The hour is urgent, as darkness
is dispelled by the light of
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God's Word, a new day begins.
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Jesus, the light of
the world is shining.
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Prepare your hearts to
proclaim the final cry.
00:00:14.18\00:00:17.31
This is 3ABN
Summer Camp Meeting.
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Praise the Lord everyone.
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So we have been praising
the Lord together, sharing our
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testimonies back and forth.
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Hasn't it been good?
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Well, the Bible says it is a
good thing to give thanks unto
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the Lord and to sing
praises unto thy name most high.
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So it has been wonderful to
be here with you doing that.
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I am Pastor Ryan Johnson, and
it is my privilege to introduce
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our next speaker.
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Our speaker is
Christopher Hudson.
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He's a preacher.
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He is a filmmaker.
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He is a historian, among other
things, and he is probably most
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known for his ministry called
the Forerunner Chronicles.
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Has anyone ever
seen that before?
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It's amazing, isn't it?
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I remember the
first time that I saw it.
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This ministry fearlessly
addresses controversial and
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challenging issues around
prophecy and second coming
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readiness.
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Amen.
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Now one of his most acclaimed
works is called the Leopard
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Vision.
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Leopard Vision.
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And it gives a modern biblical
explanation and exploration of
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Revelation Chapter 13.
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So you want to make sure that
you go and check that out and
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be blessed in
the name of the Lord.
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And he is part
of our 3ABN family.
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By God's grace, he has
blessed us with his messages and
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ministry many times before.
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And tonight's message is
titled, and I like this, Wake
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Up!
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The hour is urgent.
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Wake up!
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The hour is urgent.
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So after a lovely message in
song brought by Brother Reggie
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and Lady Love, the next voice
that you will hear will be that
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of Brother Christopher Hudson.
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God be with you.
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I would love to tell
you what I think of Jesus.
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I have found a friend
so kind and love as he.
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I would tell you how he
changed my life completely.
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He did something that
no other friend could do.
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There for me, like Jesus, there
is no other friend so kind as
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he.
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No one else could take
the sin and darkness from me.
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Oh, how much he cares for me.
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All my life was full of
sin when Jesus found me.
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And all my heart was
full of misery and woe.
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But Jesus placed his strong
and loving arms around me.
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And he led me in
the way I ought to go.
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And every day he comes
to me with a new assurance.
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And more and more I
understand his words of love.
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But I'll never know
just why he came to save me.
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Till that day I see
his blessed face above.
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For me, like Jesus, there is
no other friend so kind as he.
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No one else could take
the sin and darkness from me.
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Oh, how much he cares for me.
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Oh, how much he cares for me.
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Good evening.
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Good evening.
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It's a blessing to be here
with you for 3ABN Summer Camp
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Meeting 2025.
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And I'm looking forward to the
way that the Lord is going to
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bless us as we spend time
together delving into his word.
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But because I have much to get
to in the word of God with you,
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this evening I'm not
going to waste too much time.
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I want to get right
to business, so to say.
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So as it is my tradition, I
want to encourage everyone to
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do two things.
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Number one,
please pray for yourself.
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I fully believe that every time
the scriptures are open, it is
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God's desire to impart
his Holy Spirit unto us.
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The word of God tells us in
the book of John chapter 16 and
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verse 13, how be it when he,
the spirit of truth, is come.
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He will guide you not
into some but all truth.
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We're so dependent on
God's presence to illuminate our
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darkened understanding
and guide us in the way of
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righteousness.
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of God independent
of God's assistance.
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And so I encourage you pray
and say, Lord, teach me what you
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want me to hear.
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Cause me to understand what
is necessary for my character
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development so that I can
stand in the hour that is right
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before all of mankind.
00:08:01.84\00:08:03.18
And please pray for myself as
well because I'm fully aware of
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the fact that I am a very
fragile man and without God I
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can do nothing.
00:08:09.38\00:08:10.19
So as it is my tradition, I'm
going to kneel to pray at this
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time.
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invite you to kneel with me.
00:08:16.66\00:08:17.83
But if you don't have the
ability to do that, would you
00:08:17.83\00:08:17.86
just bow your head
and close your eyes?
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And just for the next 60
seconds, I'm making a simple
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request.
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Holy Spirit to move on all of
our minds to teach us his will
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and his way.
00:08:35.41\00:08:36.21
And when you hear my voice,
I'll close this out in Let's
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pray.
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It is in humility.
00:09:09.14\00:09:10.45
I bow before thy throne and
by faith, I approach you not by
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myself, but with
all these your children.
00:09:13.88\00:09:17.15
And I come
presenting the merits of Jesus.
00:09:18.32\00:09:22.96
And I'm asking you, O God,
that you would hear my simple
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request that first and
foremost, you would cleanse me
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thoroughly of all sin and
do that for all of us that are
00:09:31.17\00:09:34.80
here and all that are watching.
00:09:34.80\00:09:36.27
And please, O Lord, be so
gracious as to impart unto us
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the comforter, the spirit of
truth, thy Holy Spirit, that he
00:09:41.81\00:09:47.68
might enlighten our dark,
enlighten our darkened minds
00:09:47.68\00:09:50.89
and cause us to understand the
urgency of the times in which
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we are now living.
00:09:56.42\00:09:57.33
And as I love to claim
your promise in Jeremiah 33 and
00:09:58.59\00:10:01.73
verse three, I claim it
yet one more time this evening.
00:10:01.73\00:10:04.50
For you said, call upon me and
I will answer thee, and I will
00:10:05.23\00:10:10.47
show thee great and mighty
things which thou knowest not.
00:10:10.47\00:10:13.38
O Lord, you know my
knowledge is extremely limited.
00:10:14.18\00:10:17.51
I know nothing as I ought to,
but I'm simply requesting that
00:10:17.75\00:10:21.85
you would purge me of all my
pride, my self-trust, my self
00:10:21.85\00:10:25.42
-righteousness, and that you
would take me in hand and use
00:10:25.42\00:10:27.99
me as an instrument that
your name might be glorified.
00:10:27.99\00:10:31.16
Thank you for
listening to my humble prayer.
00:10:31.69\00:10:34.46
For thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
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forever.
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In the matchless name of
King Jesus, we all do pray.
00:10:39.33\00:10:42.44
Amen.
00:10:42.90\00:10:43.30
I hope you have Bibles with
you because we will be using the
00:10:44.81\00:10:48.18
Bible.
00:10:48.18\00:10:48.78
And I'd like you to turn your
attention with me, if you will,
00:10:49.41\00:10:51.95
to the book of Ecclesiastes,
Ecclesiastes chapter three, and
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we are going to
begin at the 16th verse.
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Once again, we're looking at
Ecclesiastes chapter three, and
00:11:02.39\00:11:07.83
we're going to
begin at the 16th verse.
00:11:07.83\00:11:10.43
The Bible tells us there,
Moreover I saw under the sun
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the place of judgment, that
wickedness was there, and the
00:11:15.27\00:11:20.41
place of righteousness,
that iniquity was there.
00:11:20.41\00:11:25.51
Now Solomon, the wise man, the
preacher of righteousness, when
00:11:26.31\00:11:29.72
he declares that he saw
these things under the sun, he's
00:11:29.72\00:11:32.99
simply informing us that
he's observing things that are
00:11:32.99\00:11:35.89
taking place on the face
of planet earth, because the
00:11:35.89\00:11:38.56
events that take place under
the sun are those events that
00:11:38.56\00:11:41.63
take place in this world
in which we are inhabiting.
00:11:41.63\00:11:44.23
And the Bible lets us know
that as he surveys mankind, his
00:11:44.70\00:11:49.50
attention is fixed on
two particular venues.
00:11:49.50\00:11:52.17
Venue number one,
the place of judgment.
