Participants:
Series Code: ASIC
Program Code: ASIC180016A
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00:19 Isn't this a wonderful, wonderful convention?
00:22 Yes. 00:24 I can't tell you how sad I am on the one hand 00:27 that it's going to be over this evening. 00:30 And on the other hand, it's been a marathon 00:32 in so many ways. 00:34 And we just praise the Lord 00:36 for the wonderful, wonderful convention 00:38 that we've had, 00:39 and I know this evening is going to be a real blessing. 00:43 And we want each and every one of you 00:45 to continue to carry the spirit of ASI 00:50 as you go home in your separate areas. 00:53 I ask you one more time 00:54 to please stand as we have our prayer. 01:00 Gracious, kind, heavenly Father, 01:03 what a blessing it has been to spend time together 01:07 to see our old friends and to meet new friends. 01:11 You have been so good to us, Lord, 01:13 and we thank you for the Sabbath day 01:15 that You have given us 01:17 and the many blessings that we have had 01:19 throughout this convention. 01:21 We pray that as we continue throughout the Sabbath evening, 01:25 and as we go our separate ways tomorrow 01:28 that we will carry the spirit of ASI 01:31 that we will share 01:33 and be able to be a witness to each and every person 01:36 that we come in contact with throughout the year ahead. 01:41 Give us Your Holy Spirit, Lord, and continue to bless us. 01:45 Be with each and every one 01:46 that's participating in the program this evening, 01:49 and pour out Your Holy Spirit upon them as well. 01:52 We thank You and praise You and ask this all 01:55 in Jesus' holy name, amen. 01:58 Amen. Please be seated. 02:01 On day one of our convention for those of you 02:03 who are here on our opening night, 02:05 Wednesday night, 02:06 we took the opportunity to introduce 02:09 a couple of new members of our team, 02:12 Dr Philip Batista, our new secretary treasurer 02:15 for ASI was introduced, 02:17 and that was a blessing that he's coming to us. 02:20 And also Sharon Robertson 02:23 who will be our new event planner for us, 02:26 event coordinator, event planner. 02:28 But tonight, we're taking an opportunity 02:30 to say our thank yous. 02:32 We're not saying goodbye 02:33 because Sharon is not going anywhere, 02:35 I'm sure she's going to be here at ASI in future times 02:40 because she's very connected to ASI. 02:43 I asked Sharon before we came. 02:44 I said, "What is the one thing... 02:46 What is the one thing about this ASI experience 02:49 that probably you take away more than anything else?" 02:54 And she said, 02:55 "It's about the friends that I have here at ASI." 02:58 And ASI gets to be like a family, doesn't it? 03:01 I don't know how you feel about it, 03:03 but I know for me, it's just like a family. 03:05 You come, you are associating with each other, 03:08 and God is blessing in so many ways, 03:10 and it's just like family, isn't it? 03:13 So tonight, Sharon is going to be retiring 03:18 after this convention in the process of that. 03:21 And so we just wanted to say thank you to Sharon, 03:24 11 years of service to ASI. 03:27 Amen? 03:32 We have two things for you tonight, 03:35 and we're going to give unto you in an illogical order. 03:39 First of all, I'm gonna ask Donna 03:40 to give you this gift, 03:42 and while I'm talking, I want you to open it up. 03:44 And then we're gonna give your flowers 03:46 'cause you can't juggle a gift and a flowers at the same time. 03:49 That's gonna create problem. 03:51 So again, it becomes like family. 03:54 Sharon has done a great job over the years of 03:57 helping to select venues and putting contracts in place 04:01 and solving problems for all of us 04:04 that we wouldn't want to have to deal with. 04:06 Think of all the meals that have been served 04:08 over the last 11 years to our ASI family 04:11 under our leadership of Sharon 04:15 as she has provided those contacts 04:18 and attended tasting events 04:20 and just on and on with all of the things 04:24 that an event planner has to do. 04:26 It's an amazing series of opportunities, 04:30 and patience, and diplomacy in an every other way. 04:34 She has been a great person for this job 04:37 and has really helped us over the years. 04:39 So, Sharon, we want to say a special thank you to you. 04:43 And I know you're trying to get this out 04:46 and struggling with it. 04:48 It's a world globe sitting inside of a glass case 04:53 that kind of balances itself in there and rotates. 04:57 And to remind you 04:59 that you have had an opportunity 05:01 to impact the world through the work of ASI. 05:05 So, Sharon, thank you. 05:06 May God bless you. 05:09 And in your years of retirement, 05:13 we pray that you will continue to return to ASI 05:16 and be a blessing to many more folks 05:18 through your association with us. 05:20 We have some flowers here for you this evening. 05:22 And again, our deep appreciation 05:26 for all that you have done 05:28 and all that you will yet do for the ASI family. 05:32 Is there anything you would like to say to our ASI family 05:36 or are you speechless? 05:38 Yeah, I'd say, I'm pretty close to speechless 05:40 and that usually never happens to me 05:42 but the only one word I can really say is, 05:45 thank you everybody for making ASI success every year 05:50 because without you, 05:52 we would be struggling here with no success. 05:54 So we are so thankful 05:55 that God has blessed ASI every year 05:57 for the last 11 years and beyond. 06:00 Thank you, Sharon. May God bless you. 06:02 Thank you to our team. 06:04 I just wanted to mention, 06:05 we have on the stage with you tonight 06:07 every president that she has served 06:09 under with the exception of one. 06:11 Norm couldn't be here this weekend 06:13 but otherwise all the presidents 06:15 she has served with are here. 06:16 And thank you so much. 06:18 And, Kyle, last couple of years has, 06:21 you know, been the secretary treasurer 06:23 so thank you, Sharon, again. 06:25 May God bless you. 06:27 Thank you. 06:34 I have the privilege tonight of introducing our speaker. 06:40 My first interaction with Taj Pacleb 06:44 was when I was 15-years-old 06:48 which was actually about 13 years ago 06:49 for those of you who are wondering 06:51 if it was last year. 06:56 I was 15-years-old, 06:57 sitting in the cafeteria of my high school, 07:00 Monterey Bay Academy, 07:02 and he was with a group of people 07:04 recruiting us for literature evangelism that summer. 07:09 He was also talking about a mission trip 07:11 he was going to to Ethiopia. 07:12 And I remember when he told me about it. 07:15 The Holy Spirit just moved down my heart as he explained 07:19 what they would be doing 07:21 as they would be preaching 07:23 to hundreds of people in Ethiopia. 