Participants: Lonnie Melashenko
Series Code: VOPS
Program Code: VOPS000025
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00:32 In different parts of the world,
00:34 scientists using powerful radio telescopes 00:36 are listening for sounds from outer space, 00:39 hoping someday they'll hear a message 00:42 from intelligent beings on some other planet. 00:45 It may come as a surprise, but there's plenty of evidence 00:49 that messages from the farthest reaches of the universe have, 00:52 in fact, been beaming to earth for thousands of years now 00:57 but few are listening. 00:59 It's a message from the Creator of this planet, 01:02 a message of love from God 01:04 trying to win back His rebellious children. 01:09 You see, we humans weren't always aliens, 01:12 you see estranged and separated from God. 01:15 Way back in the beginning before sin, 01:17 Adam and Eve well, they had the unique 01:19 privilege of talking face to face with God, 01:23 strolling along together in the cool of the evening. 01:26 God designed it this way, 01:28 that nothing should keep them apart. 01:31 But sad to say, sin came abruptly ending their privilege 01:36 of this glorious relationship of love and togetherness 01:39 which lasted for only two chapters in the Bible. 01:44 Now, why did conditions change so dramatically? 01:48 Well, simply this. 01:50 When Adam and Eve sinned, they rebelled against God, 01:54 and sin separates. 01:56 So Adam and Eve by their own choice 01:59 could no longer have direct face-to-face communication 02:02 and fellowship with God. 02:05 Now, God loved Adam and Eve. 02:07 And He still wanted to commune with them. 02:10 So now God had a problem. 02:12 Adam and Eve had listened to the serpent 02:15 and obeyed Lucifer instead of God. 02:18 And sin shatters relationships, sin separates us from God. 02:24 Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 59:2, 02:29 "But your iniquities have separated you from your God 02:32 and your sins have hidden His face from you." 02:37 So, what did God do? Did He give up? 02:40 No, friend, hallelujah. 02:42 He devised the Plan of Salvation 02:44 to give us a chance to get connected with God again. 02:47 Oh, yes, sin still separate us from God in this life, 02:52 but it didn't separate us from His love. 02:55 Because love always finds a way of keeping in touch. 03:00 Oh, I told you that Jeannie and I fell in love 03:02 when we were just 17. 03:04 Can you imagine we were seniors 03:05 in high school instead of Maryland. 03:08 She winked at me one day in English class 03:11 and the rest is history. 03:15 But unfortunately after we graduated 03:17 from high school in Maryland 03:19 my family moved across the continent to California. 03:22 And you talk about heartbreak hotel. 03:25 Talk about sad, sad day. We loved each other. 03:30 Back then we didn't have a nickel to our name. 03:32 So we wrote an awful lot of letters, 03:35 every day sometimes. 03:37 And once a month we took turns making telephone calls. 03:41 For three years we kept finding ways to keep in touch. 03:45 One year she hitchhiked to California 03:49 then I hitchhiked to Maryland. 03:51 Because you see, love always 03:53 finds a way of keeping in touch. 03:56 And God did, too, with us. 03:59 The Bible tells us, 04:00 sometimes god spoke through angels to keep in touch. 04:04 David in Psalms says that God reveals Himself in nature. 04:09 In Old Testament times 04:10 God spoke through the High Priest's 04:12 two special stones on the right 04:13 and left side of his breastplate, 04:15 the Urim and Thummim. 04:18 Then occasionally of course, 04:19 we know that He spoke through dreams and visions. 04:23 Sometimes there was a great voice from heaven. 04:26 The New Testament tells us 04:27 God speaks through our conscience 04:29 and also through the Holy Spirit. 04:32 But of course God's clearest communiqué ever was speaking 04:36 through Jesus Christ Himself when He was here in person. 04:40 Once in a while God's spoken through other signs and tokens. 04:45 Like remember when Gideon put out that fleece to see 04:48 whether it would be wet or dry. 04:52 But God has chosen to especially 04:54 convey His will to us 04:56 through some of the most reliable 04:57 and unforgettable personalities 04:59 you and I will ever meet called God's prophets. 05:04 He chose men and women 05:06 He could trust to be His mouthpiece like Moses, 05:11 Miriam, Samuel, Elijah, Huldah, Deborah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, 05:16 prophets and prophetesses, spokespeople for God. 05:22 Prophets and prophetesses 05:23 were not just predictors of the future. 05:25 In fact, Amos 3:7 tells us this. 05:29 It says that the way God keeps in touch, 05:34 the way he does things is through his prophets. 05:37 Isn't that marvellous? 