Well hello, everybody. 00:00:13.84\00:00:15.41 Welcome to session number ten of, The Secrets of Pentecost. 00:00:16.24\00:00:21.55 Today we are going to study the subject, Are You Persecutable? 00:00:21.98\00:00:26.82 But before we do, we want to ask for the Lord's presence 00:00:27.69\00:00:31.59 in our midst. 00:00:31.63\00:00:32.96 Once again, I underline the fact that we should never 00:00:33.16\00:00:35.96 open the Word of God without prayer. 00:00:36.00\00:00:38.73 Because only the Spirit who inspired the Scripture 00:00:39.13\00:00:42.30 is able to come and explain it to us. 00:00:42.50\00:00:45.41 And so let's bow our heads and ask for the presence 00:00:45.67\00:00:48.64 of the Holy Spirit through the ministry of the angels. 00:00:48.68\00:00:51.51 Father in heaven, we once again approach Your throne 00:00:52.15\00:00:55.95 with boldness, because we come in the name of Jesus. 00:00:57.09\00:01:00.32 We know that You hear us, not because we have merit, 00:01:00.96\00:01:03.66 but because Jesus has all of the merits in the universe 00:01:03.69\00:01:07.86 to present before Your throne. 00:01:07.90\00:01:09.43 And Father, at this moment we ask for the presence 00:01:09.90\00:01:13.37 of Your Holy Spirit through the ministry of the angels 00:01:13.40\00:01:16.00 in this place. 00:01:16.04\00:01:17.37 We need divine aid to understand the great things from Your Word. 00:01:17.84\00:01:22.98 And so we ask, we implore, Your presence here. 00:01:23.24\00:01:27.52 We know that You have heard this prayer, 00:01:28.08\00:01:30.32 and we know that You will answer it, 00:01:30.69\00:01:32.52 because we ask it in the precious name of Jesus. 00:01:32.92\00:01:35.86 Amen. 00:01:36.09\00:01:37.46 As I mentioned, the title of our study today is, 00:01:39.03\00:01:42.60 Are You Persecutable? 00:01:42.63\00:01:44.80 Now I must say that when I was preparing this presentation, 00:01:45.40\00:01:50.61 I wrote down the word, "persecutable," 00:01:51.91\00:01:55.14 and immediately my computer underlined it in red. 00:01:55.64\00:01:59.55 It said there is no such word in the dictionary 00:02:00.15\00:02:04.09 as, "persecutable." 00:02:04.12\00:02:05.95 So basically what I did was coined the word. 00:02:06.55\00:02:09.96 Because I think that you can understand what the word, 00:02:10.16\00:02:12.49 "persecutable," means. 00:02:12.53\00:02:14.66 Now I could have titled the sermon today, 00:02:15.16\00:02:18.37 Chain Reaction. 00:02:18.47\00:02:20.04 Because we are going to study seven inseparable sequential 00:02:20.54\00:02:25.77 events in Acts 1 through 5, and each of the steps 00:02:25.81\00:02:31.75 is going to impact the succeeding 00:02:31.78\00:02:34.45 or the following step. 00:02:34.48\00:02:35.82 So we're going to follow a very orderly method of study. 00:02:35.85\00:02:40.02 We're going to go through seven steps. 00:02:40.06\00:02:42.09 Now the seven steps in our study are the following: 00:02:42.49\00:02:45.89 Number one, we're going to take a look at the condition 00:02:46.26\00:02:49.90 of the apostles before the day of Pentecost. 00:02:49.93\00:02:54.37 Actually, before the passion of Christ in the garden of 00:02:54.40\00:02:58.01 Gethsemane and on the cross. 00:02:58.04\00:02:59.91 Secondly, we're going to take a look at the active weight 00:03:00.58\00:03:04.31 of the apostles ten days before the day of Pentecost. 00:03:04.35\00:03:08.15 Number three, we are going to take a look at the disciples 00:03:08.58\00:03:12.89 receiving power from on high when the Holy Spirit 00:03:12.92\00:03:16.42 was poured out on the day of Pentecost. 00:03:16.46\00:03:18.46 Number four, we're going to see that when they received 00:03:18.89\00:03:22.16 the power, they immediately began speaking boldly 00:03:22.20\00:03:27.10 with power. 00:03:27.14\00:03:28.47 And then step number five is that we're going to see 00:03:28.64\00:03:31.11 that as a result of their preaching 00:03:31.14\00:03:33.27 there was incredible church growth. 00:03:33.48\00:03:36.24 Thousands upon thousands embraced the message. 00:03:36.78\00:03:40.08 And then we're going to notice the next step 00:03:40.55\00:03:42.72 is that Satan is losing thousands of his subjects. 00:03:42.75\00:03:46.45 And step number seven is that as a result, 00:03:46.89\00:03:50.06 Satan brings persecution against the church. 00:03:50.09\00:03:55.46 So we're going to take a look at these seven sequential steps 00:03:55.56\00:03:59.00 and see how they are all interconnected. 00:03:59.33\00:04:02.04 And then at the end, we're going to learn what lessons 00:04:02.07\00:04:05.21 we need to embrace from this particular study. 00:04:05.24\00:04:09.64 So let's go to point number one, the conditions of the apostles 00:04:10.21\00:04:14.88 before the passion of Jesus Christ in the garden 00:04:15.08\00:04:18.59 of Gethsemane and on the cross of Calvary. 00:04:18.62\00:04:22.09 I think that as we read the gospels, we can see 00:04:23.19\00:04:25.99 that the disciples were all quite self-centered 00:04:26.03\00:04:29.36 before the passion of Christ. 00:04:29.40\00:04:31.97 Everyone was looking out for number one. 00:04:32.33\00:04:35.07 And number one was each one of them. 00:04:35.10\00:04:37.41 Now let's look at some of the characteristics 00:04:37.87\00:04:40.31 of the apostles before Christ's passion. 00:04:40.34\00:04:42.88 Number one, they were violent. 00:04:43.48\00:04:46.45 We know, for example, that Peter cut off the ear 00:04:46.98\00:04:50.15 of the High Priest's servant in the garden of Gethsemane. 00:04:50.49\00:04:53.92 We also know that James and John were quite violent. 00:04:54.29\00:04:58.19 The were called, the sons of thunder. 00:04:58.23\00:05:00.73 And we have one particular episode in the gospels 00:05:01.13\00:05:03.73 that illustrates the spirit that they had 00:05:03.77\00:05:06.74 and how they would have ruled if Jesus had placed 00:05:06.77\00:05:10.14 one on His right side and the other on His left side 00:05:10.17\00:05:12.94 the way that their mother suggested. 00:05:12.97\00:05:14.94 Notice Luke 9:53-54 what kind of attitude James and John had. 00:05:15.21\00:05:22.78 They had a very violent character. 00:05:22.82\00:05:24.62 That's why they were called, the sons of thunder. 00:05:24.65\00:05:26.79 It says there... 00:05:27.19\00:05:28.52 And by the way, this is when Jesus is on His last 00:05:28.56\00:05:31.13 journey to Jerusalem. 