The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.50
and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
00:00:03.53\00:00:07.80
It says, "To
receive with meekness
00:00:07.84\00:00:10.11
the implanted Word,
00:00:10.14\00:00:11.64
which is able
to save your souls.
00:00:11.67\00:00:13.94
And to be diligent to present
yourself approved to God,
00:00:13.98\00:00:17.71
rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
00:00:17.75\00:00:20.82
Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:00:20.85\00:00:25.19
Our study today is,
"The Least of These."
00:00:25.22\00:00:28.36
Hello, and welcome to
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:00:33.33\00:00:36.16
Thank you for joining us.
00:00:36.20\00:00:37.53
This is the last
lesson in this quarter.
00:00:37.57\00:00:41.07
And it has been an excursion
of tremendous blessing.
00:00:41.10\00:00:44.24
A community of servants
is what we're talking about,
00:00:44.27\00:00:47.04
but the entire theme
was The Least of These.
00:00:47.08\00:00:50.08
And if you've tuned in
from the lesson to lesson,
00:00:50.11\00:00:51.81
we thank you for doing that.
00:00:51.85\00:00:53.48
But if whatever reason
00:00:53.52\00:00:54.95
you don't have a
copy of the lesson,
00:00:54.98\00:00:56.32
go to the following
website ABSG.Adventist.org
00:00:56.35\00:01:00.02
and download a
copy or better yet,
00:01:00.06\00:01:02.09
go to your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:01:02.12\00:01:04.39
where you can not
only study the last lesson,
00:01:04.43\00:01:07.10
but be a part of a community
of Bible based believers.
00:01:07.13\00:01:10.23
I believe you'll learn
much more than the lesson has,
00:01:10.27\00:01:13.17
to this point revealed.
00:01:13.20\00:01:14.77
Before we go any further though
before we have our prayer,
00:01:14.80\00:01:17.44
let us find out
00:01:17.47\00:01:18.81
who our panelists are for today.
00:01:18.84\00:01:20.18
And to my immediate list,
00:01:20.21\00:01:21.74
I was thinking about
list but I'll just say this
00:01:21.78\00:01:23.75
to my immediate
left is the list lady.
00:01:23.78\00:01:27.35
I was wondering that
where the list comes.
00:01:27.38\00:01:29.35
I don't wanna get rid of that.
00:01:29.38\00:01:30.72
How you doing, Jill? Doing well.
00:01:30.75\00:01:32.15
Just been such a
blessing to open up God's Word
00:01:32.19\00:01:34.42
and to learn from
everyone on the panel.
00:01:34.46\00:01:36.09
So to put that
together to my immediate left
00:01:36.12\00:01:37.66
is the list lady.
00:01:37.69\00:01:39.03
Got it.
00:01:39.06\00:01:40.40
Good to have you here. Ryan.
00:01:40.43\00:01:41.76
Pastor Ryan, good to have you.
00:01:41.80\00:01:43.13
I'm good. You
cracking me up already.
00:01:43.16\00:01:44.50
That's good.
00:01:44.53\00:01:45.87
We're gonna go out in
flames on fire for the Lord.
00:01:45.90\00:01:49.90
I think I've
already gone up in flames.
00:01:49.94\00:01:52.97
Shelley, good to see you.
00:01:53.01\00:01:54.34
It's so good to be here.
00:01:54.38\00:01:55.71
And it's good to have my
fearless friend and leader,
00:01:55.74\00:01:57.51
my basketball
compadre, Danny Shelton.
00:01:57.55\00:01:59.88
Happy to be here always.
00:01:59.91\00:02:01.65
It's good, good.
00:02:01.68\00:02:03.02
We are going to just
ask the Lord to calm us down
00:02:03.05\00:02:05.42
and then light us up
00:02:05.45\00:02:06.96
because we want
this to be to His glory.
00:02:06.99\00:02:08.96
Jill, would you
have a prayer for us?
00:02:08.99\00:02:10.33
Sure.
00:02:10.36\00:02:11.69
Holy Father, we come
before You in the name of Jesus.
00:02:11.73\00:02:13.16
Thanking You for the privilege
of opening up Your Word.
00:02:13.19\00:02:16.70
We thank You that Your
Word is alive and powerful.
00:02:16.73\00:02:18.97
And we ask right now that
You would open up our minds,
00:02:19.00\00:02:22.27
and hearts, our ears, to
hear what You have for us.
00:02:22.30\00:02:26.84
And that we would
walk in obedience.
00:02:26.88\00:02:29.01
And we ask this in the
precious and Holy Name of Jesus.
00:02:29.04\00:02:31.98
Amen. Amen.
00:02:32.01\00:02:34.05
A Community of
Servants, the memory texts is
00:02:34.08\00:02:37.85
taken from the Book
of Hebrews 10:23-24.
00:02:37.89\00:02:43.12
And this to me is
kind of like the last thing
00:02:43.16\00:02:47.63
that would be set at
the end of an Olympic.
00:02:47.66\00:02:51.33
You know, I love the
Olympics, whenever they happen,
00:02:51.37\00:02:53.03
I just enjoy
looking at the Olympics,
00:02:53.07\00:02:55.34
all the
components of the Olympics
00:02:55.37\00:02:57.71
because it's what I might refer
to from a male perspective,
00:02:57.74\00:03:00.88
a testosterone driven event.
00:03:00.91\00:03:03.58
Everybody wants to win.
00:03:03.61\00:03:05.51
And I could hear this being said
00:03:05.55\00:03:08.42
by the writer of
Hebrews after it's all done,
00:03:08.45\00:03:11.12
"Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope
00:03:11.15\00:03:14.99
without wavering,"
when we're all going back,
00:03:15.02\00:03:17.83
remembering all the medals
that were won and it says,
00:03:17.86\00:03:20.80
"For He who
promised is faithful."
00:03:20.83\00:03:23.47
In other words, we're looking
forward to the next event,
00:03:23.50\00:03:25.23
but for the
Christian, the next event
00:03:25.27\00:03:27.27
we're looking forward
to is the Grand Olympic.
00:03:27.30\00:03:31.84
When all the redeemed of
all the ages gather together,
00:03:31.87\00:03:35.81
to hear the humble phrase,
00:03:35.84\00:03:37.18
"Well done, thou good
and faithful servant."
00:03:37.21\00:03:39.61
And, you know, a
community of servants.
00:03:39.65\00:03:41.32
If you could pause for a moment,
00:03:41.35\00:03:42.72
let me read the last
part of the text and it says,
00:03:42.75\00:03:45.55
"And let us consider one another
00:03:45.59\00:03:47.72
in order to stir up
love and good works."
00:03:47.76\00:03:50.99
You know, the day is coming,
00:03:51.03\00:03:52.83
where the passage
every knee will bow
00:03:52.86\00:03:54.50
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.
00:03:54.53\00:03:57.47
Can you imagine
starting from Adam
00:03:57.50\00:03:59.50
all the way to the present age,
00:03:59.53\00:04:01.80
all the redeemed
every class, race, creed.
00:04:01.84\00:04:05.64
And just to get together,
00:04:05.67\00:04:07.01
I think we're
gonna need eternity
00:04:07.04\00:04:08.38
just to compare stories.
00:04:08.41\00:04:09.74
So Solomon, how was it?
00:04:09.78\00:04:11.18
How did you possibly
choose 700 wives really?
00:04:11.21\00:04:14.82
I mean, I got to
ask him that question.
00:04:14.85\00:04:17.12
He's gonna be getting
counseling throughout eternity.
00:04:17.15\00:04:19.49
But then you gonna ask Elijah,
00:04:19.52\00:04:22.12
what was it like to have Elisha?
00:04:22.16\00:04:23.93
Elisha, what was it
like to be without Elijah?
00:04:23.96\00:04:26.96
They ask people like Samuel.
00:04:27.00\00:04:29.16
When did you realize
it was God calling you?
00:04:29.20\00:04:32.17
And all these servants
00:04:32.20\00:04:33.54
throughout the
course of human history,
00:04:33.57\00:04:35.14
Paul the
Apostle, how did you feel
00:04:35.17\00:04:37.04
when you had your
experience with God
00:04:37.07\00:04:38.44
and He took you from
a convict to a convert?
00:04:38.47\00:04:41.28
What was it like
to get that glimpse,
00:04:41.31\00:04:43.51
that ah-aha moment
00:04:43.55\00:04:45.51
when Jesus was breaking
bread with you in Emmaus
00:04:45.55\00:04:48.62
that dim evening.
00:04:48.65\00:04:49.98
Cornelius,
00:04:50.02\00:04:51.35
what was it like to
meet Peter for the first time
00:04:51.39\00:04:53.32
and to be filled
with the Holy Spirit,
00:04:53.36\00:04:54.82
servants throughout the ages?
00:04:54.86\00:04:56.79
The humbling thing is,
we are a part of that group.
00:04:56.83\00:04:59.29
Can you say amen to that? Amen.
00:04:59.33\00:05:01.06
Simply servants for the Lord.
00:05:01.10\00:05:03.00
One of the
challenges of servanthood
00:05:03.03\00:05:04.60
is that we see in
the early chapters
00:05:04.63\00:05:08.10
of asking how the
first Christian believers
00:05:08.14\00:05:10.51
established
different kinds of communities.
00:05:10.54\00:05:13.04
And when you go
to Sunday's lesson,
00:05:13.07\00:05:14.94
it talks about that community,
the kind of communities
00:05:14.98\00:05:17.51
that they all
were to be a part of.
00:05:17.55\00:05:20.52
And what that community
requirement was all about.
00:05:20.55\00:05:25.05
And I like the title of it
00:05:25.09\00:05:26.42
because I have a lesson
called Agents of Change,
00:05:26.45\00:05:29.86
which means we are one the way
00:05:29.89\00:05:32.73
when we come to the Lord.
00:05:32.76\00:05:34.23
I've heard pastors say,
00:05:34.26\00:05:35.76
"The Lord loves
you, just as you are."
00:05:35.80\00:05:37.73
But I always
plead, but please say,
00:05:37.77\00:05:40.20
"He never leaves you
the way He finds you."
00:05:40.24\00:05:41.84
Right. That's right.
00:05:41.87\00:05:43.20
He always changes us.
00:05:43.24\00:05:44.57
I know in my own life,
00:05:44.61\00:05:45.94
if I was the
same way I used to be,
00:05:45.97\00:05:47.31
I wouldn't be sitting here.
00:05:47.34\00:05:48.84
And every one of us has
gone through a transformation,
00:05:48.88\00:05:51.95
and how wonderful it is
00:05:51.98\00:05:53.31
to look back and
see God's hand on us.
00:05:53.35\00:05:54.85
That's right.
00:05:54.88\00:05:56.22
It can only happen though
in a couple of parameters.
00:05:56.25\00:05:58.45
I'll read the
introduction first of all.
00:05:58.49\00:06:00.49
It says, "We have seen in
the early chapters of Acts
00:06:00.52\00:06:03.86
how the first
Christian believers
00:06:03.89\00:06:05.23
established a
different kind of community,
00:06:05.26\00:06:07.83
caring for those
in need among them,
00:06:07.86\00:06:10.03
and together reaching out
to those outside the community,
00:06:10.07\00:06:13.54
offering them help
00:06:13.57\00:06:15.14
where needed and
inviting them to join in
00:06:15.17\00:06:18.11
with what God was
doing among them."
00:06:18.14\00:06:20.88
So when you get together
with believers community
00:06:20.91\00:06:24.75
or community of believers.
00:06:24.78\00:06:26.21
Try to say that 10 times,
it's like the word millennium.
00:06:26.25\00:06:30.55
You have to realize
that there's a component
00:06:30.59\00:06:32.85
that really calls
00:06:32.89\00:06:34.36
and challenges
as Romans 12:1-two,
00:06:34.39\00:06:38.19
Here is what has to
happen in order for us
00:06:38.23\00:06:40.16
to be qualified servants to God.
00:06:40.20\00:06:42.70
That's right.
00:06:42.73\00:06:44.17
Because the
world we live in today,
00:06:44.20\00:06:46.07
I mean, if you look at
00:06:46.10\00:06:47.44
what's happening
in the world today,
00:06:47.47\00:06:48.80
people do anything and
everything with their bodies.
00:06:48.84\00:06:50.71
And some people
say, "Well, it's my body,
00:06:50.74\00:06:52.37
I'll do what I want."
00:06:52.41\00:06:53.74
And some people say,
"We're gonna get new bodies,
00:06:53.78\00:06:55.21
but the stewardship of the body
00:06:55.24\00:06:57.08
is one of the
highest qualifications
00:06:57.11\00:07:00.12
that the Lord
extends to the servant."
