Good morning,
friends, and welcome again
00:00:35.10\00:00:36.83
to Sabbath School Study Hour
00:00:36.83\00:00:38.73
here at the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:00:38.73\00:00:40.74
in Sacramento, California.
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A very warm welcome
to our online members
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and our friends
who are joining us
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for our study
time across the country
00:00:46.51\00:00:48.84
and literally around the
world, a very warm welcome.
00:00:48.84\00:00:52.05
Thank you for
studying with us today.
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Also, I'd like to welcome
our regular church members,
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our Sabbath School
members, and our visitors
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who are here in person.
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Now as you know,
over the past few weeks,
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we've been
studying through a lesson
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quarterly dealing
with the subject of unity.
00:01:04.26\00:01:07.13
It's actually
entitled "Oneness in Christ."
00:01:07.13\00:01:09.86
And we'll continue
that theme this morning.
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Today, we'll be
looking at lesson number 11
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if you're
following along in the book.
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It's entitled
"Unity in Worship."
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Unity in
Worship, lesson number 11.
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Now for our
friends who are joining us,
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if you don't have a
copy of the lesson quarterly
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but you'd like to
study along with us,
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you can download today's lesson
00:01:27.52\00:01:29.85
simply by going
to lesson.aftv.org.
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That web address
is lesson.aftv.org,
00:01:35.06\00:01:38.79
and you can
download lesson number 11,
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and you'll be able
to study along with us.
00:01:41.10\00:01:43.26
We also have a free offer
that goes along with our study.
00:01:43.26\00:01:46.17
It's entitled "The
Search for the True Church."
00:01:46.17\00:01:49.44
And this is our free
offer for those who are viewing.
00:01:49.44\00:01:51.51
If you'd like to
receive it in North America,
00:01:51.51\00:01:53.58
all you have to do
is call 866-788-3966
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and ask for offer number 134.
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And if you'd like to receive
00:02:01.52\00:02:02.78
a digital download of this book,
00:02:02.78\00:02:05.22
all you'll need to do
is text the code SH115
00:02:05.22\00:02:10.09
to the number
40544, and you'll be able
00:02:10.09\00:02:14.63
to then download a
digital copy of the book,
00:02:14.63\00:02:17.10
"The Search for
the True Church."
00:02:17.10\00:02:19.73
Well, before we get to
our study this morning,
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we always like to begin by
lifting our voices in song.
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I'd like to invite
our song leaders to come,
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and they'll lead us in
our music this morning.
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Thank you so much for
singing along with us,
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and we will continue our
Christmas songs next time.
00:05:03.53\00:05:06.84
Right now that Pastor Ross
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is going to have
our opening prayer.
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Dear, Father, once
again we are grateful
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for the opportunity
to gather in Your house
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and study Your Word.
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And even though
it's rainy outside,
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we are grateful
for a warm dry place
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where we can open up the Word.
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And, Father, we
ask for the Holy Spirit
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to come and guide
our hearts and our minds
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talking about
such an important theme
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found throughout the
Bible, Unity in Christ.
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So bless our time today.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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Our lesson this morning
is going to be brought to us
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by Pastor Doug.
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Welcome, friends, to
the Granite Bay Church
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and to our
Sabbath School Study Hour.
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Glad to see each of you today,
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and want to welcome always
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those who are
watching via the Internet
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or Facebook or
from around the world,
00:05:50.28\00:05:52.18
some are watching on
satellite television,
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it's on the 3ABN, Hope
channel, and number of others.
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And we're just glad
you're tuning in with us.
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We also want to welcome those
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who are online members
of the Granite Bay Church.
00:06:01.82\00:06:04.79
There are folks who are isolated
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in different parts of the world,
00:06:06.53\00:06:08.23
and we just want to
send you a special greeting.
00:06:08.23\00:06:10.93
You might be in that category.
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There are some people
that have no local church
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they can attend,
00:06:13.84\00:06:14.84
and we do our best to
try to connect with folks
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and give them a
sense of belonging
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by being one of our
online or digital members.
00:06:18.81\00:06:22.01
If you'd like to
know more about that,
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you can simply go to
the Granite Bay website
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which is GraniteBaySDA.org
and inquire about that.
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We want to try
and do what we can
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to nurture and encourage you.
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So our lesson today...
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It could be an interesting
one, Unity in Worship.
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You know what one of
the most divisive things
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is in churches?
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Worship styles.
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And so our lesson is
about Unity in Worship.
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And we have a memory verse
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and our memory verse comes to us
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from the Book of
Revelation Chapter 14.
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This is part of our
message to the world,
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part of the
three angels' message.
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Revelation
14:6-7, it's a long one
00:07:03.28\00:07:06.45
but I'd like if you
could say it with me.
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If you're a good
Adventist worth your salt,
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you'd probably know
this by heart already.
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You ready? Revelation 14:6-7.
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This is The New
King James Version.
00:07:15.03\00:07:17.67
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven
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having the everlasting gospel
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to preach to those
who dwell on the earth,
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to every nation, tribe,
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tongue, and people,
saying with a loud voice,
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'Fear God and give glory to Him
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for the hour of
His judgment has come,
00:07:36.99\00:07:39.72
and worship Him
who made the heaven,
00:07:39.72\00:07:43.12
and earth, the sea,
and springs of water.'"
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A call to go to the world
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to return to the
worship of the Creator
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is to proceed to
the second coming.
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After this message goes
to the world and it says,
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"I saw one sitting
in the clouds of heaven
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like the Son of Man,"
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talks about the coming of Jesus.
00:08:01.34\00:08:02.58
So this, talking about worship
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and this focus on
worshipping the Creator
00:08:05.75\00:08:08.35
in spirit and in truth
00:08:08.35\00:08:10.52
is going to be the
core of our lesson today.
00:08:10.52\00:08:13.89
So I thought it's
appropriate for us
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as we delve into the
subject of unity in worship
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to just talk a little
bit about what is worship.
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The word worship comes
from the word worth-ship.
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It's Middle English word,
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and it means a
reverent love, honor, esteem
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and...
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Yeah, I'm OCD, I saw something
around my jacket, sorry.
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Devotion that is
accorded to a deity, an idol,
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or a sacred object,
the ceremonies, prayers,
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or other religious forms
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by which this love is expressed,
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ardent devotion or adoration.
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Worship means to honor...
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This is Merriam
Webster's Dictionary.
00:08:57.60\00:08:59.33
To honor or reverence
00:08:59.33\00:09:00.74
as a divine being
of supernatural power
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or to regard with
great or extravagant respect,
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honor, or devotion
following up with performing
00:09:06.51\00:09:09.91
or taking part in
worship or acts of worship.
00:09:09.91\00:09:13.55
Some of the thesaurus entries
for worship are to revere,
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to adore, to love.
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So when we come
to church, we say,
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we're going to church or
we're going to worship God,
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what are we doing?
00:09:25.36\00:09:27.86
Well, worship is
really the confluence,
00:09:27.86\00:09:29.43
it's the
combination of several things
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where we
demonstrate our adoration,
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our reverence, our
love, our devotion for God,
00:09:34.70\00:09:38.84
our appreciation
for His thinking of us.
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And this is done
with a spirit of humility
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because there is
none greater than God.
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Amen? Amen.
00:09:48.68\00:09:50.09
So we come into His presence,
there should be an awe,
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a respect.
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And I'm always...
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You know, a pastor's job
00:09:56.26\00:09:57.29
is to always try to
help people understand
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that when we gather together
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in a formal
sense to worship God,
00:10:01.06\00:10:03.83
it shouldn't be frivolous,
00:10:03.83\00:10:06.00
there should be a sense...
00:10:06.00\00:10:07.04
That doesn't
mean you never smile,
00:10:07.04\00:10:08.20
you never laugh, you sing,
00:10:08.20\00:10:09.54
but it should be...
There should be a respect,
00:10:09.54\00:10:11.87
a sense of the awesomeness
00:10:11.87\00:10:14.78
of the One to whom
we're offering worship.
00:10:14.78\00:10:17.68
"The Lord is in His holy temple,
00:10:17.68\00:10:19.48
let all the earth keep silent."
00:10:19.48\00:10:21.08
You know,
there's a reverence there
00:10:21.08\00:10:23.18
that should be demonstrated.
00:10:23.18\00:10:25.62
So under the first
section we're considering today,
00:10:25.62\00:10:28.42
talks about worshiping
our Creator and our Redeemer.
00:10:28.42\00:10:31.83
Now lot of
companies and organizations
00:10:31.83\00:10:35.63
and even, you know, restaurants,
00:10:35.63\00:10:37.07
they got like a
mission statement.
00:10:37.07\00:10:39.67
What is the mission
statement of the church?
00:10:39.67\00:10:45.27
The core
mission of every church,
00:10:45.27\00:10:47.88
what would it be?
00:10:47.88\00:10:48.94
God is love.
00:10:54.02\00:10:56.05
Seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness.
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There's probably a lot of verses
00:10:59.05\00:11:00.19
you could point to and
say, "What is our mission?"
00:11:00.19\00:11:04.23
You know what it is?
00:11:04.23\00:11:06.86
Worship God.
00:11:06.86\00:11:09.36
Our mission is to worship God.
00:11:09.36\00:11:10.57
Now the Bible tells
us that whatever you eat,
00:11:10.57\00:11:12.73
whatever you
drink, whatever you do,
00:11:12.73\00:11:14.84
do all to the glory of God.
00:11:14.84\00:11:16.30
So the goal for the Christian
is in everything you do,
00:11:16.30\00:11:20.01
seek to glorify
God in your life.
00:11:20.01\00:11:22.64
Let your light shine,
00:11:22.64\00:11:24.45
think of
everything in the context
00:11:24.45\00:11:25.95
of "I am His representative
in a fallen world,
00:11:25.95\00:11:29.12
and I want to
glorify Him in a world
00:11:29.12\00:11:31.89
where the devil is trying
to steal the glory of God."
00:11:31.89\00:11:34.79
So we have a mission statement.
00:11:34.79\00:11:36.76
Now we read Revelation 14:6-7,
00:11:36.76\00:11:39.19
we're going to go
to Revelation 14:8-10
00:11:39.19\00:11:42.06
and you'll see how
worship fits into this as well.
00:11:42.06\00:11:45.40
"And the four
living creatures..."
00:11:45.40\00:11:46.84
This is Revelation
4, I'm sorry, not 14.
00:11:46.84\00:11:49.54
"The four living
creatures, each have six wings,
00:11:49.54\00:11:53.01
full of eyes around and within,
00:11:53.01\00:11:55.28
and they do not
rest day or night saying,
00:11:55.28\00:11:58.08
'Holy, holy, holy,
Lord, God, Almighty,
00:11:58.08\00:12:01.88
who was and is and is to come.'
