Participants: Graham Weir
Series Code: FGW
Program Code: FGW000029S
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00:25 Hello, everyone, I'm Graham Weir.
00:28 Welcome to part four of the Reformation Revisited. 00:32 This is the sixth part dynamic series examining 00:35 the great Protestant Reformation 00:38 and its vital implications 00:39 for the survival of Christianity today. 00:43 And in this presentation, 00:44 we're going to take a look at the crisis 00:47 that God's people can expect here in Canada 00:50 during the end time of earth's history. 00:52 I will also reveal 00:54 how God's Word provides the discernment 00:57 and spiritual defenses that are needed 01:01 to withstand the attacks of the enemy 01:03 and maintain a genuine spirit of the reformation. 01:07 Let's begin with the prayer. 01:13 Loving Father in heaven, 01:15 we pray Thee and thank Thee 01:16 for an opportunity to come together 01:19 and share the wonderful truth from Thy Word. 01:23 We're conscious that You are showing us 01:25 the great heritage of the reformation 01:28 and its implications for today. 01:29 We're conscious that many are saying 01:32 that the Protestant Reformation is over, it is finished, 01:36 but we do not believe that. 01:38 And, Lord, we want to bless us 01:41 with Your presence this morning, this afternoon, 01:46 and show us, Lord, 01:47 that there is much work to be done, 01:48 and that this time is running out. 01:51 Your people need to wake up, trim their lamp, 01:54 and be prepared for Your coming. 01:56 Help us, Lord, to do this. 01:57 Give us eyes to see, ears to hear 02:01 and incline our hearts to want to do Your work, 02:04 because we ask these things in Jesus' precious name. 02:07 Amen. 02:14 Now Bible says 02:17 in 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8. 02:21 We gonna have to look at that. 02:23 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8. 02:29 And it says this, 02:33 "For the 'Mystery of Iniquity' doth already work: 02:36 only he who now let it." 02:38 And that word means obstruct or hinder. 02:42 "Will continue to let 02:43 until he be taken out of the way. 02:45 And then shall that wicked be revealed, 02:48 whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth 02:51 and shall destroy 02:53 with the brightness of his coming." 02:56 So, you must ask the question, 02:57 what is this mystery of iniquity spoken about here? 03:03 Where we can get a clue 03:04 from that amazing Bible commentary 03:06 called The Great Controversy, 03:08 which uses some very interesting labels 03:11 to describe this mystery of iniquity. 03:14 Let's take a look and I'm quoting. 03:18 It says, 03:19 "Little by little, 03:20 at first in stealth and silence, 03:22 and then more openly as it increased in strength 03:25 and gained control of the minds of men, 03:28 "the mystery of iniquity" 03:30 carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work. 03:34 Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism 03:38 found their way into the Christian church." 03:42 Well, this statement gives us a clue 03:44 that the mystery of iniquity has something to do 03:47 with the customs of heathenism. 03:51 Now, let's read a little further. 03:53 She says, 03:54 "The spirit of compromise and conformity 03:57 was restrained for a time 03:58 by the fierce persecutions 04:00 which the church endured under paganism." 04:03 So here you get another label, 04:05 the spirit of compromise and conformity. 04:08 We'll keep reading. 04:10 "But as persecution ceased, 04:12 and Christianity entered the courts 04:14 and palaces of kings, 04:15 she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ 04:18 and His apostles for the pomp and pride 04:21 of pagan priests and rulers, 04:24 and in place of the requirements of God, 04:26 she substituted human theories and traditions." 04:30 Another label, human theories and traditions. 04:35 We continue, 04:36 "The nominal conversion of Constantine, 04:39 in the early part of the fourth century, 04:41 caused great rejoicing, 04:43 and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, 04:46 walked into the church." 04:48 Under a cloak of pretended Christianity, 04:51 Satan was insinuating himself into the church 04:54 to corrupt their faith and turn their minds 04:57 from the Word of truth. 05:00 Most of the Christians at last consented 05:02 to lower their standard, 05:04 and the union was formed 05:05 between Christianity and paganism. 05:07 Now here's another clue. 05:09 They consented to lower their standard. 05:14 Although the worship is a vital professed 05:16 to be converted and united with the church, 05:19 they still clung to their idolatry 05:22 only changing the objects 05:23 that they worshiped to images of Jesus, 05:26 and even if Mary in the sense. 05:27 They simply changed the labels on pagan idols. 05:31 The foul living of idolatry that's bought into the church, 05:34 continued with by awful work, unsound doctrines, 05:38 see this is right idolaters' families 05:41 were incorporated into her faith and worship. 05:44 And as the followers of Christ United with her, ladies, 05:47 the Christian religion became corrupted 05:50 and the church lost her purity and power. 05:54 So we see another clue that causes corruption 05:58 and a loss of power, 06:00 a loss of purity and power. 06:03 Now, if we put all these labels together, 06:05 we get a very clear picture of the mystery of iniquity. 06:10 We see that it involves at least six of these factors. 06:14 Number one, the customs of heathenism. 06:17 Number two, compromise and conformity. 06:21 Number three, human theories and traditions. 06:24 Number four, it lowers standards. 06:27 Number five, it causes corruption. 06:30 And number six, 06:31 it causes the loss of purity and power. 