Participants:
Series Code: WHO
Program Code: WHO200019S
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00:26 Hello and a great big welcome to each and every one of you.
00:28 Thank you for joining us, 3ABN Worship Hour. 00:31 And that's exactly 00:32 what we're talking about worship. 00:34 We're going to spend some time in the Word of God. 00:36 We're going to be worshipping Him. 00:37 We pray in spirit and in truth. 00:40 Thank you again for joining us. 00:41 I know you have a lot of other choices 00:43 that you could make, 00:44 but you decided by the grace of God 00:46 to join us today. 00:47 And we're very grateful and thankful for that. 00:49 We're going to be talking about subject 00:51 I believe that you 00:52 you're going to be interested in, 00:54 "Who is Suppressing the Truth." 00:56 You know, who's covering up the truth, 00:58 or is anybody covering up the truth 00:59 or what is truth? 01:01 These are some of the things 01:02 that we're going to be looking at today 01:03 in a very close way. 01:05 In fact, we're going to be looking at some, 01:06 we're going to name some of the subjects. 01:08 And we're going to talk about some of the subjects, 01:10 I believe is being covered up 01:12 and not brought forward to the people of God 01:13 to prepare us for His soon coming. 01:15 So I hope you stay tuned with us. 01:17 First of all, we're going to have prayer. 01:19 Again I invite you where you can 01:21 that you kneel with me but if you cannot, 01:23 you may be in a car listening, 01:24 you may be watching where you cannot, it's okay. 01:26 Just let's pray together, shall we? 01:31 Kind loving Heavenly Father, 01:32 we again thank You for the privilege of prayer. 01:34 We thank You that we can call You 01:35 our Father. 01:36 We just now invite thy Holy Spirit 01:38 in a very special way. 01:39 Oh, Lord, how we need Your Spirit. 01:41 We can't do anything without You. 01:42 We ask that You would now come into the hearts and minds 01:45 of every individual. 01:46 May their mind, ears, heart be open, 01:48 may they receive that which You have in store 01:50 for us today. 01:52 Not man's words but Your words, again, 01:54 may we stand behind the cross of Calvary. 01:56 May Jesus be seen, may He be felt, 01:58 may He be heard, may He be obeyed today. 02:00 Lord, I pray that You forgive me 02:02 of anything in my heart and life 02:03 that needs not be there. 02:04 I need to hear from heaven. 02:06 Your people need to hear Your voice 02:07 and I thank You in Jesus' name, amen. 02:11 Hope you have your Bible. 02:12 I know what you do, because you know, 02:14 when we study the Word, I always mention this, 02:15 have your Bible, have pencil and paper, 02:17 jot these things down 02:19 because you need to study 02:20 to show yourself approved just like I do. 02:22 And sometimes we go rather quickly. 02:24 And we don't mean to but you know, the gospel, 02:26 the good news is, is so good. 02:28 And sometimes we just really run on with it 02:30 and jot them down. 02:31 You can go back and study later. 02:32 Remember, again, we're talking about 02:34 who is suppressing the truth. 02:36 Is anybody? 02:37 Well, let's start with this. 02:39 If you don't mind, 02:40 you know, we hear a lot about revivals and reformation. 02:42 I hear a lot about it, 02:43 I've heard it ever since I've been in the church. 02:45 You know, people will say, 02:46 "Oh, the church is a little bit dead now. 02:48 So it's time we need to have a revival. 02:50 We need to have a reformation. 02:51 We need to have some changes." 02:53 Nothing wrong with that, 02:54 but when somebody talks about a revival, I like it, 02:56 it simply means to be what? 02:58 It means to be revived. 03:00 So there's something maybe that is wrong. 03:02 not always necessarily. 03:03 It's always good because the church needs it 03:05 every once in a while, 03:06 we need to be plugged in, 03:07 you know, to the Word of God, 03:09 we need to be on fire. 03:10 But sometime the church is dying 03:11 and they need a revival and reformation. 03:14 I come back with a question many times is, 03:17 what does it take to have a real revival? 03:20 What does it really take to have a good reformation 03:23 in our lives? 03:24 I know that a revival is what is needed. 03:28 I don't know a whole lot, 03:30 but I know that a real true revival 03:32 is our greatest need here in the church 03:35 and in our individual life, you know. 03:38 Now I'm not talking about just an ordinary revival, 03:40 I'm talking about one of true godliness. 03:43 I'm talking about one 03:44 where even certain teachings are brought out 03:48 that many times are not brought out, 03:50 they're not talked upon, they're not, 03:52 you know, they're not discussed 03:54 because people have problems with them. 03:57 But subject that need to be 03:58 and I think we're going to try it, 04:00 if we have time we're going to bring 04:01 some of those out today by the way, 04:03 we're going to do that because I think it's right. 04:04 Revival, it's just a real solid word 04:07 that we know. 04:08 Think about this. 04:09 I have prayed and thought about it for years. 04:12 I would love to see our church. 04:13 The churches, 04:15 wouldn't say Adventist Church here. 04:16 I'd like to see a real revival where everyone is revived. 04:21 Everyone's going to be saved in the kingdom. 04:25 Huh! 04:26 Will the whole church ever be revived? 04:29 And I see lot of people want to skirt this 04:31 and cover it up and suppress it 04:33 just a little bit because they say, 04:35 well, we shouldn't talk about that, 04:36 but I think we should. 04:37 Will we ever see a time 04:39 when the whole church is revived? 04:41 Will we ever see that? 04:42 I'm going to say no. 04:44 Oh, how I want it to be that way. 04:46 But let me just give you a few reasons 04:48 why I think maybe that will never be 04:49 and you can throw them out if you want to, 04:51 but at least think along with me on this. 04:53 Because when you have a revival and you call for revival, 04:56 and people say okay, 04:58 well let's have revival here in the church. 05:00 First of all, all people need to be, 05:02 everyone coming to the church needs to be together on it. 05:06 That means we need to say 05:07 yes, we want it and we're going to pray, 05:08 and we're going to work, and we're going to do it. 05:10 So it's very... 05:11 Listen, if everybody's not forward, 05:13 it will be bombed, did you get it? 05:16 It's going to be, it's going to be, 05:18 it's going to be doomed to fail. 05:20 Number two reason is a work must be made first 05:23 to clear the rubbish, 05:26 the garbage of sin out of our lives. 05:30 And this simply do this. 05:31 Now when the rubbish and the sin is moved out, 05:34 then you have made a place for Jesus to come in 05:38 and to reside with us. 05:40 Now we need that for the revival, do we not? 05:42 Number three, 05:44 we must be willing to give our all 05:47 for the salvation of souls. 05:49 Now think about it. 05:50 We must be willing to give all, 05:51 so if you're just half-hearted in revival, 05:53 it's not going to work, 05:55 it's not going to be sufficient. 05:57 You know, now think about it. 05:58 Isn't that what our duty is, 05:59 our duty to God and our duty to our fellow man? 06:03 But you know what? 06:04 Most people don't want to be disturbed. 06:07 I've heard it said many times, 06:08 we're going to have a two-week revival. 06:10 We're going to have a three-week revival. 