You know, we do
welcome every one of you
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and that's what every one of the
sermons that have been presented
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here at 3ABN's Fall Camp Meeting
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have been for is
to prepare our hearts
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for what? For the
coming of the Lord!
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How many of you
want your hearts prepared
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so that at His return
He'll look into your heart
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and you know what He'll find?
Purity and holiness at work.
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Don't we want to stand
before God with clean hands
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and a pure heart? So
that is our prayer today:
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for everyone that's
listening on 3ABN radio,
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that's viewing
on 3ABN television,
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here in southern
Illinois and around the world
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and for every one of you is
that God will plant His Word
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deep within your heart.
It'll take root and it'll grow
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and it will produce. And
you know what it produces?
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The image and likeness
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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We've been predestined
to be conformed to what?
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The image of
Christ. How do we do that?
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We do that through His Word.
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Well, we are going to be
blessed this afternoon with
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Pastor John
Lomacang. He's my pastor
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so I can speak
firsthand about him.
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You know, he's a good man!
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He's a godly man.
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He knows God's Word,
and he will come today
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under the
anointing of Almighty God.
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So all we need to
do is open our hearts
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and receive Him. And you
know, I wanted to tell you this:
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the scripture says:
"faith comes by hearing
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and hearing by
the Word of God. "
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So I always want
to encourage people
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to get these tapes,
get the CDs, get the DVDs.
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Listen to them over and
over. You know what it does?
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Builds faith in our hearts...
strengthens us spiritually.
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And that's what we want.
But before Pastor Lomacang comes
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we have Vonda Beerman with us.
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And I'm going to ask
Vonda to come on out now.
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Vonda... we were talking
earlier. She's been with 3ABN
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for about 20 years. And some-
thing we've noticed about Vonda
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is: spiritually
she continues to grow.
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The depth of her ministry
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is continuing to get closer and
closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Vonda, we
appreciate you so very much.
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The name of her song is
Life Is Hard, But God Is Good.
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And we thought that fit so well
with Pastor Lomacang's sermon.
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He is going to
minister I Believe God.
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Vonda, minister to us.
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You turn the key
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then close the door behind you.
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Drop your bag on the floor.
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You reach for the light
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but there's darkness deep inside
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and you can't take it anymore.
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'Cause sometimes living
takes the life out of you
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and sometimes
living is all you can do.
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Life is hard,
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the world is cold
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We're barely young
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and then we're old.
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But every falling tear
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is always understood
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Life is hard...
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but God is good!
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You start to cry
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'cause you've
been strong for so long
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but that's not how you feel.
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You try to pray
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but there's nothing left to say
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so you just quietly kneel.
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And in the silence
of all that you face
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God will give you
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His mercy and grace
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Jesus never said it was
an easy road to travel...
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He only said you
would never be alone.
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So when your last thread of hope
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begins to come unraveled
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Don't give up,
He'll walk beside you
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on this journey home.
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And He knows life is hard,
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the world is cold
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We're barely young
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and then we're old
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But every falling
tear is always understood
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Life is hard...
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yes, life is hard
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but God is good!
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Amen? Amen!
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Wasn't that a wonderful song?
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Life IS hard, but God is good.
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Thank you, Vonda,
for that wonderful song.
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It sets the stage perfectly
for the message entitled
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I Believe God. Let's
bow our heads together.
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Loving Father in heaven, we
thank You for the opportunity
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that in the midst of
the storms of our lives
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that God is the constant.
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He is good all the time.
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We pray now that You will
take our minds and direct them
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by the presence and
power of Your Holy Spirit.
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In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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I know you have your Bibles.
00:08:05.21\00:08:07.25
Therefore, open with me to
the book of Acts chapter 27.
00:08:07.55\00:08:10.25
One of my favorite
stories in the Bible...
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You know, one of the
difficulties in reading about
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the apostle Paul and
particularly in this story
00:08:16.76\00:08:20.06
is trying to
come up with a title
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because this particular
story has so many applications
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that when you think of how
to apply these to our lives
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you've got to come
with a single title.
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And so the Lord
impressed me to choose verse 25
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as the central focus
of the message today:
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I Believe God.
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Acts chapter 27 and verse 25.
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And I'm reading the
New King James version.
00:08:51.99\00:08:53.90
The Bible says:
"Therefore take heart...
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Take heart, men,
for I believe... "
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Let's read that
together: "for I believe God
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that it will be
just as it was told me. "
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You know, the initial
attack on humanity was
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the fact that Eve
did not believe God
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just the way it was told her.
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And ever since
the entrance of sin
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the challenge has always been
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when men have not taken God's
Word just as it was told them.
00:09:24.59\00:09:30.17
And the apostle Paul
outlines a number of parameters
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that will cause our lives
to be strengthened, to be safe,
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as we prepare for the final leg
in our Christian destination.
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But we've arrived at a time
where sharing your convictions
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about Jesus can
get you in trouble.
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We're living in a new climate
where you cannot share about
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Jesus as freely as
we used to be able to.
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When I was raised in New
York City, I went to public
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high school. And on the top
floor in my public high school
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there was a brass copy
of the Ten Commandments
00:10:01.63\00:10:04.50
on the top floor of our school.
00:10:04.70\00:10:06.23
In a public school!
00:10:06.63\00:10:08.10
And I believe one of the reasons
our world is in the condition
00:10:08.40\00:10:11.17
that it is in is God is
being legislated out of society.
00:10:11.37\00:10:15.44
Can you say amen to that? Amen!
00:10:15.64\00:10:17.01
You cannot have peace when you
kick out the Prince of Peace.
00:10:17.61\00:10:20.68
You cannot have morals when
you get rid of the moral law.
00:10:20.98\00:10:23.85
And our world is a world
where sharing your convictions
00:10:24.62\00:10:26.96
about Jesus can
get you in trouble.
00:10:27.16\00:10:29.39
That is not only true
today. That was also true
00:10:29.59\00:10:32.56
at the birth of the
New Testament church.
00:10:32.96\00:10:35.36
All of the church fathers
when the church was being formed
00:10:35.86\00:10:38.97
went under the same challen-
ges of sharing their faith
00:10:39.70\00:10:43.77
in a society that was
not ready to accept Jesus.
00:10:43.97\00:10:47.68
It's becoming less and
less favorable to share your
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convictions about Jesus.
00:10:51.85\00:10:53.35
You've got to be careful
about where and under what set
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of circumstances you
tell people about Jesus
00:10:56.62\00:10:58.99
because before you know it...
Like recently there was a story
00:10:59.49\00:11:02.09
about a little boy that
read the Bible verses his mother
00:11:02.29\00:11:05.46
gave to him. She put
them in his lunch basket
00:11:05.66\00:11:08.33
and on his lunch hour
he read the Bible verses
00:11:08.73\00:11:11.37
that his mother gave to
him during his lunch hour.
00:11:11.57\00:11:14.27
And before you know it the
police showed up at his door.
00:11:14.47\00:11:16.14
In America:
00:11:18.01\00:11:20.14
the land of the free.
00:11:20.54\00:11:22.31
Really?
00:11:22.58\00:11:24.51
The apostle Paul was a
man that did not disrespect
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the government of heaven.
00:11:28.52\00:11:29.85
He respected the government
of heaven above the government
00:11:30.05\00:11:33.32
of earth. When it
comes down to choosing
00:11:33.52\00:11:35.72
on whose side we
stand we must always choose
00:11:35.92\00:11:39.13
the government of God
over the government of man.
00:11:39.33\00:11:42.53
The apostles were not
confused about their stand.
00:11:43.60\00:11:46.40
When they chose on
whose side to show honor
00:11:46.70\00:11:50.84
they always chose
to stand on God's side.
00:11:50.97\00:11:53.71
The apostle Peter wrote these
words in Acts 5 and verse 29.
00:11:53.91\00:11:56.98
He said: "But Peter
and the apostles said
00:11:57.38\00:12:00.42
we ought to obey God rather
than... rather than man. "
00:12:00.82\00:12:06.62
Now I'm not preaching
anarchy; I'm not talking about
00:12:06.96\00:12:09.22
overthrowing the government.
00:12:09.42\00:12:10.76
But when it comes to the
place where we are getting soon
00:12:11.16\00:12:14.30
where we have to choose
God's Word over man's word,
00:12:14.46\00:12:17.17
God's laws over man's laws,
00:12:17.37\00:12:20.00
we've got to
make up our minds NOW
00:12:20.20\00:12:22.20
that when that time does come
00:12:22.40\00:12:23.97
we will stand
on the side of God.
00:12:24.17\00:12:26.24
The apostle Paul
shared the same convictions
00:12:26.74\00:12:29.14
as the early church fathers
00:12:29.34\00:12:31.15
but he also
shared the same trouble
00:12:31.35\00:12:33.15
as the early church fathers.
00:12:33.38\00:12:35.32
And all of his
troubles were based on the fact
00:12:35.72\00:12:38.59
that he always took his
stand on the side of Jesus.
00:12:38.79\00:12:42.92
Look at Acts
chapter 24 and verse 1.
00:12:43.32\00:12:45.69
This story actually is
built... it's foundation is
00:12:45.89\00:12:48.83
built many chapters
before Acts chapter 27.
00:12:49.03\00:12:51.53
And so as we walk
through the story together
00:12:52.10\00:12:54.17
you will begin to
see that the apostle Paul
00:12:54.34\00:12:57.44
was not a man that was
unfamiliar with trouble.
