Participants: Mark Fox
Series Code: AMP
Program Code: AMP000031A
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00:04 We are racing towards the global crisis at the close.
00:09 God is going to set up His kingdom on earth. 00:13 Preparation for the tribulation and the translation 00:17 is to develop a character like Jesus Christ. 00:21 To reach every hamlet, every village, every man, 00:24 every child, every person in India, 00:27 every person in South America must hear these 00:30 Three Angles' Messages. 00:34 These are stories that illustrate the kind of 00:37 fabric of character and perseverance 00:39 that we need to go through the tribulation 00:42 just as certainly as they did. 00:44 The Bible makes it very clear 00:45 we are living in an unusual hour. 00:47 The last grains of sand are trickling 00:50 through the hourglass of time 00:52 and the door of probation is about to swing shot. 01:01 I want to share with you something very, very powerful 01:04 to set the pace in the tone of tonight's presentation 01:10 it's entitled "To Touch a Volcano: 01:12 A Filmmaker's Story of Survival." 01:18 May 18, 1980, 01:21 the world was stunned by the raw power 01:25 that tore the top off Mount St. Helens. 01:29 I joined a film crew attempting to capture 01:33 the first ground level shots of the devastation. 01:38 Common sense told me not to go. 01:41 The mountain could erupt again at any moment. 01:45 But eager for my first big break, 01:49 I soon found myself, 01:51 the youngest of a team of five, camera-ready, 01:54 leaping from a helicopter into a wasteland 01:58 of flattened timbers. 02:00 A three-hour school soon became, a three, 02:04 I'm sorry a three-hour shoot 02:07 soon became a three-day struggle for survival. 02:12 We stumbled in hot ash, eventually in circles, 02:17 our compass rendered useless by magnetism in the ash 02:23 and our contour maps made meaningless 02:26 on the altered slopes. 02:28 We were terrified and now hopelessly lost 02:33 when a second eruption of Mount St. Helens 02:36 shook the ground. 02:39 The atmosphere was charged with electricity, 02:42 but it was deathly quiet. 02:44 The blast rocketed over our heads 02:47 to be heard by people 200 miles away. 02:51 Cold, hungry and injured, we became the story. 02:57 Unknown to us, we had been declared missing 03:01 and presumed dead. 03:03 Morale plummeted as the possibility 03:07 of never getting out became a reality, 03:11 it was then that I called out to God 03:14 in my desperation. 03:16 Broken trees lay scattered around me, 03:20 one of them making the shape of a cross. 03:24 I heard an audible voice say, 03:28 'Michael, look up to your left.' 03:32 It scared me because no one was near. 03:36 Minutes later I saw the blades of a rescue helicopter 03:42 rise over the hill 03:43 exactly where the voice had told me to look. 03:48 We were saved. 03:51 Today, the volcano 03:53 is an awe-inspiring national monument. 03:57 But for me, Mount St. Helens is also a personal monument, 04:00 a landmark which graphically reminds me that 04:04 in any of life's disasters, the One who made the mountains, 04:09 Jesus Christ, can be my rescuer. 04:12 The One who moves the mountains 04:14 offers the only solid ground to stand on. 04:18 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, 04:21 yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken. 04:25 "Isaiah 54:9-10. 04:27 I am here to tell you, the cross saved this life. 04:30 The cross, the voice at the cross 04:34 saved his life. 04:38 Tonight, I bring you to the wilderness. 04:42 Take your Bible and turn with me to Numbers 21. 04:47 There was a voice of hope in the wilderness. 04:53 Wilderness, a barren desolate place. 04:56 Numbers 21. 04:59 Numbers 21. 05:07 And we're going to look there 05:09 beginning at verses number, 05:14 Numbers 21 05:16 and we're looking there at verse 4. 05:19 All right. Numbers 21. 05:24 If you have it, say amen. 05:26 All right. 05:28 Numbers 21, looking there at verse 4. 05:35 "Then they journeyed from Mount Hor 05:37 by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, 05:42 and the soul of the people became very discouraged." 05:47 The word discouraged could be rendered impatient. 05:52 "They became just very discouraged on the way." 05:55 They were on their way to a better land, 05:59 to the Promised Land, 06:00 the land flowing with milk and honey, 06:02 Canaan's land. 06:04 They were on their way. 06:05 They were journeying through this wilderness 06:08 and they became discouraged. 06:10 "And the people spoke against God 06:13 and against Moses, 06:16 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt 06:19 to die in the wilderness? 06:22 For there is no food and no water, 06:26 and our soul loathes 06:28 or detest this worthless bread." 06:32 So here you have the children of Israel 06:35 going around in circles. 06:37 As a matter of fact they were literally backtracking. 06:41 They were retracing their steps 06:43 and they became very discouraged 06:46 because it seemed from all appearances 06:49 that they were making no progress. 06:53 They were frustrated and they vented it. 06:58 All they could imagine is that we are going nowhere fast. 07:03 This is meaningless. 07:05 We were better off in Egypt. 07:08 Their mind raced wildly. 07:12 They were in the throes of discouragement. 07:16 I mean, they were upset. 07:21 And they took it out on God and Moses 07:24 as they were retracing their steps. 07:26 Are we on the way to the Promised Land? 07:29 Are we on the way to a better land? 07:32 And does it seem that going around in circles? 07:38 How many were raised with the message 07:40 that Jesus is coming very soon? 07:43 How many were born who were hearing that message 07:47 or still hearing? 07:50 Would you agree, it seems as though there's been a delay? 07:55 I ask you this question. 07:57 Don't you think that Jesus wanted to come 07:59 perhaps a long time ago? 08:03 But His people are going around in circles 08:08 when the Lord wants them to go 08:09 right into the Promised Land that was promised. 08:15 And so, I want you to notice that on their way 08:19 they became discouraged because they were not making 08:23 any physical progress or spiritual progress. 08:30 It's easy to be discouraged, it really comes by default. 08:34 Discouragement is very easy to lapse into, to succumb to. 08:41 This world is full of negativity, 08:45 pessimism, skepticism. 