Participants:
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR001015
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00:30 A beautiful Sabbath morning here in New York State
00:34 and we are upstate a few miles 00:36 from New York City at Camp Berkshire 00:39 for the Greater New York Camp Meeting. 00:43 And we welcome those of you 00:45 that are here in the auditorium. 00:47 And we look forward to those that are still on their way. 00:51 In fact, if you're at home 00:53 and you're within driving distance to this area, 00:55 we invite you to join us 00:56 for a wonderful day here at Camp Berkshire. 01:00 Not only the services this morning, 01:03 but a music program this afternoon 01:05 and then a Vesper program this evening. 01:08 So we are looking forward to a beautiful, beautiful day. 01:13 Right now, I have two guests that I'm gonna invite to come 01:17 because you see one of the things 01:18 we're featuring this weekend is New York 13. 01:22 And this is the beginning of a worldwide program 01:26 to reach the big cities 01:28 with the message of the Three Angels. 01:31 600 plus meetings will be held in the cities around the world. 01:36 There is gonna be a Field School of Evangelism 01:38 that's gonna be held here. 01:40 And I'd like for you to meet Dr. Santos, who is the Secretary 01:44 of the Greater New York Conference and Dr. Alanzo Smith. 01:48 And these two gentlemen have been involved 01:51 in training people for this great event. 01:55 Tell us a little bit about-- 01:56 we'll start with you, Dr. Santos. 01:58 Tell us a little bit about the coordination. 02:00 Well, definitely this is gonna be a huge event. 02:04 It's probably the largest evangelistic initiative 02:08 the Seventh-day Adventist Church ever had in history. 02:11 We are planning to have just in the city 02:12 or in the Metropolitan area of New York 02:14 about 300 evangelistic series of meetings, 02:18 but this--we are not focused just on the meetings itself 02:21 because we believe evangelism is a process. 02:24 It's a long process. 02:26 So this is why we already started preparing the churches, 02:30 training the churches with spiritual revival, 02:32 and lay training, outreach 02:36 in the community developed a several programs. 02:38 We're gonna have the youth doing next year everyday of the year, 02:41 a special project in the city for everyday of the year. 02:45 We want to have all the churches involve in outreach. 02:48 Of course, the reaping meetings, evangelistic meetings itself, 02:51 and then at the end follow-up a discipleship program. 02:55 Wow. That sounds exciting. 02:57 Dr. Smith, you've been involved in this training, 03:00 particularly for the Sabbath School. 03:02 And, you know, the Sabbath School 03:04 shouldn't be just the place where people come and sit. 03:07 They should be very active in study and also in outreach. 03:11 Tell us about what you've been doing in training there. 03:13 Well, Jim, we started out this year 03:16 in training our Sabbath School 03:18 superintendents and our teachers. 03:20 We want to turn every Sabbath School class 03:23 into an evangelistic unit. Amen. 03:25 We believe if our teachers are motivated 03:28 and if they can lead their classes into soul winning, 03:31 we will see an abundant of harvest. 03:34 So we have had training workshops in the Bronx, 03:37 in Queens, Long Island, and yes, in Brooklyn. 03:40 The attendants have been very good. 03:42 The teachers are motivated. 03:44 The superintendents are motivated. 03:46 And we are doing a lot to help save souls for the kingdom. 03:50 Wow. So tell us 03:52 you've been having some of these classes 03:54 on actual, literal, soul winning, is that right? 03:58 Yes. Well, actually through 03:59 the Personal Ministries Department, 04:02 we also have been training lay people 04:06 to know how to win souls for Jesus Christ. 04:08 You know, winning soul 04:09 is a spiritual exercise and it's also an art. 04:13 He that winneth soul must be wise. 04:16 And so what we have done, we have mobilized 04:20 a group of motivated lay people in our conference 04:24 and we have had training workshops for them 04:26 every Sunday morning for the past-- 04:31 we did this for two months. 04:33 Every Sunday they would come, 04:34 and afterwards we had a Field School for them. 04:37 And all of this was leading up to their graduation. 04:40 And how many Bible workers did you graduate? 04:43 Oh, we trained 162. 04:48 We graduated over 150 from that 04:52 and the others are making preparation 04:54 for their graduation as well. Wow. Amen. 04:56 Can you imagine, folks, 04:57 that many Bible workers out in homes giving Bible studies? 05:02 And the impact that that's going to have. 05:04 And the preparation it will have for 05:06 bringing people to these evangelistic meetings 05:09 and also the follow-up of those that make decisions. 05:13 So we believe that the preparation here 05:15 has been extensive. And, Dr. Santos, 05:19 what are some of the other things that are being planned? 05:21 Well, we also plan to have 05:23 several new churches establishments. 05:25 We still have in New York 05:26 as you may know as a Cosmopolitan Center, 05:31 we have hundreds of ethnic and language groups. 05:35 So we are planning to plant 05:36 some new churches in those areas. 05:38 We have at least 15 language churches already established. 05:44 And we're planning to plant a few more, 05:46 including specific groups like third generation, 05:49 second and third-generation Hispanics, African-Americans, 05:52 Southern Asian, Jewish Community. 05:55 This is the largest Jewish Community in the world. 05:58 That's right. Muslims, 05:59 we have hundreds of thousands of Muslims in the city. 06:04 Another area we're planning to reach is the postmodern, 06:09 the secular mind in the city. 06:11 So we are planning to establish new congregations 06:13 to reach out those communities. 06:16 We are also planning to distribute 06:18 about a million books, "The Great Hope" book. 06:21 This will help in us in preparation 06:23 for the meetings itself. 06:26 We have people donating thousands of the books already. 06:29 We are challenged people and their churches. 06:31 Especially this coming August-- at the end of August, 06:34 we're gonna have a rally in all the churches 06:36 trying to order more books. 06:37 We already order over a 100,000 books, 06:40 but the kick-off for the ordering 06:43 the books will be at the end of August. 06:45 But we already ordered over 100,000. 06:47 So our goal is to reach one million. 06:50 And again, emphasize the idea 06:52 that evangelism is not just a meeting 06:54 or a series of meetings. 06:55 It's a process, it's a cycle and evolves a spiritual revival, 07:00 evolves community outreach, lay training, reaping meetings 07:04 and the follow-up with discipleship process. 07:07 So what you're really doing is having evangelistic meetings, 07:11 but they are not the end. 07:13 They are the beginning of something 07:15 that's gonna continue on of reaching out 07:18 into the homes with the people. 07:21 Have you found that media is important in this outreach? 07:25 Oh, definitely. 07:26 Media is very important because through radio and television, 07:29 we can reach places that personally we can't. 07:32 So this is the important thing about the media. 07:35 And we have our local channel. We have 3ABN. 07:39 We have the Church Channel also in several places. 07:43 And those through--it could be through cable, 07:46 satellite, or internet. 07:49 Everybody can have access to those. 07:51 And people that we personally cannot go 07:54 and meet them personally, 07:56 but we can have contact through the media. 07:58 I was just speaking with President G. Earl, 08:02 and Brother Earl, he is my good friend. 