Participants:
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY210010A
|
01:02 I'm so happy that you could join us today.
01:04 And our guest is Pastor Paul Ratsara and he 01:09 is from the African- Indian Ocean Division, 01:14 Southern-Africa Indian Ocean Division, 01:17 which is a division of the Seventh-day Adventist 01:20 Church and he's a leader, and we welcome you, 01:22 thank you, we're so happy that you could be here. 01:24 Yeah, glad to be here. Yeah, 01:27 Bible says here in First Timothy the third 01:30 chapter says, this is a faithful saying. 01:32 "If a man desires the position of a bishop, 01:35 he desires a good work." 01:38 And that is your position, you are, 01:42 you might say a bishop over a territory of 01:45 God's Church. And so, 01:48 Bible says that that's a good work. 01:51 And then in that same chapter Acts, 01:54 the next chapter, chapter 4 verse 01:56 12 it says, "Let no one despise 01:59 your youth, but be an example 02:01 to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, 02:04 in spirit, in faith, and in purity." 02:07 And you have always worked well with 02:11 young people, yes, yes. And you've been a 02:14 youth leader and been involved with youth and 02:18 we're gonna talk a little bit about some of the 02:21 things that God has been doing in your 02:24 division and also some of the things that He 02:28 has been doing through young people that you've 02:31 been ministering with and to. Yes. And so, 02:33 that would be an exciting study as we 02:36 talk together and I'm looking forward to it. 02:40 Well, listen I know that some of you are facing 02:43 giant problems and some of them involve youth, 02:47 young people, your children. And so, 02:50 we're praying that the Lord will reach down 02:54 and touch those young people. 02:56 We're gonna have a special prayer for 02:57 them right now. And there are others 03:00 of you that are having real health challenges 03:03 and other challenges that have come 03:05 into your life. And right now 03:07 whatever your burden is, we want to lay it 03:10 on the Lord, shall we bow our 03:11 heads in prayer. Our Father and our God, 03:16 we are just thank you Lord that we can come 03:17 to you and prayer, knowing that you 03:20 really do hear us and you really do answer 03:24 and that you have the ability to hear every 03:27 person in the world that cries out to you and 03:30 right now Father, I know that there are 03:33 so many that are watching by television, 03:35 listening by radio that have real crisis 03:40 in their lives, not just something small, 03:43 but something big. I pray Lord that you 03:47 will be with each one, let them lay these 03:51 burdens at your feet, take these burdens 03:55 we pray and relieve these folks. 03:58 Thank you Lord for all that you do for us, 04:01 in Jesus name, amen. Amen, amen. 04:06 Well, before we get into our discussion I hope 04:10 that we can enjoy some really good music. 04:12 And Emily Felts Jones is going to, 04:15 to bring us some good music. 04:17 She is a good friend of 3ABN and she comes here 04:19 often and we enjoy her music so very much. 04:24 Right now, she is going to do 04:25 the song "Down Under." 04:40 When I was a child I spoke like a child, 04:45 and did all the things children do. 04:50 I laughed and I played, worked and obeyed, 04:55 Learned about God as I grew 05:00 I learned I'm not worthy, 05:02 my life stained with sin, 05:05 but it can be whiter than snow 05:10 For Jesus poured out his own life to begin, 05:15 a river where sweet mercy flows 05:18 I want to go down, down, down in the water 05:24 I want to be clean, so clean. 05:28 From this day forward, I want to go under, 05:33 under, under the love Plunged in his mercy, 05:39 washed in the blood. That day of my birth, 05:47 here on this earth is only a story that's told. 05:53 Today I begin, I'm born once again 05:59 and this my moment to hold. 06:03 So send down you spirit and circle this place, 06:08 let glory light like a dove 06:13 Cover my past in those steams of your grace 06:18 and merry my life with your love 06:21 'Cause I want to go down, down, down in the water 06:28 I want to be clean, so clean. 06:31 From this day forward, I want to go under, under, 06:38 under the blood Plunged in his mercy, 06:43 washed in the blood. Oh come down dear father 06:48 and stay for a while, say once again you're 06:53 pleased with your child. 06:56 'Cause I want to go down, down, down in the water 07:03 I want to be clean, so clean. 07:07 From this day forward, I want to go under, 07:11 under, under the blood Plunged in his mercy, 07:20 Oh plunged in his mercy and washed in the blood. 07:32 Well, thank you Emily, I appreciate that song 07:34 so much. Well, Pastor Paul is so 07:38 good to have you here, it's, 07:40 it's good to be here. Over the years we've 07:42 seen each other at different meetings of the 07:44 General Conference and the foot places and, 07:46 and it's just good though to be able to sit 07:48 here and visit. And to have the people 07:51 at home joining our visit together. 