I want to welcome all of you
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to this final service of our
Fall Homecoming Camp Meeting.
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Have you been blessed so far?
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Amen! Praise God. And I
want to just welcome all of you
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from around the world
that are with us as well.
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We know that God, by the
power of His Holy Spirit, is
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touching every one of our hearts
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and drawing us
closer to the Lord.
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And Danny, isn't that
what Camp Meeting's about?
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Oh absolutely. And we
have Pastor John Lomacang
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then right after that
Brother David Asscherick.
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After that we'll have
some good fellowship time here.
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So it's been a
great, great time together.
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I have felt an
anointing of the Holy Spirit.
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Shelley said while ago
she's never been so inspired
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in a long time. Right, Shelley?
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You got a microphone
back there? I do have one.
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I could just
bobble my head I guess.
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But you know, I was
thinking as I was listening
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not just to the
sermons but to the reports
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of what is going to happen in
Russia. You know, going forward
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by faith. And that's what
inspires me is when it's not
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what man does, but when
God tells us to go, we go!
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And there's so many
wonderful things going on.
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It's... I've just got
Goosebumps this weekend
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and I'm ready to go.
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As the Bible says: we
walk by faith and not by sight.
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Because we can't see the
way but God says "go anyway. "
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Well if we tried to
reason this thing out
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we could never reason it
out. But when we put our faith
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and confidence in God
He's never failed us. Right.
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And Sr. White has a quote,
and I've never have quite got it
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down right but it
goes something like this:
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"Lest we forget what God
has done for us in the past
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we have nothing to
fear for what's ahead. "
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And so that is just what we do.
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We look at what God has
done in the past and know He's
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the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
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And you know, we have such
tremendous loyal supporters
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of 3ABN. And two
of those individuals
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are today... they are
celebrating their 50th
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wedding anniversary.
George and Tina Bame.
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Often they're right
here at Camp Meeting.
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They're the little
people that have big hearts
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and have been big
support to this ministry.
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And George and Tina,
we just want to wish you
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a happy golden
anniversary and pray that
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you have many many
more years to come.
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Absolutely. And also
Pat and Gene McClintock
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have gone to Russia. My
cousin Pat and her husband Gene
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have done many series
over there. It's their 50th
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anniversary also. So we
want to say happy anniversary
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to you. Amen. All of this
is happening because He lives,
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right? So we want to hear
you all join us in singing
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Because He lives
I can face tomorrow.
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Amen.
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Father, we just want to
thank you so much, Lord.
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Yes indeed, You do live.
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Oh, what a
wonderful wonderful gift!
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Father, we thank you
for this Sabbath day.
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In my mind, Lord,
this is a High Sabbath
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because, Lord, of how
You're touching all the hearts.
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All the reports
that we're getting, Lord,
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we just thank you.
Father, as we prepare for
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this evening's
service I just ask, Lord,
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that each one of us be
totally emptied of self
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so that we can
be filled with You.
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Father, we love
you; we thank you;
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we give You praise and glory.
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Thank you, Lord,
for being in our hearts.
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We thank you, thank
you, thank you. Amen.
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Amen.
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J.D. Quinn, and he is
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the head of our
Pastoral Department.
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He and I both
have a mutual friend
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who I almost said his name.
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And it's just great
to work with this group.
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One of those that we
enjoy working with the most is
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Pastor C.D. Murray.
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And Pastor C.A. is
going to sing for us.
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He's going to...
Pastor C.D. Brooks:
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you were on my mind.
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Pastor C.D.Brooks is one of
our great, great supporters.
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And C.A. Murray's going to sing
for us in lieu of Elder Brooks
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not being here. Always
good to play second fiddle, C.A.
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And he's going to
sing He Has Forgiven Me.
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And after that, our
pastor John Lomacang
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will be bringing
us the Word of God.
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I know what it's like
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to think of things I've done
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and want to run and hide
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my head in shame.
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I know what it's like
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to really hurt someone
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and feel no sense of sorrow
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at their pain.
00:08:04.29\00:08:09.29
Oh, but I know what it's like
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to have enough of my disgrace
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to find,
because of Jesus' blood,
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my sin can be erased.
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He has
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forgiven me
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My sin has been washed
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from His memory.
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by the blood of the Lamb
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of Calvary
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He has
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forgiven me.
00:09:06.19\00:09:12.09
Do you know what it's like
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for God to be your friend?
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To talk to Him
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with nothing in between?
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Do you know what it's like
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when your day comes to an end
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to sleep in peace
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all because your heart is clean?
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Do you know what it's like
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when the accuser comes your way
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to look him squarely in the eye
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with confidence
00:10:05.58\00:10:07.36
and say:
00:10:07.56\00:10:13.47
"He has
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forgiven me.
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My sin has been washed
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from His memory
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by the blood of the Lamb
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of Calvary
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He has
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forgiven me. "
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He has
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forgiven me.
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My sin has been washed
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from His memory
00:11:08.60\00:11:13.33
by the blood of the Lamb
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of Calvary
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He has
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forgiven me.
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By the blood of the Lamb
00:11:35.87\00:11:40.44
of Calvary
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He has
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forgiven
00:11:52.70\00:11:56.25
me.
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Amen.
00:12:11.26\00:12:12.74
Thank you, Pastor C.A.
00:12:15.46\00:12:16.96
Good evening
everyone! Good evening.
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Now we know the sun
is setting somewhere.
00:12:20.25\00:12:22.35
I think here is one of
those places where the sun is
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about to go down, but
I'm going to beseech the Lord
00:12:25.34\00:12:28.59
for His glory that
He would keep it warm
00:12:28.79\00:12:31.84
just a little longer.
00:12:31.94\00:12:33.34
Now I've got 44 minutes
and 50-something seconds
00:12:33.74\00:12:37.09
and I'm not known
to preach that short.
00:12:37.29\00:12:39.26
They've forced me into a
labor camp that I'm not going to
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spend a lot of time on,
so you just bow your heads
00:12:44.33\00:12:47.51
with me as we go
to the Lord in prayer.
00:12:47.61\00:12:49.75
Heavenly Father, thank
you for this opportunity;
00:12:50.73\00:12:52.58
may Your name be
glorified through it.
00:12:52.78\00:12:55.09
In Jesus' name, Amen. Amen.
00:12:55.49\00:12:59.29
The message is
a message entitled
00:13:00.63\00:13:03.26
I Ain't Goin' Nowhere.
00:13:04.19\00:13:06.01
It's a title that makes
English teachers screech
00:13:07.22\00:13:10.72
and stay up late
wondering what on earth
00:13:11.02\00:13:14.71
does this preacher of 26
years do with a title that is
00:13:14.91\00:13:19.88
grammatically incorrect.
00:13:20.08\00:13:21.72
It was never intended to
be grammatically correct.
00:13:21.92\00:13:24.43
It was intended
to be my declaration.
00:13:24.63\00:13:26.53
No matter how bad it gets,
00:13:26.93\00:13:28.47
no matter how
rough the road becomes,
00:13:29.66\00:13:32.55
no matter what Congress
does or the President does,
00:13:32.85\00:13:36.56
no matter the storms of life
00:13:36.96\00:13:39.04
or the difficulties
that will come our way,
00:13:39.14\00:13:41.24
I've made up my mind
after 30 years of marriage
00:13:41.64\00:13:44.39
and 26 years of
preaching I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:13:44.49\00:13:47.53
I don't care if the sky
falls tomorrow or the ocean
00:13:48.38\00:13:51.47
overflows, the rains
never cease until Jesus comes,
00:13:51.57\00:13:54.53
all the battles God
has delivered me from
00:13:54.93\00:13:57.54
have given me resolve to
say "I ain't goin' nowhere. "
00:13:57.74\00:14:01.14
You know, we are living
at a time when Christians are
00:14:02.12\00:14:04.58
walking away from
Christ for various reasons.
00:14:04.78\00:14:07.52
They all profess
to know the Lord.
00:14:07.72\00:14:09.30
At one of the most pivotal
times in the ministry of Jesus
00:14:09.80\00:14:13.23
when He had a tremendous
crew of disciples to work with
00:14:14.26\00:14:17.75
for the reaching of souls,
for the converting of lives,
00:14:17.95\00:14:21.79
at a pivotal moment
when Jesus needed people
00:14:22.19\00:14:26.78
to preach the gospel, these
words are recorded in the book
00:14:26.88\00:14:30.00
of John. It's in a book
that sounds quite ominous
00:14:30.10\00:14:33.69
if you turn to it:
John chapter 6 verse 66.
00:14:33.89\00:14:37.98
John 6:66.
00:14:38.38\00:14:41.29
What an appropriate passage
00:14:43.16\00:14:45.50
for such a
disappointing message.
00:14:45.70\00:14:49.87
"From that time many
of His disciples went back
00:14:50.81\00:14:53.83
and walked with Him
no more" the Bible says.
00:14:53.93\00:14:56.11
"Then Jesus said
to the twelve... "
00:14:56.51\00:14:58.78
He turned to the twelve.
00:14:58.98\00:15:00.28
He turned to His closest
associates and He said to them:
00:15:00.48\00:15:03.26
"Do you also want to go away? "
00:15:03.56\00:15:06.30
"Simon answered Him:
'Lord, to whom shall we go?
00:15:07.55\00:15:11.69
You have the words
of eternal life. ' "
00:15:11.99\00:15:15.57
October 22, 2012,
00:15:16.66\00:15:19.83
gave birth to a storm that
became a great disappointment
00:15:20.03\00:15:24.01
to the state of New Jersey.
00:15:24.31\00:15:26.54
Hurricane Sandy became
one of the most deadly storms
00:15:27.04\00:15:31.09
in United States history
00:15:31.29\00:15:33.08
second only to
Hurricane Katrina.
