Participants:
Series Code: SCM
Program Code: SCM250011S
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00:01 The hour is urgent, as darkness is dispelled by the light of
00:07 God's Word. 00:08 A new day begins. 00:10 Jesus, the light of the world is shining. 00:14 Prepare your hearts to proclaim the final cry. 00:17 This is 3ABN Summer Camp Meeting. 00:23 Hello and welcome back to 3ABN Summer Camp Meeting. 00:26 How many of you have been blessed so far today? 00:28 Alright, those of you around the world, we just welcome you. 00:33 Wish you could be here, but at least we can be together 00:36 through great and new technology. 00:39 Literally, isn't it amazing, folks, that we can speak here 00:42 and the signal goes around the world. 00:45 Nine different satellites traveling 186,200 miles per 00:49 second comes down in people's homes anywhere in the world in 00:52 less than three seconds. 00:53 So that's amazing technology. 00:56 It's my privilege right now to introduce probably one of the 01:01 most well-known faces, Adventist faces in history and 01:07 his name is known around the world, Pastor Wintley Phipps. 01:10 So I'm sure all of you have heard of Pastor Phipps and 01:13 we've been friends for many, many years, two or three, maybe 01:17 decades. 01:17 But Wintley is a man of God. 01:21 He loves the Lord. 01:22 He spends his entire life traveling and presenting Jesus 01:27 to people. 01:28 And he has the Dream Academy where he's helping kids in the 01:32 inner city, making a difference in their lives and then their 01:36 lives, affecting other lives. 01:39 And this is something we were just talking in the back room, 01:42 the legacy that we can leave behind until Jesus comes. 01:46 And so ministry, ministering is his whole life in Linda's. 01:49 So we appreciate him being here. 01:51 He's also one of the most well -known gospel singers in the 01:56 world. 01:56 He just finished a project. 01:59 I'm going to listen to it after a little bit later this 02:02 afternoon, but Bill Gaither asked him to do a project of 02:05 all of his songs. 02:06 And so they went to Prague and a huge orchestra is over there. 02:10 And so they've just got a brand new. 02:12 So you can be looking out for that new project coming out of 02:16 doing those songs. 02:17 But Pastor Phipps is, as I mentioned, been in ministry for 02:21 I won't say how many years, but many, many years. 02:24 And it's a privilege to have him here at 3ABN. 02:27 It's a privilege that I can count him as my brother. 02:30 So I'd like to introduce you to him. 02:32 Normally we would introduce our music. 02:34 But guess who we're going to have sing today. 03:39 Talk about a child. 03:58 Talk about a child. 04:08 Talk about a child. 04:17 Here's one. 04:21 In old Satan's snares, I once was falling. 04:26 Till I heard the voice of my Lord calling. 04:32 Talk about a child that's been converted. 04:41 Here's one. 04:53 Here's one. 05:02 Talk about a child who's bound for glory. 05:09 Here's one. 05:13 Talk about a child who's bound for glory. 05:20 Here's one. 05:23 Ever since I heard the gospel story, I've been traveling up 05:31 the path to glory. 05:35 Talk about a child who loves Jesus. 05:42 Here's one. 05:51 Here's one. 05:53 Ever since I heard the gospel story, I've been traveling up 06:01 the path to glory. 06:05 Talk about a child who do love Jesus. 06:13 Here's one. 06:20 Here's one. 06:27 Here's one. 06:51 Praise the Lord. 06:55 Somebody asked me yesterday, I was down in Houston, Texas. 07:01 And they asked me, they said, does it ever get old? 07:06 I said to them, listen, when you sense the presence of God, 07:12 that is one thing that never gets old. 07:20 Trust me. 07:22 Are you listening to me? 07:26 I mean, when you bow your head and close your eyes, and you 07:32 can sense the molecular makeup of the room change, because the 07:39 Holy Spirit has invaded the space that you're in. 07:46 Nothing like it, nothing like it. 07:49 As a matter of fact, without that, I think I would stop 07:52 singing. 07:55 I couldn't go on. 07:58 I've got a word for you today, and I need for you to pray. 08:05 Will you bow your heads with me as we pray? 08:10 Father in heaven, as we open your holy word, I ask that you 08:16 would cleanse me of all unrighteousness. 08:20 Fill my life with your Holy Spirit's presence and power. 08:25 Speak to me, through me, and for me. 08:31 I promise you, Lord, I'll always give you the honor, the 08:36 glory, and the praise. 08:38 In Jesus' name, I pray. 08:41 Amen. 08:44 I bring you greetings from the church that has allowed me to 08:48 be their pastor for the last 24 years. 