Participants: Ron Halvorsen
Series Code: AOT
Program Code: AOT000135
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00:12 Welcome to Anchors Of Truth
00:14 live from the 3ABN Worship Center. 00:22 Well we've the very conclusion of this series called, 00:27 Jesus, Radical Teacher. 00:29 And today's subject is, The Bridegroom Cometh. 00:34 I'm looking forward to it. 00:35 And we have really appreciated having 00:38 Carol and Ron Halvorsen with us. 00:41 Thank you, Carol, for bringing Ron to be with us. 00:44 And we do always enjoy his being here. 00:49 He teases a little bit about being an old preacher. 00:53 Let me tell you something. 00:54 When God calls you to preach, it doesn't end at 65. 01:00 There are two things that you will not find 01:03 in the Bible for preachers. 01:05 One is retirement, and the other is Sunday worship. 01:11 They're just not there. 01:13 Two things. 01:15 And of course, it's not just for preachers, but. 01:19 It is a very true thing that many preachers 01:24 really hit their stride later in life. 01:28 Now we've got some great young preachers on 3ABN. 01:31 There are some young men that I just love to hear preach. 01:36 And there are some middle aged that I love to hear preach. 01:38 But then I think back to people like R. Allen Anderson, 01:43 H.M.S. Richards, and I can give you a list on and on and on, 01:49 of men who preached far beyond their 60's, 01:52 even beyond their 70's, way into their 80's, 01:56 and some their 90's, and were still blessing 02:01 in a mighty way. 02:03 In fact, in many ways it's wonderful to have 02:08 sharing with you someone who has been by hundreds of bedsides, 02:15 has stood with literally hundreds of grieving people, 02:21 by hundreds of coffins, 02:26 and have been through endless counseling sessions with 02:31 those who were troubled and had need of Jesus. 02:38 You see, all of that is absorbed in the life 02:42 of a man like Ron Halvorsen. 02:45 We emphasize, we think about Ron's youth and 02:48 how he grew up in New York City and how he was a gang leader. 02:52 But very soon, even 16 years of age, he was carrying his Bible 02:57 and witnessing and preaching. 03:00 God reached down into the ghetto and grabbed a young man 03:05 by the neck and said, "You're My man. 03:10 I am going to use you." 03:14 And throughout all of those years of ministry, 03:17 he has been faithful, faithful to our Lord. 03:23 Reaching out by faith to do some things that 03:27 people at times shook their heads. 03:30 We were just visiting a moment ago about how he began 03:33 a bus ministry in Texas. 03:36 And how he found a bus that was marked, "777." 03:40 And that was the number on the bus, a school bus. 03:42 And he said, "That's ours. That's got to be ours." 03:46 And no money for it. 03:49 He got his elder to write a post dated check, 03:52 because the elder didn't have any money in the bank. 03:56 And they had to cover that check. 04:00 God did it. 04:01 Not only did it, but gave them five additional buses later. 04:06 And those buses, I can remember, that bus ministry was bringing 04:11 about 400 kids to church every Sabbath and on Wednesday nights. 04:18 You see, a man of faith reaching out 04:23 and being used by God. 04:26 And so again, our Anchors series, 04:29 we try to have a balance. 04:31 We try to have some of the younger fellows. 04:33 And we've got some lined up for next year 04:35 that we're excited about. 04:37 But I want some of those seasoned veterans as well. 04:41 Those men who have so much to share. 04:46 And we appreciate so much Ron coming and being with us. 04:49 As I mentioned before, Ron Jr. is the son. 04:54 He's a chip off the old block. 04:55 He's the president now of the Ohio Conference 04:58 of Seventh-day Adventists. 05:00 And I love Ron Jr. 05:01 I know him and know him well, and love him. 05:04 Diane, a chaplain down in Florida 05:07 at Florida Living Center. 05:09 And so these are dedicated children of Ron and Carol. 05:18 And we appreciate them. 05:21 And so today Ron is going to be bringing the message, 05:25 The Bridegroom Cometh. 05:27 A great climatic message of this series. 05:30 Before he comes, our friend C.A. Murray is going to be 05:36 singing for us, Jesus Lifts Me. 05:41 Pastor Murray. 06:02 He lifts my burdens whenever I'm down, 06:11 He gives me joy when I'm wearing a frown. 06:21 He is my hope in the midst of despair, 06:29 and He, He is my comfort, for He's always there. 06:45 So I sing, not because I feel like singing. 06:54 And I praise Him, though the end I may not see. 07:04 For whenever I lift the name of Jesus, 07:11 Jesus reaches down and He lifts me. 07:28 He is the music that makes my heart glad, 07:37 He whispers peace whenever I am sad. 07:46 He is the sunshine that brightens my day, 07:55 and He, He is the lighthouse to show me the way. 08:05 So I sing, not because I feel like singing. 08:15 And I praise Him, though the end I may not see. 08:25 For whenever I lift the name of Jesus, 08:32 Jesus reaches down and He lifts me. 08:42 So I sing, not because I just like singing. 08:51 And I praise Him, though the end I may not see. 09:02 For whenever I lift the name of Jesus, 09:09 Jesus reaches down, turns me around, 09:16 and He plants my feet on higher ground. 09:23 He reaches down 09:27 and He lifts me. 09:51 Amen, amen. Beautiful. 09:55 Well, good afternoon. 09:56 We're happy to see you back this afternoon. 09:58 I just want to say hello to those who are viewing 10:00 our program, Anchors Of Truth. 10:04 And our subject, The Radical Teachings of Jesus. 10:08 And I want to look at this subject of, 10:09 The Bridegroom Cometh. 10:11 But first, let's bow our heads in a word of prayer together. 10:14 Father God, I pray that You'll send Your Spirit to us. 10:18 Open our eyes that we'll see, our ears that we'll hear, 10:22 our heart that we'll love. 10:25 We pray, Father, that we might leave this place 10:27 expecting the return of our Lord, 10:32 ready for the return of our Lord. 10:35 We ask it in Christ's name, amen and amen. 10:42 "But I would not have you to be ignorant... 10:54 Five times in the New Testament, Paul says, 10:59 "I would not have you ignorant." 