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Shawn Brummund: Hello, friends,
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and welcome to
another edition of the
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"Sabbath School Study Hour."
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It's nice to be able to
have you join us right here
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in the headquarters of
Amazing Facts in Roseville,
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Rocklin,
Sacramento of California.
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It is always good to be able to
come together here on this very
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special day that God has given
to us that He calls the Sabbath,
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that we might be able to
worship and study together
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as a church family.
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For those of you
who are church members,
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both locally and online, we want
to give you a special welcome
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and wish you a happy Sabbath
as well as many friends that we
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have across America as well as
many other parts of the world.
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And so, we are here together
to be able to continue to study
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a very important subject that
is that of Christian education.
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My name is Pastor Shawn and it
is good to be able to have you
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come together as we continue
to study that important topic.
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Now, before we get into
our study and open with prayer,
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I want to invite everyone to
take advantage of a very special
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free offer that we have.
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It is written by, actually,
the founder of Amazing Facts,
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Joe Crews, and it is entitled,
"Hidden Eyes and Closed Ears."
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"Hidden Eyes and Closed Ears."
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If you've never read
this, this is a great read.
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Take advantage of it.
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Make sure you call into the free
toll-free number that we have,
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which is 1-866-788-3966.
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Again, that's 1-866-788-3966.
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Now, if you are not in
North America and you would like
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to still receive this
particular free offer,
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you can get a free
digital download and,
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of course, if you're in the US
and you want it on your phone,
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you can access
it that way as well.
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So please take
advantage of that.
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You just simply need to
text the message "SH036."
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That's SH036 and
you want to text that to
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the phone number 40544.
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40544.
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So, a good read.
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Make sure you take advantage
of that free offer that
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we have here today.
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Father in heaven, we
want to thank You so much for
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the opportunity to be
able to study Your Bible.
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We thank You for the faith that
You have given to us for all
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of us who have accepted that
faith and presence of You in
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our life, in our heart.
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We want to pray, God in
heaven, that You will bless this
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session, Lord, that You
will bless each and every friend
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and member that is watching.
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That, Lord, You will help us
to be able to further understand
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the great themes of truth that
You have brought to light in the
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topic of Christian
education here this morning.
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And so, Lord, we want to
pray that You will guide us,
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lead us with Your Holy Spirit.
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In Jesus's name
we pray these things,
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God, amen.
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You know, one of the questions
that I asked when I looked out
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our front window of the house
that God has blessed our family
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to be able to
live in, right now,
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and I see the street, I see the
elementary school that's across
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the street from us,
the trees, the bushes,
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the grasses.
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And, of course, everything that
is beyond that and I ask myself,
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"What do I see in
my heart, in my mind,
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when I look out my
window and as I start my day?
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How am I interpreting
that world that is before me?
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Today's title of lesson number
four is "The Eyes of the Lord:
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A Biblical Worldview."
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Today we're going to talk about
eyesight or views and certainly
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having a proper view, a
accurate and correct view,
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is important.
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Now, when we talk about
views, we talk about views in
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a physical way but we're
also talking about views in
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a theological, psychological,
and emotional way today as well.
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You know, it's interesting.
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I was just hearing a
story of a colleague of mine,
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Pastor Luccas Rodor who is
on our pastoral team here in
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Granite Bay, and
Granite Bay Hilltop,
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and he was sharing, him
and his wife were sharing,
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him and his wife
Danielle were sharing,
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on how they had taken
an excursion to Lake Tahoe,
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which is about an hour and
a half's drive from here up
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into the
beautiful Sierra Mountains.
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Lake Tahoe is an international
destination for many people
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to come and visit.
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Beautiful,
beautiful redwoods and so on.
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They had their
anniversary celebration up there
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for the weekend.
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They had booked a
hotel for two or three nights
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and just had a wonderful time.
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They did have a
challenging time,
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though, they shared, one
afternoon when they had decided
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to hike to the top or summit
of one of the most prominent and
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tallest mountains in
the Lake Tahoe region.
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And, as it turns
out, it took about,
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I forget how many hours, but
it was in plural of hours to be
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able to get to
the top of the summit.
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It was a nice hot, sunny, dry
day which is wonderful weather
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and, of course, climate to be
able to have when you're going
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to the top of a summit because
one of the rewards of hiking to
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the top of a mountain,
or the ultimate reward,
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is this terrific view that you
have when you get to the top.
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And sure enough,
when they got to the top,
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all the work paid off.
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They enjoyed themselves,
they were able to have this
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360-degree view that you would
never be able to get anywhere
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near that on the road
that goes around the lake,
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and so they got a view of that
area of Lake Tahoe that most
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people that visit that
lake will not experience or
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have not experienced.
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On a more serious note, they
found themselves running out of
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water before they were even
close to being halfway back down
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to their car and, now this
is after exerting themselves for
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several hours
in the hot dry sun.
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And it wasn't long before
they found themselves in a very
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seriously hydrated condition
and even to the point of great
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discomfort and pain, and so we
are thankful that both him and
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his wife were able to
thank--safely make it back to
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their car and arrive safely back
to their hotel where they spent
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the rest of the day and evening
rehydrating and they said that
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did not take--or it took more
than a couple of hours to be
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able to do that.
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So, you know, views.
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We have so many different
accesses to increased views.
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We can go to the
top of mountains.
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If we don't want to
exert ourselves for that long,
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there are other alternatives,
especially when there's a big
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city like New York City and you
want to be able to have a bird's
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eye view of that city that you
would never get on the street,
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you can go to the Freedom
Tower at the One World Center,
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One World Trade Center, and find
yourself at the Observatory Deck
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there and you can get a
wonderful view of the entire
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city of New York; wonderful
opportunity for us to be able
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to take advantage of.
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And then, of course, many of us
have those experiences where we,
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especially when you
first started flying,
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you would always ask for a
window seat so that you could
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look out and look down through
the window and kind of take in
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the different shapes of
the fields of wheat and if it's
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going over rice fields
and agricultural areas or
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the great snowcapped
mountains or, of course,
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the great cities,
especially at night,
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when you're coming in to a city
and it's all lit up and just the
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lights seem to go on forever.
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And so, it can be a
very exciting experience and
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especially when it's new.
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Now, of course, we also have
drones that we can buy now and
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we can get a virtual view
as we put that drone up and get
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a bird's eye view that we never
had access to before for not
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that many dollars now.
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It's surprising how little we
need to spend to be able to get
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that view of a drone today.
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And then, of course, the
ultimate view of the world is,
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on a physical basis, is if
you are able to get into a space
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shuttle or a rocket ship and
find yourself floating beyond
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the atmosphere in space and
you look back and now you get
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much more than
a bird's eye view.
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Now you're getting more
closer to what God's view is on
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a physical basis, the view of
the angels that look down on the
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entire globe of the planet in
all of its beautiful blue that's
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glowing in the
sky, and the seas and,
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of course, the cloud
cover and land and so on.
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So, and even if you can't find
yourself fortunate enough to be
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able to ride in a space shuttle
and physically be up there,
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we have satellites
now, we have Google Access.
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Google Earth allows
us to be able to drone,
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you could say, or hover over
the earth and kind of zero in
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on any part of the planet today.
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And so we live in a day and age
when we have views and access
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to views of the
planet, of the world,
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that we never had
in all of history.
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But I'd like to invite you to
come with me to the memory verse
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of our lesson study here today
which is lesson number 4 and
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that starts on page 30.
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And so, when we go to
page 30 of the lesson study,
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the memory text itself
is coming from Proverbs
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chapter 15 and verse 3.
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In 15, verse 3, the Bible says:
"The eyes of the Lord are in
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every place, keeping
watch on the evil and the good."
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"The eyes of the
Lord are in every place."
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Now, this is
just a sample verse.
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For those of you who have
studied and read through the
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whole Bible, can most likely
recall that there are multiple
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times and multiple places where
that same truth is repeated that
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you can go to the very tops of
the sky and the Lord is there.
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You can go to the
depths in the bottom of the sea
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and the Lord is there.
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There is nowhere we can go that
the Lord does not have view of.
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The eyes of the
Lord are everywhere.
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And this important
Bible truth tells us something
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very important.
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It tells us that God is very
much involved in this world and
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He's very much aware of
everything that is going on
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in every place
at every time 24/7.
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And therefore, because of that,
God has a view of this entire
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world that is more comprehensive
than the most comprehensive and
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technologically advanced
monitoring system that mankind
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could ever come to invent.
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Now, we have some
pretty amazing monitoring
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systems today, don't we?
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When we look over
in China, you know,
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there's a bit of a controversy
that's been taking place over
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the last year or so where
one or more American technology
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companies are selling to
the Chinese Communist government
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some very advanced
monitoring cameras and systems,
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and the Chinese government
is placing those in every
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street corner and, basically,
setting themselves up as the
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"Big Brother" like they never
have before and never had the
00:11:09.46\00:11:12.93
technology to be able
to do that in the past.
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And this is certainly something
that should cause us to tremble
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a little bit because when
we have fallen man being the
00:11:21.14\00:11:25.55
Big Brother and trying to
replace or at least imitate
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God's eyes that are everywhere
at all times in all ways,
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friends, we're
not in safe hands.
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When we're in the Lord's hands,
we can know that we're in safe
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hands and that He
can know everything and
00:11:39.93\00:11:41.90
monitor and everything.
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And so that's a much
different story and scenario.
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Well, not only does God have the
ability and always has had the
00:11:47.44\00:11:51.74
ability to monitor and know the
good and the evil and all the
00:11:51.77\00:11:54.68
activities and thoughts that
go through the lives of every
00:11:54.71\00:11:57.41
single human being
that has ever lived,
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but the fact of that should tell
us that this worldview should be
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something that the wisest
of us should want to learn,
00:12:07.12\00:12:11.06
that should want to adopt.
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And, of course, the Bible also
tells us that not only does God
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know everything
that's presently going on,
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but He knows every point of
every history of every human
00:12:19.73\00:12:22.47
being that has ever taken place.