05:38 Says, "Surely the Lord God does nothing, 05:42 unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets." 05:47 Now that process of God speaking to us through people, 05:52 conveying important messages about salvation, 05:55 God calls "the Gift of Prophecy" 05:58 or "the Spirit of Prophecy." 06:01 And I want you to notice 06:02 how these prophets received their messages. 06:04 They didn't go to Oxford University 06:06 or to some seminary 06:08 or Harvard's School of the Prophets. 06:10 No. 2 Peter 1:21 says, 06:14 "For prophecy never came by the will of man, 06:17 but holy men of God spoke 06:19 as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 06:24 The Bible books that they wrote were not merely their opinions. 06:28 Not just their smarts or some wise ideas. 06:31 No, it was "inspired," the bible says. 06:34 Literally that means "God-breathed." 06:38 But you say, well, how did God get through 06:39 without computers or cell phones? 06:42 Ah! 06:43 God said in Numbers 12:6, 06:46 "If there is a prophet among you, 06:49 I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision, 06:53 I speak to him in a dream." 06:57 God sent His messages 06:59 by impressing them with holy thoughts, 07:01 and the Bible is the result. 07:04 This is God's love letter to us saying, Lon, "I love you, 07:08 and I want to keep in touch with you. 07:10 I want to guide you. Help you, teach you. 07:12 Instruct you." 07:14 And all the Bible authors were part of that plan. 07:17 God speaking to us through the prophets. 07:22 But now here's something we tend to forget. 07:25 When Jesus returned to heaven the Bible says 07:28 that God planned to still send prophets to keep in touch. 07:33 Notice Ephesians 4:8, 07:36 "Wherefore He saith, when He ascended up on high, 07:40 He led captivity captive, and He gave gifts unto men." 07:45 I want you to notice what these gifts were in Ephesians 4:11 07:50 "And He gave some, apostles 07:52 and some, prophets and some, evangelists, 07:55 and some, pastors and teachers." 07:59 Why? Why these gifts? 08:02 Verse 12 says, 08:03 "For the perfecting of the saints, 08:05 for the work of the ministry, 08:07 for the edifying of the body of Christ." 08:11 Well, someone says, 08:12 how long are these gifts to remain in the church? 08:14 Notice Ephesians 4:13, 08:17 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, 08:20 and of the knowledge of the Son of God 08:22 unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." 08:27 The gifts strengthen, encourage, 08:30 and give ongoing stability to our Lord's church. 08:34 Ephesians 4:14, "That we henceforth be 08:37 no more children, tossed to and fro, 08:39 and carried about with every wind of doctrine, 08:41 by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, 08:44 whereby they lie and wait to deceive." 08:48 Let me put it this way. 08:50 God's prophets are the eyes of the church. 08:55 What would we do without our eyes? 08:57 Pretty necessary for us to function, right? 09:00 In fact, Paul likened the church 09:03 to the body of Christ. 09:05 Now body has ears, has feet, has a head, hands, and eyes. 09:11 1 Corinthians 12:27, "You are the body of Christ." 09:17 And over in Colossians 1:18 09:20 "And He is the head of the body, the church." 09:26 We see without eyes, while our body and head 09:29 we'd soon lose our way, right? 09:32 Without vision the church would be blind, too, 09:36 that's why we need prophets. 09:38 Another word for prophets is "seers" the Bible says. 09:42 Proverbs 29:18, 09:45 "Where there is no vision, the people perish." 09:50 Now someone says, "Well, maybe that was in Bible times, 09:54 but are we to have modern prophets, Lonnie, visions, too? 09:58 I mean, there's lot of weird stuff out there. 10:00 Jean Dixon. Mohammed. Joseph Smith. Mary Baker Eddy. 10:05 What about all those?" 10:08 Folks, the Bible is crystal clear in Acts 2:17, 18 10:12 that we are to have prophets. 10:15 I want you to notice. 10:17 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, 10:21 that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, 10:24 your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 10:27 your young men shall see visions, 10:29 your old men shall dream dreams. 10:31 And on My menservants and on My maidservants 10:35 I will pour out My Spirit in those days 10:37 and they shall prophesy." 10:40 1 Corinthians 1:6-8 says 10:44 "So that you come short in no gift, 10:47 eagerly waiting for the revelation 10:48 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 10:49 who will also confirm you to the end." 10:53 Friend, do you see God's last day called out people 10:59 will have these gifts including prophecy. 11:02 It's just that simple. 