Participants:
Series Code: HCAU
Program Code: HCAU180006A
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00:01 Music...
00:30 As they just said, welcome to 2018 Australia 00:34 3ABN Australia Homecoming. 00:36 It is a pleasure for us to be here... 00:38 us being... Tim Parton... I am the General Manager 00:41 of the Praise and Music Network back in the States, 00:44 the United States... 00:45 and this is Jill Morikone... she is the 3ABN General Manager 00:49 and what a privilege for our 3ABN Team 00:52 to have come over 00:54 to be a part of this great event... the Homecoming. 00:56 I was just thinking, last year was... 00:58 we had the great privilege to go over to Russia 01:01 and be a part of some meetings over at 3ABN Russia 01:04 and it's just wonderful to know that God has His people 01:07 situated all around the world 01:10 and what a great thing that we are family 01:12 and so, I welcome you as part of the 3ABN family, 01:15 as part of the family of the... a family of God. 01:18 Thank you for watching 01:20 and I hope that this is a blessing to you. 01:22 Amen, absolutely 01:23 and we're so thankful for each one of you here 01:25 in the Avondale Memorial Church as well. 01:28 You are right, last year we were in Russia, 01:30 this year here in Australia and to see what God is doing 01:34 through John and Rosemary Malkiewycz 01:36 and the incredible team that they have here 01:39 with 3ABN Australia. 01:41 They're General Managers and they've been for 15 years 01:44 and they do a great job. 01:45 They do a wonderful job, they are great leaders 01:47 and their personalities are... they're... 01:50 their leadership does... 01:51 does not only lead the "ship" of 3ABN 01:55 but we are guests in their home 01:57 and they have been such a pleasant and loving 02:01 and hospitable people 02:02 in their leadership in their home... 02:03 John... I love that he is 02:06 knocking on everyone's door every morning... 02:08 Jill: For breakfast... 02:10 Tim: Even before we're ready to get up 02:12 he is... he is... he is a... "Yes Sir, we are... 02:16 we are your servants, John. " 02:17 So it is a pleasure to... to be under their... 02:20 be in their home and to... 02:22 to serve with them in this great ministry. 02:24 Amen, they're incredibly hospitable, 02:26 they're doing a great job here 02:28 and the message today 02:29 will be brought to us by John Malkiewycz. 02:31 The whole theme of this Camp Meeting is "Knowing God" 02:35 John 17 verse 3, "And they shall know thee 02:38 the only true God, 02:39 and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent... " 02:42 and we're going to hear, 02:43 "Knowing God through prayer and Bible Study" 02:46 and I know that the anointing of the Holy Spirit 02:50 will be upon him as he brings the word of God to us 02:53 but before he comes, we have some music... 02:56 His beautiful wife, Rosemary Malkiewycz 02:58 is going to sing the lovely song, "Who Am I?" 03:01 and I'm going to accompany her. 03:02 Pause... 03:11 Piano... 03:17 more piano... 03:22 When I think of how He came 03:27 so far from glory 03:34 Came and dwelt among the lowly 03:40 such as I 03:45 To suffer shame 03:48 and such disgrace 03:52 On Mount Calvary take my place 03:58 Then I ask myself the question 04:04 Who am I? 04:09 Who am I 04:14 that The King would bleed and die for? 04:22 Who am I that He would pray 04:28 "not my will, Thy Lord" 04:34 The answer I may never know 04:40 Why He ever loved me so 04:48 To an old rugged cross 04:51 He would go 04:54 Who am I? 04:59 When I'm reminded of His words 05:05 I'll leave You never 05:10 Just be true 05:14 I'll give to you life forever 05:23 There's nothing I could have done 05:29 To deserve God's only Son 05:36 To fight my battles 05:39 till they're won 05:42 Who am I? 05:48 Who am I 05:52 The King would bleed and die for 06:00 Who am I that He would pray, 06:07 "not my will, Thy Lord" 06:13 The answer I may never know 06:19 Why He ever loved me so 06:26 To an old rugged cross 06:30 He would go, 06:32 who am I? 06:38 Who am I 06:42 that a King would bleed and die for 06:51 Who am I that He would pray, 06:58 "not my will, Thy Lord" 07:03 The answer I may never know 07:09 Why He ever loved me so 07:17 To an old rugged cross 07:21 He would go, 07:24 who am I? 07:30 To an old rugged cross 07:35 He would go, 07:37 who am 07:42 I? 07:49 Piano. 07:56 Did you take note of those words... 07:58 "Who am I 08:01 that a King should live and die for?" 08:04 The words of a song are as powerful as a sermon 08:09 so, I want to thank Tim and Rosemary 08:12 for that beautiful song. 08:13 I remember her singing that the first time... 08:16 I just want to mention something, 08:17 I asked Tim yesterday, "Do you preach?" 08:21 and they said, "He sings" 08:22 but I want to tell you, "Your music and your song 08:25 is as powerful as a sermon keep it up" 08:28 and I know that they're planning a 3ABN Music Channel 08:32 for the whole world 08:34 and that's preaching the gospel, thank you. 08:37 Pause... 08:39 I'm going to be looking at a subject 08:41 of knowing God through prayer and Bible Study. 08:48 For me, those two go hand in hand 08:52 and there's no one here in my audience or at home 08:59 who will ever get to know God unless they take the two: 09:04 prayer and Bible Study 09:07 to actually get to know God. 09:09 Before I begin, I ask you to bow your heads 09:12 as I offer a word of prayer to my God and my Savior Jesus. 