07:27 And God worked it out for me to go on that trip, 07:31 and I had a life-changing experience 07:34 because of that invitation. 07:36 After that summer... 07:38 After that trip, I went that summer 07:40 to another majorly life-changing experience 07:46 which was Youth Rush, 07:48 a literature evangelism program. 07:51 And Taj and Wati were my leaders. 07:53 They taught me how to share my faith 07:55 going door-to-door. 07:57 I still remember Taj 07:59 running with me door-to-door 08:01 as we talked. 08:05 You know, it's hard not to cry 08:07 thinking about the influence that they've had in my life. 08:11 And I actually know that many people 08:13 have had that experience. 08:15 Taj and Wati have mentored 08:18 and trained hundreds of young people 08:21 all over this division in literature evangelism 08:25 and in all of types of evangelism. 08:27 And I'm so privileged to be one of those people. 08:29 I remember listening to Taj's worships 08:33 every morning, 08:34 and my heart would be breaking for Jesus 08:37 as a 16-year-old 08:40 as I heard about the Jesus who loved me. 08:45 And I remember, 08:48 just loving their zest for God 08:51 and for life, they were real people, 08:54 and yet they love Jesus so much. 08:57 I would go on to be his Bible worker 08:59 for three back-to-back evangelistic series 09:02 and was able to see even more of the dedication 09:05 and deep spirituality of Taj and Wati. 09:08 And since that time, 09:09 they've become my friends and my role models, 09:11 and I can genuinely say that God placed them in my life 09:15 to help build the foundation for who I am today. 09:19 I know countless people who can testify like me 09:22 how God has used them 09:24 to draw them into a greater experience with Him. 09:28 Taj worked for the Central California Conference 09:31 as the conference evangelist for several years. 09:34 And then in 2015, they stepped out in faith 09:37 to start Revelation of Hope Ministries. 09:41 Revelation of Hope is a faith based worldwide 09:44 evangelistic ministry based in Hawaii, 09:47 and its mission is to change the population of heaven 09:50 by sharing Christ in the context 09:52 of Three Angels' Messages in all the world. 09:56 I know from experience 09:57 that the greatest desire of Taj's heart tonight 10:01 is that you would consider the words of God through him 10:04 and that you wouldn't admire him 10:06 for his eloquence or fame, 10:08 but that you would listen 10:10 to the words of the Spirit of God, 10:12 and that you would open up your hearts in a special way 10:15 and allow Jesus to draw you 10:17 into a closer relationship with Him tonight. 10:20 God bless you. 10:25 Aloha! 10:28 Aloha! Aloha. 10:30 How many of you been to Hawaii before? 10:32 All right. 10:34 How many of you wish 10:35 you'd been through Hawaii before? 10:37 If I had the power to make a motion 10:40 that we have ASI in Hawaii one of these years, 10:43 how many of you would check-in that? 10:45 All in favor, say amen. 10:47 Amen! All right. 10:48 I talk to Brother Steve back stage and he said, 10:50 "Let's make it happen." 10:52 We do have a convention center there, 10:54 and I know many people think of Hawaii 10:55 as the place of vacation 10:57 but really, it's an awesome mission field. 10:59 People who are hungering and thirsting 11:01 for the truth of God's Word. 11:03 By the way, we brought a lot of evangelistic resources 11:05 and DVDs and we don't want to take it back to Hawaii. 11:08 So after this service is finish, 11:10 we want to invite you to come visit us 11:12 at our Revelation of Hope Ministry's booth 11:14 to get some of those free DVDs. 11:17 It's always an undeserved privilege 11:19 and a high honor to share God's Word tonight. 11:22 And I just want to thank God for that opportunity. 11:25 I invite you to take your Bible and turn with me 11:26 to the Book of Isaiah Chapter 58, 11:30 Isaiah Chapter 58. 11:32 As we open God's Word for the final charge 11:34 of this powerful weekend together, 11:37 the message I want to share with you 11:38 is very simple, stay on the wall. 11:42 We're going to Isaiah Chapter 58. 11:45 It's a chapter that it's written 11:46 especially for those of us 11:48 who are living during the time of the investigative judgment, 11:51 during the antitypical Day of Atonement. 11:53 And in this series and solemn time, 11:55 it's not going to be business as usual. 11:58 For it is a solemn time for a very solemn work, 12:01 a time for us to search our hearts 12:03 and afflict our souls 12:04 in preparation for the last days. 12:06 And it's the time for us to be engaged in that special facts 12:12 of unselfish ministry to others. 12:15 And in the climax of this chapter, 12:17 we find the prophetic role 12:19 that God would have us to play in these last days. 12:22 We're in Isaiah Chapter 58, if you're there, 12:24 would you please let me know by saying amen? 12:25 Amen. 12:27 And notice what it says in verse 12. 12:29 Dear Lord, we've opened Your Word. 12:32 Now open our heart, speak to us. 12:35 And we pray that the conviction will result 12:37 in a deeper conversion of our lives 12:40 that You'd truly bring revival 12:42 that would result in the reformation 12:44 and the restoration of humanity. 12:47 Please speak now is our prayer, 12:48 in Christ's name, amen. 12:50 Amen. 12:51 Bible says in Isaiah 58:12, 12:54 "And they that shall be of thee 12:55 shall build the old waste places: 12:58 thou shalt raise up the foundations 13:00 of many generations, 13:02 and thou shalt be called..." 13:03 Let's finish it together. 13:05 "The repairer of the breach, 13:07 and the restorer of paths to dwell in." 13:12 Here in this very popular well-known passage, 13:15 we find that the primary role 13:17 that God would have us to play in these last days 13:20 is that of rebuilder, repairer, and restorer. 13:25 But something only needs to be restored 13:27 or rebuild if it's broken. 13:30 Now how many of you know something about brokenness? 13:34 I don't know about you, but I grew up in a broken home, 13:37 dysfunctional family. 13:38 We never went to a church. 13:40 Growing up, I had no idea what was God or who was God. 13:43 And without a solid foundation of faith 13:45 and the walls of truth to protect me, 13:47 I started making terrible decisions 13:49 at a very young age. 13:51 I didn't know what SDA was or ASI or GYC or ABC 13:54 or these other letters that mean so much to us. 13:58 Totally ignorant of the things of God. 14:00 And as a result, my life, like the text says, 14:02 became an old waste place. 14:05 Wasting my time and wasting my mind on drugs, 14:08 searching for something to fill the void within. 14:11 That was me when I was 16-years-old. 14:13 But in that lost condition, 14:16 someone came and knocked on my door, 14:18 invited me to a Bible prophecy seminars, 14:20 spirit-filled, Bible-based lay led evangelistic outreach. 