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Series Code: SSH
Program Code: SSH022048S
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00:12 ♪♪♪ 00:22 ♪♪♪ 00:36 Shawn Brummund: Good morning, and welcome to another edition 00:38 of the "Sabbath School Study Hour." 00:40 We are just so glad that you have decided to join us here, 00:42 as we have come together on this beautiful Sabbath morning here 00:47 in Roseville, Sacramento, California. 00:49 It has been sunny and rain-free for the last several months. 00:53 We've been struggling, as many of you know across the nation, 00:56 we have been struggling with some of the most serious, 00:58 far-reaching fires that we've ever had before, 01:01 and now we have some rain. 01:03 So we're very thankful for a little bit of rain, 01:05 and we trust that that will be the start of some much-needed 01:08 rain here in this part of the country. 01:10 We're just so glad again that you have joined us, 01:12 both our online members that had continued to join us from 01:15 Sabbath to Sabbath across the nation, 01:17 of course, our local church members that are joining us, 01:20 we know that we all miss each other. 01:23 I certainly miss teaching the Sabbath School Study Hour with 01:27 my local church family, but I am blessed and thankful to be able 01:30 to be here in the local studio of the Amazing Facts 01:34 headquarters and still be able to worship and study with you 01:38 even if it's on a virtual basis. 01:40 So especially good morning to all our local church members, 01:42 friends here locally that attend our church, 01:45 and, of course, we're always thankful for all the different 01:48 friends that join us from around the world, 01:50 both through the Internet, as well as through the various 01:52 satellite television networks. 01:54 We are continuing to study a very important subject 01:57 on Christian education. 01:59 In light of the Bible today is "The Church 02:02 and Christian Education." 02:04 And so this is no small subject. 02:06 It's a very important one for us to consider as a church and what 02:09 are the counsels that God has for us. 02:12 Before we get into our study, we open it with prayer. 02:15 I want to invite all of you to take advantage of a free book 02:18 offer that we have here this morning. 02:20 It's written by Pastor Joe Crews, "Why God Said Remember." 02:25 Now, friends, this is a great read. 02:27 I remember reading it in years past. 02:28 It helped answer some very important questions that many 02:31 thinking-Christians are asking in regards to the fourth 02:33 commandment and the Sabbath. 02:35 And so if you would like a copy of this and you live in the 02:38 United States, just go ahead and dial 1-866-788-3966. 02:45 Again, that's 1-866-788-3966. 02:48 I believe we'll have it on the screen. 02:50 And when you call that number, just ask for Free 02:52 Offer Number 185. 02:55 Perhaps you'd rather have a digital copy of this--you can 02:59 text to the number 40544, and in the actual message box, 03:04 you'll want to put "SH129." 03:07 Now, when you do that, there'll be an automatic response. 03:10 We'll give you a free digital download of this particular free 03:13 offer, so please take advantage of that as you continue to study 03:17 and grow in the knowledge of that important topic. 03:21 Let's pray. 03:22 Father in heaven, this morning, we are thankful for the 03:25 opportunity to be able to study. 03:27 God, I am just so grateful that You have given us Your Bible. 03:30 We thank You for Your love and Your personal offer for us to be 03:34 able to have a personal, saving relationship with You through 03:38 Your Son Jesus Christ. 03:40 God, this morning, we want to pray that You will bless us, 03:43 that You will keep us, that, Father in heaven, 03:45 the time that we spend will be well invested and that, 03:48 God, Your Holy Spirit will do His special work, 03:51 His vital work in leading and guiding us and teaching us all 03:55 truth and bringing to remembrance all things that 03:58 which You have taught us. 03:59 And so, Father, we claim Your promise. 04:01 We claim Your offer. We ask for it now. 04:03 In Jesus's name we pray these things, amen. 04:08 Well, as many of you know, 2,000 years ago, Jesus died 04:12 on a cross for the sin and the guilt of all of humanity. 04:17 And as many of you also know, Jesus rose to glory 04:20 some-three days later. 04:22 And shortly after He rose to glory, 04:24 He appeared to His disciples off and on at different times in the 04:28 city of Jerusalem, and then, as the Gospel records tell us, 04:32 Jesus also then met His disciples back in His home 04:35 country of northern Israel in the land of Galilee at a very 04:38 specific mountain that He had pointed them to as their meeting 04:42 place, right beside the Sea of Galilee. 04:45 And the Bible tells us in the last verses of Matthew chapter 04:48 28, that, when the disciples saw them, they worshiped Him, 04:52 even though some were still struggling with doubt. 04:54 And then it tells us that Jesus came to them and spoke, 04:58 saying, "All authority has been given to Me, 05:00 both in heaven and on earth, and go therefore, 05:04 and make disciples of all the nations, 05:07 baptizing them in the name of the Father, 05:09 and the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 05:11 teaching them to observe all things in which I've commanded 05:16 you, and lo, I am with you always, 05:19 even to the end of the age." 05:22 And so, many of us are familiar with that. 05:24 If you haven't memorized it as a Christian, 05:26 as a believer, friends, I want to encourage you to be 05:28 able to memorize that. 05:29 Write it upon your heart. 05:31 Friends, the elements of that is the Great Commission that God 05:34 has given to the church, starting with those first 05:37 apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ. 05:40 You see, friends, the context of that is that Jesus was now 05:43 wrapping up His earthly ministry, 05:45 just before He ascended to His Father in heaven. 05:48 For the last three and a half years, 05:49 Jesus, in a very powerful way, was the most masterful, 05:55 most powerful teacher that Israel had ever known. 05:59 In fact, there's a statement that is written by one of my 06:01 favorite authors by far, by the name of Ellen White, 06:04 and she makes this very clear, succinct comment when she says 06:08 that "Christ was the greatest educator 06:11 that the world ever knew." 06:13 Now, friends, I hope that you could say 06:15 amen to that because I know that it is true, 06:17 and Jesus gives us more than enough evidence to be able to 06:20 demonstrate that that is true. 06:23 And, of course, being an educator is what we're looking 06:26 at in this particular quarterly. 06:28 We're looking at Christian education, 06:32 and so we want to look at it in the light of the greatest 06:34 educator that ever lived on this planet, 06:37 and again, that is Jesus Christ Himself. 06:39 Now, even as Jesus is the--was the greatest educator that the 06:42 world had ever knew while He was here in this earthly life, 06:45 of course, Jesus also told us, just hours before He was 06:48 crucified, that, indeed, He would still be with us and still 06:52 be our most important educator. 06:54 How would that be? 06:55 Well, He told us in that last speech that He shared with His 06:58 disciples that, indeed, He would send another Comforter, 07:03 another Helper that would be with us in the same capacity 07:08 that Jesus was physically with His first disciples and apostles 07:12 on this planet in Israel. 07:14 In John Chapter 14, in verse 26, Jesus put it like this: He said, 07:19 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father 07:23 will send in My name, He will teach you all things and 07:27 bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." 