Inspire Ohio 2014: Crisis at the Close

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Advent HOPE Kettering

Jason Sliger

Crisis At the Close: Gethsemane

We just had a rousing song service, and I appreciate those that let out in that.

I always enjoy singing Adventist hymns, and I feel like, well, they're not all Adventist hymns, but I always feel like we don't sing enough in our church services.

So it's nice to have a good song service.

I am actually, just want to make a quick little addition to what has already been said.

Carp Lake, the reason why you probably hadn't heard of Carp Lake is because there's only 350 people in Carp Lake.

We have about 8 members there on a good Sabbath.

But they're faithful members, part of the backbone of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

And then I also pastor a church in Carp, in Sheboygan, which is towards the eastern side of the tip, and Petoskey, which is on the western side of the tip.

And if you ever want to go to a place for a tourist vacation, go to Petoskey, Michigan, and make your way up to Mackinac Island, right?

It's 1 of the hidden gems of Michigan that many people don't know about.

In fact, when we got the call to come to Michigan, I kind of had this view of Michigan that maybe you have, that Michigan is Detroit and all of the state is Detroit.

And so we rolled into Petoskey and we thought, wow, this is amazing.

So if you do want to go someplace in Michigan, definitely go to the tip of the state.

This is 1 of the pictures I took last season but the colors are absolutely splendid up there this time of the year.

It's a good time to come up after all the tourists have moved on.

My family was not able to make it tonight but I did want you to meet them.

I have 2 children, that's why my wife is not here.

They had to sit in the car for 7 and a half hours today, and those of you that are parents understand that.

So they're at home getting a little rest, but they will be with us tomorrow.

This is what the northern part of Michigan looks like about 80% of the year.

We get lots of snow up there, but we enjoy the snow and the beauty and the symbolism that it represents spiritually.

So it's a privilege to be with you here this evening and this weekend.

The messages that I have chosen to share with you over the weekend, I have to be honest with you, these messages have probably touched my life the most in all of my time of preaching and ministry.

And as I look back on my spiritual walk with the Lord, I find every revival in my life has always started with the last 48 hours of the life of Christ.

And I'm kind of having this renewed experience as I'm going through this series with my church members right now.

So let me just kind of tell you ahead of time, I'm actually in the middle of putting this series together, so you're not gonna get the whole thing.

I'm gonna share with you 3 and a half of those in our time together here and challenge you to continue that study because it's a wonderful study, it will draw you closer to Jesus and it will help you meet the crisis that is just before us.

So as was mentioned, Gethsemane is a beautiful chapter in the book, Desire of Ages, and that's where we're going to be starting our study together this evening.

So I invite you to bow your heads with me as we start with a word of prayer.

Merciful Father in heaven, we thank you for the awesome example that you give to us in your precious Son.

And Father, as we tarry for just a few moments this evening and we watch him in the garden.

Lord, I pray that his experience, that we would covet that experience, that we would covet it enough to make it a reality in our lives.

May you chase away any distractions, and may you speak to our hearts exactly the message that you want us to take home with us tonight.

Review and Herald, August 17th, 1897, 117 years ago.

The sermon of the Lord says this, we are nearing the great crisis of this earth's history.

117 years ago, this was written, that we're nearing the great crisis of this earth's history.

I looked up the word crisis and it's a broad definition, but to narrow it down, the part that I think is applicable for us here this evening is a crisis is a time when a difficult or important decision must be made.

Are we living in that time right now, yes or no?

We're living in a time where important and difficult decisions must be made.

And we just can't make these important and difficult decisions alone.

As we look at the great rescue plan, called the plan of salvation, that God has so beautifully described to us in his word, we find there in this plan of redemption 2 crises that are going to happen and have happened.

The first crisis happened at the closing scenes of the life of Christ, which we're gonna be focusing on in our study here over the next couple of presentations.

We look at that time when our salvation and redemption was finally secured in the last 48 hours of the life of Christ.

Then there is the final crisis that will take place at the close of this earth's history.

And between these 2 crises, there are many parallels that if the astute student of God's Word takes the time to dig them up, we'll find deep treasures in the parallels between these 2 crises.

Here's a passage that we're very familiar with from the book, Desire of Ages, page 83, 1 that we've heard many times.

It says this, it would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in the contemplation of the life of Christ.

We should take it point by point and what?

So she says we would do well to take a thoughtful moment to contemplate the closing scenes of the life of Christ, especially the closing scenes, and let the imagination grasp it scene by scene, especially the closing ones.

And then she goes on and she says this in the final part of the Paragraph which is 1 that we don't often read that's usually where we stop But she concludes that paragraph by saying this if we would be saved at last how many of you want to be saved amen If you would be saved at last, she says, we must learn the lessons of penitence and humiliation, where?

She says, we must learn the lessons that are vital to our survival in the final crisis.

We must learn the lessons that will be found at the foot of the cross.

Now I invite you to go with me to our theme passage, which goes along beautifully with our theme song.

Revelation chapter 14, this is going to launch us into our study.

Revelation the 14th chapter, We're going to take the advice of the servant of the Lord.

We're going to spend a few thoughtful hours in the contemplation of the closing scenes of the life of Christ.

We're going to take this challenge here, Revelation 14 and verse 4, Speaking about the 144, 000, many characteristics here, but let's just focus on 1.

The Bible says this, these are they which are not defiled with women, for they are virgins, meaning they are spiritually pure.

The Bible tells us that the 144, 000 are close behind Jesus.

That's why we sing this song, I will follow thee, my Savior, where so e'er my lot may be.

We want to follow Christ wherever he goes.

And as we look at the crisis that is just before us, it would do us well to spend a little time looking at how Jesus was successful in his crisis so that we can find the tools necessary so that we can be successful in the crisis that is just before us.

If that's clear, let me hear you say amen.

1 of the most beautiful passages that I have come to love just recently, and you can just jot this down in your notes, is 1 Peter 2, verse 21.

We're going to look at it a little bit more tomorrow.

First Peter 2.21, the Bible says, For even here unto where you call, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps.

Now Peter hears, when you look at the example, I mean, I was at fault at this for quite some time.

When I read this passage, I looked at it in the broad sense that Jesus is our example throughout his life, and that is true.

But Peter here is specifically pointing to the suffering of Christ, the closing scenes of the life of Christ, and he says, that's your example.

As we see Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, His human flesh is recoiling at the thought of taking upon him the sins of the world.

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Crisis At the Close: Gethsemane

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