[MUSIC]
00:00:00.53\00:00:05.86
? SEEMS I'VE IMAGINED
HIM ? ? ALL OF MY LIFE ?
00:00:09.73\00:00:14.00
? AS THE WISEST ?
? OF ALL OF MANKIND ?
00:00:14.00\00:00:18.76
? BUT IF GOD'S HOLY
WISDOM ? ? IS FOOLISH TO MAN ?
00:00:18.76\00:00:23.56
? HE MUST HAVE
SEEMED ? ? OUT OF HIS MIND ?
00:00:23.56\00:00:28.33
? FOR EVEN HIS
FAMILY SAID ? ? HE WAS MAD ?
00:00:28.33\00:00:32.63
? AND THE PRIEST SAID
? ? A DEMON'S TO BLAME ?
00:00:32.63\00:00:37.43
? BUT GOD IN THE FORM ?
? OF THIS ANGRY YOUNG MAN ?
00:00:37.43\00:00:42.16
? COULD NOT HAVE
SEEMED ? ? PERFECTLY SANE ?
00:00:42.16\00:00:47.16
? BUT WE IN OUR FOOLISHNESS
? ? THOUGHT WE WERE WISE ?
00:00:47.16\00:00:52.03
? HE PLAYED THE FOOL ?
? AND HE OPENED OUR EYES ?
00:00:52.03\00:00:56.46
? BUT WE IN OUR WEAKNESS ?
? BELIEVED WE WERE STRONG ?
00:00:56.46\00:01:01.16
? HE BECAME HELPLESS ?
? TO SHOW WE WERE WRONG ?
00:01:01.16\00:01:07.10
? AND SO WE FOLLOW
? ? GOD'S OWN FOOL ?
00:01:07.10\00:01:11.86
? BUT ONLY THE
FOOLISH ? ? CAN TELL ?
00:01:11.86\00:01:16.60
? BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE
? ? COME BE A FOOL AS WELL ?
00:01:16.60\00:01:26.60
[MUSIC]
00:01:27.60\00:01:32.60
? SO COME LOSE YOUR LIFE
? ? FOR A CARPENTER'S SON ?
00:01:36.06\00:01:40.73
? FOR A MAD MAN WHO
DIED ? ? FOR A DREAM ?
00:01:40.73\00:01:45.70
? AND YOU'LL HAVE THE FAITH
? ? HIS FIRST FOLLOWERS HAD ?
00:01:45.70\00:01:50.33
? AND YOU'LL FEEL ? ?
THE WEIGHT OF THE BEAM ?
00:01:50.33\00:01:55.00
? SO SURRENDER THE HUNGER
? ? TO SAY YOU MUST KNOW ?
00:01:55.00\00:01:59.46
? HAVE THE COURAGE
TO SAY ? ? I BELIEVE ?
00:01:59.46\00:02:04.20
? FOR THE POWER OF
PARADOX ? ? OPENS YOUR EYES ?
00:02:04.20\00:02:09.16
? AND BLINDS THOSE ?
? WHO SAY THEY CAN SEE ?
00:02:09.16\00:02:14.03
? BUT WE IN OUR FOOLISHNESS
? ? THOUGHT WE WERE WISE ?
00:02:14.03\00:02:18.70
? HE PLAYED THE FOOL ?
? AND HE OPENED OUR EYES ?
00:02:18.70\00:02:23.13
? BUT WE IN OUR WEAKNESS ?
? BELIEVED WE WERE STRONG ?
00:02:23.13\00:02:27.96
? HE BECAME HELPLESS ?
? TO SHOW WE WERE WRONG ?
00:02:27.96\00:02:33.66
? AND SO WE FOLLOWED ? ?
GOD'S OWN FOOL THAT ONLY ?
00:02:33.66\00:02:39.50
? THE FOOLISH CAN TELL ?
? BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE ?
00:02:39.50\00:02:48.20
? COME BE A FOOL AS
WELL ? ? SO WE FOLLOW ?
00:02:48.20\00:02:55.03
? GOD'S OWN FOOL THAT
ONLY ? ? THE FOOLISH CAN TELL ?
00:02:55.03\00:03:02.73
? BELIEVE THE UNBELIEVABLE
? ? COME BE A FOOL AS WELL ??
00:03:02.73\00:03:12.63
[MUSIC]
00:03:13.63\00:03:18.63
[CONGREGATION APPLAUDING]
00:03:22.50\00:03:24.50
>> HAPPY SABBATH, EVERYONE.
00:03:27.13\00:03:28.86
>> HAPPY SABBATH.
00:03:28.86\00:03:31.36
>> EVEN AS THE FINANCIAL
SITUATION DEEPENS, MANY PEOPLE
00:03:31.36\00:03:35.96
ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
TO KEEP THEIR SPIRITS UP.
00:03:35.96\00:03:39.16
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
HUMOR IN ANYTHING THEY CAN.
00:03:39.16\00:03:42.73
FOR INSTANCE, THIS LAST WEEK
I HEARD OF A MAN WHO WENT TO
00:03:42.73\00:03:45.33
THE BANK, TO THE ATM
ACTUALLY TO DRAW OUT SOME MONEY.
00:03:45.33\00:03:49.20
AND THE ATM ASKED HIM FOR MONEY.
00:03:49.20\00:03:52.96
HE LATER WENT INTO THE BANK
AND SAID TO THE BANK MANAGER,
00:03:52.96\00:03:55.73
"THAT'S A LITTLE
BIT OVER THE FENCE."
00:03:55.73\00:03:58.06
BUT ANYWAY, WE JUST HAVE
TO KEEP ON SMILING, DON'T WE?
00:03:58.06\00:04:01.76
THIS MORNING, I WANT TO SHARE
WITH YOU A STORY OF A MAN WHO
00:04:01.76\00:04:05.50
ALSO LIVED IN DESPERATE TIMES.
00:04:05.50\00:04:08.00
IN FACT, THERE WAS
ONE BIG DIFFERENCE.
00:04:08.00\00:04:10.73
HIS LIFE AND THAT OF HIS
COUNTRYMEN WERE ALSO AT STAKE.
00:04:10.73\00:04:14.70
THE STORY IS ABOUT
THE PROPHET HABAKKUK.
00:04:14.70\00:04:17.80
NOW, SOME CALL HIM
HABAKKUK, BUT I'M GOING TO CALL
00:04:17.80\00:04:20.40
HIM HABAKKUK.
00:04:20.40\00:04:21.83
HE WAS A CONTEMPORARY OF
JEREMIAH AND THIS IS REALLY
00:04:21.83\00:04:25.53
A VERY FASCINATING
STORY TOLD IN A BOOK WITH ONLY
00:04:25.53\00:04:29.00
THREE CHAPTERS.
00:04:29.00\00:04:30.76
IN THE FIRST CHAPTER, WE
FIND HABAKKUK COMPLAINING TO GOD
00:04:30.76\00:04:35.06
ABOUT THE GREED AND
SELFISHNESS--SOUND FAMILIAR?
00:04:35.06\00:04:38.80
OF HIS OWN PEOPLE.
00:04:38.80\00:04:40.26
AND HE SAYS, "NOW, WHAT
ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?"
00:04:40.26\00:04:42.93
AND GOD ANSWERS THAT HE IS
GOING TO ALLOW HIS PEOPLE TO BE
00:04:42.93\00:04:47.43
PUNISHED BY THE BABYLONIANS.
00:04:47.43\00:04:49.96
WELL, THIS TAKES HABAKKUK
BACK A LITTLE BIT AND HE SAYS,
00:04:49.96\00:04:54.00
"NOW, LORD, I THINK THAT'S
GOING A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR.
00:04:54.00\00:04:56.46
IT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT I HAD
IN MIND BECAUSE THE BABYLONIANS,
00:04:56.46\00:05:00.13
THEY ARE MUCH, MUCH WORSE, MUCH
MORE WICKED THAN OUR PEOPLE."
00:05:00.13\00:05:06.33
AND THEN IN CHAPTER 2 AND
VERSE 2, GOD ANSWERS AGAIN.
00:05:06.33\00:05:10.43
AND THIS TIME HE SAYS,
"HABAKKUK, WRITE THIS DOWN."
00:05:10.43\00:05:14.63
NOW, WHEN GOD SAYS, "WRITE
SOMETHING DOWN," WE HAD BETTER.
00:05:14.63\00:05:18.60
AND THIS IS WHAT
GOD TOLD HABAKKUK.
00:05:18.60\00:05:21.66
"THE UNRIGHTEOUS LIVE IN THEIR
PRIDE AND THEIR SELFISHNESS.
00:05:21.66\00:05:25.83
AND EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M DOING OR
00:05:25.83\00:05:28.33
WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO,
THE JUST, THE RIGHTEOUS ONES
00:05:28.33\00:05:33.46
SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
00:05:33.46\00:05:36.20
NOW, THIS THEME WAS TAKEN UP BY
THE GREAT APOSTLE PAUL LATER ON
00:05:36.20\00:05:39.96
IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS,
WHICH LATER ON WAS READ
00:05:39.96\00:05:42.96
BY MARTIN LUTHER,
WHICH LED TO THE REFORMATION.
00:05:42.96\00:05:47.33
AND SO THIS AMAZING
CONVERSATION BETWEEN GOD
00:05:47.33\00:05:50.80
AND HABAKKUK COMES
RIGHT DOWN TO OUR OWN DAY.
00:05:50.80\00:05:55.63
IN CHAPTER 3 WE SEE HABAKKUK
REMEMBERING HOW GOD HAD DEALT
00:05:55.63\00:06:00.56
WITH THE NATIONS AND
HIS PEOPLE IN THE PAST.
00:06:00.56\00:06:03.56
AND HE BELIEVES THAT GOD ONCE
MORE WILL GIVE THIS SAME MERCY
00:06:03.56\00:06:09.16
AND JUSTICE AND FAITHFULNESS TO
THOSE WHO LIVE BY FAITH BECAUSE
00:06:09.16\00:06:15.40
HE IS OUR ETERNAL FATHER.
00:06:15.40\00:06:18.13
HABAKKUK CLOSES
HIS BOOK WITH A PSALM.
00:06:18.13\00:06:21.03
THE HYMN BEGINS WITH A PICTURE
OF DEVASTATION, BUT IT CLOSES
00:06:21.03\00:06:25.16
WITH WORDS OF TRIUMPH.
00:06:25.16\00:06:27.40
IN ESSENCE, HE SAYS, "THOUGH
THE WORLD TURN UPSIDE DOWN,
00:06:27.40\00:06:31.90
I WILL EXALT IN THE LORD.
00:06:31.90\00:06:34.10
I WILL REJOICE IN THE GOD OF
MY SALVATION, FOR THE LORD GOD
00:06:34.10\00:06:39.00
IS MY STRENGTH."
00:06:39.00\00:06:41.16
HE RESOLVED TO REJOICE, NOT
IN THE SITUATION ITSELF, BUT IN
00:06:41.16\00:06:46.16
HIS SAVIOR, WHO WOULD
ALWAYS BE HIS STRENGTH.
00:06:46.16\00:06:49.73
AND I PRAY THAT THIS WILL
ALSO BE OUR EXPERIENCE AS WE GO
00:06:49.73\00:06:53.83
THROUGH THESE TURBULENT TIMES.
