Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP150926A
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00:18 Like a bride waiting for her groom
00:23 We'll be a church ready for You 00:27 Every heart longing for our King 00:32 We sing Even so come 00:37 Lord Jesus come 00:43 Even so come Lord Jesus come 00:50 Try that with us. 00:54 Like a bride waiting for her groom 00:59 We'll be a church ready for You 01:03 Every heart longing for our King 01:08 We sing Even so come 01:13 Lord Jesus come 01:19 Even so come 01:22 Lord Jesus come 01:47 All of creation All of the earth 01:52 Make straight a highway, a path for the Lord 01:58 Jesus is coming soon 02:05 Call back the sinner wake up the saint 02:10 Let every nation shout of Your fame 02:15 Jesus is coming soon 02:24 Like a bride waiting for her groom 02:29 We'll be a church ready for You 02:33 Every heart longing for our King 02:38 We sing Even so come 02:43 Lord Jesus come 02:49 Even so come 02:51 Lord Jesus come 02:57 So we wait 03:00 We wait for You 03:06 God we wait 03:09 You're coming soon 03:12 So we wait. 03:15 So we wait 03:17 We wait for You 03:23 God we wait 03:26 You're coming soon 03:29 Like a bride. 03:33 Like a bride waiting for her groom 03:37 We'll be a church ready for You 03:41 Every heart longing for our King 03:46 We sing Even so come 03:51 Lord Jesus come 03:57 Even so come 04:00 Lord Jesus come 04:06 Like a bride waiting for her groom 04:12 We'll be a church ready for You 04:16 Every heart longing for our King 04:21 We sing Even so come 04:27 Lord Jesus come 04:33 Even so come 04:36 Lord Jesus come 04:42 And when He comes, 04:43 I promise you we won't be sitting, 04:46 we'll be standing. 04:47 So I'm gonna invite you to stand right now 04:49 because I want us to picture for a moment in our hearts 04:52 and in our minds 04:53 that Jesus is coming in the clouds 04:56 and what we will see is totally indescribable. 05:22 From the highest of heights 05:24 To the depths of the sea 05:30 Creation's revealing Your majesty 05:38 From the colors of fall 05:41 To the fragrance of spring 05:47 Every creature unique in the song that it sings 05:52 All exclaiming Indescribable, uncontainable 05:59 You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name 06:05 You are amazing God 06:11 All powerful, untameable 06:15 Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim 06:21 You are amazing God 06:32 Who has told every lightning bolt 06:35 Where it should go 06:40 Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow 06:48 Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light 06:56 Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night 07:02 None can fathom 07:04 Indescribable, uncontainable 07:08 You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name 07:14 You are amazing God 07:21 All powerful, untameable 07:25 Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim 07:31 You are amazing God 07:39 You are amazing God 07:53 Indescribable, uncontainable 07:57 You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name 08:03 You are amazing God 08:10 Incomparable, unchangeable 08:14 You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same 08:21 You are amazing God 08:36 Great is the Lord and worthy of glory 08:41 Great is the Lord and worthy of praise 08:45 Great is the Lord 08:47 I lift up my voice I lift up my voice 08:52 Great are you, Lord 09:00 Great are you, Lord 09:09 Great is the Lord He is holy and just 09:12 By His power we trust in His love 09:17 Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true 09:21 By His mercy He proves He is love 09:25 Great is the Lord and worthy of glory 09:29 Great is the Lord and worthy of praise 09:33 Great is the Lord now lift up your voice 09:37 Now lift up your voice 09:39 Great is the Lord 09:48 Great is the Lord 09:56 Great is the Lord, He is holy and just 10:00 By His power we trust in His love 10:04 Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true 10:08 By His mercy He proves He is love 10:12 Great is the Lord and worthy of glory 10:16 Great is the Lord and worthy of praise 10:20 Great is the Lord now lift up your voice 10:24 Now lift up your voice 10:27 Great is the Lord 10:35 Great is the Lord 10:41 Great is the Lord and worthy of glory 10:45 Great is the Lord and worthy of praise 10:49 Great is the Lord now lift up your voice 10:53 Now lift up your voice 10:55 Great is the Lord 11:04 Great is the Lord 11:10 Great is the Lord and worthy of glory 11:14 Great is the Lord and worthy of praise 11:18 Great is the Lord now lift up your voice 11:22 Now lift up your voice 11:24 Great is the Lord 11:32 Great is the Lord 11:41 Amen. Amen. 11:42 Hallelujah. You may be seated. 