11:04 Oh, but you got to watch out 11:05 because Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15, 11:08 "Beware" Lonnie, "of false prophets, 11:11 who come to you in sheep's clothing, 11:14 but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." 11:17 Jesus said, you got to watch out. 11:19 It might look like this sheep but inside a ravenous wolf. 11:27 Jesus also said in Matthew 24:24, 11:31 "For false christs and false prophets will rise 11:34 and show great signs and wonders to deceive, 11:37 if possible, even the elect." 11:41 Now He doesn't say reject all modern prophets, 11:44 just the false ones. 11:46 In 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21 Paul tells us, 11:51 Lon, "Do not despise prophecies. 11:54 Test all things, hold fast what is good." 11:58 If I would tell you I was holding in my hand here 12:00 a counterfeit $13 bill would anybody out there believe me? 12:04 Of course not. Why? 12:07 Because friend, there's no genuine $13 bill. 12:10 No fool would waste time making a counterfeit 12:13 if there were no genuine. 12:15 Do you see the parallel? 12:16 See, Satan isn't going to waste his time here in the end 12:19 counterfeiting with a lot of false 12:21 prophets in the last days, 12:23 if there isn't a true genuine around. 12:26 When Jesus says, "Right down at the very end of time, 12:29 Lon, watch out for false prophets!" 12:31 He's indicating, "Lonnie, there are true prophets, too. 12:34 Beware of false prophets. 12:36 Yet at the same time, 12:38 believe in God's true gift of prophecy." 12:42 By the way do you know what happened 12:43 to the gift of prophecy 12:45 after Christ ascended to heaven, 12:47 after His apostles and all of the disciples died? 12:52 Well, sad to say, not many generations passed 12:55 until the New Testament church became so careless 12:58 and so unfaithful to God that prophecy basically ceased. 13:03 There was so much heresy, 13:05 so much apostasy the prophetic gift 13:08 became mute for centuries. 13:11 In fact, Jeremiah records what always happens 13:14 whenever God's people apostatize. 13:16 Lamentations 2:9 "The law is no more, 13:22 and her prophets no longer find visions from the Lord." 13:27 Friend, you check it out throughout the Bible. 13:29 Whenever God's people abandoned God's law 13:32 especially the Sabbath, boom, the lights went out. 13:37 The gift of prophecy died out. 13:40 And Proverbs 29:18 says, 13:42 "Where there is no prophetic vision, 13:45 the people perish." 13:49 So in the early centuries of the Christian church, 13:51 when it apostatized and adopted pagan rites and practices, 13:54 and jettisoned fundamental Bible truths, guess what? 13:58 One by one the spiritual gifts dried up. 14:03 During those Dark Ages, 14:04 there were very, very few evangelists, 14:07 few pastors, few teachers. 14:09 Bibles were literally locked up and chained shut. 14:12 Forbidden for anyone to own or read or interpret. 14:16 Just a little handful of true Christians secretly 14:19 holding tenaciously to New Testament Bible truth. 14:23 God's precious little remnant, 14:25 as we've studied despite persecution they hung on. 14:29 And the gift of prophecy was all but extinguished 14:34 until finally after 1,500 years John Wycliffe, Luther, 14:40 and others slowly began turning on the lights again, 14:45 translating the Bible 14:46 into the common languages of the people. 14:48 Secretly distributing them. 14:49 Punished if the authorities found out. 14:52 But persecution only whetted people's appetite 14:55 for more of God's Word. 14:56 And old truths that were obscured 14:59 for centuries began to surface. 15:01 The great religious awakening of the reformation exploded. 15:05 The Renaissance brought light and truth and revival. 15:10 Spiritual power began to spread like fire 15:12 through many, many churches. 15:14 Bible societies were born 15:15 translating the Bible into dozens of languages. 15:18 And guess what happened? 15:21 Evangelists, pastors, teachers, 15:24 the gifts of the spirit began coming back into the church. 15:27 And by the mid-1800s, 15:29 the long-absent gift of prophecy 15:33 was restored to God's people. 15:35 The Spirit of Prophecy 15:36 to a group of dedicated Baptists, Methodists, 15:40 Congregationalists, Presbyterians, 15:42 and others who were earnestly 15:44 searching the Scriptures and praying for light. 15:47 Are these believers by the way were down in South America, 15:50 they were over in England, in Europe, 15:52 and in the New England states of North America. 15:55 As they searched the Bible from cover to cover, 15:57 they discovered something, 15:59 they discovered God's Law was being trampled on. 16:02 God's great memorial of creation, 16:04 the day that God asked His people specially to remember 16:09 and they read the Book of Revelation 16:10 and they saw there 16:11 the description of God's last-day people. 