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Jëan Ross: Good
morning, friends.
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We'd like to welcome all of you
to "Sabbath School Study Hour,"
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coming to you from the Granite
Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:00:39.10\00:00:41.44
in Sacramento, California.
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I'd like to welcome our online
members and our friends who
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are joining us
across the country and,
00:00:45.37\00:00:47.51
literally, around the world,
part of our extended Sabbath
00:00:47.54\00:00:51.08
School Study Hour class, and
so warm welcome to all of you.
00:00:51.11\00:00:55.35
We'd also like to remind you of
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some of our free
offers that we have.
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In particular, we have
a very special free offer.
00:00:59.25\00:01:01.76
It's entitled
"The Day of the Lord."
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This is not something
that we can offer every week,
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but this is, sort of,
one of our premium gifts,
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and we'd like to make
this available to you.
00:01:09.30\00:01:11.30
If you'd like to
receive this magazine,
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just you can receive the
free offer by calling the number
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866-788-3966 and ask
for offer number 825.
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And we'll be able to get that
in the mail and send it to you.
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Or you can receive a digital
download of this great gift.
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And if you'd like to do that,
text the code "SH108" to the
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number 40544, and you'll be able
to get a digital download of our
00:01:36.29\00:01:41.33
free offer entitled
"The Day of the Lord."
00:01:41.36\00:01:44.50
Now, our lesson today is
the final in our series dealing
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with the subject of education,
lesson number 13 entitled
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"Heaven, Education,
and Eternal Learning."
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And we'll be getting to
that in just a few moments,
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but before we get to our lesson
study I'd like to invite Kayla
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and Sterling Cornwell.
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They're going to be bringing us
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a special musical
item at this time.
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¤¤¤
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¤ I wish I could have
been there in the fields ¤
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¤ with the shepherds. ¤
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¤ Wish I sat upon the
camels bringing gifts. ¤
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¤ I wish I could
have been there. ¤
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¤ Wish we grew up together. ¤
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¤ Wish our mamas talked
and laughed as we would play. ¤
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¤ I was born
2,000 years too late, ¤
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¤ but the same
child reigns today. ¤
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¤ And like the wise
men, I will follow. ¤
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¤ Like the
shepherds, I will go. ¤
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¤ Like Mary, I will answer. ¤
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¤ Like Joseph, I will know. ¤
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¤ Like the baby in a manger,
may my heart be ever pure. ¤
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¤ Like the angels,
may I spread the Word. ¤
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¤ I wish I could
have been there ¤
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¤ on that road to Golgotha. ¤
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¤ Wish I carried on the
cross You couldn't bear. ¤
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¤ I wish I could
have been there, ¤
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¤ but You carry the ages, ¤
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¤ and Your grace and strength
and peace are still the same. ¤
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¤ I'm not there in
that manger where You lay, ¤
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¤ but my heart can
be Your home today. ¤
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¤ And like the wise
men, I will follow. ¤
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¤ Like the
shepherds, I will go. ¤
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¤ Like Mary, I will answer. ¤
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¤ Like Joseph, I will know. ¤
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¤ Like the baby in a manger,
may my heart be ever pure. ¤
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¤ Like the angels,
may I spread the Word. ¤
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¤ O hark, the
herald angels sing. ¤
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¤ There's joy to the world. ¤
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¤ There is peace on
Earth, goodwill to men. ¤
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¤ I will stand up
with the angels. ¤
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¤ I will sing
His praises loud. ¤
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¤ I will share the
news, share the good news. ¤
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¤ Like the wise
men, I will follow. ¤
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¤ Like the
shepherds, I will go. ¤
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¤ Like Mary, I will answer. ¤
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¤ Like Joseph, I will know. ¤
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¤ Like the baby in a manger,
may my heart be ever pure. ¤
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¤ Like the angels,
may I spread the Word. ¤
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¤ I wish I could
have been there, ¤
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¤ but You carry the ages, ¤
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¤ and Your grace and strength
and peace are still the same. ¤¤
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Jëan: Let us bow
our heads for prayer.
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Dear Father in heaven, what
a joy to be able to enter into
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Your presence on
this Your special day,
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a day that You have set
aside for true education,
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coming to know You
more as our personal Savior,
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our Friend, our Creator.
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And Lord, as we turn our
attention to Your Word and
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the important subject of
learning that You want to
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teach us, Father, we pray that
Your Spirit would come and guide
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us, lead us into clearer, full
understanding of the lessons
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that we find in the Bible.
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Be with our teacher today,
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for we ask this in
Jesus's name, amen.
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Our lesson this
morning is going to be brought
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to us by Pastor Carlos.
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He is our--as many of you know,
he's our AFCOE director here at
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Amazing Facts, and he
will be teaching this morning.
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Thank you, Pastor Carlos.
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Carlos Muñoz: Maranatha,
Happy Sabbath, my loved ones.
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How's everybody doing?
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It's exciting to be here, amen?
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It's an exciting
times we're living in,
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and so I'm excited to be here
and sharing "Sabbath School"
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with you, so let's have a
word of prayer before we begin.
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Heavenly Father, we thank You
again for just this privilege
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and the honor that You
have given us to honor You,
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to worship You, to give
You praise and glory for being
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our God, for
creating us, redeeming us,
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sanctifying us, and for
preparing us to dwell in
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Your presence again.
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So, as we come together, Father,
to share this last lesson in the
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quarterly, we ask that
Your Spirit guide us and impress
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these wonderful
truths in our hearts
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so that we can live by them.
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We ask and beg these
things in Jesus's name, amen.
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Amen.
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So, today is the last lesson
on this quarterly on education.
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It's interesting
because I did the intro,
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the first lesson, and
I'm closing the scene out,
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but I'm also excited about the
next one that's coming up on the
00:08:05.48\00:08:07.55
book of Isaiah, amen?
00:08:07.58\00:08:09.22
And so, we're on
lesson number 13,
00:08:09.25\00:08:11.55
and the title is
"Heaven, Education,
00:08:11.59\00:08:13.39
and Eternal Learning."
00:08:13.42\00:08:15.79
Now, that should get us excited,
because the topic is about the
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new heavens and
the new earth, amen?
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The topic is about what else are
we going to be learning after
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this is over with?
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And so, our memory text
is 1 Corinthians chapter 2,
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verse 9, saying,
"Eye has not seen,
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nor ear heard, nor have
entered into the heart of man,"
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or woman, "the things
which God had prepared
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for those who love Him," amen?
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That verse should
pique our curiosity.
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That verse should get us
to think and wonder about what
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does God have in store for us.
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What is God holding back, right?
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What is He ready
to share with us?
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And I say this because in
the lesson it talks about the
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concept and the understanding
of everlasting, right?
00:09:01.07\00:09:03.30
What is going to happen, right?
00:09:03.34\00:09:05.54
And sometimes in life
we don't think about that,
00:09:05.57\00:09:09.88
especially the world.
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The world gets so
caught up, so preoccupied,
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and our priorities are so out of
sync because we're worried about
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the cares, right?
00:09:19.52\00:09:20.86
The daily cares,
which don't get me wrong.
00:09:20.89\00:09:22.29
Those things are important, but
sometimes the world doesn't stop
00:09:22.32\00:09:26.53
to focus and think about
the most important things,
00:09:26.56\00:09:29.63
the things that
really have to do
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with the reason why we're here.
00:09:31.60\00:09:33.30
How did we get here, right?
00:09:33.34\00:09:34.64
What is the
purpose for us to be here?
00:09:34.67\00:09:37.44
Morality, right?
00:09:37.47\00:09:38.94
What is right or
wrong, and the afterlife.
00:09:38.97\00:09:41.28
But it's interesting
because as we've gone--
00:09:41.31\00:09:43.95
been going through
this situation in this year,
00:09:43.98\00:09:46.51
COVID has really been a
shaking for the world, right?
00:09:46.55\00:09:49.88
COVID has really put
the world at its knees.
00:09:49.92\00:09:54.06
And despite
sometimes we're off focus,
00:09:54.09\00:09:57.29
we're focusing on the
things that are temporal,
00:09:57.33\00:09:59.86
we're focusing on the things
that sometimes are not relevant
00:09:59.89\00:10:03.40
to our eternal life,
those things have been put into
00:10:03.43\00:10:06.53
context during this time, right?
00:10:06.57\00:10:08.40
We talk about loss of life,
whether it be because of the
00:10:08.44\00:10:12.71
COVID situation, whether it be
00:10:12.74\00:10:14.18
because of suicide, right?
00:10:14.21\00:10:15.54
We find about so many
people committing suicide,
00:10:15.58\00:10:17.71
so many people depressed
because they're isolated.
00:10:17.75\00:10:20.52
I mean, we're learning to
appreciate fellowship, right?
00:10:20.55\00:10:24.09
We're learning to
appreciate that time,
00:10:24.12\00:10:26.19
that quality time,
that we spend with others.
00:10:26.22\00:10:28.56
We're talking
about mental, emotional,
00:10:28.59\00:10:30.86
even physical health, right?
00:10:30.89\00:10:33.53
I know as I'm getting
older I'm starting to--
00:10:33.56\00:10:35.36
my body does not react in
the same way it used to be,
00:10:35.40\00:10:38.63
and so I know you're
going through the same thing,
00:10:38.67\00:10:40.70
because that's just
part of the way of life.
00:10:40.74\00:10:42.70
And sometimes we like to
just not pay attention to
00:10:42.74\00:10:45.01
those things, but this is--
00:10:45.04\00:10:46.37
these are signs, right?
00:10:46.41\00:10:47.74
God is permitting these
things to grab our attention.
00:10:47.78\00:10:50.65
Sometimes we focus
so much on our work,
00:10:50.68\00:10:52.75
on our jobs, on our businesses.
00:10:52.78\00:10:54.92
Some of those things
have been completely wiped out
00:10:54.95\00:10:57.29
with this situation.
00:10:57.32\00:10:58.72
People have lost everything.
00:10:58.75\00:11:00.62
They put their whole
life, their whole effort,
00:11:00.66\00:11:02.49
their resources
into building a business,
00:11:02.52\00:11:04.53
and they've lost it all.
00:11:04.56\00:11:06.46
Relationships are strained,
or lack of relationships because
00:11:06.49\00:11:10.40
of all of these
restrictions, right?
00:11:10.43\00:11:13.00
Our jobs, our
401(k)s, our investments,
00:11:13.03\00:11:15.47
our bank accounts,
accounts, homes, titles, honors.
00:11:15.50\00:11:19.51
Al of these
things, all of a sudden,
00:11:19.54\00:11:21.44
have mean nothing, and
this is just a small glimpse,
00:11:21.48\00:11:23.48
a small taste of
what is happening.
00:11:23.51\00:11:25.28
And the question is, why?
00:11:25.31\00:11:27.02
Why is God
letting and permitting
00:11:27.05\00:11:28.35
these things to happen?
00:11:28.38\00:11:29.85
And my loved ones,
it's because He's trying to
00:11:29.88\00:11:31.45
grab our attention.
00:11:31.49\00:11:32.92
He's trying to wake
us up to pay attention.
00:11:32.95\00:11:35.29
Stop paying
attention to the temporal,
00:11:35.32\00:11:37.63
limited things of this earth
and pay attention to what He's
00:11:37.66\00:11:40.06
trying to get us to focus
on, which is everlasting life,
00:11:40.10\00:11:44.43
the gift, the promise that we
will dwell in His presence for
00:11:44.47\00:11:49.14
all eternity if we
choose and give Him the chance.
00:11:49.17\00:11:51.97
Is everybody with me?
