Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: EG
Program Code: EG002906
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00:09 It's been 2,000 years since the glorious light of the cross
00:12 illuminated a world veiled in darkness and confusion 00:15 about the character of God... 00:17 And still today, the greatest need of mankind 00:20 is a revelation of God's love as 00:21 revealed in the life of Christ. 00:24 Amazing Facts presents "The Everlasting Gospel" 00:27 with Pastor Doug Batchelor, coming to you each week 00:30 from Sacramento Central Church in sunny California! 00:33 Discover hidden treasures in God's Word today. 00:39 You know it's been a good thing for the pastors 00:42 to begin collecting these special prayer requests 00:46 where you write out your prayers, 00:47 and the last few weeks as we gather for our staff meeting, 00:50 on Wednesday mornings, we've been going through them. 00:54 And, it's given us a little more insight into some of the 00:59 special needs in the church family and sometimes we 01:04 can all sort of live in our own little universe 01:06 and become disconnected... 01:09 And, through these prayer requests, 01:11 if anything has become clear, it's become clear that 01:15 a lot of people are struggling with a broad spectrum 01:20 of challenges. 01:23 Just in the last week, I've had friends that 01:26 had serious health problems, financial problems; 01:32 families that seemed to be strained and on the 01:34 verge of disintegrating; 01:36 people losing their jobs; people losing their identity; 01:41 and I tried to summarize what has caused so much distress. 01:47 You know, in the world, you're going to have tribulation, 01:50 but Jesus said we could be of good cheer because 01:54 He has overcome the world. 01:56 In spite of all these things that may come in our lives 01:59 that are challenges, whether they are problems in 02:02 relationships or problems with finances, 02:06 we can still be secure. 02:10 As-a-matter-of-fact, one lesson the Bible teaches us 02:13 that with the Lord, you can be secure in the midst of a storm. 02:20 I remember hearing a story about this large stone lion 02:26 that they built - actually it's a bronze lion that overlooks 02:30 the area where the battle of Waterloo was fought. 02:35 And this big lion has got his snarling mouth open, 02:38 and his jaws exposed and a bird made a nest 02:43 in the lion's mouth and when the winds and storms were 02:50 swirling around that meadow, the bird was perfectly secure 02:53 there in the lion's mouth of all things with her little young! 02:58 And you know, this is something how a Christian can envision 03:02 our relationship with the Lord. 03:04 You can have perfect security no matter what kind of 03:08 stresses or insecurities are happening in your life. 03:13 No matter how things might be shaking around you, 03:16 You can still be secure in a storm and it doesn't mean 03:20 we won't have trials - we do, there are storms in life. 03:23 Jesus said, "The wise man builds on the rock, 03:27 the fool builds on the sand and both houses get hit 03:31 with the storm," isn't that right? 03:33 So He almost guaranteed there are going to be storms. 03:41 I'd like to have you turn in your Bible to Acts 27... 03:46 There's a story and we're going to read most of it, 03:51 but it begins with verse 13, Acts 27:13 03:55 Now I'd like to just give you the background 03:56 for what's happening. 03:58 Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem and after 04:01 a couple of years of languishing in jails there, 04:04 finally he appealed to Caesar. 04:07 He's on his way to see the king of the world back then; 04:12 he's going to take his court case before the Roman emperor. 04:17 And en route, they sailed back then - it was the quickest 04:20 way of travel, but their boat was delayed and a number 04:23 of problems and finally - you know, there are seasons 04:25 when you don't sail the Mediterranean... 04:28 Just like other oceans, you've got the storm season, 04:31 and then you've got the safe season. 04:32 Well, they had wasted so much time during the good sailing 04:36 that now it got to the time where they really ought to 04:38 park the boat and just wait out the storm season, 04:42 but they said, "We could probably just make it to a 04:46 better harbor if we go a few more days." 04:48 And so, against the advice of Paul, Paul said, 04:52 "I perceive there's going to be a lot of damage to the lives 04:57 and the goods of the ship," you better stay where you are... 05:02 They went on sailing in spite of his advice. 05:07 And you read in verse 13, "When the south wind," 05:11 I'm in Acts 27:13... When the south wind blew 05:14 softly, supposing they had obtained a purpose... 05:16 They said, "Hey, this is a good sign, we've got a south wind." 05:19 They put out to sea, they sailed close by Crete, 05:23 but not long after, a tempestuous headwind arose, 05:28 called Euroclydon and that's sort of a combination 05:32 of the word meaning from all quarters and that's where you 05:36 get the word "Europe" and "typhoon." 05:40 It was this wind that swirled around that didn't have any 05:43 definite direction and it often came up in the winter. 05:46 It means the winter storm wind was upon them. 05:51 So when the ship was caught and could not head into the wind, 05:55 we let her drive... they just had to let the ship 05:58 blow whichever way the wind went... 06:00 and running under the shelter of an island. 06:03 Finally, they came where they were blocked by an island 06:06 called "Claudia," they secured the skiff. 06:09 The skiff is the little lifeboat that all the sailboats had. 06:12 You know, they'd anchor off and then they had a little rowboat 06:14 that would go to shore and row the people back, 06:16 and bring provisions in. 06:18 They used to tow it behind the ship in good weather, 06:20 but when the weather got rough, you didn't want to 06:22 lose your little lifeboat, they'd strap it on the stern. 06:26 So they secured the skiff... that comes in later in the 06:29 story - you don't want to miss that... with difficulty, 06:32 and when they had taken it on board, they used cables 06:36 to undergird the ship - fearing lest they should run aground 06:40 on the straight sands. 06:41 They struck sail - they pulled down their sails because 06:45 the wind was blowing them into the sands... and so we were 06:49 driven and because there was an exceeding tempest, 06:53 they were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day 06:57 they lightened the ship. 06:58 They're now doing what they did during Jonah's storm 07:01 and they're starting to throw things overboard. 07:05 You know, when your life is on the line, 07:07 you're willing to unload if it means saving your life. 07:11 ... And on the third day, we threw the ship's tackle 07:15 overboard with our own hands. 