Participants: Kenny & Chris Shelton (Host), Kara Copher & Terry Cain
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW015010A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words Let my words 00:29 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:45 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:06 Hello and welcome to 3ABN Today Family Worship hour. 01:11 What a blessing to be here, and happy Sabbath. 01:14 Amen. Happy Sabbath, world family. 01:16 We have got family in Christ here with us today. 01:20 And we've got family across the world. 01:22 Isn't that exciting? We do. 01:23 We welcome them. 01:24 We're glad you can join us. Praise the Lord. 01:26 This is gonna be the exciting hour because again, 01:28 we know the ones, our guests that are here 01:31 and the stories that they have will just encourage you 01:34 and strengthen you and it's just going to be 01:36 a time of studying the word together. 01:38 And there is no better time to study God's word 01:40 than on the Sabbath. 01:42 You know, we may be a minority here on earth 01:45 but in heaven we are a majority. 01:46 This is heaven's busiest time. 01:49 Amen. Is the Sabbath hour. 01:50 You know, I pray this is gonna be an encouragement to everyone 01:54 that we really need to be begin the Sabbath hours in worship. 01:58 Praise and song. Yes. 02:00 I think we're gonna have some people sharing how they begin 02:03 the Sabbath here at this table. 02:04 To my left is a sister in Christ, 02:07 a family member in Christ. 02:09 This is Kara Copher. Amen. 02:11 And I know you got a lot of good things to share 02:13 about how you start the Sabbath. 02:15 And then right to her left is Brother Terry Cain. 02:18 And we're so glad to have you here with us today. 02:21 But before we get started Pastor Kenny, 02:24 I know that Sister Kara 02:25 is gonna lead us in the word of prayer. 02:27 Amen. Let's pray. 02:30 Dear Heavenly Father, 02:31 we just thank you for the Sabbath day 02:33 that you have given to us. 02:34 Thank you for all the blessings 02:35 that you've brought us to the week 02:37 and how we have all been safe and our family members 02:40 have been safe. 02:41 And we just pray that you forgive us of our sins, 02:44 dear Lord, and that you come upon us in this holy way 02:47 and fill the Holy Ghost fill us on your Sabbath day 02:50 that we can show others how to love you 02:53 and that we love you and be with you. 02:55 And I just give you all the praise, 02:56 honor and glory. 02:57 In Jesus' name I pray. 02:59 Amen. Amen. 03:00 He is worthy of our praise, our honor and our glory. 03:03 You know we were reminded too, you know, 03:05 that around the world, this is world wide. 03:06 So Sabbath hours may not quite be beginning here or whatever. 03:09 But we are enjoying this time and this is our Sabbath time. 03:13 So praise the Lord. Yes. 03:14 And to get started, 03:16 I'm gonna read just a portion of one of my favorite 03:18 devotional books. 03:20 The devotional book itself is entitled 03:22 the "Faith I Live By" 03:23 and this one is entitled, this particular devotional 03:26 is entitled the Evidence of Experience. 03:29 Which is what we're gonna focusing on here today. 03:32 The evidence of experience. 03:34 It reads, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good." 03:38 Taste and see. 03:40 "Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." 03:42 That is Psalms 34:8. 03:44 It says, "There is an evidence that is open to all, 03:48 the most highly educated and the most illiterate, 03:51 the evidence of experience." 03:53 Anybody can have it. Amen. 03:55 "God invites us to prove for ourselves 03:58 the reality of His word." 03:59 Now I wanted to ask you guys before we go on. 04:01 What is it mean that we can prove ourselves 04:04 the reality of His word? 04:06 How can you do that? 04:07 Experiences that we have in life. 04:08 Experiences. 04:10 Okay, is there another way? 04:12 Prayer with the Bible. 04:15 In the Bible. 04:16 The next part will give you even a better hint 04:19 of what I'm looking for, 04:21 "The truth of His promises," which is what she related 04:24 to comparing it with the Bible because a lot of times 04:28 we fail to put our hand to the powers of word. 04:32 We fail to actually claim those promises. 04:35 And there's power in God's word. 04:36 There's power in His promises. 04:39 "He bids us to taste and see that the Lord is good, 04:42 instead of depending upon the word of another." 04:45 And so many people around the world that's what we do. 04:48 We go, you know, if we go once a week 04:50 and we're listening to somebody else. 04:52 But we're not bringing it home and we're not looking it up 04:55 in the word of God and we're not received. 04:57 We got to taste and see for ourselves. 04:59 Okay. 05:00 "And as we draw near to Jesus 05:02 and rejoice in the fullness of His love," 05:05 I love this too, "our doubt and darkness will disappear 05:10 and in the light of His presence." 05:12 You know, so many people question 05:13 "Is there really a God?" 05:14 What is really the truth? 05:16 "The Christian knows in whom he has believed. 05:20 He does not only read the Bible," 05:22 listen to this, 05:23 "he experiences the power of its teachings." 05:27 Have you guys experienced the power of its teachings? 05:29 Amen. Absolutely. 05:31 We just got back from two months of evangelism. 05:34 So you know, that was powerful. God is good. 05:37 And we just want to focus 05:40 in on the power of His teaching, 05:41 the evidence of our experience. 05:44 The evidence of our experience. Yes. 05:46 You know, I was reading there 05:47 in First Selected Messages, and of course, 05:49 we want to encourage you, you maybe at home, 05:50 we're doing some worship right now. 05:52 And we may burst out in a song. 05:54 Oh, you never know. 05:55 Yeah, and praises but you know, as we study the word together, 06:00 we see how powerful God is and His promises 06:03 that you were bringing out. 06:04 And so it's dynamite in the cause of Christ. 06:07 Everyone of should be dynamite. 06:09 And God wants to do great things through His people. 06:12 You were mentioning evidence there 06:14 in First Selected Messages, again, 06:15 you need to get a pencil and paper, 06:16 those who are at home. 06:18 And get your Bibles and get them out 06:19 'cause this is called Bible study. 06:21 First Selected Messages, 06:22 just a couple of lines, you'll notice. 06:24 It says, "Sufficient evidence is promised to those 06:27 who are honestly seeking for truth." 06:30 So evidence will be given if you're honestly 06:33 seeking for truth. 06:34 The problem a lot of people say, 06:36 "Well, I read it and I believe it, 06:38 well, you know." 06:39 And they'll make a lot of excuses. 06:41 "But I think, I read it but" What have we found? 06:46 "So often I read it but in think." 06:49 But we found this out. 06:50 Those who are honestly seeking, 06:53 listen, honestly seeking for what is truth, 06:56 God will make sure you'll find that truth. 06:58 And we have two that sitting here today 07:00 that will share some of those experiences in a moment. 07:02 I'm kind of excited about it 'cause to see 07:03 how God has worked in their life 07:05 and how it put people together. 07:07 How He does that. Oh, yes. 07:08 For the salvation of souls. 07:10 So we're excited about that. 07:12 And I think maybe you're gonna ask for the Terry, right? 07:15 Yes. 07:17 Some evidence of his experience. 07:19 Oh, yeah. Absolutely. 07:20 I want to read a couple of things. 07:21 I jotted down and so again, that's why your pencil 07:23 and your paper and your Bible, get them out. 07:25 This is found, and most people realize this is the book, 07:27 I love it, "Steps to Christ." 07:29 Steps to Christ, page 93, because we have to believe 07:32 that God is involved in our lives. 07:35 We have to believe that he's watching over us. 07:37 We have to believe that He is going to lead 07:39 someone to you 07:41 if you honestly seeking for truth. 07:43 Remember, He leads someone to you. 07:45 He'll open up doors and avenues that are simply wonderful. 07:48 You can't explain it. 07:50 You don't know how it happened. 