Participants:
Series Code: GYC
Program Code: GYC180009A
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00:01 Music...
00:23 Piano... 00:45 In this world of darkness, 00:52 We are given light, 00:59 Hope for all the dying, 01:06 How will they know 01:13 that Jesus loves them 01:21 and He died to save them 01:29 Carry the Light, 01:32 Carry the Light 01:40 Go and tell the children 01:44 they are precious in His sight 01:52 Carry the Light, 01:55 Now, carry the Light 01:58 Carry the Light 02:03 Go and preach the gospel, 02:07 'Till there is no more night 02:11 In the name of Jesus Christ 02:15 Carry the Light 02:20 Piano... 02:23 Count them by the millions 02:30 Blinded slaves to sin 02:36 Inside they are dying 02:41 How will they know 02:51 That Jesus loves them, 02:59 and His heart is breaking 03:06 Carry the Light, 03:09 Now carry the Light 03:14 Carry the Light 03:18 Go and tell the children, 03:22 They are precious in His sight 03:29 Carry the Light, 03:32 Now carry the Light 03:36 Carry the Light 03:40 Go and preach the gospel 03:44 'Till there is no more night 03:48 In the name of Jesus Christ 03:52 Carry the Light 03:57 Go ye into all the world... 04:03 Go ye into all the world 04:10 Go... 04:11 carry the Light, 04:14 Now carry the Light 04:17 Carry the Light 04:23 Go and tell the children 04:27 They are precious in His sight 04:34 Carry the Light, 04:38 Now carry the Light 04:42 Carry the Light 04:46 Go and preach the gospel 04:49 'Till there is no more night 04:53 In the name of Jesus Christ 04:58 Carry the Light 05:04 Carry the Light, 05:12 Carry the Light. 05:17 Audience: Amen. 05:21 Good evening... 05:24 Audience: Good evening. 05:26 Let's do that again, Good evening... 05:29 Audience: Good evening. 05:31 Pause... 05:32 It's wonderful to have the privilege and opportunity 05:36 to speak with you again, 05:38 let us bow our heads together, 05:40 "Loving Father, we are grateful for the privilege of life, 05:45 health and strength 05:46 and for the opportunity to dig into Your Word. 05:50 I pray that You will jolt your people tonight. 05:55 I pray, dear Father that hearts and minds might be open 06:02 to looking at things a different way 06:05 and I pray that You would help us to begin to understand 06:11 Your thoughts are not our thoughts... 06:14 Your ways are not our ways... 06:17 for as high as the heavens are from the earth, 06:21 so are Your thoughts from our thoughts 06:23 and Your ways from our ways. 06:25 We give you praise in advance 06:27 for what we trust you can do for us, 06:30 in Jesus' name, amen. 06:32 Audience: Amen. 06:34 Pause. 06:38 The theme of GYC is: To the end... 06:42 pause... 06:45 I believe as I share with you one last night 06:47 that we cannot reach the ends of the earth 06:51 until we first reach the end of ourselves. 06:55 Beloved, one of our biggest obstacles 07:00 is our thinking... 07:02 it's our... what? 07:03 Audience: Thinking. 07:04 In Isaiah 07:09 chapter 55 verse 7, 07:15 the Bible says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, 07:19 and the unrighteous man his thoughts: 07:23 let him return unto the LORD, 07:26 and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, 07:31 for He will abundantly pardon. " 07:32 Verse 8, "For my thoughts are not... " 07:35 Audience: your thoughts... 07:37 "neither are your ways... " Audience: my ways... 07:40 "says the LORD. 07:42 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 07:44 so are my ways higher than... " 07:46 Audience: your ways... 07:48 "and my thoughts than your thoughts. " 07:52 Pause... 07:54 I want to suggest to you tonight 07:55 that we need a radical change in the way we think. 08:01 Pause... 08:03 it's not radical because it's new, 08:05 what we'll talk about tonight is Biblical, 08:10 it is radical in the sense that we've not done it... 08:16 pause... 08:19 I want to start by sharing 08:21 the examples of three luminaries in Scripture, 08:25 of course, no one shines brighter than Jesus 08:30 but these individuals are most certainly Scriptural luminaries. 08:36 The first one is Moses, 08:39 everybody is familiar with Moses. 08:41 Moses was unique because Moses understood 08:45 from the time he was a child 08:48 that God had a purpose for His life. 08:51 Isn't that an amazing thing to know 08:55 from the time that you are a little child 08:57 that God has a purpose for your life? 09:00 Pause... 09:02 But what Moses knew went even further than that. 09:06 He didn't just know that God had a purpose for his life, 09:10 he knew the specific purpose... 09:13 the reason behind his birth and how God would use him. 09:16 Moses was taught at his mother's knee 09:19 that God would use him to be the deliverer of Israel, 09:24 he would lead them out of Egyptian bondage 09:28 into the Promised Land... 09:30 the place that had been promised to their ancestors, 09:34 Moses knew this from the time that he was a child. 09:38 Along the way, Moses hit a bump in the road... 09:42 he thought... he what? 09:45 He thought that he would fulfill the purpose 09:51 that God had for him by exercising his strength. 