Participants: Ty Gibson
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000845
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14:55 Amen. Welcome to ASI Sabbath Evening
15:09 Family Vespers, have you had a 15:11 wonderful day today? Let's sing together 15:15 "Turn your eyes upon Jesus." 15:21 O soul, are you weary and troubled? 15:28 No light in the darkness you see? 15:34 There's a light for a look at the Savior, 15:40 And life more abundant and free! 15:48 Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 15:54 Look full in His wonderful face, 16:01 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 16:10 In the light of His glory and grace. 16:19 Through death into life everlasting 16:25 He passed, and we follow Him there; 16:30 Over us sin no more hath dominion, 16:37 For more than conquerors we are! 16:44 Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 16:51 Look full in His wonderful face, 16:58 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 17:06 In the light of His glory and grace. 17:15 His Word shall not fail you He promised; 17:22 Believe Him, and all will be well: 17:28 Then go to a world that is dying, 17:34 His perfect salvation to tell! 17:42 Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 17:49 Look full in His wonderful face, 17:56 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 18:05 In the light of His glory and grace. 18:22 Good evening ASI, good evening. 18:24 So, glad you're here tonight, 18:27 for this final section of this 60th Anniversary 18:31 ASI Convention. Are you eager 18:34 to get in the God's word? Anybody raise 18:36 your hands both of them if you're eager 18:38 to study God's word, praise the Lord. 18:41 Please pray with me as we seek our 18:43 Lord's beautiful face. Father in heaven, 18:47 we are so eager to know you, 18:50 we pray dear God that You would come 18:52 into our midst this very moment that your 18:56 spirit would prevail upon our minds. 18:59 That we would see Jesus and all that 19:03 He is to us, through your holy 19:07 word this evening. Father anoint our minds, 19:11 our hearts give me the ability Lord, 19:16 the privilege to rightly represent 19:17 you in Jesus name, amen. 19:22 Well not too awfully long ago, 19:25 I had by far the strangest and I might 19:30 say most enlightening experience I have 19:32 ever had in a grocery store. 19:35 There are things to be learned in 19:38 the grocery store, my mission was 19:41 very simple and innocent. I was heading into this 19:45 particular market to secure a jar of 19:48 salsa for the Mexican dinner that I was 19:51 hoping my wife was going to be making. 19:55 And as I entered the grocery store, 19:57 there was one slight complication that I 20:00 encountered as I entered the salsa isle. 20:04 There was a woman who obviously had 20:06 Mexican food on her menu as well. 20:09 And she was positioned directly in front 20:12 of the salsa. But, this is in a big problem 20:15 as you know. When somebody else 20:17 is there first and you find yourself needing 20:21 to secure an item in the grocery store 20:23 all you do is exactly what I did. 20:25 I exercise the appropriate grocery 20:28 store etiquette and I moved up behind her 20:32 at a very comfortable in safe distance, 20:36 slightly off to her left. And I stood there 20:40 peering over her shoulder reading the labels 20:44 as best I could patiently waiting for my 20:47 turn at the salsa. But, as she stood there 20:50 peering forward examining the salsa options, 20:53 it was at that moment that something very 20:56 startling and I might say even terrifying 20:59 occurred. This woman reached back her 21:03 left hand and tenderly classed mine. 21:10 Obviously a case of mistaken identities. 21:15 And as we stood there in the salsa isle, 21:19 affectionately holding hands and I guarantee 21:22 you that the affection was moving only 21:24 one direction. As we stood there 21:27 holding hands I found myself in a profoundly 21:32 difficult situation. And just as I was 21:37 about to divert my ability identity and 21:41 erase her delusion. Just as I was about 21:44 to speak, now you need to 21:46 picture this in slow motion because that's 21:47 exactly how it happened to me I was 21:49 so nervous. Just as she spoke out 21:57 not my name, but in endearing title, 22:00 I knew I was in trouble. She simply said 22:03 stirring forward medium or hot sweetie-pie. 22:10 Now I was in a quandary at this point as 22:13 you might imagine. Because on the one 22:17 hand I knew I was not her sweetie-pie 22:22 nor did I have any intentions of becoming 22:25 her sweetie-pie. But, on the other 22:28 hand what complicated the situation is 22:32 that I do have very definite opinions 22:34 about salsa. And she did in fact ask a question. 