00:12:22.50\00:12:24.71
And, not only that, but then
God also puts Himself out and He
00:12:24.74\00:12:27.24
says, "I also know what
is going to happen tomorrow
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and the day after that."
00:12:30.01\00:12:31.85
And He has demonstrated
it, He has claimed it,
00:12:31.88\00:12:34.12
and--multiple times
throughout the Bible,
00:12:34.15\00:12:36.92
and He has a
100% batting average.
00:12:36.95\00:12:39.95
And so the Lord not only knows
and monitors everything that's
00:12:39.99\00:12:43.73
presently going on, but He also
knows every moment that's going
00:12:43.76\00:12:46.59
to take place in the future.
00:12:46.63\00:12:50.30
Now, if you want
to be in the know,
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you want to make sure
that you go to God's worldview.
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If you want to be able to
see the world as it really is,
00:12:56.37\00:13:00.14
as it really was,
as it really came from,
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and as it really is going, then
of course we want to be able to
00:13:04.08\00:13:07.62
find ourselves learning
and adopting God's worldview.
00:13:07.65\00:13:11.29
And of course,
that's what we're talking
00:13:11.32\00:13:13.32
about today, isn't it?
00:13:13.36\00:13:14.69
We're not talking so
much about physical view,
00:13:14.72\00:13:16.56
even though that certainly is
included in God's involvement in
00:13:16.59\00:13:21.26
this planet, but even more
so, He knows the intents and
00:13:21.30\00:13:25.57
thoughts of the heart and He
is taking all these things into
00:13:25.60\00:13:30.01
account, and He knows the world
more than anyone else as well.
00:13:30.04\00:13:35.58
Now, that being said, I should
qualify that when we come to
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the Bible, which by the way
all evidence points us to as the
00:13:39.25\00:13:43.28
only reliable and accurate
source of God's worldview,
00:13:43.32\00:13:49.12
of the view that He has
of the reality of the world,
00:13:49.16\00:13:53.09
is that this is not a
comprehensive revelation
00:13:53.13\00:13:56.46
of everything that
God knows about the world.
00:13:56.50\00:13:59.23
No, not at all.
00:13:59.27\00:14:00.67
And, in fact, if we go
through--go to one of those key
00:14:00.70\00:14:02.87
texts that we find in the Bible
which is Deuteronomy chapter 29
00:14:02.90\00:14:05.81
and verse 29, we find
there that it tells us that
00:14:05.84\00:14:11.68
the secret things
belong to the Lord our God,
00:14:11.71\00:14:14.62
but what has been
revealed belongs to us,
00:14:14.65\00:14:17.92
as Moses wrote as
the first Bible writer.
00:14:17.95\00:14:21.69
And so as God was laying
the foundation of the Bible,
00:14:21.72\00:14:24.73
speaking through His
first Bible writer and prophet,
00:14:24.76\00:14:27.13
Moses, He makes it clear to us
that He doesn't reveal all the
00:14:27.13\00:14:29.53
secrets and all the
things that He knows.
00:14:29.56\00:14:31.53
It would be
overwhelming in the first place.
00:14:31.57\00:14:33.64
But He does reveal
what we need to know and
00:14:33.67\00:14:36.60
what is
important for us to know.
00:14:36.64\00:14:38.31
And so, friends,
with Christian education,
00:14:38.34\00:14:41.51
of course, as the
Bible lesson teaches us on,
00:14:41.54\00:14:45.38
in lesson number 4 is that
we need to make sure that that
00:14:45.41\00:14:50.25
Christian education is based on
God's worldview and the secret
00:14:50.29\00:14:53.66
things that He has revealed to
us through the holy Scriptures
00:14:53.69\00:14:56.96
and the holy
prophets that wrote them.
00:14:56.99\00:14:59.53
So I think that's important
for us to be able to know.
00:14:59.56\00:15:03.06
Now, sadly, even as we talk
about the authentic and the only
00:15:03.10\00:15:06.53
reliable worldview that we can
learn and adopt which is God's
00:15:06.57\00:15:11.81
worldview, mankind and Satan has
kind of partnered together and
00:15:11.84\00:15:15.98
they have developed countless
alternative worldviews that we
00:15:16.01\00:15:20.62
can adopt and learn instead.
00:15:20.65\00:15:22.15
And that's also important for
us to be able to understand and,
00:15:22.18\00:15:25.42
of course, if you talk to
five of your neighbors just on
00:15:25.45\00:15:29.36
one street alone, you will
find that you could find up to
00:15:29.39\00:15:34.00
five different worldviews.
00:15:34.00\00:15:36.00
And so worldviews
are--seem to be countless.
00:15:36.03\00:15:39.83
Certainly, there is more
prominent ones that the majority
00:15:39.87\00:15:43.57
of mankind
adopts, and certainly,
00:15:43.61\00:15:47.14
we're going to talk about those.
00:15:47.18\00:15:49.24
The first one is found in the
original Garden of Eden where
00:15:49.28\00:15:52.05
God had planted two trees.
00:15:52.08\00:15:54.88
He had planted the tree of life
in which He intended originally
00:15:54.92\00:15:57.95
for mankind, starting
with Adam and Eve and all their
00:15:57.99\00:16:01.42
descendants, to be able to
access on a regular basis that
00:16:01.46\00:16:04.13
they might have eternal life and
to be able to experience eternal
00:16:04.16\00:16:07.76
love and purity and holiness and
perfection for all of eternity.
00:16:07.76\00:16:14.07
Sadly, it tells us in
the third chapter that things
00:16:14.10\00:16:18.17
kind of went south.
00:16:18.21\00:16:19.54
We find there that the second
tree that God had planted,
00:16:19.57\00:16:22.91
the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil,
00:16:22.94\00:16:24.91
was accessed by Satan
himself, the enemy of God,
00:16:24.95\00:16:29.95
the enemy of all that is
true, the enemy of all that is
00:16:29.98\00:16:32.92
holy and righteous.
00:16:32.95\00:16:34.46
And it is that enemy that spoke
through a serpent one day and
00:16:34.49\00:16:37.76
the definition of the worldview
essentially that he sold to Eve
00:16:37.79\00:16:42.00
and then Even had sold to her
husband was that even though God
00:16:42.03\00:16:46.84
exists and certainly this
is something that the serpent
00:16:46.87\00:16:50.04
wasn't foolish enough to think
that they could convince Adam
00:16:50.07\00:16:51.94
and Eve otherwise, even as
he knows that he can't convince
00:16:51.97\00:16:54.78
many today that
God does not exist.
00:16:54.81\00:16:58.05
But he--in spite of the fact
that he could not convince them
00:16:58.08\00:17:02.42
that God does not exist, he did
give them a worldview that says
00:17:02.45\00:17:06.15
even though God does exist,
sin and evil does not result
00:17:06.19\00:17:10.96
in eternal death, but
rather, it widens your horizons,
00:17:10.99\00:17:15.83
it widens your life experience,
in a very life-fulfilling and
00:17:15.86\00:17:19.90
positive way.
00:17:19.93\00:17:21.80
Now, make no
mistake about it, friends,
00:17:21.84\00:17:24.37
this worldview is still a
bestselling list and is adopted
00:17:24.41\00:17:28.14
by many human beings
that are living today.
00:17:28.18\00:17:30.95
Perhaps you have
adopted that in the past.
00:17:30.98\00:17:33.58
Perhaps it's something that
is being challenged even today.
00:17:33.62\00:17:36.85
And, friends, we want to be able
to consider the worldview that
00:17:36.89\00:17:41.56
God has for us, which tells
us something much different than
00:17:41.59\00:17:45.49
the worldview that Adam and
Eve had bought into and that
00:17:45.53\00:17:48.86
many of us buy into today.
00:17:48.90\00:17:51.87
Now, the lesson studies points
out that there are multiple
00:17:51.90\00:17:54.94
less-popular worldviews
that also exist today.
00:17:54.97\00:17:58.14
We are given a very almost
humorous kind of example of
00:17:58.17\00:18:01.08
that, and even
though many of us,
00:18:01.11\00:18:04.01
including myself when I read
it, found it more humorous than
00:18:04.05\00:18:06.92
anything that could be
taken more on a serious basis,
00:18:06.95\00:18:10.59
from what I understand,
it was presented seriously.
00:18:10.62\00:18:14.79
It is believed on some level by
an Oxford University professor
00:18:14.82\00:18:19.36
on a serious
basis and, of course,
00:18:19.39\00:18:23.80
that is that the proposition
that this Oxford professor is
00:18:23.83\00:18:28.34
proposing is that all of us,
including our world and all life
00:18:28.37\00:18:33.11
forms, are nothing more than
virtual digital creations that
00:18:33.14\00:18:37.01
have been created and are
manipulated in different ways
00:18:37.05\00:18:41.62
and controlled by aliens in
another part of the universe
00:18:41.65\00:18:45.09
with super-powered computers
that are far more advanced than
00:18:45.12\00:18:48.66
we have
achieved even here today.
00:18:48.69\00:18:51.03
And so this might
be humorous to some,
00:18:51.06\00:18:54.10
it might be intriguing to be
able to ponder over for others,
00:18:54.13\00:18:58.27
but, friends,
the bottom line is,
00:18:58.30\00:19:01.04
it has no harmony with
the worldview that the Creator
00:19:01.07\00:19:04.04
of the universe has given to
us and this reliable book called
00:19:04.07\00:19:07.08
the Bible reveals to us.
00:19:07.11\00:19:09.11
And so, again, this reveals and
confirms that there are multiple
00:19:09.14\00:19:14.15
worldviews that we can
adopt or we can even create,
00:19:14.18\00:19:17.49
and we have a lot
of creative people.
00:19:17.52\00:19:19.69
I've talked to many
people over the years.
