The Loud Cry: Preparing for the Final Crisis pt 1 - Sermon Audio 2551

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, Go, therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Welcome to Go Teach all nations, bringing you Christ's teachings through Australian and international speakers. And here is today's presenter, Pastor Andrew Russell. Speaker B Before I begin, can I just invite you. Just bow your heads with me for an added word of prayer, please. Thank you. Speaker B Loving Father. Lord, our heads are bowed. And as we bow our heads, Father, we want to open up our hearts to you, Father. Because we know, Lord, we are gathered here today on this, your holy Sabbath day, Father, to not only give you thanks and praise, Father, but to receive of you. And so, Father, we ask that you would speak to our hearts. We ask that you would move amongst us here. We ask that you would help to give us understanding of the things that you have to say, Lord, that the things that you have to reveal for us personally help us to take it as a measure of your tremendous love and your amazing grace, Father, toward us. Speaker B Father. Help us to put away the distractions, Father. We know evil angels are always seeking to distract us. Speaker B We know holy angels are always ministering, Lord, that we may hear you. Speaker B Father, for you have the words of life, as the disciples said to Jesus. And so, Lord, speak, Lord. May we be like young Samuel who said, speak, Lord, Thy servant heareth. We thank you now in Jesus name, Amen. Speaker B Anyone know this site here? Anyone know where that is? Speaker B That's Bradley's Head, that's on Sydney Harbour. I was there not long ago and I went for a friend of mine, my friend Zane. The two of us, we sometimes catch up and we'll go for a hike. We hike along the harbour there. And at Bradley's Head, there's a little beach just around the corner and we went for a swim there. Beautiful hot summer's day. Been there a couple of times this last summer. But there on Bradley's Head, you'll find a memorial of a ship's mast. And that mast there is dedicated to the Royal Australian Navy and all ships lost in service. Speaker B That's what it's dedicated for. One of the ships that was lost in World War II in Sydney Harbour. Anyone know? Speaker B No? A little bit of Australian history, a bit of Sydney history here for you was the HMAS Karabul. It was stationed at Garden island there in the harbour. Anyone know where Garden island is? Yeah, just there at Potts Point, isn't it? Speaker B And so there I was with my friend and we discussed what had taken place actually in relationship to that ship, because what happened was that some midget submarines had made their way into Sydney Harbour just past midnight one night and deployed torpedoes in an attack and it struck and sank the Australian vessel. Speaker B It was a surprise attack. Speaker B And the men that were sleeping aboard the HMAS Cuttable suffered and died with no warning at all. Speaker B They were able to recover and find those submarines. The last one was found not so long ago, fairly recently. Speaker B I use this illustration for us today just to remind us that the church is engaged in a spiritual battle. Speaker B And that there is in fact a looming crisis up ahead. Speaker B A looming crisis for the likes of Seventh Day Adventists. That's what I want to bring to your attention today. There is an attack coming, the likes of which will surprise us if we're not paying attention to the word of God. Speaker B And this morning I'd like to talk about the period that leads us into that crisis. That's what I want to focus on, that period that leads us into that crisis and want us to understand what God is preparing to do. Speaker B The period I'm referring to is known to Seventh Day Adventists traditionally as the loud cry. As the loud cry, and as a matter of interest, I'm just going to ask you with a quick show of hands, how many have heard of the loud cry? Quick show of hands. Speaker B Okay. A number of you. Okay. Quite a number of you. I'd say about half the hands went up there. Now, how many of you with a quick show of hands can actually tell me what happens during the loud cry? Quick show of hands. Ah, alright. Couple of hands. Speaker B Wow. Okay. Speaker B Okay. What actually happens during the loud cry? So I can see that we've got a bit to learn this morning, isn't it? We've got a bit to learn this morning. So let me just. Speaker B Point you to the significant symbols that we find up here in Hoxton Park Church. See that symbol up the top there? Speaker B And. Speaker B We have another one just there on the pulpit. What does that symbolize? Speaker B The three angels messages. You heard of the three angels messages? Yes. Many of you have. Speaker B What do they represent? Speaker B They represent what. Speaker B Second coming of Christ? Yes. They represent three messages that are found in Revelation 14:6. Twelve messages that are there that precede the second coming of Jesus Christ. Speaker B Well, the loud cry, just for starters, the loud cry refers to the time when the second angel's message of Revelation 14:8 is repeated saying Babylon is fallen. Speaker B That's what the loud cry refers to. Speaker B It refers again to the time when. When the second angel's message of Revelation 14:8 is repeated. So I Want to begin by unpacking for you. And I think this would be helpful. I want to unpack the chronological sequence of events relating to the first, second and third angels messages. Does that sound like a good place to start? Okay. So that you can understand, then, the period of the loud cry. All right, so I've got this on the screen for you, but you're welcome to open your Bibles too. In Revelation, chapter 14, verse 6 to 7, we begin with the first angel's message. