[music]
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[music]
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[music]
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Debbie Thompson
Kippel: Welcome to
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"Sabbath School Study Hour."
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We're so glad that you are
joining us and tuning in from
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across the country
and around the world.
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We have a wonderful
program ready for you today.
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Pastor Jean Ross,
our Associate Pastor,
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Admin Pastor here at Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church is
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bringing us the lesson.
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And before he does that, we're
gonna start with favorite songs
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and a book offer.
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So join with us.
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Pull out your hymnals it you
have them with you and sing with
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us 616,
"Soldiers of Christ Arise."
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And we will be
doing all three stanzas,
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"Soldiers of Christ Arise."
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Join with us.
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[music]
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¤ Soldiers of Christ, arise, ¤
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¤ and put your armor on, ¤
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¤ strong in the
strength which God supplies ¤
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¤ through his eternal Son. ¤
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¤ Strong in the Lord of hosts, ¤
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¤ and in his mighty power, ¤
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¤ who in the
strength of Jesus trusts ¤
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¤ is more than conqueror. ¤
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¤ Stand then in
his great might, ¤
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¤ with all his
strength endued, ¤
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¤ but take, to arm
you for the fight, ¤
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¤ the panoply of God; ¤
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¤ that, having
all things done, ¤
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¤ and all your
conflicts passed, ¤
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¤ you may o'ercome
through Christ alone, ¤
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¤ and stand entire at last. ¤
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¤ From strength
to strength go on, ¤
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¤ wrestle and fight and pray, ¤
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¤ tread all the
powers of darkness down ¤
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¤ and win the well-fought day. ¤
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¤ Still let the Spirit
cry in all his soldiers, ¤
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¤ "Come!" ¤
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¤ Till Christ the Lord
who reigns on high shall ¤
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¤ take the conquerors home. ¤¤
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Debbie: Before we
have our lesson study,
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number five, "More
Woes for the Prophet,
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we have a book offer that we
would like to tell you about.
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It goes along
with our lesson today,
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and we encourage you, if
you are in North America,
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to call our number...
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That is "Study More"...
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"Can a Saved Man
Choose to be Lost?"
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And this is by Joe Crews.
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So we encourage you to contact
us and ask for this free book.
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You will be
definitely blessed by it.
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This time our lesson study
will be brought to us by our
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Associate Administrative Pastor
here at Granite Bay Seventh-day
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Adventist
Church, Pastor Jean Ross.
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Pastor Jean Ross:
Good morning, everyone.
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audience: Good morning.
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Jean: And happy Sabbath.
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Again, I'd like to
welcome our church members here,
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and our visitors
joining us at our church here in
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Sacramento, California.
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And also our friends watching
across the country and around
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the world, a very
warm welcome to you.
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As was mentioned
in the introduction,
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we've been studying through our
lesson currently dealing with
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the book of Jeremiah.
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Today we find
ourselves on lesson number five.
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Today's lesson is interesting.
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It's called "More
Woes for the Prophet."
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Now, let me ask you, did
Jeremiah face some trials and
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tribulations in his life?
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Absolutely.
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Not only did he face
trials from his own countrymen,
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from the Jews, but he also
went through the captivity of
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Jerusalem.
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Now, God protected
him during that time,
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when the Babylonians
came and conquered Jerusalem.
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So he knew something
about trials and tribulations.
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Our memory text is
Jeremiah chapter 20, verse 7.
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And I'm gonna
read it to you here.
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Jeremiah chapter 20,
beginning in verse 7: "O Lord,
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thou hast deceived
me, and I was deceived;
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thou art stronger than I, and
hast prevailed: I am in derision
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daily," now the word, "derision"
there literally means "to be an
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object of ridicule and scorn."
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So Jeremiah the prophet was an
object of ridicule and scorn to
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his countrymen.
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"Every one mocks me."
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Now, this is an
interesting verse.
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Here you have the prophet given
a message from God to give to
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the people.
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And Jeremiah faithfully
preached that message.
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He proclaimed that warning, but
he didn't get the response from
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the people that
he had anticipated.
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Maybe Jeremiah was thinking that
the message would be received
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and there'd be a
revival and a reformation taking
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place in Jerusalem.
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But instead of the
people turning to God,
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the people turned
against the prophet.
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And all kinds of trials and
difficulties came to Jeremiah.
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In our
introduction for our lesson,
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we have the following: "One
thing anyone who has followed
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the Lord for any length of
time will learn that is being a
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believer in Jesus and seeking to
do his will does not guarantee
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an easy passage through life.
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After all, as we
have been told, yes,
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all who desire to live godly
in Christ Jesus will suffer
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persecution."
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That's true in
the case of Jeremiah.
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This truth Jeremiah was
surely learning for himself.
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Now, there are a couple of
important points that I want to
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bring up right at the beginning
of our study this morning.
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Number one: believers are never
left alone to endure trials,
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but Jesus is with them.
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And Jesus said, "I will
never leave you or," what?
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"Forsake you."
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So whatever the trial,
whatever the difficulty,
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whatever the pressure
that comes upon the believer,
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we know that Jesus is with us.
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He can sustain us.
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He can give us power.
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Point number two: trials and
tribulations remind the believer
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of the reality of
the great controversy.
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Ephesians chapter 6, verse
12 tells us: "We do not wrestle
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against flesh and blood,
but against principalities,
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against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this
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age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in heavenly places."
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So we find ourselves in the
midst of the great controversy.
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Now, in the great controversy
between the forces of good and
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the forces of evil, there are
certain things that God will not
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allow the devil to do.
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And we're very
grateful for that.
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I mean, if the
devil had his way,
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I'm sure we would all be dead.
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And God won't allow
the devil to do that, amen?
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If Satan had his way, he would
try and possess every person
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on the planet.
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But God won't allow that.
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Now, if somebody
opens up the door,
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that's a different story.
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But there are certain bounds
that God has placed upon Satan.
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Likewise, God
being a God of justice,
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he has also limited what
he does to influence a person.
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There are these
certain rules, you might say.
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But when a believer prays and
intercedes for somebody else,
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or prays and asks
God for special help,
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that enables God to do
more to reach that person,
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to minister to that person, than
he would do if we didn't pray.
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And when Satan says, "Unfair,
you can't do that because you're
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breaking the
rules of engagement,
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God says, "No, I have a right
to do that because one of my
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children is
earnestly seeking for my aid."
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And God can do that.
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So in the midst of
trials and difficulties,
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when we sense the great
controversy between the forces
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of good and the forces of
evil, don't get discouraged.
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Rather, increase your prayer,
asking God for his strength,
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for his help.
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And then the third point that
I want to emphasize about facing
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trials is this: the
greater the pressure,
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the greater the power.
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The greater the
pressure, the greater the power.
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I'm gonna talk about
that here in just a minute.
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But can you think of some
Bible characters who have faced
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tremendous
trials and difficulties?
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Jeremiah was one,
but there were many.
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If you go to the
New Testament time,
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one of the greatest
heroes of the New Testament era,
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Paul, he faced a
number of trials.
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In 2 Corinthians chapter 11,
verse 24 through 27 he tells us
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some of the things
that he went through.
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Paul writes: "From the Jews five
times I received forty stripes
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minus one."
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So 5 times, he
received 39 lashes.
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What is that?
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A total of about 195 lashes.
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Now, that's some
trials and tribulation.
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But he goes on: "Three
times I was beaten with rods,"
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he doesn't tell us how
many individual strikes he had,
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but three times he
was beaten with rods,
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"once was I stoned,"
and he was left for dead.
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You'd think right there it's
a good indication that it's time
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for Paul to change his
career, do something else
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other than preach.
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But he didn't.
He kept preaching.
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"Three times," Paul
says, "I was shipwrecked,"
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and then he says, "a night and
a day I have been in the deep,"
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more than 24 hours Paul was
holding onto a piece of wood in
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the ocean, waiting for rescue.
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Incredible.
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"In journeys
often, in perils of water,
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in perils of robbers, in
perils of my own countrymen,
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in perils of the
Gentiles, in perils in the city,
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in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea,
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in perils
amongst false brethren;
00:10:19.31\00:10:21.82
in weariness and toil,
in sleeplessness often,
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in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often,
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in cold and in nakedness."
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Yes, Paul knew something
about trials and tribulations.
00:10:31.09\00:10:35.60
But what is the lesson
that Paul highlights as a result
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of these trials?
00:10:39.20\00:10:40.67
So this is an incredible
verse, 2 Corinthians chapter 9.
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He's just been talking about
all of the things that he's gone
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through, and then he
brings this to a conclusion.
00:10:45.27\00:10:48.58
2 Corinthians
chapter 9, verse--chapter 12,
00:10:48.61\00:10:51.25
verse 9 and 10, Paul says:
"Therefore most gladly I will
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rather boast in infirmities,
that the power of Christ might
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rest upon me."
00:11:01.76\00:11:04.23
So Paul saw the connection, that
when we go through trials and
00:11:04.26\00:11:07.56
difficulties, that enables the
power of Christ to rest upon us.
00:11:07.60\00:11:12.77
And we'll explain how
that works in just a minute.
00:11:12.80\00:11:14.70
"Therefore," he says, "I will
take pleasure in infirmities,
00:11:14.74\00:11:18.54
in reproaches, in
need, in persecutions,
00:11:18.57\00:11:21.38
in distress, for Christ's sake.
00:11:21.41\00:11:23.61
For when I am weak,
then I am strong, amen?
00:11:23.65\00:11:29.32
So trials enable us to
receive more of God's power.
00:11:29.35\00:11:33.86
How does that work?
00:11:33.89\00:11:35.36
You know, this past week I was
teaching my sons how to drive a
00:11:35.39\00:11:38.79
manual, how to
use the stick shift,
00:11:38.83\00:11:42.06
and how to use the clutch.
00:11:42.10\00:11:43.57
And you know, it takes
a little bit of practice.
00:11:43.60\00:11:45.50
So we were actually here
in the church parking lot
00:11:45.53\00:11:47.44
earlier this week.
00:11:47.47\00:11:49.47
And I was sitting in
the passenger's seat.
00:11:49.50\00:11:51.54
They were sitting
in the driver's seat.
00:11:51.57\00:11:53.17
And I was trying to
explain to them how the clutch,
00:11:53.21\00:11:55.38
and the
accelerator, and the gears,
00:11:55.41\00:11:57.61
and the brakes, and how
all of that works together.
00:11:57.65\00:11:59.41
So I was trying to come
up with an illustration,
00:11:59.45\00:12:02.75
at least to explain
to them how this works.
00:12:02.78\00:12:05.09
So I told them that the
engine is where the power is.
00:12:05.12\00:12:09.56
And the engines is attached
to a disk that is called
00:12:09.59\00:12:11.66
the flywheel.
00:12:11.69\00:12:13.19
Now, bear with me.
There's a point to this.
00:12:13.23\00:12:14.56
I then said, "There is another
disk that is called the clutch
00:12:14.60\00:12:18.27
plate that is just a small
distance away from the flywheel
00:12:18.30\00:12:22.64
when you're
pressing the clutch."
00:12:22.67\00:12:25.81
The flywheel is
attached--not the flywheel,
00:12:25.84\00:12:28.71
but rather the clutch plate
is attached to the gear box.
00:12:28.74\00:12:31.08
The gear box is
attached to the wheels.
00:12:31.11\00:12:33.98
So the power is in the engine.