16:13 In Revelation 14:12, which says 16:16 "Here is the patience of the saints 16:18 here are they that keep the commandments of God, 16:21 and the faith of Jesus." 16:24 They were impressed 16:26 that keeping the Commandments of God 16:28 involved keeping the Bible Sabbath. 16:32 Simultaneously, as these sincere Baptist, 16:36 Methodists and Christians of different faiths 16:38 as they courageously recovered 16:40 that missing fundamental reformation Sabbath truth, 16:43 guess what happened? 16:45 The missing spiritual gift, 16:47 the gift of prophecy was also restored. 16:51 You see, God had been waiting. 16:53 Wanting to get back in touch with His last-day people again 16:57 just like He predicted 16:58 He would do back in Joel 2:28, 31. 17:03 And they discovered in Revelation 12:17 17:06 that God's special called out ones from Babylon are those 17:12 "who keep the commandments of God 17:14 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 17:18 Well, what was this "testimony of Jesus?" 17:22 Over the page they read in Revelation 19:10, 17:26 "The testimony of Jesus 17:28 is the spirit of prophecy." 17:34 In other words, in the last days 17:36 we must look for a Bible-based church 17:39 characterized by having the faith of Jesus, 17:42 keeping all the Commandments of God, 17:44 and being blessed by the gift of prophecy. 17:48 Because God still wants to keep in touch. 17:50 He still has something to say to this generation. 17:55 Oh, but you ask, Lonnie, wait a minute. 17:56 "What about the possibility of deception? 17:59 How can we tell the difference between 18:01 a genuine prophet of God and an imposter?" 18:06 You know, throughout history there have been false prophets. 18:09 In fact, that's why the Bible lists detailed qualifications, 18:13 distinct characteristics that identify a true prophet. 18:17 Let's just look at some of these. 18:19 First of all, a true prophet's message 18:22 will be in complete harmony with God's Word and His law. 18:26 Isaiah 8:20, 18:28 "To the law and to the testimony 18:31 if they speak not according to this word, 18:33 it is because there is no Light in them." 18:38 Secondly, a true prophet's predictions come to pass. 18:43 We look at Jeremiah 28:9, 18:46 "When the word of the prophet shall come to pass, 18:50 then shall the prophet be known, 18:52 that the Lord hath truly sent him." 18:55 Third, a true prophet edifies the church. 19:00 Not out there to get rich like some psychics on TV. 19:03 They instruct. They encourage. 19:06 They counsel. They point out sin. 19:08 They are not about trying to go to the tabloid and project 19:11 who movie stars are gonna marry next? 19:13 No. 19:14 1 Corinthians 14:3, 4, says 19:17 "But he that prophesieth 19:19 speaketh unto men to edification, 19:21 and exhortation, and comfort 19:24 but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." 19:28 Fourth "A true prophet always exalts Jesus Christ 19:32 as the Son of God and the Savoir of mankind." 19:35 1 John 4:1, 2 says, 19:38 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, 19:40 but try the spirits, whether they are of God, 19:43 because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 19:46 Every spirit that confesseth 19:48 that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." 19:53 Number five, a true prophet or prophetess 19:57 can be known by his or her life and works. 20:01 Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, 18, 20:05 Lon, "By their fruit you will recognize them. 20:09 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, 20:11 and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." 20:15 Number six, 20:17 a true prophet never disagrees with previous prophets. 20:24 This is an important text, 1 Corinthians 14:32, it's says 20:28 "And the spirits of the prophets 20:32 are subject to the prophets." 20:34 In other words, they never say, well, 20:37 "I've got new light. 20:40 I supersede the Bible." 20:42 And ladies and gentlemen, listen carefully. 20:44 There are some denominations, 20:45 there are major ones out there in our country who claim, 20:48 "We have a prophet, and our prophet has new 20:50 different light from the Bible." 20:53 That's a yellow flag, Paul says. 20:55 Watch out because "The spirits of the prophets 20:58 are subject to the prophets." 21:00 They line up with all these spiritual tests. 21:04 And by the way, while not a biblical test, 21:07 true prophets have often experienced 21:09 some rather unusual physical phenomena, 21:12 especially while in vision. 21:14 Quickly, I want you to just notice five of these. 21:17 The person is in a trance-like state. 21:20 That comes from Acts 10:10. 21:22 The person does not breath while in vision, Daniel 10:17. 21:27 Then the person's natural strength departs. 21:30 They might even faint or pass out, Daniel 10:8. 21:34 Then the person is given brief supernatural strength, 21:38 Daniel 10:18. 