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Carlos Munoz: Maranatha,
my loved ones, and welcome to
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another Sabbath
School Study Hour.
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Today we're going to
study lesson number two on our
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quarterly,
"Making Friends For God."
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But before we get into our
study, I want to tell you about
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this new Amazing Facts tracks we
have, an Amazing Facts that are
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11 tracks that we just created
and this we are going to give to
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you as a free gift.
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If you want a printed copy, you
can call 1-866-Study-More, or
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1-866-788-3966, and we will send
you a printed copy of these new
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Amazing Facts.
tracks, 11 in total.
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But sadly, it's only to be
mailed in the United States or
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in US territories.
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And so, knowing that now, let's
get into our study, and let's
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have a Word of
prayer before we begin.
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Heavenly Father, we thank you
again, for another beautiful day
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of life.
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We thank you for the privilege
and the honor that you give us
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to worship you, to give
you praise and glory on your
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holy day.
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And we just ask, Father, now
as we come to review the lesson,
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that your Spirit can guide us,
strengthen us, and put and seal
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your truth in our hearts,
Father, your love, your grace,
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your mercy.
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Thank you again for
this privilege and this
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honor, Father.
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We ask this in
Jesus' name, amen.
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And so, for those that
don't know me, I'm Pastor
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Carlos Munoz.
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I am the AFCOE director here
at Amazing Facts, Amazing Facts
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Center of Evangelism, and I
am also an associate speaker,
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bilingual speaker.
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And so, I'm going to share
with you today lesson number two
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which is called
"Winsome Witnesses: The Power of
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Personal Testimony."
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Now, the memory text for this
week, if you want to read it
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with me, it's in Acts chapter
4, verse 20 and it says, "For we
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cannot but speak the
things which we have seen and
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heard," right?
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When I do the Sabbath lesson, I
always like to pay attention to
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the title.
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The title is going to give us a
background into what we're going
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to study.
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And so, the title is
"Winsome Witnessing."
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Now, I don't know about you, but
the first time I saw that word
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"winsome," I had no idea what it
meant, so I went and looked for
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a dictionary to find out
what does that word "winsome
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witnesses" mean, right?
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Not this time, but
we have Amazing Facts.
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We have a resource called
"Winsome Witnessing" also.
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And winsome means attractive
or appealing in appearance
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or character.
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That's what the
word "winsome" means.
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And if you notice, that's where
the word "handsome" actually
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comes from that, right?
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It's attractive or
appealing in visualness.
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It's handsome person, right?
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And so, that's
what winsome means.
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It means to be
attractive or appealing.
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Now, the word "witness"
right, winsome witnesses.
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The word "witness" is defined
as someone who has knowledge or
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evidence about a matter.
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In law, a witness is someone
who either voluntary or under
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compulsion provides testimonial
evidence, either oral or
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written, of what he or she
knows or claims to do, to know.
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So, what it's talking about
then there is an attractive
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witness, right?
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There is an appealingness
to somebody that has
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evidence, right?
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It is--it draws people in, in
the context of something that we
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know or something
that we claim to know.
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So, when you're looking for a
witness, you want to make sure
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that the witness has
the credentials, has the
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credibility, has the character,
has the evidence necessary.
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Of course, we're just talking
generally in this context.
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We're putting--now
we're going to put this on a
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religious context.
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It's winsome witnessing.
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That means that there is
an attractiveness, right, to
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a testimony.
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There is an attractiveness to
the appealing of what or how God
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has worked in my life and
what God is doing and so, I am
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showing the credentials, the
credibility, right, the evidence
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of that beautiful
claim that I am giving forth.
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Now, the same thing with
the word "testimony" because it
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says, "The power of
personal testimony."
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A testimony is, again, a formal
written or spoken statement,
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especially one
given in a court of law.
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It's evidence or proof provided
by the existence or appearance
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of something.
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So, when we put this all
together, what it's saying is
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that our testimony is an
attractive evidence, right?
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Our testimony, our personal
testimony, is a draw into claims
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about who God is and what God
has done, what God can do, and
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what he is doing in our lives.
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And so, I think that's
fascinating because when you put
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this together, the concept
of witness, and testimony, and
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evidence, this all has to do
with terminally--terminal--legal
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terminology, right?
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Sometimes in civil,
administrative, or in criminal
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trials, and it's
associated with a trial.
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So, when we ask ourselves,
what is the purpose of a trial?
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Well, the purpose of a
trial is to find truth, right?
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There is either an accusation.
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There is evidence presented
in favor or against something
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or someone.
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And so, what we do is on a trial
is to determine whether that
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accusation or that, what that
was presented was accurate was
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real, was true, right?
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So, this terminology being
used in the legal settings, that
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tells us then that the Bible
is also giving us some legal
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foundation or some legal
terminology so the things that
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are happening in
Scripture, right?
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So, if this is mostly applied in
trials, then the question that
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we should ask is, is
there a trial in Scripture,
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my loved ones?
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Is someone on
trial in Scripture?
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Well, we know that in this great
controversy, this great cosmic
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conflict, God's character
has been on trial, right?
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Remember from the beginning,
it tells us that the enemy,
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Lucifer, Satan, he was accusing
God, he was presenting that God
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was not worthy to be ruler.
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He was
attacking God's character.
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He was saying that God
was a--was arbitrary, right?
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He was, he was dictator.
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He was imposing these
laws and these--and his will on
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other people.
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And so, that was the
accusation that the devil did.
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And so, what does God do?
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He doesn't destroy him because
we know that would not have
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resolved anything,
but what does God do?
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Says, "Okay, let's let this play
out in the type of trial, right?
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Let's--you've presented
your evidence, now I'm going to
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present and show my evidence
in regards to this character."
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And so, what is
it saying about us?
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It's saying that we are
witnesses, or we are evidence
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to what?
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We are here to advocate,
to defend, to sow the truth in
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regards to God's character,
in regards to who God is.
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And I just think it's
fascinating, the whole concept
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of trial.
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I studied, I studied pre-law
and criminology in my bachelor's
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degree, and so this concept is,
is so familiar in the sense of
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the presentation, the
evidence of, is God worthy?
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Does God deserve to be
the ruler of the earth?
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Is God worthy to reign over the
earth, over the universe, and is
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he worthy to receive
our worship, to receive our
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surrender, to receive our lives?
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And, my loved ones, this is
where the stuff the concept of
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personal
testimony comes in, right?
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Why do I say this?
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Because it says it in the lesson
that people, you know, you can
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get into a debate with somebody
in regards to some type of
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theological foundation, right?
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I don't advocate that
you get into a debate.
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We were not called to win
debates, we are called to win
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souls, right?
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But sometimes, you know, when
you're talking with something,
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you're presenting the evidence
to a belief system that you have
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to one of our doctrines or
anything, and people can refute
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it, right?
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Some people, they can use their
own text, takes things out of
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context and try to debate
and try to contrast what you're
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trying to say, what
you're trying to present.
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But it's very
difficult to debate a testimony.
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It's very difficult to refute
somebody's personal testimony.
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I'll give you an example.
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There was this story about this
church that opened up in this
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very, this city, right?
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It is a very cosmopolitan city,
very advanced, high, known as
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high society,
people very educated.
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And so, this church decided that
it wanted to do some type of
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modern debate, right, to try
attract the professionals and
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the scholars that were in the
area, to try appease to their
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intellect, right,
to try to reach out.
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And so, they decided to do a
debate, a debate between atheism
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and theism, right, a debate
in regards to the arguments in
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favor and against these, and
present a good debate in regards
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to this to try
to draw people in.
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And so, the story says that
they brought in some Christian
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doctors and they brought in
some Christian scholars to talk
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about, you know, creationism,
evolution, postmodernism, and
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all of these terminology
that we debate sometimes in
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religious settings.
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And there was this atheist
lawyer that was in the crowd and
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as the presentation was going
on, the story says that this
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atheist doctor, they asked for
questions from the public and
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this atheist doctor stood up
and he grabbed the microphone.
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And it says that in front
of every everybody, based on
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everything that they had been
talking about or said during
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that debate, he refuted
every single piece of it.
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He just attacked.
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He went straight to--he
went straight to the core of
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everything and he used his own
atheistic perspective, his own
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arguments, right, in favor of
naturalism, in favor of atheism,
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in favor of evolution.
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And he just broke it down.
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Everybody was stunned, right,
because he was so convincing, he
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was so assertive, he was so
accurate, and he was so eloquent
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in the way that he was saying
that people were stunned and
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people were afraid, right?
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Because they're saying, "Wow,
he's going to even convince some
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of the Christians that are among
us who were not trying to draw
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him, but they were
just part of the church."
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Well, amongst all the
chaos, everybody was stunned
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and silent.
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But it says that this little,
old man raised his hand and he
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called him up with amongst
the silence of the crowd, and he
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stood up and he
grabbed his microphone.
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Little, little old man,
and he says, "You know what?
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I was not raised in the city.
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I was raised out as a farm boy.
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I did not go--I didn't do past
high middle school, I didn't do
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high school education.
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I didn't go to any of the fancy
universities all of you guys
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are in.
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I didn't study all of
these concepts, and I'm not as
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eloquent, and I can't express
terminologies, and I don't have
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all of the knowledge that every
one of you that is here on the
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panel and this
atheist lawyer here has.
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But I do have
something," he said.
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"I don't know much about
anything you're talking about,
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but I do know that God is
alive and God is powerful."
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He says, "You
know how I know this?
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Because I used to be a drunk.
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I used to beat my wife.
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I used to spend all
my money on gambling.
00:11:10.57\00:11:12.17
I used to do all of
these horrific things.
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I was just a complete mess, and
I hit rock bottom but that's the
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moment when I gave Christ the
chance to be in my life, and I
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gave him an opportunity because
I was going to lose everything.
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My wife have left me,
everything, my children did not
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respect me.
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I have lost everything.
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My business was on the ground.
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And at that moment, I
gave Jesus Christ a chance.
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And from that moment to
today, I have been a new man.
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I have been
changed and transformed.
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I do not--I do not participate
in any of the ways of the world
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as I used to anyway.
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My marriage has been restored.
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My children have been restored.
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My business has been restored.
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I am a new man.
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So, even though I'm not able to
express eloquently and present
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all these arguments that all
of you fine gentlemen can, I do
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have the power and the testimony
to say that God is alive because
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I have experienced
it in my own life."
00:11:59.78\00:12:02.82
And to that you
say what you say what?
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You say amen, right?
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There's no way to debate that.
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You might not agree with it,
you might think that it was some
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type of superstition, but at the
end of the day, the power and
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the impact of a personal
testimony goes way beyond fancy
00:12:12.63\00:12:15.90
and eloquent arguments,
and big titles and big degrees.
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That doesn't mean that
it's not good to study.
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It doesn't mean that it's
not good to go to university.
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But the core of it is that, that
surrender to God where we can
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see the power of God working in
our lives in such a way that we
00:12:28.71\00:12:33.52
are to share and to show others
what that is, and that is what
00:12:33.55\00:12:37.29
we're talking about when
we're talking about a winsome
00:12:37.32\00:12:40.19
witnessing, right?