11:14 It's a terrible thing to be smart and ignorant 11:17 at the same time. 11:19 To know botany but be ignorant of Jesus, 11:22 who is the Lily of the Valley. 11:25 To know astronomy and be ignorant of Jesus, 11:28 who is the Bright and Morning Star. 11:32 I mean, to know biology and be ignorant of the fact that 11:36 God wrapped Himself in human flesh and walked among us. 11:41 To know about the rocks and be ignorant of Jesus, 11:45 who is the Rock of Ages. 11:48 To know world events and be ignorant of the new world order, 11:51 which will be under the rule of the Lord Jesus Christ 11:54 when He comes in His kingdom. 11:55 Now let us get some knowledge about the thing that Paul 11:59 told us not to be ignorant about. 12:02 And what is this hope? 12:04 The apostle Paul speaks of here in the verse 12:07 that the hope is the coming of Jesus Christ, 12:09 the second coming of Jesus Christ. 12:12 We find strong evidence and explanation 12:14 of the hope referring to the return of Christ 12:17 the second time. 12:19 We'll discover the manner of His return, 12:21 and the urgency of that return to earth again. 12:26 And one of the parables that's taught in the book of Matthew, 12:28 one of the radical stories, is found there in the 25th chapter. 12:34 Now it's important you understand that Matthew 24 12:38 and Matthew 25 describes in detail the manner and urgency 12:43 of the return of Christ to the earth the second time. 12:47 In fact, in order for us to understand the hope, 12:51 let us go there this afternoon. 12:54 And we will not claim knowledge at the same time be ignorant 12:57 of His truth. 12:59 Matthew 25 beginning with verse 1. 14:25 Now all students of the Bible know that a text without a 14:29 context is a pretext. 14:31 And so we want to see this, the 25th chapter, 14:34 in light of the 24th. 14:35 And we need to stay within the context of this passage. 14:38 For in the 24th chapter, we have an eschatological passage. 14:43 It's a prophetic discourse. 14:44 The disciples came to Jesus and asked the question, 14:47 "What will it be like, the second coming?" 14:49 Or what will it be like, the end of the world? 14:51 And so He answers their question in a 94 verse résumé 14:57 concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ. 14:59 Now that's clear if you read carefully and prayerfully 15:02 the 24th chapter of Matthew, which clearly introduces 15:06 the subject of the second coming of Jesus. 15:08 In Matthew 25, we have a parable about His hope. 15:12 It would be entitled, The Bridegroom Cometh. 15:16 Jesus referred to Himself as the Bridegroom 15:20 earlier in Matthew. 15:23 "And then came one of the disciples of John, saying, 15:27 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, 15:30 but Thy disciples fast not?' 15:32 And Jesus said unto them, 'Can the children of the 15:35 bride chamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?'" 15:51 John the Baptist confirmed the saying of Jesus 15:53 in the book of John. 16:18 In other words, the Bible clearly teaches us that the 16:21 church is the bride of Christ. 16:24 The apostle Paul gives that description. 16:40 Now with this scriptural background, 16:42 it can be clear that the virgins awaiting the groom 16:45 are symbolic of the church of Jesus Christ. 16:47 And the Groom is Jesus Christ. 16:51 And with that in mind, the parable clearly represents 16:53 three very important facts that we need to see, 16:56 dare we not be ignorant concerning the 16:59 second coming of Christ. 17:00 First of all, the reasons for the coming of the Son of God, 17:03 the Bridegroom. 17:05 Secondly, the requirements for the coming of the Bridegroom. 17:09 Thirdly, for the readiness for the coming 17:13 of the heavenly Bridegroom. 17:15 The reasons, the requirements, and the readiness 17:18 for the coming of this heavenly Bridegroom. 17:20 Now the key text is found in verse 6 of Matthew. 17:23 Matthew 25 verse 6, and notice it says this... 17:27 "Behold, the bridegroom cometh. 17:31 Go ye out to meet him." 17:33 Now to appreciate what the Lord Jesus Christ 17:35 is trying to say to us here in the 25th chapter, 17:38 in order for us modern people to understand this ancient 17:41 parable, this ancient story, we need to catch the significance 17:45 and knowledge about it. 17:48 There's a three-fold procedure in marriage 17:50 in the New Testament times. 17:53 First of all, the engagement. 17:55 And by the way, that was when the formal settlement 17:58 was made between respective fathers, and bride, 18:02 and the bridegroom. 18:04 Secondly, the betrothal. 18:06 A ceremony held in the home of the bride. 18:09 It was where presents were exchanged 18:11 and arrangements were made between both parties. 18:14 The bride and groom had little to say about their marriage. 18:18 But the families had a lot to say. 18:21 Anyway, then came the third, the marriage itself. 18:24 Now this took place about a year later after the betrothal. 18:29 It was when the bridegroom came to the friends of the family 18:31 to fetch the bride. 18:33 And they would fetch the bride and bring the bride 18:36 to the father's house. 18:37 Now it's important for you to understand that, 18:40 to keep that in mind. 18:41 Lest you be ignorant concerning the coming of Christ. 18:45 Now Jesus Christ came first to win His bride. 18:48 Now keep in mind, when the Lord Jesus Christ came 18:51 the first time, He came to win His bride. 18:54 And that's the meaning of the words of the apostle, 18:56 "Christ also loved the church and He gave Himself for it." 19:01 I'm an evangelist, a pastor. 19:03 And nothing thrills me more than to preach the gospel of 19:06 Jesus Christ and invite men and women 19:09 and children and young people to receive Jesus Christ 19:12 as Lord in their life. 19:13 I mean, God truly saves sinners; 19:16 individually and specifically and gloriously and redemptively. 19:21 Everywhere, there's a case in point. 19:24 I remember I was in one city. 19:26 And we always do prayer walking before we hold an evangelistic 19:29 series of meetings. 19:31 And there was this, people were praying and walking. 