Hello, friends, welcome
to the 3ABN Worship Hour
00:00:26.72\00:00:29.99
where we have prepared
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another
encouraging message for you,
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and thank you
for taking the time
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to tune in today.
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The sermon is
entitled "Quarantined."
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And the question
is, what do we do
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when everything
that we have trusted in
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and relied on is
suddenly gone and vanished?
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Well, from the Word of God
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today we will
answer that question
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but before we do that,
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you'll hear some wonderful
thoughts of encouragement,
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laying the foundation not
only for what is to follow,
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but to give you
something to ponder
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in your
relationship with Jesus Christ.
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And my good friend Tim Parton
is going to share with you.
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But after he sings,
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the next thing following
will be the message entitled,
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"Quarantine."
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Thank you, Pastor.
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You know, no doubt
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we are living in
some anxious times
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and feeling anxious.
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When I am feeling anxious,
I think of the Apostle Paul.
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As he was in prison,
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he certainly had
plenty of reason to be anxious
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as he was locked away
unsure of his next move,
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whether he would be
released or put to death.
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In writing to the
Christians in Philippi,
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however, he urges,
be anxious for nothing.
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I doubt that anything
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has the power to immobilize
like anxiety and worry.
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We're anxious about things
that haven't happened but could.
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This leads us to all
sorts of health problems
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and fear and distress.
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Paul gives a simple
solution in everything
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by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving,
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let your requests
be made known to God.
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So we can leave it with
Him in exchange for a peace
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that passes all understanding.
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Those situations when
the world goes berserk,
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God's children
should exhibit peace.
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So if you're
experiencing anxiety,
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why don't you lean on God?
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What a fellowship
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What a joy divine
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Leaning on the everlasting arms
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What a blessedness
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What a peace is mine
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Leaning on the everlasting arms
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Leaning, I'm leaning
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Safe and secure from all alarms
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Leaning, yes, I'm leaning
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Leaning on the everlasting arms
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Father, I thank You
that we can lean on You
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in the good times and the bad.
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I thank You, Precious
Lord, that You are in charge.
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And I pray, Father,
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for those who seem
to have no strength,
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who've given up
the precious promise
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in Psalm 29:11 that says,
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"The Lord gives
strength to His people.
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The Lord blesses
His people with peace."
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For the child of God,
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I would ask that you represent
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your Father in heaven.
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Act like the person
that He declares us to be,
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shake off our fear,
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wipe away the tears and
put on the peace of Christ.
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And, Lord, I
want to thank You that
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Your grace, Your mercy,
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Your peace, they're with us.
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And I thank You for
the promise that Your peace
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which transcends
all understanding
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will guard our hearts and
our minds in Christ Jesus.
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And, Lord, we
know we live in a day
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where it's
every man for himself.
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But I want to encourage
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those who are listening
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that God's Word instructs that
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if it is possible as
far as depends on you,
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live at peace with everyone.
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How can we win people to Christ
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when we're
tearing away at each other
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over issues that only divide us?
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We're ruining our
testimony to the world
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and robbing ourselves
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of the joy of living for Christ,
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when we don't live at
peace with each other.
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We are called to be peacemakers
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who so in peace,
so that we will reap
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a harvest of righteousness.
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And I'm resting right now
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In His wonderful peace
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I'm resting sweetly
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In Jesus' control
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For I'm safe
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From all danger
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By night and by day
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And His glory
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Is flooding my soul
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So I sing peace, peace
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Wonderful peace
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Coming down
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From the Father above
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Sweep over my spirit
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Forever I pray
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In fathomless
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Billows of love
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Those fathomless
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billows of love
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Thank you, Tim.
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Praise the Lord for the words.
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We can find peace in
the presence of Christ
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as we walk with Him
and as we talk with Him.
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I invite you to
bow your heads with me
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as we go to the
Word of the Lord.
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Father in
heaven, we pray now that
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You will focus our
hearts and our minds,
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that we will find peace,
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that peace that truly
passes all understanding
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that it will keep our
hearts that will guide our lives
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in that in this turbulent time,
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nothing will be
able to disturb our walk,
00:08:05.41\00:08:08.95
in our relationship with You.
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In Jesus' name I pray.
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Amen.
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The message entitled
"Quarantined," "Quarantine."
