Music...
00:00:01.36\00:00:32.56
More music...
00:00:32.59\00:01:18.44
Our heavenly Father,
00:01:18.47\00:01:21.71
to Your throne
of mercy and grace,
00:01:21.74\00:01:28.52
we are calling
today for Your blessing.
00:01:28.55\00:01:34.32
Give us the
power of Your presence
00:01:34.36\00:01:40.43
give us Your wisdom
and Your Holy Spirit
00:01:40.46\00:01:47.24
so we could finish Your
great mission here on earth
00:01:47.27\00:01:56.88
in Russian...
00:01:56.91\00:02:01.18
to call the inhabitants
of this planet to repentance
00:02:01.22\00:02:07.36
to accept Your gracious message
00:02:07.39\00:02:14.93
in Russian...
00:02:14.96\00:02:20.00
in this sacrifice of blood of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
00:02:20.04\00:02:27.04
to You our eternal God
00:02:27.08\00:02:32.11
the glory and
power forever, amen.
00:02:32.15\00:02:39.22
Audience: Amen.
00:02:39.25\00:02:40.96
Pause...
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more pause...
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Dear Friends,
00:02:50.53\00:02:53.64
Brothers and Sisters,
00:02:53.67\00:02:56.91
our best
00:02:56.94\00:02:59.94
in Russian...
00:02:59.97\00:03:06.15
and all our audience who
are watching us right now
00:03:06.18\00:03:11.69
through live broadcast.
00:03:11.72\00:03:14.72
We are so happy to see
and to greet all of you.
00:03:14.76\00:03:21.76
David spoke beautiful words,
00:03:21.80\00:03:30.87
in Russian...
00:03:30.91\00:03:36.31
more Russian...
00:03:36.34\00:03:41.68
"The Lord is my
light and my salvation;
00:03:41.72\00:03:44.85
whom shall I fear?
00:03:44.89\00:03:46.62
The Lord is a
stronghold of my life;
00:03:46.65\00:03:49.52
of whom shall I be afraid?
00:03:49.56\00:03:52.19
In Russian...
00:03:52.23\00:04:01.20
When evildoers assail
me to devour my flesh,
00:04:01.24\00:04:05.81
my adversaries and foes,
they shall stumble and fall. "
00:04:05.84\00:04:10.75
In Russian...
00:04:10.78\00:04:19.29
Though an army
encamp against me,
00:04:19.35\00:04:22.49
my heart shall not fear:
00:04:22.52\00:04:24.99
though war rise up against me,
00:04:25.03\00:04:27.86
yet, I will be confident.
00:04:27.90\00:04:30.20
In Russian...
00:04:30.23\00:04:37.41
in Russian
00:04:37.44\00:04:39.74
more Russian...
00:04:39.77\00:04:44.61
One thing I asked of the LORD,
00:04:44.65\00:04:47.18
that will I seek after;
00:04:47.22\00:04:50.42
to live in the house of the
LORD, all the days of my life,
00:04:50.45\00:04:55.29
to behold the
beauty of the LORD,
00:04:55.32\00:04:58.29
and to enquire in his temple.
00:04:58.33\00:05:00.90
In Russian...
00:05:00.93\00:05:09.44
more Russian...
00:05:09.47\00:05:12.04
Russian...
00:05:12.07\00:05:17.95
I invite all of you who are
present here and who joined us
00:05:17.98\00:05:24.99
through the live
broadcast to glorify our Lord
00:05:25.02\00:05:28.12
and to sing to Him
the hymn of praise,
00:05:28.16\00:05:31.96
"Come Thou fount
of every blessing. "
00:05:31.99\00:05:35.76
Piano...
00:05:35.80\00:05:45.01
Song...
00:05:45.04\00:07:51.73
In Russian...
00:07:51.77\00:07:54.30
more Russian...
00:07:54.34\00:07:56.84
Gathering together in this place
we all need God's blessing,
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in Russian...
00:08:01.11\00:08:07.42
more Russian...
00:08:07.45\00:08:13.32
and for the prayer of blessing,
I invite to this platform
00:08:13.36\00:08:17.43
Alexander Zhukov,
00:08:17.46\00:08:19.29
Executive Secretary of
West Russia Union Conference.
00:08:19.33\00:08:26.03
Let's pray.
00:08:26.07\00:08:28.50
In Russian...
00:08:28.54\00:08:33.27
We are grateful to you O
Lord, for the gift of life
00:08:33.31\00:08:36.78
given to each one of us.
00:08:36.81\00:08:38.35
In a special way, we thank
you for this wonderful day.
00:08:38.38\00:08:46.19
You gave us not
only physical life
00:08:46.22\00:08:53.09
You also redeemed us,
00:08:53.13\00:08:57.30
You called us
Your sons and daughters
00:08:57.33\00:09:03.04
and right now, we
thank You and we ask You
00:09:03.07\00:09:10.98
please bless all our gathering.
00:09:11.01\00:09:13.85
In Russian.
00:09:13.88\00:09:21.99
With the power
of Your Holy Spirit,
00:09:22.02\00:09:24.76
please be present among us
00:09:24.79\00:09:28.60
in our fellowship
with You and Your Word.
00:09:28.63\00:09:32.30
We thank You our
Lord and our Savior,
00:09:32.33\00:09:39.27
Amen.
00:09:39.31\00:09:41.38
Audience: Amen.