22:43 So, I had to make a very rapid-fire-split 22:46 decision, do I divulge my identity and 22:50 release her from my grip, or do I share my 22:55 opinions about salsa. And I made the 22:59 decision that you would have made. 23:01 I don't want her to go her whole life 23:03 not knowing what I've learned about salsa. 23:08 So, I continued holding her hand, 23:11 and was just about to speak my opinion 23:14 as she turned toward me get this in mid-pucker 23:20 about to place an affectionate wifely 23:23 kiss upon me no doubt. And now my adrenaline 23:27 was pumping and I was in a hurry to 23:29 state my case. And so as she 23:33 turned toward me I simply said, 23:36 actually ma'am I prefer mild salsa 23:41 and the kind without vinegar and lemon 23:43 juice instead, and as I was about 23:46 to explain how necessary it is 23:50 to develop a pallet for mild salsa so that 23:54 you can discern all the subtle new 23:56 answers of the combining flavors 23:58 of the garlic and the tomatoes and 24:00 the onions and how that the hot, 24:03 hot salsa just really ruins the whole thing 24:06 because you can't really taste anything anymore, 24:09 just as I was about to give my explanation 24:13 the mire hearing of my voice as she 24:16 turn toward me shocked this poor woman. 24:22 Her eyes met mine and immediately she 24:26 realized that I was not you know who, 24:29 sweetie-pie. She immediately did 24:33 what you would have done, 24:34 she pulled in her pucker and she lifted 24:38 my hand in tow with hers throw it from 24:41 her as though I had leprosy 24:43 or something worse. And she rushed off 24:47 down the isle no doubt in search of her true love. 24:56 Which was no problem for me because now 24:58 I had access to the salsa. 25:03 So, I secured the salsa option that I had 25:06 come for, and I walked out the door of the 25:11 grocery store after making my purchase 25:14 and as I sat in the car driving down 25:18 the road. I was profoundly impacted 25:23 with a sense that that woman's experience 25:27 is very, very similar to the experience 25:32 of countless individuals in our world today. 25:37 Think about it with me for a moment, 25:40 she had been deluded and didn't even know it, 25:44 she thought I was someone I was not. 25:50 And she was on a mad rush up and down 25:53 those isles to find the person whose 25:57 voice was familiar, whose face was 26:00 familiar to her that she associated with 26:04 matrimonial love. And dear friends, 26:07 that's what going on in our world 26:08 as you just look at the statistics and the 26:12 experiences that you have from day 26:15 to day interacting with people, 26:17 you will discover I believe that many 26:20 people in this world, I think perhaps the 26:24 vast majority are on a mad rush up and 26:29 down the isles of what this world has to offer, 26:34 searching for true love. Searching for a 26:39 love that can only be found in Jesus Christ. 26:46 Searching for a very particular kind of love, 26:49 and they can't help but wonder what 26:51 the truth is, they can't help but search 26:55 for something true or truer then what 26:58 they've encountered so far of this world's 27:00 philosophies, of this world's 27:02 religious options. It's very confusing, 27:05 the Bible calls it Babylon and it is 27:08 in fact confusing to try to sort through 27:12 all the options this world has to offer. 27:15 And they can't help but search, 27:16 you can't help but search, 27:18 I can't help bur search because scripture 27:20 informs us in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 27:24 and verse 11, that God in a 27:26 supernatural sense has done something 27:29 remarkable. The Bible says that He, 27:32 that is God has set or put eternity 27:37 in their hearts. Speaking of the human race. 27:40 In other words God has placed a sense 27:45 of eternal realities and a hunger for 27:48 something more in every human breast. 