Participants:
Series Code: AVGC
Program Code: AVGC210017S
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00:05 Hello, I just want to welcome you
00:07 to the Adventist Virtual Global Camp Meeting. 00:10 I'm Jill Morikone, and we're so delighted that 00:12 you have joined us. 00:14 This is an exciting camp meeting 00:16 where the world church gathers together. 00:18 There's so many seminar tracks 00:20 and presentations from Biblical scholars, 00:24 teachers, preachers from all over the world. 00:26 So what a blessing it's been for us already. 00:28 And this is 3ABN's Live Bible Q and A. 00:32 That's right. 00:34 We're taking your Bible questions 00:36 for the next hour. 00:37 So if you see the chat at the bottom of your screen, 00:40 and you have a question that you would like 00:42 answered by Pastor John Lomacang, 00:44 or Sister Shelley Quinn, 00:45 or Pastor Ryan Day, or Pastor John Dinzey, 00:48 now is your opportunity. 00:51 So jump on that chat right now 00:53 and type in your question, 00:55 and we will get to as many as those... 00:57 many of those questions as we can during the next hour. 01:01 I introduced briefly the panel, 01:03 but I want to go back and do a better job of it. 01:05 To my left is Pastor John Lomacang, 01:07 my pastor, pastor of the Thompsonville 01:09 Seventh-day Adventist Church 01:10 and Director of World Evangelism. 01:12 Yes. 01:13 And we're enjoying General Conference 01:15 this camp meeting or this global camp meeting. 01:18 It's been a blessing and this program promises 01:20 to be a blessing also. 01:22 Thank you for the opportunity. Amen. 01:23 Tell me, Pastor John, 01:25 why do you like studying the Word of God? 01:27 I'm always learning. 01:28 I'm like a doctor or physician. 01:29 I'm always practicing God's Word 01:31 because it's so deep. 01:33 It's like an ocean with no bottom. 01:35 The more you dive into God's Word, 01:38 you get to another layer, 01:39 where you realize what you thought you knew 01:42 becomes even more clearer. 01:43 Amen. That's beautiful. 01:45 To your left, my sister Shelley Quinn, 01:47 who is 3ABN New Program 01:49 Development Manager and Producer. 01:51 And thank you for being here, Shelley. 01:53 It's wonderful to be here. 01:54 And I love getting into the Word of God 01:56 because it changes me. 01:58 Amen. 02:01 To your left Pastor Ryan Day, 02:03 part of the 3ABN Pastoral Department 02:06 and brother in Jesus, and student of the Word. 02:09 I'm glad you're here. Amen. 02:11 It's always a blessing to be 02:12 a part of the Bible Q and A panel. 02:14 And I just love the Word of God. 02:16 I just love answering questions so send in those questions. 02:18 Amen. That's right. 02:20 To your left, last but not least 02:22 at the end of the panel here, 02:24 we have Pastor John Dinzey, 02:25 who of course is the General Manager 02:27 of 3ABN Latino, 02:29 and a wonderful student of the Word as well. 02:32 It's a joy and a blessing 02:33 and a privilege to be here also. 02:35 And I'm looking forward to seeing how God is going to use 02:38 each and every one. 02:39 You know God does something marvelous 02:40 because He says that the Holy Spirit will guide us 02:42 into all truth and this is what we're praying for today. 02:45 Amen. Thank you so much. 02:47 So just encourage you one more time 02:48 to chat in your questions that would be 02:51 at the bottom of your screen there. 02:52 There should be a chat button. 02:53 Just click on that and type in your Bible questions 02:56 for the panel here. 02:58 We all work together here at 3ABN. 03:00 We're on this 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 03:03 You might recognize the desk that we're sitting out here 03:06 because this is our 3ABN Sabbath School Panel, 03:08 but a little different background 03:09 with the LED wall but the desk is the same. 03:12 And we also are together on the 3ABN Bible Q and A, 03:15 so any of those programs are available on YouTube. 03:18 You can watch them on demand at any time 03:21 or you can go to our newest platform 03:23 that's 3abnplus.tv 03:26 That address again is 3abnplus.tv 03:31 and all of those programs will be available on demand. 03:34 Let's jump right in with the questions. 03:36 Before we do, we always like to open up 03:39 with a word of prayer. 03:42 And Pastor John Dinzey, would you pray for us? 03:44 Sure. Let's pray together. 03:47 Our loving Heavenly Father, 03:48 we come before You in Jesus' name. 03:51 And we thank You so much, Lord, for the Holy Scriptures. 03:53 We thank You, Lord, 03:55 that they are a light unto our path. 03:56 And we ask for Your Holy Spirit 03:58 that we may rightly divide the Word of Truth. 04:01 We pray, Lord, that as we share together, 04:04 we will be drawn closer to Jesus. 04:07 We pray that for Your blessing 04:08 also to be upon all those that will be watching 04:11 or listening in different ways. 04:13 And we ask You, Lord, 04:14 to give us a blessed experience in Jesus' name. 04:17 Amen. Amen. 04:18 We're going to Pastor Ryan first. 04:20 All right. 04:21 This comes from Morris, 04:23 who is from Danville, Virginia. 04:25 And he says, "My question is 04:27 what are the Seventh-day Adventists?" 04:29 So maybe for someone 04:30 who's watching right now who's tuned in 04:32 who's not a Seventh-day Adventists, 04:33 or not sure what that means 04:35 or you're trying to explain that to your neighbor, 04:37 who are Seventh-day Adventists? 04:39 Amen. That's a great question. 04:40 In fact, pray for that clock right now 04:42 because I could go on hour on this. 04:44 The Seventh-day Adventist, 04:46 many people might call it a church. 04:48 But I want to correct and say that 04:50 we are a worldwide mission driven movement. 04:53 The Seventh-day Adventist movement 04:55 is what I like to refer to it as. 04:57 Even though we are a part of God's remnant church, 04:59 you know, God has people all over the world. 05:02 And so the Seventh-day Adventist in our very name, 05:05 it testifies to who we are. 05:07 We are a commandment keeping people. 05:09 Right there in Revelation 12:17, 05:11 it says, "In the last days 05:13 that the enemy is going to go out 05:14 and make war with God's people, 05:19 a commandment keeping people 05:21 that they keep the commandments of God 05:23 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 05:25 And we know that to be talking 05:26 about God's last day remnant church 05:28 because a woman in Bible prophecy 05:30 represents a church. 05:32 And so God's last day remnant people 05:33 will be a commandment keeping people. 05:35 And so when you read that name, Seventh-day Adventist, 05:38 the seventh-day, of course, 05:40 points to the fact that we believe in keeping 05:42 all of God's Commandments, 05:43 including the Fourth Commandment. 05:45 Especially the Fourth Commandment 05:47 because God said, "Remember it," right? 05:48 And we are a people who believe in 05:49 keeping all the Ten Commandments, 05:51 but we also believe in upholding that 05:52 Fourth Commandment which says, "Remember." 05:54 And, of course, we live in a world today 05:56 where many people have forgotten that, 05:57 but as God's last day remnant church movement, 06:00 we are upholding all the Ten Commandments, 06:02 including the seventh day Sabbath. 06:04 It points back to God's creative work 06:06 when He established the Sabbath at creation. 06:09 Also, the fact Seventh-day Adventist means that 06:13 you are a people. 06:14 It's talking about a people who are looking forward 06:17 to the soon return of Jesus Christ. 06:19 So actually, you could be a Baptist Adventist, 06:21 you could be a Pentecostal Adventist, 06:23 you could be a Presbyterian Adventist. 06:26 Anyone who is looking forward 06:27 to the soon coming of Jesus Christ is an Adventist. 