07:53 Now, you're the President of the Southern-Africa 07:56 Indian Ocean Division. Yes. And I'm going to ask 08:00 you to put a picture on the screen map, 08:03 so that people can see what that territory looks 08:08 like and the headquarters is located 08:11 in Johannesburg, yes Johannesburg, 08:13 Pretoria between Pretoria and Johannesburg. Okay, 08:16 yes. And that covers that whole territory of 08:20 Southern-Africa and what called the Indian Ocean, 08:23 Indian Ocean Division. Right, yes. 08:27 Actually the Southern -Africa Indian Ocean 08:30 Division is one of the 13 divisions in 08:33 Adventist Church. By the way, 08:37 I'm glad to be here and it's a joy, thank you, 08:41 to be part of this program. 08:44 So, the Southern-Africa Indian Ocean Division 08:46 as I said, it is the one 08:48 of the 13 divisions of the world. 08:53 We have 23 countries and territories, 08:57 we called them territories instead of country 09:01 field because they are some of our countries, 09:05 they are part of the bigger countries like 09:07 for example, the island of Reunion 09:11 is part of France. France is at the north, 09:15 but Reunion is like a state of, of France. 09:20 Okay. So, it is, it functions like a country, 09:23 but it is part of a bigger country like Santolina 09:26 where Napoleon was sent, exiled. 09:30 It is in our division small island, 09:33 but we have big countries like South Africa, 09:37 we have Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Botswana 09:42 and the Island of Madagascar, 09:44 23 countries and territories as a whole. 09:50 And we have 2.5 million members in that division, 09:57 wow! 2.5, 2.5 million. Yes, 2.5 million 10:01 in the last statistics. 10:08 churches and companies, many congregations in 10:11 that country. Wow! That's quite 10:13 a group isn't it? Yeah, is just a, it is quiet. 10:16 We, we, John Lomacang and his wife Angie headed 10:22 over with the Maranatha Group to build some 10:26 churches there. Maranatha has been 10:28 very involved in building churches in 10:29 your division, about how many have they build? 10:32 Actually we're so blessed Jim. 10:36 The fact that our partners, we call them our 10:40 partners in mission, yes, 10:41 they're helping us Maranatha, 10:44 Light Bearers and ASI group and Remnant 10:49 Publications and Maranatha and many more. 10:53 Yes. So, Maranatha volunteers, 10:57 they have built so far more than 300 churches. 11:02 Wow! Yes, in Mozambique and now they are in, 11:07 in Zambia, the group that you're talking about; 11:10 they're going to Zambia after leaving this city, 11:16 burning the name of their pioneer. 11:20 David Livingstone, the city is Livingstone 11:23 in Zambia. So, it has been a great 11:26 blessing and we thank God for, amen, 11:30 for the ministries and those partners in 11:33 mission we, we are blessed 11:36 by their efforts and their support. 11:38 Two point five million members in that division, 11:42 yes. It seems to me like it was only a few years 11:45 ago that they had a million members about how 11:48 long has it taken you to go from 11:50 1 million to 2.5 million? 11:53 Actually, as you remember the work in Africa 11:57 was restructured, relined used to be 12:01 two African- based division, 12:05 the one was in the West, but it crossed actually 12:11 even the continent and reached out the islands, 12:14 so that arrangement was a little bit difficult, 12:17 right. So, the church decided to divide the 12:20 continent of Africa, the Sub Saharan Africa 12:24 into three divisions. One we called the 12:28 West-Central Africa Division 12:32 and over the base, the headquarters 12:36 is in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. And one, 12:39 call it East-Central Africa Division 12:42 in Nairobi, yeah. And our division is the 12:45 Southern part of the continent of Africa. 12:49 We've the islands in the Indian Ocean, 12:52 so one we're organized and that was in 2002, 12:56 but it functioned in January, 2003. Okay. 13:01 And we were just about 1.7 million, yes, 13:06 1.7 million, alright, now praise the Lord 13:08 we are 2.5. Wow! That's amazing. 13:11 Are they planning any further divisions, 13:15 any newer divisions for the, 13:17 continent of Africa have, 13:19 have you heard a General Conference, 13:21 have you heard of the thinking about spinning 13:24 off another division or, or what? 13:27 As far as I know I think the structure we have 13:30 now it works fine, it works fine, 13:33 it works fine, it is actually a 13:36 God given idea, yeah, because the proxibility, 13:40 the accessibility is just good. 13:44 And we are very happy about the organization, 13:47 okay, so I don't see us multiplying or adding, 13:52 but we are open to the, yeah, 13:54 leading of the, the Holy Spirit. 13:56 Sure, absolutely. Well, I saw you not long ago 14:00 we were in Louisville, Kentucky, yes, 14:03 and we were at the Generation of Youth 14:06 for Christ, yes, which is an 14:08 exciting gathering, it is yes. And, 14:11 and I saw you there and you were on a panel 14:16 with some other leaders of the church, yes. 14:19 And tell me a little bit about the youth and 14:23 your involvement with youth movements. 14:27 Yeah, yeah I, I like youth, young people. 