Hello friends,
grab your Bible and a
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friend and sit
back as we explore God's
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word together in this
edition of House Calls.
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We want to
welcome each and everyone
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of you to another
edition of House Calls.
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It's great to
have you with us on
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this exciting
program. My name is Pastor
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John Stanton.
And I am C.A. Murray.
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It's good to have
you here again and
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we're just excited
about the topic we've
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got today, because
pastor Murray we've
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got some very
difficult times in which we
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live, and we're
gonna talk a little bit
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about that
today. Yeah, these are
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times when your
meto in Christ is
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tested John as
you well know your
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roots need to go
deep as you reach for
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the sky, because
these are times that
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test your faith,
they test your finances,
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and maybe when our
finances are tested
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our faith is also
tested. And as such
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there is no greater
test of our faith than
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our finances, sure.
So these are times when
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we need to
reaffirm that we are strong
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in Christ and
that Christ gives us a
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victory over all circumstances.
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So why not take a program,
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an entire
program and devote it to
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helping and
encourage people to draw
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closer to Jesus
during their own personal
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time of trouble.
That's what we want
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to do here today.
So, friends if you're
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having some
struggles. If you're having
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some troubles,
you've come at the right
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place. We're
gonna try to do our best
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to show you from
God's word how you
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can depend upon Jesus Christ,
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who is the one
that can save us from
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everything. Praise
God. We look forward
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to Him saving us
one day from sin for
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salvation, but
you know we need help
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during our daily
struggles and so.
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Jesus can do that
too. Our professor
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used to tell us
you know you do get pie
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in the sky by
and by, but you get a
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slice every now
and then, again now too
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and it's good to
put some practicality to
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our theology,
yeah, because we need
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help as we walk
the road that leads
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to glory. We need
encouragement along
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the away. So this
makes it a very practical
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program. Very, very much so.
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You know we want
to make sure that
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we address your questions too as
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we get to this
question and answer time.
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And so we want
to put up our email
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address here so
you can address those
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questions to housecalls@3abn.org
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that's housecalls@3abn.
org. Please send
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them in because
you're a big part of
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this program as
we talk about your
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questions here
from week to week.
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Before we go to
those questions then
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Pastor Murray
maybe you would kind
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of lead us into
prayer here, at time of
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prayer and then
we'll go ahead and begin
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to address some
questions. Glad to do so.
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Heavenly Father,
we just thank you so
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very much for your privilege.
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We thank you for
the word that you've
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given us, the
privilege that is the word,
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amen, which is
indeed a lamp into our feet,
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a light into our
path and we ask that
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you would shine that
light into our hearts
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as we seek now
to understand your
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word and put your
word into practice
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for truly there is
comfort and direction
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in the word of God, amen.
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Help us now to
make application that
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will encourage us
as we walk together,
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and we thank you
in Jesus name, amen,
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amen. We have a
few questions here and
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again as I say your
questions are vitally
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important here to
this program and so
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we've got a few real
good ones here today,
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and pastor
Murray you want to begin
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with the one you
have there. Alright, this
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question comes
from Lee in Michigan,
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and his question
deals with the coming
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of the Lord. Will
we see three direct
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distinct individuals
when the Lord comes again?
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Will we see the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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I think Bible is
fairly clear on this,
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that Christ is
coming back to get us.
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There are number of
texts, Revelation starts
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right off as the sun
shines from East to the
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West, so shall the
coming of the Son of
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man be. Christ
said I go and prepare a
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place for you,
I will come again.
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I've got my Bible
to Acts chapter 1:11
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who also said, Men
of Galilee, why stand ye
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gazing up into
heaven? This same Jesus
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shall come again
which is taken up from
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you will so come
again in like manner as
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ye have seen him go into heaven.
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So we get a
process that says Christ is
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coming back.
Coming back in clouds,
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coming back
escorted with heavenly
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intelligences,
coming back certainly in
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ensconce, in this
retinue of individual,
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but Christ is coming
back to get us to take
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us, to present us to the Father.
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So, the entity and
I use that term that
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we will see is
Jesus. We will see Jesus.
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We will see Him
face to face of course
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those who are not
saved will run into the
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rocks, into the
mountains but those of
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us who are there will
see Christ and will be
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caught up to
meet Him in the air,
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and so shall we
ever be with the Lord.
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So what we will see
the person is dare I
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say that will
see, will be Jesus.
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Yeah, the emphasis
sure seems to be that
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Jesus is the one
who's coming to take us
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home, precisely.
And I think one of the
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things too is some
the misconception that
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the second coming is
the end of all things.
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No, no and it's not,
no it's not, it's really
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the beginning of
the saints being able to
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live in glory
with God, yes, yes,
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and it's for that
thousand years of time
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or peace in heaven not on earth,
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not on earth yes.
And so Jesus is really
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coming to take us
home, but you know
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I say home as far
as heaven or heavenly
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city, yes, but at
that time I think the God
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head itself will
deal with the sin
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problem when we
finally come back to the
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earth. Yes, yes indeed, indeed.
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You know we will
have access to the Father
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and, but Christ has
been so instrumental
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in our redemption.
Christ has been the one
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who suffered who bled, who died.
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He wants to
present his church to His
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Father, as a bride
sort of to you know,
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to the Father. So,
Christ is going to have
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the privilege dare
I say of coming down
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to get us to take us back home.
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And then we'll be
with Lord throughout all
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eternity, yeah.
And we know from the
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word of God, Paul
says that Jesus was
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the first fruit, yes,
of the later redemption,
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and the
resurrection so He presented
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Himself in fact as
Mary cling to Him after
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he was
resurrected. He said I'd not yet
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ascended to my
Father, my Father.
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It's not that the
Father was coming down
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to meet Him to
give His satisfaction.
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He was going to
the Father, yes, as He
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takes His bride to
the Father, correct,
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again to show the
Father here is what
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we've
accomplished through my blood.
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One of the things
that I will be interested
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in delving into
throughout eternity is
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the agency of the Holy Spirit.
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You know we it's
the one entity that we
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don't have really a
handle on because its
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just so hard for
the human mind as it is
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not constructed
to wrap it's mind
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around what, who
the Holy Spirit is.
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But I think one of
the things that will
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amaze us is this,
how the three work
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together. How they
are so intertwined and
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so closely
connected. How they have been
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so throughout the
history of the salvation
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experience. Of
course, we, I think we have
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just this kind of
special affinity for Jesus
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because He came
down, He bled, He died,
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He lived. And of
course He will bear the
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marks of that
throughout all eternity,
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but one of the
things I think we will be
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pleased to study
is how the three work
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together to get
us home and get maybe
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little better
understanding of this
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personage
called the Holy Spirit.
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I think if I go back
in my mind far enough,
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you and I did a
program on the God head,
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yes, yes, yes. And
it generated quite a
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discussion out
there and so we know that
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it's kind of a hot
topic understanding.
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You know and
rightfully so, I mean we don't
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comprehend fully
God. I mean how can
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we really know
God, right, right.
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Except you know
knowing through what
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he's given us in
His word but clearly
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Jesus came to
glorify His Father and as
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Jesus ascends back to heaven,
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the Holy Spirit is here
glorifying Christ in us,
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the real Christ to
us. And so I would say
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you know the Holy
Spirit isn't living inside
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of you Christ
can't dwell there because
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really the agency of
the Holy Spirit brings
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Christ into the
heart, and so Christ works
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in us through the
power of the Holy Spirit.
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But you're right,
it's this, it is so hard to
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understand, to grasp, yeah.
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That's beyond just
understanding three
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and one. Yeah, we
get little glimpses of
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His work John 16,
John 14, you know we
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get little
glimpses of how he works and
00:08:01.50\00:08:04.02
how he functions
and I think throughout
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eternity it will
be of course a study,
00:08:06.01\00:08:07.62
we'll get a little
better understanding.
00:08:07.68\00:08:09.14
Christ said he shall
be with you and shall
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be in you. You
know He is the author
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of the new birth
experience in our lives.
00:08:13.31\00:08:15.60
How that works, we
don't precisely know,
00:08:17.21\00:08:19.78
I'm glad it does
work. I am glad He
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is here. I am glad
He is here right now.
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He animates our
thoughts, it is He draws
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us to Christ. He
convicts us, converts us.
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He is with us and
we'll understand that
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little bit better
by and by. Yeah, yeah,
00:08:33.68\00:08:35.58
you know we had a
recent revival series
00:08:35.61\00:08:38.16
at our Church, I
prepared a series,
00:08:38.24\00:08:39.65
when you do that
you always kind of got
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to be little
careful because now in the
00:08:42.05\00:08:44.16
presentation of the
revival series because
00:08:44.26\00:08:46.09
we know that the
Lord works if people's
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hearts are open. Oh!
Yes. To the Holy Spirit,
00:08:47.70\00:08:49.64
but on the heels of
a revival series it's
00:08:50.01\00:08:51.97
always a challenge
because then it becomes
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a personal time. Oh
yes. With each person
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to nurture that
experience they've had,
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but you know
someone would ask well how
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do you know there
is the Holy Spirit
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working in you.
How do you know God
00:09:02.24\00:09:03.55
is alive and
working in you and we try
00:09:03.62\00:09:05.87
so hard to explain
that there is a God and
00:09:05.99\00:09:08.00
to show evidence
of God, but until you
00:09:08.23\00:09:11.18
experience that
and with this recent of
00:09:11.33\00:09:13.97
Revival Series, a
lot of folks don't
00:09:14.00\00:09:15.93
realize you know
the pastors revive too.
00:09:16.03\00:09:17.88
Oh! Yes, oh yes.
I mean the Revival
00:09:17.98\00:09:19.69
Series and I am
sure that I am being
00:09:19.83\00:09:21.57
revived, very
much so. I need that as
00:09:21.64\00:09:23.54
much as the
congregation would need that.
00:09:23.60\00:09:25.34
But once you
finish with a series like
00:09:26.13\00:09:27.81
that or once you
have that experience
00:09:27.95\00:09:29.49
with God and the
Holy Spirit is in you,
00:09:29.52\00:09:31.69
there is no
question that there is the
00:09:32.12\00:09:34.03
Holy Spirit at work.
So there is no reason
00:09:34.18\00:09:37.05
to show evidence,
external evidence that
00:09:37.08\00:09:39.62
God exists when
you've had the experience
00:09:39.68\00:09:41.98
of the Holy Spirit,
the experience of God
00:09:42.01\00:09:43.62
working in you. So,
often when I've said
00:09:43.90\00:09:45.25
when someone said,
well prove there is a
00:09:45.30\00:09:46.43
God. I say you
know well you know
00:09:46.48\00:09:49.38
there are
evidences that really are
00:09:49.41\00:09:51.77
circumstantial,
that you can pile on,
00:09:51.88\00:09:54.90
oh yeah, and most
courts would accept
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that as true
evidence. But for actual
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experience you've got
to have a relationship
00:10:00.25\00:10:03.65
with Christ, yeah,
experience the Holy Spirit
00:10:03.68\00:10:05.41
to say there is a
God, there is no doubt
00:10:05.44\00:10:07.56
about it. Yes, yes,
yes, I alluded to a couple
00:10:07.71\00:10:10.79
of texts and I
just wanted to run by
00:10:10.82\00:10:13.43
them John 16:13,
each of us has the spirit
00:10:13.46\00:10:16.68
of truth coming, he
won't testify of himself,
00:10:16.73\00:10:18.66
he's gonna speak about Christ,
00:10:18.76\00:10:19.75
you know he is
gonna to lift him.
00:10:19.78\00:10:20.95
He will glorify me
for he will not for he
00:10:21.29\00:10:23.72
will take of what
is mine, and declare it
00:10:23.75\00:10:25.88
to you. And then of
course the great promise
00:10:25.99\00:10:28.15
in John 14:16, I will
pray that Father He will
00:10:28.51\00:10:31.89
give another helper
who will abide with you
00:10:31.97\00:10:34.20
forever. So, the
Spirit will be there because
00:10:34.35\00:10:37.59
the spirits always been there.
00:10:37.62\00:10:38.93
You know it's
since Christ left and
00:10:39.10\00:10:41.67
bequeathed to us the spirit,
00:10:42.25\00:10:44.14
it will be there.
But the persons that we
00:10:44.62\00:10:46.25
will see that will
come to get us of course
00:10:46.29\00:10:48.28
will be Jesus
Christ, and we are so
00:10:48.60\00:10:51.28
thankful for that.