06:30 We are Seventh-day Adventists, 06:32 which means we believe that 06:34 we are people that God has called in these last days. 06:36 God has raised up for the purpose 06:39 of finishing His work to proclaim the message, 06:42 the everlasting gospel of Christ is found there 06:45 in the three angels' messages of Revelation 14:6-12. 06:51 Three angels' messages that are going to 06:53 the entire world 06:54 and if you are a part of that last day remnant movement, 06:57 then you will proclaim that message as well. 06:59 And so, yes, I believe that 07:00 the Seventh-day Adventist Church 07:01 is a church movement that has been raised up 07:04 for the purpose of co-laboring with the Lord 07:06 in these last days to restore His name, 07:08 to restore His character, to restore His law 07:12 and His sanctuary message in these last days, 07:15 pointing people back to the risen Savior, 07:17 our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 07:19 That's a very juiced version, 07:21 but I'm sure my brothers and sisters would like 07:22 to add something to that. 07:24 I know Pastor Lomacang down there... 07:25 Come on, brother. 07:27 I think you did an excellent job. 07:28 Absolutely. Amen. 07:30 But let me also... 07:31 Just the only thing I'm going to add 07:32 is the word Adventist means we're looking forward 07:35 to the visible literal Second Coming of Jesus. 07:37 Yes, audible. 07:39 Audible, literal, visible, not going to be a secret. 07:43 The Lord is not going to make 07:44 the most important event of the ages a secret. 07:47 Amen. Absolutely. 07:48 That's powerful. 07:49 Doesn't that make you grateful and thankful to be 07:52 a Seventh-day Adventist Christian 07:53 in these last days of earth's history? 07:54 What a privilege. 07:56 Pastor John, we're coming to you. 07:57 Okay. 07:58 Mark 13:32 says, "No one knows not even 08:02 the Son of God when Jesus is returning. 08:05 Would it be a lie to say that 08:07 the Son who is God does not know?" 08:10 Very good question, 08:11 but let me also make it clear that 08:13 when that statement was made 08:14 when Jesus made that statement, 08:16 He was talking about His condescended knowledge. 08:19 The Bible makes it clear in Galatians 4:4, 08:22 when the fullness of time had come, 08:23 God sent forth His Son born of a woman, 08:26 born under the law. 08:28 Born of a woman simply meant 08:29 He came into the world in human flesh, 08:32 and that human flesh came with limitations. 08:34 The reason for Jesus to be able to face in the way that 08:38 we would overcome the way that we have to is 08:41 because He couldn't have any advantages over us. 08:43 Any advantages at all would say, 08:46 "Well, we can't overcome sin because Jesus used His divine, 08:49 His preexisting divine powers." 08:51 So in the human form, 08:52 He had to learn as He went along. 08:54 So in the condescended form, 08:56 and His earthly humanity, He said, "I don't know. 09:00 My father does, but I don't know. 09:02 The angels don't know but I don't know." 09:04 However, when Jesus rose when He was victorious, 09:07 He made a statement in Matthew 28:18. 09:10 He says, "All authority has been 09:12 given to Me in heaven and in earth." 09:15 Now, what does all authority mean? 09:16 Does all authority means, well, 09:18 you've given all authority, 09:20 but just going to take you that part. 09:22 Now the reason why I know 09:23 He knows is because Revelation 09:25 is the revelation of Jesus. 09:27 Revelation 22:12, says, 09:30 "And behold, I am coming quickly, 09:33 and my reward is with me 09:34 to give to everyone according to his work." 09:38 Here's the key. 09:40 How could Jesus say I am coming quickly, 09:44 if I don't know when I'm returning? 09:47 When Jesus was victorious over death, 09:50 when Jesus was restored, 09:52 add to that sinless perfect, 09:56 divine sense, 09:59 He knew everything. 10:03 As Isaiah 46:9-10 said, 10:06 "I'm able to declare the end from the beginning." 10:09 He says, "I'm the Alpha and the Omega, 10:10 the beginning and the end, the first and the last." 10:13 How would He not know when He's returning? 10:16 To say I'm coming quickly means I know when that is. 10:18 Yes, that's powerful. 10:20 Thank you. 10:21 We're coming to Shelley next, 10:22 but I want to remind you to chat in your questions 10:25 to us right now. 10:26 Just jump on the bottom of your screen there 10:28 and send any question, 10:30 Bible question that you have 10:32 for the 3ABN panel right now, 10:34 and we will get to as 10:35 many of those questions as we can. 10:37 Shelley, this is for you. 10:38 "Why do other churches besides 10:41 the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 10:42 believe that when you die you go straight to heaven?" 10:44 Oh, mercy, I grew up believing that. 10:46 I grew up being taught that. 10:48 And I remember one time I was writing a book, 10:51 my sister would call every evening 10:53 and I'd read her a chapter from the book. 10:55 And as I'm reading along, 10:57 I quoted John 5:28-29 where Jesus said, 11:01 "All who are in their graves will hear My voice 11:04 and will come forth 11:05 either to the resurrection of righteousness, 11:08 or to the resurrection of condemnation." 11:10 And I kept reading it and my sister said, 11:12 "Wait, whoa, back up, 11:15 would you read that scripture again?" 11:17 So I read it, and she said, "What do you mean?" 11:20 She said, "What does He mean, all who are in their graves?" 11:24 And she became extremely upset. 11:28 And she said, "I just detest talking to you. 11:32 You're always teaching me 11:33 something that what I believe was not true." 11:37 And I told her, "Go do a study on rest, 11:40 sleeping, death and the resurrection 11:44 and you will believe." 11:46 Well, she hung up on me and six hours later, 11:49 she called me back understanding. 11:51 Why do people believe, 11:53 why do they ignore all of the scriptures 11:57 that say that death is a sleep? 11:59 Jesus called death a sleep. 12:01 Why do they... 12:02 You know, it says that the dead no nothing 12:04 that there's no knowledge in the grave. 12:07 Let me tell you why. 12:09 In 2 Corinthians 5:8, it says, 12:15 "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be 12:19 absent from the body 12:21 and to be present with the Lord." 12:23 That is the one scripture 12:24 they will always quote, 12:26 to say that as soon as you die, you go on to be with the Lord. 12:29 But let's back up and look at this just a little. 12:32 When Paul starts writing 12:34 in 2 Corinthians Chapter 5, 12:36 he says, "We know that 12:38 if our earthly house, this tent is destroyed, 12:41 we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, 12:44 eternal in the heavens. 12:46 For in this we groan in this earthly tent, 12:50 earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation, 12:54 which is from on high, that's our glorified body." 12:57 And he says, "If indeed having been clothed, 13:00 we shall not be found naked." 13:03 Pay attention, "For we who are in this tent groan, 13:08 being burdened, 13:10 not because we want to be unclothed." 13:13 So we're clothed. 13:15 We're in a tent of flesh. 13:16 We're unclothed that's what 13:18 he was talking about being naked. 13:21 Then there's a third thing, 13:23 "But further clothed that 13:26 mortality may be swallowed up by life." 13:31 So in context, Paul is talking about three conditions, 13:35 being clothed with our earthly flesh, 13:37 being unclothed or naked, 13:39 or being clothed with our resurrected glory. 13:44 Now, if we look at 13:46 1 Corinthians 15:52, 13:50 let's look here. 13:53 The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:52, 13:56 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 13:58 at the last trumpet..." 14:00 When? This is when Christ returns. 14:03 "The trumpet will sound, 14:05 the dead will be raised incorruptible, 14:08 and we shall be changed. 14:09 For this corruptible must put on incorruption. 14:13 This mortal must put on immortality." 14:17 When? At the last trumpet. 