Participants: Max Torkelson
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000428
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01:02 "Refresh Spokane," family fun fare.
01:07 It's an absolutely unique experience. 01:10 I hope you feel like Guinea pigs. 01:13 I hope you feel involved in participating 01:16 because that's what it's all about. 01:19 Well, I say it's unique, I really need to take you back 01:23 in a little bit of Adventist history quickly. 01:26 If you go back a 150 years plus a few, 01:30 you would find that in early Adventist history, 01:32 camp meeting played a very significant role 01:36 and camp meeting was a special time 01:39 that those early Adventists, just a handful actually, 01:43 would take large tents pitch them 01:47 next to large metropolitan areas 01:49 and people would come by the thousands, 01:51 by the tens of thousands. 01:53 They would share the Gospel of Jesus and they would share 01:55 the prophecies of His soon return. 01:57 And camp meeting was a wonderful way 02:00 to impact people's lives, to reach cities, 02:04 to reach metropolitan areas. 02:07 In fact, sometimes they would even take 02:10 tents as large as 5,000, you see 5,000 02:16 and we have record of the fact that 02:19 they would come in with their stoves, 02:23 you know, their electric stoves 02:25 and their microwaves and their refrigerators. 02:28 Ah, you're awake, that's good 02:30 I just was checking you al outl. 02:32 Woodstoves and they would prefer 02:36 food and they would give-- 02:37 in fact one time you know where they pitched the tent? 02:40 Next to Barnum Bailey, menagerie they called it. 02:45 Barnum Bailey what? Circus, yeah. 02:50 And thousands of people were impacted. 02:54 Thousands of people heard about Jesus, 02:56 heard about the prophecies of His soon return. 02:59 So I tell you what we are doing here today, 03:01 though it is unique for us, 03:04 it really is built on Adventist history. 03:09 And the principles are still there. 03:11 In the past 150 years, 03:12 somehow we slipped away from that idea 03:15 and the steering committee of "Refresh" 03:19 has spent some time considering, 03:22 restudying, praying about, thinking, 03:24 what does this mean? 03:26 What is this history and this early council that we had? 03:30 And I can tell you it was a growing conviction, 03:31 I can speak from my own heart. 03:33 It's was a growing conviction that 03:35 we needed to do something different. 03:38 We needed to impact Spokane for Christ. 03:42 And so I just like to say when you hear "Refresh Spokane" 03:46 think of camp meeting, renaissance, 03:51 camp meeting renewed, refreshed. 03:54 And we pray that you will have 03:56 a refreshing experience today. 03:58 We believe speaking again of the spearing committee, 04:01 we believe that many of the resources 04:05 of our message which is a holistic message 04:08 which reaches the spiritual needs, 04:10 the physical needs, the emotional needs. 04:14 We believe that we can make a difference 04:17 through the grace of Christ in the hearts and lives 04:20 and homes of many who live in this Greater Spokane area. 04:26 So it is our need to connect more intentionally 04:30 with our city and our attempt 04:33 is what your involved in today, 04:36 which you are participating in today, 04:38 which you are experiencing today, "Refresh." 04:42 And as you can imagine, this is not cheap nor is it easy. 04:49 I do want to just publicly thank the scores 04:53 and scores of volunteers, 04:55 who have stepped up to the plate, 04:57 who have helped us in countless ways. 05:00 We could not do this without you as a team. 05:03 We want you to know how much we appreciate that. 05:05 You've already given very, very heartily 05:09 from your heart and I just wanna thank you for that. 05:21 Financially "Spokane Refresh" is costing us 05:27 something over 200,000 dollars. 05:30 It is a venture of faith. 05:32 And this offering opportunity 05:34 right now is simply an invitation for you. 05:38 If you've been refreshed 05:40 or if you really see life in this concept 05:44 and you'd like to help us 05:45 get this thing up off the runway and flying 05:47 because we really like to believe 05:50 that this isn't the end, that this is only the beginning. 05:54 That's what we would like to think, 05:55 that's what we would like to believe. 05:57 So we are giving you this opportunity 05:58 to share with us today financially to meet, 06:02 help meet the "Refresh" expenses 06:05 and may it only be the beginning. 