Greetings to each of you who
are watching the Worship Hour
00:00:29.22\00:00:34.20
here at 3ABN.
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What a joy it is to be able
to focus upon God's Word, to
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understand what He has in
store for us for the future.
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I have to tell you in my heart,
I hope in yours as well, I
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believe Jesus is coming soon.
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Imminently, it is
right at the door.
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We are just about at the point
where the close of time will be
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upon us.
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Everything around us gives
us an understanding that we are
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just before Christ's return.
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That's why it is so important
to stay connected with God.
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Don't allow anything to
distract you from this amazing
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opportunity of being a
mouthpiece for Jesus at the end
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of time.
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God wants to
use each one of you.
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And what a privilege it is
to have 3ABN in its tremendous
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evangelistic outreach to
be able to touch the lives of
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people everywhere,
literally around the world.
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We're grateful for 3ABN as
a supporting ministry of the
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Seventh -day Adventist Church.
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The Seventh-day Adventist
Church is God's remnant church,
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a precious last-day people
who are here to proclaim the
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righteousness of Christ, to
proclaim His soon coming, to
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proclaim His Three Angels
messages of Revelation 14 and
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the Fourth Angel of Revelation
18, calling people out of
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confusion, out of Babylon, and
into the true worship of God.
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3ABN is helping in a
dynamic way to do just that.
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What a privilege it is to
be able to truly understand how
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God wishes for you to be part
of this amazing outreach to the
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world.
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God.
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Don't allow distractions and
things around you to, in some
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way, draw your attention away
from the things that you are
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supposed to be doing for Him.
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The devil knows us
better than we know ourselves.
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He knows where he can introduce
something that will cloud your
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mind, will bring discouragement
and an unhealthy approach to
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what God wants you to do.
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So God is calling on you right
now to be part of this last-day
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movement, this last
proclamation to the entire
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world.
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against these distractions.
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In the Book of Romans and
in verse 2, we read an amazing
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admonition by the apostle Paul.
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Paul is helping us to
understand what is really the
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important part of
living the Christian life.
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And God inspired Paul to write
these words to remind us to
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stay connected with God
and don't allow anything to
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distract your attention.
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In the second verse of chapter
12 in Romans, it says, And do
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not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the
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renewing of your mind that you
may prove what is that good and
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acceptable and
perfect will of God.
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Don't in any way be
conformed to the world.
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Don't let the world pressure
you into its own understanding.
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There is another version of the
Bible, a Phillips translation,
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which says in essence, Don't
allow the world to squeeze you
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into its own mold.
00:05:01.96\00:05:04.23
Don't be distracted.
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Don't allow the devil to in
some way disconnect you from
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God.
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Stay connected with God.
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You see, as we come to the very
end of time, and I believe we
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are living in those very end
times, but we're going to need
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every connection to the Word of
God and to God himself in order
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for us to get through the
challenges that are just ahead.
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In the book of Matthew and
chapter 24, we read some of the
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most amazing prophecies that
Jesus himself shared about the
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very end of time and how things
will be so much in disarray
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that people will
betray one another.
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There will be false prophets.
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Lawlessness will abound.
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But the Lord says in verse
13 of Matthew 24, But he who
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endures to the
end shall be saved.
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So the Lord wants us not to be
conformed to this world, but to
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maintain our
connection to him at all times.
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Staying connected with God.
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The only way to do that really
is on a daily basis to study
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God's Word, to study the
spirit of prophecy, and to pray
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earnestly to the Lord.
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One of the most important ways
that you can connect with God
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is to spend time in his Word,
allowing him to speak to you in
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a very particular way.
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You see the Word of God when
you open it, when you read it,
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when you listen to it.
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In fact, some of you may be
so busy you might say, Oh, but,
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Pastor, I just don't have time
to spend listening or reading
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the Word of God.
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Well, if you're involved
in some business activity and
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you're driving to an
appointment, if you are going
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to the store in a car, or
if you're just walking, you can
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listen to the Word of God.
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You can listen to
the spirit of prophecy.
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You can allow the Holy Spirit
to speak to you, even with some
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of our modern conveniences like
iPhones and that kind of thing,
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so that you too can
hear the Word of God.
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So don't ever say you're
too busy to stay connected with
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God.
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God wants to speak to you
in a precious and personal way.
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He wants to be able to help
you to know what he wants you to
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accomplish.
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Now, in the Seventh-day
Adventist Church, we have a
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very important motto or slogan.
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And it's called
total member involvement.
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And now, in fact, we
have now expanded it.
00:08:05.18\00:08:07.35
So we were saying global
total member involvement.
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Everybody doing
something for Jesus.
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No one is to be left out.
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Everyone is to be allowing
the Holy Spirit to use them to
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proclaim this last-day message.
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But you must
stay connected to God.
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God is going to use you in a
powerful way as you look at his
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word, as you understand in
the last part of that chapter of
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Matthew 24, where it says,
Watch therefore, for you do not
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know what hour
your Lord is coming.
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Verse 42 and then verse 44.
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Therefore, you also be ready
for the Son of Man is coming at
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an hour you do not expect.
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You see, God is
coming so very soon.
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He's wanting to use you
to proclaim that message.
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Don't get distracted.
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Don't let the world around
you pressure you and conform you
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into its mold.
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Rather, stay connected with God.
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You see, God is asking us not
to be distracted, not to be in
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any way moved by things
that are taking us away from the
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word of God and from the
mission that he has entrusted
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to us.
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In the spirit of prophecy,
and I have to tell you, I am a
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great believer in the writings
that God has provided through
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the pen of Ellen G.
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White.
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instruction at the end of time,
a fulfillment of Revelation 12,
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17.
00:10:03.57\00:10:04.43
And let me read that verse to
you so that you will understand
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it even more clearly.
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It says in verse 17 of
Revelation 12, And the dragon
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was enraged with a woman.
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So the devil, the dragon,
was angry with the woman or the
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church.
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And he went to make war with
the rest or the remnant of her
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offspring.
00:10:30.29\00:10:30.93
And these are
the characteristics.
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Those who, number one, keep
the commandments of God, and
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secondly, those who have
the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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So here we have the marks, the
distinguishing characteristics
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of the last day church.
00:10:47.98\00:10:51.35
Those who keep the commandments
of God, all the commandments,
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including the fourth
commandment, the seventh day
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Sabbath, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:10:58.45\00:11:02.66
Now, two chapters later in
Revelation 14 and verse 12,
00:11:03.16\00:11:09.23
those words are
repeated in almost the same way.
00:11:09.60\00:11:13.20
It says, here is the
patience of the saints.
00:11:13.20\00:11:13.23
Here are those who keep
the commandments of God and the
00:11:17.51\00:11:21.68
faith of Jesus.
00:11:21.68\00:11:23.28
When we go to Revelation
chapter 19 and verse 10, we see
00:11:23.71\00:11:30.69
there that the, and this
is quoting directly from the
00:11:30.69\00:11:36.46
Bible, it says there, I am
your fellow servant and of your
00:11:36.46\00:11:43.16
brethren, who have the
testimony of Jesus, worship
00:11:43.16\00:11:47.84
God, for the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
00:11:47.84\00:11:53.34
So God's last day people are
going to have two very marked
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characteristics.
