I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello, and welcome
to 3ABN Family Worship.
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We are so glad
that you've joined us.
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Now whether you are watching us
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on a Friday evening
preparing for the Sabbath
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or a Saturday evening
preparing for your busy week,
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we welcome you to the family
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and to this worship
experience together.
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We got the gang here.
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We've got Mr. Danny
Shelton, Yvonne Lewis,
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to my left Jorge
and Lynette Jaque,
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Boo and I am CA.
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So we are all here together.
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I want to ask you guys a
question first very quickly.
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Do any of you
have favorite things,
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favorite things?
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Favorite, I know you
have a favorite chair,
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'cause I have seen you
in your favorite chair.
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I know Danny has
a favorite chair.
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Yvonne, favorite
things, anything favorite?
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Favorite food,
favorite dress, favorite...
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That could go for a long time.
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So...
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I have favorite
foods. Of course, foods.
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I have to say plural though,
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but I can't just pick one thing.
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And I have favorite
texts, you know, Bible texts
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but I can't just pick one.
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Yeah, just one. Yeah.
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Jorge, favorite?
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My lawn mower.
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Your favorite
lawn mower. I love it.
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It's good. Boo,
favorite anything?
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I think I feel
the same as Yvonne,
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I have many
things that are favorite
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that I really,
can't really say that one.
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He is wanting you
to say, your husband,
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that's what he wanted
you to say especially for.
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That is first without saying.
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Favorite or only? Amen.
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And the reason I
go there is because
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I'm, maybe I'm straight,
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I don't have a
favorite anything.
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I don't have a
favorite food, I don't have...
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People say, "What's your
favorite book in the Bible?"
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I don't have one, I
don't have a favorite text.
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You do have a favorite. Well.
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You have a favorite fork,
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that every time I
give him another fork.
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Well, it is not
my favorite fork,
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it's just that I
thought I'll get that fork,
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I don't eat with it.
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But as a rule, I don't have,
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I don't have a favorite anything
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and people say, "What's your
favorite text in the Bible?"
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I don't have one.
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What I have is a text that
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I sort of take the
light in for a while,
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then I move on to another text.
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And the reason I
say that is because
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the text that I'm sort
of focused on right now
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is 1 John 1:7.
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Now what's interesting
about 1 John from 6 to10,
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those last several verses
all begin with the word 'If'.
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But first like 1 John 1:9
is, "If we confess our sins,"
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but two verses
earlier, 1 John 1:7 begins with
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"but if" and
here's what it says,
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"If we walk in the
light, as He's in the light,
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we have
fellowship one with another
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and the blood of Christ
cleanses us from all sins."
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And the reason I
bring that up now is because
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that's what family
worship is all about.
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It's the first
part of that text.
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It's fellowship,
one with another.
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And if you're
walking in the light
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and others are
walking in the light with you,
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you cannot help
but have fellowship.
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You know, and many times
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and I think we can
all attest to this, that
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when you're walking
with someone in Christ,
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they become and can
become closer to you
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than your own natural siblings.
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Is that not so when
people who are related to you...
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but there is this bond of
walking in the same direction
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and so the promise is, if
you're walking in the light,
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you're going to have fellowship.
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You know, it's part of
the, it's the default setting
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for walking with Jesus.
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You going to have
people walking with you,
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walking the same way
so that when you fall,
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you got someone to kind
of help you up, you know,
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and kind of keep you.
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And then it also
said the blood of Christ
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cleanses us from all
sins, so that's a great thing.
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So that's what
this is all about,
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it's fellowship.
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That's what we're doing.
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And so we're inviting
you to fellowship with us.
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Danny, we're
going to sing. Okay.
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And our song is,
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"Take the name
of Jesus with you."
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And the reason I sort
of picked this is because
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we're going to
talk about Ellen White.
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Irma and I went
through reading the other day
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and she mentioned
the value of pain.
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Now when we think about pain,
we don't think about value.
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Value and pain are not words
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you kind of put
in the same sentence.
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So I've changed a little bit
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and we're calling
this gain through pain.
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Okay. Amen.
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Gain through pain, or
the sanctity of suffering,
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you can use any
one of the three.
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But we're going to
talk about gain through pain
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because there is
something to be learned
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through suffering.
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Now before we go to
song, I want to ask you
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all one quick question.
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What's the better
teacher, failure or success?
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Danny, what do you think?
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Well, for me, it's been failure.
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Yeah. Yeah.
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It teaches you success.
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Yeah, it teaches you
not to do that again.
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Nothing up.
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I have to agree. Yeah, Boo?
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Yes, same for me. Lynette?
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Well, it has to be
failure 'cause failure to me is,
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it's just another
opportunity to try again,
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so it's not the end.
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Yeah, yeah.
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I think we learn more, Jorge...
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That's right. Through failure.
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There's somebody said,
"Don't take failure as a failure
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but as an opportunity to learn."
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So it has to be failure.
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That's the only way
to learn. So we can...
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I'm never anxious to
learn through failure.
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Yes, yes.
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And we got to make
the best of it, so okay,
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how can we learn from this.
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So you can gain through pain.
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You can learn through suffering,
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you stub on your toe, you know,
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you put your hand on fire
and you burn yourself is okay.
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Make note to self,
"Do not put hand in fire."
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You know, you're not
going to do that again.
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So that's what we're
going to talk about today
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and hopefully we'll
give you some encouragement
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because the truth is,
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nobody gets a
scholarship on suffering.
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Everybody's got
to pay their dues
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on the way to the kingdom,
we're going to talk about that.
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So let's sing now, it's
474 in your SDA church hymnal
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and it's called "Take
the name of Jesus with you."
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We are so happy
to have Tim Parton,
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pianist
extraordinaire on the piano.
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And, I asked him to play
this with a little cayenne.
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And he can do that
so very, very well.
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Perhaps better than
most people we know.
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Okay. Yeah.
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"Take the name
of Jesus with you."
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Tim, let's give away.
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Take the name of Jesus with you
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Child of sorrow and of woe
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It will joy and comfort give you
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Take it then where're you go.
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Precious name! Oh, how sweet!
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Hope of earth and joy of heav'n
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Precious name! Oh, how sweet!
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Hope of earth and joy of heav'n
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Last stanza.
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At the name of Jesus bowing
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Falling prostrate at His feet
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King of kings in
heaven we'll crown Him
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When our journey is complete
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Precious name! Oh, how sweet!
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Hope of earth and joy of heav'n
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Precious name!
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Oh, how sweet!
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Hope of earth
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And joy of heav'n
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Amen. And amen.
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Amen, "Take the
name of Jesus with you,"
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through everything that
life has to throw you away.
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It is a wonderful song,
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thank you so
very much, Tim Parton.
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We are talking
about gain through pain,
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or as Ellen White put
it in the morning watch
00:08:58.60\00:09:01.37
that Irma and I
read just in the morning,
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the value of pain or
the sanctity of suffering,
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take your pick.
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Want to read this, so that
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we can sort of all
be on the same page
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and sort of
walk together to this
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because we all have experiences
that we can draw from this.
00:09:11.75\00:09:16.35
Ellen White says,
"In the experience
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of the Apostle
John under persecution,
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there is a lesson
of wonderful strength
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and comfort for the Christian."
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Of course, John
was boiled in oil.
00:09:26.63\00:09:29.26
And then when
they couldn't kill him,
00:09:29.30\00:09:30.63
they left him to die on Patmos.
00:09:30.67\00:09:33.03
So he lived to a ripe old age
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but he was
steadfast through all of that.
00:09:35.84\00:09:38.97
"God does not prevent
the plottings of wicked men."
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We should put a
line under that I think.
00:09:41.51\00:09:43.14
Brother Shelton, Boo.
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You don't always stop the
plots but look what she says,
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"But He causes their
devices to work for good
00:09:50.29\00:09:53.92
to those who in
trial and conflict
00:09:53.96\00:09:57.66
maintain their
faith and loyalty."
00:09:57.69\00:10:00.03
So there is a
call to stay strong,
00:10:00.06\00:10:02.26
even when people are
plotting against you.
00:10:02.30\00:10:05.17
"Often the gospel
laborer carries on his work
00:10:05.20\00:10:08.84
amid storms of
persecution, bitter opposition,
00:10:08.87\00:10:12.77
and unjust reproach.
00:10:12.81\00:10:15.51
At such times let him remember
00:10:15.54\00:10:18.51
that the experience to be gained
00:10:18.55\00:10:20.25
in the furnace of
trial and affliction
00:10:20.28\00:10:22.88
is worth all the pain it costs."
00:10:22.92\00:10:25.52
Now that's kind of
hard to deal with sometimes
00:10:25.55\00:10:28.29
but it's something
we need to hold on to.
00:10:28.32\00:10:31.83
"Thus God brings His
children near to Him,
00:10:31.86\00:10:34.80
that He may show
them their weakness
00:10:34.83\00:10:37.07
and His strength.
00:10:37.10\00:10:39.97
He teaches them to lean on Him."
00:10:40.00\00:10:42.04
Amen and amen.
00:10:42.07\00:10:43.41
"Thus He prepares
them to meet emergencies,
00:10:43.44\00:10:46.11
to fill positions of trust,
00:10:46.14\00:10:48.18
and to
accomplish the great purpose
00:10:48.21\00:10:50.25
for which their
powers were given them."
00:10:50.28\00:10:52.38
So God gives us all stuff
00:10:52.41\00:10:54.95
that we need to
use in His service
00:10:54.98\00:10:57.89
and sometimes that only blossom
00:10:57.92\00:10:59.72
under the fires of affliction.
00:10:59.75\00:11:02.72
"In all ages,
God's appointed witnesses
00:11:02.76\00:11:04.79
have exposed
themselves to reproach
00:11:04.83\00:11:06.73
and persecution
for truth's sake.
00:11:06.76\00:11:09.60
Joseph was
maligned and persecuted
00:11:09.63\00:11:12.10
because he preserved
his virtue and integrity.
00:11:12.13\00:11:15.17
David, the
chosen messenger of God,
00:11:15.20\00:11:17.57
was hunted like a
beast of prey by his enemies.
00:11:17.61\00:11:21.41
Daniel was cast
into a den of lions
00:11:21.44\00:11:24.21
because he was true to
his allegiance to heaven.
00:11:24.25\00:11:27.98
Job was deprived of
his worldly possessions,
00:11:28.02\00:11:30.29
and so afflicted in
body that he was abhorred
00:11:30.32\00:11:33.56
by his relatives and friends,
00:11:33.59\00:11:35.42
yet he maintained his integrity.
00:11:35.46\00:11:39.19
Jeremiah could not be
deterred from speaking the words
00:11:39.23\00:11:42.20
that God had given him to speak,
00:11:42.23\00:11:44.33
and his testimony so
enraged the king and princes
00:11:44.37\00:11:48.47
that he was cast
into a loathsome pit.
00:11:48.50\00:11:51.77
Stephen was stoned
because he preached Christ
00:11:51.81\00:11:54.71
and Him crucified.
00:11:54.74\00:11:56.31
Paul was
imprisoned, beaten with cords,
00:11:56.34\00:11:59.48
stoned, and finally
put to death because
00:11:59.51\00:12:01.92
he was a faithful messenger
for God to the Gentiles.