12:02 My hope is built on nothing less 12:08 Than Jesus' blood and righteousness 12:13 I dare not trust the sweetest frame 12:19 But wholly trust in Jesus' name 12:38 My hope is built on nothing less 12:44 Than Jesus' blood and righteousness 12:49 I dare not trust the sweetest frame 12:55 But wholly trust in Jesus' name 13:02 Christ alone, Cornerstone 13:07 Weak made strong in the Savior's love 13:12 Through the storm, He is Lord 13:18 Lord of all 13:25 When Darkness seems to hide His face 13:30 I rest on His unchanging grace 13:36 In every high and stormy gale 13:41 My anchor holds within the veil 13:47 My anchor holds within the veil 13:53 Christ alone, Cornerstone 13:59 Weak made strong in the Savior's love 14:04 Through the storm, He is Lord 14:10 Lord of all 14:15 Christ alone, Cornerstone 14:20 Weak made strong in the Savior's love 14:26 Through the storm, He is Lord 14:31 Lord of all 14:38 When He shall come with trumpet sound 14:44 Oh, may I then in Him be found 14:50 Dressed in His righteousness alone 14:56 Faultless stand before the throne 15:02 Dressed in His righteousness alone 15:09 Faultless stand before the throne 15:21 Well, my goodness. 15:26 This is a crowd, isn't it? 15:30 I'm going to tell you a story 15:33 about something that happened a long, long time ago, 15:36 even before you could remember. 15:40 And this happened to me 15:43 when I was on the other side of the world. 15:48 I was preaching an evangelistic series 15:50 up in the village of Limuru 15:52 and every day I had to drive 15:54 with the head elder who's the one who drove. 15:56 Then he would drive me up into the village of Limuru 15:59 out of this city. 16:00 And there were three things 16:02 that frightened me about that drive. 16:05 Firstly, have your parents ever complained 16:10 about the roads in Berrien Springs? 16:13 Yes. 16:15 Well, the roads up to the village of Limuru 16:18 were even worse than the roads in Berrien Springs, 16:21 if you can imagine that. 16:24 And the drivers were even more dangerous 16:28 than the drivers of Berrien Springs, 16:30 if you can imagine that, 16:33 because the drivers on the road up to Limuru 16:35 didn't necessarily care about left or right. 16:39 They didn't care which side of the road 16:40 they were supposed to be on. 16:42 They drove on whatever side they wanted, 16:44 whatever speed they wanted, up these windy mountain roads. 16:49 And so there was one other thing 16:52 that frightened me about the drive to Limuru also 16:53 and that was the car that we rode in, 16:55 because it was not exactly up to standards. 17:01 It looked like it was going to fall apart. 17:03 And when I sat in the passenger seat, 17:05 I could look down between my legs 17:06 and there's a hole in the ground 17:08 and I could watch the road go by, 17:11 right between my legs. 17:14 And so the entire drive up to Limuru, 17:18 every single day to preach, I spent the time praying, 17:22 praying that I would make it all the way to Limuru 17:24 and that I would make it all the way home. 17:28 But one day, after I had finished preaching, 17:31 we got in the car to head back, and we went over a bump. 17:35 Bu-bump. 17:36 And as we went over the bump, yes, it was terrifying. 17:39 As we went over the bump 17:41 and the lights in the car went out. 17:45 And when it, the lights went out, 17:47 it got dark because there were no street lights, 17:50 there were no lights in the homes there either 17:53 because there was no electricity, 17:55 going up on the road to Limuru. 17:58 And so the lights went out and it was dark 18:01 and we went over another bump, bu-bump, 18:02 and the lights came back on. 18:04 And this kept happening. 18:06 Bu-bump, lights off. Bu-bump, lights on. 18:08 Bu-bump, lights off. 18:10 And then we went over a bump. 18:11 Bu-bump, lights off. 18:13 And there were some people 18:16 before the lights went off at the bottom of a hill 18:18 walking across the street. 18:20 And we passed those people and then the lights came on, 18:24 I don't know what happened, we didn't hit them 18:26 'cause I would have known. 18:34 But you better believe I was praying 18:36 and then as we were driving along. 18:38 Bu-bump, we went over a bump, the lights went off, 18:42 and the road turned. 18:44 But we didn't know the road turned 18:45 because, well, the lights were off. 18:48 And so the road turned, and we didn't, 18:49 and we went off the road. 18:52 Luckily, it wasn't on the side of a precipice, 18:54 instead we just came grinding to a halt, 18:57 and then we saw a huge group of men 19:01 running towards the car 19:02 and I had heard terrible stories 19:04 about what happens on the road to Limuru. 19:08 They said, "Be careful. 