Participants: Pr. Wayne Boehm
Series Code: CR
Program Code: CR001121
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00:08 From Arcadia, California,
00:09 the Carter report presents 00:11 "The Living Word" around the world. 00:18 "Witch doctors, Devil worshippers, 00:23 God's amazing grace." 00:26 We have with us today from Australia, 00:29 Pastor Wayne Boehm and his beautiful family 00:32 Carole and the two boys. 00:35 And Pastor Boehm is the president of the mission, 00:38 the great mission in the Solomon Island. 00:41 You're going to be blessed. 00:43 You're going to be thrilled today. 00:46 But right now let me introduce to you a very special, 00:49 beautiful lady who came with us to the Solomon Islands. 00:52 Would you please welcome today, Sharon Verde? 01:24 When the night is long 01:32 When I yearn for deep peace to come 01:40 I strain to hear Your song 01:48 But suddenly I know I'm not alone 01:54 For You settled over me 01:59 Dispelling all my fears 02:03 My Father 02:05 I know You are here 02:13 And may Yours be 02:15 The only smile I need to see 02:20 And may You be the healing 02:26 Watching over me 02:28 With Your arms around me 02:32 And Your peace surrounds me 02:38 And may it only be You 02:44 I cling to 02:54 I set out on this road 03:02 So many voices call to my soul 03:10 They try to fill my cup 03:19 But I have found sweet Lord 03:22 That You're my enough 03:25 So Lord staying close to You 03:29 You hold me to Your side 03:34 My Father 03:36 The joy of my life 03:42 And may Yours be 03:44 The only smile I need to see 03:50 And may You be the healing 03:55 Watching over me 03:58 With Your arms around me 04:02 And Your peace surrounds me 04:07 And may it only be You 04:14 I cling to 04:19 Break any hold this world has on me 04:27 I'm letting go 04:31 And I throw myself at Your feet 04:36 There's just one thing 04:39 One single thing I need 04:44 It's to know the very One 04:47 Who found me 04:59 And may Yours be 05:07 The only smiles I need to see 05:13 And may You be the healing 05:18 Watching over me 05:21 With Your arms around me 05:25 And Your peace surrounds me 05:31 And may it only be You 05:37 And may Yours be the only 05:43 Smile I need to see 05:46 And may You be the healing 05:50 Always watching over me 05:54 With Your arms around me 05:58 And Your peace surrounds me 06:04 And may it only be You 06:12 And may it only be You 06:19 I cling to 06:49 The topic today is "Witch doctors, 06:52 Devil worshippers and God's amazing grace." 06:57 Our special guest today is Pastor Wayne Boehm 07:01 from the land down under. 07:02 Before going to the Solomon Islands, 07:05 he and his beautiful family were in the beautiful Apple Isle. 07:10 That's Tasmania where he was the president of the church. 07:15 He is now the president of the church 07:18 out in the Solomon Islands 07:20 and in charge of a vast, vast work there. 07:24 I want you folks to take your Bibles 07:25 and turn over here to Isaiah 42:1-8. 07:30 And you folks watching at home, go get a Bible. 07:33 Turn to the text with me. 07:36 Jesus said, "It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 07:40 but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." 07:45 We take this seriously in this church. 07:48 You folks got the text, Isaiah 42:1 and onwards. 07:53 "Here is my servant whom I uphold, 07:59 my chosen one in whom I delight, 08:02 I will put my Spirit on Him 08:04 and he will bring justice to the nations. 08:07 He will not shout or cry out, 08:09 or raise his voice in the streets. 08:12 A bruised reed he will not break, 08:16 and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. 08:19 In faithfulness he will bring forth justice, 08:23 he will not falter or be discouraged 08:28 till he establishes justice on earth. 08:32 In his law the islands will put their hope." 08:36 And that includes the Solomon's. 08:39 "This is what God the Lord says-- 08:41 he who created the heavens and stretched them out, 08:44 who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it... 08:49 'I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness, 08:53 I will take hold of your hand. 08:56 I will keep you and make you to be a covenant 08:59 for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 09:04 to open eyes that are blind, 09:06 to free captives from prison 09:09 and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. 09:15 I am the Lord, that is my name! 09:20 I will not give my glory to another."' 09:25 I want you to notice verse 7 in particular. 09:31 The Bible says, "To open eyes that are blind, 09:35 to free captives from prison 09:39 and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." 09:44 Now everybody knows that this is a messianic prophecy 09:48 that is fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ. 09:52 But it is also fulfilled in His church, 09:57 commissioned to take to the world 10:00 the blessed gospel of God's amazing grace. 10:04 Listen, carefully the theme of scripture 10:08 is that all men and women 10:10 are members of Adam's guilty sinful race. 10:14 That means you, that mean me. 10:18 We're all members of Adam's guilty race. 10:20 Without Christ we're blind, 10:25 without Christ we're captives 10:27 bound in the prison house of sin, darkness and death. 