The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with GOD,
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and the Word was GOD."
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It says to receive with meekness
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the implanted Word,
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which is able to save your souls
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and to be diligent to
present yourself approved to God
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth.
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is:
Preparation for the End Time.
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Hello, and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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I'm Jill Morikone
and we're delighted
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that you're taking this
time to open up God's Word
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and study with us here,
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it's always a blessing.
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We are in the
middle of our quarter
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on preparation for the end time.
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The Lesson that we are on
this week is: Lesson Number 8.
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Worship the Creator...
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talking about present truth
and the first angel's messages.
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I want to introduce
our panel at this time,
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sitting next to me is my sister
and friend, Shelley Quinn,
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next to you is my
sister-friend-and-mom,
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Mollie Steenson
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next to you is, my friend
and mentor, Pastor C.A. Murray
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and next to you is my
friend and mentor and boss,
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Mr. Danny Shelton.
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It's a privilege to
have each one of you here
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and thank you
for sharing together.
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Good to be here.
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So... and we are
delighted you have joined us
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for our study
of the Word of God.
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If you do not have a Sabbath
School Quarterly for yourself,
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we invite you...
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go visit your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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they have Quarterlies,
they will give you for free
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and you can join
a local study group
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but if you don't
have access to that,
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you can always go to the
website and download the lesson
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and follow along with us.
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That website is:
ABSG.Adventist. org
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that stands for
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Adult Bible Study
Guide. Adventist. org
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before we go any
further in our study,
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we always want to
open up with prayer
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and Mr. Danny, would
you pray for us today?
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Absolutely, "Lord, we
thank you for this opportunity
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to come before you
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and today, the
topic of talking about
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the first
angel's Message, it says,
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'Fear God and give glory to you
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for the hour of
your judgment has come'
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we're so thankful to be alive
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in these closing
hours of earth's history
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and watch what's
happening in the world today
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and study the books
of Daniel and Revelation
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and see the revealing
of the character of love
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to each of us
and I pray right now
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for every
Viewer, every Listener,
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each of us as we ingest
the message in your Word
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that is life-changing for
each and every one of us today,
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we pray God for your Holy Spirit
upon each one here today, also,
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as we impart the Word
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that everything
that's said and done
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is done to Your
honor and Your glory,
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in Jesus' name I pray, amen. "
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"Amen. "
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Thank you so much.
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We're studying
"Worship the Creator"
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and as we think about
the three angels' messages,
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we think as
Seventh-day Adventist Christians
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of the term: Present Truth
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and so, I want
to ask you at home,
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What is present truth?
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To me, present truth
is a specific message
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for a specific time
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and present truth is
also a life and death matter.
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Before we get into
our study on Sunday,
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I want to look
at seven snapshots
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of present truth
throughout history.
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The first snap shot
would be in the Garden of Eden
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at the very beginning with Adam,
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what was his present
truth, what was the command?
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"Don't eat of
the fruit of the tree
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of the
Knowledge of good and evil
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because if
you're going to do that,
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you are going to die. "
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After Adam and Eve partook
of the fruit and they sinned,
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there was a promise given,
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we know that
promise in Genesis 3:15
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that this world
would not be all there is
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and that there was hope...
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that even if they
would die the natural death
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that they would be
resurrected at the end
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and there there's
hope in the coming Messiah.
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Snapshot number
2: Cain and Abel...
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what was the command?
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"Offer a sacrifice... offer
the sacrificial lamb by faith"
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in obedience to God's command.
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The promise, of course, it's
symbolized the coming Messiah
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who would take away
the sins of the world.
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Snapshot number 3: Noah.
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What was the
command in Noah's day?
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"Get into the ark
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for a flood is coming
that will destroy the world"
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and the promise, of
course, we see the rainbow,
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the bow of promise
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that God would never again
destroy the world with a flood.
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Snapshot number 4 is Abraham.
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The command is, "Get out from Ur
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and go to a land that
I'm going to show you"
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and, of course, we know
God's promise to Abraham,
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"I will make of
you a great nation
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and in you all nations of
the world will be blessed"
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and the coming Messiah
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would come through
his lineage as well.
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Snapshot number 5: I
think of Elijah at Mount Carmel
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the showdown there...
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and what's the command?
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"Make a choice. "
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"How long halt you
between two opinions?
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If the LORD be God, follow Him:
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but if Baal...
then follow him. "
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We see the promise when
the fire fell from heaven
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declaring that the Lord
Jesus Christ is God above all
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and then the
coming promise of the rain
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which did fall
shortly after that time.
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Snapshot number 6
is John the Baptist.
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What was his command?
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"Get ready...
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prepare a
people to meet thy God,
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repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand"
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and the promise was
that Jesus was coming
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for His first coming as
Messiah and as Redeemer.
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Now we come all the way
down to the end of time.
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As Seventh-day
Adventist Christians,
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we have a present-truth message
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to give to an end-times people
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and that message
is: "Get Ready...
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prepare to meet your God
because Jesus is coming. "
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The promise is that
Jesus is coming again,
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we're looking
forward to His second coming.
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He will come as Priest and King
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so, let's read our Memory
Text we haven't done that yet,
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we're looking at the
first angel's message
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in each one of our
studies here today.
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The Memory Text is:
Revelation chapter 14 verse 6
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and we'll read it together
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and want to encourage you to
read it at home with us as well,
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"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
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having the everlasting gospel
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to preach to those
who dwell on the earth,
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to every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people. "
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Sunday... we'll look at
the universality of the gospel.
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So, if I were to ask you,
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"What is the
mission of the church?"
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Different people would
have different opinions,
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in my mind, the mission of the
church has a three-fold focus.
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An upward
focus... an inward focus...
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an outward focus
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not necessarily in that
order but it has three focuses.
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The upward focus...
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as a church, we are to
glorify God and love Him.
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The inward focus...
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we are to love each other
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as brothers and
sisters in the Lord.
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The outward focus... we
are called to preach the gospel
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and to make disciples.
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That was Jesus' focus
while He was here on this earth,
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I think of Mark
1:14 and 15, it says,
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"Now after John
was put in prison,
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Jesus came to Galilee,
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preaching the gospel
of the kingdom of God,
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and saying, "The
time is fulfilled,
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the kingdom of God is at hand.
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Repent and
believe in the gospel. "
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That was present
truth for his time.
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Let's look at our
mission at the end time,
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we will get to
Revelation chapter 14
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but let's look at Matthew 28.
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This is the great
commission and I think Mr. Danny
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of all the verses that
you quote in the Bible,
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this might be one
of the most often,
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Matthew 28:18 through 20,
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the great commission, "Go ye. "
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Let's look at that,
Matthew 28 verse 18.
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"And Jesus came
and spoke to them,
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saying, 'All
authority' or power...
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'has been given to Me
in heaven and on earth.
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Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations. '"
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Now, I want to stop a moment...
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the word "All" there in
Greek means "each and every one"
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it's the same word
used in 2nd Timothy 3:16,
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what does it say?
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"All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God. "
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So, if I think of all
Scripture in the sense of,
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"Okay, all
Scripture is inspired"
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that's great
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but if I think of it as
"each and every Scripture"
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is inspired by God...
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that changes the
way I look at the Bible
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instead of it as a
whole... "Wow, it's inspired"
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every Scripture is inspired
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so, the same
Greek word is used here.
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It says, "Go therefore and
make disciples of all nations"
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so, Jesus isn't saying,
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"Okay, in general,
evangelize the world"
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He's saying,
"Each and every nation"
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we are called to go
and to make disciples...
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baptizing them in
the name of the Father
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and the Son and the Holy Spirit
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teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded you
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and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age. "
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So, let's look at
Revelation 14 verse 6,
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Revelation 14 verse 6,
this was our memory text,
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we're going to read it again.
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"Then I saw another angel... "
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this is the beginning of
the first angel's message.
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"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
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having the everlasting gospel"
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Shelley is going to talk
about the everlasting gospel,
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"to those who
dwell on the earth,
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to every nation,
tribe, tongue and people. "
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Now, the word for "every"
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"every nation,
tribe, tongue and people"
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is the same word as
was used in Matthew 28...
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"each and every... "
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so, this first angel's message
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is called to go
to "each and every"
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nation, tribe,
tongue and people.
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Now, who are the nations...
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the tribes... the
tongues and the people?
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"Nation" means... in
Greek, literally race or nation
00:10:05.23\00:10:09.37
but in the New Testament,
not exclusively but often,
00:10:09.40\00:10:13.54
it is used in the
sense of the heathen...
00:10:13.58\00:10:16.71
of the Gentiles
in contrast to a Jew.
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Sometimes it's used for a
Jew but almost always it's used
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in reference to a Gentile.
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So, this gospel...
this everlasting gospel...
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it's called to be preached
to each and every Gentile
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or each and every person
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who has never
heard the name of Christ
00:10:32.59\00:10:34.86
or does not know about Jesus
00:10:34.93\00:10:36.70
but it doesn't stop there,
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it says, "each and
every nation, tribe... "
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in the Greek, "tribe"
stands for a clan or tribe
00:10:41.97\00:10:45.47
or race of people,
00:10:45.51\00:10:47.24
almost exclusively in the Bible,
00:10:47.31\00:10:49.74
it's used to refer
00:10:49.78\00:10:51.11
to those who are descendants
of Abraham or the Jews.
00:10:51.15\00:10:53.78
So, this everlasting gospel
00:10:53.85\00:10:55.72
is not just going to each and
every Gentile or non-Christian,
00:10:55.75\00:10:59.25
it's supposed to go to
each and every Christian.
00:10:59.29\00:11:02.82
Then it continues,
"Every nation, tribe, tongue"
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that just means language...
00:11:06.36\00:11:07.66
so every single
different language group
00:11:07.73\00:11:09.86
is supposed to
receive the gospel
00:11:09.90\00:11:11.40
and people... and now it
covers the whole broad...
00:11:11.43\00:11:15.17
in Greek it just means, a
people... a crowd or populous
00:11:15.20\00:11:17.71
so, I think, what
John is saying here
00:11:17.74\00:11:19.44
is that this message
is supposed to go to...
00:11:19.51\00:11:22.28
whether you're
Christian or non-Christian
00:11:22.34\00:11:25.11
old or young... rich or poor...
00:11:25.15\00:11:27.42
free or bond...
whatever we are...