06:08 And when I say that it's not just for Spokane, 06:10 we would like to think 06:11 the cites all over North America 06:13 potentially could be touched by this approach. 06:17 May God bless each of you as you generously share 06:20 and may you be refreshed. Let's pray. 06:24 Dear Father, we have been awed as we have seen your work. 06:31 Because Lord many times as we have vision together 06:34 on this and move forward, 06:36 we have contemplated the fact that 06:38 it all could come to nothing but You have helped 06:41 time after time to open doors of opportunity. 06:44 And we thank You for that and we praise You. 06:47 We just ask that You will take this simple approach 06:49 one that You've blessed over 150 years ago 06:54 and bless it again. Do it again, God, do it again. 06:58 For Your name we sake 07:00 that people may be touched by Your grace, 07:05 by Your gospel, by Your goodness. 07:10 Bless now as each one participates. 07:14 We thank You in Jesus name, amen. 07:21 Dr. Lou Wildman is the director 07:24 of the Oregon Men's Choir, Oregon's Men's Chorus. 07:28 He got up this morning and said to his guys, 07:31 "Let's get into minivan and go over to Refresh." 07:35 And I must admit that was some minivan 07:37 as you can see right here. 07:39 Actually this men's chorus 07:41 has been together for ten years. 07:43 It's always the chorus that's growing 07:45 and obviously a dynamic singing group. 07:49 They have made several recordings. 07:53 Their prime reason for existence is to just 07:55 let God know what a wonderful and awesome creator He is. 08:01 Let's give a nice warm welcome to Dr. Lou Wildman 08:03 and the Oregon--Oregon Men's Chorus. 08:42 Lift up the trumpet, and loud let it ring 08:47 Jesus is coming again 08:51 Cheer up, ye pilgrims be joyful and sing 08:56 Jesus is coming again 09:00 Coming again coming again 09:05 Jesus is coming again 09:18 Echo it, hilltops proclaim it, ye plains 09:22 Jesus is coming again 09:26 Coming in glory the Lamb that was slain 09:31 Jesus is coming again 09:35 Coming again coming again 09:40 Jesus is coming again 09:54 Nations are angry by this we do know 09:59 Jesus is coming again 10:03 Knowledge increases, men run to and fro 10:08 Jesus is coming again 10:12 Coming again coming again 10:17 Jesus is coming again 10:39 Many of the men on this platform sang those words 10:43 in a great, great outdoor amphitheatre in Africa. 10:47 There were 50,000 people there and it translates 10:50 "Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, 10:53 Jesus is coming again!" 10:56 And one of the great things that I remember 10:59 as we're on that great platform, 11:01 we were surrounded by a lot of our African brothers 11:05 who would come from every part of Africa to sing with us. 11:09 We were astonished that how important it was for them 11:12 to come there and sing with us and we really, 11:15 thought we had come to sing with them. 11:17 And so together we got to join our voices in this song 11:22 and it was a most memorable occasion. 11:25 But even more than that I remember the moment 11:27 when we left Africa and we were all sheltered 11:31 away in this small room in a little tiny airport 11:35 waiting for our airplane to come. 11:37 And so are trumpeters said let's do some music. 11:39 And they got out their trumpets 11:41 and they began to play this and we began to sing it. 11:45 And before we got done, 11:47 all the operations on that airport came to a halt. 11:51 The police were there. The people who took us 11:56 through customs were there. 11:58 The people who sold tickets were there, 12:01 the people who weighed our baggage were there 12:04 but what's surprised me most of all 12:06 was how many of those people sang this song. 12:10 I wonder--I would like to know 12:12 if there's one person in this audience today, 12:14 come on now be honest, face up, 12:15 it's okay, is there somebody here 12:17 that never heard this before? 12:18 I would like to here see your hand. 12:20 Okay, we got one up down there. 12:23 Oh, it's pretty universally known, isn't it? 12:26 Yeah, thanks for being honest about that. 12:29 Well, the Oregon Adventist Men's Chorus 12:32 has been together for ten years 12:36 but the reason we are still together is just because 12:40 we are men of faith. Amen. 12:42 We are men just like all of you guys sitting out here. 12:44 We're no different at all. 12:46 We are bound together by faith. 12:49 Do we all think exactly alike? 