19:34 And so my wife asked me if she could go shopping. 19:37 She doesn't shop very often, but. 19:39 There in Waikiki, it was in Hawaii. 19:42 And my wife wanted to go to the international mall 19:45 and buy some things for the grandkids. 19:47 So me being from Mars and her being from Venus, 19:51 I sent her shopping and I thought I would walk 19:54 around the international mall. 19:56 And doing it, I would pray. 19:58 Not only teach the people, but to do it myself. 20:01 And so I started walking and praying; 20:03 a prayer walk. 20:05 And I noticed that on every street corner, it seemed, 20:07 there was a prostitute. 20:09 And I thought to myself, "Oh God." 20:11 When you look through the eyes of a Christian, 20:13 you see, not a piece of merchandise, but you see 20:16 someone for whom Christ died. 20:17 It could be your daughter, save for the grace of God. 20:21 And so I began to pray. 20:22 I said, "Lord, before these meetings are over, 20:24 I want you to touch someone on this street. 20:27 I want you to touch someone who's walking Waikiki 20:30 and bring them to You, and bring them to purity and holiness." 20:34 That was my prayer. 20:35 Every Thursday I sent her shopping. 20:37 And I did my walk. 20:39 At the end of the meeting, God blessed the meeting 20:41 in such a way and we baptized over 225 people 20:45 in that crusade in the church. 20:46 And a wonderful meeting. 20:48 And after the meetings, a woman came up to me, she said, 20:50 "I need to talk to you, Pastor Ron." 20:52 I said, "Fine," and so we sat down. 20:54 And she said, "You know I was baptized." 20:56 I said, "Yeah, you were in my baptism class. 20:58 And I'm just so excited." 21:00 And she said, "But when these meetings started," 21:03 she said, "I was a streetwalker." 21:06 And I said, "Well, where?" 21:08 And she named the very street where I had been praying. 21:13 God does save people. 21:17 God does change people. 21:20 A year or so later I received a beautiful letter 21:23 from this woman. 21:24 She told me how she was sending her child to church school and 21:27 how she was involved in Christ, and how that God 21:30 brought her a Christian man, her husband. 21:33 What a wonderful experience. 21:35 Because God does save people. 21:39 Individually. 21:40 And even in your own life, think of the time God reached out 21:43 to touch you, to change you. 21:46 That was a miracle of God. 21:47 That's the way He works. 21:49 And when God seeks you, You can't run 21:51 far enough away from Him. 21:52 You can't hide from Him. 21:54 He saves us from the gutter most to the uttermost, 21:57 as Peter Marshall said. 22:00 But what God is doing today is not just saving sinners, 22:06 He's calling a people out in His name. 22:10 Christ is building the church. 22:12 Therefore, the three angels' message of Revelation. 22:16 Therefore, the message of God calling men and women 22:18 to the truth, calling men and women out. 22:21 Calling them to the church of Jesus Christ. 22:24 Calling them to be ready for the advent of Jesus, 22:26 the second coming of Christ. 22:28 Incorporated in our very name; Seventh-day Adventists. 22:33 We believe strongly in the soon coming of Christ. 22:36 I remember when I was young minister, 22:38 I was enthusiastic. 22:42 I met someone I knew 30 years ago, they said, 22:44 "You're still enthusiastic." 22:45 I said, "Well, I'm still saved." 22:49 That doesn't change. 22:51 I'm still saved. 22:52 Well anyway, I was a young minister and I got a call from 22:55 the Episcopal seminary there New England, 22:58 one of the high church. 23:00 They wanted me to come and speak to the seminary students 23:04 about what I believed as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. 23:07 I couldn't wait. 23:10 I walked into that great seminary, 23:12 ivy league seminary, and climbed up into the pulpit, 23:17 and stood high and lifted up. 23:20 And so I stood up and I proclaimed I believe the Bible 23:24 to be the inspired word of God. 23:26 It is the infallible word, the final word of God. 23:30 I stood proudly to proclaim the gospel of Jesus, 23:33 how Jesus does save sinners. 23:35 And that through His blood we're cleansed from our sin. 23:38 I talked about the Ten Commandments, 23:41 the moral law, and about how the moral law is 23:44 written on our hearts. 23:45 And it's not just a bunch of rules, but rather 23:48 it's a way of living. 23:50 And then I talked about the Sabbath as creation. 23:53 I showed them how that God did everything in order. 23:57 He doesn't create fish and then create water. 24:00 He doesn't create stars and then create firmament. 24:03 He doesn't create worship before He creates the worshiper. 24:10 And I stood up and proclaimed the Sabbath in the Bible. 24:14 And I went on to the judgment and the wonderful message 24:17 of the advent judgment. 24:19 And then finally I saved the best for last. 24:22 I said, "I believe in the soon coming of Jesus Christ, 24:25 the imminent return of Christ to the earth the second time." 24:29 I quoted Scripture. 24:31 And when I finished, it was question and answer time. 24:33 Now I'm always good at the questions, 24:35 it's the answers I have problems with. 24:38 That's been my problem from the beginning. 24:41 I took a sleep apnea test the day, and I failed that. 24:47 You get the drift, don't you? 24:49 Anyway, a professor in the back, the head professor 24:52 of the seminary raised his hand. 24:54 He stood up. I said, "Yes, sir." 24:56 He stood up, he introduced himself; Dr. so and so. 24:59 PhD, ThD, DDT. 25:05 And I was impressed. 25:08 And he said, "Young man, that could be 25:11 a thousand years from now." 25:15 And he sat down. 25:16 And all the students were enthralled. 25:19 And I said, "That may. 25:21 But sir, put your hand on your heart. 25:26 For you it's not a thousand years from now. 25:28 Be ye ready." 25:32 Be ye ready. 25:36 The purpose of the first advent was to win His bride. 25:40 He loves the church so much so that He 25:42 gave His life to save it. 25:44 But this message goes further. 25:45 Not merely saving the church. 25:47 He's coming back again to take His bride. 25:50 I mean, three things emerge here concerning it. 25:52 He's coming to take His bride. 