00:09:41.41\00:09:43.08
Please be seated.
00:09:43.11\00:09:45.88
In Russian...
00:09:45.91\00:09:52.25
more Russian...
00:09:52.29\00:09:58.53
Today, we have
with us our dear Sister,
00:09:58.56\00:10:03.13
Vice President of
3ABN, Jill Morikone,
00:10:03.16\00:10:06.94
who will lead us in
the study of the Bible.
00:10:06.97\00:10:10.57
In Russian.
00:10:10.61\00:10:17.81
But before this study, we
will have a special music.
00:10:17.85\00:10:21.08
Pause...
00:10:21.12\00:10:26.52
Piano...
00:10:26.55\00:10:39.43
We need wisdom we need power
00:10:39.47\00:10:43.41
And true love for each other
00:10:43.44\00:10:47.24
We have had so
many big but empty words
00:10:47.28\00:10:55.45
So we come before Your face
00:10:55.48\00:10:59.32
Asking for Your grace
00:10:59.35\00:11:02.99
Bring Your people to
a state of kingdom life
00:11:03.02\00:11:10.13
Restore Your church again
00:11:10.17\00:11:16.54
Touch Your people once again
00:11:16.57\00:11:23.08
With Your
precious holy hand, we pray
00:11:23.11\00:11:29.75
Let Your kingdom
shine upon this earth
00:11:29.78\00:11:36.39
Through a living
and glorious church
00:11:36.42\00:11:41.66
Not for temporary deeds
00:11:41.70\00:11:48.14
But to restore
authority and power
00:11:48.17\00:11:54.94
Let a mighty
rushing wind blow in
00:11:54.98\00:12:02.58
Touch Your people once again
00:12:02.62\00:12:10.23
Lord You see Your tired servants
00:12:10.26\00:12:17.00
And Your broken wounded soldiers
00:12:17.03\00:12:20.64
Oh how much we need
Your precious healing hand
00:12:20.67\00:12:27.01
We need the power of the cross
00:12:27.04\00:12:32.18
As the only source for us
00:12:32.21\00:12:35.82
When we stand up
facing final battle cries
00:12:35.85\00:12:42.56
Restore Your church again
00:12:42.59\00:12:48.66
Touch Your people once again
00:12:48.70\00:12:55.60
With Your
precious holy hand, we pray
00:12:55.64\00:13:02.74
Let Your kingdom
shine upon this earth
00:13:02.78\00:13:09.38
Through a living
and glorious church
00:13:09.42\00:13:15.46
Not for temporary deeds
00:13:15.49\00:13:21.63
But to restore
authority and power
00:13:21.66\00:13:28.47
Let a mighty
rushing wind blow in
00:13:28.50\00:13:38.08
Touch Your people once again
00:13:38.11\00:13:43.89
Let a mighty
rushing wind blow in...
00:13:43.92\00:13:52.99
in...
00:13:53.03\00:13:55.53
And touch Your
people once again...
00:13:55.56\00:14:04.17
again.
00:14:04.21\00:14:12.11
Audience: Amen.
00:14:12.15\00:14:15.48
Happy Sabbath.
00:14:15.52\00:14:20.09
I know my
Russian's not very good
00:14:20.12\00:14:27.83
it is a privilege for us
to be here in Nizhny Novgorod
00:14:27.86\00:14:32.80
in Russian...
00:14:32.83\00:14:38.44
at 3ABN Russian Facility.
00:14:38.47\00:14:44.28
We have heard the
stories of what God has done
00:14:44.31\00:14:47.15
and what God is currently doing
00:14:47.18\00:14:55.69
and the first
time I came to Russia,
00:14:55.72\00:15:01.56
I felt like I came halfway
around the world to meet family.
00:15:01.60\00:15:06.70
In Russian...
00:15:06.74\00:15:12.97
What a privilege to be here
and fellowship with you today.
00:15:13.01\00:15:17.28
In Russian.
00:15:17.31\00:15:23.89
This is the Sabbath
School portion of the lesson
00:15:23.92\00:15:26.25
so any children and youth...
00:15:26.29\00:15:28.26
you are welcome to
exit the Sanctuary now
00:15:28.29\00:15:30.99
and go to your lessons.
00:15:31.06\00:15:32.69
In Russian...
00:15:32.73\00:15:42.10
We're studying Quarter
Number 3, The Least of These...
00:15:42.14\00:15:46.07
in Russian...
00:15:46.11\00:15:55.48
this is Lesson Number 2
but there is not enough time
00:15:55.52\00:15:58.82
to do the entire lesson
00:15:58.85\00:16:00.29
in Russian...
00:16:00.32\00:16:08.80
so, I'm going to
focus on Sunday's Lesson...
00:16:08.83\00:16:11.97
"The God Who Hears. "
00:16:12.00\00:16:14.04
In Russian...
00:16:14.07\00:16:22.51
We often wonder as Christians,
00:16:22.54\00:16:23.88
"What are we to do
when God is silent... "
00:16:23.91\00:16:27.48
in Russian...
00:16:27.52\00:16:34.52
but I want to
turn that around today
00:16:34.59\00:16:41.06
and instead I want to
look at what God is doing
00:16:41.10\00:16:49.10
when it appears
that He is silent.
00:16:49.14\00:16:54.04
Let's pray.
