1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 I was here about three years ago, three and a half years ago, and the world was quite a bit 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:11,440 different at that point. If you recall, everything was going great. I mean, it was, the economy was 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:20,240 booming, low unemployment, everything was, seemed to be just really great. And, um, and yet we heard 4 00:00:20,240 --> 00:00:26,400 that overseas they were having a problem with the disease called COVID-19. But we felt that, 5 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:32,400 you know, that really wouldn't bother us here in America. Three years later, we know the results. 6 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:39,840 I believe one close to a million maybe have died. Most of us probably have had friends or relatives. 7 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:44,800 I've known pastors that we've worked with. Things have changed almost overnight. 8 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:57,120 Um, and then we heard that the Russians were circling Ukraine, and the people there in Ukraine 9 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:04,160 continued to go about their business. But suddenly they attacked. As some of they advanced, 10 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:14,320 uh, we are fully aware if we have studied, if you've been involved for a few years, we know what 11 00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:20,960 Daniel 2 tells us. God is in charge. We've got people today that are perplexed, wondering what 12 00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:25,280 in the world is going on. We had some people calling the conference office and wanting to 13 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:34,880 know if, if the COVID-19 was the mark of the beast. And so people fully obviously don't know 14 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:39,760 what the mark of the beast is. They don't realize that it actually says that you will worship the 15 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:49,040 beast. And so, uh, we've got people now that things have suddenly changed. As I said, almost 16 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:57,840 like overnight, but yet folks, we know that Daniel told us in Daniel 12 that there is a time of 17 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:04,000 trouble coming, such as we've never seen. And naturally we want to be positive. We want to be 18 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:11,520 happy. And that's why we love Jesus. We can be happy in Jesus. We have hope in Jesus, but the 19 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:19,280 world overall doesn't know Jesus, or if they do, they haven't committed to him. So naturally there's 20 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:30,000 fear. We know that Daniel 7 tells us the outline of history. We know that Daniel 8 and 9 gives us 21 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:37,760 prophecies. We understand revelation 13 and revelation 14, but is it possible that we maybe 22 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:46,400 are asleep? We understand exactly what we, what we've been told about the signs of Christ's 23 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:55,680 second coming. And, and yet, and yet, as I have gone around from church after church over the last 24 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:03,120 few weeks, I've asked the question, um, are you aware of what's going on behind the scenes? I 25 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:11,120 mentioned this the last time I was here because we know that Pope Francis was, had his plan 26 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:20,640 announced to save the world. His plan in 2015 was only the third in a hundred years of a, 27 00:03:20,640 --> 00:03:28,720 an important call to the church to follow. And he outlined a call to the world, political and 28 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:37,120 religious leaders in 2017, 16 to come in 2017 to the Vatican, uh, because he had an announcement 29 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:43,120 to make. Well, it was in 2017. It was to celebrate what he called the 500th anniversary of the 30 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:49,280 Protestant Reformation and that, that a deal had been worked out with the world alliance of 31 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:55,520 Lutherans and the Catholic church so that there was no more separation. He said, we are now one. 32 00:03:55,520 --> 00:04:01,120 We had religious leaders that went, people like Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, people like Rick Warren. 33 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:06,160 We have read many times some of his books, 40 days of purpose. And yet he came away saying, 34 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:13,040 the Pope is the leader of all Christians. The Seventh-day Adventist Church religious 35 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:20,240 liberty secretary was there. Then the plan was to announce in 2019 and 2020 the plan, 36 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:26,800 the seven-year action plan to save the planet. If you come at the beginning this afternoon, 37 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:32,880 I will share just briefly again where we stand on that because as I've gone from church to church, 38 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:42,000 we have not, we have not really aware of what's going on behind the scenes. Uh, that in some ways, 39 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:48,000 um, is interesting to me because we have been preaching the three angels message 40 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:55,520 for 158 plus years. The gospel to go to all the world. That means here in Ringo in Catoosa County 41 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,320 to let the people know that Jesus loves them, that there's a day of judgment coming. 42 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:07,680 Message number two, that false religion, false Christianity will come to its end. Babylon 43 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:13,760 is fallen, is fallen. That's a direct statement. And then of course, the third angels message. 44 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,920 And we say, well, we have to be careful what we say. We're not talking about Catholic people. 45 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:22,000 We're talking about an organization. I have dear friends that belong to the Catholic Church. 