Participants:
Series Code: ASIC
Program Code: ASIC180010A
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00:01 Music...
00:19 I feel like I've got my partner with me... Leasa Hodges, 00:26 she's going to tell us what happened this summer 00:29 in Colorado. 00:30 You know, I can't believe it's been... how many years? 00:33 1999... almost... any Math people out there? 00:38 It's like 19 years... it's so hard to believe, 00:43 we started right here in Orlando in 1999 00:46 and it's been a huge blessing in my life 00:49 and when I stepped away two years ago, 00:52 I thought I was finished... 00:53 but, you know, 00:55 this program has affected so many young people's lives 00:58 and parents and kids were calling and saying, 01:00 "We need to have Youth for Jesus 01:02 and I couldn't leave Eden Valley and so I thought, 01:07 "Well, why don't I just do a small one at Eden Valley?" 01:09 So we did. 01:11 We just started with ten young people and one site 01:13 and we called it: D'SoZo Youth Outreach 01:17 and we had a wonderful time. 01:20 We had just one site which was Eden Valley Church, 01:24 we had two Bible Workers 01:25 and we did some wonderful things, 01:28 I don't know if they... we have to have some pictures... 01:29 we had... we had... this is some of our campus kids 01:33 but we had a health fair in the park 01:36 where we had one person coming through every... 01:39 one-and-a-half persons coming through every five minutes. 01:42 We did a cooking school and 51 people came 01:45 and we did a lot of pre-work and so, we were busy 01:53 and then we just held a two-week meeting 01:56 and this is Jake and Bayli Graybill 01:59 and they were two of our young people 02:02 who came to ASI... I'm so thankful 02:04 and I would like Bayli to share her testimony... 02:08 her testimony about her experience there. 02:13 So, Bayli, you've grown up in a Homeschool situation 02:17 so, all of a sudden, you're with a lot of... 02:20 well, not a lot... but nine other young people 02:23 what was that like? 02:24 It was an amazing experience 02:26 so, I was part of the D'SoZo Outreach Program this summer, 02:30 and I was able to work with the kids... it was my favorite part 02:34 and me being homeschooled... 02:36 going to this, you know, you have like amazing... 02:40 you get so many new friendships 02:42 and then you also get to reconnect 02:43 with some old friends that you meet, also. 02:46 So, you worked in the Children's Department... 02:49 can you share a testimony from something that happened there? 02:52 Yeah, so we had this family that came to our cooking school 02:56 and they really enjoyed it so much 02:58 and their daughter loved the kids program 03:00 and she just wanted to come and come and come more 03:03 and they're like, "What is the next event that you have?" 03:06 And we told them... we have a Prophecy Seminar next 03:09 and they decided to come 03:11 and they enjoyed it so much 03:14 and the parents took very intense notes 03:17 and the daughter kept wanting to come 03:19 and I encouraged their parents to come also 03:21 and it was a real blessing. 03:22 Thank you, you know, 03:24 a little child shall lead them, right? 03:28 so, we've had wonderful testimonies 03:31 of... of children that came to the meeting 03:34 and the parents... after they heard the Sabbath Message 03:36 or something like that... they don't want to come anymore 03:38 but then, the kids want to come so bad 03:42 and they... let's say strongly encourage 03:44 and sometimes throw tantrums 03:47 to come back to the children's programs 03:49 and the parents or grandparents end up getting baptized 03:52 because they keep coming to the meetings 03:54 so children's programs are very important. 03:56 Jake was one of our participants 03:59 and Jake, you had quite a few experiences 04:03 you can share about that. 04:04 Yeah, so, I had a lot of experiences that happened to me, 04:09 I absolutely loved the D'SoZo Youth Outreach Program. 04:13 I had actually done some Literature Evangelism work 04:17 before I came to the D'SoZo Outreach Program 04:20 but something that I like about the D'ZoZo Program 04:24 is how we are able to connect with people 04:27 and so, during the day we would go out... 04:30 we would knock on doors... we would pass out flyers... 04:33 we did some canvassing as well 04:37 and inviting people to the meetings 04:40 and then at night, we had these Evangelistic Series 04:43 and we would get to mingle with the people 04:45 and talk with the people and I'll just share a quick story 04:49 of two of the people that came to our meetings. 04:51 They actually found out about the meetings at a Christian... 04:57 it was actually an Adventist Health Food Store 05:00 and they picked up one of the flyers 05:03 and the lady was really interested 05:05 in coming to the meetings 05:06 but she wasn't... 05:08 she wasn't really sure if she could get her husband to come 05:10 and so we really prayed for them 05:12 and we really were praying that they would come to the meetings 05:14 and the first night, they showed up to the meetings 05:17 and she brought her husband and... 05:19 They sat on the back row... they were a little bit skeptical 05:24 and so, the next night, we prayed again... 05:26 we wanted them to come back so we prayed again 05:29 and they showed up again... a second time... 05:32 they actually ended up staying at the meetings 05:34 the rest of the week 05:36 and they're actually still there right now. 05:38 Leasa: And they moved up to the third row. 05:40 Yeah, they kept moving... 05:41 each night they would move a little farther forward 05:43 and it was just a blessing to see them come every night, 05:47 they were actually on vacation all the way from Florida 05:51 they ended up staying longer in Colorado 05:54 so they could go to the meetings. 05:56 You know, this couple, I have done... 05:59 with the Youth for Jesus Program over the years, 06:02 I have gone through many, many, many Evangelistic Meetings 06:06 and this couple's reaction was just so amazing! 