IDENTITY!

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What is my purpose?
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IDENTITY! 2
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Editors Note
I do not agonize. There are times in my life when a
token degree of pain is felt in my hearteven a concern
for a situation may be born from the pain felthowever,
never anguish.
The other day I read a powerful sermon entitled the
The Call to Anguish by David Wilkerson author of the
well read book The Cross and the Switchblade.. This
whetted my minds appetite. In his sermon he clearly
denes anguish, Anguish means extreme pain and
distress, the emotions so stirred that it becomes painful.
Acute deeply felt inner pain because of conditions about
you, in you, or around you. Anguish, deep pain, deep
sorrow. Agony of God heart...
I never experience this. I know I should.
Many times what I thought was anguish should have
been identied as concern. There is a great difference
between anguish and concern, Wilkerson says,
Concern is something that begins to interest you, you
take an interest in a project or a cause or a concern or a
need. There is nothing wrong with having concern, but
sometimes concern falls short of sufcient.
I challenge you and myself to daily consider our
concern for our church and pray that God change it
into anguish. Out of Gods anguish comes greatness,
like the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, in the book
of Nehemiah, and Gladys Aylward who once said, "I
wasn't God's rst choice for what I've done for China. I
don't know who it was. It must have been a man--a well
educated man. I don't know what happened. Perhaps he
died. Perhaps he wasn't willing. And God looked
down...and saw Gladys Aylward, and God said, 'Well,
she's willing.'" What is God calling you to do for the
church and have prayed for anguish? I am.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy
commandments are my delights (Ps 119:143).
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Andrea Gray
IDENTITY! 3
MISSIONS
Two women who went to Kenya
GYC REPORT
No Turning Back challenges Young Adults
AYA CONFERENCE
An photographic update from the Remember conference
ARISE REPORT
ACTS does make a difference
INTER-PROVINCE REPORTS
Testimonies and updates from across the province

PLAYLIST
Add these audio sermons on your to share playlist
LEADERSHIP KEYNOTE
The true soldier of Christ keep watchever awake, ever prepared
IDENTITY! 4
IMPRINTS
OF
KENYA
and the stories they ensue
I saw what I saw and I can't forget it
I heard what I heard and I can't go back
I know what I know and I can't deny it...
We've done what we've done and we can't erase it
We are what we are and it's more than enough
We have what we have but it's no substitution...
I say what I say with no hesitation
I have what I have and I'm giving it up
I do what I do with deep conviction...
Lyrics from Sarah Groves I Saw What I Saw
They Took My Heart page 5
Im Just Not Enough page 15
IDENTITY! 5
IMPRINTS OF
KENYA
and the stories they ensue
feel like I left part of myself behind. As Im
assuming I didn't leave it in the Heathrow
Airport, I can only conclude that I left my heart
in Kenya. So I decided to compile this list of
things Kenya taught me, to try to bring some
closure to the sadness I"m feeling.
1. I learnt that the most important thing when
visiting a country is developing
relationships.
Eric Rajah modeled that...he and his wife showed
me things that I will take to heart for the rest of my
life. Everywhere we went, every hotel we stayed at,
he would bring out the security staff, the
housekeeping staff, the waiters, etc...etc...and
thank them and give them a gift. They
loved it- we loved it!! And neither
of us will ever forget it.
2. I learnt to ask
questions.
One of the schools on the
Masai Mara was built by
A Better World because
Eric saw a man teaching
a group of kids under a
tree, and stopped his
driver, got out and asked
what this man was doing.
Today, they have a beautiful
school, accessible clean
water (women used to have to
trek miles to get water) and, in a
culture where women's education is
traditionally discouraged, almost half the
students are female.
3. I learned you don't need rules on the road.
I'm being tongue-in-cheek here, of course. But
there's a real testament to our safari drivers that
they got us safely all around Kenya...and managed
to look completely unconcerned and slightly bored.
Plus, people don't seem to have road rage here.
They're cutting each other off, passing each other
with only a hair's breadth between them and
oncoming trafc, and NO ONE GETS MAD!!! In
fact, they have special waves and signals to help
each other out. Our Canadian drivers could learn a
lot...(They also have speed bumps on the highway,
which I personally nd hilarious.)