14:32 Actually my ministry I started with youth 14:36 ministry as Youth Director and then Director 14:40 of Campus Ministry, yes, taking care of 12, 14:46 6 actually universities. And helping the young 14:51 people to, to be strong in 14:54 the faith and also to win the other young people 14:58 in those universities. Yes. So, youth is very 15:02 close to my heart. I do believe that we, 15:09 we need to do the best we can, 15:15 to take care of our youth. Yes. 15:17 And as you said we were so pleased and 15:21 we're still very pleased to, 15:24 to see the growth of GYC, the Generation 15:28 Youth for, for Christ, for Christ. 15:36 Because they're really doing a wonderful work to, 15:40 to see these young people committed to the Lord 15:44 and committed to their mission of the church, 15:48 we've humbled hearts and just, 15:50 just to share the Gospel. So, I, I was so moved 15:55 by that experience I, it, it, it 15:58 brought a lot of hope, but we have a hope 16:03 for our young people. When we think of, 16:09 of the young people of youth and the church, 16:13 the Christian church, the Christianity, 16:18 we cannot really remove the young 16:20 people from the, the church of the history. 16:25 The, the owner and the founder of the church 16:28 Jesus Christ himself was a young man and He 16:32 started his Public Ministry at the 16:35 age of 30, yeah, that is young, yes it is, 16:39 he is a young adult, right. So, 16:41 He started the church, He is the owner of the 16:44 church and then throughout history we, 16:47 we see young people playing vital role when 16:53 it comes to the church. For example, 16:56 the key reformers they were young people, 17:00 young adults and the pioneers of our church. 17:05 Ellen G. White she was called when she 17:07 was a teenager. Yes. James White, 17:09 the all the pioneers, that's right, 17:11 most of them they were young. 17:14 So, I believe Jim that young people is playing, 17:22 the youth is playing a vital role and we'll 17:25 continue to play a vital role in this church, 17:29 started with young people and we cannot think of, 17:34 of, of the end without the young people. 17:38 It's very true in fact when you think about 17:40 the disciples, yes, they were young people, 17:42 they were young people, yeah, yes that's true. 17:45 So, God is using them. What do you see the 17:48 role of young people in the church? 17:51 How do you see the role? 17:53 The role of young people in the church, 17:56 sometimes we hear people saying that the young 18:01 people are the Church of tomorrow, 18:04 but in fact they are actually the Church 18:07 of today as well. In some divisions for 18:11 example upto 70% of the membership they're young, 18:17 yeah, in my division. The Southern-Africa Indian 18:20 Ocean Division we can say between 65 to 70% 18:26 they are below 35. Wow! So, 18:28 that alone tells us a lot, yeah, 18:32 of the role of young people in the church. 18:35 Right. So, they are actually not only the 18:38 Church of tomorrow, but they are the 18:40 Church of today, so their role is to 18:46 go deep into the mission of the church, 18:48 they're part of us, they're part of this. 18:50 And actually they give vigor into the, to the, 18:55 the church into the outreach give more life 19:01 into the church. They, they play that role, 19:06 it is, it is so nice to have them. 19:09 You know, you were in Louisville 19:11 with GYC and you spoke to them and you had some 19:16 seminars on leadership and spirituality. 19:19 What, what did you tell them? 19:21 Well, yeah they have asked me to, 19:24 to have these seminars, actually in leadership 19:26 as you say and, and spiritual and spirituality, 19:30 the power, the whole, the power of the 19:33 Holy Spirit. I have noticed 19:37 that these young people they need mentors. Yes 19:43 They like to do things very fast and active, 19:48 but deep down in their heart and they said it, 19:50 they need mentors. So, they've asked me to help 19:55 them to develop this topic of leadership. 19:59 So, I told them that we need them, 20:04 because we do believe that a success with that 20:08 a success is a failure. Yeah. So, 20:11 this is the time for us as a church to 20:14 be so intentional, so deliberate in training 20:19 our young people in leadership. 20:21 I summarized when it comes to leadership. 20:25 A leadership can be summarized in three 20:28 aspects actually first, to love God sincerely 20:33 with all of our heart, 20:35 meaning to be a good leader, 20:37 we have really to, to have the strong 20:41 relationship with God, that is the key because 20:45 you can learn all the techniques and everything, 20:48 but if we don't love God that will just be 20:52 an empty thing, yes. So, I told them that to be 20:57 a leader you must be led by God. 21:00 Yes, yes, so you need to have the leadership of 21:04 God to be connected with God. 21:06 So, first is to love God, that is spirituality. 21:11 And the third one is to, to love people, 21:16 just to love, love the followers 21:18 and love the community, asking God to, 21:21 to help us to have this love, 21:24 this Godly love. Jesus Christ we're 21:30 still worshiping Him now because He died for us. 21:34 Yes. He, He had that love and He still has it. 21:38 So, as a leader we need to ask God to 21:41 give us this love, a loving sacrifice. 