It's been 2,000 years since
the glorious light of the cross
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illuminated a world
veiled in darkness and confusion
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about the character of God...
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And still today, the
greatest need of mankind
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is a revelation of God's love as
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revealed in the life of Christ.
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Amazing Facts presents
"The Everlasting Gospel"
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with Pastor Doug Batchelor,
coming to you each week
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from Sacramento Central
Church in sunny California!
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Discover hidden
treasures in God's Word today.
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You know it's been a
good thing for the pastors
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to begin collecting
these special prayer requests
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where you write
out your prayers,
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and the last few weeks as we
gather for our staff meeting,
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on Wednesday mornings,
we've been going through them.
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And, it's given us a little
more insight into some of the
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special needs in the
church family and sometimes we
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can all sort of live
in our own little universe
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and become disconnected...
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And, through
these prayer requests,
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if anything has become
clear, it's become clear that
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a lot of people are
struggling with a broad spectrum
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of challenges.
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Just in the last
week, I've had friends that
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had serious health
problems, financial problems;
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families that seemed
to be strained and on the
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verge of disintegrating;
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people losing their jobs;
people losing their identity;
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and I tried to summarize what
has caused so much distress.
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You know, in the world, you're
going to have tribulation,
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but Jesus said we could
be of good cheer because
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He has overcome the world.
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In spite of all these things
that may come in our lives
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that are challenges,
whether they are problems in
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relationships or
problems with finances,
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we can still be secure.
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As-a-matter-of-fact, one
lesson the Bible teaches us
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that with the Lord, you can be
secure in the midst of a storm.
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I remember hearing a story
about this large stone lion
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that they built - actually it's
a bronze lion that overlooks
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the area where the
battle of Waterloo was fought.
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And this big lion has
got his snarling mouth open,
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and his jaws exposed
and a bird made a nest
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in the lion's mouth and
when the winds and storms were
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swirling around that meadow,
the bird was perfectly secure
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there in the lion's mouth of all
things with her little young!
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And you know, this is something
how a Christian can envision
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our relationship with the Lord.
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You can have perfect
security no matter what kind of
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stresses or insecurities
are happening in your life.
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No matter how things
might be shaking around you,
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You can still be secure in
a storm and it doesn't mean
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we won't have trials - we
do, there are storms in life.
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Jesus said, "The wise
man builds on the rock,
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the fool builds on the
sand and both houses get hit
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with the storm,"
isn't that right?
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So He almost guaranteed
there are going to be storms.
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I'd like to have you turn
in your Bible to Acts 27...
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There's a story and
we're going to read most of it,
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but it begins with
verse 13, Acts 27:13
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Now I'd like to just
give you the background
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for what's happening.
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Paul had been
arrested in Jerusalem and after
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a couple of years of
languishing in jails there,
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finally he appealed to Caesar.
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He's on his way to see the
king of the world back then;
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he's going to take his court
case before the Roman emperor.
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And en route, they sailed
back then - it was the quickest
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way of travel, but their
boat was delayed and a number
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of problems and finally -
you know, there are seasons
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when you don't sail
the Mediterranean...
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Just like other oceans,
you've got the storm season,
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and then you've
got the safe season.
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Well, they had wasted so much
time during the good sailing
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that now it got to the
time where they really ought to
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park the boat and just
wait out the storm season,
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but they said, "We could
probably just make it to a
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better harbor if we
go a few more days."
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And so, against the
advice of Paul, Paul said,
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"I perceive there's going to
be a lot of damage to the lives
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and the goods of the ship,"
you better stay where you are...
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They went on sailing
in spite of his advice.
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And you read in verse
13, "When the south wind,"
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I'm in Acts 27:13...
When the south wind blew
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softly, supposing they
had obtained a purpose...
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They said, "Hey, this is a good
sign, we've got a south wind."
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They put out to sea,
they sailed close by Crete,
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but not long after, a
tempestuous headwind arose,
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called Euroclydon and
that's sort of a combination
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of the word meaning from all
quarters and that's where you
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get the word
"Europe" and "typhoon."
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It was this wind that swirled
around that didn't have any
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definite direction and it
often came up in the winter.
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It means the winter
storm wind was upon them.
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So when the ship was caught and
could not head into the wind,
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we let her drive...
they just had to let the ship
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blow whichever
way the wind went...
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and running under
the shelter of an island.
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Finally, they came where
they were blocked by an island
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called "Claudia,"
they secured the skiff.
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The skiff is the little lifeboat
that all the sailboats had.
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You know, they'd anchor off and
then they had a little rowboat
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that would go to shore
and row the people back,
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and bring provisions in.
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They used to tow it
behind the ship in good weather,
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but when the weather got
rough, you didn't want to
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lose your little lifeboat,
they'd strap it on the stern.
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So they secured the skiff...
that comes in later in the
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story - you don't want to
miss that... with difficulty,
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and when they had taken
it on board, they used cables
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to undergird the ship - fearing
lest they should run aground
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on the straight sands.
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They struck sail - they
pulled down their sails because
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the wind was blowing them
into the sands... and so we were
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driven and because there
was an exceeding tempest,
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they were exceedingly
tempest-tossed, the next day
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they lightened the ship.
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They're now doing what
they did during Jonah's storm
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and they're starting
to throw things overboard.
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You know, when your
life is on the line,
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you're willing to unload
if it means saving your life.
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... And on the third day,
we threw the ship's tackle
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overboard with our own hands.
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Now Paul is on this boat
with over 200 other prisoners,
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and when they realized that
they had to lighten the boat
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even more, not only were they
throwing the cargo overboard
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to save themselves, now they're
throwing over the tackling
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of the ship that
they use for controlling
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the sails in the ship and
it's like they're reaching
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desperate straits now.
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Verse 20- Now when neither
sun nor stars appeared for
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many days and no
small tempest beat on us.
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There are 4 times in the
Bible; Luke uses that term,
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"no small."
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Sometimes he
says, "No small stir,
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no small
division, no small tempest."
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You ought to do a
sermon some day on "no small"
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when Luke says that.
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That means "very big."
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Now when neither
sun nor stars appeared
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for many days and no
small tempest beat on us,
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all hope that we would be
saved was finally given up.
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Now I want you to have
the picture here, friends...
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Here you have a boatload
of prisoners on they way to
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judgment - they've
thrown over they valuables;
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they've thrown over the
tackling to control the ship -
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How does a boat, back then,
find out where they are? GPS?
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No... They would use either
a compass, but then they'd use
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the compass also - that
just kind of tells you which way
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they were drifting.
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They'd have to use a sextant
or some primitive instruments
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to either at night measured
by the stars and the moon
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or day by the sun and they
have neither sun, moon or stars.
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You know, one of the signs
of the church is a woman clothed
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with the sun, standing on
the moon, stars above her head.
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The church is to be a
guiding light in the world.
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Here, this ship of
sailors bound for judgment -
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they're all
prisoners - it's a prison boat.
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Paul is one of many;
they got the Roman soldiers
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and the sailors and they're
on their way to judgment!
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And, they don't
know where they're going,
00:09:11.62\00:09:13.96
and they're in a storm and
now they've become hopeless;
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all hope that they
might be saved is gone!
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But after long abstinence,
days of fasting from food,
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Paul stood up in the
midst of them and said...
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Now here is this
half-blind, ageing, bald Jew...
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Now the Bible doesn't say
that, but some say he was,
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and I think I told you
that my mother's maiden name
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was the same as
Paul's, it was "Ruth Tarshish"
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which is the same as "Tarsus."
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My grandfather says
we're related to him or Jonah -
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we're not sure which
one, but might have been bald.
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Anyway, so here
you've got this short, bald -
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they do say he was short because
Paul says, "You know, I'm not
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very imposing when I come
in person and he was partially
00:10:01.40\00:10:04.74
blind - he couldn't
see and he is telling now
00:10:04.77\00:10:08.53
the Roman soldiers and the
sailors what they should do.
00:10:08.56\00:10:11.58
It's very out of his area
of expertise you would think,
00:10:11.61\00:10:16.23
except he had the Spirit of God.
00:10:16.26\00:10:19.21
He says, "Men, you should have
listened to me and not sailed
00:10:19.24\00:10:22.97
from Crete and
incurred this disaster and loss.
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And now I urge you to take
heart, for there will be no
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loss of life among
you, but only the ship.
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For there stood by
me this night, an angel
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of the God who I belong
to and whom I serve saying...
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"Do not be afraid,
Paul, you must be brought
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before Caesar and
indeed, God has granted you
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all those who sail with you."
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In other words, during
the storm, Paul is praying
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for all the other
soldiers and all the other
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prisoners and all the sailors.
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He is interceding for
those who are in the storm,
00:10:58.51\00:11:01.53
who are very
insecure about their lives;
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very insecure about
their possessions and the trip.
00:11:03.40\00:11:08.54
And he said - An angel
appeared to me and told me
00:11:08.57\00:11:11.73
... Paul not only am I going
to spare you because you need
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to go to Caesar - the
gospel needs to go to Rome,
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and you're going to be preaching
from Rome to the people there,
00:11:19.25\00:11:22.76
and Paul was going to be
preaching from the prison
00:11:22.80\00:11:25.14
in Rome to the servants in
Caesar's house and the gospel
00:11:25.18\00:11:28.19
was going to spread from Rome.
00:11:28.22\00:11:29.42
So the Lord was basically saying
...Look Paul, even if you gotta
00:11:29.46\00:11:32.09
walk on water,
you're going to Rome,
00:11:32.12\00:11:34.64
so you're going to make it.
00:11:34.67\00:11:36.69
But Paul is saying - Lord,
I've gotten to know these other
00:11:36.72\00:11:39.29
sailors and
prisoners and please save them.
00:11:39.32\00:11:42.36
All right, all right
Paul, you know, your prayers
00:11:42.39\00:11:44.69
are so strong and your
intercession so complete,
00:11:44.72\00:11:47.64
I'll give you
everybody on the ship.