14:25 And I'm standing before you here tonight 14:27 because in those meetings, God, the God of restoration found me 14:31 and I've never been the same since. 14:33 And I want to share with you, friends, tonight, 14:34 you may be in the midst of brokenness, 14:37 a broken marriage, a broken home, a broken body, 14:40 a broken mind, a broken ministry, 14:41 a broken church. 14:43 But thank God that our God is the God of restoration. 14:46 And if you're thankful for the God of restoration, 14:48 say amen? 14:49 Amen. 14:50 He is the one that restores what the enemy has broken. 14:54 And thank God that His work is not to tear down 14:59 but to restore. 15:01 And as we allow the Lord to repair the brokenness in us, 15:05 it's then that He will repair 15:06 the brokenness of the world through us, 15:08 for this verse not only describes 15:10 our natural condition without God, 15:12 but it also describes 15:14 our supernatural commission for God 15:16 to repair the brokenness of humanity, 15:18 the brokenness of truth. 15:20 And so it tells us 15:22 that the primary prophetic role of God's people is rebuilder, 15:26 restorer, and repairer. 15:28 The book Desire of Ages tells us 15:30 that the very essence of the gospel is what? 15:35 Is restoration. 15:36 And so those of us 15:38 who are recipients of the gospel 15:39 are called to be participants 15:41 in their very unusual special work of restoration. 15:45 But, friends, I want you to consider with me 15:47 that it takes no skill to tear down, 15:50 but it requires unusual and great wisdom, 15:53 commitment, and love to build up. 15:57 Some of you may know that earlier this year, 15:59 my family were victims of arson. 16:03 A thief came in the night 16:05 and my family home was destroyed by fire. 16:08 It was a terrible devastating experience. 16:11 The fire caused over $700,000 of damage. 16:15 It could have easily taken our life. 16:16 That's the fire that our home was destroyed by. 16:21 And it was tragic. 16:22 We made it out just in the nick of time. 16:26 It could have easily taken our lives. 16:27 And I thank God, we're all safe, 16:28 we all made it out, 16:30 and everything that can be replaced 16:31 is going to be replaced. 16:32 Thank God for fire insurance too, amen? 16:35 But there is so many blessings in the blaze. 16:38 One of the blessings 16:39 is that I was able to speak to the entire state of Hawaii 16:43 across three television news stations 16:45 about 50 minutes after the fire was extinguished. 16:48 I was on live TV, 16:50 and because I knew there was live TV, 16:52 I knew they wouldn't cut me off. 16:53 So I just kept talking and talking 16:55 and talking about Jesus. 16:58 I was saying, you know, it's a mess in there 17:00 but God take a mess and turn it into a message. 17:03 We're victims but God can take a victim 17:04 and make them a victor in Christ. 17:07 You know what I said? I said, you know what? 17:08 By the way, this whole world, one day, is gonna be on fire. 17:11 But the Bible says, 17:12 "He that does God's will will abide forever." 17:14 Amen? Amen! 17:17 Now I never thought when I went to bed that night 17:22 that in a few hours, 17:23 three or four o'clock in the morning, 17:25 I'd have the chance to speak to my entire state 17:26 but God does wonderful things. 17:28 Amen? Amen. 17:29 And by the way, you can see the whole news report 17:31 if you go on our YouTube channel. 17:32 Just type in Blessings from the Blaze, 17:36 and you can see the whole thing. 17:37 It's a powerful thing of the Lord. 17:38 What the enemy meant for evil, God turned it around for good. 17:40 And it just gave us more fuel 17:42 that if a devil is gonna bring destruction to us, 17:44 we need to bring destruction to his kingdom. 17:47 And the only way we can do that is 17:48 by lifting up Christ. 17:50 Amen? 17:51 And so right now, we're in the rebuilding process, 17:53 the restoration process. 17:54 And I learned that restoration is a process in two phases, 17:59 demolition and rebuilding. 18:02 You see, before the home can be rebuilt, 18:04 the damaged interior of the house 18:06 needs to be torn down. 18:08 And it took the demolition crew just one week, 18:11 but it's gonna take the rebuilding crew 18:13 several months. 18:14 My friends, it takes no skill to tear down, 18:18 but it requires great wisdom, commitment, and love 18:21 to build up and that's the same 18:24 with the restoration work of God. 18:25 My friends, in our world today, 18:27 there are many spiritual walls that must be torn down, 18:31 walls of selfishness and sin and spiritual lies 18:34 that separate us from God and one another. 18:36 As Protestants, God is calling us to cry aloud 18:39 and spare not and to lift up our voice like a trumpet, 18:43 and call sin by its right name. 18:45 And the reason why 18:46 is because before the truth can make us free, 18:48 we first must know the lie that holds us in captivity. 18:53 There are many spiritual walls that need to be torn down. 18:56 But, friends, you realize that there's some ministries 19:00 within the church. 19:02 Has spend most of their time in tearing down 19:05 and they spent little time in building up. 19:08 People who are so consumed with the counterfeits 19:12 that they rarely talk about the truth. 19:14 People who are so focused on the beast, 19:16 they end up losing sight of the lamb. 19:19 Sometimes, we can emphasize all the rules and the reforms 19:22 without pointing to the relationship 19:24 that gives us the power. 19:25 We forget that our religion is not a negative religion, 19:29 consisting in various prohibitions, 19:32 ours is a positive religion that offers 19:34 something better than what the world offers. 19:36 Amen? Amen. 19:38 And that's the watchman of Christianity 19:40 of all true education, something better. 19:44 But then there are those who like to err out 19:46 all the dirty laundry of the church 19:49 for the world to see on YouTube. 19:51 Ministries and individuals 19:52 who seem to rejoice over the evils 19:55 that they see and they're eager to publish it to the world. 19:58 They're in the business of tearing down 20:00 instead of building up. 20:02 These are end time Pharisees 20:04 who live to criticize the folks 20:07 and the mistakes of others. 20:08 And unfortunately, 20:10 they use it as an opportunity to line their pockets 20:12 with tight money, 20:13 thinking that they're doing the work of God 20:15 and yet they're revealing the fruits of the enemy 20:18 who seeks to divide us, 20:19 deter us and distract us from the work of restoration. 20:23 Friends, listen, especially those of you 20:24 who live in Orlando, 20:26 not everything that glitters is gold, 20:29 not every rainbow represents the promise of God, 20:32 not every preacher is telling the truth, 20:35 not every church is the church of God, 20:37 not every biblical counselor will offer you biblical counsel 20:40 and keep your business a secret. 