07:32 And so, friends, we find here that Jesus tells us that the 07:34 Holy Spirit would be sent by Jesus. 07:36 Jesus very clearly, in that chapter, said in different ways 07:40 that, "If you have the Holy Spirit, you have Me. 07:42 I will not leave you orphans," Jesus says. 07:44 "I will come to you." 07:47 And, again, in the verses before that statement, 07:48 as well as the verses after that statement, Jesus clarified that 07:52 He would do that through the person of the Holy Spirit. 07:55 And so, friends, we are blessed, and we are 07:58 privileged to be able to remember that. 07:59 I hope that you do remember that as we continue 08:01 on in our Christian experience. 08:05 And so coming back to Jesus wrapping up His earthly 08:07 ministry, it is true that He had 12 key students that He called 08:12 "apostles," but the Bible record also tells us that there were 08:16 approximately 120 disciples in total that were bona fide 08:21 followers and students of Jesus Christ. 08:24 And so Jesus wraps up His ministry. 08:26 He has 12 apostolic leaders, but He has a group of about 120 08:31 followers and students that had been studying with Him either 08:34 for the full three and a half years or a segment of that time 08:38 in which He had been teaching, preaching, and leading. 08:43 And so now that His work on earth is done, 08:45 He commissions the newborn church to carry out that vital 08:49 work in which we found in the Great Commission of Matthew 08:52 chapter 28, "Teach them." 08:55 Who's the "them," friends? "Teach them." 08:57 Well, these are the new disciples. 08:59 These are the new believers that Jesus has called us 09:01 to make in all the nations. 09:04 Jesus says, "Teach them to observe all things in which I 09:08 have commanded you." 09:09 And so Jesus, in the Great Gospel Commission, 09:11 tells us that the church is to be a 09:13 place of education, Christian education. 09:17 And, indeed, this is part of the discipleship program, 09:20 the discipleship plan that Jesus played out during His life, 09:24 and He modeled for us as Christians and as a church, 09:27 and so it's important for us to be able to understand that. 09:32 And so the question is asked, "How has the 09:34 church fulfilled this commission?" 09:37 Well, we preach on a regular basis, 09:40 so we have lots of public preaching that is taking place 09:42 in thousands and tens of thousands of places of worship 09:46 around the world, even today. 09:49 And, friends, we've been doing that for decades. 09:52 The Christian church, in general, 09:54 has been doing that for centuries. 09:56 And so, indeed, the church has fulfilled this commission and 10:00 command by Jesus through public preaching, 10:02 but not only that but that we've also--are conducting thousands 10:05 and tens of thousands of Sabbath school classes, 10:08 even right now, today, across this great world. 10:12 We offer prayer meetings, small group Bible studies, 10:15 one-on-one Bible studies. 10:16 Friends, there are millions of printed pages and published 10:19 books and articles and magazines in which is continuing to 10:23 educate people and helping them to observe all things in which 10:27 Jesus has brought to the church. 10:30 We also have radio. 10:32 We continue to also educate through television, 10:34 through the Internet, through satellite, 10:36 and, of course, we also educate through our church schools, 10:40 our church academies, our colleges, our universities. 10:44 Friends, all of this is some of the most vital activities that 10:48 we have and that God has led us to be able to participate in 10:52 in order to fulfill that Great Commission 10:55 that God has given to us. 10:59 And that's what we're looking at this week, 11:01 the church and Christian education. 11:04 What is the church's role in that education? 11:08 And so that's what we're opening up here today. 11:11 Well, what is the key or most important 11:12 textbook in Christian education? 11:14 When you think of Christian education, whether it's in our 11:16 academies, colleges, universities, in our 11:19 local church building and congregation, what is 11:22 the most important and key textbook that we have? 11:27 Well, I hope you also all answered with the same single 11:30 answer, and that is the Holy Bible. 11:34 Again, coming back to my favorite author by the name of 11:36 Ellen White, she says, "As an educator, 11:39 the Holy Scriptures are without rival." 11:42 I'll read that one more time: "As an educator, 11:45 the Holy Scriptures are without rival." 11:48 In other words, there's nothing that comes close to being the 11:52 most effective, most important fundamental and primary educator 11:56 than that of the Holy Scriptures, of the Holy Bible. 12:01 Now, friends, this may seem like a very elementary question and 12:03 answer for me to bring to you as Christians. 12:06 Many of you are saying, "Well, that's kind 12:07 of a no-brainer, Pastor." 12:10 And yet, I think it is worth asking because, 12:12 friends, I've studied in Christian colleges, 12:15 and, friends, I have to admit, I have to--it's sad to say that, 12:19 I would say that there was more than one of my teachers, 12:23 not all by far, but there was more than one of my teachers 12:25 that I believe lost sight of that fundamental truth, 12:29 and so, friends, I think it's important for us to come back to 12:33 it and ask that question. 12:34 For some of us, it may be very obvious. 12:36 For some of us, it may be God challenging us and inviting us 12:39 back to the most important textbook that we have. 12:43 This is book number one when it comes 12:46 to true Christian education. 12:50 Now, friends, I wish I could say that it was only in our 12:52 colleges, but, friends, I've also sat in some of our churches 12:55 in the--over the years, and I've listened to some of our pastors, 12:59 and again, I'm not saying that this represents all 13:01 pastors--not by any means. 13:03 But I've listened to more than one pastor on a Sabbath morning 13:06 behind the pulpit, and I hear everything but the Bible. 13:09 And, friends, that tells me that, again, 13:11 that somehow along the way, 13:14 somehow along those years in which that minister or pastor 13:17 was preaching and working for the Lord, 13:19 they have lost sight of that primary answer and the important 13:23 question that I asked, "What is the most important and primary 13:26 textbook for Christian education?" 13:30 And so, again, it may be very elementary for some of us, 13:33 but for some of us, I think that it is something that we need to 13:35 readdress in regards to our ministry, 13:39 whether we're a school teacher, whether we're a Sabbath school 13:41 teacher, whether we're a college or university professor, 13:45 whether we're a pastor. 13:49 The Bible says it best concerning itself, 13:51 and we find that in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. 13:55 Many of us, again, are familiar with it, 13:57 but it's something that I think is worth revisiting, 13:59 and for some of us reading for the first time. 14:01 And so if you've never read 2 Timothy chapter 3 14:04 and verse 16, please turn in your Bibles with me as we look 14:08 at that in--vital description that the Bible says concerning 14:13 itself and its purpose as an educator. 14:17 And for those of you who studied with us last week with Pastor 14:20 Rodor, we looked at that text in another context, 14:22 and certainly it is worth revisiting in this 14:24 particular subject as well. 14:27 And so, again, 2 Timothy 3:16, it says, 14:29 "All Scripture is given of inspiration of God, 14:34 and it is profitable--" profitable for what? 14:36 In other words, there is great benefit to it. 14:38 What is the profit that comes from the inspiration of the 14:42 inspired Scriptures that God has given to us in the Holy Bible? 