25:54 He's coming to wed His bride. 25:56 And He's coming to show His bride to the universe. 26:00 A great wedding feast. 26:02 I don't know why the church is so gloomy. 26:05 Everywhere it's a feast, everywhere it's a party. 26:08 Everywhere they're celebrating. 26:10 And we... 26:12 ...go through it like it's a funeral. 26:15 It's a resurrection, brother and sister. 26:18 Resurrection. 26:20 I get so excited. I'm a right brainer. 26:22 Being in a left brain church being right brained, 26:24 it's terrible, let me tell you. 26:26 I've got to sit on my hands. 26:28 I raised my hand recently in a church service. 26:31 And the pastor recognized me. 26:32 He said, "Brother Halvorsen, do you have a question?" 26:34 I said, "No, I have an answer." 26:36 And then I sat on it the rest of the service. 26:39 I mean, it's terrible being right brained 26:40 in a left brain church. 26:42 Left brain church. 26:44 But it's a wedding feast. 26:46 It's a great feast. 26:47 And He says there'll be rejoicing. 26:49 A great wedding. 26:51 And why does the church act as if they're at a funeral 26:54 instead of a wedding? 26:55 Why does the church think gloominess is holiness? 26:59 Why doesn't the church sing in songs from a past era? 27:02 That gifted woman one day was preaching to an audience. 27:06 And God was blessing her, as always. 27:10 And she said when she finished, they broke out in applause. 27:14 And she said this, "I had never felt closer to heaven 27:20 than when they broke out in applause." 27:23 Wow, that's for those who are afraid 27:27 to show their feelings. 27:29 Why don't you quote some of those quotes to me. 27:33 Joy, the prodigal comes home and he throws a party. 27:37 Listen to me, the father throws a party. 27:40 When sinners come to Christ, there's rejoicing. 27:43 There's a party in heaven every time a sinner comes to God. 27:46 And so He takes His bride. 27:48 "Behold, the bridegroom cometh. 27:50 Go ye out to meet him." 27:51 I read somewhere, a tourist in the Middle East 27:54 describes the procedure he personally observed 27:57 with his own eyes in Palestine. 27:59 He said, "As I approached the gates of a Galilean town, 28:02 I caught sight of ten maidens. 28:05 They were gaily clad, playing some type of musical instrument. 28:08 And they danced along the road in front of the car. 28:12 And when I asked what they were doing, 28:13 my guide told me they were going to keep the bride company 28:17 until the bridegroom comes to get her." 28:20 Wow. 28:21 And he said, "Well, can I see the wedding?" 28:23 He said, "Well," he said, "I don't know. 28:25 It may be tonight. 28:27 It may be tomorrow. It may be next week. 28:29 No one knows." 28:30 In fact, they hire someone who goes ahead of the bridegroom 28:33 crying, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh," 28:36 to wake them up. 28:38 In fact, the one thing they like to do is 28:40 try to catch the bridal party sleeping. 28:45 I think it's very clear what it says, "Be ye ready." 28:49 The bridegroom is required to send someone to cry out, 28:54 "Behold, the bridegroom..." 28:55 And that may happen any time. 28:57 And so the bride must be ready at any time. 29:00 The church of Jesus Christ needs to be ready at any time. 29:03 I mean, Jesus Christ is only a heartbeat away. 29:07 A heartbeat away. 29:08 Can you now see why the message of the three angels 29:10 is a loud cry message? 29:12 How important the work of the Three Angels Broadcast, 29:15 It Is Written, and the other programs founded to 29:17 proclaim the message of hope, the coming of Jesus. 29:20 It's preparing men and women for the coming 29:24 of the heavenly Bridegroom. 29:26 A prophetic mandate. 29:27 Preparing men and women for His coming. 29:30 Now let's never lose sight of that great truth. 29:32 The heavenly Bridegroom is coming to take His bride, 29:39 take His bride home. 29:41 Many times people question me about why 29:45 my wife and I travel around the nation so much at our age. 29:49 Two months ago, in a month and a half we traveled 13,000 miles. 29:54 "Why don't you retire? 29:56 Sit back, relax, get comfortable?" 30:01 How can we, when the coming of the Bridegroom is so near 30:05 and there's so many to warn, to prepare, 30:08 for the coming of the Bridegroom? 30:10 We will continue as long as we're allowed to continue 30:13 reaching men, women, and children for Christ 30:15 inviting them to the great wedding feast. 30:17 I mean, as long as we're not home, in our heavenly home, 30:20 we will continue preaching the message of Jesus Christ. 30:24 We're not home yet. 30:26 I think of the story of the missionary, Pastor Morrison. 30:31 He was a missionary in Africa for 30 years. 30:35 He buried two children in Africa. 30:37 And just before he retired, he buried his wife in Africa. 30:43 But the mission board finally got him to come home. 30:45 They said, "You need to come home, Pastor Morrison. 30:48 It's time for you to retire." 30:51 And so he boarded the ship. 30:53 He boarded the same ship that Teddy Roosevelt was on. 30:55 You see, Teddy Roosevelt went to Africa 30:57 for three weeks hunting. 31:01 And now when that ship, that great ship, came into the 31:03 New York harbor, there were the fireboats shooting up the water, 31:07 and there were fireworks, and bands were playing. 31:10 Teddy Roosevelt came off the ship with his trophies. 31:15 And after the parade, Pastor Morrison 31:19 made his way off the ship. 31:21 Couldn't even find a cab. 31:24 And he's walking through the streets of New York. 31:26 First time there in so many years. 31:29 All alone. 31:30 His family in Africa buried beneath the soil of Africa. 31:35 And now he says to himself, "Lord, these years 31:39 I've served You. 31:41 And no one is here to welcome me home." 31:44 And God said to him, "Pastor, you're not home yet. 31:49 You're not home yet." 31:52 We are not home yet. 31:55 And that's what the Bible says. 31:58 He's going to come and fetch His bride. 32:00 Just when that hour will strike is not known to you, 32:03 it's not known to some preacher, it's not known to some chart. 