00:12:40.22\00:12:41.72
It's just people are drawn in
to see and to notice the power
00:12:41.76\00:12:44.89
which with God has
worked in your heart.
00:12:44.93\00:12:47.96
You see, my loved ones, before
we are able to convince people
00:12:48.00\00:12:50.83
about our doctrines, our
beliefs, the things that we hold
00:12:50.87\00:12:53.87
so dear, the mission, the
purpose of the church, first
00:12:53.90\00:12:57.51
they have to be able to
see the love of God in us.
00:12:57.54\00:13:01.38
First they have to be able t
witness, they have to be able to
00:13:01.41\00:13:04.88
see that what we're
saying, how we're living, is a
00:13:04.91\00:13:08.45
greater sermon.
00:13:08.48\00:13:10.12
Our life is a pulpit and so
when people see that when they
00:13:10.15\00:13:13.49
are--when they see the reality
of our witness, when they're
00:13:13.52\00:13:16.32
able to see the power of God
in our lives, that is what wins
00:13:16.36\00:13:19.89
them in, right?
00:13:19.93\00:13:21.43
That is what's appealing
and attractive and then, once
00:13:21.46\00:13:23.73
they're convinced of our
faithfulness, once they're
00:13:23.77\00:13:28.14
convinced of our genuine person,
then, my loved ones, then that
00:13:28.17\00:13:33.98
opens the door for what?
00:13:34.01\00:13:36.14
That opens the door for us then
to share why we believe, why we
00:13:36.18\00:13:39.75
live the way we are.
00:13:39.78\00:13:41.42
And so, that is the
key, my loved ones, to this.
00:13:41.45\00:13:43.55
That's why it says in Matthew
chapter 24, verse 14, that this
00:13:43.59\00:13:47.22
gospel of the kingdom shall
be preached to all the world as
00:13:47.26\00:13:50.43
a what?
00:13:50.46\00:13:51.96
As a witness, all right, to
all nations, and then the end
00:13:51.99\00:13:54.83
shall come.
00:13:54.83\00:13:56.23
So, it is through our witness
that this gospel of the world,
00:13:56.26\00:13:59.03
which we know is
Revelation chapter 14, verse 16,
00:13:59.07\00:14:01.24
everlasting gospel, right,
the three angels' message of
00:14:01.27\00:14:04.27
Revelation chapter
14, verse 6 and 12.
00:14:04.31\00:14:06.51
It says in Matthew 24 that that
gospel of the world shall be
00:14:06.54\00:14:09.34
preached as a witness, is that
people are going to see what
00:14:09.38\00:14:12.98
we believe.
00:14:13.01\00:14:14.55
They're going to see it
manifested in our daily lives.
00:14:14.58\00:14:16.72
And I think it's fascinating,
if you want to join me in
00:14:16.75\00:14:18.82
Revelation chapter 3 'cause it
says something, it uses a quite
00:14:18.85\00:14:22.46
unique phrase when it's
talking about Jesus Christ.
00:14:22.49\00:14:26.56
Revelation chapter 3, look
at what it says here in verse
00:14:26.59\00:14:30.13
number 14, Revelation 3:14.
00:14:30.17\00:14:33.87
It also says it in Revelation
chapter 1, verse 5 but here, I
00:14:33.90\00:14:37.51
like how it says it.
00:14:37.54\00:14:39.04
It says Revelation chapter 3:14,
it tells us, "And the angel of
00:14:39.07\00:14:42.14
the church of the Laodiceans
write, 'These things says the
00:14:42.18\00:14:45.51
Amen, the Faithful
and True Witness.'"
00:14:45.55\00:14:49.65
It calls Jesus, Jesus
says, "I am the faithful and
00:14:49.68\00:14:52.72
true witness."
00:14:52.75\00:14:54.29
Now, the question is, what
is Jesus the faithful and true
00:14:54.32\00:14:56.79
witness of?
00:14:56.83\00:14:58.39
My loved ones, Jesus is the
faithful and true witness of the
00:14:58.43\00:15:01.06
love of God, right, of the power
of God, of the mercy of God, of
00:15:01.10\00:15:05.63
the evidence, right?
00:15:05.67\00:15:07.87
He is the evidence of the love
of God, not that we love God,
00:15:07.90\00:15:10.97
but that He loved
us and He sent His Son.
00:15:11.01\00:15:13.48
Jesus is the greatest
manifestation, the greatest
00:15:13.51\00:15:16.38
evidence of the love of God
for humanity because he sent the
00:15:16.41\00:15:19.75
greatest thing that he
had, and that is Jesus Christ.
00:15:19.78\00:15:22.82
And so, that's why he is
the true and faithful witness
00:15:22.85\00:15:24.89
because Jesus gives a perfect
account of who God is, of his
00:15:24.92\00:15:29.46
character, right, of
what God wants to do in us and
00:15:29.49\00:15:32.26
through us.
00:15:32.29\00:15:34.00
And I think that's just
beautiful when it ties into this
00:15:34.00\00:15:37.07
concept of the powerful
testimony, right, because what
00:15:37.10\00:15:39.53
it's telling us is that we
also are to give witness, right?
00:15:39.57\00:15:43.57
So, the question that I asked
myself, myself is, am I a true
00:15:43.61\00:15:47.71
and faithful witness?
00:15:47.74\00:15:49.31
Because the implication is that
if they're a true and faithful
00:15:49.34\00:15:51.91
witness, then
that must mean what?
00:15:51.95\00:15:54.12
There must be false and
unfaithful witnesses, and I want
00:15:54.15\00:15:58.12
to make sure that I am being
a true and faithful witness.
00:15:58.15\00:16:01.89
And so, that's what the
lesson is about this week.
00:16:01.92\00:16:03.96
It was just a great lesson.
00:16:03.99\00:16:05.69
And so, it's interesting because
when we go into the lesson you
00:16:05.73\00:16:08.20
would think, okay, so who are
the first people that were sent
00:16:08.23\00:16:11.30
out to work, right?
00:16:11.33\00:16:13.70
Who are the first people to
send out to give witness and
00:16:13.74\00:16:16.04
testimony to the love of God, to
the power of God in this sense?
00:16:16.07\00:16:19.74
And we probably think, oh, it
must have been Peter, and Paul,
00:16:19.77\00:16:22.78
or John, or some
of the disciples.
00:16:22.81\00:16:25.85
It's interesting because
the first missionary that Christ
00:16:25.88\00:16:28.18
sent out to do the work was who?
00:16:28.22\00:16:31.45
Was the man possessed by demons.
00:16:31.49\00:16:33.82
Join me please in Matthew
chapter 5, Mark chapter 5, I'm
00:16:33.86\00:16:36.69
sorry, Mark, chapter 5.
00:16:36.73\00:16:38.73
And in Mark chapter 5, verse
15 forward, we have the story of
00:16:38.76\00:16:41.90
the man that was
possessed by a demon, right?
00:16:41.93\00:16:45.30
And so, the story, if
you've read it before, it's a
00:16:45.33\00:16:48.20
horrific story.
00:16:48.24\00:16:49.84
I mean, it says that the man, he
was, he had a legion of demons
00:16:49.87\00:16:52.94
that possessed him, and a legion
is the estimate for a Roman army
00:16:52.97\00:16:57.88
in that context is
about 16--6,000 soldiers.
00:16:57.91\00:17:01.45
So, this man was
utterly, utterly possessed by
00:17:01.48\00:17:04.35
demons, right?
00:17:04.39\00:17:05.79
He was naked.
00:17:05.82\00:17:07.32
I mean, it was just horrific.
00:17:07.36\00:17:08.72
And notice what it says in
Matthew chapter--Mark chapter 5,
00:17:08.76\00:17:10.43
I'm sorry, verse number 15.
00:17:10.46\00:17:12.69
It says, "Then they came to
Jesus and saw the one who had
00:17:12.73\00:17:17.07
been demon possessed and had
the legion, right, sitting and
00:17:17.10\00:17:20.27
clothed in his right mind."
00:17:20.30\00:17:22.10
So, notice the transformation.
00:17:22.14\00:17:24.01
He was naked, he was tied.
00:17:24.04\00:17:25.77
They tried to try to tie him
down, right, but he would break
00:17:25.81\00:17:28.41
the chains.
00:17:28.44\00:17:30.18
He was sitting silently.
00:17:30.21\00:17:31.98
That's another
implication, sitting.
00:17:32.01\00:17:33.55
This man was enraged, right?
00:17:33.58\00:17:35.52
He was sitting and clothed
in his right mind, right?
00:17:35.55\00:17:39.29
That means he
was at peace, right?
00:17:39.32\00:17:41.29
He was sober.
00:17:41.32\00:17:42.86
He was thoughtful.
00:17:42.89\00:17:44.26
It says and they were afraid,
and they--and those who saw it,
00:17:44.29\00:17:47.20
who saw what?
00:17:47.23\00:17:48.96
Who saw the transformation
of this man that was demon
00:17:49.00\00:17:51.67
possessed, told them how it
happened to him who had been
00:17:51.70\00:17:54.57
demon possessed,
and about the swine.
00:17:54.60\00:17:56.84
And then they began to
plead with him to depart from
00:17:56.87\00:17:59.24
the region.
00:17:59.27\00:18:01.08
So, these people are witnesses
to this man that is demon
00:18:01.11\00:18:03.61
possessed, right?
00:18:03.65\00:18:05.35
They saw what he was.
00:18:05.38\00:18:07.72
They saw the life that he was
living before that as he was a
00:18:07.75\00:18:10.59
slave to the devil.
00:18:10.62\00:18:12.45
And it says, and when he got
into the boat, he who had been
00:18:12.49\00:18:15.29
demon possessed begged him,
talking about Jesus, that he
00:18:15.32\00:18:18.49
might, what?
00:18:18.53\00:18:20.26
That he might be with him.
00:18:20.30\00:18:22.06
Now, notice that this man wanted
to be a disciple of Christ, this
00:18:22.10\00:18:24.87
man wanted to
follow Jesus Christ, right?
00:18:24.90\00:18:27.24
But it's interesting that
Christ did not let him, right?
00:18:27.27\00:18:30.94
And so, the
question is, why not?
00:18:30.97\00:18:33.01
Well, it continues to say,
however, Jesus does not permit
00:18:33.04\00:18:35.51
him but said to him, "Go,"
right, "home to your friends and
00:18:35.54\00:18:40.15
tell them what great things the
Lord has done for you and how he
00:18:40.18\00:18:43.62
has compassion on you," amen.
00:18:43.65\00:18:46.92
And this is just a beautiful
statement because it says, first
00:18:46.96\00:18:49.72
of all, he says what?
00:18:49.76\00:18:51.69
Go, right?
00:18:51.73\00:18:53.13
That means he was sent.
00:18:53.16\00:18:54.56
That concept of going or sent is
a divine commission in the sense
00:18:54.60\00:18:58.83
of going as an
ambassador would go, right?
00:18:58.87\00:19:01.97
When a government commissions an
ambassador to go represent this
00:19:02.00\00:19:05.34
kingdom or this nation in
a foreign land, what Jesus is
00:19:05.37\00:19:08.88
telling him is that, "go
and represent me," right?