14:46 Well, it is for doctrine. 14:48 Well, then we ask the question, what is doctrine? 14:50 You know, before I was a Christian, I started to 14:51 study the Bible, I'd never heard of the word "doctrine." 14:53 We don't use that on the streets, 14:56 but yet, friends, it is a vital word that we need understand. 14:59 What is doctrine? 15:00 Well, doctrine is religious teachings of truth, and so the 15:06 Holy Scriptures of God, given by God, is profitable for 15:09 teaching true religious principles and truths. 15:15 It is also given to us to benefit us in 15:18 giving us reproof at times. 15:20 Sometimes we need to be able to smart-up in different areas of 15:22 our life in which we are involving ourselves or not 15:28 involving ourselves in things that we should 15:30 be or shouldn't be doing. 15:32 It's also given to for our correction. 15:33 Every time I used to read that, I used to think, 15:35 well, that is also kind of like "reproof." 15:36 Its correcting where I'm going wrong. 15:38 But, friends, I also believe that this is also there to 15:40 correct us in regards to our opinions, 15:43 our world views, our theologies, our theories. 15:47 In other words, when we come to the Holy Bible, 15:49 it is profitable to correct different theologies that we 15:52 assumed were the truth, perhaps even we were taught in our 15:55 religious institutions was the truth. 15:58 Perhaps our parents believed them, 15:59 and we understood them to be the truth, 16:01 but then God comes through His Word, 16:03 and He corrects us in concern to that. 16:06 This is part of Christian education as well. 16:09 And so, again, "The Bible is given for our profit, 16:12 both in religious teachings of truth for reproof, 16:15 for correction, and then also for instruction." 16:19 Friends, that sounds a whole lot like a classroom, doesn't it? 16:22 Okay, I come to the classroom when I went to school, 16:25 in high school, college, for instruction from my teacher, 16:29 and, in this case, it's instruction in righteousness. 16:33 In other words, it's there to be able to show us what is that 16:35 narrow way, what is that pathway that Jesus said He came to give 16:40 us that we might have abundant life, that we might increase 16:43 the quality of our life and our experience. 16:47 And so it is there for giving us instruction in righteousness, 16:50 "That the man," and of course, also the woman," of God may be 16:53 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 16:56 In other words, the Bible is the number one source for us to be 16:59 complete in our education and as people. 17:03 That's very important for us to understand, friends. 17:06 It makes us complete--what? 17:08 For what is the end of that completeness, 17:10 what is the end of that education, 17:13 and it ends with that key word, which is--or two words we could 17:16 say, for every "good work." 17:19 And so God tells us what good works are. 17:22 And then, friends, work means action, doesn't it? 17:25 And so it tells us then that, once we receive that and as we 17:28 continue to receive that instruction that comes from the 17:30 Holy Bible, then, friends, it is at that point then we go out, 17:34 and we apply those things in which we have received. 17:37 And this is the good works that God has given to us. 17:41 How we work in life for the benefit of ourselves, 17:43 for our families, for mankind, it's all found 17:46 first and foremost here. 17:47 Now, yes, of course, we still have science and biology and 17:51 physics class and English class, history, 17:54 all of these wonderful and important subjects that we find 17:58 in our education, all based primarily and reflecting though 18:02 upon the foundation, which is the Holy Bible of God. 18:11 Well, not only that, but the Bible also expands your mind, 18:14 and therefore, it makes you more intellectually capable towards 18:17 all areas of your life. 18:19 And when I say, "all areas," I mean all areas of life, 18:22 whether you're banking or whether you're shopping, 18:25 you're making a decision of what car to buy or whether you're 18:27 making a decision on who to marry, 18:29 whatever it is, friends, the more that you apply your mind to 18:33 the Bible, the more it expands your minds and makes you more 18:36 intellectually capable to be able to apply yourselves in a 18:39 more successful way in all areas of life. 18:43 And so, friends, the Bible is pointing us to these things for 18:46 a very practical benefit, not only for us, 18:49 of course, but as the principle of heaven is that we are there 18:52 to be a blessing to all those around us at the same time. 18:58 I want to share with you a quote again--and, 18:59 by the way, all the quotes, including this one, 19:01 is coming from one of my favorite books 19:02 that I'm just reading through now. 19:04 It's called "Messages to Young People," and this particular 19:09 quote says this: "The mind will enlarge if it is employed," 19:15 meaning if it is worked, "in tracing out the relation of the 19:18 subjects of the Bible, comparing Scripture with Scripture, 19:23 spiritual things with spiritual," and so, 19:27 friends, enlarging your mind--today, 19:29 we would probably use the word more, "expand." 19:31 It expands your mind. 19:33 It expands your intellect when you put subject upon subject, 19:37 "Here a little, there a little," as a prophet Isaiah said, 19:40 "Line upon line, precept upon precept." 19:43 Friends, there's not just one chapter or Bible--a book in the 19:46 Bible that tells you all the things that God wants you 19:49 to know about heaven. 19:50 But, friends, we need to be able to look through the whole Bible 19:52 because God has that thread all the way through the Bible. 19:55 And so Isaiah is one of the more prolific writers on the heaven 19:59 and the experience that God has for us after this earthly life. 20:03 Certainly Revelation gives us a whole lot on it as well, 20:06 but friends, it is found in many different books and 20:10 chapters throughout the Bible, and when we put those lines upon 20:13 line, precept upon precept, comparing Scripture with 20:16 Scripture, friends, this will outdo any--and I've got to look 20:20 on my notes here because I'm going to 20:21 mispronounce it-- "suduko." 20:24 Suduko? Is that how you pronounce it? 20:26 Okay, I got my wife here in the studio, 20:28 and she's there to help me with my pronunciation. 20:31 But sudoku has become one of the most popular kind of 20:35 mind-exercise games that we can practice. 20:38 I want to give you a challenge, I want to 20:39 suggest something to you. 20:41 I would like to suggest that you take your sudoku and you put it 20:45 in the drawer and you forget all about your sudoku, 20:48 and the hours that you spent in your sudoku, 20:51 exercising your mind--and I know seniors are more gravitating to 20:54 that because it helps--you know, it's been proven to be able to 20:56 help delay any on-come of Alzheimer's and dementia and so 21:02 on, and I'm sure that evidence is there. 21:06 But just like many things in life, there are different 21:09 things that we can do to be able to experience that 21:11 benefit, but some are more effective than others. 21:14 Friends, inspiration tells me that the best way to exercise 21:18 and expand your mind is to spend those same hours in here. 21:22 And, friends, it is an adventure and is way more fulfilling, 21:25 and it is way more mind-expanding and also 21:30 mind-exercising and challenging than any sudoku or any other 21:34 mind game that you can find on the Internet 21:37 or in the Game Store. 21:39 Friends, you know, when I'm reading through Isaiah more than 21:43 once because I've read through Revelation so many times in the 21:46 past, I'll be writing through Isaiah-- 21:48 I'll be reading through Isaiah, and I remember, 21:50 you know, one example, I was reading through Isaiah. 