Good morning,
friends, and welcome again
00:00:35.20\00:00:36.83
to Sabbath School Study Hour
00:00:36.83\00:00:38.40
here at the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:00:38.40\00:00:40.50
in Sacramento, California.
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Very warm welcome to all of you
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who are joining us.
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A special greeting to
our online church members
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who tune in every week
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to study the
lesson with us right here
00:00:49.41\00:00:51.85
and also to our
regular church members
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that are here in person
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as well as our visitors
that are joining us today,
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very warm welcome to all of you.
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Thank you for being
here for Sabbath School.
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Now if you've been here before,
00:01:01.86\00:01:03.36
you know that our theme
through this entire quarter
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is dealing with
the theme of unity.
00:01:05.99\00:01:08.33
It's actually
entitled "Oneness in Christ."
00:01:08.33\00:01:11.30
And today, we're
going to continue
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our study along that theme.
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We're going to be
looking at lesson number five
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in the lesson quarterly,
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that's entitled
"The Experience of Unity
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in the Early Church."
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It's lesson number five,
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The Experience of
Unity in the Early Church.
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Now, for our friends
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who might not have a
copy of today's lesson
00:01:27.05\00:01:29.62
and you're watching online,
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if you would like
to receive a free copy
00:01:31.22\00:01:32.79
of lesson number five
in the series of studies,
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all you have to do is
go to the following website
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lesson.aftv.org
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and you'll be able to
download lesson number five.
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You can read and
study it along with us.
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We also have a free offer
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that goes along with our study
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of importance of
unity in the church.
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It is a DVD
sermon by Pastor Doug,
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it's entitled
"Many Members, One Body."
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And if you'd like to
receive a free copy of this DVD,
00:01:59.28\00:02:02.95
just give a call to
the number 866-788-3966,
00:02:02.95\00:02:07.89
and you can ask
for offer number 860,
00:02:07.89\00:02:11.36
we'll be happy
to send that to you.
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If you'd like to get a digital
download of the same sermon,
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all you need to do
is text the code "SH113"
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to the number 40544.
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You'll then get a link as to
where you can download for free
00:02:24.97\00:02:28.04
this special offer that
goes along with our study today
00:02:28.04\00:02:32.28
entitled Many Members, One Body,
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a sermon by
Pastor Doug Batchelor.
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Well, this morning,
before we get to our study,
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we have a special treat.
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We have a group
entitled One Accord,
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and they're
going to be bringing us
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a special musical
item at this time.
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In times like these,
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You need a Savior
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In times like these,
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You need an anchor
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Be very sure,
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Be very sure
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Your anchor holds
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And grips the Solid Rock!
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Solid Rock!
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In times like these,
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you need the Bible
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In times like these,
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O be not idle
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Be very sure,
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Be very sure
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Your anchor holds
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And grips the Solid Rock!
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Solid Rock!
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This Rock is Jesus,
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Yes He's the One
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This Rock is Jesus,
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The only One
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Be very sure,
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Be very sure
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Your anchor holds
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And grips the Solid Rock!
00:04:44.91\00:04:49.15
Solid Rock!
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In times like these,
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I have a Savior
00:04:59.43\00:05:03.67
In times like these,
00:05:03.67\00:05:07.24
I have an anchor
00:05:07.24\00:05:11.64
I'm very sure,
00:05:11.64\00:05:16.01
I'm very sure
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My anchor holds
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And grips the Solid Rock!
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Solid Rock!
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This Rock is Jesus,
00:05:36.63\00:05:40.47
Yes He's the One
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This Rock is Jesus,
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The only One
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I'm very sure,
00:05:54.68\00:05:58.92
I'm very sure
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My anchor holds
00:06:05.46\00:06:12.00
And grips the Solid Rock!
00:06:12.00\00:06:16.20
Solid Rock!
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I'm very sure,
00:06:22.44\00:06:28.12
I'm very sure
00:06:28.12\00:06:35.06
My anchor holds
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And grips the Solid
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Rock!
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Solid
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Rock!
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Dear Father, once again,
00:07:06.62\00:07:07.69
I'm indeed
grateful for the opportunity
00:07:07.69\00:07:09.42
and the privilege of
gathering in Your presence,
00:07:09.42\00:07:11.76
opening up Your Word.
00:07:11.76\00:07:13.50
And looking at the
early Christian church,
00:07:13.50\00:07:15.53
what is it that
bound them together
00:07:15.53\00:07:18.23
and unity in the love of Christ.
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As we explore this
very important theme,
00:07:20.64\00:07:22.47
we pray that we might learn
00:07:22.47\00:07:24.07
from the experience
of the early church,
00:07:24.07\00:07:26.84
things that we can
apply to our church,
00:07:26.84\00:07:28.54
to our lives, to
our families even today.
00:07:28.54\00:07:31.21
Lord, bless our time together,
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for we ask this
in Jesus' name, amen.
00:07:32.51\00:07:36.02
Our lesson this morning
is going to be brought to us
00:07:36.02\00:07:37.79
by Dr. David DeRose.
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Well, it's good to be
with you all this morning
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as we continue
our study on unity.
00:07:44.73\00:07:48.26
And I appreciated that
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very practical illustration
of unity, didn't you,
00:07:49.33\00:07:52.70
with that beautiful
harmony, that music?
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I'll tell you, I was glad that,
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you know, as much
as I enjoy unison,
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I was glad
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that they were all
untied but all different.
00:08:02.04\00:08:05.71
Great parable, isn't it,
00:08:05.71\00:08:07.58
music and how it
relates to unity in the church?
00:08:07.58\00:08:10.62
Well, that's
what we're studying.
00:08:10.62\00:08:11.65
We're studying lesson five,
00:08:11.65\00:08:13.25
the experience of
unity in the early church.
00:08:13.25\00:08:19.73
Well, I'll tell you,
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it is one of the hardest,
hardest things to do in life.
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There's no question about
it and if you have children,
00:08:25.67\00:08:29.30
you're continually reminded
or of our grandchildren,
00:08:29.30\00:08:32.37
especially if
you're on a road trip,
00:08:32.37\00:08:34.51
because there's
that one classic line
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that always comes up
on most family road trips,
00:08:37.61\00:08:40.28
what is it?
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That's right. Are we there yet?
00:08:41.72\00:08:45.29
It's so hard to wait, isn't it?
00:08:45.29\00:08:48.79
Waiting is hard to do.
00:08:48.79\00:08:51.56
Turn in your
Bibles to Acts chapter 1
00:08:51.56\00:08:54.10
because as Jesus was
preparing to leave the earth,
00:08:54.10\00:08:57.67
He gave such a
command to the disciples.
00:08:57.67\00:09:02.14
We're trying to
pick up on some insights
00:09:02.14\00:09:04.57
since how the early
church was so united,
00:09:04.57\00:09:08.51
and we get one
of them right here
00:09:08.51\00:09:10.55
as the
foundation is laid in Acts 1
00:09:10.55\00:09:12.61
with Jesus' very command.
00:09:12.61\00:09:16.52
Chapter 1 of this
second book written by Luke,
00:09:16.52\00:09:20.32
I'm picking
Jesus' words in verse 4,
00:09:20.32\00:09:23.99
the background, it says,
"They were assembled together,"
00:09:23.99\00:09:28.66
and it says, "then
Jesus commanded them
00:09:28.66\00:09:31.37
not to depart from Jerusalem,
00:09:31.37\00:09:33.44
but to wait for the
promise of the Father."
00:09:33.44\00:09:39.54
To wait.
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We've learned
something in the medical world
00:09:44.45\00:09:47.08
when it comes to
changing behaviors.
00:09:47.08\00:09:50.22
Actually, we've
learned quite a bit.
00:09:50.22\00:09:52.12
But one of the
things we learned is that
00:09:52.12\00:09:53.86
it is not a very
effective strategy
00:09:53.86\00:09:57.13
to focus on
what you will not do.
00:09:57.13\00:10:01.96
For example, you say Dr. DeRose,
00:10:01.96\00:10:05.00
one thing I know
after this bad lung report,
00:10:05.00\00:10:08.17
I am not going to smoke.
00:10:08.17\00:10:09.87
I am determined, I have
made a goal not to smoke.
00:10:09.87\00:10:12.07
Now some of you think
that's a wonderful decision.
00:10:12.07\00:10:13.94
By the way, it is.
00:10:13.94\00:10:15.81
But if all the person
focuses on is not smoking,
00:10:15.81\00:10:20.38
they're actually not
likely to be successful.
00:10:20.38\00:10:24.82
So I'll often ask the question,
00:10:24.82\00:10:26.12
"Well, what are
you going to do then?"
00:10:26.12\00:10:29.26
When you're under stress in
the past, what would you do?
00:10:29.26\00:10:31.33
You'd smoke.
00:10:31.33\00:10:32.39
Now what are you going to do?
00:10:32.39\00:10:34.36
After you ate your meal,
what would you do in the past?
00:10:34.36\00:10:38.27
I would smoke. What
are you going to do now?
00:10:38.27\00:10:40.67
And the answer
is not acceptable.
00:10:40.67\00:10:42.04
Say, I don't know
what I'm going to do,
00:10:42.04\00:10:43.30
I'm just not going to smoke.
00:10:43.30\00:10:45.67
By the way, it's
a lot like waiting.
00:10:45.67\00:10:49.01
You know, if I
just tell you to wait,
00:10:49.01\00:10:52.28
that is not as powerful
as telling you what to do.
00:10:52.28\00:10:58.29
So here's the question.
00:10:58.29\00:11:00.32
Had Jesus actually told them
00:11:00.32\00:11:02.36
what to do besides just waiting?
00:11:02.36\00:11:05.03
Well, the disciples were
there in that upper room,
00:11:08.03\00:11:11.23
and it seems that the things
that Jesus had taught them
00:11:11.23\00:11:14.37
were coming to their minds.