32:08 It's only known to Jesus, to the angels. 32:11 And the angels don't even know. 32:12 The Father alone. 32:14 And it's not for you to know the time or the seasons. 32:17 And that's why it's imperative that every believing person 32:20 who hears my voice today, every person on television 32:23 watching this program, be ready for the coming 32:25 of the heavenly Bridegroom. 32:28 And to you who are a stranger to God's grace, 32:30 a stranger to salvation, you too need to surrender 32:33 and prepare yourself for the coming 32:36 of the heavenly Bridegroom. 32:37 To be ready knowing the cleansing of the 32:40 precious blood of Christ. 32:41 Accept Him before it's too late. 32:43 Bow your head before Him and say, "Lord, come into my heart. 32:46 Lord, change my heart." 32:48 And let God change your heart. 32:50 Get on the phone, call an Adventist preacher in your city. 32:53 Go to that church, learn what you can about God in preparation 32:57 for the coming of Jesus Christ. 32:59 The preparation is going on right now, friend. 33:02 And this is the whole purpose of the preaching 33:04 of the three angels' message. 33:06 This is the whole reason we stand up and proclaim 33:09 God's message around the world. 33:11 Seek the face of Christ. 33:13 Recommit yourself to Jesus Christ. 33:15 Reconsecrate yourself to Jesus Christ. 33:18 In some corners, I'm told, the day of evangelism is over. 33:21 Negativism. 33:23 That may be true in the case of human effort, 33:25 feeble sermons, Christless sermons. 33:29 But listen to me, but those who are Holy Spirit filled, 33:32 those men and women who stand up for God 33:34 full of the Holy Ghost, it's not over. 33:36 I've had some of my best meetings since I've retired. 33:39 Baptized 359 in San Bernardino, California. 33:43 Baptized 200 and some in Hawaii in the city of Waikiki. 33:50 And it's the best hour yet for evangelism. 33:53 We need to stand up and proclaim. 33:55 Why? Because Jesus said, "Go ye into the world 33:57 and preach the gospel and lead men and women to God." 34:01 And so the heavenly Bridegroom is about to come. 34:05 And it will end with glory, and it will end with great power. 34:10 Today we see a church defiled. 34:12 We see a church defeated. 34:15 We see the church divided. 34:16 Churches self-serving, and fighting, and faithless. 34:19 But not for long. 34:21 He is coming to wed His church. 34:23 I mean, not only individually, but collectively 34:25 and corporately. 34:26 Christ loved it. Why? 34:28 Christ loved the church that He gave Himself for it. 34:30 Why? To sanctify it. 34:34 To set it apart. 34:36 And that's going on right now. 34:38 While I'm speaking to you right now around the world, 34:41 God is calling a people out through His name. 34:43 Perhaps God has been speaking to you through this 34:45 3ABN broadcast for months maybe. 34:48 Maybe even years. 34:50 Don't you think it's time to come out to the wedding feast? 34:54 To come out to the Bridegroom? 34:56 He said in Matthew 16, "I will build My church," verse 18... 35:09 No hellions will prevail against it, by the way. 35:12 She will merge triumphantly. 35:15 So the wedding day is coming. 35:17 The Bridegroom shall not be confused in any way. 35:20 The Bridegroom will not be defeated. 35:23 The Bridegroom will not be disappointed. 35:25 And the heavenly Bridegroom is coming to take His bride, 35:28 to wed His bride, and finally to show His bride. 35:32 That's what the Bible says. 35:34 The third point under the reasons for the coming of the 35:36 Bridegroom is found in 25:1. 35:38 He's coming to show His church. 35:40 Someday the church will be shown for what it really stands for. 35:43 I mean, here we've described five wise virgins, 35:46 five foolish virgins. 35:47 Outwardly they are similar. 35:49 I mean, they dress alike, they talk alike. 35:51 They use the cliché's, you know, "Happy Sabbath, Brother." 35:55 You know, I mean. They know all the... 35:56 They know when to stand and sing, they know when to sit. 35:59 You know, they have their devotion. 36:01 They go through all the... 36:09 Outwardly they're similar. 36:11 But inwardly they are fundamentally different. 36:15 That godly woman, Ellen White, wrote these words. 36:20 "The two classes of watchers represent the two classes 36:24 who profess to be waiting for their Lord. 36:27 They're called virgins because they profess a pure faith." 36:30 They have a pure faith, but something is lacking. 36:33 It's not a lacking of the knowledge. 36:35 We think if we can give them enough knowledge, 36:37 if we can give them five more texts than they know, 36:39 if we can...then they'll be... 36:41 No, it has nothing to do with that. 36:43 It's not the outward expression at all. 36:45 He says no. 36:46 He said this, that they are alike. 36:48 They look alike, they act alike. 36:51 They have a pure faith. 36:54 But the reason He comes to show His bride, 36:57 just as the custom in the East wedding, 36:59 He would then show the bride. 37:01 Show her to the relatives and friends and neighbors. 37:04 There would be singing and dancing and feasting, wow. 37:10 The great wedding reception. 37:14 During that time the bride would be displayed. 37:18 She was addressed as Princess, by the way. 37:22 The idea conjures up in my mind the happiest day for the church. 37:26 Jesus, with holy pride, presents the church to the angels. 37:33 Jesus, with holy pride, to the unfallen worlds 37:38 His church. 37:40 To the heavenly Father He shows His church. 37:43 The entire universe rejoices. 37:45 Jude says this in Jude 24, "Now unto Him that is able..." 38:00 Jude 24. 38:02 And that brings us to the requirements 38:06 for the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom. 38:08 Two main requirements. 38:10 First of all, an outward expression of 38:12 profession of faith. 38:15 The ten virgins took their lamps and went forth to meet Him. 38:20 The lamps represent the outward testimony 38:23 of the Word of God. 38:24 The church is called to a confessing role. 38:27 And she fails in her responsibility 38:30 if she does not shine as the light of the world 38:32 and is not the salt of the earth. 