Participants: Jan Paulsen
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000939
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01:01 Please bow your heads for prayer.
01:05 Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You so much 01:08 for the blessings You bestowed on us, 01:10 especially here at ASI during these days, Lord. 01:13 And I thank You for the music. I thank You for the sermons. 01:17 But Lord, my biggest prayer tonight 01:18 is just that we would not leave here 01:23 without applying the things 01:24 that we have heard to our lives, Lord. 01:27 Help us to be Your children and help us never to forget. 01:31 Lord, we thank You 01:32 that we have another meeting tonight 01:34 that we can come together once more and worship You. 01:37 We praise You for who You are, Jesus' name, amen. 02:24 All creatures of our God and King 02:28 Lift up your voice and with us sing 02:32 Alleluia, alleluia 02:37 Thou burning sun with golden beam 02:41 Thou silver moon with softer gleam 02:45 O praise Him 02:47 O praise Him 02:49 Alleluia 02:51 Alleluia 02:53 Alleluia 03:01 Thou rushing wind that art so strong 03:05 Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along 03:10 O praise Him 03:12 Alleluia 03:14 Thou rising moon in praise rejoice 03:18 Ye lights of evening find a voice 03:23 O praise Him 03:25 O praise Him 03:27 Alleluia 03:29 Alleluia 03:31 Alleluia 03:47 Let all things their 03:49 Creator bless 03:51 And worship Him in humbleness 03:55 O praise Him 03:58 Alleluia 04:01 The whole earth is full of His glory 04:06 The whole earth is full of His glory 04:11 The whole earth is full of His glory 04:17 Holy is the Lord 04:30 And all ye men of tender heart 04:35 Forgiving others 04:38 Take your part 04:40 O sing ye 04:43 Alleluia 04:46 Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son 04:50 And praise the Spirit three in one 04:55 O praise Him 04:57 O praise Him 04:59 Alleluia 05:02 Alleluia 05:04 Alleluia 05:25 Good evening. 05:27 Did you have a good Sabbath? 05:28 Yes. Yes. 05:29 You know, that year after year when he come to you 05:32 and tell you the rest of the story. 05:35 Basically what we tell you 05:37 it's what happened from last year 05:38 when we met at convention till now. 05:42 Now we have the rest of the story 05:44 only from few hours ago. 05:46 And the morning we had the challenge, 05:49 we talk about going to the Philippines, 05:51 going to different countries, 05:53 doing this New Beginning DVD training 05:57 and many of you came to me and said, 05:59 I would like to do it. 06:01 I would like to go to the country to train people. 06:04 I would like to preach it. 06:05 I would like to do it in my house. 06:07 So Benny More with ShareHim and Elder Folkenberg 06:11 came and said, let's do more like the Philippines. 06:14 How do you do it? 06:16 We know that the gospel it's free 06:18 because Jesus Christ paid with His blood for me 06:23 and for you and for-- 06:24 But takes money to distribute it, you know. 06:26 That's right. 06:27 And who's paying for that, Ben, would you tell us? 06:29 Well, I'll tell you 06:30 there are number of people involved, 06:32 but one that we didn't mention this morning 06:35 that was very much involved 06:37 in the Philippians was the Quiet Hour. 06:40 In the Philippines the training was for-- 06:44 we did 1,000 in Manila. 06:45 You did 1,000 in Mindanao. 06:47 There were 4,000 all together 06:50 and then a couple of weeks later, 06:53 I mean, a couple of months later we did another 300. 06:56 So 4,300 laymen were trained in the Philippines. 07:00 Because of the generosity of the Quiet Hour 07:04 we were able to take more than 50 speakers 07:08 including Elder Snider to the Philippines 07:10 to conduct evangelistic series 07:13 to reap the results of the sowing 07:16 of these over 4, 000 people that were trained. 07:18 Amen. Amen. 07:19 And so we want you to be aware of the involvement 07:24 of the Quiet Hour in furnishing these sites. 07:26 If it hadn't been for the Quiet Hour, 07:28 ShareHim would not have been in the Philippines 07:30 because they sponsored the site feast 07:33 for those 51 or 52 sites that we had there. 07:37 But there's more that the Quiet Hour does 07:39 than even the sponsorship of these sites 07:43 you also sponsor the people from Fountainview Academy 07:48 that were there, but in addition to that 07:50 what else do you do with students? 07:52 We sponsor every year 07:54 and since 2001 we have been in partnership with ShareHim. 07:59 It's a seamless arrangement and I appreciate the fact 08:03 that we can do collaborative efforts together, 08:06 network together as we seek to finish the work. 08:09 But we have been doing between 250 08:13 and this year 350 teams of students 08:19 from all of our colleges 08:21 and universities in North America 08:23 and 10 outside of North America. 08:26 Amen. That's right. 08:28 And what are the plans for next year for these students? 08:31 We want to keep that going, 08:33 but it takes about $440, 000 of commitment every year. 08:39 So we're not talking about some insignificant something 08:43 but this is giving our students 08:45 the chance to preach an entire evangelistic series 08:48 between 300 and 400 per year. 08:51 This is giving them that opportunity 08:53 because of the Quiet Hour 08:55 furnishing part of the travel funds 08:57 for these students to go. 08:58 So it's a double blessing for the students going there 09:01 and for people who receive the training. 