00:11:14.37\00:11:16.20
Actually, Jesus
had reminded them
00:11:16.20\00:11:18.11
of many of these
things before He left.
00:11:18.11\00:11:21.01
But one of the things
that Jesus had focused them on
00:11:21.01\00:11:24.71
was to love one another.
00:11:24.71\00:11:28.92
How they done when
Jesus was on the earth?
00:11:28.92\00:11:31.42
They've been pretty
effective at loving one another?
00:11:31.42\00:11:34.72
What was the narrative
00:11:34.72\00:11:35.76
that kind of runs
through the gospel?
00:11:35.76\00:11:37.43
Every time you hear about
the disciples, what are they...
00:11:37.43\00:11:39.49
Are they talking about
00:11:39.49\00:11:40.56
how much they loved one another?
00:11:40.56\00:11:43.13
That's right.
00:11:43.13\00:11:44.23
They're having this
argument, this ongoing argument,
00:11:44.23\00:11:46.27
"Who is going
to be the greatest?
00:11:46.27\00:11:47.90
I'm better than you."
00:11:47.90\00:11:48.97
We're going to read a scripture.
00:11:52.57\00:11:53.88
We have someone who has
another passage in Acts for us.
00:11:53.88\00:11:57.71
We're going to look
at that in just a moment.
00:11:57.71\00:12:00.52
But before we do that,
00:12:00.52\00:12:01.68
we want to go back to something
that Jesus taught them.
00:12:01.68\00:12:05.22
It's found in John chapter 16.
00:12:05.22\00:12:07.39
We have someone
who'll be reading that for us
00:12:07.39\00:12:09.19
in a moment as well.
00:12:09.19\00:12:10.76
We're gonna be going
to John 16:12 in a moment,
00:12:10.76\00:12:15.70
but just the background
00:12:15.70\00:12:16.80
if you're turning
there in your Bibles
00:12:16.80\00:12:17.93
to the Gospel of John.
00:12:17.93\00:12:21.30
So in John 14, 15, and
16, even beginning in John 13,
00:12:21.30\00:12:25.47
Jesus is giving
some of His final counsel
00:12:25.47\00:12:27.78
to the disciples.
00:12:27.78\00:12:30.38
And one of the things
that He's highlighting there
00:12:30.38\00:12:33.08
is the very thing
we've just mentioned,
00:12:33.08\00:12:35.72
His loving
relationship with them
00:12:35.72\00:12:38.49
and His loving
relationship with the Father.
00:12:38.49\00:12:41.59
And by the time we
come to John 16:12,
00:12:41.59\00:12:46.76
Jesus expands on something
He's been talking about.
00:12:46.76\00:12:50.83
So we're going to hear
now from John 16:12 and on.
00:12:50.83\00:12:56.00
"I still have many
things to say to you,
00:12:56.00\00:12:58.87
but you cannot bear them now.
00:12:58.87\00:13:00.98
However when He, the
Spirit of truth has come,
00:13:00.98\00:13:04.65
He will guide
you into all truth.
00:13:04.65\00:13:07.12
For He will not
speak on His own authority
00:13:07.12\00:13:10.05
but whatever He
hears, He will speak.
00:13:10.05\00:13:12.82
And He would tell
you things to come.
00:13:12.82\00:13:15.06
He will glorify Me,
00:13:15.06\00:13:16.59
for He will take of what is Mine
00:13:16.59\00:13:18.89
and declare it to you."
00:13:18.89\00:13:22.83
Jesus,
throughout these chapters,
00:13:22.83\00:13:24.63
has been promising
them another helper,
00:13:24.63\00:13:28.14
another
comforter, another advocate.
00:13:28.14\00:13:30.91
The Greek word can be translated
00:13:30.91\00:13:32.61
into a variety of ways.
00:13:32.61\00:13:35.98
But it's interesting
there is an adjective
00:13:35.98\00:13:41.28
beside helper or
comforter, and it's another.
00:13:41.28\00:13:46.99
In the Greek, there are at
least two words for another.
00:13:46.99\00:13:50.63
One is another of the same kind,
00:13:50.63\00:13:53.50
and the other is
another of a different kind.
00:13:53.50\00:13:57.83
So here, Jesus uses the word,
00:13:57.83\00:14:00.04
at least as John
is writing his gospel,
00:14:00.04\00:14:03.84
he uses this Greek word
00:14:03.84\00:14:05.97
that refers to
another of the same kind.
00:14:05.97\00:14:09.08
Jesus is sending
another advocate,
00:14:09.08\00:14:11.65
another
comforter, another helper.
00:14:11.65\00:14:13.92
Jesus has been
doing that for them,
00:14:13.92\00:14:15.48
but now He's going
to send the Holy Spirit.
00:14:15.48\00:14:18.52
And so they have a promise,
00:14:18.52\00:14:20.42
they have some
challenges to love one another.
00:14:20.42\00:14:23.79
And so we find
them in the upper room
00:14:23.79\00:14:25.83
in Acts 1 and Acts 2.
00:14:25.83\00:14:28.56
And a group
that was very divided
00:14:28.56\00:14:32.40
throughout most
of Jesus' ministry,
00:14:32.40\00:14:34.00
you might even want to
argue all of Jesus' ministry,
00:14:34.00\00:14:36.44
at least up to the cross,
00:14:36.44\00:14:38.74
and now something's
happening in that upper room.
00:14:38.74\00:14:41.81
The lessons of
Jesus are coming to bear
00:14:41.81\00:14:44.01
and they are waiting
for the promised comforter.
00:14:44.01\00:14:48.85
As we continue
the account in Acts,
00:14:48.85\00:14:51.82
we're going to hear
now from Acts chapter 2.
00:14:51.82\00:14:55.02
We're going to see
what their situation was
00:14:55.02\00:14:57.36
just a short while
after Jesus' ascension.
00:14:57.36\00:15:01.00
We're talking, you know,
00:15:01.00\00:15:02.13
from the time of the crucifixion
00:15:02.13\00:15:06.10
to the time of Pentecost,
00:15:06.10\00:15:08.07
you know, some
six or seven weeks,
00:15:08.07\00:15:11.21
Jesus has been
with them for 40 days.
00:15:11.21\00:15:13.07
So it's just about 10
days after Jesus has ascended.
00:15:13.07\00:15:18.81
Now we pick up
the story in Acts 2:1.
00:15:18.81\00:15:23.45
"When the day of
Pentecost had fully come,
00:15:23.45\00:15:25.75
they were all with
one accord in one place.
00:15:25.75\00:15:28.72
And suddenly, there
came a sound from heaven
00:15:28.72\00:15:32.03
as of a rushing mighty wind,
00:15:32.03\00:15:33.93
and it filled the whole
house where they were sitting.
00:15:33.93\00:15:36.93
Then there appeared to
them, divided tongues as a fire,
00:15:36.93\00:15:40.67
and one set upon each of them,
00:15:40.67\00:15:43.07
and they were
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:15:43.07\00:15:45.07
and began to speak
with the other tongues
00:15:45.07\00:15:47.81
as the Spirit
gave them utterance."
00:15:47.81\00:15:51.25
Now this is really a
fascinating case study,
00:15:51.25\00:15:53.45
because if you think about it,
00:15:53.45\00:15:55.28
we're looking at 12 individuals,
00:15:55.28\00:15:57.05
actually 11 and then,
00:15:57.05\00:15:58.89
you know, of course,
Judas was no longer with them.
00:15:58.89\00:16:01.36
But these 11 individuals,
00:16:01.36\00:16:04.59
and then if you'd been
reading through the account,
00:16:04.59\00:16:06.76
you know Matthias was chosen
to make up for Judas' place.
00:16:06.76\00:16:11.63
So there are 12, but these 11
00:16:11.63\00:16:15.97
of the original 12
were anything but united.
00:16:15.97\00:16:20.81
And in fact, if you
look at their pedigrees,
00:16:20.81\00:16:22.91
if you look at their background,
00:16:22.91\00:16:24.01
if you look at
their personalities,
00:16:24.01\00:16:26.75
I've often pointed out as
I've looked at the disciples,
00:16:26.75\00:16:29.48
you could not have
picked a group of people
00:16:29.48\00:16:32.95
that were more
likely not to get along.
00:16:32.95\00:16:36.26
I mean, have you
thought about this before?
00:16:36.26\00:16:38.96
I mean, you've got
a zealot in the group.
00:16:38.96\00:16:42.00
The zealots, the
historians tell us,
00:16:42.00\00:16:44.07
were trying to kill, people like
00:16:44.07\00:16:46.80
Roman officials
and tax collectors.
00:16:46.80\00:16:51.07
By the way, who is Matthew?
00:16:51.07\00:16:53.38
A tax collector.
00:16:53.38\00:16:55.18
And you've got
the sons of thunder,
00:16:55.18\00:16:57.45
you've got impetuous Peter,
you've got Doubting Thomas,
00:16:57.45\00:17:01.42
you would never put these
12 people together in a cabinet
00:17:01.42\00:17:04.99
and expect to accomplish
anything in government,
00:17:04.99\00:17:07.72
would you?
00:17:07.72\00:17:09.69
So Jesus brings this
group of people together
00:17:09.69\00:17:13.09
that you would say have
every reason not to get along
00:17:13.09\00:17:16.73
and now you just heard
00:17:16.73\00:17:19.57
the scripture
testimony in Acts 2:1.
00:17:19.57\00:17:22.94
How did this
discordant group of disciples
00:17:22.94\00:17:26.21
come to be categorized
00:17:26.21\00:17:28.78
just prior to the
outpouring of the spirit?
00:17:28.78\00:17:33.01
That's right, they
were with one accord,
00:17:33.01\00:17:36.15
with one accord.
00:17:36.15\00:17:37.29
So we're trying
to probe something,
00:17:37.29\00:17:38.49
the topic of the lesson is what?
00:17:38.49\00:17:40.42
Did you pick up on it?