00:19:19.72\00:19:21.96
It's amazing how creative
different people have become in
00:19:21.99\00:19:24.29
creating their own personal
worldview that may be unique to
00:19:24.33\00:19:27.60
themselves and maybe a couple
others that they were able
00:19:27.66\00:19:30.23
to manage to convince.
00:19:30.27\00:19:33.74
Now, Sunday's lesson also
shares another very popular and
00:19:33.77\00:19:37.71
successful alternate worldview.
00:19:37.74\00:19:40.58
And this is no small one.
00:19:40.61\00:19:43.08
In fact, I would
say it's just as large.
00:19:43.11\00:19:45.01
It's kind of a
close call between them.
00:19:45.05\00:19:47.85
These are the two biggest,
most popular worldviews.
00:19:47.88\00:19:50.95
Again, the one that I explained
and reviewed for many of us that
00:19:50.99\00:19:53.76
the devil had sold to Adam
and Eve in the Garden of Eden,
00:19:53.79\00:19:57.29
but then also the worldview that
has really taken root here in
00:19:57.33\00:20:01.86
America and in most
nations around the world by far.
00:20:01.90\00:20:06.80
And that is the atheistic,
materialistic viewpoint.
00:20:06.84\00:20:13.31
And we're
introduced to that in, again,
00:20:13.34\00:20:15.78
in I think it's Sunday's lesson.
00:20:15.81\00:20:18.71
If you have your
lesson quarterly,
00:20:18.75\00:20:20.65
I invite you to open up there
with me as I want to just read
00:20:20.68\00:20:23.72
a very helpful quote that
the lesson's author has shared
00:20:23.75\00:20:28.49
with us on Sunday
concerning the atheistic,
00:20:28.52\00:20:32.19
materialistic view.
00:20:32.23\00:20:34.23
It says: "The
universe and all that is in it,
00:20:34.30\00:20:37.50
including us, just is.
00:20:37.53\00:20:40.57
Nothing created
it, nothing formed it.
00:20:40.60\00:20:44.01
It just is here.
00:20:44.04\00:20:45.71
It is simply a brute fact.
00:20:45.74\00:20:47.64
There is no God,
there are no gods,
00:20:47.68\00:20:50.35
there is nothing divine.
00:20:50.38\00:20:52.45
Reality is purely
material, purely natural."
00:20:52.48\00:20:57.72
And so I thought that was a good
definition and kind of synopsis
00:20:57.75\00:21:01.66
of what we would
call today the atheistic,
00:21:01.69\00:21:04.53
materialistic worldview.
00:21:04.56\00:21:07.30
And so, again when they look out
of their living room window or
00:21:07.30\00:21:11.70
their apartment window or
whatever their dwelling is and
00:21:11.73\00:21:14.50
they start to begin to take in
the world around them when they
00:21:14.54\00:21:17.94
start a new day,
this is what they see.
00:21:17.97\00:21:20.18
This is their view of reality.
00:21:20.21\00:21:22.94
Now, again, it is not in harmony
and is not congruent at all with
00:21:22.98\00:21:29.28
the Bible and with
the Christian faith,
00:21:29.32\00:21:32.49
but nevertheless, friends, it is
something that has taken root in
00:21:32.52\00:21:36.86
a very real way, in a very
substantial area and population
00:21:36.89\00:21:42.53
of America and many
nations around the world.
00:21:42.56\00:21:46.30
Now, I'd like to suggest that
this worldview likely leads to
00:21:46.33\00:21:50.01
the emptiest life experience
that we can possibly have.
00:21:50.04\00:21:55.04
Friends, every counterfeit,
every alternate worldview that
00:21:55.08\00:21:59.65
the devil and mankind
has created and offers to us,
00:21:59.68\00:22:02.88
leads us to an emptier
experience than that which God
00:22:02.92\00:22:06.22
has in mind for us:
the true view that He has
00:22:06.25\00:22:10.46
and has revealed to us.
00:22:10.49\00:22:12.29
But I would say that this one
probably leads to the emptiest
00:22:12.33\00:22:15.96
experience of all.
00:22:16.00\00:22:19.63
Now, one of the most important
jobs that Christian education
00:22:19.67\00:22:22.47
has to do is to
remove the "A" from atheists.
00:22:22.50\00:22:26.51
Remove the "A"
from the term "atheist."
00:22:26.54\00:22:29.78
And this--and as part of that
job is to demonstrate why the
00:22:29.81\00:22:34.05
Bible is the only accurate
and reliable explanation of
00:22:34.08\00:22:37.95
what we call theism.
00:22:37.99\00:22:40.06
Because atheism is
the opposite of theism.
00:22:40.09\00:22:43.86
Atheism rejects
the existence of a God,
00:22:43.89\00:22:46.93
theism believes and
claims the existence of a God.
00:22:46.96\00:22:53.77
Now, so, again,
Christian education,
00:22:53.80\00:22:57.51
one of the most important
jobs is to remove the "A" from
00:22:57.54\00:23:00.31
atheist but also demonstrate why
the Bible is the only accurate
00:23:00.34\00:23:04.95
and reliable source of
theism and why being a theist is
00:23:04.98\00:23:10.99
the best choice that
you can possibly make.
00:23:11.02\00:23:13.52
Now, this is no small job.
00:23:13.56\00:23:15.06
This is a huge responsibility
that we have as pastors,
00:23:15.09\00:23:18.46
that Christian educators
have in our school systems,
00:23:18.49\00:23:21.30
but, friends, also we have to
remember that part of this job
00:23:21.33\00:23:25.30
is also found in the home, the
parents of the children that are
00:23:25.33\00:23:29.24
going through grade school.
00:23:29.27\00:23:31.51
And also even while they're
going through the college years.
00:23:31.54\00:23:34.01
And so, parents, we have
to remember that we also are
00:23:34.04\00:23:37.91
Christian educators and so
please don't make the mistake
00:23:37.95\00:23:41.62
of believing that our job is
to be able to teach our children
00:23:41.65\00:23:45.52
how to tie their shoes and
how to brush their hair and take
00:23:45.55\00:23:48.86
a shower properly
and clean up the dishes.
00:23:48.89\00:23:51.36
No, friends, as parents, part
of our job is also to be able
00:23:51.39\00:23:55.70
to be Christian
educators to our children.
00:23:55.73\00:23:58.33
And to be able to help and
make sure that you are there,
00:23:58.37\00:24:03.87
augmenting and working in
partnership with your local
00:24:03.91\00:24:07.04
Christian school and educators,
to be able to establish your
00:24:07.08\00:24:09.98
children in this most important
job that I just spoke of.
00:24:10.01\00:24:13.42
Want to invite you to come with
me in your Bibles to Psalm 53.
00:24:13.45\00:24:18.62
The lesson study points us to
Psalm 53 as one of the key texts
00:24:18.65\00:24:22.92
for us to be able to study and
so I invite you to come with me
00:24:22.96\00:24:27.03
there as we look at
the first two verses.
00:24:27.03\00:24:30.03
Psalm 53 and verse 1 says:
"The fool has said in his heart,
00:24:30.07\00:24:34.57
'There is no God.'"
00:24:34.60\00:24:36.84
"The fool has said in his heart,
00:24:36.87\00:24:38.71
'There is no God.'
00:24:38.74\00:24:40.04
They are corrupt, and
have done abominable iniquity;
00:24:40.08\00:24:42.48
there is none who does good."
00:24:42.51\00:24:44.51
And then verse 2 goes on
and says: "God looks down from
00:24:44.55\00:24:48.12
heaven upon the children of
men, to see if there are any
00:24:48.15\00:24:51.59
who understand,
and who seek God."
00:24:51.62\00:24:54.59
And so verse 2, again, reflects
our memory verse that reveals
00:24:54.62\00:24:58.59
again that God is very much
involved in this world and that
00:24:58.63\00:25:02.23
He is very much involved
and cares for this world
00:25:02.26\00:25:07.47
and for you and me.
00:25:07.50\00:25:09.24
And we're going to talk about
God's love a little bit later,
00:25:09.27\00:25:11.41
but right now, friends, the
Bible has declared a very sad
00:25:11.44\00:25:14.08
reality, one that He wants us to
understand as believers and if
00:25:14.11\00:25:17.68
we aren't a believer today, that
we might be able to understand
00:25:17.71\00:25:20.58
that to be a believer is the
very best place that we can be
00:25:20.62\00:25:23.25
and that it is only a
fool that says in his heart
00:25:23.28\00:25:28.02
that there is no God.
00:25:28.06\00:25:31.96
And so that is the Bible's
response to the atheistic,
00:25:31.99\00:25:35.56
materialistic view and
philosophy and worldview that
00:25:35.60\00:25:39.23
has been adopted by so
many, even here across America.
00:25:39.27\00:25:44.04
You see, friends, there was a
time when the vast majority of
00:25:44.07\00:25:46.41
Americans held a worldview
that was theistic at its core.
00:25:46.44\00:25:50.41
The majority of those who
counted themselves as American
00:25:50.45\00:25:53.52
citizens, if you
were to ask them,
00:25:53.55\00:25:54.92
"Do you believe in God or do you
believe that there is a God,"
00:25:54.95\00:25:58.52
most of them, by far
the vast majority of them,
00:25:58.55\00:26:01.96
would say, "Well,
of course, there is."
00:26:01.99\00:26:04.26
Now, how they interpret that and
then what kind of worldview they
00:26:04.29\00:26:08.43
believe that God has given to us
or they have invented in their
00:26:08.46\00:26:10.93
own mind, is a different story.
00:26:10.97\00:26:12.50
There are all kinds of different
religions and different flavors
00:26:12.53\00:26:14.94
and versions of Christianity
that aren't in harmony with the
00:26:14.97\00:26:17.51
Bible that people have
adopted, but at its core,
00:26:17.54\00:26:20.74
at minimum at least, most
Americans had a theistic view.
00:26:20.78\00:26:24.55
But that time is no more.