08:05 But I was just visiting with him a little bit about 08:07 the possibilities of our working together 08:10 as a network because we have so many individuals 08:15 who have contacted us that watch here by our Verizon FIOS 08:21 because in some of the buildings with Verizon FIOS, 08:25 there will be 10,000 people 08:26 that can receive in one building, 08:29 that could have the ability to receive 3ABN. Amazing. 08:32 And so the message is going out 08:35 throughout the city in many many different ways. Amen. 08:38 We believe that now it's time for reaping and sowing, 08:41 and sowing and reaping. Amen. 08:43 And that we will see some tremendous miracles take place. 08:49 Well, this is exciting to me. 08:51 And I know that the work in New York has moved forward. 08:55 People do not realize 08:57 that Greater New York Conference actually has the highest, 09:01 one of the highest rates of baptisms 09:03 anywhere in any of the conferences, 09:06 anywhere in North America. 09:08 There are some groups that we don't reach real well, 09:12 but there are some we're reaching so very well. 09:15 That's true. And we are so thankful for that. 09:17 And, you know, the Lord does it when He looks at people, 09:21 He doesn't say, "Well, we want so many of this group 09:24 and so many of that group, and so many of that. 09:26 " It's whosoever will. Yes. Amen. 09:28 And we're gonna spread the message to whosoever will, 09:32 those that will receive the gospel 09:35 of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. 09:38 Well, thank you gentlemen, so much. 09:40 We'll be praying for you, 09:42 we--as 3ABN hopes to be a part of reaching out into the city. 09:48 Right now, we are going to ask 09:50 Pastor Lincoln Smith to join us on the platform. 09:54 He is the pastor of the New Life Tabernacle of Joy. 09:59 And he is going to join us and lead us in our prayer. 10:02 Shall we pray? Shall we stand? 10:11 Loving Father, 10:13 we give You thanks for this another Sabbath morning. 10:17 Great is your faithfulness. 10:20 We thank you, Lord, for having brought us here safely. 10:23 You are great and greatly to be praised. Amen. 10:26 We ask, oh God, for Your blessings 10:28 upon this program today. 10:30 We ask, Lord, that You will lead us 10:32 in the path of righteousness for Your name sake. 10:36 We give You thanks, oh, God, because there is none like You. 10:40 Bless this Sabbath School program. 10:43 Continue, Lord, to watch over us. 10:45 Continue to keep us. Continue to sustain us. 10:48 Continue to bless us. 10:50 We ask and pray all these things in Jesus' name, amen. Amen. 11:04 Good morning, Sabbath School. Good morning. 11:06 This morning we have singing for you, 11:09 a wonderful female group 11:11 that is from the North Bronx Seventh-day Adventist Church. 11:15 This group over the years have spent 11:17 its time singing the love of Jesus Christ. 11:21 Today, please welcome "Unique" as they come forward 11:25 and sing the praises of Jesus Christ. 11:51 Lead me, lead me 12:00 Lead me 12:08 Savior 12:13 lead me lest 12:16 I stray 12:26 Gently down 12:32 the streams of time 12:42 Savior, lead me 12:48 on the way 13:01 Lead me 13:09 Lead me 13:18 Savior 13:22 lead me lest 13:26 I stray 13:35 Gently down 13:41 the streams of time 13:51 Savior, lead me 13:57 on the way 14:04 On the way, On the way 14:09 Savior, lead me 14:11 Precious Lord, take my hand 14:14 Lead me on 14:15 Lead me on and help me 14:17 Savior 14:19 Are you tired and weary 14:23 Lead me on 14:24 Are you tossed and turned 14:26 Savior, lead me 14:28 Precious Lord, take my hand 14:31 Lead me on Guide my feet 14:35 Savior, lead me Precious Lord, take my hand 14:40 Lead me on Guide my feet 14:46 Father, hear my call, guide my feet 14:51 Lest I fall Lead me, Savior 14:59 Lead me, Savior 15:03 Lead me on 15:09 Savior 15:11 Lead me on 15:21 Father, hear my call, guide my feet 15:26 Lest I fall Lead me, Savior 15:34 Lead me, Savior, please 15:41 Lead me on, Savior 15:46 Please, lead me on 15:53 Savior, lead me 16:08 on the way 16:20 the way 16:38 Amen and amen. Amen. 16:41 You know, we all like to hear stories of evangelism. 16:45 That's what the church is all about. 16:46 It's about growth and growing and sharing the message. 16:50 I have with me Edwin and Melissa Torres, 16:54 and this is their first time on international television. 16:57 So they are slight bit nervous. 16:58 So I want you to make them feel good by just smiling at them. 17:02 Will you do that for me? Give them a nice smile 17:04 because they have a great testimony. 17:05 They are new in the faith. 17:07 Can we say amen? Amen. 17:09 babes as it were, but in love with the Lord 17:13 and in love with each other, praise the Lord. 17:15 Want to talk with them just a few minutes. 17:17 Usually, this takes about an hour. 17:19 We have a today show on 3ABN. 17:20 It takes about a hour to go through this story. 17:22 We've got to do an hour's worth of talking in about 7 minutes. 17:25 So you're gonna help us out. Will you do that? 17:27 Just keep smiling at them so that they feel comfortable. 17:30 Edwin, I want to talk with you first 17:32 because you didn't grow up in a Christian home 17:34 with a church background, did you? No. 17:37 Let's keep that mic right up there. 17:39 No. Not at all? Not at all. Not at all. 17:42 You had parents who were separated? 17:44 Yes. Then divorced. 17:46 What did that do to you as far as marriage is concerned? 17:49 Well, it turned me off to marriage. 17:50 I didn't want... I never wanted to get married. 17:53 As growing up, I didn't want to go through 17:55 the things that they went through. 17:57 So I figured I'd never get married. 17:59 And lo and behold, sure enough 18:02 God brought this woman into my life and I got married. 18:08 Not only did he get married. 18:10 She told me that, he proposed 18:11 I think just a little while after they met. 18:13 So the Lord changed things around real fast. 18:15 Now I want to go to Melissa. 18:19 Tell me about your background growing up. 18:20 What kind of home did you grew up in? 18:21 Well, I was baptized Catholic. 18:23 My parents were separated always, 18:25 but I was baptized Catholic. My mother is Jewish. 18:27 So that was complicated. Indeed, it was. 18:32 Now, you guys, met 18:33 and you were living in a shelter for a good while. 18:35 Talk to me about that. I have my own place. 18:38 He was on the streets when I met him. Okay. 18:41 And we got together, and then we went to the shelter. 18:43 I see. Okay. 18:45 So you met a guy living on the streets 18:48 that didn't scare you away? 18:50 No, 'cause I don't know, 18:52 God shined a light on him when I saw him from a mile away. 18:58 See, this is a 3-hour story. 19:00 We're going to try to get through this fast. 19:01 Now meanwhile you were the kind of person, 19:05 you didn't want to get married, you didn't like crowds. 19:08 You kind of commitment phobic, but there was something 19:11 about her that just attracted you? 19:13 Yes. Praise the Lord. 19:17 So you got engaged, but stayed engaged for how long? 19:21 6 years. Yes, 5, 5-1/2 years. 19:25 Okay, so you kind of took your time? 19:26 Yeah. Okay, you don't rush into stuff? 19:28 No. All right. 19:29 Tell me how Adventism came into your life. 19:33 Well, a gentleman from our shelter 19:35 introduced us and told us to come. 19:37 We were feeding someone who was in the front 19:39 and... Keep that mic right there. 19:41 He asked my husband why he was doing that. 19:43 And he felt like, "Why was he questioning me?" 19:46 And answered him very aggressively 19:48 "Cause God is good." And he walked away. 19:51 And the gentleman liked that about him 19:54 and invited him to the church. 