00:00 Father in Heaven, we truly praise you and thank you for the privilege of worship. It truly is a privilege Lord, we can look back at our lives and we can remember times when we didn’t even acknowledge your name. You were merciful to us you called us out of the darkness of our lives of sin into this marvelous light of Christ our Righteousness. And Father, we want to know more. There’s more about Jesus that we would learn, more of his lovely face to behold. I pray that you would do something special today; that you would cause us to pass from death to life. That you would help us to hear your voice; and that we will be able to hear not just yours but the voice of Jesus; and we would follow the Lamb whither so ever he goes. Please abide with us in a very special way. I commit myself into your hands. I ask you to take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee. May you grant us the presence of your Holy Spirit and may we sense his power in this room as you minister unto our hearts; for this is our prayer that we do ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. (microphone adjustment)

01:36 Those that are able please turn to the book of Rev. 12. And I simply mean able meaning you have your Bibles with you. If you don’t have your Bibles with you then you are not able. But I hope that every single one of us has our Bible so we can turn to Rev. 12:7. We are going to look at a very old, old story.

02:05 We are going to start with a very familiar passage. The Bible says in Rev. 12:7 something very strange took place, but it is true “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

02:48 The Bible makes it clear. Even though, whenever I think of heaven, even as a child as a non-believer, whenever I heard of heaven I never thought of it as a place of war. That was the last thing that came to my mind. I didn’t know what it looked like. I didn’t understand its structure but I definitely thought of a place of peace. A place that was absent of warfare. A place that was absent of fighting and any of these things. But the Bible declares the truth. And the Bible says that there was an actual war that started in Heaven. And it was between two characters. It was between Michael and the dragon. The Bible clearly identifies the dragon; it says that it was none other than the devil, Satan.

03:31 Michael, takes a little bit of Bible study to prove it but even in the very name Michael you can find a lot. The name Michael in the Hebrew Mike (mich) means one who is like, El (ael) means God, therefore when you think of Michael you’re thinking of someone who is exactly like God.

03:37 I remember one time I was studying with some Muslim brethren. As I was studying with them they had a serious problem with John 3:16. They said I don’t believe in the Bible I don’t believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. I said why is that? They said how can Jesus, the Christians say, be God and yet the Bible says he was begotten?

03:56 I said what do you mean? And he said well in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only” –what? – “begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

04:06 And I said maybe, it’s because you don’t understand that word begotten. You see I was talking to a Muslim man which we generally think of the east but this was a Muslim man in America. He was thinking with a western mind set. When we hear the word begotten we think of something brought forth or created. That’s what you think of when you think of the word begotten. And he was thinking in that same frame of thinking. But lo and behold as I told him –well the Bible wasn’t written in English, that’s for sure. It was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. When you look at the New Testament it’s Greek. So, I said, have you ever looked at the Greek word for begotten? And he said well, no, I haven’t. Well you’d be amazed to know because there are two Greek words. One word is manogennao and it means brought forth and that’s the kind of begotten that we’re thinking about. But then there’s another word that was in John 3:16 and it was not manogennao this idea of bringing something forth or creating something. It was a Greek word manogenes. You look up the Greek word manogenes it means the only one like me. So when you look at John 3:16 it was actually saying For God so loved the world that he gave the only one that was like him that you should not perish but have everlasting life. When I think about that name Michael, the one who was like God –and Jesus was the only one like God– this is none other than warfare between Satan and Christ.

05:20 Christ and Satan are at warfare with each other. It was in heaven. And again when we think of heaven we don’t think of a place of fighting; but there was one that took place there. It was not with jabs and punches and kicks but brothers and sisters, it was with ideologies and concepts. It was individuals trying to see who is supreme, who really is God, who really is worthy of worship. This is what was taking place in Heaven. And thank God the Bible says that Satan lost that battle.

05:45 The Bible clearly says that he lost that battle, he prevailed not the Bible says. And he was cast out. The Bible says he landed somewhere. The Bible says he was cast out and he landed on earth. I want you to understand the war was between Christ and Satan in heaven and the war continues between Christ and Satan. There’s only one difference. I want you to see that difference in Rev. 12:12 that the Bible continues to tell us more about the story.

06:21 “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.”

06:34 Somehow, someway, you and I now are caught in the middle of this war. So now the great controversy took a little of a shift. It was initially between Christ and Satan but now it’s between Christ and Satan over man. That was the shift in the war. But Satan’s goal is still to affect and hurt Christ! And the question is why does he pick on us?

06:58 I grew up in a public school system. I don’t advocate it; I’m just telling you the truth. In the public school system there were lots and lots of fights. I was in so many fights that once I got to 2 or 3 hundred, I just stopped counting. One of the things I remember about the fighting that took place in school was that a lot of fights would start when you didn’t even do anything. Someone would just walk up to you just because they didn’t like the way you looked; maybe they didn’t like the color of your skin; it could be for anything. And they would come and pick a fight with you. Those were some of the worse fights because there was nothing! And you could look in your mind and say what did I do? I didn’t even do anything.

07:39 The Bible says that when Satan landed on this planet he decided to pick a fight with humanity. Humanity was not looking to get into a fight with Satan; but Satan was looking to get into a fight with humanity. The question is why? Why did he come to start and pick this fight with you and I? The Bible helps give us some clues. We’re going to find more than clues but clear answers as we progress in our study.

08:00 In Zechariah 2 the Bible does give us a clue. It helps us get a slight idea to understand why Satan wanted to pick this fight with humanity. The Bible says in Zech. 2:8 “For thus saith the Lord of hosts; after the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you; for he that touches you touches the apple of His eye.” The Bible lets us know that “he that touches you touches the apple of His eye.” Can you imagine that God says when I think of humanity, when I think of these wonderful people that I have made in my image, and my likeness, that the devil sought to pervert, to cause us to be in another existence and another image and likeness. God said it was these very people that were like the apple of my eye, the twinkle, the spark in my eye. And brothers and sisters, being the father of four, often fathers have a tendency to say that their children are the twinkle of their eye. And so it is that we were that wonderful twinkle, that apple, that spark in the eye of God. God loved us brothers and sisters, and this merited Satan’s hatred. Therefore he said I’m going to continue the war between himself and Christ; but now you and I are involved.

08:32 Last I checked when you’re in a war you should have at least only one mind set and that is to win because losing is not an option. Brothers and sisters, don’t entertain losing. Do not sit down and parlay with the ideology of losing. You will understand brothers and sisters, there’s a very amazing thing but actions have a tendency to follow what goes on in the mind. The Bible says as a man thinks in his mind so is he in his character.

09:57 If you think yourself a loser that’s how your life is going to be paved out for you. So you have to think yourself a winner but it’s going to take more than just thinking yourself a winner. You’re going to have to learn to fight the good fight. And so it is that the Bible lets us know a reality that took place: Satan came and began to work upon the first human beings that walked on this planet: Adam and Eve. As he began to press upon Adam and Eve false theories and false concepts and ideologies appealing to the senses of humanity; the Bible says something took place, as a result of it. It brought something called sin into this world and Satan knew the effect of it because the Bible tells us right here very clearly “but your iniquity has separated between you and your God. And your sin has hid his face from you that he will not hear.

10:46 Brothers and sisters, Satan’s whole game plan was summed up in one point: get the people to fall into sin. Why? Because he understood that sin separates man from God. He understood it clear as day.