00:19:08.91\00:19:11.81
"Go and show others who I am.
00:19:11.85\00:19:14.15
Go and speak of the kingdom that
I am trying to establish in the
00:19:14.18\00:19:16.69
hearts and in the minds
of those that are around us.
00:19:16.72\00:19:19.55
I want you to go to
be an ambassador," right?
00:19:19.59\00:19:22.26
So, he was a disciple in
the sense of that he came to the
00:19:22.29\00:19:26.96
feet of Christ, right?
00:19:27.00\00:19:28.46
And I'm sure that it didn't
stop here, his admiration, his
00:19:28.50\00:19:30.67
following of Jesus.
00:19:30.70\00:19:32.33
But in this context, Jesus gave
him a very specific mission.
00:19:32.37\00:19:34.47
He said, "Go."
00:19:34.50\00:19:36.14
And notice what he says, "Tell
them of the great things that
00:19:36.17\00:19:37.91
the Lord has
done for you," right?
00:19:37.94\00:19:39.61
We should be able, my loved
ones, as Christians to give
00:19:39.64\00:19:42.71
evidence to what God has done in
our lives and not only what God
00:19:42.74\00:19:46.58
has done, but what
God is doing right now.
00:19:46.61\00:19:49.68
We should be able, as
this man who had a total
00:19:49.72\00:19:53.15
transformation, right?
00:19:53.19\00:19:54.89
Remember, everybody knew who
this demon-possessed guy was,
00:19:54.92\00:19:58.39
all the cities, all the
towns in the area, right?
00:19:58.43\00:20:00.86
It's known--it says here that
the Decapolis, the ten cities,
00:20:00.90\00:20:03.20
this Gentile region,
they all knew who he was.
00:20:03.23\00:20:07.07
They were afraid of this man.
00:20:07.10\00:20:09.34
And it says, he said, "Go and
tell them what you have done,
00:20:09.37\00:20:12.27
for he has done
compassion on you," amen?
00:20:12.31\00:20:14.94
This is beautiful, my loved
ones, is that God has shown
00:20:14.98\00:20:17.28
compassion, why?
00:20:17.31\00:20:18.88
Because God has freed him from
that bondage, from that slavery,
00:20:18.91\00:20:21.65
from that demon-possessed
driven life that he was.
00:20:21.68\00:20:24.59
God had compassion, how?
00:20:24.62\00:20:26.89
Because He sent
His Son Jesus Christ.
00:20:26.92\00:20:29.02
And Jesus, what did Jesus do?
00:20:29.06\00:20:30.93
Jesus liberated that man
from that situation and so the
00:20:30.96\00:20:34.56
compassion of God, not only
to send His Son, but the love of
00:20:34.56\00:20:37.60
God through His Son Jesus
Christ, to liberate that man
00:20:37.63\00:20:40.54
from that time, my loved ones.
00:20:40.57\00:20:42.67
It was a powerful,
powerful testimony.
00:20:42.70\00:20:44.61
And Jesus doesn't
say, "Come follow me."
00:20:44.64\00:20:46.68
He says, "Go witness," right?
00:20:46.71\00:20:48.41
"Go talk to others, go back to
your city and give witness and
00:20:48.44\00:20:51.68
testimony to the
things that I have done."
00:20:51.71\00:20:54.48
And so, it's believed that
because of this Gentile region
00:20:54.52\00:20:57.25
known as Decapolis,
right, the Gentiles were there.
00:20:57.29\00:21:00.76
There was a lot of prejudice
towards the Jews and so what it
00:21:00.79\00:21:03.93
says is that, what's understood
is that this man went back to
00:21:03.96\00:21:08.53
the city and he
started to do what?
00:21:08.56\00:21:10.60
He started to prepare
the groundwork, right?
00:21:10.63\00:21:12.43
I like to look at it in the
concept of evangelism, right?
00:21:12.47\00:21:15.50
You don't just show up in a city
and start preaching, you have to
00:21:15.54\00:21:18.24
start doing the groundwork,
you have to start preparing the
00:21:18.27\00:21:20.58
hearts and minds.
00:21:20.61\00:21:22.34
In the same way that John t
Baptist came to God's people and
00:21:22.38\00:21:25.78
he prepared them for the coming
of the Messiah, so Jesus also
00:21:25.81\00:21:28.32
sent this man out to
Decapolis, to do what?
00:21:28.35\00:21:31.99
To prepare to tell, to witness
to the compassion and to the
00:21:32.02\00:21:35.82
love of God that was
going to be manifested.
00:21:35.86\00:21:37.69
And so, only he
could have done it, right?
00:21:37.73\00:21:40.80
You can't send the disciples,
it would have probably not have
00:21:40.83\00:21:43.16
gone too well.
00:21:43.20\00:21:44.87
So, Jesus understanding this,
and it actually says in "Desire
00:21:44.90\00:21:46.57
of Ages," that nine months later
after this event, Jesus showed
00:21:46.60\00:21:51.41
up in the region of
Decapolis, and guess what.
00:21:51.44\00:21:54.41
He started to preach and he
was received and they started to
00:21:54.44\00:21:56.95
listen to him.
00:21:56.98\00:21:58.31
So, that's
beautiful, my loved ones.
00:21:58.35\00:22:00.58
And so, what was
so special about this?
00:22:00.62\00:22:02.62
What was so beautiful about
this, my loved ones, is the fact
00:22:02.65\00:22:04.35
that this demon-possessed man,
he was not a disciple of Christ.
00:22:04.39\00:22:08.36
He was not walking with Christ.
00:22:08.39\00:22:09.96
He was not living with Christ.
00:22:09.99\00:22:11.39
He didn't have that advantage,
like the disciples said, of
00:22:11.43\00:22:13.76
seeing the character being
developed little by little.
00:22:13.80\00:22:16.77
He was just, at that very
moment, freed from that which
00:22:16.80\00:22:20.70
oppressed him, freed from
that which was imposed on him by
00:22:20.74\00:22:23.94
these demons.
00:22:23.97\00:22:25.37
And so, this miraculous healing,
this miraculous deliverance that
00:22:25.41\00:22:29.08
Jesus Christ did was
special because this man did not
00:22:29.11\00:22:32.18
hesitate for a
second, immediately, right?
00:22:32.21\00:22:35.22
And so, this is the
indispensable ingredient, my
00:22:35.25\00:22:37.52
loved ones, for
witnessing is the changed life.
00:22:37.55\00:22:40.72
It's the transformed life.
00:22:40.76\00:22:42.42
And for that, we have to
have a personal knowledge and
00:22:42.46\00:22:45.73
understanding of who God is.
00:22:45.76\00:22:47.86
I cannot give a witness or
testimony to others about who
00:22:47.86\00:22:51.93
God is if I
don't know him, right?
00:22:51.97\00:22:54.94
I can't come--I would not
be called to a trial to give
00:22:54.97\00:22:57.67
witness or to give evidence
to an event or to a person, if I
00:22:57.71\00:23:02.28
don't know that person.
00:23:02.31\00:23:03.91
That would be a
great waste of time.
00:23:03.95\00:23:05.61
When they call somebody in as a
witness is because they believe
00:23:05.65\00:23:08.32
that there is credibility,
right, that there is
00:23:08.35\00:23:10.19
information, there is truth in
this that this person is going
00:23:10.22\00:23:12.95
to reveal to be able to clarify
whatever situation that is
00:23:12.99\00:23:16.89
happening in a courtroom.
00:23:16.93\00:23:19.26
And that's what we're here on
earth to do, my loved ones, we
00:23:19.29\00:23:21.36
are here to give clarity to
the world because there's a lot
00:23:21.40\00:23:24.50
of confusion.
00:23:24.53\00:23:25.90
Who is God?
00:23:25.93\00:23:27.30
Is God good, right?
00:23:27.34\00:23:28.70
Why does God permit all
of these things happening?
00:23:28.74\00:23:30.31
This is the great
concept of theodicy, right?
00:23:30.34\00:23:32.11
Does God deserve to reign?
00:23:32.14\00:23:34.18
Well, my loved ones, you and I,
through our lives, are to give
00:23:34.21\00:23:37.98
witness to this but for to be
able to be effective, powerful
00:23:38.01\00:23:40.48
witnesses, we have to have that
one-on-one interaction with God.
00:23:40.52\00:23:45.29
We have to have that
one-on-one connection.
00:23:45.32\00:23:47.49
I want you to join me to the
Book of Psalms, a beautiful part
00:23:47.52\00:23:51.19
of the Psalms that I just
absolutely love it, it talks to
00:23:51.23\00:23:55.90
this effect and I think it
has--it's closely related to
00:23:55.93\00:23:58.53
this demon-possessed man in the
story of Mark chapter 15, in the
00:23:58.57\00:24:05.81
story of Mark
chapter 5, I'm sorry.
00:24:05.84\00:24:09.54
Psalms chapter 40, if you're
there, Psalms chapter 40, verse
00:24:09.58\00:24:12.41
number 1, look at what it says
here in Mark--Psalms Chapter 40,
00:24:12.45\00:24:16.52
verse number 1, "I waited
patiently for the Lord and he
00:24:16.55\00:24:19.72
inclined to me and
heard my cry," right?
00:24:19.75\00:24:22.02
This reminds me of when
God's people were in Egypt.
00:24:22.06\00:24:24.23
And it says, "And he brought me
up out of the horrible pit, out
00:24:24.26\00:24:29.33
of the miry clay."
00:24:29.36\00:24:31.43
Now, in Spanish, I like how it
says in Spanish, it says that he
00:24:31.47\00:24:33.90
brought me up out
of quicksand, right?
00:24:33.94\00:24:37.44
Now, if you know the experience
of quicksands, what happens if
00:24:37.47\00:24:40.14
you caught in quicksand?
00:24:40.18\00:24:41.84
It means that
you're going to die, right?
00:24:41.88\00:24:43.81
Unless something external
happens, you're not going to be
00:24:43.85\00:24:46.51
able to come out.
00:24:46.55\00:24:47.92
The harder you try, the
deeper you get dragged into it.
00:24:47.95\00:24:50.65
And so, this is the concept of
what is happening to us, right?
00:24:50.69\00:24:53.36
When we see what is happening in
our lives, testimony of so many
00:24:53.39\00:24:57.43
people that say, "You
know what I have--I've lost
00:24:57.46\00:25:00.23
everything," right?
00:25:00.26\00:25:01.60
Like the disciples after Jesus
Christ was murdered, they lost
00:25:01.63\00:25:05.13
hope, right?
00:25:05.17\00:25:06.74
They were like,
"What are we going to do?
00:25:06.77\00:25:08.47
We have nothing."
00:25:08.50\00:25:10.01
They were afraid that they
were going to--and that was the
00:25:10.04\00:25:11.67
moment when they were
ready, and they were ready to
00:25:11.71\00:25:13.27
surrender completely.
00:25:13.31\00:25:14.84
So, that's the experience
that we're seeing here.
00:25:14.88\00:25:16.44
There's no hope, there's no,
there's nothing that can save us
00:25:16.48\00:25:18.71
from the
situation that we're in.