4. I learned about hospitality.
If a Masai warrior came to my house and wanted to
see what it looked like inside, I would, in the words
of Desirea "call the police"!!!! And yet, these people
brought us into their homes, answered all our
probing questions, and made us feel welcome.
Wherever our vans went, little kids would run out of
their homes and wave wildly. Their homes weren't
anything great by our standards, but it was their
home...and we were honored to be allowed to step
into their world for a little while...
5. I learned that there are some exceptional
teenagers at PAA.
I'm kind of afraid of teenagers, even
when I was a teenager (talk
about AWKWARD) but this trip
with this particular group
showed me that we could
learn a lot from them.
They have a perspective
on life that is
refreshing...and the
comedy that they
provided was top-notch
(Jayden's amazing skills
at dancing come to
mind...)
6.I learned that we're
somewhat spoiled by Canada's
healthcare.
Sure, we have long wait times...but at least we get
a bed to ourselves. We visited the labor and
delivery oor in Nakuru hospital. Often there were
indeed two women to a bed. And I've had patients
complain that they didn't have a room to
themselves...
7. I learned the value of medications.
I know this makes me sound kind of like an addict,
but I don't know what I would have done without
Cold and Sinus medication, Pepto-Bismol, and
Imodium. Glorious Imodium. If it were personied,
it would be a knight in shining armour riding a
horse named Pepto.
TheyTook
My Heart
by: Sarah Reiswig
I
Continue on page
IDENTITY! 6
Learning and Serving
There is no doubt in my mind that public post-secondary institutions
are in desperate need of converted, Spirit-led, and prayerful young people
who will enter into these campuses for the main purpose of soul
winning. Young people are needed who allow God to re-prioritize their
lives, so that reaching the lost is the primary reason to pursue a post-
secondary education. Receiving a degree becomes the icing on the cake.
Much is to be said about public campus ministry that is both
encouraging and challenging. If you are going to school, or know of
someone who is in school I encourage you to read 3 Selected Messages
chapter 26. Its awesome.
When I began applying for school, the Lord really laid on my heart the
need for a campus ministry at Red Deer College. An avenue through
which people who were searching for answers could come in a non-
threatening environment and learn that the Bible is trustworthy and thus
the God of the Bible is trustworthy and He cares for them
personally.
This past fall I was told that there was a possibility that Pastor
Steven Conway could come to Red
Deer College to lecture.
I was excited at the impact that
God could make in the lives of
those who came, but I was also
nervous because I had never
organized an event of this nature on
campus. The Lord really impressed
on me the need to pray, for He
would help me. And He did. The
Lord led in the planning and the
preparation, but I would not have
been able to do it without my
friends.
Red Deer College, Red Deer
IDENTITY! 7
Though this is often how it is carried out, it is not how God intended
it to be. Often we are looking to do a great work for God - individually -
when there are ways we can serve by helping our brethren right where
we are. There are many ministries, many roles around us that need help.
Not everyone is going to be a Paul in fact, there was only one Paul
think of all the people who labored faithfully for the lost and are never
mentioned in the Bible. Were their efforts any less significant? I dont
fully understand this completely, but I think our efforts in ministry
would be much more effective if we worked together to help each
other in the needs around us now, rather then letting opportunities pass
by while we wait for God to make us like Paul. Interestingly enough,
Paul spent around fifteen years in Jerusalem, learning and serving, before
he ever began his ministry of apostleship.
A handful of my classmates and acquaintances from school came to
Pastor Conways presentation and loved it. The meeting provided an
opportunity to invite people to our Bible study on campus and a couple
of them have attended. One man in particular is so excited and thankful
for the opportunity to study the Bible at school that he asked if he
could bring his daughter even though she is not attending the college.
You may be a young person in a church with primarily people older than
you. I want to encourage you to serve Jesus, right where you are. Help
a ministry that is struggling: teach Sabbath school, attend prayer
meeting, or help at the soup kitchen. As we step into the roles that
need to be filled, not for the purpose of becoming great, but for the
purpose of learning and serving, we experience what it truly means to be
the body of Christ.
