Hello, friends, and
welcome to Spring Camp Meeting
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here in Southern Illinois
at the 3ABN Worship Center,
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where the people of God
are continuing to be blessed
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by messages focused on
the Pillars of Prophecy.
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Just a moment ago we
had a wonderful presentation
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and we're gonna
have another one now.
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Pastor Stephen Bohr is
going to come and share with you
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a message entitle
"Diamond in the Rough. "
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So if you are
moving around right now
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and don't know what to
do, let me encourage you
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to take seat for the
next 55 minutes or an hour,
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so invite your
friends and family members,
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because this is in
fact the day of prophecy.
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The important
messages of the last days
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are being fulfilled
right before our eyes.
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And the Lord has
chosen his servant today
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to communicate a
message from the Word of God
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and we would like to
thank you for all you do
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for the cause of God and
we like to always invite you
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to bow your heads with
us as we invite the presence
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of the Lord to continue
with us in this service.
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Gracious Father in heaven,
we thank You for Your goodness,
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for Your mercy
and for Your grace.
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We thank You for the
fact that prophecy is true,
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it is the timetable to
which the people of God march.
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And we pray a special
blessing on Pastor Stephen Bohr
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as he brings to us this
very important nugget of truth,
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may our hearts absorb
what the Spirit plants there.
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May our minds be filled with
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not only the knowledge of Christ
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but a passion to serve Him
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and be prepared
for his soon return,
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in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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Now just a little bit
more on Pastor Stephen Bohr.
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He is the president and
speaker of Secrets Unsealed
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and it fits
perfectly in prophecy
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because in Amos
3:7, the Bible says,
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"Surely the Lord
God does nothing except
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he reveals his secrete to
his servants, the prophets. "
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If you know Pastor Stephen Bohr,
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he is a servant of God.
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Can you say amen? Amen.
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And so the timing is right
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and the man that God
has chosen is correct also.
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But just before
he comes to speak,
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the Lord has also
given me the opportunity
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to lay the foundation to
focus the message on the one
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who is the central
theme and that is Jesus.
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And so I pray the
song encourages your heart
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because the fountain
that continues to flow,
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filled with the redeeming blood
of Christ is our only hope.
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There is a fountain
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Filled with blood
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Drawn from Immanuel's veins
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And sinners,
plunged beneath that flood
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Lose all their guilty stains
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Lose all their guilty stains
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Lose all their guilty stains
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And sinners,
plunged beneath that flood
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Lose all their guilty stains
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The dying thief rejoiced to see
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That fountain in his day
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And there may I,
though vile as he
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Wash all my sins away
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Wash all my sins away
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Wash all my sins away
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And there may I,
though vile as he
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Wash all my sins away
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E'er since by faith
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I saw the stream
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Thy flowing wounds supply
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Redeeming love has been my theme
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And shall be till I die
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Yes, it shall be till I die
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And it shall be till I die
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Your redeeming
love has been my theme
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And shall be till I die
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And it shall be
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till I die
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Good morning. Good morning.
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Or should we say
afternoon? Afternoon.
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This one of those difficult
hours 'cause it's about noon.
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It's good to see you all again.
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Are you ready to study the word?
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Yes.
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Praise the Lord.
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Before we do, we want to
ask for the Lord's presences.
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So let's bow our heads.
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Father in heaven,
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Your people has
gathered together
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to open the holy
book that You inspired
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so many centuries ago.
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We realize that
without divine help,
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there is no way that we
can understand this book.
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And so we ask for the
presence of Your Holy Spirit
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and we ask that You'll
open our minds and our hearts
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that we might understand
and receive the seed of truth.
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Help us not only to comprehend
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but to live what
we will learn today.
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We thank You for
hearing our prayer,
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for we ask it in
Jesus' name, amen.
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Human beings are
impressed by science,
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social status, wealth, fame,
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looks, degrees, and so on.
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But how does God
look upon these things?
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I'd like to begin by
sharing with you a story
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that we find
recorded in 1 Samuel Chapter 9
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and we'll begin
by reading verse 2.
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1 Samuel 9:2,
and we're gonna stay
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in 1 Samuel for quite
an extended period of time.
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The time came to elect
the first king of Israel.
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And of course we all know
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that the king who
was elected was Saul.
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The Bible tells us that
Saul was an imposing figure.
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1 Samuel 9:2 describes
his physical characteristics.
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It says there, "And he had
a choice and handsome son..."
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That is Saul's
father whose name was Saul.
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"There was not a more
handsome person than he
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among the children of Israel.
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From the shoulders upward
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he was taller than
any of the people. "
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Tall and good looking,
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and undoubtedly
also very, very smart.
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Now, God saw a lot
of potential in Saul.
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We know this
because he was God's choice
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to be king of Israel.
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In verse 17 of 1 Samuel 9,
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we find God's
assessment of Saul.
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It says there, "So
when Samuel saw Saul,
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the Lord said to him,
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'There he is, the
man whom I spoke to you.
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This one shall
reign over My people. '"
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God saw potential in Saul.
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He was tall handsome,
had charisma, was intelligent
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and God saw that he could have
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great potential
in leading Israel.
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Now the Bible tells us
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that Samuel was
also impressed with Saul.
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In fact all of Israel
were greatly impressed by Saul
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perhaps because of what they
could see before their eyes.
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In 1 Samuel 10:23, 24,
00:11:52.47\00:11:56.84
we find Saul being
introduced to Israel.
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And I want you to notice
the reaction of the people
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as they saw Saul
introduced before them.
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It says there in 1 Samuel 10:23,
00:12:09.43\00:12:13.48
"So they ran and
brought him from there,
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and when he
stood among the people,
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he was taller
than any of the people
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from his shoulders upward. "
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And notice what
Samuel says with pride
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undoubtedly in his voice.
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And Samuel said
to all of the people,
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"Do you see him
whom the Lord has chosen,
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that there is none like
him among all of the people?"
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Was Samuel impressed?
00:12:40.83\00:12:42.92
Oh, greatly impressed,
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because he saw
that this man was tall
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and he was handsome
and he had great potential.
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The people were also impressed
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because we're told
once again verse 24.
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"And Samuel said
to all of the people,
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'Do you see him
whom the Lord has chosen,
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that there is none like
him among all of the people's?'
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So all the people shouted
and said, 'Long live the king!'"
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Everyone was impressed by Saul.
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But of course you
know the Bible tells us
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that Saul did not pass the test.
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He did not live
up to his potential.
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The Bible tells us
that his life story was
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one of disobedience, one
disobedience after another,
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which ultimately led
him to commit suicide.
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Great potential, but he did
not live up to the potential.
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So it became
necessary to choose someone
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to take the place of Saul,
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to choose a new king for Israel.
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So Samuel was instructed to go
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to the home of
Jesse who had eight sons.
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And I'd like us to turn
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where God instructs him
to go to the house of Jesse.
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It says there, "Now
the Lord said to Samuel,
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'How long will
you mourn for Saul,
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seeing that I have rejected
him from reigning over Israel?
00:14:23.19\00:14:27.24
Fill your horn with oil, and go,
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I am sending you to
Jesse the Bethlehemite,
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for I have provided
Myself a king among his sons. '"
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Now the interesting thing
is God did not reveal to Samuel
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the name of the
son who would be king.
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Did God know who the-
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which son was
going to serve as king.
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Of course He did,
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but He did not
tell Samuel the name.