00:11:59.35\00:12:00.28
Those who keep the commandments
of God, and those who have the
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testimony or the faith of
Jesus, and the testimony is the
00:12:07.89\00:12:12.63
spirit of prophecy.
00:12:12.63\00:12:13.56
And as Seventh-day Adventists,
we believe firmly that this was
00:12:14.20\00:12:19.13
manifested in the work
and the writings of Ellen G.
00:12:19.13\00:12:23.44
White, a simple, humble young
lady who was given instruction
00:12:23.54\00:12:29.84
from God, and God's church has
been blessed enormously because
00:12:29.84\00:12:36.62
of it.
00:12:36.62\00:12:37.45
And in this beautiful
understanding of the spirit of
00:12:37.75\00:12:41.76
prophecy, the Lord is telling
us to work together, to come
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together, not be distracted,
not to be in some way drawn
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away in a detour from
what God has intended for us to
00:12:53.34\00:12:58.84
accomplish.
00:12:58.84\00:13:08.42
it says here, My brethren,
allow nothing to come in that
00:13:08.95\00:13:13.36
will separate you from
one another or from God.
00:13:13.36\00:13:17.39
Talk not of differences of
opinion, but unite in the love
00:13:18.06\00:13:23.53
of the truth as it is in Jesus.
00:13:23.53\00:13:28.17
God wants us to press together.
00:13:28.84\00:13:31.87
He says, she says earlier
there, the members of the
00:13:32.51\00:13:36.28
church need now to confess
their backsliding and press
00:13:36.28\00:13:42.35
together.
00:13:42.35\00:13:43.25
My dear friends, I don't know
what your situation is, I don't
00:13:44.45\00:13:48.69
know where you are in your walk
with the Lord, but I ask you to
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come to the foot of the
cross to press together with the
00:13:54.46\00:13:58.83
people of God who are anxious
to share the word of God with
00:13:58.83\00:14:04.71
others and to realize that
the devil wants to come in and
00:14:04.71\00:14:08.28
divide us, but we must stay
connected to God through Bible
00:14:08.28\00:14:14.55
study, through prayer, through
an understanding of the Holy
00:14:14.55\00:14:18.42
Spirit's role in our lives
to present this word to others.
00:14:18.42\00:14:22.76
Stay connected with God.
00:14:23.29\00:14:26.06
God is asking each of us
to be part of this last day
00:14:27.13\00:14:32.77
proclamation.
00:14:32.77\00:14:33.57
In fact, everyone
is to be involved.
00:14:34.40\00:14:36.87
This total member
involvement aspect.
00:14:36.94\00:14:39.41
God wants you to play a major
role in helping people prepare
00:14:39.71\00:14:45.71
for Jesus' soon coming.
00:14:45.71\00:14:47.15
I read from Testimonies for
the Church, volume 9, page 117.
00:14:47.75\00:14:53.99
Again, written by Ellen White.
00:14:54.96\00:14:57.36
The work of God in this earth
can never be finished until the
00:14:58.49\00:15:03.26
men and women comprising our
church membership rally to the
00:15:03.26\00:15:07.57
work and unite their efforts
with those of ministers and
00:15:07.57\00:15:13.71
church officers.
00:15:13.71\00:15:14.71
Everybody doing something
for the Lord, everyone uniting,
00:15:15.21\00:15:19.51
everyone pressing together in
one beautiful mission to reach
00:15:19.95\00:15:25.72
the world.
00:15:25.72\00:15:26.79
God has called you to
be part of this mission.
00:15:28.66\00:15:32.66
God is asking you to not be in
any way distracted, in any way
00:15:33.16\00:15:39.97
going on a detour.
00:15:39.97\00:15:41.24
Listen to individuals who are
saying, come out of the Seventh
00:15:43.44\00:15:49.48
-day Adventist Church.
00:15:49.48\00:15:50.48
Be a part of a separate group.
00:15:50.48\00:15:53.15
This was never God's intention.
00:15:53.72\00:15:55.42
God wants all of us to be
part of His precious last day
00:15:55.52\00:16:01.56
message.
00:16:01.56\00:16:02.29
What a privilege for us as
God's people to be chosen by
00:16:03.79\00:16:10.93
Him.
00:16:10.93\00:16:11.33
To be allowed to be a wonderful
voice for God in these last
00:16:13.20\00:16:21.84
days.
00:16:21.84\00:16:22.44
The Lord is asking for us to
work with Him in a powerful way
00:16:23.04\00:16:27.85
to bring these truths to
people all over the world.
00:16:27.85\00:16:33.09
It says in
Testimonies, volume 7, page 138.
00:16:33.62\00:16:39.49
Seventh-day Adventists
have been chosen by God as a
00:16:39.49\00:16:42.66
peculiar people, separate from
the world, by the great cleaver
00:16:42.66\00:16:46.74
of truth.
00:16:46.74\00:16:51.37
them into
connection with Himself.
00:16:51.37\00:16:52.87
He has made them
His representatives.
00:16:53.14\00:16:54.91
He has called them to be
ambassadors for Him in the last
00:16:55.01\00:17:00.32
work of salvation.
00:17:00.32\00:17:01.48
The greatest wealth of truth
ever entrusted to mortals, the
00:17:01.55\00:17:05.39
most solemn and fearful
warnings ever sent by God to
00:17:05.39\00:17:09.29
man have been committed to
them to be given to the world.
00:17:09.29\00:17:14.10
Don't be distracted.
00:17:15.16\00:17:17.37
Stay connected with God.
00:17:18.07\00:17:21.10
Allow Him to work through
you in a most marvelous and
00:17:21.50\00:17:26.68
powerful manner.
00:17:26.68\00:17:28.34
Stay connected with Him.
00:17:29.34\00:17:32.68
In the book of Matthew, we come
to an extraordinary experience
00:17:33.38\00:17:39.75
and you have
undoubtedly read this before.
00:17:40.29\00:17:44.23
Matthew chapter 14, an amazing
opportunity that God allowed
00:17:44.66\00:17:50.53
people to use in order to truly
understand what it is that God
00:17:50.53\00:17:57.37
wants us to do in
staying connected with Him.
00:17:57.37\00:18:01.01
In the 14th chapter of Matthew,
the situation had developed
00:18:01.98\00:18:07.65
where John the Baptist,
the cousin of Jesus, had been
00:18:07.65\00:18:13.05
killed by Herod.
00:18:13.05\00:18:14.92
Herod had very inadvisably
listened to horrible advice
00:18:17.06\00:18:24.13
that said that this lady wanted
to see John the Baptist's head
00:18:24.13\00:18:32.81
brought in on a platter.
00:18:32.81\00:18:34.61
And so here it was that finally
the head of John the Baptist
00:18:35.71\00:18:43.89
was brought in and
John the Baptist was killed.
00:18:43.89\00:18:46.99
Jesus was distraught about
this, of course, and recognized
00:18:48.06\00:18:54.10
that John was the precursor,
the forerunner of the wonderful
00:18:54.10\00:18:59.87
Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
00:18:59.87\00:19:01.70
And Jesus went into a quiet
place in order to grieve and to
00:19:03.77\00:19:12.18
think about what was happening.