00:15:33.28\00:15:36.80
It was a storm that racked
up over 60 billion dollars
00:15:37.81\00:15:42.67
in damage. When
you read the record
00:15:42.87\00:15:45.59
the newspaper said its force
was felt from the sandy shores
00:15:45.80\00:15:48.79
of Florida to the
tree-laden hills of Maine.
00:15:48.89\00:15:51.79
This Caribbean-born storm
affected - they say - the entire
00:15:52.20\00:15:56.27
East Coast. But someone
said "How could a tropical storm
00:15:56.47\00:16:00.42
named Sandy be such a threat? "
00:16:00.62\00:16:03.23
That's what the residents of
Breezy Point in New York said.
00:16:03.53\00:16:07.79
"How could something with
the name Sandy be so horrific? "
00:16:08.09\00:16:12.69
But 65 billion dollars later
the stories began to roll in.
00:16:13.00\00:16:17.62
Sandy quickly lost the
stage to a governor that
00:16:17.92\00:16:22.35
most politicians thought they
knew until the hurricane came.
00:16:22.55\00:16:27.63
That's usually how it is.
00:16:27.87\00:16:30.16
People think
they know who you are
00:16:30.36\00:16:32.43
until the storms of
life come. Isn't that right?
00:16:32.63\00:16:35.07
Seaside Heights Boardwalk, a
landmark that defined New Jersey
00:16:36.05\00:16:39.88
for decades, was
almost completely ravaged.
00:16:40.08\00:16:43.44
But, in the midst
of a political storm
00:16:44.11\00:16:48.10
wondering who the next
president was going to be,
00:16:48.30\00:16:51.18
this pivotal man,
00:16:51.38\00:16:54.04
quite unusual to
the likings of many,
00:16:54.24\00:16:57.98
quite not a presidential
candidate as some people
00:16:58.48\00:17:01.58
looked at him and said
- but I take my hat off
00:17:01.68\00:17:04.36
even to this day
for the courage he had
00:17:04.46\00:17:06.99
at a time when it was needed -
00:17:07.19\00:17:08.65
New Jersey Governor Chris
Christie stepped up to the
00:17:08.96\00:17:12.21
plate, rolled up his
sleeves, and revealed who he is.
00:17:12.31\00:17:16.84
Political. com
jumped on the story
00:17:17.14\00:17:19.38
because they felt that
at a moment so necessary
00:17:20.10\00:17:23.37
for the political front
lines, at a moment so necessary
00:17:23.57\00:17:27.21
when Republicans needed
all the support they could -
00:17:27.42\00:17:29.95
especially from this man -
it seemed as though he abandoned
00:17:30.05\00:17:33.67
his stage and began
to reach across the aisle
00:17:33.87\00:17:37.54
at a time when they thought
they needed him the most.
00:17:37.74\00:17:41.49
It became a hotbed story, but
this is what Governor Christie
00:17:41.69\00:17:45.72
said... and I just want to tell
you, I cleaned it up for TV.
00:17:45.82\00:17:49.06
He says: "I've got a
job to do here in New Jersey
00:17:50.39\00:17:52.73
that's much bigger
than presidential politics
00:17:52.93\00:17:55.90
and I could care
less about all that stuff.
00:17:56.10\00:17:58.49
I've got 2.4
million people out of power.
00:17:58.69\00:18:00.99
I've got a devastated shore.
I've got floods on the north
00:18:01.29\00:18:04.97
part of my state, and
if you think right now
00:18:05.17\00:18:07.36
that I care about
presidential politics
00:18:07.46\00:18:09.48
then you don't know me. "
00:18:09.58\00:18:11.83
That's what he said.
00:18:12.03\00:18:13.42
Unfortunately that
was not the last headline
00:18:13.82\00:18:16.68
for the New Jersey governor,
Governor Chris Christie,
00:18:16.88\00:18:20.74
for recently just a few
weeks ago another disaster
00:18:21.68\00:18:25.13
hit the very same area.
00:18:25.33\00:18:27.46
The shores of New Jersey
experienced - in the midst of
00:18:29.68\00:18:32.80
recovering from
Hurricane Sandy -
00:18:32.90\00:18:35.23
another devastating
report made the breaking news
00:18:35.43\00:18:39.92
as the stores that were
being rebuilt - 50 of them -
00:18:40.02\00:18:43.62
in the very same location
were completely devastated
00:18:43.83\00:18:47.55
by a fire... of which
they thought the origin was
00:18:47.75\00:18:50.43
quite strange. But once again,
Governor Christie held the
00:18:50.53\00:18:54.83
reins. He said: "I can see
that you all are tired now.
00:18:54.96\00:18:57.56
I'm tired too... but my
last choice is surrender.
00:18:57.66\00:19:01.25
And we're not going to surrender
because you're not alone. "
00:19:01.45\00:19:04.72
He says: "We've
been through blizzards.
00:19:05.12\00:19:06.89
We've been through nor'easters,
hurricanes, and now a fire
00:19:07.09\00:19:10.39
and I've had enough with that. "
00:19:10.59\00:19:12.18
He continued: "Now we're going
to make sure that the people
00:19:12.38\00:19:15.80
here get the help that they need
and we are going to rebuild. "
00:19:16.00\00:19:19.24
And speaking
about the fire he said:
00:19:20.02\00:19:22.24
"All that Thursday night did
to me was to seal my commitment
00:19:22.44\00:19:27.29
to taking a stand. "
00:19:27.49\00:19:28.98
Governor Christie was no
longer defined by his politics.
00:19:29.69\00:19:32.57
He was defined by his
response in time of crisis.
00:19:32.97\00:19:37.49
And so I've got to
ask the question... I mean
00:19:37.89\00:19:39.83
it begs to be answered, it begs
an answer from Christians who
00:19:39.93\00:19:43.18
are living on the midst of a
stage that's replete with one
00:19:43.28\00:19:46.92
crisis after the
other: "How do you respond
00:19:47.12\00:19:50.77
in the hour of crisis? "
00:19:50.97\00:19:53.07
My brothers and my sisters,
those of you that are tuning in,
00:19:53.27\00:19:55.83
we are living on the stage
of the storms of the last days.
00:19:55.93\00:19:59.85
As Governor Christie
said we've been through storms
00:20:00.15\00:20:02.43
and it's going to get
worse before it gets better.
00:20:02.63\00:20:05.97
We've had health
storms and family storms,
00:20:06.47\00:20:08.93
financial storms, faith
storms, relationship storms,
00:20:09.13\00:20:12.56
marriage storms, and spiritual
storms... but as last-day
00:20:12.76\00:20:17.42
Christians - I've got to borrow
what Governor Christie says:
00:20:17.52\00:20:20.34
"We've got to seal our commit-
ment to keep on standing. "
00:20:20.54\00:20:24.19
What do you say? Amen!
00:20:24.29\00:20:26.02
And what you need to know is if
we commit it, God can keep it.
00:20:26.22\00:20:29.38
Say it: "If we commit
it, God can keep it. "
00:20:29.48\00:20:32.04
Come on, say that: "If we
commit it, God can keep it. "
00:20:32.24\00:20:35.08
Paul the apostle told a
fledgling minister, that
00:20:35.28\00:20:38.62
young man Timothy... he said:
00:20:38.82\00:20:40.22
"I am persuaded that He is able
00:20:40.42\00:20:42.68
to keep that which
I've committed unto Him
00:20:42.78\00:20:44.39
until that day. " We've
got to be committed today.
00:20:44.59\00:20:48.04
We've got a message.
We've got just a few more steps
00:20:48.34\00:20:52.51
to make before we make
it into the Promised Land.
00:20:52.61\00:20:54.81
And as I said in the beginning:
"I ain't goin' nowhere. "
00:20:55.11\00:20:57.04
Come on somebody...
say "Amen" to that. Amen!
00:20:57.24\00:20:59.01
You see, you can't control
the wind but you can control
00:20:59.14\00:21:01.95
your sails. Don't tell God
how big your mountains are.
00:21:02.15\00:21:05.57
Tell your mountains
how big your God is.
00:21:05.77\00:21:07.77
Come on, what do you
say? If God brings us to it,
00:21:07.97\00:21:10.81
God can bring us through it.
00:21:11.02\00:21:13.19
And stop seeing
storms in every opportunity.
00:21:13.39\00:21:16.01
We need to begin to see
opportunities in every storm.
00:21:16.31\00:21:19.58
I've learned over the years...
We've had a lot of storms.
00:21:20.93\00:21:23.24
You know, if you've been
married 30 years you've had some
00:21:23.44\00:21:25.45
storms. Come on, old
people... say "Amen. "
00:21:25.55\00:21:27.23
Let's encourage the young folk.
00:21:27.53\00:21:29.46
If you've been married more than
20 years, you've had storms.
00:21:29.76\00:21:33.46
My wife and I
can count our storms,
00:21:34.76\00:21:37.55
but one thing we have learned
from God and the reason why
00:21:37.75\00:21:40.18
God has allowed storms to
come is because character is not
00:21:40.28\00:21:44.05
developed in the
storm, character is revealed
00:21:44.25\00:21:47.08
during times of storm.
00:21:47.28\00:21:48.72
The reason why that's so
vitally important is because
00:21:49.73\00:21:51.90
most of the time you
don't really know who people are
00:21:52.00\00:21:54.16
until they get their storms.
Come on, isn't that right?
00:21:54.36\00:21:56.16
I mean, sometimes you see
people walking through the
00:21:56.66\00:21:58.70
church. "How is
everything going? " "Oh pastor,
00:21:58.80\00:22:01.50
it's such a wonderful
Sabbath" and all of a sudden
00:22:01.60\00:22:03.48
the storms hit and you
don't see them for weeks
00:22:03.58\00:22:05.72
and months at a time because
they have not trusted God...
00:22:05.82\00:22:09.57
Let me rephrase
that: until we trust God
00:22:09.87\00:22:13.11
before the storms
it's going to be difficult
00:22:13.31\00:22:16.58
to trust God
when the storms come.