00:11:27.48\00:11:30.25
the gospel
message is "to go to them"
00:11:30.35\00:11:32.82
the gospel message
needs to go to everyone
00:11:32.85\00:11:35.32
because there's a
universal sin problem.
00:11:35.36\00:11:37.79
Romans 3:23, what does it say?
00:11:37.83\00:11:41.16
"All have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God. "
00:11:41.20\00:11:45.33
Now, we know, Shelley, that
Romans 1 talks about the sin
00:11:45.37\00:11:49.47
specifically in
the Gentile world,
00:11:49.50\00:11:51.77
and you see the
progression of sin,
00:11:51.81\00:11:54.04
Romans 2 and 3 talks about
the sins of the Jewish world,
00:11:54.11\00:11:59.11
and you see that progression
00:11:59.15\00:12:01.28
by the time we
get to Romans 3:23,
00:12:01.32\00:12:03.62
Paul is saying,
"All have sinned"
00:12:03.69\00:12:05.85
everyone has sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God.
00:12:05.89\00:12:10.53
Galatians 3 verse 22, "But
the Scripture has contined"
00:12:10.56\00:12:15.10
that's kind of a
different word for us,
00:12:15.13\00:12:17.37
but in Greek it
just mean "shut together"
00:12:17.43\00:12:19.63
to enclose... to shut in...
00:12:19.67\00:12:21.30
so, Scripture has
shut together all under sin
00:12:21.34\00:12:25.54
or all under the
condemnation of sin,
00:12:25.61\00:12:28.74
"that the promise by
faith in Jesus Christ
00:12:28.78\00:12:31.68
might be given to
those who believe. "
00:12:31.71\00:12:34.52
So, we are all shut together
under the condemnation of sin.
00:12:34.58\00:12:38.42
There's a universal sin problem
00:12:38.45\00:12:40.22
but praise the
Lord we have a Savior
00:12:40.26\00:12:43.16
who came to save
to the uttermost.
00:12:43.19\00:12:46.66
John 3:16, "For
God so loved the world
00:12:46.70\00:12:49.90
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:12:50.00\00:12:53.17
that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish
00:12:53.20\00:12:56.74
but have everlasting life. "
00:12:56.84\00:12:59.04
And Ms. Mollie, we
have to get in 1st John 1:9,
00:12:59.07\00:13:02.28
"If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just
00:13:02.31\00:13:05.41
to forgive us of our sins
00:13:05.45\00:13:06.95
and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. "
00:13:07.02\00:13:10.39
Amen.
00:13:10.42\00:13:11.75
To us... each one of us
has been given the privilege
00:13:11.79\00:13:16.46
of accepting the
Lord Jesus Christ
00:13:16.49\00:13:18.63
as our Savior.
00:13:18.66\00:13:20.63
Matthew 10:8,
00:13:20.70\00:13:22.50
"Freely you have
received, freely give. "
00:13:22.53\00:13:25.27
The gospel is to go
to each and every one,
00:13:25.30\00:13:27.97
Jesus came and died
00:13:28.04\00:13:30.07
so that we each
had the opportunity
00:13:30.17\00:13:32.27
to escape the sin
problem that we all have
00:13:32.31\00:13:35.34
and that we could
spend eternity with Him.
00:13:35.38\00:13:38.35
Since we have been
saved by grace through faith,
00:13:38.38\00:13:42.12
we are called to freely extend
that message of salvation.
00:13:42.15\00:13:46.42
The message of the
gospel to everyone...
00:13:46.45\00:13:49.02
everywhere... at all
times... and in all places.
00:13:49.06\00:13:52.73
Nobody is to be
excluded in the gospel call.
00:13:52.76\00:13:56.33
Amen and amen, thank you Jill
00:13:56.36\00:13:58.43
and thank you for taking time
to explain about present truth.
00:13:58.47\00:14:02.74
There are so many people
that when we talk about it,
00:14:02.77\00:14:05.51
they think... this is
Adventist Christian jargon
00:14:05.54\00:14:08.28
but it is not, I
would just want to...
00:14:08.31\00:14:09.98
before I get into my lesson,
00:14:10.05\00:14:11.41
I want to read 2nd
Peter 1 and verse 12,
00:14:11.48\00:14:14.32
and in this Peter says,
00:14:14.35\00:14:17.82
"For this reason I
will not be negligent
00:14:17.85\00:14:20.76
to remind you
always of these things,
00:14:20.79\00:14:23.53
though you know
and are established
00:14:24.59\00:14:27.30
in the present truth. "
00:14:27.30\00:14:29.83
So, present truth
is a Biblical term
00:14:29.86\00:14:32.83
and we take it very seriously
00:14:32.87\00:14:34.94
that God has a present
truth for this generation
00:14:34.97\00:14:39.91
and that we are to spread that.
00:14:39.94\00:14:42.31
I... my lesson on Monday
00:14:42.34\00:14:45.21
is the thief on the cross
and the everlasting gospel.
00:14:45.25\00:14:48.62
Now, you talked
about various snapshots,
00:14:48.65\00:14:51.99
this is a snapshot
of salvation by grace
00:14:52.02\00:14:55.06
and we're going to
look at both the...
00:14:55.09\00:14:57.86
what's in the
foreground of that snapshot
00:14:57.89\00:15:00.56
and the
background of that snapshot.
00:15:00.63\00:15:02.46
On another lesson,
00:15:02.50\00:15:04.07
I did talk about the
everlasting gospel already
00:15:04.10\00:15:07.34
so what we're going to do is
just jump into the Scriptures,
00:15:07.44\00:15:12.31
Luke 23 and verse 32
is where we'll begin,
00:15:12.34\00:15:16.41
Luke 23 verse 32.
00:15:16.44\00:15:18.21
And Luke writes,
00:15:18.25\00:15:21.32
"There were also
two others, criminals,
00:15:21.35\00:15:24.22
led with Him to be put to death.
00:15:24.29\00:15:25.82
And when they had come
to the place called Calvary,
00:15:25.85\00:15:27.69
there they crucified
Him, and the criminals,
00:15:27.72\00:15:30.03
one on the right hand
and the other on the left.
00:15:30.06\00:15:32.26
Then Jesus said,
'Father, forgive them,
00:15:32.29\00:15:34.93
for they do not
know what they do. '
00:15:34.96\00:15:37.53
And they divided His
garments and cast lots.
00:15:37.57\00:15:40.50
And the people stood looking on
00:15:40.54\00:15:41.97
but even the rulers
with them sneered saying,
00:15:42.04\00:15:45.71
'He saved others;
let Him save Himself
00:15:45.77\00:15:48.68
if He is the
Christ, the chosen of God. '
00:15:48.71\00:15:51.55
The soldiers also mocked Him,
00:15:51.58\00:15:54.22
coming and offering
Him sour wine, and saying,
00:15:54.28\00:15:57.85
'If you are the King of
the Jews, save Yourself. '
00:15:57.89\00:16:01.66
And an inscription
also was written over Him
00:16:01.69\00:16:05.73
in letters of
Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.
00:16:05.76\00:16:07.50
This is the King of the Jews.
00:16:07.60\00:16:09.16
Then one of the
criminals who were hanged
00:16:09.20\00:16:12.20
blasphemed, saying,
00:16:12.27\00:16:13.64
'If You are the
Christ, save Yourself and us. '
00:16:13.67\00:16:17.01
But the other,
answered, rebuking him, saying,
00:16:17.04\00:16:20.31
'Do you not even fear God,
00:16:20.38\00:16:22.61
seeing you are under
the same condemnation?
00:16:22.64\00:16:25.81
And we indeed justly,
00:16:25.85\00:16:27.92
for we receive the
due rewards of our deeds;
00:16:27.95\00:16:31.35
but this Man has
done nothing wrong. '
00:16:31.39\00:16:34.69
Then he said to
Jesus, 'Lord, remember me
00:16:34.72\00:16:37.93
when You come
into Your kingdom. '
00:16:37.96\00:16:39.69
And Jesus said to him,
'Assuredly, I say to you, today
00:16:39.73\00:16:44.03
you will be with
me in Paradise. '"
00:16:44.07\00:16:47.20
When Jesus was
crucified between two criminals,
00:16:47.24\00:16:51.97
this was the most...
crucifixion was the most hideous
00:16:52.01\00:16:57.05
and painful form of
death that the Romans knew.
00:16:57.11\00:17:00.08
It caused excruciating pain
00:17:00.15\00:17:03.42
with every
breath... with every moment...
00:17:03.52\00:17:07.42
it caused throbbing pain
00:17:07.49\00:17:09.39
and what they would do is,
00:17:09.42\00:17:11.26
they stripped the
crucified victims naked
00:17:11.29\00:17:16.23
to increase their humiliation
00:17:16.26\00:17:18.83
and they had to use
their legs to push up
00:17:18.87\00:17:24.51
because the position in
which they hanged... hung...
00:17:24.54\00:17:27.58
caused such
weight on their chest...
00:17:27.61\00:17:29.51
soon they couldn't breathe...
00:17:29.58\00:17:30.95
and they'd have to
push up with their legs
00:17:30.98\00:17:32.81
to catch a gasp of air
00:17:32.85\00:17:35.48
and so, this usually
made the death process
00:17:35.52\00:17:39.82
linger for several days
00:17:39.85\00:17:41.56
and finally,
suffocation or heart failure
00:17:41.59\00:17:44.16
is what... is how
they actually died.
00:17:44.23\00:17:46.73
It was reserved for only
the worst of the criminals.
00:17:46.80\00:17:49.36
So, these two
men who were with Him
00:17:49.40\00:17:51.80
were members of a
violent band of robbers,
00:17:51.83\00:17:54.87
many people believed that
they were followers of Barabbas
00:17:54.90\00:17:57.91
and they were likely Jews
00:17:57.94\00:18:01.41
because Barabbas and
his followers were Jews
00:18:01.44\00:18:05.28
and you might remember that
Barabbas was a notorious robber
00:18:05.31\00:18:09.35
that was on trial
the same time as Jesus
00:18:09.38\00:18:12.85
and he had led an insurrection
00:18:12.89\00:18:15.32
and he had murdered a
man during this insurrection.
00:18:15.36\00:18:17.89
So, the interesting
thing, if you think about it,
00:18:17.96\00:18:20.46
is these criminals...
these two robbers...
00:18:20.53\00:18:23.67
were in the judgment hall
00:18:23.70\00:18:25.53
at the time that Christ's
case was being presented
00:18:25.57\00:18:28.57
and they would
have heard everything,
00:18:28.60\00:18:30.91
they knew what the raging...