00:17:40.42\00:17:43.16
The experience of
unity in the early church.
00:17:43.16\00:17:46.13
And so I'm starting to
get excited about this topic
00:17:46.13\00:17:49.33
because we're starting
not with a group of people
00:17:49.33\00:17:52.03
who were handpicked who
were going to get along,
00:17:52.03\00:17:54.54
you didn't say,
00:17:54.54\00:17:55.54
"Look it, if I could
just start my own church,
00:17:55.54\00:17:57.94
if I could start my own
church, handpick the people
00:17:57.94\00:18:00.38
that are going to be
members in that church,
00:18:00.38\00:18:01.98
everything's
going to be wonderful
00:18:01.98\00:18:03.11
but we're so united."
00:18:03.11\00:18:05.61
That's not what Jesus did.
00:18:05.61\00:18:07.98
Jesus picked a group
of people every reason
00:18:07.98\00:18:10.89
for them to be disunited.
00:18:10.89\00:18:12.82
And by the time we get
to Acts 2:1, they're united.
00:18:12.82\00:18:16.29
What was going on?
00:18:16.29\00:18:18.49
Well, one, they had been
bathing in the words of Jesus,
00:18:18.49\00:18:22.66
right?
00:18:22.66\00:18:23.73
Jesus had commanded them to wait
00:18:23.73\00:18:26.13
but they weren't just
sitting there, saying,
00:18:26.13\00:18:28.34
"When is the Holy
Spirit going to come?
00:18:28.34\00:18:29.70
When are we going to get there?"
00:18:29.70\00:18:31.11
They were doing some work
00:18:31.11\00:18:32.81
and that was a
work of coming together.
00:18:32.81\00:18:35.31
It was a work of
putting away sin,
00:18:35.31\00:18:37.31
putting away differences.
00:18:37.31\00:18:39.45
And so as we're
looking at secrets of unity,
00:18:39.45\00:18:42.08
that is definitely one of them.
00:18:42.08\00:18:44.05
Now if you're
following along in the lesson,
00:18:44.05\00:18:46.82
and as Pastor John pointed out,
00:18:46.82\00:18:48.99
you can actually download
00:18:48.99\00:18:50.13
a copy of the lesson on
the Amazing Facts website
00:18:50.13\00:18:53.46
if you don't have one.
00:18:53.46\00:18:54.56
But in the very first
reading for Sabbath afternoon,
00:18:54.56\00:18:59.07
it makes this statement.
00:18:59.07\00:19:02.37
Second sentence in
the commentary there,
00:19:02.37\00:19:04.91
it says, "Solid bonds
of fellowship are forged
00:19:04.91\00:19:09.21
in a common spiritual
journey and experience.
00:19:09.21\00:19:14.28
Common spiritual
journey, common experience.
00:19:17.19\00:19:22.09
Does that lead to
solid bonds of fellowship?
00:19:22.09\00:19:25.26
Well, they were all together
for three and half years
00:19:25.26\00:19:29.33
and they hadn't all
bonded together yet.
00:19:29.33\00:19:31.93
Probably most of
you have been to Texas.
00:19:36.50\00:19:40.88
Haven't you?
00:19:40.88\00:19:42.94
Some of you haven't.
00:19:42.94\00:19:44.18
I lived in Oklahoma not
far from the Texas border.
00:19:44.18\00:19:47.55
I've been in Texas many times.
00:19:47.55\00:19:51.12
If I went back to Texas now,
00:19:51.12\00:19:54.49
and I was driving
and I was behind a car
00:19:54.49\00:19:57.29
that had a
California license plate,
00:19:57.29\00:20:01.90
would anything happen?
00:20:01.90\00:20:04.80
You might say,
00:20:04.80\00:20:05.83
"Well, Texas isn't all
that far from California."
00:20:05.83\00:20:08.84
How about if I was
in Florida or Maine,
00:20:08.84\00:20:13.54
and I saw a California plate?
00:20:13.54\00:20:16.71
Does that evoke anything in you?
00:20:16.71\00:20:18.51
I mean, like here's
someone from my state.
00:20:18.51\00:20:21.42
You know, what are
they doing out here
00:20:21.42\00:20:22.58
in Florida or Maine?
00:20:22.58\00:20:25.59
Or maybe you're traveling abroad
00:20:25.59\00:20:27.02
and you see
someone with a T-shirt on,
00:20:27.02\00:20:29.46
it says Sacramento.
00:20:29.46\00:20:31.76
Does that do anything to you?
00:20:31.76\00:20:34.00
You say, "Yeah, there is
some kind of bond there."
00:20:34.00\00:20:36.50
And you may even
walk up to the person.
00:20:36.50\00:20:38.43
I don't know how forward you are
00:20:38.43\00:20:40.74
but my personality is such.
00:20:40.74\00:20:42.80
I might actually say
something to someone,
00:20:42.80\00:20:44.41
"Sacramento! I'm
from Sacramento too."
00:20:44.41\00:20:49.41
Once we got to comparing notes,
00:20:49.41\00:20:50.75
so maybe we're both not
right from in Sacramento
00:20:50.75\00:20:53.15
but, you know, if you're
somewhere in Africa or Asia
00:20:53.15\00:20:56.85
and you see a
Sacramento shirt...
00:20:56.85\00:20:59.05
We're talking about what?
00:20:59.05\00:21:00.62
We're talking about
00:21:00.62\00:21:01.72
some kind of common
journey and experience.
00:21:01.72\00:21:05.93
But, you know,
if that person says,
00:21:05.93\00:21:08.60
"Oh, wow, I'm so glad to
see someone from California.
00:21:08.60\00:21:10.70
I've been looking for someone
00:21:10.70\00:21:11.77
to go to the bar
and go drinking with."
00:21:11.77\00:21:15.17
What am I going to say?
00:21:15.17\00:21:18.77
Probably going
to say, no, thanks,
00:21:18.77\00:21:20.14
unless I feel compelled,
00:21:20.14\00:21:21.38
I'm supposed to
show up in the bar anyway
00:21:21.38\00:21:22.81
and order an
orange juice or water.
00:21:22.81\00:21:27.12
But my point is this.
00:21:27.12\00:21:28.18
Just because you
have a common experience,
00:21:28.18\00:21:30.15
that doesn't make you united.
00:21:30.15\00:21:31.65
The disciples
fighting amongst each other
00:21:35.22\00:21:38.66
now prepare their hearts.
00:21:38.66\00:21:41.60
Acts 1:12 and 14,
00:21:41.60\00:21:46.20
it was mentioned
in Sunday's lesson.
00:21:46.20\00:21:47.87
It's one of those
keys to what changed.
00:21:47.87\00:21:51.24
Acts 1:12 through 14,
00:21:51.24\00:21:55.68
it says, "When they
returned from Jesus' ascension,
00:21:55.68\00:21:59.61
they went into that upper room."
00:21:59.61\00:22:00.98
It mentions the 11, and it says,
00:22:00.98\00:22:04.39
"They all continued," Acts 1:14,
00:22:04.39\00:22:08.16
"with one accord in prayer
00:22:08.16\00:22:10.69
and supplication with the women,
00:22:10.69\00:22:13.73
and Mary the mother of Jesus
00:22:13.73\00:22:15.86
and with his brothers."
00:22:15.86\00:22:18.93
Just coming
together, just praying,
00:22:22.44\00:22:25.94
just coming
into Jesus' presence,
00:22:25.94\00:22:28.14
and you say just, just, just.
00:22:28.14\00:22:30.21
No, it's huge.
00:22:30.21\00:22:31.45
And how often are we too
busy to do that very thing
00:22:31.45\00:22:35.15
that starts to lay
the very foundation
00:22:35.15\00:22:37.39
for unity in the early church?
00:22:37.39\00:22:39.35
It's coming
together, it's praying,
00:22:39.35\00:22:42.02
it's putting away differences.
00:22:42.02\00:22:44.46
It's easy to
talk about, isn't it?
00:22:44.46\00:22:47.60
But is it easy to practice it,
00:22:47.60\00:22:50.57
especially when
there's differences
00:22:50.57\00:22:52.03
that you know about,
00:22:52.03\00:22:53.23
especially when maybe
00:22:53.23\00:22:54.34
someone with those differences
is in the same church,
00:22:54.34\00:22:58.01
or in the same pew,
or sitting next to you?
00:22:58.01\00:23:02.44
But the disciples'
witness is powerful.
00:23:02.44\00:23:05.15
People that are divided
in Jesus can come together
00:23:05.15\00:23:08.65
and can press close together.
00:23:08.65\00:23:12.32
In Monday's lesson,
00:23:12.32\00:23:14.86
it takes us to some of
the practical implications
00:23:14.86\00:23:17.89
to what we read about
already in Acts chapter 2,
00:23:17.89\00:23:20.90
because after they
come together in unity,
00:23:20.90\00:23:23.20
then the Holy
Spirit is poured out.
00:23:23.20\00:23:25.83
Now I want you to
pick up on a few things
00:23:25.83\00:23:28.57
that are characteristics,
or qualifications,
00:23:28.57\00:23:32.27
or conditions for unity.
00:23:32.27\00:23:34.78
The first one is, you
have to actually come together,
00:23:34.78\00:23:36.61
you have to be
willing to come together.
00:23:36.61\00:23:38.61
It sure helps that they knew
Jesus had told them to wait.
00:23:38.61\00:23:44.42
Jesus tells us
the same thing, right?
00:23:44.42\00:23:47.12
And Paul, when he
writes in Hebrews chapter 10.
00:23:47.12\00:23:50.16
He says, "Forsake not
the assembling of yourselves
00:23:50.16\00:23:52.73
together," right?
00:23:52.73\00:23:53.90
"Encourage one another,
00:23:53.90\00:23:55.06
especially as you see
that day approaching."
00:23:55.06\00:24:00.17
The Holy Spirit then
comes down in Acts 2.