20:43 My friends, God has called us not to tear down 20:47 but to build up. 20:48 And not every worker for God 20:50 is doing the work of restoration. 20:53 God has called us to do that work. 20:55 Amen? Amen. 20:56 And so what does that mean 21:00 practically and prophetically? 21:03 If our primary work is not to tear down 21:05 but to build up, what does that mean? 21:07 It takes no skill to tear down, 21:09 it requires great commitment to build up. 21:11 What does it mean prophetically and practically? 21:14 I want to look at that little bit deeper. 21:16 As we consider the context of this Isaiah 58 commission, 21:21 as the sacred record tells us but the context is this. 21:26 Because of the abominations of Israel, 21:29 the kingdom of Babylon would invade Jerusalem 21:31 and bring desolation to the city. 21:34 The walls were breached, the temple was burnt. 21:37 And God's people were enslaved in Babylonian bondage. 21:40 But after many decades of desolation, 21:42 God opened the way for a brand new beginning. 21:45 After 70 years, Babylon is fallen. 21:49 And now God was calling His people to come out of her. 21:53 It was time to go back to Jerusalem 21:56 to be engaged in the work of restoration. 21:59 And so they went back, you know the story. 22:02 Eventually, the temple was rebuilt 22:04 but there was still a breach in the wall 22:06 even after three Persian decrees, 22:09 the work was not yet finished. 22:11 There was a breach in the wall. 22:13 And for a time, God's people ceased the work on the wall, 22:17 the work had begun but it wasn't finished. 22:20 My friends, as we think about this ancient story, 22:23 let us remember, the Bible tells us, 22:25 "That which has been is that which shall be." 22:29 There is deep prophetic significance of this story 22:32 for us in these last days where in the year 1844, 22:37 a mighty prophetic movement began. 22:40 The first angel began to cry out 22:43 that the hour of God's judgment is come. 22:46 In that prophetic year, 22:47 the first angel gave that message, 22:49 the time had come for the sanctuary in heaven 22:51 to be cleansed and restored. 22:54 It was time to follow Jesus 22:56 into the most holy place experience. 22:59 But as that message went out, 23:01 those who rejected that message and did not follow Jesus 23:04 into that experience, 23:06 they ended up falling into Babylonian confusion. 23:09 And when that happened, 23:11 the second angel began to sound. 23:12 The second angel said, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen." 23:17 God was calling His people 23:18 to come out of the fallen churches of Babylon 23:20 that had rejected the first angel's message. 23:23 And those who came out, 23:26 you know, when you come out of something, 23:28 simultaneously, you're coming in 23:31 to something else. 23:33 Coming into what? 23:34 The final prophetic movement of destiny 23:36 that God had risen up for such a time as this, 23:39 to finish the work of rebuilding the breach 23:42 in the wall of truth. 23:43 And so the third angel began to cry after that. 23:46 The third angel saying, 23:47 "Here is the patience of the saints. 23:49 Here are they that keep the commandments of God 23:51 and the faith of Jesus." 23:55 Here's the movement, 23:56 a church called to preach the pure, 23:59 complete gospel message of restoration 24:02 in all of the world like the Jews of old. 24:06 It was a movement called to rise up out of Babylon, 24:09 to rebuild the sacred temple of God's sanctuary message, 24:13 and to finish the unusual work of restoration. 24:17 And so in 1844, the wonderful work 24:21 of the last days began. 24:23 Our forefathers of faith 24:25 laid a solid foundation of truth for our feet. 24:28 They began to publish and preach it 24:30 to whomever would listen, 24:31 and from humble beginnings 24:33 this movement spread rapidly to every nation, 24:36 kindred, tongue, and people. 24:37 The walls of truth were being rebuilt, 24:39 and the prophetic paths were being restored. 24:43 But 170 years have gone by since then, 24:46 and there is still unfinished business. 24:50 The work is not yet done. 24:52 There is still a breach in the wall, 24:55 and Jesus has not yet returned. 24:57 Our faith has yet to meet our eyes. 25:00 And we are still waiting for the return of King Jesus. 25:03 But here's the good news, friends. 25:05 What the three angels failed to finish 25:07 in the 1800s and 1900s, 25:09 the fourth angel of Revelation 18 25:11 will bring to completion. 25:14 Is this, is the fourth and final decree 25:17 that will finish the work upon the wall? 25:20 And so it's in this context 25:23 that God rose up a man of opportunity, 25:26 a simple layman used by God 25:29 to initiate a powerful revival 25:31 that would bring the finishing of the work upon the wall. 25:35 And, my friends, his story, his story points us 25:39 to three essential things that we need 25:42 for a finished work now. 25:44 And those three things, 25:45 I want to give you right up front. 25:47 The three things are these, 25:48 focus, fusion, and faithfulness. 25:52 Focus, fusion, and faithfulness. 25:55 For the sake of time, we will summarize his story. 25:59 His name, Nehemiah, it means Jehovah comforts. 26:03 He was the spiritual giant amongst the people. 26:06 He wasn't a prophet, he wasn't a priest, 26:07 he wasn't a king, he was a simple layman, 26:10 one of the thousands of Hebrew captains 26:12 exiled as a stranger in a foreign land. 26:15 But divine providence had led him 26:17 to the place of privilege and position 26:20 in the kingdom of Persia. 26:22 He was the king's cupbearer, 26:23 a position of great responsibility and trust. 26:26 He was granted the privilege of living 26:28 in the comfortable palace of the king. 26:31 But in that comfortable palace, 26:33 Nehemiah could not be comforted. 26:35 The luxuries of royalty 26:36 and the financial securities of the kingdom 26:39 offered to him no rest at all. 26:41 For how can he rest when his city was in ruins 26:45 and his people enslaved. 26:47 And so the comfortable palace was not a place to be desired 26:51 while his people were lost. 26:53 My friends, Jesus feels the same way about you 26:56 and me today. 26:58 And so Nehemiah, I can imagine, he began to think to himself, 27:01 "There's got to be more to life than this." 27:04 He began to think to himself, 27:05 "I'm sick and tired of business as usual." 27:09 He began to sense a higher, holier calling upon his life. 27:12 He began to realize that he was created 27:14 for something more than what he was doing, 27:17 more than just living in the palace 27:19 and giving juice to the king, 27:21 and the fact that 27:23 he was not living out his divine purpose 27:25 and reaching his full potential 27:27 was a heavy burden on his heart. 