00:22:16.78\00:22:18.86
You don't really know
people until storms come,
00:22:20.02\00:22:23.00
which brings me to my first
point. I only have four tonight.
00:22:23.20\00:22:26.10
Sometimes I have seven;
I only have time for four.
00:22:26.30\00:22:28.82
The first point
is very important:
00:22:29.12\00:22:31.02
the certainty of storms.
00:22:31.32\00:22:33.30
Storms will
come, isn't that right?
00:22:33.50\00:22:36.43
Paul the apostle
when he was a prisoner
00:22:36.73\00:22:39.13
when he was on his
way to Rome in shackles
00:22:39.33\00:22:41.92
in handcuffs, he appealed
to Caesar, knowing that he was
00:22:42.13\00:22:45.92
not only Jewish but he
was also a Roman citizen.
00:22:46.02\00:22:49.20
And Acts chapter
27 verses 13 and 14
00:22:49.40\00:22:52.69
gives us a glimpse as to why
people are continuing to live
00:22:52.89\00:22:56.39
as though there will be no
more storms on the horizon.
00:22:56.59\00:22:58.78
Listen to what the
Bible says. Acts chapter 27
00:22:59.08\00:23:01.70
and verse 13. And the
Bible says in the midst of this
00:23:01.90\00:23:05.61
journey on Paul's way to
Rome the Bible says in verse 13:
00:23:05.71\00:23:10.46
"When the south wind blew
softly, supposing that they had
00:23:10.66\00:23:16.21
obtained their desire,
putting out to sea they sailed
00:23:16.32\00:23:20.44
close to Crete. " In other words
when the winds began to blow
00:23:20.65\00:23:24.90
softly they thought that things
were going to be just fine.
00:23:25.00\00:23:28.19
But what the Bible didn't
tell you... see in the story
00:23:28.39\00:23:30.23
if you read that entire story...
which I preached a sermon
00:23:30.43\00:23:32.93
many years ago
entitled "I Believe God. "
00:23:33.03\00:23:35.35
Paul warned them that even
though the winds were blowing
00:23:37.53\00:23:41.72
softly the storm was on the way.
00:23:41.82\00:23:44.94
You see, the
harbinger of a storm
00:23:45.24\00:23:47.97
on the horizon is
the soft blowing wind.
00:23:48.17\00:23:51.44
It's a sure indication
that... Here's the fact:
00:23:51.84\00:23:54.63
when a storm is in the forecast
00:23:54.83\00:23:57.28
don't ignore the winds just
because they're blowing softly.
00:23:57.48\00:24:01.24
When you look at the
video footage of Breezy Point in
00:24:02.54\00:24:04.94
New York City you remember that
those who stood on the shore...
00:24:05.04\00:24:08.03
They've got the footage
of residents standing at the
00:24:08.23\00:24:10.96
oceanfront when the emergency
system was broadcasting
00:24:11.06\00:24:16.27
"Leave your homes. There's
a storm coming... devastating
00:24:16.47\00:24:20.32
in its impact. " And they
stood there and they said:
00:24:20.43\00:24:22.38
"We've never had storms before.
00:24:22.48\00:24:23.96
We have survived every
hurricane that's come our way. "
00:24:24.16\00:24:28.04
And they thought that because
they'd never had a devastating
00:24:29.53\00:24:31.66
storm that they were
exempt from devastating storms.
00:24:31.76\00:24:36.16
Until the next morning... and
you've seen the video footage.
00:24:36.39\00:24:39.01
You've seen the homes
burning all through the night.
00:24:39.31\00:24:41.87
More than 100 or 150 homes
devastated not just by the winds
00:24:41.90\00:24:46.55
and by the
water but by the fire.
00:24:46.75\00:24:48.22
You see, we've
got to pay attention.
00:24:48.52\00:24:49.94
It may be blowing softly now
but I want to tell the church
00:24:50.15\00:24:52.81
today: there's a
storm on the horizon
00:24:53.01\00:24:55.49
intense in its fury.
00:24:55.89\00:24:57.99
When the morning came it
revealed their sense of security
00:24:58.49\00:25:02.79
had proved to be a
false sense of security.
00:25:02.99\00:25:06.69
Just a few weeks ago
my wife and I rejoiced.
00:25:06.89\00:25:09.01
We don't have a lot of money
in stocks. We don't play the
00:25:09.21\00:25:11.54
stock market. Just to make
it very clear, the conference
00:25:11.64\00:25:14.25
puts away money for our
retirement. And we go so excited
00:25:14.35\00:25:17.73
when they said that the
stocks hit an all-time high.
00:25:17.93\00:25:20.75
Anybody else?
00:25:20.95\00:25:21.98
Come on... somebody say "Amen. "
00:25:22.36\00:25:23.97
Amen. Some of you guys
have got money out there.
00:25:24.27\00:25:26.21
You don't want
to admit it on air.
00:25:26.31\00:25:27.71
But we got so excited that
the stocks had topped 15,000
00:25:29.21\00:25:33.13
points for the first time in
I don't remember how long they
00:25:33.23\00:25:36.21
said. And we
said: "Oh, beautiful! "
00:25:36.31\00:25:38.61
But they said it may be a
different story next week.
00:25:42.39\00:25:47.06
People rejoiced when
the stock market went up,
00:25:47.26\00:25:50.20
but I want to tell you once
again: when things are going
00:25:50.30\00:25:52.94
good, the soft winds are
a harbinger that the storms
00:25:53.04\00:25:56.51
are on the way. And
right now we're facing the fact
00:25:56.61\00:25:58.84
that the stock market may make a
drop worse than it has ever done
00:25:59.05\00:26:02.42
in history because of
what's going to happen on Monday
00:26:02.52\00:26:04.54
or what might happen on Monday.
00:26:06.29\00:26:08.09
For those of you who don't
watch television, there's a
00:26:10.03\00:26:11.91
threat of a
government shutdown on Monday.
00:26:12.02\00:26:13.76
But I want to tell you today,
I don't care if the government
00:26:14.59\00:26:16.53
shuts down... I'm in
God's hands. What do you say?
00:26:16.63\00:26:18.47
We put too much power in the
hands of political men and women
00:26:18.87\00:26:23.34
because somehow we think
that they've got the answer.
00:26:23.54\00:26:25.91
I've said this before
but it fits right here:
00:26:26.01\00:26:27.87
my mind is not on the White
House it's on the right house.
00:26:28.07\00:26:30.50
What do you say? And
God's still on THAT throne.
00:26:30.70\00:26:33.62
Nobody has beat Him in
any election. What do you say?
00:26:33.82\00:26:36.97
The devil made a campaign
pitch and he got kicked out.
00:26:37.27\00:26:41.18
But I also learned that storms
don't care about your plans.
00:26:42.46\00:26:46.12
Storms don't care about
your financial strength.
00:26:46.32\00:26:49.10
Storms don't care about our
possessions and storms don't
00:26:49.30\00:26:51.65
care about who we think we are.
00:26:51.75\00:26:53.34
Isaiah the prophet said
in Isaiah 24 verses 2 and 3-
00:26:53.54\00:26:56.72
you write this down because we
don't have time to wait for you
00:26:56.92\00:26:58.87
to turn there -
talking about the storms:
00:26:58.97\00:27:01.72
"And it shall be as with
the people so with the priest,
00:27:01.92\00:27:04.42
as with the
servant so with the master,
00:27:04.62\00:27:06.69
as with the maid
so with her mistress,
00:27:06.99\00:27:08.92
as with the buyer
so with the seller,
00:27:09.12\00:27:11.04
as with the lender
so with the borrower,
00:27:11.24\00:27:13.18
as with the
creditor so with the debtor,
00:27:13.38\00:27:15.38
the land shall be utterly
emptied and utterly plundered
00:27:15.58\00:27:19.43
for the Lord has spoken
it. " When troubled times
00:27:19.63\00:27:23.06
finally hit this world,
the way that God sees it
00:27:23.26\00:27:25.65
nobody is going to escape
except those that are standing
00:27:25.85\00:27:29.59
in the secret
place of the Most High.
00:27:29.80\00:27:31.77
They shall abide under
the shadow of the Almighty.
00:27:32.88\00:27:37.24
"Then they will be able to
say: 'I will say of the Lord
00:27:38.90\00:27:41.12
He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in Him will I trust. ' "
00:27:41.22\00:27:45.91
Every time I get
discouraged I go to Psalm 91.
00:27:46.11\00:27:48.90
It has become a
favorite verse in our family.
00:27:49.10\00:27:52.05
My wife's family enjoys
that and I early adopted that
00:27:52.15\00:27:55.55
because there is a place that
God can keep any storm of life
00:27:55.75\00:28:00.56
from touching His children.
Can you say "Amen" to that?
00:28:00.76\00:28:03.21
In Evangelism Ellen
White says - page 199 she says:
00:28:03.41\00:28:06.90
"The storm is coming
relentless in its fury. "
00:28:07.10\00:28:10.57
And she asks the question:
"Are we ready to meet it? "
00:28:10.77\00:28:13.60
A few years ago my wife
and I decided to get a very
00:28:14.64\00:28:17.81
inexpensive air fare. Now if you
go down to the Virgin Islands
00:28:17.91\00:28:20.68
the inexpensive air fares are
often during hurricane season.
00:28:20.88\00:28:24.21
Just a tap on the shoulder.
00:28:25.64\00:28:28.06
We went down there because we
had been to the Virgin Islands.
00:28:28.26\00:28:30.77
We've been there every
year since the late 90's
00:28:30.87\00:28:33.26
and we said "It's
always been wonderful. "
00:28:33.46\00:28:34.85
So we decided we're going to
go ahead. "I know it's hurricane
00:28:35.05\00:28:37.41
season - just getting started
- but we've never had that
00:28:37.51\00:28:39.50
experience before. " We
got down there and as sure as
00:28:39.60\00:28:42.11
we said we'd never had that ex-
perience we had that experience.