00:24:00.17\00:24:03.27
And if you read through Acts 2,
00:24:03.27\00:24:04.84
if you're just to
look at it quickly
00:24:04.84\00:24:07.44
as we're sitting here,
you see that relatively,
00:24:07.44\00:24:11.35
quickly in the
account, some things happen.
00:24:11.35\00:24:14.65
First of all, as
we read, there is this
00:24:14.65\00:24:16.52
amazing manifestation of
the Holy Spirit, coming down
00:24:16.52\00:24:22.69
manifested as tongues of fire
on the heads of the believers.
00:24:22.69\00:24:27.50
And then this
gift being poured out,
00:24:27.50\00:24:30.43
the gift that we
call the gift of tongues
00:24:30.43\00:24:33.37
where man, who no
training in foreign languages
00:24:33.37\00:24:38.74
begin to preach the gospel
00:24:38.74\00:24:41.34
in the language of
the multitude of peoples
00:24:41.34\00:24:43.88
who are there gathered
at Jerusalem for Pentecost.
00:24:43.88\00:24:49.88
But there is more that happens
00:24:49.88\00:24:52.85
because as Peter
begins to preach in Acts 2,
00:24:52.85\00:24:57.16
I want you to notice.
00:24:57.16\00:24:58.33
Look quickly at his
sermon, just kind of eyeball it.
00:24:58.33\00:25:01.06
If you have a Bible like mine,
00:25:01.06\00:25:02.70
I'm actually reading
from the New King James today.
00:25:02.70\00:25:06.87
The New King James
actually indents quotations
00:25:06.87\00:25:10.14
and puts them in italics.
00:25:10.14\00:25:12.87
And you'll notice much of
what Peter communicates in this
00:25:12.87\00:25:16.64
Pentecost sermon are quotations
00:25:16.64\00:25:20.88
from the scriptures.
00:25:20.88\00:25:23.92
So think about it,
00:25:23.92\00:25:25.89
foundations for
unity in the early church.
00:25:25.89\00:25:28.59
A divided group but
they're meeting together,
00:25:28.59\00:25:31.93
they're praying together.
00:25:31.93\00:25:34.00
But then the Holy
Spirit is poured out on them,
00:25:34.00\00:25:38.77
and then you quickly see
00:25:38.77\00:25:40.80
that their focus is on
the word, the scriptures.
00:25:40.80\00:25:44.41
Do you see that?
00:25:44.41\00:25:45.91
So as we're looking at
00:25:45.91\00:25:47.01
what brought unity
in the early church,
00:25:47.01\00:25:49.04
I would suggest it's
00:25:49.04\00:25:50.35
at least all of
these three elements.
00:25:50.35\00:25:52.88
And you'd say, "Well, you know,
00:25:52.88\00:25:54.02
they're all
manifestations of Jesus,
00:25:54.02\00:25:55.82
aren't they?"
00:25:55.82\00:25:58.79
Aren't they?
00:25:58.79\00:25:59.75
I mean, Jesus was the
one that commanded them
00:25:59.75\00:26:02.82
to love one another,
to be united, if you will.
00:26:02.82\00:26:06.13
Jesus was the one that
gave them the power to do that,
00:26:06.13\00:26:09.20
the vision to do with
the example of doing it,
00:26:09.20\00:26:12.10
how Jesus laid down His own life
00:26:12.10\00:26:14.10
for them and for us.
00:26:14.10\00:26:17.41
Jesus was the one that
promised the Holy Spirit.
00:26:17.41\00:26:21.48
And maybe we should pause here,
00:26:21.48\00:26:23.75
because this Book of
Acts that we're looking at
00:26:23.75\00:26:26.25
although often referred to
as the Acts of the Apostles
00:26:26.25\00:26:31.89
has often been aptly referred to
00:26:31.89\00:26:33.56
as the Acts of the Holy Spirit,
00:26:33.56\00:26:37.23
'cause the Holy Spirit is
clearly in the driver's seat
00:26:37.23\00:26:40.23
as we read
through the Book of Acts.
00:26:40.23\00:26:42.56
Now it's fascinating to me.
00:26:42.56\00:26:44.10
We're talking about
the foundations for unity.
00:26:44.10\00:26:47.74
And I want to go back
some years to a group.
00:26:47.74\00:26:51.27
As I remember the history,
00:26:51.27\00:26:52.27
they started right
here in California.
00:26:52.27\00:26:54.58
They were
described by those who knew
00:26:54.58\00:26:57.75
and even attended
this place of worship
00:26:57.75\00:26:59.78
as one of the most
amazing worship communities,
00:26:59.78\00:27:03.22
people from all
races were there,
00:27:03.22\00:27:05.15
they were treated equally.
00:27:05.15\00:27:07.82
It was just a
wonderful community.
00:27:07.82\00:27:09.42
It was called
the People's Temple.
00:27:09.42\00:27:14.30
How many of you know
the history of Jim Jones
00:27:14.30\00:27:17.80
and the People's Temple,
00:27:17.80\00:27:19.80
and how they relocated
00:27:19.80\00:27:23.57
to a distant place
outside our country,
00:27:23.57\00:27:25.77
and ultimately
most, all of those people
00:27:25.77\00:27:29.54
who were enamored
with the spirit of unity
00:27:29.54\00:27:33.25
ended up taking their own lives
00:27:33.25\00:27:36.82
with toxin laden Kool-Aid?
00:27:36.82\00:27:41.89
But they were so
united, it was such a...
00:27:41.89\00:27:44.09
Really! I mean, I've heard.
00:27:44.09\00:27:45.16
I've seen documentaries,
00:27:45.16\00:27:46.39
people that knew
this faith community,
00:27:46.39\00:27:49.16
they said it was
wonderful, they were all united.
00:27:49.16\00:27:51.50
Unity is not to be valued
00:27:55.50\00:27:58.77
unless it is a unity founded
00:27:58.77\00:28:01.81
on what the early
church was founded on.
00:28:01.81\00:28:05.35
It was founded on Jesus' words.
00:28:05.35\00:28:08.58
It was founded on Jesus Himself.
00:28:08.58\00:28:11.19
It was founded
on the Holy Spirit.
00:28:11.19\00:28:14.32
It was founded
on the scriptures.
00:28:14.32\00:28:19.49
It's amazing to me today,
00:28:19.49\00:28:21.46
and I didn't bring
a copy of the article.
00:28:21.46\00:28:23.40
I think it was July
of 2018, Denis Kaiser.
00:28:23.40\00:28:29.74
How many of you read
this article from Denis Kaiser
00:28:29.74\00:28:32.31
in the Adventist Review find it?
00:28:32.31\00:28:34.18
It's an amazing article.
00:28:34.18\00:28:36.75
Denis shares
about his experience
00:28:36.75\00:28:42.92
in the church,
00:28:42.92\00:28:44.22
actually in the Adventist church
00:28:44.22\00:28:45.92
some 20 years ago as
I recall the chronology.
00:28:45.92\00:28:50.03
And at that time, he shares
that in this close knit group
00:28:50.03\00:28:53.46
that he was united with,
enjoying fellowship with,
00:28:53.46\00:28:58.07
they were setting aside
00:28:58.07\00:28:59.23
one of the pillars
of the early church,
00:28:59.23\00:29:03.10
they were setting aside
00:29:03.10\00:29:04.27
the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
00:29:04.27\00:29:09.88
It's happened many times
00:29:09.88\00:29:11.18
throughout the
history of Christianity
00:29:11.18\00:29:12.58
and the history of Adventism
and many other churches
00:29:12.58\00:29:15.95
that somehow the Holy Spirit,
instead of being elevated
00:29:15.95\00:29:21.06
as the third
person of the Godhead
00:29:21.06\00:29:22.66
as he is revealed in
Scripture as God Himself
00:29:22.66\00:29:26.09
and we'll see, one evidence
of that in the Book of Acts,
00:29:26.09\00:29:30.00
it's in our
lesson just a little bit.
00:29:30.00\00:29:33.87
The Holy Spirit has
been relegated in some minds
00:29:33.87\00:29:37.87
to just an ethereal power
00:29:37.87\00:29:41.68
just in essence.
00:29:41.68\00:29:43.81
This actually flies in the face
00:29:43.81\00:29:45.95
of what Jesus said
in John 14 through 16.
00:29:45.95\00:29:48.68
Jesus said, "I will
send you another comforter,"
00:29:48.68\00:29:51.32
meaning one like Me.
00:29:51.32\00:29:54.39
The Holy Spirit is a person
00:29:54.39\00:29:57.43
who wants to
dwell with the church,
00:29:57.43\00:29:59.13
who wants to guide the church.
00:29:59.13\00:30:01.56
But even more amazingly as I...
00:30:01.56\00:30:04.60
You know, we're part
of a worldwide church.
00:30:04.60\00:30:06.77
And just like Amazing Facts
00:30:06.77\00:30:08.50
gets dialogue from
all over the world,
00:30:08.50\00:30:11.27
it's true for
some of us as well,
00:30:11.27\00:30:14.14
and so there's people
sending me emails from all over
00:30:14.14\00:30:18.35
when we do
things in a visible way.
00:30:18.35\00:30:20.95
And one of the
conversations, I actually shared
00:30:20.95\00:30:23.52
this Adventist Review
article, Denis Kaiser.
00:30:23.52\00:30:29.66
Person sent back to me
00:30:29.66\00:30:32.36
someone else's explanation of
00:30:32.36\00:30:34.50
why what Denis was
sharing was not true.
00:30:34.50\00:30:36.63
Let me just tell you
what Denis pointed out.
00:30:36.63\00:30:41.07
He said, "You know
what, we were all united."
00:30:41.07\00:30:45.84
He didn't use
these words but he said
00:30:45.84\00:30:47.68
basically what I would describe
00:30:47.68\00:30:49.41
is they were engaged
in a kind of group think.
00:30:49.41\00:30:52.78
Go with me back in time,
just quite a ways back in time.
