Hello, friends, my
name is John Lomacang,
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and welcome to
3ABN Worship Hour.
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You know 3ABN as well
as the rest of the world
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is now in a pandemic.
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And the Lord has
moved upon our hearts
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to provide Sabbath programming
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for those of you which are many
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that are not able to go
to their worship services
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or to gather together in
groups to worship the Lord,
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and we pray that we
could encourage your hearts
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to trust the Lord in
this time of many questions.
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And so from Sabbath to Sabbath,
we encourage you to tune in
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for an
encouraging uplifting message
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to let us know that
in spite of the fact
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that the world is
gripped in a pandemic,
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heaven is still
open for business.
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Today our message is
going to be entitled,
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"Pandemic."
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And before the message though,
I'm going to have Ryan Day come
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and begin with
an encouraging song.
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You know, there are many
things to complain about,
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but I believe the
words of this song
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will encourage you
the words entitled,
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"I Can't Complain."
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I've had bad days
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And I've hills to climb
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Then I've had sad days
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And then a weary mile
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Yet when I look about
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And I think These things all out
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All of the good things
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Outweigh the bad things
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I can't complain
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God is so good to me
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He is so good to me
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More than this world could be
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He's so good to me
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His spirit came to me
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And gave me victory
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God is so good to me
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I can't complain
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Sometimes the clouds hang low
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And I'd like to see them go
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Then I ask the question, Lord
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Why so much pain
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But He knows what's best for me
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Although I cannot see
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I just say thank you, Lord
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I can't complain.
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Oh, God is so good to me
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Yes, He's so good to me
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More than this world could be
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He's so good to me
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His spirit came to me
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And gave me victory
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God is so good to me
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I can't complain
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My God is so good to me
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I can't complain
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Amen. Amen.
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What an encouraging song.
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There's so many
things to complain about.
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Praise the Lord
when we turn our hearts
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to Christ and
recognize that heaven
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is still open for business
and Jesus is still Lord of all.
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I cannot complain.
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Bow your heads with
me as I invite the Lord
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to speak to you at
this very critical hour.
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Father in heaven,
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in this hour where
there are so many things
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to think about,
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in this moment when the world is
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on the precipice
of many questions
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without answers.
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We thank You, Lord,
that when we turn away
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from the darkness to the light,
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that the things that
we can complain about
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begin to vanish away.
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Thank You, Lord,
for being near to us.
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We pray that
You'll continue to be.
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And now take this
message and speak to Your people
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and bring peace to
their troubled souls.
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In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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You know,
friends, you most likely
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don't know who He is.
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But if you were
alive at the time,
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or if I jolt so your memory,
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you may remember
what He is known for.
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His name is Victor Perrin.
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He was the
ominous voice of the 1960s
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in a very well-known
program called The Outer Limits.
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Now if you were not
born, then you may not remember
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or if you were not in America,
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it may be something new to you,
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but here's what he
said very interesting.
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The following words, he said,
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"There is nothing
wrong with your television,
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your television set.
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Do not attempt to
adjust the picture.
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We are controlling transmission.
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For the next hour, sit quietly,
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and we will control
all that you see and hear.
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We repeat:
there is nothing wrong
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with your television set."
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He went on to say,
"You are about to experience
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the awe and mystery
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which reaches
from the inner mind
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to The Outer Limits."
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Friends, I can say
with certainty today
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that we have
reached the outer limits
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in our imagination
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when we look at what's happening
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in the world today.
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For the first
time in modern history,
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the world has
taken a collective breath
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in anticipation
of what is coming.
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People are wondering
how to make sense of it.
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Where do I go,
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and we would like to
adjust our television sets
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to see something differently.
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But every channel we turn to,
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whether in
English or in Spanish,
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or in Italian,
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or in the many languages
of the countries of the world,
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there is bad
news on every channel.
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While trying to
make sense of it,
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the Bible makes it very
clear as to where we are headed.
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The words of
the Apostle Paul fit
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in this critical hour.
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Notice what he
says in 2 Timothy 3:1.
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But he said, "But know this,
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that in the last days
perilous times will come."
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Well, friends, think about it.
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When you look at
the rising death tolls,
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a very sad picture, we
have entered perilous times.
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When you look at governments
trying to find answers
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to the crisis that's gripping
the world uncontrollably,
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we have entered perilous times.
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When we look at the
basic necessities of life
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vanishing away, we
have entered perilous times.
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When we look at how nations
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that have often been
places of vacation destinations
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now closing their borders,
we have entered perilous times.
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But also when we
think of what's happening,
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when we go into the
deeper recesses of our minds,
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it's hard to understand
what's actually taking place.
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But in the
Testimonies for the Church,
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volume 9, page 43,
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the servant of the
Lord makes it clear
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as to what time we're living in.
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Notice what she says.
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She says, "We are on the
verge of the time of trouble,"
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the very verge of
the time of trouble,
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"and perplexities that
are scarcely dreamed of
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are before us."
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Now look at those words
scarcely dreamed of, meaning,
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if months ago, we came up
with a scenario in our minds,
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we could scarcely
dream of the kind of world
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that we're living in today.
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I'm a native of New York City.
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I received phone
calls from family members
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and they're saying,
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the streets are
practically empty.
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The highways and cars
are traveling at minimum.
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I have family in
the Virgin Islands.
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They were told by
their governor recently
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to prepare for this as
though a hurricane is coming.
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And people are buying
food, the store shelves
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and the supplies are vanishing.
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People are wondering
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when a virus
antidote will be developed.
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We are living
in difficult times,
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and things that we
can hardly dream of,
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scarcely dream of are before us.
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For the first time the
entire world has arrived
00:10:08.57\00:10:11.57
at an unpredictable
hour of apprehension.
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There is an
irreversible, fearful anxiety
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that has descended on humanity.
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And for the first time,
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it doesn't matter
what your race is,
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doesn't matter your
political convictions,
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it doesn't matter
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whether you're
Christian or atheist,
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every one of us is
in the same basket,
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every one of us has
the very same concern.
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And the climate of the
world should not be surprised.
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When the student of the Bible
00:10:38.97\00:10:40.84
looks at the
climate of the world,
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we should not be
surprised by what we see
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because God's
Word revealed to us
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that these times would come.
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Notice the words
of the Apostle Paul
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in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3.
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Notice what he says.
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He says, "But
concerning the times
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and seasons, brethren,"
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he's speaking to the Christians,
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"you have no need that
I should write to you."
00:11:02.82\00:11:05.49
In other words,
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God has told
you this was coming.
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"For you
yourselves know perfectly
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that the day of
the Lord so comes
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as a thief in the night."
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And he continues in verse 3.
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"For when they
say, 'Peace and safety!'
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then sudden
destruction comes upon them,
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as labor pains
upon a pregnant woman."
00:11:25.85\00:11:28.42
And notice how he ends,
"And they shall not escape."
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You know, friends,
00:11:32.59\00:11:33.92
people are
wondering how to escape.
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People are wondering,
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is there some place in the world
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that I can go where
this disease is not?
00:11:38.16\00:11:40.76
But hey, there's
no place to escape.
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The only place
that we can find escape
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is under the
almighty power of God.
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As Psalms 91 says,
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"Under His wings
we shall take refuge."
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And so, friends,
let me encourage you,
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since we cannot find any place
on the planet to escape to,
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let's escape to the
presence of God through prayer.
00:11:58.31\00:12:01.08
Let us escape to
the presence of God
00:12:01.12\00:12:03.22
through the study of the Word.
00:12:03.25\00:12:04.69
Let us take time to
pull our families together
00:12:04.72\00:12:07.62
and revisit those
passages that bring hope
00:12:07.66\00:12:10.49
and courage to our hearts.
00:12:10.53\00:12:12.13
Let us look away from the news
that's nothing but bad news.
00:12:12.16\00:12:15.46
And remember, the
gospel is still good news,
00:12:15.50\00:12:18.13
and God has not lost control.
00:12:18.17\00:12:21.44
This is the time to recalibrate
our walk with Christ,
00:12:21.47\00:12:24.47
examine our hearts
because we are on the cusped.
00:12:24.51\00:12:27.61
And the worst is yet to come.
00:12:27.64\00:12:29.44
But after the worst has passed,
00:12:29.48\00:12:31.25
the best will
be there eternally.
00:12:31.28\00:12:33.85
In the book Great Controversy,
00:12:33.88\00:12:35.85
we find some
very startling words
00:12:35.88\00:12:37.89
that bring us to a
picture painting moment
00:12:37.92\00:12:41.19
that helps us to
see on a larger scale
00:12:41.22\00:12:43.96
what God sees from heaven.
00:12:43.99\00:12:45.83
Notice, the Great Controversy,
page 589 and paragraph 2,
00:12:45.86\00:12:50.47
these words fit the
times in which we live.
00:12:50.50\00:12:54.00
"In accidents and
calamities by sea and by land,
00:12:54.04\00:12:57.67
in great conflagrations,
00:12:57.71\00:12:59.51
in fierce tornadoes
and terrific hailstorms,
00:12:59.54\00:13:02.94
in tempests, floods,
cyclones, tidal waves,
00:13:02.98\00:13:07.55
and earthquakes,
00:13:07.58\00:13:08.92
in every place and
in a thousand forms,"
00:13:08.95\00:13:12.55
notice, "Satan is
exercising his power.
00:13:12.59\00:13:16.32
He sweeps away
the ripening harvest,
00:13:16.36\00:13:18.66
and famine and distress follow.
00:13:18.69\00:13:20.86
He imparts to the
air a deadly taint,
00:13:20.90\00:13:24.70
and thousands
perish by the pestilence."
00:13:24.73\00:13:28.30
Another word for disease.
00:13:28.34\00:13:29.74
"These visitations are to become
00:13:29.77\00:13:31.77
more and more
frequent and disastrous."
00:13:31.81\00:13:34.91
Friends, the
climate in which we live
00:13:34.94\00:13:36.68
is just a taste
of what's to come.
00:13:36.71\00:13:38.78
We are just
seeing the harbingers.
00:13:38.81\00:13:41.05
We are seeing the
clouds forming on the horizon.
00:13:41.08\00:13:43.79
This is just a
taste of what is to come.
00:13:43.82\00:13:47.02
You know, the
Lord said in His words,
00:13:47.06\00:13:48.39
"There'll be famines,
00:13:48.42\00:13:49.76
there'll be pestilences,
00:13:49.79\00:13:51.13
and there'll be
earthquakes in various places."
00:13:51.16\00:13:53.19
But He said, "These are
the beginning of sorrows."
00:13:53.23\00:13:56.26
And right now the
governors of our world,
00:13:56.30\00:13:58.80
the presidents,
the kings, the leaders,
00:13:58.83\00:14:01.77
religious and secular alike
are trying to find an answer
00:14:01.80\00:14:05.37
to this virus.
00:14:05.41\00:14:06.74
But so far the only answer,
00:14:06.78\00:14:08.48
I say it again
is found in Christ.