00:28:42.21\00:28:44.73
We got some video footage
standing on the balcony of our
00:28:45.13\00:28:49.91
room where we stayed
and videotaping the storm.
00:28:50.01\00:28:54.34
And we looked at each other
and said: "That's what we get
00:28:54.54\00:28:57.56
for coming to St. Thomas
during the hurricane season. "
00:28:57.66\00:29:00.06
Which means...
my second point...
00:29:00.95\00:29:03.49
my brothers and sisters
storms are a part of this life.
00:29:03.69\00:29:09.50
Don't think of
storms as strange.
00:29:10.27\00:29:13.98
Storms are not unusual.
00:29:14.18\00:29:15.95
Storms and sin were
born at the same time.
00:29:16.06\00:29:20.73
They've got the same birthdate.
00:29:20.93\00:29:23.24
Trials, heartaches, pain,
00:29:23.44\00:29:26.87
death: they were
all born together.
00:29:27.08\00:29:30.02
That's why Peter says in I
Peter chapter 4 and verse 12
00:29:31.02\00:29:33.63
"Beloved, do not think it
strange concerning the fiery
00:29:33.83\00:29:38.37
trial which is to try you
as though some strange thing
00:29:38.47\00:29:44.22
happened to you. "
00:29:44.42\00:29:46.22
The reason why this point
is important to me is because
00:29:46.42\00:29:48.11
there are some Christians
that have embraced some teaching
00:29:48.31\00:29:50.12
somewhere that when you become
a Christian then all of a sudden
00:29:50.22\00:29:53.07
storms are taken
out of your backpack.
00:29:53.17\00:29:56.13
I don't know if it's
the prosperity gospel.
00:29:57.43\00:29:59.39
I don't know where that
idea came from, but somehow
00:29:59.59\00:30:01.96
Christians are
beginning to embrace this idea
00:30:02.16\00:30:04.82
that now that I'm a Christian
storms are no longer a part
00:30:05.02\00:30:08.70
of my experience. Can I
just make it very clear:
00:30:08.80\00:30:11.56
that's a lie. Am I
telling the truth? Yes!
00:30:11.96\00:30:14.27
As a matter of fact,
let me make it even clearer.
00:30:14.30\00:30:16.54
You see, before you gave
your life to the Lord you were
00:30:17.19\00:30:19.17
sitting up in the
bleachers somewhere.
00:30:19.27\00:30:20.85
But once you get out of those
bleachers and get on the field
00:30:22.07\00:30:25.14
and you're in the football game
you've got to put your helmet
00:30:25.24\00:30:27.32
on. Come on, somebody, tell me:
00:30:27.43\00:30:28.46
you've got to put
your helmet on. Amen.
00:30:28.56\00:30:29.78
You've got to get you
some reliable shoulder pads,
00:30:29.98\00:30:32.16
and you've got to make up your
mind that somebody's going to
00:30:33.32\00:30:35.33
hit you and they're
going to hit you hard.
00:30:35.43\00:30:36.61
And I'll tell you exactly
who that is: that's the devil
00:30:36.82\00:30:38.39
and his angels. If
you've been around long enough,
00:30:38.49\00:30:41.04
you know the devil can hit
hard. Am I telling the truth?
00:30:41.07\00:30:43.06
He knows how to hit hard.
00:30:43.36\00:30:44.82
He knows how to hit hard.
00:30:45.82\00:30:48.14
And nobody knows that better
than me that lives down here in
00:30:48.34\00:30:51.42
southern Illinois playing
basketball with guys that
00:30:51.52\00:30:54.14
bale hay for a living.
00:30:54.24\00:30:55.97
I've been walking around today
with my little finger in the
00:30:59.98\00:31:03.01
center of my chest. Man,
I'll tell you: I'm learning
00:31:03.11\00:31:05.56
the hard way. I
love basketball, but man,
00:31:05.66\00:31:07.69
I need to go back to New York
00:31:07.79\00:31:09.24
where people keep
their hands off of you.
00:31:09.64\00:31:12.04
They keep hitting me down here.
00:31:12.34\00:31:14.36
I moved down to southern
Illinois; I got hit in the head
00:31:14.66\00:31:17.05
one night so hard Danny
ran to the house with me
00:31:17.15\00:31:19.13
and said: "Angie, we're
taking him to emergency.
00:31:19.23\00:31:21.32
He's hearing a
bell in his head. "
00:31:21.52\00:31:23.43
They took me to the
hospital and they just said:
00:31:24.43\00:31:26.63
"Well answer the phone! "
00:31:26.73\00:31:28.31
Next time I was playing
basketball down at Marion
00:31:30.75\00:31:33.16
at this big old Baptist
church. A guy 270 pounds
00:31:33.36\00:31:35.69
fell on my leg and for the
whole year I was in a cast.
00:31:35.89\00:31:39.01
Said: "How did you get
that? " "Playing basketball
00:31:39.21\00:31:40.57
in southern Illinois. "
If that was not bad enough,
00:31:40.67\00:31:43.95
now it's been almost
four years now - yes -
00:31:44.25\00:31:47.33
September 29th of this
year will be four years
00:31:47.53\00:31:50.25
that I got hit in my
throat, almost lost my voice
00:31:50.45\00:31:52.43
right over there
in that gymnasium.
00:31:52.73\00:31:54.19
You ought to tell Danny
get some different people
00:31:54.29\00:31:55.72
to play with us.
00:31:55.82\00:31:57.87
And just Tuesday now I got
hit in the center of my chest.
00:31:58.07\00:32:00.00
The guy is so built he
didn't even know he hit me.
00:32:00.10\00:32:02.18
I told him after the
game... I said: "You hit me. "
00:32:02.58\00:32:04.56
I had to stop the game. I
couldn't even lift my arms.
00:32:04.86\00:32:07.43
Last night I told my wife:
"Honey, I want to roll over
00:32:07.63\00:32:09.74
and hug you. " But I
couldn't even roll over.
00:32:09.84\00:32:11.36
I know the devil
knows how to hit.
00:32:13.63\00:32:15.17
That's why when I was in high
school and I was on the football
00:32:15.27\00:32:17.35
team... look at me and
say: "Lord have mercy. "
00:32:17.45\00:32:20.51
I was on the football team.
00:32:20.91\00:32:22.38
I remember I played my second
game. I got hit by a guy that
00:32:22.58\00:32:26.46
was twice my weight. You
know what I did after that
00:32:26.56\00:32:29.40
play was done, Bro.
Dick? I took my helmet,
00:32:29.50\00:32:31.73
went over to the
bench, took it off,
00:32:31.93\00:32:34.71
and said to Coach Caruso
who was an Italian who was not
00:32:34.91\00:32:39.04
a Christian... I
won't tell you what he said.
00:32:39.25\00:32:42.73
But I said:
"Coach, I'm out of here. "
00:32:43.03\00:32:45.41
And he said with a very
strong football accent -
00:32:45.51\00:32:49.02
whatever that means...
00:32:49.42\00:32:51.15
He said: "Where are you
going? " I said: "When I leave
00:32:51.45\00:32:53.72
high school I'm
leaving high school with
00:32:53.82\00:32:55.13
all my brains intact. "
00:32:55.24\00:32:56.74
And I decided to
play basketball instead.
00:32:57.04\00:32:59.25
And I want to tell you
today: I've had more injuries in
00:32:59.35\00:33:00.81
basketball than in football.
00:33:00.91\00:33:02.34
I know that the
devil knows how to hit.
00:33:03.07\00:33:04.68
That's why in the book of
Revelation the Lord says to
00:33:04.88\00:33:07.63
one of His churches, in
Revelation chapter 2 and
00:33:07.83\00:33:09.87
verse 10 He says: "Do
not fear any of those things
00:33:09.98\00:33:13.32
that you are about to suffer. "
00:33:13.52\00:33:15.32
Why is that Christians
feel that suffering is something
00:33:15.53\00:33:19.24
that they should
never experience.
00:33:19.44\00:33:20.62
What they have to keep in mind:
if Jesus suffered, what makes us
00:33:20.82\00:33:24.09
think that we are exempt from
suffering if the King of Kings
00:33:24.29\00:33:27.30
and the Lord of Lords -
our Lord - suffered, what
00:33:27.50\00:33:30.49
makes us think
that we're different?
00:33:30.59\00:33:32.26
People come to church
and somebody look at them
00:33:34.67\00:33:36.35
and they leave. I tell you
what: you go to a football game.
00:33:36.45\00:33:38.63
People that pay to get
into those football games
00:33:38.83\00:33:40.51
they could care less
how anybody looks at them.
00:33:40.61\00:33:42.41
Am I telling the truth?
00:33:42.61\00:33:44.28
Have you noticed that Christians
will leave church for things
00:33:44.48\00:33:46.58
that people that go to football
games wouldn't leave church for?
00:33:46.68\00:33:49.20
Wouldn't leave the stadium for.
00:33:50.30\00:33:52.24
You know what I meant.
00:33:52.54\00:33:54.01
We would come to church
and somebody would just give us
00:33:55.12\00:33:58.14
a look and we go home.
00:33:58.24\00:33:59.52
What happened to so and so?
"Oh, Elder so and so gave him
00:33:59.72\00:34:01.89
a bad look. " Now you know
people who go to football games:
00:34:01.99\00:34:05.90
They could care less how you
look at them. They're not going
00:34:06.10\00:34:07.64
anywhere. Am I
telling the truth?
00:34:07.75\00:34:09.05
I read a story just the
other day about a couple.
00:34:09.35\00:34:11.25
I wish Christians had
half the tenacity of the people
00:34:11.45\00:34:14.38
in the world... half of
the stick-to-it-iveness.