And so I agree with
00:10:51.31\00:10:52.92
your words very, very much.
00:10:53.23\00:10:54.25
And a wonderful
thing to look forward
00:10:54.88\00:10:56.59
to now when we are
having so many struggles.
00:10:56.67\00:10:59.00
You know and I'm
right there with all of
00:10:59.44\00:11:00.99
you I've seen my 401K
prior to being a pastor
00:11:01.03\00:11:05.06
I was in the you know
insurance finance area,
00:11:05.17\00:11:07.92
and had a chance to
build up you know for
00:11:08.23\00:11:09.97
myself a nice you
know 401K, and if have
00:11:10.00\00:11:12.29
kept that going
here even now that I work
00:11:12.40\00:11:14.41
for the church and so
forth. But I tell you,
00:11:14.47\00:11:16.99
you know you
don't want to have too
00:11:17.52\00:11:18.49
much confidence in
these things because
00:11:18.50\00:11:19.84
I've seen that thing
hit to the tune of 40
00:11:19.87\00:11:21.97
percent, 30 to 40
percent and it's just
00:11:22.03\00:11:24.17
where to go. Now
is not the time to put
00:11:24.81\00:11:27.89
your trust in
money, no, no. It's time
00:11:27.98\00:11:29.96
to put your trust
in the Lord and knowing
00:11:29.99\00:11:31.84
the Lord is coming
soon to take us home,
00:11:31.87\00:11:33.52
that lifts our
hearts. So, praise God.
00:11:33.60\00:11:36.03
We thank God for
that. Here's a question
00:11:36.19\00:11:37.96
from George, and
he's writing to us
00:11:38.86\00:11:42.40
from Milpitas,
and I know about that,
00:11:42.48\00:11:45.13
in fact I used to go a
water slide in Milpitas
00:11:45.22\00:11:47.66
and actually where George lives.
00:11:47.87\00:11:49.86
He says I do
enjoy your show and I'm
00:11:50.49\00:11:52.53
emailing you from
San Jose or Milpitas
00:11:53.10\00:11:55.73
right near San
Jose, the Milpitas Church.
00:11:55.79\00:11:58.23
My question is
about the Book of Moses
00:11:58.89\00:12:00.71
that was nailed to the Cross.
00:12:00.89\00:12:02.03
A person asked me
this question if the
00:12:02.60\00:12:04.67
Book of Moses was
nailed to the cross
00:12:04.73\00:12:06.49
and is no longer
binding then what about
00:12:06.60\00:12:09.11
the dietary laws
that are in that book,
00:12:09.16\00:12:11.44
were they nailed to
the cross also and if
00:12:12.33\00:12:14.80
not why? So I like
to provide a little
00:12:14.89\00:12:18.18
clarification, yes,
yes, yes, on what was
00:12:18.25\00:12:20.89
nailed to the cross
and to do that I would
00:12:21.01\00:12:22.86
like to go to
Colossians chapter 2 and we'll
00:12:22.96\00:12:26.44
get a little clearer
picture of exactly what
00:12:26.56\00:12:28.48
was nailed to the
cross, because Colossians 2
00:12:28.60\00:12:32.60
is the very text that
speaks of this nailing.
00:12:32.84\00:12:35.80
You know what is
something being nailed
00:12:35.98\00:12:37.32
with cross. And
let's begin with lets see
00:12:37.37\00:12:41.26
here verse 11,
2:11 "In him you were
00:12:41.29\00:12:49.32
also circumcised
with a circumcision made
00:12:49.35\00:12:51.59
without hands by
putting off the body of
00:12:51.62\00:12:53.95
the sins of the flesh
by the circumcision of
00:12:53.98\00:12:57.03
Christ. Buried with
him in baptism in which
00:12:57.06\00:12:59.99
you were also raised
with him through faith
00:13:00.07\00:13:02.52
in the working of
God who raised him from
00:13:02.55\00:13:04.20
the dead, and you
being dead in your
00:13:04.23\00:13:07.19
trespasses and in
the uncircumcision of
00:13:07.29\00:13:09.48
your flesh, he has
made you alive together
00:13:09.54\00:13:11.44
with him having forgiven
you all your trespasses.
00:13:11.59\00:13:13.98
Clearly talking
about sin, we are getting,
00:13:14.02\00:13:16.31
putting those off,
the sins of the flesh
00:13:16.49\00:13:18.03
of the body. Then
it says here verse 14
00:13:18.06\00:13:20.90
having whipped
out the handwriting of
00:13:20.93\00:13:22.67
requirements
that was against us,
00:13:22.77\00:13:24.88
which was
contrary to us that he has
00:13:25.64\00:13:27.65
taken it out of the
way, having nailed it
00:13:28.04\00:13:30.26
to the cross. So,
first of all we see that
00:13:30.32\00:13:33.28
Paul is writing
to the church and the
00:13:34.08\00:13:39.04
church here is made
up of Jews and Gentiles
00:13:39.07\00:13:41.41
alike. And there's a
bit of a dispute as to
00:13:41.44\00:13:45.15
what they should be
doing in their traditions
00:13:45.22\00:13:47.68
as they carry
on this faith that,
00:13:47.71\00:13:50.57
the Jews
especially had carried on for
00:13:50.67\00:13:52.94
many years as
Jews. And so he's talking
00:13:52.97\00:13:57.19
about all of these
things they used to perform.
00:13:57.22\00:13:59.05
And in many ways
many of those things had
00:13:59.91\00:14:01.65
come to a point
where it was a way of
00:14:01.74\00:14:03.35
pleasing God for
God to accept them and
00:14:03.59\00:14:05.29
the performance of
them. But now is the
00:14:05.35\00:14:07.33
time for them to
understand that in Jesus
00:14:07.36\00:14:09.42
he fulfilled many
of those aspects of the
00:14:09.75\00:14:14.29
book of Moses as
our writer talked about.
00:14:14.77\00:14:17.54
So it's not the
Book of Moses that was
00:14:18.40\00:14:20.56
thrown out because
really if you think
00:14:20.60\00:14:21.92
about the Book of
Moses it's got many
00:14:21.95\00:14:23.67
different kinds of
laws in it, you have the
00:14:23.83\00:14:25.22
moral law. Well the moral law,
00:14:25.36\00:14:26.97
the Ten
Commandments obviously was
00:14:27.02\00:14:28.17
written on stone by God himself,
00:14:28.20\00:14:29.56
but you have the
civil laws that govern of
00:14:29.62\00:14:32.12
Israel itself,
you have dietary laws.
00:14:32.27\00:14:35.04
How they should eat
for health reasons, yes,
00:14:35.28\00:14:37.81
And then you have
ceremonial laws which all
00:14:38.56\00:14:40.26
point to Jesus the
Messiah who would one
00:14:40.47\00:14:42.18
day come. So this
speaking about the
00:14:42.22\00:14:44.33
Messiah who would
come to take away their
00:14:44.36\00:14:46.14
sins must be
speaking of the ceremonial
00:14:46.18\00:14:48.83
aspect that was
nailed to the cross,
00:14:48.86\00:14:51.16
and if you go a little
further it confirms that
00:14:51.19\00:14:53.06
verse 15 having
disarmed principalities
00:14:53.15\00:14:55.73
and powers, he
made a public spectacle
00:14:55.76\00:14:58.53
of them
triumphing over them in it.
00:14:58.64\00:15:00.54
So let no one
judge you in food or in
00:15:01.02\00:15:03.63
drink or in
regarding festival or new
00:15:03.66\00:15:06.91
moon or Sabbaths,
which are a shadow of
00:15:06.94\00:15:09.44
things to come but
the substance is of
00:15:09.47\00:15:12.17
Christ. Yeah. So
we are looking at
00:15:12.27\00:15:13.83
anything that
shadowed, foreshadowed
00:15:13.96\00:15:16.18
Christ the Messiah is what he's
00:15:16.22\00:15:17.96
speaking of, right,
that was nailed to the
00:15:18.03\00:15:19.34
cross, because
Christ was also nailed to
00:15:19.37\00:15:21.58
the cross. Now, do
health laws point to
00:15:21.61\00:15:26.09
Christ? Well, I
mean they help us draw
00:15:26.12\00:15:28.97
near to Christ, yes.
But they don't directly
00:15:29.00\00:15:30.90
point to the Messiah, correct.
00:15:31.06\00:15:32.46
And so we're not
talking about general
00:15:32.68\00:15:34.56
health laws or
dietary laws speaking of you.
00:15:34.64\00:15:36.83
When it's saying
judging you in food
00:15:36.99\00:15:39.01
or drink. It's
often talking, it's really
00:15:39.04\00:15:41.67
talking about the
food and drink offerings
00:15:41.72\00:15:44.33
that were made
that foreshadowed the
00:15:44.36\00:15:46.18
coming of Christ who
fulfilled those things,
00:15:46.21\00:15:48.23
not all those laws.
You've got to become
00:15:48.26\00:15:49.83
almost a slave to context here,
00:15:49.93\00:15:51.94
because if you
take the words as they
00:15:52.07\00:15:53.55
stand you can really get off.
00:15:53.58\00:15:55.01
It says you see
the word Sabbath there
00:15:56.07\00:15:58.01
in verse 16. Not
talking about the Sabbath,
00:15:58.04\00:16:00.05
it's talking about
just those Sabbath,
00:16:00.55\00:16:02.32
those gatherings,
those meetings that
00:16:02.51\00:16:05.80
foreshadowed
Christ. The food is not
00:16:05.83\00:16:07.42
any food because
there are those who
00:16:07.49\00:16:08.58
will say oh that means any food,
00:16:08.61\00:16:10.06
every food, all
food is fair game now,
00:16:10.10\00:16:12.40
that was talking
about it, it's food or
00:16:12.60\00:16:13.87
drink offerings.
This is the one of the
00:16:14.00\00:16:16.36
few times actually
when for me the King
00:16:16.46\00:16:18.49
James actually
clears it up a little bit
00:16:18.59\00:16:20.00
when he uses the
term ordinances, yeah,
00:16:20.07\00:16:21.93
those kinds of
things were to repartee of
00:16:21.96\00:16:23.62
a ceremonial
system that looked towards
00:16:23.65\00:16:26.24
the death of
Christ. Those things Christ
00:16:26.61\00:16:28.56
fulfilled, but the
other things included
00:16:28.65\00:16:31.03
the Ten
Commandments would repartee of
00:16:31.12\00:16:32.97
what Moses wrote
actually God wrote
00:16:33.09\00:16:34.33
it but it was
contained in that Book of Moses.
00:16:34.42\00:16:36.29
Those Books of
Moses. Continue to be in
00:16:36.62\00:16:39.28
force even to this
day. So, this is the
00:16:39.35\00:16:41.77
kind of text where
you really need to give
00:16:41.83\00:16:43.75
study to, and don't
takes things just as
00:16:43.94\00:16:46.48
they appear but dig
a little deeper beneath
00:16:46.51\00:16:48.27
the surface and
look at the context in
00:16:48.30\00:16:50.19
which he is writing
and then things become
00:16:50.22\00:16:51.79
a little clearer.
Very, very much so,
00:16:51.85\00:16:53.24
you know there is
one text I would like
00:16:53.28\00:16:54.47
to share here with
you just to give you
00:16:54.66\00:16:56.19
the full import of
what C.A. was saying here.
00:16:56.62\00:16:59.00
It's First
Chronicles chapter 23 verse
00:16:59.35\00:17:02.97
31, speaking of
offerings, offerings made
00:17:03.02\00:17:07.43
to the Lord, listen
to what this text says.
00:17:07.46\00:17:09.83
It says and at
every presentation of a
00:17:09.86\00:17:13.14
burned offering to
the Lord on the Sabbath,
00:17:13.22\00:17:15.60
and on the new
moons, and on the set
00:17:16.19\00:17:18.61
feasts by the
number according to the
00:17:18.65\00:17:20.82
ordinance
governing them regularly
00:17:20.91\00:17:23.22
before the Lord.
