Hello, friends, welcome
to our 3ABN Worship Hour.
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I'm Pastor John Lomacang,
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and I extend an invitation
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and a welcome to you
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and a thank you
actually for joining us
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as we divide God's
Word together with you.
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You know, the
message today is entitled,
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"The Last Line of Defense."
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And not only am I
thanking you for joining us,
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but I want to ask for you to
be particularly in prayer today,
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because this message
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is one that I'm
extending a challenge,
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a special challenge
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to those who name
the name of Christ.
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These are fragile
times for Christians,
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and in times like these,
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it is imperative for us
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to return to our
last line of defense.
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So let us ask
for God's Holy Spirit
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to guide us and strengthen us
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as we consider the
message for this hour.
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Let us pray.
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Gracious, Father in heaven,
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Your Word is a lamp
that has never gone dim.
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It is a light that is connected
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to an unlimited source of power.
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And we pray now
for your Holy Spirit
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to reach into
the hearts and minds
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of those watching
and those listening
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to calibrate their
realities and their minds
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to the urgency of the hour
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that the church finds itself in.
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Speak Lord, and
may Your servants hear,
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we pray in Jesus' name.
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Amen.
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The Apostle Paul to
his protege, Timothy,
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gave some very
cautious words to a young man
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who was getting ready
to dive into the ministry
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at a time when
the Christian Church,
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although thousands of years
ago was about to be challenged.
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And we read these words of
Paul's challenge to Timothy.
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In 1 Timothy
4:16, the Bible says,
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"Take heed to
yourself and to the doctrine.
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Continue in them,
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for in doing this you
will save both yourself
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and those who hear you."
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At a time when the word doctrine
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seems to be deleted
from the Christian vocabulary
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and doctrines seem to be held up
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as the culprit of division.
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The Bible is saying
that is not the case.
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We know for a fact that
doctrine has been twisted
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and diluted and diverted
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and designed to
fit men's ideology.
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But there's
nothing wrong with doctrine
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because doctrine is
simply what the Bible says
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about the character
and the person of Jesus.
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But we have entered
the most trying hour
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for the Christian Church.
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The winds of false
doctrines are blowing away
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those who have no
roots in the Word of God.
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And while the people of
God are advancing forward,
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Satan is urging
them to go backward.
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And the reason is clear.
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Satan is intensely concerned
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about God's
last line of defense.
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I read a story that
really boggled my mind
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about something called
personality regression.
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And I thought to myself,
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well, Christians are
going through something
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that is synonymous to
the story that I read.
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Let me read it to you.
And I'll read it verbatim.
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It is entitled, the
woman who grew backwards.
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The lady who grew
backwards was a woman
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who lived in
Virginia some years ago.
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In the Virginia Medical Monthly,
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her doctor told the story.
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It's an amazing story, listen.
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"She had grown
normally, married,
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and had three children.
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Life was happy until the husband
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and father died
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when the children
were in high school.
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The mother doubled her
devotion to her children.
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And she changed her clothes
to those of a girl of 20,
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joined in the
children's party and fun.
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In a few years
the children noticed
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as they grew older
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that their mother
was growing younger."
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She began to behave that way.
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"Psychiatrists call it
"personality regression, "
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which means, a person
begins in their personality
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and behavior
begin walking backwards.
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Usually certain
people stop going backward
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at a certain age."
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The story continues.
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"But not this woman.
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She slipped backward
at the rate of one year
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for every three or four months
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of time as the
time went forward.
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Although she was 61 years old,
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she acted like a
6-year-old child.
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She was sent to a sanitarium,
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where she insisted on
wearing short dresses,
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playing with toys,
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and babbling like a child."
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And listen to
how the story ends.
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"Then she became
like a three-year-old,
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she spilled her
food, crawled on the floor,
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and cried "Mama."
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Backward still
farther to the age of one,
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she drank milk,
curled up like a tiny baby.
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Finally, she went
back over the line"
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and the story
ended, "and then she died."
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What a tragic story.
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What an amazing
account of the woman
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that grew backward.
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Well, why did I use that story?
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Friends, according
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to what we have
seen in public lately,
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behavior from Christians,
it seems as though the woman,
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the church is growing backward.
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Satan is intensely
concerned about the bottom line
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and during earth's
most fragile history,
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Satan wants us to abandon
our journey to the kingdom
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and begin growing backward,
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or going back to
where we were before.
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Kind of like in
the Book of numbers,
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when the Lord was
leading the children of Israel
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out of Egypt to Canaan,
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notice what they
said in Numbers 14:3-4,
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they said, "Why
has the Lord brought us
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to this land to
fall by the sword,
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that our wives and
children should become victims."
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And listen to this,
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"Would it not be better
for us to return to Egypt?
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So they said to one another,
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'Let us select a
leader and return to Egypt.'"
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That's what's
happening to the church today.
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Jesus is being abandoned
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as the leader of
the Christian Church
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for so many.
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And they are selecting leaders
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and behavior and
lifestyle and an attitude.
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The public is seeing a church
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that does not
resemble a growing church,
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but a church
that's growing backward,
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a church that's caught
in personality regression,
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spiritual regression behavior
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that doesn't fit
the person of Christ.
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Friends, this is the hour
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that what is ahead of us
should consume our interest.
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And what is behind us
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should be purged
from our thoughts.
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It is too late
in the hour of earth
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to be going back
to the way we were.
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This is the time
that God's people,
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Christians of
every denomination,
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and I include a
special invitation
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to Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
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God has given us an
understanding of prophecy,
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how the events of the
last days are going to unfold.
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It is too late for
the church to go backward.
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This is the time to go forward
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and forget those
things behind you.
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Listen to the
words of the Apostle Paul
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in Philippians 3:13-14,
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listen to what he says.
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He says, "Brethren,
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I do not count
myself to have apprehended,
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but one thing I do,"
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listen to what he said,
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"forgetting those
things which are behind
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and reaching
forward to those things,
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which are ahead, "
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and look at the passion.
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"I press toward the goal
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for the prize of
the upward call of God
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in Christ Jesus."
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That's what the
Christian should be doing
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pressing forward for the goal.
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There is a prize
for every one of us.
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The Apostle Paul said it,
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there's a crown of righteousness
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laid up for me
and not for me only,
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but for all those
who love his appearing.
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You might wonder
why this is happening.
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Well, let me tell you why?
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Satan knows his time is
short and he made attempts
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many, many, many millennia ago
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to overthrow the
government of God.
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And when he
failed in his attempt
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to overthrow God's government
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and Jesus won on the cross,
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he focused on trying to
cause the church to fall,
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but in a specific way.
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And I'm speaking also
not only to Christians
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in general,
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but Seventh-day
Adventist Christians.
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He's focusing on
trying to overthrow
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your faith.
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Those who keep the
commandments of God,
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those who have been called
to uphold the faith of Jesus.
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Listen to this amazing quotation
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in the books,
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Councils on
Stewardship, page 154.
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Listen to what
God's servant says,
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"As the people of God approached
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the perils of the last days,
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Satan holds earnest consultation
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with his angels
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as to the most successful plan
of overthrowing their faith."
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Why?
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"He sees that
the popular churches
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are already lulled to
sleep by his deceptive power.
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By pleasing
sophistry and lying wonders,
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he can continue to
hold them under his control.
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Therefore, she continues,
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he directs his
angels to lay their snares
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especially for those
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who are looking for
the second advent of Christ
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and endeavoring to keep
all the commandments of God."
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That is Satan's focus.
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If you are looking for
the second coming of Jesus,
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if you're focused
on honoring God's Word,
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keeping God's commandments,
00:10:09.44\00:10:11.11
if you are being true
to a thus saith the Lord,
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you are a special concern.
00:10:14.34\00:10:16.41
Satan is concerned
about your line of defense,
00:10:16.44\00:10:19.28
and that's why
there are certain snares
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that we should seek to avoid.
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One of those is
declining interest
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in spiritual things.
00:10:25.29\00:10:26.76
It's too late, my
brothers and sisters,
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for your interest in
spiritual things to decline,
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that's called lukewarm.
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I'm not for it,
I'm not against it.
00:10:33.43\00:10:35.63
But I would say today,
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politics has played a major role
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in declining
spiritual interests.
00:10:38.83\00:10:40.94
Also, another
thing you should avoid
00:10:40.97\00:10:42.50
is increasing
interest in worldly things,
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love of the world.
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Don't allow the
love of the world
00:10:47.48\00:10:49.51
to dampen your love for Christ
00:10:49.54\00:10:51.55
and for His eternal kingdom.
00:10:51.58\00:10:53.25
The other thing
that's really playing
00:10:53.28\00:10:54.88
on the minds of many
in this COVID environment
00:10:54.92\00:10:57.52
is they are weighed down
by the cares of this world.
00:10:57.55\00:11:01.29
But Jesus says cast
all your cares on Him,
00:11:01.32\00:11:04.83
because He cares for you.
00:11:04.86\00:11:06.46
You see, friends,
in this trying hour,
00:11:06.49\00:11:08.76
we're praying about a vaccine
00:11:08.80\00:11:10.13
and people are
taking the vaccines
00:11:10.17\00:11:11.50
and we're
praying that eventually
00:11:11.53\00:11:13.94
COVID-19 would be a
word we have all forgotten,
00:11:13.97\00:11:17.51
but while people
are trying to deal
00:11:17.54\00:11:18.97
with the stresses,
00:11:19.01\00:11:20.34
the cares of this life
00:11:20.38\00:11:21.71
and the challenges
are weighing them down
00:11:21.74\00:11:23.31
and they're forgetting to
cast all their cares on Jesus.
00:11:23.35\00:11:26.35
But what else
should we try to avoid?
00:11:26.38\00:11:28.08
Electronic and
social media slavery.
00:11:28.12\00:11:31.22
Some people are so
bound by their devices.
00:11:31.25\00:11:34.42
Some are so
bound to their devices
00:11:34.46\00:11:36.83
that they cannot
find freedom in Jesus.
00:11:36.86\00:11:39.46
They have a loss
of personal control.
00:11:39.49\00:11:42.76
I pray that you can
control your devices
00:11:42.80\00:11:45.23
and not allow
them to control you.
00:11:45.27\00:11:47.60
Add to that
immorality, love of money.
00:11:47.64\00:11:50.51
It puts God at
the bottom of the list
00:11:50.54\00:11:52.77
and also the
inability to focus on God's Word
00:11:52.81\00:11:56.48
and they need to be born again.
00:11:56.51\00:11:59.38
The Apostle
Paul has an antidote.
00:11:59.41\00:12:02.55
He has a vaccination for those
00:12:02.58\00:12:04.19
who are losing their
connection on Christ.
00:12:04.22\00:12:06.72
Ephesians 5:14.