00:12:34.02\00:12:35.52
And I said that when
you release the clutch,
00:12:35.55\00:12:38.22
it puts pressure
on the clutch plate,
00:12:38.25\00:12:40.96
and it pushes up
against the flywheel.
00:12:40.99\00:12:43.86
And the more pressure that
you release and push that clutch
00:12:43.89\00:12:48.06
plate up against the flywheel,
the more power from the engine
00:12:48.10\00:12:51.73
flows through the
gearbox to the wheels.
00:12:51.77\00:12:54.70
So the greater the
pressure that you release,
00:12:54.74\00:12:57.24
the more it pushes
up against the flywheel,
00:12:57.27\00:12:59.37
the more power
will go to the wheels.
00:12:59.41\00:13:01.68
Now, I don't know if
that helped the boys.
00:13:01.71\00:13:03.01
We still struggled to get going.
00:13:03.04\00:13:05.18
But they were
finally getting it.
00:13:05.21\00:13:06.51
But I thought, "You know,
there's a spiritual lesson in
00:13:06.55\00:13:08.98
that for us."
00:13:09.02\00:13:10.62
The greater the pressure
that comes to us in our lives,
00:13:10.65\00:13:13.82
the more we are to
lean up against Jesus, amen?
00:13:13.86\00:13:19.09
And the more we
lean up against Jesus,
00:13:19.13\00:13:21.23
the more power he
is able to give to us.
00:13:21.26\00:13:25.50
So there is a
purpose behind trials.
00:13:25.53\00:13:28.07
Trials cause us to go to our
knees and to pray with a purpose
00:13:28.10\00:13:32.01
and an intensity that otherwise
we wouldn't have if we weren't
00:13:32.04\00:13:35.04
going through those trials.
00:13:35.08\00:13:37.78
So trials enable us to
lean heavily upon Jesus.
00:13:37.81\00:13:42.12
Jesus then is able to
give us strength and power.
00:13:42.15\00:13:45.75
Now, on Sunday's lesson, it
is entitled "Godless Priests and
00:13:45.79\00:13:50.36
Prophets."
00:13:50.39\00:13:52.06
The question that was asked in
our lesson: what are some of the
00:13:52.09\00:13:54.66
evils that the Lord
was dealing with in Judah
00:13:54.73\00:13:56.80
at the time of Jeremiah?
00:13:56.83\00:13:59.27
And if you have your Bibles, you
can turn to Jeremiah chapter 23,
00:13:59.30\00:14:02.24
and we're gonna begin
reading here in verse 14.
00:14:02.27\00:14:05.41
Jeremiah chapter 23, and
we'll start reading in verse 14.
00:14:05.44\00:14:10.18
Jeremiah writes: "And also I
have seen a horrible thing in
00:14:13.75\00:14:16.45
the prophets of
Jerusalem: they commit adultery
00:14:16.48\00:14:19.62
and they walk in lies."
00:14:19.65\00:14:22.59
Now, in Bible symbolism, the
church is likened unto a woman.
00:14:22.62\00:14:27.10
But when the church leaves her
allegiance to Jesus and forms an
00:14:27.13\00:14:30.63
alliance with a political power,
she is guilty of committing
00:14:30.67\00:14:34.40
spiritual fornication,
or spiritual adultery.
00:14:34.44\00:14:37.71
So what was happening
in Jerusalem at the time,
00:14:37.74\00:14:40.14
the religious leaders were
looking to the state to try and
00:14:40.18\00:14:43.61
enforce their
doctrines, their traditions.
00:14:43.65\00:14:46.28
That's spiritual fornication.
00:14:46.31\00:14:49.12
It goes on: "They have
also strengthened the hands of
00:14:49.15\00:14:51.92
evildoers, so that nobody
turns back from his wickedness.
00:14:51.95\00:14:55.82
All of them are
like Sodom to me,
00:14:55.86\00:14:58.19
and her
inhabitants like Gomorrah."
00:14:58.23\00:15:00.86
Moral corruption.
00:15:00.90\00:15:02.23
"Therefore thus saith the
Lord of hosts concerning the
00:15:02.26\00:15:04.67
prophets: 'Behold, I will
feed them with wormwood.'"
00:15:04.70\00:15:08.77
Notice that word,
we're gonna come back to it.
00:15:08.80\00:15:10.61
"'And make them
drink water of gall;
00:15:10.64\00:15:13.14
for from the prophets of
Jerusalem profaneness has gone
00:15:13.17\00:15:16.95
out into all of the lands.'"
00:15:16.98\00:15:18.61
So here you have
these false prophets,
00:15:18.65\00:15:20.55
these false teachers,
likened unto wormwood.
00:15:20.58\00:15:24.39
Wormwood is a bitter herb.
00:15:24.42\00:15:26.15
That same imagery of wormwood
being associated with false
00:15:26.19\00:15:29.56
prophets or lies is picked
up in Revelation chapter 8.
00:15:29.59\00:15:33.56
Revelation chapter 8, verse
10 and 11 says: "Then the third
00:15:33.60\00:15:37.10
angel sounded: and a
great star fell from heaven,
00:15:37.13\00:15:40.40
who's that great
star falling from heaven?
00:15:40.44\00:15:43.51
What do stars sometimes
represent in the Bible?
00:15:43.54\00:15:46.41
Angels.
00:15:46.44\00:15:48.18
And here you have an
angel falling from heaven.
00:15:48.21\00:15:50.38
Well, that represents Satan.
00:15:50.41\00:15:52.58
"Burning like a torch," the Word
of God is likened unto a torch,
00:15:52.61\00:15:56.69
but this is a
corruption of the Word of God,
00:15:56.72\00:15:58.65
"and it fell on a
third of the rivers and on
00:15:58.69\00:16:00.86
the springs of waters."
00:16:00.89\00:16:03.02
Rivers and springs were used
for drinking and irrigation.
00:16:03.06\00:16:05.99
It represents truth.
00:16:06.03\00:16:08.56
Revelation 8, verse 11
says: "The name of the star is
00:16:08.60\00:16:10.97
Wormwood.
00:16:11.00\00:16:12.37
And a third of the
waters became wormwood,
00:16:12.40\00:16:14.10
and many men
died from the water,
00:16:14.14\00:16:15.90
because it was made bitter."
00:16:15.94\00:16:17.64
So when it talks about wormwood,
it's talking about a corruption
00:16:17.67\00:16:20.54
of the truth.
00:16:20.58\00:16:22.44
And that was
prevalent in Jeremiah's time.
00:16:22.48\00:16:25.08
The prophets, the teachers,
instead of teaching the truths
00:16:25.11\00:16:27.68
of God's Word, they
were corrupting the truth
00:16:27.72\00:16:30.45
with tradition.
00:16:30.49\00:16:31.89
And so God sent a
message through Jeremiah.
00:16:31.92\00:16:34.19
Is there a need for us today
to have a message calling people
00:16:34.22\00:16:37.53
back to the
truths of God's Word?
00:16:37.56\00:16:39.73
Is there a corruption of truth
even today amongst the religious
00:16:39.76\00:16:43.47
leaders in the world?
00:16:43.50\00:16:45.30
Absolutely.
00:16:45.33\00:16:46.94
Now, what were some of the evils
that Jeremiah was specifically
00:16:46.97\00:16:50.37
prophesying against that
was so prevalent in Jerusalem?
00:16:50.41\00:16:54.98
Jeremiah chapter 5, verse 26
and 27 is the next passage we're
00:16:55.01\00:16:59.61
going to.
00:16:59.65\00:17:01.22
Jeremiah chapter 5, 26, 27,
very interesting verse here.
00:17:01.25\00:17:06.82
Jeremiah 5, 26, 27: "'For among
My people are found wicked men;
00:17:06.86\00:17:14.00
they lie in wait as
one who sets snares;
00:17:14.03\00:17:17.47
they set a trap;
they catch men.'"
00:17:17.50\00:17:21.40
Notice verse 27: "'As a cage
00:17:21.44\00:17:23.94
is full of birds, so are
their houses are full of deceit.
00:17:23.97\00:17:27.61
Therefore they have
become great and grown rich.'"
00:17:27.64\00:17:31.81
So there were religious
leaders that are likened
00:17:31.85\00:17:34.55
here as those that
catch birds, as their houses
00:17:34.58\00:17:39.15
are full of--their houses,
00:17:39.19\00:17:40.99
or their churches,
are full of deceit.
00:17:41.02\00:17:42.69
Now, this is a theme
that is picked up by John
00:17:42.72\00:17:45.99
in the book of Revelation.
00:17:46.03\00:17:47.50
If you have your Bibles,
go to Revelation chapter 18.
00:17:47.50\00:17:49.76
Revelation chapter 18,
and you'll see the connection
00:17:49.80\00:17:52.23
between Jeremiah and Revelation.
00:17:52.27\00:17:54.90
Revelation chapter 18 here,
00:17:54.94\00:17:56.34
and I'm gonna
start reading in verse 1.
00:17:56.37\00:17:58.64
And remember the phrase,
"As a cage is full of birds."
00:17:58.67\00:18:01.78
You'll see that
referred to here.
00:18:01.81\00:18:04.01
Revelation chapter 18, beginning
in verse 1: "After these things
00:18:04.05\00:18:08.35
I saw another angel
coming down from heaven,
00:18:08.38\00:18:11.12
having great authority, and
the earth was illuminated with
00:18:11.15\00:18:14.62
his glory."
00:18:14.66\00:18:15.99
So here this angel represents
God's people proclaiming God's
00:18:16.02\00:18:19.33
last warning
message to the world.
00:18:19.36\00:18:21.13
Verse 2: "And he cried
mightily with a loud voice,
00:18:21.16\00:18:23.87
saying, 'Babylon
the great is fallen,
00:18:23.90\00:18:25.40
is fallen.'"
00:18:25.43\00:18:27.74
In Revelation chapter 17,
00:18:27.77\00:18:29.17
Babylon is the
name given to a woman.
00:18:29.20\00:18:31.27
A woman in Bible
prophecy represents a church.
00:18:31.31\00:18:33.54
So Babylon is the
church, or the churches,
00:18:33.58\00:18:37.31
that have fallen from
the truths of God's Word.
00:18:37.35\00:18:39.88
"'Babylon the great
is fallen, is fallen,
00:18:39.91\00:18:42.05
has become the
dwelling place of demons,
00:18:42.08\00:18:45.42
the prison of
every foul spirit,'"
00:18:45.45\00:18:46.92
and notice this part,
"'the cage for every unclean
00:18:46.96\00:18:50.36
and hated bird!'"
00:18:50.39\00:18:53.03
So the same thing that
Jeremiah was facing in his day,
00:18:53.06\00:18:56.77
where there is a
corruption of the truth,
00:18:56.80\00:18:58.77
where the
preachers and the teachers,
00:18:58.80\00:19:00.40
instead of preaching truth
are preaching doctrine that is
00:19:00.44\00:19:03.57
contrary to the Bible.
00:19:03.61\00:19:05.91
And as a result,
they are becoming
00:19:05.94\00:19:07.81
great and growing very rich.
00:19:07.84\00:19:11.38
Is that a description
of some churches today?
00:19:11.41\00:19:13.65
Where the preachers and the
teachers are becoming great and
00:19:13.68\00:19:17.39
very, very rich?
00:19:17.42\00:19:19.99
And those are the
sins prevalent in Israel.