00:25:18.75\00:25:20.52
And when we're talking
spiritually, we're talking about
00:25:20.55\00:25:22.75
the eternal death that
is coming forth, right?
00:25:22.78\00:25:25.62
There's nothing that can avoid
that, but it says that, "As we
00:25:25.65\00:25:28.02
cry to God," it
says, "He brought me up.
00:25:28.06\00:25:30.36
He took me out of that
condition, out of that destiny
00:25:30.39\00:25:32.83
that I was to die," and he says,
"and out of my miry clay, and he
00:25:32.86\00:25:38.07
set my feet upon a rock."
00:25:38.10\00:25:39.93
Now, who is the
rock in the Bible?
00:25:39.97\00:25:41.54
We know it's God.
00:25:41.57\00:25:42.90
It's Jesus Christ, amen?
00:25:42.94\00:25:44.31
So, you go from this condition
of having of having no balance
00:25:44.34\00:25:46.11
and being dragged in and
drowning basically in sound--in
00:25:46.14\00:25:48.78
sand, to now being
placed upon a rock, amen?
00:25:48.81\00:25:52.48
And it says, "He
established my feet."
00:25:52.51\00:25:54.68
In other words, what it means
is he straightened my walk.
00:25:54.72\00:25:57.69
Notice, my loved ones, that God,
all we can do is cry out to God,
00:25:57.72\00:26:01.12
and he drags us out
of the bottomless pit.
00:26:01.16\00:26:04.36
He drags us out of the quicksand
that was going to be our death*.
00:26:04.39\00:26:08.76
And he puts us on a rock
and he straightens our steps.
00:26:08.80\00:26:11.93
That's justification,
sanctification perfectly
00:26:11.97\00:26:14.64
explains, amen?
00:26:14.67\00:26:16.47
And here's verse 3,
here's where it gets beautiful.
00:26:16.50\00:26:18.41
"And he put a new song in my
mouth, praise to our God, many
00:26:18.44\00:26:21.48
will see it and fear
and will trust in the Lord."
00:26:21.51\00:26:24.35
Notice the response of
this person is he's saying what?
00:26:24.38\00:26:27.78
"I was dragging down.
00:26:27.82\00:26:29.48
I was going down, I was going to
die, and God saved me from that
00:26:29.52\00:26:32.35
situation, and God put a
new song in my mouth," amen.
00:26:32.39\00:26:36.46
There are many people that can
sing and have a beautiful voice,
00:26:36.49\00:26:39.03
right, but there are not
many people that can praise God.
00:26:39.06\00:26:42.63
To praise God is to be able
to sing, to give witness, to
00:26:42.66\00:26:46.53
evidence to the beauty of God,
to the power of God that he has
00:26:46.57\00:26:50.11
been doing, that he has done
in our lives and not only in the
00:26:50.14\00:26:53.41
past, but as I mentioned
already, also in the future.
00:26:53.44\00:26:56.04
And so, when we move on, it
gives us another example through
00:26:56.08\00:26:58.91
the lesson of this week in
regards to Mary, right, Mary
00:26:58.95\00:27:02.42
Magdalene and Mary Jesus's my
mother on that Resurrection Day.
00:27:02.45\00:27:06.45
Join me please right there
in the Book of Mark chapter 16.
00:27:06.49\00:27:08.72
I want to share
something with you.
00:27:08.76\00:27:10.66
So again, it's talking about
this personal testimony and now
00:27:10.69\00:27:13.29
it's looking
into Mark chapter 16.
00:27:13.33\00:27:15.76
If you're there, go with
me please to verse number 9.
00:27:15.80\00:27:19.47
Mark chapter 16, verse number 9.
00:27:19.50\00:27:21.47
Now, we know that they went to
prepare, they went to embalm the
00:27:21.50\00:27:24.71
body of Jesus Christ.
00:27:24.74\00:27:26.44
It was Sunday morning, and as
they go, it says in chapter 16
00:27:26.47\00:27:28.71
that they went and the angel
tells them now he's not here
00:27:28.74\00:27:32.25
anymore, for what?
00:27:32.28\00:27:33.88
He has been resurrected.
00:27:33.92\00:27:35.62
And look at what it says in
verse--in Mark chapter 16, verse
00:27:35.65\00:27:39.05
number 8.
00:27:39.09\00:27:40.72
"So they went out quickly
and fled from the tomb, for they
00:27:40.76\00:27:43.16
trembled and
were amazed," right?
00:27:43.19\00:27:45.56
"And they said nothing to
anyone for they were afraid."
00:27:45.59\00:27:49.36
Now verse number 9, "Now when he
rose early on the first day of
00:27:49.40\00:27:52.50
the week, he appeared first
to Mary Magdalene out of whom we
00:27:52.53\00:27:55.50
had cast," what?
00:27:55.54\00:27:57.31
"Seven demons and she was--and
she went and told those had been
00:27:57.34\00:28:00.94
with him as they
mourned and wept."
00:28:00.98\00:28:03.65
Notice something, my loved ones.
00:28:03.68\00:28:05.55
It says here that it's talking
about Mary Magdalene, and it
00:28:05.58\00:28:08.12
brings forth the fact that
she had been--Jesus had cast out
00:28:08.15\00:28:10.85
seven demons from this woman.
00:28:10.89\00:28:13.02
Why do you think it
brings up this concept?
00:28:13.05\00:28:15.29
Why do you think it presents the
casting out of the seven demons?
00:28:15.32\00:28:18.36
Because I think it's looking
back at the testimony, right, of
00:28:18.39\00:28:21.73
that moment, that encounter that
she had with Jesus Christ when
00:28:21.76\00:28:24.93
she was freed again, right, from
the seven demons that had her in
00:28:24.97\00:28:28.80
prostitution, that had her
living in a complete carnal way
00:28:28.84\00:28:34.04
and completely ways
I'm sure she was depressed.
00:28:34.08\00:28:37.85
I'm sure she was not happy as
most situations of people that
00:28:37.88\00:28:40.58
are--that are succumbed in
the--completely in the ways of
00:28:40.62\00:28:44.72
the world, and so what happens
is that it mentions that Jesus
00:28:44.75\00:28:48.52
had saved her.
00:28:48.56\00:28:50.16
That was her past
testimony, but now she has what?
00:28:50.19\00:28:53.29
She has more
evidence to the power of God.
00:28:53.33\00:28:55.93
She can testify to the past when
Jesus Christ took those seven
00:28:55.96\00:28:59.17
demons out, but
now she is also, what?
00:28:59.20\00:29:02.24
She is giving present, she is
getting fresh manna coming out
00:29:02.27\00:29:05.14
of that oven, fresh manna in
regards to now not only has he
00:29:05.17\00:29:09.04
saved me, but he has also
resurrected, right, that our
00:29:09.08\00:29:12.05
King, our Savior
has been resurrected.
00:29:12.08\00:29:14.62
And so, she's also giving
testimony and witness of her
00:29:14.65\00:29:17.65
past life and how that has
helped her to be present for
00:29:17.69\00:29:21.26
this new testimony, this new
witness to the power of God when
00:29:21.29\00:29:25.16
he resurrects Jesus Christ.
00:29:25.19\00:29:27.13
And so, it says in verse 10,
"She went and told those who had
00:29:27.20\00:29:29.93
been with him, and
they mourned and wept.
00:29:29.96\00:29:32.57
And when they heard that he was
alive and had been seen by her,
00:29:32.60\00:29:36.07
they did not believe."
00:29:36.10\00:29:38.74
So, it happens sometimes, my
loved ones, when you're sharing
00:29:38.77\00:29:41.44
your testimony, when you're
giving your testimony, that some
00:29:41.48\00:29:44.15
people might not be impressed.
00:29:44.18\00:29:46.68
Don't worry about it.
00:29:46.72\00:29:48.55
Our job is not to try
to convince people, to
00:29:48.58\00:29:50.22
convict people.
00:29:50.25\00:29:51.72
That's the work
of the Holy Spirit.
00:29:51.75\00:29:53.29
Our job is to be a faithful and
true witness to give evidence to
00:29:53.32\00:29:55.89
the power of God that people can
see that and that seed is going
00:29:55.92\00:29:59.29
to be implanted in their heart
and that's how they're going to
00:29:59.33\00:30:02.20
be won over, my loved ones.
00:30:02.23\00:30:04.07
And so, again, talking about
this past, talking about Mary
00:30:04.10\00:30:06.67
Magdalene in this sense,
not only did she have a present
00:30:06.70\00:30:09.64
testimony, a present evidence
to the power of God, and she
00:30:09.67\00:30:13.81
immediately, what did she do?
00:30:13.84\00:30:15.71
She was so excited, she went
to tell the disciples, thinking
00:30:15.74\00:30:18.25
that they would be just as
excited as they were, and they
00:30:18.28\00:30:20.75
were actually afraid.
00:30:20.78\00:30:22.52
But it's also
pointing back to the past.
00:30:22.55\00:30:24.25
Why do I say this?
00:30:24.29\00:30:25.72
I remember when I was starting
off in the church, my church in
00:30:25.75\00:30:28.69
New York City, in Dyckman, and
on Wednesday nights was known as
00:30:28.72\00:30:32.96
prayer and testimony
night, right, prayer and
00:30:32.99\00:30:35.56
testimony night.
00:30:35.60\00:30:37.63
And I remember that I would
go to prayer and testimony night
00:30:37.67\00:30:39.63
expecting to hear testimonies,
right, just to hear evidence of
00:30:39.67\00:30:42.84
the power of God manifested
through the lives of my brothers
00:30:42.87\00:30:45.64
and sisters of the church.
00:30:45.67\00:30:48.51
And I remember that I would
go there and all they would do
00:30:48.54\00:30:51.25
would be giving prayer
requests, and thanking God.
00:30:51.28\00:30:53.48
And don't get me wrong, there's
a time for a prayer requests,
00:30:53.52\00:30:55.75
and there's a time for giving
gratitude and thanks to God, but
00:30:55.78\00:30:58.99
the purpose specifically of this
service was to give testimony.
00:30:59.02\00:31:02.69
And one thing that stood out to
me is that people were not, very
00:31:02.72\00:31:05.73
few people, very few
people would actually be
00:31:05.76\00:31:08.16
giving testimony.
00:31:08.20\00:31:09.80
I never forget that there
was this older lady, right, God
00:31:09.83\00:31:12.40
bless her, and every Wednesday
night, she would give the same
00:31:12.43\00:31:15.70
testimony I think it
was for over 30 years.
00:31:15.74\00:31:18.71
She would always raise her hand,
and the elder would call on
00:31:18.74\00:31:21.81
her, right?
00:31:21.84\00:31:23.31
And she would come and say, "Oh,
you know, 30 years ago, I had
00:31:23.35\00:31:26.41
cancer, and God healed me from
my cancer, and he saved me."
00:31:26.45\00:31:31.35
And pray, and everybody would
say amen because everybody knew
00:31:31.39\00:31:34.92
because she would
do the same thing.
00:31:34.96\00:31:36.83
And I was just a
new convert, right?
00:31:36.86\00:31:38.63
I was just a baby in
Christianity, and but everybody
00:31:38.66\00:31:41.83
else knew already.