09:17 "Father in heaven, 09:19 it is a joy and a privilege to have your Scriptures to read, 09:26 to learn and to understand 09:29 what you want for each one of us living on this earth 09:34 from the time you created it until the time you come 09:38 and I thank you Father, 09:40 that the Holy Spirit may be here in a measure 09:43 that will touch each and every heart 09:47 that is hearing in this audience and around the world 09:52 that they may know you and Jesus Christ 09:55 whom you have sent. 09:56 I pray this in the name of the Father and of the Son 10:00 and the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ, amen. " 10:03 Pause. 10:05 I want to look for a moment, 10:07 you know, we've been hearing our Speakers 10:09 talking about "Knowing God" 10:13 but I'm going to ask you a question 10:16 and I think we are all human beings 10:19 that have minds that are capable of reading... 10:22 deciphering what is being told us 10:25 and then we can make a decision 10:28 so I want to ask you about knowing God, 10:30 "Why would you want to know God?" 10:34 The reasons why you would want to know God. 10:38 And I believe the best way to look at this 10:42 is from this point. 10:43 Jesus when He actually quoted that verse 10:47 in His prayer to His Father, 10:49 there are five words in the beginning of it 10:52 about why you were born to know God 10:55 and it says like this, 10:57 "And this... " if you have your Bibles, 11:00 it's in John chapter 17 verse 3, 11:02 and it says, "And this is eternal life... 11:07 and this is eternal life. " 11:11 That's why God wants you to know Him... 11:16 "the only true God, 11:17 and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. " 11:20 So the reason becomes very logical... 11:22 the Scripture reveals that we all have an opportunity 11:28 to enjoy eternal life. 11:31 Now, if you look around the world now 11:34 in many of the big cities in America, 11:36 there's a thing called, "Cryogenics" 11:39 most people want to get their bodies frozen 11:43 so that some time when science catches up 11:47 they will be able to bring you back to life 11:51 but you know the Bible tells us 11:54 "If you know the only true God and Jesus Christ, 12:00 you are not only guaranteed... you are assured of eternal life 12:05 but you have to know God. " 12:07 And so, this morning, 12:10 I thought the best way to do this 12:13 is to examine what happens in people's lives, 12:16 in their lifetime... while they live. 12:21 and I want to start like this, "When a child is conceived... " 12:25 take note... 12:26 "it has no choice in choosing their parents, their religion, 12:32 their gender, the color of their skin, 12:36 the country of birth, 12:38 or any physical characteristic" 12:40 doesn't happen... 12:42 in fact, they don't even choose their birth date 12:47 or their death date 12:50 but let me tell you, "The ability to choose 12:54 what they do individually will come as they grow older. " 12:59 Parents who have trained their children 13:03 will hopefully see good decisions being made by them. 13:07 The Christian parents are hopeful 13:12 in the training they give them that their children 13:15 will choose to know God and Jesus Christ for themselves. 13:20 It's the wish of every parent here... 13:23 and, you know, many times I speak to people 13:26 and they say to me, "John, please pray for my son 13:31 or my daughter, 13:34 they've wandered away from the Lord. " 13:36 Every parent desires to see 13:41 their children with them in the kingdom of heaven. 13:45 In regard to the death date... 13:48 when we die... the ability to choose anything ends. 13:55 Do you understand that, it ends. 13:57 It's the legal, official record of life... when it ceased 14:03 and that's it... 14:06 got to repeat it, "that's it. " 14:10 Pause. 14:15 Guess when and where these birth and death dates 14:21 are normally seen together? 14:25 You're right, at the grave... 14:27 and it's very interesting, 14:31 you see the birth date... the death date... 14:35 and it's always together. 14:39 Looking a little closer at the inscription, 14:44 most begin with the loving memory... 14:46 the person's name... 14:48 often followed by Born: Died: 14:51 a mention of the dead person's immediate family, 14:55 and a selected thought often reflecting 14:59 their understanding of death. 15:01 Things like, "Sleeping till Jesus comes. " 15:06 "Until the Master returns. " 15:08 "Peacefully sleeping in Jesus. " 15:10 And I'm sure you all know this, "R.I.P." 15:13 Rest in peace. 15:14 But I want you to notice something, 15:17 the stark reality is this, 15:19 that is the picture here that I'm leaning over, 15:23 there's the memorial of the Name... Born... 15:26 and then there's a little dash between those two dates 15:32 that's the bit that holds everything the person did 15:37 while they were alive. 15:39 Did you notice that? 15:41 When they were alive... 15:43 it's their life record and the choices they made 15:48 through their life. 15:50 You remember I said... 15:51 when you're born, you don't have any choices, 15:54 but while you're alive, God is giving you the ability 16:00 to choose 16:01 and I'm telling you this because now listen carefully, 16:05 this life... this life... is the only time 16:11 that you will have to choose to know God for yourself 16:15 that's it... 16:18 pause... 16:22 now, let's compare the dash of two people... 