Ashleigh Brown
IDENTITY! 8
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Luke 9:62 says, And Jesus said unto him, No
man, having put his hand to the plough, and
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Being at GYC was a brand new experience for
me. I always knew that there were other
Adventists in the world, but the fact that there
were over 5,000 young people in that one
convention center was unbelievable. Each of the
presentations were spirit-lled and I was deeply
blessed by each of them. It was also interesting
to see some of the big speakers that I had never
heard of before like Samuel Pipim, Sebastien
Braxton, Nathan Renner, etc.(No, I had never
heard of them before GYC, and Ive been
Adventist all my life!).
The food was... well, it was food, and well leave
it at that.
One of the most amazing experiences I had while
I was there was the Sabbath afternoon outreach.
I was very hesitant to go out on this task because
I am not one to go ag down strangers for
anything... or so I thought.
On the bus out, I was paired with a girl my age
who happened to be somewhat of a veteran at
outreach and colportering. This was possibly the
best and the worst thing that happened to me.
She quickly pulled me out my comfort zone and
helped me to begin telling people about Jesus. She
did this by introducing us to the person at the door,
and then going silent and turning to me to finish
the presentation.
After the first few doors I gained a bit of
confidence and it turned out to be a fantastic
experience. We sang as we went between houses,
met a lot of people, and were even able to pray
with some. I say it was a bad experience because I
was forced out of my shell of comfort, but God had
already prepared another zone for me to dwell in, I
had to adjust to the change. I am most grateful for
that experience.
There were two sessions that spoke to me in
particular. The first one was about Radical
Commitment by Dr. Pipim and it really motivated
me to do something with the knowledge,
education, and experience that God has given me.
The powerful testimonies from the other young
people who have used their talents for God was
absolutely inspiring, and at that meeting, I
committed to do the same. The other really good
session was actually the Sabbath morning sermon
by Pastor Ted Wilson. He spoke about the role of
young people in the church, and how much more
we need to be involved.
The Spirit really convicted me through that
message, and I committed to do more for God within
his church instead of being a young, lukewarm,
bench sitter beginning with using what I know about
education (as a teacher) to teach Sabbath School.
MY GYC EXPERIENCE by: Wayne Thomas
IDENTITY! 9
Photographs provided by: Semeka Photos

I enjoyed my time spent in the Prayer Room. When I rst heard of this room, I decided to go and see what
it was about. I stayed for a total of 5 minutes and then walked out. I found that it was too crowded and too
awkward with and did not understand the idea of popcorn prayer. On the last day of GYC, I went early in
the morning during devotional time, and there was only ve people there. I began to understand the
concept, and even to share prayers of my own. Once I fully grasped the concept, I loved it, and stayed for
half an hour. After that rst session I rushed off to breakfast and then rushed back for session two. I felt
truly blessed at that moment as I prayed with my brothers and sisters in Christ for the many issues that we
are all facing. After the invigorating Sunday charge by Pastor Asherick, thousands of young people (myself
included) committed that we would NOT turn back from our Lord and Savior, and we would not turn back to
the world.
IDENTITY! 10

I was able to determine that the liquid on the road was antifreeze and just about all of it
had poured out meaning that the tank was punctured somewhere. At that point, I did the
only thing I knew to do... I called my dad back in Edmonton who is an avid mechanic.
He explained that the car would not be drivable.
At this point it was about 5:00 PM on a Sunday which meant that everything was closed
or would be closing soon. We were able to nd a gas station and get a phone book, and
as God had planned it, a friend that had left before us was at that same Gas station, so
we had someone there for support.
After packing everything up, we set off for Toronto. Everything was going well until we were about an hour
outside of Baltimore and we saw something in the road. We were able to swerve and avoid it, but the other
half of our convoy was traveling two cars behind and did not see the object until it was too late. They ran
right over it at about 120Km/h. We all pulled off the Interstate to see what was happening. It turned out that
just a few minutes before, a van had lost its front right tire in the center lane, and the driver didnt pick it up.
Our friends were a little shaken, but no one was hurt however their car was in pretty bad shape. Parts of
their vehicle were bent, broken, and leaking. The girls stayed in our rental van and prayed while a few of us
got out to go check on our other friends. They tied up the hanging bumper and attempted to start the car
again, but when they did that, it started to shake.