12:51 Well, if I told you we did, you'd know I was wrong. 12:55 Yeah, we have our differences 12:57 but when we get on the platform, 12:59 we come for one common cause, 13:01 that's to praise the Lord. Amen. 13:04 If, in your journey in life, 13:06 you haven't had that experience 13:08 or that opportunity we'll invite you to think about it. 13:10 Mull it over in your mind, give it a chance. 13:14 We believe that there is great majesty 13:17 in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 13:19 And we'd like to sing about him now. 13:48 Majesty worship His Majesty 13:55 Unto Jesus, be all glory power and praise 14:05 Majesty Kingdom authority 14:13 Flow from His throne 14:15 unto His own, His anthem raise 14:22 So exalt, lift up on high 14:26 The Name of Jesus Magnify, come glorify 14:35 Christ Jesus the King 14:41 Majesty worship His Majesty 14:49 Jesus who died now glorified 14:54 King of all Kings 14:59 He is Lord lift up his name 15:03 The name of Jesus 15:08 He is risen from the dead 15:12 And he is Lord 15:20 Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty 15:29 Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. 15:39 Majesty worship His Majesty 15:47 Unto Jesus, be all glory power and praise 15:58 Majesty worship His Majesty 16:06 Jesus who died now glorified 16:11 King of all Kings. 16:15 Jesus who died now glorified 16:22 Holy, Holy Majesty 16:46 Individuals are here today, from every church, 16:49 every denomination likely. 16:50 Some of you that are here today that maybe 16:52 have no connection with any church at all. 16:54 You are in the right spot because the reason 16:57 we exist here today is to make sure 16:59 we get to know Him more. 17:01 We all do have something in common today 17:03 as I look out there, 17:04 the majority we have some thing in common. 17:07 You know what it is? 17:08 For some strange reason, 17:11 most people in this audience today 17:13 have a symbol of a fish on your wrist 17:17 and with Jesus written in the middle of it. 17:21 Try to find out what that means today 17:22 that will be a good, a good exercise for you. 17:25 Max Torkelsen, our speaker today, 17:27 president of the Upper Columbia Conference 17:29 and the organization hosting "Refresh," 17:31 let's give them a nice warm welcome this morning. 17:42 In the year 1895, there were only two cars, 17:48 only two automobiles in the whole state of Ohio. 17:55 Can you guess what happened? 17:59 That's right they collided. 18:04 It's the natural order of things, 18:06 you know, anytime you have two cars free to go anyway 18:09 they want to without regard to the other, 18:12 you can count on a collision. 18:14 In fact most of the 13 million automobile accidents 18:18 that will occur in this country this year will happen 18:21 because somebody broke a law, 18:25 goes through a stop sign, has one for the road, 18:29 straddles the center line, 18:31 doesn't give full attention to their driving, 18:35 like they use those cell phones while they drive, 18:39 tailgates, goes 75 in a 50 mile an hour zone. 18:44 And folks when you think about it, 18:46 most collisions that happen between neighbors 18:51 or between nations or between God and man occur 18:56 because someone breaks a law, God's law. 19:01 And that's what I want to talk to you 19:02 a bit about, God's law. 19:05 Dr. Laura does. She even wrote a book about it 19:09 that sold millions of copies. 19:13 One of our early presidents, James Madison, 19:17 I just found this out yesterday when a friend of mine 19:20 Jerry Mon gave me a little brochure 19:22 he'll be glad to give you one too, 19:24 and this quote is written on that brochure. 19:26 This is what President James Madison said 19:29 "We have staked the whole future of American civilization, 19:33 not upon the power of government, far from it. 19:38 We have staked the future of our political institutions 19:40 upon the capacity of mankind for self government, 19:45 upon the capacity of each and all of us 19:48 to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, 19:52 to sustain ourselves 19:54 according to the Ten Commandments of God." 19:59 Maybe concerned about the Ten Commandments 20:01 is something we need to think about, 20:03 something we need to rediscover, 20:07 shouldn't come as a surprise that God has a law, 20:12 guaranteed to keep us on the right side of the road 20:15 safe and secure and happy. 20:18 We need to be reminded that many, 20:20 even of our personal problems, many of our unhappy days 20:26 come because we are running God's stop signs. 