The Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church service on March 30, 2019 began with Rodney Herra welcoming everyone. There were no announcements. Most of the personnel in this program were from the Wildwood Lifestyle Center located in Wildwood, Ga, a Seventh-day Adventist institution specializing in a plant-based diet and simple lifestyle.
The program began with a short song service led by Tunda Manji and a friend, accompanied by Leilani (junior), Dr. Ruben Elisee on the cello, and Scott Sterling on the violin.
The congregation then sang “Because He Lives”. Robert Johnson had the invocation, and the congregation sang “Face to Face”. Victor Pile had the main prayer; the congregation responded with “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.
Sebastian Roy-Lavallee then called for the offering. Brothers Eric (senior) and Eldric (sophomore) then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to NAD evangelism. The congregation sang the doxology, and Sebastian Roy-Lavallee prayed for the offering.
Maria Evia told the children about having a bad day using a shattered bottle of water as an illustration. The addition of a bottle cap illustrated the help that Jesus can give children to resist.
Tracy Wakabi sang “Be Still My Soul”, accompanied by Dr. Ruben Elisee for special music. For the scripture reading, Dr. Kareece Moonasingh read Joel 3:14 “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.”
Robert Johnson discussed the topic “Valley of Decision” and challenged members of the congregation to make their decisions for God. The congregation sang “How Sweet Are the Tidings”. Robert Johnson had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students or Wildwood personnel:
Rodney Herra – local church head elder
Scott Sterling – Laurelbrook IT
Sebastian Roy-Lavallee – Laurelbrook Men’s Work Coordinator
Following are some notes on the sermon:
- William Miller was a farmer, a captain in the army during the War of 1812, and a Deist, a person who believed God created the world and left it alone. After surviving a battle, he realized that God does care about things on earth.
- Miller read his Bible cover to cover, eventually getting to the book of Daniel. Daniel reminds him that time was at the end of the 2300 days.
- He felt he should preach. Immediately, a member from the Baptist church knocked on the door and asked him to preach. He resisted but did it anyway.
- The Present Truth for Miller’s time was “the hour of His judgment is come”.
- Two groups emerged. One group took the message seriously and drew closer to the Lord. A second group thought the message was foolishness.
- The Protestant churches became Babylon.
- Revelation 14:6-7 “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.”
- We tend to forget God, who is the giver of all gifts, and glorify the people who receive the gifts.
- Jeremiah 9:23-24 “23 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.”
- We must glory in God.
- Revelation 14:8 “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.”
- The Catholic Church was in apostasy. Now the Protestants joined the Catholics in apostasy.
- Revelation 18:1-3 “1 ¶ And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.”
- Babylon has become a house of demons. Babylon had rejected the truths God has sent. Now it fears man, not God.
- Revelation 18:4-5 “4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”
- Most of God’s people are still in Babylon. We must go to give this message.
- Joel 3:14 “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.”
- Joel is calling people to repentance. This is not a quiet call. The trumpet call gets people’s attention.
- Joel pictures scores of people who have to make a decision whether to follow the beast or God.
- People try to fit in as far as fashions or opinions are concerned. But people have to make a decision for God regardless of various influences.
- As a young girl of nine, Ellen White was shown a building where she could be saved. But scores of people scoffing and laughing are outside, ridiculing those who went inside. She chose to wait until people left and go inside. But more mocking people arrived to take the places of those mockers who left. Ellen White said she ran as fast she could to get inside. A slain lamb (Jesus) was the foundation of the building. People confessed their sins to the lamb. She waited to do this, but the time for confession ended. She woke and accepted Jesus.
We have a decision to make – choose or forsake Babylon. Not complicated, but many people hesitate due to various influences. Not to make a decision is to make a decision to follow Satan.