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He said among his sons
there is the future king.
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And God had a special purpose
00:15:05.63\00:15:08.04
in not revealing
the name of the son
00:15:08.07\00:15:12.36
who would be king even
though God already knew.
00:15:12.39\00:15:16.76
And so in 1 Samuel 16
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we have Jesse bringing his sons
by order of age before Samuel.
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I want you to notice
that only three of those sons
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are mentioned by
name, the three eldest.
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Notice 1 Samuel 16:6.
00:15:30.11\00:15:34.20
"So it was, when they came,
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that he" that is Samuel
"looked at Eliab and said,
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'Surely the Lord's
anointed is before Him!'"
00:15:42.31\00:15:47.64
After all, he was
the oldest, the smartest.
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So he must be the
next candidate for king.
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But it didn't happened,
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God said, this
is not the not one.
00:15:58.55\00:16:01.72
Verse 8, "So
Jesse called Abinadab,
00:16:01.75\00:16:04.68
and made him pass before Samuel.
00:16:04.71\00:16:07.44
And he said,"
that is Samuel said
00:16:07.47\00:16:10.08
"'Neither has the
Lord chosen this one. '"
00:16:10.11\00:16:14.28
Verse 9 "Then Jesse
made Shammah pass by.
00:16:14.31\00:16:18.36
And he said, 'Neither has
the Lord chosen this one. '"
00:16:18.39\00:16:22.80
And so Samuel is
wondering what's happening here?
00:16:22.83\00:16:25.44
The three eldest have come by
00:16:25.47\00:16:27.84
and none of them are
God's selection for king.
00:16:27.87\00:16:31.72
And eventually he goes
through seven of the sons.
00:16:31.75\00:16:35.24
It's not this one, not
this one, not this one.
00:16:35.27\00:16:38.96
And so Samuel says,
isn't there any one else?
00:16:38.99\00:16:42.60
Aren't there any other sons?
00:16:42.63\00:16:45.04
Interestingly Jesse, he didn't-
00:16:45.07\00:16:46.92
wasn't even thinking about it,
00:16:46.95\00:16:48.76
having his youngest
son appear before Samuel.
00:16:48.79\00:16:52.08
He says come to think of
it I do have another son.
00:16:52.11\00:16:57.80
He is the youngest and
he is out tending the sheep.
00:16:57.83\00:17:03.44
Let's read it 1
Samuel, 1 Samuel Chapter 16.
00:17:03.47\00:17:09.08
1 Samuel 16:7.
00:17:09.11\00:17:13.12
We are going to notice now
00:17:13.15\00:17:14.68
the reason why God did
not tell Samuel the name.
00:17:14.71\00:17:18.80
It's because God
wanted to teach Samuel
00:17:18.83\00:17:22.52
a very important
lesson about people.
00:17:22.55\00:17:26.16
1 Samuel 16:7, "But
the Lord said to Samuel,
00:17:26.19\00:17:33.96
'Do not look at his
countenance at his appearance
00:17:33.99\00:17:38.28
or at his physical stature,
00:17:38.31\00:17:41.36
because I have refused him.
00:17:41.39\00:17:44.36
For the Lord does
not see as a man sees,
00:17:44.39\00:17:48.44
for man looks at
the outward appearance,
00:17:48.47\00:17:52.48
but the Lord
looks at the heart. '"
00:17:52.51\00:17:58.36
Now we know why God
didn't tell the name.
00:17:58.39\00:18:01.28
He wanted to teach Samuel that
it is not he who is the eldest,
00:18:01.31\00:18:06.24
the best looking, the
tallest and the most able
00:18:06.27\00:18:10.08
who necessarily is God's
choice to fulfill His purpose.
00:18:10.11\00:18:15.76
And so David
comes before Samuel.
00:18:15.79\00:18:18.92
I want you to
notice the description
00:18:18.95\00:18:22.08
in 1 Samuel 16:11, 12.
00:18:22.11\00:18:25.28
1 Samuel 16:11, 12,
00:18:25.31\00:18:28.40
this choice made
absolutely no sense
00:18:28.43\00:18:32.52
when you really think about it.
00:18:32.55\00:18:33.84
Notice the description.
00:18:33.87\00:18:35.92
"And Samuel said to Jesse,
'Are all the young men here?"
00:18:35.95\00:18:41.56
Then he said, 'There
remains yet the youngest'
00:18:41.59\00:18:46.88
and there he is,
keeping the sheep. '
00:18:46.91\00:18:50.20
And Samuel said to
Jesse, 'Send and bring him,
00:18:50.23\00:18:54.40
for we will not sit
down till he comes here. '
00:18:54.43\00:18:58.56
So he sent and brought him in. "
00:18:58.59\00:19:01.40
Now, notice the description.
00:19:01.43\00:19:04.20
"Now he was ruddy,
00:19:04.23\00:19:06.96
with bright eyes,
and good-looking. "
00:19:06.99\00:19:13.08
Didn't look like
someone who could be king.
00:19:13.11\00:19:17.20
"And the Lord said,
00:19:17.23\00:19:18.88
'Arise, anoint him,
for this is the one!'"
00:19:18.91\00:19:26.16
And Samuel is
wondering, he says now,
00:19:26.19\00:19:28.12
is the youngest,
00:19:28.15\00:19:29.48
all he knows how
to do is tend sheep.
00:19:29.51\00:19:31.72
He doesn't have any
administrative experience,
00:19:31.75\00:19:35.04
He is a kid.
00:19:35.07\00:19:36.88
Why would God chose, choose him?
00:19:36.91\00:19:39.52
You see the problem is,
00:19:39.55\00:19:40.72
Samuel saw the actual
were as God saw the potential.
00:19:40.75\00:19:46.56
Now how did
Saul look upon David?
00:19:49.24\00:19:53.36
It's interesting to see,
00:19:53.39\00:19:54.42
how each one of these
individuals looked upon David?
00:19:54.45\00:19:56.76
They all disdained him,
00:19:56.79\00:19:58.52
because of his youth
and his lack of experience.
00:19:58.55\00:20:01.96
You remember when
Goliath challenged Israel
00:20:01.99\00:20:06.20
every day for a
period of 40 days.
00:20:06.23\00:20:09.08
David eventually comes
00:20:09.11\00:20:10.84
and he hears this
threatening voice of Goliath.
00:20:10.87\00:20:16.60
And so David says, "I'll
go and fight the giant. "
00:20:16.63\00:20:22.36
What did Saul say?
How did Saul see David?
00:20:22.39\00:20:25.92
He sees the actual. He
does not see the potential.
00:20:25.95\00:20:30.32
Notice 1 Samuel 17:33,
00:20:30.35\00:20:33.56
here is Saul's
assessment of David,
00:20:33.59\00:20:37.28
1 Samuel 17:33.
00:20:37.31\00:20:41.36
"And Saul said to David,
00:20:41.39\00:20:43.68
'You are not able to
go against this Philistine
00:20:43.71\00:20:49.32
to fight with him,
00:20:49.35\00:20:50.48
for you are a youth, and he
a man of war from his youth. '"
00:20:50.51\00:20:56.48
So Samuel says, I don't know
why God chose this young kid.
00:20:56.51\00:21:02.48
Saul says hey,
you're just a young kid.
00:21:02.51\00:21:05.80
You can't fight against Goliath.
00:21:05.83\00:21:08.92
Saul saw the actual.