19:56 Yeah. See, an Adventist saw them. 19:58 Saw him give a plate of food to somebody 20:00 and asked him, "Why did you do that?" 20:02 And he didn't take that to worse, 20:03 said "'Cause God is good," and walked away. 20:05 But this Adventist saw something in them 20:08 that he felt God wanted to mine. He wanted to pull them. 20:11 So he kind of stayed on you, didn't he? 20:13 He kept inviting me and he kept inviting me. 20:16 And at first it was like, "Okay, you know, 20:19 I'll go till I dismiss him and something I don't know. " 20:25 And when I did go, 20:26 when I finally did go, it was like, 20:29 "Wow. I have to come back. " Praise the Lord. 20:33 I have to continuing coming. Keep that mic there. 20:35 All right, all right. 20:36 So were you the first to come or was Melissa the first? 20:38 We both came at the same time. You came together? Yes. 20:41 What was the experience like for you, Melissa? 20:43 It was very... it was different 20:44 because in Catholic Churches, they're all at arms length. 20:47 You know, hey, how are you doing? 20:48 But when I came to the church, 20:50 everybody was hugging me and holding me. 20:52 It was very family like. 20:53 And it made me nervous, but it was nice so... 20:57 Okay, that's a clue for you, Adventists. 20:59 When you see somebody new in church, 21:02 hug them and hold them. Amen? Amen. 21:04 And that will draw them to Jesus Christ. 21:05 So they began hugging and holding. 21:08 Now you told me you're not a person 21:09 who really likes crowds too much. 21:10 So you have to kind of get over that. 21:13 I'm phobic with, you know, the touching... 21:19 oh, I was, you know? 21:22 I've gotten a lot better with it. Amen. 21:26 He told me... you... he actually went to a men's conference. 21:28 And what did you end up doing? 21:30 I slept in a bed with a man who was in my family. 21:36 This is a person who didn't like crowds, 21:38 didn't like being around people. 21:40 Went to a men's conference and slept in bed 21:41 with another Adventist man who was in his family. 21:43 That's a big change, see God is good, amen? 21:46 Amen. And we can do all things through Christ. 21:49 So obviously you liked what you heard 21:52 and it became real to you. 21:53 When did this decision for baptism take place? 21:58 Before we got married. 21:59 Before we got married, he wanted to get baptized. 22:02 Got to hold this there. But they wouldn't baptize us 22:04 when we were living in sin. And he decided that that was it. 22:09 That he wanted to marry me, get it over with, 22:11 and we got baptized the very next day. 22:13 Okay. Married one day and baptized the next. 22:16 Praise the Lord. 22:18 A community, I just wanted to be a part of the community. 22:20 I mean, you can't be part of the community, 22:22 I guess, if you're not baptized. 22:24 So, you know, I enjoyed everybody at the conference 22:27 and everybody opened arms and it felt like a family 22:31 and it felt like I wanted to be, you know, 22:34 so that that moved me to get baptized also. Praise the Lord. 22:38 Obviously you can tell there's a much deeper story. 22:41 We're kind of just glossing over the surface. 22:42 But the truth is they got married. 22:45 They got baptized. They got a whole new Adventist family. 22:48 They loved their Adventist family. 22:49 Now in closing, tell me the difference in your life 22:53 from what it used to be to what it is now. 22:56 Oh. It's a lot more stress free. 22:59 A lot of good things are happening 23:01 that we've been waiting years to happen and we thought just, 23:05 you know, being good people was gonna make it work, 23:08 but no, coming to the church and praising God 23:10 and all that stuff has definitely 23:12 made our life way better. 23:13 Amen. Amen. You want to add something to that one? 23:17 All the way around the board everything has been better, 23:20 I mean, I was unemployed. I'm employed today. 23:24 Amen. Amen. 23:26 Distress, not knowing, just not... 23:30 now I know everything is good. He's got my back. 23:33 Everything is all right. Praise the Lord. 23:35 Thank you so very much. God bless you both. 23:38 Now take it with you. Amen. 23:41 All right, we're bringing out Sandra Freeman. 23:45 You will hear a wonderful latin Jamaican accent 23:47 from Miss Freeman. Yes. 23:48 And we are glad to have you here. 23:50 Real quick before our time gets away from us. 23:52 Give me a little background, what it was like growing up? 23:56 Growing up, I growed up in a... 23:58 or I grew up in a Christian home. 24:00 I got baptized at 11 years as a... in a Baptist Church. 24:05 Sung on the choir and everything. 24:07 In 1991 though, I changed my religious belief. 24:10 I became a Jehovah's Witness. And I had a crisis in 2007. 24:17 Tell us about the crisis. 24:19 In 2007, April 14th 24:22 I had an aneurysm on my way to school. 24:26 The doctors thought it wouldn't be possible for me to live. 24:29 They never thought I would walk again, talk again. 24:32 And during this time, 24:35 this is where the Adventists came in. 24:38 Because I have a cousin who is an Adventist 24:42 and she did what is called Friendship Evangelism. 24:45 Amen. So she would invite me to her home. 24:49 So now I knew quite a few people that were Adventist. 24:53 And so while I was in the hospital 24:54 they would come everyday to pray with me 24:58 While I lay on the operating table I said, 25:03 I fully committed myself to God 'cause I couldn't do anything. 25:05 I said, "Jehovah, if you take me through this, 25:08 I'm gonna serve you for the rest of my life." Amen. 25:12 "To the best of my ability." 25:13 And he took me through. Praise God. 25:16 Now when he brought me through, the Adventist followed up 25:19 'cause they' re persistent now. 25:22 Oh, praise the Lord for persistence. Yes. 25:23 And they invited me to what is called Jamaica Day. 25:27 That was okay for me as a Jehovah's Witness 25:29 to go to a school setting. 25:31 So I went, but then 25:33 I had a challenge because I was very weak. 25:34 That was the first time going out of the house 25:36 from the surgery. It was a serious surgery. 25:39 So I have a clip on the left side of my brain. 25:41 God is good. Amen. 25:43 And when I went there they ask, 25:45 you know, if anyone want to come in for prayer 25:47 and I believe in prayer. Oh, yes. 25:48 You know? Pray without ceasing. Amen. 25:50 So I went up. I said, "More prayer, more power." 25:53 And I went up for prayer. They're talking about baptism. 25:54 I'm like, "I just need prayer." 25:57 Okay, so they--what they've-- they followed up with me 26:02 but really they took a long time to follow up with me. 26:04 So I decided I'm going back to the Kingdom Hall. 26:07 And the same day I went to the Kingdom Hall. 26:10 The Adventist, personal ministry 26:12 leader called me the same evening. 26:13 I said, "This must be the leading of the Holy Spirit." 26:16 Praise God. Amen. 26:17 Now they started a study, 26:19 but they were slow pace for me, too slow. 26:22 So you like to kind of get on with it? Yes. Yes. 26:24 I wanted to know why do you worship on the Sabbath day. 26:28 I know everything about Jesus Christ. 26:29 I know everything about sin, confession, and all of that. 26:32 As a Jehovah's Witness, I studied my Bible. 26:33 I need to know, why do you worship on the Sabbath day. 26:37 So because they were slow, 26:39 I paused them a little and I called my cousin. 26:40 I said, "I am going back to the Kingdom Hall." 26:42 I went back to the Kingdom Hall again. 26:44 And then one of the sisters from the group 26:47 that I met called me and she said, 26:49 "You know what, we're having evangelistic series." 26:51 I am like, you know, debating 26:52 because now I don't want to go in a church. Yeah. 26:54 But she kept on and then one Saturday 26:56 I said, "Okay, I'll go." When I went that Saturday 26:58 the pastor said, "Oh, she's here, she's here." 27:01 So pastor spoke to me. 27:03 And pastor said, "Sandra, what's going on? 27:04 You need to make a commitment. You need to do something fast. 27:06 " I said, "Pastor, I have made my commitment 27:10 when I lay down to do that surgery. 