46 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:29,360 Girl that was going with us on sports camp, uh, in Nicaragua, uh, and some other places, 47 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:34,640 uh, to South Dakota right there in the Indian reservation to witness. And she was there with us. 48 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:41,520 Folks, either we know and believe what we've been teaching or we don't believe what we've been 49 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:49,200 teaching or we don't. And if we don't keep up with what's going on, uh, 50 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:56,640 when we just saying something and we really don't believe it. So folks, we are reminded today 51 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:04,480 that God has called this church for a specific reason to preach his truth on the soon coming of 52 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:13,600 Jesus. And as part of that, we recognize in the Bible text that he just read in Isaiah and Isaiah, 53 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:18,800 of course, is, and I've said this before, he's kind of an enigmatic writer. I love him, but maybe 54 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:24,000 that means I'm a little different too. I don't know because his language is kind of, uh, very 55 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:31,680 interesting. I'll just use that word, but here in, uh, in the verse that he read in Isaiah 41, 56 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:37,600 uh, he says that, that the Lord has brought people from all over the world. Well, he was talking 57 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:43,360 about, and by the way, he was talking about the time in which they were under the thumb, you might 58 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:51,600 say of the Assyrian government in verses one through 39. He's talking about that time in 59 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:59,040 verses 40 to 66. He's referring to going ahead and also to their, what would amount to their soon 60 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:06,400 captivity by the Babylonians, but he talks more about the hope and the reasons why they have failed 61 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:12,400 and so forth. And, um, but as we, as we think about this text that he said that we've come from all 62 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:18,400 over the world, from the East and West, North and South, that's true for all of us. I mean, just last 63 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:23,920 Monday we celebrated what? July 4th. What did, what was, what was the celebration for? 64 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:29,520 I can't hear you. What independence, right? And we've come from all over the world. Our forefathers 65 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:36,640 came from many, many different places. And so this text that Lord is that Isaiah is quoting by the 66 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:48,640 Lord, he then says, uh, that you are my servant. I have chosen you. Now, how many, he said I can 67 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:55,440 move around, so I'm going to come down here. Is that okay? My own stone camera. How many remember 68 00:07:55,440 --> 00:08:01,520 when you were in school, grade school, maybe, or somewhere in school and at recess at phys ed or 69 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:07,760 something, they chose teams to do something racist, kickball. How many of you remember something 70 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:12,320 like that? Now I'm virtually blind, so make sure you wave your hands while I know you're awake. 71 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:20,320 Okay. And, um, so, you know, and maybe every time they chose, you were chosen last. How did you feel 72 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:27,840 when I started teaching in 1964 in this county? And that was last century folks, uh, over here at 73 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:34,080 West side. Uh, I picked up on that. Uh, it was the seventh and eighth grade. It was a self-contained 74 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:39,440 school then. And, um, and so, uh, instead of letting kids feel bad because they were all 75 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:44,000 always picked last, I would pick the teams based on their abilities and I would always pick the 76 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:48,320 ones I thought were maybe a little bit athletically slow and said being last, they were first. 77 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:57,680 Now in this case, uh, then how do you feel when it says you've been chosen by God 78 00:08:58,560 --> 00:09:06,720 that you've been called as a servant? Now you, your reaction probably is I'm unqualified. 79 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:14,960 What does he mean? Folks, if God calls you, he will qualify you. And so as we talk, you know, 80 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:21,680 today about spiritual gifts, uh, we, I want us to focus for a few minutes on the things 81 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:30,640 that God wants to do for us. Now in connection with that, we recognize that, uh, when Jesus came, 82 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:38,480 he, um, chose what did he go to the university of Jerusalem and choose 83 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:48,560 theologians, experts? Did he? No. Who did he choose? Ordinary people, just like all of us. 84 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:55,600 And, uh, we call them his disciples. When you follow somebody or something, you become the 85 00:09:55,600 --> 00:10:00,880 disciple. In this case, the disciple for Jesus, they followed him for three and a half years. 86 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:08,560 Interestingly, in five years, that would have been 2000 years ago. They started following him 87 00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:17,840 in his ministry. Um, and then, and they observed how he demonstrated the true Messiah 88 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:24,960 that he was came to care for people, love people. He loved the children, the children love. Can you 89 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:34,320 imagine boys and girls being able to sit on Jesus lap? Well, he's coming pretty soon. And maybe if 90 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:38,800 you're not having, it doesn't come quickly, you'll grow a little bit, but I think he's coming soon 91 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:44,400 and you'll get to sit on his lap. Anytime you want to, you can come. You can come. You can come. 92 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:51,760 And you'll get to sit on his lap anytime you want to for the rest of eternity, which means no end. 93 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:59,360 But it's interesting that disciples didn't learn. They observed, but they missed a lot. 94 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:07,680 Then came the death of Jesus and then came the resurrection. 