It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Barbara Hamlin passed away on Tuesday, January 28,2025. A family funeral service will be held at a later date. We look forward to seeing her when Jesus comes again.
The Last Letter
Game of Thrones, Crown of Thorns-1
Speaker
Dwight K. NelsonDwight Nelson served as lead pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University from 1983 to 2023. During his time at Pioneer he spoke on the “New Perceptions” telecast, taught at the theological seminary and has written books, including The Chosen. He and his wife, Karen, are blessed with two married children and 2 granddaughters.
Offering
More In This Series
“The Last Letter: Game of Thrones,
Crown of Thorns—1”
www.newperceptions.tv
» Revelation 3:21
• The promise: You will sit with Me on My one day.
• The condition: You must first today.
• Sigve Tonstad: “Awareness of conflict changes the way we construe victory and defeat. While Jesus makes promises ‘to everyone who conquers,’ with no object in the sentence, the tenor of conflict is better preserved if we translate it ‘to everyone who overcomes .’ It is not wrong to say that the believers ‘overcome’ or ‘conquer,’ but it is implied throughout that they are engaged in a .”
• Revelation 12:7-9, 12, 17
• “If the curtain could be rolled back, and each one could discern the constant activities of the heavenly family to preserve the inhabitants of the earth from Satan’s seductive
wiles, . . . [t]hey would see that the armies of heaven are in continual warfare with satanic agencies, to obtain victories in behalf of those who do not sense their danger, and who are passing on in unconscious indifference. Angels are belting the world, refusing Satan his claims to supremacy. . . . We hear not the voices, we see not with the natural sight the work of these angels, but their hands are linked about the world, and with sleepless vigilance they are keeping the armies of Satan at bay.” (In Heavenly Places 98)
• “To the one who overcomes as I .”
• John 16:33— “‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have the world!’”
» Why don’t more Christians live victorious lives?
• Reason #1—We do not fully appreciate the sinfulness of .
• Vaughn Allen: “We do not realize how utterly detestable sin is; we do not comprehend how contrary sin is to God’s character and how terribly offensive it is to Him. We have lived with sin and its results so long and toyed with it so much that for us it has lost much of its horror and repugnance.” (The War Is Real: And So Is the Victory 71)
• Steps to Christ: “We shall not renounce sin unless we see its .” (23)
• Vaughn Allen: “The absolute horror of sin can be seen only when we look at the . It would be well for us each day to pray that God would give us a genuine abhorrence of sin and a for it because of what it did to the Son of God and because of what it does to us.” (71)
• Reason #2—We are not convinced that sin is possible in this life.
• Great Controversy: “If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away. Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome.” (489)
• Signs of the Times: “Without Christ we cannot subdue a single sin or overcome the smallest temptation.” (August 10, 1891)
• Jesus: “‘Without Me you can do nothing.’” John 15:5
• Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• Jude 24—“Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
• Selected Messages: “He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from , has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the kingdom of God.” (3:360)
• 1 John 2:1, 13-14; 5:3-4
• Revelation 3:20
• Before Jesus commands Laodicea to “ ” the devil, He invites us to “ ” the door.
• Selected Messages: “John pointed the people to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. He said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ There is a great deal in that ‘taketh away.’ The question is, Shall we keep on sinning as though it were an impossibility for us to overcome? How are we to overcome? As Christ overcame, and that is the only way. He prayed to His heavenly Father. We can do the same....When tempted to speak wrong and do wrong resist Satan and say, I will not surrender my will to your control. I will cooperate with divine power and through grace be conqueror.” (3:195)
“Faith is the Victory”
Following the second worship service, there will be a fellowship dinner in the commons on the lower level. Visitors are welcome!
Adventist Television Ministries Evangelism
In 1 Corinthians 9:22 Paul says, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (NIV). As one of those possible means to save some, the Adventist church in North America is using television. There are millions of people who watch Adventist media programs every year. If the Apostle Paul would have been alive in the 21st century, he would be sharing a Christ-centered message of hope and wholeness through technology and media. Jesus told the Apostle Peter, “Feed my sheep.” Peter would also be using the internet and social media to feed His lambs. We are living in a time when people are watching more TV than reading books or pamphlets.
The average person watches TV for around 2 hours and 51 minutes while reading for no more than 16 minutes and 48 seconds during the average day. Ellen White said this in 1914, “the circulation of the printed page has come to be a mighty factor in the dissemination of the truths of the third angel's message.” (Review & Herald. November 5, 1914). If she was alive today, Mrs. White would point to TV as the mighty factor in preaching the three angels’ message. Your offering today will help Adventist Television Ministries continue to reach millions of people around the world and help spread the gospel to those who are searching and those who are lost. Help us fulfill the great commission.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Tim Parton, pianist and singer for 3ABN television, will present a free concert at the Battle Creek Tabernacle on Saturday, February 15, at 7:30 PM. The church is located at 264 West Michigan Avenue in Battle Creek.
The Andrews University Symphony Orchestra is giving a free concert, Saturday February 8, at 8 PM in the Howard Performing Arts Center. Colin Cha, Jonathan Clough, Jonathan Watson and Carlos Lugo—all winners of the Young Artist Competition—will be featured as soloists with the orchestra under the direction of Dr. Marc Élysée. The program will include works by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Saint-Saëns, and Brahms. Bring your friends and neighbors, admission is free.
Adventist Seniors of Michiana invites all seniors, 55 and up, to a Musical Valentine program with Charles Reid and Friends, Sunday, February 9. Bring a dish for the potluck beginning at 1 PM in the Village Church Fellowship Hall and enjoy food, fellowship, and beautiful music. Call Cheryl Doss at 269-277-0767 with any questions.
We are pleased to announce a new House of Prayer Winter Mini-series led by pastor Dwight Nelson entitled "They, Too, Walked with Him". This series begins February 5th and cover the following:
- February 5 The Antediluvians (in Terrible Times): Enoch and Noah
- February 12 The Patriarchs (in Stumbling Times): Abraham and Jacob (and Moses)
- February 19 The Prophets and Kings (in Meltdown Times): David and Hezekiah, Micah and Isaiah
- February 26 The Disciples (in Crossroad Times): Peter, James, John, and Paul
We meet together for House of Prayer every Wednesday evening from 7 PM - 8 PM in the earliteen loft. Please join us as we enjoy a spiritual shot in the arm in the middle of each week as we worship together through signing, study of God's word, testimonies, and prayer. Hope to see you there!
Dr. Gibbs passed away unexpectedly. For the past 20+ years has been the primary Radiologist covering Lakeland Hospital Niles. He was a Clinical Assistant Professor at Michigan State University and helped train the next generation of doctors. Dr. Gibbs was known to be a kind and soft spoken man. A private ceremony was held in Colorado.
Do you want to complete your Master Guide Program? If so, please consider joining the Master Guide Club that meets weekly on campus to help you complete the requirements.
For more information or to join, please visit cye.org/toolbox
The Center for Youth Evangelism will be running a special training weekend where Adventurer Basic Staff, Master Guide Leadership Skills, and Staff Leadership courses will be offered on Febuary 7 and 8.
For more information or to register, please visit cye.org/toolbox