00:19:12.18\00:19:13.72
Verse 13 indicates when Jesus
heard it, this death of His
00:19:14.22\00:19:21.36
cousin.
00:19:21.36\00:19:28.30
But when the multitudes heard
it, they followed Him on foot
00:19:29.03\00:19:33.07
from the cities.
00:19:33.07\00:19:35.27
You see, Jesus was
100% divine, 100% human.
00:19:36.71\00:19:43.61
I can't explain how that is.
00:19:44.68\00:19:46.92
It's not 200%, it's
100% divine, 100% human.
00:19:46.92\00:19:53.02
And so he had feelings and
remorse and grief regarding
00:19:53.49\00:19:59.96
John's death.
00:19:59.96\00:20:02.16
He went to a deserted place,
but people heard about it.
00:20:02.60\00:20:07.94
You see, people follow Jesus.
00:20:08.27\00:20:11.17
Even today, people will
go anywhere to follow Jesus.
00:20:11.37\00:20:16.11
And it says here, they followed
Him on foot from the cities.
00:20:17.28\00:20:22.88
You see, Jesus draws
people wherever He is.
00:20:23.62\00:20:27.36
Jesus says, if I will be lifted
up, I will draw all people to
00:20:27.49\00:20:32.46
me.
00:20:32.46\00:20:32.79
He was signifying this, of
course, in the way that He died
00:20:33.80\00:20:37.47
on the cross, but also that
when we lift up Jesus and His
00:20:37.47\00:20:41.97
righteousness,
people will be drawn to Him.
00:20:41.97\00:20:45.74
And God is asking
you to be part of this.
00:20:45.74\00:20:48.68
And the only way to do that
is to stay connected with God.
00:20:48.81\00:20:53.25
Well, it says in verse 14, and
when Jesus went out, He saw a
00:20:54.48\00:20:59.35
great multitude.
00:20:59.35\00:21:00.99
And He was moved with
compassion for them and healed
00:21:02.29\00:21:06.39
their sick.
00:21:06.39\00:21:07.23
Jesus knew what they needed.
00:21:07.73\00:21:09.83
They needed healing physically.
00:21:10.17\00:21:12.33
They needed healing mentally.
00:21:12.87\00:21:14.87
They needed healing socially.
00:21:14.87\00:21:17.64
And most of all, they
needed healing spiritually.
00:21:18.07\00:21:21.48
So God was reaching out to them.
00:21:22.88\00:21:27.35
Jesus is God.
00:21:27.98\00:21:29.12
In fact, let me say, God is
God the Father, God the Son, and
00:21:29.55\00:21:34.86
God the Holy Spirit.
00:21:34.86\00:21:35.92
The Seventh-day Adventist
Church believes completely and
00:21:36.49\00:21:40.50
wholeheartedly in three persons
in one, the Father, the Son,
00:21:40.50\00:21:47.47
and the Holy Spirit, who have
existed from eternity and into
00:21:47.64\00:21:52.77
eternity.
00:21:52.77\00:21:53.64
What a privilege to have this
beautiful understanding of God
00:21:54.64\00:21:59.08
Himself.
00:21:59.08\00:22:05.32
with compassion for them.
00:22:05.32\00:22:07.92
He healed their sick.
00:22:08.59\00:22:10.13
And when it was evening, verse
15, His disciples came to Him
00:22:10.13\00:22:13.86
saying, This is a deserted
place, and the hour is already
00:22:13.86\00:22:19.30
late.
00:22:19.30\00:22:19.87
Send the multitudes away that
they may go into the villages
00:22:20.57\00:22:23.87
and buy themselves food.
00:22:23.87\00:22:25.54
So the disciples were worried.
00:22:25.81\00:22:28.08
They were concerned.
00:22:28.14\00:22:29.64
They didn't want to have
to take care of this whole
00:22:30.08\00:22:32.41
multitude and all
these groups of people.
00:22:32.41\00:22:34.55
They said, Send
these people away.
00:22:34.95\00:22:37.45
Let them go ahead
and buy some food.
00:22:37.55\00:22:39.59
Well, Jesus kind of
pushed the disciples a bit.
00:22:39.59\00:22:42.92
He kind of gave
them a challenge.
00:22:43.16\00:22:45.03
And He said, They
do not need to go away.
00:22:45.59\00:22:49.33
Verse 16, You give
them something to eat.
00:22:49.33\00:22:49.36
Well, the Lord is saying
the same thing to each of us.
00:22:54.77\00:22:57.21
Give what God has to others,
and you provide that precious
00:22:58.77\00:23:06.15
spiritual food.
00:23:06.15\00:23:07.08
Are you willing to
follow through with those
00:23:07.72\00:23:10.15
instructions?
00:23:10.15\00:23:10.72
Well, the disciples
were kind of confused.
00:23:11.59\00:23:13.49
They didn't
understand what He was meaning.
00:23:13.56\00:23:15.42
And so then He said to them,
and they said to Him, We have
00:23:16.22\00:23:22.83
here only five
loaves and two fish.
00:23:22.83\00:23:25.40
Verse 17.
00:23:25.53\00:23:26.30
And He said,
Bring them here to Me.
00:23:27.04\00:23:29.44
Let me tell you something.
00:23:29.87\00:23:30.91
Little in the
hand of God is much.
00:23:32.01\00:23:35.54
God can use your talents.
00:23:36.08\00:23:37.68
He can use your abilities.
00:23:37.71\00:23:39.05
He can help you to be a
powerful witness to Him.
00:23:39.15\00:23:42.38
But you must
stay connected to Him.
00:23:42.75\00:23:46.82
If in any way you separate
yourself from Him, you will not
00:23:47.52\00:23:53.93
succeed.
00:23:53.93\00:23:54.60
God is asking you right now.
00:23:56.90\00:23:58.73
Stay close to Me.
00:23:59.87\00:24:01.47
Allow the Holy
Spirit to speak to you.
00:24:01.77\00:24:05.21
Through the Holy Word.
00:24:05.21\00:24:07.04
Use time spent in connection
with God to reinforce your
00:24:08.44\00:24:14.22
ability to truly make a
difference in the lives of
00:24:14.22\00:24:18.69
people.
00:24:18.69\00:24:19.12
Well, the disciples
were still confused.
00:24:20.02\00:24:22.32
They didn't know
what was going on.
00:24:22.49\00:24:24.03
Verse 19.
00:24:24.59\00:24:25.26
You know this story well.
00:24:25.36\00:24:26.66
Jesus commands the
multitudes to sit on the grass.
00:24:27.13\00:24:30.17
And He took the five
loaves and the two fish.
00:24:30.70\00:24:33.23
He looked up to heaven
and He blessed and broke it.
00:24:33.23\00:24:37.07
And He gave the
loaves to the disciples.
00:24:37.07\00:24:39.94
And the disciples
gave to the multitudes.