God saw the potential.
00:21:08.95\00:21:14.64
Now how did the three eldest
sons of Jesse look upon David?
00:21:14.67\00:21:22.44
Let's go to 1 Samuel
17, 1 Samuel 17 by the way,
00:21:22.47\00:21:26.84
the three are sons are
now mentioned by name again
00:21:26.87\00:21:31.20
and we're going to discover the
reason why they were not chosen
00:21:31.23\00:21:34.68
because they were cowards.
00:21:34.71\00:21:40.12
See, God sees
beyond what the eyes see.
00:21:40.15\00:21:46.00
1 Samuel 17:11,
00:21:46.03\00:21:50.32
"When Saul and all Israel heard
these words of the Philistine,
00:21:50.35\00:21:56.00
they were dismayed
and greatly afraid. "
00:21:56.03\00:22:00.60
Verse 13, "The
three eldest sons of Jesse
00:22:00.63\00:22:04.32
had gone to follow
Saul to the battle.
00:22:04.35\00:22:07.96
The names of his three
sons who went to the battle. "
00:22:07.99\00:22:10.48
The names are given
now, same three names.
00:22:10.51\00:22:12.88
"Were Eliab the
firstborn, next to him Abinadab,
00:22:12.91\00:22:16.84
and the third Shammah. "
00:22:16.87\00:22:19.00
David was the what?
00:22:19.03\00:22:20.92
See, the God is
underlining this.
00:22:20.95\00:22:23.12
"David was the youngest.
00:22:23.15\00:22:25.92
And the three
oldest followed Saul.
00:22:25.95\00:22:28.96
Now Eliab his oldest brother
heard when he spoke to the men,
00:22:28.99\00:22:32.52
and Eliab's anger was aroused
against David, and he said,
00:22:32.55\00:22:36.04
'Why did you come down here?
00:22:36.07\00:22:38.12
And with whom have you left
00:22:38.15\00:22:40.16
those few sheep
in the wilderness?
00:22:40.19\00:22:43.68
I know your pride and
the insolence of your heart,
00:22:43.71\00:22:47.32
for you have come
down to see the battle. '"
00:22:47.35\00:22:49.56
And David says, No, I
have come to fight the battle.
00:22:49.59\00:22:52.64
Amen.
00:22:52.67\00:22:54.56
Why didn't the three
oldest go and fight Goliath's?
00:22:54.59\00:22:58.52
They were cowards.
00:22:58.55\00:23:01.28
But God saw something
special in the shepherd boy
00:23:01.31\00:23:04.84
that could not be
seen by the naked eye.
00:23:04.87\00:23:09.96
How did Goliath look upon David?
00:23:09.99\00:23:12.60
See, they all had it wrong.
00:23:12.63\00:23:15.36
Notice 1 Samuel
17, 1 Samuel 17:42-44.
00:23:15.39\00:23:20.08
We're told how
Goliath considered David.
00:23:20.11\00:23:23.52
You know there is
not a bigger mistake
00:23:23.55\00:23:26.92
that you can make in war
than to underestimate the enemy.
00:23:26.95\00:23:33.32
It says there, "And when
the Philistine looked about
00:23:33.35\00:23:35.68
and saw David, he disdained him,
00:23:35.71\00:23:39.56
for he was only a youth,
ruddy and good-looking. "
00:23:39.59\00:23:44.32
He didn't look like a warrior.
00:23:44.35\00:23:46.68
"So the
Philistine said to David,
00:23:46.71\00:23:48.92
'Am I a dog, that you
come to me with sticks?'"
00:23:48.95\00:23:55.16
Of course he had his staff.
00:23:55.19\00:23:57.16
"And the Philistine
cursed David by his gods.
00:23:57.19\00:23:59.80
And the
Philistine said to David,
00:23:59.83\00:24:01.04
Come to me, and I will
give your flesh to the birds
00:24:01.07\00:24:03.76
of the air and to the
beasts of the field!'"
00:24:03.79\00:24:05.72
And David said, No, it
will be just the opposite.
00:24:05.75\00:24:10.72
God saw in David the potential.
00:24:10.75\00:24:14.72
All of the others
saw in David the actual.
00:24:14.75\00:24:18.96
God saw David as he
could become, not as he was.
00:24:18.99\00:24:23.56
And of course we all
know what the result was.
00:24:23.59\00:24:27.76
David defeated Goliath
and he became the king,
00:24:27.79\00:24:32.08
the greatest king in
the history of Israel.
00:24:32.11\00:24:36.40
You know as I read the story,
00:24:36.43\00:24:40.12
I had to sit down
and reflect myself
00:24:40.15\00:24:43.76
about the way that
I looked at people.
00:24:43.79\00:24:51.16
I taught theology for six years
00:24:51.19\00:24:54.08
in Seventh-day
Adventist University
00:24:54.11\00:24:55.88
in the city of
Medellin, Colombia.
00:24:55.91\00:24:59.12
I had hundreds of students
come through my classes,
00:24:59.15\00:25:02.24
preparing to
serve in the ministry.
00:25:02.27\00:25:06.76
I had a handful of
students that had perfect grades
00:25:06.79\00:25:10.56
all the way
through the four years.
00:25:10.59\00:25:13.60
Perfect 4.0.
00:25:13.63\00:25:16.32
I had other students that
studied hard and they struggled
00:25:16.35\00:25:21.60
because they did obviously not
have the same mental capacity
00:25:21.63\00:25:26.84
or perhaps the same discipline
00:25:26.87\00:25:28.72
that the students
who got good grades had.
00:25:28.75\00:25:34.56
You know as I have looked back
in the course of many years.
00:25:34.59\00:25:40.40
Because I kind of keep in
touch, my wife is Colombian,
00:25:40.43\00:25:42.80
so we go back once or
twice a year to Colombia,
00:25:42.83\00:25:45.32
so I see a lot of ex-students.
00:25:45.35\00:25:47.28
I know what's
happened to most of them.
00:25:47.31\00:25:50.76
And, you know,
some of those students
00:25:50.79\00:25:54.20
who I thought couldn't
miss, that it was guaranteed
00:25:54.23\00:25:58.84
that they were gonna
be successful in the work
00:25:58.87\00:26:03.12
are no longer ministers.
00:26:03.15\00:26:06.40
And some of those students
that I felt would never make it,
00:26:06.43\00:26:11.80
because their
grades were not good
00:26:11.83\00:26:14.48
or perhaps they
were not as disciplined
00:26:14.51\00:26:17.16
as I thought that
they should be became
00:26:17.19\00:26:20.08
some of the most successful
workers in God's cause.
00:26:20.11\00:26:25.24
I think of one young man
particularly in Venezuela.
00:26:25.27\00:26:29.28
He struggled to get good grades.
00:26:29.31\00:26:32.40
He struggled to
get passing grades.
00:26:32.43\00:26:35.44
And I'll tell you,
I'll be honest with you
00:26:35.47\00:26:37.24
as I was teaching I wouldn't
have given 10 cents for him
00:26:37.27\00:26:41.92
being successful in ministry.
00:26:41.95\00:26:45.64
Well, I was wrong,
00:26:45.67\00:26:47.92
because this young
man for year after year
00:26:47.95\00:26:50.44
became the champion soul winner
00:26:50.47\00:26:52.76
in all of the
country of Venezuela.
00:26:52.79\00:26:54.69
Praise the Lord.