21:45 Yes. And then the third one is to, 21:51 to work hard, to work hard to be so 21:54 committed and to strive for excellence. 21:59 So, the three things that I've shared I expanded 22:03 these in many sessions, but it is to love God, 22:07 to love your fellow man and to love what 22:10 you're doing, yeah, the mission of the church. 22:14 And the young people how do they react to 22:16 that message? It was an interesting 22:20 thing Jim they, they were very receptive, 22:23 the questions and they decided to put it 22:27 into practice they see that, 22:30 this is the right thing to do and it is 22:33 from the Bible, from the spirit 22:35 of prophecy and the example of Jesus Christ, 22:39 the leader of all leaders. Yes. He is the leader, 22:44 isn't He? Yes, He is our partner, 22:46 He is our example. Interesting that you had 22:49 mention working hard as well, yes, 22:52 because sometimes people forget that good old 22:58 hard work does pay off. Particularly if you're 23:01 working for the right thing, yes, 23:03 and when you mentioned those first two, 23:06 a spiritual experience for the Lord and what was 23:10 the other one, love, love? 23:12 Love, yes love our fellow man, yeah, 23:15 and love, we just to have the love of Christ 23:17 sacrificial love, right, right. 23:21 I remember when I was going to, 23:23 to college there were, there were fellows that 23:26 made better grades than some of us did, 23:29 some of us had to work so many hours to 23:31 go to school. We did not have the 23:33 study time than other students had because 23:36 we paid all of our own way and, yes, 23:38 some of them were there on scholarships and some 23:40 their parents were paying their way and so forth. 23:43 And so, I remember saying to another young 23:47 man and he was older than I was, 23:49 a few years older, yes. And I said to 23:52 him you know, I don't know how 23:54 we will ever be able to compete with these 23:57 fellows that have made such good grades when we 24:00 get into ministry. And he said, oh! Yeah. 24:03 He said, we know how to work, yeah, 24:05 we know how to work hard he said. 24:07 And you will see that God will reward hard work. 24:11 And I had never thought of that at all and, yes, 24:15 what he said proved to be very correct, 24:18 it was encouraging 'cause we did know 24:20 how to work, we'd had to work 24:22 our way all the way, yeah, and so many times. 24:24 I had, I had the same experience, 24:26 same experience, yes, that's right. 24:28 And so many times later on in life we saw those 24:31 that have made such fabulous grades and 24:34 everything and we said, where are they and, 24:36 and they weren't even in God's work anymore, 24:38 they were doing something else or whatever or if 24:42 they were in they hadn't moved very much, 24:45 they hadn't done very much because they were 24:47 still studying and sitting at home and doing 24:51 whatever they did at home in their 24:53 pastor's study, but they weren't out 24:55 there knocking on doors and talking to people. 25:00 And, and doing that kind of work. 25:02 By the way, when you were in Louisville, 25:05 you went out with young people and knocked 25:08 on doors. Tell us some of those experiences. 25:11 Maybe if you don't mind I just want to comment 25:13 on the hard work. Okay. Because this is 25:15 a very important aspect, yes, actually. 25:18 Our leader one example of Jesus Christ, yes, 25:21 He worked so hard, yes He did, He worked so hard. 25:24 Sometimes we tend to separate things the 25:28 spirituality does not go with hard work, right, 25:31 but this is a package, yes, this is a package, 25:34 we cannot talk of spirituality and then 25:37 someone who's spiritual and at the 25:39 same time lazy, right, we, 25:41 we cannot think of that, right, 25:43 someone we spiritual and hating it and 25:45 don't love. And so, hard work is part of, 25:49 of our Christianity, yes. Jesus Christ our 25:54 example and He worked so hard, yes. 25:57 And I, I told to young people that there's no 26:02 other way then to work hard, yeah. 26:05 And you pray as Jesus prayed, 26:07 you love as He loved, asking the Holy Spirit 26:09 to give us that love, and you work hard as 26:12 He worked hard, yes. So, we, 26:16 we need to insist on that, we need to go back to 26:21 the value of work, yeah, it's, it's so important. 26:26 And if you want to select a good leader 26:29 you have to, to see how he works, yeah, 26:33 because he has to lead by example to be 26:38 a good leader, leading by example, 26:43 through prayer, through genuine love 26:46 and then through hard work. 26:48 So, now coming to your question, yes. Yes, 26:52 I had the opportunity to, to go with the young 26:58 people actually two years ago in Minneapolis in 27:05 the deep snow I knocked, I remember 27:06 on the door, that cold Yeah and it was 27:08 so cold and I, they asked me to 27:13 preach and I know in the afternoon it will 27:16 be going out, yeah, and I challenged 27:18 them and said, yeah I will join you, 27:20 right, and I did. I was so impressed 27:25 by the commitment of these young people in 27:28 the deep snow, knocking on door, 27:30 I saw them; I was one of them, yeah. 27:33 And, and that really inspired me to see young 27:38 people and, and then recently 27:42 as we said, actually it was just amazing. 