00:05:31.16\00:05:32.49 He asks the Samaritan villages if He can 00:05:32.53\00:05:35.16 go through these villages. 00:05:35.20\00:05:36.53 And they sent word back, they said, "No, we won't let You 00:05:36.56\00:05:38.73 go through our villages." 00:05:38.77\00:05:40.10 So let's pick it up in Luke 9:53. 00:05:40.14\00:05:42.97 Quite violent, I might say. 00:06:02.99\00:06:04.99 They had no regard for saving human life. 00:06:05.03\00:06:08.90 In fact, Jesus said, "I didn't come to destroy people's lives. 00:06:08.93\00:06:11.83 I have come to save people's lives." 00:06:12.03\00:06:15.60 The apostles also were constantly concerned about 00:06:16.10\00:06:19.67 what they would receive because they followed Jesus. 00:06:19.71\00:06:22.31 They were interested in serving for a reward. 00:06:22.34\00:06:25.08 Notice Matthew 19:27. 00:06:25.51\00:06:29.08 So their service of Christ was with a special self-interest 00:06:40.53\00:06:45.63 of receiving some benefit from the Lord for following Jesus. 00:06:45.67\00:06:50.11 They were also concerned about their own dignity and status. 00:06:50.41\00:06:55.41 Notice John 16:6, and then we'll read verse 8. 00:06:55.68\00:06:59.41 You know, when Jesus was in the upper room with His disciples, 00:06:59.68\00:07:03.02 you remember that He took a towel and He began washing 00:07:03.05\00:07:06.39 the feet of the disciples. 00:07:06.42\00:07:07.76 Because none of them, according to, Desire of Ages, 00:07:07.79\00:07:10.66 would lower himself to wash the feet of anyone else. 00:07:10.86\00:07:15.90 And so Jesus now begins washing the feet of the apostles. 00:07:15.93\00:07:20.30 And I want you to notice what it says in John 13:6, 00:07:20.54\00:07:24.57 and then we'll read verse 8. 00:07:24.61\00:07:26.44 In other words, "It is below Your dignity 00:07:36.69\00:07:40.59 to lower Yourself to wash my feet." 00:07:40.79\00:07:43.32 None of them would even think about washing the feet 00:07:43.36\00:07:46.63 of another one of the apostles because that would not be 00:07:46.66\00:07:50.60 up to their own dignity and status, 00:07:50.63\00:07:54.14 which they were very concerned with before the 00:07:54.17\00:07:56.94 passion of Christ. 00:07:56.97\00:07:58.37 And then they were all struggling 00:07:58.67\00:08:00.64 for position and for power. 00:08:00.68\00:08:02.48 They wanted the highest place in the kingdom. 00:08:02.51\00:08:04.95 Notice Mark 9:33-34. 00:08:05.21\00:08:09.48 This is on the last journey to Jerusalem. 00:08:09.72\00:08:11.92 And notice what they were discussing. 00:08:11.95\00:08:13.56 See, they were fighting on the road. 00:08:23.30\00:08:24.90 So they were interested in reward, they were violent, 00:08:35.18\00:08:38.58 they were interested in their own dignity 00:08:38.68\00:08:40.62 and their own status, and they wanted the highest 00:08:40.65\00:08:43.52 position in the kingdom. 00:08:43.55\00:08:45.25 Notice what we find in Matthew 20. 00:08:45.72\00:08:49.92 The mother of James and John comes to Jesus 00:08:50.03\00:08:53.86 and makes a special request. 00:08:53.90\00:08:55.83 She says, "I want one of my sons to be on Your right side 00:08:56.16\00:08:59.97 and the other son to be on Your left side in the kingdom." 00:09:00.00\00:09:03.20 Notice Matthew 20. 00:09:03.64\00:09:05.34 In other words, they wanted the highest cabinet positions 00:09:18.75\00:09:22.29 in the kingdom that Jesus was going to establish. 00:09:22.32\00:09:25.83 They were also interested in their own self-preservation. 00:09:26.36\00:09:29.53 They weren't willing to give up their lives 00:09:29.56\00:09:31.33 for the cause of Jesus. 00:09:31.37\00:09:32.87 Notice Mark 14:50, when Jesus was arrested 00:09:33.17\00:09:38.14 in the garden of Gethsemane. 00:09:38.17\00:09:39.67 Because they all wanted to save their own skin. 00:09:45.41\00:09:47.92 It was all about self-preservation. 00:09:47.95\00:09:50.72 And then in the case of Peter, Peter was embarrassed 00:09:51.19\00:09:55.79 to be associated with Jesus when Jesus was arrested. 00:09:55.82\00:09:59.63 Remember that he denied Christ three times? 00:09:59.76\00:10:02.66 And the third time he actually cursed. 00:10:03.16\00:10:05.23 He said, "I have nothing to do with this Man." 00:10:05.27\00:10:07.37 And Ellen White explains that it wasn't because 00:10:07.67\00:10:09.87 he was afraid of losing his life. 00:10:09.90\00:10:11.94 It was because he would tell people that this was 00:10:12.11\00:10:15.18 the Messiah, and now Jesus was dying 00:10:15.21\00:10:17.48 and he was embarrassed to be associated with Jesus. 00:10:17.51\00:10:20.85 Notice what we find in Mark 14:71 where it speaks about 00:10:21.05\00:10:26.15 Peter's reaction when the third time he denied Jesus. 00:10:26.69\00:10:30.36 So in summary, each disciple was looking out for number one. 00:10:38.57\00:10:43.67 Each had their own personal agenda. 00:10:44.31\00:10:47.11 They were looking out for their own lives, their own reputation, 00:10:47.68\00:10:51.98 their own self-interest, their own dignity, 00:10:52.01\00:10:54.72 their own position, their own financial security. 00:10:54.75\00:10:57.89 In other words, they were filled with self. 00:10:57.99\00:11:01.56 Now when you look at the apostles, you find 00:11:02.62\00:11:04.63 quite a group of misfits. 00:11:04.66\00:11:06.39 We have, first of all, Simon the zealot. 00:11:07.03\00:11:10.37 You know, the zealots were a Jewish sect who wanted to 00:11:10.90\00:11:14.24 overthrow the Roman government by sedition. 00:11:14.27\00:11:17.37 They wanted to overthrow the government by violence. 00:11:17.47\00:11:19.87 They were kind of like guerrilla fighters 00:11:19.91\00:11:22.04 back in the times of Christ. 00:11:22.08\00:11:24.11 And so you have one of the apostles that was a zealot. 00:11:24.15\00:11:26.58 Undoubtedly, he wanted to overthrow the Roman government, 00:11:26.61\00:11:29.58 and he wanted to do it with violence. 00:11:29.68\00:11:32.25 And then you had Judas, the shrewd administrator, 00:11:32.52\00:11:36.42 who had a high opinion of himself. 00:11:37.06\00:11:40.10 And Ellen White says that he thought of all the other 00:11:40.30\00:11:42.83 disciples as ignoramuses, because he suppose that 00:11:42.86\00:11:45.83 they were not as intelligent as him. 00:11:45.87\00:11:47.97 And then you have Matthew, the hated tax collector. 