00:18:30.94\00:18:33.88
or what their
accusations were against Christ
00:18:33.91\00:18:38.91
and how confusing
that whole case was
00:18:38.95\00:18:41.35
and as they were led away,
carrying their cross beams...
00:18:41.38\00:18:45.85
they would hear the
taunts of the people...
00:18:45.89\00:18:49.69
His persecutors...
00:18:49.72\00:18:51.06
and they would hear the
tearful wails of His followers
00:18:51.09\00:18:55.60
so, here's three crosses
waiting on the hill of Calvary.
00:18:55.63\00:19:00.17
You've got a robber on the
left and a robber on the right
00:19:00.20\00:19:04.54
and the Lamb of
God... the Lord of glory...
00:19:04.57\00:19:08.61
was crucified on
the center cross.
00:19:08.64\00:19:12.08
Now the tradition in the church
00:19:12.11\00:19:15.58
says that the robber on
the right's name was Demas
00:19:15.62\00:19:19.49
D e m a s...
00:19:19.52\00:19:21.32
he knew of Christ's fame,
00:19:21.36\00:19:23.96
he knew that... why He
had been sentenced to die
00:19:23.99\00:19:27.96
only for the claims
of being the Son of God
00:19:28.00\00:19:32.17
and it's interesting,
00:19:32.20\00:19:34.47
we see... not in
the account of Luke
00:19:34.50\00:19:37.31
but in Matthew
27... in that account...
00:19:37.41\00:19:40.18
in his misery...
00:19:40.21\00:19:41.94
at first Demas had also
mocked and insulted Jesus
00:19:41.98\00:19:47.62
but he joined in with
his other robber companion
00:19:47.65\00:19:51.59
as they hurled these insults
00:19:51.62\00:19:53.09
but the operation of God's grace
00:19:53.12\00:19:56.16
began to soften his heart,
00:19:56.19\00:19:57.86
he observed that Christ had this
heart of infinite compassion
00:19:57.89\00:20:02.96
and he became convinced
that Jesus was the Messiah.
00:20:03.00\00:20:07.30
that he was suffering wrongly
00:20:07.34\00:20:10.27
and in his horror
of recognizing this,
00:20:10.31\00:20:14.48
I mean, the horror
of his own actions...
00:20:14.51\00:20:18.01
the abusive
language that he had used,
00:20:18.05\00:20:21.48
he repents... and he
actually chastises his companion
00:20:21.52\00:20:27.62
and saying, "Don't
criticize the Savior,
00:20:27.66\00:20:31.46
he says in Luke 23:40 and 41,
00:20:31.49\00:20:34.30
"Do you not even fear God,
00:20:34.36\00:20:37.10
seeing you are under
the same condemnation?
00:20:37.13\00:20:40.00
And we indeed justly,
00:20:40.07\00:20:42.60
for we receive the
due reward of our deeds;
00:20:42.64\00:20:45.91
but this Man has
done nothing wrong. "
00:20:45.94\00:20:48.74
So, here we see Demas humbling
himself before the Lord,
00:20:48.78\00:20:53.78
confessing his sin,
00:20:53.85\00:20:55.78
then he turns to
Christ for forgiveness
00:20:55.82\00:20:58.85
and he says, "Lord, remember me
when you come into your kingdom"
00:20:58.89\00:21:03.43
now, you know, I am convinced
that he certainly recognized...
00:21:03.46\00:21:07.76
Christ was not coming
down off the cross that day
00:21:07.83\00:21:11.13
to have an earthly
kingdom... a carnal kingdom...
00:21:11.17\00:21:14.47
a temporal earthly kingdom.
00:21:14.50\00:21:17.27
Demas realized...
00:21:17.31\00:21:19.17
it was a kingdom
that was beyond the grave.
00:21:19.21\00:21:23.45
The spirit of
grace helped him see
00:21:23.51\00:21:26.82
beyond the shame of Christ
that day... to His coming glory
00:21:26.88\00:21:31.22
and he recognized
Christ's divine authority
00:21:31.25\00:21:35.36
and confessed Him as Lord.
00:21:35.39\00:21:38.29
You know, I love our God,
00:21:38.33\00:21:41.13
He will never ever turn His
ear away from a penitent cry.
00:21:41.16\00:21:46.43
It doesn't
matter how bad you are,
00:21:46.50\00:21:51.61
this... the case of
Demas... the penitent thief
00:21:51.64\00:21:55.44
shows me... it proves to me
00:21:55.51\00:21:58.61
that we are saved
by grace through faith
00:21:58.65\00:22:02.82
not by works
00:22:02.85\00:22:04.19
and as long as a
person can make the choice
00:22:04.22\00:22:06.79
and you have the
will to make the choice,
00:22:06.86\00:22:10.33
it is never too
late to turn to Christ.
00:22:10.36\00:22:13.80
Where there is the
will... where there is the hope
00:22:13.83\00:22:17.53
there is the hope of Christ.
00:22:17.57\00:22:20.14
Now, Jesus says
to him in verse 43,
00:22:20.20\00:22:22.57
"Assuredly, I say to you, today
00:22:22.60\00:22:25.47
you will be with
Me in Paradise. "
00:22:25.51\00:22:28.41
On that day,
Christ promised Demas,
00:22:28.48\00:22:31.35
"I'm giving you eternal life"
00:22:31.55\00:22:33.15
and Demas received it,
00:22:33.18\00:22:35.12
he's going to be one who
eats from the Tree of the life
00:22:35.15\00:22:38.52
in the midst of
the Paradise of God.
00:22:38.59\00:22:41.12
But Demas could not
have entered Paradise
00:22:41.16\00:22:44.99
on that particular day,
00:22:45.03\00:22:47.03
because we know that the
risen Savior on Sunday...
00:22:47.10\00:22:52.13
Jesus didn't go on
Friday to Paradise...
00:22:52.17\00:22:54.77
or on Saturday... He
was resting in the grave
00:22:54.80\00:22:57.64
and when Mary came
to Him, He said to her,
00:22:57.67\00:23:00.38
"Don't cling to me
00:23:00.41\00:23:01.74
because I have yet
to return to my Father"
00:23:01.78\00:23:03.75
so, it was afterwards he...
00:23:03.85\00:23:07.62
that, we know, Demas
is resting in his grave
00:23:07.65\00:23:10.02
and he will come up
with the rest of us.
00:23:10.09\00:23:13.79
So, Christ promised
Demas that he will rise
00:23:13.86\00:23:16.86
in the
resurrection of the righteous...
00:23:16.93\00:23:19.86
that first resurrection
00:23:19.93\00:23:21.23
and he will put on
immortality when we all do
00:23:21.26\00:23:25.10
as 1st Corinthians 15:53 says,
00:23:25.13\00:23:27.44
At that last
trump, we will put it on.
00:23:27.50\00:23:30.27
So, let me just
quickly say this.
00:23:30.31\00:23:32.54
This naked thief on the cross,
00:23:32.57\00:23:34.74
that's a snapshot of
salvation by grace through faith
00:23:34.78\00:23:38.15
but there's a
darker side to that picture
00:23:38.21\00:23:41.02
and it is the other thief...
00:23:41.05\00:23:43.18
he saw the same thing... he
went through the same experience
00:23:43.22\00:23:48.52
but he snubbed the Savior,
he spurned salvation by grace
00:23:48.56\00:23:53.86
and he will be among those
00:23:53.90\00:23:56.90
who come up in
the 2nd Resurrection
00:23:56.93\00:24:00.34
the resurrection
of the condemnation.
00:24:00.37\00:24:03.71
So, the most
important thing that we can do
00:24:03.74\00:24:07.48
is remember, as Jill said,
00:24:07.51\00:24:09.24
"God so loved the world...
He gave His only begotten Son,
00:24:09.31\00:24:12.55
that whosoever
should believe in Him,
00:24:12.58\00:24:14.98
will not perish but
will have everlasting life. "
00:24:15.02\00:24:18.39
Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ.
00:24:18.42\00:24:20.59
Oh Shelley, I love that,
00:24:20.66\00:24:22.59
and I love that
word, "whosoever"
00:24:22.62\00:24:24.96
do you know who
"whosoever" includes?
00:24:24.99\00:24:27.30
We... all of us.
00:24:27.30\00:24:29.23
Mollie: Thank you Lord
for that. Shelley: Amen.
00:24:29.26\00:24:30.83
Well, I've got Tuesday
00:24:30.87\00:24:32.20
and it's: Fear God
and give glory to Him. "
00:24:32.23\00:24:33.90
Hmmm...
00:24:33.94\00:24:35.47
And, here is a
promise... or here is a word
00:24:35.50\00:24:39.21
from an angel that's
flying in the midst of heaven
00:24:39.24\00:24:42.58
and it's for "whosoever"
00:24:42.61\00:24:44.05
it's for every one of us,
so let me read that sentence,
00:24:44.11\00:24:47.32
Revelation 14... I want
you to turn to Revelation 14,
00:24:47.38\00:24:50.39
we're going to
look at verses 6 and 7,
00:24:50.45\00:24:53.42
"Then I saw... "
00:24:53.46\00:24:54.89
remember John on
the Isle of Patmos,
00:24:54.92\00:24:57.49
he was taken away in vision
00:24:57.53\00:24:59.09
and he was shown
scenes from the end time.
00:24:59.13\00:25:02.36
Now, here is
something that he saw.
00:25:02.40\00:25:04.80
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
00:25:04.83\00:25:09.04
having... " what?
00:25:09.07\00:25:10.41
"the everlasting gospel
00:25:10.44\00:25:11.94
to preach to those
who dwell on the earth. "
00:25:11.97\00:25:14.74
Hey, we're earth dwellers...
this is a message for us.
00:25:14.78\00:25:18.08
and it's not just
localized, it's to every...
00:25:18.11\00:25:21.48
Jewish... you
were talking about...