11:00 He knows that the heart of Christ is built on the fact that He was going to have communion with His creation. Satan was bent on the fact to break that communion by any means necessary. As a result of this he brought not only Adam and Eve, but brothers and sisters, we can look back at our own lives and we can all see that we fell for his trap as well. All of us could look back at our lives and we can see that we literally chose to sin against God even though the reality was it separated us from Him.

11:31 Brothers and sisters, we don’t understand. It is amazing how you can talk to humanity today and when you talk to human beings today you can say don’t you know that sin separates us from God and a lot of human beings either say or demonstrate actions of I don’t care. And the reason why is because most human beings have lived most of their lives separated from God. So it doesn’t hurt us really when we think about the fact that sin separates us from God.

11:56 The question is not so much how does it affect you, the question is how does it affect God? That’s a question that is often not considered. Often when we think of sin we think woe is me. We think oh man, my life is messed up: sickness, disease, sadness, poverty, and all these other problems in the world.

12:13 We think about ourselves. But brothers and sisters, the question is: How does sin affect God? And while this thought was not much on our mind, it was paramount on the mind of Satan. You and I need to understand this warfare more clearly. When he tempts you and I to sin, we don’t really understand what Satan plays. Go to Isaiah 63. The Bible brings something out that you and I would do well to consider brothers and sisters.

12:45 Isa. 63:8, 9 “For he said surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their”–what?– “Saviour.” –This is talking about God, himself. Verse 9– “In all their affliction” –talking about the people. Who was afflicted?– “God was afflicted” –He was afflicted.– “and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”

13:29 Satan functions as many of us understand the way the Mafia functions. When you think of the Mafia and all the horrific types of gang movements, these are individuals that always have a target. And when they aim at their target if they can’t get their target they have another modus operandi. That next motive is if we can’t get them, get those whom they love.

13:50 Satan knows that the war took a hit in heaven and he was kicked out; but the war continues with Christ and Satan. You and I have are caught in the middle. So when ever Satan really gets you to fall into sin, did you know he’s not really satisfied just because you and I fell? That’s not where his satisfaction is. We don’t understand that Satan has a satisfaction but we don’t understand his greatest satisfaction. We just read it in the verse. The Bible shows that every time that we sin. Every time we are afflicted with sin it does not just hurt us, it hurts God. That was Satan’s target all along because the war continues on earth between Christ and Satan. It is because of this that inspiration tells us very clearly in Counsels on Stewardship, p.136 (CS 28:136.2), it says “The only satisfaction Satan takes in playing the game of life for the souls of men is the satisfaction he takes in hurting the heart of Christ.” That’s all he cares about. You and I are just a pawn piece in the puzzle. What he does every time he gets us to fall into sin it’s as if he puts his foot on our back and triumphs as we fall on our faces and he looks Jesus in his face and says look at what I’ve done to another one of your people that you died for.

15:13 He rubs it in brothers and sisters, as if putting salt to the wound. It is as if brothers and sisters, he is going to Christ and saying every time I get your people, the ones you died for, every time I get them to fall into sin, he says what you going to do about it now? Was it worth it? He looks him in the eyes brothers and sisters. That’s all he cares about. You and I are just a commodity, just part of the package. His aim is to break the heart of God. Brothers and sisters, I want to stop causing God pain. Have you gotten to that place yet? Because there’s more that is suffering than you when we choose to do what we want, when we want, how we want.

16:05 There’s much more suffering. It breaks the heart of Jesus. It breaks the heart of our Heavenly Father; and this is God. God wants to put an end to pain. The plan of salvation is a plan to put an end to pain: man’s and God’s. Therefore brothers and sisters, we have to catch a broader view. We have to understand that God wants to do something very, very powerful.

16:30 This is why brothers and sisters, there’s a need for victory over sin. Victory over sin is not a doctrine like an á la carte product that’s on a table that you can pick or not pick and still be alright. Brothers and sisters, victory over sin is mandatory because brothers and sisters, as long as we keep sinning the pain continues. Not just for men but also for God. It is for this reason that, I believe, studying about victory over sin, studying about God´s plan to help us and enable us to get to a point that we can stop the pain. This should be something that is paramount in the mind of the children of God.

17:14 But you know that God also tells us to watch motives. God wants us to be very careful with motives because it is possible to want to accomplish something that God wants to accomplish; but to do it with a bad motive. Like a Bible worker that goes out to do Bible studies with people they win souls to Christ, which is a good work, but they can have a bad motive; like they do it to be recognized by the church. So they can be given a raise. So they can go from one little church to a larger church and be hired. People do all sorts of good works with bad motives. God understands that: that’s why having simply the experience of victory over sin or the goal of entering into that experience is not enough. We have to understand that while this is definitely the goal victory over sin, the ceasing and the ending of the pain of both God and man; while this definitely should be the goal; we have to understand that we need to pursue the goal with a right motive. The reason this is important is because we know what sin is.

18:05 The Bible tells us in 1 John 3:4 what sin is: Sin is the breaking of God’s law, God’s commandments. Somebody says what commandments? Paul answers in Rom. 7:7 “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” There’s only one commandment that says thou shalt not covet, in all the Bible, and that’s in Ex. 20:17 the very 10th commandment. So it’s the breaking of the 10 Commandments that brings forth sin. God wants to bring us to an experience where we have victory over sin; which means we keep His commandments, but the only way it can happen is it must be based on the right motive.

18:50 And what is that motive? John 14. The Bible makes it clear of how this can be accomplished but it must be based on the right motive. Motive is very important with God. It should be very important to God’s people. The Bible says in John 14 exactly what that motive should be that ultimately will enable us to have victory over sin.

19:18 The Bible says in John 14:15 in very, very plain language. Jesus says “If you love me” – What should be the fruit?– “keep my commandments.” Brothers and sisters, the only way you and I can have victory over sin and the only way it could ever be accomplished is when you and I develop a love for Christ that’s stronger than life: and it’s only until this happens. Like I told you earlier, it’s possible to be a church member but not be a Christian. It is possible brothers and sisters, we can be church members in good and regular standing but Heaven’s Book does not recognize us as children of the Most High God. Therefore, while I definitely want to be a church member in good and regular standing it should be a natural fruit that comes from being a Christian. But it’s possible to be a good faithful church attending individual and not be recognized of Heaven as a child of God. And guess what? You can’t tell God you’re his child. He must tell you.

20:28 God says I know my own. God says I know every single one who is mine. Christ has made that clear. So it’s not for us to say I know I’m a child of God! You can say I know all you want. It’s important for God to be able to say do I recognize you as my child? That’s imperative.

20:46 Therefore brothers and sisters, we need to understand that we need the experience of victory over sin that’s definitely the reality; but at the same time, we must understand there’s only one thing that can bring it and that is once we learn to love that man by the name of Jesus! And to know what love really is. This is why when we understand this; we have to understand this beautiful quote from Desire of Ages, p.480 (DA 51:480.3), “It is not the fear of punishment, or the hope of everlasting reward, that leads the disciples of Christ to follow Him.” – You can’t let any other motive drive you to have an experience of victory over sin in Jesus Christ except one thing. It can’t be the fear of punishment, it doesn’t work. It can’t be the hope of reward, it doesn’t work. It makes it clear– “They behold the Saviour’s matchless love, revealed throughout His pilgrimage on earth, from the manger of Bethlehem to Calvary’s cross, and the sight of Him attracts,”– Has Jesus attracted you yet? Have you gotten to the point when you behold Him He is altogether lovely? It says “the sight of Him attracts, it softens and subdues the soul.”

