25 Revelation s Spiritual Revolution for a New Millennium

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1 Revelation of Hope 1 My topic tonight is Revelation s Movement of Destiny 2 The tributaries of a major river in the Philippines were swollen from the spring rains. As the river overflowed, the Filipino feast of crucifixion was occurring. The year was A barge swiftly sailed down a narrow tributary that got larger and larger. It was joined by a second and third barge. Each of these barges had a large crucifix and hundreds of Filipinos on board. During this special Holy Day the barges floated down the river in a religious procession. More people from the banks of the river began to swim out to join the procession. As they climbed onto the barges, the barges began to sink. The marshals, in an attempt to calm the panicking crowd aboard the barges began throwing people into the water. But it was too late. First one barge tipped over, then a second and then a third until there were 300 people that drowned. Three hundred people drowned because they grasped the wrong thing. Whatever one believes about their religious convictions and worshipping the crucifix, they grasped something that couldn t hold them up

2 They grasped something that would not bear their weight. Unfortunately, on a religious pilgrimage, they lost their lives. I wonder is it possible for us to grasp beliefs in the name of religion and sink spiritually? Does God have a church on earth today solidly based on the Bible that won t sink? 5 What does the Bible teach about discovering God s truth for today. 6 There certainly is a hunger for genuine Christianity in the hearts of thousands. There is a longing for something more than they have. That hunger isn t merely for a church; that hunger is for a Bible-believing people. That hunger is for the living Christ and His truth. It s for a people that base their lives on the word of God. 7 There is a hunger for authentic Christianity and the truth of God worldwide today. Let me give you a few examples of this spiritual longing. After the fall of communism, people lined up for hours to get seats into meetings like this. They longed to hear the word of God. When Russian army trucks delivered cases of Bibles to the series the people rushed the hosts and hostess. It was almost bedlam. These dear Russian people, who had been denied the opportunity for so long, were eager to get their hands on the word of God

3 There is something deep within the human spirit which wants to know God. There is a hunger for truth in our society. Materialism has not satisfied. 10 Pleasure has not satisfied. Men and women are longing for truth. 11 Technology has not satisfied. There is that longing within, not merely for religion, not merely for a large church that becomes a social club but there is that hunger for Christ. 12 There is that hunger for the word of God. There is that hunger for Bible preaching. There is that hunger for truth that men and women can hang on to. 13 There is an inner compulsion for something solid, something that won't sink when we cling to it. Does God call a people on earth today His Church? As you look down the history of the Christian church, God has always had a people proclaiming His truth to that generation

4 In the days of Noah God called a man. Noah appealed to men and women to enter into the ark of safety. The majority rejected God s call but God still had a few faithful people who entered the ark. They were His church. The ark was an ark of safety. There was a call to step out from the majority. There was a call from the popular masses. There was a call to take a step in faith. There was a call to get into the ark. Today there is a call to obey God and get into God s ark of safety, His church In the Old Testament God called Abraham out of the popular majority. 18 Genesis 26:2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. God called Abraham out of the popular culture to follow Him completely. Notice the features of God s people- 19 Genesis 26:5 Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws. 20 4

5 God chose Moses to lead His people, to be faithful to Him and keep His commandments. In the days of ancient Israel God called out a faithful obedient group. 21 Deuteronomy 11:1 Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always. 22 In the days of Noah, a people loved God, kept His commandments, and got into the ark. 23 In the days of Abraham, a people loved God, stepped out from the majority, and kept His commandments. 24 In the days of ancient Israel, a people loved God and kept His commandments. God called them His chosen, His special people. In the days of the New Testament, Peter preached powerfully. Three thousand were baptized on the day of Pentecost. 25 As they were baptized they stepped out and became God s special people to keep His commandments. 26 5

6 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, In the days of Noah did God have a special people? Certainly. 27 In the days of Abraham did God have a special people? Yes he did. In the days of Moses did God have a special people? Yes He did. In the days of Peter did He have a special people? Yes He did. God s special people were always characterized by obedience. They loved Him enough to obey Him. They were carved out from the majority. They were a commandment keeping people. that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. So God called them from darkness to light from error to truth from commandment breaking to commandment keeping. 28 Throughout the centuries, God has had men and women who have been faithful to Him. They have been called His church. 29 It was never God s intent for the Christian Church to be divided into different denominations each one teaching something different. God s word teaches something else. 30 6