00:25:21.52\00:25:22.88
all... "each and
every nation and tribe,
00:25:22.92\00:25:26.32
tongue and people,
saying with a loud voice,
00:25:26.39\00:25:30.06
'Fear God and give glory to Him,
00:25:30.13\00:25:32.76
for the hour of His
judgment is come... '
00:25:32.79\00:25:34.86
and do something,
00:25:34.93\00:25:36.23
'worship Him who made heaven
and earth and sea... and the sea
00:25:36.26\00:25:41.30
and springs of water. '"
00:25:41.34\00:25:42.67
Now, worship...
we've said it before
00:25:42.70\00:25:46.01
and we'll say it again,
00:25:46.04\00:25:47.71
"Worship is what the
end-time battle is over. "
00:25:47.74\00:25:53.38
The battle is about worship,
00:25:53.42\00:25:55.62
worship... the expression
00:25:55.65\00:25:57.79
of reverence and
adoration for a deity
00:25:57.82\00:26:01.92
and this angel flying
in the midst of heaven
00:26:01.96\00:26:05.59
is telling us, "Worship God... "
00:26:05.63\00:26:07.60
now, I think about...
00:26:07.66\00:26:10.07
back in...
Revelation chapter 13...
00:26:10.10\00:26:12.83
just a chapter
before... run back there...
00:26:12.87\00:26:15.00
Revelation chapter 13...
let's look at verses 11 and 12.
00:26:15.04\00:26:20.58
And I'm going to ask a
question after I read this,
00:26:20.61\00:26:25.08
what's the beast's purpose?
00:26:25.11\00:26:27.98
What is he wanting to
cause the earth to do?
00:26:28.02\00:26:31.69
Now, we're in
Revelation 13 verses 11 and 12,
00:26:31.72\00:26:35.06
"Then I saw... "
again... John the Revelator...
00:26:35.09\00:26:38.39
this is what he sees,
"Then I saw another beast
00:26:38.43\00:26:41.70
coming up out of the earth,
00:26:41.73\00:26:43.16
and he had two horns like a lamb
00:26:43.20\00:26:46.90
and spoke like a dragon.
00:26:46.94\00:26:48.27
And he exercises all the
authority of the first beast
00:26:48.34\00:26:52.21
in his presence,
00:26:52.27\00:26:53.64
and causes the earth and
those who dwell in it... "
00:26:53.68\00:26:58.11
to do something...
00:26:58.15\00:26:59.48
to do what?
00:26:59.51\00:27:00.95
"to worship the first beast,
whose deadly wound was healed. "
00:27:00.98\00:27:06.35
Hmmm... hmmm...
00:27:06.39\00:27:07.72
So, we've got like,
diametrically opposed beings
00:27:07.76\00:27:14.60
telling us to do the same thing.
00:27:14.63\00:27:17.70
One is to worship God... the
God who made heaven and earth
00:27:17.73\00:27:23.20
and one is telling
us to worship a beast.
00:27:23.27\00:27:26.61
Pause.
00:27:26.68\00:27:28.01
The angel flying in
the midst of heaven,
00:27:28.04\00:27:30.98
let's read that again,
00:27:31.01\00:27:32.68
and remember, this is to
all of us earth dwellers.
00:27:32.71\00:27:35.98
"Fear God and give glory to Him
00:27:36.02\00:27:38.72
for the hour of
His judgment has come
00:27:38.75\00:27:42.09
and worship Him who
made heaven and earth,
00:27:42.12\00:27:45.56
the sea and the
springs of water. "
00:27:45.59\00:27:47.83
Diametrically opposed
to... so, in this end time...
00:27:47.86\00:27:52.33
again, the battle
is over who we worship.
00:27:52.37\00:27:56.04
Who are we going to
give our worship to?
00:27:56.07\00:27:59.64
Our expressions of reference
and adoration for our God.
00:27:59.67\00:28:04.71
Now, I want us to
go to Ecclesiastes
00:28:04.75\00:28:08.12
and it's the 12th chapter,
00:28:08.15\00:28:09.55
but I want to talk to you
a minute about King Solomon.
00:28:09.58\00:28:13.89
He had spent his whole life
00:28:13.92\00:28:18.13
trying to find
happiness and meaning.
00:28:18.16\00:28:22.20
God had allowed
him unlimited resources
00:28:22.23\00:28:26.23
and opportunity
00:28:26.27\00:28:27.64
to find a reason for
living any way he wanted to.
00:28:27.67\00:28:32.37
He pursued... did
King Solomon pursue
00:28:32.44\00:28:36.51
every possible
avenue available to man...
00:28:36.54\00:28:41.22
work, wealth,
pleasure, fame, friends...
00:28:41.25\00:28:45.79
do you know that
Cleopatra, at one time,
00:28:45.82\00:28:50.23
brought to King Solomon... over
3 million dollar's worth of gold
00:28:50.26\00:28:57.43
and a friend that's
bringing great resources...
00:28:57.47\00:29:03.17
I said "Cleopatra" and
it's... the Queen of Sheba,
00:29:03.20\00:29:08.84
I'm sorry... my mistake...
00:29:08.88\00:29:10.21
the Queen of Sheba...
over 3 million dollars in gold.
00:29:10.28\00:29:13.78
He had such
resources... such friends...
00:29:13.85\00:29:17.42
that were bringing
him all of these...
00:29:17.45\00:29:20.99
you know why I know that,
I've been listening to Joe Crews
00:29:21.02\00:29:24.16
on 3ABN Radio...
00:29:24.19\00:29:26.03
just recently,
00:29:26.06\00:29:27.86
he was telling all of the
things that King Solomon had
00:29:27.93\00:29:31.70
do you know that he said
that he had 700 concubines
00:29:31.73\00:29:35.44
and 300 brides... 300 wives...
00:29:35.47\00:29:38.04
do you know that's...
00:29:38.07\00:29:39.41
how many is that... 300 and 700?
00:29:39.44\00:29:41.84
I'm not a
brilliant mathematician
00:29:41.88\00:29:44.35
but that is a 1,000
women at his disposal...
00:29:44.38\00:29:48.42
disposal at one time...
00:29:48.45\00:29:50.39
he had so much... everything...
00:29:50.49\00:29:52.92
that wealth and fame and
friends this world had to offer
00:29:52.95\00:29:58.63
he had absolute
wealth unmeasurable...
00:29:58.66\00:30:03.06
he had everything
00:30:03.10\00:30:05.83
and in conclusion...
00:30:05.87\00:30:08.54
I've got you in Ecclesiastes
chapter 12 verse 13.
00:30:08.60\00:30:13.17
In conclusion, here is
what King Solomon said,
00:30:13.21\00:30:17.75
"Let us hear the conclusion
of the whole matter... "
00:30:17.78\00:30:21.62
and here is the
conclusion that he arrived at,
00:30:21.65\00:30:25.59
"Fear God and
keep His commandments,
00:30:25.65\00:30:28.96
for this is man's all. "
00:30:28.99\00:30:31.23
"Fear God and keep
His commandments... "
00:30:31.26\00:30:33.66
sounds like what that angel
00:30:33.70\00:30:35.50
that is flying out of
heaven telling us to do,
00:30:35.53\00:30:38.60
"Fear God and
give glory to Him. "
00:30:38.63\00:30:40.87
So, the conclusion...
after King Solomon had it all
00:30:40.90\00:30:45.54
and had done it
all and had seen it all
00:30:45.57\00:30:48.61
and tried it all...
00:30:48.64\00:30:49.98
he came back to his
roots which was, "Fear God... "
00:30:50.01\00:30:54.68
he's telling us that
nothing else really matters.
00:30:54.72\00:30:59.52
In the end, the wisest and
possibly the most wealthy man
00:30:59.55\00:31:05.56
who ever lived,
came to the conclusion
00:31:05.59\00:31:09.56
that life is futile
and useless apart from God.
00:31:09.60\00:31:14.20
Amen.
00:31:14.24\00:31:15.57
Now, I'm going
to quote John 14:15.
00:31:15.60\00:31:18.81
"If you love me... "
what does Jesus tell us to do?
00:31:18.87\00:31:23.14
"If you love me,
keep my commandments. "
00:31:23.18\00:31:25.81
And the Commandments,
oh, the first commandment...
00:31:25.85\00:31:29.25
is we are to
love the Lord our God
00:31:29.32\00:31:31.32
with all of our heart,
mind, soul and being...
00:31:31.35\00:31:33.46
is that the first commandment?
00:31:33.52\00:31:34.89
And worship only
Him and so... we...
00:31:34.92\00:31:38.46
if we love Him... then we're
going to keep that commandment.
00:31:38.53\00:31:43.80
Now, there is a link between
fearing God... worshipping God,
00:31:43.83\00:31:47.84
standing in reverent awe of God,
00:31:47.87\00:31:50.67
love and adoration
for Him and obeying Him,
00:31:50.74\00:31:54.58
keeping His commandments,
00:31:54.61\00:31:56.28
our obedience... and I
want to make this so clear
00:31:56.31\00:32:00.25
our obedience to God... our
obedience to His commandment
00:32:00.52\00:32:05.92
is the outward expression...
the outcropping and the evidence
00:32:05.95\00:32:12.33
of the condition of our heart,
00:32:12.36\00:32:14.20
what is in our
heart is evidence...
00:32:14.20\00:32:17.33
not by our words...
we can say anything...
00:32:17.37\00:32:21.07
it's by our actions
00:32:21.10\00:32:23.04
and who we give our
allegiance and our adoration to.
00:32:23.07\00:32:27.91
Now, I wanted to
ask this question,
00:32:27.94\00:32:29.84
what was the
condition of our heart?
00:32:29.88\00:32:33.68
And I'm speaking to those
00:32:33.72\00:32:35.52
who have made Jesus
Christ the Lord of your life,
00:32:35.55\00:32:37.92
what was the condition of
your heart when you came to God?
00:32:37.95\00:32:42.99
we were fallen humanity
00:32:43.06\00:32:46.33
we had fallen down and
we couldn't get back up,
00:32:46.36\00:32:50.60
we were helpless
and we had no hope.
00:32:50.63\00:32:53.37
But now I want to speak to those
00:32:53.40\00:32:56.07
who have never made Jesus
Christ the Lord of your life,
00:32:56.10\00:32:59.11
you know, this is
where you are today,
00:32:59.14\00:33:02.04
right where
everyone of us had been
00:33:02.08\00:33:04.85
you're in, what is
called, "A fallen condition"
00:33:04.88\00:33:07.95
you're separated from God
00:33:08.02\00:33:09.58
there is a chasm
between you and He
00:33:09.62\00:33:12.25
but that chasm
has been bridged...