95 00:11:07,680 --> 00:11:13,040 Forty days they spent with Jesus after the resurrection, again, observing 96 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:22,320 and yet still missing some things because in Acts chapter one, verse six says, they said, 97 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,400 are you now going to set up your kingdom? 98 00:11:26,560 --> 00:11:32,480 And his answer was, and it was very nice because Jesus is very nice. He said, leave things to God 99 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:37,840 that belongs to God. Now to us, we would say, stop getting saying things. That's none of your business. 100 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,920 But then the verse eight, Jesus is getting ready to go back to heaven 101 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:51,840 and he gave the marching orders to the disciples then and the marching orders for you and me today. 102 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:59,200 He said, I want you to go everywhere and tell people about me. Jerusalem, 103 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,560 Judea, places where it wasn't comfortable, some area. 104 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:10,080 And then what happened next? He started ascending up into the sky. 105 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:17,840 Now remember, the disciples had missed a lot. They didn't miss this. Their mouths must have 106 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:23,600 dropped open or whatever as they watched him disappear into the clouds. And then two angels 107 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:28,960 said, why stand you gazing? The same Jesus as you've seen go will come back in like manner. 108 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:38,000 But before Jesus left, he said, I'm going to send you a special helper called the Holy Spirit, 109 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:45,840 the Comforter. And folks, this is why that I asked you today or I mean, 110 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:52,880 really maybe six weeks ago, two months ago, not just think about the gifts, 111 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:59,760 but the fact is we ask you to read the book of Acts in the Bible to see what happened at the early 112 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:07,520 church, to see what it was like on the day of Pentecost. Because if it happened then, 113 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:12,720 the Lord wants it to happen now. And we know very well what happened that the Sabbath 114 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:18,640 now it finally hit them and they went back and started praying 10 days. 115 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:24,640 Ten days after that, Jesus comes out of being with his father reinstated as the priest of the 116 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:33,040 universe that he had laid aside to become a human being. And now, and now as a special gift, 117 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:39,840 the Holy Spirit was sent to the people who were praying and asking for it. And they were 118 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:46,640 praying for the Holy Spirit. And then the Holy Spirit was sent to the people who were praying 119 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:54,080 and asking for it. Do you see why I ask you folks to read in the book Acts of the Apostles, 120 00:13:54,080 --> 00:14:00,800 the chapter on Pentecost, the chapter on gifts of the Spirit? Do you see why I ask you to do that? 121 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:07,280 And then to be praying for the Holy Spirit even as we come here today. 122 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:11,440 And we're willing to give us gifts and we are to give gifts to our children. 123 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:16,240 And in those quotes, some of those quotes I gave them to you. I hope you read those. 124 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:24,320 If all were willing, all would want be filled by his spirit. Another quote, 125 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:35,680 why do we not ask for the Holy Spirit? Why do we not pray for it, preach and talk about it? 126 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:39,920 Folks, we're living in the time which everybody through the ages wanted to live 127 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:49,760 when Jesus is getting ready to come. I mean folks, and that reminds us though that 128 00:14:50,880 --> 00:15:00,560 we were also described in the book of Revelation as what type of church? Laodicea. 129 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:10,240 So after all these positive comments, it does remind us of Jesus' own statements to the angel, 130 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:19,440 to John. Laodicea. And it was talking about the situation of being asleep, 131 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:25,920 but I want to use this illustration. If you're riding with a person in a car 132 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:31,920 and they're sound asleep, are you going to move anywhere? No. Now I hear one guy awake here. 133 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,920 I hope you people at the back keep me awake because I cannot see you. So every once in a while, 134 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:42,960 I may ask you to show your hand or something. But what about if you ride with a person 135 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:49,360 who is sleepy? Which is the most dangerous? Which is the most dangerous? 136 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:53,920 Well, you know, we drive very far. You can drive off to sleep, but we're talking about 137 00:15:53,920 --> 00:16:00,800 the condition of being sleepy versus being sound asleep. You see, because Christ said 138 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:05,840 that's hard for him to take. I mean, it's almost like me telling him I love him, 139 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:13,200 but then I show everything that I don't. That's hard for him to, I'm not telling the truth. 140 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:21,440 And the point is today, folks, are we totally asleep or are we in between? 141 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:28,640 We come to church, but I didn't have time to study or to pray this week. 142 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:37,680 See, folks, Satan, and by the way, the South School class was very, very good here today. 