Participants:
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP190810A
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00:10 Good morning, and happy Sabbath.
00:14 Is it not a blessing to be in the house of the Lord 00:16 this Sabbath morning? 00:18 I'd like to not only welcome you 00:20 but to welcome our pathfinders who are visiting. 00:23 If you see a pathfinder next to you, 00:25 put a hand upon them and say, 00:26 "Happy Sabbath and safe journey." 00:34 As we worship 00:35 our Father and King this morning, 00:37 I pray that we sing out to our Redeemer, 00:39 The One Who sustains, 00:41 The One Who loves, 00:42 And the One Who cares. 00:44 Please join us as we sing. 00:46 "I will sing of my Redeemer." 00:54 I will sing... 00:55 I will sing of my Redeemer 00:59 He who took the nails for me 01:03 I've been purchased 01:05 I've been pardoned Bound to Him 01:08 I'm truly free 01:11 I will sing of my Redeemer 01:15 How He sought me while a slave 01:19 Loosed me from the curse of sin 01:22 And from the power of the grave 01:27 I will sing of my Redeemer 01:31 Lift my voice to praise my Lord 01:35 Ransomed by His blood and mercy 01:38 I am His forevermore 01:48 I will sing 01:49 I will sing of my Redeemer 01:53 He who bore my cross, my curse 01:57 Came a servant, chose to suffer 02:01 Lifted up and cast from earth 02:05 I will sing of my Redeemer 02:09 Lift my voice to praise my Lord 02:13 Ransomed by His blood and mercy 02:17 I am His forevermore 02:26 I will sing 02:28 I will sing of my Redeemer 02:32 Tell about the grace I've known 02:36 Here on earth 02:37 With those forgiven 02:40 And one day around His throne 02:44 I will sing of my Redeemer 02:48 Lift my voice to praise my Lord 02:52 Ransomed by His blood and mercy 02:56 I am His forevermore 03:03 I am His forevermore 03:17 Amen. 03:19 And as we continue to worship, may our sounds, 03:22 may our words be a sweet sound unto His ears 03:27 and may they draw us closer to Him. 03:30 Amen. 03:32 Join us as we sing, "Come Thou fount." 03:38 Come, Thou fount 03:40 Of every blessing 03:43 Tune my heart to sing Thy grace 03:47 Streams of mercy, never ceasing 03:52 Call for songs 03:54 Of loudest praise 03:57 Teach me some melodious sonnet 04:02 Sung by flaming tongues above 04:07 Praise the mount 04:08 I'm fixed upon it 04:12 Mount of Thy redeeming love 04:22 Here I raise... 04:23 Here I raise my Ebenezer 04:28 Hither by Thy help I'm come 04:33 And I hope by Thy good pleasure 04:37 Safely to arrive at home 04:42 Jesus sought me when a stranger 04:47 Wandering from the fold of God 04:52 He to rescue me from danger 04:56 Interposed His precious blood 05:12 Oh, to grace how great a debtor 05:17 Daily I'm constrained to be 05:22 Let Thy grace Lord 05:24 Like a fetter 05:27 Bind my wandering heart to Thee 05:31 Prone to wander, 05:34 Lord, I feel it 05:36 Prone to leave the God I love 05:41 Here's my heart, 05:43 Lord, take and seal it 05:46 Seal it for Thy courts above 05:49 Prone to wander 05:50 Prone to wander Lord, I feel it 05:55 Prone to leave the God I love 06:00 Here's my heart 06:02 Lord, take and seal it 06:06 Seal it for Thy courts above 06:43 You were the Word... 06:45 You were the Word 06:47 At the beginning 06:51 One with God 06:53 The Lord Most High 06:58 Your hidden glory 07:00 Your hidden glory in creation 07:06 Now revealed in You Our Christ 07:12 What a beautiful Name it is 07:16 What a beautiful Name it is 07:19 The Name of 07:21 Jesus Christ my King 07:27 What a beautiful Name it is 07:31 Nothing compares to this 07:34 What a beautiful Name it is 07:38 The Name of Jesus 07:45 You didn't want heaven 07:47 Without us 07:50 So, Jesus 07:51 You brought heaven down 07:59 My sin was great 08:01 Your love was greater 08:04 What could separate us now 08:10 What a wonderful Name it is 08:14 What a wonderful Name it is 08:17 The Name of 08:19 Jesus Christ my King 08:24 What a wonderful Name it is 08:28 Nothing compares to this 08:31 What a wonderful Name it is 08:34 The Name of Jesus 08:41 And as we declare this bridge, I'm gonna ask you to stand, 08:44 I'm gonna ask you to stand 08:46 as we claim the words of this promise. 08:48 Please stand with me as we sing. 08:54 Death could not 08:55 Death could not hold You 08:58 The veil tore before You 09:02 You silence 09:03 The boast of sin and grave 09:08 The heavens are roaring 09:12 the praise of Your glory 09:15 For You are raised 09:18 To life again 09:21 You have no rival 09:25 You have no equal 09:28 Now and forever 09:31 God You reign 09:34 Yours is the Kingdom 09:38 Yours is the glory 09:41 Yours is the Name 09:43 Above all names 09:47 What a powerful Name it is 09:50 What a powerful Name it is 09:53 The Name of 09:55 Jesus Christ my King 10:00 What a powerful Name it is 10:03 Nothing can stand against 10:06 What a powerful Name it is 10:09 The Name of Jesus 10:13 Death could not hold You 10:16 The veil tore before You 10:19 You silence 10:21 The boast of sin and grave 10:26 The heavens are roaring 10:29 The praise of Your glory 10:32 For You are raised 10:35 To life again 10:38 You have no rival 10:42 You have no equal 10:45 Now and forever 10:48 God you reign 10:51 Yours is the kingdom 10:54 Yours is the glory 10:57 Yours is the Name 11:00 Above all names 11:04 What a powerful Name it is 11:07 What a powerful Name it is 11:10 The Name 11:12 Of Jesus Christ my King 11:17 What a powerful Name it is 11:21 Nothing can stand against 11:24 What a powerful Name it is 11:27 The Name of Jesus 11:39 Good morning, boys and girls. How are you? 11:41 Nice to have you here today. 11:43 Glad you've come. 11:45 This is the last summer. 11:46 Last Sabbath of the summer vacation, so... 11:49 A bunch of little friends are away today, 11:52 but we have a whole new houseful of visitors. 11:55 Anybody here from... 11:57 Anybody here going to Oshkosh? 11:59 Anybody here? Oh, good! 12:01 I think this is a Pathfinder children's story. 12:06 Yeah. 12:09 Oh, good for you. 12:11 You're gonna have a wonderful time, 12:12 I tell you, I know the team 12:14 that's been preparing for you for five years. 12:16 And they have been really working hard lately. 12:19 They're so excited about you coming. 