00:06:53.83\00:06:56.60
[CONGREGATION APPLAUDING]
00:06:56.60\00:07:01.00
>> THE SIEGE OF LENINGRAD
WAS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS THAT
00:07:03.36\00:07:07.66
HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF
RUSSIA, ONE OF THE WORST EVENTS
00:07:07.66\00:07:11.26
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
00:07:11.26\00:07:13.13
IT LASTED FOR--THIS
SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
00:07:13.13\00:07:17.36
IT LASTED FOR 900 DAYS.
00:07:17.36\00:07:21.56
SEPTEMBER 1941 RIGHT
THROUGH UNTIL JANUARY 1944.
00:07:21.56\00:07:27.46
THE NAZIS SURROUNDED
THIS GREAT RUSSIAN CITY.
00:07:27.46\00:07:31.73
WE CALL IT TODAY
ST. PETERSBURG, BUT BACK
00:07:31.73\00:07:34.63
IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS KNOWN
AS LENINGRAD AFTER THE NAME,
00:07:34.63\00:07:39.20
OF COURSE, LENIN.
00:07:39.20\00:07:41.36
DURING THE WINTER OF 1941-42,
THERE WAS NO HEATING IN THE CITY
00:07:41.36\00:07:47.73
AND LENINGRAD GETS COLD.
00:07:47.73\00:07:49.83
THERE WAS
VIRTUALLY NO WATER SUPPLY,
00:07:49.83\00:07:52.96
VIRTUALLY NO ELECTRICITY,
AND THE RATION OF DAILY FOOD
00:07:52.96\00:07:57.73
GOT DOWN TO A QUARTER OF
A POUND OF BREAD PER DAY.
00:07:57.73\00:08:05.23
CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS?
00:08:05.23\00:08:06.43
THINK WE'RE
HAVING TROUBLES HERE?
00:08:06.43\00:08:09.10
YOU THINK THE ECONOMY'S
BAD HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
00:08:09.10\00:08:11.83
OF AMERICA?
00:08:11.83\00:08:15.10
DURING THE JANUARY AND THE
FEBRUARY OF THAT YEAR, 1941-42,
00:08:15.10\00:08:20.33
200,000 RUSSIANS
STARVED OR FROZE TO DEATH.
00:08:20.33\00:08:29.33
WHILE THEY WERE FREEZING, THE
NAZIS WERE SHELLING THE CITY.
00:08:29.33\00:08:37.46
IT CERTAINLY SEEMED AS THOUGH
ST. PETERSBURG WAS GOING TO
00:08:37.46\00:08:41.66
FALL BEFORE THE NAZI ONSLAUGHT,
BUT THE RUSSIANS ARE COURAGEOUS
00:08:41.66\00:08:48.90
AND THEY WOULD NOT SURRENDER.
00:08:48.90\00:08:52.20
THEY HAD 1,172 LOUDSPEAKERS
AND EVERY MORNING THE 3 MILLION
00:08:52.20\00:08:59.93
INHABITANTS OF ST. PETERSBURG
WOULD LISTEN FOR THE TWO, AS
00:08:59.93\00:09:04.50
THEY CALLED THEM, MAGIC WORDS.
00:09:04.50\00:09:08.06
LENINGRAD SPEAKS.
00:09:08.06\00:09:11.20
AND DURING THE DAY,
THE GOVERNMENT USED TO PLAY
00:09:11.20\00:09:13.86
FOR THE CITIZENS MUSIC.
00:09:13.86\00:09:18.10
MAYBE SOME GREAT
ORCHESTRA WOULD BE PLAYING.
00:09:18.10\00:09:21.66
BUT THERE CAME A TIME IN
THE HISTORY OF LENINGRAD WHEN
00:09:21.66\00:09:25.03
THE MUSIC STOPPED AND THE PEOPLE
SAID, "IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE
00:09:25.03\00:09:30.43
NAZIS ARE GOING TO BEAT US AND
WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE KILLED."
00:09:30.43\00:09:35.60
BUT THEN, AS THE PEOPLE
LISTENED, NO, THERE WAS NO
00:09:35.60\00:09:38.96
MUSIC, BUT THEN THEY HEARD
THE SOUND OF A METRONOME, LIKE
00:09:38.96\00:09:44.53
THE BEAT OF A HUMAN HEART.
00:09:44.53\00:09:48.20
YOU KNOW WHAT IT GAVE THEM?
00:09:48.20\00:09:51.06
IT GAVE THEM HOPE.
00:09:51.06\00:09:54.26
THE SOUND OF THE MUSIC KEPT
HOPE ALIVE IN SPITE OF TERRIBLE
00:09:54.26\00:09:59.80
SUFFERING, THE DEATHS OF SOME
SAY MORE THAN A MILLION SOULS.
00:09:59.80\00:10:07.63
I'VE BEEN TO A CEMETERY
IN ST. PETERSBURG WHERE THERE
00:10:07.63\00:10:12.33
ARE 500,000 MEN, WOMEN,
AND CHILDREN BURIED IN A GREAT
00:10:12.33\00:10:20.03
MASS GRAVE.
00:10:20.03\00:10:22.40
IN SPITE OF INCREDIBLE
SUFFERING, THE CITY WOULD
00:10:22.40\00:10:26.36
NOT GIVE IN AND THE CITY
IN THE END BEAT THE NAZIS.
00:10:26.36\00:10:32.40
I WANT TO SAY TO YOU WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT SUFFERING IS, BUT
00:10:32.40\00:10:38.43
WHEN THINGS ARE GOING BAD AND
WE THINK THINGS ARE TOUGH, WE
00:10:38.43\00:10:42.23
ALL NEED TO HEAR THE MUSIC OF
THE METRONOME BECAUSE THE MUSIC
00:10:42.23\00:10:51.56
OR THE METRONOME GIVES US HOPE.
00:10:51.56\00:10:57.43
DOCTORS MADE A REMARKABLE
DISCOVERY WITH GERMAN SOLDIERS
00:10:57.43\00:11:04.33
ON THE EASTERN FRONT.
00:11:04.33\00:11:05.86
THAT WAS THE WORST PLACE
TO BE SENT, THE EASTERN FRONT,
00:11:05.86\00:11:09.60
BEING SENT TO RUSSIA.
00:11:09.60\00:11:12.50
I'VE BEEN THERE 34 TIMES.
00:11:12.50\00:11:14.56
I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, THE COLD.
00:11:14.56\00:11:19.63
THEY DISCOVERED THE
GERMAN SOLDIERS WHO GOT TERRIBLE
00:11:19.63\00:11:24.30
WOUNDS, AWFUL WOUNDS, WOUNDS
THAT NORMALLY WOULD BRING ABOUT
00:11:24.30\00:11:31.36
DEATH, THEY HAD A HIGHER
SURVIVAL RATE THAN GERMAN
00:11:31.36\00:11:36.73
SOLDIERS WHO JUST
GOT LITTLE PINPRICKS.
00:11:36.73\00:11:42.76
THE SOLDIERS WHO GOT
THE WORST WOUNDS SURVIVED.
00:11:42.76\00:11:46.06
THEY HAD MUCH LESS INFECTION
THAN THE SOLDIERS WHO GOT
00:11:46.06\00:11:49.73
MINOR WOUNDS.
00:11:49.73\00:11:50.86
YOU KNOW WHY?
00:11:50.86\00:11:54.26
BECAUSE IF YOU GOT A MAJOR
WOUND, IT WAS A PASSPORT HOME.
00:11:54.26\00:12:02.36
WHEN THE GERMANS COULD FIND A
PLANE, YOU KNEW I'M GOING HOME.
00:12:02.36\00:12:07.73
MAYBE NOT TOMORROW, BUT
SOONER OR LATER I'M GOING HOME.
00:12:07.73\00:12:13.50
HOPE SPRINGS
ETERNAL IN THE HUMAN BREAST.
00:12:13.50\00:12:19.46
AND PEOPLE WHO HAD HOPE,
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD DREADFUL
00:12:19.46\00:12:23.10
WOUNDS, GOT LESS INFECTION.
00:12:23.10\00:12:26.90
AND THEY HAD A HIGHER SURVIVAL
RATE THAN SOLDIERS WHO HAD LESS
00:12:26.90\00:12:32.16
SERIOUS WOUNDS.
00:12:32.16\00:12:35.60
TODAY'S TOPIC, HERE IT IS.
00:12:35.60\00:12:38.50
"FIVE REASONS FOR HOPE."
00:12:38.50\00:12:44.20
I WANT YOU TO TAKE YOUR BIBLES
AND TURN WITH ME TO THE THEME
00:12:44.20\00:12:47.43
TEXT, ROMANS 4:18-21.
00:12:47.43\00:12:52.20
AND THIS IS A
BIBLE READING CHURCH.
00:12:52.20\00:12:56.03
WE TELL PEOPLE, "BRING
YOUR BIBLES TO CHURCH."
00:12:56.03\00:12:59.13
WE SAY, "READ
YOUR BIBLES EVERY DAY.
00:12:59.13\00:13:02.20
READ THEM IN YOUR
HOMES AND READ YOUR BIBLE AS
00:13:02.20\00:13:05.13
THE PREACHER IS PREACHING."
00:13:05.13\00:13:07.16
TURN TO THE TEXT, ROMANS 4:18.
00:13:07.16\00:13:12.46
THE BIBLE SAYS, PAUL SAYS,
"AGAINST ALL HOPE, ABRAHAM IN
00:13:12.46\00:13:20.00
HOPE BELIEVED AND SO BECAME THE
FATHER OF MANY NATIONS, JUST AS
00:13:20.00\00:13:25.30
IT HAD BEEN SAID TO HIM,
'SO SHALL YOUR OFFSPRING BE.'
00:13:25.30\00:13:29.13
WITHOUT WEAKENING IN HIS FAITH,
HE FACED THE FACT THAT HIS BODY
00:13:29.13\00:13:33.96
WAS AS GOOD AS DEAD, SINCE HE
WAS ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS OLD."
00:13:33.96\00:13:41.00
I'VE STILL GOT
A FEW YEARS TO GO.
00:13:41.00\00:13:43.50
"AND THAT SARAH'S
WOMB WAS ALSO DEAD.
00:13:43.50\00:13:48.63
YET HE DID NOT WAVER THROUGH
UNBELIEF REGARDING THE PROMISE
00:13:48.63\00:13:52.33
OF GOD, BUT WAS STRENGTHENED
IN HIS FAITH AND GAVE GLORY TO
00:13:52.33\00:13:57.06
GOD, BEING FULLY PERSUADED
THAT GOD HAD POWER TO DO
00:13:57.06\00:14:02.46
WHAT HE HAD PROMISED."
00:14:02.46\00:14:05.30
NOW, LET ME TELL
YOU WHAT HOPE IS NOT.
00:14:05.30\00:14:11.73
HOPE IS NOT OUR
WISHY-WASHY RELIGION.
00:14:11.73\00:14:18.70
THE HOPE OF THE BIBLE IS
DIFFERENT TO THE HOPE OF THE
00:14:18.70\00:14:21.86
WORLD TODAY, WHERE PEOPLE
SAY IN A VERY VAGUE WAY, "I HOPE
00:14:21.86\00:14:26.00
IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT."
00:14:26.00\00:14:31.26
HOPE IS NOT WISHFUL THINKING.
00:14:31.26\00:14:33.80
IT IS NOT A LACK OF CONVICTION.
00:14:33.80\00:14:37.70
ABRAHAM'S HOPE WAS
ROOTED IN AN UNSHAKABLE FAITH.
