent.
00:17:39.17\00:17:43.88
When you wander
different places across
00:17:45.26\00:17:48.61
North America you
see so many sites.
00:17:48.65\00:17:52.04
I used to relish
seeing the Northern Light
00:17:52.61\00:17:55.32
that's rippled
away across the sky
00:17:55.48\00:17:57.65
and it's magnificent.
When you see from the air,
00:17:58.55\00:18:02.38
the canola fields next
to flax fields then you see
00:18:03.12\00:18:06.51
that purple and gold
patch work. It is magnificent.
00:18:07.06\00:18:10.80
If you see the
water smashing against
00:18:11.68\00:18:13.71
the rocks at big
stir, you got to say it's
00:18:13.74\00:18:16.70
magnificent. And yet
to know I looked back
00:18:16.73\00:18:19.88
to a moment in our
time when the very British
00:18:19.91\00:18:24.58
nurse looked at me and
holding our first child
00:18:25.12\00:18:30.32
in her hands said,
well touch her she's yours.
00:18:31.33\00:18:35.59
I was not very much
able because I looked at
00:18:37.77\00:18:40.26
her in the condition
wasn't all that good,
00:18:40.29\00:18:41.98
I touched the heel
but I do want to tell you
00:18:42.01\00:18:44.50
I praised God that
day. And I thank my dear
00:18:44.53\00:18:48.38
wife Donna for what it happened,
00:18:48.41\00:18:50.37
the deep sense
of gratitude to God
00:18:50.40\00:18:53.88
over found me it was
a magnificent moment.
00:18:54.99\00:18:58.57
It was awesome.
Amen! However as greatest
00:18:59.97\00:19:04.46
the experience that
I've talked about are there
00:19:04.49\00:19:07.69
is an even greater
opportunity and more
00:19:07.72\00:19:10.01
magnificent experience
that all of us can share
00:19:10.04\00:19:13.33
in and that is living
daily in the presence of
00:19:13.36\00:19:17.50
a magnificent God.
Amen! Our understanding
00:19:17.53\00:19:20.85
of God has very often
been twisted and perverted
00:19:20.88\00:19:24.80
to such a place that
we're not sure at all
00:19:25.68\00:19:28.42
at times whether or
not we would want to
00:19:28.45\00:19:30.47
live in the presence of
God. That the ponderings
00:19:30.50\00:19:34.23
of theologians, of philosophers,
00:19:34.26\00:19:37.20
and common man
have more often to not
00:19:37.23\00:19:39.79
produced faulty
portrayals of God and how he is.
00:19:39.82\00:19:44.36
Experience with less
than loving fathers has
00:19:45.28\00:19:48.51
produced and unwillingness
in many individuals to
00:19:48.54\00:19:52.03
call anyone their
father. Yet understanding God
00:19:52.06\00:19:56.91
is key to serving
God, a key to living in his
00:19:58.16\00:20:02.85
presence but this
subject of reaching up to God
00:20:02.88\00:20:07.07
and embracing him
as our personal Lord,
00:20:08.09\00:20:10.29
master, friend and
lover is a crucial one for
00:20:10.86\00:20:14.03
a significant
reason. If I understand
00:20:14.06\00:20:17.59
things correctly, if I
understand the scripture
00:20:17.90\00:20:20.07
correctly, the
message of God's people in the
00:20:20.21\00:20:25.98
final days that
message which is to encircle
00:20:26.01\00:20:29.32
the globe with a loud
cry, is that of the glory
00:20:30.03\00:20:34.76
of God as seen
both in the words and in
00:20:34.89\00:20:37.56
the lives of his
people. Now there is real
00:20:37.59\00:20:41.10
sense in which this
privilege places, a heavy
00:20:41.13\00:20:46.31
responsibility on
each one of us to know,
00:20:46.34\00:20:49.24
to understand and
to experience God.
00:20:49.27\00:20:51.95
Listen to how
God describes himself
00:20:52.16\00:20:54.60
as he talks to
Moses at Mount Sinai from
00:20:54.63\00:20:58.42
Exodus chapter 34
verses 6 & 7: "The Lord,
00:20:58.45\00:21:01.78
the Lord God,
merciful and gracious,
00:21:01.81\00:21:04.37
longsuffering, and
abounding in goodness
00:21:05.00\00:21:07.06
and truth, keeping
mercy for thousands,
00:21:07.09\00:21:09.88
forgiving iniquity
and transgression and sin,
00:21:09.91\00:21:12.90
by no means clearing
the guilty, visiting the
00:21:13.35\00:21:16.19
iniquity of the
fathers upon the children and
00:21:16.22\00:21:18.88
the children's
children to the third and the
00:21:18.91\00:21:21.06
fourth generation."
And then after that,
00:21:21.09\00:21:23.89
after Jesus, the God
man lived his life on earth
00:21:23.92\00:21:30.36
and then gave it up
on Calvary, when he had
00:21:30.39\00:21:32.96
completed his mission
to save fallen humanity
00:21:32.99\00:21:36.07
by demonstrating the
true nature of the father,
00:21:37.02\00:21:39.58
the Apostle John
wrote: Behold, what manner
00:21:40.13\00:21:43.43
of love the Father
has bestowed on us,
00:21:43.46\00:21:46.29
that we should be
called the sons and the
00:21:46.87\00:21:49.37
daughters of God. Amen!
He is a magnificent God.
00:21:49.40\00:21:53.95
If the self Revelation
of God at Sinai as recorded
00:21:56.34\00:22:00.80
in Exodus and the
beautiful and descriptive
00:22:00.83\00:22:04.24
words of John
are true and accurate
00:22:04.27\00:22:07.49
representations of
what God is like and
00:22:07.52\00:22:10.85
I believe that they
are, then a question
00:22:10.88\00:22:13.49
is begged and that is
if those things are true
00:22:13.99\00:22:17.26
then why don't I live
in constant connection
00:22:18.11\00:22:20.57
with God. Where am I
lacking, where are we
00:22:20.60\00:22:23.78
lacking as human
beings, as Christians.
00:22:23.81\00:22:27.29
From the book
Desire of Ages page 668
00:22:28.67\00:22:31.17
I read this "All
true obedience comes from
00:22:31.20\00:22:34.82
the heart". It was
heart work with Christ.
00:22:34.85\00:22:37.88
And if we consent, He
will so identify Himself
00:22:37.91\00:22:42.61
with our thoughts and
aims, so blend our hearts
00:22:42.64\00:22:45.20
and minds into
conformity with His will that
00:22:45.23\00:22:48.81
when obeying Him we
shall be but carrying out
00:22:48.84\00:22:51.62
our own impulses. The
will, refined and sanctified,
00:22:51.65\00:22:56.46
will find highest
delight in doing His service.