12:20 Safe travels to you. 12:22 But here's a story 12:23 from my friend Melchizedek Ponniah. 12:25 He was born in India, he live here now. 12:26 He's one of our communication specialists 12:29 here in Andrew's and at Pioneer. 12:31 But he spotted this story just last week. 12:33 It's about a little boy, three years old. 12:35 Anybody here, three? 12:37 No, you're all older than three. 12:39 Woke up one morning with a toothache. 12:40 Have you ever had a toothache? 12:42 Ooh. 12:43 He just put his hand to his... 12:44 Oh, I didn't feel good. 12:46 So Mommy and Daddy took little three-year-old 12:50 Sameer into the hospital. 12:53 They wondered... 12:54 The doctors came near him 12:56 and he was so shy and afraid at three 12:58 that he wouldn't let them touch him. 12:59 "No, no, no, no, no! 13:01 I'm not gonna open my mouth. I'm not gonna open my mouth. 13:02 I'm not gonna do it." 13:04 All right, the doctor said, 13:05 "Well, you have to take your boy home. 13:06 If it gets worse, let us know." 13:08 Four years later, that would be just last week, 13:10 four years later, he's seven years old now, 13:12 and it really is hurting him, it's hurting him. 13:15 His jaw is just... Oh! 13:18 Have you ever had a toothache? 13:19 I'm so glad you haven't. 13:21 You don't want to have one. 13:22 It just hurt. 13:23 And the doctor said, 13:25 "All right now, we're look inside. 13:26 Will that be okay if we just look inside?" 13:27 Ah! 13:29 His mouth went open, and they looked. 13:30 "Mmm." 13:32 And when the doctor says, "Mmm," you better watch out. 13:36 Mmm. 13:37 He said, "Hey, come over here, come over here." 13:39 So he called another one of his associates. 13:41 She came over to the doctor, she said, "Hmm, 13:45 boy, I tell you, this here, 13:47 we're gonna have to do surgery." 13:49 So they went in. 13:50 And for five hours, they were in surgery. 13:53 That's a long time to have a surgery. 13:55 Five hours. 13:56 Finally, the boy groggy after surgery, he woke up, 14:02 "What happened? Where am I? 14:04 What happened?" 14:05 They said, "Oh, Sameer, you're doing fine. 14:08 You're gonna do fine. 14:10 We'll tell you about it in just a moment." 14:11 And even though Sameer was fine, 14:13 it took a couple hours for him just to wake back up. 14:15 But when he waked back up, when he woke up, 14:18 here is what they said, "We found a little bag 14:22 inside your mouth right here by the jaw, 14:25 weighed about a half a pound. 14:28 That's a lot of bag to have in your mouth. 14:30 It weighed about half a pound. 14:32 So we took the bad out and we put it on a table 14:36 and we cut that bag open 14:38 and we found 526 extra teeth 14:44 in your mouth." 14:46 "Extra teeth! 14:48 Oh, my goodness. Is this true? 14:49 Pastor, did you make that up? 14:50 Come on, let's put an x-ray on the screen 14:52 of that young boy's mouth. 14:53 That's what happens 14:54 when you don't brush your teeth, boys and girls. 14:56 That's what happens. 14:57 I'm telling you. 14:59 You got to obey Mommy, obey Daddy. 15:03 Look at all those teeth. 15:04 And that's just the start of it 15:06 because they found the bag down deep 15:08 where those little teeth were waiting. 15:11 They got them all out. 15:13 I mean, wouldn't you be smiling 15:14 if they did something that wonderful for you? 15:16 Took away something you didn't want 15:18 and made you feel good again? 15:21 You think Sameer isn't telling everybody 15:23 what happened to him? 15:24 He's telling everybody 15:26 because when good news happens to you, 15:27 that's what you do. 15:29 And when Jesus is you best friend 15:30 and he's taking something away, 15:32 "Oh, I didn't want that naughtiness in my heart. 15:34 Oh, I didn't want that naughtiness in my mind." 15:37 When Jesus takes it away, 15:38 He says, I'll be your Friend and Savior." 15:41 It doesn't get any better than that, boys and girls. 15:44 Hey listen, a lot of your hands went up, 15:46 which means you're not from around here. 15:47 Do you have anybody that lives next door to you 15:49 where you live? 15:51 Anybody that lives nearby you? 15:52 You have any young friends about your age? 15:54 If you have little young friends 15:56 about your age, you need to be... 15:58 please tell them about the good news 16:00 about your forever dearest Friend Jesus. 16:03 You just tell. 16:05 That's not hard to do. 16:06 We're doing that around here. 16:08 In fact, in three weeks, 16:09 we're gonna bring our friends to church. 16:10 You know the people that live next door, 16:12 little girls and boys that live next door and say, 16:13 "Hey, you got to come to our new church. 16:14 We got it all spiff and spanned up. 16:17 You got to come." 16:18 And we're gonna invite them, three weeks from today. 16:21 And you can invite them where you live. 16:23 Just say, "Hey, come to church. 16:25 I have a wonderful friend named Jesus. 16:28 And I want you to meet Him." 16:29 How many want to do that? 16:31 How many want to just say, 16:32 "Listen, I'm not gonna be embarrassed 16:33 about being a pathfinder and being a friend of Jesus. 16:35 Let me see the hands of those who are not embarrassed 16:37 about being a pathfinder or a friend of Jesus. 16:41 Yup. 16:43 That's all of us. 16:44 Let's just thank Jesus. 16:45 Let's thank Jesus for being that kind of good news Friend 16:48 that we can tell our friends about. 16:49 Come on, where is that microphone? 16:50 Here it is. Thank you, Uncle Ned. 16:52 Who would like... Thank you. 16:53 Who would like to thank Jesus for us today 16:57 and just say, "Thank you, Jesus. 16:58 Thank you for being our Friend?" 17:02 Well, since all the regulars have gone 17:03 and all the visitors are here... 17:07 I'm not gonna pick on anybody. 17:09 But would any of you 17:10 like to say prayer and thank Jesus? 17:12 'Cause all our kids are used to doing this. 17:15 You know what I'm gonna do? 17:17 Will it be okay if I pray for you? 17:19 Yeah. Let me pray for you. 17:21 Was there a hand up. Sissy, come on here. 17:23 Bless your heart. 17:24 All right. What's your name? 17:26 Zianna. Pardon me? 17:28 Zianna. Zianna. 