143 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:46,080 And this week, we are reminded, yes, the Lord loves us. He's called us. He wants to help us. 144 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:51,280 But we also are aware that Satan is going around as it was pointed in the lesson this morning 145 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:56,160 as a roaring lion. Here, folks, 146 00:16:56,160 --> 00:17:07,840 Paul wrote a special note to Timothy because he wanted to warn Timothy of situations, 147 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:14,640 and Timothy has put it there for us. And that is you can read it in Tim, 148 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:22,560 second Timothy four, verse three, and four, and four, and five, and five, and six, and seven, 149 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:26,720 and that is you can read it in Tim, a second Timothy four, verse three, and four. 150 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:37,040 A warning for the time will come when they talking about the people at that time in the 151 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:44,800 early church, the Christians, quote unquote, Christians, when they will not endure sound 152 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:51,920 doctrine. I mentioned that we, a seventh day Adventist, understand the doctrines of Jesus 153 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:58,160 and the truth. John 16, 13 to 14, the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. 154 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:07,440 And yet it says the people at that time were not enduring sound doctrine. What about us today? 155 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:17,280 Where do we stand? But according to their own lusts or desires, because they have itching ears, 156 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:28,720 they will heap up for themselves false teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth 157 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:38,720 and be turned away to fables. Folks, that is a message from God to us today. We cannot take 158 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:45,040 for granted the fact that I accepted the Lord. If I love him, I want to talk to him. I want to 159 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:51,440 talk to him. I want to communicate with him. I want to every day have a relationship with him. 160 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:56,640 It is not enough to have our names written on the book. And folks, I am talking as straight as I can 161 00:18:56,640 --> 00:19:05,280 today because we're living very close to the coming of Jesus. Now is the time that we've been 162 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:13,840 called. We have been called to let our neighbors and our friends know what is going on. I'm so 163 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:21,040 excited that folks that we and I'm thankful that we've been given special help through the spirit 164 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:26,480 of prophecy. And we're living in a time. Matter of fact, I shared this with you last time I was 165 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:31,680 here. Joseph Kidder study showed of the people attending seventh day churches on a regular base 166 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:36,320 at every Sabbath, 57 percent said they never read anything from the spirit of prophecy. We never 167 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:40,640 want to put the spirit of prophecy ahead of the Bible. But who am I to tell God I didn't need 168 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:46,880 special help? And I think you all have heard the statistic that a woman with a third grade education 169 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:54,160 has written more books and publications than any writer in the history of the world and more than 170 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:59,920 any female in the United States with a third grade education. That power didn't come from 171 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:07,840 Satan. It came from God. And folks, we need to wake up because we realize, we realize 172 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:15,120 crazy things are happening. We just had the minister's meeting in Kentucky, the North American 173 00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:20,320 Division General Conference. And folks, all I'm going to say is that there were some very 174 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:29,600 interesting speakers there. We've got some things coming in that we knew were coming. Jesus himself 175 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:34,960 said the things that happened at the time of Noah will happen at the time right before I come back. 176 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:45,040 Have we forgotten that? If you read in the book, the book of spiritual promises, excuse me, 177 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:52,640 the story is told, I mean we were told what was happening at the time of the flood. 178 00:20:54,160 --> 00:21:00,880 And I think you know what I'm talking about, folks. Crazy things are coming in, in regards to society 179 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:06,480 and into our relationships. And that's all I'm going to say because I think we know what was 180 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,960 happening at the time of the flood. And Jesus said it's going to happen now. We've got some real 181 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:16,480 decisions facing us. We know this church is going to go through. It will look like it's going to fail. 182 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:24,000 We're also, folks, reminded that in Revelation 18, we very seldom ever talk about the fourth angel, 183 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:30,160 but it says the fourth angel will come, apparently based very close to the beginning of the time of 184 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:37,680 trouble, which is very soon I believe. It says the fourth angel will come with great power 185 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:43,680 and light will shed all over the world. Ellen White said she saw thousands upon thousands upon 186 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:50,800 thousands of people going door to door. And folks, that's you and me. It's not angels. God did not, 187 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:57,040 he could send angels, but he's chosen every one of us. That's why this is so important for us today 188 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:03,440 to realize what God wants to do for us. Now, the last time I was here, we, 189 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:11,280 oh wait, before I leave this, in this quote following that 190 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:21,280 that Paul had sent to Timothy, these words were given, that I want you to preach the word 191 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:28,640 in season and out of season, Paul said. And he says, I want you to reprove. I want you to rebuke. 