00:24:40.24\00:24:43.75
Now, here is an amazing miracle
that took place because as
00:24:43.78\00:24:48.45
Jesus broke the fish, as He
broke the bread, it continued
00:24:48.45\00:24:55.59
to multiply and multiply
so that at the end, the Bible
00:24:55.59\00:25:02.56
tells us, everyone ate and they
were filled and they took up 12
00:25:02.56\00:25:09.90
baskets full of the
fragments that remained.
00:25:09.90\00:25:12.81
Verse 20.
00:25:12.84\00:25:13.74
Now, when you have had a good
meal, when you feel relaxed,
00:25:15.18\00:25:20.68
when you really have enjoyed
some special time at a meal,
00:25:20.68\00:25:30.09
you feel good.
00:25:30.26\00:25:31.09
You feel happy.
00:25:31.63\00:25:32.46
You feel relaxed.
00:25:32.56\00:25:33.56
You feel satisfied.
00:25:33.76\00:25:35.10
How many people had been
satisfied with just these
00:25:36.16\00:25:41.17
little tiny loaves of bread and
two fish, five loaves of bread
00:25:41.17\00:25:46.51
and two fish?
00:25:46.51\00:25:46.91
Well, it tells us
there in verse 21.
00:25:47.38\00:25:49.58
About 5,000 men
besides women and children.
00:25:50.65\00:25:54.35
So probably if we count that
every man had a wife there and
00:25:55.22\00:26:02.46
maybe they even had two
children that attended, there
00:26:02.46\00:26:05.39
could have been as many as 20
,000 people there who were all
00:26:05.39\00:26:09.36
fed from this little lunch
of five loaves and two fish.
00:26:09.36\00:26:15.97
Well, as I was saying,
how do you feel after you have
00:26:17.57\00:26:21.78
finished a good meal?
00:26:21.78\00:26:22.71
You feel relaxed.
00:26:22.81\00:26:23.65
You feel happy.
00:26:23.65\00:26:24.35
You feel good.
00:26:24.38\00:26:25.75
Now, in the spirit of prophecy,
we are told that the disciples
00:26:27.08\00:26:33.09
began to put all
of this together.
00:26:33.09\00:26:35.32
They were thinking more about
themselves than they were about
00:26:36.02\00:26:40.36
God's mission.
00:26:40.36\00:26:41.80
God is asking you.
00:26:44.10\00:26:45.13
Stay connected with him.
00:26:45.87\00:26:48.37
Get your mind off of your
own worries, your own situation.
00:26:49.27\00:26:54.01
Take your minds
off of yourselves.
00:26:54.48\00:26:56.78
Put them on God because when
you are connected with him, you
00:26:57.31\00:27:01.78
will have his
thoughts and his objectives.
00:27:01.78\00:27:05.85
But the disciples
weren't doing that.
00:27:06.59\00:27:08.26
They were
thinking about themselves.
00:27:08.46\00:27:10.73
They were wanting an earthly
kingdom to be established.
00:27:11.03\00:27:14.10
They were wanting something
of tangible evidence that would
00:27:14.10\00:27:18.30
make them great in
the eyes of others.
00:27:18.30\00:27:21.67
They began to think.
00:27:22.94\00:27:24.11
Now is the time for Jesus
to proclaim himself an earthly
00:27:24.77\00:27:29.74
king.
00:27:29.74\00:27:30.35
Now is the time for him to
truly make of himself king of
00:27:30.95\00:27:38.55
the Jews and to rid the
Israelites of the Jewish, of
00:27:38.55\00:27:46.36
the Roman influence and empire.
00:27:46.36\00:27:49.40
And so the disciples began
to circulate amongst the people,
00:27:49.83\00:27:56.34
saying now is the time
to proclaim Jesus king.
00:27:57.51\00:28:00.64
Because after all, if Jesus
were to become the king, who
00:28:01.01\00:28:05.68
would become the generals and
the great leaders around Jesus?
00:28:05.68\00:28:10.05
Of course, the disciples.
00:28:10.05\00:28:10.09
Their minds were being taken
off of Jesus and being absorbed
00:28:12.05\00:28:17.73
by their own personal ambitions.
00:28:17.73\00:28:20.13
Stay connected with God,
not your own personal ambitions.
00:28:21.46\00:28:29.17
Well, Jesus saw
exactly what was happening.
00:28:30.11\00:28:34.38
We're told in the book Desire
of Ages that as the people were
00:28:36.21\00:28:44.55
becoming so enthusiastic
because of what the disciples
00:28:44.55\00:28:48.49
were saying, when we go against
the Romans, people get hurt.
00:28:48.49\00:28:53.06
Jesus can heal them.
00:28:53.50\00:28:54.73
When they get discouraged,
Jesus can encourage them.
00:28:54.93\00:28:57.90
When they get
hungry, Jesus can feed them.
00:28:57.90\00:29:00.60
Let's make Jesus the king.
00:29:00.87\00:29:03.51
And people were literally
moving towards Jesus to lift
00:29:04.44\00:29:10.61
him up as the king of the
Jews when Jesus saw what was
00:29:10.61\00:29:15.68
happening.
00:29:15.68\00:29:16.05
Jesus knew that this would
destroy his ultimate goal and
00:29:17.02\00:29:23.32
his role as the lamb of God
who would be slain on the cross.
00:29:23.32\00:29:30.37
And so he ordered
the people to go home.
00:29:31.80\00:29:36.67
Now, I don't know if you've
been involved in some large
00:29:37.94\00:29:41.04
event, some huge situation
where you have thousands of
00:29:41.04\00:29:45.85
people.
00:29:45.85\00:29:46.45
When people have something on
their minds, they have a great
00:29:47.58\00:29:53.25
intention to accomplish that.
00:29:53.25\00:29:54.89
And nothing can change
it, especially if they become
00:29:54.92\00:29:57.89
agitated and
they become forceful.
00:29:57.89\00:30:00.73
But Jesus spoke with
such heavenly authority.
00:30:02.00\00:30:06.30
They could do nothing, but
stop, turn around, and go home.
00:30:07.37\00:30:14.18
You see, sometimes God
frustrates and changes our
00:30:15.61\00:30:19.75
plans because he knows
they will lead to that which is
00:30:19.75\00:30:24.75
absolutely detrimental
to his Advent movement.
00:30:24.75\00:30:30.33
God wants you to stay connected
with him so that your thoughts
00:30:31.16\00:30:34.50
and your actions will not be
of your own, but they will be
00:30:34.50\00:30:39.47
motivated by the Holy Spirit.
00:30:39.47\00:30:42.07
So God, in a very special way,
wants to speak to you, to help
00:30:42.84\00:30:47.91
you stay connected with him
so that your thoughts and your
00:30:47.91\00:30:51.75
actions will be in alignment
with the Holy Word and with the
00:30:51.75\00:30:57.12
direction that the
Holy Spirit is giving.
00:30:57.12\00:30:59.62
It says in verse 22,
immediately Jesus made his
00:31:00.82\00:31:09.03
disciples get into the boat and
go before him to the other side
00:31:09.03\00:31:14.34
while he sent
the multitudes away.
00:31:14.34\00:31:17.94
So as he commanded these folks
to return home, immediately
00:31:18.51\00:31:23.95
they stopped.
