GYC Conference 2024: Wherever He Goes

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Generation. Youth. Christ. (GYC)

Plenary Sessions

Kameron DeVasher

The Last Link of Sympathy

These are they who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

Could not have picked a better theme for this year's conference.

And I'm excited to be here with you this evening.

And I want to let you know that for tonight and our subsequent nights, we won't be having so much of a sermon as we will have an interactive Bible study experience.

I would urge you to take out your Bibles.

In fact, I would expect you to take out your Bibles.

We're called to be people of the book, and by God's grace, we're gonna be people in the book this evening, amen?

But before we do any study of the book, let's begin with a word of prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for this life and for the promise, the hope, the assurance of eternal life that we have in Jesus Christ.

Lord, help us to understand Him and His plan for us more clearly, and by Your grace become more like Him, so that soon and very soon we will see him face to face.

We pray all of this in Jesus' name, amen.

It comes from the book of Revelation, chapter 14 and verse 4, and it talks about that end time people, God's identified people who were so sold out, so on fire for Jesus, that everywhere the Lamb goes, they go too.

And I obviously, we want to be part of that movement.

And the burden of Our evening presentations will be to study that theme out more extensively, more exhaustively.

And we're going to begin our study tonight in the book of 1 Peter.

1 Peter chapter 1, starting with verse 18.

The first thing we're gonna learn about the Lamb, we're gonna learn about the journey of the Lamb, the history of the Lamb, the current status of the Lamb, and our relation to the Lamb, starting with 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 18.

Scripture says, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold from your aimless conduct, received by tradition from your fathers, but, verse 19, with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Now careful attention, verse 20, he indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." Please notice that there are 2 verbs involved there.

There was a foreordained and then there was the manifest.

There was the plan, then there was the execution of the plan.

And according to this passage and many others, we will see that the idea of Christ coming to this earth, the plan of salvation, the plan for the Lamb, long predates not only our fall, but even our creation.

This is a repeated theme all throughout the New Testament.

The Apostle Paul goes back to this again and again.

He calls it this mystery that's been kept hidden in God.

For example, Romans chapter 16, verse 26, he refers to, quote, the mystery kept secret since the world began.

First Corinthians chapter 2, in verse 7, he refers to, quote, the wisdom of God, the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the ages.

Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 9 speaks of, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations.

Colossians chapter 1 verse 26 speaks of the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations and here we have in John, there in chapter 13 of the book of Revelation, he speaks of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.

Whether it's Peter or Paul or John, all these gospel writers refer to the Lamb not only as coming in these last days, but there was a plan, a mystery, a hidden concept that only God knew.

Friends, the gospel record of Christ's birth and life, death, it's all simply the outworking of a contingency plan that was hidden in God before the ages.

The first thing we need to know about the Lamb is that He was the Lamb on paper long before He was the Lamb in person.

That in heaven everything was fine, everyone got along, everything was happy, but in the heart of God he knew there was a lamb in a glass case.

But in his heart, there was the plan of redemption.

Now since Jesus would only be that Lamb in response to the fall of man, then the journey of the Lamb is tied inexorably to the history of sin.

For if there was no sin, there would be no need for the Lamb.

We would still interact with God never knowing that there was a lamb just in case in the heart of God.

It would have never had to be broken out.

And in heaven, scripture tells us that everything was perfect until it wasn't.

Go to Isaiah chapter 14 and at the same time, Ezekiel chapter 28.

We're gonna try to move with some efficiency this evening, but cover a lot of territory.

Isaiah chapter 14 and Ezekiel 28, a finger in both places if you will.

But these are a couple of passages where the scripture pulls back the curtain and we get to see behind the scenes of the great controversy and understand what was going on before the war broke out, before the fall of man, where the origin of evil began.

Isaiah chapter 14, we know it well, verse 12.

The prophet here is writing, looking back on the fall of Lucifer, and he says, "'How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!

How you were cut down to the ground, you who weaken the nations!

For you have said, ' and what are the next 3 words?

Now whatever we read now, we understand, was not being expressed out loud.

It was the internal monologue in the heart of Lucifer.

For you have said in your heart, quote, I will ascend into heaven.

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north.

I will ascend above the heights of the cloud.

I will be like the Most High." These pompous, arrogant, jealous, wicked words were all contained in the heart of Lucifer, for you have said, in your heart.

And if we flip over to Ezekiel chapter 28, the parallel passage that also gives us that inside information about the fall and origin of evil.

Ezekiel chapter 8, we're going to start with verses 15 and 16.

He speaks of Lucifer in these glowing words.

You walk back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.

You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created till iniquity was found." And what are the next 2 words?

Goes on to say, by the abundance of your trading, you became filled with violence within, and you sinned.

You have said in your heart, iniquity was found in you.

Now, while the Bible is expressly clear about how sin started and where sin started, What it does not tell us is why sin started.

And let me tell you, friends, please do not go down the road of saying, here's why Lucifer sinned.

Sister White puts it this way in Great Controversy, page 492.

It is impossible to explain the origin of sin so as to give a reason for its existence.

Sin is an intruder for whose presence no reason can be given.