17:29 Let's bow our heads as Zianna thanks Jesus 17:32 for being the good news best Friend we have. 17:36 "Thank you, Jesus, for helping us 17:39 and please make sure everybody is okay 17:43 and help us all to be friends. 17:48 And thank you, Jesus. 17:50 Amen." Amen. 17:51 Zianna, that was a beautiful prayer. 17:53 As you all go quietly back to your seats, 17:55 watch your step going down those stairs 17:58 and have a blessed time in Oshkash 18:01 or wherever you spend this next week. 18:03 Happy Sabbath to you. 19:20 I'm a pilgrim 19:23 And I'm a stranger 19:29 I can tarry 19:33 I can tarry but a night 19:40 Do not detain me 19:45 For I am going 19:51 To where the fountains 19:56 Are ever flowing 20:05 There the glory 20:08 Is ever shining 20:15 Oh, my longing 20:19 Heart is there 20:28 Here in this country 20:32 So dark and dreary 20:37 I long have wandered 20:45 Forlorn and weary 20:59 There's the city 21:02 To which I journey 21:07 My Redeemer 21:12 Is its light 21:19 There is no sorrow 21:24 Nor any sighing 21:29 Nor any tears 21:36 Nor any dying 21:45 I'm a pilgrim 21:49 And I'm a stranger 22:12 Thank you, friends. Bless you. 22:15 Thank you, Megan and Josh and Kenneth, 22:19 the keyboard, our minster of music Ken Logan. 22:22 Takes a month off every summer 22:24 to go up to the beautiful climbs of British Columbia. 22:30 He spends time outdoors 22:33 just kind of musing and brooding 22:36 and just wrote this three, four weeks ago. 22:40 And so Josh and Megan singing those words, " 22:43 I am a pilgrim, I'm a stranger." 22:47 We all are. 22:49 But here we are from all over the world, 22:51 met a club from Hong Kong halfway around the world. 22:55 So you're here 22:57 and we're delighted to have you in the seminary chapel, 22:59 at the youth chapel as well. 23:01 I want to pray with you 23:02 and then plunge into our teaching today. 23:04 Father, thank you for this fellowship. 23:06 What a fellowship, what a joy divine. 23:08 We're all pilgrims, 23:09 we're exiles, we're strangers here. 23:12 This was never to have been quite like this 23:14 but here we are, give us hope, give courage, 23:17 give us joy today, in Jesus' name. 23:20 Amen. 23:21 Because you see, I'm saying joy 23:23 because I have great news for you this morning. 23:25 In two weeks, the exiles are going home. 23:27 Can I have an amen for that? 23:29 Amen. In two weeks... 23:30 That doesn't sound very good to me. 23:32 In two weeks, the exiles are going home. 23:33 Can I have an amen for that? 23:35 Amen! 23:36 Amen. 23:37 You know what? 23:39 It's hard to believe 23:40 this beautiful performing arts 23:43 centre 23:47 has been our home for these weeks, 23:49 but in our hearts, 23:51 there's a little something that says, "We got to get back, 23:52 we got to get back." 23:54 And I can hardly wait for you to see 23:55 'cause some of you have not been keeping up on it. 23:57 Wait for you to see that home that's waiting for you. 24:00 Although I have to tell you this... 24:01 And by the way, 24:02 we need to be sure and thank our president 24:04 who will be here with us next Sabbath, 24:07 how grateful we are for Andrew's University's 24:09 kindness in providing this space at no charge. 24:14 But I'm gonna miss this place to be honest with you 24:17 because of the communication that happens here. 24:19 I call it kind of up close and personal. 24:22 That's a euphemism for up close and in your face. 24:26 And I just love being able to preach that way, 24:28 and I'm gonna miss that 24:29 because there will be a few extra feet 24:30 between us and that front row. 24:32 But it's gonna be beautiful, 24:34 the time has come and God has been good. 24:37 You know what? 24:38 It's time for the exiles to go home. 24:40 And speaking about the civilization, 24:42 look at the civilization. 24:44 Can you believe what happened in the last seven days? 24:46 What is it? Three, four, or five? 24:47 They're not quite sure now. 24:49 How do you define a mass killing 24:51 in the United States? 24:52 But whatever it is, 24:53 we've had three, four, or five of them 24:55 in the last seven days. 24:57 That old hymn, 24:58 "Lift up the trumpet and loud, let it ring." 25:00 Remember that hymn? 25:01 "Nations are angry. 25:02 By this we do know, Jesus is coming again." 25:04 Amen. You know what, folks? 25:06 I believe Jesus is coming soon. 25:08 Now I know that there are people 25:10 in this circle right now 25:11 who are a little bit uncomfortable with that kind 25:13 of, "You know, I don't want to say that 25:14 Jesus is coming soon 25:15 because I might set somebody up for disappointment. 25:20 Get their hopes up." Do you know what? 25:21 After all the bad news, 25:23 it is high time we get our hopes up, up again. 25:27 Jesus is coming again. 25:29 And we have some very, very good news 25:31 to tell to the world. 25:32 That's why God invented Exiles 25:34 so that He could get the Word out. 25:36 We've come to our last Exile today. 25:39 You know what? 25:40 We've read this story so many times, 25:42 we had no idea that this person is an Exile but he is. 25:45 Put it on the screen, please, the last piece, 25:47 "Song of Exiles: Going home, Going home, I'm a Going Home" 25:53 You say, how so you know he's an Exile? 25:55 Well, let me remind you the definition of an Exile. 25:57 What's an Exile? 25:58 Someone who has been forcefully removed 26:00 from his or her home and homeland, 26:03 which is a perfect descriptor 26:04 for the last exile in our series, 26:07 who happens to be the very first exile 26:09 in all the Bible. 26:11 The very first. 26:13 We're talking about the young Joseph. 26:15 Ever heard of Joseph? 26:17 Perfect illustration of someone who's been forcefully removed 26:20 from his home and homeland. 26:23 Joseph, everybody loves the story of Joseph. 26:26 I got to put that picture on the screen. 26:27 I grew up with this picture of Joseph. 26:28 There he is. I just love that picture. 26:30 That is no filled with emotion for a kid who grew up in Japan 26:33 and had to leave home at the age of 14 26:35 and never came home again. 26:37 I can identify with this picture. 26:38 He's 17 right there, and he's looking back 26:41 at his father's tents 26:43 and saying, "I'm never gonna see him again. 