The Savior is waiting
to answer your hearts.
00:01:01.84\00:01:05.93
Oh, how He longs to come in.
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The weekend is almost over.
00:01:10.55\00:01:14.15
Sad, right?
00:01:14.18\00:01:15.83
Well, praise the Lord
that witness is not about
00:01:15.86\00:01:19.69
a conference, witness
is about a lifestyle, amen.
00:01:19.72\00:01:24.16
Evangelism is not an event,
evangelism is a way of life.
00:01:24.19\00:01:29.52
So although it
may feel as though--
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or as though the
conference is ending right now
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know that being a
witness starts now
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and continues on
through the rest of lives, amen.
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In our message on Thursday night
00:01:41.01\00:01:44.83
called Giants in the Land."
00:01:44.86\00:01:46.32
We saw that we are on the border
00:01:46.35\00:01:48.44
of the heavenly promise lands,
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that God wants to raise
us up to be spiritual giants
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and to finish the work
so that we can go home.
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On the Friday in
the afternoon message
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called "The Motive Motif"
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we saw that in
order to finish the work
00:02:01.08\00:02:02.95
and go home our
hearts must be pure
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and our motives must be
form genuine selfless love.
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In our message
yesterday morning,
00:02:11.79\00:02:13.73
Sabbath morning
called "It's All About You?"
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we discover that God's
motive in the great controversy
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is not clear His name
for any selfish reason,
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not so when some
ancient argument with the devil,
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but rather His focus
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in the great
controversy was you.
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We see this through the story
of the Pearl of Great Price.
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We realize that
our focus in life,
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our focus in
this great controversy
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should be upon God, amen.
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We should live for His
glory, to reflect to the world
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a true picture
of who He really is.
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This can be
summed up in Jesus words,
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when He was asked what the first
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and greatest commandment was.
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When He said,
"Thou salt love the Lord
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thy God with all thy heart,
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with all thy soul, and
with all thy strength."
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And in today's
message, this afternoons message
00:03:02.64\00:03:05.83
called "Served to
Save" we are going to see
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how the second is like on to it.
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You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.
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Like to invite you to
bow your heads with me
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and join me in
prayer through song.
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Spirit of the living God
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Fall afresh on me
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Spirit of the living God
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Fall afresh on me
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Break me, melt me
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Mold me, and fill me
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Spirit of the living God
00:04:03.20\00:04:11.17
Fall afresh on me
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Father, this is the
prayer of our hearts,
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we ask that You
would fill our hearts
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and minds with Your spirit
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and that the love that
You have bestrode upon us
00:04:26.33\00:04:29.79
by giving Your life to save us
would fill our hearts with love
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and a
motivation to serve others,
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that they might be saved.
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We pray this in
Jesus name, amen.
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It was just this
past Mother's Day,
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that the video came
out that shared the story
00:04:47.83\00:04:50.86
for the first time of
the death of a mother's love.
00:04:50.89\00:04:57.20
Her two daughters
were recounting the story
00:04:57.23\00:04:59.29
had taken place when
they were just children.
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They remembered as
they were little girls
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unable to do anything,
that as their grandfather,
00:05:05.69\00:05:09.77
and mother and them had
driven to a certain place,
00:05:09.80\00:05:13.34
parked the car and gone inside,
00:05:13.37\00:05:16.57
they didn't realize
that the car was on a hill,
00:05:16.60\00:05:19.99
not only that but
the emergency break
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was not push down far enough.
00:05:21.77\00:05:24.77
Somehow the car
broke free from the break
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and started slowly
inching its way down the hill.
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Their mother without
giving it a second thought
00:05:32.89\00:05:37.11
saw the car picking up speed
and knew that the only chance
00:05:37.14\00:05:41.33
that her daughters
would have of being saved
00:05:41.36\00:05:44.12
since the car was
rolling toward a cliff
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was to do something drastic.
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The mother
without thinking twice,
00:05:50.55\00:05:52.25
knowing that it was
all that could be done
00:05:52.28\00:05:53.88
to try to slow the car
down dove in front of that car.
00:05:53.91\00:05:59.02
She landed on the ground,
became a human speed bump
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and the car was slowed
down enough for her father
00:06:03.87\00:06:06.53
to jump in the driver
seat and slam on the breaks.
00:06:06.56\00:06:11.14
To this day the mother
is crippled in a wheelchair,
00:06:11.17\00:06:16.58
but she is still alive
and praise the Lord that
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because of this
selfless sacrifice,
00:06:19.64\00:06:23.32
because of this selfless service
00:06:23.35\00:06:26.75
her two
daughters could be saved.
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Friends, God's love for us
is a self sacrificing love.
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It's a love that
gives of Himself to us.
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And when we have Jesus
dwelling in our hearts by faith,
00:06:39.14\00:06:43.12
when we behold the great
love that God has for us,
00:06:43.15\00:06:46.86
it will motivate
us to serve others
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to have that same
self-sacrificing love.
00:06:49.59\00:06:54.86
In our passage of
Scripture this afternoon,
00:06:54.89\00:06:56.64
we find Jesus in a
similar place to that mother.
00:06:56.67\00:07:00.54
You see Jesus at the
point which we find Him today
00:07:00.57\00:07:05.24
was in a place
where everything hung
00:07:05.27\00:07:07.55
upon His immediate action.
00:07:07.58\00:07:10.59
I would like to invite you
turn in your Bibles with me
00:07:10.62\00:07:12.39
to John Chapter 13,
00:07:12.42\00:07:15.27
John Chapter 13.
00:07:15.30\00:07:20.74
Jesus needed to
do something quickly,
00:07:20.77\00:07:24.10
He had told His disciples
that He was going to die
00:07:24.13\00:07:27.44
and they still didn't get it.
00:07:27.47\00:07:29.91
They still couldn't
understand what He meant.
00:07:29.94\00:07:32.62
It was as if He had
never even said it to them.
00:07:32.65\00:07:36.52
John 13:1
00:07:36.55\00:07:39.90
as we continue our
message "Served to Saved."
00:07:39.93\00:07:44.66
"Now before the
feast of the Passover,
00:07:44.69\00:07:47.76
when Jesus knew
that His hour had come
00:07:47.79\00:07:50.58
and He should depart
from this world to the Father,
00:07:50.61\00:07:53.90
having loved His own
who were in the world,
00:07:53.93\00:07:56.74
He loved them unto the end."
00:07:56.77\00:07:59.79
We see here that
Jesus, the Bible tells us
00:07:59.82\00:08:02.25
is cognizant of
the fact that soon
00:08:02.28\00:08:05.07
His mission
will be accomplished.
00:08:05.10\00:08:07.46
He will no longer
be with His disciples
00:08:07.49\00:08:09.69
and He will go back to heaven.
00:08:09.72\00:08:12.19
Now His time was
limited and you know,
00:08:12.22\00:08:14.82
it's not until we
realize that our time is limited
00:08:14.85\00:08:17.40
that we start using it wisely.
00:08:17.43\00:08:19.40
Isn't that right?
00:08:19.43\00:08:20.75
I will never forget
when I received the offer
00:08:20.78\00:08:24.47
and the call to
receive my masters degree
00:08:24.50\00:08:27.05
and be sponsored to
go that as I was praying
00:08:27.08\00:08:30.64
and the Lord made it clear
that He wanted me to do that,
00:08:30.67\00:08:34.50
I will never forget
that it was then that
00:08:34.53\00:08:37.40
when I realize I was
leaving my church in six months
00:08:37.43\00:08:41.54
that every
thought that I had was,
00:08:41.57\00:08:44.30
how can I prepare them
00:08:44.33\00:08:46.01
to continue
strong after I'm gone?
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And Jesus mission, His
desire and His ministry
00:08:49.19\00:08:52.22
was to prepare his disciple
for the time of His departure.
00:08:52.25\00:08:55.35
He knew that His
time was limited,
00:08:55.38\00:08:57.33
His time was precious.
00:08:57.36\00:08:59.06
Soon He would be gone
and they still didn't get it,
00:08:59.09\00:09:03.42
they still didn't understand
the core of His teachings.
00:09:03.45\00:09:07.45
They still didn't understand
the deepest purpose of His life
00:09:07.48\00:09:13.27
and actions and
ministry, His words, everything.
00:09:13.30\00:09:17.13
They still didn't understand.
00:09:17.16\00:09:20.47
Continuing with on John
13:2 "And supper being ended,
00:09:20.50\00:09:24.04
the devil having
already put it into the heart
00:09:24.07\00:09:26.44
of Judas Iscariot,
Simon's son, to betray Him,"
00:09:26.47\00:09:30.23
we're gonna
comeback to that part.
00:09:30.26\00:09:32.31
Verse 3 "Jesus, knowing that
00:09:32.34\00:09:34.65
the Father had given
all things into His hands,
00:09:34.68\00:09:39.38
and that He had come from
God, and was going to God,
00:09:39.41\00:09:44.84
rose from supper and
laid aside His garments."
00:09:44.87\00:09:48.45
Now I want to you
to notice this with me,
00:09:48.48\00:09:50.79
make no mistake here.
