Participants: David Shin
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000982
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01:00 Hello and welcome to 3ABN Spring Camp Meeting 2010.
01:05 And we welcome our local audience and our audience 01:08 from around the world. Now, I know that 01:10 we've just returned from lunch. 01:12 When I was in the seminary, 01:13 I had a Greek class that I used to take right 01:16 after lunch and I had to actually cancel that class 01:19 because I was going to fail it. 01:21 Because I kept falling asleep 01:23 on my Greek teacher. 01:25 So, I'm praying that you didn't eat too much 01:27 and everybody is wide awake because 01:29 we've got an exciting seminar this afternoon 01:31 and some good music. 01:33 Our music is coming from our friend 01:35 Darrell Marshall and he is gonna be 01:38 with us in just a moment to sing, 01:39 but our, our speaker for this afternoon is a 01:41 young man that we'll hear again during the course 01:44 of this weekend. His name is David Shin. 01:46 He is a just a fireball for the Lord. 01:49 We like David Shin quite a lot around here. 01:51 He is married under two years, 01:55 so he's still technically a newly wed. 01:57 He went all the way to Africa to, 01:59 to be married. And his wife is Tennille, 02:03 I don't know if Tennille is here, 02:05 but I know she is on the grounds. 02:07 David Shin pastors the East Lansing 02:10 and Williamston district in Michigan conference. 02:14 He is a graduate of the seminary with his 02:16 Masters Degree and is continuing his education, 02:19 but more than that, this is a young man 02:20 who loves the Lord, who is a good student 02:23 of the word and just a Christian young man, 02:26 who we really love here at 3ABN. 02:28 He will be our seminar presenter this afternoon, 02:30 but before he comes to us, 02:32 Darrell Marshall is here, who is gonna be singing, 02:34 Drinking From My Saucer, God bless you. Amen. 02:57 I've Never Made A Fortune 03:04 and It's Probably Too Late Now 03:11 but I Don't Worry About That Much 03:17 'Cause I'm Happy Anyhow 03:24 As I Go Along Life's Journey 03:31 I'm Reaping Better Than I Sowed 03:39 I'm Drinking From My Saucer 03:45 'Cause My Cup Has Overflowed 03:53 Ain't Got A Lot Of Riches 03:59 Sometimes The Going's Tough 04:05 but I've Got a friend his Jesus, Oh! Yes 04:12 and That Makes Me Rich Enough Oh! Yes 04:19 I Thank God For all His Blessings on me 04:26 and The Mercies that He's Bestowed 04:35 I'm Drinking From My Saucer 04:40 'Cause My Cup Has Overflowed 04:48 You know, my friend, sometime sadness 04:51 and sorrow comes our way and 04:53 there doesn't seem to be much we can do about it. 04:56 But I remember the one day, 04:57 when I was at my very lowest? 04:59 I looked up into heaven 05:01 and I've touched his precious nail scarred hands. 05:03 God promises all that he would be faithful 05:05 to reach down, pick us up and restore us to new. 05:09 Has he done that for you today, yes? 05:14 So Lord, Help Me Not to grumble in pain 05:21 about The Tough Rows That I've Hoed 05:29 I'm Drinking From My Saucer 05:34 'Cause My Cup Has Overflowed 05:42 And if I should go in levy and if and if my way gets 05:50 steep and low 05:55 I'm not gonna ask for other blessings. 05:59 And you know why because I feel that 06:02 I'm Already Blessed Enough 06:06 And this is my prayer for all of you, all over the 06:08 world today that 06:09 I can Never Be Too Busy 06:13 I don't wanna ever be too busy 06:15 To Help another Bear his Loads 06:24 I'm Drinking From My Saucer 06:29 'Cause My Cup Has Overflowed 06:36 Yes, I'll be drinking from my Saucer 06:41 Oh! Yes I will, this cup has overflowed, 06:48 Tell me today 06:49 Has your cup overflowed. 06:58 Amen, amen. 07:10 Good afternoon. Good afternoon. 07:13 And let's bow our heads forward to prayer. 07:15 Father in heaven we thank you 07:17 for this Pillars Weekend 07:19 and this opportunity that we have to study 07:22 your word this afternoon. 07:24 We pray for your Holy Spirit to be with us. 07:28 I be behind the cross, we pray that as 07:30 we open your word, as we delve into 07:33 your holy scriptures that you would speaks to 07:36 our hearts and to our minds in Jesus name, 07:39 amen. Amen. 07:41 Our topic this after afternoon is entitled 07:43 'The Last And Final Deception.' 07:47 And I know, we've heard this many times, 07:49 but I believe sincerely that we are living in the 07:51 very final moments of earth's history, 07:54 amen. Amen. 07:55 Jesus is coming soon. 07:57 And as we delve into this topic, 07:59 I would like to just by way of introduction 08:03 set this stage for the Bible study 08:06 we're gonna have for this seminar, 08:08 is it okay if we've a Bible study this afternoon, 08:10 amen. Amen. 08:12 I was working as a Bible worker 08:13 a number of years ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 08:16 Anyone here ever been to Tulsa, Oklahoma before? 08:19 And we were doing an Evangelistic series there. 08:21 I was going door-to-door working with the contacts 08:24 that were coming to these Evangelistic series. 08:27 And there was this one couple they had some 08:29 Pentecostal background, they were hearing 08:31 the Adventist message and were making 08:34 steps toward baptism. 08:37 On this particular afternoon she came to the church, 08:41 I was walking around the church 08:42 praying for our interest and she said, 08:45 David something's happened in our home this morning. 08:48 You'll have to hear me out, 08:50 is there anything you can do 08:51 and I asked her what happened? 08:53 And she said that, she went out to her 08:54 garage that morning, it's a stone 08:58 or I should say a cement slab garage floor. 09:01 And there was this closet in the garage and 09:04 suddenly the closet started shaking. 09:08 She knew that it wasn't an earthquake because 09:10 there was nothing else in the room that was shaking 09:11 and she knew that this was a supernatural 09:14 phenomenon and she called out the name of Jesus 09:17 and the, the closet started shaking even more. 09:21 You can imagine that she was quite frazzled 09:24 to say the least and it was that day that she 09:26 came out to the church and spoke to me. 09:29 So, I said, there is no problem, 09:31 I will speak to the Evangelist 09:32 and I'm sure that he will do something about it. 09:35 So, I was in Workers Meeting that morning 09:38 and I told the Evangelist and there was another 09:40 Bible worker that was with us and I said, 09:43 Mark, his name was Mark, I said there is this 09:46 situation in the home, is there something 09:48 that we could do. He said David this 09:49 will be a great experience for you. 09:54 And I said, wait a minute. I'm here to learn, 09:56 no you know, why don't, why, what about you? 10:03 And he said, no, 10:04 no I want you and Bill to go down there 10:05 and, and pray in the home and, 10:06 and it will be fine. 10:07 And, so I went back to my room and I was quite. 