10:34 It is this belief in the lostness of the human race. 10:41 It is this belief in the Redeemer, 10:44 the Lord Jesus Christ, 10:46 it is this great belief that drove men and women 10:52 to leave their comfortable homes in Australia, 10:59 in Tasmania, in Marangar, in Los Angeles, 11:05 in America around the world, Christian countries. 11:09 And take the gospel of Christ to the dangerous islands 11:12 of the South Pacific and other places 11:17 there was steeped in the darkness of heathenism. 11:23 It is my privilege today to introduce to you 11:27 my colleague from the land of Australia. 11:31 My friend and my colleague Pastor Wayne Boehm, 11:36 the president of the Solomon Islands mission. 11:40 Would you please welcome him today? 11:51 We Australians don't do, we never do this. 11:54 Can I give you a hug? 11:57 It is a quick hug you know, I'm sure is. 11:59 We're glad to have you with us today, God bless you. 12:02 Thank you. 12:04 Well, good morning every one. 12:05 What a joy it is to be here with you in Los Angeles. 12:10 Even though I drive on the wrong side of the road over here, 12:14 on the wrong side of a car, it's a delight to be here. 12:20 And I haven't had too many accidents 12:21 since been here either. 12:23 The boys remind me if I'm verging 12:25 on the other side of the road, "dad." 12:27 That's a real delight to be here. 12:31 Friends, over the last few months 12:33 you'd have heard so much about the Solomon Islands. 12:38 And it's interesting as I talk to people 12:40 about the Solomon Islands. 12:42 After the politeness has gone, they asked the question 12:47 "Where is the Solomon Islands?" 12:49 That's a good question, 12:50 where about is the Solomon Islands. 12:53 We've got a map for you this morning. 12:57 If you go to the coast of Australia of Brisbane, 13:01 we get the flight out of Australia 13:04 and head sort of north for about four hours by plane. 13:07 You will arrive at the delightful 13:10 beautiful islands of Solomon's. 13:14 You know what, as the name suggest 13:18 there's more than one island. 13:20 And if I was to asked you to guess 13:22 this morning here or you at home. 13:25 How many islands does the Solomon Islands consist of? 13:29 Some of you might say well, 3, 4, 5. 13:34 The Solomon Islands consists of just under 1,000 islands. 13:39 And so as I say that number you will understand 13:41 why it's so important for us 13:43 to establish a radio ministry there in the Solomon Islands. 13:47 Because it's difficult to travel from island to island 13:50 and cover all thousands islands within a year or even two years. 13:56 These islands are separated by water, by reefs, 14:01 they're scattered around the Pacific. 14:05 The Solomon Islands cover around 28,000 kilometers in area. 14:10 Or in your language, 14:12 put my accede on for this 11,000 square miles. 14:17 Population of around 556,000 people. 14:22 And this is the other interesting thing 14:23 as we look at the Solomon Islands, 14:25 there are over 700 language groups in the Solomon Islands 14:32 and so again communication 14:35 in the islands is somewhat difficult. 14:38 But before the missionaries arrived, 14:42 it was a very different place. 14:44 A place that was full of heathenism, 14:48 of cannibalism and cultural, various cultural practices. 14:53 The early missionaries came in 1914. 14:56 Captain G.F. Jones got on his boat 15:01 and traveled from Australia, 15:02 from Sydney to the Solomon Islands. 15:05 And early missionaries like 15:07 Pastor Norman Ferris and Pastor J.D. Anderson, 15:09 their families went to the islands 15:11 and they were dropped off 15:12 in key locations around the islands. 15:17 As they landed 15:18 in this particular place of the Solomon Islands, 15:20 there was no one there to greet them. 15:22 They were dropped off in key locations with some timbers, 15:26 with some tin for the roof, 15:28 with some fly screens to keep the mosquitoes out, 15:31 with a Bible in hand and said this is home. 15:36 And these faithful men and women, 15:38 these faithful boys and girls that went with him, 15:41 moms and dads to the islands, endured incredible hardships 15:45 because they were not always welcome in particular locations. 15:50 And they endured hardships for the sake of the gospel. 15:56 Now living outside of our culture in Australia, 16:02 we're learning so much. 16:04 We're incredibly blessed to be working 16:07 in the place like the Solomon Islands. 16:09 To learn of their rich cultural practices. 16:13 To gain new perspectives and new insights into life, 16:18 into scripture and this morning 16:20 I want to share with you two things 16:24 that we've learned this year. 16:27 Two things that have made a difference in our life, 16:30 two things that have really being drummed home to us 16:37 with the work that we're doing in there. 16:39 Now lesson number one. 16:41 The Great Controversy is not just a theory. 16:47 You turn in your Bibles with me. 16:49 The Book of Revelation, 16:53 we got a picture here of where it all began. 17:00 Passage that is well known to each of us. 17:04 Revelation 12:7. 17:13 Reading from the New International Version 17:14 this morning. 17:15 It says "And there was war in heaven." 17:18 In the short few words, 17:20 scripture sets the scene of where it began. 