06:11 And you hear people moaning and groaning in the pews, 06:14 saying, well, I can't give two weeks every night 06:17 for two weeks or every night for three weeks. 06:21 That's why it will never be successful 06:22 until we're willing to do 06:24 what it takes for the salvation of soul. 06:26 Number four, many people I've heard, say, 06:29 when it comes to bringing other people in, 06:31 they'll say, "Well, you know, that's an awful lot of trouble. 06:32 I don't know. 06:34 We'd like to keep things just like they are." 06:36 We'll talk about maybe things suppressed, 06:38 maybe things that are covered. 06:40 You know, as all people say, 06:42 "Oh, well, you know, it's my church. 06:44 I want to keep it a certain way. 06:45 They're my friends or they're my circle. 06:48 We are okay where we're at." 06:50 And some people say in the church, 06:51 "Well, we have our little clique 06:53 and we just want to keep it that way." 06:54 Hey, forget the cliques. 06:56 We need to be reaching out as it were for others 06:58 to come into this message before it's too late. 07:01 Number five, 07:03 we must approach true godliness and a reformation or reform. 07:07 Notice this, 07:08 to a point that we're much more 07:10 than a spectator. 07:12 If you're just going to be a spectator 07:14 remember that's why we'll never see 07:15 the whole church reform, 07:17 we'll never see it will change, 07:18 because we have to be more than spectators. 07:20 We have to be more than, 07:21 well, I can't come but I can give. 07:22 Nice to have the givers, praise God for that. 07:25 But nothing will take your place. 07:27 We've got to be involved. 07:29 This we know, this I know and we know for sure 07:32 we need right now a spirit filled movement 07:36 of primitive godliness like we have never seen, 07:39 like they, 07:40 it's not been witnessed since apostolic times, 07:42 don't you believe that? 07:44 This is what we really need. 07:45 Oh, well, we talk about, 07:46 we talk about, we talk about it, 07:48 but has it happened? 07:49 Are we really there? 07:51 We need a revival through power of godliness. 07:55 But you know if we look now right now, 07:56 I'm going to make the statement here 07:58 and you can disagree if you'd like to, 07:59 but you know, the power of godliness has almost, 08:02 almost completely is departed from many churches. 08:08 But you know what I'm saying to you today? 08:09 I want it back 08:11 and you want it back, don't you? 08:12 We want it back. 08:14 I don't want the spirit and the power of God 08:15 to be departed from our churches. 08:17 What kind of a church we have 08:18 without the Spirit of the Living God? 08:21 Let me ask you a question now. 08:22 Have you ever invited a friend to church? 08:25 Have you ever invited a friend to church? 08:27 You say, "Oh, yeah, 08:28 I've invited an awful lot of people to church. 08:30 Yeah, I had that." 08:31 Well, interesting, you know, you invite a friend, 08:35 and they came the week that you were gone. 08:39 I wonder if that's ever happened to you. 08:42 But later they came in service, 08:44 but later they wrote you a little letter. 08:47 We're going to go over that in just here in a few seconds. 08:49 It's going to take, 08:51 it's going to take a little bit of time, 08:52 but I think there's some principles here 08:53 that we need to really look at. 08:55 So later on after they visit the church, 08:56 you weren't there for whatever reason. 09:00 They want to tell you about their visit and how they, 09:03 you know, how they liked it or they disliked the service. 09:09 Now, remember that we think about this 09:11 in our mind all the time. 09:13 It cannot be overstated how important it is 09:16 for us every day of our life 09:18 to hold up the standards of God's Word. 09:22 It's life and death issues. 09:25 Think how important that is. 09:27 Now remember, you invited somebody to church, 09:28 they came to church, you weren't there. 09:30 They went through all the services 09:31 by themselves. 09:33 How did the rest of the church treat these people? 09:35 Was it something 09:36 that maybe they have ever written you a letter 09:38 or this letter was written right here one? 09:40 So we have one such person. 09:42 We wrote one such letter to one such friend. 09:46 Notice what it said, it started out this way. 09:49 "I attended your church yesterday. 09:53 Although because you invited me, 09:56 but you only invited me one time 09:57 but I felt that you were sincere 10:00 in wanting me to come. 10:03 I came alone. 10:05 I look for you. 10:07 I wanted to sit by you, but you were not there. 10:13 As a stranger 10:14 coming into the church for the first time, 10:17 I thought I just kind of come in the back door 10:19 and sit close to the back of the church. 10:22 But I couldn't sit in the back of the church 10:25 because the rows were all filled. 10:28 And so as a stranger there, 10:29 it made me feel a little bit strange here. 10:31 The usher had to lead me all the way to the front. 10:37 I was kind of embarrassed and I felt kind of strange. 10:42 I even kind of felt like 10:43 they were parading me down there 10:45 so everybody could see that I was a visitor there. 10:49 And then we sat down and pretty soon they say, 10:51 let's turn to such and such song. 10:53 And so we had a song service, 10:54 the congregation began to sing the song, 10:56 but I didn't know one of them. 11:00 And so I didn't want to appear strange. 11:02 And so I began to hum a little. 11:04 I've done that myself, begin to hum a little bit. 11:07 Then I begin to kind of mumble as it were some words along 11:12 and finally I just began to pretend 11:15 like I was singing. 11:17 Why? 11:18 Because I never heard the hymns before. 11:22 And I must confess, 11:23 I was very surprised 11:26 to note that some of the people 11:29 of the church weren't singing. 11:34 Some of the people in the church were not singing 11:37 and so between their size 11:40 and between their yawns and their moans, 11:43 and they just kind of like stared into space. 11:46 I didn't quite understand it. 11:50 And three of the kids that I had respected on campus 11:54 were whispering to one another. 11:58 What could they be talking about in the house of God? 12:02 And I looked, 12:03 another one of my friend was over 12:05 and she was kind of giggling and laughing. 12:10 I just really didn't get it. 12:12 I didn't expect that, not in your church. 12:18 Pastor's sermon, well, was good. 12:21 It was interesting. 12:23 And, you know, but I thought I looked around at the choir 12:27 behind the pastor, 12:28 and the choir didn't seem to think so. 12:33 They look bored, they look restless. 12:36 And somebody in the choir just kept smiling 12:39 at someone else there in the congregation. 12:44 I like the message, 12:45 the pastor spoke about the reality of faith. 12:49 And the message got to me. 12:53 It began to work on my heart. 12:56 And I made up my mind right then and there. 12:58 I need to speak to someone about this after the service. 13:03 But after the service, oh, look what happened, 13:06 there was utter chaos. 13:10 As soon as the closing prayer was said, 13:12 people begin to mull around, 13:14 they begin to talk, they begin to joke, 13:15 they begin to have fun in the sanctuary 13:17 and there was no one for me to talk to. 13:22 And I asked myself the question, 13:24 what has happened to reverence in the sanctuary, 13:28 in the church? 