00:31:23.95\00:31:24.61
The voice of God had spoken.
00:31:24.81\00:31:26.61
They went home and
the disciples' plans were
00:31:27.32\00:31:29.82
frustrated because the
disciples were focused on
00:31:29.82\00:31:32.72
themselves.
00:31:32.72\00:31:33.46
They were not in
connection with Jesus.
00:31:33.66\00:31:38.06
I can just imagine
these disciples becoming so
00:31:39.49\00:31:42.96
frustrated.
00:31:42.96\00:31:43.57
They were wondering even in
their own minds, is this really
00:31:44.37\00:31:47.70
the Son of God?
00:31:47.70\00:31:48.50
Is this really the Messiah?
00:31:48.94\00:31:50.64
Maybe he's just an imposter.
00:31:51.27\00:31:53.04
He's not somebody
who really came to save.
00:31:53.54\00:31:57.25
He has not used good judgment.
00:31:57.68\00:32:00.48
We are the ones who know how
best to accomplish God's tasks
00:32:00.95\00:32:06.72
because we want
him to become the King.
00:32:06.72\00:32:10.66
But Jesus knew that that was
not in the providential plans.
00:32:11.16\00:32:17.13
And so he tells the
disciples, go down to the lake.
00:32:17.50\00:32:23.17
As I see them walking towards
the Sea of Galilee, you can see
00:32:24.24\00:32:29.11
in your own mind's eye,
these disciples are filled with
00:32:29.11\00:32:33.85
skepticism, cynicism, anger.
00:32:33.85\00:32:37.85
God has frustrated their plans.
00:32:38.39\00:32:40.49
And you can see them kicking
the dirt and just shaking their
00:32:40.62\00:32:44.76
heads, wondering if this
is even truly the Son of God.
00:32:44.76\00:32:50.70
You see, if you're not staying
connected to God on a daily
00:32:51.83\00:32:56.54
basis, on a moment-by-moment
basis, you too can fall into a
00:32:56.54\00:33:03.78
great trap of thinking
your own thoughts and becoming
00:33:03.78\00:33:08.48
distracted from what
God wants you to accomplish.
00:33:08.48\00:33:13.42
And so as these disciples
descended down the hill to the
00:33:15.39\00:33:22.46
boats, their hearts were
full of bitterness and anger.
00:33:22.46\00:33:28.14
I don't know about you today.
00:33:29.44\00:33:30.84
Is something
deeply troubling you?
00:33:32.31\00:33:34.81
Is your heart not
in tune with the Lord?
00:33:35.38\00:33:38.81
Are you feeling
somehow disconnected from God?
00:33:39.65\00:33:44.22
The Lord is calling out to
you today, asking during this
00:33:45.39\00:33:50.53
worship hour that you
find a reconnection with him, a
00:33:50.53\00:33:57.87
humbling of your heart,
allowing the Holy Spirit to
00:33:57.87\00:34:02.60
change you and mold you to
bring you into conformity with
00:34:02.60\00:34:07.88
his will.
00:34:07.88\00:34:08.68
He wants you to
stay connected with him.
00:34:09.84\00:34:13.95
Well, the disciples got into
the boats and then it says they
00:34:15.45\00:34:23.46
got into the boat, they
launched out into the sea.
00:34:23.46\00:34:26.70
And in verse 23, it tells us
the secret of God's power, of
00:34:27.86\00:34:33.60
Jesus's power.
00:34:33.60\00:34:34.67
And when he had sent the
multitudes away, he went up on
00:34:35.34\00:34:39.77
the mountain by himself to pray.
00:34:39.77\00:34:41.91
He knew that the power and
the energy and the ability to
00:34:42.41\00:34:49.05
accomplish things did not
come from thousands of people
00:34:49.05\00:34:52.85
proclaiming him
to be a great leader.
00:34:52.85\00:34:55.39
It came from his connection
with his heavenly father in
00:34:55.66\00:35:00.16
prayer.
00:35:00.16\00:35:00.70
Stay connected with God.
00:35:01.63\00:35:04.70
I don't know.
00:35:06.13\00:35:07.07
Maybe you have
neglected your prayer life.
00:35:07.07\00:35:07.10
Maybe it's been a while since
you actually knelt down and
00:35:12.21\00:35:15.61
prayed to God.
00:35:15.61\00:35:16.71
God is asking you right now,
take some time, pour out your
00:35:17.55\00:35:21.68
heart to me.
00:35:21.68\00:35:23.59
Allow me to bring encouragement
to your heart so that you truly
00:35:24.49\00:35:30.03
can be part of this
last day proclamation.
00:35:30.03\00:35:33.76
Proclaiming those three angels
messages and the fourth angel,
00:35:34.30\00:35:37.73
bringing people back to the
true worship of God, letting
00:35:37.80\00:35:42.14
people understand we
are living in urgent times.
00:35:42.14\00:35:45.81
We are living
in the end of time.
00:35:45.84\00:35:48.21
Stay connected with God.
00:35:48.74\00:35:51.71
Jesus did that himself.
00:35:52.71\00:35:54.12
That's why he went to the
mountaintop to pray, to stay
00:35:54.38\00:35:57.95
connected with heavenly power.
00:35:57.95\00:36:01.56
It says in the last part
of verse 23, now, when evening
00:36:02.56\00:36:06.53
came, he was alone there.
00:36:06.53\00:36:09.96
The disciples were out
on the sea, in the boat.
00:36:10.93\00:36:14.14
Jesus was on the mountaintop,
and he could look down and see
00:36:14.97\00:36:19.24
the disciples
in their situation.
00:36:19.24\00:36:22.21
Well, verse 24 gives us the
picture now as to what is going
00:36:25.71\00:36:30.25
to develop.
00:36:30.25\00:36:30.85
What happens with these
disciples who were stormy in
00:36:31.39\00:36:36.06
their own hearts, and then
the Lord really provided a storm
00:36:36.06\00:36:40.80
just for them?
00:36:40.80\00:36:41.66
It says here, the boat was
now in the middle of the sea,
00:36:42.56\00:36:46.57
tossed by the waves,
for the wind was contrary.
00:36:47.14\00:36:51.74
You see, sometimes God will
prepare a storm just for you in
00:36:52.51\00:36:57.95
order that you will turn back
to him, in order that you will
00:36:57.95\00:37:04.82
reconnect with him.
00:37:04.82\00:37:07.29
This is exactly what
happened to these disciples.
00:37:08.36\00:37:10.89
They were out on that
sea, and they were experienced
00:37:11.63\00:37:14.00
fishermen, many of them.
00:37:14.00\00:37:15.43
They knew how to handle sails.
00:37:15.86\00:37:18.50
They knew how to handle a boat.
00:37:18.53\00:37:19.97
They were experienced people,
but this storm was special.
00:37:21.57\00:37:26.98
Maybe the Lord has brought a
storm into your life right now.
00:37:28.14\00:37:32.41
Maybe you're
feeling very frustrated.
00:37:33.21\00:37:36.42
Maybe there's a
situation that you cannot solve.