I've heard people say things, well he had a really high position, he had a beautiful singing voice, he was an ordained cherub, he was a cover.

Because that makes it somebody else's fault.

It started in him, with him, by him, period.

She goes on to say, could excuse be found for it or cause be shown for its existence it would cease to be sin.

It would be reasonable, rational, even justifiable.

So we don't know why, we can't know why, but we do know who and we do know where.

So now we have this interesting dynamic in heaven.

The sea of happy, healthy, sentient beings, filling the society of heaven with joy and singing, not realizing that in the heart of Lucifer was a plan for rebellion.

And at the same time, in the heart of God, was a plan of redemption.

Andrew Park

One Life

Father in heaven, I was reminded of a Bible text, Isaiah 55, backstage.

So shall my word be which goeth forth out of my mouth.

It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Father, I pray that your holy infinite word may come into our hearts and bear fruit for the glory of God this Sabbath day we pray in Jesus name.

A couple of years ago a friend of mine came up to me and he told me that there was this sermon that I needed to listen to.

It's called War Stories by Pastor Henry Wright.

My friend said, if you're in ministry, you need to listen to this sermon.

He told me that before I went into full-time ministry, so I told him I'd check it out.

But as certain commitments sometimes go, I never ended up listening to the sermon.

Now 1 day this year, as I was working on my house, my wife and I are currently renovating our home, I decided, this is the day I'm going to listen to war stories.

Because it had been so long, I forgot who the preacher was who preached the sermon.

And as the search results came up, all I saw was Pastor Henry Wright.

Now, after I was scrolling for a few minutes, unable to find the preacher that clearly wasn't showing up, I decided to click on the video that seemed right, and I started listening.

In this sermon, Pastor Wright began talking about the 12 disciples, the 12 ministers that Jesus had called to follow Him.

By the way, if you're not a pastor, all of us are ministers of the gospel in your home, at your work, in your school, at your church.

He turned to Matthew chapter 10 and he began reading.

He read that when Jesus had called onto him his 12 disciples, he gave them power.

He gave them power to cast out unclean spirits and also to heal all manner of diseases.

And then the Bible began proceeding to name each of the disciples by name.

After he read the passage in Matthew chapter 10, he said, there's something wrong with this text.

And then Pastor Wright began to describe the 12 disciples in a way that I have personally never heard before.

He said, first of all, there was a terrorist in here named Simon the Canaanite.

You got 2 gangbangers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, the sons of thunder.

There's a white-collar crook named Matthew the Publican, and he proceeds to go and name each of the 12 disciples and give them modern-day comparisons to show just how messed up each of these men were and what Jesus was working with.

Jesus called these messed up men and he gave them power.

He gave them power to not only use them in ministry but he gave them power to save them.

Then he said Jesus called for you into ministry is because he knew that ministry was the only way to save your soul.

So when you have a call to ministry, it's an announcement to the world that you have some serious issues.

I thought, okay, Pastor Wright, I'm not a gangbanger, but I won't disagree with your statement." He continued on, he said, "'Ministry situations are designed to carve out and prune you and make you everything God has designed you to be.'" And then 1 line stuck out to me.

He said, "'So make up your mind that if no 1 shows up to prayer meeting, you'll be there.

And a couple weeks later, I went to the church for prayer meeting.

I had lost my keys that day so I was locked out of the church so I waited at the parking lot for a church member to show up whenever they would come and we would go into the church together and as I waited, guess what?

Now I'll confess, I began to feel kind of happy.

I thought of all the things that I could do in the hour that I've now gained.

I can work on my sermon, I can do this, I can do that.

And as I was getting happy in my heart, Elder Wright's words recalled into my mind, make up your mind that if no 1 shows up to prayer meeting, you'll be there.

Didn't go in the church because I'm locked out.

30 to 40 minutes I was interceding for the church.

After that time I decided let me go downtown to prayer walk the city.

And as I drove towards the downtown area I ended up seeing a cemetery that was nearby the church and for some reason I pulled into the cemetery to finish my prayer meeting there.

Here I am, prayer walking, looking at the tombstones, and as I was walking 1 tombstone caught my eye.

I thought there was a mistake in the engraving because the year of birth and the year of death seemed too close to each other so I walked up to the tombstone.

I continued my prayer walk but now I couldn't stop thinking about Chester.

He wasn't too far off from my age, so I thought I had a connection to this young man.

And as I continued to think, a final thought stuck out in my mind.

In his 25 short years of life, what did Chester live for?

Did he have a purpose that drove his life?

If he didn't, What a sad end to a short life.

The same question I had about Chester, I asked tonight about you.

If you died today, what would the people around you say that you live for?

John chapter 4 this evening as we open up the Word of God.

As we open up the word of God to John chapter 4, Jesus is in Samaria and he's talking with the woman at the well.

Jesus had taken a long journey and stopped by a well to rest and a Samaritan woman came by and he asked for her to draw him some water.

But while asking for physical water, he used his request to inspire within her a thirst for something greater in her life.

Let's take a look at the end of their conversation in John chapter 4, verse 23.

Jesus tells her, but an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.

For such people the Father seeks to be his worshippers.