Notice all the things
00:17:23.27\00:17:25.22
that Paul was
talking about, yes,
00:17:25.25\00:17:26.31
is in this verse in
the context of offerings
00:17:26.40\00:17:30.11
to the Lord. And
those offerings are
00:17:30.60\00:17:32.63
offerings to that
foreshadow the offering
00:17:32.66\00:17:36.38
of Jesus in his
own body on the tree,
00:17:36.59\00:17:39.44
which is the
cross. So, in context here
00:17:39.73\00:17:42.56
Colossians 2, he is
talking about ceremonial
00:17:42.67\00:17:44.53
aspects, precisely,
not all of the laws found
00:17:44.92\00:17:48.30
in the Book of
Moses, 'cause many of those
00:17:48.46\00:17:49.84
laws are for health
and for other things,
00:17:49.92\00:17:52.01
that help to govern
or to give Israel the
00:17:52.04\00:17:55.03
ability to withstand 6000 years.
00:17:55.06\00:17:58.41
Well we know 2000
had already passed
00:17:58.59\00:18:00.35
but another 4000
years plus of sin, yeah.
00:18:00.41\00:18:04.99
I mean we see
just what not paying
00:18:05.62\00:18:07.76
attention to health
laws today will do to
00:18:07.81\00:18:10.23
a body, precisely.
When you look at the
00:18:10.26\00:18:12.66
laws that were
given to the children of
00:18:12.79\00:18:14.72
Israel. God gave
those laws, so that
00:18:14.75\00:18:17.51
they could be a
more affective witness
00:18:17.60\00:18:19.37
for Him. And of
course when Christ died,
00:18:19.43\00:18:23.55
He didn't die to
allow us to eat things
00:18:23.58\00:18:27.12
or to bring
things into our body that
00:18:27.21\00:18:28.64
would destroy our
health. And I think
00:18:28.67\00:18:31.20
you've so rightly
said that a lot of the
00:18:31.61\00:18:34.31
diseases that we
are suffering today are
00:18:34.54\00:18:36.26
occasioned by
our knife and fork.
00:18:36.32\00:18:38.04
You know we're
digging the way to our
00:18:38.07\00:18:39.04
graves with the knife and fork.
00:18:39.05\00:18:40.36
And if we follow
those health laws as
00:18:41.20\00:18:45.62
described in the
word of God we live
00:18:46.84\00:18:48.11
healthier, we live
happier, we live holier,
00:18:48.25\00:18:50.08
less trip to
the doctor's office.
00:18:51.20\00:18:52.51
You know people will
say and we're getting
00:18:52.60\00:18:54.38
very practical.
People will say oh you got
00:18:54.44\00:18:56.29
to die of
something. Yeah. Well, that is
00:18:56.33\00:18:58.29
true but the
question is not do you have
00:18:58.37\00:19:00.41
to die of something,
it's are you're gonna
00:19:00.44\00:19:01.72
die of a heart
attack at 87 playing
00:19:01.87\00:19:03.86
basketball with
your great grandchildren
00:19:03.97\00:19:05.53
or at 42
because of colon cancer,
00:19:05.97\00:19:09.46
because you just
didn't live that kind of
00:19:09.54\00:19:11.95
lifestyle that you
wanted to. Some times
00:19:12.22\00:19:13.87
we're talking about
half of your years gone,
00:19:13.91\00:19:15.43
precisely. Who
wants to say I got to
00:19:15.65\00:19:16.91
die of something
at 42. Somehow they're
00:19:17.28\00:19:19.15
saying that
that's acceptable, right.
00:19:19.31\00:19:20.93
I don't think the
same, that's acceptable
00:19:20.96\00:19:21.93
at 42. No, no it
is not and the key
00:19:21.94\00:19:23.89
is found in the
word of God. The Bible is
00:19:23.92\00:19:25.95
a fantastically as
you will know practical
00:19:25.98\00:19:28.56
book for living,
that's right, and we can
00:19:28.59\00:19:31.09
live well, we can live healthy.
00:19:31.12\00:19:32.32
The laws and
rules are right there,
00:19:32.48\00:19:33.85
so God had a
broader picture in mind,
00:19:33.96\00:19:37.80
but he did want
us to be healthy,
00:19:37.88\00:19:39.10
happy and holy
here on earth as we
00:19:39.13\00:19:40.91
prepare for
citizenship in the world which
00:19:40.94\00:19:43.08
is to come. Yeah,
yeah, and you know even
00:19:43.11\00:19:45.24
as pastors, you
know this as well.
00:19:45.27\00:19:46.64
When you're about
to give a series or
00:19:46.99\00:19:48.26
something else the
last, the worst thing
00:19:48.29\00:19:49.78
you can do before
you step up to that
00:19:49.87\00:19:51.17
pulpit to preach is
fill your stomach with
00:19:51.20\00:19:53.31
food right, very
true, I mean and that
00:19:53.38\00:19:55.49
alone not just
maybe a little snack or
00:19:55.52\00:19:57.41
something just so
your stomach is not
00:19:57.44\00:19:58.58
growling but
imagine filling your stomach
00:19:58.64\00:20:00.68
up with all kinds of bad stuff.
00:20:00.76\00:20:02.33
I mean you get
up there to preach,
00:20:02.42\00:20:03.51
you just and it
gets hard to eat all that
00:20:03.67\00:20:05.92
and saving the
soul. So, just to give
00:20:05.98\00:20:07.97
you more practical
aspects of eating here.
00:20:08.00\00:20:10.64
You have another question there.
00:20:10.82\00:20:11.91
This question, we
don't have a name,
00:20:13.11\00:20:16.18
oh we do, no, we
don't have a name,
00:20:16.77\00:20:19.31
but he is or she
wants to know that about
00:20:20.54\00:20:23.40
the term what is
Holy Fire? Now that's
00:20:23.43\00:20:27.37
interesting because I
did some quick looking,
00:20:27.45\00:20:29.93
the term per say
doesn't exist in Bible
00:20:30.78\00:20:32.74
but there are
things that allude to that,
00:20:32.82\00:20:34.70
if we go to
Exodus, the last couple of
00:20:34.82\00:20:37.30
chapter we see
that unholy fire or was
00:20:37.33\00:20:44.40
offered on the altar of incense.
00:20:44.43\00:20:46.27
There was a fire
that was kindle by
00:20:46.51\00:20:48.27
the Lord that was
never suppose to go
00:20:48.30\00:20:49.75
out in the
sanctuary. And look at this
00:20:49.78\00:20:51.85
Exodus 30 and 39
that fire was never
00:20:52.84\00:20:56.40
supposed to go
out that was a type
00:20:56.48\00:20:58.39
of a Holy Fire.
There was a fire that
00:20:58.46\00:21:01.01
came down in the
days of Elijah after
00:21:01.12\00:21:05.09
the prophets of
Baal were destroyed to
00:21:05.86\00:21:08.17
consume his
offering, a fire kindle that
00:21:08.28\00:21:10.84
came from the
Lord. But we don't see
00:21:10.89\00:21:12.63
that term per say as Holy Fire.
00:21:12.76\00:21:15.66
The closest we
come to it would be
00:21:16.12\00:21:18.07
the fire that was
kindle by the Lord on
00:21:19.05\00:21:20.85
the altar of
incense which is never
00:21:20.88\00:21:22.16
supposed to go
out, it was supposed
00:21:22.23\00:21:23.46
always be there
and of course I'm
00:21:23.53\00:21:25.51
having a senior
moment, need I remind
00:21:25.54\00:21:27.23
you, allowed to
go out and they were
00:21:27.26\00:21:31.41
punished for
that, because it was,
00:21:31.44\00:21:32.65
it was fire
kindled by God which was
00:21:32.81\00:21:34.52
never suppose to
be, supposed to go.
00:21:34.56\00:21:36.37
So I don't know
precisely what he is
00:21:36.58\00:21:38.22
driving at, as far
as Holy Fire that's as
00:21:38.25\00:21:40.88
close as we come
to Holy Fire in the
00:21:40.91\00:21:42.77
word of God that I
could find you know,
00:21:42.80\00:21:44.37
yeah quickly.
The other too that I
00:21:44.52\00:21:46.01
think about here
is when it speaks of
00:21:46.04\00:21:49.68
Lucifer with God
in the very beginning
00:21:50.01\00:21:51.78
that he walked
in the midst of the
00:21:51.84\00:21:53.52
mountain of God, in
the midst of fiery stone,
00:21:53.65\00:21:55.95
yes, yes. So, we
find that God dwells
00:21:55.98\00:21:58.25
in fire. We find
them burning bush that
00:21:58.28\00:21:59.89
God dwelled within
the fire. So, you know
00:21:59.93\00:22:02.41
I guess probably
the easiest explanation
00:22:02.47\00:22:04.06
for what does it
mean by Holy Fire is
00:22:04.09\00:22:05.72
that fire kindled
by God or that God
00:22:05.75\00:22:08.92
exists there in,
yeah. But you're right,
00:22:08.95\00:22:12.42
the context of the
question, I don't know
00:22:12.45\00:22:13.76
exactly where
it's going. Yeah, and
00:22:13.80\00:22:14.96
you had a pillar
of cloud by day and a
00:22:14.99\00:22:16.43
pillar of fire by
night, but that actually
00:22:16.46\00:22:19.58
was a visible
manifestation of the
00:22:19.61\00:22:20.79
presence of God.
It was a, it appeared
00:22:20.84\00:22:23.50
to them as fire
because I suspect that's
00:22:23.53\00:22:25.59
as much as God could show them.
00:22:25.79\00:22:27.39
They saw it as
fire, they saw not an
00:22:28.14\00:22:30.50
image or a person
they saw a Holy Fire.
00:22:30.53\00:22:32.58
Well that's as
closest as I say we are
00:22:33.60\00:22:35.05
coming in the word
of God. Yes, very good,
00:22:35.08\00:22:37.35
very good. Our
last question here
00:22:37.44\00:22:39.37
today is from Mark,
writing from Minnesota.
00:22:39.43\00:22:42.46
And he is saying
here, is there anyway
00:22:43.13\00:22:45.24
of approximating
the age of the earth.
00:22:45.45\00:22:47.73
If so, can you please
send me the applicable
00:22:48.38\00:22:50.33
verses? Well this is
a challenge as it has
00:22:50.46\00:22:54.94
been a challenge
by many because one of
00:22:55.00\00:22:57.80
the things the
Bible does, if you want
00:22:57.83\00:22:59.01
to find verses and
really work this out
00:22:59.04\00:23:00.71
for yourself, as
many have done before,
00:23:00.77\00:23:02.90
you want to go to
the genealogies of
00:23:03.50\00:23:06.29
Genesis, because
when you get to about
00:23:06.38\00:23:08.35
the end of
Genesis, you can actually
00:23:08.38\00:23:10.11
historically
almost apply a time line
00:23:10.18\00:23:12.82
because we know
about enough about
00:23:13.87\00:23:15.46
what goes on after
that to approximate dates,
00:23:15.57\00:23:19.07
yeah, and times.
So you, the really the
00:23:19.10\00:23:21.83
gap is what's prior
to the end of Genesis,
00:23:21.86\00:23:25.71
you know from
the time of creation
00:23:26.22\00:23:27.38
right to the time
of Genesis with God's
00:23:27.65\00:23:29.86
people being
delivered from the land of
00:23:29.98\00:23:31.48
Egypt, and even
maybe even starting with
00:23:31.72\00:23:33.99
Abraham. But if you
want to really begin
00:23:34.02\00:23:36.65
to approximate the
age, go to the genealogies,
00:23:36.68\00:23:39.52
you can find the ages
of many of the individuals
00:23:39.55\00:23:41.58
there that it mentions
and you can go backwards,
00:23:41.64\00:23:45.02
once you attach a
firm date you can go
00:23:45.74\00:23:47.02
backwards and add those to that,
00:23:47.07\00:23:48.88
to find an
approximate age, but honestly
00:23:48.92\00:23:52.05
this is something
many have already done.
00:23:52.23\00:23:54.00
So I would suggest
even going on to the
00:23:54.61\00:23:56.31
Internet and you
can type in a few people
00:23:56.39\00:23:58.48
who have looked at
genealogies and looked
00:23:58.51\00:24:00.17
at the age of the
earth and so forth.
00:24:00.20\00:24:01.53
And I think one of
the things that most of
00:24:01.98\00:24:03.90
them conclude is that
the age of the earth is
00:24:03.94\00:24:06.35
roughly around 6000
years old plus, yeah.
00:24:06.39\00:24:10.57
So we are getting
into that 7000 millennial
00:24:10.91\00:24:14.08
year which in fact
some people believe that
00:24:14.14\00:24:17.47
maybe that's why the millennium,
00:24:17.65\00:24:19.00
the thousand years
of rest is a typical or
00:24:19.03\00:24:23.08
an antitypical type
of millennium of rest,
00:24:23.11\00:24:26.60
a Sabbath rest, a Sabbath rest.