00:26:24.58\00:26:26.75
Atheism and the theory of
evolution which has partnered up
00:26:26.78\00:26:31.35
with atheism and
has, for many people,
00:26:31.39\00:26:35.16
seemed to have affirmed and
confirmed that an atheistic,
00:26:35.19\00:26:39.29
materialistic view is
indeed, quote, "scientific."
00:26:39.33\00:26:42.86
It is intellectually acceptable
and is really the answer to our
00:26:42.90\00:26:46.90
origins as well as
our present and future.
00:26:46.94\00:26:51.57
But because atheism and the
theory of evolution has taken
00:26:51.61\00:26:53.98
root with so many across
this country and many countries
00:26:54.01\00:26:56.78
around the world, that we
are reaping the fruits today.
00:26:56.81\00:27:00.35
"They are corrupt," the
Bible says in the same verse.
00:27:00.38\00:27:03.99
After he says, "The fool has
said there is no God," it goes
00:27:04.02\00:27:07.46
on and says that
"they are corrupt.
00:27:07.49\00:27:10.39
They have done
abominable iniquity."
00:27:10.43\00:27:12.66
Friends, one of the most
horrible fruits that is taking
00:27:12.69\00:27:16.90
place here in America as
a result of adopting this
00:27:16.93\00:27:20.60
atheistic, materialistic
worldview that also again
00:27:20.64\00:27:23.00
partners up with evolution is
that we have lost great respect
00:27:23.04\00:27:26.34
for the civil and
religious liberties that this
00:27:26.37\00:27:29.11
country was built on.
00:27:29.14\00:27:30.91
That is still the key to the
great prosperity and happiness
00:27:30.95\00:27:34.78
and satisfaction that so many
of its citizens have experienced
00:27:34.82\00:27:38.79
and have had access to for
so many centuries or decades
00:27:38.82\00:27:43.86
in the past.
00:27:43.89\00:27:45.79
There has been a great
loss of respect for the freedom
00:27:45.83\00:27:48.80
of speech for
everyone, not just for you.
00:27:48.83\00:27:51.63
You know, there's many people
today that believe and say,
00:27:51.67\00:27:54.64
you know, listen, I believe
in the principle that is founded
00:27:54.67\00:28:01.51
in this nation that there is
free speech for all as long as
00:28:01.54\00:28:06.55
you agree with me.
00:28:06.58\00:28:08.42
But as soon as you
start to challenge my view,
00:28:08.45\00:28:10.52
as soon as you start
to challenge my worldview
00:28:10.55\00:28:12.79
or my philosophies
and my understanding,
00:28:12.82\00:28:14.72
then suddenly, free speech seems
to be disappearing very quickly
00:28:14.76\00:28:17.86
amongst those same people.
00:28:17.89\00:28:20.73
And so there's a great loss
of respect and protection of the
00:28:20.76\00:28:24.37
freedom of speech, not just
for myself but for everyone.
00:28:24.40\00:28:28.64
There's been a great loss
of respect for law enforcement
00:28:28.67\00:28:32.01
in America today,
and I believe, again,
00:28:32.04\00:28:34.34
that, friends, this is
much--very clearly tied
00:28:34.38\00:28:38.25
to that of the atheistic,
materialistic view that so much
00:28:38.28\00:28:42.18
of our newest
generations have adopted.
00:28:42.22\00:28:45.09
Now, friends, they didn't
have to go out and find this.
00:28:45.12\00:28:47.52
They have found it, in fact,
it came and found them in our
00:28:47.56\00:28:51.13
public school systems,
in our grade school systems,
00:28:51.16\00:28:53.73
in our universities
across this country.
00:28:53.76\00:28:56.13
Friends, all of it
has found them and,
00:28:56.16\00:28:58.83
friends, they have
been indoctrinated in it.
00:28:58.87\00:29:01.74
They have been told that this is
no longer a theory when it comes
00:29:01.77\00:29:05.04
to evolution, they
have been told that this is
00:29:05.07\00:29:07.68
a scientific fact.
00:29:07.71\00:29:09.31
They have been duped, they have
been sold into a number of goods
00:29:09.34\00:29:14.18
that simply come up empty
and are not in harmony with true
00:29:14.22\00:29:18.22
science, are not in harmony with
rational thinking and logic,
00:29:18.25\00:29:21.62
and not in harmony
with the worldview that God
00:29:21.66\00:29:24.19
presents in His Bible.
00:29:24.23\00:29:26.59
As the prophet Isaiah said
in Isaiah chapter 8 in verse 7:
00:29:26.63\00:29:30.67
"They have sown to the wind
and are reaping the whirlwind."
00:29:30.70\00:29:34.37
Friends, we are
in a day and age,
00:29:34.40\00:29:36.71
I believe, that in America
we are sowing to the wind.
00:29:36.74\00:29:38.64
We have sowed in the wind over
the last 50-plus years and now
00:29:38.67\00:29:42.21
we are reaping the whirlwind.
00:29:42.24\00:29:44.41
It is not by
coincidence that we have so much
00:29:44.45\00:29:46.58
social unrest today.
00:29:46.61\00:29:48.38
It is not by
coincidence that we have so much
00:29:48.42\00:29:50.22
political unrest today.
00:29:50.25\00:29:51.62
Friends, this is all a natural
consequence of a worldview that
00:29:51.65\00:29:56.22
we have adopted and
indoctrinated our children
00:29:56.26\00:29:58.73
in that is totally
contrary to that which many,
00:29:58.76\00:30:01.46
the bulk of
Americans, believed in the past,
00:30:01.50\00:30:04.87
which is a biblical
Christian worldview.
00:30:04.90\00:30:09.84
And so, friends, biblically
based Christian education
00:30:09.87\00:30:13.38
is our only safe refuge.
00:30:13.41\00:30:15.84
It is the only place that we can
find safety and it's the only
00:30:15.88\00:30:20.05
place that we can
safely place our children.
00:30:20.08\00:30:23.05
And so there is a battle that is
more intense today than it ever
00:30:23.08\00:30:26.62
has been in all of the
history of this great country.
00:30:26.65\00:30:30.16
And, friends, I want to
encourage you as Christian
00:30:30.19\00:30:32.26
parents, to be able to do
whatever you can to be able to
00:30:32.29\00:30:35.16
place your children in a seat
that is at the feet of sincere
00:30:35.20\00:30:38.67
Christian teachers that are
teaching them and indoctrinating
00:30:38.70\00:30:43.20
them and introducing them to the
only reliable and safe worldview
00:30:43.24\00:30:47.54
that we can find, which
is in the holy Scriptures.
00:30:47.58\00:30:50.25
As soon as you
leave a sincere, reliable,
00:30:50.28\00:30:53.62
faithful
Christian educating school,
00:30:53.65\00:30:56.48
friends, you are putting your
children into the very hands
00:30:56.52\00:31:00.06
of the evil one.
00:31:00.09\00:31:02.32
Now, I know I'm speaking frankly
here and I'm speaking strong,
00:31:02.36\00:31:05.23
but, friends, I believe that
God has a burden that He has put
00:31:05.26\00:31:07.73
in my heart and that
He has for your children,
00:31:07.76\00:31:10.53
and He wants to make sure
that your children have the best
00:31:10.57\00:31:13.07
chance to be able to know the
truth from error and to be able
00:31:13.10\00:31:16.94
to have a worldview that will
give them the most satisfying
00:31:16.97\00:31:20.41
and fulfilling
life that they can find.
00:31:20.44\00:31:22.48
That's why Jesus says:
"The thief does not come except
00:31:22.51\00:31:25.25
to kill and to steal and
destroy," speaking of the evil
00:31:25.28\00:31:28.12
one, "but I have come," Jesus
says, "that they may have life,
00:31:28.15\00:31:31.05
and have it more abundantly."
00:31:31.09\00:31:33.12
Friends, this is
where we find abundant life.
00:31:33.15\00:31:36.16
This is where we
find our peace, our joy,
00:31:36.19\00:31:38.29
our patience, our love.
00:31:38.33\00:31:40.60
Friends, there is only one
source in which we can find
00:31:40.63\00:31:43.00
these things and, again,
there's all kinds of alternative
00:31:43.03\00:31:45.63
worldviews that claim to be able
to offer those things to you and
00:31:45.67\00:31:48.07
I, but, friends, it
always comes up empty.
00:31:48.10\00:31:50.41
That's why Jesus says:
"I am the living water.
00:31:50.44\00:31:53.14
He who drinks from Me and from
My fountain and from My water
00:31:53.17\00:31:56.08
will never thirst again,"
because He knows and He still
00:31:56.11\00:32:00.22
knows today that is the
only way in which we can
00:32:00.25\00:32:02.25
satisfy our thirst.
00:32:02.28\00:32:04.19
It is the only place that we
can find a true abundant life.
00:32:04.22\00:32:10.59
All right, well,
that's enough of preaching.
00:32:10.63\00:32:11.96
Let's go back to
our lesson study.
00:32:11.99\00:32:13.29
One of the things I also
appreciate about the lesson's
00:32:13.33\00:32:15.73
author is that he points
out that we must not stop at
00:32:15.76\00:32:18.10
teaching and affirming
that God simply exists.
00:32:18.13\00:32:21.64
Now, to have a
theistic worldview is important.
00:32:21.67\00:32:24.17
That's the foundation
and beginning of having
00:32:24.21\00:32:26.57
a relationship with God.
00:32:26.61\00:32:28.68
But, of course, as
a Christian educator,
00:32:28.71\00:32:30.15
we would fall very dramatically
short if we only just tried
00:32:30.18\00:32:33.78
to convince our
students and, as parents,
00:32:33.82\00:32:37.25
our children that
indeed, just God simply exists.
00:32:37.29\00:32:41.36
But rather, we also have to go
further and explain and educate
00:32:41.39\00:32:44.99
them on what kind of God exists.
00:32:45.03\00:32:48.83
Because, again, the
devil has been very busy.