00:11:52.01\00:11:53.58
And so, interestingly, some are
doing better than others with
00:11:53.61\00:11:57.11
the situation.
00:11:57.15\00:11:58.48
And you know why?
00:11:58.51\00:11:59.85
Throughout all this situation
that we've been going through,
00:11:59.88\00:12:02.25
you see that there are
people that still have peace,
00:12:02.28\00:12:04.59
and that's because they've
learned to trust in the Lord.
00:12:04.62\00:12:07.86
Despite
tribulations, despite trials,
00:12:07.89\00:12:10.06
despite the loss, people are
learning to trust in the Lord.
00:12:10.09\00:12:13.93
People are learning
to depend on God and say,
00:12:13.96\00:12:15.90
"You know what?
00:12:15.93\00:12:17.33
I cannot continue to
depend on my degrees, or my job.
00:12:17.37\00:12:20.14
No, I have to learn
to depend solely on God,
00:12:20.17\00:12:22.74
because all of it can be taken
away in a matter of nothing,"
00:12:22.77\00:12:26.71
from something we do not even
see has shaken this world to
00:12:26.74\00:12:30.21
the core, and so this
is God's message to us,
00:12:30.25\00:12:33.45
trying to get us to focus.
00:12:33.48\00:12:34.85
I know on my side,
before this situation hit,
00:12:34.88\00:12:38.12
I was on the road seven years.
00:12:38.15\00:12:39.69
Seven years, six years in
a row straight on the road,
00:12:39.72\00:12:42.22
preaching, traveling
the world, and I'm, like--
00:12:42.26\00:12:45.13
all of a sudden, it all stopped.
00:12:45.16\00:12:46.49
And I'm like, "God,
what happened," right?
00:12:46.53\00:12:48.46
I felt weird, and
it was God telling me,
00:12:48.50\00:12:51.20
"You need to take some
time to rest, recuperate,
00:12:51.23\00:12:54.30
restore the energy again.
00:12:54.34\00:12:55.87
Go back to the
core, the foundation,
00:12:55.90\00:12:57.81
because sometimes you're so--"
00:12:57.84\00:12:59.24
especially people that dedicate
their lives to ministry,
00:12:59.27\00:13:01.31
we're so caught up
sometimes we forget
00:13:01.34\00:13:02.91
about going back to the basics,
00:13:02.94\00:13:04.58
the fundamentals of
what built that relationship.
00:13:04.61\00:13:07.35
And so, all of this, as we're
going through these things,
00:13:07.38\00:13:10.39
we should be
asking ourselves, "God,
00:13:10.42\00:13:11.75
what is this
purpose, and what are You
00:13:11.79\00:13:13.15
expecting from
me during this time?
00:13:13.19\00:13:14.79
What is the message
You're trying to tell me?
00:13:14.82\00:13:16.59
How is it that You
want me to be ready," amen?
00:13:16.62\00:13:20.00
And so, sometimes even as
Christians we think we know
00:13:20.03\00:13:22.50
about the afterlife.
00:13:22.53\00:13:23.87
We think we know
about what's coming.
00:13:23.90\00:13:25.30
I want to share with you--
00:13:25.33\00:13:26.70
open your
Bibles with me, please,
00:13:26.74\00:13:28.04
to John chapter 11.
00:13:28.07\00:13:29.44
I think this is a
fascinating thing.
00:13:29.47\00:13:30.87
As I was studying through
the lesson and I was reading,
00:13:30.91\00:13:33.98
this story came to me.
00:13:34.01\00:13:35.41
It's the story of
Lazarus. John chapter 11.
00:13:35.44\00:13:37.78
We're talking about
everlasting life, right?
00:13:37.81\00:13:40.05
We're talking about
the immortal things.
00:13:40.08\00:13:43.45
John chapter 11,
and go with me, please,
00:13:43.49\00:13:45.45
to verse number 21.
00:13:45.49\00:13:48.16
John chapter
11, verse number 21,
00:13:48.19\00:13:51.79
and look at what it
says here in verse number 21.
00:13:51.83\00:13:54.56
It says, "Now Martha
said to the Lord Jesus,
00:13:54.56\00:13:57.40
'Lord, if You have been here,
my brother would not have died.
00:13:57.43\00:14:01.97
But even now I know
that whatever You ask of God,
00:14:02.00\00:14:05.01
God will give You.'"
00:14:05.04\00:14:06.37
Do we have that same faith?
00:14:06.41\00:14:07.78
Do we know that God is
going to answer our prayers?
00:14:07.81\00:14:10.18
Amen. Of course.
00:14:10.21\00:14:12.25
But then, it continues
to say, "Jesus said to her,
00:14:12.28\00:14:14.45
'Your brother will rise again.'
00:14:14.48\00:14:16.42
And Martha said to Him, 'I know
that he will rise again in the
00:14:16.45\00:14:20.19
Resurrection at the last day.'"
00:14:20.22\00:14:22.29
Did Martha know
about the Resurrection?
00:14:22.32\00:14:24.33
Yes, she did.
00:14:24.36\00:14:25.69
Do you and I know
about the Resurrection?
00:14:25.73\00:14:27.10
Yes. Do we preach it?
00:14:27.13\00:14:28.46
Do we teach it?
00:14:28.50\00:14:29.93
But do we understand it?
00:14:29.96\00:14:31.67
Because the next
verse is the key.
00:14:31.70\00:14:33.60
"Jesus said to her, 'I am
the Resurrection, the life.
00:14:33.64\00:14:37.21
And he who believes in
Me, though they may die,
00:14:37.24\00:14:39.74
he shall live.
00:14:39.77\00:14:41.34
And whoever lives and
believes in Me shall never die.
00:14:41.38\00:14:43.95
Do you believe this,'" amen?
00:14:43.98\00:14:45.71
Notice, Martha had a good
understanding on the doctrine
00:14:45.75\00:14:48.68
of the Resurrection, on the
doctrine of everlasting life,
00:14:48.72\00:14:51.22
but she missed out on the fact
that who is the one that gives
00:14:51.25\00:14:54.72
everlasting life?
00:14:54.76\00:14:56.16
It's Jesus Christ.
00:14:56.19\00:14:57.49
Who is the one that
gives eternal immortality?
00:14:57.53\00:15:00.83
It's Jesus Christ.
00:15:00.86\00:15:02.16
And sometimes, again, we get so
caught up with the doctrines and
00:15:02.20\00:15:05.17
the teachings that we forget
that the doctrines and the
00:15:05.20\00:15:07.37
teachings are all
founded on Christ, amen?
00:15:07.40\00:15:10.57
And that's what we should
be sharing with the world.
00:15:10.61\00:15:13.17
That's what we
should be focusing on.
00:15:13.21\00:15:15.11
They knew about
the Resurrection,
00:15:15.14\00:15:16.85
but not that Jesus
was the Resurrection,
00:15:16.88\00:15:19.41
that He was the life.
00:15:19.45\00:15:20.78
And there was a quote.
00:15:20.82\00:15:22.18
I'm going to quote
from the quarterly lesson,
00:15:22.22\00:15:24.39
a sentence that really grabbed
my attention in regards to this,
00:15:24.42\00:15:27.29
and it said, "Eternal life makes
so much sense in the light of
00:15:27.32\00:15:31.36
the cross, and in the light
of the cross nothing else makes
00:15:31.39\00:15:35.90
sense but eternal life."
00:15:35.93\00:15:38.93
When you hear this,
it makes sense, right?
00:15:38.97\00:15:42.94
It makes sense to us.
00:15:42.97\00:15:44.31
What has drawn
us into the gospel?
00:15:44.34\00:15:46.01
What has drawn
us into the message?
00:15:46.04\00:15:48.14
I don't know about you,
but I didn't believe in God.
00:15:48.18\00:15:50.21
I didn't care about God.
00:15:50.25\00:15:51.68
And when I heard about
this message of eternal life,
00:15:51.71\00:15:54.02
it made sense.
00:15:54.05\00:15:56.48
Nobody wants to
die. Why are we fighting?
00:15:56.52\00:15:58.75
Why are we striving
so hard to avoid death,
00:15:58.79\00:16:01.46
right, on so
many different levels?
00:16:01.49\00:16:03.12
It's because God has put
in the human heart eternity.
00:16:03.16\00:16:06.80
And so, when we're
confronted with infinite--
00:16:06.83\00:16:09.10
with finite life,
when we're confronted with
00:16:09.13\00:16:11.30
limited life, we think,
"That doesn't make sense."
00:16:11.33\00:16:14.04
And that's why you have in
the world people are struggling,
00:16:14.07\00:16:16.47
striving, trying
to find a purpose,
00:16:16.50\00:16:18.91
a meaning in life, and they find
it in all the wrong places and
00:16:18.94\00:16:22.31
doing all the wrong things
with all the wrong people,
00:16:22.34\00:16:25.01
and not knowing that
Jesus is the Resurrection.
00:16:25.05\00:16:27.85
Jesus is the one that is going
to show us the pathway back into
00:16:27.88\00:16:31.65
the presence of
the Father, amen?
00:16:31.69\00:16:34.56
And so, why prioritize in the
finite when the infinite is so
00:16:34.59\00:16:39.53
much more appealing and being
offered by Jesus Christ both as
00:16:39.56\00:16:43.00
our Lamb and as
our high priest, amen?
00:16:43.03\00:16:46.74
Because when He was on the
cross with those arms open,
00:16:46.77\00:16:49.04
you know what He was saying?
00:16:49.07\00:16:50.41
He says, "I want to
live with you forever.
00:16:50.44\00:16:53.14
I want to be with you forever.
00:16:53.17\00:16:55.11
And when I become high priest,
I'm going to do everything
00:16:55.14\00:16:58.28
divinely possible to
help you to get there," amen?
00:16:58.31\00:17:02.22
That's what I want.
00:17:02.25\00:17:03.59
And so, despite this, despite
this wonderful gospel that we
00:17:03.62\00:17:06.86
have, some people, even
when they're presented with it,
00:17:06.89\00:17:09.76
say eternal life--
00:17:09.79\00:17:11.09
and it mentioned
that in the lesson, too.
00:17:11.13\00:17:12.96
"What?
00:17:12.99\00:17:14.36
That's a horrible
thought," it says, right?
00:17:14.36\00:17:15.80
"Seventy to eighty
years here are bad enough.
00:17:15.83\00:17:18.20
Who'd want to
stretch this out forever?"
00:17:18.23\00:17:20.64
That would be what?
00:17:20.67\00:17:22.00
That would be hell.
00:17:22.04\00:17:24.01
And that's where you and I have
in our hands the most powerful
00:17:24.04\00:17:28.41
resource to be
able to share hope,
00:17:28.44\00:17:31.41
to be able to share with
people what our message is.
00:17:31.45\00:17:34.72
What are we here for?
00:17:34.75\00:17:36.25
Join me, please, in
Revelation chapter 21.
00:17:36.28\00:17:38.95
Revelation chapter 21,
00:17:38.99\00:17:40.69
because maybe
somebody is watching right now.
00:17:40.72\00:17:42.99
Maybe somebody is
thinking the same thing.
00:17:43.02\00:17:44.56
I know that through this
time God has been using--
00:17:44.59\00:17:47.60
the enemy has been trying
to separate us, but at the same
00:17:47.60\00:17:49.76
time God has been using this
time to reach out to others.
00:17:49.80\00:17:52.60
I feel that the
gospel has spread out
00:17:52.63\00:17:54.17
like no other time before.
00:17:54.20\00:17:56.20
Revelation, now,
millions of people saw that.
00:17:56.24\00:17:59.51
Who says amen?
People are listening.
00:17:59.54\00:18:02.44
People are watching.