08:48 Would you agree, people are not becoming more positive, 08:51 more negative? 08:53 They're not becoming more upbeat but downbeat. 08:56 I'm here to tell you that it's infiltrated and invaded 09:00 the very consciousness of the church. 09:03 We've become discouraged. 09:05 We may not verbalize it in that way 09:07 but by our conduct and our lack of getting together 09:11 with our brothers and sisters in praying 09:13 and talk about Jesus, 09:14 instead we are gravitating to the world. 09:19 And it seems the rumor mill is more popular 09:22 than talking about Jesus. 09:24 Certainly we have become discouraged along the way. 09:28 And when you get discouraged, like the disciples, 09:31 the Bible says that the disciples went to sleep, 09:34 in the Garden of Gethsemane, 09:36 they started out praying. 09:38 Why did they give in to the pool of slumber? 09:42 Why? 09:43 The Bible tells us that they were exceedingly, 09:47 they were sorrowful. 09:51 They were discouraged. 09:53 They saw Jesus demeanor change, they heard him say, 09:58 one of you is going to betray me, 10:00 I'm going to be crucified. 10:03 They became discouraged. 10:04 And the discouragement led to rather sleep it off 10:09 than to keep on praying. 10:11 Have you ever felt that way? 10:13 Have you ever felt so discouraged 10:15 you just don't feel like praying? 10:16 When you get discouraged, 10:18 that is the time to pray the most. 10:21 When you don't feel like praying, 10:23 you make a decision, you know what? 10:26 I'm going to pray 10:27 because I don't want to be an easy prey. 10:30 I want you to notice here, they became very discouraged. 10:34 And what would make you discouraged? 10:37 What would make you discouraged? 10:39 How about bills you can't pay? 10:43 How about losing your job? 10:45 How about when you don't feel that your communication 10:50 is working in your marriage? 10:52 Or your communication is broken down 10:54 in order to have that bond 10:56 with your children anymore it seems. 10:58 It seems that things are just not working in the home front. 11:02 Things are falling apart 11:03 in your interpersonal relationships. 11:05 I mean, there are lot of sources 11:08 and precipitators of discouragement. 11:11 Maybe you take a look at your health 11:13 and it seems to be getting worse 11:16 and your health is diminishing. 11:18 It's easy, there's a lot of sources of discouragement. 11:22 But my Bible tells me, this is no time 11:25 to give in to the discouragement. 11:27 How many agree, that discouragement 11:29 may come to your door 11:31 but you don't have to let discouragement come in, 11:34 and have a comfortable bed at night? 11:38 My Bible tells me, let us not grow weary 11:43 in well doing for we shall reap 11:47 if we do not give in to discouragement, 11:51 if we do not give up." 11:53 Galatians 6:9. 11:55 I've got a word from the Lord tonight, don't give up. 12:01 Keep pressing on. 12:05 Don't look to the left, don't look to the right, 12:07 don't look back, 12:09 look straight ahead at the guiding light. 12:12 Bible says here, they became discouraged. 12:15 Jesus was a man of sorrows but He wouldn't give up. 12:20 Aren't you glad that He didn't give up 12:23 in the Garden of Gethsemane? 12:24 Aren't you glad He didn't give up on the cross? 12:27 They said give it up, come down from the cross. 12:30 You know, and the temptation was just 12:32 go back to your father. 12:35 He didn't give up. 12:39 So I don't know what's discouraging you, 12:40 but I'm here to tell you, God does not want you 12:43 to focus on your circumstances but on Christ. 12:47 He doesn't want you to focus on circumstances 12:50 because they can look very bleak, 12:52 very dark, very ominous. 12:56 I mean, when you look at your circumstances 12:58 you say, this is it, this is curtains. 13:00 I mean, we're going nowhere with this. 13:03 I'm here to tell you that 13:05 faith is a substance of things you're hoping for 13:07 but the evidence of things not seen. 13:11 You can't see how you're going to pay the bills, 13:14 be faithful with your tithes and offerings 13:16 and I'm here to tell you, 13:17 He will multiply the loaves and fishes. 13:20 You don't know how your health 13:22 is going to be improved. 13:23 Come on now, have a little faith 13:24 and do what you got to do. 13:26 Go for a jog, go for a run, 13:28 eat right, sleep right, do your part 13:31 and expect something great to happen in your life. 13:34 Don't be discouraged. 13:35 Move on, move forward. 13:38 "We don't walk by sight, we walk by faith." 13:41 2 Corinthians 5:7. 13:43 "Faith, the substance of things, 13:44 hoped for the evidence of things not seen." 13:46 Hebrews 11:1. 13:48 How many are willing to walk by faith? 13:49 You'll make it to the Promised Land. 13:51 It's the only way you'll make it 13:52 to the Promised Land. 13:54 Caleb and Joshua made it to the Promised Land 13:57 because they had faith. 13:59 And the Bible says, let us go on with faith. 14:01 Amen. 14:03 You're going to get in, 14:04 you're going to have an entrance into heaven 14:05 because you've got some faith. 14:07 Faith is yours to use, nobody can use it for you. 14:11 God will not have faith for you, 14:13 you got to have your own faith, 14:15 but the faith that He wants you to exercise is a gift. 14:20 It's a gift. 14:23 And all he's asking us to do is use the faith 14:27 that He gives you and then ask Him to increase it. 14:33 And the Bible says, Jesus said, 14:35 if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, 14:37 you can say to a mulberry tree, 14:39 you pulled up by the roots, it will obey. 14:42 You can say to a mountain, get out of my way, 14:44 it will obey. 14:46 How many of you agree, mountains, 14:47 mountains of difficulty, mountains of discouragement, 14:50 faith, faith removes mountains. 14:54 Faith doesn't just move mountains, 14:58 I said it gets them out of the way. 15:03 I am here to tell you, 15:06 if you're willing to use some faith, 15:09 great things can happen. 15:12 You say, Mark, you don't know my circumstances, 15:16 I may not. 15:18 My Bible tells me that these people in the Scriptures, 15:23 thrown in a fiery furnace, thrown in prison, 15:26 they had faith. 15:28 And this is your faith book. 15:31 We are to say, you know what, 15:32 I don't care what the devil throws at me, 15:34 I will have faith. 15:37 You know, if you talk faith, you have faith. 