00:31:41.86\00:31:43.50
It was kind of a joke of
everybody that would go to
00:31:43.53\00:31:45.20
Wednesday night testimonies,
and she would give away the
00:31:45.23\00:31:46.90
same testimony.
00:31:46.94\00:31:48.57
And here's my point, don't get
me wrong, praise the Lord that
00:31:48.60\00:31:52.04
God healed her 30 years ago,
amen, and that she can continue
00:31:52.07\00:31:54.84
to give witness to this.
00:31:54.88\00:31:56.61
But we want to make sure that we
have fresh manna coming out of
00:31:56.64\00:31:59.31
that oven, amen?
00:31:59.35\00:32:00.95
We want to--we're not going
to be biting on old, stale bread
00:32:00.98\00:32:04.89
from the past, which don't get
me wrong, is powerful, right?
00:32:04.92\00:32:07.16
But we want to make sure that
the way that we give strength to
00:32:07.19\00:32:10.76
that original miracle that
God did, or strength to that
00:32:10.79\00:32:14.46
original testimony that God may
have done when he started that
00:32:14.46\00:32:18.37
conversion process in us, is
that we should be able to see
00:32:18.40\00:32:21.24
fresh manna today, amen.
00:32:21.27\00:32:23.61
We should be able to
consistently be giving fresh
00:32:23.64\00:32:26.14
evidence, fresh power, and
that again only can come from a
00:32:26.17\00:32:30.38
relationship with God.
00:32:30.41\00:32:32.45
When God told Abraham go, right,
when God told Abraham what to
00:32:32.48\00:32:35.75
do, it says that
Abraham believed God.
00:32:35.78\00:32:38.95
It didn't say that
he believed in God.
00:32:38.99\00:32:40.99
It says that he
believed God, why?
00:32:41.02\00:32:43.19
Because Abraham knew God.
00:32:43.22\00:32:45.06
Abraham had a
personal relationship with God.
00:32:45.09\00:32:48.26
And so, when Abraham is going,
following God, he's giving
00:32:48.30\00:32:52.27
witness and evidence to, who?
00:32:52.30\00:32:54.34
He's showing others by his
obedience, by his surrender to
00:32:54.37\00:32:57.21
God, and by God
guiding him and protecting him.
00:32:57.24\00:33:00.81
And not only Abraham, we
know that all the patriarchs and
00:33:00.84\00:33:03.24
throughout the Bible and
throughout Christianity, right?
00:33:03.28\00:33:05.48
We see this evidence, and
that comes from a personal
00:33:05.51\00:33:08.32
relationship with God, again,
that intimate relationship to
00:33:08.35\00:33:12.49
where you can say,
"You know what, I know this
00:33:12.52\00:33:14.99
person," Right?
00:33:15.02\00:33:16.73
Right now President Donald
Trump, Donald Trump is our
00:33:16.76\00:33:18.43
president, right?
00:33:18.46\00:33:20.06
I can't say I know Donald Trump.
00:33:20.10\00:33:21.80
I can say I know of Donald
Trump, right, because I know who
00:33:21.83\00:33:24.43
he is, but he
doesn't know who I am, right?
00:33:24.47\00:33:26.97
He doesn't know me, and I don't
know him personally either.
00:33:27.00\00:33:30.11
I can only go by
what I see him say, right?
00:33:30.14\00:33:33.17
But I don't have a personal
relationship, so I cannot go and
00:33:33.21\00:33:36.41
give account of
this person, why?
00:33:36.44\00:33:39.01
Because I don't know him.
00:33:39.05\00:33:40.65
But when we know God, right,
when we know God, not only do we
00:33:40.68\00:33:43.22
know him, but God knows us and
God, when that happens with that
00:33:43.25\00:33:47.72
relationship is that you are
going to share God because when
00:33:47.76\00:33:51.03
you know him, you know the
beauty, the character, you're
00:33:51.06\00:33:53.43
going to tell
other people, right?
00:33:53.46\00:33:54.83
You tell other people about when
they ask you for a reference,
00:33:54.83\00:33:56.90
right, or referrals, that's just
basically giving--asking for an
00:33:56.93\00:34:00.27
account of the character of this
person, and that's what we are
00:34:00.30\00:34:04.21
to do, my loved ones.
00:34:04.24\00:34:05.74
We are to share the character of
God to others, to the world, to
00:34:05.77\00:34:09.08
share this.
00:34:09.11\00:34:10.85
There's a beautiful quote in
"Desire of Ages" that says, "Our
00:34:10.88\00:34:13.75
confession of his faithfulness
is heaven's chosen agency for
00:34:13.78\00:34:16.25
revealing Christ to the world.
00:34:16.28\00:34:18.29
We are to acknowledge his grace
as made known through the holy
00:34:18.32\00:34:21.39
men of old, but that which is
most effectual is a testimony of
00:34:21.42\00:34:25.13
our own personal experience.
00:34:25.16\00:34:28.33
We are witnesses for God as we
reveal in ourselves, the working
00:34:28.36\00:34:32.43
of a power that is divine."
00:34:32.47\00:34:35.27
It is something that
is supernatural, right?
00:34:35.30\00:34:37.74
It is something that has no
human explanation, the power of
00:34:37.77\00:34:40.68
God to change and transform us.
00:34:40.71\00:34:43.14
That's why in 2 Corinthians
chapter 3, verse 18 it says that
00:34:43.18\00:34:46.25
when we're the unveiling
the book, the mirror, right, the
00:34:46.28\00:34:50.65
Word of God, it says, We are
then transformed, right, from
00:34:50.69\00:34:53.66
glory to glory.
00:34:53.69\00:34:55.66
So, when we contemplate the
glory of God, when we know God
00:34:55.69\00:34:58.36
through His Word, as Jesus says,
"You seek the Scriptures because
00:34:58.39\00:35:01.76
you think in them, that you have
everlasting life, but they are
00:35:01.80\00:35:06.50
they which give
testimony of me."
00:35:06.53\00:35:08.44
So, when we have that daily,
intimate relationship with
00:35:08.47\00:35:11.71
Christ, when we get to know him,
when we hear the promises and we
00:35:11.74\00:35:14.74
see how those promises have been
fulfilled in the lives of other
00:35:14.78\00:35:17.75
people, and then we start to see
those promises fulfilled in our
00:35:17.78\00:35:20.58
lives, we can just, we
just can glorify Him, right?
00:35:20.62\00:35:23.55
Our minds are changed.
00:35:23.59\00:35:25.39
That means our character,
our paradigms, right, the way we
00:35:25.42\00:35:28.06
think is changed, and we start
to see God in a different light.
00:35:28.09\00:35:31.33
And by seeing God in a different
light, by knowing God in a
00:35:31.36\00:35:34.03
different light, by having that
relationship, the response, the
00:35:34.10\00:35:37.70
immediate response, is to tell
others about this peace, this
00:35:37.73\00:35:41.07
joy, this freedom that you have
experienced through the power
00:35:41.10\00:35:44.77
of God.
00:35:44.81\00:35:46.51
And so, in the lesson, it
also tells us about the Book of
00:35:46.54\00:35:49.88
Acts, right?
00:35:49.91\00:35:51.88
And so, really the Book of
Acts if you really notice it, my
00:35:51.91\00:35:54.42
loved ones, the Book of Acts is
actually the book that witnesses
00:35:54.45\00:35:57.75
to the power of the Holy Spirit
in that sense, to the ministry
00:35:57.79\00:36:01.59
of Jesus Christ, to
the power of God, why?
00:36:01.62\00:36:04.83
Because remember, these same
disciples that were all cowards
00:36:04.86\00:36:07.60
when they went to arrest Jesus
Christ, and they all fled at
00:36:07.60\00:36:11.57
that right moment, what
happened to them, my loved ones?
00:36:11.60\00:36:14.27
When you start to look through
the Book of Acts, these men
00:36:14.30\00:36:16.94
became powerful,
powerful witnesses to what?
00:36:16.97\00:36:20.04
To what God wanted to do.
00:36:20.08\00:36:22.18
They became powerful witnesses
to that evidence, and it gives
00:36:22.21\00:36:25.31
us the example in Acts chapter
3 and chapter 4, right, about
00:36:25.35\00:36:29.18
John, the Apostle John and
Peter, when they healed the man
00:36:29.22\00:36:33.82
that he was a paralytic,
right, from his birth.
00:36:33.86\00:36:38.59
And it says that after they were
healed, it says, then they have
00:36:38.63\00:36:43.47
to go before the
courts and judges.
00:36:43.50\00:36:46.03
Go with me to Acts chapter 4.
00:36:46.07\00:36:48.47
Go with me to Acts chapter 4
because I think this context is
00:36:48.50\00:36:50.81
very, is very important in the
sense of what they were doing
00:36:50.84\00:36:54.84
and where they were
giving witnesses, right?
00:36:54.88\00:36:57.35
They had just healed this man,
so this man is crying out to the
00:36:57.38\00:37:00.55
world, right?
00:37:00.58\00:37:02.15
It says he was leaping
and jumping in Acts chapter 3.
00:37:02.18\00:37:03.85
He was so excited, and
they were there in the temple.
00:37:03.89\00:37:06.45
And so, everybody
was witnessing to this.
00:37:06.49\00:37:08.66
And look at what it says
in Acts chapter 4, verse 1.
00:37:08.69\00:37:11.33
It says, "Then Jesus filled with
the Holy Spirit returned from
00:37:11.36\00:37:14.93
the Jordan--"
00:37:14.93\00:37:16.80
I'm sorry, that's Luke.
00:37:16.83\00:37:18.80
I'm sorry, Acts chapter 1,
Acts chapter 1, chapter 4, verse
00:37:18.83\00:37:22.40
number 1, here we go.
00:37:22.44\00:37:24.71
Acts chapter 4, verse
number 1, look at what it says.
00:37:24.74\00:37:26.61
"Now as they spoke to the
people, the priests, the captain
00:37:26.64\00:37:29.71
of the temple, and the Sadducees
came upon them, being greatly
00:37:29.74\00:37:33.31
disturbed that they taught
the people and preached in
00:37:33.35\00:37:36.55
Jesus," what?
00:37:36.58\00:37:38.19
"The resurrection of the dead."
00:37:38.22\00:37:39.92
Now, jump with me to verse
number 5, "And it came to pass,
00:37:39.95\00:37:41.86
on the next day, that their
rulers, elders, and scribes, as
00:37:41.89\00:37:44.93
well as Ananias the high priest,
Caiaphas, John, and Alexander,
00:37:44.96\00:37:48.56
and as many as were of the
family of the high priest, were
00:37:48.60\00:37:52.10
gathered together
at Jerusalem," right?
00:37:52.13\00:37:54.87
And what do they say?
00:37:54.90\00:37:56.47
"And they asked them, 'By what
power or by what name have you
00:37:56.50\00:37:59.57
done this thing?'
00:37:59.61\00:38:01.44
" So, notice that they're being
presented here to the highest
00:38:01.48\00:38:03.78
governmental authorities,
religious authorities, of the
00:38:03.81\00:38:07.52
region, right, of the people.