They're looking for a reason.
00:18:02.48\00:18:04.55
They're trying to understand,
and the world has no answers.
00:18:04.58\00:18:07.58
The experts, the
governments, all of these--
00:18:07.62\00:18:11.25
the PhDs, they
still don't know, right?
00:18:11.29\00:18:15.06
There's still so
much uncertainty,
00:18:15.09\00:18:16.86
and there's only one place
that we can find certainty,
00:18:16.89\00:18:19.86
and it is in the what?
00:18:19.89\00:18:21.30
In the Word of God, amen?
00:18:21.33\00:18:22.73
And that's what we're here for.
00:18:22.76\00:18:24.07
That's what we're
here to be beacons of hope,
00:18:24.10\00:18:26.37
beacons of light, just as
Jesus Christ was to the world.
00:18:26.40\00:18:29.34
Revelation chapter 21.
00:18:29.37\00:18:30.74
I get so excited
when I read this,
00:18:30.77\00:18:32.17
because these are my
favorite verses in the Bible.
00:18:32.21\00:18:34.81
It says, "Now I saw," what?
00:18:34.84\00:18:37.05
"A new heavens and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the
00:18:37.08\00:18:40.88
first earth had," what?
00:18:40.92\00:18:42.22
"Had passed away."
00:18:42.25\00:18:44.12
My loved ones, that
should give us a sense--
00:18:44.15\00:18:46.82
a new earth,
doesn't that sound nice?
00:18:46.86\00:18:50.19
Doesn't that have
a good ring to it?
00:18:50.23\00:18:51.73
There's going to be
a what? A new earth.
00:18:51.76\00:18:53.33
I don't say new heaven or
I didn't include it because,
00:18:53.36\00:18:55.66
you know, that's out there.
00:18:55.70\00:18:57.07
Just look at this earth.
00:18:57.10\00:18:58.70
There is
something terribly wrong.
00:18:58.73\00:19:01.84
And to see here the
term there's a new earth,
00:19:01.87\00:19:04.84
that means there's going to be
00:19:04.87\00:19:06.21
something
better than what it is.
00:19:06.24\00:19:07.61
Who would want to
continue to live on this earth
00:19:07.64\00:19:09.14
for the rest of eternity?
00:19:09.18\00:19:10.48
Well, nobody, right?
00:19:10.51\00:19:11.88
Pain and suffering and torture,
and God has a promise to us in
00:19:11.91\00:19:15.02
the end, and He's
saying, "I offer a new earth."
00:19:15.05\00:19:18.15
Ooh, that should
get us excited, right?
00:19:18.19\00:19:20.92
Everybody likes
new things, right?
00:19:20.96\00:19:23.09
"Ooh, I got a new car."
00:19:23.12\00:19:24.76
Or "I got a new
home," or whatever it is.
00:19:24.79\00:19:26.49
Imagine a new earth where what?
00:19:26.53\00:19:28.63
Let's continue to read.
00:19:28.66\00:19:30.00
Let's jump to verse number 3.
00:19:30.03\00:19:31.40
"And I heard a loud
voice from heaven saying,
00:19:31.43\00:19:32.83
'Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men,
00:19:32.87\00:19:35.34
and He," God, "will
dwell with them," with us,
00:19:35.37\00:19:39.04
"and they shall be His people.
00:19:39.07\00:19:40.74
And God Himself will be with
them and be their God,'" amen?
00:19:40.78\00:19:45.25
Dwelling in the presence of
God, and then, verse number 4,
00:19:45.28\00:19:48.12
"And God will
wipe away some tears--"
00:19:48.15\00:19:51.59
"All tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death,
00:19:51.62\00:19:55.32
no more sorrow, no
more crying," no more COVID,
00:19:55.36\00:19:58.86
no more cancer, no
more suicide, no more rape,
00:19:58.89\00:20:01.96
no more murder, no
more having to wake up
00:20:02.00\00:20:04.27
at 5 o'clock in the morning.
00:20:04.30\00:20:08.10
This is great
news, my loved ones!
00:20:08.14\00:20:09.77
This is the gospel.
00:20:09.80\00:20:11.67
You will not find this
anywhere else in the world!
00:20:11.71\00:20:15.98
The world is
desperate to hear this,
00:20:16.01\00:20:17.65
and we have it right here, and
this is what God is trying to
00:20:17.68\00:20:22.48
tell us, my loved ones.
00:20:22.52\00:20:24.05
And look at what it
says in verse number 5.
00:20:24.09\00:20:26.15
"But then He who sat on
the throne--" I'm sorry.
00:20:26.19\00:20:29.19
"There shall be no more
pain, for the former things
00:20:29.22\00:20:31.43
have passed away."
00:20:31.46\00:20:32.79
Who says amen to that?
00:20:32.83\00:20:34.13
Verse 5, "Then He who
sat on the throne said,
00:20:34.20\00:20:36.03
'Behold, I make
all things new.'"
00:20:36.06\00:20:38.97
How many things?
00:20:39.00\00:20:40.64
How many things?
00:20:40.67\00:20:42.10
All things new.
00:20:42.14\00:20:43.54
"And He said to me, 'Write,
for these words are,'" what?
00:20:43.57\00:20:46.17
"They're true and faithful."
00:20:46.21\00:20:47.64
They're true and faithful
because they're founded on
00:20:47.68\00:20:49.78
Jesus, who is the
true and faithful witness.
00:20:49.81\00:20:52.71
If Jesus says it,
we can believe it.
00:20:52.75\00:20:55.08
If the Word of God says it,
we know it's going to happen,
00:20:55.12\00:20:58.05
because every--almost 95% of all
prophecies have been fulfilled,
00:20:58.09\00:21:03.09
just as God said.
00:21:03.12\00:21:04.49
And we know that
what's left is always--
00:21:04.53\00:21:06.16
also going to happen, amen?
00:21:06.19\00:21:08.03
And it says in verse
number 6, "And He said to me,
00:21:08.06\00:21:11.67
'It is done!'"
00:21:11.70\00:21:13.03
Now He's putting a stamp
of approval on this message.
00:21:13.07\00:21:15.00
"For I am the
Alpha and the Omega,
00:21:15.04\00:21:16.71
the Beginning and the End.
00:21:16.74\00:21:18.07
And I will give of the fountain
of the water of life freely to
00:21:18.11\00:21:21.31
those who," what?
00:21:21.34\00:21:23.14
"To those who thirst."
00:21:23.18\00:21:24.51
Remember the woman at
the well in John chapter 4?
00:21:24.55\00:21:27.22
She was thirsting, right?
00:21:27.25\00:21:29.35
She was thirsting
not for physical water
00:21:29.38\00:21:31.35
but she was not even aware
she was thirsting for spiritual
00:21:31.39\00:21:34.16
water, spiritual
life that can only come
00:21:34.19\00:21:35.99
through the Holy Spirit.
00:21:36.02\00:21:37.46
And Jesus came to her,
and He met her where she was,
00:21:37.49\00:21:40.96
and He told her, "I
have something that will feed
00:21:40.96\00:21:44.00
you forever."
00:21:44.03\00:21:45.33
And this is the
verse that He said,
00:21:45.37\00:21:46.60
"I have something that you will
not find anywhere in the world,"
00:21:46.63\00:21:49.07
and that's what you and I
are supposed to be presenting
00:21:49.10\00:21:51.64
to the world.
00:21:51.67\00:21:53.44
It's a hope. It's a foundation.
00:21:53.48\00:21:56.18
It's a promise that
they will not find anywhere,
00:21:56.21\00:21:59.18
and she was yearning for that.
00:21:59.21\00:22:00.88
And you know what Jesus
did? He ministered to her needs.
00:22:00.92\00:22:03.28
She was yearning for what?
00:22:03.32\00:22:04.62
For compassion,
for love, for respect,
00:22:04.65\00:22:07.26
for recognition, for somebody
to treat her as a human being,
00:22:07.29\00:22:11.26
and that's how
Jesus won her over.
00:22:11.29\00:22:13.29
And He says that
same spirit that you--
00:22:13.33\00:22:15.40
that is working in your heart,
00:22:15.43\00:22:16.77
that is going to
give you eternal life.
00:22:16.80\00:22:18.40
That is going to prepare
you. And what happened to her?
00:22:18.43\00:22:20.60
She was rejoiced with knowing
the message of salvation, amen?
00:22:20.64\00:22:25.57
There were some
very interesting,
00:22:25.61\00:22:27.11
thought-provoking questions at
the end of that first lesson on
00:22:27.14\00:22:32.18
Monday, and I want to share
it with you because I like them.
00:22:32.21\00:22:35.28
Sometimes we tend to
jump over the questions.
00:22:35.32\00:22:37.52
I like to read through
the questions in the "Sabbath
00:22:37.55\00:22:39.69
School" quarterly because they--
00:22:39.72\00:22:41.29
sometimes they're very thought
provoking, and this is what it
00:22:41.32\00:22:43.43
says: "What does it take to
be part of this new existence?
00:22:43.46\00:22:46.29
How do we get there?
00:22:46.33\00:22:47.66
How can we be sure
we're going to be part of it?
00:22:47.73\00:22:49.93
What things in our life, if any,
could stand in the way of our
00:22:49.96\00:22:52.43
being part of what God has
promised us through Jesus?"
00:22:52.47\00:22:55.87
Some of these questions
are questions that people ask,
00:22:55.90\00:22:58.57
that we should
be ready to answer,
00:22:58.61\00:23:00.51
but some of these questions
we can't even answer ourselves.
00:23:00.54\00:23:04.25
And this is what Paul
says: examine yourself.
00:23:04.28\00:23:06.75
Test yourself every day.
00:23:06.78\00:23:08.92
"Lord, am I living
according to Your will?
00:23:08.95\00:23:10.89
Lord, am I really following,
or am I a lukewarm Christian?
00:23:10.92\00:23:16.66
Am I truly fulfilling the
purpose that You have for me,
00:23:16.69\00:23:20.53
or am I thinking I am
and I'm horribly deceived?
00:23:20.56\00:23:25.07
I'm deceiving myself, Lord."
00:23:25.10\00:23:26.84
These are things that we
should be constantly asking,
00:23:26.87\00:23:29.80
and so what is the evidence
00:23:29.84\00:23:31.31
that we are
preparing for these things?
00:23:31.34\00:23:32.91
Because that's the
question it says there.
00:23:32.94\00:23:35.01
What, if any, could stand in the
way of our part of being part of
00:23:35.04\00:23:37.88
what God has promised
us through Jesus Christ?
00:23:37.91\00:23:40.28
And I say that a great evidence
that we are preparing for the
00:23:40.32\00:23:43.32
new heavens and the new
earth--because sometimes
00:23:43.35\00:23:44.79
we focus so much
about getting there,
00:23:44.82\00:23:46.32
we forget how to
prepare to get there, right?
00:23:46.35\00:23:49.12
Doesn't that
happen with you sometimes?
00:23:49.16\00:23:50.83
It happens with me
every once in a while.
00:23:50.86\00:23:52.19
I'm so excited about something.
00:23:52.23\00:23:53.66
When I realize
it's time to start,
00:23:53.70\00:23:55.06
I forget I didn't get ready.
00:23:55.10\00:23:57.27
And I would say that the perfect
evidence that we are preparing
00:23:57.30\00:24:01.07
is that we're witnessing and
there's a burden in our hearts
00:24:01.10\00:24:03.54
to share these
wonderful truths with others.
00:24:03.57\00:24:06.37
Is there a burden in your heart?