16:26 one who chooses to know God... prays... studies the Bible 16:33 and someone who chooses to live without God 16:37 because if we see the comparison, 16:39 I'm hoping... and I'm not going to apologize for this, 16:43 I want you and everyone here in the audience 16:47 to know God for themselves. 16:49 First, let's consider what is common in a dash 16:54 of two people and it's most people in fact, 16:59 they are born... 17:00 that's the birth that we all celebrate until we die. 17:07 We go to school, we work, 17:10 we choose a life partner, 17:14 marry, have children, 17:17 we choose sporting venues, recreational activities, 17:22 or church on the weekend. 17:24 We establish a home, 17:27 we have family and children, 17:32 we plan for retirement, 17:35 we look forward to spoiling our grandchildren 17:39 and sending them on 17:41 only to get old, 17:43 spend time at the doctors... surgery... 17:46 in the waiting room... 17:48 only to get to arrange for a funeral 17:54 and then die and set a date on the gravestone 18:00 with a dash... 18:02 isn't that crazy? 18:04 To live life like that, only to establish a death date 18:10 pause... 18:14 I know that's a simple overview 18:16 but I'm sure some of you who are older 18:20 and could relate to what I've said... is true. 18:23 Is this all there is? Is it? 18:27 And if you are young out there 18:31 and you've not experienced that this is what's common, 18:36 to even those who say they know God 18:41 and those who don't. 18:42 This is the normal basis of life. 18:46 In fact, I want to tell you the reason I know this... 18:51 because when I was a young lad, 18:54 I thought... my worldview... I actually thought 19:00 that when you died, that's it. 19:03 I just felt you had to live your life... 19:07 do the best you could 19:08 and you came to the end of it... you died. 19:12 How many animals have you seen come back to life? 19:15 How many pieces of grass that have died 19:20 sprout again and come to life? The seed does... 19:22 I never saw it... 19:25 so, for me, life was very simple, 19:28 just as I explained it, 19:31 you live, you listen to your parents, 19:34 you're obedient, 19:36 you're a good citizen in the world, 19:37 you achieve many things, 19:39 but the reality is, you do die. 19:44 But for the Christian, it's very different. 19:49 Now look at what is different in their lives. 19:53 The one who doesn't know God even if they profess to... 19:57 has a life as I've mentioned before, 19:59 and may be... it may have been a really good life 20:03 by worldly standards 20:05 but when their life ends that's it. 20:09 Pause. 20:11 What about the one who knows God through prayer 20:16 and by-the-way, 20:18 prayer is talking to God as a friend. 20:21 What about the person who knows... 20:24 knows God through prayer and Bible Study? 20:28 That person goes through life... as we mentioned before, 20:34 We all go through the same life also in the general way, 20:40 but their life is governed by a love relationship 20:44 believing in God. 20:47 They have this relationship because they have 20:50 come to know God 20:52 through their prayers and their Bible Studies. 20:55 They may have had struggles and you will 20:59 and trials... 21:01 they know God will take care of them 21:04 so that they can have peace of mind 21:08 during their troubles. 21:09 Also, they choose to live a different life. 21:12 You notice I'm using the word "choose. " 21:15 We all have that one time in our life to choose, 21:20 Life that is different in the sense of what they eat... 21:27 of what God has given to us as food. 21:30 What they drink, what they believe, 21:33 how they speak, 21:35 how they show love to others 21:38 and at the end, when they die, 21:42 they sleep in the grave 21:46 knowing God will raise them to eternal life one day. 21:51 They die in faith believing the Bible and God 21:58 and know that it's going to be true... what God has said. 22:02 Come with me now to the beginning of the Bible 22:07 I want to turn... because we're told that we are to know God 22:12 through His Word 22:14 and I want you to open your Bibles to Genesis chapter 1. 22:17 You know, I've read through the Bible 22:21 several times in my married life. 22:25 My wife and I start the day by reading the Scriptures 22:29 from Genesis to Revelation. 22:32 I want to tell you something very funny... 22:33 when I first became a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, 22:37 I never read the Bible... 22:39 never read the Bible in its entirety. 22:42 We always had pieces taught to us from here and there 22:47 and that's what the Bible says, 22:49 here... there... a little there... 22:50 but you know for you to know God properly, 22:52 you need to go to the Scriptures 22:55 because the Scriptures are God's Word 22:58 and they are the one that will reveal Him to you. 23:03 I like it because it's the person... 23:08 it's such an interesting book... the Bible... 23:13 I don't know how to say to you 23:14 but take time to open the Word of God, 23:17 you'll discover many wonderful things. 23:20 This God that we're talking about... 23:23 the only one and true God, 23:25 talks about the faith and beliefs... 23:28 they're not talking about this God, 23:30 I want you to know this God... the God of the Scriptures 23:36 and the Bible begins... who is He? 23:38 He says, "In the beginning, 23:40 God created the heaven and earth. " 23:42 This is the true God and I love the first chapter 23:47 because this is a fiat creation... 