IDENTITY! 11

Unfortunately his Nissan Cube couldnt do much for us in the way of transportation. He stayed at a
McDonalds with the girls and we went back to wait for the tow truck with the guys.

By then the State Trooper had arrived and determined that the whole thing was an accident so no one was
at fault. This meant very expensive out-of-pocket repairs! They were towed in to a mechanic shop and we
brought them back to the meeting place. There we prayed and looked for alternatives to get everyone
home. It was nally decided that everyone who had work or school Monday morning would get into the van,
and after that, anyone who wanted to go back home could go. Four people ended up staying behind. The
solution was that they would spend the night at an Inn and reassess the situation in the morning. The rest of
us began the journey back together.
After driving for a while we hit New York, and the worst snow blowing snow and driving conditions I had
seen in a while. We had to slow down to about 50 km/h on the interstate and follow our friend in the Cube
because he had better headlights. As we were driving the large 18-wheeler trucks were zooming by nearly
forcing us off of the road! When we got to Buffalo, the snow had stopped and we were able to pick thing up
a bit. I got back to my cousins apartment at 6:30 am and slept all day.
That evening we had another conversation about Christ and the Bible, and I was able to give her some of
the resources that I had picked up at GYC. I keep in touch with her and she is just gorging herself on
IDENTITY! 12
Patriarch and Prophets while reading the Old Testament. My youth pastor who used to live in Toronto
suggested some nearby churches that she could attend. I am happy to say that she has found one and
she attends Sabbath School every week.
As for my new friends who had to stay back in Maryland, when they went into an inn and told the
manager their story. They then asked if they could possibly stay in the lobby. God came through for
them, and the manager gave them a free room for the night, and the gave her a copy of the Great
Controversy! So many lives were touched by the Spirit that night.
The next day they learned that the damage to the car was too extensive to be repaired where they
were, so the car had to be sent to another city.They were able to get in contact with the pastor of the
local church and he housed them for a few days until they could take a bus back home to Toronto. God
is so good!
It was not until I began writing about my experience that I saw the points where God was CLEARLY
directing and guiding me. Not only did God give me an uplifting experience, but he also gave me many
new friends who are just as passionate about working for Him. I must admit that when I began writing
this, I was feeling down and my week did not start off so well, but just reflecting on my GYC experience
made a huge difference in my mood and my attitude toward everything.
It is sad how we forget how He has led us in the past and we allow ourselves to believe Satans lies and
deceptions which only serve to discourage us. I know that I serve a RISEN Savior.My first GYC experience
has only helped to solidify this fact. It is my prayer that God will continue to bless the GYC ministry and
that many more young people will have their first experience at GYC 2011 in Houston, TX.
IDENTITY! 13
AYA NOVEMBER CONFERENCE 2010
REMEMBER
IDENTITY! 14
IDENTITY! 15
8. I learned that I don't really need a watch to be
on time.
Andrea (my friend who accompanied me) had
brought two watches, I had brought none. Within
the rst few days, both her watches went kaput.
We learned to tell time by the sun (it always rose
at about 6:30) and by listening to see if the other
people we were with were getting up, etc. We
were only late once, and that was when her
watches were still working.
9. I learned that I don't need to be a parent to
love a child so much my heart hurts.
There are 6000 orphans wandering the streets of
Nakuru on any given night.
There are 64 orphanages in this same city working
frantically to make a dent in this number. I met two
exceptional little boys at the orphanage we visited;
Greg, who is about 10-going-on-22 and Jonathan
with the bright eyes and the dimples. They both
latched onto me the rst day, and I was smitten. I'm
sponsoring them, not because I'm a great person,
but because I can't bear to let them go. Come to
think of it, they're probably the thieves who took the
part of me that's now missing. Little rascals...thank
you...
Kenya, I don't know why you let this wasteful,
wealthy-by-comparison, ignorant North American
girl see your secrets. I certainly didn't deserve it.
But now that you've shown me your breath-taking
scenery, your amazing wildlife, let me meet your
beautiful people and wonderful children...I don't
want to let you down. I want to take this experience
with me and not waste it. I want to do something
with it, however small, because it will matter to
someone...
...and because you now have my heart.