19:09 Don't get in an accident on the road to Limuru, 19:11 because if you do, if you're in a car, 19:15 people are going to assume you're rich 19:16 and so they'll rob you." 19:19 And so, here, 19:20 men were running towards the car 19:22 and I was praying and I was praying 19:23 and they grabbed a hold of the car. 19:27 These were big men 19:28 and they grabbed a hold of the car 19:29 and they pulled us back on to the road. 19:34 We made it all the way home 19:35 from there without the lights going off. 19:37 But the next day, 19:40 when the head elder came to pick me up, 19:43 I asked him a question before I got in his car, 19:45 did you know that? 19:47 I said, "Did you fix the lights? 19:51 Because I'm not getting in your car if you didn't." 19:55 That reminds me of a Bible verse, 19:58 Psalms 119:105. 20:05 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." 20:09 We wouldn't get in a car without lights, would we? 20:13 I should hope not. 20:15 But also God has given us light of His word, hasn't He? 20:20 And we shouldn't be leaving our house 20:24 without spending time with the light, should we? 20:28 How many of you children know how to read? 20:33 This is an impressive number. 20:35 This is good. You guys are doing well. 20:37 So I assume if you guys know how to read, 20:39 you're reading the Bible on your own already, 20:41 aren't you? 20:42 No, you should be, you should be. 20:44 And those of you who didn't raise your hand, 20:46 you should be asking your parents 20:48 and your grandparents to read the Bible to you 20:51 because not reading the Bible 20:55 is like getting in a car without lights 20:58 and you wouldn't want to do that, would you? 21:01 Is there somebody 21:02 who would like to pray for us this morning 21:04 and thank God for His worthy? 21:09 And what is your name? Sarah. 21:11 Sarah, why don't you pray for us 21:12 and thank God for giving us the Bible? 21:15 Let's bow our heads and close our eyes. 21:18 Father, thank you that today has been a good day. 21:22 Please help us to read the Bible 21:24 and know that You love us and care for us. 21:27 Please help us to have a good Sabbath. Amen. 21:30 Amen. Thank you so much, Sarah. 21:33 And thank you all for coming forward, 21:35 as you go back to your seats, 21:36 remember that God has given us a wonderful light. 22:32 The latest sun 22:36 Is sinking fast 22:40 My race is almost run 22:48 My strongest trials now are past 22:55 My triumph is begun! 23:02 O come, angel band 23:09 Come, and around me stand 23:18 O bear me away 23:22 On your snowy wings 23:27 To my immortal home 23:33 O bear me away 23:38 On your snowy wings 23:43 To my immortal home 24:07 I know 24:10 I'm near the holy ranks 24:16 Of friends and kindred dear 24:24 I brush the dew 24:28 Of Jordan's banks 24:32 The crossing must be near 24:39 O come, angel band, 24:47 Come, and around me stand 24:57 O bear me away 25:00 On your snowy wings 25:05 To my immortal home 25:13 O bear me away 25:17 On your snowy wings 25:22 To my immortal home 25:58 I've almost gained 26:03 My heav'nly home 26:07 My spirit loudly sings 26:15 The holy ones 26:19 Behold, they come! 26:23 I hear the noise of wings 26:30 O come, angel band 26:38 Come, and around me stand 26:46 O bear me away 26:51 On your snowy wings 26:56 To my immortal home 27:04 O bear me away 27:08 On your snowy wings 27:18 To my immortal home 28:03 August 6, 1945, 28:05 paved in the deadly globe with single atomic bomb 28:07 over Hiroshima, Japan. 28:09 The world finds itself ushered into the atomic age. 28:12 Four years later, deep behind The Iron Curtain, 28:14 the Soviet Union 28:16 conducts their first test of an atomic weapon 28:17 sparking in arms, 28:19 raised the like of which the world has never seen. 28:22 Apprehensive scientists 28:23 and intellectuals debate the ominous fate of the planet. 28:26 Three days before his death on April 18, 1955, 28:29 American scientist Albert Einstein 28:31 joins British philosopher Bertrand Russell 28:33 in signing the Russell-Einstein Manifesto. 28:36 The prospect for the human race 28:37 is somber beyond all precedent, 28:39 mankind are faced with a clear-cut alternative. 28:42 Either we shall all perish 28:43 or we shall have to acquire 28:45 some slight degree of common sense. 28:47 Soon after, 28:48 in the village of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, 28:50 22 scientists including 10 noble laureates 28:53 gathered to ponder 28:54 how to avert the cold war's threat 28:56 of nuclear obliteration 28:58 and forge a plan of global peace. 29:01 And half a century later, the quest still goes on. 29:03 Call it The Pugwash Factor, 29:05 because if those who know do not act, 29:07 the planet is doomed. 29:15 Unless you've been away from this planet this week, 29:17 the pictures you're about to see, 29:20 you've already seen them. 29:21 The most recognizable face on the planet today, 29:24 let's put it on the screen. 29:26 Pope Francis, Pope Francis. 