00:11:48.20\00:11:51.94 And James and John, the sons of thunder. 00:11:51.97\00:11:55.01 And then you have outspoken Peter who was foul-mouthed 00:11:55.11\00:12:00.02 when he denied Christ the third time. 00:12:00.05\00:12:02.05 And he always put his tongue in fourth gear 00:12:02.15\00:12:05.19 before he put his brain in first gear. 00:12:05.22\00:12:07.49 And then you have Thomas, the philosopher, who said, 00:12:07.69\00:12:10.96 "I will not believe unless I see." 00:12:10.99\00:12:14.30 The question is, how in the world could Jesus unite 00:12:15.06\00:12:18.57 such a group of misfits? 00:12:18.60\00:12:21.17 But Jesus prayed for the unity of the disciples. 00:12:21.74\00:12:25.24 When He was in the garden of Gethsemane 00:12:25.47\00:12:28.08 He uttered His famous prayer on Thursday evening 00:12:28.11\00:12:31.08 that is found in John 17. 00:12:31.11\00:12:33.62 And I want to read now John 17:20-23 were we can 00:12:33.78\00:12:38.42 grasp the spirit of Christ's prayer. 00:12:38.45\00:12:41.06 This is what Jesus said, speaking to His Father... 00:12:41.42\00:12:44.09 And so Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, prayed 00:13:28.40\00:13:31.44 that somehow this group of misfits who were centered 00:13:31.57\00:13:35.28 only on themselves would come around and they would unite 00:13:35.31\00:13:39.81 in one body. 00:13:39.85\00:13:41.32 And of course, the prayer of Jesus was answered. 00:13:41.82\00:13:45.72 And so Jesus suffered in Gethsemane, 00:13:46.52\00:13:49.99 He died on the cross, He resurrected on the 00:13:50.19\00:13:53.36 first day of the week. 00:13:53.40\00:13:54.73 And then of course, ten days before the day of Pentecost, 00:13:54.86\00:13:58.20 Jesus told the disciples, "You stay in Jerusalem 00:13:58.57\00:14:03.10 and you wait for the power." 00:14:03.14\00:14:06.34 Now, they weren't suppose to just sit around 00:14:06.98\00:14:09.71 and wait without doing anything. 00:14:10.11\00:14:13.45 There were certain things that they needed to do 00:14:13.75\00:14:16.35 while they waited. 00:14:17.15\00:14:18.49 I call it, active waiting. 00:14:18.52\00:14:20.69 Notice Matthew 28:19-20. 00:14:21.12\00:14:24.89 All power had already been given to Jesus. 00:14:24.93\00:14:27.56 And we've already studied that it was given to Jesus 00:14:27.60\00:14:30.10 when He ascended to heaven on resurrection morning. 00:14:30.13\00:14:32.37 Remember, the Father gave Him all power at that moment. 00:14:32.40\00:14:35.80 And notice Matthew 28, actually we'll read verses 18-20. 00:14:36.07\00:14:42.58 So Jesus gives the disciples the command 00:15:04.73\00:15:08.00 to go and preach the gospel to all nations. 00:15:08.04\00:15:10.84 But Jesus told them that they should not go 00:15:11.17\00:15:14.51 before they waited. 00:15:14.61\00:15:17.15 Notice Acts 1:4, and we'll also read verse 8. 00:15:17.25\00:15:21.82 Incidentally, this text from Acts 1 is in the same 00:15:22.05\00:15:26.55 historical context as Matthew 28:18-20. 00:15:26.59\00:15:31.09 It's the same occasion immediately before the ascension 00:15:31.13\00:15:34.10 from the Mount of Olives. 00:15:34.13\00:15:35.60 So it says in Acts 1:4... 00:15:35.63\00:15:38.17 And then notice that when they receive the power, 00:15:51.88\00:15:54.18 then they can fulfill the great commission. 00:15:54.22\00:15:56.15 It says in verse 8... 00:15:56.18\00:15:57.52 So Jesus says, "First of all, you need to wait 00:16:10.57\00:16:14.80 in Jerusalem for ten days until you receive the power." 00:16:14.84\00:16:19.64 Now, what were they suppose to do during those ten days? 00:16:19.91\00:16:23.81 Not simply sit around and wait. 00:16:23.85\00:16:26.05 They were suppose to do something to prepare 00:16:26.08\00:16:29.48 for the receiving of the power. 00:16:29.52\00:16:31.15 I want you to notice something that happened 00:16:31.49\00:16:34.12 on resurrection evening. 00:16:34.39\00:16:36.86 It's found in John 20:21-23. 00:16:36.89\00:16:41.86 And this is very interesting because we usually think of 00:16:42.06\00:16:44.50 the Holy Spirit being poured out on the day of Pentecost. 00:16:44.53\00:16:47.00 And that certainly is true. 00:16:47.04\00:16:48.70 But Jesus gave the disciples the Holy Spirit 00:16:49.10\00:16:51.67 before the day of Pentecost. 00:16:51.71\00:16:53.27 But the purpose was not to fill them with the Holy Spirit 00:16:53.84\00:16:57.38 to enable them to preach. 00:16:57.41\00:16:59.35 The purpose was to give them the Holy Spirit 00:16:59.45\00:17:01.78 so that the Holy Spirit would help them be emptied of self, 00:17:01.88\00:17:06.12 so that then they could be filled with the Holy Spirit 00:17:06.15\00:17:08.49 on the day of Pentecost. 00:17:08.52\00:17:09.86 Notice John 20:21-23, how Jesus on resurrection evening 00:17:09.89\00:17:15.76 gave them the Holy Spirit so that they could be 00:17:15.80\00:17:17.63 emptied of their personal agendas and of self. 00:17:17.67\00:17:21.00 It says there... 00:17:21.04\00:17:22.37 Actually it says, "...they have been forgiven them." 00:17:42.86\00:17:45.63 That's the tense of the verb in the Greek. 00:17:45.66\00:17:47.83 A better translation is, "...they have been retained." 00:17:52.07\00:17:56.04 So they're not really forgiving sin. 00:17:56.07\00:17:58.01 They are simply telling people that on the basis of what 00:17:58.27\00:18:01.74 Jesus did, they can be forgiven. 00:18:01.78\00:18:04.11 Now, what did they do during those ten days 00:18:04.48\00:18:07.75 before the day of Pentecost while they waited? 00:18:07.78\00:18:10.29 Once again, I emphasize that it is active waiting. 00:18:10.62\00:18:13.92 It's not sitting around. 00:18:13.96\00:18:15.39 They had to do something. 00:18:15.66\00:18:16.99 They had to come together in unity like Jesus had prayed. 00:18:17.03\00:18:20.63 Now some of the text that I'm going to read to you 00:18:20.90\00:18:23.40 are from events that took place after the day of Pentecost. 00:18:23.43\00:18:27.47 But in principle, they illustrate the spirit that the 00:18:27.50\00:18:31.04 apostles developed during those ten days. 00:18:31.07\00:18:34.31 Now let's notice, first of all, Acts 1:14. 00:18:34.34\00:18:37.71 What are they doing before the day of Pentecost? 00:18:37.75\00:18:40.78 They're not divided anymore. 00:18:44.65\00:18:46.25 So what are they doing? 00:18:57.93\00:18:59.27 They're intensely praying. 