00:16:54.08\00:16:56.48
"Father, would You
touch us once again.
00:16:56.51\00:17:03.69
would You touch me,
00:17:03.72\00:17:06.65
I ask for the
outpouring of Your Holy Spirit,
00:17:06.69\00:17:13.43
would You be
lifted up and be seen
00:17:13.46\00:17:21.14
thank you for what
You're going to do,
00:17:21.17\00:17:27.58
in Jesus' name, amen. "
00:17:27.61\00:17:29.58
Audience: Amen.
00:17:29.61\00:17:31.78
From the earliest of time,
00:17:31.81\00:17:34.82
God has always desired
connection with His people.
00:17:34.85\00:17:44.29
I think of Adam and
Eve in the Garden of Eden.
00:17:44.33\00:17:50.73
They had unbroken
communion with the Father
00:17:50.77\00:17:58.64
but sin brought fear and guilt.
00:17:58.67\00:18:06.31
Sin brought separation from God
00:18:06.35\00:18:11.95
and God said, "I want to
restore that broken connection"
00:18:11.99\00:18:20.53
and so His
desire has always been
00:18:20.56\00:18:22.43
that He would dwell
with us as His people.
00:18:22.46\00:18:31.84
In fact, as we travel
through Bible history,
00:18:31.87\00:18:34.34
we think of the Israelites...
God's chosen people.
00:18:34.38\00:18:37.11
Translation.
00:18:37.15\00:18:45.72
Exodus 25:8, He said,
"Let them make me a sanctuary
00:18:45.75\00:18:49.99
in Russian...
00:18:50.03\00:18:56.77
that I may dwell among them. "
00:18:56.80\00:19:02.47
A little later,
Exodus 29:46, He said,
00:19:02.50\00:19:05.31
"They shall know that
I am the Lord their God
00:19:05.34\00:19:08.21
in Russian...
00:19:08.24\00:19:16.18
Who brought them
out of the land of Egypt
00:19:16.22\00:19:21.26
that I may dwell with them. "
00:19:21.29\00:19:25.99
In 1st Kings 6
00:19:26.03\00:19:31.50
He said, "I will be
among the sons of Israel,
00:19:31.53\00:19:38.77
I will dwell among them. "
00:19:38.81\00:19:43.85
Zechariah 2... I
love this Scripture...
00:19:43.88\00:19:51.39
"Sing for joy and be
glad, O daughter of Zion;
00:19:51.42\00:20:00.06
for behold I am coming and
I will dwell in your midst. "
00:20:00.10\00:20:09.20
Then we have that
400-year period of silence
00:20:09.24\00:20:18.01
the Intertestamental Period
00:20:18.05\00:20:22.18
between Malachi and
when Jesus came in Matthew.
00:20:22.22\00:20:31.73
In John 1:14, He says,
00:20:31.76\00:20:37.90
"The Word became
flesh and dwelt among us. "
00:20:37.93\00:20:46.37
We get all the way
to the end of the Bible,
00:20:46.41\00:20:48.38
Revelation chapter 21 verse 3,
00:20:48.41\00:20:56.75
and the Word of God says,
00:20:56.79\00:20:58.12
"And I heard a loud
voice from the throne
00:20:58.15\00:21:05.93
behold the
tabernacle of God is among men
00:21:05.96\00:21:12.20
and He will dwell among them,
00:21:12.23\00:21:17.21
and they shall be His people
00:21:17.24\00:21:18.57
and God Himself
will be among them. "
00:21:18.61\00:21:26.48
God has always desired
connection with His people.
00:21:26.51\00:21:33.82
From Genesis all the
way down to Revelation,
00:21:33.86\00:21:40.13
He wanted that
connection with His people
00:21:40.16\00:21:47.00
but sometimes
00:21:47.04\00:21:50.14
His people felt
as if He was silent.
00:21:50.17\00:21:53.61
In Russian...
00:21:53.64\00:22:00.18
Turn with me to
Exodus chapter 1,
00:22:00.22\00:22:07.69
God called His
people... the Israelites
00:22:07.72\00:22:10.49
to be His representatives
00:22:10.53\00:22:17.17
after Joseph died...
the Bible says in Genesis...
00:22:17.20\00:22:20.30
Exodus... I'm
sorry, Exodus 1 verse 7,
00:22:20.34\00:22:30.18
that the children of
Israel increased supernaturally.
00:22:30.21\00:22:39.85
The Bible says,
"They were fruitful...
00:22:39.89\00:22:45.19
increased abundantly...
00:22:45.23\00:22:48.73
multiplied and grew exceedingly
00:22:48.76\00:22:54.27
and the land was
filled with them.
00:22:54.30\00:22:59.74
After this time, a new king
arose who did not know Joseph
00:22:59.77\00:23:08.58
and so the children of
Israel were forced into slavery.
00:23:08.62\00:23:17.39
They were in bondage...
00:23:17.43\00:23:22.26
they cried out to God
00:23:22.30\00:23:27.07
and felt as if He
did not hear them.
00:23:27.10\00:23:33.94
I want to tell you today,
00:23:33.98\00:23:38.58
when it seems God is
silent, He is not absent.
00:23:38.61\00:23:48.52
When it seems God is
silent, He is not still.
00:23:48.56\00:23:58.40
When it seems God is
silent, He is not finished.
