The letters of the word "Haystacks" offer us a shorthand way to think and share what we as Seventh-day Adventists believe. "H" points us to "hope," "A" to "advent," "Y" to "youthful eternity," and now "S," to "Sabbath." What is the Sabbath all about?

Ephesians 3:20, 21 NKJV:

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, amen.

Here is a fundamental question. Can Jesus do as much for us as we think He can? Can He do as much for us as we theorize?

It is hard to think of anything bigger than me. In our world, in the enveloping narcissistic, self-loving culture, self is at the center. It's all about me. We are gods and our idols are our things because they are our things. Our pictures, our kids, our phones, our cars, our opinions--oh, how clever and important we are. We're smarter than God.

But God says that His Church is a fortress which He holds in a revolted world:

Today, part three of HAYSTACKS. The word "HAYSTACKS" is our memory tool for this short synopsis of what it means to be Seventh-day Adventist. "H" stood for Hope, and "A" for Advent. "Y" stands for a "Youthful Eternity." Seventh-day Adventists anticipate a youthful eternity.

The word "HAYSTACKS" helps us remember core Bible principles underlying Seventh-day Adventist belief. "H" was "Hope," and today, we come to the letter "A." "A" is for "Advent."

"Advent" means the coming of something, the time when something arrives at last. We are Christians. We look for the Second Coming, Advent, Appearing, Parousia of Jesus. But others also believe that Jesus is coming. They think He may come a thousand years from now, or, in three seconds. Either of those approaches effectively separates the Second Coming of Jesus from the lives of God's people. If Jesus comes in 1,000 years, we and our children will be dead long before. If He comes in three seconds, there is no serious opportunity between now and then to change what we are.

This morning the first in a series called HAYSTACKS.

Most North American Adventists are familiar with an entree we call "haystacks." It is a layered dish. Corn chips reside at bottom, then piled above are beans, rice, lettuce, salsa and more. Haystacks can be prepared healthfully. They are commonly seen at social gatherings. You won't find the term "haystacks" in a list of doctrines or a Bible study. But I am going to use the word to compress significant Bible teachings into nine topics. The first letter in Haystacks is "H," and today we start with "Hope."

Jesus Builds His Church

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said He would build His Church. He has built His Church on the twofold foundation of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:19-22; Luke 11:49; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 3:2; Revelation 18:20). A Church has members, and today most of us are members. When there are members, there is a need to see that things are done in an orderly way.

God always planned for a holy kingdom, and today, you and I have the privilege of being its citizens. Exodus 19:5, 6 tells us that this is God's purpose. His purpose has never changed. His purpose for the church is that we will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. But who ever heard of a nation without order, or a priesthood without a plan? So, just as all the way through the Bible God wanted His people to be guided by Him and to work together toward the goals that He has set for His people, the same is true for you and I today. We are to press together and to move in order. But how?