00:26:54.72\00:26:57.32
So as I've looked
back, I've to learn
00:26:57.35\00:27:00.00
that we're not
supposed to look at people
00:27:00.03\00:27:02.64
as they are but
as they can became.
00:27:02.67\00:27:05.92
We're not supposed
to look at the actual,
00:27:05.95\00:27:07.88
but we're supposed to
look beyond the visible
00:27:07.91\00:27:10.52
to the potential that
people have in God's cause.
00:27:10.55\00:27:15.96
In the southern region of
Venezuela where I grew up,
00:27:17.96\00:27:23.92
there is basically jungle,
it's known as La Gran Sabana,
00:27:23.95\00:27:31.68
that's where
David Gates by the way
00:27:31.71\00:27:33.24
lost one of his
planes a few years ago.
00:27:33.27\00:27:37.28
It's never been
found, its thick jungle.
00:27:37.31\00:27:41.84
And down there in the
southern tip of Venezuela
00:27:41.87\00:27:45.68
are the Davis Indians.
00:27:45.71\00:27:48.04
You know, if you want to read
00:27:48.07\00:27:49.12
the interesting
story of the Davis Indians,
00:27:49.15\00:27:51.56
if you can get a copy of
the book, it's out of print
00:27:51.59\00:27:54.00
by Booton Herndon
called The 7th Day.
00:27:54.03\00:27:57.01
Some of you might
remember that book.
00:27:57.04\00:27:58.87
It tells the story
of the Davis Indians.
00:27:58.90\00:28:02.20
When my dad was
conferences president
00:28:02.23\00:28:03.84
there in the city of Caracas,
that was part of his territory.
00:28:03.87\00:28:07.60
And the only way
that you could get there,
00:28:07.63\00:28:09.00
now they have a highway
that takes you down there,
00:28:09.03\00:28:11.64
but the only way
that you could get there
00:28:11.67\00:28:13.44
when my dad was president
was by taking a one motor,
00:28:13.47\00:28:17.28
one engine plane
and flying down there
00:28:17.31\00:28:19.80
and it flew only once a week.
00:28:19.83\00:28:23.60
So my dad as he
describes it, you know,
00:28:23.63\00:28:25.80
the plane would come and like
00:28:25.83\00:28:27.96
it was going to
land on top of the trees
00:28:27.99\00:28:30.16
and then suddenly you
had the clear landing strip
00:28:30.19\00:28:32.84
where the plane landed right
in the midst of the jungle.
00:28:32.87\00:28:38.96
Now the Davis Indians and they
are called the Davis Indians
00:28:38.99\00:28:42.56
because they were actually
taught the gospel message,
00:28:42.59\00:28:46.33
the Seventh-day Adventist
message by Elder Davis.
00:28:46.36\00:28:49.76
And probably some of
you have heard the story.
00:28:49.79\00:28:51.64
The chief of the
village had a dream
00:28:51.67\00:28:55.36
and in the dream God showed him
00:28:55.39\00:28:56.92
that there was a
man dressed in white
00:28:56.95\00:28:58.72
who was gonna come
with the black book
00:28:58.75\00:29:00.44
and they should
listen to him when he came.
00:29:00.47\00:29:03.72
Sometime later Elder Davis came
with his white missionary suite
00:29:03.75\00:29:07.64
and his Bible under his arm.
00:29:07.67\00:29:09.84
And the chief said this is
the man that I saw in my dream.
00:29:09.87\00:29:13.20
And so Elder Davis taught them
00:29:13.23\00:29:14.76
and they became
Seventh-day Adventists
00:29:14.79\00:29:16.36
and many other villages became
Seventh-day Adventists as well.
00:29:16.39\00:29:20.40
Now when my dad was president,
the Indians, they would--
00:29:20.43\00:29:23.88
actually one of
the main industries
00:29:23.91\00:29:25.44
that they were involved
in was mining for diamonds.
00:29:25.47\00:29:29.64
There are many, many
diamonds in that region.
00:29:29.67\00:29:31.60
So one day the
Indians said to my dad,
00:29:31.63\00:29:34.80
"Would you like to go with us,
00:29:34.83\00:29:35.86
and we'll show you
how we mine diamonds? "
00:29:35.89\00:29:38.96
And my dad said, "That
would be interesting. "
00:29:38.99\00:29:40.60
So they went and the Indians
started working in a cave
00:29:40.63\00:29:46.28
where they were
looking for diamonds
00:29:46.31\00:29:48.72
and there were all sorts
of stones there, piled up.
00:29:48.75\00:29:53.80
And my dad, as he describes it.
00:29:53.83\00:29:55.28
You know, the Indians
would work through the stones
00:29:55.31\00:29:58.36
and then they would
pick up a little stone
00:29:58.39\00:29:59.76
that look pretty
much like the other ones
00:29:59.79\00:30:01.72
and the Indian would
say, this is a diamond.
00:30:01.75\00:30:08.04
My dad says, he looked at
it, he says that's a diamond?
00:30:08.07\00:30:12.60
Yes, that's a diamond.
00:30:12.63\00:30:15.60
He says, but,
it's not beautiful.
00:30:15.63\00:30:19.56
You know he--my dad
actually describes it,
00:30:19.59\00:30:21.36
have you ever
seen a piece of glass
00:30:21.39\00:30:22.56
that has been in the ocean
00:30:22.59\00:30:23.62
for an extended period of time,
00:30:23.65\00:30:25.64
in the course of time
that gets smooth and opaque.
00:30:25.67\00:30:29.44
That's what diamonds
in the rough look like.
00:30:29.47\00:30:32.68
It's only cut
diamonds that are beautiful.
00:30:32.71\00:30:35.88
But diamonds in themselves
are actually pretty ordinary.
00:30:35.91\00:30:40.40
And so my dad says,
these can't be diamonds,
00:30:40.43\00:30:42.84
I've seen diamonds before,
00:30:42.87\00:30:44.24
they're bright and
shiny and beautiful.
00:30:44.27\00:30:46.20
look like just a
little pieces a glass.
00:30:46.23\00:30:49.60
And the Indian said,
oh, but when they're cut,
00:30:49.63\00:30:53.12
they're beautiful.
00:30:53.15\00:30:55.04
And my dad, that
day the Indians gave him
00:30:55.07\00:30:57.64
22 small diamonds and
actually he brought them back
00:30:57.67\00:31:04.32
to the city of Caracas, I
don't know if he still has
00:31:04.35\00:31:06.36
those in a little
bag but, but I remember
00:31:06.39\00:31:08.96
seeing them in our home.
00:31:08.99\00:31:14.48
That's the way people are.
00:31:14.51\00:31:16.88
They might look
ordinary to the naked eye
00:31:16.91\00:31:22.44
but when they're cut and when
they're polished by the Lord,
00:31:22.47\00:31:27.96
they can do great
things for the Lord.
00:31:27.99\00:31:30.77
They can be
beautiful in the Lord's hands.
00:31:30.80\00:31:34.56
You know, it kind of makes
me think of the sons of Jacob.
00:31:34.59\00:31:39.92
We think of them as
being pretty nice guys.
00:31:39.95\00:31:43.68
But when you
look at their stories,
00:31:43.71\00:31:45.43
you wonder how
God would choose them
00:31:45.46\00:31:47.68
to found the nation of Israel.
00:31:47.71\00:31:50.68
Let me just
mention a few of them.