TheyTook
My Heart
continued story from page 5
Im Just Not Enough
Andrea, when will you notice Me?
The mid-afternoon African sun erases the memory of the
ever familiar Albertan winter as I observe the salt and
pepper mix: Canadians intermingling with the orphans.
Somewhat fearful to move forward, I am perturbed,
Lord, I cant! What if I cant let go, what if and remain
a few feet behind the rest of the group.
Looking ahead I see their hands hungrily grasp
ours...and our hearts. They stare searchingly into our
faces looking for something that has been taken away
from thema smile.
I dont have enough hands, God! Im just not enough!
The thought becomes my heart beat, like a drum
resonating the sounds of war. Syncopating itself over
and over. My breath shortening, my frustration erupting:
GOD WHAT CAN I DO, REALLY?
A delicate little hand gently, yet perfectly,reposes itself in
mine.
A bolt of electricity shoots up my arm disrupting my battle
with God. I stare in to the face of my past, my present
my future.
by: Andrea Gray
His eyes dont search for something lost like the
other do. His hand did not hungrily grasp mine, like
the other did. My eyes search for whom has taken
my heart. My hand grasps his hoping that his little
hand will never let go of mine.
More hands are always needed, Andrea, but you are
here now.
My eyes open and I see You for real this time. I recall
the obedient voice of Isaiah Here I am Lord, send
me (Isa 6:8).
Yes, I am here Lord. You have sent me. With his
hand in mine I condently take my rst step.
Whats your name? I crouch to his level, still
holding his hand.
I can barely hear
him; hes so small
and frail, yet with all
his might he smiles
Kibet
Only later do I learn
what his name
means, born mid-
afternoon, just like
my heart for Africa
born that mid-
afternoon in Kenya.
continued story from page 5
IDENTITY! 16
t all started at the beginning of last
year. My new year's resolution was
to spend at least an hour with God
every day. I soon began mulling over
the idea of going to a bible college
but was not quite sure if this would ever become a reality but curious all the same. As time wore
on the conviction became stronger and stronger until at ACTS in April 2010 it culminated in putting
out my eece (Judg 6:37), so to speak. I asked God that if He really wanted me to attend a bible
college He would send at least two Godly people to tell me over the weekend.
God doesnt always work in the way we expect Him to and over the course of the weekend, He
answered my prayer in His own way. On Friday the congregation had been asked to turn to a bible
verse but my eyes fell to Psalms 102:13 across the page from the intended verse. You will
arise ARISE was one of the bible colleges I had been considering and they had a booth at
ACTS. What a strange coincidence, I kept it in mind but brushed it off as my own imaginings, after
all, it was only one and I had asked for two and I had asked for people to tell me. Yet again, on
Sunday something similar happened, this time Psalm 7:6 another verse with arise. This time I
couldnt disregard the impressing of the Holy Spirit.
I now knew that God was directing my path to a Bible College and He had even specied which
Bible College but my journey had only just begun.
and Go Forth
ARISE
by: Andrew Jurello
I
IDENTITY! 17
I had a wife and baby girl to take care of. I
needed to convince my wife that uprooting our
family for four months and moving to California
with no income made perfect sense. I prayed,
and God eventually moved on her heart to be
willing to support me in the adventure. I
applied to ARISE and was accepted, the next
few months was a whirlwind of Gods hand in
our lives working out the little details that
allowed us to attend ARISE. My work didnt
like it but they allowed me 4 months leave
during the busiest time of the year, we asked
God to sell one of our
vehicles so we would
have nancial security but
He reduced our living
expenses instead.
Finally the day came,
ARISE began, we had a
wonderful time, no
struggles, victories like
never before, you
wouldnt believe the
number of souls I won for
Christ, no arguments ever again and we now
live happily being the most powerful
evangelists Alberta has ever seen!