20:30 When you've got a whole universe to keep running, 20:33 you've got to have law. 20:35 Law that keeps suns from flaming out, 20:39 laws to keep planets from colliding with each other. 20:43 Laws to keep the people on those planets 20:46 living in peace and happiness. 20:49 We need to rediscover these days 20:51 that while the law of the Lord 20:53 is given to us from above, 20:56 it's not an arbitrary law. 20:59 It's not subject to our whims 21:01 but it's in harmony with our nature. 21:05 You can't violate the moral law. 21:08 We violate ourselves. 21:11 I mean stop and think about it, 21:12 a man doesn't break the law of gravity 21:15 by jumping out of ten storey window. 21:17 He doesn't break the law, he illustrates the law. 21:22 And we can't run our fingers 21:24 against the grain of the universe 21:26 without getting splinters in them, 21:28 splinters that can often fester 21:30 and poison the blood stream. 21:34 Even if God had never breathed 21:37 the word about honoring parents, 21:40 mothers would still weep at midnight over sons 21:43 who can't stand their fathers. 21:48 Without the Ten Commandments, murdered people 21:50 would be just as dead. 21:53 Without the Decalogue, unwed mothers 21:56 would still feel abandoned. 21:59 Even if God hasn't said it, 22:01 stolen goods would still be missing. 22:05 The Ten Commandments don't make sin. 22:09 They identify sin for our benefits, 22:12 so that we can live in harmony 22:14 with these principles of the universe 22:16 for our own good and for our own happiness. 22:21 I was driving to Coeur d'Alene a while back 22:25 and I followed a highway patrol on to I-90. 22:29 You've all driven through Spokane and I-90, 22:31 I suspect, even if you're just visiting us. 22:34 And I was driving along in my car 22:36 and I suddenly found myself in danger 22:38 of tailgating a police officer in his nice shiny car. 22:43 It was one of those with inconspicuous lights 22:47 that make it really hard to identify 22:49 that they are highway patrol and hardly seemed fair. 22:52 Does it seem fair to you? 22:56 Well, glancing at my speedometer, 22:58 I slowed down a little bit 22:59 because I observed that both 23:03 myself and the policeman had been speeding a bit. 23:09 And so I slowed down and now we're both 23:12 at a legal 70 miles an hour. 23:14 I think we were out far enough 23:16 where the speed limit was 70. 23:19 I hope so, at least I didn't get stopped, 23:21 so I must have been. 23:24 And that's where I went for a three or four miles, 23:27 the only incident of interest occurred 23:29 when this little Porsche sports car 23:32 came rushing up behind me, 23:35 started to breeze by me in passing lane only to discover, 23:40 you know who in front of me? 23:42 You could almost see him stumbling over his radials 23:45 as he took about 20 miles an hour 23:47 off his speed limit and ducked in behind me, 23:50 it's amazing the effect of the law on people, on cars. 23:56 You know in a few minutes time, 23:58 I think we had about 12 or 15 cars 24:00 lined up all behind me, all behind the police officer, 24:04 all obeying the law. What an impact. 24:11 Well, then the police officer slowed down a bit, 24:15 he's going about 65, maybe 66 24:21 and so I didn't want to make a mistake at this point 24:25 but I kept one eye on the police car 24:28 and one eye on my speedometer 24:30 and I gingerly eased out into the passing lane. 24:35 And almost immediately, it seemed like 24:37 he speeded up a little bit and I found myself passing 24:42 that police officer inch by inch. 24:49 Thus really trying to not let my speed limit 24:51 go over 70 or 71. 24:54 And about a light, light year or two later, 24:58 I finally got my patrol friend behind me 25:01 and eased back into the right lane 25:03 but I saw that my speedometer was almost at 75. 25:08 And then I overreacted, slowed down too much 25:11 causing the cop to start tailgating me. 25:16 Finally I adjusted in just after passing the state line, 25:20 he went off on an exit. 25:22 And I left his unwanted company 25:24 and continued my trip in comfort. 25:30 Have you ever felt like that when confronted by God's law? 25:35 I know I have and when I broke one of His commandments, 25:38 I'd either break into a real sweat 25:41 or I'd say, "Well, what's the use I can't do it anyway." 