Participants:
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP200321S
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00:12 Hi and welcome to this church's online gathering,
00:14 hosted by Pioneer Memorial Church. 00:17 I want to start off by welcoming all those 00:19 in our local congregation 00:20 gathered in hundreds of locations 00:23 all across our area. 00:25 But I'm also really excited to welcome 00:26 all those gathered across the nation 00:28 and even across the globe 00:30 in thousands of different locations. 00:33 You know, last week, we did something 00:35 that we've actually never done before. 00:37 We normally live-stream our 11:45am service, 00:41 the service that you're watching right now. 00:42 We do that normally. 00:44 But then all of a sudden, 00:45 as a result of this coronavirus pandemic 00:48 not being able to meet together as a church, 00:50 we thought to ourselves this. 00:52 What if instead of slowing down and retreating, 00:57 what if in fact, 00:58 if we stepped forward and advanced 01:01 and did something that we've never done before? 01:03 So that's exactly what we did starting last week. 01:05 And if you're joining us for the first time, 01:07 I'm really happy to let you know 01:08 that we actually have 01:10 three live-streamed experiences happening. 01:12 The first one is our 9am Worship Service, 01:15 which is a little more traditional in nature. 01:17 It's organ-led here by Dr. Logan. 01:19 And we already had that this morning. 01:21 We also have, at 10:30 in the morning, 01:23 a Sabbath School Program. 01:25 That's also live stream. 01:27 But I want to let you know about something 01:28 that I'm really, really excited about. 01:30 If you go to PMChurch.org 01:31 and click on Sabbath School Resources, 01:34 you will see age appropriate Sabbath School content, 01:37 literally for every single age group 01:39 that we have, 01:41 all the way from kindergarten to adults. 01:43 And this was put together, they did a great job, 01:45 by Pastor Ben, Pastor Lindsey, our media team. 01:49 They did a really incredible job 01:50 at putting that together. 01:52 And finally, today, we're experiencing 01:54 our second service here at 11:45am, blended service, 01:58 and led out by our young adults. 02:00 So I simply say praise God, 02:03 by the power of technology 02:04 and what we're able to do here together. 02:06 Our call to worship this morning 02:08 is from Psalm Chapter 34. 02:10 It says, "I will bless the Lord at all times. 02:14 "His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 02:18 "My soul shall make its boast in the Lord. 02:20 "The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 02:22 "Oh, magnify the Lord with me, 02:24 "and let us exalt His name together." 02:31 Let's pray together. 02:33 Holy Father in the midst of our coronavirus pandemic, 02:37 we pray the prayer of the Prophet Habakkuk. 02:40 Though the fig tree does not blossom 02:43 and no grapes be on the vines, 02:46 though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, 02:50 though there are no sheep in the pan 02:52 and no cattle in the stalls, 02:54 yet will I rejoice in the Lord, 02:57 I will be joyful in God my Savior. 03:02 How can he do that? 03:04 Praise in the midst of adversity, 03:06 joy in the middle of fear. 03:08 Oh, Christ, what he had, we seek. 03:13 And so gathered in households across this land, 03:15 we urge you to come into our space, 03:18 inhabit our hearts, our homes right now. 03:21 For the joy of the Lord is our strength 03:24 and we will praise You no matter what. 03:27 Through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen. 03:51 Strength will rise As we wait upon the Lord 03:54 We will wait upon the Lord, We will wait upon the Lord 03:59 Strength will rise As we wait upon the Lord 04:01 We will wait upon the Lord, We will wait upon the Lord 04:05 Our God, You reign forever 04:12 Our hope, Our Strong Deliverer 04:20 You are the everlasting God 04:24 The everlasting God 04:28 You do not faint You won't grow weary 04:35 You're the defender of the weak 04:40 You comfort those in need 04:44 You lift us up on the wings Like eagles 05:05 Strength will rise As we wait upon the Lord 05:08 We will wait upon the Lord, We will wait upon the Lord 05:13 Strength will rise As we wait upon the Lord 05:16 We will wait upon the Lord, We will wait upon the Lord 05:19 Our God, You reign forever 05:26 Our hope, Our strong Deliverer 05:34 You are the everlasting God 05:38 The everlasting God 05:42 You do not faint You won't grow weary 05:49 You're the defender of the weak 05:54 You comfort those in need 05:57 You lift us up on the wings Like eagles 06:04 You are the everlasting God 06:09 The everlasting God 06:12 You do not faint You won't grow weary 06:19 You're the defender of the weak 06:24 You comfort those in need 06:28 You lift us up on wings Like eagles 06:56 I must tell Jesus 07:00 All of my trials 07:04 I cannot bear 07:06 These burdens alone 07:11 In my distress 07:14 He kindly will help me 07:19 He ever loves 07:21 And cares for His own 07:26 I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! 07:34 I cannot bear 07:36 My burdens alone 07:41 I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! 07:48 Jesus can help me, 07:52 Jesus alone 07:56 I must tell Jesus 08:00 All of my troubles 08:03 He is a kind, 08:06 Compassionate Friend 08:11 If I but ask Him 08:14 He will deliver 08:18 Make of my troubles 08:22 Quickly an end 08:26 I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! 08:33 I cannot bear 08:35 My burdens alone 08:40 I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! 