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

The woman said to him, I know that Messiah is coming, he who is called Christ.

When that 1 comes, he will declare all things to us.

As Jesus is speaking to this woman, she speaks to the Messiah, the Christ, who will come and declare all things plainly to them.

And in verse 26, let's look at the response of Jesus to this woman.

Verse 26, Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am He." Jesus knew who He was.

He was the Messiah, and his identity directed his life.

Because of his understanding of the prophetic scriptures like Isaiah chapter 53 and Daniel 9 and the Psalms and the prophets, Jesus lived his life as a man of sorrows.

And as a sheep led to the slaughter, 33 years young, he lived and he died by his prophetic identity.

Turn back a few pages with me to John 1, verse 19.

John 1, verse 19, we're looking at John the Baptist.

In John 1, verse 19, as John the Baptist began his public ministry at the young age of 30 years old, calling everywhere for people to repent because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, John the disciple later writes a testimony of John the Baptist in John chapter 1 verse 19, and it says, This is the testimony of John.

When the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, What's that question?

Chester Clark

By His Stripes

Perhaps you remember that Mickey Holiday song from many years ago.

This morning we're going to follow Jesus.

Wherever he goes is our theme this week, and we're going to follow Him as He makes His way up Calvary's hill.

Follow Him as He willingly stretches his arms and allows himself to be nailed to Golgotha's tree.

We're going to follow him as he whispers, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

We're going to follow Him as He feels that awful separation of sin, separation from His Father, and in anguish cries, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

And I think as we follow Jesus through these scenes today, we're going to find the compelling reason to decide to follow Him in our lives as we see the love of God that you just heard sung about.

I would invite you to bow your heads with me as I kneel for an additional word of prayer.

Father in heaven, unfallen beings hush their voices and angels fold their wings.

When they speak of the things we're going to be studying in your Word today.

Lord, I'm not worthy to speak of these things, but there is 1 who is worthy, and the Lamb before the throne is worthy.

And we thank you for His grace and for His intercession on our behalf today.

So today, Father, we just pray for His grace To help us in time of need it is our time of need this morning We need Jesus We need your spirit.

We need your presence We need your power today.

I pray that you'll put help us to put aside all distractions that you'll help us to to not be a distraction to the person next to us, that you'll send your angels to press back the forces of darkness from this auditorium from wherever your word is heard, and that your Spirit might have free reign in our hearts.

We ask it, not because we deserve it, but because of Jesus.

You know, to really understand what Jesus did for us, why he went to Calvary, we need to go back to the beginning.

And I invite you to turn in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 3.

Genesis chapter 3, you know the story, but we're going to ponder it in the beginning of our message here today and try to understand better what it is that sin brought onto our experience, onto planet earth.

To understand why Jesus went to Calvary and why He had to die and why He had to die in our place, as the Scripture says, we thus judge that if Jesus died for all, then all were dead.

To understand this, we need to start here in the beginning.

Genesis chapter 3, and we're going to start with verse 1.

It says, Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which God had made.

And he said to the woman, has God indeed said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

The woman said to the serpent, we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die." You see, my friends, this is the temptation, and we understand how Eve failed in this first temptation that happened there in the garden.

We understand that the consequences of disobedience had been made clear.

Back in chapter 2, God had said in verse 17, "'But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.'" Dying, you shall die, the original language says.

And so there would be death that passed upon man.

How come they didn't die as soon as they ate the tree?

That's because while sin brings death, God had already premeditated the problem of sin.

God had already seen that sin would occur, and the lamb slain from the foundation of the world had already been promised.

You see, God had already said, if mankind disobeys, Jesus will be sent to die in their place.

And because of that promise, because of that lamb slain from the foundation of the world, when sin entered the human experience, the immediate annihilation, the immediate and total cessation of life was not our experience.

Our temporal life that we enjoy here in this world is because of Jesus.

The water that we drink, the air that we breathe, every loaf of bread is stamped with the cross of Christ.

You see, we have life now, even though we are sinners, because of Jesus.

Because that is the only way that God could give us an opportunity to accept his salvation and to be restored.

Now this is not a subjective choice that God made.

God did not say, let me think, what should I do if Adam and Eve sin?

I want to tell them some really severe punishment.

In fact, when he said, in the day you eat thereof you will die, when he says in in Romans that the wages of sin is death, that is not God making a subjective choice, a decision of what the punishments for sin would be.

In fact, it is God stating an objective fact, not a subjective decision of punishment, but an objective fact.

Because sin separates us from God, and God is life.

So when we are separated from God, it doesn't have to be a choice that God makes to punish us, we're just dead.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

You see, God is life, and there is no life apart from God.

So when God says the wages of sin is death, He's not telling us what He's going to do to punish us, He's telling us what the results of our decision will be.

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Plenary Sessions

Six Keys for the Western Adventist Church

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Recorded

Parts

The Last Link of Sympathy

1h 33m

One Life

1h 21m

By His Stripes

1h 24m

He Lives!

1h 32m

Testimony Time

51m

Go

1h 36m

Six Keys for the Western Adventist Church

1h 8m

Sound Doctrine