00:11:47.67\00:11:50.36
But the ship isn't going to
make it and none of the cargo
00:11:50.39\00:11:53.52
is going to make it because
they didn't listen to you;
00:11:53.55\00:11:55.09
they should have listened.
00:11:55.12\00:11:58.98
"And he said, you must
be brought before Caesar;
00:11:59.01\00:12:00.92
therefore, take heart -
Paul is saying to the sailors,
00:12:00.95\00:12:04.78
"Take heart men, for I
believe God that it will be just
00:12:04.81\00:12:08.81
as He told me;
however, we must run aground
00:12:08.84\00:12:12.49
on a certain island."
00:12:12.52\00:12:14.19
Now here you've got a case
- these prisoners are going
00:12:14.22\00:12:17.71
through the dark - the
only light in all of this
00:12:17.74\00:12:20.01
is that angel
that appeared to Paul.
00:12:20.04\00:12:21.86
They must now
believe the Word of God
00:12:21.89\00:12:23.86
that he is giving them.
00:12:23.89\00:12:25.79
He's telling in advance
what's going to happen.. Why?
00:12:25.82\00:12:29.06
So when it does
happen, they'll believe the
00:12:29.09\00:12:30.79
other things that Paul says.
00:12:30.82\00:12:32.03
Isn't that how God
works with His prophets?
00:12:32.06\00:12:35.54
"But when the
14th night had come,
00:12:35.57\00:12:39.03
and we were driven up
and down in the Adriatic Sea,
00:12:39.06\00:12:41.68
... they're being driven
around the Mediterranean...
00:12:41.71\00:12:43.84
about midnight, the
sailors sensed they were drawing
00:12:43.87\00:12:46.84
near some land...
Maybe they heard the
00:12:46.87\00:12:49.36
crashing of breakers
on some distant rocks.
00:12:49.39\00:12:52.29
And they took soundings...
that means they lowered
00:12:52.32\00:12:54.76
a rope that had a weight on
it, that had knots tied in it
00:12:54.79\00:12:57.69
so they could see how
deep the water was getting.
00:12:57.72\00:12:59.51
The closer you get to
shore, the more shallow.
00:12:59.54\00:13:02.56
So the throne is rope
out and they're calling out
00:13:02.59\00:13:04.71
the soundings and when
they found it to be 20 fathoms,
00:13:04.74\00:13:07.82
they had gone a little further,
they took soundings again;
00:13:07.85\00:13:10.37
then it was 15 fathoms...
00:13:10.40\00:13:11.72
It's getting
shallow, they're nearing land;
00:13:11.75\00:13:13.30
that means they're
going to crash on shore!
00:13:13.33\00:13:15.44
"Then fearing that we
should run aground on the rocks,
00:13:15.47\00:13:19.21
they dropped 4
anchors from the stern,
00:13:19.24\00:13:21.98
and they prayed
for day to come."
00:13:22.01\00:13:25.10
Sometimes all you can
do is stay where you are
00:13:25.13\00:13:27.90
and pray and wait, right?
00:13:27.93\00:13:30.59
"And as the sailors were
seeking to escape from the ship,
00:13:30.62\00:13:35.26
when they had let down the
skiff - the little rowboat,
00:13:35.29\00:13:38.56
into the sea under
pretense of putting out anchors
00:13:38.59\00:13:41.94
from the prow - they're
pretending to dropping an anchor
00:13:41.97\00:13:44.63
off the bow - Paul
said to the centurion,
00:13:44.66\00:13:48.84
the Roman soldier in
charge of the whole group...
00:13:48.87\00:13:51.39
"Unless these men stay in
the ship, you cannot be saved."
00:13:51.42\00:13:56.87
Now that seems like a
strange thing to say...
00:13:56.90\00:13:59.07
Paul recognized he had
this gift of discernment...
00:13:59.10\00:14:01.34
He said - They're not
dropping an anchor off the bow,
00:14:01.37\00:14:03.44
those sailors are wanting to
get away because if this ship
00:14:03.47\00:14:06.05
does break up, there
might be no way to get to land
00:14:06.08\00:14:09.73
except that boat and you're
not going to get everybody
00:14:09.76\00:14:11.77
in that little rowboat
and the sailors wanting to
00:14:11.80\00:14:15.94
save themselves acted like
they were dropping an anchor
00:14:15.97\00:14:18.41
off the front and, really,
they were getting ready to make
00:14:18.44\00:14:21.12
their own
personal getaway to land.
00:14:21.15\00:14:23.76
Paul saw what they were doing
and he said to the centurion -
00:14:23.79\00:14:26.97
God told me, that
unless we all stay together,
00:14:27.00\00:14:30.15
we're not going to make it.
00:14:30.18\00:14:31.59
Unless we all stay
together, centurion,
00:14:31.62\00:14:33.77
you're not going to make it.
00:14:33.80\00:14:35.69
And, you know, it's
interesting how - to start with,
00:14:35.72\00:14:38.25
the centurion was giving orders
when they began the journey...
00:14:38.28\00:14:40.80
Now, this old
prisoner is telling everybody
00:14:40.83\00:14:46.45
what they ought to do.
00:14:46.48\00:14:48.51
That's amazing how God's
Spirit sort of takes over
00:14:48.54\00:14:51.05
when there's a crisis.
00:14:51.08\00:14:52.17
I've discovered something...
00:14:52.20\00:14:53.37
I've had a lot of friends that
I've told them about my beliefs,
00:14:53.40\00:14:57.93
and I've told them about
what I believe about God,
00:14:57.96\00:15:02.09
and my relationship with God.
00:15:02.12\00:15:03.40
A lot of them are
unbelievers and they tease me,
00:15:03.43\00:15:05.64
but when they
go through a storm,
00:15:05.67\00:15:07.82
I'll frequently get a phone call
or someone will tap on the door
00:15:07.85\00:15:10.96
and they'll say,
"Doug, can we talk?"
00:15:10.99\00:15:13.45
Someone in their
family is dying or died,
00:15:13.48\00:15:16.45
or somebody is sick or
there has been some great
00:15:16.48\00:15:19.25
financial reverse
and if you know the Lord,
00:15:19.28\00:15:22.58
and you're walking with
God, people will sense that.
00:15:22.61\00:15:25.95
And when there's a storm,
they're going to come to you,
00:15:25.98\00:15:28.82
and they're going
to ask you for help.
00:15:28.85\00:15:30.73
That's why it's important for
you to be a consistent witness.
00:15:30.76\00:15:33.92
In the middle of
the storm, they started
00:15:33.95\00:15:35.63
taking orders from Paul.
00:15:35.66\00:15:37.04
So here Paul is
saying, "Unless we all
00:15:37.07\00:15:39.50
stay together,
we can't be saved."
00:15:39.54\00:15:41.06
By the way, there's a
storm, friends, it's coming
00:15:41.10\00:15:44.10
in our world - I don't
know if you know that...
00:15:44.13\00:15:46.49
And the devil wants to divide
us and even in God's church,
00:15:46.52\00:15:50.80
you've got little groups
that will break off and say,
00:15:50.83\00:15:52.58
let's not stay with the ship
- let's break off by ourselves.
00:15:52.61\00:15:56.48
And God is saying to His people,
"We need to stick together
00:15:56.51\00:16:00.28
because all men will know you
00:16:00.31\00:16:01.76
are My disciples by
your love for one another."
00:16:01.79\00:16:06.96
Then the soldiers cut away the
00:16:06.99\00:16:10.30
ropes of the skiff
and let it fall off.
00:16:10.33\00:16:12.12
Talk about commitment!
00:16:12.15\00:16:13.98
They're listening to Paul so
much, they cut away the lifeboat
00:16:14.01\00:16:19.39
"And as day was about to
dawn, Paul implored them all
00:16:19.42\00:16:22.09
to take food saying,
"Today is the 14th day,
00:16:22.12\00:16:25.15
you've waited and
continued now without food
00:16:25.18\00:16:27.22
and eaten nothing;
therefore, I urge you to take
00:16:27.25\00:16:29.80
nourishment - for
this is for your survival
00:16:29.83\00:16:31.95
since not a hair will fall
from the head of any of you.
00:16:31.98\00:16:36.05
Wouldn't you like to hear the
Lord say that to us right now?
00:16:36.08\00:16:39.24
In the midst of
the storm, He said,
00:16:39.27\00:16:42.16
"You might go
through some trials,
00:16:42.19\00:16:43.42
you might even get seasick,
but not a hair is going to
00:16:43.45\00:16:47.12
fall from your head."
00:16:47.15\00:16:48.34
Of course, He'd have to
give me more promise that that
00:16:48.37\00:16:50.59
because I'd want something else.
00:16:50.62\00:16:56.67
And when he said these things,
he took bread in front of them,
00:16:56.70\00:17:01.17
and he gave thanks to God.
00:17:01.20\00:17:03.16
These are all
these pagan sailors,
00:17:03.19\00:17:05.10
these are Roman soldiers.
00:17:05.13\00:17:06.30
Paul now is taking
charge in the name of the Lord;
00:17:06.33\00:17:09.27
he prays, he blesses the
bread in the name of Jehovah,
00:17:09.30\00:17:11.94
and he distributes it.
00:17:11.97\00:17:13.56
Isn't he doing what Jesus did?
00:17:13.59\00:17:15.99
Remember when Jesus took
the bread, He blessed it;
00:17:16.02\00:17:17.53
He gave it to others.
00:17:17.56\00:17:19.44
"And when he had
broken it, he began to eat."
00:17:19.47\00:17:23.27
He said - Let me
show you what to do,
00:17:23.30\00:17:24.48
you gotta eat
something, you need strength,
00:17:24.51\00:17:26.00
you're going to have
to make your way to shore.
00:17:26.03\00:17:28.05
They were all encouraged!
00:17:28.08\00:17:29.23
They also took food themselves,
00:17:29.26\00:17:32.27
and in all, there were
276 people on the ship.