00:12:57.64\00:13:00.08
That's why he said "all
that desire to live godly
00:13:01.14\00:13:03.88
in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution. "
00:13:04.08\00:13:07.88
And our society is getting
just like it was in those days.
00:13:08.28\00:13:11.05
Being maligned was
the fabric of Paul's life.
00:13:12.02\00:13:14.56
Look at Acts
chapter 24 and verse 1.
00:13:14.96\00:13:17.33
The Bible says:
"Now after five days
00:13:18.16\00:13:21.20
Ananias the high priest
came down with the elders
00:13:22.03\00:13:25.83
and a certain orator...
" And a certain orator:
00:13:26.03\00:13:29.00
that's a guy who
can talk very well...
00:13:29.20\00:13:30.94
"named Tertullus.
00:13:32.11\00:13:34.48
These gave evidence to
the governor against Paul. "
00:13:34.68\00:13:39.55
You know, when Paul
stood to preach about Jesus
00:13:40.68\00:13:43.08
he did not care about the
common vernacular of society.
00:13:43.28\00:13:47.52
He was in a
generation that was establishing
00:13:47.89\00:13:50.23
the pattern that the last-day
church ought to learn from.
00:13:50.43\00:13:54.46
You see, if you wait
for God to be familiar,
00:13:54.76\00:13:57.13
if you wait for
God to be popular,
00:13:57.33\00:13:58.90
you'll never tell
about Jesus at all.
00:13:59.10\00:14:00.77
You've got to stand for the
Lord in spite of the fact that
00:14:01.70\00:14:03.84
society doesn't consider
God to be the popular One
00:14:04.04\00:14:06.47
in our last days. He
will never be popular
00:14:06.68\00:14:09.21
in a secular world.
00:14:09.41\00:14:10.95
And Paul the apostle
took his stand boldly.
00:14:11.45\00:14:14.12
He was always remanded
into custody for the convictions
00:14:14.32\00:14:17.49
that he had. He
became a "convict"
00:14:17.65\00:14:20.56
because of his convictions.
00:14:20.76\00:14:22.09
But he always
stood on the side of God.
00:14:23.43\00:14:25.59
And Paul's words were
expressed in his sentiments
00:14:25.99\00:14:29.33
found in Hebrews
chapter 13 and verse 6.
00:14:29.53\00:14:31.60
Notice what he said.
00:14:31.80\00:14:33.13
He says in Hebrews 13:6
00:14:33.34\00:14:35.27
"So we may boldly say
the Lord is my helper:
00:14:35.57\00:14:39.94
I will not fear.
What can man do to me? "
00:14:40.14\00:14:43.04
What do you say?
When God is on your side
00:14:43.24\00:14:45.45
man can't do anything.
00:14:45.65\00:14:46.98
But men will try
00:14:47.02\00:14:48.58
in every attempt to
quiet those who stand for God.
00:14:48.78\00:14:51.25
Paul's hands and his
feet were bound by chains
00:14:51.65\00:14:55.06
but they could
never bind Paul's mouth.
00:14:55.36\00:14:59.49
Isn't that wonderful?
00:15:01.00\00:15:02.33
His feet and
hands were always bound,
00:15:02.56\00:15:04.27
but they could
never shut him up.
00:15:04.47\00:15:06.13
And the Jews wanted
Paul dead at any cost.
00:15:07.04\00:15:09.70
And so they suggested an ambush.
00:15:10.01\00:15:12.37
Go to Acts chapter
25. They suggested:
00:15:12.57\00:15:15.81
"Let's go ahead
and ambush him. "
00:15:16.11\00:15:17.85
I'm cutting the story down
00:15:18.25\00:15:19.68
so that we can get the
high points of the story.
00:15:19.88\00:15:21.65
He stood before men that didn't
like to hear what he had to say
00:15:22.48\00:15:25.32
but he said it anyhow.
00:15:25.72\00:15:27.06
Acts chapter 25
verses 2 and 3. Notice
00:15:27.36\00:15:29.46
what the high priest suggested:
00:15:29.66\00:15:31.13
"Then the high priest
and the chief men of the Jews
00:15:33.40\00:15:37.23
informed him against Paul
00:15:37.43\00:15:39.77
and they petitioned
him - that is, Festus -
00:15:40.00\00:15:42.60
asking a favor against him
00:15:43.00\00:15:45.24
that he would
summon him to Jerusalem
00:15:46.04\00:15:49.18
while they lay in ambush
along the road to kill him. "
00:15:49.38\00:15:53.01
They said: "Send Paul to
Jerusalem so he can appeal his
00:15:53.88\00:15:56.45
case there, and
while he is on his way
00:15:56.65\00:15:58.75
we'll kill him on the way. "
00:15:58.95\00:16:00.39
But I'm so glad to
know... You know, I believe that
00:16:00.52\00:16:02.89
not until we get to
heaven - hear me carefully -
00:16:03.09\00:16:04.96
not until we get to
heaven will we see the many ways
00:16:05.16\00:16:08.76
that God has shielded our lives.
00:16:08.96\00:16:11.00
The way that God
has delivered us.
00:16:12.63\00:16:14.40
I firmly believe that my
life would have been taken
00:16:14.60\00:16:17.74
a long time ago had God
not been the One protecting us
00:16:17.94\00:16:21.44
and guiding us
everywhere that we have gone.
00:16:21.64\00:16:24.98
I remember years ago
when I was on my way to...
00:16:25.75\00:16:27.82
I was living in
Weaverville, California,
00:16:28.02\00:16:30.19
and I was on my way
to Redding, California,
00:16:30.39\00:16:32.72
to do worship for
the academy there.
00:16:32.92\00:16:35.16
It was an early morning
and I had my Forerunner.
00:16:35.56\00:16:38.36
I was driving from our mountain
home that was 2,500 feet in
00:16:38.56\00:16:42.50
the mountains. And it
was foggy on the road -
00:16:42.70\00:16:45.67
the two-lane highway -
00:16:45.87\00:16:47.20
and I was behind a
L-O-N-G logging truck,
00:16:47.50\00:16:50.17
double long logging truck.
00:16:50.37\00:16:52.07
And I decided: "If I'm going
to get to that school on time
00:16:52.47\00:16:55.98
or in a hurry, I need to
pass this logging truck. "
00:16:56.18\00:16:59.65
So I was on my way
passing the logging truck
00:17:00.55\00:17:03.62
and as I was half way
in the middle of the truck
00:17:04.02\00:17:06.89
another truck came out
of the fog right toward me.
00:17:07.09\00:17:09.29
To my left was the Trinity River
00:17:10.66\00:17:13.19
about 1,500 feet down.
00:17:13.43\00:17:14.83
There was no way to
pull off the road...
00:17:15.20\00:17:17.20
just a gravel
patch. And I closed my eyes
00:17:17.40\00:17:21.07
and I asked:
"Lord, is this it? "
00:17:21.27\00:17:23.74
And I believe to this
very day the angels of God
00:17:23.94\00:17:26.37
grabbed that steering wheel
00:17:26.57\00:17:28.14
and guided my vehicle to the
only place it could have gone
00:17:28.34\00:17:31.21
and that was down a narrow
path that was barely wide enough
00:17:31.41\00:17:35.28
for a vehicle. My
vehicle went airborne
00:17:35.48\00:17:38.15
over the tops of
trees... cutting them off.
00:17:38.35\00:17:41.39
And when I came to a
halt I came to a halt
00:17:41.59\00:17:43.63
just inches from the edge
where I could have gone over
00:17:43.83\00:17:46.73
into the river. But God was
there with me. What do you say?
00:17:46.93\00:17:49.23
Amen. God allowed me to put
that vehicle in four-wheel drive
00:17:49.43\00:17:52.43
and I drove up
the hill backwards
00:17:52.73\00:17:55.27
without ever slipping once. Did
I do that? Or did God do that?
00:17:56.24\00:17:59.07
I believe that not
until we get to heaven
00:18:00.31\00:18:02.04
will we know how many
times God has shielded us
00:18:02.24\00:18:05.58
because we dedicate our lives to
telling the truth about Jesus.
00:18:05.78\00:18:10.12
Look at verse 9
of Acts chapter 25.
00:18:10.32\00:18:12.19
There are people
that have ill intent
00:18:13.22\00:18:14.69
toward those who tell the
truth in the behalf of heaven.
00:18:14.89\00:18:18.99
The Bible says: "But Festus,
wanting to do the Jews a favor,
00:18:19.66\00:18:23.57
answered Paul and said:
00:18:23.77\00:18:26.00
'Are you willing to go
up to Jerusalem and there be
00:18:26.40\00:18:30.04
judged before me
concerning these things? ' "
00:18:30.24\00:18:32.74
What Paul didn't know
00:18:32.94\00:18:34.74
was that Festus wanted
Paul to go to Jerusalem
00:18:35.84\00:18:39.35
so that on the way
the Jews could kill him.
00:18:39.55\00:18:41.48
Paul didn't know that
but God knew! Amen somebody?
00:18:42.55\00:18:44.99
God orders the steps of
those who stand for the right!
00:18:46.52\00:18:50.66
And so Paul decided: "I'm
not going to go to Jerusalem. "
00:18:51.06\00:18:54.36
You see, he knew
that to be in Jerusalem
00:18:54.56\00:18:56.63
or in any of the
vicinities of the Jews
00:18:56.83\00:18:59.07
was a threat on his existence.
00:18:59.27\00:19:01.00
And so he did the wise
thing. Look at verse 12...
00:19:01.20\00:19:03.44
he did the wise thing.