00:37:36.55\00:37:40.02
Maybe you are in some
way feeling abandoned by God.
00:37:40.46\00:37:48.26
God never abandons any of us.
00:37:49.40\00:37:51.67
We're the ones who
disconnect from him.
00:37:51.97\00:37:55.07
And God is calling you to
reconnect with him, to truly
00:37:55.07\00:38:00.91
humble yourself and say,
Lord, please clean my life up.
00:38:00.91\00:38:07.15
Fill me with joy from heaven.
00:38:08.05\00:38:09.98
Give me an understanding of
my role in these last days of
00:38:10.09\00:38:13.79
Earth's history.
00:38:13.79\00:38:14.42
I want to do your will.
00:38:14.96\00:38:17.43
I want to
understand your righteousness.
00:38:17.69\00:38:19.79
I want to understand the
prophecies in the Word of God.
00:38:20.20\00:38:24.10
I want to truly be part
of your last-day church.
00:38:24.10\00:38:29.70
Well, God had a
plan for these disciples.
00:38:32.31\00:38:36.78
He wanted to bring them back
from their stormy condition to
00:38:37.68\00:38:43.65
focus upon Jesus, the one who
could give them truly complete
00:38:43.65\00:38:51.43
fulfillment and a
purpose in their work.
00:38:51.43\00:38:56.00
It says in verse 25, Now in
the fourth watch of the night,
00:38:57.47\00:39:02.20
Jesus went to
them, walking on the sea.
00:39:03.00\00:39:07.34
So Jesus came
down from the mountain.
00:39:08.38\00:39:10.18
He saw that his
disciples were in real trouble.
00:39:10.55\00:39:13.01
The storm that they were in was
one he prepared for them to get
00:39:13.28\00:39:17.82
them to return their thoughts
onto spiritual eternal things
00:39:17.82\00:39:23.73
and not on themselves.
00:39:23.73\00:39:25.73
And then he knew it was time
to go to them in your situation,
00:39:29.10\00:39:35.30
whatever you're facing.
00:39:35.47\00:39:36.47
Maybe you recognize now God is
trying to draw you back to him
00:39:38.54\00:39:43.68
so that you can truly be
connected through Bible study,
00:39:43.68\00:39:47.18
through prayer, through
the power of the Holy Spirit,
00:39:47.18\00:39:50.55
touching your life
in a very special way.
00:39:50.75\00:39:54.76
Jesus went out to
them, walking on the sea.
00:39:56.49\00:39:59.43
Now, walking on the sea
is not a normal activity.
00:40:00.33\00:40:04.77
In fact, no human
being can do that.
00:40:05.53\00:40:08.77
Yes, you can ski on a wooden
ski or fiberglass ski being
00:40:09.44\00:40:15.11
drawn behind a boat.
00:40:15.11\00:40:16.38
So in essence, you
can be going over water.
00:40:16.38\00:40:19.01
But once that
boat stops, you sink.
00:40:19.21\00:40:22.82
There's no such thing as a
human being walking on water.
00:40:23.28\00:40:27.02
So when the disciples saw what
was happening, they looked up
00:40:28.06\00:40:32.13
in verse 26, says the disciples
saw him walking on the sea.
00:40:32.13\00:40:37.97
They were troubled
saying, it is a ghost.
00:40:38.43\00:40:41.90
And they cried out for fear.
00:40:42.70\00:40:45.01
They said, this is an omen.
00:40:45.64\00:40:46.98
We are going to die.
00:40:47.24\00:40:48.58
This is a sign from God.
00:40:48.88\00:40:50.75
Now, I grew up in Cairo, Egypt
as a young boy, and I love the
00:40:50.81\00:40:56.48
Middle East.
00:40:56.48\00:40:57.12
It's a wonderful
people, wonderful area.
00:40:57.35\00:41:00.46
And people in that part of
the world believe in omens.
00:41:02.96\00:41:07.30
They believe in signs that will
then spell out something that's
00:41:07.56\00:41:12.50
going to happen.
00:41:12.50\00:41:16.71
looked and they saw this
apparition walking on the
00:41:16.87\00:41:23.28
water.
00:41:23.28\00:41:23.68
And they said, this is it.
00:41:24.51\00:41:26.08
This is a sign.
00:41:26.08\00:41:26.95
We're going to die.
00:41:27.22\00:41:28.28
Well, Jesus recognized
that they were very, very
00:41:30.32\00:41:35.46
frustrated.
00:41:35.46\00:41:35.99
And they needed encouragement.
00:41:39.96\00:41:42.36
They needed hope because they
had been fighting all along in
00:41:42.83\00:41:47.74
this terrible storm, adjusting
the sails just as much as they
00:41:47.74\00:41:52.67
could, throwing things out
of the boat to make it lighter,
00:41:52.67\00:41:56.44
taking the oars and trying
to keep the boat balanced.
00:41:56.81\00:42:01.05
Nothing was working.
00:42:02.12\00:42:03.79
Many of them
experienced fishermen.
00:42:05.15\00:42:06.89
They had been through storms,
but the storm was different.
00:42:07.46\00:42:10.96
And finally, they gave
up on saving themselves.
00:42:11.79\00:42:17.37
You see, righteousness by your
own works will get you nowhere.
00:42:17.87\00:42:22.64
It is only the righteousness of
Jesus Christ and his merits and
00:42:23.54\00:42:28.81
his grace that gives
us a ticket to heaven.
00:42:28.81\00:42:33.42
We need to lean completely
upon him, completely on his
00:42:35.35\00:42:39.79
righteousness,
not our own abilities.
00:42:39.79\00:42:43.86
God can use your abilities.
00:42:44.43\00:42:45.86
God can help you to maximize
the talents that he's given to
00:42:45.93\00:42:50.37
you, but never think you
can earn your way to heaven.
00:42:50.37\00:42:56.04
We are completely dependent
on the righteousness of Jesus
00:42:57.44\00:43:01.98
Christ.
00:43:01.98\00:43:02.54
And so the
disciples had given up.
00:43:02.81\00:43:04.71
We're going to die.
00:43:05.71\00:43:06.78
There's the sign.
00:43:06.92\00:43:08.08
Look at that.
00:43:08.28\00:43:09.18
It's a ghost.
00:43:09.18\00:43:10.32
Jesus spoke to them, just as
he's speaking to you right now,
00:43:13.59\00:43:17.66
bringing you some words of
encouragement, whatever it is
00:43:18.26\00:43:21.13
that you're facing.
00:43:21.13\00:43:21.93
Maybe it's a health problem.
00:43:23.10\00:43:24.33
Maybe it's a
problem in your work.
00:43:24.50\00:43:26.40
Maybe it's a problem at
home between family members.
00:43:26.97\00:43:30.84
Maybe you're depressed or
discouraged because of some
00:43:31.67\00:43:34.98
situation.
00:43:34.98\00:43:35.84
God is speaking to you right
now with these words that he
00:43:36.58\00:43:44.29
uttered to the disciples.
00:43:44.29\00:43:46.35
It says, but immediately Jesus
spoke to them saying, and here
00:43:47.59\00:43:52.26
are the words for you
right now, as well as those
00:43:52.26\00:43:55.53
disciples.