00:33:12.29\00:33:14.89
you are in a hopeless condition,
however, the Lord Jesus Christ
00:33:14.92\00:33:20.96
is extending His
mighty hand of redemption
00:33:21.00\00:33:26.50
to your sinful hand...
just like He did for us
00:33:26.53\00:33:31.97
and He wants to
take your sinful hand
00:33:32.01\00:33:35.08
and pick you up
and stand you back up
00:33:35.11\00:33:38.15
stand you up...
00:33:38.18\00:33:39.81
just like He did everyone
who has called upon His name
00:33:39.85\00:33:43.75
and then, you will stand
in His presence... reach out
00:33:43.79\00:33:47.62
and that's my... my
heart's cry for you today...
00:33:47.66\00:33:50.53
if you've never made
Jesus the Lord of your life,
00:33:50.59\00:33:53.46
that you reach out to this God
00:33:53.50\00:33:55.90
who has done everything
for you, that loves you so much
00:33:55.96\00:34:00.84
that He gave His own
life and He'll take your hand
00:34:00.87\00:34:04.14
and He'll stand you up
00:34:04.21\00:34:05.54
and I'm thinking
of the rest of us
00:34:05.57\00:34:07.68
you know, I
think there are times
00:34:07.71\00:34:09.91
that we... we get forgetful
of all that God has done for us.
00:34:09.94\00:34:15.45
Here is a prayer
that we need to pray,
00:34:15.48\00:34:18.35
"Father, give us
a fresh revelation
00:34:18.39\00:34:22.29
of our sinfulness
and your holiness"
00:34:22.32\00:34:25.13
sometimes we need
to have a refreshing
00:34:25.16\00:34:29.20
of just how far
apart from God that we are
00:34:29.23\00:34:33.23
without that bridging...
that bridging of that chasm
00:34:33.30\00:34:36.54
by the shed blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:34:36.57\00:34:39.57
Fear God and give Him glory.
00:34:39.61\00:34:41.98
Amen.
00:34:42.01\00:34:43.35
Amen, well said, well said...
you know it's interesting
00:34:43.41\00:34:47.65
Solomon... after having
300 wives... 700 girlfriends
00:34:47.68\00:34:51.79
said, "Therefore,
I hated my life. "
00:34:51.82\00:34:54.96
I think any man who
is honest with himself
00:34:54.99\00:34:58.69
must admit that
one good woman, Danny,
00:34:58.73\00:35:02.46
is enough for any man.
00:35:02.50\00:35:03.87
Danny: A good woman is the key.
00:35:03.90\00:35:05.23
A Good woman is the
key... is enough for any man.
00:35:05.27\00:35:07.67
We, today, are
going to move into:
00:35:07.70\00:35:11.04
The hour of his
judgment has come.
00:35:11.11\00:35:14.41
I want to give
the bad news first
00:35:14.44\00:35:17.65
and then some good news.
00:35:17.68\00:35:19.01
Okay.
00:35:19.05\00:35:20.38
Because the
lesson asks the question,
00:35:20.42\00:35:22.72
"How well would I do
standing in my own merit?"
00:35:22.75\00:35:28.22
Panel: Whew! Hmmm... hmmm...
00:35:28.26\00:35:30.03
And then, it
gives a bunch of texts
00:35:30.06\00:35:32.03
which sort of gives us
context for my own merits.
00:35:32.06\00:35:36.46
Matthew 12:36, "By
your words you're justified,
00:35:36.50\00:35:40.90
by your words,
you're condemned. "
00:35:40.94\00:35:43.20
So, God is going
to take into account
00:35:43.24\00:35:45.51
everything that
comes out of our mouth
00:35:45.54\00:35:47.74
because out of the abundance
of the heart, the mouth speaks.
00:35:47.78\00:35:53.38
Ecclesiastes 12:14, "Every
work is coming into judgment
00:35:53.42\00:35:58.89
along with every secret thing. "
00:35:58.92\00:36:01.42
So, just because
you're in the basement
00:36:01.49\00:36:03.76
and the lights are out
00:36:03.79\00:36:05.13
and nobody knows... there is
a Watcher who sees and knows.
00:36:05.16\00:36:09.73
That's going into
the judgment part.
00:36:09.76\00:36:11.90
Romans 2:6, "We get
judged according to our deeds"
00:36:11.93\00:36:18.67
that's everything we've done.
00:36:18.74\00:36:21.38
I have a sermon...
I asked the question,
00:36:21.41\00:36:23.35
what if you came to church
00:36:23.38\00:36:25.71
and the sermon was going
to be a video presentation
00:36:25.75\00:36:29.45
of everything you thought,
every place you've been,
00:36:29.48\00:36:33.05
everything you've
done... for the last 20 years.
00:36:33.09\00:36:36.62
How do you feel about that?
00:36:36.66\00:36:38.43
Panel: No... no thank you...
00:36:38.46\00:36:40.20
That could be a little rough
and then, 1st Corinthians 4:5,
00:36:40.23\00:36:46.84
God will bring to life
all of the hidden things.
00:36:46.90\00:36:50.81
So the truth is,
nothing is hidden from God.
00:36:50.87\00:36:54.74
Hmmm...
00:36:54.78\00:36:56.11
So, if we tried to
stand in our own merits,
00:36:56.14\00:36:59.85
we're sort of lost
before we get started.
00:36:59.88\00:37:03.92
Panel member: Oh boy...
00:37:03.95\00:37:05.29
No, there's no way we can appear
00:37:05.32\00:37:06.72
before a righteous God
00:37:06.79\00:37:08.12
clothed in our own
shame and unloveliness.
00:37:08.16\00:37:11.49
So, that's the bad news,
now let's go to some good news.
00:37:11.53\00:37:14.66
I want to go back to the
00:37:14.73\00:37:17.47
1st angel's message
00:37:17.50\00:37:20.97
and allow me if you
will to give you a...
00:37:21.00\00:37:23.34
I would call this a
"Clementonian" version
00:37:23.41\00:37:27.48
of the third angel's message.
00:37:27.51\00:37:29.48
This is... picking it
up at verse 7, this is...
00:37:29.51\00:37:33.31
this is my digest of
that first angel's message
00:37:33.35\00:37:37.12
and my first
several words deal with
00:37:37.19\00:37:40.69
a parsing of the word, "fear"
00:37:40.76\00:37:43.19
I write, "Reveal
and give evidence
00:37:43.22\00:37:47.40
of your highest devotion
00:37:47.50\00:37:48.96
and ultimate love,
deference and respect for God"
00:37:49.00\00:37:53.70
That's just one
word... that's a fear
00:37:53.74\00:37:55.57
"understanding the reality
00:37:55.60\00:37:59.04
that we are in the time when
all flesh: every living soul
00:37:59.07\00:38:05.21
will be judged...
00:38:05.28\00:38:06.75
and ultimate
destinies will be decided. "
00:38:06.78\00:38:11.05
Shelley: Amen.
00:38:11.09\00:38:12.42
C.D. Brooks used to say,
"The innocent want justice
00:38:12.45\00:38:17.79
and the guilty want mercy. "
00:38:17.83\00:38:20.26
If you're innocent,
you can't wait for justice
00:38:20.33\00:38:24.90
because you
know, you're innocent,
00:38:24.93\00:38:26.74
well the good news is... that
we can all exhale and breathe
00:38:26.77\00:38:32.94
because there is...
therefore, no condemnation
00:38:32.97\00:38:37.25
for those who
are in Christ Jesus.
00:38:37.28\00:38:40.12
So, I can look
forward to judgment
00:38:40.15\00:38:42.88
because I'm in Christ Jesus.
00:38:42.95\00:38:44.85
Shelley: Amen.
00:38:44.89\00:38:46.22
I don't have to fear judgment...
in fact, judgment is on my side
00:38:46.25\00:38:49.59
because I'm in Christ Jesus,
00:38:49.62\00:38:51.36
there is now,
therefore, no condemnation.
00:38:51.39\00:38:55.20
Our God is a God of justice and
judgment and... and... and...
00:38:55.23\00:39:01.37
thank God that the
two are married in God...
00:39:01.40\00:39:03.67
justice... and judgment.
00:39:03.74\00:39:05.67
In other words, God's
decisions are always fair
00:39:05.91\00:39:10.88
and right and righteous.
00:39:10.91\00:39:13.75
So, I can... I can look forward
00:39:13.78\00:39:16.55
to judgment
00:39:16.58\00:39:18.12
because judgment
is not against me.
00:39:18.15\00:39:20.92
Justice... and let's parse
that word for just a minute...
00:39:21.22\00:39:24.16
in light of the
everlasting gospel.
00:39:24.19\00:39:25.86
Justice is just
behavior or treatment...
00:39:25.89\00:39:30.87
it is fairness...
fair play, fair mindedness,
00:39:30.90\00:39:35.40
equity... evenhandedness...
00:39:35.44\00:39:38.37
impartiality...
objectivity... and neutrality.
00:39:38.41\00:39:43.08
Now the... some
of those words fit
00:39:43.11\00:39:45.55
and some of those words don't.
00:39:45.58\00:39:47.88
Is God impartial?
00:39:47.95\00:39:50.69
Pause...
00:39:50.72\00:39:52.05
Shelley: The Bible
says, "He favors no man. "
00:39:52.09\00:39:54.26
There you go, He's
not really impartial,
00:39:54.29\00:39:56.12
since the death of Christ,
God is leaning in our direction.
00:39:56.16\00:40:02.90
He's not really impartial.
00:40:02.93\00:40:04.60
God's on our side.
00:40:04.63\00:40:06.60
My judge is also my advocate
00:40:06.63\00:40:09.84
you see where I'm going at...
00:40:09.87\00:40:13.01
and I know you hesitate
because He... He's not...
00:40:13.04\00:40:14.98
but He is really... God's
got His finger on the scale.
00:40:16.51\00:40:17.85
Shelley: Yes, He does.
00:40:17.88\00:40:19.21
God's working in our favor,
00:40:19.25\00:40:20.58
He is not impartial.
00:40:20.62\00:40:21.95
Is God neutral?
00:40:21.98\00:40:23.35
Shelley: Then that would be
the Scripture I just quoted.
00:40:23.39\00:40:25.72
Right, He is not neutral,
00:40:25.75\00:40:27.46
because He wants
to get us in, Danny,
00:40:27.52\00:40:29.06
He's... He's... He's...
He... since the death of...
00:40:29.09\00:40:31.63
He's looking at us
through the blood of Christ
00:40:31.66\00:40:34.13
so, He's not neutral.
00:40:34.20\00:40:35.73
He wants us to be saved.