00:19:03.64\00:19:05.41
He said: "You have
appealed to Caesar,
00:19:05.81\00:19:08.84
to Caesar you shall go. "
00:19:09.14\00:19:11.65
Paul decided "my only safety
was to get out of the region
00:19:11.85\00:19:16.75
of Jerusalem at any cost. "
00:19:16.95\00:19:18.79
And he knew that as a
Roman citizen he could
00:19:19.69\00:19:22.82
put his life in the hand
and let Caesar decide his fate.
00:19:23.02\00:19:26.09
Just get out of
Jerusalem at any cost.
00:19:26.29\00:19:28.00
Make sure that you
leave the city alive.
00:19:28.40\00:19:31.07
To leave town in
bondage is better than leaving
00:19:31.87\00:19:36.50
town in a box.
00:19:36.71\00:19:38.04
So Paul decided
to appeal to Caesar.
00:19:39.07\00:19:42.61
Look at verse 28 of chapter 26.
00:19:43.01\00:19:46.28
Paul had one more meeting.
He was called before a man
00:19:47.78\00:19:52.02
by the name of Agrippa.
00:19:52.22\00:19:54.06
You heard his story before.
00:19:54.42\00:19:55.86
You see, all the Jewish
leaders - all of the government
00:19:56.96\00:19:59.59
council - decided that
they were going to examine Paul
00:19:59.79\00:20:02.30
one at a time to find
out what there was about him
00:20:02.50\00:20:05.00
that kept him preaching with
such conviction about Jesus.
00:20:05.60\00:20:09.10
And when Paul stood before
Agrippa - when you read the
00:20:09.30\00:20:11.87
story there in Acts chapter 26-
00:20:12.07\00:20:13.44
when Paul stood before Agrippa
he preached with such conviction
00:20:13.64\00:20:17.71
Agrippa said
these words in verse 28:
00:20:18.75\00:20:21.72
"Then Agrippa said to Paul... "
00:20:22.12\00:20:23.69
What did he say? Together...
00:20:23.89\00:20:25.29
"You almost persuaded
me to become a Christian. "
00:20:25.49\00:20:29.82
To be almost persuaded
is to be entirely lost.
00:20:30.23\00:20:35.43
To almost accept the truth
is to totally accept a lie.
00:20:36.23\00:20:39.90
To almost accept the light
00:20:40.30\00:20:42.24
is to totally
remain in darkness.
00:20:42.44\00:20:44.14
To almost receive Jesus
is to totally reject Him.
00:20:44.31\00:20:48.11
To almost be saved is
to be altogether lost.
00:20:48.31\00:20:52.95
In I Peter chapter 4 and
verse 18 Peter says these words:
00:20:53.35\00:20:56.62
"Now if the
righteous one is scarcely saved
00:20:57.02\00:21:00.69
where will the ungodly
and the sinner appear? "
00:21:00.89\00:21:04.46
You know what, friends?
I'm glad that the righteous
00:21:04.66\00:21:07.20
will scarcely be
saved. What do you say?
00:21:07.40\00:21:08.90
You didn't get that.
00:21:10.03\00:21:11.37
I didn't say saved.
00:21:11.67\00:21:13.90
We'll only be saved by the
grace of God. What do you say?
00:21:14.10\00:21:16.60
Not by our
deeds... not by our works.
00:21:17.37\00:21:19.64
"For by grace are we saved
through faith, and that not of
00:21:19.84\00:21:23.14
ourselves... " It is
the what? "the gift of God,
00:21:23.35\00:21:26.55
not of works lest
any man should boast. "
00:21:26.78\00:21:28.18
So all the good that we do
00:21:28.38\00:21:29.85
we can only be
saved by the grace of God.
00:21:30.05\00:21:32.02
But Agrippa stood there
and said: "Paul, you almost
00:21:33.05\00:21:35.46
persuaded me to
be a Christian. "
00:21:35.66\00:21:38.19
Then Agrippa said in
verse 32 of Acts chapter 26...
00:21:39.09\00:21:42.23
he said to him:
00:21:43.23\00:21:44.83
"This man might
have been set free
00:21:46.97\00:21:49.94
if he had not
appealed to Caesar. "
00:21:50.14\00:21:52.74
He might have been set free
00:21:52.94\00:21:54.68
if he had not
appealed to Caesar.
00:21:54.88\00:21:57.08
Paul was bound
but very much free;
00:21:57.48\00:22:01.18
his accusers were
free but very much bound.
00:22:01.38\00:22:04.72
Sometimes being in chains...
you can be more free in chains
00:22:05.02\00:22:08.99
than those who
are not in chains.
00:22:09.19\00:22:10.63
And so Paul
decided to take his chances
00:22:11.39\00:22:14.10
being in chains and he
decided at whatever cost
00:22:14.30\00:22:17.97
to bring his case before Caesar.
00:22:18.37\00:22:20.90
Now the sermon begins.
00:22:21.10\00:22:22.67
I just laid the foundation...
now the sermon begins.
00:22:22.87\00:22:25.41
Acts chapter 27 verse 1.
00:22:26.17\00:22:28.18
"And when it was decided
that we should sail to Italy
00:22:33.88\00:22:37.55
they delivered Paul
and some other prisoners
00:22:37.95\00:22:41.82
to one named Julius,
00:22:42.02\00:22:43.79
a centurion of the
Augustan regiment. "
00:22:43.99\00:22:47.20
Paul decided to get on board
with all the other prisoners.
00:22:47.40\00:22:52.63
And Paul was the
preacher in chains.
00:22:52.83\00:22:55.00
You know, sometimes as preachers
00:22:55.20\00:22:57.54
we feel like our hands are
bound... that we are in chains.
00:22:57.71\00:23:00.28
After pastoring as
many churches as I have
00:23:00.88\00:23:03.35
and after becoming
familiar with many of my members
00:23:03.55\00:23:06.51
and after encouraging
our people from week to week
00:23:06.72\00:23:08.92
to come to prayer meeting
sometimes I feel like my hands
00:23:09.12\00:23:11.02
are in chains. Because you can
encourage people all you want
00:23:11.22\00:23:14.62
but unless we find the
personal need in our own lives
00:23:14.82\00:23:18.93
to present
ourselves before the Lord
00:23:19.33\00:23:21.50
nobody can set us
free from our habits
00:23:21.70\00:23:24.50
except Jesus Himself.
00:23:24.70\00:23:26.03
So Paul got on board, and in
the book Acts of the Apostles
00:23:27.10\00:23:31.07
we read on page 439 the
conditions under which Paul
00:23:31.27\00:23:34.84
entered the ship.
00:23:35.04\00:23:36.38
Ellen White says: "In the first
century of the Christian era
00:23:36.71\00:23:39.75
traveling by sea was
attended with peculiar hardship
00:23:39.98\00:23:44.45
and peril. Mariners directed
their course largely by the
00:23:44.65\00:23:48.42
position of the sun and
stars. " They didn't have GPS.
00:23:48.62\00:23:51.36
They didn't have
what we have today.
00:23:51.76\00:23:53.80
"And when these did not
appear... " In other words,
00:23:54.66\00:23:57.93
when they could not see the
sun or the moon or the stars...
00:23:58.13\00:24:00.77
"and there were
indications of storms
00:24:01.94\00:24:04.87
the owners of the vessels
were fearful of venturing into
00:24:05.07\00:24:09.11
the open sea. During
a portion of the year
00:24:09.31\00:24:12.45
safe navigation was
almost impossible. "
00:24:12.65\00:24:15.45
So when they decided now
to undertake this journey
00:24:15.65\00:24:18.32
to go to Rome, it was
at the edge of the season.
00:24:18.52\00:24:21.49
The most favorable time of the
year was the time of Pentecost.
00:24:21.69\00:24:24.89
What time did I say?
00:24:25.19\00:24:26.53
Pentecost. That's when most
people attended the services.
00:24:26.56\00:24:29.26
They came because it was
the most beautiful weather
00:24:29.56\00:24:31.47
of the year. But
when Pentecost was past
00:24:31.67\00:24:33.70
the weather began to change.
00:24:33.90\00:24:35.34
And Paul stayed in
Jerusalem long enough
00:24:36.04\00:24:38.47
to get on board. And
when the journey began
00:24:38.77\00:24:41.61
he was on a small vessel. But
when the winds began to change
00:24:41.81\00:24:45.61
they put Paul
on a larger vessel.
00:24:45.81\00:24:47.88
Look at Acts
chapter 27 and verse 4.
00:24:48.08\00:24:50.55
This freedom journey.
00:24:51.39\00:24:53.09
The Bible says:
"When we had put to sea
00:24:55.29\00:25:01.13
from there we sailed
under the shelter of Cyprus
00:25:01.33\00:25:04.97
because the winds
were... " What? "contrary. "
00:25:05.17\00:25:08.84
As Christians we are
all involved in a journey
00:25:09.04\00:25:12.57
of freedom. But God
never said that we would not
00:25:12.77\00:25:15.88
contend with contrary winds.
00:25:16.08\00:25:17.85
We are living in a generation
where the winds are becoming
00:25:18.15\00:25:20.98
more and more contrary.
That's why when I look at...
00:25:21.18\00:25:24.72
I said to the Lord I wouldn't
mention this, but I have to...
00:25:24.92\00:25:27.39
I think this is the portion
of the sermon where we have to
00:25:28.32\00:25:30.16
pray: "Lord,
deliver us from evil. "
00:25:30.36\00:25:32.46
When we talk about the elections
"deliver us from evil. "
00:25:32.66\00:25:34.83
I said I wouldn't say anything
but I've got to say something.