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You know when
the Diamond Princess
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cruise ship set
sail on January 20, 2020.
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The passengers had no idea
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that they were
about to be exposed
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to one of the world's
largest coronavirus outbreaks
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outside of China,
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after one of the
passengers tested positive
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for the novel Coronavirus.
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The Diamond Princess cruise ship
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docked in Yokohama, Japan.
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And then following
a full investigation,
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they discovered that
more than 700 passengers
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had contracted
the COVID-19 virus,
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and for the next 14
days, the ship was quarantined.
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Think about that word
throughout this message,
00:09:04.47\00:09:06.91
quarantined.
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And the question
is, what happened
00:09:08.44\00:09:10.78
when the cruise
that they look forward
00:09:10.81\00:09:12.48
to turned into the crisis
that they did not see coming?
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You know, friends,
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we live in a
rapidly changing world
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infected with
unpredictable tragedies.
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The society around
us is fastened together
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by fragile promises.
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Our planet is revolving
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on the shifting
sands of uncertainty.
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In other words,
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people don't
know what to do next,
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where to turn, who to trust,
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who to listen to,
what network to turn to,
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and what
president or king or leader
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has the answer for
these troublesome times.
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But some people misunderstanding
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the meaning behind these signs,
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call them fearmongering,
fearmongering they say,
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but the Bible calls it a sign.
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Notice the words of
Jesus in Matthew 16:3,
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and he says, "You
know how to interpret
00:10:04.87\00:10:07.80
the appearance of the sky,
00:10:07.84\00:10:09.90
but you cannot interpret
the signs of the times."
00:10:09.94\00:10:14.08
In other words,
one of the things
00:10:14.11\00:10:15.44
that we like to
do on a daily basis
00:10:15.48\00:10:16.81
is look at the news report.
00:10:16.85\00:10:18.18
What's the weather
going to be tomorrow,
00:10:18.21\00:10:19.61
and if you live in
the Midwest like we do,
00:10:19.65\00:10:21.55
it could be raining
one day, sunny the next,
00:10:21.58\00:10:24.29
warm in December, cold in March,
00:10:24.32\00:10:26.79
the weather
changes, but Jesus is saying,
00:10:26.82\00:10:29.56
in this quickly
changing climate,
00:10:29.59\00:10:32.03
people can tell
whether tomorrow is going to be
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sunny or bright,
00:10:33.96\00:10:35.30
but they can't tell by the signs
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that are surrounding them
that Jesus is soon to come.
00:10:37.07\00:10:40.74
But, friends, when
you study God's Word
00:10:40.77\00:10:42.30
with unmistakable evidence,
00:10:42.34\00:10:44.57
Jesus is forecasting
the nearness of His return.
00:10:44.61\00:10:48.68
Praise the Lord for that.
00:10:48.71\00:10:50.05
We can look at
the signs around us
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and know for
sure that every sign
00:10:51.55\00:10:54.25
that is taking place
is one more indicator
00:10:54.28\00:10:57.72
that the exit from this
world is not too far ahead,
00:10:57.75\00:11:01.22
because in the Word of God,
00:11:01.26\00:11:02.79
Jesus is
sounding the tsunami alarm
00:11:02.82\00:11:06.26
telling us that a
catastrophe is on the horizon.
00:11:06.29\00:11:10.50
You may remember
December 26, 2004,
00:11:10.53\00:11:14.47
when a 9.1 earthquake
swept across the Pacific Ocean,
00:11:14.50\00:11:19.64
generating a tsunami
that would eventually
00:11:19.67\00:11:23.45
take more than 227,000 lives.
00:11:23.48\00:11:27.98
Now think about
that for a moment.
00:11:28.02\00:11:29.62
Here we have COVID-19.
00:11:29.65\00:11:31.49
We have
earthquakes, we've had fires.
00:11:31.52\00:11:33.79
We've had floods,
we've had tsunamis.
00:11:33.82\00:11:35.96
December 26, think about that.
00:11:35.99\00:11:38.06
The day after Christmas
when people are celebrating,
00:11:38.09\00:11:41.46
completely
unaware of what's coming,
00:11:41.50\00:11:43.87
all of a sudden, a
tsunami in the Pacific Rim
00:11:43.90\00:11:46.90
and even as far as
00:11:46.94\00:11:48.27
Africa sweeps
227,000 lives into eternity.