00:12:01.88\00:12:04.79
And wherever
the living creatures
00:12:04.79\00:12:06.22
give glory and
honor and thanks to Him,"
00:12:06.22\00:12:08.36
so part of
worship is giving glory,
00:12:08.36\00:12:09.82
honor and thanks to Him,
"who is seated on the throne,
00:12:09.82\00:12:12.49
who lives forever and ever,
00:12:12.49\00:12:14.20
the twenty-fours
elders fall down,"
00:12:14.20\00:12:16.16
part of worship is
posture, reverence,
00:12:16.16\00:12:20.44
"to Him who is
seated on the throne
00:12:20.44\00:12:21.94
and they worship Him
who lives forever and ever,
00:12:21.94\00:12:26.07
and they cast their crowns
00:12:26.07\00:12:27.51
before the throne saying,
00:12:27.51\00:12:28.64
'You are worthy,"
that's what worship is,
00:12:28.64\00:12:30.68
the worth-ship,
00:12:30.68\00:12:32.45
"You are worthy, o Lord,
00:12:32.45\00:12:33.88
to receive glory and
honor and power for,"
00:12:33.88\00:12:36.89
why do we worship Him?
00:12:36.89\00:12:38.42
"You created all
things and by your will,
00:12:38.42\00:12:42.32
they exist and were created.'"
00:12:42.32\00:12:43.93
We are created in Him
and for Him and through Him.
00:12:43.93\00:12:47.40
And so worship is recognition,
an acknowledgement of that.
00:12:47.40\00:12:51.63
Now where else do
you see these creatures
00:12:51.63\00:12:53.34
that are saying
"Holy, holy, holy?"
00:12:53.34\00:12:54.64
How many of you know
Isaiah 8 or 6 rather,
00:12:57.64\00:13:01.78
verses 1 through 8?
00:13:01.78\00:13:03.78
"Above it stood seraphim,
00:13:03.78\00:13:05.28
each one had six wings
with two he covered his face,
00:13:05.28\00:13:08.72
with two he covered
his feet, with two he flew.
00:13:08.72\00:13:11.32
And one cried to another
and said," what they say?
00:13:11.32\00:13:15.12
These angels by
the throne of God
00:13:15.12\00:13:16.83
are ever
declaring, "Holy, holy, holy.
00:13:16.83\00:13:20.56
The Lord of hosts.
00:13:20.56\00:13:22.06
The whole earth is
full of His glory."
00:13:22.06\00:13:24.57
And we just read there in Isaiah
00:13:24.57\00:13:25.87
where it talks in Chapter 4
00:13:25.87\00:13:27.17
about these four creatures
around the throne of God.
00:13:27.17\00:13:29.57
Do you remember what
their faces were like?
00:13:29.57\00:13:32.37
I think one like a
lion, eagle, man, a calf,
00:13:32.37\00:13:38.85
I think I messed up
the order, but that's them.
00:13:38.85\00:13:41.62
And do you know if you
go to Ezekiel Chapter 1,
00:13:41.62\00:13:44.32
the first chapter in Ezekiel
talks about the creatures
00:13:44.32\00:13:48.09
around the throne of
God that glorify God.
00:13:48.09\00:13:50.79
It doesn't say so
much about what they say
00:13:50.79\00:13:53.29
but it talks about
the same creatures,
00:13:53.29\00:13:54.66
the lion, the man,
the calf, the eagle.
00:13:54.66\00:13:58.23
These are like different facets
00:13:58.23\00:13:59.73
or attributes
of God's character,
00:13:59.73\00:14:02.47
ways that Jesus is represented.
00:14:02.47\00:14:06.41
William Temple said,
00:14:06.41\00:14:08.41
"Worship is the submission
of all of our nature to God.
00:14:08.41\00:14:12.75
It is the quickening of
conscience by His holiness,
00:14:12.75\00:14:16.18
the nourishment of
mind with His truth,
00:14:16.18\00:14:18.95
the purifying of
imagination by his beauty,
00:14:18.95\00:14:22.29
the opening of
the heart to His love,
00:14:22.29\00:14:24.66
the surrender of
will to His purpose,
00:14:24.66\00:14:27.40
and all of this
gathered up in adoration
00:14:27.40\00:14:30.37
the most selfless emotion
of which our nature is capable.
00:14:30.37\00:14:34.17
And therefore, the chief
remedy for the self-centeredness
00:14:34.17\00:14:38.41
which is our original sin
00:14:38.41\00:14:40.48
and the source
of all actual sin."
00:14:40.48\00:14:43.04
So worship is the highest act.
00:14:43.04\00:14:47.05
Worship of God
is the highest act
00:14:47.05\00:14:49.42
in which we can engage in.
00:14:49.42\00:14:51.05
It is the antithesis.
00:14:51.05\00:14:53.39
It's the opposite
of what we normally do,
00:14:53.39\00:14:55.89
which is worship of self.
00:14:55.89\00:14:57.96
And so it pulls
us out of our self
00:14:57.96\00:15:00.43
and it directs our
attention to the Creator,
00:15:00.43\00:15:02.90
the way it should
be in the beginning.
00:15:02.90\00:15:05.83
All right.
00:15:05.83\00:15:06.90
So now we're going
to talk a little bit
00:15:06.90\00:15:08.00
about false worship.
00:15:08.00\00:15:09.04
And someone's going to read...
00:15:09.04\00:15:10.11
Diane, are you
going to be the first?
00:15:10.11\00:15:11.24
Someone's going to read a
verse for me in just a moment.
00:15:11.24\00:15:13.17
Let's start with...
00:15:13.17\00:15:15.18
Does the devil like to kidnap
00:15:15.18\00:15:17.45
or hijack the
worship that belongs to God?
00:15:17.45\00:15:20.42
He does.
00:15:20.42\00:15:21.42
You see an example of
that here in Matthew 4:8.
00:15:21.42\00:15:25.09
Did it happen in the
beginning with Cain and Abel?
00:15:25.09\00:15:28.46
Devil trying to
corrupt true worship
00:15:28.46\00:15:33.06
and hijack true worship.
00:15:33.06\00:15:36.13
And it happens in the beginning
of the ministry of Christ.
00:15:36.13\00:15:38.47
Matthew 4.
00:15:38.47\00:15:40.64
"And again, the
devil took Him up
00:15:40.64\00:15:42.04
to an exceeding high mountain
00:15:42.04\00:15:43.57
and showed Him all
the kingdoms of the world
00:15:43.57\00:15:45.97
and their glory,
and He said to Him,
00:15:45.97\00:15:48.68
'All these things I'll give You
00:15:48.68\00:15:50.45
if You will fall
down and worship me.'"
00:15:50.45\00:15:53.98
So what does the devil want?
00:15:53.98\00:15:56.22
"Worship me."
00:15:56.22\00:15:58.12
He wants to be God.
00:15:58.12\00:15:59.85
And Jesus said,
"Away with you, Satan,
00:15:59.85\00:16:02.66
for it is written,
00:16:02.66\00:16:03.99
'You shall
worship the Lord your God
00:16:03.99\00:16:05.76
and Him only shall you serve.'"
00:16:05.76\00:16:08.53
Have you ever gotten
a letter from somebody,
00:16:08.53\00:16:10.37
and you know that
there were something heavy
00:16:10.37\00:16:11.40
coming in the letter,
00:16:11.40\00:16:12.47
and you keep waiting
for the shoe to drop?
00:16:12.47\00:16:14.27
And sometimes, you can
go to the end of letter
00:16:14.27\00:16:15.77
and finally they'll tell you
00:16:15.77\00:16:16.87
what the real
purpose of that letter is.
00:16:16.87\00:16:19.34
They try to soften you up,
00:16:19.34\00:16:20.98
they wait until the
end, then they reveal
00:16:20.98\00:16:23.21
what the real
request is in the letter.
00:16:23.21\00:16:25.98
They get to the bottom line,
00:16:25.98\00:16:27.18
they call it the
moral of the story
00:16:27.18\00:16:28.75
or the punch line in the joke.
00:16:28.75\00:16:30.02
We just got to
wait till the end.
00:16:30.02\00:16:32.19
So what was the last
of the three temptations
00:16:32.19\00:16:34.22
that Jesus gave...
or the devil gave Jesus?
00:16:34.22\00:16:37.66
Worship me, that's
what it was all about.
00:16:37.66\00:16:40.60
Finally, when Jesus
said He knew who he was,
00:16:40.60\00:16:43.67
he didn't hold back anymore,
00:16:43.67\00:16:44.70
he said, "Look, you
don't have to die on the cross.
00:16:44.70\00:16:46.87
We can settle
this all right now."
00:16:46.87\00:16:49.14
He says, "You want the
world, I'll give you the world.
00:16:49.14\00:16:51.47
Just worship me,
recognize that I am God."
00:16:51.47\00:16:55.28
And that's at the
core of all false worship.
00:16:55.28\00:16:58.68
The devil is wanting
to be God. All right.
00:16:58.68\00:17:00.95
Please go ahead, read
for us the next verse.
00:17:00.95\00:17:03.92
Revelation 13:12,
00:17:03.92\00:17:06.65
"And he exercises
00:17:06.65\00:17:07.79
all the authority
of the first beast
00:17:07.79\00:17:09.79
in his presence
00:17:09.79\00:17:10.99
and causes the earth
00:17:10.99\00:17:12.49
and those who dwell in it
to worship the first beast
00:17:12.49\00:17:16.00
whose deadly wound was healed."
00:17:16.00\00:17:18.87
So now you get to
the end of the Bible
00:17:18.87\00:17:20.47
and what's the big battle over?
00:17:20.47\00:17:23.04
It's all about worship.
00:17:23.04\00:17:24.34
Who are we going to worship?
00:17:24.34\00:17:25.74
Are we going to worship God?
00:17:25.74\00:17:26.78
The devil is wanting
that supreme worship,
00:17:26.78\00:17:30.48
and he's
threatening to get it by force.
00:17:30.48\00:17:32.88
Now, can you force true worship?
00:17:32.88\00:17:38.39
I'll just tell you,
00:17:38.39\00:17:39.45
I'm reading a
very interesting book
00:17:39.45\00:17:40.79
right now,
00:17:40.79\00:17:42.29
and it's called Roger Williams
00:17:42.29\00:17:44.73
and the Birth of
the American Soul.
00:17:44.73\00:17:47.40
And it's talking
about the struggle
00:17:47.40\00:17:49.00
that our country went
through when it was founded
00:17:49.00\00:17:51.00
because he realized
the Church of England
00:17:51.00\00:17:52.50
and even the Puritans that
came from England to America,
00:17:52.50\00:17:56.47
they compelled
people to go to church.
00:17:56.47\00:17:59.44
They compelled
people to worship.
00:17:59.44\00:18:01.51
They physically punched
and sometimes mutilated people
00:18:01.51\00:18:04.81
that did not worship.
00:18:04.81\00:18:06.08
And William said,
"That's not right.
00:18:06.08\00:18:07.88
You cannot make people love God.
00:18:07.88\00:18:09.72
If you force
people to come to church
00:18:09.72\00:18:11.59
who don't love God,
you corrupt true worship
00:18:11.59\00:18:14.26
because you get people there
that don't want to be there."
00:18:14.26\00:18:17.16
And, of course,
there's always some kids
00:18:17.16\00:18:18.23
in that category, right?
00:18:18.23\00:18:20.56
But you know, I'd
still remember the time
00:18:20.56\00:18:22.33
we're trying to train them
up in the way they should go.
00:18:22.33\00:18:25.40
But the devil
is forcing worship.
00:18:25.40\00:18:28.50
Can you force true worship?
00:18:28.50\00:18:30.91
It must be voluntarily
given to adore the Lord.