08:47 Jesus can help me, 08:51 Jesus alone 08:55 Oh, how the world 08:58 To evil allures me! 09:02 Oh, how my heart 09:05 Is tempted to sin! 09:10 I must tell Jesus, 09:13 And He will help me 09:17 Over the world 09:19 The vict'ry to win 09:24 I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! 09:32 I cannot bear 09:34 My burdens alone 09:39 I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! 09:46 Jesus can help me, 09:50 Jesus alone 09:54 I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! 10:01 I cannot bear 10:03 My burdens alone 10:08 I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! 10:15 Jesus can help me, Jesus can help me 10:23 Jesus can help me, 10:27 Jesus alone 11:12 Hide me now 11:18 Under your wings 11:26 Cover me 11:32 Within your mighty hand 11:38 When then oceans rise And thunders roar 11:45 I will soar with You Above the storm 11:52 Father, You are King Over the flood 11:59 I will be still 12:02 And know You are God 12:08 Find rest my soul 12:14 In Christ alone 12:21 Know his power 12:28 In quietness and trust 12:33 When the oceans rise And thunders roar 12:40 I will soar with You Above the storm 12:47 Father, You are King Over the flood 12:53 I will be still And know You are God 13:00 When the oceans rise And thunders roar 13:07 I will soar with You Above the storm 13:14 Father, You are King 13:17 Over the flood 13:21 I will be still And know You are God 13:28 I will be still 13:30 And know You are God 14:04 The Lord 14:08 Is my Shepherd, 14:13 I shall not want 14:30 He maketh me To lie down in green pastures. 14:41 He leadeth me 14:44 Beside the still waters 14:51 He restoreth my soul 14:57 He leadeth me In the paths of righteousness 15:03 For His name's sake 15:20 Though I walk Through the valley 15:25 Of the shadow of death 15:34 I will fear no evil 15:38 For Thou art with me 15:43 Thy rod and Thy staff 15:48 They comfort me. 16:00 Thou preparest a table Before me 16:07 In the presence of my enemies 16:14 Thou anointest my head with oil 16:20 My cup runeth over 16:27 Surely goodness and mercy 16:31 Shall follow me 16:36 All the days of my life 16:44 And I will dwell 16:51 In the house of the Lord 17:02 Forever 17:10 And ever 17:19 And evermore 17:40 Thank you, William. Kenneth. 17:44 One of the great, great pieces of literature 17:47 in history of humanity. 17:50 And by the way, it's a powerful prayer to pray. 17:52 You can just incorporate that song. 17:54 Maybe your mother taught you 17:56 how to repeat it in the King James Version, 17:58 doesn't matter. 17:59 You just incorporate that psalm and turn it into a prayer. 18:03 You know that line, 18:04 "I will fear no evil for Thou art with me." 18:07 Hallelujah. 18:09 This is a time of spreading fear. 18:13 But there's the assurance, 18:14 I will fear no evil because You are with me. 18:19 Let's talk to Him 18:21 and then plunge into the Word together. 18:22 He has a Word for us today, I do believe. 18:25 Oh, God. 18:26 Thank you for David, 18:29 the shepherd who composed that beautiful, beautiful song. 18:35 And that line, we'll not forget it, Father. 18:38 We'll tuck it in our hearts. 18:39 I will fear no evil for Thou art with me. 18:41 No matter what lies ahead, 18:43 we go with You and You go with us. 18:46 Stay with us right now as we plunge into your Word, 18:50 in the Word of Christ, we pray in his name, Amen. 18:55 I guess I shouldn't have been surprised 18:57 with the people coming up to me. 19:01 Not just the question 19:02 but the people asking the question. 19:05 Apparently, we're all doing a lot of deep thinking now. 19:08 And the question was not always phrased this way, 19:10 in fact, I don't think it was ever phrased this way. 19:12 But I can take all the questions 19:13 and condense them to this single line. 19:19 Can you get there from here? 19:25 And I know immediately what they're talking about. 19:27 They're talking about, you know what, I grew in it. 19:29 I grew up in a church 19:30 where the Bible teaching of Jesus 19:32 soon Second Coming was a big deal. 19:35 And I got to wonder right now, 19:38 "Hey, preacher, what do you think?" 19:41 Is there a clear shot here? 19:43 Can we get there from here? 19:48 The here that we're surviving together today 19:51 in households around the world, is this... 19:54 Of course coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic. 19:58 Let's be real. Let's be honest. 20:00 You know what this pandemic has done? 20:02 It has shot an arrow of icy fear 20:05 to the heart of culture, to the heart of society, 20:09 to the heart of sports, to the heart of this nation, 20:13 to the heart of the planet, to the heart of the church, 20:17 to the place now we're watching the Dow Jones average, 20:21 we're watching the S&P, we're watching the NASDAQ. 20:23 We're watching these equity markets 20:25 plummeting, 20:26 while everybody stands helplessly by. 20:31 Wow. 20:33 It's enough to take your breath away, 20:34 I'll tell you, 20:36 and probably enough to take your retirement away too, 20:38 come to think of it. 20:40 This is a strange time, folks. 20:43 We've even become... Have you noticed this? 20:45 We've become afraid of each other. 20:46 Three feet... Oh, oh, now it's six feet. 20:49 And you notice, we're fairly trying to model that to you. 20:54 We're afraid. 20:56 It's not so much about being six feet apart, 20:58 but we're worried about being six feet under. 21:02 "Will I contract this coronavirus? 21:05 Am I gonna die from it? 21:06 And what about her? She looks a little ill today. 21:09 Look at him, look at his eyes, oh, does he have it?" 21:12 We're all asking these questions. 21:14 We've kind of gone crazy with this fear thing. 21:18 And what about my children? That's a very good question. 21:20 What about my aged grandparents? 21:22 And what about my fellow employees? 