00:24:27.08\00:24:29.53
I think and I am
trying, not trying to read
00:24:30.35\00:24:32.62
this as my what may
occasion as question.
00:24:32.65\00:24:34.15
Even those who
stretch it, everyone comes
00:24:36.42\00:24:38.77
under ten
thousand; you know everyone
00:24:38.83\00:24:40.60
comes under ten thousand years.
00:24:40.68\00:24:41.95
You've got a
scientific community which
00:24:42.21\00:24:44.24
dates it at millions
perhaps billion of years.
00:24:44.27\00:24:46.87
You've got a
scientific Christian community
00:24:47.29\00:24:50.68
which dates it
under ten thousand.
00:24:50.79\00:24:52.81
And those who tie
it down a little more
00:24:53.94\00:24:56.70
will tie it to about
6000 give or take plus
00:24:56.79\00:25:00.30
or minus. I think in
some of these things we've
00:25:00.33\00:25:04.69
got to trust the
word of God. When you go
00:25:04.72\00:25:07.21
to the Bible and as
you have said this has
00:25:07.24\00:25:08.77
been done a number of times,
00:25:08.80\00:25:10.06
and it's not that
difficult to find.
00:25:10.24\00:25:11.65
You've got a great
age of the earth that
00:25:13.47\00:25:15.40
scientists will tell
you, you've got relatively,
00:25:15.52\00:25:17.51
and that's a relatively
short age of the earth,
00:25:17.81\00:25:19.49
which the
Biblical community tends to
00:25:20.38\00:25:22.30
espouse to, scribe
to. And the word of
00:25:22.36\00:25:26.11
God is true, and
though you may not be
00:25:26.18\00:25:28.19
able to find you
know what I remember
00:25:28.22\00:25:30.08
someone saying some
time ago, if you want
00:25:30.13\00:25:31.87
to believe there is
plenty evidence to believe.
00:25:31.93\00:25:34.14
If you don't what to
believe you will never
00:25:34.34\00:25:35.93
find enough to make you believe.
00:25:35.97\00:25:37.40
I tend to believe
the word of God would
00:25:38.70\00:25:40.16
pegs in about 6000
years you know and it
00:25:40.41\00:25:43.57
works for me
because as a student of the
00:25:43.73\00:25:45.86
word I believe, I
believe God. Now when I
00:25:45.89\00:25:48.26
go to school, scientist
will tell me thus and so,
00:25:48.34\00:25:50.26
I'm gonna hang my
faith on the word of God,
00:25:50.39\00:25:53.30
yeah, I will.
Another approach too that I
00:25:53.40\00:25:55.45
find some use just
in generally speaking,
00:25:55.49\00:25:57.86
they say well there
are 2000 years roughly
00:25:58.03\00:26:00.97
from the time of
creation to about the time
00:26:01.05\00:26:02.90
of Abraham and
God's people chosen,
00:26:02.96\00:26:06.12
chosen as a
nation. And then you got
00:26:06.33\00:26:08.45
about 2000 year,
correct, you go from
00:26:08.48\00:26:10.28
there to the time
of Christ and now we've
00:26:10.32\00:26:12.95
been about 2000
years from the time of
00:26:12.98\00:26:14.69
Christ first advent,
yeah, to where we are
00:26:14.97\00:26:16.84
today. And so,
you're finding, you find
00:26:16.91\00:26:19.37
some
approximations there as well,
00:26:19.44\00:26:21.19
which is kind of
interesting at least it
00:26:21.27\00:26:22.46
makes you go
hmm, it does, it does.
00:26:22.49\00:26:25.32
But what it also
says Pastor John is
00:26:25.39\00:26:27.16
that the coming
of the Lord is soon.
00:26:27.20\00:26:29.38
You know, nature is telling us,
00:26:29.85\00:26:31.82
the Bible says
this. You know the earth
00:26:31.89\00:26:32.98
is in this groaning,
heaving kind of state.
00:26:33.01\00:26:35.78
You know we're
just earthquakes and
00:26:35.81\00:26:38.32
floods and wars and
financial disaster, it's
00:26:38.36\00:26:43.31
all sort of
coalescing together and it
00:26:43.42\00:26:46.00
is time for God's
people really to plant their
00:26:46.03\00:26:48.67
feet solidly on the
rock Christ Jesus because
00:26:48.78\00:26:52.10
Christ is
coming very, very soon.
00:26:53.13\00:26:55.12
We don't have the
hard and fast days,
00:26:55.25\00:26:56.80
but we can approximate the time,
00:26:56.84\00:26:58.53
we know that the
time is very, very near
00:26:58.64\00:27:00.14
and Jesus is coming
soon. You always say
00:27:00.28\00:27:01.88
you know the God
never gave us a date
00:27:01.91\00:27:03.64
but he sure give us a
season. He surely did.
00:27:03.67\00:27:05.27
And I know it's cold
right now, its winter.
00:27:05.30\00:27:07.18
So, anyway, so
enough about that,
00:27:07.29\00:27:11.15
but we thank you
so much for sending in
00:27:11.24\00:27:12.44
your questions.
Again if you would like
00:27:12.47\00:27:14.59
to send in your
questions by email,
00:27:14.63\00:27:16.57
you can send them
to housecalls@3abn.org
00:27:16.60\00:27:19.27
that's housecalls@
3abn.org and if you
00:27:19.74\00:27:23.22
want to just send
them by regular mail
00:27:23.25\00:27:24.71
feel free to do
that. You can send them
00:27:24.74\00:27:26.35
by regular mail at
3ABN's main address,
00:27:26.38\00:27:28.84
to the attention of House Calls.
00:27:29.44\00:27:30.62
So thank you very
much for sending those
00:27:30.85\00:27:32.31
and we appreciate
that. Now, it's time for
00:27:32.34\00:27:34.66
our topic for the
day and I think a topic
00:27:34.69\00:27:37.23
that really is
something that all of us need
00:27:37.26\00:27:41.24
to talk about, or
at least need to hear
00:27:41.27\00:27:43.24
that God even
though we're having a very
00:27:43.85\00:27:45.78
difficult times is
very, very near to each
00:27:45.95\00:27:47.85
and every one of
us. As we spend time
00:27:47.88\00:27:50.03
with Him and as we
follow Him and trust
00:27:50.15\00:27:52.18
Him with our
lives. There was a message
00:27:52.24\00:27:55.55
I gave recently
here, just it seems like
00:27:55.58\00:27:57.88
you know with these tough times,
00:27:57.94\00:27:59.28
God's people
need to hear a word of
00:27:59.71\00:28:01.53
encouragement, so
I've spend the last
00:28:01.56\00:28:03.16
three weeks
generally on trying to lift
00:28:03.19\00:28:06.08
their spirits to
know God loves them,
00:28:06.11\00:28:07.98
will never leave
them, but even in these
00:28:08.45\00:28:10.34
times of struggles
and trials that God is
00:28:10.47\00:28:12.27
with them. And that
there are promises we
00:28:12.30\00:28:14.74
can hang our head
on. And so it's really
00:28:14.77\00:28:17.53
been something
that I've been focusing
00:28:17.56\00:28:19.14
on here because I've
sensed the need for that.
00:28:19.17\00:28:21.21
And I believe
that many out there are
00:28:21.69\00:28:23.72
also having that
need. But one of the things
00:28:23.81\00:28:26.33
I used to kind of
spring board into that
00:28:26.39\00:28:27.89
is taking a look at
hurricanes. You know
00:28:27.96\00:28:30.86
we just got through
with hurricane season.
00:28:31.04\00:28:32.57
And we're looking
at you know you look at
00:28:33.50\00:28:35.14
these
hurricanes, they can do just
00:28:35.25\00:28:36.28
incredible damage
and especially over the
00:28:36.31\00:28:38.67
last oh six,
seven years we've seen
00:28:38.70\00:28:40.92
just a
multiplicity of hurricanes,
00:28:40.95\00:28:43.09
numbers of them and
tornadoes especially
00:28:43.18\00:28:45.91
in North
America. And you wondered
00:28:46.30\00:28:49.09
what's going on,
something is happening
00:28:49.14\00:28:51.06
that is different
than the environment
00:28:51.09\00:28:53.33
we had before. And
so, I began to look
00:28:53.37\00:28:56.42
at hurricanes and
I always wondered how
00:28:56.45\00:28:58.11
hurricanes start.
How does a hurricane
00:28:58.14\00:29:00.14
begin, so I did some
research on hurricanes?
00:29:00.28\00:29:02.78
I will just share
this here briefly with you.
00:29:02.81\00:29:04.76
Hurricanes
usually spawn over warm
00:29:05.36\00:29:07.64
waters but not only warm waters,
00:29:07.68\00:29:08.65
but very calm
waters, and what happens
00:29:08.66\00:29:12.41
is that as the warm
air is generated over
00:29:12.44\00:29:15.19
those warm calm
waters, it leaves a lower
00:29:15.25\00:29:17.62
air pressure on the
ground as the air begins
00:29:17.73\00:29:20.61
to lift, 'cause warm
air rises. Was that air
00:29:20.64\00:29:24.34
lifts and creates
that low pressure and
00:29:24.44\00:29:25.99
you have outside
air swoop in, yeah,
00:29:26.02\00:29:28.70
and it generates
more and more air going
00:29:28.81\00:29:31.37
upward and in North
America of course it
00:29:31.40\00:29:33.45
goes counter
clockwise, it starts to
00:29:33.50\00:29:35.10
spin upward and
then we find ourselves
00:29:35.19\00:29:38.29
you know as you
hear in the news ever
00:29:38.32\00:29:39.42
so often, will we
have a tropical depression,
00:29:39.54\00:29:41.97
depression sure,
and then we have a
00:29:42.06\00:29:43.12
tropical storm, and
then the air accelerates
00:29:43.21\00:29:46.01
to the point where
now we have a stage
00:29:46.04\00:29:47.97
one hurricane, and
then it goes beyond that
00:29:48.02\00:29:50.45
up to stage five,
and sometimes can reach
00:29:50.48\00:29:52.45
up to 150 plus
miles an hour. But one
00:29:52.48\00:29:56.54
of the most
interesting parts of hurricanes
00:29:56.57\00:29:58.66
is that you find
those who have experienced
00:29:58.76\00:30:01.28
the eye of the
hurricane say that there is
00:30:01.31\00:30:03.17
incredible peace within the eye.
00:30:03.20\00:30:05.81
It's almost like
you wonder if it's over,
00:30:05.91\00:30:07.75
yeah, and then the
rest of the storm comes
00:30:07.98\00:30:10.18
through and from the other end,
00:30:10.22\00:30:11.78
the other side you'll
get hit by one direction
00:30:11.81\00:30:13.69
the other side's
swirling and you've got
00:30:13.72\00:30:15.89
the other part of
the storm coming through,
00:30:15.92\00:30:17.45
yeah. But anyway
this eye of the storm I
00:30:17.49\00:30:19.94
found is a place that
not only has incredible
00:30:19.99\00:30:23.92
peace, but it has a
real spiritual application
00:30:24.03\00:30:26.72
because today we
are living in a time
00:30:26.90\00:30:29.27
where we're in the
storm. We are in a storm
00:30:29.67\00:30:32.37
and it's going on,
and hurricane is blowing
00:30:32.44\00:30:34.24
winds all around
us, and if we can find
00:30:34.27\00:30:37.97
someway to the eye
just maybe although
00:30:38.08\00:30:41.61
the hurricane
continues to range on we
00:30:41.65\00:30:43.56
just might be able
to stay there, yes.