13:29 Where's reverence? What's going on here? 13:34 I even said, good morning 13:36 since very few ever said anything to me at all. 13:38 I said good morning to one couple, 13:40 but they greeted me 13:42 with somewhat cold and indifferent. 13:46 I look for some teens with whom I could discuss, 13:50 notice this, 13:52 I could discuss the sermon with, 13:55 but when I look for them and want to talk with them, 13:57 they were over in the corner, 13:59 talking about the newest fashions 14:01 and the latest music 14:03 and what are we going to have for lunch? 14:09 I would just say my parents didn't go to church, 14:12 they've never went to church. 14:15 That's why I came alone. 14:17 But I was hoping to find a friendly congregation 14:21 in which they would feel not so out of place 14:24 that they would feel comfortable. 14:28 But as I left, but as I left, 14:31 I wasn't too impressed with the sign 14:34 outside the church door, 14:36 which read the friendly church 14:41 with the warm welcome. 14:45 But I'm sorry, she wrote, I won't be back. 14:50 You know, that's pretty heavy duty 14:51 if you just really think about this letter. 14:54 I'm sorry, but I just won't be back 14:58 because we maybe didn't handle ourselves 15:00 the way we should have as Christians. 15:03 We weren't focused in on the Word of God 15:05 like we should have been. 15:07 We did not set the right example. 15:10 And there may be a soul that's lost for eternity. 15:14 You might say, and if you do so, say so what? 15:16 Oh, shame. 15:19 There's accountability. 15:22 One man said this, "I fear God. 15:28 And next to God, I chiefly fear him," 15:32 notice this, "who fears him not." 15:37 Did you get that? 15:38 I fear God and next to God, 15:40 I chiefly fear him who fears Him not. 15:44 John Wesley said this and I believe it 15:46 and I think we need a little this 15:47 in our own church, in our own home 15:48 and in our own life. 15:50 He said, "Give me 100 men," you remember ever reading it. 15:52 Give me 100 men who fear nothing but sin 15:59 and you desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world." 16:03 We know the Holy Spirit will do 16:05 the shaking of the world. 16:06 But notice this, 16:07 a full commitment is what is needed, 16:09 we know that. 16:10 Who is suppressing the truth? 16:12 As I mentioned before, we long to see reformed, 16:15 we know that, we want a change, 16:17 we want a change in our life, we want a change in our church. 16:19 See, I think about it, 16:21 I think about a change every day of my life. 16:23 Not well, things are going good right now 16:25 and then your relationship with God 16:26 seems to be good and so on right now, 16:28 though, it can be better. 16:29 It could be a whole lot better. 16:31 We're not there yet. 16:33 There's a road to travel yet that you've not been down 16:35 that I've not been down 16:37 and we're going to need extra help. 16:40 But if we really desire to see some changes take place 16:44 and some reforms and others, 16:47 we our self then must practice 16:49 those same principles instead of pointing and say, 16:52 they need it. 16:53 How about looking in the mirror and say, we need it. 16:58 You know, some people, they could say a word 17:01 and it's like it's polished. 17:03 You know, I just say words they just come out, 17:06 but somebody can polish the words 17:07 but now I'm not saying that's bad, 17:09 but a polished word will not have any power, 17:13 if they're not lived out in our life. 17:15 Polish them all you want, 17:16 unless they're lived out they'll have no power. 17:19 Bible said, 1 Timothy 4:16. 17:21 1 Timothy 4:16. 17:23 The Bible says here, notice, "Take heed to thyself, 17:28 and to the doctrine." 17:30 Do what? 17:31 Take heed unto thyself. 17:32 Notice that means kind of mind your business, 17:35 can I say it like that? 17:36 Take heed to yourself, do some self-examination here. 17:39 This is what it's all about. 17:42 Examine self, 17:43 set a good example here with yourself and then you, 17:46 you focus in on the doctrine 17:48 or the teachings of the Word of God. 17:53 So we cannot, 17:54 we just cannot excuse sins or faults in ourselves 18:00 and try to reprove others. 18:03 You see it done all the time, 18:04 it's not the right way to go about as you will know. 18:07 God is quiet, 18:08 God's given us great light on many subjects. 18:10 So we are now more responsible than, 18:13 you know, to Him now than may be other people are. 18:16 I say that but lot of time people say, 18:18 "Well, they've got a good brain, 18:19 they memorize so many of these things." 18:20 I say, "Well how wonderful that is, 18:22 but they're more responsible to God," 18:23 aren't they? 18:25 Along with that brain power comes responsible, 18:27 right, responsibility. 18:30 And if we didn't neglect this life that God gives us, 18:34 and we refuse to give it to others, 18:37 there are consequences, my, heavy duty consequences. 18:41 Luke 12:48. 18:43 Luke 12:48, 18:45 now you jot them down if you have to, whatever. 18:46 Luke 12:48, says this, 18:49 and the Bible backs this up what we just said, 18:51 "But he that knew not, 18:53 and did not commit things worthy of stripes, 18:56 shall be beaten," 18:57 notice this, "with few stripes. 18:59 For unto whomsoever much is given, 19:02 of him shall be much required." 19:06 My, that makes such good sense, doesn't it? 19:08 And the Bible talks about what, 19:09 you know to him that knoweth to do good 19:11 and do it not, 19:12 to certainly to him it is sin. 19:14 Here we see that a person will be beaten 19:17 or much will be required with many stripes 19:20 if he neglects to do the will of his master. 19:25 Remember we're looking at who is suppressing 19:28 or who is covering up or you know, 19:30 maybe not presenting what we should 19:32 the truths for today. 19:34 We're talking about maybe present truth. 19:38 Now I want you to keep this quote in mind 19:40 as we go over here in just a moment here 19:41 because 19:43 you don't want to suppress truth in any form or fashion. 19:46 Even though most people would, 19:48 I'm gonna say many don't want to really hear it. 19:51 I love this book, Desire of Ages, page 441. 19:54 Desire of Ages, 441 gives us quote, 19:57 it says notice this, 19:58 "For the evils that we might have checked, " 20:02 you've read it before, 20:03 "we are just as responsible 20:05 as if we were guilty of the what? 20:08 Of the acts ourselves for the evils we what? 20:11 For the evils we might have checked. 20:14 You know, a lot of times we see things that are going on 20:16 maybe it's in the church where it might be and we sit, 20:18 but we don't want to deal with it. 20:19 We don't want to take sides. 20:21 We don't want to do anything here. 20:22 Notice if you had, 20:23 if you could have checked it 20:25 by the power of the Holy Spirit, 20:26 and we did not do it we become responsible, 20:29 guilty of that very act. 20:31 Think how many acts possibly, 20:33 or maybe evils that you could have helped 20:35 to prevent that you didn't do 20:37 that's registered beside your name. 20:41 That's heavy duty when you think about it. 20:44 I thought myself, 20:45 I don't need anybody else's sins 20:47 against my name. 20:49 I'm battling for eternal life. 20:50 How about you? 20:52 We're fighting the good fight of faith. 20:54 See, God's called His people out of darkness, 20:56 we've said many, many times into what? 20:58 Good, into marvelous light for a reason. 