00:07:00.15\00:07:02.15
I made your body, it
doesn't belong to you.
00:07:02.18\00:07:04.55
And just like a
car manufacturer,
00:07:04.59\00:07:06.19
when you void the warranty
00:07:06.22\00:07:07.56
by doing what the
manufacturer says you shouldn't,
00:07:07.59\00:07:10.59
you will discover at that moment
00:07:10.63\00:07:11.96
it's not your car even
though you may have paid for it.
00:07:11.99\00:07:14.90
Paul says in Romans
12:1-2, "I beseech you,"
00:07:14.93\00:07:17.83
that word beseech means,
00:07:17.87\00:07:19.20
I am continually
pleading with you.
00:07:19.23\00:07:21.70
Yes.
00:07:21.74\00:07:23.07
"Therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God,
00:07:23.10\00:07:25.61
that you present your bodies a,"
00:07:25.64\00:07:26.98
what kind of sacrifice?
00:07:27.01\00:07:28.34
Living. Living.
00:07:28.38\00:07:29.71
"Living."
00:07:29.74\00:07:31.08
I think Shelley was that said,
00:07:31.11\00:07:32.45
the problem with
a living sacrifice,
00:07:32.48\00:07:33.82
he wants to crawl off the altar.
00:07:33.85\00:07:35.18
I never forgot that.
00:07:35.22\00:07:36.55
That's right. It's true.
00:07:36.58\00:07:37.92
You got to stay on the altar
if you're a living sacrifice.
00:07:37.95\00:07:39.29
What kind of
sacrifice must you be?
00:07:39.32\00:07:40.66
"Holy, acceptable to God,
00:07:40.69\00:07:43.56
which is your,"
in the NIV it says,
00:07:43.59\00:07:46.19
"Which is your
spiritual act of worship."
00:07:46.23\00:07:49.46
And verse 2,
00:07:49.50\00:07:50.83
"And do not be
conformed to this world."
00:07:50.87\00:07:52.70
Do not be all
tattooed all over the place
00:07:52.73\00:07:54.87
and plugged up
all over the place.
00:07:54.90\00:07:56.37
I saw one person at...
00:07:56.40\00:07:58.91
The guy at an ice cream store
and they were taking care of,
00:07:58.94\00:08:02.84
you know, checking
me out at the counter.
00:08:02.88\00:08:04.28
And they had holes
all the way around.
00:08:04.31\00:08:07.48
And I was with
another pastor, and he said,
00:08:07.52\00:08:09.65
"They had so much metal,
00:08:09.68\00:08:11.02
do you think they
pick up radio stations?"
00:08:11.05\00:08:13.15
And I said that not
that to myself amazing.
00:08:13.19\00:08:15.66
If people like
that will only know
00:08:15.69\00:08:17.03
what God looks at
the beautiful instrument
00:08:17.06\00:08:20.30
He created and say,
00:08:20.33\00:08:21.80
"You don't need to do
that to be acceptable,
00:08:21.83\00:08:23.47
come to Me as you are.
00:08:23.50\00:08:25.17
And you'll be acceptable,
00:08:25.20\00:08:26.53
but this being
conformed to the world
00:08:26.57\00:08:28.10
has taken people
down so many avenues
00:08:28.14\00:08:30.07
that they're trying to
find satisfaction when in fact,
00:08:30.11\00:08:32.81
if you come to God
as a living sacrifice,
00:08:32.84\00:08:36.01
you are
acceptable just as you are.
00:08:36.04\00:08:38.25
That's right.
00:08:38.28\00:08:39.61
It goes on to say,
00:08:39.65\00:08:40.98
"But be transformed by
the renewing of your mind."
00:08:41.02\00:08:42.35
Amen.
00:08:42.38\00:08:43.72
And only then you may be
able to prove what is that good
00:08:43.75\00:08:46.19
and acceptable and
perfect will of God.
00:08:46.22\00:08:48.66
So what does a servant of God
00:08:48.69\00:08:50.93
need to do to be
an agent of change?
00:08:50.96\00:08:53.73
First of all, let's be
an ambassador of Christ.
00:08:53.76\00:08:55.96
Go to 2 Corinthians 5:18-22.
00:08:56.00\00:08:58.97
An ambassador's
an amazing person.
00:08:59.00\00:09:01.27
An ambassador has autonomy.
00:09:01.30\00:09:05.34
He represents his
country wherever he is.
00:09:05.37\00:09:08.31
And he has a higher status.
00:09:08.34\00:09:10.31
An ambassador also represents
no matter where he goes,
00:09:10.35\00:09:13.75
he recognizes he has to
represent the government
00:09:13.78\00:09:16.99
that stands behind him.
00:09:17.02\00:09:18.45
2 Corinthians
5:18-20, ambassadorship.
00:09:18.49\00:09:23.16
"Now all things are of God,"
how many things are of God?
00:09:23.19\00:09:25.86
All. All.
00:09:25.89\00:09:27.23
"All things.
00:09:27.26\00:09:28.60
Who has reconciled us to himself
00:09:28.63\00:09:29.96
through Jesus Christ,
00:09:30.00\00:09:31.33
and has given us the
ministry of reconciliation,
00:09:31.37\00:09:34.90
that is that God was in Christ
00:09:34.94\00:09:37.61
reconciling the
world to Himself,
00:09:37.64\00:09:41.01
not imputing their
trespasses to them."
00:09:41.04\00:09:43.24
If you could do,
00:09:43.28\00:09:44.61
that is a whole
sermon all by itself.
00:09:44.65\00:09:46.82
He's saying I know
you did this wrong,
00:09:46.85\00:09:48.38
but because of Jesus Christ,
I'm not holding it against you.
00:09:48.42\00:09:51.29
Isn't that powerful? Amen.
00:09:51.32\00:09:52.72
How many people that you know
00:09:52.75\00:09:54.09
will not hold your
trespasses against you
00:09:54.12\00:09:56.93
and has committed to us
the word of reconciliation?
00:09:56.96\00:09:59.86
"Now then, we are
ambassadors of Christ,
00:09:59.89\00:10:03.77
as though God were
pleading through us,
00:10:03.80\00:10:06.30
we implore you
on Christ's behalf,
00:10:06.33\00:10:08.70
be reconciled to God."
00:10:08.74\00:10:10.34
So remember,
00:10:10.37\00:10:11.71
if you're gonna be
an effective leader
00:10:11.74\00:10:13.07
or a servant of
God, an agent of change,
00:10:13.11\00:10:14.48
you have to be an ambassador.
00:10:14.51\00:10:16.21
Know the kingdom you represent.
00:10:16.24\00:10:18.65
As Jonah, when he was
running from the Lord,
00:10:18.68\00:10:20.25
one of the first things
he says, "I'm a Hebrew."
00:10:20.28\00:10:22.22
Oh, what's a Hebrew
00:10:22.25\00:10:23.59
when you're
running from your God?
00:10:23.62\00:10:25.12
Don't go in the wrong direction,
00:10:25.15\00:10:26.55
be a Hebrew going
in the right direction.
00:10:26.59\00:10:28.49
Your servant following
the Lord's trajectories,
00:10:28.52\00:10:31.86
the second one, smell right.
00:10:31.89\00:10:36.26
Okay, 2 Corinthians
2:14-16, smell right.
00:10:36.30\00:10:42.24
2 Corinthians 2?
00:10:42.27\00:10:43.61
2 Corinthians 2:14-16,
00:10:43.64\00:10:46.91
"Now thanks be to God
00:10:46.94\00:10:48.61
who always leads us
in triumph in Christ,
00:10:48.64\00:10:53.78
and through us
diffuses the fragrance
00:10:53.82\00:10:56.95
of His
knowledge in every place."
00:10:56.99\00:10:58.55
My wife loves those plug-ins.
00:10:58.59\00:11:00.82
I mean, different
places at our house,
00:11:00.86\00:11:02.52
you can think of
Christmas in one place,
00:11:02.56\00:11:04.19
you can think of
Thanksgiving in another,
00:11:04.23\00:11:06.26
in our bathroom it
smells like watermelon,
00:11:06.29\00:11:08.36
I mean, spices and cinnamon.
00:11:08.40\00:11:12.07
And I said to honey, "Honey,
00:11:12.10\00:11:13.44
you make me wanna
drink that air freshener."
00:11:13.47\00:11:16.34
But that's what the
Christian should be.
00:11:16.37\00:11:17.77
Wherever we go the
atmosphere should be spiced
00:11:17.81\00:11:20.74
with the beautiful
presence of Christ.
00:11:20.78\00:11:23.55
Look what it says in verse 15.
00:11:23.58\00:11:25.81
"And diffuses the fragrance
00:11:25.85\00:11:27.18
of His
knowledge in every place."
00:11:27.22\00:11:28.55
Now verse 15,
00:11:28.58\00:11:29.92
"For we are of God
the fragrance of Christ
00:11:29.95\00:11:32.62
among those who are," what?
00:11:32.65\00:11:33.99
Being saved.
00:11:34.02\00:11:35.36
"Being saved and among
those who are perishing."
00:11:35.39\00:11:37.76
In other words, the Christian
00:11:37.79\00:11:39.13
ought to have the same fragrance
00:11:39.16\00:11:40.86
among the saved,
and among the lost.
00:11:40.90\00:11:43.10
Good. Don't change.
00:11:43.13\00:11:45.70
"To the one we
are the aroma of death
00:11:45.73\00:11:49.47
leading to death,
00:11:49.50\00:11:50.91
and to the other
the aroma of life
00:11:50.94\00:11:52.87
leading to life.
00:11:52.91\00:11:54.28
And who is
sufficient for these things?"
00:11:54.31\00:11:56.28
In other words, you of yourself,
00:11:56.31\00:11:58.18
you cannot make
yourself that way.
00:11:58.21\00:11:59.81
I've discovered why
Christians are often looked down
00:11:59.85\00:12:02.78
by non-Christians
00:12:02.82\00:12:04.15
because they don't
like the way we smell.
00:12:04.19\00:12:08.92
When you're around
people that are not Christians,
00:12:08.96\00:12:12.09
you get all
these adverse reactions
00:12:12.13\00:12:14.30
because your life is
a sweet smelling saver
00:12:14.33\00:12:17.63
to people whose lives
are stench with sin wrenched.
00:12:17.67\00:12:22.34
They're covered
by the stench of sin
00:12:22.37\00:12:24.27
compared to the
fragrance of holiness.
00:12:24.31\00:12:26.68
And it's not
you they don't like,
00:12:26.71\00:12:28.44
it's the beauty of Christ
that's radiating from you.
00:12:28.48\00:12:31.35
So don't take it personally.
00:12:31.38\00:12:32.88
The other one, how to
be an agent of change,
00:12:32.91\00:12:35.18
be a lamp.
00:12:35.22\00:12:36.72
Matthew 5:16,
00:12:36.75\00:12:38.92
"Let your light
so shine before men,
00:12:38.95\00:12:41.62
that they may
see your good works
00:12:41.66\00:12:43.49
and glorify your
Father which is in heaven."
00:12:43.53\00:12:47.10
So when you see that
00:12:47.13\00:12:48.46
you've got to
let your light shine.
00:12:48.50\00:12:51.43
Don't allow the
darkness around you
00:12:51.47\00:12:53.74
to stamp out your light in.
00:12:53.77\00:12:55.10
Before I
transition, I want to say this.
00:12:55.14\00:12:57.31
It's not difficult to
be a light in a dark world
00:12:57.34\00:13:01.74
because the text doesn't say,
00:13:01.78\00:13:03.38
make your light shine
or buy a light that shines,
00:13:03.41\00:13:06.82
it says let, in the same way,
00:13:06.85\00:13:08.68
"Let this mind be in you,
00:13:08.72\00:13:10.22
which was also in Christ Jesus."
00:13:10.25\00:13:12.12
If we would simply
00:13:12.15\00:13:13.49
let the Lord reflect
through us His presence,
00:13:13.52\00:13:16.19
we'll recognize
everywhere that He is the light,
00:13:16.22\00:13:19.73
we're just the lamp shade.
00:13:19.76\00:13:21.60
And like Motel 6,
00:13:21.63\00:13:22.96
which I wish was
a Christian slogan,
00:13:23.00\00:13:25.33
"We'll leave the
light on for you."
00:13:25.37\00:13:26.80
Amen. Amen.
00:13:26.84\00:13:28.44
Thank you, Pastor John.
00:13:28.47\00:13:29.90
What an incredible job.