00:11:48.30\00:11:53.91
I always ask the question,
00:11:53.94\00:11:55.44
what would they
have done differently
00:11:55.48\00:11:58.08
if they knew that
that was going to be
00:11:58.11\00:11:59.45
their last days?
00:11:59.48\00:12:00.82
Was it fearmongering
00:12:00.85\00:12:02.38
when the tsunami
alarms began to sound?
00:12:02.42\00:12:04.79
Was it fearmongering
00:12:04.82\00:12:06.15
when Noah preached for 120 years
00:12:06.19\00:12:09.02
that the flood
was going to come?
00:12:09.06\00:12:10.73
And people surely probably said,
00:12:10.76\00:12:13.93
"This man is out of his mind.
00:12:13.96\00:12:15.30
There's no way that a
flood is ever going to come."
00:12:15.33\00:12:18.03
But Noah faithfully preached.
00:12:18.07\00:12:20.20
It was not fearmongering,
00:12:20.24\00:12:21.70
because the Bible
says in Luke 17:27,
00:12:21.74\00:12:25.47
notice the Word of God.
00:12:25.51\00:12:27.21
The Bible says,
"They ate, they drank,
00:12:27.24\00:12:31.41
they married wives,
they were given in marriage,
00:12:31.45\00:12:35.55
until the day that
Noah entered the ark,
00:12:35.58\00:12:39.49
and the flood
came" and the sad words,
00:12:39.52\00:12:42.39
"and destroyed them all."
00:12:42.42\00:12:45.23
That's the unpredictable
environment we live in.
00:12:45.26\00:12:47.40
Things happen that
takes lives into eternity.
00:12:47.43\00:12:50.07
I was watching the news
00:12:50.10\00:12:51.43
and thinking
about how many people,
00:12:51.47\00:12:53.34
the statistics tend to
go up from city to city,
00:12:53.37\00:12:56.14
from nation to nation,
from country to country.
00:12:56.17\00:12:59.97
We can see the
ticker tape of the lives
00:13:00.01\00:13:02.04
being snatched into eternity
without a moment's notice.
00:13:02.08\00:13:05.91
And people are saying,
00:13:05.95\00:13:07.28
"Well, that's
just fearmongering."
00:13:07.32\00:13:08.65
But that's not fearmongering,
but the reality is, friends,
00:13:08.68\00:13:11.82
people that love
this sinful world
00:13:11.85\00:13:14.06
call it fearmongering
because they cannot fathom
00:13:14.09\00:13:17.43
that the world that
they are addicted to,
00:13:17.46\00:13:20.06
is crumbling around them.
00:13:20.10\00:13:22.83
But the Bible tells us that
as it was in the days of Noah,
00:13:22.86\00:13:26.27
so also will it be in the days
00:13:26.30\00:13:27.87
of the coming of the Son of Man.
00:13:27.90\00:13:29.50
People doubted in Noah's day,
00:13:29.54\00:13:31.91
they doubted in the days of Lot.
00:13:31.94\00:13:33.94
And today, friends,
people are doubting,
00:13:33.98\00:13:36.28
but some of them are
choosing to willfully forget.
00:13:36.31\00:13:39.91
Notice the words
of the Apostle Peter
00:13:39.95\00:13:42.38
in 2 Peter 3:5-7.
00:13:42.42\00:13:44.85
Notice what he says to us.
00:13:44.89\00:13:47.26
He says, "For this
they willingly forget:
00:13:47.29\00:13:51.36
that by the word of God
the heavens were of old,
00:13:51.39\00:13:54.76
and the earth
standing out of water
00:13:54.80\00:13:57.53
and in the water
by which the world
00:13:57.57\00:14:00.17
that then existed perished,
being flooded with water.
00:14:00.20\00:14:05.61
But the heavens, he continues,
00:14:05.64\00:14:07.38
and the earth which are
now preserved by the same word,
00:14:07.41\00:14:11.61
are reserved for fire
until the day of judgment
00:14:11.65\00:14:15.48
and perdition of ungodly men."
00:14:15.52\00:14:18.95
Friends, when
you think about it,
00:14:18.99\00:14:20.32
it's not fearmongering,
00:14:20.36\00:14:21.69
but for the person
that studying the Bible,
00:14:21.72\00:14:23.46
they know that
these are harbingers.