00:23:58.43\00:24:08.21
There is a man
in the Old Testament
00:24:08.24\00:24:13.78
who experienced
the silence of God.
00:24:13.82\00:24:18.55
Turn with me to the book of Job.
00:24:18.62\00:24:23.32
Job lost his livelihood...
00:24:23.36\00:24:30.53
Job lost his children...
00:24:30.57\00:24:37.64
and to be honest, he
kind of lost his wife too
00:24:37.67\00:24:44.08
and there was a time he wondered
even, "Is God hearing me?"
00:24:44.11\00:24:52.69
Job chapter 30 verse 20,
00:24:52.75\00:25:00.40
the Bible says,
"I cry out to You,
00:25:00.43\00:25:02.70
but you do not answer me.
00:25:02.73\00:25:08.17
I stand up and you regard me. "
00:25:08.20\00:25:14.18
The New Living Translation,
00:25:14.21\00:25:18.11
says, "I cry to you
God but You don't answer.
00:25:18.15\00:25:25.32
I stand before You
00:25:25.35\00:25:28.72
but You don't even look at me. "
00:25:28.76\00:25:32.63
Now, before you think humanity
00:25:32.66\00:25:35.56
are the only people
who have experienced
00:25:35.60\00:25:38.43
a sense of separation from God,
00:25:38.47\00:25:40.80
in Russian...
00:25:40.84\00:25:50.05
Jesus
experienced it on the cross.
00:25:50.08\00:25:56.45
"My God, My God...
00:25:56.48\00:26:00.32
why have You forsaken me?"
00:26:00.36\00:26:05.16
Psalm 22... that
Messianic Psalm...
00:26:05.19\00:26:11.63
He says, "O my
God, I cry in the day
00:26:11.67\00:26:14.10
but you do not hear. "
00:26:14.14\00:26:22.18
When it seems
that God is silent,
00:26:22.21\00:26:23.71
we are called to
trust the promise
00:26:23.75\00:26:26.65
not the perception.
00:26:26.68\00:26:28.82
In Russian...
00:26:28.85\00:26:37.36
We are called to walk
by faith not by sight.
00:26:37.39\00:26:44.93
We are called to
trust Him in the storm
00:26:44.97\00:26:46.50
as well as the sunshine.
00:26:46.53\00:26:53.61
We are called to
trust Him by faith
00:26:53.64\00:26:55.34
not by our feelings.
00:26:55.38\00:27:02.18
It had been a difficult week,
00:27:02.22\00:27:06.69
you know, those weeks
when everything goes wrong.
00:27:06.72\00:27:14.40
Do you have weeks
like that in Russia?
00:27:14.43\00:27:18.77
I feel better...
00:27:18.80\00:27:20.37
Audience: Laughter.
00:27:20.40\00:27:22.50
It was one of those weeks
that everything went wrong
00:27:22.54\00:27:27.78
in Russian...
00:27:27.81\00:27:32.85
and then on top
of that, my friend
00:27:32.88\00:27:39.12
who I trusted and respected
00:27:39.15\00:27:44.19
betrayed me...
00:27:44.23\00:27:47.36
"God, where are you?"
00:27:47.40\00:27:51.33
On top of that, my
family... a member in my family
00:27:51.37\00:27:57.77
was diagnosed with cancer
00:27:57.81\00:28:03.14
and I prayed...
00:28:03.18\00:28:05.78
I pleaded...
00:28:05.81\00:28:08.45
I read my Bible...
00:28:08.48\00:28:11.19
and yet, I could not seem to
see the face of Jesus anymore.
00:28:11.22\00:28:16.02
In Russian...
00:28:16.06\00:28:22.30
Fear and pain
ate away in my soul
00:28:22.33\00:28:32.24
but it was the sense
of separation from God
00:28:32.27\00:28:39.11
and the feeling as if
He was not talking to me...
00:28:39.15\00:28:46.69
the silence of God...
00:28:46.72\00:28:51.29
that hurt the most.
00:28:51.33\00:28:56.40
I had never
encountered depression before,
00:28:56.43\00:29:03.47
I usually wake up every
day excited about the day...
00:29:03.51\00:29:11.21
can't wait to see
what God is going to do...
00:29:11.25\00:29:18.85
and yet, here all I wanted to do
00:29:18.89\00:29:24.76
was run away and hide.
00:29:24.79\00:29:30.23
Two things happened that week
00:29:30.27\00:29:33.27
in Russian...
00:29:33.30\00:29:36.20
that began to change my heart.
00:29:36.24\00:29:42.28
The first thing...
00:29:42.34\00:29:44.41
a woman came and said,
"Jill, will you pray with me?"
00:29:44.45\00:29:51.62
Now, normally, I love
to pray with my Sisters..
00:29:51.65\00:29:58.69
but now I felt like a failure
00:29:58.73\00:30:04.80
Who was I to
pray for someone else?
00:30:04.83\00:30:11.97
And yet, I prayed anyway,
00:30:12.01\00:30:15.38
holding her hands in mine,
00:30:15.41\00:30:20.12
saying, "God, please, this
must count for something. "
00:30:20.15\00:30:27.02
The second things
was that my Pastor...
00:30:27.06\00:30:32.09
Pastor John Lomacang
00:30:32.13\00:30:35.13
asked me to
preach for Prayer Meeting
00:30:35.16\00:30:42.97
and I didn't want to
00:30:43.00\00:30:47.18
because I felt like a hypocrite.
