I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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Hello, and
welcome to 3ABN Today.
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It is always
such a joy and honor
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to welcome you to our program.
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We are very aware here at 3ABN
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that is our
viewers and listeners'
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love and prayers
and financial support
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that make us able to accomplish
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what God's
called us to accomplish.
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So we thank you
that you've joined us
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in evangelizing the whole world
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with the gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Well, today on our Today program
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I've got three guests
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and these are friends
and family here at 3ABN.
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And today we're
going to do a Bible study
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on the topic of peace.
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Let me introduce
you to the gentlemen
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that are here to help me.
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First Pastor John Dinzey.
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Pastor Dinzey, thank
you so much for joining us.
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Oh, it's a blessing
and a pleasure to be here
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by God's grace.
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Amen.
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We all know that John
is the general manager
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of 3ABN Latino.
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Well, next to Pastor
John is Pastor Ferguson.
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Pastor Ferguson, it's
a joy to have you here.
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You are the pastor
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of the Marion
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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Yes.
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Yes, and it's
wonderful to be here today.
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Thank you so much.
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And next to him is Dee Casper.
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And Dee Casper
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is the evangelism
director at UnScene Media Group.
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Dee, thank you
for joining us today.
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I'm blessed to
be here. Thank you.
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Well, it's always a joy
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to have friends
and family of 3ABN.
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And today again the subject
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that we're going
to look at is peace.
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And we right now just looking
into our world, gentlemen,
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there is a lot
going on, isn't there?
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When we were
thinking about this program,
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I just very quickly
wrote down a few of the things
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that are going on
right now in our world.
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Started with
Harvey, Hurricane Harvey,
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and that was in
Texas and Louisiana.
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I think it's where the
greatest devastation was.
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Next came Hurricane Irma
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in the Caribbean
Islands and Florida.
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Then Jose, then
Maria and then Nate,
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it's like it's a never
ending hurricane season.
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And they're not just
doing a little damage,
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it's horrendous damage.
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In some areas it's more damage
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than has ever
been or more damage
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than has been in
many, many years.
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So a lot of damage going on.
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Then I thought
about just tornados
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that are
spin-offs of the hurricanes.
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There are volcanoes
that are erupting now,
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earthquakes in Mexico.
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And I looked just this morning
and do you know just yesterday
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there were 13
earthquakes in the world,
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not near the size
of the one in Mexico.
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But there is just...
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I just wanted to
mention some of the things
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that are causing so
much unrest in the world.
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And not to mention
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there are right
now 55 armed conflicts
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of those 8-15 can
be considered wars.
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Now the difference in an
armed conflict and a war,
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an armed conflict
is determined a war
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when a thousand
people have been killed.
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And there are armed conflicts
all over the world right now.
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And four
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that have been going
on for many, many years
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with over 10,000
people having been killed.
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And I thought I
would mention those.
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Three of those are on
the continent of Asia,
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one in North America.
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But the war in Afghanistan
has been going on since 1978.
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The war in Iraq since
2003, Syrian war since 2011.
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And a conflict that has been
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defined as a war is
the Mexican drug war.
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And it's been
going on since 2006.
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Again, in these wars
over 10,000 have been killed.
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And just one more fact
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I wanted to give you
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of the past 3, 400
years of recorded history.
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Man has been entirely at
peace only 268 of those years.
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Do you know that means
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that there is only
8% of recorded history
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where there was peace.
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And I know, Pastor Ferguson,
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I think you had some
statistics of your own.
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Yeah, I was just
thinking about the shooting
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in Los Vegas too.
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Yes.
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And the hundreds
that were injured.
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And 58 or 59 they
were actually killed.
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And we live in a
world that is in turmoil.
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When you think about
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the hurricanes
that you mentioned,
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the two that hit the mainland
$290 billion worth of damage.
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And this
involves homes, furniture.
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It involves commercial
property and infrastructure.
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And then when it
comes to Puerto Rico,
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there they lost
their entire power grid
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and all the
residents on that island
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have been impacted 3.4 million.
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As a matter of fact one
town had 80% of their...
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I think it was
Cataņo I think, isn't it?
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Eight percent of all
their properties were destroyed.
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So they're having to rebuild
and it's going to be an ongoing
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for months and
years I'm sure for some.
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And one of the things
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I think about we're looking
at a macro view of all of this.
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But there's also for
every one of those people
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there were over
a million vehicles
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that were also
damaged or destroyed.
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For every one of those
people there is a story,
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there's an impact
that this has on them.
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One man after Harvey hit,
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he was being interviewed
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and I saw him mentioning
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that he was standing in front
of his destroyed home saying
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he had just
finished paying for it
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in preparation for retirement.
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And he did not
have flood insurance.
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So you look at this
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and this is just one
of many, many stories
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that are going on
throughout the world right now.
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When it came to the earthquake
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in Mexico 7.1 on
the Richter scale.
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There were 37
aftershocks that happened.
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And then I did a little search,
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and I found out
there's 14, 000 earthquakes
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around the world each
year averaging 40 a day
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that are happening so.
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If it's not
coming close to home,
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oftentimes it's
out there somewhere
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and we don't
even think about it.
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But it's still
happening around the world.
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So I think my
question and the reason
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for this program today
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is in the midst of
all these disasters.
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Some are natural,
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some are manmade and
they're all over the world.
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No one people
group is being affected.
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It's all over the world,
we're all being affected.
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Now we're in the Midwest.
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And so we
haven't had a hurricane
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but what we have are tornadoes.
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Everyone has an
opportunity for their peace.
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I had a lady tell me once
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she was driving up
the road to Lake Tahoe.
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And she said the lady
that was the driver of the car
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was going way too
fast, and she said
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she would look out
her passenger side window,
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and it was just
almost straight down,
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and she said,
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"Mollie, my peace just
flew right off the window."
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And so there are times
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when we think everything
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is just fine and just like that,
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gentlemen, our peace can flow,
just fly right off the window.
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So in the midst of all of this
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what can we do to help
people maintain their peace?
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And that's what we'll
be discussing, gentlemen.
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But right now we've
got Gerri Lynn Mendenhall.
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She's going to sing
a beautiful song for us
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"If there ever was".
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Gerri Lynn.
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If there ever was a time
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I needed You before
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Lord, I need You now
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And if there ever was a trial
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I couldn't handle on my own
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That's how this feels somehow
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And if there ever was a child
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Crying out for help
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That's what this song's about
00:10:05.53\00:10:11.17
If there ever was a time
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I needed You before
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Lord, I need You now
00:10:17.61\00:10:23.49
If there ever was a Friend
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Who always kept His Word
00:10:26.96\00:10:31.19
Lord, I know it's You
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For there's never been a time
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That You've left me all alone
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Or been untrue
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And if I know anything
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It's that You will meet my need
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Just like You always do
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So I'm leaning on Your love
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And counting on Your grace
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Just to see me through
00:11:07.83\00:11:11.97
I need You to remind me
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How faithful You have been
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And when I'm at my weakest
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That's where Your strength began
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If there ever was a time
00:11:38.39\00:11:41.96
I needed You before
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Lord, I need You now
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And if there ever was a trial
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I couldn't handle on my own
00:11:54.34\00:11:58.71
That's how this feels somehow
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And if there ever was a child
00:12:03.75\00:12:07.29
Crying out for help
00:12:07.32\00:12:11.49
That's what this
song's about All about
00:12:11.53\00:12:17.33
If there ever was a time
00:12:17.37\00:12:19.90
I needed You before
00:12:19.93\00:12:24.24
Lord, I need You
00:12:24.27\00:12:29.88
If there ever was a friend
00:12:29.91\00:12:33.21
Lord, I know it's You
00:12:33.25\00:12:37.25
And I need You now
00:12:37.29\00:12:43.36
I need
00:12:43.39\00:12:48.06
You now
00:12:48.10\00:12:55.64
What a beautiful
and appropriate song.
00:12:59.34\00:13:01.64
We need the Lord now.
00:13:01.68\00:13:03.61
Well, gentlemen,
00:13:03.65\00:13:04.98
so many people I believe
that are viewing his peace
00:13:05.01\00:13:07.15
has just flown
right off the window,
00:13:07.18\00:13:09.28
and they need help.
00:13:09.32\00:13:10.79
How would you help them today?
00:13:10.82\00:13:15.09
Dee, I know you have
some thoughts concerning God.
00:13:15.12\00:13:18.79
I think that one of the most
probing questions or moments
00:13:18.83\00:13:22.23
like this is where is God?
00:13:22.26\00:13:24.13
Where was God when
this happened to me
00:13:24.17\00:13:25.97
or to someone I care about?
00:13:26.00\00:13:27.80
And a study that
I've been taking people
00:13:27.84\00:13:30.17
through a lot in recent
weeks that's been helpful for me
00:13:30.21\00:13:33.31
is just when you look at
the wife of John the Baptist
00:13:33.34\00:13:36.18
Mary, Martha, and
Lazarus and even Jesus Himself,
00:13:36.21\00:13:39.45
all three groups
wrestled at times
00:13:39.48\00:13:41.48
with feeling
that God was distant
00:13:41.52\00:13:42.98
in their greatest times of need.
00:13:43.02\00:13:45.09
And there's this
beautiful commentary
00:13:45.12\00:13:46.59
in the Desire of Ages
00:13:46.62\00:13:48.22
regarding Mary,
Martha, and Lazarus
00:13:48.26\00:13:49.86
but the same proves
true throughout scripture.