00:12:06.76\00:12:09.12
Notice what he
says, notice what he says,
00:12:09.16\00:12:12.13
"He therefore says:
'Awake you who sleep,
00:12:12.16\00:12:17.77
arise from the dead,
00:12:17.80\00:12:19.63
and Christ will
give you light.'"
00:12:19.67\00:12:22.80
He is saying to the
Christian Church today,
00:12:22.84\00:12:24.81
a church that's
being called to the left
00:12:24.84\00:12:26.98
and called to the right.
00:12:27.01\00:12:28.34
He is saying, forget
about the left and right,
00:12:28.38\00:12:30.25
look once again to the center.
00:12:30.28\00:12:32.25
Focus again on Christ,
focus again on His Word,
00:12:32.28\00:12:35.28
focus again on going forward
00:12:35.32\00:12:36.85
and embracing the
truth as it is in Jesus.
00:12:36.89\00:12:39.65
Awake, do not allow the world
00:12:39.69\00:12:41.82
to inoculate you to the point
00:12:41.86\00:12:43.63
where you lose
your focus on Christ.
00:12:43.66\00:12:46.06
I recently had an
opportunity to read an article
00:12:46.09\00:12:49.53
called Article 113
00:12:49.56\00:12:51.33
in the uniform code
of military justice.
00:12:51.37\00:12:55.20
And I thought it's amazing,
00:12:55.24\00:12:59.24
if they applied to the Christian
00:12:59.27\00:13:02.11
what is applied to
the military soldier,
00:13:02.14\00:13:05.05
the same penalties,
00:13:05.08\00:13:06.68
if they would sleep
during the time of war
00:13:06.72\00:13:08.98
as Christians sleep
during the time of war,
00:13:09.02\00:13:12.29
what would happen to the church?
00:13:12.32\00:13:14.09
Listen to this Article 113,
00:13:14.12\00:13:16.62
the uniform code
of military justice.
00:13:16.66\00:13:19.39
My question is,
00:13:19.43\00:13:20.76
is it dangerous for a Christian
00:13:20.80\00:13:22.36
to be sleeping
00:13:22.40\00:13:23.73
during the times
of these last days?
00:13:23.77\00:13:26.10
During the
intensifying of the war
00:13:26.13\00:13:28.47
between light and darkness?
00:13:28.50\00:13:30.17
Listen to what
the military concludes
00:13:30.21\00:13:31.91
about a soldier caught
sleeping during the time of war.
00:13:31.94\00:13:35.21
And they say,
00:13:35.24\00:13:37.25
"He may be executed
00:13:37.28\00:13:38.61
for failing to uphold his duties
00:13:38.65\00:13:40.62
as a sentinel or lookout
00:13:40.65\00:13:44.09
should he be found guilty
while the country is at war,
00:13:44.12\00:13:47.66
if the case is referred capital.
00:13:47.69\00:13:51.49
Even if you
escape the death penalty,
00:13:51.53\00:13:54.03
he says, you
could face incarceration
00:13:54.06\00:13:56.43
that might last decades.
00:13:56.46\00:13:58.80
At the very minimum,
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a loss of all pay allowances
00:14:00.20\00:14:02.80
and benefits will force you
00:14:02.84\00:14:04.74
to enter the civilian world
00:14:04.77\00:14:06.57
as an extreme at an
extreme disadvantage."
00:14:06.61\00:14:11.05
In other words, what happens is
00:14:11.08\00:14:12.65
when they fail to
comply by the military code
00:14:12.68\00:14:16.52
of staying awake,
00:14:16.55\00:14:18.25
some severe things could follow
00:14:18.29\00:14:20.72
losing their salary,
00:14:20.76\00:14:23.49
being dishonorably discharged,
00:14:23.53\00:14:25.36
putting their coworkers
00:14:25.39\00:14:26.73
and their other
soldiers at risk,
00:14:26.76\00:14:28.76
or maybe even
losing their lives.
00:14:28.80\00:14:31.07
Have you thought
about it, friends?
00:14:31.10\00:14:32.73
As a Christian, we are at war.
00:14:32.77\00:14:35.24
Satan is intensifying his
aim to try to dilute our faith.
00:14:35.27\00:14:39.27
And we must remember
that the war that he started
00:14:39.31\00:14:41.58
is going on still today.
00:14:41.61\00:14:43.41
Look at Revelation 12:7-9.
00:14:43.45\00:14:45.75
This war continues today.
00:14:45.78\00:14:47.35
The Bible says,
00:14:47.38\00:14:48.72
"And war broke out in heaven:
00:14:48.75\00:14:50.59
Michael and his angels
fought with the dragon,
00:14:50.62\00:14:53.29
and the dragon
and his angels fought,
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but they did not prevail."
00:14:56.06\00:14:57.56
I would say praise
the Lord right there.
00:14:57.59\00:14:59.49
"Nor was a place found
for them in heaven any longer.
00:14:59.53\00:15:04.60
So the great dragon was cast out
00:15:04.63\00:15:07.77
that serpent of old
called the Devil and Satan."
00:15:07.80\00:15:10.81
What does he do?
00:15:10.84\00:15:12.61
"Who deceives the whole world,
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he was cast to the earth
00:15:15.61\00:15:17.88
and his angels
were cast out with him."
00:15:17.91\00:15:22.38
Where was he cast?
00:15:22.42\00:15:23.95
To the earth. Where is he?
00:15:23.99\00:15:25.59
In the earth. Is he by himself?
00:15:25.62\00:15:27.46
No, his angels are with him.
00:15:27.49\00:15:30.36
And from the day
that he lost his attempt
00:15:30.39\00:15:33.03
to overthrow God's government,
00:15:33.06\00:15:34.73
from that day to
the very present,
00:15:34.76\00:15:36.80
he and his angels had
been working intensely
00:15:36.83\00:15:40.90
on trying to get
those whose allegiance
00:15:40.94\00:15:44.14
is unequivocally given to God
00:15:44.17\00:15:47.04
to try to
change their allegiance
00:15:47.08\00:15:48.98
and give that allegiance to him.
00:15:49.01\00:15:50.81
From the day that
he lost that battle,
00:15:50.85\00:15:53.65
every earthly system
opposed to God's commandments
00:15:53.68\00:15:58.75
has had the same agenda
00:15:58.79\00:16:01.12
trying to replace God.
00:16:01.16\00:16:04.39
But now let me ask a question
00:16:04.43\00:16:06.80
in order to understand
why Satan is so concerned,
00:16:06.83\00:16:10.90
we have to understand
00:16:10.93\00:16:12.30
what God's last
line of defense is.
00:16:12.33\00:16:15.20
Here's the question.
00:16:15.24\00:16:16.57
What is Satan worried about?
00:16:16.60\00:16:18.21
What in the last days,
according to God's Word,
00:16:18.24\00:16:20.68
causes Satan to be troubled?
00:16:20.71\00:16:22.88
Listen to the words of John
once again in Revelation 12:17.
00:16:22.91\00:16:27.52
Here is what the Bible reveals
00:16:27.55\00:16:29.58
is Satan's concern about
God's last line of defense.
00:16:29.62\00:16:33.02
And it says,
00:16:33.05\00:16:34.39
"And the dragon was
enraged with the woman,
00:16:34.42\00:16:36.73
and he went to make war
00:16:36.76\00:16:38.19
with the rest
of her offspring, "
00:16:38.23\00:16:41.06
who are they?
00:16:41.10\00:16:42.46
"Who keep the
commandments of God
00:16:42.50\00:16:45.70
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
00:16:45.73\00:16:49.60
The Bible makes it very clear.
00:16:49.64\00:16:51.07
Satan is concerned about
00:16:51.11\00:16:52.47
those who are
faithful to God's commandments.
00:16:52.51\00:16:55.48
Those who are faithful
to the testimony of Jesus,
00:16:55.51\00:16:58.21
which the Bible
says in Revelation 19:10,
00:16:58.25\00:17:00.95
the testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy.
00:17:00.98\00:17:03.69
Satan is concerned about
00:17:03.72\00:17:05.05
those who understand prophecy
00:17:05.09\00:17:07.72
and therefore he seeks
00:17:07.76\00:17:09.19
to hold those in the
world in his continued grasp.
00:17:09.22\00:17:12.89
But the Christian
who is looking forward
00:17:12.93\00:17:15.20
to the coming of Jesus,
00:17:15.23\00:17:16.56
the Christian who
says God's Word means
00:17:16.60\00:17:18.83
more to me than anything else.
00:17:18.87\00:17:20.87
He is concerned
about that group saying,
00:17:20.90\00:17:23.14
if I can simply get
their eyes off of Christ,
00:17:23.17\00:17:26.47
I can accomplish in them
00:17:26.51\00:17:29.01
what I've done to
millions of others.
00:17:29.04\00:17:32.11
But let's follow the
story, how did it unfold?
00:17:32.15\00:17:35.72
In the Book of Genesis
1:26 following Satan's eviction,
00:17:35.75\00:17:40.76
he made a second attempt
to control God's government
00:17:40.79\00:17:44.29
by trying to
overthrow God's presence
00:17:44.33\00:17:46.96
among his new creation.
00:17:47.00\00:17:48.46
Listen to Genesis
1:26. What did the Lord say?
00:17:48.50\00:17:52.87
"Then God said,
00:17:52.90\00:17:54.67
'Let Us make man in Our image,
00:17:54.70\00:17:58.07
according to Our likeness,
00:17:58.11\00:18:00.81
let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea,
00:18:00.84\00:18:04.18
over the birds of the
air and over the cattle,
00:18:04.21\00:18:07.75
over all the earth
00:18:07.78\00:18:09.55
and over every creeping
thing that creeps on the earth."
00:18:09.58\00:18:14.46
Now understand what this means.
00:18:14.49\00:18:16.32
Satan failed in
overthrowing God's dominion,
00:18:16.36\00:18:19.19
but he
recognized, wait a minute,
00:18:19.23\00:18:20.80
God just gave man
dominion over the earth.
00:18:20.83\00:18:23.73
I need to find a
way to overthrow that,
00:18:23.77\00:18:25.70
maybe I could become
the God of the earth.
00:18:25.73\00:18:28.30
So in order for Satan to
take dominion of the earth,
00:18:28.34\00:18:31.94
he had to gain access to Adam,
00:18:31.97\00:18:34.31
to whom God gave that dominion,
00:18:34.34\00:18:36.75
but he didn't do it directly.
00:18:36.78\00:18:38.81
Look at how he did it.
00:18:38.85\00:18:40.18
Genesis 3:1, the
Bible unfolds it.
00:18:40.22\00:18:42.75
What an amazing story.