00:24:06.41\00:24:09.04
Does this drive you
when you meet people across--
00:24:09.08\00:24:10.91
when you come across people
to share these wonderful truths,
00:24:10.95\00:24:13.62
knowing how the world is?
00:24:13.65\00:24:15.65
If it's not, my loved ones,
00:24:15.68\00:24:17.52
then we need to
come to the cross, amen?
00:24:17.55\00:24:20.66
We need to go back
to the foundations.
00:24:20.69\00:24:22.16
We need to go back on our knees,
and that's why the memory text
00:24:22.19\00:24:25.43
is so amazing, because that's
what we should be offering.
00:24:25.46\00:24:28.33
"Eye has not
seen, nor ear heard,
00:24:28.36\00:24:30.57
nor have entered into the heart
of man the things which God had
00:24:30.60\00:24:33.90
prepared for those," that what?
00:24:33.94\00:24:36.07
That verse should entice.
00:24:36.10\00:24:38.07
It elicit somebody wanting
to study the Bible with us,
00:24:38.11\00:24:40.68
wanting to know more, right?
00:24:40.71\00:24:42.91
And so, it's an interesting
because it says in the study--
00:24:42.94\00:24:47.12
2 Corinthians
chapter 4, verse 17 and 18.
00:24:47.15\00:24:49.48
I'll read this quote, because
this is a beautiful response to
00:24:49.52\00:24:52.02
what we're looking at.
00:24:52.05\00:24:53.46
It says, "For this
momentary affliction
00:24:53.49\00:24:56.12
is preparing us for," what?
00:24:56.16\00:24:57.86
"For an eternal weight of glory
00:24:57.89\00:24:59.49
beyond all comparisons," amen?
00:24:59.53\00:25:03.53
This should be our
response to the world.
00:25:03.57\00:25:05.50
This should be our response to
what the world is searching for.
00:25:05.53\00:25:09.10
"While we look not at
the things which are seen,
00:25:09.14\00:25:12.51
but at the things which are not
seen: for the things which are
00:25:12.54\00:25:15.31
seen are," what?
00:25:15.34\00:25:16.64
"Are temporal; but
the things which are
00:25:16.68\00:25:19.51
not seen are eternal."
00:25:19.55\00:25:22.22
So, it's through the temporal,
finite things that we can see
00:25:22.25\00:25:25.65
the eternal.
00:25:25.69\00:25:27.09
Like what, what
are you talking about?
00:25:27.12\00:25:28.92
I'll give you an example.
00:25:28.96\00:25:30.36
We've been here
for almost 6,000 years,
00:25:30.39\00:25:33.19
and we think so highly
of what we have accomplished
00:25:33.23\00:25:35.46
and what we are, right?
00:25:35.50\00:25:38.53
But really think about this.
00:25:38.57\00:25:40.74
The last time a human
being landed on the moon--
00:25:40.77\00:25:42.67
the first time a human being
landed on the moon was 1969.
00:25:42.70\00:25:46.34
It's over 50 years ago, and we
still haven't passed the moon.
00:25:46.37\00:25:49.64
With all the
technological advances,
00:25:49.68\00:25:51.35
with all the PhDs, with all
the--we still have not crossed
00:25:51.38\00:25:55.25
the barrier of the moon.
00:25:55.28\00:25:57.45
We thought,
when we saw that in--
00:25:57.49\00:25:58.79
I wasn't around, but
when you saw that in 1969,
00:25:58.82\00:26:01.22
"Whoo!" We hit the moon in 19--
00:26:01.26\00:26:02.59
that was 50 years ago.
"Oh, we're going to be in Venus
00:26:02.62\00:26:05.99
by the time the 2000s hit."
00:26:06.03\00:26:07.40
We think we're going to
be like the Jetsons flying
00:26:07.46\00:26:08.80
around in flying cars, right?
00:26:08.83\00:26:10.80
And here we are, why?
00:26:10.83\00:26:13.94
God's restraining power for us
to stop contemplating that which
00:26:13.97\00:26:17.94
we don't understand and start
to understand why we are here
00:26:17.97\00:26:22.28
and what the existence
and purpose we have for.
00:26:22.31\00:26:24.78
Brain function, we're oblivious,
science, to the comprehension
00:26:24.81\00:26:29.22
of how the brain functions.
00:26:29.25\00:26:30.85
Despite all the
technological advances,
00:26:30.89\00:26:32.62
we still have no idea.
00:26:32.65\00:26:34.59
And I remember when I
was little I thought my--
00:26:34.62\00:26:36.52
I thought I used to be in
charge, and I would be told,
00:26:36.56\00:26:40.53
"You think you're
in charge of your life?
00:26:40.56\00:26:41.86
You think
you're a big macho man?
00:26:41.90\00:26:43.26
Go ahead, try stop
your nails from growing.
00:26:43.30\00:26:46.37
Try stop your hair from growing.
00:26:46.40\00:26:48.77
You're so in charge."
00:26:48.80\00:26:50.47
We are nothing.
00:26:50.51\00:26:52.91
We are in charge of nothing.
00:26:52.94\00:26:54.71
We think we are, why?
00:26:54.74\00:26:56.11
Because we're focusing
on the temporal things.
00:26:56.14\00:26:59.11
We're focusing
on what's around us,
00:26:59.15\00:27:00.62
and we lose track of what?
00:27:00.65\00:27:02.38
On the eternal blessings, on the
message that God is trying to
00:27:02.42\00:27:06.05
show us and share us through
the things that we cannot see,
00:27:06.09\00:27:09.79
the unknown.
00:27:09.82\00:27:11.16
It should marvel us, right?
00:27:11.19\00:27:13.76
Our own planet, you
know, that every day
00:27:13.80\00:27:15.76
still today
scientists discover new life,
00:27:15.80\00:27:18.30
whether it be plant life,
insects, like the deep sea.
00:27:18.33\00:27:20.60
We really don't know
what's at the deep sea.
00:27:20.64\00:27:22.20
I was recently
watching a documentary,
00:27:22.24\00:27:24.41
"Natural Geographic," and they--
00:27:24.44\00:27:25.81
for the first time they
had gone down with a light,
00:27:25.84\00:27:27.91
and they
started-- they were, "Ooh."
00:27:27.94\00:27:29.68
They were blown away with the
things that they were seeing.
00:27:29.71\00:27:31.81
We have no idea.
00:27:31.85\00:27:33.38
We are powerless--if
you notice this also,
00:27:33.42\00:27:35.62
we are powerless to
control and sustain the natural
00:27:35.65\00:27:39.59
world from collapsing.
00:27:39.62\00:27:42.06
Despite all we know, we still--
00:27:42.09\00:27:43.79
we still are not ready for
what the earth is bringing,
00:27:43.83\00:27:47.00
and we know it's going to
get worse and worse and worse.
00:27:47.03\00:27:49.86
And that's just not even talking
about the unknown universe,
00:27:49.90\00:27:53.67
the unseen universe, right?
00:27:53.70\00:27:56.77
You know, it's interesting
because we live on one planet,
00:27:56.81\00:28:00.04
one planet in one
solar system, with one sun,
00:28:00.08\00:28:03.55
or star, in one galaxy,
in which our one galaxy there
00:28:03.58\00:28:08.12
are billions and billions and
billions and billions of stars,
00:28:08.15\00:28:10.62
or suns, and
planets, and solar systems.
00:28:10.65\00:28:15.06
And we live in one
constellation of galaxies,
00:28:15.09\00:28:17.09
which are billions and billions
and billions and billions and
00:28:17.13\00:28:18.99
billions of galaxies in a
constellation of galaxies,
00:28:19.03\00:28:21.86
and there are billion and
billion and billion and billion,
00:28:21.90\00:28:23.63
infinite, of
galaxy constellations.
00:28:23.67\00:28:26.87
Try to put that in your head,
00:28:26.90\00:28:29.64
and we're
looking-- focused on this.
00:28:29.67\00:28:32.91
Are you catching
what I'm trying to say?
00:28:32.94\00:28:34.64
Astronomy says that
the universe is growing.
00:28:34.68\00:28:38.18
And pay attention to this.
00:28:38.21\00:28:39.51
The universe is growing,
and God ceased to create.
00:28:39.55\00:28:44.52
Imagine when He
starts creating again.
00:28:44.55\00:28:47.86
This is amazing.
00:28:47.89\00:28:49.22
It should blow our
minds, the infinite knowledge,
00:28:49.26\00:28:51.76
the infinite marvels
of the universe of God.
00:28:51.79\00:28:55.30
And so, imagine
God creating forever.
00:28:55.33\00:28:59.10
And then, you go into the
creation-science-evolution
00:28:59.13\00:29:01.87
debate, right?
00:29:01.90\00:29:03.30
And as I mentioned,
I've shared with you before I
00:29:03.34\00:29:06.04
did not believe in God, and
what made me to believe in God--
00:29:06.07\00:29:08.51
you know what it was?
00:29:08.54\00:29:09.91
It was science.
00:29:09.94\00:29:11.28
It was science, because I saw
these things that I'm sharing
00:29:11.31\00:29:13.92
with you, and I
marveled at them.
00:29:13.95\00:29:15.85
"This cannot happen some--"
00:29:15.88\00:29:17.19
I was not even
a believer in God,
00:29:17.22\00:29:18.82
and I did not even
believe in evolution,
00:29:18.85\00:29:20.52
because it didn't make sense.
00:29:20.56\00:29:22.32
"This is all some
random thing with no purpose."
00:29:22.36\00:29:24.19
That's not even
how it works here.
00:29:24.23\00:29:25.99
Ecosystems, our body,
everything is intertwined.
00:29:26.03\00:29:29.30
It's holistic in all nature.
00:29:29.33\00:29:31.17
How is it possible?
00:29:31.20\00:29:33.64
But sadly, the evolution--
and not just the theory of
00:29:33.67\00:29:36.40
evolution, but also the
philosophical implications
00:29:36.44\00:29:38.91
of evolution, the psychological
implications of evolution.
00:29:38.94\00:29:42.18
Survival of the fittest,
00:29:42.21\00:29:43.51
this attitude, right, that
was permeated, and we see it.
00:29:43.55\00:29:46.78
Oh, my loved ones,
00:29:46.82\00:29:48.15
this to me is a no-brainer,
and I'm just sharing with you
00:29:48.18\00:29:50.22
little tickles of the glimpses
of the glory of God, amen?
00:29:50.25\00:29:55.06
And so, the question is why are
we still so reluctant to give
00:29:55.09\00:29:58.53
total surrender and consecration
to the infinite one that created
00:29:58.56\00:30:01.70
all these things?
00:30:01.73\00:30:03.43
Who do we still
focus, prioritize,
00:30:03.47\00:30:05.83
and hold on to that
which is and will perish,
00:30:05.87\00:30:09.67
when God has and is
giving us a taste of eternity?
00:30:09.70\00:30:15.44
Are we going to miss
out on eternity for a few,
00:30:15.48\00:30:17.61
quick passing
moments of pleasure,
00:30:17.65\00:30:19.65
of pride, and
intellectual arrogance?
00:30:19.68\00:30:23.18
I say it's ludicrous,
and I'll share with you.
00:30:23.22\00:30:26.15
To me, it's absurd, is the word.
00:30:26.19\00:30:28.76
It's absurd that I would put
in jeopardy my eternal life with
00:30:28.79\00:30:34.20
God in the New Jerusalem, in the
new heavens and the new earth,
00:30:34.20\00:30:37.53
for some temporal
pleasures here on Earth.
00:30:37.57\00:30:39.83
It makes no sense.
00:30:39.87\00:30:42.17
Just the weight, the magnitude
of it should make us think,
00:30:42.20\00:30:44.44
"Why even play with it," right?
