Participants:
Series Code: SF
Program Code: SF000023
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00:14 O soul are you weary and troubled?
00:24 No light in the darkness you see? 00:33 There's light for a look at the Savior 00:42 And life so abundant and free 00:52 Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 01:00 Look full in His wonderful face, 01:10 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 01:19 In the light of His glory and grace. 01:33 His word will not fail you, His promised 01:42 Believe Him, and all will be well 01:52 Then go to a world that is dying 02:01 His perfect Salvation to tell 02:10 Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 02:19 Look full in His wonderful face, 02:28 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 02:37 In the light of His glory and grace. 02:51 In the light of His glory and grace. 03:08 Our Father and our God, it is with the greatest 03:13 desire that we invite you into our hearts, 03:18 at the beginning of this New Year. 03:21 Father, we ask that you would come into our 03:23 hearts and illuminate its walls by the power 03:27 of your spirit. You word tells us that it's the 03:31 heart, that is deceitful above all else and so 03:38 Lord we need you to shine from within. 03:42 That maybe revealed what is unlike thee 03:46 that we may surrender all to you. 03:50 Lord, help us not hold anything, help us 03:54 not to hide anything. But help us to be honest 03:59 and open with you, we ask Lord that as we 04:05 contemplate anew. The sacrifice of our Lord 04:09 and Savior and the cost of our redemption may 04:15 our hearts melt to tenderness, that we may 04:20 become pliable again in thy hand, amen. 04:25 Father, as we face a New Year, we wanna face 04:28 it in the strength of you, and in the light of 04:32 you, and in your guidance, and with thy holy 04:38 presence. Lord may as we contemplate our Lord 04:45 and all that he's done for us, may we just give 04:49 all to you, keep that which we have committed 04:54 unto the honor and glory of your name. 04:57 That we maybe fit vessels to be used for the 05:03 outpouring of your spirit and to the lives of 05:05 others who do not know you. And may our 05:09 lives reflect Lord the work that as Isaiah said 05:13 would be a work of righteousness that would 05:15 be peace and quietness and assurance forever. 05:21 Bless us now Lord with your presence we pray, 05:25 we thank you for it and we ask all these things 05:28 in the name of our Lord and Savior 05:31 Christ Jesus, amen. Amen. 05:38 This is a real wonderful time for us to begin 05:43 the New Year seeking God's presence, 05:48 seeking to have special communion with him, 05:54 this has been a week of revival and reformation 05:56 and within our church in which we have 05:59 participated and we continue to participate in 06:03 this service. And tomorrow the President of our 06:09 General Conference will be speaking at the GYC 06:13 and we would be covering that message which is 06:16 the combination of this week of revival. 06:20 And I hope that each one of you is able to 06:24 participate in that, but more then that I'm hoping 06:27 that you are participating in the spirit of revival 06:32 and reformation. Knowing our Lord 06:35 and Savior and more fully then you've ever 06:38 known him before. And as I have searched 06:42 my heart for the last few hours, it is with 06:46 the prayer that somehow he will have always 06:50 first placed there, that I come to you at tonight. 06:57 I hope that you have your Bibles and if you 06:59 do I'm going to invite you to turn with me to 07:02 the book of John and in this book we find 07:06 the story of the upper room experience. 07:11 Now, if you remember that they came to the 07:14 upper room, they found that there was water 07:17 there, there was thing, everything had been 07:20 set for them to have the Passover together. 07:24 There was water there for them to wash their 07:26 feet but if you recall no one moved to wash 07:31 the others feet. This was not really unusual; 07:36 it was not the custom of a person to wash 07:40 another person's feet at that time. 07:43 This was the work of a servant, in fact Rabbis 07:46 often had disciples and when Christ had these 07:49 12 disciples, this was not something new 07:53 because Rabbis would have sometimes smaller 07:56 groups or sometimes even larger groups that 07:58 traveled with them. These were person that 08:00 sat at their feet; these were people that 08:03 learned from them. But no Rabbi would have 08:08 ever excepted one of his students, one of his 08:11 disciples to wash his feet. He would not have 08:15 excepted them to wash each others feet, 08:18 these would have been the work of a servant 08:21 entirely. And so it was not unusual that these 08:26 men did not wash one and another's feet, 08:29 what was unusual was that Jesus rose. 08:34 And instituted something brand new, amen, 08:40 the service of somebody else. Reaching out to 08:45 someone else and serving them, he showing us 08:49 as an example, you see humility is absolutely 08:55 necessary before we accept the blood of Jesus, 08:59 amen. If we don't feel our need, if we