00:12:01.95\00:12:05.85
And John was
banished to the Isle of Patmos
00:12:05.89\00:12:09.32
for the word of God,
00:12:09.36\00:12:10.73
and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:12:10.76\00:12:13.93
These examples of
human steadfastness
00:12:13.96\00:12:16.83
bear witness to the faithfulness
00:12:16.87\00:12:18.90
of God's promises
00:12:18.93\00:12:21.04
of His abiding
presence and sustaining grace.
00:12:21.07\00:12:24.34
They testify to
the power of faith
00:12:24.37\00:12:27.78
to withstand the
powers of the world."
00:12:27.81\00:12:30.78
Amen.
00:12:30.81\00:12:32.35
"They bore witness to the power
00:12:32.38\00:12:34.32
of One mightier than Satan.
00:12:34.35\00:12:36.62
Through trial and
persecution the glory,
00:12:36.65\00:12:40.06
the character of God is
revealed in His chosen ones.
00:12:40.09\00:12:43.99
The believers in Christ,
00:12:44.03\00:12:46.06
hated and
persecuted by the world,
00:12:46.09\00:12:48.53
are educated and disciplined
in the school of Christ.
00:12:48.56\00:12:52.47
On earth they
walk in narrow paths,
00:12:52.50\00:12:55.40
they are purified in
the furnace of affliction."
00:12:55.44\00:13:00.71
That's a powerful reading. Yes.
00:13:00.74\00:13:02.34
It's powerful.
It's a powerful reading.
00:13:02.38\00:13:04.08
And before I sort of
turn to lose, you know,
00:13:04.11\00:13:05.81
in reading
Ellen White's history.
00:13:05.85\00:13:07.55
Early on in her ministry,
she made a bargain with God.
00:13:07.58\00:13:12.69
She admits that,
"When I was younger,
00:13:12.72\00:13:14.36
I was pretty
proud and kind of vain
00:13:14.39\00:13:16.83
and the idea that,
I got hit with a stone
00:13:16.86\00:13:19.66
and my looks changed
00:13:19.69\00:13:21.03
and it was going to affect
me for the rest of my life
00:13:21.06\00:13:23.50
and that I
couldn't go back to school
00:13:23.53\00:13:24.90
was a great personal trial to me
00:13:24.93\00:13:28.00
because I had this
vain streak in me."
00:13:28.04\00:13:30.44
So she said, "Okay, Lord
now that you've called me,
00:13:30.47\00:13:33.11
if I go around telling everybody
00:13:33.14\00:13:35.34
that I am a prophet of God
and I have words in the Lord,
00:13:35.38\00:13:38.21
what is going to keep me
humble 'cause I know myself,
00:13:38.25\00:13:41.62
what's going to keep
my head from getting big?"
00:13:41.65\00:13:45.02
And the Lord said to her,
00:13:45.05\00:13:46.39
"I will make a covenant
with you through suffering."
00:13:46.42\00:13:51.06
He said, "If ever
this thing that you dread
00:13:51.09\00:13:54.20
begins to rise up in you,
00:13:54.23\00:13:57.13
I will knock it back
down through suffering."
00:13:57.17\00:14:00.00
And if you look at, if you look
at Ellen White's life, guys,
00:14:00.04\00:14:03.27
she was hit in
the nose with a stone
00:14:03.30\00:14:05.84
but if we look at all
of the ills and things
00:14:05.87\00:14:08.34
that accrued from that
one little pop in the nose,
00:14:08.38\00:14:10.71
it's way beyond what
that should have caused,
00:14:10.75\00:14:14.22
but it was an
outworking of God's saying,
00:14:14.25\00:14:16.08
"I'm going to keep you
humble through suffering.
00:14:16.12\00:14:18.99
And if ever you
stray, I'll bring you back.
00:14:19.02\00:14:23.32
That's the covenant we
make through suffering.
00:14:23.36\00:14:25.03
So sometimes, the truth is,
00:14:25.06\00:14:27.53
suffering will do for us
what success fails to do,
00:14:27.56\00:14:31.30
sometimes God's got to
turn up the heat a little bit.
00:14:31.33\00:14:33.94
And Ellen White
says, "The pastors,
00:14:33.97\00:14:35.44
every now again
they to need to..."
00:14:35.47\00:14:36.84
You know, I
preaches every Sabbath
00:14:36.87\00:14:38.24
but sometimes you got
to turn the heat up more.
00:14:38.27\00:14:39.81
"Hold them over
the flame, you know,
00:14:39.84\00:14:41.51
let them feel the heat,
00:14:41.54\00:14:44.28
so that they
know and understand.
00:14:44.31\00:14:46.38
And yet the flame
doesn't come to burn us up,
00:14:46.41\00:14:49.78
it comes to make us
stronger in the Lord."
00:14:49.82\00:14:52.95
Anybody want to weigh on this?
00:14:52.99\00:14:54.32
I remember that
she has said also that,
00:14:54.36\00:14:58.06
"The Lord will allow
us to come to a place
00:14:58.09\00:15:01.46
where He can mould
us, you know, change us.
00:15:01.50\00:15:05.83
But if we don't yield, He
will, you know, calm us down
00:15:05.87\00:15:12.61
but he will bring us back again.
00:15:12.64\00:15:15.28
Until we're able to
learn and that to me
00:15:15.31\00:15:17.78
is the refining process
00:15:17.81\00:15:20.32
that the Lord gives
us something to help us.
00:15:20.35\00:15:23.25
Oh, go ahead.
00:15:23.28\00:15:25.45
In the physical part,
we are the physical part
00:15:25.49\00:15:28.96
and the spiritual burden,
but persecution, whether that,
00:15:28.99\00:15:33.73
whatever form that would
be, it's good for the pride too
00:15:33.76\00:15:37.73
because what you tend
to do if you feel that
00:15:37.77\00:15:40.64
you are unjustly persecuted.
00:15:40.67\00:15:43.27
Let's say, people
are talking about you,
00:15:43.30\00:15:45.07
they are
spreading rumors about you.
00:15:45.11\00:15:47.18
It's really your pride
that makes you want to stand,
00:15:47.21\00:15:49.91
I've been there to stand up
and say, "That is not true."
00:15:49.94\00:15:52.98
Now why am I
really caring about that?
00:15:53.01\00:15:55.48
Am I caring about that
00:15:55.52\00:15:56.85
'cause I want people
to think good about me,
00:15:56.89\00:15:58.85
or do I care about
that 'cause I don't want it
00:15:58.89\00:16:01.09
to be something that
looks bad on the Christianity,
00:16:01.12\00:16:04.79
and the church, and all of that,
00:16:04.83\00:16:06.53
what's my purpose.
00:16:06.56\00:16:07.90
But biting your
tongue, you know,
00:16:07.93\00:16:10.30
there's time that you
have to bite your tongue,
00:16:10.33\00:16:12.00
and it really don't,
00:16:12.03\00:16:13.37
that's not been
easy for me in my life
00:16:13.40\00:16:14.84
because things
happen, I'm very...
00:16:14.87\00:16:17.04
Somebody might tell
you, I'm a little outspoken
00:16:17.07\00:16:18.74
very out...
00:16:18.77\00:16:20.11
No.
00:16:20.14\00:16:21.48
No. Yeah, little outspoken.
00:16:21.51\00:16:22.98
So I tend to
wanted to defend myself
00:16:23.01\00:16:26.35
but I'm learning
after all these years,
00:16:26.38\00:16:28.48
finally, there are times
that I say, you know what?
00:16:28.52\00:16:31.49
I'm just gonna let them
say what they want to say.
00:16:31.52\00:16:33.92
Ezekiel 14:14,
I think, it is or,
00:16:33.96\00:16:36.52
yeah Exodus 14:14 says,
00:16:36.56\00:16:38.33
"The Lord will
fight your battles."
00:16:38.36\00:16:39.89
So I'm learning to do
that, I haven't conquered it yet
00:16:39.93\00:16:42.63
but it's good for persecution,
really purifies you.
00:16:42.66\00:16:47.24
That's right. It does, it does.
00:16:47.27\00:16:49.10
You know, I don't want
to be the only one talking,
00:16:49.14\00:16:51.24
but that really is
been in my life too.
00:16:51.27\00:16:55.04
That it was at time
that I never imagined
00:16:55.08\00:16:58.21
that I was proud that
I had pride, you know,
00:16:58.25\00:17:01.28
I always thought that I was
very accommodating and humble,
00:17:01.32\00:17:05.15
and not until I
had an experience,
00:17:05.19\00:17:07.76
and the Lord told me
that if you are so concerned
00:17:07.79\00:17:11.59
about what they
say what do they...
00:17:11.63\00:17:13.70
It must be pride in
you, and I was like, "Oh!"
00:17:13.73\00:17:18.13
So, but that changed my look,
and things, and other people.
00:17:18.17\00:17:24.71
When we go through
these really hard times
00:17:24.74\00:17:29.28
that's when we
learn about who we are
00:17:29.31\00:17:33.35
and we learn who God
is because He is the one
00:17:33.38\00:17:37.05
that sustains us through it,
00:17:37.09\00:17:38.49
and it's through that
process that you really...
00:17:38.52\00:17:44.33
It either drives
you closer to God
00:17:44.36\00:17:47.16
or pulls you away from Him.
00:17:47.20\00:17:49.26
I think, you know,
some people get angry
00:17:49.30\00:17:52.20
and rebellious
when they go through
00:17:52.23\00:17:55.20
a time of persecution,
00:17:55.24\00:17:56.91
but others find their
strength in clinging to God
00:17:56.94\00:18:01.04
and when they do, that
refines their character,
00:18:01.08\00:18:04.11
that helps them
grow to the next level.
00:18:04.15\00:18:06.92
And I just think
there's so many people
00:18:06.95\00:18:09.55
that are dealing
with persecution,
00:18:09.58\00:18:11.99
like, I've really been...
00:18:12.02\00:18:14.62
The Lord's been
leading me to read books
00:18:14.66\00:18:16.93
about persecuted Christians
in other parts of the world.
00:18:16.96\00:18:21.03
And the things
that they go through
00:18:21.06\00:18:24.43
are unbelievable.
00:18:24.47\00:18:25.93
For us, you know,
sometimes we consider,
00:18:25.97\00:18:29.34
we might call it
like a persecution
00:18:29.37\00:18:31.54
but it's just an inconvenience.
00:18:31.57\00:18:32.91
You know what
I'm saying, you know.
00:18:32.94\00:18:34.28
Yeah, really.
00:18:34.31\00:18:35.64
It's not
persecution. Very true...
00:18:35.68\00:18:37.01
No, it's not persecution.
00:18:37.05\00:18:38.38
But this is real persecution
00:18:38.41\00:18:40.08
where people are
losing their lives
00:18:40.12\00:18:43.08
because they
stand up for Christ.
00:18:43.12\00:18:45.39
You know, if you say,
well, God this or God that,
00:18:45.42\00:18:48.32
people aren't really that,
they'll let you go with that,
00:18:48.36\00:18:51.89
but if you say Jesus Christ,
00:18:51.93\00:18:53.80
once you stand on Jesus Christ,
00:18:53.83\00:18:57.50
then that just
raises all kinds of issues
00:18:57.53\00:19:01.50
and people around the
world are being persecuted
00:19:01.54\00:19:04.44
for Christ, and
it's appalling to me
00:19:04.47\00:19:07.58
what they are going through.