00:30:44.47\00:30:47.18
Why?
00:30:47.21\00:30:49.28
But God lets
these things happen.
00:30:49.31\00:30:50.98
He lets us hit rock bottom
00:30:51.01\00:30:52.58
so that we know
that we can look up.
00:30:52.61\00:30:54.68
It's not that God
wants us to hit rock bottom,
00:30:54.72\00:30:56.58
but He lets us.
00:30:56.62\00:30:58.12
And I'm glad He
let it happen to me,
00:30:58.15\00:30:59.45
because, if not, I
might not have been--
00:30:59.49\00:31:00.89
I might not be
standing here today.
00:31:00.92\00:31:02.59
He lets it happen so that I can
focus and see there's no answers
00:31:02.62\00:31:06.33
on this earth.
00:31:06.36\00:31:07.86
I've looked.
00:31:07.93\00:31:09.26
I found it--under every
rock, and there's nothing
00:31:09.30\00:31:11.77
that supports it, and that's
when we start to look at the
00:31:11.80\00:31:14.30
promise of redemption,
the plan of salvation,
00:31:14.34\00:31:17.51
the everlasting
gospel, my loved ones.
00:31:17.54\00:31:19.84
What is that?
00:31:19.87\00:31:21.18
Three pillars: God promised
He was going to forgive us,
00:31:21.21\00:31:24.18
God promised He was
going to make us holy,
00:31:24.21\00:31:26.01
and God promised He was
going to give us a new earth,
00:31:26.05\00:31:28.32
where there was going to
be no more pain and suffering,
00:31:28.35\00:31:30.39
and eliminate sin, amen?
00:31:30.42\00:31:32.02
Forgiveness of sins,
give us victory over sin,
00:31:32.05\00:31:34.82
and eliminate sin
for the rest of eternity.
00:31:34.86\00:31:38.06
That's the
gospel, my loved ones.
00:31:38.09\00:31:39.43
That's the full
everlasting gospel that God is.
00:31:39.46\00:31:42.40
Is there a greater hope
than that, than the gospel?
00:31:42.43\00:31:46.00
You see, but people don't
see the side of the gospel.
00:31:46.03\00:31:48.67
They don't see this last part
of the gospel that we're talking
00:31:48.70\00:31:50.74
about, and you know why?
00:31:50.77\00:31:52.41
Because the first impression
they get of Christianity
00:31:52.44\00:31:54.84
isn't a good one.
00:31:54.88\00:31:56.51
They don't get to read the end
of the story because the cover
00:31:56.54\00:31:59.78
is ineffective, and you and
I are the cover of that book.
00:31:59.81\00:32:05.09
They don't get to know about
this blessing, because why?
00:32:05.12\00:32:08.06
Because we have
been ineffective,
00:32:08.09\00:32:10.39
because we're more
religious than we are disciples,
00:32:10.43\00:32:14.23
and God is waiting for
us to reveal His glory.
00:32:14.30\00:32:17.00
You and I were not
created here to be condemned.
00:32:17.03\00:32:20.64
You and I were created--
00:32:20.67\00:32:22.44
God permitted you and my
existence so that we can give
00:32:22.47\00:32:25.44
Him glory, so that the rest of
the world can see the God that
00:32:25.47\00:32:29.58
we serve, and we can reveal
these wonderful truths to them,
00:32:29.61\00:32:33.15
and they can be blown away just
like we're blown away, amen?
00:32:33.18\00:32:37.45
So, how and why would they want
to know the end of the story if
00:32:37.49\00:32:40.99
the cover of the book
is flawed, self-centered,
00:32:41.02\00:32:43.69
and distorted itself?
00:32:43.73\00:32:45.89
And sometimes not even our own
family members want to listen
00:32:45.93\00:32:47.86
to our story.
00:32:47.93\00:32:49.26
They can't get back--
00:32:49.30\00:32:50.70
they can't get
past the first chapter
00:32:50.73\00:32:52.07
because they don't
like what they're seeing.
00:32:52.10\00:32:54.77
If it hurts, don't worry.
00:32:54.80\00:32:56.37
It doesn't bother me
that it hurts a little bit,
00:32:56.40\00:32:58.87
because that's
what the purpose is.
00:32:58.91\00:33:00.38
That's the Laodicean message.
00:33:00.41\00:33:01.84
Get over yourself, right?
00:33:01.88\00:33:04.15
Look at Christ.
Surrender to Christ.
00:33:04.18\00:33:05.95
Stop trying to find your own
righteousness and lift up your
00:33:05.98\00:33:08.92
own righteousness, and only live
and surrender to the God of the
00:33:08.95\00:33:12.82
universe, and let His
righteousness completely
00:33:12.85\00:33:15.59
cover us, amen?
00:33:15.62\00:33:17.36
And that leads us, then,
to the ending of this lesson,
00:33:17.39\00:33:20.33
which focuses on
that great teacher,
00:33:20.36\00:33:23.90
who should
still have a student--
00:33:23.93\00:33:25.67
we should still
have a student mindset,
00:33:25.70\00:33:27.17
because that will be
our experience forever.
00:33:27.20\00:33:31.27
We will be students forever.
00:33:31.31\00:33:34.21
You know, some people
think that I love to talk,
00:33:34.24\00:33:37.48
and I really don't.
00:33:37.51\00:33:38.85
I know I talk a lot, but you
know what I really like to do?
00:33:38.88\00:33:42.08
I really like to listen.
00:33:42.12\00:33:43.82
I really like to learn.
00:33:43.85\00:33:45.82
I remember when I was
starting off in the church.
00:33:45.85\00:33:47.66
I would love to sit
down and listen to sermons,
00:33:47.69\00:33:50.13
and I would listen
to sermons on YouTube,
00:33:50.16\00:33:51.93
and I would
write down everything.
00:33:51.96\00:33:53.36
And then, when God
started to put me to preach,
00:33:53.40\00:33:55.43
I'm like, "I don't
want to preach, God.
00:33:55.46\00:33:56.77
I want to sit
down. I want to listen."
00:33:56.80\00:33:58.10
But He says, "No, now
it's your time to teach.
00:33:58.13\00:34:00.54
Now I want you to share these
things that you're learning."
00:34:00.57\00:34:03.07
And I still rejoice it's--
now, especially with COVID,
00:34:03.10\00:34:06.11
but before that I
was preaching six,
00:34:06.14\00:34:08.81
seven days a week,
Sabbath three and four times.
00:34:08.84\00:34:11.18
I was not being able to spend
that time where I would sit down
00:34:11.21\00:34:13.98
and just soak it in, and God
has given me this time of rest,
00:34:14.02\00:34:17.29
amen, to ooh and listen
again and reenergize, why?
00:34:17.32\00:34:22.29
Because I believe we're
seeing the end of times,
00:34:22.32\00:34:25.09
my loved ones, in this life.
00:34:25.13\00:34:26.73
God is giving us
glimpses of what's coming,
00:34:26.76\00:34:28.43
and He's giving us as a
warning so that we can prepare.
00:34:28.46\00:34:31.97
Nobody can--has any excuse.
00:34:32.00\00:34:33.90
"Oh, I didn't know."
00:34:33.94\00:34:35.24
Did you not see COVID?
00:34:35.27\00:34:38.51
Do I need to have a
bigger event to wake you up?
00:34:38.54\00:34:41.41
And yet worse things
are coming. This is nothing.
00:34:41.44\00:34:45.35
And if our faith is shaking now,
if our faith is not solid now,
00:34:45.38\00:34:50.22
imagine what happens
when bigger things come.
00:34:50.25\00:34:52.29
This is God
telling us, "Surrender."
00:34:52.32\00:34:56.06
I'm going to tell you
what the biggest struggle
00:34:56.09\00:34:57.69
is for a Christian.
00:34:57.73\00:34:59.46
Our biggest struggle is learning
to completely surrender,
00:34:59.49\00:35:03.43
learning to
completely consecrate our life.
00:35:03.47\00:35:05.60
That's our biggest
struggle. We like to give some.
00:35:05.63\00:35:08.30
We like to give in
some. "O God, I gave You this.
00:35:08.34\00:35:11.24
I gave You my
time on the Sabbath.
00:35:11.27\00:35:12.64
I gave You my
tithes and offerings.
00:35:12.67\00:35:14.04
Oh, I gave You this.
00:35:14.08\00:35:15.38
I read my
'Sabbath School' lesson."
00:35:15.41\00:35:17.38
No, God wants it all.
00:35:17.41\00:35:19.58
If I would have
told my wife, "Honey,
00:35:19.61\00:35:21.98
I'm going to be
your husband Monday,
00:35:22.02\00:35:24.25
Tuesday, Thursday, and
Friday, but Saturday and Sunday,
00:35:24.29\00:35:27.42
ooh, I'm off," you
think she would have said,
00:35:27.46\00:35:30.76
"Oh, I like that deal"?
00:35:30.79\00:35:32.53
No, she's like, "I want it
all, or I don't want anything."
00:35:32.56\00:35:35.10
And that's what Christ wants.
00:35:35.13\00:35:36.56
He's waiting, not for Him.
00:35:36.60\00:35:38.63
It's for our own
good, and he's waiting,
00:35:38.67\00:35:41.44
my loved ones, and that's why
in the lesson it has Zechariah
00:35:41.47\00:35:44.21
chapter 13, verse 6.
00:35:44.24\00:35:45.94
"And one shall say unto him,
00:35:45.97\00:35:47.94
What are these
wounds in thy hands?
00:35:47.98\00:35:50.48
Then he shall answer, Those with
00:35:50.51\00:35:52.08
which I was wounded
in the house of my--"
00:35:52.11\00:35:55.02
See, there are going to be
people in heaven that never
00:35:55.05\00:35:57.45
heard about Jesus Christ, but
they responded to the call of
00:35:57.49\00:36:01.32
the Holy Spirit,
people that maybe
00:36:01.36\00:36:03.46
the gospel never reached them.
00:36:03.49\00:36:05.46
But they will be there
because the Spirit touched them,
00:36:05.49\00:36:07.23
and they responded
to that call, amen?
00:36:07.23\00:36:10.13
And when they get to heaven,
they're going to know and
00:36:10.17\00:36:12.00
recognize that the
reason they're there
00:36:12.03\00:36:14.14
is because of Jesus.
00:36:14.17\00:36:15.84
The reason every single human
being is going to be in heaven
00:36:15.87\00:36:18.34
is because of Jesus, and
for the rest of eternity that's
00:36:18.37\00:36:21.24
what we're going to
be learning about, amen?
00:36:21.28\00:36:24.18
We're going to
be standing there.
00:36:24.21\00:36:25.81
And some people say, "But what
is the guarantee that affliction
00:36:25.85\00:36:28.08
will not rise up again?
00:36:28.12\00:36:29.75
How can we be so sure?"
00:36:29.78\00:36:32.49
And when we look at
the scars on the hands,
00:36:32.52\00:36:36.19
on the feet, on the side, on the
forehead of Jesus from what He
00:36:36.22\00:36:40.56
paid, there would be no
doubt what the cost of sin is.
00:36:40.60\00:36:46.27
And another reason
is our own experience.
00:36:46.30\00:36:48.60
I don't know about you,
00:36:48.64\00:36:50.27
but I can't wait to
get out of here, right?
00:36:50.31\00:36:53.51
At the same time, we have to
be careful with that mindset,
00:36:53.54\00:36:56.28
because we might be so focused
on the end result we forget on
00:36:56.31\00:36:59.38
the, on the way.
00:36:59.41\00:37:01.02
Sometimes we focus on the end,
and we forget about the means
00:37:01.05\00:37:04.09
to the end.