00:31:50.71\00:31:53.58
First of all you
have Simeon and Levi.
00:31:53.61\00:31:57.60
Nasty characters.
00:31:57.63\00:32:01.84
Let me just tell you a story
00:32:01.87\00:32:03.24
so you know what they were like.
00:32:03.27\00:32:05.92
You know, there was a
young man called Shechem,
00:32:05.95\00:32:08.56
the name of the city
where he lived was also Shechem.
00:32:08.59\00:32:13.12
And Shechem fell
in love with Dinah,
00:32:13.15\00:32:14.84
the lone sister that
all these 12 brothers had,
00:32:14.87\00:32:19.84
and she became pregnant,
00:32:19.87\00:32:23.04
but Shechem loved
Dinah and so he said--
00:32:23.07\00:32:28.05
he went and he
talked to Jacob and he said
00:32:28.08\00:32:30.12
"Jacob, would you please
allow my son to marry Dinah. "
00:32:30.15\00:32:38.12
And Simeon and
Levi heard about it
00:32:38.15\00:32:41.08
so they said to him to Jacob,
00:32:41.11\00:32:48.62
okay or to Hamor rather,
00:32:48.65\00:32:52.24
if you have all of men
in Shechem circumcised,
00:32:52.27\00:32:59.72
then we will allow
our sister to marry him
00:32:59.75\00:33:07.12
because we cannot allow her
to marry an uncircumcised pagan.
00:33:07.15\00:33:12.88
So all of the
men of Shechem agreed
00:33:12.91\00:33:15.64
because it wasn't only Shechem
who had to be circumcised,
00:33:15.67\00:33:19.20
all of the men who lived in
Shechem had to be circumcised
00:33:19.23\00:33:23.44
and so they
were all circumcised.
00:33:23.47\00:33:26.24
And after a
period of three days,
00:33:26.27\00:33:28.72
when they were
in the utmost pain
00:33:28.75\00:33:31.04
because of the circumcision,
00:33:31.07\00:33:33.76
Simeon and Levi came
against Shechem and Hamor
00:33:33.79\00:33:39.40
and all of the men of
Shechem and slew them.
00:33:39.43\00:33:44.04
That's the kind of men
that Simeon and Levi were
00:33:44.07\00:33:48.64
but as we all know
Levi, the descendants of Levi
00:33:48.67\00:33:53.24
at Mount Sinai
stood for the Lord
00:33:53.27\00:33:56.88
and they became
the priest in Israel.
00:33:56.91\00:34:00.20
And then of
course you have Reuben
00:34:00.23\00:34:04.68
who had the
backbone of a jellyfish.
00:34:04.71\00:34:09.08
When it came to
delivering Joseph and saying
00:34:09.11\00:34:12.08
what you're thinking
about doing to Joseph is wrong.
00:34:12.11\00:34:15.12
He didn't take a stand.
00:34:18.56\00:34:20.32
He said I'll comeback later
00:34:20.35\00:34:22.44
and take him out of the cistern,
00:34:22.47\00:34:24.12
then it was too late.
00:34:24.15\00:34:26.76
The Bible also tells us
that Reuben committed incest
00:34:26.79\00:34:30.68
with his father's concubine.
00:34:30.71\00:34:34.08
What about Judah?
00:34:34.11\00:34:36.36
Judah slept with
Tamar, his son's wife.
00:34:36.39\00:34:39.27
Who would have ever
given 10 cents for these guys?
00:34:44.00\00:34:47.84
But God saw in them
potential. And you know what?
00:34:47.87\00:34:54.32
Their names are
immortalized on the gates
00:34:54.35\00:35:01.73
of the New
Jerusalem forever and ever.
00:35:01.76\00:35:06.52
Notice Revelation 21:17,
00:35:06.55\00:35:10.36
actually it's verse
12, Revelation 21:12.
00:35:10.39\00:35:13.80
Notice what it says
about the twelve sons of Jacob.
00:35:13.83\00:35:17.20
It says "Also the city
had a great and high wall with
00:35:17.23\00:35:21.49
twelve gates and
twelve angels at the gates
00:35:21.52\00:35:26.54
and names written on
them, which are the names
00:35:26.57\00:35:30.23
of the twelve tribes of
the children of Israel."
00:35:30.26\00:35:34.56
Three gates on the east,
three gates on the north,
00:35:34.59\00:35:37.49
three gates on the south,
and three gates on the west.
00:35:37.52\00:35:42.34
How could God put the
names of 12 individuals,
00:35:42.37\00:35:48.20
who had serious
defects with character,
00:35:48.23\00:35:51.28
some of them had savage
characters as we've noticed.
00:35:51.31\00:35:54.80
How could God place their names
00:35:54.83\00:35:58.00
on the gates of
the New Jerusalem?
00:35:58.03\00:36:01.16
Names immortalized forever
00:36:01.19\00:36:04.72
because God did not
see them as they were,
00:36:04.75\00:36:08.44
God saw them as
they could become
00:36:08.47\00:36:10.88
through His grace
and through His power.
00:36:10.91\00:36:15.41
And what could we say
about the 12 apostles.
00:36:15.44\00:36:17.70
What a bunch of guys?
00:36:21.04\00:36:24.12
There was
bigmouth fisherman, Peter.
00:36:24.15\00:36:27.26
By the way, his
name means pebble,
00:36:29.55\00:36:31.50
pebble is moved back and forth,
00:36:34.19\00:36:36.52
that's the way Peter was fickle.
00:36:36.55\00:36:40.04
And then you
have Simon the Zealot,
00:36:40.07\00:36:44.46
The Zealot's was
a political party
00:36:44.49\00:36:46.04
in the days of Christ.
00:36:46.07\00:36:47.64
They were intending
00:36:47.67\00:36:49.12
on overthrowing
the Roman Government,
00:36:49.15\00:36:50.95
he was a gorilla
fighter, if you please.
00:36:50.98\00:36:55.60
And then you have James and John
00:36:55.63\00:36:58.74
whom Jesus called
the sons of thunder
00:36:58.77\00:37:05.01
and then you
have doubting Thomas
00:37:05.04\00:37:09.37
who had the
philosophy to see is to believe
00:37:09.40\00:37:16.27
and then you have
Matthew the IRS agent
00:37:16.30\00:37:19.36
and Judas the
conniving politician
00:37:24.40\00:37:27.48
who was the
tallest and the keenest
00:37:27.51\00:37:30.56
and she says that the apostles.
00:37:30.59\00:37:31.80
The other
disciples said he can't miss.
00:37:31.83\00:37:36.08
He's going to be the greatest.
00:37:36.11\00:37:39.16
Who would have given 10 cents
00:37:39.19\00:37:42.20
for this group of guys
that were chosen by Christ?
00:37:42.23\00:37:47.48
Jesus did not look
at them as they were,
00:37:47.51\00:37:51.52
but as they could become.
00:37:51.55\00:37:54.60
God did not look at the actual,
He looked at the potential.
00:37:54.63\00:38:00.64
He saw what was
beyond human eyes
00:38:00.67\00:38:04.16
what they could become
00:38:04.19\00:38:05.48
through His grace
and through His power.
00:38:05.51\00:38:10.24
And lo and
behold, the foundations
00:38:10.27\00:38:13.59
of the wall of the city
will immortalize the names
00:38:13.62\00:38:19.15
of the 12 apostles
minus Judas forever.