00:17:32.30\00:17:37.62
Now I don't know if
you've seen any of those ships
00:17:37.65\00:17:39.81
that they had back then,
but they were not very big.
00:17:39.84\00:17:43.90
These were not like
these big Spanish galleons.
00:17:43.93\00:17:46.40
The ships back then
were these Phoenician ships
00:17:46.43\00:17:48.63
or the Roman ships
and they were packed
00:17:48.66\00:17:50.79
pretty tight on that
boat full of prisoners.
00:17:50.82\00:17:55.38
"So when they had
eaten, they lightened the ship
00:17:55.41\00:17:58.42
and they threw out
the wheat into the sea."
00:17:58.45\00:18:01.08
Just before they go into this
great final time of trouble,
00:18:01.11\00:18:05.63
they eat - they fill up
with as much as they can handle
00:18:05.66\00:18:09.85
because the time
is going to come when
00:18:09.88\00:18:12.22
you're going to have to live
on what you've got inside you.
00:18:12.25\00:18:15.23
You got that friends?
00:18:15.26\00:18:16.36
You may not always have your
Bible stored away somewhere.
00:18:16.39\00:18:19.68
They knew now that
the ship was going to be
00:18:19.71\00:18:21.37
busted to smithereens
00:18:21.40\00:18:22.62
They were going to have
to survive on what they had
00:18:22.65\00:18:24.71
put in them.
00:18:24.74\00:18:26.62
You might be put in
prison for your faith,
00:18:26.65\00:18:30.02
and they'll
take your Bible away.
00:18:30.05\00:18:31.08
Do you have enough
stored inside to sustain you?
00:18:31.11\00:18:34.02
Like a bear, before the winter,
stores it away that they might
00:18:34.05\00:18:37.41
hibernate
through the coldest time.
00:18:37.44\00:18:39.23
You and I need to have
that experience, friends.
00:18:39.26\00:18:41.52
They throw all the other wheat
overboard to lighten the ship
00:18:41.55\00:18:44.87
because their going
to make it for land now.
00:18:44.90\00:18:47.32
Verse 39- "And when it was
day, they did not recognize
00:18:47.35\00:18:51.05
the land but they observed
a bay, a beach on which they
00:18:51.08\00:18:55.45
planned to run
the ship if possible,
00:18:55.48\00:18:57.63
... It was a desperate attempt.
00:18:57.66\00:18:59.75
and they let go of the anchors,
00:18:59.78\00:19:01.38
... They cut the anchors away.
00:19:01.41\00:19:02.74
and they left them in the sea,
00:19:02.77\00:19:04.98
meanwhile
loosening the rudder ropes.
00:19:05.01\00:19:06.71
They hoisted the mainsail
to the wind and made for shore.
00:19:06.74\00:19:10.28
... Did their best
to make a run for shore.
00:19:10.31\00:19:12.68
But striking a
place where 2 seas met,
00:19:12.71\00:19:15.79
they ran the ship aground.
00:19:15.82\00:19:17.38
... The currents
were rushing about a rock
00:19:17.41\00:19:19.10
and pushed this ship
off into a shallow area,
00:19:19.13\00:19:21.79
and the bow ran aground.
00:19:21.82\00:19:24.49
The prow stuck fast
and remained immovable,
00:19:24.52\00:19:27.01
but the stern
was being broken up
00:19:27.04\00:19:28.74
by the violence of the waves.
00:19:28.77\00:19:30.93
Now the soldier's plan
was to kill the prisoners
00:19:30.96\00:19:34.21
lest any of them should escape."
00:19:34.24\00:19:36.53
You know back in Bible
times, if you lost a prisoner,
00:19:36.56\00:19:38.93
you lost your life.
00:19:38.96\00:19:40.00
Do you remember when
Peter escaped from prison?
00:19:40.03\00:19:41.78
In Acts 12, Herod had all those
soldiers killed, 16 of them,
00:19:41.81\00:19:45.08
because they lost one prisoner.
00:19:45.11\00:19:46.95
The Roman soldier was
not to lose a prisoner.
00:19:46.98\00:19:50.18
"But the centurion
wanting to save Paul,
00:19:50.21\00:19:54.02
kept them from their purpose."
00:19:54.05\00:19:55.50
Did you get that?
00:19:55.53\00:19:56.70
Paul is the one who intercedes
for everybody in the boat
00:19:56.73\00:19:59.05
to save them and now all of
them are going to be executed,
00:19:59.08\00:20:02.21
but because of
Paul, the centurion,
00:20:02.24\00:20:05.05
he's got the
judgment in his hands,
00:20:05.08\00:20:07.27
he lets them all
live for Paul's sake!
00:20:07.30\00:20:10.51
Isn't that how salvation works?
00:20:10.54\00:20:12.45
For Christ's sake, judgment
passes by for you and me.
00:20:12.48\00:20:17.26
Don't forget, they
had also eaten bread;
00:20:17.29\00:20:18.89
and we need to
be eating bread too.
00:20:18.92\00:20:21.44
It says, "He
commanded those that could swim,
00:20:21.47\00:20:24.88
should jump overboard
first and get to land;
00:20:24.91\00:20:27.75
the rest, some on boards
and some on broken pieces
00:20:27.78\00:20:31.46
of the ship and so it was,
they all escaped safely to land.
00:20:31.49\00:20:37.90
All of them were
saved; some of them swam,
00:20:37.93\00:20:43.09
some of them took
broken pieces of the ship.
00:20:43.12\00:20:47.50
You know, this is how it's
going to be in the last days.
00:20:47.53\00:20:49.74
As we near to the end, is
our church going to be able
00:20:49.77\00:20:52.23
to function with the
government above ground
00:20:52.26\00:20:55.39
in the last days -
or organizationally,
00:20:55.42\00:20:58.25
we're probably going
to have to just break up
00:20:58.28\00:20:59.96
into little groups.
00:20:59.99\00:21:01.63
But we're not to
leave until that time comes,
00:21:01.66\00:21:03.57
we are to stay together.
00:21:03.60\00:21:05.12
But when we hit the shore,
and when that final storm comes,
00:21:05.15\00:21:09.75
where the bow is stuck and
the stern is being broken up
00:21:09.78\00:21:12.25
by the violence of the
waves, we may have to just
00:21:12.28\00:21:14.85
jump in the water and either
swim or hang on to whatever
00:21:14.88\00:21:17.33
pieces that we can have
and I can just picture now -
00:21:17.36\00:21:20.19
some are
swimming for themselves,
00:21:20.22\00:21:21.87
some are hanging on 2 or 3
of them clinging to a piece
00:21:21.90\00:21:24.46
of the ship and
maybe they were scratched,
00:21:24.49\00:21:27.47
and maybe they were
cut, but they all made it
00:21:27.50\00:21:29.68
alive and safe to land.
00:21:29.71\00:21:32.96
What gave them
security through that storm?
00:21:32.99\00:21:38.79
Having the Word of
God in their midst.
00:21:38.82\00:21:42.34
Paul was the
word of God for them,
00:21:42.37\00:21:44.66
symbolized by when he
broke bread in their midst,
00:21:44.69\00:21:47.02
when he had messages -
when God's angels spoke to him.
00:21:47.05\00:21:49.29
God's Word came to
that group through Paul...
00:21:49.32\00:21:52.23
And that was the only
thing that gave them hope.
00:21:52.26\00:21:55.22
I remember reading, just
last week - I was looking for
00:21:55.25\00:21:59.43
something else and I re-read the
00:21:59.46\00:22:00.86
story of Captain
Eddie Rickenbacker
00:22:00.89\00:22:03.15
His soldiers claimed they got
off course, they ran out of gas,
00:22:03.18\00:22:06.83
their plane went
down during World War 2,
00:22:06.86\00:22:09.20
and they were floating
around in a series of life boats
00:22:09.23\00:22:11.45
for days, starving, dehydrated.
00:22:11.48\00:22:15.44
One of them had a New
Testament and he would read,
00:22:15.47\00:22:18.63
and when they were
rescued, in spite of all the
00:22:18.66\00:22:21.45
different
miracles they experienced,
00:22:21.48\00:22:22.89
they kept giving credit
to the Bible was the only
00:22:22.92\00:22:26.26
thing that kept them together.
00:22:26.29\00:22:27.57
They were terribly
blistered by the sun.
00:22:27.60\00:22:29.45
they had sores from
laying in the life raft,
00:22:29.48\00:22:31.69
but they'd pray
- simple prayers,
00:22:31.72\00:22:35.55
and God would send
rain and at one point,
00:22:35.58\00:22:38.44
they saw a storm going
by, but it was too far away
00:22:38.47\00:22:41.37
and they all prayed
that the storm would stop...
00:22:41.40\00:22:44.14
and even though the
waves they could see on top,
00:22:44.17\00:22:46.43
were blowing the storm
away, it stopped moving,
00:22:46.46\00:22:51.45
and there are probably some
meteorological person out there
00:22:51.48\00:22:54.89
that would find
how that happens,
00:22:54.92\00:22:56.46
but they then paddled over
to the storm and drank the rain.
00:22:56.49\00:23:01.71
Another time, they
prayed and a seagull landed
00:23:01.74\00:23:04.48
on Captain Rickenbacker's
head and he grabbed it,
00:23:04.51\00:23:08.74
and he split that among
them, or a turtle came by
00:23:08.77\00:23:11.69
and then they used part
of the bird to catch fish.
00:23:11.72\00:23:14.38
And just whenever they
needed it, they prayed.
00:23:14.41\00:23:17.47
But when they were
rescued, they said,
00:23:17.50\00:23:19.39
"To what do you
attribute your survival?"
00:23:19.42\00:23:24.64
I forget, I think it
was a young man named,
00:23:24.67\00:23:29.76
"Gonzalez" had
his New Testament.
00:23:29.79\00:23:31.85
They said if he
hadn't had his New Testament,
00:23:31.88\00:23:34.62
we wouldn't have survived.