27:53 The Bible further states again King 27:55 Solomon as in Ecclesiastes if you 27:59 look in the Bible at Proverbs chapter 19 28:02 in verse 22, and I prefer the King 28:04 James Version but on this particular in 28:06 occasion the New International Version 28:08 has rendered the Hebrew more accurately 28:11 and the Bible simply says and I quote, 28:15 what a man desires is unfailing love. 28:21 What a man desires my friends, 28:25 what a woman desires, what children desire 28:29 in the deepest in more recesses of our hearts. 28:34 We desire a particular kind of love, 28:39 not the love that the world is paddling, 28:43 not the love that is being constricted 28:47 in sophisticated theologies and taking 28:49 the whole world by storm, but the Bible 28:53 says that deep in the human heart, 28:57 we long each of us do for an unfailing love. 29:04 Unfailing love of course that can only be 29:08 found in an unfailing consistent God, 29:12 who always, all the time with 29:15 all of his heart is love and does love every 29:19 member of the human race. 29:21 We long for it of Jesus the Savior, 29:25 before His incarnation the Apostle John 29:28 recorded of Him. The pre-incarnate 29:31 Jesus Christ. In John chapter 1 and verse 9, 29:35 that He had been in all ages passed of human 29:38 history that He had been the true light 29:41 who gives light to every person who 29:43 comes into the world. Ellen White commenting 29:46 upon John 1:9 in Education page 29 29:51 says that the interpretation of that 29:54 verse is that every human being that comes 29:59 into the world has a sense of right and a 30:03 "desire for goodness." Without exception 30:08 a universal gift bequest to the human race, 30:13 everyone who comes into the world, 30:16 comes into the world with a supernatural 30:19 deposits in their hearts, 30:22 in there consciousness longing for 30:24 something more, sensing the difference 30:26 between right and wrong been repulsed 30:29 at least at certain points in their life 30:32 by evil, by radical concrete evil that 30:35 confronts them, that they experience, 30:37 that they witness on the news or 30:39 in the neighborhood, a sense of repulsion 30:43 or evil and more than that inspiration 30:47 says that every human being dear 30:49 friends is given the supernatural gift 30:54 of a desire for goodness. 30:57 A desire for a goodness that can only be 31:00 found in the person of Jesus Christ 31:04 as the ultimate and perfect revelation 31:08 of God our father and so Solomon 31:12 informs us that what a man desires 31:15 that is every man, every woman, 31:18 every member of the human race 31:19 what a man desires is unfailing love. 31:24 But, look at the landscape of this 31:27 world's philosophies and religions 31:29 today and you will quickly see that 31:31 God has been grossly misrepresented 31:35 and his love has been old but completely 31:38 obscured in darkness. The very thing that 31:42 we long for by supernatural power 31:45 upon our hearts, the enemy of souls 31:48 is seeking to hide from our view. 31:50 To blind the minds of men and women 31:53 and children to the truth about God. 31:56 And therefore in that blindness, 31:59 in that darkness to arouse with in us 32:01 one of two reactions. The devil is 32:05 misrepresenting the character of God, 32:08 to either produce a sense of total denial 32:13 of God's existence that no such God as 32:17 this could possibly exist and so a 32:19 person may go into agnosticism or 32:22 Atheism or on the other hand the devil 32:24 is quite fine with a misrepresentation 32:27 of God's character that bows the human 32:30 spirit down under a burden of fear based 32:34 worship of God that is grounded in a terror 32:39 of this person, that is the supreme 32:41 being of the universe. Look at the landscape 32:45 of this world's philosophies 32:46 and religions. Just a quick breakdown 32:48 of what's happening in our world and 32:50 these numbers are rounded of in general 32:54 but they are many sources for them 32:56 and this is pretty much in the ball park. 32:58 Right now in our world there are 6.5 33:03 billion human beings on this globe, 6.5 billion. 33:09 Of that 6.5 billion dear friends 1.2 billion 33:14 of them are Roman Catholic, 33:17 1 billion are protestant evangelical Christians, 33:21 most of whom are of the reformed theology 33:25 persuasion or what is sometimes 33:27 called Calvinism which has its roots 33:30 in the deterministic philosophy of Plato 33:33 and Aristotle. One billion, 33:37 I guess about 1.2 billion of earth's 33:40 inhabitants are Muslim. 