23:50 God spoke... and it was... 23:53 five days... God spoke... and it was... 23:58 God spoke... and it was 24:00 and as you read down, 24:02 you'll find that God ends that each day... 24:05 and by the way, it is a literal day... 24:08 because the Bible defines it as morning and evening 24:12 and at the end, God would say, "It was good. " 24:16 Next day... it was good... 24:19 next day... it was good 24:21 the next day... it was good. 24:24 Five days... 24:26 and then we read in Genesis chapter 1, verses 26 and 27, 24:33 I want you to read with me, 24:34 because now God is doing something 24:37 that is not a "fiat" creation 24:39 and I want you to listen, 24:41 "And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, 24:46 and Our likeness: 24:48 and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 24:51 and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, 24:54 and over all the earth, 24:55 and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 24:59 So God created man in His image, 25:02 in the image of God created He him; 25:05 male and female created He them. " 25:08 This is not a fiat creation anymore 25:11 because in this instant when God creates man... 25:15 we read in Genesis chapter 2 and verse 7, 25:20 and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground... " 25:25 now, if you're a sculptor or an artist, 25:28 you take a piece of clay 25:30 and I can imagine God taking that dust of the earth... 25:35 the clay... 25:37 and making them all stand up like that, 25:40 and He makes that creature... that man 25:44 in exact, perfect detail and then... 25:49 and then... this is the personal, personal touch, 25:53 he takes... breathes into his nostrils... 25:58 and the man becomes a living soul. 26:02 Every one of you here is a living soul 26:07 and it's only attributed to God and His personal touch. 26:14 Pause... 26:19 Six days... that was the six days 26:21 and you know what God said, "It was very good. " 26:24 Now, sometimes, I tell my children, 26:27 when they were young, "You are good" 26:29 and when they did a little bit better, 26:31 "You're very good. " 26:33 But they want to hear something else, 26:35 you know that something else... 26:38 "Kids, you were excellent! 26:41 You've done more than 'very good' 26:43 you are excellent. " 26:45 You know what? God didn't get to that stage 26:48 until the seventh day 26:50 where it says, "God rested from His work" 26:54 and you know, He made the Sabbath day 26:58 for you... 27:00 He didn't make man... 27:03 He didn't make the Sabbath for man... 27:06 He made... I got it... 27:09 He made the Sabbath for man 27:12 and not man for the Sabbath. 27:15 Thank you. 27:17 It's... it's just amazing what God did. 27:21 So the creation week was complete, 27:23 seven days... 27:25 it was not good... it was not very good... 27:29 but it was perfect, 27:32 absolutely perfect, 27:34 at the end of the Creation Week, including the Sabbath rest, 27:38 the world was perfect not only in beauty 27:42 but also in the absence of evil or discord. 27:46 Everything was uninterrupted, harmony and happiness... 27:49 all life was to enjoy a harmonious existence, 27:54 and a relationship built on mutual trust. 27:58 It was a beautiful world, 28:01 worthy of its Creator and was meant to be that way 28:05 for eternity. 28:08 All was to be only harmony, unity and love. 28:15 Let me tell you something, now you're listening, 28:18 it was God's plan that man should love Him 28:21 and live forever with God for eternity 28:24 and that was possible 28:27 and you read it in the first books of Genesis, 28:31 because of the Tree of Life... 28:33 in the garden was the Tree of Life 28:37 and everyone that remained obedient to God 28:43 would have access to the Tree of Life 28:46 and you and I would have lived forever. 28:49 Pause. 28:53 That's what God wants. 28:54 That's what He wants you to know. 28:57 He wants you to know about eternal life. 29:00 Now at the end of the Bible 29:03 and I want you to come with me to the end of the Bible 29:06 to Revelation chapter 21 and verse 5, 29:09 at the end of the Bible, 29:11 we discover something unusual in respect 29:15 to what we've just learnt about creation... 29:19 the creation account of the world... in Genesis 1:2 29:22 and I want to go there with you, 29:24 it's going to be up on the screen 29:27 and I want you to notice 29:30 what John the Revelator saw. 29:33 And he says, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; 29:37 for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; 29:42 and there was no more... was no more sea. 29:46 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 29:50 coming down from God out of heaven, 29:54 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband... 29:58 and I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, 30:02 Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 30:06 and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, 30:10 and God Himself shall be with them, 30:12 and be their God... 30:14 and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; 30:17 and there shall be no more death, 30:20 neither sorrow, nor crying, 30:22 neither shall there be any more pain: 30:25 for the former things are passed away... 30:27 and he that sat upon the throne said, 30:29 Behold, I make all things new. 30:33 And He said unto me, 30:35 Write: for these words are true and faithful. " 30:40 What a picture of the world after living in this world, 30:46 is worth looking forward to more than this. 30:49 So what happened? 