00:14:08.51\00:14:10.71
The only place
that we can find safety
00:14:10.75\00:14:13.42
is putting our lives
in the hand of the Lord
00:14:13.45\00:14:15.58
who has never lost a case.
00:14:15.62\00:14:17.42
The Master
Physician is our only hope,
00:14:17.45\00:14:20.39
when there is no
hope from our hospitals.
00:14:20.42\00:14:22.72
But I want to say,
pray for our doctors.
00:14:22.76\00:14:25.99
Pray for the
medical professionals.
00:14:26.03\00:14:27.90
Pray that supplies will come
00:14:27.93\00:14:30.13
to replenish all
the supplies being used.
00:14:30.17\00:14:33.27
Pray for the strength of
those who stand 24 hours a day.
00:14:33.30\00:14:37.14
Pray for our emergency
workers, our police officers.
00:14:37.17\00:14:40.58
Pray for those who are
standing in the gap for us,
00:14:40.61\00:14:43.81
hoping to find an answer
00:14:43.85\00:14:45.21
to the
perplexities that find us.
00:14:45.25\00:14:47.32
You know, friends when you look
at the spread of this COVID-19
00:14:47.35\00:14:50.09
as it's now called.
00:14:50.12\00:14:51.65
In just a matter of two weeks,
00:14:51.69\00:14:54.06
it has gone from 57 countries
to more than 150 countries
00:14:54.09\00:14:59.83
around the world.
00:14:59.86\00:15:01.23
And then look at the impact.
00:15:01.26\00:15:02.63
Major sporting events in
America and around the world
00:15:02.66\00:15:05.40
have been canceled indefinitely.
00:15:05.43\00:15:07.30
Schools are closed indefinitely.
00:15:07.34\00:15:10.54
But here's the good
news, but heaven is still open.
00:15:10.57\00:15:13.04
Heaven has not closed.
00:15:13.07\00:15:14.58
God is still on His thrones.
00:15:14.61\00:15:16.75
Churches, I hate to say this,
00:15:16.78\00:15:18.91
churches are canceling services,
00:15:18.95\00:15:20.62
minimizing the crowds,
00:15:20.65\00:15:22.08
but God is still
answering our prayers.
00:15:22.12\00:15:24.99
If you breathe a prayer,
heaven doesn't need a text.
00:15:25.02\00:15:28.42
They don't need a phone line,
00:15:28.46\00:15:29.79
God will answer your
prayers in this crisis hour.
00:15:29.82\00:15:33.36
Major airlines
are canceling travel.
00:15:33.40\00:15:36.53
There are places
where airlines don't go.
00:15:36.56\00:15:38.33
Some airports
look like ghost towns.
00:15:38.37\00:15:40.47
Hotels are closing.
00:15:40.50\00:15:42.07
Countries are
restricting entrance
00:15:42.10\00:15:44.54
from outsiders
and even in some cases
00:15:44.57\00:15:47.48
when you come into the country,
00:15:47.51\00:15:48.84
you have to quarantine
yourself for two weeks
00:15:48.88\00:15:50.95
before you can enter
into the general population.
00:15:50.98\00:15:54.08
Major countries are
closing their borders.
00:15:54.12\00:15:56.75
What a crisis hour?
00:15:56.79\00:15:58.19
But there is no crisis
in the kingdom of glory.
00:15:58.22\00:16:00.76
There is no
crisis among the angels.
00:16:00.79\00:16:03.02
We may not be able to see them,
00:16:03.06\00:16:05.09
but God is sending
reinforcements to your home.
00:16:05.13\00:16:07.76
God is sending His
Holy Spirit into your life.
00:16:07.80\00:16:10.53
Just open His Word
and you'll find the light
00:16:10.57\00:16:12.37
has not been cut off.
00:16:12.40\00:16:13.74
The power has not
been disconnected.
00:16:13.77\00:16:15.90
Heaven is busy.
00:16:15.94\00:16:17.51
And when we cannot find answers
in our local communities,
00:16:17.54\00:16:21.68
we can always find
answers at the throne of grace.
00:16:21.71\00:16:26.25
But, friends,
what's happening to men?
00:16:26.28\00:16:28.25
Luke.
00:16:28.28\00:16:29.62
Faithful Dr. Luke
has written the words
00:16:29.65\00:16:31.82
that brings us
to this crisis hour.
00:16:31.85\00:16:33.76
Notice what he
says in Luke 21:26,
00:16:33.79\00:16:37.13
he describes it accurately,
00:16:37.16\00:16:38.49
he says, "Men's
hearts failing them from fear
00:16:38.53\00:16:43.13
and the
expectation of those things
00:16:43.16\00:16:45.10
which are coming on the earth."
00:16:45.13\00:16:46.84
Notice what he says,
00:16:46.87\00:16:48.20
"For the powers of the
heavens will be shaken."
00:16:48.24\00:16:51.57
People are
wondering where do I turn.
00:16:51.61\00:16:53.51
But I want to tell you,
00:16:53.54\00:16:54.88
as he talks about
the powers of heaven,
00:16:54.91\00:16:56.24
he is saying that men
are looking up wondering
00:16:56.28\00:16:58.61
what's coming next?
00:16:58.65\00:17:00.18
What do we do?
00:17:00.22\00:17:01.55
To whom do we turn?
00:17:01.58\00:17:03.22
How can we find answers
00:17:03.25\00:17:05.59
when the people with
the professional skills,
00:17:05.62\00:17:08.29
the people at the highest levels
00:17:08.32\00:17:10.43
in the CDC,
00:17:10.46\00:17:11.79
or the World
Health Organization,
00:17:11.83\00:17:13.70
even they are seeking
answers to this crisis hour?
00:17:13.73\00:17:17.17
But notice, in the
book Prophets and Kings,
00:17:17.20\00:17:19.73
a beautiful picture is drawn
00:17:19.77\00:17:21.74
as to what kind of
climate we are all now facing.
00:17:21.77\00:17:24.67
Prophets and Kings, page 277.
00:17:24.71\00:17:27.21
Notice these very words.
00:17:27.24\00:17:29.84
"How frequently we hear
of earthquakes and tornadoes,
00:17:29.88\00:17:33.65
of destruction
by fire and flood,
00:17:33.68\00:17:36.99
with great loss
of life and property!
00:17:37.02\00:17:39.89
Apparently these calamities
are capricious outbreaks
00:17:39.92\00:17:43.99
of disorganized,
unregulated forces of nature,
00:17:44.03\00:17:48.30
wholly beyond
the control of man,"
00:17:48.33\00:17:50.77
but listen to these words,
00:17:50.80\00:17:52.37
"but in them all
God's purposes may be read.
00:17:52.40\00:17:57.04
They are among the agencies
by which He, that is God,
00:17:57.07\00:18:01.74
seeks to arouse men and women
to a sense of their danger."
00:18:01.78\00:18:06.58
Friends, danger, danger.
00:18:06.61\00:18:09.78
Danger is on the right
hand, on the left hand.
00:18:09.82\00:18:12.69
Danger is above
us, danger is below us.
00:18:12.72\00:18:15.39
Danger is right
outside your doors
00:18:15.42\00:18:17.59
as some people
haven't left their homes
00:18:17.63\00:18:19.83
for days and in
some cases for weeks,
00:18:19.86\00:18:22.13
quarantining themselves, danger.
00:18:22.16\00:18:24.57
But I want to tell you,
God is allowing these moments
00:18:24.60\00:18:28.77
to be a time where
He's saying to humanity,
00:18:28.80\00:18:31.27
all the things you've trusted.
00:18:31.31\00:18:32.77
And notice, casinos are closed.
00:18:32.81\00:18:35.04
All the pleasure loving
palaces are being closed.
00:18:35.08\00:18:38.08
Crowd sizes are being limited
and discouraged altogether.
00:18:38.11\00:18:41.32
Restaurants are
closing, but I tell you,
00:18:41.35\00:18:43.39
you can't find
food in restaurants,
00:18:43.42\00:18:45.52
but you can always find
food in the Word of God.
00:18:45.55\00:18:47.99
And I want to tell you
every time you open God's Word,
00:18:48.02\00:18:50.63
the fruit is never stale.
00:18:50.66\00:18:52.93
It is new every morning
as God's faithfulness is.
00:18:52.96\00:18:57.33
At crisis hour, God
is allowing these times
00:18:57.37\00:19:00.44
to come to let us know
00:19:00.47\00:19:02.17
that when all
the banks are closed,
00:19:02.20\00:19:03.74
and all the schools are closed,
00:19:03.77\00:19:05.44
and all the movie
theaters are closed,
00:19:05.47\00:19:07.61
and all the
amusement parks are closed,
00:19:07.64\00:19:09.68
and all the things
that we had turned to
00:19:09.71\00:19:11.51
are no longer
there, we can turn to God.
00:19:11.55\00:19:15.85
In America, in some
of our major cities,
00:19:15.88\00:19:19.02
National Guards
are being activated
00:19:19.05\00:19:21.36
to keep down
populations to sometime,
00:19:21.39\00:19:24.73
somehow marshal the resource
and to keep people safe.
00:19:24.76\00:19:29.56
Large businesses are closed,
00:19:29.60\00:19:31.63
telling
employees to work at home.
00:19:31.67\00:19:33.74
Work in your own privacy.
00:19:33.77\00:19:35.67
Stay safe, do
the necessary things.
00:19:35.70\00:19:38.51
Movie theaters, major stores
and shopping malls are closed.
00:19:38.54\00:19:42.34
Food supplies are vanishing.
00:19:42.38\00:19:44.41
And I want to pause and say,
00:19:44.45\00:19:46.25
did you ever think
that this kind of hour
00:19:46.28\00:19:49.35
would come to the entire world.
00:19:49.38\00:19:51.25
For the first
time, not World War II,
00:19:51.29\00:19:53.76
not World War I,
not the Vietnam War.
00:19:53.79\00:19:56.39
This is not
communist versus capitalism
00:19:56.42\00:19:59.69
or republicanism or democracy,
00:19:59.73\00:20:02.06
the entire world is
gripped in an atmosphere
00:20:02.10\00:20:05.73
of what do we do next,
00:20:05.77\00:20:08.04
and people are in panic mode,
00:20:08.07\00:20:10.41
stocking up on food
and water and supplies.
00:20:10.44\00:20:14.04
Politicians, the
wealthy, and the poor alike,
00:20:14.08\00:20:18.05
are facing the same things.
00:20:18.08\00:20:19.61
In America, we're
praying for our president.
00:20:19.65\00:20:21.85
We're praying
for your president.
00:20:21.88\00:20:23.49
We're praying for your leaders.
00:20:23.52\00:20:25.25
We're praying
for your Parliament,
00:20:25.29\00:20:27.09
for your Congress to
come up with answers.
00:20:27.12\00:20:29.42
But the
question is, what's next?
00:20:29.46\00:20:31.63
Well, friends,
when we are wondering,
00:20:31.66\00:20:33.86
God knows.