21:52 It was around 22 or something. 21:54 I forget what chapter it is now at this time by my memory, 21:58 but there's a chapter in Isaiah that talks about the same thing 22:01 that the last chapters of Revelation talk about in 22:04 regards, in this case, Revelation 20, 22:06 in regards to the millennium and the devil being bound in chains 22:10 and cast into the bottomless pit, 22:13 and that all the lost will be in that same bottomless pit as 22:16 they're slain by the glory of the Lord when Jesus returns. 22:19 Well, Isaiah says the same thing. 22:21 He says that all the lost will become prisoners, 22:24 bound in a pit like prisoners. 22:26 And when I read that, friends, my mind immediately started to 22:29 exercise itself and brought back to mind Revelation 20, 22:32 which I've studied so many times in the past. 22:34 And, friends, this is just an example of dozens and perhaps 22:37 hundreds of times over the years in which God has helped my mind 22:41 to connect Scripture upon Scripture, 22:43 line upon line, as the Bible becomes more and more familiar 22:46 to me as I continue to connect those dots. 22:49 And, friends, connecting those dots will do way more for you 22:52 than any sudoku will bring to your benefit. 22:56 So that's just my little suggestion and challenge. 23:02 Also, I want to challenge you on something else, 23:08 you know, and that's in concern to Bible class. 23:10 In our academies, in particular, of course, 23:13 when you get to the college level, 23:15 there are different required Christian education, 23:19 Bible education classes that are needed to be able to graduate 23:22 from any degree, and, of course, that should be the way it is. 23:26 When you're signing up for a Christian college education, 23:29 you should expect Christian instruction and education. 23:32 And Christianity is not based on biology 23:36 and based on physics first. 23:37 It's based on the Holy Scriptures first. 23:40 And, again, friends, I believe that, 23:42 even though that may sound elementary to many of us, 23:44 to many of us, or to some of us, I should say--I have to be 23:47 careful with my words--but to some of us in those different 23:51 positions in our institutions have lost sight of that. 23:57 If we have never seen the Bible class in our academies, 23:59 in our high schools, in our elementary schools, 24:02 in our church schools, as the most important class in all the 24:06 curriculum that we are offering, friends, 24:09 I would like to suggest that we are missing the mark. 24:13 When the HR department, when the principals of our schools are 24:17 hiring their Bible teacher, this should be handled more 24:21 thoroughly and more carefully than hiring any 24:23 other teacher in your school. 24:27 Now, friends, I know, by experience and observation, that 24:30 that may sound revolutionary, and 24:33 yet it shouldn't sound revolutionary. 24:36 It should sound standard. 24:38 We should all be saying, "Amen, that's the way it is, 24:41 and that's the way it always will be." 24:43 But, friends, I fear that, too often, 24:45 that we view and treat Bible class as a required add-on, 24:50 as an extracurricular that we kind of 24:52 just have to meet so that we can call it a Christian school, 24:57 and all other subjects and all the other teachers are viewed as 25:01 more important than the Bible teacher. 25:05 I suggest that this is a mistake. 25:08 I suggest that this is a mistake bigger than we may ever know. 25:12 God has given us the most important textbook, 25:16 and so, when a teacher is telling in a school, 25:18 is telling the students that are signing up for school for that 25:21 year, what are all the required textbooks because they are going 25:24 to have to buy and require, the first one on the list 25:27 should be the Holy Bible. 25:29 Friends, this should be our number one textbook, 25:32 not just in word, but in principle, 25:35 in thought, in faith, in belief. 25:41 And so, friends, again, I think that this can challenge us. 25:43 These words that I'm bringing to you may be challenging some of 25:46 you, friends, but I want to encourage you to come back to 25:49 understand some of these thoughts that I'm bringing back 25:52 to you or perhaps bringing to you for the very first time. 25:58 When it comes to college and university education, 26:00 now, there are some of us that are skeptical 26:02 of higher education in general. 26:04 And some of us have mistakenly come to understand that getting 26:09 an education in college or university is somehow never a 26:12 plan for the Christian, never a plan for a pastor, 26:15 never a plan for a teacher, or whatever it is, 26:19 but I would like to share with you that the inspiration of God 26:24 tells us something very, very different. 26:26 Friends, we need to remember that, if 26:28 we have fallen into that trap or are falling into that thought 26:30 pattern, that one of the key founders of the Seventh-day 26:34 Adventist Church movement is that of Ellen White, 26:37 and, friends, when you study the life and history of Ellen White, 26:39 you will find that she was very intricately involved in both the 26:43 founding and the building and the funding 26:45 of many of our first colleges. 26:49 She's also on record of sponsoring more than one student 26:52 with her own personal money. 26:53 Her and James White had forked out many, many dollars to 26:57 be able to help fund the higher college and university education 27:03 of some of our first Seventh-day Adventist students. 27:06 And so, very clearly, God was leading in her life. 27:10 Very clearly, God was leading her to understand that for the 27:14 Christian, for the Seventh-day Adventist, 27:15 higher education is something of great value for many of us, 27:19 depending on what profession that we are entering into. 27:22 And so I think it's important for us to be 27:24 able to understand that. 27:26 I want to read with you a couple of quotes, 27:27 and these are just so instructive and so beneficial. 27:30 I normally don't share quite as much as I am today, 27:36 but I just feel so compelled to be able to do that here today. 27:40 And, again, this is coming from what is becoming one of my 27:42 favorite books, "Messages to Young People." 27:46 Now, I know I'm a little bit past that age, 27:47 and so I've kind of missed the boat on that, 27:50 but I can be of a benefit to those who are truly still 27:54 young, if I could say that. 27:56 My wife is probably smirking at me and giving me 27:58 the dirty look now. 28:03 She doesn't like it when I say that, 28:04 "Hey, we're growing old." 28:07 But hey, the fact of the matter is time continues on, 28:10 and, yes, I do look younger than I am, 28:17 but I don't feel as young as I used to. 28:22 Page 170, it says, "Jesus did not despise education." 28:26 I'm going to read that one more time: "Jesus 28:28 did not despise education. 28:30 The highest culture of the mind, if sanctified through the love 28:34 and fear of God, receives his fullest approval." 28:39 And then, later on, she says, "God will accept the youth with 28:43 their talent and their wealth of affection if they will 28:45 consecrate themselves to him. 28:48 They may reach to the highest point of intellectual greatness. 28:52 God has called us to be able to do so. 28:55 They may reach the highest point of intellectual greatness, 28:57 and if balanced by religious principle, 29:00 they can carry forward the work which Christ came from heaven to 29:03 accomplish and, thus doing, be coworkers with the Master." 29:08 And so, friends, when we are truly consecrated and devoted in 29:11 following Christ, she is saying, listen, 29:13 you can attain some of the highest levels of education and 29:16 intellectual cultivation possible. 