27:29 And, my friends, as we think about 27:31 the life of this layman of old, 27:32 the question comes to us tonight. 27:35 What burdens you? 27:37 What keeps you up at night? 27:39 What troubles you? 27:41 Do you have a burden for the unfinished work of God? 27:44 Or are you burdened by things 27:46 that don't really matter in light of eternity? 27:49 Concerned with your own comforts, 27:51 absorbed in your own agenda, captivated by your own career, 27:55 engrossed with your own goals 27:57 while all the while the house of God 27:59 and the walls of truth are broken down. 28:02 My friends, listen carefully. 28:04 We were created to live 28:05 for something more than our selves. 28:07 We were created to live 28:09 for something more than just the nine-to-five job, 28:11 the status quo, the typical, the usual, 28:13 the ordinary, and the common. 28:15 Desire of Ages tells us 28:16 that higher than the highest human thought 28:18 can reach is God's ideal for you. 28:23 We're created for the glory of God 28:26 and the blessing of others. 28:27 And this divine call was placed upon our lives 28:30 at the moment of conception. 28:32 Somebody said like this, 28:34 "Your job is what you're paid for, 28:35 but your calling is what you're made for." 28:38 Don't allow your job to be an excuse to neglect your call, 28:41 but allow the Lord to use your job 28:43 as a means to fulfill that call of glorifying God, 28:47 blessing others, 28:49 and rebuilding the walls of truth. 28:51 For only as we live out that call, 28:53 we truly find comfort, rest, and satisfaction in life. 28:58 Amen? 28:59 So Nehemiah understood that he wasn't called 29:02 simply to stay in and enjoy the luxuries of the palace. 29:06 He wasn't called to do something 29:08 that the irreligious could have easily done. 29:11 And as the conviction of his call grew stronger, 29:14 his spiritual focus grew clearer. 29:17 He began to focus on living for a cause 29:20 that was greater than himself. 29:22 And by the way, friends, he didn't need a title, 29:24 or position, or a paycheck to do it. 29:27 All he needed was simply a greater cause to live for, 29:31 and even a cause that was worth dying for. 29:33 Can you say amen? Amen. 29:34 My wife and I have the privilege of traveling 29:36 and doing evangelism all over the world, 29:38 and it's a wonderful privilege. 29:40 But before we started 29:42 our supporting ministry of the church a few years ago, 29:45 we were blessed to work in the conference 29:47 as conference evangelists 29:48 and doing literature ministries, 29:49 and we were there for at least 12 years 29:51 and had a wonderful time. 29:53 About 10 of those 12 years, 29:54 we were on the ordination track, 29:56 but unfortunately 29:57 because of certain church policies, 29:59 we were not able to be ordained. 30:00 And you know, for a while, that bothered me 30:02 but I began to realize that God can use all of us, 30:06 and we don't need a title, position, or paycheck, 30:08 we just need something to live for, 30:10 and God is going to do something special, 30:12 very unusual in the last days. 30:15 He's gonna call 11th hour workers 30:17 from the plow to the pulpit to do a mighty work. 30:20 And as the book Great Controversy tells us, 30:22 these will not be qualified by literary institutions 30:25 but rather by the unction of the Holy Spirit 30:28 and that's what we need now, friends. 30:34 And Nehemiah understood that. 30:36 And so just like a bald eagle 30:38 whose eyes were fixed on his prey, 30:40 Nehemiah began to focus on living for a cause 30:44 that was greater than himself. 30:46 And as a humble layman, 30:48 he did a work that others had neglected to do. 30:51 Friends, I want to be like Nehemiah. 30:52 How about you? Amen? 30:54 So Nehemiah did two things. 30:56 Number one, he knelt down in prayer. 30:59 And then number two, he got up off his knees 31:02 and he offered himself 31:04 as the answer to his own prayer. 31:06 My friends, 31:08 Nehemiah didn't wait for somebody else 31:10 to move before he did. 31:11 He took the responsibility upon himself. 31:14 Nehemiah knew that when prayers go up, 31:16 wisdom, and power, and blessings come down. 31:19 He had a "Here I am, send me" kind of attitude. 31:23 And like Nehemiah, today, perhaps you feel like 31:25 there's nothing happening in your local church. 31:28 Perhaps the services are lifeless 31:30 and the sermons are stale, 31:32 or maybe the attitude of some of the church members 31:34 are as cold as an Arctic winter, 31:36 or maybe the outreach of your local church 31:38 only extends to the borders of the church property. 31:41 Oh, friends, when you look upon the broken walls, 31:43 you just got two options. 31:45 Either you're going to sit down and complain about it, 31:49 or you're going to kneel down, 31:51 then stand up and do something about it. 31:54 God calls us to do the latter. 31:56 He is looking for someone, friends, 31:58 who are dissatisfied with business as usual. 32:01 He's looking for just one who will stand up 32:04 and be an agent of change in their community. 32:06 And so, my friends, 32:07 if there's a work to be done, do it. 32:10 If there's something that needs to be said, say it. 32:13 If there's a message to be given, give it. 32:15 If there's a need that needs to be supplied, meet it. 32:18 If there's a check that needs to be written, write it. 32:21 If there's a position 32:22 that needs to be filled, fill it. 32:24 If there's a promise 32:25 that needs to be claimed, claim it. 32:27 And that's exactly what Nehemiah did. 32:30 He knew that if God would open the doors, 32:32 He would also provide the means 32:35 because if it's God's will, it's God's bill. 32:37 Amen? Amen. 32:38 And indeed, the doors were open, 32:40 the means were provided. 32:42 And so he went back 32:43 to reveal the broken walls of Jerusalem. 32:45 I want to be like Nehemiah, how about you? 32:48 And upon arriving in Jerusalem, 32:49 Nehemiah did something interesting. 32:51 He didn't begin the work right away. 32:54 The sacred record tells us that Nehemiah 32:56 took the first three days simply to pray, 33:00 to observe the condition of the work and simply to pray, 33:03 because Nehemiah understood 33:05 that this was no ordinary endeavor, 33:07 it was an unusual work 33:10 that required unusual wisdom and power. 33:12 And so when Nehemiah came to Jerusalem, 33:14 you have to understand 33:16 that he came invested with the authority 33:18 of the king of Persia. 33:20 He had the power and the position 33:22 and the resources to begin 33:24 to order the people of God to start working. 33:27 But Nehemiah wasn't a dictator nor was he a micromanager. 33:31 He was a true lay leader. 