00:37:04.12\00:37:05.45
Which is what?
00:37:05.49\00:37:06.86
Which is living a righteous
life through Jesus Christ, amen?
00:37:06.89\00:37:11.03
And so, our own experience--
00:37:11.06\00:37:13.96
we are going to be--
that's why there's not--
00:37:14.00\00:37:15.90
did you notice in Revelation
chapter 22, if you've read it?
00:37:15.93\00:37:18.27
The tree of life
is going to be there,
00:37:18.30\00:37:19.63
but not the tree of
knowledge of good and evil.
00:37:19.67\00:37:21.10
You know why? Because we know.
00:37:21.14\00:37:24.27
Now we know what it
means to disobey God.
00:37:24.31\00:37:27.04
Now we know what are
the results of saying,
00:37:27.08\00:37:29.61
"You know what,
God? I got this."
00:37:29.64\00:37:31.71
That's what Adam
and Eve said, right?
00:37:31.75\00:37:33.21
"You know what, God?
Thank you for creating me.
00:37:33.25\00:37:35.48
Thank you for giving us
this beautiful planet, God.
00:37:35.52\00:37:37.52
Thank you for giving
me this beautiful woman."
00:37:37.55\00:37:39.35
"Thank you for giving me
this beautiful macho man,"
00:37:39.39\00:37:42.16
right, Eve.
00:37:42.19\00:37:43.59
"But you know what?
00:37:43.63\00:37:44.93
From this moment on,
00:37:44.96\00:37:46.26
we don't need You
sitting on the throne anymore.
00:37:46.29\00:37:47.60
We got it from here."
00:37:47.60\00:37:49.16
My loved ones, and
that's where we are today.
00:37:49.20\00:37:51.93
Really, nothing has changed.
00:37:51.97\00:37:53.94
"We don't need You, God,
to tell us and to declare
00:37:53.97\00:37:56.00
what is right or wrong.
00:37:56.04\00:37:57.41
We can do it on our own."
00:37:57.44\00:37:59.24
That's postmodern
thought in Genesis chapter 3.
00:37:59.27\00:38:02.01
Nothing has
changed, and even among us,
00:38:02.04\00:38:04.98
sadly, because
some of us say, "Amen,
00:38:05.01\00:38:07.28
hallelujah, praise the Lord."
00:38:07.32\00:38:08.75
But when the Bible
says, "Don't do this,
00:38:08.78\00:38:10.52
or do this," you're like,
"Uh, I don't know about that.
00:38:10.55\00:38:12.22
I'm not too
comfortable with that.
00:38:12.25\00:38:13.96
I'll leave that
for other people."
00:38:13.99\00:38:16.42
This is not broken down in
sections for some people and
00:38:16.46\00:38:18.89
for other people.
00:38:18.93\00:38:20.23
That's why there's
not a youth gospel.
00:38:20.26\00:38:21.56
You ever notice that?
00:38:21.60\00:38:23.26
Because there's one
gospel. It's for everybody.
00:38:23.30\00:38:25.67
The key is living the
gospel. That's the key.
00:38:25.70\00:38:29.54
And when we live the gospel,
00:38:29.57\00:38:30.94
everything else
will fall in line.
00:38:30.97\00:38:32.27
Doesn't mean it's
going to be perfect,
00:38:32.31\00:38:33.74
but it will be in line, amen?
00:38:33.78\00:38:35.44
And so, for the rest of
eternity, my loved ones,
00:38:35.48\00:38:37.65
we are going to be--
00:38:37.68\00:38:39.01
now, get excited about this.
00:38:39.05\00:38:40.55
We're going to be reconciled
00:38:40.58\00:38:42.18
and back with our
loved ones, right?
00:38:42.22\00:38:44.65
Those that we have lost.
00:38:44.69\00:38:46.05
We're going to be
back with them again,
00:38:46.09\00:38:47.46
and this time there's
going to be no separation like,
00:38:47.49\00:38:48.92
"No, I can't go
visit my grandma.
00:38:48.96\00:38:50.26
I can't go visit my mom
and dad because of traveling
00:38:50.29\00:38:53.26
restrictions, and I
don't want to get them sick."
00:38:53.29\00:38:55.03
None of that anymore.
00:38:55.06\00:38:56.56
We're going to be
exploring the infinite universe.
00:38:56.60\00:38:59.93
For six days of the week,
we're going to be exploring.
00:39:00.04\00:39:02.50
That's what we're going to
do for the rest of eternity,
00:39:02.54\00:39:04.61
travel and explore the universe.
00:39:04.64\00:39:07.68
That should get you excited.
00:39:07.71\00:39:10.71
And every seventh day
we shall return to worship
00:39:10.75\00:39:12.85
and give glory, says Isaiah 66,
00:39:12.88\00:39:14.88
to Him who has given
everything to us, amen?
00:39:14.92\00:39:18.85
But the most
important thing, my loved one,
00:39:18.89\00:39:21.12
is that we're going to be
sitting at the feet of Jesus.
00:39:21.16\00:39:25.26
Remember the story of Martha
and Mary in Luke chapter 10?
00:39:25.29\00:39:29.36
What was wrong?
00:39:29.40\00:39:30.77
Martha just said--we just read.
00:39:30.80\00:39:32.20
Oh, she knew
about the Resurrection.
00:39:32.23\00:39:33.77
Was Martha a good Christian?
00:39:33.80\00:39:36.20
Yeah, she was.
She knew her Bible.
00:39:36.24\00:39:38.44
She knew her 27
fundamental doctrines.
00:39:38.47\00:39:40.21
Twenty-eight, I'm sorry.
00:39:40.24\00:39:41.54
She knew them, right?
00:39:41.58\00:39:42.88
She knew her prophecy.
00:39:42.91\00:39:45.18
She knew the 2,300-day prophecy.
00:39:45.21\00:39:47.12
She knew those things,
but what was the difference?
00:39:47.15\00:39:50.32
She was so worried in service
and so preoccupied that she
00:39:50.35\00:39:54.36
forgot that the most important
thing was to be at the feet of
00:39:54.39\00:39:56.93
Jesus, where her sister was.
00:39:56.96\00:39:59.59
And she was scolding her.
00:39:59.63\00:40:02.00
We need to be like Mary.
00:40:02.03\00:40:04.43
It's not wrong to
want to work for the Lord,
00:40:04.47\00:40:06.27
praise the Lord.
00:40:06.30\00:40:07.74
But the foundation, the
principle that should lead
00:40:07.77\00:40:09.77
everything is that we're having
that daily intimate relationship
00:40:09.80\00:40:12.94
with Christ at His feet.
00:40:12.97\00:40:14.44
And He will prepare us for the
work that we have to do during
00:40:14.48\00:40:17.65
the day or the
rest of the way, amen?
00:40:17.68\00:40:20.25
Can you imagine
having Bible study
00:40:20.28\00:40:22.08
with Jesus for
the rest of eternity?
00:40:22.12\00:40:23.75
That's just the tipping point.
00:40:23.79\00:40:25.52
I can imagine sitting
there, and Jesus says,
00:40:25.55\00:40:27.19
"Hey, you remember the
story about the leper?"
00:40:27.22\00:40:30.29
"Yeah."
00:40:30.33\00:40:31.73
"I'm going to
show you something,"
00:40:31.76\00:40:33.16
and He's just
going through the story.
00:40:33.19\00:40:34.60
And we're like, "Whoa.
00:40:34.63\00:40:36.03
We didn't--how did
we not catch that?"
00:40:36.06\00:40:37.47
Six thousand years here,
and we didn't catch that.
00:40:37.50\00:40:39.63
It's going to be
amazing as He opens up
00:40:39.67\00:40:42.00
the wonderful
marvels of Scripture.
00:40:42.04\00:40:44.21
And as I said,
that's just the beginning.
00:40:44.24\00:40:46.57
He's going to show us
all the rest of eternity.
00:40:46.61\00:40:50.08
My loved ones, I've been reading
the Bible every day for 12 years
00:40:50.11\00:40:52.38
since I became a Christian,
and it still doesn't get old.
00:40:52.41\00:40:56.38
So, when you think,
"What am I going to be
00:40:56.42\00:40:57.79
doing for the rest of eternity?"
00:40:57.82\00:40:59.12
don't worry about it.
00:40:59.15\00:41:00.62
It's going to be
what eyes have never seen,
00:41:00.66\00:41:01.89
what ears have never heard, and
what mind has never conceived is
00:41:01.92\00:41:04.56
what God has
for all of us, amen?
00:41:04.59\00:41:07.93
That means it's going to be
a hundred million times better
00:41:07.96\00:41:10.77
than what Adam and
Eve saw before sin.
00:41:10.80\00:41:16.77
Should get excited about that!
00:41:16.81\00:41:18.77
This is what God has,
and we're so worried on,
00:41:18.81\00:41:20.84
"Oh, my car, oh,
my little home, oh."
00:41:20.88\00:41:23.88
Don't get me wrong.
00:41:23.91\00:41:25.31
Those things,
those temporal things,
00:41:25.35\00:41:26.68
are important, but
that should not be--
00:41:26.72\00:41:28.88
what drives us is to what?
00:41:28.92\00:41:31.12
Is to know that not only
we'll be in the presence of God,
00:41:31.15\00:41:34.86
but know that we have an
opportunity here on Earth
00:41:34.89\00:41:37.36
to prepare and to help prepare
others for that great moment.
00:41:37.39\00:41:40.90
That should be what
drives us and pushes us, amen?
00:41:40.93\00:41:44.57
To know deeper and deeper
00:41:44.60\00:41:46.67
as we go through eternity, we
will be going deeper and deeper
00:41:46.70\00:41:49.74
into the character
of God, the love of God,
00:41:49.77\00:41:53.01
the mercy of
God, the grace of God
00:41:53.04\00:41:54.98
for us and all of
the universe, amen?
00:41:55.01\00:41:57.58
Traveling and knowing
the infinite mind of God will
00:41:57.61\00:42:01.12
be our eternal classroom, and I
get excited about that because,
00:42:01.15\00:42:04.85
as I said, I just love to learn.
00:42:04.89\00:42:07.62
But this should be
our experience now.
00:42:07.66\00:42:10.93
This should be what we
should be striving for now.
00:42:10.96\00:42:12.99
If we're not now
at the feet of Jesus,
00:42:13.03\00:42:15.13
if we're not now striving to
want to understand and know His
00:42:15.16\00:42:18.00
will better now, then heaven is
not going to be any fun for us.
00:42:18.03\00:42:22.44
This is what should be what
drives us every morning when
00:42:22.47\00:42:26.34
we wake up.
00:42:26.37\00:42:27.91
And you probably
say "I don't have that."
00:42:27.94\00:42:29.54
I know. I didn't either.
00:42:29.58\00:42:30.98
But Jesus says, "Ask,
and you shall receive.
00:42:31.01\00:42:34.12
Seek, and you shall find.
00:42:34.15\00:42:36.18
Knock, and the
door shall be opened."
00:42:36.22\00:42:37.85
There's no excuse.
00:42:37.89\00:42:39.25
He says, "Just come, and I will
show you great and wonderful
00:42:39.29\00:42:41.66
things that you
did not know about."
00:42:41.69\00:42:44.23
It's all there.
00:42:44.26\00:42:45.66
It's not rocket
science, but let's not forget,
00:42:45.69\00:42:48.46
as we close, the focus, the goal
of this quarterly on education,
00:42:48.50\00:42:53.17
and I'll read it from the book
"Education," chapter number 1,
00:42:53.20\00:42:56.91
page 15, verse--paragraph 2.
