Participants: John Lomacang
Series Code: 17HC
Program Code: 17HC000006A
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00:53 We just are so glad you're here with us today.
00:55 And for those who are watching by TV or on the Internet 00:59 or listening on the radio: we welcome you! 01:02 Are you guys having a good time at Camp Meeting? 01:05 If you are, say Praise the Lord! 01:07 Praise the Lord! I think we're having a GREAT time. 01:10 And this hour will be no exception. 01:13 Pastor John Lomacang. I'm privi- leged to call him my pastor. 01:17 And he is such a talented man. 01:19 He began his ministry in song. He was a minister of music 01:24 with the Heritage Singers. Went all over the world with the 01:27 Heritage Singers and then he became a pastor. 01:30 And now he travels the world giving inspired messages 01:34 on the Word of God. And his message today is called 01:38 Quicksand. Clever title. 01:41 But before he comes to speak 01:43 we've got another dear 3ABN family member 01:47 C. A. Murray who is going to sing for us 01:50 Go Free. 02:06 Troubled soul, 02:09 why are you sad and downhearted? 02:15 Don't you know 02:18 He doesn't care where you started. 02:24 Yesterday can't change tomorrow 02:30 so leave behind all your sorrow. 02:35 Go free! Go free! 02:41 In the name of Jesus go free. 02:47 Child of God, 02:50 child adored: 02:53 come to the Lord and go free. 03:07 Trembling soul, 03:11 I know you're so tired of aching. 03:16 Don't you know 03:19 Jesus has cures for the taking? 03:25 His hand of mercy and healing 03:31 can untie the hurt that you're feeling. 03:36 Go free! Go free! 03:42 In the name of Jesus go free. 03:47 Child of God, 03:50 child adored: 03:54 come to the Lord and go free. 04:08 Tempted soul, 04:12 I know you're so tired of fighting. 04:17 Don't you know 04:21 He sees the wounds you've been hiding. 04:27 The battle that rages is so strong 04:32 and you've been a captive for too long! 04:38 Go free! Oh, ya gotta go free! 04:44 In the name of Jesus go free. 04:50 Child of God, 04:53 child adored: 04:57 come to the Lord 05:01 and go free... 05:05 In the name of Jesus go free. 05:10 Child of God, 05:13 child adored: 05:17 come to the Lord 05:22 and go free. 05:25 Go free! 05:28 Go free... 05:31 Now go free. 05:41 Amen! 05:45 Thank you, Pastor C.A. Can you say amen again? 05:47 Amen! That song is fitting for the message this morning. 05:51 Freedom! What we need more than a new car 05:55 is freedom in Jesus. Amen! 05:57 And thank you Pastor C.A. for that song. 06:00 I particularly requested that 06:02 because it fits into the message this morning entitled 06:06 Quicksand. I invite you to bow your heads 06:09 with me as I ask for the Lord to guide. 06:13 Loving Father in heaven, this is the opportunity 06:16 that only divinity can accomplish. 06:20 I pray that you will take my mind 06:24 and the words that are penned on this page 06:28 and bring them to life by Your Holy Spirit. 06:33 In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. 06:38 Matthew chapter 7 verses 24-26 if you have your Bibles with you 06:42 this morning. Matthew chapter 24... 06:47 Matthew chapter 7:24-26. 06:52 You know, whenever they ask for sermon titles 06:55 it's always a quandary because normally I don't 06:58 decide my sermon title until the sermon is done. 07:02 But Shelley Quinn sent me an e-mail and said: 07:04 "I need your sermon title NOW! " 07:08 And I had been reading and studying 07:11 and the Lord just gave me a single word: 07:15 Quicksand... 07:17 which in fact defines the environment of the world 07:20 we live in today. 07:21 But Matthew - the converted tax collector - 07:24 gives us these words of consideration this morning. 07:27 Verses 24 to 27 in Matthew chapter 7: 07:30 "Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine 07:35 and does them I will liken him to a wise man 07:39 who built his house on the... " Rock! "on the rock. " 07:43 "And the rain descended and the floods came 07:46 and the winds blew and beat on that house 07:49 and it did not fall 07:51 for it was founded on the rock. 07:55 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and 07:58 does not do them will be like a foolish man 08:03 who built his house on the sand. 08:06 And the rain descended and the floods came 08:10 and the wind blew and beat on that house 08:13 and it fell... and great was its fall. " 08:19 Allow me to expand on the words of Matthew. 08:22 If you follow what he is describing, 08:25 he is saying to us: "The collapse of the house 08:28 was facilitated by heavy rains resulting in a flood 08:34 that destabilized the sandy foundation 08:37 on which the house was built. " 08:40 It was not so much the house but the foundation 08:44 on which it was built. And when the trials of life came - 08:47 the rains and the floods - and they combined together 08:50 to liquefy the foundation 08:52 the house was then determined as unsafe. 08:56 Not because of what the house was built OF 08:59 but because of what the house was built ON. 09:03 I began to research and to begin to look into the 09:06 historical effects of quicksand: 09:09 often referred to as sinkholes or other anomalies 09:12 that often hide themselves. And the person that becomes 09:17 the victim to these hidden dangers 09:20 often don't know their existence until they are dragged in 09:25 and pulled under by them. 09:27 And a very impressing story came to me 09:29 September 28, 2015. 09:31 As I looked at the pictures I wanted to show them to you 09:34 but I decided to paint the mental picture instead. 09:37 An Australian waterfront campsite 09:40 in 2015 was swallowed 09:43 by a 650' wide, 160' long 09:49 sinkhole. It swallowed a car, a fifth-wheel 09:54 camping trailer and several tents. 09:58 But fortunately there were no fatalities. 10:01 Amen somebody. Amen! 10:03 But July 14, 2017- 10:06 and the name of this county should be suspect 10:11 when you think about the title: 10:13 in Land of Lakes, Florida - 10:17 two homes were swallowed and five additional homes 10:20 were destroyed by a sinkhole that stretched 10:23 and continued to grow to 260' wide. 10:27 According to the Department of Environmental Protection 10:30 more than 1,900 sinkholes have been identified 10:34 by longitude and latitude coord- inates in the state of Florida. 