15:40 So let's go on to the next point, 15:42 you're in the store, what did they do? 15:44 Discouragement loves to talk. 15:48 Hey, you know, we just feel like 15:50 when the discouragement is brimming up, 15:52 we just have to say, how you doing? 15:54 Ah, horrible. 15:57 Okay, did that feel good to get it out? 16:00 Now you just made somebody else feel miserable. 16:05 Misery likes... 16:07 you know it here too. 16:12 But if you would do this, I'm going to praise the Lord 16:18 when I feel miserable. 16:20 I'm going to praise the Lord 16:22 when everything seems to go wrong. 16:24 Take your Bible and turn with me to Habakkuk. 16:27 The Book of Habakkuk. You say, where is Habakkuk? 16:30 It's in the Bible. 16:31 And you might need to search a little bit for it, 16:34 but let me tell you, it's after the Book of Daniel. 16:36 Go to Daniel, 16:37 and we're going to look here at Habakkuk. 16:40 You can go to Matthew and back up too, 16:41 I suppose for that matter. 16:43 And we're going to look here Habakkuk. 16:46 Habakkuk. All right. 16:48 We're going to look there at Habakkuk 2. 16:53 We got to have faith. 16:55 We got to have faith. We got to trust Jesus. 16:58 Notice here, Habakkuk 2:2, 17:00 "Then the Lord answered and said: 17:02 "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, 17:04 That he may run who reads it for the vision 17:07 is yet for an appointed time." 17:10 Does God give you a vision? 17:12 You better believe that God wants you to have a dream. 17:16 God wants you to have a vision. 17:18 You got to have something to look forward to. 17:21 You got to have a vision. 17:22 You got to have a dream. 17:23 You got to have some goals. 17:25 You got to have some plans and you submit it to the Lord 17:28 and He will give you the desires of your heart, 17:30 if it's His will beloved. 17:32 Notice this, "For the vision is yet for an appointed time," 17:35 God has His timing. 17:37 "But at the end," Notice here, 17:39 "But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. 17:42 Though it tarries, wait for it in faith." 17:45 That's what the Bible saying. 17:47 "Because it will surely come, it will not tarry. 17:51 Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him 17:53 but they just shall live by faith," 17:56 a faith that will take you into the Promised Land. 17:59 You're not going to the Promised Land 18:01 except by faith. 18:02 You're not going to make it except by faith. 18:04 You cannot get out of that discouragement 18:07 except by faith. 18:08 You got to have faith to overcome. 18:10 You got to have faith to overcome sin, 18:12 self, and Satan. 18:14 You got to have some faith to get you above the world. 18:17 Because if you don't have faith, 18:20 you don't have peace, you don't have joy. 18:23 You don't have a closeness with God. 18:26 You don't have any power. 18:27 Faith is what connects us with Jesus. 18:31 Christ dwells in our heart by faith. 18:34 Ephesians 3:17 says, 18:36 Christ dwells in your heart by faith. 18:38 Now you see why the devil's trying to discourage you. 18:41 Because if you can let go your faith, you know what, 18:43 you are not allowing Jesus to have room in your heart. 18:47 How many agree, this is no time for unbelief 18:49 in the camp? 18:51 This is no time for us to start being discouraged 18:55 and start, you know, voicing our complaints 18:58 and just going wild with our thoughts 19:01 and wild with our words. 19:02 No, no, no, death and life 19:04 are in the power of the tongue. 19:07 You speak faith, you get your faith multiply 19:10 and you bless somebody in the process. 19:13 Talk faith, and you'll have faith. 19:15 Talk to Jesus, and you'll have more of Jesus. 19:18 If you and I talk more about Jesus, 19:21 we would have more of His presence. 19:26 Why do you think He's given us His word? 19:28 That we might speak it. 19:30 How many of you agree, this is not just for the head, 19:32 this is for the mouth? 19:33 The Bible says in Romans 10, that you believe in your heart 19:36 and a confession with your mouth. 19:39 And it's all part of salvation. 19:41 "If you confess me before men, 19:43 I'll confess you before my father," Matthew 10:32. 19:46 How about if we start talking about Jesus? 19:49 "Oh, I long for revival among God's people, 19:53 I long for the time 19:55 when we feel that the presence of Jesus 19:58 is so pronounce that where the spirit of the Lord 20:01 is there is liberty." 20:03 2 Corinthians 3:17. 20:05 But we're in bondages, 20:06 slavement and discouragement, and unbelief. 20:09 We got to break those shackles with the help of Jesus 20:11 and start praising Him 20:13 and start being happy in Jesus. 20:15 Amen. 20:17 They say, you know, the preachers 20:18 have preached himself happy. 20:20 Well, I did that early on here tonight. 20:22 I want you to notice, "Live by faith." 20:24 That's how you live. Can I make it plain? 20:27 If you don't live by faith, you're not really living, 20:32 you're not really living, you're just existing. 20:33 And most people are content to just get by with existence. 20:38 Beloved, don't just survive, thrive. 20:42 Don't just exist, make progress. 20:47 Make progress, take. 20:49 How many of you agree, you can live the promised life 20:51 now in preparation for the Promised Land 20:53 in the near future? 20:55 Your promised life, you can live it now. 20:58 He's come that we might have life in heaven 20:59 more abundantly. 21:01 If you are going through a personal crisis in your life, 21:04 if you are facing financial challenges, 21:07 if you are suffering from health problem, 21:09 if your marriage is needing a miracle, 21:11 if you have a special concern for your children? 21:13 Whatever you need maybe give us a call 21:16 and we will pray with you. 21:17 For your prayer requests, call us at 1-855-336-FREE. 21:23 "If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed." 21:26 John 8:36. 21:33 Look here at Habakkuk 3. 21:36 Habakkuk 3, all right. 21:37 Give you a moment to locate that, verse 17. 21:40 This is powerful. 21:41 You're going through trial, so am I. 21:44 All right. 21:45 I want you to notice some negatives in this passage 21:49 and how the negatives are turned into a positive. 21:52 All right. Are you ready? 21:54 "Though the fig tree may not blossom." 21:56 All right. Problem number one. 21:59 And of course, he's kind of just echoing 22:03 and repeating himself. 22:04 But okay, that's number one. 22:05 "Nor fruit be on the vines." 