21:01 You're God's special people, you are His chosen generation. 21:06 Now why? 21:08 Because you have the law, God's given us the law of God. 21:10 He's written it in our hearts, 21:12 and He's written it in our minds. 21:13 And it makes each one of us His representative 21:17 upon this earth. 21:19 Therefore, think with me minute, 21:20 any sin that separates us or separate them, 21:24 whoever it might be from God, 21:26 in a manner dishonors His name. 21:28 None of us want to dishonor the name of God, do we? 21:32 We must be very careful here. Notice why? 21:34 What happens here 21:35 when we dishonor the name of God? 21:37 We call ourselves a Christian, we're in the church, 21:38 we're in good standing, 21:40 and we're out fiddling around doing this and doing that. 21:41 You know, what happens 21:43 when other people see this going on? 21:45 It gives the enemies of Christ an occasion to bring a, 21:50 notice this, a reproach against God. 21:53 And we don't want to do that. 21:55 Now let's answer at least the first part. 21:57 Maybe we'll get into the second part 21:59 of a question we're going to ask here, 22:01 who is suppressing the truth, the first part. 22:04 Second part would be, 22:05 what truth or what truths are being suppressed? 22:08 Or are there any, are there any, some people say, 22:11 "No, no, we hear all we need to hear." 22:15 I love Prophets and Kings, 22:16 it's a beautiful book, page 141. 22:19 I want you to read this with me, 22:20 this is very, very important 22:22 that we grasp what's being said here. 22:24 The Lord's messengers should not complain 22:28 that their efforts are without fruit until," 22:31 notice this, 22:32 "until they repent of their own love 22:35 of approbation, " 22:37 or what is that as approval 22:39 "and their desire to please men, 22:42 which leads them to," notice this, sermon title, 22:45 "to suppress the truth." 22:47 Now notice who is it talking about here? 22:48 The Lord's messenger, 22:50 if you feel like 22:51 maybe you're the Lord's messenger, 22:52 and I'm the Lord's messenger, 22:54 whoever might be here, 22:55 notice this, we shouldn't complain at all. 22:57 There's no fruit until we repent 23:00 of our love of approbation, 23:01 that means what? 23:03 We're listening to other people, 23:04 we don't want to hurt their feelings. 23:06 We don't want to, you know, say anything 23:07 that might get them to get all upset with us 23:09 and write somebody 23:10 or we might lose our job over it, 23:12 because we want to please men rather than to please God. 23:16 And this causes them to suppress the truth. 23:20 Oh, how sad. 23:22 We'd rather get along with the world 23:24 and things in the world 23:25 or maybe our church members 23:27 all rather than wait to please God. 23:29 Well, I wonder maybe would we agree 23:31 maybe today just food for thought today, 23:33 is there a need of, now notice this word, 23:36 some people can't stand it, 23:38 but I'm going to say it anyway, of stern rebuke. 23:41 Is there a demand? 23:43 Is there a need of voice of stern rebuke 23:46 in the church? 23:48 Now people don't like the word stern 23:50 because you know, they're just, they're different. 23:52 They think about their upbringing 23:54 and what happened in their home 23:55 and what happened you know, 23:57 some people stern them is, is tell the child, 23:59 "Go stand in the corner for 10 seconds." 24:03 Stern to them is, I want to count to three. 24:05 And if you don't, 24:06 I think you get what I'm talking about. 24:08 But stern rebuke is pretty... 24:10 I think you would agree with this. 24:11 I'm going to read something Why? 24:13 Why do we need stern rebuke in the church? 24:16 Certainly, because there's grievous wrongs 24:18 that are being done that, 24:19 you know, that separating us from God. 24:22 So that's the whole thing 24:23 is not trying to point this out, 24:24 or this is right and this wrong. 24:26 It these things are separating us from God, 24:28 and they separate us from God, 24:29 we need to have those things rebuked, 24:31 or at least the truth needs to be 24:32 brought forward. 24:34 Many will say, 24:35 Well, again what need is there to speak so plainly. 24:38 Couldn't you do it in another way? 24:40 Couldn't you do it more like Jesus would do it? 24:43 Or, oh, just let it go. 24:44 It'll work its way out. 24:48 Let me just ask you a couple questions here 24:50 and think with me, if you will. 24:52 Why did John the Baptist say to the Pharisees there 24:56 in Luke 3:7? 24:58 Now notice the question, 25:00 why did John the Baptist say to the Pharisees in Luke 3:7. 25:04 Here's what he said. 25:05 He said, "O generation of vipers 25:09 who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" 25:13 Whoo, man, those are strong words. 25:15 Are they not strong words? 25:16 He said, O you generation of viper. 25:18 O you poisonous snakes. 25:21 Who would have the goal, the audacity to use that today? 25:26 You poisonous like you vipers. 25:30 Who's warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 25:33 And then think along with me. 25:34 How about John the Baptist? 25:36 Listen, John the Baptist lost his life 25:39 by plain speaking. 25:43 How about Nathan? 25:45 When he spoke to David, you remember, 25:47 he confronted him with his sin there in 2 Samuel 12:7. 25:53 And just a couple of words here all we need from that. 25:55 It said here, 25:56 he said when he pointed David he said, 25:59 "Thou art the man." 26:02 Wow, that took a lot of courage, 26:04 a lot of love for Jesus to point out sin 26:08 that was separating David from his God. 26:13 Do we really love people 26:14 if we don't bring these issues up? 26:17 Are we trying to cover up or suppress the point 26:20 that the word? 26:22 Prophets and Kings 141 makes this statement 26:24 so see what you think about it. 26:26 It says, when, it starts with a question. 26:28 "When will the voice of the faithful rebuke 26:31 be heard once more in the church." 26:34 Notice when will what? 26:35 The faithful rebuke 26:36 be heard once more in the church. 26:38 It's hard to get a faithful rebuke in the church 26:39 because of people don't want to hear it 26:41 most generally. 26:42 The pastor gets himself in trouble, 26:44 the elders get themselves in trouble, 26:45 leadership gets himself in trouble. 26:46 I'd rather be in trouble with the church 26:48 as I had been in trouble with God. 26:50 How about you? 26:51 Now remember, we need this faithful rebuke 26:55 is to be heard in the church 26:57 and we don't need to call as we say, 27:00 a special board meeting to decide what sin is. 27:05 The Bible has already told us what sin is. 27:08 What we need is a God meeting. 27:12 We need to meet with God 27:14 and what He has said in His Word. 27:15 Now remember, 27:17 this is why this is needed so much among us as a people. 27:19 Remember, 27:20 if you're fighting this right now and saying, 27:22 well, we really don't need, everything is well, 27:23 all is well. 27:25 Something's wrong. 27:26 Jesus has not come. 27:28 He could have been here air long, 27:29 but we have not been what people that we need to be. 27:32 Have done what He'd asked us to do. 27:33 He's given grace and mercy now, 27:35 to give us an opportunity 27:37 to get this message to the world, 27:38 change needs to take place. 27:40 When the people are ready, He will come, right? 