00:30:47.21\00:30:53.35
If God was not
silent in my life,
00:30:53.38\00:30:59.75
I would have loved to share
00:30:59.79\00:31:04.89
but how could I share now?
00:31:04.93\00:31:08.26
I talked to Greg, my husband,
00:31:08.30\00:31:13.87
the only person
who knew my struggle
00:31:13.90\00:31:16.00
and what was
going on in my heart
00:31:16.04\00:31:22.18
and he said, "Jilly,
you must speak for Jesus. "
00:31:22.21\00:31:31.22
When it seems as
if God is silent,
00:31:31.25\00:31:38.19
we are called to walk by faith
00:31:38.23\00:31:42.96
not by how we feel.
00:31:43.00\00:31:46.30
I want to talk to you today
not about what we are to do
00:31:46.33\00:31:50.71
when God is silent
00:31:50.74\00:31:57.15
but what God is doing while
it appears that He is silent.
00:31:57.18\00:32:02.82
In Russian...
00:32:02.85\00:32:07.69
There are five things God does
00:32:07.72\00:32:14.36
when we think that He's silent.
00:32:14.40\00:32:20.90
He hears...
00:32:20.94\00:32:23.24
He cares...
00:32:23.27\00:32:25.34
He comforts...
00:32:25.37\00:32:26.71
He accompanies...
00:32:26.74\00:32:32.98
and He delivers.
00:32:33.01\00:32:35.02
Let's look at "He Hears"
00:32:35.05\00:32:36.52
go back to Exodus chapter
2... the children of Israel
00:32:36.55\00:32:45.69
remember they're struggling
under the bondage of slavery
00:32:45.73\00:32:50.00
in Russian...
00:32:50.03\00:32:53.23
and we might not
be in slavery today
00:32:53.27\00:33:00.78
but there's a great deal
of bondage in the church.
00:33:00.81\00:33:08.48
Exodus 2:23...
00:33:08.52\00:33:14.42
the children of Israel
groaned because of their bondage
00:33:14.46\00:33:24.17
and they cried out...
00:33:24.20\00:33:27.34
and their cry came up to
God because of the bondage.
00:33:27.37\00:33:35.11
So God heard their groaning
00:33:35.14\00:33:41.82
and God remembered His covenant
00:33:41.85\00:33:47.42
with Abraham,
00:33:47.46\00:33:49.16
Isaac,
00:33:49.19\00:33:50.99
and Jacob.
00:33:51.03\00:33:52.53
Do you feel today that
God is silent in your life?
00:33:52.56\00:34:00.57
Are you going through
a dry period spiritually?
00:34:00.60\00:34:09.51
I want you to
know God hears you.
00:34:09.54\00:34:14.58
Whatever you are experiencing
00:34:14.62\00:34:19.69
God hears...
00:34:19.72\00:34:21.99
and He remembers
His covenant with you,
00:34:22.02\00:34:27.80
He remembers
that He redeemed you
00:34:27.83\00:34:29.86
with the
precious blood of Jesus.
00:34:29.90\00:34:37.21
Turn over one
chapter to Exodus chapter 3,
00:34:37.24\00:34:45.48
Exodus 3 verse 7
00:34:45.51\00:34:53.25
and the Lord said,
00:34:53.29\00:34:55.96
"I have surely seen the
oppression of My people... "
00:34:55.99\00:35:02.23
did you hear that?
00:35:02.26\00:35:04.47
God doesn't just hear us...
00:35:04.50\00:35:07.30
He sees what you
are going through...
00:35:07.34\00:35:12.67
"I have seen the
oppression of my people...
00:35:12.71\00:35:17.88
and I have heard the cry
because of their taskmasters
00:35:17.91\00:35:25.45
for I know their sorrows. "
00:35:25.49\00:35:30.79
When it seems
that God is silent,
00:35:30.83\00:35:36.70
He hears.
00:35:36.73\00:35:39.33
Number 2,
00:35:39.37\00:35:41.17
When it seems
that God is silent,
00:35:41.20\00:35:45.91
He cares...
00:35:45.94\00:35:48.58
Matthew chapter 10
00:35:48.61\00:35:53.42
Jesus talks about... when
a sparrow falls to the ground
00:35:53.45\00:35:58.95
in Russian...
00:35:58.99\00:36:03.96
that God sees that...
00:36:03.99\00:36:07.60
and He cares for the
sparrow... even the sparrow.
00:36:07.63\00:36:15.60
Do you all have
sparrows in Russia?
00:36:15.64\00:36:19.57
Da...
00:36:19.61\00:36:23.11
so, in America,
00:36:23.14\00:36:25.91
the sparrow is not
the most popular bird.
00:36:25.95\00:36:33.39
There are many birds
that are much prettier...
00:36:33.42\00:36:39.43
many birds that
have colorful plumage...
00:36:39.46\00:36:47.50
many birds that
have a beautiful sound...
00:36:47.54\00:36:54.24
and the sparrow
is pretty ordinary...
00:36:54.28\00:36:59.65
just a little bird...
00:36:59.68\00:37:02.08
brown...
00:37:02.12\00:37:03.72
with not such a good sound...
00:37:03.75\00:37:09.96
they might sing like I do
00:37:09.99\00:37:17.07
ordinary sparrows...