09:56 So, one day he sees an Egyptian Task Master 10:00 abusing cruelly one of his Hebrew brethren 10:04 and the Bible says that he laid hands on him. 10:08 These were not holy hands... 10:10 he laid hands on him 10:14 and he killed the Egyptian and he buried him 10:16 only to discover that his Hebrew brethren and sisters 10:21 did not appreciate his vision of deliverance 10:25 and so, Moses of course goes into the wilderness, 10:29 but ultimately, God reaches him there 10:31 from a burning bush 10:33 that draws him closer into the very presence of God Himself 10:37 and God reacclimatizes Moses... 10:41 He... He re-trained Moses 10:43 and now He sets him off to fulfill His purpose. 10:47 Moses' life is a unique life 10:50 because Moses understood his purpose. 10:53 "God is going to use me to deliver His people 10:56 and God is going to use me to bring His people 10:59 into the Promised Land. " 11:01 But Moses' life is also unique, Beloved, 11:06 because Moses did not take God's people into the Promised Land. 11:12 We all know the story... 11:14 it's interesting, one time in 40 years, 11:20 the Bible records Moses' sin 11:23 dealing with the murmuring and complaining 11:26 and he messed up God's beautiful picture 11:30 his salvific picture... 11:32 he destroyed it by not speaking to the rock 11:35 but smiting the rock 11:36 and God tells Moses, 11:38 "You will not go over into the Promised Land... " 11:41 imagine with me tonight 11:43 knowing from the time that you're a child 11:45 that God has called you into existence 11:48 for this purpose only 11:50 and then to hear that same God say, "You will not... 11:54 you cannot do it. " 11:56 Pause... 11:58 Moses speaks to God and he's pleading his case 12:03 and God says to him, 12:04 "Do not speak to me of it again. " 12:08 Pause... 12:12 God tells Moses, "It's time for you to lay down, 12:16 time for you to lay down your sword and shield, 12:20 time for you to study war no more 12:23 and so, you need to make your way to the top of Nebo 12:26 and... and Moses does that. 12:28 Pause... 12:32 While he's there, he has a... 12:35 and this is Patriarchs and Prophets 12:38 page 475... 12:39 God is showing him, essentially, the history of humanity 12:45 and the history specifically of His people 12:48 to the crucifixion of Christ 12:50 down to the spreading of the gospel 12:53 on down to the end of time. 12:55 Pause... 12:57 Moses looks over and sees the physical Promised Land 13:02 but then, shows him something else. 13:05 Pause... 13:08 "The darkness of hopeless despair 13:10 seemed to enshroud the world. But he looked again... " 13:13 this is Moses... "and beheld Him... " 13:15 speaking of Jesus' resurrection 13:17 "coming forth a conqueror and ascending to heaven... " 13:21 listen to me tonight, 13:22 "escorted by adoring angels 13:25 and leading a multitude of captives. 13:27 He saw the shining gates open to receive Him, 13:31 and the host of heaven with songs of triumph 13:34 welcoming their Commander. 13:36 And it was there revealed... " listen, 13:38 "it was there revealed to him 13:40 that he himself would be one who should attend the Saviour, 13:45 and open to Him the everlasting gates. " 13:49 I want to tell you tonight 13:52 that Moses had a vision for his life 13:54 and he understood what his purpose was supposed to be 13:58 but listen to me Friends, 13:59 God's ultimate purpose for Moses' life 14:02 far surpassed his own visions for his life. 14:06 Moses didn't make it into the earthly Promised Land 14:11 but I think we can praise God tonight 14:13 that he made it into the heavenly Canaan. 14:16 Audience: Amen. 14:17 And not just that, but he had the privilege 14:19 of swinging open the pearly gates 14:22 and welcoming Jesus in as a... 14:24 are you listening to me tonight? 14:26 Pause... 14:28 Disappointment was turned into rejoicing... 14:31 that's Moses. 14:34 Pause... 14:36 The other story I'd like to share with you 14:39 is one you are also familiar with 14:41 it's the story of David. 14:46 In 2nd Samuel chapter 7, 14:50 I'm not talking about his entire story 14:52 but in 2nd Samuel chapter 7, the Bible paints a picture of... 14:56 of David going about in his palace 14:59 and apparently he comes to 15:01 either one of the windows or terraces 15:03 and he looks out and he sees the Sanctuary in a tent. 15:08 Pause... 15:10 and David says, "uh... uh... mmm... mmm... 15:14 this... this is not right, it ain't right... " 15:18 and David has a vision birthed in him, 15:22 I don't know if it was birthed on that particular day or night 15:25 but a vision is birthed that God should have a house 15:29 that is unrivaled... unmatched in all the world, 15:33 it should surpass all the houses of the other gods 15:37 in splendor and beauty because after all, 15:39 it is the house of the God of the universe... 15:42 the only true God... 15:44 David calls the prophet Nathan and says, 15:48 "Listen, I've had a vision 15:51 and it's unsettled me that God is dwelling underneath a tent 15:57 while I'm living in a palace of Cedar, 15:59 I'm going to build God a house. " 16:03 Pause... 