06:36 So, we can see in Paul's second letter 06:38 to the believers in Thessalonica 06:40 that he was showing them exactly 06:42 how the enemy of Christ 06:44 would deceitfully work to gradually undermine 06:47 and overthrow their faiths. 06:50 Now, let's read verses 8 and 9 of 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2. 06:55 It says, 06:56 "And then shall that wicked be revealed, 06:58 and the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, 07:02 and shall destroy with the brightness 07:03 of His coming: 07:05 Even him, whose coming after the working of Satan 07:09 with all power and signs and lying wonders." 07:14 So, Paul is saying that in the falling away, 07:16 a power would arise as an agent of Satan. 07:19 And this power would use a combination 07:23 of the customs of heathenism, compromise and conformity, 07:28 human theories and traditions, 07:30 to lower Christian standard 07:32 and cause corruption of their faith, 07:34 and a loss of purity and power to the followers of Christ. 07:38 And furthermore, 07:39 he would drive this destructive process 07:42 by means of other powering lies and deceitful delusion. 07:49 And Paul reveals even more details when he says, 07:53 "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness 07:56 in them, that perish, 07:58 because they received not the love of the truth, 08:00 that they might be saved. 08:03 And for this cause 08:04 God shall send them strong delusion, 08:09 that they should believe a lie." 08:12 And verse 12 says, 08:13 "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, 08:16 but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 08:19 So, in these verses Paul hold that 08:21 both a promise and a warning. 08:25 The promise is that 08:26 the only ones will be deceived 08:29 will be those that receive not the love of the truth 08:32 that they might be saved. 08:33 And note here Paul's keyword, the love of the truth. 08:37 He wasn't just talking about those 08:40 who said that they do hear it, 08:41 they did believe it, 08:44 and they professed to receive it, 08:46 but even in spite of their avid profession, 08:48 they don't love her enough to make their God 08:50 and way of life. 08:54 They just seemed to be satisfied 08:56 with some kind of intellectual ascent, 08:58 without saying any kind of need to reform their way of life. 09:03 So that they profess to receive the truth, 09:05 but they didn't love it enough 09:06 to make it their God and way of life. 09:08 That's what he's talking about here. 09:10 Not just those who to receive the truth. 09:12 And above itself warns about this kind of attitude 09:15 in James 1:22-25. 09:19 And we're going to have to look at that text. 09:21 James 1:22-25. 09:26 And it says this, 09:27 "But be ye doers of the word and not 09:32 hearers only deceiving your own self, 09:36 for if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, 09:39 he's likened to a man 09:41 beholding his natural face in a glass. 09:44 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, 09:47 and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 09:51 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, 09:54 and continueth therein, 09:56 he being not a forgetful hearer, 09:58 but a doer of the work, 10:00 this man shall be blessed in his deed." 10:05 Now, let's go back to 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2, 10:08 Paul's warning in verse 11 and 12 10:10 makes it very clear 10:11 that if a person professes to be a believer in God, 10:15 but chooses to be carelessly ignorant of his word, 10:19 and I'm not talking about those 10:20 who don't have access to the Bible, 10:22 or can't read it. 10:23 I'm talking about those who do have the Bible, 10:26 but choose to ignore or neglect it. 10:29 Or worse, misinterpret to fit their own opinions. 10:34 If people do that, 10:35 then the result will be 10:36 that God will not protect them from believing lies, 10:40 lies that lead to strong delusion. 10:44 Delusion so bad that damnation and lots of eternal life 10:48 would be the end result. 10:49 You don't want to be deluded like that, do you? 10:52 No way. 10:54 Paul makes it very plain that his warnings 10:57 are incredibly serious matter, 10:59 not only for the believers in Thessalonica, 11:02 but I believe God intended it 11:05 also for all believers today. 11:07 What do you saying? 11:08 It's important. 11:10 Therefore, it's vitally important 11:11 that God's people understand exactly 11:14 how to identify such potentially deadly delusions 11:18 to avoid becoming ensnared by them. 11:21 And thankfully 11:23 God's living word in the Bible 11:24 make the evidence so clear even a child can understand it. 11:29 Like to explore the evidence 11:30 God has given us in biblical history. 11:33 I'm not going to quote all the texts 11:35 or may got to read all the text to you from the Bible. 11:38 We're just down to summarizing 11:39 because there's a lot of material in here 11:41 and we have limited time. 11:43 So I'll be summarizing some of them. 11:45 Isaiah 14:12-14, 11:48 records a nature of the very first conflict 11:50 in the controversy between good and evil. 11:53 We will look up this one. 11:55 This is in Isaiah 14:12-14. 12:01 We'll have a look at that. 12:03 A little bit different 12:05 and it's Isaiah 14:12-14. 12:09 And it says this. 12:12 "How art thou fallen from heaven, 12:14 O Lucifer, son of the morning! 12:16 how art thou cut down to the ground, 12:17 which didst weaken the nations! 12:20 For thou hast said in thine heart, 12:21 I will ascend into heaven, 12:23 I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: 12:26 I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, 12:29 in the sides of the north: 12:32 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 12:36 I will be like the Most High." 12:39 So what's the problem? 