00:42:56.94\00:42:59.51
What is the
purpose of education?
00:42:59.54\00:43:01.74
"To restore in man
the image of his Maker.
00:43:01.78\00:43:05.75
To bring him
back to the perfection
00:43:05.78\00:43:07.55
in which he was created.
00:43:07.58\00:43:09.32
To promote the
development of body,
00:43:09.35\00:43:11.55
mind, and soul,
that the divine purpose
00:43:11.59\00:43:14.66
in his creation
might be realized.
00:43:14.69\00:43:18.23
This was to be the
work of redemption,
00:43:18.26\00:43:20.56
and this," my loved ones, "is
the object of education and the
00:43:20.60\00:43:25.00
great object of life," amen?
00:43:25.03\00:43:28.50
Let's close with
Revelation chapter 22.
00:43:28.54\00:43:30.71
Revelation chapter 22.
00:43:30.74\00:43:33.04
What is education if the focus
of education is not to teach
00:43:33.07\00:43:37.98
others, to teach our
children, to teach our students,
00:43:38.01\00:43:41.75
to teach our church, to teach
the people that we're giving
00:43:41.78\00:43:44.95
Bible studies to, to
teach those that are around us
00:43:44.99\00:43:48.82
that God has a plan for them?
00:43:48.86\00:43:51.83
And the plan is that we can
00:43:51.86\00:43:53.93
dwell in the
presence of God again.
00:43:53.96\00:43:56.23
That is the plan of salvation.
00:43:56.26\00:43:57.60
What's impeding that? Sin.
00:43:57.63\00:43:58.93
And where is the
problem of sin solved?
00:43:58.97\00:44:00.67
In the sanctuary.
00:44:00.70\00:44:02.60
The sanctuary breaks down the
steps that God is going through
00:44:02.64\00:44:05.67
so that He can restore
us back into His presence.
00:44:05.71\00:44:07.78
And what is the condition?
00:44:07.81\00:44:09.58
There's only one
condition, one very explicit,
00:44:09.61\00:44:12.78
clear condition
to be able to dwell
00:44:12.81\00:44:15.12
back in the presence of God.
00:44:15.15\00:44:16.55
And you know what that is?
00:44:16.58\00:44:17.95
To have the mind of
Christ, the character of Christ,
00:44:17.99\00:44:22.26
because when Christ comes--
00:44:22.29\00:44:23.66
it says in 1 Corinthians chapter
15, verse 51 forward that this
00:44:23.69\00:44:29.00
corruptible will
become incorruptible.
00:44:29.03\00:44:31.47
Nobody said amen.
You should get excited!
00:44:31.50\00:44:34.07
I can't wait to get rid of this!
00:44:34.10\00:44:35.40
It's not like it used
to be, this corruptible!
00:44:35.44\00:44:38.24
Notice, He's not
coming to change our character
00:44:38.27\00:44:40.38
or our mind.
00:44:40.41\00:44:41.78
That has to be transformed now,
and He's giving us a chance and
00:44:41.81\00:44:44.41
opportunity because that is
the one explicit requirement
00:44:44.45\00:44:48.92
to dwell in the
presence of God again.
00:44:48.95\00:44:51.39
Do we have everything we need
to obtain that and achieve it?
00:44:51.42\00:44:54.76
Oh, yes, we do.
We have the Word.
00:44:54.79\00:44:56.66
We have the Spirit, amen?
00:44:56.69\00:45:00.36
Look at what it says
in Revelation chapter 22.
00:45:00.40\00:45:03.53
"And He showed me a
pure river of water of life,
00:45:03.57\00:45:06.30
clear as crystal, proceeding
from the throne of God
00:45:06.33\00:45:08.64
and of the Lamb.
00:45:08.67\00:45:10.04
And in the middle of its street,
and on either side of the river,
00:45:10.07\00:45:12.31
was the tree of life,
which bore,'' how many fruits?
00:45:12.34\00:45:15.81
"Twelve fruits,
each tree yielding
00:45:15.84\00:45:17.81
its fruit every month."
00:45:17.85\00:45:20.52
That's why it says
in Isaiah chapter 66,
00:45:20.55\00:45:22.58
verse 22, 23, it says
that from new moon to new moon,
00:45:22.62\00:45:28.26
or from Sabbath to Sabbath, all
flesh shall come to worship on
00:45:28.29\00:45:33.50
the Sabbath day, amen?
00:45:33.53\00:45:35.13
Why every month
or every new moon?
00:45:35.16\00:45:37.03
Because every month we will
be eating of the tree of life.
00:45:37.07\00:45:42.00
I get excited for you.
00:45:42.04\00:45:44.67
A new fruit every month
for the rest of eternity,
00:45:44.71\00:45:47.88
and you thought
mangoes were great.
00:45:47.91\00:45:49.78
They're my favorites and kiwis--
00:45:49.81\00:45:51.65
imagine this: God is going to be
sharing His immortality through
00:45:51.68\00:45:56.52
the tree of life, sharing it
with us, and that is the great
00:45:56.55\00:46:00.59
gift that will be given to those
that love and honor Him, amen?
00:46:00.62\00:46:04.93
And it says in verse number 3,
00:46:04.96\00:46:07.40
"And there shall be
no more curse," amen?
00:46:07.46\00:46:09.86
The earth is also
yearning from the curse of sin.
00:46:09.90\00:46:12.67
The earth is also yearning.
00:46:12.70\00:46:14.70
It says that the earth is
also wanting to be restored.
00:46:14.74\00:46:17.34
Imagine that the earth
is wanting to be restored,
00:46:17.37\00:46:20.61
and we're not--sometimes.
00:46:20.64\00:46:23.85
"But the throne of God and
of the Lamb shall be in it,
00:46:23.88\00:46:25.95
and His servants
shall serve Him."
00:46:25.98\00:46:28.22
And then, look
what it says in verse 4.
00:46:28.25\00:46:30.02
"And they shall see His face,"
and pay attention to this,
00:46:30.05\00:46:32.92
"and His name shall
be on their foreheads."
00:46:32.95\00:46:38.06
In other words, the name on
their foreheads is that those
00:46:38.09\00:46:41.60
that will be there are those
that have the mind of Christ,
00:46:41.63\00:46:45.20
those that have
the faith of Christ,
00:46:45.23\00:46:46.90
those that have learned on this
Earth to completely and totally
00:46:46.94\00:46:50.67
depend on God and surrender
completely and let God finish
00:46:50.71\00:46:56.34
the work that He wants to do
in me and the work that He wants
00:46:56.38\00:46:59.45
to do through me.
00:46:59.48\00:47:01.65
I'll repeat it again.
00:47:01.68\00:47:03.35
God has not brought
you forth and me forth--
00:47:03.39\00:47:06.52
He has not let us to come
to existence to condemn us.
00:47:06.55\00:47:12.83
God is doing this because
He wants us to give Him glory.
00:47:12.86\00:47:17.27
He wants to show that
His promises are faithful He
00:47:17.30\00:47:19.97
wants to show that He has a
purpose and a meaning for you.
00:47:20.00\00:47:22.97
And this--I don't know if
there's a greater message in the
00:47:23.00\00:47:27.44
gospel than this part right here
of God wanting to dwell again in
00:47:27.48\00:47:32.21
our presence and be
with us face to face.
00:47:32.25\00:47:35.55
That's the God that I serve,
a God that is yearning and
00:47:35.58\00:47:38.52
desiring to be
with all of us together.
00:47:38.55\00:47:42.36
And He's yearning and desiring
that you also have that same
00:47:42.39\00:47:45.06
burning desire so that
you can go out and say,
00:47:45.09\00:47:47.73
"God, I want to
be a witness to you.
00:47:47.76\00:47:49.96
I want to show the
world the God that I serve."
00:47:50.00\00:47:51.97
I want to show the world that
what we have on this earth is
00:47:52.00\00:47:54.44
nothing, because
what eyes have never seen,
00:47:54.47\00:47:57.71
what ears have never heard, and
what mind has never conceived is
00:47:57.74\00:48:00.71
what God has prepared for
those that love him, amen?
00:48:00.74\00:48:05.55
And so, as we finish,
my loved ones, I hope--
00:48:05.58\00:48:09.35
it is my desire that you
have learned through this lesson
00:48:09.38\00:48:14.19
that we are all
teachers and students also.
00:48:14.22\00:48:17.63
God says, "Go out and teach them
00:48:17.66\00:48:20.56
the things that
I have taught you.
00:48:20.60\00:48:21.86
Teach them. Share with them."
00:48:21.90\00:48:23.13
You and me are the instruments
of God to get this gospel out
00:48:23.16\00:48:28.94
to a dying,
suffering, desperate world
00:48:28.97\00:48:33.11
that has no hope and no meaning.
00:48:33.14\00:48:35.41
You and I are the ones.
00:48:35.44\00:48:37.45
We're the cover of the book.
00:48:37.48\00:48:39.65
The book is Jesus, but
they don't see Jesus yet.
00:48:39.68\00:48:43.79
They see us first
most of the times.
00:48:43.82\00:48:47.76
Do they want to
read the end of the book?
00:48:47.79\00:48:50.06
It all depends if they like
the cover of the book, right?
00:48:50.09\00:48:53.50
But once they start opening the
book and they start reading it,
00:48:53.53\00:48:56.20
they're not going
to want to let go,
00:48:56.23\00:48:57.63
because there's no other place
00:48:57.67\00:48:59.00
where you find these
promises, these blessings.
00:48:59.03\00:49:02.50
It's amazing, my loved ones,
00:49:02.54\00:49:03.87
and that's what God has
called you and me to do, amen?
00:49:03.91\00:49:06.78
And so, I hope you've
enjoyed this quarterly lesson.
00:49:06.81\00:49:09.58
I think it's been
a fascinating study,
00:49:09.61\00:49:12.65
brought us back to the earth,
of knowing the importance,
00:49:12.68\00:49:15.95
the responsibility that we have
to share these wonderful truths.
00:49:15.98\00:49:19.42
And so, before we close,
before I have a word of prayer,
00:49:19.45\00:49:22.36
I want to remind you
we have our free offer.
00:49:22.39\00:49:25.49
It's "The Day of the Lord."
00:49:25.53\00:49:27.23
For those that are
watching, our free offer,
00:49:27.23\00:49:28.83
"The Day of the Lord,"
and you can text to SH1008.
00:49:28.86\00:49:33.70
To that number
you can text "40544."
00:49:33.74\00:49:37.67
You can see it
on the screen now:
00:49:37.71\00:49:39.17
Free offer number 825.
00:49:39.21\00:49:41.11
You can call 186-788-3966,
or 1-866-STUDY-MORE.
00:49:41.14\00:49:51.02
There it is, and remember
this is only in the U.S.
00:49:51.05\00:49:54.82
for mailing, but you can receive
a digital copy also if you text
00:49:54.86\00:49:57.96
the code "SH108" to
the number 40544, amen?
00:49:57.99\00:50:03.80
Let's have a word
of prayer to close.
00:50:03.83\00:50:06.37
Father, we thank You
again because You are amazing.
00:50:06.40\00:50:10.84
You're wonderful.
00:50:10.87\00:50:12.21
Your love, Your
patience, Your mercy,
00:50:12.24\00:50:13.64
and all of this is
perfectly reflected
00:50:13.68\00:50:15.21
through Your Son, Jesus Christ.
00:50:15.24\00:50:16.64
We ask, Father, that these
lessons that we have learned
00:50:16.68\00:50:19.51
do not stay
forgotten as time goes on,
00:50:19.55\00:50:22.65
but that they can be sealed in
our hearts and in our minds to
00:50:22.68\00:50:25.82
show that You are
our great teacher.