10:38 I like Florida, but now I'm questioning whether or not 10:40 to live there. Nineteen hundred sinkholes! 10:44 And the residents don't know it until their homes are destroyed. 10:47 Some are sleeping when their homes are swallowed. 10:49 Some return home from work only to find their residence 10:52 is gone. The question is: what is a sinkhole? 10:57 Let me further explain before I get into the 11:00 heart of the message. 11:01 According to the scientists sinkholes occur when 11:05 cave systems and cavities below the ground collapse 11:10 and the sandy soil on the surface starts funneling 11:13 into the collapsed tunnel. 11:15 This can be dangerous enough the scientists say 11:18 but when water is involved that failing or falling sand 11:23 can start to behave like quicksand... 11:26 suddenly sucking in everything in its reach. 11:30 But they also say that long before the devastating collapse 11:33 occurs the process of erosion begins. 11:38 When water slowly seeps into the sand or limestone 11:41 foundation, the result - scientists say - 11:44 is as devastating as quicksand. 11:47 And so the question that I pose to you and those that are 11:50 watching and listening to the message this morning is: 11:52 are we building in these last days on quicksand? 11:56 On what are we taking our stand? 11:59 Is the world shaping our minds? Quicksand! 12:02 Think about it for a moment.. silent but stealthy. 12:05 Quicksand. Blending into the unproductive foliage 12:09 of a barren wasteland. 12:11 Quicksand. Lurking on the innocuous shores of apparently 12:16 safe waterfronts. 12:18 Quicksand. Looks solid until it is disturbed. 12:23 Quicksand. Disguised as a firm foundation 12:28 until you attempt to stand on it. 12:31 Am I getting close? 12:32 Quicksand camouflages itself 12:36 while its danger lies beneath the surface. 12:41 Quicksand. They also say that once you are caught in it 12:45 freedom by yourself is nearly impossible. 12:50 Quicksand. The nemesis of contentment. 12:54 The adversary of progress. Uninvited and crafty 12:58 anxiously anticipating its next victim. 13:02 Quicksand. Quicksand is dangerous 13:05 not because it exists but because - hear me carefully - 13:09 the one that eventually gets caught by it 13:12 does not suspect that each step taken on an unfamiliar path 13:18 carries that person one step closer to quicksand. 13:23 You've seen the movies... Now I must say, those are 13:26 dramatizations... those are exploded, dramatized 13:31 displays of what quicksand does. 13:34 Nobody sinks within a minute up to their neck in quicksand. 13:39 But they also say that the more you try to free yourself 13:43 in quicksand the deeper you get. 13:45 So the remedy is: try at all costs 13:51 to avoid quicksand. Can you say amen? Amen! 13:56 But I must add: at no other time in the church - 14:01 in the history of the church - is the church in more danger 14:05 than when the issues that it embraces 14:08 takes us on a journey on shifting sand. 14:13 Now you know me well enough 14:16 I am not going to ignore the issues that our church 14:19 is confronting. Amen! 14:22 Quicksand indicator #1: 14:24 when the message of human proclamation is not a message 14:29 of divine inspiration. 14:32 When we begin to preach things that God's Word does not ordain 14:37 nor give birth to we are standing on quicksand. 14:41 The danger facing the church is not a cultural shift 14:45 but a gospel shift. 14:47 I'm concerned less... and hear me this morning... 14:50 I'm concerned less about what's happening around us. 14:54 I'm concerned more about what's happening on the inside of us. 14:59 It is not the world that we're concerned about, 15:01 it is the stand we take in the world that is a concern 15:05 to Christ. He calls us to be in the world but not of it. 15:09 And yet as we get closer and closer to the end 15:12 it is amazing to me 15:15 how many things we allow to shift our focus away from 15:19 the urgency of the proclamation of the gospel. 15:22 Knowing that Jesus is soon to come 15:25 Satan has found a way to divide even those 15:28 who claim to be getting ready for the coming of Jesus. 15:32 That's why Paul the apostle says... Go to Galatians 1:8. 15:36 Listen to the words of the church 15:38 in a culturally-shifting society: 15:41 He says in Galatians 1 and verse 8: 15:45 "But even if we or an angel from heaven 15:48 preach any other gospel to you 15:51 other than what we have preached to you 15:53 let him be accursed. " 15:56 Brothers and sisters, there is no better message 15:58 in these last hours of earth's history 16:01 than the urgency of the proclamation of God's 16:04 three angels' messages. Amen! 16:07 That's why I'm so convinced that God called 3ABN 16:11 for such an hour as this. 16:13 To preach an undiluted... Can you say amen? Amen! 16:16 undiluted... unconcerned. We've got to call sin 16:20 what it is - that's right - 16:22 and awaken the people of God as we get closer to the end 16:24 because as you know if you look at the trek of the historical 16:27 journey of the Israelites the devil was not concerned 16:31 that they left Egypt. He was concerned that they 16:33 would enter the Promised Land. 16:35 The devil is less concerned about what you came out of 16:38 he's more concerned about what you're about to enter into. 16:42 So he doesn't mind what you overcame... 16:44 he still wants to overcome us. 16:47 What better decision can we make 16:53 that in our journey to the Promised Land 16:56 to make a determined effort... Now we're not saved by works 17:00 but somewhere along the way 17:01 we've got to put forth some effort. 17:03 Amen! Somewhere along the way we've got to say 17:05 "I'm more concerned about going in than going back. " 17:09 "I'm more concerned about where I'm headed 17:11 than where I came from. " 17:14 That's why Paul says when the gospel begins to shift 17:16 the church is in trouble. 17:18 I read an article by a man by the name of Russell Moore. 17:22 Lifeway Press put this together. 