00:13:29.94\00:13:31.97
I have Monday's,
which tells us the story.
00:13:32.01\00:13:35.18
Turn with me to
Exodus Chapter 32.
00:13:35.21\00:13:38.11
We're looking at a story
of disobedience and idolatry,
00:13:38.15\00:13:42.05
a story of immorality and anger,
00:13:42.08\00:13:44.89
but a story of intercession,
00:13:44.92\00:13:47.96
and humility, and love,
00:13:47.99\00:13:51.03
and passion for the last.
00:13:51.06\00:13:53.90
Monday's title is
"A Servant Remnant."
00:13:53.93\00:13:57.07
And we're looking at
Moses and his intercession
00:13:57.10\00:14:00.07
for the people of God,
00:14:00.10\00:14:01.54
the children of
Israel after they sinned
00:14:01.57\00:14:04.27
and stepped into idol
worship and immorality
00:14:04.31\00:14:07.18
at the golden calf.
00:14:07.21\00:14:08.54
So let's pick that
up, we're in Exodus 32.
00:14:08.58\00:14:11.31
Before we do that,
00:14:11.35\00:14:12.68
I just wanna lay
just a little groundwork,
00:14:12.71\00:14:14.72
we know just a few days before
00:14:14.75\00:14:17.39
God had given
The Ten Commandments
00:14:17.42\00:14:19.65
from Mount Sinai.
00:14:19.69\00:14:21.26
Commandment number one
00:14:21.29\00:14:22.62
and two both deal with idolatry.
00:14:22.66\00:14:25.13
Number one says, "You shall
have no other gods before Me."
00:14:25.16\00:14:27.70
And number two,
00:14:27.73\00:14:29.06
"You shall not make for
yourself any graven image,
00:14:29.10\00:14:32.13
and you shall
not bow down to them,
00:14:32.17\00:14:34.20
nor serve them," and why?
00:14:34.24\00:14:35.80
Because He says, "I the
Lord thy God am a jealous God."
00:14:35.84\00:14:41.68
Now we know that
jealous of other people
00:14:41.71\00:14:44.55
is an evil attribute
because that would be,
00:14:44.58\00:14:46.85
I wish I could
have so-and-sos car,
00:14:46.88\00:14:48.65
or so-and-sos
spouse, or so-and-sos money.
00:14:48.68\00:14:52.05
But God is jealous
for us because He owns us.
00:14:52.09\00:14:57.06
He bought us.
00:14:57.09\00:14:58.63
He made us in the beginning
00:14:58.66\00:15:00.00
and then He bought
us back by redemption.
00:15:00.03\00:15:02.30
Now the Israelites affirmed
of the covenant in Exodus 24.
00:15:02.33\00:15:05.67
And they said,
00:15:05.70\00:15:07.04
"All that the Lord
has said we will do."
00:15:07.07\00:15:08.84
And we know Moses went up
into the mount after that time,
00:15:08.87\00:15:11.64
40 days and nights
spent with the Lord Himself.
00:15:11.67\00:15:16.75
Aaron and Hur went
down to the people.
00:15:16.78\00:15:18.35
And this is where we pick
up our story in Exodus 32:1.
00:15:18.38\00:15:21.85
The people become restless.
00:15:21.88\00:15:24.45
"The people saw
that Moses delayed
00:15:24.49\00:15:26.29
coming down from the mountain,
00:15:26.32\00:15:27.66
and they gathered
together to Aaron and said,
00:15:27.69\00:15:29.72
'Come, make us gods
that shall go before us,
00:15:29.76\00:15:33.19
for as for this Moses,
00:15:33.23\00:15:34.56
the man who brought us
up out of the land of Egypt,
00:15:34.60\00:15:36.93
we do not know what
has become of him.'"
00:15:36.97\00:15:39.13
Aaron listened to the people.
00:15:39.17\00:15:43.77
He called for their
jewelry, he made a golden calf.
00:15:43.81\00:15:48.51
In verse 4,
00:15:48.54\00:15:50.25
"They said, 'This is
your god, O Israel.'"
00:15:50.28\00:15:53.28
This is the children of Israel.
00:15:53.31\00:15:54.82
They had just heard God
from the Mount of Sinai.
00:15:54.85\00:15:58.69
They had heard,
00:15:58.72\00:16:00.32
seen the
lightning's and the thundering,
00:16:00.36\00:16:02.56
and The Ten Commandments
given just a few weeks before.
00:16:02.59\00:16:07.76
And then they said,
"This is your God, O Israel,
00:16:07.80\00:16:10.53
that brought you up
out of the land of Egypt!"
00:16:10.57\00:16:13.27
They forgot, He
parted the Red Sea.
00:16:13.30\00:16:14.97
They forgot that He
gave them water at Marah.
00:16:15.00\00:16:18.04
They forgot that He
provided manna and they said,
00:16:18.07\00:16:20.84
"This is your God."
00:16:20.88\00:16:23.08
So then the people began
to worship the golden calf.
00:16:23.11\00:16:26.55
Verse 6, "They rose
up early on the next day,
00:16:26.58\00:16:28.68
offered burnt offerings,
and brought peace offerings,
00:16:28.72\00:16:31.39
and the people sat
down to eat and drink,
00:16:31.42\00:16:33.09
and rose up to play."
00:16:33.12\00:16:34.62
That word in Hebrew means
sexual immorality as well.
00:16:34.66\00:16:37.86
So they're already engaging
00:16:37.89\00:16:39.23
in almost you
could say pagan worship.
00:16:39.26\00:16:42.43
And then God gets angry.
00:16:42.46\00:16:45.63
We just read He
is a jealous God,
00:16:45.67\00:16:47.97
jealous of His people.
00:16:48.00\00:16:50.41
Exodus 32:7-10.
00:16:50.44\00:16:52.51
"And the Lord said to Moses,"
00:16:52.54\00:16:53.88
remember Moses is up
in the mountain with God.
00:16:53.91\00:16:56.64
God said, "Go, get down!"
00:16:56.68\00:16:58.48
Now notice the word God
uses, "For your people."
00:16:58.51\00:17:02.52
He doesn't say My
people, you notice that.
00:17:02.55\00:17:04.69
"Your people
00:17:04.72\00:17:06.05
whom you brought
out of the land of Egypt
00:17:06.09\00:17:08.66
have corrupted themselves.
00:17:08.69\00:17:10.89
They have turned
aside quickly out of the way
00:17:10.93\00:17:12.59
which I commanded them.
00:17:12.63\00:17:13.96
They have made
themselves a molded calf,
00:17:14.00\00:17:15.93
and worshipped it
and sacrifice to it,
00:17:15.96\00:17:18.23
and said, 'This is
your god, O Israel,
00:17:18.27\00:17:20.14
that brought you up
out of the land of Egypt!'
00:17:20.17\00:17:22.20
And the Lord said to
Moses, 'I have seen this people,
00:17:22.24\00:17:24.97
and indeed it is a
stiff-necked people!
00:17:25.01\00:17:28.18
Now therefore, let Me alone
00:17:28.21\00:17:29.84
that My wrath may
burn hot against them
00:17:29.88\00:17:33.11
and I may consume them.
00:17:33.15\00:17:35.75
And I will make of you
Moses a great nation.'"
00:17:35.78\00:17:40.26
We cannot understand
God's anger against sin,
00:17:40.29\00:17:43.19
unless we truly see
the holiness of God.
00:17:43.22\00:17:46.23
Amen.
00:17:46.26\00:17:47.60
And we understand
that sin cannot stand
00:17:47.63\00:17:50.60
in the presence of a Holy God.
00:17:50.63\00:17:54.10
I think of at the
end of the sixth seal
00:17:54.14\00:17:55.84
in Revelation Chapter 6.
00:17:55.87\00:17:57.77
We remember the people,
00:17:57.81\00:17:59.14
this is right before
the Second Coming of Christ,
00:17:59.17\00:18:00.51
for the great day
of His wrath has come
00:18:00.54\00:18:02.11
and who shall be able to stand?
00:18:02.14\00:18:04.51
If we are not covered
with the blood of Jesus
00:18:04.55\00:18:06.68
or His righteousness, His
wrath is a consuming fire.
00:18:06.72\00:18:10.62
That's right.
00:18:10.65\00:18:11.99
Now let's look at
Moses' intercession.
00:18:12.02\00:18:14.02
I see four appeals,
that's my list passage, John.
00:18:14.06\00:18:16.42
I got you.
00:18:16.46\00:18:17.79
Four appeals that
Moses makes to God
00:18:17.83\00:18:21.13
on behalf of the people.
00:18:21.16\00:18:23.00
Number one,
00:18:23.03\00:18:24.37
he appeals to
God and reminds God
00:18:24.40\00:18:27.37
that the children of Israel
are really God's own people.
00:18:27.40\00:18:30.24
They're not Moses.
00:18:30.27\00:18:31.61
We're in Exodus 32:11.
00:18:31.64\00:18:33.68
"Then Moses pleaded
with the Lord his God,
00:18:33.71\00:18:36.61
and said, 'Lord, why
does Your wrath burn hot
00:18:36.64\00:18:40.18
against Your people
00:18:40.22\00:18:42.52
whom You have brought
out of the land of Egypt
00:18:42.55\00:18:45.55
with great power
and with a mighty hand?"
00:18:45.59\00:18:47.26
So God said, "Okay,
Moses this is your people,
00:18:47.29\00:18:50.09
and you brought them
out and Moses says uh-huh...
00:18:50.13\00:18:53.16
God, these are Your people,
00:18:53.19\00:18:55.03
and You brought them
out of the land of Egypt.
00:18:55.06\00:18:58.83
He appeals to God, reminds
Him these are Your people.
00:18:58.87\00:19:02.17
Appeal number two,
00:19:02.20\00:19:03.54
he appeals to God's
name and reputation.
00:19:03.57\00:19:07.18
This is verse 12, the
first part of verse 12.
00:19:07.21\00:19:10.08
Moses is still speaking,
00:19:10.11\00:19:11.58
"Why should the Egyptians speak,
00:19:11.61\00:19:13.72
and say, 'He brought
them out to harm them,
00:19:13.75\00:19:16.15
to kill them in the mountains,
00:19:16.18\00:19:17.72
and to consume them
from the face of the earth?'"
00:19:17.75\00:19:21.16
He's saying, "Look at the stain,
00:19:21.19\00:19:23.19
this would bring
on God's character."
00:19:23.22\00:19:25.96
'Cause we know our
God is a God of mercy.
00:19:25.99\00:19:28.26
We know our God
is a God of love.
00:19:28.30\00:19:30.67
And you brought them
out from the land of Egypt.
00:19:30.70\00:19:34.87
Then he appeals to
God's character and justice.
00:19:34.90\00:19:37.57
We're in the second
half of Exodus 32:12,
00:19:37.61\00:19:40.94
"Turn from Your fierce wrath,
00:19:40.98\00:19:43.41
and relent from this
harm to Your people."
00:19:43.45\00:19:47.25
Now I wanna talk just a
moment about God's repentance
00:19:47.28\00:19:50.09
versus man's repentance.
00:19:50.12\00:19:52.65
God has no need to
repent because God is perfect,
00:19:52.69\00:19:55.46
we know that.
00:19:55.49\00:19:57.76
When we repent as
humans, we repent from sin.
00:19:57.79\00:20:01.66
"All have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of God."
00:20:01.70\00:20:04.40
And this decision,
00:20:04.43\00:20:05.77
it doesn't mean
God is repenting.
00:20:05.80\00:20:07.64
It means He's agreeing to
change the decision He made
00:20:07.67\00:20:11.24
based on, in this case
it's the intercession of Moses.
00:20:11.27\00:20:14.98
I also think sometimes
He changes His decision
00:20:15.01\00:20:17.55
based on the repentance of men.
00:20:17.58\00:20:19.95
Think about Nineveh.
00:20:19.98\00:20:21.32
Jonah was sent to
Nineveh and the people repented,
00:20:21.35\00:20:24.82
and God changed the
decision He had made.
00:20:24.85\00:20:28.86
And He said, "I'm no longer
gonna destroy these people."
00:20:28.89\00:20:32.49
And the fourth appeal is
an appeal to God's promises.
00:20:32.53\00:20:35.83
We're in verse 13.
00:20:35.86\00:20:37.90
Moses reminds God of
the promise he had made.