27:44 When His character is fully reproduced in us, 27:46 He will come. 27:48 That might tell you something, 27:49 evidently His character is not really reproduced in us 27:51 just yet, 27:53 because He's not come yet. 27:55 So notice this with me again, Prophets and Kings, 141. 27:59 Here's what it says. 28:00 It's talking about, remember the voice 28:02 of a faithful rebuke here. 28:04 It starts out this way, 28:06 "If they were not so rare, " now what? 28:09 If they were not so rare, these rebukes, 28:12 or when something's going wrong, 28:13 we need to, you know, bring it forward 28:14 and get it changed. 28:16 Notice this, 28:17 "We should see more of the power of God 28:20 revealed among men." 28:22 Man, how many of us, 28:23 we want to see the power of God, do we not? 28:26 Man I want to see the power of God 28:27 working in your life and in my life, 28:29 and in the church and the movement 28:30 around the world today. 28:32 But one of the reasons 28:34 that the power of God is not let loose 28:35 on the church 28:37 is because we're not getting faithful rebuke, 28:39 we're letting sin go unrebuked. 28:41 Man, that means this is heavy duty stuff 28:43 when you look, it's rare, power of God. 28:47 I've often thought about this, 28:48 you know, true love seeks first, 28:51 true love seeks first 28:53 the honor of God and the salvation of souls. 28:58 Where have we, 28:59 maybe we've missed something here, 29:01 I don't know. 29:02 I'm going to give you a little book called mount, 29:05 you know, thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 29:06 page 91. 29:09 Mount of Blessing, page 91. 29:10 Here's what it says. 29:12 I mean, it's pretty heavy duty, just a few words, 29:14 but it says, "Real piety," 29:16 that means what? 29:17 Real devotion, 29:18 "begins when all compromise with sin 29:21 is at an end." 29:22 Did you get that? 29:24 Listen, this says, 29:25 real piety is what we have to have those, 29:27 a real devotion to God and to His cause, and to the, 29:29 you know, the work that we're doing for Him, 29:31 it's when we quit compromising sin, 29:34 when it's at an end, 29:35 when we are willing to go forward 29:36 and read the Word of God in the church, 29:38 whether somebody is guilty or whether somebody is not 29:41 just simply reading what God said in His Word, 29:44 and being willing to act on it. 29:47 Please keep this in mind as we go along here. 29:50 1 Selected Messages, 122. 29:52 Man, you've heard this read so many times 29:54 and some people get 29:56 oh, you know, oh, man, that's scary. 29:59 No, it's not. No, it's not. 30:00 In the Spirit of Prophecy, hey, let's read it, right, 30:02 it's in the Bible, hey, let's read it. 30:04 Let's enjoy these things 30:05 which helps us to prepare for His coming. 30:07 1 Selected Messages, 122. 30:09 It says, "We have far more to fear from," were? 30:12 Good, 30:14 "from within than from without." 30:16 Now that's usually all you hear. 30:18 I'm not, I'm gonna give you some more. 30:20 Somebody's been suppressing a little something here, 30:21 notice, 30:23 "We have far more to fear from within than from without." 30:26 It goes on. 30:27 "The hindrance to strength and success 30:31 are far greater from the church itself 30:35 than from the world." 30:37 My, my, my. 30:40 Now most people don't want to think, 30:41 you don't want to hear that but why not open our ears, 30:43 eyes and our hearts and our minds and say, look, 30:46 either this is right or it's not right. 30:49 Remember, strength we need and success of the church 30:52 in the movement of God. 30:54 It says here, the hindrance of these things 30:57 is far greater from the church than it is from the world. 31:01 Well, if something is wrong, 31:03 wouldn't it be best to confess that 31:05 and change and just move on? 31:07 God will forgive us, 31:09 will He not rather than try to cover it up 31:10 or to try to suppress it? 31:12 Not that anyone is, but think about it, 31:13 something's not right here. 31:16 Because this is exactly what you can expect 31:20 from anyone who is suppressing the message 31:23 we are to give to the word 31:24 or the truths that we are to give. 31:27 Now think about it, 31:28 what can we expect 31:30 from those who are suppressing the message 31:32 we are to give 31:34 or the truths that we are to give? 31:36 Now suppressing, 31:37 we realized when we suppress the truth 31:39 and we covered up, 31:40 we're going to have to deal with God, aren't we? 31:42 There's going to be some issues there. 31:43 There's some responsibility, 31:44 there's some consequences that will have to be paid. 31:47 But you know, when you are, 31:49 are going out and you're advocating reform 31:52 and you're advocating reformation, 31:54 you're advocating revival 31:55 and you're wanting things to be right in the church 31:58 and you look at what the Bible says, 32:00 and that's what you do on your board meetings. 32:01 You look at the Bible and say, 32:03 we don't know how to deal with this, 32:04 brother and sister, we don't know how to deal. 32:05 Look in the Word of God, 32:07 the Word of God will tell you exactly 32:08 how to deal with the situation. 32:10 But notice, 32:12 how you might be accounted a strange thing. 32:14 You may be asked to maybe get off the board. 32:18 Never been fired from the board, 32:19 but may be. 32:21 2 Testimonies 377 says this, 3 Testimonies, 32:25 2 Testimonies 377 says this, 32:29 "All who leave the common track of custom, 32:34 and advocate reform will be, " 32:36 notice the words, they are going to be, 32:38 "opposed, accounted," oh-oh, "mad, insane," and what? 32:44 "Radical." 32:46 If you dare to be a Daniel, if you dare to be different, 32:50 if you dare to stand up 32:53 and to be counted in the cause of Christ, 32:55 you're going to be opposed. 32:58 You're going to get yourself in trouble. 32:59 That's okay, notice this, and it even gets worse. 33:02 You're going to begin, while they're just mad, 33:04 while this is aggravating, they're out of their mind. 33:06 They're insane, that's the word here. 33:07 They're insane. 33:08 Well, these are radical people. 33:10 Why? 33:11 Because you want to stand for what is truth 33:13 and what the Bible said is truth and right. 33:17 Now let's move right on to Desire of Ages, page 356. 33:20 Desire of Ages, 356 gives us this information. 33:26 Now, keep this in mind if you are one of those 33:28 that God is calling you to stand. 33:33 And when you know what truth is to stand for that truth 33:35 and present that truth, 33:36 while the man will change or not, 33:38 God still requires that of you. 33:39 Desire of Ages, 356 says, 33:41 notice, "No man can be true 33:44 to principle without exciting opposition." 33:48 No man can what? 33:50 No, you can be true to principle 33:51 without exciting opposition. 33:52 So when you stand for what is right, 33:54 you're going to have opposition. 33:55 Look what Jesus stood for. 33:57 He stood for what was right, look at the opposition, 33:59 man, it cost Him His life, He died. 34:01 Look at disciples, 34:03 look at throughout the whole Bible, 34:04 through the Scripture 34:06 and you'll see that when you stand 34:07 for what is right, 34:08 all of a sudden people start getting excited, 34:10 there's opposition there. 34:11 No longer they want you around anymore. 34:13 You're not going to be singing in the choir as it were. 34:14 You're not going to be on the board anymore 34:16 because you're just causing trouble. 34:17 You're a troublemaker. 