07:17 Now Paul is on this boat with over 200 other prisoners, 07:20 and when they realized that they had to lighten the boat 07:23 even more, not only were they throwing the cargo overboard 07:26 to save themselves, now they're throwing over the tackling 07:29 of the ship that they use for controlling 07:31 the sails in the ship and it's like they're reaching 07:35 desperate straits now. 07:38 Verse 20- Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for 07:43 many days and no small tempest beat on us. 07:46 There are 4 times in the Bible; Luke uses that term, 07:49 "no small." 07:51 Sometimes he says, "No small stir, 07:53 no small division, no small tempest." 07:55 You ought to do a sermon some day on "no small" 07:59 when Luke says that. 08:00 That means "very big." 08:05 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared 08:07 for many days and no small tempest beat on us, 08:10 all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. 08:15 Now I want you to have the picture here, friends... 08:18 Here you have a boatload of prisoners on they way to 08:20 judgment - they've thrown over they valuables; 08:24 they've thrown over the tackling to control the ship - 08:26 How does a boat, back then, find out where they are? GPS? 08:31 No... They would use either a compass, but then they'd use 08:35 the compass also - that just kind of tells you which way 08:38 they were drifting. 08:39 They'd have to use a sextant or some primitive instruments 08:42 to either at night measured by the stars and the moon 08:45 or day by the sun and they have neither sun, moon or stars. 08:51 You know, one of the signs of the church is a woman clothed 08:53 with the sun, standing on the moon, stars above her head. 08:56 The church is to be a guiding light in the world. 08:58 Here, this ship of sailors bound for judgment - 09:02 they're all prisoners - it's a prison boat. 09:05 Paul is one of many; they got the Roman soldiers 09:08 and the sailors and they're on their way to judgment! 09:11 And, they don't know where they're going, 09:13 and they're in a storm and now they've become hopeless; 09:16 all hope that they might be saved is gone! 09:20 But after long abstinence, days of fasting from food, 09:24 Paul stood up in the midst of them and said... 09:28 Now here is this half-blind, ageing, bald Jew... 09:34 Now the Bible doesn't say that, but some say he was, 09:40 and I think I told you that my mother's maiden name 09:43 was the same as Paul's, it was "Ruth Tarshish" 09:48 which is the same as "Tarsus." 09:49 My grandfather says we're related to him or Jonah - 09:51 we're not sure which one, but might have been bald. 09:55 Anyway, so here you've got this short, bald - 09:58 they do say he was short because Paul says, "You know, I'm not 10:01 very imposing when I come in person and he was partially 10:04 blind - he couldn't see and he is telling now 10:08 the Roman soldiers and the sailors what they should do. 10:11 It's very out of his area of expertise you would think, 10:16 except he had the Spirit of God. 10:19 He says, "Men, you should have listened to me and not sailed 10:23 from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 10:26 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no 10:30 loss of life among you, but only the ship. 10:33 For there stood by me this night, an angel 10:37 of the God who I belong to and whom I serve saying... 10:42 "Do not be afraid, Paul, you must be brought 10:44 before Caesar and indeed, God has granted you 10:48 all those who sail with you." 10:49 In other words, during the storm, Paul is praying 10:54 for all the other soldiers and all the other 10:56 prisoners and all the sailors. 10:58 He is interceding for those who are in the storm, 11:01 who are very insecure about their lives; 11:03 very insecure about their possessions and the trip. 11:08 And he said - An angel appeared to me and told me 11:11 ... Paul not only am I going to spare you because you need 11:16 to go to Caesar - the gospel needs to go to Rome, 11:19 and you're going to be preaching from Rome to the people there, 11:22 and Paul was going to be preaching from the prison 11:25 in Rome to the servants in Caesar's house and the gospel 11:28 was going to spread from Rome. 11:29 So the Lord was basically saying ...Look Paul, even if you gotta 11:32 walk on water, you're going to Rome, 11:34 so you're going to make it. 11:36 But Paul is saying - Lord, I've gotten to know these other 11:39 sailors and prisoners and please save them. 11:42 All right, all right Paul, you know, your prayers 11:44 are so strong and your intercession so complete, 11:47 I'll give you everybody on the ship. 11:50 But the ship isn't going to make it and none of the cargo 11:53 is going to make it because they didn't listen to you; 11:55 they should have listened. 11:59 "And he said, you must be brought before Caesar; 12:00 therefore, take heart - Paul is saying to the sailors, 12:04 "Take heart men, for I believe God that it will be just 12:08 as He told me; however, we must run aground 12:12 on a certain island." 12:14 Now here you've got a case - these prisoners are going 12:17 through the dark - the only light in all of this 12:20 is that angel that appeared to Paul. 12:21 They must now believe the Word of God 12:23 that he is giving them. 12:25 He's telling in advance what's going to happen.. Why? 12:29 So when it does happen, they'll believe the 12:30 other things that Paul says. 12:32 Isn't that how God works with His prophets? 12:35 "But when the 14th night had come, 12:39 and we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, 12:41 ... they're being driven around the Mediterranean... 12:43 about midnight, the sailors sensed they were drawing 12:46 near some land... Maybe they heard the 12:49 crashing of breakers on some distant rocks. 12:52 And they took soundings... that means they lowered 12:54 a rope that had a weight on it, that had knots tied in it 12:57 so they could see how deep the water was getting. 12:59 The closer you get to shore, the more shallow. 13:02 So the throne is rope out and they're calling out 13:04 the soundings and when they found it to be 20 fathoms, 13:07 they had gone a little further, they took soundings again; 13:10 then it was 15 fathoms... 13:11 It's getting shallow, they're nearing land; 13:13 that means they're going to crash on shore! 13:15 "Then fearing that we should run aground on the rocks, 13:19 they dropped 4 anchors from the stern, 13:22 and they prayed for day to come." 13:25 Sometimes all you can do is stay where you are 13:27 and pray and wait, right? 13:30 "And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, 13:35 when they had let down the skiff - the little rowboat, 13:38 into the sea under pretense of putting out anchors 13:41 from the prow - they're pretending to dropping an anchor 13:44 off the bow - Paul said to the centurion, 13:48 the Roman soldier in charge of the whole group... 13:51 "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved." 13:56 Now that seems like a strange thing to say... 13:59 Paul recognized he had this gift of discernment... 