00:13:49.89\00:13:52.89
That says this is
Desire of Ages 5:28,
00:13:52.93\00:13:55.10
"To all who are reaching out
00:13:55.13\00:13:56.46
to feel the guiding hand of God,
00:13:56.50\00:13:58.40
the moment of
greatest discouragement
00:13:58.43\00:14:00.87
is the time when
divine help is nearest.
00:14:00.90\00:14:03.87
And that they will
look back with thankfulness
00:14:03.91\00:14:06.01
upon the darkest
hour of their way."
00:14:06.04\00:14:08.74
And from my own
experience I can see that.
00:14:08.78\00:14:11.11
In the midst of hardship,
it doesn't feel like that.
00:14:11.15\00:14:13.98
But looking back you can see
that God did get glory to this.
00:14:14.02\00:14:16.85
And I'm sure that
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
00:14:16.89\00:14:18.95
could have that
reflection, right?
00:14:18.99\00:14:20.92
John the Baptist
00:14:20.96\00:14:22.29
upon the
resurrection in the morning
00:14:22.32\00:14:23.66
can have that reflection.
00:14:23.69\00:14:25.39
And Jesus Himself in the Psalms,
00:14:25.43\00:14:27.50
it kind of alludes to the fact
00:14:27.53\00:14:28.86
that He felt that God
wasn't hearing His prayers
00:14:28.90\00:14:30.60
and wasn't answering
but other people were.
00:14:30.63\00:14:32.73
It says at the
close of the Psalms
00:14:32.77\00:14:34.37
of that particular Psalm
00:14:34.40\00:14:35.94
that he did realize his
prayers are being heard.
00:14:35.97\00:14:39.07
And it's difficult in the fire,
it's difficult in the moment.
00:14:39.11\00:14:43.24
But the promise of scriptures
00:14:43.28\00:14:44.61
that He will never
leave us nor forsake us.
00:14:44.65\00:14:46.75
And that even in our
greatest times of difficulty
00:14:46.78\00:14:49.28
when we feel that God is silent,
00:14:49.32\00:14:50.72
when we feel that God is absent,
00:14:50.75\00:14:52.19
He's actually closer
to us in those moments
00:14:52.22\00:14:54.42
than He has ever been
ensuring that we don't fall,
00:14:54.46\00:14:57.39
that we don't faint.
00:14:57.43\00:14:58.96
And to ensure that we have
what we need to keep going.
00:14:58.99\00:15:01.90
And though our
feelings may fail us,
00:15:01.93\00:15:03.87
though our
perception of God may change,
00:15:03.90\00:15:06.00
the Word of God says
00:15:06.03\00:15:07.37
that He Himself does not change
and that He's always there.
00:15:07.40\00:15:10.81
You know one of
the things that happens
00:15:10.84\00:15:12.37
when difficulties come
00:15:12.41\00:15:14.41
is that we concentrate on
the difficulty, the problem.
00:15:14.44\00:15:17.65
And in our humanity we
look for a human solution.
00:15:17.68\00:15:23.18
And so the obstacle
comes before us and we shrink,
00:15:23.22\00:15:29.36
we sink in
despair, discouragement.
00:15:29.39\00:15:34.66
And so what helps me is
to remember the promises.
00:15:34.70\00:15:38.07
Remember the
promises of the Lord
00:15:38.10\00:15:40.64
and that He is faithful.
00:15:40.67\00:15:42.50
And so I would like to share
00:15:42.54\00:15:44.34
the words of
Jesus from John 16:33.
00:15:44.37\00:15:48.94
And He said, "These
things I have spoken unto you,
00:15:48.98\00:15:52.88
that in me you might have peace.
00:15:52.91\00:15:55.98
In the world you
will have tribulation:
00:15:56.02\00:15:59.25
but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world."
00:15:59.29\00:16:03.99
And so our source of peace
is to stay close to the Lord,
00:16:04.03\00:16:07.40
to remember,
00:16:07.43\00:16:08.76
I will never leave
you nor forsake you.
00:16:08.80\00:16:10.77
And that whatever we are going
through He is there with us,
00:16:10.80\00:16:13.97
He's going to help us,
and He will supply our needs.
00:16:14.00\00:16:18.44
It's beautiful.
00:16:18.47\00:16:19.91
You know, that made me
think of what you were sharing,
00:16:19.94\00:16:23.51
Dee and Johnny.
00:16:23.55\00:16:25.35
If you ever seen the picture
of footprints in the sand?
00:16:25.38\00:16:29.92
And what was the point
00:16:29.95\00:16:32.19
that was being
made with that picture?
00:16:32.22\00:16:34.29
Was that you're thinking,
you're walking all by yourself.
00:16:34.32\00:16:39.03
And while the
truth of the matter was,
00:16:39.06\00:16:41.83
Jesus was carrying you,
00:16:41.86\00:16:43.57
and those are His footprints
00:16:43.60\00:16:45.47
that were going
through the sand.
00:16:45.50\00:16:46.87
He does never
leave us nor forsake us.
00:16:46.90\00:16:49.84
Amen. Amen.
00:16:49.87\00:16:51.21
It reminds me of Romans 8:20.
00:16:51.24\00:16:52.77
How it says that we know
that all things work together
00:16:52.81\00:16:55.21
for good to those who love God.
00:16:55.24\00:16:57.15
There's this condition
for those who love God,
00:16:57.18\00:16:59.41
and to those who are
called according to His purpose
00:16:59.45\00:17:01.58
that Jesus says that
this is not unto death
00:17:01.62\00:17:03.89
but for the glory of God
00:17:03.92\00:17:05.25
regarding the
situation of Lazarus.
00:17:05.29\00:17:07.19
And Jesus got
glory out of the death
00:17:07.22\00:17:09.36
of John the Baptist even.
00:17:09.39\00:17:11.06
That many martyrs
throughout salvation history,
00:17:11.09\00:17:13.09
the man is given
00:17:13.13\00:17:14.46
the greatest
commendation by Jesus.
00:17:14.50\00:17:15.96
He's the
greatest of all prophets.
00:17:16.00\00:17:18.27
Jesus says this about him
00:17:18.30\00:17:19.80
but his story was
a great consolation
00:17:19.83\00:17:21.90
to people during the Reformation
00:17:21.94\00:17:23.27
and other times who
died unjustly, right.
00:17:23.30\00:17:26.27
Who went through hardship
00:17:26.31\00:17:27.64
that God still
got glory to the story
00:17:27.68\00:17:29.14
and that John died a conqueror
we're told in Desire of Ages.
00:17:29.18\00:17:33.42
And even Jesus Himself,
00:17:33.45\00:17:34.78
God brings glory out of
the furnace of difficulty
00:17:34.82\00:17:38.55
that we don't
fully see at the moment
00:17:38.59\00:17:40.19
but afterwards is
made abundantly clear
00:17:40.22\00:17:41.89
through Romans that
00:17:41.92\00:17:43.26
this is something
that will be for good
00:17:43.29\00:17:44.63
that God will turn the
circumstance for something
00:17:44.66\00:17:46.39
to advance His kingdom.
00:17:46.43\00:17:47.76
Amen. Amen.
00:17:47.80\00:17:49.13
In Romans 12:3,
00:17:49.16\00:17:50.50
every one of us has been
given a measure of faith.
00:17:50.53\00:17:52.27
And sometimes we go
through an experience
00:17:52.30\00:17:55.47
where we're wondering,
00:17:55.50\00:17:57.11
how could the God
00:17:57.14\00:17:58.47
that I perceive the Bible
to tell me about in the way
00:17:58.51\00:18:01.24
that I've been
walking would allow
00:18:01.28\00:18:02.61
this to happen to me.
00:18:02.64\00:18:04.25
How could it be that a
God that is love could allow
00:18:04.28\00:18:07.95
such a tragic experience for me?
00:18:07.98\00:18:10.59
I remember one time
00:18:10.62\00:18:12.45
I was in
literature work at the time.
00:18:12.49\00:18:13.92
And I went to visit a
man who had sent an interest.
00:18:13.96\00:18:16.62
And he was in a facility,
he had been in a car accident,
00:18:16.66\00:18:21.03
and he had become a quadriplegic
00:18:21.06\00:18:22.86
as a result of a car accident.
00:18:22.90\00:18:24.23
He had a wife and children.
00:18:24.27\00:18:25.60
His wife divorced him
00:18:25.63\00:18:27.00
as a result of the car accident,
00:18:27.04\00:18:28.64
and the fact that he
was no longer able to be
00:18:28.67\00:18:30.44
who he had been before.
00:18:30.47\00:18:31.97
His whole world had
been turned upside down.
00:18:32.01\00:18:35.04
And he could have easily
been discouraged and said,
00:18:35.08\00:18:37.75
"God, how could you
let this happen to me?"
00:18:37.78\00:18:40.12
But he was wanting
to reach his children
00:18:40.15\00:18:42.35
with Bible material
00:18:42.38\00:18:43.72
and that's why he had
sent off the interest.
00:18:43.75\00:18:45.09
His faith in God actually grew
00:18:45.12\00:18:47.79
instead of him cursing
God, and running away from Him.
00:18:47.82\00:18:53.46
And I think that every one of us
00:18:53.50\00:18:55.36
who has been given
this measure of faith
00:18:55.40\00:18:56.90
which is a gift, we
have a crisis of faith.
00:18:56.93\00:18:59.97
Every time we go
through an experience
00:19:00.00\00:19:01.57
that we never anticipated
that is a devastating one.
00:19:01.60\00:19:05.74
And that's where God
wants us to run to Him.
00:19:05.77\00:19:09.98
And I think
oftentimes when people,
00:19:10.01\00:19:12.45
I've seen people actually
00:19:12.48\00:19:13.82
if they had a loved
one that passed they just
00:19:13.85\00:19:16.48
"How could God allow that person
00:19:16.52\00:19:17.85
to be taken from me?