08:57 The Palm Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church in Palm Bay, 09:02 Florida. 09:04 And to the thousands who watch us weekly on YouTube and other 09:10 streaming services, I just want to say thank you for your 09:15 prayers and your support. 09:17 As you heard, my brother Danny, who is my brother from another 09:22 mother, some of you know, as you heard him talk about it, 30 09:28 years ago I began a ministry called the U.S. 09:32 Dream Academy almost 30 years ago, and we provide tutoring 09:38 and mentoring in the name of Christ to children whose 09:43 parents are in prison and those falling behind in school. 09:48 And today I want to say a special thank you to all of you 09:52 who are listening, who have supported us over the last 09:56 almost 30 years in the work that we have been doing for 10:01 these children. 10:07 America with a parent in prison as there are all of the members 10:15 of all of the Seventh-day Adventist Churches in America? 10:22 It's about a million members, Adventist members in our 10:29 churches. 10:30 There are about almost 3 million children in America 10:34 right now who have a parent in prison, and 92% of the parents 10:40 in prison are fathers. 10:43 92% of them are fathers. 10:46 So that means that most of these children are fatherless 10:51 during some of the most formative periods of their 10:54 lives. 10:59 religion before God and the Father is ministry to the 11:06 fatherless. 11:08 That's what the Word of God says. 11:09 The Word of God says our Lord is the Father of the 11:14 Fatherless. 11:17 So thank you for what you do to help our children. 11:20 Now, my message today is entitled Latter Rain Believers. 11:27 I was going to entitle it Latter Rain Saints, but I 11:33 thought that was a little too close. 11:36 So I called it Latter Rain Believers. 11:41 If you have your Bibles, turn with me to the book of Matthew 11:44 chapter 25. 11:46 The Word of God says, And at midnight there was a cry made, 11:51 Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. 11:57 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, and 12:03 the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our 12:09 lamps are gone out. 12:11 But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not 12:17 enough for us and you. 12:21 But go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. 12:26 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that 12:31 were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was 12:36 shut. 12:38 Matthew 25, 11. 12:39 Afterward came also the other virgin, saying, Lord, Lord, 12:44 open to us. 12:46 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know 12:50 you not. 12:53 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour 12:59 wherein the Son of Man cometh. 13:03 May God add a blessing to the reading of his Word. 13:07 This story told to us by Jesus is brimming with encouragement, 13:15 instruction, warning, and hope. 13:19 The Bible tells us that that day as the sun was setting in 13:23 the west, our Lord sat upon the Mount of Olives, drinking in 13:28 the glorious scenes of his creative power. 13:33 In the midst of the dusk approaching, the eyes of Jesus 13:38 fell upon a home lit up in preparation for a festive 13:45 celebration. 13:47 Light was streaming from every window, and the little home 13:52 seemed enveloped by sounds of joy and laughter. 13:57 Jesus knew this to be the run -up to the climax of the 14:03 festivities that come with a wedding in the east. 14:07 And so he used this as an opportunity to teach one of the 14:13 most vital spiritual lessons in all of Scripture. 14:19 He said to his disciples, Ten young virgins adorned in white 14:24 linen were waiting with great anticipation for the arrival 14:29 and entrance of a bridegroom. 14:33 Each virgin held in their hands a lamp that was lit, and at 14:38 their side they carried supplemental flasks that were 14:42 supposed to contain extra oil. 14:46 As the hours passed, those waiting to celebrate the 14:51 wedding became drowsy and weary. 14:55 A deep sleep claimed every eye. 14:59 They had not anticipated such a lengthy delay. 15:04 While they slept, their lamps that were lit began to flicker 15:08 and go out. 15:10 But suddenly, at midnight, in the deepest, darkest hour of 15:15 the night, when every heart had faltered and every soul was 15:21 asleep, a cry was heard rousing the resting maidens from their 15:27 sleep. 15:29 Behold, the bridegroom has arrived. 15:33 Come, let us go out to meet him. 15:37 Those ten young maidens sprang to their feet, eager to join 15:43 the joyous procession. 