00:30:59.49\00:31:03.59
I got to tell you a story.
00:31:03.59\00:31:06.83
Many years ago, I was
invited to a Bible study group.
00:31:06.83\00:31:11.50
Sounds good, right?
00:31:11.50\00:31:12.57
Bible study, people
coming together pray.
00:31:12.57\00:31:14.10
Just like we're
talking about, right?
00:31:14.10\00:31:15.37
The Bible, the word, prayer.
00:31:15.37\00:31:18.61
I walk into this group.
00:31:18.61\00:31:19.74
I come in a little bit late,
00:31:19.74\00:31:22.18
and they're studying
the Book of Revelation.
00:31:22.18\00:31:25.48
And it plays out
something like this.
00:31:25.48\00:31:27.55
The leader of the
study, "Did you see this?
00:31:27.55\00:31:29.78
Do you see it?
00:31:29.78\00:31:30.85
Look, the white
horse, do you catch it?
00:31:30.85\00:31:33.39
White horse, what
does that sound like?"
00:31:33.39\00:31:36.22
Whoa, whoa, white horse...
00:31:36.22\00:31:39.19
"White horse, White House."
00:31:39.19\00:31:44.17
Everyone like, collective gasp.
00:31:44.17\00:31:46.03
"Oh, I never saw that
before, the White House.
00:31:46.03\00:31:50.47
Okay."
00:31:50.47\00:31:51.87
"And then there's
four horses in Revelation."
00:31:51.87\00:31:53.81
"Yes, yes, four horses, yes."
00:31:53.81\00:31:55.64
"Look at this picture."
"What? Picture, picture.
00:31:55.64\00:31:59.15
Four horses in front
of the Lincoln Memorial.
00:31:59.15\00:32:02.92
Oh, wow, we never saw it before.
00:32:02.92\00:32:04.85
Oh!
00:32:04.85\00:32:05.89
This is just so amazing,
what amazing Bible study."
00:32:05.89\00:32:09.22
And I'm sitting
there, I'm kind of astounded.
00:32:09.22\00:32:12.06
I'm really shocked.
00:32:12.06\00:32:13.13
Now that wasn't
the exact example,
00:32:13.13\00:32:15.66
but it was
something of that magnitude,
00:32:15.66\00:32:17.47
it was just nonsense.
00:32:17.47\00:32:20.04
And everyone was
just praising the Lord
00:32:20.04\00:32:22.90
for these amazing insights.
00:32:22.90\00:32:27.21
There is a reason
why God has a church,
00:32:27.21\00:32:30.15
and there's a reason why
when you read through Acts.
00:32:30.15\00:32:33.42
I don't know if you caught this,
00:32:33.42\00:32:35.72
look at Acts 2.
00:32:35.72\00:32:39.02
Look at Acts chapter 2,
00:32:39.02\00:32:43.63
very, very interesting.
00:32:43.63\00:32:47.56
As you read about what
happens after Peter's preaching.
00:32:47.56\00:32:52.63
It basically says in Acts 2:41,
00:32:56.20\00:33:02.01
it says, "Then
those who gladly received
00:33:02.01\00:33:04.98
his word were baptized,
00:33:04.98\00:33:07.32
and that day about 3,000
souls were added to them."
00:33:07.32\00:33:14.29
Verse 47 concludes,
00:33:14.29\00:33:16.89
"And the Lord
added to the church daily
00:33:16.89\00:33:21.23
those who are being saved."
00:33:21.23\00:33:24.83
God doesn't call us
just to follow Jesus,
00:33:24.83\00:33:28.20
He calls us to follow Jesus
00:33:28.20\00:33:30.61
and become
members of the church,
00:33:30.61\00:33:34.21
His visible body on the earth.
00:33:34.21\00:33:37.08
And here's what
I have seen happen.
00:33:37.08\00:33:38.51
When people pull off
into their little groups...
00:33:38.51\00:33:41.48
I'm not saying there's not
a value in small group study
00:33:41.48\00:33:44.85
but when you cut
yourself off from the body,
00:33:44.85\00:33:49.09
you can get into all
kinds of nonsense, isn't it?
00:33:49.09\00:33:51.29
Listen, I've not
just seen this once,
00:33:51.29\00:33:53.19
I have seen it
multiple times over the years
00:33:53.19\00:33:55.60
as a lay person, as a
pastor, as a physician.
00:33:55.60\00:34:00.47
People gravitate to
some of these things
00:34:00.47\00:34:02.67
that are so inspiring.
00:34:02.67\00:34:03.71
Everyone just loves those words.
00:34:03.71\00:34:04.84
We're all coming
here, we're all equal.
00:34:04.84\00:34:06.68
Everyone just studying,
00:34:06.68\00:34:07.88
we're not listening to
Dr. DeRose teacher group,
00:34:07.88\00:34:11.18
we're all participating.
00:34:11.18\00:34:13.88
Well, there's
definitely value in that.
00:34:13.88\00:34:16.02
But in this setting, in this
setting, we're talking about
00:34:16.02\00:34:20.96
the privilege we have of being
members of the body, but also,
00:34:20.96\00:34:26.59
but also individually
pressing close to Jesus.
00:34:26.59\00:34:31.20
And by the way, how
do you deal with error?
00:34:31.20\00:34:35.50
You don't ask what someone else
00:34:35.50\00:34:36.94
in your small group is saying.
00:34:36.94\00:34:38.77
You don't quote
what they've written.
00:34:38.77\00:34:41.41
You press close
to Jesus yourself.
00:34:41.41\00:34:44.48
You ask the Holy
Spirit to guide you.
00:34:44.48\00:34:47.55
And I would tell you,
00:34:47.55\00:34:48.65
if you don't feel comfortable
in the church you're at,
00:34:48.65\00:34:51.69
find a Bible believing church.
00:34:51.69\00:34:53.89
I'm speaking to
those tuning in today.
00:34:53.89\00:34:57.33
I know many of you are here
00:34:57.33\00:34:58.53
because you were seeking
a Bible believing church.
00:34:58.53\00:35:01.66
And that's why
you're here at Granite Bay.
00:35:01.66\00:35:03.83
But come into a fellowship
where you'll be nurtured,
00:35:03.83\00:35:07.37
and if you don't
have that, find it
00:35:07.37\00:35:10.27
because Lord has people
all throughout the world.
00:35:10.27\00:35:13.34
Well, we need to hasten on
because in Monday's lesson,
00:35:13.34\00:35:17.28
it speaks about a
very powerful parallel,
00:35:17.28\00:35:20.25
very powerful
parallel between Pentecost
00:35:20.25\00:35:24.15
where God actually unites people
00:35:24.15\00:35:27.29
who speak languages
that normally would be
00:35:27.29\00:35:29.96
unintelligible to
one another at Pentecost,
00:35:29.96\00:35:34.63
and it brings us
back to a study of Babel,
00:35:34.63\00:35:38.37
the Tower of Babel.
00:35:38.37\00:35:41.24
I want you to turn your
Bibles to Genesis chapter 11,
00:35:41.24\00:35:46.94
and I want you
to look at something
00:35:46.94\00:35:49.68
that was different in Babel.
00:35:49.68\00:35:52.01
I mean, think about
this, it's very interesting.
00:35:52.01\00:35:53.31
It's very interesting
00:35:53.31\00:35:54.42
that the lesson
puts this story in there
00:35:54.42\00:35:57.09
because we're trying to look
at unity in the early church.
00:35:57.09\00:35:59.25
And what we're trying to parse
00:35:59.25\00:36:00.92
is the difference
between unity in the world
00:36:00.92\00:36:05.66
or unity that's grounded
in something other than Christ
00:36:05.66\00:36:08.70
and His Word
and the Holy Spirit.
00:36:08.70\00:36:11.33
And so in Genesis 11,
00:36:11.33\00:36:13.94
we're reading about
an interesting account.
00:36:13.94\00:36:17.37
Remember, God
had basically acted
00:36:17.37\00:36:22.18
to save the entire
earth, the entire population.
00:36:22.18\00:36:25.15
They were being
swept away in iniquity,
00:36:25.15\00:36:27.35
and He just grabbed
those out, snatched out,
00:36:27.35\00:36:31.19
if you will,
they had to consent,
00:36:31.19\00:36:33.49
put them on an ark,
they boarded the ark,
00:36:33.49\00:36:35.79
they built the
ark, it's all true.
00:36:35.79\00:36:37.76
But was
preserving the human race
00:36:37.76\00:36:40.43
from being
totally overrun with evil.
00:36:40.43\00:36:42.83
But you see things
rapidly degenerate after that.
00:36:42.83\00:36:46.23
When we come to chapter
11, it's very interesting
00:36:46.23\00:36:50.57
what the Babel
builders are saying.
00:36:50.57\00:36:54.34
Look at Genesis 11:4,
00:36:54.34\00:36:57.55
it says, "They said, 'Come,
00:36:57.55\00:37:00.32
let us build ourselves a city
00:37:00.32\00:37:05.22
and a tower whose
top is in the heavens.
00:37:05.22\00:37:07.79
Let us make a
name for ourselves,
00:37:07.79\00:37:11.33
lest we be scattered abroad
00:37:11.33\00:37:13.26
over the face of
the whole earth.'"
00:37:13.26\00:37:18.10
What is the focus
00:37:18.10\00:37:20.60
of the tower builders in Babel?
00:37:20.60\00:37:25.31
That's right, making
a name for themselves.
00:37:25.31\00:37:27.94
The focus is on
self, the focus is on me.
00:37:27.94\00:37:30.51
By the way, what was the problem
00:37:30.51\00:37:32.41
with the disciples
during Jesus' ministry?
00:37:32.41\00:37:35.12
Why weren't they united?
00:37:35.12\00:37:37.25
Their focus was on self.
00:37:37.25\00:37:39.72
Right?
00:37:39.72\00:37:40.82
I want to be the greatest.