00:19:17.89\00:19:19.52
They leave Him, and
don't return for years.
00:19:19.55\00:19:23.19
And I wonder, what do I
say to someone like that?
00:19:23.22\00:19:25.76
How do I move that person?
00:19:25.79\00:19:27.66
What is the Holy
Spirit wanting them to hear?
00:19:27.70\00:19:30.33
And what I
realizes that oftentimes
00:19:30.37\00:19:33.03
we think if we're doing that,
00:19:33.07\00:19:34.90
and we stay away
from God for a long time,
00:19:34.94\00:19:37.24
we're actually thinking
00:19:37.27\00:19:39.01
that we know better than He does
00:19:39.04\00:19:41.54
in this world of sin
how things should go.
00:19:41.58\00:19:45.51
And we did not manage
00:19:45.55\00:19:47.65
that crisis of
faith in a healthy way.
00:19:47.68\00:19:50.55
And one of the
things in Psalm 39:5, 6.
00:19:50.59\00:19:55.52
"Trust in the
Lord with all your..."
00:19:55.56\00:19:57.63
It's in Proverbs 3:5-6.
00:19:57.66\00:19:59.23
"Trust in the Lord
with all your heart,
00:19:59.26\00:20:00.60
and lean not unto
your own understanding."
00:20:00.63\00:20:02.13
But Psalm 39:4-13.
00:20:02.16\00:20:05.87
It really talks
about understanding
00:20:05.90\00:20:08.17
my true condition
that I am but a vapor
00:20:08.20\00:20:12.81
that everything in
this world is a gift.
00:20:12.84\00:20:15.68
And then He is a loving God.
00:20:15.71\00:20:17.51
As a matter of
fact, scripture tells me
00:20:17.55\00:20:19.25
that every knee
will bow someday.
00:20:19.28\00:20:23.25
So if I allow a
traumatic experience
00:20:23.28\00:20:25.75
to actually drive
me away from God now.
00:20:25.79\00:20:29.56
Why not allow myself
to be drawn back to Him
00:20:29.59\00:20:33.29
and let Him trust in His Word,
00:20:33.33\00:20:35.90
trust in His heart instead
of keeping away from Him,
00:20:35.93\00:20:41.40
and keeping that
relationship distant
00:20:41.44\00:20:43.27
as I go forward
00:20:43.30\00:20:44.64
'cause I'm
miserable when that happens.
00:20:44.67\00:20:47.48
I think each one of us here
has had traumatic experiences.
00:20:47.51\00:20:51.75
And we have a choice,
we have a decision to make.
00:20:51.78\00:20:54.45
And there might
be someone watching
00:20:54.48\00:20:55.82
this program right now
00:20:55.85\00:20:57.19
that doesn't know
about their faith journey
00:20:57.22\00:20:59.39
if they want to continue
on because of the experience
00:20:59.42\00:21:02.46
that they're
going through right now.
00:21:02.49\00:21:04.29
But I want you to
know that you're not alone.
00:21:04.33\00:21:06.70
We've all been there,
00:21:06.73\00:21:08.06
maybe not the
exact same experiences.
00:21:08.10\00:21:10.33
But there's only one place
that I want to go with that,
00:21:10.37\00:21:12.97
and that is to
give it all to Him.
00:21:13.00\00:21:15.64
And to realize as
He tells us in His Word
00:21:15.67\00:21:19.74
that He heals
the broken hearted.
00:21:19.77\00:21:21.48
Psalm 147:3-5, "He
binds their wounds,
00:21:21.51\00:21:26.05
and his
understanding is infinite."
00:21:26.08\00:21:29.45
He understands things
that I can't figure out,
00:21:29.48\00:21:32.49
and I need to trust that.
00:21:32.52\00:21:34.46
You know I wanted to ask y'all
00:21:34.49\00:21:36.16
to kind of tell
me your understanding
00:21:36.19\00:21:40.53
of portion of scripture.
00:21:40.56\00:21:43.16
And it takes place
on the Sea of Galilee.
00:21:43.20\00:21:47.20
And the disciples
and Jesus are in a boat.
00:21:47.24\00:21:51.81
And what is Jesus doing?
00:21:51.84\00:21:53.78
Sleeping. He is sound asleep.
00:21:53.81\00:21:55.91
And a big storm comes up,
00:21:55.94\00:21:59.01
and the
disciples have to wake Him.
00:21:59.05\00:22:02.05
What, and how He responded?
00:22:02.08\00:22:04.95
Johnny, how does
that story impact you
00:22:04.99\00:22:09.12
concerning Jesus in
the midst of a storm?
00:22:09.16\00:22:14.46
There are so many blessings
as I think of that story.
00:22:14.50\00:22:18.73
First of all we see...
00:22:18.77\00:22:21.47
Boy, I sure don't want to take
00:22:21.50\00:22:22.84
all the blessing out
of other people sharing.
00:22:22.87\00:22:24.67
But first of all
00:22:24.71\00:22:26.04
we see the
disciples in the beginning
00:22:26.07\00:22:29.31
when the storm comes,
00:22:29.34\00:22:31.51
they are doing all that
00:22:31.55\00:22:33.35
is in their power to do
00:22:33.38\00:22:34.82
to keep the boat
afloat and water is coming in.
00:22:34.85\00:22:38.29
And mind you, these are people,
00:22:38.32\00:22:41.66
most of them were
experienced with water.
00:22:41.69\00:22:45.49
They could swim, they
have been in many storms,
00:22:45.53\00:22:48.53
and they were doing
00:22:48.56\00:22:49.90
all they could to
keep this boat afloat.
00:22:49.93\00:22:52.70
And, you know,
all their struggle
00:22:52.73\00:22:54.37
they were
looking at the situation
00:22:54.40\00:22:55.94
in all their struggle.
00:22:55.97\00:22:57.81
And they said this
is too much for us,
00:22:57.84\00:22:59.74
we can't handle this.
00:22:59.77\00:23:01.34
And in their desperation
00:23:01.38\00:23:03.75
they think they're going to die.
00:23:03.78\00:23:05.78
How do we know?
00:23:05.81\00:23:07.15
Because when lightning strikes
and they see the lightning,
00:23:07.18\00:23:13.69
they can see
that Jesus is there,
00:23:13.72\00:23:15.06
they forgot that
Jesus is right there.
00:23:15.09\00:23:17.03
And it brings to mind,
00:23:17.06\00:23:18.93
I will never leave
you nor forsake you.
00:23:18.96\00:23:20.76
Jesus is very near.
00:23:20.80\00:23:22.40
And that's why
when they wake Him,
00:23:22.43\00:23:24.33
"And Master, do You
not care that we perish?"
00:23:24.37\00:23:27.37
They were afraid,
they were going to die.
00:23:27.40\00:23:30.11
And so I am blessed to consider
that Jesus is always near.
00:23:30.14\00:23:34.91
And that whatever
storm or situation
00:23:34.94\00:23:36.44
I am going through,
00:23:36.48\00:23:37.81
He's going to go
through it with me.
00:23:37.85\00:23:39.35
With you.
00:23:39.38\00:23:40.72
And if need be He
would just calm the storm.
00:23:40.75\00:23:47.16
Yeah. What did
Jesus say in this?
00:23:47.19\00:23:50.96
Well, let me read this,
00:23:50.99\00:23:52.43
"Then He arose,
and rebuked the wind,
00:23:52.46\00:23:55.96
and said to the sea..."
00:23:56.00\00:23:57.33
What did He say?
00:23:57.37\00:23:58.70
Peace be still. Peace be still.
00:23:58.73\00:24:02.34
There's not a
promise in the Bible
00:24:02.37\00:24:04.31
that says we will
be free from troubles.
00:24:04.34\00:24:06.41
Do you all agree with that?
00:24:06.44\00:24:08.58
War, trials, temptations,
00:24:08.61\00:24:10.38
we've read so much
about those earlier,
00:24:10.41\00:24:13.31
just spoken of the things
00:24:13.35\00:24:14.98
that are going on
in the world right now.
00:24:15.02\00:24:17.19
Tears and sorrow
00:24:17.22\00:24:18.82
are just something
that we face in life.
00:24:18.85\00:24:22.32
But God promises
us something better.
00:24:22.36\00:24:26.16
Yes, Dee.
00:24:26.19\00:24:27.53
In Desire of Ages
there is this amazing line
00:24:27.56\00:24:29.30
we're told,
00:24:29.33\00:24:30.67
"That the people
were looking for a Messiah
00:24:30.70\00:24:33.03
who had not been promised."
00:24:33.07\00:24:35.60
And many of us are wrestling
with the very same thing
00:24:35.64\00:24:37.97
that we're expecting a
Messiah who will keep...
00:24:38.01\00:24:40.58
Because just imagine if
this guy can feed people,
00:24:40.61\00:24:42.91
He can heal the
wounds and raise the dead
00:24:42.94\00:24:44.58
like they're never
going to lose a battle,
00:24:44.61\00:24:46.11
they're never going
to have any difficulties.
00:24:46.15\00:24:48.55
And this is why Mary, Martha,
and Lazarus suffered so much
00:24:48.58\00:24:51.39
because they said
if you had been here,
00:24:51.42\00:24:53.22
my brother would not have died,
00:24:53.25\00:24:54.59
and I wouldn't be
hurting right now,
00:24:54.62\00:24:55.96
if you had been here.
00:24:55.99\00:24:57.33
Because they assume
that when Jesus is there
00:24:57.36\00:24:58.86
bad things don't happen.