07:51 But God does. 07:53 And He'll make sure that person will find truth. 07:55 Notice "Steps to Christ," 93. 07:57 Notice how God speaks to us 07:59 "through nature and Revelation," 08:02 notice this, "through His providence 08:05 and by the influence of His Spirit God speaks to us." 08:11 Think, please think-- it's through what? 08:13 Through nature, through Revelation, 08:15 notice this, through providence. 08:17 So we are finding that providence plays 08:19 a big part in God reaching out for the people 08:23 to bring them into this last day message. 08:26 One more. 08:27 This is found in "Prophesy King." 08:28 by the way, 378. 08:30 I thought this is just exciting. 08:31 It says, "In various ways 08:32 God will reveal Himself, 08:35 to notice this, "to men and will place them 08:38 in touch with providence." 08:40 Did you get it? Yeah. 08:42 "That will establish their confidence in the one 08:45 who has given Himself a ransom for all." 08:49 To me that is just so exciting 08:51 because then, I thought, well, that's it. 08:53 It must be a passage or scripture too 08:55 that help us go along with that. 08:56 And in Psalms 78: 7, 08:58 we need to pay best of attention 08:59 because He knows what he says. 09:01 He said that, "They might set their hope in God." 09:04 So God in His providence, right, 09:05 He is speaking through nature, 09:07 He's speaking through individuals. 09:08 He's opening doors. 09:09 But notice how He does it. 09:11 "So that they may set their hope in God 09:13 and not forget the works of God." 09:16 Notice that. 09:17 "But keep his commandments." Yes. 09:19 So it becomes very clear 09:20 that God is trying to lead the people, 09:22 get, you know, bring people into our hearts 09:24 into our lives 09:25 who have been praying for what is truth. 09:29 He's gonna make sure you find it. 09:31 And so, you know, Brother Terry, 09:32 that kind of leads us to relationship. 09:37 I feel like we have a good relationship. 09:38 We're brothers in Christ. 09:39 I love you as a brother, you know that. 09:41 And just the way that it's started was amazing 09:43 how God opened the door of providence. 09:46 And we'll just talking back and forth here. 09:48 So I just kind of get you started here. 09:50 Yeah. 09:51 There was one day that I was looking for, 09:54 I call electrician, you know, I'm looking for electrician, 09:56 do us the job, he's gonna put, 09:58 I think it was an outside entry. 09:59 You know, with a big pole, you know, 10:01 over their head and all this, 200 service, 10:02 is that right, an African American. 10:04 Okay. 10:05 And so anyway I-- just thinking about it. 10:07 I called a few people and a couple of them 10:09 wanted to send the whole electrical company 10:12 to do a one man's job. 10:13 You know, I said, you know, I'm not the one to buy 10:15 the electric company. 10:16 I want a man, right, that would be able to help us, 10:18 works good, he does a good job. 10:20 And so what I did, I went to the lumber yard, 10:23 Southside Lumber, Kent. 10:25 Some people realized who see these programs. 10:27 Such a nice guy. Always has been. 10:29 In fact, he for about five years, 10:32 Kent from Southside Lumber supported 10:34 Behold the Lamb on Fox channel. 10:36 For five years. 10:38 Very interesting. 10:39 So anyway, I went to him, I said, Kent, 10:41 would you happen to know a man 10:43 that maybe just a single man, maybe works by itself, 10:45 I'm talking about if there's a man, 10:47 one man operation that can do electrical and carpentry 10:49 and so on and so forth. 10:51 And he gave me two names. 10:53 And so your's was one of those names. 10:55 And so I called the other guy and I forget something happened 10:58 and he called back but he was busy. 10:59 He couldn't do it. And I called your house. 11:01 Didn't know you but I called your house 11:03 and I left a message. 11:04 Yes. 11:05 And so I left the message 11:07 and told I was looking for somebody 11:08 who do a little electrical work. 11:10 Interesting thought too is that you said, 11:11 I don't know exactly how basically a carpenter, 11:15 how did Kent know that I was an electrician. 11:17 I was thinking about that, yeah. 11:18 God knows His business. He knows His business. 11:21 He's working on something here. 11:22 So what happened? 11:23 Now remember, so I was call I left a message 11:25 and then you decided to call me back. 11:28 Well, my wife told me, you know, that this person, 11:31 Kenny Shelton called and wanted to do for some work 11:33 and he left a message and instantly, 11:35 I've been watching 3ABN for many years prior to this. 11:39 And still like events of the truth. 11:42 I don't know, I was saying, 11:43 is it true, is it the truth. 11:45 And they think, you know, it's not truth is. 11:46 We're not part of. 11:48 But you had no contact, right. You had no contact. 11:50 You just been watching 3ABN for years at your home, 11:53 you knew, and you told me at one time, 11:55 I think I'm already a Seventh-day Adventist. 11:58 Yeah, I'm totally convinced that this was truth, you know. 12:02 I learned in the world that all these things 12:05 I grew up believing and understanding. 12:07 The world was saying, this ain't so, this ain't so. 12:09 And I felt why? 12:11 What's going on, you know. 12:13 And what is the truth of all these matters, you know, 12:16 and when I started watching 3ABN, 12:19 I mean, they gave me answers 12:20 and they were not afraid to give answers. 12:23 People say, genuine and I was totally convinced. 12:26 I could trust anyone of them you know, 12:28 Were they consistent in the message 12:31 that they were giving you? 12:32 Or did you find that one was saying this 12:34 and the other saying that? 12:35 No, there was consistency, wasn't there, in the word? 12:37 So when I called you and you called me back, 12:40 and your wife said, Kenny Shelton. 12:42 So what was your response to that name? 12:45 Well, she said Kenny Shelton and I'm thinking Danny Shelton. 12:47 I know Danny Shelton from 3ABN. 12:49 And I don't if he has a brother or not 12:52 but I was not aware of you being inherent at the time, 12:54 I mean, in the church but-- 12:56 I kind of put it off a little bit 12:58 and I called back and I wasn't interested in job. 13:01 At that time I was more interested 13:02 in speaking with Pastor Kenny, 13:04 you know what I mean, and sharing with him, 13:05 you know, what I've been learning 13:06 and you know, I just kind of people like 13:09 that we bounce ideas up one another, 13:10 I'm sure they are wondering. 13:12 And it just-- I went there 13:14 and we had a good discussion there on the job. 13:17 But like I said, 13:18 job was secondary to me at that time. 13:20 I was more interested in that, 13:23 and contact him and I had been, 13:28 where I live I pass the Behold the Lamb every day 13:31 when I were in a town and when I go to work and then, 13:33 especially on the Sabbath, I passed there and I'd say, 13:37 I need to be there, you know. 13:39 And that's why I need to be... 13:40 Was that just coming from your mind 13:42 possibly or you think maybe the Spirit of God 13:44 was saying to you, "Brother Terry, 13:46 you need to stop here." Was that providence? 13:48 'Cause I mean, really everyday when you went back 13:51 and forth to work, to go your house, 13:53 you had to pass the ministry. 13:56 It's like Lord set that up... 13:58 I know He did. Yes. 14:00 And-- 14:05 Oh, I've been considering 14:07 I need to go, you know, I mean, I started to going to church. 14:09 I knew I needed to and this is at a time 14:12 when my brother had cancer had passed away and that was 14:18 I mean my father had passed away 14:20 and my mother prior to this. 14:21 But somehow my brother, you know, 14:23 he was the ultimate big brother, 14:24 you know, to all us kids. 14:26 We had bunch of kids. 14:27 And it really affected my life and Lord had really spoke to me 14:31 through that and I don't know if I, I decided it is time 14:37 that Lord want me to make a move 14:40 and He was working at me to make that decision. 14:42 You were praying, right, I mean, didn't you? 14:44 you prayed for truth. 