12:41 What was Lucifer striving for in his conflict? 12:45 The Bible told us he wanted to be like the Most High. 12:50 So, clearly he wanted to be 12:52 worshiped like God. 12:56 So we see that the first conflict 12:57 in the great controversy 12:59 was over what? 13:01 Worship. 13:02 That was the key. 13:05 Now, if we look at the first conflict 13:06 in human history 13:08 as recorded in Genesis 4:3-8, 13:12 we won't read this one, 13:13 but we see again that worship is the focus of the conflict. 13:17 Not who to worship this time, but how to worship. 13:22 Worship was the issue again. 13:25 And if we can figure the conflict between Elijah, 13:28 Ahab, and the Priest of Balaam and Kaaba, 13:31 calmly you can look it up 13:32 if you want to after the program 13:34 it's in 1 Kings 18:17-39. 13:37 Once again, we see that the conflict in this story 13:40 was clearly a conflict over whom to worship. 13:46 And notice also the role of people in this story 13:49 who have the same nation 13:51 that most of them had become ensnared by other powering lies 13:54 and deceitful delusion 13:56 that involve the same six identifies 13:59 we just spoke about earlier. 14:01 Let's look at them again. 14:03 The customs of heathenism, compromise and conformity, 14:08 human theories and traditions, the lower standard, 14:12 it caused corruption and a loss of purity and power. 14:17 That's what they're involved in. 14:19 And there are other examples. 14:21 In Daniel Chapter 3, 14:23 Daniel's three friends 14:24 who were thrown into the fiery furnace 14:27 because they refused to bow down 14:28 before King Nebuchadnezzar's image on the plain of Dura 14:32 were involved in a conflict about what? 14:35 Worship. 14:37 Who will they worship. 14:40 And take a look at the experience of Christ 14:41 Himself during His temptation by Satan 14:45 after 40 days of fasting. 14:47 We will read this one in Matthew 4:8-10. 14:52 This is very interesting. 14:53 Matthew 4:8-10, 14:57 and verse 8 says, 14:59 "Again, the devil taketh him up 15:01 into an exceeding high mountain, 15:03 and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, 15:05 and the glory of them, 15:08 and saith unto him, 15:10 all these things will I give thee, 15:12 if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 15:18 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: 15:20 for it is written, thou shalt worship," who? 15:24 "The Lord thy God, 15:26 and him only shalt thou serve." 15:30 So, we see here again 15:31 that Bible illustrates the conflict 15:33 over whom to worship. 15:37 And all through the history of the dark ages, 15:40 more than 100 million martyrs were tortured and murdered 15:44 because they refused to participate 15:46 in false worship. 15:50 Which I feel as a student of God's Word, 15:51 it should be no surprise 15:53 that the final conflict in human history 15:56 and therefore the basis of all delusions 15:59 can be expected to center around three issues. 16:05 Number one, who we worship, 16:08 number two, how we worship 16:12 and number three, when we worship. 16:17 Now, when God wrote the Ten Commandments 16:19 with His finger on stone, 16:20 He even gave us a hint 16:22 that the issue of how we worship 16:25 would arise right there in the Ten Commandments 16:28 in Exodus 20:3. 16:31 Let's have a look at this one. 16:33 Exodus 20:3. 16:39 Exodus 20:3. 16:43 And it says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." 16:48 So, you see here in the first commandment 16:51 that it opposes the worship of false god. 16:53 Isn't that right? 16:55 It opposes the worship of false god. 16:57 Now let's look at the second commandment 16:59 in verses 4 and 5. 17:03 Verse 4 says, 17:04 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 17:07 or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 17:10 or that is in the earth beneath, 17:12 or that is in the water under the earth." 17:14 That's the reinforcement of the first one, isn't it? 17:17 Now look at some more. 17:18 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 17:21 nor serve them: 17:22 for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 17:25 visiting the iniquity of the fathers 17:27 upon the children 17:29 unto the third and fourth generation of them 17:33 that hate me." 17:34 So, we see that the second commandment 17:36 reinforces the first one, 17:38 but it also implies something else. 17:41 And I wonder if you can see it. 17:44 It says, don't worship the true God in a false way. 17:49 Do I make it clear? 17:51 Now plenty of people out there who worship idols. 17:53 They don't worship the idols. 17:54 It said they don't worship the idol, 17:56 that the idol is just a symbol of the God they worship. 17:59 But the Lord says in the Bible 18:02 don't worship the true God in a false way, 18:06 because God put that there 18:07 because He knew that men would be inclined 18:09 to invent their own ideas of how to worship. 18:12 And that was exactly what Cain did 18:15 and Jeroboam and many others. 18:17 They thought their own opinion 18:19 was more important than what God says. 18:22 You know sometimes people say, 18:23 oh yeah, God may say, but I think. 18:28 What's the God? 18:29 I think that they worship the God of heaven 18:32 that worship the God called I think, 18:35 the god of their own opinions. 18:37 So it is a conflict between Christ and His followers 18:40 and Satan and his followers. 18:44 And the Sabbath versus Sunday issue 18:46 in the last day will be 18:47 a conflict about when we worship, 18:48 isn't that so? 18:50 When we worship. 18:51 And this is a conflict between Christ and His followers 18:54 and Satan and his followers. 