00:50:25.85\00:50:27.42
That we should every day
be at Your feet learning,
00:50:27.46\00:50:31.26
but, then, we go out,
and we go share others.
00:50:31.29\00:50:34.63
There's only one way that this
gospel is going to be preached,
00:50:34.66\00:50:37.07
and it's when
the perfect character
00:50:37.10\00:50:39.07
of Christ is reproduced in us.
00:50:39.10\00:50:40.60
Then we shall be true
and faithful witnesses.
00:50:40.64\00:50:43.27
Thank You, Father, for all the
warnings and all the things that
00:50:43.30\00:50:45.21
are happening in this world that
tell us that the end is near and
00:50:45.24\00:50:48.04
help us to prioritize and
to focus on the most important
00:50:48.08\00:50:51.85
thing, which is total surrender
and consecration and to give You
00:50:51.88\00:50:55.88
glory and honor to this
world, so that we are prepared,
00:50:55.92\00:50:59.49
and so that we can
help prepare others.
00:50:59.52\00:51:01.76
Thank You for this
opportunity, Father,
00:51:01.79\00:51:03.12
and we ask this in the precious
00:51:03.16\00:51:04.53
name of Jesus Christ, amen.
00:51:04.56\00:51:07.56
Happy Sabbath,
everyone, and God bless.
00:51:07.60\00:51:10.23
male announcer: Don't
forget to request today's
00:51:12.20\00:51:13.54
life-changing free resource.
00:51:13.57\00:51:15.87
Not only can you receive
this free gift in the mail,
00:51:15.90\00:51:17.97
you can download a digital
copy straight to your computer
00:51:18.01\00:51:20.51
or mobile device.
00:51:20.54\00:51:21.91
To get your digital
copy of today's free gift,
00:51:21.94\00:51:24.61
simply text the key
word on your screen to 40544,
00:51:24.65\00:51:28.68
or visit the web
address shown on your screen,
00:51:28.72\00:51:31.49
and be sure to select
the digital download option
00:51:31.52\00:51:33.82
on the request page.
00:51:33.86\00:51:35.36
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:51:35.39\00:51:38.36
Amazing Facts
wherever and whenever you want
00:51:38.39\00:51:41.56
and, most important,
to share it with others.
00:51:41.60\00:51:44.27
male announcer:
Amazing facts, changed lives.
00:51:48.17\00:51:57.35
Charlie Green: I
had a lot of pressure
00:51:57.38\00:51:58.81
as a pastor's kid to perform.
00:51:58.85\00:52:02.58
They're not allowed to make the
same mistakes as everyone else.
00:52:02.62\00:52:06.39
Not only are
people looking at you
00:52:06.42\00:52:09.42
but they're judging your father
00:52:09.46\00:52:11.63
according to
what they see in you.
00:52:11.66\00:52:14.20
After a while, you get tired of
carrying that load as a child.
00:52:14.20\00:52:17.90
By the time it got
time for me to leave home,
00:52:17.93\00:52:22.27
I was pretty much
finished with all that.
00:52:22.30\00:52:24.67
I wasn't good enough,
and I didn't belong in there,
00:52:24.71\00:52:29.18
so when I left home I went
to the world at a dead run.
00:52:29.21\00:52:35.62
You know, I partied
and went to work and,
00:52:35.65\00:52:37.99
you know, was living my
life as the way I wanted to,
00:52:38.02\00:52:41.06
and I just
wanted to be left alone.
00:52:41.09\00:52:43.96
One day, I was
driving my motorcycle
00:52:43.99\00:52:46.29
with some buddies of mine.
00:52:46.33\00:52:47.73
All of a sudden, I had
oil running everywhere,
00:52:47.76\00:52:49.73
all up and down my arm and
across my legs and rippling
00:52:49.76\00:52:53.27
down the tank in the wind, and
loaded it up on a trailer and
00:52:53.30\00:52:57.11
sent it to the
shop to have it fixed.
00:52:57.14\00:53:00.31
So, I went to pick it up,
and the mechanic came out,
00:53:00.34\00:53:02.64
and he said,
"You know," he said,
00:53:02.68\00:53:03.98
"we got your front end rebuilt."
00:53:04.01\00:53:05.38
He said, "That
wasn't the bad part."
00:53:05.41\00:53:08.25
He said, "The bad part was
the only thing holding the front
00:53:08.28\00:53:10.49
tire on was the weight of
the motorcycle," so all I would
00:53:10.52\00:53:13.32
have had to have done was
accelerate quickly and front
00:53:13.36\00:53:17.33
tire would have came off.
00:53:17.36\00:53:19.89
And it got my attention
and got me to thinking.
00:53:19.93\00:53:21.76
You know, you hear a
lot of people talking about,
00:53:21.80\00:53:25.20
you know, the relationship that
they have with Jesus and all
00:53:25.23\00:53:28.00
that, and I didn't even know
00:53:28.04\00:53:29.64
what that was
supposed to look like.
00:53:29.67\00:53:31.31
It began to work on my mind.
00:53:31.34\00:53:33.04
I think God was
beginning to speak to me.
00:53:33.07\00:53:36.44
I believe that you can say I
may be a poster child for the
00:53:36.48\00:53:40.72
shepherd-lost sheep story,
because I wasn't looking for
00:53:40.75\00:53:43.42
God, and I didn't really care.
00:53:43.45\00:53:47.32
But He cared about me,
and He came and got me.
00:53:47.36\00:53:53.36
male announcer: Together,
we have spread the gospel much
00:54:02.10\00:54:04.91
farther than ever before.
00:54:04.94\00:54:07.34
Thank you for your support.
00:54:07.38\00:54:09.44
¤¤¤
00:54:13.75\00:54:23.73
¤¤¤
00:54:23.76\00:54:25.19
Doug Batchelor: Friends,
are you afraid of heights?
00:54:25.23\00:54:26.83
If so, you might want
to look away right now.
00:54:26.86\00:54:29.80
One of the most
famous attractions in the San
00:54:29.83\00:54:31.97
Francisco Bay Area is the
iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
00:54:32.00\00:54:36.00
While this world-famous bridge
was named as one of the seven
00:54:36.04\00:54:38.94
wonders of the modern world,
few people know the story of
00:54:38.97\00:54:41.84
the brave men who were involved
in its construction and also
00:54:41.88\00:54:45.15
known as the
Halfway to Hell Club.
00:54:45.18\00:54:48.65
Designed by a group
of visionary engineers,
00:54:48.68\00:54:50.95
at 4,200 feet from end to end,
the Golden Gate Bridge was at
00:54:50.99\00:54:54.56
one time the longest
suspension bridge in the world.
00:54:54.59\00:54:58.39
During its
construction from 1933 to 1937,
00:54:58.43\00:55:02.16
the Golden Gate Bridge had one
of the best safety construction
00:55:02.20\00:55:05.17
records of any
project during that time.
00:55:05.20\00:55:07.87
Keep in mind they would factor
in and calculate that one man
00:55:07.90\00:55:11.24
would die for every
million dollars that was spent,
00:55:11.27\00:55:14.21
so with a budget of $35 million
they knew that loss of life
00:55:14.24\00:55:17.98
would be unacceptable.
00:55:18.01\00:55:19.71
This is why the chief engineer,
00:55:19.75\00:55:21.22
Joseph B. Strauss, was
absolutely adamant about
00:55:21.25\00:55:23.89
using the most rigorous safety
precautions that had ever been
00:55:23.92\00:55:27.29
used in bridge building.
00:55:27.32\00:55:29.12
He had a local manufacturer of
safety equipment design special
00:55:29.16\00:55:32.16
headgear that he
insisted be worn on every job.
00:55:32.19\00:55:35.36
This became the prototype
for the modern hardhat,
00:55:35.40\00:55:38.03
worn for the first time
ever, but the safety precautions
00:55:38.07\00:55:41.04
went even further.
00:55:41.07\00:55:42.30
Strauss provided a special hand
and face cream to protect their
00:55:42.34\00:55:45.61
skin from the cold, biting
wind and glare-free goggles
00:55:45.64\00:55:49.01
to protect their eyes.
00:55:49.04\00:55:50.68
In addition, they also ate a
special diet to help ward off
00:55:50.71\00:55:53.88
dizziness when they were
working at those epic heights,
00:55:53.92\00:55:57.25
but the most conspicuous safety
precaution was a gigantic net
00:55:57.29\00:56:01.39
that was suspended from
end to end under the entire
00:56:01.42\00:56:03.99
construction area of
the Golden Gate Bridge.
00:56:04.03\00:56:07.36
In fact, during construction
this net saved the lives of
00:56:07.40\00:56:11.17
19 men, who later became known
as the Halfway to Hell Club.
00:56:11.20\00:56:16.74
Now, you need to keep in
mind these were some of the most
00:56:16.77\00:56:18.71
dangerous construction
conditions you can imagine.
00:56:18.74\00:56:21.71
The wind was constantly blowing.
00:56:21.74\00:56:24.35
They were walking around on iron
00:56:24.38\00:56:26.15
that sometimes had
ice from the freezing fog.
00:56:26.18\00:56:29.42
In places, they were over
700 feet above the icy waters,
00:56:29.45\00:56:34.12
yet the men, coming
from all walks of life,
00:56:34.16\00:56:36.52
were willing to take these risks
because it was during the Great
00:56:36.56\00:56:39.26
Depression, and they
would get paid up to $11 a day,
00:56:39.29\00:56:43.16
which was a fortune back then.
00:56:43.20\00:56:45.70
One of the other benefits of the
net was they discovered that the
00:56:45.73\00:56:49.17
men were much more courageous
even though they were walking
00:56:49.20\00:56:52.07
high on those slippery surfaces,
00:56:52.11\00:56:54.24
because they knew there
was a mechanism to protect them
00:56:54.28\00:56:56.54
if they should fall.
00:56:56.58\00:56:58.11
This gave them the confidence
and the courage to press on
00:56:58.15\00:57:00.98
and get the bridge
built in record time.
00:57:01.02\00:57:03.35
You know, friends, as Christians
we have a great work to do.
00:57:03.39\00:57:06.49
The Bible tells us that we
get to participate with Jesus in
00:57:06.52\00:57:09.82
building a bridge that
connects heaven and earth,
00:57:09.86\00:57:12.79
and there are
dangers along the way.
00:57:12.83\00:57:14.83
The devil would like to paralyze
us with fear that we might fall
00:57:14.83\00:57:18.30
or make a mistake, but we know
that Jesus has provided a safety
00:57:18.33\00:57:21.54
net for us, and we
don't have to be afraid.
00:57:21.57\00:57:24.17
We can press on with confidence
because of promises in the book
00:57:24.21\00:57:27.08
of Jude verse 24:
00:57:27.11\00:57:28.61
He is able to
keep us from falling,
00:57:28.64\00:57:31.05
but sometimes we make mistakes.
00:57:31.08\00:57:33.08
Still don't be
discouraged, friends.
00:57:33.11\00:57:34.85
If you read in 1
John chapter 2, verse 1,
00:57:34.88\00:57:37.75
the Bible says if we fall, if
we sin, we have an advocate with
00:57:37.79\00:57:41.62
the Father: Jesus Christ,
so let's press on together and
00:57:41.66\00:57:44.63
build that bridge with Christ.
00:57:44.66\00:57:46.23
¤¤¤
00:57:46.26\00:57:56.20
¤¤¤
00:57:56.24\00:58:06.15
¤¤¤
00:58:06.18\00:58:16.16
¤¤¤
00:58:16.19\00:58:19.26
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00:58:19.29\00:58:24.27