17:24 He said, and the article is entitled "Onward, " 17:29 he said: "The most dangerous threat to the Christian church 17:33 isn't the gale-force winds of a shifting culture 17:37 or political decisions or lack of popularity. " 17:40 He said: "The issue is not what the church is doing to the world 17:44 but the issue is what the world is doing to the church. " 17:48 And when we look at our church today 17:51 I must say as much as I love being a Seventh-day Adventist 17:55 Christian let me preface it by saying 17:57 I would rather be a troubled SDA Christian 18:01 standing on the truth than standing on error 18:05 in a comfortable environment. Amen! 18:08 Because so many people say: "Well we've got so many problems 18:11 here. " Why would the devil leave us alone when he knows 18:15 that God has given us a message that the world is in need of? 18:18 So some people say: "Well I'm going to that denomination 18:21 or that church. " The devil's not concerned about 18:23 folk going in the wrong direction. 18:26 He is concerned about those going in the right direction 18:29 so why would he leave us alone? 18:30 The church must be reminded of its mission today. 18:34 Go to Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20. 18:36 Let's look again at the mission of the church. 18:38 And by the way, the mission of the church hasn't changed 18:42 because Jesus hasn't changed. 18:44 Amen! The times have changed but He's the same - come on - 18:47 yesterday, today, and forever. 18:49 The mission of the church let me remind you again: 18:52 Matthew 28:19-20. A very familiar passage 18:55 but very apropos to the hour in which we live. 19:00 The Lord said - the mission: "Go therefore and make... " 19:03 What? "disciples of all nations, 19:07 baptizing them in the name of... " The word there 19:10 name means the authority of... "the Father 19:13 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 19:15 teaching them to observe... " How many things? 19:17 ALL! "all things whatsoever I command you. 19:22 And lo, I am with you always 19:25 even to the end of the world. " Amen, somebody. Amen! 19:28 The Commission is "go and make disciples. " 19:31 The Commission is not go and make trouble. 19:35 The Commission is not go and find out what we can take 19:37 from the world to make our church stronger. 19:40 The Commission is: "Go and make disciples of all nations. " 19:44 And it also says: "Teaching them to observe... " 19:47 How many things? ALL! "all things that I command you. " 19:51 I'm amazed that some Adventists are becoming 19:53 disenfranchised or disenchanted by some of the doctrines 19:57 that we hold so dear 19:59 and so they're trading them for feelings 20:02 and for emotional Christianity. 20:04 And I've gotta say: if your Christianity is not safe, 20:07 you can't fight against churches that are emotionally charged 20:11 because what feels right is not necessarily right. 20:19 The Commission is connected to the gospel. 20:23 Romans 1:16-17. 20:25 Let us be reminded again of what the gospel is. 20:28 By the way, I must say this in the context of one who 20:31 believes in being healthy: the gospel is not healthy eating 20:38 but the gospel transforms the way we eat. 20:42 The gospel is not whether I dress a certain way... 20:47 but the gospel will influence the way I dress. 20:51 The gospel is not drum or no drum... 20:54 but the gospel will determine what we do WITH a drum! 21:00 I didn't think I'd get so many amen's on that one 21:03 because we villainize instruments when our hearts 21:06 are corrupt. The gospel is Romans 1:16-17. 21:11 The Bible says and I read it very carefully. 21:14 Paul says: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel 21:16 of Christ for it is the power of God 21:20 to salvation for everyone who... " Does what? 21:22 "believes. For the Jew first and also for the Greek. " 21:25 Why? Verse 17: "For in it... " In the gospel... 21:28 "the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. 21:31 As it is written: the just shall live by? " FAITH! "faith. " 21:35 Don't forget the gospel 21:37 and don't be ashamed of the gospel... 21:39 for it is the only converting power in the world 21:42 that the church needs. That's why as I get older 21:44 some people once said to me... somebody said to me, 21:47 not too long ago they said: 21:48 "Pastor, I'm really concerned that you're not talking about 21:51 prophecy as much as you used to. " 21:53 You know what I said? "I could be the best student 21:56 in prophecy and all I would do is terrify you 22:00 if you don't know Jesus. " 22:03 Amen! You could have it all lined up 22:06 and you're so fearful because you don't know Christ 22:10 on whom all prophecy points. 22:13 I love prophecy! I did an entire series 22:16 on Revelation. I love Revelation! I love Daniel! 22:19 But I love Jesus more! 22:21 And Jesus is not the cart, and He's not the horse either. 22:25 But He precedes anything that is... 22:28 that takes... let me say this correctly... 22:30 any intellectual stimulation must not be substituted for 22:35 Christ. There are those that understand 22:38 what is going to happen. There are people that, 22:40 even in our church, there are people that are outlining. 22:42 Just recently there was an Adventist that said 22:44 that... I don't know if it was an Adventist or not but 22:47 somebody said the world was going to end on September 23rd. 22:51 It wasn't an Adventist. Amen! 22:55 We have been accused of that. 22:58 But I don't need to know the date the world is going to end; 23:01 I just need to know Jesus. And when I know Him 23:04 the date doesn't matter. Amen! 23:06 The gospel is the power of God to salvation. 23:10 But I must also say when the gospel is preached 23:13 disciples are made. Acts 14 and verse 21. 23:15 Go quickly now. Acts 14 verse 21. 23:19 The Bible says very carefully 23:21 speaking about Paul and Barnabas. 23:24 The Bible says: "And when they had preached the gospel 23:27 to that city and made many disciples 23:31 they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. " 23:35 You see, they went from city to city preaching the gospel. 23:39 When the gospel is preached Satan is upset. 23:44 But if we only talk theory, 23:46 if we only talk about events that are happening around us... 23:48 And by the way, yes, I can see the mad man in Korea 23:51 and the mad man in Washington, D.C. 23:56 But I'm not focused on men. 23:59 And the church ought not be either. 