21:40 And an unusual phenomenon 21:42 is that the person's eyes remain open 21:45 during the entire time of that vision. 21:46 That's Numbers 24:3, 4, 16. 21:51 So friend, no matter who claims to be a prophet for God, 21:55 you got to apply the biblical tests. 21:58 If they pass, thank God. 22:01 If they don't, 22:02 then you got to follow Christ's warning, be cautious. 22:06 The Voice of Prophecy says clearly, 22:08 that God's last-day remnant, 22:11 they have two identifying marks. 22:15 Question is has that happened? 22:18 Are there a people out there 22:20 who keep all the commandments of God 22:23 and they also have the testimony of Jesus, 22:25 the gift of prophecy? 22:28 I want to tell you an amazing story, 22:31 about a woman born in the 1800's, 22:33 into this confusing world of different religions 22:36 and multi-denominations 22:38 that exploded out of the reformation days 22:40 and I personally believe that God clearly used her 22:45 to establish exactly the kind of church 22:47 we've been talking about. 22:49 It's a very beautiful story how God chose 22:51 to "keep in touch" with His people around 1800 22:55 as Christians began making known to the world truths 22:58 which had lain dormant for centuries, 23:00 including the Sabbath truth which came to these believers 23:04 through our friends the Seventh-day Baptists. 23:08 Now you look back in the history of North America 23:10 it was the time of the great religious awakening 23:13 and in Europe, South America, 23:16 the early 19th Century a time of tremendous interest 23:18 particularly in Bible study and prayer 23:22 and the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. 23:26 But then came along something called 23:28 the "Great Disappointment" of 1844 23:30 that crushed the followers of 23:32 Baptist preacher, William Miller. 23:34 Lutherans. Methodists. 23:35 Congregationalists they all suffered unbearable pain. 23:39 The wonderful great revival in many of these churches 23:42 that "Jesus is Coming again" was in crisis. 23:46 Jesus wasn't coming. He didn't come. 23:49 Now what? 23:50 Would God forsake all these sincere lovers of Jesus 23:54 and seekers for truth? 23:57 Friend, no. He never does. 24:00 He wanted them to know He cared. 24:03 And at this most crucial moment, 24:05 God chose to restore the gift of prophecy to His people 24:10 and surprisingly, He called upon one of His 24:13 young handmaidens her name, Ellen. 24:18 Ellen Harmon received her first vision 24:21 right after that Great Disappointment, 24:24 in December of 1844. 24:27 Now she had been a Methodist. 24:29 But she was shown God's faithful people 24:33 who believed in the advent travelling along 24:36 an elevated pathway to heaven 24:39 with a brilliant light illuminating their way. 24:42 What an encouragement this message was 24:44 to this scattered group of believers, 24:45 who were nicknamed because they believe 24:47 Jesus was coming "Advents" or "Adventists," 24:51 decades later to become known as Seventh-day Adventists. 24:57 But for more than 70 years, she spoke, she wrote, 25:01 she taught, and she counselled for God. 25:05 Her greatest work, as she put 25:07 it was to lead men and women 25:08 to the greater light, the Bible. 25:12 She championed the Scriptures as the final court of appeal 25:15 in all doctrinal questions. 25:17 I'm quoting what she said. 25:19 She said, "Cling to your Bible as it reads, 25:22 stop your criticism in regard to its validity 25:24 and obey the Word, 25:25 and not one of you will be lost." 25:29 You know, God blessed her ministry. 25:31 Few authors ever produced 25:34 as much published religious material 25:36 as Ellen White did in her lifetime, 25:38 100,000 pages that's over 52 books. 25:42 They would stand higher than I'm here. 25:44 Magazine articles, tracts, pamphlets, 25:46 personal letters of counsel, advice, and reproof. 25:50 And by the way she wrote widely on many subjects. 25:54 Doctors and educators are still running 25:56 to catch up with some of her insights. 25:59 Can you imagine she wrote a book on education 26:03 she a person whose formal education ended 26:05 at the age of nine-years-old. 26:08 Yet a professor at Columbia University 26:11 has praised its educational principles. 26:14 And frankly, it is one of the great textbooks 26:16 of all time on education. 26:18 But she wrote on diet, she wrote on health, 26:21 she wrote on medicine, 26:22 she wrote on prenatal care and drugs, 26:24 marriage and the home, children guidance of children, 26:27 families, much, much, more. 26:29 She wrote on astronomy, she wrote on history, 26:31 she wrote on church organization. 26:33 Numerous devotional books all based totally on Scripture 26:38 and explaining it in modern language. 