14:45 You want to know, you mentioned here. 14:46 I want to really know what truth is 14:48 'cause everybody is teaching different things. 14:49 I really want to know what truth is 14:51 and so God began to open up what? 14:53 The doors. Didn't He? 14:54 He opened up doors to go in through 14:57 and you went right through them. 14:58 I like it because there are some people that when you meet, 15:03 you just know they are genuine, 15:04 you just know that they love Jesus. 15:07 You know they are kind of easy come easy go type guys. 15:10 So I remember, Brother Terry, he had, 15:13 he thought about many times, stopping there at the church. 15:16 Oh, yeah. But he wouldn't do it. 15:18 So as he talked on the phone little bit there, he said, 15:21 I think I'm an Adventist at heart. 15:22 I need to stop in. I said good. 15:24 I see you next Sabbath. I never met him just yet. 15:26 He said, well, yeah, I-- one of these days I-- 15:29 one of these days I'm going to. I said, no. 15:30 this next week we want you to come. 15:33 He said, well, I'm gonna, I said, look, Brother Terry, 15:36 I never met him but I just knew by the spirit 15:38 that I could say this to you and not be offended. 15:41 I said, well, you know, if you don't show up 15:42 I will come and get you. Yeah. 15:44 And he just kind of chuckled on the phone. 15:46 I think the beautiful part of this is going back 15:49 to what 3ABN is all about. 15:51 It gets into homes, you know, if we has gone by 15:55 and try to give your Bible study 15:56 or try to get to eat, probably you would have said, 15:58 you know, I'm not interested in. 16:00 But how God works when people turn 16:03 that channel and sometimes they don't even know 16:05 what they are looking for 16:07 but they've been praying for truth 16:09 and then there it is, right in their homes. 16:11 This to me has been the instrument 16:14 that God is using to get this message around the world. 16:17 Remember Danny always says, "The blessing is on the go." 16:21 And we are experiencing that blessing everywhere we go. 16:24 In fact, I'll just show it, a little tit bit. 16:27 I got a email last night from a lady up in Ohio. 16:31 Her name is Gladys Critter. 16:32 She's from the Lakewood Church in Ohio. 16:35 And she was coming to our meetings 16:37 and when we came home, 16:38 we flew back for camp meeting and we brought several of these 16:42 3ABN Faith and Family flyers. 16:45 Because so many people don't realize with 16:47 all the changing technology, how they can get this signal. 16:51 And I like her email. 16:53 Last night she says, "Later this month 16:54 we are mustering a crew of our door-to-door people 16:58 and they're gonna pass out these flyers. 17:00 3ABN flyers. 17:02 Take them to houses, put them on cars 17:04 because they understand the importance of the messages 17:08 coming from this channel. 17:09 We are so thankful for that. 17:10 So thankful. 17:12 How that lady there, how did we meet her. 17:15 Do you remember? Yes, 17:16 we had just got into Ohio and... 17:18 We left Minneapolis, Minnesota, and we stopped at a church, 17:21 right, on Sabbath and met this little lady, 17:25 sweetheart and all of a sudden 17:27 she started driving to hour 17:29 of the meetings in there, right. 17:32 Downtown and any how she drove there 17:34 and enjoyed and all of a sudden she's become a big part. 17:37 In giving out all these flyers and trying to tell people 17:39 how to get 3ABN. 17:41 So we were just always excited about that... 17:42 You know, it's very exciting. 17:44 And as talking more about the evidence of our experience. 17:48 We have got Sister Kara here 17:50 and we at one time needed someone to come in 17:53 and do some cleaning and if as you are watching 3ABN 17:57 and you see the program that we're on., 18:00 you might see that there is a painting in that picture. 18:04 And anyway, Kara had been coming 18:06 and she started cleaning and she had asked me, she said, 18:10 "What do you folks believe in?" 18:11 And I said, "Well, basically what the Bible teaches." 18:14 So unbeknownst to mean, she began to ask our secretary 18:18 for some messages and began to study 18:22 and probably tuning into 3ABN at that time. 18:26 And, Kara, tell us what happened? 18:27 How did God work in your life? 18:29 What kind of evidence did He give you? 18:32 He gave me all kinds of evidence 18:33 'cause I always asking for it. 18:35 Previously, I was-- grew up Baptist 18:39 and went to church when I was young, younger 18:42 and fallen away and then I decided well, 18:45 you know, my mother took my other older kids to church 18:49 with her while I stayed at home. 18:52 Then I had younger ones that my mom couldn't take 18:56 so I had to take them to church 'cause they had to get there. 18:59 Somebody had to show them. So I decided to go. 19:02 And I just moved into Herron, probably two years to that. 19:08 And there was a church right next door to me. 19:11 So me and the boys went over there 19:13 and we walked in and not one person said hello. 19:17 Nobody shook our hand. Well. 19:19 They just totally, you know, ignored us and, I, you know, 19:23 I just felt like that is not godly people. 19:27 That is not Christian people. 19:29 So I didn't go back there. 19:30 So I started praying, you know, 19:33 "Lord lead me where you want me to go, 19:34 let me find a church 19:35 so that I could take these boys too 19:37 and everything and, you know, a friend of my husband came 19:41 and asked if I wanted to help clean a church. 19:44 So I went down and saw Sister Chris 19:46 and met with her and, of course, 19:48 she's telling me, you know, 19:49 everything about what my details were. 19:52 And I said, well, I thought to myself, 19:54 well, you know, if I gonna work here 19:55 I better know what they are doing, you know. 19:58 So I asked her and I said, 20:00 you know, "What do you guys believe in?" 20:03 She said, "Everything straight from the Bible." 20:05 I said, well, that's good. 20:06 That's what I believed in too, you know. 20:08 And she goes, "And we observe the Sabbath." 20:11 That got me. 20:12 And I said "Sabbath." 20:14 What is the Sabbath? 20:16 You know, here I am. 20:18 I thought I've been observing the Sabbath all this time, 20:21 I wasn't putting it together. 20:23 So I said, okay, you know. 20:25 I'm thinking to myself, this woman is crazy, you know. 20:28 Well. 20:29 But, you know, I went home 20:31 and I started looking everything up. 20:33 I started cross referencing this 20:34 and that and this and that. 20:36 And just, you know, digging into it, 20:39 you know, and praying the whole time. 20:41 And I go at night and I told, pray to God, I said, 20:43 Lord, please show me the truth 20:45 and He's just continuously showing me 20:47 after checking this out and checking that out, 20:49 going back through history 20:50 and see where the Sabbath was changed, 20:52 you know, by the Catholic church 20:54 and everything and I was like, wow, you know. 20:56 Then I went to my kids, my older kids 20:59 and I apologized to them, because I had misinformed them. 21:06 They were believing by what I told them, you know. 21:09 Even though they went to church, 21:11 you know, they were still younger. 21:12 When they went to church, they probably 21:14 didn't pay attention to half of it, you know. 21:15 But I went and told them that I was wrong 21:19 and started explaining things to them. 21:21 At the same time I'm down here working at the church, okay, 21:25 and there's this painting that sits up on the fire place, 21:28 kind of like that one there 21:30 and it has Christ with His hands 21:32 with the wounds in His hands. 21:33 And every time I clean that church, 21:36 I would go around the picture frame 21:37 with the rags, I didn't want to go over it 21:39 because it's an oil painting, you know. 21:42 Well, that day, I was cleaning and I said, you know what, 21:45 I'm just gonna go over it lightly, 21:46 just to get some of the dust off a bit. 21:48 Soon as I hit that picture and went over it, 21:52 I got a feeling in me like a shock 21:56 went through my body like I was just like, huh. 21:59 I just touched the hands of Christ 22:02 who died for me, you know. 22:04 I had the-- you know, that brings me to tears... 