00:24:58.89\00:25:00.23
But if you look
00:25:00.26\00:25:01.60
through the narrative
of scripture the disciples
00:25:01.63\00:25:02.96
did have difficulties
even in the presence of Jesus.
00:25:03.00\00:25:05.57
The difference was
Jesus was with them,
00:25:05.60\00:25:07.50
didn't mean that
00:25:07.54\00:25:08.87
they were spared
of all difficulty.
00:25:08.90\00:25:10.44
We've not been
promised a Messiah
00:25:10.47\00:25:11.81
who delivers us
from all difficulty,
00:25:11.84\00:25:13.31
grief, and hardship.
00:25:13.34\00:25:15.08
But we have been
promised a Messiah
00:25:15.11\00:25:16.61
who is present in
all of these times.
00:25:16.64\00:25:19.01
In that moment the first
words out of the disciples
00:25:19.05\00:25:21.48
and the gospel of Matthew
in that account are literally,
00:25:21.52\00:25:24.25
Lord, save us, we are perishing.
00:25:24.29\00:25:25.79
That's the introduction
of the Gospel of Matthew.
00:25:25.82\00:25:28.49
And Jesus literally
rebukes the disciples
00:25:28.52\00:25:31.56
before He rebukes
the wind and the waves
00:25:31.59\00:25:34.46
because they
should have known better
00:25:34.50\00:25:36.67
"I am right here."
00:25:36.70\00:25:38.43
And it was a
loving rebuke obviously.
00:25:38.47\00:25:41.10
He didn't discourage
them out of their experience.
00:25:41.14\00:25:43.57
But I think that
we need those rebukes
00:25:43.61\00:25:45.61
at times in our difficulties.
00:25:45.64\00:25:47.04
And we need those
reminders in our difficulties
00:25:47.08\00:25:49.21
that I've always
been here, I haven't left.
00:25:49.24\00:25:52.15
And I don't promise
you freedom from hardship,
00:25:52.18\00:25:54.05
but I have promised my presence
in the midst of hardship.
00:25:54.08\00:25:56.52
Amen.
00:25:56.55\00:25:57.89
And I think about that storm
00:25:57.92\00:25:59.25
I think about Jesus was only one
00:25:59.29\00:26:00.62
that wasn't a trained fisherman.
00:26:00.66\00:26:02.66
This is something it
was a family business,
00:26:02.69\00:26:04.66
they trusted Jesus to a point
00:26:04.69\00:26:06.86
but they trusted
themselves otherwise.
00:26:06.90\00:26:10.30
So they were doing
everything in their own power
00:26:10.33\00:26:11.93
that they possibly could
until the storm got bigger
00:26:11.97\00:26:14.17
and larger than life,
00:26:14.20\00:26:15.54
bigger than
anything they could handle.
00:26:15.57\00:26:17.24
And then they call upon Him.
00:26:17.27\00:26:19.87
I think sometimes God allows
the trials in our life to come
00:26:19.91\00:26:23.71
because He wants us to
come to the end of ourselves
00:26:23.75\00:26:26.55
and trust totally in Him.
00:26:26.58\00:26:28.98
Jesus trusted
totally in the Father
00:26:29.02\00:26:30.65
before there was a storm.
00:26:30.69\00:26:32.29
So that when the storm came,
00:26:32.32\00:26:34.26
it was evident
00:26:34.29\00:26:36.02
where as a measure of our
faith is evident every time
00:26:36.06\00:26:39.83
we go in a storm our
walk with God is revealed,
00:26:39.86\00:26:43.50
and it shows our need.
00:26:43.53\00:26:45.43
And I pray more
00:26:45.47\00:26:46.80
when I'm going through a storm
00:26:46.84\00:26:48.17
than when
everything is going my way.
00:26:48.20\00:26:49.87
And you know, I think the lesson
00:26:49.90\00:26:51.41
we should all take
from that is to trust God
00:26:51.44\00:26:55.01
and not wait till
things are really going bad
00:26:55.04\00:26:58.15
to turn to God.
00:26:58.18\00:26:59.51
Turn to God at the...
00:26:59.55\00:27:00.88
Always be have a heart
yielded and submitted God.
00:27:00.92\00:27:03.99
Don't wait till
the storm is raging,
00:27:04.02\00:27:07.56
awake Jesus up
00:27:07.59\00:27:09.66
when there's the first
cloud in the sky, how's that?
00:27:09.69\00:27:13.90
Does that make the point?
00:27:13.93\00:27:15.80
You know, I wanted to
finish this in Mark 4:39,
00:27:15.83\00:27:19.93
where Jesus says peace be still.
00:27:19.97\00:27:22.70
It says and
this is what happened
00:27:22.74\00:27:24.67
when Jesus speaks
over you peace be still.
00:27:24.71\00:27:27.84
"And the wind ceased,
and there was a great calm,
00:27:27.88\00:27:32.11
a great calm."
00:27:32.15\00:27:33.48
Well, I want to go
now to Isaiah 26:3.
00:27:33.52\00:27:38.02
This is a
beautiful scripture on peace.
00:27:38.05\00:27:40.96
And I wanted to
ask the gentlemen
00:27:40.99\00:27:43.83
to look at one of the
phrases in the scripture
00:27:43.86\00:27:47.53
and just let's talk
about what this means.
00:27:47.56\00:27:52.83
Isaiah 26:3 says,
"You will keep him..."
00:27:52.87\00:27:57.34
And what's that phrase? Perfect.
00:27:57.37\00:27:59.77
"Perfect peace,
00:27:59.81\00:28:01.71
whose mind is stayed on you:
00:28:01.74\00:28:04.38
because he trust in you."
00:28:04.41\00:28:05.85
Gentlemen, perfect peace.
00:28:05.88\00:28:08.02
God will keep us
in perfect peace.
00:28:08.05\00:28:10.69
Does that mean in
the midst of the storm
00:28:10.72\00:28:13.15
that we can have perfect peace?
00:28:13.19\00:28:15.52
Amen. Amen.
00:28:15.56\00:28:17.69
I would say yes, you
know based on my experience,
00:28:17.73\00:28:20.60
based on the experiences
I've heard of many other people
00:28:20.63\00:28:24.23
because of the
nearness of God in the time.
00:28:24.27\00:28:29.97
We read the scripture
that talks about God's nearness
00:28:30.01\00:28:34.34
even when we're going
through the midst of trouble,
00:28:34.38\00:28:36.48
even the very story
00:28:36.51\00:28:37.85
that we were talking about Jesus
00:28:37.88\00:28:39.21
and the disciples in the boat.
00:28:39.25\00:28:40.82
And at this point
00:28:40.85\00:28:43.72
we have to look
00:28:43.75\00:28:45.55
beyond the outward
appearances and the situation.
00:28:45.59\00:28:50.19
And remember
that be of good cheer,
00:28:50.23\00:28:53.26
I have overcome the world peace,
00:28:53.29\00:28:54.86
I give unto you my peace.
00:28:54.90\00:28:56.70
I give unto you.
00:28:56.73\00:28:58.93
I'm almost done. I'll
share this story if I may.
00:28:58.97\00:29:01.64
Please.
00:29:01.67\00:29:05.47
It was a blessing
for us Idalia and I
00:29:05.51\00:29:08.28
that when we're
traveling for 3ABN
00:29:08.31\00:29:10.95
then my
mother-in-law and father-in-law
00:29:10.98\00:29:12.88
were able to be near
00:29:12.91\00:29:14.38
to take care of our
children Samuel and Caleb.
00:29:14.42\00:29:16.99
And so while we're gone
they were doing especially
00:29:17.02\00:29:19.35
when they were smaller.
00:29:19.39\00:29:20.72
Now they are in Puerto Rico.
00:29:20.76\00:29:22.09
However there came a time
00:29:22.12\00:29:25.23
when we were traveling
and part of what we had to do
00:29:25.26\00:29:28.43
was pick up our
children at the school
00:29:28.46\00:29:30.60
and then take them home.
00:29:30.63\00:29:33.67
When my mother-in-law
went to pick up Caleb,
00:29:33.70\00:29:37.07
and Caleb was small and may be
00:29:37.11\00:29:39.67
some may remember
him from Tiny Tots.
00:29:39.71\00:29:41.34
When he was very small,
00:29:41.38\00:29:44.95
it was Caleb's determination
00:29:44.98\00:29:48.05
to every day
finish the work in school
00:29:48.08\00:29:50.85
so that he
doesn't have any homework.
00:29:50.89\00:29:53.25
To him it was...
00:29:53.29\00:29:55.76
He loved to
finish his schoolwork.
00:29:55.79\00:29:58.73
And up until that
time that particular day
00:29:58.76\00:30:02.23
he had never come
home with schoolwork,
00:30:02.26\00:30:06.84
he was able to
complete it at home.
00:30:06.87\00:30:08.20
But this one day
00:30:08.24\00:30:09.64
my mother-in-law
comes to pick him up.
00:30:09.67\00:30:11.74
"And Caleb how was your day?"
00:30:11.77\00:30:16.85
And his head was down.
00:30:16.88\00:30:18.88
He says, "Are you okay?"
00:30:18.91\00:30:21.92
And he begins to sob
and he's crying and crying.
00:30:21.95\00:30:25.25
"And, Caleb, what happened?"
00:30:25.29\00:30:27.79
And he's crying like
this really sobbing, sobbing.
00:30:27.82\00:30:32.26
And my mother-in-law says,
"Did you get into a fight?"
00:30:32.29\00:30:36.67
"No." And he is
sobbing and sobbing.
00:30:36.70\00:30:39.13
And finally she says,
"Caleb, what happened?
00:30:39.17\00:30:40.67
What happened?"