00:18:30.91\00:18:36.38
And then you go to
Revelation 14, it says,
00:18:36.38\00:18:39.78
"This third angel followed
saying with a loud voice,
00:18:39.78\00:18:42.12
'If anyone worships
the beast and his image,
00:18:42.12\00:18:45.09
and receives his mark on
his forehead or his hand,
00:18:45.09\00:18:48.32
he himself will drink
the wine of the wrath of God
00:18:48.32\00:18:50.76
which is poured
out with full strength
00:18:50.76\00:18:52.53
into the cup of His indignation,
00:18:52.53\00:18:54.40
and they have no
rest day or night
00:18:54.40\00:18:56.87
who worship the
beast and his image."
00:18:56.87\00:18:59.30
Now Jesus is coming to
me and I'll give you what?
00:18:59.30\00:19:02.84
Rest.
00:19:02.84\00:19:04.17
What's the state of
those who worship the beast?
00:19:04.17\00:19:07.28
No rest.
00:19:07.28\00:19:09.44
God's people keep the
Sabbath, love the Lord, rest.
00:19:09.44\00:19:14.88
"Great peace have
those that love Him."
00:19:14.88\00:19:17.89
Those who worship
the beast and his image?
00:19:17.89\00:19:19.99
No rest.
00:19:19.99\00:19:21.82
You notice that
difference there?
00:19:21.82\00:19:24.23
And so the most fearful curse
that's pronounced on any humans
00:19:24.23\00:19:28.10
in the Bible is
in Revelation 14.
00:19:28.10\00:19:29.80
People always think, "I
don't like the Old Testament,
00:19:29.80\00:19:31.77
it's full of
plagues and cursing."
00:19:31.77\00:19:33.40
But, you know,
there's pretty serious plagues
00:19:33.40\00:19:35.17
and curses in the
New Testament too.
00:19:35.17\00:19:37.34
And the most fearful plague
00:19:37.34\00:19:38.57
and cursing is
pronounced on those
00:19:38.57\00:19:39.97
who worship wrongly.
00:19:39.97\00:19:42.71
So we've got to
know the difference
00:19:42.71\00:19:43.98
between true
worship and wrong worship
00:19:43.98\00:19:45.85
because the
consequences are pretty severe.
00:19:45.85\00:19:48.78
True worship must be
given to God from the heart
00:19:48.78\00:19:51.42
because He's worthy.
00:19:51.42\00:19:53.22
False worship is compelled,
00:19:53.22\00:19:55.12
and the devil tries
to extract it by force.
00:19:55.12\00:19:58.39
Did Jesus ever tell
anybody when He said, "Come,
00:19:58.39\00:20:00.56
follow Me," if they
chose not to follow Him,
00:20:00.56\00:20:02.96
did He tell the
disciples, "Go, beat them up?"
00:20:02.96\00:20:06.47
You remember when James
00:20:06.47\00:20:08.04
and John came to
Jesus, they said,
00:20:08.04\00:20:09.77
"We found somebody who
was teaching in Your name,
00:20:09.77\00:20:12.61
and he didn't follow us.
00:20:12.61\00:20:13.64
We told him,
'You're not allowed,
00:20:13.64\00:20:14.98
you're not licensed to
do that, you can't do it."
00:20:14.98\00:20:17.78
And what did Jesus
say, "Don't forbid them.
00:20:17.78\00:20:22.18
No man can speak well in
My name and be against Me."
00:20:22.18\00:20:26.82
Jesus never used force.
00:20:26.82\00:20:27.99
The rich young ruler
walked away from Jesus.
00:20:27.99\00:20:29.72
Jesus said, "Follow Me,
00:20:29.72\00:20:30.79
you'll have treasure in heaven."
00:20:30.79\00:20:32.06
He walked away, Jesus was
sad, but He didn't clobber him,
00:20:32.06\00:20:36.60
He didn't force him, He
didn't have him arrested.
00:20:36.60\00:20:39.60
And so Jesus' attitude
was an invitation to follow.
00:20:39.60\00:20:43.44
He doesn't force. True
worship cannot be forced.
00:20:43.44\00:20:46.74
The devil in the
last days tries to force,
00:20:46.74\00:20:50.05
he tried to bribe even Jesus.
00:20:50.05\00:20:52.48
He said, "I'll
bribe You to worship me."
00:20:52.48\00:20:55.48
Now, you know, some
pastors still do that today.
00:20:55.48\00:20:58.62
"If you worship the Lord,
00:20:58.62\00:20:59.69
He's going to make you
healthy, wealthy, and wise.
00:20:59.69\00:21:02.82
He's going to make you rich,
00:21:02.82\00:21:03.89
you'll get a new
house and a pickup truck
00:21:03.89\00:21:05.63
if you worship God and
donate to our ministry."
00:21:05.63\00:21:09.00
Is that worship?
00:21:09.00\00:21:10.07
Trying to bribe people?
00:21:10.07\00:21:13.67
Or even if someone says,
00:21:13.67\00:21:14.74
"I'll worship
you if you heal me."
00:21:14.74\00:21:17.21
Do you remember one man
came to Jesus and in his heart
00:21:17.21\00:21:19.17
he was thinking, "My son is
sick and if He heals my son,
00:21:19.17\00:21:22.34
then I'll worship Him."
00:21:22.34\00:21:24.41
And Jesus knew what
his thought was, He said,
00:21:24.41\00:21:26.28
"Except you see
signs and wonders,
00:21:26.28\00:21:27.75
you will not believe."
00:21:27.75\00:21:29.38
And the father responded, "Lord,
00:21:29.38\00:21:30.65
come down and heal
my son, ere he die."
00:21:30.65\00:21:33.82
And the Lord
healed his son, He says,
00:21:33.82\00:21:35.76
"But your
worshiping Me was conditional
00:21:35.76\00:21:38.86
on your getting what you want."
00:21:38.86\00:21:40.86
How many of you know
people that say, "You know,
00:21:40.86\00:21:42.40
if God will just heal my wife,
my child, then I'll love Him."
00:21:42.40\00:21:47.87
It's a
conditional worship, isn't it?
00:21:47.87\00:21:50.07
They're making deals with God.
00:21:50.07\00:21:51.64
And that's what the
devil did, "I make you a deal."
00:21:51.64\00:21:55.08
He said, "Come on
down, I'll make you a deal."
00:21:55.08\00:21:58.01
Revelation 16, it
says, "So the first went,"
00:21:58.01\00:22:03.35
these angels that
poured out the vials,
00:22:03.35\00:22:06.12
"he went and poured out
his bowl upon the earth,
00:22:06.12\00:22:10.39
and a foul and a loathsome sore
00:22:10.39\00:22:12.63
came upon the men
00:22:12.63\00:22:14.20
who had the mark of the beast
00:22:14.20\00:22:15.83
and those who
worshiped his image."
00:22:15.83\00:22:18.73
So it's telling us
that plagues fall upon those
00:22:18.73\00:22:20.80
who worship falsely.
00:22:20.80\00:22:22.87
I don't want to spend
much more time on that.
00:22:22.87\00:22:25.74
But go to Revelation 13:15.
00:22:25.74\00:22:27.94
"He grants power to give breath
00:22:27.94\00:22:29.41
to the image of the beast that
00:22:29.41\00:22:31.01
the image of the
beast should both speak
00:22:31.01\00:22:32.78
and cause as many as
would not worship..."
00:22:32.78\00:22:34.98
So what's this big
battle about in Revelation?
00:22:34.98\00:22:37.35
It's about worship.
00:22:37.35\00:22:38.55
"Those who would not
worship the image of the beast
00:22:38.55\00:22:40.72
should be killed."
00:22:40.72\00:22:42.06
Now where else do we see
that in the Old Testament?
00:22:42.06\00:22:45.56
Was there a king who said,
"If you don't worship my image,
00:22:45.56\00:22:47.66
you will be killed?
00:22:47.66\00:22:49.43
What was his name?
00:22:49.43\00:22:50.93
It's always fun to
say that name, isn't it?
00:22:50.93\00:22:53.67
I remember, the
first time I got it right,
00:22:53.67\00:22:55.00
I felt pretty good.
00:22:55.00\00:22:57.04
Nebuchadnezzar.
00:22:57.04\00:22:58.71
He said, "Worship my
image or you will be killed."
00:22:58.71\00:23:02.04
And what did Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego say?
00:23:02.04\00:23:05.25
They would not
because it's against
00:23:08.38\00:23:10.09
the commandments
of God, idolatry.
00:23:10.09\00:23:12.49
And they said, "We have
to keep God's commandments
00:23:12.49\00:23:14.56
before the commandments
of the world or Babylon."
00:23:14.56\00:23:17.73
What's the issue
in the last days?
00:23:17.73\00:23:19.43
Commandments of God or
commandments of Babylon,
00:23:19.43\00:23:21.56
except it's spiritual Babylon.
00:23:21.56\00:23:24.17
And so same thing,
battle over worship.
00:23:24.17\00:23:29.04
Did Jesus tell us this
is going to happen again
00:23:29.04\00:23:30.91
in the last days?
00:23:30.91\00:23:32.67
Have you read in John 16:2?
00:23:32.67\00:23:34.64
Christ said, "They will
put you out of the synagogues,"
00:23:34.64\00:23:38.05
they did that to
the apostles too,
00:23:38.05\00:23:40.02
"yes, the time is
coming that whoever kills you
00:23:40.02\00:23:43.02
will think he
offers service to God."
00:23:43.02\00:23:45.82
Do you know half
the New Testament
00:23:45.82\00:23:47.46
was written by someone
00:23:47.46\00:23:48.59
who thought he
was worshipping God
00:23:48.59\00:23:50.66
when he killed Christians?
00:23:50.66\00:23:52.83
Isn't that right?
00:23:52.83\00:23:54.63
Paul, Saul.
00:23:54.63\00:23:56.40
When he was helping kill
Stephen and others, he thought,
00:23:56.40\00:23:58.83
"This is... I'm worshipping God.
00:23:58.83\00:24:00.84
I'm doing what God wants."
00:24:00.84\00:24:02.90
And he was deceived.
00:24:02.90\00:24:05.61
Now, here, we're going
to venture on some dangerous
00:24:05.61\00:24:09.48
ground here.
00:24:09.48\00:24:11.51
When we come together
here in church and we worship
00:24:11.51\00:24:13.45
the several things we do...
00:24:13.45\00:24:15.98
Matter of fact, I
want to jump to that first
00:24:15.98\00:24:18.45
and just talk about
what are some of the ways
00:24:18.45\00:24:20.86
that we worship.
00:24:20.86\00:24:23.66
When we worship the Lord,
00:24:23.66\00:24:25.86
we worship God
with our giving...
00:24:25.86\00:24:29.50
Is there a scripture for that?
00:24:29.50\00:24:32.03
Let me just give you a couple...
00:24:32.03\00:24:33.10
Somebody's going to
read for me 1 Samuel 1:3.
00:24:33.10\00:24:36.24
See, I'm jumping around.
00:24:36.24\00:24:38.01
1 Samuel 1:3, you got that?
00:24:38.01\00:24:39.67
Get ready
whoever's got that one.
00:24:39.67\00:24:42.21
I'm going to read Psalm 96:8.
00:24:42.21\00:24:44.81
"Give to the Lord
the glory due His name.
00:24:44.81\00:24:47.35
Bring an offering, and come
into His courts of worship."
00:24:47.35\00:24:51.82
You notice the
connection right there?