00:18:42.78\00:18:44.62
"Now, the
serpent was more cunning
00:18:44.65\00:18:46.35
than any beast of the field,
00:18:46.39\00:18:48.42
which the Lord God had made.
00:18:48.46\00:18:50.46
And he said to the
woman, 'Has God indeed said,
00:18:50.49\00:18:54.70
'You shall not eat of
every tree of the garden?' "
00:18:54.73\00:18:58.17
Now you may have
missed why I read this verse,
00:18:58.20\00:19:00.24
but listen to this.
00:19:00.27\00:19:01.80
He started with the woman.
00:19:01.84\00:19:03.84
I just read a
story about a woman
00:19:03.87\00:19:05.21
that grew backward
00:19:05.24\00:19:06.57
and the Bible used
the symbol of a woman
00:19:06.61\00:19:08.58
to represent the church.
00:19:08.61\00:19:10.21
He began by
appealing to the woman.
00:19:10.25\00:19:12.51
Let me make the connection.
00:19:12.55\00:19:13.88
He in these last days
is appealing to the church
00:19:13.92\00:19:16.95
and he's asking them,
00:19:16.99\00:19:18.95
are you sure that you are clear
00:19:18.99\00:19:21.96
about what God's Word says?
00:19:21.99\00:19:25.19
Why is that so
vitally important?
00:19:25.23\00:19:27.13
If he can fool the
church, as he deceived Eve,
00:19:27.16\00:19:31.70
he can gain access
00:19:31.73\00:19:33.17
to those who have
control of the politics
00:19:33.20\00:19:35.27
and religion of the earth.
00:19:35.30\00:19:36.71
As Adam was given control
of the dominion of the earth,
00:19:36.74\00:19:41.18
he began with Eve.
00:19:41.21\00:19:42.71
What did she do
to give him access?
00:19:42.74\00:19:45.11
What was the step that Eve took
00:19:45.15\00:19:47.58
that opened the door to
give Satan access to Adam?
00:19:47.62\00:19:51.69
Look at verse 2 and 3.
00:19:51.72\00:19:54.72
"And the woman
said to the serpent,
00:19:54.76\00:19:56.83
'We may eat of the fruit
of the trees of the garden,
00:19:56.86\00:19:59.46
but of the fruit of the tree,
00:19:59.49\00:20:01.46
which is in the
midst of the garden,
00:20:01.50\00:20:03.50
God has said,
00:20:03.53\00:20:05.43
'You shall not eat it
nor shall you touch it,
00:20:05.47\00:20:10.01
lest you die."
00:20:10.04\00:20:13.21
Now, what did she do?
00:20:13.24\00:20:15.01
Eve said to the devil,
to serpent, to the serpent,
00:20:15.04\00:20:18.38
to the golden flickering serpent
00:20:18.41\00:20:22.38
that caught her attention.
00:20:22.42\00:20:23.75
She said to him,
00:20:23.79\00:20:25.12
God said that we
shouldn't even touch it.
00:20:25.15\00:20:29.16
And the devil grasped
00:20:29.19\00:20:30.69
that fruit
placing it in her hands.
00:20:30.73\00:20:32.99
And when she didn't die,
00:20:33.03\00:20:34.36
you've heard the
statement he said to her,
00:20:34.40\00:20:36.43
you shall not surely die.
00:20:36.46\00:20:40.14
And when Eve did not
die, when Eve did not die,
00:20:40.17\00:20:45.11
she took that fruit
and gave it to her husband.
00:20:45.14\00:20:47.94
And the Bible says,
00:20:47.98\00:20:49.71
she gave it to her
husband and he ate.
00:20:49.74\00:20:52.65
And we find that
short verse in Genesis 3:6,
00:20:52.68\00:20:55.85
she gave it to her husband
00:20:55.88\00:20:58.49
and he ate by not
embracing what God said.
00:20:58.52\00:21:02.42
She opened the door
for Satan's deception,
00:21:02.46\00:21:05.36
but she gave it to
her husband and he ate.
00:21:05.39\00:21:08.66
Now, why is that
so vitally important?
00:21:08.70\00:21:10.73
You see, friends,
it's one thing for Eve
00:21:10.77\00:21:13.90
to be deceived.
00:21:13.94\00:21:15.27
Let me make the parallel again.
00:21:15.30\00:21:16.81
It's one thing for the church
to be going through difficulty,
00:21:16.84\00:21:19.61
but it's something
altogether for the church
00:21:19.64\00:21:22.04
to be in such deception,
00:21:22.08\00:21:23.85
that the church is being used
00:21:23.88\00:21:25.91
to deceive the
leaders of the world
00:21:25.95\00:21:29.08
who are in fact,
00:21:29.12\00:21:30.55
the ones in control of
the dominion of this earth.
00:21:30.59\00:21:35.52
You see the
first line of defense
00:21:35.56\00:21:37.76
was broken in
the earth, standing
00:21:37.79\00:21:39.39
between Satan
00:21:39.43\00:21:42.03
and the total domination
of the earth was Adam.
00:21:42.06\00:21:45.00
And we know that Adam failed
00:21:45.03\00:21:47.40
and the Bible says,
00:21:47.44\00:21:48.77
he opened the
door and Satan came in
00:21:48.80\00:21:52.27
and what a sad day it was.
00:21:52.31\00:21:54.58
He lived to see his son die.
00:21:54.61\00:21:56.38
Cain killed Abel.
00:21:56.41\00:21:58.21
Adam lived for 930 years
00:21:58.25\00:22:01.52
to see the result
of his transgression.
00:22:01.55\00:22:04.09
The earth began to
fall apart so much so
00:22:04.12\00:22:08.12
that by the time
the world was destroyed
00:22:08.16\00:22:09.79
by the flood, the
Lord said, He was tired.
00:22:09.82\00:22:12.59
He was upset.
00:22:12.63\00:22:13.96
He was sick
00:22:14.00\00:22:15.33
and that He had made man
00:22:15.36\00:22:16.70
because every
intention and thoughts
00:22:16.73\00:22:19.17
of their hearts were
only evil, continually.
00:22:19.20\00:22:23.44
That was the world.
00:22:23.47\00:22:25.97
But what happens
when the church begins
00:22:26.01\00:22:27.84
to display the same behavior?
00:22:27.88\00:22:29.74
When the church begins
to look like the world?
00:22:29.78\00:22:31.71
When the church begins
00:22:31.75\00:22:33.08
to lower the
character representation
00:22:33.11\00:22:35.52
of Christ to the world?
00:22:35.55\00:22:37.15
We begin to see that
00:22:37.19\00:22:38.52
it's becoming
more and more difficult
00:22:38.55\00:22:39.89
to try to find a place
00:22:39.92\00:22:41.59
where the character of Christ
00:22:41.62\00:22:43.22
can be truly represented.
00:22:43.26\00:22:46.13
You see Satan failed in heaven,
00:22:46.16\00:22:48.56
but he was able
to successfully take
00:22:48.60\00:22:50.60
the dominion back from Adam
00:22:50.63\00:22:52.73
in the Garden of Eden,
00:22:52.77\00:22:55.14
because Adam's first
line of defense was lowered.
00:22:55.17\00:22:59.41
Obedience to God's word
was Adam's line of defense.
00:22:59.44\00:23:05.58
And when Adam
fell, Satan maintained,
00:23:05.61\00:23:08.62
sway over the
earth in so many ways
00:23:08.65\00:23:11.55
for nearly 4,000
years until Jesus came.
00:23:11.59\00:23:17.33
Now, I say until Jesus came
00:23:17.36\00:23:19.53
because the devil knew
that Jesus was not just coming
00:23:19.56\00:23:22.43
to save humanity.
00:23:22.46\00:23:24.73
We know that "He came,
00:23:24.77\00:23:26.27
the Son of man comes to seek
00:23:26.30\00:23:27.64
and to save those who are lost."
00:23:27.67\00:23:29.20
Luke 19:10.
00:23:29.24\00:23:30.57
"Call his name Jesus,
00:23:30.61\00:23:32.11
for He shall save His
people from their sins."
00:23:32.14\00:23:34.74
Matthew 1:21,
00:23:34.78\00:23:36.54
"Behold the lamb of God
00:23:36.58\00:23:37.91
that taketh away
the sin of the world."
00:23:37.95\00:23:39.58
John 1:29.
00:23:39.61\00:23:41.32
"Satan knew that
Jesus came to solve
00:23:41.35\00:23:43.69
the sin problem of
which he had no pardon.
00:23:43.72\00:23:46.86
He wanted sin to
be a permanent thing.
00:23:46.89\00:23:49.42
So he could permanently hold on
00:23:49.46\00:23:52.93
to the dominion of the earth.
00:23:52.96\00:23:55.73
But there's another
reason why Jesus came.
00:23:55.76\00:23:58.90
He came to take
back the very thing
00:23:58.93\00:24:01.30
that Satan had wrestled
00:24:01.34\00:24:03.34
from the hand of
a disobedient man,
00:24:03.37\00:24:05.47
by the name of Adam.
00:24:05.51\00:24:06.98
And when Jesus came,
00:24:07.01\00:24:08.88
the devil was on his footsteps
00:24:08.91\00:24:10.31
from the day of his birth.
00:24:10.35\00:24:11.68
He tried to kill
Him when He was a baby.
00:24:11.71\00:24:13.31
But praise the Lord,
00:24:13.35\00:24:14.68
Jesus had secret
service protection
00:24:14.72\00:24:16.55
far greater than
any earthly dignitary.
00:24:16.58\00:24:19.65
God guided His Son,
00:24:19.69\00:24:22.22
even from the
cradle to the cross.
00:24:22.26\00:24:25.59
But when Jesus came,
00:24:25.63\00:24:27.03
He knew that
Satan was on his tracks.
00:24:27.06\00:24:28.90
Many, many attempts
were made to arrest Jesus,
00:24:28.93\00:24:31.83
but He got away.
00:24:31.87\00:24:33.20
And then he said this
statement in John 14:30.
00:24:33.23\00:24:36.27
It's an amazing statement.
00:24:36.30\00:24:37.77
Jesus describes Satan
00:24:37.81\00:24:39.81
the way that Satan was
00:24:39.84\00:24:42.14
because of the fall of Adam.
00:24:42.18\00:24:44.05
Listen to the words of Christ.
00:24:44.08\00:24:45.45
John 14:30, Jesus said,
00:24:45.48\00:24:48.45
"I will no longer
talk much with you,
00:24:48.48\00:24:51.89
for the ruler of
this world is coming
00:24:51.92\00:24:55.62
and he has nothing in Me."
00:24:55.66\00:24:58.63
Wow!
00:24:58.66\00:25:00.00
Why did Jesus call
Satan the ruler of this world?