22:10 You know, it's 'cause it was just so overwhelming. 22:13 And I was thinking, well, I was like 22:15 what just happened here? 22:17 You know. 22:18 And, you know, it almost got me to my knees, 22:20 you know, took my breath away and everything. 22:22 And I was just like, 22:24 God was speaking to me. Absolutely. 22:26 And He was telling me, this is the truth. 22:28 This is where you belong at. 22:30 I know that, you know. 22:33 And I just went on 'cause I was just really stunned 22:37 and, you know. 22:38 And especially in the sanctuary 'cause I always took 22:40 the extraspecial care of the sanctuary, you know. 22:43 I always made sure that it was nice and clean and you know. 22:47 Kept my thoughts right, you know, 22:50 and everything in there because, you know, that is... 22:52 Holy. It's Holy ground. Amen. 22:54 You know, Amen. 22:55 and it was just, 22:57 it changed my life from then on now. 22:59 I mean, that was just the beginning. 23:02 Oh, it's just the beginning. 23:03 Things had begun to happen in your life, ain't that right? 23:05 But it's powerful because God will reach down, 23:08 He'll do anything and everything He can. 23:10 He knows how to touch an individual. 23:13 And He knew that you needed a special touch. 23:15 'Cause I remember you, you telling us it felt like 23:18 electricity going through. 23:20 And you felt like you had heard God's said, 23:22 "Kara, this is where you need to be." 23:24 But it was so powerful 23:26 which leads us into more of our study today. 23:29 More evidence of God's providence in His power. 23:32 Pastor, Kenny, can you lead us into this more? 23:34 I think while we're doing this 23:35 it'd be good for us to contemplate 23:37 and to think about more about 23:39 what God has been doing in each of our lives 23:42 because we're talking about here with Brother Terry 23:44 and Sister Kara. 23:45 This was the beginning touch. 23:47 This was the evidence of the Holy Spirit 23:49 was seeking after you. 23:51 Remember, we can't even come to Christ 23:53 on our own without the drawing and wooing of the Holy Spirit. 23:56 So Holy Spirit was loving you, wooing you, 23:58 drawing you into relationship. 24:01 And how wonderful that the Holy Spirit 24:03 God chooses people-- people. 24:06 And I thought this, I read, jotted down something 24:10 I thought very interesting. 24:11 The Ministry of Healing page 470. 24:13 Notice this statement. 24:14 I thought it's really interesting. 24:16 It said, "The strongest argument," 24:17 you know, we like to have strong arguments 24:19 when we go to the word of God, 24:20 we like to be able to back it up 24:21 by the word of truth 24:23 and we should be able to do that. 24:24 But "The strongest argument in favor of the gospel," 24:27 notice this, "is a loving, lovable Christian." 24:31 Well. Amen. 24:32 Strongest argument that we can possibly give is 24:37 to be lovely to be like Jesus and a lovable Christian. 24:42 You know, a lot of times we have the stone faces 24:44 and we have the-- little look on our face 24:46 like we're not happy. 24:48 But you know, as a Christian we all realize-- 24:49 we should be happy. 24:50 That is the best argument, you know. 24:52 Like, you see, sometime I read a Bible says 24:54 all the foolishness of preaching, you know. 24:56 We all need, we realize 24:57 we learn from the word and so on. 24:58 But God wants to come in through 25:00 the power of the Spirit. 25:02 And if the Spirit is really coming in, 25:04 you know, in our study, in our worship time 25:06 here on the Sabbath hours, we need to be thinking about 25:09 when the Spirit comes in. 25:10 There is something electrical about the Holy Spirit 25:15 coming into our hearts and to our lives. 25:18 I had a quote down here. 25:20 I'm gonna read here in just a moment. 25:21 But I noticed and I found this in, 25:24 Chris, you may see this too, in both of their lives, 25:26 again, we don't elevate any person or any man because 25:29 we have nothing to elevate. 25:30 It's all Jesus. 25:32 If I be lifted up, we do what? 25:33 "Draw all men unto me." "Draw all men unto me." 25:36 So we need to realize this is not an elevation of man 25:39 or what but we need to cope with the idea 25:41 that when the Holy Spirit comes into your heart, 25:43 my heart, anyone's heart, you at home, when you're-- 25:46 in your heart that it changes that individual. 25:49 They become different people than they were before 25:52 and I thought this was kind of an interesting thought here. 25:56 I'll see if I can find it. 25:58 I think that's an interesting thought. 26:00 Here Jesus says, "Come as you are." 26:03 The beautiful thing is 26:05 He doesn't leave us the way we are. 26:07 That's right. 26:08 He's reforming us, 26:09 he's preparing us for the kingdom of heaven. 26:12 And I know, I've seen it in my life, 26:14 I've seen it in your life, 26:15 and what he touched on a little bit earlier, 26:18 the love, you know, our love, our Christian love, 26:20 the love of Jesus, 26:22 we need to be praying for His character 26:24 and for His love to fill our heart. 26:26 And when we witness when we're out-- 26:28 whether it's a Walmart or whatever, you know, 26:31 store and driving your car, we need to sharing that love, 26:35 you mentioned in church. 26:37 That's a good example for all of us. 26:40 Our family here at home that's studying with us to say, 26:43 am I loving to those who come in 26:46 and visit in our church, you know. 26:48 And I drive from Minnesota to Ohio... 26:53 We visited some of the churches and bless their hearts, 26:56 not everybody was real love. 26:58 I mean, it's almost like you weren't there. 27:01 And they had no idea, some of them, 27:03 who we were, you know. 27:04 So if a stranger comes in, we need to, you'll never know, 27:07 you might be entertaining angels. 27:09 That's our individual responsibility, isn't it? 27:14 You can't say well, that's a preacher's job, 27:15 that's the elder's job, that somebody else's job. 27:18 As an individual in that church 27:19 we have that obligation to go and we seen that, 27:23 we thought, you know. 27:25 We need to see the love of Christ in the people. 27:27 We need to see the hearts and lives change and I know, 27:30 you folks have been out in soul winning business, 27:32 trying to win souls and I've seen this 27:34 in Proverbs 11:25. 27:36 And notice what it says. 27:37 It says, "He that watereth shall be watered also himself." 27:41 So while you're watering as it were, 27:43 trying to give somebody else the gospel, 27:45 try to give them the water of life, 27:47 what happens? 27:48 You're being fed, you're being watered, 27:49 you're being nourished, you're being changed... 27:52 Because you're trying to help someone else. 27:54 Desire of Ages 142 says, 27:56 "He who seeks to give light to others 27:59 will himself be blessed. 28:02 So if you're wanting a blessing, what we do? 28:06 We need to be giving light. 28:07 We need to be reaching out to someone else. 28:09 I think we need to be praying to be a blessing, 28:11 how about you... 28:13 And has that-- God ever answered that prayer 28:15 'cause I believed you prayed that-- go ahead. 28:18 He answers my prayers daily. 28:20 Praise God. Amen. 28:22 You know, and it's just a blessing, you know. 28:24 And one thing that I know that I struggled with 28:26 that I had to come and try to figure out was, 28:30 when you come from somebody whonever observed the Sabbath 28:35 and realize how special the Sabbath is 28:38 and how beautiful and how celebrating 28:40 and how, you know, 28:43 it's the time between you and God. 28:45 And I never knew how to do that. 28:47 When I grew up, it was, you know, you go to church, 28:49 go to grandma's house, eat and then you go watch football 28:52 or go to the mall or whatever, you know. 28:55 But that's not how you do it, you know. 28:57 And it took me a while because I know how to bring my children 29:00 in to honor the Sabbath. 29:03 And tell them how to do 29:04 it the best way that I knew how. 29:07 You know, so I started looking up things 29:09 and trying to figure things out and talking to people 29:12 and you know, kids, 29:15 especially when they are not brought up 29:17 in Seventh-day Adventist life, 29:19 don't know how to react to things. 