00:32:48.86\00:32:51.03
Mankind has partnered in a very
effective way in developing all
00:32:51.07\00:32:54.00
kinds of different gods and it's
even reformed the God of the
00:32:54.04\00:32:57.91
Bible into a man and into
a person in which He is not.
00:32:57.94\00:33:00.81
And so we have to
bring the truth of what
00:33:00.84\00:33:03.95
kind of God is, as well.
00:33:03.98\00:33:06.25
If we come back to the lesson
study in chapter or verse or
00:33:06.28\00:33:09.22
page 31, coming back to
the lesson study in page 31,
00:33:09.25\00:33:14.59
again, as we go to
the last paragraph there,
00:33:14.62\00:33:16.83
at the bottom of the
page, I just want to read
00:33:16.86\00:33:19.23
the one sentence.
00:33:19.26\00:33:20.96
It says: "Central to any
Christian education is the
00:33:21.00\00:33:23.37
reality, not just of God but
of the kind of God that He is:
00:33:23.40\00:33:27.90
a personal God who loves
us and who interacts with us."
00:33:27.94\00:33:33.48
Friends, this is so
important for us to understand.
00:33:33.51\00:33:35.61
We talked about the interacting
already a number of times
00:33:35.64\00:33:37.75
throughout our
lesson study today,
00:33:37.78\00:33:39.18
but what kind of God is
it that interacts with us,
00:33:39.21\00:33:42.55
that knows so much and whose
eyes know every move and thought
00:33:42.58\00:33:46.59
and intent of the heart?
00:33:46.62\00:33:47.92
That can be very intimidating
if we don't know what
00:33:47.96\00:33:49.89
kind of God, God is.
00:33:49.92\00:33:52.56
And so the lesson study wisely
points us to John chapter 3
00:33:52.59\00:33:55.53
and verse 16.
00:33:55.56\00:33:56.90
Many of us rightly and helpfully
know it by heart: "For God so
00:33:56.93\00:34:01.14
loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son,
00:34:01.17\00:34:03.71
that whoever should
believe on Him shall not perish
00:34:03.74\00:34:06.51
but have eternal life."
00:34:06.54\00:34:09.31
And so that key, most famous
gospel text that we have in all
00:34:09.34\00:34:14.95
the Bible begins with
the important several words:
00:34:14.98\00:34:18.49
"For God so loved."
00:34:18.52\00:34:21.09
"For God so loved."
00:34:21.76\00:34:23.99
Four powerful words that help us
and introduce us to the kind of
00:34:24.03\00:34:27.96
God that is so
involved in our world,
00:34:27.96\00:34:31.10
that is the ruler and
maker of all the universe.
00:34:31.13\00:34:34.47
John doesn't stop there, though.
00:34:34.50\00:34:35.80
He takes that and runs with it.
00:34:35.84\00:34:37.54
After God had inspired him
to write the Gospel of John,
00:34:37.57\00:34:39.57
he then goes on and
writes the great Epistle of love
00:34:39.61\00:34:42.88
as it's come to
be called: 1 John.
00:34:42.91\00:34:44.55
And in 1 John
chapter 4, verse 8,
00:34:44.58\00:34:46.55
we find the three most
important theological words
00:34:46.58\00:34:49.58
in all of the Bible.
00:34:49.62\00:34:51.12
Of course, it begins in
that particular verse by saying
00:34:51.15\00:34:53.19
the words such as,
"He who does not love,
00:34:53.22\00:34:57.26
does not know God."
00:34:57.29\00:34:59.13
Why, John?
00:34:59.16\00:35:00.60
Why is it that
if we do not love,
00:35:00.63\00:35:02.33
we do not know God?
00:35:02.36\00:35:03.67
Because God is love.
00:35:03.70\00:35:06.87
You see, the source of
all love comes from the heart
00:35:06.90\00:35:09.34
and throne of God.
00:35:09.37\00:35:11.07
That's the one that monitors
and knows every move and
00:35:11.11\00:35:13.48
every thought and
intent of the heart.
00:35:13.51\00:35:16.95
He is the one that is able
to see all things and is keeping
00:35:16.98\00:35:19.21
track both of good and of
evil as we have read here today.
00:35:19.25\00:35:22.55
And so, friends, we need
to teach our children as they
00:35:22.58\00:35:25.35
continue to grow that not only
did God exist but that at the
00:35:25.39\00:35:27.66
very core of His very
being is that of love.
00:35:27.69\00:35:32.16
I hope I'm hearing
some "Amens" out there in
00:35:32.19\00:35:34.03
a virtual world, of course.
00:35:34.10\00:35:35.53
We have no one live here as we
normally do before the pandemic
00:35:35.56\00:35:38.20
in our church
here, but, friends,
00:35:38.23\00:35:40.27
I hope that there
are some "amens" to that,
00:35:40.30\00:35:42.47
because, friends, we
need to be able to say
00:35:42.50\00:35:44.27
a loud "amen" to that.
00:35:44.31\00:35:45.61
And not only that, but
John doesn't stop in 1 John
00:35:45.64\00:35:47.71
chapter 4, verse 8, but
in the following two verses,
00:35:47.74\00:35:50.05
in verses 9 and 10, John
then goes on and tells us
00:35:50.08\00:35:53.31
the ultimate proof of that love.
00:35:53.35\00:35:55.58
And he says, "Listen, the
ultimate proof of that important
00:35:55.62\00:35:58.95
theological statement that God
is love is the very fact that
00:35:58.99\00:36:02.76
God gave His
Son, his eternal Son,
00:36:02.79\00:36:05.83
the most precious, most valuable
commodity and possession that
00:36:05.86\00:36:09.93
He has had for all of
eternity, which is that which He
00:36:09.96\00:36:13.27
has spent all of
eternity with, His own Son.
00:36:13.30\00:36:15.84
And He gave Him to die on a
cross to bear the guilt and the
00:36:15.87\00:36:19.77
sin of you and me, to bear the
guilt and the sin of all mankind
00:36:19.81\00:36:23.24
upon Himself when He
hung upon that cross.
00:36:23.28\00:36:25.51
Friends, it is upon
that cross that we find hope,
00:36:25.55\00:36:28.18
that we find the ultimate
demonstration and confirmation
00:36:28.22\00:36:32.02
that it is God
that we can trust.
00:36:32.05\00:36:34.09
It is His worldview
that is the only safe refuge.
00:36:34.12\00:36:36.89
And Satan and all that he has
developed before and since is
00:36:36.93\00:36:41.00
something that we need to be
able to throw in the trashcan
00:36:41.03\00:36:43.40
exactly where it belongs,
that we might walk with Christ,
00:36:43.43\00:36:46.20
that we might trust Him from day
to day and know it is Him that
00:36:46.23\00:36:50.41
gives us life and life eternal.
00:36:50.44\00:36:55.48
As we go to Monday's lesson,
at the top there it talks about
00:36:55.51\00:36:58.51
a German philosopher and thinker
and so on and he asked the
00:36:58.55\00:37:04.89
question that different thinking
people have asked through the
00:37:04.92\00:37:08.06
centuries and that is:
"Why is there something
00:37:08.09\00:37:10.19
instead of nothing?"
00:37:10.23\00:37:11.99
And the Bible is not silent
on that important question.
00:37:12.03\00:37:15.70
Why is there
something instead of nothing?
00:37:15.73\00:37:18.23
Well, God kind of
steps in right off the bat,
00:37:18.27\00:37:21.10
and He starts with the very
first verse of the very first
00:37:21.14\00:37:22.97
book of the Bible
and He says, "Listen,
00:37:23.00\00:37:24.91
I've got some
information on that.
00:37:24.94\00:37:26.24
I happen to have
been there and I know
00:37:26.27\00:37:28.31
the answer to that question."
00:37:28.34\00:37:30.45
And so he starts the Bible with:
"For God--In the beginning,"
00:37:30.48\00:37:33.25
I should say, "God created
the heavens and the earth."
00:37:33.28\00:37:38.45
God is the source of all things.
00:37:38.49\00:37:40.66
The reason that there is
something instead of nothing
00:37:40.69\00:37:42.62
is because there is
an eternal existing,
00:37:42.66\00:37:45.36
almighty, all-intelligent,
all-loving God that has made
00:37:45.39\00:37:49.36
everything that we see.
00:37:49.40\00:37:52.27
Now, the rest of the Bible, I
should say the rest of the next
00:37:52.30\00:37:54.44
two chapters of the first book
of the Bible in Genesis unpacks
00:37:54.47\00:37:57.31
that powerful, important
theological statement in
00:37:57.34\00:38:00.41
answer to the question.
00:38:00.44\00:38:02.41
But then also, when we
come to Hebrews chapter 3,
00:38:02.44\00:38:04.75
sorry, Hebrews
chapter 11 and verse 3,
00:38:04.78\00:38:09.08
and again, if your
Bibles are with you,
00:38:09.12\00:38:10.85
you can go ahead
and read that with me,
00:38:10.89\00:38:12.59
where Paul also
was inspired to write
00:38:12.62\00:38:14.99
an inflection of that question.
00:38:15.02\00:38:16.86
It says: "By faith we understand
that the universe was formed at
00:38:16.89\00:38:20.33
God's command so that what
was--what is seen was not made
00:38:20.36\00:38:25.93
out of what was visible."
00:38:25.97\00:38:28.27
Now, that's kind of a deep
poetic way and prophetic way
00:38:28.30\00:38:30.41
of saying, "Listen,
everything that we see,
00:38:30.44\00:38:33.64
everything that we can touch,
everything that contains atoms
00:38:33.68\00:38:36.04
in the subatomic world, makes up
the material that is around us
00:38:36.08\00:38:40.35
in the universe, all of it
was not--was made from that
00:38:40.38\00:38:43.05
which is not seen."
00:38:43.08\00:38:44.85
In other words, ex
nihilo, as the scholars call it,
00:38:44.89\00:38:47.76
which means that God
made things out of nothing.