00:24:51.82\00:24:53.79
Bring an offering,
come into His courts,
00:24:53.79\00:24:55.66
and worship.
00:24:55.66\00:24:57.26
Is there often a connection
between showing our love
00:24:57.26\00:25:00.56
for God, our
adoration, and giving?
00:25:00.56\00:25:03.63
Doesn't God show His
love for us by giving?
00:25:03.63\00:25:05.90
"God so loved
the world He gave..."
00:25:05.90\00:25:08.74
Do you sometimes show love
for your kids by giving time
00:25:08.74\00:25:12.41
and other things?
00:25:12.41\00:25:14.08
All right. Go
ahead. Please read.
00:25:14.08\00:25:16.61
"This man went up from the city
00:25:16.61\00:25:20.25
yearly to worship and sacrifice
00:25:20.25\00:25:24.95
to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh."
00:25:24.95\00:25:27.79
So here you've
got. This is Elkanah.
00:25:27.79\00:25:30.03
He goes up to
worship and sacrifice.
00:25:30.03\00:25:32.46
Is giving
connected with worship?
00:25:32.46\00:25:35.70
Do we worship the Lord
sometimes in a time or place?
00:25:35.70\00:25:41.54
Yeah.
00:25:41.54\00:25:42.70
Isaiah 66, "It will come to pass
00:25:42.70\00:25:44.64
that from one
new moon to another
00:25:44.64\00:25:46.84
and one Sabbath to another,
00:25:46.84\00:25:48.24
all flesh will come
and worship before Me."
00:25:48.24\00:25:50.28
On a particular time and place,
00:25:50.28\00:25:53.21
before the Lord
we come to worship.
00:25:53.21\00:25:54.65
So when we come on Sabbath,
we are worshipping in a place,
00:25:54.65\00:25:57.85
we come to this place
that is especially set aside
00:25:57.85\00:26:01.02
to worship God.
00:26:01.02\00:26:04.29
Do we sometimes
worship with our witness?
00:26:04.29\00:26:08.10
The way that you
witness for the Lord,
00:26:08.10\00:26:09.23
are you worshipping?
00:26:09.23\00:26:11.30
If you're going out,
letting your light shine,
00:26:11.30\00:26:12.83
is that part of your worship?
00:26:12.83\00:26:15.14
We teach in
Amazing Facts Evangelism,
00:26:15.14\00:26:17.14
we're teaching worship.
00:26:17.14\00:26:18.27
I told you, the
motto for the Christian
00:26:18.27\00:26:20.21
is worship God.
00:26:20.21\00:26:22.24
Psalm 96, "Oh, sing
to the Lord a new song.
00:26:22.24\00:26:25.61
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
00:26:25.61\00:26:26.98
Sing to the
Lord, bless His name.
00:26:26.98\00:26:28.65
Proclaim His good news
00:26:28.65\00:26:30.72
and His
salvation from day to day.
00:26:30.72\00:26:32.85
Declare His glory
among the nations."
00:26:32.85\00:26:35.19
We are proclaiming
and declaring His wonders
00:26:35.19\00:26:38.46
among all the
people, among the nations.
00:26:38.46\00:26:41.76
Part of worship,
we just read that,
00:26:41.76\00:26:43.63
is to sing and to
declare the goodness of God
00:26:43.63\00:26:47.07
with your witness, you worship.
00:26:47.07\00:26:50.14
And do we worship in posture?
00:26:50.14\00:26:55.38
Our physical posture?
00:26:55.38\00:26:56.48
You know, people, I don't think,
00:26:56.48\00:26:57.88
think very often about...
00:26:57.88\00:26:59.51
You speak with
your body language.
00:26:59.51\00:27:03.32
You know, you see
the kids in class,
00:27:03.32\00:27:06.25
and my teacher was
always like throwing books at me
00:27:06.25\00:27:08.46
because I'd be slumped down
halfway, slid out of my chair,
00:27:08.46\00:27:12.49
and they would say, "Sit up.
00:27:12.49\00:27:14.03
Pay attention.
00:27:14.03\00:27:15.16
That's disrespectful to
slouch like that in your chair."
00:27:15.16\00:27:19.63
Karen and I were
in the White House
00:27:19.63\00:27:21.47
a few weeks ago.
00:27:21.47\00:27:23.51
We didn't meet
with the president,
00:27:23.51\00:27:24.67
we were meeting on a
religious liberty issue
00:27:24.67\00:27:26.57
with about 30 people.
00:27:26.57\00:27:28.44
And we had to
wait a little while,
00:27:28.44\00:27:29.68
we're sitting in these chairs,
00:27:29.68\00:27:30.75
and so I decided to do
00:27:30.75\00:27:32.28
my high school
pose in the chair.
00:27:32.28\00:27:34.05
No.
00:27:34.05\00:27:35.18
I'd sit there, you
know, because it's respect.
00:27:35.18\00:27:39.99
And so when we come in for God,
00:27:39.99\00:27:42.46
do we say
something with our posture?
00:27:42.46\00:27:45.03
What does it mean when we kneel?
00:27:45.03\00:27:47.30
It's submission.
00:27:47.30\00:27:49.00
And there's verses for this.
00:27:49.00\00:27:50.57
I'm just telling you,
00:27:50.57\00:27:51.63
but I should be
reading the verses to you.
00:27:51.63\00:27:53.74
Exodus 4:31, "So
the people believed
00:27:53.74\00:27:56.40
when they heard that the Lord
00:27:56.40\00:27:57.47
had visited the
children of Israel,
00:27:57.47\00:27:59.27
that He had looked
on their affliction,
00:27:59.27\00:28:00.58
and they bowed their
heads and worshiped."
00:28:00.58\00:28:03.68
There you have it.
00:28:03.68\00:28:04.75
You ever heard the pastor say,
00:28:04.75\00:28:06.08
"Please bow your
head as we pray?"
00:28:06.08\00:28:08.35
It's a sign...
00:28:08.35\00:28:09.92
You know, they say,
00:28:09.92\00:28:10.99
"If you're out in the
jungle there in Uganda
00:28:10.99\00:28:12.12
and you run to a gorilla,
00:28:12.12\00:28:13.79
if it's the male
gorilla, you know what you do?
00:28:13.79\00:28:15.99
Don't look him in the eye.
00:28:15.99\00:28:18.56
He will interpret
that as a challenge.
00:28:18.56\00:28:20.56
Look down."
00:28:20.56\00:28:21.60
Even animals show
what they're thinking
00:28:21.60\00:28:25.03
by their posture.
00:28:25.03\00:28:26.10
Have you ever seen a dog
come up to the alpha dog...
00:28:26.10\00:28:29.64
And what does one
of the regular dogs do
00:28:29.64\00:28:32.14
when it comes up
to the alpha dog?
00:28:32.14\00:28:33.91
It gets down.
00:28:33.91\00:28:35.81
It says, "I'm not here to fight.
00:28:35.81\00:28:37.38
You are the big dog."
00:28:37.38\00:28:39.48
They even show it in
their posture, don't they?
00:28:39.48\00:28:42.38
You know, there's
something that we say,
00:28:42.38\00:28:43.49
and when you're
talking to somebody
00:28:43.49\00:28:45.49
and they started going like this
00:28:45.49\00:28:47.42
and they lean back,
are they saying something?
00:28:47.42\00:28:50.03
"I'm not so sure I believe you."
00:28:50.03\00:28:53.80
So we worship with our posture.
00:28:53.80\00:28:55.73
And so when we
kneel, when we pray,
00:28:55.73\00:28:59.27
all of this is
saying something about God.
00:28:59.27\00:29:01.47
Psalm 95:6, "Oh, come,
let us worship and bow down."
00:29:04.01\00:29:09.91
There you have it.
00:29:09.91\00:29:12.38
So... Yeah.
00:29:12.38\00:29:15.02
And worship should be
the most exciting thing
00:29:15.02\00:29:16.89
but sometimes we
think it's boring.
00:29:16.89\00:29:18.59
I remember hearing
where a boy asked his mother,
00:29:18.59\00:29:22.12
"How high can you count?"
00:29:22.12\00:29:23.73
She said, "I don't know exactly.
00:29:23.73\00:29:25.09
I've never tried.
00:29:25.09\00:29:26.16
And how high can you count?
00:29:26.16\00:29:27.20
He said, "5,426."
00:29:27.20\00:29:30.83
She said, "Why do
you stop at 5,426?"
00:29:30.83\00:29:34.10
He said, "The sermon was over."
00:29:34.10\00:29:35.34
People come sometimes
and they just get bored.
00:29:38.71\00:29:41.58
So we talked about
worship, and witness worship,
00:29:41.58\00:29:44.31
and giving worship, and
our time and place worship,
00:29:44.31\00:29:49.35
and posture worship, and music.
00:29:49.35\00:29:54.09
Now, do we find that sometimes
00:29:54.09\00:29:57.96
our churches do not have unity
00:29:57.96\00:30:01.76
in worship in music?
00:30:01.76\00:30:05.40
I've talked to
a different people
00:30:05.40\00:30:06.87
in church
leadership with a lot of age
00:30:06.87\00:30:08.27
and experience,
I said, "You know,
00:30:08.27\00:30:09.57
what do you think the
most contentious thing has been
00:30:09.57\00:30:11.94
that divides the church?"
00:30:11.94\00:30:13.71
And more times than
not they'll say music.
00:30:13.71\00:30:18.01
The different ideas people have
about worshipping and music.
00:30:18.01\00:30:24.09
Now because it's sometimes hard
to define, people think, "Well,
00:30:24.09\00:30:28.56
you know, it's so
hard to draw the line,"
00:30:28.56\00:30:30.66
so they just become
exasperated and say,
00:30:30.66\00:30:32.29
"Let's not draw any lines."
00:30:32.29\00:30:35.06
But I think at the beginning,
00:30:35.06\00:30:36.13
we need to establish
00:30:36.13\00:30:37.17
if we're going to
have unity in worship,
00:30:37.17\00:30:38.80
there is a right way
and there is a wrong way.
00:30:38.80\00:30:41.17
Do you remember when Saul
was tormented with spirits,
00:30:43.71\00:30:46.71
King Saul?
00:30:46.71\00:30:48.94
And they finally
found a young shepherd
00:30:48.94\00:30:52.01
who played skillfully and sang.
00:30:52.01\00:30:55.22
And when he came and
he played for the king,
00:30:55.22\00:30:57.45
the evil
spirits were driven away
00:30:57.45\00:31:00.22
by the
godly-inspired music of David.
00:31:00.22\00:31:03.39
Is that a fair statement?
00:31:03.39\00:31:05.29
Biblical?
00:31:05.29\00:31:06.70
So you got the
right kind of music
00:31:06.70\00:31:08.00
that has a right kind of effect,
00:31:08.00\00:31:10.47
but then you also have
the wrong kind of music
00:31:10.47\00:31:12.50
that can have the
wrong kind of effect.
00:31:12.50\00:31:15.34
And so there is, biblically,
we see there is good music.
00:31:15.34\00:31:18.87
Was there music that was played
00:31:18.87\00:31:22.24
just before Nebuchadnezzar
had everybody bow down,
00:31:22.24\00:31:25.78
he's had all these
instruments of Babylon
00:31:25.78\00:31:27.88
playing Babylonian music.