00:30:40.70\00:30:42.04
And he says,
00:30:42.07\00:30:43.41
"I didn't finish my schoolwork."
00:30:43.44\00:30:45.97
And he's crying and crying.
00:30:46.01\00:30:47.98
And she says, "Oh, Caleb."
00:30:48.01\00:30:49.78
And she hugs him and
she says, "It's okay.
00:30:49.81\00:30:54.48
It's not a punishment
that you have schoolwork,
00:30:54.52\00:30:56.85
many other kids
have schoolwork."
00:30:56.89\00:30:58.25
And she comforted him with words
00:30:58.29\00:31:02.49
that came to her
mind and hugged him.
00:31:02.52\00:31:05.39
And little by little
Caleb stopped crying.
00:31:05.43\00:31:08.96
And he was at
peace, he felt comforted.
00:31:09.00\00:31:12.67
And she says,
"You can do it at home,
00:31:12.70\00:31:14.10
I'm sure it
won't take you long."
00:31:14.14\00:31:15.74
And she says,
"It's not punishment..."
00:31:15.77\00:31:17.84
You know and she comforted him.
00:31:17.87\00:31:20.98
And she felt good that
she was able to do that.
00:31:21.01\00:31:24.11
Now she's telling me this story
00:31:24.15\00:31:25.48
and I felt "Oh, no,
he went through that."
00:31:25.51\00:31:28.72
As she's telling me
he went through that
00:31:28.75\00:31:30.09
and we weren't
there to help him out.
00:31:30.12\00:31:32.02
And so, but I felt
good that she was there,
00:31:32.05\00:31:35.12
part of the family was there.
00:31:35.16\00:31:37.23
She says about three weeks later
00:31:37.26\00:31:40.43
I was facing a
horrible situation,
00:31:40.46\00:31:43.73
a difficult time,
tears came to my eyes,
00:31:43.77\00:31:46.10
and I started weeping.
00:31:46.13\00:31:47.47
This is my mother-in-law.
00:31:47.50\00:31:48.84
And I started weeping.
00:31:48.87\00:31:50.21
And she remembered
what happened to Caleb.
00:31:50.24\00:31:52.87
And she said, "Lord, how I
wish that you would comfort me
00:31:52.91\00:31:57.45
and hugged me the
way I hugged Caleb."
00:31:57.48\00:32:01.65
And then she said,
00:32:01.68\00:32:03.28
"Johnny, I felt
the Lord hugged me.
00:32:03.32\00:32:07.56
I really felt
00:32:07.59\00:32:08.92
and He took my
breath away," she said.
00:32:08.96\00:32:11.59
And I felt peace.
00:32:11.63\00:32:14.03
And I say, "Wow,
praise the Lord."
00:32:14.06\00:32:17.60
And that's the
confirmation for me
00:32:17.63\00:32:19.77
that when we are
facing difficulties,
00:32:19.80\00:32:23.77
the Lord is near.
00:32:23.81\00:32:27.31
And He will
comfort us in some way.
00:32:27.34\00:32:30.15
So He spoke over mama
Idalia, peace be still.
00:32:30.18\00:32:34.78
And what happened?
Great calm came over her.
00:32:34.82\00:32:38.45
Yes, Pastor Ferguson?
00:32:38.49\00:32:39.82
I just...
00:32:39.85\00:32:41.19
One of the things I
think about is Psalm 48:14,
00:32:41.22\00:32:43.53
"That he will be our
guide even unto death."
00:32:43.56\00:32:46.06
And perfect peace he keeps us
00:32:46.09\00:32:48.06
in as our minds
are stayed on Him.
00:32:48.10\00:32:50.53
My mind is going to a man
that recently passed away.
00:32:50.57\00:32:54.90
And he had a
strong walk with the Lord,
00:32:54.94\00:32:57.41
but he also realized
00:32:57.44\00:32:58.77
that it was his
kidneys had shut down,
00:32:58.81\00:33:01.01
his systems were shutting down.
00:33:01.04\00:33:02.61
And one of the tragedies
00:33:02.64\00:33:03.98
we go through is
the aging process
00:33:04.01\00:33:06.05
and what it does
00:33:06.08\00:33:07.48
and as we go toward
the last stage of life.
00:33:07.52\00:33:11.22
And I remember coming
into his room a few hours
00:33:11.25\00:33:14.72
before he passed.
00:33:14.76\00:33:16.09
And when I walked in
he had his hands folded
00:33:16.12\00:33:18.43
in the prayer
position, his eyes were closed,
00:33:18.46\00:33:20.30
and he was too weak,
very, very, very weak,
00:33:20.33\00:33:22.93
almost couldn't respond to me.
00:33:22.96\00:33:24.87
But he was
ready, he had a peace.
00:33:24.90\00:33:27.97
His mind was that way
throughout a whole week
00:33:28.00\00:33:30.94
I kept asking him,
"Are you depressed?
00:33:30.97\00:33:32.31
Are you going...?"
00:33:32.34\00:33:33.68
No, he's ready to meet
Lord. He's ready to go to sleep.
00:33:33.71\00:33:36.85
And when I think about that
00:33:36.88\00:33:38.55
I realize that
God will be with us,
00:33:38.58\00:33:41.45
and He will be our guide.
00:33:41.48\00:33:43.08
And whenever I realize
00:33:43.12\00:33:45.15
that He's in control
and my mind is on Him,
00:33:45.19\00:33:47.56
I can have peace.
00:33:47.59\00:33:49.26
No matter what
I'm going through.
00:33:49.29\00:33:51.23
And it's the testimony of people
00:33:51.26\00:33:52.89
like John that I just described
00:33:52.93\00:33:55.56
that lets me see that,
00:33:55.60\00:33:57.30
"Yes, He'll be there all the way
00:33:57.33\00:33:58.93
through this life."
00:33:58.97\00:34:00.60
I was thinking of a
story of the singer,
00:34:00.64\00:34:03.64
songwriter was telling
that he wrote this song called
00:34:03.67\00:34:06.64
"The Silence of God".
00:34:06.68\00:34:08.41
And it was based upon this time
he was at a monastery singing,
00:34:08.44\00:34:11.45
he was fasting for
three days and three nights.
00:34:11.48\00:34:14.55
Trying to prove to God
00:34:14.58\00:34:15.92
that he was worthy
of receiving the answer
00:34:15.95\00:34:17.29
that he wanted to receive.
00:34:17.32\00:34:18.65
He's just wrestling with God.
00:34:18.69\00:34:20.02
He said the third day,
00:34:20.06\00:34:21.39
he was walking on the
property and there's a sign
00:34:21.42\00:34:22.76
that said to the statues.
00:34:22.79\00:34:24.33
T-O the statues.
00:34:24.36\00:34:25.69
Okay.
00:34:25.73\00:34:27.06
And he's just walking,
00:34:27.10\00:34:28.43
he sees a statue of John,
James, and Peter are sleeping.
00:34:28.46\00:34:30.67
And he said "Oh, I get
it this is Gethsemane."
00:34:30.70\00:34:33.23
Jesus is probably
at the way somewhere.
00:34:33.27\00:34:35.40
And when he gets up there,
00:34:35.44\00:34:37.11
the picture of Jesus is
not a picture he envisioned.
00:34:37.14\00:34:39.47
He thought he
would see Jesus standing
00:34:39.51\00:34:41.04
with His hands
together in piety,
00:34:41.08\00:34:42.58
looking towards heaven,
00:34:42.61\00:34:43.95
or maybe His
hands spread to heaven.
00:34:43.98\00:34:45.91
But the picture
he saw was one of,
00:34:45.95\00:34:47.62
the statue was
Jesus on His knees
00:34:47.65\00:34:49.55
with His back arched,
00:34:49.58\00:34:51.55
His hands over His eyes
00:34:51.59\00:34:53.02
with His elbows
out like He had wings.
00:34:53.05\00:34:55.22
And he said in a moment
he said, "He's in agony."
00:34:55.26\00:34:58.29
And he said that he looked
the way that my heart felt.
00:34:58.33\00:35:03.63
And immediately he felt
that Jesus could relate to him.
00:35:03.67\00:35:06.37
My God, my God why
aren't You giving me
00:35:06.40\00:35:08.14
the answer that I want.
00:35:08.17\00:35:09.97
And he said,
00:35:10.01\00:35:11.77
when I left that place I
had been strangely comforted.
00:35:11.81\00:35:15.88
He says my pain
was not fully gone
00:35:15.91\00:35:17.75
but I have been
comforted by the fact
00:35:17.78\00:35:21.15
that the God that
I love and worship
00:35:21.18\00:35:23.25
was familiar with my sorrow.
00:35:23.28\00:35:25.89
And it reminds me of
Hebrews 2 where it says,
00:35:25.92\00:35:27.92
"Therefore, in all things
00:35:27.96\00:35:29.29
Jesus had to be
made like his brethren,
00:35:29.32\00:35:31.43
that he might be a merciful
00:35:31.46\00:35:32.89
and faithful
high priest in things
00:35:32.93\00:35:34.96
pertaining to God,
00:35:35.00\00:35:36.56
to make propitiation
for the sins of the people,"
00:35:36.60\00:35:38.70
this is verse 18,
00:35:38.73\00:35:40.30
"For in that he himself
has suffered being tempted,
00:35:40.34\00:35:43.41
he is able to aid
those who are tempted."
00:35:43.44\00:35:47.08
Jesus Himself is acquainted
with hardship, with difficulty
00:35:47.11\00:35:50.71
and because He trod
this road of suffering,
00:35:50.75\00:35:53.35
He has earned the
right to receive our trust
00:35:53.38\00:35:56.69
because it says
perfect peace of those
00:35:56.72\00:35:58.75
who put their trust in Him.