17:24 And there was war in heaven. 17:26 Before war began in this world, 17:28 before World War I and II, 17:30 before the Vietnam War, before the war in Iraq, 17:35 war had broken out in heaven. 17:39 Before war had broken in our homes, 17:43 in our communities, in our neighborhood, 17:46 war had broken out in heaven. 17:51 And Bible goes on to say, 17:52 "Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, 17:55 and the dragon and his angels fought back. 17:58 But he was not strong enough, 18:00 and they lost their place in heaven. 18:04 The great dragon was hurled down of the earth, 18:06 that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, 18:09 who leads the whole world astray. 18:11 He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." 18:14 Verse 10, "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, 18:19 'Now have come the salvation and the power 18:21 and the kingdom of our God, 18:23 and the authority of his Christ. 18:26 For the accuser of our brothers, 18:27 who accuses them before God day and night, 18:29 has been hurled down."' 18:32 But we have hope. 18:35 John has given us a glimpse to give us hope, 18:38 to give us courage as we face this battle. 18:41 Verse 11 "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb 18:45 and by the word of their testimony, 18:48 they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 18:52 Therefore, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. 18:56 But woe to the earth and the sea, 18:58 because the devil has gone down to you! 19:01 He is filled with fury, because he knows his time is short.'' 19:08 As I read that passage, 19:11 how many times have we gone over that as individuals 19:14 or as a church and read that passage together...in our study. 19:20 And we have a clear understanding 19:22 that war did breakout in heaven. 19:23 We have a clear understanding that heaven 19:27 that Satan came from heaven to earth...to do battle. 19:34 To battle for men, for women, for boys and girls. 19:41 Yet how often does that sink to our hearts. 19:45 From a head knowledge to heart experience 19:47 that the battle that you and I 19:49 are engaged in is a true and real battle. 19:54 Not just a theory but real and true. 19:59 The Book of Ephesians again gives us 20:03 a glimpse into this battle. 20:07 And Paul in taking to the church at Ephesus-- 20:13 Ephesians 6, 20:17 we have this admonition given to us-- 20:20 given to them at the time of writing Ephesians 6:10. 20:27 Paul and his pastoral writer says 20:32 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 20:36 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand 20:39 against the devil's schemes." 20:42 See Paul knew too that this wasn't just a theory. 20:45 This was something that he would face daily. 20:47 This was something 20:48 that the church members were facing daily. 20:52 It's Great Controversy. 20:53 Verse 12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 20:58 but against the rulers, against the authorities, 21:01 against the powers of this dark world 21:03 and against the spiritual forces of the heavenly realms. 21:08 Therefore, he says, put on the full armor of God, 21:13 so that when the day of evil comes, 21:16 you may be able to stand your ground." 21:20 Paul knew the Great Controversy was just not a theory. 21:24 It was something that he would battle 21:26 and experience day after day after day. 21:29 It was an experience that the church at the Ephesus 21:31 would battle day after day after day. 21:35 That's the battle that you and I face, 21:37 day after day after day. 21:43 I want to take you this morning to the Island of Malaita. 21:49 Now the Island of Malaita-- 21:52 how many islands were there in the Solomon's? 21:55 Thousand islands. 21:57 The Island of Malaita, we have the capital, 22:00 which Honiara is located on. 22:03 Now these maps won't be drawn to scale this morning, okay. 22:07 We have the Florida Islands, 22:08 a beautiful part of the Solomon's-- 22:11 great diving and fishing and so forth. 22:13 And then across a little bit further, 22:15 we take a day's boat ride. 22:18 And we end up at the Island of Malaita. 22:22 And as they were sailing up the passage, 22:24 every one on the boat was singing 22:26 and that was the singing that attracted the local villagers, 22:31 they were local village people. 22:32 They hadn't heard this sort of singing, 22:34 melodious singing before. 22:36 And as they are sailing at the passage, 22:38 they've sailed out to the local people 22:41 that sailed out to meet the Melanesia. 22:44 To see and experience what this was. 22:49 They sat and listened to this music 22:54 but they didn't come in a sense just to listen with music, 22:58 to the music there, they came to investigate 23:01 who was coming into their territory 23:05 and deal with them accordingly. 23:09 And so they arrived in 1924 23:11 and many faithful men and women 23:13 have been to this area ever since, 23:15 to share the good news of God's ability 23:19 to transform people from death to life. 23:24 And it was in this small village 23:25 that I went to a regional camp meeting. 23:28 At a little place called Aabtina. 23:30 And I've heard much about this little village of Abatina. 