30:53 Why is God creating a new heaven and a new earth 30:58 if the original creation was perfect? 31:03 Something must have happened but what? 31:06 I want you to come back with me to Genesis, 31:10 let's go back to Genesis chapter 1 and 2 31:13 and we're looking at 3 too. 31:14 When God created man, 31:16 He gave them the freedom to choose to obey or disobey. 31:23 Man was created in the image of God... 31:28 man was created with the ability to choose. 31:32 Sadly, the Bible record shows us 31:37 that in disobedience to God, 31:40 Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit 31:43 He had said they were not to eat... 31:46 and if they did, they would die. 31:49 Pause. 31:52 More Pause. 31:56 I want you to look at Genesis chapter 3 and verse 6 with me, 32:00 Genesis chapter 3 and verse 6. 32:05 Pause... 32:08 "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, 32:12 and it was pleasant to the eyes, 32:15 and a tree to be desired to make one wise, 32:18 she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, 32:21 and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. " 32:27 Pause. 32:28 Now all mankind now was subject to death. 32:34 In actual fact, if you come with me to Genesis chapter 5, 32:38 the Bible says... this is the genealogy of the patriarchs, 32:43 that's all those descendants of Adam 32:46 down to the time of the flood of Noah 32:48 and it's very interesting 32:51 because the genealogy goes like this, 32:54 it says, "This is the book of the generations of Adam. 32:58 In the day that God created man, 33:00 in the likeness of God made He him; 33:02 Male and female He created them; and blessed them, 33:06 and called their name Adam, 33:09 in the day that they were created. 33:13 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, 33:17 and begat a son in his own likeness, 33:20 after his image; and called his name Seth: 33:24 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth 33:28 were 800 years: and he begat sons and daughters: 33:32 All the days that Adam lived 33:35 were nine hundred and thirty years: 33:37 and he died. " 33:41 Did you hear that? "And he died. " 33:43 If you read through all those verses 33:46 down to the time of Noah, 33:48 they all end with, "And he died. " 33:54 Pause... 33:58 So what we see here, 34:00 is the beginning of the workings of disobedience to God. 34:06 That is why... when we have that dash on that gravestone, 34:11 it ends with a death date. 34:14 We all die. 34:16 The Bible calls that the first death. 34:20 Now, so, here's the good news. 34:23 We can all have part in the new earth and eternity 34:27 by understanding what God has done 34:30 to solve this problem of sin and death 34:33 and that we don't have to die, we are all subject to it. 34:39 Now I want you to see something here... 34:43 the Bible says, "You have the beginning... 34:47 it was good... it was very good 34:49 then at the end there's a re-creation. " 34:52 I want to tell you, in John 3:16 and verse 17, 35:00 the Bible says and you know this text, 35:02 it's a well-known text by all Christians around, 35:04 "For God so loved the world, 35:07 that He gave His only begotten Son, 35:10 that whosoever believeth in Him 35:12 should not perish, but have everlasting life. 35:16 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world: 35:20 but that the world through Him might be saved. " 35:25 You hear the name of Jesus 35:28 used in many ways among the Christians, 35:30 yes, you hear it... all the time. 35:32 Jesus is the link between the first creation 35:39 and the second creation. 35:41 There is no way that you can go from here to here 35:46 without personally knowing Jesus. 35:49 Pause... 35:52 "For God sent not His Son into the world 35:55 to condemn the world, 35:56 but that the world through Him might be saved. " 35:59 Jesus is the link... I want to tell you this, 36:03 He is the only means for you to have eternal life. 36:06 I want you to open your Bibles 36:09 to 1 John chapter 5 and verse 11 36:12 because the Word of God is very clear here... 36:16 very clear. 36:17 "And this... " it says in the Word of God, 36:20 "and this is the record, that God hath given to us 36:25 eternal life and this life is in His Son. " 36:30 So, if you've never been a Christian, 36:34 you've heard the name "Jesus" 36:35 and we hear about Jesus all the time, 36:38 Just love Jesus, just do this... 36:41 but I'm a human being, I want to know why. 36:44 I just don't want you to tell me I need to know Jesus, 36:48 everybody's doing that. 36:51 Pause. 36:53 But Jesus plays the most important part... 36:57 "There is no other name given among men 37:01 whereby ye must be saved. " 37:05 To really understand for yourself who Jesus is 37:11 and how important He is to you, 37:13 you need to search the Scriptures and pray. 37:17 The Word of God... this book... 37:19 the Word of God is a blueprint. 37:22 In my work, as a Civil Engineering Draftsman, 37:30 I learned to draw plans 37:31 and I want to tell you... 37:33 I drew many plans where men had to take those drawings, 37:38 and then fabricate from those drawings 37:41 and if I made a mistake, they made a mistake 37:46 but the Bible is not like that, it is perfect in every way. 37:55 Pause. 37:57 God has given us a blueprint... 