06:11 They were so... just like a sponge... 06:14 they just soaked everything up and they just would write, 06:17 you know, like, she would write so many notes 06:19 and afterwards she would go, "Oh my hand... " 06:22 and... and then because they were on vacation, 06:25 they were staying at these lodges nearby, 06:27 she would... I asked them, 06:29 I said, "What do you guys do during the day?" 06:31 And they said, "Well, we used to go the mountains... 06:32 we used to do this... 06:34 but since coming to these meetings, 06:35 we have Bible Studies in the afternoon... " 06:37 because we would give them handouts 06:39 and they would look at their notes 06:41 and they would do the Bible Studies every afternoon 06:43 before they came back and they just accepted everything. 06:47 The day that we did "Sabbath" the sermon on Sabbath... 06:50 our Pastor John did the sermons, what did they do? 06:53 Like, they were supposed to come to... 06:55 Friday night we presented the Sabbath message 06:58 and then Sabbath morning was going to be 07:00 a regular Prophecy Seminar 07:01 but something happened... they didn't show up, 07:04 do you remember why? 07:05 Yes, so, they ended up not showing up 07:10 and we prayed for them all that day... 07:13 they next day they actually ended up 07:15 showing back up to the meetings... 07:18 it was actually on baptism that night 07:21 and so they wanted to actually come up to the front 07:24 and check out the baptistery, 07:25 and they really wanted to be baptized. 07:27 Yeah, but the reason why they didn't come the Sabbath morning 07:30 was because in the sermon we had said that... 07:33 "You just don't do the things you do every day" 07:35 and they said, "Well, we drive every day, 07:37 so we shouldn't drive today to the meetings. " 07:39 So... so they didn't come... 07:42 but we explained to them that that was okay 07:44 and... and so they showed up the next Sabbath morning 07:48 and... and so you know when a young person gets involved 07:53 in Frontline Evangelism... soul-winning work... 07:56 and they see people at the door, they invite them to the meetings 08:00 and they see people coming to the meetings 08:02 and then they see them accept the truths 08:05 and they see the Holy Spirit working on their hearts 08:08 and they give their lives to the Lord, 08:10 and they're baptized... 08:11 it does something to that young person, 08:14 they know why they are Seventh-day Adventists. 08:17 They know that the work... the three angels' message 08:20 is not just for the preachers to give... 08:23 but it's for them to give 08:24 and when they see the lives being changed... 08:28 they know for themselves why God has entrusted this work to us. 08:33 That's right and these kids 08:36 are learning how to do evangelism 08:40 not only are they learning to knock on doors, 08:43 they're learning to how to give the presentations, 08:46 they're learning how to cook the food, 08:49 they're learning how to greet people, 08:52 it's all a part of the plan and do you recommend this? 08:57 Would you say to anybody that's young... 09:00 would you say, "Come and do this?" 09:02 Yes, definitely, it's just an amazing program, 09:04 and it's changed my life in so many ways, 09:07 I actually had a... 09:09 a quote that I'd like to read from Ellen White, 09:11 she says, "With such an army of workers as our youth, 09:15 rightly trained, mighty furnished, 09:18 how soon the message 09:20 of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour 09:23 might be carried to the whole world! 09:26 How soon might the end come, 09:28 the end of suffering and sorrow... " 09:30 and I believe that this Program has given me the tools 09:34 that now, I can go back into my own community 09:37 and be a missionary in my own community. 09:39 Amen... and you know what they find out too? 09:42 That the work of evangelism takes work. 09:45 These ten young people passed out 2,000 flyers in ten days. 09:50 and so, if you have a group of young people, 09:53 put them to work... they can do it. 09:55 Thank you so much, thank you 09:57 and to God be the glory, isn't that right? 09:59 Wasn't that exciting to hear these testimonies 10:02 from these young people in Colorado? 10:04 Okay, so those are two events that have already taken place 10:08 but they're going to continue at their churches with their people 10:13 so, that's exciting that it isn't going to stop. 10:15 Well, now I have some more people that are here with me 10:19 two ladies... 10:21 and when I read the story that Julie sent me, 10:25 it brought tears to my eyes, 10:27 my husband and I read this and it really and truly... 10:31 God was working before all the pieces of the puzzle 10:34 were put together. 10:36 Julie, tell us who you are... 10:37 tell us what the name of your Outreach is 10:40 and please tell us what's happening. 10:43 I'm Julie McPherson and this is Lara Albino, 10:47 I'm from the Yukon Territory and she's from Los Angeles. 10:52 I got to tell you how we got together, 10:54 but we have a baby ministry... you might want to call it 11:01 and it's just begun 11:03 but actually the Lord has had it in the works for quite a while 11:07 and I'm going to tell you that story 11:08 a few years ago, I had a burden put on my heart 11:12 and I believe by the Lord and that is... 11:14 since I lived way up north... 11:17 in northern Canada, 11:18 the whole top of northern Canada 11:22 is pretty much unreached territory. 11:25 As a matter of fact, in Yukon Territory, 11:27 of the First Nations people that live there, 11:30 there is not one Seventh-day Adventist First Nations person 11:34 in the Yukon 11:35 and that really touched my heart 11:39 like, why... why is there not that... 11:42 how come we're not reaching this people group? 11:44 All across the northern Canada, 11:46 there are little communities... 11:47 some of them you can reach by road 11:49 and some of them you cannot... 11:51 and somebody's got to reach them 11:52 and I know it's a foreboding mission field 11:56 and so, I began to pray about it 11:58 but it was very daunting. 