24:01 I didn't get to that point in the sermon yet 24:02 but I'm getting there. 24:03 I could see the devastations taking place 24:07 in the Caribbean... of which my family has become victim. 24:10 But I'm not focused on that because we have had wars 24:12 and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation. 24:15 And even though the intensity is increasing 24:17 our focus needs to be on the "right house" 24:20 not necessarily the White House. 24:22 Amen! 24:24 In Evangelism 186 paragraph 1 Ellen White says: 24:28 "Theoretical discourses are essential that people may 24:31 see the chain of truth link after link 24:34 uniting in a perfect whole. 24:37 But... " she says... "no discourse should ever be 24:41 preached without presenting Christ and Him crucified 24:45 as the foundation of the gospel. " 24:47 Amen! I must say - 24:51 give him credit for it... Pastor C.A. said 24:53 "We have a lot of convicts but not enough converts. " 24:57 Convicted by the message but not converted by it. 25:00 And she says as I end the quote: 25:02 "Ministers would reach more hearts if they would dwell 25:05 more upon practical godliness. " 25:09 That's where we fail. Not on our doctrines. 25:11 There's nothing wrong with our 28 Fundamentals. 25:12 But the most fundamental of it all is what impact 25:18 is it having on your life. 25:20 That's why the remedy to quicksand #1 is 25:23 preach a message that points people to Jesus. 25:27 Any message that does not lift up Jesus 25:30 is quicksand! 25:33 He says: "If I be lifted up, I will draw all people 25:35 to Myself. " Amen, somebody. Amen! 25:37 Quicksand indicator #2: 25:41 are you ready? 25:43 When politics obstructs Christianity. 25:46 You can breathe. 25:49 Jesus made it clear. In John 18:36 He said: 25:54 "My kingdom is not of this world. 25:56 If My kingdom were of this world my servants would fight. " 26:04 I'm looking forward to the day when there is no more politics. 26:08 Amen! 26:10 We talk about sin being erased. 26:12 I'm looking forward to the day when the Lord gets rid of 26:13 politics permanently and when the kingdom of this world 26:17 is based on the government OF God 26:20 not on a government that opposes God. 26:23 I don't know at what point we thought 26:26 that politicians were honest. 26:30 I mean, where did that come in? 26:32 Where did Christians become so converted to follow 26:36 this president because that one wasn't sufficient? 26:41 Where did we get the idea that somewhere along the way 26:43 Washington has replaced the validity of the gospel 26:48 of Christ? And so I did my homework. 26:54 A writer by the name of Brian Roberts 26:57 in a magazine called Relative Magazine... 27:00 He wrote this article in 2016... February 1... 27:03 as the political landscape began to be developed. 27:06 He said some very interesting words 27:08 that I embrace and I share with you. He said: 27:11 "Political discourse is the Las Vegas of Christianity: 27:15 it's a gamble. 27:16 It is the environment in which our sin is excused, 27:20 hate is winked at, fear is perpetuated, 27:23 and strife is applauded. " 27:24 That's what it's doing to the Christian church. 27:26 "Not only are believers excused for their political 27:29 indiscretions but they are often applauded 27:31 for committing them. 27:33 Slander is explained away as righteous anger. 27:36 Winning arguments are esteemed higher than truthful ones 27:39 whether or not the facts align, and those who stir up dissention 27:43 are often given the pulpit. 27:50 In a country where religion should not be a litmus test 27:54 it has become one. " 27:57 But I know that in your minds you're asking questions 27:59 that I'm going to answer right now. 28:01 Should we have an opinion? Yes. 28:03 Should we care about our country? Yes. 28:05 Do we have the right to vote? Yes. 28:08 But it's time that we talk politics in a way that models... 28:12 models the teachings of Jesus rather than mocks them. 28:21 On Sabbath morning there are no Republicans and Democrats. 28:26 Oh, I forgot... no Independents either. 28:30 On Sabbath morning there should be no bipartisanship 28:35 because at the cross we are all sinners saved by grace. 28:39 Amen! 28:41 Let me really mess with your mind this morning. 28:42 Go to Matthew chapter 5 verses 43 to 45. 28:47 After you hear what I'm going to say next 28:49 you might have to go and have some psychological evaluation 28:52 but I'm going to really mess with you this morning. 28:55 Matthew 5:43-45. 28:57 Listen to what Jesus said. You know, what I've learned 29:00 about the gospel is living the Christian life is not easy. 29:05 Anybody that thinks living the Christian life 29:08 does not know what Christianity is. 29:11 How do you live a spiritual life in a natural body 29:14 when the impetus of our world continues to bombard us 29:17 from every angle? We've got to have on the whole 29:21 armor of God not to be affected by the world in which we live. 29:26 Look at the words of Jesus. 29:28 This is revolutionary! This is by no means 29:30 accomplished naturally. He said... 29:33 verse 43 and Matthew 5: "You have heard it said... 29:36 You have heard that it was said 29:38 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ' " 29:42 Are you ready? 29:43 "But I say to you: love your enemies. " 29:46 You try to do that naturally. 29:48 "Bless those who curse you; 29:51 do good to those who hate you 29:54 and pray for those who spitefully use you 29:57 and persecute you 29:59 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. 30:01 For He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good 30:05 and He sends rain on the just and on the unjust. " 30:09 In that very same article written by Brian Roberts 30:13 he said: "We are called to love atheists who want to keep 30:16 creationism out of our schools. " 30:19 You try to do that. That's what the Christian is called to do. 30:22 "We are called to love atheists who want to keep creationism 30:25 out of our schools... or those who want to keep gay marriage 30:28 and abortion legal... we are called to love them. 30:31 Or those who celebrate death penalty statistics 30:34 and gun ownership... And yes, even the president 30:37 that you may or may not agree with. " 30:39 We are called to love all of them. 30:44 We ought to love people whether they stand or kneel. 