00:18:59.30\00:19:01.77 They're elevating prayers of supplication to the Lord. 00:19:02.30\00:19:06.04 And it says that they were all of one accord. 00:19:06.07\00:19:09.04 In other words, all of these different parts of the body 00:19:09.08\00:19:11.85 are coming together and forming one body. 00:19:11.88\00:19:15.45 Notice Acts 2:42. It says... 00:19:15.75\00:19:19.39 There, once gain, you find the spirit of what happened 00:19:28.63\00:19:31.43 during those ten days even though this is happening 00:19:31.47\00:19:33.97 after the day of Pentecost. 00:19:34.00\00:19:35.50 It says, "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' 00:19:35.54\00:19:38.67 doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, 00:19:38.71\00:19:41.34 and in prayers." 00:19:41.38\00:19:42.71 In Acts 2:45, we're told that they're not selfish anymore. 00:19:42.78\00:19:47.48 They're not thinking about what they can get 00:19:47.65\00:19:49.45 out of following Jesus. 00:19:49.48\00:19:50.99 It says there in Acts 2:45, and we're not going to 00:19:51.02\00:19:53.92 read the verse, but you know that basically they took 00:19:53.96\00:19:57.19 all of their properties and they placed them 00:19:57.23\00:19:59.26 on the altar of sacrifice at the disposal of the work 00:19:59.29\00:20:03.53 for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:20:03.57\00:20:06.70 Their focus had changed from what they could get 00:20:07.24\00:20:11.21 from following Jesus to what they could invest 00:20:11.24\00:20:14.21 as they followed Jesus. 00:20:14.24\00:20:15.84 And then in Acts 2:46-47, we find a reflection 00:20:16.04\00:20:20.92 of the spirit that they manifested during those 00:20:20.95\00:20:23.49 days before Pentecost. 00:20:23.52\00:20:25.05 It says in verses 46-47... 00:20:25.09\00:20:27.76 So basically, folks, their central focus had changed 00:20:48.54\00:20:53.18 from self to Jesus. 00:20:53.21\00:20:55.38 During those ten days they had one Lord, 00:20:55.72\00:20:58.75 they had one heartbeat, they had one focus. 00:20:58.79\00:21:02.56 And that focus had shifted from themselves to Jesus Christ 00:21:02.66\00:21:08.13 and the mission that Jesus wanted them to perform. 00:21:08.16\00:21:11.73 And so the second step is the ten days of active waiting, 00:21:11.93\00:21:17.37 preparing to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:21:17.41\00:21:21.71 Step number three is, after waiting they received 00:21:22.01\00:21:26.41 the power that Jesus had promised. 00:21:26.45\00:21:29.88 And we find this in Acts 2:1-4. 00:21:29.92\00:21:34.36 The Holy Spirit is poured out. 00:21:34.56\00:21:36.02 And the purpose of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit 00:21:36.06\00:21:38.53 is to give them power to preach the gospel. 00:21:38.79\00:21:41.76 Notice Acts 2:1-4. 00:21:42.03\00:21:45.27 Had they all come together during those ten days? 00:21:52.44\00:21:54.91 Absolutely. 00:21:54.94\00:21:56.28 So what was the purpose of the gift of tongues, 00:22:22.20\00:22:24.34 according to what we've studied? 00:22:24.37\00:22:25.97 Why did they receive the power? 00:22:26.01\00:22:28.14 Folks, they received the power for one purpose. 00:22:28.44\00:22:31.48 They had already been emptied from self by the Holy Spirit 00:22:31.71\00:22:35.78 during those ten days. 00:22:35.82\00:22:37.15 So the purpose of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost 00:22:37.35\00:22:40.02 is not to empty them of self, 00:22:40.22\00:22:42.46 or to give them a high spiritual experience, 00:22:42.49\00:22:45.09 or for self-edification. 00:22:45.13\00:22:46.83 The purpose is so that now they can go out 00:22:46.86\00:22:49.46 and they can preach with power. 00:22:49.50\00:22:51.07 And as we've studied, that's the reason why God 00:22:51.27\00:22:54.10 gave them the gift of tongues. 00:22:54.14\00:22:55.90 So that they could speak in the languages of those 00:22:55.94\00:22:58.47 who were present there so that they could receive the gospel 00:22:58.51\00:23:01.94 and then go back to their countries and proclaim 00:23:01.98\00:23:05.08 the wonderful message about Jesus. 00:23:05.18\00:23:08.08 So step number three was receiving the power 00:23:08.12\00:23:11.72 that Jesus promised. 00:23:11.75\00:23:13.32 Because preaching without power will do absolutely nothing. 00:23:13.36\00:23:17.03 And then we have step number four. 00:23:17.39\00:23:19.39 As a result of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:23:19.89\00:23:24.00 Peter preached one sermon on the day of Pentecost. 00:23:24.57\00:23:29.17 One sermon. 00:23:29.20\00:23:30.67 Not an evangelistic series of six weeks. 00:23:30.71\00:23:34.24 One sermon under the power of the Holy Spirit 00:23:34.51\00:23:39.08 that he had received. 00:23:39.11\00:23:40.45 And in that one sermon, three thousand souls responded 00:23:40.52\00:23:46.69 to the message that he preached. 00:23:46.72\00:23:48.52 Three thousand souls were baptized in one day 00:23:48.89\00:23:53.60 as a result of one sermon. 00:23:53.63\00:23:55.86 Amazing. 00:23:56.16\00:23:57.50 You know, several years ago there was a plan 00:23:57.53\00:23:59.77 in the Adventist church that was developed that was called, 00:24:00.17\00:24:02.74 The Thousand Days of Reaping. 00:24:02.77\00:24:04.57 Some of you might remember that. 00:24:04.61\00:24:06.07 But Pentecost was the day of reaping thousands. 00:24:06.11\00:24:08.94 It wasn't the thousand days of reaping. 00:24:08.98\00:24:11.01 It was the day to reap thousands. 00:24:11.05\00:24:13.05 And they reaped three thousand. 00:24:13.08\00:24:15.05 And a few days later, they reaped five thousand more. 00:24:15.08\00:24:19.29 So they began preaching with power. 00:24:20.49\00:24:22.32 And I want you to notice several text that speak about 00:24:22.36\00:24:25.83 the power that they now had to proclaim the message. 00:24:25.86\00:24:28.76 Acts 4:13 00:24:28.80\00:24:31.47 It says, "Now when they saw..." 00:24:31.80\00:24:33.94 This is the Sanhedrin. 00:24:33.97\00:24:35.74 How are they speaking now? With boldness. 00:24:39.37\00:24:41.64 It's interesting, the Greek word there is, "agrammatos," 00:24:46.45\00:24:49.78 which means that they didn't know any grammar. 00:24:50.09\00:24:52.55 "Agrammatos," means, no grammar. 00:24:54.02\00:24:57.63 In other words, they didn't have proper grammar. 00:24:57.66\00:24:59.69 And the second word is very interesting. 