33:33 He did not use his position or his resources 33:37 to boss people around. 33:39 Instead of giving dictatorial commands, 33:41 he simply gave an appeal to the heart. 33:44 Why? 33:45 Because Nehemiah understood the second thing that we need 33:48 for a finished work now, not only individual focus, 33:51 but Nehemiah understood that 33:53 in order for the work to be finished, 33:54 there had to be corporate fusion. 33:58 Not only focus, but fusion. 34:02 He knew that the work could not be completed 34:04 from the top down but rather from the bottom up. 34:07 The people needed to catch the vision, 34:09 they needed to own the endeavor. 34:11 So instead of enforcing their hands, 34:13 Nehemiah sought to win their hearts. 34:16 Why? 34:17 Because the union of hands and heart 34:20 between the laity and the clergy 34:23 was essential for a completed work. 34:25 The same is true for us today, friends. 34:27 My beloved, brothers and sisters, 34:29 we need one another in order to finish the work. 34:33 Our mission is called the Great Commission, 34:36 not the great competition. 34:38 And the word commission is two words. 34:39 It's a mission that requires the cooperation 34:43 of two or more parties. 34:45 As self-supporting ministries, 34:46 we need the support of the church. 34:48 And as a church, 34:49 we need the work of self-supporting ministries. 34:51 We can't do it alone, we need one another 34:53 because the fiery fusion of unity 34:56 result in spiritual synergy 34:58 that will finish the work, friends. 35:00 That's what we need to be praying for. 35:02 There's some people that I can reach 35:04 that you may not be able to reach. 35:06 Surely, there are people that you can reach 35:07 that I can't reach. 35:08 But if we work together, we can reach the whole world. 35:11 Amen? Amen. 35:12 United we stand, divided we fall. 35:15 And so, friends, let us stand upon the wall 35:19 and let's do it together. 35:20 Amen? Amen. 35:21 So Nehemiah got connected to God vertically. 35:24 And then when he went to Jerusalem, 35:26 he got connected 35:28 with the people of God horizontally. 35:30 And, friends, when there's a vertical connection 35:32 and a horizontal connection, what do you have? 35:35 You have a cross. 35:36 This is what I'd like to call cross-centered unity. 35:39 It's not an ecumenical unity. 35:41 It's a cross-centered unity. 35:44 And, friends, wherever there's a cross, 35:46 there is death to self, selfishness, sin, 35:51 and spiritual pride. 35:53 And it is cross-centered unity 35:55 that is the prerequisite for finished work 35:58 because it's the self sacrificing love 36:00 demonstrated upon the cross 36:01 that's going to win the world for Christ. 36:04 And so the record tells us that the people of God 36:06 began to work as one man, 36:08 a mighty movement to finish the work. 36:11 But then the record tells us 36:13 that there was a three-fold union 36:17 that united together 36:18 to try to stop the work upon the walls. 36:21 You can read it in Nehemiah Chapter 6, 36:23 their names, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, 36:26 a three-fold union. 36:27 They came together, and they united, 36:29 and they tried to get Nehemiah to come down from the wall. 36:33 They said to Nehemiah, come, 36:35 let us meet in such and such a place. 36:37 It seemed like they wanted diplomatic relations, 36:40 an ecumenical truth so to speak but the real agenda, 36:45 get Nehemiah off the wall and cause the work to cease. 36:49 But the Bible tells us that Nehemiah 36:51 would not be called down by compromise, 36:54 he allowed nothing to distract him from his duty. 36:57 Faithfulness was more important 36:59 than compromising with the enemy. 37:01 And so he simply said, "I can't. 37:03 I'm doing a great work. 37:04 I can't come down. 37:06 Why should I come down and cause the work to cease 37:08 while meeting with you?" 37:10 And so he continued faithfully upon the wall. 37:12 And the record tells us 37:14 that the wall was finished in 52 days. 37:16 How many days? 37:18 Because there was no breach in their unity, 37:21 there was no breach in the wall. 37:24 My friends, what does this have to do with us today? 37:27 Listen very carefully. 37:30 Today, there are multitude of forces 37:33 both seen and unseen that are uniting together, 37:37 seeking to get God's people off of the wall of truth, 37:42 the wall of mission, and the wall of love. 37:44 Coalitions are uniting to call us down and compromise 37:48 so that the walls of truth may be demolished. 37:51 And in this age of compromise, I urge you, friends, 37:55 don't fall, stay on the wall. 37:58 Just as there was a three-fold union 38:00 that united against Nehemiah, 38:02 so too does the Book of Revelation 38:03 predict a three-fold union that's going to unite 38:06 to try to stop God's work, the dragon, the beast, 38:09 the false prophet, that Spiritualism, Catholicism, 38:12 and apostate Protestantism, 38:14 and friends, these are the movements 38:16 that are already united together. 38:19 An ecumenical movement 38:20 that mistakenly looks upon the walls of truth 38:23 as divisive and a barrier to unity. 38:26 The loud cry of the apostate churches of the world is 38:29 tear down this wall. 38:32 "Forget about absolute doctrinal truths, 38:35 just give us love," they say. 38:38 "We don't need the truth 38:39 as long as we have the spirit, " 38:41 but it's a counterfeit spirit 38:43 that leads to a counterfeit truth. 38:45 And, my friends, as we see the prophecies of Revelation 13 38:47 being fulfilled before our very eyes, 38:50 and as the world gathers together 38:52 and is following the beast, I urge you, my friends, 38:55 don't fall, stay on the wall. 38:58 Today, we live in a world where human reason 39:00 is being exalted above divine revelation, 39:03 a time where humanism 39:05 is getting a foothold in many churches 39:08 where church members are rejecting 39:10 absolute doctrinal truths, 39:11 and they're replacing it 39:13 with subjective personal experiences 39:15 that the devil can easily manipulate. 39:18 A time when emotionalism is taking the place 39:21 of deep searching of heart, 39:22 a time when theatrics are taking the place 39:25 of the preaching of the pure Word of God. 39:27 And, friends, as we see multitudes 39:29 being swept away by the current of religious relativism, 39:32 I urge you today, friends, don't fall, stay on the wall. 39:37 Today, we live in a world of mass media distraction, 39:41 internet and television and social media, 39:44 all of these sound bites and flashing lights, 39:46 demanding our time and diverting 39:48 our attention from what Jesus is doing for us 39:51 in the sanctuary above. 39:52 And as the enemy seeks to desensitize us 39:55 by worldly attractions and distractions, 39:57 I urge you, friends, don't fall, stay on the wall. 40:02 Then there's the virus 40:04 of dry religious formalism infecting the church. 