16:04 The prophet Nathan responds to David and says, 16:08 "All that is in your heart... do it" 16:10 and he leaves 16:12 and I imagine that David goes to bed that night 16:15 dreaming of the splendor... the magnificence... 16:17 the beauty of God's house. 16:20 Pause... 16:22 God interrupts Nathan's sleep that night 16:26 and says, "I want you to go back and speak to David... " 16:30 Nathan comes back to David, 16:36 I don't know if it was the next day... the next week... 16:39 I don't know what the chronology is 16:42 but the prophet Nathan comes in to see David and says, 16:45 and this is amazing... 16:49 pause... 16:51 God, speaking through Nathan says, 16:53 "Since I brought Israel up out of Egypt 16:57 and settled them in this land, 16:59 no one has ever suggested building Me a house, 17:04 pause... 17:06 David, you are on hallowed ground, 17:08 David, you're in a unique place 17:11 because you have thought of Me 17:13 in a way that no one else has 17:15 since I have delivered my people out of Egypt. 17:18 David, I want to tell you, 17:21 I'm really feeling this thing about this house, 17:24 but I've got some bad news, David, 17:28 you are not going to build me a house. " 17:32 "Say... say what?" 17:37 Pause... 17:39 "But you just said yesterday or last week 17:43 that all that was in my heart... " 17:44 "David you will not build God's house. " 17:49 Can you imagine? It must have been devastating. 17:53 God says, "It's a good plan... 17:56 in fact, it's an excellent plan and it's going to happen 18:00 but you won't be the one to accomplish it. " 18:03 I imagine that as Nathan continues to speak, 18:07 David's head drops and his... his shoulders slink 18:10 and he... he's slumping down in this throne, 18:14 thinking to himself, "Why? Why...?" 18:16 but something catches his ear... 18:18 as the Prophet Nathan continues to speak 18:21 and he says, "David, you have wanted to build me a house, 18:26 but I will make you a house. " 18:29 Woooo... you all didn't hear me tonight, 18:31 you wanted to build a house for me, 18:35 but David... " 18:37 because as we used to sing in the church I grew up in, 18:40 "You can't beat God giving... 18:43 no matter how hard you try 18:46 because the more you give... " 18:48 anybody know that song? 18:49 "the more He... the more He gives to you. " 18:53 So, God says, 18:55 "David, if you have decided to build me a house, 18:58 but I'm going to make you a house... " 19:01 "What does that mean God?" 19:02 It means that you will become the receptacle of my Son, 19:06 He's going to come through your family line... 19:08 the Messiah will be a part of your family, David. " 19:12 David breaks down... it's... it's beautiful... 19:17 if you never read... go home tonight... 19:19 to your hotel room or wherever you're staying, 19:22 and open up 2nd Samuel chapter 7 19:25 and you will find David is not devastated... 19:27 he's not disappointed, he is humbled. 19:31 Pause... 19:33 "Who am I...?" David says, 19:36 "who am I? 19:39 I was just tending the sheep 19:42 and you went and you called me and you anointed me 19:45 and exalted me to be king over all of your people 19:47 but now, this too? 19:49 David had a vision for himself when he was anointed as king, 19:53 I imagine... and he had even a greater vision 19:56 of building God a house 19:58 but he was not disappointed, why? 20:00 Because God's vision for David, surpassed his vision for himself 20:05 are you with me tonight? 20:07 The third person I want to talk to you about is Elijah... 20:13 This... this... this brother is amazing... 20:17 Elijah comes out of nowhere... 20:21 comes into the palace 20:24 and the implications or the inferences are 20:28 that Elijah had spent much time in prayer 20:32 sighing and crying for the abominations 20:36 that had been done in the land 20:37 and a burden developed in his heart and in his mind, 20:41 he wanted to see the people of God experience repentance. 20:46 He wanted to see idolatry kicked out of the land of Israel. 20:51 He wanted to see the people's hearts 20:53 turned away from the false worship of Baal 20:56 back to the worship of the true God, Jehovah. 20:59 Elijah dedicates himself to this 21:02 and the Bible tells us that he appears on the scene and says, 21:06 "There will be neither dew nor rain except at my word" 21:10 and then immediately he disappears 21:12 and there was a manhunt... a nationwide manhunt for him. 21:16 He spends about a year and a half by the brook Cherith 21:19 and then he spends the rest of the famine 21:22 there with the widow at Zarepheth 21:24 and Elijah has dedicated himself. 21:27 Elijah has sacrificed to see God's people turn back to him. 21:34 You know the story. 21:35 At the appointed time he goes and he tells Ahab 21:39 to gather everyone there at Mount Carmel... 21:42 fire comes down from God out of heaven, 21:45 all of Israel... can you imagine the scene, Beloved? 