10:12 Had a little bit of anxiety to say the least 10:14 because I remember in the Book of Acts 10:16 where these gentleman were dealing with the 10:19 supernatural phenomenon. 10:20 And they said, Peter we know, 10:22 Paul we know, but who are you? 10:25 And remember the rest of that story 10:27 they ran out of the room 10:28 and without their clothes on. And, 10:30 so I went and said, the Lord if there is anything 10:32 in my heart that I need to repent of, 10:34 please cleanse me and you know the Holy Spirit 10:38 works on your life and I went on my computer 10:41 and I remember I had some software 10:42 on there that I had not paid for. 10:45 A friend had given it to me, amen. Amen. 10:47 Remember, and so I started deleting all these 10:50 software and all the things on my computer 10:52 that I did not have a license for. 10:54 I prayed Lord if there is anything in my heart 10:56 that I need to confess, please cleanse me, 10:58 cover with me with your blood and I went off 11:01 with my friend Bill. I never forget it; 11:03 it was so silent in the car. 11:06 We pulled up to the drive way, 11:08 and I said are you ready. He said, yeah. 11:11 And we, she invited us in, she said I want you to 11:14 go to the garage where this happened. 11:16 We're thinking great you know, 11:18 and so we went in the garage. 11:19 It, it is kind of anticlimactic, 11:22 but we're glad nothing happen 11:23 we prayed in the home, 11:24 come to find out they had a history 11:26 of supernatural phenomenon happening 11:29 in their home and they were making steps for 11:31 baptism and there was these things taking place, 11:35 praise the Lord they were, 11:36 they were baptized into the Seventh Day 11:38 Adventist as a result. Amen. 11:40 You know, that situation really got me thinking 11:42 because I came to the conclusion with other 11:46 individuals I met canvassing and going Bible 11:49 work door-to-door was that. 11:51 As we approached the end of time 11:53 and if I read my Bible correctly 11:55 that the veil between the supernatural 11:58 and natural will become very, 12:01 very thin. 12:03 And if you haven't noticed in the media 12:05 and magazines, in the Internet 12:09 and on the TV shows and movies, 12:12 there is a fascination with the supernatural, 12:15 it seems that Hollywood is embracing these 12:17 things and it comes down to this question of 12:20 what is our final authority 12:23 because all over the world there are these 12:26 supernatural phenomenons that are taking place 12:28 and people are saying, this is real 12:30 because I've experienced it. 12:33 And, as we approach the end of time, 12:34 there is going to be miracles according to 12:37 the Book of Revelation that is going to be 12:39 from both sides and the question comes to us. 12:42 What is our final authority? 12:46 I'd like to give you some other examples here 12:48 this afternoon of things that have been 12:50 happening in society and read this quotation. 12:54 It's said just before Christmas in 1996, 12:57 a painting of Jesus was seen by hundreds of 13:00 eyewitnesses to be weeping red tears. 13:05 The painting was not an ordinary icon for 13:09 it hangs in the Bethlehem Church of the Nativity, 13:12 above the spot where Christian tradition 13:15 maintains Jesus was born. 13:17 A Muslim cleaning lady was the first to see 13:20 a light that came from the painting just 13:23 prior to the tears flowing from the eyes of Jesus. 13:26 Since her sighting, thousands of Christians 13:29 of all denominations, along with many Jews 13:33 and Muslims, have witnessed the tears. 13:37 Here is another instance, it's called the lady 13:39 of Syracuse, maybe you've heard of this 13:41 before in Sicily in the spring of 1953, 13:44 you've heard of these marine operations 13:46 that have been taking place. 13:47 It says, the statue of Mary began weeping tears. 13:51 Doubting neighbors cynical journalists 13:54 and rational scientific investigators 13:57 were baffled by the phenomenon of a virtual 14:00 torrent of tears flowing from the eyes 14:04 of the plaster Madonna. 14:07 A skeptical detective caught several tears 14:10 in a chemist's vial and without identifying 14:12 the liquid sent the specimen to a police 14:14 laboratory for analysis, it was real human tears. 14:19 Hardly anytime passed before the crippled, 14:21 the lame and the ill from all over Italy were soon 14:25 gathering before the weeping Madonna. 14:28 The tears, listen to this. 14:30 The tears were caught on a cloth and wiped 14:33 on the bodies of the afflicted. 14:35 A middle-aged man recovered the 14:37 use of a crippled arm. 14:39 A three-year-old girl stricken with polio 14:41 was able to discard the stainless steel braces 14:43 that encased her twisted legs. 14:46 An 18-year-old girl who had struck, 14:48 been struck dumb 11 years began to speak, 14:51 hundreds of others claimed to have 14:54 received a healing blessing from the tears 14:56 of the little Madonna. 14:58 The Madonna's tears ceased to flow 15:00 on the fourth day, 15:02 but exactly one month later, 15:04 the statue was carried through 15:05 the streets of Syracuse, Italy 15:07 at the head of a procession 15:10 of thirty thousand people. 15:14 And there are documented, 15:17 marine operations that have been 15:19 taking place for centuries. 15:23 I'm Korean by decent and there was one that 15:27 caught my attention, it was of Julia Kim, 15:30 she was in South Korea, a Catholic nun. 15:33 And the story goes that they were taking part 15:36 in the Eucharist. And the priest was going 15:38 around placing the Eucharist, 15:40 the wafer in the mouth of different individuals 15:42 and when they came to Julia Kim. 15:44 The priest placed the wafer in the mouth 15:48 and it became a piece of flesh. 15:50 Amen. And, you remember the Catholic 15:54 theology of transubstantiation. 15:56 They believe when the priest blesses 15:58 the Eucharist that it literally becomes 16:00 the body of Jesus and they are saying that 16:02 this is evidence of the doctrine 16:04 of transubstantiation. Amen. 16:09 There is another phenomenon 16:10 that has been taking place 16:11 and it's called out of body experiences. 16:15 One statistic states that as many 16:17 seven million Americans to have claimed 16:19 to have out of body experiences. 16:22 And I would like to read to you this account. 