40:08 Religious distracters, the major and the minors, 40:12 and minor and the majors, 40:13 and they forget the weightier matters of the law like love, 40:16 justice, and mercy. 40:18 In the land of Laodicea, 40:20 many people are becoming comfortable in complacency, 40:23 lazy, and lukewarmness, 40:25 and are rigid in self righteous formality. 40:29 We boast that we have the right answers, 40:31 but all the while we lacked the right spirit. 40:34 Our heads are full with the theory of truth, 40:36 but our hearts are empty of the person of truth. 40:39 And we're like the Pharisees of old. 40:42 Sometimes bringing that adulterous woman to Jesus, 40:46 calling sin by its right name, wanting to accuse her, 40:50 quoting the law, calling sin by its right name, 40:54 while all the while 40:55 their own hearts were more guilty 40:57 because of their pride and self righteousness, 40:59 more guilty than the one 41:01 that they're ready to throw stones at. 41:04 My friends, as the devil is trying to knock us down 41:07 into the ditch of legalism, I urge you, don't fall, 41:12 stay on the wall. 41:14 Then there's that other equally dangerous ditch 41:16 on the other side of the wall called liberalism, 41:20 the idea that God is not particular 41:22 and that he has no standards. 41:23 It is the gospel that cheapens the expensive grace of God 41:27 and makes it a license to sin. 41:29 It is a one-sided preaching, 41:31 one-sided programs and projects 41:34 that try to divorce God's love from God's law. 41:37 It tries to separate Jesus from prophecy 41:39 and prophecy from Jesus, 41:41 mercy from justice and justice from mercy. 41:44 But these two should never be separated. 41:46 What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. 41:50 And so as the devil is trying to knock us down 41:52 into the ditch of liberalism, I urge you today, friends, 41:56 don't fall, stay on the wall. 42:00 As the devil seeks to divide us with rigid legalism 42:05 and loose liberalism, 42:06 the solution is not to try to avoid one another 42:09 on either side of the wall, 42:11 but for each of us to come up higher, 42:13 to let Jesus lift us up on the wall of divine love. 42:17 For it is upon the wall of love 42:19 that we learned the perfect blend and balance 42:21 with justice and mercy, 42:23 a beautiful balance of spirit and truth. 42:27 And so, my beloved church, 42:28 let's stay on the wall together. 42:30 Let us love one another, 42:32 let us work together to finish the work. 42:34 Like Nehemiah, let it be our cry, 42:37 "We will not come down from the wall." 42:39 When someone mistreats you, 42:41 and you feel like getting angry, 42:42 stay on the wall. 42:44 When there are tears in the church 42:45 that make you feel like leaving the church, stay on the wall. 42:48 When you go through tragedy and you don't understand why, 42:51 stay on the wall. 42:53 When life becomes overwhelming and you feel like giving up, 42:55 stay on the wall. 42:56 When your own carnal flesh 42:58 is pulling into forbidden waters, 43:01 remain on the wall. 43:04 My friends, as we finish ASI and get ready to go back 43:08 to our respective fields, 43:09 let us remember 43:11 that a finished work in this generation 43:12 requires three things. 43:14 Number one, unusual focus. 43:17 Number two, unusual fusion. 43:20 And number three, unusual faithfulness. 43:22 How many of you see your need today 43:24 of God's focus, fusion and faithfulness? 43:26 How many want to say, 43:27 "Lord, help me to remain on the wall"? 43:29 Now as we close, 43:30 what enables us to remain on the wall? 43:33 My friends, 43:35 is because Jesus remained on the wall for us. 43:40 While the walls of humanity were broken, like Nehemiah, 43:44 Jesus could find no rest in the heavenly palace. 43:47 So he came to the world to rebuild the broken walls. 43:51 But in the garden of the olive press, 43:53 Jesus was pressed to come off the wall, 43:56 tempted to abort his mission 43:57 and return to the heavily palace, 43:59 but just Jesus remained on the wall. 44:01 What he said, "Not my will, Thy will be done." 44:05 But then upon Mount Calvary, 44:07 Jesus was tempted to come off the wall. 44:09 Notice what it says, Matthew 27, 44:11 "Those who passed by blasphemed him, 44:14 wagging their heads and saying, 44:16 You who destroy the temple and," what? 44:19 "Build it in three days, save Yourself. 44:22 If you're the Son of God, come down from the cross." 44:25 My friends, what was Jesus doing on the cross? 44:28 He was building something, 44:30 He was rebuilding the broken walls of humanity. 44:33 And as humanity 44:35 was tearing down divinity of the cross, 44:37 divinity was rebuilding humanity. 44:39 You see, it takes no skill to tear down, 44:42 but it requires great wisdom and love to build up. 44:44 That's what Jesus demonstrated at Calvary. 44:47 And then they began 44:49 to attack His faith in His Father. 44:50 Matthew 27:43 says, "He trusted in God. 44:54 Let Him the Father deliver Him that is the Son, 44:58 if He the father would have Him the Son, 45:01 for He said 'I am the Son of God.' " 45:03 My friends, you understand what they were saying here. 45:06 What they were saying was this. 45:07 Not only do we not want you, not even God wants you. 45:12 If God wants you, He would deliver you, 45:14 but the fact he's not shows that even God has forsaken you. 45:18 God hates you, God has cursed you. 45:21 He despises you, He has left you, 45:23 He's given upon you. 45:25 So you might as well give up on Him 45:27 and come down from the cross. 45:29 Save yourself, save self, save self. 45:33 Has the devil ever whispered that in your ears, friends? 45:37 This was the agonizing temptation of Christ. 45:41 We will face a similar temptation 45:42 in the last days, 45:44 a time where we as God's people 45:45 will be forsaken by man and seemingly forgotten by God, 45:49 a time when the whole world will be against us 45:51 and heaven will be silent. 45:52 And in that crisis hour that which we need 45:55 to remain on the wall is the faith of Jesus. 46:00 What was the faith of Jesus? 46:01 Listen, listen, listen. 46:03 Christ understood that in tempting Him 46:07 without realizing it, 46:08 they were actually fulfilling Bible prophecy. 46:12 When they said, 46:14 "He trusted in God, let God deliver Him." 46:16 They were actually quoting from a Messianic Prophecy 46:19 in Psalms 22:8. 46:22 "He trusted on the Lord that He would deliver Him: 46:25 let Him deliver Him, seeing He delights in Him." 46:29 And so as the people tempted Christ by quoting verse 8, 46:33 Jesus overcame that temptation by quoting verse 1. 46:39 He said in verse 1, He quoted this verse, 46:42 "My God, My God, 46:45 why hast thou forsaken me?" 46:50 You have to understand, friends, 46:52 that that was both an interrogative 46:54 and a declarative statement. 