14:20 He says so when this corruptible 14:22 has put on incorruption 14:24 and this mortal has put on immortality, 14:26 then shall be brought to pass 14:28 the saying that is written, 14:30 "Death is swallowed up in victory." 14:33 What people don't understand 1 Timothy 6:16 says, 14:38 "God alone has immortality at this time." 14:42 We put on immortality at the last trumpet, 14:47 and then we will be raised to live with Him. 14:50 Amen. Thank you so much. 14:52 Praise the Lord. 14:54 Pastor John Dinzey, 14:55 "What became of the Jewish Church organization 14:58 run by the then priesthood leadership?" 15:03 That is a good question. You know, one of the... 15:04 I had a different question myself, 15:06 which was what happened to the Christian, 15:08 the Jewish Christians that became... 15:12 The Jews that became Christians? 15:13 That was a question I have for some time. 15:15 Did some research on that. 15:17 But what became of the church organization 15:20 under the priest? 15:22 They had a difficult time 15:23 because of the fast growth of the Christian church. 15:27 You remember on the day of Pentecost, 15:28 how many were baptized on that day? 15:30 Three thousand. Three thousand. 15:32 And there in the Book of Acts, you can see that 15:36 there's a phrase there in Acts Chapter 2. 15:38 It says, "And they were added to the church daily 15:40 such as should be saved." 15:42 We need to see that today. 15:43 People added to the church daily such as should be saved. 15:46 And let's go to Acts 6:7 15:51 and see here a scripture 15:53 that even tells you about the priests. 15:56 Some of them were being converted to Christianity, 15:59 the Christian belief. 16:01 In Acts 6:7, it says, 16:03 "Then the Word of God spread and the number 16:07 of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. 16:10 And a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith." 16:15 So we see that there was this struggle 16:18 of the Christian Church growing 16:20 and the Jewish faith 16:25 having this challenge. 16:27 Nevertheless, 16:28 the Christians suffer persecution 16:31 from the Jewish people. 16:33 The Jewish Christians suffer persecution 16:35 from the Jewish people and from the Romans. 16:37 And for a while, the Romans didn't know 16:39 what to do with the Jewish Christians. 16:41 They just thought it was 16:42 another group of the Jewish believers, 16:46 like a splinter group of them. 16:48 But these Jewish Christians, 16:50 who are more evangelistic minded 16:53 that they didn't stay within their own, 16:55 the confines of the Jewish people. 16:58 They were preaching to Gentiles as well. 17:00 So what happened to the priesthood and all of them? 17:04 They continued. 17:05 When the destruction of the temple took place, 17:09 they didn't know what to do. 17:10 How do we continue? 17:11 And, of course, they had to change their system 17:14 of worship practice 17:15 because they could not sacrifice animals. 17:17 The temple was in ruins. 17:20 Today you have many different groups 17:22 among the Jews and so that's another story. 17:26 Amen. Thank you so much. 17:29 We're going to Pastor John Lomacang here. 17:31 "Why do we hear so little 17:32 on the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation?" 17:37 This is from Gladis. 17:39 Well, I don't know why you hear so little 17:42 because it may be who and where you're hearing 17:45 your sermons or where you're hearing your messages. 17:48 Revelation Chapter 7 17:49 and Revelation Chapter 14 bring this group into view. 17:53 Let's go ahead and look at that very briefly, 17:56 Revelation Chapter 7. 17:59 Now, there are varying views on the 144,000. 18:03 Some believe it's literal numbers, 18:05 some believe it's a symbolic number, 18:07 some believe that 18:09 both groups are exactly the same, 18:10 some believe that they're distinctly different. 18:12 I'll tell you what category 18:14 I fit into and why I feel that way. 18:17 And I'd like to say this. 18:19 I don't like to feel a certain way. 18:22 I like to make sure that 18:23 what I'm concluding 18:24 I could support it by Scripture. 18:26 Now, when Revelation Chapter 7, 18:28 sorry, let's go to Revelation Chapter 7. 18:31 We find Revelation 7:1-4. 18:35 Now, this number is distinctly 18:39 referred to right before a major event takes place. 18:43 Revelation 7:1, "After these things, 18:45 I saw four angels standing 18:47 at the four corners of the earth, 18:49 holding the four winds of the earth that 18:51 the wind should not blow on the earth, 18:54 on the sea, or on any tree. 18:57 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east 18:59 having the Seal of the Living God. 19:02 And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, 19:06 to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea." 19:09 It says, "Do not harm the earth, 19:11 the sea or the trees, till we have sealed 19:14 the servants of our God on their foreheads." 19:17 And some say, "In their foreheads." 19:19 And it says, and I heard the number, verse 4 19:21 says, "And I heard the number 19:23 of those who were sealed 19:24 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel." 19:28 Let me pause right there very briefly and say, 19:30 what you find first, 19:32 the first picture that's brought 19:33 into view is the 144,000, 19:35 specifically of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 19:38 Now secondly, this is not 19:40 the literal progenitors of the Hebrews 19:44 and the Israelites 19:46 and those who are Jews during the time of Christ. 19:49 Believing me, I believe this is a spiritual number 19:53 because the Apostle Paul says in Romans 9:6, 19:56 "They that are of Israel are not all Israel." 19:58 And he said, "It's not that 20:00 the Word of God had taken no effect." 20:02 But he was saying, 20:03 "Don't think that your national birth 20:05 automatically disposes you 20:06 or prepares you for being saved. 20:10 We know that salvation is a spiritual act. 20:13 And if anybody's in Christ, he is Abraham seed, 20:15 and heir according to the promise." 20:17 Galatians 3 and also Romans. So we see that... 20:19 I believe this is a spiritual group, 20:21 however, the number is mentioned. 20:23 And when the Bible talks about 20:25 the number then you find the shift in the picture. 20:27 In verse 9, look at the distinction 20:29 between the two groups. 20:31 Verse 9 says, "After these things, 20:33 I looked and behold a great multitude 20:35 which no one could number of all nations, 20:38 tribes, peoples and tongues, 20:40 standing before the throne and before the Lamb clothed 20:43 with white robes, and palm branches 20:45 in their hands." 20:47 And so when you're looking at this, 20:48 the dialogue takes place in... 20:50 A question is asked in verse 13. 20:52 "And one of the elders answered saying to me, 20:55 'Who are these arrayed in white robes 20:57 and where did they come from?' 20:59 And I said to him, 'Sir, you know.' 21:02 So he said, 'These are the ones 21:04 who come out of the Great Tribulation, 21:06 and washed their robes and made them white 21:08 in the blood of the Lamb.'" 21:10 Now, the Great Tribulation has a dual application, 21:14 those who died during the Dark Ages 21:15 and those who will die again in the Greater Tribulation 21:18 at the time of the end. 21:19 The Lord is saying these groups 21:21 were gathered from that the past group, 21:23 and those who are in the future to be persecuted. 21:25 But I believe that the 144,000 21:28 has a special focus 21:30 because we see them one more time. 21:32 Let's go to Revelation Chapter 14. 21:34 That's right. We see them one more time. 21:36 And I didn't think that John the Revelator 21:38 was given this picture arbitrarily. 21:41 Revelation Chapter 14, 21:43 and the Bible brings them back into view here again. 21:47 Now he talks about them, 21:48 "I looked and behold the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, 21:52 and with Him 144,000 having His Father's name 21:55 written on their foreheads. 