21:24 And what about my roommate? What about the neighbors? 21:29 And so we've moved into this 21:31 very necessary social isolation. 21:34 But in the isolation that leaves us alone 21:37 and then we wonder what's happening next. 21:39 Can you get there from here, could it be? 21:44 Four months ago, you think about it, 21:47 you could have predicted this and there would not be a soul 21:50 today that would have believed you. 21:52 "Are you serious?" 21:55 Two thousand years ago Jesus predicted it 21:58 and we better believe it. 22:00 Welcome to the world of 2020. 22:04 Open your Bible with me to a line, 22:06 a red letter line, Jesus spoke. 22:08 The Gospel of Luke, you find your Bible. 22:12 You can use a device you're looking on now, 22:14 maybe, but grab a Bible near you. 22:16 And if you need a device, pull it out. 22:18 Luke Chapter 21, the words of Jesus. 22:19 Let Him speak. 22:21 Let's let Him speak to our fearful hearts. 22:22 Luke Chapter 21, 22:24 I'm in the New International Version. 22:26 Whatever Bible you have, 22:27 just keep near that book for the rest of the journey. 22:30 That's the deal. 22:31 All right, Jesus speaking, verse 25. 22:34 This is Luke 21. This is Tuesday. 22:35 He'll be dead on Friday, okay? So this is the time context. 22:39 Verse 25, and, "There will be signs..." 22:42 This is a chapter called the little apocalypse. 22:44 He's giving us the indicators when He will come. 22:47 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. 22:50 On the earth, nations will be in anguish 22:53 and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea." 22:56 Here comes verse 26, "People will faint from terror, 23:01 apprehensive of what is coming on the world 23:03 for the heavenly bodies will be shaken." 23:07 What you just read is pandemic fear. 23:11 And if we're not careful, the fear 23:13 will become the pandemic and not the virus. 23:16 And Jesus is warning about that. 23:18 The psyche of the human race, 23:19 just before I come, endemic fear. 23:23 Oh, wow! 23:24 I mean, you look at all those mental health descriptors 23:26 that we just read, anguish, perplexity, 23:28 fainting from terror, apprehensive. 23:30 Snapchat just announced Thursday, this week, 23:35 that it's adapting its app 23:37 so that now you can go to Snapchat 23:40 and there will be protocol 23:43 to deal with your mental health crisis. 23:47 America is experiencing a mental health crisis. 23:50 It's called fear, pandemic. 23:55 Like I say, welcome to 2020. 23:57 I got a text from a friend of mine, this week. 24:00 I'll read it to you. 24:01 "My pastor, there isn't an answer for this, 24:04 but just need a space to share my own thoughts. 24:07 I'm just struggling to wrap my mind 24:08 around this thing. 24:10 Is this what pestilence looks like?" 24:12 Pause button right there. 24:13 Pestilence, what are you talking about? 24:15 I'll show you what he's talking about. 24:16 It's in the same chapter. 24:18 So here we were in verse 26, 24:19 but just go back to verse 11. 24:21 We'll pick it up in verse 10. 24:22 "Then Jesus said to His disciples," okay, 24:25 "Nation will rise against nation 24:27 and kingdom against kingdom." 24:28 We know that one. 24:29 Verse 11, 24:31 "There will be great earthquakes," 24:32 Those of you on the West Coast know that one. 24:34 "Famines and pestilences in various places, 24:37 and fearful events and great signs from heaven." 24:39 Wait a minute, wait a minute, what was that word? 24:40 That word was pestilence. You just read it. 24:42 Does pestilence include coronavirus COVID-19? 24:47 Well, why wouldn't it include coronavirus? 24:49 I mean, we've had pestilences before. 24:51 We've had swine flu, we've had H1N1, we've had SARS, 24:56 the severe acute respiratory syndrome. 24:59 We have MRSA, 25:01 which is a highly resistant strain of bacterial infection. 25:03 Don't worry, that sign was not misplaced. 25:08 Now my friend goes on in his text. 25:11 So he asked the question, 25:12 "Is this what pestilence looks like?" 25:15 Then he writes, 25:16 "Then another financial breakdown. 25:19 All that's missing is a natural disaster 25:21 and a big war." 25:22 And has an emoji, kind of scrunched face. 25:25 "I'm not even 40," he writes, 25:28 "and I've experienced in my adult life terrorism, 25:31 two massive financial collapses, 25:33 two recessions and one on the way, 25:36 and hosted record breaking natural disasters. 25:38 What in the world?" 25:41 Good question. 25:42 What in the world is going on? 25:46 Put it on the screen again for us. 25:48 "People will faint from terror." 25:50 Like the old King James reads, 25:51 "Men's hearts failing them for fear, 25:54 apprehensive of what is coming on the world." 25:57 Because nobody knows what's next. 26:01 You'd be a billionaire if you knew. 26:05 But Jesus knew. 26:08 And by the way, it's that unknown. 26:11 You know what human fear is always caused by, always? 26:14 It's fear of the unknown. 26:17 We're living with it now. 26:19 So here's the question. 26:20 Could this be a dress rehearsal for the big one? 26:25 Maybe this is us rehearsing? 26:29 Some of you live on the side of this country 26:31 where the big one is known and talked about. 26:34 Is this a dress rehearsal? 26:36 Let me rephrase the question. 26:38 Could this be the big one? 26:44 That's a sobering thought. 26:50 Before answering that that I'm gonna attempt to, 26:54 we need to talk about this social isolation mandate. 26:59 This concept of social distancing 27:00 is not just about three feet and six feet. 27:02 Let's just get this clear. 27:03 Let me join on the big bandwagon. 27:05 There has been roar and bias these last few days. 27:08 This is about taking seriously isolating ourselves 27:11 from potential carriers 27:13 and spreaders of the coronavirus. 