00:34:14.48\00:34:16.82
That's what my boss
used to say to me. He said:
00:34:16.92\00:34:18.47
"John, what I like about you is
you have stick-to-it-iveness. "
00:34:18.67\00:34:21.00
I didn't even know
what that meant and I said:
00:34:21.20\00:34:22.62
"What do you mean by that?
" He said: "Well you just hang
00:34:22.72\00:34:23.98
on in there. No matter what
you just hang on in there. "
00:34:24.09\00:34:25.83
Amen, somebody. We've
got to hang on in there.
00:34:25.93\00:34:28.34
He said: "You've got
stick-to-it-iveness. "
00:34:28.54\00:34:30.05
I read a story about a couple
that they were getting ready
00:34:30.25\00:34:32.84
for Black Friday. Do you
know what Black Friday is?
00:34:32.94\00:34:34.74
That's the day
after Thanksgiving.
00:34:35.14\00:34:36.69
But you know what
happened? They were at Best Buy
00:34:37.09\00:34:39.96
twelve days early.
00:34:40.16\00:34:42.59
I won't give you their names.
00:34:45.03\00:34:46.25
They may be
watching the program.
00:34:46.35\00:34:47.86
They put their tent
up in front of Best Buy
00:34:48.06\00:34:51.23
twelve days early.
00:34:51.43\00:34:54.11
They were camping at
the door of Best Buy...
00:34:54.31\00:34:57.16
and you know what they
were camping for? A television,
00:34:57.26\00:34:59.73
a computer, some kind of
gadget, some kind of gizmo.
00:35:00.04\00:35:02.70
Oh I wish Christians
would camp at the church
00:35:03.00\00:35:05.41
on Sabbath morning
and say: "I can't wait
00:35:05.61\00:35:07.14
till the doors open. "
Come on somebody: tell me,
00:35:07.24\00:35:09.75
talk to me. Why
don't we do that?
00:35:09.95\00:35:12.72
What has happened to
the tenacity of Christians?
00:35:12.92\00:35:15.06
Why is it that we
satisfy ourselves with a name
00:35:15.26\00:35:19.44
but we are missing the
dedication of the world?
00:35:19.64\00:35:22.76
That's why Jesus said:
"I have not seen such great
00:35:22.96\00:35:26.15
faith in Israel. " A heathen
said: "Just speak the word -
00:35:26.25\00:35:30.12
all You've got to do
is just say the word. "
00:35:30.32\00:35:32.42
But the Christians
said: "Give us a sign. "
00:35:32.62\00:35:35.28
"Show us something that
will make us want to trust You
00:35:36.57\00:35:38.50
and believe that You
are the Son of God. "
00:35:38.60\00:35:40.21
Today's tests... if you
hang in there, brethren,
00:35:41.38\00:35:43.39
if the trial comes, today's
test will become tomorrow's
00:35:43.69\00:35:47.90
testimony. Isn't
that right? Amen!
00:35:48.00\00:35:49.67
But you've got
to hang on in there!
00:35:49.87\00:35:51.25
You've got to make sure.
That's why when Jesus said
00:35:51.45\00:35:53.68
to us: "You're going to
have tribulation" He also says
00:35:53.88\00:35:55.79
in John 16 verse 32,
listen very carefully. He said:
00:35:55.89\00:35:58.23
"These things I have
spoken to you that in Me you may
00:35:58.64\00:36:02.15
have peace. " Now get this.
00:36:02.25\00:36:03.47
He didn't say: "In
your situation you're going
00:36:03.68\00:36:05.46
to have peace. " He didn't
say: "In your family you're
00:36:05.56\00:36:07.71
going to have peace. " He said:
00:36:07.82\00:36:08.92
"In Me you're
going to have peace. "
00:36:09.02\00:36:11.47
And didn't the
prophet Isaiah say that
00:36:11.67\00:36:13.56
"He will keep you in perfect
peace whose mind is stayed on
00:36:13.76\00:36:16.72
Thee. " The problem with us
00:36:16.92\00:36:19.40
in the moments of
trial and difficulty
00:36:19.70\00:36:23.05
is that we look at
anything and anybody but Jesus.
00:36:23.25\00:36:26.69
I wanted to put our business
out there, but I'm not going
00:36:28.90\00:36:31.53
to do that because very time...
Somebody once told me, said:
00:36:31.63\00:36:33.80
"Pastor John, you reveal so
much about you and your wife
00:36:33.90\00:36:35.99
in sermons. "
So I won't do that.
00:36:36.19\00:36:37.68
But my wife and I have had
trials. We have had trials...
00:36:38.80\00:36:41.27
We've had trials
that last nine days.
00:36:41.68\00:36:44.88
I could tell you the three
biggest trials we've had in the
00:36:45.08\00:36:47.21
30 years of our
marriage. The first one came
00:36:47.31\00:36:49.61
in the beginning of our
ministry. Lasted nine days.
00:36:49.81\00:36:52.43
That's when the devil tried to
torpedo us out of the ministry.
00:36:52.63\00:36:55.13
By God's grace we hung in there
and we're still here today.
00:36:55.43\00:36:57.87
What do you say? Amen.
00:36:58.07\00:36:59.67
Lasted nine days.
00:37:00.53\00:37:02.29
So the devil
left us for a season.
00:37:02.49\00:37:04.38
Came back and said:
"Well let me try this again. "
00:37:04.68\00:37:07.15
Second one lasted for 7 months.
00:37:07.35\00:37:10.16
You're talking about a pastor
who didn't even want to come
00:37:11.41\00:37:14.20
to church. There was one...
I remember one Camp Meeting
00:37:14.30\00:37:16.33
began and I was... some
of you may remember this...
00:37:16.54\00:37:18.06
I stood in front of the
church at the beginning of a
00:37:18.16\00:37:20.23
Camp Meeting. We
didn't have the set yet.
00:37:20.33\00:37:22.56
I was standing right
down front here one evening
00:37:22.66\00:37:24.72
as I was doing prayer meeting
on the heels of Camp Meeting
00:37:24.92\00:37:28.36
starting, and I said to the
audience: "Have you ever felt
00:37:28.47\00:37:31.47
that while you are driving
to the church you just want to
00:37:31.67\00:37:34.20
keep on going and
never look back? "
00:37:34.30\00:37:36.06
And they surrounded
me and prayed for me
00:37:37.05\00:37:38.88
as I wept standing right here.
00:37:38.98\00:37:40.70
In the midst of a 7-month trial,
but God brought me through
00:37:41.00\00:37:44.45
that, too. God
brought us through that too.
00:37:44.55\00:37:47.21
Come on, say "Amen. "
00:37:47.31\00:37:48.34
And I'm not talking
about marital problems.
00:37:48.44\00:37:50.15
See, the problem with my
wife and I is we love each other
00:37:50.35\00:37:52.82
too much. People
keep attacking us.
00:37:52.92\00:37:54.75
We get mad at each
other. Oh yeah, we do...
00:37:58.43\00:38:00.20
every now and then
'cause my wife is not a weakling
00:38:00.30\00:38:02.10
by any means. She's a loving...
00:38:02.20\00:38:04.18
I praise God that she's
the kind of wife she is.
00:38:04.38\00:38:06.71
But every now and
then she digs her heels in
00:38:07.11\00:38:09.32
and I've gotta undig my heels.
00:38:09.42\00:38:11.09
We've got to get that thing
fixed before the sunrise...
00:38:12.28\00:38:14.74
and we do. Amen.
Sometimes you've got to
00:38:14.95\00:38:16.97
swallow your pride. That's
why you have to keep in mind
00:38:17.07\00:38:19.18
the Lord says: "In this
world you will have tribulation
00:38:19.38\00:38:21.33
but in Me you will have peace.
" Whenever my pride starts to
00:38:21.53\00:38:24.41
get in my way I
hear the voice in my head
00:38:24.51\00:38:27.06
"Pastor... " Not
my wife, but the Lord.
00:38:27.26\00:38:30.02
"Pastor... pastor.
What are you supposed to do?
00:38:30.22\00:38:34.29
Remember what you preached?
Tell her you're sorry. "
00:38:34.49\00:38:37.47
Not yet.
00:38:38.91\00:38:40.56
"Tell her you're sorry else I'm
not going to let you sleep. "
00:38:42.47\00:38:46.42
"Honey... HONEY...
00:38:48.06\00:38:52.50
I'm sorry. "
00:38:52.81\00:38:54.87
"Why'd you wake me up? "
00:38:55.17\00:38:57.77
"I just wanted to
tell you I'm sorry. "
00:39:00.17\00:39:02.07
And do you know what I
love about that? The next day
00:39:03.28\00:39:05.15
on the phone I hear
her saying to her sister:
00:39:05.36\00:39:07.27
"It wasn't that easy yesterday
but he apologized to me.
00:39:07.67\00:39:11.84
But you know, I felt so
good when he apologized to me. "
00:39:12.54\00:39:16.73
You know my brothers, let
me tell some of you strong men
00:39:17.13\00:39:19.60
with all these
muscles and no heart:
00:39:19.63\00:39:21.67
it takes a strong man to
say "sorry" when he knows
00:39:22.93\00:39:25.95
he's wrong. That
wasn't in the sermon notes.
00:39:26.05\00:39:29.94
Trials will come, but if
you live your life in Christ
00:39:31.57\00:39:35.88
those trial will become to
you like water off of the back
00:39:36.08\00:39:39.57
of a duck. I'm not
minimizing trials in the least.
00:39:39.67\00:39:43.07
I do not say: "When is
my next trial coming? "
00:39:43.27\00:39:46.47
Come on. Am I telling the truth?
00:39:46.67\00:39:48.08
We don't look on
them as: "Next trial...
00:39:48.28\00:39:49.86
when can I expect
it? " Nobody does that.
00:39:49.96\00:39:51.87
That's unnecessary. That's not
sane to look for another trial.