00:25:00.03\00:25:04.03
He called him the
ruler of this world
00:25:04.07\00:25:06.07
because he had successfully
for 4,000 years controlled
00:25:06.10\00:25:10.91
in one way or the other
00:25:10.94\00:25:12.31
the manipulations
of the human heart.
00:25:12.34\00:25:14.41
Sin was rampant in the earth.
00:25:14.44\00:25:16.34
Men that were supposed
to follow the order of God
00:25:16.38\00:25:19.05
began to follow
the order of Satan.
00:25:19.08\00:25:21.68
And the church was
under an environment
00:25:21.72\00:25:24.85
that was one minute up,
00:25:24.89\00:25:26.92
one minute down,
00:25:26.96\00:25:28.29
God called men to lead
the children of Israel.
00:25:28.32\00:25:30.59
And some of those
leaders were rebellious.
00:25:30.63\00:25:32.53
They turned away
from the cause of God.
00:25:32.56\00:25:34.73
The tribes were torn apart.
00:25:34.76\00:25:36.30
Then the tribe of Judah,
00:25:36.33\00:25:37.87
that was the tribe
00:25:37.90\00:25:39.23
through which Jesus was to come,
00:25:39.27\00:25:41.40
went through an
up and down cycle.
00:25:41.44\00:25:43.44
But praise God,
00:25:43.47\00:25:44.84
He sustained the tribe of Judah
00:25:44.87\00:25:47.14
because that was the tribe
00:25:47.18\00:25:48.58
through which Jesus was to come.
00:25:48.61\00:25:50.41
He is the lion of
the tribe of Judah,
00:25:50.45\00:25:52.78
but Satan
wrestled and he fought.
00:25:52.81\00:25:55.65
And even on the cross
00:25:55.68\00:25:58.19
Satan thought he had succeeded
00:25:58.22\00:26:00.36
in ending the attempt
00:26:00.39\00:26:02.12
that Jesus made to
take back His dominion.
00:26:02.16\00:26:06.26
When Jesus bowed
His head and died,
00:26:06.29\00:26:08.60
Satan thought that he had won,
00:26:08.63\00:26:11.00
but he heard
Jesus utter three words
00:26:11.03\00:26:13.10
just before He bowed His head.
00:26:13.13\00:26:14.77
He said the
words, "It is finished."
00:26:14.80\00:26:16.77
And when Satan heard
the words, it is finished,
00:26:16.81\00:26:20.14
what he heard in
essence was I am finished.
00:26:20.18\00:26:22.88
Not Jesus is finished
00:26:22.91\00:26:24.51
because Jesus said
throughout His life,
00:26:24.55\00:26:26.51
I have come to do the work
00:26:26.55\00:26:28.18
the Father has sent Me to do.
00:26:28.22\00:26:30.32
And before He died, praise God,
00:26:30.35\00:26:33.05
He finished the work
of redeeming humanity
00:26:33.09\00:26:37.96
and the devil knew it.
00:26:37.99\00:26:39.33
That's why on
resurrection morning,
00:26:39.36\00:26:41.20
on resurrection morning,
00:26:41.23\00:26:43.30
Jesus came forth from
the tomb victoriously,
00:26:43.33\00:26:46.03
but in the earthly
battles between him
00:26:46.07\00:26:48.47
and the arch enemy of heaven,
00:26:48.50\00:26:50.74
notice Satan tried to
get Jesus to compromise.
00:26:50.77\00:26:53.91
Look at what he
said in Luke 4:6-7,
00:26:53.94\00:26:56.31
before Jesus got to the cross,
00:26:56.34\00:26:58.18
he tried to get
Jesus to compromise.
00:26:58.21\00:27:01.55
And the devil said to
him, that is to Christ.
00:27:01.58\00:27:03.59
All this authority
00:27:03.62\00:27:05.65
I will give you and their glory,
00:27:05.69\00:27:08.82
for this has
been delivered to me.
00:27:08.86\00:27:12.09
And I give it
to whomever I wish.
00:27:12.13\00:27:14.96
Therefore, if You will worship
before me all will be yours.
00:27:15.00\00:27:21.47
Aren't you glad today, friends,
00:27:21.50\00:27:22.84
that Jesus didn't
fall for that lie?
00:27:22.87\00:27:24.87
Jesus, in fact,
created the earth.
00:27:24.91\00:27:27.18
He is the creator
of heaven and earth,
00:27:27.21\00:27:30.28
but in Satan's
control of man's dominion,
00:27:30.31\00:27:32.71
he said, Lord, if
you simply worship me,
00:27:32.75\00:27:35.15
you see it's all about worship.
00:27:35.18\00:27:36.79
It's not about religion.
It's not about politics.
00:27:36.82\00:27:38.85
It's about worship.
00:27:38.89\00:27:40.22
And oftentimes the
character of Christ
00:27:40.26\00:27:42.36
gets distorted in
the context of religion
00:27:42.39\00:27:45.33
when in reality,
00:27:45.36\00:27:46.70
the devil knew
it is about worship.
00:27:46.73\00:27:49.13
And the question to you is
before I finish our message,
00:27:49.16\00:27:52.17
who are you worshiping?
00:27:52.20\00:27:55.57
Has your worship of the true God
00:27:55.60\00:27:57.97
been diluted by
politics or money
00:27:58.01\00:28:02.61
or the pursuit of fame
or wealth or popularity
00:28:02.64\00:28:06.51
or the worldliness,
00:28:06.55\00:28:08.55
who are you worshiping?
00:28:08.58\00:28:09.98
Even the devil knew
it is all about worship.
00:28:10.02\00:28:15.26
But look at what Jesus did,
00:28:15.29\00:28:16.89
which once again
gives us a glimpse
00:28:16.93\00:28:19.09
into the line of defense.
00:28:19.13\00:28:20.90
When Satan came to Christ
to try to get to deceive him,
00:28:20.93\00:28:24.63
notice the words
that Jesus uttered,
00:28:24.67\00:28:27.10
Matthew 4:7.
00:28:27.14\00:28:28.77
Look what He said.
00:28:28.80\00:28:30.27
"Jesus said to him,
"It is written again,
00:28:30.31\00:28:33.74
'You shall not
tempt the Lord Your God.'"
00:28:33.78\00:28:37.38
Now, couldn't
Jesus have simply said,
00:28:37.41\00:28:39.81
look, I created heaven.
00:28:39.85\00:28:41.18
Remember me,
00:28:41.22\00:28:42.55
when you fought
against me in the kingdom
00:28:42.58\00:28:43.92
and I won the battle.
00:28:43.95\00:28:45.29
He could have said that.
00:28:45.32\00:28:46.65
He could have said to Satan,
00:28:46.69\00:28:48.02
remember when you were Lucifer,
00:28:48.06\00:28:49.39
I created you and you
were defeated already.
00:28:49.42\00:28:52.29
He could have gone
at him with an argument,
00:28:52.33\00:28:54.70
a retinue of words and arguments
00:28:54.73\00:28:56.53
that could have
been well justified,
00:28:56.56\00:28:59.17
but Jesus made a statement
00:28:59.20\00:29:00.77
that leaves a
lesson for you and me.
00:29:00.80\00:29:03.64
He said, "It is written.
00:29:03.67\00:29:07.41
It is written."
00:29:07.44\00:29:09.14
Why would Jesus say that?
00:29:09.18\00:29:12.21
Because the very thing
00:29:12.25\00:29:13.58
that Eve failed to do by saying,
00:29:13.62\00:29:15.32
it is written,
00:29:15.35\00:29:17.22
these are the
words of God, Jesus did.
00:29:17.25\00:29:20.69
His line of
defense was lifted up.
00:29:20.72\00:29:22.42
It is written.
00:29:22.46\00:29:23.79
The Word of God is
our line of defense.
00:29:23.83\00:29:26.06
Jesus knew that by
upholding the Word,
00:29:26.09\00:29:29.26
Satan could not defeat Him.
00:29:29.30\00:29:32.83
And by upholding the word,
00:29:32.87\00:29:35.10
the cross was not
the end of Jesus' life,
00:29:35.14\00:29:38.81
but the beginning
of an endless victory
00:29:38.84\00:29:41.31
for you and for me.
00:29:41.34\00:29:42.68
Praise God for that.
00:29:42.71\00:29:44.05
Matthew 28:18
points out what happened
00:29:44.08\00:29:46.31
when Jesus came forth
on resurrection morning.
00:29:46.35\00:29:48.85
Look at the words of Christ,
00:29:48.88\00:29:50.59
"And Jesus came and
spoke to them saying,
00:29:50.62\00:29:53.59
'All authority
has been given to Me
00:29:53.62\00:29:57.29
in heaven and on earth.'"
00:29:57.33\00:30:00.50
And the devil knew
when Jesus came forth,
00:30:00.53\00:30:03.37
the devil knew.
00:30:03.40\00:30:04.73
When Jesus won
the battle in heaven,
00:30:04.77\00:30:06.63
Satan was cast out.
00:30:06.67\00:30:08.07
When Jesus rose from the
grave, Satan was cast down.
00:30:08.10\00:30:12.01
Satan knew from that moment
00:30:12.04\00:30:14.31
when Jesus
defeated him by coming forth
00:30:14.34\00:30:16.51
from the grave victoriously,
00:30:16.54\00:30:17.95
he knew that there's
something that I have to do now.
00:30:17.98\00:30:20.75
I've got to change my approach.
00:30:20.78\00:30:23.02
I've got to find another
way to try to defeat the church.
00:30:23.05\00:30:25.72
I have got to find a way
00:30:25.75\00:30:27.66
to slow down the
quail of getting rid of me.
00:30:27.69\00:30:31.76
Something he knew
happened when Jesus came forth.
00:30:31.79\00:30:35.46
Revelation 12:10.
00:30:35.50\00:30:37.27
Look what the
Bible says happened
00:30:37.30\00:30:39.20
when Jesus won on
resurrection morning.
00:30:39.23\00:30:42.70
John the Revelator says,
00:30:42.74\00:30:44.27
"Then I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven,
00:30:44.31\00:30:47.78
'Now salvation, and strength,
00:30:47.81\00:30:50.75
and the kingdom of our God,
00:30:50.78\00:30:52.78
and the power of
His Christ have come."
00:30:52.81\00:30:55.45
Why?
00:30:55.48\00:30:56.82
"For the
accuser of our brethren,
00:30:56.85\00:30:59.72
who accused them
before our God," how often?
00:30:59.75\00:31:02.89
"Day and night
has been cast down."
00:31:02.92\00:31:08.16
Praise God for that.
00:31:08.20\00:31:10.07
When Jesus won
the battle in heaven,
00:31:10.10\00:31:12.43
Satan was kicked out.