26:45 I'm never gonna see them again." 26:47 That's an exile for you. 26:49 Yup, that's an exile. 26:52 Joseph, well, we know the story of Joseph... 26:54 In fact, we did a five part series here 26:56 once upon a time called, "Joseph 26:57 and the amazing technicolor dream coach." 27:00 Remember that? 27:02 You can go to our website, 27:03 flip it up a little later in the... 27:06 in our time together, 27:07 and you can just binge watch that. 27:10 It's one of the greatest stories 27:11 in human literature. 27:12 We're talking about the... 27:14 This is the Joseph who had the coat of many colors, 27:16 produced by his doting and aging father, 27:19 "Big mistake, Dad, to single out 27:20 one of your boys and say." 27:22 This is my favorite." 27:23 You just don't want to do that. 27:24 You don't want to do it as a parent. 27:26 You don't want to do it ever as a teacher. 27:27 You don't want to do it as a Pathfinder club leader. 27:29 You don't single kids out 27:30 and say, "This is my favorite one." 27:32 Now she may be performing in a way that makes you happy, 27:35 just honor that quietly. 27:37 That's all you have to do because it created, 27:39 obviously, intense jealousy 27:42 on the part of his step brothers. 27:45 And they're the ones that took that boy 27:47 and saw some pagan slave traders riding 27:49 by on their camels and said, "Yo, we got a deal for you. 27:52 How much will you give us? 30 pieces of silver? 27:54 We'll take it." 27:55 The story of Joseph 27:57 is the story of Jesus writ large. 27:59 The details are just stunning, 28:01 the parallels between Joseph and Jesus. 28:04 He is the Jesus of the Old Testament. 28:06 He's taken, you saw the picture of Harry Anderson. 28:08 He ends up on the salve block in Egypt. 28:10 A general named Potiphar says, "I'll take that boy. 28:12 He looks strong and healthy. 28:14 He'll come be my slave." 28:15 He became his slave 28:16 and he soar to the top of slave hood 28:19 in Potiphar's house, yup. 28:22 Unsuccessful Mrs. Potiphar 28:23 was in trying to seduce that boy, 28:26 he ends up throw 28:27 in a subterranean dungeon to rot, 28:29 "We'll never see you again." 28:31 But what does he do there? 28:32 He rises back up like a good pathfinder. 28:34 He just rises back up to the top again. 28:39 And somewhere along the way, 28:40 it becomes clear that this boy can interpret dreams. 28:43 And that mighty king named Pharaoh 28:46 hears about the boy. 28:48 And when the boy warns him, 28:49 that ominous dream you've had is bad news for the world. 28:54 "Pharaoh says, "We've got nobody like this Pathfinder, 28:57 let's take him." 28:59 And they took the exile, and they elevated him, 29:04 talking about a meteoric rise, elevator to the top. 29:09 Power, prestige, prominence, he had it all. 29:12 But you know what, 29:14 that's what God does with exiles. 29:15 You remember Daniel? 29:17 We've been to Daniel already this summer. 29:18 You remember Ester? 29:20 We've been to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 29:21 How about Nehemiah? 29:22 When God invents an exile, what God wants to do is move 29:26 that exile into circles he would never be in otherwise, 29:30 and sometimes it's the three Ps, 29:33 position, power, and prominence. 29:35 Makes me look at you and wonder, 29:37 I wonder what God is gonna do in your life. 29:39 I wonder what dream Jesus has for you? 29:42 You're just a young Pathfinder, are you? 29:44 You're an aged citizen? 29:46 Senior citizen they call you? 29:47 Are you kidding? 29:49 Moses is 80 years old when the dream comes true. 29:51 Don't you ever give up God. 29:52 He will never give up on you. 29:54 You can't give up on Him. 29:56 You cannot. 29:58 Well, we know the story of Joseph? 29:59 He goes... takes that elevator to the top. 30:04 He's become the prime minister of Egypt. 30:06 Along the way, he gets to marry the daughter of the numero uno 30:12 religious leader in the entire empire, 30:15 the high priest's daughter. 30:16 Oh, my! 30:18 What a deal. 30:20 Yup, that's the story of Joseph. 30:23 And then that... 30:24 Seven years of plenty, but then those ominous years of dry, 30:29 dusty famine and they show up, 30:32 Joseph's step brothers 30:34 who betrayed him as dead to daddy. 30:36 They show up, all of them. 30:38 And they bow down at the feet of the keeper of the grain 30:41 who happens to be the prime minister, 30:42 who happens to be their betrayed brother. 30:45 Twice they come to Egypt. 30:46 Joseph is testing them every single time. 30:49 He's got to find out 30:50 has there been any change in these boys. 30:52 And when he insists that they bring the youngest 30:55 of the litter, Benjamin, "You bring Benjamin, 30:59 and I'll believe you." 31:01 Over the protest of daddy. 31:05 Joseph realizes the men have changed. 31:10 They are not the same brothers I once knew. 31:12 And so we come to this precious... 31:15 this kind of... 31:16 The music is louder 31:19 as the scene cuts to Genesis 45. 31:21 This is great heart of the story of Joseph. 31:25 As I say one of the great stories 31:26 of all literature, certainly sacred literature. 31:28 I want you to come to the moment 31:30 when he discloses who he is. 31:31 All right, so Genesis 45, please. 31:33 Genesis 45. 31:34 I put the NIV on the screen for you. 31:36 "Then Joseph could no longer control himself 31:40 before all his attendants and he cried out, 31:42 'Have one leave my presence!' 31:43 That means all the Egyptians in the room. 31:45 "So there was no one with Joseph, 31:47 when he made himself known to his brothers." 31:49 Watch this, verse 3, 31:51 "Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph! 31:55 Is my father still living? 31:58 But the brothers were not able to answer him," 32:00 because all they could do was... 32:06 nothing came out. 32:13 "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 32:16 And now..." 32:17 Listen, listen, "Do not be distressed 32:19 and do not be angry with your selves 32:20 for selling me here because it was to save lives 32:22 that God sent me ahead of you. 32:24 For two..." 32:25 Keep reading, "For two years now 32:27 there's been a famine in the land. 32:28 And for the next five years, 32:30 there's not gonna be any plowing and reaping. 