18:56 And the weapons of each party are entirely different. 19:00 Christ always appealed to the record 19:02 of His unfailing love and personal sacrifice, 19:06 as revealed in the Bible. 19:08 But his adversary Satan resort 19:10 to every means to force in deception. 19:14 Christ impact their emotion by appealing to reason. 19:18 He says in Isaiah 1:18, 19:20 "Come now let us reason together." 19:24 But in contrast, 19:25 Satan appeal to our emotion 19:28 in order to twist our reason. 19:31 He says, come now and let us experience together. 19:35 Experience your law and attractions of sin. 19:37 If it feels good, do it. 19:40 Experience the world if you haven't gotten done. 19:43 Fairly emotional of serving self. 19:45 Feel the freedom so-called of accepting that God's law 19:50 was done away with at the cross, 19:51 not necessary anymore. 19:54 My friend Paul combination of warning 19:56 and promise to the Thessalonians, 19:58 all seven warns us today 20:00 that as the spirit of compromise, 20:02 conformity and disobedience 20:05 would continue to drive the world 20:07 and God precious people 20:09 away from the light of truth back into the dark ages. 20:13 So God's Holy Spirit of? 20:16 What does it say? 20:17 Obedience would continue to send the reformation call 20:22 out of darkness into light. 20:26 Now let's take a look at Revelation 14:6-7. 20:31 And it says this. 20:33 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 20:36 having the everlasting gospel to preach to those 20:38 who dwell on the earth 20:40 to every nation, tribe, tongue and people, 20:44 saying with a loud voice, fear God, 20:47 and give glory to Him 20:49 for the hour of His judgment has come, 20:51 and worship Him 20:53 who made heaven and earth, 20:55 the sea and the fountains of waters." 20:58 So you see here that God last warning message 21:00 to the world 21:02 is a final call 21:04 how to worship Him 21:07 the true way by obedience. 21:09 Is that clear? 21:12 Also we see that the angels' messages appealed 21:15 with a loud voice to fear God, 21:18 but what does it mean to fear God? 21:21 It simply means to reverence or obey God, 21:26 and it also calls us to give glory to Him. 21:28 What does that mean? 21:30 It simply means that we ought to pay gratitude 21:32 for what He's done to save us through His Son. 21:35 We want to demonstrate our love for Him by honoring 21:39 Him in all that we do. 21:40 What do you say, folks? 21:43 In speaking and eating and dressing and our behavior. 21:48 Everything we do in private or in public is being observed 21:52 by unfallen being of another world. 21:54 You believe that? 21:56 We are actors on the theater of the universe. 22:00 They watch the conflict between good and evil on this planet 22:03 with the most intensive interest. 22:05 You might say why? 22:07 Why would they be serving to Satan? 22:08 What happens in this horrible place? 22:11 Simply because they want to be reassured 22:14 that those whom God intends to save 22:16 and bring back to them, 22:18 to live with them for eternity 22:20 can safely be trusted 22:21 never to entertain disobedience, 22:24 like those who were cast out to the earth with Lucifer. 22:28 Make sense? 22:30 It's simple. 22:31 The true remnant church 22:33 would be ready for Jesus to come. 22:35 Will call men and women to be obedient 22:38 in who they worship, 22:40 how they worship and when they worship. 22:44 It will encourage obedience to worship Him 22:47 on the day that is clearly specified 22:50 the truth of the day, 22:52 the seventh day of the week. 22:55 And it will teach that God's holy Word 22:57 has more authority 22:59 than men matter opinions and traditions. 23:00 What do you say? 23:02 Amen. 23:04 On the other hand, 23:06 Christ's enemy will allow outwardly 23:07 professing belief in the truth 23:10 whereby its false worship practices 23:13 takes people to be the opposite of obedience, 23:17 disobedience. 23:19 By worshiping according 23:20 to manmade ideas and traditions, 23:23 instead of the Word of God 23:24 and on a day that God did not command Sunday, 23:28 the first day of the week. 23:32 It will subtly teach people to regard the Ten Commandment 23:34 as done away with at the cross 23:37 and that we can safely ignore doctrine 23:39 for the sake of universal unity. 23:42 You heard that before? 23:44 Don't worry about doctrine, just come together for unity. 23:49 When we look back at the emergence 23:51 of the spirit of compromise, 23:52 conformity and disobedience during the dark ages, 23:55 we discover that one of the major step they took 23:58 was to change the law of God in such a way 24:02 that it would deceive the people into thinking 24:05 it hadn't been changed at all. 24:08 Take a look at these two versions 24:09 of the commandments. 24:11 On the left you see them 24:13 just as they appear in the Bible 24:14 in Exodus 20:3-11. 24:16 And on the right, 24:18 you see them as they're commonly appear 24:19 in Roman Catholic Catechism. 24:23 And you can see there's a profound difference. 24:26 The second one about images have been removed in tablet 24:30 and the third one put in its place. 24:34 The fourth one has had over 90% of it removed, 24:38 particularly the part that identifies 24:41 which day is the Sabbath. 24:44 The makeup for the removal of number two, 24:46 the tainted being divided in the two commandments 24:49 to make out the number 10. 24:52 So, if I really was not familiar 24:53 with the original in God's Word, 24:55 I will be not aware that any significant change 24:58 had been made. 25:00 That's subtle, that's deceptive, 25:03 it sure is, is it? 25:06 To summarize the two rival powers 25:08 in the end time crisis will call every inhabitant 25:10 of the world to worship God according to their command. 