are not 09:03 humble then we do not even seek forgiveness 09:08 and we do not seek the blood of Jesus to cover 09:11 our sins. And as we come together in communion 09:14 and in a little bit we're gonna be receiving the 09:17 bread and the wine and we'll talk about the 09:20 meaning of these two emblems which I know that 09:23 you understand. But also much has been 09:28 forgotten about humility, before we came to this 09:33 service the ladies went to one room, 09:36 the gentlemen went to another room. 09:38 And there we served each other; we tried to 09:43 pick someone who was maybe not necessarily 09:46 a close friend, maybe someone we didn't know 09:48 very well. Because it's easy to serve someone who 09:53 is very close and maybe not always easy 09:56 perhaps sometimes as a pastor we've had 10:00 family communion where husband and wife 10:04 would serve each other. And they needed to 10:06 do that, amen In many cases it was the most 10:09 beautiful thing for a man to kneel before his 10:12 wife and to wash her feet and for her to wash 10:15 his feet. And sometimes that is so very needed 10:19 and necessary and beautiful, but it's also 10:22 beautiful for us to turn to someone who perhaps 10:26 we don't know all that well or perhaps someone 10:28 with whom we've sometimes had tension or 10:32 disagreements and we wanna say hey we 10:35 may not always agree on everything. God has 10:37 never told us that you've got to agree on 10:40 everything, he has never said that, 10:43 the only one time in the scriptures where 10:44 we find that everybody was is one accord and 10:48 that's where the Holy Spirit felt of course. 10:51 But one chord doesn't mean that they all thought 10:54 exactly the same thing about each, 10:58 of each opinion of each thing, it meant that they 11:01 allow the other to think differently then they 11:04 did and they still loved them. That is really 11:08 being in one accord, I felt that kind of unity 11:13 in our room today. As we knelt together as 11:17 we're saying John Lomacang, led us in songs 11:20 and as we sang together hymns, familiar hymns 11:24 that we can sing from our hearts. We definitely 11:27 felt the power of the Holy Spirit, we felt God 11:32 moving in a powerful way and you see this 11:36 is the way that I believe with all my heart that 11:39 God prepares our hearts to receive his crucifixion. 11:46 You see if we receive that crucifixion with pride 11:50 in our hearts we miss what he is all about, 11:55 because he is all about love for each other, amen. 12:01 What is humility? You know sometimes that 12:03 something that's so easily misunderstood, 12:06 we get the idea if a person walks around and 12:08 they kind of keep their head down and they speak 12:11 quietly that they're humble. That doesn't, 12:13 that's not humility at all, that's a false 12:16 humility. What I think is humility is being willing 12:22 to serve, you see that's what he pointed as 12:25 humility, serving the other. Serving the other 12:29 and it may not be in this custom that we would 12:32 need to wash each others feet. But it may 12:35 mean something else. We had a gigantic 12:38 windstorm here two years ago, it came through 12:41 hundred mile an hour winds, there are still 12:43 trees that are down all over the place out in 12:46 the woods. That you'll find that went down 12:48 during that storm, but at the time they went 12:51 down across roads, across power lines and 12:55 there was havoc everywhere. I was in 12:57 Chicago when it took place; immediately I got 13:01 a call from Danny Shelton and he was told me 13:05 bring me another chainsaw when you come. 13:09 Chainsaws are all sold out down here. 13:11 I said what are you doing with it? He said I'm 13:14 out trying to help people get in and out their 13:17 homes because getting some trees off of 13:20 homes. And Danny was out there serving he 13:24 wasn't standing back worrying just about his 13:27 place or worrying about even 3ABN. 13:30 But he was out with the neighbors helping them, 13:34 cutting away trees. I didn't do that for me 13:37 to tell you about it. In fact he'll be upset that 13:39 I did, but that's alright you see to me that 13:43 was true humility, amen. That was the service 13:47 of humility that our Lord would have us have, 13:53 amen. As I said a very tricky thing if you try 13:57 to humble you probably won't be, 14:00 if you try to think about it it's funny. 14:03 You know how it is, somebody tells you don't 14:05 think about this or you try to, you have to 14:08 think about it. You know how that works, 14:10 the same way with humility, a friend of mine 14:14 Pastor Ben Golisch used to tell the story about 14:16 he said that he wrote a book about: 14:19 Humility and How I Obtained it and then he 14:22 said when I read the manuscript it was so 14:25 good that pride entered my heart and he, 14:28 he said I had to throw it away. That was just 14:31 an illustration, a very humble illustration that 14:38 says we have to be careful we'll be proud of 14:42 our humility, yes. We will be proud of how 14:45 humble we are, you see the focus is away 14:51 from us, amen. Jesus says the focus is on others, 14:55 amen. And when you turn your eyes upon him 14:58 and you look at him that that is the focus. 