34:21 You know, these last several quotes 34:24 that we read are, 34:26 you know, they boil down, 34:28 they just kind of boil down to these familiar words, 34:31 found in 1 Testimony 181. 34:34 1 Testimony 181. 34:37 Again, you see, these are powerful thing. 34:39 This is a gift that God has given the church 34:41 and many of us throw it out the window, 34:43 we throw it in the waste can and I can't understand why. 34:46 This is prepared 144,000, 34:49 this is prepared people to stand 34:50 in the side of a holy God without sin. 34:52 These are things that we need. 34:54 And somehow we just don't want to, 34:56 we don't want to be disturbed anymore. 34:57 And I'm asking God, Lord, help me to disturb them. 35:00 Help them disturb myself. 35:01 Get me out of this old rut, put me on some higher ground. 35:06 1T, 181 very familiar to most Adventist, 35:09 anyway it says this, 35:10 "Some will not bear the straight, " what? 35:12 "Some will not bear the straight testimony, 35:14 they will rise up," what? 35:15 "They'll rise up against it, 35:17 this will cause a shaking among God's people." 35:21 There's going to cause a shaking 35:23 among God's people. 35:24 I believe God's people need to be 35:26 shook up. 35:27 There needs to be something happens 35:28 that wake us up out of our laziness. 35:31 Man, we realize we're in the judgment hour, 35:32 do we not? 35:34 We've been there a long time. 35:36 We know there's just a little bit of prophecy 35:38 that is left and Jesus is soon to come. 35:40 And yet we're still asleep, 35:42 saying oh, we're increased with goods, 35:44 we have need of nothing. 35:45 Oh, we're buying miserable poor naked boy, 35:48 we need some help, God help us. 35:53 If we have, if we have this zeal 35:56 for the love of God and for souls, 35:59 we will never ever hold back giving this message 36:04 even though it cost giving this straight message, 36:07 giving this present truth. 36:09 Man, if we ever needed it, 36:10 if we ever needed present truth it's right now. 36:13 Man, I need present truth right now. 36:15 I love all the other truths in there but present truth. 36:17 What is my duty to God right now? 36:21 Present truth, we need to hear 36:22 and people don't want to hear present truth 36:23 because it wakes them out of their sleep. 36:25 They don't want to be disturbed. 36:29 We will present the truth 36:32 from the power of the Holy Spirit. 36:34 We're not going to hold back to obtain favor of any man. 36:39 Oh, boy. 36:40 We've seen people changing things 36:42 around a little bit 36:43 because we want to have special favor of someone. 36:46 Come on now. 36:49 The song that we sang 36:51 maybe many times in your church, 36:53 I don't know if you did or not, 36:54 but you need to be singing if you haven't is, 36:56 we'll hum it, lip it, do something with it. 37:00 It says raise the standard. 37:04 Raise the standard high for the Lord. 37:08 Gird your armor on, stand firm everyone, 37:12 rest your cause upon His Holy Word. 37:15 It likes to make me want to rouse 37:16 the end soldiers, 37:18 rally around the banner 37:19 that makes my feet want to move. 37:21 I don't know about yours, it may not but it does mine. 37:23 That made me want to raise up and shout, right. 37:26 Raise the standard, don't lower the standard. 37:28 Man, what a time we need to raise the standard. 37:30 And when you raise the standard, 37:32 you make yourself an object. 37:34 Because you've got that standard, 37:36 all of a sudden 37:37 people are looking at the standard 37:38 you're going to make yourselves, 37:40 somebody's going to be looking at you. 37:41 They're going to be making comments. 37:44 Now, please keep this in mind. 37:46 Very simple, 37:48 but to disregard lighten our duty 37:51 is simply to reject it. 37:54 It's simply to reject it. 37:55 What are some of these truths? 37:57 We don't have a whole lot of time 37:58 but we've got enough, 37:59 we're gonna cover some of these truths 38:01 that we should be proclaiming more and more and more, 38:05 but we don't. 38:08 Well, it's almost like, well, we do and it maybe a partial, 38:11 you know, in partial way or whatever. 38:13 But we don't do it because they're not popular. 38:16 Because many people will put, 38:17 you know, start pushing against you 38:19 and saying, well, let's not talk about this, 38:21 surely we can talk about something else. 38:24 And so many pastors or leaders fail to mention these things 38:27 that we should be talking about more and more and more. 38:30 And when we skim over them kind of lightly, 38:33 we suppress them. 38:35 We don't really want to talk about 38:37 and we don't want to, 38:38 we don't really want to know 38:40 what our church members are doing, 38:41 because we may have to talk about it more. 38:42 And this is such a simple one, but it's to me, 38:44 it's right top of the list here is Sabbath observance. 38:47 Lord have mercy as a Seventh-day Adventist. 38:50 And some of you, many of you are not, 38:52 but a Sabbath Seventh-day Adventist. 38:54 Sabbath observance is something that we need to have reformed. 38:57 It needs to be some correction there. 38:59 Exodus 31:17. 39:01 It's just to realize this part over here, 39:02 it says Exodus 31:17," It is a," what? 39:05 Good, "It is a sign between me 39:07 and the children of Israel forever." 39:10 There's something about these words right here, 39:12 "Six days, the Lord did," what? 39:14 "He made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day, " 39:16 He did what? 39:17 Good, "He rested, and he was refreshed." 39:20 Not just any day we'll do, 39:22 it's the seventh day that God blessed, 39:24 sanctified and made holy. 39:26 Praise God for that, but somehow think about it. 39:28 Well, we're Sabbath keepers. 39:30 No, maybe we're Sabbath breakers. 39:32 You know what you should be doing 39:33 on the Sabbath, 39:34 but you're doing other things. 39:36 We should not be out buying cars 39:37 on the Sabbath. 39:38 Is it okay for me to go into this? 39:40 I don't know. 39:41 I think it is because this is true. 39:43 We shouldn't be going out eating lunch and buying things 39:44 and selling things on the Sabbath. 39:46 Why? 39:47 Because the Word of God says 39:49 so that's exactly why we'll read that passage 39:50 in just a moment. 39:52 There's a reform that needs to be made. 39:54 You say, "Well, how do you know there's a reform 39:55 that needs to be made?" 39:57 Well, we find this in 6 Testimonies 353. 40:01 6 Testimonies 353 brings this up. 40:05 "He, God, calls for a," what? 40:09 "Reform in the observance of," what? 40:12 "Of the Sabbath." 40:13 That means we need to rethink it. 40:14 Isn't that right? 40:16 We need to see what how God said 40:17 we keep this Sabbath 40:19 because we're not keeping it as He said, 40:20 then we're breaking it. 40:23 My, God calls for the reform, why reform? 40:29 Remember, this reform is directed 40:31 at those who have not kept the Sabbath 40:35 according to the commandments. 40:39 In the letter or in the spirit, think about it, 40:42 in the letter or in the spirit. 40:47 I've often thought about this, you know, a man doesn't, 40:50 man does not love the law. 40:53 Man that doesn't love the law doesn't love the gospel. 40:57 Man that doesn't love the law doesn't love the gospel. 