14:01 He said - They're not dropping an anchor off the bow, 14:03 those sailors are wanting to get away because if this ship 14:06 does break up, there might be no way to get to land 14:09 except that boat and you're not going to get everybody 14:11 in that little rowboat and the sailors wanting to 14:15 save themselves acted like they were dropping an anchor 14:18 off the front and, really, they were getting ready to make 14:21 their own personal getaway to land. 14:23 Paul saw what they were doing and he said to the centurion - 14:27 God told me, that unless we all stay together, 14:30 we're not going to make it. 14:31 Unless we all stay together, centurion, 14:33 you're not going to make it. 14:35 And, you know, it's interesting how - to start with, 14:38 the centurion was giving orders when they began the journey... 14:40 Now, this old prisoner is telling everybody 14:46 what they ought to do. 14:48 That's amazing how God's Spirit sort of takes over 14:51 when there's a crisis. 14:52 I've discovered something... 14:53 I've had a lot of friends that I've told them about my beliefs, 14:57 and I've told them about what I believe about God, 15:02 and my relationship with God. 15:03 A lot of them are unbelievers and they tease me, 15:05 but when they go through a storm, 15:07 I'll frequently get a phone call or someone will tap on the door 15:10 and they'll say, "Doug, can we talk?" 15:13 Someone in their family is dying or died, 15:16 or somebody is sick or there has been some great 15:19 financial reverse and if you know the Lord, 15:22 and you're walking with God, people will sense that. 15:25 And when there's a storm, they're going to come to you, 15:28 and they're going to ask you for help. 15:30 That's why it's important for you to be a consistent witness. 15:33 In the middle of the storm, they started 15:35 taking orders from Paul. 15:37 So here Paul is saying, "Unless we all 15:39 stay together, we can't be saved." 15:41 By the way, there's a storm, friends, it's coming 15:44 in our world - I don't know if you know that... 15:46 And the devil wants to divide us and even in God's church, 15:50 you've got little groups that will break off and say, 15:52 let's not stay with the ship - let's break off by ourselves. 15:56 And God is saying to His people, "We need to stick together 16:00 because all men will know you 16:01 are My disciples by your love for one another." 16:06 Then the soldiers cut away the 16:10 ropes of the skiff and let it fall off. 16:12 Talk about commitment! 16:14 They're listening to Paul so much, they cut away the lifeboat 16:19 "And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all 16:22 to take food saying, "Today is the 14th day, 16:25 you've waited and continued now without food 16:27 and eaten nothing; therefore, I urge you to take 16:29 nourishment - for this is for your survival 16:31 since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you. 16:36 Wouldn't you like to hear the Lord say that to us right now? 16:39 In the midst of the storm, He said, 16:42 "You might go through some trials, 16:43 you might even get seasick, but not a hair is going to 16:47 fall from your head." 16:48 Of course, He'd have to give me more promise that that 16:50 because I'd want something else. 16:56 And when he said these things, he took bread in front of them, 17:01 and he gave thanks to God. 17:03 These are all these pagan sailors, 17:05 these are Roman soldiers. 17:06 Paul now is taking charge in the name of the Lord; 17:09 he prays, he blesses the bread in the name of Jehovah, 17:11 and he distributes it. 17:13 Isn't he doing what Jesus did? 17:16 Remember when Jesus took the bread, He blessed it; 17:17 He gave it to others. 17:19 "And when he had broken it, he began to eat." 17:23 He said - Let me show you what to do, 17:24 you gotta eat something, you need strength, 17:26 you're going to have to make your way to shore. 17:28 They were all encouraged! 17:29 They also took food themselves, 17:32 and in all, there were 276 people on the ship. 17:37 Now I don't know if you've seen any of those ships 17:39 that they had back then, but they were not very big. 17:43 These were not like these big Spanish galleons. 17:46 The ships back then were these Phoenician ships 17:48 or the Roman ships and they were packed 17:50 pretty tight on that boat full of prisoners. 17:55 "So when they had eaten, they lightened the ship 17:58 and they threw out the wheat into the sea." 18:01 Just before they go into this great final time of trouble, 18:05 they eat - they fill up with as much as they can handle 18:09 because the time is going to come when 18:12 you're going to have to live on what you've got inside you. 18:15 You got that friends? 18:16 You may not always have your Bible stored away somewhere. 18:19 They knew now that the ship was going to be 18:21 busted to smithereens 18:22 They were going to have to survive on what they had 18:24 put in them. 18:26 You might be put in prison for your faith, 18:30 and they'll take your Bible away. 18:31 Do you have enough stored inside to sustain you? 18:34 Like a bear, before the winter, stores it away that they might 18:37 hibernate through the coldest time. 18:39 You and I need to have that experience, friends. 18:41 They throw all the other wheat overboard to lighten the ship 18:44 because their going to make it for land now. 18:47 Verse 39- "And when it was day, they did not recognize 18:51 the land but they observed a bay, a beach on which they 18:55 planned to run the ship if possible, 18:57 ... It was a desperate attempt. 18:59 and they let go of the anchors, 19:01 ... They cut the anchors away. 19:02 and they left them in the sea, 19:05 meanwhile loosening the rudder ropes. 19:06 They hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 19:10 ... Did their best to make a run for shore. 19:12 But striking a place where 2 seas met, 19:15 they ran the ship aground. 19:17 ... The currents were rushing about a rock 19:19 and pushed this ship off into a shallow area, 19:21 and the bow ran aground. 19:24 The prow stuck fast and remained immovable, 19:27 but the stern was being broken up 19:28 by the violence of the waves. 19:30 Now the soldier's plan was to kill the prisoners 19:34 lest any of them should escape." 19:36 You know back in Bible times, if you lost a prisoner, 19:38 you lost your life. 19:40 Do you remember when Peter escaped from prison? 19:41 In Acts 12, Herod had all those soldiers killed, 16 of them, 19:45 because they lost one prisoner. 19:46 The Roman soldier was not to lose a prisoner. 19:50 "But the centurion wanting to save Paul, 19:54 kept them from their purpose." 19:55 Did you get that? 19:56 Paul is the one who intercedes for everybody in the boat 19:59 to save them and now all of them are going to be executed, 20:02 but because of Paul, the centurion, 20:05 he's got the judgment in his hands, 20:07 he lets them all live for Paul's sake! 20:10 Isn't that how salvation works? 