22:07 That's another negative. 22:09 "Though the labor of the olive may fail." 22:10 Another negative. 22:12 "And the fields yield no food." 22:13 That's a negative. 22:15 "Though the flock may be cut off from the fold." 22:18 Another negative. 22:19 "And there be no herd in the stalls." 22:20 Another negative. 22:22 "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord." 22:27 All right, let me translate that, 22:30 though you lose your job, 22:33 though your marriage is having problems, 22:38 though your children don't give you respect, 22:41 though it seems that some don't like you, 22:45 though your health is not the best, 22:48 you can continue. 22:49 Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. 22:53 Because if you can learn the song in the night, 22:55 you will always sing it. 22:58 If you will praise Him in the tough times, 23:00 you will always praise Him. 23:02 Come on, don't you want to know who you are in Christ? 23:07 Don't you want to know-- 23:08 the Bible says, examine yourself. 23:11 You know, God's examining us, 23:13 testing us because He loves us. 23:15 But the Bible says, don't just do that. 23:17 You examine yourself to see if you're even in the faith, 23:20 2 Corinthians 13:5. 23:22 How many of you agree, you got to examine to even see, 23:24 are you really trusting Jesus? 23:26 Because that will keep him in perfect peace, 23:29 whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee. 23:31 What's the point? I love that scripture. 23:33 Listen, Isaiah 26:3. 23:35 Another words, what helps us to keep our mind on Jesus? 23:40 How many of you agree, our mind wanders, 23:41 there are so many distractions. 23:43 How do you keep your mind on Jesus? 23:46 That will keep him in perfect peace 23:48 whose mind is stayed in thee. 23:51 That will keep him in perfect peace 23:53 whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee. 23:57 When you say, Lord, here's my problem. 23:59 Lord, here's my perplexity. 24:01 Lord, here's my confusion. 24:02 Lord, here's my heartache. 24:04 Lord, here's my burden. You know what? 24:06 You're giving it to Jesus, you're trusting in Him. 24:08 And you know what? 24:10 When you're giving it all to Jesus, 24:11 give it all, give it all to Jesus. 24:14 You know what, it helps you to keep your mind on Him. 24:16 But if you're not giving it to Him, you know what? 24:18 You're left with what? 24:20 Your problems to dwell upon, and brood over, 24:22 and think over, and given in to self-pity, 24:24 and murmuring, complaining and so forth. 24:26 Where the Lord says, tell me about it, 24:28 give it to me, give it to me, give it to me. 24:30 And what are you left with? Peace. 24:32 The passive understanding. 24:35 Joy unspeakable, full of glory. 24:38 How many are thankful that He carries you? 24:40 The Bible says in Isaiah 46:4, 24:43 it says, I will carry you even to grey hairs. 24:49 I want you to notice here, back to Numbers. 24:51 Let's go back to Numbers now. 24:53 We're back there in the wilderness. 24:54 Go there quickly, Numbers 21. 24:57 Number 21 and let's look there now once again a verse 5. 25:02 "And the people spoke against God, against Moses." 25:05 They became unreasonable. 25:08 Their situation, 25:10 you know, not being able to have just the right bread 25:12 and being out there. 25:14 They were seeing things, 25:16 listen, in an exaggerated light. 25:21 Be careful because when you get discouraged, 25:24 the devil magnifies your problems. 25:29 The devil is in the business of inflating your problem. 25:35 The Lord is in the business-- 25:38 Psalm 61, David said, when my heart is overwhelmed, 25:41 lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 25:45 Psalm 61:1-3. 25:47 You know we go around sometimes, 25:48 talking as if we had no savior. 25:51 "My savior is at my right hand, 25:54 I have set the Lord always before me. 25:57 Because He's at my right hand, I shall not be moved." 26:00 Psalm 16:8. 26:01 The power is in Jesus 26:03 but you got to have faith in Him. 26:07 I live by faith of the Son of God who love me 26:09 and gave Himself for me, Galatians 2:20. 26:11 Now watch this. 26:14 Bible makes it very clear 26:15 they went on a complaining spree. 26:18 I mean they just open the hatch 26:19 and out came all the complaints. 26:22 Beloved, that grieves the Holy Spirit. 26:26 And what happened? 26:27 God allowed them to have something to complain about. 26:31 Be careful 26:32 because, if you think you have a hard life, 26:35 you begin to start to complain, 26:37 that's not going to get you out of your circumstances, 26:39 it just makes things worse. 26:43 I want you to notice what happened. 26:45 The Bible says here in verse 6, 26:48 "So the Lord sent fiery serpents," 26:50 that is He allowed them, "among the people." 26:52 Question, where the serpents there already? 26:55 They were, they were in the crevices, 26:57 and in the rocks and so forth. 26:59 Would you agree, God was there to protect them? 27:06 God was there to sustain them and to be with them. 27:09 But when they begin to complain, 27:11 the protecting hand of God was withdrawn to some extent. 27:16 And I want you to notice, these venomous serpents, 27:19 these death inducing serpents came out of every crevice, 27:24 they infiltrated every tent 27:26 and there was terror in the camp. 27:30 "The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people 27:35 and they bit the people, 27:36 and many of the people of Israel died." 27:38 I don't know how many 27:40 but there was death in the camp of Israel. 27:43 I can hear shrieks of terror, 27:46 shrieks of horror, screams of death, 27:51 screams of grief and heartbreak, 27:54 his children were dying and moms and dads were dying. 27:59 Can you imagine the gravity of the situation, 28:02 the abject horror of the situation? 28:06 Yelling and screaming, no hope, just death. 28:14 Do you think that they were thinking at that time, 28:17 we're tired of this bread, we're tired of Moses? 28:20 We want to go back to Egypt. 28:22 They were only thinking about one thing. 28:26 We don't want our children to die. 28:29 We don't want mommy to die, we don't want daddy to die, 28:32 we don't want to die. 28:34 Oh, God, save us from death. 28:38 When you start to complain, 28:40 you have to put it in perspective. 28:44 What if you had no hope of salvation? 