23:34 And I was looking forward to being there to visit 23:36 and to see what this village was like. 23:40 And now we have an Adventist church 23:41 in this particular village. 23:46 And I stood in the high place of this village, 23:52 this mountainous village. 23:54 To look over all that had taken place 23:56 because it was in place that the villages 23:59 would summon the devil sharks. 24:03 And these sharks would travel in from the ocean 24:06 and they would come into this particular place. 24:08 And then the locals would get on board these sharks. 24:13 And the sharks would transport them around the island groups 24:17 from one island to the next island, to the next island. 24:20 People would ride these sharks. 24:23 The devil priests would put out a particular call 24:26 and these people would and the sharks would come in 24:29 and people would get on board and ride them. 24:34 If someone was lost at sea, 24:35 or someone in the canoe had fallen over--tipped over. 24:39 They would send again these devil sharks out 24:41 to collect those that had fallen overboard, 24:45 to bring them back into shore. 24:50 I stood at the grave of one of the devil priest. 24:54 There they use to summon the sharks in. 24:59 And I was told that on the day that he was buried, 25:02 the sharks and the crocodiles and the snakes 25:05 rolled down the hills into the particular location 25:09 where the devil priest was buried. 25:11 And from that day forward the sharks and the snakes 25:17 and the crocodiles haven't come on to the shore 25:20 in that particular area-- no more devil sharks. 25:25 The Great Controversy is not just the theory. 25:28 It is something that is taking place in every part of our life. 25:33 In the Solomon Islands we see this in a very real 25:35 and tangible way of how the devil continues 25:38 to work amongst the people. 25:41 Let me take you from Abatina, 25:43 just a background of the corner there 25:46 to a little place called Ardavithi. 25:48 Now for many of you may have heard 25:49 of a little community we have at Ardavithi, 25:54 where we have a hospital 25:57 and some faithful men and women servicing, 25:59 women servicing out there at the moment. 26:02 This hospital is a lighthouse amongst the heathen culture. 26:08 Amongst the cultures that is still absorbed 26:12 in devil worship and devil priest. 26:16 And was on this particular day 26:17 I was sitting in the transit house at Ardavithi. 26:22 I had my Bible opened reading through the Book of Romans 26:25 and as I peaked out the window, 26:27 I noticed some men gathering around under a tree. 26:33 And I watched one man come 26:35 and then two and three and four and so on. 26:38 And I began to wonder what is this gathering up to. 26:45 What are these men doing in this particular location? 26:50 And as the group continued it sort of got to around 15 people. 26:56 They sat in the circle and continue to talk 27:00 or what it appeared to be talking. 27:02 I asked some people afterwards. 27:04 I said I saw some men come up to this particular area. 27:07 Who were they? 27:08 And what were they doing? 27:11 And I was told that these are local devil priests 27:13 that come down from the highlands of Malaita. 27:17 They come down for medical care 27:20 and they were meeting in this particular place. 27:22 And now we can say, well, yeah, they are devil priests. 27:26 And it seems to roll very easily and quickly off their tongues 27:30 as to what a devil priest is. 27:31 We have this intellectual understanding 27:35 of what a devil priest is. 27:38 But, friends, just to sit there in my room reading 27:43 through the Book of Romans. 27:46 And to see people outside of under-- 27:48 gathering under this tree of devil priest. 27:51 People who still worship the devil. 27:53 People who still offer sacrifices 27:55 to the devil and to their ancestors. 27:57 This is not something that was 27:59 that is taking place 2,000 years ago, 28:01 this is something that is happening 28:03 right here today in the Solomon Islands. 28:09 There was war in heaven. 28:13 And that war is, is taking place all around us. 28:19 And in the Solomon Islands we see it very, very clearly. 28:23 There's peoples that still offer sacrifices to the devil 28:28 to appease his anger or to their ancestors. 28:36 Our battle is not against flesh and blood 28:39 but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly room. 28:44 The Great Controversy is not a theory. 28:49 It is not an intellectual concept 28:51 that we try to understand, 28:55 it is a very real battle 28:56 that it is taking place in the world around us. 29:04 I wonder friends, if we truly understand the extent 29:09 and the nature of the battle. 29:12 As I reflect through the writings of Ellen White, 29:15 I recall a statement she says that 29:18 as much as Jesus Christ did to save us, 29:21 the devil is doing to destroy us. 29:25 Isn't that incredible? 29:26 That's the battle that you and I 29:28 are a part of this Great Controversy. 29:34 The Great Controversy is not a battle 29:36 simply contained within scripture 29:38 or within 600 pages of a book entitled, 29:41 "The Great Controversy." 29:43 It's a very real, you read through 29:45 the Book of Revelation 12. 29:49 John is very clear, he gives us the warning 29:52 that devil is going down to you filled with fury 29:57 because he knows his time is short. 