00:37:40.82\00:37:42.42
Mom, mom, talk with Jesus.
00:37:42.42\00:37:44.26
See if we can be, you
know, brother and I can be the,
00:37:44.26\00:37:46.93
you know, top
two in the kingdom.
00:37:46.93\00:37:49.23
James and John?
00:37:49.23\00:37:50.87
Okay.
00:37:50.87\00:37:52.30
What was the focus?
00:37:52.30\00:37:53.80
It was on I. what I could do?
00:37:53.80\00:37:55.74
What is the focus
become in the upper room?
00:37:55.74\00:37:59.67
The focus becomes
Jesus pressing together,
00:37:59.67\00:38:03.21
following His command,
waiting for the Holy Spirit,
00:38:03.21\00:38:06.92
focused on His word.
00:38:06.92\00:38:08.18
What did Jesus
ground the early church on?
00:38:08.18\00:38:10.32
I mean, there's just
some things that defy my mind
00:38:10.32\00:38:13.42
as I read through the scriptures
00:38:13.42\00:38:15.26
and I look at the
churches around us.
00:38:15.26\00:38:18.66
I mean, the pitfalls
that people fall into.
00:38:18.66\00:38:21.03
You know, there's whole churches
00:38:21.03\00:38:22.06
that basically have taken
00:38:22.06\00:38:23.93
about three
quarters of the Bible.
00:38:23.93\00:38:28.20
It's called the Old Testament
00:38:28.20\00:38:29.37
and they've just literally
ripped it out of their Bible.
00:38:29.37\00:38:32.31
"We don't need that anymore.
00:38:32.31\00:38:34.41
You know, we're New
Testament Christians.
00:38:34.41\00:38:36.21
Jesus has come."
00:38:36.21\00:38:37.85
Praise the Lord, Jesus came.
00:38:37.85\00:38:40.12
But what did
Jesus do before He left?
00:38:40.12\00:38:43.02
Read Luke 24 some time again.
00:38:43.02\00:38:46.05
Multiple times,
00:38:46.05\00:38:47.06
He grounded the faith of
the early church in what?
00:38:47.06\00:38:51.66
In the Old Testament scriptures.
00:38:51.66\00:38:54.46
When He opens to
them the scriptures,
00:38:54.46\00:38:55.96
the only scriptures Jesus
had was the Old Testament.
00:38:55.96\00:39:01.54
And so Jesus was saying,
00:39:01.54\00:39:03.71
"The church is
founded on Me. I am the word.
00:39:03.71\00:39:06.84
My word is the scripture,
00:39:06.84\00:39:08.78
and those Old
Testament scriptures
00:39:08.78\00:39:10.55
are the foundation for
the New Testament church."
00:39:10.55\00:39:14.42
And you see, what's
so interesting here now
00:39:14.42\00:39:16.89
as we come to Babel,
00:39:16.89\00:39:18.22
we see the same
problem the disciples had.
00:39:18.22\00:39:21.89
Their focus was not on the word,
00:39:21.89\00:39:23.43
was not on Jesus, was not
in being led by the spirit,
00:39:23.43\00:39:26.53
but it was based on
what are we going to do.
00:39:26.53\00:39:28.63
Can it happen in the church?
00:39:32.43\00:39:35.80
Can it happen in a
local congregation?
00:39:35.80\00:39:38.31
What are we going to do?
00:39:38.31\00:39:41.38
"Seek ye the Lord
while He may be found.
00:39:41.38\00:39:45.18
Call ye upon Him
while He is near,"
00:39:45.18\00:39:47.75
is what the Bible says.
00:39:47.75\00:39:50.32
Well, we need to move on,
00:39:50.32\00:39:52.39
but I think there is
some powerful insights
00:39:52.39\00:39:54.56
in these first few chapters.
00:39:54.56\00:39:55.92
But our lesson takes
us on Wednesday to Acts 4.
00:39:55.92\00:40:01.03
And before we
read in just a moment
00:40:01.03\00:40:04.33
from Acts 4:32 and onward,
00:40:04.33\00:40:07.60
one of our
readers has that for us.
00:40:07.60\00:40:09.94
We're going to go to
Acts 4 in our Bibles.
00:40:09.94\00:40:15.38
And I'm turning there
because there are a couple of,
00:40:15.38\00:40:18.85
well, we call them in
medical circles, case histories,
00:40:18.85\00:40:22.98
stories about
different individuals.
00:40:22.98\00:40:28.12
We're going to look
at the overall church,
00:40:28.12\00:40:31.49
but then we'll find
a couple of examples.
00:40:31.49\00:40:33.83
The first example that's
given after a general statement
00:40:33.83\00:40:37.50
about the nature of the church
00:40:37.50\00:40:40.00
is given by
someone who's identified
00:40:40.00\00:40:42.34
as Joses or Joseph
00:40:42.34\00:40:45.47
in Acts 4:36.
00:40:45.47\00:40:49.64
We don't
remember him by that name.
00:40:49.64\00:40:52.01
We typically call
him today Barnabas.
00:40:52.01\00:40:55.88
And you don't have to
try to sort through the Greek
00:40:55.88\00:40:58.79
because it says
right in the scripture
00:40:58.79\00:41:00.82
what the translation for it is.
00:41:00.82\00:41:02.56
What does Barnabas mean?
00:41:02.56\00:41:05.56
It's right, son
of encouragement,
00:41:05.56\00:41:08.43
son of encouragement.
00:41:08.43\00:41:09.53
How would you like
to be called Barnabas?
00:41:09.53\00:41:12.70
Are you a person
of encouragement?
00:41:12.70\00:41:16.00
And it mentions what he does.
00:41:16.00\00:41:17.64
It says, "Having
land," I am in Acts 4:37,
00:41:17.64\00:41:21.81
"He sold it, and
brought the money
00:41:21.81\00:41:24.78
and laid it at
the apostles' feet."
00:41:24.78\00:41:27.68
There's another case history
that appears right after,
00:41:27.68\00:41:30.32
but before we go there, we
want to pick up the context
00:41:30.32\00:41:33.56
because in Acts 4
beginning with verse 32
00:41:33.56\00:41:36.36
is the context
for these two stories.
00:41:36.36\00:41:39.09
Please read that for us, sister.
00:41:39.09\00:41:41.56
"Now the multitude
of those who believed
00:41:41.56\00:41:44.47
were of one heart and one soul,
00:41:44.47\00:41:47.54
neither did anyone say
00:41:47.54\00:41:49.30
that any of the things
he possessed was his own,
00:41:49.30\00:41:52.57
but they had all
things in common."
00:41:52.57\00:41:56.68
Amazing, isn't it?
00:41:56.68\00:41:59.58
So this church sharing, giving,
00:41:59.58\00:42:03.85
they were wholly
committed, weren't they?
00:42:03.85\00:42:06.42
Wholly
committed, the early church.
00:42:06.42\00:42:09.09
And then we have this example
00:42:09.09\00:42:10.36
of Barnabas showing
his full commitment,
00:42:10.36\00:42:14.20
but it's contrasted in Acts 5
00:42:14.20\00:42:18.67
by the story of
Ananias and Sapphira.
00:42:18.67\00:42:22.60
And we know that story
all too well, don't we?
00:42:22.60\00:42:27.08
As you read through the account,
00:42:27.08\00:42:28.28
it becomes clear
that Ananias and Sapphira
00:42:28.28\00:42:31.25
sought to have the
same perhaps esteem
00:42:31.25\00:42:34.28
that Barnabas had.
00:42:34.28\00:42:37.05
It's very likely the
Holy Spirit moved on them
00:42:37.05\00:42:39.32
just like it moved on Barnabas
00:42:39.32\00:42:40.69
to sell what they had
and give to the church.
00:42:40.69\00:42:43.49
But they keep
something back in collusion,
00:42:43.49\00:42:47.56
no one's gonna know
about it they say, right?
00:42:47.56\00:42:49.63
"We'll act like we just
brought all the proceeds there."
00:42:49.63\00:42:54.60
But is this missed
by the Holy Spirit?
00:42:54.60\00:42:58.41
Not at all.
00:42:58.41\00:43:00.61
And sometimes
we don't understand
00:43:00.61\00:43:02.38
some of these sterner
passages in the Bible,
00:43:02.38\00:43:05.91
but it's actually quite mild,
00:43:05.91\00:43:08.18
if you will,
00:43:08.18\00:43:09.58
because as we
get into this topic
00:43:09.58\00:43:13.72
of one of the signs of
unity, it's self-sacrifice.
00:43:13.72\00:43:18.83
Because, you know, it's
easy to say we're all united,
00:43:18.83\00:43:21.00
but are we willing to
put ourselves out for others.
00:43:21.00\00:43:24.77
This is something
that the early church did.
00:43:24.77\00:43:28.27
Turn in your
Bibles to 1 Corinthians,
00:43:28.27\00:43:31.77
actually in...
00:43:31.77\00:43:33.71
We're gonna actually go to,
00:43:33.71\00:43:36.34
we go to 2 Corinthians first,
00:43:36.34\00:43:38.21
we may not have time to pick
up or connect some of the dots
00:43:38.21\00:43:42.75
that are there in 1 Corinthians.
00:43:42.75\00:43:44.49
But in 2 Corinthians chapter
9, it's one of the passages
00:43:44.49\00:43:48.12
highlighted in
Thursday's lesson.
00:43:48.12\00:43:50.83
We want to see a
contrasting spirit
00:43:50.83\00:43:53.76
to what Ananias
and Sapphira displayed.
00:43:53.76\00:43:55.70
It's quite interesting.
00:43:55.70\00:43:57.23
Although the lesson
highlights 2 Corinthians 9,
00:43:57.23\00:44:00.94
really, there's a
discourse that Paul goes through
00:44:00.94\00:44:04.84
in 2 Corinthians
chapters 8 and 9,
00:44:04.84\00:44:07.31
beginning with chapter 8:1,
00:44:07.31\00:44:09.51
that's speaking about
the blessing of giving.
