Laurelbrook Academy SDA Church

President Warren McDaniels Discussed the "Testimony of the Dead"

On August 31, 2019, the Laurelbrook church service began with welcome and announcements by Clayton Brandt.  He explained that the Penny Offering (Laurelbrook Missions Offering) is used to help students go on mission trips.

Ryan Kim played an introit, Warren McDaniels had the invocation, and the congregation sang “Praise to the Lord”. Clayton Brandt had the Morning Prayer, and the congregation sang “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.

Clayton Brandt then called for the morning offerings; the loose offerings went toward the local church budget.  Ryan Kim played while Daryll Ellis and Eldric (junior) collected the offerings.  The congregation sang “Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow”, and Clayton Brandt prayed for the offerings.

Adrielle Perre told the children a story about two friends who are missionaries in the Amazon rain forest. On one trip,  one of her friends remembered she had left her special Bible on a window sill and asked the Lord to protect the Bible. When she walked in after the trip, the Bible was dry, but the room was completely wet.  God answers prayer.

There were two special music selections. Kenneth Henry was visiting to let his 8^th grader see the school and possibly attend next year. He played “We Shall Behold Him” on the piano. Maria (senior) and Eldric (junior) sang a Spanish song, accompanied by Eldric on his guitar for special music. 

Rebeka (elementary) read Exodus 14:30 “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.”

Warren McDaniels talked about “Testimony of the Dead”.  The congregation sang “I Sing the Mighty Power of God”. Warren McDaniels had the closing prayer.

Personnel Other Than Students:

Adrielle Pierre – wife of Joubert Pierre, one of Laurelbrook’s science and math teachers

Clayton Brandt – works with Laurelbrook’s heavy equipment

Daryll Ellis – works for one of the local stone companies / local church deacon

Ryan Kim – taking flight lessons from Laurelbrook instructor Scott Sterling

Warren McDaniels - Laurelbrook president

Following are some notes from the sermon:

1. Exodus 14:30 “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.”
2. These were the crack troops of Pharaoh.  Pharaoh was among his troops. Death was the great equalizer.
3. Exodus 9:16 “And in very deed for this [cause] have I raised thee up, for to shew [in] thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.”
4. God had a plan for this Pharaoh’s life, but his choices led to this ignominious end. God had exposed Pharaoh to grace and redemption, but Pharaoh thought otherwise.
5. Judas went out into the night to betray his Lord, but Jesus tried to draw Judas closer to Him by friendship.
6. In a museum in Cairo, there is a room filled with boxes filled with the remains of these Pharaohs. One box contains the remains of the Red Sea Pharaoh, his body blanched with spots by the Red Sea. This Pharaoh had been exposed to Moses, one of the greatest ministers ever known, but he refused Moses’ pleas to turn to God.
7. What a terrible thing it is to rebel against God!
8. God gave Pharaoh several chances to cooperate with Him. Time after time God asked Pharaoh to let His people go.
9. It is easier to lead someone astray from God than to bring that person back to God.
10. Pharaoh decided to let Israel go but insisted on a series of compromises - leave some behind, don’t go too far.
11. Moses responded that Israel was taking everything and everyone.  They were not prepared to return.
12. When the plagues grew worse, Pharaoh admitted he had sinned. God was trying to keep him from the seashore.
13. It is hard to be lost. You have to resist God to the point where you don’t hear God’s voice.
14. When the last plague took place and his crown prince died, he told Israel to go.  Then he gathered his troops together and pursued Israel with revenge in his heart.
15. He saw Israel pass through the Red Sea and pursued Israel nevertheless. He had embraced a lie.
16. With the Egyptians in the middle of the sea, the sea closes. Pharaoh died because he had refused every appeal.
17. When the Holy City comes down, the wicked believe they can take the city.
18. Israel saw the Egyptians dead by the seashore. People today refuse salvation and follow their heart’s desires until they are dead to God’s mercies.
19. Will you respond to the Lord’s call?