15:45 But as they readied themselves, five of the virgins said, 15:50 Jesus, realize that their backup oil, or I should say 15:56 their backup flasks for their emergency supply of oil, were 16:03 all empty. 16:05 They had turned the standby flasks that hung at their sides 16:11 into an item of decoration rather than using it for 16:18 preparation. 16:20 They had, in fact, made no plans for an emergency of this 16:25 nature. 16:30 filling their lamps with the extra oil they had prepared. 16:35 And they begged them, please, share a little bit of your oil 16:39 with us. 16:41 We cannot, said their friends, we only brought enough to 16:45 refill our lamps should a shortage arise. 16:49 The oil we had in reserve is now already in our lamps, and 16:54 we have no more oil to gift you or to spare. 16:59 Try, they said, go hurry, buy some oil from those who might 17:05 sell. 17:06 Perhaps some black market merchants could resupply you 17:10 quickly. 17:13 Go, quickly, right away, and then meet us back at the 17:17 bridegroom's house. 17:19 And so they went, said Jesus, in search of oil to buy. 17:23 But by the time they brought the oil and reached back to the 17:27 bridegroom's house, they found that the door was shut. 17:33 The windows were closed. 17:34 They knocked and pleaded with the celebrants inside. 17:39 Open to us, open to us. 17:42 Instead, sadly, they heard the voice of the bridegroom from 17:46 behind the closed door speaking with a sorrowful voice. 17:52 Who are you? 17:55 And from where have you come? 17:59 I cannot let you in, for I do not know you. 18:06 In other words, you call me Lord, Lord, but your character 18:12 is not aligned to the priorities of heaven. 18:19 Friends, in this parable Jesus spoke the customs and cultural 18:26 settings are so different than ours today. 18:30 In the cultural milieu of those times, weddings were conducted 18:36 very differently than they are today. 18:39 Today, you would never see a wedding with ten attendant 18:44 maids of honor and the bride waiting on the bridegroom to 18:53 make his entrance. 18:55 That's just not how it works today. 19:00 Today, the procession and sequence of a wedding has 19:04 undergone a cultural reversal. 19:09 And in our culture, we expect a wedding celebration to be 19:14 centered around the bride and her entrance, not the 19:21 bridegroom and his. 19:23 In our culture today, it's the bridegroom who waits for the 19:28 arrival of the bride, not the other way around. 19:32 At my wedding, by the way, August 22, 1976, coming up on 19:41 49 years, I was standing at the altar waiting for my bride to 19:49 make her entrance. 19:50 And not only was I excited when those doors at the back of the 19:55 church swung open, I knew I had found a rare and beautiful gem 20:02 of a woman. 20:04 Because, you see, as she started walking down the aisle, 20:07 I looked at the clock, and I realized that our wedding that 20:13 was supposed to start at 11 a .m., when my bride was coming 20:18 down the aisle, the clock actually said 10.59. 20:26 My bride was not just on time, she was early. 20:33 Whoever heard of such a thing? 20:38 Oh, but my Bible says, be ye also ready? 20:40 And I was ready. 20:43 Who would not make her husband? 20:47 I realized I had a bride who was not going to make her 20:51 husband wait one minute longer in anticipation that he had to. 20:58 That's a good woman. 21:02 Now, I know I was blessed also because she told me for an 21:07 engagement gift she wanted a Mercedes. 21:12 And for a wedding present she wanted a four-bedroom house. 21:19 Well, I did what I could. 21:23 For her engagement gift I got her a 1967 Oldsmobile Vista 21:29 Cruiser station wagon. 21:35 I did what I could, right? 21:38 And for a wedding present instead of a four-bedroom house 21:43 she settled for a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment at Andrews 21:49 University. 21:52 I did what I could, right? 21:56 And for 49 years I've been telling her if she ever leaves 22:00 me I'm going with her. 22:06 Friends, this wedding parable Jesus told his disciples is 22:11 chock full of timeless truths, prophetic principles. 22:16 And today, for the next few moments I invite you to follow 22:19 along. 22:20 By the way, I'm a teaching preacher. 22:24 So get ready to learn something by God's grace. 22:28 I want you to follow along with me as we seek to unravel golden 22:33 threads of truth that are woven into the fabric of this sacred 22:38 story. 22:39 Now, to really comprehend the power and purpose of this 22:43 parable we must begin with the understanding that this is a 22:49 parable for the last days. 22:53 And make no mistake about it, we are living in the last days. 23:00 When you watch the news you can see that the stress of our age 23:05 has been wound tight. 