00:09:50.82\00:09:52.65
John as he is
writing this gospel
00:09:52.68\00:09:55.05
he gives us a
glimpse into the galactic
00:09:55.08\00:09:58.41
cosmic conflict
between good and evil.
00:09:58.44\00:10:01.00
And he tells us that
everything at this point
00:10:01.03\00:10:04.19
was on the line.
00:10:04.22\00:10:06.38
Jesus realized at this point
00:10:06.41\00:10:08.28
that eternity
hung in the balance,
00:10:08.31\00:10:12.14
the fate of the
human race was at stake
00:10:12.17\00:10:15.81
and it was at this point
that Jesus had to do something
00:10:15.84\00:10:20.19
to communicate to His disciples,
00:10:20.22\00:10:22.39
the crocks of His mission,
00:10:22.42\00:10:24.26
the substance of
all His teachings.
00:10:24.29\00:10:27.44
What He had come to
do? What He was living for?
00:10:27.47\00:10:32.32
He wanted to teach them
00:10:32.35\00:10:33.40
the most important thing of all.
00:10:33.43\00:10:40.65
"Jesus rose from supper
and laid aside His garments,
00:10:40.68\00:10:45.13
took a towel
and girded Himself."
00:10:45.16\00:10:49.16
Verse 5 "After that, He
poured water into a basin
00:10:49.19\00:10:51.68
and began to wash
the disciple's feet,
00:10:51.71\00:10:54.77
and to wipe them with the
towel with which He was girded."
00:10:54.80\00:11:00.26
Friends, the lesson that
Jesus was trying to teach them
00:11:00.29\00:11:04.24
had been reflected
in His every action.
00:11:04.27\00:11:07.91
This was the message that
came through in His every word.
00:11:07.94\00:11:13.01
Jesus in that moment
did something profound.
00:11:13.04\00:11:15.47
Listen to this, I love
how-- how this biblical reality
00:11:15.50\00:11:19.14
is occurred in Desire
of Ages, 642, paragraph 2
00:11:19.17\00:11:23.61
"The whole life of Christ
00:11:23.64\00:11:25.61
had been a life
of unselfish service.
00:11:25.64\00:11:30.06
'Not to be ministered
unto, but to minister,'
00:11:30.09\00:11:32.43
Matthew 20:28, had been
the lesson of His every act.
00:11:32.46\00:11:38.49
But not yet had the
disciples learned the lesson.
00:11:38.52\00:11:41.97
At this last Passover supper,
Jesus repeated His teaching
00:11:42.00\00:11:46.00
by an illustration
that impressed it forever
00:11:46.03\00:11:50.35
upon their minds and hearts."
00:11:50.38\00:11:54.06
You see, Jesus and the
crocks of His every action,
00:11:54.09\00:11:58.97
the crocks of His every word
was about unselfish service.
00:11:59.00\00:12:06.16
While speaking of
the rich young ruler
00:12:06.19\00:12:08.91
who rejected the sacrifice that
00:12:08.94\00:12:11.31
it would take in
order to follow Jesus,
00:12:11.34\00:12:14.74
He thought that giving
his things up was too much.
00:12:14.77\00:12:18.68
She has a very powerful comment
00:12:18.71\00:12:20.34
but just on that
note I want to say,
00:12:20.37\00:12:22.87
Jesus never asks us
to give something up
00:12:22.90\00:12:26.15
unless He's gonna
give something far better.
00:12:26.18\00:12:30.09
You know, we may think our life,
00:12:30.12\00:12:31.31
I really become
serious about my walk with God,
00:12:31.34\00:12:33.44
I got to change my music
and I'm gonna need to change
00:12:33.47\00:12:36.04
that the friends I hang
out with, some of my hobbies.
00:12:36.07\00:12:38.51
Friends, don't feel
like you be loosing something
00:12:38.54\00:12:41.82
or sacrificing
something wonderful
00:12:41.85\00:12:43.79
in order to follow God
because God wants to give you
00:12:43.82\00:12:46.41
in its place
something so much better.
00:12:46.44\00:12:50.79
Speaking of the
rich young ruler,
00:12:50.82\00:12:54.21
she says to those who
like the rich young ruler
00:12:54.24\00:12:56.73
are in high positions of
trust and have great positions,
00:12:56.76\00:12:59.72
it may seem too great
of sacrifice to give up
00:12:59.75\00:13:02.15
all in order to follow Christ.
00:13:02.18\00:13:04.92
Now listen to this, one of
the most powerful sentences
00:13:04.95\00:13:08.28
in this entire
biography on the life of Jesus.
00:13:08.31\00:13:12.58
"Nothing short of
obedience can be accepted."
00:13:12.61\00:13:16.52
Desire of Ages,
page 523 "Self-surrender
00:13:16.55\00:13:21.23
is the substance of
the teachings of Christ."
00:13:21.26\00:13:26.74
Did you catch that?
00:13:26.77\00:13:28.28
Self-surrender is the substance
of the teachings of Christ.
00:13:28.31\00:13:33.90
In other words, if
you boiled it all down
00:13:33.93\00:13:35.99
to one statement, to one
thing everything that Jesus did,
00:13:36.02\00:13:40.63
everything He said,
everything that Christ was,
00:13:40.66\00:13:43.98
was about self-surrender.
00:13:44.01\00:13:46.69
It was about service.
00:13:46.72\00:13:48.99
This was the
crocks of Jesus mission.
00:13:49.02\00:13:52.20
I love how the--
the Baptist preacher
00:13:52.23\00:13:55.14
called the Prince of Preachers,
Charles Spurgeon put it,
00:13:55.17\00:13:58.01
by the way he is
the Prince of Preachers
00:13:58.04\00:13:59.42
because Jesus is the
King of Preachers, amen.
00:13:59.45\00:14:02.43
"He bequeaths us His manger,
00:14:02.46\00:14:04.69
from which to learn
how God came down to man,
00:14:04.72\00:14:08.09
and His cross to teach us
how man may go up to God."
00:14:08.12\00:14:13.41
You see, Jesus ultimate--
00:14:13.44\00:14:16.34
ultimate act of self-sacrifice
was upon the cross.
00:14:16.37\00:14:21.21
But up until
this point in John 13,
00:14:21.24\00:14:24.14
up until this point,
00:14:24.17\00:14:25.22
where Jesus began to
wash His disciple's feet,
00:14:25.25\00:14:28.41
this was His most
service oriented act.
00:14:28.44\00:14:33.69
His disciples
had not experienced
00:14:33.72\00:14:35.85
anything like it thus far.
00:14:35.88\00:14:39.57
Now we need to
understand something,
00:14:39.60\00:14:45.24
we need to understand
something about foot washing
00:14:45.27\00:14:49.89
and we need to
know that you know,
00:14:49.92\00:14:52.14
it's not like we have today
00:14:52.17\00:14:54.17
the Seventh-day Adventists
church practices foot washing
00:14:54.20\00:14:56.47
because, in this chapter
Jesus says at least three times
00:14:56.50\00:15:00.29
for His
followers to do like wise.
00:15:00.32\00:15:02.74
So we practice foot washing
and do ordinance of humility
00:15:02.77\00:15:06.29
in connection with
communion, but when we do it,
00:15:06.32\00:15:11.12
people will all wash
their feet that morning.
00:15:11.15\00:15:14.16
In this case the disciples
have been walking in sandals,
00:15:14.19\00:15:17.11
their feet were dirty,
00:15:17.14\00:15:19.35
you know, it
wasn't just socked length
00:15:19.38\00:15:21.35
that was leftover in the
bucket afterward, it was dirt.
00:15:21.38\00:15:25.63
And it was customary that
when they walked into a home
00:15:25.66\00:15:28.22
that a servant in the
house would wash everyone's feet
00:15:28.25\00:15:32.04
as an act of love and
hospitality, and service.
00:15:32.07\00:15:37.54
Now Jesus
disciples up until this point
00:15:37.57\00:15:41.24
they still did get it,
00:15:41.27\00:15:42.79
they didn't realize
that the crocks of His life,
00:15:42.82\00:15:46.43
every word, every action,
00:15:46.46\00:15:48.61
everything was to
communicate that self-surrender
00:15:48.64\00:15:52.33
was the most important
thing in God's kingdom.
00:15:52.36\00:15:56.87
So Jesus had to do something.
00:15:56.90\00:16:00.78
He had show
them, He had told them,
00:16:00.81\00:16:04.09
but they still didn't get it.
00:16:04.12\00:16:06.18
I love how a
wise man once put it,
00:16:06.21\00:16:07.96
he said, tell me
and I will forget,
00:16:07.99\00:16:11.03
show me, and I will remember,
00:16:11.06\00:16:13.74
but involve me
and I will understand.
00:16:13.77\00:16:18.18
Jesus chose to
involve His disciples
00:16:18.21\00:16:21.90
in this act of
humility to help them understand
00:16:21.93\00:16:25.14
this all pervading
lesson of His life.
00:16:25.17\00:16:28.92
Jesus sought to involve them.
00:16:28.95\00:16:31.24
They needed the experience
in order to really get it.