28:48 How many are thankful 28:50 that you've got a chance that there's hope? 28:55 If you're breathing, your heart ticking, 28:57 there's still a window of opportunity, 29:02 there's still hope for tomorrow. 29:05 But we've all been bitten by sin, 29:08 we've all been bitten, 29:09 we've all felt the venom going coursing through our veins. 29:13 The Bible says, the heart is deceitful 29:15 and desperately wicked, Jeremiah 17:9. 29:19 That sounds like the potency of the bite of sin. 29:25 We bit into that apple and the serpent bit us. 29:30 We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, 29:32 and you know what, in our world, 29:34 there are shrieks of terror, there is terror in the camp, 29:38 there is terror in the world, there is terror in the church. 29:42 You know what? 29:43 There's only one hope. 29:45 There's only one hope. 29:46 I want you to notice here, they were bit. 29:50 "Therefore the people came to Moses, 29:53 and said, 'We have sinned, 29:55 for we have spoken against the Lord." 29:57 All right, here comes confession. 29:59 If you want to turn your situation around, 30:02 if you want to have re-conversion, 30:04 if you want to have revival in your life, 30:06 you have to make some confession. 30:09 And that is a daily basis because the closer we come 30:12 to Christ, the more unworthy and defective 30:16 and faulty we'll appear in our own eyes. 30:19 So this confession business, 30:20 the repentance business just deepens, and deepens, 30:23 and deepens. 30:27 Feel unworthy, you qualify for Savior. 30:31 Feel you're desperation, qualify for a Savior. 30:34 You feel like you're the chief of sinners, 30:36 you qualify for Savior. 30:39 Our Savior saves people who despair outside of Christ. 30:45 Realize there's no hope outside of Christ, 30:47 like the thief on the cross... 30:51 Who said, vwe deserve what we're getting, this man, 30:55 this man doesn't deserve this. 30:57 Would you remember me? 31:00 It was his only hope. 31:02 It was his only hope. 31:04 He looked to Jesus, 31:08 he looked away from himself to Jesus. 31:13 He knew he was a condemned criminal 31:15 but he looked to Jesus and said, 31:18 you know, he's a perfect man. 31:20 Would you remember me? 31:21 I mean, you're going to go to heaven. 31:22 I mean, you're the son of God. 31:24 Would you remember me? 31:26 Salvation is looking away from yourself, 31:30 we're all criminals condemned to die. 31:33 We're all like the children of Israel, 31:35 we've all been bitten. 31:37 Not all of the children of Israel were bitten 31:41 but those who are bitten died. 31:44 There was no antidote until something happen. 31:49 There was no hope, no detour around death. 31:54 I want you to notice here, "We have sinned." 32:01 When was the last time you broke down and cried 32:02 before the Lord? 32:05 You know what the devil does. 32:07 He keeps us so busy. 32:08 We don't even have time to be touched by the Lord 32:12 because the devil knows if you pause and spend time, 32:15 quality quiet time with God you will be touched, 32:20 you will be moved, your heart will warm 32:24 with the love of God 32:25 and your heart will be transformed. 32:27 The devil knows that God can save you. 32:30 The devil knows that God can give you 32:32 revival in your life. 32:33 The devil knows the good things can happen 32:35 within your heart so he just got to keep you busy 32:38 and distracted. 32:40 I'm here to tell you, you've been bitten, 32:43 you better look fast. 32:44 You've been bitten, don't be distracted. 32:46 It could be a fatal distraction. 32:49 So the lethal bite, 32:52 there was only one antidote. 32:55 They came to Moses, 32:57 we sinned, we really sinned. 33:02 "For we have spoken against the Lord and against you." 33:06 Confession is specific. 33:09 Don't just say, hey, Lord, forgive me for all my sins. 33:11 Now it's true, you know, Lord, 33:13 I just want to cover all bases, you know, Lord, 33:15 if there's any other sin, just forgive me. 33:17 And if you bring something to your mind 33:19 though you want to specifically confess it. 33:23 Confession must be of a specific nature. 33:27 And you can't rush it because you don't even know 33:31 your own heart. 33:33 We don't know our own heart. 33:35 We must spend time before the Lord, 33:37 searching our heart because the bite of sin 33:40 is worse than you ever imagine. 33:42 Look at what happened to Jesus when 33:44 He received the bite of sin for you and me. 33:47 He never sinned but He got, He felt the venom. 33:51 He never sin. Thank God, He never sinned. 33:54 Hallelujah. 33:56 My Jesus is perfect, but He took it all for us. 34:00 I want you to notice here, 34:02 "Pray to the Lord." Moses is that type of Christ. 34:05 How many agree, we can pray to God 34:07 in the name of Jesus. 34:11 "Pray to the Lord that He take away 34:13 the serpents from us. 34:15 So Moses prayed for the people." 34:19 Do you have loved ones that have been bitten? 34:22 How many of you know loved ones 34:25 that are not ready to die but they have been bitten? 34:27 You need to tell them, look to Jesus. 34:32 And they need to see Jesus in you. 34:36 They need to see and feel Jesus in you. 34:39 You say, when I bring up Jesus, man, 34:42 it just goes wild. 34:43 I mean, it deteriorates. 34:45 They don't want to hear about it. 34:47 But you can shine for Jesus without saying one word. 34:52 You can pray, Lord, help that glory to shine so much 34:55 in my face that they see a powerful sermon 34:58 right there in my face. 35:01 And then in the very tone of my voice 35:03 they can tell it subdue. 35:08 People don't like to be preached to. 35:11 But they do like to be loved. 35:15 And let your love be a sermon. 35:18 And by the way, people like to listen to people they like. 35:22 Be a likable person, 35:23 be a loving, lovable Christian 35:26 and point people dying in their sins 35:30 to look at Jesus by looking at you reflecting Jesus. 35:38 Look, the Bible says here, 35:43 "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a fiery serpent, 35:47 and set it on a pole and it shall be 35:49 that everyone who is bitten, when he looks..." 35:52 Notice here, "When he looks at it, he shall live.". 35:57 Look and live. 35:58 Now I want you to notice the simplicity of this. 36:00 I want you to notice symbolism of this. 36:02 I want you to notice the antidote in here. 36:05 They were bitten, they were died. 36:08 The bite lead to certain death. 