21:56 Brothers and sisters, I know for a fact, that there was a time in my life that I was preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ; preaching the everlasting gospel. I can be very honest with you, that I can recognize that I was not a child of God for a long period of time. How do I know that? because I could be a very hard man. I could be hard. You mess up; you do something wrong; I’m ready to crack a whip on you. I’m ready to let you know how you messed up; you messed up again; you did it wrong; and I’m ready to put sometimes the severest punishment upon you.

22:27 Brothers and sisters, I remember this spirit. I remember it too well. We use to roll real tight, me and Satan; but I’m glad that brother is cut off. You have to understand brothers and sisters, some of us; we’re hard people. We know how to be nice, when you’re nice. We know how to be cool, when you’re cool. But as soon as you get on my nerves I do not have a problem letting you know. And I can lose my spirit of Christ real quick; and that testifies that there’s a disconnect between myself and the Saviour. Why?

23:02 Notice the quote again, it says “They behold the Saviour’s matchless love, revealed throughout His pilgrimage on earth, from the manger of Bethlehem to Calvary’s cross, and the sight of Him attracts, it softens” –last I checked, soften is the opposite of hard. If I still have a rough, hard demeanor and character then that means that Christ’s love has not accomplished its work yet. It says– “it softens and subdues the soul.” – It says,– “Love awakens” –I love that brothers and sisters, it’s a miraculous statement: love awakens. Christ takes full responsibility for what is produced in our heart. This is none other than Rom. 5:5 where the Bible tells us– “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” –it’s a miracle, it’s a miracle, it’s a beautiful miracle. It says – “Love awakens in the heart of the beholders. They hear his voice and they follow him.” (DA 51:480.3)

24:08 Brothers and sisters, this is what Christ wants. This is what must be produced. It’s not enough to just be a bunch of rule following people. There has to be a motive; that’s the foundation of it and if that motive’s not right then you’re not right; I’m not right. This is something that we all have to do some heart searching. I’m so glad for Gospel Workers, p. 100 (GW 18:100.1), I hope you are. It tells us very clearly that we are to do something very special. It tells us that we are to guard jealously your hours for prayer, the searching of the Scriptures, AND the examination of your heart.

24:50 Some of us are good prayer people. Some of us are some good prayer Bible-study people. But brothers and sisters, you have to be 3-fold. You have to have some time for prayer. You have to have some time for searching the Scriptures. And you must set some time to examine your heart. This is what Christ did. He went out and communed with nature and with God and with his own heart. He would spend that time in nature and he would let the Lord reveal some things to him. This is Ps 139:23 and 24 where the Bible tells us so clearly “Search me, o God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and” –once it’s identified; the close of the prayer is– “lead me in the way of everlasting life.”

26:37 Brothers and sisters, that’s what Christ needs to accomplish in you and me. He’s not looking for a bunch of hard-core SDAs. He’s looking for Christians. He’s looking for people that reflect the lovely image right. And this is what Christ wants. So when we think of victory over sin brothers and sisters, it’s an imperative experience. We must have it. It does stop the pain. The fruits are beautiful but it must be based on the right motive. This is why we are on the journey called The Plan of Salvation. That’s why were on it.

26:04 So when you think of victory over sin we can look at it in 2-fold. I believe that victory over sin as necessary as this experience is, it does need to be qualified because there are some ideologies, when we think of victory over sin, that might be a bit twisted. So what we want is to look at it. When we think of victory over sin, I’m going to simplify it into two paths.

26:25 When I think of the 1st path I’m thinking of prohibitions. When you think of victory over sin there are prohibitions, things that God says do not do this. Prohibitions. But when you think of victory over sin there is something else. It’s also called a call to action. So when you think of victory over sin, victory over sin is broken down into two paths the 1st path is prohibitions the 2nd path is a call to action. We’re going to see how the Bible shows both because Christ wants to bring us into victory over sin, no doubt about that, that’s what stops the pain; but at the same time, we have to really take a look at what really is victory over sin and how is it experienced. So when we think of sin we have to understand it’s compassed of prohibitions but also a call to action.

27:18 When we think of prohibitions we think of Isa 1:16. This verse just summarizes it all. God only tells us not to do things that are bad or evil. Notice how the Bible spells it out in Isa. 1:16 “Wash you, make you clean. Put away the evil of your doing before my eyes. Cease to do evil.” –That’s pretty clear. Isn’t it? There are a lot of things the Bible calls evil. Neh. 13:15-18 it says Sabbath breaking is evil. That’s the reason why God calls us to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, right? We know that adultery is evil. We know that lying is evil. We know that an evil tongue, a surmising tongue, a gossiping tongue is evil. There are many things that the Bible calls evil. And therefore what we do is look through the Scriptures to understand God’s prohibitions, the thou shalt nots. Don’t do this and don’t do that. Why? Because it is not indicative of one who possesses the Holy Spirit. It is not indicative of one who is a child of God. How in the world can we say we’re Christians and we’re yelling at people and being mean and ungodly? How can we say that losing our tempers? How can we call ourselves children of God? How can we say we’re children of God if we’re still cussing and swearing? How can we say we’re children of God if we’re still practicing fornication? The Bible is clear these things are what the Bible calls evil. And God says put these things away from your life.

28:56 If you are connected to me, Christ says, these things don’t please me. Something I learned that makes it easy or easier, at least, I’ve learned this: in the Bible God often refers to himself as an husband and he refers to his church as a wife. You remember you look at Ephesians 5, it says husbands love your wife as Christ loves His church. Wives reverence your husband as the church is to reverence Christ, etc.

29:23 If you look at Eph. 5:32 the Bible says I show you a great mystery, all these counsels I’m giving on husbands and wives, He says all of this I’m really speaking about Christ and the Church. So literally marriage was supposed to be a pictorial of the relationship between earth and Heaven. I wonder how many of our homes look like Heaven. And so it is, when we think about that, I learned something as a man who’s been married seventeen years. May 25, 2015 will make it eighteen.

29:57 Here’s something I did learn in my potential eighteen years of marriage, when I consider my bride one of the things I like to do is understand what pleases her. And then what pleases her, of course, as long as there not things that violate God’s word, I make sure I get it done. Brothers, not one amen? (Amen.) That was your opportunity. (laughter) Amen!

30:28 I want to find out what pleases my wife; that’s what a man that is in love with his bride does. But brothers and sisters, when I discover something that does not please my wife, and I can see that whatever does not please her, I also see God is in agreement as well, then I say well if this does not please you I do not want to do it because I’ve pledged my life to be with you, to please you. Then love for my bride becomes my motivation to avoid the things that displease her; and it works.

31:05 When we look at the Bible there are a lot of things that do not please our Heavenly Husband. There are lots of things that don’t please Him but the problem is you will never give up anything truly from your heart for a man you don’t love. That’s why it takes more than just telling young people stop sinning.

31:30 We have to show them how to love God. If they learn how to love God victory over sin is much, much easier. It’s hard to not do things you love to do for a person you don’t love; we all know that as human beings in this room.