00:30:43.80\00:30:45.88
And as I was
reading God's word about
00:30:46.47\00:30:48.40
how Jesus brings
us into perfect peace,
00:30:48.53\00:30:51.27
and how he takes us
by the right hand to
00:30:52.19\00:30:54.06
lead us. The
imagery just jumps out at me
00:30:54.19\00:30:57.32
that what Jesus
wants to do is guide us
00:30:57.43\00:30:59.71
through the storm,
through those you know
00:30:59.74\00:31:01.86
you got to get
through the storm,
00:31:01.93\00:31:03.12
go through the
storm to get to the eye,
00:31:03.46\00:31:05.07
and it guides us
into the eye of that storm
00:31:05.54\00:31:08.06
and then wants
to keep us there and
00:31:08.15\00:31:09.96
shelter us from
the incredible things
00:31:10.00\00:31:12.20
happening around
us. And so, in this
00:31:12.24\00:31:15.59
program what we
would like to do is,
00:31:15.66\00:31:16.91
is talk a little
bit about how Jesus does
00:31:17.09\00:31:19.13
that and He
promises to give us perfect
00:31:19.16\00:31:21.71
peace as we put
our minds and put our
00:31:21.74\00:31:23.88
trust in Him. It says
in Matthew 11 verse 28
00:31:24.05\00:31:28.12
to 30, this is the
words of Jesus Christ
00:31:28.15\00:31:31.83
"Come to Me, all
ye who labor and are
00:31:32.38\00:31:34.34
heavy laden, and I
will give you rest."
00:31:34.42\00:31:37.92
That's a strong, strong promise,
00:31:37.99\00:31:40.09
I will do it, yes,
there is no question,
00:31:40.12\00:31:41.53
I will do that.
"Take My yoke upon you
00:31:41.69\00:31:43.63
and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and
00:31:43.66\00:31:45.67
lowly in heart, and
you will find rest for your
00:31:45.76\00:31:49.53
souls." You see,
you will find it,
00:31:49.60\00:31:52.24
peace isn't
something that just comes.
00:31:52.92\00:31:55.85
Peace is something
you've got to find.
00:31:57.55\00:31:59.04
Oh! Yes. In a world
that we live in today
00:31:59.16\00:32:01.82
you just, if you are
waiting for peace to come,
00:32:02.12\00:32:04.84
you're just
rolling with the punches,
00:32:05.61\00:32:06.98
you're getting hit
left and right and if
00:32:07.01\00:32:08.21
peace doesn't come
you just feeling you're
00:32:08.24\00:32:09.62
never gonna find peace. Peace is
00:32:09.66\00:32:11.72
something today that
I believe that we can
00:32:11.75\00:32:14.05
find with the
help of Jesus Christ,
00:32:14.13\00:32:16.77
our Lord and
Savior. Yeah praise God.
00:32:16.91\00:32:18.10
So, it really
jumped at me as I was
00:32:18.32\00:32:20.40
looking at this that
Jesus wants us to find
00:32:20.43\00:32:23.74
peace in Him, so how
do we find that peace?
00:32:24.02\00:32:27.09
I think there is
lots of ways that we can
00:32:27.29\00:32:28.67
find that peace, but
that's really where we
00:32:28.78\00:32:30.50
want to go today.
Yeah, you know what
00:32:30.56\00:32:32.21
pops out at me,
and it just came to me
00:32:32.46\00:32:36.09
just now that text
you know we bristle at
00:32:36.20\00:32:38.40
the word yoke
because we think of yoke as
00:32:38.43\00:32:40.21
weight or something
that's been put upon us,
00:32:40.44\00:32:43.29
but the yoke just
assures that you're
00:32:43.54\00:32:45.78
working in concert
together. You know if
00:32:45.81\00:32:48.08
we are yoked
together we have to pull
00:32:48.11\00:32:49.50
together, we
have to move together,
00:32:49.53\00:32:50.96
we have to walk
together. It's like that
00:32:51.11\00:32:52.91
old three-legged
racing thing where you put
00:32:52.94\00:32:54.46
both legs and, yeah,
you know I put one leg
00:32:54.63\00:32:56.14
and put one leg in
the same sac, so now
00:32:56.34\00:32:57.55
we are bound
together when I walk this
00:32:57.61\00:32:59.19
way you have to
walk this way and I go
00:32:59.22\00:33:00.32
you know we have to
function together if
00:33:00.42\00:33:03.05
we're gonna to
move at all, right,
00:33:03.08\00:33:04.25
it's got to be in
concert and that's all that
00:33:04.28\00:33:05.58
yoke does. The yoke
just assures that your
00:33:05.61\00:33:09.12
movements are in
concert with Jesus Christ
00:33:09.16\00:33:11.14
and since He is
the author of peace and
00:33:11.57\00:33:14.35
always moves
towards peace. When you walk
00:33:14.38\00:33:16.93
with Him, you're
going in the same direction,
00:33:16.96\00:33:18.62
you are heading towards peace.
00:33:18.77\00:33:19.74
It is impossible to
go any other way when
00:33:19.75\00:33:22.24
you're yoked with
Jesus because He is
00:33:22.27\00:33:23.83
heading you,
leading towards peace.
00:33:23.88\00:33:25.28
That's right, you
know, and when you think
00:33:25.31\00:33:26.45
about that too I
like the way you say that
00:33:26.48\00:33:28.33
because if, if
we're yoked with Jesus we
00:33:28.65\00:33:31.35
find peace. If we're
not yoked with Jesus,
00:33:31.38\00:33:33.47
and we're trying to
find our own peace, yeah.
00:33:33.50\00:33:35.15
You never really
find it, because you don't
00:33:35.53\00:33:37.03
know where the
eye of the storm is,
00:33:37.12\00:33:38.29
the winds are so
strong, how you're gonna
00:33:38.34\00:33:40.26
find it. I mean in
these days you find it
00:33:40.35\00:33:42.16
with your finances,
no. You know are you're
00:33:42.19\00:33:45.34
gonna find it in how
the economy is going,
00:33:45.37\00:33:48.32
you find with your
gas prices which we
00:33:48.70\00:33:51.67
just on the heels
you know we're coming
00:33:51.70\00:33:53.04
off the heels to
worst gas prices we in
00:33:53.07\00:33:54.99
America have ever
seen. And other things
00:33:55.02\00:33:57.62
no you don't find
peace there, but when
00:33:57.78\00:33:59.74
you are with
Jesus, when you're yoked
00:33:59.80\00:34:01.13
with Jesus He is
always heading towards
00:34:01.16\00:34:03.46
peace. He is the
one that promises us
00:34:03.49\00:34:04.90
peace. So how
can we make sure that
00:34:04.93\00:34:08.50
we're yoked with
Jesus? And I find that
00:34:08.54\00:34:11.43
often in my own
life's experience in the
00:34:11.47\00:34:13.49
past that when
I'm looking for peace,
00:34:13.55\00:34:16.24
when I'm looking
for you know when the
00:34:16.93\00:34:19.08
circumstances around
me are too difficult to
00:34:19.11\00:34:21.21
deal with, and I
try to find peace on my
00:34:21.30\00:34:23.51
own, I can't find
it, yeah. So, our first
00:34:23.54\00:34:26.95
objective then is
to find Jesus, right,
00:34:26.98\00:34:29.67
get yoked up with
Him, so then he can
00:34:30.24\00:34:32.35
bring us to peace
'cause He knows where
00:34:32.38\00:34:33.88
it is. Give you the
realization John you
00:34:33.98\00:34:36.28
know put not your
trust in princes or in
00:34:36.31\00:34:38.60
the arm of flesh.
People will let you down
00:34:38.63\00:34:42.07
and they may not even intent to.
00:34:42.67\00:34:45.13
It's the nature of
the beast when you're
00:34:45.70\00:34:48.08
dealing with
human beings. There are
00:34:48.12\00:34:50.80
sometimes when they
are quite trust worthy.
00:34:50.83\00:34:52.47
The other times
when they are not,
00:34:52.82\00:34:54.56
there are
sometimes when they are so
00:34:55.03\00:34:56.12
consumed with
their own struggles,
00:34:56.15\00:34:58.02
they don't really
have time to take the
00:34:58.05\00:35:00.31
weight of your
struggles. It is peaceful to
00:35:00.34\00:35:04.16
know that
whenever you come to Christ
00:35:04.20\00:35:07.55
he says I will in
no wise cast you out.
00:35:07.58\00:35:10.19
So whenever I go
to him day, night He's
00:35:10.34\00:35:14.00
gonna be there.
He's got the time for me.
00:35:14.03\00:35:16.81
He's got the
ability to deal with me,
00:35:17.06\00:35:18.89
and He has the
desire, you know dare
00:35:19.30\00:35:22.08
I say the perfect
storm. He's got the time.
00:35:22.11\00:35:25.12
He has the ability
and the desire and if
00:35:25.66\00:35:28.06
you don't have all
three you still can't help
00:35:28.23\00:35:29.49
me. You may have
the time, but you can't,
00:35:29.57\00:35:30.91
your don't have the
ability, you may have
00:35:31.07\00:35:32.44
the ability but you
don't want to help me
00:35:32.47\00:35:33.91
you know, right. So
he wants to help you,
00:35:33.94\00:35:35.38
more willing to
give me good gifts than
00:35:35.87\00:35:37.02
Father out to
their own children.
00:35:37.05\00:35:38.40
He has the ability,
he can do all things
00:35:38.58\00:35:40.55
certainly, and
we can do all things
00:35:41.53\00:35:42.58
through Him,
and He has the time.
00:35:42.61\00:35:44.20
So we know we
are going to someone
00:35:44.97\00:35:46.25
who has a
desire and can do what,
00:35:46.49\00:35:49.03
what needs to be
done. That's right,
00:35:49.08\00:35:50.05
you know I can
hear some talking about
00:35:50.53\00:35:52.10
you know thinking
in their minds about
00:35:52.24\00:35:54.54
peace in Jesus and
I know what's coming
00:35:54.71\00:35:57.48
to mind in some of
them. So we want to
00:35:57.51\00:35:58.95
hit this here
quickly, yeah, Matthew 10:34
00:35:58.98\00:36:01.69
says this, these
are the words of Jesus
00:36:02.62\00:36:04.45
as well. "Do not
think I came to bring
00:36:04.48\00:36:07.20
peace on the earth;
I did not come to bring
00:36:07.35\00:36:10.96
peace, but a
sword. So, now how do
00:36:11.06\00:36:14.54
we reconcile these
two things having peace
00:36:14.57\00:36:17.43
in Jesus but yet
Jesus not bringing peace
00:36:17.46\00:36:19.89
but bringing a
sword. We need, lets
00:36:20.45\00:36:23.57
define what kind of
peace we're talking about,
00:36:23.67\00:36:25.66
there you go,
yes. Because you know
00:36:25.69\00:36:27.86
some would say,
well, and we pray this
00:36:27.98\00:36:30.90
way C.A. we pray, I
pray this way, Jesus,
00:36:30.93\00:36:34.26
we move this
challenge for my life.
00:36:35.19\00:36:37.40
You know solve my
problem with this person,
00:36:38.30\00:36:41.31
you know change
them, yeah, give me
00:36:41.52\00:36:46.53
a different job, give
me a little more money,
00:36:46.58\00:36:48.58
so I can you know
take care of my family.
00:36:48.69\00:36:50.34
You know it's like
we're looking for God
00:36:50.89\00:36:52.47
to change our
circumstances, yes,
00:36:52.55\00:36:54.68
to change the
storm, to calm the storm,
00:36:54.73\00:36:56.45
when he doesn't
really say he's gonna
00:36:57.27\00:36:58.30
calm the storm
because here He promises
00:36:58.37\00:37:00.60
that a sword is
coming upon the earth
00:37:00.63\00:37:02.99
which you would
say is that outer
00:37:03.02\00:37:04.54
parameter of the hurricane.
00:37:04.58\00:37:06.35
So what are we
talking about here,
00:37:06.90\00:37:08.29
what kind of peace is
Jesus is really saying
00:37:08.59\00:37:10.15
when He is saying
I'll give you peace.
00:37:10.19\00:37:11.98
Yeah. There is
always and always will be
00:37:12.10\00:37:15.08
a battle between
being in Christ and being
00:37:15.16\00:37:17.98
outside of Christ, so
there is always tension
00:37:18.14\00:37:19.88
there. But the thing
about being in Christ
00:37:19.97\00:37:22.74
is that perfect
peace of they whose minds
00:37:22.83\00:37:26.65
are state on him so
that the storm exists.
00:37:26.69\00:37:29.62
The thing is to have
peace in the midst of
00:37:30.12\00:37:31.71
the storm, so you,
we are born into storm,
00:37:31.74\00:37:33.53
you know with
the storm is there,
00:37:34.17\00:37:35.46
the thing is to
have peace in the midst
00:37:35.71\00:37:36.96
of the storm.
So, the sword comes,
00:37:36.99\00:37:39.50
the tension comes
when we are stepping
00:37:39.96\00:37:41.69
out of the world
and into Jesus, yeah.