09:03 And it becomes a life changing experience. 09:06 And we say thank you ASI for your support 09:10 in making it happen. 09:12 Amen. 09:13 Thank you, ShareHim. Thanks, Viorel. 09:15 Thank you Quiet Hour. Bye-bye. 09:16 Now it's my privilege and honor 09:18 to introduce the speaker of tonight. 09:21 A man of God, I mean, asked to be leader 09:24 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide, 09:27 Dr. Jan Paulsen. 09:56 A few years ago while I was living in England 10:01 I received an invitation to come and preach 10:03 one Sabbath morning in one of our churches in Wales. 10:09 And I made my way to the church 10:11 and the time for the service to begin was there 10:13 and I was comfortably seated. 10:17 Well, seated at least on the platform. 10:20 And the pastor of our church leaned over to me and said, 10:24 did you notice the man that just walked in the door? 10:28 And I had and I said, yes. I noticed him. 10:31 Well, he said, 10:33 that is the local Anglican vicar. 10:38 He is the Anglican priest of the church 10:40 here in this town. 10:42 We have good relationships with him 10:44 and he wanted to come and hear what you had to say. 10:50 The Holy Spirit 10:54 gently spoke to my spirit and said, 10:58 probably a good idea 10:59 if you change this topic you had in mind. 11:04 And that's what I did. 11:06 I took up a subject other than the one I had thought 11:11 that I was going to preach on. 11:14 You know... 11:17 sometimes we are asked to submit the title 11:21 weeks even months in advance of it actually being delivered 11:25 and we suggest the title. 11:27 May be we're working on something 11:29 that we are sort of warm on that at that time 11:32 and feel yes, this is what I want to speak about. 11:34 But weeks pass and time pass and there comes a moment 11:38 where you say, 11:40 are you sure that's really what you want to do? 11:43 And there are times when, 11:45 when I feel may be I should choose a generic title 11:49 like "Hearken O people unto the Lord." 11:55 I could preach all the sermons 11:57 I'm gonna preach the rest of my life on that title 12:00 because anything is fitted into it. 12:02 So what I'm gradually getting to is, 12:04 scratch the title you find in the program for the night. 12:07 That's not what I'm gonna preach about. 12:10 What I want to talk about tonight 12:12 is something which keeps me a bit closer 12:16 to the theme that you've had during this week. 12:19 And I wanted to share with you some thoughts 12:22 on what I have entitled "Dressed for Combat." 12:30 Throughout the Bible, Old Testament and New, 12:33 you find a constant reference to the battle 12:36 that's going on that we're involved in, 12:38 battle between good and evil, 12:40 battle between God and forces oppose to God. 12:43 One of the classical passages in the Old Testament 12:46 you will remember is when King Jehoshaphat 12:49 was facing the combined forces 12:52 of the Moabites and the Amalekites 12:55 and the messenger of the Lord said to him, 12:58 do not be discouraged or afraid because of this vast army, 13:05 for the battle is not yours but God's. 13:09 And that is a signal text for the believers 13:15 who have committed themselves to remain faithful to God 13:18 and to His truth. 13:20 They will face difficult times there's no doubt about it. 13:23 They will face difficult times, 13:25 but the battle is not ours, it is of the Lord. 13:29 And Jesus Christ 13:30 during the last few hours He had with His disciples, 13:33 before He went into the Garden of Gethsemane. 13:36 You remember the prayer that He offered to the Father 13:40 recorded in, in John Chapter 17. 13:45 He said Father, 13:47 I'm not asking you to take them out of this world, 13:51 but protect them from the evil one. 13:59 Christ... 14:04 all of the inspired writers of the Bible 14:09 have been constantly aware of the fact 14:11 that the community of faith will face forces 14:16 which are opposed to Christ and opposed to the truth. 14:20 There is a battle that will engage us 14:24 and we have to be prepared for that. 14:26 So that is the subject 14:28 on which I want to share with you a few thoughts. 14:32 Ephesians Chapter 6 is of course our key chapter, 14:35 the second half of Ephesians Chapter 6. 14:38 The scene is set there with Paul's acknowledgement 14:42 of the conflict that lies ahead. 14:44 This one he says, is not like any other war. 14:49 This one is a war against the powers of darkness. 14:54 It's against evil spiritual forces. 14:57 They will come to you in various shapes and forms. 15:00 Some will be very open in the way they present 15:02 or others will be more subtle, 15:05 that they are always destructive. 15:07 Destructive in terms of what they do to your faith 15:10 and to your confidence in the Lord. 15:13 And so Paul 15:16 as he describes the suitable attire 15:22 that the Christian should have on in this warfare, 15:27 he does it by using the imagery of a Roman soldier 15:30 who is armed for combat. 15:32 He must be armed both in terms of being prepared 15:36 to defend himself and in terms of attack 15:41 and his opening salvo 15:43 which you find that in Ephesians 6:10 is, 15:49 "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." 15:53 The phrase in the Lord is a phrase which Paul uses 15:58 in this short epistle no less then about 30 times 16:01 and it's a key phrase to him. 16:04 It's the secret to the victory. 