00:44:09.51\00:44:13.01
And we're gonna start to
just pick up the background here
00:44:13.01\00:44:16.75
in 2 Corinthians 8
beginning with verse 1.
00:44:16.75\00:44:21.06
So I'll be
reading for you there,
00:44:21.06\00:44:22.42
2 Corinthians 8
beginning with verse 1.
00:44:22.42\00:44:24.69
"Moreover, brethren,
00:44:24.69\00:44:25.89
we make known to you
the grace of God bestowed
00:44:25.89\00:44:28.23
on the churches of Macedonia
00:44:28.23\00:44:30.13
that in a great
trial of affliction
00:44:30.13\00:44:33.17
the abundance of their
joy and their deep poverty
00:44:33.17\00:44:36.81
abounded in the
riches of their liberality."
00:44:36.81\00:44:40.34
That's quite interesting.
00:44:40.34\00:44:41.61
So they're poor
but they're giving.
00:44:41.61\00:44:44.01
So they're abundantly liberal
in the eyes of God even though
00:44:44.01\00:44:47.95
they have very little to give.
00:44:47.95\00:44:49.88
That's something to wrap
your mind around, isn't it?
00:44:49.88\00:44:52.49
Verse 3, "For I bear witness
00:44:52.49\00:44:54.09
that according to their ability,
00:44:54.09\00:44:55.99
yes, and beyond their ability,
00:44:55.99\00:44:59.63
they were freely willing,
00:44:59.63\00:45:03.50
imploring us with much urgency
that we would receive the gift
00:45:03.50\00:45:07.77
and the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints."
00:45:07.77\00:45:13.38
A number of times
in the early church,
00:45:13.38\00:45:16.98
there were
challenges that came through.
00:45:16.98\00:45:20.25
In Acts 11, we read
about a famine in Jerusalem
00:45:20.25\00:45:24.02
and how the Gentile
churches took up an offering
00:45:24.02\00:45:27.36
to help their
Jewish brothers and sisters
00:45:27.36\00:45:31.09
there in that part of the world.
00:45:31.09\00:45:32.86
Did you catch what's
happening in 2 Corinthians 8?
00:45:32.86\00:45:37.50
You see what's happening?
00:45:37.50\00:45:40.80
Actually, let's look at this,
00:45:40.80\00:45:42.47
Acts 11,
someone has that for us.
00:45:42.47\00:45:44.67
Let's look at this background
of one of these episodes
00:45:44.67\00:45:48.18
where God's church ministered.
00:45:48.18\00:45:51.91
Acts 11:27-30.
00:45:51.91\00:45:55.32
Acts 11:27-30.
00:45:55.32\00:45:59.49
"And in these days prophets
came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
00:45:59.49\00:46:03.02
Then one of them, named Agabus,
00:46:03.02\00:46:05.16
stood up and
showed by the spirit
00:46:05.16\00:46:07.96
that there was
going to be a great famine
00:46:07.96\00:46:10.07
throughout all the world,
00:46:10.07\00:46:11.93
which also happened in
the days of Claudius Caesar.
00:46:11.93\00:46:16.00
Then the disciples, each
according to his ability,
00:46:16.00\00:46:19.14
determined to send relief to
the brethren dwelling in Judea.
00:46:19.14\00:46:23.14
This they also did,
and sent it to the elders
00:46:23.14\00:46:25.55
by the hands of
Barnabas and Saul."
00:46:25.55\00:46:29.58
Do you catch the picture there?
00:46:29.58\00:46:31.59
And do you see
what occurred repeatedly
00:46:31.59\00:46:34.96
throughout the early church?
00:46:34.96\00:46:37.79
We've read that
account in 2 Corinthians 8.
00:46:37.79\00:46:40.73
It was if the
apostles themselves
00:46:40.73\00:46:44.23
didn't want to accept the
gift of these poor believers,
00:46:44.23\00:46:47.60
it says, 2 Corinthians 8:4
00:46:47.60\00:46:50.21
they had to implore
them with much urgency.
00:46:50.21\00:46:53.38
Please take money from us,
00:46:53.38\00:46:56.18
please take this from us
00:46:56.18\00:46:57.55
and help those
who are struggling.
00:46:57.55\00:46:59.68
But if we just stop
at 2 Corinthians 8:4,
00:47:03.65\00:47:06.49
we've missed perhaps
the most important verse.
00:47:06.49\00:47:09.76
It was verse 5.
00:47:09.76\00:47:12.56
2 Corinthians 8:5.
00:47:12.56\00:47:14.73
It says, "And not
only as we had hoped,
00:47:14.73\00:47:19.13
but they first gave
themselves to the Lord,
00:47:19.13\00:47:25.14
and then to us
by the will of God."
00:47:25.14\00:47:30.25
Where does all
true giving start?
00:47:30.25\00:47:34.22
It starts with the
Lord Himself, right?
00:47:34.22\00:47:38.25
It says we love
because He first loved us,
00:47:38.25\00:47:41.19
and we give because He
first gave to us, right?
00:47:41.19\00:47:45.03
So Jesus, out of
the abundance of riches,
00:47:45.03\00:47:48.10
God who the
scriptures say is rich in mercy,
00:47:48.10\00:47:51.80
Jesus comes down, He
gives himself for us,
00:47:51.80\00:47:54.30
it is that great gift
that inspires our measly gifts.
00:47:54.30\00:48:01.34
And I say that
with some reservations.
00:48:01.34\00:48:04.75
You know, it's interesting
how we measure gifts today.
00:48:04.75\00:48:08.72
How can you tell who
the biggest giver is?
00:48:08.72\00:48:12.75
You say, "Well, Dr. DeRose,
00:48:12.75\00:48:14.99
in my church, I'm the treasurer.
00:48:14.99\00:48:16.36
I get to see who gives the most.
00:48:16.36\00:48:17.93
You know, I actually have to
00:48:17.93\00:48:20.33
deposit funds into the bank."
00:48:20.33\00:48:24.23
Well, you know, there's
two ways to measure giving.
00:48:24.23\00:48:26.03
One is by how much you give.
00:48:26.03\00:48:29.57
But the other is by
how much you have left.
00:48:29.57\00:48:33.11
How much you have left.
00:48:33.11\00:48:35.04
And I'm not
saying there isn't value
00:48:35.04\00:48:37.48
in the wealthy person's
gifts that may be substantial,
00:48:37.48\00:48:41.72
but your gifts
are no less important
00:48:41.72\00:48:44.39
if you seem to have very
little in the way of means.
00:48:44.39\00:48:48.06
In fact, I will
point out for you
00:48:48.06\00:48:50.26
who Jesus
specially commanded, right?
00:48:50.26\00:48:53.19
It was not Joseph of Arimathea
as commendable as he is,
00:48:53.19\00:48:56.80
wealthy man, or
Abraham, very wealthy,
00:48:56.80\00:49:02.47
there's nothing
wrong with being wealthy
00:49:02.47\00:49:03.97
for the Lord's cause.
00:49:03.97\00:49:06.51
But it was that
poor widow, right?
00:49:06.51\00:49:08.48
I mean all of
these brings me back
00:49:11.01\00:49:12.45
to one of the secrets of unity.
00:49:12.45\00:49:14.45
In the early church,
it's pressing together,
00:49:14.45\00:49:18.02
it's fellowshipping
together, it's praying together.
00:49:18.02\00:49:20.82
If things aren't right,
00:49:20.82\00:49:22.09
there's someone
in the church that
00:49:22.09\00:49:23.49
things aren't right
would make them right.
00:49:23.49\00:49:27.23
It's allowing the Holy
Spirit to work in your life.
00:49:27.23\00:49:31.67
It's elevating the Word.
00:49:31.67\00:49:33.77
It's pressing close to Jesus.
00:49:33.77\00:49:37.01
The Holy Spirit will
guide the modern church
00:49:37.01\00:49:39.41
just as much as we are
willing to let him guide, right?
00:49:39.41\00:49:43.28
And we see an example of it
00:49:43.28\00:49:46.15
in the very first
accounts of the church
00:49:46.15\00:49:51.69
that Jesus Himself established.
00:49:51.69\00:49:54.16
Well, our time has
about slipped away.
00:49:54.16\00:49:56.12
I do want to remind
you there is a free offer
00:49:56.12\00:49:58.39
that goes along very
nicely with today's lesson.
00:49:58.39\00:50:02.43
It's free offer number 860.
00:50:02.43\00:50:05.03
It's a DVD presentation by
our own Pastor Doug Batchelor
00:50:05.03\00:50:09.64
entitled "Many
Members, One Body."
00:50:09.64\00:50:13.54
You can get it by
calling 866-Study-More,
00:50:13.54\00:50:17.21
that's 866-788-3966.
00:50:17.21\00:50:22.18
That's good if you
are in North America.
00:50:22.18\00:50:26.22
If you want to take advantage
of the digital download,
00:50:26.22\00:50:29.42
you can simply
text the code "SH113"
00:50:29.42\00:50:34.10
to 40544.
00:50:34.10\00:50:36.63
So "SH113" to 40544,
00:50:36.63\00:50:41.30
and you can get
a digital download.
00:50:41.30\00:50:43.41
We'll that's all
for our study today.
00:50:43.41\00:50:45.14
Next week, by God's grace,
00:50:45.14\00:50:46.68
we'll again continue our journey
00:50:46.68\00:50:48.58
into insights into unity.
00:50:48.58\00:50:51.95
Join us then.
00:50:51.95\00:50:54.62
Did you know
that Noah was present
00:50:54.62\00:50:56.25
at the birth of Abraham?
00:50:56.25\00:50:58.09
Okay, maybe he
wasn't in the room,
00:50:58.09\00:51:00.69
but he was alive and
probably telling stories
00:51:00.69\00:51:03.26
about his floating zoo.