21:57 And I heard a voice from heaven like the voice of many waters, 22:00 and like the voice of its loud thunder. 22:02 And I heard the sound of harpists 22:03 playing their harps. 22:04 They sang as were a new song before the throne, 22:07 before the four living creatures 22:09 and the elders. 22:10 And no one could learn that song except 144,000, 22:14 who were redeemed from the earth." 22:16 It describes who they are. 22:17 "These are the ones 22:19 who were not defiled with women, 22:21 for they are virgins. 22:22 These are the ones 22:23 who followed the Lamb wherever He goes. 22:26 These were redeemed from among men 22:27 having being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." 22:31 If you know anything about firstfruits, it doesn't... 22:33 It resembles the larger group 22:36 but it's the first. 22:38 It's a group that's separate in choosing. 22:42 The first fruits were always given 22:44 as the harvest was selected. 22:46 But it didn't represent the entire harvest, 22:50 the rest of them came later on. 22:52 I believe that the 144,000 are those who are living 22:55 at the time of the end, 22:57 who charged by the outpouring of the Spirit of God 23:00 will proclaim that final message 23:02 to the world, the three angels' messages. 23:06 Now, the beautiful thing about 23:08 that is I don't believe that the Lord is going to get to 23:11 143,999 and say, 23:15 "Stop, we only have one left." 23:17 I believe in that application, 23:19 they represent a group that's symbolic, 23:22 but the work that 23:23 they are given to do is specific. 23:24 The proclamation that calls the people of God 23:28 out of the Great Tribulation as Revelation 18:4 says, 23:31 "Come out of her." 23:32 How will they come out 23:34 unless they hear the message proclaimed by this group? 23:37 Amen. Thank you so much, Pastor John. 23:41 Before I go to the next question, 23:42 we're going to Pastor Ryan here. 23:44 We want to remind you to chat in your questions 23:46 at the bottom of your screen there. 23:47 We would love to get to them 23:48 through this hour here as many as we can. 23:51 This is going to Pastor Ryan. 23:52 And after you answer, 23:54 we're going to toss it around to see if anyone else has 23:55 something to add to it. 23:57 Sure. Okay. 23:58 "Susan has a terminal cancer diagnosis. 24:01 She has been recommended to go visit a man 24:03 who is a faith healer 24:04 and will pray over people for healing. 24:07 This man doesn't charge any money. 24:08 However, Susan is still uncomfortable. 24:11 Is it biblical to ask someone to pray over you for healing? 24:14 And should you travel to that individual?" 24:16 So it's kind of a twofold question. 24:18 Is it biblical to ask someone to pray over you for healing 24:20 and should you go to that person? 24:22 Absolutely. Okay. 24:24 Well, first of all, I just want to just say that 24:26 my heart goes out to Susan. 24:28 I mean, that's a horrible situation 24:29 to be in and I know that, first of all, 24:32 the Lord knows and the Lord is there for you. 24:34 And I'm going to answer this question very directly, 24:36 and I'm sure others will chime in as well. 24:39 But, first of all, do you need to go to someone 24:42 who calls themselves or refers to themselves 24:44 as a faith healer? 24:45 First of all, I just want to say, 24:47 I'd be careful with that. 24:48 Just because I myself have come 24:50 from a background of churches in different denominations, 24:54 who practice this type of work, 24:57 this type of terminology known as faith healers. 25:00 And you have to be very careful 25:01 because the Bible says that 25:02 there are false christs and false prophets out there 25:04 that are performing, again, signs and wonders 25:07 and miracles that could even deceive, 25:09 if possible, even the very elect. 25:11 So when a person considers themselves a faith healer, 25:14 and you can go from one place to the country 25:16 or one town to the next 25:18 and you're traveling to them to be prayed for, 25:20 I would be very careful with that and cautious of that. 25:24 First of all, let's point back to the Bible. 25:25 What does the Bible say? 25:27 What counsel does the Bible give for us who may be sick, 25:29 who may have some type of ailment or sick condition 25:33 that we want healing from? 25:35 What does the Bible tell us? 25:36 First of all, let's go to James 5 25:38 and let's look at 25:39 what counsel is given to us there in the Bible. 25:41 James 5:14-16, notice what the Bible says. 25:45 It says, "Is anyone among you suffering? 25:47 Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? 25:50 Let him sing psalms." 25:51 And then in verse 14, this is where it comes in, 25:53 "Is anyone among you sick? 25:56 Let him call for the elders of the church," right? 26:00 "And let them pray over him, 26:02 anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." 26:05 And it goes on to say, "And the prayer of the faith 26:07 will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. 26:09 And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." 26:12 And then verse 16, 26:13 "Confess your trespasses to one another, 26:15 and pray for one another that you may be healed. 26:19 The effective, fervent prayer 26:20 of a righteous man avails much." 26:22 So is it biblical for someone to pray for someone else? 26:26 Absolutely. 26:27 Should you be going to someone 26:28 who calls themselves a faith healer 26:30 or some type of prayer healer? 26:32 I would be a little skeptic of that. 26:33 The Bible tells us what to do. 26:35 We don't have to go to anywhere else 26:36 but what the Bible says. 26:37 And that is you contact your local church pastor 26:39 and you tell your local church pastor. 26:41 It is that man's job 26:42 to gather the elders of the church 26:44 at your request. 26:45 And when you bring the pastor and the elders together, 26:48 as they pray for you and anoint you with oil, 26:50 by following that biblical counsel, 26:52 you are in good hands with the Lord. 26:54 I also want to add in there, 1 John 5:14-15. 26:59 I think the second part of your question was, 27:01 should you travel to that individual? 27:03 There's no need. God hears your prayers. 27:06 You don't have to travel across the country 27:07 or travel to someone. 27:09 If someone tells you, 27:10 you have to travel to somebody else to get heal. 27:12 My friends, let me tell you what the Bible says right here. 27:14 1 John 5:14-15, "Now this is the confidence that 27:18 we have in Him that 27:19 if we ask anything according to His will, 27:22 He hears us. 27:23 And if we know that He hears us," 27:25 speaking of the Lord, 27:26 "whatever we ask, we know that 27:28 we have the petitions that we ask of Him." 27:30 God is interceding in the Most Holy Place 27:33 right now for you, Susan. 27:35 He hears that prayer. 27:37 And if you call out to Him and pray to Him, 27:39 He's going to hear that prayer. 27:40 And if it's according to His will, 27:41 He will hear you and He will answer 27:43 according to His perfect will. 27:45 And could I add just one thought is that 27:50 the gift of healing is a gift of the Holy Spirit, 27:52 but I don't believe it's one that rests 27:55 on someone permanently. 27:56 And I'll tell you why. 27:58 Paul had such an amazing ministry. 28:02 He raised the man that 28:03 fell out of a third storey window. 28:06 He raised him from the dead. 28:07 He had such healing power at times that 28:12 they took a handkerchief and he prayed over it, 28:16 touched it, they took it out. 28:18 And people who touched that hanky, they were healed. 28:21 But this same Paul, listen to this. 28:24 He's writing to Timothy, and in 2 Timothy Chapter 5... 28:29 Excuse me, 2 Timothy 4:20, 28:33 he tells Timothy, "Erastus stayed in Corinth, 28:38 but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick." 28:44 Now, wait a minute, Paul had this great, 28:48 amazing healing power. 28:51 Don't you know he was praying for Trophimus? 