25:46 God's law can sometimes appear 25:50 like a tailgating cop waiting to arrest us. 25:56 Makes me wonder why King David talked about it 25:59 in such a different way in Psalm 19. 26:02 He wrote a song about the law 26:05 and the lyrics were recorded in Psalm 19 26:08 "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. 26:13 The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, 26:16 making wise the simple. 26:18 The commandments of the Lord are right, 26:21 bringing joy to the heart. 26:23 The commands of the Lord are clear, 26:26 giving insight to life. 26:28 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. 26:32 The laws of the Lord are true, each one is fair. 26:36 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. 26:40 They are sweeter than honey, 26:41 even honey dripping from the comb. 26:44 They are warning to those who hear them. 26:46 There is great reward for those who obey them." 26:50 How could David describe the law like that? 26:55 If David held the Ten Commandments 26:57 in such a high esteem how come 26:58 I find myself feeling resentment to this list of negative rules? 27:06 Now I just suppose that someone broadcast 27:11 that tonight at 8 o'clock, 27:15 God himself was going to appear 27:17 over the city of Spokane to give us a two minute message. 27:24 Now what would you hope that He would say? 27:27 What answer are you looking for? 27:31 How to cure cancer? 27:35 How to prevent world war III? 27:39 Do you need help with some personal problem 27:41 or are you in the midst of making a decision 27:44 that's very important and you need an answer 27:47 or may I first just think a minute 27:52 there was a time when God came down to earth 27:57 and gave a two minute message. 27:58 There was a time when He came down 28:01 to an assembled multitude of people 28:03 and spoke audibly to humans, one of the very few times 28:07 He has ever done that in the history of this world. 28:10 And upon what subject did He choose to speak? 28:15 As our maker and our creator, 28:18 He would surely know the best news to convey, 28:22 the information that you and I need the most. 28:25 Listen, He speaks and it's recorded word for word 28:30 in Exodus 20 verse 2 and He says, 28:33 "I am the Lord your God." 28:36 And you're thinking oh, yeah, those are Ten Commandments, 28:40 no, in fact, God did not just give Ten Commands. 28:47 God did not peer down from the skies one day 28:49 and see a bewildered band of scouts, 28:53 nomads wandering around in the desert 28:55 and say to himself I wonder how I can make life 28:57 just a little bit more miserable for them. 29:01 Well, I'll set them up with an impossible law 29:04 and when they can't cope I will destroy them. 29:07 Now if you think that that's what God was thinking 29:10 when he gave the Ten Commandments, 29:12 then you're thinking about a different God than I know. 29:16 What did God say? 29:19 Well, you have to look first at the previous chapter 29:22 in Exodus 19 verses 4 to 6. 29:25 It's always a good idea to know the context of a Bible passage. 29:31 And in Exodus 19 it says, 29:33 "You know how I brought you to myself 29:35 and carried you on eagle's wings. 29:38 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, 29:41 you will be My very special treasure 29:45 from among all of the people of the earth, 29:48 for all the earth belongs to Me 29:50 and you will be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." 29:54 Do you see that the Ten Commandment law 29:56 is part and parcel of a love agreement? 30:00 The law is involved in a process to make them, 30:04 to make us a special treasure 30:08 among all the people of the earth. 30:12 When God came down before that multitude 30:15 He gave to simple man some of the most important truths 30:18 that He could have ever comprehended 30:20 not just ten negative rules. 30:24 He revealed in that two minute message 30:26 some of the basic secrets of the universe. 30:30 When God came down 30:31 He gave a blue print for living 30:33 which if you and I had understood 30:34 and practiced it earlier would have saved us 30:37 most of our mistakes and our sorrows. 