7 As an eternal principle, you do not go to the Church to find the truth, you go to the Bible to find the truth. Now wouldn t you agree on that? If you say you go to the church to find the truth then the question is, which church? 31 There are over 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc. in the world. If you take that philosophy then the Muslim goes to his faith to find the truth. The Buddhist goes to his faith to find the truth. The Jew goes to his faith. Some people say, But I have been born into this particular religion, and I ve been a Methodist from the day I was born and I ll die a Methodist. I ve been a Catholic since the day I was born. Isn t that what the Jews said when they crucified Jesus. They said, We ve always been Jews we can t accept any advanced or further light. If you are so favored and blessed by God to receive further light than your parents had, why not praise God for that? When you take a step to follow truth and become part of God s commandment-keeping people, you do not deny any truth that you believed in the past. When some people come to a series of meetings like this and they learn new truth they go through a struggle. They discover new truths from God s word and it produces a conflict because it calls them to make a change. There is a battle in their mind. They wonder, To follow new truth will I have to deny everything I believed in the past? 32 Certainly not. Look back at that past and say, I thank God for it. Every church has some truth, some light from God. 7

8 While we may appreciate our past, we commit ourselves to following all the truth God has for us today. If you were brought up as a Methodist, a Baptist or a Pentecostal, why not say, God, thank you for the path you ve led me, I will now accept further light because you ve blessed me with further truth. In taking this step to follow Jesus and become part of His special commandment keeping people, you are not denying anything that was true in your past heritage. 33 You re just leaving off errors that you accepted because they were handed down to you. You are leaving off falsehoods that slipped into the church. You re simply dropping off some baggage that may not be in harmony with God s word. You are walking ahead in the fullness of truth. So You do not go to the Church to find the truth; you go to the Bible to find the truth. When you find the truth, you look for a church that teaches the truth. And when you ve found the truth of God s word in the Bible then you find a church that squares up with the Bible. You may wonder, How does the Bible define the church? 1 Timothy 3:15 I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Here s the best definition of the church in the Bible. The church of the living God is the pillar and ground of truth. The church is the custodian of truth

9 Historian John Milner puts it this way in the book Religious Controversy There is but one inquiry to be made, namely, which is the true church... By solving this one question... you will at once solve every question of religious controversy that has ever been or that ever can be agitated. 36 Dr. Milner said, you solve this one question Which church is the true church? And here is how you solve it. You find the truth in the Bible. You compare the truth in the Bible with what each church teaches then you can discover God s true church. Jesus prayed that His church would be one. 37 John 17:21 That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You... What is this unity Christ prays for based upon? The truth of His word. 38 John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 39 God s plan is that the Christian church makes the Bible its foundation and follows it as He has outlined in Scripture. What did He say, again? John 8:

10 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Somebody says, But we can t know truth, it s not possible to know truth. But what does Jesus say? 41 You shall know the truth. Then Jesus adds John 17:21 That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. Ladies and gentlemen, if we come to God with an open mind, with a seeking spirit, with an honest heart, He will reveal His truth to us. But if we come locked in our own opinions, we will be unable to understand His truth. If we approach God s word only desiring to prove our position, we will not discover His will; our own thoughts will influence what we read in His word. If we say, Lord, show me truth, even if it is different from what I already believe, He will reveal His will. He will show us the truths of His word. His desire is that Corinthians 12:25 There should be no schism in the body... No schism, no division, Why not? Because we come seeking God s ways. We come seeking God s truth. We come desiring to follow God with all our hearts