31:50 Therefore, God makes it clear, he says victory over sin: definitely possible; definitely can take place but love has to be the foundation. Even when we look at the prohibitions we must avoid evil. Bad music? –got to go. Bad dress? –got to go. Bad diet? –got to go. Bad worship? –got to go. All these things –got to go. That’s not the issue. The issue is not that we need less dress reform, we need more. The issue is not that we need less health reform, we need more. It’s not that we need less Sabbath reform or less education reform or any other reform, we need more, brothers and sisters, because apostate movements are consistently trying to penetrate God’s Remnant. So, we need more! Believe that; but, brothers and sisters, there’s more to life than avoiding sin. There’s more to life than just avoiding evil. You can’t just cut off, cut off, cut off; you have to learn to cut on.

33:00 Therefore, when we think of victory over sin we’re thinking about the prohibitions, avoiding evil. No question about it, we need to avoid evil. We just need the right motive that gives us power; but there’s another one. There’s another thing called sin; that God wants to give us victory over. Therefore victory over sin is not just avoiding evil but it’s also a call to action. What actions? Do you know what those actions are? Self-sacrificial service. Notice what the Bible says in Isaiah 58.

33:35 Believe it or not: another aspect of victory over sin is not just avoiding evil. Some of us think we’ve accomplished our job just because we don’t listen to perverted hip-hop jazz anymore or jazz gospel or hip-hop gospel or reggae gospel because we got rid of our rock-n-roll gospel; because we went from short skirts to long skirts; because of the fact that we no longer eat the flesh pots of Egypt but now we eat whole food plant based diet; many of us think well, the mission is accomplished! We got out of the city into the country.

34:08 Brothers and sisters, in my home we eat a whole food plant based diet; in my home there’s no such thing as short skirts; in my home it’s in the country; in other words we have the elements but what I’m telling you is that these things are fruits of righteousness. They’re not the root of righteousness. And don’t ever get that twisted brothers and sisters, these things don’t save us; they don’t make us holy; they simply indicate that we’re connected to the Holy One. Therefore, we cannot make this our religion but I’ll tell you what really proves – you see when you think of the 1st commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. That means we’re claiming to be true worshippers.

34:53 2nd commandment: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images, do not bow down to these idols nor worship them. That testifies that we hate what God hates. God hates idolatry. We hate idolatry.

35:05 Commandment # 3: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. That means we are professing to be Christians, Christ-like people.

35:11 Commandment # 4: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. That means that we are professing to be holy people, sanctified people. But the question is how do you really know that these are true worshippers? How do you really know that they hate what God hates? How do you really know that they demonstrate the character of Christ? How do you really know that these people are holy and sanctified? when they start honoring their fathers and their mothers; when they will not kill in any form; when they will not commit adultery, even with looking and lusting; when they will not steal, even someone’s affections through flirting; when they will not bare a false witness against their neighbor –which means they absolutely love speaking truth; and, when they will not covet –which means they demonstrate contentment with whatever they have; they are Philippians 4:11-type people: in whatsoever state; they have learned therewith to be content.

36:06 Brothers and sisters, my point is simple, the last six commandments prove you’re really keeping the first four. The last six commandments are in evidence if those first four are really real. God knew that.

36:31 Isaiah 58 –the Bible tells us very clearly; it talks about a true fast; it talks about a beautiful fast; actually, I wish we could learn this fast more often. The Bible says in Isa. 58 –Sister V, I don’t know if she realized but as soon as she gave her testimony I said does she realize she just experienced Isa. 58? Isa. 58:6-8. Watch verse 8 carefully, Sister V’s point: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To lose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” –it’s not just talking about you; but what you do for others– “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” –and what would happen if somebody did this? What’s that first word in verse 8?– “Then” –this means as a result. It says then Sister V,– “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily” –my sister forgot herself. She said there’s someone who I love she’s called my mother. There’s somebody that I love and she is my mother. And she said I’m feeling weak; but you know what? My mother feels weaker; therefore whatever rays of energy I have, I will exert it for Christ sake and I will manifest it to my mother, whom I love. And God said dear child don’t you understand what you were doing? God says when you did that; God says I’m going to allow your health to spring forth speedily. –That’s what came to my mind when you gave that blessed testimony. But it goes on– “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer” –some of our prayers are not being answered because we’re selfish, self-centered; and consumed with ourselves! Saints, some of us say why aren’t my prayers being answered? I avoid every evil! I don’t listen to bad music. I don’t dress bad. I don’t eat any foul diet. I don’t do any of those things! But the problem is you don’t serve. How could Christ be in you when the Bible says in Acts 10:38 that He “went about doing good!” If Christ is in me then the life He lived should be the life I live. And if I’m living His life then that means that my life is a light not some contribution you give on a Sabbath here or there. My life is a life of going about doing good! And the Bible says that if you dare do this; the Bible says in verse 9 “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer.” Some of our prayers are not being heard because we’re self-centered. And you know what self-centeredness is? Sin!

39:43 Victory over sin is more than just the prohibitions; it’s a call to action! It’s a call to a life of self-sacrificial service brothers and sisters. That’s real victory over sin. We can go on with the verses here but you get the point.

40:10 Brothers and sisters, this is what victory over sin really is! This is what, Christ, He wants to bring this to each and every one of us. And He can. He can! He can! It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful thing. So victory over sin, remember victory over sin stops the pain. We want to stop the pain. We have to cooperate with God.

40:30 God says victory over sin is definitely contributive of prohibitions, you have to avoid the evils but you also have to respond to the call of action; when you look at Matthew 25:31-46 that’s just Jesus spelling it out. It was only when I understood this that it made sense now; because, why are people going to hell’s fire just because they didn’t visit people in prison? I didn’t understand that for awhile. Why is Jesus saying go you cast and you’re going to be weeping and gnashing of teeth? He says that all in Matthew 25:31-46. But then Jesus makes it clear He says whatsoever you didn’t do to them, you didn’t do it to me. We don’t understand that the last six commandments it has a very immediate application but it also has as Ps 119:96 says “Thy commandments are exceeding broad.” We have to understand there are a lot of mothers and fathers out there that we need to also honor. Especially, those that are elderly. There are a lot of ways that we can commit adultery without even touching a person.

41:40 Brothers and sisters, when we look at the broadness of God’s commandments we can see that the last six commandments is a call to action; it’s a call to service. So when we don’t serve and we say I’m too busy because I live way out in the sticks in New York and I can hardly pay my mortgage; and therefore I just have to work, work, work and I have no time to do anything else. Brothers and sisters, that means you just need to go to God and you’re going to need to change your circumstances. You need to go to God and say this is not working. Because life was never meant for you to be so busy, working and hustling that all you do is earn enough money to service debt. That’s not even living brothers and sisters. Sooner or later you have to be man or woman enough to say my life is ridiculous right now. This makes no sense. Things have got to changed!

42:26 God loves it when people get to that place because God does not lack for ideas. He does not lack for counsel. All you have to do is go to Him. Don’t you know He loves you? He wants you to be successful in every phase of life. Don’t determine success by man’s standard. I’m just saying true success is being able to do whatever God says. Is that simple enough? That’s what He wants for every single one of us!

