Chester Clark

Dalton SDA Church

Waiting for the Promise

Well, let me ask a question for the boys and girls here today.

And some of the older boys and girls here, do you remember what it was like to be a child?

You remember looking forward to Christmas and you couldn't wait until you could go and wake up your mom and dad, if it was Christmas morning that you opened presents.

You couldn't wait until you could go and jump on their bed and wake them up and haul them to the living room or den or wherever your Christmas tree was and there you would open your presents.

1 of my favorite memories of Christmas was actually 1 year, I think it must have been around 1980 or 81 or something like that, and we lived in Arkansas.

My grandmother, my mother's mother, lived in Lincoln, Nebraska.

She was a food service director at Union College.

And 1 Christmas we decided to surprise her.

I think it was a last minute decision, at least I didn't know about it as a kid until the last minute.

We piled into our 1978 Honda Accord and we started heading north.

It was Christmas Eve and it was a blizzard, a snowstorm across the plains and so we're making our way to Lincoln, Nebraska.

When we got to Lincoln we actually went to 1 of my dad's cousin's houses, and we called my grandmother.

And she said, oh, I wish you could be here.

And we said, oh, we wish we could be there, too.

And we had a nice talk with her and hung up the phone, and then we ran quickly over to her house and knocked on her door a few minutes later.

And I think she thought she was seeing an apparition or something.

She had just talked to us in Arkansas, and there we were on our doorstep.

And surprises are wonderful, aren't they?

It's a time when we can be together with our families and friends.

It's a time when we remember the gift of Jesus.

And you know, I do remember Christ at Christmas because I think we're counseled, we're counseled this time of year to make the most out of the time when people are having their hearts turned toward God, when they're having their hearts turned toward the gift of Jesus, when they're having their hearts turned towards family and each other.

In Luke chapter 2 and verse 22 we're going to begin now.

Luke chapter 2, if you'll turn with me there.

Luke chapter 2 and verse 22, we find that this is a story of Jesus being presented in the temple, Much like little Ileana Libby was just dedicated to Jesus, Jesus himself as a little baby was being brought by his parents to the temple.

Now, when the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were completed, they brought him, Jesus, to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.

And, verse 24, to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or 2 young pigeons.

So here this family, this little family, young baby Jesus, young mother Mary, they make their way to the temple.

And now this is something that happened on a daily basis.

In fact, it happened whenever the particular time period was over.

After the birth of a baby, it was just a matter of days, short weeks, And the mother and the father would bring the baby to the temple.

And it happened so frequently that it was sort of routine and trivial, maybe even trite.

I'm sure that the priests, it was just a matter of ceremony, you understand.

And yet it was a ceremony that, like most things in the temple, pointed forward to Jesus.

Jesus was the child that was to be coming, and the dedication of every child, every young son to God was a reminder that there's a son coming.

There's a promised seed that will come that will be the Messiah.

And so here you have Jesus being brought and the priest doesn't really recognize anything important.

In fact, the priest has probably largely forgotten what this whole thing is about, what the whole dedication means.

They've largely forgotten that there is a promised Redeemer coming, a Messiah coming.

Well, they know there's a Messiah coming, but they don't think of it in the terms that prophecy actually portrayed it.

And so here they are, they're getting the 2 young pigeons or the pair of turtle doves together to take to the temple and while the priest is not particularly looking or waiting for a baby that will be the baby.

Verse 25, it says, Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, And this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.

When we look at Simeon here, we see that he was waiting for something.

The Bible says he was waiting for consolation, the consolation of Israel.

The Bible doesn't tell us much about Simeon.

The Bible tells us that in verse 26, as we continue, it says, "...it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." And so Simeon's expectation focused on the comfort that Christ would bring.

Among the Jews in Simeon's day, 1 of the popular titles of the Messiah to come was the Comforter.

Like some of the Christmas songs that we often sing this time of year, those Jews were longing for the Messiah to come and bring His comfort to them.

You know, it seems to me that comfort is a universal need.

Maybe it's just when we've had a long, hard day.

Maybe it's when we've got the flu and we're feeling achy.

Maybe it's when our hearts have hurts and wounds and scars and we're broken people.

All of us are broken to 1 degree, aren't we?