00:11:52.71\00:11:55.68
Venue number two, the
place of righteousness.
00:11:56.28\00:11:59.51
Now the place of judgment
is simply dealing with civil
00:12:00.52\00:12:04.42
judgment courts, governments.
00:12:04.42\00:12:07.02
He's looking at these bodies
and the individuals that occupy
00:12:09.02\00:12:13.46
them that are responsible
for making rules, for making
00:12:13.46\00:12:17.20
judgments, for going through
litigation, individuals whose
00:12:17.20\00:12:22.04
responsibility it is to advance
justice and uphold that which
00:12:22.04\00:12:27.28
is right.
00:12:27.28\00:12:28.14
But instead of seeing men
and women of high moral fiber of
00:12:29.11\00:12:35.78
integrity, the word of
God tells us that he saw there
00:12:35.78\00:12:41.09
wickedness.
00:12:41.09\00:12:42.09
In these systems that were
put in place for the singular
00:12:42.86\00:12:47.03
purpose of advancing
justice and upholding fairness,
00:12:47.03\00:12:52.60
embedded was corruption and
systemic injustice of every hue
00:12:53.44\00:12:59.87
imaginable.
00:12:59.87\00:13:00.78
If you're following, say amen.
00:13:00.81\00:13:02.28
And I can imagine that he was,
I can imagine that he was quite
00:13:02.91\00:13:06.98
disturbed by those
things that he saw.
00:13:06.98\00:13:09.48
And so he switches his
attention from the places of
00:13:11.02\00:13:16.83
judgment to the
place of righteousness.
00:13:16.83\00:13:19.23
Now what do you think the
place of righteousness is?
00:13:19.96\00:13:22.76
Well let's take
some time to consider.
00:13:23.63\00:13:25.33
What does the Bible
define as righteousness?
00:13:25.37\00:13:27.57
Would you turn your Bibles with
me, if you will, to the book of
00:13:27.74\00:13:30.31
Psalm 119 and verse 172.
00:13:30.31\00:13:32.71
And there we'll begin to come
to an understanding of what God
00:13:32.97\00:13:37.68
defines righteousness as.
00:13:37.68\00:13:39.85
In the book of Psalms,
the 119th division, looking at
00:13:40.35\00:13:43.79
verse 172, the Bible simply
states, my tongue shall speak
00:13:43.79\00:13:48.19
of thy word for all thy
commandments are righteousness.
00:13:48.19\00:13:52.96
God's commandments are his
universal standard of right
00:13:53.73\00:13:58.53
doing, that which is acceptable
in the sight of the most holy
00:13:58.53\00:14:01.27
God and that which is
detestable and abhorrent.
00:14:01.27\00:14:04.14
These things are made clear to
us as we look at the decalogue,
00:14:04.37\00:14:08.51
the commandments
of the living God.
00:14:08.51\00:14:08.54
And these commandments, which
are defined as righteousness,
00:14:11.11\00:14:14.58
the Bible goes on to tell us
in Psalm 119 and verse 152, thou
00:14:14.95\00:14:22.19
art near, O Lord, and all
thy commandments are truth.
00:14:22.19\00:14:27.60
So whatever the place of
righteousness is, it must be an
00:14:28.63\00:14:34.84
institution.
00:14:34.84\00:14:35.67
It must be a place where
God's truth is supposed to be
00:14:36.47\00:14:40.54
exalted, where his
righteousness is supposed to be
00:14:40.54\00:14:43.41
made manifest, where right
doing is proclaimed and made
00:14:43.41\00:14:47.62
known to all mankind.
00:14:47.62\00:14:48.85
If you're
following, just say amen.
00:14:48.92\00:14:50.65
And not only is the
righteousness of God's law made
00:14:51.69\00:14:55.89
known to men and his truth that
is acceptable declared from the
00:14:55.89\00:14:59.43
place of righteousness,
not just the theory of these
00:14:59.43\00:15:02.33
things, but the Bible tells us,
Jesus himself declared in John
00:15:02.33\00:15:06.03
14 and verse 6, I am the way,
00:15:06.03\00:15:08.37
the is the living
embodiment of truth.
00:15:13.74\00:15:17.28
And this very same Jesus in the
book of 1 Corinthians chapter 1
00:15:17.71\00:15:22.68
and verse 30, the word of God
tells us, but of him are ye in
00:15:22.68\00:15:27.06
Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom,
00:15:27.06\00:15:31.29
righteousness,
sanctification and redemption.
00:15:32.29\00:15:36.77
Jesus is the source
of all righteousness.
00:15:38.17\00:15:41.64
If you believe that, say amen.
00:15:41.74\00:15:42.97
Jesus is the living
embodiment of the truth.
00:15:43.54\00:15:47.41
And so with this understanding
in mind, the place of
00:15:47.88\00:15:51.41
righteousness must be a place
not only where the truth, the
00:15:51.41\00:15:55.72
theory of truth is promoted,
but Jesus Christ and his
00:15:55.72\00:15:58.99
righteousness is exalted and
is made known by the lives of
00:15:58.99\00:16:03.02
those that occupy, if you
are with me friends, and we know
00:16:03.02\00:16:10.13
that there is only one place
that fits this character, and
00:16:10.13\00:16:14.00
that is the church.
00:16:14.00\00:16:15.00
The church and all of its
auxiliary institutions, whether
00:16:16.14\00:16:19.97
it be centers of learning or
places of healing, they've all
00:16:19.97\00:16:23.81
been put in place for one
specific goal to accomplish one
00:16:23.81\00:16:28.02
specific agenda, and that is to
make Christ and his truth known
00:16:28.02\00:16:31.52
to every nation,
kindred, tongue and people.
00:16:31.52\00:16:34.16
But can you imagine as Solomon
turns his attention from the
00:16:35.56\00:16:40.96
civil judgment halls of his
time and fixes his attention on
00:16:40.96\00:16:44.53
the church, the people of God
and every institution connected
00:16:44.53\00:16:48.17
to it, instead of beholding
righteousness, he observes
00:16:48.17\00:16:53.27
iniquity.
00:16:53.27\00:16:54.78
Men and women
engaged in habitual sin.
00:16:55.11\00:17:00.28
And the most disturbing thing
about what Solomon observed in
00:17:02.62\00:17:06.72
his time is that we can clearly
observe it in ours as well.
00:17:06.72\00:17:10.73
Ladies and gentlemen, it
seems as though it has become
00:17:13.53\00:17:16.53
fashionable to place men and
women in the highest positions
00:17:16.53\00:17:20.60
of government today that
have questionable characters.
00:17:20.60\00:17:24.87
Seems as though these
individuals have no moral
00:17:27.68\00:17:30.65
compass whatsoever.
00:17:30.65\00:17:31.78
And unfortunately, if we're
going to be honest, we can look
00:17:33.28\00:17:36.52
at Christendom, we can look at
the church from administrators
00:17:36.52\00:17:41.82
to pastors to members.
00:17:41.82\00:17:43.53
Unfortunately, instead of
seeing Jesus lifted up as he
00:17:43.96\00:17:47.66
ought to be, iniquity is
prevalent in every phase, every
00:17:47.66\00:17:58.44
sector of the
church of the living God.
00:17:58.44\00:18:02.41
And I can imagine that as
Solomon beheld these things, he
00:18:03.75\00:18:07.18
might have been
a bit taken back.
00:18:07.18\00:18:08.82
I'm using very kind language.
00:18:09.32\00:18:10.79
And of course, these types
of things are disturbing, but I
00:18:13.15\00:18:17.06
love the way that Solomon
responds to what he observed.