900 million quickly 33:46 approaching 1 billion of earth's populous 33:50 are Hindu. Who believe an in 33:53 endless cycle of cruel and tyrannical, 33:57 reliving of pain and suffering to arrive 34:01 through multiple perhaps even millions 34:04 of incarnations to workout the sin 34:08 problem through suffering on their own 34:10 to erase all bad karma and finally 34:13 to reach a state of nirvana and perfection 34:17 and then to merge with the cosmos 34:19 into a kind of unconsciousness 34:22 collective whole of all creation. 34:25 Rather nebulous, very in personal 34:28 and ultimately there is no personal 34:30 good loving God to encounter on the side 34:33 of this world. Approximately 500 34:36 million or one half billion people in this 34:39 world are Buddhist and Buddhism is a 34:43 philosophy more than it is a religion. 34:47 Buddhism is kind of a spiritually devoted 34:51 Atheism, because ultimately in Buddhism 34:54 again there is no personal God that 34:57 ultimately lies behind the realty that 35:01 we encounter in this world. 35:03 And then there is about a half billion 35:07 individuals who subscribe to a verity 35:14 indigenous religions that involve ancestor 35:15 worship, spirit worship. That involves fear 35:19 and terror from day to day as to what 35:22 might happen by the hand of these spirits 35:26 or ancestors. And then there is a 35:29 growing phenomenon in our world right now. 35:34 Among that 6.5 billion there are 35:38 presently approximately 850 million 35:43 Secular/Atheist / Agnostics / I wonder 35:49 what's going on in the universe type people. 35:53 Again quickly approaching 1 billion 35:56 people who subscribe to no concept of 36:00 God whatsoever because they are 36:02 reacting many of them against the picture 36:05 of God that has been portrayed in the 36:07 world's major religions. Just recently I 36:11 found myself sitting on an airplane 36:12 next to a man who saw me reading the Bible. 36:15 I introduced myself we became quickly 36:17 acquainted, in the process of the 36:19 acquaintance he learned that not only was 36:22 I reading the Bible but that I 36:23 teach the Bible. He very forth 36:26 rightly informed me that he is an Atheist. 36:31 I said that's very interesting because 36:33 I am an Atheist too. He said no you are not, 36:36 you are reading the Bible and you 36:37 teach the Bible. You're playing with my mind. 36:41 You are not an Atheist are you? 36:43 I said no, I absolutely I'm an Atheist. 36:46 He said come on, quit it. I mean I don't believe 36:50 in God, but you do and that's sounds a 36:51 little sacrilegious, I said listen its not 36:55 sacrilegious at all, because I'm telling 36:58 you the truth friend. I'm an Atheist 37:01 and I'll tell you how, I said would you be 37:05 so kind that's to describe to me the God 37:09 you don't believe him. He said what? 37:14 I said you heard me, please describe to me 37:16 that character of the God you believe does 37:20 not exist, the God you don't believe in. 37:23 He said I never though about it that way. 37:25 I said you do have a conception a picture of 37:28 this God that you don't believe in don't you, 37:31 he said well yeah I guess and he began to 37:34 describe popular notions of a dominating 37:39 tyrannical eternally tormenting God 37:43 who presides over purgatory and hell 37:47 and tortures people for all eternity, 37:49 he begin to describ that God that he 37:51 was raised with and taught to believe 37:56 micromanages every detail of life so that 37:59 every tragedy that strikes a human 38:01 life is orchestrated by God. 38:03 And in the midst of all this eternal 38:05 torment and determinism I said 38:08 do you see I am an Atheist too because 38:12 I believe that no such God as you just 38:14 described exist anywhere in the universe 38:17 unless his name is the devil. So, 38:20 the very Atheism that you subscribe to 38:23 my friend, is an Atheism that I want to 38:26 enlist that this moment, I want to applaud, 38:29 I want to affirm your Atheism. 38:32 I want to encourage you my friend do not 38:35 believe whatever you do please do not 38:37 believe in that God that you have rejected. 38:41 But, if you have a few moments could I 38:44 please describe to you a picture 38:48 of another God, another possibility. 