28:55 That's right. But he didn't. 28:58 It's not something that is resident on someone, 29:01 so I'm very skeptical of anyone 29:05 who calls himself a faith healer. 29:06 That's right. 29:08 And also Paul had his own infirmity 29:10 that he has been pleading for the Lord to remove 29:13 and the Lord said, "No, 29:14 My grace is sufficient for you." 29:17 Healing is not something... 29:19 Remember Matthew 7:21-23, 29:22 "Many will even go as far as 29:23 casting out demons in the name of Jesus, 29:26 but Jesus would say, 29:27 "I don't even know who they are." 29:29 So let us not look at the works 29:30 that a person performs as evidence 29:32 that they are connected to Christ. 29:33 Amen. Amen. 29:35 Shelley... Oh, Pastor Johnny, please. 29:37 I just want to say, you know, 29:39 all of that you have heard is great counseling. 29:43 And I just want to say, 29:45 no matter what you're going through 29:47 Jesus is with you. 29:49 He says, "I will never leave you 29:50 nor forsake you." 29:52 He is there with you 29:53 and He's willing to give you His peace as John 14:27 says. 29:57 So whatever situation you're going through, 29:59 just put yourself in the hands of the Lord, 30:02 because He is there with you 30:05 and He will never leave you nor forsake you. 30:06 Amen. 30:08 Thank you for that encouragement, powerful. 30:10 Shelley, we're going to come over to you. 30:12 This is from Vanessa. 30:14 "Is there power in prayer?" 30:17 Hmm, goodness. 30:20 Okay, well, we just referenced James 5:16, says, 30:24 "The prayers of a righteous man availeth much." 30:27 Let me tell you something that 30:29 prayer is communication with God, 30:33 and communication is the relationship. 30:36 And as you pray to God, 30:39 He's asking you to seek His face 30:41 and get to know Him. 30:43 And there is power in prayer. 30:47 Let's look at 1 Peter 3:10. 30:50 And in 1 Peter 3:10... 30:53 Hang on, let me get there. 30:56 1 Peter 3:10, Peter says... 31:02 If I can find it. 31:03 I'm not thinking of 1 Peter 3... 31:06 1 Peter 3:12, "The eyes of the Lord 31:09 are on the righteous 31:11 and His ears are open to their prayers, 31:14 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 31:19 I love what Hebrews says, 31:23 in Hebrews Chapter 4. 31:25 Let's go there 31:27 because this is such an encouragement. 31:31 Hebrews Chapter 4, 31:33 and we will look at verses 15 and 16. 31:38 He says, "We do not have a high priest 31:41 who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, 31:44 but was in all points 31:46 tempted as we are yet without sin. 31:51 Let us therefore, for this reason, 31:55 let us come boldly to the throne of grace that 31:59 we may obtain mercy 32:02 and find grace to help in our time of need." 32:08 You know, I think that 32:11 prayer demonstrates our humility. 32:16 If you think about this in Philippians 2:5, 32:21 Paul wrote to the Philippians. 32:23 And he said, "Let this mind be in you 32:24 that was in Christ Jesus." 32:27 And then he talks about 32:28 how Christ humbled Himself to become a man 32:32 and was totally dependent upon the Father. 32:34 Did you know that's God's plan of salvation 32:37 for you is complete dependence upon Him? 32:41 And if you go through the day 32:44 without praying, you're saying, 32:47 "God, I don't need Your help." 32:49 But we should let prayer come forth at all times, 32:54 and not just asking for things, 32:56 but just celebrating the presence of the Lord, 33:00 and spending time with the lover of your soul. 33:03 But prayer is very powerful 33:05 because it moves God's hand and it brings His blessings 33:11 from heaven to earth. 33:12 James said, "You don't have because you don't ask." 33:15 Amen. Thank you. 33:17 Pastor Johnny, we're coming to you. 33:20 "Why is this not happening today, 33:23 the 3,000 souls being baptized at a time in America?" 33:28 And this question was sent in from Grace. 33:32 That is a wonderful question. 33:34 And that is something that personally, 33:36 I'm concerned about 33:38 because it should be happening today. 33:41 I believe the church needs to wake up. 33:44 I believe it is time to trust in the Lord 33:46 and not to get distracted by all the things of the world. 33:50 You know, talking about 3,000 in a day, we've had some... 33:53 The Seventh-day Adventist Church 33:55 is doing a wonderful work, 33:57 but it's not doing the work entirely 34:01 as it should be done. 34:02 We're waiting for the latter rain. 34:03 We need to pray for the latter rain to come. 34:06 But for the latter rain to come, 34:08 we need to do what the disciples did. 34:10 For the early rain to fall, 34:12 they came together, they prayed. 34:14 They confessed their sins before God. 34:16 They confessed their faults one to another. 34:18 There was a submitting to God, a surrendering to God. 34:24 And we are, according to Ellen G. White 34:26 there's going to be a revival of primitive godliness. 34:30 And we should do our part for that to happen in our lives 34:35 and we're going to see these miracles 34:36 when the Holy Spirit is poured out. 34:38 It happened in the early rain. 34:40 It's going to happen in the latter rain again, 34:43 and this is what we need, the latter rain. 34:45 Let us pray for it with all of our hearts. 34:47 Let us get ourselves prepared and pray for others 34:50 so that they will get prepared as well. 34:52 Amen. Can I add something to that? 34:54 Please. 34:55 America is the place that 34:57 has become a place 34:58 of worship-tainment. 35:03 The gospel has metamorphosized into entertainment 35:08 in so many churches in America. 35:10 And then the second thing 35:12 is the distraction level in America is amazing. 35:16 We are probably one of the countries where 35:18 and I would... 35:19 As I've traveled around the world, 35:20 we know this in England, 35:22 it's similar to that, Australia is that place too. 35:24 Wherever you find the technology at its peak, 35:27 you find soul saving at its lowest. 35:30 Where there are least distractions, 35:32 there are more people coming to Christ. 35:34 That's right. That's true. 35:35 You find that, you have some countries 35:36 and you noticed as a Latino pastor man that 35:42 the countries where 35:43 there's one pastor to 15 churches, 35:46 the churches are exploding. 35:48 In America, the man has 35:51 become the focal point in so many ways. 35:53 That's why every Sabbath morning I pray, 35:55 "Lord, please give them ears to hear 35:58 what You're saying." 35:59 When we exalt the man, 36:00 it becomes an entertainment aspect 36:02 and then the work ceases 36:03 because they expect the pastor to do the work. 36:06 On the day of Pentecost, 36:08 the people were filled with the Spirit of God 36:10 and they went out and I just end with the story. 36:13 We have a lady that's a part of our study now. 36:15 And I would say this to the glory of God, 36:18 she just two and a half years ago 36:19 became a Seventh-day Adventist, 36:21 but was Jehovah's Witness for 37 years. 36:24 And I do a Bible marking class that she attends online. 36:26 And she joins us 36:28 on Wednesday night prayer meeting. 36:29 After my last Bible marking class, 36:31 she said, "I'm going to put to practice 36:32 what you just taught me." 36:34 She went across the street to her neighbor, 36:35 asked if she want a Bible studies. 36:37 Now, she's going to be studying with his entire family. 36:39 Praise the Lord. 36:40 People are fearful of trying 36:42 when the Lord said He will give us success in 36:44 if we simply put it to practice. 36:46 So don't be afraid 36:48 and think you have to go through 36:49 19 weeks of training. 36:50 Just try it and as the day of Pentecost, 36:53 you will see the results. 36:55 Amen. 36:56 I think just in response to that 36:57 why is it happening in America? 36:59 I think sometimes we forget that America is probably... 37:01 The churches in America 37:03 is one of the best examples of that last church age 37:05 we see in Revelation Chapter 3, Laodicea. 