36:12 But the look would lead to a certain life. 36:15 It wasn't-- there's a possibility, 36:17 there wasn't just a chance one in a million 36:21 that if you look, you know, a good percentage or say, 36:24 let me tell you something, my Bible is telling me 36:27 something about Jesus. 36:29 My Bible is telling me something about the good news. 36:31 My Bible is telling me something 36:33 that if you've been bitten, it's not complicated, 36:36 look away from your bite, 36:38 look away from your sinful self, 36:41 look to Jesus because in the gaze, 36:44 there is fullness of salvation. 36:46 In the look upon Jesus, there is salvation 36:50 because salvation is all from beginning to end, 36:53 looking on to Jesus there is salvation, 36:57 not knowing about Jesus, but looking to Jesus. 37:02 That's why the devil is so busy. 37:04 So many distractions, television programs. 37:06 I'm not saying it's wrong to watch television, 37:08 I'm just saying let Jesus and you 37:10 make that joint decision. 37:11 Can you say amen? 37:14 I'm just saying, you got to make sure 37:16 that you pray without ceasing. 37:18 And if you watch programs and listen to music 37:20 that seems they interrupt your communion with God, 37:22 don't watch it, don't listen to it. 37:24 There's nothing more important than making sure 37:28 that you give your bite to Jesus. 37:31 You give those wounds the Jesus. 37:32 I'm here to tell you, you got to let Jesus 37:35 heal will you of your wounds. 37:38 Because it festers and it gets worse 37:40 when we're not looking to Jesus. 37:44 Look and live. 37:46 Sudden changes are about to catch the world 37:49 by surprise. 37:50 Amazing Bible prophecies are fast fulfilling. 37:54 Do ancient prophecies predict the sudden economic collapse? 37:57 Will the Middle East crisis erupt into World War III? 38:01 Are we living on the eve of Armageddon? 38:03 How will the final moves of the antichrist affect you? 38:07 What is the future of the United States of America? 38:10 How will natural disasters usher in the mark of the beast? 38:14 Now you can watch the entire Amazing Prophecy series 38:18 of 32 hope filled messages on DVD. 38:22 Don't guess about the future, know the future. 38:25 The complete set of DVDs 38:27 is available for a gift of $60 or more. 38:30 Call us at 1-855-336-FREE or you can send a check 38:35 or money order to Forever Free Ministries, 38:38 2001 Munro Park, Corinth, Texas, 76208. 38:43 You can also visit us online at foreverfreeministries.org. 38:49 Now watch this, this is powerful. 38:51 I want you to notice here, 38:54 "Then the Lord said, 'Make a fiery serpent, 38:59 this bronze serpent, 39:01 and set it on a pole." 39:04 Why? 39:05 So anybody from any direction on the compass, 39:10 wherever they got bit, 39:12 they can be told, look that way, 39:16 there's the cross, 39:19 there's the serpent on the pole. 39:22 Look. 39:23 Would you agree, 39:25 that sentence seem to make any sense whatsoever? 39:30 Looking at a snake? 39:31 I just got bit by a snake. 39:35 Why am I going to look at a snake 39:36 when the snake is killing me? 39:41 Because Moses said that God told them to do it. 39:45 And they had no other hope. 39:52 So in faith, in God's word, 39:58 they obeyed. 40:00 Those who obeyed and they looked, 40:04 instantaneously they were healed. 40:11 They were restored. 40:14 One look. Steady gaze. 40:20 I can see them there, 40:21 I bet you, they weren't distracted. 40:24 I bet you, they weren't kind of looking over there 40:26 and looking up. 40:27 Let me tell you something. 40:28 When you're dying and they're told, 40:32 if you look you can live, 40:33 I bet you that was a focused look. 40:38 You've been bitten, beloved. 40:40 I've been bitten. You got to focus. 40:44 You got to rivet your attention on Jesus. 40:47 You got to sharpen your focus by studying the Word. 40:50 You got to read the scriptures to the point 40:53 where scriptures are just like a well of water 40:55 springing up unto everlasting life. 41:00 Look, and live. 41:04 You know when they looked, 41:06 and you could see it in their face. 41:10 How many of you agree, when they were bitten, 41:11 you could see death in their face? 41:14 But when they were restored, how many of you agree, 41:16 they saw it in the face, they saw it in the face. 41:19 Beloved, when you are looking to Jesus, 41:23 it's written all over your face. 41:29 Bible does not say, make your life shine, 41:31 it says let it shine. 41:34 Abide in Me and I in you. 41:36 The branch cannot bear fruit of itself 41:38 except it abide in the vine. 41:41 Neither can you, except you abide in the vine. 41:45 Without Me you can do nothing. 41:47 Now listen to me, all what we need in the camp 41:53 is men and women and boys and girls 41:56 who've gone to the Lord, 41:57 confess their sins on a daily basis, 42:00 giving their heart to Jesus, praising Him 42:02 no matter what their adversity, no matter what their problem, 42:05 they're praising God and they come forth 42:08 from their chambers of prayer and quiet time with Jesus, 42:10 they come forth, shining, shining, shining for Jesus. 42:16 Let me tell you something. 42:18 There will be conversions, there will be revival, 42:21 there will be reformation, there will be baptisms, 42:24 there will be re-baptisms. 42:25 Come on now, if we begin to shine, that's contagious, 42:31 that's contagious. 42:32 Don't you want people to want what you have? 42:37 You got to look and live. 42:39 Otherwise you know what, if you're not looking to Jesus, 42:41 you have death written all over your face. 42:43 Come on now. Would you agree? 42:46 You can look at certain people, just glance at them 42:49 and you can tell them, they are death warmed over. 42:52 You can look at some people, 42:54 I don't care they might be wealthy, 42:56 but in their face you can see they have no hope. 42:58 Or you can see a person 43:00 that's just all caught up in themselves. 43:01 The face is an index to the heart. 43:07 The face is an index to the heart. 43:10 You've been bitten, it's written on your face. 43:12 But when you look, your face shows 43:16 that you've got life in here now. 43:18 You got some life in there. 43:20 Because you look at Jesus, He puts His spirit in you. 43:26 Hallelujah. 43:28 It's just that simple, look and live, 43:33 and receive the vibrancy of the Holy Spirit, 43:36 the buoyancy of faith, an increase in trust, 43:39 and more joy in the Lord which is your strength. 