Well not quite. My wife and I have learned
that when God is about to bestow a spiritual
blessing in our lives, the devil launches his
biggest attacks. By week two, I was ready to
go home, I didnt belong, I hadnt connected
with anyone, I wasnt adjusting well, the baby
was cranky, my wife was nagging and surely
God wasnt really in all of this, it really was just
my imagining all along. In my despair, I sought
God, begging Him to reveal to me the next
step in the journey, I was directed to the story
of Elijah running from the wicked queen
Jezebel (represented by my wife) after his
mountain top experience at Mt. Carmel and
God brought me to 1 Kings 19:4-8. God did it
for me again Arise and eat because the
journey is too great for you
How good God is! I didnt know all the answers
but I knew that God had brought me to this
place because He has a journey in store for me
and somewhere in my journey I would need
this spiritual food that I would be eating for the
next four months. God is so good to give us
way markers in our life, things that we know for
certain, things that surpass our emotions. The
next four months wasnt easy, I struggled to
nd bible studies in outreach, I struggled in my
daily scripture memorisation, I struggled with
the responsibility of a family and completing all
of my evening
assignments, but I knew
that God had brought us
here and that He would
sustain me. Praise God, I
made it through, by His
grace with excellence.
I have no regrets. Me
going to a Bible College
for 4 months was and is
the highest point in my
spiritual walk. Ive never
been closer to God or known so much about,
well, everything; or at least everything that
matters.
Now the hard part has begun. Just as when
Jesus left He sent out His disciples to go and
make disciples of all nations(Matt 28:19) and
they left their Spiritual Bubble, I too have left
the Spiritual Bubble at ARISE. What I choose
to do is up to me. I have the world at my feet &
God on my side. If God is for us, who can be
against us? (Rom 8:31).
By the time you read this ACTS for Christ
should be happening and it will be a year since
my ARISE journey started. It might be time to
step back and evaluate objectively who you are
in Gods eyes. Do you need more? Are you
lacking? God may or may not give you an
answer in the same way as He answered me.
He may just ask you to wake up hr earlier
and read the Bible, but if you seek Him, I mean
seriously seek Him, He will give you the
direction you are asking for.
I had a wife and baby girl to
take care of. I needed to
convince my wife that
uprooting our family for
four months and moving to
California with no income
made perfect sense.
IDENTITY! 18
Why not make an investment with Him. What have you got to loose? Temporary things, transient
stuff, a job. You will receive better!
Here is a quote I personally draw comfort from Ellen White's "Ministry of Healing" pg.478.
Many are unable to make denite plans for the future. Their life is unsettled. They
cannot discern the outcome of affairs, and this often lls them with anxiety and
unrest. Let us remember that the life of God's children in this world is a pilgrim life.
We have not wisdom to plan our own lives. It is not for us to shape our future. By
faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should receive for
an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Hebrews
11:8
Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God's plans for Him, and day
by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the
simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.
Too many, in planning for a brilliant future, make an utter failure. Let God plan for you. As a little
child, trust to the guidance of Him who will "keep the feet of His saints." 1 Samuel 2:9. God
never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end
from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fullling as co-workers
with Him.
Though none go with me, still I will followNo turning back, no turning back
ADD TO
YOUR PLAYLIST
Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, till prayer is pain,
Till prayer is joy, till prayer turns into praises;
Stir me, till my heart and will and mine, yea, all,
Is wholly Thine to use through all the days.
Stir till I learn to pray exceedingly ;
Stir, till I learn to wait expectantly.
Stir Me is a ve part sermon series by Helen
Roseveare, missionary to Congo, that will lead
you to knees, asking God to stir yo to live a life
dedicated to His service
The series can be found at:
pathway2prayer. com or at sermonindex.com.
IDENTITY! 19
!
Operation: Vigilant Guardian
Son of man, I have made thee a
watchman unto the house of
Israel: therefore hear the word at
my mouth, and give them
warning from me.
b
by: Steve Simon
IDENTITY! 20
To prepare one must be mobile, alert, watchful and attentive to detail so that events have no opportunity
to conspire against you. The antithesis of this could be characterised by sleep or a lack of vigilance.
Thus the question must then be asked, what prevents us from fostering a vigilant attitude and what are
the symptoms that characterise unwatchfulness? In other words, if we were national security agents
('watchmen unto the house of Israel'); what threatens the personal and national security of spiritual
Israel.
Sleep, blurred vision, silence and a general lack of awareness seem to characterise those who have
been appointed to be guardians and watch. The watchmen exhibit physical and behavioural dispositions
contrary to guardianship. These include:
Operation: Vigilant Guardian
Basic Training
Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the
word at my mouth, and give them warning from me (Ezk 3:17).