30:02 Friends, that the battle that we're courting. 30:06 That is the battle that is taking place in around us. 30:10 That is the battle that we see raging 30:13 in the Solomon Islands on a daily basis. 30:17 And I share these stories not to be 30:19 melodramatic with you. 30:21 But to illustrate their point of the realness 30:24 of this battle that we're courting 30:27 and that we're experiencing. 30:30 So lesson one that I've learned this year 30:32 the Great Controversy is not just a theory. 30:36 Lesson number two, Christianity is not a theory 30:44 but brings everlasting change. 30:52 This one might surprise you again 30:56 because something that we have intellectual understanding 31:00 of, we know that Christianity is not just a theory. 31:03 We know that it is something real 31:04 because it gives us hope in a world that is hopeless. 31:11 But let me ask you this question. 31:13 How has believing in Jesus changed your life? 31:21 I'm not here simply talking of modified behaviors 31:24 or having a particular belief system-- 31:28 these are all part of it but not the total sum of Christianity. 31:33 And yet there is a very real danger 31:35 that having certain behaviors, beliefs 31:38 and attitudes that we say 31:41 we fit the criteria of being a Christian. 31:46 Friends, there's more truth. 31:51 Jesus saves people, not churches. 31:57 We are not talking about a mechanical Christianity 31:59 whereby we can tick the box after we've completed 32:03 all the different things for a day or for the week. 32:06 We're talking about a very real heart experience 32:09 with Jesus that brings true reformation 32:12 and revival to our hearts. 32:15 Let me illustrate this. 32:16 Turn with me again to the Book of Romans. 32:22 To the chapter that I was reading on this day 32:23 when I was looking at the window 32:25 seeing the devil priests gathered together. 32:29 Romans 8:5 the Bible says 32:37 "Those who live according to the sinful nature 32:41 have their minds set on what that nature desires, 32:46 but those who live in accordance with the Spirit 32:48 have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 32:52 The mind of sinful man is death, 32:56 but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." 33:00 Now friends, I have to say when I was in that room 33:03 and I was looking out the through the window 33:05 and seeing these devil priests 33:07 nevermore was this particular passage of scripture 33:10 illustrated to me then at that very moment. 33:13 As I'm looking to people the mind of a sinful man is death. 33:17 As I was seeing these men gathering this in this circle 33:23 to talk of the devil and his work. 33:28 The mind of the sinful man is death. 33:33 But again we have some hope. God has given to us some hope. 33:38 Paul has given us hope and he but the mind controlled 33:41 by the spirit is life and peace. 33:44 Isn't that simple? 33:48 A life controlled by the sinful nature is death. 33:53 But a mind controlled by the spirit is life. 34:02 And Bible continues 34:03 "The sinful mind is hostile to God. 34:05 it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." 34:12 I spoke with the couple of these devil priests afterwards. 34:17 And you could see in their eyes 34:22 how Satan had changed them. 34:26 we read through the stories of the demoniac in Mark 5. 34:30 And we see this picture that Mark paints of his demoniac 34:33 out of his right mind. 34:35 That is what I saw on that day. 34:40 And I saw this group of 15 men that needed to hear 34:43 the transforming power of the gospel. 34:48 That there was no need to continue to sacrifice 34:51 their pigs to the devil or to their ancestors. 34:55 Jesus had sacrificed once and for all. 34:59 And was offering a much far superior way 35:02 than what they were currently experiencing. 35:05 The gospel brings transformation. 35:10 And it's this transformation that the people 35:12 of the Solomon Islands need to know. 35:14 It's a transformation that the people 35:16 of America need to know. 35:18 It's a transformation that people 35:19 of Australia need to know, 35:21 that Jesus offers life. 35:25 Because they're currently on a track to experience death. 35:33 That's why the gospel is so important 35:36 and so crucial to share with people, 35:38 who are on this pathway to death. 35:45 "The mind of sinful man is death, 35:47 but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." 35:54 Friends, that is good news to us this day. 36:01 It's the life that we can have in Jesus Christ. 36:05 A life that He freely gives to us. 36:09 And I don't think there is anyone better 36:13 to write of this than Paul himself. 36:15 Because you think of the transformation 36:17 that Paul himself had experienced. 36:20 You notice something that I saw that day 36:22 and as people needing to hear the gospel. 36:24 But do you think of the man 36:25 that is writing this particular passage? 36:28 Turn with me to the Book of Acts and just let's remind ourselves 36:31 of this transformation that Paul received himself. 36:40 Acts 9--and reminded of the context 36:48 of this particular passage of scripture. 36:52 Paul has just witnessed 36:54 the stoning of Steven martyrdom. 37:01 The Bible says "And Saul was there 37:03 giving approval to his death." 