00:23:34.65\00:23:37.03
It was the Word of God
that gave them security and hope
00:23:37.06\00:23:40.36
and helped them
keep it together.
00:23:40.39\00:23:42.99
What is going to
help us keep it together?
00:23:43.02\00:23:45.99
If you are alive
and hearing my voice,
00:23:46.02\00:23:49.55
you've got
challenges in your life.
00:23:49.58\00:23:52.34
Everybody is going
to have challenges.
00:23:52.37\00:23:54.77
No matter how you
try and find security,
00:23:54.80\00:23:57.03
you might find
security in one area,
00:23:57.06\00:23:58.86
but then you're going
to lose it in another.
00:23:58.89\00:24:01.89
Maybe I should
begin by definition.
00:24:01.92\00:24:04.69
By the way, that
was my introduction!
00:24:04.72\00:24:09.38
What is security?
Definition from the dictionary:
00:24:09.41\00:24:10.74
I want to be secure...
everybody wants security!
00:24:23.71\00:24:25.99
First of all, let's
get one thing straight,
00:24:26.91\00:24:29.11
I don't want to
be too hard on you,
00:24:29.14\00:24:30.97
but if you're living a life
of sin, I hope you're insecure.
00:24:31.00\00:24:34.52
Worse thing that could
happen would be for you to be
00:24:34.55\00:24:37.18
secure on your
way to destruction.
00:24:37.21\00:24:40.10
Deuteronomy 28- As-a-matter-
of-fact, you might look
00:24:40.13\00:24:44.64
in verses 15-20 in
your Bibles, the Book of
00:24:44.67\00:24:47.23
Deuteronomy - you've
heard me read this before.
00:24:47.26\00:24:54.97
This is the chapter
where you find the blessings
00:24:55.00\00:24:57.97
and the cursings - all
these blessings will happen
00:24:58.00\00:25:01.73
if we obey the
Lord... start at verse 15
00:25:01.76\00:25:04.03
"But it will come to
pass that if you do not obey
00:25:04.06\00:25:07.47
the voice of the Lord
your God, to observe carefully
00:25:07.50\00:25:10.54
all His commandments and
His statues which I command you
00:25:10.57\00:25:12.82
today - that all these curses
00:25:12.85\00:25:14.83
will come upon
you and overtake you.
00:25:14.86\00:25:16.81
Cursed you'll be in the city and
cursed you'll be in the country;
00:25:16.85\00:25:19.35
cursed will be your basket and
00:25:19.87\00:25:21.24
cursed will be
your kneading bowl.
00:25:21.27\00:25:23.04
Cursed will be the
fruit of your body,
00:25:23.07\00:25:24.84
the produce of your land,
the increase of your cattle,
00:25:24.87\00:25:27.93
the offspring of your flocks.
00:25:27.96\00:25:29.54
Cursed you will be
when you come in and
00:25:29.57\00:25:31.24
cursed will you
be when you go out.
00:25:31.27\00:25:32.90
The Lord will send on
you cursing, confusion
00:25:32.93\00:25:35.85
and rebuke in all that
you set your hand to do
00:25:35.88\00:25:38.97
until you are destroyed
and until you perish quickly
00:25:39.00\00:25:41.79
because of the
wickedness of your doings
00:25:41.82\00:25:44.11
which the Lord your God,
in which you have forsaken
00:25:44.14\00:25:46.91
the Lord your God.
00:25:46.94\00:25:48.79
And, I think there
was one more passage here
00:25:48.82\00:25:50.61
in Deuteronomy - I
wanted to read to cheer you up.
00:25:50.64\00:25:53.75
Deuteronomy 28:65- The
cursings go on quite a ways.
00:25:53.78\00:25:58.53
By the way, all
these things happened.
00:25:58.56\00:26:01.61
Verse 65, "And among
those nations, you shall find
00:26:01.64\00:26:06.28
no rest, nor shall the sole of
your foot have a resting place,
00:26:06.31\00:26:10.91
but there, the Lord will
give you a trembling heart
00:26:10.94\00:26:13.95
and failing eyes
and anguish of soul.
00:26:13.98\00:26:17.61
Your life will hang
in doubt before you.
00:26:17.64\00:26:19.93
This is ultimate insecurity.
00:26:19.96\00:26:21.79
You will fear day and night
and have no assurance of life.
00:26:21.82\00:26:26.12
In the morning, you will
say, "Oh that it were evening,
00:26:26.15\00:26:28.65
and at evening, you'll
say, "Oh that it were morning,
00:26:28.68\00:26:30.98
because of the fear
which terrifies your heart
00:26:31.01\00:26:34.03
and because of the
sight which your eyes see."
00:26:34.06\00:26:36.99
Now here's the good news...
00:26:37.02\00:26:38.91
That is exhibit A of insecurity.
00:26:38.94\00:26:42.97
You're cursed when you go out,
00:26:43.00\00:26:44.74
you're cursed when you come
in, you're cursed financially,
00:26:44.77\00:26:46.82
you're cursed in your
home, you're cursed in your
00:26:46.85\00:26:48.24
relationships, you're cursed in
your heart, you have no peace.
00:26:48.28\00:26:53.92
That's the result
of running from God.
00:26:53.95\00:26:55.60
The good news is...
it's the opposite for those
00:26:55.63\00:26:59.77
who surrender to the Lord.
00:26:59.80\00:27:01.52
No matter what
happens, you're blessed when you
00:27:01.55\00:27:03.89
go out, you're
blessed when you come in...
00:27:03.92\00:27:05.20
And you know, there's another
story that talks about the
00:27:05.23\00:27:07.30
cursing that Amos
uses - it's almost comical.
00:27:07.33\00:27:11.22
There is absolutely no
security without Christ.
00:27:11.25\00:27:15.10
Amos 5:19- puts it this
way - "There is no peace
00:27:15.13\00:27:19.89
saith my Lord for the wicked
- That's not what Amos says,
00:27:19.92\00:27:22.55
that's what Isaiah says.
00:27:22.58\00:27:23.61
Amos 5:19, "It will be as
though man fled from a lion,
00:27:23.64\00:27:27.86
and a bear met him;
whereas though he went
00:27:27.89\00:27:30.71
into the house
running from something,
00:27:30.74\00:27:32.33
leaned his hand on the
wall, thinking at last I'm safe,
00:27:32.36\00:27:34.86
and a serpent bites him."
00:27:34.89\00:27:36.46
It's like that old spiritual -
"Oh sinner man, where you gonna
00:27:36.49\00:27:41.65
run to - Oh sinner
man" Remember that one?
00:27:41.68\00:27:45.29
"There's no
where to run and hide.
00:27:45.33\00:27:47.20
So, to begin with - if
you're looking for security,
00:27:47.23\00:27:52.31
let's establish one thing,
you will never find security
00:27:52.34\00:27:56.15
without God - without
surrendering to His Word.
00:27:56.18\00:28:00.07
The way the sailors
made it - those sailors bound
00:28:00.10\00:28:02.92
for judgment - that's like us,
we're all bound for judgment.
00:28:02.95\00:28:05.15
The way they made it
through the storm is by trusting
00:28:05.18\00:28:07.81
the Word that
was in their midst.
00:28:07.84\00:28:09.91
We must trust and obey the Word.
00:28:09.94\00:28:12.10
By the way, they listened
to Paul too, didn't they?
00:28:12.13\00:28:14.17
And when they listened
to him, they were saved.
00:28:14.20\00:28:16.92
Now, probably at the
back drop of some of the storm
00:28:16.95\00:28:20.77
that we're all
hearing about right now,
00:28:20.80\00:28:24.14
and we're probably
almost tired of hearing about,
00:28:24.17\00:28:26.84
is this
financial crisis meltdown,
00:28:26.87\00:28:31.70
whatever you want
to call it... storm?
00:28:31.73\00:28:34.97
That's been happening in
America that is being felt
00:28:35.00\00:28:39.41
in steroid
quantity around the world.
00:28:39.44\00:28:43.78
Would you all like
financial security?
00:28:43.81\00:28:48.53
You know, it's interesting,
I've noticed an increasing
00:28:48.56\00:28:52.16
number of people that are
advertizing on the TV and radio,
00:28:52.19\00:28:55.36
about investing in gold!
00:28:55.39\00:28:57.55
How many of you
have heard those?
00:28:57.58\00:28:58.71
Everyone is telling
you "invest in gold!"
00:28:58.74\00:29:01.13
One thing you can know
is everybody telling you to
00:29:01.16\00:29:03.79
invest in something - it's
probably not the right time
00:29:03.82\00:29:06.42
at that point to invest.
00:29:06.45\00:29:08.17
You know, I could be wrong
because that's not my calling,
00:29:08.20\00:29:10.83
but actually the Bible does
say we should invest in gold.
00:29:10.86\00:29:14.25
Did you know
that? Jesus says that.
00:29:14.28\00:29:17.67
Revelation 3:18,
"I counsel you to buy
00:29:17.70\00:29:23.30
from Me gold refined in
the fire, that you might be
00:29:23.33\00:29:27.98
rich and white
garments that you might be
00:29:28.01\00:29:30.77
clothed that the shame of
your nakedness does not appear."
00:29:30.80\00:29:33.95
Yeah, we should be
storing away gold...
00:29:33.98\00:29:36.58
It's the gold of a Christlike
character motivated by love.
00:29:36.61\00:29:40.53
And Jesus is offering
that to us and we ought to have
00:29:40.56\00:29:43.09
a virtual Ft. Knox
of that in our hearts.
00:29:43.12\00:29:46.86
Get all you can right now.
00:29:46.89\00:29:48.63
Put everything
you've got into hoarding
00:29:48.66\00:29:51.21
as much of Jesus'
gold as you can get,
00:29:51.24\00:29:53.62
and that will give you security.