00:18:17.06\00:18:20.80
It's very clear to me that
Solomon's response to what he
00:18:20.90\00:18:25.27
observed was directly as a
result of him giving heed to
00:18:25.27\00:18:29.87
the counsel of his father,
David, which we can find in the
00:18:29.87\00:18:33.44
Bible.
00:18:33.44\00:18:35.84
In Psalms 146, and we're going
to look at the third verse,
00:18:35.84\00:18:40.55
Psalm 146, looking at verse 3,
the word of God declares to us,
00:18:40.68\00:18:44.92
put not thy trust in princes,
neither in the son of man in
00:18:45.09\00:18:50.09
whom there is no help.
00:18:50.09\00:18:51.46
His breath goeth forth, he
returneth to his earth, and in
00:18:52.03\00:18:55.40
that very day
his thoughts perish.
00:18:55.40\00:18:58.07
What the word of God is simply
informing us here is the fact
00:19:00.07\00:19:03.81
that men and women, no matter
what their position in society
00:19:03.81\00:19:07.44
may be, all men are mortal.
00:19:07.44\00:19:11.21
All men are subject to death.
00:19:12.18\00:19:15.02
Even the strongest amongst
us are fragile and finite.
00:19:15.32\00:19:19.42
And any day that a man does not
make the conscious decision to
00:19:21.76\00:19:27.56
yield their heart to the
service of God, that they might
00:19:27.56\00:19:31.63
be empowered by the presence
of his spirit, to live lives of
00:19:31.63\00:19:35.47
holiness, any day that a
human being does not make that
00:19:35.47\00:19:40.08
decision in their fallen state,
they can only accomplish one
00:19:40.08\00:19:45.18
thing, and that is practice sin.
00:19:45.18\00:19:47.05
The point here is all men are
fallible, all men are finite,
00:19:49.35\00:19:56.02
all men are mortal, no matter
what position they hold in
00:19:56.49\00:20:01.23
society, whether they are
leaders of government, and yes,
00:20:01.23\00:20:04.33
whether they are
leaders in the church.
00:20:04.40\00:20:06.40
And so instead of keeping his
mind fixed on what's going on
00:20:07.47\00:20:13.27
in the world, whether it
be in the government or in the
00:20:13.27\00:20:16.41
leadership of the church, and
by the way, it's clear that he
00:20:16.41\00:20:21.22
didn't remain silent on
the issue because he's the one
00:20:21.22\00:20:24.62
informing us that he beheld
wickedness in the places of
00:20:24.62\00:20:28.66
judgment, and he beheld
iniquity in the place of
00:20:28.66\00:20:31.93
righteousness, the church.
00:20:31.93\00:20:32.99
But instead of making
a YouTube video about it,
00:20:33.19\00:20:36.30
in Ecclesiastes chapter 3
and verse 17, will you turn your
00:20:40.10\00:20:43.57
Bibles there with me?
00:20:43.57\00:20:44.51
Look at how he responds.
00:20:44.74\00:20:46.21
The word of God declares to
us, and I said in my heart, God
00:20:47.34\00:20:51.41
shall judge the righteous and
the wicked, for there's a time
00:20:51.41\00:20:56.25
there for every
purpose and for every work.
00:20:56.25\00:21:00.56
Ladies and gentlemen, though
men are imperfect, fallible,
00:21:01.89\00:21:06.43
and prone to sin, there is one
that is above reproach, there
00:21:06.86\00:21:12.57
is one that is infallible,
there is one that is sinless,
00:21:12.57\00:21:17.51
there is no darkness in him,
and therefore Solomon, he turns
00:21:17.64\00:21:23.14
his attention from the seats
of government in this earth, and
00:21:23.14\00:21:26.15
he fixes his attention on
the everlasting throne that is
00:21:26.15\00:21:29.75
established in heaven.
00:21:29.75\00:21:30.75
And he says, God, the supreme
judge, God who is the final
00:21:31.12\00:21:35.49
arbiter, God who will have the
last say, God will judge both
00:21:35.49\00:21:40.20
the righteous and the wicked.
00:21:40.20\00:21:41.83
And the judgment of God is not
arbitrary because the word of
00:21:43.67\00:21:47.24
God informs us, for there is
a time there in the courts of
00:21:47.24\00:21:50.44
heaven for every purpose
and for every work, and that
00:21:50.44\00:21:54.78
includes judgment.
00:21:54.78\00:21:56.21
And the word of God has
something very clear to speak
00:21:58.78\00:22:01.85
on this subject.
00:22:01.85\00:22:02.95
Go with me to the book of
Revelation, chapter 14, if you
00:22:03.05\00:22:05.49
will, and start
with me at verse 6.
00:22:05.49\00:22:07.76
You should know this
one by heart, I pray you do.
00:22:08.02\00:22:10.79
When the word of God tells
us there, I saw another angel
00:22:11.29\00:22:14.86
flying in the midst of
heaven, having the what?
00:22:14.86\00:22:17.97
Everlasting gospel to preach to
them that dwell upon the earth,
00:22:18.43\00:22:21.47
and to every nation, kindred,
tongue, and people, saying with
00:22:21.60\00:22:27.38
a loud voice, fear
God, and give glory to what?
00:22:27.38\00:22:30.95
To him, for the hour of his
judgment is come, and worship
00:22:31.18\00:22:36.52
him that made the heavens,
the earth, the sea, and the
00:22:36.52\00:22:39.45
mountains of water.
00:22:39.45\00:22:40.62
My friends, whether we are not
knowledgeable of this reality,
00:22:41.06\00:22:48.56
or whether we are not
consciously living our lives
00:22:48.93\00:22:53.03
with this truth ever at the
forefront of our minds, it is
00:22:53.03\00:22:57.21
my burden this evening to
once again stir you up to the
00:22:57.21\00:23:05.05
realization that the work of
judgment is not some event that
00:23:05.05\00:23:09.58
is going to happen in
the far -off, distant future.
00:23:09.58\00:23:12.42
The reality is
the judgment is now.
00:23:12.59\00:23:16.09
The work of judgment has been
going forward in the most holy
00:23:17.29\00:23:21.10
place of the heavenly sanctuary
since 1844, October 22, if you
00:23:21.10\00:23:26.27
want to be exact.
00:23:26.27\00:23:27.64
And in this work of judgment,
as the father and the son
00:23:29.20\00:23:33.34
inhabit the throne
together, Jesus sitting as the
00:23:33.34\00:23:37.38
representative of the human
family, standing seated as our
00:23:37.38\00:23:42.15
great high priest, pleading his
blood for our salvation in this
00:23:42.15\00:23:46.72
work, names are being accepted
and names are being rejected.
00:23:46.72\00:23:51.33
And contrary to popular
misconception, I should say it
00:23:54.00\00:23:57.63
that way, the work of judgment
isn't all about the eyes of the
00:23:57.63\00:24:03.37
Lord roaming to and fro
throughout the earth to show
00:24:03.37\00:24:06.51
himself mighty to destroy men.
00:24:06.51\00:24:08.71
Are you following, friends?
00:24:09.14\00:24:10.78
The work of judgment has
everything to do with God
00:24:10.98\00:24:16.02
employing all of his divine
resources for the purpose of
00:24:16.02\00:24:21.12
saving men and
women like you and me.
00:24:21.12\00:24:23.63
Brothers and sisters, just
imagine a person that spends
00:24:25.16\00:24:29.30
money and time to plant a
vineyard and then one faithful
00:24:29.30\00:24:34.37
day they go out into their
vineyard and then they come
00:24:34.37\00:24:37.31
back and tell the inhabitants
of their home, today I went out
00:24:37.31\00:24:40.44
into my vineyard and I found 99
vines that were worth nothing,
00:24:40.44\00:24:46.18
fit for destruction,
but found one good vine.