00:31:27.88\00:31:29.38
And I don't know
exactly what it was,
00:31:29.38\00:31:31.62
but it was the music
designed to overwhelm the people
00:31:31.62\00:31:36.42
to bow down and
worship inappropriately.
00:31:36.42\00:31:40.43
And so music and worship
is something very important.
00:31:40.43\00:31:43.43
Some people...
00:31:45.73\00:31:46.84
We err on both extremes
if I want to try to be fair.
00:31:46.84\00:31:52.14
Some people
because they're afraid
00:31:52.14\00:31:53.84
they might sing the
wrong kind of music,
00:31:53.84\00:31:55.18
they're afraid to
ever sing a new song.
00:31:55.18\00:31:58.11
That's not biblical.
00:31:58.11\00:32:00.32
How many times
does King David say,
00:32:00.32\00:32:01.75
"Sing a new song to the Lord?"
00:32:01.75\00:32:04.32
Right?
00:32:04.32\00:32:06.09
And then there's others
that say, "Well, you know,
00:32:06.09\00:32:09.12
it doesn't matter
as long as your heart's
00:32:09.12\00:32:10.33
in the right place,
00:32:10.33\00:32:11.33
it doesn't matter what
kind of music you sing."
00:32:11.33\00:32:12.83
And so then they try
to take Christian words
00:32:12.83\00:32:15.46
and put them with worldly music,
00:32:15.46\00:32:18.07
as you get both
extremes that are happening.
00:32:18.07\00:32:21.87
But this is a subject
00:32:21.87\00:32:23.00
that I think we need
to really pray about.
00:32:23.00\00:32:25.47
Ellen White says in the
book Education, page 62,
00:32:25.47\00:32:28.68
"Music forms a
part of God's worship
00:32:28.68\00:32:31.81
in the courts above
and we should endeavor
00:32:31.81\00:32:35.05
in our songs of
praise to approach as nearly
00:32:35.05\00:32:38.59
as possible the harmony
of the heavenly choirs."
00:32:38.59\00:32:44.23
I say, "Okay, I want an
audiotape of the angels,
00:32:44.23\00:32:47.50
so I'll know exactly
what that sounds like."
00:32:47.50\00:32:50.30
But sometimes, I think,
00:32:50.30\00:32:51.93
we inherently know
00:32:51.93\00:32:54.74
that something would
not be sung by the angels.
00:32:54.74\00:32:58.34
So you know,
whenever you're thinking
00:32:58.34\00:33:00.31
about different music, say,
00:33:00.31\00:33:01.81
"Can I imagine this
is something that Jesus
00:33:01.81\00:33:04.18
and the angels would sing?"
00:33:04.18\00:33:06.68
You also have to ask,
00:33:06.68\00:33:07.78
"What is this doing
to me physiologically,"
00:33:07.78\00:33:10.29
'cause music actually evokes
00:33:10.29\00:33:12.02
different
physiological reactions.
00:33:12.02\00:33:15.06
I've not always
been a Christian.
00:33:15.06\00:33:16.19
When I was a kid, I would
sometimes go to rock concerts.
00:33:16.19\00:33:19.69
And when they got all wound
up in the frenzy of their music
00:33:19.69\00:33:22.73
and the speakers...
00:33:22.73\00:33:23.77
I think I still
have hearing loss
00:33:23.77\00:33:24.93
because of that.
00:33:24.93\00:33:28.77
It's like madness
came over the crowd
00:33:28.77\00:33:32.74
and there was all
this wild behavior.
00:33:32.74\00:33:35.28
And I'm sure that the music
helped instigate the behavior.
00:33:35.28\00:33:40.75
The right kind of music can help
00:33:40.75\00:33:42.95
with the right kind of behavior.
00:33:42.95\00:33:45.25
You know, why do you
think you play certain songs
00:33:45.25\00:33:49.16
when an army is
going to battle that are...
00:33:49.16\00:33:52.93
They're supposed
to, you know, drive.
00:33:52.93\00:33:54.83
Why do you sing a
lullaby to a baby?
00:33:54.83\00:33:56.80
You don't sing battle songs
to a baby when you're trying
00:33:59.57\00:34:01.97
to put them to sleep, right?
00:34:01.97\00:34:04.04
Now there's a
place for battle songs.
00:34:04.04\00:34:05.61
Matter of fact, some
of the psalms you read
00:34:05.61\00:34:07.18
in the Bible
are victory marches.
00:34:07.18\00:34:10.28
They're made
for the battlefield.
00:34:10.28\00:34:13.25
And there's a song
of love in the Bible.
00:34:13.25\00:34:17.95
You wouldn't sing a battle
song at a romantic dinner?
00:34:17.95\00:34:21.32
You know what I'm saying.
00:34:21.32\00:34:22.39
So we all know that
there's certain kinds of music
00:34:22.39\00:34:25.53
that are appropriate
for certain occasions.
00:34:25.53\00:34:27.23
I'll suggest,
there's music you might do
00:34:27.23\00:34:29.26
in an evangelistic meeting
00:34:29.26\00:34:30.63
that you wouldn't do
in a worship service.
00:34:30.63\00:34:34.34
There's music you
might do at a Christian camp
00:34:34.34\00:34:36.77
that you might not
do at a worship service.
00:34:36.77\00:34:39.57
We need, I think,
more education about music
00:34:39.57\00:34:42.54
so we know how can we
be united in our worship
00:34:42.54\00:34:45.95
to know that
there's stuff that's right
00:34:45.95\00:34:47.42
and there's
stuff that isn't right.
00:34:47.42\00:34:50.22
Here's another
interesting statement.
00:34:50.22\00:34:51.92
This is from the book Maranatha.
00:34:51.92\00:34:53.22
It's probably
found several places
00:34:53.22\00:34:54.99
in the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:34:54.99\00:34:56.02
Maranatha, 234,
"The Lord has shown me
00:34:56.02\00:35:00.06
what would take place just
before the close of probation.
00:35:00.06\00:35:03.43
Every uncouth
would be demonstrated.
00:35:03.43\00:35:05.70
There would be shouting
with drums, music, and dancing.
00:35:05.70\00:35:09.47
The senses of rational
beings would become so confused,
00:35:09.47\00:35:12.54
they cannot be trusted
to make right decisions,
00:35:12.54\00:35:15.61
and this is called the
moving of the Holy Spirit."
00:35:15.61\00:35:19.38
I've already seen that
00:35:19.38\00:35:20.45
because before I
joined this church,
00:35:20.45\00:35:22.12
I used to worship
with Pentecostal churches.
00:35:22.12\00:35:24.52
And there was a lot, some
of the churches I went to,
00:35:24.52\00:35:26.92
there was music, and drums,
and dancing, and shouting.
00:35:26.92\00:35:29.46
But I don't think that
should be in the remnant church.
00:35:33.23\00:35:36.23
I think there
ought to be reverence.
00:35:36.23\00:35:37.47
I'd love to have an
amen right about now.
00:35:37.47\00:35:40.24
Because I want people
listening to know that,
00:35:40.24\00:35:44.11
there is a difference here.
00:35:44.11\00:35:45.64
Let me give you some...
00:35:48.21\00:35:49.41
Someone's got Psalm 57 going
to read in just a second here,
00:35:49.41\00:35:52.91
right?
00:35:52.91\00:35:54.02
I want to read something else.
00:35:54.02\00:35:56.55
What did the prophets of Baal do
00:35:56.55\00:35:58.45
just before their sacrifice?
00:35:58.45\00:36:01.59
1 Kings 18:26, "So they took
the bull that was given them,
00:36:01.59\00:36:04.79
and they prepared it,
00:36:04.79\00:36:05.86
they called on the name of Baal
00:36:05.86\00:36:07.30
from morning till evening."
00:36:07.30\00:36:09.00
So all morning going for hours.
00:36:09.00\00:36:10.47
And here's what they
said, for hours they repeated.
00:36:10.47\00:36:13.50
"O Baal, hear
us! O Baal, hear us!
00:36:13.50\00:36:16.07
O Baal, hear us!
O Baal, hear us!"
00:36:16.07\00:36:18.31
It's called vain repetition.
00:36:18.31\00:36:20.04
Jesus said, "Do not
pray in vain repetition."
00:36:20.04\00:36:22.31
I don't think we should
sing in vain repetition.
00:36:22.31\00:36:25.51
That doesn't
mean you cannot sing
00:36:25.51\00:36:27.78
a verse a couple of times.
00:36:27.78\00:36:30.72
Even the angels
go holy, holy, holy.
00:36:30.72\00:36:32.72
But for hours, they
just say the same thing.
00:36:32.72\00:36:34.49
Jesus said, "Don't pray
that way as the heathen do."
00:36:34.49\00:36:37.93
Become like as a hypnotic chant.
00:36:37.93\00:36:40.50
And I'll bet you anything
that some of those 400 prophets
00:36:40.50\00:36:43.16
of Baal were equipped
with instruments that day,
00:36:43.16\00:36:45.30
and they were pounding
away as they all chanted,
00:36:45.30\00:36:47.44
"Oh, Baal, hear us! Boom, boom.
00:36:47.44\00:36:48.97
Oh, Baal, hear us. Boom."
00:36:48.97\00:36:50.57
They get everybody into a frenzy
00:36:50.57\00:36:51.87
until they cut themselves
and the blood gushed out.
00:36:51.87\00:36:54.74
Music was almost
certainly connected with that.
00:36:54.74\00:36:58.98
2 Timothy, "Many
have a form of godliness
00:36:58.98\00:37:02.58
but deny its power,
00:37:02.58\00:37:04.32
from such we should turn away."
00:37:04.32\00:37:08.19
Go ahead, read for us.
00:37:08.19\00:37:10.46
Psalm 57:9, "I will praise You,
00:37:10.46\00:37:14.10
O Lord, among the peoples,
00:37:14.10\00:37:15.66
I will sing to You
among the nations."
00:37:15.66\00:37:19.33
God wants us to be a
witness and so we praise Him.
00:37:19.33\00:37:23.91
There's a singing
that is appropriate.
00:37:23.91\00:37:25.57
There's some
singing that is obviously
00:37:25.57\00:37:26.88
not appropriate.
00:37:26.88\00:37:27.91
You know, here's
an interesting quotes.
00:37:27.91\00:37:30.31
Plato said, "Give me
the music of a nation
00:37:30.31\00:37:33.52
and I will change
the mind of that nation."
00:37:33.52\00:37:38.12
Confucius, "If one
should desire to know
00:37:38.12\00:37:41.46
whether a
kingdom is well governed
00:37:41.46\00:37:42.99
or its morals are good or bad,
00:37:42.99\00:37:44.93
the quality of its music
will furnish the answer."
00:37:44.93\00:37:48.33
I know it's not Bible,
we're talking Plato, Confucius,
00:37:48.33\00:37:50.30
but they were smart guys
and I think they're right.
00:37:50.30\00:37:53.30
Andrew Fletcher said,
00:37:53.30\00:37:54.77
"I knew a very wise man
who believed that if a man
00:37:54.77\00:37:57.64
was permitted to
make all the ballads,
00:37:57.64\00:37:59.87
he need not care
00:37:59.87\00:38:01.01
who should make
the laws of a nation."
00:38:01.01\00:38:03.04
If you could write the music,
you wouldn't need to worry
00:38:03.04\00:38:05.88
about who wrote the laws.