00:29:53.65\00:29:57.36
Because if your trust
is into financial security,
00:29:57.39\00:30:01.70
my Bible tells me that
when it comes to earthly riches,
00:30:01.73\00:30:05.79
you can get it all in the day
and you can lose it all in a day
00:30:05.82\00:30:10.75
You know the story of Job?
00:30:10.78\00:30:12.50
Talk about a stock market
crash... all of his stock.
00:30:12.53\00:30:17.79
Fire came down from
heaven and burned them up
00:30:17.82\00:30:20.13
or they were stolen.
00:30:20.16\00:30:21.91
He had a stock market
crash and lost it all,
00:30:21.94\00:30:25.14
and God gave it
back to him again!
00:30:25.17\00:30:26.70
When God withdrew
His protection from his
00:30:26.73\00:30:28.49
belongings, he lost it all.
00:30:28.52\00:30:29.77
When God blessed
him, he got them all back.
00:30:29.80\00:30:32.20
And on the other side,
some of you that have nothing
00:30:32.23\00:30:34.23
and wonder how
you're going to make it,
00:30:34.26\00:30:35.41
how could God turn it around...
00:30:35.44\00:30:36.59
I don't see how
things could ever get better!
00:30:36.62\00:30:38.73
Lost my job - losing
the house, going bankrupt,
00:30:38.76\00:30:42.81
what am I going to do?
00:30:42.84\00:30:44.14
I like the story of
Joseph as a good principle.
00:30:44.17\00:30:48.56
In one day, he went
from rags in the prison,
00:30:48.59\00:30:51.94
to getting a
pedicure in the palace!
00:30:51.97\00:30:55.63
He, in one day, the pharaoh,
handed him the checkbook
00:30:55.66\00:31:01.79
for the nation of Egypt!
00:31:01.82\00:31:03.71
Isn't that what happened?
00:31:03.74\00:31:05.03
He gave him his ring and
he said - "You have authority.
00:31:05.06\00:31:06.56
Everyone is going
to do what you say.
00:31:06.59\00:31:08.53
You've got the whole treasury
of Egypt at your disposal."
00:31:08.56\00:31:12.91
And he was eating
crumbs that morning!
00:31:12.94\00:31:17.01
So, can God turn
around your circumstances?
00:31:17.04\00:31:19.63
Just put him first and you
gotta remember what Jesus said,
00:31:19.66\00:31:24.10
"Lay not up for
yourself, Matthew 6:19,
00:31:24.13\00:31:27.81
treasures on earth
where moth and rust destroy,
00:31:27.84\00:31:31.77
and where thieves
break through and steal,
00:31:31.80\00:31:34.08
but lay up for
yourself treasure in heaven
00:31:34.11\00:31:35.96
where neither
moth nor rust destroys,
00:31:35.99\00:31:38.31
and thieves do not
break through and steal,
00:31:38.34\00:31:40.33
for where your treasure is,
00:31:40.36\00:31:41.40
that's where your
heart is going to be."
00:31:41.44\00:31:42.51
Where is your security?
00:31:42.55\00:31:44.42
That's going to be
where your treasure is.
00:31:44.46\00:31:46.55
If you've got your Ft.
Knox in heaven, it's secure.
00:31:46.58\00:31:50.79
If it's down here,
you may be at risk.
00:31:50.82\00:31:54.24
Job security - Oh, that's a
sensitive subject these days!
00:31:54.27\00:31:59.59
I think it was just
last week that they said that
00:31:59.62\00:32:03.26
record - was it
78,000 people in one day,
00:32:03.29\00:32:08.35
and just we've seen
the unemployment rate go up
00:32:08.38\00:32:11.81
a whole
percentage point in a month.
00:32:11.84\00:32:14.20
That's pretty frightening...
and the end has not happened yet
00:32:14.23\00:32:18.27
And I don't know where you are,
few people their jobs are always
00:32:18.30\00:32:25.14
secure - Undertaker, if
you work in a maternity ward...
00:32:25.17\00:32:31.63
people taking care of those
going in and coming out of life,
00:32:31.66\00:32:35.85
they usually have a job, right?
00:32:35.88\00:32:37.84
Economy doesn't
usually affect that.
00:32:37.87\00:32:40.41
Pastors are
usually pretty secure
00:32:40.44\00:32:43.81
because people
especially need spiritual help
00:32:43.84\00:32:45.83
during these times, but
actually in our conference,
00:32:45.86\00:32:49.64
even some pastors
have been laid off because
00:32:49.67\00:32:52.03
tithe has gone down and so
everyone really is struggling.
00:32:52.06\00:32:57.20
Your job might fail,
but if you're a Christian,
00:32:57.23\00:33:01.60
that's not your real job.
00:33:01.63\00:33:03.67
Your real job is
working for the Lord.
00:33:03.70\00:33:08.90
You know, where's
the safest place for a
00:33:08.93\00:33:11.55
submarine in a storm?
00:33:11.58\00:33:13.53
If a submarine knows
that a storm is coming
00:33:13.56\00:33:16.28
and it's parked or
docked at some peaceful haven on
00:33:16.31\00:33:20.43
the shore, it's going to
get totally wrecked there.
00:33:20.46\00:33:24.65
The best place for a submarine
to go when there's a storm
00:33:24.68\00:33:27.66
is back out to sea and get right
in the middle of it, right?
00:33:27.69\00:33:31.58
When Hurricane Katrina
came, there were some submarines
00:33:31.61\00:33:35.69
there in the Gulf - they went
out to sea and got under it all,
00:33:35.72\00:33:39.39
and if you're a Christian,
the safest place for you to be
00:33:39.42\00:33:43.79
is at your job.
00:33:43.82\00:33:46.83
You know where most
accidents take place?
00:33:46.86\00:33:50.02
Not at the job - most accidents
take place around the home,
00:33:50.05\00:33:55.65
so get out of the house.
00:33:55.68\00:33:58.12
Home security - You know,
I'll never forget when I went to
00:33:58.15\00:34:05.08
South Africa - they were having
terrible crime problems there,
00:34:05.11\00:34:08.69
and every single house in
certain parts of Johannesburg,
00:34:08.72\00:34:12.78
had like prison walls and
glass on top of the walls,
00:34:12.81\00:34:18.92
and sharpened steel
barbs, security guards,
00:34:18.95\00:34:22.31
and the crime was so out
of control that every home
00:34:22.34\00:34:25.43
looked like a fortress.
00:34:25.46\00:34:27.92
People were so afraid and
there were so many carjackings
00:34:27.95\00:34:31.34
and nobody would
drive up the streets of
00:34:31.38\00:34:33.00
Johannesburg at night!
00:34:33.04\00:34:34.40
The streets were desolated in
the business district at night.
00:34:34.44\00:34:38.90
And you wonder now, you
see more and more houses
00:34:38.93\00:34:42.35
and they got the alarms out
front and they a little sticker
00:34:42.38\00:34:44.92
in the lawns,
"Protected by Alarm."
00:34:44.95\00:34:46.97
Does that give you
your home security?
00:34:47.00\00:34:52.30
What provides that?
00:34:52.33\00:34:53.37
Everybody wants a safe place.
00:34:53.40\00:34:55.64
Is your home safe
from earthquake or storm?
00:34:55.67\00:35:00.38
Where can you go where there's
going to be safe weather,
00:35:00.41\00:35:04.22
and safe home - safe from crime?
00:35:04.25\00:35:09.28
You know, I went online
just to see if I could find out
00:35:09.31\00:35:12.89
... in case I want to
move - what are some of the
00:35:12.92\00:35:16.58
safest places in the U.S. -
this is Forbes List of the 10
00:35:16.61\00:35:20.04
safest places in the U.S. -
now this has to do with storms,
00:35:20.07\00:35:22.97
and partly the economy.
00:35:23.00\00:35:24.80
Honolulu - Let's all move!
00:35:24.83\00:35:27.38
I thought - Don't
they live on a volcano?
00:35:27.41\00:35:30.85
But they say they have
pretty safe weather there.
00:35:30.88\00:35:33.89
They don't have many problems.
00:35:33.92\00:35:35.08
Boise, Idaho; Santa
Fe, New Mexico, Yakama...
00:35:35.11\00:35:37.87
2 of them are in
New Mexico, 3 in Oregon.
00:35:37.90\00:35:40.40
None of them are California.
00:35:40.43\00:35:44.37
And then I wondered,
once you get out of the U.S.,
00:35:44.40\00:35:46.66
what are the safest
countries to live in.
00:35:46.70\00:35:49.62
And this was the list
here: Norway, New Zealand,
00:35:49.65\00:35:54.51
Japan - I was in Japan,
they had an earthquake there,
00:35:54.54\00:35:57.81
but that's on the list.
00:35:57.84\00:35:59.24
I guess they got a fairly low
crime rate and they don't have
00:35:59.27\00:36:02.24
hurricanes there.
00:36:02.27\00:36:04.04
Ireland and Denmark - if
you want to be a socialist,
00:36:04.07\00:36:08.35
you gotta go to Denmark, but
I guess it's a pretty safe place
00:36:08.38\00:36:11.81
You heard about the family
- I heard this on Paul Harvey
00:36:11.84\00:36:14.13
years ago - looking
for a safe place to live.
00:36:14.16\00:36:16.88
They searched the internet for
months and they finally found
00:36:16.91\00:36:22.08
what they thought
would be the ideal place...
00:36:22.11\00:36:24.43
good weather, good economy,
nice people, low crime rate,
00:36:24.46\00:36:31.09
and they packed
up, sold everything.
00:36:31.12\00:36:33.00
Packed up - they moved
to the Falkland Islands,
00:36:33.03\00:36:36.04
and that was a week before
the Falkland war broke out.
00:36:36.07\00:36:40.44
So, can you find your security?
00:36:40.47\00:36:45.19
I mean you need to
consider these things.
00:36:45.22\00:36:50.05
Psalm 4:8, David said, "I will
lie down in peace and sleep,
00:36:50.08\00:36:54.45
for You alone, oh Lord,
make me dwell in safety."