20:12 For Christ's sake, judgment passes by for you and me. 20:17 Don't forget, they had also eaten bread; 20:18 and we need to be eating bread too. 20:21 It says, "He commanded those that could swim, 20:24 should jump overboard first and get to land; 20:27 the rest, some on boards and some on broken pieces 20:31 of the ship and so it was, they all escaped safely to land. 20:37 All of them were saved; some of them swam, 20:43 some of them took broken pieces of the ship. 20:47 You know, this is how it's going to be in the last days. 20:49 As we near to the end, is our church going to be able 20:52 to function with the government above ground 20:55 in the last days - or organizationally, 20:58 we're probably going to have to just break up 20:59 into little groups. 21:01 But we're not to leave until that time comes, 21:03 we are to stay together. 21:05 But when we hit the shore, and when that final storm comes, 21:09 where the bow is stuck and the stern is being broken up 21:12 by the violence of the waves, we may have to just 21:14 jump in the water and either swim or hang on to whatever 21:17 pieces that we can have and I can just picture now - 21:20 some are swimming for themselves, 21:21 some are hanging on 2 or 3 of them clinging to a piece 21:24 of the ship and maybe they were scratched, 21:27 and maybe they were cut, but they all made it 21:29 alive and safe to land. 21:32 What gave them security through that storm? 21:38 Having the Word of God in their midst. 21:42 Paul was the word of God for them, 21:44 symbolized by when he broke bread in their midst, 21:47 when he had messages - when God's angels spoke to him. 21:49 God's Word came to that group through Paul... 21:52 And that was the only thing that gave them hope. 21:55 I remember reading, just last week - I was looking for 21:59 something else and I re-read the 22:00 story of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker 22:03 His soldiers claimed they got off course, they ran out of gas, 22:06 their plane went down during World War 2, 22:09 and they were floating around in a series of life boats 22:11 for days, starving, dehydrated. 22:15 One of them had a New Testament and he would read, 22:18 and when they were rescued, in spite of all the 22:21 different miracles they experienced, 22:22 they kept giving credit to the Bible was the only 22:26 thing that kept them together. 22:27 They were terribly blistered by the sun. 22:29 they had sores from laying in the life raft, 22:31 but they'd pray - simple prayers, 22:35 and God would send rain and at one point, 22:38 they saw a storm going by, but it was too far away 22:41 and they all prayed that the storm would stop... 22:44 and even though the waves they could see on top, 22:46 were blowing the storm away, it stopped moving, 22:51 and there are probably some meteorological person out there 22:54 that would find how that happens, 22:56 but they then paddled over to the storm and drank the rain. 23:01 Another time, they prayed and a seagull landed 23:04 on Captain Rickenbacker's head and he grabbed it, 23:08 and he split that among them, or a turtle came by 23:11 and then they used part of the bird to catch fish. 23:14 And just whenever they needed it, they prayed. 23:17 But when they were rescued, they said, 23:19 "To what do you attribute your survival?" 23:24 I forget, I think it was a young man named, 23:29 "Gonzalez" had his New Testament. 23:31 They said if he hadn't had his New Testament, 23:34 we wouldn't have survived. 23:37 It was the Word of God that gave them security and hope 23:40 and helped them keep it together. 23:43 What is going to help us keep it together? 23:46 If you are alive and hearing my voice, 23:49 you've got challenges in your life. 23:52 Everybody is going to have challenges. 23:54 No matter how you try and find security, 23:57 you might find security in one area, 23:58 but then you're going to lose it in another. 24:01 Maybe I should begin by definition. 24:04 By the way, that was my introduction! 24:09 What is security? Definition from the dictionary: 24:23 I want to be secure... everybody wants security! 24:26 First of all, let's get one thing straight, 24:29 I don't want to be too hard on you, 24:31 but if you're living a life of sin, I hope you're insecure. 24:34 Worse thing that could happen would be for you to be 24:37 secure on your way to destruction. 24:40 Deuteronomy 28- As-a-matter- of-fact, you might look 24:44 in verses 15-20 in your Bibles, the Book of 24:47 Deuteronomy - you've heard me read this before. 24:55 This is the chapter where you find the blessings 24:58 and the cursings - all these blessings will happen 25:01 if we obey the Lord... start at verse 15 25:04 "But it will come to pass that if you do not obey 25:07 the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully 25:10 all His commandments and His statues which I command you 25:12 today - that all these curses 25:14 will come upon you and overtake you. 25:16 Cursed you'll be in the city and cursed you'll be in the country; 25:19 cursed will be your basket and 25:21 cursed will be your kneading bowl. 25:23 Cursed will be the fruit of your body, 25:24 the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle, 25:27 the offspring of your flocks. 25:29 Cursed you will be when you come in and 25:31 cursed will you be when you go out. 25:32 The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion 25:35 and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do 25:39 until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly 25:41 because of the wickedness of your doings 25:44 which the Lord your God, in which you have forsaken 25:46 the Lord your God. 25:48 And, I think there was one more passage here 25:50 in Deuteronomy - I wanted to read to cheer you up. 25:53 Deuteronomy 28:65- The cursings go on quite a ways. 25:58 By the way, all these things happened. 26:01 Verse 65, "And among those nations, you shall find 26:06 no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place, 26:10 but there, the Lord will give you a trembling heart 26:13 and failing eyes and anguish of soul. 26:17 Your life will hang in doubt before you. 26:19 This is ultimate insecurity. 26:21 You will fear day and night and have no assurance of life. 26:26 In the morning, you will say, "Oh that it were evening, 26:28 and at evening, you'll say, "Oh that it were morning, 26:31 because of the fear which terrifies your heart 26:34 and because of the sight which your eyes see." 26:37 Now here's the good news... 26:38 That is exhibit A of insecurity. 26:43 You're cursed when you go out, 26:44 you're cursed when you come in, you're cursed financially, 26:46 you're cursed in your home, you're cursed in your 26:48 relationships, you're cursed in your heart, you have no peace. 26:53 That's the result of running from God. 26:55 The good news is... it's the opposite for those 26:59 who surrender to the Lord. 27:01 No matter what happens, you're blessed when you 27:03 go out, you're blessed when you come in... 27:05 And you know, there's another story that talks about the 27:07 cursing that Amos uses - it's almost comical. 27:11 There is absolutely no security without Christ. 