00:31:12.47\00:31:13.80
But when Jesus rose
from the grave victoriously,
00:31:13.84\00:31:16.71
Satan was cast down.
00:31:16.74\00:31:19.07
His kingdom was defeated.
00:31:19.11\00:31:21.18
And from that day forward,
00:31:21.21\00:31:24.38
the line of
defense was reestablished.
00:31:24.41\00:31:27.02
Wow!
00:31:27.05\00:31:28.38
The line of
defense was reestablished.
00:31:28.42\00:31:30.15
The Word of God was
established as eternal,
00:31:30.19\00:31:33.02
undefiled, pure,
impenetrable the Word of God,
00:31:33.05\00:31:37.79
the line of
defense was reestablished.
00:31:37.83\00:31:40.53
But something
happened when Satan heard that,
00:31:40.56\00:31:43.70
he says I've
got one last chance.
00:31:43.73\00:31:45.87
And on the podium of his defeat,
00:31:45.90\00:31:48.40
Satan assembled
his final coalition
00:31:48.44\00:31:51.14
for world dominance.
00:31:51.17\00:31:53.61
Now John takes us
once again to the scene
00:31:53.64\00:31:56.38
in the heart of
this vile assembly
00:31:56.41\00:31:59.91
of criminals,
00:31:59.95\00:32:01.28
in this fallen foe,
listen to his words.
00:32:01.32\00:32:05.15
Revelation 12:12,
00:32:05.19\00:32:08.02
"Therefore rejoice O heavens,
00:32:08.06\00:32:10.56
and you who dwell in them."
00:32:10.59\00:32:13.50
But listen to this.
00:32:13.53\00:32:14.86
Woe to the
inhabitants of the earth
00:32:14.90\00:32:17.60
and the sea!
00:32:17.63\00:32:19.00
For the devil
has come down to you,
00:32:19.03\00:32:22.10
having great wrath."
00:32:22.14\00:32:25.11
Why?
00:32:25.14\00:32:26.47
Because he knows
that he has a short time."
00:32:26.51\00:32:31.81
Satan knew that he
had one last opportunity
00:32:31.85\00:32:36.22
to dominate the earth,
00:32:36.25\00:32:37.99
but there was one
more person standing,
00:32:38.02\00:32:40.72
one more power
standing between him
00:32:40.76\00:32:44.09
and total world domination.
00:32:44.13\00:32:46.03
Satan knew that he
had failed in heaven.
00:32:46.06\00:32:48.46
He won in the garden.
00:32:48.50\00:32:49.96
He failed on
resurrection morning,
00:32:50.00\00:32:52.17
but Jesus has gone now.
00:32:52.20\00:32:53.84
And when Jesus left,
00:32:53.87\00:32:55.40
He imparted His
authority to His church.
00:32:55.44\00:32:58.87
He says, I give you authority
over serpents and scorpions
00:32:58.91\00:33:02.24
and over all the
power of the enemy
00:33:02.28\00:33:05.18
and nothing by any
means is going to hurt you.
00:33:05.21\00:33:09.65
Satan heard that,
00:33:09.68\00:33:11.02
the apostles
went forth preaching,
00:33:11.05\00:33:12.92
proclaiming God's Word,
and the church could not stop.
00:33:12.95\00:33:16.32
Jesus said it before He left,
00:33:16.36\00:33:17.99
the gates of
hell will not prevail
00:33:18.03\00:33:19.46
against the church.
00:33:19.49\00:33:20.83
And the church was growing
and thriving and succeeding.
00:33:20.86\00:33:23.57
And the devil was fighting
00:33:23.60\00:33:24.93
and the forces of
darkness were being defeated
00:33:24.97\00:33:27.90
because the devil saw
what Jesus established
00:33:27.94\00:33:31.31
could not be broken down,
00:33:31.34\00:33:34.18
but He didn't stop trying.
00:33:34.21\00:33:36.24
And then the Lord
made the statement
00:33:36.28\00:33:37.61
through John the Apostle
00:33:37.65\00:33:39.11
about the one last entity
00:33:39.15\00:33:43.05
standing between Satan
and total world domination.
00:33:43.08\00:33:48.39
Let's visit
Revelation 12:17 one more time.
00:33:48.42\00:33:53.16
Look at these words.
00:33:53.19\00:33:55.36
"And the dragon was
enraged with the woman
00:33:55.40\00:33:59.33
and went to make war
00:33:59.37\00:34:01.47
with the rest of her offspring,
00:34:01.50\00:34:04.01
who keep the commandments of God
00:34:04.04\00:34:06.64
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
00:34:06.68\00:34:09.61
Now, the
question is who are they?
00:34:09.64\00:34:11.98
Who is this group that
keeps the commandments of God
00:34:12.01\00:34:14.82
and have the testimony of Jesus?
00:34:14.85\00:34:16.65
Let me take you
on a short journey
00:34:16.69\00:34:18.32
through the Dark Ages,
00:34:18.35\00:34:20.19
through the growing of
the New Testament Church.
00:34:20.22\00:34:22.22
As the New
Testament Church began to grow
00:34:22.26\00:34:25.06
the apostles notice
00:34:25.09\00:34:26.43
that the church began
to have internal struggles,
00:34:26.46\00:34:29.00
that the church
began to face opposition
00:34:29.03\00:34:30.83
from those who formerly
claimed connection to God,
00:34:30.87\00:34:34.30
but didn't want to
accept Jesus Christ,
00:34:34.34\00:34:36.30
but the church grew.
00:34:36.34\00:34:37.91
The church grew in
spite of persecution.
00:34:37.94\00:34:40.51
The church grew in
light of persecution
00:34:40.54\00:34:43.04
for Satan's number one attempt
00:34:43.08\00:34:45.35
was to wipe it out at all costs
00:34:45.38\00:34:48.72
and the final
disciple, John the Apostle,
00:34:48.75\00:34:51.12
before he lost his life
on the Island of Patmos,
00:34:51.15\00:34:55.22
before he gave up his struggle
against the forces of darkness,
00:34:55.26\00:34:59.19
God gave him the
Book of Revelation.
00:34:59.23\00:35:01.10
That's why we look
at it with such respect.
00:35:01.13\00:35:03.50
God told them, hold on.
00:35:03.53\00:35:05.03
And as the last of the
apostles began to die off,
00:35:05.07\00:35:07.90
the church went
through severe persecution
00:35:07.94\00:35:10.14
from 303 to 313 AD.
00:35:10.17\00:35:12.87
Roman emperor Diocletian
00:35:12.91\00:35:14.41
tried to wipe out
the Christian Church,
00:35:14.44\00:35:16.44
but let me say it again.
00:35:16.48\00:35:17.81
The church
continued to go forward.
00:35:17.85\00:35:19.48
The church began to grow.
00:35:19.51\00:35:21.78
Every drop of
blood from one victim
00:35:21.82\00:35:25.49
was replaced
with two individuals.
00:35:25.52\00:35:28.09
Every one life that
fell, two grew up in its place.
00:35:28.12\00:35:31.33
Why?
00:35:31.36\00:35:32.69
The gates of hell
00:35:32.73\00:35:34.06
shall not prevail
against the church,
00:35:34.10\00:35:35.83
but don't fault the
devil for not trying.
00:35:35.86\00:35:39.03
He's tried his best,
00:35:39.07\00:35:40.74
but God's church and God's
plan continues to go forward.
00:35:40.77\00:35:46.01
Why?
00:35:46.04\00:35:47.38
Because now that
the Lord has established
00:35:47.41\00:35:50.61
a line of
defense against darkness,
00:35:50.65\00:35:53.11
a line of defense against error,
00:35:53.15\00:35:55.78
this is the
concern that Satan has.
00:35:55.82\00:35:59.22
He is concerned about
God's last line of defense.
00:35:59.25\00:36:02.66
During the Dark Ages,
00:36:02.69\00:36:04.03
millions of Christians
lost their lives at the rack.
00:36:04.06\00:36:07.56
Millions of Christians
were killed in the arenas,
00:36:07.60\00:36:09.96
in the dungeons,
00:36:10.00\00:36:11.33
but they continued hanging on
00:36:11.37\00:36:12.93
and God carried
the church through
00:36:12.97\00:36:15.00
until He reestablished
through Pentecostals
00:36:15.04\00:36:17.84
and
Presbyterians and Methodists.
00:36:17.87\00:36:19.67
Those who
didn't fully understand
00:36:19.71\00:36:21.54
God's Word, but
they were honest hearted.
00:36:21.58\00:36:23.91
They wanted to serve
God according to the truth.
00:36:23.95\00:36:27.22
And they got together and
began to search God's Word
00:36:27.25\00:36:30.35
and began to
understand, wait a minute,
00:36:30.39\00:36:32.55
I didn't truly understood
00:36:32.59\00:36:33.92
what the Bible says about death,
00:36:33.96\00:36:35.29
but God's Word is not the fault.
00:36:35.32\00:36:37.06
So they studied
00:36:37.09\00:36:38.89
and people that
didn't have the similar views
00:36:38.93\00:36:41.66
allowed God's Word to be
the last line of defense.
00:36:41.70\00:36:46.07
And they put down their error
00:36:46.10\00:36:47.94
and began to embrace God's Word.
00:36:47.97\00:36:49.60
Yes, when you die,
you rest in the grave.
00:36:49.64\00:36:52.24
Yes, when Jesus comes
back, it's not gonna be secret.
00:36:52.27\00:36:55.21
It's gonna visible.
The entire world will know.
00:36:55.24\00:36:57.81
Every eye will see Him.
00:36:57.85\00:37:00.28
And Satan said, wait a
minute, I can't let that happen.
00:37:00.32\00:37:02.65
Then they realize
there's something else
00:37:02.68\00:37:04.45
we didn't understand.
00:37:04.49\00:37:05.82
You don't die and burn forever.
00:37:05.85\00:37:07.19
If you're a sinner,
00:37:07.22\00:37:08.56
you burn until the ashes of evil
00:37:08.59\00:37:12.03
are the last line of things
00:37:12.06\00:37:14.40
that are remaining from those
00:37:14.43\00:37:15.90
who turned their backs on God.
00:37:15.93\00:37:17.97
Hell is not an
eternally burning place,
00:37:18.00\00:37:20.20
but its results are eternal.
00:37:20.24\00:37:22.90
The devil began
to lose the battle.
00:37:22.94\00:37:24.77
He began to lose vehemently
and the church continued,
00:37:24.81\00:37:27.94
but what did he do?
00:37:27.98\00:37:30.05
But what did he do?
00:37:30.08\00:37:31.55
He noticed, wait a minute,
00:37:31.58\00:37:33.55
I can begin my own movement
00:37:33.58\00:37:35.72
and he began a
movement with a cloak
00:37:35.75\00:37:37.99
that looked like Christianity,
but something was missing.