15:05 I walk the lies path with an easy tread, 15:07 I wonder where pleasures and riches led, 15:10 until one day in a quiet place; I met the master 15:15 face to face, amen, amen. I met him and knew 15:18 him and blessed to see that his eyes full 15:20 of mercy were fixed upon me and then I turned 15:23 my eyes upon Jesus, yes. Look full in His 15:27 wonderful face, and the things of earth grew 15:31 strangely dim in the light of His glory and 15:37 his grace. Amen, amen. I'd like to introduce 15:42 those who are participating in our service 15:44 today. We have some pastors who are serving 15:51 here as elders, Pastor C. A. Murray and Pastor 15:55 John Lomacang and we also have Pastors who 15:59 are serving today as deacons. Pastor Brian 16:03 Hamilton, Norberto, Hal Steenson and Richard 16:09 Pinero, our deacons today are Carey, 16:14 Kristesn and Jill Morikone. 16:23 Sing with me, "Thank You Lord." 16:26 Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul 16:35 Thank you, Lord, for making me whole 16:43 Thank you, Lord, for giving to me 16:51 Thy great salvation soulful and free One more time 16:59 Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul 17:08 Thank you, Lord, for making me whole 17:16 Thank you, Lord, for giving to me 17:24 Thy great salvation soulful and free, amen. 18:33 I've spend some time on last evening reading 18:36 through the book, Desire of Ages and I was 18:42 awakened this morning at 3:30 and read more. 18:48 One of the things that struck me was the 18:52 understanding that whenever the saints of 18:54 God gather together for a communion service 18:58 we're told that angels draw especially near, 19:05 and that there are, it would appear certain 19:08 angels that just like to be near the saints of 19:12 God during this time. She says there are 19:17 literally thousands of unseen watchers who 19:22 are here just now and if you're at home or in 19:27 a church or even in a car listening on a radio. 19:32 There's an angel beside you, amen, amen, 19:35 to hear your prayer and because you chose 19:40 to consecrate yourself to God. Jesus is bending 19:46 law to hear your heart's call and the Holy 19:50 Spirit is there to seal your decision. I'm reading 19:56 out from the gospel that's written by John, 19:59 chapter 6, just several verses, where John 20:04 records the words of Jesus and speaking to his 20:08 disciples about the bread, he says: Who so 20:14 eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, 20:19 have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the 20:23 last day. So, what we're doing here to now 20:25 here and now is seed is as we are putting 20:30 money in the bank of heaven for that last day 20:34 when Christ will call us all. For my flesh is meat, 20:37 I'm in verse 55, my blood is drink. He that 20:42 eateth my flesh, drinketh my blood, 20:45 dwelleth in me, and I in him. And then I'm 20:51 backing up now because Christ makes two very 20:56 important and succeeding statements, 20:59 verse 47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, 21:02 He that believeth on me hath eternal life. 21:07 Praise God and then he says the way of 21:11 punctuation, I am that bread of life. Amen. 21:18 So, when we eat this bread, Ellen White says 21:23 we are remembering every blow that will struck, 21:30 every booze that was inflicted, every drop of 21:35 blood that rain upon the ground, we are 21:40 remembering and recalling the awful price that 21:44 was paid for our redemption. We are saying 21:49 to the Lord, we haven't forgotten you oh no 21:55 we respect and honor the ultimate sacrifice 22:00 that you made for us. You pay too high a price 22:07 and yet without that price being paid where 22:10 would we be tonight, amen, but thank God the 22:14 Bible says he thought if not robbery. 22:18 But made himself of no reputation, died the 22:21 death not even of a servant of a slave and in 22:25 so dying became victorious and has now 22:30 passed that victory onto you and to me, amen. 22:36 Praise God for every drop of blood, 22:41 for every stroke of the lash, for every tear 22:45 that was shed. Because with that was the down 22:50 payment on eternity for you and for 22:55 me, amen. Shall we pray? 22:59 Gracious Father, we thank you for the 23:04 sacrifice of Christ, who endured the scourge, 23:10 who endured the lash, who endured the whip, 23:16 who endured the cursing and the swearing and 23:20 the belittling and took it all, and who was 23:26 faithful unto death. Even the death of the cross 23:34 and we ask dear Father, that you would bless this 23:39 bread in a very special and marked way. 23:44 Then as we eat, we will reflect and we will 23:49 remember and we will surrender anew our 23:53 bodies to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 23:59 Bless it and change it from its natural use, 24:04 so that even as it nourishes our bodies, 24:08 it will nourish our very souls and quicken our 24:13 spirits and dedicate us even more to Christ and 24:20 his soon coming kingdom. We love you; 24:24 we praise you and thank you in 24:27 Jesus name, amen, amen. 24:37 The Bible also gives us another very 24:39 unmistakable picture of the wine that is 24:43 represented in the communion service. 