29:28 Listen, no matter 29:29 what your religious persuasion is or is not, 29:32 you are going to have to agree 29:36 that this man 29:38 is immensely popular on earth today. 29:43 Hailed as a rock star by the young, 29:44 and I love this picture. 29:48 Revered by the normally irreverent 29:51 secular press as holy father, 29:54 that was their language all this week, 29:58 agilated. 29:59 Pope Francis has literally 30:01 taken this planet by storm. 30:07 January 18 this year in Manila, 30:09 over a six million Filipinos 30:12 crowded into that city, 30:16 to what is probably, 30:18 and I'm quoting London Telegraph now, 30:19 "Probably the largest people mass in history 30:21 in the crowning event of an astonishing tour 30:23 of the world's new Super Pope." 30:26 That newspaper declared him to be. 30:29 Amazing! 30:32 The smart phone crowd, you see them there. 30:34 Then Francis' journey to Brazil. 30:38 This is an amazing picture as well, 30:40 for a picture's worth a thousand words, 30:41 that ought to say something. 30:43 First international trip, 30:45 1.3 million tweets generated 30:49 with over 36 million retweets. 30:53 In a fact, an anticipation 30:55 of what's happening today in Philadelphia, 30:56 as we speak right now, 30:59 the rise in an AT&T got together 31:01 and invested in advance 31:03 another $49 million 31:05 to avoid what the USA today 31:06 put, ungodly strain 31:09 on their cellular networks. 31:12 Reading John Donovan of AT&T to declare this papal trip, 31:15 the equivalent of 15 31:17 Super Bowls. 31:21 Pope Francis' approval rating in the United States 31:23 now leads all other political leaders 31:26 including President Obama. 31:29 Just after his election, 31:31 Forbes magazine named him 31:32 the world's most powerful Latino, 31:36 number four powerful man on earth 31:39 behind Putin of Russia, Obama of the US, 31:41 and Chi of China. 31:44 Amazing. 31:46 What's the secret to this? 31:47 Religious leader's phenomenal popularity, 31:49 I think Rick Hampson in USA Today captured it well. 31:53 I am quoting now, 31:54 "His appeal stems from his openness, humility, 31:57 and relative informality. 32:00 He lives in a modest guest house 32:02 instead of the lavish papal apartments. 32:04 He spontaneously calls ranking file Catholics. 32:08 He tweets, He tweets in nine languages." 32:13 And I love this picture. 32:15 Yeah. 32:17 The people feel he's, he's one of us. 32:21 He suddenly has become what I would call 32:22 "The Pope of the open door." 32:25 In a flight back from his visit to Brazil, 32:27 when asked by one of the reporters on-board, 32:28 his attitude towards homosexuality, 32:31 Francis replied, "If someone is gay, 32:34 and he searches for the Lord, and has goodwill, 32:37 who am I to judge?" 32:40 And as a result that little query, 32:42 "Who am I to judge" 32:44 has become the news media's favorite quotable quote 32:46 from this Pope, "The Pope of the open door." 32:51 In an earlier homily 32:52 Pope Francis would famously say, 32:55 "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us," 32:58 You can hear him preaching 33:00 "With the blood of Christ, all of us, 33:02 not just Catholics, everyone, 33:04 you say, 'Father,' the atheist, 33:05 even the atheist, everyone." 33:09 The Pope of the open door. 33:11 In August, the Pope issued a call to embrace Catholics 33:13 who were divorced and remarried, 33:14 saying such couples always belong to the church. 33:19 Couple of weeks before flying to this country, 33:23 Pope Francis announced 33:24 that all priests will have the authority 33:26 to forgive the Catholic sin of abortion 33:29 during the year of mercy, beginning this December. 33:31 He said, "Women who have suffered an abortion 33:34 have suffered long enough, bring them in." 33:38 The Pope of the open door. 33:42 Mike Griffin, 33:43 professor at Holy Cross college here in South Bend 33:46 was on the South Lawn of the White House, 33:49 last Wednesday with 11,000 others 33:52 observing the Pope and the President 33:53 standing there together 33:55 and he gave this quote to the South Bend Tribune, 33:58 "Pope Francis," he says, 33:59 "Pope Francis brings 34:00 so many people in the church together, 34:03 in some sense, 34:04 that's one of the most meaningful things 34:06 this Pope does. 34:07 He brings so many people together." 34:11 Perhaps, professor Griffin is right. 34:14 He brings so many people together. 34:18 The Pope of the open door. 34:21 And perhaps it's that open door 34:23 that is Francis' agenda for this nation. 34:29 What open door? 34:31 Hey, I know, 34:33 you listened to the broadcast or telecast of his address, 34:37 his papal address to congress on Thursday. 34:40 Me too. 34:42 In every sense of the word, this first time in history, 34:45 apart if I stood, 34:47 in the well of the US congress 34:48 to address the nation was historic, 34:50 the talking had just kept using the word, 34:51 "Historic, historic, historic," 34:53 And what a picture? 