25:16 One power will lovingly knock on the door of our heart 25:20 and invite us to worship God 25:22 the true way according to His Word in the Bible. 25:28 The rival power will at first deceitfully coerce, 25:31 then ruthlessly demand 25:33 that we worship God the false way, 25:35 according to man's word, tradition. 25:40 On the side of the antichrist power, 25:42 we can expect to see a unity of church and state 25:48 to develop an international system of government, 25:51 which initially will appear 25:53 to have very noble goals of saving the planet, 25:57 stopping all wars and ending poverty. 25:59 But behind the scenes we can expect 26:04 it will quickly become highly repressive 26:06 and brutal against anyone who refuses to participate 26:11 in its system of social reorganization and eventually, 26:16 particularly those who refuse to be involved 26:20 in its legislative false worship practices. 26:26 And we can see this system developing in the speeches 26:28 of the previous Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. 26:33 Listen to these words. 26:37 He said, "There's urgent need 26:39 of a true world political authority, 26:43 as my predecessor Blessed John XXIII indicated 26:45 some years ago. 26:47 Such an authority would need to be regulated by law," 26:52 notice the language, 26:54 "to observe consistently the principles 26:56 of subsidiarity and solidarity." 26:58 You know what that means? 27:00 Subsidiarity simply means 27:02 that your goods can be shared with those 27:03 who don't have them. 27:05 You don't have any right to own anything. 27:07 Your house can be used to help other people 27:11 if they don't have a home, 27:12 they're told to come and live in your house 27:14 and you can't do anything about it. 27:15 Your car can be shared with others. 27:17 It all becomes common property. 27:19 That's what subsidiarity means. 27:20 And solidarity means everybody together. 27:23 They worked for the common good." 27:26 To seek to establish that he says the common good 27:29 and to make a commitment to securing 27:31 or thinking integral human development 27:34 inspired by the values of charity in truth." 27:37 Sounds clearer, doesn't it? 27:38 Sounds good. 27:40 "Furthermore such an authority would need to be 27:42 universally recognized 27:44 and be invested with the effective power 27:48 to ensure security for all, 27:51 regard for justice and respect for rights." 27:54 Except, of course, your individual rights. 27:58 And also in the words of account, for instance, 28:01 and in 2015 encyclical Care of Our Common Home 28:06 in which he was promoting the common good. 28:08 He said this, 28:11 "International climate negotiations 28:13 cannot make significant progress 28:15 due to positions, taken by countries 28:17 which place their national interests 28:19 above the global common good. 28:23 Climate change it says 28:24 is a global problem whose solution 28:26 will depend on our stepping beyond national affiliation 28:30 and coming together for the common good. 28:32 The establishment of a legal framework," 28:35 there's that language again, 28:38 "which can set clear boundaries 28:39 and ensure the protection of ecosystem 28:42 has become indispensable." 28:45 No wonder people listen to this. 28:47 No wonder people follow. He's saying so good. 28:49 He's going to save the planet. 28:52 But some Christian commentators can see the hidden agenda 28:56 behind such outwardly commendable language. 28:59 One of them Pastor Stephen Bohr from California. 29:02 He had this to say, interesting to note his words. 29:06 He said, "The Pope's encyclical, 29:08 which was released June 18, 2015, 29:12 published about two months after the Climate Change 29:14 and the Common Good declaration, 29:16 suggested that the elimination of carbon gases, 29:19 car pooling, planting trees, 29:22 turning off unnecessary lights, 29:24 restricting the use of air conditioning, 29:27 recycling and boycotting certain products, 29:30 as well as giving the planet..." 29:34 What's he saying? 29:35 "A Sunday rest will help solve the problem." 29:41 And Pastor Bohr says, 29:43 "Of course, one of the provisions 29:44 of the save of the planet crusade 29:46 is making Sunday 29:47 a day for the environment to rest, 29:50 for families to strengthen their ties 29:51 by attending Mass, 29:53 and to give the poor a break from what he perceives 29:57 as the endless in dehumanizing cycle 29:59 of capitalist life." 30:02 He said, 30:03 "The not too subtle insertion of Sunday 30:05 at the end of the encyclical appears innocuous 30:08 or innocent at first, 30:10 but as Adventists, 30:12 we know what the papacy's ultimate purpose is 30:15 in bringing global climate change to the forefront." 30:19 Can you say that, folks? 30:21 It's a lever. 30:22 It's a lever to bring about a system 30:25 of one world government 30:27 that anybody would deny on this platform 30:29 of saving the planet, 30:31 but there's the evil purpose behind it. 30:34 "What many fail to understand, Pastor Bohr says, 30:37 is that the word papacy does not refer 30:40 to the Roman Catholic Church as a religious entity. 30:45 He says, it is rather a code word 30:47 for a system 30:49 that unites church and state 30:51 and whose leader, in union with the Council of Bishops, 30:54 claims to have the divine right to global jurisdiction, 30:59 in both religious and secular matters." 31:02 He says little does the world realize 31:04 what the ultimate aspirations of the papacy really are, 31:08 global dominion with an iron fist. 31:14 And note, I didn't make that up. 31:16 I'm simply quoting historians 31:20 and believe it or not, 31:22 this, even some startling, horrific news. 31:26 Hundred and years ago, 31:28 Ellen White predicted 31:29 in her Christian commentary Last Day Events, 31:33 that worship would be the centerpiece 31:35 of the final conflict. 