00:40:35.76\00:40:37.33
Is He objective?
00:40:37.40\00:40:39.23
Not totally, because Christ died
00:40:39.27\00:40:43.77
to save us from our
sins, to be the propitiation
00:40:43.84\00:40:48.38
and one of the
definitions of propitiation
00:40:48.41\00:40:51.08
is a leaning in
the direction of.
00:40:51.11\00:40:53.15
Panel: Okay... yes...
00:40:53.18\00:40:54.52
So, God is
leaning in our direction.
00:40:54.55\00:40:56.28
We don't have to pull Him,
He's already leaning towards me
00:40:56.32\00:41:00.16
which is a great visual...
so... so... He's not...
00:41:00.19\00:41:03.16
He's not neutral in this thing,
00:41:03.19\00:41:04.83
He loves us with
an everlasting love.
00:41:04.86\00:41:07.10
He is so un-neutral
that He sent His son to die
00:41:07.13\00:41:10.67
in our behalf.
00:41:10.73\00:41:12.07
So, it's not God
who's trying to keep us out,
00:41:12.10\00:41:15.60
God is trying to get us in.
00:41:15.64\00:41:17.81
So, God will...
in no wise excuse sin
00:41:17.84\00:41:22.51
but make... make
no mistake about it,
00:41:22.54\00:41:27.18
Brothers and
Sisters, Jesus is on our side.
00:41:27.22\00:41:29.58
Shelley: Amen. Amen.
00:41:29.62\00:41:30.95
Danny: That's good.
00:41:30.99\00:41:32.32
Yeah, He's not
going to excuse sin
00:41:32.35\00:41:33.72
but He's on our side.
00:41:33.76\00:41:35.09
So, our judge is
indeed our advocate.
00:41:35.12\00:41:37.43
Now, inherent in the
notion of the everlasting gospel
00:41:37.49\00:41:40.40
is an understanding
that sin is the issue.
00:41:40.46\00:41:43.60
Sin has to be adjudicated...
00:41:43.63\00:41:46.40
which is a long
term which simply means,
00:41:46.43\00:41:48.80
"The score has
got to be settled. "
00:41:48.84\00:41:50.27
It's got to be dealt with,
00:41:50.34\00:41:51.87
so this, 7,000-year
dysfunctional relationship
00:41:51.91\00:41:56.38
in the universe has
got to be dealt with.
00:41:56.41\00:41:59.95
It has got to come to an end.
00:42:00.05\00:42:02.38
So, the eternal good news...
the eternal everlasting gospel
00:42:02.45\00:42:06.86
has to include the
idea of vindication
00:42:06.89\00:42:10.73
of God's love and God's law.
00:42:10.76\00:42:12.86
God's love was not wasted
00:42:12.89\00:42:16.73
because somebody...
praise God is going to be saved.
00:42:16.77\00:42:19.37
Danny: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:42:19.40\00:42:21.04
Justice and
judgment will come together
00:42:21.07\00:42:24.01
and in that, we will see that
00:42:24.07\00:42:27.34
the multitude of people
who are going to be saved
00:42:27.38\00:42:31.08
is almost without number.
00:42:31.11\00:42:33.42
So, in the context of judgment,
in this context, rather,
00:42:33.48\00:42:38.52
judgment is not to be feared,
00:42:38.55\00:42:39.95
in fact, I'm
looking forward to it.
00:42:40.02\00:42:43.26
Because that will be the day
when we see Jesus face to face.
00:42:43.29\00:42:48.76
The hour of His
judgment has come.
00:42:48.80\00:42:53.03
Every day I wake up,
00:42:53.10\00:42:55.34
I must wake up and live my life
00:42:55.37\00:42:57.64
in the context
and the understanding
00:42:57.67\00:42:59.51
that God is looking at
the lives of His people
00:42:59.57\00:43:03.35
and making determinations
and when Christ comes, He says,
00:43:03.38\00:43:07.85
in Revelation 22...
00:43:07.88\00:43:09.25
"My reward is
going to be with me. "
00:43:09.28\00:43:12.69
And I'm ready for
my reward, it's like...
00:43:12.72\00:43:15.16
like when we were children,
00:43:15.19\00:43:16.66
we could not
sleep on Christmas Eve,
00:43:16.73\00:43:19.19
you just... you're up...
00:43:19.23\00:43:20.96
because you see
those boxes under the tree
00:43:20.96\00:43:22.83
and you know one of those
boxes has your name on it,
00:43:22.86\00:43:25.13
hopefully, two...
but... but at least one...
00:43:25.17\00:43:28.07
so you're kind of
staring at the box
00:43:28.24\00:43:29.77
and we will fall asleep
right there in the living room,
00:43:29.80\00:43:31.71
right in front of the tree
00:43:31.74\00:43:33.07
and wake up... and my
mother let us sleep on the floor
00:43:33.11\00:43:35.21
because she knew that
we weren't going to bed
00:43:35.24\00:43:36.58
because if we went to bed,
we weren't going to be sleeping
00:43:36.61\00:43:37.95
anyway
00:43:37.98\00:43:39.31
that's why I liked it
so much better in Panama
00:43:39.35\00:43:40.88
they open up their
gifts on Christmas Eve
00:43:40.92\00:43:42.68
you... you don't have
to wait till Christmas Day
00:43:42.72\00:43:45.19
but judgment is coming
and... and the reward is coming
00:43:45.22\00:43:50.03
and we know that the reward
is going to be a good thing
00:43:50.09\00:43:54.56
because we are in Christ Jesus
00:43:54.60\00:43:57.33
and the penalty for
sin has already been paid.
00:43:57.40\00:44:01.57
So, that's what makes it
fair, that's what makes it just,
00:44:01.60\00:44:04.51
a penalty for sin has to be paid
00:44:04.54\00:44:07.98
but I don't have to pay
00:44:08.01\00:44:10.38
because Christ
has paid it for me
00:44:10.45\00:44:14.72
so now, I can...
I can run towards...
00:44:14.75\00:44:17.22
I can run towards judgment
00:44:17.29\00:44:20.49
because I know that
the penalty has been paid.
00:44:20.56\00:44:24.33
There is no condemnation now
00:44:24.36\00:44:26.56
because I'm in Christ Jesus,
00:44:26.59\00:44:28.70
and when... so God looks at me,
00:44:28.73\00:44:30.83
He looks at me through...
dare I say, "Jesus' glasses"
00:44:30.87\00:44:34.20
He looks at me through the
shed blood of Jesus Christ.
00:44:34.24\00:44:36.97
Shelley: Amen.
00:44:37.01\00:44:38.34
So, judgment is a good
thing, it's a great thing.
00:44:38.37\00:44:40.58
The hour of His
judgment has come
00:44:40.64\00:44:43.04
and every day, I live
in the light of that fact
00:44:43.08\00:44:46.11
that judgment is coming
00:44:46.15\00:44:48.28
but praise God it's in my favor
00:44:48.32\00:44:50.75
and one day I
will get my reward.
00:44:50.79\00:44:53.19
Amen... Amen.
00:44:53.22\00:44:54.56
Wow! that's so profound,
00:44:54.59\00:44:56.46
I'm going to have to
regroup here a minute, so,
00:44:56.49\00:44:58.26
all of the stuff... to find
how much God is in your corner
00:44:58.29\00:45:01.63
that He is really there,
00:45:01.66\00:45:03.00
He's your
Advocate, it's amazing...
00:45:03.03\00:45:05.23
mine is on: Worship the One who
made the heaven and the earth.
00:45:05.30\00:45:08.30
Now, the devil is doing on
earth what he did in heaven
00:45:08.34\00:45:13.04
that he's misrepresenting
the character of God.
00:45:13.07\00:45:15.88
So, when we're reading
the first angel's message,
00:45:15.91\00:45:18.68
"Fear God and give glory to Him
00:45:18.71\00:45:20.22
the hour of His judgment
has come... worship Him...
00:45:20.25\00:45:23.18
this is all for those of us who
are familiar with this message
00:45:23.22\00:45:26.99
and Christian...
this is all great...
00:45:27.06\00:45:28.46
but if you're looking
at it... I try to think,
00:45:28.49\00:45:30.53
"What if I'm an
outsider and I'm looking...
00:45:30.56\00:45:32.46
just reading the Bible... "
00:45:32.49\00:45:33.83
"Fear God" and it was
like, "Well, how can you...
00:45:33.90\00:45:36.50
how can you worship
somebody you're afraid of?"
00:45:36.53\00:45:39.37
Because the devil
wants people to think...
00:45:39.40\00:45:42.64
and I'm talking about...
even in the Christian church...
00:45:42.67\00:45:45.87
people are afraid of
God, do you know why?
00:45:45.91\00:45:48.64
Because of the... and I'm
going to have to call it a lie
00:45:48.68\00:45:52.35
can I be "straight" here,
00:45:52.38\00:45:53.72
the lie that the devil
has used ancients to bring out
00:45:53.78\00:45:57.72
to the world... it's a lie
that people are going to burn...
00:45:57.75\00:46:01.19
that "If you don't
do what God wants...
00:46:01.22\00:46:02.76
you're going to be
tortured forever and ever. "
00:46:02.79\00:46:04.39
So, now, how can a God
who... how can I worship a God
00:46:04.43\00:46:08.23
that says,
"Johnny, if you're good... "
00:46:08.26\00:46:11.27
little boy Johnny...
00:46:11.30\00:46:12.73
"if you're good,
Johnny, and you serve me,
00:46:12.80\00:46:14.87
you love me and you serve me,
00:46:14.90\00:46:16.24
I'm going to take you to
heaven and you'll live forever
00:46:16.27\00:46:18.54
and you're going to
have the most wonderful time
00:46:18.57\00:46:21.31
throughout all eternity.
00:46:21.34\00:46:22.68
But Johnny, if you're
bad, I'm going to torture you,
00:46:22.71\00:46:25.71
I'm going to put
you with a fire so hot,
00:46:25.78\00:46:28.02
it won't kill
you, but so terrible
00:46:28.05\00:46:30.52
that you're going to
be screaming out in pain
00:46:30.59\00:46:32.85
for eternity...