00:19:20.02\00:19:22.26
And that's what the prophet
specifically was talking about.
00:19:22.29\00:19:25.26
You know, Jesus said that this
would happen before the end,
00:19:25.29\00:19:28.63
that there would be a
corruption of the truth,
00:19:28.66\00:19:30.63
that churches would fall
away from the commandments.
00:19:30.67\00:19:34.27
Turn in your Bibles
to Matthew chapter 24.
00:19:34.30\00:19:37.41
Now, Matthew chapter 24, you
have Jesus talking about events
00:19:37.44\00:19:40.51
associated with
the Second Coming,
00:19:40.54\00:19:43.21
and also the
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:19:43.24\00:19:45.98
But he finishes up this
discussion about the signs of
00:19:46.01\00:19:52.22
the end by telling a parable.
00:19:52.25\00:19:53.96
And you pick up the
parable here in verse 45.
00:19:53.99\00:19:56.19
It's really describing our time.
00:19:56.22\00:19:59.69
Matthew 24, in verse 45: "'Who
then is a faithful and wise
00:19:59.73\00:20:04.43
servant, whom his master has
made ruler over his household,
00:20:04.47\00:20:08.34
to give them
food in due season?'"
00:20:08.37\00:20:12.14
Now, in the parable,
who do you suppose the owner
00:20:12.17\00:20:15.28
of the household is?
00:20:15.31\00:20:17.18
That would be Jesus.
00:20:17.21\00:20:19.21
What do you think the house is?
00:20:19.25\00:20:21.35
The church.
00:20:21.38\00:20:22.98
And who do you
suppose the servants are?
00:20:23.02\00:20:26.12
The leaders of the
church, the preachers,
00:20:26.15\00:20:27.86
the teachers.
00:20:27.89\00:20:29.32
And what are they to
be doing in verse 45?
00:20:29.36\00:20:31.76
They are to be
giving food in due season.
00:20:31.79\00:20:34.93
Meaning, they are to
give a present truth message,
00:20:34.96\00:20:37.70
a message that is relevant to
the time in which we are living
00:20:37.73\00:20:41.10
and the situation
that the members are facing
00:20:41.14\00:20:43.37
in the church.
00:20:43.41\00:20:45.14
Verse 46: "'Blessed is
that servant whom his master,
00:20:45.17\00:20:48.91
when he comes, will
find them so doing.'"
00:20:48.94\00:20:51.28
But verse 47: "'Assuredly,
I say unto you that he will
00:20:51.31\00:20:54.72
make him ruler
over all of his goods.
00:20:54.75\00:20:57.09
But if that evil
servant says in his heart,
00:20:57.12\00:21:00.96
'My master is
delaying his coming,'"
00:21:00.99\00:21:04.16
so these are Adventists.
00:21:04.19\00:21:07.36
Adventists are looking forward
to the soon coming of Jesus.
00:21:07.40\00:21:10.67
And the message was preached,
"Jesus is coming soon."
00:21:10.70\00:21:13.70
But here is an unfaithful
servant who says in his heart,
00:21:13.74\00:21:16.81
"My Lord is delaying his coming.
00:21:16.84\00:21:19.07
Jesus isn't coming as
soon as we've been saying."
00:21:19.11\00:21:23.11
After all, we've been preaching
this message for over 100 years,
00:21:23.14\00:21:26.41
and Jesus hasn't come yet.
00:21:26.45\00:21:28.78
Now, he might not
preaching that from the front.
00:21:28.82\00:21:30.69
It says, "He says
is it in his heart,
00:21:30.72\00:21:33.42
'My Lord delays his coming.'"
00:21:33.46\00:21:35.32
And what follows?
00:21:35.36\00:21:36.76
Verse 49: "'And begins to
beat his fellow servants,"
00:21:36.79\00:21:40.43
there is criticism that
comes, "'and to eat and drink
00:21:40.46\00:21:44.13
with the drunkards.'"
00:21:44.17\00:21:46.17
It's interesting to note
in Revelation chapter 17,
00:21:46.20\00:21:48.34
the woman with
the name of Babylon,
00:21:48.37\00:21:51.11
representing
these false churches,
00:21:51.14\00:21:53.01
it says, "She is drunk with
her false doctrine and with her
00:21:53.04\00:21:57.68
persecution."
00:21:57.71\00:21:59.65
So to eat and drink with the
drunkard is to leave the truths
00:21:59.68\00:22:03.18
of God's Word and go look for
truths outside of God's Word.
00:22:03.22\00:22:08.56
Are you with me?
00:22:08.59\00:22:10.23
To eat and drink
with the drunkard.
00:22:10.26\00:22:12.13
Verse 50: "'The master of that
servant will come in a day when
00:22:12.16\00:22:15.16
he is not looking for him and in
an hour that he is not aware,"
00:22:15.20\00:22:18.27
verse 51, "'and will cut him
in two and appoint his portion
00:22:18.30\00:22:22.14
with the hypocrites.
00:22:22.17\00:22:23.61
There shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.'"
00:22:23.64\00:22:26.57
So Jesus said that
before he comes, there will be
00:22:26.61\00:22:28.91
a falling away from the truth.
00:22:28.94\00:22:31.31
We need to be aware of this.
00:22:31.35\00:22:32.71
We need to be
faithful to God's Word.
00:22:32.75\00:22:34.88
That's the message of Jeremiah.
00:22:34.92\00:22:36.85
He's calling the people in
Jerusalem to return to the Lord,
00:22:36.89\00:22:39.89
to be faithful to the
teachings of Scripture.
00:22:39.92\00:22:42.06
So a couple of
points to mention here.
00:22:42.09\00:22:44.19
The Bible predicts that in
the last days there would be a
00:22:44.23\00:22:47.30
turning away from
the truths of Scripture.
00:22:47.30\00:22:50.27
We can see that
happening in our world today.
00:22:50.30\00:22:52.30
The Bible also tells us, "To
the law and to the testimony.
00:22:52.33\00:22:56.54
If they speak not
according to this,
00:22:56.57\00:22:58.21
there is," how
much light in them?
00:22:58.24\00:22:59.87
"There is no light in them."
00:22:59.91\00:23:01.68
So everything that we hear
that's being taught and that's
00:23:01.71\00:23:05.38
being preached needs to be
tested with the Bible, amen?
00:23:05.41\00:23:09.08
The great cry of the
Protestant Reformation was,
00:23:09.12\00:23:11.22
"Sola scriptura,"
00:23:11.25\00:23:12.69
"The Bible and the Bible only."
00:23:12.72\00:23:14.82
We need to get back to that,
the Bible and the Bible only.
00:23:14.86\00:23:17.63
That needs to be our focus.
00:23:17.66\00:23:18.96
Point number two: false teaching
and preaching often leads
00:23:18.99\00:23:22.23
to persecution.
00:23:22.26\00:23:25.97
False teaching and
preaching leads to persecution.
00:23:26.00\00:23:28.70
Because of the false teachers
and preachers in Jeremiah's
00:23:28.74\00:23:31.31
time, Jeremiah
faced persecution.
00:23:31.34\00:23:35.58
And when there is false teaching
and preaching in the church,
00:23:35.61\00:23:38.01
God's true followers
will face persecution.
00:23:38.05\00:23:42.55
You see some examples of
this during the 1260 years
00:23:42.58\00:23:45.75
of papal supremacy.
00:23:45.79\00:23:47.42
From 538 till 1798, those
individuals who refused to
00:23:47.46\00:23:51.53
acknowledge papal supremacy
faced all kinds of persecution.
00:23:51.56\00:23:56.36
They refused to set aside God's
commandments in order to keep
00:23:56.40\00:24:00.27
the manmade traditions that
were advocated by the church.
00:24:00.30\00:24:04.11
This especially happens when
the church looks to the state to
00:24:04.14\00:24:07.51
enforce her
doctrines and decrees.
00:24:07.54\00:24:11.51
Now, will persecution
come against God's people
00:24:11.55\00:24:14.05
in the last days?
00:24:14.08\00:24:15.52
Yes, the Bible
says it's gonna happen.
00:24:15.55\00:24:19.92
In Revelation chapter
13, you have a description
00:24:19.95\00:24:22.32
of two beasts.
00:24:22.36\00:24:23.79
The first beast
comes up from the sea.
00:24:23.83\00:24:26.36
Now, in Bible prophecy, a
beast represents a ruling power.
00:24:26.39\00:24:29.93
The sea represents
multitudes, and nations,
00:24:29.96\00:24:33.30
and kindreds, and
tongues, Revelation chapter 17,
00:24:33.34\00:24:35.47
verse 15.
00:24:35.50\00:24:37.11
So here you have a ruling
power that arises in a densely
00:24:37.14\00:24:40.54
populated area and
rules over nations,
00:24:40.58\00:24:43.48
and kingdoms, and peoples.
00:24:43.51\00:24:45.55
This beast has
seven heads and ten horns.
00:24:45.58\00:24:49.12
But one of its heads
receives a deadly wound.
00:24:49.15\00:24:52.35
The deadly wound
is eventually healed.
00:24:52.39\00:24:55.59
"And all the world
wonders after the beast."
00:24:55.62\00:24:58.56
Now, the Protestant reformers
identified this first beast as
00:24:58.59\00:25:01.73
representing the papal power.
00:25:01.76\00:25:03.77
For 1260 years the Roman church
persecuted groups like the
00:25:03.80\00:25:09.04
Waldenses and the reformers,
those who refused to acknowledge
00:25:09.07\00:25:12.24
papal supremacy.
00:25:12.27\00:25:14.41
Now, that power received
a deadly wound in 1798 when
00:25:14.44\00:25:18.78
Berthier, Napoleon's general,
marched into Rome and proclaimed
00:25:18.81\00:25:22.02
the political rule
of the papacy at an end.
00:25:22.05\00:25:25.39
That wound began to be healed
when the papacy once again
00:25:25.42\00:25:29.59
received political status,
not just religious status.
00:25:29.62\00:25:34.10
As I think we all know,
the Vatican is the smallest
00:25:34.10\00:25:36.46
independent
country in the world.
00:25:36.50\00:25:39.03
So it's not just a church.
00:25:39.07\00:25:41.10
It is a political institution.
00:25:41.14\00:25:43.51
It is a political power.
00:25:43.54\00:25:45.84
Now, there is a second
beast that's described in
00:25:45.87\00:25:48.71
Revelation chapter 13.
00:25:48.74\00:25:51.11
The second
beast is described as,
00:25:51.15\00:25:52.88
"Coming up from the earth.
00:25:52.91\00:25:54.35
It has two horns
like a lamb," but it ends,
00:25:54.38\00:25:57.22
"speaking like a dragon."
00:25:57.25\00:26:00.19
Now, again, reformers and Bible
scholars have identified that
00:26:00.22\00:26:04.36
second beast of Revelation
chapter 13 as the United States.
00:26:04.39\00:26:08.03
The United States was coming
to power when the first beast
00:26:08.06\00:26:11.63
received its deadly wound.
00:26:11.67\00:26:14.20
Right around 1798 is when
the United States was being
00:26:14.24\00:26:16.97
recognized around
the world as a nation,
00:26:17.01\00:26:20.84
as an independent
power separated from England.
00:26:20.88\00:26:23.65
Right around
that same time period.