192 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:38,800 I want you to exhort. Folks, that is different than ignorance, approving, or going along with. 193 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:46,080 And I think you know what I'm talking about. It is time for us to realize that we are must be willing 194 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:53,120 to stand up for the truth. And I hope that we will say amen to that. Now folks, when I was here the 195 00:22:53,120 --> 00:23:02,320 last time, we talked about the fact that 2 Corinthians chapter 4, and I will mention it again, 196 00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:08,960 shows us how God wants to help us. But before I get to that, I want to give you another Bible text 197 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:13,760 that follows up the one we had a few moments ago to start with, and this is verse 10. 198 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:25,440 This is important, folks. Fear not, I am with you, the Lord says. Be not dismayed. Now the world is 199 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:32,880 scared. I don't know if you've noticed the threat of nuclear wars being tossed around by the leader 200 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:37,680 of Russia. And I don't know if you picked up on it, but in the last two or three days, it appears 201 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:45,840 that Iran is very close to a nuclear weapon. They have threatened to wipe Israel off the map. 202 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:50,160 Do you think Israel is going to let that happen? I think you can see why people may be getting 203 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:56,080 scared. What's going on? And then we hear all this stuff about China having a weapon that we have no 204 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:05,840 defense against. And so people are scared. This says, do not fear. God is in control, folks. 205 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:20,080 Daniel 2, 21, he sits up and takes down. Be not dismayed. I am your strength. I will help you. 206 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:27,840 I will hold you with the right hand of my righteousness. How many of us believe that? 207 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:34,560 Hello. Thank you. Now in 2 Corinthians, well, let's go back to 2 Corinthians. In the early 208 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:41,280 church there in Corinth, in chapter 3, it tells us that many of the Christians had been growing 209 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:46,000 and making progress. It says that in the beginning of chapter 4. But in chapter 3, it says a lot of 210 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:52,000 them had accepted Christ in name, but they were actually following the teachings of Moses. 211 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:59,200 And in verse 3 of 2 Corinthians chapter 4, it says that that Satan blinds the eyes of the lost. 212 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:06,640 He doesn't blind just the eyes of the lost. He tries to blind us also. Now folks, here it is. 213 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:15,200 We've got people in the world looking for answers. Now Isaiah 43, 214 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:24,480 tells us that it says a little different word. It says, you are my witnesses. Everyone in this 215 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:31,200 room that's a Christian, you are a witness for Jesus. I wonder sometimes though, if people see 216 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:38,640 Jesus in me or do they just see the world in me? That's a question for you. You're a witness. 217 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:46,400 And bring you an update. If you recall, I mentioned to you the Hubble telescope. How many of you were 218 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:52,000 here when I talked about that a few years ago? Okay, the Hubble telescope was put out into space 219 00:25:52,000 --> 00:26:01,040 approximately 45 years ago from now. It was put 375 miles out into space, way above the Earth. 220 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:10,320 Dr. Adam Reese, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in astronomy, said that by peering through Orion, 221 00:26:11,360 --> 00:26:18,560 the opening in Orion, how many of us have heard something about that? I'll make a comment on that 222 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:24,400 in just a moment or two. He said by looking through that, the opening in Orion, how many of us 223 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:30,640 have heard something about that? I'll make a comment on that in just a moment or two. He said 224 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:40,800 through that opening in Orion, we were able to spot two trillion galaxies. Boys and girls, 225 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:46,400 what galaxy do we live in? Thank you, Milky Way Galaxy. I don't know why they gave it a candy name 226 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:54,400 or the candy name I guess was given, whatever. It is estimated that our galaxy, which is what I was 227 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,480 teaching long ago, they felt like it was 100,000 light years across, whatever. I don't know if 228 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:05,840 they've pinpointed that, but they believe that we have at least 100 billion stars. Now our sun is a 229 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:14,320 star, and so if they're stars, are there planets around each one of them? Now the point is, he said 230 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:24,880 we spotted two trillion galaxies. Dr. Reese said if you multiply 100 billion times 2 trillion, 231 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:31,040 you'll come out with 200 sextillion, 23 zeros. Now listen to this folks, this is mind-boggling. 232 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,760 That's more than every grain of sand on every beach in the world. 