00:37:41.85\00:37:44.75
There is always
gonna be tension there
00:37:44.84\00:37:46.34
but once you make
that step then peace
00:37:46.42\00:37:48.31
is the inevitable
result, yeah. So would
00:37:48.41\00:37:51.13
Jesus really once
you connect with Him
00:37:51.21\00:37:53.66
and you yoke up
with Him as we were
00:37:53.69\00:37:54.95
talking about
earlier, you begin to have
00:37:54.98\00:37:56.91
the mind of
Christ and you see things
00:37:56.94\00:37:58.30
differently, your
perspective changes,
00:37:58.33\00:37:59.86
things change all around you.
00:38:00.78\00:38:01.95
So, the storm is
raging on but the objective
00:38:02.00\00:38:05.34
here is that Jesus
has brought you into
00:38:05.37\00:38:07.17
the eye of that
storm that he is giving
00:38:07.20\00:38:10.51
you peace, you
know the peace of mind
00:38:10.61\00:38:13.22
regardless of
what's happening to you,
00:38:13.71\00:38:14.95
yeah, yeah,
yeah. Paul says, I mean
00:38:14.98\00:38:17.32
there is a war
going on within me and in
00:38:17.35\00:38:20.29
Romans 14. I've got
this issue because I
00:38:20.32\00:38:25.72
want to be
spiritual, but I am at nature
00:38:25.79\00:38:28.11
carnal, and the
peace comes once I rest
00:38:28.24\00:38:32.60
in Jesus. You know
when we go to Hebrews
00:38:32.70\00:38:34.69
13, he says I will
never leave you nor
00:38:34.92\00:38:37.84
forsake you. What
can the world do to me,
00:38:37.87\00:38:43.04
you know it's a
settling in Christ.
00:38:43.09\00:38:46.29
The storm is
always gonna be raging,
00:38:46.71\00:38:48.14
but the peace
comes once we make that
00:38:48.98\00:38:50.80
decision to rest in
Jesus then the peace
00:38:50.83\00:38:54.45
comes. He will
never leave me nor forsake
00:38:54.55\00:38:56.41
me. He can,
Paul says 13:5 and 6,
00:38:56.58\00:38:59.19
I can boldly
say He is my helper.
00:38:59.28\00:39:01.63
I can sort of thump my chest,
00:39:01.69\00:39:03.02
I am on the Lord's
side, world can't hurt
00:39:03.45\00:39:05.17
me now, because I am
here in Christ Jesus.
00:39:05.23\00:39:07.05
That gives, that
allows you to sleep at
00:39:07.48\00:39:08.88
night and to rest
at night. That's right,
00:39:08.96\00:39:10.71
and in a way it
brings to mind that song
00:39:10.90\00:39:12.85
let there be peace
on earth. But it goes on
00:39:13.02\00:39:15.94
to clarify that and
let it began with me,
00:39:15.98\00:39:18.46
with me, so really
it begins inside of us,
00:39:18.57\00:39:20.78
the peace that we
experience because the
00:39:20.81\00:39:22.83
world's peace as we
see it, a lot of people
00:39:22.89\00:39:25.50
pray for world peace and we,
00:39:25.53\00:39:26.69
nothing wrong with
praying for world peace,
00:39:27.04\00:39:28.63
but in the end we
know that ultimately the
00:39:29.33\00:39:32.19
world is gonna get a
lot worse before it gets
00:39:32.22\00:39:33.73
a lot better, yeah,
yeah. And there really
00:39:33.76\00:39:35.45
won't be perfect
peace in the world,
00:39:35.52\00:39:37.91
but we can still be at
perfect peace with Him.
00:39:38.21\00:39:39.89
I was about to say
whence cometh wars.
00:39:39.99\00:39:41.34
You know they come
from a lack of peace
00:39:42.09\00:39:45.01
within. So world
peace begins with
00:39:45.04\00:39:47.79
individual peace
and unless there is
00:39:47.85\00:39:50.22
individual peace,
and there can be no
00:39:50.25\00:39:51.98
world peace,
because world wars are
00:39:52.01\00:39:54.35
simply a macro
experience of the turmoil
00:39:54.48\00:39:57.75
going on in our
individual lives and we're
00:39:57.95\00:39:59.95
at peace with
ourselves, at peace with
00:39:59.98\00:40:01.29
our country, at
peace with our God,
00:40:01.35\00:40:03.04
at peace with our
fellow man, then there
00:40:03.11\00:40:05.14
is no need for war,
yeah. War is just the
00:40:05.20\00:40:07.81
out growing of
inner turmoil shown out
00:40:07.93\00:40:11.11
on a worldwide
scale. There's a text here
00:40:11.20\00:40:14.26
I wonder if
maybe you'd be able to
00:40:14.32\00:40:15.53
read it for us,
it's Psalm 107, aha,
00:40:15.56\00:40:17.91
25 to 30, we find
some different aspects
00:40:18.31\00:40:21.80
of the storm here
in this passage and I
00:40:22.03\00:40:24.50
just like to kind of
touch on this a little bit.
00:40:24.53\00:40:26.29
Psalm 107 beginning
with verse 25 and then
00:40:27.94\00:40:33.73
through verse 30. Psalm 107 25,
00:40:33.80\00:40:36.55
"For he commands, and
raises the stormy wind,
00:40:39.04\00:40:41.40
which lifts up
the waves of the sea.
00:40:41.81\00:40:44.71
They mount up to the heavens,
00:40:45.36\00:40:46.87
they go down
again to the depths:
00:40:47.20\00:40:49.00
their soul melts
because of trouble."
00:40:49.68\00:40:51.80
That's 27.
"They reel to and fro,
00:40:52.22\00:40:54.71
and stagger like a drunken man,
00:40:54.78\00:40:56.72
and at their wits
end," 28. "Then they cry
00:40:57.11\00:41:01.76
out to the LORD
in their trouble,
00:41:01.79\00:41:03.49
and he brings them
out of their distresses.
00:41:03.92\00:41:06.15
He calls the storm,
so that it waves are
00:41:06.73\00:41:11.18
still." And in verse
30, "Then they are glad
00:41:11.30\00:41:15.08
because they are
quiet; So he guides them
00:41:15.36\00:41:18.04
to their desired
haven." Oh I love that,
00:41:18.34\00:41:20.91
you know it starts
off here by saying that
00:41:21.88\00:41:23.97
sometimes God even
brings the storm because
00:41:24.54\00:41:27.64
he commands and
raises the stormy winds,
00:41:27.67\00:41:29.81
it talks, it
begins with that, and then
00:41:29.90\00:41:32.29
of course those who
experiencing that storm,
00:41:32.32\00:41:33.98
it says that they,
they go up and down and
00:41:34.08\00:41:37.27
says they go up as
they're going up to the
00:41:37.30\00:41:38.57
heavens, they go
down into the depth of
00:41:38.66\00:41:40.27
the sea, and their
soul melts because this
00:41:40.30\00:41:42.50
trouble that they're
in. They reel and fro,
00:41:42.53\00:41:44.28
they stagger
around, I mean you know you
00:41:44.32\00:41:45.88
can picture these
guys on a boat trying
00:41:45.93\00:41:48.03
to just keep that
boat from sinking, yeah.
00:41:48.06\00:41:49.65
and they're at
there wits end, then they
00:41:50.03\00:41:52.36
cry out to the Lord,
and what he does is an
00:41:52.46\00:41:55.05
amazing thing,
he calms the storm,
00:41:55.08\00:41:57.06
so that the waves
are still, and they're
00:41:57.87\00:41:59.89
glad because
they're at quiet. And I like
00:41:59.98\00:42:02.54
this last part, so
He guides them to their
00:42:02.57\00:42:05.29
desired haven, yes.
And so, really I wrote
00:42:05.34\00:42:09.92
on here I've got
this in my notes so I just
00:42:10.02\00:42:11.88
read it. Sometimes
God creates the storm.
00:42:12.16\00:42:15.08
Sometimes the
devil creates the storm.
00:42:16.78\00:42:18.24
Sometimes we
create the storm, oh yes.
00:42:19.45\00:42:21.25
But no matter what
God is with us in the
00:42:23.11\00:42:25.79
storm if we cry
out to Him, precisely.
00:42:25.85\00:42:27.77
And so, you know I
think of my life and
00:42:28.18\00:42:30.16
sometimes of the
past and I've seen the
00:42:30.19\00:42:31.69
storms I've gone
through, and I can look
00:42:31.72\00:42:32.95
back honestly, and
I can say I brought
00:42:33.12\00:42:35.37
on that storm.
You know some times I
00:42:35.42\00:42:38.65
can see that I
had done noting wrong,
00:42:38.68\00:42:40.47
and I've been
living very close with God
00:42:40.50\00:42:41.97
and the devil
brings on that storm.
00:42:42.17\00:42:43.70
Other times I can
find that maybe I've
00:42:44.81\00:42:47.23
been drifting away
from the Lord a little
00:42:47.26\00:42:48.87
bit you know
where he can perceive it
00:42:49.00\00:42:50.29
and I'm not
perceiving it so much and
00:42:50.32\00:42:51.75
he creates a storm
to turn me back, yes.
00:42:51.81\00:42:54.88
So, sometimes we
just don't know always
00:42:55.42\00:42:57.17
where this storm or
why this storm has come.
00:42:57.20\00:42:59.18
The key to know is
that with this text says
00:42:59.92\00:43:02.29
cry out to God, and
no matter who started
00:43:02.63\00:43:05.32
the storm, yes, he
can bring you into the
00:43:05.35\00:43:07.24
peace that you
need in that storm.
00:43:07.33\00:43:09.70
That's a very
important point, why would God
00:43:09.79\00:43:13.86
bring storms
because sometimes you do
00:43:13.89\00:43:15.85
need a storm,
seamanship is developed in
00:43:16.03\00:43:19.26
rough weather. So,
if you're always on
00:43:19.35\00:43:20.77
calm water, don't
take my sailor boat
00:43:20.80\00:43:22.15
on calm water,
that's right. You develop
00:43:22.25\00:43:23.70
your sea legs
when you're wrestling
00:43:23.74\00:43:25.63
against the
storm. And sometimes as
00:43:25.75\00:43:27.18
you have rightly
said we need a little
00:43:27.24\00:43:29.87
trouble in our
lives. You know, one to
00:43:30.99\00:43:33.58
send us to the
cross, God doesn't send
00:43:33.63\00:43:35.09
us trouble to
defeat us but simply to let
00:43:35.19\00:43:37.49
us know from
whence cometh our strength
00:43:37.55\00:43:39.41
and our health.
And sometimes you need
00:43:39.64\00:43:42.01
to John Lomacang
sings the song sometimes
00:43:42.11\00:43:44.02
it takes the storm
you know, yeah there
00:43:44.08\00:43:45.67
you go, allow me
to see myself and to
00:43:45.81\00:43:48.38
know that I need a
little more help than
00:43:48.48\00:43:51.20
I've been asking for
and I cannot do it by
00:43:51.26\00:43:52.84
myself, yeah, very
good. The good thing
00:43:53.00\00:43:54.71
to know too is that
even though we're in
00:43:54.74\00:43:55.89
a storm, God's word
promises that he will
00:43:55.92\00:43:58.66
not allow us to
bear beyond what we're
00:43:58.71\00:44:00.68
able. I will go
with him, oh yeah,
00:44:00.74\00:44:02.37
so that's a very
important thing to know
00:44:02.50\00:44:04.14
even if you are in
a storm, that storm
00:44:04.64\00:44:05.99
may have been,
maybe lasting for quite
00:44:06.15\00:44:08.41
sometime, but at
the same time God is
00:44:08.51\00:44:11.29
watching very
carefully, oh yeah.
00:44:11.39\00:44:12.92
You're crying out
to him and if you are
00:44:12.95\00:44:13.92
walking with him
he will guide you
00:44:14.02\00:44:16.03
finally to your
safe haven where you have
00:44:16.15\00:44:18.01
that perfect. I
wouldn't even say during that
00:44:18.09\00:44:20.69
guidance He's
giving you peace but at
00:44:20.72\00:44:22.76
some point that
storm does end, oh yes,
00:44:22.85\00:44:25.43
yesh, the morning
does come. Oh! yes that's
00:44:25.64\00:44:27.58
the good thing if
you can get through the
00:44:28.02\00:44:29.28
night, you hold on to
Jesus, morning is coming,
00:44:29.31\00:44:31.62
and when I guess
that you'll be surprised
00:44:32.06\00:44:34.04
how fast it came.