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth to every nation, kindred tongue and people saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him. Wait, let me go on. Say it with a loud voice. Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his what judgment is. Come. Speaker B And worship him that made the heaven, the sea, and the fountains of waters. Let me ask you, Church, what does an angel represent here? It represents a messenger, isn't that right? It represents a messenger. And what is that messenger carrying? A message. Thank you very much. There's no literal angel that's flying over the earth preaching to the inhabitants of the earth. The angel agilos in the Greek means messenger. It represents the messenger that is carrying this message. Speaker B Now, the message that it's announcing is that the Gospel will be preached in all the world, isn't that right? Speaker B But it does so in the context also of the judgment hour. In other words, it's also announcing that the judgment hour of God is come. And there is a call to worship. There is a call to worship. Fear God is a call to reverence God, to have regard for God, to regard God in the highest. And it's in the context of Sabbath worship, isn't that right? It's in the context of Sabbath worship. How do we know it's in the context of Sabbath worship? Speaker B Because then worship him that made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the fountains and waters. Is a quote from the Sabbath commandment. It's a quote from the fourth commandment that says, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of who? The Lord your God. Okay, so that's the announcement. Let me ask you, has this first angel's message, has it been fulfilled? Yes or no? Speaker B Has it been fulfilled? Yes or no? No. Speaker B I'd like to read you a historical statement here from Spirit of Prophecy. Okay. The Spirit of Prophecy, Volume 4, page 222. The prophecy of the first angel's message brought to view in Revelation 14, found its fulfillment in what? In the advent movement of 1840-1844. So I'll ask you again, has the first angel's message been fulfilled? Yes. Speaker B In both Europe and America, men of faith and prayer were deeply moved as their attention was called to the prophecies. That's what it says. And tracing down the inspired record, they saw convincing evidence that the end of all things was at hand. Notice what Sister White writes here. The reason for the first angel's message. Here's the reason. It was to separate the church of Christ from the corrupting influence of the what? Of the world. That the first angel's message was given. Speaker B So it's been fulfilled. Speaker B And the purpose was to separate the church from the corrupting influence the world. How did it do that? How did it do that? Well, we're talking about the Millerite movement here, isn't that right? It's a bit of our history as a church. It's actually the Christian Millerite movement. Many people from different churches. William Miller, William Miller, the Baptist farmer, then became preacher studying the word of God, came across the 2, 300 year prophecy and at that time believed that that cleansing of the sanctuary, that 2, 300 year prophecy was actually a reference to the second coming of Jesus and the cleansing of the earth from sin. And so the prophecy was so compelling because the timing of it was exact and it fell in line with the 70 weeks prophecy. Everything fit perfectly. And when he began to preach it, people began to listen, pay attention, study it and go. Mr. Miller, you are absolutely right this time. Prophecy is relevant for us. The only thing is they made a misapplication, isn't that right? The cleansing of the sanctuary didn't refer to the cleansing of the earth of sin. It referred to a temple in heaven where Jesus. Speaker B Took up the ministry of high priest and effectively moving into his final phase of his ministry, the judgment work. Speaker B And they had to come to realize that when Jesus didn't come. Speaker B Because they went out there and you can see even the news article there, End of the World, October 22, 1844. The time prophecy, that's when it ended. And they thought Jesus was coming to cleanse the earth. And then he didn't come. But what did that do? That message, it got the church awake. It got them prepared. And that message, that judgment hour message, that started with William Miller and it swelled for 13 years. Speaker B And became a national and international revival. It went from America, even over to Europe. Okay, this is a bit of Christian history here for you. But it was prophesied in the word of God. What would take place. There would come an announcement of the judgment hour. Speaker B And that was opened up to the Millerite movement, William Miller and his followers. And today we are benefactors of that revelation. Benefactors as a church, but it created a huge revival and it actually put the church on alert, getting ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Amen. Speaker B Of course there was a couple of disappointments there, as we said, but Sister White actually