21:48 Thousands upon thousands of voices that... 21:54 and this has never been heard in Elijah's lifetime... 21:57 thousands of... upon thousands of voices 22:01 "The Lord... He is the God... 22:03 the Lord... He is the God" 22:05 it must have made the hair on Elijah's back stand up. 22:09 Pause... 22:12 All of Baal's prophets and priests are destroyed. 22:16 Elijah goes up and he prays seven times... 22:25 he's on his knees 22:27 pause... 22:29 and he sees a dark cloud... small... 22:33 the size of a man's hand 22:34 or his servant sees it and comes back and tells him 22:37 and Elijah gets up and begins to run. 22:40 He runs before Ahab's chariot, 22:45 supernaturally endowed. 22:49 He runs before Ahab's chariot down to the city of Jezreel 22:56 and he falls down exhausted 22:59 and then, Jezebel's servant comes and whispers the news... 23:07 her response to all that had taken place 23:10 and Elijah begins to run again into the wilderness 23:19 towards the mountain of God. 23:23 Elijah's life had been dedicated to reform... 23:31 to revival and reformation and Elijah is devastated. 23:37 It appears to learn that after all that has transpired, 23:42 there are still some who would resist the power of God. 23:48 Pause... 23:50 I want to share with you tonight Elijah never fully saw 23:55 the nation of Israel turn in repentance to God 24:03 pause... 24:07 but Elijah's story... 24:09 I don't think anybody in here tonight feels sorry for Elijah, 24:12 do you? 24:14 Because you know where he is, right? 24:16 The Bible says that God sent... 24:20 He sent fiery chariots to come down 24:24 and translate him to heaven without seeing death 24:30 and Elijah is granted the privilege along with Moses, 24:36 oooh... help me Lord... 24:38 he is granted the privilege of coming down 24:43 to encourage Jesus. 24:46 Oh, how would you like that privilege tonight? 24:50 To encourage Jesus... 24:54 "It... it's going to be all right Jesus, 24:57 it's going to be all right, we believe in You, 25:01 You're going to make it. 25:03 We've been waiting on this... all of humanity 25:06 and all of nature has been waiting on this... 25:09 You are going to do it... 25:11 it's going to be all right, Jesus. " 25:13 Pause... 25:17 Elijah wanted to see revival and reformation 25:20 in his lifetime and he didn't see it 25:24 but God took him to heaven 25:26 because God's vision for Elijah 25:31 was higher than Elijah's vision for himself. 25:37 Pause... 25:39 In the book Education page 18, and it's been such a long time 25:45 almost 17 years of what have you with GYC 25:49 I think this used to be one of the things 25:53 folks used to talk about at GYC. 25:55 "Higher than the highest human thought can reach, 26:00 higher than the highest human thought can reach 26:05 is God's ideal for His children. " 26:08 Godliness... Godlikeness is the goal to be reached. 26:16 Pause... 26:18 I want to remind you, Beloved, of these three individuals 26:22 and tell you that what God designed for these individuals 26:25 was better than what they imagined for themselves. 26:30 Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha... 26:33 help us Lord, 26:35 pause... 26:38 here's our question, 26:39 "What do we imagine for ourselves?" 26:43 I'm going to go out on a limb tonight 26:46 and I'm going to say that there are at least two things 26:52 that we imagine for ourselves. 26:54 Just know this, I'm not here to make you feel good tonight, 26:59 I'm here to challenge you to think. 27:02 There are at least two things that we envision... 27:09 that we desire for ourselves 27:11 especially this crowd, 27:14 you want to know what they are? 27:16 You already know what they are, number one, soul winning. 27:23 What's number one? 27:25 Audience: Soul winning. 27:26 Ask what the testimonies were about, 27:28 ask what GYC is all about, 27:34 but the other one is closely related. 27:38 Soul winning and to stop sinning. 27:43 Now, just stick your toes under your seats 27:48 because I'm going to step on it. 27:51 Soul winning and to stop sinning. 27:54 Pause... 27:57 I'm not going to deal with both of those tonight 27:58 but I'm going to deal with the "stop sinning" one tonight. 28:00 Pause... 28:03 And I want to suggest to you a question. 28:06 What if, Beloved, the way to achieve what we desire 28:13 is not in fact what we think it is? 28:17 Pause... 28:21 Nothing wrong with the goal 28:24 but what if the way to achieve the goal 28:28 is not what we think? 28:30 Pause... 28:32 I can't tell you how many people I've spoken to 28:36 especially young men and young women 28:40 who are wrestling with their inability 28:44 to live up to God's high ideals and standards. 28:50 Pause... 28:53 His purposes... 28:55 Pause... 28:58 I can't tell you how many I've spoken to 29:02 who are discouraged and feel defeated 29:06 because they look at themselves and recognize 29:11 that I fall miserably short. 29:16 Pause... 29:20 Ah... 29:22 I could say more about that 29:25 but I don't have a lot of time tonight. 29:28 Turn with me to Isaiah the 58th chapter, 29:31 Pause... 