16:07 We are either in Him, we either abide in Him and succeed. 16:13 All we are on our own 16:16 and our own stamina and strength 16:18 will let us down and we will fail. 16:23 As Jesus said to the apostles 16:26 just before He walked into the garden He said, 16:31 "Apart from Me you can do nothing." 16:38 On the personal level in the spiritual warfare 16:42 which we all face, no one comes away unscathed, 16:47 no one does. 16:49 No one is untouched by this war. 16:53 You are either a conqueror or you are a causality. 16:59 We are all affected by it individually. 17:04 But in a more primary sense and at a higher level 17:08 the question is not really about 17:10 who is going to win the battle, 17:13 because in a sense that's already decided. 17:16 When Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and me 17:21 the devil was dealt a mortal blow 17:25 from which he will not recover. 17:29 The universe knows it. 17:30 They know that the-- 17:31 they know how the war between good and evil 17:34 ultimately will end. 17:35 Christ at that time through down the prince of this world, 17:40 He gained the victory at that time. 17:43 The irreversible outcome is in a sense already in place. 17:47 Christ has already secured the victory. 17:50 At the end of the day 17:52 there is no doubt about who is victorious. 17:54 When you read the Book of Revolution 17:56 which is a story, which in graphic ways 17:59 presents the warfare, 18:01 the battle between the forces of good and evil, 18:03 it is really a book about victory. 18:05 The outcome is never uncertain. 18:09 It's a description of how the church, 18:12 how the people of God will be affected by it 18:14 and what they have to expect, but the message is very clear, 18:20 Jesus has gained the victory. 18:23 This is why you find in Revelation, 18:26 you find that the choirs of heaven 18:29 in poetic sections of the Book of Revelation, 18:32 the hymns that the choir sing. 18:36 They bring forth this theme 18:38 that Jesus Christ was victorious. 18:41 He has gained victory. 18:43 Just share with you a couple of passages. 18:45 "Now have come the salvation and the power 18:48 and the kingdom of our God, 18:49 and the authority of his Christ. 18:51 For the accuser of our brothers who accuses them 18:54 before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 18:59 They overcame him by the blood of the lamb. 19:03 And therefore the heavenly choir sings, 19:05 worthy is the lamb who were slain to receive power 19:09 and wealth and wisdom and strength 19:11 and honor and glory and praise." 19:13 The heavenly choirs affirmed 19:17 the victory of Jesus Christ. 19:20 And therefore the chorus continues 19:23 as assurance to you and me as followers of Jesus. 19:26 They will make war against the lamb, 19:28 but the lamb will overcome them because He is the Lord of lords 19:33 and the King of kings and with Him 19:36 will be His called chosen and faithful followers. 19:42 So however troublesome 19:46 and uncertain the days ahead may seem 19:50 and however stress testing and trying 19:53 your and my personal experience may be. 19:57 The question is not about the outcome of the war. 20:02 The question is about whether you and I will celebrate 20:05 the victory with Christ? 20:09 So one may ask... 20:14 since the final outcome of the war is assured 20:20 what's the point of the battle? 20:24 If the devil knows that he's already defeated, 20:27 if he knows it, 20:29 why does he carry on? 20:35 The plan of the devil is, 20:37 in one way, I think very simple. 20:40 He will try to detract 20:43 from the glorious victory of Christ 20:47 by defeating some of Christ followers, 20:50 some of Christ soldiers, you and me. 20:55 To somehow, 20:56 to somehow distract from the quality 20:58 of this victory that Christ has won by seeing to it 21:03 that as many as possible of those who Christ has claimed 21:07 that His somehow will falter and leave their commitment 21:13 and drift off in other directions. 21:16 I have to tell you there will be casualties. 21:23 On our own we are unevenly matched against the evil one. 21:29 His cunning and intelligence is far beyond any of us. 21:35 He is a master of setting traps. 21:39 And some of us sadly get caught. 21:45 But we will succeed 21:48 by the power of the victorious Christ. 21:52 We will succeed by what Paul describes 21:55 as the power of His resurrection. 21:58 This is a wonderful imagery that we find 22:01 of what happened on this, this weekend, 22:03 this final weekend 22:05 of Christ's mortal humanity. 22:11 His death on the cross 22:14 and later on the same weekend His resurrection. 22:18 He laid down His life at which point? 22:23 The victory over the evil one was secured and guaranteed. 22:28 He resurrected, he was resurrected by God 22:31 and this is God the Father's affirmation 22:34 that Christ Jesus Christ 22:35 was everything He presented himself to be. 22:37 The resurrection was not self generated 22:41 but it was divinity 22:43 that displayed its creative power. 22:46 It's the way by which God says, this is a new creation. 22:50 For the Christ that came out of the grave, 22:53 while in one way 22:54 of course the same one as laid and gave His life. 22:58 Yet there is-- it was different. 23:00 It was different. 23:03 The body had different qualities 23:06 and yet it was real, it was physical. 