00:16:31.27\00:16:35.01
And, you know,
friends, this is how God works.
00:16:35.04\00:16:36.74
Sometimes we have
situations in our lives
00:16:36.77\00:16:39.17
and we wonder Lord, why
is this happening to me?
00:16:39.20\00:16:42.72
May be you and your
friend have come to the Lord
00:16:42.75\00:16:45.51
and you struggle
with a smoking cigarettes
00:16:45.54\00:16:49.46
and your friend has been
00:16:49.49\00:16:51.19
miraculously
delivered from smoking,
00:16:51.22\00:16:54.11
but you are, are
struggling and battling
00:16:54.14\00:16:56.48
and going
through a five day planet
00:16:56.51\00:16:58.49
implementing the
things you've learned
00:16:58.52\00:16:59.81
and you're wondering
why Lord, was this person,
00:16:59.84\00:17:02.00
my friend delivered immediately,
00:17:02.03\00:17:03.61
miraculously but not I?
00:17:03.64\00:17:06.91
Friends, Jesus
wants to teach you
00:17:06.94\00:17:08.79
something through the experience
00:17:08.82\00:17:11.36
in granting you
victory step by step.
00:17:11.39\00:17:13.64
He wants to teach you
something in that experience.
00:17:13.67\00:17:18.21
It may be something else,
00:17:18.24\00:17:20.05
may be a loved one has
leukemia and you wondering
00:17:20.08\00:17:23.30
why the treatments are
not working to cure them?
00:17:23.33\00:17:26.49
Friends, I want
to be clear here.
00:17:26.52\00:17:28.94
We still live in what the
devil believes is his territory,
00:17:28.97\00:17:33.30
and the devil is alive and
well and trying to harass us
00:17:33.33\00:17:36.23
to the point that
we will drift from God
00:17:36.26\00:17:39.42
or blame God for the bad
things that are happening.
00:17:39.45\00:17:42.35
Well, it is never God's
will that negative things,
00:17:42.38\00:17:45.44
that bad things happen to us,
00:17:45.47\00:17:47.69
that sin and its corrupt
influence is tarnish our lives.
00:17:47.72\00:17:52.40
God does allow certain things,
00:17:52.43\00:17:55.11
sometimes because He wants to
00:17:55.14\00:17:57.09
and really always ultimately
because it's for our own good,
00:17:57.12\00:18:01.09
but because He wants to teach us
00:18:01.12\00:18:02.59
something in the journey.
00:18:02.62\00:18:05.42
Jesus knew that
for His disciples
00:18:05.45\00:18:06.94
through really get it
they needed to be involved.
00:18:06.97\00:18:11.06
So He took up the
basin and the towel.
00:18:11.09\00:18:17.27
Now just set the
tone and help you realize
00:18:17.30\00:18:20.96
what is just been happening,
00:18:20.99\00:18:23.52
the disciples had
just been squabbling about
00:18:23.55\00:18:25.89
who was gonna be the greatest,
00:18:25.92\00:18:27.95
up until this point they still
entertained the erroneous view
00:18:27.98\00:18:31.76
that the Jewish
nation had espoused
00:18:31.79\00:18:33.71
that the coming Messiah
00:18:33.74\00:18:34.79
would be a
conquering king to deliver them
00:18:34.82\00:18:36.99
form the cruel
yoke of the Romans.
00:18:37.02\00:18:40.25
And the disciples were sure
00:18:40.28\00:18:42.44
that Jesus would
soon ascend the throne
00:18:42.47\00:18:45.18
and that they would be His
inner circle of right hand men.
00:18:45.21\00:18:50.30
So we know that just
before this James and John
00:18:50.33\00:18:53.64
had actually gone to the point
00:18:53.67\00:18:55.11
of getting
their mother involved,
00:18:55.14\00:18:58.04
and their mom
went to Jesus and said,
00:18:58.07\00:18:59.60
Lord can you please
allow my sons to have
00:18:59.63\00:19:02.86
the position of Your right hands
00:19:02.89\00:19:05.38
and Your left
hand in your kingdom?
00:19:05.41\00:19:08.88
The disciples didn't like this,
and before this at this point
00:19:08.91\00:19:14.71
as the Passover it have been
00:19:14.74\00:19:16.07
Jesus whose is trying
to communicate to them
00:19:16.10\00:19:17.84
that He was going to leave them,
00:19:17.87\00:19:19.48
that He was going to
die, that He raise again
00:19:19.51\00:19:23.84
and they were
fighting and squabbling about
00:19:23.87\00:19:26.13
who was better than the other.
00:19:26.16\00:19:29.20
Who deserves to be
Jesus right hand men-- man?
00:19:29.23\00:19:33.25
They were arguing and bickering
00:19:33.28\00:19:35.71
and none of
them wanted to serve.
00:19:35.74\00:19:40.49
They were there
and they saw the basin,
00:19:40.52\00:19:42.05
and they saw the
towel, and they knew--
00:19:42.08\00:19:45.06
they knew that
there was no servant
00:19:45.09\00:19:46.32
that was going to
come wash their feet.
00:19:46.35\00:19:49.44
But they
resisted the Holy Spirit's
00:19:49.47\00:19:52.55
wowing their hearts
00:19:52.58\00:19:54.61
and they said oh, no, not
me, some one else can do it.
00:19:54.64\00:19:56.92
And friends, when we see
00:19:56.95\00:19:59.56
things that need to
be done in God's service,
00:19:59.59\00:20:02.90
it's all too easy to say,
ah, someone else will do it.
00:20:02.93\00:20:06.99
When water spills on the floor
00:20:07.02\00:20:08.76
and we know we should just
go get a mop from the kitchen
00:20:08.79\00:20:11.37
and mop it up and start helping,
00:20:11.40\00:20:14.08
it's all too easy to say,
ah, someone else will do it.
00:20:14.11\00:20:17.90
Someone else can do it,
00:20:17.93\00:20:19.42
let somebody
else take care of it.
00:20:19.45\00:20:21.99
This is the
natural human tendency
00:20:22.02\00:20:23.69
when it comes to service.
00:20:23.72\00:20:26.18
Something in the human
heart rises up against service
00:20:26.21\00:20:29.71
and naturally
does not want to serve.
00:20:29.74\00:20:37.13
We know and you can
read this story later,
00:20:37.16\00:20:39.62
if you're not familiar with it.
00:20:39.65\00:20:41.32
We know that Jesus started
washing the disciples feet,
00:20:41.35\00:20:44.76
He came to Peter and
Peter said, oh, no Lord,
00:20:44.79\00:20:47.50
you, you can't wash my feet.
00:20:47.53\00:20:49.43
Jesus said, if you--
if I do not wash your feet
00:20:49.46\00:20:51.27
you have no part with Me.
00:20:51.30\00:20:52.66
And Peter said,
oh, wash my hands
00:20:52.69\00:20:54.12
and my head as well.
00:20:54.15\00:20:56.18
And then Jesus explains
in that is wasn't necessary
00:20:56.21\00:20:58.76
and He also explain
there that foot washing
00:20:58.79\00:21:01.23
is a miniature form of baptism,
it's like a mini re-baptism.
00:21:01.26\00:21:06.30
But after this in
verse 12 Jesus continues.
00:21:06.33\00:21:10.12
He says, "So when He
had washed their feet,"
00:21:10.15\00:21:12.65
the Bible says
"Taken His garments,
00:21:12.68\00:21:15.56
and sat down
again, He said to them,
00:21:15.59\00:21:19.48
'Do you know what
I have done to you?
00:21:19.51\00:21:21.89
You call Me Teacher and Lord,
00:21:21.92\00:21:23.68
and you say well, for so I am.
00:21:23.71\00:21:26.87
If then, your Lord and Teacher,
00:21:26.90\00:21:29.30
I have washed your feet,
00:21:29.33\00:21:31.35
you also ought to
wash one another's feet.
00:21:31.38\00:21:34.62
For I have given you an example,
00:21:34.65\00:21:36.83
that you should do
as I have done to you."
00:21:36.86\00:21:42.67
Imagine how the disciples felt,
00:21:42.70\00:21:45.45
the followers of Jesus as
their master, as their Lord,
00:21:45.48\00:21:50.08
was the one to say,
you know, I will do it.
00:21:50.11\00:21:53.80
And He was communicating to them
00:21:53.83\00:21:55.33
that self surrender was
the substance of His teachings.
00:21:55.36\00:22:00.39
That is what it boiled down to.
00:22:00.42\00:22:03.27
Humility is necessary
00:22:03.30\00:22:05.70
if we are going to be
God's followers, amen.
00:22:05.73\00:22:09.95
Humility essential.
00:22:09.98\00:22:11.22
In fact, without humility
00:22:11.25\00:22:13.66
we have no way of
even really having
00:22:13.69\00:22:16.47
God's blessing
and God's presence.
00:22:16.50\00:22:20.86
There's a powerful book that's--
00:22:20.89\00:22:22.83
I'd like to encourage to read
00:22:22.86\00:22:23.96
it's called
"Messages to Young People"
00:22:23.99\00:22:26.30
and on page 217 of that book
00:22:26.33\00:22:28.97
you can find
the following quote,
00:22:29.00\00:22:31.19
"Church members, young and old,
00:22:31.22\00:22:32.89
should be educated
to go forth to proclaim
00:22:32.92\00:22:35.13
this last message to the world."