37:08 She thinks that she's of need of nothing, 37:10 but yet she's wretched, 37:11 miserable, poor, blind and naked. 37:12 Her spiritual condition is in need of a spiritual revival, 37:17 which is why Christ counsels us to buy from him gold 37:21 refined in the fire. 37:22 He basically counsels our righteousness 37:24 by faith experience. 37:25 Also, think of the 10 virgins in Matthew Chapter 25, 37:29 you know, they all slumbered and slept. 37:32 My brother, rest his soul, Kenneth Cox, he would say, 37:35 "I think we're doing a little bit of that." 37:37 And I agree with that. 37:39 You know, I think we've been in a slumbering state 37:41 while the bridegroom is tarrying. 37:43 But as Brother Johnny brought out very clearly, 37:45 God is going to pour out His Spirit in a mighty way. 37:48 There's going to be a separation 37:49 between the sheep and the goats, 37:50 the wheat and the tares, 37:52 and God's true remnant people are going to rise up. 37:53 And they will preach the gospel 37:55 where thousands will be converted in a day. 37:57 Amen. Amen for that. 37:59 Amen. Thank you so much. 38:00 More questions are coming in. 38:01 Pastor John, this is coming to you. 38:03 This is Madeline, 38:04 and this is actually a follow up 38:05 from the last Bible Q and A that we did, 38:09 where I answered a question. 38:11 She says, "Ezekiel 33:7, 38:14 was given as a response to James 4:17 in regards 38:18 to truth being a liability. 38:21 Would it then be appropriate 38:22 to plainly tell her first day Adventist friends that 38:25 those who consider Sunday the Lord's day 38:27 will receive the mark of the beast? 38:29 Wouldn't this not only turn our friends against us, 38:32 but close the door for future interaction?" 38:35 Well, you know, 38:37 I'm glad you asked me this question 38:40 because just recently Madeline... 38:42 Would it be okay if I just mentioned this about 38:44 my two sermons on the mark of the beast? 38:45 Yeah, sure. Absolutely. 38:47 I did a two-part series on the mark of the beast. 38:49 And what I mentioned in that series, 38:51 you can find that at johnlomacang.com 38:54 That's my name, johnlomacang.com 38:57 on the sermon's tab. 38:59 Or you can go to our church's website tvsdac.org 39:04 When I did that sermon two-parts 39:05 on the mark of the beast, I never said that 39:07 people that go to church on Sunday 39:09 will receive the mark of the beast. 39:11 I never said that because right now that 39:14 is not an issue anywhere in the world. 39:17 When we talk about who the beast is, 39:19 it's clear that according to the Bible, 39:22 it is describing the papal system of Rome. 39:24 The influence of Rome surely did lead 39:27 into the changing of the... 39:28 As they said, the transferring of the solemnity. 39:31 This, their words from Saturday to Sunday. 39:34 They said, "And Protestants agree with them 39:38 in observing Sunday." 39:40 But Sunday has not been urged upon the world 39:43 as now a point of allegiance 39:45 to either one power or the other. 39:48 So we don't teach that 39:50 our friends who go to church on Sunday 39:52 will receive the mark of the beast. 39:54 What the Bible teaches is that 39:56 when the time comes that 39:58 you have to choose 39:59 between serving the Lord in Spirit 40:01 and in truth or serving tradition, 40:04 or a false doctrines, anything you exalt, 40:08 not just Sunday. 40:10 If you choose any error that replaces any truth, 40:15 you will receive the mark of the beast, any error. 40:18 Somebody might say, 40:19 "I don't believe in what death teaches. 40:20 I don't believe the teaching about death. 40:22 I believe they die and go to heaven. 40:23 I don't care about Sunday. 40:25 I believe my mother's in heaven." 40:26 You will receive the mark of the beast. 40:28 Any error that replaces any truth will result 40:31 in the mark of the beast. 40:32 Now, let me end on this point. 40:34 You don't have to receive 40:35 the mark of the beast to be lost. 40:37 You can receive the mark of the beast 40:38 or the number or the name. 40:40 Any one of the three will condemn you to being lost. 40:43 But the Lord doesn't want us to be lost, 40:45 so here's the protection you get. 40:47 We don't turn our friends off 40:48 because we firmly believe that God's people are everywhere. 40:52 But Revelation's three angels' message 40:54 is a gathering message back 40:56 to the truth of God's Word, 40:57 and the Sabbath is a part of that truth. 40:59 Amen. That's powerful. 41:00 Amen. 41:02 Yeah, I just want to add to that really quickly 41:03 and Pastor did a beautiful job. 41:04 You know, I just want to say please, please, please, 41:07 we've got to get better at watching 41:09 how we describe things and how we say things. 41:12 I have thousands of Seventh-day Adventists on my Facebook page. 41:15 And I often hear people say, 41:16 "The mark of the beast is Sunday worship." 41:18 We got to get away from that kind of language 41:20 because the mark of the beast is not Sunday worship. 41:22 When you say that you're implying that 41:24 the mark of the beast is... 41:26 that Sunday worship is somehow bad in the sense that 41:29 we can't worship God on Sunday when we should worship God 41:32 every single day of the week. 41:33 The Sabbath, you know, the seventh day Sabbath 41:36 is the only Sabbath of the Lord thy God. 41:38 And as Pastor brought out, 41:39 if any type of rejection of a truth 41:41 can get you or help you or encourage you 41:43 to receive the mark of the beast, 41:44 but we know that final test 41:46 is indefinitely surrounded around the question 41:47 of the Sabbath. 41:49 Mark of the beast is the rejection 41:51 of God's biblical Sabbath and the reception 41:54 or the acceptance of the false Sabbath. 41:57 And so I just wanted to say that 41:59 just for clarification purpose 42:00 because I hear a lot of people say, 42:01 "The mark of the beast is Sunday worship." 42:03 Well, I worship God on Sunday but Sunday's not my Sabbath. 42:06 The Sabbath of the Lord 42:08 is the seventh day of the week, Saturday. 42:10 Amen. Pastor Johnny? 42:11 I just want to add a little something 42:13 about the approach we... 42:17 I mean, you don't... 42:19 I don't know if this is what Madeline is intending to, 42:21 go to your friend and say, 42:22 "Hey, I want to talk to you about the mark of the beast." 42:26 There's Jesus that you have to talk about first. 42:29 What He did for us, what He's doing for us, 42:32 talk about Jesus. 42:34 And as you're studying the life of Christ 42:36 and what He's doing for us, 42:38 it may be that you'll get to 42:39 the subject of the mark of the beast 42:41 and the time will come for that. 42:42 But that should not be the leading topic 42:45 to bring to people 42:47 because there's so much truth that is so beautiful. 42:51 And remember, "And I, if I be lifted up 42:55 will draw all men unto me." 42:57 So Jesus should be the center 42:59 and the focus of reaching out to others. 43:01 Amen. 43:03 Pastor Ryan, we're coming to you. 43:05 This is from Elizier. "Why don't you wear jewelry?" 43:09 Well, probably not you specifically, 43:11 but why don't you wear jewelry? 43:13 And they're writing in from French Guyana. 43:16 All right. That's a great question. 43:18 Well, I can tell you very clearly 43:19 the reason why I don't wear jewelry 43:21 is there's a personal choice 43:23 based on my conviction of what I believe 43:25 the Word of God to say and to teach very clearly, 43:27 from Genesis all the way through 43:29 to the Book of Revelation. 43:31 Now, there's a lot of people out there 43:33 that's going to work hard to try to manipulate 43:34 the Word of God to say 43:36 what they wanted to say or not say. 43:37 But the truth of the matter is 43:39 if you allow the Word of God to speak to you, 43:41 and you study those passages 43:42 that speak very clearly and directly about 43:44 ornamental jewelry, 43:46 then really there's no other conclusion 43:47 that you're going to come to 43:49 than that of the fact that God says, 43:50 He doesn't want us wearing jewelry now 43:52 in this lifetime, 43:54 in the sense that we should refrain from it. 43:55 Let me give you a couple of passages here, 43:57 Genesis 35:1-4. 