26:42 Incidentally her medical counsel helped found 26:45 Loma Linda University Medical Centre 26:48 and hundreds of hospitals belting our world, 26:51 300 high schools and colleges, 26:53 4,000 secondary and elementary schools. 26:56 In fact, it's the largest 26:57 Protestant school system in the world. 27:00 Seminaries, universities all the result 27:03 of her writings and her influence. 27:05 In fact, she's still quoted by professors, doctors, 27:09 news commentators, even by Paul Harvey News 27:12 and by the late Dr. Clive M. McCay 27:14 from Cornell University has an authority 27:17 in many of these fields. 27:20 Let me just give you an example. 27:22 As far back as 1864, 27:25 Ellen White wrote on medicine making statements 27:29 people laughed at in her day. 27:31 Because she was so far ahead of her time. 27:34 But she wrote "Tobacco is a poison 27:38 of the most deceitful and malignant kind. 27:41 It is all the more dangerous 27:43 because its effects upon the system are so slow 27:46 and scarcely perceivable." 27:49 I want to know, why is this remarkable? 27:51 Because doctors in her day were prescribing smoking. 27:56 Medical science believed tobacco and cigar smoke cured 28:01 certain kinds of lung and repertory disease. 28:05 But she shared more. 28:07 You know, Mrs. White never heard of a "virus" 28:10 not in her day but in 1905 28:13 she wrote that there were cancerous germs. 28:18 "Fatal diseases can be thus communicated" 28:21 she wrote in the Ministry of Healing. 28:23 Ninety-three years later, 28:26 Newsweek Magazine carried a headline story, 28:29 "Viruses are Activating Factors in Cancer." 28:33 Way back in 1902, Ellen White warned 28:36 San Francisco and Oakland they'd be visited by the Lord 28:39 because they were becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah. 28:42 On April 18, you know as well as I do, 1906 at 5:12 a.m., 28:48 the great San Francisco earthquake occurred. 28:51 Her prophecy was true. 28:53 The predicted judgment did take place. 28:57 Well, you say who is Ellen White? 28:59 Who was she? What was she like? 29:02 Well, the answer takes us back to November 26, 1827, 29:07 during the presidency of John Quincy Adams. 29:10 When twin girls, Elizabeth and Ellen 29:14 were born to a Methodist family near Gorham, Maine. 29:19 Ellen was the last of eight 29:20 children born to Eunice and Robert Harmon. 29:23 She was just a normal happy, 29:24 healthy little girl until the age of nine. 29:28 But one day, an accident changed her life forever. 29:32 Ellen and her sister were trying 29:34 to run away from an older girl, 29:35 a classmate, who was chasing them. 29:38 And as they ran, Ellen turned to see how close the girl was 29:43 and just then the girl threw a rock, 29:45 struck her right on the bridge of the nose 29:48 and seriously injured her. 29:50 For three weeks she lay unconscious. 29:52 In fact, doctors didn't give her much hope to live. 29:55 Ellen, never went back to school again. 29:58 Doctors said she had TB and would only live six months. 30:03 But little Ellen she struggled on. 30:06 Since she could no longer attend school, 30:08 she became an avid student of the Bible 30:10 and started attending religious meetings 30:11 and revivals and was converted 30:13 at a Methodist camp meeting in Buxton, Maine. 30:16 Later, on June 26, 1842, 30:19 she was baptized in the Atlantic Ocean 30:22 at Portland, Maine. 30:24 Well, she and her family attended 30:25 meetings in Portland, Maine, 30:27 conducted by a Baptist lay minister 30:28 by the name of William Miller, who was a former army captain. 30:33 He was preaching on the prophecies 30:34 of Daniel and Revelation. 30:36 And the Harmon family they were absolutely 30:38 convinced of the truthfulness of Miller's messages. 30:42 But then after the great disappointment 30:44 of October 22, 1844, 30:47 they too including Ellen were devastated 30:51 Jesus hadn't come. 30:53 Ellen was only 17. 30:55 She wept, she said, she prayed, 30:57 she studied God's Word for an answer, 30:59 as did thousands of the advent believers 31:01 all across New England. 31:03 What should they do, 31:04 should they give up their faith? 31:06 What do they do? 31:08 That was when God called upon young Ellen Harmon 31:13 to be His prophetess. 31:15 "Me, she said? Me, lord, me a prophet? 31:18 I'm 17-year-old girl, I'm fighting tuberculosis, 31:21 I've got a heart condition? 31:22 Me help all of these thousands of people?" 31:26 And in December of 1844, in her own words, 31:28 she tells of her reaction, when God spoke to her. 31:31 She said, "After I had the vision, 31:34 God gave me light, 31:37 He bade me deliver it but I shrank from it. 31:40 I was young, and I thought 31:42 they would not receive it from me." 31:44 Lord, I'm too weak. I can't do it. 31:47 I don't have an education. 