00:37:17.10\00:37:22.40
and yet, even when the
sparrow falls to the ground,
00:37:22.44\00:37:31.15
God cares.
00:37:31.18\00:37:34.55
What does that mean?
00:37:34.58\00:37:37.89
When it seems like
God is silent in your life
00:37:37.92\00:37:44.53
and you say,
"But I'm ordinary... "
00:37:44.56\00:37:49.86
I'm nobody special...
00:37:49.90\00:37:53.84
just a regular person...
00:37:53.87\00:37:57.74
God cares for you.
00:37:57.77\00:38:02.28
God hears...
00:38:02.31\00:38:05.41
He cares...
00:38:05.45\00:38:07.32
He comforts...
00:38:07.35\00:38:10.19
how does He comfort us?
00:38:10.22\00:38:13.32
He comforts us through His Word.
00:38:13.36\00:38:18.86
Psalm 119...
00:38:18.89\00:38:22.73
Psalm 119 verses 49 and 50,
00:38:22.76\00:38:30.47
"Remember the
word to Your servant,
00:38:30.51\00:38:35.64
upon which You
have caused me to hope.
00:38:35.68\00:38:40.82
Pause...
00:38:40.85\00:38:49.82
in Russian...
00:38:49.86\00:38:54.66
This is my
comfort in my affliction,
00:38:54.73\00:39:01.04
for Your word
has given me life. "
00:39:01.07\00:39:07.81
What gives us comfort
in our time of affliction?
00:39:07.84\00:39:14.12
God's Word...
00:39:14.15\00:39:16.45
God's Word has
life-changing power.
00:39:16.48\00:39:24.76
When it appears that
God is silent in your life,
00:39:24.79\00:39:29.46
open up your Bible.
00:39:29.50\00:39:32.17
Read the promises of
comfort that He has for you.
00:39:32.20\00:39:37.24
In Russian...
00:39:37.27\00:39:42.41
God doesn't just
comfort us by his Word.
00:39:42.44\00:39:47.88
He comforts us
through His Holy Spirit.
00:39:47.92\00:39:52.59
2nd Corinthians chapter 1,
00:39:52.62\00:39:57.73
2nd Corinthians
1 verses 3 and 4,
00:39:57.76\00:40:05.77
"Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
00:40:05.80\00:40:12.34
the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort,
00:40:12.37\00:40:19.38
who comforts us in
all our tribulation,
00:40:19.41\00:40:25.52
that we may be able to comfort
those who are in trouble,
00:40:25.55\00:40:33.76
with the comfort with
which we ourselves are comforted
00:40:33.80\00:40:36.87
by God. "
00:40:36.90\00:40:40.90
Now, I don't
know about in Russian
00:40:40.94\00:40:44.67
because we didn't
talk about this before,
00:40:44.71\00:40:48.91
but in English
the word "comfort"
00:40:48.94\00:40:50.91
appears five
times in that verse.
00:40:50.95\00:40:58.72
That word is taken in the Greek
00:40:58.75\00:41:08.56
from the word "Parakletos"
00:41:08.60\00:41:14.54
John 14, 15 and 16
00:41:14.57\00:41:21.74
the word "Parakletos" is used
00:41:21.78\00:41:26.95
and it refers
to the Holy Spirit.
00:41:26.98\00:41:32.19
God sends us the Holy Spirit
00:41:32.22\00:41:37.26
to give us comfort in our lives.
00:41:37.29\00:41:42.43
God comforts us by His presence.
00:41:42.46\00:41:47.77
Psalm 23:4
00:41:47.80\00:41:54.81
"Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
00:41:54.84\00:42:02.18
I will fear no evil:
00:42:02.22\00:42:05.15
for You are with me;
00:42:05.19\00:42:09.72
Your rod and your
staff they comfort me. "
00:42:09.76\00:42:16.23
When it seems
that God is silent,
00:42:16.26\00:42:20.57
He hears...
00:42:20.60\00:42:22.57
He cares...
00:42:22.60\00:42:24.91
He comforts
00:42:24.94\00:42:27.34
and He accompanies.
00:42:27.38\00:42:32.21
Turn with me to Isaiah 43
00:42:32.25\00:42:40.26
one of my all-time
favorite Scriptures
00:42:40.29\00:42:47.86
Isaiah 43:1 through 3,
00:42:47.90\00:42:53.60
"But now thus says the LORD
00:42:53.64\00:42:57.54
Who created you, O, Jacob... "
00:42:57.57\00:43:03.24
the word in Hebrew for "Create"
00:43:03.28\00:43:10.25
means "to form" or "shape"
00:43:10.29\00:43:18.03
God made us in
our mother's womb...
00:43:18.06\00:43:24.17
He formed us...
00:43:24.20\00:43:28.04
but it doesn't stop there...
00:43:28.07\00:43:34.28
"Fear not: for I
have redeemed you... "
00:43:34.31\00:43:41.58
God bought us back.
00:43:41.62\00:43:45.79
He made us and
formed us in the beginning
00:43:45.82\00:43:52.79
and then we allowed sin to
separate us from the Father.
00:43:52.83\00:44:00.10
We allowed that to
create that distance
00:44:00.14\00:44:07.38
and He said, "I'm
going to buy you back. "
00:44:07.41\00:44:13.15
"I have redeemed you,
00:44:13.18\00:44:17.19
I called you by your name;
00:44:17.22\00:44:20.96
you are mine.