00:38:07.55\00:38:09.62
You have the high priest,
you have them there, and they're
00:38:09.65\00:38:11.99
giving what?
00:38:12.02\00:38:13.59
They're giving account of what?
00:38:13.62\00:38:15.26
Of the testimony, of the witness
of that man that was just
00:38:15.29\00:38:16.93
healed, Peter and
John are there doing what?
00:38:16.96\00:38:19.56
They're giving
account and saying what?
00:38:19.59\00:38:21.20
This is the power of God.
00:38:21.23\00:38:23.37
Notice that they recognize that
there was some power that was
00:38:23.40\00:38:26.07
working in them, right?
00:38:26.10\00:38:27.94
And so, they know that
there's something interesting.
00:38:27.97\00:38:30.81
Go with me to verse number 13.
00:38:30.84\00:38:32.61
Watch what it says.
00:38:32.64\00:38:34.31
"Now when they saw the boldness
of Peter and John, and perceived
00:38:34.34\00:38:37.71
that they were uneducated and
untrained men, they marveled.
00:38:37.75\00:38:41.55
And they realized that
they had been with Jesus."
00:38:41.58\00:38:44.85
I know a lot of people sometimes
they say, "Well, I can't give, I
00:38:44.89\00:38:47.19
can't give a personal testimony.
00:38:47.22\00:38:49.06
I don't have the
eloquence as some speakers.
00:38:49.09\00:38:51.86
I don't have the education.
00:38:51.89\00:38:53.56
I don't have the
credentials, right.
00:38:53.60\00:38:55.13
I didn't study theology.
00:38:55.16\00:38:56.77
I don't have like
this background that other
00:38:56.80\00:38:58.97
people say."
00:38:59.00\00:39:00.70
Well, my loved ones, you don't
have to worry about that because
00:39:00.74\00:39:02.67
that's not the
most important thing.
00:39:02.70\00:39:04.07
The most important thing,
my loved ones, is a surrendered
00:39:04.11\00:39:06.81
heart because that's
what God wants to use.
00:39:06.84\00:39:09.48
That's the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:39:09.51\00:39:11.15
That's why he could not use
the Pharisees and the priests of
00:39:11.18\00:39:13.52
those times because, what?
00:39:13.55\00:39:15.38
They were so educated, they were
so--they thought they were so
00:39:15.42\00:39:18.12
self-righteous in regards to
everything that they knew that
00:39:18.15\00:39:20.56
nobody can teach them.
00:39:20.59\00:39:22.29
And so Jesus says, "I'm going
to I'm going to pass you guys.
00:39:22.32\00:39:24.53
I'm going to go to these
men that I know are not going to
00:39:24.56\00:39:27.20
hold on to their education,
not going to hold on to their
00:39:27.23\00:39:30.03
knowledge, not going to
hold on to their position."
00:39:30.07\00:39:32.27
Are going to what?
00:39:32.30\00:39:33.90
"Are going to let me work."
00:39:33.94\00:39:35.60
And so, because they were
uneducated and untrained, that
00:39:35.64\00:39:37.47
gave even more power, right,
because they were--if you when
00:39:37.51\00:39:40.54
you study the Book of Acts and
the rest of the gospels, they
00:39:40.58\00:39:43.81
were schooling, right, to the
Pharisees and the doctors of the
00:39:43.85\00:39:49.42
law in the same way that Jesus
was, right, that he wasn't--he
00:39:49.45\00:39:52.45
didn't go to any rabbinical
school, per se, in as the
00:39:52.49\00:39:55.19
tradition would be.
00:39:55.22\00:39:58.06
And so, this is a powerful
testimony again, to what?
00:39:58.09\00:40:00.80
To the power of
God, God working with us.
00:40:00.83\00:40:03.47
Doesn't mean that it's not good
to get an education, it doesn't
00:40:03.50\00:40:05.50
mean that it's not
good to get training.
00:40:05.53\00:40:07.00
It doesn't mean that it's
not good to learn, that's good.
00:40:07.04\00:40:10.57
But that, if it's not
surrendered to--if it's not
00:40:10.61\00:40:13.07
given to a surrendered heart,
to somebody that has completely
00:40:13.11\00:40:16.54
given in to God,
then it's not worth it.
00:40:16.58\00:40:19.25
It actually becomes an
impediment to the gospel.
00:40:19.28\00:40:21.38
And so, this is the witness
that they were giving in regards
00:40:21.42\00:40:24.49
to that.
00:40:24.52\00:40:25.95
Look at what it says in verse
number 14, "And seeing the man
00:40:25.99\00:40:28.02
who had been healed standing
with them, they could say
00:40:28.06\00:40:30.99
nothing against it.
00:40:31.03\00:40:32.59
But when they had commanded them
to go aside out of the council,
00:40:32.63\00:40:35.30
they conferred among themselves,
saying, 'What shall we do to
00:40:35.33\00:40:38.40
these men?
00:40:38.43\00:40:40.10
For, indeed, that a notable
miracle has been done through
00:40:40.14\00:40:42.77
them is evident,"
Right, evidence, there it is,
00:40:42.80\00:40:45.67
"testimony to the all who dwell
in Jerusalem and you cannot
00:40:45.71\00:40:50.81
deny it."
00:40:50.85\00:40:53.05
My loved ones, it is impossible
to deny that evidence, the power
00:40:53.08\00:40:56.42
of somebody that is speaking
truth, somebody that is standing
00:40:56.45\00:40:59.65
up for what is right, somebody,
my loved ones, that is wanting
00:40:59.69\00:41:03.29
to give a faithful account to
clear the waters, my loved ones.
00:41:03.32\00:41:07.50
And that's why it says in Acts
chapter 4, verse 20, "For we
00:41:07.56\00:41:10.40
cannot but speak to things
which we have seen and heard."
00:41:10.43\00:41:13.47
Notice they're
saying, "We cannot stay quiet.
00:41:13.50\00:41:16.14
We cannot stay quiet to
wonderful things that God has
00:41:16.17\00:41:20.04
done in us and the wonderful
things that God is doing through
00:41:20.08\00:41:23.21
us," my loved ones.
00:41:23.24\00:41:24.71
And so, this is the witness.
00:41:24.75\00:41:26.18
That's why it says in Acts
chapter 1, Jesus says, "You
00:41:26.21\00:41:28.55
shall be witnesses to
all the world," right?
00:41:28.58\00:41:30.65
You will be martyrs, basically
what the Word is saying, "They
00:41:30.69\00:41:33.56
will see that through your
surrendered life, they will see
00:41:33.59\00:41:35.96
that through your giving
over that you have surrendered
00:41:35.99\00:41:38.63
completely to me.
00:41:38.66\00:41:40.20
I am going to work through
you and people will see that
00:41:40.23\00:41:42.80
manifestation," my loved ones,
people will see that power, my
00:41:42.83\00:41:45.60
loved one.
00:41:45.63\00:41:47.27
And so, it's only genuine,
authentic Christianity, my loved
00:41:47.30\00:41:49.67
ones, pure Christianity that
can capture the attention of the
00:41:49.70\00:41:53.14
times, my loved ones.
00:41:53.17\00:41:55.04
Now there's so much chaos, now
there's so much confusion, and,
00:41:55.08\00:41:58.18
my loved ones, it is we think
that we have to do, oh, we have
00:41:58.21\00:42:01.35
to make our services
interesting, we have to use this
00:42:01.38\00:42:04.02
type of music, or we
have to use this type of
00:42:04.05\00:42:06.45
entertaining service.
00:42:06.49\00:42:08.12
No, the gospel shall be preached
through our testimony, says
00:42:08.16\00:42:11.73
Jesus in Matthew 24:14.
00:42:11.76\00:42:13.66
So, it's when people see
genuine love, when they see the
00:42:13.70\00:42:17.30
character of Christ in us, that
is what's going to draw them in,
00:42:17.33\00:42:20.94
that is what's going to bring
them and they're going to see
00:42:20.97\00:42:23.64
that and that's what's
going to win the world over.
00:42:23.67\00:42:25.97
It's not trying to impress
people, it's trying to represent
00:42:26.01\00:42:28.54
the character of God, it's
trying to humbly go and share
00:42:28.58\00:42:32.51
others and when you do,
you cannot stay quiet, my loved
00:42:32.55\00:42:36.28
ones, right?
00:42:36.32\00:42:37.82
It's like when
you're in love, right?
00:42:37.85\00:42:39.42
When you know when somebody
is in love because you can tell
00:42:39.45\00:42:41.09
there's something
different about you, right?
00:42:41.12\00:42:42.76
Your face is different,
your expressions are different.
00:42:42.79\00:42:45.06
Now all of a sudden, you're
so happy, you're so glittery,
00:42:45.09\00:42:47.60
you're changing your
hair, you're whatever people are
00:42:47.66\00:42:50.70
doing, right?
00:42:50.73\00:42:52.30
You have a countenance and
the person is also consistently
00:42:52.33\00:42:54.20
speaking about
that person, right?
00:42:54.24\00:42:56.30
"Oh, because I just met
somebody, and oh, this and
00:42:56.34\00:42:58.87
that," right?
00:42:58.91\00:43:00.28
And sometimes you're like
"Ah, here we go again," right?
00:43:00.31\00:43:02.38
But in this context, in this
state, my loved ones, no, it
00:43:02.41\00:43:04.18
says the beauty
of the gospel, right?
00:43:04.21\00:43:05.98
It's that transformation
that we can share with others.
00:43:06.01\00:43:09.35
And again, here's the problem,
my loved ones, the problem is
00:43:09.38\00:43:12.09
is, what if I don't
have anything to say?
00:43:12.12\00:43:14.79
Well, if I don't have anything
to say, if I'm not seeing fresh
00:43:14.82\00:43:18.06
manna, if I don't have anything
to share about God, my loved
00:43:18.09\00:43:20.83
ones, then that means that
there is some type of disconnect
00:43:20.86\00:43:23.80
with God.
00:43:23.83\00:43:25.67
And so, we want to make sure
that we're connected with God
00:43:25.70\00:43:27.40
always, that we're always
seeking God, that we're always
00:43:27.44\00:43:29.30
with him so that he can continue
to, that power continue to flow
00:43:29.34\00:43:32.64
consistently, not hold on
to a 30-year-old testimony.
00:43:32.67\00:43:35.61
Don't get me wrong, is great,
but we want to see that that
00:43:35.64\00:43:38.41
testimony has continued to grow
and has continued to go deeper
00:43:38.45\00:43:41.55
and deeper.
00:43:41.58\00:43:43.42
We want to--God wants that
to be--He wants us to be the
00:43:43.45\00:43:45.62
witnesses to His
love and His power.
00:43:45.65\00:43:47.99
And so, it's interesting because
in the in the study it talks
00:43:48.02\00:43:51.13
about Acts chapter 6
when Paul is in front of King
00:43:51.16\00:43:54.10
Agrippa, right?
00:43:54.13\00:43:56.13
And we won't read the whole
thing because of time, but in
00:43:56.16\00:43:59.07
the lesson, it actually
gives us, it breaks down Paul's
00:43:59.10\00:44:01.90
testimony in three parts.