42:53 Therefore victory over sin is definitely possible but the question is how? Because when we look at our lives some of us are not avoiding evil, we’re embracing it. Some of us we are not doing self-sacrificial service, our lives are self-consumed. So the question is how can I get victory over sin? I believe the Bible has an answer, it’s almost super simple, but it gets deeper 1 Cor. 15:57 the Bible says as we consider this ideology of victory over sin which is possible, thank you Jesus, it’s just that we have to understand it. The Bible is clear. It tells us how we can get victory over sin. In a broad sense then we’ll make it more succinct. The Bible says in 1 Cor. 15:57 it says “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory” –but it comes through who? it comes– “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Victory over sin cannot be done by planning and conjuring up ideas and brain storming and just will power. That is not how victory over sin comes. Christ must be first, middle, last, top, bottom, best in all of the ideas, concepts, and pursuits of life that we’re going to make, to try to make sure that we can experience what He wants us to experience.

44:24 “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” So what that means then is that victory over sin is possible; but, we can only get it through Christ. Which means that if we go to Jesus then He will somehow teach us, enable us, and empower us, and show us how we can have the victory through Him.

44:48 The reality is it’s possible to go look for Jesus and not find Him because you don’t know where He is. The reason I say this is because we can ask Mary Magdalene, as an example. Go to John 20. Mary had that issue. If Mary had that issue; why can’t you have that issue? There are people all over the world, I believe, that have this issue. They’re looking for Jesus, the solution, but they don’t exactly know where to find him. Let me show you what I mean. John 20: Is it alright if we study? (Amen.) Going text by text making sure we know what we believe? (Amen.)

45:19 The Bible is very clear. The Bible spells it out beautifully. The Bible says in John 20:1 and 2 “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” Mary came looking for Jesus and couldn’t find him. When she came looking for Jesus she said I don’t even know where he is. Do you know that’s what the world is going through right now? Do you know that’s why God raised up the Seventh-day Adventist Church? The world, at large, right now is looking for Jesus at least in solution form. You know with Jesus there’s peace; with Jesus there’s love; with Jesus there’s hope; with Jesus there’s every good virtue that the human mind can imagine. So there are people that are looking for Christ but the problem is they don’t know where to find him. Then you have religious people that are doing the same; just like Mary. Mary was a religious person. She came to where she understood Christ to be; but when she got there, he wasn’t there.

46:39 Brothers and sisters, did you know that Seventh-day Adventists know where Jesus is? Do you know that as a result of the fact that we know where Jesus is, God holds us double responsible for every individual that goes in the grave NOT knowing where Christ was. That’s why a call to service is so important. We have the answer. The Bible tells us the answer. You know it’s very simple. The Bible tells us a wonderful statement that Jesus said a long time ago. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). Christ referred to himself as the way to salvation; the One that is to bridge mankind back to God. But when we consider this more deeply, we know the Bible also says “Thy way, o God,” –is where?– “is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” (Ps. 77:13).

47:29 So God says there’s a people on earth that knows how to point man to where Christ is. That’s imperative brothers and sisters. You have to know where Christ is so you can get the people connected. This becomes a very, very serious situation for you and I. We have to understand where Christ is so we can know how to get to him; but then, we can help others know how to get to him. If we really want victory over sin, understanding it in the broader sense than what we studied thus far, we have to go to Jesus because God said “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

48:11 Jesus Christ is the Source so we have to go to Him where He is. And Christ, right now, we know, He is in the sanctuary. But brothers and sisters, simply knowing where Christ is, is that enough? Certainly not enough. Wish it were that simple, but it’s not. Knowing where Christ is, is important; but, it definitely is not enough.

48:33 It’s for this reason that point # 1 is: we can only get victory over sin which can stop the pain between God and man in this issue of the fight of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. But the only way it can happen is we have to go to Christ; and we have to go to Him, where He is. We are still in fairly appetizer phase of the message; the meats coming. God wants us to understand it’s the only way we can have this victory. The only way we can have true victory over sin through Christ!

49:08 The Bible tells us, obviously something very important for us to understand, I would imagine that it would just be repetition for those of us that name the name Seventh-day Adventist and it’s found in Daniel 8:14. Is it alright if we turn there in case somebody here never saw it before? Let’s turn there real quick. You’ll see why this is important. Because the Bible makes it clear that Christ is in the sanctuary; but the Bible also helps us understand there are different phases in the sanctuary. In the sanctuary services you have a Holy place, you have a Most Holy place, and then you have a Courtyard that gets you to there. So it is, when you think of Christ you think of Christ in the Courtyard as represented by the Lamb that’s slain. You think of Christ in the Holy place as the Priest that mediates. You think of Christ in the Most Holy place as a High Priest who judges. There are several works of Christ that we can see throughout the sanctuary services; but Dan. 8:14 helps us understand something that I think is very important.

50:07 Of course, it was answering a question. And the question was how long would a certain prophetic utterance take place and the answer was given in Dan. 8:14 “And he said unto me, unto two thousand and three hundred days (2300); then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” This is a foundational text for Seventh-day Adventists as we seek to point people to Christ in the sanctuary. We want people to understand that the Bible says a time was going to come for the sanctuary to be cleansed. But what does that mean?

50:35 To get a little bit more magnification we would have to go to Leviticus 16. There was something called the day of atonement a time in which God’s people would have to undergo an investigative judgment and when they would undergo this investigative judgment God was looking to see if His mission was accomplished in the hearts of His people. Once the mission was accomplished, God was able to cleanse the sanctuary.

51:08 The Bible says in Lev. 16:16 “And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.”

51:30 Going on, (verse 17) “And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.”

51:44 (verse 18) “And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.”

51:55 (verse 19) “And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.”

52:03 What’s being cleansed as we’re studying Lev. 16:16-19? the sanctuary, various parts. The sanctuary is being cleansed but look at verse 30. “For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from” –how much?– “all your sins before the Lord.” So what’s being cleansed in verse 30? The people.

52:38 What happens first the cleansing of the people or the cleansing of the sanctuary? The answer is in the first sentence of Lev. 16:16 “And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel.” So why was the sanctuary dirty? because of the people’s sins. So what would have to be cleansed first? The people! And once the people are clean then the sanctuary can be cleansed. You can’t have a clean sanctuary until you have a clean people.

53:47 This was all done in the Day of Atonement which was in a specific place. It was in the Most Holy place. So when we think about our job, our job after that time period of Dan. 8:14 there was going to be a shift, if you will, Christ was going to enter somewhere where He was going to begin doing a cleansing work which was something that was done only on the Day of Atonement; and it was designed to clean the people that the sanctuary could be cleansed.

54:20 As Seventh-day Adventists Oct. 22, 1844, is a special day for us. We believe that Jesus made a move in the heavenly Sanctuary. We believe that He left an area called the Holy place and He moved into the Most Holy place; and He began a work of judgment that was designed to ultimately enable Him and put Him in a position that He could cleanse the sanctuary; which means He first has to clean up His people.