00:38:47.79\00:38:51.16
That's why the word "command"
is key in that verse as well.
00:38:51.19\00:38:54.36
It says: "By faith we understand
that the universe was formed
00:38:54.40\00:38:56.97
at God's command."
00:38:57.00\00:39:00.47
And that's why the Bible tells
us when it describes the six-day
00:39:00.50\00:39:03.74
Creation that God
spoke and He said,
00:39:03.77\00:39:06.64
"Let there be light."
00:39:06.68\00:39:08.11
That's the
command of God, friends.
00:39:08.14\00:39:10.78
And just like
that, there was light.
00:39:10.81\00:39:12.85
He said, "Let there be an
atmosphere that separates the
00:39:12.88\00:39:15.35
waters from the earth and from
the sky," and just like that
00:39:15.38\00:39:19.79
He separated the waters and
the earth from the waters and
00:39:19.82\00:39:21.49
the sky and created a perfect
atomic concoction of the air,
00:39:21.52\00:39:28.90
what we call the air, with all
the right ingredients to be able
00:39:28.93\00:39:31.80
to sustain the life that
He was going to later command
00:39:31.83\00:39:34.20
in the following days.
00:39:34.24\00:39:35.97
At God's command He begins
to create things out of things
00:39:36.00\00:39:39.61
that do not exist.
00:39:39.64\00:39:41.21
And so God is not--doesn't need
to go down to Home Depot when
00:39:41.24\00:39:46.95
He wants to construct something.
00:39:46.98\00:39:48.98
He doesn't need to go down to
the local construction store and
00:39:49.02\00:39:52.15
buy the lumber and the building
materials that He needs.
00:39:52.19\00:39:54.56
No, He can make
that material out
00:39:54.59\00:39:56.19
of nothing, friends.
00:39:56.22\00:39:58.29
And so the Bible
gives us answers to these
00:39:58.33\00:40:00.53
important questions.
00:40:00.56\00:40:03.60
Friends, it's not by coincidence
that the doctrine of a six-day
00:40:03.63\00:40:05.93
Creation by God is the
number one target of Satan
00:40:05.97\00:40:09.97
and this world.
00:40:10.01\00:40:12.17
And the assault is not
only outside the church,
00:40:12.21\00:40:14.64
by the way, but this assault
on a six-day literal creation at
00:40:14.68\00:40:18.15
the command and word of
God where He made things out of
00:40:18.18\00:40:21.35
nothing is not only being
assaulted outside of the church
00:40:21.38\00:40:25.49
but it is also under
assault in a very real way
00:40:25.52\00:40:28.46
inside the church.
00:40:28.49\00:40:31.23
Now, you may say to yourself,
00:40:31.26\00:40:33.03
"Well, I'm glad I'm not part
of that church," but the fact of
00:40:33.06\00:40:36.13
the matter is, friends, there is
no church that is untouched by
00:40:36.16\00:40:38.57
this assault and that includes
the Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:40:38.60\00:40:41.30
and which I represent, and
which Amazing Facts represents.
00:40:41.34\00:40:44.61
And so, friends,
this assault is very real,
00:40:44.64\00:40:47.41
and some of us
have been exposed to it,
00:40:47.44\00:40:49.81
even in some of our church's
universities and classrooms.
00:40:49.84\00:40:53.18
I've seen it assaulted in
different Sabbath school rooms
00:40:53.21\00:40:56.15
in churches around the world.
00:40:56.18\00:40:58.02
Friends, this is a very real
challenge that Satan and this
00:40:58.05\00:41:02.49
world is bringing upon us,
and we are not immune to it.
00:41:02.52\00:41:05.93
We need to be
able to understand it,
00:41:05.96\00:41:07.23
be established in what
the Word of God actually says,
00:41:07.30\00:41:09.96
and to be able to
stand--understand much of the
00:41:10.00\00:41:12.37
rationale and the logic
that is behind it as well.
00:41:12.40\00:41:16.10
It is not by coincidence that
in Revelation chapter 14 and
00:41:16.14\00:41:19.44
verse 7 when we come to
the three angels' message,
00:41:19.47\00:41:22.14
that great end-time message
of prophecy that God has for
00:41:22.18\00:41:24.98
the last
generation before Jesus comes,
00:41:25.01\00:41:28.18
that cries out, "Fear God and
give glory to Him for the hour
00:41:28.22\00:41:31.29
of His judgment has come,
and worship Him who made the
00:41:31.32\00:41:35.99
heavens, the earth, the
sea, and the springs of water."
00:41:36.02\00:41:39.86
Friends, it is not coincidence
that God put it in there because
00:41:39.89\00:41:42.66
He knew that that was a
foundational doctrine that
00:41:42.70\00:41:46.23
would be assaulted and attacked,
both within the church and
00:41:46.27\00:41:48.80
without the church in the
last generations of this world.
00:41:48.84\00:41:55.38
In page 32 of the
lesson study we find another
00:41:55.41\00:41:57.58
very helpful quote there.
00:41:57.61\00:42:00.12
It says: "The doctrine of
Creation also is foundational
00:42:00.15\00:42:02.92
to any Christian education.
00:42:02.95\00:42:05.52
Everything we
believe as Christians,
00:42:05.55\00:42:07.16
everything, rests
on the doctrine of the
00:42:07.19\00:42:10.19
six-day Creation.
00:42:10.23\00:42:11.66
The Bible didn't begin
with a statement about atonement
00:42:11.69\00:42:14.66
or about the law or about the
cross or about the Resurrection
00:42:14.73\00:42:17.57
or about the Second Coming.
00:42:17.60\00:42:19.77
No, it began with a statement
about God as the Creator because
00:42:19.80\00:42:24.37
none of these other teachings
makes any sense apart from the
00:42:24.41\00:42:27.14
reality of God as our Creator."
00:42:27.18\00:42:29.51
Now, friends, how much do I wish
that we had another half an hour
00:42:29.54\00:42:31.81
to our Bible study hour and
it was an hour and a half and
00:42:31.85\00:42:34.95
I might be able to unpack
that for the next half-hour.
00:42:34.98\00:42:37.62
And one by one, going through
those other key foundational
00:42:37.65\00:42:40.79
Christian fundamental beliefs
and see how all of them fall on
00:42:40.82\00:42:44.73
the ground if it wasn't for
the fact that we understand and
00:42:44.76\00:42:47.76
adopt and believe in the literal
six-day Creation in which Moses
00:42:47.83\00:42:52.33
believed and in the style
in which he has written for us,
00:42:52.37\00:42:56.20
for you and I today.
00:42:56.24\00:43:03.04
Well, one of those
examples is hard to imagine.
00:43:03.08\00:43:05.21
It's a teaching that is
antithetical to the Bible.
00:43:05.25\00:43:07.85
The lesson study looks at it.
00:43:07.88\00:43:09.45
I wish I had more time
to be able to look at it
00:43:09.48\00:43:11.29
more thoroughly.
00:43:11.32\00:43:12.62
But, friends, with our
closing thoughts here today,
00:43:12.65\00:43:14.39
I wanted to share with you that
to adopt the theory of evolution
00:43:14.42\00:43:17.93
as a believing,
church-going Christian,
00:43:17.96\00:43:21.56
is one of the--you know,
evolution as this lesson study
00:43:21.60\00:43:24.70
points out, is, in
fact, let me read the quote.
00:43:24.73\00:43:27.54
It says: "It's hard to imagine
a teaching more antithetical
00:43:27.57\00:43:30.47
to the Bible and to the
Christian faith in general
00:43:30.51\00:43:32.61
than that of evolution."
00:43:32.64\00:43:35.78
Friends, the Bible teaches that
we are created perfect and then
00:43:35.81\00:43:38.65
we sin shortly after
and, as a result of that sin,
00:43:38.68\00:43:42.48
we have degraded
physically, intellectually,
00:43:42.52\00:43:45.62
emotionally, and
spiritually ever since.
00:43:45.65\00:43:50.66
Our lifespan has degraded,
our stature physically,
00:43:50.69\00:43:54.56
our height and
stature, has degraded,
00:43:54.56\00:43:56.00
our intellectual ability
has degraded over the centuries.
00:43:56.03\00:43:59.47
Friends, that is the diametrical
opposite of what Darwin's theory
00:43:59.50\00:44:03.47
of evolution presents
today and which is adopted by
00:44:03.51\00:44:05.67
most around us today.
00:44:05.71\00:44:07.14
And that tells us that we
started with the most primitive,
00:44:07.18\00:44:09.54
most corrupt, most
basic forms of life,
00:44:09.58\00:44:13.21
and then, through much violence
and killing and manipulation
00:44:13.25\00:44:17.65
of other species for our
advantage, it was the avenue
00:44:17.69\00:44:21.26
in which we found ourselves and
still find ourselves evolving
00:44:21.29\00:44:25.43
and arriving in
a different place.
00:44:25.46\00:44:27.36
Friends, those two theories
go in completely different
00:44:27.40\00:44:30.53
directions, and yet
many of us, as Christians,
00:44:30.57\00:44:33.84
has revealed that either we have
a very low understanding of the
00:44:33.87\00:44:37.67
great themes of the
Bible and evolution,
00:44:37.71\00:44:39.64
I mean the great things
of the Bible and salvation,
00:44:39.67\00:44:42.81
or we don't understand,
really, and aren't educated in
00:44:42.84\00:44:45.95
the theory of
evolution because, friends,
00:44:45.98\00:44:47.52
these two things go in
the exact opposite direction.
00:44:47.55\00:44:50.65
And so, please do not make the
mistake of believing that you
00:44:50.69\00:44:54.39
can adopt a theistic
evolutionary viewpoint.
00:44:54.42\00:44:59.29
You cannot marry the two.
00:44:59.33\00:45:00.70
They are unmarriable.
00:45:00.73\00:45:02.86
They are completely
diametrical opposites.