00:39:52.07\00:39:56.28
But if it does come,
I want to make sure that
00:39:56.48\00:39:58.35
that trial finds me planted
on the solid rock called Christ
00:39:58.45\00:40:01.92
Jesus. What do you say? Amen.
00:40:02.02\00:40:04.00
"You will have tribulation,
but in Me you will have peace. "
00:40:04.20\00:40:06.79
Which brings me
to my third point:
00:40:07.09\00:40:08.72
who do you become in
the midst of the storm?
00:40:09.75\00:40:11.98
See, storms will come.
Storms are not strange,
00:40:12.70\00:40:14.66
but who do you become
in the midst of the storm?
00:40:14.77\00:40:16.94
Four years ago when I got
hit in my throat, I remember
00:40:17.58\00:40:19.49
preaching that sermon about Job.
And I said: "On any given day
00:40:19.69\00:40:21.84
without any prior notice
and for no apparent reason
00:40:22.04\00:40:24.56
you'll be faced with
the trial of your life. "
00:40:24.76\00:40:26.45
That was on Saturday night.
On Tuesday night I got hit
00:40:26.75\00:40:28.69
in the throat. Doctor
said I would have lost my voice
00:40:28.79\00:40:31.15
had it been just
about 1/2" higher...
00:40:31.35\00:40:32.73
I'd never sing again. And
I'm coming back by God's grace.
00:40:32.93\00:40:35.77
But it's a journey of faith.
To make it even more difficult
00:40:35.97\00:40:39.05
than that was right after I
got hit - this was in September
00:40:39.25\00:40:41.36
of 2009. In November
Danny and 3ABN had already
00:40:41.46\00:40:44.87
bought tickets for me to
go to Australia with Danny.
00:40:44.97\00:40:47.12
Guess what to do? To sing.
00:40:47.32\00:40:49.76
I only had five
songs I could sing
00:40:50.80\00:40:52.84
and they were all
baritone and bass.
00:40:53.14\00:40:55.69
And I went out there and said:
"Lord, why am I even on this
00:40:55.99\00:40:58.48
plane? You know I
don't even have a voice. "
00:40:58.58\00:41:00.27
And then I learned a
very valuable valuable lesson.
00:41:00.57\00:41:04.40
God don't need your voice.
00:41:04.60\00:41:06.89
God just needs your
heart. Come on and say "Amen. "
00:41:07.19\00:41:09.65
Amen. God says: "If
there be a willing heart. "
00:41:09.85\00:41:12.27
A man is accepted
according to what he has
00:41:12.47\00:41:16.11
not according to
what he does not have.
00:41:16.31\00:41:18.71
God doesn't need your
voice; God needs your heart.
00:41:19.81\00:41:23.01
Sometimes we think we
don't have what God needs.
00:41:23.31\00:41:25.59
God can take anything you
give. Ask that little boy with
00:41:25.79\00:41:27.83
the five loaves and two fish.
00:41:27.93\00:41:29.57
That was a happy
meal for everybody else.
00:41:30.76\00:41:32.86
Amen? They were
glad he brought it.
00:41:33.17\00:41:35.75
You give what God has
given to you, and God will
00:41:36.68\00:41:40.18
pull you through. You
know, I've discovered something
00:41:40.38\00:41:42.32
very important
about that Job situation.
00:41:42.42\00:41:43.98
The reason why some Christians
haven't gone through a severe
00:41:44.18\00:41:47.86
trial - this is profound,
are you ready for it? -
00:41:47.96\00:41:50.12
is because God can't
trust them to glorify Him
00:41:50.33\00:41:55.00
in their trials. Unpackage
that for a brief moment.
00:41:55.10\00:41:58.56
Some people say:
"I've never had a trial. "
00:41:58.76\00:42:00.39
Well, it doesn't measure
with what the Bible says.
00:42:01.31\00:42:03.26
"All that live
godly in Christ Jesus
00:42:03.29\00:42:04.87
shall suffer persecution.
" Could it be that you ain't
00:42:04.97\00:42:07.50
livin' godly enough to
be a threat to the devil?
00:42:07.60\00:42:10.23
There was a young lady having
choir practice when we lived
00:42:10.43\00:42:12.43
in Sacramento, California.
A Christmas program at
00:42:12.53\00:42:14.42
Pastor Bachelor's
church and she came in late.
00:42:14.52\00:42:17.90
This 200-voice choir. She
came in late, and we said:
00:42:18.10\00:42:20.41
"Are you OK? " She said:
"Oh, the devil attacked me
00:42:20.54\00:42:22.89
but I'm here to rejoice. "
00:42:23.09\00:42:24.64
Everybody looked at
her: "Are you all right? "
00:42:24.84\00:42:26.17
She said: "If I'm doing anything
to get the devil's notice,
00:42:26.37\00:42:29.52
I must be doing
something right. "
00:42:29.73\00:42:31.36
Amen? He's not going to attack
somebody that's not a threat
00:42:31.67\00:42:34.98
to his kingdom. He'll make you
think that life is hunky-dory
00:42:35.08\00:42:38.56
So when Christians say:
"Everything is going just fine"
00:42:38.76\00:42:40.79
you'd better check yourself out
00:42:40.99\00:42:42.35
'cause if it's goin' just
fine you may not be a threat
00:42:42.65\00:42:45.61
to the enemy. But Peter said...
00:42:45.72\00:42:49.60
When trials come our
way he says... Now this is a
00:42:49.80\00:42:53.24
novel idea. But he said:
"But rejoice to the extent
00:42:53.44\00:42:57.61
that you partake of Christ's
suffering. That when His glory
00:42:57.81\00:43:00.38
is revealed you may also
be glad with exceeding joy. "
00:43:00.48\00:43:03.76
In other words, he's saying
"If the devil thinks of you
00:43:03.96\00:43:06.63
enough to make you
suffer like Christ suffered,
00:43:06.83\00:43:08.91
then you're going to reign
like Christ reigns. " Come on,
00:43:09.11\00:43:11.00
say "Amen. " If he
lets you go through trials
00:43:11.10\00:43:13.94
like Jesus went through trials,
don't forget the 23rd Psalm.
00:43:14.15\00:43:17.03
You see, right after the
valley of the shadow of death
00:43:17.87\00:43:20.05
where David say: "I will fear
no evil for Thou art with me.
00:43:20.25\00:43:23.12
Thy rod and Thy
staff... they comfort me. "
00:43:23.32\00:43:24.98
You've got to go through the
valley of the shadow of death
00:43:25.28\00:43:27.40
in the poem of David
before you end up in the house
00:43:27.60\00:43:31.95
of the Lord
forever. So here's my point:
00:43:32.05\00:43:33.86
you will not get to the
house of the Lord forever
00:43:33.96\00:43:35.70
unless you have a valley of
the shadow of death experience.
00:43:35.90\00:43:38.70
Put that in your pocket:
if you haven't had it yet,
00:43:40.72\00:43:43.36
it's going to come. And if
you don't believe it's going to
00:43:43.46\00:43:45.78
come, if you don't get ready
for it because it is coming,
00:43:45.88\00:43:48.49
it will shake your faith
and you will end up walking away
00:43:48.69\00:43:51.71
like those 70 that
walked away from Christ
00:43:51.81\00:43:54.31
and walked with Him no more.
00:43:54.51\00:43:56.57
There's a whole lot of
Adventists doing that nowadays:
00:43:56.87\00:43:58.89
walkin' away from God.
00:43:59.10\00:44:00.30
Amazing to me. Now
we've got Christians
00:44:01.07\00:44:03.89
that are angry with God.
00:44:04.09\00:44:05.83
You know, I can't
wrap my head around that.
00:44:06.98\00:44:11.65
If you as a
Christian are angry with God,
00:44:11.95\00:44:14.89
does that mean that you
are friends with the devil?
00:44:15.09\00:44:17.70
I mean, think
about that for a moment.
00:44:18.10\00:44:20.22
Doesn't that make sense?
If you are angry with the only
00:44:20.42\00:44:23.03
person that can help
you, who's helping you?
00:44:23.13\00:44:25.46
Like an atheist. I
don't want to be an atheist
00:44:25.70\00:44:27.70
because in times of
trouble who do you pray to?
00:44:27.81\00:44:29.67
The worst thing to be is an
atheist on a plane that's going
00:44:30.67\00:44:33.57
down. As a matter of fact,
I hasten to say there may be
00:44:33.67\00:44:36.52
no atheists. That's
how you cure atheism:
00:44:36.62\00:44:38.45
shake that plane
up. Isn't that right?
00:44:38.65\00:44:42.17
But when Christians say...
There are people now, they say:
00:44:42.41\00:44:44.61
"I'm angry with God. "
00:44:44.71\00:44:46.09
About what?
00:44:46.39\00:44:48.21
And I say the reason why
people are angry with God
00:44:48.41\00:44:51.13
is because they don't know God
and they don't know the devil.
00:44:51.23\00:44:53.56
I like the way Billy
Graham said it. He said:
00:44:54.51\00:44:56.63
"Some people are more concerned
about not offending people
00:44:56.83\00:44:59.30
than they are
about offending God. "
00:44:59.50\00:45:01.99
Since you don't know God, let
me introduce God to you again.
00:45:05.42\00:45:08.10
And I'm going to do this in a
time frame that is going to set
00:45:08.40\00:45:10.85
a record. Let me tell
you about God: James 1:17.
00:45:10.95\00:45:14.14
This is who God is: "Every
good and every perfect gift... "
00:45:14.44\00:45:18.24
What did I say?
Every good and every what?
00:45:18.44\00:45:21.30
"perfect gift is from above. "
It doesn't come from down there.
00:45:21.50\00:45:25.04
It comes down from the Father
of life with whom there is no
00:45:25.34\00:45:28.73
variation or shadow of turning.