37:07 This is the context, this is the background 37:10 to this particular passage 37:11 and we see here the conversion of Paul verse 1:6. 37:18 "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats 37:21 against the lord's disciples. 37:23 He went to the high priest and asked him for letters 37:25 to the synagogues in Damascus. 37:28 So that if he found any who belonged to the Way, 37:31 whether men or women, 37:32 he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 37:34 As he neared Damascus on his journey, 37:36 suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 37:38 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 37:41 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 37:44 'Who are you, Lord? Saul asked. 37:47 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 37:51 'Now get up and go into the city 37:54 and you will be told what you must do.' 37:57 ' And we know the story. 38:01 It was Paul who met Jesus on this road. 38:03 It was Jesus who brought transformation to Paul's life. 38:09 It was Jesus who changed him 38:11 from being receiving death to receiving life. 38:16 Paul experienced Jesus. 38:21 But friends, this transformation 38:25 that we along with the people of the world 38:28 need to know and experience. 38:30 In a deeper fashion, in a deeper way 38:32 than we ever have before in world's history, 38:36 we need to experiencing the transforming 38:38 grace of Jesus Christ. 38:42 Many of other Christians I'm asked lot as I share some 38:45 stories of what the Lord is doing in the Solomon Islands. 38:48 Well how come it's happening there 38:51 and it doesn't happen here. 38:53 It's a good question that you and I 38:54 need to give consideration to 38:56 not everybody else but for ourselves. 39:01 We need to give consideration to the question 39:05 why ain't I experiencing transforming 39:06 grace of Jesus Christ. 39:09 This happens in the islands. 39:12 It happened 2,000 years ago a transforming power 39:15 of God's grace but does it happen today. 39:20 Let me illustrate again. 39:25 We met up with a man by the name of Alec. 39:29 Alec continues to call by my office on a regular basis. 39:34 To give me an update report 39:35 of all that is happening in his life. 39:38 And where he is ministering. 39:40 He is a layperson with a heart for God. 39:44 And he continues to share at every opportunity 39:49 transforming grace that he himself has experienced. 39:53 As Alec wasn't always a member of the church. 39:55 Alec spend 18 years of his life behind bars in jail. 40:01 For violent crimes Alec was committed to prison. 40:07 Upon his release Alec was determined 40:10 to do something for the Lord. 40:12 To do something that would show 40:16 what the grace of God can do in the life of an individual. 40:23 And so he came out of jail determined to make a difference 40:29 but this was not going to happen easily. 40:32 Devil was not about to release him 40:34 from the clutches of his hand very quickly. 40:39 As upon his release he came home and discovered 40:42 that his wife was studying with a pastor. 40:46 Alec was not impressed with this 40:51 and he tells me that every time that pastor came to visit, 40:57 he would give him threats that he would kill him 41:00 and send him away and told him not to come back. 41:05 But God bless this pastor, he continued to comeback 41:09 week after week after week to share this gospel message 41:15 that they so desperately needed to hear. 41:20 As the pastor was studying with them one night 41:22 and sharing with the wife around the kitchen table. 41:27 There was a text that the pastor used that the spirit used 41:31 in a mighty way to soften Alec heart. 41:35 "If you love me you will keep my commandments." 41:41 And this began a whole new journey for Alec. 41:45 As he understood the love of God for him, 41:49 as he understood the need for Alec to love God 41:52 with all his heart, with all his mind, and with his soul. 41:56 And so Alec began a new journey and I met him this year. 42:03 You notice on his forehead, he has a large scar. 42:08 This scar was received in a public place 42:13 as Alec would carry a bush knife around with him. 42:16 You might say what's a bush knife? 42:18 And we have, you know, little sort of knife. 42:22 In our minds what a bush knife is. 42:23 A bush knife is a big knife and these are carried around 42:27 everywhere in the Solomon Islands. 42:29 And not wanting to be left out of this, 42:31 we also bought some bush knives. 42:34 Cut some grass or do some things. 42:37 But Alec used to carry these knives around with him 42:39 and strapped to his back and at a moments notice, 42:43 that knife could be used for anything. 42:48 And on this particular occasion 42:50 as Alec is walking down the street. 42:53 A knife came out of somebody else's back 42:57 and somebody else's hand 42:59 and cut him across the forehead. 43:05 Alec couldn't do anything at that time, 43:07 he went to the hospital and was healed. 43:11 But then something incredible took place 43:15 because Alec is quite notorious in Solomon Islands. 43:18 People know him, people know the man that he used to be. 43:22 As Alec has come healed 43:26 and meant that he has been walking down the street again. 