00:45:02.90\00:45:06.10
And so, friends, we need to
be able to teach and educate our
00:45:06.13\00:45:08.77
children
concerning that, and, friends,
00:45:08.80\00:45:12.37
I wish we had more time.
00:45:12.41\00:45:13.71
There's a couple of other things
that we have to share but,
00:45:13.74\00:45:15.48
friends, I hope that
you have studied through
00:45:15.51\00:45:16.81
this lesson study.
00:45:16.85\00:45:18.15
There are many good
points that it makes,
00:45:18.18\00:45:19.95
both what we pointed out today
as well as what we can find
00:45:19.98\00:45:23.39
in the lesson study.
00:45:23.42\00:45:24.72
So don't forget to take
advantage of our free offer
00:45:24.75\00:45:27.52
that we had at the
beginning of the lesson.
00:45:27.56\00:45:29.19
In case you missed it,
00:45:29.22\00:45:30.53
it's written by Joe
Crews: "Hidden Ears--
00:45:30.56\00:45:32.09
Hidden Eyes and Closed Ears."
00:45:32.13\00:45:35.13
Friends, we don't want to find
ourselves in that predicament.
00:45:35.16\00:45:37.70
If you've never read it, make
sure you take advantage of it.
00:45:37.73\00:45:39.57
Dial 1-866-788-3966 and you can
receive a free copy of that and
00:45:39.60\00:45:46.24
you can also text it--just text
the message "SH036" and you want
00:45:46.27\00:45:52.05
to text that to the
number which is 40544.
00:45:52.08\00:45:58.75
40544, we can call that
the phone number, if you can.
00:45:58.79\00:46:01.42
And so you want to text
it to that phone number,
00:46:01.46\00:46:04.43
if we can call it that,
with that message and you
00:46:04.46\00:46:06.46
can receive a
free digital offer.
00:46:06.49\00:46:08.23
Friends, we look forward
to seeing you again next week
00:46:08.26\00:46:10.43
as we continue to study in this
important topic of education.
00:46:10.47\00:46:14.60
Until then, God bless you and
don't forget that God loves you.
00:46:14.64\00:46:18.77
male announcer: Don't forget
to request today's life-changing
00:46:20.91\00:46:22.31
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00:46:22.34\00:46:23.98
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00:46:26.48\00:46:28.58
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To get your digital
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00:46:30.49\00:46:32.92
simply text the keyword on your
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00:46:32.95\00:46:37.76
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be sure to select the digital
00:46:37.79\00:46:41.20
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00:46:41.23\00:46:43.50
It's now easier than ever
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00:46:43.53\00:46:46.33
Amazing Facts
wherever and whenever you want.
00:46:46.37\00:46:50.14
And most important,
to share it with others.
00:46:50.17\00:46:52.74
announcer: The
statistics are grim.
00:46:54.94\00:46:56.24
Millions have been
infected by coronavirus,
00:46:56.28\00:46:59.11
thousands have died.
00:46:59.15\00:47:00.62
Race riots have
broken out on streets,
00:47:00.65\00:47:03.12
political tensions
are at an all-time high.
00:47:03.15\00:47:05.52
Does the Bible have
anything to say about the times
00:47:05.55\00:47:08.39
in which we are living?
00:47:08.42\00:47:10.06
Doug Batchelor: Hi, friends.
00:47:10.09\00:47:11.43
This is Pastor Doug Batchelor.
00:47:11.46\00:47:12.79
Many people are wondering if
the world's about to implode.
00:47:12.83\00:47:16.20
Some are fearful that global
events point to a coming crisis
00:47:16.23\00:47:19.40
unlike anything
we've ever witnessed.
00:47:19.43\00:47:23.00
Did you know the Bible book of
Revelation actually speaks about
00:47:23.04\00:47:25.97
the days in
which we're living now?
00:47:26.01\00:47:28.11
And it contains
a message of hope,
00:47:28.14\00:47:30.85
if we would only listen.
00:47:30.88\00:47:33.05
That's why I'd like to
invite you to "Revelation Now!
00:47:33.08\00:47:36.22
Decoding the Bible's
Greatest Prophecies."
00:47:36.25\00:47:38.82
In this multi-part series,
I'll be sharing relevant truths
00:47:38.85\00:47:42.49
for our time from the
last book in the Bible.
00:47:42.52\00:47:45.23
announcer: Coming October 23.
00:47:45.26\00:47:46.96
To learn more, visit
00:47:47.00\00:47:48.33
revelationnow.com.
00:47:48.36\00:47:50.50
¤¤¤
00:47:50.53\00:47:58.71
announcer: Amazing
Facts: Changed Lives.
00:47:58.74\00:48:02.84
Gary: Early 1980s all the
baby boomers were turning 21
00:48:06.35\00:48:09.05
and the nightclub scenes
were exploding and I started
00:48:09.08\00:48:11.95
a entertainment
lighting company.
00:48:11.99\00:48:13.96
female: I was the president
and there were six divisions.
00:48:13.99\00:48:16.19
Doing the raves
in the '80s and '90s,
00:48:16.22\00:48:18.89
you know, in some warehouse
where you're setting up lighting
00:48:18.93\00:48:21.10
and fog and, you know, who knows
what's going on in there and
00:48:21.13\00:48:24.10
nightclub--nightclub
installations.
00:48:24.13\00:48:26.97
I loved it and it was who I was.
00:48:27.00\00:48:29.87
Gary: Bought a new house
out of town and we moved about
00:48:29.90\00:48:32.91
two or three times.
00:48:32.94\00:48:34.31
But we were always
going into different churches.
00:48:34.34\00:48:36.68
We were in a Lutheran
church and then we were
00:48:36.71\00:48:38.81
in a Methodist church.
00:48:38.85\00:48:40.15
I think we were in three
different Baptist churches.
00:48:40.18\00:48:41.85
My wife was raised Catholic.
00:48:41.88\00:48:43.62
I was raised Methodist.
00:48:43.65\00:48:45.12
Currently, I've been out reading
all the Hal Lindsey books and
00:48:45.15\00:48:47.69
watching all the "Left Behind"
movies and so I really wanted
00:48:47.72\00:48:50.36
to understand what the book
of Revelation was all about.
00:48:50.39\00:48:52.63
But nothing really
ever made sense to me.
00:48:52.66\00:48:54.83
female: One day, Pastor
Lloyd Logan came knocking
00:48:54.83\00:48:57.53
and he had that '99 flyer.
00:48:57.57\00:49:01.10
Lloyd Logan: We were
preparing for an evangelistic
00:49:01.14\00:49:03.30
series and different people
were going different directions
00:49:03.34\00:49:07.44
with handbills to
invite people to the meetings.
00:49:07.48\00:49:12.25
female: I saw that coming at me,
00:49:12.28\00:49:13.58
you know, all the
colors and I thought,
00:49:13.62\00:49:15.25
"Oh no, this is
some kind of cult thing."
00:49:15.28\00:49:17.12
Lloyd: And she said, "Thank
you very much and I'm not much
00:49:17.15\00:49:19.25
interested myself but my husband
likes that kind of thing."
00:49:19.29\00:49:23.69
female: And Lloyd said, "Would
you give it to him please?"
00:49:23.73\00:49:26.63
And I said, "Okay, I will."
00:49:26.66\00:49:29.53
So I took the pamphlet
and I put it on the counter.
00:49:29.56\00:49:32.20
Gary came home
and he walked by it.
00:49:32.23\00:49:34.14
Gary: Ran through the kitchen
to quickly eat and take a shower
00:49:34.17\00:49:37.31
and go back out and work a show.
00:49:37.34\00:49:39.97
female: Two or three days
went by like this and I moved
00:49:40.01\00:49:41.68
that brochure from the counter,
put it on the dining room table,
00:49:41.71\00:49:46.25
put it back on the counter.
00:49:46.28\00:49:48.55
And I actually
threw it in the garbage.
00:49:48.58\00:49:50.55
As I threw it in
that garbage can,
00:49:50.59\00:49:52.35
I could hear him
and see his face saying,
00:49:52.39\00:49:54.99
"Would you give
it to him please?"
00:49:55.02\00:49:57.63
And I actually
took the garbage out.
00:49:57.66\00:49:59.06
Then--and that
night, lying in bed,
00:49:59.09\00:50:00.93
I kept seeing his face and
hearing his voice and thinking,
00:50:00.96\00:50:03.77
"Oh boy, I've got to get that
brochure out of the garbage."
00:50:03.80\00:50:07.34
And I took that and I
put it right underneath
00:50:07.37\00:50:10.27
the remote control.
00:50:10.31\00:50:12.41
Bright colors, he'll see it.
00:50:12.44\00:50:14.08
Gary: I finally sat down in
my living room and I picked up
00:50:14.11\00:50:16.58
the remote and I saw that
angel holding out that scroll.
00:50:16.61\00:50:19.45
female: "Whoa,
cool. What is this?"
00:50:19.48\00:50:22.52
And I was in the
kitchen, cooking,
00:50:22.55\00:50:23.92
and I thought, "Oh no."
00:50:23.95\00:50:25.52
Gary: And I looked at it and
I turned it over and then I saw
00:50:25.55\00:50:28.19
a little building, a
little church building,
00:50:28.22\00:50:30.43
and it wasn't too far away.
00:50:30.46\00:50:32.16
It was about six
houses down and it said,
00:50:32.19\00:50:34.83
"Friday night."
00:50:34.83\00:50:36.13
female: And I
certainly wasn't going.
00:50:36.16\00:50:37.67
I mean, it wasn't
my intention to go.
00:50:37.70\00:50:39.73
Gary: I didn't have any
shows going on that night and so
00:50:39.77\00:50:42.20
I thought it was
a one-night deal.
00:50:42.24\00:50:43.77
I went and as I
heard about the Millennium,
00:50:43.81\00:50:46.47
man, I was just blown away.
00:50:46.51\00:50:48.54
I didn't want it to end.