00:45:28.93\00:45:30.72
Here's the point: the
Bible says if a good gift is
00:45:30.92\00:45:33.26
coming your way, God sent it.
00:45:33.36\00:45:35.32
The devil does
not send divine gifts.
00:45:35.52\00:45:38.59
If a gift comes your way
that causes you to walk away
00:45:38.99\00:45:42.34
from God, then
God didn't send it.
00:45:42.44\00:45:44.52
If you pray for a job
and it comes on the Sabbath,
00:45:44.82\00:45:47.38
God didn't send it.
Come on say "Amen" somebody.
00:45:47.58\00:45:49.84
Amen. Some people said:
"I got a job on Sabbath.
00:45:50.04\00:45:52.14
I've been praying and
got a job on the Sabbath. "
00:45:52.44\00:45:54.42
Well you better check that out
because you must not know God
00:45:54.62\00:45:57.32
'cause God's not going to give
you a job at the post office
00:45:57.52\00:45:59.42
on Sabbath.
00:45:59.52\00:46:01.02
People don't know
God. Numbers 23 verse 19
00:46:04.06\00:46:07.32
write it down: "God is not
a man that He should lie. "
00:46:07.52\00:46:09.44
I thank God for that.
00:46:09.64\00:46:11.25
He don't lie. When
God say "I will bless you"
00:46:11.45\00:46:13.38
I will bless you. When
God says: "I've got your
00:46:13.58\00:46:15.76
back" He's got your back.
00:46:15.86\00:46:17.12
When God said: "I will
deliver you from trial"
00:46:17.32\00:46:19.35
He will deliver you from
trial. But the problem is
00:46:19.55\00:46:22.74
some people want trials to end
before God wants them to end.
00:46:23.04\00:46:26.43
But let me just tell
you this and remember this:
00:46:28.07\00:46:29.97
every time you wash your clothes
00:46:30.17\00:46:31.27
God knows when to
take the clothes out of the
00:46:31.37\00:46:33.48
washing machine. You'll
get that tomorrow morning.
00:46:33.58\00:46:37.07
God knows when to
take the clothes out of the
00:46:38.25\00:46:42.28
washing machine. They're
going to be in there as long as
00:46:42.38\00:46:45.27
they're dirty.
Let me tell you one of
00:46:45.37\00:46:46.44
the reasons why some of you
have been going through trials
00:46:46.54\00:46:48.24
so long: 'cause you've got
so much dirt in your life...
00:46:48.34\00:46:51.42
Can I be straight?
00:46:52.89\00:46:54.49
Some of you've got so much
dirt in your life that God's got
00:46:54.69\00:46:57.18
to put you in another trial
'cause they ain't learned yet.
00:46:57.28\00:47:00.21
God knows when
to take the clothes
00:47:02.51\00:47:06.21
out of the washing machine.
00:47:06.41\00:47:09.08
But don't forget, David the
Psalmist who knows about trials
00:47:10.11\00:47:13.92
says: "The righteous
cry out and the Lord hears
00:47:14.12\00:47:16.72
and delivers them out
of all of their troubles. "
00:47:16.92\00:47:20.22
Psalm 34:17.
00:47:21.55\00:47:25.05
"Many are the afflictions
of the righteous, but the Lord
00:47:25.29\00:47:27.70
delivers him out of
them all. " Psalm 34:19.
00:47:27.90\00:47:33.74
Some people think that
trials should end when they say
00:47:34.62\00:47:38.63
the trial should
end. But only God knows
00:47:38.84\00:47:41.67
when the trial should end.
And to take that a step further
00:47:41.88\00:47:44.83
sometimes God knows that you
need more than a washing cycle.
00:47:45.03\00:47:47.87
Sometimes God knows that
you need to be dried out.
00:47:48.07\00:47:50.75
Am I telling the truth?
00:47:51.85\00:47:52.94
I mean, think about
that illustration. A shirt
00:47:53.14\00:47:54.99
thrown into the washing machine
00:47:55.19\00:47:56.53
wondering what on earth
he has done to deserve this.
00:47:56.73\00:48:00.31
Am I talking to Christians?
00:48:02.60\00:48:03.90
You've been in
the wash cycle before?
00:48:04.10\00:48:05.84
Your life has been
turned upside down before?
00:48:06.04\00:48:07.62
You're in the washing machine.
Somebody dumps the detergent
00:48:07.83\00:48:10.62
to clean you up and you're
wondering: "What have I done
00:48:10.72\00:48:12.69
to deserve this? "
And finally the ride ends
00:48:12.80\00:48:14.51
and you say: "Oh good,
thank God for deliverance! "
00:48:14.71\00:48:16.79
only to be taken out
and plunged into a dryer.
00:48:16.99\00:48:19.56
Sometimes God's got to wash
you out. And when that's done,
00:48:21.03\00:48:23.44
as you're spinning
endlessly around and around,
00:48:23.64\00:48:26.55
finally it stops and you
say: "Oh boy, that was hot! "
00:48:27.68\00:48:33.27
Only to be
plunged under a hot iron.
00:48:33.47\00:48:36.65
And you know why
you go through that?
00:48:36.95\00:48:38.10
Because God's coming
back for a church without spot
00:48:38.30\00:48:40.91
or wrinkle or
any such thing. Amen!
00:48:41.11\00:48:43.57
What do you say?
God knows what you need.
00:48:43.87\00:48:47.88
I know I've been through some
trials that I created myself.
00:48:48.28\00:48:51.56
I like God. He'll
forgive you but you gonna pay.
00:48:51.86\00:48:54.69
Am I telling the truth?
Some people say: "Ah man,
00:48:55.75\00:48:58.42
I didn't mean that.
" You didn't mean that;
00:48:58.52\00:49:02.16
God will forgive
you... God will forgive you.
00:49:02.26\00:49:04.70
I remember once - I
shouldn't tell you this...
00:49:04.81\00:49:08.75
Now you want me
to tell it to you.
00:49:09.05\00:49:11.17
Don't even ask me.
00:49:11.37\00:49:12.84
I remember I
heard a mother once say
00:49:13.04\00:49:14.92
to a kid that had
been so disobedient...
00:49:15.12\00:49:17.71
SO disobedient...
00:49:18.11\00:49:19.95
and the kid knew that
he was going to get whipped
00:49:20.84\00:49:22.96
and he said:
"Mom, please forgive me.
00:49:24.08\00:49:27.74
I've given my heart to God. "
00:49:27.94\00:49:30.27
She said: "Your heart
belongs to God but your behind
00:49:30.67\00:49:33.69
belongs to me. "
00:49:33.80\00:49:35.42
God forgives us, but sometimes
- follow me carefully, there's
00:49:36.91\00:49:40.40
a point to that;
that's not just a joke -
00:49:40.50\00:49:42.10
He says: "Despise not the
chastening of the Father. "
00:49:42.30\00:49:45.66
He deals with you as a faithful
Father would deal with his son.
00:49:45.86\00:49:48.96
Am I right? So sometimes
God's got to whip us to get us
00:49:49.06\00:49:51.50
back in line. But it's not
because He doesn't love us.
00:49:51.60\00:49:53.82
You see, parents always
say that. I didn't understand
00:49:54.02\00:49:56.23
that till I got
older. They always say:
00:49:56.33\00:49:58.15
"I'm only doing
this 'cause I love you. "
00:49:58.91\00:50:01.01
I know now God only
allows us to go through trials -
00:50:01.41\00:50:04.58
come on - because
He what? He loves us.
00:50:04.78\00:50:06.83
You've got to keep in
mind everybody's going to have
00:50:07.03\00:50:09.27
a trial. And the point
of the matter with trials is
00:50:09.37\00:50:11.48
no trial is going to
end before God wants it to.
00:50:11.79\00:50:16.15
So get to know
Him before it comes.
00:50:18.59\00:50:20.20
"For no temptation has over-
taken you but such as is common
00:50:20.40\00:50:22.41
to man, but God is
faithful... " Come on, say that.
00:50:22.51\00:50:24.18
But God is what?
"faithful who will not suffer
00:50:24.28\00:50:27.19
you to be tempted
beyond what you are able
00:50:27.29\00:50:28.90
but with the
temptation make a way of escape
00:50:29.01\00:50:31.48
that you may be
able to bear it. "
00:50:31.58\00:50:34.40
God is good.
God measures trials.
00:50:34.63\00:50:37.62
God does not let the devil
just hit us. Isn't that right?
00:50:37.82\00:50:40.15
Aren't you glad for that?
'Cause if the devil could hit us
00:50:40.45\00:50:42.71
how he wants to hit us
we'd all be dead on our way
00:50:42.81\00:50:45.04
to Camp Meeting. So God said:
"No, don't hit him like that.
00:50:45.14\00:50:48.18
You can do anything
but take his life. "
00:50:48.38\00:50:50.14
That's why Job is still
the example today of a God...
00:50:50.34\00:50:52.49
a God-fearing man
who hung in there.
00:50:52.69\00:50:55.61
We need more people
with that kind of faith.
00:50:56.82\00:50:58.66
People that don't invite
it but they have such a close
00:50:58.86\00:51:01.77
relationship with God
that when the trial comes
00:51:01.87\00:51:03.50
they say: "I know God
has nothing to do with this
00:51:03.60\00:51:05.90
so I'm just going to
trust Him through it. "
00:51:06.20\00:51:07.58
As Maya Angelou told
Oprah Winfrey one day...
00:51:07.78\00:51:10.21
She said: "Maya, what do
you do when trial comes? "
00:51:10.41\00:51:12.16
She said: "You know what, Oprah?
I know that whatever's on the
00:51:12.36\00:51:14.83
other side of this trial
is better than what I have
00:51:14.93\00:51:17.17
right now. " Amen. Amen?
00:51:17.27\00:51:20.12
That's how it always is.
00:51:20.32\00:51:21.68
That's why Ellen White
says in Testimonies volume 5...