00:20:33.90\00:20:35.23
When we think of the
words in Matthew Chapter 24,
00:20:35.26\00:20:37.67
it describes
perfectly what God knows.
00:20:37.70\00:20:40.20
Listen to these inspired words.
00:20:40.24\00:20:42.10
Matthew 24:32 and 33.
00:20:42.14\00:20:45.91
"Now learn this
parable from the fig tree:
00:20:45.94\00:20:49.11
When its branch has
already become tender
00:20:49.14\00:20:51.61
and puts forth leaves,
00:20:51.65\00:20:53.28
you know that summer is near.
00:20:53.31\00:20:55.68
So you also, when
you see all these things,
00:20:55.72\00:20:59.69
know that it is
near, even at the doors."
00:20:59.72\00:21:03.53
Well, friends, we're
seeing all of these things.
00:21:03.56\00:21:05.39
We're seeing earthquakes.
00:21:05.43\00:21:06.76
They were months
00:21:06.80\00:21:08.13
when there were
uncontrollable fires in America
00:21:08.16\00:21:09.80
and in Australia.
00:21:09.83\00:21:11.17
There were
famine and pestilences
00:21:11.20\00:21:12.63
around the world.
00:21:12.67\00:21:14.00
People are dying
of other diseases.
00:21:14.04\00:21:15.80
We are seeing all these things
and the Lord is saying to us
00:21:15.84\00:21:18.91
in His Word, know
that these are signs,
00:21:18.94\00:21:21.68
indicators, harbingers
00:21:21.71\00:21:23.55
that the coming
of the Lord is near.
00:21:23.58\00:21:26.51
So we have to make
it through by faith.
00:21:26.55\00:21:29.15
Because one
day, all the sadness,
00:21:29.18\00:21:31.05
all the
heartaches, all the suffering,
00:21:31.09\00:21:32.99
all the disease
and death will one day
00:21:33.02\00:21:35.69
not even be a memory.
00:21:35.72\00:21:37.39
That's why it's
important to trust God's Word.
00:21:37.43\00:21:39.73
If there's
anything that you can trust,
00:21:39.76\00:21:41.66
you can trust God's Word.
00:21:41.70\00:21:44.07
But I'm gonna
take you to a quotation
00:21:44.10\00:21:45.83
that really for me,
00:21:45.87\00:21:47.24
puts the entire label,
00:21:47.27\00:21:49.27
the entire context of
our world in perfect clarity.
00:21:49.30\00:21:52.87
In the book Education, page 179,
00:21:52.91\00:21:56.58
these words are
amazingly accurate
00:21:56.61\00:21:59.01
to the times in which we live.
00:21:59.05\00:22:00.38
Notice these words.
00:22:00.42\00:22:02.28
"The present is a time
of overwhelming interest
00:22:02.32\00:22:05.72
to all living."
00:22:05.75\00:22:07.09
We can say that's true.
00:22:07.12\00:22:08.46
"Rulers and statesmen,
00:22:08.49\00:22:10.66
men who occupy positions
of trust and authority,
00:22:10.69\00:22:14.93
thinking men and
women of all classes,
00:22:14.96\00:22:18.03
have their attention fixed
00:22:18.07\00:22:19.97
upon the events
taking place about us.
00:22:20.00\00:22:23.17
They are watching the strained,
00:22:23.20\00:22:25.47
restless relations that
exist among the nations.
00:22:25.51\00:22:28.84
They observe the intensity
that is taking possession
00:22:28.88\00:22:31.85
of every earthly element,
00:22:31.88\00:22:34.48
and they recognize
that something great
00:22:34.52\00:22:37.39
and decisive is
about to take place,"
00:22:37.42\00:22:39.65
and notice how it ends,
00:22:39.69\00:22:41.02
"that the world is on the
verge of a stupendous crisis."
00:22:41.06\00:22:46.09
Of stupendous crisis,
that word pandemic crisis,
00:22:46.13\00:22:49.96
emergency, danger, it
all fits into this climate.
00:22:50.00\00:22:53.34
We are on the verge
of something even larger.
00:22:53.37\00:22:56.24
And the waves that are beating
00:22:56.27\00:22:58.77
against the shores of time,
00:22:58.81\00:23:00.44
the clouds that are
gathering on the horizon
00:23:00.48\00:23:03.14
are all letting us know
00:23:03.18\00:23:04.78
that the worst
is yet ahead of us.
00:23:04.81\00:23:06.58
That's why,
friends, listen carefully.
00:23:06.61\00:23:08.32
If there's ever a time that
you need to trust in the Lord,
00:23:08.35\00:23:11.79
because you can't
trust your bank account,
00:23:11.82\00:23:13.52
you can't trust
the stock market.
00:23:13.56\00:23:15.49
The stocks are going
down, savings are vanishing.
00:23:15.52\00:23:18.76
And there is no
answer in Wall Street.
00:23:18.79\00:23:21.23
There is no answer
00:23:21.26\00:23:22.60
in the parliaments of our world.
00:23:22.63\00:23:24.27
Look on the horizon and listen
to the heartbeat of the times.
00:23:24.30\00:23:27.44
Look at the sands of
times that are seeping through
00:23:27.47\00:23:30.87
the hourglass of human history.
00:23:30.91\00:23:32.84
We are on the verge
of a stupendous crisis.
00:23:32.87\00:23:35.64
And the only way
to avert the crisis
00:23:35.68\00:23:39.28
is to put your life
in the hands of the Lord.
00:23:39.31\00:23:42.02
Put your life in the hand of One
00:23:42.05\00:23:44.05
who can deliver
you through the crisis.
00:23:44.09\00:23:46.19
In the Bible,
God delivered Daniel.
00:23:46.22\00:23:49.22
In the Bible, God
delivered the Hebrews.
00:23:49.26\00:23:51.39
In the Bible, God saved
Elijah in a time of famine.
00:23:51.43\00:23:54.60
In the Bible, God
provided food for Israel,
00:23:54.63\00:23:57.43
when there were
famines in Egypt.
00:23:57.47\00:23:59.23
God provides, friends,
00:23:59.27\00:24:00.67
and He has and will continue
to provide for us today.
00:24:00.70\00:24:03.97
But when you look at the Bible,
00:24:04.01\00:24:05.34
you understand that
these times are not a surprise
00:24:05.37\00:24:09.01
to those who are
studying the Word of God.
00:24:09.04\00:24:11.45
The Apostle Paul now says to us,
00:24:11.48\00:24:13.75
look, look at
what God's Word says.
00:24:13.78\00:24:16.42
These are not new,
the student of Scripture.
00:24:16.45\00:24:19.15
And I say that again,
00:24:19.19\00:24:20.52
the one who's reading his Bible,
00:24:20.56\00:24:22.59
the young lady
00:24:22.62\00:24:23.96
who is spending
hours in her Bible.
00:24:23.99\00:24:25.59
Let me say
something to our young folks.
00:24:25.63\00:24:27.63
You know, this
virus is not exempt
00:24:27.66\00:24:29.70
to the younger generation.
00:24:29.73\00:24:31.33
Just recently on the news,
00:24:31.37\00:24:33.00
they said those
between 20 and 44,
00:24:33.03\00:24:35.27
there's a spike in the
rise of this Coronavirus,
00:24:35.30\00:24:38.57
the COVID-19 among the young.
00:24:38.61\00:24:40.84
So many believe that
00:24:40.88\00:24:42.21
it's just susceptible
to the older population.
00:24:42.24\00:24:44.45
But I tell you what?
00:24:44.48\00:24:45.81
Friends, disease
does not discriminate.
00:24:45.85\00:24:47.98
It affects the
old and the young.
00:24:48.02\00:24:50.39
Young people,
put down your devices
00:24:50.42\00:24:52.15
and pick up God's Word.
00:24:52.19\00:24:53.52
Get off of Facebook
and start facing the book.
00:24:53.56\00:24:56.09
Put down Instagram,
those moments that give you joy
00:24:56.12\00:24:59.76
and find joy in
the presence of God.
00:24:59.79\00:25:02.33
That's the only
place that we can find joys
00:25:02.36\00:25:06.47
forevermore in a
world that keeps us enamored
00:25:06.50\00:25:09.20
by pleasure and entertainment.
00:25:09.24\00:25:11.07
Turn off the television
00:25:11.11\00:25:12.44
and get into the
presence of Christ,
00:25:12.47\00:25:14.04
because one day all the power
in the world will be shut off.
00:25:14.08\00:25:17.38
One day, there
will be no more answers.
00:25:17.41\00:25:19.61
This is the time
to get back in touch.
00:25:19.65\00:25:22.82
And if you don't know Christ,
this is a perfect time to say,
00:25:22.85\00:25:25.65
Lord, I don't know who You are.
00:25:25.69\00:25:28.12
I've never given my life to You.
00:25:28.16\00:25:30.26
But give me an indication,
show me that You are real.
00:25:30.29\00:25:33.29
Friends, when
you pray that prayer,
00:25:33.33\00:25:34.86
no matter where you are,
00:25:34.90\00:25:36.23
whether you're in
Europe or in Asia,
00:25:36.26\00:25:38.10
whether you're in
the Caribbean islands,
00:25:38.13\00:25:39.67
whether you're in
South America or in Russia,
00:25:39.70\00:25:41.70
wherever you are, God
will answer that prayer.
00:25:41.74\00:25:45.07
God understands every language,
00:25:45.11\00:25:47.54
and He's listened and open
to the cries of His children.
00:25:47.58\00:25:50.51
The Apostle Paul gives
us a very clear picture.
00:25:50.55\00:25:53.48
Notice what he says to
the student of the Bible,
00:25:53.52\00:25:56.15
those studying Bible prophecy.
00:25:56.18\00:25:58.19
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6,
these words are inspiring.
00:25:58.22\00:26:03.56
He says, "But you,
brethren, are not in darkness,
00:26:03.59\00:26:07.76
so that this Day should
overtake you as a thief."
00:26:07.80\00:26:10.23
In other words, you should
have known this is coming,
00:26:10.27\00:26:12.67
not necessarily the
disease but tough times.
00:26:12.70\00:26:15.40
"You are all sons of
light and sons of the day.
00:26:15.44\00:26:19.14
We are not of the
night nor of darkness.
00:26:19.17\00:26:23.18
Therefore, notice
the encouragement,
00:26:23.21\00:26:25.61
"let us not sleep, as
others do, but let us watch.
00:26:25.65\00:26:31.55
Let us watch and be sober."
00:26:31.59\00:26:34.52
Friends, watch and be
sober, two powerful words,
00:26:34.56\00:26:37.29
watch and be sober.
00:26:37.33\00:26:39.56
What should
people of God be doing?
00:26:39.59\00:26:41.76
Watch and be sober.
00:26:41.80\00:26:43.87
That means don't
watch the wrong things,
00:26:43.90\00:26:46.80
watch the right things.
00:26:46.84\00:26:48.77
Don't watch just for
the next news broadcast.
00:26:48.80\00:26:51.41
I tell you what?