38:00 if we take time to read it from cover to cover, 38:03 you will know not only about God, 38:07 but you will know God 38:09 and your faith and your zeal for God 38:12 will increase. 38:15 I want to tell you something, 38:18 God wants to give us eternal life. 38:21 You know, that death date on the gravestone... 38:24 for you who come to know God... 38:27 every one of you out there, 38:29 this will only be a "sleep date" did you hear me? 38:34 A sleep date... 38:36 not a final death date. 38:39 In 1st Thessalonians chapter 4, 38:42 if you'd like to go there, 38:44 1st Thessalonians chapter 4, verses 16 and 17, 38:47 I like this, 38:49 "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven 38:53 with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, 38:56 and with the trump of God: 38:58 and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 39:02 Then we... we... which are alive and remain 39:07 shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, 39:09 to meet the Lord in the air: 39:11 and so shall we ever be with the Lord. " 39:15 Pause... 39:18 Do you understand what God's trying to do 39:21 for each one of you? 39:22 He wants you to be with Him forever. 39:27 I don't know if there's anything better than that. 39:32 We're talking about a God of love 39:34 who is doing everything possible 39:38 for you and me... to be with Him 39:41 but you have to choose... 39:44 you have to take time in the Word of God, 39:47 you have to pray... you have to get to know Him 39:51 but for this to happen, you need to know God. 39:55 You know, listen to this, John 17:3, 40:00 two-and-a-half-years ago, that verse jumped out at me, 40:05 and I felt the Lord say, "You need to tell people 40:09 why they would need to know God 40:11 and why they need to be Christians. 40:13 Pause... 40:16 It says, "Know God... " 40:18 not know about Him... 40:19 we can know about many people in this world, 40:22 but never actually meet them or know them 40:26 and I heard Dr. Allan Lindsay saying the same thing. 40:30 God's now repeating it, so listen carefully. 40:33 We are to know God 40:35 as much as we would know our closest friend on earth, 40:39 are you with your husband? 40:41 Do you know them? 40:44 I know you would know them 40:47 because you'll only share things with them 40:50 because you know them intimately. 40:53 You don't share that with your neighbor, 40:56 you don't share what you share with your wife 40:58 with your neighbor, 40:59 you don't share what you know 41:00 what you talk about with your wife... with the Pastor, 41:04 now, let me tell you, you can share it with God 41:08 because He is trustworthy, 41:11 He wants to hear you, 41:13 He wants to hear husband and wives talking to Him together 41:17 because you make a bond of friendship 41:21 by spending time and talking with Him, 41:24 we are to do the same with God. 41:27 Prayer is the opening of the heart... 41:31 opening of the heart to God as to a friend. 41:35 You know, I have lots of friends, 41:37 I'm sure you do, 41:39 you don't tell them everything 41:41 but I want to tell you, you can tell God everything. 41:45 In the Bible in Matthew 26:36 to 39, 41:51 we know that Jesus opened His heart to His Father. 41:57 Just recently, we were down in Israel 42:02 and we went to Jerusalem 42:05 and we went across to the Garden of Gethsemane 42:09 and we went to where Jesus in His time of crisis, 42:13 in the time of the greatest ordeal of His life, 42:17 He went there with His disciples 42:23 to pray for the Father 42:24 and I want to read it to you 42:26 because it's... it's imperative to know 42:29 that no matter what situation you find yourself in, 42:32 you can always go to God in prayer 42:35 and it says there, "Then cometh Jesus with them 42:39 unto a place called Gethsemane, and says to the disciples, 42:45 Sit here, while I go and pray yonder. 42:49 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, 42:52 and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 42:57 Then said He unto them, 42:58 My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, 43:01 even unto death: 43:02 tarry ye here, and watch with me. " 43:05 And He went a little further 43:07 and fell on His face and prayed, 43:09 saying, O my Father, if it is possible, 43:13 let this cup pass from me: 43:16 nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. " 43:20 You see, Jesus opened His heart to God as a friend. 43:24 He was a friend because God had continually spent time 43:27 with Him in prayer. 43:29 Pause... 43:33 I want to tell you the same thing, 43:35 we are living in momentous times of this earth's history. 43:39 You are going to be confronted with things 43:42 that will try your belief in the Word of God. 43:45 It will try your belief in your marriage. 43:47 It will try your belief in your relationship with your children 43:51 but be assured, you can go to God 43:55 and you can talk with Him any time. 43:58 There are many reasons we would want to know God... 44:01 not just to gain eternal life 44:03 or to get... you hear the prosperity gospel? 44:06 Or get material things that we want, 44:08 some other reasons about knowing God, 44:11 we can have a better life here, 44:12 God can give you peace 44:14 during the most difficult times of your life. 44:17 We can gain victory over sins in our lives, 44:20 do I hear an "Amen. " 44:21 We can understand what life is actually about... 44:24 the reason for it... and there is a reason. 