00:35:58.79\00:36:00.52
Jesus is showing
by His own suffering
00:36:00.56\00:36:02.46
that He deserves our trust
and that He's safe to trust.
00:36:02.49\00:36:06.43
And the singer, songwriter
00:36:06.46\00:36:07.80
well, you know,
realized this and welcomed it.
00:36:07.83\00:36:10.40
And it's brought great
peace to my own heart as well.
00:36:10.43\00:36:14.10
You know, I am
of the opinion that
00:36:14.14\00:36:18.71
the battle for
peace is waged in our mind
00:36:18.74\00:36:21.28
that's why it says
00:36:21.31\00:36:22.64
"He'll keep you in
perfect peace," for what?
00:36:22.68\00:36:25.51
For those whose
mind is stayed on Him.
00:36:25.55\00:36:29.82
And again perfect peace
00:36:29.85\00:36:32.65
and I wanted to
elaborate a little more.
00:36:32.69\00:36:34.49
Pastor Ferguson,
00:36:34.52\00:36:35.86
in your mind
what is perfect peace?
00:36:35.89\00:36:40.16
It only comes when I
truly see who God is.
00:36:40.20\00:36:46.00
I think this is
the course of our lives
00:36:46.03\00:36:48.57
we are pursuing God,
00:36:48.60\00:36:50.51
we're trying to
discover who He really is.
00:36:50.54\00:36:52.67
And the more I
see who He really is,
00:36:52.71\00:36:54.44
the more peace I receive.
00:36:54.48\00:36:57.28
So perfect peace is a
peace that is complete.
00:36:57.31\00:37:00.52
It doesn't matter if
things aren't going my way.
00:37:00.55\00:37:02.75
It doesn't matter
00:37:02.78\00:37:04.12
if I'm facing the
end of life's journey,
00:37:04.15\00:37:05.69
and maybe have a
terminal illness.
00:37:05.72\00:37:07.59
It doesn't matter if
my business is collapsing,
00:37:07.62\00:37:12.49
and there's nothing
that I can do about it.
00:37:12.53\00:37:13.93
If this is the Lord's
will, He will see me through.
00:37:13.96\00:37:17.00
And He has a purpose for this
00:37:17.03\00:37:18.73
where I won't be the
same person at the end of this
00:37:18.77\00:37:21.27
that I was before this trial.
00:37:21.30\00:37:23.67
And trusting that
His heart is good,
00:37:23.71\00:37:27.48
and trusting that it was...
00:37:27.51\00:37:28.94
Matter of fact 1 Peter 5:7,
00:37:28.98\00:37:30.68
"Cast all your care on
him, for he cares for you."
00:37:30.71\00:37:34.48
Believing that more, and more,
and more brings more and more
00:37:34.52\00:37:38.35
perfect peace,
complete peace in Him.
00:37:38.39\00:37:41.36
You know I'm
thinking of this gentleman
00:37:41.39\00:37:43.16
that was in his body,
his system was closing down,
00:37:43.19\00:37:48.00
He wasn't physically healthy,
but He was spiritually healthy.
00:37:48.03\00:37:52.30
And He need to be
spiritually healthy brings
00:37:52.33\00:37:54.87
that that perfect peace.
00:37:54.90\00:37:58.04
I've got a
scripture that I want to share
00:37:58.07\00:38:00.28
and this is one that we before,
00:38:00.31\00:38:03.78
we, and I can use
that very honestly,
00:38:03.81\00:38:06.85
we that are in the
declining years of our life.
00:38:06.88\00:38:10.92
It's Isaiah 46:4,
00:38:10.95\00:38:13.39
and I just put
here an amazing promise
00:38:13.42\00:38:16.02
when I wrote the scripture down,
00:38:16.06\00:38:17.76
it says, "Even to
your old age I am he,
00:38:17.79\00:38:22.60
and even to grey
hairs I will carry you,
00:38:22.63\00:38:26.80
I have made
you, and I will bear,
00:38:26.84\00:38:29.94
even I will carry
and will deliver you."
00:38:29.97\00:38:33.78
Isn't that
encouraging to know that even
00:38:33.81\00:38:37.61
in our old age the
Lord is right there?"
00:38:37.65\00:38:40.05
He really never
leaves us nor forsakes us.
00:38:40.08\00:38:43.82
Now, I wanted to
look at another story
00:38:43.85\00:38:48.62
that we find in...
00:38:48.66\00:38:50.66
It's in 1 Samuel 30.
00:38:50.69\00:38:54.46
And we've talked about people,
00:38:54.50\00:38:56.56
you know, we that are in
really difficult situations
00:38:56.60\00:39:01.64
where the storms are raging.
00:39:01.67\00:39:04.97
And I think I want, Dee, I
want you to share this story.
00:39:05.01\00:39:09.44
It's of King David.
00:39:09.48\00:39:11.58
And we think
we've had difficulties,
00:39:11.61\00:39:14.75
King David was in
the midst of a difficulty
00:39:14.78\00:39:18.72
such as I have
never been through before.
00:39:18.75\00:39:21.09
Do you want to tell
us about that difficulty?
00:39:21.12\00:39:23.83
It's in 1 Samuel 30,
00:39:23.86\00:39:26.39
David had gone over to
where the Philistines were
00:39:26.43\00:39:29.13
because Saul's
continued pursuit of him,
00:39:29.16\00:39:30.87
he saw it this is futile for
me to keep forgiving this guy.
00:39:30.90\00:39:33.54
He's just going to
keep coming after me.
00:39:33.57\00:39:35.60
And so he go to the Philistines,
00:39:35.64\00:39:36.97
now the text says that
Saul sought him no more.
00:39:37.01\00:39:39.47
And when the Philistines
00:39:39.51\00:39:40.84
are about to go
to war with Israel,
00:39:40.88\00:39:42.38
David says, "Hey,
I'll go with you."
00:39:42.41\00:39:44.65
But the men, the other
men of leadership said,
00:39:44.68\00:39:46.82
"Absolutely no."
00:39:46.85\00:39:48.18
Like what better way for
him to ingratiate himself
00:39:48.22\00:39:49.75
to Saul than buy.
00:39:49.78\00:39:52.15
The heads of our
own men so he sent back,
00:39:52.19\00:39:54.39
but when he
goes back to his camp
00:39:54.42\00:39:55.76
with all of his men,
00:39:55.79\00:39:57.13
everything they have has
been stolen and plundered
00:39:57.16\00:39:59.06
and it is gone.
00:39:59.09\00:40:00.43
His wives, his children,
00:40:00.46\00:40:02.96
his men's wives,
his men's children,
00:40:03.00\00:40:04.97
all their belongings,
00:40:05.00\00:40:06.33
he's destitute at this stage.
00:40:06.37\00:40:07.97
And that, that's terrible.
00:40:08.00\00:40:09.90
But it literally says
the text that the men,
00:40:09.94\00:40:11.91
his own men were wondering
00:40:11.94\00:40:13.78
if they should kill him
because of the hardships
00:40:13.81\00:40:15.54
that they were going through...
00:40:15.58\00:40:16.91
And they wanted to stone him.
00:40:16.95\00:40:18.28
They wanted to stone him.
00:40:18.31\00:40:20.15
And so it says in verse 6.
00:40:20.18\00:40:22.32
Now David was
greatly distressed,
00:40:22.35\00:40:25.19
for the people
spoke of stoning him,
00:40:25.22\00:40:27.29
because the soul of
all the people was grieved,
00:40:27.32\00:40:30.13
every man for his
sons and daughters,
00:40:30.16\00:40:32.43
but then it says
00:40:32.46\00:40:33.80
but David strengthened
himself in the Lord his God.
00:40:33.83\00:40:37.40
Amen.
00:40:37.43\00:40:39.13
And I think it was
one of those moments
00:40:39.17\00:40:41.10
when the wheels are falling off,
00:40:41.14\00:40:43.10
the disciples eventually
got this in Matthew 8.
00:40:43.14\00:40:45.77
And I think
there's another moment here
00:40:45.81\00:40:47.14
that when you
find that perfect peace
00:40:47.18\00:40:49.11
is generally you
recognize that God is with you,
00:40:49.14\00:40:52.08
and that you can go to
Him for whatever you need.
00:40:52.11\00:40:54.35
In that moment David realized
00:40:54.38\00:40:55.72
God is all I
have what am I to do.
00:40:55.75\00:40:58.39
And so the very next
thing he actually does,
00:40:58.42\00:40:59.75
he says bring
the ephod here to me,
00:40:59.79\00:41:01.62
I need to hear from God.
00:41:01.66\00:41:03.09
I need to know
what He wants me to do
00:41:03.12\00:41:04.46
in the midst of this hardship.
00:41:04.49\00:41:05.83
So notice he
didn't run from God.
00:41:05.86\00:41:08.00
He knew in my hardship,
00:41:08.03\00:41:09.36
the safest and
most reasonable thing
00:41:09.40\00:41:11.40
for me to do
00:41:11.43\00:41:12.77
is to run to God
00:41:12.80\00:41:14.20
and to hear from Him directly
on what my situation is.
00:41:14.24\00:41:17.47
You know I copied this...
00:41:17.51\00:41:18.84
And they recovered
everything they had.
00:41:18.87\00:41:20.74
The end was good,
had a good ending.
00:41:20.78\00:41:23.51
The translation that I used
was the New King James Version.
00:41:23.55\00:41:27.68
And, you know, maybe it
was the King James, was,
00:41:27.72\00:41:30.45
it says and David
encouraged himself
00:41:30.49\00:41:33.49
in the Lord.