27:15 Amos 5:19- puts it this way - "There is no peace 27:19 saith my Lord for the wicked - That's not what Amos says, 27:22 that's what Isaiah says. 27:23 Amos 5:19, "It will be as though man fled from a lion, 27:27 and a bear met him; whereas though he went 27:30 into the house running from something, 27:32 leaned his hand on the wall, thinking at last I'm safe, 27:34 and a serpent bites him." 27:36 It's like that old spiritual - "Oh sinner man, where you gonna 27:41 run to - Oh sinner man" Remember that one? 27:45 "There's no where to run and hide. 27:47 So, to begin with - if you're looking for security, 27:52 let's establish one thing, you will never find security 27:56 without God - without surrendering to His Word. 28:00 The way the sailors made it - those sailors bound 28:02 for judgment - that's like us, we're all bound for judgment. 28:05 The way they made it through the storm is by trusting 28:07 the Word that was in their midst. 28:09 We must trust and obey the Word. 28:12 By the way, they listened to Paul too, didn't they? 28:14 And when they listened to him, they were saved. 28:16 Now, probably at the back drop of some of the storm 28:20 that we're all hearing about right now, 28:24 and we're probably almost tired of hearing about, 28:26 is this financial crisis meltdown, 28:31 whatever you want to call it... storm? 28:35 That's been happening in America that is being felt 28:39 in steroid quantity around the world. 28:43 Would you all like financial security? 28:48 You know, it's interesting, I've noticed an increasing 28:52 number of people that are advertizing on the TV and radio, 28:55 about investing in gold! 28:57 How many of you have heard those? 28:58 Everyone is telling you "invest in gold!" 29:01 One thing you can know is everybody telling you to 29:03 invest in something - it's probably not the right time 29:06 at that point to invest. 29:08 You know, I could be wrong because that's not my calling, 29:10 but actually the Bible does say we should invest in gold. 29:14 Did you know that? Jesus says that. 29:17 Revelation 3:18, "I counsel you to buy 29:23 from Me gold refined in the fire, that you might be 29:28 rich and white garments that you might be 29:30 clothed that the shame of your nakedness does not appear." 29:33 Yeah, we should be storing away gold... 29:36 It's the gold of a Christlike character motivated by love. 29:40 And Jesus is offering that to us and we ought to have 29:43 a virtual Ft. Knox of that in our hearts. 29:46 Get all you can right now. 29:48 Put everything you've got into hoarding 29:51 as much of Jesus' gold as you can get, 29:53 and that will give you security. 29:57 Because if your trust is into financial security, 30:01 my Bible tells me that when it comes to earthly riches, 30:05 you can get it all in the day and you can lose it all in a day 30:10 You know the story of Job? 30:12 Talk about a stock market crash... all of his stock. 30:17 Fire came down from heaven and burned them up 30:20 or they were stolen. 30:21 He had a stock market crash and lost it all, 30:25 and God gave it back to him again! 30:26 When God withdrew His protection from his 30:28 belongings, he lost it all. 30:29 When God blessed him, he got them all back. 30:32 And on the other side, some of you that have nothing 30:34 and wonder how you're going to make it, 30:35 how could God turn it around... 30:36 I don't see how things could ever get better! 30:38 Lost my job - losing the house, going bankrupt, 30:42 what am I going to do? 30:44 I like the story of Joseph as a good principle. 30:48 In one day, he went from rags in the prison, 30:51 to getting a pedicure in the palace! 30:55 He, in one day, the pharaoh, handed him the checkbook 31:01 for the nation of Egypt! 31:03 Isn't that what happened? 31:05 He gave him his ring and he said - "You have authority. 31:06 Everyone is going to do what you say. 31:08 You've got the whole treasury of Egypt at your disposal." 31:12 And he was eating crumbs that morning! 31:17 So, can God turn around your circumstances? 31:19 Just put him first and you gotta remember what Jesus said, 31:24 "Lay not up for yourself, Matthew 6:19, 31:27 treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, 31:31 and where thieves break through and steal, 31:34 but lay up for yourself treasure in heaven 31:35 where neither moth nor rust destroys, 31:38 and thieves do not break through and steal, 31:40 for where your treasure is, 31:41 that's where your heart is going to be." 31:42 Where is your security? 31:44 That's going to be where your treasure is. 31:46 If you've got your Ft. Knox in heaven, it's secure. 31:50 If it's down here, you may be at risk. 31:54 Job security - Oh, that's a sensitive subject these days! 31:59 I think it was just last week that they said that 32:03 record - was it 78,000 people in one day, 32:08 and just we've seen the unemployment rate go up 32:11 a whole percentage point in a month. 32:14 That's pretty frightening... and the end has not happened yet 32:18 And I don't know where you are, few people their jobs are always 32:25 secure - Undertaker, if you work in a maternity ward... 32:31 people taking care of those going in and coming out of life, 32:35 they usually have a job, right? 32:37 Economy doesn't usually affect that. 32:40 Pastors are usually pretty secure 32:43 because people especially need spiritual help 32:45 during these times, but actually in our conference, 32:49 even some pastors have been laid off because 32:52 tithe has gone down and so everyone really is struggling. 32:57 Your job might fail, but if you're a Christian, 33:01 that's not your real job. 33:03 Your real job is working for the Lord. 33:08 You know, where's the safest place for a 33:11 submarine in a storm? 33:13 If a submarine knows that a storm is coming 33:16 and it's parked or docked at some peaceful haven on 33:20 the shore, it's going to get totally wrecked there. 33:24 The best place for a submarine to go when there's a storm 33:27 is back out to sea and get right in the middle of it, right? 33:31 When Hurricane Katrina came, there were some submarines 33:35 there in the Gulf - they went out to sea and got under it all, 33:39 and if you're a Christian, the safest place for you to be 33:43 is at your job. 33:46 You know where most accidents take place? 33:50 Not at the job - most accidents take place around the home, 33:55 so get out of the house. 33:58 Home security - You know, I'll never forget when I went to 34:05 South Africa - they were having terrible crime problems there, 34:08 and every single house in certain parts of Johannesburg, 34:12 had like prison walls and glass on top of the walls, 34:18 and sharpened steel barbs, security guards, 34:22 and the crime was so out of control that every home 34:25 looked like a fortress. 34:27 People were so afraid and there were so many carjackings 34:31 and nobody would drive up the streets of 34:33 Johannesburg at night! 34:34 The streets were desolated in the business district at night. 34:38 And you wonder now, you see more and more houses 34:42 and they got the alarms out front and they a little sticker 34:44 in the lawns, "Protected by Alarm." 