00:14:37.70\00:14:42.13
HE SAW BEYOND THE SORROWS,
THE TEARS, AND THE TRIBULATIONS
00:14:42.13\00:14:47.00
OF THE PRESENT AND EMBRACED
THE GLORIOUS CERTAINTIES
00:14:47.00\00:14:51.50
OF THE FUTURE.
00:14:51.50\00:14:54.63
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THIS
SAYING, MAY IT SINK DOWN INTO
00:14:54.63\00:14:59.96
THE MOLECULES OF YOUR MIND,
THAT THE DEATH OF HOPE ALWAYS
00:14:59.96\00:15:05.83
LEADS TO THE HOPE FOR DEATH.
00:15:05.83\00:15:11.86
BUT OUR BIBLE GIVES US REASON
WHY WE CAN HAVE HOPE TODAY.
00:15:11.86\00:15:16.63
REMEMBER THE GERMAN SOLDIERS.
00:15:16.63\00:15:20.20
I WANT TO SAY THIS
TODAY WITH A CLARION VOICE.
00:15:20.20\00:15:23.76
I WANT YOU TO HEAR IT.
00:15:23.76\00:15:25.20
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW,
WHAT AMERICA NEEDS NOW IS HOPE.
00:15:25.20\00:15:34.33
NOW, I DON'T WANT ANY PERSON
WHO'S WATCHING THE TELECAST
00:15:34.33\00:15:38.76
TO SAY ALL THIS PIE IN THE
SKY AND THE SWEET BYE AND BYE,
00:15:38.76\00:15:43.96
ALL OF THIS RELIGIOUS PALAVER.
00:15:43.96\00:15:47.63
HOPE IS NOT OPPOSED TO REALITY.
00:15:47.63\00:15:54.30
WE DO NOT ADVOCATE
A POLLYANNA RELIGION.
00:15:54.30\00:16:00.46
LET US DO THAT WHICH IS PAINFUL
FOR A START BEFORE WE HAVE
00:16:00.46\00:16:05.60
CONSOLATION AND LET US
EXPERIENCE FACING THE FACTS.
00:16:05.60\00:16:14.53
IT IS NOW ESTABLISHED HERE
IN THIS LAND THAT OUR BANKING
00:16:14.53\00:16:19.26
SYSTEM IS A HOUSE OF CARDS.
00:16:19.26\00:16:26.16
THAT WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS AS
SAFE AS A BANK IS ANYTHING BUT.
00:16:26.16\00:16:35.50
THEY HAVE TO BE BAILED OUT.
00:16:35.50\00:16:38.83
WE'VE DISCOVERED THAT
WALL STREET IS A HOUSE OF FEAR
00:16:38.83\00:16:45.66
AND GREED, A GAMBLING
DEN THAT PLAYS WITH THE LIVES
00:16:45.66\00:16:52.56
OF MILLIONS.
00:16:52.56\00:16:53.66
YOU MAY AS WELL GO TO LAS
VEGAS AND GAMBLE YOUR MONEY.
00:16:53.66\00:17:02.30
I CAN SEE NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL.
00:17:02.30\00:17:08.86
WE KNOW THAT THE FACTS
ARE UNPALATABLE AND THE FACTS
00:17:08.86\00:17:14.10
ARE GRIM.
00:17:14.10\00:17:16.00
AND TODAY, I HAVE NOTICED
AROUND THE WORLD THAT FEAR WITH
00:17:16.00\00:17:22.30
ICY COLD FINGERS IS CLUTCHING
AT THE THROATS OF MILLIONS
00:17:22.30\00:17:28.80
OF MEN AND WOMEN, BUT I
HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GOD TODAY.
00:17:28.80\00:17:34.13
THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR FEAR!
00:17:34.13\00:17:37.53
NOW IS THE TIME FOR HOPE.
00:17:37.53\00:17:42.16
CAN YOU SAY AMEN?
00:17:42.16\00:17:46.43
THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR FEAR.
00:17:46.43\00:17:48.76
I AM TIRED OF
WATCHING TELEVISION.
00:17:48.76\00:17:52.50
I AM SICK OF THE STUFF THAT
COMES OUT OF TELEVISION BECAUSE
00:17:52.50\00:18:00.20
IF ANYTHING IS
BREEDING FEAR TODAY, IT IS
00:18:00.20\00:18:04.50
THE GREAT NETWORKS.
00:18:04.50\00:18:08.26
EVERYTHING IS DOOM AND GLOOM
AND NO WONDER PEOPLE ARE AFRAID.
00:18:08.26\00:18:14.76
BUT TODAY IS NOT
THE TIME FOR FEAR.
00:18:14.76\00:18:18.86
NOW IS THE TIME FOR HOPE.
00:18:18.86\00:18:21.83
AND TODAY, BY THE GRACE OF
GOD I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU FIVE
00:18:21.83\00:18:26.90
POWERFUL REASONS WHY
YOU AND I CAN HAVE HOPE.
00:18:26.90\00:18:33.60
NUMBER ONE, HERE IT IS.
00:18:33.60\00:18:36.86
BECAUSE THERE IS A GOD, AS
FRANCIS SCHAEFER SAID, BECAUSE
00:18:36.86\00:18:41.33
THERE IS A GOD WHO IS THERE.
00:18:41.33\00:18:44.80
AND A GOD WE SAY WHO IS HERE
AND HE IS PERSONALLY INVOLVED
00:18:44.80\00:18:51.10
IN THIS WORLD.
00:18:51.10\00:18:53.00
TAKE YOUR BIBLES PLEASE
AND TURN TO ISAIAH 40:26
00:18:53.00\00:18:56.96
AND ONWARDS.
00:18:56.96\00:18:58.16
ISAIAH 40:26 AND ONWARDS.
00:18:58.16\00:19:05.16
THE BOOK OF ISAIAH 40:26.
00:19:05.16\00:19:12.53
AND I HOPE THAT EVERY
PERSON HERE IS READING HIS BIBLE
00:19:12.53\00:19:16.30
EVERY DAY, VERSE 26.
00:19:16.30\00:19:20.36
"LIFT YOUR EYES AND
LOOK TO THE HEAVENS.
00:19:20.36\00:19:22.96
WHO CREATED ALL THESE?
00:19:22.96\00:19:25.00
HE WHO BRINGS OUT THE STARRY
HOST ONE BY ONE, AND CALLS THEM
00:19:25.00\00:19:29.03
EACH BY NAME.
00:19:29.03\00:19:30.53
BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT POWER
AND MIGHTY STRENGTH, NOT ONE
00:19:30.53\00:19:34.03
OF THEM IS MISSING.
00:19:34.03\00:19:36.40
WHY DO YOU SAY, O
JACOB, AND COMPLAIN, O ISRAEL,
00:19:36.40\00:19:40.70
'MY WAY IS HIDDEN FROM THE
LORD; MY CAUSE IS DISREGARDED
00:19:40.70\00:19:45.56
BY MY GOD'?
00:19:45.56\00:19:47.43
DO YOU NOT KNOW?
00:19:47.43\00:19:49.20
HAVE YOU NOT HEARD?
00:19:49.20\00:19:51.26
THE LORD IS THE EVERLASTING
GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS
00:19:51.26\00:19:55.63
OF THE EARTH.
00:19:55.63\00:19:56.83
HE WILL NOT GROW TIRED OR
WEARY AND HIS UNDERSTANDING
00:19:56.83\00:20:01.10
NO ONE CAN FATHOM.
00:20:01.10\00:20:04.40
HE GIVES STRENGTH TO THE
WEARY AND INCREASES THE POWER
00:20:04.40\00:20:09.83
OF THE WEAK.
00:20:09.83\00:20:12.36
EVEN YOUTHS GROW TIRED AND
WEARY, AND YOUNG MEN STUMBLE
00:20:12.36\00:20:15.53
AND FALL; BUT THOSE WHO
HOPE IN THE LORD WILL RENEW
00:20:15.53\00:20:19.83
THEIR STRENGTH.
00:20:19.83\00:20:20.90
THEY WILL SOAR ON WINGS LIKE
EAGLES; THEY WILL RUN AND NOT
00:20:20.90\00:20:25.53
GROW WEARY; THEY WILL
WALK AND NOT BE FAINT.'"
00:20:25.53\00:20:30.96
I WANT EVERY PERSON TO
KNOW TODAY THAT WE CAN HAVE HOPE
00:20:30.96\00:20:34.93
AND I'M GOING TO PUT UP SOME OF
THESE POINTS ON THE BLACKBOARD.
00:20:34.93\00:20:38.63
AND HERE IS THE
FIRST GREAT TRUTH.
00:20:38.63\00:20:41.80
WE HAVE HOPE TODAY
BECAUSE GOD IS--GOD IS ALIVE.
00:20:41.80\00:20:53.66
GOD IS HERE AND GOD
IS PERSONALLY INVOLVED.
00:20:53.66\00:21:00.83
WE BELIEVE TODAY
IN THE REALITY OF GOD.
00:21:00.83\00:21:06.10
WE DO NOT DOUBT
IT FOR ONE MOMENT.
00:21:06.10\00:21:08.96
IT HAS BEEN SAID--I THINK
FRANCIS SCHAEFER MAY HAVE SAID
00:21:08.96\00:21:11.90
IT, AN ATHEIST IS LIKE A MAN
TRAPPED IN A CIRCULAR BUILDING.
00:21:11.90\00:21:20.90
IT HAS NO WINDOWS AND IT HAS
NO DOORS AND IT HAS NO LIGHT.
00:21:20.90\00:21:27.86
IT IS TOTALLY BLACK AND THE
MAN IS DESTINED TO WALK AROUND
00:21:27.86\00:21:34.66
THE PERIMETER.
00:21:34.66\00:21:38.16
HE HAS TO PACE AROUND
AND AROUND AND HE GOES AROUND
00:21:38.16\00:21:41.50
AND HE'S FEELING FOR A WAY
OUT, BUT THERE IS NO WAY OUT
00:21:41.50\00:21:44.53
AND THERE IS NO HOPE.
00:21:44.53\00:21:48.80
BUT WE ARE NOT LIKE THAT TODAY.
00:21:48.80\00:21:50.73
HOPE BREAKS THE WALL.
00:21:50.73\00:21:53.46
AND THE FIRST GREAT REASON, MY
FRIEND, WHY WE HAVE HOPE TODAY
00:21:53.46\00:21:57.93
IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT
TRUTH THAT GOD IS AND GOD IS
00:21:57.93\00:22:04.26
PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN
THIS WORLD AND HE'S PERSONALLY
00:22:04.26\00:22:08.26
INVOLVED IN YOUR LIFE
AND HE'S INVOLVED IN MY LIFE,
00:22:08.26\00:22:13.50
THE GOD OF THE STARS.
00:22:13.50\00:22:15.06
NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE HOPE TODAY,
WE CAN HAVE HOPE TODAY BECAUSE,
00:22:15.06\00:22:20.70
NUMBER TWO, GOD
HAS A PLAN FOR US.
00:22:20.70\00:22:25.00
TURN TO ROMANS 8:28.
00:22:25.00\00:22:27.66
I'M GOING TO WRITE IT
UP HERE ON THE BLACKBOARD.
00:22:27.66\00:22:29.76
IF YOU TURN TO THE
TEXT, I'M GOING TO WRITE OUT
00:22:29.76\00:22:32.60
THE SECOND REASON.
00:22:32.60\00:22:34.36
BECAUSE GOD HAS A PLAN.