29:19 And, in fact, we're going to read a quote shortly here that 29:21 tells us that makes us more capable and more valuable in the 29:25 work and field of Christ. 29:29 And so that is just so important for us to be able to understand. 29:36 Again, she says, "The students of our college have valuable 29:39 privileges, not only to obtain the knowledge of the sciences, 29:44 but also of learning how to cultivate and practice virtues, 29:47 which will make--give them symmetrical characters." 29:51 And, you know, friends, in a time and age in which we live 29:54 here in the United States and many of the first world 29:56 countries around the world, many of the developing countries, 29:59 even, around the world today, as well, 30:01 higher education has become the norm. 30:04 It's not the exception anymore. 30:06 You know, if you go back 50, 80 years, 30:08 it was the exception--not today. 30:10 Today it is the norm, and so, friends, 30:12 we need to be able to communicate with these people 30:14 in an intellectual, educated way if we're going to be as 30:17 effective as possible in reaching them. 30:20 And, yes, I know, and Ellen White points that out in the 30:22 same chapter earlier on that Jesus chose uneducated 30:26 fishermen and so on. 30:28 Not all of them were uneducated. 30:29 Matthew, the tax collector, certainly knew how to read and 30:32 write and was very adept with numbers and accounting. 30:36 A certain Judas Iscariot, who had pushed himself into the 30:39 circle, was very highly capable and educated. 30:43 But the best example that we really have in all the 30:45 Scriptures of the apostles is the apostle, 30:47 as he says, was called out of due season, 30:49 which is the apostle Paul. 30:51 And so the Apostle Paul, for whatever reason, wasn't 30:53 yet ready to be able to accept Christ and enter 30:55 into that original 12, but he was called later on as 30:59 one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, and friends, 31:03 he was by far the most educated of them all. 31:07 He was educated in the city of Jerusalem under the most 31:13 renowned rabbis of his time, and so his parents had probably 31:19 sacrificed great amounts of resources to send him from their 31:22 hometown of Tarsus, down to the Holy City of Jerusalem for him 31:25 to be able to receive this greatest of education. 31:28 And because of that, God made him the ambassador to the 31:30 Gentiles, to the Greeks, who are already very 31:33 well cultured in higher education. 31:36 And so, when Paul was called by God to stand before the 31:40 Athenians in the Areopagus, you know, 31:44 he was talking to some of the greatest minds and most-educated 31:48 minds of his time, and he was able to do so because he had an 31:52 education that was able to speak to them in the 31:54 most effective way possible. 31:57 Now, that's not to discourage anybody that doesn't have a 31:59 college education to say, "Well, then, the Lord can't use me." 32:02 No, Jesus had demonstrated that we can self-educate ourselves 32:06 through the Bible and through the spirit of prophecy, 32:08 and through all these other resources. 32:10 Ellen White, of course, is the ultimate example and model 32:13 for us in that regard. 32:16 Because of some very serious health issues, she was 32:18 forced to drop out of school in her early grade 32:21 years of grade school. 32:25 And yet, friends, when I first became a Seventh-day Adventist 32:27 and I picked up one of her best reads, 32:29 which is "The Great Controversy," and I read that 32:31 from cover to cover the first month after I was baptized, 32:35 and you know, when I read through that book, 32:37 there's one thing that I recognized very quickly is that 32:39 I need a dictionary right next to it, 32:41 and that's because there was all kinds of words in there that 32:44 I've never seen before, and where did she learn all these? 32:48 She didn't learn it in grade four, I can tell you that, 32:51 before she was forced to drop out of school. 32:53 No, she had self-educated herself. 32:56 Now, many of those words aren't found in the Bible, either, why? 32:59 Because even though the Bible was her primary, 33:01 fundamental, foundational textbook, 33:03 her library was full of all kinds of different contemporary 33:06 authors, and so she was a very self-educated historian 33:12 and theologian in particular. 33:15 You know, she had poured thousands of hours and her own 33:19 self-discipline and motivation, becoming an expert in history 33:23 and an expert in theology. 33:26 So she was very self-educated, and so, 33:29 yes, our student--our colleges are there to be able to provide 33:33 structure, to provide encouragement, 33:36 you know, just like we grow in the faith and we come together 33:39 from week to week and throughout the midweek 33:40 and so on as Christians and as church members. 33:43 So students find encouragement and strength when they're 33:45 together at times, and so they find themselves learning 33:49 together and encouraging each other and finding these truths 33:53 and the discipline that comes with accountability 33:55 of meeting deadlines and such. 33:58 And so all of this can fall under the umbrella of God's 34:03 blessing and intention for us to be well educated. 34:08 I'm going to go ahead, just, and look at a couple more quotes on 34:11 one more page, page 173. 34:13 It says, "God requires the training 34:15 of the mental faculties." 34:17 It doesn't say, "God suggests the training 34:19 of the mental faculties." 34:21 It says, "God requires the training 34:23 of the mental faculties." 34:24 I hope you picked that up, friends. 34:25 "He designs that His servants shall possess more intelligence 34:28 and clear discernment than the worldling, 34:31 and He is displeased with those who are too careless or too 34:34 indolent to become efficient, well-informed workers." 34:39 And so there's two key words there: the first one is "God 34:42 requires the training of mental faculties," and then there's 34:45 also that second and third sentence where He says we must 34:47 become "efficient, well-informed workers." 34:51 "Well-informed" means "well-educated." 34:55 "The Lord bids us love Him with all the heart, 34:58 with all the soul, and with all the strength, 34:59 and all the mind," as He adds to that great commandment of 35:02 Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse 5. 35:05 So He adds "all the mind" there as well. 35:08 "This lays upon us the obligation of developing the 35:11 intellect to its fullest capacity, that with all the 35:15 mind we may know and love our Creator." 35:18 And so, friends, again, God is not presenting 35:20 this as a suggestion. 35:21 He is saying this is one of the things that He requires 35:24 and expects from us. 35:26 And so, if you are satisfied with where you are in regards to 35:29 your education, even if you're a college graduate, 35:31 a postgraduate graduate, and you finished all the formal 35:36 education you will ever want or need, 35:38 friends, your education still doesn't stop. 35:42 You cannot acquire your greatest intellectual capacity in the 35:46 years in which you went to college and university, 35:48 unless, of course, you're a professional student. 35:53 But once you're finished, friends, you want to still 35:54 continue to develop that to its fullest capacity. 35:58 "If placed under the control of the Holy 36:00 Spirit," and, of course, that's "if." 36:01 "If you're placed under the control of the Holy Spirit, 36:03 the more thoroughly the intellect is cultivated, 36:06 the more effectively it can be used in the service of God." 36:10 And so it is revealing here, friends, 36:12 that there is a direct correlation between our 36:15 education, both the formal and self-education, 36:18 that continues to help us reach higher and higher levels of 36:21 intellectual capacity that will make us more and more effective 36:25 and capable servants for Him in the work of the gospel. 