It's a universal need and thankfully the Messiah was to come as the comforter.

Thankfully the Messiah was to be here as the consolation of Israel.

In fact, Christmas is a time when we remember that we need comfort, don't we?

Do you realize that the Christmas season is a time when people suffer the most with depression?

It's 1 of the highest times of suicide rates.

The good news is that Jesus came as the consolation of Israel.

He himself was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." The Bible says in verse 26 that it had been revealed to him that the Messiah would come before he died.

Verse 27 says, so he came by the Spirit into the temple.

It says he came by the Spirit into the temple.

He says he came by the Spirit into the temple.

God was leading him in his life, but you know, Simeon wasn't willing to just sit at home.

He was going to be where God's action would be, amen?

And so the Holy Spirit has revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ, the Messiah.

And he came by the Spirit into the temple.

He got up out of his comfortable home, off his comfortable chair, no doubt, and he made his way to the temple in Jerusalem.

And the Bible says, when the parents, Mary and Joseph, brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he, Simeon, took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word.

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel." What a wonderful, wonderful blessing Simeon gave.

Simeon recognized that this little baby, this helpless babe in Mary's arms was the consolation of Israel, the comforter that he had been waiting for.

Joseph and his mother, the Bible says, marveled, verse 33, they marveled at those things which were spoken of him.

Taj Pacleb

Advent HOPE Sabbath School

Highway to the Upper Room:  The Prerequisite for Pentecost

Every day is a happy day in Jesus, but especially the Sabbath where we're reminded that He is a wonderful, kind Creator, our loving Lord, and we are made in His image, and by His grace, we're being remade in His wonderful image.

I count it a high honor to stand before you here this morning.

And we have a message we'd like to share that something that I've been thinking about and cogitating upon for some time now.

I think it's very relevant for what we're seeing, not just in our world in general, but also in our church in specific.

And so we're just gonna pray and jump right on into the presentation.

So I invite you to bow your heads with me as we ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.

Father in heaven, Lord, we thank you so much for your goodness.

We thank you for your love that has drawn us to this place at this time that we might have this encounter with the living Christ.

Lord, we are in desperate need of a fresh revelation of Jesus.

And so Lord, we ask that you please reveal your face to us.

And as we behold you today by the study of your word, allow us to become changed into that same image.

I pray, Lord, that you would teach us and that you would instruct us and that you would inspire us to be the people you want us to be.

Lord, we know that you're coming soon, and that all the prophecies are pointing to the reality that time is almost finished.

Convict us afresh with that reality today.

And I pray, Lord, that as a result of our time together, we will be better prepared for your return.

And Lord, not only lead us, but fill us with that same Holy Spirit is our prayer.

Our message this morning is entitled, The Highway to the Upper Room.

I invite you to take your Bible and open with me to the book of Revelation.

And we're going to go to the 12th chapter as we study the highway to the upper Rome.

Revelation chapter 12 is a very familiar chapter to us.

For in this chapter we read in prophetic language the awesome description of the climax of the final conflict of the ages.

The final showdown between a demonic dragon and a beautiful beloved bride.

If you're there and if you're ready to study the Bible, would you please say amen?

The Bible says, Revelation 12, 17, and the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

According to these serious and solemn words of prophecy, we find that the dragon, who is none other than Satan himself is not angry at every church.

For many churches are spreading his deceptions and lies in the world today, just as we studied last night.

Satan, according to this passage, is only afraid to those who are a threat to his kingdom.

And it describes this woman, this church, this movement that excites the wrath of the dragon because it is this movement that will usher in the demise of Satan.

Thus, the enemy of God and man is focusing all of his weapons of mass distraction against these individuals, these Bible-believing, Christ-following, faith-walking, commandment-keeping, Sabbath-resting, Advent-waiting, Spirit-filled, Gospel-preaching people of God.

And according to the text, Satan is angry at this woman and her remnant for at least 3 reasons.

Number 1, because she is the beloved bride of his chief enemy, Jesus Christ.

Number 2, this woman keeps the commandments of his enemy, thus proving his accusations of the great controversy false.

And number 3, this woman has the testimony of his enemy, the testimony of Jesus Christ.