11 Acts 20:30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. The Bible predicted in the early days of Christianity, there would be a departure from the teachings of God s word. The book of Revelation describes God s faithful people who would cling to truth at any cost. 45 Revelation, the 12th chapter, describes more clearly than any place in the Bible the history of the Christian church. It describes God s plan and people down through the ages and Satan s vicious attacks in four distinct episodes. 46 It reveals to us without a shadow of a doubt, the identifying characteristics of this special group of people called God s church today. The Bible begins in Revelation 12 by describing a woman. A woman who appears in Heaven, the Bride of Jesus Christ. Notice what a woman represents in Bible prophecy Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, 48 that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. The apostle Paul presents the church as Jesus bride. Revelation, chapter 12, continues the description of the battle between good and evil

12 Revelation 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; 50 he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Episode #1 in Revelation chapter 12. Satan rebels against God in Heaven. 51 But Christ wins and Satan loses. Satan is cast out of Heaven. In episode #1 God is victorious. Episode #2 Centuries pass by 53 Revelation 12:4, 5 52 And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, 54 to devour her Child as soon as it was born. Satan now focuses his efforts on destroying Jesus. The devil is angry. He stands before the woman. 55 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Who was that male child that would rule all nations with a rod of iron? Jesus

13 Did Satan try to destroy Jesus when He was born? Did he? Herod passed a decree that all male children be killed. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 57 What happened? The holy family fled to Egypt. God preserved them there. Satan couldn t destroy Christ. 58 In the wilderness years later, Satan appeared as an angel of light tempting Jesus in hopes of destroying Him. Again, Jesus wins. Satan loses. 59 On the cross Satan tried to destroy Christ but our Lord triumphed. He said, Into thy hands I commend My spirit, and committed Himself to His Father. He went in to the grave, and was raised from the dead. What does Revelation 12:5 say? And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. His mission of salvation is accomplished and Jesus ascends to Heaven. 61 Episode #2 Satan tries to destroy Jesus. What happens 62 13

14 Christ wins. Satan loses. God provided a way of safety. 63 In episode three Satan turns his wrath on the followers of Christ. 64 All but one of the disciples died a martyr's death. Satan attacks the church. 65 Church and state united in the days of Constantine and following. For a while the church enjoyed the states favor and unusual popularity. 66 Then persecution followed. As church and state united, Satan attacked, fiercely persecuting the true believers. It says in the book The History of the Popes vol. 2, p Great numbers were driven from their habitations with their wives and children, stripped and naked... many of them inhumanly massacred. Satan again attacked like a vicious wolf. 68 What does Revelation 12:6 say? 14

15 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, When Satan attempted to destroy the church in the dark ages the woman, the church, fled into the wilderness. 69 The church went into hiding. God prepared a place for her. Incidentally ladies and gentlemen, when Satan attacks your life God always prepares a place of refuge. When Satan tries to destroy you, God always prepares a place of security. The arms of God are always strong. Church and state unite. The dark ages, AD 538 to The large popular church reigns. Christ s church is not now visible. Christ s church is in the wilderness. Christ s church is in hiding. How long would the church be in hiding? that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days days. Now remember 72 In Bible Prophecy, one prophetic day equals one literal year. Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:34 73 So the church is in the wilderness for 1260 years. The popular church and state have united. As we have studied in previous lectures, the dark ages began in AD 538 and ended in

16 The Roman church pontiffs had more power during much of this time than the kings of Europe themselves. 75 God s true church during this period of time was in the wilderness. Faithful men and women of God clung to the truths of God s word in seclusion. 76 The reformers were persecuted for their faith. 77 Even during this time God had faithful men and women whose minds were bound by the principles of God s word. 78 Revelation 12 Episode #3 Satan Tries to Destroy Christ s Church 79 Christ wins. Satan loses. 80 The wilderness period ended in 1798 with the capture of the pope by Napoleon s general, Berthier

17 Here s where the prophecy becomes fascinating. Sometime after 1798 God would raise up His end-time people. Just like in the days of Noah, Abraham, and Moses, God would have a special commandment-keeping people. Like in the days of the New Testament and the dark ages, God would have a special commandment-keeping people faithful to Him The book of Revelation describes the identifying characteristics of God s last-day people in these words: 84 Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Abraham kept God s commandments. Moses kept God s commandments. The Israelites kept God s commandments. The New Testament church kept God s commandments. The book of Revelation describes the Bride of Christ as a Bible-believing, Christ-centered, grace-filled movement that keeps the commandments of God. Here are the characteristics that the 12th chapter of the Book of Revelation gives us to identify God s people today