00:44:01.94\00:44:03.97
It talks about Paul mentioned
before he was, before he was
00:44:04.01\00:44:06.57
a Christian.
00:44:06.61\00:44:08.18
He talks about his
encounter with Christ.
00:44:08.21\00:44:10.11
And he then he talks about, and
then he's giving evidence to his
00:44:10.15\00:44:14.18
current life.
00:44:14.22\00:44:15.78
And so, sometimes people come to
me and they say, "You know what?
00:44:15.82\00:44:18.22
I don't know how
to give my testimony.
00:44:18.25\00:44:20.02
How do I give my
testimony in a quick way?"
00:44:20.06\00:44:21.96
I want to share with you
something, a very simple way
00:44:21.99\00:44:24.06
that you can prepare a short
three-to-five-minute testimony
00:44:24.09\00:44:27.03
that you can prepare because
sometimes, you know, there are
00:44:27.10\00:44:29.70
moments in life where you come
across people, and you kind of
00:44:29.73\00:44:33.97
have that desire to
share what God has done.
00:44:34.00\00:44:35.97
Try to reach that
person, my loved ones.
00:44:36.00\00:44:38.17
Well, you always want
to have, you want to have a
00:44:38.21\00:44:40.04
full testimony.
00:44:40.08\00:44:41.54
You want to develop a full
testimony, right, so that in
00:44:41.58\00:44:43.11
some places, you go to a church,
you go someplace where you have
00:44:43.14\00:44:46.15
time, you can develop
and talk to the love of God.
00:44:46.18\00:44:48.55
But what about if
you have a short time?
00:44:48.58\00:44:51.29
And I don't want to take this
last couple of minutes and share
00:44:51.32\00:44:53.32
with you that we should follow
the same pattern, but I want to
00:44:53.36\00:44:55.99
add a fourth part.
00:44:56.02\00:44:57.59
So number one, before Christ,
write a sentence, write in one
00:44:57.63\00:45:00.56
sentence what God has done.
00:45:00.60\00:45:02.56
What were you before God?
00:45:02.60\00:45:04.37
Don't exaggerate sin, right?
00:45:04.40\00:45:08.67
Don't give sin.
00:45:08.70\00:45:11.11
Don't prop up sin, right?
00:45:11.14\00:45:12.97
Just keep it basic.
00:45:13.01\00:45:14.58
Number two, how did you--what
happened when you knew Christ,
00:45:14.61\00:45:16.88
your conversion?
00:45:16.91\00:45:18.38
Number three, what happened
after Christ, right, or what is
00:45:18.41\00:45:21.42
God doing
currently in your life?
00:45:21.45\00:45:23.18
And number four is, what
are your expectations for
00:45:23.22\00:45:25.29
the future?
00:45:25.32\00:45:26.89
One sentence, right, one
sentence and I'll share mines
00:45:26.92\00:45:28.62
very quickly with you.
00:45:28.66\00:45:30.46
So number one, before Christ.
00:45:30.49\00:45:32.36
Well, you know, my loved ones,
before I came to Christ, I was
00:45:32.39\00:45:34.40
living in all the
ways of the world.
00:45:34.46\00:45:36.50
I was following
the ways of the flesh.
00:45:36.53\00:45:39.87
I was doing all the wrong
things, with all the wrong
00:45:39.90\00:45:42.47
people, in all the wrong
places, right, I was depressed,
00:45:42.50\00:45:45.37
even suicidal.
00:45:45.41\00:45:47.11
Number two, but at that moment
when I hit rock bottom is when I
00:45:47.14\00:45:50.71
looked up and I
gave God a chance.
00:45:50.75\00:45:53.48
And I came and I let Jesus
Christ come into my heart, and I
00:45:53.52\00:45:57.32
started my relationship
with him, my loved ones.
00:45:57.35\00:45:59.79
Number three, currently that
testimony, it's been 12 years
00:45:59.82\00:46:03.59
since I gave my life over to
Jesus Christ, and my loved ones,
00:46:03.63\00:46:06.73
I have never had so much joy,
so much peace, so much desire to
00:46:06.76\00:46:11.67
live so much purpose,
so much reason, right?
00:46:11.70\00:46:14.57
We're trying to point back to
that past and to see how this is
00:46:14.60\00:46:17.74
being transformed.
00:46:17.77\00:46:19.61
I'm just sharing with you as
I'm explaining to you, right?
00:46:19.64\00:46:21.58
And so, we want to focus
on what is your life now since
00:46:21.61\00:46:23.78
that moment?
00:46:23.81\00:46:25.45
And number four,
what is the future?
00:46:25.48\00:46:27.08
You know what?
00:46:27.12\00:46:28.65
I'm really looking forward to
what God has for me, because I
00:46:28.68\00:46:30.35
know this is just the beginning.
00:46:30.39\00:46:32.12
There's so many things that need
to be done, so many people that
00:46:32.15\00:46:33.92
need to be reached, Christ.
00:46:33.96\00:46:35.89
And so, I'm excited and waiting
to see what plan God has for
00:46:35.92\00:46:38.06
my life.
00:46:38.09\00:46:39.69
Four simple points,
four sentences, right?
00:46:39.73\00:46:42.90
You can say I took a little bit
longer because I was explaining
00:46:42.93\00:46:44.63
in between, but that can be
the power of your testimony in
00:46:44.67\00:46:47.47
three, four, five
minutes if you have to.
00:46:47.50\00:46:50.17
If you have more time, amen,
but you should be able to share.
00:46:50.21\00:46:53.21
And sometimes I come across
Christians that say, "Oh, I was
00:46:53.24\00:46:56.28
raised a Christian, right.
00:46:56.31\00:46:58.81
I don't have this powerful
testimony like a lot of people
00:46:58.85\00:47:01.18
have that they were taken out
of drugs, or they were gangs, or
00:47:01.22\00:47:04.65
one of those things,
or they were prostitutes.
00:47:04.69\00:47:06.79
I don't have a
witness like that."
00:47:06.82\00:47:08.36
But you know what?
00:47:08.39\00:47:09.96
Nobody is born a Christian.
00:47:09.99\00:47:11.43
We might be born in a Christian
family, right, but to be a
00:47:11.46\00:47:13.40
Christian, you have to make
decision and that decision has
00:47:13.43\00:47:15.90
to be made.
00:47:15.93\00:47:18.07
There has to be a moment in your
life where you know that your
00:47:18.10\00:47:21.04
life has been changed
or transformed, right?
00:47:21.07\00:47:23.41
If we're seeing in our Christian
walk, if we're seeing in our
00:47:23.44\00:47:26.31
Christian life, that things are
just the same, that nothing is
00:47:26.34\00:47:29.01
changing, my loved ones,
again, there's a problem there.
00:47:29.04\00:47:31.28
There's a disconnect.
00:47:31.31\00:47:32.81
We should be able, whether we
came from the ways of the world
00:47:32.85\00:47:36.15
or whether we come from
Christian family, to give
00:47:36.18\00:47:38.39
evidence, to give testimony,
to the power of God, to show
00:47:38.42\00:47:41.22
them, right?
00:47:41.26\00:47:43.16
And I know lots of Christians
that were raised in Christian
00:47:43.19\00:47:44.96
families, and
they talk about it.
00:47:44.99\00:47:46.66
They said, "You know what?
00:47:46.70\00:47:48.30
I was just going through t
routine, I was this nominal
00:47:48.33\00:47:49.80
Christian, I, no,
no power whatsoever."
00:47:49.83\00:47:52.40
And then it wasn't sometimes
until they hit rock bottom that
00:47:52.43\00:47:55.67
they hold on to that faith
of their father's and then they
00:47:55.70\00:47:58.77
give evidence and
power to the testimony.
00:47:58.81\00:48:01.41
So, you must have it, right?
00:48:01.44\00:48:03.45
You must have that connection,
you must have that experience
00:48:03.48\00:48:06.11
with God, to be able to testify
and give witness, evidence of
00:48:06.15\00:48:08.98
the love of God, you have to
know Him, you have to relate to
00:48:09.02\00:48:12.09
Him, you have to spend time
with Him so that He can show His
00:48:12.12\00:48:15.39
love, His grace, His
mercy, his power to others.
00:48:15.42\00:48:21.40
And so, I invite you that if you
don't have anything to say, if
00:48:21.43\00:48:24.70
you don't have anything new to
say really, right, then I invite
00:48:24.73\00:48:27.34
you to say, "God, I want
to be a powerful witness.
00:48:27.37\00:48:30.41
I want to be a
powerful testimony to others.
00:48:30.44\00:48:33.31
I want others to see your love
in me, your grace, your power.
00:48:33.34\00:48:36.61
I want to be that instrument.
00:48:36.64\00:48:39.25
I want to be that ambassador,
and I want to go tell others and
00:48:39.28\00:48:42.68
share others through my life,
through my character, through my
00:48:42.72\00:48:45.79
words, that they may see the
power in you," my loved ones.
00:48:45.82\00:48:48.72
And that's what it means, my
loved ones, to live a life of
00:48:48.76\00:48:51.39
testimony, a life of witnesses
is that we have this connection
00:48:51.43\00:48:54.00
with God, and we are sharing
the love of God with others.
00:48:54.03\00:48:56.90
And when that
happens, it's attractive.
00:48:56.93\00:48:59.07
It's winsome, it's beautiful,
and people are going to be drawn
00:48:59.10\00:49:02.17
in as they see our lives, as
they see what God has done with
00:49:02.20\00:49:05.64
us, and they're going to want to
know more about the God that you
00:49:05.67\00:49:08.31
and I serve.
00:49:08.34\00:49:09.84
So, I invite you to have
that opportunity, my loved ones,
00:49:09.88\00:49:11.91
to share.
00:49:11.95\00:49:13.65
Spend that time, one-on-one time
with God, which is the key to
00:49:13.68\00:49:16.08
connection, prayer and
study, daily devotional.
00:49:16.12\00:49:19.12
And if you go with the attitude
of wanting to know God, and
00:49:19.15\00:49:21.79
wanting to share God, and
wanting to have a deeper walk
00:49:21.82\00:49:24.49
with him, you will see, I
promise you, God because it's
00:49:24.53\00:49:28.33
impossible for God to come into
the life of somebody and for the
00:49:28.36\00:49:31.13
person to stay the same.
00:49:31.17\00:49:32.83
You are that instrument, you are
that piece of evidence that God
00:49:32.87\00:49:35.24
wants to present, so I
invite you to ask for that.
00:49:35.27\00:49:37.47
God bless you.
00:49:37.51\00:49:38.84
male announcer: Don't forget
to request today's life-changing
00:49:41.18\00:49:43.24
free resource.
00:49:43.28\00:49:45.05
To get your copy of today's free
gift, simply text the key word
00:49:45.08\00:49:48.35
on your screen to 40544 or
visit the web address shown on
00:49:48.38\00:49:52.72
your screen.
00:49:52.75\00:49:54.49
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:49:54.52\00:49:57.23
Amazing Facts wherever and
whenever you want, and most
00:49:57.26\00:50:00.96
important, to
share it with others.