00:36:54.48\00:36:58.99
I met a person last month that
actually had a hit man hired
00:36:59.02\00:37:03.05
to kill him and I
thought, He and his family
00:37:03.08\00:37:06.49
had to hide for a while.
00:37:06.52\00:37:08.34
How do you sleep if you have
a hit man trying to kill you?
00:37:08.37\00:37:12.15
David had the king - put wanted
posters all over the kingdom
00:37:12.18\00:37:18.17
with his picture on it.
00:37:18.20\00:37:19.65
Wanted dead or
alive, big reward!
00:37:19.68\00:37:22.33
Had David's picture on
it and yet David was able to
00:37:22.36\00:37:25.81
say, "I'll lay me down and
sleep for You alone, oh Lord,
00:37:25.84\00:37:29.60
make me dwell in safety."
00:37:29.63\00:37:31.51
That's where you get
your, you know, some of these
00:37:31.54\00:37:34.69
homes - we got one in
our house, we got an alarm.
00:37:34.72\00:37:37.68
We inherited it and it's got
a button called "panic button."
00:37:37.71\00:37:41.57
You got those on your
car keys too - some of you,
00:37:41.60\00:37:43.81
don't you have
those? Panic button.
00:37:43.84\00:37:45.80
Sometimes I hit
the wrong button!
00:37:45.83\00:37:48.04
I like to wait until
after church when people
00:37:48.07\00:37:50.22
are standing by my car,
then I hit the panic button
00:37:50.25\00:37:52.93
and watch them jump!
00:37:52.96\00:37:56.34
Because we're
afraid of an intruder,
00:37:56.37\00:37:57.95
we want to alarm everybody.
00:37:57.98\00:38:00.56
People looking for
security in their homes...
00:38:00.59\00:38:03.55
Psalm 91- you should remember
that if you want security
00:38:03.58\00:38:06.34
in the last days.
00:38:06.37\00:38:08.44
"He who dwells in the
secret place of the most high
00:38:08.47\00:38:11.34
shall abide under the
shadow of the Almighty;
00:38:11.37\00:38:13.48
a thousand may fall at your
side, 10,000 at your right hand,
00:38:13.51\00:38:17.06
but only with your eyes
will you see and behold the
00:38:17.09\00:38:19.04
destruction of the wicked.
00:38:19.07\00:38:20.62
Neither will any plague
come near your dwelling."
00:38:20.65\00:38:22.98
It's filled with
promises in Psalm 91,
00:38:23.01\00:38:26.81
it would be good for us
to try and memorize that.
00:38:26.84\00:38:30.61
People want
security in relationships,
00:38:30.64\00:38:33.12
now I talked about job security.
00:38:33.15\00:38:34.97
When I talked about job
security, men especially tune in
00:38:35.00\00:38:39.16
because when a man loses
his job, his world falls apart.
00:38:39.19\00:38:43.30
And some have committed suicide
because of their layoffs.
00:38:43.33\00:38:46.91
When a woman
loses her relationships,
00:38:46.94\00:38:50.40
her world falls apart.
00:38:50.43\00:38:52.59
And, you know,
while I'm on this subject,
00:38:52.62\00:38:55.85
there's a connection between
finances and relationship.
00:38:55.88\00:39:00.19
They expect a spike of
broken homes and divorces now
00:39:00.22\00:39:04.89
because of the
financial problems.
00:39:04.92\00:39:06.32
Because you know
what the #1 reason is for
00:39:06.35\00:39:08.53
first marriages failing?
00:39:08.56\00:39:10.45
Financial challenges.
00:39:10.48\00:39:13.81
And so it presents a
whole nother series of storms.
00:39:13.84\00:39:17.21
A man loses his job - it
creates stress and there's
00:39:17.24\00:39:20.29
spending problems - it creates
tension in the relationship;
00:39:20.32\00:39:22.86
the relationships
fall apart because of the
00:39:22.89\00:39:25.04
financial problems.
00:39:25.07\00:39:28.12
So, finances are a
consideration there too.
00:39:28.15\00:39:32.38
Everybody needs to have friends,
family that they can trust.
00:39:32.41\00:39:38.50
We need to feel secure in our
relationships with each other.
00:39:38.53\00:39:41.89
In the last days, you will
not have that in the world.
00:39:41.92\00:39:45.51
Luke 21:16- The words of
Jesus, "You'll be hated even by
00:39:45.54\00:39:51.58
parents and brothers,
relatives and friends.
00:39:51.61\00:39:54.27
They'll put some of you to
death ... there's some good news
00:39:54.30\00:39:58.14
If your security is
going to come only from your
00:39:58.17\00:40:00.22
earthly
relationships, Jesus said -
00:40:00.25\00:40:02.77
That's not where
you're going to find it.
00:40:02.80\00:40:04.02
As-a-matter-of-fact, He
said, You need to love me more
00:40:04.05\00:40:06.77
than your father, mother,
sister, brother, husband,
00:40:06.80\00:40:09.62
wife, child... Amen?
00:40:09.65\00:40:13.46
You need to have
another kind of relationship
00:40:13.49\00:40:15.18
and that's where
you get your security.
00:40:15.21\00:40:18.18
Jesus said, Hebrews
13:5, "I will never leave you
00:40:18.21\00:40:23.31
or forsake you."
00:40:23.34\00:40:24.97
You might have your
family forsake you...
00:40:25.00\00:40:27.85
I remember when I became
a Christian my Jewish family
00:40:27.88\00:40:30.02
thought that I flipped out
and then I married a Gentile
00:40:30.05\00:40:34.22
girl and they weren't sure
what to think of that either.
00:40:34.25\00:40:37.11
They got to
where they liked her.
00:40:37.14\00:40:40.22
But the Bible
says in Psalm 27:10,
00:40:40.60\00:40:43.65
"When your father
and mother forsake you,
00:40:43.68\00:40:46.04
the Lord will take care of you.
00:40:46.07\00:40:48.76
You can always be secure
in your relationship with Him.
00:40:48.79\00:40:52.15
And I inserted one more
category as I'm talking about
00:40:52.18\00:40:56.40
security through the
storm... Government security!
00:40:56.43\00:41:03.25
And I have nothing
to tell you about that.
00:41:03.28\00:41:07.91
Except to say, if that's where
you're security is, friends,
00:41:07.94\00:41:10.89
we're in a heap of trouble!
00:41:10.92\00:41:14.25
Because they don't
have the magic band aid
00:41:14.28\00:41:17.24
for our bullet hole.
00:41:17.27\00:41:19.98
It's their job
to tell us they do,
00:41:20.01\00:41:22.11
because if they
admit that they don't,
00:41:22.14\00:41:23.81
they don't have a job anymore.
00:41:23.84\00:41:26.71
But the fact is, that
the problems that are facing
00:41:26.74\00:41:28.99
the leaders of the governments
of the world right now,
00:41:29.02\00:41:31.78
I don't think there are earthly
solutions for these problems.
00:41:31.81\00:41:36.46
We need to pray for them,
that God will give them wisdom
00:41:36.49\00:41:39.42
to do the best they can,
but I think we've got some
00:41:39.45\00:41:41.89
very serious days ahead of us,
00:41:41.92\00:41:44.75
not only as a
country, but in a world.
00:41:44.79\00:41:46.96
And I don't want to
diverge too much from my
00:41:47.00\00:41:50.15
theme of security, but
I will just say this...
00:41:50.18\00:41:54.20
since everybody else has got
opinions on what is happening...
00:41:54.23\00:41:59.52
When I grew up, my father
said that if you're in debt,
00:41:59.55\00:42:03.89
the last thing you want
to do is borrow and spend,
00:42:03.92\00:42:09.55
and our country is having a
problem right now because we
00:42:09.58\00:42:13.31
want an instant gratification,
and the solution for our problem
00:42:13.34\00:42:20.33
that is coming from our desire
for instant gratification.
00:42:20.36\00:42:24.48
We wanted to have
the car right away;
00:42:24.51\00:42:26.62
we wanted to have
the home right away;
00:42:26.65\00:42:28.40
we want to get our pleasures
right away before we get married
00:42:28.43\00:42:33.21
... everything -
instant gratification.
00:42:33.24\00:42:35.27
We just programmed
a whole generation.
00:42:35.30\00:42:37.72
Now the government is
going to solve it with spending.
00:42:37.75\00:42:40.94
They say we need to
spend more and borrow more.
00:42:40.97\00:42:43.43
Is it just me or is
that the reverse of what our
00:42:43.46\00:42:45.84
fathers always told us?
00:42:45.87\00:42:48.06
I don't know how that's going
to solve the problem, friends.
00:42:48.09\00:42:50.29
I think we'd be better to
spend a few years in a tough way
00:42:50.32\00:42:53.94
clawing our way out
the old fashioned way
00:42:53.97\00:42:56.63
by work and
saving, rather than...
00:42:56.66\00:43:00.27
well now I'm getting down a
00:43:00.30\00:43:01.81
track where I'm
really not an expert... so
00:43:01.84\00:43:04.13
Government security, Jesus
said, "Seek ye first the kingdom
00:43:04.16\00:43:08.08
of God and His righteousness,"
that should be the government
00:43:08.11\00:43:11.66
that we're
interested in - God's kingdom.
00:43:11.69\00:43:14.63
That's the only kingdom
that's going to have security.
00:43:14.66\00:43:16.78
One more thought...
on this other point.
00:43:16.81\00:43:22.21
I'm also seeing
something else happen...
00:43:22.24\00:43:25.31
I'm seeing prophecy
being fulfilled right now
00:43:25.34\00:43:27.61
because people are looking
to the government for security,
00:43:27.64\00:43:30.92
and in order to do
that, you hand over different
00:43:30.95\00:43:33.44
elements of your freedom.