29:22 So I have, you know, 29:24 you're supposed to make the Sabbath a delight. 29:25 Absolutely. 29:27 So I had to go and study and interpret, 29:29 what is going to be pleasing to God, 29:31 what do I need to do that I'm gonna draw my children 29:34 in so they're not going, "Huh, it's a Sabbath again." 29:36 Right. You know. 29:38 So what I had to do was, is while looking at the stuff 29:42 I started buying dishes. 29:46 I know it's crazy. 29:47 I started buying dishes and I bought dishes 29:49 of every different color and designs and stuff 29:52 and when the Sabbath comes, 29:54 I set my table with these dishes. 29:56 They are made just for the Sabbath. 29:58 Wow. 29:59 And it's all colorful and beautiful 30:01 and we have a big Sabbath meal and we light the candles. 30:05 And the kids just love it 'cause they think 30:07 they're all fancy and everything, 30:08 you know, coming to this dinner. 30:10 But they realized that it's for the Sabbath. 30:13 And they know and they help set the table, 30:14 you know, and stuff like that 30:16 and we light the candles and we pray 30:19 and after we eat and talk about the day, you know, 30:23 and praise God, we clear the table off 30:27 and then we have family worship. 30:30 Which we-- do a Bible study. Yes. 30:34 Then we get the Bible trivia games out. 30:38 And we put them on the table and the kids play Bible trivia 30:40 and they even get little prizes for them to win for answering 30:43 the right questions, you know. 30:46 It's the little things that they can put together or paint, 30:49 you know, and they can give to somebody, you know. 30:51 So we've been working on some of that stuff. 30:55 But the kids now love the Sabbath. 30:57 Amen. 30:58 They cannot wait for the Sabbath. 30:59 You know, I have this big blue bag 31:01 that sits upon like on my counter in the kitchen. 31:05 And it's full of all different kind of prizes 31:07 in that for them, you know. 31:09 And they just, they can't wait. 31:12 Isn't that wonderful? And they learn the Bible. 31:14 Wow. 31:15 You know, what we're gonna do for us grown-ups? 31:17 You know, yeah. 31:19 Something needs to be done here. 31:20 But you know what, 31:21 the first day that I did that was a blessing that nobody 31:27 could ever understand this. I don't think. 31:30 It's something between you and God, you know. 31:32 And when I did this, I felt God. 31:37 It's like I'm happy with you. 31:38 I felt this happiness, His love. 31:41 He approved of what I did with my children. 31:43 And he let me know it. 31:45 Isn't that wonderful? He looks at the motives. 31:47 Some people may look and say, well, you know, 31:49 the colorful dishes, what about that-- 31:52 motives at the heart, that God looks at. 31:55 And he's seen they were real and they were pure 31:57 and you wanted what's best for your family 31:59 and your children. 32:00 And God honored that, right. 32:03 And He's gonna continue to honor, 32:04 continue to see growth 32:05 and He's gonna continue to see new things happen 32:08 in our experience with Him as we let Him have the reins. 32:12 And He's doing it. Praise God for that. 32:14 I just thought that that was, you know, that was great 32:17 and you're right, you know. 32:18 It's not just the dishes. 32:19 But it's bringing in the Sabbath together 32:22 and family and taking the time out to worship 32:25 and praise Him 32:26 and thank Him for every thing He's done for us, 32:28 Amen. You know. 32:30 And to have my kids do that. 32:32 And they've grown so much, haven't they? 32:33 Oh, wow. Oh, they have changed. 32:36 They have changed over these few years. 32:38 It's been such a blessing. 32:39 He said, what about us bigger kids, you know. 32:42 Well. 32:43 The thought came to me as I'm listening to you. 32:45 When we get to heaven, 32:46 the Bible says from one new moon, 32:48 from one Sabbath to another, we're gonna gather. 32:50 And I've done some reading in the Spirit of Prophecy 32:52 about those Sabbaths in heaven. 32:54 It's so far beyond. 32:56 Oh, well. Oh, yeah. 32:57 What we can even imagine. 32:58 It's so far beyond. 33:00 God is going to make it so special. 33:04 It's a time nobody, no one should miss. 33:07 Amen. So we need to be striving. 33:09 Amen. 33:11 Well, we know it's a blessing to hear what God has done 33:15 in Sister Kara's life. 33:16 I'm blessed by that to hear that and it's a... 33:18 Absolutely. 33:20 My family are of different place or not believers 33:24 and we were just talking a while ago, 33:26 Pastor Kenny said about honor God, 33:28 keep telling honor God, he'll honor you, 33:29 you're not telling them things, 33:30 God says in the Bible, you know, 33:32 we should do this and follow that 33:33 and of course, I'm gonna need help, 33:36 Lord, somebody outside, I can't do it 33:38 You know, what I could say, 33:39 "prophet is not wanted in his own country" 33:40 or what ever it is... 33:42 But I keep telling that, you honor God, He'll honor you 33:45 and greater-- one lesson there 33:48 to take with you and keep you, though. 33:50 He will. He is faithful. 33:52 'Cause we're talking about witness here, aren't we? 33:54 Being a witness. 33:55 Each one can be a witness to the other, 33:58 to see things that you're saying, 33:59 oh, praise God, look, 34:01 we see the changes in the individuals life. 34:03 We see the change in you 34:04 in last several years, you know. 34:06 His willingness to always help. 34:09 We see the change in our lives. Oh, praise God... 34:12 The more that we study, 34:14 the more the Lord is doing a surgery on us. 34:17 The word is cutting, it's dividing, it's separating. 34:20 My dad always used to say, 34:22 if we don't get rid of the dross in this world, 34:24 someday it's gonna burn off. 34:26 Yeah, amen. 34:27 And the people, we keep being encouraged, 34:32 you know, we want to show that Jesus 34:34 that is in us through others and... 34:36 I'm saying that, you know, get back, we are sure 34:38 about watch 3ABN, you know. 34:40 Those are true people. 34:42 I mean, they were, that was Jesus-- 34:43 I like these people, 34:44 you know, feel like they're my friend. 34:46 Now I realize it's Jesus in these people 34:48 that comes through. 34:49 It comes through so clearly to me, you know. 34:51 Amen. 34:52 It's hard to understand why it doesn't to everybody 34:54 but, you know, anyway, 34:56 but that's-- it's a great blessing... 34:59 Amen. 35:01 To be around people. Amen. 35:03 Who share your place... Yes. 35:06 Like my own people. 35:07 It's a blessing. Yes. 35:08 The evidence is there for everybody. 35:11 It just they are not always open to the truth. 35:14 I guess that's right. Oh, yeah. 35:16 True. Same evidence, right. 35:17 The enemy is so good at keeping us so focused 35:22 on so many different... 35:23 he has changed this world, you know. 35:26 The more I draw closer to Christ, 35:29 the more I understand that this world is truly 35:32 enmity between Christ. 35:35 And so the closer we reflect His image, 35:38 it's enmity between us. 35:40 It's getting to the point now, it's like 35:41 I don't even recognize the world 35:43 that we live in anymore. 35:45 But it's that desire to know God, 35:48 to know the truth and then you will listen 35:50 when that signal comes. 35:52 You will want to hear it. 35:53 It's gonna happen, we promise, it's gonna happen. 35:55 That's right. 35:57 It reminds me, John 15:4, we're talking about here 36:00 because there He's talking about the vine 36:03 and the branches. 36:05 I'm just gonna read that. 36:06 It says, and then you need to jot it down at home, 36:08 do some studying on your own. 36:09 It's very, very important that we study the word of God. 36:12 Here is the key, in my opinion, of relationship 36:17 that every person can have with Christ. 36:19 This will fit everyone 36:21 if we have relationship with Him, 36:23 we must participate in this. 36:25 Talking about, "Abide in Me." 36:27 Christ is the answer. John 15: 4. 