00:24:48.28\00:24:50.85
And he says this
with great joy and glee.
00:24:51.45\00:24:53.96
Would such a thing happen?
00:24:55.06\00:24:56.06
Doesn't even
make sense, does it?
00:24:56.86\00:24:58.59
What makes sense is that an
individual that would take such
00:24:59.63\00:25:02.83
time, make such effort,
employ such resources to plant a
00:25:02.83\00:25:10.91
vineyard when they go out,
if they're able to come back in
00:25:10.91\00:25:15.84
and say, today I went out.
00:25:15.84\00:25:17.28
And I found 99 vines.
00:25:17.28\00:25:23.05
The fruit was lush, beautiful,
ripe, ready for harvesting.
00:25:23.28\00:25:28.92
But unfortunately I found one
vine and it doesn't look good
00:25:29.92\00:25:33.50
so I'm going to do everything
possible to try to save it.
00:25:33.50\00:25:39.23
That's exactly what's going
on in the work of judgment,
00:25:40.77\00:25:44.24
brothers and sisters.
00:25:44.24\00:25:45.17
All of heaven's resources
are being employed for the
00:25:45.84\00:25:49.31
salvation of souls, men
and women like you and me.
00:25:49.31\00:25:52.48
The Bible tells us in the book
of Hebrews chapter 1, I'll just
00:25:53.05\00:25:56.45
open your Bible there,
I want you to see this.
00:25:56.45\00:25:58.15
In Hebrews chapter 1, in
Hebrews the first chapter,
00:25:58.39\00:26:02.22
looking at verse 14, speaking
of the holy angels, the word of
00:26:02.52\00:26:06.09
God says, are they not
ministering spirits sent forth
00:26:06.09\00:26:09.46
to minister unto them which
shall be heirs of salvation?
00:26:09.46\00:26:12.87
The angels are working
tirelessly for the salvation of
00:26:13.47\00:26:17.67
men and women like us which
according to Hebrews chapter 2
00:26:17.67\00:26:22.08
and verse 7, we were
made a little lower than them.
00:26:22.08\00:26:25.68
But they're
working for our salvation.
00:26:26.31\00:26:29.08
The Holy Spirit, Jesus declared
to the disciples in John
00:26:30.09\00:26:35.52
chapter 16, he said, it's
expedient for you that I go
00:26:35.52\00:26:39.53
away.
00:26:39.53\00:26:39.96
Because if I don't go away, the
Comforter cannot come unto you,
00:26:41.30\00:26:46.07
but if I depart, I
will send him unto you.
00:26:46.10\00:26:48.64
And when he has come, he will
approve the world of sin and of
00:26:48.67\00:26:52.44
righteousness and of judgment.
00:26:52.44\00:26:53.98
John chapter 16 verses 7 and 8,
and brothers and sisters, when
00:26:54.88\00:26:58.71
the Comforter comes, his work
according to John 16 and verse
00:26:58.71\00:27:02.15
13 is to lead us into
all truth, to give us an
00:27:02.15\00:27:05.75
intellectual understanding of
what the will of God is, and to
00:27:05.75\00:27:09.56
empower us to
perform his good pleasure.
00:27:09.56\00:27:12.19
Jesus himself spilled his blood.
00:27:13.50\00:27:16.06
He became as one of us, tempted
in all points as we are, yet
00:27:16.13\00:27:20.30
without sin, so that he
might be a faithful high priest.
00:27:20.30\00:27:23.67
And God the Father is working
above all and through all.
00:27:24.07\00:27:28.18
All heaven is employed at
this time for our salvation.
00:27:28.48\00:27:32.88
That's what's going on
in this work of judgment.
00:27:34.05\00:27:37.15
But for some reason, we, whom
heaven's affections are fixated
00:27:38.82\00:27:47.03
on, are living our lives
oblivious to this awesome and
00:27:47.03\00:27:55.74
life -changing reality.
00:27:55.74\00:27:57.51
The Bible tells us, will
you go with me to the book of
00:27:59.21\00:28:01.61
Jeremiah?
00:28:01.61\00:28:02.04
Jeremiah chapter 8.
00:28:03.28\00:28:04.91
In Jeremiah the 8th chapter,
looking at verse 7, the words
00:28:05.98\00:28:10.72
of scripture here
are quite profound to me.
00:28:10.72\00:28:12.99
In Jeremiah 8 and verse 7, the
Bible says to us that the stork
00:28:13.05\00:28:18.39
in the heavens north her
appointed times, and the turtle
00:28:18.39\00:28:23.33
and the crane and the swallow
observed the time of their
00:28:23.33\00:28:28.30
coming, but my people know
not the judgment of the Lord.
00:28:28.30\00:28:31.71
Can you imagine the word of God
informs us that these animals,
00:28:32.91\00:28:38.65
matter of fact for all purpose
and intention, these bird
00:28:38.78\00:28:42.92
-brained creatures
instinctively observe the signs
00:28:42.92\00:28:49.49
within their environment.
00:28:49.49\00:28:51.09
And upon observing the signs
in their environment, they are
00:28:52.13\00:28:56.60
able to ascertain, they are
able to conclude that there is
00:28:56.60\00:29:00.60
a change going on.
00:29:00.60\00:29:03.20
There is a change going on in
the seasons, and now it is time
00:29:04.07\00:29:09.21
for us to become
active and make a move.
00:29:09.21\00:29:12.61
Because if we remain with
our wings folded, and we don't
00:29:13.42\00:29:20.22
actively do something, it
will be to our own detriment.
00:29:20.22\00:29:25.19
These bird-brained creatures
are able to make conclusions,
00:29:26.53\00:29:30.70
but we that have been made in
the image of the living God, to
00:29:31.53\00:29:39.44
whom God has committed
his lively oracles, the holy
00:29:39.44\00:29:43.01
scriptures, we whom the Lord is
investing his intention in, it
00:29:43.01\00:29:50.15
is as if we do not have
the sense to look at the clear
00:29:50.15\00:29:57.53
signs that are unfolding in our
environment that inform us that
00:29:57.53\00:30:02.93
we are living in a time that
calls for activity like never
00:30:02.93\00:30:06.94
before.
00:30:06.94\00:30:07.57
That it is now time for us
to awake and move with rapidity
00:30:08.17\00:30:14.01
because if we do not do
so, it will not only be to our
00:30:14.01\00:30:17.38
detriment, it will be
to the loss of many souls.
00:30:17.38\00:30:20.32
And then someone says, well,
how can we be certain of the
00:30:22.95\00:30:27.02
time?
00:30:27.02\00:30:27.46
Well, let's see
what the Bible says.
00:30:28.09\00:30:29.39
Will you go with me
to 2nd Peter chapter 3?
00:30:29.49\00:30:31.29
In 2nd Peter chapter 3,
beginning at the third verse,
00:30:32.86\00:30:38.53
the Bible tells us there,
in 2nd Peter chapter 3, are you
00:30:39.57\00:30:46.84
there in your Bibles with me?
00:30:46.84\00:30:48.14
Good.
00:30:48.34\00:30:53.65
says, knowing this first,
that there shall come when?
00:30:53.65\00:30:56.89
In the last day scoffers
walking after their own lusts
00:30:57.95\00:31:03.53
and saying, wherein is
the sign of his coming?
00:31:03.53\00:31:05.83
For since the fathers fell
asleep, all things continue as
00:31:05.99\00:31:09.73
they were from the
beginning of creation.
00:31:09.73\00:31:12.80
The Word of God tells us that
in the last days, men and women
00:31:12.80\00:31:17.94
of intellect, men and women
that are academics, men and
00:31:17.94\00:31:24.28
women that are professed
scientists, men and women
00:31:24.28\00:31:27.32
throughout the world will begin
to scoff and mock at the truth
00:31:27.32\00:31:32.25
of the Word of God.