00:22:34.36\00:22:42.06
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOU
AND GOD HAS, GLORY BE TO GOD,
00:22:42.06\00:22:48.73
A PLAN FOR ME.
00:22:48.73\00:22:50.40
NOW, COME OVER
HERE TO ROMANS 8:28.
00:22:50.40\00:22:54.10
ROMANS 8:28.
00:22:54.10\00:22:58.16
WHAT A GREAT TEXT THIS IS.
00:22:58.16\00:23:00.13
THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS, HERE
IT IS, "AND WE KNOW THAT IN ALL
00:23:00.13\00:23:05.83
THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE
GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM,
00:23:05.83\00:23:09.36
WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED
ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE."
00:23:09.36\00:23:13.66
CAN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?
00:23:13.66\00:23:16.60
I MEET PEOPLE ALL THE
TIME WHO ARE FILLED WITH DOUBTS
00:23:16.60\00:23:21.60
AND FEARS, AND
THEY'RE DISILLUSIONED.
00:23:21.60\00:23:26.16
THOSE PEOPLE DON'T
READ THEIR BIBLES, MIND YOU.
00:23:26.16\00:23:30.33
THEY LISTEN TO THEIR DOUBTS.
00:23:30.33\00:23:33.20
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
00:23:33.20\00:23:35.46
BUT THE BIBLE TELLS ME THAT GOD
IS WORKING IN EVERYTHING, GOD
00:23:35.46\00:23:41.43
IS WORKING IN THIS RECESSION,
GOD IS WORKING IN DEPRESSIONS.
00:23:41.43\00:23:47.83
GOD WORKS IN
EVERYTHING FOR GOOD.
00:23:47.83\00:23:52.33
YOU KNOW THE STORY OF JOSEPH?
00:23:52.33\00:23:56.63
THAT'S JUST AN AMAZING STORY.
00:23:56.63\00:23:59.43
I WANT YOU TO COME TO
A KEY TEXT ABOUT JOSEPH.
00:23:59.43\00:24:02.20
COME OVER HERE
TO 37, GENESIS 37.
00:24:02.20\00:24:06.56
GENESIS 37.
00:24:06.56\00:24:09.00
HERE'S A STORY ABOUT A
YOUNG MAN AND YOU WOULD WONDER,
00:24:09.00\00:24:12.23
"WAS GOD WORKING IN HIS LIFE?"
00:24:12.23\00:24:14.60
GENESIS 37:23.
00:24:14.60\00:24:17.40
"SO WHEN JOSEPH CAME TO HIS
BROTHERS, THEY STRIPPED HIM OF
00:24:17.40\00:24:20.33
HIS ROBE, THE RICHLY ORNAMENTED
ROBE HE WAS WEARING, AND THEY
00:24:20.33\00:24:24.86
TOOK HIM AND THREW
HIM INTO THE CISTERN.
00:24:24.86\00:24:28.00
NOW THE CISTERN WAS
EMPTY; THERE WAS NO WATER IN IT.
00:24:28.00\00:24:32.53
AS THEY SAT DOWN TO EAT THEIR
MEAL, THEY LOOKED UP AND SAW
00:24:32.53\00:24:36.60
A CARAVAN OF
ISHMAELITES COMING FROM GILEAD.
00:24:36.60\00:24:41.76
THEIR CAMELS WERE LOADED
WITH SPICES, BALM AND MYRRH,
00:24:41.76\00:24:46.43
AND THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY
TO TAKE THEM DOWN TO THE LAND
00:24:46.43\00:24:49.40
OF EGYPT."
00:24:49.40\00:24:50.43
YOU KNOW THE STORY, DON'T YOU?
00:24:50.43\00:24:53.16
YOU KNOW THE STORY.
00:24:53.16\00:24:54.43
HE GETS DOWN INTO EGYPT.
00:24:54.43\00:24:55.86
WHERE WAS GOD?
00:24:55.86\00:24:58.13
HE GETS SOLD AS A SLAVE
INTO A HOUSE OF POTIPHAR.
00:24:58.13\00:25:04.46
WHERE WAS GOD WHEN JOSEPH
WAS THROWN DOWN INTO THE PIT?
00:25:04.46\00:25:10.96
WAS GOD WORKING THEN?
00:25:10.96\00:25:13.26
YOU SAY, "I'M DOWN IN A PIT."
00:25:13.26\00:25:16.06
WELL, MAYBE
YOU'RE NOT DOWN IN A PIT.
00:25:16.06\00:25:18.13
MAYBE IT'S YOUR IMAGINATION.
00:25:18.13\00:25:21.83
BUT MAYBE SOMEBODY HERE
TODAY AND SOMEBODY WATCHING THE
00:25:21.83\00:25:24.50
TELECAST, MAYBE
YOU'RE DOWN IN A PIT.
00:25:24.50\00:25:26.93
JOSEPH WAS DOWN IN A PIT.
00:25:26.93\00:25:28.83
WHERE WAS GOD?
00:25:28.83\00:25:31.60
AND THEN THE BIBLE GOES ON.
00:25:31.60\00:25:33.23
HE GETS INTO THIS HOUSE
AND MRS. POTIPHAR ACCUSES HIM
00:25:33.23\00:25:38.83
OF RAPE.
00:25:38.83\00:25:42.03
WHERE WAS GOD?
00:25:42.03\00:25:44.46
WHEN MRS. POTIPHAR GOT HER
EYES ON HIM, WHERE WAS GOD?
00:25:44.46\00:25:50.96
AND THEN HE'S
THROWN INTO THE DUNGEON.
00:25:50.96\00:25:53.23
YOU KNOW THE BIBLE STORY.
00:25:53.23\00:25:54.33
HE'S THROWN INTO A DUNGEON.
00:25:54.33\00:25:56.20
WHERE WAS GOD, I ASK YOU,
WHEN HE WAS IN THE DUNGEON?
00:25:56.20\00:26:03.26
AND BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WERE
NOT BELIEVERS IN THE TRUE GOD,
00:26:03.26\00:26:08.03
BECAUSE THEY WERE
PAGANS, THEY TORTURED HIM.
00:26:08.03\00:26:13.43
THAT'S WHAT PAGANS DO.
00:26:13.43\00:26:16.23
THEY TORTURE PEOPLE.
00:26:16.23\00:26:17.63
WHERE WAS GOD WHEN
THIS BOY WAS BEING TORTURED?
00:26:17.63\00:26:22.63
I ASK YOU THE QUESTION,
WHERE WAS GOD WHEN THE CUPBEARER
00:26:22.63\00:26:28.43
FORGOT ABOUT HIM?
00:26:28.43\00:26:29.70
YOU KNOW THE STORY.
00:26:29.70\00:26:31.60
THERE WAS THE
BAKER, HE LOST HIS HEAD.
00:26:31.60\00:26:34.13
AND THERE WAS THE BUTLER,
THE BAKER AND THE BUTLER.
00:26:34.13\00:26:37.00
HE WAS THE CUPBEARER.
00:26:37.00\00:26:38.56
AND THE CUPBEARER
GETS OUT OF PRISON.
00:26:38.56\00:26:40.76
HE SAID, "WHEN I GET OUT
OF PRISON, I'M GOING TO TELL
00:26:40.76\00:26:43.06
PHARAOH ALL ABOUT YOU."
00:26:43.06\00:26:44.86
HE FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT.
00:26:44.86\00:26:47.23
WHERE WAS GOD?
00:26:47.23\00:26:50.73
I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
00:26:50.73\00:26:53.80
GOD WAS THERE BECAUSE IN ALL
THINGS, GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD
00:26:53.80\00:27:01.60
OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM
AND THOSE WHO TRUST HIM.
00:27:01.60\00:27:06.43
AND THEN YOU KNOW
THE STORY, DON'T YOU?
00:27:06.43\00:27:09.30
WELL, JOSEPH GETS OUT
OF PRISON, THEY SHAVE HIM,
00:27:09.30\00:27:13.36
THEY PUT A ROBE ON HIM.
00:27:13.36\00:27:15.03
HE GOES OUT AND HE SEES
PHARAOH AND HE BECOMES THE PRIME
00:27:15.03\00:27:18.26
MINISTER AND HE
SAVES THE NATION.
00:27:18.26\00:27:21.00
HE SAVES THE WORLD.
00:27:21.00\00:27:22.96
AND HE SAVES HIS OWN FAMILY.
00:27:22.96\00:27:25.03
HE SAVES HIS OWN BROTHERS.
00:27:25.03\00:27:27.76
LISTEN TO ME.
00:27:27.76\00:27:29.03
GOD HAD A PLAN FOR JOSEPH.
00:27:29.03\00:27:32.43
GOD HAS GOT A PLAN FOR YOU
AND GOD HAS GOT A PLAN FOR ME.
00:27:32.43\00:27:36.86
I WANT YOU TO TAKE YOUR
BIBLE NOW, COME OVER A LITTLE
00:27:36.86\00:27:38.90
FURTHER, AND COME OVER TO
THIS GREAT TEXT, GENESIS 50:20.
00:27:38.90\00:27:44.16
THIS IS A GREAT,
MARVELOUS, WONDERFUL TEXT.
00:27:44.16\00:27:47.90
PLEASE TURN TO THE TEXT.
00:27:47.90\00:27:50.70
GENESIS 50.
00:27:50.70\00:27:52.20
THAT MEANS YOU.
00:27:52.20\00:27:53.66
GENESIS 50:20.
00:27:53.66\00:27:59.06
GENESIS 50:20.
00:27:59.06\00:28:01.46
HE SAYS TO HIS BROTHERS, DOES
JOSEPH, "YOU INTENDED TO HARM
00:28:01.46\00:28:05.36
ME, BUT GOD
INTENDED IT--" FOR WHAT?
00:28:05.36\00:28:10.26
"GOD INTENDED IT FOR GOOD TO
ACCOMPLISH WHAT IS BEING DONE,
00:28:10.26\00:28:14.46
THE SAVING OF
MANY SOULS," OR LIVES.
00:28:14.46\00:28:22.26
THEREFORE, I WANT TO LOOK YOU
IN THE EYE AND TELL YOU THIS.
00:28:22.26\00:28:27.20
IN THE MIDST OF TRAGIC
CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU AND I CAN
00:28:27.20\00:28:32.96
HAVE HOPE BECAUSE OF THE
GOD WHO IS THERE AND BECAUSE
00:28:32.96\00:28:38.43
THIS GOD HAS GOT A
PLAN FOR EVERY PERSON.
00:28:38.43\00:28:43.50
THE BIBLE SAYS IT.
00:28:43.50\00:28:46.06
THERE'S A THIRD REASON.
00:28:46.06\00:28:47.53
HERE IT IS.
00:28:47.53\00:28:49.10
WE CAN HAVE HOPE BECAUSE GOD
HAS PROMISED TO TAKE CARE OF US.
00:28:49.10\00:28:59.00
I WANT TO PUT THIS
HERE ON THE BLACKBOARD.
00:28:59.00\00:29:01.96
HERE IS THE THIRD GREAT REASON.
00:29:01.96\00:29:06.86
BECAUSE GOD HAS PROMISED
AND GOD DOESN'T TELL LIES.
00:29:06.86\00:29:17.86
YOU KNOW, POLITICIANS
TELL LIES, DON'T THEY?
00:29:17.86\00:29:22.36
YOU KNOW?
00:29:22.36\00:29:23.76
POLITICIANS TELL YOU
ALL SORTS OF STORIES.
00:29:23.76\00:29:27.76
BUT GOD--THANK GOD,
HE'S NOT A POLITICIAN.