24:47 I would like to communicate that through 24:49 a story of two sons, there are many sons in 24:53 the Bible, but there are two sons that I believe 24:55 illustrate the power of the blood. 24:59 We know that when Adam and Eve sinned, 25:02 sin entered the world and until eternity rose, 25:11 there will be a countless record of the multiple 25:13 millions who've lost their lives. Because of the 25:17 decision of one man. Adam had two sons, 25:24 Paul the Apostle the says: The wages of sin is 25:26 death, but the gift of God is eternal life. 25:31 Adam had two sons, one was Cain the other 25:36 one was Abel and I believe it was not 25:40 until the death of Abel that Adam really 25:42 realized the depth of his decision. The wages 25:46 of sin is death, Abel's life represent the wages 25:52 of sin, a payment by humanity. And the Bible 25:57 records in Genesis 4 and verse 9 when the 26:00 question was asked by God where is your brother 26:04 and Cain responded. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 26:08 And God said, "The blood of your brother cries 26:11 from the ground." That was the payment by 26:17 humanity for sin, but there is a second son that 26:20 gives me hope today for there is a second 26:25 Adam as it were. He had a father and his 26:30 father had a son and I will say today that 26:35 instead of the blood of Jesus crying from the 26:37 ground. A payment by humanity the blood of 26:42 Jesus is crying from the cross, a payment for 26:46 humanity, amen. This second death was one 26:51 that was willingly given, one that was given 26:54 without reproach, one that was given with the 26:56 love, one that was given with a desire to 27:00 save all humanity. For the Bible records: 27:03 For God so loved the world, that he gave his 27:05 only begotten Son. Adam did not give his son 27:08 Abel, sin took his son but God so loved us when 27:14 the blood of Jesus Christ was shed. It was not 27:18 by humanity, but it was for humanity, amen. 27:22 And so today we find that it was not the wages 27:25 of sin alone but what caused Jesus to shed 27:29 his blood was the gift of God. So, today we live 27:34 under the shadow of the cross, not lamenting 27:36 the death but rejoicing in the death of the 27:39 second son. The one who is also Abel, his name 27:45 is not Abel but I say he is Abel, alright. 27:48 Paul the Apostle made it very clear: where 27:52 there is no shedding of blood, there is no 27:54 remission. Jesus shed his blood to reverse 27:58 the effect of sin, so you see generation after 28:01 generation waited for that son to come that, 28:04 that promised seed and I could see mother 28:06 after mother hoping their son would be the one 28:10 and when it appears though he would never arrive. 28:12 The Bible says: "When the fullness of time 28:15 had come God sent forth His Son." Amen, never 28:18 too early, never too late, the one who is Abel 28:22 to say to the uttermost those who come unto 28:24 God by him, was the one who appeared. 28:27 And so what did this blood represent John tells 28:31 us the one who Jesus loves. He said the blood 28:35 of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin. 28:40 The wine here today represents the blood of 28:42 Jesus the only price to pay for the redemption 28:46 and the removal of sin. And it cleanses us from 28:49 all sin, can you say Amen to that, amen. 28:52 But it also represents the New Covenant, Jesus 28:55 said to his disciples at that supper that 28:57 many call the Last Supper, but I submit to you, 29:00 it was only the last supper for Judas. 29:02 There is another greater supper coming, 29:05 Matthew 26 verse 27 to 29 the Bible says: 29:09 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, 29:11 and gave it to them and said, "Drink from it, 29:14 all of you. For this is My blood of the new 29:17 covenant, which is shed for many for the 29:19 remission of sins. But I say to you, 29:23 I will not drink of this fruit of the wine from 29:26 now on until that day when I drink it new with 29:30 you in My Father's kingdom." Not just the 29:33 symbol of a new covenant, but a symbol of 29:36 a promise that we cannot wait to be fulfilled 29:38 amen. And finally one more implication of the 29:41 blood of Jesus, Pastor C. A pointed out the 29:44 broken body of Jesus, but Paul said, 29:48 as a recipient of God's grace. 29:51 For as often as you drink this cup, 29:55 you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 29:59 So, the wine a payment for humanity, 30:02 a promise of a greater dinner 30:04 that's yet in the future, amen and 30:08 the reality that whenever we partake, 30:10 we are individually and collectively proclaiming 30:13 the death of Jesus, the promise of his 30:15 soon return until he comes. Let us pray. 30:22 Our Gracious Father in heaven, 30:23 we thank you so much, that when you make 30:27 a promise it is sure, amen. We stand today 30:31 between two economies to pass over, 30:34 has passed over and this covenant that 30:39 you've made with us continues to be ratified. 