54:56 Rev. 10:7 brings this out in beautiful language. It was after or as this time period came to an end that Christ moved into the Most Holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary; it’s our job to point people there because that’s where victory over sin can take place. Victory over sin is what God wants because that’s what is going to stop the pain. So, the Bible says in Rev 10:7 “But in the days of the voice of the 7th angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”

56:04 One of our pioneers, J. Andrews was a very powerful individual in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the time of our pioneers. He said something very strong in his book The Judgment. Its Events and Their Order, he is talking about Rev. 10:7, what we just read, “It is not stated that the mystery of God shall be finished when the 7th angel begins to sound.” –remember it says the mystery of God should be finished– “For this would denote instantaneous completion. It is said in the days of the voice of the 7th angel, when he shall begin to sound” –etc.– “this shows beyond dispute that a period of time is devoted to this work. The days of this prophecy are prophetic days i.e. years as are those of the 5th and 6th angels in Rev. 9. These years which are devoted to this finishing of human probation begin with the sounding of the 7th angel. They are the earliest years of his voice.”

57:06 So, when you read Rev. 10:7 it wasn’t something that happened instantaneously. It was something that began and was going to spread over a period of time. It says in the days of the voice of the 7th angel, that indicates days prophetically years. So it was not something that was going to be instantaneous it was something that was going to go over a period of years that there’s going to be a sounding for the mystery of God to be finished.

57:37 So, this is what Christ wants: Christ is in the Most Holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary. He wants to see the mystery of God finished because when that takes place then the pain can stop. Why? Because an experience has taken place. What’s the experience? It’s called victory over sin.

58:04 Our job right now is to point people to Christ in the Most Holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary; and show people how to get there by faith. That’s our mission. That’s our job. This is what we should be doing. This is what should be our focus right now.

58:25 Christ is in the Most Holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary. His mission is to bring us in union with Him. He wants us to come where He is by faith. Our mission is to point people there. So now we’ve solved one problem.

58:48 Victory over sin can only come through Christ; but, you have to know where He is. We understand where He is. He is in the Most Holy place. And we need to get there; that’s where all the blessings are. But brothers and sisters, how do you get there? In Heb. 10:19 the Bible shows us how to get there “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the” –where? the– “holiest” –that’s another term for the Most Holy place. Having therefore, boldness–this term can be applied to the Most Holy place. So therefore having the boldness brethren, – “to enter the holiest, but how do you get there?– “by the blood of Jesus.”

1:00:08 How do we get there? “by the blood of Jesus.” So somebody can’t just simply get there because they want to get there. You can only get there by the blood of Jesus. This makes sense because we read Rev. 12, which is how this whole message started. We skipped verse 11 but in Rev. 12:11 it actually says and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. Isn’t that something? We’re talking about overcoming, victory over sin, and the only way it can happen is by the blood of Christ. So, therefore there is no way we can get into the Most Holy place except by the blood of Christ which enables us to overcome.

1:00:57 This is important because you will find that blood was all throughout the sanctuary. The blood of Christ was a very, very significant thing in the sanctuary services. Think about it. If you were consider this you would look at blood in the courtyard according to Lev. 1:5 and Ex. 27:1-5; it was poured right down at the very bottom of the altar of sacrifice. So there was blood in the courtyard.

1:01:24 Then, if you look at the Holy place there was blood in the Holy place according to Lev. 4:7 because it was placed on the horns of the altar of incense. The altar of incense is in the Holy place. Then, the blood was in the Most Holy place before the Mercy seat. So blood was in the Most Holy place.

1:01:52 It’s amazing because blood was all throughout every phase of the sanctuary. That’s why it makes sense that the only way we can enter the Sanctuary by faith is that we must enter through the blood. What is the significance of the blood?

1:02:09 What is the significance of the blood of Christ? # 1 the blood represents the life. According to Lev. 17:11 the Bible says “For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” So when we think about the blood it’s something that gets us into the Holy place. It’s something that we can overcome. It’s talking about the life of Christ.

1:02:35 It also indicates sacrifice. Matt. 26:27-28 the Bible says “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” So, when you think of the blood of Christ you’re not just simply thinking of His life; but you’re especially thinking of his sacrifice.

1:03:04 This is important because we know there is something encased in the life of Christ that if it can happen in yours, and my life, through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, it can enable us to get into the Most Holy place by faith. How does this happen?

1:03:32 The Desire of Ages, p. 83 (DA 7:83.4) “It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene” –but there was a focus– “especially the closing ones.” While we were to observe the entire life of Christ, there was an emphasize that the testimony of Christ wanted us to give serious zooming in on; it was none other than the closing scenes.

1:04:10 Let’s understand that. It says “As we thus dwell” –have you ever visited somebody? When you visit a place do you dwell there? Do you dwell at a place that you visit? No. you’re visiting. When you think of a dwelling place, that’s permanent; some place where you live. We’re told– “As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us” –some of us have been visiting the sacrifice of Christ, but we don’t dwell on it. Think on that. Some of us visit the sacrifice of Christ. Yeah, yeah, I read about the cross. Big deal, so what? Let’s get to that Most Holy Place! Let’s get to that deeper meat! Tell me about the mark of the beast! Tell me about the pope! Tell me about Rome! Tell me about all the other stuff! Let’s dwell on that; but, the cross? I’ll visit it; but, I’m not going to dwell there.

1:05:14 We’re being told the opposite. We’re being told “As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit.” –brothers and sisters, this is almost elementary. If you can look at your life and you can say I know that my confidence in God is shaky. I know that my love for Christ is dying. I know that I am being less impressed by His Spirit. It is clear you are not dwelling upon His great sacrifice for us. I like considering verses. I like considering quotes. Don’t just read them. It there’s somebody in this room and you can honestly say I can see in my life my confidence in the Lord is not constant; I’m questioning Him a lot. I’m getting to the point that I’m even asking Him so many questions that I’m even wondering if He even exists to answer my questions. If you’re getting to that place, that’s dangerous. There are some of us: our love is not being made more alive, our love is going out. Saints, I’m talking to you from my heart. I have no time to play games. Brothers and sisters, we know, Seventh-day Adventists, we are phenomenal in externals. We are so good for externals. We know how to put on the happy Sabbath face. We know how to wear the right suit, wear the right dress and eat the right food and do a lot of that external stuff; but this, some warfare’s going on in our hearts right now that some of us are two steps from turning our back on God and His truth!

1:07:00 Christ is trying to save us from that! And He can’t save you as long you and I act. We have to be willing to say Lord, my confidence in you is waning. My love for you is dying. The impressions of your Spirit do not touch me like they use to. I can listen to some of the most powerful present truth statements and read it myself and my heart is not even moved as much anymore. And when you are in that place you are in more of a 9-1-1 state then you know. But God says there goes the solution, all along, dwell; don’t visit. Dwell upon the One who made this incredible sacrifice for you. Spend time thinking about it. Contemplating it. Praying about it and saying Lord, how do I make this my own?

1:07:50 This is what Christ wants. He wants to protect us from falling into the trap that a lot of people– I’ve met so many present truth preachers that will stand on the pulpit and be like The Bible says and they’re preaching the word of God and literally they will call on me and say I’m beginning to wonder if God even hears me. I’m getting ready to leave the faith; getting ready to turn away. I have gone through this so many times brothers and sisters.

1:08:14 I went to one school, this school, these people, every time it was time for prayer everybody went to their knees, everybody always knelt in prayer. There was nothing of the food that they served at that school that you had to ask a question about. You didn’t have to ask is there chocolate in this; is there egg; is there milk? You didn’t have to ask any of that. Everything was health reform. Girls were wearing their nice long flowing skirts. The brothers were wearing their nice suits, or they were well dressed, well groomed. They had deep Bible classes; I sat in some of their Bible classes and listened to them preach the word. When you looked at this school you said Man, here goes the Remnant.