27:15 That's what it's about. 27:17 You may have it, I may have it. 27:19 I don't want it from you and you don't want it from me. 27:21 That's why we're doing this. 27:23 Now Pastor Rodney shared this with me, this week. 27:28 It's a piece written by a computer specialist 27:31 who describes in the light of the pandemic 27:33 we're going on right now. 27:35 He describes the phenomenon of geometric progression. 27:38 Viruses multiply, you know this, 27:40 by geometric progression, 27:42 1 becomes 2, 2 becomes 4, 27:43 4 becomes 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 27:49 and on and on and on. 27:51 Viruses go viral. That's what the word means. 27:55 Viral, it just goes viral. 27:59 I want you to read this piece. 28:00 I'm not gonna summarize it for you. 28:02 I don't have the time. 28:03 I want you to read it. 28:05 I'm gonna put my Twitter address 28:06 on the screen right now. 28:08 All right, you see it there, @DwightKNelson. 28:10 That'll take you to my homepage. 28:14 You go down for tweets, 28:15 just between services countdown. 28:17 You go down four tweets, down is a retweet. 28:22 And you're looking for this title, 28:24 the sober math 28:25 everyone must understand about the pandemic. 28:28 I sent that to everyone that comes to... 28:32 They use the word follower, 28:34 and I really don't like that word, 28:35 but that's what it is. 28:36 I sent it to Karen. 28:38 I sent it to my kids, their spouses. 28:39 I'm giving it to you right now, @DwightKNelson, Twitter. 28:43 Don't look up... Don't look it up now. 28:46 But what's the point? 28:47 This seemingly... 28:49 Listen, listen, 28:50 this seemingly slow meandering coronavirus COVID-19 thing 28:55 in 30 days could overwhelm this nation 28:58 and the healthcare system in America, 29:01 30 days if we do not practice social distancing 29:08 and friendly isolation. 29:10 And by the way, governors are now stepping in saying 29:13 we're gonna mandate that isolation. 29:17 And the rumors are rampant. 29:18 I got texts yesterday from people saying, 29:20 "Hey, it's coming nationally." How do I know? 29:24 But let's not have... We don't have... 29:26 We don't need to have the government 29:28 tell us to isolate. 29:29 We're trying to protect each other. 29:32 Listen, you're not alone. 29:34 You got your phone, you got the internet, 29:36 you have FaceTime, Skype. 29:39 You can be in electronic touch with anybody on this planet. 29:42 But do you know what I'm concerned about? 29:44 I'm concerned about the people that don't have that, 29:46 they don't use that. 29:48 And it's gonna start feeling awfully lonely for them. 29:52 That's why I'm very pleased 29:56 that our board of elders this week launched a strategy 29:59 to be in touch with the most vulnerable members 30:01 of our pairs, 30:02 and we've printed their names off. 30:04 Too late, we know your age, 30:06 where there are the people in the 70s, 30:08 people in the 80s, people in the 90s, 30:09 and we have people in the 100s. 30:11 Those are the most vulnerable, 30:12 not because they did something wrong, 30:13 which is because that's the way this virus works. 30:17 Although, come on, some of you are very young. 30:19 Young adults watching right now you said, 30:21 "Hey, not me." 30:22 Ooh, you're not watching the news. 30:24 They're coming in now at all ages, 30:26 so let's not do this little "it's not me" thing. 30:30 Anyway, the elders are going to be calling you up. 30:32 If you're in that category, 30:33 they're gonna be calling you up. 30:34 They're gonna be saying, "How you doing? 30:36 I just wanted to let you know we're thinking about you. 30:37 We haven't forgotten you. The church is empty. 30:39 We miss you. We hope you miss us." 30:42 And about 420 some names that we have isolated 30:45 and they're gonna be divvied up, 30:47 and they're gonna pray with you, 30:48 and they're gonna assure you that Jesus is with you. 30:50 You're not going through this thing alone. 30:51 No, you're not. 30:54 In fact, we have a group now working on this strategy. 30:57 Oh, I thought this was good. 30:59 They're gonna do the grocery shopping for you. 31:01 That's the deal. 31:02 They're not gonna buy it for you. 31:04 You have to give them a check 31:05 because you're that generation that still knows 31:07 how to write a check. 31:09 But they'll go to the store, 31:10 they'll keep you out of circulation. 31:12 You don't want to be bumping into people 31:13 that may be carriers. 31:17 And they'll arrange a way for you to make that payment. 31:19 And by the way, let me tell you, 31:20 you go to our website, it says COVID-19. 31:23 There's big gold bar at the top, click on that, 31:26 drop down to the latest e-letter. 31:28 Go to the bottom of the letter, you can sign up. 31:30 And I'm talking to the rest of you, 31:31 not in that vulnerable category. 31:33 You can sign up to actually help people, 31:35 "Hey, I'd be willing to go." 31:36 I had a guy, one of our media team, 31:37 tell me in between services, "I want to do that. 31:39 Okay, we'll go to that place." 31:40 COVID virus, go, drop down COVID-19, 31:44 drop down to e-letter and you just give your name. 31:47 "I'd be happy to help." We can help. 31:49 We don't want you to be alone. 31:50 Late last night I got a text from my friend, 31:53 Dominique. 31:55 She runs the health and wellness center, 31:56 the Andrea Sun center here on campus. 31:59 She said, "Dwight, I need you to know, 32:01 I formed a little group called SOZO, S-O-Z-O." 32:04 And in the Greek it means to save. 32:06 SOZO crew. We're gonna be the saving crew. 32:09 And I'm enlisting people to join it. 32:11 You got to go to the Facebook, to the group page. 32:13 SOZO crew, just write that down 'cause it's not on the screen. 