00:25:38.67\00:25:41.64
"Lord, whoever's in
the White House next
00:25:42.04\00:25:45.64
please don't ever
get off Your throne. "
00:25:45.84\00:25:47.81
We don't have a
whole lot of choices.
00:25:50.91\00:25:52.81
That's why I am so glad
that God is still in charge
00:25:54.02\00:25:56.85
of how things are
going to turn out.
00:25:57.05\00:25:58.49
"Lord, when I turn the news
on I don't know what to say! "
00:25:59.62\00:26:03.66
I'm praying that the
next person will be an adult
00:26:04.79\00:26:07.23
'cause you know
whatever promises they make
00:26:12.10\00:26:13.94
they're not going to keep.
00:26:14.14\00:26:15.47
And why do we
get drawn into that?
00:26:15.70\00:26:17.74
From one election to
the other, every four years
00:26:18.14\00:26:20.61
we get drawn into
standing behind somebody.
00:26:20.81\00:26:23.85
We think that's the guy... or
in this case that's the woman.
00:26:24.05\00:26:27.02
Brothers and sisters,
it ain't a man on earth
00:26:27.42\00:26:29.72
or a woman on earth...
it's God in heaven that's
00:26:29.92\00:26:32.02
in charge of the
direction of this church.
00:26:32.22\00:26:34.86
Get all bent out of shape.
00:26:35.26\00:26:36.93
That's why just
earlier this week I said
00:26:37.13\00:26:38.86
"You know, the disciples -
when they listened to the words
00:26:39.06\00:26:41.16
of Jesus - Jesus
said: 'My kingdom is not
00:26:41.36\00:26:44.37
of this world. If My
kingdom were of this world
00:26:44.57\00:26:48.30
My disciples would fight. ' "
00:26:48.50\00:26:50.07
We should never be
fighting amongst ourselves
00:26:50.47\00:26:52.31
about political issues.
Come on, somebody say amen.
00:26:52.51\00:26:54.64
We should be so on fire
for the issues of the kingdom
00:26:55.18\00:26:58.25
that we are tuned in to
being unified for one purpose
00:26:58.45\00:27:01.85
alone... and that's
leading people to Jesus.
00:27:02.05\00:27:04.82
All this political quagmire.
00:27:05.69\00:27:07.69
Now we've got a Green
Party and a Libertarian Party.
00:27:07.89\00:27:11.56
I'm so glad there's only
one party that I want to be in:
00:27:11.96\00:27:14.20
that's the saved party!
00:27:14.40\00:27:15.83
There was Paul, dealing
with the contrary winds.
00:27:16.77\00:27:19.60
And when you look at the
history of the Christian church
00:27:19.80\00:27:21.77
I like to call this part of
the sermon the contrary winds.
00:27:22.17\00:27:25.17
I always like to do research
to find out what kind of
00:27:25.37\00:27:27.88
environment it
was in Paul's day.
00:27:28.08\00:27:30.18
What made Paul such
a target in his society
00:27:30.58\00:27:34.02
like we are becoming
targets in our society?
00:27:34.22\00:27:36.89
I was just in
London in a society where
00:27:38.19\00:27:42.66
the Christian
church is shrinking.
00:27:42.86\00:27:44.56
Just about 10 years ago
Christians were in the 39%...
00:27:44.76\00:27:48.16
now they're in the 26th percent.
00:27:48.36\00:27:50.17
And all non-Christian religions
are booming, doubling in size...
00:27:50.47\00:27:54.37
quadrupling in some cases.
00:27:54.67\00:27:56.54
Secularism is on
the rampant rise.
00:27:56.97\00:27:59.34
And witches...
80,000 registered witches.
00:27:59.54\00:28:02.54
Only 30,000 pastors registered.
00:28:02.74\00:28:05.08
All that against the
rise of the Christian church.
00:28:05.48\00:28:07.88
And in America where we said
that we are a Christian nation
00:28:08.08\00:28:11.65
we have more to fear
from our own country...
00:28:11.85\00:28:14.32
But I want to say
God is still in charge.
00:28:16.96\00:28:18.99
Can you say amen? Amen!
00:28:19.19\00:28:20.73
I always say to my
brethren and my church members
00:28:21.66\00:28:25.07
there are certain things
that the government could never
00:28:25.27\00:28:27.57
get me to do,
00:28:27.77\00:28:29.24
and that is to
perform a same-sex marriage.
00:28:36.31\00:28:39.31
I'll leave it right there.
00:28:40.45\00:28:41.78
A whole lot of other
things will be imposed upon the
00:28:42.82\00:28:45.62
Christian church, but
God is our ever-present help
00:28:45.82\00:28:49.22
in time of need. In the early
church religion was mystical.
00:28:49.42\00:28:54.00
It was based on philosophy,
science and Eastern mysticism.
00:28:54.36\00:28:57.77
That was the atmosphere of Paul.
00:28:58.07\00:29:00.97
That was the atmosphere
of Peter and the apostles.
00:29:01.14\00:29:03.20
They were preaching...
Can you imagine going back to
00:29:03.44\00:29:05.94
a time where the church is
just beginning to get started.
00:29:06.14\00:29:08.74
And the first churches opened
up in the midst of a mystical
00:29:08.94\00:29:11.98
generation... a generation
filled with philosophy and
00:29:12.18\00:29:15.38
science and Eastern mysticism...
00:29:15.58\00:29:17.35
and Rome was at
the head of it all!
00:29:17.75\00:29:19.79
Historians say Rome
offered the world a pseudo style
00:29:20.19\00:29:25.79
of religion. The historians
called this artificial religion
00:29:25.99\00:29:30.10
and here are the reasons why:
00:29:30.30\00:29:31.63
they said Rome offered
peace apart from Jesus.
00:29:31.97\00:29:35.00
Rome offered
politically-driven society.
00:29:35.40\00:29:39.64
Rome had a church/state
society before they even adopted
00:29:39.84\00:29:43.65
the Catholic church.
00:29:43.85\00:29:45.18
Rome offered the good
life without conversion.
00:29:45.41\00:29:47.72
Rome merged religions
that had very little in common
00:29:47.92\00:29:52.65
and that's happening
today in our society.
00:29:52.85\00:29:54.92
Evangelicals and
Catholics getting together.
00:29:55.32\00:29:57.63
They have so little in
common, but the push is
00:29:57.83\00:30:00.53
let's find ways to
control our government.
00:30:00.73\00:30:03.43
The only government that
we should be controlling...
00:30:03.83\00:30:06.13
Let me just repeat
that: the only government that
00:30:06.33\00:30:08.30
we should be concerned
about is the government of God.
00:30:08.50\00:30:10.71
Rome created a
false eschatology...
00:30:11.94\00:30:15.51
distorted prophecies.
And Rome also established
00:30:15.71\00:30:18.71
a man-centered religion.
Historians say that the Roman
00:30:18.91\00:30:22.62
leaders believed themselves
to be the sons of God.
00:30:22.82\00:30:26.42
Look at Matthew
chapter 24 verses 4 and 5.
00:30:26.62\00:30:29.16
That's why
Matthew wrote these words.
00:30:29.46\00:30:31.79
I used to think that these
had just application to the end
00:30:32.19\00:30:35.03
but I've discovered that many
of what the gospel writers wrote
00:30:35.23\00:30:37.97
has a dual application.
00:30:38.17\00:30:39.87
The reason why they saw the end
00:30:40.27\00:30:42.34
is the began to repeat the very
things happening in their day.
00:30:42.54\00:30:45.87
Look at Matthew
chapter 24 verses 4 and 5.
00:30:46.27\00:30:48.41
Notice what they said
about the world of their day.
00:30:48.81\00:30:52.75
"And Jesus answered and said
to them... " What did He say?
00:30:57.02\00:31:00.76
"take heed that... "
What? "no one deceives you. "
00:31:00.96\00:31:04.33
They tried to deceive through
a man-centered form of religion
00:31:04.69\00:31:09.23
through a philosophical,
science, Eastern mysticism
00:31:09.43\00:31:13.50
based form of religion. So when
Jesus talked about deception
00:31:13.70\00:31:17.07
he was not talking
about 2016 or 2017.
00:31:17.27\00:31:19.94
My wife always tells me:
"Don't date the sermon... "
00:31:20.34\00:31:22.54
so forget the date.
00:31:22.74\00:31:24.11
He was not talking about the
end time. He was talking about
00:31:24.85\00:31:27.38
what was happening in their
day will happen also in OUR day.
00:31:27.58\00:31:30.65
There were earthquakes then.
There will be earthquakes when?
00:31:31.05\00:31:34.89
Now! There were wars
and rumors of wars when?
00:31:35.09\00:31:37.49
Then! When will there
be wars and rumors of wars?
00:31:37.66\00:31:40.06
Today. There was something
else that was amazing about that
00:31:40.26\00:31:43.83
generation. That
was the generation...
00:31:44.03\00:31:46.77
I don't want to jump ahead
of myself, but that was the
00:31:47.70\00:31:49.47
generation the kind of
mysticism that Rome offered
00:31:49.67\00:31:52.47
was the kind of worship where
they worshiped, this is amazing,
00:31:52.67\00:31:57.08
where they
worshiped some strange gods.
00:31:57.28\00:31:59.48
And they
mentioned two of the gods.
00:31:59.68\00:32:01.75
One god named Mythra
00:32:02.15\00:32:04.39
and one named Isis.