30:53 And regardless of what country they migrate from - 30:56 wall or no wall - we ought to love them, too. 30:59 Amen! 31:01 Think about our history. America's not this paradigm 31:03 of virtue. 31:07 Native Americans did not invite the Puritans 31:09 to take over this country. 31:14 Injustice of any nature ought not be praised by Christians. 31:22 And I hope you're ready for the next statement. 31:26 If the flag of any nation becomes more important than 31:28 the cross of Christ your Christianity is in vain. 31:32 Amen! 31:34 One lesson I've learned from the recent natural disasters 31:39 that I've been re-taught is this, and hear me carefully: 31:43 that hunger, thirst, deprivation, pain, death, 31:47 despair, and destruction of property 31:49 are experienced by everyone regardless of race, 31:53 class, or creed. 31:55 You might wonder why God allowed devastation. 31:58 You know, right now in the Virgin Islands where my family 32:01 is hoping to get clean water 32:03 or running water 32:05 or flushable toilets 32:08 or enough electricity to get a generator to start their houses 32:12 thank God, and I praise the Lord... I'm going to go 32:14 to Home Depot right after this. 32:16 God moved some mountains at Home Depot. 32:19 They did something for me that they don't do for anybody. 32:23 They're helping bear the financial cost 32:26 of sending generators down to Florida 32:29 so I can ship them to the Virgin Islands. 32:31 Amen! They said: "We don't do this... but 32:33 we're going to do this for you. " 32:37 When your politics rise above your empathy 32:40 your Christianity is worthless. 32:42 Pity looks down... sympathy gets down. 32:46 Anybody can feel bad about what's happening, 32:48 but it takes a true Christian to do something about it. 32:52 In this society when we are so desensitized 32:55 we've seen more disaster in movies than we ever can 32:57 imagine. And when the movie is more real than the disaster 33:01 that actually occurs, it does nothing to us any longer. 33:04 We say: "Oh how bad for the people in the Virgin Islands. " 33:06 Or: "We feel bad for those in Puerto Rico or those in Texas. " 33:09 We really feel bad but we do nothing to lift our finger 33:12 to even relieve their suffering 33:15 because it might cost us something. 33:19 But the words of Jesus challenge our Christianity. 33:22 He says in Matthew 25 verses 42 and 45: 33:26 "For I was hungry and you gave Me no food; 33:29 I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink. " 33:33 And then He says in verse 45: "Inasmuch as you 33:36 did not do it to one of the least of these 33:39 you did not do it to Me. " 33:43 The remedy for quicksand #2 is: let the example 33:47 of Christ define your politics. 33:51 When politics defines your Christianity 33:55 it is all quicksand. Can you say amen? 33:58 Amen! 34:00 The clarion call of Christianity is this: 34:04 "By this all will know that you are My disciples: 34:08 by your love for one another. " 34:14 My third and final point: 34:17 quicksand indicator #3: 34:19 unchanged by the signs of the soon return of Jesus. 34:23 UNCHANGED by the signs of the soon return of Jesus. 34:27 You know, brethren, we have passed the fulcrum point 34:30 of Bible prophecy. 34:32 For those of you that don't understand the fulcrum point 34:35 it's the point of balance. 34:36 It's the center point... it's the middle of the seesaw. 34:39 We are long past the pivotal point of last day events. 34:44 Amen! Amen. We're down to the 7th church. 34:48 We are in the fourth beast of Daniel. 34:52 We are in the last part of the image of metal. 34:56 We are in the toes. Praise God! Amen! 35:01 And the sands of time are running out 35:03 but the quicksand of controversy is bogging us down 35:06 as a church. Listen to these inspired words 35:10 and pray for my throat to clear up somewhere. 35:15 Maranatha page 175: 35:18 "The judgments of God are in the land. " 35:21 Is that true? 35:25 "The wars and rumors of wars; the destruction by fire 35:30 and flood say clearly that the time of trouble 35:34 which is to increase until the end 35:37 is very near at hand. 35:39 We have no time to lose. 35:41 The world is stirred with the spirit of war. " 35:43 How accurate 35:48 are those words! 35:50 "Soon strife among the nations will break out 35:53 with an intensity that we do not now anticipate. 35:58 The present is a time of overwhelming interest 36:01 to all living. Rulers and statesmen, 36:05 men who occupy positions of trust and authority, 36:09 thinking men and women of all classes 36:11 have their attention fixed on the events taking place 36:16 about us. " How accurate can those words be? 36:21 "They are watching the strained, restless relations 36:24 that exist among the nations. 36:26 They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every 36:30 earthly element and they realize... " These are 36:34 unChristian people... "and they realize that something 36:38 great and decisive is about to take place... 36:41 that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis. " 36:45 Amen! How accurate 36:49 are those words to the hour in which we live! 36:53 My brother said to me as I spoke to him there - 36:55 they finally got a signal through... 36:57 Everybody's upset with Sprint. 36:59 It doesn't work in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands 37:01 but AT&T does. 37:04 There are no Verizon towers down there. 37:07 So we get the chance to talk on a daily basis 37:09 after they go to the neighbors and plug in their phones 37:11 to get some charge through the night. 37:14 And he said: "Brother, we have had Hugo and Marilyn 37:19 but Irma is unequivocally 37:25 the worst hurricane that ever hit St. Thomas. " 37:30 He said the wind speeds were clocked at 202 miles an hour 37:34 on that small 13 by 4 mile strip of land. 37:39 The trees were raped from their roots up. 37:43 Boats that were anchored down he said they were airborne... 37:47 tossed as though they were made of paper. 37:51 Telephone poles and power poles are laying everywhere. 