00:41:33.52\00:41:34.86
And so we're
looking at now solutions
00:41:34.89\00:41:37.19
when our peace is gone.
00:41:37.23\00:41:38.56
Our peace is flung
right off the window.
00:41:38.59\00:41:41.00
We've got to have
our peace restored.
00:41:41.03\00:41:42.93
Do you think David's peace,
00:41:42.96\00:41:45.90
he'd lost his peace
00:41:45.93\00:41:47.27
when he came back
and had lost everything
00:41:47.30\00:41:49.90
including wives and children.
00:41:49.94\00:41:52.27
He had no peace,
but he had a solution.
00:41:52.31\00:41:55.58
He didn't have peace, but
he knew how to find peace.
00:41:55.61\00:41:58.98
Pastor Ferguson,
00:41:59.01\00:42:00.35
where he says David
encouraged himself in the Lord,
00:42:00.38\00:42:04.32
how do you think he did that?
00:42:04.35\00:42:06.55
His God was
bigger than the enemy.
00:42:06.59\00:42:10.46
The only way I
can encourage myself
00:42:10.49\00:42:12.03
in the Lord is to know
that my God is bigger than
00:42:12.06\00:42:14.36
the
circumstances I find myself in.
00:42:14.40\00:42:17.43
And I also have to realize that,
00:42:17.47\00:42:19.27
you know, David
was a warrior too.
00:42:19.30\00:42:21.80
And if he tried to do
this in his own strength,
00:42:21.84\00:42:24.01
he could still be
defeated even more
00:42:24.04\00:42:25.57
or his life
could have been taken
00:42:25.61\00:42:26.94
by his own men.
00:42:26.98\00:42:28.31
But instead he
trusted in God's guidance.
00:42:28.34\00:42:32.41
And our God has to be bigger
than the situations in life.
00:42:32.45\00:42:36.95
And I think that's
one of our main struggles
00:42:36.99\00:42:39.09
is that we view Him to be
a lot less than He really is.
00:42:39.12\00:42:43.26
And if He reveals
Himself in our lives,
00:42:43.29\00:42:45.99
it actually not only
has, it gives us peace,
00:42:46.03\00:42:49.76
but it also is a
witness to the people around us
00:42:49.80\00:42:51.97
that maybe
don't have that faith.
00:42:52.00\00:42:53.97
They realize
that this God is real.
00:42:54.00\00:42:57.67
And this God is moving mountains
00:42:57.71\00:42:59.77
of obstacles in their lives.
00:42:59.81\00:43:02.24
Johnny, you have had situations
where you needed encouragement.
00:43:02.28\00:43:05.98
How would you
encourage yourself in the Lord?
00:43:06.01\00:43:09.25
You know, the way
David was able to face
00:43:09.28\00:43:14.92
the giant Goliath
00:43:14.96\00:43:16.93
was because the Lord led him
through different experiences.
00:43:16.96\00:43:22.76
He fought a
lion, he fought a bear.
00:43:22.80\00:43:25.83
And now when he
comes to the camp
00:43:25.87\00:43:28.34
and sees that everyone
is scared to death of this
00:43:28.37\00:43:33.74
"Goliath" that says
00:43:33.78\00:43:35.81
"Send out a champion
to fight me," you know.
00:43:35.84\00:43:38.75
And so, David had
learned to trust in the Lord.
00:43:38.78\00:43:43.18
And one of the
things that helps me
00:43:43.22\00:43:46.72
is that looking
back at the things
00:43:46.76\00:43:49.26
that God has done,
00:43:49.29\00:43:51.03
how He has
delivered in the past,
00:43:51.06\00:43:52.73
how He has answered prayer
in the past encourages me.
00:43:52.76\00:43:57.40
And I think everyone
can say there comes a time
00:43:57.43\00:43:59.43
when your
strength and your courage
00:43:59.47\00:44:01.77
seems to be low.
00:44:01.80\00:44:04.74
And when I feel,
00:44:04.77\00:44:06.74
when I sense that
I'm getting discouraged
00:44:06.78\00:44:09.18
I say, "Hey,
what's going on here?
00:44:09.21\00:44:10.55
No, the Lord is good."
00:44:10.58\00:44:12.11
You know, God is
good. He's been good to me.
00:44:12.15\00:44:14.68
And I remember His
promises I remember.
00:44:14.72\00:44:16.85
And you start to remember,
00:44:16.89\00:44:18.65
you start to think
about your blessings.
00:44:18.69\00:44:21.76
I remember one
man that called 3ABN,
00:44:21.79\00:44:25.29
and he said,
00:44:25.33\00:44:26.90
"What do I have
to be thankful for?"
00:44:26.93\00:44:28.96
Now his question
caught me by surprise.
00:44:29.00\00:44:30.87
"What do I have
to be thankful for?"
00:44:30.90\00:44:32.93
And I didn't
know what to tell him,
00:44:32.97\00:44:35.24
but the Lord gives you
things to say to people.
00:44:35.27\00:44:37.01
So I say, "Well,
are you in prison?"
00:44:37.04\00:44:39.81
He said, "No."
00:44:39.84\00:44:41.18
"You should be thankful."
00:44:41.21\00:44:42.61
"Are you in insane asylum?"
00:44:42.64\00:44:45.01
"No."
00:44:45.05\00:44:46.38
"You should be thankful."
00:44:46.41\00:44:47.75
And he said, "Did
you get to eat today?"
00:44:47.78\00:44:49.95
"Ah, yes."
00:44:49.98\00:44:51.32
He says, "You should be thankful
00:44:51.35\00:44:52.69
because the Lord
supplied your need."
00:44:52.72\00:44:54.06
And on and on
he began to realize
00:44:54.09\00:44:55.92
that he has things
to be thankful for.
00:44:55.96\00:44:58.29
And so when we
look back at the way
00:44:58.33\00:44:59.83
God has helped us in the past,
00:44:59.86\00:45:01.20
we can say I can be encouraged.
00:45:01.23\00:45:03.30
And I remember going
through some difficulties.
00:45:03.33\00:45:05.60
You know, I
think Dee Casper shared
00:45:05.63\00:45:08.10
the scripture Romans 8:28,
00:45:08.14\00:45:09.94
and we know
00:45:09.97\00:45:11.31
that all things work
together for good to them
00:45:11.34\00:45:13.38
that love God to them
00:45:13.41\00:45:14.74
that are the called
according to His purpose.
00:45:14.78\00:45:16.38
And I remember going
through some situations
00:45:16.41\00:45:17.91
where I say,
00:45:17.95\00:45:19.28
"Lord, I don't know how
00:45:19.31\00:45:20.88
this is going to
work out to my good?"
00:45:20.92\00:45:22.98
And I had to say to
myself, "Well, the Lord is good.
00:45:23.02\00:45:26.86
I need to trust
Him in this situation."
00:45:26.89\00:45:29.32
Somehow this is going
to work out to my good.
00:45:29.36\00:45:31.23
I don't know how
00:45:31.26\00:45:32.59
but somehow it will and
I can look back and say,
00:45:32.63\00:45:35.20
"You know, the Lord was good.
00:45:35.23\00:45:37.37
The Lord helped me
through that situation."
00:45:37.40\00:45:38.90
You know I'm reminded.
00:45:38.93\00:45:40.27
Johnny, you
reminded me of a time
00:45:40.30\00:45:41.97
Hal and I had pastored, we
pastored quite a few years.
00:45:42.00\00:45:45.71
And there was a time
00:45:45.74\00:45:47.48
when we got
discouraged and we thought
00:45:47.51\00:45:49.71
we were just
going to have to quit.
00:45:49.74\00:45:52.25
We had a church
of about 300 people.
00:45:52.28\00:45:55.08
And there was a group of people
00:45:55.12\00:45:56.58
that were really
causing us difficulty,
00:45:56.62\00:45:58.75
they were talking
about us and they were being,
00:45:58.79\00:46:01.92
you know, just
causing turmoil in the church.
00:46:01.96\00:46:04.99
And we counted gentlemen,
00:46:05.03\00:46:06.46
we counted the number of people,
00:46:06.49\00:46:09.16
counting their family members.
00:46:09.20\00:46:10.63
Do you know there were nine
that were causing us trouble?
00:46:10.67\00:46:13.77
How many people
did I say we had?
00:46:13.80\00:46:15.70
About 300.
00:46:15.74\00:46:17.64
So I went home
having the analytical mind
00:46:17.67\00:46:20.48
that I have and
said, "You know what?
00:46:20.51\00:46:22.41
That's only 3% of the people.
00:46:22.44\00:46:24.68
But they were
so loud in our face
00:46:24.71\00:46:27.18
that we had become discouraged."
00:46:27.22\00:46:28.78
Do you know there were 97%
00:46:28.82\00:46:30.95
of sweet little
sheep that just loved us?
00:46:30.99\00:46:33.56
And so sometimes
00:46:33.59\00:46:35.22
you encourage
yourself in the Lord
00:46:35.26\00:46:37.69
just by looking
at the situation,
00:46:37.73\00:46:39.89
and then looking
at your mighty God.
00:46:39.93\00:46:42.20
And let's not forget
the enemy wants to destroy,
00:46:42.23\00:46:46.43
divide and conquer.
00:46:46.47\00:46:48.10
So in the great controversy
that's going to happen.
00:46:48.14\00:46:50.94
And then the Lord
00:46:50.97\00:46:52.31
on the other hand wants to mend
00:46:52.34\00:46:53.91
and make things whole.
00:46:53.94\00:46:55.41
And so the enemy
will stir things up
00:46:55.44\00:46:57.55
in our lives,
00:46:57.58\00:46:58.91
nothing happens to me
00:46:58.95\00:47:00.28
that has not gone
through God first.