00:22:35.16\00:22:37.12
Now it's conditional, listen
00:22:37.15\00:22:38.78
"If they go in
humility," if they go in what?
00:22:38.81\00:22:42.72
Humility.
00:22:42.75\00:22:44.29
"Angels of God
will go with them,
00:22:44.32\00:22:46.56
teaching them how to
lift up the voice in prayer,
00:22:46.59\00:22:49.40
how to raise the voice in song,
00:22:49.43\00:22:51.49
and how to proclaim the
gospel message for this time."
00:22:51.52\00:22:55.14
Praise the Lord that,
00:22:55.17\00:22:56.20
that's what we've been
doing here at witness, amen.
00:22:56.23\00:22:59.37
But you know, we know
that pride is a dangerous thing
00:22:59.40\00:23:03.88
and it's easy to think that--
00:23:03.91\00:23:06.97
some of the thing
the Lord does through you
00:23:07.00\00:23:08.96
is because of you
or because of you.
00:23:08.99\00:23:13.79
You know, I'm always
encouraged and blessed
00:23:13.82\00:23:17.27
when after a message
or Bible study or anything
00:23:17.30\00:23:21.15
someone will come and say,
00:23:21.18\00:23:22.22
you know, I just
really appreciated that.
00:23:22.25\00:23:24.95
But I want you to
listen to the following quote,
00:23:24.98\00:23:29.07
when I read this it,
it really blew me away.
00:23:29.10\00:23:32.06
You know, if someone comes
up to you as a speaker or a--
00:23:32.09\00:23:36.16
give me after,
giving a Bible study
00:23:36.19\00:23:38.03
and they say you
know, I really enjoyed that.
00:23:38.06\00:23:40.39
I specially liked
what you shared about
00:23:40.42\00:23:43.30
you know, of
verse 16 of the chapter
00:23:43.33\00:23:44.99
and they tell you
something it means all the more
00:23:45.02\00:23:48.03
than if someone says,
wow, you're a great speaker.
00:23:48.06\00:23:51.70
You know all, that's
was an awesome Bible study,
00:23:51.73\00:23:54.48
you are so cool, right.
00:23:54.51\00:23:56.76
And you know it
actually is an indication
00:23:56.79\00:23:59.34
of what's going
on in the preacher
00:23:59.37\00:24:00.98
or the Bible
study director's hearts.
00:24:01.01\00:24:04.20
Listen to this,
after talking about
00:24:04.23\00:24:06.60
how self should be lost sight of
00:24:06.63\00:24:09.27
and Jesus should be
lifted up in sermons.
00:24:09.30\00:24:12.49
In fourth volume of
the Testimonies, page 399,
00:24:12.52\00:24:16.73
paragraph 2 Ellen White says,
00:24:16.76\00:24:18.20
"The people will be so impressed
00:24:18.23\00:24:20.14
with these
all-absorbing subjects that
00:24:20.17\00:24:22.98
they will talk of
them and praise them,
00:24:23.01\00:24:25.98
instead of
praising the minister,
00:24:26.01\00:24:27.77
the mere instrument."
00:24:27.80\00:24:29.70
Now here that get
strong listen to this,
00:24:29.73\00:24:31.70
"But if the people,
while they praise the minister,
00:24:31.73\00:24:35.22
have little interest
in the word preached,
00:24:35.25\00:24:38.23
he may know that the truth
00:24:38.26\00:24:39.73
is not
sanctifying his own soul."
00:24:39.76\00:24:44.63
If we go away form a sermon
and all we can think about
00:24:44.66\00:24:47.55
and talk about is the
way that the words were said.
00:24:47.58\00:24:50.07
If all that we can think about
00:24:50.10\00:24:51.30
and talk about was how
clever the stories were.
00:24:51.33\00:24:54.05
Friends, then--
00:24:54.08\00:24:55.85
then we have a
lot missed the point
00:24:55.88\00:24:58.10
and it's not completely
the fault of the hearers.
00:24:58.13\00:25:01.71
Here it says, it's a
revelation of the fact that
00:25:01.74\00:25:04.19
people are looking at
you and not able to see
00:25:04.22\00:25:06.71
through you to
see and hear Jesus.
00:25:06.74\00:25:10.57
Friends, we only, only can
carry forward the work of God,
00:25:10.60\00:25:15.02
if we have complete humility
and God will give us humility
00:25:15.05\00:25:19.85
when are constantly
dependent upon Him, amen.
00:25:19.88\00:25:24.92
Orion mentioned when
speaking this morning,
00:25:24.95\00:25:28.66
he mentioned something that's,
00:25:28.69\00:25:31.33
that it's not always
convenient to help others.
00:25:31.36\00:25:35.21
It's not always
convenient to sacrifice
00:25:35.24\00:25:38.79
and to do what's--
to put yourself second
00:25:38.82\00:25:43.39
in order to elevate others.
00:25:43.42\00:25:45.78
And you know, when the
called to service comes
00:25:45.81\00:25:48.26
there's something in the
human heart that resists it.
00:25:48.29\00:25:51.84
There's something
in the human heart
00:25:51.87\00:25:53.03
that kicks and pushes back.
00:25:53.06\00:25:55.56
And did you know that in
Jesus heart, in Jesus mind,
00:25:55.59\00:26:00.28
He was tempted to not
even serve His disciples.
00:26:00.31\00:26:04.38
I told you we
would go back to verse 2.
00:26:04.41\00:26:06.51
It says there,
"And supper being ended,
00:26:06.54\00:26:08.83
the devil having
already put it into the heart
00:26:08.86\00:26:10.84
of Judas Iscariot,
Simon's son, to betray Him,
00:26:10.87\00:26:13.61
Jesus, knowing
00:26:13.64\00:26:15.02
that the Father had given
all things into His hands."
00:26:15.05\00:26:18.05
After this He rose
up, and He served them.
00:26:18.08\00:26:21.81
You see, Jesus
was-- was at a point
00:26:21.84\00:26:25.35
where He knew what
was going to happen,
00:26:25.38\00:26:27.64
He knew Judas was
going to betray Him.
00:26:27.67\00:26:30.15
Jesus knew at this point
that Peter would deny Him.
00:26:30.18\00:26:35.22
He knew that
all of His disciples
00:26:35.25\00:26:36.95
would forsake Him and flee.
00:26:36.98\00:26:39.59
He knew that He was
going to die on the cross
00:26:39.62\00:26:42.80
for people who would not
even accept His sacrifice.
00:26:42.83\00:26:47.54
Jesus had tried
telling them look,
00:26:47.57\00:26:50.06
My life is going to end,
and they didn't even get it.
00:26:50.09\00:26:54.22
Jesus could have
said, you know, what?
00:26:54.25\00:26:56.09
This is my time to
think about Myself,
00:26:56.12\00:27:00.07
but self-surrender was the
substance of His teachings.
00:27:00.10\00:27:04.96
Jesus didn't
take this opportunity
00:27:04.99\00:27:06.94
to think about Himself, He
knew that He would be denied,
00:27:06.97\00:27:10.58
He knew that His disciples
00:27:10.61\00:27:11.76
would fall asleep
in the one time that
00:27:11.79\00:27:14.10
He asked them
please pray for Me.
00:27:14.13\00:27:16.93
But Jesus moved forward
and served them anyways.
00:27:16.96\00:27:22.25
Jesus was actuated by
pure and selfless love.
00:27:22.28\00:27:27.71
You know, in Hebrew 12:1
00:27:27.74\00:27:32.01
the Bible tells us
something very powerful.
00:27:32.04\00:27:34.29
It says, in the
second part of verse 1 there,
00:27:34.32\00:27:38.28
it says, let us run
the race with endurance,
00:27:38.31\00:27:40.75
"Let us run with
endurance the race
00:27:40.78\00:27:42.54
that is set before
us, looking unto Jesus,
00:27:42.57\00:27:45.43
he author and
finisher of our faith,
00:27:45.46\00:27:48.53
who for the joy
that was set before Him
00:27:48.56\00:27:51.89
endured the cross,
despising the shame."
00:27:51.92\00:27:56.32
What is it mean that the
joy that was set before Him?
00:27:56.35\00:27:59.49
Well, if you go back
and you look at Luke 22:43
00:27:59.52\00:28:03.44
you see that the angel Gabriel
00:28:03.47\00:28:05.36
was sent to minister unto Jesus,
00:28:05.39\00:28:07.93
as He was there in
the Garden of Gethsemane,
00:28:07.96\00:28:10.21
as the-- the cup of the sins
00:28:10.24\00:28:13.30
and wow s of the world
00:28:13.33\00:28:14.40
were trembling in
His hands so speak.
00:28:14.43\00:28:18.13
Jesus was
encouraged to move forward
00:28:18.16\00:28:21.23
by an angel sent from heaven.
00:28:21.26\00:28:23.80
You know what I
believe took place?