00:22:56.49\00:23:00.55
When we know God as
it is our privilege to
00:23:01.13\00:23:04.24
know him, our life
will be a life of continual
00:23:04.27\00:23:07.82
obedience, through
an appreciation of the
00:23:07.85\00:23:10.61
character of God of
Christ, through communion
00:23:10.64\00:23:14.60
with God, sin will
become hateful to us.
00:23:14.63\00:23:19.43
What it emerges here
is that we do not know
00:23:21.38\00:23:24.83
God as we might know
him. There is something
00:23:24.86\00:23:28.57
that we can discover
about God that will make
00:23:29.32\00:23:32.46
him irresistible to
us. As he declares himself,
00:23:32.49\00:23:37.03
you will search for me
and you will find me when
00:23:37.65\00:23:41.41
you search for me
with all of your heart
00:23:41.44\00:23:43.64
and I will be found of
you, declares the Lord.
00:23:43.67\00:23:47.06
I wanna bring this a
little closer home now.
00:23:48.04\00:23:50.46
If the issues confronting
the church in the world
00:23:52.13\00:23:54.71
and the issues
confronting the church in
00:23:56.58\00:23:58.53
North America today
are to be resolved in
00:23:58.56\00:24:02.45
a God honoring way,
it will be because you
00:24:02.48\00:24:07.30
and I personally
have resolved the issues
00:24:07.33\00:24:11.44
of who God is and what
he is for us personally.
00:24:12.03\00:24:15.34
You and I need to
know God more fully.
00:24:15.84\00:24:18.31
We need to
experience him and sense him
00:24:18.93\00:24:22.44
more as a magnificent
God in order to be drawn
00:24:22.47\00:24:25.09
by him into a
love relationship that
00:24:25.12\00:24:28.03
will never end, drawn
into a partnership where
00:24:28.06\00:24:32.41
we will be able to
consistently share the
00:24:32.44\00:24:34.84
news of a wonderful
father with men and women
00:24:34.87\00:24:38.44
all around us who
need hope and peace,
00:24:38.68\00:24:41.54
those things that we
often take for granted.
00:24:42.52\00:24:44.55
So how do we seeing
God interacting with the
00:24:45.52\00:24:49.68
human family? How
does God approach sinful
00:24:49.71\00:24:53.26
and alienated humans
in order to redeem them?
00:24:53.90\00:24:57.18
How does God
approach his own people or
00:24:57.21\00:24:59.69
those who call on him
and whom he calls his own?
00:24:59.72\00:25:02.70
What kind of a God
does the Bible portray?
00:25:03.22\00:25:07.03
There are many
directions we could take in
00:25:08.08\00:25:09.83
attempting to
partially answer those questions
00:25:09.86\00:25:12.81
and you know that no
one period of time is
00:25:12.84\00:25:15.99
sufficient to describe
everything that there is
00:25:16.02\00:25:18.43
about God. But what
can we know about him
00:25:18.46\00:25:22.17
from the scripture,
Jesus of course is the greatest
00:25:23.04\00:25:27.03
expression of God.
He who came the God man,
00:25:27.06\00:25:30.31
God incarnate,
God in human flesh,
00:25:30.82\00:25:32.93
the scripture says in
him dwells all the fullness
00:25:33.49\00:25:36.75
of the Godhead
bodily form, Jesus came
00:25:36.78\00:25:40.02
to show what the father is like.
00:25:40.31\00:25:41.92
He said himself
if you have seen me,
00:25:43.08\00:25:45.12
you've seen the
father. It's a wonderful,
00:25:46.08\00:25:48.78
the life of Jesus, is
a wonderful expression of
00:25:48.81\00:25:52.14
what God is like. But
I want to move in another
00:25:52.17\00:25:55.00
direction today
Christ centered but another
00:25:55.03\00:25:57.82
direction. I want to
take you to a book and
00:25:57.85\00:26:01.36
scripture that
we sell them study,
00:26:01.39\00:26:03.53
I want to take you
to the book of Amos,
00:26:04.37\00:26:06.44
and if you've got
your Bible I want to
00:26:07.74\00:26:09.42
encourage you to open
it up to the Book of Amos,
00:26:09.45\00:26:12.50
Amos the prophet,
Amos the herdsmen of Deco
00:26:13.12\00:26:18.17
and he is described in
all these ways in scripture,
00:26:18.20\00:26:20.94
the tender of
sycamore fig trees,
00:26:21.74\00:26:24.71
in my opinion as I've
studied the Old Testament
00:26:25.88\00:26:28.66
Major and Minor
Prophets, Amos is the least
00:26:28.69\00:26:32.84
of the Prophets in
terms of eloquence.
00:26:33.89\00:26:35.91
He is not like an
Isaiah. He's not like Jeremiah.
00:26:35.94\00:26:40.92
But yet in his messages
and prophecies addressed
00:26:42.46\00:26:46.03
to the Northern
Kingdom of Israel in the middle
00:26:46.06\00:26:48.42
part of the 8th
century BC, we find a
00:26:48.45\00:26:52.18
demonstration, a deep
understanding of the way
00:26:52.21\00:26:56.76
in which God
operates as he relates to the
00:26:56.79\00:26:59.29
human family that is
as he relates to you and
00:26:59.32\00:27:02.58
to me. Through Amos
are the experiences of
00:27:02.61\00:27:07.15
Amos we are
brought face to face with a
00:27:07.18\00:27:10.27
God of compassion who
through diverse methods
00:27:10.30\00:27:13.90
and
circumstances attempts to bring
00:27:13.93\00:27:16.37
his people into
relationship with him.
00:27:16.40\00:27:19.05
It is God's constant
and consistent attempt.
00:27:19.15\00:27:23.20
I wanna read you
this little statement,
00:27:23.23\00:27:24.91
my wife actually
shared this with me,
00:27:25.65\00:27:27.35
it reads like
this talking about God,
00:27:27.92\00:27:30.22
he watches for
some return of gratitude
00:27:31.00\00:27:33.72
from us as the
mother watches for the smile
00:27:33.75\00:27:37.34
of recognition
from her beloved child.
00:27:37.37\00:27:40.12
He would have us
understand how earnestly
00:27:41.26\00:27:43.86
and tenderly his
heart yearns over us.
00:27:44.46\00:27:48.80
It's amazing he
is a magnificent God.
00:27:49.62\00:27:52.95
Now it is poem.
The Hound of Heaven,
00:27:53.51\00:27:56.85
English poet Sir
Francis Thompson penned
00:27:58.01\00:28:01.40
the following lines
that so aptly describe the
00:28:01.43\00:28:04.74
persistence of God. I
fled him the poet says:
00:28:04.77\00:28:08.99
"I fled Him, down the
nights and down the days;
00:28:09.02\00:28:12.17
I fled Him, down
the arches of the years;
00:28:13.17\00:28:15.67
I fled Him, down the
labyrinthine ways of my
00:28:15.95\00:28:18.87
own mind; and in
the midst of tears,
00:28:18.90\00:28:21.91
I hid from Him, and
under running laughter,
00:28:21.94\00:28:25.06
up visted hopes I
sped; And shot, precipitated,
00:28:25.63\00:28:29.53
Adown Titanic
glooms of chasmed fears,
00:28:29.56\00:28:32.78
From those strong
Feet that followed,
00:28:33.03\00:28:35.21
followed after. But
with unhurrying chase,
00:28:35.79\00:28:39.68
and unperturbed
pace, Deliberate speed,
00:28:39.81\00:28:43.22
majestic instancy, They beat
00:28:43.25\00:28:46.36
and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet
00:28:46.39\00:28:50.02
All things betray
thee, who betrayest Me".