00:26:23.68\00:26:25.61
And of course, the
two lamblike principles
00:26:25.65\00:26:27.98
that the United
States was founded upon was
00:26:28.02\00:26:30.12
freedom of religion, where
we could worship God according
00:26:30.15\00:26:32.85
to the dictates
of our conscience,
00:26:32.89\00:26:34.86
and freedom of speech.
00:26:34.89\00:26:36.42
You know, God
never forces worship.
00:26:36.46\00:26:39.16
When Jesus was on the earth,
he invited people to come,
00:26:39.19\00:26:42.53
and receive
him, and worship him.
00:26:42.56\00:26:44.10
But he never forced worship.
00:26:44.13\00:26:45.77
The devil, on the other hand, he
will get worship any way that he
00:26:45.80\00:26:48.87
can, even if it means
forcing somebody to worship him.
00:26:48.90\00:26:52.27
But that's not
the way God works.
00:26:52.31\00:26:54.98
So the United States has been
the beacon of religious freedom
00:26:55.01\00:26:58.11
around the world,
for the most part.
00:26:58.15\00:27:00.32
It is legislated in
favor of religious freedom.
00:27:00.35\00:27:03.45
But according to this passage,
there is a change that takes
00:27:03.49\00:27:06.86
place in the United States.
00:27:06.89\00:27:09.19
Revelation chapter
13, in verse 12: "And he,
00:27:09.22\00:27:12.69
that's the second
beast, or the United States,
00:27:12.73\00:27:15.03
"exercises all the
authority of the first beast,
00:27:15.06\00:27:18.67
the papal power,
"in his presence,
00:27:18.70\00:27:20.77
meaning the
deadly wound is healed,
00:27:20.80\00:27:24.01
"and causes the earth and those
who dwell therein it to worship
00:27:24.04\00:27:27.21
the first beast, whose
deadly wound was healed."
00:27:27.24\00:27:31.01
So there is a
change that happens.
00:27:31.05\00:27:33.82
The United States begins to
enforce the teachings and the
00:27:33.85\00:27:37.02
doctrines of the Roman power.
00:27:37.05\00:27:40.19
Now, several years ago
this might have sounded like,
00:27:40.22\00:27:43.16
"Wow, that sounds
really farfetched."
00:27:43.19\00:27:45.16
But after the
recent visit of the pope,
00:27:45.19\00:27:47.50
and the incredible response
received by the United States
00:27:47.50\00:27:51.23
government and the citizens,
it doesn't sound that farfetched
00:27:51.27\00:27:54.87
anymore.
00:27:54.90\00:27:57.07
You can see
prophecy being fulfilled.
00:27:57.11\00:27:58.67
Something else of interest,
somebody sent me an article.
00:27:58.71\00:28:02.58
It's an official
decree, or an official statement
00:28:02.61\00:28:07.65
from the papacy.
00:28:07.68\00:28:10.12
And it is a called a
"Bull of Indiction of an
00:28:10.15\00:28:12.32
Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy."
00:28:12.35\00:28:14.86
And by the way, this is
all on the Vatican website.
00:28:14.89\00:28:17.13
You can actually read
this Bull of Indiction,
00:28:17.16\00:28:19.29
this official
announcement or statement.
00:28:19.33\00:28:21.36
And I want to just read
a few lines out of this.
00:28:21.40\00:28:23.57
This is Pope Francis declaring
next year as a special year of
00:28:23.60\00:28:29.24
Jubilee, and he's calling
it, "A special year of mercy."
00:28:29.27\00:28:33.41
And I quote: "I have
chosen the date of 8 December,
00:28:33.44\00:28:37.51
the beginning of this Jubilee,
"because of its rich meaning in
00:28:37.55\00:28:41.65
the recent
history of the Church.
00:28:41.68\00:28:43.45
In fact, I will open the Holy
Door on the fiftieth anniversary
00:28:43.49\00:28:47.82
of the closing of the Second
Vatican Ecumenical Council."
00:28:47.86\00:28:51.66
So there is December the
8th an opening of a holy door,
00:28:51.69\00:28:56.40
symbolizing the beginning of
this 1 year of special mercy.
00:28:56.43\00:29:01.97
Now, what exactly is
involved with this 1 year
00:29:02.00\00:29:04.04
of special mercy?
00:29:04.07\00:29:05.31
I read on: "Recall the poignant
words of Saint John XXIII when,
00:29:05.34\00:29:09.18
opening the Council,"
talking about the Second Vatican
00:29:09.21\00:29:11.38
Council, "he
indicated the path to follow."
00:29:11.41\00:29:15.88
So this is the path
that the church is to follow.
00:29:15.92\00:29:19.12
"Now the Bride of Christ,"
which the church claims to be,
00:29:19.15\00:29:24.03
"wishes to use the
medicine of mercy rather than
00:29:24.06\00:29:29.56
taking up arms of severity."
00:29:29.60\00:29:32.67
In other words, there
is a special opportunity
00:29:32.70\00:29:35.77
of mercy,
according to the church,
00:29:35.80\00:29:38.01
that is opening
up December the 8th.
00:29:38.04\00:29:40.51
And it's gonna last a year.
00:29:40.54\00:29:42.61
We're not gonna use
severity at this point,
00:29:42.64\00:29:45.65
but we are gonna open up
mercy, and we're gonna invite
00:29:45.68\00:29:47.08
people to come.
00:29:47.12\00:29:48.42
And I read on:
"The Catholic Church,
00:29:48.45\00:29:49.88
as she holds high the
torch of Catholic truth at this
00:29:49.92\00:29:53.12
Ecumenical Council, wants to
show herself a loving mother to
00:29:53.15\00:29:57.19
all; patient, kind, moved by
compassion and goodness towards
00:29:57.23\00:30:01.26
her separated children."
00:30:01.30\00:30:04.73
Who do you suppose the
separated children would be?
00:30:04.77\00:30:08.17
Those
Protestant churches, right?
00:30:08.20\00:30:10.71
Then it goes on: "The Jubilee
year will close...on the 20th
00:30:10.74\00:30:15.84
November 2016."
00:30:15.88\00:30:18.05
So if this year of mercy
is gonna close on the 20th of
00:30:18.08\00:30:22.85
November, what's gonna follow?
00:30:22.88\00:30:25.89
What's the next step?
00:30:25.92\00:30:27.79
It goes on: "We
shall be filled,"
00:30:27.82\00:30:29.56
talking about the
close of this mercy,
00:30:29.59\00:30:31.19
"We shall be filled above all,
with a sense of gratitude and
00:30:31.23\00:30:33.90
thanksgiving to the Most Holy
Trinity for having granted us an
00:30:33.93\00:30:37.10
extraordinary time of grace."
00:30:37.13\00:30:41.97
So next year has been set aside
as an extraordinary time of
00:30:42.00\00:30:45.14
grace, where the
church is gonna extend mercy,
00:30:45.17\00:30:47.74
not severity.
00:30:47.78\00:30:49.84
But at the end
of that time period,
00:30:49.88\00:30:51.71
what's gonna follow?
00:30:51.75\00:30:55.28
Well, we know what the Bible
tells us will follow, right?
00:30:55.32\00:30:56.75
All right, so God's people
throughout history who have
00:30:56.79\00:30:58.82
stood up for the
truth have faced opposition.
00:30:58.85\00:31:01.69
They have faced
trials and tribulations,
00:31:01.72\00:31:03.43
and even persecution.
00:31:03.46\00:31:05.53
Now, Monday's lesson is
entitled "Jeremiah in Stocks."
00:31:05.56\00:31:09.56
And I want to begin by just
reading a paragraph from the
00:31:09.60\00:31:11.40
lesson itself.
00:31:11.43\00:31:12.90
It says: "The job of the prophet
has always been to convey God's
00:31:12.93\00:31:15.70
message, not to count how many
people accept it or reject it."
00:31:15.74\00:31:19.74
It's not the
prophet's job to figure out,
00:31:19.77\00:31:22.84
"Well, will this
be successful or not?"
00:31:22.88\00:31:24.58
His work is to preach the
message and leave the results
00:31:24.61\00:31:27.22
with God.
00:31:27.25\00:31:28.68
Generally, the number of those
who accept what the prophet
00:31:28.72\00:31:30.65
preach at their time
of preaching it is low.
00:31:30.69\00:31:34.89
For example, though we don't
know how many people were alive
00:31:34.92\00:31:37.39
at the time of Noah, we
can reasonably assume that the
00:31:37.43\00:31:40.30
majority was not very
receptive to the message,
00:31:40.33\00:31:42.83
given the small number of
people that actually entered
00:31:42.86\00:31:45.27
into the Ark.
00:31:45.30\00:31:46.74
All through sacred history,
this seems to be the pattern.
00:31:46.77\00:31:49.90
So when the message
of truth is preached,
00:31:49.94\00:31:52.31
when the warning is given,
it is not typically received.
00:31:52.34\00:31:55.44
There is, of course,
one stark contrast to this,
00:31:55.48\00:31:58.75
and that is the
preaching of Jonah,
00:31:58.78\00:32:00.32
the reluctant
prophet, to Nineveh.
00:32:00.35\00:32:02.75
Not even God's people, and
yet they came to repentance.
00:32:02.78\00:32:05.55
Well, that sort of stands alone
with reference to a message of
00:32:05.59\00:32:09.02
warning being received.
00:32:09.06\00:32:10.53
Now, what kind of reception did
Jeremiah's message get when he
00:32:10.56\00:32:14.96
preached to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem?
00:32:15.00\00:32:17.30
Jeremiah chapter 20, and we're
gonna be looking here at verse 1
00:32:17.33\00:32:20.37
through to verse 6.
00:32:20.40\00:32:21.90
Jeremiah chapter 20,
beginning in verse 1,
00:32:21.94\00:32:24.17
you can follow along with us:
"Now Pashhur the son of Immer,
00:32:24.21\00:32:28.81
the priest who was also the
chief governor of the house of
00:32:28.84\00:32:31.68
the Lord, heard that Jeremiah
prophesied these things."
00:32:31.71\00:32:37.12
So here you have the religious
leader who is hearing the
00:32:37.15\00:32:39.32
message that the Lord is
sending through Jeremiah.
00:32:39.35\00:32:41.52
You might be wondering,
"Well, what was the message that
00:32:41.56\00:32:43.66
Jeremiah had prophesied?"
00:32:43.69\00:32:45.89
You can see that in
Jeremiah 19, verse 15.
00:32:45.93\00:32:48.33
I'm just gonna read
it. Here's the message:
00:32:48.36\00:32:49.83
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts,
00:32:49.86\00:32:51.20
the God of Israel: 'Behold,
I will bring on this city,'"
00:32:51.23\00:32:53.70
Jerusalem, "'and on her
towns all the doom that I have
00:32:53.74\00:32:57.27
pronounced against it, because
they have stiffened their necks
00:32:57.31\00:33:00.78
that they might
not hear my words.'"
00:33:00.81\00:33:04.25
So that's the
message that Jeremiah brings.
00:33:04.28\00:33:05.58
The religious leaders
don't receive the message.
00:33:05.61\00:33:08.12
They don't like the message.
00:33:08.15\00:33:09.62
Verse 2, it says: "Pashhur
struck Jeremiah the prophet,
00:33:09.65\00:33:14.72
he didn't like the message,
so he slapped the messenger.
00:33:14.76\00:33:19.13
Now, of course, Jeremiah's not
the only one who got slapped for
00:33:19.16\00:33:21.36
standing up for truth.