23:08 The taut tension of our times cannot be denied. 23:13 Sometimes it seems like even history seems to be holding its 23:17 breath. 23:19 And though we live in a different age every detail of 23:23 this parable from Jesus holds deep meaning for us. 23:27 Every image, every symbol, every word is worthy of careful 23:33 study. 23:40 He wants us to glean from this anointed story told by Jesus. 23:46 Now, to begin with, ten virgins with ten lamps, lamps in our 23:53 day, most of us have never seen a lamp. 23:57 Today you walk into a dark room, you flip a switch, you 24:01 grab a flashlight, but I'm old enough to remember being in 24:05 houses that had no electricity, houses that were lit by 24:11 kerosene lamps. 24:13 I can still smell it. 24:15 And I'm convinced that the first thing Jesus wants us to 24:20 grasp in this parable is that a lamp cannot remain lit without 24:26 oil. 24:27 You can't shine for Christ without the fuel of divine 24:33 grace in the soul. 24:34 I believe Jesus also wanted us to learn that this parable is 24:39 not about virgins and maids of honor. 24:44 This parable is about you. 24:48 It's about me. 24:51 It's about every single person under the sound of my voice. 24:56 For you see, Jesus, our bridegroom has delayed his 25:01 coming and hanging around your waist and hanging around my 25:07 waist is an invisible spiritual container. 25:12 It is either empty or it is full. 25:16 And that means we are ready for Jesus to come if it is full. 25:22 If it is empty, then we need to be reminded that 25:26 procrastination and spiritual stagnation will steal from you 25:31 your spiritual destiny. 25:34 Every moment you postpone preparation for the second 25:38 coming of Christ, you squander divine opportunities and 25:43 imperil your future. 25:46 Jesus also wanted us to learn from this parable that when he 25:51 returns, there will only be two classes of people alive on the 25:55 earth, wise virgins or foolish ones. 26:00 And each and every one of us will belong to one of those two 26:07 groups. 26:09 Regardless of your race, color, ethnicity, or place of birth, 26:15 in the eyes of heaven, you will be accounted either wise or 26:21 foolish. 26:22 The foolish trade eternity for carnal pleasures. 26:27 They remain indifferent to the urgent need for preparation. 26:32 The wise, on the other hand, live with a holy focus, their 26:37 eyes gleaming with expectation over the soon arrival of our 26:43 coming King. 26:44 Oh, but today, for the next few moments with the help of God, I 26:50 want to shift your glance and fix your focus, not on the 26:55 virgins, not even on the lamps, as necessary as they are. 27:01 Today, I want to draw your attention to what Jesus 27:05 identified as a marker of the readiness of the soul, a sign 27:13 of the soul's readiness for heaven, and it is the oil. 27:22 The oil. 27:25 The supply of oil is what feeds the flame of faith. 27:31 The supply of oil. 27:34 It's the oil you prepare today that will feed the light you 27:38 will shine tomorrow. 27:42 Your oil is your spiritual passport. 27:49 Your oil is your readiness for heaven. 27:53 At the beginning of the parable, all ten virgins had 27:57 lamps, all ten lamps were lit, and all ten had oil. 28:06 But when the arrival of the bridegroom was announced, in 28:09 that critical hour, those who had extra oil were ready. 28:16 Ready for contingencies, ready for emergencies, ready for 28:22 delay. 28:24 Now I humbly share with you that through the years I've 28:28 preached this parable many times, searching its depths, 28:33 seeking to understand its meaning and message. 28:37 Oh, but today, what I'm preaching, I'm about to preach, 28:41 God took me to a whole new level. 28:45 You see, I asked the Lord, what is this oil in the flask of 28:52 those Jesus accounted wise? 28:56 And if we need this oil to be ready when Jesus comes, how do 29:01 we get it? 29:03 And so I prayed earnestly, I agonized with the Lord, I 29:07 studied his word, and here's what the Lord showed me that 29:12 the oil in the lamp represents. 29:16 Are you ready? 29:19 I said, are you ready? 29:22 1 Samuel, chapter 16, verse 13. 29:26 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the 29:31 midst of his brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon 29:36 David from that day forward. 29:41 In the word of God, oil is used as a symbol of the anointing of 29:49 God's Holy Spirit. 29:53 Hallelujah. 29:55 In the book of Zechariah, chapter 4, the Bible talks 30:00 about golden oil flowing from golden pipes. 