34:47 Does that give you your home security? 34:52 What provides that? 34:53 Everybody wants a safe place. 34:55 Is your home safe from earthquake or storm? 35:00 Where can you go where there's going to be safe weather, 35:04 and safe home - safe from crime? 35:09 You know, I went online just to see if I could find out 35:12 ... in case I want to move - what are some of the 35:16 safest places in the U.S. - this is Forbes List of the 10 35:20 safest places in the U.S. - now this has to do with storms, 35:23 and partly the economy. 35:24 Honolulu - Let's all move! 35:27 I thought - Don't they live on a volcano? 35:30 But they say they have pretty safe weather there. 35:33 They don't have many problems. 35:35 Boise, Idaho; Santa Fe, New Mexico, Yakama... 35:37 2 of them are in New Mexico, 3 in Oregon. 35:40 None of them are California. 35:44 And then I wondered, once you get out of the U.S., 35:46 what are the safest countries to live in. 35:49 And this was the list here: Norway, New Zealand, 35:54 Japan - I was in Japan, they had an earthquake there, 35:57 but that's on the list. 35:59 I guess they got a fairly low crime rate and they don't have 36:02 hurricanes there. 36:04 Ireland and Denmark - if you want to be a socialist, 36:08 you gotta go to Denmark, but I guess it's a pretty safe place 36:11 You heard about the family - I heard this on Paul Harvey 36:14 years ago - looking for a safe place to live. 36:16 They searched the internet for months and they finally found 36:22 what they thought would be the ideal place... 36:24 good weather, good economy, nice people, low crime rate, 36:31 and they packed up, sold everything. 36:33 Packed up - they moved to the Falkland Islands, 36:36 and that was a week before the Falkland war broke out. 36:40 So, can you find your security? 36:45 I mean you need to consider these things. 36:50 Psalm 4:8, David said, "I will lie down in peace and sleep, 36:54 for You alone, oh Lord, make me dwell in safety." 36:59 I met a person last month that actually had a hit man hired 37:03 to kill him and I thought, He and his family 37:06 had to hide for a while. 37:08 How do you sleep if you have a hit man trying to kill you? 37:12 David had the king - put wanted posters all over the kingdom 37:18 with his picture on it. 37:19 Wanted dead or alive, big reward! 37:22 Had David's picture on it and yet David was able to 37:25 say, "I'll lay me down and sleep for You alone, oh Lord, 37:29 make me dwell in safety." 37:31 That's where you get your, you know, some of these 37:34 homes - we got one in our house, we got an alarm. 37:37 We inherited it and it's got a button called "panic button." 37:41 You got those on your car keys too - some of you, 37:43 don't you have those? Panic button. 37:45 Sometimes I hit the wrong button! 37:48 I like to wait until after church when people 37:50 are standing by my car, then I hit the panic button 37:52 and watch them jump! 37:56 Because we're afraid of an intruder, 37:57 we want to alarm everybody. 38:00 People looking for security in their homes... 38:03 Psalm 91- you should remember that if you want security 38:06 in the last days. 38:08 "He who dwells in the secret place of the most high 38:11 shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty; 38:13 a thousand may fall at your side, 10,000 at your right hand, 38:17 but only with your eyes will you see and behold the 38:19 destruction of the wicked. 38:20 Neither will any plague come near your dwelling." 38:23 It's filled with promises in Psalm 91, 38:26 it would be good for us to try and memorize that. 38:30 People want security in relationships, 38:33 now I talked about job security. 38:35 When I talked about job security, men especially tune in 38:39 because when a man loses his job, his world falls apart. 38:43 And some have committed suicide because of their layoffs. 38:46 When a woman loses her relationships, 38:50 her world falls apart. 38:52 And, you know, while I'm on this subject, 38:55 there's a connection between finances and relationship. 39:00 They expect a spike of broken homes and divorces now 39:04 because of the financial problems. 39:06 Because you know what the #1 reason is for 39:08 first marriages failing? 39:10 Financial challenges. 39:13 And so it presents a whole nother series of storms. 39:17 A man loses his job - it creates stress and there's 39:20 spending problems - it creates tension in the relationship; 39:22 the relationships fall apart because of the 39:25 financial problems. 39:28 So, finances are a consideration there too. 39:32 Everybody needs to have friends, family that they can trust. 39:38 We need to feel secure in our relationships with each other. 39:41 In the last days, you will not have that in the world. 39:45 Luke 21:16- The words of Jesus, "You'll be hated even by 39:51 parents and brothers, relatives and friends. 39:54 They'll put some of you to death ... there's some good news 39:58 If your security is going to come only from your 40:00 earthly relationships, Jesus said - 40:02 That's not where you're going to find it. 40:04 As-a-matter-of-fact, He said, You need to love me more 40:06 than your father, mother, sister, brother, husband, 40:09 wife, child... Amen? 40:13 You need to have another kind of relationship 40:15 and that's where you get your security. 40:18 Jesus said, Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave you 40:23 or forsake you." 40:25 You might have your family forsake you... 40:27 I remember when I became a Christian my Jewish family 40:30 thought that I flipped out and then I married a Gentile 40:34 girl and they weren't sure what to think of that either. 40:37 They got to where they liked her. 40:40 But the Bible says in Psalm 27:10, 40:43 "When your father and mother forsake you, 40:46 the Lord will take care of you. 40:48 You can always be secure in your relationship with Him. 40:52 And I inserted one more category as I'm talking about 40:56 security through the storm... Government security! 41:03 And I have nothing to tell you about that. 41:07 Except to say, if that's where you're security is, friends, 41:10 we're in a heap of trouble! 41:14 Because they don't have the magic band aid 41:17 for our bullet hole. 41:20 It's their job to tell us they do, 41:22 because if they admit that they don't, 41:23 they don't have a job anymore. 41:26 But the fact is, that the problems that are facing 41:29 the leaders of the governments of the world right now, 41:31 I don't think there are earthly solutions for these problems. 41:36 We need to pray for them, that God will give them wisdom 41:39 to do the best they can, but I think we've got some 41:41 very serious days ahead of us, 41:44 not only as a country, but in a world. 41:47 And I don't want to diverge too much from my 41:50 theme of security, but I will just say this... 41:54 since everybody else has got opinions on what is happening... 41:59 When I grew up, my father said that if you're in debt, 42:03 the last thing you want to do is borrow and spend, 42:09 and our country is having a problem right now because we 42:13 want an instant gratification, and the solution for our problem 42:20 that is coming from our desire for instant gratification. 