16:24 Grace was shaking with fever and terrible pain. 16:27 Her body was just trembling 16:28 as she was rushed to the hospital. 16:30 And she immediately was ushered 16:32 into the emergency room. 16:33 The physician gave her very, very, little hope. 16:37 Her blood pressure was dropping. 16:39 Grace described their experience later, 16:40 she said that as her blood pressure dropped 16:43 and as she was very near death 16:45 it appeared that she was slipping out of her body. 16:48 It appeared to her that something unusual 16:50 and strange was happening. 16:52 It appeared that she was ascending to the ceiling. 16:54 She seemed to be floating up to the ceiling. 16:56 She seemed to be looking back at the physicians 16:58 and the nurses who were attending her. 17:01 She described her experience 17:02 as a journey to the light. 17:04 In fact Grace said I began to feel 17:07 the most incredible warm loving feeling. 17:11 I was in the light and there was 17:13 a presence in the light. 17:17 Now, this morning I have just talked about 17:19 a variety of different supernatural experiences 17:22 and these are many times scientifically verifiable, 17:28 eye witnessed experiences. 17:32 And this morning, 17:33 this afternoon it's not my intention to do 17:40 a analysis of each one of these experiences, 17:43 but rather to ask the fundamental question as 17:46 to what is the final authority between 17:48 experience and scripture. 17:51 Let's say we've a real experience, 17:54 it is scientifically verifiable, 17:56 accurate from an experiential 17:58 stand point of view. Does that in fact show us 18:01 that it is the truth? No. 18:04 As we're approach the end of time, 18:06 there was gonna be a lot of people that say, 18:07 I've seen it, I've heard it, 18:10 I've experienced it, therefore it is the truth. 18:15 And, so this afternoon for the seminar, 18:18 I would like for us to look at a Bible 18:20 study from a Biblical stand point 18:22 of view to look at, 18:24 what is to be the final authority 18:27 for the Christian? Now, I would like to say, 18:30 first and foremost, 18:31 do we as Bible believing Christians 18:34 believe in miracles. Yes. Yes, we do. 18:37 We look in the Bible. You see, plenty of miracles. 18:39 You see, the dead being raised. 18:42 You see, the lame being healed 18:44 and all types of beautiful things 18:46 happening in the name of Jesus in the New 18:49 and the Old Testament. So, we believe in miracles, 18:54 but miracles are they to be our final authority? 18:58 Amen. So, with this background 19:01 I would like to go to two passages 19:02 in the Bible in our study as we lay this 19:05 foundation as to what is to be our final 19:08 authority as we delve into this topic of 19:11 the last and final deception. 19:13 And, I like to invite you to, to turn with me 19:16 in your Bibles to Second Peter chapter 1, 19:19 verse 18. Second Peter chapter 1, verse 18. 19:23 What is to be the final authority 19:26 for the Christian especially 19:29 as we approach the end of time? 19:31 Second Peter chapter 3 and verse 18, 19:34 Peter is writing to this to the New Testament 19:37 church and he makes a very profound 19:41 point as to this question that we've opened up 19:45 this afternoon. 19:47 Second Peter let's go back to verse 16. 19:50 Get a little bit of a background here. 19:53 For we have not followed cunningly devised. 19:57 What is your Bible say? Fables. Fables, 19:59 in other words Peter is saying, 20:01 what I'm telling you is not a myth, 20:03 it's not a fable, it's not something 20:06 that has been made up. 20:07 It is the truth and he bases this on the 20:10 following statements. For we have not followed 20:12 cunningly devised fables, when we made known 20:15 unto you the power and coming of our Lord 20:18 Jesus Christ, but we were, what? Eyewitnesses. 20:22 But we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. So, Peter 20:26 from the beginning is making his point that 20:28 this is not a fable, this is not a myth, this is not 20:30 something that a bunch of individuals had made 20:31 up because we have, what? We've seen it. 20:38 We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 20:39 Now, Peter came to us today and said, 20:41 believe me, Jesus is the son of God because 20:43 I was there; I saw it, that would be credible 20:46 evidence. That would stand up in a court of 20:48 law. I saw it with my own eyes. I was an 20:52 eyewitness. And he goes on in verse 17 for he 20:56 received from God the Father honor and glory 20:59 when such a voice came to him from the excellent 21:03 glory. This is my beloved son, in whom I am 21:07 well pleased. Notice that he goes to the next 21:10 sensory perception in establishing the reality, 21:13 the truth, the fact of Jesus. And he says, 21:16 first of all I saw it. I was an eyewitness 21:19 and he says the second sensory perception is 21:21 what? I heard it; I heard the voice from heaven 21:25 saying. This is my beloved son. Now, there 21:28 is two instances in the Bible where that voice 21:33 was heard and he clarifies that in verse 21:34 18. And we heard this voice which came 21:37 from heaven when we are with him on the 21:40 holy mount. One instance was that. 21:42 That was the mount of transfiguration. 21:45 That was arguably in Peter's experience the 21:49 greatest manifestation of the son of God. 21:52 He saw Moses and Elijah. And I like to 21:56 read to you this statement from the 21:58 Desire of Ages. It says, His prayer is heard, 22:00 while He is bowed in loneliness upon the 22:03 the stony ground suddenly the heaven's opened. 22:06 The golden gates of the city of God are thrown 22:09 wide and holy radiance descends from the mount. 22:14 And shrouding the saviors form, Divinity 22:17 from within flashes through humanity. 22:21 And meets the glory coming from above, 22:24 arising from his prostrate position Christ stands in 22:28 God light majesty. The soul agony is gone. 22:32 His countenance now shines as the Sun. 22:35 And his garments are as a white as light. 22:39 The disciples are wakening behold the 22:40 flood of glory that emanates from the mount, 22:44 I wish I was there. Amen. 22:46 So, Peter is basing the reality of Christ as the 22:50 son of God on the fact that he was there on 22:54 the mount of transfiguration. 22:56 He heard the voice, he saw the glory, 22:59 he saw Moses and Elijah transfigure before his 23:02 very eyes. Now, if Peter had just stopped there. 23:06 It would have been enough, amen. Amen. 23:09 He was an eyewitness, he heard, he was 23:11 experiencing the excellent glory and was 23:13 it the truth, amen, it was. Amen. 23:16 Right, now this next statement is revolutionary 23:20 in verse 19. Notice what Peter says, and now 23:23 we have a more sure word of prophecy. 