30:08 And in Zechariah, chapter 4, verse 2, it says, And said unto 30:12 me, what seest thou? 30:13 And I said, I have looked, and behold, a candlestick all of 30:18 gold with a bowl upon the top of it and its seven lamps 30:21 thereon and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the 30:26 top thereof. 30:31 and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? 30:36 Don't you know what this is, what you're looking at? 30:40 Do you understand what this means? 30:43 And Zechariah said, No, Lord, no. 30:45 And then God gives the answer. 30:47 Zechariah 4, verse 6. 30:49 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of 30:53 the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, It means, it means, it 31:01 means not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith 31:13 the Lord of hosts. 31:18 And then my favorite writer in a book called Christ's Object 31:21 Lessons pulled it all together for me. 31:24 This is what she wrote. 31:25 The two classes of watchers represent the two classes who 31:31 profess to be waiting for their Lord. 31:35 They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith. 31:41 By the lamps is represented the word of God. 31:46 The psalmist says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light 31:51 unto my path. 31:52 And then she says, The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 32:05 Friends, this helped to bring it home even more clearly to 32:08 me. 32:12 knowledge, she says, but they failed to obtain, look at what 32:16 they failed to obtain, the oil of grace. 32:20 So we have Holy Spirit, we have grace. 32:23 They did not receive the truth in its sanctifying power. 32:27 And did you know, in the Bible, one of the names for the Holy 32:34 Spirit is the Spirit of Grace. 32:42 That's one of the names for the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of 32:46 Grace. 32:47 Hebrews 10, 29, How much worse punishment do you think will be 32:50 deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of 32:53 God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was 32:56 sanctified, and has what? 33:00 Outraged the Spirit of Grace. 33:04 So you have the oil being a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and 33:07 then you have the Holy Spirit being connected to grace. 33:12 And then she also says, The oil represents grace given to us by 33:18 the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. 33:23 So the oil is the sacred fuel that keeps the flame of grace, 33:27 hallelujah, alive in the soul, and the agency by which we are 33:33 blessed with unearned, unmerited favor. 33:37 And that's why they call it grace, because it can't be 33:41 transferred. 33:43 I can't give you my grace. 33:47 I can't give you my Holy Spirit. 33:49 The Holy Spirit has been blessed in my life. 33:52 You can't borrow it. 33:53 You can't lease it. 33:54 I can't hand it down. 33:56 And when Jesus is on His way from glory, you have to have 33:59 your own supply of oil. 34:04 And just when I thought I couldn't get it more clear, God 34:07 led me to this thought expressed by the servant of the 34:09 Lord. 34:10 Look at it. 34:15 of Christ, and be full of grace. 34:17 Be full of what? 34:19 Grace and truth. 34:21 To them is imparted the oil of grace, which sustains a never 34:28 failing life. 34:29 The Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer makes him complete 34:34 in Christ. 34:35 The Lord says He is more willing to give us the Holy 34:38 Spirit than parents are to give bread to their children. 34:42 Then let us have the oil of what? 34:45 Grace in our vessels with our lamps that we may not be found 34:50 among those who are represented as foolish virgins who are not 34:54 prepared to go forth to meet the Bridegroom. 34:57 So, friends, I'm trying to hold myself together because when I 35:03 was studying this, I got so excited because I had learned 35:08 that it is the Holy Spirit that implants the grace of Christ in 35:14 the heart and transforms the character into the likeness of 35:20 Jesus. 35:22 And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I saw 35:27 this. 35:28 Near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of 35:35 spiritual grace. 35:38 Of what? 35:40 Spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the 35:47 coming of the Son of Man. 35:51 Wait, wait, wait. 35:51 Are you ready for this? 35:53 This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of 35:59 the latter rain. 36:00 And it is for this added power that Christians are to send 36:05 their petitions to the Lord of the harvest in the time of the 36:08 latter rain. 36:12 showers of rain. 36:13 He will cause to come down the rain, the former rain, and the 36:18 latter rain. 36:19 Oh, then I saw it absolutely as clear as day. 36:24 The extra oil the wise virgins carried is an abundant 36:32 outpouring of grace through the Holy Spirit. 