36:29 "The uneducated man who is consecrated to God and who longs 36:33 to bless others can be used by the Lord in His service. 36:37 But those who, with the same spirit of consecration, 36:40 have had the benefit of a thorough education, 36:43 can do much more extensive work for Christ. 36:46 They are the ones that stand on vantage ground." 36:49 And so, friends, this is important for us to understand, 36:53 and I hope that helped you if it is something that 36:56 you have thought otherwise, why? 36:59 Because, again, remember the--all Scripture is given 37:02 by inspiration of God. 37:04 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, why? 37:06 For doctrine, for correction, or for reproof or correction, 37:11 and instruction of righteousness. 37:12 In this case, sometimes God corrects us, 37:15 and so, friends, if there's correction that's needed as 37:17 you're watching this program and study 37:19 I pray that it will be something that will be helpful. 37:23 All right, some of you are asking, 37:24 "Are we ever going to get to the quarterly?" 37:27 And, yes, we are. 37:29 And so we're going to spend the last few minutes looking at the 37:31 quarterly here as well, but I just really felt compelled to 37:33 lay that foundation in concern to the church's 37:36 role in Christian education. 37:39 And so, when we look at Sabbath, last time, 37:41 we find some really good advice there to the church in telling 37:44 us that we should place--the church should be a place to find 37:48 open, studious, serious conversations, 37:51 where no question is a dumb question. 37:53 Now, friends, I have to confess that I really 37:55 like that advice, why? 37:57 Because I always feel like I was the one with the dumb questions 38:00 when I was going through school and--but God has brought me to a 38:03 point where I don't care if it's a dumb question. 38:06 I don't care if somebody thinks I am dumb or because 38:08 I'm asking a dumb question. 38:10 You know, often, people share something with me, 38:12 and they'll use some big word that I've never heard or I've 38:15 never really defined before, and I'll just stop them and ask, 38:18 you know, "Listen, I just need a--can you just give me a quick 38:21 definition of that word that you just used?" 38:25 You know, we'd be able to ask questions. 38:27 No dumb--no--the only question that's a dumb question is the 38:29 question that wasn't asked. 38:32 And so, friends, no matter how dumb it may sound to you, 38:37 friends, if you don't know the answer, 38:38 then you're in a worse spot than if you didn't ask the question 38:41 or if you did ask the question. 38:45 I'd like to take this opportunity to encourage us, 38:47 as both teachers in our Sabbath School class as well as 38:50 participants, to faithfully keep the conversation 38:53 focused on the Scriptures. 38:56 Now, friends, this is a burden that God has put in my heart in 38:58 the early years of my pastoring experience, 39:01 and that is that I have sat in so many Sabbath schools in which 39:04 I was not teaching, and, friends, 39:08 as I sit in those Sabbath schools over the years, 39:09 you know, this burden has been growing and growing. 39:11 I've shared it with many members, different fellow 39:13 pastors and leaders and Sabbath school teachers, 39:16 and now I have the opportunity to share it with you. 39:18 Friends, we need to be able to make sure--now, 39:20 our biggest commission as a Sabbath School teacher is to 39:24 keep the class where their nose is in this. 39:28 And, friends, I have to say--I hate to say it, 39:30 but well over 50% of the time of any Sabbath school that I sat 39:34 in, this, even if we start here, which quite often we don't, 39:38 but even if we start to get our noses in here, 39:40 we just depart from it so quickly and so easily, 39:44 and we fall into this rut where we're just all sharing our 39:46 opinions and "I thinks." 39:48 Now, it's not to say that I don't value your opinion, 39:51 friends, but there's an opinion that is much greater than yours 39:54 and mine, and that's the opinion that's found in here. 39:57 And so, friends, I don't want to come to church and spend an 40:00 hour--I don't want to get up early in the morning and have to 40:02 run out the door so I can sit in a class 40:04 and listen to everybody's opinion. 40:06 I've come to listen to the opinion of Christ. 40:09 I want to know what His opinion is, 40:11 and so, friends, we have become experts at sharing our opinions, 40:15 but, friends, we are not coming together to be able 40:18 to share each other's opinions. 40:19 We need to be able to understand what is 40:21 the heart and the mind of God. 40:22 You know, sometimes I think that it's almost like we're convinced 40:24 that we've exhausted all that the Bible can teach on this 40:27 topic and study, and so we have to resort now to our own 40:29 personal opinions, our own personal "I thinks," and, 40:34 friends, that's just not true. 40:37 Anybody that's honest or have thoroughly spent enough time in 40:39 this Bible in a very Spirit-led way will very clearly agree with 40:43 me, very easily agree with me that, 40:45 friends, you could spend a lifetime studying this, 40:48 and you are still not going to be able to exhaust everything 40:52 that God has for us to be able to learn from here, 40:54 and so there is--what I'm trying to say is that, 40:57 because of that truth, we have no excuse to depart from what 41:02 the Word is teaching us. 41:04 We have no excuse to have our conversation leave that which 41:08 the Bible itself is sharing with us, wants to share with us, 41:12 is begging to share with us, and yet, friends, 41:15 so often we find ourselves doing everything but. 41:21 All right, so that's my beef and challenge to you here. 41:23 Boy, there's a few here today, isn't there? 41:25 It's just kind of a list that this subject has kind 41:27 of opened up for us. 41:29 All right, so as we come to Sunday, 41:31 of course, there's this story, if you've read the lesson about 41:34 this rabbi, and the Jewish rabbi has this class of sleepy 41:36 students, and he kind of throws out this challenging question. 41:40 He says, "How do you know when the night has ended 41:42 and the day has begun?" 41:43 And so the students start responding with these 41:46 kind of deep answers on how you can see that the light is just 41:51 bright enough that you can know, "Okay, now the light--the 41:53 night is over, and the day has begun," 41:55 you know, or--and so on. 41:57 And he says, "No, no, no, no, all wrong." 42:00 And then, finally, he says, "You can know that the night has 42:02 ended and the day has begun when you can look in the face of any 42:04 stranger and recognize a brother or sister." 42:08 And, friends, of course, this is communicating the same truth 42:11 that Jesus communicated through one of the most popular stories 42:13 and parables in all the Scriptures, 42:16 and that is of the good Samaritan. 42:19 And so we can find that in Luke chapter 10, 42:21 verses 30 to 37. 42:23 We don't have time to read it here this morning, 42:24 but the gist of the--and the context of that is that there is 42:28 this lawyer, this expert in the law of God, 42:30 not a lawyer like we think of today, 42:32 but a lawyer in religious Scriptures, 42:35 and in the Holy Scriptures, an expert in the Scriptures, 42:38 and so he asks Jesus, and he says, 42:40 "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 42:43 And Jesus says, "Well, what does the law say? 42:45 What is your reading of it? How do you interpret it?" 42:47 And he says, "Well, to love the Lord your God with all your 42:49 heart, your strength, your soul, and your--" well, 42:52 Jesus added, "and your mind." 42:55 And then he says, "and also to love your neighbor as yourself." 