Being prepared and preparing are a fundamental part of growing up, often indicating independence.
When I was young I can remember insisting on preparing for school without parental assistance and
preparing my school bag the night before for the following days school activities, so that I would not have
to panic and scramble in the morning.
As we grow older and mature, the necessity to prepare increases in line with developing responsibility.
We prepare and plan for college, we prepare for career choices, we prepare for life's eventualities by
purchasing insurance. We prepare for death by making a will.
With our everyday lives involving considerable preparation (most of it not intrinsic to our eternal
salvation) it would make sense that spiritual preparation would follow a similar trajectory. As we grow in
spiritual maturity, knowledge received necessitates practice and consequently the burden of preparation
increases with understanding.
The question is, how and why do we prepare? How: because preparation takes vital energy and
dedicated effort which must be judiciously exercised in order to be effective. Why: because spiritual
maturity demands that childlike tendencies like unpreparedness be relegated to the past (1 Cor 13:11).
Operational Analysis
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they
cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber ( Isa 56:10-12).
IDENTITY! 21
1. Blindness: An inability to see affairs from Gods
perspective (Luk 24:13-31, 2 Kings 6:15-17). This for
the professed Christian is tantamount to blindness.
The blind are at a lost as to the work of Christ's
revelation in their lives, around them and in the world.
This is important, as blindness (which is equated with
darkness, 2 Cor 4:3, 4, 1 John 2:10,11) needs to be
separated from true discerning sight and revealing
light (Isa 5:20, 21). As a professed Christian this
blindness is the closest one can come to true
blindness whilst literally still seeing with 20/20 vision.
2. Ignorance: Oblivious to their predicament and
the impending danger surrounding them (2 Pet 3:4-8)
they are content in disobedience, 'willingly ignorant'.
With an absence of consequence to make them
accountable to themselves, others or indeed God
they become bold in their recalcitrance (Eccl 8:11).
3. Speechlessness: An inability to reprove,
instruct, warn or testify (Ezk 3:26). A guard dogs
voice is his bark, like an alarm alerting dwelling
occupants to potential threats or actual intrusions
from without and within (Isa 58:1). Having a voice to
warn or bare witness also has a redemptive quality
(Ezk 3:17-21). We demonstrate the regard we have
for redemption by redeeming others. In giving life we
demonstrate practical appreciation for the life that
resides in us. Like a mute dog a voiceless watchman
leaves the house vulnerable to intrusion by salvation
unfriendly enemy combatants like false doctrine,
disobedience and disbelief.
4. Sleepiness: Spiritual lethargy and indolence
especially when salvation is at hand. An inability to
tell the time, the closeness of the end and the close
of probation (Rom 13:11-14- being in the esh is
here equated with sleep, also see Matt 25:1-13).
The best way to accurately see the time on a clock
is to be awake. If one goes to sleep with the
presumption that they will wake-up on time there is
always the potential that the alarm will fail to sound,
you may not hear the alarm or you will over sleep.
The only 100 percent full proof preparation strategy
is to stay awake. To be ready for the day one must
have been awake in the night.
Therefore let us not sleep,
as do others; but let us
watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep
in the night; and they
that be drunken are
drunken in the night
(1Th 5:4-8).
!
IDENTITY! 22
Guardian Instructions
We have explored selected components that reveal the character of those who are not watching.
But how do those appointed to watch awake and remain awake.
In preparation for an impending crisis whose events were to test the disciple, Jesus said 'Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the esh is
weak' (Matt 26:41). Mk 13:32-37 illuminates the same message in parable form. Having heard
this parable prior to their Gethsemane experience the disciples should have understood that
Christ was asking them to join Him in preparation for a crisis because His departure was
imminent. Christ was about to draw sustaining power from the Father and was inviting His
disciples to receive of this very same preserving power.
Knowing this Jesus had appointed them to 'watch and pray' with Him. In seeing Christ's
suffering and the burden of sin, the disciples would have been strengthened for the impending
crisis that would 'weigh them in the balances'. Their unrealised experience can be our daily
experience as we spend watchful hours with Jesus.