00:44:20.99\00:44:22.62
When you pass
through the waters,
00:44:22.66\00:44:26.26
I will be with you;
00:44:26.29\00:44:29.60
and through the rivers,
00:44:29.63\00:44:32.20
they will not overflow you.
00:44:32.23\00:44:36.60
Probably 20 years ago,
00:44:36.64\00:44:40.71
my mom went through
a serious health crisis
00:44:40.74\00:44:49.05
and I remember as
if it were yesterday.
00:44:49.08\00:44:54.66
We were sitting in
the doctor's office,
00:44:54.69\00:44:58.89
waiting for the results...
the verdict from the doctor.
00:44:58.93\00:45:06.10
My mom sat on
those little exam table
00:45:06.13\00:45:14.34
and my dad was on this side,
arms crossed across his chest
00:45:14.38\00:45:21.82
and I was on this side of
the room, arms across my chest
00:45:21.85\00:45:29.86
desperately trying to
claim a Bible promise.
00:45:29.89\00:45:35.33
In Russian...
00:45:35.36\00:45:40.14
Scared...
00:45:40.17\00:45:44.87
don't know what
the future holds...
00:45:44.91\00:45:49.78
don't know what the doctor's
diagnosis is going to be.
00:45:49.81\00:45:56.25
The promise I claimed
was Psalm 112 verse 7,
00:45:56.28\00:45:59.42
in Russian...
00:45:59.45\00:46:08.20
"He shall not be
afraid of evil tidings:
00:46:08.23\00:46:16.17
his heart is fixed,
00:46:16.20\00:46:20.71
trusting in the LORD."
00:46:20.74\00:46:24.88
Now, I had
misinterpreted that Scripture.
00:46:24.91\00:46:28.38
In Russian...
00:46:28.42\00:46:33.79
For some reason,
00:46:33.82\00:46:39.16
I thought it meant
00:46:39.19\00:46:43.06
if I trusted in God,
00:46:43.10\00:46:47.00
nothing evil is going to happen.
00:46:47.04\00:46:51.54
That's not what it says.
00:46:51.57\00:46:55.54
It says, "When the
bad things happen... "
00:46:55.58\00:47:02.45
and they happen because
we live in a world of sin.
00:47:02.48\00:47:10.13
God will accompany
you in the midst of it.
00:47:10.16\00:47:17.57
When it appears that
God is silent, He hears...
00:47:17.60\00:47:24.57
He cares...
00:47:24.61\00:47:25.97
He comforts...
00:47:26.01\00:47:28.08
He accompanies
00:47:28.11\00:47:31.01
and He delivers.
00:47:31.05\00:47:33.62
Turn back with me
to Exodus chapter 3
00:47:33.65\00:47:43.49
back to the children of Israel,
00:47:43.53\00:47:47.90
this first verse we
already read before,
00:47:47.93\00:47:55.10
Exodus 3 verse 7,
00:47:55.14\00:47:59.17
and the Lord said,
00:47:59.21\00:48:01.38
"I have surely seen
the oppression of my people
00:48:01.41\00:48:05.38
who are in Egypt,
00:48:05.41\00:48:09.72
and I have heard their cry
00:48:09.75\00:48:14.72
because of their taskmasters;
00:48:14.76\00:48:19.93
for I know their sorrows... "
00:48:19.96\00:48:23.77
but it doesn't stop there,
00:48:23.80\00:48:27.14
the next verse
00:48:27.17\00:48:29.57
says, "I have come down
00:48:29.60\00:48:33.94
to deliver them. "
00:48:33.98\00:48:36.75
Do you want deliverance?
00:48:36.78\00:48:39.98
Are you in the midst of a battle
00:48:40.02\00:48:46.05
feeling as if God
has turned His back?
00:48:46.09\00:48:52.49
He is silent...
00:48:52.53\00:48:55.53
He wants to deliver you...
00:48:55.56\00:49:00.14
He delivers us from bondage...
00:49:00.17\00:49:04.74
John 8:36,
00:49:04.77\00:49:09.41
"Therefore, if the
Son makes you free,
00:49:09.44\00:49:14.78
you shall be free indeed. "
00:49:14.82\00:49:19.75
God wants to set us free,
00:49:19.79\00:49:22.82
He wants to liberate us
00:49:22.86\00:49:27.23
to release us from bondage.
00:49:27.26\00:49:33.00
He doesn't just
deliver from bondage,
00:49:33.03\00:49:38.74
He delivers from trouble,
00:49:38.77\00:49:43.75
Psalm 34 verse 17,
00:49:43.78\00:49:51.35
"The righteous cry out,
00:49:51.39\00:49:57.33
and the LORD hears,
00:49:57.36\00:49:59.93
and delivers them
00:49:59.96\00:50:03.93
from all their troubles. "
00:50:03.97\00:50:06.57
He delivers us from fear,
00:50:06.60\00:50:10.44
Psalm 34 verse 4,
00:50:10.47\00:50:15.34
"I sought the LORD,
00:50:15.38\00:50:19.31
and He heard me,
00:50:19.35\00:50:21.55
and delivered me
from all my fear. "
00:50:21.58\00:50:28.66
He delivers us from sin,
00:50:28.69\00:50:32.63
Matthew 1:21,
00:50:32.66\00:50:37.70
"He shall save His
people from their sins. "
00:50:37.73\00:50:44.87
Romans 6:18,
00:50:44.91\00:50:49.44
"And having been
set free from sin...