37:54 On his housetop there is a tree with the wires mingled in it. 37:59 And he said: "The radio announcer said 38:00 don't touch it because they don't know what's live 38:03 and what's dead. " 38:06 And he said: "The mosquitoes are larger 38:08 than I've ever seen them. 38:11 They are just driving us mad. " 38:14 So my sister and I have pushed as hard as we can 38:17 putting together a campaign to raise funds to get my 38:20 family relief. And I'm so glad that... that... 38:22 that... that... I'm so glad that Home Depot 38:26 looked in my eyes - the manager. She says: "I can understand 38:29 your pain and we're going to do whatever we can 38:32 to make a difference. " 38:33 So much concerned that this morning she called me. She said: 38:36 "I hope you're on your way 'cause we want to get this thing 38:38 done as quickly as we can. " 38:43 The signs are all around us. 38:45 And the signs are so thick that the apostle Paul 38:48 was forced to pen what he referred to as the "unnecessary 38:51 letter. " Listen to his words in I Thessalonians 5:1-3. 38:56 Listen to what he said. 38:57 And he's saying this to the Christians 38:59 not to the "worldlians. " 39:01 He said: "But concerning the times and seasons 39:03 brethren you have no need that I should write to you. " 39:07 We don't need another book. 39:09 Come on, say amen somebody. Amen! 39:11 The Great Controversy is the book for this hour. 39:16 Inspiration - I hope I can say that with assurance... 39:20 assurance. Inspiration... 39:23 God has given us an inspiration that we need to lean on now 39:26 as we lean on Christ. 39:28 He says: "Concerning the times and seasons 39:30 you have no need that I should write to you 39:32 for you yourselves know perfectly. " 39:36 You've got the information 39:39 that the "day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 39:41 For when they shall say 'peace and safety' 39:44 then sudden destruction comes upon them 39:46 as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. 39:48 And they SHALL NOT escape. " 39:52 In Maranatha Ellen White says: 39:54 "Soon grievous troubles will arise among the nations... 39:57 troubles that will not cease until Jesus comes. " 40:01 We are there! Amen! 40:06 "As never before we need to press together, 40:09 serving Him who has prepared His throne in heaven 40:14 and whose kingdom rules over all. 40:17 God has not forsaken His people - 40:20 Amen - and our strength lies in not forsaking Him. " 40:24 THIS is the hour that we turn back to God. 40:29 You see, the fact of the matter is the world is built on 40:31 quicksand. But it is too late for the church to stand on 40:35 quicksand and not understand that will reap 40:38 the consequences of the foundation on which we stand. 40:42 If I sound sober this morning, understand I sense the 40:45 urgency of the hour. 40:47 We're not living in a time where we could meander 40:50 and tickle the fancy or try to entertain the intellect. 40:53 It is too late for the church to be preoccupied with 40:56 destabilizing issues. 40:57 And so can I get deeper this morning in your hearing? 41:01 When you are more concerned about women's ordination 41:05 than exalting Jesus we are on quicksand! 41:07 Amen! Now I'm not asking you where you stand. 41:12 But if you stand on anything but Jesus you are on quicksand! 41:15 Amen! As the Pope pushes for Christian unity 41:19 Christian unity without Biblical authority 41:21 is quicksand. When the sanctity of marriage 41:25 ceases to be your goal you are on quicksand. 41:28 When you disrespect your parents with impunity 41:32 you are on quicksand. 41:34 When you deny the sanctuary message you are on quicksand! 41:37 When we ignore the personage of the Holy Spirit 41:41 we are on quicksand. Amen! 41:46 And I say this to those who once walked with us: 41:50 when you walk away from God's holy Sabbath and embrace 41:53 man's substitution of Sunday you are on quicksand. 41:57 Amen! 41:59 When the gift of prophecy loses its relevance with you 42:02 you are on quicksand. 42:08 When you live a life of robbing God 42:11 and it does not even phase you 42:14 you are on quicksand. 42:16 When you attempt to live in harmony with any of the 42:20 above-mentioned teachings without the power of Jesus 42:25 you're on quicksand. 42:28 You see, this is an hour 42:31 that demands we get back to the basics of our walk. 42:34 And the basics of our walk is the foundation 42:38 that Jesus has laid that will never shift in a shifting world. 42:43 Can somebody say amen? Amen! 42:46 We are called to stand where people would dare to stand 42:51 in the hour where the church is at its greatest crisis. 42:57 There was a time when I used to... growing up... when I was 43:00 idealistic. I used to think: "Well, 43:03 let me find out what the General Conference decides next 43:07 and then I'll follow it. " 43:09 I pray for our president, Ted Wilson. 43:12 Amen. 43:14 I pray for our conference leaders. 43:18 But why do we have to call it "divisions? " 43:25 We should say: "We have 13 unities. " 43:27 Come on, somebody. We don't need divisions. 43:30 Amen! Why do we call it divisions? 43:34 OK, how many divisions do we have? 43:36 I could give you any number of divisions we have. 43:39 We ought to find ways that the insignificant things 43:42 that do not amount to salvation ought to be taken off of our 43:45 agenda. When I was at the General Conference session 43:47 in 2015 I was amazed how many people came out. 43:51 How many guns were spiritually loaded 43:53 on that day when women's ordination was discussed. 43:57 I was saying to myself: "If we would turn out in such numbers 44:00 for evangelism... " Amen! 44:04 Wasted money on material to convince one way or the other. 44:08 Would to God that the funds He gives to us 44:11 would be used in saving souls. 44:14 My wife and I just came back from Bogotá, Colombia, 44:18 where 3ABN Latino organized an evangelistic series 44:22 where 176 simultaneous messages 44:26 were being preached at the same time. Amen! 44:29 And in less than a week 758 people got baptized! Amen! 44:35 Folk put aside their mortgage to go and preach. Wow! 44:40 People were willing to take their entire paycheck 44:43 and go and preach. But I want to thank you. 44:45 When you sacrifice for Jesus - talking about the year of 44:47 sacrifice - when you sacrifice for Jesus 44:50 He will move your mountains. Amen! 44:54 One young lady who sat in the foyer... my wife and I 44:59 rode with her every day to our different sites... 