43:28 He'd seen the man that cut him on his particular day. 43:33 And he's going over to grab him and this man thought, 43:35 this is it, this is going to be my last. 43:40 But Alec turned him and said, I want to pray with you. 43:44 I forgive you. 43:46 And he's turned to this man and said, you know, 43:48 let's pray and if Alec has gone through in the middle of street, 43:51 going to pray with him. 43:53 And the man felt somewhat uneasy, 43:54 wanted to pull him to the side. 43:56 And you know in a quite place to pray. 43:59 Alec said to him you cut me in public, we'll pray in public. 44:02 Amen. Such is the transforming grace of this man. 44:10 One of the interesting stories while Alec was in jail, 44:17 his wife found another man. 44:24 And on this particular day when Alec has been released 44:27 from jail and time elapse Alec was aware 44:30 of what had taken place. 44:33 Alec was in the market with his wife, 44:35 all had been forgiven and restored 44:37 and grace had been shown. 44:39 And his wife and Alec were walking through the marketplace 44:41 on this particular day and Alec saw the man 44:45 that his wife had been with and quickly grabbing his wife, 44:49 he's going over this man and grabbed him also by the hand 44:53 and again this man is thinking 44:55 knowing the history of Alec this is it. 45:00 And Alec uttered these words as he looked to his wife, 45:02 I forgive you. And I look-- 45:05 I forgive you as he looked into the face of this man. 45:08 And he's brought them together 45:10 in there in there in the marketplace. 45:12 They've prayed to the Lord for restoration 45:16 and for grace and for forgiveness. 45:20 Such is the transforming power of God's grace. 45:27 Peter was a man that was working for a different denomination 45:33 and Peter started feeling impressed 45:38 that there was more than what he had been currently experiencing, 45:43 it was more to life, there was more to church 45:45 than what he had currently been experiencing. 45:48 And over the years the Lord seemed to be leading him 45:51 in a particular direction opening up 45:52 some different passages of scripture. 45:56 And on this particular occasion, 45:58 Peter is sitting on a streets of Malaita. 46:03 And who should walk by? But Alec. 46:07 And Alec has spoken to Peter wait, you go nowhere. 46:12 You go where. 46:15 And before the Peter could answer, 46:18 Alec just said you come with me. 46:19 And they jumped up in the truck together 46:21 and then Alec shared his favorite passage with him. 46:23 "If you loves me you will keep my commandments." 46:29 There and then on the spot, Peter was transformed. 46:35 Peter knew and understood what the transforming 46:40 power of God's love and grace can do. 46:44 Love and obedience hand in hand. 46:51 The Carter Report came and conducted 46:54 a large evangelistic program in the Solomon Islands 46:57 and over this 10 day period around 47:00 people 47:06 came to this program. 47:09 People were holding up mobile phones to the speaker tower. 47:13 So that people back in their home village 47:15 could hear the message. 47:16 People recorded the message on to their phones, 47:19 so that they could hear 47:20 and keep it later to share with others. 47:27 Peter came to this program 47:30 and was baptized at the end of the Carter Report program 47:35 along with 524 other men and women, boys and girls. 47:40 But that's not the end of the story 47:43 because Alec--oh, Peter returned back home 47:45 to his village and guess what. 47:48 There is 39 other baptisms that have taken place 47:50 back in his village. 47:53 The message has gone right around the Solomon Islands. 47:57 There's the prime minister of the Solomon Islands said, 47:59 "This mission has taken the nation by storm." 48:04 And that's glory to God. 48:07 For all that he has done 48:11 but that's only one story of thousands 48:13 that I could share with you. 48:15 Hensley was a man who again 48:20 I saw on the Sabbath morning of the baptism. 48:23 I hadn't seen this man before 48:26 and he stood or he sat at the right hand side 48:28 of the church, two of them. 48:34 And they caught my eye and I went down 48:36 to greet them on this Sabbath morning. 48:39 As I was greeting them I discovered 48:40 that these two men that were sitting here in their pew 48:43 were former inmates in the local jail. 48:47 And here they were about to be baptized 48:49 to become brothers in Christ. 48:53 God will transform people from death to life. 48:58 It's not a theory, it's not a myth. 49:01 This is the good news of the gospel. 49:05 That Jesus Christ transforms lives. 49:12 The gospel brings transformation. 49:16 One last story before I close. 49:19 Just three or four weeks ago, 49:21 we had news from one particular island Finafu. 49:25 One particular village where a baptism was conducted. 49:29 And we have all seen what a baptism is like. 49:33 Immersion, full immersion, 49:36 on this particular day this was a different baptism. 49:40 This was a baptism like I have never seen before 49:43 because among the 30 member or 30 candidates, 49:48 two of them were former devil priests. 49:54 The Great Controversy which is raging all around us 49:58 is a real battle. 