You know God doesn't
00:44:34.10\00:44:35.83
he brings us in to
bring us out. He didn't
00:44:36.43\00:44:38.53
want to leave us
in trouble, and that
00:44:38.58\00:44:41.68
promise is sure and
we can thank the Lord
00:44:41.76\00:44:43.75
for that. You know
we're, you know we're
00:44:43.88\00:44:46.03
talking about some
different aspects here
00:44:46.23\00:44:47.88
about storms, and
how to have peace in
00:44:47.91\00:44:50.11
the midst of the
storm and you know I know
00:44:50.14\00:44:52.88
some, I know one
person especially right
00:44:52.98\00:44:55.20
now who is having
a very difficult time
00:44:55.23\00:44:57.00
because the storm
seems to be going on
00:44:57.04\00:44:58.64
and on in there,
although they have peace
00:44:58.71\00:45:00.76
at times with God
in their minds knowing
00:45:00.79\00:45:03.01
that God is with
them, the storm rages
00:45:03.06\00:45:05.96
on to at a level
that they're just,
00:45:06.03\00:45:08.12
they're at their
wits end, as we just read
00:45:08.15\00:45:09.87
this text,
they're at their wits end.
00:45:10.06\00:45:11.60
And it brings me to
a story here a friend
00:45:11.98\00:45:14.40
of ours we
introduced us to the story here
00:45:14.49\00:45:16.51
recently, and
you probably know it
00:45:16.64\00:45:17.75
it stuck smack stab
in the middle of the
00:45:18.25\00:45:19.64
Bible only appears
once very brief only about
00:45:19.72\00:45:22.74
a chapter, chapter
and half, but I think it's
00:45:22.77\00:45:25.06
a real important thing
for those going through
00:45:25.09\00:45:26.70
these long extended
storm. And it's found
00:45:26.79\00:45:29.95
in 2 Kings chapter,
end of chapter 6 beginning
00:45:29.99\00:45:32.13
of chapter 7. And
while you know we don't
00:45:32.16\00:45:34.66
have to really turn
to that, I'll kind of
00:45:34.69\00:45:36.11
give you an
abbreviation of it. We find that
00:45:36.14\00:45:38.45
it occurs during
the time of Elisha and
00:45:38.52\00:45:41.78
Samaria which is
a city at that time,
00:45:43.34\00:45:45.00
not just a region,
but a city at that time
00:45:45.07\00:45:47.00
was the capital of
the northern kingdom
00:45:47.16\00:45:49.18
of Israel and it was
under siege from Aram,
00:45:49.23\00:45:52.48
the nation of Aram
which is up in the region
00:45:52.87\00:45:54.50
of Syria. And they
had besieged that city
00:45:54.53\00:45:58.03
some estimate for
two to three years.
00:45:58.31\00:46:00.55
Now, when your a
city back then with
00:46:01.69\00:46:03.29
you know walled in,
it's not hard to imagine
00:46:03.77\00:46:06.25
that after about a
year you're running out
00:46:06.31\00:46:08.59
of food, oh yes, and
you're running out of
00:46:08.64\00:46:10.18
water and
everything else that you need.
00:46:10.30\00:46:11.88
And so the story as
it's picking up here
00:46:12.82\00:46:15.00
and it begins to
take us through what's
00:46:15.03\00:46:16.44
going on in there,
it talks of a whole
00:46:16.50\00:46:17.98
dreadful thing
about two women who talk
00:46:18.02\00:46:20.53
about eating their
sons just to stay alive,
00:46:20.56\00:46:22.76
and you wonder oh
that's unconscionable,
00:46:22.79\00:46:24.34
how could someone
even think about that,
00:46:24.37\00:46:25.95
or think of doing
that. But they are going
00:46:26.83\00:46:30.27
through the worst
time they could possibly
00:46:30.41\00:46:32.50
think of. And this
is going on for quite
00:46:32.53\00:46:34.50
sometime, but
that's not the main part of
00:46:34.65\00:46:36.65
the story I'd like
to just comment on here.
00:46:36.70\00:46:39.35
When the King is
finally at the end,
00:46:40.62\00:46:43.08
he is seeing his
kingdom is falling apart.
00:46:43.16\00:46:44.55
And he goes to
Elisha, in fact he wants to
00:46:44.64\00:46:46.16
take Elisha's head
off because he thinks
00:46:46.19\00:46:47.84
his partly Elisha's
fault. He goes to Elisha
00:46:47.88\00:46:50.57
and Elisha is trying
to encourage him there
00:46:50.60\00:46:52.63
is this officer that
steps forward, oh yes,
00:46:52.66\00:46:54.78
and the officer
says you know Elisha
00:46:54.94\00:46:57.21
prophesied from
God and you know what
00:46:57.24\00:46:59.13
this time tomorrow
flour will sell for cheap,
00:46:59.16\00:47:02.06
barley will self
for cheap, and you'll be
00:47:02.12\00:47:03.91
taken care of.
This officer steps
00:47:04.10\00:47:05.73
forward and says
that couldn't happen
00:47:05.76\00:47:07.52
even if God opened
the windows of heaven.
00:47:07.55\00:47:09.50
Of course Elisha's
words are it's gonna happen,
00:47:10.33\00:47:12.71
yeah, but you're
not gonna be around to
00:47:12.91\00:47:14.43
see it right. And so
we find this story about
00:47:14.54\00:47:17.30
them going back and
these four lepers go
00:47:17.34\00:47:19.64
out and they
find that the nation,
00:47:19.76\00:47:23.52
the Aramains who
have been besieging the
00:47:23.68\00:47:26.36
city fled because
they've heard these
00:47:26.39\00:47:28.94
chariots and God
had caused them to hear
00:47:28.99\00:47:30.62
the chariots and
they were gone and they
00:47:30.65\00:47:32.25
left all their stuff,
yeah, and they plundered
00:47:32.28\00:47:34.14
it and they began
to eat, now they felt
00:47:34.17\00:47:35.65
guilty so they
brought it back to the city.
00:47:35.77\00:47:37.29
Well, we find that
as the word gets out
00:47:38.83\00:47:41.03
and all the people go
out to get this plunder
00:47:41.06\00:47:43.34
that instantly that
very next day we find
00:47:43.99\00:47:46.32
the prophecy come
true. Grain, or flour
00:47:46.35\00:47:48.92
sells for cheap and
barley sells for cheap.
00:47:48.95\00:47:51.61
Well this guys, this
officer who said that
00:47:52.02\00:47:54.39
couldn't happen
goes out to the gate and
00:47:54.42\00:47:57.69
he gets trampled.
And Rochelle and I've had
00:47:57.80\00:48:01.64
this thing here
my wife Rochelle,
00:48:01.67\00:48:03.63
we've been
reminding ourselves when we
00:48:04.16\00:48:05.42
get a little bit to
wits end like it doesn't
00:48:05.49\00:48:07.79
seem like
something is gonna to happen,
00:48:07.82\00:48:08.84
we say to ourselves
don't get trampled in
00:48:08.90\00:48:10.82
the gate. And so we
know you know I think
00:48:10.92\00:48:14.39
I share that story
to say this you know,
00:48:15.04\00:48:17.89
take do a read of 2
Kings 6 and 7, oh yes.
00:48:17.96\00:48:21.31
And then remind
yourselves when you're
00:48:21.34\00:48:22.79
almost at the end you
can't take it any more.
00:48:22.84\00:48:24.79
When you've been
praying to God and
00:48:25.37\00:48:26.34
sometimes it just
feels, you feel like he's not
00:48:26.41\00:48:28.14
answering that it
couldn't be that if you're
00:48:28.23\00:48:30.53
getting to you wits
end. You are coming up to
00:48:30.71\00:48:32.65
the time where a
miracle is about to occur,
00:48:32.70\00:48:34.69
yes yes, Don't get
trampled in the gate,
00:48:34.72\00:48:37.55
don't say the Lord
can't do it, or the
00:48:38.54\00:48:40.36
Lord's not
answering he doesn't hear,
00:48:40.44\00:48:41.97
don't get trampled in
the gate and sometimes
00:48:42.56\00:48:44.21
I find myself C.A.
And let me make this
00:48:44.24\00:48:46.18
personal, I'm not
pointing fingers. I'm wondering
00:48:46.24\00:48:49.45
I can't take it any
longer when is God going
00:48:49.69\00:48:51.62
to speak, yes,
yes. But as Rochelle,
00:48:51.65\00:48:54.91
the good wife
reminds me don't John,
00:48:55.02\00:48:57.41
don't get trampled in
the gate, I like that,
00:48:57.61\00:48:59.83
and I just you know
I just want to share
00:49:00.12\00:49:01.86
that for some
people who are at wits end.
00:49:01.89\00:49:03.99
Don't get trampled in the gate.
00:49:04.36\00:49:05.41
Blessings are
about to come. God knows
00:49:05.61\00:49:07.48
what you're going
through, he will get
00:49:07.51\00:49:08.97
you through that.
It's coincidental,
00:49:09.00\00:49:10.61
this year all of my
sermons, all of them have
00:49:10.65\00:49:13.00
come from First
and Second Kings.
00:49:13.04\00:49:14.24
There is a series of
stories that are very,
00:49:14.86\00:49:16.75
very powerful, all
dealing with Elijah and more
00:49:16.78\00:49:19.61
Elisha in this
particular incident from his
00:49:19.69\00:49:22.12
conversion to his
call, just a number of
00:49:22.16\00:49:24.72
things that follow
one read on the other,
00:49:24.80\00:49:28.18
powerful, powerful
messages. And there is
00:49:28.22\00:49:30.61
a theme running
through there that says
00:49:30.64\00:49:33.08
trust God even
in the tough times,
00:49:33.20\00:49:35.02
and that is a
powerful message for now,
00:49:35.31\00:49:37.48
because we are in
tough times. We are in
00:49:37.62\00:49:39.38
tough spiritual
times, tough economic times,
00:49:39.42\00:49:42.00
when people don't
really know where to turn.
00:49:42.03\00:49:45.30
Well, turn to God
because that's where
00:49:45.75\00:49:48.17
help comes from.
I'm in Isaiah 41:10 one
00:49:48.33\00:49:52.09
of the texts that's
listed here, fear not for
00:49:52.12\00:49:54.82
I am with you, solid
promise that gives you
00:49:54.85\00:49:57.09
peace, amen. Be not be dismayed,
00:49:57.12\00:49:58.85
for I am your
God. I am your God,
00:49:59.39\00:50:01.90
you know, I am
your God, personal.
00:50:01.93\00:50:03.44
Yeah, I will
strengthen you, I will give you
00:50:03.65\00:50:05.74
strength, yes I will
help you; King James says
00:50:05.81\00:50:09.81
yes, I'm gonna help
you, I will uphold you.
00:50:09.96\00:50:13.10
So, I'm not just
gonna give you a couple
00:50:13.20\00:50:14.44
of bucks and
try to help you out.
00:50:14.47\00:50:15.65
I'm gonna
establish, I'm gonna stand you,
00:50:16.02\00:50:18.00
I'm gonna hold you
up, with my righteous
00:50:18.03\00:50:21.71
right hand, so that
is a solid promise that
00:50:22.01\00:50:24.70
says even in the
tough times God is with
00:50:24.73\00:50:26.69
us. He's gonna
help us. He's gonna keep
00:50:26.72\00:50:29.08
us from falling and
those are things that
00:50:29.14\00:50:31.15
give you peace and
comfort in the midst
00:50:31.27\00:50:33.02
of the storm. Yeah,
just to know that God
00:50:33.12\00:50:34.99
is with you,
here he created you,
00:50:35.02\00:50:36.27
he created the
world, I mean he has so
00:50:36.62\00:50:38.04
much you know we
have in some of these
00:50:38.07\00:50:39.99
notes the story of the
disciples on the water,
00:50:40.05\00:50:43.24
yes, Jesus is
sleeping in the middle of the
00:50:43.33\00:50:45.12
storm, yes, and I
wonder, I think to
00:50:45.20\00:50:47.92
myself how could
anybody have such peace.