00:38:05.88\00:38:07.62
We underestimate
how powerful music is
00:38:07.62\00:38:10.12
and it is very much
a part of our worship.
00:38:10.12\00:38:12.82
We see them singing in the Bible
00:38:12.82\00:38:15.76
right from the beginning,
all the way to Revelation.
00:38:15.76\00:38:19.69
They're singing,
music is a form of prayer,
00:38:19.69\00:38:22.06
it is a form of communication.
00:38:22.06\00:38:24.03
And we should be, I think
there should be a reverence
00:38:24.03\00:38:27.57
in the way that
we have our music
00:38:27.57\00:38:29.90
and it should be quality and...
00:38:29.90\00:38:32.81
Amen?
00:38:32.81\00:38:34.41
So that's something I
just want to throw in there,
00:38:34.41\00:38:36.68
it's talking about true
worship and false worship.
00:38:36.68\00:38:38.61
There's, music is
definitely part of that.
00:38:38.61\00:38:41.65
Now in the
first angel's message.
00:38:41.65\00:38:43.82
Revelation 14:6 and
7, "I saw another angel
00:38:43.82\00:38:47.09
flying in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel
00:38:47.09\00:38:50.49
to preach to those
who dwell on the earth,
00:38:50.49\00:38:53.16
to every nation, tribe, tongue,
00:38:53.16\00:38:54.73
and people,
saying with a loud voice,
00:38:54.73\00:38:57.53
'Fear God,"
there should be an awe,
00:38:57.53\00:38:59.87
a reverence, a
godly fear of God,
00:38:59.87\00:39:02.87
"and give glory to Him,
00:39:02.87\00:39:04.54
for the hour of
His judgment is come.'"
00:39:04.54\00:39:07.34
So part of this message
is saying that, you know,
00:39:07.34\00:39:10.51
there's a judgment coming.
00:39:10.51\00:39:12.05
Worship Him who made.
00:39:12.05\00:39:14.88
Do we find that phrase,
00:39:14.88\00:39:19.12
"Sea, earth, springs of water,"
00:39:19.12\00:39:21.82
anywhere in the
Ten Commandments?
00:39:21.82\00:39:25.36
And the fourth commandment
that deals with what?
00:39:25.36\00:39:28.13
The Sabbath.
00:39:28.13\00:39:29.56
It talks about,
"In six days the Lord
00:39:29.56\00:39:31.03
made the heaven and the earth."
00:39:31.03\00:39:32.67
And it says, it's talking
about worshiping the Creator.
00:39:32.67\00:39:35.64
Something else that's
in this command, it says,
00:39:35.64\00:39:38.37
"The hour of His
judgment is come."
00:39:38.37\00:39:40.34
Do we sometimes
behave differently
00:39:40.34\00:39:41.78
if you're
standing before the judge?
00:39:41.78\00:39:43.55
It even says in Revelation,
00:39:43.55\00:39:45.11
"Behold the
judge is at the door."
00:39:45.11\00:39:47.32
That's like if you go...
00:39:47.32\00:39:48.78
The judge is at the door,
there should be judgments,
00:39:48.78\00:39:53.99
caution in our behavior.
00:39:53.99\00:39:56.46
And so this is
part of that worship.
00:39:56.46\00:40:00.10
In Psalm 138, "I will worship
towards Your Holy temple,
00:40:00.10\00:40:03.83
and praise Your name,
for Your loving kindness
00:40:03.83\00:40:06.47
and Your truth,
for You have magnified
00:40:06.47\00:40:09.07
Your Word above Your name."
00:40:09.07\00:40:11.74
We talk about
worshiping in our witness,
00:40:11.74\00:40:13.48
worshipping in our music,
worshipping in our giving,
00:40:13.48\00:40:16.01
worshipping in time and
place, worshipping in posture.
00:40:16.01\00:40:19.31
What's one of the
other principal things
00:40:19.31\00:40:21.08
connected with worship?
00:40:21.08\00:40:23.12
The Word. Did you catch that?
00:40:23.12\00:40:26.92
Revelation 22:9,
the angel says to John,
00:40:26.92\00:40:30.79
"I am of your fellow
servant, and of your brethren
00:40:30.79\00:40:33.03
the prophets, and those
00:40:33.03\00:40:34.20
who keep the words of
this book, worship God."
00:40:34.20\00:40:39.50
Are we worshiping
as we come together
00:40:39.50\00:40:41.07
and study His Word?
00:40:41.07\00:40:43.10
Yeah, it's like you're
showing your adoration and love
00:40:43.10\00:40:45.64
by embracing the message God
has given you, His word to us.
00:40:45.64\00:40:50.25
We're showing
reverence for that.
00:40:50.25\00:40:51.41
We're wanting to
hear what He has to say,
00:40:51.41\00:40:53.65
that's part of
worship is receiving
00:40:53.65\00:40:55.85
what God has to give us.
00:40:55.85\00:40:58.92
Next section in our
lesson, I'm running out of time,
00:40:58.92\00:41:01.62
breaking of bread in prayer.
00:41:01.62\00:41:04.96
You know I was
reading again this week,
00:41:04.96\00:41:07.36
so often in the Bible
00:41:07.36\00:41:08.50
when there was a covenant made,
00:41:08.50\00:41:09.73
there was a meal.
00:41:09.73\00:41:11.53
Some of you remember
when Laban nearly killed
00:41:11.53\00:41:13.64
Jacob his son and
when Jacob ran off,
00:41:13.64\00:41:16.24
and took his wives,
Laban hunted them down,
00:41:16.24\00:41:19.37
God stopped him with a dream.
00:41:19.37\00:41:21.64
Finally when they
made peace together,
00:41:21.64\00:41:23.08
they made a covenant,
they sealed it with a meal.
00:41:23.08\00:41:27.08
You'll see even
Abraham when God made
00:41:27.08\00:41:28.55
His covenant with
him, there was a sacrifice.
00:41:28.55\00:41:31.29
God often did that,
Jesus the New Testament,
00:41:31.29\00:41:33.82
take, eat, He sealed
a covenant with a meal.
00:41:33.82\00:41:37.29
And so breaking bread
and prayer was something
00:41:37.29\00:41:41.06
that was done in
the early church.
00:41:41.06\00:41:43.97
All of these
continue, Acts 1:14,
00:41:43.97\00:41:46.33
"They all continued in
prayer and supplication
00:41:46.33\00:41:48.47
with one accord,
the women and Mary,
00:41:48.47\00:41:50.91
the mother of
Jesus, His brothers,
00:41:50.91\00:41:53.78
and breaking of bread together."
00:41:53.78\00:41:56.31
So it's something
that's done in fellowship,
00:41:56.31\00:41:57.85
but it's also talking
about the communion service.
00:41:57.85\00:41:59.88
Now not every time it
says breaking bread in Acts
00:41:59.88\00:42:03.89
is talking about
the communion service.
00:42:03.89\00:42:06.25
Sometimes breaking
bread meant they ate.
00:42:06.25\00:42:09.49
When Jesus walked down the hill
00:42:09.49\00:42:11.46
with the two on
the road to Emmaus.
00:42:11.46\00:42:12.96
It says, "He was known to
them in the breaking of bread."
00:42:12.96\00:42:15.26
It wasn't a
ceremonial Last Supper.
00:42:15.26\00:42:17.57
Matter of fact,
Jesus had the Lord's Supper
00:42:17.57\00:42:19.33
two days earlier,
00:42:19.33\00:42:20.37
so they weren't
having another one.
00:42:20.37\00:42:21.77
It means they were
going to eat together,
00:42:21.77\00:42:23.00
they called it breaking bread.
00:42:23.00\00:42:24.91
Now it's important
because there's one place
00:42:24.91\00:42:26.84
in the Bible
where it says in Acts 20
00:42:26.84\00:42:30.31
that they came
together on the first day
00:42:30.31\00:42:32.08
of the week to break bread.
00:42:32.08\00:42:33.15
Everyone says it
was a communion service
00:42:33.15\00:42:34.62
on Sunday.
00:42:34.62\00:42:36.48
Doesn't mean that.
00:42:36.48\00:42:37.55
It means they
came together to eat
00:42:37.55\00:42:38.59
'cause Paul was leaving.
00:42:38.59\00:42:39.92
And it doesn't always
mean it's a communion service.
00:42:39.92\00:42:42.36
Matter of fact,
it says break bread
00:42:42.36\00:42:43.56
twice in that story.
00:42:43.56\00:42:44.79
They did it once that evening
and once again in the morning.
00:42:44.79\00:42:48.26
So, but
sometimes they definitely
00:42:48.26\00:42:50.20
did come together
00:42:50.20\00:42:51.50
and they
celebrated the Lord's Supper.
00:42:51.50\00:42:55.60
Acts 4:29, he prayed and
this is through verse 31.
00:42:55.60\00:43:01.31
"Now, Lord, look
on their threats,
00:43:01.31\00:43:02.81
and grant to Your
servants that with all boldness
00:43:02.81\00:43:05.11
we might speak Your
word, by stretching out
00:43:05.11\00:43:07.62
Your hand to heal,
00:43:07.62\00:43:08.75
that signs and wonders
might be done through the name
00:43:08.75\00:43:11.02
of Your holy Servant Jesus.
00:43:11.02\00:43:13.19
And when they had prayed,
00:43:13.19\00:43:15.09
the place where they
were assembled together
00:43:15.09\00:43:16.96
were shaken or
let that happen again.
00:43:16.96\00:43:19.89
And they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:43:19.89\00:43:21.93
and they spoke the
Word of God with boldness."
00:43:21.93\00:43:24.87
They gathered together,
they worship, they prayed,
00:43:24.87\00:43:27.04
they studied, and they
were filled with power for what?
00:43:27.04\00:43:30.34
To be witnesses.
00:43:30.34\00:43:33.04
So we got the true worship,
we got the false worship.
00:43:33.04\00:43:38.41
And let me see
what I'm forgetting.
00:43:38.41\00:43:44.25
Bible study and fellowship,
I just read that one.
00:43:44.25\00:43:51.23
I know I didn't get
through all the lesson yet.
00:43:51.23\00:43:53.23
I've got too much here to go.
00:43:53.23\00:43:56.53
Yeah, and so part of it
is worship only something
00:43:56.53\00:43:59.77
that happens on Sabbath morning.
00:43:59.77\00:44:02.60
You know, I have people
that come to me and they say,
00:44:02.60\00:44:04.41
"Well, Pastor Doug, I know
that you are a Sabbath keeper,
00:44:04.41\00:44:07.14
and you worship God
on your Sabbath day,
00:44:07.14\00:44:10.25
but I worship God
seven days a week."
00:44:10.25\00:44:13.52
And they think that they're...
00:44:13.52\00:44:15.58
Say, "Yeah, gotcha.
00:44:15.58\00:44:17.05
You worship God one day a week,
00:44:17.05\00:44:18.39
I worship God
seven days a week."
00:44:18.39\00:44:20.06
And I said, "No, no.
00:44:20.06\00:44:21.12
I worship God
seven days a week too."
00:44:21.12\00:44:25.09
Sabbath keeping is
not just about worship.
00:44:25.09\00:44:27.46
Matter of fact I don't
think you find the word worship
00:44:27.46\00:44:29.16
in the Sabbath
commandment, do you?