00:32:04.79\00:32:06.62
Is that amazing or what?
00:32:09.06\00:32:11.73
Isis affected the
generation in their day
00:32:12.23\00:32:15.40
and ISIS is affecting
the generation in our day.
00:32:15.60\00:32:18.20
Quite a different ISIS
00:32:18.40\00:32:19.90
because the one
today is an acronym.
00:32:20.10\00:32:21.77
But I thought how strange
it was, under a Roman-dominated
00:32:21.97\00:32:25.87
government, Rome offered
00:32:26.07\00:32:32.01
Eastern mystical
worship with those gods becoming
00:32:32.21\00:32:36.05
the central focus.
Look at Matthew 24:9-10.
00:32:36.25\00:32:39.75
Another context of their
day is existing in our day.
00:32:40.86\00:32:45.59
Opposition to the rise of
the Roman religion was met with
00:32:47.03\00:32:49.66
betrayal. Notice
the words of Jesus.
00:32:49.86\00:32:51.67
Matthew 24:9-10. The Bible says:
00:32:51.87\00:32:55.27
"Then they will
deliver you up to... " What?
00:32:55.47\00:32:58.74
"tribulation... " And what else?
"and kill you and you will be
00:32:59.14\00:33:03.35
hated by all
nations for My name's sake.
00:33:03.55\00:33:07.42
And then many will be offended
and will betray one another
00:33:07.75\00:33:12.22
and will hate one another. "
00:33:12.42\00:33:14.39
In their day, wherever
the church was rising up...
00:33:14.59\00:33:19.19
wherever the Christian
church was being formed...
00:33:19.39\00:33:21.26
there were those that were
a part of the mystical worship
00:33:21.66\00:33:24.97
of that generation, and
they would report each other.
00:33:25.17\00:33:27.44
You should read the stories.
They would report each other.
00:33:27.64\00:33:30.01
A mother would turn on a father.
00:33:30.21\00:33:33.54
A daughter would
turn on the mother.
00:33:33.74\00:33:35.98
All kinds of in-family fighting
because if one decided to
00:33:36.18\00:33:40.48
impose his or her
beliefs on the other
00:33:40.68\00:33:43.22
they reported it
to the government.
00:33:43.45\00:33:45.22
That's what's happening today.
00:33:45.62\00:33:47.86
In some parts of our
world you can't talk about Jesus
00:33:49.99\00:33:52.79
and it's becoming that
way in our own society.
00:33:54.93\00:33:57.33
In public places you cannot
talk... and if you think about
00:33:58.43\00:34:01.07
this, this was not
something that just happened.
00:34:01.27\00:34:03.71
This was something that was
taking place a long time ago.
00:34:03.91\00:34:06.34
Some of you are old enough when
the issue of prayer in schools
00:34:06.54\00:34:09.18
came up. Do you remember that?
00:34:09.38\00:34:10.75
Couldn't pray in schools.
00:34:10.95\00:34:12.68
I always say you don't have to
worry about prayer in schools.
00:34:12.88\00:34:15.08
Just give the kids a
test... they'll pray!
00:34:15.28\00:34:17.32
Give them
homework... they'll pray!
00:34:19.52\00:34:21.29
Don't have to
impose that on anybody.
00:34:21.59\00:34:24.03
I've discovered that in
airplanes there are no atheists
00:34:24.23\00:34:26.90
in airplanes...
especially in turbulence.
00:34:27.10\00:34:30.17
When things go bad,
people all of a sudden find God
00:34:30.37\00:34:32.97
somehow... somewhere.
00:34:33.17\00:34:34.50
Today the Christian
church is under the same attack.
00:34:35.14\00:34:37.47
Non-Christian cults are
growing with such rapidity
00:34:37.87\00:34:41.28
that the Christian faith
is being challenged even in
00:34:41.48\00:34:44.61
America. Look at
some of the ways.
00:34:44.81\00:34:46.88
Worship of false gods
are happening in our day.
00:34:47.28\00:34:50.09
Now you know, people are
not bowing down to idols,
00:34:50.29\00:34:52.62
but let me suggest some of the
idols that are being worshiped
00:34:52.82\00:34:54.86
today. It's hard to come
to church today and turn off
00:34:55.06\00:34:58.16
the world. You know what kind
of gods come to church today?
00:34:58.36\00:35:01.73
The "i-god" and
the "android god. "
00:35:02.13\00:35:05.17
Now I'm not supposed to have
so much silence on the radio.
00:35:13.07\00:35:15.34
Don't change the channel.
00:35:15.54\00:35:17.18
But you know, some people come
to church and they can't even
00:35:17.38\00:35:19.58
hear the sermon because
the "i-god" and the android god
00:35:19.78\00:35:23.28
are stealing the
attention of the worshipers
00:35:23.49\00:35:26.02
who spend more time
looking at their devices
00:35:26.22\00:35:29.09
than listening
to the Word of God.
00:35:29.29\00:35:30.96
No wonder they
call them smart phones.
00:35:33.13\00:35:35.76
Smarter than the
people that use them!
00:35:36.93\00:35:38.50
And on the other note,
we're more concerned about
00:35:40.00\00:35:41.84
the release of the next
device than the return of Jesus!
00:35:42.04\00:35:45.07
Have you noticed that?
"When is it coming out? "
00:35:45.94\00:35:48.28
Instead of "When
is He coming back? "
00:35:48.48\00:35:50.35
it's "When is it coming out? "
00:35:50.55\00:35:52.08
Have you noticed that?
"Does anybody know the date? "
00:35:52.28\00:35:54.72
And I go on the Internet and
you see: "What's the rumors? "
00:35:54.92\00:35:56.85
When will the
next iPad come out?
00:35:57.05\00:35:58.42
When will the
next iMac come out?
00:35:58.62\00:35:59.95
When will the
next release come out?
00:36:00.19\00:36:01.52
Everybody's concerned
about that. "We've heard
00:36:01.59\00:36:03.46
that it's not going to
be too long from now. "
00:36:03.66\00:36:05.36
That's what they
do. I'm a computer geek,
00:36:05.56\00:36:06.93
I can talk like this.
00:36:06.96\00:36:08.50
I sometimes get drawn
in but at the same time
00:36:08.90\00:36:11.53
I am concerned about
when Jesus is coming again,
00:36:11.73\00:36:13.87
what about you? Then
there's the social media.
00:36:14.07\00:36:17.87
Don't know why they
call it social media
00:36:19.11\00:36:21.48
'cause "social media" has been
the number one reason why people
00:36:22.98\00:36:28.22
don't talk to each
other normally any more.
00:36:28.42\00:36:30.89
Social media? There are
certain things you don't need
00:36:33.89\00:36:37.83
to put on the Internet.
00:36:38.03\00:36:39.46
Hallelujah!
00:36:43.93\00:36:46.00
"I'm going to the
bathroom, I'll be right back. "
00:36:47.77\00:36:49.57
Who? Who cares about?
00:36:49.77\00:36:52.07
"I just bought a
new phone. " Who?
00:36:52.47\00:36:55.21
We ought to use the
Internet to share Jesus.
00:36:58.31\00:37:00.85
There ought to be an Adventist
movement that any Adventist
00:37:01.25\00:37:03.55
website you go to there's a
Bible study that can be had.
00:37:03.75\00:37:06.19
The Lord pricked my heart
last week, and I got an e-mail
00:37:06.59\00:37:09.66
from somebody who was
struggling with the idea of
00:37:09.86\00:37:11.99
life after death. And I
decided: "You know what?
00:37:12.19\00:37:14.13
I'm going to go to
the Amazing Facts website,
00:37:14.56\00:37:17.37
copy their study on
what happens when you die,
00:37:17.57\00:37:19.97
and paste it on Facebook
00:37:20.17\00:37:22.07
and then go copy the other
link about what the Sabbath is,
00:37:24.11\00:37:27.01
paste it on Facebook.
" Come on, amen somebody.
00:37:27.21\00:37:29.28
So I'm doing it. There are
links all over the Internet that
00:37:30.08\00:37:32.45
you can turn your Facebook...
You may not preach a sermon
00:37:32.65\00:37:35.05
but turn your Facebook page
into a breathing Bible study
00:37:35.25\00:37:39.29
page. People come to your
page they'll learn the truth!
00:37:39.49\00:37:43.46
I've got family members that
think my relatives have died
00:37:44.23\00:37:47.60
and gone to heaven.
When I see some of my family
00:37:47.76\00:37:50.23
members: "Well, they're
lookin' down on you now. "
00:37:50.43\00:37:52.30
My wife said: "Don't say
anything. " I said: "Honey,
00:37:52.50\00:37:53.84
I've gotta say
something... that's my family. "
00:37:54.04\00:37:55.64
"They might get upset with
you. " I said: "I don't care! "
00:37:56.57\00:37:58.61
Get upset with me now, but
I'm going to tell you the truth.
00:37:59.41\00:38:01.48
What do you say? So
I said: "No, they ain't
00:38:01.68\00:38:04.28
in heaven now...
they are sleeping.
00:38:04.41\00:38:05.85
That's a demon in your house. "
00:38:06.05\00:38:07.68
Tell it like it is when you can!
00:38:09.22\00:38:11.42
'Cause one day they're
going to have to face The Book.
00:38:13.09\00:38:15.82
We are so caught up in life,
liberty, and the pursuit of
00:38:17.16\00:38:19.96
happiness that
it's replaced love,
00:38:20.16\00:38:24.17
witnessing, and the
pursuit of godliness.