43:44 I want you to notice here, "So Moses made 43:47 a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole and so it was, 43:50 if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked 43:53 at the bronze serpent, he lived." 43:54 One of the most familiar Scriptures is John 3:16, 43:57 for God so loved the world and so forth. 44:00 But the preceding verses, let's go there very quickly, 44:03 John 3. 44:04 John 3, in that nighttime conference, 44:07 in that nighttime conference with Nicodemus. 44:12 I want you to notice what Jesus said 44:14 preceding that most familiar passage of John 3:16. 44:17 We look here verse 14. 44:19 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 44:22 even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 44:26 that whoever believes in Him should not perish." 44:30 Now do you understand the word perish? 44:34 Now do you understand the word perish? 44:35 What were they doing in the wilderness? 44:37 Perishing. 44:38 What does that mean? Death. Death. 44:42 The wages of sin is death, eternal death, Romans 6:23. 44:46 Now watch this, I want you to notice here, 44:50 "That whoever believes in Him." All right? 44:53 Listen carefully. 44:55 What does it mean to believe in Him in this context? 44:58 To look to Him. 45:00 Why a serpent? Because Jesus was cursed. 45:04 Cursed is anyone that hangs on a tree, Galatians 3:13. 45:08 He was cursed for us, he who knew no sin 45:10 became sin for us that we might be made 45:13 in the righteousness of God in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:21. 45:16 Now watch this, what came up after sin? 45:21 Thorns. 45:22 Those thorns, symbolic of the curse 45:24 were on the head of Jesus. 45:27 What happen to the serpent? Cursed. 45:30 What went on the pole? A serpent. Why? 45:33 Because Jesus took the curse of sin for us. 45:38 And the Bible says, we've all been bitten. 45:40 Now watch this, this is powerful. 45:42 Watch this, we've all been bitten. 45:43 And the Bible says, that bite, you will perish 45:46 unless you believe in Him. 45:48 What's the opposite of the perishing? 45:51 Looking. Looking is believing. 45:55 Looking to Jesus, dwelling upon Jesus, 45:58 talking of Jesus, think about Jesus, 46:00 this is salvation, this is looking on to Him 46:04 who is the author and finisher of our faith, 46:06 Hebrews 12:2. 46:07 Salvation is a gaze. 46:11 Salvation is that look. 46:17 Many people know about Jesus 46:20 but they'll die an eternal death. 46:28 I want you to notice, he's speaking to a church goer, 46:32 Nicodemus was a devout man, who is a respected man, 46:36 a renowned man. 46:38 But I want you to notice here, he's telling him, 46:41 you need to experience this or you going to perish. 46:46 "Whoever believes in Him should not perish 46:48 but have everlasting life." 46:51 Now I want you to think about this. 46:54 I want you to think about this with me, 46:56 go with me in the scriptures, go with me to Ephesians 2. 47:02 Ephesians 2, go there with me very quickly if you would. 47:07 Ephesians 2. 47:14 When you have it, say amen. 47:24 All right. 47:29 Ephesians 2. This is very powerful. 47:38 "And you He made alive, 47:41 who were dead in trespasses and sin." 47:45 What a deplorable despairing situation, dead in sin. 47:51 What does it mean to be dead in sin? 47:52 You can't get out of it. 47:55 Can a dead person move, yes or no? 47:58 Can a dead person change where they are at? 48:01 Dead means that's the way you are, 48:04 that's the way you stay. 48:06 Dead in sin. 48:08 You and I cannot change our sinful heart, 48:12 that venom is too lethal, too potent, 48:15 too death inducing but Jesus can. 48:19 I don't know how He does it but He comes into our heart 48:23 and makes us hate sin. 48:26 And not only hate sin, 48:28 you know, there are many people in the bar, 48:30 they hate what they're doing but they're going to do it 48:31 anyway because they are slave to it. 48:35 But you cannot only hate sin 48:37 but now you can have victory over sin. 48:41 Victory in Jesus. 48:44 Come on now, somebody talk to me about victory in Jesus. 48:49 Somebody tell me that you can be an overcomer. 48:52 Somebody tell me that you have conquered the dragon, 48:55 that Jesus has given you the victory. 48:58 Thanks be to God who give us the victory 49:00 through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:57. 49:04 The demons cannot hang around this kind of language of faith, 49:07 the devil can't hang around. 49:08 The Bible says resist him. How do you do that? By faith. 49:11 Let me tell you something, you want to be happy? 49:13 Talk faith and you'll have faith. 49:15 Even let the weak say I am strong, Joel 3:10. 49:19 My grace is sufficient for you. 49:21 Come on now, let's talk scripture, 49:23 let's pray scripture, let's be the walking Bible. 49:26 Can you say amen? 49:29 Ephesians 2, 49:31 even the babes will cry out and praise the God. 49:33 Amen. 49:34 Look at here now, "And you He made alive, 49:37 who were dead in trespasses and sins, 49:40 in which you once walked according to the course-- " 49:43 the course, notice here, of this world. 49:48 "According to the prince of the power of the air, 49:50 the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience." 49:55 But notice here, verse 4, "But God, 49:58 who is rich in mercy, because of His great love 50:01 with which He loved us, even when we were dead 50:04 in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, 50:10 by grace you have been saved." 50:11 And I love this, "And raised us up together, 50:15 and made us sit together 50:17 in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." 50:20 Beloved, do you know what you just read? 50:22 By faith we are right up there with Jesus. 50:26 We're right up there with Jesus. 50:28 How many agree, you don't ever want to leave Jesus? 50:30 So stay with Him by faith. Amen. 50:33 By faith we are right there. Can you hear His voice? 50:36 Can you hear Him pleading His blood 50:37 in the heavenly sanctuary? 50:40 It's almost over, beloved. 50:41 He's not coming as a priest, He's coming as a king. 50:43 We are living in the hour of judgment. 50:45 It's time to keep your eyes on the prize. 50:48 It's time to keep your eyes on Jesus. 50:50 It's time to give your bite and your wounds to Jesus. 50:53 You don't have time to focus on your faults. 50:56 You don't have time to focus on the faults of others. 