32:16 SOZO crew, and you go there and you can join. 32:19 She's doing the same thing. 32:21 We're gonna marshal everybody 32:22 to look out for those that need special attention. 32:24 The deal is we're gonna make it, 32:27 we're going to make it together. 32:28 God is with us. 32:30 Listen, let's just be clear about that. 32:32 But we are going to need to strictly adhere 32:36 to the radical social distancing 32:38 our medical and health officials are recommending. 32:41 I'm watching Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation this week. 32:45 And she has... 32:46 He has kind of become a rock star now. 32:48 He's a short, little doctor named Dr. Fauci. 32:51 And he always stands to the right of the President. 32:54 And he was speaking to the mics. 32:57 So she's talking to him, she said, "Dr. Fauci, 32:59 would you get on a plane now 33:00 and fly just domestically we're talking about?" 33:02 And you know what he said? 33:03 "No, I wouldn't get on a plane now. 33:05 I have no control over what I'm breathing." 33:07 "Well, would you take your wife out to a restaurant, 33:09 have a little meal together?" 33:11 He said, "No, I can't control who's in that space." 33:14 Listen, if the medical authorities 33:16 are telling us radical isolation, 33:18 we got to believe it. 33:20 You're doing the right thing. 33:22 Don't capitulate? 33:24 We'll get an all clear one of these days. 33:26 We're praying. 33:30 Keeping yourself out of circulation 33:31 from those who might be contaminated 33:33 is the critical game plan. 33:35 But clearly, this is no game. 33:40 What if it's not a rehearsal? 33:43 What if it's the big one? 33:46 Getting back to that question, 33:47 it's going to be in multiple forms. 33:48 And we're asking it this way. 33:50 Regarding the Second Coming, can you get there from here? 33:54 Can you get there from here? 33:56 Now I'm gonna talk real heart to heart with you. 34:00 There's no study guide here. 34:03 But I want you to think with me. 34:05 In fact, I'm gonna put a timestamp 34:07 on this moment right now. 34:09 It's March 21, 2020. 34:13 I know nothing beyond March 21, 2020. 34:17 I know this behind today. 34:21 But based on where we are on this day, 34:25 I've been brooding. 34:26 I've been praying. 34:28 And in my mind, 34:29 there's begun to develop a checklist. 34:32 I jumped up from prayer and I scribbled a few down, 34:35 so I'm gonna pass it for what it's worth, all right? 34:38 Who am I? 34:39 I'm not a prophet or the son of a prophet, 34:41 but I watched the times as you do. 34:43 Okay, so let me run these by you. 34:46 Number one, for the first time in my life, 34:48 the nations of Earth are united at one common 34:50 and desperate effort to eradicate a crisis. 34:52 True or false? You tell me. 34:54 It's true. Check. 34:55 Number two, nations here to for enemies or antagonists 34:58 are now united at around a common agenda, 35:00 a common threat, check. 35:03 Number three, mutual suffering 35:04 is united very strange bedfellows, 35:07 like the United States and Iran. 35:09 Who would have thought this four months ago? 35:12 Number four, in a matter of days, 35:17 in 200 plus languages, 35:20 peoples were united to join forces 35:23 in the elimination of a common foe 35:26 and a perceived danger. 35:30 A foe some are choosing 35:31 to identify now with the people. 35:34 Intentionally choosing 35:36 to call the Coronavirus COVID-19 35:38 the Chinese virus. 35:41 Oh, but do I come up... We've always done that. 35:43 We've had the Mexican virus, we've had the Spanish flu. 35:47 You're right, we have, a century ago. 35:51 We don't do that now. 35:53 I had an Asian student on this campus, 35:55 before the campus was shut down in my church office, 36:01 and he said, "You know something, pastor? 36:02 In the midst of all of this, 36:04 it feels like we're getting blamed for it." 36:08 Well, I'm an Asian, 36:09 14 years in Japan born and raised there. 36:12 Yeah, it would feel weird, wouldn't it? 36:15 If who you are 36:18 is how they identify the calamity. 36:23 Let's be honest. 36:25 In a time of trouble, 36:27 and I'm using that phrase intentionally 36:29 because I don't have to unpack 36:31 the meaning of that phrase to you. 36:33 In a time of trouble, 36:37 it has been an historical reality 36:48 that the minorities or a minority 36:52 has been easy to pick 36:56 to receive the wrap 36:58 for what the rest of society is suffering. 37:01 All I have to say is Germany and Adolf Hitler 37:06 and the Jews. 37:08 We know history is clear. 37:11 In times of crisis, 37:15 somebody is picked out 37:19 and made the scapegoat. 37:23 And suddenly in World War... 37:26 Before World War II, in the '30s, 37:29 the Jews became this social pariah. 37:33 We just move you away. 37:36 Elimination. 37:38 This dark strategy is as old as the Earth. 37:42 I remind you on the eve of Jesus' death, 37:45 the high priest of the religion 37:48 that ruled the land of Palestine, 37:53 the high priest Caiaphas 37:55 stood before the supreme court, the Sanhedrin, 37:58 and he spoke these words. 38:00 Put them on the screen for us. 38:01 "It is better for you 38:02 that one man die for the people, 38:05 then that the whole nation perish." 38:11 Blaming the minority 38:14 for the suffering of the majority. 38:22 I suppose, in a time of national calamity, 38:26 even here, 38:27 that argument 38:29 could be presented before a hastily assembled 38:32 supreme court. 38:36 Yeah, just think, just think. 38:41 That's all I need to say. 38:44 I repeat, 38:47 it happened in Hitler's Germany. 