233 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:42,880 When we talk about the power of God, it brings the word infinite in, and I talked to you about 234 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:48,560 that the last time I was here. Infinite means no limit to time, space, or amount. There is no limit 235 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:55,840 to this power that's inside of you today. Listen to this Bible text talking about that. Psalms 147 236 00:27:55,840 --> 00:28:05,040 verse 4, he the Lord counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by name. 237 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:15,600 In reference to Orion, just a little free reminder, Revelation 1-7 says that when Jesus comes back, 238 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:20,400 every eye will see him come back. Have you ever wondered how that's going to happen on a round 239 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:29,920 world? The University of Oklahoma, according to the University of Oklahoma, Orion's belt 240 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:41,200 of the three bright stars is situated on the celestial equator visible from every 241 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:47,200 inhabitant part of the earth. Important quote, 242 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:58,240 the hand that sustains the worlds in space, the hand that holds in their orderly arrangement 243 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:06,560 and tireless activity all things throughout the universe of God is the hand that was nailed to 244 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:19,520 the cross for you and me. Book of Education, page 130. Update, I also told you when I was here, 245 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:24,320 they were talking about a new satellite called J-Web. How many of you have heard of J-Web? 246 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:28,720 Now folks, this is what I was talking to you about earlier about we need to kind of 247 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:35,440 be aware of things that are happening. J-Web was supposed to be shot off in 2019-2020. The 248 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:40,960 mirror was going to be 15 times bigger than the one on the Hubble. But believe it or not, 249 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:45,920 they had a problem. I do not understand how this could happen, but it wouldn't fit in the rocket. 250 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:52,320 So they had, it took them about a year or two to get it, whatever. I don't know how you could trim 251 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:58,800 something down, but they made changes. And the mirror, so they shot this thing off 252 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:03,280 last October 31 or November 1, one of those two days or not, however it worked. 253 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:12,400 Today it is in orbit a million miles from Earth, not 375 miles. And the scientists believe 254 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:18,320 that they're going to see the ends of the universe. They even believe they're going to see the 10th 255 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:23,280 of the Big Bang Theory 10 million years ago. I think they're going to be disappointed. I can 256 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:29,120 hardly wait because the first pictures are due in a few days in the month of July to come back. 257 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:34,480 I'm just waiting to see what they're going to say now when they discover there's no limit, 258 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:43,120 there's no limit to God's power. So folks, as we think about that and as we think about 259 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:49,200 these gifts we're talking about, we're thinking about the call that's been made to you and me, 260 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:59,680 we realize, I believe today, that the link to all of this is our link to Jesus Christ. 261 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:11,680 For example, we recognize where faith comes from. Romans 10-17, faith comes from hearing, 262 00:31:12,560 --> 00:31:14,080 but hearing comes from where? 263 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:20,640 Word of God. And you recall I told you that Joseph Kidder's study shows about only 37% 264 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:25,920 of people attending church every Sabbath reads their Bible every day, 63% one day a week and not 265 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:31,440 at all. Folks, that's not going to do it. If you eat one meal a week or not at all, how strong are 266 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:38,720 you going to be physically? Folks, I mean, this is for people who are attending church on a regular 267 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:48,800 basis. We're talking about life or death, folks, here in regards to eternity. Prayer, 73% say they 268 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:56,480 pray once a day, 21% once a week, 6% not at all. Jesus said in Matthew 17-14 to 21, 269 00:31:56,480 --> 00:32:00,880 disciples, you didn't have enough faith that this boy could be healed that was cast with devil 270 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:05,280 because you did not have enough faith. And he said, there's no limit to God's power. 271 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:09,040 There was cast with devil because you did not have enough faith. And he said, the only way you're 272 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:13,600 going to have it is by prayer and fasting. And it doesn't mean doing without food. It means doing 273 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:17,680 without something is keeping me every day for spending time with the Lord. 274 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:27,440 As we wind down on this, folks, I hope we see the most important thing is to make a commitment. 275 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:33,360 Four or five things I want to share with you in regards to the call that God has made to you and 276 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:41,440 the fact that he wants you to be his witness. Number one, have we accepted Jesus as our Savior? 277 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:46,960 If there's somebody here today that hasn't, why would you wait? He loves you. He wants you to 278 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:56,720 live with him forever. And folks, secondly, the call itself, are you going to pass it off or say, 279 00:32:56,720 --> 00:33:05,360 Lord, I'll do whatever I can. Help me. What about the gifts? Well, as I said before, 280 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:09,760 we need the power of God to help us use these gifts that he's given us. Matter of fact, 281 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:13,840 the Holy Spirit is the special gift that Jesus said, I'm leaving with you. 282 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:20,640 Fourth, folks, and the last thing is commitment. Are we willing today to make the commitment to 283 00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:28,960 give our very best efforts for the Lord in using our gifts? Folks, 284 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:40,240 you can see, I hope, why I ask you to begin studying and praying. Folks, it all comes down 285 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:48,720 to giving our will to the Father. He's promised us the Holy Spirit. It says it's infinite power 286 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:57,280 that's inside of us, accessible, but we have to give him our will. The Lord's prayer, we learned 287 00:33:57,280 --> 00:34:04,960 that a long time ago. Your will on earth as it is in heaven. Folks, as we begin closing here, 288 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:15,200 think about Jesus himself. Jesus himself, he's gone through the life and now he's facing what he knew 289 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:20,720 was coming. He tried to get the disciples there at the Last Supper to realize. 