00:28:50.59\00:28:54.95
I turned with you
to the book of Amos
00:28:56.41\00:28:57.83
chapter 7 from the
very beginning of this
00:28:57.86\00:29:00.91
chapter we are
drawn into the experience
00:29:00.94\00:29:03.69
of God. As he
attempts to bring his people
00:29:03.72\00:29:07.50
to renewed life, to
revival and reformation,
00:29:08.06\00:29:11.01
if you will to a life
of restored connections
00:29:11.29\00:29:14.47
with him, he has
been attempting to bring
00:29:14.50\00:29:17.52
about a change of
direction, a reformation
00:29:17.55\00:29:21.39
in the individual,
collective experience
00:29:21.42\00:29:23.83
of his people. But
nothing seems to have worked
00:29:24.31\00:29:27.82
so far. And so God
presents the Prophet with
00:29:28.34\00:29:32.01
three visions and I
look at scripture with you
00:29:32.04\00:29:36.05
this morning and I do
so hoping that you will
00:29:36.08\00:29:39.34
follow along don't
make prejudged conclusions,
00:29:39.37\00:29:42.66
but follow along.
Amos chapter 7 verses 1
00:29:43.41\00:29:47.01
through 3. "This is
what the Sovereign Lord
00:29:47.04\00:29:50.17
showed me: He
was preparing swarms
00:29:50.20\00:29:53.38
of locusts after the
king's share had been
00:29:53.41\00:29:55.89
harvested and just
as the second crop was
00:29:55.92\00:29:59.19
coming up. When they
had stripped the land
00:29:59.22\00:30:02.35
clean, I cried
out, 'Sovereign Lord,
00:30:02.38\00:30:04.95
forgive! How can Jacob survive?
00:30:05.50\00:30:07.58
He is so small!" So,
the Lord relented this will
00:30:08.10\00:30:13.60
not happen. Second
vision, this is what the
00:30:13.63\00:30:19.63
Sovereign Lord showed
me. The Sovereign Lord
00:30:19.66\00:30:22.98
was calling for
judgment by fire, it dried up
00:30:23.01\00:30:26.79
the great deep and
devour the land then
00:30:26.82\00:30:29.88
I cried out
Sovereign Lord, I beg you stop.
00:30:29.91\00:30:34.15
How can Jacob
survive? He is so small.
00:30:35.33\00:30:38.68
So, the Lord relented
this will not happen either
00:30:39.54\00:30:43.70
the Sovereign Lord
said. You know there are
00:30:43.73\00:30:46.55
some common
elements in those two visions
00:30:46.58\00:30:48.26
and you began to
think about them and the
00:30:48.29\00:30:50.05
significance of
those two visions,
00:30:50.08\00:30:51.91
what God was
talking about here was the
00:30:52.76\00:30:55.34
sustenance of His
people. In the first vision,
00:30:55.37\00:30:59.08
the first crop came
along and the first crop
00:30:59.71\00:31:02.20
according to
ancient custom all was came
00:31:02.23\00:31:04.53
to the king. The
second crop came to the common
00:31:04.56\00:31:07.97
people like you and like me.
00:31:08.00\00:31:10.24
And yet as Amos has
transported in vision,
00:31:10.83\00:31:13.45
in the words of God
he sees the first vision
00:31:14.05\00:31:16.80
or rather the first
crop goes to the king,
00:31:17.47\00:31:19.14
but then the
locus come and destroy,
00:31:19.75\00:31:21.23
the sustenance of his
people, people living in
00:31:22.11\00:31:26.10
an agrarian lifestyle,
people living on the land
00:31:26.13\00:31:30.33
and reliant upon
the land. You know,
00:31:31.18\00:31:33.83
God was threatening
here not only the well
00:31:35.09\00:31:37.39
being of the people,
but their very existence.
00:31:37.42\00:31:40.41
You know, I have
often said, and I say with
00:31:40.44\00:31:45.13
tongue and cheek
you understand that
00:31:45.16\00:31:47.45
I can never
understand why the church
00:31:47.48\00:31:49.98
doesn't allow gambling
when it allows farmers.
00:31:50.01\00:31:52.95
Because farmers take
it, don't they, I mean,
00:31:56.91\00:31:59.52
they take their lives
savings, they take their
00:31:59.55\00:32:02.38
money, they invest in
the lamb and if something
00:32:02.41\00:32:05.59
happens that is
negative they are whipped out,
00:32:05.62\00:32:08.43
they can be whipped
out. It's a terrible thing.
00:32:08.46\00:32:11.12
It's a gamble being a
farmer, it's risk at least
00:32:11.15\00:32:13.81
you understand I'm only
being a little factitious,
00:32:14.81\00:32:16.76
but the fact of the
matter is this that these two
00:32:17.71\00:32:21.82
first visions
were armadas visions.
00:32:22.53\00:32:25.31
On the one hand
you have got the bread
00:32:26.43\00:32:28.81
removed and on the
second hand you see
00:32:28.84\00:32:31.19
what happens. God
says, under the take away
00:32:31.22\00:32:33.16
the water. You
know, you don't survive
00:32:33.19\00:32:35.85
very long without
water; we lived in Sri Lanka
00:32:35.88\00:32:38.24
for a while, and there
were great power outages
00:32:38.27\00:32:40.23
it just the government
finally informed us living
00:32:40.26\00:32:43.29
in the city of
Colombo, feel your freezers
00:32:43.32\00:32:46.15
with water because
there is going to be a water
00:32:46.18\00:32:47.93
shortage. Water is so
vital. It is so important
00:32:47.96\00:32:52.66
and yet this
portrayal is horrific in terms
00:32:52.69\00:32:56.60
of what it implies.
But in both circumstances
00:32:57.20\00:33:00.94
when the prophet
appeals, God says,
00:33:02.15\00:33:05.28
okay this won't
happen, I won't do.
00:33:05.31\00:33:07.09
What are these
interchanges tell us
00:33:09.34\00:33:10.92
about God? Is God
fickle? The scriptures talks
00:33:10.95\00:33:16.75
about Jesus in these
words, Jesus Christ the
00:33:16.78\00:33:19.47
same yesterday,
today, and forever.