12:00 I didn't know how in the world we were supposed to do this. 12:03 Anyway, I prayed and I started to raise money 12:07 and the Lord provided. 12:09 He started providing money 12:12 and about 20,000 dollars Canadian came in. 12:16 I was like, "Wow! praise the Lord, 12:18 He's really working. " 12:19 Then, I was like, "Okay, now, 12:20 let's go into the communities and start doing something. " 12:23 And so, I started going into the communities with some friends 12:25 and we couldn't make any headway. 12:27 I was with the North American Division 12:31 Native Ministries Leader and he said to me, 12:35 "I want you to know... because you are white, 12:38 they don't trust you 12:41 because so much abuse and so much damage has been done 12:46 through colonialism and all that kind of stuff 12:48 and it continues on today with the Government 12:50 and they don't trust you. " 12:52 And while that sits heavy on my heart, 12:56 I was like, "Lord, there's something you can do 12:59 to reach these people 13:01 even if it's not me, somebody can reach them 13:04 and let me be a tool in your hand to make this happen. " 13:07 And so, I began to pray for people with some color. 13:12 "Give me a team that has some color. " 13:16 Well, let me tell you something, 13:18 A year went by and nothing happened, 13:20 and I was becoming very discouraged 13:21 but the pastor called me up and he said, 13:25 "There's a group that's come up here Los Angeles... 13:28 they're... " 13:30 well, first let me tell you what the Lord had placed on my heart 13:34 He had placed on my heart that we should do mission work, 13:38 Vacation Bible Schools, Medical Missionary Work 13:42 starting in Kitwanga 13:44 and driving up the Stewart-Cassiar Highway 13:47 all the way up to Inuvik which is the end of the road 13:50 above the Arctic Circle... 13:52 bringing this kind of work 13:54 to all the native communities as we went. 13:56 Well, this group was coming up to our church 13:59 and he said, "Would you host them in your house?" 14:02 And I said, "Sure" and... and in the church 14:04 when they spoke on Sabbath, 14:08 I had no idea what they were going to say 14:11 and it was her mother who spoke and she said, 14:13 "The Lord has put it in our heart to go north 14:16 and He has inspired us that we should start a work 14:20 for the native people starting in Kitwanga 14:22 and going up the Steward-Cassiar Highway 14:25 with Vacation Bible School and Medical Missionary Work 14:30 and reaching the native communities 14:32 one by one all the way up to Inuvik. " 14:34 Audience: Amen. 14:35 That's right, hallelujah we've got 30 seconds left, 14:38 Lara, tell us what is going to happen in your life. 14:41 My life... 14:43 well... once this Convention is done, 14:47 we will be going to Inuvik, 14:50 we'll be driving starting in Kitwanga 14:52 and we're going to drive all the way until the road ends 14:56 and we will stop at the villages and ask to pray with them 15:00 and eat with them and sing with them 15:03 and just show these people the true love of God. 15:06 Amen... to God be the glory. 15:09 Please remember them in your prayers, thank you. 15:13 Music... 15:21 For 40 years, our countries lived under the Communist regime 15:25 it was a time in our history of religious oppression. 15:28 Communist ideology believes religion is opium of the people. 15:32 This led to deep distrust between people and churches. 15:35 The Czech Republic is even labeled 15:37 as one of the most Atheistic countries in the world. 15:40 Music... 15:42 Nevertheless, there are young people 15:44 from an initiative called Youth for Jesus 15:46 who dedicate a big part of their summer holidays 15:49 to evangelization. 15:51 They want to share their hope and faith in our Savior 15:54 on the streets of Czech and Slovak towns. 15:56 During Health Expo, 15:59 they try to raise public awareness 16:01 about healthy lifestyle. 16:02 They are pointing out the importance of spiritual health 16:06 and that the only way to truly have a full and healthy life 16:10 is through Jesus. 16:11 These young people experience everything together, 16:15 concerts, exhibitions, distributing literature 16:18 and evening Biblical lectures called: New Beginnings. 16:21 Youth for Jesus is also an integral part 16:24 of the long-term missionary project called, 16:27 "Touch the Heaven" 16:28 which is organized by the churches 16:30 of Seventh-day Adventist Church, 16:32 in Czech and Slovak Republic. 16:34 In the ten years, the Movement has been active 16:38 500 young people have taken part in Youth for Jesus. 16:42 1,500 people have attended the New Beginnings lectures, 16:46 10,000 citizens of Czech and Slovak Republic 16:50 went through our Health Expo 16:52 and we gave away 70,000 missionary books, 16:55 DVDs and magazines. 16:58 We visited 22 towns 17:00 including capital cities of Bratislava and Prague. 17:03 Music. 17:05 Please pray for us... we need your prayers of intercession. 17:09 Music... 17:12 One of the most important parts of ASI 17:15 is coming together to be inspired 17:17 and to encourage each other 17:20 to share Christ in our marketplace. 17:22 Isn't it inspiring to hear what these young people have done? 17:25 Now, I have with me my dear friend, Radim Passer 17:29 and Radim... he saw what ASI was doing here in the U S 17:34 and Radim, what did you do? 17:35 Good evening ASI, 17:37 I'd like to thank you and thank our heavenly Father 17:41 for Program... Youth for Jesus 17:44 which brings inspiration and blessings in many countries 17:48 including Czech and Slovak Republic. 17:52 I came first at ASI Convention in 2003 17:55 and in 2005 Convention, 17:57 we decided to adopt 17:59 this Youth for Jesus Program for our country 18:02 and I would like to thank my brother in Christ, Juraj, 18:06 who is fully committed 18:09 for this ministry in Czech and Slovak Republic. 18:12 Pause. 18:14 Thank you Radim, it's big privilege to be here 18:17 in 2008, I was in Tampa... part of Youth for Jesus Program 18:23 and it was very important experience 18:27 for starting Youth for Jesus Program 18:30 in Czech and Slovak Union. 