00:29:27.76\00:29:32.56
WE NEVER ELECTED GOD.
00:29:32.56\00:29:35.63
BECAUSE GOD HAS
PROMISED TO TAKE CARE OF US.
00:29:35.63\00:29:50.56
THAT'S WHY WE CAN HAVE HOPE.
00:29:50.56\00:29:55.00
BECAUSE GOD HAS
PROMISED TO TAKE CARE OF US.
00:29:55.00\00:29:59.03
TURN TO THE WORDS
OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
00:29:59.03\00:30:02.16
COME OVER HERE TO PSALM 146.
00:30:02.16\00:30:04.20
PLEASE TURN TO THE TEXT.
00:30:04.20\00:30:05.80
PSALM 146:5 AND ONWARDS.
00:30:05.80\00:30:11.16
PSALM 146.
00:30:11.16\00:30:13.20
YOU TURN TO THE TEXT, MY FRIEND.
00:30:13.20\00:30:15.50
PSALM 146:5 AND ONWARDS.
00:30:15.50\00:30:20.73
"BLESSED IS HE WHOSE HELP
IS THE GOD OF JACOB, WHOSE HOPE
00:30:20.73\00:30:25.80
IS IN THE LORD HIS GOD,
THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH,
00:30:25.80\00:30:29.53
THE SEA, AND EVERYTHING IN THEM,
THE LORD, WHO REMAINS FAITHFUL
00:30:29.53\00:30:34.50
FOREVER.
00:30:34.50\00:30:35.90
HE UPHOLDS THE CAUSE OF
THE OPPRESSED AND GIVES FOOD
00:30:35.90\00:30:39.00
TO THE HUNGRY.
00:30:39.00\00:30:40.10
THE LORD SETS PRISONERS FREE,
THE LORD GIVES SIGHT TO THE
00:30:40.10\00:30:43.56
BLIND, THE LORD LIFTS UP THOSE
WHO ARE BOWED DOWN, THE LORD
00:30:43.56\00:30:47.73
LOVES THE RIGHTEOUS.
00:30:47.73\00:30:49.66
THE LORD WATCHES OVER THE
ALIEN," THE PERSON WHO'S JUST
00:30:49.66\00:30:54.66
SLIPPED ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE,
"AND SUSTAINS THE FATHERLESS
00:30:54.66\00:31:00.46
AND THE WIDOW, BUT
HE FRUSTRATES THE WAYS
00:31:00.46\00:31:05.20
OF THE WICKED."
00:31:05.20\00:31:07.06
DON'T YOU REMEMBER
THE STORY OF ELIJAH?
00:31:07.06\00:31:10.93
THAT'S A GREAT STORY.
00:31:10.93\00:31:12.93
THERE WAS THIS POOR
WIDOW AND SHE HAD A LITTLE BIT
00:31:12.93\00:31:16.66
OF FLOUR LEFT.
00:31:16.66\00:31:18.23
THE BIBLE TELLS US
THAT THERE WASN'T MUCH.
00:31:18.23\00:31:21.43
SHE HAD, IN THE WORDS OF
THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION,
00:31:21.43\00:31:24.86
SHE HAD A BIT OF FLOUR IN
A JAR AND SOME OIL IN A JUG.
00:31:24.86\00:31:31.53
WE'RE LIKE THAT AT
THE "CARTER REPORT"
00:31:31.53\00:31:33.50
ON SOME OCCASIONS.
00:31:33.50\00:31:35.33
SOMETIMES WE ONLY GOT A BIT
OF FLOUR LEFT AND WE'VE ONLY GOT
00:31:35.33\00:31:38.83
A LITTLE OIL IN A JUG.
00:31:38.83\00:31:43.10
YOU KNOW WHAT GOD
DID FOR THAT WIDOW?
00:31:43.10\00:31:45.66
EVERY TIME SHE NEEDED SOME,
EVERY TIME SHE WENT TO GET SOME
00:31:45.66\00:31:49.76
BREAD, GET SOME FLOUR,
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT THERE.
00:31:49.76\00:31:53.83
AND EVERY TIME SHE WENT TO
GET SOME OIL, THERE WAS A LITTLE
00:31:53.83\00:31:57.30
BIT THERE BECAUSE GOD
SAID, "I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU."
00:31:57.30\00:32:02.30
NOW, YOU SITTING HERE IN THIS
CHURCH, IN THIS GREAT LAND OF
00:32:02.30\00:32:06.10
THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS
GOING THROUGH A GREAT ECONOMIC
00:32:06.10\00:32:10.63
STORM, YOU MAY SAY, "I'VE ONLY
GOT A LITTLE BIT OF FLOUR LEFT.
00:32:10.63\00:32:16.76
I'VE ONLY GOT A BIT OF--
A LITTLE BIT OF OIL IN A JAR
00:32:16.76\00:32:20.33
OR IN A JUG."
00:32:20.33\00:32:21.50
I WANT YOU TO KNOW IF YOU ARE
FAITHFUL TO GOD, GOD IS GOING
00:32:21.50\00:32:25.60
TO MULTIPLY IT AND
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO RUN SHORT.
00:32:25.60\00:32:31.73
SO YOU CAN HAVE HOPE.
00:32:31.73\00:32:33.16
LOOK, GOD IS-- GOD IS NOT DEAD.
00:32:33.16\00:32:40.00
GOD IS--YOU KNOW WHAT
NIETZSCHE SAID, DON'T YOU?
00:32:40.00\00:32:43.26
YOU WRITE UP ON THE
BLACKBOARD--NIETZSCHE,
00:32:43.26\00:32:46.33
THE GREAT GERMAN UNBELIEVER,
HE WROTE UP AND SAID, "GOD IS
00:32:46.33\00:32:49.90
DEAD, SIGNED NIETZSCHE."
00:32:49.90\00:32:52.66
BUT SOMETIME LATER,
WHEN NIETZSCHE DIED,
00:32:52.66\00:32:55.30
SOMEBODY CAME IN AND WROTE,
"NIETZSCHE IS DEAD, SIGNED GOD."
00:32:55.30\00:32:59.10
[LAUGHING] NOW, I
WANT YOU TO KNOW WE
00:32:59.10\00:33:03.16
HAVE HOPE BECAUSE GOD HAS A
PLAN AND GOD HAS PROMISED THAT
00:33:03.16\00:33:08.16
HE'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US.
00:33:08.16\00:33:12.40
WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MINISTER
A FEW YEARS AGO--2 OR 3 YEARS
00:33:12.40\00:33:18.40
AGO ACTUALLY.
00:33:18.40\00:33:22.33
I WAS SENT--NOW, I WANT TO TALK
TO MY OZZIE FRIENDS AND I WANT
00:33:22.33\00:33:26.10
TO THANK YOU FOR
SUPPORTING THIS MINISTRY.
00:33:26.10\00:33:28.66
YOU'RE SOME OF THE GREATEST
SUPPORTERS ON THE FACE OF
00:33:28.66\00:33:31.20
THE EARTH.
00:33:31.20\00:33:32.30
I WANT TO THANK MY
AUSTRALIAN SUPPORTERS.
00:33:32.30\00:33:35.16
THANK YOU IN JESUS' NAME.
00:33:35.16\00:33:40.33
BEVERLEY AND I WENT TO A LITTLE
TOWN BY THE NAME OF PARKS.
00:33:40.33\00:33:43.20
WE THOUGHT IT WAS
GOING TO BE A BIG PARK.
00:33:43.20\00:33:45.93
HARDLY ANY PARKS AT ALL.
00:33:45.93\00:33:47.63
IT'S PRETTY DRY.
00:33:47.63\00:33:49.33
BUT OUTSIDE OF PARKS, THERE WAS
A--WELL, IT WASN'T EVEN A TOWN.
00:33:49.33\00:33:53.56
IT WAS CALLED GANUMBLA.
00:33:53.56\00:33:55.86
THAT WAS THE BIGGEST
THING ABOUT THE TOWN, ITS NAME.
00:33:55.86\00:34:00.36
AND THE FIRST PEOPLE I
BAPTIZED--HERE THEY COME.
00:34:00.36\00:34:06.60
LIZ AND DAISY WARD.
00:34:06.60\00:34:09.40
THEY WERE SHEEP FARMERS AND
THEY GREW WHEAT BY THE MILE.
00:34:09.40\00:34:16.26
THEY'RE THE FIRST
PEOPLE I EVER BAPTIZED.
00:34:16.26\00:34:20.30
LIZ AND DAISY WARD.
00:34:20.30\00:34:21.86
I REMEMBER PUTTING THEM
UNDER THE WATER IN THE LITTLE
00:34:21.86\00:34:24.43
PARKS CHURCH.
00:34:24.43\00:34:28.06
I CAN REMEMBER A TREMENDOUS
DROUGHT CAME TO AUSTRALIA.
00:34:28.06\00:34:32.00
PEOPLE SAY, "OH,
AUSTRALIA'S HAVING A DROUGHT."
00:34:32.00\00:34:34.23
AUSTRALIA'S
ALWAYS HAVING DROUGHTS.
00:34:34.23\00:34:36.33
EITHER AUSTRALIA'S
HAVING A DROUGHT OR IT'S
00:34:36.33\00:34:38.53
HAVING A FLOOD.
00:34:38.53\00:34:40.23
EITHER PEOPLE ARE BEING
DROWNED OR THEY'RE BEING BURNED
00:34:40.23\00:34:43.16
IN BUSH FIRES.
00:34:43.16\00:34:45.13
DOWN IN THE SOUTH IN VICTORIA,
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STATE,
00:34:45.13\00:34:50.63
A WONDERFUL STATE, THEY'VE
HAD HELLISH BUSH FIRES THAT HAVE
00:34:50.63\00:34:55.93
BURNED TO DEATH
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE.
00:34:55.93\00:34:59.83
ALL THE FIRE, AT ONE
STAGE, 50 METERS, 150 FEET HIGH.
00:34:59.83\00:35:05.16
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THAT?
00:35:05.16\00:35:07.33
CAN'T PUT IT OUT.
00:35:07.33\00:35:08.53
BUT IN THE NORTHERN PART
OF AUSTRALIA, IN THE STATE
00:35:08.53\00:35:11.00
OF QUEENSLAND, WHICH IS ABOUT
3 OR 4 TIMES BIGGER THAN TEXAS,
00:35:11.00\00:35:15.20
TEXANS, 20 TIMES BIGGER
THAN CALIFORNIA, TWO-THIRDS OF
00:35:15.20\00:35:21.96
THAT--WHILE DOWN SOUTH THEY
HAD BUSH FIRES, TWO-THIRDS OF
00:35:21.96\00:35:26.23
QUEENSLAND WAS UNDERWATER.
00:35:26.23\00:35:31.33
FEET OF WATER.
00:35:31.33\00:35:32.83
AND COMING OVER SOME OF
THE DAMS, WATER COMING OVER,
00:35:32.83\00:35:36.30
10 FEET OVER THE SPILLWAY,
JUST ROARING DOWN THE RIVERS.
00:35:36.30\00:35:41.50
SO, FLOODS AND FIRES
AND DROUGHTS ARE NOT NEW
00:35:41.50\00:35:44.80
IN AUSTRALIA.
00:35:44.80\00:35:45.93
THEY'VE HAD 'EM FOREVER.
00:35:45.93\00:35:49.73
THE WARD'S FARM WAS
UNDER A TERRIBLE DROUGHT.