She's always talking about her heavenly husband, Jesus Christ.

And in this great controversy, Jesus, through his bride, is going to testify against the false accusations of Satan.

Thus, the dragon Satan wants to silence the testimony of Jesus.

And in order to do so, he has to silence this woman.

Why is he so adamant in trying to silence the testimony of Jesus?

What exactly is the testimony of Jesus and how is it revealed?

Well we are very familiar that according to Revelation 19 Verse 10 it says that the testimony of Jesus is the what?

So this woman excites the wrath of Satan.

1 of the reasons is because she has the testimony of her husband Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy.

It is the spirit of prophecy that gives to this woman her mission and her message as well as her methods in fulfilling her mission and giving the message.

The spirit of prophecy is not 1 prophet in the last days, but the spirit of prophecy is the Holy Spirit speaking through all the prophets of God from the beginning to the very end of time.

And so this woman is moved by all the things that God has revealed through His servants, His prophets.

She has the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy.

It's the prophetic testimony given by Jesus through His Spirit to His people.

I encourage you to write down these scriptures for the sake of time.

Jesus said in John 14, 26, but the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you how many things, all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you." So once again, the Holy Spirit, the spirit of prophecy is simply the testimony of Jesus.

The spirit of God brings back to our remembrance that which Jesus has testified, the words of Jesus, and there's an emphasis with this word all, all things that God has revealed from the beginning to the very end of time.

Jesus, speaking about the Holy Spirit, says in John 16, 12, and 13, I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

I'm thankful that God does not overwhelm us by giving us too much information, but He only gives us that which our finite puny minds can handle at that present time.

How be it when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will, what is that word right there, guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak, and He will tell you things to come.

He will glorify me for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you.

So once again, friends, the spirit of prophecy, that which the Spirit reveals to us is simply the testimony of Jesus.

It takes the things that are of Christ and it reveals it to us gradually and sequentially and progressively as our minds open up and as the path of the just that is like a shining light shines more and more and more until that perfect day.

But notice friends, there's an emphasis with the word all.

The spirit of prophecy, the testimony of Jesus.

God is wanting to lead us into all truth and that's the role of the Holy Spirit.

To guide us, to fill us in on everything Jesus wants us to know and everywhere Jesus wants us to go.

And friends, this word guide denotes that there's a journey.

The word guide denotes that there's a pathway and there's a specific destination to arrive at.

A guide denotes that we are being led in a way that we naturally do not know how to walk upon.

And so this implies that God's people are not just going to be a church and an organization but they're going to be a movement because to be guided along a pathway implies that there's movement taking place and that's what we are friends.

We are a prophetic movement of destiny and tell me what is 1 of the chief characteristics of a movement?

In other words, friends, listen, we're not just a conversation.

God is not just calling us to sit around and conversate about spiritual things.

There's something that needs to take place after that.

In order for us to be a movement, we have to be on the move.

We move by the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy that guides us to a deeper understanding and experience of all that God wants us to know and experience in our lives.

But the question is, where, from where and Where does the remnant move?

The Cross and the Ecumenical Apostasy

So good to see a lot of people here tonight.

I just literally got off the plane and had delayed flights, but I'm so glad the Lord got here right on time, it seems.

And it's been a while since I've been in Southern California preaching, and we just have a few moments together and so we're just going to jump into the presentation.

Tonight is entitled The Cross and the Ecumenical Apostasy.

I hope you brought a spiritual appetite as we feast upon the bread of life tonight.

Lord Jesus has promised to us that when we are hungry and thirsty for his righteousness, we will be filled.

And the Bible says that in God's presence is fullness, not emptiness, but fullness of joy.

At his right hand, there are pleasures forevermore.

And so, looking forward to being filled tonight with his pleasures and with his goodness.

And so, we're going to pray and jump into the message.

I invite you to bow your heads with me as we pray.

Lord, thank you so much for your mercy that is new every morning, your compassions that never fail.

We thank you, Lord, that it was your mercy and your love that has drawn us and brought us to this place tonight.

And Lord, we have come seeking a blessing from the most holy place.

We've come seeking to see you more clearly than ever before.

Lord, we thank you that you promised that when we seek with all our hearts, that we will find.