36:30 It says, "Abide in me and I in you as the branch," 36:33 notice this, "cannot bear fruit of itself except," 36:37 notice, "it abide in," what? 36:38 "In the vine." "In the vine." 36:40 Notice, "No more can ye except ye abide in Me." 36:43 So Jesus said, you know, we have to be-- He's the vine, 36:46 we have to be grafted into that vine. 36:48 Now think about it. 36:49 People say, "well, you know 36:51 I don't worry too much about victories, 36:52 I don't worry so much about this, never have." 36:53 If we are grafted in, 36:56 we're gathering all of our nourishment, 36:58 all of out growth, everything form that vine. 37:00 So that means that the branch that comes out 37:02 must be like the vine. 37:04 Because it's gathering nothing else except 37:05 what comes out of the vine. 37:07 So how can we as Christians say well, you know, I'm not so much 37:10 worried about victory, I'm not so worried about being, 37:12 you know, good person or whatever. 37:15 I love Jesus and I'm going to go to heaven. 37:17 But really our characters then are who we are, 37:19 is how we are grafted in. 37:21 Are we really grafted in or are we just, they say, 37:24 the lamb half way cut, we're hanging down, 37:25 we're losing some of that vital strength. 37:27 He said "Abide in Him." Notice what happens. 37:30 The Manuscript 85,1901. 37:32 This was written, jot it down 37:34 and do some more studying on it. 37:36 Notice it says "Abiding in Christ. 37:37 "So if we abide in Christ," notice this, 37:41 "we may have His sweetness." 37:45 Now this is really good. 37:46 I get goose bumps when I think about this. 37:48 If we abide, it makes sense. 37:49 Now how can we say that we're Christians, 37:51 that we are attached to the vine, over here, 37:54 we must be like the vine. 37:56 What grows out that must be 37:57 so let's get and we're squared away. 37:59 But yet, sometime our characters 38:00 and our attitudes and our disposition is not like 38:02 it comes from vine. 38:04 So that means we're really not attached. 38:05 We think that we are attached. 38:06 We belong to the church, we pay our tithe, 38:08 we do all these things that we think are right. 38:10 But we're really not gathering the nourishment, 38:14 the strength of God or we would be different 38:16 because if we are attached, 38:18 this article says that we will have, 38:20 we'll get the sweetness. 38:22 "We may have the sweetness of His fragrance." 38:25 That means the sweetness of His smell. 38:29 We may smell as Christ, 38:30 we may have that sweetness in attitude, 38:33 the sweetness of disposition 38:35 when we're really abiding in Him. 38:37 "His light," notice it, "and His light in our hearts." 38:40 Now notice what happens. 38:42 "If the light of Jesus is shining through, 38:44 it comes out through our face." 38:48 Right? Isn't that what it says in John 8: 12. 38:51 "He is the light of," what? 38:53 "He is the light of the world." That's right. 38:55 If the light of the world is living inside of me, 38:56 it has to come out somewhere. 38:58 It comes out on our face 38:59 and it comes out on our disposition, 39:01 the way we talk, the way we act, 39:02 the way we do things. 39:03 Because we are attached to the vine. 39:05 Nothing else can come out, 39:07 unless we're really think 39:08 we're attached but we're really not. 39:09 Some people-- broken little vine 39:11 and they take duct tape. 39:13 I think a good question here 39:15 would be how do we attach ourselves to the vine? 39:19 How do we get those roots to sink in deep? 39:22 One thing is you got to study. 39:24 You got to give yourself solely to Christ. 39:27 So I can sit back and relax and go to study once a week? 39:30 No. 39:31 You have prayer, and give it everyday and just, 39:34 you have to turn from the world. 39:36 Yes. 39:38 And this world is getting so bad 39:41 that literally, this book is playing out. 39:43 Yes, it is. Yes, it is. 39:46 And we have to get into the word because, 39:49 you know, there's gonna be either side. 39:52 Two sides, either gonna go to heaven or you're not. 39:55 You either fight against God or fight with God. 39:59 You got to decide where you're gonna be at. 40:01 And I don't want to go against God. 40:02 Yes. Amen. 40:04 So I got to get into this word. I've got to be holy. 40:09 He says, "He's gonna pour his latter 40:11 rain upon all, on the holy." 40:12 So you've got to be holy. Yes. 40:14 The Bible says, we need to love the truth. 40:17 You know, just wanting to be on God's side, 40:20 like you said. 40:21 Is not enough but we have to love the truth. 40:23 And the beautiful thing is as we spend time in His word, 40:27 as we spend time in prayer, 40:29 spend time in spirit of prophecy, 40:32 we begin to love Him. 40:34 Love Him. 40:35 He becomes first and foremost. It's a process. 40:38 It's a process and then everything else 40:41 follows in place. 40:42 Amen. 40:44 You know, and He is the greatest physician. 40:46 I know over years of my life, I fought some of the surgeries. 40:52 But praise God He never gave up on me. 40:54 Amen. 40:55 He never gave up on me. 40:57 He's still working, isn't He? He's still working on me. 40:59 He's still working, bless your heart. 41:01 And I like, Pastor Kenny said-- early on 41:04 when I started coming to church, he said, 41:06 God is looking for people who not know the word, 41:08 He wants people who do the word. 41:09 Yes. Doers. 41:11 Those who want to do-- 41:12 we get and they can and apply in our lives and go with it. 41:17 I said it's a process, again there. 41:18 An interesting thought because there are people 41:21 who will say I think it's kind of brought up 41:22 by each one here in a little different way. 41:25 There's people who are really searching 41:26 and wanting to do the right thing. 41:29 But it sounds strange to some-- but they don't know how. 41:35 They want to get started but it's like 41:37 you have to go through the,da,da, you know. 41:40 Let me just encourage you today, 41:42 each one here and it's a simple thing. 41:45 You know, I've read this and studied 41:46 several different occasions and it's always 41:48 just touched my heart, what a Redeemer we have. 41:51 What a Savior that we have, you know, I've often said, 41:54 you know, when He came to get me, 41:56 He had to dig deep. 41:57 And then when He got to the bottom, 41:59 He had to make another bottom. 42:00 So I mean, that's the kind of Savior that we have. 42:03 So there's no one that's went too far done, 42:05 too much that God can't forgive. 42:07 His arms are open, the nail prints are open. 42:09 His love is drawing us. 42:11 And so people say I sense that, I've heard that 42:13 but I do not know, I don't know how to start. 42:17 Real simple, maybe answer might be 42:19 and may not fit everyone is simply this. 42:23 Follow the light that you have. This is where you start. 42:27 People say, well, I need to do, I need to-- follow the light 42:31 that you have and when you do, 42:34 more light will come. 42:37 Amen. 42:38 So that's like and A, B, C. 42:41 But you say I don't know much. 42:42 But what you do know, God was required. 42:45 Now remember, you follow what you know 42:47 and then once you understand it, 42:49 you are willing to obey. 42:50 Obey. 42:52 You see, obey always fits in that. 42:53 Follow the light, more will come 42:55 and then the mind set must be 42:57 I'm willing to obey the voice of God. 42:59 So how do I become like one with Jesus. 43:03 I got thinking about this, you know. 43:04 We've been in the construction business for years 43:06 and you are in a construction business. 43:07 You and I done a lot of work together. 43:08 Oh, yeah. 43:10 We got somebody's old houses 43:11 and we just whipped them up good, didn't we? 43:12 We just tore them apart and fixed them back up 43:14 and done a lot of good things 43:16 and that's where we get to know one another 43:17 and you know, share things. 43:20 And so I think about when I mention foundation. 43:22 How important is it for us to have a good foundation? 43:26 You know, Bible says, no other foundation 43:28 can man lay that has been laid. 43:29 Jesus Christ is the foundation. 43:30 But how do I become one with Him. 43:32 We mentioned the vine, right, 43:34 the stalk until we're going out. 43:35 But I thought, you know, 43:36 I've done many footing in poured a lot of concrete 43:39 down there. 