00:44:29.16\00:44:32.13
Sabbath keeping
says, "It's your resting."
00:44:32.13\00:44:34.37
If person says, I'm
resting seven days a week,
00:44:34.37\00:44:36.60
that's not being holy,
it's being lazy, right?
00:44:36.60\00:44:39.94
So worship is
something different.
00:44:39.94\00:44:42.21
Do we worship in our homes?
00:44:42.21\00:44:45.95
Do we have private worship?
00:44:45.95\00:44:49.02
And then if you
have a family or spouse,
00:44:49.02\00:44:51.45
do you have family worship?
00:44:51.45\00:44:55.79
Every night Karen and
I before we go to sleep,
00:44:55.79\00:44:57.83
we pray, she typically prays.
00:44:57.83\00:44:59.56
And that last night,
she went to bed before me.
00:44:59.56\00:45:02.23
And so I said, "All
right, I'll be right there.
00:45:02.23\00:45:03.83
I wasn't quite
done with my sermon."
00:45:03.83\00:45:05.20
So I came in, and I held
hands with her, and she prayed,
00:45:05.20\00:45:08.27
I went back to my office.
00:45:08.27\00:45:09.34
But we make it a point to
be religious to worship God
00:45:09.34\00:45:12.41
at the beginning
and end of every day
00:45:12.41\00:45:13.88
and say, "He's our God."
00:45:13.88\00:45:15.61
I think when you do
that, you're making a statement
00:45:15.61\00:45:17.68
to the angels, let's say,
look, "We're His property."
00:45:17.68\00:45:19.81
We won't mess up
what belong to You.
00:45:19.81\00:45:22.02
And we're acknowledging
every morning, the Bible says,
00:45:22.02\00:45:24.49
"When you rise
up, when you lay down,
00:45:24.49\00:45:28.49
let these words be on
the post of your house,
00:45:28.49\00:45:31.36
let them be
written on your hand,
00:45:31.36\00:45:33.26
let them be
frontlets between your eyes,
00:45:33.26\00:45:35.10
we worship with the word."
00:45:35.10\00:45:36.16
We say, "We belong to God."
00:45:36.16\00:45:38.17
And you've got to
make it a priority.
00:45:38.17\00:45:40.34
And sometimes, you know,
00:45:40.34\00:45:43.30
sometimes you
can take more time.
00:45:43.30\00:45:44.94
Last night as we
welcome the Sabbath,
00:45:44.94\00:45:46.44
we've got a great
book we're reading,
00:45:46.44\00:45:47.74
and we read
several pages in this book
00:45:47.74\00:45:49.31
and it is inspiring, and
we prayed before we read,
00:45:49.31\00:45:51.55
prayed after we
read, knelt down together.
00:45:51.55\00:45:55.35
And sometimes, if
you're on your way to work,
00:45:55.35\00:45:56.99
it might be a quick prayer.
00:45:56.99\00:45:59.32
But you should always
make it a habit to say
00:45:59.32\00:46:01.49
we're going to
take time to worship
00:46:01.49\00:46:04.33
because that's part of
what it means to be a believer.
00:46:04.33\00:46:07.00
Amen?
00:46:07.00\00:46:08.93
So your worship
is also an attitude.
00:46:08.93\00:46:13.30
It's something you
should not be ashamed
00:46:13.30\00:46:15.37
to have people see
that you do publicly.
00:46:15.37\00:46:19.77
Should we hide that we pray?
00:46:19.77\00:46:23.21
I mean sometimes
we're in a restaurant
00:46:23.21\00:46:25.98
and I expect, I hope
that all of you thank God
00:46:25.98\00:46:28.55
for your food, and your family,
and even if you're alone,
00:46:28.55\00:46:31.82
that you'll bow your
head and thank the Lord.
00:46:31.82\00:46:34.09
If you're with someone
else, you may pray out loud.
00:46:34.09\00:46:36.86
And Pastor Ross and I
would play racquetball.
00:46:36.86\00:46:43.70
And when it's just he
and I playing racquetball,
00:46:43.70\00:46:46.60
we pray together before we play.
00:46:46.60\00:46:49.50
And if you saw us play,
00:46:49.50\00:46:50.87
you'd understand
why we pray together.
00:46:50.87\00:46:54.88
It's a dangerous game.
00:46:54.88\00:46:56.54
And we want to
have the right spirit.
00:46:56.54\00:46:58.81
We want to make sure
we're doing this for exercise.
00:46:58.81\00:47:01.42
Now we don't always,
you know, if we're playing
00:47:01.42\00:47:02.88
with other people, we don't say,
00:47:02.88\00:47:04.02
"Hey, everyone stop,
we're going to pray."
00:47:04.02\00:47:06.35
But I know one
guy who's a Muslim
00:47:06.35\00:47:08.39
and all of a
sudden the game was done,
00:47:08.39\00:47:09.92
we say, "Where Ali goes?"
00:47:09.92\00:47:11.93
So it's part of
his daily prayer.
00:47:11.93\00:47:14.63
He goes off even, you know,
00:47:14.63\00:47:16.10
between games, he's going to go,
00:47:16.10\00:47:17.40
and he's going to pray
to the east towards Mecca.
00:47:17.40\00:47:19.80
And I thought you
know why I may not agree
00:47:19.80\00:47:22.77
with his worship, I respect that
00:47:22.77\00:47:26.88
he's not ashamed
to let people know
00:47:26.88\00:47:28.94
this is a priority in my life.
00:47:28.94\00:47:31.88
Should Christians do any less
00:47:31.88\00:47:34.45
if we're at a
restaurant in public?
00:47:34.45\00:47:37.05
Why not?
00:47:37.05\00:47:38.42
Take your spouse's
hand or tell your family,
00:47:38.42\00:47:40.49
"Let's ask God
to bless the food."
00:47:40.49\00:47:42.09
And I have had
hundreds of occasions where
00:47:42.09\00:47:45.26
while I was praying,
the waitress was coming back
00:47:45.26\00:47:47.23
to bring our water
or something like that
00:47:47.23\00:47:49.20
and they paused
there for a moment
00:47:49.20\00:47:50.47
and they see you
praying, is that a bad thing?
00:47:50.47\00:47:53.77
I think it's good for Christians
00:47:53.77\00:47:55.60
to let their light shine.
00:47:55.60\00:47:56.97
Aren't the lost in the
world, don't they make fools
00:47:56.97\00:47:59.21
of themselves for the
devil that don't care?
00:47:59.21\00:48:01.68
Can we be fools for Christ?
00:48:01.68\00:48:04.25
You know what I mean.
00:48:04.25\00:48:05.51
Don't be ashamed.
Let your light shine.
00:48:05.51\00:48:07.12
Don't let the
devil intimidate you.
00:48:07.12\00:48:09.45
And so that's part of worship.
00:48:09.45\00:48:10.95
Every day in all
we do, what is the...
00:48:10.95\00:48:14.39
I guess that there
is, if there's a slogan,
00:48:14.39\00:48:16.59
what's the slogan of a Nike?
00:48:16.59\00:48:20.16
Used to be, "Just do it," right?
00:48:20.16\00:48:21.30
So you know that.
00:48:21.30\00:48:23.70
But do you know
the slogan for Christ?
00:48:23.70\00:48:26.97
Whatever you
do, whether you eat,
00:48:26.97\00:48:28.94
or whether you
drink, whatever you do,
00:48:28.94\00:48:30.14
do it to the glory of God.
00:48:30.14\00:48:31.21
It's worship God.
00:48:31.21\00:48:32.81
You read
Revelation, the big emphasis
00:48:32.81\00:48:34.51
in the last days is
worship Him that made.
00:48:34.51\00:48:37.88
He is our Creator,
He deserves our worship.
00:48:37.88\00:48:39.98
We should be
united in our worship.
00:48:39.98\00:48:42.35
And isn't it
wonderful when we are,
00:48:42.35\00:48:44.89
"Behold, how
pleasant it is for brethren
00:48:44.89\00:48:47.36
to dwell together in
unity," the Bible talks about.
00:48:47.36\00:48:51.79
Well, we've just
about run out of time.
00:48:51.79\00:48:53.36
I want to take a
moment to remind those
00:48:53.36\00:48:54.83
who are watching, we
do have a free offer,
00:48:54.83\00:48:57.10
we'll be happy
to share with you.
00:48:57.10\00:48:58.57
It's called "The
Search for the True Church,"
00:48:58.57\00:49:00.64
a good book by Joe Crews.
00:49:00.64\00:49:02.37
If you want it, text
this, get this via text,
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It's now easier
than ever for you
00:49:54.42\00:49:56.42
to study God's
Word with Amazing Facts
00:49:56.42\00:49:58.89
wherever and whenever you want,
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and most important,
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We're here on
the beautiful coast
00:50:14.54\00:50:16.21
of the Island of Puerto Rico.
00:50:16.21\00:50:17.95
And if you were to travel east
about 2000 miles, of course,
00:50:17.95\00:50:21.28
you would be out in
the middle of the ocean.
00:50:21.28\00:50:23.15
But you'd also be in
the middle of a mystical sea
00:50:23.15\00:50:25.55
called the Sargasso Sea.
00:50:25.55\00:50:27.82
It gets its name because
of this common brown seaweed
00:50:27.82\00:50:31.79
that can be found
floating in vast mass.
00:50:31.79\00:50:34.93
The area of the Sargasso
Sea is about 700 miles wide
00:50:34.93\00:50:39.00
and 2000 miles long.
00:50:39.00\00:50:41.20
Now the seaweed
itself is fascinating stuff.
00:50:41.20\00:50:44.07
It was first observed and called
00:50:44.07\00:50:45.57
Gulfweed by
Christopher Columbus.
00:50:45.57\00:50:47.61
It gets the name
Sargon from the Portuguese.
00:50:47.61\00:50:50.05
Some people use it
as herbal remedies.
00:50:50.05\00:50:51.95
But out in the
middle of the Sargasso Sea,
00:50:51.95\00:50:54.55
the water is some of
the bluest in the world.
00:50:54.55\00:50:56.95
It's there you can see
200 feet deep in places.
00:50:56.95\00:51:00.69
It also has a great biodiversity
00:51:00.69\00:51:02.72
and ecosystem that
surrounds the Sargasso Sea.
00:51:02.72\00:51:05.93
For years, scientists
wondered where the American
00:51:05.93\00:51:08.36
and the Atlantic
eels were breeding.
00:51:08.36\00:51:10.70
They knew the adult eel
swam down the rivers out
00:51:10.70\00:51:13.13
into the Atlantic, but
they never could find a place
00:51:13.13\00:51:15.40
where they reproduced.
00:51:15.40\00:51:16.60
Finally, they
discovered it was out
00:51:16.60\00:51:18.21
in the middle of
the Sargasso Sea.
00:51:18.21\00:51:20.54
So it's a fascinating place.
00:51:20.54\00:51:22.38
But if you are
an ancient sailor,
00:51:22.38\00:51:23.98
you did not want
to get stuck there.
00:51:23.98\00:51:28.48
Being caught in the
doldrums was extremely difficult
00:51:28.48\00:51:31.72
for the ancient sailors.