34:55 He cut, dressed there 34:58 in his white papal robe. 35:01 Carving a starving, 35:03 a stark contrast 35:05 with all those dark suits gathered at his feet, 35:09 it's spoken as quite sometimes, halting English, 35:12 not only did the politicians gathered inside 35:14 but to all those outside who are listening 35:16 and these are, these are his words, 35:18 "Today I would like not only to address you, 35:22 but through you 35:24 the entire people of the United States." 35:27 Tens of thousands of room according to the reports 35:29 were gathered there on the mall of the capital building 35:32 to watch on these massive Jumbo Trans, 35:35 Jumbo Trans reserved normally 35:37 for presidential inaugurations. 35:41 Wow! 35:44 And what's not I like about what he preached, 35:48 in that papal address. 35:49 Go to the golden rules, Jesus words. 35:51 And I love that line. He says, you know what? 35:53 "The yard stick you use to measure others 35:55 will be the yard stick one day 35:57 that will be used to measure you." 36:00 What's wrong with that? 36:02 He called for a compassion, 36:03 and this is why 36:05 he has won the hearts of this world, the planet. 36:07 He called for compassion for the disenfranchise, 36:09 the alienated, for the refugees in here, 36:12 for the immigrants, for the poor. 36:17 No wonder he's beloved by all. 36:19 Anyone hit the pause button right there. 36:22 Sometimes, now listen, 36:24 sometimes we think 36:27 we're the only ones 36:29 that can speak for God. 36:33 And if anyone else claims to, 36:34 we try to belittle her message 36:36 or denigrate his point. 36:41 But we make a mistake. 36:42 Let me share three quotations with you to illustrate this. 36:47 Pope Francis, 36:48 after he was elected as the pontiff 36:50 wrote a book, title of the book, 36:53 "My door is always open." 36:54 He's the Pope with the open door. 36:57 In the book, these words, put it on the screen. 36:59 In the book, these words, 37:01 "The proclamation of the saving love of God 37:03 comes before moral 37:05 and religious imperatives." 37:10 That's pretty good. 37:12 Now look at five foot three inch 37:15 woman named Ellen White, a century in ten years earlier 37:18 wrote a sentence like this, we'll put that on the screen. 37:21 "The last rays of merciful light, 37:24 the last message of mercy to be given to the world, 37:28 is a revelation of God's character of love." 37:33 So which one of them is wrong? 37:36 Are you kidding? They're both right. 37:40 Saint Paul, here's how Paul, 37:43 here's how Paul puts it from the dungeon in Rome, 37:46 I'll put it on the screen for you. 37:47 This is Philippians 1:15. 37:50 Paul writing, 37:51 "It is true 37:52 that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, 37:54 but others out of goodwill." 37:57 Keep reading. 37:58 "The latter do so out of love, 37:59 knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel." 38:01 But Paul goes on. 38:03 "The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, 38:06 not sincerely, supposing 38:08 that they can stir up trouble for me 38:09 while I am in chains." 38:10 Now here comes the punch line. 38:12 "But what does it matter? 38:14 The important thing is that in every way, 38:17 whether from false motives or true, 38:19 Christ is preached. 38:21 And because of this I rejoice." 38:24 I don't care who says it, 38:25 I don't care what context it is said, 38:27 if Christ is being preached, I rejoice. 38:31 What's wrong with that? That's Paul's point. 38:35 We need to remember that point. 38:37 God will get His, God will get His love, 38:40 God will get the picture of His character 38:42 out anyway He chooses 38:44 and we ought to rejoice 38:46 with every fresh revelation 38:50 which is not a suggest. 38:52 I agree with all that Francis said in his address. 38:56 In fact, I wanna share with you now, 38:58 where I believe He's standing on very thin ice. 39:03 So now, let's go back. Pause button's off. 39:05 Let's go back to that people congress address. 39:09 New Super Pope standing in front 39:11 and he did this, I saw him do it. 39:13 He took his finger, he raised his finger 39:14 and he pointed at a figurine of Moses 39:18 on the opposite wall high above the assembly 39:22 and then he spoke these words. 39:24 They're on the screen for you. 39:26 "Yours," he's speaking to the politicians now. 39:28 "Yours is a work which makes me reflect in two ways 39:32 on the figure of Moses. 39:33 On the one hand, 39:35 the patriarch and lawgiver of the people of Israel," 39:37 he speaks of the divine law, we call it, 39:39 the ten commandments, 39:41 "On the one hand, 39:42 the patriarch and lawgiver of the people of Israel 39:44 symbolizes the need of peoples to keep alive 39:48 their sense of unity by means of just legislation." 