00:51:21.88\00:51:24.27
Get this - she talks
about trials being a blessing.
00:51:24.47\00:51:26.75
She said: "These trials
are not the smallest blessing
00:51:26.96\00:51:30.54
in our
experience. They are designed
00:51:30.74\00:51:34.08
to nerve us to determination
to succeed. We are to use them"
00:51:34.28\00:51:38.18
that is,
trials... "as God's means
00:51:38.28\00:51:41.45
to gain decided
victories over self
00:51:41.65\00:51:45.90
instead of allowing
them" - that is, trials -
00:51:46.10\00:51:48.61
"to hinder,
oppress, and destroy us. "
00:51:48.81\00:51:51.25
What we don't
understand is trials refine us.
00:51:51.75\00:51:54.80
And get this point that may
come to you on your way home:
00:51:55.00\00:51:57.54
there will be no
dirty gold in heaven.
00:51:57.75\00:52:00.38
Pastor C.A. you
ought to understand that.
00:52:02.45\00:52:04.37
There'll be no
dirty gold in heaven.
00:52:04.40\00:52:06.40
The Lord said: "Buy of Me
gold tried in the... " What?
00:52:06.70\00:52:09.57
You see, when gold is
first pulled out of the ground
00:52:09.97\00:52:12.67
it's got a whole lot of extra
stuff with it that don't need
00:52:12.87\00:52:15.01
to be there. You
don't sell dirt with gold.
00:52:15.11\00:52:17.29
Am I telling the truth? You've
got to smelt that thing down,
00:52:17.39\00:52:20.58
melt it down until it's
pure gold, and then its value
00:52:20.78\00:52:24.39
increases. What
we don't understand
00:52:24.49\00:52:26.01
is when God pulled us out of the
world there was a whole lot of
00:52:26.21\00:52:28.55
dirt with us. Am
I telling the truth?
00:52:28.66\00:52:30.14
And until we are smelted down
and melted down and purified
00:52:30.44\00:52:33.54
we are not fit to
walk on pure gold streets.
00:52:33.74\00:52:36.66
There's going to be
no dirty gold in heaven.
00:52:36.86\00:52:38.77
Come on and hang on in
there while God is smelting us.
00:52:38.97\00:52:41.13
Isn't that right? Amen!
Getting us ready for the pure
00:52:41.34\00:52:44.41
streets of gold.
That's what trials do.
00:52:44.61\00:52:47.35
And keep this in mind: trials
are shorter than blessings.
00:52:47.55\00:52:50.55
Trials... always
shorter than blessings.
00:52:50.95\00:52:54.23
"For our light affliction
which is but for a moment
00:52:54.53\00:52:57.13
is working for us far
more exceeding and eternal
00:52:57.23\00:52:59.77
weight of glory. " So here
are two things you need to do.
00:52:59.87\00:53:02.82
John 10:10. Here's
what you need to do:
00:53:03.06\00:53:05.37
start blaming the devil.
00:53:05.57\00:53:07.67
Start blaming the
devil for your trials
00:53:09.89\00:53:13.05
and stop blaming God.
00:53:13.35\00:53:16.00
"The thief comes not
except to steal, to kill,
00:53:16.50\00:53:21.31
and destroy. "
Give God the praise...
00:53:21.51\00:53:23.40
"but I have come that you
might have life and have it... "
00:53:23.61\00:53:25.40
How, my friend?
"more abundantly. "
00:53:25.51\00:53:27.97
So, here's my
point as I wind up...
00:53:28.07\00:53:30.98
Man, my church wishes I could
preach this short on Sabbath.
00:53:31.21\00:53:33.96
You give me a
clock and I could do it.
00:53:34.36\00:53:37.05
The next time your trial
comes, change your approach.
00:53:37.45\00:53:41.31
What'd I say?
00:53:41.61\00:53:42.98
James 1:2-3: 'My
brethren, count it all joy. "
00:53:44.19\00:53:48.28
Come on, say it again.
Count it all what? Joy.
00:53:48.48\00:53:50.87
"When you fall into various
trials, knowing that the testing
00:53:51.07\00:53:55.56
of your faith
produces patience. "
00:53:55.66\00:53:59.31
So I've got to
end with something.
00:53:59.52\00:54:01.17
God gave me this last night.
I was sitting down. I said
00:54:01.37\00:54:03.17
"Lord... " Sitting down
in the back as David was
00:54:03.37\00:54:07.21
"cooking" this pulpit. Almost
melted the thing last night
00:54:07.31\00:54:11.06
and today again...
God was giving me this.
00:54:11.26\00:54:14.57
My sermon title came
first then God gave me this.
00:54:14.80\00:54:18.04
It's entitled I
Ain't Goin' Nowhere.
00:54:18.34\00:54:20.29
Are you ready?
I've been through trials
00:54:20.39\00:54:23.62
for so long, they made
me sing a different song.
00:54:23.72\00:54:26.29
But now that I know where I
belong, I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:54:26.49\00:54:29.30
So when you think
that life ain't fair to you
00:54:30.52\00:54:32.89
and people do what people do.
Even when they walk out on you
00:54:33.09\00:54:35.79
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:54:35.99\00:54:37.41
When there's no
money for the bills to pay
00:54:37.61\00:54:39.18
and kids mess up
no matter how you pray
00:54:39.28\00:54:41.15
and your spouse still
leaves 'cause he wants to play,
00:54:41.45\00:54:44.42
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:54:44.63\00:54:46.04
When men start
hooking up with men
00:54:46.34\00:54:47.90
and women
change from Jane to Ken
00:54:48.00\00:54:50.13
and you ain't seen
love since you know when,
00:54:50.33\00:54:52.57
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:54:52.77\00:54:54.71
When truth is
kicked out of the pew
00:54:55.01\00:54:57.50
and preachers don't preach
what preachers supposed to,
00:54:57.60\00:55:00.42
when money is all
they want from you,
00:55:00.63\00:55:02.61
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:55:02.81\00:55:04.19
For the love of
Christ I can clearly see
00:55:05.13\00:55:07.26
how He gave His life on Calvary.
00:55:07.46\00:55:09.86
To turn from
Him... oh no, not me!
00:55:10.06\00:55:12.25
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:55:12.55\00:55:14.30
'Cause one day no
death, no sin, no pain,
00:55:14.50\00:55:16.52
and hell on earth
no more will reign.
00:55:16.73\00:55:18.48
And when The Glory
Song is my refrain:
00:55:18.78\00:55:21.83
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:55:22.04\00:55:23.63
It's dark out
there so don't you stray
00:55:23.94\00:55:26.06
for the world
is calling us away.
00:55:26.26\00:55:28.12
But soon night will
give way to day. That's why
00:55:28.32\00:55:31.00
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:55:31.20\00:55:32.74
Hold on, my
friend, it won't be long
00:55:32.94\00:55:34.69
Christ is soon
to leave His throne
00:55:34.90\00:55:36.95
and all the saints will
soon be goin' home. That's why
00:55:37.15\00:55:40.26
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:55:40.46\00:55:42.56
When He comes He'll
split the eastern sky
00:55:42.86\00:55:45.15
and we'll finally
look Him in the eye
00:55:45.35\00:55:47.49
and bid this cruel
world good-bye. That's why
00:55:47.70\00:55:50.65
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:55:50.95\00:55:52.58
So hang on in there my
brother. Come on, say this
00:55:52.78\00:55:53.81
somebody. Hang on
in there, my sister.
00:55:53.84\00:55:56.07
Hang on in there!
00:55:56.37\00:55:57.78
Make up your mind that
no matter how bad it gets
00:55:58.08\00:56:01.00
you ain't goin' nowhere.
00:56:01.20\00:56:03.33
Who can say
that? Now watch this.
00:56:03.53\00:56:06.33
Don't raise your hand 'cause
the devil said: "You ain't
00:56:06.53\00:56:09.04
seen my best yet. " Am I right?
00:56:09.14\00:56:11.94
So let me end with
this: "I am persuaded
00:56:12.14\00:56:14.61
that neither death nor life
00:56:14.82\00:56:17.68
nor angels nor
principalities nor powers
00:56:17.71\00:56:21.83
nor things
present nor things to come
00:56:22.03\00:56:24.39
nor height nor depth
nor any other created thing
00:56:24.60\00:56:28.71
shall be able to separate
ME" I ain't speakin' for you...
00:56:28.82\00:56:32.68
"from the love of God which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
00:56:34.24\00:56:37.70
It's going to get
tough. It's going to get hard.
00:56:37.80\00:56:40.53
It's going to get
bloody. It's going to get nasty.
00:56:40.73\00:56:43.59
It's going to get difficult.
00:56:43.79\00:56:45.30
You may not have
food and clothing.
00:56:45.50\00:56:47.38
You may even have
to give up your job
00:56:47.58\00:56:49.61
and walk away from your family.
00:56:49.81\00:56:51.25
Somebody may let you
down and drop you down
00:56:51.45\00:56:54.28
and turn their backs
on you and crucify you
00:56:54.48\00:56:57.18
and say things that don't
even apply to your character.
00:56:57.32\00:56:59.90
You may have
people that hate you
00:57:00.10\00:57:01.73
and despise you
and talk about you
00:57:01.93\00:57:04.03
and abuse you and use you.
00:57:04.23\00:57:06.51
And crucify you and
unjustly accuse you.
00:57:07.56\00:57:10.45
People will say things
that don't matter and do things
00:57:10.65\00:57:14.08
that will never
exalt your character.
00:57:14.18\00:57:16.25
People will do things
that God will never ever allow
00:57:16.45\00:57:19.86
to happen in the
kingdom, but I want to tell you,
00:57:19.96\00:57:21.84
my friends, no matter
what happens and how it happens
00:57:21.94\00:57:24.25
I ain't goin' nowhere.
00:57:24.55\00:57:27.31