00:19:07.61\00:19:09.44
Yes.
00:19:09.48\00:19:10.91
You know, I
think one of the things
00:19:10.95\00:19:12.28
we have to do is
keep it in prospective.
00:19:12.31\00:19:16.18
John 16:33, "In the world
you shall have tribulation."
00:19:16.22\00:19:20.72
Nobody gets a path on
that, that's everybody,
00:19:20.76\00:19:23.09
and particularly, if you
are standing for the Lord,
00:19:23.12\00:19:25.63
and, particularly if you
are in some manner of leadership
00:19:25.66\00:19:29.13
for the Lord, you
will become a target.
00:19:29.16\00:19:31.07
And when you say,
00:19:31.10\00:19:33.13
"I have decided
to follow Jesus,"
00:19:33.17\00:19:36.20
the devil says, "I have decided
00:19:36.24\00:19:38.37
you are not gonna follow Jesus."
00:19:38.41\00:19:40.21
So the battle begins,
00:19:40.24\00:19:42.08
and that battle rages
until you give up on Christ
00:19:42.11\00:19:45.31
or till the day you die.
00:19:45.35\00:19:46.68
And you get no vacation,
no time off, no sick time,
00:19:46.72\00:19:49.28
no comp time, always fighting,
you know, for the Lord,
00:19:49.32\00:19:53.56
and she says it here,
00:19:53.59\00:19:56.02
"Your desire to serve
the Lord is gonna be tested."
00:19:56.06\00:20:00.33
It's gonna be tested.
00:20:00.36\00:20:01.70
And we've touched on this,
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.20
the idea that a lot
of it is just pride,
00:20:03.23\00:20:07.94
you know, they did it to
me, you know, it's pride and,
00:20:07.97\00:20:13.78
you know, Ellen
White says about pride,
00:20:13.81\00:20:15.61
she says, "One, it's
the hardest to diagnose."
00:20:15.64\00:20:20.22
So most who have it,
don't know they have it.
00:20:20.25\00:20:24.62
Almost impossible to cure,
00:20:24.65\00:20:26.62
so the
chemotherapy to get rid of it
00:20:26.65\00:20:30.36
is really, really tough,
00:20:30.39\00:20:32.06
and she says the
whole church has it.
00:20:32.09\00:20:34.13
So that's about
it, everybody's got it
00:20:34.16\00:20:36.60
whether you think you
have it or not, you do.
00:20:36.63\00:20:38.77
And sometimes the Lord
has to put you in situations
00:20:38.80\00:20:41.44
to show you that
because you don't think you...
00:20:41.47\00:20:43.84
That's right. Like
Irma said," Me, pride?
00:20:43.87\00:20:46.24
I'm so humble."
00:20:46.27\00:20:47.61
I've heard
people say, "I'm humble,
00:20:47.64\00:20:49.08
I'm humble, I'm
proud of my humility."
00:20:49.11\00:20:51.65
You know, I'm humble.
I'm proud of my humility.
00:20:51.68\00:20:54.42
I'm so proud of my humility.
00:20:54.45\00:20:55.78
You know, Lord has to
show you, no, you ain't humble.
00:20:55.82\00:20:59.59
You are not humble.
So things are gonna come.
00:20:59.62\00:21:02.46
When you began this ministry,
00:21:02.49\00:21:03.83
it wasn't a sail through for you
00:21:03.86\00:21:06.43
'cause the devil said,
"You are not doing that."
00:21:06.46\00:21:09.06
And I will send people,
00:21:09.10\00:21:10.43
and sometimes in
your own household,
00:21:10.47\00:21:11.80
or, you know, or,
sitting in a pew next to you,
00:21:11.83\00:21:15.44
or sleeping in
the same bed with you.
00:21:15.47\00:21:16.97
You know, you don't
know, it's gonna come,
00:21:17.01\00:21:19.07
he will use anybody at anytime,
00:21:19.11\00:21:20.68
anywhere to try
to discourage you
00:21:20.71\00:21:22.54
if he knows you are
trying to serve your Lord.
00:21:22.58\00:21:23.91
That's true. Yeah.
00:21:23.95\00:21:25.88
It's interesting,
you have mentioned it,
00:21:25.91\00:21:28.42
that pride that we
sometimes is attacked,
00:21:28.45\00:21:32.65
is under attack,
and then we react
00:21:32.69\00:21:34.62
because we think,
okay, we don't deserve this
00:21:34.66\00:21:36.86
or the other thing.
00:21:36.89\00:21:38.99
I grew up in a home where
my parents were missionaries,
00:21:39.03\00:21:44.10
and then, but the
first few years of my life
00:21:44.13\00:21:48.10
I went to
Adventist Christian school
00:21:48.14\00:21:51.04
in a very safe,
secure environment
00:21:51.07\00:21:55.41
until they moved
to this little town
00:21:55.44\00:22:00.05
where everybody was bit,
00:22:00.08\00:22:03.59
belonged to a different
denomination, very popular,
00:22:03.62\00:22:08.42
and we were the
only little Christians,
00:22:08.46\00:22:12.06
Adventist
Christians in a little church,
00:22:12.09\00:22:14.86
two blocks away
from that downtown.
00:22:14.90\00:22:18.53
So they will see me
coming outside of my house
00:22:18.57\00:22:22.50
was the church at the
same time so we share that.
00:22:22.54\00:22:26.74
So I'll go through my
first day of the school
00:22:26.78\00:22:29.71
and everybody look,
00:22:29.74\00:22:31.08
"Oh, you are the one
who live in that church."
00:22:31.11\00:22:34.15
And the persecution started
but at that level nothing,
00:22:34.18\00:22:39.09
nothing like the
people in the Bible.
00:22:39.12\00:22:43.09
So I never had to experience
that kind of persecution,
00:22:43.12\00:22:45.36
but these type of persecution
is also a test, and you think,
00:22:45.39\00:22:51.40
"Okay, why me?
00:22:51.43\00:22:53.13
Why they have
to make fun of me?"
00:22:53.17\00:22:56.04
And you question
yourself being a little kid,
00:22:56.07\00:22:59.14
and you don't know any
better but you go to new house,
00:22:59.17\00:23:02.34
and they say,
and they first thing,
00:23:02.38\00:23:03.71
sometimes it came to my mind,
I hope my big brother is here
00:23:03.75\00:23:06.78
so he can teach them a lesson.
00:23:06.82\00:23:09.95
Of course, that was my thinking,
00:23:09.98\00:23:12.89
but now I think, okay,
God was teaching me something.
00:23:12.92\00:23:16.32
And humility, you
know, you sometimes have to,
00:23:16.36\00:23:19.46
and later on in my life,
00:23:19.49\00:23:20.96
I had to
understand in a different way,
00:23:21.00\00:23:22.76
in different situations
00:23:22.80\00:23:24.83
but that was my little
encounter with persecution
00:23:24.87\00:23:29.87
that it taught me a big lesson.
00:23:29.90\00:23:32.54
It's something, the Bible
says, rather the lesson says,
00:23:35.84\00:23:40.42
"God does not prevent
the plottings of wicked men,
00:23:40.45\00:23:44.22
but he causes their
devices to work for good
00:23:44.25\00:23:48.22
to those who in
trial, and conflict,
00:23:48.26\00:23:50.09
maintain their
faith and loyalty."
00:23:50.13\00:23:52.16
You wish, you almost
wish God would sometimes.
00:23:52.19\00:23:55.90
You know, but He
doesn't always stop their plots.
00:23:55.93\00:24:00.04
He lets their plots go
on, but if we hold on to Him,
00:24:00.07\00:24:03.30
He will turn those
plots around for our good.
00:24:03.34\00:24:06.61
Yes. And that's the promise.
00:24:06.64\00:24:08.61
And what I like
about that is the fact that
00:24:08.64\00:24:11.08
I don't have to
lay awake at night
00:24:11.11\00:24:12.88
trying to think of
revenge against people
00:24:12.91\00:24:14.52
who do stuff to me, you
know, 'cause God's gonna take,
00:24:14.55\00:24:17.62
God's gonna take
care of those, I think.
00:24:17.65\00:24:19.19
How can I get back at him,
and how can I get back at them,
00:24:19.22\00:24:21.96
I'm gonna do this to
brethren, I must not do that
00:24:21.99\00:24:23.66
because God is gonna take that
00:24:23.69\00:24:25.03
and He is gonna
fight my battles for me.
00:24:25.06\00:24:26.39
That's right.
00:24:26.43\00:24:27.76
I don't know why we
fight it about the persecution,
00:24:27.80\00:24:32.93
here, speaking of pride,
00:24:32.97\00:24:34.30
it's hard for me to put glasses
on like this just to wear.
00:24:34.34\00:24:37.24
Never had to wear
them but second...
00:24:37.27\00:24:38.61
We all are wearing them though.
00:24:38.64\00:24:39.97
Second, I noticed that
and that help me a little bit.
00:24:40.01\00:24:42.18
2 Timothy 3:12 says,
00:24:42.21\00:24:45.78
"Yes, and all who desire
to live godly in Christ Jesus
00:24:45.81\00:24:49.58
shall suffer persecution."
00:24:49.62\00:24:51.25
So they didn't say some,
it says all who live godly
00:24:51.29\00:24:55.42
but evil men," as you said,
"and imposters will go worse
00:24:55.46\00:24:58.36
and worse,
deceiving and being deceived
00:24:58.39\00:25:01.03
but you must
continue in the things
00:25:01.06\00:25:02.96
which you have
learnt and been assured of,
00:25:03.00\00:25:05.27
knowing from whom
you have learned them.
00:25:05.30\00:25:08.70
And so it talks
about from his childhood,
00:25:08.74\00:25:11.27
the scriptures that we learned.
00:25:11.31\00:25:12.97
The thing that bothers me
the most about persecution
00:25:13.01\00:25:17.98
is what it does to
the members of the church,
00:25:18.01\00:25:21.85
the body of Christ.
00:25:21.88\00:25:23.82
For instance, and
this goes without fail
00:25:23.85\00:25:27.06
so I have my own
story, you have your story,
00:25:27.09\00:25:29.92
and each of you have your story,
00:25:29.96\00:25:32.39
but for people anytime
you step out to do something,
00:25:32.43\00:25:37.23
there are gonna be naysayers,
there are gonna be people who,
00:25:37.27\00:25:40.40
"Well, he has no
business doing this,
00:25:40.44\00:25:42.84
or he shouldn't do that."
00:25:42.87\00:25:44.21
Well, my brothers and I, we
got used to this in early years,
00:25:44.24\00:25:47.44
it's been 33 years.
00:25:47.48\00:25:49.18
So I really don't mind,
00:25:49.21\00:25:51.05
I've had books written about me,
00:25:51.08\00:25:52.41
I mean, this is amazing,
I've had things said and done.
00:25:52.45\00:25:55.45
And sometimes, you
know, nobody is perfect,
00:25:55.48\00:25:57.95
some of it what
you read may be true,
00:25:57.99\00:25:59.79
some of it may be a lie.
00:25:59.82\00:26:01.72
But what I see
the devil does with it
00:26:01.76\00:26:06.06
is that people tend,
00:26:06.09\00:26:09.26
church members tend to believe
what they hear, somebody said,
00:26:09.30\00:26:13.00
"Oh, did you know that CA.