00:50:48.58\00:50:50.31
I knew what I was hearing was
all from the Scripture and it
00:50:50.35\00:50:53.25
wasn't based on
Hollywood movies or other books
00:50:53.28\00:50:55.48
that were written.
00:50:55.52\00:50:56.82
They said, "Come again
tomorrow night," and I thought,
00:50:56.85\00:50:58.59
"Wow, great, two nights."
00:50:58.62\00:51:00.59
So I tried to tell my wife
about it and she still wasn't
00:51:00.62\00:51:03.46
interested and then
she decided to come.
00:51:03.49\00:51:05.63
female: I started
to hear the truth,
00:51:05.66\00:51:07.13
you know, and I
started to get fed.
00:51:07.20\00:51:09.13
Gary: Every night
after the seminar,
00:51:09.16\00:51:10.83
they would hand us an
Amazing Facts study guide.
00:51:10.87\00:51:13.60
I couldn't do those fast enough.
00:51:13.64\00:51:15.30
female: The business kept
us going seven days a week
00:51:15.34\00:51:18.54
and it was night and day.
00:51:18.57\00:51:20.14
Gary: Crews working all
around the clock and so when
00:51:20.18\00:51:22.44
we finally heard
the Sabbath message,
00:51:22.48\00:51:24.61
you know, so far everything's
been true, right from the Bible.
00:51:24.65\00:51:27.38
female: Church on
Saturday, no work.
00:51:27.42\00:51:29.85
Anyway, it all clicked.
00:51:29.88\00:51:31.65
Gary: Both our heads
turned at each other,
00:51:31.69\00:51:33.39
our jaws dropped open.
00:51:33.42\00:51:34.86
female: I said,
"We can't do that."
00:51:34.89\00:51:37.69
Gary: And the first thing
that came out of my mouth was,
00:51:37.73\00:51:40.06
"We have to."
00:51:40.10\00:51:41.46
female: I knew that it
would be a sacrifice and I was
00:51:41.50\00:51:44.80
in fear about it.
00:51:44.83\00:51:46.37
Gary: We didn't know how
we were going to do it but
00:51:46.40\00:51:48.94
we talked to the pastor
about it and the pastor said,
00:51:48.97\00:51:52.07
"Well, just pray about
it and God will open doors."
00:51:52.11\00:51:54.21
female: I didn't want to give
up all the connections I had
00:51:54.24\00:51:56.95
made, all the
networking, all the money,
00:51:56.98\00:51:59.35
all the investment.
00:51:59.38\00:52:00.98
Gary: We went to the board
and asked them if they would
00:52:01.02\00:52:02.78
consider closing on
Saturday and they agreed to.
00:52:02.82\00:52:05.89
So we closed the storefront on
Saturday but we were still doing
00:52:05.92\00:52:08.92
productions and
that kind of bothered us.
00:52:08.96\00:52:11.03
So a couple of months later,
God opened a door for my wife.
00:52:11.06\00:52:15.03
She exited the company.
00:52:15.06\00:52:16.36
I prayed about it and
God opened a door for me too.
00:52:16.40\00:52:18.77
female: Gary, shortly after,
was offered a job being paid
00:52:18.80\00:52:23.41
more money than he made
as an owner of the company.
00:52:23.44\00:52:27.14
Gary: He said, "I'll give
you a $1,000 raise and you will
00:52:27.18\00:52:30.58
never work another weekend."
00:52:30.61\00:52:32.05
female: And we were able to
keep the Sabbath and enjoy the
00:52:32.08\00:52:35.65
wonderful blessings that God
had for us on the Sabbath day.
00:52:35.68\00:52:39.69
Gary: My kids
never again had to say,
00:52:39.72\00:52:41.69
"Quit talking about work."
00:52:41.72\00:52:43.26
After the seminar was over, my
wife and I and my children were
00:52:43.29\00:52:45.39
all baptized in the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:52:45.43\00:52:48.63
Even if I gave up everything,
I knew that God would have
00:52:48.66\00:52:51.37
something better.
00:52:51.40\00:52:52.90
female: I have much more
understanding and there's much
00:52:52.93\00:52:56.17
more depth in my
Christian walk with the Lord.
00:52:56.20\00:52:59.57
Gary: We started an
Amazing Facts Bible School
00:52:59.61\00:53:01.94
at our church.
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It allows anybody to understand
the Scriptures and to understand
00:53:03.24\00:53:06.28
the end-times.
00:53:06.31\00:53:07.65
Church changed my
life dramatically,
00:53:07.68\00:53:09.08
and I'm very happy and
excited to be a part of it.
00:53:09.12\00:53:12.15
¤¤¤
00:53:13.25\00:53:23.23
Doug: Have you ever
heard a mouse howl like a wolf?
00:53:31.54\00:53:35.44
Well, what would you expect
would happen when a creature
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changes its destiny from the
hapless prey to mighty predator?
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From the outside, they look
very much like just an oversized
00:53:42.42\00:53:45.52
field mouse: cute brown
fur, white on the underbelly,
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nice little beady
eyes, but that's where
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the similarities stop.
00:53:52.23\00:53:53.83
Grasshopper mice
are very unusual,
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making them the objects of great
interest for animal researchers.
00:53:56.03\00:54:01.97
These furry little creatures
are found in the harsh deserts
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of North America.
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They're very territorial in
nature and they will monopolize
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and fend off 25 acres.
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They don't build their own
homes but sort of confiscate
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the burrows and the
homes of other creatures.
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They're not called grasshopper
mice 'cause they hop around,
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but it's because they
eat a lot of grasshoppers.
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In fact, scientists have
discovered grasshopper mice
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are the only mice that
are purely carnivorous.
00:54:24.06\00:54:29.23
They hunt much
like cats or weasels,
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stalking their prey
in a predatory fashion,
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and when they
pounce, they are ferocious,
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sometimes even taking on snakes
and scorpions and centipedes.
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When a grasshopper mouse
gets into a fierce battle with
00:54:41.88\00:54:44.15
a snake or a
scorpion or a centipede,
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they may be bit or
stung several times,
00:54:46.92\00:54:48.78
but what is amazing to
researchers is they've noticed
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when they are bitten, they
somehow shake it off because
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they convert the toxin
in the venom to painkiller.
00:54:55.72\00:54:59.89
I think you can understand
why this information would be of
00:54:59.93\00:55:02.76
special interest to scientists
that are trying to discover
00:55:02.80\00:55:06.60
new ways for people to
deal with chronic pain.
00:55:06.63\00:55:09.84
One of the most intriguing
characteristics of these little
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creatures is when they're
defending their territory or
00:55:13.48\00:55:16.28
celebrating a
victory over some adversary,
00:55:16.31\00:55:19.28
they'll throw back
their head and let out this
00:55:19.31\00:55:22.18
earthshaking howl.
00:55:22.22\00:55:24.32
It's a mousy howl.
00:55:24.35\00:55:26.15
Check it out.
00:55:26.19\00:55:27.79
[howling]
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Doug: The grasshopper
mouse is not the only member
00:55:33.23\00:55:35.46
of creation that
can survive encounters
00:55:35.50\00:55:37.70
with venomous predators.
00:55:37.73\00:55:39.60
In Luke 10:19 it says: "Behold,
I will give you authority
00:55:39.63\00:55:43.74
to trample on serpents
and scorpions and over all
00:55:43.77\00:55:47.24
the power of the enemy.
00:55:47.28\00:55:48.64
Nothing will by
any means hurt you."
00:55:48.68\00:55:51.81
We don't have to be the biggest
and the strongest to defeat
00:55:51.85\00:55:54.65
our enemy and let
out that victory roar.
00:55:54.68\00:55:56.62
When God called
David to be king,
00:55:56.65\00:55:58.62
no human would have
guessed that he had it in him.
00:55:58.65\00:56:01.36
He was young and insignificant.
00:56:01.39\00:56:03.29
From the outside, he looked like
there was no greatness in him.
00:56:03.32\00:56:06.76
But when God
looked at his heart,
00:56:06.80\00:56:08.80
he saw courage,
humility, compassion, and love.
00:56:08.83\00:56:11.73
David wasn't perfect and he made
mistakes but through God's power
00:56:11.77\00:56:15.97
he was able to conquer giants.
00:56:16.00\00:56:19.41
Friend, God does not intend that
you live out the rest of your
00:56:19.44\00:56:21.78
life cowering and trembling
like a little field mouse.
00:56:21.81\00:56:24.98
If God can take the grasshopper
mouse and give him courage
00:56:25.01\00:56:27.98
so that he fights snakes
and scorpions and centipedes,
00:56:28.02\00:56:31.39
if God can put in the heart
of David the courage to fight
00:56:31.42\00:56:34.59
giants like Goliath, then he
can give you that same courage.
00:56:34.62\00:56:38.33
The Scriptures say, "God has not
given you the spirit of fear,
00:56:38.36\00:56:42.66
but of power,
love, and a sound mind."
00:56:42.70\00:56:45.83
And you can have that peace
in your heart when you invite
00:56:45.87\00:56:48.64
the Prince of
peace in your heart.
00:56:48.67\00:56:50.71
Why don't you do that right now?
00:56:50.74\00:56:53.07
¤¤¤
00:56:53.11\00:57:03.08
¤¤¤
00:57:03.12\00:57:13.09
¤¤¤
00:57:13.13\00:57:23.10
male: "I was a
stranger and you took me in."
00:57:23.54\00:57:28.78
¤¤¤
00:57:28.81\00:57:38.79
¤¤¤
00:57:38.82\00:57:42.69
male: "Assuredly, I say to you,
00:57:42.72\00:57:44.53
inasmuch as you did
it to one of the least
00:57:44.56\00:57:46.80
of these my brethren,
00:57:46.83\00:57:50.53
you did it to me."
00:57:50.57\00:57:53.07
¤¤¤
00:57:53.10\00:57:55.37
¤¤¤
00:58:01.64\00:58:11.65