39:51 In other words, Moses reminds you 39:53 in this building of the just laws 39:55 you must enact in this place. 39:59 Then he goes on, 40:00 "Moses provides us with a good synthesis of your work. 40:04 You are asked to protect, by means of the law, 40:08 the image and likeness fashioned by God 40:11 on every human face." 40:15 Did you catch that? 40:17 Let me repeat that, 40:18 "To protect, by means of the law, 40:20 the image and likeness of God on every human face." 40:27 Is it the duty of a nation's legislators 40:29 to enact laws 40:31 to protect the likeness of God 40:34 in the citizens of the nation? 40:38 And if you answer, yes, 40:40 then who's God? 40:44 Will it be the God of the Jews 40:46 or the God of the Muslims? 40:49 Will it be the God of the Christians 40:51 or the God, the no God of the atheist? 40:56 That's, of course, he meant the God of the Christians. 40:59 Oh, good. 41:00 Which God? 41:02 The God of the Baptists? 41:04 Or the God of the Lutherans? 41:07 The God of the Mormons? 41:08 Or the God of the Jehovah's Witnesses? 41:09 The God of the Anglicans? Or the God of the Catholics? 41:14 Which God's image is to be shaped 41:18 in the lives of the citizens through the enforcement of law? 41:27 You'll say, "Oh, come on, Dwight, what's the big deal?" 41:29 He was just making a little nice comment 41:31 on the way to his main point. 41:32 Oh, really. 41:35 Are you suggesting 41:36 that this Jesuit scholar Pope 41:38 hadn't thought through the implications 41:40 of his carefully chosen words and crafted sentences? 41:44 No. 41:46 Everybody in the room, the press, the politicians, 41:50 the people, and the Pope, 41:52 all recognize that this was a moment 41:55 very much having to do with God and nation, 41:59 this nation. 42:01 And who can possibly be opposed? 42:02 So natural linkage between God and nation, 42:05 especially on the lips of one so popular and beloved. 42:08 I mean, please, what could be more likely 42:10 than for the Pope doing 42:11 turn the value of God and nation, 42:13 is now what religious figures 42:14 and spiritual leaders are supposed to do, 42:16 to be sure, no doubt, 42:18 however, however, 42:22 let us remember, 42:24 it is but a small step from God and nation, 42:29 the unity of God and nation, 42:32 to the union of church and state. 42:37 Just a small step. 42:40 Let us also be reminded 42:42 that this beloved and popular Pope Francis 42:45 is not only head of a church, 42:47 he is head of a state. 42:52 He in his very person embodies 42:55 the union of church 42:58 and state. 43:06 The separation of church and state 43:08 has been a historical genius of America from the beginning, 43:12 from our founders who fled to these shores, shores rather, 43:16 to raise a state without a king 43:20 and a church without a Pope. 43:24 The United States' constitution 43:25 preserves and protects 43:28 the separation of church 43:30 and state. 43:34 Wow! 43:36 Clearly, it is this church and state thing 43:39 that is very much on the heart 43:41 of the Pope of the open door. 43:47 At the end of his address, 43:48 Pope Francis referred to the world meaning a family, 43:50 he's conveying today, in fact, going on right now, 43:52 they're expecting a million plus 43:54 in this city of brotherly love. 43:56 At the end of the address, these are the words he spoke. 43:59 On the screen for you. 44:01 "I will end my visit 44:02 to your country in Philadelphia, 44:05 where I will take part 44:06 in the World Meeting of Families. 44:09 It is my wish that throughout my visit 44:11 the family should be a recurrent theme. 44:14 How essential the family has been 44:16 to the building of this country! 44:18 And how worthy it remains 44:20 of our support and encouragement! 44:21 Yet I cannot hide my concern for the family, 44:25 which is threatened, perhaps as never before, 44:28 from within and without." 44:30 And who would disagree? 44:34 But perhaps you are unaware 44:37 that during his two-year pontificate, 44:39 Pope Francis has intentionally bound together 44:42 the importance of family 44:44 with the importance of Sunday rest. 44:48 In fact, in the catechism of the Catholic church, 44:52 catechism number 2188, are these words. 44:57 Put them on the screen for you, 44:58 "In respecting religious liberty 45:01 and the common good of all, 45:02 Christians should seek recognition of Sundays 45:06 and the Church's holy days as legal, 45:10 "now I added the emphasis there," 45:12 as legal holidays. 45:15 They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, 45:18 respect, and joy and defend their traditions 45:20 as a precious contribution 45:22 to the spiritual life of society." 45:25 And then in a general audience said, 45:27 Francis gave back in August, he spoke these words, 45:30 I read the script. 