27:46 They, they brought 38 buses to bring the young 27:51 people to knock on doors, yes, 27:55 but we did not have enough buses, 28:00 about 400 young people they had to walk to go, 28:05 to go to their places, right, of, 28:07 assigned to them, not enough buses, 28:09 not enough buses. So, people these young 28:12 people they just loved to go out and reach out 28:16 to get addresses for Bible studies and so on, 28:20 it was so inspiring, I was so revived, yes. 28:24 And, and again that's work, that's putting, 28:28 that's putting some feet on, on the, on the, 28:32 the subject of getting the gospel out. 28:34 It, it definitely, definitely, yeah. You, 28:37 you know, Dr. Edwin R. Thiele was professor 28:40 at Andrews, he was towards 28:42 the end of his years, he was even 28:43 beyond retirement, he was still teaching at 28:45 Andrews and I was there. And what a Godly man, 28:49 yes, but a man who really truly understood 28:52 these principles that you're talking about and 28:55 how important work was? 28:58 He was giving an illustration, 29:00 he said that one time when he first started 29:04 teaching at Andrews it was EMC back in the 29:06 old days when he first started teaching, yes, 29:09 he said that there was a fire across the area 29:13 and that was a field between the college and 29:16 where the house was on fire, 29:18 there were two young man that ran out of the 29:21 dormitory and they started running towards 29:23 the fire and one of them said, wait, 29:26 lets stop and pray. And the other said; 29:30 no let's pray while we run. Yes, yes. 29:32 And Dr. Thiele used that as an example, 29:35 he said we've got to pray while we run and it's 29:39 amazing as a young minister, I like that, 29:42 and that's different. And that just a, 29:44 a young business man and wherever I've been 29:46 found myself I've often found my best prayer 29:49 time was in my car, on my way to try to 29:52 reach somebody for Christ. And in other words 29:56 praying while you're running, yes, 29:58 and I think God honors that kind of thing, 30:02 of course there's time for us to be quiet 30:04 and come apart, yes, and you take the 30:06 word of God and just study and the pray, 30:08 but there is also the time for action where 30:11 we get out, yes, and share the Gospel. 30:14 And, and talk to him like Nehemiah, 30:16 a top leader in the Bible, he prayed hard 30:21 and he worked hard and, yeah, He worked 30:24 with people and you, you, we saw the result. 30:28 Yes, a very successful result. Yes. 30:31 Well, some of those young people that 30:33 went out that afternoon had their whole lives 30:37 changed, definitely, by what they, 30:40 by going and being involved in sharing 30:43 the Gospel. Because the best in reach 30:45 is outreach, yeah. The best way to be 30:49 strong and the faith that used to share, 30:51 yes, that faith. That's right. So, I saw young 30:54 people energized and talking and very 30:59 enthusiastic by they're willing by three 31:02 children they went out as well. 31:04 They did really. They were excited, yeah, yeah. 31:08 How old are you children? Actually one is 24, 31:12 turned 25 and one is 21, okay, and the last one 31:19 will be 20 this coming February. 31:22 Wow! Yes, and they enjoyed being involved. 31:25 So, all of them are young adults. 31:27 Yeah, yeah. And enjoyed sharing the good news. 31:31 Yes, and then God has the great story of 31:35 salvation is so great, definitely. 31:38 And I would say to those of you at home, 31:40 if you are depressed, if you are discouraged, 31:44 if you don't have meaning in your life, 31:48 go visit people, go to a hospital, yes, 31:53 and just visit with people and go to a 31:55 nursing home and pray for people. 31:57 Believe me they'll be glad that you're there 31:59 or just go knocking on the doors of people 32:03 and knock on the door and say, 32:04 hey I'm your neighbor, I just want to come by 32:06 and get acquainted with you. 32:08 And if they don't invite you in, 32:10 have a little prayer for them right at the door, 32:12 but as you began to talk to people, 32:14 you began to share with people, 32:16 you'll see what it will do for you. Yes. 32:19 Because there is something about 32:21 when you go to try to bless others God 32:24 blesses you. That is the best way to be blessed, 32:28 yeah, and to be a blessing. It is, yes. 32:30 You know, in, in the GYC and with the 32:33 young people, what were some of the 32:34 things that really moved you 32:37 or impressed you there? 32:39 First of all as I said, this going out. 32:44 You see, young people some of them even 32:48 below 18 going out, preaching the Gospel, 32:52 knocking on doors, committed to the 32:56 work of God, and that is, that impressed 32:58 me a lot. Yeah. And also the, the interest 33:04 they have in the things of God. 33:07 You see, early morning devotion, 33:10 yeah, they were there. They were there? 