00:26:13.03\00:26:14.70
I heard that CA this happened."
00:26:14.74\00:26:16.94
And what do we do?
00:26:16.97\00:26:18.41
Oh, CA, shame on
him, that is terrible,
00:26:18.44\00:26:20.98
I'm so disappointed in you,
00:26:21.01\00:26:22.81
I don't know how the
Lord even use you CA, you do,
00:26:22.84\00:26:25.71
you know, so what I find
out, persecution is much worse
00:26:25.75\00:26:29.92
when it comes from within
00:26:29.95\00:26:31.89
than when it comes from
without because, frankly,
00:26:31.92\00:26:34.69
you don't care about what
the atheist says about you,
00:26:34.72\00:26:36.56
you don't care about what
people on the outside say,
00:26:36.59\00:26:40.33
but inside the church,
I've learned, even personally,
00:26:40.36\00:26:43.57
that doesn't bother me.
00:26:43.60\00:26:44.93
I can promise you this,
00:26:44.97\00:26:46.30
and I look in
the camera and say,
00:26:46.33\00:26:47.67
I don't ever remember
losing the night sleep
00:26:47.70\00:26:49.67
worrying about what
you all thought about me.
00:26:49.70\00:26:52.01
Good or bad,
'cause it's not about me,
00:26:52.04\00:26:54.01
it's about the gospel,
00:26:54.04\00:26:55.38
and it's about getting
the three angels' messages
00:26:55.41\00:26:57.65
to the world.
00:26:57.68\00:26:59.01
Everybody likes to be
liked, we all want to be loved,
00:26:59.05\00:27:01.98
but when you are in a fish bowl,
00:27:02.02\00:27:04.19
people gonna be looking at you,
00:27:04.22\00:27:06.05
and be throwing
things in the fish bowl
00:27:06.09\00:27:07.49
and doing this.
00:27:07.52\00:27:08.86
So that comes
with the territory,
00:27:08.89\00:27:10.56
but where to me,
00:27:10.59\00:27:12.13
where the tough part of it
is not the personal persecution,
00:27:12.16\00:27:16.67
but the division.
00:27:16.70\00:27:18.27
Satan can use this
to divide the church.
00:27:18.30\00:27:21.60
So if we're so busy
00:27:21.64\00:27:23.47
I'm wondering
and looking at Jorge,
00:27:23.51\00:27:25.47
I don't know about him,
should he be in leadership?
00:27:25.51\00:27:28.11
'Cause I heard that
he did this or that.
00:27:28.14\00:27:30.85
So then I tell someone else,
and they tell someone else,
00:27:30.88\00:27:33.42
then it gets worse,
and worse, and worse.
00:27:33.45\00:27:35.38
You played those games,
I'm sure all of you here
00:27:35.42\00:27:37.52
when you were a kid,
and we do it sometimes...
00:27:37.55\00:27:39.85
Gossip?
00:27:39.89\00:27:41.22
Yeah, gossip games and
you start, you tell this,
00:27:41.26\00:27:43.93
when the time it
goes around 15 people,
00:27:43.96\00:27:46.80
it's totally different.
00:27:46.83\00:27:48.70
So my thing is that I'm not sure
00:27:48.73\00:27:52.20
why we want to question.
00:27:52.23\00:27:54.27
Other words, people
who are in leadership,
00:27:54.30\00:27:56.77
every time somebody accuses them
00:27:56.81\00:27:58.61
of something then we
say, "Oh, this is terrible.
00:27:58.64\00:28:01.11
Well, I'm not
gonna support them,
00:28:01.14\00:28:02.64
or I'm not gonna
support this ministry anymore."
00:28:02.68\00:28:05.35
Rather than to say,
well, you know what?
00:28:05.38\00:28:07.22
I would be shocked if
they weren't being persecuted,
00:28:07.25\00:28:10.69
I would be shocked if
there were no allegations
00:28:10.72\00:28:13.42
about anybody in
leadership because this says,
00:28:13.46\00:28:16.46
"All who live godly
shall suffer persecution."
00:28:16.49\00:28:21.00
So for those of you at
home, if you are stepping out,
00:28:21.03\00:28:24.67
doing something,
don't be discouraged,
00:28:24.70\00:28:26.74
you actually,
should be encouraged.
00:28:26.77\00:28:29.27
One time, Mei Chung,
who I think is one of the,
00:28:29.30\00:28:34.28
probably, if I
could count on one hand,
00:28:34.31\00:28:36.31
people that's
influenced my life the most
00:28:36.34\00:28:39.01
in 60 plus years
would be Mei Chung.
00:28:39.05\00:28:42.88
What a wonderful
Christian example, but one day,
00:28:42.92\00:28:45.55
years ago, I was
really coming down,
00:28:45.59\00:28:48.02
and I can't believe
this is what's happening,
00:28:48.06\00:28:50.73
and this is within church,
00:28:50.76\00:28:52.09
and they are
saying this about 3ABN,
00:28:52.13\00:28:54.13
they are not supporting this,
00:28:54.16\00:28:55.76
they've done this to
us, and this happened to us,
00:28:55.80\00:28:58.77
and she was listening
very intently as Mei would,
00:28:58.80\00:29:02.04
and she's always like
"Oh, aha, aha, oh, yes."
00:29:02.07\00:29:07.18
She's very
sympathetic then she said,
00:29:07.21\00:29:09.78
"Oh, I wish that,
00:29:09.81\00:29:12.48
I'm gonna pray that my
life will be a little different
00:29:12.51\00:29:15.38
'cause I want to serve for
the Jesus' persecution too."
00:29:15.42\00:29:18.85
Wow. And I looked at
her, and I said, "What?"
00:29:18.89\00:29:20.89
She goes, "I'm not
being persecuted enough.
00:29:20.92\00:29:24.39
How blessed you are.
00:29:24.43\00:29:25.93
You should be thanking the Lord
that you are being persecuted
00:29:25.96\00:29:30.30
'cause it should tell you,
hey, I am on the right track."
00:29:30.33\00:29:33.54
So she says, "I'm gonna pray
00:29:33.57\00:29:35.40
that God will give me
more persecution in my life."
00:29:35.44\00:29:38.91
But when we look at it.
00:29:38.94\00:29:40.41
So my thing is, what
the devil is doing with this
00:29:40.44\00:29:44.31
is to try to divide the church.
00:29:44.35\00:29:47.38
We know it's the house divided
against itself can't stand.
00:29:47.42\00:29:50.92
God is coming back
for a purified bride,
00:29:50.95\00:29:53.29
purified
church, purified people,
00:29:53.32\00:29:55.72
and so if we are so
busy persecuting each other,
00:29:55.76\00:30:00.76
I don't like what
was said about me.
00:30:00.80\00:30:02.76
Irma, I did not
like what you said
00:30:02.80\00:30:04.33
so I'm gonna tell
Yvonne something about you,
00:30:04.37\00:30:06.87
and she is the so
upset, she tells, you know,
00:30:06.90\00:30:09.64
and it goes around the
horn, and we are so busy,
00:30:09.67\00:30:12.51
we lose our focus in
taking the gospel to the world.
00:30:12.54\00:30:15.21
So if the devil's beaten you up,
00:30:15.24\00:30:17.81
so to speak, it's
okay, don't worry about it
00:30:17.85\00:30:20.18
because it's not
what happens in this life,
00:30:20.22\00:30:22.92
and so, I'm learning
that after all these years,
00:30:22.95\00:30:25.92
I'm learning it, you
still get concerned about it.
00:30:25.95\00:30:29.46
My thing is, I just hate to
see something people are saying
00:30:29.49\00:30:32.93
that hurts the ministry,
00:30:32.96\00:30:34.40
or would cause people
not to support the ministry.
00:30:34.43\00:30:37.37
But persecution, it's
gonna come no matter what,
00:30:37.40\00:30:40.50
no matter what you are
doing, anytime you step out,
00:30:40.54\00:30:42.44
and do something.
00:30:42.47\00:30:43.81
So now that's very
biblical don't be discouraged,
00:30:43.84\00:30:45.94
be encouraged
that "Hey, guess what,
00:30:45.97\00:30:48.38
I've had an opportunity
00:30:48.41\00:30:49.98
to get suffer a little
bit of the Jesus' treatment"
00:30:50.01\00:30:52.28
as they would say.
00:30:52.31\00:30:53.65
Yes, yes.
00:30:53.68\00:30:55.02
Well, you know, I'm
leaning more and more
00:30:55.05\00:30:56.72
than when we said
keep your eyes upon Jesus.
00:30:56.75\00:31:01.99
We take it so lightly, I think,
00:31:02.02\00:31:05.73
you know, it, we
understand the words,
00:31:05.76\00:31:08.56
but we don't take
it really to heart.
00:31:08.60\00:31:11.73
And studying, I
love the Book of Romans,
00:31:11.77\00:31:16.24
and as we are
studying more and more,
00:31:16.27\00:31:18.47
and learning
that, you know, is God,
00:31:18.51\00:31:22.31
you got to keep
your eyes on who God is.
00:31:22.34\00:31:26.98
And, and when you do that,
00:31:27.02\00:31:29.42
it's really amazing
00:31:29.45\00:31:30.92
how many things that
start just looking different,
00:31:30.95\00:31:36.06
and how much you are
able to actually live
00:31:36.09\00:31:43.00
what God wants for your life,
00:31:43.03\00:31:44.60
and then you start seeing
more things wrong with you,
00:31:44.63\00:31:49.14
but then you have that assurance
00:31:49.17\00:31:52.54
the more you look at Christ
because, like you said Danny,
00:31:52.57\00:31:57.31
we look at the church,
I hear it all the time,
00:31:57.35\00:32:00.42
people all, you
know, the church,
00:32:00.45\00:32:02.65
and the people in the
church, and they do this,
00:32:02.68\00:32:05.02
and say that and all that,
00:32:05.05\00:32:06.69
all that wrong things
with it, and then that is.
00:32:06.72\00:32:10.26
We can't say that isn't,
00:32:10.29\00:32:12.63
but it's like,
if we as personally,
00:32:12.66\00:32:16.60
we keep our eyes on
God, who is God and he,
00:32:16.63\00:32:19.73
well, that is happening,
00:32:19.77\00:32:21.57
but this is what
God wants you to be.
00:32:21.60\00:32:23.84
This is what He wants you to do,
00:32:23.87\00:32:25.74
and then as we let
ourselves, God to guide us,
00:32:25.77\00:32:31.01
to make us, we'll see
how God keeps working in.
00:32:31.05\00:32:35.68
We're getting
crushed because it's, wow!
00:32:35.72\00:32:38.22
God is changing my thinking,
00:32:38.25\00:32:40.46
and then that's
what we want for Him.
00:32:40.49\00:32:43.69
Well, the Book of
Job is always been,
00:32:43.73\00:32:49.50
has always been,
been an inspiration for me
00:32:49.53\00:32:53.00
to where I was thinking
about one of you were saying,
00:32:53.03\00:32:56.27
Danny, that he was counseled
by three church members.
00:32:56.30\00:33:01.54
They came to talk to him.
00:33:01.58\00:33:03.91
And seriously, they
were trying to find out
00:33:03.95\00:33:07.12
what was wrong with him.