says that God permitted that, even though they had the application wrong and the timing right. But that was permitted to get the church focused. Awaken the church to the nearness of Christ's coming. Speaker B So the first angel has been fulfilled. Let's read the second angel's message now. There followed another angel saying Babylon is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of what, what's that key word? Her fornication. Notice that her is referring to a woman, isn't that right? It's referring to woman. Babylon is a woman in this context here. But the second angel saying Babylon is fallen is fallen. Speaker B Has the second angel's message been fulfilled? Yes or no? Speaker B Have the second angel's message been fulfilled? Yes or no? Speaker B Yes. Yes. Anyone for no? Alright, trying to get you thinking today. We've got a lot to cover. Okay, notice here from again, Spirit of prophecy. When the church has spurned the counsel of God by rejecting the Advent message, the Lord rejected them. The first angel was followed by a second, proclaiming Babylon his fall and his fall in that great city because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. So what does it mean when the church has spurned the counsel of God by rejecting the Advent message? Well, what took place was when Jesus didn't come as expected because everyone jumped on board and said, wow, this prophecy of Mr. Miller is absolutely spot on in terms of the time. It must mean that Jesus coming when he didn't come. Speaker B Many of those Christians just gave up. Speaker B Many of them returned to their churches, whatever churches they came to, and many of them just left the faith altogether. Speaker B Now what happens if you get something wrong in the Bible? What are you supposed to do? You're supposed to go back and study it, isn't it? Right? And so praise the Lord, there were those that didn't just give up and leave the faith. The truth is, when Jesus didn't come, those Millerites or those Adventists believing in the second Advent of Christ, Second coming of Christ. Speaker B They became the laughing stock of society. They became the laughing stock of community. Many of them sold their businesses, isn't that right? Told their family, I'm going out in the fields, get ready for Jesus to come. Speaker B And because of embarrassment, many of them just left the faith. Others just went back to their churches and said, oh, we didn't know what we did. We got it all wrong. No, you didn't. He had the prophecy absolutely right. He just had the application wrong. So what happened was those that stayed behind studied some more and said, look, this is too tight, this prophecy. Let's find out. And as they studied, they realized, oh, this has to do with Jesus ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. That's where the sanctuary is. The earth is not the sanctuary. Christ is in his heavenly sanctuary, ministering on behalf of his people. Jesus is ministering on behalf of his people. Even today your prayers are heard because of Jesus ministry in the heavenly temple, seated at the right hand of the Father. Amen. Speaker B So they came to that knowledge. And then they began to preach the truth. And guess what happened? Speaker B Many received the truth. Speaker B But the churches around. Speaker B Many of the ministers and congregation and those that went back, they then rejected the truth. They rejected the knowledge of the judgment hour. And effectively they rejected the knowledge of Christ's final work of judgment, the cleansing of the sanctuary. And that's what happened. They then rejected that knowledge. What they should have done is paid attention to what was being preached. Speaker B To stand corrected. We don't like to be corrected sometimes, do we? Speaker B When we're in the wrong, we don't like it, do we? Our ego gets in the way. Speaker B But you need to be humble when you're corrected. That's the spirit of Christ. And so she says, they spurned the counsel of God by rejecting the Advent message. The Lord rejected them. Speaker B Can the Lord reject people, yes or no? Speaker B Yeah, because we think God's just going to accept us how we are, isn't it? God's going to accept everyone, isn't it? Speaker B Was Judas accepted or rejected? After his betrayal? He was rejected. Speaker B Jesus said, what the devil has put in your heart to do? Well, there you go, do it. Speaker B You're my betrayer. Judas betrayed him with a kiss. Speaker B So yes, God has the final say over the salvation of people. She goes on. The first angel was followed by a second, proclaiming, babylon is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. I want to share something in this statement here. This message was understood by Adventists to Be an announcement of the moral fall of the churches. Speaker B Okay? Because remember, Babylon is a she, isn't it? What's a woman represent in Bible prophecy? A church. God speaks in Scripture of his church as a woman. Speaker B Notice it goes on. Speaker B The message was understood by Venice to be an announcement of the immoral fall of the churches. In consequence of their rejection of the first message. The proclamation babylon is fallen was given in the summer of 1844. And as the result, about 50,000 withdrew from these churches. Speaker B In other words, about 50,000 joined in this message and the movement. The term Babylon, derived from Babel and signifying confusion, is applied in Scripture to the various