23:08 Somehow, I think it signals the newness 23:12 that we will experience in resurrection as well. 23:15 They will be continuity between what we are now 23:18 and that which will be in the resurrection. 23:21 We will know each other. We will have our personalities. 23:25 We will have our qualities and yet it is different. 23:31 The corruptible has put on incorruption. 23:37 And that which can be destroyed, 23:40 has been laid to rest 23:41 and the indestructible comes out. 23:43 This is all a power-- 23:46 a display of God's creative power. 23:50 And it is that which Paul has in mind when he says, 23:53 I want you to experience the power of His resurrection. 23:57 What is he talking about? 23:59 He is talking about the creative power 24:01 of the Almighty one 24:04 which 6,000 years ago 24:07 cost life to emerge out of nothing 24:11 and who can take you and me and can do 24:13 absolutely incredible things with us. 24:16 He can take us who really when all the said and done 24:19 are nothing and make wonderfully strong 24:22 and effective and accomplished believers 24:27 and witnesses for Christ of us. 24:29 So we will succeed 24:34 by the power of the victorious Christ, 24:37 by the power of His resurrection. 24:40 In describing this battle the Lord servant writes, 24:46 "Satan is ever on the alert to deceive and mislead. 24:51 He is using every enchantment 24:55 to lead us into the broad road of disobedience. 24:58 He is working to confuse the senses 25:02 with erroneous sentiments, and to remove the landmarks 25:06 by placing his false inscription on the signposts 25:12 which God has established to point the right way." 25:21 The text says, that our battle is not against flesh and blood. 25:26 Then I'm referring back to now to Paul again in Ephesians. 25:29 But against the evil power of Satan. 25:33 So the choice we must make, the primary choice 25:36 that each of us has to make personally for ourselves 25:40 is essentially a choice of allegiance. 25:44 I stand either under the bloodstain banner 25:47 of Prince Emmanuel 25:49 or under the black banner of the powers of darkness. 25:54 These are the only two choices we have. 25:57 If our choice is Christ, 26:00 we must know and be assured that heaven has laid plans 26:05 so that we should not for one moment be alone. 26:10 We do not go into the battle alone. 26:13 It's critically important that we keep that in mind. 26:15 There is no point at which heaven abandons his children. 26:21 This is not our battle, 26:23 it is God's and He's gonna see us through to success. 26:28 That I think is critically important for us to remember. 26:31 But we must make our choice. 26:36 It's personal. 26:38 It is an individual decision 26:41 which you and l must be very clear about it. 26:45 If our choice is the victorious Christ, 26:50 the power to conquer is also ours. 26:56 And so let us come to the garment for the battle 27:00 which the garment which heaven has selected. 27:05 And to those who have chosen Christ, Paul writes, 27:10 "Put on the full armor of God" 27:15 in verse 12. 27:17 So that you can stand your ground he says. 27:20 And so he uses the symbolism of the Roman soldier 27:24 who is dressed for combat. 27:27 And the first part of the armor he says, 27:29 is the belt of truth. 27:33 It's important for us as Seventh-day Adventist. 27:35 We are close to this book, we use it frequently. 27:39 All of our preaching and teaching of our values 27:41 arise from what this book brings us. 27:46 This is where we start. This is the first. 27:50 God's truth is His word. Yes, true doctrines. 27:55 The Lord said that He is the truth, 27:58 He is the divine saving truth holding on to God's truth 28:03 gives us a heavenly sense of direction 28:06 for it is based on the word 28:08 and not our own personal philosophy, 28:11 nor is it based on the value which the environment 28:14 which we find ourselves in brings to us. 28:16 It comes through us from the sacred word. 28:20 But I think may be 28:22 that I think is primarily what is in His mind. 28:26 This is the first point in you, the first item in your armor. 28:31 Without this 28:33 you haven't got a chance to stand in the battle. 28:36 This is the first piece of armor 28:39 you must have with you. 28:42 This is what will teach you 28:44 but I wonder if He doesn't also have another thing in mind 28:46 when He says the belt of truth. 28:49 And that is... 28:53 of honesty and integrity, truthfulness. 28:59 One translation of the Bible says, put on integrity. 29:07 I think it is important that God's people 29:09 be known for their personal quality 29:12 of integrity and truthfulness. 29:16 A few months ago on a trip to Africa, 29:21 I visited as happens from time to time on my journeys 29:25 with a head of state or a head of government. 29:28 And in this case he was the president of Malawi 29:31 and we had a whole hour together. 29:33 He was well acquainted with our church 29:36 and had at one stage as a child I discovered afterwards, 29:40 been a student at our school at the Malamulo Hospital. 29:45 And he knew some of the songs 29:47 that were taught to the children. 29:50 He still remembered some of those. 29:52 But he had traveled a long journey 29:54 internationally since then. 29:56 This is a highly qualified man 29:57 who worked with the World Bank in New York and in Washington 30:02 and had various assignments internationally. 