00:33:19.50\00:33:22.36
And yet in these two
circumstances all of a
00:33:22.94\00:33:25.41
sudden you have God relenting,
00:33:25.44\00:33:28.07
the scripture says. Is
God fickle? I don't think so.
00:33:28.77\00:33:32.57
I think not, but what
kind of process was God
00:33:32.97\00:33:36.28
taking His people
through? I want to go further
00:33:36.31\00:33:39.12
with you into this prophecy,
00:33:39.15\00:33:40.39
into the third
vision of Amos chapter 7.
00:33:40.42\00:33:43.27
This is what He
showed me picking up with the
00:33:44.57\00:33:47.22
seventh verse. This
is what He showed me,
00:33:47.25\00:33:49.37
the Lord was standing
by a wall that had been
00:33:49.70\00:33:53.86
built through the
plumb with a plumb line
00:33:53.89\00:33:56.78
in His hand. And
the Lord asked me,
00:33:56.81\00:33:59.48
what do you see Amos?
A plumb line I replied.
00:33:59.51\00:34:02.74
Then the Lord said,
I'm setting a plumb line
00:34:03.41\00:34:06.50
among my people Israel, I
will spare them no longer,
00:34:06.53\00:34:09.77
"The high places of
Isaac will be destroyed
00:34:10.30\00:34:12.44
and the sanctuaries
of Israel will be ruined;
00:34:12.70\00:34:15.39
with my sword I will
rise against the house
00:34:15.42\00:34:20.07
of Jeroboam." Having
introduce the subject
00:34:20.10\00:34:23.26
of Israel's impending
calamity with the vision
00:34:23.29\00:34:26.93
of the locust and the
fire, God now goes onto
00:34:26.96\00:34:30.75
show Amos the third
vision that will indicate
00:34:30.78\00:34:33.70
the fact that the
time for judgment has come.
00:34:33.73\00:34:36.21
He will now use a
plumb line to evaluate the
00:34:36.37\00:34:39.63
spiritual health of
His people. And in His
00:34:39.66\00:34:43.49
evaluation of Israel,
He identifies the fact that
00:34:43.52\00:34:47.19
something has gone
tragically wrong with the
00:34:47.22\00:34:50.07
life and the experience
of the very people that
00:34:50.10\00:34:53.42
He has chosen to represent Him
00:34:53.45\00:34:55.65
on planet earth. So, He
is about to check it out
00:34:55.68\00:34:59.61
more thoroughly, so as
to identify the problem.
00:35:00.26\00:35:03.48
I hope that you all
know what a plumb line is?
00:35:04.05\00:35:06.33
If you don't, let me
tell you, the carpenters call
00:35:06.36\00:35:09.92
it up plumb bob or plumb line.
00:35:09.95\00:35:11.67
Today they are using
laser beams and blinding
00:35:12.32\00:35:14.65
themselves, but they use
to call it up a plumb bob
00:35:14.68\00:35:17.59
and all it was, was a
wait on the end of a string,
00:35:17.62\00:35:20.67
if you tie it, nailed
it to the top of a wall and
00:35:20.70\00:35:23.57
then hung it, you could see it,
00:35:23.60\00:35:24.57
if the wall was
true, if it was square,
00:35:24.58\00:35:26.56
if it was a very square wall.
00:35:27.19\00:35:28.90
I built a house one
time, I only built one and
00:35:29.34\00:35:34.14
even that one I
didn't frame myself,
00:35:34.17\00:35:36.03
but it was
pre-fabricate package.
00:35:36.06\00:35:38.23
And you know, if we
had someone wisely enough
00:35:39.45\00:35:41.98
had someone put
in the foundation,
00:35:42.01\00:35:43.31
but then we put on
the floors, the sub floors
00:35:43.34\00:35:45.48
and with the walls and
so on. And one day just
00:35:45.51\00:35:48.88
before the dry
wall, or before we started
00:35:48.91\00:35:50.70
to dry wall, I stood
back and looked at a wall
00:35:50.73\00:35:53.43
in the entry to the
home and I looked at it
00:35:53.46\00:35:56.54
and I put on plumbing
barb on it and discovered
00:35:57.33\00:36:00.63
that it's not almost
wise to nail a floor down
00:36:00.66\00:36:03.18
before you have
plumb it up because what
00:36:03.21\00:36:05.74
I did discover
about that wall was that,
00:36:05.77\00:36:07.84
there is about
three inches difference,
00:36:07.87\00:36:09.43
it was about three
inches out of plumb, and
00:36:10.01\00:36:11.44
I will tell you
however that as sledgehammer
00:36:11.47\00:36:14.55
is a very useful tool,
and I was able to move it
00:36:14.58\00:36:17.72
over and that was
wonderful. The word
00:36:17.75\00:36:21.88
of God is your plumb
line and mine spiritually.
00:36:21.91\00:36:24.63
Amen. May we never
get to the place where
00:36:26.47\00:36:29.17
we consider ourselves
so sophisticated or so
00:36:29.20\00:36:32.81
scientifically astute
or intuit that we believe
00:36:32.84\00:36:36.42
we can lay God's word
a side. It is the eternal
00:36:36.45\00:36:40.92
word of God
designed to guide you and me
00:36:40.95\00:36:44.28
through all of the
circumstances that we face
00:36:44.92\00:36:48.13
in life. So, we
here we have a picture.
00:36:48.16\00:36:51.23
God says, look "I'm
setting a plumb line among
00:36:52.53\00:36:56.01
my people Israel; I
will spare them no longer.
00:36:56.04\00:36:58.80
The high places of
Isaac will be destroyed and
00:36:59.14\00:37:01.82
the sanctuaries of
Israel will be ruined;
00:37:01.85\00:37:04.14
with my sword I will
rise against the house
00:37:04.17\00:37:06.74
of Jeroboam." And
having said all of this the
00:37:06.77\00:37:10.17
prophet doesn't
plead and the Lord doesn't
00:37:10.20\00:37:12.82
change His mind. What
has happened in Israel?
00:37:12.85\00:37:17.44
Why is God so persistent
in His determination to
00:37:18.78\00:37:22.02
bring judgment on
His people? Amos presents
00:37:22.05\00:37:25.55
several reasons. The
first of this is found
00:37:26.26\00:37:29.55
in Amos 5 verses 21 through 24,
00:37:29.58\00:37:32.34
Amos 5 verses 21 through 24,
00:37:33.76\00:37:36.17
and I want to
encourage you to study this book
00:37:36.20\00:37:38.92
and to study the
other prophecies of the
00:37:39.76\00:37:41.57
Old Testament because
they are rich in terms
00:37:41.60\00:37:44.62
of understanding who
God is and what He is like?
00:37:45.42\00:37:47.89
You know, we need to
be named again the people
00:37:48.45\00:37:52.29
of the word. The
people of the book,
00:37:52.32\00:37:54.62
but here we are in
Amos chapter 5 verses 21
00:37:55.40\00:37:58.34
through 24. And this
is what we find there,
00:37:58.37\00:38:01.95
some strong language.