00:14:23.49\00:14:25.96
These are the soft blowing winds
00:14:25.99\00:14:28.06
that are preceded
by the hurricanes,
00:14:28.10\00:14:30.13
by the tsunamis,
by the tornadoes.
00:14:30.17\00:14:33.37
They take the
changing clouds as indications
00:14:33.40\00:14:36.91
that something tremendous
00:14:36.94\00:14:39.34
and stupendous
is on the horizon.
00:14:39.37\00:14:41.94
Was it fearmongering
also in the days of Lot,
00:14:41.98\00:14:44.75
when Lot warned his
family of the coming judgment
00:14:44.78\00:14:47.62
on the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah?
00:14:47.65\00:14:50.09
Listen to God's
Word one more time.
00:14:50.12\00:14:52.29
In Luke 17:28 and 29.
00:14:52.32\00:14:55.69
Notice what the
Word of God says.
00:14:55.72\00:14:58.03
It says, "Likewise as it
was also in the days of Lot:"
00:14:58.06\00:15:02.10
Look what they did?
00:15:02.13\00:15:03.47
"They also ate, they
drank, they bought, they sold,
00:15:03.50\00:15:06.94
they planted, they
built, but on the day that
00:15:06.97\00:15:10.27
Lot went out of
Sodom it rained fire
00:15:10.31\00:15:13.74
and brimstone from heaven,"
00:15:13.78\00:15:16.08
and sadly enough the same words,
00:15:16.11\00:15:18.05
"and destroyed them all."
00:15:18.08\00:15:21.35
It's not fearmongering, friends,
00:15:21.38\00:15:22.85
it's an indication that
00:15:22.88\00:15:24.95
this world cannot sustain itself
00:15:24.99\00:15:27.46
beyond the pleasure palaces,
00:15:27.49\00:15:29.26
beyond the large stadiums,
00:15:29.29\00:15:31.09
beyond the restless nights
00:15:31.13\00:15:32.66
when clubs are
filled with people
00:15:32.69\00:15:34.86
looking for the next
thing to throw their souls.
00:15:34.90\00:15:37.93
When people are
drinking endlessly,
00:15:37.97\00:15:39.83
give me another drink.
00:15:39.87\00:15:41.27
When people are
trying to find the thing
00:15:41.30\00:15:42.90
that stimulates their senses,
00:15:42.94\00:15:44.87
and they go home
without even knowing
00:15:44.91\00:15:46.47
how they get there.
00:15:46.51\00:15:47.84
We are living in serious times,
00:15:47.88\00:15:50.05
and the Word of
God is saying to us,
00:15:50.08\00:15:51.95
"If ever there was
a time to be alert,
00:15:51.98\00:15:54.92
the time is now."
00:15:54.95\00:15:56.89
In the book Last Day
Events, page 12 in paragraph 6,
00:15:56.92\00:16:01.22
I share with you this
very sobering quotation.
00:16:01.26\00:16:04.13
Here is what it said,
00:16:04.16\00:16:05.99
"God has always
given men warnings
00:16:06.03\00:16:10.13
of coming judgments.
00:16:10.17\00:16:12.53
Those who had faith in
His message for their time,
00:16:12.57\00:16:16.57
and who acted out of their faith
00:16:16.60\00:16:18.47
in obedience to
His commandments,
00:16:18.51\00:16:20.91
escaped the
judgments that fell upon
00:16:20.94\00:16:24.38
the disobedient
and unbelieving."
00:16:24.41\00:16:27.15
They escaped.
Friends, they escaped.
00:16:27.18\00:16:30.12
In other words,
if you were living
00:16:30.15\00:16:32.49
in the days of
December 26, 2004,
00:16:32.52\00:16:35.12
and you knew that
there were tsunami warnings,
00:16:35.16\00:16:37.86
you would quickly
leave the beaches,
00:16:37.89\00:16:39.96
leave the low lying landscapes,
and look for higher ground.
00:16:40.00\00:16:43.60
But there are people
that are feeling the rumblings
00:16:43.63\00:16:45.77
beneath their feet
and they're saying,
00:16:45.80\00:16:47.54
"It's just an anomaly.
00:16:47.57\00:16:49.60
It's just a shifting sand.
00:16:49.64\00:16:51.21
There's nothing really coming
that I have to worry about."