00:38:19.18\00:38:23.91
says as much,
00:38:23.94\00:38:28.04
Revelation 21:14, speaking
about the wall of the city.
00:38:28.07\00:38:32.72
It says "Now the
wall of the city had
00:38:32.75\00:38:34.41
twelve foundations,
and on them were the names
00:38:34.44\00:38:39.16
of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb."
00:38:39.19\00:38:43.07
God saw them as they
could become, not as they were.
00:38:45.12\00:38:52.12
Let's refer
specifically to Simon Peter.
00:38:52.15\00:38:55.32
You remember
Peter in Pilate's court,
00:38:55.35\00:38:58.44
he was pretty sure of himself.
00:38:58.47\00:38:59.84
He said to Jesus "I
will never deny you.
00:38:59.87\00:39:03.80
Everyone might deny but I won't.
00:39:03.83\00:39:07.76
You can take it
to the bank, Lord. "
00:39:07.79\00:39:11.69
And then when he
is in Pilate's court,
00:39:11.72\00:39:15.02
the man who was sure of himself
00:39:15.05\00:39:20.19
denied Jesus Christ three times,
00:39:20.22\00:39:22.04
and the third time he
used fisherman's language.
00:39:22.07\00:39:27.24
He actually cursed
according to scripture,
00:39:27.27\00:39:29.76
he used profanity to
deny that he even knew Jesus.
00:39:29.79\00:39:35.00
And by the way it
wasn't that Peter was afraid
00:39:35.03\00:39:40.20
because just
shortly before this,
00:39:40.23\00:39:42.12
he had taken out the sword,
00:39:42.15\00:39:43.60
he was willing to
die for his master.
00:39:43.63\00:39:47.56
Do you know why
he betrayed Christ?
00:39:47.59\00:39:50.56
Because Christ
wasn't panning out
00:39:50.59\00:39:53.48
the way that he thought
the Messiah was gonna be.
00:39:53.51\00:39:56.84
Ellen White says
that he was embarrassed
00:39:56.87\00:39:59.36
to be associated with Christ.
00:39:59.39\00:40:01.60
And yet Jesus chose him
as one of the 12 apostles.
00:40:06.20\00:40:11.84
Because Jesus did not see he
who would deny Him three times,
00:40:11.87\00:40:17.12
Jesus saw the potential that
Peter had after his conversion.
00:40:17.15\00:40:24.40
Of course, we all know
the difference between Peter
00:40:24.43\00:40:28.24
when he denied Christ and
Peter on the day of Pentecost.
00:40:28.27\00:40:31.80
A
transformation had taken place.
00:40:31.83\00:40:34.12
Now you have the
potential coming through.
00:40:34.15\00:40:36.98
In fact, if you turn with
me to Acts 4:13, Acts 4:13,
00:40:39.32\00:40:47.12
we find a
description of the change
00:40:47.15\00:40:49.00
that Peter had gone through.
00:40:49.03\00:40:50.53
It says, "Now when
the saw the boldness
00:40:53.52\00:40:57.68
of Peter and John,
00:40:57.71\00:41:00.33
and perceived that
they were uneducated. "
00:41:00.36\00:41:04.76
The Greek word for
uneducated is "agrammatos"
00:41:04.79\00:41:10.28
in Greek you know
"grammatos" would mean
00:41:10.31\00:41:13.60
where we get the
word grammar from.
00:41:13.63\00:41:16.76
In Greek when you put an A
00:41:16.79\00:41:18.80
before the word it
means the opposite.
00:41:18.83\00:41:22.66
In other words,
they had no grammar.
00:41:22.69\00:41:25.16
They were
unlettered in other words.
00:41:28.00\00:41:31.04
They were not
studied if you please,
00:41:31.07\00:41:34.00
but the next word is
even more interesting.
00:41:34.03\00:41:37.20
So it says, "Now
when the saw the boldest
00:41:37.23\00:41:40.36
of Peter and
John, and perceived that
00:41:40.39\00:41:41.80
they were uneducated"
un-agrammatos "and untrained. "
00:41:41.83\00:41:46.44
The word untrained
in Greek is idiotes
00:41:46.47\00:41:52.76
where we get
our word idiot from.
00:41:52.79\00:41:54.48
So they were
unlettered and idiots,
00:41:59.64\00:42:02.23
"they marveled."
00:42:05.30\00:42:07.60
See they were agrammatos
and idiotes in the actual
00:42:07.63\00:42:13.12
but not in the
potential, they marveled
00:42:13.15\00:42:18.08
and they realized that
they had been with Jesus.
00:42:18.11\00:42:24.16
There's the factor
that changed things.
00:42:24.19\00:42:26.52
They have been with Jesus.
00:42:26.55\00:42:28.76
Jesus fulfilled their potential.
00:42:28.79\00:42:32.48
In fact you
remember, when the disciples
00:42:32.51\00:42:34.67
were fishing Jesus
says, "Follow me. "
00:42:34.70\00:42:37.72
Notice Jesus doesn't say,
00:42:37.75\00:42:39.08
"Follow me and I will
show you how to fish. "
00:42:39.11\00:42:42.92
He says, "Follow me and I
will make fishers of men. "
00:42:42.95\00:42:48.36
Jesus saw in
these men a potential
00:42:48.39\00:42:52.92
to fish for the master
not fish fish, but souls.
00:42:52.95\00:42:59.42
Was Peter embarrassed
of Christ when He died?
00:43:02.00\00:43:06.80
Do you know what?
00:43:06.83\00:43:07.88
He was embarrassed
to die as Christ died.
00:43:07.91\00:43:13.24
You read Acts of the Apostles,
00:43:13.27\00:43:15.04
you know the
Romans before his death,
00:43:15.07\00:43:17.87
before he was crucified
with his head upside down
00:43:17.90\00:43:20.35
and that wasn't because
of the choice of the Romans,
00:43:22.70\00:43:24.92
it was because
of Peter's choice.
00:43:24.95\00:43:26.82
The Romans said
"one last request"
00:43:28.12\00:43:32.12
and Peter says, "You know,
00:43:32.15\00:43:34.40
I cannot die the
way my Master died.
00:43:34.43\00:43:39.60
It would be too much of a shame
00:43:39.63\00:43:44.00
for me just to die
the way Jesus died. "
00:43:44.03\00:43:46.80
He said, "Please
crucify me with my head down
00:43:46.83\00:43:50.64
because I can't die
like my Master did. "
00:43:50.67\00:43:56.20
Had Peter changed?
00:43:56.23\00:43:58.48
Oh, he had radically changed.
00:43:58.51\00:44:00.24
He was no longer embarrassed
to die for his Master.
00:44:00.27\00:44:05.32
Turn with me now to
Acts 15:36-40, Acts 15:36-40.
00:44:05.35\00:44:13.00
You know, the Apostle
Paul was a great preacher,
00:44:13.03\00:44:15.45
but like all of
us he had some flaws,
00:44:19.56\00:44:24.25
one of the flaws that
he was so task oriented
00:44:24.28\00:44:28.87
that he had a
tendency to look at the actual
00:44:28.90\00:44:31.88
and not to see the potential,
the great Apostle Paul.
00:44:31.91\00:44:38.36
You see, now how's that.