31:36 Listen to these words. 31:40 She said, "When our nation, the United States, 31:43 in its legislative councils, 31:44 shall enact laws to bind the consciences of men 31:48 in regard to their religious privileges, 31:51 enforcing Sunday observance, 31:54 and bringing oppressive power to bear 31:57 against those who keep the seventh day Sabbath." 32:01 What's the target of these laws? 32:03 The people who keep the seventh day Sabbath. 32:05 Very Interesting. 32:07 "The law of God will, to all intents and purposes, 32:11 be made void in our land, 32:12 and national apostasy will be followed by," what? 32:16 "National ruin." 32:18 Little do these people know who are framing these laws 32:21 what they're shaping our country up for, 32:23 national ruin. 32:25 If I could see ahead, 32:27 if I could say this quote they would be horrified 32:29 and think twice about it. 32:32 Friends, the warnings from the pens of history 32:34 and prophecy 32:36 are beginning to resonate with approaching thunder. 32:40 And I believe at time for Christians everywhere 32:42 and especially all Americans 32:45 to remember this great council 32:47 written 150 years ago 32:49 in that famous Bible commentary, 32:51 The Great Controversy, which says this, 32:54 "To protect liberty of conscience 32:56 is the duty of the state, 32:58 and this is the limit of its authority 33:01 in matters of religion. 33:03 Every secular government that attempts 33:06 to regulate or enforce religious observance 33:09 by civil authority 33:11 is sacrificing the very principle 33:13 for which evangelical Christian so nobly struggled." 33:17 That's good council, isn't it? 33:18 We need to remember. 33:21 And remember more than 100 million people died 33:24 in defense of this religious freedom 33:27 we enjoy today. 33:28 Freedom from state control of their constitute. 33:31 Will their horrific death now be conveniently forgotten? 33:37 The final crisis in the last days 33:38 will be about the same issue is when it began. 33:42 Worship will be the centerpiece issue 33:44 that determined the eternal destiny of million. 33:48 The final crisis will focus on the first four commandment, 33:53 because these deal with worship issue, 33:56 who we should worship, 33:58 when we should worship, 34:00 and how we should worship 34:01 all in case in the first four commandments. 34:05 So, in a lot of this history, 34:06 every person who sincerely wants to know God 34:09 must ask the question, 34:10 how can I identify delusive false worship practices? 34:17 Well, based on the enemy strategies, 34:19 the customs of heathenism, 34:21 compromise and conformity, 34:23 human theories and traditions. 34:25 It lower standards because there's corruption, 34:29 and a loss of purity and power 34:31 made up a little list of identifies 34:33 that might help you. 34:35 The first one is where it's talking about 34:36 creating compromise. 34:38 You can expect to see deliberate the emphasis 34:41 of distinctive doctrines 34:43 in an attempt to make worship 34:45 more relevant or attractive to unbeliever. 34:49 That's when Paul standard down 34:51 rather than pointing to God standard. 34:53 I'm not just talking our church, 34:54 I'm talking about Christianity in general, 34:57 any teaching that does this, 34:59 we can see that is the false worship system. 35:04 The second one will be diluted truth. 35:07 They will teach a social psychology gospel 35:10 with little or no call to repentance, 35:12 revival and reformation, 35:14 just love one another. 35:17 And the third one, truth versus present truth. 35:22 They would preach the generic truth, 35:24 no different from the preachings 35:26 of any other denomination. 35:29 They will ignore the distinctive end times 35:32 three angels' messages 35:34 in Daniel and Revelation. 35:37 And these present truths are vital. 35:39 Now to believe that 35:41 the three angels' messages in Revelation 14 35:44 are vital information 35:46 for the world at this time. 35:49 And it's very unlikely you will hear them 35:51 outside the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 35:53 This is the place to be. What do you say? 35:55 Amen. 35:57 Feeble and defective that it may be, 35:59 it is still the apple of God's eye. 36:01 And this is the only place 36:03 you will find all these doctrines taught. 36:05 And the fourth one, 36:07 they will ignore the important of the sanctuary message 36:10 of Christ's final atonement ministry 36:13 in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. 36:18 They will neglect the call to repentance, 36:20 revival and sanctification and obedience 36:23 as a response to the grace of Christ, 36:29 not in order to be saved, 36:31 but as a response to the grace of Christ. 36:33 That's why we keep the commandments, isn't it? 36:35 We don't get side by, we're not legalist. 36:38 And the fifth will be teachings 36:40 that tend to corrupt basic doctrines 36:42 and cause a loss of purity and power 36:44 in the Christian's life. 36:46 For example, 36:47 the doctrines of faith without work. 36:51 Or the opposite there of works without faith. 36:55 True faith will be exhibited in good works, 36:58 for faith without works is what? 37:01 Dead. Dead. 37:03 Oh, who in honest heart received the gospel message 37:06 were long to proclaim it, weren't they? 37:08 The heaven born love of Christ must find expression. 37:12 You agree? 37:13 You got to talk about it. 37:17 Faith and works go hand in hand. 37:21 They act harmoniously in the work of overcoming. 37:25 Works without faith are dead 37:28 and faith without works are dead too. 37:31 Isn't that so? 37:34 Works will never save us. 37:36 It is a merit of Christ that will abide in our behalf. 