44:00 I may not read all of this, but the truth of the matter is, 44:02 I'll just reference verse 4 here, 44:05 where it says, "So they gave Jacob 44:07 all the foreign gods that were in their hands, 44:09 and the earrings which were in their ears, 44:11 and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree, 44:13 which was by Shechem." 44:15 So what happened here is God said, 44:16 "I want to sanctify you as My people. 44:18 You are My chosen people. 44:19 Come up and build Me an altar and make a sacrifice unto Me, 44:22 and I'm going to set you guys aside 44:24 for a special use." 44:25 And so one of the requirements was God said, "You know what? 44:27 You came out of this pagan heathen way of life. 44:30 You're supposed to be separate. 44:31 You're My peculiar people. 44:33 Not dressing and looking and living your life like 44:35 the way of the world but differently." 44:37 So God said, "Take off your ornamental jewelry," 44:40 and so they did so. 44:41 You see the same situation come back again 44:43 when Moses brings 44:45 the children of Israel out of Egypt. 44:47 He says to them once again, Exodus 33:4-6, it says, 44:51 "When the people heard this bad news, 44:52 they mourned and no one put on his ornaments. 44:56 For the Lord had said to Moses, say to the children of Israel, 44:58 you are a stiff neck people. 45:00 I could come up into the midst in one moment and consume you. 45:04 Now therefore, take off your ornaments that 45:06 I may know what to do with you." 45:07 And the Bible says they removed 45:09 those ornamental jewelry and took it off. 45:10 Why? 45:12 Because they were in the presence of the Lord. 45:13 And God said, "If you're going to be My people, 45:15 I don't want you to be like the world. 45:17 You're supposed to be separate from the world. 45:18 I'm calling you out and different 45:20 and apart from the heathens 45:22 and the people that are living of the world." 45:25 And, of course, this even bleeds over, 45:27 there's so many passages I can share on this that 45:30 we could talk about all day long. 45:32 But this message, the same message bleeds 45:34 over into the New Testament as well. 45:36 1 Timothy 2:9-10, 1 Peter 3:3-4, 45:41 where God tells them, 45:42 "Tell them not to wear the gold or the fancier, 45:45 finer things that 45:46 it's the hidden man of the heart 45:47 that I want from you. 45:49 I want you to be transformed from the inside out." 45:52 And also think about it from the sanctuary perspective. 45:54 Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 45:56 You wouldn't walk in a church 45:59 and put graffiti all over the inside and the out. 46:04 You consider that a holy place 46:06 because it's a place of holy convocation 46:07 with the Lord. 46:08 The same thing with us. 46:10 If our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, 46:11 are we going to go putting holes 46:13 and poking holes and putting all these 46:14 different things on us? 46:15 The truth of the matter is 46:17 if you follow the principle of what the Bible says, 46:19 God just simply says, 46:20 "I don't want you to wear it. 46:21 Please, remove it." 46:23 And we even see it all the way down 46:24 to the last book of the Bible in Revelation, 46:25 where we see two women. 46:28 Of course, a woman represents a church 46:29 in Bible prophecy. 46:30 The pure woman in Revelation 12, 46:32 she's clothed with all the natural pure lights 46:34 that God created, no ornamental jewelry. 46:36 And then you get over in Revelation 17, 46:38 and a right opposite, you see this harlot woman 46:41 who's decked with all the precious jewels 46:43 and pearls. 46:44 And I think that that's a clear communication 46:46 from God to say that 46:48 here's My holy people, and they're dressed in a pure, 46:51 simple, modest way. 46:52 And over here you have these false church systems 46:55 that are dressed like the ways of the world. 46:58 We must be separated from the world. 46:59 I don't think that God hates gold. 47:01 He created gold. I don't think He hates silver. 47:03 He created silver. I don't think He hates pearls. 47:05 He allows that process to occur. 47:07 But does He want us to apply them 47:09 to our body as appendages? 47:11 I think that's where the pride of life comes in, 47:13 and we must allow the Holy Spirit to separate us 47:16 from that selfish type of thinking. 47:18 Wow, that's an evangelist right there. 47:22 Whenever Ryan responds to a question, 47:23 he does it enthusiastically. 47:24 I love that. 47:26 And scripturally, praise the Lord for that. 47:27 And we need people 47:28 with that kind of passion today. 47:30 I just want to add one thing to it. 47:31 The principle of it 47:33 and this is the powerful thing 47:34 because when you say what's wrong with... 47:35 Let me just switch it away from jewelry for a moment. 47:38 The body, our body is God's temple 47:41 and Ryan mentioned this. 47:43 When you rent a property, you have to get permission 47:48 from the landlord to make any changes, 47:51 whether internally or externally. 47:53 I could imagine just buying a car and say, 47:56 "You know I want to change the color of this car." 47:58 And I go to the dealer next week and say, 47:59 "What happened to the color of the car?" 48:01 "Well, I bought it. I just changed the color." 48:02 He said, "Do you realize that now that coating 48:04 I put on the car has just been null and void 48:06 because you violated my contract?" 48:09 We have to keep in mind that 48:11 God has made a contract with us, 48:13 internally and externally. 48:14 So somebody might say, "Well, is smoking a bad thing? 48:18 Can I do one cigarette at a time 48:21 or maybe drugs here and there?" 48:23 The body of God that He made is His temple, 48:26 so the outside and the inside belongs to God. 48:29 And really jewelry is not 48:32 just about the ornamentation, 48:34 but it's about recognizing the temple of God 48:36 that it belongs to Him. 48:38 And He as the owner has told us 48:40 to keep it clean both internally and externally. 48:42 And really all you have to do 48:44 nowadays to be weird is not have 48:45 a tattoo or wear jewelry. 48:47 This is a true statement. 48:48 Honestly, that's all you have to do 48:50 nowadays is to be weird not to be normal, 48:53 but to be weird. 48:54 That is true. 48:55 Shelley, we're going to come to you. 48:57 "Can my prayers bring about a change in a person, 49:00 who has a personality disorder like narcissism?" 49:03 Hmm, what a question. 49:06 I'm going to hear that one. 49:08 I'm all ears. Oh, yeah, all ready. 49:10 Let me just say this. 49:13 In Isaiah 59, there's a wonderful scripture, 49:18 well, it's a sad scripture, verse 16. 49:23 God is looking down and it says, 49:26 "He saw that there was no man and he wondered that 49:31 there was no intercessor." 49:34 Have you ever wondered what God wondered? 49:36 I think He wondered why no one had enough faith 49:41 to believe He could do something. 49:43 And secondly, He wondered 49:46 why no one cared enough to intercede. 49:50 If you are praying for anyone, is that powerful? 49:56 Absolutely. 49:57 In Hebrews 7:25, it tells us, in my interpretation, 50:03 that intercessory prayer 50:05 is the highest calling to ministry 50:08 that there is because it is the ministry 50:10 of our risen and exalted Savior. 50:13 In Hebrews 7:25 it says that 50:15 He is able to save to the uttermost 50:19 those who come to God through Him, 50:21 since He always lives to intercede for them. 50:26 And here's how I explain it. 50:29 A God of love created us as agents of freewill. 50:35 So you know what He does? 50:37 He puts handcuffs of love on His own hands 50:42 and when someone... 