00:46:32.89\00:46:34.62
no relief... "
00:46:34.66\00:46:36.32
so, people... when you say,
00:46:36.39\00:46:39.16
"Fear God and give glory to Him"
00:46:39.19\00:46:40.60
I think, we have to
understand what the "fear"
00:46:40.63\00:46:43.06
and some of you
have gone through this
00:46:43.10\00:46:44.47
what "fear" really means
00:46:44.50\00:46:46.00
and we've been hearing
respect, love, adoration,
00:46:46.03\00:46:51.14
you stand in awe of God
00:46:51.17\00:46:53.44
when you look at Him
as what you presented Him,
00:46:53.48\00:46:56.48
is a character of love,
it makes it so differently,
00:46:56.51\00:46:59.18
now, when I say, "Fear
God and give glory to Him"
00:46:59.25\00:47:01.95
I stand in awe of
God who loves me and you
00:47:01.98\00:47:06.22
each of us enough
00:47:06.25\00:47:07.59
that He would come to this earth
and make a Plan of Salvation
00:47:07.62\00:47:10.86
to take us out of that, I
mean, that's totally different
00:47:10.89\00:47:13.83
I don't have time to
go into all the fears
00:47:13.86\00:47:16.20
but the fear of the
Lord, Proverbs 9:10 says,
00:47:16.23\00:47:18.53
"The fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom. "
00:47:18.57\00:47:21.24
and of course, knowledge...
of the Holy understanding
00:47:21.27\00:47:24.37
so, there is a lot of
positive things in the Bible
00:47:24.41\00:47:27.48
when you look at "fear. "
00:47:27.51\00:47:28.84
We can look at
Joseph and his brothers...
00:47:28.88\00:47:30.85
it says, he wins his brothers
00:47:30.88\00:47:32.21
when he declares
he's a God-fearing man
00:47:32.25\00:47:34.48
they understood
what that... that meant,
00:47:34.52\00:47:36.99
we can go into Exodus...
00:47:37.02\00:47:38.35
Moses chose leaders
to help him on the basis
00:47:38.39\00:47:40.56
that they feared God
and they didn't take bribes,
00:47:40.59\00:47:43.63
the Mosaic Law cites,
"Fear of God is a reason
00:47:43.66\00:47:46.63
to help the
disabled and the elderly. "
00:47:46.70\00:47:49.13
We can go on down in
the New Testament though
00:47:49.20\00:47:51.53
Jesus is stronger...
00:47:51.57\00:47:53.07
"Don't be afraid of those
who want to kill your body
00:47:53.10\00:47:55.04
but they cannot
touch you, fear only God
00:47:55.07\00:47:57.67
who can destroy both
body and soul in hell. "
00:47:57.71\00:48:00.44
Paul says, "We are to
work towards complete holiness
00:48:00.51\00:48:04.18
because we fear God. "
00:48:04.21\00:48:05.98
So, now, once we understand
this fear and respect and awe...
00:48:06.01\00:48:10.52
now we can talk about worship.
00:48:10.55\00:48:12.12
So, what is true worship?
00:48:12.15\00:48:13.99
So, I've written here,
and Paul says it beautifully
00:48:14.09\00:48:17.09
if you look into Romans
12:1-2, if you'll go with me,
00:48:17.16\00:48:20.13
he says, "I urge
you therefore, brethren,
00:48:20.16\00:48:21.96
by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies" how?
00:48:22.00\00:48:25.57
"A living and holy
sacrifice, acceptable to God,
00:48:25.60\00:48:29.14
in your spiritual
service of worship. "
00:48:29.17\00:48:31.24
And do not be
conformed to this world
00:48:31.31\00:48:33.38
but be transformed... "
00:48:33.41\00:48:34.74
Mollie, I've heard
you say this a lot,
00:48:34.78\00:48:36.38
"by the renewing of your mind,
00:48:36.41\00:48:37.88
that you may prove that
the will of God is" what?
00:48:37.91\00:48:41.95
"that which is
good and acceptable
00:48:41.98\00:48:44.59
or well-pleasing and perfect. "
00:48:44.62\00:48:47.19
This passage contains all
the elements of true worship.
00:48:47.26\00:48:51.49
Just think about
that, it's not what we say,
00:48:51.53\00:48:54.00
some of you have
said it, it's what we do,
00:48:54.00\00:48:56.43
you said it a while ago,
00:48:56.46\00:48:57.80
it's our actions
00:48:57.83\00:48:59.17
because our actions
tells a lot about our heart.
00:48:59.20\00:49:01.14
I learned that a while ago,
00:49:01.17\00:49:02.50
I've... I've
been listening, okay,
00:49:02.54\00:49:04.04
listening to you all,
00:49:04.07\00:49:05.41
first of all, there's
motivation to worship,
00:49:05.44\00:49:07.84
"the mercies of God"
00:49:07.88\00:49:09.21
the mercies of
God... get this...
00:49:09.24\00:49:10.71
the mercies are
everything He has given us
00:49:10.78\00:49:13.31
that we don't deserve.
00:49:13.35\00:49:14.68
What are some of those things?
00:49:14.72\00:49:16.05
Love, grace, the Holy Spirit,
peace, joy, faith, comfort,
00:49:16.08\00:49:20.29
strength, wisdom,
hope, patience, kindness,
00:49:20.32\00:49:22.46
honor, glory, righteousness,
security, eternal life,
00:49:22.49\00:49:25.29
forgiveness, reconciliation,
justification, sanctification,
00:49:25.33\00:49:28.43
freedom,
intercession... and much more.
00:49:28.46\00:49:31.17
So, you could go on,
all of these things...
00:49:31.20\00:49:33.84
it's amazing to me... we
don't deserve any of that.
00:49:33.87\00:49:38.51
Shelley: That's right.
00:49:38.54\00:49:39.87
God has given us all of that,
00:49:39.91\00:49:41.24
so the Lord wants to
take all of the bad things
00:49:41.28\00:49:44.28
when God wants to
take... when we...
00:49:44.31\00:49:45.65
He takes control of our life,
00:49:45.68\00:49:47.12
and we can't... when
we give Him our life,
00:49:47.15\00:49:49.78
we get rid of all the fear...
all the doubt... all of the...
00:49:49.82\00:49:53.22
"Oh, I don't know what's
going to happen in my life"
00:49:53.25\00:49:55.39
the other kind of
fear... the negative fear
00:49:55.42\00:49:57.53
and we give it to God... because
of His love and His mercy
00:49:57.56\00:50:00.80
He gives us a peace and a
joy that only He can give.
00:50:00.83\00:50:04.47
Those of you who've
been out in the world,
00:50:04.50\00:50:06.20
and you've been hooked
on everything imaginable
00:50:06.23\00:50:08.94
and God has taken
that away from you,
00:50:08.97\00:50:11.27
you have gladly
given Him control,
00:50:11.31\00:50:13.54
it's not like He says,
"I'm going to control you"
00:50:13.64\00:50:15.28
you say, "Lord,
I don't want this
00:50:15.31\00:50:16.71
I want what you have for
me... your love and your mercy"
00:50:16.75\00:50:20.08
now, why do you worship God?
00:50:20.12\00:50:22.05
You're worshipping out
of... out of love for Him
00:50:22.08\00:50:25.59
so God's not up
there demanding love
00:50:25.62\00:50:27.66
but His ways are...
are the ways of life...
00:50:27.69\00:50:30.19
"I am the way the
truth and the life. "
00:50:30.23\00:50:32.63
So, worshipping God... to
me... is an amazing thing,
00:50:32.66\00:50:36.00
John 4:24, if
you look at it, said,
00:50:36.03\00:50:38.40
"God is a Spirit,
and they that worship Him
00:50:38.43\00:50:41.00
must worship Him in... " what?
00:50:41.04\00:50:42.57
Panel: "Spirt and in truth. "
00:50:42.60\00:50:43.94
Danny: Spirit and
in truth. Panel: Amen.
00:50:43.97\00:50:45.31
Worshipping God in the Spirit,
00:50:45.34\00:50:46.71
"Everything in
life... " I wrote down
00:50:46.74\00:50:48.64
"is everything in
life of a Christian"
00:50:48.68\00:50:50.68
If we're not
giving God true worship,
00:50:50.71\00:50:52.58
we're going to miss
out on some blessings.
00:50:52.61\00:50:53.98
I think I'm going to center in
00:50:54.05\00:50:55.38
for just a moment
or two... I have left,
00:50:55.42\00:50:56.95
the 4th Commandment tells us
00:50:57.02\00:50:58.79
that God blessed the Sabbath day
He sanctified it... made it holy
00:50:58.82\00:51:02.86
right, a holy convocation...
00:51:02.89\00:51:05.06
He set this day aside,
00:51:05.09\00:51:06.56
so, when we talk
about worshipping God,
00:51:06.59\00:51:08.80
it's not about a day,
00:51:08.83\00:51:10.17
when God sets aside a day
and says, "This is a holy...
00:51:10.23\00:51:15.20
make this your holy
convocation, come to me,
00:51:15.24\00:51:17.57
this is my day, I
want to be with you.
00:51:17.61\00:51:19.91
I'm setting aside
time... you set aside time...
00:51:19.97\00:51:22.68
let's enjoy that. "
00:51:22.71\00:51:24.05
Then, I say, "Oh,
I don't think so...
00:51:24.11\00:51:25.95
I think I'll
just do another day"
00:51:25.98\00:51:27.98
So, I'm going to ask
you a couple of questions,
00:51:28.02\00:51:29.78
Jill, I'm going to go with you.
00:51:29.82\00:51:31.15
Let's say that
it's your birthday...
00:51:31.19\00:51:32.89
and on your birthday,
00:51:32.95\00:51:34.69
Greg is too busy really
to think about your birthday,
00:51:34.76\00:51:38.59
so, Greg says to himself,
00:51:38.63\00:51:40.50
"I'll just celebrate
Jill's birthday tomorrow"
00:51:40.56\00:51:43.23
so, all during your birthday,
he never brings it up once
00:51:43.30\00:51:47.70
and you've been
married lots of years...
00:51:47.77\00:51:49.80
how many years? Jill: 15.
00:51:49.84\00:51:51.17
Fifteen... so 15 years...
he knows it's your birthday
00:51:51.21\00:51:53.41
and he doesn't deny that
he knows it's your birthday
00:51:53.44\00:51:55.88
but he just says,
"Well, Jill, I've got...
00:51:55.91\00:51:58.11
I'm mowing the yard today,
I've got to work in the shop,
00:51:58.15\00:52:00.82
I'm going to run to Walmart,
I've got to get a few things"
00:52:00.85\00:52:03.42
and... and he just ignores you.