23:29 That is earth shattering up to this point. 23:32 He has just said, what I'm saying to you, 23:34 it's not a myth, it's not fable, it's a reality 23:36 because I was there on mount of transfiguration. 23:39 It's a fact. Amen. But I want to tell you 23:41 something that is more sure than the mount of 23:44 transfiguration experience as true as 23:46 it was. And that is the word of God. Amen. 23:51 Are you hearing, what he is saying. Yeah. 23:53 He is saying, I was there on the mount of 23:55 transfiguration more sure than that is the 23:59 word of God. Amen. 24:01 So, if you were to put in Peter's estimation 24:03 something that is more verifiable. Something 24:06 that is more authoritative than the 24:08 mount of transfiguration, he had placed the word 24:10 of God up here. Even greater than an authentic 24:14 experience is to be the word of God. 24:18 The word of God is to be our final authority. 24:21 Amen. Amen. Amen. So, we've just seen Peter 24:25 establish the reality of the authoritative nature 24:29 of God's word. This is dripping with 24:33 implications. Number one, personal experience 24:35 does not supersede scripture. Amen. 24:39 Therefore we're to test our experience with the 24:42 Bible and not the other way around. 24:46 And if our experience contradicts the Bible. 24:49 We're to trust the Bible instead of our experience. 24:53 Amen. It's a difficult thing to do. 24:56 Great controversy, but God would have a people 24:59 upon the earth maintain the Bible and the Bible 25:02 only as the standard of all of doctrines and 25:05 the basis of all reforms. Amen. 25:08 The opinions of learned men, the deductions 25:11 of science, the creeds or decisions of 25:14 ecclesiastical counsels as numerous and 25:17 discordance as are the churches which they 25:20 represent. Listen to this, the voice of the 25:23 majority, not one nor all of these should be 25:26 regarded as evidence for or against any point 25:30 of religious faith. Before accepting any 25:33 doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain, 25:37 thus saith the Lord in its support. 25:39 Amen, that's right. You know, we're living 25:43 an age where people are doubting the Bible. 25:50 And I believe that inside the church as well as 25:53 without. We're going through this period that 25:56 Ellen White described as the shaking period. 25:59 That's right. Amen, amen. 26:00 Where every wind of doctrine has been blowing 26:05 and our 28 fundamental beliefs had been 26:07 under attack. Amen. 26:09 And we need to be a people that are 26:13 consumed with the book, amen. 26:14 Amen, amen. I like to go to our 26:17 second example. Let's go to the example of Jesus. 26:21 What did Jesus hold as the final authority? 26:23 Let's go to Luke chapter 24. As we continue 26:26 in our study this afternoon. We've just 26:29 seen, in Second Peter chapter 1 that Peter says 26:32 that more than the experience on the mount 26:34 of transfiguration. The Bible is to be our final 26:37 authority, that it is the more sure word of 26:41 prophecy. And, I'd like to go to Luke 26:43 chapter 24, and this is a phenomenal example 26:48 where Jesus shows by his own life what he 26:52 holds? Dear as the final authority. It's known as 26:57 the walk to Emmaus. Matthew chapter 24 and 27:01 verse 13. Now, behold, two of them were 27:06 traveling the same day, this is right after the 27:07 crucifixion to a village called Emmaus, which was 27:11 seven miles from Jerusalem. Incidentally 27:14 these two disciples are very obscure. We don't 27:16 know a lot about them. One of them, 27:17 we don't even know the name. The other one's 27:19 name is Cleopas. As we'll find out later and 27:21 they're, they're depressed, they're 27:23 downtrodden because Jesus has died the hopes 27:26 of the messiah being Jesus Christ, Jesus of 27:29 Nazareth has been dashed over the weekend. 27:32 And, they're going down to Emmaus and the 27:34 Jesus meets them along the way. And they talked 27:38 together of all the things which had happened. 27:39 So, it was while they conversed and reasoned 27:42 that Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 27:46 And, notice this, but their eyes were 27:48 restrained, so that they did not know him. 27:50 And he sent to them what kind of conversation 27:53 is this, that you have would one another, 27:54 as you walk and are sad. Now, this is a 27:58 curious story because Jesus knew the problem. 28:03 What was the problem? They, they thought 28:05 that Jesus was dead. And they were depressed. 28:09 So, there was a very easy efficient way 28:12 of getting them out of their depression. 28:14 Amen. He could have just walked up to them, 28:17 light emanating from heaven and said I'm 28:20 Jesus. Look at my hands; look at my feet, 28:23 end of story, right. Amen. 28:25 But this is so curious because he walks up to 28:28 them; he knows why they are depressed? 28:31 And he asked them this question. He says what 28:33 kind of communication or conversation is this 28:36 that you had with one another as you walk and 28:38 are sad. The question is why is Jesus doing this? 28:43 It seems almost, almost cruel. Now, we know 28:46 that's not the case, but why doesn't he just step 28:49 up and reveal himself. He goes on, then the 28:54 one whose name was Cleopas answered and 28:56 said to him. Are you are the only stranger in 28:59 Jerusalem and have you not known the things 29:02 that have happened in these days. And he said 29:05 to them Jesus goes on. What things, this is 29:08 getting painful? So, they said to him the things 29:11 concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was the 29:13 prophet, mighty indeed and word before God 29:15 and all the people and how the chief priests and 29:17 our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death 29:19 and crucified him, but we were hoping that it was 29:21 he who was going to redeem Israel. 29:24 Indeed besides all this, today is the third day 29:26 since these things happened. Yes, 29:28 and certain women of our company, who arrived 29:30 at the tomb early, astonished us. When they 29:32 did not find His body, they came saying that 29:35 they had seen a vision of angels, who said that 29:37 he was alive and a certain of those who 29:39 are with us went to the tomb, and found it just 29:42 as the women had said, but him they did not see. 29:47 And here is why Jesus was holding out. 29:52 It's in the next verse, verse 25. And he said to 29:55 them, Oh foolish ones, and slow of heart 30:01 to believe all that the, what? Prophets. 30:04 All that the prophets have spoken? 