29:38 Isaiah chapter 58 is fascinating, Beloved, 29:40 verse one says this, "Cry aloud, 29:46 spare not, 29:48 lift up your voice like a trumpet, 29:52 and show my people their transgression, 29:56 at the house of Jacob their sins. " 29:59 Now I've got to... I've got to admit to you 30:03 when I first read that, 30:04 my expectation is that God is getting ready to go down a list 30:09 of idolatrous practices. 30:11 Right? 30:13 I mean, these are folks who need to see their sins, 30:17 they need to understand their transgressions 30:19 and apparently they are blind to what's really going on. 30:23 So, God says, "When you talk, you got to do it really loud... 30:27 lift up your voice like a trumpet, 30:29 cry aloud, don't spare anyone 30:32 show my people their sins, 30:34 let them know what their transgressions are. " 30:37 But listen to this, verse 2, 30:40 "Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, 30:47 as a nation that did righteousness, 30:50 and forsook not the ordinances of their God: 30:54 they ask of me the ordinances of justice; 30:57 they take delight in approaching to God. " 31:01 Beloved, I want you to get 31:02 what Isaiah chapter 58 is saying to us, 31:04 these are not irreligious people, 31:07 they're the type of individuals 31:10 who plan on coming to GYC every year, 31:13 they're the types of individuals 31:15 who are the first ones in the church when the doors are opened 31:19 they're the types of individuals 31:20 who want revival and reformation in their lives, 31:24 they're the types of people who want to be like God. 31:27 Pause... 31:29 And yet, God says, 31:31 that in their religious round of practices and services, 31:34 they have, in fact, missed the point entirely. 31:38 Pause... 31:40 It is these people that God says 31:43 need to see their sins and their transgressions. 31:46 I'm scratching my head just like the people 31:50 that this was written to. 31:52 "What do you mean, Doc? 31:53 Pause... 31:57 Verse 3, this erupts in their response to God, 32:02 "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, 32:05 and you don't see? 32:06 wherefore have we afflicted our soul, 32:08 and you have not taken knowledge? 32:11 Behold, in the day of your fast... " 32:13 God is responding now... 32:14 "you find pleasure, and exact all your labours. 32:18 You fast for strife and debate, 32:22 and to smite with the fist of wickedness: 32:24 you will not fast as you do this day, 32:27 to make your voice to be heard on high. " 32:30 Then God asked a question in verse 5, 32:33 "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? 32:36 a day for a man to afflict his soul? 32:39 is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, 32:43 and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? 32:46 wilt thou call this a fast, 32:48 and an acceptable day to the LORD?" 32:50 God says, "Listen, you've laid prostrate 32:52 and you've prayed and you've cried... 32:54 and you've prayed and you've cried 32:56 and you have pled with me 32:58 and you have... you have... you have fasted 33:00 and you've said, "Lord, I'll do whatever it takes" 33:02 but God asked the question tonight 33:06 as he did from the pen of the lips of Prophet Isaiah, 33:12 "Is this what I really desire?" 33:15 Pause... 33:19 God begins to explain the dilemma. 33:22 Verse 6, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen?" 33:28 to loose the bands of wickedness, 33:31 to undo the heavy burdens, 33:34 and to let the oppressed go free, 33:37 and that you break every yoke? 33:39 Is it not to give your bread to the hungry, 33:42 and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house, 33:46 when you see the naked, that you cover him, 33:49 that you hide not yourself from your own flesh?" 33:53 Pause... 33:56 Did you notice what the difference is? 33:57 Pause... 33:59 the fast that Israel was engaged in 34:02 was a fast that centered around themselves 34:06 and God introduces a fast that centers on serving others. 34:14 Pause... 34:16 Did you get it or did you miss it this evening, Beloved? 34:18 Pause... 34:20 Now, I want you to pay attention to what God goes on to say, 34:23 one fast is centered on me... 34:26 "Oh Lord, if I could just overcome two more sins... " 34:31 "Lord, if I could just get rid of this besetting sin... 34:36 the one that so easily besets me... " 34:37 and my prayers are consumed with me... 34:42 "God help me... God deliver me... " 34:46 Pause... 34:50 God says, "Get your mind... " 34:53 remember what we read in Isaiah 55? 34:55 It's a change in the we... 34:58 Audience: think. 34:59 God says, "Get your mind off of yourself. " 35:05 Pause... 35:08 "But I want to stop sinning... " 35:10 "Yeah, but your mind is only on you. " 35:15 Pause... 35:21 Verse 8... 35:24 "Then... " 35:26 it says... this is when we begin to live 35:29 and... and by-the-way, 35:31 who lived like this? 35:32 Come on Beloved, who lived like this? 35:36 This is the way that Jesus lived. 