41:01 Both are what? 41:02 Both are mirrors, 41:03 reflecting the true character of God. 41:08 Maybe you haven't thought along that line, 41:09 but maybe it'd be good 41:10 that we begin to think that way. 41:12 The Sabbath hours are to be dedicated to what? 41:15 To the Lord. 41:17 Sabbath hours should be dedicated to the Lord 41:19 that belongs to Him. 41:20 I read this is so familiar, 41:22 but you know, Isaiah 58:13 and 14, 41:24 people say all the time, well, I don't know how. 41:26 Remember, somebody is suppressing 41:28 the truth, 41:29 or we know what the truth is, 41:30 but we're not observing those truths, 41:32 because we're allowing it to take place. 41:33 And we know that, 41:34 well, sometime people are doing in the church 41:36 and they're breaking it, 41:37 then that means the word needs to be brought forward 41:39 from the pulpit. 41:41 Because remember, 41:43 the power of God is suppressed in the church 41:45 if we would do not do that. 41:46 I want the blessing and the power of God, 41:48 don't you? 41:49 This is what it's all about. 41:51 Holy Spirit is withdrawing because we refuse to do that 41:53 which we know is right. 41:55 There's going to be a day of accountability, 41:56 you know that and I know it. 41:59 So if you're ever asked, what should I be doing? 42:03 This answers the question very simply. 42:05 Isaiah 58:13 and 14. 42:07 The Bible says, I love it, the Bible says, 42:10 "If thou turn thy foot from the Sabbath, 42:14 from doing thy, " what? 42:15 Good, "Pleasure on my holy day." 42:18 Man, that just sums it up right there, doesn't? 42:20 It's not Seventh-day Adventist day, 42:22 it's not this guy's day, it's not that guy day. 42:24 It's God's day on my holy day. 42:27 Don't do your pleasure, huh. 42:29 What can your pleasure be? 42:30 Some people say, "Hey, 42:32 we're going to go fishing on Sabbath afternoon. 42:33 Oh, I know this is heavy duty. 42:35 I know it's a straight test that nobody wants to hear it, 42:36 we go fishing." 42:38 That's your own pleasure most of it. 42:42 We're going to go out socialize 42:43 and we're going to go to Six Flags. 42:44 We're going to be... 42:48 doing your pleasure on my holy day, 42:50 you call the Sabbath a what? 42:51 It's delight. 42:53 It's not a burden. It's a delight. 42:55 It's holy of the Lord. 42:57 It's honorable the Bible says. 43:00 Yeah, we honor God. 43:01 And you shall, notice, 43:03 "And shall honor him not doing dine own ways, 43:07 nor finding thine own pleasure, 43:09 nor speaking thine own," what? 43:10 "Words." 43:12 Notice this. 43:13 Now after that's done then it says, 43:15 "Then shall thou delight thyself in the Lord." 43:20 Did you get it? 43:21 Then shall thou delight thyself in the world what? 43:24 When you're not doing your own pleasure 43:26 on his holy day, 43:27 you call a Sabbath a delight, it's honorable. 43:29 It honors Him by keeping the seventh day Sabbath, 43:31 not finding your own pleasure on, 43:33 speaking your own words. 43:35 Then thou shalt delight thyself in the Lord. 43:40 I think this passage really helps us. 43:41 I think you catch it to know, 43:43 what is acceptable to God on His holy day. 43:47 Let's just boil it down rather quickly. 43:48 We've talked about it, but boil it down a little bit. 43:51 We should guard our acts and our words. 43:56 Huh. 43:57 That means our ways, 43:58 our own pleasures, those own things. 44:00 So if you're doing something as mine, 44:01 oh, I love to go out and do, da-da, da-da. 44:04 Remember, it's God's holy day, 44:05 only holy things should be done on that day for Him. 44:09 You've got six days to do all the other. 44:11 So two, we should not do any work 44:14 for our livelihood on that day. 44:17 No works what the Bible says. 44:20 Or anything, number three, 44:22 or anything that could have been done 44:23 on the other six working days, 44:26 not speaking your own words, 44:29 for our minds must be disciplined 44:31 to dwell upon sacred things 44:33 because the natural mind doesn't want to, 44:35 the converted mind wants to. 44:37 We don't want to dwell on that fourth commandment, 44:40 but it can be, notice, the fourth commandment 44:41 can be broken by talking about worldly things. 44:47 Just talking in a light and frivolous manner. 44:52 Or that simply means things that are of little value, 44:56 to talk and to act jokingly. 44:59 Talking about anything and everything 45:01 which comes to mind would be speaking what? 45:04 Our own words. 45:07 Little food for thought, if you like food for thought, 45:09 I do, certainly, hope you do. 45:12 If the mind, food for thought, 45:14 if the mind then is thinking upon worldly matters, 45:18 the tongue will reveal it. 45:22 Does that make sense? 45:23 Sure, it does. 45:24 That's so says the scripture in Matthew 12:34. 45:28 Matthew 12:34, 45:30 the Bible comes out said, "For the abundant, " 45:32 notice "for out of the abundance 45:34 of the heart, " 45:35 what happens? 45:37 "The heart, the mouth speaketh." 45:41 See, God is holding us accountable 45:42 for a lot of things, 45:44 but is it being brought to light? 45:45 Is it being suppressed? 45:46 Is it being brought 45:48 before the people of God to say, 45:49 this is what's pleasing to God, this is displeasing to God. 45:52 This is your test. 45:53 This is my test to be obedient to what He's asked us to do. 45:57 Please remember, 45:58 if failure in keeping the Sabbath 46:00 is one of the reasons 46:02 that the first generation 46:04 did not enter the Promised Land. 46:07 And this to me is a warning to modern Israel today. 46:11 Other words, just not keeping the Sabbath, 46:13 they're near the Promised Land. 46:15 If we don't keep it the way God said to keep it, 46:16 we're not going into the Promised Land 46:18 as it were is to heaven. 46:21 1 Samuel 2:30, the Word of God says, 46:25 "Them that honor Me, I will honor." 46:29 Them that honor me, I will honor. 46:32 One way to honor God is by what? 46:33 Keeping His Sabbath holy. 46:36 Of course, that takes the holy people, doesn't it? 46:38 And God help us to be what we ought to be. 46:40 Another little truth is being in the few minutes 46:41 we have here is suppressed, we see like here, 46:43 we got quite a few of them, 46:45 we won't be able to cover them all, 46:46 is we're talking about well, 46:48 what's happened to the reverence 46:49 in the sanctuary. 46:51 What's happened to it? 46:53 Sometime it's almost like a circus. 46:55 Sometimes it's like a social gathering. 46:58 Sometimes it's like fun and games. 47:00 Can't wait to say amen so we can continue on 47:02 where we left off. 47:05 Rather than a worship hour, where we meet with God. 47:10 We must learn to keep the sacred distinct 47:13 from the common. 47:17 If we will follow God's plan, 47:21 He's going to make holy the place of fellowship 47:25 with His presence. 47:26 Well, I want His presence, don't you? 47:28 Man, what would it be a service without the presence of God, 47:31 without the Holy Spirit? 47:33 Notice within 5 Testimonies 492, 47:35 gives us more instructions of the worship 47:38 that would be pleasing to God. 47:39 It's just a reminder, 47:40 some of you may be forgotten or maybe you're not, 47:42 you know, been studying lately, or maybe it's new to many, 47:45 but I think we need to consider it. 47:47 5 Testimonies 492 gives this, about our worship. 47:52 It says, "When the worshipers enter the place of meeting, " 47:54 notice this, 47:56 "they should do so with decorum, 47:58 passing quietly to their seats... 48:02 Common talking and whispering and laughing 48:05 should not be permitted in the house of God." 48:07 See, why are we talking about these things? 