00:51:31.72\00:51:33.29
Of course, their boats
were driven by wind and sail,
00:51:33.29\00:51:35.92
and they'd be caught in
the vast mass of the seaweed
00:51:35.92\00:51:38.89
that would wrap
around the rudder,
00:51:38.89\00:51:40.53
barnacles would begin to grow,
it's an area that is notorious
00:51:40.53\00:51:43.73
for light and baffling winds,
and so they'd make no progress.
00:51:43.73\00:51:47.74
They get stuck.
00:51:47.74\00:51:48.94
The men would become
extremely dispirited.
00:51:48.94\00:51:51.47
Sometimes
violence and even insanity
00:51:51.47\00:51:53.71
would break out as people
were trapped in the doldrums.
00:51:53.71\00:51:57.61
But, friends,
perhaps sometimes you felt
00:51:57.61\00:51:59.41
that you're
trapped in the doldrums.
00:51:59.41\00:52:01.25
You've gone through
episodes of depression.
00:52:01.25\00:52:03.52
You feel like
you're going in circles,
00:52:03.52\00:52:05.49
life seems stifling.
00:52:05.49\00:52:07.16
You know, the
Bible offers good news.
00:52:07.16\00:52:08.89
There is a way out.
00:52:08.89\00:52:10.39
Bible talks about
a famous character
00:52:10.39\00:52:12.86
that was trapped in
a cycle of depression.
00:52:12.86\00:52:15.20
He was low as you could be.
00:52:15.20\00:52:16.93
Matter of fact,
he even had seaweed
00:52:16.93\00:52:18.33
wrapped around his head.
00:52:18.33\00:52:19.73
His name was Jonah.
00:52:19.73\00:52:21.24
But God gave
him a way of escape.
00:52:21.24\00:52:23.64
In Jonah 2:3-7, we read,
00:52:23.64\00:52:27.54
"For you cast
me into the depths,
00:52:27.54\00:52:29.54
into the heart of the seas,
and the flood surrounded me,
00:52:29.54\00:52:33.21
all of Your billows and
Your waves passed over me.
00:52:33.21\00:52:36.32
Then I said, 'I have
been cast out of your sight,
00:52:36.32\00:52:39.52
yet I will look again
towards Your holy temple.'
00:52:39.52\00:52:42.12
The waters
surrounded me, even to my soul,
00:52:42.12\00:52:45.03
the deep closed around me,
00:52:45.03\00:52:46.86
weeds were
wrapped around my head.
00:52:46.86\00:52:49.26
I went down to the
moorings of the mountains,
00:52:49.26\00:52:52.13
the earth with its bars
closed behind me forever,
00:52:52.13\00:52:55.24
yet you brought my
life up from the pit.
00:52:55.24\00:52:58.07
O Lord, my God.
00:52:58.07\00:52:59.71
'When my soul fainted within me,
00:52:59.71\00:53:01.64
I remember the Lord, and
my prayer went up to You,
00:53:01.64\00:53:04.91
into Your holy temple.'"
00:53:04.91\00:53:07.35
You know, friends,
the way that Jonah got out
00:53:07.35\00:53:08.95
of his
discouraging circumstance,
00:53:08.95\00:53:11.12
he turned to God and he prayed.
00:53:11.12\00:53:13.36
And if God could
hear Jonah's prayers,
00:53:13.36\00:53:15.06
just think about it.
00:53:15.06\00:53:16.09
He was as far away from
God as anybody could be.
00:53:16.09\00:53:18.63
He was in the
belly of a sea monster
00:53:18.63\00:53:20.33
in the bottom of
the ocean in the dark.
00:53:20.33\00:53:22.53
Yet he turned to God
and God heard his prayer.
00:53:22.53\00:53:25.20
You know, these ancient sailors,
00:53:25.20\00:53:26.40
when they were trapped
00:53:26.40\00:53:27.44
on the deck of a ship for weeks,
00:53:27.44\00:53:29.20
stuck in the
doldrums discouraged,
00:53:29.20\00:53:31.07
sometimes they would
have a prayer meeting,
00:53:31.07\00:53:33.04
and pray that God
would send a breeze
00:53:33.04\00:53:35.44
that would set them free,
and get their boats moving.
00:53:35.44\00:53:38.31
They turn to God in prayer
00:53:38.31\00:53:39.48
and often miracles would happen,
00:53:39.48\00:53:41.25
and the wind would
flutter in the sails,
00:53:41.25\00:53:43.18
and bring them out
of their seaweed prison.
00:53:43.18\00:53:46.05
Friends, maybe you have
been stuck in the doldrums.
00:53:46.05\00:53:48.82
Maybe you've been caught
in a cycle of depression.
00:53:48.82\00:53:51.39
If God can do it for
Jonah, if He can do it
00:53:51.39\00:53:53.26
for the ancient
sailors, He can do it for you.
00:53:53.26\00:53:55.53
Turn to the Lord in prayer.
00:53:55.53\00:53:56.90
Trust His Spirit to
blow through your soul
00:53:56.90\00:53:59.60
and to set you free.
00:53:59.60\00:54:01.24
You probably heard
the expression before,
00:54:16.22\00:54:17.99
"If you don't like
the weather in Texas,
00:54:17.99\00:54:20.12
just wait, it'll change."
00:54:20.12\00:54:22.06
And you've also heard,
00:54:22.06\00:54:23.12
"Everything is bigger in Texas."
00:54:23.12\00:54:24.69
The ranches, the belt
buckles, the cowboy hats,
00:54:24.69\00:54:28.30
but the most
famous slogan about Texas
00:54:28.30\00:54:31.10
is remember the Alamo.
00:54:31.10\00:54:33.07
The violent battles and
bravery of iconic heroes
00:54:36.54\00:54:39.47
have been the stuff
of legends throughout
00:54:39.47\00:54:41.14
which entire cultures often
draw their identity and pride,
00:54:41.14\00:54:44.71
even long after
centuries have passed.
00:54:44.71\00:54:46.82
And in Texas, the
story of the Alamo
00:54:46.82\00:54:49.22
has been a rallying
cry of Texas Independence
00:54:49.22\00:54:51.75
for 200 years.
00:54:51.75\00:54:53.86
One reason that
Texans love to brag that
00:54:53.86\00:54:55.76
everything is bigger
in Texas is, of course,
00:54:55.76\00:54:58.23
because Texas is the largest
of the lower 48 US states.
00:54:58.23\00:55:02.36
It's hard to believe
that this massive state
00:55:02.36\00:55:05.10
got its beginning in a
very small Christian mission
00:55:05.10\00:55:08.37
during the Battle of the Alamo.
00:55:08.37\00:55:10.81
Every year, this famous
mission museum receives over
00:55:10.81\00:55:13.84
two and a half million visitors
from all parts of the planet
00:55:13.84\00:55:17.21
that are eager
to get a good look
00:55:17.21\00:55:18.68
at this legendary site.
00:55:18.68\00:55:20.72
The Alamo played a critical role
00:55:20.72\00:55:22.75
in the Texas Revolution.
00:55:22.75\00:55:24.65
In December, 1835,
Texans and Tejano volunteers
00:55:24.65\00:55:28.66
battled Mexican troops
quartered in the city forcing
00:55:28.66\00:55:31.56
General Martin
Perfecto de Cos to surrender.
00:55:31.56\00:55:34.36
The victorious volunteers
then occupied the Alamo
00:55:34.36\00:55:37.23
and strengthened its defenses.
00:55:37.23\00:55:40.24
Famous Americans like
Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie,
00:55:40.24\00:55:42.70
and Colonel William
Travis, made this location,
00:55:42.70\00:55:45.31
this ancient
mission, the beachhead,
00:55:45.31\00:55:47.74
the last stand in an epic battle
00:55:47.74\00:55:50.25
to win independence
of Texas from Mexico.
00:55:50.25\00:55:53.92
On February
23rd, 1836, the arrival
00:55:53.92\00:55:57.45
of General
Antonio Lopez Santa Ana
00:55:57.45\00:56:00.06
nearly caught them by surprise.
00:56:00.06\00:56:02.06
Undaunted, the
Texans and Tejanos prepared
00:56:02.06\00:56:04.69
to defend the Alamo,
00:56:04.69\00:56:06.26
for this small
ragtag group of rebels,
00:56:06.26\00:56:08.56
the youngest of who was
about 16 and the oldest 75
00:56:08.56\00:56:11.90
was against the well-trained
and organized Mexican army
00:56:11.90\00:56:15.00
of 6,000 plus soldiers.
00:56:15.00\00:56:17.21
It was a fierce
and lopsided battle.
00:56:17.21\00:56:19.57
Yet, the small force of rebels
was able to repel the troops
00:56:19.57\00:56:22.68
for 13 days.
00:56:22.68\00:56:25.55
Legend holds that
with the possibility
00:56:25.55\00:56:27.65
of additional help fading,
Colonel Travis drew a line
00:56:27.65\00:56:30.85
in the ground with a sword,
00:56:30.85\00:56:32.19
and asked any man
willing to stay and fight,
00:56:32.19\00:56:34.86
to step over the line.
00:56:34.86\00:56:36.89
All except one crossed over.
00:56:36.89\00:56:39.59
The final assault
came before daybreak.
00:56:39.59\00:56:41.76
On the morning of March 6, 1836,
00:56:41.76\00:56:44.60
the 13th day of the siege,
00:56:44.60\00:56:47.00
cannon and small arms
fire from inside the Alamo
00:56:47.00\00:56:49.84
beat back
several Mexican attacks.
00:56:49.84\00:56:52.41
Regrouping, Santa Anna's
soldiers scaled the walls,
00:56:52.41\00:56:55.78
and rushed into the compound.
00:56:55.78\00:56:57.85
The desperate struggle continued
00:56:57.85\00:56:59.41
until the
defenders were overwhelmed.
00:56:59.41\00:57:01.78
By sunrise, the
battle had ended,
00:57:01.78\00:57:04.19
and the garrison was slain.
00:57:04.19\00:57:06.22
You know, historians may
debate some of the details
00:57:06.22\00:57:08.56
regarding the
Battle of the Alamo,
00:57:08.56\00:57:10.46
but none of them questioned
the incredible sacrifice
00:57:10.46\00:57:12.86
that was made and the
courage that was displayed
00:57:12.86\00:57:14.83
during that intense conflict.
00:57:14.83\00:57:16.90
They made the
ultimate sacrifice,
00:57:16.90\00:57:19.13
giving their lives.
00:57:19.13\00:57:20.44
And this is why
the story of the Alamo
00:57:20.44\00:57:22.04
is so inspiring
and so encouraging.
00:57:22.04\00:57:24.94
You know, and
that's why the Bible
00:57:24.94\00:57:26.04
is so inspiring, friends,
because someone was willing
00:57:26.04\00:57:28.54
to make the ultimate
sacrifice, and give his life
00:57:28.54\00:57:31.38
so that you can have
freedom and eternal life.
00:57:31.38\00:57:34.28
Don't you think you
could trust your life
00:57:34.28\00:57:35.85
to a friend like that,
that would give everything?
00:57:35.85\00:57:38.55
The story of the gospel is
a story of courage and hope.
00:57:38.55\00:57:41.46
It's a story of a God
who will never leave you
00:57:41.46\00:57:43.69
without defense and support.
00:57:43.69\00:57:45.56
Jesus is the good news,
and the gospel is a story
00:57:45.56\00:57:48.96
worth remembering.
00:57:48.96\00:57:50.03