00:51:03.26\00:51:05.39
From the creation of the world
00:51:05.39\00:51:06.80
to the last day
events of Revelation,
00:51:06.80\00:51:09.20
biblehistory.com
is a free resource
00:51:09.20\00:51:11.77
where you can explore
00:51:11.77\00:51:12.87
major Bible
events and characters.
00:51:12.87\00:51:15.27
Enhance your
knowledge of the Bible
00:51:15.27\00:51:17.21
and draw closer to God's Word.
00:51:17.21\00:51:19.61
Go deeper.
00:51:19.61\00:51:20.94
Visit the amazing Bible Timeline
00:51:20.94\00:51:23.04
at biblehistory.com.
00:51:23.04\00:51:24.88
Amazing Facts Changed Lives.
00:51:29.62\00:51:32.69
I come from a Hindu background.
00:51:38.06\00:51:39.79
My mom is a preacher for
Shiva who is a Hindu God.
00:51:39.79\00:51:43.03
And my father is
agnostic kind, so me,
00:51:43.03\00:51:45.57
myself I grew
like as an atheist.
00:51:45.57\00:51:48.70
In the year 2007,
00:51:48.70\00:51:50.61
I had an experience
of being in South India.
00:51:50.61\00:51:53.51
That was the first time I
experienced Christian people,
00:51:53.51\00:51:56.68
you know, the majorities
were Christians there.
00:51:56.68\00:52:00.08
There were some Adventist youth
00:52:00.08\00:52:02.48
who invited me to be a part of
one of their midweek's service.
00:52:02.48\00:52:07.56
They were presenting a
video of Pastor Doug Batchelor,
00:52:07.56\00:52:12.39
"The Richest Caveman."
00:52:12.39\00:52:14.00
I was moved, you know, I
do understand good and bad
00:52:14.00\00:52:17.17
and I pictured
myself into the bad category
00:52:17.17\00:52:19.70
than the good one.
00:52:19.70\00:52:21.24
I started
experiencing several dreams
00:52:21.24\00:52:25.27
which started troubling me.
00:52:25.27\00:52:26.71
And you know, I kept
their website in my mind.
00:52:26.71\00:52:29.48
I went to the internet café
00:52:29.48\00:52:31.68
and started browsing the
website of Amazing Facts.
00:52:31.68\00:52:35.95
And then I saw the
Bible study guide there.
00:52:35.95\00:52:39.39
Every day, I started
taking one of the lessons
00:52:39.39\00:52:42.39
and I was baptized in 2007.
00:52:42.39\00:52:45.36
After my conversion,
00:52:45.36\00:52:46.49
I straightly came to
Spicer to do my studies.
00:52:46.49\00:52:50.03
During the summer vacation,
I decided to go back home
00:52:50.03\00:52:52.30
and give my mom
and my father visit.
00:52:52.30\00:52:54.57
By that time they knew that
00:52:54.57\00:52:55.84
I have
converted to Christianity,
00:52:55.84\00:52:57.71
I was thrown out of the house.
00:52:57.71\00:52:59.94
We are not in good
terms even today but yeah,
00:52:59.94\00:53:03.28
it's sad part
for them, not for me.
00:53:03.28\00:53:07.18
During 2015, I was
diagnosed with leukemia.
00:53:07.18\00:53:12.05
I had only one
professor and one friend
00:53:12.05\00:53:14.12
who was coming along with
me to the hospital every day.
00:53:14.12\00:53:18.79
When I asked
this assistant doctor,
00:53:18.79\00:53:22.00
"What do you
think is the lifespan
00:53:22.00\00:53:23.63
of a person like me?"
00:53:23.63\00:53:24.73
Then she said you
will be losing weight
00:53:24.73\00:53:26.90
and you will get
sick slowly, slowly,
00:53:26.90\00:53:28.40
if you don't go for a treatment.
00:53:28.40\00:53:30.14
So a year plus,
one night I decided,
00:53:30.14\00:53:34.21
it was January, 2015,
00:53:34.21\00:53:36.71
I said I am not going
for any treatment anymore.
00:53:36.71\00:53:40.15
I said, Lord,
You gave me one year,
00:53:40.15\00:53:42.42
so what I'll do is I'll just Do
your ministry and that's okay,
00:53:42.42\00:53:48.12
and I never went for
any treatment after that.
00:53:48.12\00:53:50.96
I just left
everything right away there.
00:53:50.96\00:53:53.46
I didn't take even
one tablet, one medicine.
00:53:53.46\00:53:56.63
I am standing in
front of you strong in 2018.
00:53:56.63\00:54:00.87
Nothing happened. I
don't know what happened.
00:54:00.87\00:54:02.37
I don't know if it's
still there in my body or what.
00:54:02.37\00:54:05.67
I don't know.
00:54:05.67\00:54:06.94
I am not dead yet.
00:54:06.94\00:54:09.88
I want to serve in India.
00:54:09.88\00:54:12.51
Amazing Facts team,
00:54:12.51\00:54:14.45
especially Pastor
Doug has really played
00:54:14.45\00:54:16.45
a very important
element in my life
00:54:16.45\00:54:19.65
to give me an identity.
00:54:19.65\00:54:21.29
Among the people
living in the tropics,
00:54:43.01\00:54:44.95
for thousands of years,
00:54:44.95\00:54:46.31
the coconut has been
a virtual tree of life.
00:54:46.31\00:54:49.48
The people use it
for food, for clothing,
00:54:49.48\00:54:52.15
for water, for tools, for soap.
00:54:52.15\00:54:55.19
It does just about everything.
00:54:55.19\00:54:57.49
The coconut has also
saved a lot of lives.
00:54:57.49\00:55:01.46
During World War II,
00:55:01.46\00:55:02.70
pilots that were shot down
00:55:02.70\00:55:04.20
or sailors that were
stranded on Pacific islands,
00:55:04.20\00:55:06.67
they lived for
many months on nothing
00:55:06.67\00:55:08.74
other than the coconut
trees that were on the islands.
00:55:08.74\00:55:11.81
Yes, sir, the
coconut is a tree of life.
00:55:11.81\00:55:15.38
One of the amazing things
about coconut is their design,
00:55:15.38\00:55:18.21
so they're actually
able to float across oceans.
00:55:18.21\00:55:21.48
Coconuts can go thousands
of miles after many months,
00:55:21.48\00:55:24.29
be washed upon some
deserted sandy beach,
00:55:24.29\00:55:27.19
then they take root,
sprout, come to life,
00:55:27.19\00:55:31.73
and they'll develop
a whole new ecosystem
00:55:31.73\00:55:34.36
holding islands in
place through hurricane.
00:55:34.36\00:55:36.87
When the ancient Polynesian
travelers crossing oceans
00:55:36.87\00:55:40.20
saw an island
with coconut trees,
00:55:40.20\00:55:42.10
they knew there was hope.
00:55:42.10\00:55:43.71
It's amazing how in
virtually no time at all,
00:55:43.71\00:55:46.34
those living on Pacific
islands know how to make baskets
00:55:46.34\00:55:49.48
and all kinds of tools
00:55:49.48\00:55:51.25
from the leaves
of the coconut tree.
00:55:51.25\00:55:52.95
The coconuts even
serve different purposes
00:55:56.08\00:55:58.09
at different times
in their development.
00:55:58.09\00:56:00.22
The younger green coconut,
00:56:00.22\00:56:01.62
they're full of water
and that'll keep you alive.
00:56:01.62\00:56:03.32
You can even make your
utensils from the coconut.
00:56:06.33\00:56:08.76
My spoon is part of
the green shell, and here,
00:56:08.76\00:56:13.34
this is a coconut jelly,
makes good for breakfast.
00:56:13.34\00:56:15.97
The more mature coconuts,
that's where you get the meat.
00:56:18.94\00:56:21.64
But you want to make
sure that they are not bad.
00:56:21.64\00:56:23.35
The way you test this
00:56:23.35\00:56:24.41
is you can hear
the water inside.
00:56:24.41\00:56:26.25
You bring that mike over here.
00:56:26.25\00:56:28.68
Can you hear it?
00:56:28.68\00:56:30.05
That's a good one.
00:56:30.05\00:56:31.19
How about we take a bite?
00:56:31.19\00:56:32.89
Now that makes meal
that will really full you up
00:56:32.89\00:56:34.89
and it cleans your
teeth at the same time.
00:56:34.89\00:56:36.76
Throughout the Bible,
00:56:39.83\00:56:40.93
Jesus uses a number
of metaphors to remind us
00:56:40.93\00:56:43.53
that everything we need
to survive comes from Him.
00:56:43.53\00:56:46.40
He says that He
is the living water.
00:56:46.40\00:56:48.30
Jesus tells us, He
is the bread of life.
00:56:48.30\00:56:50.91
His robe covers us
with righteousness.
00:56:50.91\00:56:53.94
He is our good
shepherd that protects us.
00:56:53.94\00:56:56.41
Jesus is the living vine
through which we get our life
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and our nourishment.
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You might say Jesus
is like the coconut tree,
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a tree of life.
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You know, the first
few verses in the Bible
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tell that God
provided a tree of life for man
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so he could live forever.
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But because of
sin, man was separated
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from that tree
and from the garden.
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But through trusting in Jesus
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and trusting in His
sacrifice on the cross,
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we once again will have
access to the tree of life
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and have eternal life
with Him in the kingdom.
00:57:22.24\00:57:24.84
But this is all made possible
because we trust in Jesus
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who is the real tree of life.
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Jesus said unless you eat
My flesh and drink My blood,
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you have no life in you.
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But when we accept
Christ as our sacrifice,
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and we allow Him to cleanse
us and fill us with His Spirit,
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we become new creatures,
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and we can be with
Him and sharing the gift
00:57:40.36\00:57:42.52
of everlasting life with others.
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Matter of fact, we
could do that right now
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by tossing the coconut out
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and praying that it
lands on a deserted beach.
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