00:37:38.02\00:37:41.89
The commandments
of God were missing.
00:37:41.92\00:37:44.06
Pentecostals,
Presbyterians, Methodists,
00:37:44.09\00:37:47.10
not so much
Pentecostals at the time,
00:37:47.13\00:37:48.66
they were not a movement yet,
00:37:48.70\00:37:50.40
but Presbyterians, Anglicans,
00:37:50.43\00:37:52.90
the Church of Christ
during the 1800s, early 1900s,
00:37:52.93\00:37:56.81
they began to unite together.
00:37:56.84\00:37:58.51
And what was the
basis of their unity?
00:37:58.54\00:38:00.68
Simply the truth of God's
Word, a thus saith the Lord.
00:38:00.71\00:38:05.11
And they were
formed into a movement
00:38:05.15\00:38:07.62
that the world
began to understand
00:38:07.65\00:38:09.35
as the advent movement,
00:38:09.38\00:38:12.22
then all of a sudden,
00:38:12.25\00:38:13.59
the truth of God's second coming
00:38:13.62\00:38:14.96
began to be proclaimed.
00:38:14.99\00:38:16.32
The truth of the
visible return of Christ
00:38:16.36\00:38:18.53
began to be
proclaimed around the world
00:38:18.56\00:38:21.16
and people that
did not understand it
00:38:21.20\00:38:23.06
to that point
00:38:23.10\00:38:24.43
began to embrace once
again God's line of defense,
00:38:24.47\00:38:28.67
His undiluted truth.
00:38:28.70\00:38:31.21
And he recognized, wait
a minute, wait a minute,
00:38:31.24\00:38:34.54
who are these people?
00:38:34.58\00:38:36.08
Who are these
Seventh-day Adventist?
00:38:36.11\00:38:38.81
What purpose do
they have in the earth?
00:38:38.85\00:38:40.45
And he noticed, wait a minute.
00:38:40.48\00:38:42.12
If I could break them
down, I could gain access.
00:38:42.15\00:38:44.92
And once again, my
domination will be total.
00:38:44.95\00:38:48.16
I read in
Selective Messages book two,
00:38:48.19\00:38:51.36
page 12 in paragraph
one, this amazing quotation.
00:38:51.39\00:38:54.80
Listen to the behind the scenes.
00:38:54.83\00:38:58.43
"The
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:38:58.47\00:39:00.84
is brought to view in prophecy
in the setting of conflict."
00:39:00.87\00:39:04.74
That's Revelation 12:17,
00:39:04.77\00:39:07.64
"For Satan,
00:39:07.68\00:39:09.41
the dragon wages relentless war
00:39:09.44\00:39:13.38
against those who keep
the commandments of God,
00:39:13.42\00:39:16.62
and have the testimony of Jesus.
00:39:16.65\00:39:19.69
The great adversary knows
00:39:19.72\00:39:22.16
that if he is successful
00:39:22.19\00:39:24.69
in misleading and confusing
Seventh-day Adventists,
00:39:24.73\00:39:29.40
he frustrates
the purposes of God."
00:39:29.43\00:39:32.90
Now why is that the case?
00:39:32.93\00:39:34.60
Because they stand on
this platform, Isaiah 8:20,
00:39:34.64\00:39:38.61
it's Old and New
Testament together,
00:39:38.64\00:39:40.44
Isaiah 8:20.
00:39:40.48\00:39:41.81
Notice Isaiah,
00:39:41.84\00:39:43.18
the prophet
established in his word.
00:39:43.21\00:39:44.85
Here's what the Bible says,
00:39:44.88\00:39:46.21
"To the law and
to the testimony!
00:39:46.25\00:39:49.35
If they do not speak
according to this word,
00:39:49.38\00:39:52.25
it is because there
is no light in them."
00:39:52.29\00:39:55.26
Those who began to
establish the truth
00:39:55.29\00:39:57.23
about the
second coming of Jesus,
00:39:57.26\00:39:58.93
used the Old and New
Testament as their guides,
00:39:58.96\00:40:02.10
not an old book passed away
00:40:02.13\00:40:04.10
and a new book
that supersedes view
00:40:04.13\00:40:06.53
but the entire Bible.
00:40:06.57\00:40:07.90
Matthew 4:4,
00:40:07.94\00:40:09.27
"Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:40:09.30\00:40:11.37
but by every word
00:40:11.41\00:40:12.74
that proceeds from God's mouth."
00:40:12.77\00:40:14.38
This advent movement
00:40:14.41\00:40:15.74
began to
proliferate around the world.
00:40:15.78\00:40:17.61
Every nationality,
every nation, every kindred,
00:40:17.65\00:40:21.12
every tongue,
00:40:21.15\00:40:22.48
every people and Satan's concern
00:40:22.52\00:40:24.59
continued to grow.
00:40:24.62\00:40:25.95
Why?
00:40:25.99\00:40:27.32
Because the light
of truth began to shine
00:40:27.36\00:40:29.69
in every corner of the globe
00:40:29.72\00:40:32.59
and recognizing the
growth of this movement.
00:40:32.63\00:40:35.70
The servant of the Lord
wrote the following statement,
00:40:35.73\00:40:38.20
Evangelism page
119, paragraph three,
00:40:38.23\00:40:42.97
listen to what she says,
00:40:43.00\00:40:44.94
"Seventh-day Adventists
00:40:44.97\00:40:46.31
had been set in the world
as watchmen and light-bearers.
00:40:46.34\00:40:49.78
To them has been entrusted
00:40:49.81\00:40:52.01
the last warning
for a perishing world.
00:40:52.05\00:40:55.65
On them is
shining wonderful light
00:40:55.68\00:40:58.82
from the Word of God.
00:40:58.85\00:41:01.02
They have been given a
work of the most solemn import,
00:41:01.06\00:41:05.39
the proclamation
00:41:05.43\00:41:06.76
of the first, second
and third angel's messages.
00:41:06.80\00:41:10.27
There is no other work
of so great importance.
00:41:10.30\00:41:14.30
They are to allow nothing
else to absorb their attention.
00:41:14.34\00:41:19.37
The most solemn truths
ever entrusted to mortals
00:41:19.41\00:41:22.94
have been given us to
proclaim to the world."
00:41:22.98\00:41:26.51
And watch this.
00:41:26.55\00:41:27.88
"The
proclamation of these truths
00:41:27.92\00:41:30.49
is to be our work.
00:41:30.52\00:41:33.05
The world is to be warned
00:41:33.09\00:41:34.82
and God's people are
to be true to the trust,
00:41:34.86\00:41:38.36
committed to them."
00:41:38.39\00:41:40.40
Now why wouldn't the
devil be concerned about that?
00:41:40.43\00:41:42.86
The world being warned,
00:41:42.90\00:41:44.90
getting people ready
for the coming of Jesus.
00:41:44.93\00:41:47.10
Of course, of course.
00:41:47.14\00:41:49.50
If you were the
devil, that'll concern you.
00:41:49.54\00:41:51.61
If you were interested
in darkness and deception
00:41:51.64\00:41:54.04
and false doctrines,
00:41:54.08\00:41:55.78
that would concern you.
00:41:55.81\00:41:58.01
But watch what happened.
00:41:58.05\00:41:59.85
Satan knew that
he could not defeat
00:41:59.88\00:42:01.88
the Christian Church.
00:42:01.92\00:42:03.45
So he said to them,
00:42:03.49\00:42:04.82
well, go ahead
and read the Bible,
00:42:04.85\00:42:07.06
but don't believe doctrines.
00:42:07.09\00:42:08.59
Why?
00:42:08.62\00:42:09.96
Because the
Sabbath was resurfaced
00:42:09.99\00:42:11.89
to align with God's Word,
00:42:11.93\00:42:13.26
the true day of worship.
00:42:13.29\00:42:14.63
The truth about what
happens when you die.
00:42:14.66\00:42:16.00
It's the doctrine
of the Word of God
00:42:16.03\00:42:17.77
to show the true
character of Christ.
00:42:17.80\00:42:19.80
There is no
eternally burning hell,
00:42:19.83\00:42:21.70
you burn until
everything is done.
00:42:21.74\00:42:23.91
The truth of God's Word,
00:42:23.94\00:42:25.27
another doctrine that
began to be resurfaced
00:42:25.31\00:42:29.31
showing the true
character of Christ.
00:42:29.34\00:42:31.48
No wonder the Apostle Paul
said to Timothy, what he did.
00:42:31.51\00:42:35.08
Let's go back to
our original scripture.
00:42:35.12\00:42:37.35
1 Timothy 4:16.
00:42:37.39\00:42:39.12
This is why he said
what he did to his protege,
00:42:39.15\00:42:41.86
Timothy.
00:42:41.89\00:42:43.22
Notice what he said.
00:42:43.26\00:42:44.59
1 Timothy 4:16.
00:42:44.63\00:42:45.96
He said, "Take heed to
yourself and to the doctrine.
00:42:45.99\00:42:50.60
Continue in them,
for in doing this,
00:42:50.63\00:42:53.23
you will get to
save both yourself
00:42:53.27\00:42:57.11
and those who hear you."
00:42:57.14\00:43:00.48
Who doesn't want to be saved?
00:43:00.51\00:43:02.31
Well, the Bible says,
00:43:02.34\00:43:03.68
"If you continue in the truth
of the doctrine of God's Word,
00:43:03.71\00:43:08.08
you will be saved.
00:43:08.12\00:43:09.45
And those who
hear those doctrines
00:43:09.48\00:43:10.99
will also be saved."
00:43:11.02\00:43:12.45
Why do you think the
devil says to people nowadays,
00:43:12.49\00:43:14.46
you don't need doctrine.
00:43:14.49\00:43:15.82
Just say Jesus, and
that's all that matters.
00:43:15.86\00:43:17.96
Another line of deception.
00:43:17.99\00:43:19.66
Be careful with this
false Christ centeredness.
00:43:19.69\00:43:24.37
Yes, Jesus loves us,
00:43:24.40\00:43:25.87
but that's not
where the Bible ends.
00:43:25.90\00:43:27.64
If Revelation wasn't important,
00:43:27.67\00:43:29.44
the Lord wouldn't put it there.
00:43:29.47\00:43:30.94
If the truth about
these topics I just touched on
00:43:30.97\00:43:33.64
wasn't important,
00:43:33.68\00:43:35.01
it would not be in God's Word,
00:43:35.04\00:43:36.41
but it is there.
00:43:36.44\00:43:37.78
But the devil wants to
lower the line of defense.