38:34 Ministers have not been called as referees 38:37 to fight over your infighting. 38:40 Ministers have not been called to run a corporate business. 38:44 Ministers have not been called to fill baptisteries, 38:46 set tables, and wait on them. 38:49 They've been called to preach revival and renewal. 38:52 They've been called to evangelize, 38:54 to preach Christ, and to lead men and women to God. 38:59 You must be committed to a confessing light, 39:03 a confessing faith. 39:05 But the parable goes further. 39:06 It gets down deeper into the human predicament. 39:09 I mean, it's possible to have an outward expression of faith 39:13 but not an inward reality. 39:17 It's possible, like the virgins, to carry lamps 39:20 without the accompanying oil. 39:23 The accompanying oil. 39:25 You remember when our blessed Lord went to Calvary? 39:27 That was the place of the winepress. 39:29 That was where they pressed the wine. 39:31 Remember the blood, the New Testament wine came; 39:35 the blood of Jesus. 39:36 But before He went to Calvary, He went to a garden. 39:38 It was called the garden of Gethsemane. 39:41 It was there, the olive press. 39:43 And they use to press the olives. 39:45 And you see, before Jesus ever went to the cross, 39:48 the final test, He went to the place of the olive. 39:50 He went to the place of the Holy Spirit. 39:53 And He fell crushed to the ground. 39:55 The weight of the world's sins lay upon Jesus, 39:57 and there came forth blood through the pores of His skin 40:00 like clods to the earth. 40:04 And it's there that He got the Spirit, 40:06 "Let this cup pass from Me. 40:08 But not My will, but Thine be done." 40:10 Full of the Holy Ghost He could face Calvary. 40:13 We cannot face the future save we're full of the Holy Ghost. 40:18 We will not be able to face the future 40:21 save we're full of the Holy Ghost. 40:24 It means you're not... 40:25 The reason they did not come in, because they're not 40:29 known of the Spirit of God. 40:30 That's the only reason. 40:32 I mean, they've been baptized. 40:34 So have you. 40:35 Good and regular standing, whatever that means. 40:38 Serving on church boards, even conference committees. 40:41 But you're not possessed of the Holy Spirit. 40:43 Would Jesus to break through the clouds at this very moment, 40:46 at this very day, if He were to break through the clouds 40:49 today to take His bride, you would be left behind. 40:55 And if that's the case, I say, repent. 41:00 Confess your sins. 41:03 Call on the name of the Lord. 41:06 The Holy Spirit is grieved in this church. 41:09 The Holy Spirit is grieved in this church. 41:11 And the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came, 41:14 they were in one place with one accord. 41:16 Our great problem, we can't get one accord anywhere. 41:21 We don't have to have the world fight us. 41:23 We fight ourselves. 41:26 We don't need to be persecuted by the world. 41:28 We persecute ourselves. 41:34 We need to call upon the Lord. 41:37 The Holy Spirit is grieved in the church. 41:41 I've been in some board meetings I knew the Holy Spirit 41:43 wouldn't even come in the front door. 41:46 One was the fightingest board I ever met in my life. 41:49 Finally one day, I hit the table and I said, 41:52 "You want to fight? I invented that sport." 41:57 How can the Lord bless the church? 42:02 The fire of the Holy Spirit is quenched in the church. 42:04 Hypocrisy and insincerity and unreality in our ranks. 42:09 We must lament as Horatius Bonar of old, he said, 42:11 "I looked for the church, and I found it in the world. 42:14 And I looked for the world, and I found it in the church." 42:20 We have an outward expression, 42:23 but not an inward profession. 42:27 An inward profession of life, secondly. 42:30 The wise virgins took oil in their vessels. 42:32 This oil represents the Holy Spirit. 42:34 The Old Testament reveals this in the Sanctuary service. 42:36 The oil is ever a figure of the Holy Spirit. 42:38 In Zechariah, it's the Holy Spirit. 42:40 In the parable, at the time of crisis, the foolish virgins 42:44 had no oil to spare. 42:45 Their lamps went out. 42:46 But it's a continuous tense. 42:48 Our lamps are going out. 42:51 They had a little oil. 42:52 They had a little bit of oil, but finally it was burning up. 42:55 And by the time they needed it most, it was gone. 43:00 Has the Holy Spirit withdrawn from you? 43:04 Is your religion just a form? 43:07 You just keep going because mama goes, 43:09 or because your wife goes? 43:12 You're not known of the Spirit? 43:15 Our lamps are going out. 43:20 The foolish virgins did not know the experience of a continuing 43:26 indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. 43:29 Paul declared, "If any man have not the Spirit 43:34 of Christ, he is none of His." 43:39 No wonder the foolish virgins were excluded. 43:42 I mean, they couldn't go into the feast with the bridegroom. 43:46 They couldn't face the bridegroom without the oil. 43:49 You can't face the Bridegroom without the oil. 43:54 And I might add, their attempt to borrow oil 43:59 at the last moment ended in failure. 44:02 I've known men and women who have tried to borrow the oil. 44:06 I mean, they try to borrow it from their wives who serve 44:09 Christ, or borrow it from their husbands, or the children 44:12 try to borrow it from their parents. 44:16 But you can't borrow it. 44:19 You can't borrow it. 44:21 We must walk in the Spirit. 44:24 Remember the day of Pentecost, they were in one spirit. 44:27 And when they were in one spirit, the building shook. 44:29 When was the last time we were preaching and we were worshiping 44:33 and the whole building shook? 44:35 Well it did happen once to me. 44:36 I was in California, and just at that time 44:39 we had an earthquake. 44:40 Got the message across. 44:44 But when have we felt the building shake? 44:47 Cloven tongues of fire fall down 44:50 filling them with the Holy Ghost. 44:51 Those unlearned men, fishermen, smelly fishermen and 44:55 tax collectors and the riffraff of the whole Middle East. 44:59 Those men went out and they shook the world. 