37:39 Through faith in Him, 37:41 Christ will empower and enable us to overcome sin 37:45 and to demonstrate His love for us in our life. 37:48 Isn't that true? 37:50 You might've heard the claim 37:51 that it's impossible to keep the commandments 37:53 will stop sending till Jesus comes. 37:54 Heard of that? Yes. 37:57 Well, if there's anything more dangerous in upright error 38:01 if truth mixed with error. 38:05 If you put a drop of poison in a glass of water, 38:07 it might still taste like ordinary water, 38:09 but it will still kill you, won't it? 38:12 The partial truth is 38:14 and, of course, we can't stop sinning 38:16 by our own power. 38:19 But eventually the truth is that we deny the power thereof 38:23 when we refuse to believe 38:25 that Christ has a supernatural power 38:28 to enable us to overcome sin and keep the commandments. 38:31 What do you say? 38:33 That's simple, isn't it? 38:34 Lot of people fight over this. 38:37 To neglect this point 38:38 is to leave people uninformed of the reality 38:42 that the Savior took upon Himself 38:44 the infirmities of humanity 38:47 and leave the sinless life 38:49 in order to demonstrate that men might have no fear 38:53 that because of the weakness of human nature, 38:55 they could not overcome. 38:57 To teach that it is impossible to overcome sin 39:00 is to corrupt the water of life with poison. 39:03 What do you say? 39:06 The inevitable result 39:07 will be a loss of purity and power 39:09 in a Christian's life. 39:14 2 Peter 1:4 39:17 gives us this assurance 39:18 and you can see this text on the screen. 39:21 It says, 39:22 "Exceeding great and precious promises are ours, 39:25 that by these we might be," 39:27 what's it say? 39:29 "Partakers of the divine nature, 39:32 having escaped the corruption 39:34 that is in the world through lust." 39:36 And Ellen White often described cancer. 39:39 She says, 39:40 "The Savior took upon Himself the infirmities, of humanity 39:43 lived a sinless life, 39:45 that men might have no fear 39:47 that because of the weakness of human nature, 39:49 they could not overcome." 39:51 Isn't that good news? 39:54 And there's just one more identify 39:56 of delusive worship practices 39:59 that I would have mentioned in this presentation. 40:01 And this practice is one that can potentially 40:04 cause enormous loss of purity 40:07 and genuine godly power in the Christian's life. 40:12 I needed this, this harmonic music, 40:17 this harmonic music. 40:20 Ellen White had a terrible experience 40:22 with this harmonic music over 150 years ago. 40:26 And she warned would appear again 40:28 towards the end of time. 40:29 Listen to her report. 40:32 She said, "A bedlam of noise 40:33 shock the senses and pervert 40:34 that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. 40:38 The power of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise 40:41 to have a carnival, 40:43 and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working." 40:47 She says, 40:48 "Those things which have been in the past 40:50 will be in the future. 40:52 Satan will make music a snare 40:56 by the way in which it is conducted." 41:01 He says, "Let us give no place to strange exercisings, 41:04 which really take the mind away 41:06 from the deep movings of the Holy Spirit. 41:08 God's work is ever characterized 41:10 by calmness and indignity." 41:13 By calmness and indignity. 41:16 You ever listen to rock music anybody? 41:19 Ever listen to rock music? 41:22 Did it leave you feeling calm and dignified? 41:26 Hardly. 41:29 Have you ever listen to Christian rock music? 41:32 Ever listen to Christian rock music? 41:35 Did that leave you feeling calm and dignified? 41:39 It didn't. 41:41 Well, the words may have been Christianized, 41:43 but that didn't change your feeling, did it? 41:46 There's an important question. 41:48 It is the common belief today 41:50 that the choice of music 41:51 is really a matter of personal taste, 41:53 maybe culture. 41:55 It is rarely thought of in terms of its science, 41:59 its physiological effects on the human organism, 42:03 and what a fascinating study that would be. 42:07 You know, when we talk about food and diet, 42:10 we don't talk about to determine 42:13 the difference between healthy and unhealthy food. 42:16 We don't talk about taste and culture, do we? 42:19 We analyze the food, 42:20 then you have dietician analyze food. 42:22 And they can tell you 42:23 the effects of certain elements of food, 42:25 certain types of food on human organism. 42:28 That's how we tell the difference 42:29 between healthy and unhealthy food. 42:32 How fantastic it would be if we had some Adventists 42:34 or some scientists 42:36 who could investigate 42:37 the physiological elements of music, 42:39 the various aspects of music 42:42 and examine the effects on the human organism. 42:45 Wouldn't it be a fascinating study? 42:47 I wonder what the conclusion would reveal. 42:52 The general attitude seems to be that if the word 42:54 a Christian and it feels good, well it must be okay. 42:57 And anyway, you might have heard the statement 42:58 that music is morally neutral, 43:01 but is it really morally neutral? 43:05 Does it make no different to our behavior 43:07 what kind of music we listen to? 43:10 When we understand that before his fall, 43:12 Satan was the leader of heavenly music. 43:15 Shouldn't that fact make us be careful 43:17 what kind of music we listen to? 43:19 What do you say? 43:21 Yes. 43:22 To make a decision about music 43:24 based on personal preferences or culture or age, 43:27 it's very unscientific approach. 43:31 So you must ask the question. 43:34 Well, is all music disharmonic and dangerous? 43:37 Of course not. 43:39 So how can a Christian make his decision? 