00:43:37.81\00:43:40.45
And the devil
knew that if we follow
00:43:40.48\00:43:42.78
the doctrines of God's Word,
00:43:42.82\00:43:44.69
we could establish
a sure line of defense
00:43:44.72\00:43:48.29
against deception.
00:43:48.32\00:43:49.86
Listen to Paul again.
00:43:49.89\00:43:51.39
2 Timothy 4:3-5.
00:43:51.43\00:43:54.06
Notice what he says,
00:43:54.10\00:43:55.73
"For the time will come
00:43:55.76\00:43:57.10
when they will not
endure sound doctrine,
00:43:57.13\00:43:59.77
but according to
their own desires,
00:43:59.80\00:44:01.47
because they have itching ears,
00:44:01.50\00:44:04.07
they will heap up
for themselves teachers."
00:44:04.11\00:44:07.64
And what will happen?
00:44:07.68\00:44:09.01
"And they will turn
their ears away from the truth
00:44:09.04\00:44:12.51
and be turned aside to fables.
00:44:12.55\00:44:14.58
But you be
watchful in all things,
00:44:14.62\00:44:18.25
endure affliction,
00:44:18.29\00:44:21.02
do the work of an evangelist
and fulfill your ministry."
00:44:21.06\00:44:27.10
He said to Timothy,
it's going to get rough.
00:44:27.13\00:44:28.86
It's going to get rough.
00:44:28.90\00:44:30.23
But if you stand
firmly on God's Word,
00:44:30.27\00:44:32.20
if you stand
firmly on sound doctrine,
00:44:32.23\00:44:35.87
you have nothing to worry about.
00:44:35.90\00:44:38.31
You see, friends,
today, Christianity is popular,
00:44:38.34\00:44:42.04
but Christianity today
is losing its bearings.
00:44:42.08\00:44:46.48
When it flutters
away from God's Word
00:44:46.51\00:44:48.78
and thinks that all we
need is music and a good feeling
00:44:48.82\00:44:51.29
and lights and camera
and action and emotionalism.
00:44:51.32\00:44:54.66
And by the way,
there's nothing wrong
00:44:54.69\00:44:56.02
with any of those things.
00:44:56.06\00:44:57.69
But when they
supersede the desire
00:44:57.73\00:44:59.83
and the need to stand
on a thus saith the Lord,
00:44:59.86\00:45:02.90
then you're in trouble
00:45:02.93\00:45:04.27
because Jesus didn't sing
to the devil in the garden.
00:45:04.30\00:45:06.57
He said, "It is written."
00:45:06.60\00:45:08.34
He didn't sing to the devil
00:45:08.37\00:45:09.80
during the time
of his temptations,
00:45:09.84\00:45:11.94
He quoted, "It is written."
00:45:11.97\00:45:14.04
That's our line of defense.
00:45:14.08\00:45:16.64
And what's happening?
00:45:16.68\00:45:18.01
The church is growing backward.
00:45:18.05\00:45:19.45
Notice how the Apostle
Paul saw this condition
00:45:19.48\00:45:23.59
even in the early
New Testament Church.
00:45:23.62\00:45:26.65
Look at Ephesians 4:14-15.
00:45:26.69\00:45:29.42
And this is why so
many churches are lifeless
00:45:29.46\00:45:31.96
and listless and
cannot defend their faith.
00:45:31.99\00:45:34.56
Here's what he said,
00:45:34.60\00:45:36.30
"That we should no
longer be children,
00:45:36.33\00:45:38.70
tossed to and
fro and carried about
00:45:38.73\00:45:40.94
with every wind of doctrine,
00:45:40.97\00:45:42.87
by the trickery of men,
00:45:42.90\00:45:44.71
in the cunning, craftiness
of deceitful plotting.
00:45:44.74\00:45:48.24
But speaking the truth in love,
00:45:48.28\00:45:50.65
may grow up in
all things into Him,
00:45:50.68\00:45:53.62
who is the head.
00:45:53.65\00:45:55.28
And that is Christ."
00:45:55.32\00:45:56.89
Jesus is the head.
Praise God for that.
00:45:56.92\00:45:59.69
But He's warning
us not to be children.
00:45:59.72\00:46:02.69
Now, what is a child
according to the scriptures?
00:46:02.72\00:46:05.13
Look at 1 Corinthians 3:2.
00:46:05.16\00:46:07.36
What does the Bible
describe as a child?
00:46:07.40\00:46:12.43
Let God's Word be our guide.
00:46:12.47\00:46:15.20
Here's what we
read in the Word of God.
00:46:15.24\00:46:18.31
1 Corinthians 3:2 Paul said,
00:46:18.34\00:46:21.81
"I fed you with milk
and not with solid food,
00:46:21.84\00:46:27.25
for until now you
were not able receive it,
00:46:27.28\00:46:31.65
and even now you
are still not able."
00:46:31.69\00:46:37.46
What is he saying?
00:46:37.49\00:46:39.36
How can you be a
Christian for five years
00:46:39.39\00:46:41.56
and 10 years and
15 years and 20 years?
00:46:41.60\00:46:44.93
And when the time comes
for you to defend your faith,
00:46:44.97\00:46:47.64
you don't even know
where it's found in the Bible?
00:46:47.67\00:46:50.44
How can a person claim to
be following the Word of God,
00:46:50.47\00:46:53.61
even reading the Word of God,
00:46:53.64\00:46:55.44
but they can only
handle milk and not solid food?
00:46:55.48\00:46:58.78
Paul is saying,
00:46:58.81\00:47:00.15
"Well, those
who only handle milk
00:47:00.18\00:47:02.15
are unskilled in the
word of righteousness.
00:47:02.18\00:47:05.45
They can't handle
what's coming their way.
00:47:05.49\00:47:08.06
The church today is suffering
from spiritual malnutrition,
00:47:08.09\00:47:11.66
personality regression.
00:47:11.69\00:47:13.66
When you look at the world
and all the things around you,
00:47:13.70\00:47:16.60
the number one attempt to that
00:47:16.63\00:47:18.20
is to get them to
forget that God's Word,
00:47:18.23\00:47:21.74
the sword of the
spirit is the line of defense.
00:47:21.77\00:47:25.04
If you're so caught
off guard by the things
00:47:25.07\00:47:27.21
that are on the news,
00:47:27.24\00:47:29.01
in the media, on your
iPad, on your digital devices,
00:47:29.04\00:47:33.45
the things that are
happening around the world,
00:47:33.48\00:47:35.35
the exciting things,
00:47:35.38\00:47:36.72
nothing in and of
themselves are per se evil.
00:47:36.75\00:47:40.29
But if those things keep
you away from God's Word,
00:47:40.32\00:47:44.33
the devil knows I got you
00:47:44.36\00:47:46.83
because when the time comes
to face me on the battle field,
00:47:46.86\00:47:51.40
you will not be ready.
00:47:51.43\00:47:55.40
A couple of days ago,
00:47:55.44\00:47:56.77
actually about a
little more than a week ago,
00:47:56.81\00:47:58.17
I was invited to
go on the internet
00:47:58.21\00:48:01.44
on to a social media platform.
00:48:01.48\00:48:03.71
And I'm just not
really much into social media,
00:48:03.75\00:48:06.31
but I decided, well,
what's the purpose of it?
00:48:06.35\00:48:08.15
Somebody said,
00:48:08.18\00:48:09.52
"Oh, this is a
social media platform.
00:48:09.55\00:48:11.62
You don't have
to show your face,
00:48:11.65\00:48:13.79
just come online.
00:48:13.82\00:48:15.16
And they're
discussing doctrines.
00:48:15.19\00:48:17.36
And I think you'd like it."
00:48:17.39\00:48:19.06
And they said, "It's
just audio, no video."
00:48:19.09\00:48:21.40
I said, "Okay, I could do that.
00:48:21.43\00:48:22.76
I'm not ready to
go on video anyhow."
00:48:22.80\00:48:25.13
So I got into
this social media room.
00:48:25.17\00:48:27.40
I won't tell you what it was.
00:48:27.44\00:48:29.27
And I began to listen.
00:48:29.30\00:48:31.11
And I found out
that in this room,
00:48:31.14\00:48:34.11
there were about
a thousand people
00:48:34.14\00:48:36.81
in this chat room.
00:48:36.85\00:48:38.75
And I was listening as the Bible
00:48:38.78\00:48:40.45
was the focal
point of discussion.
00:48:40.48\00:48:42.72
And I was thinking,
that's not in the scriptures.
00:48:42.75\00:48:44.69
That's not right.
00:48:44.72\00:48:46.05
That's not in the Bible.
00:48:46.09\00:48:47.42
But the people that
were hosting this platform
00:48:47.46\00:48:50.19
kept saying, well,
this is what the Bible says.
00:48:50.23\00:48:52.46
And I said, Whoa! Whoa!
00:48:52.49\00:48:53.96
And I was thinking to
myself, that's not true.
00:48:54.00\00:48:55.86
That's not in God's Word,
but one person after the other,
00:48:55.90\00:48:59.67
after the other was
falling by the sword so to speak
00:48:59.70\00:49:03.37
because the people that
were trying to rebuttal it
00:49:03.41\00:49:05.87
did not know
what the Bible taught.
00:49:05.91\00:49:09.24
And I listened
intently and I thought,
00:49:09.28\00:49:11.85
I've got to say something.
00:49:11.88\00:49:13.25
I got to say something.
00:49:13.28\00:49:14.68
I said, "Okay,
Lord, you're going in.
00:49:14.72\00:49:17.72
I'm going in with you."
00:49:17.75\00:49:19.09
And I decided,
let's go in together.
00:49:19.12\00:49:20.66
And I prayed, said, "Father
use my mind for Your honor
00:49:20.69\00:49:23.69
and Your glory."
00:49:23.73\00:49:25.06
And I noticed that
about two minutes or so,
00:49:25.09\00:49:27.83
the host of the room would
in a very disrespectful way,
00:49:27.86\00:49:31.60
cut off the
people, asking questions
00:49:31.63\00:49:33.13
and throw some scriptures
00:49:33.17\00:49:34.50
and twisted and
will continue to go on.
00:49:34.54\00:49:36.74
But I noticed more
than a thousand people
00:49:36.77\00:49:38.64
were in that room.
00:49:38.67\00:49:40.01
And I said, "Somebody
is listening for the truth.
00:49:40.04\00:49:43.21
Somebody is hearing."
00:49:43.24\00:49:44.58
So I got in line,
00:49:44.61\00:49:46.31
I raised my hand
that is digitally.
00:49:46.35\00:49:48.38
And I went into
the audience chamber
00:49:48.42\00:49:51.09
where I was
eventually going to be given
00:49:51.12\00:49:53.89
a chance to speak.
00:49:53.92\00:49:55.26
So I was waiting, I
was waiting my turn.