45:32 On the screen. 45:33 "The obsession with economic profit 45:35 and technical efficiency 45:36 puts the human rhythms of life at risk. 45:39 Moments of rest, especially on Sunday, 45:43 are sacred because in them we find God. 45:47 May we always recognize the family 45:50 as the privileged place to understand, 45:52 guide and sustain the gifts 45:54 which arise from our celebrations, 45:56 especially the Sunday Eucharist." 46:01 How did he put it in his papal address, 46:03 48 hours ago? 46:06 "You are asked to protect, by means of the law, 46:11 the image and likeness fashinoed by God 46:14 on every human face." 46:18 By means of the law. 46:22 Apparently, the Pope of the open door 46:26 wants to open the door 46:28 to enacting legislation that enforces, 46:30 "By means of the law, 46:33 the image and likeness of God 46:36 on every human face." 46:40 But doesn't the apocalypse describe any image 46:43 that will one day be formed on every human face? 46:49 Revelation 13. 46:53 Open your Bible. Do it if you have it. 46:55 Revelation 13. 46:57 Let me read just a few selective verses here, 46:59 Revelation 13. 47:01 The Bible's last book, the apocalypse, verse 1. 47:06 "The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. 47:08 And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. 47:11 It had ten horns and seven heads, 47:13 with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head, 47:15 a blasphemous name." 47:16 Verse two. 47:18 "The beast I saw resembled a leopard." 47:20 Let me hit the pause button right there. 47:22 Don't read it now but in my blog today, 47:24 I'll tell you about an Adventist film maker 47:26 who's put together one and a half hour movie entitled, 47:29 Leopard Vision. 47:30 If you'll go to that blog, you have the links, 47:33 go online to get it 47:34 if you're live streaming with us right now, 47:36 it's already there. 47:39 Leopard Vision, don't read the blog now, 47:41 you'll go and look it up, 47:43 you will view this and view it in one sitting. 47:47 You got an hour and twenty six minutes, 47:49 view it in one sitting. 47:51 All right. 47:52 Verse two, "The beast I saw resembled a leopard, 47:54 but had feet like those of a bear, 47:56 and a mouth like that of a lion. 47:57 The dragon gave the beast his power, and his throne, 48:00 and great authority." 48:02 Verse three, "One of the heads of the beast 48:04 seemed to have had a fatal wound, 48:06 but the fatal wound had been healed 48:09 and the whole world was filled with wonder 48:13 and followed the beast." 48:16 Verse seven, 48:18 "The beast was given power to wage war 48:20 against God's holy people and to conquer them. 48:22 And it was given authority over every tribe, 48:25 people, language, and nation." 48:26 Verse eight, "All inhabitants of the earth 48:28 will worship the beast, 48:30 all whose names had not been written 48:32 in the Lamb's book of life, 48:34 the Lamb who was slain 48:35 from the creation of the world." 48:37 Isn't that something jammed in the center 48:39 of this apocalyptic depiction of the last chapter on earth? 48:44 Jammed in the center is Calvary's cross 48:46 and Him who is the Lamb, the Savior of the planet. 48:50 The whole story in that chapter 48:53 is about the Savior. 48:54 The whole story is His end game 48:57 to win every man, woman, and child to Him as He can. 49:02 But there is another beast. 49:05 Verse 11, "Then I saw a second beast 49:07 coming out of the earth. 49:09 It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 49:12 It exercised all the authority 49:14 of the first beast and its behalf, 49:15 and made the earth and its inhabitants 49:17 worship the first beast, 49:18 whose fatal wound had been healed. 49:20 And it performed great signs, 49:21 even causing fire to come down from heaven 49:24 to the earth in full view of the people." 49:25 Verse 14. 49:26 "Because of the signs 49:28 it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, 49:31 it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. 49:33 It ordered them to set up an image 49:37 in honor of the beast 49:38 who was wounded by the sword and yet lived." 49:40 Final verse, 15. 49:41 "The second beast was given power 49:44 to give breath to the image of the first beast, 49:47 so that the image could speak 49:48 and cause all who refused to worship the image 49:51 to be killed." 49:54 Wow! 49:55 What is going on? 49:59 It is absolutely clear 50:01 that what we have our two colossal global powers 50:05 symbolized by two roaring beasts. 50:09 The first power is a religious institution 50:12 that turned political. 50:13 The second power is a political institution 50:16 that turns religious. 50:18 And clearly before the end of the world, 50:20 these two colossal global powers 50:22 unite in a confederation of church and stay, 50:25 because worship is mandated. 