00:44:38.39\00:44:40.92
Notice what we
find in Acts 15:36,
00:44:40.95\00:44:44.88
"Then after some days
Paul said to Barnabas,
00:44:44.91\00:44:48.40
'Let us now go back
and visit our brethren
00:44:48.43\00:44:50.71
in every city
where we have preached
00:44:50.74\00:44:52.34
the word of the Lord
and see how they're doing.'
00:44:52.37\00:44:56.60
So let's go back and visit the
churches that we established.
00:44:56.63\00:45:00.52
Verse 37, "Now Barnabas was
determined to take with them
00:45:00.55\00:45:03.67
John called Mark,
but Paul insisted that
00:45:03.70\00:45:08.07
they should not take with
them the one who had departed
00:45:08.10\00:45:11.70
from them in Pamphylia
00:45:11.73\00:45:14.20
and had not gone
with them to the work.
00:45:14.23\00:45:18.69
Then the
contention became so sharp
00:45:18.72\00:45:22.01
that they
parted one from another
00:45:22.04\00:45:23.92
and so Barnabas took
Mark and sailed to Cyprus,
00:45:23.95\00:45:27.48
but Paul chose Silas
and departed being commanded
00:45:27.51\00:45:31.28
by the brethren
to the grace of God."
00:45:31.31\00:45:35.76
Strife between the
Apostle Paul and Barnabas
00:45:35.79\00:45:40.56
over the issue
of whether to take
00:45:40.59\00:45:42.52
John Mark with them or
not? What was the problem?
00:45:42.55\00:45:48.28
I'd like to read
from Acts of the Apostles,
00:45:48.31\00:45:50.36
page 169 and 170.
00:45:50.39\00:45:52.52
How Ellen White
describes the reason
00:45:52.55\00:45:54.60
why Paul did not want
to take John Mark with him.
00:45:54.63\00:45:59.03
The reason basically is
because he saw John Mark
00:45:59.06\00:46:01.36
as he was and not
as he could become.
00:46:01.39\00:46:06.64
She says, "It
was here in Pamphylia
00:46:06.67\00:46:11.36
that Mark, overwhelmed with fear
00:46:11.39\00:46:14.72
and discouragement, wavered
for a time in his purpose
00:46:14.75\00:46:18.92
to give himself wholeheartedly
to the Lord's work.
00:46:18.95\00:46:22.76
Unused to
hardships, he was disheartened
00:46:22.79\00:46:26.68
by the perils and
privations of the way.
00:46:26.71\00:46:30.56
He had labored with success
under favorable circumstances
00:46:30.59\00:46:33.96
but now, amidst
the opposition perils
00:46:33.99\00:46:36.80
that so often be
set the pioneer worker,
00:46:36.83\00:46:40.08
he failed to endure hardness
00:46:40.11\00:46:43.72
as a good soldier of the cross.
00:46:43.75\00:46:47.28
He had yet to learn to
face danger and persecution
00:46:47.31\00:46:50.88
and adversity
with the brave heart.
00:46:50.91\00:46:53.52
As the apostles advanced
00:46:53.55\00:46:55.00
and still greater
difficulties were apprehended,
00:46:55.03\00:46:58.48
Mark was intimidated
and, losing all courage,
00:46:58.51\00:47:02.64
refused to go further
and return to Jerusalem."
00:47:02.67\00:47:06.16
And the Apostle
Paul held it against him.
00:47:06.19\00:47:08.88
The Apostle Paul
said, "Oh, this young man
00:47:08.91\00:47:11.60
all he likes is
the comforts of life.
00:47:11.63\00:47:13.64
You know, he's not willing
to put up with hardships.
00:47:13.67\00:47:17.12
Apostle Paul saw him as
he was, he saw the actual
00:47:17.15\00:47:23.17
but Barnabas saw the
potential in this young man.
00:47:23.20\00:47:28.32
Ellen White
continues describing, she says,
00:47:28.35\00:47:30.44
"This desertion caused
Paul to judge Mark unfavorably,
00:47:30.47\00:47:36.00
and even severely for a time.
00:47:36.03\00:47:40.20
Barnabas, on the other
hand, was incline to excuse him
00:47:40.23\00:47:44.24
because of his inexperience.
00:47:44.27\00:47:46.35
He felt anxious that Mark
00:47:46.38\00:47:48.24
should not abandon the ministry,
00:47:48.27\00:47:50.11
for he saw in him qualifications
00:47:50.14\00:47:53.60
that would fit him to be
a useful worker for Christ.
00:47:53.63\00:47:58.68
In after years, his
solicitude in Mark's behalf
00:47:58.71\00:48:02.60
was richly rewarded, for
the young man gave himself
00:48:02.63\00:48:05.84
unreservedly to the Lord
and to the work of proclaiming
00:48:05.87\00:48:09.15
the gospel message
in difficult fields.
00:48:09.18\00:48:12.36
Under the blessing of God
00:48:12.39\00:48:14.42
and the wise
training of Barnabas,
00:48:14.45\00:48:19.52
he developed into
a valuable worker."
00:48:19.55\00:48:24.64
Was Paul ever reconciled
to John Mark that he realized
00:48:24.67\00:48:28.36
that he had committed a
mistake in misjudging him?
00:48:28.39\00:48:32.04
Acts of the Apostles, page 170,
00:48:32.07\00:48:34.08
Ellen White says "Paul was
afterward reconciled to Mark
00:48:34.11\00:48:38.76
and received him
as a fellow laborer. "
00:48:38.79\00:48:42.62
You now what our
problem is many times
00:48:45.66\00:48:47.80
is that our eyes are distorted
00:48:47.83\00:48:51.36
and we need the
glasses of God to see people
00:48:51.39\00:48:55.60
according to the potential
that God has given them.
00:48:55.63\00:49:01.80
In other words, we
need the heart of Jesus.
00:49:01.83\00:49:05.56
We need to see
people as Jesus saw them.
00:49:05.59\00:49:09.24
We need to see not the
actual but the potential,
00:49:09.27\00:49:12.56
not people as they
are but as they can become
00:49:12.59\00:49:16.29
through the
power of Jesus Christ.
00:49:16.32\00:49:18.26
I'd like to bring
this to a conclusion
00:49:20.98\00:49:22.52
by reading a statement
from the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:49:22.55\00:49:26.80
which is found in the book
In Heavenly Places, page 267.
00:49:26.83\00:49:33.80
You know, we are all
diamonds in the rough
00:49:33.83\00:49:38.19
and God has a lot of
work of cutting to do.
00:49:38.22\00:49:40.65
Notice how Ellen White
describes God's people.
00:49:43.99\00:49:49.84
She says,
Christians are Christ's jewels.
00:49:49.87\00:49:55.92
"They are to
shine brightly for Him,
00:49:55.95\00:50:00.24
shedding forth the
light of His loveliness,
00:50:00.27\00:50:04.52
their luster, listen carefully,
00:50:04.55\00:50:06.88
their luster depends on
the polishing they receive."
00:50:06.91\00:50:13.28
Is it painful? Is
the polishing painful?
00:50:13.31\00:50:15.92
It takes cutting, remember
00:50:15.95\00:50:18.60
we studied yesterday
cutting with a sword.
00:50:18.63\00:50:24.48
She continues saying
"They may choose to be polished
00:50:24.51\00:50:29.44
or to remain unpolished.
00:50:29.47\00:50:31.90
But everyone who is pronounced
00:50:31.93\00:50:34.38
worthy of a place
in the Lord's temple
00:50:34.41\00:50:37.80
must submit to the
polishing process."