18:32 Now, we would like to share... to share very short testimonies 18:39 about the impact, Daniel, you can continue please. 18:44 Hi, I am Daniel... it was during my Theology Studies 18:48 when I came for the first time to Youth for Jesus 18:51 and I got immediately excited 18:54 and during the years, I was coming again and again back 18:58 and in the end, I became one of the Leaders. 19:02 I had the privilege to serve people... 19:05 I could learn many things about mission, 19:09 about conducting evangelistic meetings 19:12 and, you know, leading young people to serve God 19:16 and other people in the community. 19:17 Now, as I serve as a Pastor, I have my own local churches, 19:22 I benefit from this experience and it helps me with my work, 19:28 with lay members and young people 19:30 and I'm glad that even those young people 19:33 benefit from their participating in the program 19:37 and even one of them is going to be baptized 19:40 in the end of this month 19:42 and I'm really glad for that and praise God. 19:44 Amen. 19:47 Hello, my name is Jakub. 19:48 God changed my life through Youth for Jesus. 19:52 When I came there for the first time, 19:54 I had a wrong view on God 19:56 so I told Him, "God, if you're real... 19:59 if you're interested in me, 20:00 I want to... I want to seek You, 20:04 so I spent a whole week by seeking God 20:08 and praying and reading Bible 20:11 and He showed me His plan with my life 20:14 and since then, Youth for Jesus has become... 20:18 every year part of my holiday 20:20 and every day God has become every day... part of my life. 20:25 Amen... 20:26 I'm Emanuel... 20:29 I was 15 when I attended 20:32 Youth for Jesus for the first time. 20:34 I was Christian but I didn't know how to live 20:38 in close relationship with Christ. 20:41 Youth for Jesus helped me help live spiritual life 20:46 and I decided to be baptized. 20:49 Then I started to present New Beginnings Presentation 20:55 in my home town. 20:56 My classmates accepted the invitation 20:59 and they could hear promise of God's kingdom. 21:03 I'm very thankful to God. 21:05 Amen. 21:07 Hello, I'm Patricia 21:10 and this year I invited my classmate 21:13 who is not an Adventist to our Youth for Jesus Program. 21:17 I prayed a lot for her to feel God's presence. 21:21 All the time she spent with us, 21:25 she was open to listen to Lord and to seek Him. 21:29 On her way home, she sent me the message, 21:33 "Thank you for the opportunity to get to know you 21:39 and your church better. 21:40 I want to start studying my Bible every day as you do. 21:45 You showed me the way 21:48 how to build my true relationship with Jesus. 21:51 Also, last year, I had my first presentation about Sabbath. 21:58 My grandma... who is not an Adventist 22:01 she was able to hear the message. 22:05 I'm excited and praise the Lord. " 22:08 Amen. 22:11 Hello, my name is Timotej and Youth for Jesus 22:14 started to be a part of my summer holiday in 2013 22:19 and I loved it 22:21 but I didn't understand how to live in harmony with God. 22:26 There was always a struggle between God's will in my life 22:31 and my own will. 22:32 Last summer, on Youth for Jesus, 22:35 through the four weeks that we are there, 22:38 me and my friend spent every morning and night 22:41 in prayer... studying the Bible... 22:44 and the Spirit of Prophecy. 22:46 Holy Spirit was working on us 22:48 and I'm glad that He didn't stop there 22:51 at the end of that intensive month. 22:54 Every day, He's showing me how to change my opinions 22:59 and shaping my perspective. 23:02 I'm very glad to be in His presence 23:06 and see that He's leading me to Christ's character. 23:09 One verse that stuck with me from that time 23:14 is written in Psalm 51, 23:16 "Create a clean heart in me, O God; 23:20 and renew a right spirit within me. " 23:24 Amen. 23:26 Good afternoon, ASI, 23:29 I'm Nik Janek. 23:30 I could experience so many amazing experiences 23:36 but most importantly God's presence 23:38 and what is more than God's presence, right? 23:41 But what I saw on Youth for Jesus, 23:45 young people who grow spiritually year after year. 23:51 There is growing up new generation... 23:54 young people who love mission 23:57 and understand the purpose of God's Remnant Church. 24:02 This project is as well fulfilling the great work 24:08 named Revival and Reformation 24:10 which is emphasized in Spirit of Prophecy books 24:15 as our greatest need, amen. 24:18 Amen. 24:19 Hello, my name is Therezie 24:22 and I attended my first Youth for Jesus when I was 25. 24:26 I have already been baptized for seven years 24:31 but that was a place where I have experienced 24:35 my true conversion. 24:37 I regret I didn't start attending this project before 24:42 because Youth for Jesus is my lifestyle now. 24:46 It's a privilege for me to be one of part of leaders 24:52 and serve God. 24:54 Amen. 24:56 Thank you ASI family for being... 24:59 helping this wonderful project 25:01 and changing the lives of these young people 25:04 and, you know, only until we get to heaven 25:07 will we see the real results of the efforts and the rewards 25:11 that we've seen of the work that's been done here. 25:13 Thank you very much. 25:15 Pause. 25:19 Piano... 25:24 more piano... 25:32 Crown Him with many crowns, 25:35 the Lamb upon His throne, 25:39 Hear! how the heavenly anthem drowns 25:44 all music but its own 25:48 Awake, my soul, and sing 25:52 of Him who died for thee, 25:56 and hail Him as thy matchless King 26:00 through all eternity. 26:08 Piano... 26:11 Crown Him the Lord of love! 26:15 behold His hands and side, 26:19 those wounds, yet visible above, 26:23 in beauty glorified; 26:27 No angel in the sky 26:31 Can fully bear that sight, 26:35 But downward bends His watchful eye 26:40 At mysteries so great. 26:45 Piano. 26:54 Crown Him the Lord of life; 26:57 The potentate of time, 27:02 Creator of the rolling spheres, 27:06 In effably sublime! 