43:00 And Jesus responded, "You have answered rightly. 43:02 Do these things, and you will have eternal life." 43:05 Well, the man then-- [clearing throat] 43:06 --kind of coughed and cleared his throat, I'm sure, 43:09 and shifted a little bit because he 43:11 knew that that was the answer. 43:12 In fact, the scholars have discovered that was the most 43:14 popular, trendy answer of his day within Judaism. 43:18 But he also knew that he almost, for certain, 43:20 fell short of that, and so, in order to justify that 43:22 shortcoming, he said, "Well, who is my neighbor?" 43:26 And Jesus then shares the good Samaritan story. 43:29 And, of course, Jews and--now, of course, 43:31 but for somebody who may not know, 43:32 but Jews and Samaritans hated each other. 43:34 They were neighbors to each other, they were cousins, 43:37 they shared some of the same genes and background, 43:40 but they hated each other, and so Jesus talks about this 43:44 poor Jew that's going to Jericho. 43:45 He gets robbed and mugged, beat up and left for dead on the side 43:48 of the road, and priest comes by and ignores him. 43:51 A Levite comes by, ignores him. 43:53 It wasn't until a Samaritan, of all things, 43:57 the cultural enemy of Israelites, 43:59 comes up to this Jewish Israelite, 44:01 takes him, binds his wounds, takes his wine, 44:03 his oil, pours it on his wounds, bandages him up, 44:06 puts him on his donkey, walks him to an inn and stays 44:08 overnight with him and nurses him at his own expense. 44:12 And then, when he leaves, he gives extra money to the 44:14 innkeeper and says, "Please take care of him until I 44:17 come back from my business." 44:19 And so Jesus says, "Who was the neighbor of that Israelite?" 44:23 And so the man kind of mumbles, and he's in a crowd. 44:25 In front of it, he can't--he knows the answer is obvious, 44:29 and so he says, "Well, the Samaritan." 44:31 "Pardon me?" 44:33 You can almost see Jesus saying, "Pardon me, clarify?" 44:35 "Samaritan." 44:37 "Samaritan, all right, yes," he says, "it is the Samaritan." 44:42 So Jesus is sharing with us what He shared on the Sermon of the 44:45 Mount, "Blessed are those--" you know, 44:48 or not said "Blessed are those," He says, 44:49 but "Love your neighbor--" not "love your neighbor"-- "Love 44:52 your enemies and bless those who curse you." 44:55 Friends, this is the Great Commission and great principles 44:58 that God has given to us and that we find clarified, 45:03 and Jesus uses this parable to clarify the depth of the second 45:06 commandment in the Bible. 45:09 And so the lesson's author shares a burden that God also 45:12 shares and expresses not only here, 45:14 but also especially in the book of James, 45:16 but throughout the New Testament, 45:18 and that is this, that although the Seventh-day Adventist Church 45:20 is the most cutting-edge church in the world, 45:22 there's no church in the world that I am aware of or ever have 45:25 come across that has as many cutting-edge Bible truths as the 45:28 Seventh-day Adventist Church. 45:31 And, friends, we are blessed because of that. 45:32 We have many more answers to the big questions and concerns to 45:36 life, philosophy, and theology. 45:38 Certainly, it clarifies many things and helps us to be more 45:41 established in a very devoted and trusting 45:45 relationship with Jesus Christ. 45:47 But, friends, all of that, the judgment hour and the sanctuary 45:52 truth, and all these different cutting edge truth, 45:54 the Sabbath, and so on, all of it is worth nothing if we're not 45:57 also living out a loving life, if we're not kind to other 46:02 people, if we're not avoiding prejudices against others or 46:07 thinking that some are less valuable than ourselves, 46:10 and so driving this home in our church 46:11 and church schools is essential. 46:16 Then Monday, it says--Monday goes on and it expands in a more 46:19 comprehensive way the quoting from the Sermon of 46:21 the Mount, which I just shared with you. 46:22 That's Matthew chapter 5, verses 14 and 16. 46:25 Actually, it's not what I just shared with you. 46:27 In this case, it's "the light of the world," and Jesus says, 46:31 "You are the light of the world," and to paraphrase and 46:34 summarize, it says, "Therefore, go out and shine that your 46:37 Father may be glorified in your good works." 46:40 And so that's important for us to understand. 46:44 And then, when we come to Tuesday--points us back to the 46:47 gospel commission and reminds us that, 46:49 indeed, all of us are disciple-makers. 46:52 All of us are to go, therefore, and make disciples. 46:56 Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that's the job of the 46:58 evangelist, the pastor, or the Bible-worker, 47:01 but that's not true. 47:02 God has called us--for all of us to encourage people into a faith 47:06 and to share our testimony and to share the Word of God. 47:09 All of this is vital and important for you and I. 47:15 And then, finally, on Wednesday, we have "seeking the truth," and 47:19 this is where I'd like to end off. 47:21 Truth is certainly something that has become very unpopular 47:26 in our day and age in the church world. 47:28 The Seventh-day Adventist Church has not been immune to this. 47:31 When I was baptized in 1992, there was a--some of the seniors 47:36 in the church in which I joined would come up to me 47:38 and they would talk about "the truth." 47:40 And they would say, you know, "We need to go out and share the 47:42 truth," or "I was just with my neighbor, 47:44 and I was sharing with her the truth." 47:46 And I'd never heard that term, and I thought, "What? 47:48 That's a powerful but a new term to me and concept." 47:52 And, friends, I have to say that it's been years since I've heard 47:56 any church members--it seems like a died off with that senior 47:58 generation, and now we're afraid to refer to the truth. 48:03 And so I just want to share with you, 48:06 over the next two minutes, some quotes from the Bible, 48:10 from the New Testament, from Jesus in particular, 48:13 because truth appears 105 times in the New Testament. 48:16 It's saturated with the concept of the truth. 48:19 The truth is paramount to Jesus Christ, 48:22 and it's paramount--He wants it to be paramount to you and me. 48:25 In John 8:32, it says, "You shall know the truth, 48:28 and the truth shall make you free." 48:32 In John chapter 1:17, it says, "For the law was given through 48:35 Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." 48:40 In John chapter 4, verse 23, it says, 48:42 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true 48:43 worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth." 48:49 In John 14, verse 6, Jesus said to them, 48:50 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. 48:55 No one comes to the Father except through Me." 48:57 In John 15, verse 26, it says, "But when the Holy Spirit comes, 49:01 whom I will send from the Father, 49:03 the Spirit of truth proceeds from the Father, 49:07 He will testify of Me." 49:09 And then, finally, in John 17, verse 17, 49:11 Jesus says to His Father, "Sanctify them," these new 49:14 believers, "by Your truth. 49:18 Your word is truth," He says. 49:21 And then, finally, John chapter 18, 49:23 verse 37, as He's talking to the Roman governor during His trial, 49:27 He says, "For this cause I was born, and for this 49:30 cause I have come into the world, that I should bear 49:32 witness to the--" you guessed it-- "the truth. 