30:06 "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, 30:09 and to enter into His glory?" And, notice what 30:11 Jesus said in verse 27. And beginning at Moses 30:14 and all the prophets, he expounded to them all 30:17 the scriptures the things concerning himself. 30:21 He gave them a Bible study that must have 30:23 been a phenomenal Bible study on the walk to 30:25 Emmaus. He says, all the things concerning 30:28 himself. In other words Jesus wanted them to 30:33 base their faith on scripture not an 30:37 experience. That's right. Amen. 30:39 So, by example in the mind of Christ, what 30:42 had the higher priority, a real authentic 30:45 manifestation of Jesus Christ himself or the 30:48 Bible? You see, by precedence Jesus did not 30:51 even reveal himself. You know, he was about 30:53 to walk off. In other words, he had done his 30:55 job. And, if they had not held on to them to 30:58 stay they would not have, he would not have 31:00 revealed himself. So, you see in the mind 31:02 of Christ scripture is to take precedence. 31:06 Amen. Scripture is to be the final authority even 31:11 above a real authentic supernatural experience. 31:15 Amen. Now, I'd like to with that back drop, 31:25 go to Matthew chapter 24. As we go into the 31:30 nature of the final deception. 31:34 We see from a Biblical stand point of view. 31:36 The Bible always says, trust the Bible even 31:39 above experience, not that we're to verify 31:42 our experiences, but in the final realm of 31:44 things, if our experience contradicts the word 31:47 of God. The Bible says the Bible is to be 31:50 trusted. Amen. The question is why? 31:53 Why is it that the Bible points out that the 31:57 scriptures are to be our final authority. 32:01 Now, in Matthew chapter 24, we have an 32:03 interesting perspective as to the nature of what 32:08 is going to be happening in the last days. 32:11 Matthew chapter 24 and verse 3. Now, as he sat 32:13 on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to 32:16 him privately saying. "Tell us, when will these 32:19 things be and what will be the sign of your 32:21 coming and of the end of the age?" 32:25 Now, Matthew chapter 24 is known as the great 32:27 end time chapter. Some theologians know it, 32:30 it's know as the eschatological chapter of 32:33 the Gospels. Jesus is illustrating the things 32:37 that are going to happen right before the final 32:39 moments of earth's history. Now, there is a 32:40 lot of things, that he could have said, 32:42 but notice the first words that come out of 32:45 the mouth of Jesus in verse 4. And Jesus 32:49 answered and said to them. "Take heed that 32:51 no one deceives you." Amen. 32:55 Isn't it interesting that Christ looking down 32:57 to the end of time his first concern is not the 33:01 time of trouble; he goes into that a little bit 33:03 later. His first concern is not the moon turning 33:06 to blood or the sun fading or the stars 33:09 falling, but his first concern looking down 33:11 through the end of time for Christ's people is 33:14 this notion of end time deception. Now, there is 33:19 a fascinating thing about deception, as we talk 33:22 about the anatomy of deception. You can be 33:27 deceived right now and not even know it. 33:31 That's right. That's the nature of 33:32 deception. No one goes through Thomsonville 33:34 saying I'm deceived, I'm deceived. 33:37 Because once you know that you're deceived, 33:39 you're no longer deceived that's the nature of 33:41 deception. Also another factor of deception 33:44 is that, it is always a mixture of truth and 33:48 error. That's right. In other words, 33:50 if I bring a glass of water in, not me someone 33:53 else, it's a heinous illustration for me to do 33:56 but anyways you'll say you bring a glass of 33:57 water and it's 100 percent pure distilled 34:01 water. And, someone drops, just a drop of 34:05 cyanide in it. Is that a deception, yes or no? 34:08 Amen. That's a deception. Now, someone else 34:10 brings something and says, it's black, 34:13 it's got a skull on it, and it says cyanide. 34:16 You know, that's not a deception. 34:18 The nature of deception is always a mixture 34:21 of truth and error. Also there is a cost to 34:26 deception. I think of Jim Jones, many of you 34:31 remember that time. And this is a statement 34:33 from Jim Jones. And he says, what you need 34:35 to believe is more than what you can see, 34:38 if you see me as your friend, I will be your 34:40 friend. If you see me as your father, 34:43 I will be your father. If you see me 34:46 as your savior, I will be your savior. 34:48 If you see me as your God, I will be your God. 34:51 Amen. We know the story later that same day 34:54 909 inhabitants of Jones town, 276 of them 34:58 children died of apparent cyanide poisoning 35:01 mostly in around that pavilion. And this is the 35:05 other nature of deception. Deception always has 35:09 a cost. The question is what is the cost of 35:13 deception in the end of time. Now, I want to ask 35:16 you this, this question as we're going in our 35:19 study this afternoon. Let's say, there is a 35:22 Baptist out there, we have our Baptist friends 35:26 and they believe and accept Jesus as their 35:28 Lord and savior. They don't know about the 35:30 Sabbath, but they have a dynamic relationship 35:33 with him. If they die today, will they be 35:37 saved. Yes, yes. So, you see that the nature 35:41 of deception right now is not that high, you could 35:45 not know the truth about the Sabbath and die in 35:48 the Lord, have a relationship with him. 35:50 And still be saved. Now, the question is what is 35:54 the cost of deception in the end of time. 35:59 When you read the Bible according to Revelation 36:00 chapter 14, The Three Angels message. 36:03 The Bible says that if anyone worships the beast 36:05 or his image or receives his Mark in his forehead 36:07 or in his hand. He shall drink of the wine of the 36:11 wrath of the God. In other words, the cost of 36:13 deception in the end of time is that it will 36:17 cost us our eternal salvation. That's right. 36:20 In other words, there is going to be a poll arising 36:23 of the ranks between those that have the seal 36:25 of God and those that have the mark of the 36:27 beast. And the price of deception in the end of 36:30 time is that, if your name is written in the lamb's 36:33 book of life, it will be removed. So, Christ 36:38 looking down through the end of time. 36:40 He knows the cost of deception. The cost of 36:42 deception in the end of time is our salvation. 36:45 Amen. And, so he says, let no man deceive 36:49 you. That's his primary concern as he goes 36:51 down through the end of time. I want to read 36:56 to you the statement from great controversy. 