00:52:03.49\00:52:06.86
So, the whole day goes
by... it's your birthday...
00:52:06.89\00:52:09.36
you came into the world...
you can't change that...
00:52:09.39\00:52:11.86
you didn't have
any say about it...
00:52:11.89\00:52:13.40
that's when you were there,
00:52:13.43\00:52:14.73
now, you go to bed,
00:52:14.76\00:52:16.20
and you're not the happiest
camper in the world... I'm sure,
00:52:16.23\00:52:18.37
but by the next
morning, Greg greets you,
00:52:18.40\00:52:21.37
and he says,
"Happy Birthday, Jill"
00:52:21.40\00:52:24.34
here's a cake... let's
celebrate your birthday"
00:52:24.37\00:52:26.64
now, how do you
receive that, really?
00:52:26.74\00:52:28.98
Jill: He'd say,
"What's wrong with you?" Right?
00:52:29.01\00:52:30.71
Danny: Yeah,
"What's wrong with you?"
00:52:30.75\00:52:32.08
Now, what did that tell you,
what did it tell you about Greg?
00:52:32.11\00:52:34.48
Now, this is not true,
Greg is everything but that...
00:52:34.52\00:52:37.49
that's why I can
use this illustration...
00:52:37.55\00:52:38.92
but anybody... what would
that tell you about his heart?
00:52:38.95\00:52:42.49
Jill: That he didn't care.
00:52:42.52\00:52:44.73
Danny: That he
didn't really care, right,
00:52:44.76\00:52:46.09
and you're going to
know that because you say,
00:52:46.13\00:52:48.06
"He's more worried about...
00:52:48.10\00:52:49.43
he's celebrating his
birthday when he wants to...
00:52:49.46\00:52:51.77
my birthday...
when he wants to...
00:52:51.80\00:52:53.90
not when it really is.
00:52:53.97\00:52:55.30
So, don't you think, in a sense,
00:52:55.34\00:52:57.47
God is the same way with us?
00:52:57.54\00:52:58.87
He sets aside the Sabbath...
but we watch football...
00:52:58.91\00:53:02.18
we go to town...
00:53:02.21\00:53:03.55
we do all the
things we want to do,
00:53:03.58\00:53:05.08
when He's
saying, "Worship me.. "
00:53:05.11\00:53:07.12
who created the
heavens and earth,
00:53:07.15\00:53:09.05
but then, Sunday
morning... I show up and say,
00:53:09.08\00:53:11.39
"Okay, God, I'm ready
for the celebration...
00:53:11.42\00:53:13.56
let's have a celebration...
this is your holy day"
00:53:13.59\00:53:16.73
What does God say,
00:53:16.76\00:53:18.09
"No, I want you to worship
me in Spirit and in truth. "
00:53:18.13\00:53:22.00
So, my time is running out here,
but I just wanted to say here
00:53:22.03\00:53:26.84
Acts 17:30-31 "And at times... "
00:53:26.90\00:53:30.94
and I want to say
this kindly, dear folk,
00:53:31.01\00:53:33.04
"And in the times in
this ignorance, God winked,
00:53:33.44\00:53:36.14
but now commandeth all
men everywhere to repent:
00:53:36.18\00:53:38.88
Because he hath appointed
a day, in which He will judge
00:53:38.91\00:53:41.68
the world in righteousness. "
00:53:41.72\00:53:43.05
So, what I'm
saying here today is...
00:53:43.08\00:53:44.55
I don't want to
sit up here and say,
00:53:44.59\00:53:46.15
"Wow, we have all the answers,
00:53:46.19\00:53:47.79
if you don't do what we think
and what we're saying here,
00:53:47.86\00:53:51.03
then... you're not really saved,
you don't really love God. "
00:53:51.06\00:53:54.20
Because there's a reason why...
00:53:54.23\00:53:56.80
that we don't
keep God's holy day...
00:53:56.83\00:53:59.27
there are two reasons that I
can think of, there may be more,
00:53:59.30\00:54:01.94
one is either
ignorance or rebellion.
00:54:01.97\00:54:04.24
Rebellion... God
won't deal with...
00:54:04.31\00:54:06.54
but if Greg... when
you were dating him...
00:54:06.91\00:54:08.94
and he wanted to give
you... celebrate your birthday
00:54:08.98\00:54:12.75
but he didn't want to ask you,
00:54:12.78\00:54:14.22
but he asked a friend
00:54:14.25\00:54:15.58
and they mistakenly
give him the wrong day,
00:54:15.62\00:54:17.59
you probably would accept that
00:54:17.62\00:54:19.52
and say, "Well, Greg, I
appreciate it and I love you
00:54:19.59\00:54:21.92
this is great what you did
but it's not really my birthday
00:54:21.96\00:54:23.73
but I understand. "
00:54:23.76\00:54:25.09
But see...
00:54:25.13\00:54:26.46
so, when we don't know...
God doesn't hold us accountable
00:54:26.49\00:54:29.00
so what we're doing in
the... the ministry of 3ABN
00:54:29.03\00:54:32.70
is to take the truth...
00:54:32.73\00:54:34.54
an undiluted 3 Angels' messages
00:54:34.57\00:54:36.57
one that would
counteract the counterfeit...
00:54:36.60\00:54:38.61
into all the world...
00:54:38.64\00:54:39.97
so that we can worship
God in Spirit and in truth.
00:54:40.04\00:54:44.38
I'm thankful to be
a part of a ministry
00:54:44.41\00:54:46.51
and work with folk like you
00:54:46.55\00:54:47.88
and thank all of you
00:54:47.92\00:54:49.25
for your love and
your prayers and support
00:54:49.28\00:54:51.25
as we continue to take the three
angels' messages to the world.
00:54:51.49\00:54:54.32
Amen... Amen.
00:54:54.36\00:54:56.09
Jill: Thank you so much, I
just feel like sitting here...
00:54:56.12\00:54:58.16
that I've been to church...
00:54:58.19\00:54:59.53
just... my soul has
been fed with the love of God
00:54:59.56\00:55:02.63
and His
incredible goodness and...
00:55:02.66\00:55:05.40
and you think about
the three angels' messages
00:55:05.43\00:55:08.07
and in subsequent lessons...
00:55:08.10\00:55:09.44
we'll look at
some of the other ones,
00:55:09.47\00:55:10.91
the second and the
third angels' message
00:55:10.94\00:55:12.44
but to know that we don't have
to be afraid of the judgment...
00:55:12.47\00:55:15.21
to know that we can truly
understand the character of God
00:55:15.24\00:55:19.41
and that God is love,
00:55:19.45\00:55:21.75
to see that and
understand that and know that...
00:55:21.78\00:55:24.12
that is revolutionary...
00:55:24.19\00:55:25.52
you know, it
changes your life...
00:55:25.55\00:55:27.46
we hope and pray
00:55:27.49\00:55:28.82
that God is in the
process of changing your life
00:55:28.86\00:55:31.36
at home as well.
00:55:31.39\00:55:32.73
We have a few moments left,
00:55:32.76\00:55:34.20
so I want to give
each one of you a moment
00:55:34.30\00:55:36.40
to share a closing thought,
if you want, about your day.
00:55:36.43\00:55:38.43
I would just like to...
00:55:38.47\00:55:39.80
my day was on the
thieves on the cross
00:55:39.83\00:55:42.24
and the everlasting gospel
00:55:42.27\00:55:44.07
and the comment that I want
00:55:44.11\00:55:45.74
is just to read from the
Sabbath School Quarterly.
00:55:45.77\00:55:49.81
It says, "The everlasting
gospel is the foundation
00:55:49.84\00:55:53.88
of the first angel's message
00:55:53.92\00:55:56.08
but without this truth,
00:55:56.12\00:55:58.25
nothing else we
teach about the Law...
00:55:58.29\00:56:00.29
the Sabbath... or
the State of the Dead...
00:56:00.32\00:56:02.22
matters...
00:56:02.26\00:56:03.59
the most important thing is
00:56:03.66\00:56:05.29
to remember the
everlasting Gospel.
00:56:05.33\00:56:08.23
Amen... amen.
00:56:08.26\00:56:09.60
There is a battle
going on and it's over you...
00:56:09.63\00:56:15.37
it's over who we are
going to give our allegiance to,
00:56:15.40\00:56:19.41
we've got the... the angel
flying in the midst of heaven
00:56:19.44\00:56:23.45
saying, "Worship God... "
00:56:23.48\00:56:24.81
and then we've got the
beast coming up out of the earth
00:56:24.85\00:56:27.75
saying, "Worship the beast... "
00:56:27.78\00:56:29.72
we have to come
to the conclusion
00:56:29.75\00:56:31.65
of who we're going to
give our allegiance to...
00:56:31.69\00:56:34.36
who we are going to
give our worship to,
00:56:34.39\00:56:36.73
I encourage us all...
be obedient to God's Word.
00:56:36.76\00:56:39.89
Amen.
00:56:39.93\00:56:41.23
Just two lines on the lesson,
00:56:41.26\00:56:42.60
The God knows the
number of hairs on our heads,
00:56:42.63\00:56:45.20
is going to judge the world
00:56:45.23\00:56:47.40
but that is precisely why
00:56:47.44\00:56:49.44
the everlasting
gospel is such good news.
00:56:49.47\00:56:52.41
Amen.
00:56:52.44\00:56:54.31
We want to worship
God in Spirit and truth,
00:56:54.34\00:56:57.01
Matthew 15:9 says, "But
in vain do they worship me,
00:56:57.05\00:57:00.95
teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men. "
00:57:00.98\00:57:02.68
We don't want
to be on that side,
00:57:02.72\00:57:04.35
we want to be on God's side.
00:57:04.39\00:57:05.72
Panel: Amen.
00:57:05.75\00:57:07.09
What an incredible lesson,
00:57:07.12\00:57:08.86
thank you each so much
for sharing from your heart
00:57:08.89\00:57:11.63
and from the Word of God.
00:57:11.66\00:57:12.99
And we thank you
for joining us as well,
00:57:13.03\00:57:15.36
we want to encourage
you in the end time...
00:57:15.43\00:57:17.93
it's all about
who we will worship.
00:57:17.97\00:57:20.44
I know at 3ABN,
we have done this
00:57:20.47\00:57:22.84
and we encourage you at home
00:57:22.87\00:57:24.21
to choose today
whom you will serve.
00:57:24.24\00:57:26.37
God bless you and keep you.
00:57:26.41\00:57:28.54