50:43 And I'll use my sister as an example. 50:45 My sister was a drug addict for 15 years, 50:49 and I prayed and I say, "Oh, Lord." 50:53 Psalm 129:4 says, "You are righteous that 50:57 you cut us free from the cord of the wicked 50:59 that bind us. 51:00 Oh Lord, cut her free." 51:02 I said, "Oh, Lord, open her eyes 51:04 and turn her from darkness to light 51:06 from the power of Satan to You 51:08 that she can find an inheritance 51:10 among those who are sanctified by faith in You." 51:14 And I would claim God's scriptures over her. 51:18 And you know what that does? 51:20 God would not force Himself on my sister 51:24 but in answer to my prayers, 51:26 He unlocked His cuffs 51:27 and He started working in her life 51:30 in an amazing way. 51:32 And she said, I mean, 51:33 she came to know the Lord 51:35 and quit a 15-year habit overnight 51:38 and stay drug free for 30 years until she died. 51:40 Praise the Lord. 51:42 But she always said to me, "Had you not prayed for me 51:47 I think I would have been dead by now." 51:49 And so, yes, you have to realize that 51:55 anytime you're working 51:56 with a mental disorder, they need counseling. 52:00 They need... 52:02 If it's a brain chemistry, they may need drugs. 52:04 But yes, pray for them and ask God 52:08 to get them the help they need here on earth. 52:11 Amen. Thank you so much. That's powerful. 52:13 Pastor Johnny, we're coming back to you. 52:16 "How do you explain to a friend that the feasts of the Jews 52:20 as the Apostle John called them, 52:22 have been fulfilled in Christ Jesus?" 52:24 And this question comes from Florida. 52:27 This is a good question 52:29 because this thing is brought up 52:31 by different groups from time to time. 52:34 And in the limited time that we have, 52:36 I like to say to you that yes, they were fulfilled in Christ. 52:38 All of the feast and all of the sacrifices 52:42 were fulfilled by Christ. 52:44 And there is a scripture that 52:46 helps us to see that, 52:47 and I'd like to point that out to you. 52:49 And that is found in the Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 5 52:53 talking about the Feast of Passover. 52:57 1 Corinthians 5:7, 53:01 is the place to go and here it is. 53:06 This is what the Bible says here. 53:07 "Therefore, let us keep the feast 53:09 not with old leaven, 53:11 with the leaven of malice, 53:13 but with the leaven of unleavened bread." 53:15 And that's actually verse 8, the verse 7 actually. 53:18 "Therefore, purge out the old leaven 53:20 that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. 53:23 For indeed, Christ, 53:25 our Passover was sacrificed for us." 53:29 Since Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us, 53:32 there's no need to be sacrificing lambs 53:36 or any animals because Christ has done it all. 53:39 This is the place to begin. 53:41 And He fulfilled each and every one of us, 53:45 each and every one of these feasts 53:46 and there's no... 53:48 And each and every one 53:49 of the feast included a sacrifice. 53:51 So Christ fulfilled all these in the short time that we have. 53:56 The beauty of all the feast 53:58 is they're all pointing to Christ. 54:00 Christ is our Passover. 54:02 He's the one that delivered us. 54:03 He's the one that is our sacrifice 54:06 and He's the one that is outlined 54:09 in all of a sacrificial system and all the feast. 54:12 Amen. Thank you so much. 54:14 We're almost out of time, 54:16 we just have a couple minutes left. 54:17 And what I want to do now 54:19 is toss a question to all of you. 54:20 And this question has not come in, 54:22 so we're just going to throw it out 54:24 and then whoever wants to jump in. 54:25 This is the Adventist Virtual Global Camp Meeting, 54:29 so we presume that most people watching 54:32 are Seventh-day Adventist Christians. 54:34 How do we witness? 54:35 I guess that's my question. 54:36 How do we share our faith? 54:38 How do we share Jesus in our community 54:42 or in our neighbors or to people around us? 54:45 So if someone were to ask you, "I want to witness, 54:48 but I'm not sure how or I'm afraid 54:50 or I don't know what to do." 54:51 How do we witness? 54:53 I think the first thing you have to do is pray 54:54 for the Holy Spirit to be poured into your life. 54:57 You know, the Bible says in Acts 1:8, 54:59 "When the Holy Spirit is poured out on you, 55:03 you shall be witnesses." 55:04 If we look at witness as an act or five steps that 55:08 we have to follow, 55:09 we're doing it in the power of humanity, 55:11 and we'll get frustrated very quickly. 55:13 But when we do it as the day of Pentecost, 55:15 equip the disciples who had the knowledge 55:17 of being with Jesus, 55:19 then prison wouldn't stop you, 55:22 threats won't stop, being jailed won't stop you, 55:25 people that hate what you say wouldn't stop you. 55:28 The key to being an effective, consistent witness is praying 55:31 for the Spirit of God to take over your life 55:34 and cause you to fear nothing but death, 55:37 worship no one but God 55:39 and proclaim nothing but the undiluted truth. 55:41 Amen. 55:42 I just want to add to that, this thought. 55:44 We have to speak the truth in love. 55:49 You know, sometimes people 55:52 will take Ellen White quotes out of context, 55:56 you know, from a compiled work. 55:58 Or they'll take a scripture from the Bible, 56:00 and it's just like they're beating somebody 56:04 over the head, to say, "You got to do this. 56:08 This is what the Bible says." And you know what? 56:12 You cannot beat somebody over their head 56:14 with a fiddle to convince them how beautiful the music is. 56:18 If your heart is not flowing with love, 56:24 then you're never going to be an effective witness. 56:28 Amen. 56:29 I just want to add to that really quickly. 56:31 The only method that I've ever seen to work 56:33 and witnessing to people the correct way is 56:35 what we find in Ministry of Healing, page 143. 56:38 And she says, "Christ method alone 56:41 will give true success in reaching the people. 56:43 The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. 56:47 He showed His sympathy for them, 56:49 ministered to their needs, 56:50 and won their confidence then he bade them, 56:54 'Follow me.'" 56:55 So Christ method alone, 56:57 when you pour out your heart in the way that 56:58 Christ did to the people around Him, 57:00 and you become a friend to them. 57:02 Friendship evangelism is key. 57:04 Create friendships with them. 57:05 And when you create 57:06 that beautiful Christ-lead friendship, 57:08 then they will come to trust you 57:10 to share with them 57:12 the truth that's found in God's Word. 57:13 Amen. Amen. 57:15 That's wonderful. 57:16 I would suggest to get acquainted with Jesus, 57:20 read the gospels, read the Desire of Ages, 57:25 and get full of Jesus so that you can share 57:29 Jesus with the people. 57:30 And this quote is key to understanding 57:33 how to witness to people. 57:35 Amen. 57:36 Thank you all so much for sharing your insight 57:39 into the Word of God, 57:40 your knowledge of God's Word, 57:42 and most importantly, your love for Jesus. 57:44 It comes through and what a privilege 57:46 it is to open up God's Word 57:48 and to share with each one of you. 57:49 So thank you, Pastor Johnny, 57:51 and Pastor Ryan, Shelley, and Pastor John. 57:53 And we're just so glad that you have tuned 57:55 and that you have joined this 3ABN Bible Q and A. 57:59 We do this actually, every Monday. 58:01 We do a 3ABN Today program that's a Bible Q and A. 58:04 We also have our Sabbath School panel. 58:06 It's not necessarily the same concept, 58:09 but we follow the quarterly 58:10 put out by the Seventh-day Adventist Church 58:12 and study that weekly. 58:13 So the key in all of this is that 58:16 we need to open up the Word of God. 58:18 We need to study and know Jesus for ourselves. 58:22 So God bless you and keep you. |
Revised 2021-11-11