30:42 Every time we partake of the blood of Jesus, 30:47 today Heavenly Father made this wine remind us. 30:53 That as not that it's just unfermented 30:56 but it is the only blood that can save 30:58 us from our sins. And so Lord help us 31:02 to consider the price, help us to consider 31:04 the Cross, but help us to consider the giver. 31:08 And when we partake Lord may 31:10 you be glorified in our hearts, 31:13 in our lives and in our voice. 31:17 In Jesus name we pray, amen, amen. 32:34 Shackled by a heavy burden 32:44 Neath a load of guilt & shame 32:53 Then the hand of Jesus touched me 33:02 And now I am no longer the same 33:10 I want you to sing it with me. 33:12 He touched me, oh He touched me 33:21 And oh the joy that floods my soul 33:32 Something happened and now I know 33:41 He Touched me and made me whole. 33:52 Oh since I met this blessed savior 34:02 And since he cleansed and made me whole 34:11 Oh I will never cease to praise him 34:20 I'll shout it while eternity rolls 34:29 He touched me, oh He touched me 34:39 And oh the joy that floods my soul 34:49 Something happened and now I know 34:59 He Touched me and made me whole. 35:41 The Bible says: 'Take, eat: this is My Body, 35:49 which is broken for you, 35:52 do this in remembrance of me. 36:16 And then it says: In the same manner 36:18 he also took the cup, after supper saying, 36:22 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. 36:26 This do, so often as you drink it, 36:32 do so in remembrance of me.' 37:45 We're going to involve you, 37:48 the viewer in this special service today. 37:51 I know that some of you at home have 37:53 probably receive the emblems are gone 37:57 and joined with us and I hope that you have. 38:00 If you haven't this program will be shown 38:03 again and perhaps you'll be able to do 38:07 it at that time, however right now 38:10 we want to involve you in our season of prayer. 38:13 Because we wanna be praying for you, 38:16 There are three that we have ask John Dinzey 38:19 who is Director of Latino, 38:21 he is going to be praying, 38:23 Mollie Steenson our Vice President 38:25 and General Manager, will also be praying. 38:28 And Brian Hamilton our Financial Director 38:31 will be praying and we invite you at home 38:36 to quietly enter into a 38:41 Spirit of Prayer as they lead us. 38:54 Our Loving Heavenly Father, 38:59 we've thank you so much Lord for 39:02 the privilege to partake of the 39:06 Holy Communion. We thank you that the 39:10 blood was shed our behalf. 39:14 Father, we want to thank you Lord that 39:20 while we were yet sinners, 39:22 Christ died for us. We've thank you 39:26 Lord for your great mercy, because all 39:30 we as sheep have gone astray. 39:36 But we thank you Lord that you have laid 39:39 the iniquity of us all; upon your son Jesus. 39:45 We thank you for that sacrifice, 39:48 we thank you Lord that even though 39:52 we all have sinned and come short of your glory. 39:57 Your love that is beyond parallel, 40:02 was extended to us, and Lord 40:07 we just marvel as we behold that 40:12 manner of love. That is bestowed upon us 40:16 and even though we have gone astray, 40:22 the good shepherd has found us and 40:26 we can be called your children. 40:28 We pray for us here, that you will forgive 40:34 us for our sins, cleanse us from unrighteousness. 40:39 The same we pray for the viewers and listeners, 40:42 that as they chose to allow Jesus into 40:47 their hearts. You will do the same for them, 40:52 we thank you Father that you were in 40:56 Christ reconciling the world unto yourself. 41:02 So, that we can be called, 41:04 so we can become the righteousness 41:07 of God. We thank you Father wash us, 41:12 cleanse us and make us pure through 41:16 the blood of the lamb, Jesus Christ. 41:20 In Jesus name, amen. 41:27 Heavenly Father, we come before 41:28 you in the precious name of your son Jesus 41:32 and we thank you Holy God that you've 41:34 given us this opportunity to share 41:37 in Holy Communion thank you Holy God. 41:40 For the blood that we shed that make this, 41:43 this available to us. Now Father on a 41:46 personal basis we yield our lives up to 41:49 you today as we start this New Year Lord, 41:52 let us start this New Year with clean hands 41:55 and a pure heart before you and now 41:57 Father draw us by the power of your 41:59 Holy Spirit into a deeper and a richer 42:02 and a more meaningful relationship with you. 42:05 Oh Father, we recognize this night, 42:08 if you don't grace us we are not graced, 42:10 if you don't bless us we're not blessed, 42:13 if you don't show mercy to us then 42:15 there is no mercy shown to our lives. 42:17 We look unto you oh God, 42:18 for we are totally depended on you 42:20 and every area and every relationship 42:22 of our life. And Father we, we just 42:25 lay our hearts open before you and 42:27 ask you oh God to search us oh God 42:29 in our heart. Try us in our thought, 42:32 see if there be any evil lay in us 42:34 and lead us in the path that's everlasting. 