48:09 Because we don't want to drive away 48:10 the Spirit of God. 48:12 We need the Spirit of God. 48:14 And those things that separate us from God, 48:15 we need to come right with. 48:16 No, we want to change. 48:22 Notice, joking, whispering and laughing 48:24 not to be permitted in the house of worship 48:27 before or after the service. 48:33 My brothers and sisters, who's suppressing the truth? 48:39 They may be not talking about a whole lot in the world 48:42 or other churches today 48:43 when they put a title to a man's name 48:46 and they call him Reverend. 48:48 See, that may not mean anything, 48:50 do you think it's not? 48:52 But that the Bible says differently about that, 48:54 the Bible is clear on that, should we not follow it. 48:57 The title belongs to God only. 49:01 The title, what? 49:02 Reverend belongs to God only. 49:05 Any person who uses that has stolen it from God. 49:10 Did you get it? 49:11 You don't want to be a thief, you don't want to be a stealer, 49:13 but you stole it from God 49:15 because the Scripture tells us in Psalms 111:9, 49:19 Psalms 111:9, 49:21 and the scripture says this 49:22 that "Holy and reverend is His name." 49:27 What? 49:28 Holy and reverend is His name. 49:31 We dishonor God by using that term. 49:36 Another quickly, who suppressing, 49:39 who's covering up the truth on health reform? 49:42 Now, if we had a lot more time, 49:43 we get in a lot of health reform here. 49:45 Why is health reform so important? 49:47 We realize health is so important to us 49:49 because what? 49:50 We take into our bodies what we become like, isn't it? 49:53 And God has called His people to be healthy 49:55 and to take those things in that will help them 49:58 but poor God's people 49:59 have been continually backsliding in health reform. 50:03 And so if you know that we have been, 50:05 the Spirit of Prophecy is clear that we've been backsliding, 50:08 then we need to say, God help us, 50:09 we've backslidden and we want to make it right, 50:12 rather than to cover it up. 50:16 Councils on Health, page 578 says this, 50:19 Councils on Health, page 578. 50:23 It says, "The failure," notice this, 50:25 "to follow sound principles 50:27 has marred the history of God's people. 50:30 There has been a continual backsliding 50:33 in health reform, 50:34 and as a result," what's this? 50:36 "God is dishonored 50:37 by a great lack of spirituality." 50:39 So it's our spiritual condition, 50:41 do we see that 50:42 and what we take into our body makes a difference. 50:45 Continual backsliding. 50:48 And it's dishonor God, 50:49 so this is why we're talking about it today. 50:51 Don't look at, oh, this is the do's and don'ts. 50:56 There's a big connection here we understand 50:58 between healthful diet 50:59 and the ability to discern sacred truths, 51:01 you know, and really has to been 51:02 covered up. 51:04 And then we'll just pass on to a couple more, 51:05 we won't have time to really talk about them. 51:06 But you know, we need some changes 51:08 in our dress reform. 51:10 We need to act and dress like we are Christians. 51:14 And we're not doing it, we're not doing it, 51:16 pointing to the counsel 51:17 that God has given us in His Word. 51:18 Why is it that we shun that counsel? 51:21 Maybe because we don't like it, 51:22 maybe because we don't want to make 51:23 the changes, 51:25 maybe because we want to dress a certain way 51:26 or look a certain way, I mean, take right now, 51:28 dress and reformed people are following that today. 51:33 The church in a great degree 51:34 is responsible for the sins of our members. 51:37 There needs to be some changes made. 51:40 We need to follow the counsel 51:41 that God has given in His Word. 51:43 We did not need to come to church half dressed. 51:46 We did not need to come to church 51:47 like we're getting ready to go on a social picnic. 51:50 Is that okay to say that? 51:52 I believe that with my whole heart. 51:53 Why? 51:54 Because there's a lot written about it. 51:56 There's scriptures that study the sanctuary message, 51:58 man, it'll change your heart, change your life. 52:00 For God's going to be up on us, 52:03 if we don't make these changes that He wants us to make. 52:06 Now I'm sure that you want to do that. 52:08 I want to do that by the grace of God. 52:11 And I know you're making decisions right now. 52:13 I noticed a lot of things 52:15 that just went through my mind with you rather quickly 52:16 but we're praying the Holy Spirit now 52:17 will take possession of your heart and your mind, 52:19 and you're going to make some decision 52:20 because we're going to be blessed 52:22 and while the song is being sung, 52:23 "With all my heart" by Brother Ryan Day 52:26 and accompanied by Tim Parton. 52:28 I want you 52:29 to make that decision for Him right now. 52:44 In this quite place with you 52:50 I bow before your throne 52:54 I bear the deepest part of me 53:00 To you and you alone 53:04 I keep no secrets 53:07 For there is no thought 53:10 You have not known 53:15 I bring my best And all the rest 53:21 To you I lay them down 53:30 With all my heart 53:37 I want to love you Lord 53:41 And live my life 53:45 Each day to know you more 53:50 All that is in me 53:54 Is yours completely 53:59 I'll serve you only 54:05 With all my heart 54:12 Amen. 54:20 You faithfully supply my needs 54:25 According to your plans 54:29 So help me Lord To seek your face 54:34 Before I seek your hand 54:37 And trust you know What 's best for me 54:42 When I don't understand 54:49 Then follow in obedience 54:54 Or in every circumstances 55:03 With all my heart 55:09 I want to love you Lord 55:13 And live my life 55:17 Each day to know you more 55:22 All that is in me 55:26 Is yours completely 55:35 I'll serve you only 55:45 With all my heart. 56:07 Praise the Lord. 56:10 Awesome. 56:11 With all my heart, 56:12 that's what it's going to take, is it not? 56:15 Brother Tim, thank you, 56:16 you make that piano just talk to us. 56:18 Brother Ryan, awesome. 56:20 Want a closing prayer what we really need today. 56:24 With the little minute left, 56:25 I'm just going to say it was two men that stood 56:27 on the steps of a little church in Nebraska. 56:30 One said, he looked out over the prairie 56:31 and he said, oh, 56:33 if you've ever lived on the prairie, 56:34 you know, you can see for miles around. 56:37 He said, "I don't believe there's a single unsaved man 56:41 left in any farmhouse in sight." 56:44 The other man's standing close to him said, 56:48 "You know, when did that all happen? 56:51 When did all these changes take place?" 56:54 The other man said, 56:56 "You know, when the Christian get right 56:59 with each other and with God, 57:03 that's when it happens." 57:06 It's when my brothers and my sisters, 57:09 that we serve Him with all of our heart. 57:11 May I just pray with you just quickly, 57:13 for our time is up. 57:14 Let's pray for those decisions. 57:16 Loving Father in heaven, 57:17 we thank You for the decisions that been made right now. 57:19 Thank You that we want to serve You 57:21 with all of our heart, our soul and our mind. 57:23 Thank You for Your beautiful truths 57:24 that You have blessed us now we pray to this end, 57:26 Lord keep us on, I say, 57:27 a narrow pathway that leads to heaven. 57:29 We longed to spend eternity with You, 57:31 in Jesus' name, amen. 57:34 God bless you and we will see you next time. |
Revised 2020-09-04