30:40 It would not have been necessary for us to blunder 30:43 as we have through life because on that occasion, 30:46 God came to tell us how to live. 30:51 And so I want to notice in just a few minutes, 30:53 the three secrets that God unveiled 30:56 when He spoke at Mount Sinai, 30:58 secrets that were engraved on tables of stone 31:01 but principles designed for modern living as well. 31:05 And first of all, He revealed the most, 31:09 the greatest secret of the universe 31:11 and I know it may seem common place 31:13 and yet it's possibly the most fundamental fact, 31:18 the most vital truth for human beings 31:21 to understand and this is it. 31:24 The universe, the whole universe is run by law not by luck 31:31 and the person who obeys these laws 31:33 and lives within these principles will endure 31:36 for as long as the universe endures. 31:38 That's secret number one that God gave 31:40 when He came down on Mount Sinai 31:42 that the whole universe is run by law, not chance. 31:46 Chance is atheism. There is no chance. 31:53 Things don't just happen. 31:58 Our condition today and tomorrow 32:00 is inevitably tied up with our obedience 32:02 or our disobedience to natural law, 32:05 like the law of gravity or the laws of health, 32:09 the laws of chemistry and physics and biology 32:13 and the Ten Commandments. Yes, they're all laws of God. 32:18 All life is a sowing and reaping sequence a cause 32:22 and effect relationship and happiness 32:25 depends up on obedience to those laws. 32:28 Sorrow and pain come through transgressing the law, 32:30 whether we know the law or not. 32:34 You stub your toe, it hurts. 32:39 It's kind of like traveling in a new city or a new country 32:43 and breaking a traffic regulation without knowing it. 32:47 In fact I did that one time in Norway. 32:51 I couldn't read the signs 32:53 and I went through this toll gate 32:56 and I didn't see the sign that says 32:58 that toll gate was only for people 33:00 who had monthly passes to go through. 33:04 Well, I just drove through, there wasn't anybody there, 33:07 nobody stopped me but they had a camera 33:12 and they got my license number on the back of that car 33:16 and they traced that license number to the rental company 33:20 who traced it to the period of time I was renting the car. 33:23 I was a stranger there 33:25 but they didn't ask if I was a stranger. 33:28 They didn't ask if I could read the sign. 33:30 They didn't ask if I knew the law. 33:32 They just sent me a ticket in the U.S. for 792 kroner, 33:38 that's about 132 dollars. 33:42 Ignorance of the law was no excuse. 33:45 You see because you and I have been ignorant 33:47 of so many laws of the universe, 33:49 we've made a lot of blunders 33:50 and we're still paying the fines. 33:53 When the Apostle Paul said, 33:55 "You will always reap what you sow." 33:57 He was in effect saying that life is run by law. 34:01 Pharaoh caused the boys among Israel to be killed 34:04 and he was killed himself 34:06 when the Red Sea rolled back on his chariot 34:08 while he was pursuing the Israelites. 34:12 Jacob deceived his father about his father's favorite son, 34:18 years go by and Jacob was deceived 34:21 about his favorite son, by his boys. 34:25 Hamon prepared a gallows for Mordecai 34:27 but he swung from it himself. 34:30 Sowing and reaping. The breaking of a law brings a reaction. 34:35 That's the teaching of scripture and it's a teaching of life. 34:38 And it's the first thing that God told the world at Sinai 34:41 that the universe is run by law. 34:43 And what does that mean to you and to me? 34:46 Well, I can think of at least two things 34:47 that it ought to mean to us we ought to find out 34:50 all we can about the laws of God 34:52 and we ought to pay attention to them. Amen. 34:57 Now the second secret that God revealed 34:59 was that to be happy for time and for eternity, 35:03 we must put God first. 35:07 You notice, the secret is not first things first. 35:13 First thing's first, it's not things that goes first. 35:17 The second secret of a happy life 35:19 and successful living is to put first, first 35:23 and that's to put God first. 35:25 And how did God tell us that? 35:27 By his introduction for one thing 35:29 what did he say first at Sinai? 35:33 Now unfortunately when you see the Ten Commandments 35:36 written out, they usually leave this out. 35:40 My friend that gave me the pamphlet last night, 35:43 Jerry Mon he has been responsible 35:46 along with some others helping him 35:48 of distributing hundreds of thousands of copies 35:52 of that Ten Commandments and he's done it right. 35:55 He didn't leave off 35:56 the first sentence of the first commandment. 35:59 They're almost always incorrect. 