00:20:37.93\00:20:41.24
"Remember Abraham, Isaac,
and Israel, Your servants,
00:20:41.27\00:20:44.61
to whom You
swore by Your own self,
00:20:44.64\00:20:46.64
and said to them,
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.01
'I will
multiply your descendants
00:20:48.04\00:20:49.54
as the stars of heaven,
00:20:49.58\00:20:50.95
and all this land that
I have spoken of I give
00:20:50.98\00:20:53.08
to your descendants,
00:20:53.11\00:20:54.45
and they shall
inherit it forever.'"
00:20:54.48\00:20:56.38
He says, "Remember
the promise that you made
00:20:56.42\00:20:58.92
to these Your people
all those years ago."
00:20:58.95\00:21:03.22
Now they come
down from the mount.
00:21:03.26\00:21:05.46
Joshua hears a sound
in the camp and he says,
00:21:05.49\00:21:08.73
"Is this the sound of war?"
00:21:08.76\00:21:10.27
And Moses says,
"It's not the sound of war.
00:21:10.30\00:21:13.40
I think it's the
sound of singing."
00:21:13.44\00:21:16.40
Then we see Moses' anger
00:21:16.44\00:21:19.57
when he comes into the camp
00:21:19.61\00:21:21.64
and he literally sees
what is taking place here.
00:21:21.68\00:21:25.25
Verse 19, the Bible just says,
00:21:25.28\00:21:26.92
"So Moses' anger became hot."
00:21:26.95\00:21:29.82
In the Hebrew it's the same word
00:21:29.85\00:21:31.39
that was used for
anger as was used for God
00:21:31.42\00:21:33.99
in regards to how he
felt about the people.
00:21:34.02\00:21:37.39
It reminds me of Jesus
00:21:37.43\00:21:38.76
when He drove out
the money changers.
00:21:38.79\00:21:42.96
I would submit to you
that Moses anger here,
00:21:43.00\00:21:46.53
the same with what God had felt
00:21:46.57\00:21:48.50
when he was upset about
what the people were doing,
00:21:48.54\00:21:51.81
is not sin.
00:21:51.84\00:21:53.81
Moses clearly sinned
later when he struck the rock
00:21:53.84\00:21:56.38
and the punishment from
God was complete, you know,
00:21:56.41\00:22:01.08
God immediately said, "Okay,
this is what you did wrong."
00:22:01.12\00:22:04.39
In this case, we could
call it a righteous indignation
00:22:04.42\00:22:07.39
for the character of God.
00:22:07.42\00:22:11.03
I see a tremendous difference
between Moses and Aaron
00:22:11.06\00:22:14.23
and the type of
leaders that they are.
00:22:14.26\00:22:16.67
We know that Moses was
the meekest man on earth.
00:22:16.70\00:22:20.34
And he wasn't even
powerful in speech.
00:22:20.37\00:22:22.07
And yet he
singlehandedly confronted
00:22:22.10\00:22:25.34
a million plus Israelites
00:22:25.37\00:22:27.68
and made them
tear down the item,
00:22:27.71\00:22:29.74
grind it into powder, and
then get down and drink it.
00:22:29.78\00:22:33.55
He loved the people so much
00:22:33.58\00:22:36.89
that he was willing to sacrifice
00:22:36.92\00:22:38.45
his own salvation for them.
00:22:38.49\00:22:42.12
Aaron on the other
hand was an eloquent man,
00:22:42.16\00:22:45.13
yet he caved in to
the demands of the people,
00:22:45.16\00:22:49.43
and he even blamed the people.
00:22:49.46\00:22:52.90
Moses goes back up to the
mount in verses 31 and 32.
00:22:52.93\00:22:56.60
"He returns to the
Lord and says, 'Oh,
00:22:56.64\00:22:59.07
how these people have
committed a great sin."
00:22:59.11\00:23:01.64
He's interceding with God again,
00:23:01.68\00:23:04.58
"And have made for
themselves a god of gold!
00:23:04.61\00:23:06.41
Yet now, if You
will forgive their sin,
00:23:06.45\00:23:08.12
but if not, I pray,
00:23:08.15\00:23:09.92
blot me out of Your book
which You have written.'"
00:23:09.95\00:23:13.82
Moses stood in the
gap for the people.
00:23:13.86\00:23:17.83
Our call today is to stand
in the gap for other people
00:23:17.86\00:23:22.36
and intercede on their behalf.
00:23:22.40\00:23:25.90
Ezekiel 22:30,
00:23:25.93\00:23:28.00
"I looked for someone among them
00:23:28.04\00:23:29.57
who would build up the wall
and stand before me in the gap.
00:23:29.60\00:23:33.24
And behold, there was none."
00:23:33.27\00:23:36.48
I pray that in these last days
00:23:36.51\00:23:38.45
that God would find
each one of us faithful
00:23:38.48\00:23:41.25
to be intercessors for others.
00:23:41.28\00:23:42.98
Amen.
00:23:43.02\00:23:44.35
What a compelling
appeal to stand in the gap.
00:23:44.39\00:23:47.89
And that in fact,
really is the reason
00:23:47.92\00:23:49.89
why injustice often
prevails or is defeated,
00:23:49.92\00:23:53.03
someone stands in the gap.
00:23:53.06\00:23:54.66
Thank you so
much for that appeal.
00:23:54.70\00:23:56.30
And there are many Moses' today
but before we go any further,
00:23:56.33\00:23:59.10
we're going to
take a short break,
00:23:59.13\00:24:00.57
and we'll be right back.
00:24:00.60\00:24:01.94
Ever wish you could watch
00:24:06.98\00:24:08.31
a 3ABN Sabbath
School Panel again,
00:24:08.34\00:24:10.55
or share it on
Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?
00:24:10.58\00:24:13.62
Well, you can by visiting
3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com.
00:24:13.65\00:24:18.65
A clean design makes it
easy to find the program
00:24:18.69\00:24:22.02
you're looking for.
00:24:22.06\00:24:23.39
There are also links to
the Adult Bible Study Guide
00:24:23.43\00:24:26.70
so you can follow along.
00:24:26.73\00:24:28.46
Sharing is easy.
00:24:28.50\00:24:29.83
Just click share and choose
your favorite social media.
00:24:29.86\00:24:32.97
Share a link, save
a life for eternity.
00:24:33.00\00:24:36.30
Welcome back to our
Sabbath School Panel.
00:24:39.97\00:24:41.91
We'll continue our
discussion with Pastor Ryan Day
00:24:41.94\00:24:44.58
on the topic of
"Reaching Souls."
00:24:44.61\00:24:46.82
That's right, Reaching Souls.
00:24:46.85\00:24:48.35
Reaching souls is important.
00:24:48.38\00:24:50.05
It's actually I
mean, that's to me,
00:24:50.09\00:24:52.89
that's the
reason why God raised up
00:24:52.92\00:24:55.12
the Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:24:55.16\00:24:56.62
to proclaim the
three angels' message
00:24:56.66\00:24:57.99
why God raised up
this incredible ministry,
00:24:58.03\00:25:00.03
to proclaim the
three angels' messages,
00:25:00.06\00:25:02.03
the undiluted
three angels' messages
00:25:02.06\00:25:03.97
and the gospel to the world.
00:25:04.00\00:25:06.77
Tuesday's lessons brings
out that church discussions
00:25:06.80\00:25:10.11
sometimes seems to get
stuck on the apparent need
00:25:10.14\00:25:13.48
to choose between a focus
on social work or gospel work,
00:25:13.51\00:25:18.11
either charity or witnessing,
either justice or evangelism.
00:25:18.15\00:25:23.62
But when we better understand
each of these concepts
00:25:23.65\00:25:26.25
and observe the
ministry of Jesus,
00:25:26.29\00:25:29.22
the difference breaks down,
00:25:29.26\00:25:31.13
and we realize that
preaching the gospel
00:25:31.16\00:25:34.06
and working to help
others are closely linked.
00:25:34.10\00:25:37.97
And probably one of
the most famous quotations
00:25:38.00\00:25:41.97
that I often try
to remind myself of,
00:25:42.00\00:25:44.54
when I'm doing the
daily work of Christ
00:25:44.57\00:25:46.44
or I'm trying to
reach a soul for Christ
00:25:46.47\00:25:48.88
comes from the
Ministry of Healing, page 143.
00:25:48.91\00:25:52.75
This is perhaps one of Ellen
White's most famous quotes.
00:25:52.78\00:25:56.05
And she says this, she says,
00:25:56.08\00:25:57.49
"Christ's method
alone will give true success
00:25:57.52\00:26:02.12
in reaching the people."
00:26:02.16\00:26:03.96
So notice this,
00:26:03.99\00:26:05.33
I'm just gonna
repeat that one more time
00:26:05.36\00:26:06.70
just in case
you didn't get that.
00:26:06.73\00:26:08.06
"Christ's method
alone," not your method,
00:26:08.10\00:26:10.47
not my methods,
00:26:10.50\00:26:11.83
not our own made up personal
ideologies of evangelism
00:26:11.87\00:26:15.94
or reaching people
but "Christ's method alone
00:26:15.97\00:26:19.01
will give true success
in reaching the people.
00:26:19.04\00:26:20.94
The Savior mingled with men
as one who desired their good.
00:26:20.98\00:26:26.35
He showed His sympathy for them,
00:26:26.38\00:26:28.78
ministered to their
needs, and won their confidence.
00:26:28.82\00:26:32.72
Then He bade them, 'Follow me.'
00:26:32.75\00:26:35.96
'The poor,' and this is the part
00:26:35.99\00:26:37.53
that we normally
don't go on to read
00:26:37.56\00:26:39.09
but she says, 'The
poor are to be relieved,
00:26:39.13\00:26:42.46
the sick cared for,
00:26:42.50\00:26:44.50
the sorrowing and
the bereaved comforted,
00:26:44.53\00:26:48.60
the ignorant instructed,
the inexperienced counseled.
00:26:48.64\00:26:52.47
We are to weep
with those that weep,
00:26:52.51\00:26:54.54
and rejoice with
those that rejoice.'"
00:26:54.58\00:26:58.35
That's a powerful statement.
00:26:58.38\00:26:59.71
If we would just simply
adopted as the Bible says,
00:26:59.75\00:27:01.98
"The mind of
Christ and take upon him,
00:27:02.02\00:27:04.45
I'll take upon
ourselves that His methods,
00:27:04.49\00:27:06.55
His ways, His
approach to evangelism
00:27:06.59\00:27:08.92
that is going to
be the appropriate way
00:27:08.96\00:27:10.89
that we are able to
reach souls appropriately."
00:27:10.93\00:27:14.13
Evangelism is no doubt an
integral part of following
00:27:14.16\00:27:18.00
the example of Christ.
00:27:18.03\00:27:19.53
And we can notice
the commission to Christ
00:27:19.57\00:27:22.10
as He communicates
this through Matthew 10:7-8.
00:27:22.14\00:27:25.71
I'll take us there
now. Matthew 10:7-8.
00:27:25.74\00:27:29.84
Notice what Christ says here.
00:27:29.88\00:27:32.38
He says, "As you go preaching,
00:27:32.41\00:27:35.18
or as you go, preach, saying,
00:27:35.22\00:27:37.59
'The kingdom of
heaven is at hand.'"
00:27:37.62\00:27:40.79
And then notice
when he ties with this,
00:27:40.82\00:27:43.16
so preach that the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
00:27:43.19\00:27:46.16
But here he says,
"Heal the sick," verse 8,
00:27:46.19\00:27:48.23
"Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers,
00:27:48.26\00:27:50.17
raise the dead, cast out demons.
00:27:50.20\00:27:52.63
Freely you have
received, freely give."
00:27:52.67\00:27:56.84
So if we are ever going to reach
00:27:56.87\00:27:59.61
the hearts of those around us,
00:27:59.64\00:28:01.94
we must learn to
minister to their needs.
00:28:01.98\00:28:04.68
And we see in the
writings of Peter and Paul
00:28:04.71\00:28:06.92
and many of the
other biblical writers,
00:28:06.95\00:28:08.28
they
communicate this so clearly.
00:28:08.32\00:28:10.25
I wanna take us
to 1 Peter 2:11-12,
00:28:10.29\00:28:13.86
where Peter communicates
these sentiments very clearly
00:28:13.89\00:28:17.19
and then we'll move on
to Paul in Philippians,
00:28:17.23\00:28:19.46
but 1 Peter
2:11-12 tells us this,
00:28:19.49\00:28:24.30
"Beloved, I beg you,"
00:28:24.33\00:28:26.60
that's a good way to start,
he's sharing his heart here.
00:28:26.63\00:28:29.34
"I beg you as
sojourners and pilgrims,
00:28:29.37\00:28:32.91
abstain from freshly lusts
which war against the soul."