00:50:49.48\00:50:56.82
you become slaves or
servants of righteousness. "
00:50:56.85\00:51:04.26
God wants to
deliver us from bondage.
00:51:04.29\00:51:09.76
He wants to
deliver us from trouble.
00:51:09.80\00:51:16.07
He wants to
deliver us from fear.
00:51:16.10\00:51:21.21
He wants to deliver from sin.
00:51:21.24\00:51:26.05
Pause...
00:51:26.08\00:51:32.19
I stepped out of our
kitchen into our garage,
00:51:32.22\00:51:39.59
it was really hot,
00:51:39.63\00:51:43.63
a 100 degrees Fahrenheit,
00:51:43.67\00:51:48.50
and we opened up the garage door
00:51:48.54\00:51:55.04
and looked up at
the roof of the garage
00:51:55.08\00:51:59.91
and there was a Hummingbird,
00:51:59.95\00:52:07.49
hovering at the
peak of the roof,
00:52:07.52\00:52:15.43
it was really hot...
00:52:15.46\00:52:18.73
just a little bird...
00:52:18.77\00:52:22.00
it was going to die...
00:52:22.04\00:52:26.27
and I said, "Come down
and go out the open door... "
00:52:26.31\00:52:34.05
and it didn't...
00:52:34.08\00:52:36.99
so Greg got a ladder
00:52:37.02\00:52:43.99
and he climbed to the rafters...
00:52:44.03\00:52:49.63
stepping from
rafter to rafter...
00:52:49.66\00:52:57.97
he reached up... gloved
hands for the little bird
00:52:58.01\00:53:03.88
and caught it
00:53:03.91\00:53:06.48
and then he began to
step from rafter to rafter
00:53:06.51\00:53:14.22
and started
walking down the ladder,
00:53:14.26\00:53:19.16
he went outside...
00:53:19.19\00:53:23.60
opened up his hands
00:53:23.63\00:53:27.64
and the bird
flew off and was gone
00:53:27.67\00:53:32.91
and I thought of all the times
00:53:32.94\00:53:38.81
I have wandered
where it was unsafe,
00:53:38.85\00:53:47.56
I refused the open garage door,
00:53:47.59\00:53:53.90
the easy way home
00:53:53.93\00:53:58.47
and yet my Savior
00:53:58.50\00:54:01.77
had climbed the ladder of
my stubbornness and pride,
00:54:01.80\00:54:10.28
reaching out
scarred hands to pick me up
00:54:10.31\00:54:17.29
how often I had cried against
00:54:17.32\00:54:19.95
the very thing
that brought me home
00:54:19.99\00:54:29.26
and yet, God brought me into
liberty and opened up His hands
00:54:29.30\00:54:37.34
setting me free to choose again.
00:54:37.37\00:54:45.71
When it seems God is silent,
00:54:45.75\00:54:50.42
He hears you,
00:54:50.45\00:54:52.95
He cares...
00:54:52.99\00:54:55.12
He comforts...
00:54:55.16\00:54:57.66
He accompanies...
00:54:57.69\00:55:01.86
He can bring you deliverance...
00:55:01.90\00:55:07.10
do you want deliverance today?
00:55:07.14\00:55:12.17
"Father, we come
before You just now,
00:55:12.21\00:55:17.61
turning our eyes upon You,
00:55:17.65\00:55:22.22
would you touch us once again...
00:55:22.25\00:55:27.02
would you change us...
00:55:27.06\00:55:30.33
would you set us free...
00:55:30.36\00:55:32.93
in Jesus' name,
00:55:32.96\00:55:35.03
amen. "
00:55:35.06\00:55:36.63
Piano...
00:55:36.67\00:55:47.44
In Russian...
00:55:47.48\00:55:55.75
Let us thank our Sister Jill
who led us in this Bible Study
00:55:55.78\00:56:00.69
wonderful topic...
00:56:00.72\00:56:05.86
in Russian...
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it is so good to know
00:56:14.67\00:56:16.40
that even when it
seems that God is silent,
00:56:16.44\00:56:20.21
He is with us.
00:56:20.24\00:56:24.78
In Russian...
00:56:24.81\00:56:29.28
It's great to
remember that He cares...
00:56:29.32\00:56:32.22
that He hears...
00:56:32.25\00:56:34.09
that He loves...
00:56:34.12\00:56:36.09
that He would never forsake us
00:56:36.12\00:56:41.23
that He leads us
on this way of life
00:56:41.26\00:56:48.74
maybe this way is
not easy all the time...
00:56:48.77\00:56:55.51
in Russian...
00:56:55.54\00:57:05.65
it is not only in Russia
00:57:05.69\00:57:07.59
this way of life
is hard sometimes,
00:57:07.62\00:57:10.26
we found out that
people in America suffer too.
00:57:10.29\00:57:14.00
In Russian...
00:57:14.03\00:57:23.51
And as the Bible says
that every knee will bow down
00:57:23.54\00:57:28.91
before our God and our Creator.
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In Russian...
00:57:32.51\00:57:36.55
May the Lord
bless each one of us.
00:57:36.58\00:57:38.85
Music...
00:57:38.89\00:57:41.76