00:16:51.24\00:16:55.38
I remember watching television,
00:16:55.41\00:16:57.08
when the waters began to recede
00:16:57.11\00:16:59.11
and people not
knowing what it was,
00:16:59.15\00:17:01.68
began to walk out deeper
00:17:01.72\00:17:03.05
and deeper in the
oceans of the Pacific,
00:17:03.08\00:17:05.42
only to be swallowed up by waves
00:17:05.45\00:17:07.82
that were
traveling for more than
00:17:07.86\00:17:09.29
600 miles at 500 to 600
miles an hour underground.
00:17:09.32\00:17:14.53
They said at
the shallowest point
00:17:14.56\00:17:16.26
these waves were two feet.
00:17:16.30\00:17:18.07
But when they
began to build steam
00:17:18.10\00:17:19.77
as they got closer to the shore,
00:17:19.80\00:17:21.47
they were traveling at
500 to 600 miles an hour.
00:17:21.50\00:17:25.14
And once again,
00:17:25.17\00:17:26.51
the casualties go by
the hundreds of thousands.
00:17:26.54\00:17:29.48
Warnings? Yes, warnings.
00:17:29.51\00:17:31.38
Indications for
fearmongering? No.
00:17:31.41\00:17:33.62
Indications that
the Lord is coming soon.
00:17:33.65\00:17:36.35
And so when I stand
up here and I look out at
00:17:36.38\00:17:39.92
those who are
watching the program,
00:17:39.95\00:17:41.79
I can't see you but I know
00:17:41.82\00:17:44.33
that God has given me
the commission to preach
00:17:44.36\00:17:47.16
with eternity in view.
00:17:47.20\00:17:49.40
Understanding that the
warnings from God's Word,
00:17:49.43\00:17:52.87
friends, is the
deepest indication
00:17:52.90\00:17:55.07
of His love for mankind.
00:17:55.10\00:17:56.91
You know the familiar passage
I share with you right now.
00:17:56.94\00:17:59.84
This familiar
passage that reminds us
00:17:59.87\00:18:02.81
that in spite of
what's taking place
00:18:02.84\00:18:04.41
in spite of the
great loss of life,
00:18:04.45\00:18:06.82
the Lord's love
for us has not changed.
00:18:06.85\00:18:09.18
Let's look at this together.
You've heard it before.
00:18:09.22\00:18:11.35
But the Bible says in John 3:16,
00:18:11.39\00:18:13.96
"For God so loved the world
00:18:13.99\00:18:16.89
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:18:16.93\00:18:20.23
that whoever believes
in Him," notice the words,
00:18:20.26\00:18:23.90
"should not perish but
have everlasting life."
00:18:23.93\00:18:28.54
That's what the Lord wants
to give to us everlasting life,
00:18:28.57\00:18:31.34
but some people
rather the next cigarette,
00:18:31.37\00:18:34.01
the next movie, the next
club, the next invention,
00:18:34.04\00:18:38.28
people are looking
for stimuli on things
00:18:38.31\00:18:40.48
that are always changing.
00:18:40.52\00:18:42.38
What thrilled you two
years ago no longer thrills you.
00:18:42.42\00:18:45.12
But, friends,
00:18:45.15\00:18:46.49
when you give
your life to Jesus,
00:18:46.52\00:18:47.86
let me encourage you,
00:18:47.89\00:18:49.22
when you give
your life to Christ,
00:18:49.26\00:18:50.59
you don't need
stimuli because the power
00:18:50.63\00:18:52.53
that is resident in
Christ doesn't ebb and flow.
00:18:52.56\00:18:55.60
It is constant as He is.
00:18:55.63\00:18:57.67
It's the same
yesterday, today and forever.
00:18:57.70\00:19:01.70
If ever there was a
time to believe God,
00:19:01.74\00:19:03.81
my friends, it is now.
00:19:03.84\00:19:05.31
If ever there was a time
to trust God with your life,
00:19:05.34\00:19:09.54
it is now.
00:19:09.58\00:19:10.91
If ever there was a
time to walk with Jesus,
00:19:10.95\00:19:14.08
it is now because
many are preparing
00:19:14.12\00:19:16.99
for the return of Jesus.
00:19:17.02\00:19:19.49
But He wants to
live with us now.
00:19:19.52\00:19:22.62
In other words, don't
wait until then to get ready.