35:40 You remember when He said, 35:42 when someone said, "Hey, I want to follow you, 35:45 I want to be your disciple," 35:47 He said, "Foxes have holes 35:48 and the birds have nests but the Son of man has... 35:51 He has nowhere to lay His head... " 35:54 He could have certainly taken up a collection 35:57 so that he could get Himself a decent place to stay 36:00 but Jesus was more interested in serving others 36:03 than He was in making Himself comfortable, 36:05 are you listening to me tonight? 36:07 Now listen to what happens in verse 8, 36:11 as a result of adopting this type of selflessness, 36:15 "Then... then shall thy light break forth as the morning 36:22 and your health will spring forth speedily... " 36:26 Lord, have mercy... 36:27 "your righteousness shall go before you; 36:31 the glory of the LORD will be your reward. " 36:35 Have you ever considered my dear Friends, 36:39 that when you're praying for your health, 36:43 God might ask, "Why should I give you more health?" 36:48 Pause... 36:50 you're just going to consume it on yourself 36:52 like you've been doing already 36:54 but the individual who's living to bless others... 36:59 listen to how this individual prays, 37:01 "Lord, give me more years so I can continue to glorify You 37:09 by serving the men... women and children 37:12 that You have laid down Your life for. 37:15 Pause... 37:17 The servant of the Lord... 37:19 I always get this mixed up... please forgive me... 37:21 she says, "The Law of heaven is this... 37:24 to live is to give. " 37:26 And my dear Friends, 37:29 all of the universe is in harmony with this law 37:32 except here on planet Earth. 37:34 And God says, "If you get into harmony with this principle, 37:41 then, your light... 37:44 then your light will break forth as the morning 37:47 and your health will spring forth speedily, 37:51 your righteousness will go before you, 37:53 the glory of the Lord will be your reward... " 37:55 verse 9... listen... listen friends... 37:57 "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer... " 38:01 did you hear what I just said? 38:03 I've read to my children the story of Samuel, right, 38:09 and I've told them, as we pray, 38:12 "Now we're going to pray like Samuel prayed... 38:14 Samuel prayed, 'Speak Lord, for Thy servant hears. '" 38:19 But here in Isaiah chapter 58, a different picture is painted, 38:24 God says, "When you live in harmony with My principle... 38:28 when you live in harmony with My character... 38:30 when you call, I will answer. " 38:32 I don't know about you but I want God on speed dial. 38:36 Audience: Amen. 38:38 I want to call on the Lord and I want Him to show up 38:41 every single time I call on His name. 38:43 Audience: Amen. 38:45 And God says, "I'll do that for you 38:47 if you adopt this principle... if it permeates your being. " 38:51 Pause... 38:54 "then you will call and the Lord shall answer; 38:58 you will cry... " 39:00 wooo ooo... it's almost blasphemous... 39:03 but it's not... it's Biblical... 39:05 "Thou shalt cry, and He shall say... " 39:11 this is God... "Here I am. " 39:14 Hooo... that's Samuel's prayer inverted 39:19 so that God is responding 39:21 to faithful, loving, selfless humanity, 39:25 by saying, "Here I am... 39:27 what do you want me to do for you? 39:29 What do you need from me?" 39:31 Pause... 39:34 "Thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, 39:37 the putting forth of the finger and speaking vanity, 39:39 if you draw out your soul to the hungry 39:41 and satisfy the afflicted soul, 39:43 then shall thy light arise in obscurity... " 39:48 let me just get prophetic and apocalyptic for a minute here, 39:54 this is when the prophetic message 39:58 that we have been gifted with and blessed with by God 40:03 will go forth with speed and with power. 40:06 This is when the three angels' messages 40:10 will arise from a place of obscurity 40:13 so that we don't have to knock on doors 40:16 and people say, "What church do you belong to?" 40:18 "The Seventh-day Adventist. " 40:19 "The Seventh-shibi dibi who?" 40:21 Audience: Laughter. 40:22 "Yeah, yeah, the Seventh-day Adventist... " 40:24 "I've never heard of that. " 40:26 God says... when we live in harmony with His principle 40:30 that is outlined here in the 58th chapter of Isaiah, 40:33 then our life will rise out of obscurity... 40:36 people will say, "I know who you are... " 40:39 Audience: Amen. 40:41 Pause... 40:46 "Then shall thy light rise in obscurity, 40:49 and thy darkness be as the noonday. " 40:51 Verse 11, "And the Lord shall guide thee continually 40:58 and satisfy your soul in drought. " 41:04 When the Spirit of God 41:07 is slowly being withdrawn from the earth, 41:10 those who have made this principle of selfless love 41:15 and service... 41:17 those who have made this their objective 41:22 not separate from the person of Christ 41:27 but because it reflects perfectly who Jesus is 41:31 those who have embraced Jesus 41:33 and the same principle in their lives 41:35 when the Spirit of God is being withdrawn... 