37:00 It's a little bit of a long quote, but I want to get 37:02 it in it's entirety about the last final deception. 37:06 It says, as the crowning act in the 37:09 drama of deception, Satan himself will 37:12 personate Christ. The long, the church has 37:17 long professed to look to the Savior's advent 37:19 as the consummation our hopes. Now, 37:22 the great deceiver will make it appear that 37:24 Christ has come in different parts of the 37:27 earth Satan will manifest himself among men as a 37:30 majestic being of dazzling brightness. 37:33 Resembling the description of the son 37:34 of God given by John in Revelation. 37:38 Listen to this, the glory that surrounds him is 37:41 unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have 37:45 yet be held. The shout of triumph rings out upon 37:49 the ear. Christ has come, Christ has come. 37:53 The people prostrate themselves in adoration 37:55 before him while he lifts up his hands and 37:57 pronounces a blessing upon them as Christ 38:00 blessed his disciples when he was upon the 38:02 earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full 38:06 of melody. In gentle compassionate tones he 38:10 presents some of the same gracious heavenly 38:12 truths, which the savior uttered. He heals the 38:15 disease of the people and then in the assumed 38:18 character of Christ, he claims to have changed 38:21 the Sabbath to Sunday and commands all to 38:24 hallow the day which he has blessed. 38:26 He declares that those who persist in keeping 38:29 holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name 38:32 by refusing to listen to the angel sent to them 38:36 with light and truth. This is a strong almost over 38:39 mastering delusion. So, I want you to 38:43 notice this, it looks like Jesus, it sounds like 38:47 Jesus, performs miracles like Jesus, even quotes 38:51 scripture like Jesus. But at the end he puts in the 38:55 hook. He claims to have changed the Sabbath 38:59 to Sunday. That's right. 39:01 And the great controversy tells us that, this is a 39:03 strong almost over mastering delusion. 39:09 She goes on to say that none but those that 39:11 have fortified their minds with the truth of 39:14 the Bible would be able to stand through 39:16 the last great conflict. That's right. Amen. 39:20 She says, so closely will the counterfeit resemble 39:23 the true that it'll be impossible to distinguish 39:26 between them except by the Holy Scriptures. 39:29 That's right. Only those who have been diligent 39:32 students of the scriptures, who have 39:33 received the love of the truth, will be shielded 39:36 from the powerful delusions that take the 39:38 world captive. And so, this afternoon I just 39:44 wanted to paint for you the reality that we need 39:47 to be people of the Bible as never before. 39:50 Yes. You know, there is two spirits and one 39:54 Bible. Amen. And the only way that we can 39:56 decide for which spirit it is, is through the 39:59 Holy Scriptures. And we need to have an 40:01 experiential walk with the word of God as 40:05 never before. Amen. 40:06 And, so I would like to go and ask this question. 40:09 How do we get to the place before we trust the 40:11 word implicitly, where it becomes our final 40:14 authority. And the Bible is a phenomenal book. 40:17 I remember this statement by Voltaire that says, 40:20 in a hundred years this book, the Bible will be 40:22 forgotten and eliminated. It's ironic that today; 40:27 the house of Voltaire is inhabited by the Bible 40:31 society. You know, Voltaire is dead, 40:34 but the Bible is very alive. Another 40:38 interesting notion about the Bible is that 40:41 Dr. Nelson Glueck, arguably the greatest 40:44 modern authority on Israeli archeology has 40:47 said, no archaeological discovery has ever 40:50 controverted a Biblical reference. Scores of 40:53 archaeological findings haven't been made 40:56 which confirm in clear outline or in exact 40:58 detail historical statements in the Bible. 41:01 And by the same token proper evaluation of 41:03 Biblical descriptions has often led to amazing 41:06 discoveries. Not one archaeological discovery 41:10 has controverted a single aorta of the scripture. 41:14 And it's fascinating when archaeological 41:17 discoveries are taking place and archaeologists 41:19 are going overseas. You know what they take 41:21 with them, they take with them a map and a 41:24 Bible. Amen. Because the Bible has proven 41:26 to be accurate and tested. And, so I would 41:29 like to go through some different points about 41:31 how we can practically make the word of God 41:34 a dynamic portion of our lives. Number one, 41:39 we're told that we must pray before reading 41:41 the Bible. This is a foundational point, 41:44 we cannot approach the Holy Scriptures the 41:47 same way that we approach science or 41:50 mathematics or any other intellectual discovery. 41:55 And the Bible should never be studied without 41:58 prayer. This is from great controversy, 41:59 page 600. The Holy Spirit alone can cause us 42:02 to feel the importance of those things, easy to 42:05 be understood or to prevent us from wrestling 42:08 trues difficult of comprehension. 42:12 Number one, we must pray before reading 42:13 the Bible. Number two and this is foundational 42:15 as well. I must make time for the word. 42:19 Did you know that, five minutes a day and you 42:21 could read the Bible through in less than 42:24 3 years? 15 minutes a day and you can read 42:27 through the Bible in less than a year. My wife 42:30 and I have on a daily basis over the past year 42:33 spend 15 minutes a day reading through the 42:35 Bible and there is the one year Bible, some of 42:37 you have seen that and it's just a beautiful 42:39 thing to read through the Bible in one year. 42:42 The last one is read the Bible non-stop and you 42:44 can finish the Bible in 72 hours. 42:47 Now, I don't recommend you do that in one 42:48 sitting. Yeah. But it just shows you that, 42:51 you know, this is possible. It's, it's very 42:53 possible. Another thing that you can do with 42:55 the technology today is that, you can download 42:57 the Bible for free online. As, on your Mp3 player 43:01 and you can listen to the Bible as you go 43:04 about your day. This is a quotation from a 43:09 preacher. He says, surely we've to be realistic and 43:12 honest with ourselves to know how regularly 43:15 we need to turn to the Bible. How often do we 43:18 face problems, temptation, and pressure, 43:20 everyday then how often do we need instruction, 43:24 guidance and greater encouragement, everyday. 