00:33:21.40\00:33:23.10
Jesus himself was
struck in the face.
00:33:23.13\00:33:25.60
And of course, he is the truth.
00:33:25.63\00:33:27.70
More than that,
they took Jeremiah,
00:33:27.74\00:33:30.71
"And they put
him in the stocks."
00:33:30.74\00:33:32.87
Now, the stocks there, the word
in the Hebrew literally means
00:33:32.91\00:33:35.38
"forced in a crooked position
for the purpose of pain."
00:33:35.41\00:33:39.85
So he was put in the stocks,
but in a very difficult position
00:33:39.88\00:33:42.82
that would bring
terrible pain to his back,
00:33:42.85\00:33:44.85
and to his
legs, and to his arms.
00:33:44.89\00:33:46.32
He was there
for the whole night.
00:33:46.35\00:33:48.69
Verse 3 says: "And it happened
on the next day that Pashhur
00:33:48.72\00:33:51.99
brought Jeremiah
out of the stocks.
00:33:52.03\00:33:54.36
Then Jeremiah said unto him,
'The Lord has not called your
00:33:54.40\00:33:58.30
name Pashhur,
but Magor-Missabib.'"
00:33:58.33\00:34:02.67
Now, what does
Magor-Missabib mean?
00:34:02.70\00:34:04.91
"Terror on every side."
00:34:04.94\00:34:06.94
By the way, you know how
you can remember that word,
00:34:06.98\00:34:08.44
"Missabib"?
00:34:08.48\00:34:10.31
I think of a toddler
eating and he misses the bib,
00:34:10.35\00:34:12.58
Missabib.
00:34:12.61\00:34:14.35
Magor-Missabib,
meaning "terror on every side."
00:34:14.38\00:34:17.55
Then verse 4 says: "For
thus saith the Lord: 'Behold,
00:34:17.59\00:34:20.16
I will make a terror to yourself
and to all of your friends;
00:34:20.19\00:34:22.99
and they shall fall by
the sword of their enemies,
00:34:23.02\00:34:25.73
and your eyes shall see it.
00:34:25.76\00:34:27.46
And I will give all of
Judah into the hands of the
00:34:27.50\00:34:29.20
king of Babylon,'"
00:34:29.23\00:34:31.10
of course, that
would be Nebuchadnezzar,
00:34:31.13\00:34:32.57
"'and he shall carry them
captive to Babylon and slay them
00:34:32.60\00:34:34.54
with the sword.'"
00:34:34.57\00:34:36.64
Who are some of the
Jews that were taken
00:34:36.67\00:34:38.24
captive back to Babylon?
00:34:38.27\00:34:39.97
Daniel and his three
friends, along with others.
00:34:40.01\00:34:42.51
"'Moreover I will
deliver the wealth of this city,
00:34:42.54\00:34:45.95
and all of its produce,
and all of its precious things;
00:34:45.98\00:34:48.45
and all of the treasures of the
kings of Judah I will give into
00:34:48.48\00:34:51.49
the hand of their
enemies, who will plunder them,
00:34:51.52\00:34:54.29
seize them, and
carry them to Babylon.
00:34:54.32\00:34:56.56
And you, Pashhur, and
all who dwell in your house,
00:34:56.59\00:34:59.26
shall go into captivity.
00:34:59.29\00:35:00.93
You shall go to Babylon,
and there you shall die,
00:35:00.96\00:35:04.07
and be buried, you
and all of your friends,
00:35:04.10\00:35:06.43
to whom you have
prophesied lies.'"
00:35:06.47\00:35:10.01
And of course, what
00:35:10.04\00:35:11.47
Jeremiah said to
Pashhur perfectly was fulfilled.
00:35:11.51\00:35:14.78
Around 600 years
before Christ, about 605 BC,
00:35:14.81\00:35:17.98
the Babylonian armies
did surround Jerusalem.
00:35:18.01\00:35:21.12
Their massive battering rams
pounded on the huge city gates
00:35:21.15\00:35:23.99
until finally they gave in.
00:35:24.02\00:35:25.45
Thousands of Jews were killed.
00:35:25.49\00:35:27.49
The rest were taken
captive back to Babylon.
00:35:27.52\00:35:30.29
The Word of the
Lord was fulfilled.
00:35:30.33\00:35:32.66
So three points I want to
emphasize in this warning that's
00:35:32.69\00:35:36.20
given to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem,
00:35:36.23\00:35:38.93
and I think it
applies for us today.
00:35:38.97\00:35:41.07
Number one: God
will bring judgment.
00:35:41.10\00:35:43.07
God will bring judgment.
00:35:43.10\00:35:44.91
Will God bring
judgment on the world?
00:35:44.94\00:35:46.61
Yes.
00:35:46.64\00:35:48.58
Jeremiah said that
the city, Jerusalem,
00:35:48.61\00:35:51.21
would be besieged and
starvation would follow.
00:35:51.25\00:35:55.15
Will there be literal starvation
in the earth before Jesus comes?
00:35:55.18\00:35:59.82
Yes.
00:35:59.85\00:36:01.22
One of the
plagues is intense heat.
00:36:01.26\00:36:03.02
That's gonna lead to starvation.
00:36:03.06\00:36:04.73
But more than that, is there
going to be spiritual starvation
00:36:04.76\00:36:07.96
in the world before Jesus comes?
00:36:08.00\00:36:09.63
Yes.
00:36:09.66\00:36:10.97
Matter of fact, it seems like
we see a little bit of that even
00:36:11.00\00:36:12.70
happening now.
00:36:12.73\00:36:14.20
And the third part
of the warning message,
00:36:14.24\00:36:15.64
that people will fall by
the sword and be taken into
00:36:15.67\00:36:18.11
captivity.
00:36:18.14\00:36:19.77
And that was
fulfilled around 600 BC.
00:36:19.81\00:36:22.41
The next question we
need to consider then is,
00:36:22.44\00:36:25.51
just like Jeremiah had a
special message of warning for
00:36:25.55\00:36:28.68
Jerusalem, does God have a
special message of warning for
00:36:28.72\00:36:33.69
the world today?
00:36:33.72\00:36:35.79
And the answer is, "Yes."
00:36:35.82\00:36:38.23
In the book of
Amos, Amos chapter 3,
00:36:38.26\00:36:39.73
verse 7 we read: "Surely
the Lord God will do nothing,
00:36:39.76\00:36:43.60
unless he reveals his secrets
to his servants the prophets."
00:36:43.63\00:36:49.44
So God, before
he judges the earth,
00:36:49.47\00:36:52.04
will send a message of warning.
00:36:52.07\00:36:54.61
Just like he did for the
inhabitants of Jerusalem,
00:36:54.64\00:36:56.78
God sends a special
message of warning to the world.
00:36:56.81\00:37:01.32
Now, where do you suppose we are
able to find God's last warning
00:37:01.35\00:37:04.79
message for the world?
00:37:04.82\00:37:06.62
What book in the
Bible should I turn to?
00:37:06.65\00:37:08.56
I should go to Revelation.
00:37:08.59\00:37:11.23
And what chapter in particular?
00:37:11.26\00:37:13.46
Revelation chapter 14, ah.
00:37:13.50\00:37:17.00
What do we find in
Revelation chapter 14?
00:37:17.03\00:37:19.37
We call it "The
three angels' messages."
00:37:19.40\00:37:22.24
This is God's last warning
message that he has given us to
00:37:22.27\00:37:25.74
share with the world.
00:37:25.77\00:37:27.78
Now, how do we know this
is God's last warning message?
00:37:27.81\00:37:30.05
Well, immediately following
the proclamation of the three
00:37:30.08\00:37:32.45
angels' messages in
verse 14, you have a picture of
00:37:32.48\00:37:36.58
the Second Coming of Christ.
00:37:36.62\00:37:38.95
Revelation 14,
beginning in verse 14,
00:37:38.99\00:37:40.96
it says: "Then I
looked, and behold,
00:37:40.99\00:37:42.49
a white cloud, and on the cloud
one like unto the Son of Man,"
00:37:42.52\00:37:45.66
who's that?
00:37:45.69\00:37:47.03
That's Jesus.
00:37:47.10\00:37:48.46
"Having on his
head a golden crown,
00:37:48.50\00:37:51.20
and in his hand a sharp sickle."
00:37:51.23\00:37:54.24
Well, let me just say something
about that golden crown.
00:37:54.27\00:37:56.40
There are three
phases to Christ's ministry.
00:37:56.44\00:37:59.04
When he was on the earth,
he was our sacrifice and our
00:37:59.07\00:38:01.54
sin-bearer.
00:38:01.58\00:38:03.04
He died for us.
00:38:03.08\00:38:04.51
Now, Jesus is ministering in
heaven in the heavenly sanctuary
00:38:04.55\00:38:07.95
as our High Priest.
00:38:07.98\00:38:09.88
But when his
priestly ministry finishes,
00:38:09.92\00:38:12.65
the close of probation, then
Jesus removes his priestly robes
00:38:12.69\00:38:17.49
and he puts on his kingly robes.
00:38:17.53\00:38:19.79
And he comes
back the second time,
00:38:19.83\00:38:21.60
not as a Priest,
not as a sin-bearer,
00:38:21.63\00:38:24.23
but he comes back as King
of kings and Lord of lords to
00:38:24.27\00:38:27.67
deliver his faithful people.
00:38:27.70\00:38:29.74
So here in Revelation 14, Jesus
is described as coming back as
00:38:29.77\00:38:33.84
King, King of
kings, and Lord of lords.
00:38:33.88\00:38:37.15
It says he has a
sharp sickle in his hand.
00:38:37.18\00:38:39.88
Do you all know
what a sickle is?
00:38:39.91\00:38:41.68
That instrument, that
knife that is bent on the side,
00:38:41.72\00:38:45.19
typically used
for harvesting wheat.
00:38:45.22\00:38:47.09
Of course, we don't use that
here in North America very much.
00:38:47.12\00:38:49.46
But growing up in
Africa, the people will
00:38:49.49\00:38:52.26
still use the sickle.
00:38:52.29\00:38:54.03
And it's very important,
very important for harvest.
00:38:54.10\00:38:56.33
So here, Jesus is coming
with the sickle in his hand,
00:38:56.36\00:38:59.53
symbolizing that he's coming to
reap the harvest of the earth.
00:38:59.57\00:39:02.90
And you read on in the
passage, there are two different
00:39:02.94\00:39:05.71
kinds of harvest.
00:39:05.74\00:39:07.11
There is the
harvest of the wheat,
00:39:07.14\00:39:08.61
which represents the righteous.
00:39:08.64\00:39:09.98
And there is the
harvest of the grapes,
00:39:10.01\00:39:11.95
which represents the wicked.
00:39:11.98\00:39:13.85
So what's described here is
the Second Coming of Christ.
00:39:13.88\00:39:17.32
Now, the harvest is specifically
identified in Matthew chapter 13
00:39:17.35\00:39:21.59
as the end of the age and
the Second Coming of Jesus.
00:39:21.62\00:39:25.16
So before the
harvest of the earth,
00:39:25.19\00:39:26.76
before Jesus comes, there is a
special message of warning that
00:39:26.80\00:39:30.53
has to go to the world.
00:39:30.57\00:39:32.37
Where is that message?