27:11 I told my God, "I'm gonna serve Him 27:13 to the best of my ability for the rest of my life." 27:16 But the individuals doing the study is moving too slow. 27:19 I need to know why do I need to worship on the Sabbath day. 27:23 See, see that's a lick for some of you Adventists. 27:25 Get on with it. Don't take all of it. Yes. 27:27 You know? Get on with it. 27:28 When you start that study, move through that thing. 27:30 Don't, don't waste time. 27:31 People are getting ready to come to the kingdom. 27:33 Get on with it. Yes. 27:34 And let the Lord lead. All right. 27:36 Yes. And so the pastor got the elder to study with me. 27:39 And said, "Just focus on what she want that topic." 27:42 And when he got to the scripture, Luke 4:16. 27:45 Oh, yes. "And as was the custom, 27:48 he stood up in the synagogue on the Sabbath day to read." 27:53 It was over. I said, "I'm ready. I'm ready." 27:57 Yes, yes. 27:59 And I found the Adventist group 28:01 to be very loving, compassionate. 28:04 And I had a pastor that believe in inclusion. 28:06 Quick, okay? He created a position. 28:09 And ever since this day I've been involved 28:11 in so many different areas of the ministry, 28:14 but personal ministry is my number one priority. 28:18 And God has been good. 28:20 And I guess when you give Bible studies, 28:21 you don't waste time. You get right-- 28:23 you get right to it. Yes. 28:24 Amen and praise the Lord. That--that's a key for us. 28:28 Don't be afraid to give the truth. 28:30 I know a pastor who decided he's a first-day pastor 28:33 Decided he wanted to keep the Sabbath 28:35 and was afraid to tell his church. 28:37 Left the church for a whole two months praying about it. 28:41 And on the first day of 2000, I think 06 or 07, 28:44 he stood up that Sunday and told the church, 28:45 "I can't worship on Sunday anymore. 28:47 I've kept--I believe in a Sabbath. 28:49 I'm keeping the Sabbath. 28:50 And I know you may throw me out, but I'm gonna keep the Sabbath." 28:53 The church said, "Throw you out, what's the big deal? 28:54 We're gonna keep your Sabbath with you." 28:57 So the whole church in North Carolina 28:59 Now keeping the Sabbath. 29:00 So don't be afraid. God will go with you. 29:02 God will go before you. God will surround you. 29:04 And God will plant truth into their hearts. 29:06 And you are a witness to that. Yes. 29:09 Praise the Lord. So now how is the aneurysm? 29:11 What are the ill effects? Totally cured. 29:13 How are you doing with that? 29:15 Well, I believe what Philippians 1:6 said, 29:19 "He that has begun a good work in 29:21 you is gonna see to the finish." 29:24 And so I believe that God saved me for a purpose 29:27 and He's gonna accomplish that purpose. 29:30 I don't have anything that's obvious. 29:32 There is a clip there. If I'm too tired, 29:34 I might get little aches and pains, 29:36 but if you ask me everyday 29:37 how I'm doing? I'd tell you, I'm doing good. Amen. 29:39 Because God is good. Amen. 29:41 You know, and the fact that 29:42 I keep the Sabbath has helped me to heal. 29:45 Praise God. Okay? 29:47 I don't work on a Saturday. I'm off on a Sunday. 29:50 And it helps me to heal rapidly. Amen. 29:53 So it has been five years. 29:56 And year over year with God's help I'm doing excellent. 30:01 And I say everyday, 30:03 "I can do all things through Christ 30:05 who strengthen me." Amen. Indeed we can. 30:08 And let me add one text to that. 30:10 Ephesians 2:10 says that, "We are His workmanship, 30:13 created for good works." 30:16 That's why we exist to do good. Why do good people do good? 30:20 Because good is what good people do. Amen? 30:24 Keep on doing good. 30:25 And they will see your good works 30:28 and glorify your Father, which is in heaven. 30:30 God bless you. Thank you, Sandra, so very much. 31:09 So unworthy 31:14 I amto make a glorious entrance 31:22 To the great eternal Kingdom 31:27 of my Lord 31:33 There are medals, crowns, and trophies 31:38 Awaiting in the presence of the only one 31:46 worthy of rewound 31:54 To think that He would give to me 32:00 Trophies of my own 32:05 What shall I do as 32:08 I bow before His throne 32:15 I won't hang my crown 32:19 on the wall of my mansion 32:26 I want to pin my robe with medals 32:32 for everyone to see 32:37 I display my trophies 32:42 at the highest place in heaven 32:49 When I lay them 32:51 at the Savior's feet 33:17 To bow before my Lord 33:24 in majesty and glory 33:30 And see Him for the first time 33:35 face to face 33:40 To bow before the one 33:46 who was crucified to save me 33:52 And thank Him for His mercy 33:57 love, and grace 34:03 But the greatest thing of all to me 34:08 is to bow before His throne 34:13 And do all for Him 34:17 everything I own 34:23 I won't hang my crown 34:27 on the wall of my mansion 34:34 I want to pin my robe with medals 34:39 for everyone to see 34:45 I display my trophies 34:49 at the highest place in heaven 34:57 When I lay them 34:59 at the Savior's feet 35:08 At His feet 35:13 I lay them down 35:19 When I receive 35:24 my robe and crown 35:30 So worthy 35:36 is the lamb 35:42 Here's my trophies 35:46 Here's my crown 35:54 I display my trophies 35:59 at the highest place in heaven 36:06 When I lay them 36:09 at the Savior's feet 36:17 Here's my trophies 36:22 here's my crown 36:30 Here's my trophies 36:34 Here's my crown 36:41 Here's my crown 36:49 Amen. Amen. Thank you very much, ladies. 36:55 Unique and absolutely they are. Yes. 36:59 One of the great things about Camp Meeting is music. Yes. 37:03 Don't you enjoy the music at Camp Meeting? Amen. 37:07 And at 3ABN, we get to enjoy some music 37:10 like this all the time and it's a blessing to us. 37:13 And then we hear a new group like we just heard 37:15 and we enjoy that so much too. 37:18 But right now I am gonna bring out somebody 37:21 who is a favorite of yours 37:24 because you hear him sing on 3ABN. 37:27 And he is also a wonderful speaker for the Lord. 37:32 He presents--he is our pastor at the Thompsonville Church. 37:37 He is a native of New York City, 37:41 and one of your own. 37:45 Please welcome John Lomacang. Amen. 38:06 A wonderful Savior 38:11 is Jesus my Lord 38:15 A wonderful Savior to me 38:23 He hideth my soul 38:28 in the cleft of the rock 38:32 Where rivers of pleasures I see 38:40 He hideth my soul 38:45 in the cleft of the rock 38:49 That shadows a dry, thirsty land 38:57 He hideth my life 39:02 in the depths of His love 39:06 Then covers me there with His hand 39:14 Then covers me there 39:19 with His hand 39:28 A wonderful Savior 39:32 is Jesus my Lord 39:37 He taketh my burdens away 39:44 He holdeth me up 39:49 and I shall not be moved 39:54 He giveth me strength as the day 40:02 With numberless blessings 40:06 each moment He crowns 40:10 And He fills with His fullness divine 40:18 Now I sing in my rapture 40:23 oh, glory to God 40:27 For such a redeemer as mine 40:35 He hideth my soul 40:40 in the cleft of the rock 40:44 That shadows a dry, thirsty land 40:51 Then He hideth my life 40:56 in the depths of His love 41:01 Then covers me there with His hand 41:08 And covers me there 41:13 with His hand 41:17 And covers me 41:23 there 41:28 with His hand 41:38 Amen. 41:48 Well, that was wonderful, John. Thank you so much. 41:52 We have come to the time where we review the lesson. 41:57 Most times folks refer to it as a lesson study, 42:00 but you're supposed to have studied it all week. 42:02 So we are just going to review it now. 42:05 And we are asking especially those of you 42:08 who are watching via television. 42:11 If you don't have your quarterlies and your Bibles, 42:14 now would be the perfect time to get it 42:17 because we'd like you to follow along. 42:19 We have some distinguished individuals here with me 42:24 to journey with you through the lesson study. 42:28 On my right, we have John from 3ABN 42:34 who just sang that beautiful song "Wonderful Savior." 