00:33:07.15\00:33:09.32
The problem with it
00:33:09.35\00:33:10.69
they thought he was
totally in the wrong,
00:33:10.72\00:33:13.15
and he was not, not opening
in his eyes to the reality
00:33:13.19\00:33:17.93
that he was a
sinner, that he had,
00:33:17.96\00:33:20.30
probably, he
did something wrong.
00:33:20.33\00:33:21.93
And that is the reason
why he was being punished.
00:33:21.96\00:33:25.50
In the chapter 19 of
that book is so powerful
00:33:25.53\00:33:29.34
because he reacts finally
after all these beatings.
00:33:29.37\00:33:33.27
One day after the
other, and chapter 19 says,
00:33:33.31\00:33:36.95
"Job answered and said,
00:33:36.98\00:33:38.48
'How long will
you torment my soul.
00:33:38.51\00:33:41.85
And break me in
pieces with words?'
00:33:41.88\00:33:44.99
" So it's true, it's a fact,
00:33:45.02\00:33:48.49
and is really
sometimes we think, "Why me?"
00:33:48.52\00:33:51.53
You know, he had a
reason to say he didn't know.
00:33:51.56\00:33:55.46
I didn't do
anything, he keep saying,
00:33:55.50\00:33:57.13
I didn't do anything wrong,
00:33:57.17\00:33:59.30
why this is happening
to me, but in verse 25,
00:33:59.33\00:34:03.84
he, this is probably
the best verse in the whole,
00:34:03.87\00:34:07.78
my favorite verse,
00:34:07.81\00:34:09.34
the best Bible verse in
the whole Book of Job also.
00:34:09.38\00:34:14.25
It says, "For I know
that my Redeemer lives,
00:34:14.28\00:34:19.79
And He shall stand at
last," In other version it says,
00:34:19.82\00:34:23.53
"That's the last
day on the earth."
00:34:23.56\00:34:27.80
So I know that my Redeemer lives
00:34:27.83\00:34:30.77
that's all that matters to me.
00:34:30.80\00:34:33.13
Amen. Amen.
00:34:33.17\00:34:34.50
Good example.
00:34:34.54\00:34:35.87
You know, one of the
things when we are suffering,
00:34:35.90\00:34:37.97
particularly, at
the hands of others,
00:34:38.01\00:34:39.37
one of the things we should do
00:34:39.41\00:34:40.94
and I mentioned
it the other day.
00:34:40.98\00:34:43.04
Anytime you are
going through stuff,
00:34:43.08\00:34:46.51
it's not only a call,
00:34:46.55\00:34:47.98
it's a demand
for self examination.
00:34:48.02\00:34:50.09
You know.
00:34:50.12\00:34:51.45
Paul says to the
church of Galatia,
00:34:51.49\00:34:52.82
"Let a man, but let
a man examine himself."
00:34:52.85\00:34:55.02
If I've got odd with you,
00:34:55.06\00:34:57.53
I really need to
look at myself first
00:34:57.56\00:35:00.03
and make sure my hands
are clean before I begin to,
00:35:00.06\00:35:03.67
you know, look at what
I think is wrong with you.
00:35:03.70\00:35:06.33
In 1 Peter 4, verse,
let's pick it up, 14,
00:35:06.37\00:35:13.21
"If you are reproached
for the name of Christ,
00:35:13.24\00:35:16.85
blessed are you..."
00:35:16.88\00:35:18.65
You know, that's
tough to swallow,
00:35:18.68\00:35:20.85
but it's the truth.
00:35:20.88\00:35:22.22
"If you are reproached
for the name of Christ,
00:35:22.25\00:35:24.59
blessed are you
for the Spirit of glory
00:35:24.62\00:35:29.12
and of God rests upon you,
00:35:29.16\00:35:32.23
on their part he is blasphemed,
on your part he is glorified."
00:35:32.26\00:35:37.83
So if you are
standing up for the Lord
00:35:37.87\00:35:39.83
and your hands are clean
00:35:39.87\00:35:41.50
even though you don't
like being in the fire,
00:35:41.54\00:35:44.14
blessed are you
00:35:44.17\00:35:45.51
because there was a
thing back in Christ time
00:35:45.54\00:35:47.11
that if you're suffering,
00:35:47.14\00:35:48.48
it's because there's
something wrong with you.
00:35:48.51\00:35:49.84
Right. You deserve it.
00:35:49.88\00:35:51.21
What'd you do? Yes.
00:35:51.25\00:35:52.58
They did the test,
I saw on TV one night,
00:35:52.61\00:35:53.95
I couldn't sleep, I
woke up, and they did a test.
00:35:53.98\00:35:55.38
They put a man in
the suit on the ground,
00:35:55.42\00:35:58.05
lying on the ground,
just face down on the ground,
00:35:58.09\00:36:00.82
and people were rushing
to help him just immediately.
00:36:00.86\00:36:05.26
They changed one thing,
00:36:05.29\00:36:06.63
they put that same man
on the ground in a suit,
00:36:06.66\00:36:09.66
and they put a bottle,
00:36:09.70\00:36:11.03
a paper bag with a
bottle next to him,
00:36:11.07\00:36:14.34
you know, a little bottle,
00:36:14.37\00:36:15.70
a little wine bottle,
nobody bothered to help him.
00:36:15.74\00:36:19.84
And they said what
was the difference.
00:36:19.87\00:36:21.34
That bag...
00:36:21.38\00:36:22.71
Yeah.
00:36:22.74\00:36:24.08
He deserves to be down there.
00:36:24.11\00:36:25.45
You know, that's the mindset,
so I'm not gonna help him.
00:36:25.48\00:36:27.52
And that's the kind of thing
00:36:27.55\00:36:28.88
if your reputation
is being destroyed,
00:36:28.92\00:36:30.99
or if people are
talking about you,
00:36:31.02\00:36:32.35
well, something
must be wrong with you.
00:36:32.39\00:36:33.72
Yes.
00:36:33.76\00:36:35.09
You know, something
must be wrong with you.
00:36:35.12\00:36:36.46
And it ain't necessarily so,
00:36:36.49\00:36:38.09
the fact is we got a enemy that,
00:36:38.13\00:36:39.89
as you all said,
wants to kill and destroy,
00:36:39.93\00:36:41.86
and that
includes your reputation.
00:36:41.90\00:36:43.57
Right. So he
wants to destroy you.
00:36:43.60\00:36:45.53
And there aren't enough words
00:36:45.57\00:36:48.27
to defend
yourself against someone
00:36:48.30\00:36:49.84
who doesn't want to
believe the truth about you.
00:36:49.87\00:36:51.84
If people want to believe,
and Ellen White said this...
00:36:51.87\00:36:53.71
Absolutely.
00:36:53.74\00:36:55.08
If they want to believe bad,
00:36:55.11\00:36:56.44
you don't have argument
enough to try to convince them.
00:36:56.48\00:36:58.81
But if they
want to believe good,
00:36:58.85\00:37:01.35
there's plenty
evidence to believe in good,
00:37:01.38\00:37:02.72
so it's what's in their heart
even more than what's in yours.
00:37:02.75\00:37:05.55
Amen. Yeah. That's right.
00:37:05.59\00:37:07.72
I think the...
00:37:07.76\00:37:09.29
It's about
distractions with the enemy too.
00:37:09.32\00:37:13.23
He wants to distract
you from your purpose,
00:37:13.26\00:37:15.56
and if you weren't so resolute
in what God has told you to do,
00:37:15.60\00:37:19.93
you could get sidetracked
with all of the naysayers
00:37:19.97\00:37:24.51
and all that stuff.
00:37:24.54\00:37:25.87
If Satan wants to distract you
00:37:25.91\00:37:27.24
because if he can get
you off purpose then he can,
00:37:27.28\00:37:31.58
you know, he can derail you.
00:37:31.61\00:37:33.72
And that's what he
seeks to do, so it really is,
00:37:33.75\00:37:37.89
it is a time of self-evaluation.
00:37:37.92\00:37:40.62
I think we have to
look at ourselves say,
00:37:40.66\00:37:42.62
you know, is there anything,
00:37:42.66\00:37:43.99
is there
anything that's standing
00:37:44.03\00:37:45.63
between me and the savior.
00:37:45.66\00:37:47.43
And I call it clearing the way,
like we have to clear the way,
00:37:47.46\00:37:51.43
confess all known sin.
00:37:51.47\00:37:53.34
And Isaiah 59:1-3 says,
00:37:53.37\00:37:56.50
"Behold, the Lord's
hand is not shortened,
00:37:56.54\00:37:58.57
that it cannot
save, nor his ear heavy,
00:37:58.61\00:38:00.94
that it cannot hear.
00:38:00.98\00:38:02.31
But your iniquities have
separated you from your God,
00:38:02.34\00:38:04.88
and your sins have
hidden his face from you
00:38:04.91\00:38:07.22
so that he will not hear."
00:38:07.25\00:38:08.58
So if we're going
through a hard time,
00:38:08.62\00:38:12.75
and we feel like we're
just not making any progress,
00:38:12.79\00:38:17.09
we really need to look
at ourselves and say...
00:38:17.13\00:38:18.93
Yeah.
00:38:18.96\00:38:20.30
You know, Lord,
is there anything
00:38:20.33\00:38:21.66
that's standing, if
there is, please take it away.
00:38:21.70\00:38:24.27
Yes.
00:38:24.30\00:38:25.63
Cleanse me, wash me
clean, take it away,
00:38:25.67\00:38:28.97
and the Lord will do
that, and then we call upon him.
00:38:29.00\00:38:32.77
And Psalm 50:15 says,
00:38:32.81\00:38:34.84
"Call upon Me in
the day of trouble,
00:38:34.88\00:38:36.41
I will deliver you,
and you shall glorify Me."
00:38:36.44\00:38:39.75
And Psalm 145:8 says,
"The Lord is nigh unto all them
00:38:39.78\00:38:44.12
that call upon Him in truth."
00:38:44.15\00:38:46.69
And then Isaiah 41:10 says,
"Fear not, for I am with you,
00:38:46.72\00:38:50.03
be not dismayed,
for I am your God,
00:38:50.06\00:38:52.06
I will strengthen..."
00:38:52.09\00:38:53.43
I love this verse, I'm
getting happy right now,
00:38:53.46\00:38:55.63
I'm getting
happy, I love this verse,
00:38:55.66\00:38:57.93
"I will strengthen
you, yes, I will help you,
00:38:57.97\00:39:01.07
I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand."
00:39:01.10\00:39:03.34
Amen. Nice.
00:39:03.37\00:39:04.71
There was a time that I had
to repeat that all the time.
00:39:04.74\00:39:07.51
Yes.
00:39:07.54\00:39:08.88
And then because it was just...
00:39:08.91\00:39:10.68
It gave me strength
00:39:10.71\00:39:12.05
to go through what
I was going through.
00:39:12.08\00:39:13.42
Yes. Yes.
00:39:13.45\00:39:14.78
The word will give us
strength if we seek God,
00:39:14.82\00:39:17.92
and we're really going through,
00:39:17.95\00:39:19.29
and everybody
goes through something,
00:39:19.32\00:39:21.22
the text that you read earlier.
00:39:21.26\00:39:22.59
Absolutely.
00:39:22.62\00:39:23.96
All who are godly
will suffer persecution.
