Laurelbrook Academy



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Chris Hudson Appeals for Surrender
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Sabbath services of the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on May 12, 2012 were held in the academy auditorium due to the series of meetings being held by Pastor Chris Hudson, an Adventist minister with a youth ministry in Atlanta, GA.  His series of meetings deals with entertainment today.

The morning began with a Sabbath School song service led by Heidi (elementary), Becky (9th grader), Matlin (9th grader), and Tiffany (junior), accompanied by Miriam (junior) on the piano.   The opening song was “When We All Get to Heaven”. Caleb (junior) had prayer and read the scripture reading.

Teresa (junior) read a mission story. McAlpha (sophomore), Cody (sophomore), Darius (9th grader) and Ellis (senior) collected the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which helps with the expenses of those who go on Laurelbrook mission trips. Andrea (sophomore), Karina (sophomore), Kellie (sophomore), and Shantel (junior) sang “Nearer, Still Nearer” for special music. Mike Mudd had a few superintendent’s remarks on “Leave Nothing Behind”.  Mike Mudd had the closing prayer.

Following are notes on Mike’s remarks:
  1. When you get done with something, make sure you have done everything you could, leaving nothing undone.
  2. Isaiah 59:1-2 “1 ¶ Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.”
  3. Our sins deliver us into the hands of the devil.
  4. Regardless of where we are, our environment should have a positive impact on us, and we should have a positive impact on the environment.
  5. Philippines 3:1-8 “1 ¶ Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is] safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 ¶ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,”
  6. Ellen White, Steps to Christ, p. 33 says that whatever we don’t overcome will overcome us.
  7. Jesus is our Example. He left nothing behind.
  8. Ellen White, Evangelism, p. 62 says the money not invested in God’s cause will be worth nothing soon.  Workers must push ahead even if everything is not clear ahead.
  9. God calls each of us to a work that none of us understands until He reveals it to us.
  10. Philippines 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
  11. Philippines 2:6-8 “6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
  12. Daily we must take up our cross and follow God.
  13. The scribes and Pharisees looked holy but weren’t. 
  14. What are you like when no one is looking?
  15. If we are not struggling, then there is a bigger problem.
  16. Revelation 22:11-12 “11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
  17. Some of us are wasting time looking and longing after the world.
  18. We all have a work to do to let Jesus come in and let Him cleanse us totally.
The group then split up into several Sabbath School classes to study a lesson on personal witnessing and evangelism.  Clarence Brown taught the Sabbath School lesson in the church sanctuary.

Following are notes from the lesson study in the auditorium:
  1. A witness testifies to the truth.
  2. God needs people to live His lifestyle so they can witness for Him.
  3. Isaiah 43:10 “Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
  4. Satan says no one can keep God’s Law, but Christ came and proved that the Law could be kept.
  5. The real issue is whether a fallen person can keep the Law of God.  God has to prove that the Law can be kept by sinners. When Christ’s character is perfectly reproduced in God’s people, then it is time for them to go to heaven.
  6. Whatever study we do, we should do so we can become a better tool in God’s hands.
  7. Once you come in contact with Christ, you have a burden for others.
  8. Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
  9. We should give God the credit when we do what is right.
  10. Our witnessing should start with those closest to us. We should study how to handle those closest to us.
  11. Jesus was not a pressure salesman and did nothing just to satisfy curiosity.  Jesus told people that when events came to pass He had foretold then they would believe on Him.
  12. John 4:28-30 “28 The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.”
  13. God is looking for those willing to be used, not those who are most qualified.
  14. Daily we must die to self, daily die to self, daily use what Christ has given us as gifts to use.
  15. Daily the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and gave them the gifts they need to do God’s work.
  16. When someone asks us, we should be able to defend the lifestyle God has given us.
  17. Jesus is not pushy so we have to agree daily to follow His leading and not that of the devil.
  18. Dress merely shows the way we feel inwardly.

At 12:50 Ron Oxentenko had the announcements. There will be lunch outside the auditorium. This afternoon at 3:00 and at 7:30 Pastor Hudson will continue his series.

The church service began with an introit by Donna Kanna. Charles Sarr had the opening prayer and then announced the opening hymn - “We Know Not the Hour”. Ron Oxentenko then had the Morning Prayer and called for the offering, which was for disaster and famine relief.  Ellis, Andrew (junior), Cody, and Darius collected the church offerings. After the congregation sang the doxology, Charles Sarr prayed for the offering.

Charles Sarr then read Revelation 14:6-12 “6 ¶ And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 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: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever 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. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Ron Oxentenko talked to the children about a changed hermit. A king kept showing up at his humble home so the hermit changed his activities so he could entertain the king properly.  Eventually the king stayed all night so he could see the sunrise in the morning. The hermit was no longer dirty with a nasty house but a clean person with a regal dwelling.  This is a parable of what happens when Jesus comes into your life.

The Laurelbrook Academy Choir sang “Amazing Grace” in a new arrangement for special music, accompanied by Melinda Pauls on the piano.  Pastor Hudson continued his series and ended with an appeal for commitment to the Lamb of God and an appeal for recommitment to Jesus that may even include rebaptism or baptism.