18 It says they Keep the commandments of God. 88 Have the testimony of Jesus. Now notice, first they keep the commandments of God. What are those 10 commandments? 89 Exodus 20:3-17 The Ten Commandments I. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image God will raise up a people who love Him so much that they worship Him directly. They do not put their confidence in images and icons whether they are pagan or religious. God says, Come to me, directly. 91 III. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain... God will have a people that so respect the name of Jesus. They accept Jesus as Savior, Jesus as Lord. 92 IV. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God

19 Here is a commandment-keeping people described in the Book of Revelation that keep the 7th day Sabbath. 94 Here are a group of people who love Jesus so much that they are pure in thought Thou shall not commit adultery. They re kind in spirit Thou shall not kill. Here are people of the new covenant. God says of them: 95 Hebrews 10:16... I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them. They sense God s ten laws, His Ten Commandments, are really happy ways to live. They describe life at its best. 96 God s people are not some super saints. They are weak. They falter. They make mistakes. At times they sin. But they re committed to Christ and they believe that God has raised them up as a special people. The Book of Revelation describes this last-day people. 1. Keep commandments Have the testimony of Jesus. What s this testimony of Jesus? What s this all about? The Bible defines the testimony of Jesus 98 19

20 They have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17) and the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10) Later on in the series we are going to talk about true and false prophets and how you can tell the difference. But Revelation 12 says the bride of Christ is a Biblebelieving church that loves Jesus, keeps His commandments, has the testimony of Jesus or the gift of prophecy. The Bible talks about the gift of prophecy in God s last-day church 1 Corinthians 1:7 So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The church waiting for the coming of Jesus will come behind in no gift All the gifts of the spirit will be manifest in God s church. God s church will be a spirit filled church. A powerful church. We will see miraculous healings from time to time in God s church if God so chooses. 101 He ll bless it with unusual prophetic insight. There will be dramatic breakthroughs. The Holy Spirit will be poured out thousands will become part of His spiritual community. God s church is a spirit-filled church that impacts the world. Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world

21 The true church will be a worldwide body committed to Christ and obedient to His word. He said in Matthew 28:19, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, All nations were to come to a Bible-believing, grace-filled, commandment-keeping, Sabbath-keeping, Spirit-empowered movement. 104 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, 105 I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen In every age God would have people who respond to His grace, commit their lives to Him and obediently follow Him into the watery grave of baptism. They become part of His church. A special called out people who are committed to follow His truth. 108 It is His special movement, like in the days of Noah. A special movement, like in the days of Abraham. A special movement, like in ancient Israel. A special movement, like New Testament Christianity, like those faithful Christians in the dark ages

22 Revelation 14 describes this last-day movement. Catch the power and significance of this. Let your heart beat with excitement as Revelation describes this last-day movement. 110 Revelation 14:6, 7 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people Is this a little, non-denominational movement? Not at all. Here is a worldwide, global movement that is preaching the gospel to every nation, tribe, tongue and people saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come. What does it mean to fear God? Does it mean be afraid? No, it means reverence or respect God. 113 How do we give glory to God? To glorify God means to honor Him in how we live, both in our diet and lifestyle. Whatever you eat or drink do all to the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31). What does I Corinthians 6:19, 20 say? Know you not that you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body. 114 Why should we do this for the hour of His judgment has come. The message flying in the midst of heaven represents a church, a movement, which calls men and women to the fact that we are accountable to God for our actions. 22

23 In an age of irresponsibility God is calling for moral responsibility. He is calling for obedience. 115 God s final message for mankind declares, The hour of His judgment has come. This is a special time in earth s history. No more business as usual. No more pleasures as usual. The hour of God s judgment is come. The message continues 116 Revelation 14:7 and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water. 117 Who is that? The Creator. God s final call is a call to worship the Creator. 118 The Sabbath is part of God s last-day message. A call to come apart every Sabbath, every 7th day to worship God. All this is part of an end time message. All of this is part of an urgent message. All of this is part of a last day message for God s last day movement today. God s last day message continues in Revelation 14:8 119 And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,