38:52 And he was listening and I proceeded to 38:54 explain to him, a God of infinite love, 38:59 a God of what did Solomon refer to 39:02 it as a God of unfailing love. 39:07 A God of consistent just, holy, true, good, 39:13 merciful, compassionate love that is 110 39:18 percent of the time peddle to the medal 39:20 full throttle love for every member of 39:22 the human family. And I asked him as 39:25 he listened I said my friend, 39:29 I'm not asking you to become a believer 39:30 and there is no place to baptize you on 39:32 this planet, but I wanted to ask you a 39:35 question just hypothetically. 39:40 If per chance the God that I just 39:45 described you could exist would you want him to. 39:58 I mean think about it, would you desire 40:00 to spend all eternity with that kind of God, 40:06 and he said I would be a fool not to. 40:09 I said well I don't think you are an Atheist, 40:11 I think you are like maybe between be an 40:13 agnostic and a believer because my 40:17 testimony to you is that the God you 40:20 rejected doesn't exist and the God I 40:22 describe to you is the only true God 40:25 revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, 40:27 amen. And he became open you could see 40:31 it in his eyes, because friends what we 40:33 have in this world is a situation in which. 40:37 Now listen very carefully to what 40:38 scripture teaches in the prophetic message 40:41 of Revelation and also in Daniel. 40:45 And that is that the entire great 40:47 controversy between good and evil 40:50 centers on one pivotal issue. 40:54 There is not a list with multiple agenda 40:58 items for you and me and for the great 41:00 controversy. There is one issue of 41:03 paramount importance, there is one pivotal 41:07 hinge topic and that my friends is 41:11 that the great controversy centers 41:15 on the character of God. Grossly defamed 41:19 and maligned on the one side and ultimately 41:23 to be vindicated on God's side of the 41:27 controversy. Revelation chapter 12 opens to us, 41:32 at the Pinnacle of Revelation's chiastic 41:34 structure centering on Revelation 12 41:38 as the interpretative center from which all 41:41 the rest of Revelation is to be considered 41:43 and understood. In Revelation chapter 12 41:48 we are told that war broke out where? 41:52 In heaven and Michael and his angels 41:54 fought against the dragon and his angels 41:57 and they fought but they didn't prevail. 41:59 Nor was there place found anymore in heaven, 42:02 they were cast out to the earth, 42:04 deceived the whole world. 42:07 And the declaration is heard from heaven, 42:09 woe to the inhabitants of the earth, 42:12 because the devil has come down to you 42:14 with great wrath because he knows that his 42:17 time is short. And the contextual 42:19 setting here is the devil has come down 42:23 in the sense that he has imported 42:26 to our world the issues that he has 42:30 raised against the character of God. 42:34 That he began with in heaven he has now 42:37 imported that misconception of God's 42:39 character to planet earth. 42:41 If we go back verse 7 where the Bible 42:43 says war broke out in heaven we are 42:46 reminded that the word war there in the 42:49 Greek is Polemos. And it does not refer 42:53 to physical might being measured back and fort. 42:57 This is not a dual, this is not an arm 43:00 wrestling match, this is not military 43:03 might with bombs and guns or even 43:05 laser beams. Shooting forth from 43:09 the angels fingertips is they war 43:11 and clash in heaven. This is not physical 43:14 might being waged against physical might. 43:18 What's transpiring in this war is Polemos 43:22 from which we get a number of English words 43:26 and they are polemic, politics. 43:30 In other words what's happening in this 43:32 great controversy the devil didn't step 43:35 forward with a physical attack on God. 43:39 The devil stepped forward with words, 43:43 he was a spin doctor and began to 43:48 communicate and insinuate in the 43:51 Angels minds untruths concerning the 43:55 character of God. Listen very carefully 43:57 to the words of inspiration in Education 43:59 page 154 which comes right to the heart of 44:03 the matter and I "Unselfishness, 44:08 the principle of God's kingdom, 44:10 is the principle Satan hates; 44:14 its very existence he denies. 44:19 From the beginning of the great controversy 44:21 that is, from the beginning of the great 44:23 controversy he that is Satan has endeavored 44:26 to prove God's principles to be selfish. 44:33 Now listen to disprove Satan's claim is 44:38 the work of Christ and of all who bear 44:41 His name" Education page 154. 