290 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:30,400 You know, they didn't. He asked them to pray. They go and sleep instead. And Satan, knowing this was 291 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:39,840 it, he had to defeat Jesus here. He himself, he didn't depend on all his angels. He himself took 292 00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:45,040 on Jesus. He had done it in the wilderness and failed. He couldn't fail here. Read the book in 293 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:52,320 Desire of Ages and it tells us folks that three times Jesus went back and every time they were 294 00:34:52,320 --> 00:35:01,680 asleep. I mean, the very time he needed them, they meant well. We mean well, but are we staggering? 295 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:10,160 The third time Jesus went out, he basically said sleep on, but he's staggering now. Satan is ripping 296 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:16,960 him apart. He's staggering. He collapses on the ground. Desire of Ages tells us he's clean to the 297 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:26,320 ground that he created. He's crying tears of blood. He's being separated from his father. He's never 298 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:36,480 been separated from his father in eternity. And my sins are coming between him and God. Your sins 299 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:45,840 he was taking on him was separating him from God. And we're told there that the whole human race 300 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:52,080 hung in the balance. What would he do? Satan is saying, we don't know exactly what he said, 301 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:58,240 but he was saying something like Jesus, why are you doing this? Your leaders are going to kill you. 302 00:35:58,240 --> 00:36:05,440 They're trying to kill you. Your best friends, they don't care. They're asleep. It's ripping him 303 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:14,000 apart. And he comes to the moment, the most important moment in history. He first said three 304 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:23,280 times, Father, if it's be your will, take this cup from me. What would he say next? What did he say? 305 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:35,040 Does anybody know? Nevertheless, not my will be done, but yours. At that point, his father could 306 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:42,720 help him. He immediately sent Gabriel. We know the rest of the story. When Gabriel landed there, 307 00:36:42,720 --> 00:36:48,880 it lit up the area the same way it did back when the message went to the shepherds. You remember 308 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:55,360 the whole area lit up. Matter of fact, it woke up the disciples and they could see 309 00:36:55,360 --> 00:37:04,960 Gabriel pick up Jesus' head and wipe away the blood off his face. And he was, we don't know exactly 310 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:12,320 what he said, but I'm sure he told Jesus, the father's accepted your will. I've been sent here 311 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:18,400 to help you. In a few minutes, Jesus was able to get up and walk out and go through what he had to 312 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:25,680 go through for you and me because he gave him his will. Today, every single day, if you and I will 313 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:30,480 give our will to the father, there's no limit to what he can do in your life. How many of us believe 314 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:37,440 that? And that means folks, not once, ever once in a while, not every week or when I feel like it. 315 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:46,480 It means every day. Some of the quotes that I usually close with Habakkuk, chapter one, 316 00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:53,920 a little prophet there in the Old Testament. And Habakkuk was complaining to God. He said, 317 00:37:53,920 --> 00:38:00,240 Lord, how come good things keep happening to the bad people and bad things are happening to the 318 00:38:00,240 --> 00:38:04,880 good people? How many of us have felt that at some time or another? Humans, I'm sure we have. 319 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:10,080 Why is this happening to me? And my neighbors are doing all kinds of things and they're just 320 00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:17,520 flourishing. The Lord spoke to Habakkuk and said, Habakkuk, pay attention. I like that. Pay attention. 321 00:38:18,800 --> 00:38:21,200 I'm going to do something for you. You wouldn't believe it if I told you. 322 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:29,440 Parallels Jeremiah 33, where Jeremiah wrote, the Lord saying, call upon me and I will answer 323 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:35,360 you. That means everyone in this room, call upon him and he'll answer you. That's not a false 324 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:43,760 promise. And he says, I will tell you things you don't even know about. I'm going to do great and 325 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:54,240 mighty things for you. Great and mighty things for you. As we close, I want to read from 326 00:38:56,400 --> 00:39:02,800 gospel workers, and I'm sure we've heard this before, but it fits today the call that has been 327 00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:11,920 made for you and me in this room. I want to read to you from the gospel workers, and I'm sure we've 328 00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:19,920 beenいた Herr Leib, hyperactive till the very end. It is a love that we concern. It is a dislave 329 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:26,560 for the love that we have, it is a surprisingly positive old fighting. It is coming from God 330 00:39:26,560 --> 00:39:32,000 in our lives, which is great because if I did that, I wouldn't be in this room at night and 331 00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:38,800 even if I left, through the abode here with the priest and went out to baby room and 332 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:46,280 