38:49 Could it happen here? 38:51 All it would take is a calamity large enough 38:54 and a leader desperate enough 38:55 to shift the blame for the calamity on a minority 38:58 that refuses to yield its conviction. 39:00 So let's not fool ourselves that it cannot happen here. 39:04 The point. Thanks for asking. 39:07 You can get there from here. 39:11 Then is this a big one, Dwight? 39:13 That doesn't feel like it, does it? 39:16 But then again four months ago, 39:17 we never would have guessed our predicament today. 39:19 Now what do we have? 39:21 Let me share a tweet. 39:24 From a young friend of mine, his name is Shawn Brace. 39:26 He is a young pastor in the Northeast. 39:29 He just tweeted this week. 39:31 I'll put it on the screen for you. 39:34 I thought a rather bright observation. 39:36 See what you think. 39:38 "Suddenly..." Shawn Brace writing. 39:40 He was a student here at Andrews University. 39:42 I had him in a preaching class. He was a young... 39:43 He was a undergrad leader on this campus. 39:47 Shawn is writing, 39:48 "Suddenly, all the end-time scenarios 39:50 I've heard all my life 39:51 don't seem that far-fetched or implausible. 39:54 It's crazy how quickly everything changes. 39:58 Even as recent as a week ago, 40:00 many of them seemed outlandish and unimaginable." 40:05 And, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, 40:07 therein lies the inescapable point. 40:11 You got it. That's it right there. 40:13 Can you get there from here? Are you kidding? 40:17 And by the way, from here to there. 40:19 We used to think from here to there 40:21 would take a whole lot of time. 40:23 Could it be that from here to there 40:24 doesn't take much time at all? 40:28 Think about it. 40:29 Don't just sit here and suffer in the midst of this calamity. 40:33 You grew up in a church 40:34 that taught Jesus is coming soon. 40:36 I know you did it 40:37 or you wouldn't be on this live stream. 40:40 It's time to rethink what you grew up with. 40:47 Wow. 40:49 I want to end with that text message 40:51 from my other young friend. 40:54 I'll pick it up right where he left off. 40:57 Okay, so... 40:59 It's not on the screen. I got it right here. 41:01 "I remember a thought you shared..." 41:03 So he texted me. 41:04 "I remember a thought you shared a few years ago, 41:06 how it would take just the right kind of crisis, 41:08 and suddenly the world flips, 41:10 and things just pick up more momentum, 41:12 and then Jesus is here. 41:13 And I would love..." He's texting to me. 41:15 "I would love Jesus to be here. 41:17 I would love The Great Controversy 41:18 to be case closed 41:20 with the character of God cleared 41:21 and the Lamb of God to be praised. 41:23 But, Dwight, 41:25 the prayer on my heart is we need more time. 41:28 Should we be praying and asking for more time? 41:31 There are so many who don't know about Jesus, 41:33 there are so many who are sitting 41:34 in the valley of indecision," he calls it. 41:38 "And how many do we know who've turned away, 41:41 who are just one phone call, one text message, 41:43 one compassionate act away from turning back to Jesus? 41:47 I'm wrestling with this prayer, 41:49 this call to mercy." 41:53 He's absolutely right. 41:56 You will never pray the prayer, 41:58 "Come now and get me." 42:00 There's not a parent alive who would pray that prayer. 42:03 There's not a loving roommate or classmate 42:07 or neighbor that would pray that prayer. 42:08 Just come now and get me. 42:11 We can't pray that prayer. The boy is right. 42:14 We need to be pleading for mercy. 42:16 Stop this virus, stop the endemic, 42:19 stop the pandemic. 42:20 We need to reach the people who are... 42:23 How did he put it? 42:24 "The people who are one text message, 42:28 one compassionate act, 42:30 one phone call away from turning back to Jesus." 42:32 Those are the people we need to be talking about right now, 42:35 not worrying about how do I like 42:36 being shut up in my house. 42:39 This is no longer about you and me. 42:41 Yes, we suffer. 42:43 Elijah suffered 42:44 right in the middle of the worst crisis in Israel. 42:49 You don't get out a jail free card. 42:51 Well, you don't have to do the gospel commission. 42:53 No, no, no, you just take care of yourself. 42:56 I want to tell you something. I have some news for you. 42:58 Jesus is not coming back until the world gets reached 43:01 and the church does the reaching 43:04 because the reaching is part of the strategic plan 43:07 to change the hearts of the church. 43:10 That would be you and that would be me. 43:12 Here's a stunner for you. 43:14 One line, Ellen White, a century ago, 43:17 I'll put it on the screen, take a look at this. 43:19 "The work which the church has failed to do 43:22 in a time of peace and prosperity..." 43:30 Peace and prosperity. Peace and prosperity. 43:33 Here we are. You know the timestamp. 43:35 Here we are. 43:37 Could it be peace and prosperity now to find it? 43:40 You go this way. 43:42 You don't go this way now. 43:46 Read it again. 43:47 "The work which the church has failed to do 43:49 in a time of peace and prosperity, 43:51 she will have to do in a terrible crisis 43:54 under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances." 43:58 What we have not done in a time of peace and prosperity, 44:01 guess what? 44:03 We don't get to skip it now. 44:04 We just forget sharing the Savior Jesus 44:07 with our friends in our little worlds. 44:08 We don't have to do it now. We're going straight to heaven. 44:10 You're not going to heaven and I'm not going to heaven 44:13 until this world gets reached, 44:15 and it has to be the church 44:17 because the church has a vital mission 44:19 and message that has to go. 44:21 We have to do it. 44:23 I'm sorry. 