46:57 Jesus was asking His Father, why He had forsaken Him 47:00 because that's exactly how He felt. 47:03 But in asking that question, 47:04 Jesus was also declaring 47:06 that even though I feel like You have forsaken Me, Father, 47:09 I will not forsake You. 47:11 Jesus didn't say, 47:12 "God, God, why have You forsaken me?" 47:14 He said, "My God, My God." 47:18 In other words, "Father, 47:19 even though it seems like I am no longer Yours, 47:22 You are still my God. 47:26 Even though it seems like You have left me, 47:28 I will not leave You. 47:29 I will not give up on You. 47:31 I will stay on the wall." 47:35 It was as if Jesus was saying, "I'm doing a great work. 47:38 I cannot come down from this wall." 47:41 And so Jesus clung to the old rugged cross. 47:44 And by doing so, 47:46 He was guaranteeing the finishing of the work 47:47 of rebuilding broken humanity. 47:49 And if you're thankful for the Lord Jesus, 47:51 let me hear you say amen. 47:52 Amen. 47:53 And guess what happened 52 days later. 47:57 How long did it take Nehemiah to finish the wall? 48:00 Guess what happened 52 days after the cross. 48:03 The day of Pentecost was fully come 48:05 and power was poured out on the early Apostolic Church. 48:09 And because there was no breach in their unity, 48:12 there was no breach in that wall. 48:15 Jesus remained on the wall for you. 48:18 Will you remain on the wall for Him? 48:20 I want to stand up and be counted. 48:22 How about you? Amen? 48:23 Amen. 48:25 Allow me to finish with some good news 48:27 and some bad news. 48:29 The bad news is this. 48:30 Our adversaries are great, our obstacles are many, 48:35 our resources are limited, our numbers are few, 48:38 our faith is weak, our doubts are strong, 48:41 and our carnal flesh is powerful. 48:43 But here's the good news, friends. 48:44 Our God is almighty, His power is unlimited, 48:49 His wisdom unmatched, His resources are infinite, 48:53 His grace is sufficient, His love is eternal, 48:56 and His presence is with us. 48:57 And so we can't lose when Jesus we choose. 49:01 We have no reason to fear when Jesus is near. 49:04 And we will not fall from the wall 49:06 where upon Jesus we call and surrender our all. 49:10 And so today, if you want to say, 49:12 "Lord, help me to remain on the wall," 49:13 I invite you to stand to your feet 49:14 where you are quickly. 49:17 As we close in prayer, 49:19 why don't you put your arm around the person next to you, 49:23 and let's make a wall of prayer, shall we? 49:25 Let's hold one another as God holds us as we close ASI 2018. 49:30 And our prayer simply tonight is this. 49:31 "Lord, forgive me for my fall. 49:34 Help me to live out my call and give me courage 49:38 to remain upon the wall." 49:40 Let us pray. 49:41 Father in heaven, thank You so much, Lord, 49:45 for Your amazing grace and Your marvelous mercy. 49:49 Thank You, dear God, 49:52 You sent Your beloved Son. 49:55 And that You, Lord Jesus, 49:56 were willing to leave the comforts 49:58 of the heavenly palace 50:00 to rebuild broken humanity. 50:03 And thank You, Lord, 50:04 that You did not come off the cross. 50:06 You remained on the wall for us. 50:11 Now, dear Lord, we pray that You please forgive us 50:13 for the time that we have come off the wall, 50:16 the times that we were so absorbed 50:18 in building our own houses, 50:21 and the work of the gospel wasn't finished. 50:25 Lord, I pray, we pray that You give us focus, 50:30 You give us the fire of fusion, 50:33 and You give us unwavering faithfulness. 50:38 Thank You, Lord Jesus. 50:39 We commit ourselves to You again. 50:42 Give us strength now as we leave, 50:44 keep us in Your grace. 50:46 In Jesus' name, we pray that all of God's end time, 50:49 Nehemiah say. 50:51 Amen. Amen. 50:53 God bless you, friends. 50:54 Aloha and Maranatha. 51:17 We're pilgrims on the journey 51:21 Of the narrow road 51:25 And those who've gone before us 51:29 Line the way 51:33 Cheering on the faithful, 51:37 Encouraging the weary 51:41 Their lives a stirring testament 51:45 To God's sustaining grace 51:51 Surrounded by so great 51:55 A cloud of witnesses 51:59 Let us run the race not only for the prize 52:07 For as those who've gone before us 52:10 Let us leave to those behind us 52:15 A heritage of faithfulness 52:18 Passed on through godly lives 52:23 Oh may all who come behind us 52:27 Find us faithful 52:31 May the fire of our devotion light their way 52:38 May the footprints that we leave 52:43 Lead them to believe 52:46 And the lives that live inspire them to obey 52:53 Oh may all who come behind us 52:58 Find us faithful 53:10 After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone 53:17 And our children sift through all we've left behind 53:25 May the clues that they discover 53:29 And the memories they uncover 53:33 Become the light that leads them 53:36 To the road we each must find 53:42 Oh may all who come behind us 53:46 Find us faithful 53:49 May the fire of our devotion light their way 53:57 May the footprints that we leave 54:01 Lead them to believe 54:04 And the lives that live inspire them to obey 54:11 Oh may all who come behind us 54:15 Find us faithful 54:19 May the fire of our devotion light their way 54:26 May the footprints that we leave 54:31 Lead them to believe 54:34 And the lives that live inspire them To obey 54:41 Oh may all who come behind us 54:47 Find us faithful 55:04 Amen. 55:05 May all who come behind us find us faithful. 55:08 Amen. 55:09 What a blessing it's been for our ASI 2018 55:12 International Convention here in Orlando, Florida. 55:15 Just want to say thank you 55:17 to all of you for coming tonight. 55:19 And, Philip, I was just thinking 55:20 as we're coming out. 55:22 I wonder what business unusual 55:25 each one of us will do this coming year. 55:28 You know, this is a two-year theme. 55:30 Right. 55:32 So next year, we're going to be where? 55:34 We'll be in Louisville, Kentucky 55:37 from July 31 to August 3. 55:41 In fact, we'd like you to take out your phones 55:43 or take out your calendars 55:45 and put it in there right now 55:47 because we want to see you next year 55:49 in Louisville, Kentucky from July 31 to August 3. 55:55 Yeah, we don't want any mistakes in your calendars, 55:57 so just to clear that out. 55:58 I've got it in mine already. 55:59 All right, Philip. 56:01 Good man has it in his calendar already. 56:02 Absolutely. 56:03 And I hope and pray that we can see 56:05 each one of you there next year with us. 56:07 And the theme next year, still business unusual, 56:10 it's a two-year theme. 56:11 Absolutely. 56:12 And so we're inviting you to think about 56:14 what you can do this year that will be business unusual. |
Revised 2019-01-03