45:02 and she was waving a hankie and she was going "Whew! " 45:06 And she looked like she was going to cry. 45:08 My wife said: "Are you all right? " 45:09 She said: "God is so good! " 45:12 She said: "I put aside my mortgage to come here to preach 45:19 and my husband has been unemployed for a year. 45:23 But he got a call today... he got a job today. " 45:27 Amen! And when he went to that job... 45:29 Let me tell you something: God will give you what He wants 45:32 to bless you with if you remain uncompromised 45:34 in a compromising world. 45:36 Standing before the potential employer he said: 45:39 "I will not work on Sabbaths. 45:40 I just want to make that clear. " 45:43 And the guy said: "What did you say? " 45:44 He said: "I will not work from sunset Friday to sunset 45:47 Saturday. " He said: "Did I hear you correctly? " 45:49 He said: "Yes. " He said: "Are you a Seventh-day Adventist? " 45:52 He said: "Yes. " He said: "So am I! " 45:56 "I'm going to hire you for that reason. " 45:58 Not for his religious convictions but for the fact 46:02 that he was willing to tell. He didn't have a job for more 46:07 than a year, but I'm not going to take a job 46:09 even though I need funds I'm not going to compromise 46:13 my stand for the sake of financial gain. 46:16 And she said: "And he's making more than I thought he would! " 46:19 So God did not just give her back her mortgage 46:22 but God gave her husband a job. Come on, say amen somebody. 46:25 And when you're busy doing God's work, the devil finds ways 46:28 to stir up difficulty, to stir up trials and tribulations 46:32 and try to get you off course. And I said: "Lord, why did You 46:35 take me to a Spanish country when I speak English? " 46:40 And I said: "Lord, what are their needs. And He said to me: 46:42 "Their needs are just like your needs. They need Jesus 46:45 just like you do. " Amen! So I began to preach Jesus. 46:48 And souls were being touched, and through the conversion of 46:51 language, through the interpretation of language. 46:53 And even Idalia Dinzey. She sat me down. My wife said: 46:57 "John, you've got to sing in Spanish. " 46:58 And my wife and Idalia sat down and schooled me. 47:02 And I was able to sing two songs in Spanish 47:04 without an English accent. Come on, say amen somebody. 47:07 The gift of tongues. 47:10 And I realized again: God doesn't call the qualified 47:13 He qualifies the called. Amen! 47:15 This is the hour that the people of God need to put all these 47:18 ridiculous issues aside because in Manuscript 20, 1889, 47:22 Ellen White said: "It makes every difference 47:25 whether the structure is built upon quicksand 47:30 or on solid rock. " 47:32 It makes every difference! 47:34 It makes EVERY difference. 47:36 So I no longer idolize men. 47:39 I idolize Jesus. Amen! 47:43 I no longer wait to see what the next decision is. 47:45 I read my Bible and get the decision before men make 47:48 the decision. Amen! I'm no longer 47:54 swayed by the number or lack thereof 47:57 that comes to Wednesday night prayer meeting. 48:00 If I'm alive and God has given me the ability to walk 48:04 I will be there. 48:06 I'm tired of begging people to come to church. 48:09 How're you going to beg folk to come to church that say 48:12 they're on their way to heaven? 48:15 Can't spend an hour in prayer meeting but you plan on being 48:18 in heaven? You're going to tell God: "Sorry, I've gotta go home. 48:23 The sermon's too long. " 48:25 What on earth are we doing on Sabbath 48:27 that you've gotta rush out of the sanctity of a beautiful day? 48:30 Some of us keep the Sabbath like Sunday folk. 48:32 We just need a little bit of it. 48:34 I was in a church once where they used to set their watches 48:37 for 12 noon. I would hear it go off: "Bing, bing. " 48:43 And I had to say something. One day I said: "I heard 48:45 the midnight cry but never the mid-day cry. " 48:51 In that very same church people went out on the Sabbath 48:54 looking at the Blue Angels. And I couldn't leave that alone 48:56 either. I said: "You're more concerned about the Blue Angels 48:58 than the three angels! " 49:02 And I got a lot of flack... I got letters. 49:04 I still have them in my library. 49:05 I look back every now and then at them to see how God has 49:07 taken me from all black hair clueless 49:11 to gray hair and well informed. 49:18 It makes a difference whether we're built on quicksand or on 49:23 the Solid Rock. So allow me to interrupt your 49:26 regularly-scheduled thought with good news: 49:28 there is an answer to quicksand. Can you say amen? 49:31 Amen! You see in Matthew 1:21 49:33 the Bible says: "Call His name Jesus 49:35 for He will save His people from... " THEIR SINS! 49:38 "quicksand. " Sin is quicksand. 49:43 Amen! You can't stand on it 49:45 and not understand that it will bring you down. 49:48 Anything that we build on other than the foundation of 49:51 Jesus is quicksand. 49:53 So let me encourage you. Don't do it because somebody else 49:56 is doin' it. Do it because salvation is your determined 49:59 focus. Don't do it because it's popular. 50:02 Don't ask questions like: "Who's preaching? " 50:05 That troubles me. 50:08 People say: "I didn't go to church 'cause you were out 50:10 of town. " You don't have a relationship with Jesus 50:12 if that's why you come. 50:14 You don't come because of who's preaching... 50:16 you come because The Word is preached. Amen! 50:22 You don't come because of popularity of the moment... 50:25 you come because of the sanctity of the moment. 50:29 You pay attention to the foundation on which you stand 50:31 because when you are converted by the obvious 50:34 you are standing on quicksand for the Bible makes it clear 50:36 no other foundation can anyone lay 50:38 than that which is laid which is Christ Jesus. 50:42 Edward Mote reminds me 50:46 of our need for a solid foundation. 50:49 I was very fascinated by the story as I close the message 50:52 with this very important focus. Not just a story 50:55 but a real-life experience. 50:57 Born 1797 to a poor and ungodly family in London, England. 