00:50:00.96\00:50:04.10
¤¤¤
00:50:06.10\00:50:13.91
Doug Batchelor: Friends,
have you ever heard of the
00:50:15.98\00:50:17.31
bowhead whale?
00:50:17.35\00:50:18.71
This enormous leviathan is
the second largest creature in
00:50:18.75\00:50:22.52
the world.
00:50:22.55\00:50:24.19
Dark and stocky, it roams the
fertile arctic northern waters.
00:50:24.22\00:50:27.39
These massive creatures can be
more than 65 feet long and weigh
00:50:27.42\00:50:32.46
more than 75 tons, that's
heavier than the space shuttle.
00:50:32.49\00:50:37.03
Yet in spite of their titanic
size, they're able to leap
00:50:37.07\00:50:40.00
entirely out of the water.
00:50:40.04\00:50:43.07
Can you say belly flop?
00:50:43.10\00:50:45.64
The bowhead whale gets its name
from its bow-shaped skull, and
00:50:45.67\00:50:49.61
they've got one
ginormous noggin.
00:50:49.64\00:50:52.11
Matter of fact, their heads are
about 40% of their body size,
00:50:52.15\00:50:55.32
which comes in handy
when you find out how they use
00:50:55.35\00:50:57.52
their heads.
00:50:57.55\00:50:59.39
They've got very thick skulls.
00:50:59.42\00:51:01.46
Sometimes they get trapped under
the surface, and they use their
00:51:01.49\00:51:03.79
heads to ram the ice.
00:51:03.83\00:51:06.13
They can break a breathing
hole in the ice that is a
00:51:06.16\00:51:08.23
foot-and-a-half thick.
00:51:08.26\00:51:10.70
Friends, you have to just
imagine what it would be like to
00:51:10.73\00:51:12.70
be walking around on the Arctic
ice and all of a sudden have the
00:51:12.73\00:51:16.04
ground beneath you cracked and
split and rise as one of these
00:51:16.07\00:51:20.41
sea monsters pushes its head up
to breathe for the first time in
00:51:20.44\00:51:24.31
90 minutes.
00:51:24.35\00:51:26.41
Because bowheads make their
home in the coldest part of our
00:51:26.45\00:51:28.28
world, they have the
thickest blubber of any whale.
00:51:28.32\00:51:30.65
But this, plus their friendly
and curious nature, made them
00:51:30.69\00:51:34.72
prime targets when the European
whalers discovered the bowheads.
00:51:34.76\00:51:38.16
They hunted them
nearly to extinction.
00:51:38.19\00:51:42.53
Fortunately, because of
conservation efforts, we've
00:51:42.56\00:51:45.33
slowly seen their numbers begin
to increase since the '60s.
00:51:45.37\00:51:48.37
One of the most amazing
facts about the bowhead whale is
00:51:48.40\00:51:51.87
its longevity.
00:51:51.91\00:51:53.84
Scientists have discovered, by
evaluating harpoon tips found in
00:51:53.88\00:51:57.21
their skull and examining their
eye tissue, there are bowhead
00:51:57.25\00:52:00.72
whales out there that are
probably over 200 years old.
00:52:00.75\00:52:05.75
You realize that means there
are bowhead whales swimming the
00:52:05.79\00:52:08.76
oceans right now that were
alive before Abraham Lincoln was
00:52:08.79\00:52:12.49
elected president.
00:52:12.53\00:52:14.66
Can you imagine that?
00:52:14.73\00:52:16.67
Among the other amazing mega
facts about the bowhead whale,
00:52:16.70\00:52:19.70
is its mega mouth.
00:52:19.73\00:52:21.77
They have the largest mouth of
any in the animal kingdom, and
00:52:21.80\00:52:25.21
when they open their pie hole
full extended, it's large enough
00:52:25.24\00:52:28.64
to park a
medium-sized SUV inside.
00:52:28.68\00:52:31.25
Yet in spite of the fact they've
got such big mouths, they
00:52:31.28\00:52:34.05
survive by eating the very
smallest creatures in the ocean,
00:52:34.08\00:52:37.69
plankton, krill, and
other microscopic animals.
00:52:37.72\00:52:41.82
Friends, I'm always amazed
by the creatures God has made.
00:52:41.86\00:52:45.36
This bowhead whale is able
to dive to the deepest oceans.
00:52:45.39\00:52:48.06
They can break through the ice
and move mountains with their
00:52:48.10\00:52:51.33
head and completely leave the
water and fly through the air,
00:52:51.37\00:52:54.14
and yet they do all that by
gaining strength from almost
00:52:54.17\00:52:56.74
microscopic organisms, helps us
remember that we survive through
00:52:56.77\00:53:01.61
the little
promises in God's Word.
00:53:01.64\00:53:04.75
Jesus, when tempted by the
devil, he quoted just a few
00:53:04.78\00:53:07.42
little verses, and he
sent the enemy running.
00:53:07.45\00:53:10.45
You can also have that same
durability and long life as the
00:53:10.49\00:53:13.66
bowhead whale by trusting
in God's Word and His promises.
00:53:13.69\00:53:16.76
¤¤¤
00:53:16.79\00:53:24.30
announcer: Amazing
Facts, Changed Lives.
00:53:29.90\00:53:34.64
male: I'd have to say that
I had a wonderful childhood
00:53:38.95\00:53:40.82
growing up.
00:53:40.85\00:53:42.55
I went to a private school
up until the seventh grade, till
00:53:42.58\00:53:45.32
junior high.
00:53:45.35\00:53:46.89
I believe it was at that point
in junior high that my life
00:53:46.92\00:53:50.66
began to change.
00:53:50.69\00:53:52.76
Going from a Christian education
into a public school was a
00:53:52.79\00:53:55.60
big difference.
00:53:55.63\00:53:57.57
There was a lot of secular
influence, peer pressure.
00:53:57.60\00:54:01.34
And for me it was the music.
00:54:01.37\00:54:04.17
I started listening
to heavy metal music.
00:54:04.21\00:54:06.61
Every concert that would
come to town, I was there.
00:54:06.64\00:54:09.24
That had a
profound effect on me.
00:54:09.28\00:54:11.51
I started using marijuana,
probably at the age of 14.
00:54:11.55\00:54:17.12
I started drinking, using a
lot of cocaine, and that led to
00:54:17.15\00:54:21.16
methamphetamine, and that
completely changed my life.
00:54:21.19\00:54:24.36
I dropped out of high school my
sophomore year and went to work.
00:54:24.39\00:54:30.20
I would get off of work,
and we'd go into the bar until
00:54:30.23\00:54:33.74
two o'clock in the morning.
00:54:33.77\00:54:35.54
I'd get back up at five and I'd
go back through it again six,
00:54:35.57\00:54:38.01
seven days a week.
00:54:38.04\00:54:42.08
At the age of 20, I lost
my dad to a heart attack.
00:54:42.11\00:54:47.85
I didn't know how to handle the
loss, so I tried to mask my pain
00:54:47.88\00:54:51.32
with alcohol and drugs.
00:54:51.35\00:54:54.06
I got three DUI's in one year.
00:54:54.09\00:54:56.36
I was arrested, and they gave
me a year in the county jail.
00:54:56.39\00:55:00.70
And the moment I got out, I went
back to doing the same thing,
00:55:00.73\00:55:04.73
hanging with the same
people, the same crowd.
00:55:04.77\00:55:07.47
I was involved in a hit-and-run
motorcycle accident, and I was
00:55:07.50\00:55:10.64
charged with a felony DUI.
00:55:10.67\00:55:12.97
Even though at the time of the
accident, I was not under the
00:55:13.01\00:55:15.24
influence, I still had
methamphetamine in my system.
00:55:15.28\00:55:18.55
At my sentencing day, I left
the courtroom, and I didn't come
00:55:18.58\00:55:22.58
back, and that left
me with a felony warrant.
00:55:22.62\00:55:25.85
And I'd fallen asleep at a park,
and I woke up to a park ranger
00:55:25.89\00:55:31.53
knocking on my window.
00:55:31.56\00:55:34.00
I knew I was wanted, and I knew
that I was not gonna just turn
00:55:34.03\00:55:37.30
myself in.
00:55:37.33\00:55:39.77
I turned to him and I'd made
the comment, "Not today," and I
00:55:39.80\00:55:42.27
took off.
00:55:42.30\00:55:44.57
I led five different agencies on
about a 35-minute chase, and I
00:55:44.61\00:55:48.68
realized at that point that
I wasn't going to get away and
00:55:48.71\00:55:51.91
that this was going to end
up either me killing somebody
00:55:51.95\00:55:54.42
or myself.
00:55:54.45\00:55:57.65
And so, I made a
decision to pull over.
00:55:57.69\00:55:59.72
At that point,
everything that I had, I lost.
00:55:59.75\00:56:02.99
I was sentenced to two years
in state prison and it was there
00:56:03.02\00:56:07.30
that God got a hold of me
and it was through Amazing
00:56:07.30\00:56:13.07
Facts Ministries.
00:56:13.10\00:56:15.64
I remember listening on my
radio Pastor Doug Batchelor.
00:56:15.67\00:56:19.61
I wanted to get
to know the Bible.
00:56:19.64\00:56:21.51
I wanted to know God.
00:56:21.54\00:56:23.51
And so, my Aunt Marilyn sent me
the Amazing Fact study guides,
00:56:23.55\00:56:28.78
and it was there that my
relationship with Christ began.
00:56:28.82\00:56:35.22
I had called home and I knew my
mother wasn't doing well, but I
00:56:35.26\00:56:40.96
didn't realize
that she had cancer.
00:56:41.00\00:56:45.07
She had about a 30% chance of
making it through her surgery.
00:56:45.10\00:56:51.77
She had told the doctors that
she was not going to have chemo,
00:56:51.81\00:56:54.61
and she was not going to have
radiation, that if her God was
00:56:54.64\00:56:56.68
going to save her,
then He would save her.
00:56:56.71\00:56:59.75
I remember hanging up the phone
to what I thought was my last
00:56:59.78\00:57:03.12
conversation with my mom.
00:57:03.15\00:57:07.42
I turned around, I got down on
my knees, and I prayed to God.
00:57:07.46\00:57:12.46
I said, "God, if you're there,
please save my mother, and
00:57:12.49\00:57:16.23
wherever you lead me in life,
whatever you want me to do, I
00:57:16.26\00:57:20.04
am yours."
00:57:20.07\00:57:22.00
And I had a feeling of such
peace that I knew that my mother
00:57:22.04\00:57:26.94
was going to be okay and that
my life was going to change.
00:57:26.98\00:57:31.75
There are no words that I can
adequately express to Amazing
00:57:31.78\00:57:35.72
Facts and to Pastor
Doug to say thank you.
00:57:35.75\00:57:38.89
To all those people who support
the ministry, I am a product of
00:57:38.92\00:57:41.86
your support.
00:57:41.89\00:57:44.03
My life has changed because of
this ministry, and I thank you
00:57:44.06\00:57:48.56
from the bottom of my heart.
00:57:48.60\00:57:53.54
¤¤¤
00:57:53.57\00:58:00.11
¤¤¤
00:58:03.91\00:58:12.12