00:43:55.53\00:43:56.03
Be of good cheer.
00:43:56.90\00:43:59.57
It is I.
00:44:00.70\00:44:01.70
Do not be afraid.
00:44:02.40\00:44:05.14
You see, whatever you're
facing, God will help to carry
00:44:06.27\00:44:10.45
you through.
00:44:10.45\00:44:10.98
God knows your needs.
00:44:12.31\00:44:14.52
He says, Here I am.
00:44:15.62\00:44:18.45
Look to me.
00:44:19.45\00:44:20.39
I will give you encouragement.
00:44:20.96\00:44:22.59
Be of good cheer.
00:44:22.79\00:44:24.16
Now, Peter, who was one of the
impetuous ones, he spoke before
00:44:25.53\00:44:33.77
he thought.
00:44:33.77\00:44:34.80
He speaks out, and I suppose
Peter, as well as the rest of
00:44:35.90\00:44:39.87
the disciples, felt, Well,
we're in this terrible storm.
00:44:39.87\00:44:43.65
What do I have to lose?
00:44:44.18\00:44:45.41
I might as well just speak
to this apparition out here.
00:44:45.81\00:44:50.12
Jesus apparently is out there,
but we don't know who that is.
00:44:51.09\00:44:54.29
We're not sure what's
going to happen to us.
00:44:55.49\00:44:57.93
I'm going to die anyway.
00:44:58.16\00:44:59.39
So, Peter says, Lord, if it is
you, command me to come to you
00:44:59.39\00:45:08.80
on the water.
00:45:08.80\00:45:09.67
Now, can you imagine Peter's
surprise when he hears the
00:45:09.97\00:45:14.94
voice coming back
and Jesus says, Come.
00:45:14.94\00:45:20.18
What would you do?
00:45:21.32\00:45:22.68
I suppose, again, Peter
thought, I'm going to die
00:45:25.59\00:45:28.52
anyway.
00:45:28.52\00:45:28.86
What's the point?
00:45:29.59\00:45:30.63
Let me just try it.
00:45:30.63\00:45:31.83
So, Peter, it says, when he had
come down out of the boat, he
00:45:33.46\00:45:43.14
walked on the
water to go to Jesus.
00:45:43.14\00:45:47.51
Now, I suppose that Peter
looked out at this terrible
00:45:49.41\00:45:53.18
storm hanging on to the side
of the boat, and he probably put
00:45:53.18\00:45:57.99
one foot out and tested
the water, and sure enough, he
00:45:57.99\00:46:03.09
didn't sink.
00:46:03.09\00:46:03.99
Then he put the other foot out
of the boat, and I'm standing
00:46:04.36\00:46:09.83
on the water.
00:46:09.83\00:46:10.73
He let go of the boat, and
he began to walk towards Jesus.
00:46:11.07\00:46:17.47
You see, when you're connected
to Jesus, when you're connected
00:46:19.47\00:46:24.75
to God, you are going to have
a relationship that will surpass
00:46:24.75\00:46:30.52
anything, and you will
have unusual abilities.
00:46:30.52\00:46:35.52
Now, I'm not saying that
you can go out and walk on the
00:46:36.16\00:46:39.46
water, but I am telling you,
when God says, when Jesus says,
00:46:39.46\00:46:44.17
Come, you obey, and he
will provide a miracle.
00:46:44.27\00:46:49.44
Well, Peter, you know, is
walking on the water, and I
00:46:50.57\00:46:53.74
suppose he thought, wow,
this is really something.
00:46:53.74\00:46:59.05
This is an amazing thing.
00:46:59.78\00:47:01.62
Who walks on the water?
00:47:02.32\00:47:03.69
And he turned around just for
a moment to make sure that John
00:47:05.45\00:47:14.10
and Andrew and all the rest of
them were watching what he was
00:47:14.10\00:47:19.67
doing.
00:47:19.67\00:47:20.14
You see, when you disconnect
your relationship with the
00:47:20.84\00:47:26.88
source of all power, you will
do exactly what Peter did and
00:47:26.88\00:47:33.62
what the scripture say.
00:47:33.62\00:47:34.98
But when he saw that the wind
was boisterous, verse 30, he
00:47:36.48\00:47:41.86
was afraid, and beginning
to sink, he cried out saying,
00:47:41.86\00:47:47.86
Lord, save me.
00:47:47.96\00:47:50.03
When you disconnect yourself
from God, you will sink.
00:47:51.13\00:47:57.01
Now, you know, Jesus could have
said, you know, Peter, you just
00:47:59.14\00:48:02.88
never learn your lesson.
00:48:02.88\00:48:04.11
You're always thinking of
yourself, a very self-focused
00:48:04.51\00:48:09.32
approach.
00:48:09.32\00:48:10.05
If you don't, if you take your
eyes off of me, you're going to
00:48:11.39\00:48:14.32
sink.
00:48:14.32\00:48:14.66
So I'm going to
let you learn a lesson.
00:48:15.19\00:48:17.39
You know, I'm going to let
you go down the water once and
00:48:17.49\00:48:20.73
disappear twice.
00:48:20.73\00:48:22.06
And then maybe I will try
and help you out and save you.
00:48:22.66\00:48:25.90
But that's not the way Jesus is.
00:48:25.90\00:48:28.34
What does that next verse say?
00:48:29.30\00:48:32.74
Verse 31.
00:48:33.58\00:48:34.41
And immediately, Jesus
stretched out his hand and
00:48:35.11\00:48:40.95
caught him and said to him,
Oh, you of little faith, why did
00:48:40.95\00:48:47.12
you doubt?
00:48:47.12\00:48:48.82
You see, Jesus recognizing
Peter's cry, just as perhaps
00:48:49.96\00:48:54.86
you are crying out to God,
Jesus immediately reaches down,
00:48:54.86\00:49:01.30
grabs Peter's hand and
pulls him up out of the water.
00:49:02.30\00:49:08.18
Now, I suppose as Jesus and
Peter progressed to the boat,
00:49:09.08\00:49:13.62
Peter wasn't just walking
as if he was in command of
00:49:14.32\00:49:18.45
everything.
00:49:18.45\00:49:24.03
to be connected with God.
00:49:24.03\00:49:27.03
And as they got into the
boat, a miracle took place.
00:49:27.86\00:49:33.54
It says when they got into the
boat, the wind ceased because
00:49:34.10\00:49:38.54
the creator of this storm,
Jesus himself, was now in the
00:49:38.54\00:49:46.28
boat.
00:49:46.28\00:49:46.68
And he commanded essentially
that the storm cease.
00:49:48.02\00:49:53.29
When you are connected with
Jesus, you may be going through
00:49:54.32\00:49:58.26
the worst storm, you may be
going through whatever it is,
00:49:58.26\00:50:01.66
but when you are with Jesus,
you are safe and you can be
00:50:01.83\00:50:06.90
calm.
00:50:06.90\00:50:07.30
Well, these disciples who had
been filled with doubt, who had
00:50:08.64\00:50:14.58
been filled with criticism,
filled with anger, maybe some
00:50:14.58\00:50:22.25
of you are in that boat
right now, a boat of criticism.