44:24 There is no card that gets us out of it, 44:28 which is why we need to pray. 44:30 Oh, we need to pray. 44:32 Do you know that the churches of Southwestern Michigan, 44:34 where we are right now, are banding together today? 44:38 This afternoon at 4 o'clock, 4 o'clock this afternoon, 44:41 I'll put it on the screen for you. 44:43 We're calling it a Symphony of Prayer. 44:46 A Symphony of Prayer. 44:49 Why are we praying together? 44:51 Obvious, obvious reasons. 44:54 You're in your home. I'm in my. 44:56 You're in your dorm room or your trailer, 44:59 your apartment or your hotel room. 45:01 And the Symphony of Prayer is asking, pleading with God 45:06 to have mercy on America and the world 45:10 and save the lost. 45:12 There are lost people you know. 45:13 You're not so far removed 45:15 that you have totally isolated yourself 45:17 in a little Adventist community 45:19 and you know no loss people. 45:20 I know you know. 45:22 Those are the people to ask God to start placing on your heart. 45:25 "God, give me a burden for these. 45:27 I've been looking out only for myself." 45:30 What about them? 45:31 How do we reach people that don't even know 45:33 they're in a critical condition right now 45:34 and that if they don't meet Jesus, 45:37 they're gone? 45:41 4:00 pm, I don't care what time zone you live in, 45:43 where you are in the world right now, join us. 45:47 Join us in this earnest prayer. 45:48 Gather your little family around you. 45:50 You say, "Dwight, all alone," 45:52 like we saw one of the pictures a moment ago. 45:54 You go, get on the phone. 45:56 You got a kindred spirit that believes like you believe 45:58 call that person up and say, 45:59 "Hey, let's pray right now, you and me." 46:01 It's time to pray. Is this a big one? 46:05 Well, what if it were? 46:07 What are we doing? What are we doing? 46:11 Pray for our leaders, 46:13 pray for the termination of the coronavirus. 46:15 We got work to do. That still has to be done. 46:18 Why do I have to do this, Dwight? 46:19 Because Jesus is coming soon, that's why. 46:21 Amen. 46:23 Jesus is coming soon. Do you understand that? 46:26 The other day that thought just swept over me, 46:28 and it just was like, like electricity. 46:30 Jesus is coming soon 46:32 because you can get there from here. 46:35 The pieces are in place. 46:39 But the four winds are being held back 46:40 by the angels of heaven saying, 46:42 "No, no, no, they're not ready." 46:43 Come on, wake up. Wake up. 46:48 I'm praying for the church. 46:49 I'm praying for the church, 46:50 like I've never prayed for the church before 46:52 not because I'm some good guy. 46:53 No, but because I live for this church. 46:55 This church has been my life. 47:00 We can't be lost. 47:03 We can't be asleep. 47:06 We can't just blow this thing off. 47:10 "You got to let Jesus. 47:11 Dwight, you're just hyping this up." 47:13 No, I'm not. Come on. Let's take the bad... 47:15 We'll deal with the bad news one more time. 47:17 Verse 26, let's read this. 47:18 I'm gonna show you something. 47:19 The news just keeps getting better. 47:21 So here's the bad news. 47:22 Verse 26, "People will faint from terror, 47:24 apprehensive of what is coming on the world 47:25 for the heavenly bodies will be shaken." 47:27 Now here comes good news. 47:29 This is verse 27, 47:31 "At that time, they will see the Son of Man 47:33 coming in a cloud with power and great glory." 47:36 And guess what? Here comes verse 28. 47:37 Even the better news, the best news. 47:39 Verse 28, 47:41 and, "When you see these things begin to take place, stand up." 47:44 Jesus says, "Lift up your heads 47:46 because your redemption is drawing near." 47:48 Can you believe that? 47:50 That is a posture of hope, by the way, He says stand up. 47:52 Come on, don't be huddled over. You stand up, put your head up. 47:55 Boy, don't look like 47:57 you're the last guy on this planet. 47:58 Put your head up, girl. 47:59 Stand up, lift up your head 48:01 because I am coming to redeem you. 48:05 I'm coming back. 48:08 Hallelujah. 48:09 We have hope. We have... 48:12 Like that, oh, fervent Adventist anthem, 48:15 we have this hope. 48:18 We do. Never forget it. 48:20 In the midst of this dark night, 48:22 never forget it. 48:23 We have hope. And the best is yet to come. 48:26 I promise you, the best is yet to come 48:28 because Jesus is coming, that's why. 48:31 My, oh my, oh my! 48:33 In fact, I'm gonna ask you to stand 48:34 where you are right now. 48:36 Stand up 48:37 and we're gonna sing this with forever. 48:39 Now listen, don't stand just yet. 48:40 I'm getting you ready 48:42 'cause you're getting comfortable on that couch. 48:46 I'm gonna ask you to stand in just a moment. 48:47 But there's electronic Connect card, 48:49 and this is really important now. 48:51 You're on our web page and it says you know, 48:52 if you look at their little tabs, 48:54 and the first tab says overview of the live streaming service, 48:57 the next tab over says Connect, 48:59 Click on Connect. 49:01 There is the Connect, 49:02 go all the way to the bottom of the page. 49:04 There is a Connect card. 49:05 There's some steps to take, next steps. 49:06 Notice these please. 49:08 Next step number one, 49:09 I realize that in the midst of the state of emergency 49:11 you can get there from here, check. 49:13 I'm saying I'm checking it. I hope you'll check it. 49:16 Here's comes box number two. I believe Jesus is coming soon. 49:19 Check. I'm checking that. 49:20 I hope you're checking it as well. 49:22 Here comes box number three, 49:23 I will make a list of people to love back to him. 49:26 And don't you be waiting for us 49:27 to send you something to make that list? 49:29 You have everything you need, 49:30 you have that little smartphone, 49:31 start making a list of the people 49:33 that need to know Jesus 49:35 before the big one 49:36 brings everything to a crashing halt. 49:40 You know that list, check. 