00:35:49.73\00:35:53.13
THEY'D JUST BECOME BELIEVERS IN
CHRIST AND ACCEPTED THE TRUTHS
00:35:53.13\00:35:57.76
OF THE THREE ANGELS' MESSAGES.
00:35:57.76\00:36:01.76
WE PRAYED FOR THEM.
00:36:01.76\00:36:03.73
THE WHEAT CAME UP GREEN.
00:36:03.73\00:36:06.16
THERE WAS NO RAIN.
00:36:06.16\00:36:08.20
AND THEN IT STARTED TO DIE
AND AS WE PRAYED AND AS THEY
00:36:08.20\00:36:11.46
PRAYED, THEY WOULD GET
A SHOWER OF RAIN JUST WHEN
00:36:11.46\00:36:16.56
THEY NEEDED IT.
00:36:16.56\00:36:18.83
SOMETIMES IT WOULD
COME ALMOST A DAY TOO LATE.
00:36:18.83\00:36:22.23
NO, IT DIDN'T.
00:36:22.23\00:36:26.06
SHE SAID TO ME,
"OUR BARNS ARE FULL.
00:36:26.06\00:36:30.60
GOD HAS BLESSED US."
00:36:30.60\00:36:32.36
MY FRIEND, THERE IS A GOD
WHO IS THERE AND WHO IS HERE,
00:36:32.36\00:36:36.43
WHO HAS A PLAN AND WHO HAS
PROMISED TO TAKE CARE OF US.
00:36:36.43\00:36:40.93
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE HOPE.
00:36:40.93\00:36:43.20
CAN YOU HEAR THE MUSIC?
00:36:43.20\00:36:46.40
CAN YOU HEAR THE METRONOME?
00:36:46.40\00:36:48.86
CAN YOU HEAR THE
BEATING OF THE HEART?
00:36:48.86\00:36:52.23
IT IS THE HEART
OF GOD THAT YOU HEAR.
00:36:52.23\00:36:59.23
THE FOURTH REASON WE CAN HAVE
HOPE, BECAUSE GOD HAS PROMISED
00:36:59.23\00:37:04.10
TO FORGIVE OUR SINS AND
GIVE US EVERLASTING LIFE.
00:37:04.10\00:37:09.03
COME OVER HERE TO
THE BOOK OF ROMANS 5:6-8.
00:37:09.03\00:37:12.46
ROMANS 5:6-8.
00:37:12.46\00:37:17.16
"YOU SEE, AT JUST THE
RIGHT TIME, WHEN WE WERE STILL
00:37:17.16\00:37:21.16
POWERLESS, CHRIST
DIED FOR THE UNGODLY."
00:37:21.16\00:37:25.10
THAT'S US.
00:37:25.10\00:37:26.23
"VERY RARELY WILL ANYONE
DIE FOR A RIGHTEOUS MAN, THOUGH
00:37:26.23\00:37:30.70
FOR A GOOD MAN SOMEONE
MIGHT POSSIBLY DARE TO DIE.
00:37:30.70\00:37:35.20
BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES
HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS.
00:37:35.20\00:37:38.76
WHILE WE WERE STILL
SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US."
00:37:38.76\00:37:45.13
YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
00:37:45.13\00:37:46.76
YOU FOLKS JUST LISTEN UP.
00:37:46.76\00:37:50.06
IT'S PRETTY HARD TO HAVE HOPE
IF YOUR LIFE IS DOWN BENEATH
00:37:50.06\00:37:56.66
A HEAVY BLACK CLOUD OF SIN.
00:37:56.66\00:38:02.40
THAT'S ONE REASON
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE HOPE.
00:38:02.40\00:38:05.53
BECAUSE THEIR SIN HAS
SEPARATED THEM FROM GOD.
00:38:05.53\00:38:11.10
BUT THE BIBLE TELLS US WE CAN
HAVE HOPE BECAUSE--LET ME WRITE
00:38:11.10\00:38:16.03
IT UP HERE.
00:38:16.03\00:38:17.06
POINT NUMBER FOUR, GOD HAS
PROMISED TO FORGIVE OUR SINS.
00:38:17.06\00:38:30.43
MY FRIEND, THAT IS GREAT FOR
ALL OF US BECAUSE YOU SITTING
00:38:30.43\00:38:36.96
BACK THERE, YOU
NEED FORGIVENESS.
00:38:36.96\00:38:39.96
AND SITTING DOWN AT THE
FRONT, WE NEED FORGIVENESS.
00:38:39.96\00:38:44.23
AND THE BIBLE TELLS US GOD
HAS PROMISED TO FORGIVE OUR SINS
00:38:44.23\00:38:49.66
IF WE COME IN REPENTANCE
AND PENITENCE TO THE CROSS
00:38:49.66\00:38:57.53
LIKE JOHN NEWTON.
00:38:57.53\00:39:01.03
OH GOODNESS ME.
00:39:01.03\00:39:03.03
YOU'VE ALL HEARD OF JOHN NEWTON.
00:39:03.03\00:39:07.50
JOHN NEWTON, THE MAN
WHO WROTE "AMAZING GRACE."
00:39:07.50\00:39:13.43
THIS ENGLISHMAN
CONVERTED THOUGH THE MINISTRY OF
00:39:13.43\00:39:17.40
THE WESLEY'S, A MAN WHO USED
TO KEEP SLAVES, A MAN WHO TRADED
00:39:17.40\00:39:25.76
IN THE BLOOD AND THE
FLESH OF MEN AND WOMEN
00:39:25.76\00:39:30.00
OF A DIFFERENT COLOR.
00:39:30.00\00:39:34.53
BUT GOD FORGAVE HIS SINS.
00:39:34.53\00:39:37.90
HE BECAME A
MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.
00:39:37.90\00:39:43.43
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE
HOPE BECAUSE GOD HAS PROMISED
00:39:43.43\00:39:47.53
TO FORGIVE OUR SINS.
00:39:47.53\00:39:50.20
YEARS AGO--2 OR 3 YEARS
AGO-- 25 YEARS AGO, YOU NOTICE
00:39:50.20\00:39:59.03
HOW NICE AND CURLY MY HAIR WAS.
00:39:59.03\00:40:04.23
I RESENT THE LAUGHTER.
00:40:04.23\00:40:08.83
YOU SEE THAT OTHER GUY OVER
THERE, THAT'S GRAEME BRADFORD,
00:40:08.83\00:40:13.03
YEAH.
00:40:13.03\00:40:14.40
THAT'S GRAEME BRADFORD, YEAH.
00:40:14.40\00:40:16.56
AT LEAST I GOT HAIR.
00:40:16.56\00:40:18.13
THAT'S MORE THAN HE CAN SAY.
00:40:18.13\00:40:21.20
THIS IS IN DEATH ROW IN MANILA.
00:40:21.20\00:40:26.10
WE'RE BAPTIZING YOUNG MEN THERE
WHO WERE TERRORISTS, AND WHO
00:40:26.10\00:40:30.70
WENT AROUND MURDERING PEOPLE.
00:40:30.70\00:40:35.43
I PREACHED TO THEM ON
THE AMAZING GRACE OF GOD.
00:40:35.43\00:40:40.70
THE AMAZING THING IS THAT
GOD WILL FORGIVE A TERRORIST
00:40:40.70\00:40:44.53
WHO COMES TO GOD
AND REPENTS OF HIS SINS.
00:40:44.53\00:40:51.06
AND SO WE CAN HAVE HOPE
TODAY BECAUSE GOD HAS PROMISED
00:40:51.06\00:40:55.86
TO FORGIVE OUR SINS.
00:40:55.86\00:40:58.30
THIS IS ALL SORT OF AMAZING.
00:40:58.30\00:41:00.96
I WANT YOU TO COME OVER HERE TO
MICAH CHAPTER 7:19, MICAH 7:19.
00:41:00.96\00:41:10.60
MICAH, THAT'S A LITTLE
BOOK WITH A BIG MESSAGE AFTER
00:41:10.60\00:41:12.96
THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
00:41:12.96\00:41:14.46
MICAH 7:19, IS ONE OF THE MINOR
PROPHETS WITH A MAJOR MESSAGE.
00:41:14.46\00:41:19.06
MICAH 7:19, IT SAYS, "YOU WILL
AGAIN HAVE COMPASSION ON US;
00:41:19.06\00:41:23.83
YOU WILL TREAD OUR SINS
UNDERFOOT AND HURL ALL OUR
00:41:23.83\00:41:26.90
INEQUITIES INTO
THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA."
00:41:26.90\00:41:29.43
WE KNOW THAT THE SEA IN SOME
PLACES IS 6 OR 7 MILES DEEP.
00:41:29.43\00:41:32.40
THE BIBLE SAYS, "GOD WILL
PUT OUR SINS RIGHT DOWN IN THE
00:41:32.40\00:41:35.33
BOTTOM OF THE SEA."
00:41:35.33\00:41:36.63
COME OVER HERE TO PSALM 103.
00:41:36.63\00:41:39.13
PSALM 103:12-13.
00:41:39.13\00:41:43.10
PSALM 103:12-13.
00:41:43.10\00:41:47.50
THE BIBLE SAYS, "AS FAR AS
THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST,"
00:41:47.50\00:41:50.83
THAT'S A LONG, LONG, LONG
WAY, "SO FAR HAS HE REMOVED OUR
00:41:50.83\00:41:54.63
TRANSGRESSIONS FROM US.
00:41:54.63\00:41:56.63
AS A FATHER HAS COMPASSION
ON HIS CHILDREN, SO THE LORD
00:41:56.63\00:41:59.80
HAS COMPASSION ON
THOSE WHO FEAR HIM."
00:41:59.80\00:42:02.53
THE BIBLE TELLS US, CAN
YOU MEASURE FROM EAST TO WEST?
00:42:02.53\00:42:05.76
NO YOU CAN'T.
00:42:05.76\00:42:07.26
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT'S AS
FAR AS I'M GOING TO PUT YOUR
00:42:07.26\00:42:09.83
SINS AWAY.
00:42:09.83\00:42:10.96
I WANT YOU TO COME OVER NOW
TO THE BOOK OF ISAIAH 38:17.
00:42:10.96\00:42:16.46
ISAIAH 38:17.
00:42:16.46\00:42:20.40
ISAIAH 38:17.
00:42:20.40\00:42:25.16
THE BIBLE SAYS, "SURELY IT WAS
FOR MY BENEFIT THAT I SUFFERED
00:42:25.16\00:42:29.66
SUCH ANGUISH.
00:42:29.66\00:42:31.16
IN YOUR LOVE YOU KEPT ME
FROM THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION; YOU
00:42:31.16\00:42:34.13
HAVE PUT ALL MY
SINS BEHIND YOUR BACK."
00:42:34.13\00:42:36.90
YOU THINK OF GOD PUTTING
HIS SINS BEHIND HIS BACK.
00:42:36.90\00:42:40.16
IF GOD IS STANDING HERE,
MY FRIEND, AND YOU GOT YOUR
00:42:40.16\00:42:43.10
ENEMIES IN FRONT OF YOU,
AND GOD HAS PUT YOUR SINS BEHIND
00:42:43.10\00:42:46.60
HIS BACK, NOBODY
CAN SEE THOSE SINS.
00:42:46.60\00:42:50.33
THE BIBLE SAYS IF I COME
TO JESUS IN TRUE FAITH, HE'LL
00:42:50.33\00:42:53.83
FORGIVE ALL OF MY SINS.