00:25:00.13\00:25:02.06 "...and untrained..." 00:25:02.10\00:25:03.57 That word, "untrained," is, "idiotes," 00:25:03.60\00:25:06.67 from where we get the word, "idiot." 00:25:08.00\00:25:09.90 And so it says... 00:25:11.04\00:25:12.37 Notice Acts 4:19-20. 00:25:21.95\00:25:24.99 "But Peter and John answered and said to them..." 00:25:25.32\00:25:28.12 "We have to speak," is what they said. 00:25:40.24\00:25:42.57 And they had no fear in speaking. 00:25:42.60\00:25:44.97 Notice Acts 4:29 and 31. 00:25:45.41\00:25:48.71 Once again, the boldness in preaching now that they have 00:25:48.74\00:25:51.55 the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:25:51.58\00:25:53.21 It says there... 00:25:53.25\00:25:54.58 Because the Sanhedrin had threatened them. 00:25:58.52\00:26:01.02 Why is the Word of God not being spoken with boldness today? 00:26:30.62\00:26:34.09 Is it perhaps because we're full of self? 00:26:34.96\00:26:37.73 We haven't done the waiting? 00:26:38.36\00:26:39.96 And because we haven't done the waiting, 00:26:40.83\00:26:43.30 we have not received the power? 00:26:43.33\00:26:45.03 And if we don't have the power, we're not going to 00:26:45.60\00:26:48.00 proclaim the message? 00:26:48.04\00:26:49.37 Do you see the chain reaction that we have here? 00:26:49.40\00:26:51.74 Now let's go to step number five. 00:26:52.37\00:26:54.44 What were the results of the preaching with boldness 00:26:55.48\00:26:59.08 of the apostles? 00:26:59.11\00:27:00.45 I want to read several text to show what happened 00:27:00.68\00:27:03.22 immediately after the day of Pentecost. 00:27:03.25\00:27:05.35 Now in Acts 1:15, we find the number of believers 00:27:05.89\00:27:10.73 that were there before the day of Pentecost. 00:27:10.76\00:27:13.26 It says... 00:27:13.53\00:27:14.86 Those were the faithful. 00:27:23.41\00:27:25.11 But now notice what happens on the day of Pentecost. 00:27:25.37\00:27:28.18 Acts 2:41-42 00:27:28.21\00:27:31.51 That is, the word that Peter was preaching. 00:27:34.18\00:27:36.38 Three thousand as a result of one sermon. 00:27:50.17\00:27:53.34 Notice Acts 4:4. 00:27:53.84\00:27:56.04 This is a short while later still in Jerusalem. 00:27:56.07\00:27:58.67 Wow! Three thousand, five thousand. 00:28:10.19\00:28:13.15 The movement is growing phenomenally. 00:28:13.36\00:28:15.42 Notice Acts 4:32. 00:28:15.46\00:28:18.46 Notice, the multitude of those who believed. 00:28:31.47\00:28:35.14 Notice Acts 5:14. 00:28:35.44\00:28:38.25 Notice the words that are used. 00:28:46.35\00:28:47.86 It says that believers were increasingly added. 00:28:47.89\00:28:52.19 Multitudes of both men and women were added. 00:28:52.23\00:28:56.10 Notice Acts 6:7. 00:28:56.13\00:28:58.30 It wasn't only among the laity that you had conversions. 00:28:58.33\00:29:02.50 Many of the priests also believed in the message. 00:29:02.54\00:29:05.41 It says in Acts 6:7... 00:29:05.44\00:29:07.64 Notice Acts 9:31. 00:29:20.46\00:29:23.29 Once again, the terminology. 00:29:23.32\00:29:24.93 Notice Acts 14:1. 00:29:40.74\00:29:43.14 It's speaking about something that happened in Iconium. 00:29:43.45\00:29:46.45 A great multitude. 00:29:57.66\00:29:59.06 Notice Acts 21:20. 00:29:59.23\00:30:02.03 It says, "And when they heard it..." 00:30:02.06\00:30:04.20 You see, the apostles no longer cared about money, 00:30:16.85\00:30:20.42 power, reputation, dignity, position, or life itself. 00:30:20.45\00:30:25.85 Their central focus was on preaching the gospel 00:30:25.89\00:30:29.36 of Jesus Christ. 00:30:29.39\00:30:30.73 And when they did that with power, thousands upon thousands, 00:30:30.76\00:30:34.90 myriads of the people and the priests 00:30:35.00\00:30:37.67 were converted to Jesus Christ. 00:30:37.70\00:30:40.17 Ellen White describes in, Acts of the Apostles, page 48, 00:30:40.57\00:30:44.21 what was the result of the day of Pentecost. 00:30:44.47\00:30:46.61 Notice what she says. 00:30:46.64\00:30:47.98 Wow! 00:31:28.98\00:31:30.32 What a result from the power on the day of Pentecost! 00:31:30.35\00:31:33.46 And by the way, they needed no mimes, no concerts, 00:31:33.49\00:31:37.33 no dramas, no magic shows, no contemporary Christian music 00:31:37.36\00:31:42.53 to attract the crowds. 00:31:42.56\00:31:44.33 Because Jesus and His word had the power to convert 00:31:44.37\00:31:48.94 human hearts. 00:31:48.97\00:31:50.37 Then you have step number six. 00:31:51.67\00:31:54.14 When they're preaching the message with power, 00:31:55.01\00:31:57.05 myriads upon myriads are coming to the church. 00:31:57.15\00:31:59.55 And the devil is worried because he's losing his subjects. 00:31:59.65\00:32:03.89 That's step number six. 00:32:04.45\00:32:06.42 I want to read from, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings, 00:32:06.45\00:32:08.89 page 29, where Ellen White connects the preaching 00:32:08.92\00:32:12.69 and the exodus of multitudes from the world into the church 00:32:12.79\00:32:16.26 with the persecution that followed, 00:32:16.30\00:32:18.83 and Satan losing his subjects. 00:32:18.93\00:32:20.70 Ellen White says... 00:32:20.74\00:32:22.07 Once again, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, page 29, 00:32:22.20\00:32:25.04 speaking about Jesus... 00:32:26.27\00:32:28.44 So the devil is losing multitudes of his followers. 00:33:32.24\00:33:35.88 And so the devil says, "This is not good." 00:33:35.98\00:33:39.28 So then you have step number seven. 00:33:39.58\00:33:42.32 In order to stop the exodus of multitudes from his kingdom, 00:33:42.82\00:33:48.86 the devil is now going to cause persecution. 00:33:49.12\00:33:53.50 Because he believes that through persecution, 00:33:53.53\00:33:56.00 through killing people, people are going to quit 00:33:56.03\00:33:59.07 leaving the world and joining Christianity. 00:33:59.33\00:34:02.40 I want to read from, Great Controversy, page 46, 00:34:02.44\00:34:05.64 where Ellen White describes this seventh step of persecution 00:34:05.67\00:34:09.81 as a result of Satan losing his subjects. 00:34:09.84\00:34:12.55 Great Controversy, page 46. 00:34:12.65\00:34:14.85 And so step number seven is that the devil now 00:35:24.29\00:35:27.16 causes persecution. 00:35:27.36\00:35:29.59 I want you to notice in the book of Acts the clear connection 00:35:30.23\00:35:34.26 between the preaching with power, Satan losing 00:35:34.30\00:35:37.47 his subjects, and persecution. 