51:03 Young Edward wrote the following words. He said: 51:05 "My Sundays were spent in the streets. 51:08 So ignorant was I that I did not know that there was a God. " 51:13 But at age 16 his schoolmaster took him to hear 51:16 the esteemed preacher John Hyatt 51:19 of the Tottenham Court Chapel. 51:21 There that Sunday morning Edward was genuinely 51:25 converted to Christ. 51:28 And then he wrote the following song 51:30 that you might recognize. 51:32 He said: "My hope is built on nothing less 51:36 than Jesus' blood and righteousness. " Amen! 51:39 But here were the former words: 51:40 "Midst all the hell I feel within 51:43 on His complete work I will lean. " 51:46 "I trust His righteous character, His counsel, 51:49 promise, and His power... His honor and His name 51:52 at stake to save me from that burning lake. " 51:56 Those were the former words. 51:58 And he went on to pen more than 100 hymns. 52:01 But he said, and as his life was closing, 52:04 they said the one that he loved the most was the first one that 52:07 God gave him: On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand. 52:10 All other ground is sinking sand. 52:14 But he didn't have those lyrics when he began to pen the song. 52:17 Finally one Sunday morning the Lord impressed him 52:19 to write the song that we now sing: 52:21 On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand. 52:23 All other ground is sinking sand. 52:25 And so I say to you today 52:28 in a world that's shifting, a government that's sinking, 52:31 and a church that is shaking 52:33 we need to stand on the Solid Rock, Christ Jesus. 52:36 Amen! When all we have is Christ 52:38 Christ is all we need. Amen! 52:41 When I was in Colombia the other day 52:44 and I dropped a microSD card 52:47 I picked it up and the most amazing revelation 52:49 came to my mind. 52:50 As I was holding onto this microSD card 52:53 some of you were raised so long ago and born so long ago 52:56 that the word microSD card doesn't even make sense to you. 53:00 It's so tiny it looks like a chip. 53:03 And I picked it up and I said to my wife 53:05 "Look how tiny this thing is. 53:08 We can't even take this to heaven. 53:11 And we're tripping about cars and houses 53:15 and things that we can't carry with us to the kingdom. " 53:18 And I said: "Honey, 53:20 if I can't even take this little thing to the kingdom 53:24 why am I worried about it? " 53:26 We've got to hold onto the world loosely 53:29 and hold onto Christ firmly. Can I get an amen somewhere? 53:32 Amen! Everything else is sinking sand. 53:34 We can't pack the bank with funds that we have to leave 53:36 behind. We've got to empty the bank 53:38 so that souls are not left behind. Amen! 53:41 We've got to be more concerned about where we stand 53:44 than on what issue becomes the next political push. 53:47 Because I want to tell you: whether the world ends under 53:49 this administration or there's another one after this 53:52 remember, don't look to any man... look to Christ. 53:54 "Look unto Me and be saved for I am God and there is no 53:57 other. " Amen! 53:59 And He's declared the end from the beginning 54:01 so I stand on His Word. 54:04 When Jesus comes, I want to be ready. What about you? 54:07 Amen! When He comes I want to have the certainty 54:10 that I've been standing in the right place. 54:11 And I want to tell you: I've made this commitment 54:14 in covenant with God and with my wife and I said: 54:16 "Lord, whatever happens, whatever You must do to get me 54:18 into that kingdom, get me in. " 54:20 And you know what? I don't need a mansion... 54:21 I just need a sleeping bag. 54:24 Amen? Amen! If I don't get a sleeping bag 54:27 I'd be glad to sleep on some golden streets. 54:30 I don't need golden spoons or a crown, I just 54:33 want to get in there. Amen! 54:35 I don't care if the door closes... I don't care if I go 54:38 in first or last as long as the door shuts behind me. 54:42 Amen! 54:44 And you're going to find out that you could be saved! 54:47 Faulty as we are, Jesus loves us with an everlasting love. 54:53 But today let me say to you, church, 54:55 in this shifting society, 54:58 in this world where every issue has occupied the mind 55:01 that should be occupied by Jesus, 55:03 let us get back to the solid foundation of Christ. 55:08 Do as David the Psalmist says: "Lead me to the Rock 55:11 that is higher than I. " 55:12 If we follow that Rock that Rock is Christ Jesus. 55:14 If you're not standing on THAT you're standing on sinking sand. 55:21 Let your light shine... don't let it burn. 55:25 And be more concerned about a clean heart rather than just 55:27 a clean colon. 55:30 Don't think too long on that. 55:35 Watch what's coming out of your mouth 55:37 not just what's going in it. 55:40 And treat everybody as you would want to be treated. 55:45 For in the final analysis 55:47 the Lord's not going to ask you only what you believed 55:52 but how you treated people. 55:56 Don't become so desensitized by the drama around the world 56:00 that you forget to reflect Christ in everything you do. 56:03 And don't be vengeful... let the Lord fight your battles. 56:09 Let the light of Christ glow so beautifully from you 56:13 that when you're in the presence of anybody they might say 56:16 "There's something different about that woman; 56:18 there's something different about that man: 56:20 they've been converted and changed. " You see, 56:23 I don't really care about how many songs I sang 56:25 or the tenor of my voice 56:27 or whether the injury is healed or not. 56:29 I just want to get to heaven because I know when I see Jesus 56:32 all the broken places will be put back together. 56:34 Amen! I can't preach my way in. 56:37 I can't sing my way in. 56:38 I can't work my way in... 56:40 so I've chosen today not to stand on what I can do 56:43 but on the Solid Rock, Christ Jesus. Amen! 56:45 My hope is built on nothing less 56:49 than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 56:53 May that be your clarion desire; 56:55 may that be your focus that when He comes 56:59 He'll look around and say to you: "Come up hither 57:02 to stand on the Solid Rock. " 57:05 May God bless you. Let us pray. |
Revised 2024-10-24