36:40 We must have and can have this outpouring just before Jesus 36:46 returns. 36:47 This abundant outpouring of grace is called in the word of 36:51 God the latter rain. 36:54 Now check this out. 36:55 The latter rain, she says, ripening earth's harvest, 36:59 represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for 37:06 the coming of the Son of Man. 37:09 In other words, the latter rain is the bestower... 37:14 Oh, Lord, help me make this clear. 37:16 It is the bestower of grace that prepares the character for 37:22 the second coming of Jesus. 37:24 Amen. 37:27 Now there are some people who believe that once you've 37:31 accepted Christ, you no longer need to grow in Christ. 37:38 Can you believe they actually see growing in Christ as a 37:42 religion of works? 37:47 But look at what my Bible says, Ephesians 2, 8, For by grace 37:50 are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it 37:53 is the gift of God, not of works, unless any man should 37:56 boast. 37:57 But the same Bible says, grow in grace, and in the knowledge 38:02 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to him be glory both 38:06 now and forever. 38:08 So don't you ever apologize to anybody and tell them, I am 38:14 growing in grace, and this is not a religion of works. 38:23 So it became even more abundantly clear to me, the 38:26 Holy Spirit's outpouring of grace is the latter rain that 38:30 prepares you as you grow in Christlike character in 38:34 preparation for the arrival of the Bridegroom. 38:38 So what am I saying? 38:43 oil in your lamp. 38:47 Praise the Lord! 38:48 As long as you are growing in grace, you've got extra oil in 38:54 your lamp. 38:56 God is making you ready for the return of Jesus to the earth. 39:01 Now, before I close, allow me to give you my personal 39:05 testimony. 39:07 In case you did not notice, I make no apologies for the fact 39:12 that my preaching, I try to make it informed and inspired 39:17 by the Word of God. 39:19 You see, for the last almost 50 years, I have preached 39:25 thousands and thousands of sermons. 39:28 And I can almost say that I've never preached a sermon that I 39:32 didn't ask God to make that sermon biblically based, and 39:37 God used His holy word to enlighten and edify me. 39:41 But I can also tell you in almost 50 years of preaching, I 39:45 have never preached a sermon where God did not use the 39:52 writings of Ellen White to teach me something I did not 39:58 know. 40:02 So allow me to just give you my testimony. 40:07 Ellen White was a purpose -driven servant. 40:11 She was not a perfect servant. 40:15 Like you and me, she had health problems. 40:23 Did you hear? 40:24 Anybody got health problems? 40:26 She had health problems. 40:28 She had financial problems. 40:30 Anybody? 40:31 Don't raise your hand too high. 40:36 She had marital problems. 40:44 She had parenting problems. 40:48 She had diet weaknesses. 40:50 And issues. 40:52 She was a frail servant, but she was also a faithful 40:56 servant. 40:58 And if you don't think so, whoever is out there listening, 41:02 all I have to say is, who made you a judge of her? 41:10 Who made you a judge of her devotion and fidelity to God? 41:17 And who are you, by the way? 41:21 To judge her faithfulness when Jesus says, judge not that ye 41:26 be not judged, when Jesus said, be ye therefore merciful as 41:30 your Father is merciful, judge not and ye shall not be judged, 41:33 Luke 6.37, condemn not and ye shall not be condemned, forgive 41:37 and ye shall be given. 41:38 Now, I'm not judging anybody. 41:41 I'm just giving you my testimony. 41:45 And I know without a doubt, Ellen White was inspired, but 41:52 she was not infallible. 41:54 How do I know? 41:56 Because she said so herself. 41:59 Listen to one of her quotes. 42:01 She said, in regard to infallibility, I never claimed 42:07 it. 42:08 She said, God alone is infallible. 42:13 Could it be more clear? 42:16 So here's my testimony. 42:19 Only fanatics claim she is infallible. 42:26 And only fanatics claim she said she was infallible. 42:35 And I will never leave this church because some fanatic 42:41 claimed that she is infallible. 42:43 What sense does that make? 42:46 Because some fanatic claimed, and you're going to run and 42:49 leave the church because some fanatic. 42:51 Are you with me? 42:53 I know they need correction from her own words. 