And so, Lord, allow us to find that which you want us to understand from your Word tonight.

And I pray that it would not just be informational, but that it would be transformational, that it would touch to the very depths of who we are and make us different people as a result.

Please, again, fill this room in our hearts with your spirit.

Give us attentive minds, sensitive ears, and a soft heart that we might receive the word tonight.

It is our prayer in Jesus' precious name.

Our message tonight is entitled The Cross and the Ecumenical Apostasy.

I invite you to take your Bible and open with me to the book of Isaiah, chapter 58.

Isaiah, we're going to the 58th chapter, where we find a very familiar verse for us as Seventh-day Adventists, a verse that points out both our identity as well as our mission.

We're going to Isaiah chapter 58 and when you get there would you please let me know by saying amen.

Isaiah 58 it's a beautiful chapter I encourage you to read the whole thing at a later time but notice with me what the Bible says in verse 12 Isaiah chapter 58 and verse 12 it says and they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations, and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwelling." Here in this very powerful prophetic word, We find both our identity as well as our mission as 7 day Adventists.

It tells us that we are to raise up a foundation that has been broken, a breach in a wall that has been destroyed.

It calls us the repairers and the restorers.

We are the pathfinders of the last day, the breach builders.

And as we think about this verse and the mission that God places upon us in this particular passage, this verse is actually an echo of the great work of God's people under the leadership of Nehemiah.

We remember the story of how Babylon came and destroyed Jerusalem.

They broke down the walls and destroyed the whole city And it was under the work of Nehemiah that the walls were built up and the foundation was laid and and and the and the worship of Jehovah the true God continue on The surrounding walls were broken and As long as there was a breach There could never be rest for the people of God Even if most of the wall was up 1 little breach would have not brought rest to the people of God.

Because they could have easily been infiltrated and attacked by the enemy.

And so as we think about that story of the past, in applying it to the context of this verse today, We find that the work that Nehemiah did back then is the same work that we're to do in these last days because you see friends there's a breach in the wall that needs to be fixed.

But first of all let's ask the question what does this wall represent?

First of all, what is the purpose of a wall?

Many people think that a wall is to restrict.

But friends, when you think about the wall or a wall, the purpose or the primary purpose of a wall is to protect.

And so this wall that was surrounding the people of God in Jerusalem was there not to restrict the people, to keep them in bondage, no, it was to protect the people.

Well friends, what has God given to us that many people look upon as restrictive, but in reality, God has given it to us to protect us.

Most of the world and even most of the Christian world looks upon those 10 Commandments as restrictive, a bunch of do's and don'ts, a bunch of rules and regulations.

When you study about the true nature of God's law, we discover that his law is a law of love, and it's not given to restrict us, but to protect us from the evil results of sin and all the terrible suffering that it brings upon the guilty partakers also the innocent bystanders because sin infects everything it touches.

So God has given us the 10 Commandments which the Bible tells us is the law of liberty.

Tell me what is another word for liberty?

There are 10 principles of freedom not to restrict us but to protect us from sin, to protect us from evil and so the wall simply represents the law.

And so if the wall represents the law, then what is the breach in the law of God today?

What is the breach that has been broken down, that has been created in the law.

Oh friends, we all understand very clearly that most of the world keeps 9 commandments, but there's a breach in that law, and that breach is the fourth.

The very commandment that points to the rest that we have in God our Creator.

And that's the reason why the very next verse, Isaiah 58, verse 13, talks about the Sabbath.

You see, verse 12 describes the ones that's going to raise up the foundation of many generations, the restorer of the paths to dwell in and the 1 that is going to fix the breach in the wall.

Back to Menu

All Teachings

Waiting for the Promise

31m

Highway to the Upper Room: The Prerequisite for Pentecost

1h 11m

The Cross and the Ecumenical Apostasy

1h 23m

The Right Map

29m

Intoxicated

41m

Christ Before Pilate

29m

Who’s Your Daddy

30m

Episode 3- Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital

28m

Episode 2- Matteson Mission School & VIDA Internacional

28m

Episode 1- Riverside Farm Institute

28m

Be Ye Transformed

45m

9. Proverbs: Words of Truth

25m

Sound Doctrine