24 because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 121 Wine represents false doctrine. Babylon symbolizes a system of religious confusion. God calls us out of confusion to His truth. His end time people restore truths long lost sight of. Cling to the truth you have always known but take the steps God leads you into to follow more truth. 122 Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. God says, My people, come out. Jesus gently says to His people in all religious denominations, Come; come out of her my people God not only calls us to come out of something, but also to come into something. Come to a new movement. Come to a special people, a worldwide communion that is keeping God s commandments. 125 It is Bible based. It is a Sabbath-keeping, Adventist movement. Don t be embroiled in teachings that are incompatible with the Christ of scripture. 24

25 Jesus makes a final appeal the three angels messages in Revelation are urgent. Are you a member of a church that is preaching the three angels messages of Revelation 14? 126 The first angels message is a call to accept Jesus totally, completely, fully as your Savior and Lord. It says, Fear God, obey Him and give glory to Him in your body, the hour of His judgment has come and worship the Creator on the Sabbath. The second angels message is a call out of the religious confusion of so many churches. These are the most urgent messages in the Bible. A large part of a religious community can t explain these messages. Isn t that rather strange? This is God s last day message! The next angel follows with the most urgent appeal in the Bible, 129 Revelation 14:9, 10 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 130 If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,

26 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God Here s a message about the Mark of the Beast. It presents the final conflict between true and false worship. This mark of human authority, human traditions, have taken the place of the commandments of God. A church-state power has arisen. You are a child of God. Saved by His incredible grace. The first angels message says. Obey God. Give glory to Him. The hour of His judgment is come. Proclaim that Christ is Lord of all by worshipping on the Sabbath. The second angel s message says, Babylon has fallen. False doctrines which have no foundation in scripture have entered the church. Come out of her. The third angels message regarding the Mark of the Beast calls all men and women to stand by their commitment to follow Christ. God says, I appeal to you to accept my last day message of Revelation God s true church will meet the identifying characteristics of the true church in Revelation 12 and Recapture the pure faith of the disciples. And my heart longs to recapture the faith of the disciples. This is more than denominationalism. It is recapturing the Bible truths that have been lost sight of

27 God s church will have two characteristics according to Revelation a. Keeping God's commandments. 138 b. Guidance by the gift of prophecy. The Seventh-day Adventist church qualifies on both accounts Be a worldwide, mission-driven movement. It will be a movement that goes to every nation, every kindred, every tongue and every people. It will be a movement that accepts men and women of all races, all language groups, and all creeds. A movement that does not believe that God is the God of any one race or people. 140 But it will be a worldwide movement. The SDA Church is the largest international Protestant mission movement in the world, in over 200 countries listed by the United Nations. 4. Call people to total commitment to Christ. It will be a movement that says, Fear God. It calls men and women to total commitment to Jesus Christ

28 5. Lead people to the Bible Sabbath It will be a movement that leads people to accept God s last day Bible Sabbath and worship the Creator Encourage people to give their bodies to Him. To give up alcohol and tobacco and unclean foods. It will be a movement that says, Fear God and give glory to Him Make a final appeal to accept truth. I am a Seventh- day Adventist because as I ve honestly studied the Bible and looked at the facts of scripture, 144 I want to be part of a church that is Bible based. And the Seventh-day Adventist church is. 145 I want to be part of a church that teaches Salvation is not by works but by grace. And the Seventh-day Adventist church upholds Jesus Christ. I want to be part of a movement that follows in the footsteps of Bible heroes like Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, like Matthew, Mark and John, keeping God s commandments and doing His will. The Seventh-day Adventist church does. I want to be part of a movement that understands our bodies are the temple of God. A movement that calls us to glorify God in your body because we are physical, mental and spiritual beings. What we put into our bodies affects our spiritual life