00:47:00.32\00:47:02.72
And on the small things
that's not that hard to take
00:47:02.75\00:47:05.42
but on the real big challenges
00:47:05.45\00:47:07.82
we have to
understand that first.
00:47:07.86\00:47:09.72
And then in the realm
of the great controversy
00:47:09.76\00:47:11.63
between good and evil,
00:47:11.66\00:47:12.99
in the end we will see
00:47:13.03\00:47:14.50
that He has
operated righteously,
00:47:14.53\00:47:17.63
He has love, and
He has a heart for me.
00:47:17.67\00:47:21.84
And it will work out in the end.
00:47:21.87\00:47:23.61
Yes, Dee.
00:47:23.64\00:47:24.97
I was thinking
that in the commentary
00:47:25.01\00:47:26.44
given on the
situation when John the Baptist,
00:47:26.47\00:47:28.31
you wonder why is it
that he's getting reports
00:47:28.34\00:47:30.31
about Jesus but
no visit from Jesus?
00:47:30.35\00:47:33.35
Desire of Ages literally says
00:47:33.38\00:47:34.72
that Jesus knew that
he would stand the test.
00:47:34.75\00:47:38.05
Jesus knew more about
John than John knew about John
00:47:38.09\00:47:40.76
in that moment.
00:47:40.79\00:47:42.12
And He knew that
what John is going to do
00:47:42.16\00:47:43.49
is bring greater glory
to the kingdom of heaven
00:47:43.53\00:47:45.39
by walking through this
as opposed to avoiding it
00:47:45.43\00:47:48.36
or having no difficulty there.
00:47:48.40\00:47:50.20
And Jesus is on mission
could have been imperiled
00:47:50.23\00:47:51.80
had He gone,
00:47:51.83\00:47:53.17
you know,
before He needed to die
00:47:53.20\00:47:54.54
could've been
imprisoned Himself.
00:47:54.57\00:47:56.04
But this is one of the ways
00:47:56.07\00:47:57.41
that God brings glory
out of situations like this.
00:47:57.44\00:47:59.71
It's when people
shine in the furnace.
00:47:59.74\00:48:02.28
People realize that if
God can sustain a person
00:48:02.31\00:48:04.81
like that and
what they went through,
00:48:04.85\00:48:06.68
God can do something for me.
00:48:06.72\00:48:08.05
John mentioned
00:48:08.08\00:48:09.42
how God
sustained him in his past.
00:48:09.45\00:48:10.79
And how God
sustained David in his past.
00:48:10.82\00:48:12.99
Your own story
can be an inspiration
00:48:13.02\00:48:14.72
to how you can
strengthen yourself in your God.
00:48:14.76\00:48:16.49
But also
hearing how other people
00:48:16.52\00:48:18.56
who went through maybe
things even worse than you,
00:48:18.59\00:48:20.86
how they made it through.
00:48:20.90\00:48:22.46
That can also be a way
00:48:22.50\00:48:23.83
in which you
strengthen yourself in your God
00:48:23.87\00:48:25.20
because if God
can do that for them,
00:48:25.23\00:48:27.30
God can do that for me.
00:48:27.34\00:48:28.67
Amen. Amen.
00:48:28.70\00:48:30.11
You know, I didn't
want to neglect to mention
00:48:30.14\00:48:33.88
the way you
encourage yourself in the Lord
00:48:33.91\00:48:36.11
is through His Word and
through prayer of course.
00:48:36.14\00:48:39.98
But I will say this
in the midst of a battle
00:48:40.02\00:48:42.68
is not the time for you
00:48:42.72\00:48:44.25
to hide God's
Word in your heart.
00:48:44.29\00:48:46.79
What did King David do?
00:48:46.82\00:48:48.26
He hid God's Word in his heart
00:48:48.29\00:48:49.99
that he might
not sin against God.
00:48:50.03\00:48:51.66
Would you do that
on a continuous bases,
00:48:51.69\00:48:54.90
you don't wait
00:48:54.93\00:48:56.26
till you're in the
middle of a battle,
00:48:56.30\00:48:57.63
then run grab your
Bible and try to find you
00:48:57.67\00:49:00.64
a promise to hold on to.
00:49:00.67\00:49:02.40
No, do that in
the pleasant time,
00:49:02.44\00:49:04.37
in the pleasant meadow
00:49:04.41\00:49:06.51
that's where you
study God's Word.
00:49:06.54\00:49:08.64
But I wanted to share
00:49:08.68\00:49:10.01
this scripture
Philippians 4:6-7.
00:49:10.05\00:49:12.35
And I think we've alluded to
it maybe shared portions of it,
00:49:12.38\00:49:15.52
but let's read this scripture.
00:49:15.55\00:49:17.22
"Be anxious for nothing,
00:49:17.25\00:49:20.19
but in everything by prayer
00:49:20.22\00:49:22.82
and supplication
with thanks giving,
00:49:22.86\00:49:25.96
let your requests
be made known to God."
00:49:25.99\00:49:28.20
And it goes on to
say then in verse 7.
00:49:28.23\00:49:30.63
"And the peace of God,
00:49:30.67\00:49:33.44
which surpasses
all understanding,
00:49:33.47\00:49:36.24
will guard your hearts,
00:49:36.27\00:49:37.71
and your minds
through Christ Jesus."
00:49:37.74\00:49:40.41
So, Pastor Ferguson,
00:49:40.44\00:49:41.78
this is through prayer
that time along with God
00:49:41.81\00:49:46.65
and
supplications and thanksgiving.
00:49:46.68\00:49:49.35
And that peace comes
00:49:49.38\00:49:50.72
because you've given the
Holy Spirit an invitation
00:49:50.75\00:49:54.12
to be in your
heart, in your suffering,
00:49:54.16\00:49:56.26
and that brings peace.
00:49:56.29\00:49:57.89
The other thing I
wanted to mention too
00:49:57.93\00:49:59.73
is that God puts
other people in our lives
00:49:59.76\00:50:02.13
sometimes to
encourage us and help us to see
00:50:02.16\00:50:05.47
the right way when we're not,
00:50:05.50\00:50:06.87
we're not able to
even look in the right way,
00:50:06.90\00:50:09.24
they encourage us.
00:50:09.27\00:50:10.91
So we need to be
sensitive to the needs
00:50:10.94\00:50:12.74
of others being
willing to witness to
00:50:12.77\00:50:15.51
and to lift them up
in their time of need
00:50:15.54\00:50:19.71
because this is
what God would have
00:50:19.75\00:50:21.58
the family of
Christ do for one another.
00:50:21.62\00:50:24.02
Amen. Amen.
00:50:24.05\00:50:25.39
One of the ways in
which God provides peace
00:50:25.42\00:50:26.76
to the storm is
people and kind of a call
00:50:26.79\00:50:30.23
that actually we
are talking about
00:50:30.26\00:50:31.59
this off camera
that one of the ways
00:50:31.63\00:50:32.96
in which God is
needing us to be involved
00:50:32.99\00:50:35.46
is to be the means
through which He can bring peace
00:50:35.50\00:50:37.80
and remind people
the goodness of God
00:50:37.83\00:50:39.43
that we not only need
peace in our own experience
00:50:39.47\00:50:41.80
but God may be wanting to use us
00:50:41.84\00:50:43.97
to be the peace in someone else
00:50:44.01\00:50:45.87
to point them to
their source of peace.
00:50:45.91\00:50:48.18
And we can't lose sight of that.
00:50:48.21\00:50:49.54
When you see
suffering, don't just,
00:50:49.58\00:50:51.25
you know, think that
00:50:51.28\00:50:52.98
"Man, that must be bad
or he will pray for you."
00:50:53.01\00:50:55.48
God may be asking
you to take action.
00:50:55.52\00:50:57.39
He may be asking
you to just be with them
00:50:57.42\00:50:59.42
in the midst of their
suffering or to provide for them
00:50:59.45\00:51:01.69
in the midst of their suffering.
00:51:01.72\00:51:03.12
Like mamma Tita did for Caleb.
00:51:03.16\00:51:05.73
She hugged him and he
still cry but what did she do?
00:51:05.76\00:51:08.76
She hugged him some more. Amen.
00:51:08.80\00:51:11.30
You know, this is
true, we must take action.
00:51:11.33\00:51:14.80
And I've heard
that there's a poster
00:51:14.84\00:51:17.01
of a child crying and it says,
00:51:17.04\00:51:20.01
"I was hungry and
you prayed for me."
00:51:20.04\00:51:22.48
We have to go beyond the prayer
00:51:22.51\00:51:24.31
and move to action
00:51:24.35\00:51:25.68
to relieve suffering
to try to help somebody,
00:51:25.71\00:51:27.62
encourage someone else
00:51:27.65\00:51:29.18
because we have
the scripture says,
00:51:29.22\00:51:30.92
"Let your light
so shine before men
00:51:30.95\00:51:32.39
that they may
see your good works
00:51:32.42\00:51:33.76
and glorify your
Father which is in heaven."
00:51:33.79\00:51:35.69
And this is done
through deeds of kindness
00:51:35.72\00:51:38.43
and helping others
to look on to Jesus.
00:51:38.46\00:51:41.33
Amen. Amen.
00:51:41.36\00:51:42.90
Well, we're going to
take a short break now.
00:51:42.93\00:51:45.00
We've got some
really good information
00:51:45.03\00:51:47.07
that we want to share with you.
00:51:47.10\00:51:48.94
But we'll be
back in just a moment
00:51:48.97\00:51:51.17
with some closing thoughts.
00:51:51.21\00:51:52.87