00:39:23.99\00:39:25.69
We're all gonna go through,
but if we just hold on to God,
00:39:25.73\00:39:29.36
He will show us...
00:39:29.40\00:39:32.80
We don't know the
end from the beginning,
00:39:32.83\00:39:35.30
but we do know His promises.
00:39:35.34\00:39:37.87
And His promises are to
be with us through the fire,
00:39:37.91\00:39:41.74
through the river,
through the waters,
00:39:41.78\00:39:43.58
through every situation,
00:39:43.61\00:39:45.81
He will not let us go,
and I just think I'm...
00:39:45.85\00:39:49.58
That through adversity,
we come closer to God.
00:39:49.62\00:39:54.72
Absolutely. Amen.
00:39:54.76\00:39:56.09
Amen. Amen. Yeah.
00:39:56.12\00:39:57.46
You know, I don't...
00:39:57.49\00:39:58.83
It's not the Lord's pleasure
00:39:58.86\00:40:01.36
to give us a pass on suffering.
00:40:01.40\00:40:05.30
1 Peter 4:12,
"Beloved, think it not strange,
00:40:05.33\00:40:09.84
concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you."
00:40:09.87\00:40:11.77
It's not unusual but rejoice
00:40:11.81\00:40:15.34
because you are
partakers of Christ's suffering,
00:40:15.38\00:40:18.31
you know, lifting
weights builds muscles.
00:40:18.35\00:40:24.72
Danny was talking
about it a little earlier,
00:40:24.75\00:40:26.52
schooling some young
boys on the basketball court,
00:40:26.55\00:40:28.82
that's 'cause he shot
millions and millions of shots.
00:40:28.86\00:40:31.56
Thousands and
thousands of shots,
00:40:31.59\00:40:32.93
you know, you don't
get to be a good shooter
00:40:32.96\00:40:34.30
unless you shoot.
00:40:34.33\00:40:35.66
Right. Yeah.
00:40:35.70\00:40:37.03
That's right. And
then you shoot a lot.
00:40:37.07\00:40:39.83
No comment,
man. I won't deny it.
00:40:39.87\00:40:43.97
But that's how you
become a shooter by shooting.
00:40:44.01\00:40:46.78
Right.
00:40:46.81\00:40:48.14
How do you
exercise spiritual strength?
00:40:48.18\00:40:49.78
By exercising the
faith that God gives you,
00:40:49.81\00:40:51.71
so you build
faith in other times.
00:40:51.75\00:40:54.52
Ellen White and James
White were driving in the...
00:40:54.55\00:40:57.02
You remember of
the old buckboards
00:40:57.05\00:40:59.22
from the Western days,
00:40:59.25\00:41:01.56
it's where the seat
is kind of sitting up,
00:41:01.59\00:41:03.66
just kind of exposed
and you got this bed,
00:41:03.69\00:41:05.56
it's like kind of
like a station wagon.
00:41:05.59\00:41:07.56
Oh, the station wagon
thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:41:07.60\00:41:09.33
And you're
really kind of exposed.
00:41:09.36\00:41:10.90
And she said, they were driving
on a relatively flat road
00:41:10.93\00:41:15.37
and then it hit a small pebble
and the thing flipped over,
00:41:15.40\00:41:18.57
just flipped over
and threw them both out.
00:41:18.61\00:41:20.88
And they both flew
out of the buckboard,
00:41:20.91\00:41:23.18
but they landed soft.
00:41:23.21\00:41:26.38
And later that evening,
00:41:26.41\00:41:28.08
the Lord said to
her through her angel,
00:41:28.12\00:41:30.72
Satan was trying to kill you.
00:41:30.75\00:41:32.95
He just flipped it over.
00:41:32.99\00:41:34.32
Now the Lord didn't
stop it from flipping over,
00:41:34.36\00:41:37.53
but He gave them a soft landing.
00:41:37.56\00:41:38.89
Yeah.
00:41:38.93\00:41:40.26
And that's what
God does sometimes.
00:41:40.30\00:41:41.63
See, He'll let you flip,
00:41:41.66\00:41:43.00
but then He'll put
His hands under you
00:41:43.03\00:41:44.37
and let you land soft.
00:41:44.40\00:41:45.73
Oh, that's good.
That's what this is.
00:41:45.77\00:41:48.30
So we're so busy,
Lord, why you, why you,
00:41:48.34\00:41:50.74
just being
flipped, I could have died.
00:41:50.77\00:41:52.11
No, you didn't.
00:41:52.14\00:41:53.48
Underneath, I was
taking care of you.
00:41:53.51\00:41:54.84
You know, so...
00:41:54.88\00:41:56.21
Yes. He let him flip.
00:41:56.24\00:41:57.58
He lets Satan flip him,
but he let them down easy.
00:41:57.61\00:41:59.81
Yeah.
00:41:59.85\00:42:01.18
The measurement, the barometer
is not and we tend to do this
00:42:01.22\00:42:04.95
'cause when we
focus on ourselves,
00:42:04.99\00:42:07.06
it's not or how
badly I'm being treated,
00:42:07.09\00:42:10.26
or this health
issue, or I received that,
00:42:10.29\00:42:13.96
this happened to me,
00:42:14.00\00:42:15.33
that's not the barometer at all.
00:42:15.36\00:42:17.30
It's what am I doing
with the life that I have,
00:42:17.33\00:42:20.50
and am I serving the Lord,
00:42:20.54\00:42:22.57
and this life is
a fleeting moment
00:42:22.60\00:42:24.61
if you take 70 years
in comparison to eternity.
00:42:24.64\00:42:27.61
One preacher said
00:42:27.64\00:42:29.04
'cause we were on the
beach not too long ago,
00:42:29.08\00:42:30.78
and there's millions,
billions of grains of sand,
00:42:30.81\00:42:33.58
and one preacher said
just picture eternity,
00:42:33.62\00:42:36.52
someone said
how long is that is,
00:42:36.55\00:42:37.95
well, let's say a bird flew
00:42:37.99\00:42:39.89
from heaven
every thousand years,
00:42:39.92\00:42:42.02
picked up one
grain of sand from earth
00:42:42.06\00:42:43.83
and went back to heaven,
00:42:43.86\00:42:45.19
when all the grains
of sand on earth is gone,
00:42:45.23\00:42:47.36
that's just the beginning.
00:42:47.40\00:42:48.76
It's eternity.
00:42:48.80\00:42:50.13
So when you look at this earth,
00:42:50.17\00:42:51.67
it's not really what
happens to you here...
00:42:51.70\00:42:53.44
Right.
00:42:53.47\00:42:54.80
And so because people say
well, how about, you know,
00:42:54.84\00:42:57.81
Stephen was stoned to death,
00:42:57.84\00:42:59.17
Peter, crucified
upside down, what about it?
00:42:59.21\00:43:01.68
That is a victory for
them. That was a victory.
00:43:01.71\00:43:05.01
You can call that persecution...
00:43:05.05\00:43:06.38
Yes. Yes. But it's
a victory for them.
00:43:06.41\00:43:07.75
Sure, you're right.
00:43:07.78\00:43:09.12
Because better to do that than
to live to be a 100 in luxury
00:43:09.15\00:43:12.15
and riches and everybody is
saying how wonderful you are,
00:43:12.19\00:43:14.79
and then be separated
from God for eternity.
00:43:14.82\00:43:17.56
So the persecution that comes,
00:43:17.59\00:43:20.23
you shouldn't ever feel that
you are to be exempt from it
00:43:20.26\00:43:24.80
because we're really not.
00:43:24.83\00:43:26.43
I really would worry
after so many years in ministry,
00:43:26.47\00:43:30.31
but I feel badly for people
00:43:30.34\00:43:32.11
that I've had people
write and say I love 3ABN,
00:43:32.14\00:43:35.64
I know thousands of people
come to the Lord through 3ABN,
00:43:35.68\00:43:39.51
but I heard this about
you, so I'm not giving anymore.
00:43:39.55\00:43:42.88
Well, that
really didn't punish me.
00:43:42.92\00:43:44.25
No. No.
00:43:44.29\00:43:45.62
That doesn't punish me, so,
but I feel badly for somebody
00:43:45.65\00:43:49.12
who would react,
00:43:49.16\00:43:50.66
and the Lord's impressed
them to do something or support,
00:43:50.69\00:43:54.56
but they hear it somebody
saying something about me
00:43:54.60\00:43:58.23
or someone else here,
and then they say well,
00:43:58.27\00:44:00.24
I'm gonna totally redirect
my giving or not give at all.
00:44:00.27\00:44:04.01
That's an issue
they have to deal with.
00:44:04.04\00:44:06.14
So for me, I try
not to be sidetracked,
00:44:06.17\00:44:09.24
I can tell you that
I've never in 33 years
00:44:09.28\00:44:12.21
ever been discouraged,
ever thought about quitting.
00:44:12.25\00:44:14.85
Now I've been frustrated,
and I've argued with people,
00:44:14.88\00:44:18.15
and I've written
things back and forth,
00:44:18.19\00:44:20.46
and I've tried to defend myself,
00:44:20.49\00:44:22.62
and finally, maybe
it's just age part of it,
00:44:22.66\00:44:25.39
but I've said you know what,
I'm not gonna worry about it.
00:44:25.43\00:44:27.80
Everybody, they
have to worry about...
00:44:27.83\00:44:29.33
I can't defend
everything that everybody says,
00:44:29.36\00:44:32.27
I'm not supposed to.
00:44:32.30\00:44:33.80
I have to keep
the vision straight,
00:44:33.84\00:44:36.50
when Lord wants me out of
here, He can get rid of me.
00:44:36.54\00:44:38.77
People don't have to do it,
if He wants to get rid of you,
00:44:38.81\00:44:40.94
God can move you out of the way
or your pastor, if he's here,
00:44:40.98\00:44:44.28
take, don't worry about it,
God wants him out of the way,
00:44:44.31\00:44:46.88
He'll move him, or He
may change your heart.
00:44:46.92\00:44:48.35
Amen. That's right.
00:44:48.38\00:44:49.72
You know, maybe you,
maybe the problem is with you,
00:44:49.75\00:44:51.82
maybe it's with me.
00:44:51.85\00:44:53.19
So my thing is
persecution is part of life.
00:44:53.22\00:44:56.69
And my Dad used to...
00:44:56.73\00:44:58.13
This scripture here when I read
on down, 3 Timothy, it says,
00:44:58.16\00:45:03.13
"Go back to the
things of your childhood
00:45:03.16\00:45:05.17
which you've
learned from the Bible
00:45:05.20\00:45:06.53
where you learned principles...
00:45:06.57\00:45:08.20
Second Timothy 3.
00:45:08.24\00:45:09.57
Yeah, 2 Timothy 3,
I think, what is it?
00:45:09.60\00:45:12.34
Verse 14 or so, but
I think about my Dad.
00:45:12.37\00:45:15.21
I'd come home from
school and say Dad,
00:45:15.24\00:45:16.95
this guy said or
whoever they said this about me,
00:45:16.98\00:45:19.75
and he says son,
sticks and stones
00:45:19.78\00:45:21.28
will broke your bones but
words will never hurt you.