00:42:53.83\00:42:56.03
YOU KNOW THE TEXT, DON'T YOU?
00:42:56.03\00:42:58.26
JOHN 3:16.
00:42:58.26\00:43:00.93
WE DON'T NEED TO TURN TO IT.
00:43:00.93\00:43:02.30
YOU KNOW IT.
00:43:02.30\00:43:03.53
THE BIBLE SAYS, "'FOR GOD
SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE
00:43:03.53\00:43:07.46
HIS ONLY SON, SO THAT
WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL
00:43:07.46\00:43:11.46
NOT PERISH BUT
HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.'"
00:43:11.46\00:43:15.03
SO GOD SAYS IF I COME IN TRUE
FAITH TO CHRIST, IF I COME TO
00:43:15.03\00:43:19.86
HIS CROSS, IF I CAN CONFESS
MY SINS, IF I REPENT OF MY SINS,
00:43:19.86\00:43:25.23
HE'S GOING TO FORGIVE MY SINS,
HE'S GOING TO PUT THEM DOWN
00:43:25.23\00:43:28.10
IN THE OCEAN, COVER
THEM WITH 7 MILES OF WATER.
00:43:28.10\00:43:30.90
HE'S GOING TO PUT
THEM BEHIND HIS BACK.
00:43:30.90\00:43:33.66
AND BECAUSE OF THIS, WE
CAN HAVE HOPE BECAUSE GOD HAS
00:43:33.66\00:43:37.80
PROMISED ME THE FORGIVENESS
OF SINS AND EVERLASTING LIFE.
00:43:37.80\00:43:42.10
MARTIN LUTHER SAID ON ONE
OCCASION, AND HE WAS THE GREAT
00:43:42.10\00:43:45.90
PROTESTANT REFORMER, HE SAID,
"LORD, DO YOU WANT YOU WANT
00:43:45.90\00:43:49.73
TO DO NOW.
00:43:49.73\00:43:50.76
DO WHAT YOU WILL.
00:43:50.76\00:43:51.83
IF YOU WANT TO STRIKE ME DOWN
NOW THAT I KNOW THAT MY SINS
00:43:51.83\00:43:57.86
ARE FORGIVEN, I BELIEVE THAT
YOU AND I CAN FACE ANY TROUBLE,
00:43:57.86\00:44:05.93
ANY SUFFERING, ANY TRIBULATION,
ANYTHING THE DEVIL CAN THROW
00:44:05.93\00:44:11.76
AT US, IF WE KNOW THAT OUR
SINS ARE FORGIVEN AND WE HAVE
00:44:11.76\00:44:17.33
EVERLASTING LIFE."
00:44:17.33\00:44:20.40
I WANT TO ASK YOU TODAY,
DO YOU HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE?
00:44:20.40\00:44:26.00
IF YOU DIE TONIGHT,
ARE YOU GOING TO WAKE UP IN
00:44:26.00\00:44:29.56
THE RESURRECTION?
00:44:29.56\00:44:31.60
DO YOU KNOW THAT YOUR
SINS ARE BEHIND GOD'S BACK?
00:44:31.60\00:44:36.20
IN FACT, HE'S GOT THEM
DOWN BENEATH THE WATER, 7 MILES
00:44:36.20\00:44:39.53
OF OCEAN ON TOP OF YOUR SINS.
00:44:39.53\00:44:42.00
AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM
THE WEST, THAT'S AS FAR AS HE'S
00:44:42.00\00:44:45.46
GOT RID OF YOUR SINS.
00:44:45.46\00:44:47.93
IF YOU HAVE THAT HOPE TODAY,
THEN NOTHING WILL SHAKE YOU.
00:44:47.93\00:44:53.23
AND THERE IS A FIFTH REASON.
00:44:53.23\00:44:55.33
HERE IT IS.
00:44:55.33\00:44:57.00
WAIT FOR IT.
00:44:57.00\00:44:58.36
WE CAN HAVE HOPE BECAUSE--WE
CAN HAVE HOPE BECAUSE GOD HAS
00:44:58.36\00:45:07.26
A PLAN FOR
PLANET EARTH, OUR WORLD.
00:45:07.26\00:45:13.83
AND GOD'S PLAN IS SO
WONDERFUL IT GIVES US HOPE.
00:45:13.83\00:45:19.26
COME OVER HERE TO THE BOOK
OF ROMANS, MY DEAR FRIENDS.
00:45:19.26\00:45:21.96
OVER HERE TO THE BOOK
OF ROMANS 8:22 AND ONWARDS
00:45:21.96\00:45:26.90
IN YOUR BIBLE.
00:45:26.90\00:45:28.20
ROMANS 8:22 AND ONWARDS.
00:45:28.20\00:45:32.26
YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T GO TO A
CHURCH WHERE THEY DIDN'T TURN
00:45:32.26\00:45:34.80
TO THE TEXT OF THE BIBLE.
00:45:34.80\00:45:36.83
ROMANS 8:22 AND ONWARDS.
00:45:36.83\00:45:40.20
THE BIBLE SAYS, HERE IT IS,
"WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CREATION
00:45:40.20\00:45:43.83
HAS BEEN GROANING AS IN THE
PAINS OF CHILDBIRTH RIGHT UP
00:45:43.83\00:45:47.40
TO THE PRESENT TIME.
00:45:47.40\00:45:49.43
NOT ONLY SO, BUT WE OURSELVES,
WHO HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS OF
00:45:49.43\00:45:53.40
THE SPIRIT, GROAN INWARDLY AS
WE WAIT EAGERLY FOR OUR ADOPTION
00:45:53.40\00:46:01.20
AS SONS, THE
REDEMPTION OF OUR BODIES.
00:46:01.20\00:46:05.06
FOR IN THIS HOPE WE WERE SAVED.
00:46:05.06\00:46:09.33
BUT HOPE THAT IS
SEEN IS NO HOPE AT ALL.
00:46:09.33\00:46:13.33
WHO HOPES FOR
WHAT HE ALREADY HAS?
00:46:13.33\00:46:17.16
BUT IF WE HOPE FOR WHAT WE
DO NOT YET HAVE, WE WAIT FOR
00:46:17.16\00:46:22.56
IT PATIENTLY."
00:46:22.56\00:46:25.53
NOW ALL LOOK AT ME.
00:46:25.53\00:46:27.56
LISTEN TO THIS BECAUSE
THIS IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT.
00:46:27.56\00:46:34.33
WHATEVER HAPPENS TO THIS WORLD
FOR US IS NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL
00:46:34.33\00:46:42.00
BECAUSE WE'RE
CITIZENS OF ANOTHER WORLD.
00:46:42.00\00:46:46.60
AND WE HAVE A HOPE THAT
ONE DAY WE'RE GOING TO GET
00:46:46.60\00:46:49.66
BRAND-NEW BODIES.
00:46:49.66\00:46:51.50
I'M GOING TO GET MY CURLS BACK.
00:46:51.50\00:46:55.53
I'M GOING TO GET A FACE-LIFT.
00:46:55.53\00:46:59.53
YOU KNOW WHAT SOMEBODY
SAID TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN?
00:46:59.53\00:47:01.73
THEY ACCUSED HIM
OF BEING TWO-FACED.
00:47:01.73\00:47:04.63
HE SAID, "I LEAVE IT
TO MY AUDIENCE TO JUDGE.
00:47:04.63\00:47:08.60
IF I HAD TWO FACES, HOW DO
YOU FIGURE I'M WEARING THE ONE
00:47:08.60\00:47:11.90
I'VE GOT?"
00:47:11.90\00:47:18.20
GOD IS GOING TO PREPARE
SOMETHING FOR US GLORIOUS,
00:47:18.20\00:47:22.00
WONDERFUL, MAGNIFICENT, AND
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS HOPE.
00:47:22.00\00:47:26.50
I'M GOING TO WRITE IT
UP HERE ON THE BLACKBOARD.
00:47:26.50\00:47:28.70
THE FIFTH REASON, NUMBER FIVE,
"GOD HAS A WONDERFUL, NOT JUST
00:47:28.70\00:47:40.43
ANY PLAN, BUT GOD
HAS A WONDERFUL PLAN
00:47:40.43\00:47:47.06
FOR PLANET EARTH.
00:47:47.06\00:47:51.70
GOD IS GOING TO
MAKE IT OVER AGAIN."
00:47:51.70\00:47:55.83
I WANT YOU TO TURN NOW
TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION.
00:47:55.83\00:47:58.46
COME OVER HERE TO
REVELATION 21:1-5.
00:47:58.46\00:48:02.96
REVELATION 21:1-5.
00:48:02.96\00:48:06.90
REVELATION 21:1-5, "THEN I SAW
A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH,
00:48:06.90\00:48:11.90
FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND
THE FIRST EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY,
00:48:11.90\00:48:15.90
AND THERE NO LONGER ANY SEA.
00:48:15.90\00:48:17.70
I SAW THE HOLY CITY, THE
NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN OUT
00:48:17.70\00:48:20.73
OF HEAVEN FROM GOD, PREPARED
AS A BRIDE BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED
00:48:20.73\00:48:24.86
FOR HER HUSBAND.
00:48:24.86\00:48:26.26
AND I HEARD A LOUD VOICE
FROM THE THRONE SAYING, 'NOW THE
00:48:26.26\00:48:29.36
DWELLING OF GOD IS WITH
MEN, AND HE WILL LIVE WITH THEM.
00:48:29.36\00:48:32.26
THEY WILL BE HIS
PEOPLE, AND GOD HIMSELF WILL BE
00:48:32.26\00:48:35.50
WITH THEM AND BE THEIR GOD.
00:48:35.50\00:48:37.73
HE WILL WIPE EVERY
TEAR FROM THEIR EYES.
00:48:37.73\00:48:41.30
THERE WILL BE NO MORE DEATH
OR MOURNING OR CRYING OF PAIN,
00:48:41.30\00:48:45.46
FOR THE OLD ORDER OF
THINGS HAS PASSED AWAY.'
00:48:45.46\00:48:48.40
HE WHO SEATED ON THE
THRONE SAID, 'I AM MAKING
00:48:48.40\00:48:51.10
EVERYTHING NEW.' THEN
HE SAID, 'WRITE THIS DOWN,
00:48:51.10\00:48:56.03
FOR THESE WORDS ARE
TRUSTWORTHY AND TRUE.'"
00:48:56.03\00:49:00.66
JUST THINK OF IT, A
BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL NEW WORLD.
00:49:00.66\00:49:04.90
COME OVER NOW TO
THE BOOK OF TITUS 2:13.
00:49:04.90\00:49:10.03
TIMOTHY, AND THEN YOU COME
TO THE BOOK OF TITUS TOWARDS
00:49:10.03\00:49:13.16
THE NEW TESTAMENT.
00:49:13.16\00:49:14.13
TITUS 2:13 SAYS THESE WORDS,
"WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE BLESSED,"
00:49:14.13\00:49:20.93
WHAT?
00:49:20.93\00:49:22.43
COME ON SAY IT.
00:49:22.43\00:49:23.66
>> HOPE.
00:49:23.66\00:49:24.73
>> "THE BLESSED HOPE, THE
GLORIOUS APPEARING OF OUR GREAT
00:49:24.73\00:49:28.26
GOD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST."
00:49:28.26\00:49:30.73
THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT THE
SECOND COMING BY THE TERM,
00:49:30.73\00:49:35.13
"THE BLESSED HOPE."