00:49:55.29\00:49:57.39
I was waiting my turn.
00:49:57.43\00:49:58.89
During the time of waiting,
I put my scriptures together,
00:49:58.93\00:50:01.80
got my thoughts together.
00:50:01.83\00:50:03.60
And when I went to
the platform, they said,
00:50:03.63\00:50:05.70
"Okay, Brother
John, you're next?"
00:50:05.73\00:50:07.54
And I was given
the floor and I said,
00:50:07.57\00:50:09.07
I heard what you said
about this particular teaching.
00:50:09.10\00:50:12.87
I heard what you said
about that particular teaching,
00:50:12.91\00:50:15.78
but I differ with you.
00:50:15.81\00:50:17.45
And they say,
"What's your question?
00:50:17.48\00:50:18.81
What's your question?"
00:50:18.85\00:50:20.18
They were getting
ready to cut me off.
00:50:20.22\00:50:22.18
I said, "Well,
here's my question."
00:50:22.22\00:50:24.42
And I posed my question.
00:50:24.45\00:50:26.22
They answered my question.
00:50:26.25\00:50:27.59
And I said, "I beg to differ
00:50:27.62\00:50:29.69
because here's
what God's Word says."
00:50:29.72\00:50:32.36
And I wanna tell you, friends,
00:50:32.39\00:50:33.80
for the next 20
minutes, to God be the glory,
00:50:33.83\00:50:37.03
for the next 20 minutes,
00:50:37.07\00:50:39.07
I was able to present
the truth about God's Word.
00:50:39.10\00:50:42.40
I was able to connect
one scripture to the other,
00:50:42.44\00:50:45.37
to the other, to
the other, to the other.
00:50:45.41\00:50:47.61
And I thought
that this is amazing.
00:50:47.64\00:50:49.04
I'm waiting for any
moment for them to cut me off.
00:50:49.08\00:50:51.15
And they tried,
00:50:51.18\00:50:52.51
but somebody
said, don't cut him off,
00:50:52.55\00:50:53.95
let him speak.
00:50:53.98\00:50:55.32
And I continued
until about 20 minutes
00:50:55.35\00:50:57.99
my good friend,
Pastor Ivor Meyer
00:50:58.02\00:51:00.26
invited me to
come into the platform.
00:51:00.29\00:51:01.66
And I said, "This is amazing.
00:51:01.69\00:51:03.19
This is amazing."
00:51:03.22\00:51:05.49
And when I was
done after 20 minutes,
00:51:05.53\00:51:06.90
I thought to myself, wow!
00:51:06.93\00:51:09.50
What do you say?
00:51:09.53\00:51:10.97
And then I
remembered Hebrews 5:12-14.
00:51:11.00\00:51:13.94
Listen to this,
00:51:13.97\00:51:16.77
"For though by this time
you ought to be teachers,
00:51:16.81\00:51:20.04
you need someone
to teach you again,
00:51:20.08\00:51:22.08
the first principles
of the oracles of God,
00:51:22.11\00:51:25.65
and you have come to
need milk and not solid food.
00:51:25.68\00:51:29.35
For everyone who
partakes only of milk
00:51:29.38\00:51:32.69
is unskilled in the
word of righteousness,
00:51:32.72\00:51:36.36
for he is a babe.
00:51:36.39\00:51:37.89
But solid food belongs to
those who are of full age,
00:51:37.93\00:51:41.86
that is, those
who by reason of use
00:51:41.90\00:51:44.77
have their senses exercised
to discern both good and evil."
00:51:44.80\00:51:50.21
And I thought, wow!
00:51:50.24\00:51:51.74
Praise God by
studying God's Word,
00:51:51.77\00:51:54.61
I could discern
both good and evil
00:51:54.64\00:51:56.88
and allow God's Word
my last line of defense
00:51:56.91\00:52:01.58
to lead somebody to the truth.
00:52:01.62\00:52:03.35
Well, after I was done,
00:52:03.39\00:52:05.19
they let loose on me so
vehemently I disconnected
00:52:05.22\00:52:08.22
and my good friend called
and said, "Go back online."
00:52:08.26\00:52:10.13
I said, "Why?"
00:52:10.16\00:52:11.49
This is a terrible platform.
00:52:11.53\00:52:12.86
They're angry. He
said, "Go back online.
00:52:12.89\00:52:14.90
And I went
online and I found out
00:52:14.93\00:52:17.43
that 47 people
decided to follow me.
00:52:17.47\00:52:20.97
And he said,
these are the people
00:52:21.00\00:52:22.34
listening to God's Word.
00:52:22.37\00:52:24.17
They wanna find out
what you have to say.
00:52:24.21\00:52:26.07
Friends, in times like
these, we need a Savior.
00:52:26.11\00:52:31.61
In times like these,
00:52:31.65\00:52:32.98
God is looking for those
who would trust His Word.
00:52:33.01\00:52:37.29
So as Tim plays and as he sings,
00:52:37.32\00:52:40.12
I want you to think about it.
00:52:40.16\00:52:42.29
In times like these
is Jesus your savior?
00:52:42.32\00:52:45.56
And is His Word your
last line of defense?
00:52:45.59\00:52:50.10
Tim?
00:52:50.13\00:52:52.93
In times like these
00:52:52.97\00:52:57.47
We need a Savior
00:52:57.51\00:53:01.21
In times like these
00:53:01.24\00:53:05.38
You need an anchor
00:53:05.41\00:53:08.98
Be very sure
00:53:09.02\00:53:13.05
Be very sure
00:53:13.09\00:53:17.03
Your anchor holds and grips
00:53:17.06\00:53:22.10
The Solid Rock!
00:53:22.13\00:53:26.70
This Rock is
Jesus, yes He's the One
00:53:26.74\00:53:32.57
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
00:53:32.61\00:53:38.68
Be very sure
00:53:38.71\00:53:42.18
Be very sure
00:53:42.22\00:53:46.29
Your anchor holds and grips
00:53:46.32\00:53:51.23
The Solid Rock!
00:53:51.26\00:53:56.16
In times like these
00:53:56.20\00:53:59.87
You need the Bible
00:53:59.90\00:54:03.34
In times like
these, O be not idle
00:54:03.37\00:54:09.98
Be very sure
00:54:10.01\00:54:12.88
Oh, be very sure
00:54:12.91\00:54:16.95
Your anchor holds and grips
00:54:16.99\00:54:21.66
The Solid Rock!
00:54:21.69\00:54:26.16
This Rock is Jesus
00:54:26.19\00:54:29.03
Yes He's the One
00:54:29.06\00:54:32.17
This Rock is Jesus
00:54:32.20\00:54:35.20
The only One
00:54:35.24\00:54:38.74
Be very sure
00:54:38.77\00:54:42.34
Be very sure
00:54:42.38\00:54:46.11
Your anchor holds and grips
00:54:46.15\00:54:51.69
The Solid Rock!
00:54:51.72\00:54:56.69
I need to ask
you a question today.
00:55:00.00\00:55:03.26
Are you so
founded on God's Word,
00:55:03.30\00:55:05.57
the solid rock on the
person of Christ Jesus?
00:55:05.60\00:55:09.84
Have you remained
faithful to God's Word today?
00:55:09.87\00:55:15.01
I want to read
a scripture to you
00:55:15.04\00:55:16.38
what Jesus said, John 17:17.
00:55:16.41\00:55:19.38
He said to His
followers, sanctify them,
00:55:19.41\00:55:22.58
listen, sanctify
them by your truth.
00:55:22.62\00:55:26.65
Your word is truth.
00:55:26.69\00:55:28.19
And then in the
book, Darkness Before Dawn
00:55:28.22\00:55:30.26
and I'd like you to
see this quote, as I close.
00:55:30.29\00:55:32.93
Why is God's Word so
vitally important today?
00:55:32.96\00:55:35.50
Friends, listen to this.
00:55:35.53\00:55:37.33
None but those who
have fortified the mind
00:55:37.37\00:55:40.44
with the truth of
the Bible will stand
00:55:40.47\00:55:42.77
through the last great conflict.
00:55:42.80\00:55:44.97
To every soul will
come the searching test:
00:55:45.01\00:55:47.64
Shall I obey
God rather than men?
00:55:47.68\00:55:51.05
The decisive hour
is even now at hand.
00:55:51.08\00:55:53.85
Are our feet planted on the rock
00:55:53.88\00:55:56.05
of God's immutable word?
00:55:56.08\00:55:58.15
Are we prepared to
stand firm in defense
00:55:58.19\00:56:00.99
of the commandments of
God and the faith of Jesus?
00:56:01.02\00:56:03.83
Well, friends,
today, I'm appealing to you,
00:56:03.86\00:56:08.56
remain faithful to Jesus.
00:56:08.60\00:56:10.97
There is no other
rock in times like these
00:56:11.00\00:56:13.77
and the world is crumbling
00:56:13.80\00:56:15.67
because its rock
is stone its sand.
00:56:15.70\00:56:19.57
And the sands of
time are shifting
00:56:19.61\00:56:21.68
under the foundation of those
00:56:21.71\00:56:24.38
who have not made
God's Word their surety.
00:56:24.41\00:56:30.09
Remain grounded on
the truth of God's Word.
00:56:30.12\00:56:33.89
Don't be afraid of doctrine,
00:56:33.92\00:56:35.56
but make sure that
it points you to Jesus.
00:56:35.59\00:56:37.83
Make sure that it lines
up to a thus saith the Lord,
00:56:37.86\00:56:41.36
a truth that cannot be
shaken those severely tried.
00:56:41.40\00:56:45.20
Remain faithful
to the proclamation
00:56:45.23\00:56:47.80
of the first, second
and third angel's message.
00:56:47.84\00:56:50.61
Getting the world
ready to meet Jesus in peace.
00:56:50.64\00:56:53.64
Are you at peace
tonight with Christ?
00:56:53.68\00:56:55.61
Do you know Him as your savior?
00:56:55.64\00:56:58.05
Do you know Him as your friend?
00:56:58.08\00:56:59.78
Only then, my
brother and sister,
00:56:59.81\00:57:01.98
will you have a
sure line of defense
00:57:02.02\00:57:05.65
knowing Christ,
believing His Word,
00:57:05.69\00:57:09.42
allowing your light
to shine to the world.
00:57:09.46\00:57:11.73
And finally make sure
that what Jesus has said
00:57:11.76\00:57:17.30
is the converting
factor in your life.
00:57:17.33\00:57:19.90
I pray that when Jesus comes,
00:57:19.93\00:57:21.80
that line of
defense will be your surety
00:57:21.84\00:57:25.41
and you will
meet Jesus in peace.
00:57:25.44\00:57:27.68
God bless you.
00:57:27.71\00:57:29.04