00:39:32.40\00:39:33.74
Revelation chapter 14, and verse
6: "Then I saw another angel
00:39:33.77\00:39:39.04
flying in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel to
00:39:39.07\00:39:41.58
preach to them that dwell
upon the earth--to every nation,
00:39:41.61\00:39:44.95
kindred, tongue, and people."
00:39:44.98\00:39:46.48
You know, the message
that Jeremiah brought to the
00:39:46.51\00:39:48.42
inhabitants of Jerusalem
was a message of warning,
00:39:48.45\00:39:51.39
but it was also a
message of hope and redemption.
00:39:51.42\00:39:54.42
His message was, "Return to
God, and God will deliver you."
00:39:54.46\00:39:58.69
Likewise, at the end there
is a message of redemption.
00:39:58.73\00:40:01.90
There is a message of hope.
00:40:01.93\00:40:03.37
It's the everlasting gospel.
00:40:03.40\00:40:05.67
Yes, the three angels' messages
is a message of warning,
00:40:05.70\00:40:07.97
but it is also a
message of salvation.
00:40:08.00\00:40:10.04
It is a message of hope.
00:40:10.07\00:40:11.47
Then you go on in verse
7: "Saying with a loud voice,
00:40:11.51\00:40:13.78
'Fear God and give him glory,'"
the world needs to the message,
00:40:13.81\00:40:17.78
"'for the hour of
his judgment has come,"
00:40:17.81\00:40:20.28
Jesus is soon to come to
execute judgment upon the
00:40:20.32\00:40:24.65
wicked, "'and worship
him who made the heavens,
00:40:24.69\00:40:27.86
the earth, the sea and
the fountains of water.'"
00:40:27.89\00:40:30.29
A call to worship
God as the Creator.
00:40:30.33\00:40:32.63
Of course, we remember
God's creative work in the
00:40:32.66\00:40:35.06
commandments.
00:40:35.10\00:40:36.43
Jesus says,
"Remember the Sabbath,
00:40:36.46\00:40:37.80
to keep it holy," so God says.
00:40:37.83\00:40:39.27
And when we keep the Sabbath,
we are reminded that God is our
00:40:39.30\00:40:42.47
Creator.
00:40:42.50\00:40:43.97
It is looking back
at what he has done.
00:40:44.01\00:40:45.41
It is also looking forward by
faith to that glorious Sabbath
00:40:45.44\00:40:48.04
rest when Jesus comes.
00:40:48.08\00:40:50.38
The second angel's
message, Revelation chapter 14,
00:40:50.41\00:40:52.95
verse 8:
"Another angel followed,
00:40:52.98\00:40:54.95
saying, 'Babylon
is fallen, is fallen,
00:40:54.98\00:40:56.72
that great city,'" very similar
to the message that you read in
00:40:56.75\00:40:59.65
Revelation 18.
00:40:59.69\00:41:01.66
And then the third angel, verse
9: "A third angel followed them,
00:41:01.69\00:41:04.36
saying with a loud voice, 'If
anyone worships the beast and
00:41:04.39\00:41:06.83
his image, or receives his mark
in his forehead or on his hand,
00:41:06.86\00:41:10.03
he himself shall
also drink of the wine of
00:41:10.07\00:41:12.20
the wrath poured out.'"
00:41:12.23\00:41:14.00
Now, the wrath of God,
the most fearful warning that
00:41:14.04\00:41:16.47
you can find anywhere in the
Scripture is that third angel's
00:41:16.50\00:41:19.47
message, "Don't
worship the beast.
00:41:19.51\00:41:20.98
Don't worship his image.
00:41:21.01\00:41:22.61
Don't receive his mark."
00:41:22.64\00:41:24.21
You see, the issue at the end
of time revolves around worship.
00:41:24.25\00:41:27.18
Who are you gonna worship?
00:41:27.22\00:41:29.05
Are we gonna be faithful to God?
00:41:29.08\00:41:31.02
Are we gonna worship
Jesus in spirit and in truth?
00:41:31.05\00:41:35.09
Or are we gonna give in to
the pressure that is gonna mount
00:41:35.12\00:41:38.36
against God's commandment
keepers in the last days and
00:41:38.39\00:41:40.96
compromise our faith in
order for us to be able to
00:41:41.00\00:41:44.17
buy and sell?
00:41:44.20\00:41:46.23
Matter of fact,
that's what happens.
00:41:46.27\00:41:47.57
Revelation chapter 13 says there
is a decree that if you don't
00:41:47.60\00:41:49.84
worship the beast, you're not
gonna be able to buy and sell.
00:41:49.87\00:41:52.21
God's people will
remain faithful to him.
00:41:52.24\00:41:54.48
They will trust in him.
00:41:54.51\00:41:55.91
Now, friends, you're only gonna
be able to stand faithful to God
00:41:55.94\00:41:58.98
if you know God in
your heart and in your life.
00:41:59.01\00:42:04.12
It has to be more than just
an intellectual understanding
00:42:04.15\00:42:07.02
of truth.
00:42:07.06\00:42:08.49
It has to be a
personal connection with Christ.
00:42:08.52\00:42:11.53
That experience of knowing
him, of surrendering to him.
00:42:11.56\00:42:14.36
That experience of leaning up
on Jesus and trusting in Jesus.
00:42:14.40\00:42:19.20
That's the experience that God's
people need at the end of time.
00:42:19.23\00:42:23.34
All right, moving right along.
00:42:23.37\00:42:24.74
Tuesday's lesson is
called "Fire in his Bones."
00:42:24.77\00:42:27.84
Jeremiah chapter
20, verse 7: "O Lord,
00:42:27.88\00:42:30.15
you induced me,
and I was persuaded;
00:42:30.18\00:42:31.88
you are stronger than
I, and you have prevailed.
00:42:31.91\00:42:34.68
I am in derision
daily; everyone mocks me."
00:42:34.72\00:42:37.29
Again, Jeremiah didn't
anticipate the reception of the
00:42:37.32\00:42:40.26
message being as
negative as it actually was.
00:42:40.29\00:42:44.06
He thought maybe
this would bring about
00:42:44.09\00:42:45.46
some kind of revival.
00:42:45.49\00:42:47.00
But the people rejected him.
00:42:47.03\00:42:48.43
They rejected the message.
That surprised Jeremiah.
00:42:48.46\00:42:51.33
Verse 8 says: "For
I spoke and cried out;
00:42:51.37\00:42:53.67
I shouted,
'Violence and plunder!'
00:42:53.70\00:42:55.74
Because the Word of the Lord
00:42:55.77\00:42:57.47
was made to me a
reproach and a derision daily.
00:42:57.51\00:43:01.38
Then I said, 'I will
not make mention of him,
00:43:01.41\00:43:04.15
nor speak anymore in his name.'"
00:43:04.18\00:43:07.08
Well, because the
prophet faced persecution.
00:43:07.12\00:43:09.22
He said, "It's not a
good idea for me to keep
00:43:09.25\00:43:10.65
preaching these things."
00:43:10.69\00:43:12.45
But he goes on: "But his Word
was in my heart like a burning
00:43:12.49\00:43:15.76
fire shut up in my bones; I
was weary of holding it back,
00:43:15.79\00:43:20.93
I could not."
00:43:20.96\00:43:23.26
So even though
Jeremiah thought, "You know,
00:43:23.30\00:43:24.87
it's probably not a good idea
for me to keep preaching the
00:43:24.90\00:43:26.67
message God gives me to preach
because it's not popular and I'm
00:43:26.70\00:43:29.27
facing
tribulation and persecution.
00:43:29.30\00:43:31.27
Maybe I'll keep quiet."
00:43:31.31\00:43:33.17
But he couldn't keep quiet.
00:43:33.21\00:43:34.88
He says, "It's
fire in my bones."
00:43:34.91\00:43:36.48
Oh, friends, we have a message
that must go to the world.
00:43:36.51\00:43:40.55
Yes, sometimes it's challenging.
00:43:40.58\00:43:42.62
And to stand up for
the truth in our own lives,
00:43:42.65\00:43:45.12
we might face tribulation.
00:43:45.15\00:43:48.19
But we have to
stand for the truth, amen?
00:43:48.22\00:43:50.13
Just like Jeremiah.
00:43:50.16\00:43:51.76
The message needs to
be fire in our bones.
00:43:51.79\00:43:54.23
We need to preach the message.
00:43:54.30\00:43:55.93
We need to warn the world.
00:43:55.96\00:43:57.77
That's what Christ
is asking us to do.
00:43:57.80\00:44:00.24
If you jump down to
verse 11, he goes on,
00:44:00.27\00:44:03.54
he says: "But
the Lord is with me,
00:44:03.57\00:44:05.67
he is mighty, he
is the awesome one.
00:44:05.71\00:44:07.74
Therefore my
persecutors will stumble,
00:44:07.78\00:44:10.95
and will not prevail.
00:44:10.98\00:44:12.38
They will be greatly ashamed,
for they will not prosper.
00:44:12.41\00:44:17.15
Their everlasting confusion
will never be forgotten."
00:44:17.19\00:44:22.16
So, yes, even though he was
facing persecutions from his
00:44:22.19\00:44:23.99
enemies, he recognized
that deliverance would come.
00:44:24.03\00:44:27.23
He needs to be faithful to God.
00:44:27.23\00:44:28.76
Deliverance would come.
00:44:28.80\00:44:30.73
Now, Revelation chapter 6, 16
and 17 tells us that at the end,
00:44:30.77\00:44:35.00
those who persecuted God's
people will face final judgment.
00:44:35.04\00:44:40.14
Matter of fact, the wicked turn
to the rocks and the mountains
00:44:40.18\00:44:42.71
and they say, "Fall on us
and hide us from the face of him
00:44:42.74\00:44:45.05
that sits upon the throne
and from the wrath of the Lamb!
00:44:45.08\00:44:48.62
For the great day
of his wrath has come,
00:44:48.65\00:44:51.52
and what's the question?
00:44:51.55\00:44:53.02
"Who shall be able to stand?"
00:44:53.05\00:44:56.06
Now, the answer to the question,
"Who's gonna be able to stand?"
00:44:56.09\00:44:59.09
Is found in
Revelation chapter 7,
00:44:59.13\00:45:00.83
it's those who have the
seal of God in their foreheads.
00:45:00.86\00:45:04.27
They are the ones who are able
to stand when Jesus comes again.
00:45:04.30\00:45:08.17
Now, if you look in verse 14,
even though Jeremiah recognizes
00:45:08.20\00:45:14.64
that his message is from God,
he's still keenly aware of the
00:45:14.68\00:45:18.91
pain and the sufferings that
he's going through for preaching
00:45:18.95\00:45:22.05
that message.
00:45:22.08\00:45:23.52
And yes, even if we stand up for
the truth and face persecution,
00:45:23.55\00:45:26.49
it doesn't mean that
we don't feel the pain.
00:45:26.52\00:45:28.82
Yeah, sometimes
we do feel the pain.
00:45:28.86\00:45:30.26
It's difficult.
00:45:30.29\00:45:32.16
And of course,
when we face trials,
00:45:32.19\00:45:33.80
what are we to do?
00:45:33.83\00:45:35.13
We are to lean on Jesus,
and we are to trust in him.
00:45:35.16\00:45:37.43
But here, Jeremiah expresses the
turmoil that he's going through.
00:45:37.47\00:45:41.30
And he says in verse 14: "Cursed
be the day that I was born!"