42:38 And right next to him is my very good friend, 42:44 Hermann Kuma, one of the directors 42:47 here in the Greater New York Conference. 42:49 Gentlemen, we welcome you here. 42:51 And over to my extreme, my far left 42:56 is Yvonne Knight former Women's ministries director, 42:59 for this conference now, our Shepherdess coordinator 43:03 and the first lady of our conference. 43:06 And beside her and next to me is Keith Acker. 43:13 He is the pastor of the Westbury Church. 43:16 And he has joined us less than a year now. 43:19 Am I right on that, Keith? 43:21 Welcome, we are very happy to have you. 43:23 Well, we have a very, very exciting 43:26 and interesting lesson to go over and to look at. 43:30 The gospel comes to Thessalonica. 43:33 When I saw that I say, "Amen, praise the Lord. 43:36 I hope the gospel will reach the entire world 43:39 so that Jesus can come. " What do you say? Amen. 43:42 Yes. Well, you know, every time we talk about Thessalonica, 43:47 it's an interesting city. It's an interesting place. 43:51 This was a very same city that Paul had to write 43:54 the special letter to Couric. 43:56 The erroneous doctrine that had crept into the church 43:59 where they felt there was no resurrection. 44:02 And Paul assured them that 44:03 dead in Christ shall rise first. Amen. 44:06 Now there's something that we are told that 44:10 Paul mentions about the bridging here in Thessalonica 44:14 as he comes to--when he comes to receiving the gospel. 44:18 He says that when they accept the word, 44:21 they accept it not as the word of men, but as the word of God. 44:26 Anyone care to comment on that? 44:29 You know, it seems to me that we can read the Bible 44:33 and depending on how we accept it 44:36 makes room for our acceptance of it. 44:39 Well, Alanzo, it takes faith to accept the Bible. 44:44 Look at it not like ordinary literature, 44:47 but as a word, which was given by God. 44:51 And by this same word whatever we see was created. 44:54 So it's powerful. Very good. 44:56 We could also note that the effect 44:59 that the word has had on a person's life 45:02 will indicate whether it's from man or from God. Amen. 45:06 And, you know, I found--you're gonna say something, John? 45:09 Okay, I found something very interesting 45:12 in this verse 13 of First Thessalonians verse 2. 45:18 Paul says, "When you receive the word of God, 45:23 which you heard from us, 45:25 you accepted it not as a word of man was, 45:29 but as it actually is the word of God." 45:33 You notice, John, that what Paul did was 45:35 to endorse it that it is the word of God. Yes. 45:38 So he wasn't just saying, 45:41 "The Thessalonians are very good people. 45:43 They accept when we give them the word, 45:44 they accept it as the word of God. 45:46 He makes an endorsement that it is the word of God." 45:49 And, yes, they did a right thing. 45:51 You notice that endorsement there? 45:55 He says that it is--in other words he was saying, 46:00 "It actually is the word of God." Word of God. 46:04 Now one of the things that is very important in this verse. 46:06 He not only says, "It's actually the word of God," 46:09 but he says, "It works in us who believe the word of God." 46:14 There're a lot of individuals, you know, you go to hotels 46:16 and you find in the drawer there, 46:18 the Gideons have left a Bible. 46:19 And people today have no doubt that the word of God exists, 46:22 but the belief in the word of God 46:24 is where the change begins to come into play. 46:27 Having the word of God, carrying the word of God, 46:30 acknowledging the word of God is not sufficient, 46:32 but believing because it says, "It effectively works in you 46:36 if you believe it for those who believe." 46:38 So they were at the beginning stage 46:40 where Paul understood there was another stage. 46:42 They accepted that. It is God's word, 46:44 but now are you gonna believe it? 46:46 That's a next stage. And you know what, Alanzo? 46:48 This goes way back to Jesus Himself. 46:51 In John 6:63, he says, "The words I speak onto you, 46:54 they are spirit and they are life." Amen. 46:57 And even in our lesson is the story of this woman 47:00 who was baptized and she went to her pastor and says, 47:04 "I'd like to be re-baptized." And when she was asked why. 47:07 She says, "Because I didn't confess some things. 47:09 There're some sins I committed 47:11 that I didn't tell my pastor about." 47:14 Well, is she right about that that she needed rebaptism 47:16 or I heard your--your murmurings and you're correct. 47:22 No, because confession for baptism is not 47:25 what we do to men is what we do to God. Right. 47:29 And we have to learn to accept the scripture as John says. 47:34 I had this experience where this lady called and said to me 47:38 she felt that God had not forgiven her 47:40 of something she had done. 47:42 So I asked her if she had prayed about it. 47:44 She said, "Yes." Well, but she says, 47:47 "I still felt like God hasn't forgiven me." 47:49 So I said, "Go get your Bible." 47:51 She did. I asked her to turn to First John 1:9 47:56 and read it for me. She read it. 47:57 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us 48:01 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 48:04 Did you confess? Yes. Well, stop worrying. 48:06 The next part is God's part. Allow God to do His part. 48:10 So as you rightly said, John, 48:11 we have to believe in the word of God. 48:13 You can't just read it. You have to believe it. 48:16 The ending of the story you mentioned is that 48:19 God also satisfied her because there was a downpour of rain 48:23 and she felt that she was re-baptized. 48:25 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. 48:28 The other aspect of the word of God is important. 48:32 Because the Lord had a confrontation 48:34 with those who had believed that 48:36 they had believed the word of God. 48:38 When He came to His own people after thousands of years, 48:41 they were people--they were students of the scripture. 48:43 And in fact, John 5:39. 48:45 He says, "You search the scriptures, 48:47 for in them you think you have eternal life, 48:50 but they are they which testify of me." 48:52 The thing that we have to be very careful of is that 48:54 we not allow our study of the word to be sufficient. 48:58 Our study of the word is the beginning, 48:59 but our acceptance of Christ because 49:01 Jesus was standing right there and He was speaking 49:03 to those who were students of the scriptures. 49:05 He says, "You search them, 49:07 for in them you think you have eternal life." 49:10 They are those of us who look to the Bible 49:11 and we have to maintain the reality 49:13 that the Bible is not where our eternal life is. 49:17 Our eternal life is in Christ. 49:19 The Bible introduces us to Christ. 49:21 So being students of the scripture 49:23 was also a beginning point as Jesus stood 49:25 amongst those who knew the scriptures, 49:28 but rejected Him. Amen. 49:29 John, you're right because the study of the word 49:32 should lead to a relationship with Christ, 49:36 and that is where the thing is. That's right. 49:38 And they were studying the scripture, 49:40 but for the wrong reason, the wrong motive. 49:42 So it was not even injunction 49:44 to study the scripture that takes. 49:46 It was an indictment for what they were doing. 49:48 Going to the scripture, thinking it has eternal life 49:51 when eternal life is found in Jesus Christ. Amen. 49:54 And, Alanzo, I think one of the challenges that 49:57 I see the scripture how they received 50:00 the word because they had heard it. 50:02 If you go back into Acts 17, when we first hear about 50:06 the Thessalonians and we hear about the Bereans. 50:10 Paul commended the Bereans because 50:11 they not only heard the word and accepted it with gladness, 50:14 but they went home daily and studied the word to see 50:17 if what Paul was saying was true. 50:20 This says something about the Berean character, 50:22 but it also says something about the Thessalonians' character. 