Pastor London Lee introduced one of those who responded, and that person recounted his experience of looking for a job and a place to live and finding Jesus through the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Three days earlier, he had been homeless on the streets of Dayton. He came to this meeting to hear an appeal for backslidden Adventists. Five other people were also introduced – they mentioned the ways God led them to this place.  This is evidence that God is bringing people to Laurelbrook regardless of what choice you make.

Pastor London Lee closed the service with prayer.

Personnel Other Than Students:

Charles Sarr – Laurelbrook Academy assistant principal, head campus tech person, head of the academy music department, local church head elder
Chris Hudson – Atlanta pastor with a youth ministry
Clarence Brown – local church elder, works with restorative care at the Laurelbrook Nursing Home
Donna Kanna – director of the Laurelbrook Band, teaches music lessons to Laurelbrook students and staff members
London Lee – Laurelbrook’s campus chaplain
Melinda Pauls – Director of Nurses for the Laurelbrook Nursing Home
Ron Oxentenko – Laurelbrook’s president, local church elder
 
Following are notes from the sermon:
  1. We are closer to the Sunday law than we think.
  2. Matthew 24:20 “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:”
  3. Winter is not convenient nor is the Sabbath day.
  4. But in Jesus’ statement, there is the principle of preparation for what is coming. This may include physical or spiritual preparation.
  5. Matthew 24:21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” At this time, it will be too late to make the necessary preparation.
  6. In the Bible we have been given instruction about preparation – health message, getting out of the cities.
  7. We should pray we make these preparations before it is too late.
  8. 2 Peter 1:12 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know [them], and be established in the present truth.”
  9. When the disciples approached the Cross, Jesus kept repeating what was going to happen – and the disciples refused to listen. As a result, Peter left the truth temporarily. We can do the same thing.
  10. What is the present truth?  The 3-angels messages.  Jesus is coming again. Victory over sin.
  11. What is truth according to the Bible? 
  12. Deuteronomy 32:4 “[He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he.” 
  13. Amos 8:11 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”
  14. People will not find the Word of God in those days – we have that opportunity right now. But we have no interest in the Word of God.
  15. Psalm 119:142 “Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [is] the truth.”
  16. God’s Law is truth.
  17. Psalm 119:151 “Thou [art] near, O LORD; and all thy commandments [are] truth.”
  18. God is truth.
  19. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
  20. Christ is truth.
  21. John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
  22. John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
  23. God’s Word is truth. Christians are the only ones who know that truth is absolute.
  24. Revelation 14:1 “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.”
  25. 144,000 are standing with Jesus.
  26. Jesus came to take away all our sins no matter what those sins are.
  27. Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
  28. Conservatives are full of themselves, and liberals don’t know where they are going.
  29. These 144,000 have accepted Jesus’ power to die for them so they have the Father’s Name.
  30. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
  31. This lamb is also the Truth. The people with Him are true and righteousness.
  32. Revelation 14:4 “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.”
  33. Wherever the truth, there is present truth. God will always have a people following this truth.  It is only as we keep the truth before us that we are a movement.
  34. Jesus is presently in the most holy place and interceding for us.
  35. Romans 8:34 “Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
  36. Hebrews 8:1-2 “1 ¶ Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”
  37. This makes it clear that there is a heavenly sanctuary with God on His throne and Jesus interceding for us.
  38. Daniel 7:9-10 “9 ¶ I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”
  39. Presently as we here, the God of Truth is on His throne with Jesus at His right hand. Both are judging each person on earth with names accepted and names rejected.
  40. If we are not complying with all of God’s commandments, we will be rejected because we have turned down God’s offer to be like Jesus.
  41. We don’t have to meet the enemy since Jesus has already done this because God saw the need of a Saviour.
  42. If you are not willing to see a change in your life or leave the world, there is nothing anyone can do.
  43. All you have to do to avoid rejection is to accept Truth this morning.
  44. Probation is not going to linger. 
  45. Revelation 15:8 “And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.”
  46. Very shortly the temple of God will be filled with smoke, no man can enter, and the seven plagues.
  47. During the plagues, humanity will be experiencing the Wrath of God.
  48. Revelation 14:9 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,”
  49. When all have made his/her decision, the Wrath of God will fall, no time remaining for preparation.
  50. 1 Timothy 2:5 “For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
  51. Jesus as Mediator will walk out of the Most Holy Place and adorn Himself with His kingly robes and start to earth.  At that point, all character development will be halted and rewards are fixed.
  52. How will you be at that hour?  God is calling us.
  53. One day as a colporteur a man cussed him out – it was going to be a good day for the Lord.  So he shared the news of Christ’s Second Coming. At one point, an elderly man came to the door and demanded to know if he was a Catholic.  Then the man gave him a donation, all he had in his wallet. That was all his quota for that day. At the last door, no one answered for a while. Then a lady came to the door. He shared Jesus with her after the question why he was so young and yet believed in Jesus.
  54. This lady kept asking him whether he was Jesus and finally said that she never knew Jesus was black. She believed she had had an encounter with Jesus because he had witnessed rather sold books.
  55. Allow Jesus to shine through you. In the judgment, God just wants to see Jesus through you.