00:45:41.34\00:45:44.54
He gets so discouraged.
00:45:44.57\00:45:45.91
"Let the day not be blessed
in which my mother bore me!"
00:45:45.94\00:45:49.01
Now, can you think of another
Bible character who also faced
00:45:49.04\00:45:51.48
tremendous
trials, and difficulties,
00:45:51.51\00:45:53.82
and he also cursed the
day in which he was born?
00:45:53.85\00:45:56.75
Job.
00:45:56.79\00:45:58.35
Did Job have some
trials to deal with?
00:45:58.39\00:46:00.42
Absolutely.
00:46:00.46\00:46:01.86
You know, that's
an incredible story.
00:46:01.89\00:46:03.19
Accusations are made by
Satan against Job that Job only
00:46:03.22\00:46:08.33
worships God because of all
of the blessings that God has
00:46:08.36\00:46:10.97
bestowed upon him.
00:46:11.00\00:46:12.37
God knows the heart of Job, and
allows Satan to remove all of
00:46:12.40\00:46:15.77
these blessings.
00:46:15.80\00:46:17.24
And finally,
everything Job has is gone.
00:46:17.27\00:46:19.41
His wife says, "Why don't
you just curse God and die?"
00:46:19.44\00:46:21.88
He has his friends show up,
and instead of encouraging Job,
00:46:21.91\00:46:24.98
they criticize
him and say, "Man,
00:46:25.01\00:46:27.42
you must be guilty of some
terrible sin that all these
00:46:27.45\00:46:30.19
things have happened."
00:46:30.22\00:46:31.59
And Job goes through a
terrible time of trouble.
00:46:31.62\00:46:33.69
Even to the point where he
begins to question and say,
00:46:33.72\00:46:36.83
"You know, I wish I had a chance
where I could stand before God.
00:46:36.86\00:46:39.66
I don't understand
why this is happening.
00:46:39.69\00:46:42.06
I want to be able to ask God."
00:46:42.10\00:46:44.20
Have you ever felt that way,
where you've been praying about
00:46:44.23\00:46:47.30
something and it seems as though
your prayers are not being
00:46:47.34\00:46:49.94
answered?
00:46:49.97\00:46:51.67
And you think to
yourself, "You know,
00:46:51.71\00:46:53.14
Lord, I sure
would just, you know,
00:46:53.17\00:46:54.64
like to know why.
00:46:54.68\00:46:56.54
Why is this happening?
Where are you when I need you?"
00:46:56.58\00:46:58.78
That's kind of the
experience Jeremiah had.
00:46:58.81\00:47:01.02
That's kind of the
experience that Job had.
00:47:01.05\00:47:02.72
Matter of fact, that's
the experience of all of God's
00:47:02.75\00:47:04.85
people who have faced trials.
00:47:04.89\00:47:06.96
Their faith has been tried.
00:47:06.99\00:47:09.52
That's Job's experience.
00:47:09.56\00:47:11.89
And then finally, God answers.
00:47:11.93\00:47:13.60
Job says, "You know, Lord, I
wish I could stand before you.
00:47:13.63\00:47:15.76
And I don't understand
why this is happening."
00:47:15.80\00:47:17.60
And finally,
God responds to Job.
00:47:17.63\00:47:19.43
Now, God's
response is incredible.
00:47:19.47\00:47:22.10
You'll find it
in Job chapter 38.
00:47:22.14\00:47:23.94
God does not
say, "Well, you know."
00:47:23.97\00:47:25.57
And God says--it's not--he
doesn't explain the situation.
00:47:25.61\00:47:29.24
He doesn't say, "Job, the reason
you're going through these
00:47:29.28\00:47:31.45
terrible things is because
Satan made these accusations.
00:47:31.48\00:47:33.85
And I'm really
standing up for you.
00:47:33.88\00:47:35.85
I'm staking my
reputation on you."
00:47:35.88\00:47:37.32
God doesn't say that.
00:47:37.35\00:47:38.69
Instead, God says to Job, "Who
is this that darkens counsel,
00:47:38.72\00:47:42.49
speaking words without wisdom?
00:47:42.52\00:47:44.79
Gird yourself up like a man,
and I will demand of you and you
00:47:44.83\00:47:48.53
answer me if you can."
00:47:48.56\00:47:50.33
God's talking to Job.
00:47:50.37\00:47:51.90
Then God says, "Where were you
when I laid the foundations of
00:47:51.93\00:47:53.94
the world?
00:47:53.97\00:47:55.40
Tell me now if you can."
00:47:55.44\00:47:57.21
And then God goes on to talk
about his power in creating all
00:47:57.24\00:47:59.64
things, and how he created
the stars and the universe,
00:47:59.67\00:48:02.58
and how the sons of God
sang for joy at creation.
00:48:02.61\00:48:05.58
And God talks about these
incredible creatures that he has
00:48:05.61\00:48:08.12
made and how he
sustains and provides for all
00:48:08.15\00:48:11.12
of his creation.
00:48:11.15\00:48:13.39
And that Job can trust him.
00:48:13.42\00:48:15.29
And finally, when God gets
through talking about his power,
00:48:15.32\00:48:17.63
and his goodness, and his
glory, Job responds and says,
00:48:17.66\00:48:21.33
"I've always heard
about you with my hearing,
00:48:21.36\00:48:23.53
but now my eyes have seen you.
00:48:23.57\00:48:26.43
Therefore I repent
in dust and ashes."
00:48:26.47\00:48:29.57
You see, friends, when we
face trials and tribulations,
00:48:29.60\00:48:32.51
we need to remember
that God is still on
00:48:32.54\00:48:34.71
the throne of the universe.
00:48:34.74\00:48:36.64
He is still in charge.
00:48:36.68\00:48:39.35
He has plenty of power.
00:48:39.38\00:48:41.52
He loves us.
00:48:41.55\00:48:43.05
He cares about us.
00:48:43.08\00:48:44.39
He knows the end
from the beginning,
00:48:44.42\00:48:46.19
and he's
encouraging us to trust him.
00:48:46.22\00:48:48.09
Even when we can't
see through the trials,
00:48:48.12\00:48:50.56
we can trust in Jesus, amen?
00:48:50.59\00:48:53.06
We can lean on
Christ because he loves us.
00:48:53.09\00:48:57.03
Of course, God has demonstrated
his great love for us in giving
00:48:57.07\00:48:59.50
us Jesus, who bore our
sins and died in our place.
00:48:59.53\00:49:04.54
Now, of course, there are a few
other examples in the Bible of
00:49:04.57\00:49:07.08
prophets who have faced
trials and tribulations.
00:49:07.11\00:49:09.78
And they also went through
a time of discouragement.
00:49:09.81\00:49:12.25
You have Elijah, who on Mount
Carmel had the prayer answered
00:49:12.28\00:49:16.62
that he prayed, and
fire came and consumed
00:49:16.65\00:49:18.85
the ultimate sacrifice.
00:49:18.89\00:49:20.59
And he prayed for
rain, and the rain came.
00:49:20.62\00:49:22.42
There was a wonderful
revival that took place there on
00:49:22.46\00:49:23.79
Mount Carmel.
00:49:23.83\00:49:25.59
So much so that he led
the chariot of Ahab the king
00:49:25.63\00:49:28.36
back to Samaria.
00:49:28.40\00:49:30.03
And he lay down
to sleep at the gate.
00:49:30.07\00:49:31.67
And Ahab the king
went and told Jezebel
00:49:31.70\00:49:33.54
all the things that happened.
00:49:33.57\00:49:35.27
And Jezebel sent a
message to the prophet,
00:49:35.30\00:49:37.17
saying, "This time tomorrow, you
will be as those prophets that
00:49:37.21\00:49:41.18
you put to death."
00:49:41.21\00:49:43.21
Suddenly, Elijah's
heart is filled with fear.
00:49:43.24\00:49:47.45
And he gets up and he
runs out into the wilderness.
00:49:47.48\00:49:50.29
And he gets so discouraged,
his faith is tried and tested.
00:49:50.32\00:49:53.59
Finally, you read
in 1 Kings chapter 19,
00:49:53.62\00:49:56.29
verse 4: "Elijah
prays and he says,
00:49:56.32\00:49:59.16
'It is enough!
00:49:59.19\00:50:00.83
Now, Lord, just take my life,
00:50:00.86\00:50:02.66
for I am no
better than my fathers!'"
00:50:02.70\00:50:05.83
Have you ever felt that way?
00:50:05.87\00:50:07.94
Felt, "Lord, it's enough.
00:50:07.97\00:50:09.30
I can't take anymore."
00:50:09.34\00:50:11.14
Well, the good news is
God did not answer that
00:50:11.17\00:50:12.51
prayer of Elijah.
00:50:12.54\00:50:14.28
Instead, God sent an
angel to sustain him,
00:50:14.31\00:50:16.85
and strengthen him.
00:50:16.88\00:50:18.38
And he was sustained,
and he was strengthened.
00:50:18.41\00:50:20.82
And God still had a
work for Elijah to do.
00:50:20.85\00:50:22.88
And how did Elijah die?
00:50:22.92\00:50:24.92
He didn't die.
00:50:24.95\00:50:27.06
He was taken up to
heaven in a fiery chariot.
00:50:27.09\00:50:29.82
God sustained him
and saw him through.
00:50:29.86\00:50:31.33
What about John the Baptist?
00:50:31.36\00:50:33.09
Did John the
Baptist face trials?
00:50:33.13\00:50:35.50
Here is the one who
announced Jesus as the Messiah
00:50:35.53\00:50:37.73
at the baptism of
Christ and said, "Behold,
00:50:37.77\00:50:39.90
the Lamb of God that takes
away the sins of the world."
00:50:39.93\00:50:41.60
But then for
preaching the truth,
00:50:41.64\00:50:43.81
he is taken and
thrown in prison.
00:50:43.84\00:50:46.34
And while he's in
prison, he's waiting.
00:50:46.37\00:50:48.71
And it seems though his
prayers are not being answered,
00:50:48.74\00:50:51.01
Jesus doesn't
come to his defense.
00:50:51.05\00:50:53.35
Jesus does not perform
a miracle to deliver him.
00:50:53.38\00:50:55.85
He's there in this dungeon,
and he begins to wonder,
00:50:55.88\00:50:59.52
"Is Jesus the Christ,
or did I make a mistake?"
00:50:59.55\00:51:03.06
This is John the Baptist.
00:51:03.09\00:51:04.59
So finally he sends two of his
disciples to Jesus and they ask
00:51:04.63\00:51:07.36
the question, "Are you the one,
or should we look for another?"
00:51:07.40\00:51:11.70
And Jesus doesn't
immediately answer.
00:51:11.73\00:51:14.24
Rather, he says, "Just watch."
00:51:14.27\00:51:16.91
And they watch as he
opens the eyes of the blind,
00:51:16.94\00:51:19.67
and preached the
gospel to the poor,
00:51:19.71\00:51:21.34
and healed the sick.
00:51:21.38\00:51:23.01
And after they witnessed
everything that Jesus had done,
00:51:23.04\00:51:25.58
then he says, "Go back and
report everything back to John,
00:51:25.61\00:51:29.98
and tell him, 'Blessed is
he who is not offended of me.'"
00:51:30.02\00:51:34.62
Of course, as
the disciples leave,
00:51:34.66\00:51:36.16
then Jesus turns to the crowd
00:51:36.19\00:51:37.56
and he says, "What did you go
out into the wilderness to see?