00:35:37.50\00:35:40.04 It's clearly in Acts 3, 4, and 5. 00:35:40.07\00:35:44.04 Immediately after the Holy Spirit was poured out 00:35:44.07\00:35:47.01 and Peter preached his sermon, you have persecution. 00:35:47.04\00:35:49.98 I want you to notice the sequence that we find 00:35:50.48\00:35:53.01 in chapters 3 through 5. 00:35:53.05\00:35:54.75 First of all, in Acts 3 we find Peter and John 00:35:55.28\00:35:58.89 healing a paralytic. 00:35:58.99\00:36:01.32 Of course, the religious leaders did not like the idea 00:36:02.36\00:36:05.79 of this healing. 00:36:05.89\00:36:07.40 And so in chapter 4:3, Peter and John were arrested 00:36:07.43\00:36:11.93 and they were held in custody overnight. 00:36:12.03\00:36:16.47 And then the next day they were taken before the Sanhedrin. 00:36:17.11\00:36:20.71 I want you to notice the connection here, folks. 00:36:20.74\00:36:23.81 What is happening here is, the Holy Spirit has been poured out, 00:36:24.08\00:36:27.75 Peter has preached his powerful sermon on the day of Pentecost, 00:36:28.32\00:36:31.59 Satan has lost three thousand souls, 00:36:31.75\00:36:34.66 and the result is immediately persecution. 00:36:34.69\00:36:37.09 There's a clear connection. 00:36:37.49\00:36:39.09 Notice Acts 4:8-13. 00:36:39.13\00:36:42.50 Peter and John are taken the next day before the Sanhedrin. 00:36:42.70\00:36:45.60 And then Peter speaks these words. 00:36:45.63\00:36:47.57 Because they say, "Didn't we tell you not to preach 00:36:47.60\00:36:49.30 in the name of Jesus?" 00:36:49.34\00:36:50.67 Notice what Peter said. 00:36:50.71\00:36:52.04 No political correctness here. 00:37:17.57\00:37:19.37 That's boldness. 00:37:43.86\00:37:45.29 Standing before the members of the maximum governing body 00:37:45.93\00:37:49.90 of the Jewish nation and saying, "We cannot but speak 00:37:49.93\00:37:55.74 about Jesus Christ." 00:37:55.77\00:37:57.87 And I want you to notice verse 13, because it's 00:37:59.11\00:38:01.61 very interesting what Peter says about Jesus. 00:38:01.64\00:38:06.25 When the Sanhedrin sees the boldness of Peter and John. 00:38:10.19\00:38:13.12 And of course now the leaders deliberated, 00:38:26.00\00:38:28.24 after Peter gave his speech, among themselves. 00:38:28.27\00:38:31.11 And then they commanded Peter and John not to speak 00:38:31.51\00:38:35.81 in the name of Jesus. 00:38:35.84\00:38:37.18 They said, "Don't speak in the name of Jesus." 00:38:37.21\00:38:38.88 What do you suppose Peter said? 00:38:39.61\00:38:41.22 Notice verse 20. 00:38:41.35\00:38:42.68 And the religious leaders then threatened and released them. 00:38:50.76\00:38:54.63 And Peter and John went on their own and rendered a report 00:38:55.03\00:38:59.77 to the followers of Jesus. 00:39:00.04\00:39:02.00 In other words, in verses 21-31, we find Peter and John 00:39:02.27\00:39:07.38 taking a report back to those who believed. 00:39:07.41\00:39:10.88 And when they took the report back to those believers, 00:39:11.01\00:39:14.75 they all gathered together and they uttered a prayer. 00:39:15.32\00:39:17.59 And I want you to notice what God did to encourage them. 00:39:17.62\00:39:20.66 Acts 4:31 00:39:20.76\00:39:23.29 And in the very next chapter, Peter and John are out 00:39:39.27\00:39:42.64 in public preaching again. 00:39:42.68\00:39:45.01 And as a result, they're arrested 00:39:45.45\00:39:47.35 and they're thrown in jail. 00:39:47.55\00:39:49.12 But an angel releases them from prison 00:39:49.42\00:39:52.82 and commanded them to go and preach in the temple court. 00:39:53.86\00:39:57.56 Talk about insult to injury. 00:39:57.59\00:39:59.39 Going to the very place where the religious leaders were. 00:39:59.79\00:40:03.37 At the entrance to the temple. 00:40:03.40\00:40:05.47 The angel says, "I'm releasing you so that you go out 00:40:05.50\00:40:08.30 and you..." What? "...and you preach." 00:40:08.34\00:40:10.31 And so they go out and they preached. 00:40:10.34\00:40:11.97 They're fearless now. 00:40:12.01\00:40:13.54 They don't care about their reputation, 00:40:13.58\00:40:15.34 they don't care about their life. 00:40:15.38\00:40:16.71 All they care about is preaching what Jesus is doing in heaven. 00:40:16.75\00:40:20.62 And so Peter and John are arrested again. 00:40:20.82\00:40:23.18 Do you see how the persecution is going on here? 00:40:23.22\00:40:25.52 They're arrested once again. 00:40:25.55\00:40:27.26 And they're taken before the Sanhedrin. 00:40:27.36\00:40:29.46 And the leaders of the Sanhedrin say, "Did we not 00:40:29.76\00:40:32.89 command you not to preach in the name of Jesus?" 00:40:32.93\00:40:36.16 And Peter says, "We ought to obey God rather than men." 00:40:36.20\00:40:41.10 Wow! 00:40:41.27\00:40:42.60 And so it says in Acts 5:33, when they see the boldness 00:40:42.64\00:40:47.51 of Peter and John, it says... 00:40:47.54\00:40:49.11 And then of course you have the wise man, Gamaliel. 00:40:54.82\00:40:58.29 I believe that perhaps we might see Gamaliel in the kingdom. 00:40:58.92\00:41:02.19 He spoke to them and he said, "Folks, not so fast. 00:41:02.99\00:41:06.59 You know, if this is of God, we're not going to 00:41:07.30\00:41:09.80 be able to stop it. 00:41:09.83\00:41:11.17 And if it's not of God, it's going to fizzle out. 00:41:11.47\00:41:14.00 But leave these men alone. 00:41:14.37\00:41:15.97 Don't kill them." 00:41:16.27\00:41:17.61 Notice what we find in Acts 5:41-42. 00:41:18.44\00:41:22.41 Peter and John were beaten. 00:41:22.61\00:41:26.58 And then it says... 00:41:26.78\00:41:28.12 See, they're not ashamed now. 00:41:36.09\00:41:37.43 They say, "It's okay to suffer shame for the name of Jesus." 00:41:37.46\00:41:40.16 Verse 42... 00:41:40.33\00:41:41.66 They had the power, folks. 00:41:50.27\00:41:52.37 That's what made the difference. 00:41:52.41\00:41:54.61 Ellen White, in Great Controversy, pages 39-40, 00:41:55.04\00:41:58.45 describes how persecution arose because of the power 00:41:58.55\00:42:02.68 of the preaching and because Satan was losing his subjects. 00:42:02.72\00:42:05.65 This is a rather lengthy statement, but it's powerful. 00:42:05.69\00:42:08.56 So I'm going to read it. 00:42:08.59\00:42:09.92 That they would be persecuted. 00:42:17.10\00:42:18.73 So the devil's religion is going to be blown out of the water. 