45:03 Why? Because of their education? No. 45:06 Why? 45:07 Because they knew so much of the 27 fundamental...? No. 45:11 Why? 45:12 Because they were known to the Holy Spirit of God. 45:15 They were known to the Spirit of God in their life. 45:18 You know, we hardly talk about the Holy Spirit in the church. 45:21 I mean, when we do it's like Holy Spirit 101. 45:23 It's like a class. 45:25 The Holy Spirit isn't a class. 45:26 The Holy Spirit is an experience. 45:30 And you can't teach the Holy Spirit in a sense so that 45:33 He comes within you. 45:34 You receive the Holy Spirit by making yourself available 45:38 to His Spirit, by praying that God descend His sweet Spirit. 45:41 And then once you're filled with the Spirit, 45:43 you can go forth and do great and mighty things for God. 45:49 We must live in the Spirit. 45:52 Or we'll hear the chilling cry that the foolish virgins heard 45:57 when they said, "Let us in," banging at the door. 45:59 "Let us in. Let us in." Banging at the door. 46:02 His reply, "Verily, verily I say unto you, 46:05 I know you not." 46:09 What a terrible thing. 46:11 What a terrible moment. 46:15 Followed Him for three and a half years. 46:19 And some longer. 46:21 And then to hear those chilling words, 46:24 "I know you not." 46:27 "But Lord, haven't I done these marvelous things in Your name? 46:30 Lord, haven't I built up the church in Your name? 46:33 I mean, haven't I done these great things in Your name? 46:36 Haven't I given great amounts of money in Your name? 46:39 Haven't I..." 46:40 It was the outward expression, but not the inward possession. 46:44 For what reason? 46:47 For what reason? 46:48 You can do good things for the wrong reason. 46:51 And how are you going to discern? 46:53 Only through the Holy Spirit. 46:56 And so we have seen the reasons for the 46:57 coming of the Bridegroom. 46:58 The requirements for the coming of the heavenly Bridegroom. 47:02 But finally, we've got to see the readiness for the coming 47:05 of the heavenly Bridegroom. 47:06 Matthew 5:13, the Bible tells us... 47:24 Wow. 47:25 The parable of this story ends with the command to be vigilant, 47:31 to be ready. 47:32 Radical, the words of Jesus. 47:36 "I know you not." That's radical. 47:40 "You serve Me? I know you not. 47:42 You've done this all your life? I know you not." 47:46 Readiness. 47:47 It's a command. 47:49 The emphasis is on watching. 47:53 It occurs again and again, included in this 47:54 94 verse résumé; chapter 24 and 25. 47:58 The second coming is written in the chapters of the book. 48:00 In this parable He says, watch, watch, watch, watch. 48:04 This little word occurs time and time again. 48:06 It's an action word. 48:08 It suggests three things. 48:10 An upward look of expectation. 48:11 "Watch therefore." 48:13 Look upward. Lift up your eyes. 48:15 Jesus is coming in the clouds. 48:18 "Watch therefore." 48:19 In Scripture, the Christian is ever and always urged 48:22 to look for the coming of Christ. 48:24 I mean, Paul defines the look of expectation 48:26 in terms of loving His appearing. 48:28 2 Timothy 4 and verse 8. 48:32 It's one thing to believe the doctrine of the second coming 48:34 of Christ, but quite another to desire longingly 48:38 for Jesus Christ to come back again the second time. 48:43 Love His appearing. 48:44 Revelation 22 verse 20 teaches us that. 48:59 Are you longing for Jesus to come? 49:02 I mean, I have two children. 49:05 My boy Ronnie, my girl Diane. 49:09 They are the pride of my life, I've got to say that. 49:11 I mean, they're wonderful children. 49:13 They take after their father. 49:17 But anyway. 49:19 We've traveled a lot, my wife and I. 49:21 And when they were growing up, you know, we had 49:24 a beautiful relationship with Jesus. 49:26 And they had a beautiful relationship. 49:27 We could go for six weeks on a crusade 49:29 and leave our teenage children. 49:32 And when we got back, they were there. 49:36 I mean, they love God. 49:38 I didn't worry about them. 49:39 They didn't worry about us. 49:41 But I remember my wife and I were making a trip to California 49:44 and we were just going to be there a short time. 49:46 I had to give lectures on evangelism. 49:48 So I said to Ronnie, and this is the first mistake, 49:52 I said, "Ronnie, you're the oldest." 49:55 He's a year and a half... What, year and a half? 49:58 Two years? 49:59 Anyway, close enough. 50:00 You were there, I wasn't. But anyway. 50:03 Literally, I wasn't. 50:04 I was in a crusade in California when she had my girl, Diane. 50:08 And I didn't see her for three months. 50:11 She holds that against me even today. 50:13 But anyway. 50:15 And so I was going to take the trip, and I said to my son... 50:18 And he got, you know, that feeling that he was the boss. 50:24 My little girl had to move out to her friend's house 50:28 to survive while we were gone. 50:30 But anyway, I said, "I'm going to be back on Thursday. 50:32 I want everything to be right. You know what I mean." 50:34 And then you put the ten commandments, 50:35 well 20 or 30 rules, on the refrigerator. 50:41 I said, "Now Thursday evening I'll be here." 50:44 Then we took off. 50:46 When I got to California, I noticed on the bulletin 50:49 that I was to speak and I would be done a day early. 50:53 And I said to my wife, I said, "Look at this, Hon. 50:56 I'm done a day early. 50:58 Why, let's go home and surprise the kids." 51:04 And she looked at me with that look. 51:07 You know the look they give. 51:10 And she said, "I don't know, Honey, if that's a good idea." 51:12 I thought it was brilliant. 51:14 So you can see who has the brains in this family. 51:16 But anyway, I thought this was a great idea. 51:18 I said, "No, no, Honey." 51:19 I said, "This is great. 51:20 I'm going to leave a day early. 51:22 We'll get there and we'll surprise the kids." 51:26 She shook her head, she said, "Honey, I don't know." 51:28 But anyway, we got on the plane. 51:30 In those days you could just change your... 51:32 Now you've got to go through... 51:34 Oh, I won't say what you have to go through, but. 51:37 It costs you about 300 to 400 dollars more 51:40 by the time you... 51:43 Anyway, we got on the place. 51:45 Flew into Dallas, Texas. 