27:12 All hail, Redeemer, hail! 27:17 For Thou hast died for me; 27:22 Thy praise shall never, never fail 27:26 throughout eternity. 27:32 Thy praise shall never, never fail 27:35 throughout 27:41 eternity. 27:47 Audience: Amen. 27:51 I have the honor to introduce the Speaker for tonight, 27:55 Pastor Ivor Myers. 27:58 Hold on to your seat 28:00 and get ready to take an extreme ride through the Bible 28:04 capturing a fresh perspective on your identity in Jesus Christ 28:08 but first let me tell you a little bit about Pr. Ivor Myers. 28:13 In 1995, Ivor was part of a four-man Hip-Hop Group 28:19 signed to EMI Records. 28:21 In that same year, 28:22 he had an encounter with the Word of God. 28:25 He walked away from the Industry 28:28 and is now all in serving the Lord. 28:30 He currently is pastoring 28:33 the Campbell Seventh-day Adventist Church 28:35 in San Jose, California, 28:37 where he lives with his wife and four children. 28:40 As Speaker and Director of Power of the Lamb Ministries, 28:44 as well as ARME Bible Camp, 28:47 Pastor Ivor and his wife, Atonte, 28:49 have dedicated themselves to spreading 28:52 the three angels' messages 28:54 and I have to just say, 28:56 if you haven't been to an ARME Bible Camp, 28:58 you need to go. 29:00 Pastor Ivor and Atonte co-host the Three ABN Program, 29:05 Battles of Faith 29:07 and he also co-hosts the 3ABN Program, 29:10 Salvation in Symbols and Signs, 29:12 a 72-part study on the book of Revelation. 29:15 Pastor Myer seeks to uplift Christ 29:19 as the only hope of salvation 29:22 and to connect people with the power of the Lamb 29:25 to become new creatures in Christ. 29:27 You know, their ministry is having a profound effect 29:31 on many people around the world, including me 29:34 and so, in just a bit, 29:36 you will Jesus speak to your heart 29:38 through Pastor Ivor Myers. 29:40 Pause... 29:44 more pause... 29:53 Amazing love 29:59 how can it be? 30:05 That Thou, my God 30:13 should die for me? 30:20 And can it be that I should gain 30:28 An interest in the Savior's blood! 30:36 Died He for me? 30:41 who caused His pain! 30:44 For me? who him to death pursued? 30:53 Amazing love! How can it be 31:02 That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 31:10 Amazing love! 31:15 How can it be 31:19 that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? 31:29 No condemnation now I dread, 31:37 Jesus, and all in him, is mine; 31:46 alive in him, my living Head, 31:55 and clothed in righteousness divine, 32:04 bold I approach the eternal throne, 32:13 and claim the crown, through Christ my own. 32:22 Amazing love! How can it be 32:30 that thou, my God... 32:36 that thou, my God 32:40 that thou, my God, 32:46 shouldst die for me? 32:51 Amazing love! 32:58 How can it be 33:04 that thou, my God, 33:09 shouldst die 33:14 for me? 33:20 me... 33:25 Audience: Amen. 33:27 Pause... 33:34 Amen, Happy Sabbath everyone. 33:35 Audience: Happy Sabbath. 33:37 You don't sound happy... Happy Sabbath... 33:39 Audience loudly: Happy Sabbath. 33:40 Amen, all right. 33:42 I am excited, how about you? 33:44 Audience: Amen. 33:46 Huh, wow, I am excited, how about you? 33:48 Audience loudly: Amen. 33:50 Amen, let's pray because we have limited time, 33:52 we need to get right into the message 33:53 how many of you are ready to get into the Word of God tonight? 33:57 Audience: Amen. 33:58 "Heavenly Father, bless us... 34:00 this is our prayer in Jesus' name, amen. " 34:05 Audience: Amen. 34:06 Jesus is coming again. 34:09 Audience: Amen. 34:10 Amen. 34:12 Audience loudly: Amen. 34:13 Why did you laugh? 34:14 Pause... 34:19 Let's try that again, Jesus is coming again, amen! 34:23 Audience very loudly: Amen. 34:24 Why did you laugh? 34:25 Pause... 34:27 more pause... 34:30 You guys are looking confused, that's the title of the sermon. 34:33 Audience: Laughing. 34:34 Why did you laugh? 34:36 Have you ever laughed at the promises of God? 34:40 Pause... 34:41 Come, 34:43 turn with me if you will to the book of Genesis chapter 18, 34:46 Genesis chapter 18... 34:48 I'm going to give a little bit of background. 34:52 In Genesis chapter 18, 34:54 Abraham is about to be visited by God 34:56 and the Bible tells us that it was God and two angels 35:01 that come to Abraham 35:02 and he fixes them a meal and then they begin this discussion 35:06 and in verse 9, the Bible says, "And they said unto him, 35:09 that is Abraham... Abram... Where is Sarah they wife? 35:13 And he said, Behold, in the tent. 35:17 And He said, I will certainly return unto thee 35:19 according to the time of life; 35:21 and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. 35:23 And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 35:27 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; 35:31 and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 35:35 Therefore Sarah laughed out loud... " 35:40 Pause... 35:45 Did Sarah laugh out loud? 35:47 Audience: Hmmm... 35:48 No, no, no, no, no... "Sarah laughed within herself 35:51 saying, Am I... after I've waxed old 35:54 shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 35:57 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, 36:02 saying, I of a surety shall bear a child, which am old? 36:06 Is anything too hard for the Lord? 36:09 At the time appointed I will return unto thee, 36:12 according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 36:16 Then Sarah denied... " and looked at him crazy... 36:21 "saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid... " 36:27 because she was a good Seventh-day Adventist 36:32 pause... 