44:29 Most importantly... most importantly, 44:32 we can help our children and others 44:36 to know God and Jesus. 44:38 That's the gospel commission, "go ye and teach... 44:42 tell others what I have done, 44:45 show how my relationship has impacted the lives... 44:50 your relationships can impact the life... 44:52 the lives of others... 44:54 the Bible is the place to find answers. 44:58 In 2nd Timothy chapter 3 verses 16 and 17, 45:02 if you go there, it says, "All Scripture... " 45:06 that's the Bible... the Word of God... 45:08 "is given by inspiration of God, it is profitable for doctrine, 45:13 for reproof, for correction, 45:16 for instruction in righteousness: 45:19 that the man of God may be perfect, 45:22 thoroughly furnished unto all good works. " 45:25 John 17:17 says it like this, 45:29 "Sanctify them by Thy truth: Thy Word is truth. " 45:34 If you want to know the truth, 45:36 go to the Word of God. 45:37 Pause. 45:42 The truth is... God wants all to be saved. 45:48 No one needs to be lost, none of you needs to be lost, 45:53 none of your children need to be lost, 45:56 none of your neighbors need to be lost, 45:59 but God calls you... He calls me... 46:02 He calls anyone that knows the Word of God 46:05 to share it with others. 46:07 1st Timothy chapter 2, verses 4 and 5 reads like this, 46:13 the Bible says, 46:15 "Who will have all men to be saved, 46:17 and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 46:19 For there is one God, 46:21 and one mediator between God and man, 46:24 the man Jesus Christ... " 46:27 there is so much about God 46:29 that infinite minds can't comprehend 46:33 but there is coming a time 46:35 when we will know God more clearly 46:37 and I want you to turn with me 46:40 to 1st Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 12... 46:42 1st Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 12, 46:46 "For now we see through a glass, darkly; 46:50 but then face to face: 46:53 now I know in part; 46:56 but then shall I know even as I am known. " 47:00 The difference folks, for the person that knows God 47:05 is that one day... when they are raised from the grave 47:10 they're going to live with God for eternity. 47:13 Hmmm... hmmm... 47:15 This is the reason why knowing God through prayer 47:19 and Bible Study is so important. 47:22 I make no apologies... I want you all here today 47:27 and those who are watching to know God and Jesus 47:31 so we can be with Him throughout eternity. 47:36 Pause. 47:40 I want to share with you for a moment 47:42 I grew up in a family 47:44 who were displaced persons after the second World War. 47:50 My family came on a boat across to go to Melbourne 47:55 which is the city south of Sydney 47:57 and there on that boat, my mother and my father 48:01 and my eldest brother and one suitcase... 48:04 one suitcase... 48:05 they were so sick on the boat that they got off at Perth 48:09 and they went and stayed in... 48:11 those days the Government had what they called "Nissen Huts" 48:14 they were sheets of corrugated that were curved in a dome 48:18 and the families were separated with a curtain. 48:21 it was very hot... 48:22 it was in a place called "Northern" 48:24 and it was extremely hot 48:26 and they'd just come from Europe 48:28 and you know, they started out with hardship, 48:33 they didn't really know God, 48:36 my mom was... they were Russian Greek Orthodox 48:39 they had a belief in the priesthood type of thing 48:43 and they lived their life very simply, 48:46 they worked hard, 48:48 my dad actually went out to build the rabbit-proof fence 48:52 now, they just came from Europe 48:54 you know how hot it is out there? 48:57 It's hot... but they survived... 48:59 and my mom had in her heart that I should know God 49:02 from the very childhood... 49:04 very interesting I was christened in a Catholic Church, 49:07 my mother became an Anglican Christian 49:10 and I was confirmed in an Anglican Church. 49:15 Now, I want to tell you something about that, 49:18 you remember I said, "As you get older, you make choices... " 49:20 well, I was taught to be obedient to my parents, 49:24 that's a good thing 49:25 and so, when my mom said, "Go to church" 49:28 I went to church. 49:29 Even though I didn't really understand anything about God, 49:33 I went because my mother asked me 49:36 but then I got older and I said, 49:40 "I... I'm not going to church, I don't need God. " 49:42 You know why that happens? 49:44 Because I really didn't know God 49:46 I didn't know what it was all about. 49:48 and so, I... I left God. 49:53 Now, I was not a bad person, I was a good citizen, 49:56 if I can put it that way, 49:57 I didn't drink... 49:59 you hear the stories about drinking and drugs and alcohol, 50:01 that's not me... 50:02 but I lived a life in the outdoors 50:06 and I intended to live life as I understood it... 50:10 to achieve as much as I could before I died... that's it. 50:13 Pause. 50:15 But you know, I met an Adventist person 50:20 who told me something that was very interesting. 50:22 He said, "You don't just die and that's it, 50:25 there's more to it. " 50:27 I said, "Sure, you're kidding. " 50:30 Pause. 