forms of false or apostate religion. But the message announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to some religious body that was once pure and has become corrupt. It cannot be the Romish church, which is meant here, Catholic Church, Rome, for that church has been in a fallen condition. For how long? For many centuries. Church of Rome is in a fallen condition. But what's happening is other churches are joining that condition. Can you see that? Because they're rejecting the message. Effectively, they rejected the first angel's message. And that's the message that Christ wanted preached. Speaker B Matthew 24:14. Jesus said, and this gospel shall go into all the world for a witness to all nations. And then shall the end come. And then he says, and when you shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place. Speaker B Whosoever reads, let him understand. Speaker B Then he says, got to get ready to flee. Isn't that right? Speaker B Jesus was referring to the three angels messages here. And so here we find that Babylon is fallen, is representing the fallen state of the Christian church or the fallen churches. Are you with me? In fact, if you read in Revelation 14 actually go there, just quickly with me. Open up your bibles to Revelation 14. Speaker B You'll see it more clearly here. Speaker B As it speaks about the 144,000. Speaker B Notice in Revelation 14, 4 speaks about God's people at the end of time. And verse four says, these are they. That's God's people. These are they which were not defiled. With what? With women. For they are virgins. They're pure. In other words, these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. So they are not defiled with women. Notice there's more than one there. And as we say in Babylon, she representative of the fallen. The state of the fallen church or churches at that time that the message was given. Let's read on. It says the unity, the unity for which Christ prayed does not exist. Very important church. Instead of one Lord, one faith, one baptism. There are numberless conflicting creeds and theories. Is that true religious faith appears to so confused and so discordant that the world know not what to believe as truth. God is not in all this. It is the work of man, the work of Satan. You see, under the first angel's message, God was endeavoring to unite the Christian church. That's what he was trying to do. Speaker B Under the flag of the three angels message. He was calling a people together at that time. But when they rejected, they continued to be just atoms scattered everywhere. Isn't that teaching all kinds of different things? Speaker B And that's why many people look at churches and they go, well, I don't know what that church is teaching. That church is teaching something else and that church is teaching something. I don't know where to go. You know what? If you guys can't agree with each other, I don't want to have anything to do with church. Is that true? Yes. I've met people that think like that, not realizing that God does have a church. Amen. God does have a church. And that church is defined by the message of the gospel that he gives. Speaker B Let's go on. Speaker B So Babylon is fallen. Is fallen. Has that message been fulfilled? Has that prophecy been fulfilled? Yes, the church was in a fallen state. Isn't that right? Let's go to the third angel. Speaker B And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice. Speaker B If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink. Well, let me go on. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. Let's have a look at that again. If any man worship the beast and his image and receive his mark. Do you remember what beast represents in the Bible? For those of you who have studied it, Daniel sees four beasts. What do those beasts represent? Kingdoms. A beast represents a kingdom. If any man worships this kingdom, in other words. Speaker B In his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. So anyone who receives the image of the beast or the kingdom and the mark of that kingdom will incur God's wrath, will incur God's wrath and the smoke of their torment. Their destruction ascendeth up forever and ever. And they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image. And whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Okay, that's now the third angel's message, right? If any man receive the image and the mark of the beast, he shall incur the wrath of God. And at the end it says, but here is the patience of the saints. Yeah, God's people that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Has the third angel prophecy, has it been fulfilled? Yes or no? Speaker B Very quiet. Speaker B No, no, no, it hasn't. But what is the mark? What is Babylon's mark? What is her mark? You know what a mark is? What is it? Speaker B Sunday. Here it is. This is the Catholic Church on record. Sunday is our mark of authority. The Church is above the Bible and the transference of Sabbath observance, transferring Sabbath, what the Catholic Church believes, transferring Saturday to Sunday is proof of that fact. The Church believes it's above the word of God. Here's another statement for you from the Catholic Church. The observance of Sunday by the Protestants, that's the Protestant churches. Speaker B Who once opposed the false teachings of Rome. But Rome says the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay in spite of themselves to the authority of the