44:44 The devil launched his controversy against 44:47 God by claiming that God at root level, 44:53 at the very bottom level of his heart 44:55 at the motivational level that God is activated 44:58 by self-centeredness. In the Great 45:01 Controversy Revelation 12 tells us, 45:04 that as he begin to insinuate selfishness 45:07 as the activating principle of God's 45:09 character and what makes God's operate 45:11 and tick and how he governs the universe 45:14 as soon as that lie begin to fester in one 45:18 third of the angels minds. 45:21 Inspiration informs us that who stepped 45:23 forward in God's defense. 45:26 Michael fought and his angels against 45:30 the dragon, now the name Michael 45:32 in scripture and you know that every 45:34 name in scripture has a character 45:36 significance that describes the character 45:39 and mission of the individual who bears 45:40 the name is that correct? Michael is a 45:43 very unique name in scripture because 45:47 it is not so much a declaration 45:51 as it is a question. The name Michael means 45:58 in the form of a question who is like God? 46:03 And so in the person that steps forward 46:07 to God's defense there is suspended 46:10 before the on looking universe a hanging 46:14 question. One question is suspended before 46:18 the universe. One question begs an answer, 46:22 not only before the on looking universe but 46:25 before the whole human race, 46:26 even unwittingly when a person doesn't know 46:29 what they are searching for, 46:30 the Bible says their in most desire is to 46:33 discover to know and to love a God of 46:36 unfailing love. So, Michael coming to 46:39 God's defense steps forward and he 46:43 in his very identity is in fact the 46:47 answer to the great controversy. 46:50 Michael steps forward bearing the name, 46:52 who is like God? And of course that's 46:55 the very question that the enemy has raised, 46:59 he has insinuated against the character 47:01 of God Michael comes to his defense 47:04 to vindicate the character of God. 47:07 So, is it any surprise to us? 47:10 That when Jesus comes into this 47:11 world the first announcement about him, 47:16 is that he is Emmanuel through 47:19 the angel Gabriel. God with us, 47:23 is it any wonder that is John the gospel 47:26 of John unfolds that in chapter 1 47:30 and verse 14 we are told that what has 47:32 happened in Christ is simply this. 47:35 "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 47:39 and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the 47:44 only begotten of the Father, 47:46 full of grace and truth." Jesus came to 47:49 the world bearing the truth about 47:52 God's identity. The core realty 47:55 of the divine characte is unselfish other 47:58 sinned love and Jesus came to demonstrate 48:01 that unequivocally beyond question. 48:04 In verse 19, of John chapter 1 Jesus 48:08 stated his point of origin he said no man 48:10 has seen God at any time except the one 48:13 who is in the Bosom of the Father he 48:15 has declared him. Jesus states that his 48:18 point of origin before his incarnation 48:21 he says you are wondering who I am? 48:23 You are wondering where I came from? 48:25 For all eternal ages passed I have lived, 48:28 I have existed in the intimate fellowship 48:31 of the Bosom of the Father. 48:33 If anybody knows the character of God 48:36 Jesus does, and so he comes into the 48:39 world and finally we fast-forward 48:42 to chapter 5 of John and Jesus declares 48:46 to those who are listening, to those who 48:48 are encountering him. Jesus declares to 48:51 them with authority that every person in 48:55 the world ultimately acts out their picture 49:00 of God and so I Jesus explains upwards 49:04 through chapter 8 have come to this world 49:07 to declare the truth that will set you 49:08 free from all the misconceptions of God's 49:11 character, because you see friends the 49:13 truth of our basic psychology as human 49:16 beings the way we are designed, 49:18 the way we operate is we are reflectors by 49:21 beholding we become changed. 49:23 Whatever we believe about God at the 49:26 bedrock level of our being even if it's only 49:29 on an emotional level and we can't 49:30 explain it intellectually, whatever we believe 49:34 our basic paradigm of the character of God 49:37 is what dictates the way we interact 49:40 and relate with every other person 49:44 in the world. That comes into our proximity, 49:45 we tend to act in a accordance with 49:47 what we believe about God. 49:51 And so Jesus issued a warning concerning 49:53 the last days of human history. 