00:38:24.37\00:38:26.50
America: life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.
00:38:26.84\00:38:30.81
You can go into New York
00:38:31.01\00:38:33.98
and find a stick and a can
00:38:34.98\00:38:38.55
and start beating on the ground,
00:38:38.95\00:38:40.92
spray paint yourself
five different colors,
00:38:41.12\00:38:43.79
and everybody will follow you
00:38:44.19\00:38:45.92
and a crowd will
gather around you.
00:38:46.42\00:38:48.36
But you talk about Jesus
and they'll think you lost
00:38:48.76\00:38:51.06
your mind. That's the
kind of world we live in!
00:38:51.26\00:38:54.50
You say: "Jesus
is coming again! "
00:38:54.73\00:38:56.36
"Ah, he's lost his mind!
" Now I know how Noah felt
00:38:56.56\00:38:59.20
in his day! That's OK.
00:38:59.40\00:39:02.77
It's all right to be weird
because we are not citizens
00:39:02.97\00:39:07.41
of this world anyhow.
00:39:07.61\00:39:08.94
Paul the apostle - this very
same Paul - talked about the
00:39:09.94\00:39:12.85
conditions of the last
days. Go to that familiar place:
00:39:13.05\00:39:15.62
II Timothy 3:1-7.
00:39:15.82\00:39:17.55
Notice what he
said: contrary winds...
00:39:17.75\00:39:19.95
we are living in contrary winds.
00:39:20.19\00:39:22.42
These winds are going
to pick up fairly soon.
00:39:22.62\00:39:25.06
He says: "This know also... "
00:39:25.73\00:39:28.10
He talked about conditions
that existed in HIS day
00:39:28.30\00:39:30.97
that will be
duplicated in our day.
00:39:31.17\00:39:33.67
He said: "This know also
that in the last days... "
00:39:35.50\00:39:37.64
What kind of times?
00:39:38.14\00:39:39.47
"perilous times shall come.
00:39:39.64\00:39:41.58
For men shall be lovers
of their own selves... "
00:39:41.78\00:39:45.35
No... no explanation needed...
00:39:45.85\00:39:48.82
"covetous, boasters, proud,
00:39:49.22\00:39:51.79
blasphemers,
disobedient to parents... "
00:39:52.19\00:39:55.29
I'm not going to pause there...
00:39:55.49\00:39:57.26
"unthankful,
unholy... " Some people just
00:39:57.66\00:40:00.83
never say thank you no
matter how much you do for them.
00:40:01.00\00:40:03.43
"without natural
affection, truce breakers... "
00:40:04.43\00:40:07.64
Can't keep a promise...
00:40:07.84\00:40:09.40
"false accusers, incontinent,
00:40:09.60\00:40:11.87
fierce, despisers of
those that are good... "
00:40:12.47\00:40:15.98
That is the strangest
thing I've ever heard:
00:40:16.18\00:40:18.08
people that hate
people that are good.
00:40:18.48\00:40:20.38
"traitors,
heady, high-minded... "
00:40:21.52\00:40:24.65
Some people get a degree
and they know more than God.
00:40:25.05\00:40:27.99
"lovers of pleasure
more than lovers of God,
00:40:29.36\00:40:32.76
having a... "
What? "form of godliness
00:40:33.36\00:40:36.90
but denying the power thereof. "
00:40:37.10\00:40:38.77
And the Bible says:
"from such... " Do what?
00:40:38.97\00:40:40.70
"don't even associate. "
00:40:41.10\00:40:42.44
But the journey of Paul
went from contrary winds
00:40:44.74\00:40:47.31
to a full-strength storm.
00:40:47.51\00:40:50.31
That's exactly what's going
to happen in these last days.
00:40:50.71\00:40:53.11
All these little
things that we see
00:40:53.35\00:40:55.15
one day are going
to change suddenly.
00:40:55.35\00:40:57.12
All the things that seem
to be an irritation right now
00:40:57.32\00:40:59.52
will one day all of a sudden
God is going to less loose the
00:40:59.72\00:41:02.69
winds that He's holding
back, and everything that
00:41:02.89\00:41:04.96
seemed to be just an irritation
00:41:05.36\00:41:07.50
is going to turn
into a full-blown storm.
00:41:07.66\00:41:10.13
Look at Acts
chapter 27 verses 14 and 15.
00:41:10.53\00:41:13.60
Let's now talk about some
of the full-blown storm issues.
00:41:15.20\00:41:17.97
We talked about some of the...
00:41:18.37\00:41:22.04
some of the contrary winds.
00:41:22.44\00:41:24.38
Let's talk about some
of the full-blown issues.
00:41:24.58\00:41:27.08
Acts 27:14-15.
00:41:27.38\00:41:29.75
Look at how the Bible out-
lines the storm that's coming.
00:41:30.92\00:41:33.86
The apostle Paul
says, or Dr. Luke writes:
00:41:35.02\00:41:37.29
"But not long after a
tempestuous headwind arose
00:41:37.49\00:41:41.53
called Euroclydon
00:41:41.83\00:41:44.20
so when the ship was caught
we could not head into the wind
00:41:44.57\00:41:47.57
and we let her drive.
" Now a couple of things
00:41:47.74\00:41:49.94
that I want to bring
out very quickly here
00:41:50.14\00:41:51.47
is whenever a storm gets a name
it is no longer just a storm.
00:41:51.61\00:41:56.68
It's a
hurricane; it's a typhoon!
00:41:57.08\00:41:58.91
It's a storm that
you cannot contend with.
00:41:59.11\00:42:00.92
It is now at the point
where you cannot control it.
00:42:01.28\00:42:03.49
That's why the Bible says: "we
could not head into the wind...
00:42:03.69\00:42:07.36
we let her drive. "
00:42:07.56\00:42:09.96
Now I was amazed by
that because as a preacher
00:42:10.16\00:42:12.36
sometimes as preachers we think
we're in control of something.
00:42:12.76\00:42:15.36
But God is going to get the
church to the place where we
00:42:15.76\00:42:17.57
have to let it
drive. Come on, somebody.
00:42:17.77\00:42:19.37
When we have to put the
destiny of the church back into
00:42:19.87\00:42:22.90
the hand of God.
00:42:23.10\00:42:24.67
But we are now faced
with Euroclydon-type storms
00:42:26.74\00:42:29.28
in these last days.
Let's talk about some of the
00:42:29.48\00:42:31.68
Euroclydon issues.
Are you ready for it?
00:42:31.88\00:42:33.58
The Euroclydon issues
that are all around us.
00:42:33.98\00:42:36.85
We have feminism and
gay rights on one side
00:42:38.59\00:42:41.06
and same-sex marriage
being pushed on the other.
00:42:42.32\00:42:45.03
No comment necessary.
00:42:45.43\00:42:47.13
We have Christians
losing rights on one side
00:42:47.60\00:42:50.70
and non-Christians gaining
rights on the other side...
00:42:51.03\00:42:54.07
in America.
00:42:54.24\00:42:56.20
The issue of to ordain
or not to ordain is still
00:42:56.40\00:42:59.41
an internal issue
even in our own church.
00:42:59.61\00:43:02.21
Our own Euroclydons are here.
00:43:02.61\00:43:04.81
You can take the life of a baby
00:43:05.48\00:43:07.72
but you can't
talk about baby Jesus.
00:43:07.92\00:43:09.88
You can be arrested
for reading your Bible
00:43:11.02\00:43:13.25
on your lunch break in public
00:43:13.46\00:43:15.26
but you can go free
after you abort a child.
00:43:15.66\00:43:18.76
Our Euroclydon issues.
00:43:19.16\00:43:20.93
Can I tell the truth today?
00:43:21.10\00:43:22.80
Rome is now favored in
America more than ever before.
00:43:23.00\00:43:26.37
ROME is now more favored
in AMERICA than ever before!
00:43:26.80\00:43:31.97
The supremacy of the pope is
recognized on a global scale.
00:43:32.37\00:43:37.01
Not coincidence but a
prediction that has come to pass
00:43:37.21\00:43:40.88
with startling
accuracy in our day.
00:43:41.15\00:43:43.75
Evangelicals and
Catholics are merging
00:43:45.89\00:43:48.42
on the same political issues.
00:43:48.62\00:43:51.13
Like the church of old,
these religions that have little
00:43:51.33\00:43:54.76
in common are uniting
for strange, unusual reasons.
00:43:54.96\00:43:59.43
I was looking at
the Internet today.
00:44:00.04\00:44:02.17
I try to use the
Internet for good reasons.
00:44:02.77\00:44:04.81
Research for my message.
00:44:05.01\00:44:06.41
And I noticed that there...
You know the colors in politics?
00:44:06.61\00:44:09.21
They have the blue and the red.
00:44:09.41\00:44:10.75
You know how that does. I
don't know which one is the
00:44:10.78\00:44:12.15
donkey and which
one is the elephant.
00:44:12.35\00:44:13.92
Well, what are they?
Elephants and donkeys?
00:44:14.12\00:44:15.82
I don't know. You can
hardly move either one.
00:44:16.02\00:44:18.09
I mean really, honestly...
you can't move either one.
00:44:20.86\00:44:24.13
I tried... I saw a donkey once
at one of our member's houses
00:44:24.66\00:44:27.60
in California... a
little, short donkey.
00:44:27.76\00:44:29.20
I thought: "Oh,
cute! I could pull him. "
00:44:29.40\00:44:30.83
Not!