36:33 "and He said, "Nay; but thou didst laugh. " 36:37 You see, we have Sarah here laughing at the promise of God 36:40 and some of you might be saying, 36:42 "Well, you know, that's Sarah... Sarah was Abraham's wife 36:46 but Abraham... you know... he was the father of faith. " 36:49 Amen... 36:51 except if you go one chapter back, 36:55 Chapter 17 verse 15, "God said unto Abraham, 36:59 As for Sarai thy wife, 37:01 thou shalt not call her name Sarai, 37:02 but Sarah shall her name be. 37:05 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: 37:08 yea, I will bless her, 37:09 and she shall be a mother of nations; 37:12 kings of people shall be of her. " 37:13 "Then Abraham... " the father of faith 37:14 fell on his face 37:17 and laughed... " 37:21 You see, you have to understand why Abraham laughed 37:25 because Abraham was 75 years old 37:27 when God first called him and gave him this promise 37:30 that... that... that he and Sarai were going to have a son 37:32 and I want you to imagine, 37:35 you know, Abraham hears this news 37:37 and he is excited... God's word has spoken... 37:40 "God said we're going to have a son" 37:42 and so, you know, eight months passed by 37:43 and guess what? 37:45 No son... 37:46 but you know, they're like, "Hey, not a problem, 37:49 God's word always comes to pass" amen. 37:52 Audience: Amen. 37:54 Another year passes... 37:55 "Hey, it may seem that God is not on time 38:00 but trust us, God is an on-time God" 38:03 somebody say, "Amen. " 38:04 Audience: Amen. 38:06 Four years passed... 38:07 Pause... 38:09 God's word will do what it says it will do, amen. 38:12 Audience: Amen... thank you. 38:14 Ten years passed... 38:16 15 years passed... 38:19 20 years passed... 38:22 25 years passed... 38:26 and no son... 38:28 Abraham and Sarah begin to doubt their name... 38:34 begin to doubt their identity. 38:37 That's Genesis chapter 18, 38:40 so... so let me give you the context of this laughter. 38:43 In order to do that, we're going to go back 38:45 to the very beginning of the book of Genesis 38:48 and we know that in Genesis chapter 1 through 5, 38:50 the Bible there summarizes the... the... the... the... 38:53 the story of sin... and how sin entered into planet earth. 38:57 That's Genesis chapter 1 to chapter 5 39:00 but then you have Genesis chapter 6 where... 39:04 where God speaks to a man by the name of Noah 39:08 and He says to Noah, 39:09 "Noah, I'm going to call you to preach 39:11 and you're going to preach... " for how long? 39:12 120 years so check this out... 39:16 the first time prophecy in the Old Testament 39:19 is the 120-year time prophecy, are you with me? 39:22 All right, watch this guys, in this time prophecy, 39:25 God says to Noah, "You're going to preach, 39:28 I'm going to give people a period of probation... 39:31 a period of mercy that's going to last a 120 years 39:34 if they do not accept the salvation 39:36 that is offered to them, 39:37 at the end of this period, they will be cut off. " 39:40 Pause. 39:43 You're not feeling me... 39:44 you see, what happened at the end of that 120 years 39:49 is that salvation came through a man 39:52 who was lifted up above the earth on wood. 39:56 I'm just going to wait... I'm just going to wait, 40:00 I'm just going to wait. 40:01 Audience: Amen... amen. 40:03 And those who rejected this man 40:05 who had been lifted up above the earth on wood... 40:08 they were cut off and God raised up a new people 40:10 that were to be fruitful and multiply... 40:13 hmmm... 40:15 yeah, that reminds me of the 70-week prophecy 40:17 in the New Testament how many of you... 40:18 does that remind you about? 40:20 Yeah, yeah, yeah, the 70-week prophecy 40:23 which pointed to... to Christ coming to this earth, 40:25 a period of mercy being given to God's people 40:28 in the Old Testament, 40:30 "Listen, a man is coming... 40:31 He is going to be lifted up on a cross above the earth... 40:34 He's going to be lifted up on wood 40:35 and those who reject Him, will be cut off 40:39 and I will raise up a new people whose job it will be 40:42 to be fruitful and multiply. 40:44 That... that's Genesis chapter 6 40:48 all the way through to chapter 10. 40:50 When we get to Genesis chapter 11, 40:52 we find something very interesting. 40:54 We find this... this... this... this story... 40:57 of a man by the name of Nimrod building this tower 41:00 and we call it the Tower of Babel 41:03 and this Tower of Babel was a symbol of rebellion 41:06 kind of reminds me of Babylon. 41:08 Yeah, yeah, yeah, 41:11 you know, that other prophecy in the book of Revelation 41:14 which speaks about this power called Babylon 41:16 during the Dark Ages 41:18 that sought to exalt itself against God. 41:21 That time prophecy was the 1,260-year prophecy. 41:27 Check this out guys, 41:29 Genesis chapters 6 through 10 reflects the 70-week prophecy. 41:32 Genesis chapter 11... we find this rebellion taking place 41:36 at a place called Babel. 41:37 Hold on... 41:39 At the end of Genesis chapter 11, 41:42 you have the story of Abraham being called 41:48 out of Ur of the Chaldees... 41:51 pause... 41:55 you have Abraham being called out of Babylon. 42:01 You guys... can you think of a time prophecy 42:06 in which God's people were called out of Babylon? 42:11 Yeah, yeah, come on... come on... come on... 42:13 the 2,300-Day prophecy... 1844... 42:17 did God raise up a people in 1844? 42:20 Yeah... did God call Abraham... 42:23 Did God say to Abraham, 42:25 "Abraham, you are going to produce a great multitude" 42:29 pause... 42:35 Beloved, check this out, 42:37 we are in the Bible... 42:39 pause... Audience: Amen. 42:41 You want to know why I'm excited? 42:44 Because our story is in the Bible. 42:47 Audience: Amen. 42:48 Who would have thought that Genesis chapter 1 42:51 all the way to... now, check this out... 42:53 wait, wait, wait... 42:54 that's Genesis chapter 12 where God calls Abraham 42:57 out of Ur of the Chaldees, 42:58 now, from Genesis chapter 12 all the way to chapter 17 43:02 or chapter 18... what you have happening 43:04 is... 43:07 pause... 43:09 Abraham is waiting 43:12 for the promised son. 43:15 No... no... no... let's re-phrase that... 43:17 Abraham is waiting for the coming of the promised son. 43:23 Audience: Amen... 43:25 pause... 43:28 he's waiting for the advent... 43:34 1844 God called this Movement into existence 43:38 and we were told that Jesus was coming again 43:42 and our response... "Amen... yes!" 43:45 Wooo...! 43:47 pause... 43:49 He didn't come... 43:50 1850... "Beloved you believe that Jesus is coming again?" 