43:40 But what you do? 43:42 You got to flat footing down there. 43:43 That's the beginning. 43:44 That's the platform. That all so important. 43:46 If you don't have that right everything-- 43:47 if it's not on level, it's all messed up, 43:50 it's going-- you know, if it's not deep enough, 43:51 frost lines, it's gonna crack, it's gonna fall apart. 43:54 But then I say, how-- I'm not the foundation, 43:56 Christ is the foundation. 43:58 He's the cornerstone, right. 43:59 How do I become, ooh, I want to preach. 44:01 Look out. 44:03 How do I become one-- I mean, to me it is so exciting 44:06 that I can become one with Him. 44:08 It's so exciting to know that we confess our sins, 44:11 He's faithfuls and just. 44:13 I'm so excited to know that when Jesus accepts me, 44:17 the Father accepts me 44:18 and He loves me just as much as He loves His son. 44:21 Now think about that. 44:22 That's beyond my mind's comprehension. 44:26 I tried to understand it but get that through our head. 44:29 When we live the life, by the grace of God, 44:33 Holy Spirit living inside us, 44:35 God loves us just like He loves His Son. 44:38 That is amazing. 44:39 So I think about how can I be one with Christ. 44:42 We have the footing, we got a wide couple of feet, 44:47 you know, deep and build the frost line 44:48 so when the-- you know, 44:50 wind and the rain everything is gonna be stuck. 44:51 But how do I become one. 44:53 I thought, you know, it hit me about 3 o'clock this morning. 44:56 "So, Kenny, do you remember when you mix the motor? 44:58 Yeah." 44:59 So I'm talking to myself. I should be asleep. 45:01 But you know, the Lord wakes me up 45:02 so I can talk to Him, you know. 45:04 I said with mix the motor-- 45:05 how do you I become one of you, Lord? 45:06 When you mix the motor, you take that motor 45:08 and you make-- and you put that motor 45:09 down on the foundation. 45:11 That motor sticks to the others that seem that concrete there. 45:15 It sticks. It fastened into one. 45:17 Then I am the block. He's the foundation. 45:20 There is the motor there. 45:21 Almost think about the Holy Spirit, 45:23 you know, it's there with-- and I take that block, 45:25 I lay it in that motor, motor it all around 45:28 and that block then becomes one with the foundation. 45:32 I thought, wow! 45:33 Okay, we can become with one with Him. 45:35 He's the chief cornerstone. He's the foundation. 45:37 But I maybe a block. 45:38 Each one of us are blocks. 45:40 But we can be one with Him as we are motored. 45:42 Is the motor the Holy Spirit? I think so. 45:44 That's holding us together. 45:46 The Holy Spirit is holding us together. 45:48 The Holy Spirit does, you know. 45:50 It has a lot to do with it-- 45:52 I mean, to me that's so exciting. 45:55 1 Peter 2:5, somebody jot that down, look that up 45:57 when you have the opportunity. 45:59 But, you know, haven't you seen your life, grow? 46:03 Have you ever studied like you study now, either one of you? 46:05 Have you ever studied like you do now? 46:07 Now I want you come to the knowledge of the truth. 46:09 What makes you want to get in where 46:10 umpteen years you didn't? 46:12 Well, that makes the difference, yeah. 46:14 I-- these notebooks here, I got piles of them at home 46:18 about took notes because I know I need it. 46:20 My memory may not be good at all. 46:22 I want to know where I can find the answer, you know. 46:24 A long time ago, you know, I had questions, 46:27 we don't have to have the answer in our head 46:29 but once we get there but we had in our word 46:31 where we can go to get that again. 46:32 You know where to get it, right... 46:34 Do you look forward to? 46:35 Do you look forward to time that you can study the word, 46:37 your quite time? 46:39 Sister Kara, how about you? 46:40 Do you look forward to time that you study? 46:41 Everyday. 46:43 But you got a family, 46:44 your husband take care of your children 46:46 and you'll be working. I get up early in the morning 46:47 before anybody does. 46:48 Why would you get up so early? 46:50 To spend time with Christ. Amen. 46:51 Because you can't do it 46:53 when everybody is needing your attention. 46:55 And so that's what it takes. But that's sacrifice, isn't it? 46:58 I think so. Yes, It can be. 47:01 But it doesn't feel like it. 47:02 No, it doesn't feel like it at all. 47:04 It feels like a sacrifice not to have the time 47:05 with Him anymore because we feel empty. 47:08 You started to say something a moment ago. 47:10 What was in your heart? 47:11 Well, whenever-- he's talking about all of this, 47:13 I was looking down at my Bible and it showed me, John 15:10. 47:17 It says, "If you keep my commandments, 47:19 you shall abide in my love, 47:21 even as I have kept my Father's command-- 47:23 commandments and abide in His love." 47:25 Amen, amen. Wow, good. 47:27 So we're-- and I liked 47:28 when he was saying to that the Father will love us 47:31 just so like He loves His Son. 47:33 Well, if we are abiding in Christ 47:36 and keeping His commandments, that's what He sees. 47:39 When He looks at us, He sees the son. 47:42 When we pray about studying, 47:45 about presenting even this message, 47:47 what do we pray about, not that anyone sees us 47:49 because anything that we have to say, 47:51 it avails nothing, but that they see Jesus, 47:57 that they sense the Holy Spirit. 47:59 Amen. 48:00 What a blessing. Amen. 48:02 You know, that wonders, you mentioned 48:04 when you touched that picture, 48:05 I'll never forget that, it's like electrical shock, 48:08 you know, that may sound strange to some people 48:10 but, you know, that really, 48:11 that electricity of the Holy Spirit 48:13 should be moving through us as God's people. 48:16 I'm gonna read you something here. 48:17 It's from Sabbath School Worker. 48:20 1128, 1905. 48:21 This was written, we need to pay, 48:23 and you at home, bless your heart, 48:25 you know, we are in the worship time, 48:26 here the Sabbath hour, we need to pay attention 48:27 to this because I think maybe, we're missing. 48:30 I think maybe I missed it for a long time, you know. 48:32 And not being sensing that for years, 48:34 the power of the Spirit and how He's working in hearts 48:37 and lives and changing us and moulding us, you know, 48:40 almost like we-- for separately, 48:41 like we don't even know what's happening. 48:43 Just wake up one day and that's no longer an issue. 48:45 You know, God is working but notice what it says here. 48:47 Talking about-- you said a while ago, 48:49 just while ago, when you're controlled by the Holy Spirit, 48:51 each one of us are in agreement. 48:52 We're controlled by the Holy Spirit, notice. 48:54 "When those controlled by the Spirit communicate 48:57 to others the energy with which they are imbued," 49:01 all right, the energy, right, 49:02 you accepted Christ as your personal savior. 49:05 We're baptized, we received power. 49:08 Power, we are talking about-- that's called dynamite. 49:10 We're dynamite for Jesus. 49:12 But notice what it says here, 49:13 we go out to tell others about it. 49:15 Notice this. 49:17 "The energy which," notice, "they are imbued 49:19 an invisible cord is touched which electrifies." 49:24 There it is. 49:25 A cord that is struck, it's like plugging into 110, 49:28 don't say 220 'cause it'll end up do you in. 49:30 110 would be a good shock for us. 49:33 "But it electrifies the whole," that means the whole individual 49:36 and then the article goes on. 49:38 She said, "that we all understand 49:40 how boundless are divine resources." 49:43 The power. 49:44 The power that God has for His people is boundless. 49:48 This is for everyone. 49:49 We're just, we've not tapped into it. 49:52 We've got the plug, the power is right here. 49:54 We just need to reach. 49:55 That's out effort. 49:57 The effort by grace of God, it's reached down, 49:58 get a hold of that cord us and just plug into the source, 50:01 its infinite wisdom. 50:03 The word used here, "it electrifies." 