50:34 You know how I found out that to be true? 50:36 I began reading the Bible 50:39 and then I discovered 50:41 that there are people out there that want to share that with you 50:44 you know, Seventh-day Adventists 50:46 are the ones... for this time to do that 50:50 and to share what they know 50:53 so that people like me who are ignorant 50:55 would know something more than this... that is it... 51:00 and there is eternal life 51:02 now, I talked about the Creation, 51:05 I talked about the Re-creation, 51:09 if that's not a reason for you to want to know God, 51:15 I don't know what is. 51:16 Are you happy with this life? How many of... 51:19 you know, we hear stories every day 51:21 of cancer and this sickness and this sickness 51:23 and not being able to walk and not being able to eat 51:27 and... this isn't the life that God wants for you and me. 51:32 Pause. 51:34 I want to tell you this, there's another reason 51:36 that you want to know God 51:38 and I'm going to ask them to show you a little clip. 51:43 It's from the book, "The Great Controversy" 51:46 you see, Dr. Allan Lindsay talked about 51:49 the great controversy, 51:50 I want you to have another reason. 51:53 How many of you look out into the heavens at night? 51:55 See the stars... 51:57 have you ever pondered it and considered it? 52:00 That the God that you will know... 52:04 He's going to take you out there. 52:08 It's a huge, huge, huge place, 52:12 we're talking of billions and billions of light years, 52:16 billions of galaxies just like the one we live in... 52:19 it's huge. 52:21 He said, "This is going to be your playground. " 52:26 Listen to this. 52:29 Music... 52:33 more music... 52:38 All the treasures of the universe 52:39 would be open to the study of God's redeemed. 52:41 Unfettered by mortality, 52:44 they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar... 52:47 worlds that thrilled with sorrow 52:49 with the spectacle of human woe 52:51 and rang with songs of gladness 52:54 at the tidings of a ransomed soul. 52:58 With unutterable delight the children of earth 53:00 enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. 53:04 They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding 53:07 gained through ages upon ages 53:09 in contemplation of God's handiwork. 53:11 With undimmed vision, 53:14 they gaze upon the glory of creation... 53:16 suns and stars and systems, 53:20 all in their appointed order 53:21 circling the throne of Deity. 53:23 Upon all things, from the least to the greatest, 53:27 the Creator's name is written, 53:30 and in all are the riches of His power displayed. 53:33 And the years of eternity, as they roll, 53:37 will bring richer and still more glorious revelations 53:41 of God and of Christ. 53:42 As knowledge is progressive, 53:46 so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. 53:49 The more men learn of God 53:52 the greater will be their admiration of His character. 53:55 As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption, 53:59 and the amazing achievements 54:01 in the great controversy with Satan, 54:03 the hearts of the ransomed thrill 54:05 with more fervent devotion, 54:07 and with more rapturous joy they sweep their harps of gold; 54:11 pause... 54:13 and ten thousand times ten thousand 54:15 and thousands of thousands of voices 54:18 unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise. 54:21 I'm reading from Revelation 5:13, 54:26 "And every creature which is in heaven 54:29 and on the earth. and under the earth, 54:31 and such as are in the sea, 54:33 and all that are in them, heard I saying: 54:37 'Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power 54:40 be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, 54:42 and unto the Lamb for ever and ever!'" 54:45 Music... 54:49 The great controversy is ended. 54:51 Sin and sinners are no more. 54:54 The entire universe is clean. 54:57 One pulse of harmony and gladness 55:00 beats through the vast creation. 55:02 From Him who created all, 55:05 flow life and light and gladness. 55:07 throughout the realms of illimitable space. 55:11 From the minutest atom to the greatest world, 55:15 all things, animate and inanimate, 55:18 in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, 55:21 declare that God is love. " 55:26 Music... 55:29 more music... 55:33 some more music... 55:41 I want to ask you, "Is there anyone here 55:44 who does not have a reason to want to know God and Jesus?" 55:49 Pause... 55:52 When I was learning about speaking, 55:55 a good instructor told me one time, 55:58 that if you present something, 56:00 you need to get people to respond 56:03 and I would like to ask 56:06 the simple question, 56:09 and it's going to be a very pointed question, 56:11 you have seen what knowing the one and only true God 56:17 and Jesus Christ means, 56:20 is there anyone here 56:22 and those that are watching at home, 56:25 that want to say, 56:26 and I invite anyone to come down the front... if you do... 56:31 "Do you make a decision now that you will want to know God 56:36 that you will want to have Bible Studies and prayer 56:38 and I want you to say, "Lord, I do... " 56:41 and I want you to come down in front... 56:43 God is only... the whole of heaven... 56:46 the whole of the universe 56:47 is waiting for people to make that decision 56:51 and if you're in that position now with the Holy Spirit 56:55 has spoken to you 56:56 and you want to know God more thoroughly than you have, 57:00 and I'm going to invite you to come down the front. 57:02 God is good... God is patient... 57:05 and God is waiting for you. 57:08 Until we see you, may God richly bless you. |
Revised 2019-03-06