1:08:52 I preached this sermon that Friday night. We preached the message on righteousness by faith. When we finished that sermon, I said how many of you would like to stand over here and I’ll be happy to pray with you? And as I decided to do that there were so many people that stayed; staff and students; and do you know that over 90% of the staff and students said the same thing when we came together for prayer? They said I don’t know God. Brothers and sisters, it was a lesson book for me I will never forget. They said I don’t know God. I don’t know if He really listens to me. I don’t even know if He’s still real. I’ve seen some of the students from that school today and they’re participating in other ministries; they look, act, think, and behave like the world; turned away from Jesus. This is a real warfare brothers and sisters.

1:09:47 There are some of us that we are not dwelling and as a result of that we are falling into some death traps by Satan; and he is seeking to wipe us out. This is why it says “our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit if we dwell upon that great sacrifice. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation” –where?– “at the foot of the cross.”

1:10:15 There’s something about Calvary. There’s something about Calvary that has a way of reaching the heart like nothing else can. It is the highest magnification of the Love of God. It is the highest magnification of the overall goal of the life of Christ. No wonder the prophet says focus on the closing scenes and I think we need to do that. The Bible tells us in Zech. 12:10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and thy shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

1:11:05 God says the more that they look upon me of whom they have pierced is the more that they mourn, a sorrow for sin. Selfishness, sin, evil deeds will be removed from our hearts. God says I’ll do it. God says I have power to do it but you have to look and live. That’s amazing Sabbath school: look and live. Health nugget: look and live. Sermon: look and live. God is trying to get across to his people: look and live.

1:11:31 The Bible says in Hab. 3:4 He had bright beams coming out of His side and there was the hiding of his power. Isn’t that what we need? Wasn’t that our Scripture reading? “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God.” (Rom. 1:16)

1:11.52 I challenge any of you, next time you read Rom. 1:16 you write next to your Bible 1 Cor. 1:17, 18, and 24; do that next time. If you look at Rom. 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God. Unto salvation” but then you look at 1 Cor. 1:17, 18 it says for the gospel that was preached it was called the gospel of the cross of Calvary; the cross of Christ. And then he says for the cross of Christ the preaching of the cross of Christ, is the power of God. Then verse 24 says Christ the power of God. So, verse 17 and 18 preaching of the cross: the power of God. Verse 24: Christ: the power of God. 1 Cor. 2:1, 2 Paul says I’m only going to preach Christ and Him crucified. That’s a lot of power!

1:12:50 This is what Christ wanted us to always understand. We’re told “That pierced side whence flowed the crimson stream that reconciled men to God –there is the Saviour’s glory, there the hiding of His power.’” “And the tokens of His humiliation are His highest honor; through the eternal ages the wounds of Calvary will show forth His praise and declare His power.” Great Controversy, p. 674 (GC 42:674.2).

1:13:25 If this were not enough, then one day I’m going through The Ministry of Healing, p. 460 (MH 39:460.4), when I read this I said Lord help me understand this “Let the cross of Christ be made the science of all education,” –all of you have education in some shape, form, or size. The question is was the cross of Christ the science behind it? It says– “Let the cross of Christ be made the science of all education, the center of all teaching and all study.” –How many of us do that? Really? How many of us make the cross of Christ the science of all my educational efforts, then it is central to all my teachings, and all my studies. It’s possible to get up in the morning and have morning devotion, morning manna; and we don’t see anything about the cross of Christ. It is possible to give sermon after sermon and talk about a lot of things but it may not be cross-centered.

1:14:34 As if this were not enough, it says “Let it be brought into the daily experience in practical life.” How do you bring the cross of Christ into daily experience in practical life? Practical life is grocery shopping. How do you bring the cross of Christ with you in grocery shopping? It’s a daily experience in life, going to work, dealing with a bunch of people that 9/10 of the time you probably don’t even like. How do you bring the cross of Christ with you in all these things? It says if we did it “So will the Saviour become to the youth a daily companion and friend. Every thought will be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

1:15:33 So the Lord put me on a serious quest. I’m just going to share a portion of this quest with you as we go through the last few phases of our study. I began to ask God cross- centered? That means I need to understand the cross because some people only understand the cross as a bloody mess; that’s how some people understand the cross of Calvary. The day a bloody mess took place. What I mean by that: a day a man named Jesus went on a cross, got whipped, got a bunch of thorns put in his head, just got beat up real bad, and bled all over the place, and just hung on that cross for us. Somebody says well, my uncle died in the holocaust and they stripped his skin off his body, finger by finger, toe by toe, limb by limb. So, if Jesus is so special just because he chose to die for people and allowed himself to get bloody, bloody, bloody, why isn’t my uncle a saviour?

1:16:30 What do you say to that Jewish man? If all that we can tell of the cross is that it was a day somebody got bludgeoned really bad and died for a lot of people. Somebody says well my uncle went through the same thing. My father went through the same thing. A lot of people got bludgeoned and died for a lot of people. Is that the limit of the cross? I’d like to give you a homework assignment: read Testimonies for the Church volume 2, p.200-215 (2T 29), it’s dealing with the cost of the cross. I think a lot of us are not familiar with what happened on Calvary. I want to encourage you to read Testimonies for the Church volume 2, p.200-215 (2T 29). (You may download this book free of charge from www.whiteestate.org). Read it. Read it slow. Read it prayerfully.

1:17:36 My hope and prayer is that you will realize that the story of Calvary is more than a story of a Jewish man that went through a bloody mess. There was much more at stake. O, yes.

1:17:49 When I look at this. Here’s the question: What are practical lessons from the cross? How can we bring it into the daily experience? This is important because you’re going to see that these experiences in the closing scenes of the life of Christ are the experiences that we need to have to be prepared to go through the final crisis.

1:18:13 You’re going to see that there is a tremendous parallel of what we are about to see when we look at the closing scenes of Christ’s life and we look at this. Observe. The Bible tells us in Isa. 53:7 something incredible. It says in Isa. 53:7 talking about Jesus as He was going to Calvary “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth” –it did not mean that his jaw did not go down or up. What it meant was He did not complain. It says– “he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” What is the lesson learned from that? In the midst of crisis He never complained. Did you know that is a lesson from the cross? You and I may not be put on a T-shaped tree but you and I will definitely go through various crisis of life and when you go through the crisis of life can you respond as in the testimony that Sister V. said earlier? Can you go through the crisis without complaining? When you and I go through the crisis of life, when you go through those circumstances of life: cars breaking down, problems, plumbing breaks in the house, an individual– a husband leaves you, a wife dies, when we go through the various crisis of life can we go through it and be like Job and say the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

1:19:53 No complaining. Brothers and sister, the more we understand not to complain even in the midst of crisis the more you’re bringing the cross into your daily experience in practical life. Lessons from the cross. Notice the next one.