50:00 And here were two men and their wives clutched from the fire. 50:07 Clutched from death and give it life. 50:12 One of the powerful story they have. 50:17 This village once rejected the Seventh-day Adventist message. 50:22 Set us out from that area 50:24 and now they're requesting us to come back 50:29 because they see the story of Jesus Christ. 50:34 Friend's stories like this don't just happen in the islands. 50:40 Whether here this morning or watching at home, 50:44 each of our lives need the transforming 50:47 power of God's grace. 50:49 We need to experience that 50:51 because it's the life and death matter. 50:56 It's not something that is just a theory. 50:59 Each of us need to experience the transforming 51:02 grace of God's power. 51:07 Christians, from the book, Patriots and Prophets. 51:10 "Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break 51:12 upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, 51:16 and this preparation they should be making diligent study 51:19 of the word of God, 51:20 striving to conform their lives to its precepts. 51:24 The tremendous issues of eternity demand of us 51:27 something besides an imaginary religion." 51:30 Or we might add this morning or a theoretical religion. 51:35 "A religion of words and forms, 51:37 where truth is kept in the outer court. 51:40 God calls for revival and reformation." 51:45 And we've been blessed this year 51:47 to have the Carter team comes to the Solomon Islands, 51:52 into a bold way share the message 51:54 of a crucified risen Christ. 52:00 And a God who can bring transformation 52:03 to lives that are in such a desperate need of change. 52:11 You and I need to experience 52:13 that same transforming power as well. 52:16 There will be areas in your life that God needs to transform, 52:21 surrender them to Him. 52:23 Surrender all your ways to Him and allow God's grace 52:28 to flood through your life. 52:31 That you may experience His power 52:33 in a new way that you've never seen 52:36 or experienced Him in this way. 52:39 May God bless you in your journey with Him. 52:55 I was blessed this morning, were you not? 52:58 I want you to take your Bibles and turnover here 53:01 to Romans 10, I believe it is. 53:05 Romans 10, this is like a therefore, 53:11 Romans 10:10 and onwards. 53:17 "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, 53:21 and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 53:24 As the Scripture says, 53:26 'Anyone who trusts in him will never beput to shame.' 53:29 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 53:33 the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all 53:36 who call on Him, for, 53:38 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 53:42 Now here it is folks. 53:44 "How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? 53:48 And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? 53:52 And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 53:57 And how can they preach unless they are sent? 54:02 As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those 54:06 who bring good news!'" 54:12 Because of the overwhelming need, 54:15 because of the blood of the cross, 54:18 we need to support the preaching of the gospel. 54:23 I want to thank the man in Australia 54:25 who sent us last week $8,000 54:30 to help build a radio station in the Solomon Islands. 54:35 May many others catch the vision and let us arise 54:40 and build and let us preach His word. 54:45 And so we say today, glory be to the Father 54:49 and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. 54:53 Amen and amen. 54:57 The Carter report is a self supporting ministry 55:01 with a global mission. 55:02 We believe that the most important thing 55:04 that we can do in this tremendous hour 55:07 is to tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ 55:10 because Jesus said, 55:12 "I am the way, the truth and the life." 55:15 We do not believe that this is business as usual. 55:19 We believe that we are living in the closing hours 55:22 in the history of this world. 55:24 Bless your heart, friend. 55:26 Look at the signs that are being fulfilled almost every day. 55:29 The signs of the times are shouting at us 55:32 and they are saying Jesus is coming soon. 55:36 I want you to be my partner in global mission. 55:39 I want you to be my partner in helping 55:42 to tell the world about the coming of Jesus. 55:45 I want you to be my partner in the preaching 55:48 of the distinctive truths of the Three Angels' Messages. 55:53 Please check us out at the new Carter Report 55:57 website, catereport.org. 56:00 We have a special section whereby you can ask questions 56:05 and I will give you the answers 56:07 from the living Word of the living God, 56:10 that is the cartereport.org. 56:15 My friend, we want you to join us 56:18 in the mission to preach the gospel 56:20 in China, in India, in Australia, in Africa, 56:26 in United States of America wherever people are lost 56:30 and wherever people need to hear the good news that Jesus saves. 56:36 Please check us out, the new carter report website, 56:40 cartereport.org. I want to hear from you today. 56:58 God I'm bowing down 57:04 My eyes have seen 57:08 And I'm finally free Love came for me 57:21 This manger King My everything 57:29 Love came for me 57:43 Jesus came for you and me |
Revised 2014-12-17