00:31:32.25\00:31:33.42
Are we not living in a time
where the Word of God is the
00:31:34.46\00:31:40.13
punchline of every joke?
00:31:40.13\00:31:41.43
We see the name of Jesus and
God's word held in derision in
00:31:44.40\00:31:49.70
almost all the television
programs, all the movies, all
00:31:49.70\00:31:54.14
the music, Jesus
is the punchline.
00:31:54.14\00:31:57.31
Friends, you don't know
what time you're living in?
00:32:00.05\00:32:02.78
The Word of God made it clear
to us that these things would
00:32:04.19\00:32:07.39
be prevalent in the last days.
00:32:07.39\00:32:10.03
If you're following, say amen.
00:32:10.63\00:32:12.53
What time are we living in?
00:32:12.83\00:32:14.83
The Bible tells us again, go
with me to the book of Timothy.
00:32:15.73\00:32:19.33
Where are we going?
00:32:19.43\00:32:20.04
If you look with me in the book
of 2 Timothy, 2 Timothy chapter
00:32:20.94\00:32:25.57
3, in 2 Timothy chapter 3, and
we're going to start at verse
00:32:25.57\00:32:30.11
1, 2 Timothy chapter 3,
beginning at verse 1, the Bible
00:32:30.11\00:32:35.55
informs us, This know also
that in the last days, perilous
00:32:35.55\00:32:39.55
times shall come, fierce times,
dangerous times, because men
00:32:39.55\00:32:44.73
shall be lovers
of them own selves.
00:32:44.73\00:32:46.80
We're living in a time where
people get angry if you don't
00:32:48.13\00:32:51.37
like their posts on Instagram.
00:32:51.37\00:32:52.93
People want to fight?
00:32:53.87\00:32:54.97
Perilous times will come.
00:32:56.84\00:32:58.17
Why?
00:32:58.27\00:33:03.18
self, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient
00:33:03.18\00:33:11.35
to parents, unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection.
00:33:11.35\00:33:15.69
Do I need to expound on that?
00:33:15.72\00:33:17.33
Without natural affection,
truth-breakers, false accusers,
00:33:19.06\00:33:22.33
incontinent,
lacking self -control.
00:33:22.60\00:33:25.20
People just burst into rage,
ready to fight on the road.
00:33:26.87\00:33:31.44
People have no control
over their physical beings.
00:33:31.44\00:33:34.71
Incontinent have mercy.
00:33:36.48\00:33:38.38
Fierce despisers of
those that are good.
00:33:42.75\00:33:46.02
Traders, heady, high-minded,
lovers of pleasure more than
00:33:47.02\00:33:50.83
lovers of God.
00:33:50.83\00:33:51.76
Having a form of godliness, but
denying the power thereof, from
00:33:52.46\00:34:00.24
such the word of
God says, turn away.
00:34:00.24\00:34:02.17
Brothers and sisters,
as you look at all of these
00:34:03.20\00:34:05.87
characteristic traits that
the Lord informs us, will be the
00:34:05.87\00:34:10.51
color of society
prior to his second coming.
00:34:10.51\00:34:13.62
It's made clear to us that
these things would not only be
00:34:15.12\00:34:18.52
found in the world, they would
clearly be found in the church.
00:34:18.52\00:34:21.99
Because it's not the world that
has a form of godliness, it's
00:34:23.49\00:34:26.70
those of us that
profess that we love Jesus.
00:34:26.70\00:34:29.26
Making high professions, but
denying the power that enables
00:34:30.00\00:34:34.70
us to live out those
professions, and that is the
00:34:34.70\00:34:37.34
work of the Spirit in our lives.
00:34:37.34\00:34:39.37
For the word of God tells us in
Acts chapter 1 and verse 8, and
00:34:39.81\00:34:43.21
ye shall receive power after
that the Holy Ghost has come
00:34:43.21\00:34:46.88
upon you, and ye
shall be my witnesses.
00:34:46.88\00:34:49.88
But we're living our lives
powerlessly, in perilous times,
00:34:50.82\00:34:58.13
comforting ourselves with
the facade of Christianity.
00:34:58.59\00:35:02.90
It's time to wake up.
00:35:03.83\00:35:05.43
The time is now.
00:35:06.20\00:35:07.80
Brothers and sisters,
ladies and gentlemen, we cannot
00:35:10.04\00:35:15.38
continue in this vein.
00:35:15.38\00:35:16.95
It is dangerous for us
to continue down this path.
00:35:17.68\00:35:22.02
If we remain indolent, it
will be to our own destruction.
00:35:23.08\00:35:28.52
What time are we living in?
00:35:30.43\00:35:31.79
The word of God tells us once
again, go with me to the book
00:35:34.56\00:35:37.47
of 1st Timothy now.
00:35:37.47\00:35:38.60
In 1st Timothy chapter 4.
00:35:39.40\00:35:42.40
In 1st Timothy chapter 4,
if you look with me starting at
00:35:43.84\00:35:49.48
verse 1, the Bible
says this, no also.
00:35:49.48\00:35:54.05
No, it says, now the Spirit
speaketh expressly, that in the
00:35:56.42\00:36:01.56
latter times, in the last days,
in the final hours prior to the
00:36:01.56\00:36:06.63
second coming of Christ, in the
latter times, some shall depart
00:36:06.63\00:36:11.30
from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits and the
00:36:11.30\00:36:17.84
doctrine of devils.
00:36:17.84\00:36:19.64
Brothers and sisters, the word
of God tells us that the Spirit
00:36:20.44\00:36:24.91
is speaking
expressly on this issue.
00:36:24.91\00:36:28.12
And when you look at the
original language, it means
00:36:28.22\00:36:30.82
that the Spirit of
God is being outspoken.
00:36:30.82\00:36:33.36
To me, that means a lot.
00:36:33.89\00:36:35.62
Because when I am clear
on the fact that it is the
00:36:35.62\00:36:39.33
responsibility of the Spirit of
God to lead us into all truth,
00:36:39.33\00:36:43.87
and then he comes to me, he
comes to you with a message,
00:36:44.77\00:36:48.54
and with this particular
message, he's not just
00:36:48.60\00:36:51.57
whispering it, he's
being outspoken on that issue.
00:36:51.57\00:36:54.54
It means that I need to sit
on the edge of my seat and pay
00:36:55.08\00:36:58.41
attention.
00:36:58.41\00:36:59.05
Because when somebody's being
outspoken, they think they have
00:36:59.88\00:37:03.59
something of importance
that you need to know.
00:37:03.59\00:37:05.45
And what issue is the Spirit
of God being outspoken on?
00:37:07.59\00:37:10.76
That the fact that in
these last days, some will be
00:37:11.43\00:37:15.36
departing from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits
00:37:15.36\00:37:18.57
and the doctrine of devils.
00:37:18.57\00:37:20.00
And to depart from the faith
simply means that people are
00:37:20.10\00:37:23.27
departing from the plain
statements of the word of God.
00:37:23.27\00:37:25.84
How do we know this?
00:37:26.44\00:37:27.78
Because Romans chapter 10,
open your Bibles, look at these
00:37:28.11\00:37:31.11
things with me,
Romans chapter 10.
00:37:31.11\00:37:32.58
In Romans chapter 10, if you
look with me at verse 17, the
00:37:33.31\00:37:38.69
word of God informs us that
there is only one foundation
00:37:38.69\00:37:43.02
for true acceptable faith.
00:37:43.02\00:37:45.73
If you're following, say amen.
00:37:46.16\00:37:47.60
And the word of God says, so
then faith cometh by hearing,
00:37:48.36\00:37:52.07
and hearing by the word of God.