Catholic Church. That's the Church's way of saying, look, I don't care what Protestant Churches think. The fact that they observe Sunday as a day of worship, they are paying their allegiance to the Catholic Church. They recognize the Catholic Church as the true church. Speaker B As the mother church. That's why in Revelation 17, Babylon is represented as being the mother of harlots. Speaker B She's the mother, the Church of Rome. And those who follow her doctrines or who drink of her wine, that's another way of describing her. Because when you drink wine, what happens to you? If you drink alcoholic wine, you become drunk, isn't it? You become intoxicated and you don't see straight. And there is doctrinal or biblical intoxication that is taking place here through false teachings. And so churches are made drunk. And so the fact that they are observing Sunday. And if you notice the images there, what do you see there on those pictures? Speaker B You see the solar sun disc. Can you see that? Because sun worship was the premier worship within the Roman Empire. And that was carried over from pagan Rome to papal Rome. Speaker B You can see symbols of the sun all through the Catholic Churches. When you go to Rome. Speaker B Sunday is actually sun's day. Speaker B And we know history tells us in 321 AD the Roman Emperor Constantine. Speaker B Legislated that everyone in the Roman Empire should rest on Son's Day in honor of the unconquerable Son. Speaker B And Protestants will argue and give various reasons for why they continue to worship on Sunday while Jesus rose on Sunday. Or we're under the new covenant, God's law. We don't need to worry about God's law. We just need to worry about God's grace. Isn't that right? Speaker B Let me read to you a statement from Sister White regarding the third angel's message. This is what Ellen White and God's people came to understand. The issue of the great contest. To the issue of the great contest, two distinct opposite classes are developed. That's in the third angel's message. There's those who receive the image and the beast, the image and the mark. And there are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. One class worship the beast and his image and receive his mark and thus bring upon themselves the awful judgments threatened by the third angel. The other class is in marked contrast to the world. Do what? Keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The work of Sabbath reform, notice now. Speaker B To be accomplished in the last days is clearly brought to view. Speaker B Since 1844, in fulfillment of the prophecy of the third angel's message, the attention of the world has been called to the true Sabbath. And a constantly increasing number are returning to the observance of God's holy day. Anyone here used to be a Sunday keeper before and now is sitting as a Seventh Day Adventist. Yeah, my hand's up too. See that? Speaker B Because we believe there's nothing wrong with God's commandments, we know the problem is with us, isn't it sinners that we're all in a sinful condition. And if it's not for the grace of God calling to our souls, bringing us to a knowledge of the scriptures, well, we'd be lost. Speaker B We'd be lost eternally. Speaker B Eternally lost. Speaker B Don't worry. This one life is not your only life. Every man, woman and child will stand before the Lord one day to give an account. Speaker B For the grace that was offered them through the Lord Jesus Christ. Speaker B So the work of Sabbath reform was actually brought to view here. Now, which church has been carrying forward the proclamation of the three angels messages? Speaker B Which church? The Seventh Day Adventist Church. So who's the messenger that's carrying the messages, The Seventh Day Adventist Church. There's no other church carrying these messages except the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Speaker B And my brothers and sisters. I'll tell you now that Sabbath reform. Begins in the home. Speaker B Begins in your life. No point telling everyone else about the Sabbath. I wonder how many were ready to meet the Lord last night. Speaker B When the sun set? How many of you were ready? Speaker B Don't put your hand up. Speaker B How many of you were ready to meet the Lord? Speaker B You see, what we're hearing here in the three angels message is a serious and solemn message. God is not playing around. Speaker B Jesus said, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. What does it set us free from? Speaker B Sets us free from sin and condemnation. Amen. And the insanity of man is that man would rather choose to remain in sin and condemnation. Speaker B And then we think we're smart. When you're really stupid, we're like fools. We'd rather stay in sin. Speaker B We'd rather live for now than for eternity. Speaker B What does God desire? Oh, friends, God loves you. He desires to spend eternity with you. That's what he desires. Speaker B Hence the message. Speaker B And so that's the message. And the Seventh Adventist Church is the messenger. And they always say, don't shoot the messenger. Right? Speaker B Don't shoot the messenger. The messenger is just doing what he's called to do. But now I want you to Notice that the second angel's message of Revelation 14:18 is repeated. And where is it repeated now? This is the loud cry here. It's repeated in Revelation chapter 18 in verse 1 and 2. Really? Verse 1 to 3 it says, and after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven. Speaker