33:13 Yes, they were there and I said, this is good, 33:17 yeah, to see these young people waking 33:20 up early in the morning, yes, 33:22 for listen to the, the word of God that 33:26 was impressive. That age, their enthusiasm 33:30 it is actually, it gives hope. Yeah, it does. 33:34 It gives hope. I was so pleased to see 33:38 the young people. And so, impressed, 33:40 yeah, yeah. You know, what amazing thing 33:43 to me is about 6000 young people, yes, 33:48 were there and when people looked at them 33:52 they said you know, I was talking to people 33:55 in the hotel and they said, we can't believe 33:58 these young people, they were singing 34:01 down there is a big area bar kind of area, 34:04 yes, and the lobby out that at one end 34:07 and one end there is a bar, at the other 34:09 end there is a little like open restaurant 34:11 type place where people could buy 34:13 soft drinks and milk and whatever they wanted. 34:16 And, and there were a lot of chairs around, 34:19 there was a piano there, yes, and they 34:22 took over that piano, really I, good to see 34:25 that, and started singing Gospel, 34:27 Gospel songs, and there were several 34:31 probably at sometimes maybe 200 young 34:33 people sitting around there singing, 34:36 it's amazing that pretty soon the bar 34:40 close down, really? I mean there was nobody 34:43 at the bar. The bartender was 34:45 still there and she was just sitting back 34:47 and listening to the young people, 34:49 but there was nobody there drinking anymore. 34:52 That was impressive. And, and they were 34:54 just singing about Jesus Christ, about 34:58 Jesus Christ, from their hearts, from 34:59 their hearts. And, and, and the way, 35:01 the look on their faces and the way 35:04 they dressed and the way they carry 35:06 their Bibles. You know, they would come 35:07 in with their Bibles, yes, and they would 35:10 sit down and everybody in there looked like, 35:14 yeah, had a Bible, yes. And they were opening 35:17 it up and whenever the pastors would give 35:20 out some word and, and these are mostly 35:23 young people that were preaching although 35:25 David Asscherick had the meetings at night, 35:27 yes, they were fantastic. Oh! Yes, 35:30 yeah. And some of you saw those, 35:32 in fact I've had people ask me why, why 35:36 did you have to cut those off? And I, I had, 35:39 I hesitate to take the time to explain it, 35:41 but when they plan these meetings they 35:44 tell us, you buy so much satellite time, 35:48 so we buy the satellite time and we're not 35:51 the ones turning it off, it's the satellite, 35:54 the satellite, so we go ahead and put our 35:56 deal there our, our credits. 35:59 However, we continued to tape everything, 36:03 so all of it is available on DVD, 36:07 if you contact us here you, one of the 36:09 subject you want to hear all of it, 36:10 you call us at 3ABN and tell them what 36:14 subject you wanted to hear and they 36:16 will get you a copy of the DVD that covers 36:20 that particular service. And we on Sabbath 36:26 morning, we anticipated that and so, 36:30 we arranged with the satellite people to 36:33 extend 30 minutes, but so you have give 36:35 them notice ahead of time, that's true, 36:38 for them to do that, and satellite time 36:40 by the way is very expensive. 36:42 So, you don't just buy it for 24-hours, yes, 36:44 you buy exactly time you think you need, 36:47 you think you need. And then we bought 36:48 an additional 30 minutes for Saturday night, 36:51 so that David Asscherick would not be you know, 36:54 as through restrained by time because we 36:58 saw that they were not staying within 37:01 their time boundaries they, they themselves 37:03 admitting given to us and said, this is what, 37:05 when we're gonna start, this is when 37:07 he'll start preaching, this is when he's 37:09 gonna quit. Holy Spirit had different ideas 37:12 and so it went longer, yes. And, and I tell you 37:16 everyone of us that were there, we were 37:18 just blessed. I, we were blessed. 37:21 I was blessed, it was wonderful. Yeah. 37:25 And you know their theme it is unashamed 37:28 of the Gospel, that's right. 37:29 And that is the powerful theme meaning, 37:33 they don't just want to follow the crowd. 37:35 No, they don't want just be swallowed 37:39 by the culture of this world, right. 37:41 They want to make a difference, yeah, 37:43 and they want to stand for the truth, yes, 37:46 they want to be strong in Jesus Christ. 37:48 Yeah, and this gave them, this was where 37:51 they have the courage to go down into the lobby 37:54 and into the bar, yes, I mean you know, 37:56 where the bar is right there close back 37:58 and began to sign, they were unashamed, 38:01 yes, to sing. They weren't down there 38:03 singing popular songs, they weren't down 38:05 there singing secular songs, they sat down 38:08 there singing songs about Jesus Christ. 38:10 Yes, yes. And, and what Christ can do to 38:13 your heart and, and there were people 38:16 that left, they had left that bar, but there 38:18 were more people that came, sat down, yeah, 38:22 and just were blessed. And that was a 38:26 weekend you know, around January 1, 38:29 and so there were a lot of people that were 38:31 partying and, and they, they came into that 38:34 hotel just carrying bags full of liquor you could 38:38 see them getting on the elevators and some 38:42 of those people though, saw a young people 38:45 that were serious about Jesus, yes, 38:48 and wow! What an impact. 