00:37:52.43\00:37:54.90
So if people are departing
from the faith, what are they
00:37:54.94\00:37:57.21
departing from?
00:37:57.21\00:37:57.91
The plain
statements of the word of God.
00:37:58.41\00:38:00.91
And they're departing from the
faith because they're being a
00:38:00.91\00:38:03.98
Lord by seducing spirits
and the doctrine of devils.
00:38:03.98\00:38:08.52
And you know what these
seducing spirits and the
00:38:09.48\00:38:11.95
doctrine of devils are like?
00:38:11.95\00:38:13.29
Well, in our Bibles, in 2
Corinthians 11, and verse 3,
00:38:14.56\00:38:21.30
Paul declares, but I fear, lest
by any means, as the serpent
00:38:21.50\00:38:28.40
beguiled Eve
through his subtlety.
00:38:28.40\00:38:30.87
So your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity
00:38:31.44\00:38:35.38
that is in Christ.
00:38:35.38\00:38:36.58
Do you remember when the
serpent came to Eve in the
00:38:37.25\00:38:39.81
Garden of Eden, and he
suggested to her that if she
00:38:39.81\00:38:43.52
disobeyed God's clear
commandment, she could enter a
00:38:43.52\00:38:48.19
higher sphere of existence,
a sphere of existence that
00:38:48.19\00:38:52.29
paralleled the
existence of God himself.
00:38:52.29\00:38:54.56
That was a feel-good message.
00:38:55.03\00:38:56.87
He told her just cast behind
you the restraints of God's
00:38:57.97\00:39:01.34
commandments.
00:39:01.34\00:39:04.81
You know, brothers and sisters,
I find consistently that as
00:39:06.27\00:39:10.35
people begin to step off the
platform of the three angels'
00:39:10.35\00:39:13.65
messages, one thing that they
always have to say is, I feel
00:39:13.85\00:39:16.82
so free now.
00:39:16.82\00:39:17.75
I've never felt so free.
00:39:21.39\00:39:23.53
Do you know that when Eve first
listened to the suggestion of
00:39:24.99\00:39:28.30
the enemy and partook of that
fruit for a space of time, she
00:39:28.30\00:39:33.03
felt as though she entered into
a higher sphere of existence.
00:39:33.03\00:39:35.90
Key phrase, space of time.
00:39:36.30\00:39:38.81
Then she not only realized
the folly of her action, it took
00:39:41.01\00:39:45.21
her lower than
anything that she could imagine.
00:39:45.21\00:39:47.92
The Word of God told
us, friends, in 2 Timothy 4,
00:39:53.36\00:39:59.56
beginning at verse 1, I charge
thee before God and the Lord
00:39:59.69\00:40:05.10
Jesus Christ who shall judge
the quick and the dead at his
00:40:05.10\00:40:08.87
appearing and coming.
00:40:08.87\00:40:10.07
Preach the word, be instant in
season, out of season, reprove,
00:40:10.11\00:40:14.71
rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.
00:40:15.11\00:40:18.15
Why?
00:40:18.25\00:40:23.08
But after the lust of their
hearts, seeking to satisfy what
00:40:25.89\00:40:30.13
makes them feel good, seeking
to embrace a message where they
00:40:30.13\00:40:36.26
still get to feel as though
they have Christ Jesus, but
00:40:36.26\00:40:39.17
they no longer have to subject
themselves wholly to the will
00:40:39.17\00:40:42.74
of God that is calling them
up to a higher standard and that
00:40:42.74\00:40:46.27
is purity in Christ.
00:40:46.27\00:40:47.98
It says they will heap to
themselves teachers having
00:40:49.94\00:40:52.61
itching ears and will turn away
their ears from the truth and
00:40:52.61\00:40:57.45
will be turned unto fables.
00:40:57.45\00:40:58.95
And this is happening
with administrators, pastors,
00:40:59.19\00:41:04.96
members
departing from the faith.
00:41:04.96\00:41:07.66
There is a studied attack of
the enemy that is directed on
00:41:08.53\00:41:13.03
the Church of God today.
00:41:13.03\00:41:14.64
How do we know this?
00:41:14.77\00:41:15.77
Because the objective is to
cause people to depart from the
00:41:15.97\00:41:18.81
faith and you can't depart from
the faith unless you're first
00:41:18.81\00:41:21.58
in the faith.
00:41:21.58\00:41:22.31
He wants to ensnare us
and remove us from Christ.
00:41:24.81\00:41:29.18
Don't let any man spoil you now.
00:41:30.89\00:41:32.59
This is not the time.
00:41:32.59\00:41:32.62
Brothers and sisters, it
is the time for us to wake up.
00:41:36.02\00:41:39.36
So the Word of God
tells us in Romans chapter 13.
00:41:41.80\00:41:44.60
Will you go there with me?
00:41:44.63\00:41:45.87
Romans 13, looking at verse 11,
the Scriptures simply state and
00:41:45.90\00:41:51.81
that knowing the time that now
it is high time to awake out of
00:41:51.81\00:41:58.58
sleep.
00:41:58.58\00:41:59.31
For now is our salvation
nearer than when we believed.
00:41:59.68\00:42:04.05
And what I love about that
verse is that when it says it's
00:42:04.32\00:42:08.32
high time, it literally means
now is the hour that we awake
00:42:08.32\00:42:13.83
out of sleep.
00:42:13.83\00:42:14.73
Because the hour of
his judgment is come.
00:42:17.03\00:42:20.40
Brothers and sisters, if we
do not awake out of sleep now,
00:42:22.07\00:42:27.21
it's not only going to be to
the loss of our salvation, but
00:42:28.28\00:42:32.71
friends, it will be to
the loss of many others.
00:42:32.71\00:42:37.45
Paul under the inspiration
of the Spirit of God in Romans
00:42:40.86\00:42:43.89
chapter 15.
00:42:43.89\00:42:44.76
Will you turn your
Bibles there with me?
00:42:44.86\00:42:46.36
Not Romans, forgive me.
00:42:46.53\00:42:47.86
First Corinthians chapter 15.
00:42:48.80\00:42:51.00
In First Corinthians
chapter 15, if you look with me,
00:42:52.27\00:42:57.11
sometimes first 34, it says
awake to righteousness and sin
00:42:58.67\00:43:05.68
not.
00:43:05.68\00:43:06.25
For some have not
a knowledge of God.
00:43:06.78\00:43:09.48
And I speak this to your shame.
00:43:09.95\00:43:13.05
The reason why there are so
many in our world today that
00:43:13.96\00:43:18.49
are ignorant of who God is, the
love that he possesses for us,
00:43:18.49\00:43:22.80
and what he desires and can
accomplish in our lives if we
00:43:22.83\00:43:27.40
simply yield our
persons into his hand.
00:43:27.40\00:43:31.54
The reason why many are
ignorant of this truth is
00:43:32.61\00:43:36.61
because the majority of us are
fast asleep in a coma of sin.
00:43:36.61\00:43:42.92
I'm going to share with you a
testimony and then I'm going to
00:43:48.59\00:43:50.66
close.
00:43:50.66\00:43:50.93
When I got married, my wife and
I, as newlyweds, we moved into
00:43:52.63\00:43:57.63
a quaint little apartment in
New York, quaint meaning small.
00:43:57.63\00:44:00.47
And I was living in a community
nearby one of the church
00:44:02.34\00:44:05.74
sisters.
00:44:05.74\00:44:06.47
And when she knew that we moved
into that area, she asked if I
00:44:06.98\00:44:11.11
might host some Bible studies
for her children and their
00:44:11.11\00:44:14.18
friends in the
community on Friday nights.
00:44:14.18\00:44:16.12
And I was happy to do it.