42:36 Oh God our hearts decry, our hearts 42:39 desire is to be, is to be like you know God. 42:43 Father that we would be transformed 42:45 into the very image and lightness of 42:47 you oh God, Father that's our prayer 42:50 on a personal basis and now bring 42:51 Three Angels Broadcasting before 42:53 you, this ministry that was started 42:56 and birth by you Oh God. 42:58 Oh Father, let us look at this ministry, 43:00 let each one of us examine our hearts 43:02 and examine our hands, see oh Lord 43:04 if there was any area where we have 43:06 laid man's hand to this ministry. 43:08 And let us oh Father take it off for oh God 43:10 we only want this ministry to be perfect 43:13 and pure before you that Lord it will 43:16 reach out and it will accomplish all that 43:17 you've called it to accomplish that 43:19 truly Lord God this ministry will go to the 43:22 four corners of the earth and church 43:24 and touch every seeking soul of God. 43:27 Father, that when we stand before 43:28 you in that Day of Judgment you will 43:30 say to us, well done my good and 43:32 faithful servant. Oh Father we yield our 43:35 lives, we yield our hopes, we yield our 43:38 future unto you to the, the degree that 43:40 we know how to do it, Father we surrender 43:42 to you spirit, soul and body. 43:44 Every area we surrender to you oh God 43:47 and ask you to lead us and direct our 43:49 path in Jesus name Amen, amen. 43:59 Father God, I counted it 44:01 a privilege to bend my knees and bow 44:05 before you. Acknowledging 44:08 before our viewing audience and unseen 44:11 worlds that you are the Sovereign of the 44:14 universe, the God of all living, the Creator, 44:19 the Sustainer. What we've just participated 44:24 in Jesus is acknowledging you as our savior, 44:28 our brother. Born of our bone and flesh of 44:30 our flesh, Holy Spirit, we accept you as our 44:35 comforter and our guide. You are sealing us 44:39 for eternity and we ask that you will complete 44:43 that work that you begun in us. 44:45 Father, our viewing audience and ourselves 44:49 here at 3ABN are beginning a New Year, 44:53 a year though that has many uncertainties 44:57 before us. We live in troubles times, 45:00 the nations are angry and getting more restless, 45:04 the economy is sinking, there is 45:08 trouble in every direction that we see 45:10 but you've told us that these things 45:12 would come about. And so we would like 45:16 to place ourselves and this ministry 45:20 and our viewing audience into your hands 45:24 for this year. Asking that you would lead us, 45:27 that you would guide us, and that you would 45:30 sustain us. And may we never stray from 45:35 you as our guide, as our savior, as our Lord, 45:39 as our God. And so we ask a special blessing 45:43 upon all who are viewing that you 45:46 would bless them in their health, 45:49 that you would bless them in their finances 45:52 and that you would grow them and 45:54 prepare them Jesus for your second coming 45:57 which we believe is very soon. 45:59 This blessing that we ask for audience 46:01 we ask for ourselves here at 3ABN, 46:04 we rededicate ourselves to the 46:07 mission of taking this gospel to all the world, 46:12 so, that Jesus you may come soon. 46:15 Please bless our efforts, multiply the 46:20 fruits, as, as we the television takes 46:25 these messages to every home and 46:27 every nation and every corner of this world. 46:30 Father may your word not come back wide, 46:34 may that accomplish all that you've ordained 46:37 for it and we give you the glory and 46:40 you the honor and you the credit. 46:43 In Jesus name I pray, amen. Amen. 46:53 This will be my forth New Years to spend 46:57 here at 3ABN; amen, I thank God for the 47:02 opportunity to be here, to work with 47:04 this particular group of people. 47:06 The leadership team that's here in the 47:09 studio today as we have had this time 47:13 of commitment together. 47:15 The leader of this organization the one 47:17 who God called is Danny Shelton. 47:20 And Danny has been gifted in so many ways, 47:24 not the least of which is the gift of 47:26 encouragement, amen. There been times when 47:29 I've been worn out and he is lifted me 47:32 with words of encouragement and 47:34 hope and challenge. And as we have come 47:38 to this New Years and this time of our 47:42 recommitment to our Lord. 47:44 I've ask him if he would share some 47:48 words of encouragement with you our viewers. 47:52 Thank you Jim and thank you for 47:54 bringing this communion not 47:55 only to our family here in house that 47:59 for allowing people and allowing us to 48:01 enjoy this with people around the world. 48:03 So, we wanna thank you for that, 48:05 thank you for your leadership and I think 48:09 I can speak for all of us when I say that 48:11 God knew just the man to bring at the 48:13 right time, amen. And we appreciate your 48:16 leadership so much, you and Camille 48:18 and your family and it's been a privilege 48:20 to work with Pastor Jim Gilley and 48:23 I say work with because Jim has 48:24 a spirit that we're all in this thing together 48:27 and I know you feel the same way. 48:29 And so we feel like that we're, we're 48:30 encouraged as we go together, someone 48:33 said to me don't you ever did get depressed, 48:36 you know you go through so many things. 