42:24 We wanted to have the car right away; 42:26 we wanted to have the home right away; 42:28 we want to get our pleasures right away before we get married 42:33 ... everything - instant gratification. 42:35 We just programmed a whole generation. 42:37 Now the government is going to solve it with spending. 42:40 They say we need to spend more and borrow more. 42:43 Is it just me or is that the reverse of what our 42:45 fathers always told us? 42:48 I don't know how that's going to solve the problem, friends. 42:50 I think we'd be better to spend a few years in a tough way 42:53 clawing our way out the old fashioned way 42:56 by work and saving, rather than... 43:00 well now I'm getting down a 43:01 track where I'm really not an expert... so 43:04 Government security, Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom 43:08 of God and His righteousness," that should be the government 43:11 that we're interested in - God's kingdom. 43:14 That's the only kingdom that's going to have security. 43:16 One more thought... on this other point. 43:22 I'm also seeing something else happen... 43:25 I'm seeing prophecy being fulfilled right now 43:27 because people are looking to the government for security, 43:30 and in order to do that, you hand over different 43:33 elements of your freedom. 43:35 The government starts taking over the banks, 43:36 and then they start taking over the data of the banks, 43:38 and a lot different information becomes available 43:41 and it's interesting that the leadership for this 43:45 government involvement in the finances of the world 43:48 is centered in the United States. 43:53 That's what it sounds like in Revelation when it says 43:56 "He causeth all, small and great to worship the beast." 44:00 If they don't, they can't buy or sell. 44:01 They're going to control commerce somehow. 44:04 I can just see all these things playing out in front of us 44:06 in the next few years... it's happening before our eyes. 44:09 It's like Jesus said that day, "Today this prophecy 44:12 is fulfilled in your hearing." 44:16 The only government that's going to be saved is 44:18 Christ's kingdom, friends. 44:20 In the midst of all this, there's a danger that we might 44:24 hang our hopes on a false security. 44:28 Nothing is sadder than having trust in something 44:31 you can't trust. 44:34 Yeah, I like that picture - Security guard 44:37 guarding probably a priceless painting and someone is 44:39 cutting the floor out from under him. 44:44 Trusting in the government would be 44:46 false security right now. 44:48 Trusting in the bank would be false security right now. 44:53 Trusting in every earthly support is dangerous. 44:57 Now I'm not trying to make you insecure, 44:59 but if your security is in the things of the world, 45:01 friends, you've got a false sense of security. 45:05 Heaven and earth will pass away, Jesus said, 45:08 "My Word will not pass away." 45:09 This is the only thing that going to be a rock 45:11 that will make it through the last days. 45:14 Jeremiah 6:14, "They have also healed the hurt of 45:19 my people slightly saying, "Peace, peace," 45:22 when there is no peace. 45:25 One of the signs of the last days is that the leaders 45:27 will be saying - We have nothing to worry about, 45:30 we've got it under control! 45:32 They're not saying that yet, but you just wait. 45:35 Your ears ought to perk up if you hear that. 45:37 Again, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, "For when they say 45:41 peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them 45:45 as labor pains upon a pregnant woman." 45:47 By the way, those labor pains, it's also talking about 45:50 the second coming of Jesus. 45:52 It's that kind of contraction. 45:56 "As they come upon a pregnant woman 45:57 and they shall not escape." 46:01 I remember one time hearing a young lady say to her husband 46:06 as her labor pains began, 46:08 "I've changed my mind, I don't want to do this." 46:14 We're going to get to a place in the flow of prophecy 46:17 where the final events will begin to transpire, 46:20 and there is no turning back. 46:24 With all this happening around us, 46:26 can we have security? 46:29 I'm not telling you these things to make you insecure... 46:32 Well, I guess I am - let me take that back. 46:35 I am wanting you to be insecure 46:38 if your security is placed in the wrong spot. 46:43 I am wanting you to be uncomfortable... 46:45 But I'm not wanting you to be insecure. 46:48 I'm wanting you to find your security in the only thing 46:53 where there is security and that's in Christ. 46:57 Can you be secure in your salvation? 47:00 I believe you can. 47:02 Does God want us to go through life anxious, 47:05 or does He say - "Be anxious for nothing." 47:06 He's speaking to Christians; assuming you believe, 47:10 "Be anxious for nothing." 47:11 Assuming you believe, then you can claim 47:15 Philippians 1:6- "That He who has begun a good work in you 47:19 will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." 47:21 You can claim that He is the author 47:24 and the finisher of your faith. 47:25 You can claim that "Whosoever comes to Him, 47:27 He will never let you go." 47:30 You can claim in Romans 5:1, "Having been justified by 47:34 faith, we have peace with God." 47:36 We have security with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ. 47:40 So where does our security come from? 47:42 "Through our Lord, Jesus Christ" 47:45 Why is it important for us to have that? 47:48 Well, I remember reading about when they were building 47:53 the Golden Gate Bridge, when they first began 47:56 the project and they stretched some of the cables across, 47:58 and began moving materials, I think it was 23 people 48:02 fell and died and the work was progressing very slowly. 48:10 Because all the laborers could do was 48:13 spend all their time watching their step and looking down, 48:16 and they were terrified. 48:18 Finally, they put a man named "Strauss" in charge 48:21 of the safety. 48:22 He strung a net all the way across where the 48:27 Golden Gate Bridge is, underneath the construction 48:29 area of the bridge about halfway down 48:31 so that if anybody fell while working, 48:34 they were caught by the net. 48:36 Some did fall... I think 9 or 10 people fell 48:40 while they were building it and they became part of the 48:42 unique club called "The Halfway to Hell Club" 48:45 That's what they called them because they fell 48:48 but they lived because the net got them. 48:49 But they noticed something... once they put the net there, 48:52 work began to proceed at a record pace... 48:56 Because of instead of them working constantly afraid of 49:00 falling, they were able to focus on building the bridge. 