43:55 Amen... 43:57 a hearty Amen... 43:59 pause... 44:03 1880... "Jesus is coming again, amen" 44:06 Audience: Amen. 44:08 1920... "Jesus is coming again, amen. " 44:14 Audience: Amen. 44:15 Yeah, you hear us beginning to go down... 44:17 A... A... Amen... 44:20 1950... "Jesus is coming again, A... A... A... Amen" 44:25 pause... 44:28 1999... Y2K... 44:31 "Jesus is really coming again. " 44:34 Audience: Laughter. 44:36 Pause... 44:38 2010... 44:40 2015... 44:43 2018... 44:45 and many of us when we heard that... 44:48 tonight... "Jesus is coming again" 44:50 you know what we did? 44:52 We laughed... 44:54 pause... 44:56 "I've heard this before, Pastor" 44:57 "My... my parents thought Jesus was coming in their time 45:00 and their parents thought Jesus was coming in their time 45:03 we've heard this before... " 45:04 and so, what begins to happen is that... 45:06 our doubt begins to creep in... 45:07 we begin to doubt who we are, 45:09 we begin to doubt our mission and our identity... 45:13 don't laugh... 45:17 because Jesus is coming again. 45:21 Audience: Amen. 45:22 We have not believed cunningly devised fables. 45:26 Don't laugh... 45:28 you see, Beloved, 45:30 Satan wants to put doubt in your heart and in your mind 45:33 and have us to begin to doubt who we are 45:34 and to doubt our mission, 45:36 by-the-way, Abram's name was changed to Abraham 45:38 because his mission was in his name. 45:41 Pause... 45:42 God gave this church a name... 45:44 Seventh-day Adventist 45:46 and that name... it describes who we are as a people. 45:50 Audience: Amen. 45:52 It's our mission... it's our identity. 45:54 Pause. 45:57 So, I just gave you the context of Genesis chapter 18... 46:00 that laughter... we see... 46:01 we follow this pattern all the way from Genesis 1, 46:03 all the way into Genesis 18, 46:05 now, check this out, 46:06 remember, the last thing we read in Genesis 18 46:08 was God telling Abraham, "Listen, you will have a son... 46:12 the son will come... " 46:14 pause. 46:17 In the meantime, God rises, 46:20 and He's about to leave Abraham... 46:23 pause... 46:25 you know if I get excited all by myself for a second... 46:27 Audience: Laughter. 46:29 Because God is about to do something... 46:31 so Abraham rises with Him and the angels... 46:33 and God says, "Okay, I got to tell Abraham 46:35 because I'm about to do something" 46:37 so... so He says to Abraham... "Abraham listen, 46:39 I'm going down to Sodom and Gomorrah 46:42 to investigate... " 46:44 pause... 46:51 no... no... I learned something... 46:53 I learned that in Adventism, silence is the new excitement... 46:55 I learned that... 46:57 and it's taken me many years to get that 46:59 but I'm getting the hang of it 47:01 so I'm going to be silent with you just for a second. 47:02 Pause. 47:05 While Abraham is waiting for the promised son, 47:08 God says, "Now Abraham, 47:09 I want to work on your character 47:11 so I'm about to tell you something, 47:13 I am going down to investigate... 47:15 there is going to be an investigative judgment... 47:19 Abraham, I want to see how you respond... " 47:24 pause... 47:27 and Abraham begins to plead and intercede for... 47:31 listen to me... for the enemies of God. 47:34 Pause... 47:35 more pause. 47:39 You want character change... intercede for your enemies. 47:43 You see, Beloved, God's trying to tell us 47:45 while we are waiting for the second coming... 47:48 while we are waiting for the promised Son to come, 47:50 we ought to be doing something and that is... 47:53 we ought to be... we ought to be interceding 47:56 for those who are the enemies of God and our own enemies. 47:59 Pause. 48:01 Wow! wow... and Abraham is pleading and pleading 48:05 listen to me, God has given us the ministry 48:08 of reconciliation... 48:09 that's what we ought to be doing. 48:11 That's why He called us, 48:13 God wants us to reconcile the world to Himself. 48:17 Pause. 48:18 See, our problem in this church 48:20 is that we've been given the ministry of reconciliation 48:23 but we cannot even reconcile amongst ourselves. 48:26 So how are we going to reconcile the world with God 48:29 when we cannot even reconcile among ourselves? 48:32 Ministries jealous of Ministries... 48:34 pause... 48:38 Ministers jealous of Ministers... 48:40 pause... 48:42 Brother jealous of Brother... 48:44 listen to me... in the world... 48:45 in the world... 48:46 that term "Brother" 48:48 has a totally different meaning in the church. 48:49 In the world, you know, my... when I... 48:52 when I was in the world, 48:54 when you said "Brother" to someone, 48:55 it was like "Yo, Bro... Brother... Brother... " 48:57 Brother was like brother. 48:59 Pause. 49:00 In the Church, "Brother" means, "prepare for rebuke. " 49:03 "Brother... " 49:05 Audience: Laughing. 49:09 "Brother, may I have a word with you?" 49:10 Any time I hear "Brother" 49:11 I'm like, "Oh... what's that?" 49:13 that's a terrifying word in Adventism... 49:15 "Brother... " 49:16 It should not be like that. 49:18 "Brother" should actually mean brother 49:21 but it doesn't. 49:23 We pick at each other and... and we police each other... 49:26 and we... we're looking for how we can outdo one another 49:30 and Beloved, God cannot trust us 49:32 with the ministry of reconciliation 49:35 when we can't even do it in-house. 49:37 You see, Beloved, God follows His own advice. 49:41 God tells in Matthew 18, if you have ought with someone, 49:45 what do you do? 49:46 You go to them yourself 49:48 and if they won't hear you, you send two witnesses 49:49 and if they won't hear them, 49:51 you bring them before the church amen. 49:52 So let me ask you a question, 49:54 did Jesus have ought with this world? 49:56 Yes, He did and guess what He did? 49:59 He came to this world Himself. 50:01 Pause. 50:03 "Ah, Humanity, I have an issue with you, 50:05 you sinned... " 50:06 pause... 50:09 "can we ah... can we be reconciled?" 50:11 Humanity said, "No, 50:14 we're going to put you on a cross" 50:16 that's the 70-week prophecy, you know that right? 