30:05 He was now back as the president of the Country 30:08 and he said to me, 30:11 one of the big problems we have in Africa-- 30:14 He was speaking about Africa, 30:16 however this is not unique to Africa let me tell you. 30:19 You know it as well as I do. 30:21 It's not unique just the developing world 30:23 what he described as an African problem. 30:26 We find it also here in the western world 30:28 and that is people who sell their integrity for money. 30:33 Greed is so powerful 30:37 that people will get let go of their own personal integrity 30:43 and it's basically sold for cash. 30:46 And there are many examples 30:48 of nations and leaders on the African continent 30:51 who sold themselves in this way. 30:53 But I want to tell you there are many examples 30:55 in the western world today that's similarly. 31:00 Not just in a hidden manner, 31:02 but even people who occupy leadership positions 31:06 in government and trusted elected positions. 31:12 But I think it's important that we have the Word of God, 31:15 but I think its important then as His followers 31:18 you and I protect our integrity, 31:22 our honesty, our truthfulness. 31:26 The second piece of armor 31:29 is the breastplate of righteousness. 31:32 This is no doubt referring to the righteousness of Christ, 31:36 thereby meaning the protection which comes from being covered 31:41 by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 31:45 This is the white robe in the Book of Revelation. 31:48 And he who keeps it on is pronounced blessed 31:52 and he who is without it goes naked 31:55 and is shamefully exposed. 31:58 So the thought is that being clothed 32:00 with the righteousness of Christ you are impregnable. 32:06 The righteousness of Christ will cover you 32:09 and you will be safe. 32:13 But probably also in Paul's mind 32:17 is our own response, 32:21 how we act out what we are. 32:24 The choices we make in terms of the lives we live. 32:28 That is about imputed righteousness 32:29 and imparted righteousness. 32:31 That is both that which is God's gift that covers us, 32:35 Christ gift to us of His righteousness 32:38 and there is the decisions we make, 32:41 you and I make every day in regard to 32:44 how we conduct our lives, how we live our lives. 32:48 A man, a woman of upright character 32:51 is respected and protected from slanderous accusations. 32:56 The numerous injunctions in the Bible 32:59 about the right conduct, about good living 33:03 should make it very clear 33:06 that in matters such as these. 33:11 It has very much to do with how we behave. 33:15 And therefore this passage here in Ephesians 33:21 you find described as living as children of light 33:25 in one of the passages, 33:26 the second half of the fourth chapter, 33:28 living as children of light. 33:29 Look, it makes a huge difference, how we live. 33:34 Please don't misunderstand me. 33:35 We are all fault. 33:39 We all make our mistakes and we all look at things 33:43 which we wish were not there but it's there 33:46 and there isn't a lot we can do about it. 33:48 But its still is important that we make the right choices. 33:53 It is not good enough to say, Christ will cover me 33:56 irrespective of the choices I make, 33:58 irrespective of how I conduct my life today. 34:02 It is important 34:03 that the righteousness of Christ 34:07 which is heavens gift to me is allowed to express itself 34:10 also in the way I make my decisions. 34:14 Interestingly the breastplate has no cover for the back. 34:21 Do not turn your back on the enemy, 34:24 face him squarely. 34:26 Meet what comes at you and do it 34:28 in the strength of knowing the word 34:31 and with the assurance that you are in the Lord. 34:36 He said be strong in the Lord. 34:41 The next piece of the armor, the dress for combat 34:47 He refers to are the shoes. 34:51 This He describes as the readiness 34:54 which comes from the gospel of peace. 34:57 The shoes, they signify both agility and sure footing. 35:04 You have to know where you stand on issues 35:07 and challenges which come before you. 35:09 You have to know what you stand for 35:12 in order to succeed in the battle ahead. 35:16 We must know these things. 35:18 And this knowledge clearly rests 35:21 on the knowledge of the Word of God 35:23 and the commitment which you and I make 35:25 with respective obeying the Word of God. 35:28 Sadly too many, even among our own people 35:33 are not sure about what they stand for. 35:39 And not certain, 35:41 and they are not able to present from the Word of God 35:46 a rational and a good reason for the choices they have made. 35:51 Why? 35:52 Because they are not sufficiently familiar 35:54 with this book. 35:56 They don't use it enough. It is not ready. 35:58 It isn't part of the family life. 36:01 It is not the document 36:02 that they go to and consult on a daily basis. 36:06 And so that is a lack of knowledge 36:09 and they don't know and they are not able to define 36:12 either what they believe adequately, 36:14 nor are they able to define from the Bible 36:16 the values they have chosen. 36:19 This, my friends, 36:20 is the consequence of not being familiar with the Bible. 36:24 And that lack of familiarity 36:26 comes from a failure to read it reflectively. 36:33 But I see in this reference to shoes 36:37 as also having meaning in the context of mission. 