"I hate, I despise your
00:38:03.48\00:38:10.20
religious feasts. I
cannot stand your assemblies.
00:38:10.23\00:38:14.37
Even though you bring
me burnt offerings and
00:38:14.90\00:38:16.77
grain offerings, I
will not accept them,
00:38:16.80\00:38:18.92
though you bring
choice fellowship offerings,
00:38:19.25\00:38:21.10
I will have no regard
for them. Away with the noise
00:38:21.13\00:38:23.63
of your songs! I will
not listen to the music
00:38:23.66\00:38:26.41
of your harps. But let
justice roll on like river,
00:38:26.44\00:38:29.91
righteousness like a
never-failing stream!"
00:38:29.94\00:38:33.19
God spoke directly. These
people were not unfamiliar
00:38:36.00\00:38:41.48
with God's ideals.
They had been instructed
00:38:41.51\00:38:44.14
clearly. They were
without defends here.
00:38:44.17\00:38:46.40
You know, several
hundreds years before the time
00:38:46.76\00:38:48.85
of Amos God had
clearly laded out when
00:38:48.88\00:38:51.95
the folks in Isaiah's
day were tripping over
00:38:51.98\00:38:54.88
the same territory.
Listen to the statement
00:38:54.91\00:38:57.64
that He makes to
Isaiah, "Is this not kind
00:38:58.05\00:39:00.64
of fasting I have
chosen: to loose the chains
00:39:00.67\00:39:03.69
of injustice and
untie the cords of the yoke,
00:39:03.72\00:39:06.54
to set the oppressed
free and break every yoke.
00:39:06.57\00:39:09.90
Is it not to share
your food with the hungry,
00:39:10.61\00:39:12.77
and to provide the
poor wanderer over shelter,
00:39:12.80\00:39:15.12
when you see the
naked, to clothe him,
00:39:15.66\00:39:17.35
and not to turn away
from your own flesh and
00:39:17.53\00:39:20.82
blood"? Then your
light will break forth
00:39:20.85\00:39:23.69
like the dawn and
you're healing will quickly
00:39:23.72\00:39:26.71
appear; then your
righteousness will go
00:39:26.74\00:39:29.03
before you, and the
glory of the Lord will be
00:39:29.06\00:39:31.22
your rear guard.
Then you will call,
00:39:31.25\00:39:33.09
and the Lord will
answer; You will cry,
00:39:33.12\00:39:35.54
and He will say, here
am I." Jesus who is our
00:39:35.57\00:39:40.18
model is describe it is
the ultimate fulfillment
00:39:40.21\00:39:42.90
of God's words through Isaiah.
00:39:42.93\00:39:44.49
The scriptures record
of Jesus in Matthew 14:14,
00:39:45.08\00:39:48.16
"When Jesus landed
he went out and saw a
00:39:48.78\00:39:51.99
large crowd. He had
compassion on them and
00:39:52.02\00:39:55.02
healed the sick." You
see, here was the point
00:39:55.05\00:39:57.94
in the days of Amos
that people had forgotten
00:39:57.97\00:40:00.90
what genuine
religious faith was all about.
00:40:00.93\00:40:03.80
Genuine faith must be
expressed. In other words,
00:40:06.78\00:40:11.74
we need to get real
in the way we practice
00:40:13.26\00:40:17.71
our faith when we
reflect back on the days
00:40:17.74\00:40:20.81
of Amos. We need
to walk the talk.
00:40:20.84\00:40:24.96
As an example I say
these over and over again
00:40:26.95\00:40:29.92
to people you know,
if we don't intend to be
00:40:29.95\00:40:33.08
gracious then we
shouldn't accept grace.
00:40:33.11\00:40:36.22
There is no point in
accepting God's grace,
00:40:38.27\00:40:41.45
if it does not transform
you and me into gracious,
00:40:42.34\00:40:45.62
gracious people.
People burden for those
00:40:46.21\00:40:50.23
around us. The Poet
George MacLeod wrote
00:40:50.26\00:40:54.60
these words, he said,
"I simply argue that the
00:40:54.63\00:40:56.70
cross be raised
again at the center of the
00:40:56.73\00:40:59.17
marketplace as well
as on the steeple of the
00:40:59.20\00:41:01.06
church. I am
recovering the claim that Jesus
00:41:01.09\00:41:05.98
was not crucified in
a cathedral between two
00:41:06.01\00:41:08.95
candles, but on a
cross between two thieves;
00:41:08.98\00:41:13.04
on the town garbage
heap; at a crossroad
00:41:13.59\00:41:16.63
of politic so
cosmopolitan that they had to
00:41:16.66\00:41:19.82
write his title in
Hebrew and Latin and in Greek;
00:41:19.85\00:41:22.50
and the kind of place
where cynics talk smut
00:41:23.32\00:41:25.67
and thieves curse,
and soldiers gamble,
00:41:26.31\00:41:28.59
because that is where
he died, and that is what
00:41:29.04\00:41:31.56
he died about. And
that is where Christ men
00:41:31.59\00:41:34.22
and women ought to
be, and where the church
00:41:34.25\00:41:36.83
ought to be or what the
church ought to be about."
00:41:36.86\00:41:39.13
Amen. We think of the
cities of our division.
00:41:40.62\00:41:42.99
The great metropolises
throughout North America,
00:41:44.80\00:41:48.71
and with the
exception of some few attempts,
00:41:51.18\00:41:54.36
the regional
conferences are there and number
00:41:55.82\00:41:57.78
of other conferences are there,
00:41:57.81\00:41:59.11
people are
working, they are trying
00:41:59.14\00:42:00.21
to do ministries, but you know,
00:42:00.24\00:42:01.83
we need to spend
our whole lot more time
00:42:01.86\00:42:04.29
appealing to God on
behalf of the cities.
00:42:05.02\00:42:07.81
There are multitudes of
people living in the cities
00:42:08.83\00:42:12.11
of North America,
who are lambs without any
00:42:12.14\00:42:16.45
guidance. Amen.
Who have no hope,
00:42:16.48\00:42:19.61
who have no peace,
who have no comfort
00:42:20.03\00:42:22.68
in this life. We
have been gifted by God
00:42:22.71\00:42:25.76
with the message to
reach out to the cities.
00:42:25.79\00:42:28.01
Amen, amen. These
people in the days of Amos,
00:42:28.04\00:42:32.01
amen, had the
truth, but they didn't have
00:42:32.04\00:42:35.50
that experimental form
of faith which saw them
00:42:35.53\00:42:38.67
apply their faith into
everyday circumstances.
00:42:38.70\00:42:41.79
They didn't have the
kind of faith that moved
00:42:41.82\00:42:44.81
them into action for
God. There was a second
00:42:44.84\00:42:50.09
problem in Amos's
day, if you have got Amos
00:42:50.36\00:42:52.85
chapter 6 verses 1 and 4 and 6.