38:50 It was a, a powerful testimony. 38:53 I wanted just to talk about one topic about, 38:57 about the young people, sure, you know, 39:00 some parents they're heart broken right now 39:03 because they did their very best to raise 39:08 up children, but when they reach that age 39:12 of being young adult and they start to be 39:15 called in Jesus Christ and start to run away 39:19 from Christ and leave the church. 39:21 I know that can be very hard. 39:27 So, I just want to encourage the, 39:30 their parents, those who are in that 39:33 situation not to be discouraged. 39:36 I have discovered a text that if you don't 39:39 mind I just want to share that because it, 39:44 it is real, it is in Jeremiah, Jeremiah 39:49 chapter 31 and verse 15 to 17. 39:54 Because some people are, including some 39:58 parents are weeping and this is a promise 40:02 that parents should continue to, to pray 40:07 and to hang on and to have hope, 40:10 if that happens to their children, 40:12 "thus says the Lord, a voice was heard 40:16 in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, 40:20 Rachel weeping for her children; refusing 40:24 to be comforted for her children, 40:26 because they are no more." 40:28 Of course this is quoted in the Old Testament, 40:30 yes, but we can apply this also when it 40:34 comes to spiritual death and not only 40:37 physical death, but spiritual death. 40:40 And thus says the Lord, "Refrain your voice 40:44 from weeping, and your eyes from tears: 40:48 for your work shall be rewarded." Yes. 40:51 What the parents had did trying to educate 40:55 the children, there is a promise, yeah, 40:58 that work will be rewarded says the Lord. 41:03 And they shall come back, so the children 41:07 He said, they shall come back, yeah, 41:09 that is a promise from, from the land 41:13 of the enemy maybe some of the children 41:16 right now they're in the land of enemy, 41:18 but there is a promise here said, 41:20 "They shall come back." And then verse 17, 41:24 "There is hope in your future, says the Lord; 41:28 that your children shall come back to their 41:33 own border." Yes. So, this is a powerful 41:36 promise that I want to share with the parents. 41:39 Sometimes the parents feel guilty, 41:45 said maybe you've done something wrong, why? 41:48 Why is it that my child, he does not want to 41:52 go the church anymore, yeah, and does not 41:54 want to pray, he is totally far from the Lord. 41:58 And it is a heart, heartbroken. 42:04 You know, I want you to give us that text, 42:05 what is that reference again because there 42:07 are parents at home they need to write this down. 42:10 Yes. And they need to, to be able to look at up 42:13 and claim that promise and read that promise, 42:15 yeah, that's in Jeremiah. It is in Jeremiah and 42:18 chapter 31 verse 15 to 17. Alright verse, yes. 42:25 Alright, so you write that down Jeremiah, 42:27 the 31st chapter and verses 15 through 17. 42:31 And the Bible does promise us that, 42:33 it promises, if we, we bring our children up 42:37 and I talk to young man yesterday, 42:39 he is young and comparison to lot 42:42 of people, he has been married, he said, 42:43 he is getting married now for his third time, 42:46 but he told me how that the Lord had just 42:50 reach down and say to him, his father 42:52 and mother loved the Lord, committed 42:54 him to the Lord many years ago, 42:55 but he went to his own way. 42:57 And you know folks, don't be too hard on 42:59 yourself, remember Adam and Eve had two 43:01 children and they didn't have television, 43:03 they didn't have video games, they didn't 43:05 have anything like that and yet one of 43:08 those children followed the Lord and the other 43:10 one was a murderer. So, you cannot don't, 43:14 don't take, be too hard on yourself. 43:17 And you know, I think parents sometimes 43:20 we want to take too much credit if our 43:22 kids turn out okay, everyone that take 43:24 too much blame, if they don't, they're 43:27 free moral agents, God made them, 43:29 you're a free moral agent, you can could 43:32 still turn away from God, no matter 43:33 how old you are, you could do that, 43:35 if you want too because God made us 43:37 for moral agents. However, we know, 43:40 yes, that if something has spark has been 43:44 put in that heart that we believe that it will, 43:50 through constant prayer, we need to 43:52 be praying for these young people, yes, 43:54 that it will be faint and that sparkle will 43:56 start to grow and it will, it will. 43:58 So, this is a promise, yeah, for those who 44:00 have already left, but there is another 44:03 promise for those who are still inside, 44:05 right they're still in. We, we, we still, 44:07 we need the, the battle is not over, yes, 44:10 we need to pray, so I would like to give us 44:12 another, alright, you see I have claimed 44:15 these promises, okay, and this one is in 44:20 Isaiah chapter 54, Isaiah chapter 54, 44:25 okay and verse 13, verse 13 and I read. 44:31 "All your children shall be taught by the Lord, 44:36 yeah, and great shall be the peace of your 44:40 children." Wow! So, I, I'm claiming this promise, 44:46 yes. You know, in my work I travel a lot 44:50 and I said Lord, this is the assignment that 44:55 you've given me, I wish I had more time, 44:57 but I'm claiming this promise, yes, 45:00 see Lord I just want you to be the teacher 45:04 of my children, yes, to take care of them, amen. 45:07 And I praise the Lord for what He has done. 45:11 He'll do it for me. Yes, for, for those parents, 45:16 the children are still alright spirituality. 