50:24 And so they had received the word. 50:26 I wonder how much they had studied the word. 50:29 Some of the beliefs that they came up with, 50:32 Paul had to correct. You don't see Paul writing 50:35 to the Thessalonians-- to the Bereans, 50:37 but you see that he had to write to the Thessalonians. 50:39 That's a powerful point you make. 50:41 In other words, we shouldn't just receive the word, 50:44 we should study. When someone comes to study 50:47 the word of God with you, 50:49 you should take time yourself to search the scripture 50:52 to make sure that those things are true. Right. Powerful. 50:56 Now we have to preach the gospel 50:59 and we have to preach it as Jesus says, 51:02 "Go ye into all the world." 51:03 But is there a price in preaching the gospel? 51:07 Is there a price that preachers have to pay 51:09 in preaching this gospel? 51:11 Well, well, go ahead. Let me let you start first. 51:14 Okay. Well, you know, Paul and Silas, 51:18 we found them paying a very heavy price. 51:22 And the way they did it was very outstanding 51:25 because when they had been flogged 51:27 and their backs were, you know, rolled with sauce and so on, 51:31 they sung a duet, right? 51:34 And that was really something. 51:37 I would have to try something else, but-- 51:42 Not only that Jesus told them long before 51:45 this as those who would be recipients of the commission. 51:49 He said, "I say to you, 51:50 a servant is not greater than his master, 51:53 nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him." 51:57 And if they do these things to a green tree, 52:00 He said, "What will they do to those who bear no fruit?" 52:02 That's right. And so the reality of the gospel, 52:04 one of the reasons why the gospel 52:05 brought difficulty to the Philippians 52:07 as we find in the lesson is hearing the gospel 52:11 is just one aspect of it. 52:12 There are those who hear really wonderful sermons. 52:14 They would even say to the preachers 52:16 that was a good message. 52:17 But if it effects no change in their lives, it's a message. 52:20 It's like an arrow that really found no target. Right. 52:23 As Pastor C.D. Brooks says, 52:24 "The sun melts butter, but hardens clay." 52:27 The condition of the heart 52:29 is the most important aspect of the study of the word of God 52:31 because you can hear a good message, 52:33 but if it doesn't affect change. And as I said, 52:35 "What brought controversy was that 52:37 the word preached required an action." 52:40 When the word of God goes forward 52:41 that requires an action, not just an accolade 52:44 or just an acceptance of that sounds good 52:46 or that's true, but what do we do 52:47 as a result of what was heard." That's right. 52:49 And the Philippians didn't want to make that change, 52:51 that's why it brought controversy to them. 52:54 Okay. So, Hermann, Paul got an invitation 52:59 to come over to Macedonia and help. 53:02 He went there and the first great thing was 53:05 the conversion of Lydia and her family. 53:08 I like how the scripture puts it. 53:10 She and her entire household. 53:13 So that was a good evangelism success. Yes. 53:17 And then he went now, he was--this other woman now, 53:21 this demon possessed lady 53:22 that was crying out following Paul around, 53:26 but she was saying good things. Oh, yes. 53:28 But you can say good things at inappropriate time. Right. 53:31 So he was disturbing the meetings. Right. 53:33 And Paul rebuked the spirit out of her 53:36 and that was a loss of income. Right. 53:38 The folks didn't take that too kindly now. 53:41 So the whipping comes. That's right. 53:42 So my question to you is when we go to preach the gospel, 53:47 should we preach it for fear of what may happen to us 53:51 or do we--how should we relate knowing that 53:53 Paul was whipped severely for doing that? 53:57 Well, we must remember that we are soldiers of the Cross. 54:00 Now when a soldier is detained to go to Iraq, 54:04 he knows he's in harm's way. 54:06 You know, he is there for the glory of the United States. 54:10 And so are we, we are here 54:13 fighting in the enemy's territory 54:15 knowing that we are standing for Christ. 54:17 And so like John says earlier on, 54:20 the servant is no better than his master. 54:23 As they treated Christ, they will treat us. 54:25 And all we have to do is to follow that, 54:29 you know, command "Go and preach" 54:32 and we should have nothing to fear. Amen. 54:34 In addition, we should know that 54:37 we are not in control of the outcome. Right. 54:39 We are not in control of what will happen to us, 54:42 but we have been assured by Jesus Christ 54:45 that He will take care of us. 54:47 So when we're gonna preach the gospel, 54:49 we should not be concerned about outcome, 54:51 we should just go and preach the word of God. 54:55 If we have to pay a price, we pay the price-- 54:58 Whatever the price is, could be your lives. 55:00 Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price. 55:03 Let me add something to that, Brother Alanzo. 55:06 The beating that we have to be more 55:07 concerned about is the beating that comes 55:09 as a result of not doing God's will. Amen. 55:12 You know, there're those of us and one of the reasons 55:14 I say that because we have this new gospel nowadays 55:16 that's taken hold of the church is a social gospel, 55:19 in that it's packaged in comfort rather than in review, 55:23 rather than in the way that God is called. Right. 55:26 If a message doesn't cause you to be uncomfortable, 55:28 it's not a message sent by God. 55:31 God doesn't call us to preach comfortable message. 55:33 He says, "I come not to bring peace, but a sword." Sword. 55:36 And so what happened is He says, 55:38 "And that servant who knew his master's will 55:40 and did not prepare himself to do according to his will, 55:43 shall be beaten with many stripes." 55:45 Luke 12:47. So the stripes we have to be concerned 55:48 about is not the stripes from man, 55:50 but the stripes from God. Right. Amen. 55:53 I think as well, John, having pastored some members 55:59 who went out to share the good news, 56:04 but with what I believe would be faulty motives. Right. 56:07 You know, there's a verse that talks about 56:09 if we don't share with someone who is erring 56:11 then their blood is gonna be on our hands. 56:15 I think that our concern cannot be the blood on our hands. 56:20 The concern has to be for the lost person. That's right. 56:22 And so when we share the gospel, 56:24 it's not because we're trying to clean our slate 56:26 so that God will not judge us. 56:29 There is a big difference between sharing the gospel 56:31 because there are people who are dying 56:33 that without Christ will be lost forever. Amen. 56:36 And so it's not a selfish purpose. 56:39 We take the beatings. We take the hard times, 56:42 but we must go in a spirit of love and care 56:45 and compassion for the lost 56:48 or I think that that our motives will undermine 56:53 the message that we have to give. 56:55 I have a question to ask Yvonne. 56:59 Should preachers have a preaching strategy 57:02 as they go from place to place, 57:05 as they share the gospel? The short answer is, yes. 57:10 Okay. Why do you say that? We'll know to that. 57:13 Paul said to the Jew. He was a Jew to the Gentile. 57:17 In that different people have different needs. 57:22 And so you try to understand your audience 57:26 and then present the message to them, 57:28 not that you're going to dilute the message 57:30 because of the audience, but you're going to present 57:33 the same word of God to them in a way 57:36 that they can relate to and understand. Amen. 57:38 You know what, when Paul defines the gospel in the Greek 57:43 he says, Euangelion from which we get evangelism. 