00:28:23.83\00:28:26.23
I believe that Jesus was pointed
00:28:26.26\00:28:28.63
and directed up
to look at the stars.
00:28:28.66\00:28:32.11
Let me well, why?
00:28:32.14\00:28:35.11
What's the big deal? The stars?
00:28:35.14\00:28:38.44
Yes, because
every young Jewish boy,
00:28:38.47\00:28:41.88
every Jewish girl knew that
00:28:41.91\00:28:44.41
when they looked up at the stars
00:28:44.44\00:28:46.46
they could remember God's
promise to father Abraham.
00:28:46.49\00:28:50.35
And that those who would--
those who would accept God,
00:28:50.38\00:28:54.42
those who would be
saved in His kingdom,
00:28:54.45\00:28:56.85
would number the--
the number of the stars.
00:28:56.88\00:29:00.61
They would be as many
as the stars in number.
00:29:00.64\00:29:03.02
Tons of people would
be saved in other words.
00:29:03.05\00:29:05.81
Jesus knew that by going forward
00:29:05.84\00:29:09.38
as He looked up at those stars,
00:29:09.41\00:29:10.99
He was reminded of
what Daniel 12:3 says,
00:29:11.02\00:29:13.64
when it says that "Those
who turn many to righteousness
00:29:13.67\00:29:16.91
will be like the
stars forever and ever."
00:29:16.94\00:29:20.27
And looking up at the
stars He though of you and I
00:29:20.30\00:29:23.74
and this is why He went forward.
00:29:23.77\00:29:26.74
Jesus had the right,
00:29:26.77\00:29:29.53
He had the right
to think of Himself.
00:29:29.56\00:29:32.64
He could have asked
one of His disciples to,
00:29:32.67\00:29:35.09
to wash everyone's feet
00:29:35.12\00:29:36.33
and He wouldn't
have been out of place.
00:29:36.36\00:29:39.23
But Jesus worked
upon the principle
00:29:39.26\00:29:42.52
of self-sacrifice
and self-surrender.
00:29:42.55\00:29:47.49
So it's Sabbath that witness,
00:29:47.52\00:29:51.06
its not today, its
Sunday I know that.
00:29:51.09\00:29:53.44
But imagine with
me that it's Sabbath,
00:29:53.47\00:29:55.85
and as you go
toward the lunch hall,
00:29:55.88\00:29:58.82
you hear a child's
little voice saying,
00:29:58.85\00:30:00.75
mommy, I'm hungry.
00:30:00.78\00:30:02.84
And as you hear, you listen,
00:30:02.87\00:30:06.82
hence you walk her little slower
00:30:06.85\00:30:08.47
so you can hear the response.
00:30:08.50\00:30:10.08
And the mother says,
yes, sweetheart, I know
00:30:10.11\00:30:11.59
but we didn't pack a lunch today
00:30:11.62\00:30:14.14
and we are not going to
God's eat since its Sabbath
00:30:14.17\00:30:16.28
and our family doesn't
live anywhere near hear,
00:30:16.31\00:30:18.48
I know you are hungry,
00:30:18.51\00:30:19.92
but just wait
until after Sabbath.
00:30:19.95\00:30:22.35
How long is that?
00:30:22.38\00:30:23.83
Six hours.
00:30:23.86\00:30:26.03
You have your meal
ticket, you paid for it,
00:30:26.06\00:30:29.49
you had a long night,
you've been working hard,
00:30:29.52\00:30:32.45
you have the
right to eat your meal,
00:30:32.48\00:30:36.30
but are you willing
to surrender your right,
00:30:36.33\00:30:38.27
so that someone else can eat?
00:30:38.30\00:30:42.44
God's kingdom works up
on the principle of service.
00:30:42.47\00:30:46.65
It works up on the
principle of self-surrender.
00:30:46.68\00:30:50.69
This is what He wanted
00:30:50.72\00:30:51.75
to communicate to His disciples.
00:30:51.78\00:30:54.46
You know,
marriage is to be built
00:30:54.49\00:30:56.82
upon the
principle of self-sacrifice
00:30:56.85\00:30:59.45
because all true love
is really self-sacrifice.
00:30:59.48\00:31:02.94
Not this mushy
sentimental love that
00:31:02.97\00:31:05.52
the world tries
to tell us love is.
00:31:05.55\00:31:08.14
We use love the word
love for too many things.
00:31:08.17\00:31:10.63
I love ice-cream, I
love spaghetti, et cetera.
00:31:10.66\00:31:15.03
But really true principled love
00:31:15.06\00:31:18.25
is not just a
flight of feeling it is--
00:31:18.28\00:31:21.34
it is a
principle that we live by
00:31:21.37\00:31:24.60
and it's self-sacrificing
00:31:24.63\00:31:26.95
and this is God's
desire in marriage.
00:31:26.98\00:31:28.60
We see this
beautifully listed out in,
00:31:28.63\00:31:30.33
Ephesians Chapter 5
one of many Bible passages,
00:31:30.36\00:31:34.04
but if you are
wanting to be married
00:31:34.07\00:31:37.91
so you can have someone guys,
00:31:37.94\00:31:40.21
so you can have
someone's do your laundry
00:31:40.24\00:31:42.23
and make good food, you
have the wrong perspective.
00:31:42.26\00:31:47.98
And girls don't
be to quick to laugh.
00:31:48.01\00:31:50.45
If you just want to get married,
00:31:50.48\00:31:51.74
so you can have someone
fix things around the house
00:31:51.77\00:31:54.19
and cheer on
when they, you know,
00:31:54.22\00:31:56.56
playing a game or
something, hence fix your car
00:31:56.59\00:32:00.37
and take care of the flat
tire on the middle of the--
00:32:00.40\00:32:03.68
in the middle of the road,
then it's for the wrong reason,
00:32:03.71\00:32:07.88
and your marriage
can never be truly happy
00:32:07.91\00:32:09.96
because the
biblical bases for true love
00:32:09.99\00:32:14.36
that is to exist
between a husband and wife
00:32:14.39\00:32:16.53
and really anyone
is self-sacrifice.
00:32:16.56\00:32:20.60
What are we willing to give?
00:32:20.63\00:32:22.05
Are we willing to surrender
00:32:22.08\00:32:23.26
our desires,
our wants, our needs
00:32:23.29\00:32:25.98
even at times to
serve our spouse?
00:32:26.01\00:32:30.00
Question comes,
do you want a servant
00:32:30.03\00:32:32.34
or do you want a spouse?
00:32:32.37\00:32:36.33
And in order to be the spouse
00:32:36.36\00:32:37.57
that God has called us
to be, we need to serve.
00:32:37.60\00:32:41.47
This is God's
desire, and we even see it
00:32:41.50\00:32:44.66
in the close
relations of the family.
00:32:44.69\00:32:47.43
We see that
Jesus lived this out,
00:32:47.46\00:32:49.27
turn with me to
Philippians Chapter 2,
00:32:49.30\00:32:51.94
Philippians Chapter 2,
00:32:51.97\00:32:56.75
Philippians
Chapter 2 a famous verse.
00:32:56.78\00:32:59.02
My grandfather was a
Seventh-day Adventist minister
00:32:59.05\00:33:02.18
and this was his favorite verse.
00:33:02.21\00:33:03.98
"Let this mind be in you
00:33:04.01\00:33:10.61
which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God,
00:33:10.64\00:33:15.82
though it not
robbery to be equal with God,
00:33:15.85\00:33:19.00
but made Himself
of no reputation,
00:33:19.03\00:33:22.87
taking the form
of a bondservant,
00:33:22.90\00:33:25.35
and coming in
the likeness of men.
00:33:25.38\00:33:28.60
And being found in
appearance as a man,
00:33:28.63\00:33:30.59
He humbled Himself
and became obedient
00:33:30.62\00:33:32.85
to the point of death,
even the death of the cross."
00:33:32.88\00:33:37.55
Friends, God
became a human being.
00:33:37.58\00:33:40.53
Jesus surrendered everything,
His divinity even life itself,
00:33:40.56\00:33:46.18
to become the
suffering servant of Isaiah 53.
00:33:46.21\00:33:49.79
You know, the Bible
talks about two mysteries,
00:33:49.82\00:33:52.42
it talks about the
mystery of iniquity,
00:33:52.45\00:33:55.12
and it talks about
the mystery of godliness
00:33:55.15\00:33:58.31
and these are two opposite.
00:33:58.34\00:34:00.45
We see in Isaiah
Chapter 14 that Lucifer
00:34:00.48\00:34:04.31
when he fell from
heaven God reveals
00:34:04.34\00:34:06.10
what was going on
in his heart and mind.
00:34:06.13\00:34:08.08
He tells us what
Lucifer was thinking
00:34:08.11\00:34:10.84
and He says that his
mind was filled with himself.
00:34:10.87\00:34:13.65
He said I will ascend
above the stars of God.
00:34:13.68\00:34:17.02
I will be like the most high.
He wanted to lift himself up.
00:34:17.05\00:34:21.37
And friends, this is
the principle of the world.