48:39 And I said well I would but I read the back 48:40 of the book, amen the back of the book says: 48:43 "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, 48:45 and the word of their testimony. 48:47 And so I tell people sometimes in churches, 48:50 a lot of times people will buy a book and 48:52 before they buy they go to the book store 48:54 and they will thumb through the books 48:56 and they will say this looks like a good title. 48:58 I think I will take a little peak and see 48:59 what it says so they turned to the back 49:01 of the book. When they get to the 49:03 back of the book, it says John and Marry 49:05 road often into the sunset happily ever 49:07 after. Well, if we're gonna be reading 49:09 you might well read something that's good 49:11 and they got a nice ending. 49:12 The book's 200 pages long so we read 100 49:16 pages and all of a sudden tragedy happens 49:20 John and Mary instead riding often 49:22 into the sunset, somehow fell over 49:25 a cliff but they were hanging on a branch 49:28 and the branch seems to be cracking 49:30 it's a thousand feet below them. 49:31 That's the terrible situation to be in, 49:34 isn't it? Amen, but now for you the reader, 49:37 for me the reader what happens you 49:39 don't say oh no this is terrible tragedy 49:42 I can't finish the rest of the story why not? 49:44 Amen, you've read the back of the book, amen. 49:47 Now, you actually get excited, you actually 49:49 get encouraged, because you say 49:51 how is the author who are gonna get these 49:53 folks out of this jam. Right, now think about 49:57 it the author, the finisher of our faith 50:00 the Lord Jesus Christ how's he gonna get us 50:02 out of this jam, alright, right 50:04 because we're all in a jam if we don't know 50:06 what we need to wake up, amen. 50:08 Right, sometimes we think we got it all 50:10 together we don't. We have nothing together 50:12 without Christ; we can do nothing, amen. 50:15 Through Christ we can accomplish all things, 50:17 amen I was thinking for this service what 50:19 a wonderful service. Not all churches do 50:22 this and we do the foot washing as well 50:24 as the, the communion part here with the 50:27 embalms and the breaking the bread 50:29 and the new wine and emphasis new wine. 50:31 Some churches do it with wine but we use 50:34 new vine as Seventh-day Adventist 50:36 Christians grape juice, to symbolize Christ 50:39 blood. I was thinking about this and what 50:41 an opportunity to be alive in the closing 50:44 moments of earth history, yeah, being 50:46 in a ministry that God has ordained, yes, yes. 50:50 I mean that's it right there, Amen. 50:51 God has ordained, yeah I didn't build 50:53 this ministry, you didn't build it how 50:55 you were there in the very beginning, 50:57 you didn't build it, no. Mollie you didn't 50:59 build it, Tammy you didn't build it, 51:00 none of us did, the Lord ordained this 51:03 and he allowed us to be a part of it, amen. 51:05 And we done a lot of good things 51:07 and a lot of bad things when it comes to 51:09 making decisions, sometimes we make 51:10 good decisions, sometimes we make bad decisions. 51:13 But ultimately, this is God's project and 51:16 guess what? We are not the only ones 51:18 who failed, if you look through the Bible 51:21 I wonder why God even messed with 51:23 those people, I mean would like, 51:24 I would have got rid of them before then,. 51:25 I mean look how terrible they are 51:27 and then all of a sudden it's like what about you? 51:29 Then I'm like boy am I glad God is merciful, 51:32 amen. That he doesn't just destroy us at the 51:34 first sign of problems and trials aren't 51:36 you glad for that? Amen, I know I am 51:38 but as I was thinking about it, 51:40 what an incredible time to be alive 51:42 where technology and the communication 51:45 high ways are changing brother 51:47 Moses almost everyday. New ways to get this 51:50 gospel into millions, ye billions and I'm 51:54 gonna use the b on that, billions of homes, 51:57 yeah. And, and do it in a split second, 51:59 three angels flying in the midst of the heaven, 52:02 Revelation 18 says: the Fourth angel helped 52:05 the three and the earth was lightened 52:07 with the glory of God and I see satellites, 52:11 I mean this is safe Danny, this is not at 52:13 all safe you know the Bible necessarily. 52:15 But an angel is just what? It's the 52:18 messenger, so satellites are what? 52:21 They're messengers, so when I see satellites 52:24 in Heaven and the earth was lightened 52:26 with the glory of God, just think about it. 52:28 We speak signal goes up twenty two 52:31 thousand and three hundred miles to 52:32 space goes around and in our case 52:34 what eleven satellites normal, around 52:37 doctor Moe, around, around the world at 52:39 literally traveling the hundred and 52:41 eighty six thousand miles per second 52:43 I believe it is what it is hundred and 52:44 eighty six thousand and two hundred miles 52:46 per second. So, even with the connections 52:49 within two or three seconds the earth is 52:51 lightened with the glory of God. 52:53 And then it's able to come down into 52:55 homes through all sorts of ways, 52:57 