51:46 I was pastor of the college church there in Keene. 51:49 Got there, it was late at night, and I said to my wife, 51:51 "We're going to surprise these kids." 51:53 She said, "Well why don't you call them from the airport?" 51:54 "Oh no," I said. "No, we want to surprise them." 51:57 So I called one of my deacons, a friend of mine, I said, 52:00 "Deacon, we're out here at the airport in Dallas. 52:03 And would you come and pick us up?" 52:06 He said, "Why don't you have one of your..." 52:09 I said, "Oh no, we're going to surprise them," I told him. 52:11 And there was silence for the space of a half hour. 52:13 The man couldn't believe what I was telling him. 52:15 Finally he said, "Alright." 52:16 So he drove out, picked us up, and we drove 52:18 back into that city. 52:19 Keene, Texas was kind of a Christian community, 52:23 Adventist Christian community. 52:24 A Christian school and all. 52:25 All the little saints had said their prayers, 52:27 they were in bed, the lights were out. 52:29 Drove up in front of my house, the lights are out. 52:31 I looked at my wife, I said, "Boy, this is great. 52:34 I'm going to surprise them." 52:37 She said, "Maybe you should ring the bell." 52:39 I said, "Oh no, no, no. 52:42 I mean, we're this close. 52:44 I mean, we're this close." 52:47 So I opened the door and turned on the light. 52:49 The living room was just to the right, and I looked and 52:51 that couldn't have been my living room. 52:52 I mean, there were sweatshirts and underwear and socks and 52:57 shoes and sneakers and sneakers and sneakers. 53:00 I had to move things to see it was my couch. 53:05 Then I went into the kitchen. 53:07 Now I don't know what it's like, but I can't imagine. 53:11 We're gone four days. 53:13 And there's a pile of dishes in the sink you can't believe. 53:17 I mean, for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? 53:20 What is this all about? 53:21 And finger marks and hand marks everywhere. 53:26 So I crept down the hallway. 53:31 Slowly. 53:34 Got to my son's room. 53:37 Quietly opened the door. 53:40 Flipped on the light. 53:42 He sat up rubbing his eyes. 53:44 He said, "Daddy, you're suppose to come tomorrow." 53:47 I said, "Be ye ready." 53:53 Be ye ready. 53:55 And that's the message here of the Bridegroom. 53:58 God is trying to tell us, God is trying to warn us, 54:00 God is trying to prepare us. 54:02 He says be ready every moment, every day. 54:04 When you open your eyes in the morning 54:05 look up with expectation, look upward toward heaven. 54:08 Be ready at all times for the coming 54:11 of the heavenly Bridegroom. 54:13 And so there's the inward look of preparation. 54:15 Look at your heart. 54:16 See your heart as it is. 54:17 Call upon Jesus. 54:19 Jesus can be a resident, but not President. 54:21 You want Him to rule as President of your heart. 54:24 John, in the epistle, declares, "Every man that has this hope." 54:29 What hope? 54:30 The coming of the heavenly Bridegroom. 54:32 And that day will be the reunion of God's children, 54:35 the church, the bride, with Jesus Christ. 54:39 Some years ago, my wife, we were at the seminary. 54:44 We had one boy. 54:45 And you know, we soon had a girl coming. 54:48 And we had no money. 54:51 And so my wife's uncle was a doctor in Vermont. 54:54 So I said, "Honey, maybe the thing to do is, 54:55 you go to Vermont, have the baby. 54:57 I have to go out to this field school in California." 55:00 And then... It's better than Medicare. 55:03 A doctor, uncle doctor, I mean. 55:06 So I put them on the train. 55:07 It was a terrible moment for me. 55:09 We had never been separated. 55:11 And little Ronnie, he was all excited. 55:12 He had a little red baseball cap. 55:13 I still can see it. 55:14 And he's excited, he's going on a big train. 55:17 Sat in the seat looking out the window waving. 55:19 And I'm crying like a baby. 55:22 I got out to California and we were in an evangelist meeting. 55:25 And I was sitting on the platform one night 55:27 and they came with a telegram. 55:30 "Diane Halvorsen, born." 55:32 And it says, eight pounds three ounces. 55:34 Three pounds, eight. I don't know, but. 55:36 It's terrible, a telegram. 55:38 Burping a telegram. Come on now. 55:41 But when it came time for me to get home, 55:43 listen, when I got there to Andrews University 55:45 and got the car and drove across Canada... 55:47 My wife had moved over to the Adirondacks 55:50 where she had been brought up. 55:51 And when I got going, I got to that house, 55:54 pulled to a stop, jumped out, and no one was there. 55:58 But then later, two hours later, the car came in. 56:01 And my little boy got out of the car and he looked and looked. 56:03 And then he realized, that's his daddy. 56:05 He ran, jumped in my arms. 56:06 And there was my wife standing with my little baby girl. 56:10 My Diane. 56:12 What a reunion that was. 56:14 But I cannot imagine what a reunion 56:18 when Jesus Christ comes and the dead are raised 56:22 and we see our loved ones again, and we are in each other's arms. 56:27 I hope I'm in Brooklyn when Jesus comes. 56:30 And there the resurrection of my mom and my dad. 56:33 Resurrection of my grandma. 56:34 My grandmother, my grandfather. 56:37 That day will come. 56:38 He that said He will come, will come. 56:40 And listen to me, church. 56:43 Be you, ye, therefore ready for the coming of Christ. 56:49 Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer. 56:51 Gracious Father, I thank You for the promise made here. 56:55 I pray, Lord, the church of Jesus Christ, 56:57 that this church might in all ways prepare itself for the 57:00 coming of Christ. 57:02 That we might be known of the Holy Spirit in our lives, 57:05 prepared for the Holy Spirit in our lives. 57:07 And we might live for You until we live with You. 57:10 We pray it in Christ's name, amen and amen. 57:15 Remember this, you leave this place but you never 57:18 leave the presence of God. 57:19 He loves you. 57:20 He'll go on loving you forever. 57:24 God bless you. 57:25 And those who are watching, may God bless you and your family. 57:29 In Jesus' name. |
Revised 2014-12-17