00:44:16.35\00:44:17.55
And Friday night after Friday
night, I would go there and we
00:44:17.62\00:44:19.95
would study the Bible
and it was a blessing.
00:44:19.95\00:44:21.69
And one Friday evening as
we were studying, we went into
00:44:22.12\00:44:24.79
Daniel chapter two and it was
the perfect time appointed by
00:44:24.79\00:44:28.13
the Lord because apparently the
young people had just studied
00:44:28.13\00:44:31.40
some of this history in school.
00:44:31.40\00:44:32.60
So as we were going through the
rise and fall of the kingdoms,
00:44:32.63\00:44:35.07
they were familiar
with the information.
00:44:35.27\00:44:37.11
And it was so impressive to
them that I remember one Hindu
00:44:37.11\00:44:39.71
young boy was there and
he said the Bible is true.
00:44:39.71\00:44:42.21
And as we came to the
conclusion of this Bible study,
00:44:43.45\00:44:46.65
we would pray traditionally.
00:44:46.68\00:44:48.08
But as I finished praying, the
lady, this church sister that
00:44:48.52\00:44:53.09
hosted the Bible study in
her home, she prayed this very
00:44:53.09\00:44:57.36
fervent, earnest prayer, to
be honest, that terrified me.
00:44:57.36\00:45:00.43
Because I'd never heard this
woman pray like this before.
00:45:00.70\00:45:03.00
And she was praying this type
of prayer, Lord, cover Chris,
00:45:03.53\00:45:06.90
protect him, don't
let the devil kill him.
00:45:07.07\00:45:09.30
And I'm thinking, what in
the world is getting ready to
00:45:09.77\00:45:11.94
happen to me?
00:45:11.94\00:45:12.74
Because her apartment complex
was located in an area that had
00:45:15.08\00:45:19.81
high gang activity.
00:45:19.81\00:45:21.18
And so I'm thinking to myself,
when I leave this house this
00:45:21.38\00:45:24.82
evening, I'm not going
to make it safely to my car.
00:45:24.82\00:45:28.22
And so as I leave the
apartment rather, as I leave the
00:45:29.22\00:45:32.63
apartment, I'm walking
cautiously around every bush in
00:45:32.63\00:45:35.53
every corner.
00:45:35.53\00:45:36.03
I make it to my
vehicle without any incident.
00:45:36.60\00:45:39.67
I'm still not
safe until I get home.
00:45:39.87\00:45:42.00
And as soon as I arrived at
home, I let out a deep sigh and
00:45:42.44\00:45:45.67
said, okay,
everything went well.
00:45:45.67\00:45:46.88
So I got out of my vehicle with
Bible in hand and walked up the
00:45:47.74\00:45:51.68
driveway and turned the corner
to go to the short flight of
00:45:51.68\00:45:54.58
stairs that led to my apartment.
00:45:54.58\00:45:56.02
And as I turned the corner, I
saw a large dog, specifically a
00:45:56.18\00:46:00.66
Rottweiler, seated
right in front of my steps.
00:46:00.66\00:46:03.83
At this point, I ran as
fast as I could back to my car.
00:46:04.03\00:46:06.63
I closed the doors and I locked
the, I unlocked them for good
00:46:07.40\00:46:12.37
measure.
00:46:12.37\00:46:12.83
Better safe than sorry.
00:46:13.70\00:46:14.70
And there I am sitting in
the car and now I start flashing
00:46:15.60\00:46:19.14
the high beams at the dog.
00:46:19.14\00:46:21.04
I'm beeping my horn.
00:46:21.71\00:46:22.81
I'm doing everything to try
to irritate it and cause it to
00:46:22.94\00:46:26.35
move.
00:46:26.35\00:46:31.05
And it was at this point,
I made an executive decision.
00:46:31.92\00:46:34.49
I'm going to sleep
in the car tonight.
00:46:34.49\00:46:34.52
And so as I went back in the
car and I start getting myself
00:46:37.16\00:46:40.36
comfortable, my landlady drove
up and she had two young people
00:46:40.36\00:46:44.87
in the back of her car
that were actually my next door
00:46:44.87\00:46:47.80
neighbors.
00:46:47.80\00:46:48.54
And she drove into the driveway.
00:46:48.60\00:46:50.71
She saw the dog as well and she
proceeded to do everything that
00:46:50.81\00:46:53.94
I had previously done.
00:46:53.94\00:46:55.18
She's flashing the high beams,
she's honking the horn and I'm
00:46:55.18\00:46:55.21
watching all of this taking
place and I begin to talk to
00:46:58.85\00:47:01.72
the Lord and I say,
God, what is this all about?
00:47:01.72\00:47:04.02
And I was just
convicted by the spirit.
00:47:04.39\00:47:06.62
In that moment,
it's for my glory.
00:47:06.62\00:47:06.65
And I said, it's for your glory.
00:47:09.62\00:47:11.63
And then the conviction
came back, it's for my glory.
00:47:12.13\00:47:14.66
And I said, Lord, what do
you mean it's for your glory?
00:47:15.10\00:47:17.13
And then I said, God,
I'm not going out there.
00:47:17.90\00:47:19.67
I said, God, I'm
not going out there.
00:47:20.50\00:47:22.07
And I said, Lord,
I'm not going out there.
00:47:23.24\00:47:25.74
And then I said, God, if I go
out there, you have to go with
00:47:25.81\00:47:28.11
me because I'm
not going by myself.
00:47:28.11\00:47:30.35
And when I knew what the course
of action was to be, I zipped
00:47:32.51\00:47:38.05
up my parkour all
the way to the top.
00:47:38.05\00:47:39.95
I took my Bible.
00:47:40.16\00:47:40.92
It's no longer a Bible.
00:47:41.06\00:47:41.96
It is the sword now.
00:47:41.99\00:47:42.99
Are you following?
00:47:43.02\00:47:43.66
And I'm starting
down the driveway.
00:47:44.23\00:47:45.99
And as I'm starting down the
drive, I'm thinking to myself,
00:47:46.23\00:47:48.43
you know, maybe it's one of
those big dogs, you know, big
00:47:48.46\00:47:50.60
no bark.
00:47:50.60\00:47:51.27
I'm probably
making too much of this.
00:47:51.70\00:47:53.57
Well, that thought
quickly went out of my mind.
00:47:54.54\00:47:56.17
As soon as I went around
the corner, the dog got up and
00:47:56.24\00:47:58.51
aggressively
began to run towards me.
00:47:58.51\00:48:01.01
And my landlady has her window
open on her car and she screams
00:48:01.41\00:48:06.82
out, Chris, get out of there.
00:48:06.82\00:48:08.88
He's going to kill you.
00:48:09.15\00:48:10.72
And then I prayed.
00:48:11.49\00:48:12.79
And my prayer was like this,
Lord, you shut the mouth of the
00:48:13.69\00:48:19.53
lions for Daniel
in the name of Jesus.
00:48:19.53\00:48:22.20
Sit this dog down.
00:48:22.46\00:48:23.93
And my friends, when I said,
sit this dog down, all of a
00:48:24.90\00:48:28.77
sudden the dog stopped and
it started whimpering as it
00:48:28.77\00:48:33.41
backpedaled as
if someone hit it.
00:48:33.41\00:48:35.58
And then he sat
down on his hind legs.
00:48:35.78\00:48:38.28
Now you think you're excited.
00:48:38.71\00:48:40.48
My faith and courage
was out the building.
00:48:41.38\00:48:43.62
I was now pointing at
this dog in the name of Jesus.
00:48:43.62\00:48:48.82
Are you with me?
00:48:49.16\00:48:49.86
Sit down.
00:48:50.16\00:48:50.69
And my landlady is watching
all of this take place and she
00:48:52.83\00:48:58.50
shouts out to me,
Chris, is it okay?