43:42 Well, perhaps we can take a note 43:44 of the advice of our current world President Dr. Ted Wilson. 43:50 Right back at his inaugural sermon 43:52 back in 2010, 43:53 he made some very interesting statements 43:54 and he said this, 43:57 "Go forward, not backward! 44:00 Use Christ-centered, 44:01 Bible-based worship and music practices 44:03 in church services. 44:06 While we understand that 44:07 worship services and cultures vary throughout the world, 44:10 don't go backwards in the confusing pagan settings 44:14 where music and worship become so focused on emotion 44:18 and experience that you lose the central focus 44:22 on the Word of God. 44:24 All worship, however simple or complex should do one thing 44:28 and one thing only: 44:30 lift up Christ and put down self." 44:33 Isn't that good advice? 44:35 "Worship methods that lift up performance and self 44:38 should be replaced 44:40 with a simple and sweet reflection 44:42 of a Christ-centered, biblical approach. 44:45 To define it too closely is impossible, 44:48 but when you read in Scripture 44:49 of the holiness of God's presence, 44:51 the Holy Spirit will help you to know 44:53 what is right and wrong." 44:55 Friends, our personal decisions about who we worship, 44:58 how we worship, 44:59 and when we worship 45:00 are of far greater consequence 45:02 than just cultural or age group preferences. 45:05 Our worship choices will ultimately determine 45:07 our eternal destiny. 45:10 And God's true followers will be distinguished as those 45:13 who keep the commandments, 45:15 upholds sound doctrine, 45:17 choose worship practices in harmony with the Bible, 45:20 choose health supporting lifestyle 45:22 and dietary practices. 45:24 And the Bible assures us that in the last day 45:27 God's remnant people will be a people of obedience 45:34 that will honor God in everything that they do. 45:36 And the Bible confirms this in Revelation 14:2, it says, 45:40 "Here is the patience of the saints: 45:42 Here are they that keep the commandments of God 45:44 and the faith of Jesus. 45:46 God's true remnant will ultimately triumph 45:49 in the great conflict over worship. 45:52 Thus proving to the entire watching universe that, indeed, 45:55 holiness is possible even in the sinful world." 45:59 What do you say? 46:00 Amen. That's our task. 46:02 Think about these wonderful promises 46:04 as you watch his moving story by Pastor John Bradshaw 46:08 and the hidden faith of our fathers. 46:13 Now, this makes it real. 46:16 The church of the cave, ancient temple of the faith, 46:22 revives the heroic spirit of the fathers 46:26 who praying, suffered and died 46:31 for liberty of conscience. 46:36 Here in the Waldensian Valleys in Northern Italy, 46:38 people really suffered for their faith. 46:44 They were committed to God to live way back up here. 46:48 The winters were just so harsh. 46:51 Life was difficult, 46:53 but here they lived 46:54 so that they could cling to the faith 46:57 once delivered to the saints. 47:00 And being here and thinking that 47:02 people way up here suffered persecution, 47:06 speaks to the ferocious zeal of the persecutors. 47:11 It's not easy to get up here. 47:13 And if you're going to pursue somebody 47:17 for the purpose of persecuting them, 47:20 you've got to be as committed to persecuting 47:25 as the believers were 47:27 to following Jesus in faith. 47:31 Behind me is one of the very caves 47:34 in which Waldensian believers worshiped and prayed 47:40 and hid and were persecuted. 47:43 They worshiped in caves 47:46 because worshiping in their homes or in churches 47:48 was not an option. 47:50 Again, no crimes were committed by these people 47:54 other than they felt that in their heart, 47:57 they had to cling to the Bible 48:00 and follow what they believed was a pure faith 48:03 rather than the tradition laden works based faith 48:09 that was forced upon them by the ruling church. 48:15 Today, we have freedom to worship, 48:17 freedom of religion. 48:19 Today, we can be thankful to those faithful saints 48:23 who paid so great a price 48:27 that we could follow the faith of our fathers. 48:32 Faith of our fathers 48:35 Living still 48:39 In spite of dungeon, 48:42 Fire, and sword 48:45 Oh, How our hearts beat high with joy 48:51 Whene'er we hear 48:54 That glorious word 48:58 Faith of our fathers, 49:00 Holy faith 49:03 We will be true to thee 49:08 Till death! 49:12 Our Fathers, 49:14 Chained in prisons dark 49:18 Were still in heart 49:21 And conscience free 49:24 How sweet would be their children's fate 49:30 If they, like them, 49:32 Could die for thee! 49:36 Faith of our fathers, 49:40 Holy faith 49:42 We will be true 49:45 To thee till death! 49:51 Faith of our Fathers! 49:54 We will love 49:56 Both friend and foe 49:59 In all our strife 50:03 And preach thee too, 50:05 As love knows how 50:09 By kindly words 50:11 And virtuous life 50:15 Faith of our fathers, 50:18 Holy faith 50:21 We will be true 50:25 We will be true 50:28 We will be true 50:32 To thee 50:35 Till death! 50:43 Let us pray. 50:48 Loving Father in heaven, 50:49 we praise and thank You so much 50:51 for the faith of our fathers. 50:54 The incredible price is paid for freedom of religion, 50:58 freedom to worship. 51:01 Lord, keep us conscience of these things 51:03 that we consider the events 51:04 about to explode upon the world 51:07 as an overwhelming surprise for many. 51:11 Help us, Lord, to remain steadfast and immovable 51:14 and give us eyes to see, ears to hear 51:17 and hearts inclined to do Your will 51:19 as we move forward in faith and practice, 51:22 because, Lord, we long for You to come. 51:25 Please come, Lord Jesus. 51:27 And we thank You in Your precious name. 51:29 Amen. |
Revised 2021-09-28