36:42 A Christian is always eager and ready to tell the world, 36:47 to take the news of Christ to the unbelieving world 36:51 and somehow as I read Isaiah 36:55 which of course is the evangelist if you wish 36:59 of the Old Testament. 37:00 There's so much of what Isaiah writes 37:03 is God's message compelling His people to engage in mission 37:09 and the assurances that God gives to the people 37:13 who make the decision to become engaged in mission. 37:16 And I find this well known passage here. 37:19 "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet 37:22 of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, 37:24 who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, 37:27 who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" 37:33 This I think is an apt description 37:34 to shoes of scaling the mountains if you wish 37:39 bringing good news and proclaiming peace. 37:45 As a young, very young student 37:48 18, 18 years of age, 19 years of age 37:53 and I was reminded of that just a couple of weeks ago 37:56 when I was back in home country of Norway. 37:59 This was a text that spoke so strongly to me 38:04 as a young student. 38:06 As I-- 38:07 my wife and I, we went on a sort of this 38:10 nostalgic trip up one of the valleys. 38:12 If some of you have traveled into Norway, 38:15 you know that there are many valleys 38:16 as you travel from the southern part of Norway, 38:18 there are three or four main valleys 38:21 that cut up for hundreds of kilometers into the country. 38:25 And two summers in the row as a student 38:29 I canvassed all the farms in this particular valley 38:32 on a bicycle from farm house to farm house, up the hills. 38:37 Sometimes I had to walk and lead by bicycle 38:40 for a whole hour from the main road 38:42 until I reach some farms that were way up there. 38:45 And this text came back to me. 38:49 And many times when I read it then, 38:52 I sort of sense that that God saw me with the books 38:58 loaded on my bicycle scaling the mountains that the-- 39:02 yeah, difficult terrain but on the mission of God. 39:07 Repeatedly Isaiah states 39:10 that when you engage in mission-- 39:14 he says, I want you to remember 39:17 you're never, never going to be alone. 39:21 And he says-- 39:24 and now this is what the Lord says, 39:25 "He who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel. 39:29 Fear not, for I have remembered you, 39:32 I have summoned you by name and you are mine. 39:35 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. 39:39 When you pass through the rivers, 39:41 they will not sweep over you. 39:42 When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, 39:45 the flames will not set you ablaze. 39:47 For I am the Lord your God, 39:49 the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." 39:50 And I have chosen You and you're precious to me. 39:54 Is there a better message we can take with us 39:56 as we go into both mission and into the battle 40:00 that lies ahead for us. 40:04 The next piece of the armor 40:05 that He brings our attention to is the shield of faith. 40:10 In another passage in a New Testament, 40:12 the Apostle John in his first epistle chapter 5 verse 4 40:17 he writes for, "For everyone born of God 40:19 overcomes the world. 40:21 This is the victory that has overcome the world, 40:23 even our faith. 40:25 Who is it that overcomes the world? 40:27 Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 40:33 We often hear the phrase righteousness by faith. 40:38 Do we know what we're talking about? 40:41 Do we understand 40:43 that as righteousness is a gift from God so is faith. 40:49 Faith is also God's gift to us in a very fundamental sense. 40:55 But it is activated and appropriated 40:58 at the moment of surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord. 41:03 Faith, born of God and implanted in our hearts 41:08 cannot and does not become an active dynamics in our lives 41:12 apart from our surrender to Jesus Christ. 41:16 And at that point 41:18 our faith becomes a big body sized shield 41:24 that Paul describes here, 41:26 that he's talking about the shield 41:28 that protects us from the fiery darts of the enemy. 41:33 This is what God said to Abraham, 41:36 surrounded by hostile forces 41:38 after he responded to God's call. 41:41 He said, don't be afraid, Abraham, I am your shield. 41:47 And as you know Abraham went down in history 41:50 as the father of the faithful. 41:54 These fiery arrows from the enemy 42:00 can come from many quarters. 42:05 And not only from the enemy's of God's people, 42:11 some I fear come from within our own camps. 42:18 They can take the form of fear, of discouragement, 42:23 of envy, of anger, of false acquisition 42:28 and despair and they can come to you 42:31 in a great variety of temptations, 42:34 but these fiery arrows will come at you 42:39 and they will be destructive. 42:41 Only the shield of faith 42:45 will deflect them and protect you. 42:49 Faith is the complete, 42:53 an unqualified trust in Jesus Christ. 42:58 When we walk close to Him on our pilgrimage, we are safe. 43:04 By knowing Him we are safe. 43:07 By knowing Him we walk with Him. 43:10 Faith is this complete unqualified trust in Christ. 43:16 I'm reminded of the words of Ellen White, 43:19 when she considered unity in our church. 43:22 She used the phrase press together, press together. 43:27 I believe that without this shield, 43:30 individually as well as, as a community 43:34 we are too vulnerable. 