through with satellites, through radio, 52:59 through television, yeah. Through the computer, 53:02 to be able to do this, I graduated from high 53:04 school in 1969 in that class there was 53:08 31 people and only two got to use electric 53:12 typewriters because the others you had 53:14 to handle them. That's how far we came, 53:17 no such thing is a computer when I went 53:19 to take typing they said boys don't take typing, 53:22 why would you ever need to learn to type? 53:24 Well, that's a long story, I won't get 53:26 into the rest of the story but I did take typing 53:28 and I'm glad I did just one of the few things 53:30 it's that I think I go back on from, from 53:33 the high school years. But as I was thinking 53:35 about this, words of encouragement 53:36 we have no reason to be discouraged, 53:38 alright. Because it's not about us, amen, 53:41 my dad used to say, this world doesn't 53:43 revolve around you? I said but dad 53:45 I wanna do son, son no it's not gonna 53:48 happen that way I say but dad I want 53:49 to, son this world doesn't revolve around 53:51 you? But it does revolve around our Lord 53:54 and Savior Jesus Christ, amen and he 53:56 has hand picked each and everyone of you 53:58 here, those of you at home God has called 54:01 you to do something great and mighty 54:03 and marvelous for him in this closing 54:04 moments of earth history, isn't that 54:06 amazing? Yeah, God can use us no matter 54:08 who you are, what our background is, 54:10 where we come from and guess what? 54:12 He uses the least unlikely people, 54:14 so no excuses. Remember that old song 54:16 how Excuses, excuses, I'm hear them every 54:19 day. The Devil he'll supply them, if the 54:21 church you stay away. You know when people 54:23 come to know the Lord, the Devil always, 54:25 what's he do? He, guess them folks excuses, 54:29 that's what he does he'll supply you with 54:31 all the excuses, it says some goes to the 54:33 church and now say these seats are too hot, 54:35 too hard, others oh these sears, 54:38 there are too soft I don't like them. 54:40 Now, we've got a excuses but we have 54:42 nothing no reason for excuses. 54:44 We are serving a God, Matthew 28: 18 to 20 54:49 Jesus says: All power is given me in heaven 54:51 and in earth, yeah all power go ye so what 54:54 he said is this: I'm taking away your 54:56 excuses, he establishes who he is, 54:58 he is a creator, God of the universe 55:00 and all everything is his within his grasp. 55:05 All power is given Me, Go ye into all the world, 55:07 Dr. Thompson says: When the Lord commission 55:10 us to go into all the world, he had counted 55:12 his resources and found that he's not wanted. 55:14 Amen, isn't that great? Alright, so now we 55:16 have nothing, nothing to fear, all we have is 55:20 encouragement that Jesus said all power is 55:23 give Me, Go ye into all the world, amen. 55:25 And we can do it as long as we trust God, 55:28 amen Go is an action word we have to move 55:32 and as we go forward God will open the door 55:35 as I believe that if we sat around nothing 55:37 will happen. I think the idea came to a number 55:39 of people to build 3ABN, I went to Chicago, 55:43 I went to Indianapolis as I begin to tell the 55:45 story about building a television station to 55:48 reach the world. I had people come up to me 55:50 and they said three years ago, five years 55:52 ago the Lord impressed me that same thing 55:54 exactly but I just didn't do it. 55:57 I thought it was impossible I don't know 55:59 how I could do it, but see the good part 56:01 is God uses the least unlikely people. 56:03 So, that takes away the excuses 56:05 because you and God are a majority, 56:07 alright any one of us and God is majority. 56:10 So, when Jesus says go ye he made it, 56:12 go ye into all the world. 56:13 We just as just recently did the eulogy 56:16 for great friend Mai Chiang, amen. 56:18 Wonderful lady and as I recount her story 56:21 in the encouragement that she would give 56:24 us and how she would go she took it literally 56:26 in her seventies, she said the Lord impressed 56:29 her to go to different countries and give 56:31 the precedence of these countries the 56:33 Ten Commandments. Now, here is the thing 56:36 she didn't have any invitations, 56:37 not one President had invited her to 56:40 come and, and present them what the 56:42 Ten Commandments. 17th countries she 56:45 went to, including countries big as, 56:47 big as India one billion people and 56:49 without fail the presidents all hared 56:52 her and allowed her to come in and give 56:54 them the Ten Commandments 56:55 and let her talk about God. 56:57 Folks we should be encourage today 56:59 we have a lot to be encourage for, amen. 57:01 And I think we would like to close 57:02 as part of our service with a song that 57:04 I think most of us know it says: 57:06 "My Jesus I Love Thee." 57:14 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine; 57:27 To thee all the follies of sin I resign. 57:35 Sing with me. I resign. 57:40 My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou; 57:53 If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. |
Revised 2014-12-17