32:31 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you 32:35 a remnant on earth and to save your lives 32:38 by a great deliverance." 32:41 Man, that's exactly. 32:44 Exile, Joe, you could not have gotten that more clearly. 32:49 That is the precise purpose that God invents exiles. 32:54 Put that line on the screen, please. 32:55 Let's see it again." 32:57 It was to save lives 32:58 that God turned me into an exile, 33:00 to preserve a remnant on earth." 33:03 The very reason you and I are exiles right now, 33:06 there is somebody on this planet 33:08 that you are perfectly positioned 33:10 to reach for the kingdom of heaven. 33:13 Just like Joseph. 33:14 Wow! 33:16 So he spoke to the very first exile, 33:18 "So he must live the last exiles 33:20 in the long anguish history of earth." 33:22 Now here's a question. 33:23 Yeah, but did God really accomplish 33:25 his mission for Joseph? 33:26 Did he save people? 33:28 Did he reach people for the kingdom of heaven? 33:30 I got five fingers to prove it. 33:33 Finger number one. 33:34 These will be all Joseph's bosses. 33:35 You think about them, first's there's Potiphar. 33:37 These are people that Joseph reached for God. 33:39 Potiphar, then the prison warden, 33:41 and then the mighty Pharaoh himself. 33:42 So that's finger number one. 33:45 Finger number two, Joseph's associates, 33:47 all the people in Potiphar's house, 33:49 all the people in the prison subterranean dungeon, 33:51 all the courtiers in the king's court, 33:54 Joseph reached, touched them all for God. 33:57 How about category number three? 33:59 Joseph's wife. 34:00 That pretty little girl that he married, 34:01 she's the daughter, remember, 34:03 of the high priest, the highest. 34:06 So he not only influences her, but he influences her daddy, 34:09 he influences her mommy, 34:11 he influences the entire family tree. 34:13 Finger number four, 34:14 the citizens of the empire of Egypt 34:17 who now come to the keeper of the grain himself. 34:20 And plead, "Help us. 34:22 Stop this famine, don't let us starve." 34:25 Oh, my. 34:27 Is he having influence with the human race? 34:29 And number five, come on, on one more finger left, 34:32 the dignitaries from nations all over around Egypt 34:35 who are desperate to find food. 34:37 They too come to Joseph. 34:39 Do you understand that 34:40 when God gets a hold of an exile, 34:41 who's willing to be gotten a hold of as you are, 34:44 he can move you anywhere on earth. 34:46 You have no idea where you're gonna end up. 34:49 And remember, your age doesn't matter. 34:52 He'll move you when He needs you. 34:55 Oh, my, wow. 35:00 No wonder God invented exiles. 35:02 All for the sake of them sharing their contagious faith 35:06 with those who do not yet believe. 35:08 Sounds a lot like your mission and mine, doesn't it? 35:10 So I'm doing some reading over the summer, 35:12 I'm studying up on Generation Z. 35:14 And by the way, we just got infused 35:15 with a lot of Generation Z, 35:17 and it's not even school time yet 35:18 because Generation Z is anybody born between 1996 and 2005. 35:22 So that's the dominant group of our mission field here 35:26 at Andrew's University for every professor, 35:29 every staff member. 35:31 We'll talk much more about that next week 35:33 'cause I want to share some fascinating discoveries 35:35 about Generation Z. 35:36 Next week when we have the big faculty staff 35:38 dedication service, before the students arrive, 35:41 our last time in the X pack. 35:44 But I was doing some reading this summer, 35:46 I'm reading a James Emery White's book, 35:47 "Meet Generation Z." 35:50 And he tells about George Barna, 35:51 the evangelical researcher and demographer 35:53 who has studies Generation Z. 35:56 And you got to see this 35:57 because it is huge corroboration 36:00 for our bring a friend to church event. 36:05 It comes on August 31. 36:07 I want you to see. Let's put it on the screen. 36:08 James Emery White in his book meets the Generation Z, 36:11 "According..." 36:12 He reports to us, 36:14 "According to the research of the Barna Group, 36:15 the unchurched continue to be the most open," 36:19 watch this, "Most open to the..." 36:21 And here's a direct quote from the survey, 36:23 "A friend of yours inviting you to attend a local church." 36:26 Who's most open to that? 36:28 Unchurched people are most open to your invitation. 36:30 "With one-fifth of the unchurched 36:33 expressing strong interest..." 36:35 In that little statement, 36:36 "And nearly a half willing to consider a church 36:39 based on this factor." 36:40 Can you believe that? 36:42 Bring a friend to church. 36:44 That is the most successful method 36:45 you can use to reach unchurched. 36:49 But he goes on. Now he's quoting Barna. 36:50 He's quoting George Barna, 36:52 "It's the top-rated way churches 36:55 can establish connections with the unchurched." 36:58 Oh, and by the way, Barna is still talking, 37:00 "With Generation Z, 37:01 this approach can be especially effective 37:04 with 28 percent 37:06 Of Generation Zers placing emphasis 37:08 on their personal relationships 37:10 compared to millennials at 20 percent." 37:12 So this group is even more than millennials 37:14 saying relationships are big to us. 37:17 And what is this little series that we're gonna have 37:19 and we're bringing friends to church for? 37:21 What's the title of it again? What is it? 37:22 Roommates, Bad Dates, and Soul Mates. 37:26 And what's the theme? 37:27 It's all about what every human heart 37:30 on the planet from Hong Kong to Singapore 37:33 to Africa to America, 37:35 every human being on the planet has a longing to accentuate, 37:40 to grow, to better their relationships. 37:44 That what we're gonna do? 37:47 The most effective way George Barna is telling us 37:49 to reach out to secular people 37:51 and say, "Hey, come to church with me." 37:54 "Hey, we've got a new church. 37:56 We're so excited. 37:57 Can you come? Can you come?" 37:59 And by the way, you can do this anywhere on the planet. 