43:37 Standing alone, you're exposed 43:40 and it is difficult to protect yourself. 43:43 Together, caring for each other, 43:46 strengthening the bond of unity 43:48 that holds us together as one family, 43:51 offering the dynamics 43:54 of a community of believers to each other, 43:57 we are stronger and we are safer. 44:02 The next piece of the armor 44:05 is the helmet of salvation. 44:09 In another text 44:11 as Paul touches on the armor for the spiritual warfare, 44:15 he says, 44:16 "Let us put on the hope of salvation as a helmet" 44:21 writing in his 1 Thessalonians epistles. 44:24 The head which symbolizes the center of our intelligence, 44:29 the center of our knowing, the center of our decision, 44:32 the centre of our choices, the center of the place 44:34 where we hold our values, needs special protection. 44:41 If you are vague or unclear in our understanding, 44:45 both of what God is saying to us 44:47 and how we should relate and respond in faith to Him, 44:50 then our decisions are feeble 44:53 and our choices of direction are unsafe. 44:59 Our misguided conduct is the public testimony 45:04 of either our failure to understand 45:07 or our failure to make the right choices. 45:12 And then finally the sword of the spirit. 45:18 The sword of the spirit is nothing 45:20 other then the Word of God. 45:22 This is why we began and this is somehow 45:24 where inspiration and Paul 45:26 takes us back to the Word of God. 45:29 God's message to unrepentant, I mean, He-- 45:33 it's interesting. 45:35 He uses the term the sword, the cutting effect, 45:39 interesting that in the message, 45:42 in Hosea. 45:48 Listen to the words, God speaking to unrepentant Esra. 45:54 He said, "Come, let us return to the Lord. 45:56 He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us, 46:00 he has injured us 46:02 but he will bind up our wounds." 46:04 God and God's word will correct. 46:07 It will cut into our lives and it may hurt, 46:12 but it has the healing qualities in it. 46:14 And so at one point here He says, 46:16 what more can I do for you, Ephraim. 46:19 It says, God almost in exasperations says, 46:22 have I not done everything I can for you? 46:24 This is in their waywardness, in their unrepentant Israel. 46:29 And may be God speaks to you and me 46:32 in our waywardness as well. 46:34 What more can I do for you, my child, my son, my daughter? 46:37 Have I not tried? Did I not rebuke you? 46:41 Did I not love you? Did I not show you the way? 46:44 What more, what else can I do for you? 46:46 And interestingly He uses this expression, 46:49 "I cut you in pieces with my prophets." 46:53 The Word of God as a sword, the symbol sword 46:59 is both the defensive and an attack weapon. 47:03 And very fittingly the apostle writes. 47:07 The Word of God is living and active, 47:10 sharper than any two edged sword, 47:13 it penetrates even two dividing soul and the spirit. 47:18 It judges the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart. 47:21 Hebrews 4:12. 47:24 Listen to the description 47:25 of what happened on the day of Pentecost. 47:28 "The Spirit came upon the waiting, praying disciples 47:32 with a fullness that reached every heart. 47:36 The Infinite One revealed Himself in power to His church. 47:40 It was as if for ages 47:42 this influence had been held in restraint, 47:45 and now Heaven rejoiced in being able to pour out 47:49 upon the church the riches of the Spirit's grace. 47:52 And under the influence of the Spirit, 47:55 words of penitence and confession 47:57 mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven. 48:01 Words of thanksgiving and of prophecy were heard. 48:05 All heaven bent low to behold and to adore the wisdom 48:09 of matchless, incomprehensible love. 48:13 Lost in wonder, the apostles exclaimed, 'Herein is love.' 48:18 They grasped the imparted gift. And what followed? 48:22 The sword of the Spirit, newly edged with power 48:26 and bathed in the lightings of heaven, 48:28 cut its way through unbelief 48:31 and thousands were converted in one day." 48:36 Acts of Apostles, page 38. 48:40 The spirit speaks and he speaks to us through this word. 48:46 It's important that we remember that 48:48 because we meet people who have, 48:50 who suggest there are other more occurrence, 48:55 more dynamic ways 48:56 by which the spirit speaks to us 48:59 and who will put this one aside and that their minds 49:02 be guided by sprit filled messages so called, 49:07 whose origin is not the Word of God, 49:11 but the spirit speaks 49:13 on an almost unlimited range of issues, 49:16 primarily and essentially through this book. 49:22 This is the instrument through which heaven speaks to us. 49:26 The spirit is not the inventor of a new message. 49:31 He brings no new gospel. 49:33 It is the ministry of the spirit 49:34 to focus on Jesus Christ and to help us to understand 49:37 what Jesus Christ talk, therefore Jesus said, 49:40 when He comes, 49:42 He will help you to understand everything I have told you 49:46 and He will remind you of these things. 49:49 As you know when Jesus faced the battle with the devil, 49:55 it was the word which was His tool. 49:57 It is written. 50:00 That is the safe, an effective formula 50:03 facing any temptation or compromising situation, 50:07 but it's a tool which you can use only 50:11 if you are familiar with it, if you know it. 50:18 This underscores the need for each of us individually 50:21 to read the Word of God 50:24 and to know where to go for our answers. 