00:26:51.44\00:26:52.77
As I flip through the channels
from ABC, and Fox, and NBC,
00:26:52.81\00:26:57.25
and MSNBC, and CBS, and BBC,
00:26:57.28\00:27:00.12
and Al Jazeera,
00:27:00.15\00:27:01.48
it seems like they have
all conglomerating together
00:27:01.52\00:27:04.49
to bring us bad news.
00:27:04.52\00:27:05.85
But the reality
is, the reality is,
00:27:05.89\00:27:08.46
we must be sober, we must watch,
00:27:08.49\00:27:11.23
watch with a vigilance
00:27:11.26\00:27:13.26
because it is in
these crisis times
00:27:13.29\00:27:15.56
that Satan is looking for
those that are not watching.
00:27:15.60\00:27:18.73
That's why the
Apostle Peter said, "Be sober,
00:27:18.77\00:27:21.50
be vigilant because
your adversary, the devil,
00:27:21.54\00:27:24.67
walks about like a roaring lion
seeking whom he may devour."
00:27:24.71\00:27:29.11
There are those
that are saying, well,
00:27:29.14\00:27:31.05
like every other disease,
this is going to also pass.
00:27:31.08\00:27:33.68
Well, that may be true.
00:27:33.72\00:27:35.05
But, friends, the
worst is yet ahead of us.
00:27:35.08\00:27:37.52
Like any other pandemic,
somebody is going to survive.
00:27:37.55\00:27:40.56
Well, you may not know
whether or not you will survive.
00:27:40.59\00:27:43.66
But when you put your
life in the hand of the Lord,
00:27:43.69\00:27:46.06
there is no need for despair
00:27:46.09\00:27:48.66
when you're
standing with Christ.
00:27:48.70\00:27:50.70
Graves may be
filled but I tell you,
00:27:50.73\00:27:53.10
there's going to be
a resurrection morning.
00:27:53.13\00:27:54.80
People are dying
00:27:54.84\00:27:56.17
and it's so sad to
hear the numbers going up,
00:27:56.20\00:27:58.14
but anyone who dies in the Lord,
00:27:58.17\00:28:00.18
there's hope and encouragement.
00:28:00.21\00:28:01.54
The future is not bleak.
00:28:01.58\00:28:03.24
Blessed are the
dead who die in the Lord.
00:28:03.28\00:28:05.15
Precious in the
sight of the Lord
00:28:05.18\00:28:07.68
is the death of His saints.
00:28:07.72\00:28:09.28
They're also saying that
00:28:09.32\00:28:10.65
even though you may
not die from this disease,
00:28:10.69\00:28:12.85
the impact could be
irreversible to your lungs
00:28:12.89\00:28:17.39
and to your future.
00:28:17.43\00:28:18.76
So do all that you must do.
00:28:18.79\00:28:20.36
But the most
essential thing that you can do
00:28:20.40\00:28:23.43
is find the Bible.
00:28:23.47\00:28:24.83
Call your friends on
the phone, pray with them.
00:28:24.87\00:28:28.00
Pastors, call
your church members,
00:28:28.04\00:28:30.04
pray with them, encourage them,
00:28:30.07\00:28:32.61
send out emails,
words of encouragement.
00:28:32.64\00:28:34.74
Don't go on Facebook
and put frivolous things.
00:28:34.78\00:28:37.31
Put, I'm praying for you.
00:28:37.35\00:28:38.81
If you have friends,
send them encouraging words.
00:28:38.85\00:28:41.35
Take quotations from
the Bible, and post it.
00:28:41.38\00:28:44.09
This is the hour, if Facebook
is going to help us at all,
00:28:44.12\00:28:47.39
put something that
can bring somebody hope
00:28:47.42\00:28:49.39
and encouragement
in this dark hour.
00:28:49.42\00:28:51.96
There are things
that we can all do.
00:28:51.99\00:28:54.03
But let's do those
things that will bring hope,
00:28:54.06\00:28:56.63
and courage, and
light to somebody.
00:28:56.67\00:28:58.83
There are those who
are all by themselves.
00:28:58.87\00:29:01.17
There are those
who are retirees.
00:29:01.20\00:29:03.54
There are those
who are older people.
00:29:03.57\00:29:05.07
It seems like their world
has been silent for so long.
00:29:05.11\00:29:08.08
If you know if someone
that's older, that silent,
00:29:08.11\00:29:11.05
you may go and
knock on their doors,
00:29:11.08\00:29:12.68
if you can help
them with groceries,
00:29:12.71\00:29:14.42
can bring some encouragement,
00:29:14.45\00:29:15.95
bring them food
or bring them water.
00:29:15.98\00:29:17.69
Seek to do a good
deed at this crisis hour.
00:29:17.72\00:29:20.82
Go to your
neighbors at a distance,
00:29:20.86\00:29:22.72
as we know social distancing,
00:29:22.76\00:29:24.69
but see what you can do
to bring hope, and courage,
00:29:24.73\00:29:27.00
and light to somebody
that may not know Christ.
00:29:27.03\00:29:29.36
I tell you what?
00:29:29.40\00:29:30.73
When the news is passed,
00:29:30.77\00:29:32.10
and when finally we
know by God's grace,
00:29:32.13\00:29:34.17
one day even this
pandemic will pass.
00:29:34.20\00:29:37.97
The relationships
that we build at this time
00:29:38.01\00:29:40.41
will last far
beyond the bad news.
00:29:40.44\00:29:43.31
See, God is calling His
people to turn their light on.
00:29:43.35\00:29:46.85
God is calling Christians
to stand firmly in this hour.
00:29:46.88\00:29:50.32
God is calling us to say,
00:29:50.35\00:29:52.72
it's not just
about what you believe,
00:29:52.75\00:29:54.72
but who are you.
00:29:54.76\00:29:56.09
Let people see
Christ shining through you.
00:29:56.12\00:29:58.33
Let your neighbors say,
00:29:58.36\00:29:59.69
I know I've seen
them go to church
00:29:59.73\00:30:01.06
from week to week.
00:30:01.10\00:30:02.43
But it's so good to
see them smile at me
00:30:02.46\00:30:04.23
and bring me
words of encouragement.
00:30:04.27\00:30:06.43
Take a track, put a put a
CD on somebody's doorstep,
00:30:06.47\00:30:10.11
bring light to their homes.
00:30:10.14\00:30:11.84
I received a phone call
the other day from somebody
00:30:11.87\00:30:14.18
whose town has been shut down.
00:30:14.21\00:30:15.64
And he said to
me, a doctor, he said,
00:30:15.68\00:30:17.31
you know, day by
day, we are encouraged.
00:30:17.35\00:30:19.35
We're playing your
music, and it brings us hope,
00:30:19.38\00:30:21.92
and it brings us encouragement.
00:30:21.95\00:30:23.42
Friends, that's what
God is calling us to do.
00:30:23.45\00:30:26.09
This is a crisis hour,
00:30:26.12\00:30:27.76
and there's
something that God's people
00:30:27.79\00:30:29.59
must be prepared to do.
00:30:29.62\00:30:31.13
Which brings me to a
very important point.
00:30:31.16\00:30:33.19
Point number one,
what should we do?
00:30:33.23\00:30:35.80
Notice,
00:30:35.83\00:30:37.17
the signs around us
is a call to readiness.
00:30:37.20\00:30:41.97
The signs around us
is a call to readiness.
00:30:42.00\00:30:45.97
When my wife and I
get ready for vacation.
00:30:46.01\00:30:48.24
We don't wait to the
day of vacation to pack,
00:30:48.28\00:30:50.31
we get ready ahead of time.
00:30:50.35\00:30:52.08
We are looking
at the world today.
00:30:52.11\00:30:53.45
We cannot wait for things
to get worse to get ready.
00:30:53.48\00:30:56.42
There are people today
that can't go to the bank,
00:30:56.45\00:30:58.65
banks are closed.
00:30:58.69\00:31:00.06
There are people that
can't even go and get money
00:31:00.09\00:31:02.19
that are being
sent by loved ones,
00:31:02.22\00:31:03.59
because the points
of touch are closed.
00:31:03.63\00:31:06.73
And all the
things that we thought
00:31:06.76\00:31:08.26
will always be
there, like water and food.
00:31:08.30\00:31:12.37
We go to some of the stores
and all their bread is gone.
00:31:12.40\00:31:15.07
And in some cases,
00:31:15.10\00:31:16.44
even dog food in
some cases is gone.
00:31:16.47\00:31:18.61
I brought, it
brought a smile to my mind
00:31:18.64\00:31:20.38
when somebody
called me and said,
00:31:20.41\00:31:21.74
I couldn't find
my favorite dog food,
00:31:21.78\00:31:23.38
even my dog is
suffering, everybody's included.
00:31:23.41\00:31:26.38
But, friends, this
calls for time of readiness.
00:31:26.41\00:31:29.78
Being ready is what
the Lord wants us to do.
00:31:29.82\00:31:32.99
Notice why we must all be ready?
00:31:33.02\00:31:35.66
In the Book of
Luke 12:39 and 40,
00:31:35.69\00:31:38.59
Dr. Luke tells us
00:31:38.63\00:31:40.06
through the inspiration
of the words of Christ,
00:31:40.10\00:31:41.96
why we should be ready.
00:31:42.00\00:31:44.13
He said this, "But know this,
00:31:44.17\00:31:46.90
that if the master
of the house had known
00:31:46.94\00:31:49.07
what hour the thief would come,
00:31:49.10\00:31:51.07
he would have watched
and not allowed his house
00:31:51.11\00:31:54.24
to be broken into."
00:31:54.28\00:31:55.81
Notice verse 40.
00:31:55.84\00:31:57.25
"Therefore you also,"
look at the next two words,
00:31:57.28\00:32:00.15
"be ready, for the
Son of Man is coming
00:32:00.18\00:32:03.85
at an hour you do not expect."
00:32:03.89\00:32:06.86
Let me emphasize
those words again.
00:32:06.89\00:32:08.69
Be ready.
00:32:08.72\00:32:10.16
You can say that
with me, Be ready.
00:32:10.19\00:32:12.43
That's right, friends, be ready.
00:32:12.46\00:32:14.06
Don't allow yourself
to be caught off guard.
00:32:14.10\00:32:16.10
You know why?
00:32:16.13\00:32:17.47
We cannot wait for
the world to get worse
00:32:17.50\00:32:19.47
before we get better.
00:32:19.50\00:32:21.00
We've got to get better
before the world gets worse.
00:32:21.04\00:32:24.41
We've got to be ready.
00:32:24.44\00:32:25.91
We can't wait for
the plane to land to say,
00:32:25.94\00:32:28.44
I must buy a ticket.
00:32:28.48\00:32:29.81
We can't wait for the
train to pull away to say,
00:32:29.84\00:32:32.18
I'm not sure if that's my train.
00:32:32.21\00:32:33.82
We've got to be ready
because the reality is,
00:32:33.85\00:32:36.18
we do not know
when Jesus is coming.