00:42:52.88\00:42:56.90
"Woe to you who
are complacent in Zion,
00:42:57.88\00:43:01.66
and to you who feel
secure on Mount Samaria,
00:43:02.74\00:43:05.12
you notable men of
the foremost nation."
00:43:05.84\00:43:08.52
And then over to
verse to 6. "You lie on beds
00:43:08.55\00:43:10.67
adorned with ivory and
lounge on your couches.
00:43:10.70\00:43:14.20
You dine on choice, on
choice Vigilon Mexicali
00:43:14.84\00:43:19.51
and on fatted calves.
You strum away on your
00:43:19.54\00:43:24.10
harps like David
and improvise on musical
00:43:24.13\00:43:27.88
instruments. You
drink wine by the bowlful
00:43:27.91\00:43:31.03
and the use the finest
lotions, but you do not
00:43:31.65\00:43:35.47
grieve over the ruin
of the house of Israel."
00:43:35.50\00:43:38.96
It is so easy for
us when we think about
00:43:41.18\00:43:43.49
the problems that we
have in the church today.
00:43:43.52\00:43:46.62
To want to rely upon
our training or experience,
00:43:47.80\00:43:50.42
our finances,
our great resources,
00:43:50.45\00:43:52.91
the latest
technology, the finest programs
00:43:54.06\00:43:56.65
rather than on
the empowerment of the
00:43:57.68\00:43:59.23
Holy Spirit and, and
on connection with God
00:43:59.26\00:44:01.60
through prayer. It is
the tendency of all of us
00:44:02.38\00:44:04.22
to do that. Somehow we
feel that if we can just
00:44:04.25\00:44:09.03
get it right, if we
can just do the right kind
00:44:09.06\00:44:12.74
of church, if we can
just get people in the
00:44:12.77\00:44:16.53
right program
that that will do it.
00:44:16.56\00:44:19.40
And yet we understand
that when God impressed
00:44:20.57\00:44:24.32
the prophet Joel
to say in those days
00:44:24.35\00:44:26.77
I will pour out my
spirit and all flesh.
00:44:26.80\00:44:29.06
The young and
old, male and female,
00:44:30.99\00:44:33.31
God promised that it's
not happening and there
00:44:34.86\00:44:39.25
is a reason we need to
plead for the Holy Spirit.
00:44:39.28\00:44:43.21
Rather than dibbing
deeply prayerful holy
00:44:44.45\00:44:46.88
man and woman
anointed by the spirit of God,
00:44:46.91\00:44:49.57
we depend upon our
methods, and our thinking
00:44:50.00\00:44:52.86
and we fail or we
establish ourselves within
00:44:53.47\00:44:56.73
the confines of
the save complacency,
00:44:56.76\00:44:59.77
but we none the less
fail, if you and I will
00:44:59.80\00:45:04.50
become bold for Jesus
Christ people will begin
00:45:04.53\00:45:08.17
to follow Christ
with us more closely.
00:45:08.20\00:45:11.47
Then there is a
third problem that
00:45:13.09\00:45:15.79
we find in Amos.
And if you turn to
00:45:15.82\00:45:17.67
Amos chapter 8
verses 4 through 6,
00:45:17.70\00:45:20.37
you find these words.
This is the third problem,
00:45:20.40\00:45:24.50
problem was funny
religion, second problem was
00:45:25.68\00:45:29.77
complacency, now
here is the third problem,
00:45:29.80\00:45:32.42
"Hear this, you who
trample the needy and
00:45:34.62\00:45:36.29
do away with the
poor of the land."
00:45:36.32\00:45:38.02
Because he is
talking to God's people.
00:45:38.70\00:45:40.07
He is not talking to
the people on Wall Street.
00:45:41.46\00:45:44.08
He is talking
about His chosen people,
00:45:45.05\00:45:47.22
trampling on the
needy. When will the New Moon,
00:45:47.99\00:45:51.20
this is pardon me,
this is verse 5. "Saying,
00:45:51.23\00:45:53.72
when will the New
Moon be over that we
00:45:54.32\00:45:55.99
may sell grain, and
the Sabbath be ended
00:45:56.02\00:45:57.92
that we may market
wheat, skimping the measure,
00:45:57.95\00:46:00.62
boosting the price and
cheating with dishonest
00:46:00.65\00:46:03.22
scales, buying the poor
with silver and the needy
00:46:03.25\00:46:05.19
for a pair of
sandals, selling the sweepings
00:46:05.22\00:46:07.81
with the wheat."
The Sabbath had become
00:46:07.84\00:46:13.31
a bother to them.
They looked upon it as an
00:46:13.34\00:46:18.54
obstruction as an
impedance to their own
00:46:18.57\00:46:21.79
ability to entrench
them, their own fortunate
00:46:21.82\00:46:25.18
and their own well
being. They are worship of god
00:46:25.21\00:46:28.79
and their ethical
behavior was whopped by their
00:46:28.82\00:46:32.23
materialistic urge for
success, but this was not
00:46:32.26\00:46:36.65
God's regional,
original vision for the Sabbath.
00:46:37.22\00:46:39.53
Sometime ago I
spoke with an individual,
00:46:40.79\00:46:42.80
a younger person
and by the way it's not
00:46:43.67\00:46:45.84
just the young that
have this attitude, but
00:46:45.87\00:46:48.06
I asked him what do
you actually think about
00:46:48.09\00:46:49.58
the Sabbath. And
the person looked at me
00:46:49.61\00:46:51.75
and this was the
Seventh-day Adventist
00:46:51.78\00:46:53.11
young person. The
person actually said,
00:46:53.14\00:46:54.61
well I think the Sabbath
is basically a useless day.
00:46:55.78\00:46:58.33
The older people
sleep and the rest of us
00:46:59.59\00:47:01.02
can't do what we
really want to do.
00:47:01.05\00:47:02.67
I suspect that if
we're having difficulty today
00:47:05.20\00:47:07.56
appreciating the
Sabbath, then it is probable
00:47:07.59\00:47:11.61
that the root cause
runs in the same direction
00:47:11.64\00:47:15.32
as it did in the days of Amos.
00:47:15.35\00:47:16.98
I also suspect that
many of the problems that
00:47:18.86\00:47:21.34
we're confronted
with today theologically
00:47:21.37\00:47:24.56
and otherwise are
related to the fact that somehow
00:47:24.59\00:47:28.62
we have fail to
appreciate an experience the joy
00:47:29.09\00:47:32.38
and the blessing
that fully comes when we
00:47:32.41\00:47:35.36
acknowledge God's
creative and redemptive nature.