49:04 It's important as Christians that we've got some 49:07 security about our relationship with the Lord 49:08 because otherwise - we're so preoccupied with 49:12 our earthly condition, we don't think about our heavenly work! 49:16 We're so preoccupied with - "how am I doing all the time," 49:19 we're always looking down instead of looking up... 49:22 And God wants us to have the kind of security we need 49:26 so we can be about His business. 49:28 I'm not talking about that false security 49:30 we mentioned a minute ago. 49:32 So, in conclusion... 49:34 One of the most famous advertising campaigns 49:37 was the "Got Milk" campaign, so I'm going to 49:42 borrow that and say, "Got Security?" 49:46 First of all, if you're a Christian, you have 49:51 financial security because you have treasure in heaven. 49:55 If you're a Christian, you've got job security 49:59 because as long as there's lost people in this world, 50:02 you have a work to do. Amen? 50:03 And in case you didn't know it, there's a whole lot of 50:06 lost people out there, so you've got job security! 50:09 If you're a Christian, you've got home security 50:12 because Jesus said, "I'm going to prepare a place 50:15 for you and nobody is going to break into that house 50:18 that He has alarmed and guarded with angels! Amen? 50:23 If you're a Christian, you've got computer security - 50:26 got firewall virus protection, Amen? 50:29 The Holy Spirit is going to be in there to keep the 50:31 temptations out! 50:35 If you're a Christian, you have health security! 50:38 Not only does Jesus heal bodies down here, 50:41 but He is going to give you a whole new body! 50:44 That's a pretty good health plan. 50:47 I never even went down to the health problems 50:49 in our country, did I - a whole nother area of insecurity. 50:52 If you're a Christian, you've got government 50:56 security because the last time I checked, 50:57 God is still on the throne and His kingdom is going to last 51:01 forever, and ever - Amen! 51:03 And if you're a Christian, you've got relationship security 51:08 because Jesus is your best Friend; 51:10 He is your elder Brother; He is the eternal Father; 51:13 He is the Spouse of the church; 51:16 He is the Child that was given... 51:19 He will give you everything you need in 51:22 that relationship security. Amen? 51:25 Jesus has told us, in John 16:33, 51:29 "These things I have spoken to you that you might have peace. 51:34 In the world, you'll have tribulation, 51:37 but be of good courage, I have overcome the world." 51:40 So, here's the question... 51:41 Got Security? 51:45 Do you got security? 51:46 If you've got Christ, then you might be in the 51:50 midst of the storm, you might even get a little 51:52 seasick on the way, but God is going to see you through 51:56 so not a hair of your head perishes and He'll bring you 51:59 safely to shore. 52:00 Do you believe that, friends? 52:02 Like when Jesus woke up in the storm and He said, 52:04 "Why do you have so little faith?" 52:06 If He's the Captain of your salvation, 52:08 you don't need to be afraid. 52:09 I thought it would be a good idea for us to 52:11 sing that song #528, "A Shelter in the Time of Storm" 52:16 Amen? Now when you sing this... 52:19 How many of you know this song? Let's stand up. 52:22 You know this song? 52:25 Do you know, we've got people that live in apartments, 52:27 right over here - I've wondered, do they ever hear us singing? 52:31 Let's see if we can make them hear us this time, all right? 52:53 The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide, 52:59 A shelter in the time of storm; 53:04 Secure what-ever may be tide, 53:09 A shelter in the time of storm. 53:14 Mighty Rock in a weary land, 53:20 Cooling shade on the burning sand, 53:24 Faithful guide for the pilgrim band - 53:30 A shelter in the time of storm. 53:36 I'm not ready for the appeal yet, 53:37 I want to talk about your singing... 53:39 I heard a couple of you doing it - 53:42 You remember the echo that the men are supposed to do 53:44 down here? Mighty Rock - mighty rock... 53:47 Cooling shade - cooling shade... 53:49 I want to hear the men try and 53:50 do it the way it's written here, okay? 53:52 And keep the volume up - I want to see if the 53:54 neighbors know we're here... Verse 2 54:05 A shade by day, defense by night, 54:10 A shelter in the time of storm; 54:15 No fears alarm, no foes affright, 54:21 A shelter in the time of storm. 54:26 Mighty Rock in a weary land, 54:31 Cooling shade on the burning sand, 54:36 Faithful guide for the pilgrim band - 54:42 A shelter in the time of storm. 54:49 Before we sing the last verse, 54:51 there may be some here who have a special need... 54:54 Maybe there has been some area in your life 54:57 where you've been experiencing some insecurity. 55:00 It could be in your home, your family, job, finances, 55:04 relationships - maybe something that wasn't even mentioned, 55:07 maybe health. 55:08 And today, you want to be able to leave the church 55:11 and say, "Got Security" because Jesus will give you 55:17 whatever you lack that you might have that peace. 55:20 If you have some special need 55:22 or you would like special prayer, 55:23 as we sing the last verse together, come to the front 55:26 and we'll pray together for you. Verse 4 55:36 O Rock divine, O Refuge dear, 55:42 A shelter in the time of storm; 55:47 Be Thou our helper, ever near, 55:53 A shelter in the time of storm. 55:58 Mighty Rock in a weary land, 56:03 Cooling shade on the burning sand, 56:08 Faithful guide for the pilgrim band - 56:14 A shelter in the time of storm. 56:23 Father in Heaven, Lord, we are so thankful 56:28 for the promises in Your Word - that in spite of the 56:32 storms that may be swirling about us, 56:35 and I know different people here are experiencing 56:38 those storms in varying degrees; 56:41 whatever it might be, that Jesus can bring a peace 56:45 and security that the world doesn't understand. 56:50 Lord, while we are here in this world, 56:52 we pray that You will bless... 56:54 A lot of people are struggling with job insecurity; 57:02 insecurities with their finances, their relationships, 57:05 their health. 57:06 We're all a little worried about the government. 57:10 I pray, Lord, that whatever these insecurities are, 57:14 that You will allow it to rob our peace, 57:18 that we can be anxious for nothing, 57:20 but find our security in Christ. 57:23 Be with each person, Lord, I pray that You will answer 57:25 the specific prayers that they're bringing before You. 57:28 Bless this church, bless those who may be 57:30 listening or watching - that we might leave this 57:33 place and know that we have security in Christ, 57:37 that the world cannot take away, that no storm can influence. 57:41 Bless us as we go from this place to remember what our 57:44 real job is in being Your witnesses... 57:47 And it is in Jesus' name we ask for that help, 57:49 and we pray... Amen 57:52 If you've missed any of our Amazing Facts programs, 57:54 visit our website at AMAZINGFACTS.ORG 57:57 There, you'll find an archive of all our television 57:59 and radio programs including "Amazing Facts Presents" 58:02 One location - so many possibilities. 58:05 AMAZINGFACTS.ORG |
Revised 2014-12-17