00:42:35.05\00:42:39.02 And so now notice what it continues saying. 00:42:39.05\00:42:41.42 Is this going to be repeated again when the latter rain 00:43:32.71\00:43:35.71 is poured out upon God's people, 00:43:35.74\00:43:37.18 and God's people preach with power? 00:43:37.21\00:43:38.91 Absolutely. 00:43:38.95\00:43:40.28 Is that going to happen again? 00:43:53.46\00:43:54.80 Absolutely. 00:43:55.03\00:43:56.36 "...as foes of religion..." Is that going to happen again? 00:43:56.40\00:43:59.23 Absolutely. 00:43:59.27\00:44:00.60 "...and pests to society." 00:44:00.64\00:44:01.97 All of this is going to be repeated when the latter rain 00:44:02.00\00:44:04.41 is poured out, folks. 00:44:04.44\00:44:05.87 So why hasn't the latter rain been poured out? 00:44:06.27\00:44:08.28 We'll come to that in a moment. 00:44:08.31\00:44:09.81 She continues saying... 00:44:10.25\00:44:11.58 The apostle Paul was beheaded. 00:44:40.04\00:44:42.54 Peter was crucified, by his own request, with his head down. 00:44:42.91\00:44:46.82 Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, was martyred. 00:44:47.12\00:44:51.95 He was asked to burn incense in honor of the pagan gods of Rome. 00:44:52.22\00:44:57.33 And this is what he said... 00:44:57.36\00:44:58.69 That is, the slave of Jesus. 00:45:01.13\00:45:02.63 Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, had this to say... 00:45:09.10\00:45:14.18 But you know, the more the devil persecuted, 00:45:39.63\00:45:41.80 the more Christianity grew. 00:45:42.00\00:45:43.74 Tertullian, that church father, said... 00:45:44.44\00:45:47.08 Now what does all this have to say to us? 00:45:56.99\00:46:00.39 In 2 Timothy 3:12, the apostle Paul... 00:46:01.39\00:46:06.36 And you'll notice I've emphasized certain words 00:46:07.16\00:46:10.20 here in the handout that you have. 00:46:10.23\00:46:12.87 The apostle Paul says... 00:46:14.20\00:46:15.54 How many? "...all..." 00:46:20.11\00:46:22.31 That word, "desire," isn't wishful thinking. 00:46:24.81\00:46:27.38 Basically, it's the word for a decision of the will. 00:46:27.42\00:46:30.49 In other words, "Yes, all who choose..." 00:46:30.72\00:46:36.26 And how can you live godly? 00:46:40.60\00:46:41.96 "...in Christ Jesus..." 00:46:42.63\00:46:44.83 "...will..." It doesn't say, "might." 00:46:45.60\00:46:47.84 Perhaps it will happen. No, it says, "...will..." What? 00:46:47.87\00:46:51.51 "...suffer persecution." 00:46:51.54\00:46:53.38 Jesus said in John 17:14, He said, "I have given them," 00:46:53.74\00:46:59.15 that is the apostles, "Your word..." 00:46:59.18\00:47:01.12 Why did the world hate the apostles and hate Jesus Christ? 00:47:09.52\00:47:13.19 Because they were not of the world. 00:47:13.23\00:47:15.90 Their life was different. 00:47:16.30\00:47:18.27 They had placed everything on the altar of sacrifice. 00:47:18.50\00:47:22.10 Notice what we find in James 4:4. 00:47:22.34\00:47:25.57 And in 1 John 2:15-17, this passage that is very well known, 00:47:39.65\00:47:44.36 the apostle John says... 00:47:44.73\00:47:46.43 What does it mean to be a worldly person? 00:48:13.05\00:48:15.79 Folks, it means that you're focused on the here and now 00:48:16.32\00:48:20.60 rather than the sweet by and by. 00:48:20.90\00:48:23.63 You know, we know the saying that says, 00:48:24.07\00:48:25.93 "You are so heavenly minded you're no earthly good." 00:48:25.97\00:48:30.01 But I switch that around and I say, 00:48:30.37\00:48:32.04 "You're so earthly minded you're no heavenly good." 00:48:32.07\00:48:35.01 In other words, to be secular, to be worldly, 00:48:35.51\00:48:38.15 is to be focused upon this world. 00:48:38.18\00:48:40.62 And this means that many Christians are worldly, 00:48:40.65\00:48:43.75 even though they claim to be Christians. 00:48:43.79\00:48:45.95 It means to be earth focused. 00:48:46.12\00:48:48.32 And the clothes we wear, the houses we live in, 00:48:48.86\00:48:52.56 the cars we drive, and the entertainment we choose, 00:48:52.59\00:48:56.43 how we spend our time, clearly reveal where our focus is. 00:48:56.46\00:49:02.44 Do we have time to work, to play, to watch television, 00:49:03.30\00:49:07.68 to go shopping, but we have little or no time 00:49:07.71\00:49:11.31 for Bible study, for prayer, for coming to church, 00:49:11.35\00:49:15.12 and to Secrets Unsealed taping sessions, 00:49:15.15\00:49:17.72 and coming to prayer meeting, and witnessing for Jesus? 00:49:18.19\00:49:22.19 We don't have time for any of those things, 00:49:22.46\00:49:24.76 but we do have time for all of our own endeavors? 00:49:24.86\00:49:28.96 You see, how we use our money, how we use our strength, 00:49:29.30\00:49:33.17 and how we use the gifts that God has given us 00:49:33.27\00:49:36.17 reveals where our heart is. 00:49:36.20\00:49:40.38 In Great Controversy, page 48, Ellen White explains why the 00:49:41.71\00:49:46.55 church is not persecuted today. 00:49:46.58\00:49:48.38 We should not seek persecution. 00:49:48.62\00:49:50.89 But when we're doing what we're suppose to be doing, 00:49:51.15\00:49:53.76 persecution will come. 00:49:53.79\00:49:55.62 And you know, people say, "Well, persecution hasn't come 00:49:56.36\00:49:58.73 because the Lord is merciful." 00:49:58.76\00:50:00.10 Yes, the Lord is merciful. 00:50:00.13\00:50:01.46 But persecution comes when the church gets down to business 00:50:01.86\00:50:05.00 and people consecrate their lives to the Lord. 00:50:05.03\00:50:07.57 And they become heaven focused. 00:50:08.20\00:50:10.41 And they place everything they are and everything they have 00:50:10.64\00:50:13.68 on the altar of sacrifice. 00:50:13.71\00:50:15.64 Notice, Great Controversy, page 48. 00:50:15.81\00:50:18.15 Of who? Not the world. 00:50:27.36\00:50:30.09 That should what? 00:50:30.19\00:50:31.53 "...engage the attention of the churches of today." 00:50:31.56\00:50:34.53 How many reasons are there that there is no persecution? 00:50:58.25\00:51:02.09 Five? 00:51:03.69\00:51:05.03 Well, you know, the stars haven't fallen again. 00:51:05.06\00:51:06.93 You know, we don't have the Sunday law, right? 00:51:07.83\00:51:09.66 So there's no persecution. 00:51:09.70\00:51:11.03 People give all sorts of reasons. 00:51:11.07\00:51:12.70 Ellen White says, "The only reason..." 00:51:12.80\00:51:14.60 It makes me think of this pastor in southern California 00:51:21.68\00:51:24.95 who is in hot water now. 00:51:25.25\00:51:27.32 His name is Eric Walsh. 