00:50:22.25\00:50:27.42
Nobody can do anything right.
00:50:28.69\00:50:30.26
The pastor doesn't
know what he's doing.
00:50:30.56\00:50:32.43
Church members
are all against you.
00:50:32.86\00:50:34.83
You speak about
everything in a negative way.
00:50:34.83\00:50:38.30
I hope your heart will be
renewed in the Lord, that you
00:50:41.34\00:50:44.84
will be connected to him, that
truly you will understand you
00:50:44.84\00:50:49.51
need to stay connected with God
because then your heart will be
00:50:49.51\00:50:54.95
full of happiness.
00:50:54.95\00:50:56.05
Regardless of what you're
going through, regardless of the
00:50:56.52\00:50:59.09
storms, regardless of the
difficulties, God will take you
00:50:59.09\00:51:03.12
through in a
powerful, powerful way.
00:51:03.12\00:51:06.73
He will encourage you.
00:51:07.60\00:51:09.03
He will bring in a
new vision, a new light.
00:51:09.40\00:51:13.40
I don't care what
you're going through.
00:51:13.74\00:51:16.14
I heard a marvelous story just
very recently about one of our
00:51:17.01\00:51:23.04
dear elders in the
country of Ukraine.
00:51:23.04\00:51:26.85
This elder had been
drafted into the army.
00:51:28.98\00:51:34.59
He was being threatened
with all kinds of angry words
00:51:35.52\00:51:41.63
because he
would not carry a gun.
00:51:41.63\00:51:45.53
He indicated,
basically, I don't take life.
00:51:47.37\00:51:51.07
I want to help people.
00:51:51.21\00:51:52.27
That was the basic premise of
his understanding, not killing,
00:51:52.57\00:51:57.45
but helping.
00:51:57.55\00:51:58.31
The commander was so angry at
this elder that he berated him.
00:51:59.38\00:52:09.29
He castigated him.
00:52:10.26\00:52:12.66
He spoke all kinds of evil
against this church leader.
00:52:13.03\00:52:18.77
And then he brought this
church leader, an elder, a local
00:52:20.20\00:52:26.14
elder, into the
group of soldiers.
00:52:26.14\00:52:30.25
And he decided to
teach this elder a lesson.
00:52:31.98\00:52:36.72
He indicated to this elder,
since you will not fight for
00:52:38.79\00:52:48.26
your country, you will die.
00:52:48.26\00:52:50.07
The commander then took a hand
grenade released the pin and
00:52:51.10\00:52:57.81
threw it at our elder.
00:52:57.81\00:53:01.01
In just a few split seconds,
the elder connected with God
00:53:05.51\00:53:11.02
and the power of the
Holy Spirit came upon him.
00:53:11.02\00:53:15.22
And in an effort to protect all
the other soldiers, he jumped
00:53:15.39\00:53:20.83
onto this grenade so that the
blast would kill him, but not
00:53:20.83\00:53:27.10
the rest of the soldiers.
00:53:27.10\00:53:28.20
But nothing happened,
because this hand grenade was a
00:53:31.51\00:53:37.75
training hand grenade
and would not explode.
00:53:37.75\00:53:40.35
He didn't know that.
00:53:40.58\00:53:41.65
The other
soldiers didn't know that.
00:53:41.65\00:53:41.68
But his act of selflessness,
because he was connected with
00:53:44.75\00:53:49.66
God and God said, jump on
this hand grenade, that act of
00:53:49.66\00:53:55.73
selflessness brought tears
to the eyes of the soldiers.
00:53:55.73\00:54:02.24
Now they pray with him.
00:54:02.77\00:54:05.94
They ask him to pray for them.
00:54:06.01\00:54:08.18
They ask him to
give them encouragement.
00:54:08.84\00:54:11.31
And the commander allows him to
worship on the Holy Sabbath day
00:54:12.01\00:54:16.85
because he showed himself to be
one who loved other people, to
00:54:16.85\00:54:24.49
be connected with
God and to serve others.
00:54:24.49\00:54:29.43
What a powerful
witness for each of us.
00:54:30.33\00:54:32.83
What an understanding that
we need to stay connected with
00:54:33.10\00:54:37.87
God.
00:54:37.87\00:54:38.41
Well, what
happened to those disciples?
00:54:39.64\00:54:41.51
It says in verse 33, Then those
who were in the boat came and
00:54:42.54\00:54:50.32
worshiped him, Jesus, saying,
truly, you are the Son of God.
00:54:50.32\00:54:57.06
So those disciples who had been
filled with self, who had been
00:54:57.53\00:55:00.70
distracted by their own pride,
now turn to the one who truly
00:55:00.70\00:55:06.94
is the Messiah.
00:55:06.94\00:55:09.10
And they give a
wonderful testimony of that.
00:55:09.74\00:55:14.91
Of those who truly
are connected with God.
00:55:14.94\00:55:20.62
God is calling you to
be connected with him.
00:55:21.68\00:55:24.29
As we enter the last days of
Earth's history, listen to this
00:55:24.32\00:55:28.46
amazing quotation from
Desire of Ages, page 382.
00:55:28.46\00:55:33.16
Those who fail to realize their
constant dependence upon God
00:55:33.50\00:55:37.53
will be overcome by temptation.
00:55:37.53\00:55:39.67
We may now suppose that our
feet stand secure and that we
00:55:40.27\00:55:44.21
shall never be moved.
00:55:44.21\00:55:45.94
We may say with confidence,
I know in whom I have believed.
00:55:46.31\00:55:49.98
Nothing can shake my
faith in God and in his word.
00:55:50.11\00:55:53.85
But Satan is planning to take
advantage of our hereditary and
00:55:54.35\00:55:59.39
cultivated traits of character
and to blind our eyes to our
00:55:59.39\00:56:05.93
own necessities and defects.
00:56:05.93\00:56:08.20
And listen to this
beautiful ending sentence.
00:56:08.56\00:56:12.83
Only through realizing
our own weakness and looking
00:56:13.37\00:56:20.14
steadfastly unto
Jesus can we walk securely.
00:56:20.14\00:56:27.02
Stay connected to God.
00:56:28.52\00:56:32.05
Stay in his instruction.
00:56:32.82\00:56:36.32
Stay in his precious word.
00:56:36.93\00:56:40.10
Stay connected with God as
we head into the end of time.
00:56:40.10\00:56:47.04
Let me pray with you.
00:56:47.80\00:56:49.07
Father in heaven, we come
to you in a special way asking
00:56:50.04\00:56:53.74
that you will guide everyone
who has been listening and
00:56:53.74\00:56:57.38
watching that they may
reconnect with you on a moment
00:56:57.38\00:57:02.02
by moment basis and that you
will carry them through helping
00:57:02.02\00:57:06.32
them to walk securely because
they are in connection with
00:57:06.32\00:57:11.36
you.
00:57:11.36\00:57:11.89
Thank you for hearing us.
00:57:12.29\00:57:13.46
In Jesus' name we ask it.
00:57:14.03\00:57:16.00
Amen.
00:57:16.93\00:57:17.27