36:02 Except when you read them in the Bible 36:03 or in Jerry Mon's version not his version 36:06 but he just included all of it. 36:09 The first part of the first commandment says 36:12 "I am the Lord your God." 36:15 Therefore do not have any Gods before me. 36:20 And by the way what commandments did he give first, 36:24 the ones that pertain directly to Him. 36:27 Don't worship any Gods besides Me, 36:30 don't make idols of any kind, 36:33 don't misuse the name of the Lord thy God 36:38 and remember the Sabbath of the Lord your God. 36:42 What did God put first? Relationship to Him. 36:47 The Bible begins with God, 36:49 the very first words of scripture 36:50 are in the beginning God. 36:53 The Lord's Prayer begins the same way, 36:56 our Father who art in Heaven, 36:59 the Ten Commandments begin that way, 37:02 "I am the Lord your God." 37:04 God is trying to teach us something, put Him first. 37:08 Not first thing's first but put God first, 37:10 He comes before things. 37:13 And God should be the first in every person's day. 37:17 He should be the first in every family. 37:20 He should be the first with our energy, 37:23 first with our time, first with our talents. 37:27 If we give Him seconds, instead of hours and days, 37:33 would we really expect that we deserve eternity? 37:38 If we give him our left over nickels 37:40 and dimes and the bottoms of our pockets, 37:43 would we expect that we deserve eternal riches? 37:48 If His main business is the redemption of man 37:53 and we are not active in His business, 37:57 would we be comfortable living with him for eternity? 38:02 Something to think about and then the third great secret 38:06 that God gave at Sinai 38:08 was that people are more important than things. 38:12 That's a hard truth to learn 38:15 especially when we live in self-centered society. 38:19 We're counseled and taught to look out for ourselves, 38:24 to do what is right for me. 38:27 When something goes wrong, 38:28 it's always someone else's fault. 38:31 Our materialistic culture values people 38:34 by how much they own with little regard for where 38:38 or how their wealth was obtained. 38:40 Who do we reward in our society with the largest salaries? 38:44 Those who contribute the most to other people, 38:49 those who contribute the most to our city, 38:53 like teachers or scientists or public servants 38:57 or policemen or firemen? 39:00 No, our society rewards entertainers and athletes 39:06 who are among the most self-centered category 39:10 with a few exceptions that are quite refreshing. 39:15 But the third secret of the universe 39:17 is that people are more important than things. 39:21 Do you know this where things 39:23 are mentioned in the Ten Commandments? 39:26 Last. Exodus 20:17, 39:30 "Do not covet anything that is your neighbor's" 39:33 it's the last part of the last commandment 39:36 and that's where things come in, last. 39:40 So the law begins with God 39:42 then it moves on to our relationship 39:44 with our fellow beings and at the end it puts things. 39:48 Now it must be admitted 39:50 that things are lot easier to deal with 39:53 and to get along with than people are. 39:56 It's far easier to handle wood 39:59 or stone or soil than to deal with cantankerous human beings. 40:05 But the easiest course is often the wrong one 40:07 and it is so in this instance. 40:10 And I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea for us 40:12 to take a little evaluation of ourselves. 40:16 Where for instance does our time go? 40:20 How much of our time is spent on things taking care of things, 40:26 obtaining things and how much of our time is spent on people, 40:31 caring about people? 40:34 And how much time do I spend with God? 40:39 And where does my energy go? 40:41 How much to things and how much to people 40:43 and how much energy do I spend on my family 40:47 the people I love the most? 40:49 And how about finances? 40:51 You know the outcome of such an evaluation 40:54 might be a revelation as to where our hearts really are. 40:59 Please don't let anyone ever convince you 41:01 that God gave only commands or negative rules on Sinai. 41:07 Don't buy the argument that his revelation 41:09 there was intended merely for the Jews 41:12 until Jesus came to die on the cross 41:14 and then it was all done away with. 41:16 No, in love to us, 41:18 God unveiled the fundamental secrets of the universe. 41:22 And He gave instruction for all men for all time 41:25 regarding how to live even in modern times, 41:27 so as to secure the greatest happiness. 