00:48:58.50\00:49:01.27
And I shout back, it's okay.
00:49:01.84\00:49:04.01
God's got the dog.
00:49:04.47\00:49:05.97
And the children jumped out of
the vehicle and ran into their
00:49:07.08\00:49:10.55
home and I ran into the house
and my wife was sleeping and I
00:49:10.55\00:49:13.35
told her everything
that happened for that entire
00:49:13.35\00:49:16.02
evening in 10 seconds.
00:49:16.02\00:49:17.19
And I just said,
just look out the window.
00:49:17.65\00:49:19.69
And she looked out the window
and she said, that's a big dog.
00:49:19.82\00:49:22.76
The very next day, through the
thin walls of our apartment, I
00:49:24.16\00:49:30.33
heard my landlady on the
phone talking to one of her
00:49:30.33\00:49:33.84
girlfriends and point by point
she detailed the accounts of
00:49:33.84\00:49:38.91
the previous night and she
said, you won't believe it.
00:49:38.91\00:49:42.54
He said, Lord and the dog,
Lord, sit the dog down and the
00:49:43.18\00:49:47.92
dog sat down.
00:49:47.92\00:49:48.62
That woman knew that I
was a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:49:49.32\00:49:52.15
She knew that I was a Christian.
00:49:52.69\00:49:54.52
Here's the sad story.
00:49:55.06\00:49:56.16
The home that the children
went into, it was the home of
00:49:56.36\00:49:59.36
Seventh -day Adventists but
they played the loudest secular
00:49:59.36\00:50:02.10
music on the street.
00:50:02.10\00:50:03.23
And she was just saying, I'd
never seen anything like this
00:50:05.73\00:50:09.54
before and God allowed me to
hear that conversation because
00:50:09.54\00:50:13.68
in truth, it was for his glory.
00:50:13.68\00:50:15.91
Just a few short months
thereafter, my wife and I
00:50:19.25\00:50:22.78
decided that we were going
to move from that location.
00:50:22.78\00:50:25.32
And as we were packing our
things up, my landlady knocked
00:50:25.59\00:50:29.62
on the door and she told
me that our next door neighbor
00:50:29.62\00:50:33.40
across the street
would like to speak to me.
00:50:33.40\00:50:35.53
Now I didn't know why because
I had never talked to this woman
00:50:35.63\00:50:38.73
before but this woman was
the self-appointed neighborhood
00:50:38.73\00:50:42.27
watch.
00:50:42.27\00:50:42.94
She's the one that knows
everything that's going on
00:50:43.37\00:50:46.41
without even opening a window.
00:50:46.41\00:50:49.01
You know which
woman I'm talking about.
00:50:49.94\00:50:51.71
And I think I might have
said hi to her once or twice.
00:50:52.48\00:50:55.52
I remember coming out of
my apartment and as I started
00:50:58.09\00:51:03.16
across the street, there she
was coming across the street to
00:51:03.16\00:51:06.39
meet me and as we got closer,
she opened her arms to embrace
00:51:06.39\00:51:11.47
me.
00:51:11.47\00:51:11.77
And it startled me but I
thought I might as well return
00:51:12.90\00:51:16.47
the hug so I
embraced her as well.
00:51:16.47\00:51:21.54
And then she said to me
something that deeply impressed
00:51:22.31\00:51:25.55
me.
00:51:25.55\00:51:29.35
there for a year.
00:51:29.35\00:51:30.39
She said over the last year,
I've been watching your wife
00:51:30.72\00:51:34.59
and you and you
all have grown so much.
00:51:34.59\00:51:38.99
And I'm thinking to myself,
what in the world could this
00:51:39.89\00:51:42.96
woman have seen to bring her to
the conclusion that we grew so
00:51:42.96\00:51:46.80
much?
00:51:46.80\00:51:48.57
We don't have cookouts.
00:51:48.64\00:51:49.57
We go from the
car to the apartment.
00:51:49.64\00:51:51.37
But then she told me
something that floored me.
00:51:53.58\00:51:56.78
She said I used to be
a seven -day Adventist.
00:51:57.78\00:52:00.62
And she told me
what church she went to.
00:52:02.18\00:52:04.69
It was a sister church of
the church that I grew up in.
00:52:04.69\00:52:08.02
And she said, you know what?
00:52:08.96\00:52:10.29
I'm thinking now I'm
going to go back to church.
00:52:12.53\00:52:14.93
Brothers and sisters, if this
world is going to be moved by
00:52:19.23\00:52:29.08
what Jesus has done for us,
if this everlasting gospel is
00:52:29.08\00:52:34.55
going to make a lasting,
enduring, transformative impact
00:52:34.55\00:52:38.72
on men and women such as
ourselves, something more
00:52:38.72\00:52:43.93
than a theoretical exposition
of what truth is must be given.
00:52:47.96\00:52:54.14
People need to see a
revelation of Jesus in us.
00:52:55.44\00:53:02.81
That is what is
going to draw them.
00:53:05.61\00:53:08.18
To the Savior.
00:53:08.48\00:53:10.02
It is time for us to awake
to righteousness, to turn our
00:53:14.39\00:53:22.23
backs on our coveted sins, our
cherished idols, the vices that
00:53:22.23\00:53:30.37
we indulge ourselves in that
are holding us in captivity.
00:53:30.37\00:53:36.01
It is time for us to fix our
eyes on the Savior so that the
00:53:36.01\00:53:45.79
Lamb of God might purge
us thoroughly from our sins.
00:53:45.79\00:53:49.62
We don't have to do
the work for ourselves.
00:53:53.13\00:53:56.13
God has promised us that it is
He that will work in us both to
00:53:57.47\00:54:04.17
will and to do of
His good pleasure.
00:54:04.17\00:54:06.74
Amen.
00:54:07.41\00:54:07.74
Children of the Most
High God, will you awake?
00:54:08.94\00:54:12.98
If it is your desire this
evening, whether you're sitting
00:54:15.88\00:54:19.32
at home or you're here with
me in this wonderful worship
00:54:19.32\00:54:23.16
center, if it is your desire
this evening to say, Lord, it
00:54:23.16\00:54:28.16
is my desire to be awake.
00:54:28.16\00:54:31.30
It is my desire to turn my back
on my coveted sins and to live
00:54:32.37\00:54:43.81
my life wholly
dedicated to the Savior.
00:54:43.81\00:54:47.35
Would you raise your hand?
00:54:48.78\00:54:49.88
Let me pray for you.
00:54:53.86\00:54:55.16
Heavenly Father, Lord,
we know what time it is.
00:54:56.16\00:55:00.66
The signs are clear that we are
living in the last days and the
00:55:01.63\00:55:08.97
final crisis before Jesus steps
out of the most holy place is
00:55:08.97\00:55:15.01
on the horizon.
00:55:15.01\00:55:15.98
But now as mercy pleads, as
the doors of salvation are open
00:55:17.88\00:55:23.15
wide to us, Lord, we dedicate
our lives anew to thy service.
00:55:23.15\00:55:27.02
Fill us with your Spirit and
keep us, O God, until the day
00:55:28.46\00:55:33.09
that you come to redeem us
out of this sin-cursed world.
00:55:33.09\00:55:36.73
For we pray this
blessing in Jesus' name.
00:55:37.13\00:55:40.67
Amen.
00:55:41.34\00:55:41.37
May God keep you.
00:55:42.57\00:55:43.74
May God strengthen you.
00:55:44.74\00:55:46.14
May he establish you in
the faith and keep you awake
00:55:46.81\00:55:50.71
because the King is coming.
00:55:50.71\00:55:52.31
Amen.
00:55:53.15\00:55:53.52