00:43:33.47\00:43:35.09
The government starts
taking over the banks,
00:43:35.12\00:43:36.88
and then they start taking
over the data of the banks,
00:43:36.91\00:43:38.78
and a lot different
information becomes available
00:43:38.81\00:43:41.83
and it's interesting
that the leadership for this
00:43:41.86\00:43:45.52
government involvement
in the finances of the world
00:43:45.55\00:43:48.38
is centered in
the United States.
00:43:48.41\00:43:53.05
That's what it sounds
like in Revelation when it says
00:43:53.08\00:43:56.46
"He causeth all, small and
great to worship the beast."
00:43:56.49\00:44:00.51
If they don't,
they can't buy or sell.
00:44:00.54\00:44:01.87
They're going to
control commerce somehow.
00:44:01.90\00:44:04.64
I can just see all these things
playing out in front of us
00:44:04.67\00:44:06.87
in the next few years...
it's happening before our eyes.
00:44:06.90\00:44:09.91
It's like Jesus said
that day, "Today this prophecy
00:44:09.94\00:44:12.74
is fulfilled in your hearing."
00:44:12.77\00:44:16.15
The only government
that's going to be saved is
00:44:16.18\00:44:18.11
Christ's kingdom, friends.
00:44:18.14\00:44:20.91
In the midst of all this,
there's a danger that we might
00:44:20.94\00:44:24.34
hang our hopes
on a false security.
00:44:24.37\00:44:28.26
Nothing is sadder than
having trust in something
00:44:28.29\00:44:31.38
you can't trust.
00:44:31.41\00:44:34.34
Yeah, I like that
picture - Security guard
00:44:34.37\00:44:37.35
guarding probably a priceless
painting and someone is
00:44:37.38\00:44:39.77
cutting the floor
out from under him.
00:44:39.80\00:44:44.90
Trusting in the
government would be
00:44:44.93\00:44:46.31
false security right now.
00:44:46.34\00:44:48.48
Trusting in the bank would
be false security right now.
00:44:48.51\00:44:53.19
Trusting in every
earthly support is dangerous.
00:44:53.22\00:44:57.37
Now I'm not trying
to make you insecure,
00:44:57.40\00:44:58.99
but if your security is
in the things of the world,
00:44:59.02\00:45:01.03
friends, you've got a
false sense of security.
00:45:01.06\00:45:05.52
Heaven and earth will
pass away, Jesus said,
00:45:05.55\00:45:08.32
"My Word will not pass away."
00:45:08.35\00:45:09.66
This is the only thing
that going to be a rock
00:45:09.69\00:45:11.46
that will make it
through the last days.
00:45:11.49\00:45:14.70
Jeremiah 6:14, "They
have also healed the hurt of
00:45:14.73\00:45:19.86
my people slightly
saying, "Peace, peace,"
00:45:19.89\00:45:22.96
when there is no peace.
00:45:22.99\00:45:25.38
One of the signs of the
last days is that the leaders
00:45:25.41\00:45:27.87
will be saying - We
have nothing to worry about,
00:45:27.90\00:45:30.85
we've got it under control!
00:45:30.88\00:45:32.34
They're not saying
that yet, but you just wait.
00:45:32.37\00:45:35.17
Your ears ought to
perk up if you hear that.
00:45:35.20\00:45:37.56
Again, 1 Thessalonians
5:3, "For when they say
00:45:37.59\00:45:41.39
peace and safety, then sudden
destruction comes upon them
00:45:41.42\00:45:45.22
as labor pains
upon a pregnant woman."
00:45:45.25\00:45:47.22
By the way, those labor
pains, it's also talking about
00:45:47.25\00:45:50.46
the second coming of Jesus.
00:45:50.49\00:45:52.72
It's that kind of contraction.
00:45:52.75\00:45:56.00
"As they come
upon a pregnant woman
00:45:56.03\00:45:57.94
and they shall not escape."
00:45:57.97\00:46:01.63
I remember one time hearing
a young lady say to her husband
00:46:01.66\00:46:06.27
as her labor pains began,
00:46:06.30\00:46:08.43
"I've changed my mind,
I don't want to do this."
00:46:08.46\00:46:14.76
We're going to get to a
place in the flow of prophecy
00:46:14.79\00:46:17.57
where the final events
will begin to transpire,
00:46:17.60\00:46:20.62
and there is no turning back.
00:46:20.65\00:46:24.47
With all this
happening around us,
00:46:24.50\00:46:26.96
can we have security?
00:46:26.99\00:46:29.47
I'm not telling you these
things to make you insecure...
00:46:29.50\00:46:32.90
Well, I guess I am -
let me take that back.
00:46:32.93\00:46:35.41
I am wanting you to be insecure
00:46:35.44\00:46:38.05
if your security is
placed in the wrong spot.
00:46:38.08\00:46:43.62
I am wanting you
to be uncomfortable...
00:46:43.65\00:46:45.84
But I'm not
wanting you to be insecure.
00:46:45.87\00:46:48.55
I'm wanting you to find
your security in the only thing
00:46:48.58\00:46:52.99
where there is
security and that's in Christ.
00:46:53.02\00:46:57.02
Can you be secure
in your salvation?
00:46:57.05\00:47:00.92
I believe you can.
00:47:00.95\00:47:02.89
Does God want us to
go through life anxious,
00:47:02.92\00:47:05.36
or does He say - "Be
anxious for nothing."
00:47:05.39\00:47:06.90
He's speaking to Christians;
assuming you believe,
00:47:06.93\00:47:10.49
"Be anxious for nothing."
00:47:10.52\00:47:11.95
Assuming you
believe, then you can claim
00:47:11.98\00:47:15.22
Philippians 1:6- "That He
who has begun a good work in you
00:47:15.25\00:47:19.19
will complete it until
the day of Jesus Christ."
00:47:19.22\00:47:21.96
You can claim
that He is the author
00:47:21.99\00:47:24.29
and the finisher of your faith.
00:47:24.33\00:47:25.59
You can claim that
"Whosoever comes to Him,
00:47:25.63\00:47:27.62
He will never let you go."
00:47:27.65\00:47:30.16
You can claim in Romans
5:1, "Having been justified by
00:47:30.19\00:47:33.98
faith, we have peace with God."
00:47:34.01\00:47:36.73
We have security with God
through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
00:47:36.76\00:47:40.89
So where does our
security come from?
00:47:40.92\00:47:42.93
"Through our Lord, Jesus Christ"
00:47:42.96\00:47:45.41
Why is it important
for us to have that?
00:47:45.44\00:47:48.67
Well, I remember reading
about when they were building
00:47:48.70\00:47:53.55
the Golden Gate
Bridge, when they first began
00:47:53.58\00:47:56.28
the project and they stretched
some of the cables across,
00:47:56.31\00:47:58.77
and began moving materials,
I think it was 23 people
00:47:58.80\00:48:02.63
fell and died and the work
was progressing very slowly.
00:48:02.66\00:48:10.53
Because all the
laborers could do was
00:48:10.56\00:48:13.53
spend all their time watching
their step and looking down,
00:48:13.56\00:48:16.70
and they were terrified.
00:48:16.73\00:48:18.68
Finally, they put a man
named "Strauss" in charge
00:48:18.71\00:48:21.17
of the safety.
00:48:21.20\00:48:22.46
He strung a net all
the way across where the
00:48:22.49\00:48:27.12
Golden Gate Bridge is,
underneath the construction
00:48:27.15\00:48:29.24
area of the
bridge about halfway down
00:48:29.27\00:48:31.76
so that if anybody
fell while working,
00:48:31.79\00:48:34.08
they were caught by the net.
00:48:34.11\00:48:36.23
Some did fall... I
think 9 or 10 people fell
00:48:36.26\00:48:40.32
while they were building
it and they became part of the
00:48:40.35\00:48:42.24
unique club called
"The Halfway to Hell Club"
00:48:42.27\00:48:45.34
That's what they
called them because they fell
00:48:45.37\00:48:47.98
but they lived
because the net got them.
00:48:48.01\00:48:49.32
But they noticed something...
once they put the net there,
00:48:49.35\00:48:52.57
work began to
proceed at a record pace...
00:48:52.60\00:48:56.91
Because of instead of them
working constantly afraid of
00:48:56.94\00:48:59.99
falling, they were able to
focus on building the bridge.
00:49:00.02\00:49:04.51
It's important as
Christians that we've got some
00:49:04.54\00:49:07.13
security about our
relationship with the Lord
00:49:07.16\00:49:08.76
because otherwise -
we're so preoccupied with
00:49:08.79\00:49:12.25
our earthly condition, we don't
think about our heavenly work!
00:49:12.28\00:49:16.28
We're so preoccupied with -
"how am I doing all the time,"
00:49:16.31\00:49:19.52
we're always looking
down instead of looking up...
00:49:19.55\00:49:22.64
And God wants us to have
the kind of security we need
00:49:22.67\00:49:26.15
so we can be about His business.
00:49:26.18\00:49:28.65
I'm not talking
about that false security
00:49:28.68\00:49:30.50
we mentioned a minute ago.
00:49:30.53\00:49:32.49
So, in conclusion...
00:49:32.52\00:49:34.33
One of the most
famous advertising campaigns
00:49:34.36\00:49:37.72
was the "Got Milk"
campaign, so I'm going to
00:49:37.75\00:49:42.48
borrow that and
say, "Got Security?"
00:49:42.51\00:49:46.64
First of all, if
you're a Christian, you have
00:49:46.67\00:49:51.38
financial security because
you have treasure in heaven.
00:49:51.41\00:49:55.43
If you're a Christian,
you've got job security
00:49:55.46\00:49:59.73
because as long as there's
lost people in this world,
00:49:59.76\00:50:02.19
you have a work to do. Amen?
00:50:02.22\00:50:03.77
And in case you didn't
know it, there's a whole lot of
00:50:03.80\00:50:06.07
lost people out there,
so you've got job security!