38:01 You don't have to have a redone church. 38:03 You just say, "Come to church with me." 38:06 Roommates, Bad Dates, and Soul Mates, 38:08 doesn't matter your age, it doesn't matter 38:09 whether you're married or single. 38:11 That doesn't matter at all. 38:13 This series is for everyone. 38:15 Now I know what you're saying. 38:20 Are you sure? 38:21 I mean, are you really sure? 38:23 Hey, did you read the blog? 38:24 My blog for today? 38:26 Let's put that website up please newpreceptions.tv/blog 38:29 and you can read this blog 38:31 anywhere in the world if you wish. 38:32 But the blog for today, 38:34 I read a piece by Kim Johnson, the writer. 38:36 inspectormagazine.com or .org rather. 38:40 And he's talking about a fascinating subject. 38:43 He's making a defense for Christ-like love 38:46 for friendship making as the most effective strategy 38:49 of all for reaching people for Jesus. 38:53 I want you to read that blog. 38:55 Just go there, it'll pop up 38:56 and then you can read it for yourself. 38:58 Three weeks from today, 39:01 we are having our bring a friend 39:03 to our brand newly 39:05 renovated church day, August 31. 39:10 I invite you to take advantage of it. 39:11 You say, "I don't know what I'm gonna say." 39:13 Okay, at the very end of my blog, 39:15 I have this little sample. 39:17 You can do this. 39:18 Trust me you can do this with your eyes blindfolded. 39:20 Put it on the screen, please. 39:22 Here's a sample invitation. 39:23 You say, "Hey, yo, we're pretty excited 39:25 about the summer-long renovation 39:26 of our Pioneer church." 39:28 And they're gonna say, "Yeah, what'd you do?" 39:29 "Well that's number one, we had replace the roof. 39:31 That was a huge project. 39:32 You ought to see it inside though." 39:33 So you can shoot off this at any point you wish. 39:35 "But we're pretty excited 39:36 about the summer-long renovation 39:38 of our Pioneer church. 39:39 We're celebrating the new season 39:40 with a new series of presentations 39:42 of our pastor's having." 39:43 "Oh, yeah? What are they about?" 39:44 "Well, they're all about growing 39:46 the most important relationship in our lives. 39:47 It's called, "Roommates, Bad Dates, and Soul Mates." 39:50 "You serious! 39:51 "Yeah, here's a card and this is the key." 39:53 Here's a card. 39:54 So when you came in today, 39:55 you should have received a bunch of these cards. 39:57 You didn't get a card, then you got left out. 39:58 Make sure that when you leave, you get this card 40:01 because you're gonna hand this card. 40:02 You just say, "Hey, here's a card. 40:03 It tells all about it." 40:05 They take the card, they read it, 40:06 and then you say, "Oh, by the way, 40:07 I'd be glad to pick you up 40:09 by Saturday morning, August 31." 40:10 That's it. 40:11 Is that rocket science? 40:13 No. 40:14 If it's a person who you are going with, 40:16 they live next door. 40:17 It's a piece of cake. 40:18 Karen and I are already putting, 40:20 we got our separate lists, 40:21 we put it together because they're people we know. 40:22 We are on a friendly basis with them. 40:24 We say, "Hey listen, come on, come on. 40:25 Here's a card, take a look at this. 40:27 Look I'll come and pick you up, August 31." 40:29 You can do it, we can all do it. 40:31 That's what exiles do. 40:33 They live out their faith in their Lord and God. 40:34 That's what Joseph did. 40:37 And by the way, let's fast forward now 40:38 to the end of the story. 40:40 It's a sad ending because there are two death bed scenes. 40:42 And we're gonna go to them both. 40:44 Let's go to first the father's death bed. 40:48 Seventeen years was all Jacob had of Joseph, 40:53 but God is good, 40:54 and when Jacob comes to Egypt, 40:56 God says, "I'm gonna give you 17 more years 40:58 with that boy of yours." 40:59 Ain't God good? 41:01 But all good things must come to an end. 41:02 Now I want to go to the death bed of Jacob. 41:04 So okay, turn your page to 45, go to chapter, what is it, 49. 41:10 This is fascinating. 41:11 Watch this, Genesis 49:29, "Then Jacob gave them..." 41:15 These are all his boys now standing in his bedroom, 41:18 "Gave them these instructions: 41:19 'I am about to be gathered to my people. 41:23 Bury me with my fathers in the cave 41:26 in the field of Ephron the Hittite,'" 41:28 It's back in the Promised Land. 41:30 "The cave in the field of Machpelah, 41:31 near Mamre in Canaan, 41:33 which Abraham brought along with the field 41:36 as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite." 41:38 Therefore Jacob still talking, boys, I want you to remember, 41:41 "Abraham and his wife were buried, 41:44 there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, 41:47 and there I buried Leah. 41:49 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites." 41:51 It's our land. 41:53 "And when Jacob had finished 41:54 giving instructions to his sons, 41:56 he drew his feet up off the floor and into the bed 41:58 and he breathed his last 42:00 and was gathered to his people." 42:02 To attend the moment, 42:03 it's a death bed last will and testament. 42:08 "Bury me, bury me back in the Promise Land." 42:10 But you know what's so challenging? 42:13 I mean, you think about it. 42:15 The only piece of real estate the exiles own 42:18 in a Promised Land is a graveyard. 42:20 That's all they have. 42:22 They are exiles in Egypt. 42:23 "We have nowhere back there, but there is a graveyard. 42:26 And would you please bury me there?" 42:29 Oh, my! 42:31 Wow. 42:33 That's the death scene of Father Jacob. 42:34 Now let's go to the death scene of Joseph. 42:36 Wrapping it up right here, death scene of Joseph, 42:39 go to chapter 50, 42:40 the last words of the book of Genesis. 42:43 Here we go on verse 22, "And Joseph stayed in Egypt, 42:45 along with all his father's family. 42:47 He lived 110 years and he saw the third generation 42:51 of his boy Ephraim's children. 42:53 And he saw the children of Makir, 42:55 the son of his other boy Manasseh, 42:57 they were placed at birth on Joseph's knees." 