49:56 In chapter 16 of John verses 2 and 3 49:59 Jesus warned that the pivotal issue 50:02 in the Great Controversy and the end time 50:04 scenario is simply this. The time is coming 50:07 Jesus says when those who kill you will think 50:10 they are doing God service, 50:14 this they will do unto you because they 50:16 have not known me, nor my father. 50:19 But, notice they are doing that in the 50:20 name of the father. They are killing in 50:24 that final persecution mission that is set 50:27 into motion at the end of time. 50:30 In that final scenario there will be only 50:33 two groups of people on plant earth, 50:35 those who knowing the true character of 50:37 God in Christ continue to put forth a picture 50:41 of God that does not involve collision 50:44 that involves liberty of conscience for 50:46 every member of the human race. 50:48 And those who become the persecutors 50:50 in the name of God to kill in God's character 50:55 perception that they have in their hearts. 50:59 And so here we are at the end of 51:03 time and Jesus is calling his people to a 51:08 very special and specific task. 51:10 Not simply to figure out means and ways 51:14 and methods to baptize as many people 51:16 as we can as fast as possible. 51:19 Our mission is more basic, 51:22 more fundamental than that, 51:24 and the soul winning component of our 51:26 calling is the outgrowth of this bottom 51:29 line which I bring to you in closing from 51:33 Acts of the Apostles page 9, 51:37 from the beginning, I "From the beginning 51:40 it has been God's plan that through 51:42 His church shall be reflected to the 51:45 world His fullness and His sufficiency. 51:50 The members of the church, 51:52 those whom He has called out of darkness 51:54 into His marvelous light, are to show forth 51:58 His glory. Now listen and through the 52:01 church will eventually be made manifest, 52:05 even to the principalities and 52:07 powers in heavenly places, 52:09 the final and full display of the love of God." 52:18 Come in full circle back to salsa isle 52:21 I stood there realizing in my heart 52:24 of hearts that, that woman was 52:27 deceived regarding my identity 52:31 and on second thought, I was deeply impacted 52:34 with the realization that perhaps 52:37 that woman and countless others 52:40 in this world are longing to see God 52:45 for who he really is, may we his people 52:50 be a channel through which the world 52:52 will be fully illuminated with the true 52:55 glory of God's beautiful character 52:58 and become a magnet as it were for 53:02 those who are longing to know our God. 53:06 Father in heaven, you are beautiful 53:08 beyond description, may we reflect you 53:10 as such to the world in Jesus name, amen, amen. 53:32 I will speak I will wait 53:39 I will send prophets among them 53:45 That they might hear That they might see 53:52 And understand how much I love them 53:58 Then they will know that I am Father 54:04 Then they will know I am Lord 54:10 They'll walk with Me And be My people 54:15 I'll walk with them as their God 54:21 as their God. I will strike. I will scourge 54:34 And carry out vengeance upon them 54:39 But I will heal the wounds I make 54:45 And tenderly take them back to me 54:51 Then they will know That I am Savior 54:57 I am Redeemer and Friend 55:03 Immanuel The God who is with them 55:08 The God who gives all He can 55:14 He is salvation He is the kingdom 55:20 To know Him is paradise 55:39 He will come My own Son 55:45 A Word faithful hearts can't help hearing 55:51 And by His death With His last breath 55:57 A Father's forgiveness comes flowing 56:03 Then they will know that I am Father 56:09 Then they will know I am Lord 56:14 They'll walk with Me And be My people 56:20 I'll walk with them as their God 56:26 He is salvation He is the kingdom 56:31 To know Him is paradise 56:37 Then they will know that I am Father 56:43 Then they will know I am Lord 57:05 I am Lord, I am Lord Amen. 57:10 Amen. I will invite you to stand with me, 57:15 so we can lift our hearts to the Lord 57:18 and our voices. Let us bow our 57:22 heads in prayer. Our heavenly Father, 57:30 we have seen your face, we have heard 57:37 and seen your miracles, we know that you have 57:41 been with us here. It has come time 57:45 to part and to go back to our homes... |
Revised 2014-12-17