1:20:15 The next one is in Luke 22:60-62. This may be a little harder for some of us but here’s another practical lesson from the cross in the closing scenes of Christ’s life. In Luke 22:60-62 the Bible says “And Peter said” –this is when Peter denied Christ already twice– “And Peter said Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” If we read this at face value, we might dare assume that Christ did what we would have done. There’s only one thing worse than when somebody does you wrong. It’s when you tell him he’s going to do it before he does it. Jesus told Peter you‘re going to deny me three times. When Peter finally did it, all the Bible says is that Jesus looked at him. If we make Jesus too human like us, on this point, we might think Jesus looked at him like we would look at him. Some might think Jesus looked at him like see, I told you, you would do it. No, that’s not the look that Jesus gave. The Desire of Ages, p.712 (DOA 74:712.4) says “While the degrading oaths were fresh upon Peter’s lips, and the shrill crowing of the cock was still ringing in his ears, the Saviour turned from the frowning judges, and looked full upon His poor disciple. At the same time Peter’s eyes were drawn to his Master. In that gentle countenance he read deep pity and sorrow, but there was no anger there.”

1:22:41 Can you imagine that? When Peter said I don’t– you have to read it in Matthew 26 because the third time he denied Christ it says there, he did it with cursing and swearing. So Peter went all out to make it known I do not know this man. I deny Him. And right at the time that he did it, Jesus just looked at him. And when Jesus looked at him it says “there was no anger there.”

1:23:07 It says he had “deep pity and sorrow” but not just that, it goes on “The sight of that pale, suffering face, those quivering lips, that look of compassion and forgiveness” –Peter did his Master wrong; and his Master told him about it; then he did it; and when he did it Jesus looked at him with pity, sorrow, no anger, compassion, and it was as if he were saying I forgive you. And it was no fake forgiveness. It was real. What’s the lesson we learn there, brothers and sisters? He forgave Peter’s denial with a look of love. We must learn to be forgiving to people even before they confess their sins.

1:24:04 I should already be in a state ready to forgive you. Some of us are mean, some of us are mad, and some of us are ungodly; and we will treat people a certain way until they apologize –you’re not learning the lesson from the cross. Husbands and wives especially do this to each other. Jesus was already saying look, you didn’t even confess your sin yet son, but when you do I want you to know my forgiveness is already prepared for you.

1:24:38 This is how much look of love Christ had. And you know a look, brothers and sisters. My wife and I are the best of friends. When I walk in the house my wife has a way, she can just look at me –Hey, honey how are you doing? –I’m doing alright. –What’s wrong? Even when I try to act it out. What’s wrong? Something’s wrong. That’s what happens when people know each other. You can see through the acting.

1:25:05 Christ wanted to make sure Peter, I don’t want you to see anything else but what I had for you before you did this. Are we like that with each other? Husbands and wives, are we like that? Don’t answer. That’s what Christ calls us to be. Parents, are you like that with your children? Siblings, are you like that with each other? Church members, are you like that with each other?

1:25:38 Saints, we’re talking about real preparation for the final crisis. What’s happening in Heaven right now, we say it’s an investigative judgment, I have another word for it: cross-examination. I believe, Christ is literally looking at you, he’s looking at me, and he’s saying have they learned the lesson yet? Can I see Calvary being demonstrated in their lives?

1:26:20 Heb. 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the majesty of the Most High.” Brothers and sisters, what do we learn from Heb. 12:2? We learn in the midst of unwanted duty the greater good caused him to yield. Do you know you can take this principle into homeschooling? You can take this principle into work.

1:27:00 At work sometimes there are duties you don’t want to do. Sometimes in homeschooling there’s an assignment mother or father may give and you don’t want to do it. For the greater good that will come, by doing that thing you don’t feel like doing, and surrendering the will, and saying not my will but God’s will be done, the right thing be done. It’s a practical way of bringing Calvary into homeschooling. It’s a practical way of bringing Calvary into business transactions. It’s a practical way of bringing Calvary into the home.
In the midst of unwanted duty; the greater cause motivates you to do it anyhow.

1:27:43 These are all lessons that God wanted us to learn from the cross. It is when these things are understood that we can see again as we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit because now we’re saying Lord this is what you want me to experience as I look at those closing scenes of your life. As I’m dwelling upon the great sacrifice that you have made for me. You’re teaching me how to live as you lived, even in the closing scenes of your life, and this is how I’m to live in the closing scenes of this earth’s history. This is what Christ always wanted, always wanted.

1:28:25 This is why there’s a connection between the cross and the Most Holy place. It’s in the Most Holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary right now that we saw already, there’s blood in there and that blood doesn’t just represent life, it especially represents sacrifice, the cross of Calvary, the light of the cross is reflected from the Most Holy place. How do we know? because Great Controversy, p.489 (GC 28:489.1) spells it out beautifully. “The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, ‘whither the forerunner is for us entered.’ (Hebrews 6:20.) There”–talking about within the veil, talking about the Most Holy place– “There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected” –the light of the cross is in the Most Holy place– “There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father’s throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God.” (GC 28:489.1)

1:29:50 There’s a connection between the cross and the Most Holy place. If you find that your walk with God is waning. If you find that you are getting weaker; the impressions of God’s Spirit are getting weaker; your interests and your desires are getting weaker. God says dwell a little bit more upon that great sacrifice. Pay attention to it. Ask God to open your eyes and help you to behold wondrous things out of His Law.

1:30:21 We started our sermon by showing that sin separates us from God. But now we studied enough that, I believe, we can see the way that we can get back to God. And it’s a better and more faithful understanding of Calvary. Don’t get away from it. Some people in “present truth” that will try to make you and I think that the cross is behind us and the Most Holy place is before us; but, we have studied. We see the blood was in the courtyard. The blood was in the Holy place. The blood is in the Most Holy place. The cross is NEVER removed from the picture. How much more, seeing that it is essential to the very power that we need; that we can finally have the experience of victory over sin.

1:31:08 And so it is that the Bible closes by simply saying “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Heb. 10:19-22.

1:31:44 And if you realize, you know what I have not dwelt upon the great Sacrifice. It has not been my focus perhaps as of late. Maybe you started there but maybe somehow you lost your way. And you’re finding that your religion is getting dry and weak, it’s waning, it’s becoming more ceremonial. It’s kind of like the thing that I do but it’s not necessarily something that moves your heart, something that causes you to desire Christ more and still more.

1:32:11 The Bible declares that they overcame “by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony; they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev. 12:11.) If you can look in your own heart and say I have not made the cross the science of all my education, I have not made it the center of all my teaching and all my study, I have not been deliberate in seeing how I can bring it into my daily experience and practical life but by the grace of God, from this day forward, I avail myself under the teaching of God’s Spirit to know how to make this real for me. That I can finally enter within the Holiest which is by the blood of Jesus Christ. If that is your decision and you recognize that about yourself and you’re saying Lord I avail myself, not my will, Thine be done; then please stand to your feet with me as we have a word of prayer together. And I believe the Lord will do something special for us; and I know that He will bring drastic and powerful changes in our lives. Let us pray together.

1:33:14 Father in Heaven, we are so grateful. We thank you Lord for the way that you have spoken to our hearts. Truly we have been blessed today because you have helped us to see a more focused point of our dwelling and our need for Thee. Please Lord, show us how to make the cross of Christ the science of all of our education, the center of all of our teaching and study. Show us how to bring its principles into our daily experience and practical life; and may it truly cause a transforming affect in our lives that we will see how we can truly enter within the Holiest even by the blood of Jesus Christ; and there is our safety. And Lord, I pray that this experience will keep us from falling and ultimately we will be presented faultless before the presence of your Glory with exceeding joy. Keep us faithful unto this end we ask for we ask it all in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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The Cross and the Most Holy Place

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