00:44:31.23\00:44:32.70
I grabbed his rope;
he almost burned my hand.
00:44:32.90\00:44:35.34
But what I'm talking... I
noticed this article about
00:44:36.60\00:44:39.74
evangelicals and
Catholics are now saying
00:44:41.08\00:44:44.15
in light of what's happening
in the political arena today
00:44:45.21\00:44:47.72
they said they have
to "find a NEW path"
00:44:47.92\00:44:50.69
to the White House.
00:44:50.89\00:44:52.22
Think about that for
a moment: a new path.
00:44:54.59\00:44:56.46
See, what's happening
in America is not new.
00:44:56.89\00:44:59.49
Evangelicals and Catholics
have been trying to control
00:44:59.89\00:45:02.50
religion for many decades.
Remember the religious right?
00:45:02.70\00:45:05.90
The moral majority?
00:45:06.20\00:45:07.54
How can a majority be
moral and reject the moral law?
00:45:07.77\00:45:12.77
That's why today I'm so
glad, brethren, that God is
00:45:15.54\00:45:18.05
still in charge of how
this thing is going to turn out.
00:45:18.25\00:45:20.52
If you think that it's bad
now, though, look at verse 10
00:45:22.85\00:45:25.02
of Acts chapter 27.
00:45:25.22\00:45:26.96
Paul says: "Men, I
perceive that this voyage
00:45:27.89\00:45:31.89
will end with
disaster and much loss...
00:45:32.09\00:45:35.76
not only of the cargo and ship
00:45:35.96\00:45:39.53
but also our lives. "
00:45:39.93\00:45:42.64
Many are going to be laid
to rest before Jesus comes.
00:45:43.51\00:45:47.14
Many are going to be put into
positions where they have to
00:45:48.04\00:45:50.91
stand for what they believe.
But let me encourage you:
00:45:51.08\00:45:53.21
it's better to die and be
laid in the grave temporarily
00:45:53.42\00:45:56.85
than to not stand for
Jesus and be lost eternally!
00:45:57.25\00:46:00.72
"Fear not him who is able
to destroy the body but not
00:46:02.96\00:46:05.46
able to destroy the
soul. Fear him who is able
00:46:05.66\00:46:08.03
to destroy both
body and soul in hell. "
00:46:08.33\00:46:11.13
That is... only God can do that.
00:46:11.33\00:46:12.97
So if you have to lose your job
at K-Mart to keep the Sabbath...
00:46:16.20\00:46:19.11
Even if you have to lose
your executive six-figure job
00:46:24.05\00:46:27.22
in favor of the Sabbath, lose
it so that you can gain heaven.
00:46:27.42\00:46:30.99
There's nothing worth
down here holding on to
00:46:31.89\00:46:34.39
to lose out on eternity.
00:46:34.79\00:46:37.13
One of my favorite
writers, Ellen White, says in
00:46:37.73\00:46:40.03
Selected
Messages book 2 page 391
00:46:40.23\00:46:43.43
talking about the journey
of the Christian. She says:
00:46:43.63\00:46:45.30
"When you think that
the work is in danger
00:46:45.77\00:46:48.37
pray: "Lord, stand at the wheel.
00:46:48.57\00:46:52.37
Carry us through the perplexity;
bring us safely into port. "
00:46:52.57\00:46:56.54
And then she says:
"Have we not reason to believe
00:46:56.75\00:46:59.68
that the Lord will bring
us through triumphantly? "
00:46:59.88\00:47:03.15
Has God taken us this far?
00:47:04.02\00:47:05.82
Can He take us
the rest of the way?
00:47:06.12\00:47:07.76
Yes He can!
00:47:07.96\00:47:09.29
There are certain things that
God can do, but I'm going to
00:47:10.46\00:47:12.76
suggest as I close the message
three things that God won't do
00:47:12.96\00:47:17.30
that we've got to do.
00:47:17.50\00:47:18.83
Acts chapter 27 and verse 19
00:47:19.47\00:47:21.57
Paul suggested these, and
they apply in a very real way
00:47:21.77\00:47:24.84
to our lives. God can save
us, but there are certain things
00:47:25.04\00:47:28.31
that God has called us to do
00:47:28.51\00:47:31.05
personally if we are
to survive the storm.
00:47:31.25\00:47:33.55
Acts 27 verse
19... the Bible says:
00:47:33.75\00:47:37.69
"On the third day... " That is,
the 3rd day of this hurricane...
00:47:38.39\00:47:42.12
"we threw the ship's
tackle overboard with... "
00:47:42.32\00:47:46.06
And what are the
next three words?
00:47:46.36\00:47:48.00
"our own hands. " You know,
there are certain things that
00:47:48.40\00:47:52.00
no one can do for you but you.
00:47:52.20\00:47:54.64
You've gotta
clean out your own life.
00:47:55.67\00:47:57.47
Come on somebody.
00:47:57.67\00:47:59.01
There are certain things
that your brother in church,
00:47:59.64\00:48:02.01
your sister in
church, your pastor...
00:48:02.21\00:48:03.88
You can't clean out my life;
I can't clean out your life.
00:48:04.08\00:48:07.38
We've got to throw the
things that are in our lives
00:48:07.58\00:48:10.25
that don't need to be there...
we've got to get rid of them
00:48:10.45\00:48:12.65
with our own hands.
00:48:12.85\00:48:14.56
Paul suggests the only thing
that can keep us safe in the
00:48:15.59\00:48:18.73
storm is we have to clean
out our lives. What do you say?
00:48:18.93\00:48:21.36
Second thing he
suggests in verse 34...
00:48:22.30\00:48:26.94
verse 34:
00:48:28.20\00:48:29.54
You've got to keep in
mind the ship is rocking.
00:48:35.71\00:48:37.68
The water is tossing the boat.
00:48:38.18\00:48:40.35
The timber is creaking.
00:48:40.75\00:48:42.45
People are fearful that
they will lose their lives
00:48:42.65\00:48:44.89
and here's what Paul
says. While he's standing there
00:48:45.09\00:48:48.09
in chains he says:
00:48:48.29\00:48:50.03
"Therefore... " verse 34...
"I urge you to take nourishment
00:48:51.06\00:48:54.20
for this is for...
" What? "your survival
00:48:54.36\00:48:58.00
since not a hair will fall
from the head of any of you. "
00:48:58.20\00:49:02.80
What I need to add is
between Paul's perception that
00:49:03.00\00:49:06.14
they would lose their
lives and God's intervention...
00:49:06.34\00:49:09.34
See, Paul perceived earlier that
they would lose their lives.
00:49:09.54\00:49:12.71
But the Lord visited
Paul in a vision by night
00:49:12.91\00:49:16.02
and said: "Nobody's
going to lose their life. "
00:49:16.22\00:49:18.59
"We might lose the ship,
00:49:18.89\00:49:20.52
but we're not going
to lose our lives. "
00:49:22.12\00:49:24.19
So Paul said: "For you to
make it, you've got to nourish
00:49:24.96\00:49:27.46
yourselves spiritually. "
Let me tell you something:
00:49:27.66\00:49:30.07
nobody could feed you but you.
00:49:30.27\00:49:32.57
Sabbath morning is not enough
to carry you through the week.
00:49:36.94\00:49:40.08
Even Wednesday
nights is not enough!
00:49:40.78\00:49:42.74
If you don't eat the
Word of God every day,
00:49:43.14\00:49:45.25
you will starve to
death in this storm.
00:49:45.45\00:49:48.18
The one thing that all of
us must do to make it through
00:49:49.58\00:49:52.35
successfully is we've
got to nourish ourselves
00:49:52.55\00:49:55.39
every day. And that is
particularly a focus for me
00:49:55.59\00:49:59.03
because I'm so busy. I
thank the Lord that my wife is
00:49:59.23\00:50:02.13
not as busy as I
am. Now she IS busy...
00:50:02.33\00:50:04.97
but when I'm too busy
she "unbusies" herself
00:50:06.07\00:50:11.31
to help her busy
husband. Amen, somebody? Amen!
00:50:11.51\00:50:13.94
When I was in London
we were there for 19 days
00:50:14.24\00:50:17.71
with our London evangelism
series with 3ABN and the
00:50:17.91\00:50:21.75
South England Conference.
That chair in my room...
00:50:21.95\00:50:25.99
I'm sure that that
chair in my hotel room is glad
00:50:26.59\00:50:29.62
I left London.
00:50:29.82\00:50:31.39
From morning till
about 4:30 PM every day I was
00:50:32.79\00:50:35.43
sitting in that one chair all
day long working on my sermon,
00:50:35.63\00:50:38.43
working on my
slides. Couldn't get outside.
00:50:38.63\00:50:41.20
And even after all the
preparation for the sermons
00:50:41.60\00:50:45.04
and the slides and
preaching every day
00:50:45.24\00:50:46.81
when I got back to the
room my wife said: "Let's read
00:50:47.01\00:50:49.14
together. " And I
said: "Honey, I'm tired. "
00:50:49.34\00:50:53.21
She said: "No, you're
feeding everybody... you need to
00:50:53.45\00:50:55.05
feed yourself. " You
could be a cook in the kitchen
00:50:55.25\00:50:58.15
and die of starvation.
00:50:58.35\00:50:59.89
That was divine... I
didn't have it in my notes.
00:51:06.73\00:51:08.66
You could be a good
cook and die of starvation.
00:51:11.07\00:51:13.13
Whoo!
00:51:13.34\00:51:14.80
Paul didn't just tell them
to eat. Notice what Paul did.