43:27 To catch all of these, felt needs up into an 43:29 even greater issue. How often do we need to 43:32 see God's face? Hear his voice, feel his touch, 43:35 know his power. The answer to all these 43:38 questions is the same everyday. As the American 43:41 Evangelist D.L. Moody put it, "a man can no more 43:43 take in a supply of grace for the future than he 43:46 can eat enough for the next six months or take 43:48 in sufficient air into his lungs at one time to 43:51 sustain life for a week. We must draw upon 43:54 God's down the store of grace from 43:56 day-to-day as we need it." Amen. 44:00 Christianity today said in 1980 that there is no 44:04 factor more influential in shaping a person's 44:07 moral and social behavior than regular Bible 44:11 reading. So, number one, make time or pray 44:16 before reading the Bible. And number two, 44:18 make time for the word. And, number three, 44:20 I must meditate upon the word of God. 44:23 We must go over it and again and again. 44:25 Joshua chapter 1, verse 8 says, this Book of the 44:28 law shall not depart from your mouth, but you 44:31 shall meditate on it day and night. 44:34 And, so this is an important portion of 44:37 thinking about God's word over-and-over again. 44:42 And the last and final point is that I must live 44:46 God's word. I'd like to spend a little bit more 44:48 time on this and I would like to invite you to 44:51 turn with me in your Bibles to John chapter 7, 44:54 verse 17. And this is a portion that is not often 44:58 highlighted; when it comes in regard to 45:01 interpreting scripture. John chapter 7:17, 45:05 and this statement is, is so revolutionary when 45:09 we think about Biblical interpretation. 45:14 John chapter 7, verse 17, Jesus says if anyone 45:19 wills to do his will, he shall know concerning 45:23 the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether 45:26 I speak of my own authority. Notice that 45:30 Jesus says he that has an IQ of a 130 or above 45:35 shall know concerning in the doctrine. 45:36 I praise the Lord he didn't say that, amen. 45:37 Amen. He said, he that wills to do his will, 45:40 shall know concerning the doctrine. 45:42 In other words, your intention, your 45:45 motivation, your desire to know and follow the 45:47 truth is the foundational factor in being able 45:52 to interpret scripture. Amen. 45:55 Now, I will be the first to admit that there are 46:00 certain subjects that certain people have an 46:03 advantage of, I remember sitting in 46:05 school, don't you just enjoy this. There is 46:08 someone sitting next to you that looks at the 46:11 board has an IQ of a 150 and just gets it like 46:14 that and you're still scratching your head 46:16 wondering how in the world, are you gonna 46:18 make sense of what's on the board. I had this 46:20 gentleman that got a full scholarship to MIT, 46:23 he was a mathematical genius. And he would 46:25 sit in calculus class and fall asleep. And then he 46:29 would come to the final and get over a 46:31 hundred percent. Oh! And, it just, it just made 46:34 me sick. And I think of individuals like Daniel 46:38 Tammet, he is known as a savant. 46:41 A type of genius and he holds the world record; 46:45 I saw this on a video tape of be able to recite 46:48 Pi to the 22,514 digit. He memorized it. 46:55 It took him over 5 hours, brilliant. And on this 47:00 video tape, they would show them doing these 47:03 incredible mathematical equations and he would 47:06 go off the calculator of the decimal points. 47:10 Amen. Incredible, he speaks 11 languages, 47:13 English, French, Finnish, German, Spanish, 47:17 Lithuanian, Romanian, Estonian and Icelandic. 47:20 He learned in one week. Oh! 47:23 And went on national television in an 47:26 interview, genius. I will there say, 47:31 that when it comes to mathematics Daniel 47:33 Tammet has an advantage. That, that's exactly. 47:38 What about the Bible. When it comes to 47:41 scriptures, God has made it fair. That's right. 47:47 So, whether you've an IQ of a 170 or an IQ of 47:52 70, if you come to the word of God and say, 47:55 Lord I desire to follow your will. I want to 47:58 follow truth, I want to know truth. You can come 48:01 to scripture and be able to unlock the mysteries 48:04 of the Bible, whether you've a third grade 48:06 educational or a PhD, and ironically enough 48:09 there are many individuals that have 48:10 very little education and read the Bible and say, 48:12 I see Jesus, amen. Amen. 48:15 And then you have another individual that has 48:16 a very high education, a PhD, and sees the 48:19 Bible and says, I see not, noting but 48:22 contradictions. That's because your intention 48:27 makes a difference in what content you get out 48:30 of scripture. That's right. That's right. 48:32 Truthfulness in the heart precedes truth in the 48:37 objective world. Amen. So, when you come to 48:40 scripture, this is the most important thing, 48:43 your education does not matter, what really 48:47 matters is the intents of your heart, your desire 48:51 to know, and to follow the truth. Amen. 48:58 There is a statement that Ellen White makes, 49:02 and she says many a portion of the scripture, 49:06 which learned man pronounce a mystery or 49:10 pass over as un-important is full of 49:13 comfort and instruction to him who has been 49:16 taught in the school of Christ. Listen to this 49:19 part. One reason why many theologians, 49:24 now don't get me wrong, I believe that we need 49:26 good and Godly theologians, but notice 49:29 what she is making, she is not saying that we 49:30 don't need theologians, but in this statement 49:32 she says, one reason why many theologians 49:35 have no clear understanding of God's 49:38 word is. Because they close their eyes to the 49:42 truths they do not wish to practice. 49:45 That's right. Isn't that a fascinating statement? 49:47 In other words, the reason why theologians, 49:49 some of them do not have a clear understanding 49:52 of Biblical truth is not because of intellect. 49:55 It's not because they do not have a PhD or 49:57 understand Greek or Hebrew, it's really moral. 50:01 In other words it says, she says, that they close 50:03 their eyes to the trues, they do not wish to 50:05 practice and thus blinding them 50:07 intellectually. Amen. We cannot approach 50:10 scripture like any other book and live a 50:13 dichotomous life, where we live one way in 50:16 public and another way in private, that will 50:19 taint our Biblical interpretation. 50:21 That's right. Yeah, that's true, yeah that is 50:23 true. As understanding of Biblical truth 50:26 depends not so much on the power of intellect 50:30 brought to the search as on singleness of purpose, 50:34 the earnest longing after righteousness. 