00:50:47.95\00:50:50.15
I mean they've got to
have water in the boat,
00:50:51.29\00:50:52.64
he's got to be wet,
yeah, unless he is up
00:50:53.34\00:50:55.95
you know off the
bottom of the boat but
00:50:56.19\00:50:57.29
it says he was down
in the barrels of boat,
00:50:57.32\00:50:58.68
he was sleeping,
asleep, he's got to be wet,
00:50:58.86\00:51:00.82
and he is asleep,
so Jesus knows the kind
00:51:01.41\00:51:05.25
of peace that we
need, oh yes. And so if
00:51:05.28\00:51:08.47
he can calm the
storm with a word,
00:51:08.50\00:51:10.17
he can certainly as
he said to the disciples,
00:51:11.27\00:51:14.19
why are you so
afraid, you have no faith.
00:51:14.49\00:51:16.63
He can certainly help
us to exercise our faith
00:51:17.26\00:51:19.17
to have peace even
though the storm does
00:51:19.28\00:51:20.91
rage around us.
But more than that he
00:51:21.02\00:51:23.79
is really the only
one that can give us the
00:51:23.82\00:51:25.73
peace that we need
in the middle of the
00:51:25.76\00:51:27.04
storm, yes, yes,
and so why wouldn't you
00:51:27.07\00:51:29.57
cry out to God,
certainly, when you need
00:51:29.61\00:51:31.84
him. Yeah. I think
maybe the trick is or
00:51:31.87\00:51:34.28
the difficult part
is crying out to God
00:51:34.41\00:51:36.28
before the
storm. I've maintained,
00:51:36.31\00:51:40.38
it's almost too late
to find him in the storm.
00:51:40.94\00:51:44.31
You establish a
relationship before the
00:51:45.00\00:51:47.75
storm and then it
will keep you through the
00:51:47.78\00:51:50.77
storm because when
you're in the midst of
00:51:50.80\00:51:52.72
the storm, you
can't always think you
00:51:52.75\00:51:54.31
can't always reason
you're caught in the
00:51:54.34\00:51:56.81
mail storm of
activity you know you're
00:51:56.84\00:51:59.05
bailing, trying
to keep from sinking.
00:51:59.15\00:52:01.02
There is a sermon
I'm working on called
00:52:03.95\00:52:05.04
trajectory.
Basically you're going in that
00:52:05.24\00:52:07.87
direction, you know
trajectory is a object,
00:52:07.97\00:52:09.82
a moving object
going through the air.
00:52:10.84\00:52:12.14
You're going in
this direction, so just
00:52:12.74\00:52:14.97
stay on that
trajectory you know you've
00:52:15.02\00:52:16.76
been walking with
Jesus you've been moving
00:52:16.79\00:52:18.35
in this direction
now that you can see your
00:52:18.38\00:52:20.33
way, you don't know
left from right you're
00:52:20.38\00:52:22.02
in the middle of
the storm, just stay on
00:52:22.05\00:52:24.38
that trajectory,
stay on that same path,
00:52:24.43\00:52:26.06
you've been
walking this path so long,
00:52:26.43\00:52:27.61
don't deviate now,
now stay on that path,
00:52:27.71\00:52:30.13
stay on that trajectory and you,
00:52:30.65\00:52:31.95
it'll lead to the
center, it will lead you right
00:52:32.02\00:52:33.81
there to the
place of peace. Yeah,
00:52:33.97\00:52:36.42
that's right, you
know the other thing too
00:52:36.45\00:52:38.36
is that when you
read these things about
00:52:38.40\00:52:39.94
you know the storm
it says the people are
00:52:39.97\00:52:42.06
crying out to God.
I'm not, I don't think
00:52:42.14\00:52:45.21
that God intends for
us to have to cry out
00:52:45.32\00:52:47.15
to him in ways that
the disciples cried out
00:52:47.18\00:52:50.88
to Jesus to save
them, yeah, I think what
00:52:50.91\00:52:52.88
he wants is when
these storms come for
00:52:53.04\00:52:54.57
us to say, Lord, I
know you're with me, right,
00:52:54.65\00:52:56.97
trajectory I
know you're with me,
00:52:57.00\00:52:58.66
you've been with
me, hey yes, you know
00:52:59.10\00:53:00.41
this storm is here.
So, Lord I'm putting my
00:53:00.44\00:53:02.81
trust in you and
I'm gonna stay at peace,
00:53:02.90\00:53:05.44
because that's the
last part we want to
00:53:05.47\00:53:06.56
talk about here,
right. How do we stay at
00:53:06.59\00:53:08.75
peace, and we mean
it peace with Jesus
00:53:08.79\00:53:11.32
Christ in the midst
of the storm going on
00:53:11.35\00:53:12.88
around us. It's not
getting off course but
00:53:12.91\00:53:14.66
staying the course
and staying at peace
00:53:14.69\00:53:16.73
with God's help.
And so, one of the ways
00:53:16.87\00:53:20.52
I think to do that,
I mentioned here in our
00:53:20.55\00:53:22.45
notes, just a few
things we jotted down,
00:53:22.50\00:53:24.12
peace and
contentment. They go hand
00:53:24.79\00:53:26.80
in hand, and I can
find, I defined contentment
00:53:26.84\00:53:30.82
here as what it is
acceptance of what is,
00:53:30.85\00:53:35.41
yes. And notice
it's not just what I have
00:53:35.54\00:53:39.05
but what is so it can
be accepting how we look,
00:53:39.63\00:53:43.91
yes. It could be
accepting our personal
00:53:44.32\00:53:46.44
disabilities or
quirkiness or things that we
00:53:46.47\00:53:49.58
have about ourselves
that we might not like,
00:53:49.61\00:53:51.13
how we look. We can
also be accepting of our
00:53:51.28\00:53:54.65
family, our friends,
the world, the life that
00:53:54.85\00:53:57.18
God has put us in,
yes, and of course it's
00:53:57.21\00:53:59.50
clearly
acceptance of what we have,
00:53:59.94\00:54:01.44
what we posses, you
know the house we have,
00:54:01.50\00:54:03.13
the car and so
forth, but contentment,
00:54:03.16\00:54:05.03
acceptance of what
is, is so key to peace,
00:54:05.15\00:54:09.09
inner peace, yes,
because if you're always
00:54:09.29\00:54:11.02
wanting something
more you are always in
00:54:11.05\00:54:12.53
turmoil. Now that
harkens back to that same
00:54:12.59\00:54:15.80
text that I was
alluding to a little bit
00:54:15.93\00:54:17.21
ago. Hebrews
13:5 where he says be
00:54:17.33\00:54:20.40
content with such
things as you have it's
00:54:20.47\00:54:22.51
not a call from
mediocrities, not saying
00:54:22.54\00:54:24.54
just sit down and
do nothing, don't ever
00:54:24.59\00:54:25.90
strive for
something better. But at any
00:54:26.02\00:54:27.79
given point or place
along that trajectory,
00:54:27.86\00:54:30.41
we're talking about
be satisfied at that
00:54:30.44\00:54:32.59
point where God has brought you,
00:54:32.67\00:54:33.94
as you strive to get
better, you strive to
00:54:34.10\00:54:35.71
get closer, you
strive to do more,
00:54:35.76\00:54:37.81
but don't miss the
blessing in being where
00:54:38.06\00:54:40.80
you are, where
God has placed you and
00:54:40.83\00:54:42.54
functioning and
flourishing at that point
00:54:42.63\00:54:44.69
in your life and
then moving on, but don't
00:54:44.72\00:54:46.23
always you know
you're missing where you
00:54:46.30\00:54:48.59
are because you're
looking at where you want
00:54:48.64\00:54:49.95
to be, right, that
makes you discontented
00:54:50.06\00:54:52.20
and creates
turmoil in your own life,
00:54:52.74\00:54:55.03
yeah, so I think
it's an important point,
00:54:55.07\00:54:56.53
it's an important
foundation for peace to
00:54:56.62\00:54:58.75
be content where
you are with what
00:54:58.78\00:55:00.67
you've got. And then
let the Lord lead you
00:55:00.77\00:55:02.71
on till the next
step, yeah, yeah.
00:55:02.74\00:55:04.64
And I think I like
what you say because when
00:55:05.21\00:55:06.50
you, if you're
always looking for something
00:55:06.69\00:55:08.51
better you miss
the blessing, yeah,
00:55:08.54\00:55:10.35
so God says I'm
giving you a blessing,
00:55:11.11\00:55:13.11
I'm giving you some
peace here but if you're
00:55:13.17\00:55:15.50
always wanting
some better you're never
00:55:15.53\00:55:17.09
gonna really find that
peace, precisely, yeah.
00:55:17.12\00:55:19.02
One of the things
that just jumps out at me
00:55:20.24\00:55:22.14
here, I'm gonna
read from John 14,
00:55:22.49\00:55:24.47
John chapter 14 verse
27. This is recorded by
00:55:24.58\00:55:28.57
the disciple John.
The disciple John now if
00:55:29.20\00:55:32.72
you got to look at his
background a little bit,
00:55:32.95\00:55:34.21
he's a former son
of thunder, oh yes.
00:55:34.38\00:55:37.34
Now, I'm sure that if
you're called a son of
00:55:38.06\00:55:41.43
thunder you don't
have a lot of outward
00:55:41.51\00:55:43.28
at least you don't
look like you have a lot
00:55:43.47\00:55:44.76
of peace. He is
always raging, he is always
00:55:44.79\00:55:46.55
doing something
along with his brother.
00:55:46.79\00:55:48.18
But here notice
what John records in
00:55:49.46\00:55:52.26
chapter 14 verse
27 this is his gospel.
00:55:52.81\00:55:55.66
It says, peace I leave
with you, these are the
00:55:56.49\00:55:59.04
words of Christ.
My peace I give to you
00:55:59.09\00:56:02.48
not as the world
gives do I give to you,
00:56:03.27\00:56:05.16
let not your heart
be troubled, neither let
00:56:05.85\00:56:07.93
it be afraid. This
quoted by the former son
00:56:07.98\00:56:11.23
of thunder, son
of thunder correct.
00:56:11.26\00:56:12.60
So if John could
receive peace, evidently
00:56:12.84\00:56:16.29
these words
impressed him enough to put
00:56:16.35\00:56:17.67
it in there because
this exact phrase does
00:56:17.70\00:56:19.36
not, is not
repeated in the else where in
00:56:19.39\00:56:21.46
the gospels, it
doesn't, John records it, yes.
00:56:21.53\00:56:23.74
So, if he's got it
then somehow we can also
00:56:24.47\00:56:28.44
receive it through our
relationship with Jesus
00:56:28.47\00:56:30.24
too. Praise
God, wonderful thing.
00:56:30.41\00:56:33.29
Only in Jesus can we
find peace in the eye
00:56:34.00\00:56:36.27
of the storm, so our
encouragement for you
00:56:36.32\00:56:37.71
today is to look to
Jesus for your peace,
00:56:37.75\00:56:40.90
oh yes. There is
peace in no other,
00:56:41.03\00:56:43.16
and even if you get
some temporary respite
00:56:43.40\00:56:46.17
there is no long term
peace. And peace comes
00:56:46.33\00:56:49.39
through, John tells us
abiding in Him it's not
00:56:49.45\00:56:52.91
sort of a casual
drive by kind of a thing.
00:56:52.97\00:56:55.15
It's turning off
your engine and staying
00:56:55.64\00:56:57.64
there in Jesus
that's when you get the real
00:56:57.67\00:56:59.28
peace, that's right.
I love the way you say
00:56:59.31\00:57:01.20
that, in fact the
message that I had given,
00:57:01.36\00:57:03.03
that talked about
this, saying how do we
00:57:03.09\00:57:04.72
stay in peace
with God, abide, abide.
00:57:04.86\00:57:07.26
With God we abide,
there is one preacher
00:57:07.55\00:57:09.38
who said if you
want to abide in Christ
00:57:09.41\00:57:10.90
reside, yes. So, we
gotta reside in the proximity
00:57:10.93\00:57:14.15
of Christ, and stay
with Him. And so as we
00:57:14.18\00:57:17.73
close this program
here, we just want to
00:57:17.84\00:57:19.35
encourage you to
abide in Jesus Christ and
00:57:19.41\00:57:21.52
let his perfect
peace fall upon you,
00:57:21.55\00:57:23.93
abide in his peace
the peace that he freely
00:57:24.23\00:57:26.26
give to you in this
turmoil, this tumultuous
00:57:26.39\00:57:28.52
time. May God bless
you with that perfect
00:57:28.66\00:57:30.80
peace that he offers
you each and everyday.
00:57:31.05\00:57:32.98