50:28 And I say to you, my brothers and sisters, 50:31 if it is not be sure you make 50:33 this part of your every day life. 50:37 Help your children to understand the Word of God. 50:40 Take time with your children. 50:42 Tell them both the stories 50:45 that will hold their attention and the values 50:48 which they need to build into their life decision. 50:51 Take time, would you and they are never too young 50:54 to learn, begin to learn the values that this book, 50:57 but take time with your children 51:00 for that to happen. 51:05 God has provided-- 51:06 and I quote again from the Pen of Inspiration. 51:09 "God has provided for successful warfare 51:11 against the evil that is in the world. 51:15 The Bible is the armory 51:17 where we may equip for the struggle. 51:20 Our loins must be girt about with truth. 51:23 Our breastplate must be righteousness. 51:26 The shield of faith must be in our hand, 51:29 the helmet of salvation on our brow, 51:31 and with the sword of the Spirit, 51:33 which is the Word of God, we are to cut our way 51:37 through the obstructions and entanglements of sin." 51:43 I command to you the Word of God. 51:46 Read it and reflect on its content. 51:50 Consult it daily. 51:52 Through it you will know Christ and you will hear 51:55 and you will understand His message. 51:57 You will know right from wrong, good from evil 52:01 and you will personally experience 52:03 the power of His resurrection and then, 52:07 and only then are you ready for the inevitable battle 52:11 that lies ahead for you and me. 52:14 God bless each one of you. Thank you. 52:17 Amen. Amen. 52:40 My faith looks up to thee 52:46 Thou Lamb of Calvary 52:51 Savior divine 52:57 Now hear me as I pray 53:02 Take all my curse away 53:08 Nor let me ever stray 53:13 From thee aside 53:28 May thy rich grace impart 53:34 Strength to my healing heart 53:40 My zeal inspire 53:45 As thou hast died for me 53:51 O may my love to thee 53:56 Pure, warm, and changeless be 54:03 A living fire 54:09 Nor let me ever stray 54:15 From thee 54:17 Aside 54:35 Have you been blessed? 54:37 Amen. Amen. 54:38 Hasn't this been a wonderful Sabbath day? 54:43 We know there's a little bit of the rest of the story. 54:46 We've been talking about the rest of the story 54:48 and my husband Denzel has got some rest of the story for us 54:52 that just started today. 54:53 So you got to hear what he has to tell us. 54:57 I'm always humbled and odd at the generosity 55:02 and support of our ASI family. 55:06 And I want to thank each and everyone 55:08 for the gift that they have given today 55:10 to help build these wonderful churches 55:12 and the other projects that we've had. 55:14 But I'm here to tell you that since we made the announcement 55:17 of our offering through our internet site, 55:21 onedaychurch.org and other pledges, 55:25 we have enough pledges to do 40 more churches. 55:31 Amen. Praise the Lord. 55:38 God is good, isn't He? 55:40 You know it was our hope, our desire and also our prayer 55:45 that we would Him better by being here. 55:48 And I don't know if you read the little quote 55:50 that was in your program, 55:51 but I just want to read it to you one more time. 55:55 "Only by knowing Christ, can we know God? 55:59 And as we behold Him, 56:00 we shall be changed into His image. 56:04 Prepare to meet Him at His coming." 56:07 I think that pretty sums up our conviction for 2008. 56:12 I can't believe it's over with, it just started 56:15 but it's not quiet over with because the booth area 56:18 will be open and I encourage you to go there tonight, 56:21 enjoy seeing those and fellowship again. 56:24 But guess what? 56:25 If Jesus doesn't come, 56:26 I'm gonna see you in Phoenix next year. 56:30 It will be warm but I look forward to see 56:32 each and every one of you. 56:34 It's been a wonderful time here but be sure 56:37 and mark your calendars for August fifth through eight, 56:41 2009 in Phoenix. 56:44 God bless you and thank you for coming. 56:46 And I invite you to stand for our benediction. 56:58 Let's bow our heads. 57:01 Our loving and awesome God, 57:04 our hearts have been cheered with the fellowship. 57:08 Our spirits have been uplifted with the stories 57:12 and the accomplishments of Your people. 57:16 Father, as we come closer and closer to the end of time, 57:20 we are enjoying these annual weekends at ASI. 57:26 But we long for a weekend 57:29 as well as an eternity in Your presence 57:32 and an environment created by You 57:37 versus this manmade environment. 57:40 We long to be more like Jesus. 57:42 We long to be filled with His spirit. 57:45 And I pray as we go from this place 57:47 that we will take the inspiration 57:49 and daily surrender our lives to You 57:52 and allow Your spirit to use us that, 57:56 if we're able to comeback again next year 57:59 we might be ready to share again the expose, 58:04 that Your sprit has led us to accomplish. 58:07 And now we think of Paul's words, 58:10 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly 58:14 above all that we ask or think, 58:17 according to the power that worketh in us, 58:20 unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus 58:25 throughout all ages, world without end." |
Revised 2015-10-08