41:31 In the message from Sinai, God has taught us 41:33 that our happiness depends on living in harmony with the law. 41:38 And that real obedience involves a hierarchy of values, 41:43 the placing of God first above all else 41:47 and that we must place people before things. 41:53 Does it help you understand why the psalmist exclaimed, 41:57 "Oh, how I love Your law? 42:00 I think about it all day long, 42:02 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, 42:06 for Your commands are my constant guide. 42:09 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers 42:12 for I'm always thinking of Your decrees. 42:14 I'm even wiser than my elders 42:16 for I've kept Your commandments. 42:19 I refuse to walk on the path of evil 42:21 that I may remain obedient to Your word. 42:25 I haven't turned away from Your laws, 42:27 for You have taught me well. 42:29 How sweet are Your words to my taste, 42:32 they are sweeter than honey. 42:34 Your commandments give me understanding, 42:36 no wonder I hate every false way of life. 42:39 Your law is more valuable to me 42:41 than millions in gold and silver. 42:44 You made me, You created me. 42:48 Now give me the sense to follow Your commands. 42:52 May all who fear You find in me a cause for joy, 42:56 for I have put my hope in Your word." 42:59 Those are the words of King David, 43:02 God's beloved, who knew God very well. 43:07 I don't want anyone that's here in this room 43:10 at this moment to think that I said anything today 43:15 and I think if you listen carefully you know 43:17 I didn't say anything today that would suggest 43:20 that by keeping the law one can earn salvation. 43:25 Keeping the law is a response to God's tremendous gift. 43:30 And to illustrate that point, 43:32 I'm gonna tell you a story about my wife Linea. 43:36 We had been married just one month, 43:40 we were living in Springfield, Oregon. 43:42 I came home from work and she had fixed 43:45 a special supper for me using all those fancy dishes 43:51 that you get on your wedding that you hardly ever use 43:54 and using menus that she was familiar with from her home. 44:00 And there was candle light 44:03 and there was a beautiful loving bride 44:06 to welcome me at the door. 44:08 I sat down to eat and one of the things 44:10 she had fixed was a salad, it was a macaroni salad 44:13 that her family enjoyed. 44:17 This macaroni salad had chunks of pineapple 44:20 and canned green grapes in it. 44:23 And it was enough to make my tongue jerk. 44:26 I don't like to mix salty things with sweet things 44:30 and I just choked down a little bit of this salad. 44:36 And of course I wanted Linea to know how much I loved her. 44:40 I wanted her to feel good 44:41 about that relationship but fortunately 44:45 I thought to myself if I tell her 44:47 that this salad is wonderful, 44:49 I probably will have to eat it again. 44:52 So I said the truth, I said Linea, 44:54 I didn't really care for the salad, 44:56 I'd enjoy almost any other kind of salad 44:59 better than this salad. 45:00 Lettuce and tomato salad, potato salad, 45:04 jello salad, any kind of salad. 45:09 Do you know that we have been married a long time? 45:13 I think we've been married 30 years. 45:17 Linea has never made that salad again. 45:21 Why? 45:23 She learned that if she wanted to show her love to me, 45:27 she should show it in a way that I enjoyed receiving it. 45:33 Folks, Jesus said 45:36 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." 45:39 He didn't say if you keep My commandments, 45:42 I will save you. 45:43 He didn't say if you keep My commandments, 45:45 I'll have to take you to heaven 45:47 whether I liked you or not. 45:49 He said "If you love Me, keep My commandments." 45:54 If you love Him, offer Him 45:56 as a freewill gift your obedience. 46:01 It's not a hard thing to do. 46:05 It is a guaranteed formula for success 46:10 and happiness in your life. 46:12 Oh, that we would all love his law. 46:16 Let's bow our heads for prayer. 46:19 Father, thank You for loving us enough, 46:23 to share with us the secrets of the universe. 46:26 Thank You for caring enough about us, 46:29 to give us information that can prevent 46:32 most of the pain and suffering and sorrow in this world. 46:36 Please help us to be wise enough 46:39 to pay attention to those principles. 46:42 And then please make us perfect 46:46 in the righteousness of Jesus, 46:48 prepare us for Your soon return 46:51 because of His gift of salvation freely given. 46:54 In His name we pray, amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17