00:34:21.40\00:34:25.03
We look around us
and even naturally
00:34:25.06\00:34:26.89
we think that to rise
higher or to become better
00:34:26.92\00:34:30.69
we need to rise higher
through the ranks at work
00:34:30.72\00:34:33.80
and don't get me
wrong there is nothing wrong
00:34:33.83\00:34:35.62
with organization
and administration.
00:34:35.65\00:34:38.58
God needs people
in every position,
00:34:38.61\00:34:40.65
but it's the natural
human tendency to think,
00:34:40.68\00:34:43.29
when we are little kids that
00:34:43.32\00:34:44.62
if we can insult
the-- the kid in the class,
00:34:44.65\00:34:48.87
that we think is
on the same level
00:34:48.90\00:34:50.68
as a we can step on them
and rise higher ourselves.
00:34:50.71\00:34:54.70
It's the natural human
tendency to think that,
00:34:54.73\00:34:57.58
by lifting
ourselves up we become better.
00:34:57.61\00:35:01.26
But God says, no.
00:35:01.29\00:35:03.29
God says, in My
kingdom it's the opposite.
00:35:03.32\00:35:07.58
You see, Jesus, that is
the mystery of iniquity,
00:35:07.61\00:35:11.57
how a creature has tried
to make himself out to be God.
00:35:11.60\00:35:15.62
But the mystery of godliness
that we find in 1 Timothy 2:15,
00:35:15.65\00:35:21.05
excuse me for 1 Timothy
3:16 the mystery of godliness
00:35:21.08\00:35:24.87
is how the Creator
has become a creature?
00:35:24.90\00:35:29.42
Not how a creature
wants to make himself God,
00:35:29.45\00:35:31.82
but how God became a creature
in order to save His creatures.
00:35:31.85\00:35:37.39
Friends, in God's kingdom,
00:35:37.42\00:35:39.65
the greatest of all
is the serving of all.
00:35:39.68\00:35:43.38
The greatest of all
is the serving of all.
00:35:43.41\00:35:46.11
Mark 10:43 here
Jesus says the following.
00:35:46.14\00:35:51.33
Says, "Yet it shall
not be so among you,"
00:35:51.36\00:35:53.54
He's talking about the
principles of the world,
00:35:53.57\00:35:55.46
He said the gentiles,
they loaded over there,
00:35:55.49\00:35:57.92
they're workers and
the people under them.
00:35:57.95\00:36:00.14
But He said, not so with you,
00:36:00.17\00:36:02.59
"but whoever desires
to become great among you
00:36:02.62\00:36:05.69
shall be your servant.
00:36:05.72\00:36:07.78
And whoever of you
desires to be first
00:36:07.81\00:36:11.69
shall be slave of all.
00:36:11.72\00:36:13.96
For even the Son of Man
did not come to be served,
00:36:13.99\00:36:17.29
but to serve,
and to give His life
00:36:17.32\00:36:20.37
a ransom for many."
00:36:20.40\00:36:23.65
Friends, God's
kingdom is counter intuitive.
00:36:23.68\00:36:28.02
Counter intuitive means it's--
00:36:28.05\00:36:29.62
its opposite of what you
would naturally think to do.
00:36:29.65\00:36:33.95
Naturally as human beings
we want to lift ourselves up,
00:36:33.98\00:36:36.05
God says, no, serve,
00:36:36.08\00:36:38.47
and the servant of all
is the greatest of all.
00:36:38.50\00:36:41.11
Here in Australia,
00:36:41.14\00:36:42.98
you guys drive on the
left side of the road,
00:36:43.01\00:36:45.58
in America we drive on
the right side of the road,
00:36:45.61\00:36:48.55
the right side of the road.
00:36:48.58\00:36:50.95
And I was here for just a week
00:36:50.98\00:36:54.54
and we were driving of course
on the left side of the road,
00:36:54.57\00:36:57.80
and as we are
coming around the corner,
00:36:57.83\00:36:59.82
I saw a car coming toward
us, and soon as I saw the car,
00:36:59.85\00:37:03.73
I started to
panic because I knew,
00:37:03.76\00:37:05.75
we were on the
left side of the road.
00:37:05.78\00:37:07.34
And I though man that car
00:37:07.37\00:37:08.52
is on the left side of the road.
00:37:08.55\00:37:10.21
It was countered intuitive.
00:37:10.24\00:37:12.11
You see if I have been driving
00:37:12.14\00:37:13.24
and I'm glad I
wasn't at the time,
00:37:13.27\00:37:16.25
but if I had been
driving it could have been bad
00:37:16.28\00:37:18.71
because what was
natural to me was contrary
00:37:18.74\00:37:21.10
to what I
should do for my safety
00:37:21.13\00:37:23.72
and for the good of others.
00:37:23.75\00:37:25.80
And in this case
service is counter intuitive.
00:37:25.83\00:37:28.26
You see, God's way
is opposite to ours,
00:37:28.29\00:37:31.47
and when we have Him
living in our hearts,
00:37:31.50\00:37:33.83
His ways become our ways.
00:37:33.86\00:37:36.70
In God's kingdom
you go down to rise up.
00:37:36.73\00:37:40.42
In God's kingdom you
descend in order to ascend,
00:37:40.45\00:37:44.08
you go lower in
order to rise higher.
00:37:44.11\00:37:47.50
This is the
principle upon which God works.
00:37:47.53\00:37:50.80
And this is the principle
00:37:50.83\00:37:52.70
upon which His
followers will work as well.
00:37:52.73\00:37:57.03
You see, friends,
Jesus surrendered His rights.
00:37:57.06\00:38:01.98
He had the right in that moment,
00:38:02.01\00:38:03.79
when He washed
His disciple's feet.
00:38:03.82\00:38:06.16
He had the right to tell
one of them you know, what?
00:38:06.19\00:38:09.46
Why don't you take care of this?
00:38:09.49\00:38:11.44
He could have
just nudged one of them
00:38:11.47\00:38:12.94
with His elbow
and looked at it him,
00:38:12.97\00:38:14.67
and that would have been enough.
00:38:14.70\00:38:16.57
Jesus had the right to do it,
00:38:16.60\00:38:18.09
He had the right to
think of Himself, right?
00:38:18.12\00:38:22.09
Jesus knew that
they would be ungrateful
00:38:22.12\00:38:24.12
for the sacrifice
He was going to make.
00:38:24.15\00:38:27.09
Jesus had the right,
when He was on the cross
00:38:27.12\00:38:30.83
and they were mocking Him
to come down from the cross
00:38:30.86\00:38:33.73
and say forget it, let
man die in his own sins
00:38:33.76\00:38:38.44
and to return to heaven
with a wrath knew of angels.
00:38:38.47\00:38:41.13
He had the right
as the solders were,
00:38:41.16\00:38:44.76
were beating Him and
ripping out His beard,
00:38:44.79\00:38:47.30
Jesus had the right with a snap
of His fingers behind His back
00:38:47.33\00:38:50.87
to stop their
hearts from beating.
00:38:50.90\00:38:53.64
He had the right.
00:38:53.67\00:38:55.68
He did not deserve
what they were doing to Him
00:38:55.71\00:38:57.50
but friends, Jesus
surrendered His rights
00:38:57.53\00:39:01.50
and because Jesus
surrendered His right,
00:39:01.53\00:39:04.66
you and I could be saved.
00:39:04.69\00:39:07.30
You see, when Jesus
surrendered His right
00:39:07.33\00:39:09.73
constantly His self-surrender
resulted in the salvation
00:39:09.76\00:39:14.73
of all who would
accept Him as their Savior.
00:39:14.76\00:39:19.24
And friends,
Jesus stooped to serve,
00:39:19.27\00:39:25.10
He surrendered His right
00:39:25.13\00:39:26.24
and He wants us to
surrender our rights as well.
00:39:26.27\00:39:31.02
The theme that
witness this year what is it?
00:39:31.05\00:39:34.15
Rise up, save for
service, or saved to serve.
00:39:34.18\00:39:38.55
Friends, we can
rise up knowing that
00:39:38.58\00:39:41.10
we have been saved for service
00:39:41.13\00:39:43.43
because Jesus came down
and He served in order to save.
00:39:43.46\00:39:49.33
Jesus came down
and He served humanity,
00:39:49.36\00:39:53.58
ultimately giving His own life
00:39:53.61\00:39:55.87
in order that we might be saved.
00:39:55.90\00:39:59.48
Jesus surrendered His rights,
00:39:59.51\00:40:02.00
and He wants us to
surrender our right too.
00:40:02.03\00:40:05.35
I don't know what
situation you find yourself in
00:40:05.38\00:40:07.12
when it comes to you
felling that you have a right,
00:40:07.15\00:40:10.92
may be you're older,
you're up there in years,
00:40:10.95\00:40:13.36
you've saved
money for retirement
00:40:13.39\00:40:14.96
and you thinking to yourself,
00:40:14.99\00:40:16.48
now I have the right to
enjoy the rest of my life
00:40:16.51\00:40:19.36
and take it easy,
00:40:19.39\00:40:21.25
and spend a lots of
money on different things
00:40:21.28\00:40:23.73
and Jesus is telling you
today surrender your rights.