We need to cooperated with Christ, guarding the avenues of our minds so that, by faith, as we watch and
pray our sanctied imaginations can (without the mentally and spiritually debilitating inuences of popular
literature, lm, music) experience the scenes the disciples missed. Enabling us to escape Satan inspired
delusions of self condence and thus 'stand' (1 Cor 10:11, 12).
In the rst chapter of The Great Controversy we are reminded of an unnamed man in Jerusalem,
deliberately unnamed perhaps so that we can visualise ourselves in his position. He testied against the
city and its inhabitants for seven years before its destruction in AD70. They beat, imprisoned and no
doubt tortured this man in an effort to silence his straight testimony which accorded with the words and
warnings of Jesus in Matthew 24. However, ironically he lost his life as a result of the Roman onslaught in
AD70. (Great Controversy p.30)
If watching and praying enables one to stand and the unnamed man died in the siege of Jerusalem in
AD70, the pertinent question to ask is; was he watching?. The answer would have to be an emphatic 'no',
despite how much he suffered and testied for the cause. He saw and acknowledged the signs, suffered
for the signs, testied about the signs but was ultimately destroyed by the crisis that the signs foretold.
Furthermore, the Great Controversy reveals that not one Christian died in the destruction. Profession is
tested and revealed in the crucible of crisis.
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,
especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrice for us, our
condence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be
more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the
lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross (The Desire of Ages p.83).
IDENTITY! 23
Signs can be enamouring and dramatic but Jesus was looking for an altogether different standard of
watching from his disciples that night (Luk 11:29). The recognition or watching of signs along with
testifying faith (achieved through continually and persistently beholding Christ) acts upon the received
word of God enabling one to be 'accounted worthy to escape all these things... and to stand
before the son' (Luk 21:36).
Standard Operation Procedure
Like a dutiful soldier, commanded to watch, with his sight xed on the terrain looking for the enemy,
spiritual watchfulness is a position of duty. It involves unnerving vigilance to events around you so that
your adversary can't gain an advantage (1 Pet 5:8). It's all about battle experience and preparedness:
The more we watch, the more experienced we become to noticing changes, nuances and anomalies in
our personal and extended spiritual environment. If a detrimental pattern of behaviour or thought is
developing in our character we are quick to spot and curtail its advance in our lives through prayer.
This is what Peter meant when he said 'watch unto prayer' (1 Pet 4:7).
As we stand on the walls of Zion surveying the edge of eternity, the same warning given to the
disciples comes to us to full all the conditions for watching and prayer because events will test our
weak eshly tendencies. In the esh Satan can nd some element of un-confessed sin in the those that
are not watching to use as leverage in temptation and discouragement in time of crisis.
Watchmen can't afford to be weak in the esh. If they are weak the city falls. Like Jesus, the true
watchman watches and prays enabling the Father to take control of the esh so that one day we like
Jesus can say 'for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me' (John 14:30). There
was no sinful trait in Jesus that Satan could use to distract His watching, for himself and the lives of
others.
If we want to be true watchers and remain vigilant guardians, ever awake and prepared, Jesus' claim
and testimony against Satan in John 14:30 has to become our standard operating procedure in our
spiritual experience.
b
'And what I say unto you I say
unto all, Watch'
(Mk 13:37).
IDENTITY! 24
/OvOI|I `OuO /Ou|I
Our Objective:
It is our objective to seek to (1) train young adults to work for and with
other young adults,
(2) recruit young adults to help their church and those who profess to be
Sabbath keepers, and (3) work for those who are not of the faith.
Our Vision:
The Advent Message to all the world in this generation
Our Mission:
In seeking to reach these objectives, young adults are called upon to pray
together, study the Word together, fellowship together in Christian social
interaction; act together, in small groups, to carry out well-laid plans for
witnessing, develop tact skills, and talents in the Masters service, and
encourage one another in spiritual growth.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made
Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even to the death of the cross...Do all things without complaining or disputing, that you may
become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and per versed generation, among whom you shall shine
lights in the world., hold fast to the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or laboured in vain.
Pleasevisit our websitefor more information on AYA and / or other
information regarding Young Adults in Alberta: adventistyoungadults.org
Also, email your entriesfor the newsletter to theaddress below:
ayainfo.ab@gmail.com