50:06 So when the word is preached and taught and read, 50:09 there should be electrical current 50:10 going through because the Holy Spirit 50:12 is full of electricity as it were spiritual 50:14 electricity to excite us, to encourage us 50:17 and get into the word. 50:18 And you know what it does? It helps others to listen. 50:21 They see something in you. 50:23 They sense something about you. 50:25 Just remember, it's not you. It's the one who lives inside. 50:28 But they are looking at you. 50:30 And they may not understand that that power, 50:32 great power inside, but the boundless resources, 50:35 so, you know, 3ABN and all the outreach, 50:38 all that's been done, God is still the Author. 50:40 God is still gonna meet those needs, 50:42 God is still looking to save souls. 50:44 I think that's just a wonderful thing. 50:46 It electrifies us with that all, 50:49 understand the boundless resources of God. 50:52 And I think this is why it's so important 50:54 that we stay plugged in, you know. 50:57 If I don't study, if I don't have that precious time, 51:02 just between God and myself, three days, three days 51:06 I can feel the difference. I can feel the difference. 51:09 I could tell the difference if I did not-- 51:11 when I first wake up in the morning, 51:13 my feet donot hit the floor unless I'm prayed. 51:16 If I do not pray and I get up I can tell it. 51:19 I have to go pray immediately because I know, 51:22 it's-- I just don't feel right. I know. 51:25 And it's interesting 51:26 'cause he was talking about this power, 51:28 you know, so often you hear, even Adventist Christians 51:31 they were wanting that latter rain, 51:34 We can have some of that latter rain now. 51:36 We've experienced some of that latter rain now, 51:39 you know, even in study, you feel the presence of God. 51:43 People we met in these meetings, 51:46 you know, I remember one lady just looking, 51:48 she's just like, what, you know, 51:49 she couldn't hardly put her finger on it 51:51 but she's-- the power, 51:53 the spirit, it's different here. 51:56 Ooh, glow around. 51:57 It's different. 51:58 It's like a double portion, that's what she said 52:01 because she could sense God's presence in the meetings. 52:06 It's real, it's alive. Truth is powerful. 52:09 It is experienced and He wants to give us those experiences. 52:14 Amen. Truth is powerful. 52:16 I'm gonna read one more thing here 52:17 and maybe we would have five minutes 52:18 or so and then we wrap it up. 52:20 But this is interesting because a lot of people, 52:22 this little division that we're talking about, 52:23 you know, Jesus and the Holy Spirit 52:25 and God and then they get kind of things confused up. 52:27 But I want you to listen to this 52:29 one right here because truth is powerful. 52:31 If we know what truth is, there's power in truth. 52:32 We understand that. 52:33 Manuscript 50, 1900 said, 52:36 "Christ, our mediator," notice, "and the Holy Spirit 52:40 are constantly interceding in man's behalf." 52:43 But notice this how they said difference, you know. 52:44 Some people say that Holy Spirit is Christ's spirit. 52:47 But notice this. 52:48 "But the Spirit pleads not for us as does Christ, 52:53 who presents His blood shed 52:56 from the foundation of the world. 52:58 The Spirit works upon our hearts 53:01 drawing out prayers and repentance and praise 53:05 and thanks giving." 53:08 All three are pledged to us when we give our life to Him, 53:11 the powers of heaven. How wonderful. 53:14 The Holy Spirit then is drawing out what? 53:16 Praise and thanks giving and repentance, right, 53:19 confession and thanks giving. 53:20 We need to have more of that in the church. 53:22 We need to have more of that in our family. 53:23 We need to take time for our family worship, to sit down 53:26 and do what? 53:27 Do some praising. Do some singing. 53:30 You know, I think that' just 53:31 an important concept within itself, you know. 53:34 We got our family tuned in here to the 3ABN 53:37 on these special Sabbath hours. 53:39 But we need to be taking time as Kara has said, 53:42 that she's been doing to make Sabbath a delight. 53:46 To have that family time, you know, 53:48 I've read in Spirit of Prophecy 53:50 where they did the very same thing. 53:51 Mrs. White and the staff or who ever 53:53 was with her in her family, every morning, 53:56 they had their own devotionals and they met together 53:58 every prayer and you never, 53:59 they did it every evening as well. 54:02 You know, Daniel, three times a day. 54:04 We need to get back 54:06 as it were to primitive godliness. 54:08 Amen. Get that connection. 54:11 We have to have that connection 54:12 if we are doing to experience this power. 54:15 If we're going to have this evidence in our life 54:18 that God is working and He reigns. 54:21 This world is not your home, is it? 54:22 It isn't. But let's have prayer, shall we? 54:24 Shall we pray about all these things? 54:25 Let's pray about these things. And then, you're right. 54:28 This world is not our home. 54:30 And if you don't mind I think I'm gonna go ahead and kneel. 54:32 You guys like to kneel with me? I know it's kind of hard. 54:35 We are about as ready here, 54:36 if we can kneel, is that all right? 54:37 Well, I just, I like to kneel. 54:39 Oh, we got good people here that work with us. 54:41 Thank you so much. That's right, 54:42 if I can get back here now. 54:44 Okay. 54:46 Most gracious heavenly Father, we thank you. 54:50 We thank you for speaking to us, in us 54:53 and through us with your Holy Spirit. 54:55 We thank you for reminding us that we need to be grafted in 55:00 if there is to be any life in us, 55:03 any hope for salvation. 55:06 God we thank you for the evidence 55:09 that you have given us that you're providence 55:11 is at work in our lives and our families. 55:14 We thank you for reaching down 55:15 and if it takes an electrical current to wake 55:18 somebody up or the message going through 3ABN, 55:22 we praise God for the signal. 55:24 Father, we pray in the name of Jesus. 55:26 You keep this signal going 55:28 that you continue to bring in partners of faith, 55:31 that they will continue to donate 55:33 to keep this signal up and running. 55:36 People need to see that you are alive 55:39 and well and the Bible is the truth. 55:41 We're living in a world where they are throwing it out. 55:44 And God we need men and women to take a stand 55:46 in the name of Jesus to say no, 55:49 this is the way, we need to walk there. 55:52 Father we ask that your blessing 55:54 be upon each and every person that is tuned in with us 55:58 on this holy Sabbath hours 56:00 and that you will encourage them to have more family time, 56:04 to have a burden for their children 56:06 and their grandchildren. 56:08 And for those of us who are here today, 56:11 Father, the samething, we need to have a burden. 56:14 We need to be sharing Jesus while there is still time 56:18 because we realize that darkness is coming 56:21 and it's not going to be so easy 56:23 to give the truth as it is right now. 56:26 We pray all these things in the name of Jesus. 56:29 Amen. Amen. 56:31 Praise the Lord. 56:32 Pastor Kenny did say this world 56:34 is not our home and a lot of times 56:36 we like to have music in our worship. 56:39 You know what, we're gonna thank everyone for joining us. 56:41 We've had a wonderful time. 56:43 We pray this has been a blessing to you. 56:44 When we go out, we probably should go out. 56:45 We'll just sing. We are not singers, 56:47 we don't claim to be. 56:49 So don't think about writing letters, "Oh, that is pitiful." 56:51 We're just gonna sing praise 56:52 and remember what the Holy Spirit does? 56:53 It draws out praises. 56:55 We love the song, "This world is not my home, 56:57 we're just passing through," 56:58 That's right. 56:59 We just do a verse of those of you know 57:01 please sing along with us. 57:02 Maybe you'll drown this out. 57:03 Oh, that's all... Take the key, honey. 57:05 This world is not my home 57:07 I'm just a-passing through 57:11 My treasures are laid up 57:14 Somewhere beyond the blue 57:18 The angels beckon me from heaven's open door 57:24 And I can't feel at home in this world anymore 57:31 they all expecting me. |
Revised 2015-11-02