Restoration 2014: Rest for the Restless

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Restoration Ministry

The Big Questions (Evening Meetings)

Anil Kanda

1. There Probably Is No God

As I said before to you in the past, that this message, or this series, is about answering life's biggest questions, life's biggest questions.

And so when you would watch this ad, it would start off like this on TV.

It would say, where did the universe come from?

And then the next question would be, what should you eat for dinner?

And it would go back and forth several times, and the whole theme of that commercial was, life is full of big questions, and life is full of small questions.

At the very end, this Yamaha motorcycle comes into view, And it says this, it may not be the answer, but at least it's not another question.

During this restoration series, we're going to address several of those questions.

In fact, what is also so interesting is that when I was in England, a very interesting phenomenon was taking place.

I went there several years ago and I was experiencing something that was what was written on these buses that were going around England.

Now when I was at these in England and I was looking at several of these buses, these banners were appearing in all sorts of different places.

They said something like this, there's probably no what?

Some people were actually walking around with these t-shirts that said the exact same things.

Other people had these buttons that said, there probably is no God.

Now, what is so unique about that is that this campaign in England was actually started by this individual.

He's considered the foremost authority on atheism.

He debates many different kinds of theists and creationists and utterly decimates them in debates.

Richard Dawkins is probably, you could say, the most well-known atheist there is in the world today.

And he has started this campaign because he believes that people need to be free from this superstitious thought known as theism or the belief in God, the belief in God.

You know, when I was taking several classes in logic and reasoning just a few years ago, there's 1 thing I began to understand about atheism.

Now, what's so interesting about atheism is that atheism of itself is a little bit very, it's a little interesting because it's kind of illogical.

Now, you're saying to yourself, what in the world does that mean?

Atheism positively affirms that there is no what?

But can the atheist be certain of this claim?

You see, to know that a transcendent God does not exist would require perfect knowledge of all things.

In other words, to be omniscient, you mean you have to have all knowledge about all things, everywhere, at all times.

And to say that something does not exist would require you to have that omniscience.

To make an absolute negative statement, you would have to have absolute knowledge of all things, because there are things that you do not know.

To attain this knowledge, you would have to have the simultaneous access to all parts of the universe, omnipresence.

Therefore, as an atheist, to be certain of this claim, you would have to possess godlike characteristics.

Obviously, mankind's limited nature precludes these special abilities.

The atheist's dogmatic claim is that therefore clearly unjustifiable.

The atheist is attempting to prove a universal negative in terms of logic.

In fact, when I was taking my philosophy of science class, 1 thing I came across was that when we were discussing atheism, I would oftentimes raise my hand and I would ask the question, how is it possible for somebody to affirm there is absolutely, definitely no God in this world if they don't have all knowledge.

My professor, her name is Judy Kane, like Kane who slew Abel.

And she said this, you're absolutely right about that assertion.

Unless you have absolutely knowledge of all things at all times, at all places, you cannot make absolute statements.

In fact, the word atheism comes from 2 Greek words, the alpha and the theos, which means no God.

And for Somebody to be a dogmatic atheist and say, there is absolutely no God that exists in this world would require them to have all the knowledge there is in the world.

Now, the next step is after that when someone says, okay, I'm not an atheist, I'm an agnostic.

An agnostic says this, I know that there's probably something out there, but we can't know who that is.

Butzerizer, I have not been able to pronounce it correctly, said this.

He said this, to say that we cannot know anything about God is to say something about God.

To say that we can know anything, we cannot know anything about God, is to say something about God.

It is to say that if there is a God, he is unknowable.

But in that case, he is not entirely unknowable, for the agnostic certainly, certainly thinks that we can know 1 thing about him, that nothing else can be known about him.

In the end, agnosticism is an illogical position to hold on to.

In fact, when you go into the Latin, the word actually is connected to the word ignoramus.

So, when somebody asserts that they're agnostic, that they cannot know anything about God, They are making an assertion that nobody can know anything about God and apparently they know that information.

So that position becomes illogical to hold as well.

So here we are, we're seeing that atheism is not a tenable position to have.

Agnosticism is not a tenable position to have.

Interesting individual by the name of Anthony Flew.

He was a vociferous atheist, published atheist.

He debated well-known Christian apologists for several years.

And something interesting took place several years ago before he actually passed away.

There was gossip all over the atheistic world.

What happened is Antony Flew became a theist.

He actually wrote this book shortly before he passed away.

Says, there is a God with the no crossed out.

Well, what convinced him that there's a God in this universe?

He wrote this, the most impressive arguments for God's existence were those that are supported by recent scientific discoveries and that the argument to intelligent design is enormously stronger than it was when I first met it.

In other words, as there was advancements in technology with the Hubble telescope and with microscopes and all sorts of things that were taking place in the universe, he began to see more and more design in nature.

The teleological argument is simply seeing or detecting design in nature.

As he can see the infinite universe more and more, it began to astound him.

As he began to look deeper and deeper within cellular mechanisms, it began to astound him that he came to the utter conclusion there must be a God.