00:32:36.22\00:32:39.89
But He did say,
00:32:39.92\00:32:41.26
when all these
things begin to happen,
00:32:41.29\00:32:43.63
it's time to be ready.
00:32:43.66\00:32:45.33
Get your spiritual bags packed.
00:32:45.36\00:32:47.46
Get your life in
order, confess your sins.
00:32:47.50\00:32:50.10
Put your life
before the Lord and say,
00:32:50.13\00:32:52.23
Father, show me the things
00:32:52.27\00:32:53.80
that I need to
change in my life.
00:32:53.84\00:32:55.60
Show me the habits
I need to lay down.
00:32:55.64\00:32:58.07
Show me the
direction that I must take.
00:32:58.11\00:33:00.84
And God will give you guidance.
00:33:00.88\00:33:02.54
He'll send us Holy
Spirit to convict your heart.
00:33:02.58\00:33:05.21
You can pray
for your loved ones.
00:33:05.25\00:33:07.12
I've been praying
for my loved ones.
00:33:07.15\00:33:08.75
I have family members
that don't know Christ.
00:33:08.78\00:33:10.92
And I'm praying that
in this pandemic hour,
00:33:10.95\00:33:15.26
their hearts would be open
00:33:15.29\00:33:16.73
to the voice of
the Spirit of God.
00:33:16.76\00:33:18.46
You can write names down,
00:33:18.49\00:33:20.16
begin to
activate your prayer life.
00:33:20.20\00:33:22.23
Now that you have time,
00:33:22.26\00:33:23.77
now that you're
home from school,
00:33:23.80\00:33:25.80
you're home from
church, you're home from work.
00:33:25.83\00:33:28.54
Don't sit idly by.
00:33:28.57\00:33:30.21
Don't sit by wondering
who's going to bring answers
00:33:30.24\00:33:32.77
because the
answers are already there.
00:33:32.81\00:33:35.11
Open God's Word.
00:33:35.14\00:33:36.48
Begin to write down the
names of those family members
00:33:36.51\00:33:38.68
that you're praying about.
00:33:38.71\00:33:40.05
Begin to pray for
your brother, your sister.
00:33:40.08\00:33:41.75
Pray for your
husband, your wife.
00:33:41.78\00:33:43.89
Pray for your community.
00:33:43.92\00:33:45.52
Pray for your clergy.
00:33:45.55\00:33:47.16
This is the time that
God's people must be ready.
00:33:47.19\00:33:51.19
We cannot wait for
the world to get worse
00:33:51.23\00:33:53.50
before we get better.
00:33:53.53\00:33:54.86
We've got to get better
before the world gets worse.
00:33:54.90\00:33:58.10
In the book Testimonies
for the Church, volume 9,
00:33:58.13\00:34:01.00
and page 11, these
words are so fitting.
00:34:01.04\00:34:04.37
Notice, why we must
understand what's coming.
00:34:04.41\00:34:07.91
We are told, "The
calamities by land and sea,
00:34:07.94\00:34:11.48
the unsettled state of society."
00:34:11.51\00:34:14.18
That's where we find ourselves.
00:34:14.22\00:34:16.32
"The alarms of
war, are portentous,"
00:34:16.35\00:34:18.55
meaning you can hear
them sounding everywhere.
00:34:18.59\00:34:21.26
"The forecast approaching events
00:34:21.29\00:34:26.23
of the greatest
magnitudes," but it gets deeper.
00:34:26.26\00:34:30.50
"The agencies of evil
are combining their forces
00:34:30.53\00:34:34.57
and consolidating.
00:34:34.60\00:34:36.30
They are strengthening
for the last great crisis.
00:34:36.34\00:34:40.11
Great changes,"
what kind of changes?
00:34:40.14\00:34:42.81
"Great changes are soon
to take place in our world,
00:34:42.84\00:34:46.72
and the final
movements will be rapid ones."
00:34:46.75\00:34:50.99
You may have heard
that quotation before,
00:34:51.02\00:34:52.92
rapid ones.
00:34:52.95\00:34:54.32
What's rapid mean?
00:34:54.36\00:34:55.69
That means by the time you
hear the plane coming is passed,
00:34:55.72\00:34:58.79
the movements of our day,
00:34:58.83\00:35:00.80
like a jet
breaking the sound barrier,
00:35:00.83\00:35:03.26
by the time you hear
the boom, it's already past.
00:35:03.30\00:35:06.13
The final
movements will be rapid ones.
00:35:06.17\00:35:09.84
Friends, what an urgency?
00:35:09.87\00:35:11.44
The final
movements will be rapid.
00:35:11.47\00:35:13.17
That means before
you can think about
00:35:13.21\00:35:14.74
what's going to happen next,
00:35:14.78\00:35:16.11
it's happening,
00:35:16.14\00:35:17.48
before you can think of
the bills being selected.
00:35:17.51\00:35:19.61
There are those
who are saying, Pastor,
00:35:19.65\00:35:22.42
could this possibly be
the opening of the doors
00:35:22.45\00:35:25.62
for the Sunday law coming in?
00:35:25.65\00:35:27.06
I don't know.
00:35:27.09\00:35:28.42
But it doesn't mean that we
have to wait until that time
00:35:28.46\00:35:30.93
to have a
relationship with Christ.
00:35:30.96\00:35:32.63
Don't look for
specific things to occur to say,
00:35:32.66\00:35:35.20
"Well, this is now
when I should get ready.
00:35:35.23\00:35:37.47
Friend, the time has come,
00:35:37.50\00:35:38.83
because the final
moments will be rapid,
00:35:38.87\00:35:40.60
they will unfold
before you can even think of
00:35:40.64\00:35:43.24
what to do next.
00:35:43.27\00:35:44.77
That's why God wants His people
to be on guard to be awake,
00:35:44.81\00:35:49.01
to understand that
as urgent as it is,
00:35:49.04\00:35:51.88
the people of God
must be urgent also.
00:35:51.91\00:35:54.25
What also amazes me though,
00:35:54.28\00:35:56.22
and I've been
looking at some of the people
00:35:56.25\00:35:57.79
that are in society
that are complacent.
00:35:57.82\00:35:59.72
You know, there are
those that are saying, "Well,
00:35:59.75\00:36:01.42
I'm going to go to
the beach as normal.
00:36:01.46\00:36:02.92
I'm going to surf as normal.
00:36:02.96\00:36:04.29
I'm gonna live my life
because this is no big deal."
00:36:04.33\00:36:06.59
There are those who
are denying the urgency
00:36:06.63\00:36:09.13
and the critical
nature of the hour.
00:36:09.16\00:36:10.97
But even that is a sign
of the coming of the Lord.
00:36:11.00\00:36:13.37
Notice the Apostle
Peter, 2 Peter 3:3-4,
00:36:13.40\00:36:17.24
he calibrates and
helps us understand
00:36:17.27\00:36:19.41
why that attitude exists.
00:36:19.44\00:36:21.04
He said these words to us,
00:36:21.08\00:36:23.71
"Knowing this first:
00:36:23.75\00:36:25.48
that scoffers will
come in the last days,"
00:36:25.51\00:36:28.45
that's why people are doubting,
00:36:28.48\00:36:30.02
"walking according
to their own lust,"
00:36:30.05\00:36:32.45
meaning their own
ideas, their own desires.
00:36:32.49\00:36:34.72
And they're saying, verse 4,
00:36:34.76\00:36:36.89
"Where is the
promise of His coming?"
00:36:36.93\00:36:39.13
They're saying
that to Christians.
00:36:39.16\00:36:40.83
"For since the
fathers fell asleep,
00:36:40.86\00:36:43.30
all things continue as they were
00:36:43.33\00:36:46.53
from the beginning of creation."
00:36:46.57\00:36:48.80
Well, friends,
you've got to be unaware
00:36:48.84\00:36:51.41
because things have changed
from the time I went to school.
00:36:51.44\00:36:54.71
Since I've been
married things have changed.
00:36:54.74\00:36:57.28
Things have changed
in just the last month.
00:36:57.31\00:36:59.88
Since December of 2019,
00:36:59.91\00:37:01.68
things have drastically changed.
00:37:01.72\00:37:03.82
You have got to be in
serious denial to think
00:37:03.85\00:37:07.66
that things haven't changed.
00:37:07.69\00:37:09.02
Things are changing so quickly.
00:37:09.06\00:37:11.03
Things are changing so
rapidly that we cannot predict.
00:37:11.06\00:37:14.60
When I turn on the evening news,
00:37:14.63\00:37:16.26
looking for good news.
00:37:16.30\00:37:17.63
And then they say, "Well,
the death toll has climbed."
00:37:17.67\00:37:19.97
And there's a phrase
being used in the news today,
00:37:20.00\00:37:22.44
they're saying, we're
trying to flatten the curve,
00:37:22.47\00:37:24.84
meaning they're trying
to get ahead of the virus.
00:37:24.87\00:37:27.74
They don't want to see
00:37:27.78\00:37:29.11
this exponential
spike in death tolls.
00:37:29.14\00:37:31.98
But, friends,
there's only one person
00:37:32.01\00:37:33.52
that can calm that down.
00:37:33.55\00:37:35.68
And His name is Jesus.
00:37:35.72\00:37:37.32
There's only one
person that can bring hope
00:37:37.35\00:37:39.35
in this climbing hour,
00:37:39.39\00:37:41.12
in this curve flattening moment,
00:37:41.16\00:37:43.43
and His name is Jesus.
00:37:43.46\00:37:45.03
But I'm praying,
I am surely praying.
00:37:45.06\00:37:47.63
My wife and I commit
ourselves to prayer every day.
00:37:47.66\00:37:50.40
And every evening
we open our Bibles.
00:37:50.43\00:37:52.70
We are reading
through the Book of Psalms.
00:37:52.73\00:37:54.50
And I want to tell
you, it's encouraging.
00:37:54.54\00:37:56.64
What a place to find
hope in this crisis hour.
00:37:56.67\00:37:59.71
But there are those
that say, it doesn't matter.
00:37:59.74\00:38:02.38
This is how the
world has always been.
00:38:02.41\00:38:04.11
And they deny the very signs
that are taking place about us.
00:38:04.15\00:38:07.82
But the reality is,
00:38:07.85\00:38:09.95
the world has changed
forever and so should we.
00:38:09.98\00:38:14.62
The world is collapsing.
00:38:14.66\00:38:16.73
And this is the hour
when the people of God
00:38:16.76\00:38:19.33
should be rising.
00:38:19.36\00:38:20.70
The world is on its way down.
00:38:20.73\00:38:22.40
Soon the people of God are
going to be on their way up
00:38:22.43\00:38:25.23
to meet Jesus.
00:38:25.27\00:38:26.60
Oh, friends, let
me encourage you,
00:38:26.63\00:38:27.97
this is the time to get ready.
00:38:28.00\00:38:29.80
This is the time
to have your bags
00:38:29.84\00:38:32.17
already packed by the front door
00:38:32.21\00:38:34.51
when we hear the trumpet,
00:38:34.54\00:38:36.18
when we see the
economy firmly collapsed.