42:56 And if you think you should leave the church because some 43:00 who hold membership in the church wrongly claim or act 43:04 like she's infallible and need correction because some people 43:09 act like that. 43:11 But you're not going to leave the church because some 43:14 people... 43:16 Help me, Lord Jesus! 43:21 You're going to run and join another denomination. 43:23 Listen. 43:24 There is no church or denomination on this planet 43:27 that you can join that doesn't have hard-headed folks who need 43:32 correction. 43:38 Including me. 43:41 And yes, including you. 43:48 As a matter of fact, I remember reading, if you find a perfect 43:50 church, please don't join it. 43:51 You'll spoil it. 43:57 Now I'm just giving you my testimony, okay? 44:01 Listen, listen, listen. 44:02 It is amazing to me that people who don't have a quarter of her 44:07 intelligence nor an ounce of her anointing and inspiration 44:13 can be so quick to judge what is inspired and what is not. 44:18 I say to them, okay, I'll tell you what you do. 44:20 Throw away all you think she didn't write and then see if 44:25 you have the intellect to write even a half of what's left. 44:32 And by the way, while you're at it, I would like to watch you 44:36 replicate a smidgen of what her work has accomplished. 44:41 I'd like to see you go and establish a church with 44:44 millions of members on their way to glory. 44:47 I'd like to see you go and launch a health ministry that 44:50 becomes a global movement with people outside of the church 44:54 building secular empires on councils that she left the 44:58 church. 44:59 I'd like to see you go start your own health ministry and 45:03 education ministry and the largest Protestant school 45:06 system in the world. 45:08 And by the way, I never saw anywhere where you wrote, the 45:13 color of the skin does not determine character in the 45:17 heavenly courts. 45:20 She said that. 45:23 That the Lord is not partial. 45:25 He does not judge according to appearance. 45:28 So as a man of color, which I hope you can see my paint job, 45:32 as a man of color, you cannot tell me that that those words 45:38 were not inspired by God. 45:40 Too many substitute feelings for the Holy Spirit. 45:44 They substitute spectacle for faith and fog for flame. 45:48 But trust me, God's latter rain oil is not for Googling 45:53 consumers of religion who run and get YouTube accounts. 46:01 Hey, I'm trying my best to hold it together here. 46:06 The latter rain is for consecrated cultivators of 46:11 Christ -like character. 46:13 And don't you let petty pursuits replace preparation 46:16 for the latter rain. 46:19 Don't let trifles lead you to abandon truth. 46:21 You know, it's sad. 46:22 It's sad. 46:27 You're listening online. 46:29 You come here camp meeting, but you're going back to churches 46:32 filled with empty pews. 46:35 Did you know that for every 100 members on our books today 46:38 between 15 and 25 attend church today? 46:42 A little more than 10% of all Adventist churches, 10% of the 46:48 churches contain more than 51% of all the members. 46:53 Oh, but I, for one, I'm excited because my Bible tells me we 47:00 are standing on the brink of the greatest spiritual 47:04 awakening this world and this church has ever known. 47:10 It's called the latter rain. 47:13 Amen. 47:16 former rain to the earth. 47:18 And when the latter rain falls, it will not be a gentle mist, 47:21 but rather a downpour that will drench the earth with Holy 47:26 Ghost power. 47:27 Amen. 47:29 The Bible tells us that the first drops of the early rain 47:31 fell at Pentecost, but the latter rain that is coming will 47:35 eclipse Pentecost with an even more glorious outpouring. 47:40 God doesn't send rain without purpose. 47:44 At Pentecost, 3,000 were converted, but in the latter 47:46 rain, there will be a great multitude. 47:49 Psalm 147, 15 says, He sendeth forth His commandment upon 47:54 earth. 47:55 His word runneth very swiftly. 47:57 So blow the trumpet in Zion. 48:01 Amen. 48:02 Sanctify a fast. 48:03 Call a solemn assembly. 48:06 The final in-gathering will astonish the world. 48:10 Empty churches will be filled. 48:12 Amen. 48:13 Somebody say, Pray the Lord. 48:15 Praise the Lord. 48:16 Praise the Lord. 48:18 Well, in preparation for the latter rain, by the way, the 48:22 latter rain is the next event on God's prophetic calendar. 48:26 And the question is not, will the latter rain fall, but 48:30 rather, will we be ready when it falls? 48:32 Amen. 48:34 You know, I've got to tell you something before I leave you 48:40 today. 48:42 What the early rain started, thank you, Lord, the latter 48:47 rain will complete. 48:48 Amen. 48:50 God will perfect the character of His people for the harvest. 