00:51:15.00\00:51:17.11
He set an
example. Look at verse 35.
00:51:17.31\00:51:19.54
This preacher in
chains set an example.
00:51:19.94\00:51:22.48
As leaders we've
got to set an example.
00:51:22.68\00:51:24.28
Our members need to see
us feeding on the Word of God
00:51:24.48\00:51:27.28
for them to want
to feed on God's Word.
00:51:27.48\00:51:29.65
Paul did this in verse 35: "And
when he had said these things"
00:51:30.65\00:51:34.42
here he is... "he took bread
and gave thanks to God... "
00:51:34.62\00:51:38.03
and notice where he did it...
"in the presence of them all.
00:51:38.23\00:51:41.26
And when he had
broken it he began to eat. "
00:51:42.90\00:51:46.07
When you read the
story... When they saw Paul
00:51:46.27\00:51:48.37
starting to eat
then they began to eat.
00:51:48.57\00:51:52.17
If you're a deacon or deaconess
or just a basic church member,
00:51:52.67\00:51:56.04
you can encourage other
church members by letting them
00:51:56.24\00:51:59.88
see you study your Bible.
00:52:00.15\00:52:01.72
Instead of wasting time at
fellowship lunch by talking
00:52:03.49\00:52:05.62
about stuff that
don't mean anything
00:52:05.82\00:52:07.16
wouldn't it be nice if we
had socials like they did in
00:52:08.29\00:52:10.56
Ellen White's day? You know
what kind of socials they had?
00:52:10.76\00:52:13.09
We call it the same thing,
but they didn't have socials
00:52:13.50\00:52:15.86
like we have today.
What their socials were
00:52:16.06\00:52:18.67
is after they had their lunch
they got together in groups
00:52:18.87\00:52:22.40
and studied the message
that was presented that morning
00:52:22.80\00:52:25.64
from the pulpit. That's
what they called social.
00:52:25.84\00:52:28.91
Social gatherings.
And they said sometimes
00:52:29.11\00:52:31.61
the Holy Spirit will
fall down on Sabbath School.
00:52:31.81\00:52:34.18
Or sometimes the Holy
Spirit would be more present
00:52:34.35\00:52:36.69
after the sermon was done
00:52:36.89\00:52:38.49
because they got together
and they fed themselves.
00:52:38.69\00:52:40.96
They let each other see
that what was more important
00:52:41.16\00:52:44.63
to them than just
the message they heard
00:52:44.83\00:52:46.90
was the nourishment that they
got for themselves personally.
00:52:47.10\00:52:50.40
And finally, you've
got to do what Paul says.
00:52:52.00\00:52:56.77
Verse 25 of Acts chapter 27.
00:52:56.97\00:53:00.48
You've got to clean out
your life; nourish yourself;
00:53:02.11\00:53:05.05
set an example by letting
people see you study God's Word.
00:53:05.25\00:53:09.12
And finally you've got to
do what he says in verse 25.
00:53:09.32\00:53:11.32
He said: "Brethren,
therefore take heart,
00:53:11.92\00:53:15.66
men, for I believe
that it will be... " How?
00:53:15.86\00:53:21.16
"just as it was told me. "
00:53:21.36\00:53:27.10
It is too late to
modify God's Word.
00:53:27.30\00:53:29.34
God's Word has survived
every attempt of extinction
00:53:29.84\00:53:33.98
and God's Word will carry us
through to the coming of Jesus.
00:53:34.18\00:53:38.15
But we cannot modify it
or alter it or change it.
00:53:39.85\00:53:42.52
We have to believe
God's Word just as it reads.
00:53:42.72\00:53:45.65
When Paul stood there he
said: "I believe God's Word. "
00:53:45.85\00:53:49.02
Notice he didn't
say: "I believe IN God. "
00:53:49.42\00:53:51.63
He said: "I
believe God that it will be
00:53:52.03\00:53:55.33
just as it was told me. "
00:53:55.83\00:53:59.33
And so today I stand
with the apostle Paul.
00:53:59.73\00:54:02.27
I could preach a
message of peace and safety
00:54:02.57\00:54:04.67
but I believe God that it should
be just as it was told me.
00:54:04.87\00:54:08.28
I could tell you that the
world's economy will stabilize
00:54:08.98\00:54:11.48
but you know better than that.
00:54:11.68\00:54:13.01
One day there'll be jobs for
everybody, but the Bible says
00:54:13.35\00:54:16.35
I believe God that it shall be
00:54:16.55\00:54:20.56
just as it was told me.
00:54:20.76\00:54:22.49
I could preach that the
next president will have all
00:54:23.59\00:54:25.69
the answers.
Please... let's not go there.
00:54:25.89\00:54:29.00
I believe God that it
shall be just as it was told me.
00:54:30.07\00:54:34.60
It would be comforting
to preach that one day
00:54:35.50\00:54:37.67
men will have a sudden change
of heart and the world will be
00:54:38.07\00:54:40.64
converted, but I say again:
00:54:40.84\00:54:42.18
"I believe God that it will be"
How? "just as it was told me. "
00:54:42.24\00:54:48.22
To the skeptics that
doubt the return of Jesus
00:54:48.52\00:54:51.19
JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!
00:54:51.49\00:54:53.82
"He that shall come will
come and will not tarry. "
00:54:54.22\00:54:57.93
What do you say? One day
there'll be no more heartache;
00:54:58.13\00:55:00.66
no more pain; no more
suffering; no more death.
00:55:00.86\00:55:02.56
All these things
will be forever eradicated
00:55:02.96\00:55:05.93
because we can hold onto
the unchanging promises of God
00:55:06.13\00:55:09.94
today. Why?
Because I believe God
00:55:10.14\00:55:12.41
that it shall be
just as it was told me!
00:55:12.61\00:55:15.08
To the atheist that
doubts that God exists
00:55:15.71\00:55:18.05
oh I say to them
today: "I believe God
00:55:18.25\00:55:20.32
that it shall be
just as it was told me. "
00:55:20.52\00:55:23.22
When we trust God's
Word over the word of man
00:55:24.12\00:55:27.29
we can find courage
in the midst of darkness.
00:55:27.49\00:55:30.43
Hope... in a world
that is falling apart.
00:55:30.83\00:55:33.03
We can find even comfort
in the midst of our storm.
00:55:33.23\00:55:36.40
if we allow ourselves to
be kept secure by the study
00:55:36.83\00:55:40.84
of God's Word. The
study of God's Word has
00:55:41.04\00:55:43.57
kept me through
many difficulties...
00:55:43.77\00:55:45.17
has kept my wife and I
through many difficulties,
00:55:45.57\00:55:47.28
many challenges
because we read God's Word
00:55:47.48\00:55:49.54
and we take God at His word.
00:55:49.74\00:55:51.91
That's why still
today in our changing world,
00:55:52.31\00:55:55.28
in a challenging church,
00:55:55.48\00:55:57.35
in a compromising
society I still believe God
00:55:57.55\00:56:01.72
that it shall be
just as it was told me.
00:56:02.12\00:56:04.36
And finally to the
Christian that thinks that Jesus
00:56:04.76\00:56:07.03
has forgotten us, I
am so glad that Jesus
00:56:07.23\00:56:09.33
has not forgotten
us. What do you say?
00:56:09.53\00:56:11.00
He's coming again!
00:56:11.30\00:56:12.63
He's going to come
to take us to our home
00:56:12.80\00:56:14.60
that He's preparing even now.
00:56:14.80\00:56:16.44
And every now and then I imagine
what that home is going to be.
00:56:16.64\00:56:19.01
I see myself sitting
at the welcome table.
00:56:19.41\00:56:21.38
I see myself walking the golden
streets of the New Jerusalem.
00:56:21.58\00:56:24.65
I see myself moving in!
00:56:24.85\00:56:26.61
And by the way, when I'm moving
I'm not taking anything from
00:56:27.02\00:56:29.42
earth to heaven.
00:56:29.62\00:56:31.09
That's why my wife and
I sat down the other day;
00:56:33.25\00:56:35.22
we talked about
the cycles of life.
00:56:35.42\00:56:38.26
When you're young,
you want to buy everything
00:56:38.46\00:56:40.60
and own everything
and gather everything
00:56:40.80\00:56:43.20
and compile
everything and store everything.
00:56:43.43\00:56:45.67
But she said: "There comes a
point where you've got to start
00:56:45.87\00:56:47.50
unloading everything 'cause
you can't take it with you. "
00:56:47.70\00:56:50.61
Amen somebody.
Amen! And she said to me:
00:56:50.81\00:56:52.74
"We've got a whole
lot of unloading to do! "
00:56:52.94\00:56:55.44
We'll tell you when so our
junk can become your treasure.
00:56:56.81\00:57:00.25
Believe me, brother, today
the only hope is to believe
00:57:03.85\00:57:06.35
God that it shall be
just as it was told me.
00:57:06.55\00:57:10.19
So the question I end
with is why am I going to keep
00:57:10.59\00:57:13.19
holding on? Why am I
going to keep trusting God
00:57:13.43\00:57:15.43
in His Word? The
answer is simple:
00:57:15.63\00:57:17.57
I believe God that it shall be
00:57:18.67\00:57:21.50
just as it was
told me. Let us pray.
00:57:21.70\00:57:25.04
Loving Father in heaven,
continue blessing our hearts
00:57:25.81\00:57:28.38
and our minds.
May we be faithful
00:57:28.58\00:57:30.65
to trust Your Word.
00:57:30.85\00:57:32.75