31:49 But the Lord told her, "Ellen, I will strengthen you." 31:54 So, humbly she promised, 31:57 "Lord, if you can use me, help yourself!" 32:00 And so it was that God called young Ellen Harmon 32:04 to be His messenger to His remnant people. 32:08 And I'll tell you, the Lord did strengthen her. 32:11 On August 30, 1846, 32:13 Ellen married James White, a young preacher. 32:16 Four boys were born to Ellen and James 32:18 their names were Henry, Edson, William, and Herbert. 32:22 Ellen Gould White lived not only six months, 32:26 but she lived to the age of 87. 32:29 Seven decades longer than doctors predicted. 32:33 And she died near St. Helena, California July 16, 1915. 32:38 For 70 years of faithful ministry 32:40 God used her to help the world re-discover Bible truth, 32:46 guiding, instructing, counselling, writing. 32:50 A few weeks after her death, 32:52 a New York newspaper carried this statement. 32:55 "She showed no spiritual pride and she sought no filthy lucre. 33:01 She lived the life and did the work 33:02 of a worthy prophetess, 33:04 the most admirable of the American succession." 33:10 Yes, her voice is now stilled and her pen is at rest. 33:16 She's sleeping, waiting for the resurrection. 33:21 But because of her exemplary life 33:22 and the marvellous unfailing guidance 33:25 that both she and her writings have been to the church, 33:27 Seventh-day Adventists believe the gift of prophecy 33:30 was manifested in the life 33:32 and work of Mrs. Ellen G. White. 33:35 No, she wasn't perfect. 33:37 She never originated any new doctrine of the church. 33:40 In fact, she never called herself a prophet. 33:42 She said, "I'm a messenger." 33:46 We don't accept her writings in place of the Bible, 33:49 or even as a part of the bible, or as an addition to it. 33:53 We accept her for what she claimed to be 33:56 a manifestation of the "gift of prophecy" 33:59 promised God's church in these last days 34:02 as specified in Revelation 12:17. 34:06 Not to take the place of Scripture. 34:08 Never. 34:10 Her writings only magnify the Scriptures, 34:15 help make them more plain. 34:17 Her writings are God's magnifying glass. 34:22 That's what a prophet's supposed to do, 34:24 magnify and support the Scriptures. 34:27 A magnifying glass, does it change the writing on a page? 34:32 No. 34:33 Only helps to see the print more clearly, doesn't it. 34:37 And over and over again that's what she said she was. 34:39 She says, "My writings aren't to give new light, 34:42 but to impress vividly upon the heart 34:45 the truths of inspiration already revealed." 34:50 In fact, at the close of one of her last 34:52 large public meetings, 34:53 a large meeting as she turned to sit down 34:55 after she spoke at the podium she turned around 34:58 and she walked back up to the pulpit 35:00 and picking up the Bible, 35:02 she pressed that Bible close to her 35:05 and then she held it outstretched on her hands 35:07 and she said, "Brothers and sisters, 35:09 I commend to you this Book." 35:12 Not my writings. This Book. 35:16 That's just the kind of woman she was. 35:19 Ellen died in 1915, 35:22 yet if you go out to the internet 35:23 and you do a little word search for Ellen G. White, 35:26 you'll quickly discover that she is one of today's most 35:29 "tested" prophets, criticized too by many. 35:32 She's been attacked umpteen times. 35:35 But I want you to go to this website for another view, 35:37 www.whiteestate.org. 35:43 I encourage you to visit the EGW Estate website 35:46 to learn more about her life, writings, 35:48 and to research any questions 35:50 you may have regarding her ministry. 35:53 Her legacy, you see, 35:55 is a message to earth from across the universe, 36:00 from a God of love who still wants 36:02 to keep in touch with His children 36:04 just before Jesus comes. 36:06 And God promised He'd do that in 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 36:11 Paul says, "I thank my God always concerning you 36:14 for the grace of God 36:15 which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 36:17 that you were enriched in everything by Him 36:20 in all utterance and all knowledge, 36:21 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 36:25 so that you come short in no gift, 36:28 eagerly waiting for the revelation 36:30 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 36:31 who will also confirm you to the end, 36:34 that you may be blameless in the day 36:36 of our Lord Jesus Christ." 36:39 God says to us today in 2 Chronicles 20:20, 36:42 Lon, "Believe in the Lord your God, 36:45 and you shall be established, believe His prophets, 36:49 and you shall prosper." 36:52 Isn't that encouraging? He has given us guidance. 36:55 He has given us hope for today. 