00:45:21.32\00:45:23.45
Don't worry about what
somebody says about you,
00:45:23.49\00:45:26.96
just do what you know how to do,
00:45:26.99\00:45:28.86
do the best you know how to
do, the Lord will judge you,
00:45:28.89\00:45:32.03
so don't worry about
what other people say,
00:45:32.06\00:45:33.86
so it's kind of elementary,
00:45:33.90\00:45:35.73
and they're even telling us here
00:45:35.76\00:45:38.23
saying go back
to your childhood.
00:45:38.27\00:45:40.14
Look at the
scriptures from the principles
00:45:40.17\00:45:42.24
that you've learned,
00:45:42.27\00:45:43.61
stick to that and
just ask God, say Lord,
00:45:43.64\00:45:47.31
you know, it's
between me and you,
00:45:47.34\00:45:49.61
so whether I die today,
00:45:49.64\00:45:51.11
or whether I die next
month, or 20 years from now,
00:45:51.15\00:45:54.02
it really is irrelevant
when we look at eternity.
00:45:54.05\00:45:57.35
Amen.
00:45:57.39\00:45:58.72
We all want to be here,
00:45:58.75\00:46:00.09
you want to be
here as long as you can,
00:46:00.12\00:46:01.46
you want to be
healthy and happy.
00:46:01.49\00:46:02.82
But if you're not, it's
just for a fleeting moment
00:46:02.86\00:46:05.46
because eternity
is what matters...
00:46:05.49\00:46:07.46
That's right.
00:46:07.50\00:46:08.83
And that's already been said,
00:46:08.86\00:46:10.40
we submit and
commit our lives to Jesus
00:46:10.43\00:46:12.83
and then just do the
best we know how to do.
00:46:12.87\00:46:15.67
We get to heaven,
we're all gonna say,
00:46:15.70\00:46:17.87
man, I didn't think
this guy was gonna be here,
00:46:17.91\00:46:21.68
you know, or he didn't think
this guy was gonna be here.
00:46:21.71\00:46:24.75
And they're gonna
look at us and say,
00:46:24.78\00:46:26.11
I didn't think he
was gonna make it here,
00:46:26.15\00:46:28.15
but we're all going
to be surprised to say,
00:46:28.18\00:46:31.05
how did God save any of us.
00:46:31.09\00:46:32.69
Amen. We're all so wretched.
00:46:32.72\00:46:34.52
Here we thought, we
were living the very best
00:46:34.56\00:46:36.76
we knew how to live
00:46:36.79\00:46:38.26
and we're trying to
keep the commandments of God
00:46:38.29\00:46:40.46
and trying to be
these good people,
00:46:40.50\00:46:42.53
and somehow God
was able to save us
00:46:42.56\00:46:45.20
because He could read
between lines of our heart
00:46:45.23\00:46:47.40
and He read into our
heart, not just our actions or,
00:46:47.44\00:46:51.47
you know, from time to time
we get upset or get distracted,
00:46:51.51\00:46:55.34
so keep focus.
00:46:55.38\00:46:56.81
All I can say to you
is keep focus on the Lord,
00:46:56.85\00:46:59.05
don't worry about
what people say about you.
00:46:59.08\00:47:01.52
Just go forward and
continue this relationship,
00:47:01.55\00:47:04.62
Jesus says, "If I'll be
lifted up from this earth,
00:47:04.65\00:47:06.96
will draw all men unto me."
00:47:06.99\00:47:08.96
Amen, amen.
00:47:08.99\00:47:10.33
We've touched on
this and I know, Yvonne,
00:47:10.36\00:47:11.73
you got some stuff to
sort of walk us through.
00:47:11.76\00:47:14.03
But it occurred to
me, I preached a sermon,
00:47:14.06\00:47:16.60
I've been preaching a
lot lately called Ontology.
00:47:16.63\00:47:19.53
Big 25 cent word that
boils down to purpose and focus.
00:47:19.57\00:47:23.27
We're created for a purpose.
00:47:23.30\00:47:24.71
God has a purpose for all of us,
00:47:24.74\00:47:26.57
and focus is how we
maintain our purpose.
00:47:26.61\00:47:29.58
And when you lose your focus,
you lose your purpose in life,
00:47:29.61\00:47:33.92
you got to stay focused.
00:47:33.95\00:47:35.28
There is a commercial,
Irma and I were looking at it
00:47:35.32\00:47:36.82
just last night.
00:47:36.85\00:47:38.32
There is a white background
with a nice red apple.
00:47:38.35\00:47:42.16
And remember we
were talking about that,
00:47:42.19\00:47:43.53
they said this is an apple,
00:47:43.56\00:47:45.93
some may call it a
banana but it's an apple.
00:47:45.96\00:47:49.53
It's always an apple
and then it is just little,
00:47:49.56\00:47:51.80
one of those little whiner
things with the teeth go...
00:47:51.83\00:47:54.94
you know, the mouth is going by.
00:47:54.97\00:47:56.30
So you have to sing them by...
00:47:56.34\00:47:58.77
And it says that
is a distraction,
00:47:58.81\00:48:02.38
that is a distraction.
00:48:02.41\00:48:03.75
But this is still an
apple and it occurs to me,
00:48:03.78\00:48:07.85
some of the things that
we've been talking about,
00:48:07.88\00:48:09.25
Satan will do so
much to distract you
00:48:09.28\00:48:11.22
from your purpose.
00:48:11.25\00:48:12.59
Right. Your
purpose is to serve God.
00:48:12.62\00:48:14.66
Ephesians 2:10 says,
00:48:14.69\00:48:18.33
"We were
created for good works."
00:48:18.36\00:48:21.66
That's why God made us.
00:48:21.70\00:48:23.03
And we can get distracted
into a whole lot of revenge,
00:48:23.06\00:48:25.73
and defending
ourselves and all that...
00:48:25.77\00:48:28.90
That a distraction, that's
not what you are created for,
00:48:28.94\00:48:31.31
you are created
to serve the Lord.
00:48:31.34\00:48:32.77
And as you maintain your focus,
you will fulfill your purpose.
00:48:32.81\00:48:37.78
And that's what God wants
to see, He wants us to be safe,
00:48:37.81\00:48:39.68
Thessalonians tells me.
00:48:39.71\00:48:41.05
He wants me to be saved.
00:48:41.08\00:48:42.42
And the
distraction, I've learned,
00:48:42.45\00:48:44.72
it comes through the
weakness that we have.
00:48:44.75\00:48:48.09
That's where the distractions
that the enemy brings,
00:48:48.12\00:48:51.99
it's not where you're
strong and that you can do good,
00:48:52.03\00:48:55.90
it's where he can get you that,
like you say made you stumble,
00:48:55.93\00:49:01.10
made you fall, made
you go in other way.
00:49:01.14\00:49:03.84
Yeah, so what's
the most important,
00:49:03.87\00:49:06.11
defending myself
or uplifting Jesus?
00:49:06.14\00:49:09.21
Uplifting Jesus. That's right.
00:49:09.24\00:49:10.58
That's what we have to decide.
00:49:10.61\00:49:11.95
That's right.
That's right. Amen.
00:49:11.98\00:49:14.48
Yvonne, you were
talking about some stuff
00:49:14.52\00:49:15.85
that you were looking at
dealing with the same subject?
00:49:15.88\00:49:18.22
Yeah, yeah, well, one thing
00:49:18.25\00:49:20.06
is 'cause I
mentioned the other thing
00:49:20.09\00:49:21.62
like clearing the way
00:49:21.66\00:49:22.99
and but another is
turning your pain into purpose,
00:49:23.02\00:49:27.83
which is really...
00:49:27.86\00:49:29.63
When you go through something,
you have a testimony now.
00:49:29.66\00:49:32.37
Yes, yeah.
00:49:32.40\00:49:33.74
Because once
you've gone through it
00:49:33.77\00:49:35.77
and you're on
the other side of it,
00:49:35.80\00:49:37.91
then you can say, whoa!
00:49:37.94\00:49:39.27
Look at how God
brought me from here to here,
00:49:39.31\00:49:42.08
I didn't know that
I'd be from here to here.
00:49:42.11\00:49:46.01
I was just going through like
the darkest time of my life.
00:49:46.05\00:49:49.28
But God brings us
through to the other side
00:49:49.32\00:49:53.02
and then gives you a testimony.
00:49:53.05\00:49:55.19
So you can take that comfort
that He used to comfort you
00:49:55.22\00:49:59.83
and comfort someone else.
00:49:59.86\00:50:01.70
And so that is
really an important point,
00:50:01.73\00:50:05.33
I think to that we can
turn our pain into purpose.
00:50:05.37\00:50:07.94
Amen. That's good.
00:50:07.97\00:50:09.30
Amen.
00:50:09.34\00:50:10.67
You know, it's the
trick of the devil,
00:50:10.71\00:50:12.44
so many preachers preach
that once you come to the Lord,
00:50:12.47\00:50:14.71
you can kind of
put it on autopilot,
00:50:14.74\00:50:16.44
goes by in the sky.
00:50:16.48\00:50:17.95
To which I
respond, are you kidding?
00:50:17.98\00:50:21.68
That's when your
battle really begins,
00:50:21.72\00:50:24.12
and you must be prepared for it,
00:50:24.15\00:50:25.82
and God is not
going to give you a pass.
00:50:25.85\00:50:28.66
You know, this reading says,
particularly for those of you
00:50:28.69\00:50:31.43
who may be in
leadership positions.
00:50:31.46\00:50:33.46
It's interesting that she says,
00:50:33.50\00:50:36.33
"In all ages, God's
appointed witnesses..."
00:50:36.36\00:50:39.73
Here is the
terminology she uses,
00:50:39.77\00:50:41.57
"Have exposed themselves
to reproach and persecution."
00:50:41.60\00:50:46.21
So once you stand
up above the crowd
00:50:46.24\00:50:49.68
to do something for
the Lord, you're exposed.
00:50:49.71\00:50:51.91
That's right.
00:50:51.95\00:50:53.28
And that's when people
are going to take shots at you
00:50:53.31\00:50:55.05
and you're
exposed, but God, you know,
00:50:55.08\00:50:58.92
put in prerogative
language God's got your back,
00:50:58.95\00:51:01.32
you know, He is not
going to leave you out there.
00:51:01.36\00:51:02.92
He bring didn't bring you
out to die in the wilderness,
00:51:02.96\00:51:05.26
He brought you out
that you might go in,
00:51:05.29\00:51:08.10
so He has not left you.
00:51:08.13\00:51:09.50
And this is another one
I want to say real quick.
00:51:09.53\00:51:12.37
Suffering is not commentary
on God's displeasure with you.
00:51:12.40\00:51:15.20
That's right.
00:51:15.24\00:51:16.57
You're suffering and
that was in Jewish mindset,
00:51:16.60\00:51:18.51
you're suffering,
00:51:18.54\00:51:19.87
there's got to be some
secret stuff going on...
00:51:19.91\00:51:21.24
I've heard a pastor say this,
00:51:21.28\00:51:22.61
there's got to be some secret
stuff going on in your life
00:51:22.64\00:51:24.75
that God is displeased.
00:51:24.78\00:51:26.78
Suffering is not commentary,
00:51:26.82\00:51:28.88
it can be preparation
for a very strong testimony
00:51:28.92\00:51:31.99
that you can
witness in somebody else.
00:51:32.02\00:51:33.69
Yeah, it really can.