The Bible even says in Psalms 19 verse 1, the heavens declare the what?

Glory of God and the firmament shows his what?

2. The Book That Changed Asia

The reason why is because this is something that is near and dear to my heart.

We're going to be talking about a very special thing that God has given to each and every 1 of us, something that is accessible to us living in America.

And the book, This very interesting book that has changed the world, has changed Asia and many people's lives.

And so as we get into that, I just want to make sure you have your Bibles.

Everyone has a Bible right in front of them because we're going to be needing that, okay?

Now, if you take a good look right there on that PowerPoint screen, you'll see a love letter, okay?

Now, if you've been coming out to the new meetings, we've been talking about love stories in the Bible, amen?

Now, what's very interesting, if you go to the Library of Congress, you will actually see this letter there.

The people do not know where its origins are from.

Now you're thinking to yourself, well, what's the big deal about this love letter?

I've given many love letters is what you're probably thinking.

What's so important about this love letter?

Now I'm going to share some of these words with you from this love letter and when I read this love letter to me it's absolutely adorable.

Madam, it was actually written by a young man and he mailed it to his girlfriend.

Madam, the great love and tenderness I have hitherto expressed for you is false.

And now I feel that my indifference towards you increases proportionably every day.

And the more that I see you, the more I appear ridiculous and an object of contempt, and the more I feel disposed, inclined, and finally determined to hate you.

Believe me, I have never had the least inclination to offer you my hand and heart." Isn't that beautiful?

Our last conversation has, I assure you, left a wretched insepidy which has been no, which has been no means possessed me with the most exalted opinion of your character.

Yes, madam, and you will be much obliged me, you will much oblige me by avoiding me.

And if ever we are united, I shall experience nothing but the fearful hatred of my parents added to an everlasting displeasure of living with you." That just makes me tear up.

You need not put yourself to the smallest trouble or Send or write me an answer.

And believe that I am so adverse to you that it is really impossible that I should ever be, madam, your affectionate lover till death.

Isn't that 1 of the most beautiful love letters you have ever read in your entire life?

Now what's so unusual about this love letter, it seems like not a love letter.

Now when you're reading it at first you're thinking to yourself how in this, how in the world could this be classified or categorized as a love letter?

But the reason why it's in the Library of Congress is because it's a very mysterious piece of literature.

The reason why it's mysterious is, is there is a coded message within this so-called love letter.

Every other line actually shows the real love letter.

The great love and tenderness I have hitherto expressed for you increases proportionably every day.

And the more that I see you, the more I feel disposed, inclined, and finally determined to offer you my hand and heart.

Our last conversation has possessed me with the most exalted opinion of your character.

And if ever we are united, I shall experience nothing but the pleasure of living with you.

And believe that I am, madam, your affectionate lover till death.

This was actually written by a young man to a young lady whose father did not approve of him.

And so what he did, he specifically engineered this letter and as he sent it out, the father would make sure, check all the mail that would come for his daughter.

And as he read that, he was very happy to give this to his daughter.

Only to discover later on, the real love letter was in couch in this confusion of words.

Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to be talking about God's love letter that has been given to each and every 1 of us.

Now, what's very interesting, we're going to be looking at a very special story in the Bible, 1 of my most favorite stories in the Bible.

So, if you have your Bible, go to Luke 24, Luke chapter 24.

Luke made a very accurate recording of the life of Jesus.

However, this story that's found in Luke 24 to me is the most astounding story out of all the stories that appear in the Gospel of Luke.

And I promise you this, at the very end of this message, you're going to be hit with a left hook when you realize the implications of this story.

So, if you have your Bible, go to Luke chapter 24.

If you're sitting next to somebody who does not, please just scoot over and share Luke 24 with them.

Now, the context of this particular passage, Jesus has just been crucified.

Their ambitions lost, their dreams dashed, and it seemed like life could not get any worse.

A few of these disciples decide to go for a walk 1 day, trying to get out of Jerusalem, because they're being hunted down.

And so, as they're walking down this mysterious road to Emmaus, all of a sudden an unusual stranger, who they do not recognize, begins to come up right alongside to them.

Go to Luke chapter 24 starting with verse 13.

Take a good look at what the Bible says right here.

Now behold, 2 of them were traveling that same day to a village called what?

Emmaus, which was how many miles from Jerusalem?

And they talked together of all these things that happened.

So here they were, they were conversing about all the events that just took place, all the things that had discouraged them." Let's continue, So it was while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus himself, did you get that?

Jesus himself drew near and went with them, but their eyes were restrained so that they did not know him.

They had no idea that Jesus had resurrected.

And to them, this mysterious stranger who had showed up right alongside them was none other than just a stranger to them.

But the Bible records that this was Jesus, but in somehow some kind of disguise.

So here they are, they're just walking, they're talking about all the things that are taking place and this hooded figure shows up right next to them and they continue walking.

Now watch what this mysterious figure says to them.

And he said to them, what kind of conversation is this that you have with 1 another as you walk and are what?

Then 1 whose name was Cleopas answered and said to him, are you the only stranger in Jerusalem?

They had no idea who they were talking to.