00:38:36.21\00:38:38.88
They're going from
the word recession now
00:38:38.91\00:38:41.55
to the word depression.
00:38:41.58\00:38:43.08
Who wants to hear that word?
00:38:43.12\00:38:44.82
It's saying to us one day,
00:38:44.85\00:38:46.52
and you think about the
Great Depression in America
00:38:46.55\00:38:49.06
in the 1930s, in the early 40s.
00:38:49.09\00:38:51.76
When you think of
the Great Depression,
00:38:51.79\00:38:54.20
that's not what
America wants to see.
00:38:54.23\00:38:56.97
That is not
what we want to hear.
00:38:57.00\00:38:59.30
Bread lines, soup lines,
banks were totally ineffective.
00:38:59.33\00:39:04.51
They had no answers
for the collapsing society.
00:39:04.54\00:39:07.34
We do not want
to see a depression.
00:39:07.38\00:39:09.81
But here's the reality.
00:39:09.84\00:39:11.35
If a depression hits,
00:39:11.38\00:39:12.75
it's not going
to be America alone.
00:39:12.78\00:39:14.75
It's going to be England,
and the islands of the sea,
00:39:14.78\00:39:17.69
and Australia, and
the Asian countries,
00:39:17.72\00:39:20.59
and the Spanish countries,
00:39:20.62\00:39:22.12
every continent, from
the north, to the south,
00:39:22.16\00:39:25.63
to the east, to the
west will be depressed.
00:39:25.66\00:39:28.36
Friends, in
this depressing hour,
00:39:28.40\00:39:30.53
there's a place
that I have found
00:39:30.57\00:39:32.00
that I can turn where
there is no depression.
00:39:32.03\00:39:35.04
I can speak to the
Lord and I can open His Word
00:39:35.07\00:39:37.94
and hear Him speak back to me.
00:39:37.97\00:39:39.54
Friends, don't be
caught by depression.
00:39:39.57\00:39:42.54
This is the time that we
should not look to recession,
00:39:42.58\00:39:44.95
or even think about
the collapsing markets.
00:39:44.98\00:39:47.12
But think about a place
00:39:47.15\00:39:48.48
where there is no
collapsing market.
00:39:48.52\00:39:49.98
The Lord still owns the
cattle on a thousand hills.
00:39:50.02\00:39:53.66
He still says the
gold and silver is mine.
00:39:53.69\00:39:56.62
As a matter of fact, in
an hour of food shortage,
00:39:56.66\00:39:59.76
the Lord says, If I were hungry,
00:39:59.79\00:40:01.46
I wouldn't even tell you.
00:40:01.50\00:40:02.96
The earth is the Lord's
and the fullness thereof.
00:40:03.00\00:40:05.97
And here's the good news.
00:40:06.00\00:40:07.34
If He can provide for
Elijah in his hour of crisis,
00:40:07.37\00:40:11.61
my friends, He can
provide for your family,
00:40:11.64\00:40:13.74
He can provide for your children
00:40:13.78\00:40:15.41
while we're home
teaching our children.
00:40:15.44\00:40:17.35
Some parents have now
been given the daunting task
00:40:17.38\00:40:20.45
of being a teacher
trying to train their children.
00:40:20.48\00:40:23.59
They have now taken on the task
00:40:23.62\00:40:24.95
of giving their children
educational instruction.
00:40:24.99\00:40:28.02
But, friends, let
me tell you something.
00:40:28.06\00:40:30.16
Before you enter into
educational instruction,
00:40:30.19\00:40:33.16
enter into
scriptural instruction,
00:40:33.19\00:40:35.53
open the Bible and
say to your young people,
00:40:35.56\00:40:38.27
your children, your son,
your daughter, say to them,
00:40:38.30\00:40:41.47
let's go to God's Word.
00:40:41.50\00:40:42.84
And I wanna tell you, He
can equip you to do things
00:40:42.87\00:40:45.21
as the Bible says,
He's able to do exceedingly,
00:40:45.24\00:40:49.01
abundantly above all
that we can ask or think,
00:40:49.04\00:40:52.35
according to the power
00:40:52.38\00:40:53.92
that will be willing
or is at work in you.
00:40:53.95\00:40:57.39
Also pray for 3ABN.
00:40:57.42\00:40:59.29
We're praying for your prayers.
00:40:59.32\00:41:01.09
We want you to
keep praying for us.
00:41:01.12\00:41:02.59
We're praying for
your financial support.
00:41:02.62\00:41:05.16
We have stepped
up our programming.
00:41:05.19\00:41:07.53
We want to do all
that we can to bring hope
00:41:07.56\00:41:10.00
and
encouragement to your hearts.
00:41:10.03\00:41:11.60
You can reach out and make
a difference in this ministry,
00:41:11.63\00:41:14.40
as we are working
with a skeleton crew,
00:41:14.44\00:41:16.24
but I want to tell you,
they're working tirelessly,
00:41:16.27\00:41:18.31
because this is the hour
00:41:18.34\00:41:19.74
where God is
calling for soldiers
00:41:19.77\00:41:21.98
to endure hardship,
00:41:22.01\00:41:24.41
which takes me to the
second and very important point.
00:41:24.45\00:41:27.42
The condition of the
world is a call to change.
00:41:27.45\00:41:32.42
The condition of the
world is a call to change.
00:41:32.45\00:41:37.06
Change, think about change.
00:41:37.09\00:41:39.26
What in your
life can you change?
00:41:39.29\00:41:42.26
What habits can you lay down?
00:41:42.30\00:41:45.10
What?
00:41:45.13\00:41:46.47
What addiction can
you give to the Lord?
00:41:46.50\00:41:50.67
What thing has been
binding you for so long?
00:41:50.71\00:41:52.87
What chain of circumstances
have you been praying
00:41:52.91\00:41:56.04
to lay down and give to Christ?
00:41:56.08\00:41:57.91
I tell you, friends, if ever
there was a time for change,
00:41:57.95\00:42:01.25
this is the hour for change.
00:42:01.28\00:42:04.85
Why change?
00:42:04.89\00:42:06.92
We cannot do the same thing,
expecting different results.
00:42:06.96\00:42:10.59
We cannot live for the
world expecting heaven.
00:42:10.63\00:42:13.23
We cannot live
and practice darkness
00:42:13.26\00:42:15.86
and expect light to show up.
00:42:15.90\00:42:17.67
We've got to change something.
00:42:17.70\00:42:19.27
Say, Lord, show me
what I need to change.
00:42:19.30\00:42:21.34
There are some of you that know
00:42:21.37\00:42:22.70
what needs to
change in your life.
00:42:22.74\00:42:24.34
There are those of
you that have been denying
00:42:24.37\00:42:26.57
and God has been
calling you for years.
00:42:26.61\00:42:29.04
But I wanna tell you right now,
you're locked into your home,
00:42:29.08\00:42:31.65
you're afraid to
go to the elevator,
00:42:31.68\00:42:33.08
you don't want
to go to your car.
00:42:33.11\00:42:34.58
You don't want to rub
shoulders with your neighbors.
00:42:34.62\00:42:36.65
You may be in large cities
00:42:36.69\00:42:38.25
where you don't
want to touch hands.
00:42:38.29\00:42:39.62
You don't want to...
00:42:39.65\00:42:40.99
You're afraid that the
disease or the virus may be
00:42:41.02\00:42:42.36
on something around you.
00:42:42.39\00:42:43.79
And you're now hopelessly
locked into your apartment.
00:42:43.83\00:42:46.86
And because you
don't know Christ,
00:42:46.90\00:42:48.23
you're afraid to call Him.
00:42:48.26\00:42:49.60
And I wanna say you what?
00:42:49.63\00:42:51.10
He's willing to hear your voice,
00:42:51.13\00:42:52.90
even if this is the
first time you call His name.
00:42:52.93\00:42:55.10
Say Jesus, come close to me.
00:42:55.14\00:42:57.24
Heavenly Father, come
and speak to my heart.
00:42:57.27\00:43:00.01
Bring hope to my apartment,
bring hope to my family,
00:43:00.04\00:43:04.05
bring
encouragement to my children.
00:43:04.08\00:43:06.15
Help me to see what I
must do in this crisis hour.
00:43:06.18\00:43:09.08
Why should we change?
00:43:09.12\00:43:11.72
Because there are those who
00:43:11.75\00:43:13.09
if the restaurants were
still open, they would go.
00:43:13.12\00:43:15.52
If the malls were
still open, they would go.
00:43:15.56\00:43:18.09
But let's take a lesson
from the pages of history.
00:43:18.13\00:43:21.76
As Matthew, the
converted tax collector tells us
00:43:21.80\00:43:25.03
what kind of
hour we're living in.
00:43:25.07\00:43:26.70
Notice in Matthew 24:38 and 39.
00:43:26.74\00:43:31.64
Notice, he talks about an hour
00:43:31.67\00:43:33.44
when people
didn't change either.
00:43:33.48\00:43:35.04
He says, "For as in
the days before the flood,"
00:43:35.08\00:43:38.68
notice, "they were
eating and they were drinking,
00:43:38.71\00:43:42.05
they were marrying
and giving in marriage,
00:43:42.08\00:43:45.69
until the day that
Noah entered the ark."
00:43:45.72\00:43:49.36
And here's the sad reality.
00:43:49.39\00:43:51.13
"And they did not
know until the flood came
00:43:51.16\00:43:54.60
and took them all away,"
00:43:54.63\00:43:56.97
but look at the caption,
00:43:57.00\00:43:58.70
"so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be?"
00:43:58.73\00:44:03.87
Think about it.
00:44:03.91\00:44:05.24
So also will the
coming of the Son of Man be.
00:44:05.27\00:44:07.48
Matthew is saying,
00:44:07.51\00:44:08.84
there are those who
didn't change anything,
00:44:08.88\00:44:10.75
they continued
eating and drinking.
00:44:10.78\00:44:12.38
Is there anything wrong
with eating and drinking?
00:44:12.41\00:44:13.75
No.
00:44:13.78\00:44:15.12
But, friends,
don't allow your habits
00:44:15.15\00:44:16.65
to rob you of your salvation.
00:44:16.69\00:44:18.29
Is there anything wrong
with buying and selling?
00:44:18.32\00:44:21.42
No.
00:44:21.46\00:44:22.79
But we cannot live for the world
00:44:22.82\00:44:24.16
and expect the
outcome to be heavenly.
00:44:24.19\00:44:25.96
There's something that
must be changed in our lives.
00:44:25.99\00:44:29.66
Matthew said,
they didn't change,
00:44:29.70\00:44:31.30
they refused to change.
00:44:31.33\00:44:32.93
There are those that
continue drinking alcohol,
00:44:32.97\00:44:34.94
there are those
that continue smoking,
00:44:34.97\00:44:36.30
saying, it
doesn't really matter.
00:44:36.34\00:44:38.31
I'll enjoy myself
and when this is passed,
00:44:38.34\00:44:40.81
I'll go back to life as usual.