57:46 You know, he says, "It is the power of God." 57:50 The gospel has the ability of cutting 57:52 across human desires and cultures. 57:55 And we should know that we have a very powerful 57:58 tool in our hands and just allow it to work. Yes. 58:02 Looking at Paul's preaching strategy in Thessalonica, 58:06 he talks about the where, 58:09 the when, and the how. Yes. The where would be what? 58:14 Where the people are and in that case in the synagogue 58:16 or the church. What the where, where you find the people. 58:21 Okay, but for us today--is that saying anything to us today? 58:25 Do I have the choice, the option to go or not to go 58:29 or is this saying to me, the where is important? 58:34 Well, we meet people where they are. 58:36 I think that what is being said here 58:38 is when we find them at the place 58:40 that they are as was said earlier the speaker 58:43 I was speaking to someone. 58:44 And they were speaking about different denominations. 58:46 And I said, "The Lord finds each of those individuals 58:48 where they are, but He never leaves them 58:51 where He finds them." 58:52 And so we have to be as Christ 58:54 was finding them where they are. Right. 58:56 But also understanding that as we find them 58:58 where they are by the preaching of the proclamation of the word, 59:02 God will lead them to where they should be 59:04 as we found out on the testimony this morning. Yeah. 59:07 Hermann, the when? The when? Yeah. The Sabbath. Okay. 59:12 It's very important because it's true we worship God 24x7. 59:17 We worship God 24x7, but the Sabbath is very special. 59:22 And Paul took the trouble 59:24 and he went to the synagogues on the Sabbath. 59:27 Okay. And how talks of-- you wanted to say something? 59:29 I was just going to mention that going to the synagogue 59:32 should be an encouragement for us. 59:34 In that we shouldn't stay home as great as I watch 3ABN. 59:39 We shouldn't just stay home and watch 3ABN, 59:42 but being with the people 59:43 and that fellowship is also very important. That's right. 59:46 But we have sick people, 59:48 shut-in people, 3ABN plays its role. 59:50 Of course, that's what I say-- But yes. 59:51 But the healthy ones now. 59:53 And some of you watching may be next week 59:55 you need to find yourself in church. Right. Right, yeah. 59:58 We always recommend that you record it 01:00:00 and watch it later, but if you cannot, 01:00:05 and this is the important location. 01:00:07 3ABN considers location because they are those 01:00:09 who cannot for whatever reason come 01:00:12 and we find the paralytic, those who are turned out of the way. 01:00:15 But truly the where is very important. 01:00:17 But one thing I want to add. 01:00:18 There was a comment prior to this 01:00:20 I want to say something, but to give moderator the time, 01:00:22 we can't always package the message 01:00:25 to reach the person where they are. 01:00:26 Because there are some individuals 01:00:28 that just do not like their minds to be disturbed. 01:00:32 You know, in the book "Heavenly Places" my wife 01:00:33 and I read our devotions each day. 01:00:34 And Ellen White said that 01:00:36 "They dislike having their minds disturbed 01:00:39 in regard to their need of salvation. 01:00:42 But the Lord desires that we disturb their minds 01:00:44 that they may become acquainted with Him 01:00:47 in time to accept His offer of salvation." 01:00:50 I say that I have a family and I give them Bibles 01:00:52 and it becomes a piece of furniture. 01:00:54 But still you got to tell them, you know, 01:00:56 when you're gonna come to the Lord, 01:00:57 when you're gonna give your life to Christ. 01:00:58 We've got to disturb their minds now, 01:01:00 so that when distruction comes, 01:01:02 the disturbance that comes to their minds 01:01:05 would not be on the heels of us 01:01:06 never saying anything to them. Amen. 01:01:09 As we read to the Old Testament scripture, 01:01:12 there seems to be two views of the Messiah emerging. 01:01:16 Do you care to comment on that, Keith? 01:01:19 You know, I took a quick review 01:01:21 of some of the scriptures listed in your lesson. 01:01:23 Jeremiah 23 verses 1 through 6. 01:01:26 There are six times that the Messiah is mentioned 01:01:30 as a King reining, prospering, executing judgment, justice. 01:01:35 Isaiah 9 verses 1 through 7, 22 times 01:01:38 do we find that that wore your status 01:01:42 or the government counselor, the fighting savior. 01:01:50 We look at some of the other scriptures. 01:01:53 Isaiah 53 is laden with the suffering Savior. 01:01:57 I don't think it is hard for us to imagine 01:02:00 why they would want a rescuing savior, 01:02:04 a warrior savior having been oppressed 01:02:06 by the Romans for so long. 01:02:09 And I think that the challenge that they were facing 01:02:11 is they were picking and choosing. 01:02:13 They were looking at the scriptures 01:02:14 that appealed to their humanity, 01:02:17 to their social status, to their political environment, 01:02:21 and it was tempting, too tempting 01:02:25 to let the other ones to decide. 01:02:28 This of course brings us to today 01:02:29 and maybe we can talk about that. 01:02:31 But I think that's why when Jesus came, 01:02:33 they were not looking for the savior that they had. 01:02:36 They were looking for the savior that they wanted. Yes. Okay. 01:02:39 You know, Alanzo, this is a ploy of the devil. 01:02:43 Because in the extracanonical literature of the Jewish people 01:02:49 like the Psalms of Solomon and the Testament of Levi, 01:02:52 the writers had lifted the Messiah up as a military hero. 01:02:57 And that was what the people believed in. 01:03:00 But then they forgot that Isaiah 01:03:02 who is the gospel prophet talked about 01:03:04 the suffering of Christ 700 years before the event. 01:03:09 And when you go to Isaiah, 01:03:10 the latter part of 52 and the entire 53, 01:03:14 Isaiah deliberately uses 3 words Gawah in Hebrew, 01:03:19 uses rum in Hebrew, and uses Nasa to demonstrate 01:03:24 that Jesus Christ is going to be crucified. 01:03:26 He will be lifted up. Go to John 12:32, it says, 01:03:29 "And I, when I'm lifted up, I'll draw all men to myself." 01:03:33 But Satan didn't want that. But, Hermann-- Yeah. 01:03:37 The Jews though were not seeing that primarily 01:03:42 because one of the condition they were experiencing 01:03:44 what had happened to them. Right. 01:03:46 And they were looking for a liberator. Right. 01:03:48 So they would have nothing to do 01:03:50 with a suffering Messiah. Messiah. 01:03:52 You wanna elaborate on that a little? John, you wanted to? 01:03:55 Well, like today and this is so important. 01:03:57 The Jews wanted Jesus to settle 01:03:59 the battles for them. Right. 01:04:01 Not the battles within them. 01:04:03 Today, the Christian church is using 01:04:05 Jesus to settle battles for them. 01:04:07 Coalitions where the left or right 01:04:09 are using the name of Jesus 01:04:10 or you--what are your religious views as a political leader? 01:04:14 They're using Jesus as a way to settle their battles. 01:04:17 Jesus didn't come to settle battles for them. 01:04:20 He came to calm the battle within them. 01:04:22 And that was not the Christ that they wanted. 01:04:24 That's why He said, "Do you believe in God?" 01:04:25 They had accepted God, believe also in me. 01:04:29 He wanted to get in them. 01:04:30 They wanted Him to do something for them. Amen. 01:04:33 And if you read the gospels very carefully, 01:04:35 you will see that Jesus deliberately blended 01:04:39 the suffering Messiah that is the suffering servant 01:04:43 with the glorified Messiah. Yes. You know, it's very important. 01:04:47 Matthew showed Him as the king. Right. 01:04:52 Luke showed Him as the suffering savior. Right. 