00:47:35.39\00:47:38.84
We have come to a
time where we need to
00:47:41.60\00:47:43.95
understand the Sabbath
in a greater light from
00:47:43.98\00:47:47.69
the greater
perspective and perhaps we have
00:47:47.72\00:47:50.43
come to a time where we
are in need of a Sabbath
00:47:50.46\00:47:53.81
reform in the
Seventh-day Adventist
00:47:53.84\00:47:55.59
Church. In His
eternal statement of Exodus
00:47:55.62\00:48:00.36
chapter 31:12 through
18, specifically verses 12
00:48:00.39\00:48:03.84
and 17, God gave the
reasons for institution
00:48:03.87\00:48:07.05
of the Sabbath. Verse 12 reads,
00:48:07.08\00:48:09.47
"Say to the
Israelites, 'You must observe my
00:48:09.50\00:48:12.35
Sabbaths, they will
be a sign between me
00:48:12.38\00:48:14.60
and you for the
generations to come,
00:48:14.63\00:48:16.15
so that you may
know that I am the Lord
00:48:16.72\00:48:19.27
who makes you holy."
And then secondly verse 17,
00:48:19.79\00:48:23.27
"It will be a sign
between me and the Israelites
00:48:23.30\00:48:26.12
forever, for in six
days the Lord made the
00:48:26.15\00:48:28.88
heavens and the
earth, and on the
00:48:28.91\00:48:30.40
seventh day he
abstained from work and rested."
00:48:30.43\00:48:33.57
Now, the reality is
that correctly understood
00:48:34.43\00:48:38.11
the Sabbath
doesn't make legalists;
00:48:40.01\00:48:41.94
the Sabbath brings
people to an acknowledgment
00:48:43.69\00:48:46.88
that they are not
responsible or in charge
00:48:46.91\00:48:49.94
of their own
salvation. For God said,
00:48:49.97\00:48:52.90
I am giving it
to you as the sign,
00:48:53.51\00:48:55.10
so that you will
always know that I am the Lord
00:48:55.13\00:48:57.80
who sanctifies you
that word simply means to
00:48:57.98\00:49:01.18
set aside for our
holy purpose. Amen.
00:49:01.21\00:49:04.22
God calls you and me
to correctly understand
00:49:05.45\00:49:07.80
the Sabbath, so
that every single week
00:49:07.83\00:49:09.77
He waves a flag
and says, remember I am
00:49:10.46\00:49:13.39
the one in charge
of your salvation,
00:49:13.42\00:49:15.04
you can't do it yourself. Amen.
00:49:15.07\00:49:17.93
Secondly and of great
importance in verse 17,
00:49:19.56\00:49:22.64
God gives us the
experience of the
00:49:24.08\00:49:25.67
Sabbath not only, so
that we can know something
00:49:25.70\00:49:27.62
about His creative
and redemptive abilities,
00:49:27.65\00:49:30.86
but so that we
will always worship Him
00:49:31.94\00:49:33.42
as the one who
created the heavens and
00:49:33.45\00:49:35.12
the earth. I need
to say it quickly,
00:49:35.15\00:49:36.75
but the reality is
this, the question of creation
00:49:37.74\00:49:40.68
is not a question in scripture.
00:49:41.68\00:49:43.20
And it will never become
questionable to the Church.
00:49:45.24\00:49:48.51
Amen. He was the
Deputy Minister of Culture
00:49:52.98\00:49:55.46
Youth and Recreation,
he called me to in the
00:49:55.49\00:49:57.48
providence of Albert,
and he called me to his
00:49:57.51\00:50:00.02
office one day, so
that I would give what he
00:50:00.05\00:50:03.11
called a special
dispensation to one
00:50:03.14\00:50:05.88
of our members, so
that they could work
00:50:05.91\00:50:07.07
on the Sabbath.
Amen. And I remember saying
00:50:07.10\00:50:10.26
to him this lady
worships God on the seventh day
00:50:10.29\00:50:14.02
because she loves
him and because he has
00:50:14.05\00:50:16.24
called her into
that relationship and
00:50:16.27\00:50:18.92
she kept her job and
there was no problem there.
00:50:18.95\00:50:22.01
God's people in the
days of Amos had a problem;
00:50:22.66\00:50:25.84
they had forgotten
all of their relationship
00:50:28.10\00:50:33.03
or much of their
relationship with God,
00:50:33.06\00:50:34.71
when it was based
upon. They had developed a
00:50:34.74\00:50:37.82
superficial
religion, they were complacent,
00:50:37.85\00:50:42.98
they really didn't care
and thirdly they forgotten
00:50:43.71\00:50:48.13
what the true
meanin of the Sabbath was.
00:50:48.16\00:50:49.97
I want to turn you now
to the most dramatic part
00:50:52.59\00:50:55.01
of this scripture
back to Amos chapter 4
00:50:55.04\00:50:58.85
and I will read this
quickly, but this is a very
00:50:58.88\00:51:02.51
hard wrenching
part of the scriptures.
00:51:02.54\00:51:04.68
To me it is one
of the most dramatic
00:51:05.71\00:51:07.08
statements that
God ever made to the
00:51:07.11\00:51:08.92
human family. If you
go to Amos chapter 4,
00:51:08.95\00:51:14.35
beginning with verse
5 you read these words.
00:51:17.56\00:51:19.60
"Burn leavened
bread and a thank offering
00:51:19.63\00:51:21.51
and brag about your
freewill offerings boast
00:51:21.54\00:51:23.69
about them, you
Israelites, for this is what you
00:51:23.72\00:51:26.23
love to do." And
then God entrance,
00:51:26.26\00:51:29.93
"I gave you empty
stomachs in every city
00:51:30.99\00:51:32.84
and lack of bread in every town,
00:51:34.05\00:51:35.53
yet you have not returned to me,
00:51:35.56\00:51:38.20
declares the Lord. I
also withheld the rain from
00:51:38.23\00:51:42.31
you when the harvest
was still three months away,
00:51:42.34\00:51:44.33
I sent rain on one
town, but withheld it from
00:51:44.36\00:51:47.00
another on one, one
field had rain and another
00:51:47.03\00:51:49.60
had none and dried
up. People staggered from
00:51:50.36\00:51:52.45
town to town for
water but did not get enough
00:51:52.48\00:51:55.25
to drink, yet you
have not returned to me,"
00:51:55.28\00:51:58.30
declares the Lord.
Many times I struck your
00:51:58.33\00:52:01.39
gardens and
vineyards; I struck them with
00:52:01.42\00:52:03.41
blight and mildew.
Locusts devoured your fig
00:52:03.44\00:52:06.28
and olive trees, yet you
have not returned to me,"
00:52:06.31\00:52:09.40
declares the Lord." I
sent plagues among you
00:52:09.43\00:52:12.39
as I did to Egypt. I
killed your young men
00:52:12.42\00:52:14.53
with the sword, along
with your captured horses.
00:52:14.56\00:52:16.99
I filled your
nostrils with the stench
00:52:17.02\00:52:18.60
of your camps, yet you
have not returned to me,"
00:52:18.63\00:52:22.63
declares the Lord. I
overthrew some of you
00:52:22.66\00:52:26.54
as I overthrew
Sodom and Gomorrah.