00:49:35.13\00:49:37.00
"WE HAVE THIS HOPE THAT
BURNS WITHIN OUR HEARTS, HOPE IN
00:49:37.00\00:49:41.43
THE COMING OF THE LORD.
00:49:41.43\00:49:43.30
WE HAVE THIS FAITH THAT
CHRIST ALONE IMPARTS FAITH IN
00:49:43.30\00:49:47.23
THE PROMISE OF HIS WORD."
00:49:47.23\00:49:49.96
AND THEN EVERY PERSON
KNOWS THIS GREAT OLD HYMN.
00:49:49.96\00:49:53.90
"WHEN ALL MY LABORS AND TRIALS
ARE O'ER, AND I AM SAFE ON THAT
00:49:53.90\00:49:58.93
BEAUTIFUL SHORE JUST TO BE
NEAR THE DEAR LORD I ADORE,
00:49:58.93\00:50:04.36
WILL THROUGH THE
AGES BE GLORY FOR ME.
00:50:04.36\00:50:09.40
WHEN BY THE GIFT OF HIS
INFINITE GRACE, I AM ACCORDED
00:50:09.40\00:50:12.83
IN HEAVEN A PLACE JUST TO BE
THERE, AND TO LOOK ON HIS FACE,
00:50:12.83\00:50:17.03
WILL THROUGH THE
AGES BE GLORY FOR ME.
00:50:17.03\00:50:20.86
FRIENDS WILL BE THERE.
00:50:20.86\00:50:22.30
I HAVE LOVED SONG--
I HAVE LOVED LONG AGO.
00:50:22.30\00:50:25.56
JOY LIKE A RIVER
AROUND ME WILL FLOW.
00:50:25.56\00:50:29.03
YET JUST A SMILE FROM MY SAVIOR
I KNOW, WILL THROUGH THE AGES
00:50:29.03\00:50:32.83
BE GLORY FOR ME.
00:50:32.83\00:50:35.56
O THAT WILL BE GLORY FOR
ME, GLORY FOR ME, GLORY FOR ME.
00:50:35.56\00:50:43.70
WHEN BY HIS GRACE, I SHALL
LOOK ON HIS FACE, THAT WILL BE
00:50:43.70\00:50:51.40
GLORY, BE GLORY FOR ME."
00:50:51.40\00:50:56.26
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE HOPE.
00:50:56.26\00:50:59.46
AND WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS TODAY
AND WHAT AMERICA NEEDS MORE
00:50:59.46\00:51:04.10
THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS HOPE,
AND HOPE HOLDS US WHEN EARTHLY
00:51:04.10\00:51:11.40
THINGS ARE SWEPT
AWAY BY THE FLOOD OF FEAR.
00:51:11.40\00:51:16.50
COME OVER HERE
TO HEBREWS 6:19-20.
00:51:16.50\00:51:20.83
HEBREWS 6:19-20, AND IT TALKS
ABOUT THE ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL.
00:51:20.83\00:51:28.03
HEBREWS 6:19-20, "WE HAVE THIS
HOPE AS AN ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL,
00:51:28.03\00:51:35.93
FIRM AND SECURE.
00:51:35.93\00:51:37.73
IT ENTERS THE INNER SANCTUARY
BEHIND THE CURTAIN, WHERE
00:51:37.73\00:51:41.03
JESUS, WHO WENT BEFORE US,
HAS ENTERED ON OUR BEHALF."
00:51:41.03\00:51:46.66
THE BIBLE TELLS US, IF YOU
GO INTO THE WHERE JESUS IS,
00:51:46.66\00:51:54.16
YOU WILL HAVE HOPE, AND
THIS IS THE ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL.
00:51:54.16\00:52:00.26
THE POET SAID THESE WORDS,
LISTEN, AN OLD HYMN, "WILL YOUR
00:52:00.26\00:52:06.46
ANCHOR HOLD IN
THE STORMS OF LIFE?
00:52:06.46\00:52:10.86
WHEN THE CLOUDS
UNFOLD THEIR WINGS OF STRIFE,
00:52:10.86\00:52:14.90
WHEN THE STRONG TIDES
LIFT, AND THE CABLES STRAIN,
00:52:14.90\00:52:19.03
WILL YOUR ANCHOR
DRIFT, OR FIRM REMAIN?
00:52:19.03\00:52:24.00
WE HAVE AN ANCHOR THAT KEEPS
THE SOUL STEADFAST AND SURE
00:52:24.00\00:52:29.63
WHILE THE BELLOWS ROLL;
FASTENED TO THE ROCK WHICH
00:52:29.63\00:52:33.33
CANNOT MOVE, GROUNDED FIRM
AND DEEP IN THE SAVIOR'S LOVE.
00:52:33.33\00:52:40.70
IT WILL FIRMLY HOLD
IN THE FLOODS OF DEATH,
00:52:40.70\00:52:46.13
WHEN THE WATERS COLD
CHILL OUR LATEST BREATH.
00:52:46.13\00:52:52.23
ON THE RISING TIDE, IT CAN
NEVER FAIL, WHILE OUR HOPES
00:52:52.23\00:53:00.10
ABIDE WITHIN THE VEIL."
00:53:00.10\00:53:06.36
WE HAVE THIS HOPE.
00:53:06.36\00:53:08.46
LET US KNEEL.
00:53:08.46\00:53:12.60
OUR FATHER, WE THANK YOU TODAY
THAT IN A WORLD THAT'S FILLED
00:53:22.83\00:53:27.70
WITH FEAR, WE HAVE HOPE AND WE
HAVE HOPE TODAY BECAUSE YOU ARE
00:53:27.70\00:53:34.43
THE GOD WHO IS THERE AND HERE.
00:53:34.43\00:53:39.43
WE THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE
OUR GOD AND YOU ARE OUR LIFE.
00:53:39.43\00:53:44.73
YOU HAVE A PLAN
FOR EVERYONE OF US.
00:53:44.73\00:53:48.70
WE HAVE HOPE
BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PLAN.
00:53:48.70\00:53:52.53
WE THANK YOU TODAY, OUR
FATHER, THAT YOU HAVE PROMISED
00:53:52.53\00:53:56.00
TO FORGIVE ALL OF OUR SINS.
00:53:56.00\00:53:58.36
WE HAVE HOPE OF
EVERLASTING LIFE.
00:53:58.36\00:54:02.40
WE THANK YOU THAT YOU'VE TOLD
US DURING TIMES OF RECESSION
00:54:02.40\00:54:06.33
AND DEPRESSION THAT YOU
WILL SUPPLY THE NEEDS OF YOUR
00:54:06.33\00:54:10.43
FAITHFUL CHILDREN.
00:54:10.43\00:54:12.40
THEREFORE, WE HAVE HOPE,
AND WE HAVE HOPE TODAY BECAUSE
00:54:12.40\00:54:17.10
WE BELIEVE IN THE BLESSED
HOPE THAT JESUS WILL COME.
00:54:17.10\00:54:23.26
AND SOON THERE WILL
BE A BRAND-NEW WORLD FOR
00:54:23.26\00:54:27.86
OUR BRAND-NEW PEOPLE.
00:54:27.86\00:54:31.46
WE THANK YOU TODAY THAT
OUR ANCHOR HOLDS BECAUSE IT'S
00:54:31.46\00:54:37.66
FIRMLY ROOTED TO THE
ROCK THAT CANNOT MOVE.
00:54:37.66\00:54:42.90
AS WE'RE PRAYING IN
CHURCH TODAY, HOW MANY WILL SAY,
00:54:42.90\00:54:48.00
"I, TODAY, CHOOSE
HOPE OVER DESPAIR"?
00:54:48.00\00:54:53.46
WOULD YOU RAISE YOUR
HAND AS YOU SAY, "TODAY,
00:54:53.46\00:54:56.46
I CHOOSE HOPE."
00:54:56.46\00:54:59.30
SAY IT WITH ME, "I CHOOSE
HOPE BECAUSE I CHOOSE CHRIST,
00:54:59.30\00:55:07.03
BECAUSE I CHOOSE CHRIST."
00:55:07.03\00:55:09.43
BLESS US TODAY, OUR FATHER.
00:55:09.43\00:55:10.90
BLESS THIS CONGREGATION.
00:55:10.90\00:55:12.40
BLESS EVERY UPRAISED HAND,
EVERY UPRAISED HEART, AND DEAR
00:55:12.40\00:55:16.83
FATHER, BLESS PRESIDENT
OBAMA AS WE HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED
00:55:16.83\00:55:22.70
IN THE SCRIPTURES
TO PRAY FOR OUR RULERS.
00:55:22.70\00:55:26.43
WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL BLESS
HIM AND LEAD HIM AND GUIDE HIM.
00:55:26.43\00:55:29.93
GIVE HIM A WISDOM THAT
HE DOESN'T HAVE IN HIMSELF.
00:55:29.93\00:55:33.63
BLESS THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA THAT THIS TIME OF
00:55:33.63\00:55:37.70
TROUBLE WILL SHAKE US LOOSE
FROM OUR ADDICTION TO THINGS.
00:55:37.70\00:55:43.56
WE HAVE BECOME A PEOPLE, DEAR
FATHER, A SINFUL PEOPLE, WHO
00:55:43.56\00:55:49.20
WORSHIP THINGS INSTEAD OF YOU.
00:55:49.20\00:55:52.80
MAY THESE TRIALS SHAKE US FREE
FROM THAT DREADFUL ADDICTION,
00:55:52.80\00:55:59.23
AND BLESS OUR FRIENDS AROUND
THE WORLD IN AUSTRALIA, IN NEW
00:55:59.23\00:56:04.36
ZEALAND, IN CANADA, IN
LATIN AMERICA, IN GREAT BRITAIN,
00:56:04.36\00:56:11.23
AND OUR SUFFERING
BELIEVERS IN RUSSIA, BLESS THEM.
00:56:11.23\00:56:16.80
WE THANK YOU TODAY THAT WE,
THAT WE TODAY ARE FILLED WITH
00:56:16.80\00:56:23.56
CERTAINTY THAT COMES FROM FAITH
IN YOUR WORD, AND WE THANK YOU
00:56:23.56\00:56:29.36
FOR THE BLESSED HOPE.
00:56:29.36\00:56:31.40
IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN AND AMEN.
00:56:31.40\00:56:36.23
[MUSIC]
00:56:39.06\00:56:44.00
? BEFORE THE
THRONE ? ? OF GOD ABOVE ?
00:56:58.16\00:57:03.30
? I HAVE A STRONG ?
? AND PERFECT PLEA ?
00:57:03.30\00:57:08.26
? A GREAT HIGH PRIEST
? ? WHOSE NAME IS LOVE ?
00:57:08.26\00:57:13.43
? WHO EVER LIVES ?
? AND PLEADS FOR ME ?
00:57:13.43\00:57:18.66
? MY NAME IS
GRAVEN ? ? ON HIS HANDS ?
00:57:18.66\00:57:23.96
? MY NAME IS
WRITTEN ? ? ON HIS HEART ?
00:57:23.96\00:57:29.43
? I KNOW THAT WHILE ?
? IN HEAVEN HE STANDS ?
00:57:29.43\00:57:34.86
? NO TONGUE CAN BID
ME ? ? THENCE DEPART ?
00:57:34.86\00:57:40.23
? NO TONGUE CAN BID
ME ? ? THENCE DEPART ??
00:57:40.23\00:57:48.33
[MUSIC]
00:57:48.40\00:57:53.33