29 I want to be part of a movement that calls men and women just like Christ did when He said, If you love Me, keep My commandments. Just like the Ten Commandments say to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 148 I want to be part of a movement that I can look at the Book of Revelation honestly. I don t have to dodge texts. A movement that is carved out by God. A movement that is shaped by God. 149 I m not interested in denominationalism. I m not interested at all in what man teaches; I only want what God teaches. My heart longs for the truth of God s word. I ve seen in the Seventh-day Adventist movement a church that is dedicated and faithful to the scriptures of God s word. God s church is not in the majority. You can never base truth on a majority vote. Did the majority go into the ark or were they outside the ark? The majority was outside the ark. In the days of Jesus did the majority say, Take that man off the cross or did the majority say, Crucify Him? 150 Most of the time, the majority has not been right when it comes to understanding Bible truth. God s church is not the most popular. Truth rarely wins a popularity contest

30 God s church is not the most spectacular. God values truth more than architecture. 152 God s church does not need the approval of popular religious leaders. 153 Truth is truth whether religious leaders accept it as truth of not! Every time there is a series of meetings like this people come to the meetings, the Spirit of God is working on their hearts and they are discovering new truths from the Bible. 154 They get a little troubled and go to their religious leaders to ask them about the truths they are learning. 155 The real issue is not what some religious leader thinks. The real issue is what is in God s word. What does Jesus say? The question in God s final judgment is not, What did your pastor or priest tell you? It is, What did Jesus say? Did you convict me in my heart Lord? The question in Noah s day was not, What did the majority do? They were lost in the flood. 156 The question in Jesus day was not, What did the majority do? They yelled, Crucify Him, Crucify Him. 30

31 The question in the dark ages was not, What did the popular church do? The question is, Jesus, what do you want me personally to do? Jesus is our only Savior. His word is our only guide. The Holy Spirit leads honest-hearted seekers to His unchangeable, eternal truth. When He does truth Beckons us to follow it Burns in our soul Frees our mind from error Demands we take a stand. James Russell Lowell writes about the triumph of truth in these words. James Russell Lowell Truth forever on the scaffold. Wrong forever on the throne. But that scaffold sways the future, and beyond the dim unknown standeth God watching over His own

32 Are you a truth seeker? Deep within your heart do you long for truth? Are you searching for a worldwide movement that follows ALL God s word? Maybe as you ve been coming to these meetings there has been a struggle with what you have previously believed and the new truths you are learning? You are convicted about the truths you have found. You sense the Holy Spirit is leading you. Would you like to say, Jesus, today I m going to give up the battle and open my heart to walk in your truth. I m going to take that step to follow you. It s often not easy to take that step. 163 A Protestant minister celebrated communion one Sunday. After communion a women stood up and asked, Pastor would you preach on the text in the New Testament that says clearly that Christ changed the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday? 164 He said, No problem, I ll preach on it next week. He studied all week. He couldn t find the text. He came to pulpit and said, Folks, give me another week. He studied all the next week and still couldn t find the text. He came across some literature and began studying the Sabbath. And he said the longest walk he ever took was that next week from his study to the pulpit. 165 He had been preaching for 40 years on Sunday. He was a man in his early 70 s. 32

33 He came to the pulpit and he said, Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot find the text that says the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday. I only find, Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy. And ladies and gentlemen I am a pastor, but I have to keep the Bible Sabbath. And I have to find a people that does. He said, Truth beckons you to follow it. I must follow the new truths I ve learned. It wasn t easy. He lost his home, his job, his retirement, his car. He said, When God calls you, you must follow. I felt I had no other alternative but to follow the convictions the Spirit placed in my heart. Ladies and gentlemen truth beckons you to follow it. Why not make your decision tonight to follow the truth of God s word all the way. Why not make your decision right now. 166 There is an unparalleled joy which comes from following God s truth. God invites you to make that decision right now. I ve never met a person who said, I wish I would have waited before making my decision for Christ. I ve met many people who have said, I wish I would have responded years ago. This is your hour. This is your moment. Why not bow your head and say, Yes, Jesus, I will follow Your truth where ever you lead me. As we pray. 33