00:51:37.59\00:51:39.63
A reed shaken by the wind?
00:51:39.66\00:51:43.33
What did you go out
into the wilderness to see?
00:51:43.37\00:51:45.33
A man dressed in fine apparel?"
00:51:45.37\00:51:47.64
Jesus said, "Those wearing
fine apparel belong in palaces.
00:51:47.67\00:51:50.34
But what did you go
into the wilderness to see?
00:51:50.37\00:51:52.64
A prophet? Yea, and
more than a prophet.
00:51:52.67\00:51:55.61
For of all of
them born unto a woman,
00:51:55.64\00:51:57.68
there is not arisen one
greater than John the Baptist."
00:51:57.71\00:52:01.05
You can just imagine those
disciples hurrying back to tell
00:52:01.08\00:52:04.32
John all the
things that they had seen.
00:52:04.35\00:52:06.79
And they said, "You know,
Jesus says not to be offended."
00:52:06.82\00:52:09.96
And then, "Oh, by the
way, while we were going,
00:52:09.99\00:52:14.00
you should have heard
what Jesus said about you."
00:52:14.00\00:52:16.73
And John was
encouraged. He was sustained.
00:52:16.77\00:52:20.70
He was strengthened
to face that final trial.
00:52:20.74\00:52:23.87
Even to the point of
laying down his life.
00:52:23.91\00:52:26.27
Will God's people have their
faith tested at the end of time?
00:52:26.31\00:52:31.61
Will we go
through a time of trouble,
00:52:31.65\00:52:34.25
just like John the
Baptist, like Elijah,
00:52:34.28\00:52:37.35
like Jeremiah,
like the prophets,
00:52:37.39\00:52:39.02
like the apostles? Yes.
00:52:39.05\00:52:41.49
Matter of fact, the Bible
tells us in Daniel chapter 12,
00:52:41.52\00:52:43.63
verse 1, it says: "At that
time Michael shall stand up,
00:52:43.66\00:52:46.13
the great prince who stands
watch over the sons of thy
00:52:46.16\00:52:49.26
people; and there
will be a time of trouble,
00:52:49.30\00:52:51.47
such as never was
since there was a nation,
00:52:51.50\00:52:53.67
even to that time.
00:52:53.70\00:52:55.14
But at that time thy
people shall be delivered,
00:52:55.17\00:52:58.67
every one found
written in the book, amen?
00:52:58.71\00:53:01.81
There will be a time of trouble,
where our faith will be tested
00:53:01.84\00:53:05.55
and tried.
00:53:05.58\00:53:07.38
And we'll need to lean up upon
Jesus with all of our might.
00:53:07.42\00:53:10.89
But the promise is,
"We shall be delivered."
00:53:10.92\00:53:14.76
We will trust in him,
and he will see us through.
00:53:14.79\00:53:19.43
Well, what a wonderful promise.
00:53:19.46\00:53:20.90
You know, I like the
quote here from the book,
00:53:20.93\00:53:23.10
"Education," page 56, 57.
00:53:23.13\00:53:25.47
You've heard it before.
It's one of my favorites.
00:53:25.50\00:53:26.90
It's talking about the need in
these last days of men and women
00:53:26.94\00:53:30.31
willing to stand
up for the truth.
00:53:30.34\00:53:32.57
And this is what it says: "The
greatest wonder of the world is
00:53:32.61\00:53:35.44
the wonderful men.
00:53:35.48\00:53:37.08
Men who will not
be bought or sold.
00:53:37.11\00:53:39.51
Men who, in
their innermost souls,
00:53:39.55\00:53:41.78
are true and honest.
00:53:41.82\00:53:43.69
Men who do not fear to
call sin by its right name.
00:53:43.72\00:53:46.96
Men whose conscience is true to
duty as the needle to the pole.
00:53:46.99\00:53:52.83
Men who will
stand for the right,
00:53:52.86\00:53:55.66
though the heavens fall," amen?
00:53:55.70\00:53:58.37
Do we want to be those kind of
individuals that stand for the
00:53:58.40\00:54:01.97
right, though the heavens fall?
00:54:02.00\00:54:04.64
All right, some key lessons
that we learned from this week,
00:54:04.67\00:54:07.61
our study of the
book of Jeremiah.
00:54:07.64\00:54:09.01
Number one: believers are
never left alone to face trials.
00:54:09.04\00:54:13.18
Jesus says, "I'll never
leave you nor forsake you."
00:54:13.21\00:54:15.52
Point number two: the greater
the pressure that comes against
00:54:15.55\00:54:18.55
us, the greater the power
as we learn to trust in Jesus,
00:54:18.59\00:54:23.12
as we depend upon him.
00:54:23.16\00:54:25.23
Point number
three: in the last days,
00:54:25.26\00:54:27.30
the Bible tells us there would
be false teachers and false
00:54:27.30\00:54:30.07
preachers, and we are to
test all things by the Word,
00:54:30.10\00:54:33.97
"To the law, to the testimony.
00:54:34.00\00:54:35.34
If they speak not
according to this,
00:54:35.37\00:54:37.27
there is no light in them."
00:54:37.31\00:54:38.77
Point number four: false
teaching and preaching often
00:54:38.81\00:54:41.98
leads to persecution.
00:54:42.01\00:54:44.08
The Bible actually tells
us that before Jesus comes,
00:54:44.11\00:54:46.85
yes, there will be
persecution against those who
00:54:46.88\00:54:49.08
stand true to God.
00:54:49.12\00:54:51.29
But God'll sustain
them as they trust in him.
00:54:51.32\00:54:54.22
Point number five: the
unconverted heart does not
00:54:54.26\00:54:58.29
receive the message of warning.
00:54:58.33\00:55:01.50
Did the people receive the
message of warning that Jeremiah
00:55:01.53\00:55:04.37
gave them?
00:55:04.40\00:55:05.73
So don't get discouraged if
you're witnessing and sharing
00:55:05.77\00:55:09.77
your faith and it's not received
the way that you would expect.
00:55:09.80\00:55:13.38
Don't get discouraged.
00:55:13.41\00:55:15.04
Just be faithful in
doing the things God is doing.
00:55:15.08\00:55:18.38
You know, I believe there will
be many in the last days that we
00:55:18.41\00:55:20.88
have shared our faith with who,
when they begin to see prophecy
00:55:20.92\00:55:24.09
fulfilled, they'll be reminded
of the things that they have
00:55:24.12\00:55:27.32
heard, and they will
make a stand for truth.
00:55:27.36\00:55:30.33
So don't get discouraged.
00:55:30.36\00:55:32.39
You know, if you're
praying for a loved one,
00:55:32.43\00:55:33.80
family member, maybe you're
praying for a son or a daughter,
00:55:33.83\00:55:36.20
don't give up praying.
00:55:36.23\00:55:38.37
Keep praying. Keep trusting.
00:55:38.40\00:55:40.20
Keep leaning on Jesus.
00:55:40.24\00:55:42.37
And then, of course, we have
the promise that God gives us of
00:55:42.40\00:55:44.87
deliverance, the
promise of a new heart.
00:55:44.91\00:55:48.91
I like this
verse, Ezekiel 36:26,
00:55:48.94\00:55:51.88
a good verse to close on.
00:55:51.91\00:55:53.35
God says: "'I will
give you a new heart.
00:55:53.38\00:55:55.55
I will put a new
spirit within you;
00:55:55.58\00:55:57.35
I will take out the heart
of stone out of your flesh and
00:55:57.39\00:56:00.32
give you a heart of flesh.'"
00:56:00.36\00:56:02.92
Yes, the warning
message conveys a
00:56:02.96\00:56:04.53
message of hope, a
message of deliverance.
00:56:04.56\00:56:07.60
And that
message is for everyone.
00:56:07.60\00:56:10.13
Well, I hope that you've been
blessed in your study of the
00:56:10.17\00:56:12.67
book of Jeremiah.
00:56:12.70\00:56:14.07
There's so many
practical lessons,
00:56:14.10\00:56:15.60
I think, that we can apply
to our everyday experience.
00:56:15.64\00:56:17.67
And I want to encourage you.
00:56:17.71\00:56:20.01
If you're not in a regular
habit of studying the lesson
00:56:20.04\00:56:22.08
currently, take advantage of it.
00:56:22.11\00:56:24.18
Great opportunity
to study together.
00:56:24.21\00:56:26.15
Let's close with
a word of prayer.
00:56:26.18\00:56:27.65
Dear Father, we thank you so
much for the opportunity that we
00:56:27.68\00:56:30.22
have to study your Word.
00:56:30.25\00:56:32.05
And we thank you for
the lessons that we learn,
00:56:32.09\00:56:34.16
written so many years ago,
but so relevant for the time in
00:56:34.19\00:56:37.29
which we are living.
00:56:37.33\00:56:38.63
Most of all, Lord, we pray
that we might have faith even as
00:56:38.66\00:56:41.83
Jeremiah, who
preached the Word despite
00:56:41.86\00:56:44.57
discouraging circumstances.
00:56:44.60\00:56:46.50
Help us to be faithful.
00:56:46.53\00:56:48.30
Thank you, Lord, for your
promise to never leave us or
00:56:48.34\00:56:50.34
forsake us.
00:56:50.37\00:56:51.81
Teach us to lean up
against you for power.
00:56:51.84\00:56:54.28
For we ask this
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:56:54.31\00:56:57.38
male announcer: Did you know
that Noah was present at the
00:56:58.51\00:57:00.05
birth of Abraham?
00:57:00.08\00:57:01.78
Okay, maybe he
wasn't in the room.
00:57:01.82\00:57:04.05
But he was alive, and probably
telling stories about his
00:57:04.09\00:57:06.89
floating zoo.
00:57:06.92\00:57:08.86
From the creation of the
world to the last day events of
00:57:08.89\00:57:11.86
Revelation, biblehistory.com
is a free resource where you can
00:57:11.89\00:57:15.53
explore major Bible
events and characters.
00:57:15.56\00:57:18.67
Enhance your
knowledge of the Bible,
00:57:18.70\00:57:20.57
and draw closer to God's Word.
00:57:20.60\00:57:22.74
Go deeper.
00:57:22.77\00:57:24.44
Visit the amazing Bible
timeline at biblehistory.com.
00:57:24.47\00:57:28.61
announcer: In 6 days,
God created the heavens
00:57:30.05\00:57:32.55
and the earth.
00:57:32.58\00:57:34.28
For thousands of years, man has
worshiped God on the seventh day
00:57:34.32\00:57:37.72
of the week.
00:57:37.75\00:57:39.09
Now, each week millions of
people worship on the first day.
00:57:39.12\00:57:43.12
What happened?
00:57:43.16\00:57:44.49
Why did God
create a day of rest?
00:57:44.53\00:57:46.59
Does it really
matter what day we worship?
00:57:46.63\00:57:49.66
Who was behind this great shift?
00:57:49.70\00:57:51.77
Discover the truth behind God's
law and how it was changed.
00:57:51.80\00:57:54.80
Visit sabbathtruth.com
00:57:54.84\00:57:57.71
announcer: For life-changing
Christian resources,
00:58:00.31\00:58:02.31
visit
afbookstore.com, or call...
00:58:02.34\00:58:08.42
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00:58:10.45\00:58:25.40