00:52:26.57\00:52:28.19
You were like a
burning stick snatched
00:52:28.47\00:52:30.17
from the fire, yet you
have not returned to me,"
00:52:30.20\00:52:34.27
declares the Lord." I
am heartbroken when I read
00:52:35.80\00:52:40.16
that passage, I am
heartbroken for the God
00:52:40.19\00:52:43.19
because how many
times has He intervened
00:52:43.22\00:52:47.11
in my life and in your
life. And then the formula
00:52:47.14\00:52:50.73
didn't work, and at the
end He says, I did this,
00:52:50.76\00:52:55.53
but you still
didn't return to me.
00:52:56.58\00:52:57.94
What was God
attempting to accomplish?
00:52:59.51\00:53:01.91
Whatever it was, it
wasn't reaching it's full impact
00:53:04.30\00:53:06.68
in the Amos's time. Did
he sings all acerb because
00:53:06.71\00:53:10.56
God was angry and a
little slap now and then,
00:53:10.59\00:53:13.51
what a major
calamity now and then would
00:53:14.10\00:53:15.88
whipped the crew into
shape. Is that the picture
00:53:15.91\00:53:19.18
God is attempting to
portray himself with?
00:53:19.21\00:53:23.23
A few dead Generals
makes the Mural Great.
00:53:23.26\00:53:25.77
Think again about Thompson Pump;
00:53:27.01\00:53:28.40
think about the
God who, the seeker who
00:53:29.00\00:53:31.68
reaches down to find
us, think about the God
00:53:31.71\00:53:34.58
who has not content
to remain aloof from the
00:53:34.61\00:53:37.43
human predicament. That
is from your predicament
00:53:37.46\00:53:40.12
and mine. Think about
the tender Father heart
00:53:40.78\00:53:43.28
of God that sent him
to reach out in search
00:53:43.31\00:53:46.52
of you personally,
you individually and think
00:53:46.55\00:53:50.40
about the Father who
sees us coming and runs
00:53:50.43\00:53:54.04
to embrace us. So,
what was God's grand scheme?
00:53:54.72\00:53:58.53
What motive becomes
clear in Amos's writing?
00:53:58.92\00:54:01.15
I turn to Amos
chapter 9 verses 11 and 12,
00:54:01.70\00:54:04.86
"In that day I will
restore David's fallen tent.
00:54:05.78\00:54:08.93
I will repair its broken
places, restore its ruins
00:54:10.35\00:54:13.28
and build it up
as it used to be,
00:54:13.84\00:54:15.95
so that they may
possess the remnant of Edom
00:54:15.98\00:54:18.93
and the nations
that bear my name,
00:54:19.31\00:54:20.77
declares the Lord who
will do these things."
00:54:20.80\00:54:22.79
And the prophecy we know
finds partial fulfillment
00:54:23.37\00:54:26.09
in the day of Pentecost
because when the spirit
00:54:26.12\00:54:29.20
was poured out,
the Apostle said,
00:54:29.23\00:54:31.22
this was what the
prophet was talking about.
00:54:31.25\00:54:33.50
When he said in those days,
00:54:33.53\00:54:34.80
I will restore
David's fallen tents.
00:54:35.12\00:54:37.48
What was God
trying to accomplish?
00:54:38.94\00:54:40.95
What does he attempt
to accomplish with you
00:54:42.69\00:54:44.64
personally and with
me over and over and
00:54:44.92\00:54:47.65
over again. You know,
when we look at the church?
00:54:47.68\00:54:50.96
Are some of the
failures that we're experiencing
00:54:52.57\00:54:55.03
the result of God
speaking to the church?
00:54:55.68\00:54:57.67
We lose an academy and
our hearts are breaking
00:54:59.24\00:55:01.81
and we said, man
that was poor management.
00:55:02.64\00:55:03.98
Well, maybe it was
something more than poor
00:55:05.17\00:55:06.50
management. A
generation of young people
00:55:06.53\00:55:10.31
is walking out of
the doors of the church.
00:55:10.34\00:55:12.81
Why is that happening?
I can't identify these
00:55:15.10\00:55:18.56
things. I don't have
direct connection with what
00:55:18.59\00:55:21.54
God is doing today,
but when I look at the
00:55:21.57\00:55:24.04
scripture and when I
look at the church today.
00:55:24.07\00:55:27.60
I say, we're in need of
revival and reformation.
00:55:29.44\00:55:31.72
Amen. We're in need
of a change that only God
00:55:31.75\00:55:36.03
can bring through His spirit.
00:55:36.06\00:55:38.24
Amos brings us into
contact with that God.
00:55:39.55\00:55:43.00
I'm gonna
conclude with the story.
00:55:44.01\00:55:45.18
A story that took
place in my ministry many
00:55:47.78\00:55:49.83
years ago, we went
to a place to Minister
00:55:49.86\00:55:52.61
for the brethren who
had a big idea for land
00:55:53.79\00:55:56.04
and a big idea to use
that land, but because
00:55:56.07\00:55:59.99
it was located in, an
agriculture where you the
00:56:00.02\00:56:02.34
government would
never permitted to be used.
00:56:02.37\00:56:04.24
When I went there
probably the first several
00:56:05.70\00:56:07.51
Sabbaths we discovered
that two of the officers
00:56:07.54\00:56:10.81
of the church were
living together common law,
00:56:10.84\00:56:12.80
and the rest of the
church had accepted it.
00:56:13.56\00:56:14.95
It's not because I
was anybody's judge,
00:56:17.55\00:56:19.15
but I felt convicted
that this wasn't right,
00:56:19.18\00:56:21.65
talk to the brethren and
at the conference office,
00:56:22.16\00:56:23.72
they said, be very
careful and then proceeded
00:56:23.75\00:56:25.66
to call a meeting of
the elders of that church
00:56:25.69\00:56:29.48
and we sat in a
very lovely home and ate,
00:56:29.51\00:56:31.81
and as they ate I said
to them I want you to know
00:56:31.84\00:56:34.63
you are all
guilty or fornication.
00:56:34.66\00:56:36.11
And after we study
that and prayed about
00:56:39.12\00:56:40.91
that they were
convinced and I went to the
00:56:40.94\00:56:42.72
home of the family,
and told them that the man
00:56:42.75\00:56:47.69
out to move out and
that I would give them
00:56:47.72\00:56:50.24
three weeks to be
married and they did that
00:56:50.27\00:56:53.24
they were so happy,
they were good people,
00:56:55.60\00:56:58.39
but they were
living contrary to the word
00:56:59.49\00:57:01.32
of God. One month
after, one month after,
00:57:01.35\00:57:06.21
out of the blue came a
letter from the government
00:57:08.35\00:57:09.94
that allows that church to use
00:57:09.97\00:57:11.77
that land for a church. Amen!
00:57:11.80\00:57:14.81