41:39 and there is a time of drought and of famine, 41:42 God promises, "You will be watered" 41:45 you will be watered... 41:48 pause... 41:52 "God will make fat your bones 41:55 and you will be like a watered garden 41:57 and like a spring of waters... 41:59 whose waters fail not. " 42:03 Pause... 42:07 Oh Lord, hmmm... 42:10 pause... 42:13 I want to tell you tonight, religious exercises 42:17 and spiritual exercises alone... there is a place for them 42:22 are not the way to reach God's ideal for our lives 42:27 or perhaps, it's not even the way for us to reach 42:32 our own ideals for our lives. 42:36 Pause... 42:38 This is from Medical Ministry, 239, 42:40 "Medical missionary work brings to humanity 42:45 the gospel of release from suffering. 42:49 It is the pioneer work of the gospel. " 42:52 Did you all hear that? 42:55 Pause... 42:57 "It is the pioneer work of the gospel... 42:59 it is the gospel practiced, 43:03 the compassion of Christ revealed. 43:09 Of this work there is great need and the world is open for it. 43:18 Pause... 43:21 Our country just experienced here in the United States 43:25 an Opioid Crisis... 43:28 anybody hear about that? 43:29 Pause... 43:32 What about if medical ministry involved 43:35 ministering to those who are addicted? 43:39 Pause... 43:41 Because addicts also have families 43:45 who are enduring crisis, in some cases, on a daily basis. 43:52 Pause... 43:54 Now look, I love prophecy as much as the next... 43:57 Daniel... Revelation... 43:59 hooo... man! talk about it... 44:02 pause... 44:04 but if someone is suffering from an opioid crisis, 44:09 don't tell me all you got to offer is a Revelation Seminar. 44:12 Pause... 44:15 Did you hear what I said, Friends of God? 44:17 pause... 44:19 Practice the gospel... don't just preach it. 44:23 Pause... 44:25 Reveal the compassion of Christ. 44:28 Don't just tell people where He is in the heavenly sanctuary... 44:32 show them how He lives through you. 44:37 Pause... 44:40 Now, I know, when we talk about things 44:42 like the 58th chapter of Isaiah 44:44 and we talk about ministry to the poor and what have you, 44:47 some folks get discouraged... 44:48 ah... there we go... there we go... 44:50 you know, we got a special work, 44:53 we're not the Salvation Army, 44:56 and that sounds real nice, 44:59 and it's true. 45:01 Pause... 45:04 We're not the Salvation Army. 45:05 I'm going to share with you a story... 45:07 had an Elder and his wife in my church 45:10 and they were leading out in the Community Service Department 45:16 in the church 45:17 and we had a huge program where we invited the community, 45:23 we were doing blood pressure checks and there was health 45:27 and we had a vegetarian-tasting going on 45:30 and we were giving out book bags... 45:32 it was just before the beginning of school. 45:34 We had over 300 people who came 45:38 and one of the volunteers there... 45:41 at this community service event, 45:43 was a neighbor of my Elder and his wife. 45:47 They had prayed for this woman 45:51 to come to our evangelistic meetings... 45:53 prayed for her to come to church... 45:55 invited her... 45:56 they had given her the flyers... 45:58 they had said, "Just come once, you'll enjoy it. " 46:01 All of this... and you know, she never came 46:04 but when they invited her to come 46:07 and be a part of a Community Outreach that we were holding 46:12 to be a blessing to people in the community, 46:14 she showed up. 46:16 Pause... 46:19 They introduced me... 46:21 "Pastor, Pastor, this is our neighbor, 46:23 we've been trying to get her to church for years... " 46:25 came over and I greeted 46:28 we exchanged niceties and she said this, 46:31 "I have so thoroughly enjoyed... " 46:32 and we were there like all day... 46:34 not eight hours... 46:36 she says, "I have so thoroughly enjoyed myself" 46:40 and this is what she said, 46:42 she said, "Any time that you do this, 46:46 I'll be here. " 46:48 Pause... 46:51 You see, Beloved, when you and I reach out 46:54 to those who are underprivileged 46:56 and less fortunate, 46:57 it is also an opportunity 46:59 to reach out to those who are privileged and fortunate 47:02 and invite them to come beside us 47:07 pause... 47:09 I hate to use this illustration but you guys remember Jehu... 47:13 "Come up in my chariot, see my zeal for the Lord" 47:17 that brother was crazy... I'm not suggesting that... 47:20 but when we invite the privileged and the fortunate 47:24 to come beside us 47:25 and labor with us to bless and uplift humanity, 47:30 they do see our zeal for the Lord. 47:33 They say, "Man! you guys are something else, 47:38 I want to be a part of this church. " 47:43 Self-sacrifice and service, dear friends, 47:48 others-centered living 47:51 which is actually Christ-centered living, 47:55 check it in Matthew chapter 25, 47:58 "As you have done it unto the least of these my Brethren, 48:02 you have done it unto... " Audience: Me. 48:04 Self-sacrificial service... 48:07 other-centered living which is Christ-centered living, 48:10 is God pleasing 48:13 and I want to say this tonight, it is the path to Godliness 48:20 and God-likeness. 