B Having great power. And the earth was lightened with his glory. Notice John in vision sees another angel coming down from heaven. And the earth is lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily. The loud cry. He cried mightily with a what? Strong voice saying Babylon the great is fallen. Is fallen. Notice it's repeated there. And is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. What does it mean now? Why is it. It's so definitive, isn't it? Before it said Babylon has fallen. Now under the loud cry, it's saying, babylon is fallen. It's fallen. It's become inhabited by devils. It's become inhabited by devils. Speaker B What's taking place there? Brothers and sisters, we need to know because there's a crisis looming. Speaker B Just up ahead. Speaker B Let me share with you a statement here from The Great Controversy. Now I want to take us to the Great Controversy. You know what saddens me is that God's people do not read the spirit of prophecy. Speaker B People do not pick up the books like Great Controversy. Speaker B And desire of ages and patriarchs and prophets and councils on diets and foods, evangelism and whatever so much that the Lord has given to us so that we can understand last day events. God's people do not pick up the spirit of prophecy and read. How are you going to understand if you don't read? Do you know what Sister White says? The reason why she was given the gift of prophecy was because God's people were not studying the Scriptures as they should. Speaker B And God, in his mercy and love is chosen to give us greater understanding, to help us understand the things that pertain to our salvation. Speaker B You ought to read the Great Controversy, brothers and sisters. Speaker B She writes this scripture. That's now the loud cry. The angel that comes with a loud cry and a strong voice. This scripture points what. Speaker B Where? Forward? Points forward to a time when the announcement of the fall of Babylon as made by the second angel of Revelation 14 is to be repeated with the additional mention of the corruptions. Speaker B With the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering. That's why it says fallen is fallen. It's mentioned twice. Speaker B Which have been entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon since that message was first given in the summer of 1844. That's when it was first given. A terrible condition of the religious world is here described. Speaker B With every rejection of truth, the minds of the people will become darker. Speaker B Their hearts more stubborn. Until they are entrenched in an infidel hardihood, hardness of heart. In defiance of the warnings which God has given, they will continue to trample upon one of the precepts of the Decalogue. That's the Sabbath commandment. Until they are led to persecute those who hold it sacred. So because they continually reject the truth, because people are constantly rejecting the truth and the knowledge of the Sabbath day. Brothers and sisters, the Sabbath day takes us back to creation. Isn't that right? Speaker B That's where the Sabbath was blessed and sanctified and set apart for us. Speaker B It takes us back to the true knowledge of our Creator. Speaker B And the Sabbath is a sign. Anyone know what the Sabbath is a sign of? Speaker B Exodus 31, 14, 17. Speaker B Hallow my Sabbath, says the Lord. Speaker B That you might know that I am the Lord which doth what sanctify you? I'm the Lord that makes you holy. That just like I set the Sabbath aside. Just as my authority was regarded in the setting aside of the Sabbath. Speaker B So those who regard my authority and presence in their life shall be made holy. Amen. Shall be made holy. Speaker B You cannot be made unholy when you're walking in the presence of God. You can. You cannot be made unholy when the word of God is having free course in your life. You cannot be made unholy when the counsels of the Lord is what you treasure and what you walk in. But to do the opposite, you are made unholy. That's why the Sabbath is a sign. Speaker B Does God's word have free course in your life? Speaker B Are you being guided by the counsels and the wisdom of God? Do you understand what God expects of you as a Seventh Day Adventist? Speaker B Because God's not in the business of compromising with you and me. Amen. Speaker B He knows what's right and what's true, and he knows what's best for us. And when we allow him to have that presence as our heavenly Father, then. Then we are made holy. You cannot dwell. Imagine. Listen. God's calling for people to dwell in his presence. Amen. Speaker B That's what it means to be a believer. It's simply to dwell in the presence of God and learn from him and have him guide your life. And without that guidance, guess who's guiding your life? Speaker B It's not God. And if it's not God, who is it? It's the devil. But people don't want to believe that. We don't want to believe that there's a devil. Amen. Nobody wants. It's an unpopular truth. Even though the Bible speaks of the fall of Satan and his desire and his success in taking this world captive and taking humanity captive, the people will not, do not want to believe that they actually need salvation. To be continued. Speaker A This message was made available by hoxton park seventh day adventist church. For more resources like this, visit their facebook page. Hoxton park sda church that is hoxton h o x t o n park sda church.