00:28:32.94\00:28:37.01
And then verse 12,
00:28:37.05\00:28:38.38
"Having your conduct
honorable among the Gentiles,
00:28:38.41\00:28:41.68
that when they speak
against you as evildoers,
00:28:41.72\00:28:44.69
they may, by your good works
00:28:44.72\00:28:48.26
which they observe, glorify
God in the day of visitation."
00:28:48.29\00:28:53.73
And then, of course,
Paul in Philippians 2:14-15.
00:28:53.76\00:28:58.77
He says, "Do all
things without complaining
00:28:58.80\00:29:02.04
and disputing that you may
become blameless and harmless,
00:29:02.07\00:29:06.47
children of God without
fault in the midst of a crooked
00:29:06.51\00:29:09.54
and perverse generation,
00:29:09.58\00:29:11.08
among whom you shine
as lights in the world."
00:29:11.11\00:29:14.55
We are those beacons
of light in a dark world.
00:29:14.58\00:29:17.79
And how are these
individuals going to come down?
00:29:17.82\00:29:20.26
How are they even
gonna see themselves,
00:29:20.29\00:29:22.22
the path for themselves to
even be able to find Jesus,
00:29:22.26\00:29:25.16
if there's not some type of
light shown upon their path.
00:29:25.19\00:29:27.70
And we are too many
people the only light
00:29:27.73\00:29:30.27
if they're ever gonna see,
00:29:30.30\00:29:31.63
in order to get to Jesus Christ.
00:29:31.67\00:29:33.00
So we have to
stand firm on the gospel
00:29:33.03\00:29:35.40
and proclaim it using none
other than Christ method alone.
00:29:35.44\00:29:38.91
The world indeed may be wicked,
00:29:38.94\00:29:40.81
but God still
wants our reputation
00:29:40.84\00:29:43.24
and witness to be a peculiar
righteous example unto them.
00:29:43.28\00:29:47.52
We must live out what we preach,
00:29:47.55\00:29:49.88
otherwise our
witness is simply tainted.
00:29:49.92\00:29:53.32
And this is
expressed in 1 John 3:16-18.
00:29:53.36\00:29:58.23
Notice what the Bible says here.
00:29:58.26\00:30:00.63
"By this we know love,
00:30:00.66\00:30:03.16
because He laid
down His life for us.
00:30:03.20\00:30:05.93
And we also ought to lay down
our lives for the brethren."
00:30:05.97\00:30:09.94
Now that's powerful.
00:30:09.97\00:30:12.07
He goes on to say in verse 17,
00:30:12.11\00:30:13.44
"But whoever has
this world's goods,
00:30:13.48\00:30:16.44
and sees his brother in need,
00:30:16.48\00:30:18.95
and shuts up his heart from him,
00:30:18.98\00:30:21.08
how does the love
of God abide in him?"
00:30:21.12\00:30:24.49
And then verse 18,
"My little children,
00:30:24.52\00:30:26.22
let us not love
in word or in tongue,
00:30:26.25\00:30:28.76
but in deed and in truth."
00:30:28.79\00:30:31.63
So in other words,
it's basically backing up
00:30:31.66\00:30:34.13
what James says
in James Chapter 2.
00:30:34.16\00:30:37.53
Let's go and read
that, James 2:14-17.
00:30:37.57\00:30:40.50
So keep 1 John
Chapter 3 in mind,
00:30:40.54\00:30:43.10
as we read James 2:14-17.
00:30:43.14\00:30:45.94
This is that famous passage
that we've read many times
00:30:45.97\00:30:48.44
throughout this
particular series,
00:30:48.48\00:30:50.11
but I think it
begs for another repeat.
00:30:50.15\00:30:52.61
Notice what verse
14 and onwards says,
00:30:52.65\00:30:54.45
"What does it
profit, my brethren,
00:30:54.48\00:30:56.25
if anyone says he has
faith but does not have works?
00:30:56.28\00:31:00.29
Can faith save him?
00:31:00.32\00:31:02.99
If a brother or sister is naked
and destitute of daily food,
00:31:03.02\00:31:07.26
and one of you says to
them, 'Depart in peace,
00:31:07.30\00:31:09.53
be warmed and filled,'
00:31:09.56\00:31:10.90
but you do not
give them the things
00:31:10.93\00:31:12.60
which are needed for the
body, what does it profit?
00:31:12.63\00:31:16.34
Thus also faith by itself,
00:31:16.37\00:31:18.77
if it does not
have works, is dead."
00:31:18.81\00:31:22.11
You know, I remember years ago,
00:31:22.14\00:31:23.65
I was, this is when I had first
become a Seventh-day Adventist
00:31:23.68\00:31:27.48
and the story I'm about to
tell I don't believe reflects
00:31:27.52\00:31:29.95
all Seventh-day Adventists,
00:31:29.98\00:31:31.32
but truly the fact that
we're studying this means
00:31:31.35\00:31:33.96
that there is an
initial issue or a problem
00:31:33.99\00:31:36.59
that we have to face
00:31:36.62\00:31:37.99
in the light of
this particular issue.
00:31:38.03\00:31:40.16
And I remember one
day this family pulls up
00:31:40.20\00:31:44.20
at the church and we were there
gathering for a vesper service
00:31:44.23\00:31:47.04
and this particular family,
00:31:47.07\00:31:49.40
you could tell
they were in need,
00:31:49.44\00:31:50.77
they were coming in, you know,
00:31:50.81\00:31:52.14
asking just for a
little bit of food, you know,
00:31:52.17\00:31:53.88
perhaps maybe some
shelter for the night,
00:31:53.91\00:31:55.78
as they were
traveling to get to their family
00:31:55.81\00:31:58.25
where they were
gonna have a new job.
00:31:58.28\00:32:00.05
Now again, whether or not
they were telling the truth
00:32:00.08\00:32:02.05
that's not for you
and I had to determine
00:32:02.08\00:32:03.55
because we simply don't know
those things, only God knows.
00:32:03.59\00:32:06.32
But I remember
one of the brothers
00:32:06.35\00:32:07.69
from the church, it
was one of the elders,
00:32:07.72\00:32:09.06
and it just broke my
heart because he said,
00:32:09.09\00:32:11.26
"You know, what
this family needs is not
00:32:11.29\00:32:13.40
what they're asking for
00:32:13.43\00:32:14.76
what they really need
is the Word of the Lord.
00:32:14.80\00:32:17.03
And the Word of the
Lord will see him through."
00:32:17.07\00:32:18.63
Well, I praise God for
standing up for the Word of God.
00:32:18.67\00:32:21.70
But sometimes that's
just simply not enough
00:32:21.74\00:32:24.24
when they're asking us,
for them for us to help them,
00:32:24.27\00:32:26.94
my friends, we need to
extend that help and, you know,
00:32:26.98\00:32:30.08
when that elder had said
that kind of walked away,
00:32:30.11\00:32:31.61
I went out later, and
I kind of had compassion
00:32:31.65\00:32:33.75
on these
people, and I gave them,
00:32:33.78\00:32:35.38
you know, what I felt
the Lord wanted me to give.
00:32:35.42\00:32:37.39
You know, the point is
00:32:37.42\00:32:38.75
we can't just simply
preach a good sermon,
00:32:38.79\00:32:41.22
but not live by
that accordingly,
00:32:41.26\00:32:43.36
we have to live up according
to what God is asking us to.
00:32:43.39\00:32:47.33
I think of 1 Peter 2:9,
00:32:47.36\00:32:49.43
we are told that we
are to be a special people.
00:32:49.46\00:32:52.33
He says, "But you
are a chosen generation,
00:32:52.37\00:32:54.77
a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
00:32:54.80\00:32:57.61
His own special people,
00:32:57.64\00:33:00.38
that you may
proclaim the praises of Him
00:33:00.41\00:33:02.84
who called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light."
00:33:02.88\00:33:05.55
We are God's special,
holy, peculiar people.
00:33:05.58\00:33:08.72
No doubt.
00:33:08.75\00:33:10.09
I found a couple of quotations
that were very powerful.
00:33:10.12\00:33:12.85
This came from
Martin Luther King Jr. Okay.
00:33:12.89\00:33:15.96
And in reference to
his story of the Samaritan,
00:33:15.99\00:33:19.06
he said these words.
00:33:19.09\00:33:20.43
He says, "The first
question which the priest
00:33:20.46\00:33:22.46
and the Levite asked was,
00:33:22.50\00:33:24.73
'If I stop to help this
man, what will happen to me?'
00:33:24.77\00:33:29.17
But the Good
Samaritan reversed the question,
00:33:29.20\00:33:31.97
and he said,
00:33:32.01\00:33:33.34
'If I do not
stop to help this man,
00:33:33.38\00:33:34.78
what will happen to him?'"
00:33:34.81\00:33:36.31
And that's powerful to consider.
00:33:36.34\00:33:38.75
And, of course, one of
my favorite gospel writers
00:33:38.78\00:33:41.75
and authors of all time,
00:33:41.78\00:33:43.15
Oswald Chambers and
his famous devotional,
00:33:43.18\00:33:45.79
My Utmost for His
Highest, he says this,
00:33:45.82\00:33:48.69
in a section called
The Determination to Serve,
00:33:48.72\00:33:51.63
powerful words.
00:33:51.66\00:33:53.19
He says, "Paul's understanding
00:33:53.23\00:33:55.30
of how Christ had dealt with him
00:33:55.33\00:33:58.13
is the secret
behind his determination
00:33:58.17\00:34:01.10
to serve others."
00:34:01.14\00:34:02.80
He says, and this is what
Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:13.
00:34:02.84\00:34:06.41
"I was formerly a
blasphemer, a persecutor,
00:34:06.44\00:34:09.71
and an insolent man."
00:34:09.74\00:34:11.78
And he goes on with this quote.
00:34:11.81\00:34:13.15
"In other words, no
matter how badly others
00:34:13.18\00:34:15.85
may have treated Paul,
00:34:15.88\00:34:17.99
they could
never have treated him
00:34:18.02\00:34:19.89
with the same
degree of spite and hatred
00:34:19.92\00:34:23.16
with which he had
treated Jesus Christ.
00:34:23.19\00:34:26.26
Once we realize
that Jesus has served us
00:34:26.29\00:34:29.26
even to the
depths of our meagerness,
00:34:29.30\00:34:32.10
our selfishness, and our sin,
00:34:32.13\00:34:34.60
nothing we encounter from others
00:34:34.64\00:34:37.07
will be able to
exhaust our determination
00:34:37.11\00:34:39.97
to serve others for His sake."
00:34:40.01\00:34:42.84
And that's my prayer for myself.
00:34:42.88\00:34:44.61
It's my prayer for my brethren
00:34:44.65\00:34:45.98
and all of you at home watching.
00:34:46.01\00:34:47.45
Pray that Christ will
give you a servant's heart
00:34:47.48\00:34:49.65
that of the same as Jesus.
00:34:49.68\00:34:51.79
Amen and amen.
00:34:51.82\00:34:53.15
You know, I'm just sitting
here thinking how you have said,
00:34:53.19\00:34:55.82
we've got to be
the aroma of Christ.
00:34:55.86\00:34:59.63
We are
interceding on their behalf's
00:34:59.66\00:35:01.63
reaching out to
save their souls,
00:35:01.66\00:35:03.47
being the salt and light
so that people see the...
00:35:03.50\00:35:09.34
I mean, we don't
have any light of our own
00:35:09.37\00:35:10.91
but we reflect
the light of the world
00:35:10.94\00:35:13.34
Jesus Christ, right?
00:35:13.38\00:35:14.91
And it is so wonderful to see
00:35:14.94\00:35:19.38
how as we come
together as a community,
00:35:19.41\00:35:23.35
how we can
represent Christ on earth.
00:35:23.39\00:35:26.79
But it was interesting,
my lesson, Wednesday
00:35:26.82\00:35:29.62
is "Grace within the Church."
00:35:29.66\00:35:31.66
I didn't even
notice this to just now.
00:35:31.69\00:35:35.00
It's interesting
00:35:35.03\00:35:36.36
that the writer
begins with this comment.
00:35:36.40\00:35:40.00
He says, "It's remarkable
00:35:40.04\00:35:42.97
that God allows His reputation
00:35:43.00\00:35:45.61
to hang on how His people
live their lives on the earth."
00:35:45.64\00:35:51.51
Isn't that interesting?
00:35:51.55\00:35:52.88
And now he goes back to Job 1:8,
00:35:52.91\00:35:54.88
and in Job 1:8, it says,
00:35:54.92\00:35:57.92
"The Lord said to Satan,
00:35:57.95\00:35:59.89
'Have you
considered my servant Job?