45:22 I would like to encourage all of us 45:25 to continue to claim this promise, 45:27 claim this promise because this is a battle, 45:30 we're in the great controversy, yes, 45:32 and we, we should not, should not stop praying, 45:36 let's pray, let's ask God to, to help and teach 45:41 and to guide, to protect our children, 45:45 that is our contribution to the young people, 45:48 just imagine, if you by the grace of God, 45:51 if you can keep all the young people of the 45:54 church to be active, you can think of, 45:58 of the impact of that, yes, and that is my 46:02 dream, that yes we're preaching outside 46:07 reaching people, but we need to emphasize 46:10 also the fact that we need to keep our 46:14 young people in the church. Yeah you know, 46:16 we have maybe 20 million roughly members 46:20 something like that. I heard this and 46:24 I cannot prove this, I don't, don't contact me 46:27 and ask me for proof, but I heard it from 46:30 an individual that I trust and he said that, 46:32 he had figured that from the beginning 46:35 and this was several years ago that he 46:38 made this statement, we maybe had 46:39 12 million at that time. He said that had we 46:43 kept half of our young people, half of our 46:47 young people that we would have had 46:49 at that time over a hundred million members, 46:51 if we're to just kept half, really, even around 46:55 young people. Well, that shows you my 46:58 friend that the greatest place for evangelism 47:00 starts at home, doesn't mean you're not 47:02 doing at somewhere else, but it starts at home, 47:06 thus spend your time, thus spend all of your 47:09 resources you can working for the young 47:12 people that are in your own home. 47:14 But I've really enjoyed this discussion 47:17 with you and I, I know that you do love 47:20 young people. I love young people, 47:22 yeah, yes. And the young people know 47:24 you love them. In Minneapolis you were 47:28 one of the speakers, I remember? Yes, 47:30 it's the divine service after, yes, yes. 47:32 And they don't invite very many usually 47:35 it's there, their own or some of the real 47:38 young preachers and you know, you're still 47:40 a young preacher, but you know what I'm saying, 47:42 I thought that was a great honor that you 47:46 were invited to be a speaker to those 47:49 young people. Well, we're praying for your 47:52 ministry. Thank you, so much. 47:54 And that God will continue to bless all 47:58 that you're involved with, for your family 48:02 and for those young men in their 20s, 48:06 thank you, and we will pray for them. 48:09 Yes I, yeah we, we need to continue to pray, 48:15 when we look around for example what is 48:20 going on in Haiti, we know that we don't 48:23 have much time, and this is the time for us 48:26 to renew our commitment to the Lord, 48:29 that's right, and to, to pray and to do 48:31 our very best and ask God to fill us with 48:35 the Holy Spirit, so that their work would 48:38 be done in no time and we can live this place 48:42 and live the place prepared by our Father. 48:47 Amen, well thanks again for, for being with us, 48:52 we're gonna enjoy some music right now. 48:56 And, and we're going to listen as Emily Felts 49:00 Jones sings, "No Way Around The Cross." 49:17 In the beginning, back when it all began, 49:23 there was a Cross, drawn on the master plan, 49:30 placed in for until eternity, 49:35 the salvation symbol for all to see. 49:41 And there's no way around the Cross. 49:46 All history hangs on that tree and the shadow 49:53 falls far and wide and covers humanity. 50:01 You can choose to ignore but it won't go away, 50:07 it's a part of your past, it's your future today. 50:12 'Cause there's no way around the Cross. 50:22 Then there's an ending for everything that's done. 50:29 And heaven is earned. Calvary just for one. 50:35 The fate of this world was decided there, 50:40 right from the answer shines everywhere. 50:47 'Cause there's no way around the Cross. 50:51 All history hangs on that tree and the shadow 50:58 falls far and wide and covers humanity, 51:06 you can choose to ignore, but it won't go away, 51:13 it's a part of your past, it's your future today. 51:18 'Cause there's no way around the Cross. 51:22 There's no denying the choice we must make, 51:29 'cause it stands at the end, 51:32 which end, road we take. 51:39 'Cause there's no way around the Cross. 51:44 All history hangs on that tree and the shadow 51:51 falls far and wide and cover humanity. 51:59 We can choose to ignore but it won't go away, 52:05 it's a part of our past, it's our future today. 52:10 'Cause there's no way around the Cross. 52:15 There's no way around the Cross. 52:20 There's just no way around the Cross. |
Revised 2021-03-12