50:30 And through enacted law, 50:33 they will mandate the image on every human face, 50:39 only it will not be the image 50:42 and likeness fashioned by God. 50:48 In that apocalyptic classic great controversy, 50:51 I need you to catch this. 50:52 Put it on the screen for you, 50:54 "Let the principle once be established 50:56 in the United States" 50:58 that would be the second power of Revelation 13, 51:00 "That the church may employ 51:01 or control the power of the state; 51:04 that religious observances may be enforced 51:06 by secular laws; 51:07 in short, that the authority of church and state 51:10 is to dominate the conscience, 51:12 and the triumph of Rome, 51:13 " that would be the first power of Revelation 13, 51:16 "In this country," 51:17 that would be the second power of Revelation 13, 51:20 "and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured." 51:28 I believe 51:31 that what we have witnessed in these last few hours 51:35 is the high drama 51:37 of accelerating apocalyptic fulfillment. 51:45 You can't make this stuff up, you just can't. 51:49 It's happening in front of our eyes. 51:53 But the question is, 51:55 are our eyes open? 52:00 Now listen, 52:02 to the classes 65 in Sabbath school, 52:05 beautiful testimonies, beautiful. 52:09 You've come back 50 years later and we honor that you have. 52:14 Now the 50 years, 52:17 sharpened your vision 52:20 or dimmed your understanding. 52:26 All we need, 52:28 this is not rocket science, you know it's true. 52:31 All we need is one crisis 52:33 to unite the two powers 52:37 and then it's curtains. 52:41 Are our eyes open? 52:45 Holy scripture declares, 52:47 "We did not follow cunningly devised fables, 52:49 but we have the prophetic word confirmed 52:51 which you do well to heed 52:53 as a light that shines in a dark place, 52:55 until the day dawns 52:56 and the morning star rises in your hearts." 52:59 As Jesus cryptically put it, 53:00 "I have told you now before it happens, 53:03 so that when it does happen you will believe. 53:06 Look, in the world you will have tribulation, 53:08 but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. 53:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, 53:15 and My reward is with Me to give to every one 53:17 according to his work. 53:18 Even so, come Lord Jesus! 53:22 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 53:25 be with you all. 53:26 Amen." 53:29 And amen. 53:31 Let us pray. 53:34 Dear God, 53:39 thank you for the privilege of living now. 53:45 Open our eyes 53:48 and then open our mouths, 53:49 there has to be a gracious loving Christ 53:52 like way to share this revelation of Jesus. 53:55 Teach us how, while we have the time. 54:00 In Christ's name. 54:03 Amen. 54:27 I will follow Thee, my Savior, 54:32 Wheresoe'er my lot may be 54:38 Where Thou goest I will follow 54:43 Yes, my Lord, 54:45 I'll follow Thee 54:49 I will follow Thee, my Savior, 54:55 Thou didst shed Thy blood for me 55:01 And though all men should forsake Thee, 55:06 By Thy grace 55:09 I'll follow Thee 55:14 Though the road be rough and thorny, 55:20 Trackless as the foaming sea 55:25 Thou hast trod this way before me, 55:31 And I'll gladly follow Thee 55:37 I will follow Thee, my Savior, 55:43 Thou didst shed Thy blood for me 55:49 And though all men should forsake Thee, 55:55 By Thy grace 55:58 I'll follow Thee 56:03 Though I meet with tribulations, 56:09 Sorely tempted though I be 56:15 I remember Thou wast tempted, 56:21 And rejoice to follow Thee 56:28 I will follow Thee, my Savior, 56:34 Thou didst shed Thy blood for me 56:41 And though all men should forsake Thee, 56:47 By Thy grace 56:50 I'll follow Thee 56:58 He who testifies to these things says, 57:00 "Yes, I'm coming. 57:02 Amen. 57:04 Come, Lord Jesus. 57:05 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people." 57:09 Amen. Amen. 57:23 I wanted to take an extra moment 57:25 to let you know how grateful I am you joined us today. 57:27 I hear from viewers and listeners like you, 57:29 all across this nation and literally, 57:31 around the world, 57:32 and I'm thankful because it's to the generosity 57:35 of the members of this congregation 57:36 and people like you 57:37 that we're able to bring you this program. 57:39 So if what we've shared today has touched your heart, 57:42 I'd like to invite you to become 57:43 a financial partner with us. 57:44 Just give us a call. 57:46 Toll free number, 877, the two words, HIS-WILL. 57:49 877-HIS-WILL or if you'd rather, 57:51 go to our website WWW.PMCHURCH.TV, 57:56 either way your generosity will bless a new generation 57:59 in cyber space all over this planet. 58:01 So thank you. 58:03 Thank you very much for your partnership. |
Revised 2024-04-18