00:51:33.72\00:51:35.06
And we have the misconception
that whatever we see
00:51:35.09\00:51:37.93
is the reality and
Hebrews 11 says that,
00:51:37.96\00:51:42.26
"The faith is the
substance of what we don't see."
00:51:42.30\00:51:45.50
So the things
that have eternal value
00:51:45.53\00:51:47.94
are things that we don't see.
00:51:47.97\00:51:49.47
So that's why
when we judge somebody
00:51:49.50\00:51:51.97
because we think that person
or this a person that is...
00:51:52.01\00:51:56.51
Okay, he's good
looking, has a good...
00:51:56.54\00:51:59.51
That must be
probably a good person.
00:51:59.55\00:52:02.28
I mean, the other person
that doesn't look so good,
00:52:02.32\00:52:04.39
oh, be careful with
that or something like that.
00:52:04.42\00:52:06.99
So we always
judge people and things
00:52:07.02\00:52:11.93
by their external appearance
and that is very common.
00:52:11.96\00:52:16.40
So the message has to be, okay,
like you said in the beginning,
00:52:16.43\00:52:23.00
turn your eyes up on Jesus.
00:52:23.04\00:52:24.91
I know that my
redeemer believes that
00:52:24.94\00:52:27.61
there is
something beyond my eyes,
00:52:27.64\00:52:30.45
beyond my comprehension.
00:52:30.48\00:52:33.45
You know, Danny, I've got
to pay you a compliment, man,
00:52:33.48\00:52:35.62
because you said, I've
never lost a night's sleep
00:52:35.65\00:52:39.42
over stuff people say
about me and things like that.
00:52:39.45\00:52:42.09
Yeah. I have.
00:52:42.12\00:52:43.93
I have and when I
was in the ministry
00:52:43.96\00:52:46.83
and fairly far
along in the ministry.
00:52:46.86\00:52:49.46
I was trying to
do something right,
00:52:49.50\00:52:51.40
and straighten out something,
00:52:51.43\00:52:53.54
and someone put
out a story on me.
00:52:53.57\00:52:55.54
And I said, you
know what, see...
00:52:55.57\00:53:00.54
I was very much into,
00:53:00.58\00:53:01.91
I got to find a way
to even to score here,
00:53:01.94\00:53:06.51
you know, and I
never could, I never did.
00:53:06.55\00:53:09.22
And it showed me,
00:53:09.25\00:53:11.55
I'm not by nature
a vengeful person,
00:53:11.59\00:53:15.09
but I thought
this was over the top
00:53:15.12\00:53:16.89
and it was reputation driven.
00:53:16.93\00:53:20.43
You don't have to
think good about me,
00:53:20.46\00:53:22.46
just be accurate,
you know, just don't...
00:53:22.50\00:53:24.67
Yeah, just don't...
That's not going to happen.
00:53:24.70\00:53:26.03
Yeah. Not in this world.
00:53:26.07\00:53:27.84
I know that won't
happen in this world.
00:53:27.87\00:53:29.64
And don't just lie on me
00:53:29.67\00:53:32.47
because people are so anxious
00:53:32.51\00:53:35.58
almost with itching
ears to hear dirt unfold.
00:53:35.61\00:53:38.08
Yes.
00:53:38.11\00:53:39.45
So a lie goes around the world
00:53:39.48\00:53:40.88
while the truth is still
trying to put its boots on.
00:53:40.92\00:53:42.25
Yeah. You know,
that kind of thing.
00:53:42.28\00:53:43.62
So I said, I got to...
00:53:43.65\00:53:47.59
You know, and you just,
you can't spend your life...
00:53:47.62\00:53:50.26
First of all, it
eats at your own soul
00:53:50.29\00:53:52.03
and it eats at
your own spirituality.
00:53:52.06\00:53:54.10
And secondly, it's
just an awful way to live.
00:53:54.13\00:53:57.13
Yes.
00:53:57.17\00:53:58.50
It's awful, awful
way... It's consuming.
00:53:58.53\00:53:59.87
You got to give it to
Jesus. And we can counteract.
00:53:59.90\00:54:04.24
Let's say, we're persecuted.
00:54:04.27\00:54:06.64
I know people who
have been persecuted
00:54:06.68\00:54:08.88
verbally in the
church or what have you,
00:54:08.91\00:54:11.21
so how do we respond to that,
00:54:11.25\00:54:13.31
we write something down
00:54:13.35\00:54:14.68
and put it all over
emails and Facebook,
00:54:14.72\00:54:17.05
I'll show this person,
I'll say this about him,
00:54:17.09\00:54:20.06
and I'll do this
and all of this stuff
00:54:20.09\00:54:22.82
is like wait a minute,
00:54:22.86\00:54:24.19
all who live godly
shall suffer persecution.
00:54:24.23\00:54:26.43
So when you get that,
00:54:26.46\00:54:28.06
what is it that I'm
going to do with it,
00:54:28.10\00:54:29.63
I don't want to be so focused,
00:54:29.66\00:54:31.60
you know, I
want to be so focused
00:54:31.63\00:54:34.54
on getting the
gospel to the world.
00:54:34.57\00:54:36.77
That I just have to say, okay,
00:54:36.81\00:54:38.17
I'm going to let
this go and let this go,
00:54:38.21\00:54:39.71
I'm not going to spend
all my time defending it
00:54:39.74\00:54:42.18
and then become a
garbage collector.
00:54:42.21\00:54:44.28
Jesus said, "Go ye
into all the world."
00:54:44.31\00:54:47.05
And He didn't say
be a garbage collector
00:54:47.08\00:54:49.45
'cause one time years
ago, someone wrote in ministry,
00:54:49.48\00:54:52.32
we were fairly
young in ministry,
00:54:52.35\00:54:53.72
something really bad about 3ABN,
00:54:53.76\00:54:56.26
it wasn't true and we
were taken over by the church,
00:54:56.29\00:54:58.63
and we've compromised
the three angels' messages.
00:54:58.66\00:55:01.10
So I was going to
write all this stuff down
00:55:01.13\00:55:04.17
and put out a
newsletter to counteract it.
00:55:04.20\00:55:07.30
But then through consulting
and advice from others was,
00:55:07.34\00:55:11.87
you know, do you want
to be a channel of blessing
00:55:11.91\00:55:14.28
or do you want to
be a garbage collector.
00:55:14.31\00:55:16.48
So it occurred to
me, I can't write,
00:55:16.51\00:55:19.58
I could write a
book, and so could you,
00:55:19.61\00:55:21.68
about how people
have mistreated me
00:55:21.72\00:55:23.35
in this church
and from into church,
00:55:23.39\00:55:26.52
you know, whether
leadership, members,
00:55:26.55\00:55:28.39
whatever and most of us could.
00:55:28.42\00:55:30.53
But what good would it do,
00:55:30.56\00:55:31.89
how many people
would be brought to Jesus
00:55:31.93\00:55:34.16
because of that.
00:55:34.20\00:55:35.53
We live in a sinful world,
00:55:35.56\00:55:36.90
that's the way
things are in life
00:55:36.93\00:55:38.70
but how many people
have I called started too.
00:55:38.73\00:55:41.00
You know what I'm saying,
00:55:41.04\00:55:42.37
they could
write a book about me,
00:55:42.40\00:55:43.74
I'm sure over the years.
00:55:43.77\00:55:45.11
So we're all guilty
but what we have to do
00:55:45.14\00:55:47.21
at least in my mind is try
to keep focused on the vision,
00:55:47.24\00:55:50.08
what's the vision God
has given us in this year is,
00:55:50.11\00:55:54.58
coming year and all of 2018,
00:55:54.62\00:55:56.92
the three angles' messages
00:55:56.95\00:55:58.29
because I believe that's
what we really need to focus on.
00:55:58.32\00:56:01.72
We're seeing the
world around us crumble.
00:56:01.76\00:56:04.23
It's falling, people are
dying as Brother Mitch has said,
00:56:04.26\00:56:07.40
going to Christ's grace,
00:56:07.43\00:56:08.76
what are we doing
00:56:08.80\00:56:10.40
as Seventh-day
Adventist Christians,
00:56:10.43\00:56:12.53
and to get ourselves focused,
00:56:12.57\00:56:14.54
and to the help the
church refocus on our purpose,
00:56:14.57\00:56:18.07
and that's the
three angles' message,
00:56:18.11\00:56:19.57
God is coming back for those
00:56:19.61\00:56:21.31
who keep the
commandments of God,
00:56:21.34\00:56:22.68
and have the faith of Jesus.
00:56:22.71\00:56:24.28
And we can't afford to be
sidetracked by all this stuff.
00:56:24.31\00:56:27.62
So people are bothering
you, don't worry about it,
00:56:27.65\00:56:29.45
they are talking about
you, say, praise the Lord,
00:56:29.48\00:56:31.85
I'm getting a little
better at the Jesus treatment
00:56:31.89\00:56:33.59
and move on.
00:56:33.62\00:56:34.96
That's it. That's it.
00:56:34.99\00:56:36.32
And now we have come to
down to the last minute.
00:56:36.36\00:56:37.86
You know, I'm
reading from Hebrews 11
00:56:37.89\00:56:40.56
but my mind goes
to Revelation 18,
00:56:40.60\00:56:43.60
as we're in 2018,
00:56:43.63\00:56:45.43
I'm thinking about that
00:56:45.47\00:56:46.87
fourth angel
there in Revelation 18.
00:56:46.90\00:56:50.11
That was called to give impetus
00:56:50.14\00:56:52.27
to the message
of the third angel.
00:56:52.31\00:56:54.34
You know, it's
one that put the air
00:56:54.38\00:56:56.88
under the wings
of that third angel,
00:56:56.91\00:56:58.71
that in these last hours,
00:56:58.75\00:57:01.48
moments dare we
say of earth's history,
00:57:01.52\00:57:03.28
God's people must
lift up the name of Jesus
00:57:03.32\00:57:05.55
and preach the message
of the three angels that,
00:57:05.59\00:57:08.29
not on just Babylon
fallen but judgment is coming,
00:57:08.32\00:57:10.99
it's time to get
right with the Lord.
00:57:11.03\00:57:14.43
We talked about faith.
00:57:14.46\00:57:16.23
Hebrews 11 is the
great faith chapter,
00:57:16.26\00:57:18.67
but what I'm impressed
00:57:18.70\00:57:20.04
with are the last
two verses 39 and 40.
00:57:20.07\00:57:22.90
I want to read those in closing,
00:57:22.94\00:57:25.11
"And all these things havening
00:57:25.14\00:57:26.54
obtained a good
testimony through faith,
00:57:26.57\00:57:28.98
they did not
receive the promise.
00:57:29.01\00:57:31.21
God haven't provided
something better for us
00:57:31.25\00:57:33.88
that they should not be
made perfect without us."
00:57:33.92\00:57:36.32
So all of these
great men and women of old
00:57:36.35\00:57:38.82
will not get to heaven,
one moment before we do,
00:57:38.85\00:57:40.66
we're all going together.
00:57:40.69\00:57:42.02
Amen.
00:57:42.06\00:57:43.39
So we're meant to be
strong through persecution,
00:57:43.43\00:57:44.93
God's got a
reward for all of us.
00:57:44.96\00:57:46.43
Amen. Happy Sabbath.
00:57:46.46\00:57:48.20
Happy Sabbath.
00:57:48.23\00:57:49.90