42:59 Because when we put a baby on the knees 43:01 of a great grandfather, 43:03 you're saying, "Great grandpa, your DNA, you claim these, 43:06 these are you children," 43:10 when you put that child on the knees 43:13 of the great grandpa. 43:14 "Then..." 43:16 verse 24 "Joseph said to his brothers, 43:18 'I'm about to die. 43:19 But God will surely come to your aid 43:21 and take you up out of this lands 43:23 to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' 43:28 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath 43:31 and said, 'God will surely come to your aid 43:33 and then you must carry my...'" What? 43:35 You must carry my what? 43:37 "You must carry my bones." 43:39 You got to carry them back to the Promised Land. 43:42 And so Joseph died, final verse 26, 43:44 "At the age of 110, and after they embalmed him, 43:49 he was placed in the coffin in Egypt." 43:55 Note carefully, he is not placed in a grave, 43:58 he is placed in a coffin, 43:59 and it's a movable coffin as all coffins are. 44:02 Why Joseph? 44:04 Because I want you to bury me 44:05 in the only piece of real estate we own 44:06 in the Promised Land, the family graveyard. 44:08 You bury my bones there, do you understand? 44:10 "We swear it, we will do it." 44:14 Something is going on here, folks. 44:17 This isn't just a little death bed scene. 44:19 The writer of Genesis whom I happen to believe 44:21 is Moses is making a huge point for his readers. 44:27 This isn't just about a graveyard 44:30 in the Promised Land. 44:31 It's about the Promised Land one day without a graveyard. 44:35 Amen. 44:36 A Promised Land with zero, nada, no graveyard. 44:41 That's what it is about. 44:42 Zondervan, my friend, in his Magnum Opus says, 44:45 his commentary in the book of Genesis, 44:48 I learnt this from him, I never heard this before. 44:51 Let me run it by you. 44:52 Isn't it something? 44:54 Jacob, okay, so we have Father Jacob right here, 44:55 Jacob ends in a grave with no coffin, right? 45:01 Joseph, his boy, 45:03 ends in a coffin with no grave. 45:09 What's going on here? 45:11 There's something trying to be said, 45:12 there's something we are supposed to be hearing 45:14 because as it turns out, the book of Genesis ends 45:17 the very same way the Pentateuch ends. 45:21 The book of Deuteronomy, both heroes die. 45:24 Joseph dies in Genesis, Moses dies in Deuteronomy. 45:29 Both heroes die, but for both of them, 45:32 it is death without a grave. 45:37 Hmm. 45:38 Why? 45:40 Because there is embedded in these endings 45:41 the promise of another Promised Land, 45:43 that's why. 45:44 There is the embedded in these endings 45:46 the promise of a Promised Land one day 45:47 in which they will never, 45:48 ever, ever, ever, ever be a graveyard. 45:51 What do you say? Amen. 45:52 Not a graveyard in the Promised Land 45:54 that God's promising. 45:57 Look at Hebrews 11:22. 45:59 This is the Bible hall of faith chapter, 46:02 it's amazing to me. 46:03 They could have picked anyone 46:04 of the great moments in Joseph's life. 46:06 They don't pick any of them, they skip over them all, 46:07 here's Joseph's little corner in the hall of fame. 46:10 Put it on the screen please. 46:12 Hebrews 11:22, there he is, "By faith Joseph, 46:17 when his end was near, 46:18 spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt 46:22 and gave instructions 46:24 concerning the burial of his bones." 46:26 Come on, why are we talking about bones? 46:28 What's so by faith about that? 46:31 What so by faith about picking a place 46:33 where want your bones to be buried 46:34 if you're never coming up again? 46:36 Why would you care where your bones are buried? 46:38 Unless you believe by faith. 46:41 You'll be coming up again, you'll be coming up again. 46:45 And when you come up, 46:46 it will be a Promised Land with no graveyard in it. 46:50 Hallelujah. 46:51 That's what's going on. 46:55 Moses, before he dies is embedding this 47:00 in the psyche of every reader. 47:04 There's another Promised Land, what is it saying? 47:06 Hebrews 11, "They look for a city 47:08 whose builder and maker is God." 47:09 It's not the one you're living in. 47:12 They are looking for another Promised Land. 47:15 How can that be? 47:17 I'll tell you how, because if you could... 47:18 Listen, if you could find the Cave of Machpelah today, 47:21 any archaeologist here? 47:22 If you could find the Cave of Machpelah today, 47:25 that graveyard of saints still bares 47:27 the dusty DNA of Abraham and Sara, 47:30 of Isaac and Rebecca, of Jacob and Leah, and Joseph. 47:34 Dusty DNA is there, 47:36 but there is another grave outside the ancient Jerusalem, 47:41 where also a Jew without a coffin was buried. 47:47 But for you to go to that grave today, 47:49 you would not find a scintilla of dusty DNA 47:53 belonging to Jesus of Nazareth. 47:54 Do you know why? 47:56 Because He is not here. 47:58 He is risen. 48:00 He is risen. 48:06 That's the point. 48:09 And because He lives, this crucified, buried, risen, 48:12 ascendant, and soon coming Savior. 48:15 Because He lives, we shall live also. 48:18 Hallelujah. Amen. 48:20 Yeah, that's the hope. That's the hope. 48:22 Going home, going home, 48:26 I'm going home. 48:29 Antonin Dvorak composed the great New World Symphony, 48:34 whose Largo has become globally renowned. 48:36 You know the Largo. 48:39 Goin' home, goin' home 48:42 I'm just goin' home 48:46 Goin' home, goin' home 48:50 I'm just goin' home 48:52 The whole world loves the Largo. 48:54 But you understand of course Dvorak never wrote words. 48:57 You don't write words to a symphony. 48:58 But a student of his, listen to this, 49:00 a student of his named William Arms Fisher decided 49:02 to write lyrics that would match the tune 49:04 of that beloved melody in the Largo. 49:07 Goin' home, goin' home 49:09 I am goin' home 49:11 Quite like some still day 49:14 I'm just goin' home 49:17 In a few days, the Pioneer Memorial Church 49:19 on the campus of Andrews University 49:20 will go home to the home that we belong in. 49:24 And some day, sooner than any of us here realizes, 49:29 we will all be going home. 49:32 Going home, going home. 49:35 I am going home. 49:40 Going home, going home 49:43 to that one Promised Land 49:47 where there is no graveyard. 