48:22 We are never more like God 48:26 than when we are self-sacrificing 48:29 and when we are doing whatever it is that we're doing 48:33 for the benefit of others. 48:35 O Beloved, I hope you hear me tonight. 48:37 You can go off in the wilderness and pray for three months, 48:43 and won't be a lick more like God than you will 48:46 if you go down into the streets and into the highways and byways 48:50 and give of yourself. 48:52 The Bible says of Jesus, He went about... doing what? 48:59 He went about doing good. 49:02 A man by the name of Viktor Hugo 49:06 he's the author of a book entitled, 49:11 "Man's Search For Meaning" it's a very interesting story, 49:15 he was in a Concentration Camp... 49:17 can you play something... 49:20 give him some sound, praise the Lord, 49:25 he was in a Concentration Camp 49:30 and as he was there in the Concentration Camp 49:32 one of his associates and he developed a plan for escape. 49:38 It's World War 2... 49:40 you don't want to be in a Concentration Camp, 49:43 you want to get out. 49:44 But Victor Hugo also had medical skills 49:47 and he had been servicing and ministering 49:50 to those who were sick and those who were afflicted... 49:54 he had been trying to give or deliver acts of mercy 49:58 to various individuals there in the camp 50:00 and one day he approached one of his comrades 50:03 and he hadn't told anyone of this plan 50:05 but the man who he was ministering to... 50:08 and Viktor says, "This man was at the very point of death... " 50:12 this man looked into his eyes, and he said, 50:18 "You're leaving aren't you?" 50:19 Viktor was shocked... nobody was supposed to know that 50:23 did somebody tell? 50:25 The man took his hand and said, "No one has said anything 50:28 but I can see it in your eyes... 50:31 I can see it in your eyes. " 50:34 What did he see, Beloved? 50:37 He saw a man who wanted to get away... 50:41 a man who had been laboring in love 50:44 and serving others and blessing others 50:46 who was tired and wanted the release that came from escape 50:50 Viktor says, he left this man's bedside... he was perplexed... 50:54 he was angry... 50:55 he didn't quite understand all that was going on 50:57 in his heart and in his mind 50:59 and he did something that was radical and strange, 51:04 Viktor says that that night as he was wrestling and deciding, 51:09 you know, what he was going to do, 51:10 he decided that he would stay. 51:12 Pause... 51:15 Who decides to stay in a Concentration Camp? 51:19 Pause... 51:21 He decided to stay and live out, so he thought, 51:26 the remainder of his days 51:27 blessing and ministering to others. 51:29 He said something wonderful, 51:31 he said, "When I made that decision, 51:34 I had peace. " 51:36 Pause... 51:42 Peace... 51:43 When you decide to die serving others, 51:47 you have peace. 51:51 One author who was commenting on this story says this, 51:58 "It is only in the line of service... " 52:01 listen to me my young friends... 52:03 "It is only in the line of service 52:05 that our purpose becomes clear to us. " 52:09 Pause... 52:12 It's not looking through the university catalog and deciding, 52:15 what... oh, oh, what course of study you're going to get... 52:18 that's not how you gain clear purpose. 52:21 I would suggest, it's not only by spending time on your knees 52:26 and saying, "God, what would you have me to do?" 52:28 But I'm suggesting to you tonight, 52:30 that it is only in the line of service 52:32 that our purpose becomes clear 52:34 that you and I come to the realization... 52:37 this is what God has called me into existence for. 52:42 Everything else becomes fuzzy 52:46 because the most important thing has become clear. 52:50 Pause... 52:53 Beloved those... 52:54 I got to throw this in for folks who got some rocks tonight 53:00 that they want to hit me with, 53:04 those who experience victory over sin... do so 53:09 because victory over sin is not their goal. 53:14 Audience: Amen. 53:16 Service... and living like Jesus 53:20 and loving as He did is their goal 53:24 and you know what you discover my dear Friends, 53:26 you discover that you don't have time to think about you, 53:31 those of you who've been on a mission trip 53:34 you know what I'm saying is real. 53:37 The plane touches down... "Oh the mosquitoes... 53:40 it's so hot... oh... oh... oh... 53:42 what's going on?" 53:43 Audience: Laughter. 53:45 But as your hands begin to get dirty 53:47 and as you begin laboring for souls 53:50 and you begin spending time with the people 53:52 and as you are praying, 53:54 all of a sudden, the mosquitoes don't seem to matter anymore 53:57 and all of a sudden the fact that there's no air conditioning 54:00 it has no meaning absolutely in your mind whatsoever, 54:03 why? 54:05 Because your thinking has been changed... 54:07 pause... 54:09 consumed with service... 54:11 consumed with loving and living like Jesus, 54:14 that's what I want tonight. |
Revised 2019-06-17