50:19 That's a... that's pointing to Jesus' coming 50:22 the 70-week prophecy... 50:23 so they rejected Jesus... so what does Jesus do? 50:25 He follows His own advice, 50:27 "If they reject me, I'm going to send two witnesses" 50:30 pause... 50:35 "yeah, yeah, two witnesses, Old and New Testament... 50:39 1,260 years. 50:42 Revelation 11... 50:44 how do they treat the two witnesses? 50:46 They killed them. 50:49 So if they don't hear the two witnesses, 50:51 the last chance for reconciliation... 50:53 is you bring it before the church. 50:56 Pause... 50:58 That final prophecy, Beloved, 1844... 51:02 the 2,300-Day Prophecy is God raising up a church 51:06 with the ministry of reconciliation in mind 51:09 because He wants to win the world back to Himself 51:14 and listen to me, Beloved, you owe this to Jesus, 51:19 did you hear me? 51:21 You all didn't hear me... 51:22 how many of you gave your life to Christ? 51:24 You gave your life to Christ, amen, 51:27 all right, so you know what happens? 51:29 You owe Jesus a testimony... 51:31 you owe Him your life, 51:34 listen, let me make it plain, 51:36 you see, what happened in 1844 is... is... 51:41 in 1844... God launched a special council 51:46 pause... 51:48 He launched a probe... 51:50 because He was trying to... to... to... 51:53 the judgment was about determining 51:56 who is guilty of colluding with a foreign power. 52:06 Pause... 52:12 oh... yeah... 52:14 think with me guys, think with me... 52:15 come on Man, keep your mind spiritual right now, 52:17 please... 52:19 Audience: Laughter. Pastor: Please... 52:21 don't come up to me afterwards... 52:23 let's be spiritual right now, okay. 52:25 The Investigative Judgment is... 52:28 is a probe by a special council in heaven 52:31 and what that special council is trying to... to... 52:33 is looking at is, 52:35 "Who is guilty of colluding with a foreign power. " 52:39 Pause... 52:43 You see Beloved, that foreign power 52:45 is none other than Satan and his kingdom 52:48 and here's what God finds, 52:51 the Bible says, 52:52 "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God 52:56 meaning, all of us were guilty of collusion... 53:00 every last one of us 53:04 but guess what? 53:06 There is good news because God offers a plea deal. 53:11 Audience: Amen. 53:14 God offers a plea deal and it's a sweet deal 53:18 because that deal is, "If you confess your sins... 53:22 He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins 53:26 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 53:28 and guess what? We don't have to serve any time. 53:31 Pause... 53:33 It's a sweet deal... 53:35 you remember that guy named David in the Bible 53:37 who colluded with the devil 53:40 when he had Uriah killed... you remember that story? 53:43 and... and the Bible says that... 53:45 that he was found out and... and he repented, amen 53:49 and when he repented, 53:52 the prophet Nathan comes and he says, 53:53 "Listen, you've repented, you will live... 53:55 but the child you have is going to die. " 53:57 What a messed up story 54:00 until we discover that the child that died... 54:04 even though he doesn't have a name... 54:05 he was a male child... 54:07 meaning, he was the son of David. 54:09 Pause. 54:11 Yeah... no... no... no... no... 54:13 the son of David having done no wrong... 54:16 you're not feeling me... 54:18 having done no wrong 54:21 dies that someone else might live. 54:23 Beloved, that's the plea deal, so when you accept Christ, 54:29 guess what? 54:30 It's a sign that Jesus has flipped you... 54:33 pause... 54:39 and when He flips you, you become His witnesses 54:43 pause... 54:47 and as His witnesses, you owe it to Him to testify... 54:54 are you catching me? 54:57 God desires us to testify 55:00 and to testify means that we are demonstrating before the world 55:04 the goodness of God 55:05 and what He has done in our lives 55:07 pause... 55:09 because we now believe and know 55:11 that Jesus is coming again. 55:13 We understand the purpose of our name, 55:14 Seventh-day Adventists. 55:17 We believe that Jesus is coming again 55:20 and here's the problem, Beloved, 55:22 many of us have taken that name for granted. 55:25 You see, many of us don't know what it means 55:28 to be a Seventh-day Adventist. 55:30 What does it mean to be a Seventh-day Adventist? 55:32 You believe in the Sabbath... 55:33 you believe in the second coming 55:35 and you believe in the Sanctuary... amen. 55:37 Check this out, I have a little time left, 55:40 I'm going to cover these three 55:41 and then we're going to close this up, listen guys, 55:42 what does it mean to be a Seventh-day Adventist? 55:44 Pause... 55:46 To be a Seventh-day Adventist means you believe in the Sabbath 55:48 amen. 55:50 You're like, "Pastor, we got that 55:51 move on to the next one... " 55:53 hold on... 55:54 you see, the Sabbath is a celebration 55:56 of God's creative power, right? 55:58 How God created the earth, amen. 56:00 The problem is, many of us stop right there. 56:03 We don't realize that the Sabbath... 56:05 the celebration of the Sabbath 56:07 is more than about the creation of the world. 56:10 You see Beloved, when you come to Christ, 56:12 He makes you a new creation. 56:14 You started out in darkness 56:16 and then God said, "Let there be light. " 56:18 And then, you were baptized in the waters 56:21 and then you brought forth new fruit 56:23 and then He brought to you the greater light 56:25 and the lesser light 56:27 and then He made you a fisher of men 56:28 and then He re-created you in His image. 56:31 The Sabbath is a celebration of a changed life in you. 56:35 So, if all we're celebrating is God creating the world 56:40 6,000 years ago, 56:42 we have missed the purpose of the Sabbath. 56:44 Pause... 56:46 You all didn't catch that... 56:48 if you have not been re-created... 56:50 pause... 56:53 the creative power of God is not working in your life, 56:57 you don't fully understand what it means 57:02 to be a Seventh-day Adventist. |
Revised 2019-02-06