00:35:59.92\00:36:02.36
That there is none
like him on the earth,
00:36:02.39\00:36:04.36
a blameless and upright man
00:36:04.39\00:36:06.53
one who fears
God and shuns evil.'"
00:36:06.56\00:36:12.40
God is staking His
reputation on how Job lived.
00:36:12.43\00:36:17.01
Now in Ephesians 3:10,
00:36:17.04\00:36:20.74
the Bible says that,
00:36:20.78\00:36:22.24
"It is God's
intent through the church,
00:36:22.28\00:36:24.98
that the manifold wisdom of God
should be made known to," whom?
00:36:25.01\00:36:31.35
"To the rulers and authorities
in the heavenly realms."
00:36:31.39\00:36:36.83
See, God is He wants us
00:36:36.86\00:36:40.33
not only to speak
to the fallen world
00:36:40.36\00:36:43.77
or be the shining
light to the fallen world,
00:36:43.80\00:36:47.34
but to unfallen worlds even.
00:36:47.37\00:36:49.64
And angels who are
watching on with curiosity.
00:36:49.67\00:36:52.91
Okay, let's turn to
Ephesians Chapter 2.
00:36:52.94\00:36:56.24
Ephesians Chapter 2,
00:36:56.28\00:36:57.91
our lesson today
starts off saying.
00:36:57.95\00:37:02.18
Read Ephesians 2:19.
00:37:02.22\00:37:04.55
What do you think is included
00:37:04.59\00:37:06.12
in the idea of
describing the church community
00:37:06.15\00:37:09.26
as the 'household' of God?
00:37:09.29\00:37:13.09
And how should this
description influenced
00:37:13.13\00:37:16.46
how the
organized church operates?"
00:37:16.50\00:37:19.17
So verse 19, Ephesians 2:19,
00:37:19.20\00:37:23.10
"Now, therefore,
00:37:23.14\00:37:25.34
you are no longer
strangers and foreigners."
00:37:25.37\00:37:30.55
That was how they described
00:37:30.58\00:37:32.85
the Gentiles
position before Christ.
00:37:32.88\00:37:36.08
"You are no longer
strangers and foreigners,
00:37:36.12\00:37:40.32
but fellow citizens
with the saints and members
00:37:40.36\00:37:44.73
of the household of God."
00:37:44.76\00:37:46.49
A foreigner was a
short term resident
00:37:46.53\00:37:49.46
who they were transients,
they came in, had no rights.
00:37:49.50\00:37:53.97
A stranger was similar
00:37:54.00\00:37:56.00
but they were
there on a longer term,
00:37:56.04\00:37:57.91
maybe they had
become a resident,
00:37:57.94\00:38:00.48
but they were still not citizens
00:38:00.51\00:38:03.38
and they had limited rights.
00:38:03.41\00:38:05.98
But the Bible says,
00:38:06.01\00:38:09.08
"You are fellow citizens
00:38:09.12\00:38:12.12
with the saints and members
of the household of God."
00:38:12.15\00:38:17.63
He's talking to the
Gentiles who were foreigners
00:38:17.66\00:38:20.06
and strangers and
he says not anymore.
00:38:20.10\00:38:22.86
You've got that citizenship
00:38:22.90\00:38:24.23
when you accepted
Christ as your Savior.
00:38:24.27\00:38:26.57
And guess what? 1 John 3:1.
00:38:26.60\00:38:29.00
I mean, Jesus.
00:38:29.04\00:38:31.24
Excuse me,
00:38:31.27\00:38:32.61
the Bible says
00:38:32.64\00:38:33.98
that we've been
adopted through Jesus, my God.
00:38:34.01\00:38:38.08
1 John 3:1 says, you
love that scripture, you know,
00:38:38.11\00:38:42.38
can we believe that we
are that children of God?
00:38:42.42\00:38:46.96
"Behold, what a miracle,
00:38:46.99\00:38:48.72
what a blessing to be
called children of God."
00:38:48.76\00:38:51.99
So what is this
idea of God's household?
00:38:52.03\00:38:55.80
If you think of a household,
00:38:55.83\00:38:59.00
you think of a
family, don't you?
00:38:59.03\00:39:02.04
When you think about
household, there's togetherness,
00:39:02.07\00:39:05.97
there's inclusiveness,
00:39:06.01\00:39:08.34
we're brothers
and sisters in Christ.
00:39:08.38\00:39:11.08
We are all members in
citizens of God's kingdom.
00:39:11.11\00:39:16.58
So let's go forward.
00:39:16.62\00:39:18.49
In verse 20, he says,
00:39:18.52\00:39:20.56
"That this household of God,
00:39:20.59\00:39:22.02
having been
built on the foundation
00:39:22.06\00:39:23.83
of the apostles
and the prophets,
00:39:23.86\00:39:26.59
Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief cornerstone,
00:39:26.63\00:39:30.27
in whom the whole
building, being fitted together,
00:39:30.30\00:39:33.50
grows into a holy
temple in the Lord,
00:39:33.54\00:39:35.74
in whom you also
are being built together
00:39:35.77\00:39:39.57
for a dwelling place
of God in the Spirit."
00:39:39.61\00:39:45.38
So we're the household of God.
00:39:45.41\00:39:48.72
Bible says, we're
the body of Christ.
00:39:48.75\00:39:52.55
Here we are the
community of the spirit.
00:39:52.59\00:39:56.16
We are the temple.
00:39:56.19\00:39:57.73
Do you not know that your
body is the living temple?
00:39:57.76\00:40:01.66
So, you know,
church isn't a building.
00:40:01.70\00:40:04.03
We say, we call this the church.
00:40:04.07\00:40:06.53
This is the
building. This is a church.
00:40:06.57\00:40:10.04
The people are the church.
00:40:10.07\00:40:12.27
The church goes in
and out of the building.
00:40:12.31\00:40:14.88
That's right.
00:40:14.91\00:40:16.24
You know, I mean,
really, it's the people.
00:40:16.28\00:40:19.55
And it is so special
00:40:19.58\00:40:22.68
that we need...
00:40:22.72\00:40:27.46
It is such a special thing
00:40:27.49\00:40:29.56
that we need to make certain
00:40:29.59\00:40:31.59
as a church family,
00:40:31.63\00:40:33.40
how we treat others
within our church community.
00:40:33.43\00:40:37.93
There must be
grace in our actions
00:40:37.97\00:40:42.20
towards how we treat others.
00:40:42.24\00:40:43.57
You know, Jesus gave
this command in John 13:34-35.
00:40:43.61\00:40:48.28
He says, "A new
command I give to you
00:40:48.31\00:40:53.75
love one another."
00:40:53.78\00:40:55.42
What's new about that?
00:40:55.45\00:40:57.35
Leviticus 19:18, it says,
00:40:57.39\00:41:00.12
"You shall love your
neighbor as yourself."
00:41:00.16\00:41:02.32
That's right.
00:41:02.36\00:41:03.69
So, but He goes on,
now you see the new part,
00:41:03.73\00:41:08.00
"As I have loved you.
00:41:08.03\00:41:11.97
So you must love one another."
00:41:12.00\00:41:13.97
He's not just saying,
00:41:14.00\00:41:15.47
I mean, love is not
just an emotional thing.
00:41:15.50\00:41:17.84
Love is our actions.
00:41:17.87\00:41:19.61
Love, this is the self
00:41:19.64\00:41:23.08
sacrificing love of God.
00:41:23.11\00:41:25.45
This is a revolutionary comment
00:41:25.48\00:41:30.05
that Jesus is saying, "Love,
00:41:30.09\00:41:34.06
not just as you love yourself,
love as I have loved you."
00:41:34.09\00:41:39.79
So and then it goes on and says,
00:41:39.83\00:41:42.06
"This is how everyone's
gonna know you're My disciple,
00:41:42.10\00:41:45.10
if you love another."
00:41:45.13\00:41:47.04
So that's the distinguishing
mark of a Christian,
00:41:47.07\00:41:50.77
of a disciple of Christ.
00:41:50.81\00:41:52.31
Actually, people will ask me,
00:41:52.34\00:41:54.84
how do you know if you're
filled with the Holy Spirit?
00:41:54.88\00:41:57.48
I'll tell how you know.
00:41:57.51\00:41:59.98
Romans 5:5 says that,
00:42:00.02\00:42:01.35
"God pours His
Spirit into our heart.
00:42:01.38\00:42:03.72
I love into our
hearts by the Holy Spirit."
00:42:03.75\00:42:08.46
God's essence.
00:42:08.49\00:42:10.09
1 John 4:8 says, "God is love."
00:42:10.13\00:42:12.76
The essence of God's
nature is this unselfish,
00:42:12.79\00:42:18.30
self-sacrificing love.
00:42:18.33\00:42:19.97
That's right.
00:42:20.00\00:42:21.34
If you aren't
walking in that kind of love,
00:42:21.37\00:42:25.71
if your heart's
not being filled,
00:42:25.74\00:42:27.34
you're not
filled with Holy Spirit.
00:42:27.38\00:42:28.81
Yeah.
00:42:28.84\00:42:30.18
You need to just
stop and say, "Oh, Lord,
00:42:30.21\00:42:31.85
you know, I need to surrender.
00:42:31.88\00:42:33.55
Let me open up my heart.
00:42:33.58\00:42:35.45
Pour Your love into my heart."
00:42:35.48\00:42:38.05
And, you know,
00:42:38.09\00:42:40.46
let me be empowered
00:42:40.49\00:42:42.69
by Your super
natural love with God.
00:42:42.72\00:42:48.76
Jesus said,
00:42:48.80\00:42:50.13
not only are we to love
each other in the church,
00:42:50.17\00:42:53.40
we're supposed
to love our enemies,
00:42:53.44\00:42:56.27
supposed to pray for
those who persecute us.
00:42:56.30\00:43:00.14
I tell you what,
that's not natural.
00:43:00.18\00:43:03.65
Is it? That's
not, I can't do it.
00:43:03.68\00:43:05.95
I can't do it without the Lord.
00:43:05.98\00:43:07.72
I cannot do it.
00:43:07.75\00:43:10.05
It is a challenge.
00:43:10.09\00:43:11.92
It is often inconvenient
00:43:11.95\00:43:16.29
to love somebody the
way Jesus asks us to love.
00:43:16.32\00:43:20.10
It means you're on
your way to do something
00:43:20.13\00:43:22.56
and somebody needs you.
00:43:22.60\00:43:24.60
And you're going,
I had this planned
00:43:24.63\00:43:27.00
and there are going, help!
00:43:27.04\00:43:29.30
And you got to turn
around and go help them,
00:43:29.34\00:43:31.91
you know, and put yourself...
00:43:31.94\00:43:33.27
So it's the idea of putting
00:43:33.31\00:43:38.05
others welfare before
our own and I love, you know,
00:43:38.08\00:43:43.12
Jesus we have seen
00:43:43.15\00:43:44.52
and we looked at Jeremiah
31:3 last time, I believe,
00:43:44.55\00:43:48.19
where the Bible says
00:43:48.22\00:43:50.56
that, where God says,
00:43:50.59\00:43:53.09
"I've loved you
with an everlasting love,
00:43:53.13\00:43:54.93
and therefore
00:43:54.96\00:43:56.60
I have drawn you to myself,
00:43:56.63\00:44:01.80
with cords of love."
00:44:01.84\00:44:03.91
Now I can't talk and find
00:44:03.94\00:44:05.47
what I'm looking
for at the same time.
00:44:05.51\00:44:06.91
So let me think, okay,
00:44:06.94\00:44:08.61
turn to...
00:44:08.64\00:44:10.61
1 Thessalonians 3:12.
00:44:13.85\00:44:18.65
Caught with the scripture,
and I've got to do it fast.
00:44:18.69\00:44:22.02
If you want to know if
there's grace in the church
00:44:22.06\00:44:25.03
and grace in you, in loving you,
00:44:25.06\00:44:27.93
as you grow in love,
you will grow in holiness.
00:44:27.96\00:44:30.47
That's what God wants us to do.
00:44:30.50\00:44:32.03
1 Thessalonians 3:12.
00:44:32.07\00:44:34.40
"May the Lord make you
increase and abound in love."
00:44:34.44\00:44:37.34
Notice it's God doing the work,
00:44:37.37\00:44:39.84
"To one another,
abound in love to one another
00:44:39.87\00:44:42.81
and to each
other as we do to you,
00:44:42.84\00:44:45.01
so that," that's
the purpose statement,
00:44:45.05\00:44:47.52
"He may establish your hearts
00:44:47.55\00:44:49.72
blameless in holiness
00:44:49.75\00:44:51.79
before our God and Father
00:44:51.82\00:44:53.52
the coming of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ."