48:55 The latter rain is not only going to revive, it will ripen 48:59 and mature us for eternity. 49:02 Amen. 49:03 Amen. 49:04 For all who understand, the latter rain will develop the 49:08 fruit of the Spirit in our lives. 49:13 Now, I live in Florida, and after you've lived there a 49:17 while, you can almost smell the rain. 49:21 You know, people walk around saying, it's going to rain. 49:26 Or it smells like rain. 49:28 Well, before I leave you today, I want to tell you, I'm 49:33 starting to feel like a networked spiritual weatherman 49:38 who has started to smell the approach of the latter rain. 49:44 So I'm going to leave you with a weather report as a spiritual 49:48 weatherman. 49:49 Here's my weather forecast. 49:51 I'm never going to get hired by a major network, but that's all 49:54 right. 49:56 And His retirement plan is out of this world. 50:01 So here's my spiritual weather forecast. 50:04 Ladies and gentlemen, I see a low-pressure system has started 50:07 moving over God's people. 50:10 I even heard an old lady say, child, I'm too blessed to be 50:13 stressed. 50:14 And I see a high-pressure front of conviction moving swiftly 50:19 across the nations. 50:21 Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to know that humidity 50:24 levels of prayer are rising sharply in remnant communities. 50:28 Pockets of repentance and revival have been detected from 50:32 small groups to crowded sanctuaries. 50:35 And also beware, the spiritual atmosphere is thick with 50:40 expectation and surrender. 50:43 The pollen count of hypocrisy is low. 50:47 But the spiritual air quality of repentance and grace is 50:52 high. 50:53 Our mega Doppler radar is showing that a once-in-a 50:57 -thousand -year spiritual storm is taking shape. 51:00 The latter rain is about to fall. 51:04 So expect early showers of conviction. 51:09 Expect sustained downpours of grace, and this just in. 51:16 Our ACU spiritual weather forecast is showing unusual 51:21 activity in a little opening in a space called Orion. 51:25 That means it's time to get ready. 51:29 As my friend Bill Gaither wrote, I can hear the chariot 51:32 rumble. 51:34 I can see the marching throng, and the flurry of God's trumpet 51:39 spells the end of sin and wrong. 51:41 Regal robes are now unfolding Heaven's grandstands all in 51:46 place. 51:52 Oh, the King is coming. 51:58 The King is coming. 52:02 I can hear the chariot rumble, and now his face I see. 52:07 The King is coming. 52:11 Praise God. 52:15 Praise God. 52:18 He's coming for me. 52:26 Behold, the bridegroom cometh. 52:32 Let's get ready to go out to meet him. 52:39 Let's pray. 52:42 Father, we thank you so much. 52:46 Thank you for those who heard this word and have been 52:50 convicted by it. 52:52 Anyone here today who wants the outpouring of the Spirit in 52:55 your life, the latter rain in your life, I want you to stand 52:58 with me as we pray. 53:02 Father, bless everyone under the sound of the voice of this 53:06 word. 53:09 Prepare us for Heaven. 53:11 In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen. 53:21 And Amen. 53:25 Turn to the person next to you and say, See you in glory. 53:30 See you in glory. 53:45 Pastor. 53:52 Folks, you know what? 53:54 I hate to say this, we're still on the air. 53:56 Oh. 53:57 So we don't have time to visit right now, except we do have 54:01 time for you to sing a song. 54:02 Oh, okay. 54:06 Oh, I thought the countdown was to the song. 54:08 I thought it was the end of the song. 54:08 No, no, no. 54:09 That's all right. 54:10 That's what happens live television, right? 54:12 Okay. 54:14 Oh, thank you, Jesus. 54:15 Somebody say, Praise the Lord. 54:17 Praise the Lord. 54:18 Hallelujah. 54:19 I thought we were ending. 54:20 Praise the Lord. 54:22 We're getting ready for glory. 54:23 Amen. 54:28 All to Jesus 54:34 I surrender All to Him I freely give I will ever entrust Him In 54:55 His presence daily live I surrender all I surrender 55:21 all to Thee I surrender all 55:45 to Jesus, I surrender humbly at His feet. 55:57 I 56:05 bow forsaken, take me Jesus, take me now, I surrender all, 56:28 I surrender all 56:37 to Thee my Blessed Savior, I surrender. 56:54 I surrender 57:06 all to Jesus. 57:12 I surrender all to Him. 57:20 I freely give. 57:28 Heaven, love and trust Him. 57:35 All to Him I freely give. 57:43 And I surrender all. 58:03 Father in heaven, thank you. 58:06 We surrender our lives to you in obedience. 58:10 We ask that you would allow the latter rain to fall on us. 58:20 The spirit of grace to transform us day by day. 58:28 It is the latter rain. 58:32 Amen. |
Revised 2025-06-06