00:40:23.76\00:40:27.26
Yes, make sure that
you can-- you can live
00:40:27.29\00:40:29.74
but give to my cause also.
00:40:29.77\00:40:32.75
Jesus says, surrender your right
00:40:32.78\00:40:34.14
and by doing so
others will be saved.
00:40:34.17\00:40:38.04
May be you've--
you had a family member
00:40:38.07\00:40:41.67
who is hurt you.
00:40:41.70\00:40:43.22
May be you are abused as a child
00:40:43.25\00:40:44.70
and now that
family member needs help
00:40:44.73\00:40:47.61
and you are the only
one who can help them.
00:40:47.64\00:40:51.50
And you're thinking to yourself,
00:40:51.53\00:40:52.71
you know, I have a
right to receive an apology.
00:40:52.74\00:40:55.84
I have a right to
withhold help from them.
00:40:55.87\00:41:00.45
Friends, surrender your rights
because it may result in that
00:41:00.48\00:41:04.20
family member's
eternal salvation.
00:41:04.23\00:41:07.24
May be you've
been facing a decision
00:41:07.27\00:41:10.14
as a husband and
wife, as a couple
00:41:10.17\00:41:14.45
and you haven't seen eye to eye
00:41:14.48\00:41:15.75
and you finally said, okay,
as the biblical model will,
00:41:15.78\00:41:19.46
we will go with
the husband's decision
00:41:19.49\00:41:21.56
and later you come to find out
that it was the wrong decision.
00:41:21.59\00:41:25.33
The wife may think you know,
00:41:25.36\00:41:26.48
I have a right
to tell my husband,
00:41:26.51\00:41:27.95
I told you so,
surrender your rights and serve.
00:41:27.98\00:41:33.62
Jesus came down
and served to save,
00:41:33.65\00:41:38.30
so that we could rise up,
00:41:38.33\00:41:40.09
knowing that we
have been saved to serve.
00:41:40.12\00:41:43.91
This is Jesus desire for us.
00:41:43.94\00:41:47.35
He wants us to serve
Him and by serving Him
00:41:47.38\00:41:53.32
it means that we
are serving others.
00:41:53.35\00:41:56.06
Christ wants us to
surrender our rights.
00:41:56.09\00:41:58.88
Whatever we feel
is our right to do,
00:41:58.91\00:42:01.36
He is inviting us to
surrender it, to give it up.
00:42:01.39\00:42:06.14
And if-- if you are here today
00:42:06.17\00:42:09.48
and you are
thinking there may not be,
00:42:09.51\00:42:11.83
that I can't think
of anything in my mind
00:42:11.86\00:42:13.52
that the Lord would--
would have me give up what?
00:42:13.55\00:42:15.46
What is it?
00:42:15.49\00:42:16.52
There will come an opportunity
and there will come a time,
00:42:16.55\00:42:19.24
where you have a
decision to make.
00:42:19.27\00:42:21.91
Whether it's walking by
a mother and their child,
00:42:21.94\00:42:23.75
who need food more than you do
00:42:23.78\00:42:26.41
or whether it's
helping a family member
00:42:26.44\00:42:28.28
when you have a
right to expect an apology.
00:42:28.31\00:42:31.87
Holy Spirit's gonna
whisper to you in that moment
00:42:31.90\00:42:33.82
and say surrender your rights.
00:42:33.85\00:42:37.48
Jesus surrendered His rights
so that we could be saved.
00:42:37.51\00:42:43.10
Friends, the work
began in great self-sacrifice
00:42:43.13\00:42:47.04
and it will only be finished
with great self sacrifice.
00:42:47.07\00:42:53.84
This afternoon if
you want to say Lord
00:42:53.87\00:42:55.64
I recognize that I
have been saved for service,
00:42:55.67\00:43:00.58
I see today that You came down
00:43:00.61\00:43:03.05
and you served in order to save,
00:43:03.08\00:43:05.51
I want to serve others,
00:43:05.54\00:43:06.61
so that others can be saved too.
00:43:06.64\00:43:08.45
Then I invite you to
stand, you want to say Lord,
00:43:08.48\00:43:11.30
I want to be a servant,
00:43:11.33\00:43:14.06
make me a servant today, amen.
00:43:14.09\00:43:19.35
Just before
coming here to Australia,
00:43:19.38\00:43:23.44
I was with my parents
in Northern California.
00:43:23.47\00:43:27.37
I had not spent
this much time with them,
00:43:27.40\00:43:29.86
since I left home in 2008.
00:43:29.89\00:43:34.52
As I was there I
was helping my parents
00:43:34.55\00:43:36.73
remodel their
house and my mom was,
00:43:36.76\00:43:40.50
was sitting there
in the living room,
00:43:40.53\00:43:42.79
and she had her pad
there, and she said you know,
00:43:42.82\00:43:46.29
I've decided that I'm
gonna put a couple hours
00:43:46.32\00:43:49.21
every evening
into preparing things
00:43:49.24\00:43:53.00
for the house, as
it's been remodeled.
00:43:53.03\00:43:54.97
I want to do my
part, I want to help.
00:43:55.00\00:43:58.41
And I asked her something,
I said, mom, that's great.
00:43:58.44\00:44:02.90
I have her permission to
tell this story by the way.
00:44:02.93\00:44:07.55
I said are you
willing to give up the games
00:44:07.58\00:44:10.38
that you are playing in
order to have that time?
00:44:10.41\00:44:15.26
You see my mom had
started playing games
00:44:15.29\00:44:17.53
not things that are necessarily
bad in of themselves.
00:44:17.56\00:44:20.79
Words with
friends, then something's
00:44:20.82\00:44:23.38
that are flashy colors like
Candy Crush or Diamond Dash,
00:44:23.41\00:44:28.62
but she
recognized these things are--
00:44:28.65\00:44:31.67
are sucking up my precious time.
00:44:31.70\00:44:34.48
And friends,
time is really life.
00:44:34.51\00:44:37.06
Time is all we have.
00:44:37.09\00:44:39.35
However you spending your time
your are spending your life.
00:44:39.38\00:44:42.50
And with a kind
countenance I asked momma,
00:44:42.53\00:44:45.27
are you willing to give them up?
00:44:45.30\00:44:47.73
And she looked at
me and she looked back
00:44:47.76\00:44:50.42
and she said I
will think about it.
00:44:50.45\00:44:55.16
Oh, friends, you
know the Holy Spirit
00:44:55.19\00:44:57.18
can do things that,
that we cannot, amen.
00:44:57.21\00:45:00.23
But He wants to use us.
00:45:00.26\00:45:03.44
My mom the next
morning came to me,
00:45:03.47\00:45:07.02
and when I came to the
house she said you know what?
00:45:07.05\00:45:10.12
I read something in my
devotions this morning.
00:45:10.15\00:45:13.15
I came across this
quote that said that,
00:45:13.18\00:45:15.34
in order to
draw closer to Christ
00:45:15.37\00:45:17.29
every darling
sin must be cut off,
00:45:17.32\00:45:20.90
must be done away with.
00:45:20.93\00:45:23.09
And she said, I remember
what you asked me last night.
00:45:23.12\00:45:25.87
I said praised the
Lord, mom. Praise the Lord.
00:45:25.90\00:45:29.25
Then I said, you know,
00:45:29.28\00:45:30.33
the Lord had me memorized
this quote not too long ago
00:45:30.36\00:45:35.41
and I want to share with you.
00:45:35.44\00:45:38.60
Christ's Object
Lessons, page 280, paragraph 4
00:45:38.63\00:45:42.99
"When the appeals
of the Holy Spirit
00:45:43.02\00:45:44.95
come to the
heart, our only safety
00:45:44.98\00:45:48.98
lies in responding
to them without delay."
00:45:49.01\00:45:55.06
As she was there and I was there
00:45:55.09\00:45:56.47
I said you know I
have the book right here,
00:45:56.50\00:45:58.28
I want to see what else
it says in that paragraph.
00:45:58.31\00:46:00.93
And I went, and I
read, and I read out loud
00:46:00.96\00:46:03.83
and the words say,
00:46:03.86\00:46:05.04
"It is unsafe
to delay obedience.
00:46:05.07\00:46:08.72
You may never hear
the invitation again."
00:46:08.75\00:46:13.55
She just said wow, and
then we started talking
00:46:13.58\00:46:17.48
and she said, I
think I need to give
00:46:17.51\00:46:19.78
these little
time wasting games up
00:46:19.81\00:46:24.15
and she started talking
00:46:24.18\00:46:25.27
and change the
subject to little bit
00:46:25.30\00:46:27.48
and I brought a
bag and I said mom,
00:46:27.51\00:46:30.12
what you gonna do?
00:46:30.15\00:46:32.22
And she started
talking about that thing,
00:46:32.25\00:46:33.57
she was talking
about, I said, no, no, no,
00:46:33.60\00:46:36.05
about what the Lord is
been speaking to your heart.
00:46:36.08\00:46:39.32
She says what else can I do?
00:46:39.35\00:46:42.07
What else can I
do but give them up.
00:46:42.10\00:46:45.94
She said, take my pad,
00:46:45.97\00:46:47.73
my phone delete
any games on that.