00:44:40.84\00:44:42.31
But I want to tell you.
00:44:42.34\00:44:43.78
We've all experienced 9/11
on some stage either in America
00:44:43.81\00:44:47.15
or around the world in 2001.
00:44:47.18\00:44:49.35
Everybody
remembers 9/11 but right now,
00:44:49.38\00:44:52.82
the world is on its own 911.
00:44:52.85\00:44:55.42
Emergency is everywhere.
00:44:55.46\00:44:57.89
This is the hour that change
must take place in our hearts.
00:44:59.23\00:45:03.80
Change must take
place in our lives.
00:45:03.83\00:45:08.94
Why is change so important?
00:45:08.97\00:45:11.17
Notice once again, I
go to the inspired words,
00:45:11.21\00:45:14.18
Councils for the
Church, page 335.
00:45:14.21\00:45:18.21
Notice why
change is so imperative?
00:45:18.25\00:45:21.38
We are told, "Soon
grievous troubles will arise
00:45:21.42\00:45:26.92
among the nations,"
00:45:26.96\00:45:29.42
and, friends, it already has,
00:45:29.46\00:45:31.03
"troubles that will not
cease until Jesus comes."
00:45:31.06\00:45:36.26
Listen to these sobering words.
00:45:36.30\00:45:38.13
"As never before we
need to press together,
00:45:38.17\00:45:42.30
serving Him who has prepared
His throne in the heavens,
00:45:42.34\00:45:47.34
and whose
kingdom ruleth over all."
00:45:47.38\00:45:50.55
And this is powerful.
00:45:50.58\00:45:51.91
"God has not
forsaken His people,
00:45:51.95\00:45:55.32
and our strength lies
in not forsaking Him."
00:45:55.35\00:46:00.06
What an encouraging word?
00:46:00.09\00:46:01.46
God has not forsaken us.
00:46:01.49\00:46:03.56
He refuses to forsake us.
00:46:03.59\00:46:05.83
But, friends, the trouble
is, have we forsaken Him?
00:46:05.86\00:46:09.13
Have we turned
our backs on Christ?
00:46:09.16\00:46:11.37
Have we said, I'm done
with a God who allows disease?
00:46:11.40\00:46:14.47
I want to make it very
clear, what God allows,
00:46:14.50\00:46:17.51
God does not orchestrate.
00:46:17.54\00:46:19.01
He did not
orchestrate this virus.
00:46:19.04\00:46:21.01
He did not send this disease.
00:46:21.04\00:46:22.61
The Bible says every
good and every perfect gift
00:46:22.64\00:46:26.88
comes down from
the Father of lights,
00:46:26.92\00:46:29.18
in which there is
no shadow of turning.
00:46:29.22\00:46:31.05
Meaning, He's the
same yesterday, today,
00:46:31.09\00:46:34.69
and forever.
00:46:34.72\00:46:36.06
God is not a bad guy tomorrow,
and a good guy yesterday.
00:46:36.09\00:46:39.56
God is not one who uses disease,
00:46:39.59\00:46:42.00
and then uses prayer.
00:46:42.03\00:46:43.67
Oh, God is the
same all the time.
00:46:43.70\00:46:45.83
We've got to give the credit.
00:46:45.87\00:46:47.90
If there's ever one to
the one who's behind this,
00:46:47.94\00:46:50.37
the same enemy that
tainted the atmosphere
00:46:50.41\00:46:54.04
in the days of Job.
00:46:54.08\00:46:55.41
Satan is the same one that
00:46:55.44\00:46:57.51
is working in the
laboratories of darkness,
00:46:57.55\00:46:59.95
in the laboratories of
hell to bring about disease,
00:46:59.98\00:47:02.25
and disaster, and suffering.
00:47:02.28\00:47:03.75
He's hoping to
get men distracted
00:47:03.79\00:47:05.85
from the crisis ahead of us.
00:47:05.89\00:47:07.72
Because when all
the crises have passed,
00:47:07.76\00:47:10.29
the only real question is,
are we ready for Jesus to come?
00:47:10.33\00:47:16.23
And Jesus is giving the
world time to turn to Him
00:47:16.26\00:47:18.97
and be saved.
00:47:19.00\00:47:20.34
This is the time
He's saying, "Brethren,
00:47:20.37\00:47:22.30
the furnace is
heating up seven times hotter
00:47:22.34\00:47:24.87
than it was before."
00:47:24.91\00:47:26.24
There are more lions in the den.
00:47:26.27\00:47:28.24
Don't enter a
den filled with lions
00:47:28.28\00:47:30.55
until you know Christ.
00:47:30.58\00:47:31.98
Don't enter a fiery furnace
00:47:32.01\00:47:34.18
until you're
committed to stand with Christ.
00:47:34.22\00:47:37.65
Because we cannot
enter such situations
00:47:37.69\00:47:40.22
and hope for
Christ to be on our sides.
00:47:40.26\00:47:42.02
We've got to stand with Him.
00:47:42.06\00:47:43.63
As the Bible
says, draw near to God,
00:47:43.66\00:47:45.79
and God will draw near to you.
00:47:45.83\00:47:47.83
Resist the devil and
he will flee from you.
00:47:47.86\00:47:51.07
He's not fleeing from us.
00:47:51.10\00:47:52.83
He's fleeing from the Christ,
to whom we have drawn close.
00:47:52.87\00:47:56.44
He's fleeing from the Christ
that we know through prayer.
00:47:56.47\00:47:59.54
I want you to pray.
00:47:59.57\00:48:00.91
Sometimes you
want to get together
00:48:00.94\00:48:02.28
with your families.
00:48:02.31\00:48:03.65
If you have a hymnal,
maybe on your digital device,
00:48:03.68\00:48:06.05
maybe you can
download from the internet,
00:48:06.08\00:48:08.32
sit with your children,
sing them songs of hope,
00:48:08.35\00:48:11.15
songs of encouragement.
00:48:11.19\00:48:12.89
Before you lay your
children to bed at night,
00:48:12.92\00:48:15.32
say to them,
"Mommy and Daddy is here.
00:48:15.36\00:48:18.13
There's no need to
fear, God is on the throne.
00:48:18.16\00:48:20.60
He will carry us through."
00:48:20.63\00:48:22.50
Friends, I'm praying
that in this crisis hour,
00:48:22.53\00:48:25.40
you decide to
change whatever is standing
00:48:25.43\00:48:28.10
between you and the Lord,
00:48:28.14\00:48:30.04
you are willing to
lay that aside and change.
00:48:30.07\00:48:33.41
And I said again, God
is giving His people time.
00:48:33.44\00:48:37.18
Why is He giving us time?
00:48:37.21\00:48:38.61
Because He wants us to be saved.
00:48:38.65\00:48:40.55
Notice the words
of the Apostle Peter
00:48:40.58\00:48:42.52
in 2 Peter 3:9.
00:48:42.55\00:48:44.82
Here is the reason why the Lord
00:48:44.85\00:48:47.09
is giving the world more time.
00:48:47.12\00:48:49.06
He says in 2 Peter 3:9,
00:48:49.09\00:48:52.06
"The Lord is not slack
concerning His promise,
00:48:52.09\00:48:55.33
as some count slackness,
00:48:55.36\00:48:58.03
but is longsuffering,"
00:48:58.07\00:49:00.10
praise God for that
word, "longsuffering toward us,
00:49:00.14\00:49:03.71
not willing that
any should perish,
00:49:03.74\00:49:07.18
but that all should
come to repentance."
00:49:07.21\00:49:10.25
How many, friends?
00:49:10.28\00:49:11.61
All should come to repentance.
00:49:11.65\00:49:14.32
That means there's room
at the cross for everyone.
00:49:14.35\00:49:16.99
There's room at the
cross for every nationality.
00:49:17.02\00:49:19.89
There's room at the
cross for every nation,
00:49:19.92\00:49:22.39
every kindred, every
tongue, every people.
00:49:22.42\00:49:26.13
This is the hour when
the three angels' messages
00:49:26.16\00:49:29.53
will be echoed off of
00:49:29.56\00:49:30.90
the one
continent after the other,
00:49:30.93\00:49:33.40
whether large
populations or small villages.
00:49:33.44\00:49:36.74
This is the hour
where the message
00:49:36.77\00:49:39.04
needs to be proclaimed,
00:49:39.07\00:49:40.88
that the Lord is not
willing that any should perish.
00:49:40.91\00:49:44.11
Think about it.
00:49:44.15\00:49:45.48
When He says that,
00:49:45.51\00:49:46.85
He's not willing
that any should perish.
00:49:46.88\00:49:48.28
He's in essence saying
to us, there's room for you.
00:49:48.32\00:49:50.82
There's room for your family.
00:49:50.85\00:49:52.35
There's room for your spouse.
00:49:52.39\00:49:53.76
There's room for your husband.
00:49:53.79\00:49:55.12
There's room for your wife.
00:49:55.16\00:49:56.49
There's room for your
children that have strayed away.
00:49:56.52\00:49:59.03
Pray for them, keep
them before the Lord.
00:49:59.06\00:50:01.53
Because repentance
will bring conversion
00:50:01.56\00:50:04.37
and conversion
will bring change.
00:50:04.40\00:50:07.90
If you're going in
the wrong direction,
00:50:07.94\00:50:09.47
friends, don't forget it.
00:50:09.50\00:50:10.84
Get off the next exit
and change your direction.
00:50:10.87\00:50:13.88
The Lord is waiting for you.
00:50:13.91\00:50:15.24
And when you
change your direction,
00:50:15.28\00:50:17.41
He will be, listen carefully,
00:50:17.45\00:50:19.38
don't make Jesus the co-pilot,
00:50:19.41\00:50:22.42
give Him the steering wheel,
00:50:22.45\00:50:24.05
and He'll guide your life
into a place where blessings
00:50:24.09\00:50:26.59
are there forevermore.
00:50:26.62\00:50:28.89
And my third and final point.
00:50:28.92\00:50:30.79
This is the hour
when the people of God
00:50:30.83\00:50:34.10
ought to be
awake, ought to be awake.
00:50:34.13\00:50:38.63
That's right.
00:50:38.67\00:50:40.00
The alarm clock is saying,
wake up, wake up, everybody.
00:50:40.04\00:50:43.84
This is the time to be awake.
00:50:43.87\00:50:45.77
Don't sleep and
slumber pass this solemn hour.
00:50:45.81\00:50:49.11
The words of the Apostle
Paul ringing to our ears.
00:50:49.14\00:50:52.68
In Romans Chapter
13, notice these words,
00:50:52.71\00:50:55.55
verses 11 to 14,
00:50:55.58\00:50:56.92
some of my
favorite words in the Bible.
00:50:56.95\00:50:58.62
He says, "And do
this, knowing the time,
00:50:58.65\00:51:02.26
that now it is high
time to awake out of sleep."
00:51:02.29\00:51:07.66
Wake up my brother and sister.
00:51:07.70\00:51:09.20
Why?