00:44:53.56\00:44:56.06
Amen. Thank you, Shelley.
00:44:56.09\00:44:58.39
It actually what you
were just saying is gonna,
00:44:58.43\00:45:01.26
is cause me to change
my focus just a little bit.
00:45:01.30\00:45:04.13
I was sitting here thinking
about what you were saying.
00:45:04.17\00:45:07.44
Even with the best
intentions and believing
00:45:07.47\00:45:09.40
that we're on the
side of God working
00:45:09.44\00:45:10.97
for I think you'll all
agree working for the Lord
00:45:11.01\00:45:13.11
can sometimes be difficult.
00:45:13.14\00:45:15.14
It's even more difficult
when I do it ourselves.
00:45:15.18\00:45:18.61
But I never thought
about living in a time
00:45:18.65\00:45:21.48
when the church of today
has to relook at the future
00:45:21.52\00:45:26.29
because living in
the age of internet,
00:45:26.32\00:45:29.99
people aren't gonna wanna,
00:45:30.03\00:45:31.43
people already not
going to church as much
00:45:31.46\00:45:34.40
because you can get everything
you need at the fingertip.
00:45:34.43\00:45:39.17
Just like malls in America
00:45:39.20\00:45:40.97
they built Marion
there 25 years or so ago.
00:45:41.00\00:45:43.91
Busy, busy mall today it's empty
00:45:43.94\00:45:45.71
there's couple stores,
00:45:45.74\00:45:47.28
and it's empty because
everybody's going online.
00:45:47.31\00:45:50.11
So I think my day here says,
00:45:50.15\00:45:53.65
"Encourage Each
Other to Good Works."
00:45:53.68\00:45:56.28
And I think what you
really got me to thinking
00:45:56.32\00:45:59.32
and all of you
as a church family,
00:45:59.35\00:46:01.42
how important it
is for each of us
00:46:01.46\00:46:04.36
to be a part of
the family of God
00:46:04.39\00:46:06.09
and not feel like we can do
00:46:06.13\00:46:07.83
get our own, you
know, spiritual food,
00:46:07.86\00:46:10.13
and we can do our own
thing separately individually.
00:46:10.17\00:46:13.10
One person I know well said,
00:46:13.13\00:46:14.87
"I could be a
Christian, just be a hermit."
00:46:14.90\00:46:17.21
You know, and I feel
like doing that sometimes
00:46:17.24\00:46:19.41
'cause I don't like people.
00:46:19.44\00:46:20.78
Well, you can think
about that however you want.
00:46:20.81\00:46:23.14
I said, "Well, there's
few problems or questions,
00:46:23.18\00:46:25.11
I would have about that."
00:46:25.15\00:46:26.51
But what are...
00:46:26.55\00:46:27.88
Jesus surrounded Himself
around a group of people,
00:46:27.92\00:46:30.35
He had His disciples
and when He traveled,
00:46:30.39\00:46:32.89
but I wanna read and
it's been read before,
00:46:32.92\00:46:35.09
but let's go to
Hebrews 10:23-25.
00:46:35.12\00:46:38.26
It says, "Let us hold
fast the confession of our hope
00:46:38.29\00:46:41.60
without wavering,
00:46:41.63\00:46:42.96
for He who promised is faithful.
00:46:43.00\00:46:44.83
And let us consider one another
in order to stir up love and
00:46:44.87\00:46:48.34
good works."
00:46:48.37\00:46:49.70
Now here's what I
wanna center in on.
00:46:49.74\00:46:51.74
"Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together,
00:46:51.77\00:46:54.88
as is in the manner of some,
00:46:54.91\00:46:57.18
but exhorting one another,
00:46:57.21\00:46:59.15
and so much more as you
see the Day approaching."
00:46:59.18\00:47:03.72
Many people today,
00:47:03.75\00:47:05.35
and we see the demographics,
00:47:05.39\00:47:06.99
we look at everything.
00:47:07.02\00:47:08.49
Pastor John, and people
don't wanna come to church,
00:47:08.52\00:47:11.13
they wanna get everything
as I mentioned already.
00:47:11.16\00:47:14.46
Some time ago, this was
before the age of the internet.
00:47:14.50\00:47:18.10
A woman invited a
pastor to her home,
00:47:18.13\00:47:20.97
and she said, "I want
you to come to my home.
00:47:21.00\00:47:23.34
My husband feels
00:47:23.37\00:47:25.01
that he's a
Christian, but he doesn't feel
00:47:25.04\00:47:26.94
that he needs to go to church."
00:47:26.98\00:47:28.84
And he says, "I can be a
Christian at home and there's
00:47:28.88\00:47:30.25
no really, I don't think
your pastor can convince me."
00:47:30.28\00:47:33.28
She said, "Can I have him come
to the house and talk to you?"
00:47:33.31\00:47:35.78
So she said to him,
00:47:35.82\00:47:37.29
"Will you come to my home,
00:47:37.32\00:47:38.65
talk to my
husband and convince him
00:47:38.69\00:47:40.29
he needs to come to
church with me every week,"
00:47:40.32\00:47:42.99
whether Sabbath or Sunday,
00:47:43.02\00:47:44.36
I'm not sure what day
the guy went to church.
00:47:44.39\00:47:46.66
So the pastor said,
"If the husband is willing,
00:47:46.70\00:47:49.26
the husband's willing."
00:47:49.30\00:47:50.93
So it's winter night,
pastor came over to their home,
00:47:50.97\00:47:53.87
walked in and the
husband was ready.
00:47:53.90\00:47:56.27
He was ready for
anything to pastor.
00:47:56.30\00:47:58.47
I can be as good a
Christian as anyone
00:47:58.51\00:48:00.84
and not go to church.
00:48:00.88\00:48:02.24
So they had a fireplace
going and everything was warm.
00:48:02.28\00:48:05.51
And so as they were talking,
the pastor was just saying,
00:48:05.55\00:48:08.15
"Hey, Ryan, how are you
doing? It's nice to see you."
00:48:08.18\00:48:10.45
And as he's talking, he
walks over to the fireplace.
00:48:10.49\00:48:13.49
He gets the fire tongs,
00:48:13.52\00:48:15.22
and there's a big
coals of fire going.
00:48:15.26\00:48:17.36
He reaches and
grabs one of those,
00:48:17.39\00:48:19.49
puts it down and
sets it on the hearth.
00:48:19.53\00:48:21.63
Of course, it's burning bright,
00:48:21.66\00:48:23.70
and all the rest
of us burning bright,
00:48:23.73\00:48:25.57
but he doesn't mention anything.
00:48:25.60\00:48:27.17
How'd work go today, Ryan.
00:48:27.20\00:48:28.67
And, of course,
Ryan's looking at,
00:48:28.70\00:48:30.71
like, what did
the pastor just do?
00:48:30.74\00:48:32.77
And so the pastor is
trying to get his attention.
00:48:32.81\00:48:35.41
Well, this bright burning ash
00:48:35.44\00:48:37.51
suddenly became
dimmer and dimmer and smoke,
00:48:37.55\00:48:40.32
and over a period
of several minutes,
00:48:40.35\00:48:42.15
basically went out.
00:48:42.18\00:48:43.92
Preacher never
mentioned the word.
00:48:43.95\00:48:46.05
The man said, "Pastor, you
don't have to say anything.
00:48:46.09\00:48:48.49
I get your point."
00:48:48.52\00:48:49.89
That's what
happens to us, Pastor John,
00:48:49.92\00:48:51.59
when we're by ourselves,
00:48:51.63\00:48:53.60
we can literally burn
out and we can be called,
00:48:53.63\00:48:57.00
so we need people together,
but I think the church we were
00:48:57.03\00:49:00.44
talking about it.
00:49:00.47\00:49:01.87
We say I don't
need to go to church
00:49:01.90\00:49:03.74
and maybe you don't who knows.
00:49:03.77\00:49:05.51
But we need to go to
church for other people.
00:49:05.54\00:49:07.81
Yes, we do.
00:49:07.84\00:49:09.18
For no other reason,
00:49:09.21\00:49:10.55
which you triggered my mind
00:49:10.58\00:49:11.91
for no other
reason for other folk.
00:49:11.95\00:49:13.82
We need to be the church.
00:49:13.85\00:49:15.65
Our churches, I
wrote some notes here.
00:49:15.68\00:49:17.49
We should go to
church for others,
00:49:17.52\00:49:18.99
not just for ourselves.
00:49:19.02\00:49:20.36
That's right.
00:49:20.39\00:49:21.72
The church shouldn't be
just a place for the Christian,
00:49:21.76\00:49:24.06
it should be a
hospital for the sinners.
00:49:24.09\00:49:26.56
Everyone should
feel welcome no matter
00:49:26.59\00:49:28.86
what their situation
00:49:28.90\00:49:30.73
when they walk through the door.
00:49:30.77\00:49:32.33
For everyone that
is hurting spiritually,
00:49:32.37\00:49:34.44
the church should
be a beacon on a hill,
00:49:34.47\00:49:36.34
sharing the love
and peace and joy
00:49:36.37\00:49:37.94
that only Jesus can give.
00:49:37.97\00:49:40.08
When it comes to family problems
00:49:40.11\00:49:41.44
and physical
and mental problems,
00:49:41.48\00:49:43.24
the church should be a
sanctuary for those in need.
00:49:43.28\00:49:45.95
Now maybe the
church should borrow
00:49:45.98\00:49:47.75
from the Statue
of Liberty, John,
00:49:47.78\00:49:49.52
here in New York or what to say,
00:49:49.55\00:49:51.35
"Bring me your
tired, and your poor,
00:49:51.39\00:49:54.72
your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free."
00:49:54.76\00:49:58.16
And maybe at churches
00:49:58.19\00:49:59.53
we should use that
from the Statue of Liberty,
00:49:59.56\00:50:02.46
but working together
00:50:02.50\00:50:04.53
our churches should
make a tremendous impact
00:50:04.57\00:50:07.14
on our local communities
00:50:07.17\00:50:08.74
the way that 'cause we might
be the only Jesus people see.
00:50:08.77\00:50:12.07
So how are you helping that folk
00:50:12.11\00:50:13.54
who's watching
3ABN for instance,
00:50:13.58\00:50:15.71
they walk into church
door but you're at home
00:50:15.74\00:50:17.51
watching the internet,
watching 3ABN on internet,
00:50:17.55\00:50:20.72
who's there to
support that person.
00:50:20.75\00:50:23.12
So working together,
we can plan together,
00:50:23.15\00:50:26.45
the scriptures in the Bible,
00:50:26.49\00:50:27.96
of course, that were
many and very diverse.
00:50:27.99\00:50:30.53
And each person
has different gifts.
00:50:30.56\00:50:32.99
So I also think
00:50:33.03\00:50:34.46
and this is just
I'm throwing out some
00:50:34.50\00:50:36.63
things that are greeters
00:50:36.67\00:50:38.00
and our members should
have some training, right?
00:50:38.03\00:50:39.97
Because if you are in a business
00:50:40.00\00:50:41.97
and you're growing a business,
00:50:42.00\00:50:43.34
you train your employees, right?
00:50:43.37\00:50:45.24
As to how to greet people
00:50:45.27\00:50:47.11
remembering that they say
the customer's always right.
00:50:47.14\00:50:49.88
Well, as people come into doors,
00:50:49.91\00:50:51.71
they have to see people
00:50:51.75\00:50:54.02
who are united in
thought and mission and action
00:50:54.05\00:50:58.65
and in love and
they need to feel safe,
00:50:58.69\00:51:01.59
they need to feel secure,
00:51:01.62\00:51:02.96
they need to feel
they're cared about.
00:51:02.99\00:51:04.96
And we can't do
that by ourselves
00:51:04.99\00:51:06.56
out on our own.
00:51:06.59\00:51:07.93
That's right.
00:51:07.96\00:51:09.30
We should make this
the purpose of our church
00:51:09.33\00:51:11.27
is to love those who
walk in those church doors.
00:51:11.30\00:51:14.40
So they can see Jesus in us.
00:51:14.44\00:51:16.60
Romans 12:3-6 says,
00:51:16.64\00:51:19.31
"For by grace given me
I say to every one of you,
00:51:19.34\00:51:22.71
Do not think of yourself
more highly than you ought to,
00:51:22.74\00:51:25.68
but rather think of
yourself with sober judgment,
00:51:25.71\00:51:28.28
in accordance with the faith
00:51:28.32\00:51:29.92
God has
distributed to each of you.