00:51:27.75\00:51:29.15 Because he's spoken out against things that are happening 00:51:29.62\00:51:33.52 in the world that are sinful against God. 00:51:33.56\00:51:35.62 Now the media and everybody is against him 00:51:35.66\00:51:38.96 because of what he has preached. 00:51:39.19\00:51:41.06 You know, Ellen White says that when we preach the Word of God, 00:51:41.50\00:51:45.20 there is going to be opposition. 00:51:45.23\00:51:47.14 Strong opposition. 00:51:47.34\00:51:49.17 She continues saying... 00:51:50.47\00:51:51.81 So what is it that keeps persecution from manifesting 00:52:37.02\00:52:41.36 itself among God's people? 00:52:41.39\00:52:43.12 The only reason is because the church has conformed 00:52:43.16\00:52:47.20 to the world's standard, and therefore awakens no opposition. 00:52:47.23\00:52:53.00 Now do you think that the devil knows that there's a revival 00:52:54.10\00:52:57.07 about to come among God's people? 00:52:57.11\00:52:59.91 Absolutely. 00:53:00.24\00:53:01.58 The devil knows it. 00:53:01.61\00:53:02.94 He knows that there's going to be a great revival 00:53:02.98\00:53:05.01 among God's people. 00:53:05.05\00:53:06.38 And Ellen White tells us that before the true revival comes, 00:53:06.41\00:53:10.19 the devil will attempt to counterfeit it by causing 00:53:10.22\00:53:15.32 a false revival in the Christian world. 00:53:15.36\00:53:17.86 I believe that today we are seeing in the Christian world 00:53:18.06\00:53:22.23 that counterfeit revival. 00:53:22.26\00:53:23.87 There's lots of dancing and lots of singing, and lots of laughing 00:53:24.30\00:53:28.80 in the spirit, and lots of rolling in the aisles, 00:53:28.84\00:53:31.27 and lots of speaking in tongues, and lots of signs and wonders. 00:53:31.31\00:53:35.01 But the church loves what the world loves. 00:53:35.41\00:53:40.28 The church dresses as the world dresses. 00:53:40.72\00:53:43.45 The church eats as the world eats. 00:53:43.49\00:53:45.79 The church watches the same television programs. 00:53:45.99\00:53:49.02 It's involved with the same type of entertainment as the world. 00:53:49.22\00:53:53.50 In other words, the church has become focused on this world 00:53:53.60\00:53:59.60 and has lost sight of the kingdom to come. 00:53:59.63\00:54:02.94 I believe that there is going to be a revival of primitive 00:54:04.11\00:54:08.18 godliness in this world such as never has been seen. 00:54:08.21\00:54:11.55 Pentecost will be repeated once again, 00:54:11.65\00:54:14.68 but in much greater intensity. 00:54:14.72\00:54:17.25 Because it will not be in Jerusalem alone. 00:54:17.35\00:54:20.16 It will be a global outpouring of God's Holy Spirit. 00:54:20.19\00:54:24.29 But what is God waiting for? 00:54:25.06\00:54:26.76 He's waiting for us to do in the ten days... 00:54:27.16\00:54:30.00 And I'm not saying that it has to be ten days. 00:54:30.03\00:54:32.13 ...but He's waiting for us to do the same thing 00:54:32.17\00:54:34.30 that happened during the ten days that the apostles 00:54:34.34\00:54:36.97 were gathered in the upper room. 00:54:37.01\00:54:38.94 He wants us to make a consecration to the Lord. 00:54:39.37\00:54:42.58 To pray such as we have never prayed before. 00:54:42.61\00:54:45.75 He wants us to study Scripture, particularly the prophecies, 00:54:45.85\00:54:49.92 such as never before. 00:54:49.95\00:54:52.12 He wants us to take everything that we have 00:54:52.32\00:54:54.66 and place it on the altar of sacrifice 00:54:54.76\00:54:57.39 for the preaching of the gospel. 00:54:57.43\00:54:58.99 He wants us to come together in unity, 00:54:59.16\00:55:01.86 to lay aside our own personal agendas, 00:55:01.90\00:55:04.83 and to make the focus of preaching present truth, 00:55:04.87\00:55:08.84 Christ's kingdom, number one in our lives. 00:55:08.94\00:55:12.77 And folks, when that happens, beware, oh devil. 00:55:13.24\00:55:17.95 Because the world will be shaken by as powerful a message 00:55:17.98\00:55:23.65 as was preached by the apostles immediately after 00:55:23.69\00:55:27.36 the day of Pentecost. 00:55:27.39\00:55:29.39 I don't know about you, but I'm longing for that day to come 00:55:30.03\00:55:34.03 when, according to Revelation 18, 00:55:34.73\00:55:37.50 that mighty angel will descend from heaven 00:55:37.87\00:55:40.47 and the whole earth, according to Revelation 18:1, 00:55:41.14\00:55:45.87 will be filled with the glory of that angel, 00:55:45.91\00:55:49.28 which we know as the fourth angel. 00:55:49.31\00:55:51.11 Basically what that angel does is, he gives a boost 00:55:51.15\00:55:54.08 to the three angels' messages. 00:55:54.12\00:55:55.45 You see, we're like a battery that has lost its energy. 00:55:55.48\00:56:00.86 And so what we need is to put booster cables 00:56:00.89\00:56:04.59 on the battery so that the battery is recharged. 00:56:04.69\00:56:08.76 That's what God is waiting for. 00:56:08.80\00:56:10.43 And when the Holy Spirit is poured out, 00:56:10.77\00:56:12.83 I'll tell you, folks, God's people will go all over 00:56:12.93\00:56:16.34 the world preaching present truth; 00:56:16.37\00:56:19.07 the truth that God has given through the remnant church 00:56:19.11\00:56:21.94 for this specific time in the history of the world. 00:56:21.98\00:56:25.41 If there's anything that we need to be praying for, 00:56:25.78\00:56:28.65 it is that. 00:56:28.85\00:56:30.19 If there's anything that we need to be working for, 00:56:30.22\00:56:33.36 it is that. 00:56:33.39\00:56:34.72 Jesus is coming soon. 00:56:34.76\00:56:36.46 As the little song says, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 00:56:36.93\00:56:41.63 look full in His wonderful face." 00:56:41.66\00:56:44.93 And what's going to happen as a result, 00:56:44.97\00:56:46.30 when we turn our eyes upon Jesus? 00:56:46.33\00:56:48.10 "The things of earth will grow strangely dim 00:56:48.20\00:56:53.27 in the light of His glory and grace." 00:56:53.38\00:56:56.85 And so God calls upon His people to turn their eyes 00:56:57.18\00:57:00.58 upon Jesus and heaven. 00:57:00.62\00:57:02.58 And the things of earth will grow dim 00:57:02.62\00:57:05.72 and we will long for Jesus to come. 00:57:05.92\00:57:08.12 We will long for that life that we will have in eternity 00:57:08.16\00:57:12.09 with Jesus in the holy city. 00:57:12.13\00:57:14.60