36:58 And He has given us prophetic guidance for tomorrow, 37:01 just as He has all through time. 37:04 Through the Voice of Prophecy, 37:06 I simply want you ladies and gentlemen, 37:09 I want to invite you to examine some of these books. 37:12 Read a couple of them. Test them. 37:15 Every one is written simply, clearly. 37:18 Take this little book "Steps to Christ" 37:21 or the "Desire of Ages." 37:23 Take them home, your downlink location 37:25 is making this one available particularly giving it away 37:28 so that you can take a look at these possibilities these books 37:32 and how they can enrich your life. 37:34 You know, "Steps to Christ" 37:35 is one of my favorite devotionals of all time. 37:38 I've worked it so badly it torn to pieces. 37:41 This book has been published in more languages 37:43 than any other religious book except the Bible. 37:47 If you enjoy the preaching of my messages 37:49 from night to night, friends, 37:51 it's because of the wonderful impact 37:53 that these books have made on me personally. 37:56 They have helped me fall in love with Jesus 37:58 and get back to the Word of God and study Bible prophecy. 38:01 And Hosea 12:10, 13 says, 38:04 "I have so spoken by the prophets, 38:06 and have multiplied visions, 38:07 I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets 38:11 by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, 38:14 and by a prophet he was preserved." 38:19 It's a very precious gift, friend, the Spirit of Prophecy. 38:25 Will you consider these messages from beyond the stars? 38:28 Good news, comforting news 38:30 that God still speaks through His prophets. 38:34 And I promise you, the time of trouble 38:36 and the seven last plagues are not to be feared, 38:38 not when you've got God on your side. 38:41 That's why this could be the most 38:43 important commitment of your life. 38:46 Listen as Joey and Phil sing. 38:55 The eyes of God 38:59 Are upon me 39:04 He sees everything 39:08 That I dream 39:13 The arms of God 39:17 Are around me 39:21 He keeps me 39:24 Safe and secure 39:31 And He knows where I am 39:36 Every hour of everyday 39:41 He knows each thought I think 39:45 He knows each word that I might say 39:50 And although there are times 39:55 I stepped out of His will 40:01 I've never been 40:04 Out of His care 40:10 I've never been 40:14 Out of His care 40:26 Let us pray. 40:27 Heavenly Father, 40:29 Lord, we found something very precious tonight. 40:33 Make find a place in our lives 40:34 and help us to keep our feet on the path of truth 40:38 and our eyes fixed on heaven, especially Jesus. 40:43 Thank You for Your continued revelations 40:45 throughout all times 40:47 and for the promise of your presence in the day ahead. 40:50 We pray in Jesus name. 40:53 Right now I would like to have you take your commitment cards. 40:58 Turn to them, right now 40:59 the row captains will be passing down to you 41:01 and like to have you respond a couple of decision, 41:05 though questions. 41:06 First of all I think everyone could check this. 41:09 I believe God still speaks through His prophets. 41:14 Just check that if you believe 41:15 God does speak through His prophets. 41:18 Number two, by God's grace 41:21 I commit my life to Jesus Christ, 41:23 repent of my sins, and accept His gift of eternal life. 41:28 I hope there will be many that will chose to check number two. 41:31 And number three, I desire to be re-baptized. 41:37 Take your commitment as Joey and Phil sing again. 41:45 This changing world 41:50 Alarms me 41:54 With war, with sin 41:58 And with strife 42:02 But my loving Father 42:07 He charms me 42:11 With joy 42:13 With peace and with life 42:20 And He knows where I am 42:26 Every hour of everyday 42:30 He knows each thought I think 42:34 He knows each word that I might say 42:39 And although there are times 42:44 I stepped out of His will 42:50 I've never been 42:53 Out of His care 42:59 I've never been 43:02 Out of His care 43:13 Amen. 43:14 I want you to make sure that you place 43:16 your response card in the containers. 43:18 The row captains will receive those now. 43:20 Be sure that they have them before you leave. 43:24 We have a very special Discover Guide 43:26 that I want you to be sure that you get. 43:28 "The Secret of Growth through Fellowship." 43:31 It's available at your downlink sites. 43:33 Make sure that you enroll in our Discover Bible School. 43:36 If you've just joined recently 43:37 it isn't too late to get all of the lessons 43:39 and graduate with the certificate, 43:41 a diploma which I will sign. 43:44 Remember our next Wednesday topic 43:48 an incredible partnership guarantee called 43:52 "An Investment You Can't Lose" be sure you join us. 43:56 Want you to invite a friend. 43:57 Until then as we close our broadcast 44:00 every week on the "Voice of Prophecy" 44:01 remember, friend, God really does love you. |
Revised 2015-04-09