the heathen. They appealed to the Duke to say whether they thought, or his judgment, 333 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:55,000 such efforts were likely to prove a success commensurate to the cost. The old 334 00:39:55,000 --> 00:40:04,000 soldier replied, gentlemen, what are your marching orders? Success is not the 335 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:13,760 question for you to discuss. If I read your orders are right, they run thus. Go 336 00:40:13,760 --> 00:40:21,560 you into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Gentlemen, 337 00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:29,520 ladies here today, obey your marching orders. Think about what we just said. 338 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:35,760 You've been called. You're special. God could send angels, but he's chosen you 339 00:40:35,760 --> 00:40:41,120 here in Ringo in Catoosa County. You don't know what he's going to do for you, 340 00:40:41,120 --> 00:40:46,200 but I promise you me if you give him your will every day and ask, he will put 341 00:40:46,200 --> 00:40:54,360 people in your life. Do you believe that, folks? So today, are we ready to obey his 342 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:58,600 marching orders? Stop worrying about what is cost, what is this going to work? 343 00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:04,040 Folks, you're cooking classes in this church. I have used all over this 344 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:09,480 conference as an example because I know it changed lives. I mentioned Butch Oliver 345 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:14,240 earlier, and there are others. And so you've done a great job. There may be 346 00:41:14,240 --> 00:41:21,120 other things that he wants to recommend. The great day of the Lord is near. It is 347 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:31,440 near and hasteth greatly. I usually close with this and I'll close with it again. 348 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:36,720 Revelation chapter 5 verse 11 and 12. John was taken into the prayer room of 349 00:41:36,720 --> 00:41:41,960 heaven. There he saw the angels singing thousands upon thousands, ten thousand 350 00:41:41,960 --> 00:41:48,840 times ten thousand. Thousands of thousands of angels saying, worthy Jesus, 351 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:59,640 worthy as the Lamb Jesus, to receive power, wisdom, riches, and we don't mean 352 00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:06,760 money, and strength. He's due honor, glory, and blessing. And folks, today when you 353 00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:12,000 give him your heart and you're walking with him every day as your hand is in 354 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:17,280 his, you have access to the infinite power, infinite strength, infinite wisdom. 355 00:42:17,280 --> 00:42:23,040 And folks, all we've got to do is give our will every day to him and study his 356 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:29,120 word and allow that that wisdom to come to us. He's not going to just hand it to 357 00:42:29,120 --> 00:42:36,000 us. He wants us to come to him. Ask and you shall receive. We're going to close 358 00:42:36,000 --> 00:42:41,320 in just a moment with a song, Power in the Blood. Power in the Blood. The blood 359 00:42:41,320 --> 00:42:46,000 of Jesus has made everything worthwhile for you and me. Everything in this life 360 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:51,800 and eternity. It's all because of his blood. If there's somebody here today 361 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:56,040 that has never given your heart to the Lord, or you've had a shaky experience, 362 00:42:56,040 --> 00:42:59,920 maybe discouraged, why don't you come up here right now as we sing. I'm going to 363 00:42:59,920 --> 00:43:05,080 offer a little prayer in just a moment before we sing. And then folks, think 364 00:43:05,080 --> 00:43:09,280 about the commitment I just asked that we need to make. I'm going to ask you to 365 00:43:09,280 --> 00:43:13,600 stand. I'm going to offer a prayer. And then folks, let's sing. And then I'm going to 366 00:43:13,600 --> 00:43:18,920 ask you toward the end, why don't we all come forward just as a group to send a 367 00:43:18,920 --> 00:43:23,840 message to the Lord. Not just to the Lord, but to Satan. This church is going 368 00:43:23,840 --> 00:43:29,560 to be committed to the outpouring of God's Spirit, and we're 369 00:43:29,560 --> 00:43:33,440 going to accept these marching orders to do what God wants us to do. Let us pray. 370 00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:39,800 Heavenly Father, we thank you. We thank you for Jesus. We thank you for your love 371 00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:44,760 that sends your Son. We thank you for the promise of the Holy Spirit, all because 372 00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:49,040 you love every single person in this room, and you want us to live forever 373 00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:54,840 with you. Thank you for that Lord. But right now there may be someone here who 374 00:43:54,840 --> 00:44:00,040 is struggling with a decision. Help them to accept you right now. And Lord, help us 375 00:44:00,040 --> 00:44:05,540 to accept this call. We don't know what you have in store for us, but we know 376 00:44:05,540 --> 00:44:11,120 that when we give you our will, you will uphold us with the right hand of your 377 00:44:11,120 --> 00:44:15,720 righteousness. You will put people in our lives. So we're claiming that promise 378 00:44:15,720 --> 00:44:21,560 right now Lord, as we stand and sing and give you the honor and the glory in the 379 00:44:21,560 --> 00:44:27,040 name of Jesus, power in his blood. Amen. Let us stand. I don't know the page 380 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:32,160 number. I think it's 294 maybe. Power in the blood. And folks, I'm making a serious 381 00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:36,880 call here. You know, it's just one thing to talk, but it's another to give 382 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:42,160 everything to him. And I'm asking you to come forward as for the closing prayer. 383 00:44:47,160 --> 00:44:52,480 Heavenly Father, we thank you today for being here with us and speaking to us 384 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:57,800 and reminding us of your love in this midst of this world, chaotic 385 00:44:57,800 --> 00:45:03,440 world. A time that we know is coming, but we know because we have faith in you that 386 00:45:03,440 --> 00:45:09,200 you will sustain every person in this room. So Lord bless us individually. We 387 00:45:09,200 --> 00:45:13,760 thank you for loving us. We thank you for caring for us. We thank you for calling 388 00:45:13,760 --> 00:45:18,920 us. And we thank you for your promise of being with us. So now dismiss us with 389 00:45:18,920 --> 00:45:28,120 your blessings in Jesus name. Amen.