00:51:09.23\00:51:10.57
"For now our salvation is nearer
00:51:10.60\00:51:12.87
than when we first believed."
00:51:12.90\00:51:14.40
Either it was 10
years ago or 20 years ago,
00:51:14.44\00:51:16.77
it's a lot nearer today.
00:51:16.81\00:51:18.17
Notice what else he
says, "The night is far spent,
00:51:18.21\00:51:21.28
the day is at hand.
00:51:21.31\00:51:22.91
Therefore let us cast
off the works of darkness,
00:51:22.94\00:51:27.02
and let us put on
the armor of light."
00:51:27.05\00:51:30.75
Verse 13.
00:51:30.79\00:51:32.12
"Let us walk properly
or honestly, as in the day,
00:51:32.15\00:51:35.96
not in revelry,"
00:51:35.99\00:51:37.43
that is in dancing and
partying and drunkenness,
00:51:37.46\00:51:40.50
"not in lewdness and
lust, not in strife and envy."
00:51:40.53\00:51:44.63
But I love these next two words.
00:51:44.67\00:51:46.67
"But put on the
Lord Jesus Christ,
00:51:46.70\00:51:50.67
and make no
provision for the flesh,
00:51:50.71\00:51:53.27
to fulfill its lust."
00:51:53.31\00:51:55.44
Notice, take off the past
and get ready for the future.
00:51:55.48\00:51:59.38
Take off the world
and get ready for heaven.
00:51:59.41\00:52:02.05
Take it off and put it on.
00:52:02.08\00:52:03.99
Take off your past life
and get ready for the future
00:52:04.02\00:52:07.99
that God has in store for you.
00:52:08.02\00:52:09.46
And I can tell you as one
who took a hold of God's hand,
00:52:09.49\00:52:12.76
my best life began
00:52:12.79\00:52:14.30
when I gave my life to the Lord.
00:52:14.33\00:52:16.13
He delivered me from
the world of New York City
00:52:16.16\00:52:18.40
from the
partying and the gambling,
00:52:18.43\00:52:19.87
the pool hustling
and the nightlife.
00:52:19.90\00:52:21.87
And I wanna tell you,
00:52:21.90\00:52:23.24
it's been nothing
but uphill from there.
00:52:23.27\00:52:25.27
Have they been trials?
00:52:25.31\00:52:26.64
Yes.
00:52:26.68\00:52:28.01
But it's better
to be in the boat
00:52:28.04\00:52:29.38
in a storm with Christ
00:52:29.41\00:52:30.75
than be outside of the boat,
00:52:30.78\00:52:32.11
where there is no
hope without Christ.
00:52:32.15\00:52:33.98
It's better to
be walking with Him
00:52:34.02\00:52:36.48
through the winds of life,
00:52:36.52\00:52:37.85
knowing that
He's holding your hand
00:52:37.89\00:52:39.55
than to try to
walk through it alone.
00:52:39.59\00:52:42.02
It's better to face the
valley of the shadows of death
00:52:42.06\00:52:45.26
with Christ
00:52:45.29\00:52:46.63
than to try to face
00:52:46.66\00:52:48.00
the valley of the
shadows of death without Him.
00:52:48.03\00:52:50.57
Take off your past and
get ready for God's future.
00:52:50.60\00:52:54.07
Take off the world
and get ready for heaven.
00:52:54.10\00:52:57.17
Here's the reason why.
00:52:57.21\00:52:58.54
Another quotation in
the book Child Guidance.
00:52:58.57\00:53:00.74
Look at this.
00:53:00.78\00:53:02.51
We are to first,
00:53:02.54\00:53:04.35
the biblical
evidence that we are alive
00:53:04.38\00:53:06.48
is look at Child Guidance.
00:53:06.51\00:53:07.88
Notice what it says to us.
00:53:07.92\00:53:09.65
"Transgression has
almost reached its limit.
00:53:09.68\00:53:13.82
Confusion fills the world,
00:53:13.86\00:53:16.49
and a great terror is
soon to come upon human beings.
00:53:16.52\00:53:21.16
The end is very near.
00:53:21.20\00:53:23.63
God's people should
be preparing for what is
00:53:23.67\00:53:26.33
to break upon the world,"
00:53:26.37\00:53:28.27
and get this, "as an
overwhelming surprise."
00:53:28.30\00:53:32.47
Friends, people
don't see what's coming,
00:53:32.51\00:53:34.18
an overwhelming surprise.
00:53:34.21\00:53:36.14
That's why Isaiah the
Prophet says these words.
00:53:36.18\00:53:38.65
Notice what he says to us.
00:53:38.68\00:53:40.18
Isaiah 55:6 and 7.
00:53:40.22\00:53:42.35
He says, "Seek the
Lord while he may be found,
00:53:42.38\00:53:45.49
call upon Him while He is near.
00:53:45.52\00:53:47.16
Let the wicked forsake his way,
00:53:47.19\00:53:48.99
and the
unrighteous man his thoughts.
00:53:49.02\00:53:51.19
Let him return to the Lord,"
that is return to the Lord,
00:53:51.23\00:53:54.90
"and He will have
mercy on him, and to our God,
00:53:54.93\00:53:58.33
for He will abundantly pardon."
00:53:58.37\00:54:02.00
Praise God that He's
still a God who pardons,
00:54:02.04\00:54:04.74
which brings me
to my last point.
00:54:04.77\00:54:07.11
This is the time
that God's people
00:54:07.14\00:54:10.38
must hold up the light.
00:54:10.41\00:54:12.98
In this hour of darkness,
it's time to hold up the light.
00:54:13.01\00:54:18.15
Let your light so
shine, don't dim it,
00:54:18.19\00:54:21.02
brighten it by the
study of God's Word.
00:54:21.06\00:54:23.02
Don't dim it, sharpen it
by the study and prayer life
00:54:23.06\00:54:26.03
that you now enter into.
00:54:26.06\00:54:27.60
Here's the reason why.
00:54:27.63\00:54:28.96
Why should the people
of God turn up the light?
00:54:29.00\00:54:31.53
Isaiah makes it
clear in Isaiah 60:1 and 2.
00:54:31.57\00:54:35.57
Notice what he says.
00:54:35.60\00:54:36.94
He says in the Word of
God, "Arise and shine,"
00:54:38.14\00:54:40.58
that is to the people of
God, "for your light has come!
00:54:40.61\00:54:44.25
And the glory of the
Lord has risen upon you."
00:54:44.28\00:54:47.45
Look at the climate.
00:54:47.48\00:54:48.82
"For behold, the
darkness shall cover the earth,
00:54:48.85\00:54:51.55
and deep darkness the people,
00:54:51.59\00:54:54.09
but the Lord
will arise over you,
00:54:54.12\00:54:58.09
and His glory
will be seen upon you."
00:54:58.13\00:55:01.43
Oh, friends, what a promise.
00:55:01.46\00:55:03.43
The Lord is saying, in
this hour of great darkness,
00:55:03.47\00:55:06.37
let your light shine.
00:55:06.40\00:55:08.37
In this hour when
people are looking for hope,
00:55:08.40\00:55:11.17
let the character of
Christ radiate from you.
00:55:11.21\00:55:14.48
Let the joy of the Lord
still be upon your face.
00:55:14.51\00:55:17.38
Let your face not be a
face of crisis and worry.
00:55:17.41\00:55:21.05
But let your face be a face
of calm and blessed assurance,
00:55:21.08\00:55:24.92
because the Lord has
not forsaken His people.
00:55:24.95\00:55:27.66
The world is getting darker.
00:55:27.69\00:55:29.76
The children of God
must shine brighter.
00:55:29.79\00:55:33.36
And what's the
benefit of shining brighter?
00:55:33.40\00:55:35.36
Notice the words
of the Apostle John
00:55:35.40\00:55:38.03
in 1 John 1:7,
he says this to us.
00:55:38.07\00:55:40.87
"But if we walk in the
light as He is in the light,
00:55:40.90\00:55:45.04
we have
fellowship with one another,
00:55:45.07\00:55:46.94
and the blood of Jesus Christ
00:55:46.98\00:55:48.51
His Son cleanses
us from all sin."
00:55:48.54\00:55:51.88
Friends, it's time
to walk in the light.
00:55:51.91\00:55:54.98
How do we do that?
00:55:55.02\00:55:56.35
Hold up the
truths of God's Word.
00:55:56.38\00:55:59.02
Walk in the
truths of God's word.
00:55:59.05\00:56:02.26
Share the Jesus of the Word.
00:56:02.29\00:56:05.26
That's what He wants us to do.
00:56:05.29\00:56:06.63
Hold up the truth of God's Word.
00:56:06.66\00:56:08.56
Walk in the
truths of God's Word.
00:56:08.60\00:56:10.67
And share the Jesus of the Word.
00:56:10.70\00:56:14.07
And watch this.
00:56:14.10\00:56:15.67
When we do our part,
00:56:15.70\00:56:19.04
an even better
pandemic will cover the world.
00:56:19.07\00:56:23.01
I used the word pandemic follow.
00:56:23.04\00:56:25.55
Right now there is
disease everywhere.
00:56:25.58\00:56:28.38
There's no hope everywhere.
00:56:28.42\00:56:30.95
There is collapsing markets
and financial crises everywhere
00:56:30.99\00:56:34.62
but look at the best
pandemic that is yet to come.
00:56:34.66\00:56:38.63
A good pandemic if I might say
in the Book of Habakkuk 2:14,
00:56:38.66\00:56:43.50
these are our ending words.
00:56:43.53\00:56:45.33
The Lord says
through the Prophet Habakkuk,
00:56:45.37\00:56:47.74
"For the earth will be
filled with the knowledge
00:56:47.77\00:56:50.74
of the glory of the Lord,
00:56:50.77\00:56:53.04
as the waters cover the sea."
00:56:53.07\00:56:55.68
Did you hear that, friends?
00:56:55.71\00:56:57.05
The earth will be
filled with the knowledge
00:56:57.08\00:56:59.45
of the glory of the Lord,
00:56:59.48\00:57:01.25
as the waters cover the sea.
00:57:01.28\00:57:03.22
Where's that
glory going to be seen?
00:57:03.25\00:57:05.15
It's going to be
seen in your praying life,
00:57:05.19\00:57:07.49
in your trusting life,
00:57:07.52\00:57:09.06
in the life that is sitting
00:57:09.09\00:57:10.43
before the Lord
in hope and courage.
00:57:10.46\00:57:11.83
Friends, we here at 3ABN
encourage you to trust God.
00:57:11.86\00:57:15.70
The pandemic has come,
but Jesus is soon to come.
00:57:15.73\00:57:18.70
Pray for us as we pray for you.
00:57:18.73\00:57:21.10
Trust God, as we know
00:57:21.14\00:57:23.10
that He's the
only one we can trust
00:57:23.14\00:57:24.74
and soon the
pandemic will be passed
00:57:24.77\00:57:27.31
and Jesus will become.
00:57:27.34\00:57:28.84
God bless you
until we see you again.
00:57:28.88\00:57:31.15