49:42 I will... Join me in doing that, check. 49:45 I will make a list. 49:46 And finally 49:47 there's box number three and four rather. 49:49 Pray for me. 49:51 You see that? Pray for me. 49:53 Here is what's keeping me back. 49:57 Here is what's keeping me 49:58 from coming back to Him. 50:02 Here's what's keeping me from coming back to Him. 50:05 Do you know what? 50:06 Jesus is coming back for you, 50:08 but there's something keeping you 50:10 from coming back to Him. 50:11 What is it? 50:13 If you put that there 50:15 'cause you already know what it is, 50:16 you just thought about it. 50:18 If you put that there 50:20 and give me an email address on the other side, 50:24 you don't even have to put your name. 50:26 If you put that there, 50:28 I will personally pray for you. 50:30 There's something holding you back. 50:33 You've grown up with this. 50:35 I saw some people this week who have grown up with it. 50:39 But the look of terror on their faces 50:41 is just I will never forget it. 50:44 They've grown up with this, 50:46 but there's nothing beneath them. 50:50 There's no hope. 50:51 They have forgotten. 50:55 You may be in that group. 50:57 There's something holding you back from Jesus. 51:02 Whatever your conscience is telling you right now, 51:05 I agree with your conscience. 51:07 You need to surrender that to Jesus. 51:09 Look at Calvary. What's Calvary? 51:10 Calvary is where they nailed Jesus arms 51:12 in a wide open embrace 51:14 so that whenever you look at the cross 51:17 there He is saying, 51:18 "Come to Me, please. Don't wait. Don't wait. 51:22 Come to Me." 51:25 So whoever you are, 51:28 and most of you grew up in this faith community, 51:31 if there's something holding you back, 51:33 I'm appealing to you 51:35 on behalf of the Lord Jesus Himself, 51:38 let it go, that ball and chain. 51:41 Give it to Him, 51:42 He can break that chain and save your life, 51:47 but He has to have your permission. 51:49 What are you waiting for? Easter? 51:52 Don't wait that long. Do it now. 51:57 We have hope, Jesus is coming. 51:59 Ready or not, here I come. That will be the day. 52:03 Oh, don't wait. Don't wait, don't wait. 52:05 It'll be too late then. 52:07 Do it now. 52:08 Do it now. We got to sing this. 52:10 It is the Adventist anthem. 52:12 We sing with fervor. Come on, ladies. 52:15 Keep that social distancing. 52:17 But we got to sing this. 52:19 And I'm gonna invite you to stand 52:20 wherever you are right now, just stand, just stand up. 52:22 Nobody's in that space with you. 52:23 You don't look funny. Just stand. 52:25 If somebody is in that space with you, stand, 52:27 have them stand with you. 52:28 We'll put the words on the screen 52:29 and we're gonna sing our hearts out. 52:31 Let's do it. 52:48 We have this hope 52:51 That burns within our heart, 52:57 Hope in the coming 53:00 Of the Lord 53:05 We have this faith 53:09 That Christ alone imparts, 53:15 Faith in the promise 53:18 Of His Word 53:23 We believe the time is here, 53:28 When the nations far and near 53:32 Shall awake, and shout and sing 53:38 Hallelujah! 53:40 Christ is King! 53:46 We have this hope 53:50 That burns within our hearts, 53:56 Hope in the coming 54:00 Of the Lord 54:10 We got to sing it again. 54:11 Come on, we got to sing it again. 54:13 It'll never be fresher in our hearts and right now 54:16 Jesus is coming soon. 54:18 Let's sing it one more time. 54:22 We have this hope 54:25 That burns within our heart, 54:30 Hope in the coming 54:34 Of the Lord 54:39 We have this faith 54:43 That Christ alone imparts, 54:49 Faith in the promise 54:52 Of His Word 54:58 We believe the time is here, 55:02 When the nations far and near 55:07 Shall awake, and shout and sing 55:11 Hallelujah! 55:14 Christ is King! 55:20 We have this hope 55:24 That burns within our hearts, 55:30 Hope in the coming 55:34 Of the Lord 55:43 Oh, Jesus, you know our hearts. 55:48 We know Your heart 55:50 and we believe You are coming soon. 55:54 If there's a decision we need to make, 55:58 grant us Your gentle courage 56:03 and Your strong faith 56:05 that we might make the decision 56:07 You're asking our hearts to make. 56:10 We'll walk with You, Jesus, by Your grace. 56:13 We will walk with You every step of the way 56:16 until You come. 56:19 And he you testifies to these things says, 56:21 "Yes, I am coming soon." 56:23 Amen. 56:25 Come, Lord Jesus. 56:26 And now the grace of the Lord Jesus 56:28 be with God's people. 56:31 Amen. 57:05 We've been really blessed by the financial support 57:07 that comes from our viewers. 57:09 And we've made a conscious decision 57:10 not to continually appeal to you for that support. 57:14 The fact is everyone in the industry will tell you 57:17 we're needing to make constant upgrades 57:18 to our technology. 57:20 So if God has blessed you 57:21 and you'd like to further the work of this ministry, 57:24 we invite you to partner with us. 57:25 Not a single penny of your donation will go to me. 57:28 Every bit of your gift goes to the mission, 57:30 a blessing your community and our world. 57:33 You can donate on our website, 57:34 NewPerceptions.TV or call the number. 57:37 You know the number, 877-HIS-WILL 57:40 and that number is 877, the two words, HIS-WILL. 57:44 And may the God who is blessed you 57:46 continue to pour into your life 57:48 the gifts of his joy and his hope. 57:50 Thank you. 57:52 And I'm looking forward to seeing you 57:53 right here again next time. |
Revised 2020-04-16