00:51:29.95\00:51:32.09
For just as each of us has
one body with many members,
00:51:32.12\00:51:35.46
and these members do not
all have the same function,
00:51:35.49\00:51:38.13
so in Christ we, though many,
00:51:38.16\00:51:40.56
form one body, and each member
belongs to all the others.
00:51:40.60\00:51:43.90
We have different gifts,
00:51:43.93\00:51:45.27
according to the
grace given to each of us.
00:51:45.30\00:51:47.17
If your gift is prophesying,
00:51:47.20\00:51:48.90
then prophesy in
accordance with your faith."
00:51:48.94\00:51:52.27
This takes me back to
all the way, Jill, to 1984.
00:51:52.31\00:51:56.41
The Lord impressed me to
build a television station
00:51:56.44\00:51:59.05
that would reach the world
00:51:59.08\00:52:00.68
with an undiluted
three angels' messages,
00:52:00.72\00:52:03.35
one that would
counteract the counterfeit,
00:52:03.39\00:52:05.52
but I could have
never done it on my own.
00:52:05.55\00:52:07.39
Yeah.
00:52:07.42\00:52:08.76
There's no way I
could possibly do it.
00:52:08.79\00:52:10.13
3ABN only became went
from a vision to reality
00:52:10.16\00:52:14.70
when people begin to join hands.
00:52:14.73\00:52:17.40
People began to volunteer,
00:52:17.43\00:52:18.77
I got some of my family,
talk to my brother Kenny.
00:52:18.80\00:52:21.24
He said, "Yes, let's do it."
00:52:21.27\00:52:22.70
Other family member,
00:52:22.74\00:52:24.07
then we talk to some
of our church members.
00:52:24.11\00:52:25.71
Suddenly as we went
to building people came,
00:52:25.74\00:52:28.08
we're volunteering,
00:52:28.11\00:52:29.44
Gonzalo Santos came
from Chicago every weekend.
00:52:29.48\00:52:33.01
As a volunteer electrician
00:52:33.05\00:52:34.65
working for us somebody driving,
00:52:34.68\00:52:36.22
he'd sleep Sunday night
00:52:36.25\00:52:37.59
so he could do his work
00:52:37.62\00:52:38.95
back in Chicago.
00:52:38.99\00:52:40.32
People began to
work join together.
00:52:40.36\00:52:42.19
So 3ABN that could
have never happened,
00:52:42.22\00:52:45.96
of course,
without God's blessings,
00:52:45.99\00:52:47.80
but as we join hands together
00:52:47.83\00:52:49.83
and today with the viewers,
00:52:49.86\00:52:51.50
we wanna thank you for
your love and your prayers
00:52:51.53\00:52:53.97
and financial support of 3ABN
00:52:54.00\00:52:55.94
because we cannot
do this on our own.
00:52:55.97\00:52:59.04
And so we need to be together,
we have the same goals,
00:52:59.07\00:53:01.78
the same mission.
00:53:01.81\00:53:03.14
And I wanna thank you,
00:53:03.18\00:53:04.51
and thank each
and every one of you
00:53:04.55\00:53:05.88
here on this
panel for what you do
00:53:05.91\00:53:07.78
for the cause of God
because I see them off to set.
00:53:07.82\00:53:10.49
You sometimes may
not, but I see their lives,
00:53:10.52\00:53:13.02
they are just as
dedicated outside the cameras
00:53:13.05\00:53:16.36
and off the
cameras as on the inside.
00:53:16.39\00:53:18.83
But I didn't wanna say
something like, for instance,
00:53:18.86\00:53:21.36
people might look at
the position as president
00:53:21.40\00:53:24.07
or general manager or
is pastor with some...
00:53:24.10\00:53:27.34
Wow, that's some
type of position.
00:53:27.37\00:53:30.47
I was thinking
about as you were talking.
00:53:30.51\00:53:32.27
We have Larry over here.
00:53:32.31\00:53:33.64
Larry's been a
volunteer for 20 plus years.
00:53:33.68\00:53:36.75
He's behind the cameras
not in front of the cameras,
00:53:36.78\00:53:39.25
but in the sight of God,
00:53:39.28\00:53:40.88
everything that Larry is
doing is just as valuable
00:53:40.92\00:53:44.89
as what I'm doing
00:53:44.92\00:53:46.49
or Shelley, Ryan,
Jill, you're doing.
00:53:46.52\00:53:48.86
So those of you at home,
00:53:48.89\00:53:51.83
please no excuses.
00:53:51.86\00:53:53.19
Well, I can't
really do anything.
00:53:53.23\00:53:54.56
There's not much
I can do, show up.
00:53:54.60\00:53:56.36
You show up and
if you're willing,
00:53:56.40\00:53:58.27
I promise you
that God will use you
00:53:58.30\00:54:00.94
in great and mightier ways
than you ever dream possible
00:54:00.97\00:54:04.04
because it's the Jesus in you
00:54:04.07\00:54:06.37
that's effective to the world.
00:54:06.41\00:54:07.74
He says, "If I be lifted up
00:54:07.78\00:54:09.64
from this earth will
draw all men unto me."
00:54:09.68\00:54:12.81
And for the pastors
watching, the church members,
00:54:12.85\00:54:16.38
remember that what
you do every Sabbath?
00:54:16.42\00:54:19.55
You may, as I
said, be the only Jesus
00:54:19.59\00:54:21.49
that people see.
00:54:21.52\00:54:22.86
So let's, as
churches join together,
00:54:22.89\00:54:25.63
invite people to
come into our sanctuaries.
00:54:25.66\00:54:28.40
And then we love them.
00:54:28.43\00:54:29.76
We show them the love of Jesus
because when we show them that,
00:54:29.80\00:54:32.67
we've shown them
everything there is.
00:54:32.70\00:54:34.57
The difference
between life and death,
00:54:34.60\00:54:37.27
death and eternal
life is acceptance,
00:54:37.31\00:54:40.24
and submitting and
committed in our life to Jesus
00:54:40.28\00:54:42.54
confessing our
sins, and saying, Lord,
00:54:42.58\00:54:44.81
use me as a
vessel of honor for you.
00:54:44.85\00:54:48.35
Amen.
00:54:48.38\00:54:49.72
Well, Danny, I'm just so
affected by what you said.
00:54:49.75\00:54:51.15
Yeah, I wrote it down.
00:54:51.19\00:54:52.65
I couldn't get past it.
00:54:52.69\00:54:54.26
The church's motto should be
00:54:54.29\00:54:56.09
that of the Statue of Liberty.
00:54:56.12\00:54:58.06
Wow.
00:54:58.09\00:54:59.53
"Bring us your tired,
00:54:59.56\00:55:01.23
your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free."
00:55:01.26\00:55:04.50
You know, this
has been a quarter
00:55:04.53\00:55:06.03
that has transformed all of us.
00:55:06.07\00:55:07.40
I'm gonna give
each of our panelists
00:55:07.44\00:55:09.14
to make one final comment
00:55:09.17\00:55:10.64
as we close out
our quarter, Jill.
00:55:10.67\00:55:13.48
My day was on intercession
00:55:13.51\00:55:14.84
and we look
specifically at Moses
00:55:14.88\00:55:16.64
and his
intercession for the people.
00:55:16.68\00:55:18.38
But the Bible is
replete with examples.
00:55:18.41\00:55:20.35
You think of Daniel
interceding for the people.
00:55:20.38\00:55:23.12
Jesus the ultimate intercessor.
00:55:23.15\00:55:25.95
Stephen right
before he was stoned,
00:55:25.99\00:55:27.99
he was interceding
on behalf of the people.
00:55:28.02\00:55:30.93
And God calls you and
me to do the same thing.
00:55:30.96\00:55:33.96
Amen. Amen.
00:55:34.00\00:55:36.46
The only text
that I could think of
00:55:36.50\00:55:37.83
at the very moment,
00:55:37.87\00:55:39.20
it just keeps
coming into my mind
00:55:39.23\00:55:40.57
after
considering this entire study
00:55:40.60\00:55:43.41
that we've been doing
over the last few weeks
00:55:43.44\00:55:45.64
is 2 Chronicles 7:14.
00:55:45.67\00:55:47.91
Yes.
00:55:47.94\00:55:49.28
"If My people who
are called by My name
00:55:49.31\00:55:51.21
will humble themselves,
and pray and seek My face.
00:55:51.25\00:55:53.75
I will forgive them their sins
and I will heal their land."
00:55:53.78\00:55:56.99
And I believe that
God wants to do a healing
00:55:57.02\00:55:59.09
in each and every person's
heart, my heart, your heart,
00:55:59.12\00:56:02.06
every person's
heart on this panel.
00:56:02.09\00:56:04.76
And God wants to
transform His church.
00:56:04.79\00:56:06.59
And my prayer for everyone
00:56:06.63\00:56:08.83
is that we will
humble ourselves before God,
00:56:08.86\00:56:11.00
we will seek His face
00:56:11.03\00:56:12.87
would allow the mind of Christ
00:56:12.90\00:56:14.90
to be made
manifest in our lives.
00:56:14.94\00:56:16.47
Amen.
00:56:16.50\00:56:17.84
God is not a
respecter of persons.
00:56:17.87\00:56:20.04
He loves everyone
with an everlasting love.
00:56:20.08\00:56:22.84
And we are supposed to go to Him
00:56:22.88\00:56:26.65
and let Him fill us
00:56:26.68\00:56:28.05
with that
supernatural power of His love.
00:56:28.08\00:56:30.02
His character reflect His love.
00:56:30.05\00:56:33.49
And as we do that,
we the church community,
00:56:33.52\00:56:38.33
the family of God,
00:56:38.36\00:56:40.93
His children will come
together to support one another,
00:56:40.96\00:56:44.63
but we will woo others
00:56:44.67\00:56:48.70
by the love of
Christ into the church.
00:56:48.74\00:56:51.41
Amen.
00:56:51.44\00:56:52.77
Just remember that Jesus was,
00:56:52.81\00:56:54.41
when He was
hanging on the cross,
00:56:54.44\00:56:56.54
you were on His mind.
00:56:56.58\00:56:57.95
He could look
down the stream of time
00:56:57.98\00:56:59.35
and see people
00:56:59.38\00:57:00.72
that would be
willing to give their lives
00:57:00.75\00:57:02.58
unto God, if
necessary unto death.
00:57:02.62\00:57:05.65
That's you and me today.
00:57:05.69\00:57:07.02
What a privilege to be
living in the closing moments
00:57:07.06\00:57:09.59
of earth's history.
00:57:09.62\00:57:10.96
Praise God for this opportunity.
00:57:10.99\00:57:12.33
Amen.
00:57:12.36\00:57:13.70
Let's don't let
it go by and miss it.
00:57:13.73\00:57:15.06
Let's join hands together
00:57:15.10\00:57:16.43
with those around
us to reach the world.
00:57:16.46\00:57:18.30
That's right.
00:57:18.33\00:57:19.67
We have learned
to lean on Jesus,
00:57:19.70\00:57:21.04
we have learned the
beauty of this lesson
00:57:21.07\00:57:22.57
throughout the quarter.
00:57:22.60\00:57:23.94
Thank you for joining us.
00:57:23.97\00:57:25.31
Thank you, Jill,
Pastor Ryan, Shelley,
00:57:25.34\00:57:27.68
and our founder and president,
00:57:27.71\00:57:30.18
appreciate you,
Danny, very much.
00:57:30.21\00:57:31.91
You know, the motto that
you communicated the church
00:57:31.95\00:57:35.08
is in fact the Statue of Liberty
00:57:35.12\00:57:37.05
not established by France,
00:57:37.09\00:57:39.05
but established by Jesus Christ.
00:57:39.09\00:57:41.49
"If I be lifted up,
00:57:41.52\00:57:43.89
I will draw all
men unto myself."
00:57:43.93\00:57:46.53
Continue to implement
those principles in your life
00:57:46.56\00:57:48.86
as leaders, as servants of God,
00:57:48.90\00:57:50.77
and the light of
God will never grow dim.
00:57:50.80\00:57:53.50
But join us for the next quarter
00:57:53.54\00:57:55.74
where the topic is
going to be focusing
00:57:55.77\00:57:57.21
on two Bible contemporaries
Ezra and Nehemiah,
00:57:57.24\00:58:01.21
on behalf of the Lord
00:58:01.24\00:58:02.58
and all those who
are moved by his work.
00:58:02.61\00:58:04.85
May God bless you
until we see you again.
00:58:04.88\00:58:07.95