50:58 You don't have time to talk junk. 51:00 You don't have time to think junk. 51:02 You only have time, a little bit of time 51:05 to look to Jesus and get to know Him. 51:07 Because this is life eternal that they might know thee, 51:10 the only true God and Jesus Christ 51:13 whom he has sent, that's life eternal, John 17:3. 51:17 Now listen carefully. 51:19 My Bible tells me that He's made us alive. 51:22 So why don't we walk and act like we are alive? 51:24 How do you think those people acted after they were bit 51:27 and they were dying, 51:29 and then they looked and they were alive? 51:30 Do you think there was a party there? 51:32 At least in that tent. 51:33 Do you think there was a celebration there? 51:36 Do you think that they were praising God? 51:38 Do you think they were continuing to complain? 51:41 Eventually they go back to it, but at least for them, 51:43 were they happy, were they joyful? 51:45 How many agree, you must never forget 51:47 how He's delivered you? 51:48 How can you and I ever go back to complaining, 51:51 no matter what our lot, 51:52 when we have been delivered from the venom. 51:55 We have been delivered from that bite of the serpent. 51:58 I don't know about you, but I'm just praising God here tonight 52:01 because I've been set free, for ever free in Christ. 52:05 Can you say amen? 52:06 He whom the Son has set free shall be free indeed. 52:10 I believe he set us free. 52:12 I believe, oh, yeah, we got to face temptations 52:15 and they are fierce and formidable and frequent. 52:19 But Jesus' grace. 52:21 You know the Bible says, you put up that shield of faith. 52:23 How many agree, nothing can get by that shield of faith, 52:25 nothing? 52:27 The Bible say, use the shield of faith 52:28 to guard your heart. 52:30 And the Bible says, you need to guard your heart, 52:32 keep your heart with all diligence, 52:34 for out of it are the issues of life. 52:35 Guard it with faith. 52:36 When you let down your faith, your heart is exposed, 52:38 the doubt, unbelief, cruel unbelief. 52:42 Once you open the door to unbelief, 52:44 no telling what you're going to be thinking and saying. 52:46 You know, you got to put up that shield of faith. 52:49 You say, Mark, I want more faith. 52:51 Faith comes by hearing, and hearing of the word of God. 52:56 You don't have faith in your faith. 52:59 Many are putting the burden on themselves 53:02 when the burden is on Jesus. 53:06 The faith is not by feelings. Faith is not feeling. 53:12 Feelings change, faith says. 53:16 You see, faith has a language. Faith says something. 53:20 Faith always has something to say within the heart 53:24 and wherever we go we have a language. 53:27 It's the language of heaven. Trusting Jesus. 53:32 Faith has a language. 53:35 Faith speaks, faith expresses. 53:40 Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 53:44 Would you agree when you have faith, 53:46 it brings you close to Jesus and you can't hide Jesus. 53:50 You can't hide Jesus. 53:53 In 1918, mid 1918, my father, 53:59 my grandfather, a lieutenant in the infantry, 54:03 my dad shares this, shipped overseas 54:06 and after training many others to fight 54:09 on the battlefields of Europe. 54:11 At the age 23, he felt called to take the battle 54:15 to the enemy, in person he pleaded, 54:17 I want to get out where the big guns are. 54:21 In September 1918, his wish was granted. 54:26 One morning at daybreak 54:29 he let his platoon out of the trenches 54:32 and he told me years later, 54:34 that it seemed there were so many bullets, 54:38 so many bullets zinging through the air 54:40 that you could reach out and grab a handful anytime. 54:44 No surprise then that one of those bullets 54:47 struck him in the foot, he fell into a shell hole. 54:52 Canadian stretcher bearers picked him up 54:55 attempting to get him out of harm's way 54:57 but responding to the wine of a big shell, 55:01 they dropped the stretcher and drove for cover, 55:04 leaving my future father exposed on the battlefield. 55:08 That's my grandfather. 55:10 When that big shell exploded, it ripped 55:12 my father's right arm off four inches from his shoulder. 55:17 The shrapnel also tore off 55:19 the index finger on his left hand 55:21 and nearly destroyed his one remaining thumb. 55:25 That day, in a few minutes of time, 55:28 his entire platoon was killed. 55:32 And though he was the first to be wounded, 55:36 he was the only survivor. 55:40 A few days later he wrote to his fiance, 55:44 my grandmother, Helen Fox. 55:48 That letter was written 55:50 with a pen clenched in his teeth. 55:55 His words are heart rending. 55:57 He says, as I recall, 56:01 "I am not the man I was when I left you, 56:04 pieces of me are left on the battlefield. 56:08 If you feel the need to look elsewhere I will understand." 56:13 But my future mother, my grandmother 56:15 had already at age 18, developed a loyal 56:20 and courageous love. 56:23 She was in the Navy, working at the Brooklyn, 56:25 New York Naval Base as a Secretary, 56:28 and when the word of the arrival 56:31 of his hospital ship got to her, 56:33 she went A-wall. 56:35 So she would be the first to greet him 56:38 and affirm her undying love 56:40 for her grievously stricken angel, 56:43 she loved his appearing. 56:47 Their eight children 56:49 are beneficiaries of an uncommon love. 56:54 I'm here to tell you that very soon 56:57 we're going to look up, we're going to see the scars, 57:00 we're going to see the battle wounds, 57:02 and we're going to say, You have come to save me, 57:06 I waited for You and I love Your appearing. 57:10 And we're going to go to that marriage celebration. 57:14 Oh, bride, get ready, it's time to look up, 57:19 for your redemption draws nigh. 57:22 Shall we pray? 57:24 Oh, my loving Jesus, we're almost home. 57:29 Hallelujah. 57:30 In Jesus' name, amen. 57:34 Although sudden and alarming changes 57:36 are sweeping across the globe you and your family 57:39 can be prepared to face the future with comforts. 57:43 The complete set of Amazing Prophecies on DVD 57:46 are available for a gift of $60 or more. 57:50 Call us at 1-855-336-FREE 57:54 or send your check or money order 57:56 to Forever Free Ministries, 57:58 2001 Munro Park, Corinth, Texas, 76208. 58:13 If you would like to have Mark Fox 58:14 hold an Amazing Prophecy seminar 58:16 or a marriage seminar weekend in your church, 58:19 contact us today, 58:21 markfox @foreverfreeministrie s.org. |
Revised 2015-11-09