50:37 Amen. Amen. The Psalms makes an interesting 50:40 point. It says, the fool has said in his heart, 50:44 there is no God. Amen. Notice that the 50:48 scriptures did not say the fool has said 50:49 intellectually. The Bible says that, it's really an 50:52 issue of the heart. So, many people say, 50:54 I do not believe in God for intellectual reasons. 50:57 The Bible points out that it's really moral. 50:59 Amen. So, as we approach scripture, 51:03 it's important that we live the word of God. 51:06 Amen. Amen. Amen. Apply the same test 51:11 to the Bible and it's power, men and women 51:15 have broken the chains of sinful habits. 51:18 They have renounced selfishness. 51:20 The profane have become reverent, 51:23 the drunken sober, the profligate pure, 51:27 souls that are born the likeliness of Satan have 51:29 been transformed into the image of God. 51:31 This change is rocked by the word, it is one 51:34 of the deepest mysteries of the word, 51:36 we cannot understand it. We can only believe. 51:43 You never hear a testimony of someone 51:45 getting up front and saying, geometry has 51:49 changed my life. You never hear it you know, 51:54 I love geometry, if, if two sides of a triangle 51:57 are equal the opposite interior angles are equal 52:00 and I meditated on that theorem and these 52:02 postulates and it cleaned up my language. 52:05 I stopped stealing; I become a better person 52:08 in society because of geometry. You know, 52:11 you never hear that or about biology or physics 52:14 or any other subject in the world. None of them 52:18 you never hear a testimony like that. 52:20 And yet millions of people have read this 52:24 book and have testified for centuries and said, 52:29 I've read this book and its changed my life. 52:32 Amen. It's made me a better person. Amen. 52:35 It's made me a better husband and a father, 52:38 a better person in society. It's uplifted me 52:41 and brought me closer-and-closer to the 52:43 character of Christ. Amen. There is something 52:46 divinely special about this book. Amen. 52:50 I want to read to you, as we ramp up our 52:54 presentation this afternoon. 52:58 And this is from the General Conference 53:01 Bulletin of 1909, Ellen White was still alive. 53:05 Amen. And, it would just been so beautiful to 53:08 have been there to hear the last words from this 53:11 prophet. She was 82 years of age, and there 53:13 was a sense at this General Conference Session 53:16 that this was perhaps the last time that they were 53:19 going to able to hear the aged prophet speak. 53:24 The year was 1909, when the General Conference 53:26 Session took place in Tacoma Park, Maryland. 53:30 Ellen White being 82 years of age was in 53:33 attendance. And there was a feeling among all 53:37 that were present there that this might be the 53:39 last time for the aged messenger of the Lord. 53:42 It was the last day of the session, Sunday 53:44 afternoon June 6, around 3:30 pm, the delegates 53:48 were anxiously gathered to listen to her speak 53:51 perhaps for the last time. The General Conference 53:55 Bulletin summarized her speech as such. 53:58 As the aged speaker spoke, the congregation 54:02 responded with many hearty Amens. 54:05 And with trembling lips and with a voice touched 54:08 with deep emotion Ellen White assured the 54:11 ministers and other workers that God loves 54:13 them. And Jesus delights to make intersession 54:17 in their behalf. Amen. She then closed her 54:20 address with these words. Brethren we shall 54:24 separate for a little while, but let us not 54:27 forget what we've heard at this meeting. 54:30 Let us go forward in the strength of the mighty 54:32 one, consider the joy that is set before us of 54:35 seeing his face in the kingdom of God and going 54:37 out forever more. I pray God that this might be 54:41 the experience of each one and in the great day 54:44 of God, we may all be glorified together. 54:48 Amen. Having thus concluded at the last 54:51 sermon, she was to preach at the General 54:54 Conference Session. The 82 year old messenger 54:58 of the Lord moved away from the desk and 55:02 headed toward her seat. Suddenly she stopped, 55:07 turned and came back to the pulpit, picking up 55:11 the Bible from which she had earlier read and she 55:14 opened it and held it out with extended hands 55:17 that trembled with age and she said brethren and 55:21 sisters I commend unto you this book. Amen. 55:26 Amen. Without another word, she closed the 55:30 book and walked away from the platform. 55:36 What a legacy to leave, amen? Amen. 55:40 Friends, I believe that we're living in a very 55:44 exciting and perhaps terrifying time. 55:49 That's right. But we've nothing to fear for the 55:51 future except we shall forget how God has led 55:53 us in the past. That's right. 55:56 You know, we don't have to worry about those 55:58 final moments of earth's history because if we're 56:00 faithful day-by-day experiencing, reading, 56:03 delving into and studying the word of God, 56:06 when the final test comes, we will be 56:07 prepared, amen. Amen. And, so, it's, it's my 56:11 appeal to you this afternoon to be people 56:15 of the book, amen. Amen. You know, when Jesus 56:18 comes the second time. And he is coming in the 56:19 clouds of glory and, and the sky splits open like a 56:23 scroll. It's going to be surreal. I'm going to be 56:25 pinching myself to say. You know, I'm, 56:27 I'm here, I'm there you know, it's we no longer 56:31 need faith because we will have seen the actual 56:33 Jesus Christ face-to-face coming in the clouds of 56:37 glory. And there is going to be many things that 56:39 we have, we will have wished, but one of them 56:42 will not be I wish I had spend more time on 56:44 the Internet. I wish I had spent more time 56:48 watching television unless its 3ABN and I got 56:51 to put that in. You know, I, I wish I had spend 56:55 more time doing all these other things, but heaven 56:58 forbid you may just wish I had spend more time in 57:04 the word of God. Amen. Amen. 57:07 Bible study, prayer and ministry from an eternal 57:10 perspective takes a very high priority. 57:16 And so, it's my appeal to you this afternoon to 57:19 make scripture first. Amen. 57:21 If there ever comes a situation in your life, 57:25 when you have an experience, 57:27 a supernatural experience or whatever maybe, 57:29 make it your point to test it with scripture. 57:34 Amen. Is that your desire today? Amen. 57:35 I would like to invite you to raise your hands, 57:38 today as we see that now. Let's bow your 57:40 heads together as we pray. Father in heaven, 57:45 we want to make scripture first. |
Revised 2014-12-17