01:04:55 And that is why you'll find the visit of the wise men. 01:05:00 Only Matthew records that because 01:05:02 Matthew wanted his listeners to know that 01:05:03 Jesus is a king and king visited king. 01:05:07 So those kings visited him. However, 01:05:09 when you go to the story of the Shepherds in their field, 01:05:12 only Luke records that. Because Luke wanted to show 01:05:15 the Messiah as their Savior, the suffering Savior. 01:05:19 So we also have that two aspects 01:05:21 of the Messiah, both in Old Testament scripture 01:05:24 and in New Testament literature as well. Right. 01:05:27 Today though when you think of it, 01:05:30 there're some of us that could perceive 01:05:33 Jesus as two different people. 01:05:35 One where He--justice is involved. Amen. 01:05:38 And the other one where mercy is involved. 01:05:41 Justice in that someone might say, 01:05:43 "Okay, he is gonna get you. You're gonna be burnt. 01:05:45 You do this, you do that." 01:05:46 And mercy the other one will say, 01:05:48 "No, a loving God would not do that." In the same way, 01:05:53 it's one and the same person and both aspects are needed. 01:05:58 His justice, yes, because of sin 01:06:00 and His mercy because of the salvation 01:06:03 that He has offered to everybody. 01:06:05 So you're saying, we shouldn't just preach about God's love, 01:06:09 we need to talk about His justice. Yes. 01:06:11 And we shouldn't just talk about His justice, 01:06:13 we need to talk about His mercy. Exactly. Beautiful 01:06:16 In fact, the wrath and the love of God 01:06:18 are two sides of the same coin. Same coin. 01:06:21 You look at the quarter. 01:06:23 One side has the eagle with all spread wings. 01:06:26 The other one has an effigy of some president, 01:06:28 you know. But it's the same quarter. 01:06:31 Suffering, same though. Suffering before glory. 01:06:35 Keith, say something on that for me. 01:06:38 Two things that I think would be good to bring out. 01:06:41 First of all, the suffering 01:06:42 before glory is a Biblical theme. 01:06:45 And they were familiar with that. 01:06:47 That Joseph spent some time in prison 01:06:49 before ascending to the throne. 01:06:51 Moses spent some time chasing sheep 01:06:54 before he let the people out of Egypt. 01:06:57 Daniel was a prisoner of war through several kingdoms 01:07:00 before being elevated to prime minister. 01:07:03 The other thing that I'd like to say 01:07:05 and I think that it applies to us today. 01:07:07 We are here approaching the second coming of Jesus. 01:07:11 We have the scriptures Old and New Testament. 01:07:14 We are trying to sort through which ones apply 01:07:17 at what period of time at Jesus second coming. 01:07:21 And I see a great divide among us as a people. 01:07:26 There are those who would like 01:07:28 to focus on the fear and trembling, 01:07:31 the hell and brimstone aspect of the time of trouble 01:07:35 that it's going to be horrible. 01:07:37 You need to get yourself ready. Flee to the mountains. 01:07:40 All of these kind of fear tactics. 01:07:43 And then we have those who would like to focus 01:07:45 on the rescuing savior 01:07:47 that would like to ignore the time of trouble 01:07:49 and the difficulties that are coming because 01:07:51 God is going to rescue us from here. 01:07:53 These are the folks who prayed 01:07:55 "Lord Jesus, come soon because I am having financial problems. 01:07:58 I'm about to go through foreclosure. 01:08:00 If you come tomorrow, 01:08:01 I'll be able to avoid the deters." That's right. 01:08:03 And a whole list of other things. Amen. 01:08:06 And so I think that we need to be careful to embrace 01:08:08 the entirety of the scripture as it appeals to us, 01:08:12 not just to our humanity-- Thank you. 01:08:14 To our mental capacity. 01:08:16 Thank you. John, you want to say-- 01:08:17 And also the other thing is we wanna a savior. 01:08:19 Praise the Lord for that. We want a soon coming king, 01:08:22 but what Jesus wants to be between the salvation aspect 01:08:24 and His return, He wants to be our Lord. Yes. 01:08:27 What Christians don't want today is to have somebody 01:08:30 in charge of their lives. 01:08:32 But just as you have a landlord that must give you permission 01:08:34 to make any alterations in your apartment, we've got to look 01:08:37 to the Lord to make any alterations in our lives. 01:08:39 He wants to be in charge of our lives. 01:08:41 Not just the one who saves us and is coming back to take us. 01:08:44 He doesn't want to just get us in. 01:08:46 He wants to fit us into the kingdom of heaven. 01:08:48 And there's something that you all should understand 01:08:51 as we talk about suffering before glory. 01:08:55 Christ went through that and the Old Testament patriarchs 01:08:59 as Keith has mentioned. But you have your own suffering. 01:09:02 And some of you listening, some of you watching, 01:09:05 you're going through some very painful experiences, 01:09:08 sickness, family issues, personal issues, whatever. 01:09:13 And maybe you're wondering how long will this last forever? 01:09:19 And the only thing I can say to you is that, 01:09:21 yes, we all have to go through our suffering, 01:09:24 but one day God shall 01:09:25 wipe away all tears from our eyes. Amen. Amen. 01:09:28 And so weeping may endure for a night, 01:09:30 but joy cometh in the morning. Amen. 01:09:33 No matter what your suffering is, 01:09:34 don't give up on God, hold on. Amen. 01:09:37 We find a church came out of all of this preaching of Paul, 01:09:42 a church was born. 01:09:44 Very briefly, Hermann, could you just mention 01:09:48 who are the kind of people that formally 01:09:50 did this church in Thessalonica? 01:09:52 That's very interesting. There were Greek speaking people 01:09:58 and then there were even women, yeah. 01:10:01 And that's--that was very significant. 01:10:03 And of course, then there were the Jews because 01:10:05 Paul went to the synagogue. 01:10:07 It takes all sorts. And you see, 01:10:09 the Bible explains itself because 01:10:11 when we get to the Book of Revelation, 01:10:12 it says and this gospel, 01:10:14 the everlasting gospel shall be preached through 01:10:16 every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Amen. 01:10:19 And the gospel is for all. Our time is winding down. 01:10:24 And I really want to thank you, 01:10:26 folks, for your fine contribution 01:10:28 in the discussion of the lesson. 01:10:30 And we just want to let our listeners know 01:10:34 that this is the day the Lord has given us. 01:10:37 And we must rejoice and be glad in His salvation. 01:10:40 As you have gone through this lesson 01:10:41 and you have seen the trials and the tribulations 01:10:44 and the difficulties of the Apostle Paul, 01:10:46 you see that he was still faithful 01:10:48 and he still did the work that God asked him to do. 01:10:52 The same is true for you. No matter the trouble, 01:10:54 no matter the struggle, no matter the challenges, 01:10:57 keep faithful to God. Be strong, 01:10:59 God will be there for you. Amen. Thank you 01:11:19 In prisoners' chains with bleeding stripes 01:11:31 Paul and Silas prayed that night 01:11:41 And in their pain began to sing 01:11:52 Their chains were loosed 01:11:58 and they were free 01:12:04 I bless Your name, 01:12:09 I bless Your name 01:12:15 I give You honor, 01:12:21 give You praise 01:12:27 You are the life, 01:12:32 the truth, the way 01:12:38 I bless Your name, 01:12:43 I bless Your name 01:12:49 Some midnight hour 01:12:55 if you should find 01:13:01 You're in a prison in your mind 01:13:12 Reach out and praise, defy those chains 01:13:23 And they will fall in Jesus' name 01:13:34 We bless Your name, 01:13:40 we bless Your name 01:13:46 We give You honor, give You praise 01:13:58 You are the life, 01:14:03 the truth, the way 01:14:08 We bless Your name, 01:14:14 we bless Your name 01:14:20 You are the life, 01:14:25 the truth, the way 01:14:31 We bless Your name, 01:14:37 we bless Your name |
Revised 2014-12-17