00:50:37.83\00:50:43.52
Without the
polishing that the Lord gives,
00:50:43.55\00:50:47.08
they can reflect no more
light than a common pebble.
00:50:47.11\00:50:54.68
Christ says to
man "You are mine,
00:50:54.71\00:50:59.72
I have bought you, you
are now only a rough stone
00:50:59.75\00:51:07.24
but if you'll place
yourself in my hands,
00:51:07.27\00:51:10.48
I will polish you and the luster
00:51:10.51\00:51:14.28
with which you shall shine
shall bring honor to My name.
00:51:14.31\00:51:20.44
No man shall pluck
you out of My hand,
00:51:20.47\00:51:24.56
I'll make you My
peculiar treasure
00:51:24.59\00:51:28.60
on My coronation day,
00:51:28.63\00:51:31.12
you will be jewel in
My crown of rejoicing. "
00:51:31.15\00:51:36.04
Isn't that magnificent statement
00:51:36.07\00:51:38.44
of what Jesus
wants to do with us
00:51:38.47\00:51:40.80
and how we should
look at other people?
00:51:40.83\00:51:44.79
We should see in
other people the potential
00:51:44.82\00:51:47.80
for what they can
do for Jesus Christ,
00:51:47.83\00:51:51.35
to bring honor
and glory to His name.
00:51:51.38\00:51:54.19
You know, it's
been pretty cloudy here,
00:51:57.57\00:52:01.16
this weekend but there
are some evenings in Illinois
00:52:01.19\00:52:07.08
where the sky is nice and clear.
00:52:07.11\00:52:11.40
One should imagine
one of those clear nights,
00:52:11.43\00:52:14.56
you go outside and you see
00:52:14.59\00:52:19.92
that beautiful full moon lighted
00:52:19.95\00:52:24.84
and there's no city lights
00:52:24.87\00:52:26.08
but the light of
the moon is so bright
00:52:26.11\00:52:28.64
that you can see at a distance
00:52:28.67\00:52:30.60
even without our
artificial lights.
00:52:30.63\00:52:33.72
So now you look
at the moon, you say,
00:52:33.75\00:52:36.15
oh, look the moon, it
is so beautiful tonight.
00:52:36.18\00:52:43.36
It's only half true.
00:52:43.39\00:52:47.48
Where does the light
of the moon come from?
00:52:47.51\00:52:50.96
It comes from the sun, so
what you should really say
00:52:50.99\00:52:54.04
is how beautiful
the sun is tonight.
00:52:54.07\00:53:00.80
The moon has no beauty,
it's actually a pretty ugly
00:53:00.83\00:53:07.60
heavenly body full of craters
00:53:07.63\00:53:14.32
and yet when the light of
the sun shines on the moon,
00:53:14.35\00:53:19.72
the moon is beautiful and
brings light to the earth.
00:53:19.75\00:53:25.12
Jesus said, "I'm the
light of the world. "
00:53:25.15\00:53:29.36
But you know that Jesus said,
00:53:29.39\00:53:31.52
"Ye are the
light of the world. "
00:53:31.55\00:53:33.64
So the question is who
is the light of the world,
00:53:33.67\00:53:35.96
is it Jesus or is it us?
00:53:35.99\00:53:39.36
It's explained
by the relationship
00:53:39.39\00:53:41.88
between the sun and the moon.
00:53:41.91\00:53:43.88
Jesus is the
sun and we're moons.
00:53:43.91\00:53:48.36
Sometimes we
think that we're suns
00:53:48.39\00:53:52.76
but in us there is no
light, in us there is no glory,
00:53:52.79\00:53:57.84
the glory and the honor
of the moon is for the sun.
00:53:57.87\00:54:05.80
God sees in us moons.
00:54:05.83\00:54:10.44
Moons that will
allow the light of Jesus
00:54:10.47\00:54:13.24
to shine upon them
00:54:13.27\00:54:17.60
that we might then
project the light of Christ
00:54:17.63\00:54:21.96
to those around us that His name
00:54:21.99\00:54:25.96
might be honored and glorified
as the light of the world.
00:54:25.99\00:54:32.76
They want me to pray that
the Lord will give us that
00:54:32.79\00:54:37.04
special grace and
virtue of seeing people
00:54:37.07\00:54:40.64
as they can become
through the grace of Christ.
00:54:40.67\00:54:45.64
That's what it's all about.
00:54:45.67\00:54:47.52
We can know all things about
Bible prophecy, that's good.
00:54:47.55\00:54:51.08
I love Bible
prophecy as you know.
00:54:51.11\00:54:53.20
I preach a lot
on Bible prophecy,
00:54:53.23\00:54:55.25
but folks, if we don't realize
00:54:55.28\00:54:58.24
that it's all
about loving people
00:54:58.27\00:55:02.28
and reflecting
the glory of Christ.
00:55:02.31\00:55:05.44
Ellen White says, that
the greatest revelation
00:55:05.47\00:55:09.88
at the end of time of
that angel that fills the earth
00:55:09.91\00:55:13.03
with the glory is a
revelation of the love of Christ
00:55:13.06\00:55:17.80
for a falling and lost world.
00:55:17.83\00:55:20.96
We need to pray that
the Lord will help us,
00:55:20.99\00:55:23.95
have the glasses that
will adjust our vision
00:55:23.98\00:55:27.88
and help us see
people not as they are
00:55:27.91\00:55:31.88
but as they can become
00:55:31.91\00:55:34.12
as a result of
the cutting process
00:55:34.15\00:55:36.29
and the
polishing process of God.
00:55:36.32\00:55:39.72
Let us pray.
00:55:39.75\00:55:40.78
Father in heaven, we thank You
00:55:40.81\00:55:43.80
that You have not
looked upon us as we are,
00:55:43.83\00:55:47.76
we would all be lost.
00:55:47.79\00:55:50.44
We thank You that You see
in all of us great potential
00:55:50.47\00:55:54.68
as we place ourselves
in Your hands to cut us
00:55:54.71\00:55:58.48
and to polish us
that we might shine
00:55:58.51\00:56:01.48
for Your honor
and for Your glory.
00:56:01.51\00:56:04.68
Father, I ask this
morning that You will transform
00:56:04.71\00:56:08.12
and change our hearts
00:56:08.15\00:56:10.48
that You will give
us the mind of Christ
00:56:10.51\00:56:13.32
that we might be
able to see in each soul
00:56:13.35\00:56:16.12
that we come across, a
candidate for the kingdom,
00:56:16.15\00:56:20.08
a diamond in the
rough that can shine
00:56:20.11\00:56:23.12
for the honor
and glory of Jesus.
00:56:23.15\00:56:26.00
Father, I ask
that You will give us
00:56:26.03\00:56:28.84
that way of seeing
00:56:28.87\00:56:31.44
that we might be
able to see things
00:56:31.47\00:56:33.18
as they can
become not as they are,
00:56:33.21\00:56:35.52
that we might be able to see
00:56:35.55\00:56:36.58
the potential
and not the actual.
00:56:36.61\00:56:40.30
We realize that
this is by Your power
00:56:40.33\00:56:42.76
and Your divine grace.
00:56:42.79\00:56:44.72
We thank You Lord,
for answering this prayer,
00:56:44.75\00:56:48.59
for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus, amen.
00:56:48.62\00:56:52.64