00:50:06.10\00:50:09.60
If you're a Christian,
you've got home security
00:50:09.63\00:50:12.91
because Jesus said,
"I'm going to prepare a place
00:50:12.94\00:50:15.29
for you and nobody is
going to break into that house
00:50:15.32\00:50:18.55
that He has alarmed and
guarded with angels! Amen?
00:50:18.58\00:50:23.12
If you're a Christian,
you've got computer security -
00:50:23.15\00:50:26.90
got firewall
virus protection, Amen?
00:50:26.93\00:50:29.44
The Holy Spirit is going
to be in there to keep the
00:50:29.47\00:50:31.16
temptations out!
00:50:31.19\00:50:35.61
If you're a Christian,
you have health security!
00:50:35.64\00:50:38.04
Not only does Jesus
heal bodies down here,
00:50:38.07\00:50:41.49
but He is going to
give you a whole new body!
00:50:41.52\00:50:44.79
That's a pretty
good health plan.
00:50:44.82\00:50:47.17
I never even went
down to the health problems
00:50:47.20\00:50:49.01
in our country, did I - a
whole nother area of insecurity.
00:50:49.04\00:50:52.02
If you're a
Christian, you've got government
00:50:52.05\00:50:56.00
security because
the last time I checked,
00:50:56.03\00:50:57.75
God is still on the throne
and His kingdom is going to last
00:50:57.78\00:51:01.32
forever, and ever - Amen!
00:51:01.35\00:51:03.72
And if you're a Christian,
you've got relationship security
00:51:03.75\00:51:08.03
because Jesus is
your best Friend;
00:51:08.06\00:51:10.32
He is your elder Brother;
He is the eternal Father;
00:51:10.35\00:51:13.82
He is the Spouse of the church;
00:51:13.85\00:51:16.85
He is the Child
that was given...
00:51:16.88\00:51:19.55
He will give you
everything you need in
00:51:19.58\00:51:22.58
that
relationship security. Amen?
00:51:22.61\00:51:25.63
Jesus has told
us, in John 16:33,
00:51:25.66\00:51:29.73
"These things I have spoken to
you that you might have peace.
00:51:29.76\00:51:34.15
In the world,
you'll have tribulation,
00:51:34.18\00:51:36.98
but be of good courage,
I have overcome the world."
00:51:37.01\00:51:40.45
So, here's the question...
00:51:40.48\00:51:41.96
Got Security?
00:51:41.99\00:51:45.24
Do you got security?
00:51:45.27\00:51:46.84
If you've got Christ,
then you might be in the
00:51:46.87\00:51:50.05
midst of the storm,
you might even get a little
00:51:50.08\00:51:52.62
seasick on the way, but
God is going to see you through
00:51:52.65\00:51:56.02
so not a hair of your head
perishes and He'll bring you
00:51:56.05\00:51:59.49
safely to shore.
00:51:59.52\00:52:00.65
Do you believe that, friends?
00:52:00.68\00:52:02.84
Like when Jesus woke up
in the storm and He said,
00:52:02.87\00:52:04.80
"Why do you have
so little faith?"
00:52:04.83\00:52:06.71
If He's the
Captain of your salvation,
00:52:06.74\00:52:08.45
you don't need to be afraid.
00:52:08.48\00:52:09.95
I thought it would
be a good idea for us to
00:52:09.98\00:52:11.44
sing that song #528, "A
Shelter in the Time of Storm"
00:52:11.47\00:52:16.17
Amen? Now when you sing this...
00:52:16.20\00:52:19.32
How many of you know
this song? Let's stand up.
00:52:19.35\00:52:22.06
You know this song?
00:52:22.09\00:52:25.14
Do you know, we've got
people that live in apartments,
00:52:25.17\00:52:27.50
right over here - I've wondered,
do they ever hear us singing?
00:52:27.53\00:52:31.72
Let's see if we can make them
hear us this time, all right?
00:52:31.75\00:52:35.38
The Lord's our
Rock, in Him we hide,
00:52:53.91\00:52:59.44
A shelter in the time of storm;
00:52:59.48\00:53:04.59
Secure what-ever may be tide,
00:53:04.63\00:53:09.71
A shelter in the time of storm.
00:53:09.74\00:53:14.53
Mighty Rock in a weary land,
00:53:14.56\00:53:20.26
Cooling shade on
the burning sand,
00:53:20.29\00:53:24.93
Faithful guide
for the pilgrim band -
00:53:24.96\00:53:30.41
A shelter in the time of storm.
00:53:30.44\00:53:36.60
I'm not ready
for the appeal yet,
00:53:36.63\00:53:37.96
I want to talk
about your singing...
00:53:37.99\00:53:39.81
I heard a couple
of you doing it -
00:53:39.84\00:53:42.21
You remember the echo
that the men are supposed to do
00:53:42.24\00:53:44.74
down here? Mighty
Rock - mighty rock...
00:53:44.77\00:53:47.47
Cooling shade - cooling shade...
00:53:47.50\00:53:49.75
I want to hear the men try and
00:53:49.78\00:53:50.89
do it the way it's
written here, okay?
00:53:50.92\00:53:52.65
And keep the volume
up - I want to see if the
00:53:52.68\00:53:54.55
neighbors know
we're here... Verse 2
00:53:54.58\00:53:59.35
A shade by day,
defense by night,
00:54:05.23\00:54:10.85
A shelter in the time of storm;
00:54:10.88\00:54:15.56
No fears alarm,
no foes affright,
00:54:15.59\00:54:21.25
A shelter in the time of storm.
00:54:21.28\00:54:26.24
Mighty Rock in a weary land,
00:54:26.27\00:54:31.56
Cooling shade on
the burning sand,
00:54:31.59\00:54:36.76
Faithful guide
for the pilgrim band -
00:54:36.79\00:54:42.26
A shelter in the time of storm.
00:54:42.29\00:54:49.06
Before we sing the last verse,
00:54:49.09\00:54:51.45
there may be some here
who have a special need...
00:54:51.48\00:54:54.24
Maybe there has been
some area in your life
00:54:54.27\00:54:57.19
where you've been
experiencing some insecurity.
00:54:57.22\00:55:00.27
It could be in your home,
your family, job, finances,
00:55:00.30\00:55:04.44
relationships - maybe something
that wasn't even mentioned,
00:55:04.47\00:55:07.41
maybe health.
00:55:07.44\00:55:08.70
And today, you want to
be able to leave the church
00:55:08.73\00:55:11.31
and say, "Got Security"
because Jesus will give you
00:55:11.34\00:55:17.32
whatever you lack that
you might have that peace.
00:55:17.35\00:55:20.55
If you have some special need
00:55:20.58\00:55:22.36
or you would
like special prayer,
00:55:22.39\00:55:23.67
as we sing the last verse
together, come to the front
00:55:23.70\00:55:26.46
and we'll pray
together for you. Verse 4
00:55:26.49\00:55:32.28
O Rock divine, O Refuge dear,
00:55:36.13\00:55:42.10
A shelter in the time of storm;
00:55:42.13\00:55:47.85
Be Thou our helper, ever near,
00:55:47.88\00:55:53.43
A shelter in the time of storm.
00:55:53.46\00:55:58.21
Mighty Rock in a weary land,
00:55:58.24\00:56:03.68
Cooling shade on
the burning sand,
00:56:03.71\00:56:08.66
Faithful guide
for the pilgrim band -
00:56:08.69\00:56:14.35
A shelter in the time of storm.
00:56:14.38\00:56:23.08
Father in Heaven,
Lord, we are so thankful
00:56:23.11\00:56:28.20
for the promises in Your
Word - that in spite of the
00:56:28.23\00:56:32.40
storms that may
be swirling about us,
00:56:32.43\00:56:35.73
and I know different
people here are experiencing
00:56:35.76\00:56:38.56
those storms in varying degrees;
00:56:38.59\00:56:41.19
whatever it might be,
that Jesus can bring a peace
00:56:41.22\00:56:45.55
and security that the
world doesn't understand.
00:56:45.58\00:56:50.12
Lord, while we are
here in this world,
00:56:50.15\00:56:52.48
we pray that You will bless...
00:56:52.51\00:56:54.94
A lot of people are
struggling with job insecurity;
00:56:54.97\00:57:02.16
insecurities with their
finances, their relationships,
00:57:02.19\00:57:05.73
their health.
00:57:05.76\00:57:06.80
We're all a little
worried about the government.
00:57:06.83\00:57:10.67
I pray, Lord, that
whatever these insecurities are,
00:57:10.70\00:57:14.94
that You will allow
it to rob our peace,
00:57:14.97\00:57:18.12
that we can be
anxious for nothing,
00:57:18.15\00:57:20.31
but find our security in Christ.
00:57:20.34\00:57:23.15
Be with each person, Lord,
I pray that You will answer
00:57:23.18\00:57:25.82
the specific prayers that
they're bringing before You.
00:57:25.85\00:57:28.37
Bless this church,
bless those who may be
00:57:28.40\00:57:30.50
listening or watching -
that we might leave this
00:57:30.53\00:57:33.39
place and know that we
have security in Christ,
00:57:33.42\00:57:37.11
that the world cannot take away,
that no storm can influence.
00:57:37.14\00:57:41.75
Bless us as we go from
this place to remember what our
00:57:41.78\00:57:44.38
real job is in
being Your witnesses...
00:57:44.41\00:57:47.24
And it is in Jesus'
name we ask for that help,
00:57:47.27\00:57:49.55
and we pray... Amen
00:57:49.58\00:57:52.38
If you've missed any of
our Amazing Facts programs,
00:57:52.41\00:57:54.55
visit our website
at AMAZINGFACTS.ORG
00:57:54.58\00:57:57.14
There, you'll find an
archive of all our television
00:57:57.17\00:57:59.33
and radio programs including
"Amazing Facts Presents"
00:57:59.36\00:58:02.61
One location - so
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00:58:02.64\00:58:05.04
AMAZINGFACTS.ORG
00:58:05.08\00:58:07.05