49:36 Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 49:40 Now, friends, that's just a sampling of just the teachings 49:43 and statements of Jesus alone, yet alone the apostles 49:45 and Paul, and so on. 49:47 And so, friends, we need to close here today, 49:49 but I hope that this has been helpful for you and that you've 49:52 been able to pick up something that is able to help your 49:55 experience become that much more aligned with the truth because 49:59 God has given us the truth. 50:01 This is our special offer, if you missed it at the beginning 50:03 of the program, that we want to 50:04 be able to take advantage of that. 50:06 Please go ahead and call in to the information on the screen, 50:09 and you can take advantage of it. 50:11 You can call or get a digital copy of it as well. 50:15 Until then, God bless you, and we look forward 50:17 to seeing you next week. 50:22 male announcer: Don't forget to request today's 50:23 life-changing free resource. 50:25 Not only can you receive this free gift in the mail, 50:27 you can download a digital copy straight to your 50:29 computer or mobile device. 50:31 To get your digital copy of today's free gift, 50:34 simply text the key word on your screen to 40544, 50:38 or visit the web address shown on your screen, 50:41 and be sure to select the digital download option 50:43 on the request page. 50:44 It's now easier than ever for you to study God's Word with 50:48 Amazing Facts wherever and whenever you want and, 50:51 most important, to share it with others. 50:55 ♪♪♪ 51:05 Doug Batchelor: Friends, we're out here in the Pacific 51:07 Ocean, not too far from the island of Fiji, 51:10 and we're getting ready to look at some wonders in the deep. 51:14 The Bible says God made the heaven, 51:15 the earth, and the sea, and there are things under the sea 51:18 that are beautiful that many people have never seen. 51:21 Some folks might just skim along, 51:22 snorkel on the surface, but if you want to see the real majesty 51:26 of the ocean, you've got to go deeper. 51:28 ♪♪♪ 51:38 ♪♪♪ 51:42 Doug: Because people don't have gills like fish, 51:44 we have to do something extraordinary to be able to 51:47 breathe below the surface. 51:49 And because you have to breathe all the time, 51:51 we need this special equipment. 51:55 In the same way, the Bible says a Christian needs 51:57 to pray without ceasing. 51:59 We need to always be breathing the atmosphere of heaven if 52:02 we're going to live a Christian life in this world below. 52:05 ♪♪♪ 52:15 ♪♪♪ 52:25 ♪♪♪ 52:32 Doug: Wow, what a wonderful world. 52:34 ♪♪♪ 52:39 ♪♪♪ 52:50 Diana Dixon: My name is Diana Dixon. 52:52 I'm a professional truck driver. 52:54 In August the 4th, 2011, I stopped to help in an accident. 52:58 male: Diana Dixon also tried to help. 53:00 She parked her semi, jumped out, and headed toward the pickup. 53:04 That's when she saw vehicles barreling toward her, 53:07 so she reacted by jumping off 475 to a road below. 53:11 Diana: Well, pickup hits--clipped a semi, and I 53:14 stopped to help, and I saw it in the mirror, so I walked back. 53:16 Gentleman told me, he says, "Hey, 53:18 you know, everything's okay, they called 9-1-1." 53:20 And I looked over at the pickup, and there was a black 53:23 pickup over there, and he was okay. 53:24 At about that time, I don't know how far I walked, 53:27 but I walked far enough, and a semi hit 53:29 him, and it imploded. 53:32 I knew it was going to hit me. 53:33 I had 30 seconds to decide, and I decided to jump. 53:37 Diana: Yeah, I jumped off the bridge. 53:39 My back is broken. 53:42 male: Where are you at? 53:44 Diana: I don't know. 53:46 Diana: Fractured my pelvis in 24 places, 53:48 5 broken ribs, C5 neck fracture. 53:51 I had a collapsed lung. 53:53 I had a lacerated bladder. 53:54 I was bleeding internally. 53:56 I had no marks on the outside of me at all but a scrape where my 53:59 arm had scraped the concrete. 54:01 From the chest down, I was on fire. 54:03 I was a dispatcher for a year after the accident, 54:07 and I went back and finished my degree, 54:09 and I went to Pittsburgh, threw a backpack over my back, 54:13 walked like all the other students. 54:15 I ran a marathon, and since then, 54:18 I've been back to truck driving. 54:20 There was a gentleman I worked with, 54:22 and one day, he was walking in, and he walked up to my desk, 54:25 and I was reading my Bible, and he says, 54:28 "Are you a believer?" 54:29 And I said, "Yes," and he gave me some Amazing Facts study 54:33 guides, and it just--it was an eye-opening experience for me. 54:38 I mean, I started reading them, and I had a bunch of questions 54:40 to ask him, so I got online, and I got on the Amazing Facts web 54:44 page, and I just found it--information, 54:48 just, that I'd never known. 54:50 I went back to work as a truck driver because 54:52 that was my ministry. 54:53 It was my ministry before the accident. 54:56 And I was driving down the road, and I just needed a connection, 55:00 and I was flipping through, and somehow, 55:01 I ended up on YouTube, and next thing I know, 55:04 "Amazing Facts," one of those things, 55:06 would come up there, and I listened to it. 55:08 I'm driving down the road. 55:10 I got 11 hours of driving, so I listened to one, 55:14 I listened to another one, and the more I listened to him, 55:17 everything that I thought in my heart, 55:19 I'd just click onto one of these YouTubes, 55:21 and there he was giving me the answer. 55:22 I walked in a Seventh-day Adventist Church for the first 55:24 time, and I felt at home. 55:27 I was baptized in the Seventh-day Adventist Church 55:30 because I had found the truth that I, 55:33 just, was searching for and I had been praying about. 55:36 Amazing Facts has been such an inspiration and important for my 55:41 coming back into ministry, that I want to be able to give back 55:44 to anyone that I can, and Amazing Facts, 55:48 it is the backbone of my ministry. 55:52 My name is Diana Dixon. 55:54 Thank you for changing my life. 56:02 ♪♪♪ 56:12 ♪♪♪ 56:16 Doug: Hi, friends, this is Pastor Doug Batchelor. 56:18 Would you like to hear an amazing fact? 56:20 More and more of the world is turning now to natural forms of 56:23 energy to try and find their power, 56:26 and they're resorting to things like the wind farm that we have 56:28 here in Jamaica at Wigton. 56:30 You know, I remember years ago, my wife and I going to visit the 56:33 Big Island of Hawaii, and we were amazed at all the potential 56:37 there for natural power, but they weren't using it. 56:40 There, at the south part of the island, 56:42 there was volcanic activity. 56:44 You can make geothermal power there. 56:46 If you went to Waimea, the wind was constantly blowing, 56:50 but they had no windmills there. 56:52 If you went over to Kona, sun always shines--solar electric. 56:56 But they didn't have very much solar electric there. 56:59 And if you went to Hilo, it was always raining--hydroelectric. 57:02 And in spite of all that potential for power there on the 57:05 Big Island of Hawaii, they were powering the island back then 57:08 with dirty diesel generators. 57:11 Made me think about how we sometimes waste the power of 57:13 God's Spirit that he's making available to us, 57:16 and each of us can have that Spirit if we simply ask. 57:19 You can read in Zechariah chapter 10. 57:21 What do we do? 57:22 Ask of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain, 57:25 and He will send flashing clouds." 57:27 Jesus also said in the book of Luke, 57:29 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your 57:32 children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the 57:36 Holy Spirit to them that ask?" 57:38 When you look in the book of Acts, 57:41 when the Holy Spirit was poured out, 57:42 it says there was the sound of a mighty rushing wind, 57:46 and that power that launched the church back then can still power 57:49 your life today, friends. 57:50 So why don't you ask Him? 57:52 ♪♪♪ 57:59 ♪♪♪ 58:09 ♪♪♪ 58:19 ♪♪♪ |
Revised 2020-11-24