And have you not known the things which have happened here in these days?

They have no clue that they're talking about the very 1 who these things had happened to.

Anytime we talk about Jesus, he shows up.

And so here he is, and you can just imagine that scene.

3. Dinner With Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, and Krishna

Again, I just want to welcome everybody, those listening online.

If this is your first time here at Restoration, we just want to especially welcome you.

This is a very interesting kind of series.

We're going to be covering various kinds of topics.

These meetings are designed for every kind of person, from the student to the scholar, to the skeptic to the seeker, these presentations will answer life's greatest questions and lead us to that which can only truly satisfy.

You will be challenged, impacted, and ultimately changed by what you experience here.

Here are some of the topics that are coming up.

Tomorrow night, eternity past and the risk of God.

That's going to be a very unique kind of message.

Friday, we'll be doing from tragedy to triumph, the problem of evil, and there's going to be a special Q&A afterwards.

Sabbath morning I'll be sharing my testimony.

Monday night I'll be doing a sermon called the end of social injustice, a hell of a sermon.

Tuesday night will be another special message and it's called how to ace your exam and be normal still.

I've spent many years of my life in college.

I spent 4 years at a community college, almost several months at a Cal State Fullerton, do 2 years at Adventist College.

I take other college classes where I pastor at.

I'll be starting Stan State as a philosophy student in the fall.

So I have always been part of the educational system.

I shared yesterday some of the educational background of my family.

A lot of people are often blown away, but if you're Indian, you totally understand.

I actually became a Bible-believing Christian when I was in college.

And looking back, I really praise God because those were some of the best years of my life where I had the greatest kinds of growth during those formative years where I was understanding my identity, my place in this world.

And to those who are still in college, I just wanna say this, you are in some of the best years of your life.

And if you don't realize what God's purposes are for you, I really want to challenge you to start praying, God, what would you have me to do today?

You know, 1 day I was actually speaking at an Indian college and there were thousands of Muslims and Hindus there.

And it was very difficult to get their attention.

They were speaking English at that college, but everyone was just very rowdy, everyone was very distracted.

So I thought to myself, How in the world am I going to get their attention?

I said, how many people here know their grandpa?

How many people here know where their grandpa was born?

There were still just a few hands that were raised.

I said, how many people know your grandpa's favorite hobby?

I said, take a good look at those 2 students.

In about 2 or 3 generations, your identity will be extinct from this world.

We have 1 life to live, ladies and gentlemen, 1 life.

And what we do with that life is of utmost importance.

And better you realize it now than at the end of your life.

Being a pastor, I oftentimes get to visit people, and 1 of the things I constantly encounter is a lot of regret at the end of people's lives.

I don't want to come to the end of my life and say, you know what, I regret most of it.

I want to be able to say, I live life to the fullest.

That You took advantage of every opportunity that God has given to you.

And just being here at the Restoration Series for the next week and a half, this is going to be a life-changing, unwasted opportunity for you to grow closer to Christ.

And that's what this series is all about, answering life's greatest question.

Socrates said it this way, the unexamined life is not worth what?

Socrates is somebody who was actually, he was punished, he was executed, he had to drink some, what they call hemlock, which was poison, simply because he began to espouse new kinds of teaching and thoughts that was very controversial for the culture at that time.

And as we share the beautiful truth of God's Word, we shouldn't be surprised that there's going to be some kind of opposition to God's Word.

And as you continue to come out to this restoration series, you're going to be blown away by some of the things you're going to learn, some of the things you're going to learn.

You know, I did a series not too, it was about 2 or 3 years ago, and the name of the series was called, The Dining of Minds, the dining of minds.

And what this series was all about, it took place, it was all about this dinner conversation that took place between Jesus, Muhammad, Krishna, and Buddha.

Now just imagine what kind of table talk that might be.

If you were to transport all these various historical figures just right down to this place where there would be this kind of kitchen table talk, what would they be discussing?

Now, imagine for yourself, there's a young Loma Linda college student.

This individual, third year of med school, he's struggling with life.

He has so many kinds of pressures, pressures from the family, pressures from school, Pressures from his own heart, his own spirituality, seems to be at an all-time low.

This individual is questioning his religious upbringing.

He's questioning the faith of his parents.

God's Word does not make too much sense to him anymore, And here he is at a very interesting point in his life, a very pivotal point where he is questioning life altogether.

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Series

The Big Questions (Evening Meetings)

1. There Probably Is No God

Transcript

Parent Series

Parent Conference

Sponsor

Recorded

Parts

1. There Probably Is No God

1h 6m

2. The Book That Changed Asia

1h 6m

3. Dinner With Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, and Krishna

1h 2m

4. Eternity Past and the Risk of God

1h 25m

5. From Tragedy to Triumph: The Problem of Evil

1h 30m

6. The End of Social Injustice

1h 36m

7. How to Ace Your Exams and Still Be Normal

1h 13m

8. The Enoch of India

1h 38m

9. A Poisoned Lottery Ticket Winner

1h 38m

10. The Reformation Will Not Be Televised

2h 6m

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