00:46:47.76\00:46:50.52
I gonna go for a walk.
00:46:50.55\00:46:52.67
Oh, brothers and
sisters, you have no idea
00:46:52.70\00:46:54.35
how happy I was, praise God.
00:46:54.38\00:46:56.78
I've never
taken so much pleasure
00:46:56.81\00:46:58.12
and deleting something
form an iPad or an iPhone,
00:46:58.15\00:47:01.22
and my mom this was
the sweetest thing of all.
00:47:01.25\00:47:05.30
She came back and
she said you know what?
00:47:05.33\00:47:08.65
On my walk I
just felt like these
00:47:08.68\00:47:10.95
chains had been lifted off me.
00:47:10.98\00:47:12.89
I feel great, I feel
fantastic, praise God.
00:47:12.92\00:47:17.24
By the way this is just happened
00:47:17.27\00:47:18.90
after a one week media fast.
00:47:18.93\00:47:22.27
And I encourage you
to go on a media fast,
00:47:22.30\00:47:25.29
even form Facebook for a week
00:47:25.32\00:47:27.95
and see if the Lord does
not speak to you more clearly.
00:47:27.98\00:47:32.34
But she came back and
I said, you know, mom,
00:47:32.37\00:47:35.39
you should share
that on Facebook,
00:47:35.42\00:47:37.39
you should share this testimony.
00:47:37.42\00:47:39.08
She said you know,
what? I think I will.
00:47:39.11\00:47:41.26
Friends, there are many people
00:47:41.29\00:47:42.39
that struggle with little things
00:47:42.42\00:47:43.87
seeming little, you know--
00:47:43.90\00:47:45.86
not harmful things
that just waste time.
00:47:45.89\00:47:51.32
And today whether
it's big or small,
00:47:51.35\00:47:54.42
if you recognize
that there is something
00:47:54.45\00:47:56.21
that is keeping
you from service,
00:47:56.24\00:47:59.20
something that is keeping you
00:47:59.23\00:48:00.63
from spending more
time in God's service
00:48:00.66\00:48:05.30
and you want to say to
Lord, I want to get rid of that,
00:48:05.33\00:48:08.47
I wanted it to be gone so that
I can have more time for You,
00:48:08.50\00:48:11.01
than I invite to
You to come forward.
00:48:11.04\00:48:13.11
Want to have a
special prayer with you.
00:48:13.14\00:48:16.06
Come forward if
you want to say Lord,
00:48:16.09\00:48:17.81
there are
something's in my life,
00:48:17.84\00:48:19.13
may be not even
bad things necessarily,
00:48:19.16\00:48:22.72
that I recognize
are wasting my time.
00:48:22.75\00:48:25.98
And Lord,
whether it's time waste
00:48:26.01\00:48:27.99
or something
that's taking my money
00:48:28.02\00:48:29.57
or my energy, my thoughts,
I want to give that up to You
00:48:29.60\00:48:32.46
because I want that
time to be given to You.
00:48:32.49\00:48:36.22
If that's your desire today,
I invite you to come forward.
00:48:36.25\00:48:42.01
Coming forward not
for any other reason
00:48:42.04\00:48:43.99
but to say Lord, I recognize,
00:48:44.02\00:48:45.54
I can use my time
better, praise the Lord.
00:48:45.57\00:48:47.85
Praise the Lord.
00:48:47.88\00:48:49.73
You know every time
we make a physical action
00:48:49.76\00:48:52.89
it impresses upon our mind
the decision that we have made.
00:48:52.92\00:48:57.20
It is not the same
to remain in our seats
00:48:57.23\00:48:59.78
and say yeah, I gonna do that.
00:48:59.81\00:49:02.87
There's something
about coming forward
00:49:02.90\00:49:04.10
because we remember that God--
we made a commitment to Him
00:49:04.13\00:49:08.46
and He is promised to
fill His will in us, amen.
00:49:08.49\00:49:12.72
Amen.
00:49:12.75\00:49:14.41
Praise the Lord.
00:49:14.44\00:49:21.23
Whether you are
already at the front
00:49:21.26\00:49:24.53
or whether you cannot
think of anything that
00:49:24.56\00:49:28.45
you would like
to surrender to God,
00:49:28.48\00:49:29.92
and have more time for service
00:49:29.95\00:49:31.99
and I want to make a
specific appeal today.
00:49:32.02\00:49:36.84
Jesus left the
comforts of heaven,
00:49:36.87\00:49:40.25
He left the streets of gold,
00:49:40.28\00:49:43.10
He left the
civilized clean place
00:49:43.13\00:49:48.21
to come to this
dark, dirty, sinful earth
00:49:48.24\00:49:55.59
and the work
will not be finished
00:49:55.62\00:49:57.78
unless that's same type
of self-sacrifice is made.
00:49:57.81\00:50:05.11
And if the Lord has
been calling you for sometime
00:50:05.14\00:50:08.46
or may be for the
first in this moment.
00:50:08.49\00:50:13.19
Can you believe that God
wants you to go somewhere
00:50:13.22\00:50:16.20
to be a missionary
for year of your life,
00:50:16.23\00:50:20.23
whether you take
a year off of uni,
00:50:20.26\00:50:22.81
whether you taking
off a year before uni
00:50:22.84\00:50:24.79
in order to go as
a student missionary
00:50:24.82\00:50:28.19
or whether you are old,
whether it's to go be trained
00:50:28.22\00:50:31.12
at a Bible collage
specifically doing mission work
00:50:31.15\00:50:34.97
for at least a year and
you willing to say Lord,
00:50:35.00\00:50:37.49
I want to explore that option,
00:50:37.52\00:50:40.09
I want to pray about
being a missionary for you.
00:50:40.12\00:50:44.56
Friend, that
will change your life.
00:50:44.59\00:50:49.02
If that's your desire today
00:50:49.05\00:50:50.08
I'd like to invite
you to raise your hands
00:50:50.11\00:50:52.53
as a commitment to say Lord,
I'm willing to pray about it.
00:50:52.56\00:50:55.41
Praise God, brother.
00:50:55.44\00:50:56.72
Praise the Lord. Amen. Amen.
00:50:56.75\00:51:01.34
Willing to pray
and to look into it,
00:51:01.37\00:51:04.13
to look it ASAP
00:51:04.16\00:51:05.40
to look at Adventist
Frontier Missions, AFM. org
00:51:05.43\00:51:10.18
and pray about where God might
00:51:10.21\00:51:12.00
want me to go for a year, amen.
00:51:12.03\00:51:14.97
If it weren't for missionaries
00:51:15.00\00:51:17.40
I wouldn't be
standing here today,
00:51:17.43\00:51:20.05
my father would not be
00:51:20.08\00:51:21.11
a Seventh-day
Adventist Christian.
00:51:21.14\00:51:23.39
And by raising your
hand and following through
00:51:23.42\00:51:25.88
with your
commitment in this moment
00:51:25.91\00:51:28.26
God very well
may save not just one
00:51:28.29\00:51:30.62
but entire families
through your service.
00:51:30.65\00:51:33.70
Be faithful to the
commitment you've made.
00:51:33.73\00:51:37.64
Shall we sing together?
00:51:37.67\00:51:39.47
A prayer of response
"Lord, Make Me A Servant."
00:51:39.50\00:51:47.02
Make me a servant
00:51:48.18\00:51:52.59
Humble and meek
00:51:52.62\00:51:56.96
Lord, let me lift up
00:51:56.99\00:52:01.23
Those who are weak
00:52:01.26\00:52:05.67
And may the prayer
00:52:05.70\00:52:08.67
Of my heart always be
00:52:08.70\00:52:14.70
Make me a servant
00:52:14.73\00:52:19.36
Make me a servant
00:52:19.39\00:52:24.17
Make me a servant today
00:52:24.20\00:52:32.07
Father God, this is our prayer,
00:52:32.10\00:52:35.16
make us servants for You,
00:52:35.19\00:52:38.20
whether that is
overseas of the missionary,
00:52:38.23\00:52:41.27
now or later Lord,
00:52:41.30\00:52:42.99
please may be, be
faith to our commitments.
00:52:43.02\00:52:46.49
Many of us have in our
minds the things in our lives
00:52:46.52\00:52:48.60
that we could spend less time
00:52:48.63\00:52:50.04
during so we
could spend more time
00:52:50.07\00:52:51.37
with You and in Your service,
and in service to others.
00:52:51.40\00:52:55.31
Keep us faithful to
our commitments we pray
00:52:55.34\00:52:58.90
and as we go
form this place today,
00:52:58.93\00:53:02.06
may be we remember
that You have raised us up
00:53:02.09\00:53:04.47
to be spiritual giants
and to be witnesses for You.
00:53:04.50\00:53:08.74
Because Jesus came
down and served to save us
00:53:08.77\00:53:11.98
Lord, may we rise up
through Christ in our hearts,
00:53:12.01\00:53:15.93
by stooping law to serve
others that they might be saved.
00:53:15.96\00:53:20.95
This is our prayer in
Jesus precious name, amen.
00:53:20.98\00:53:24.86