49:51 Hallelujah. 49:53 That's the home I'm going to. 49:55 How about you? Amen. 49:56 Hmm? 49:58 You going home? 49:59 Some of you right now 50:00 when I say, "You're going home?" 50:02 You know what, your mind just jumps 50:03 to start thinking quickly, "Am I going home?" 50:06 And you're thinking of something 50:07 that's between you and Jesus right now. 50:09 Now you've been Pathfinders for years, 50:12 you've been a Pathfinder leader. 50:14 But something is in your life that you realize, 50:17 "Oh my, if Jesus came tonight, 50:19 I'd have to deal with some heavy baggage." 50:25 You know what, my friend, 50:26 it's as simple as you saying Jesus. 50:29 You see that baggage? 50:31 I can't take that to heaven, I can't take it home with me. 50:36 I'm leaving it. 50:38 I'm leaving it in your nail scarred hands. 50:41 If it's physical or material, if you want me to have it back, 50:44 you give it back to me. 50:46 If it's dark and immoral, never let me see that again. 50:51 Take it away, Jesus. 50:54 You can go home, my friend. 50:56 You can go home. 50:58 It's as simple as that. 51:00 He just needs you to say, "Be my Savior, 51:04 be my forever Savior and friend, please. 51:08 I can't get home without you." 51:11 Do you understand He's dying for you to come home? 51:12 He's already died for you to get you home. 51:15 And He's dying for you to come home. 51:18 We got to go home together. 51:20 There's nothing in your life that Jesus can't handle. 51:23 Sing the wondrous love of Jesus. 51:25 Together. 51:43 Sing the wondrous love of Jesus 51:48 Sing His mercy and His grace 51:53 In the mansions 51:55 Bright and blessed 51:58 He'll prepare for us a place 52:02 When we all get to heaven 52:07 What a day of rejoicing 52:10 That will be 52:12 When we all see Jesus 52:17 We'll sing 52:19 And shout the victory 52:23 While we walk 52:25 The pilgrim pathway 52:28 Clouds will overspread the sky 52:33 But when traveling days 52:37 Are over 52:38 Not a shadow, not a sigh 52:43 When we all get to heaven 52:48 What a day of rejoicing 52:51 That will be 52:53 When we all see Jesus 52:58 We'll sing 53:00 And shout the victory 53:02 All right, ladies alone. 53:04 Sing that third stanza, ladies alone. 53:06 Come on, ladies. 53:08 Let us 53:10 Then be true and faithful 53:13 Trusting, serving every day 53:18 Just one glimpse 53:20 Of Him in glory 53:23 Will the toils of life repay 53:28 When we all get to heaven 53:33 What a day of rejoicing 53:36 That will be 53:38 When we all see Jesus 53:44 We'll sing 53:45 And shout the victory 53:49 Stand, everybody. 53:51 Onward to the prize before us 53:55 Soon his beauty we'll behold 54:00 Soon the pearly gates will open 54:06 We shall tread 54:08 He streets of gold 54:11 When we all get to heaven 54:16 What a day of rejoicing 54:18 That will be 54:21 When we all see Jesus 54:26 We'll sing 54:28 And shout the victory 54:34 Ah, let's do it again. 54:36 When we all get to heaven 54:41 What a day of rejoicing 54:43 That will be 54:46 When we all see Jesus 54:52 We'll sing 54:53 And shout the victory 54:58 We got to pray right now. 54:59 But we have a prayer team here, some of you have maybe brought 55:03 something you'd be great to have, a partner, 55:05 just lift up to Jesus on my behalf. 55:07 We have husband and wife, Donnie and Trudi Starlin. 55:11 And so one is going to be on the other side 55:13 and the other is going to be right here. 55:14 And you see the little dangle around their necks? 55:18 They are here to pray with you if you'd like somebody to pray. 55:20 Let's pray together. 55:22 Oh, God, when we all get to heaven, 55:24 oh, can you imagine it, Father, 55:26 going home, going home, we're just going home. 55:31 Not to a little church across the campus, 55:35 as joyful as that would be, 55:37 but oh, no, when you throw the floodgates 55:42 and the 12 gates of heaven wide open, 55:45 we wanna be in that homecoming. 55:48 There's a man here who's saying, 55:50 "Oh, Lord, I need help, be merciful to me, a sinner." 55:53 I want that man to know that Justice Jesus said, 55:56 "You can go home safe today." 55:58 You just say, "Be merciful to me, the sinner." 56:01 And He'll save you. 56:02 And if we can help you write the next chapter, 56:04 you let u know. 56:06 There's a women here who says, "I don't wanna go home alone, 56:10 I want my children to go home with me." 56:12 Father, keep that mother praying. 56:14 Keep that grandmother on her knees. 56:16 We can't give up. 56:18 You're not giving up. 56:20 You want to bring every man women and child alive 56:22 if you possibly can to that homecoming. 56:25 So, Jesus, Your mighty spirit will do it. 56:28 And then I'm gonna say a special prayer 56:30 for these OshKosh bound pathfinders and their leaders. 56:33 God bless them all. 56:35 Thank you for every club. 56:36 Thank you for every partner in ministry 56:40 that each club represents. 56:42 Go with them, protect them on the road and in the air, 56:46 and one day when we get to the big OshKosh 56:49 in the sky in heaven, 56:51 when we've gone home, 56:53 yeah, we will be together forever and ever. 56:56 In Jesus' name, we thank You that all the people say amen. 57:01 Amen. 57:13 I want to take an extra moment to thank you 57:15 for joining us in worship today. 57:16 It's by the continuous support from viewers like you 57:18 that we are able to bring you this program. 57:20 Today, I wanna invite you though to share with us 57:22 how this ministry has blessed you. 57:25 I get inspiring notes, emails from viewers, 57:27 literally all over the world telling me, 57:29 "Look, Dwight, God has been blessing me this way. 57:31 He's been doing this." 57:32 I would love to hear from you as well. 57:33 Just visit our website, you know it. 57:35 NePerceptions.tv 57:37 and click on the contact link at the top of the page. 57:40 Send me a note, let me know what God has been doing 57:43 right now in your life. 57:44 Once again, thank you for being with us today. 57:47 I hope you join us right here next time, 57:49 and until then, 57:51 may the God of grace journey with you every step of the way. |
Revised 2019-09-10