00:19:22.66\00:19:26.73
The best time to
be ready is right now,
00:19:26.76\00:19:29.36
when you don't
know what's coming next,
00:19:29.40\00:19:31.50
when you are not aware
of what's on the horizon,
00:19:31.53\00:19:34.30
it's always best to be ready.
00:19:34.34\00:19:37.24
The Bible says that
Jesus is offering us something
00:19:37.27\00:19:39.84
that every one of us in need of.
00:19:39.87\00:19:41.61
Every one of us is in need of.
00:19:41.64\00:19:43.45
Right now
people are quarantined.
00:19:43.48\00:19:45.81
People watching this
program are probably watching
00:19:45.85\00:19:48.92
with a small family
00:19:48.95\00:19:50.49
or in their
houses by themselves.
00:19:50.52\00:19:52.65
But here's the invitation
of Jesus in Matthew 11:28.
00:19:52.69\00:19:56.73
In this restless society,
these words fit right here.
00:19:56.76\00:20:01.23
He says to us, "Come to Me,
00:20:01.26\00:20:04.00
all you who labor
and are heavy laden,"
00:20:04.03\00:20:07.70
and notice the promise,
"and I will give you rest."
00:20:07.74\00:20:11.77
You know,
friends, think about it.
00:20:11.81\00:20:13.98
Think about it for a moment.
00:20:14.01\00:20:15.34
The COVID-19 virus
is horrible as it is.
00:20:15.38\00:20:19.71
I found that
there's something in it,
00:20:19.75\00:20:22.68
a message hidden in it
for a restless society,
00:20:22.72\00:20:26.52
for a restless world.
00:20:26.55\00:20:28.16
I mean, think
about the environment.
00:20:28.19\00:20:29.96
Let me walk you through it.
00:20:29.99\00:20:31.59
As never before, movie theaters,
00:20:31.63\00:20:34.36
casinos, bars
and clubs are closed.
00:20:34.40\00:20:38.53
Watch this, quarantined.
00:20:38.57\00:20:41.17
You can't go to
the movie theaters,
00:20:41.20\00:20:42.54
the bars, the
clubs, they're close.
00:20:42.57\00:20:44.34
As never before, amusement parks
00:20:44.37\00:20:47.04
and malls are
closed, quarantined.
00:20:47.08\00:20:50.21
We cannot even go
outside of our homes.
00:20:50.25\00:20:52.11
Some cities, some major cities
00:20:52.15\00:20:54.62
have declared
lockdown or curfew.
00:20:54.65\00:20:57.59
We can't do anything,
but look at the message.
00:20:57.62\00:20:59.99
As never before,
worldly distractions
00:21:00.02\00:21:02.66
are at a minimum,
00:21:02.69\00:21:04.56
and there's a
cry of frustration.
00:21:04.59\00:21:06.03
Why?
00:21:06.06\00:21:07.40
Because the objects of
your affection are gone.
00:21:07.43\00:21:11.03
And this is the hour
to ask the question, why?
00:21:11.07\00:21:14.14
Why is the Lord
allowing all the things
00:21:14.17\00:21:16.64
that we love so
much to be snatched away
00:21:16.67\00:21:20.14
one at a time?
00:21:20.18\00:21:21.74
Why is He allowing the mall?
00:21:21.78\00:21:23.45
I mean, can I be quarantined
00:21:23.48\00:21:24.95
and enjoy the mall
or the movie theater?
00:21:24.98\00:21:27.48
Can I be quarantined and
go to the amusement park?
00:21:27.52\00:21:30.09
Friends, get a
glimpse of what's coming.
00:21:30.12\00:21:32.42
One day there will be
nothing for us to turn to.
00:21:32.45\00:21:35.39
That's why the Lord is saying,
00:21:35.42\00:21:36.76
"If ever there was a time
00:21:36.79\00:21:38.13
to make a
decision to turn anywhere,
00:21:38.16\00:21:39.89
the time to turn
to Christ is now."
00:21:39.93\00:21:42.73
This hour of quarantine
is creating an atmosphere,
00:21:42.76\00:21:46.90
get this, for
just you and Jesus.
00:21:46.94\00:21:50.97
I'll say that again.
00:21:51.01\00:21:52.87
When you can't go to work,
when you can't go to the store,
00:21:52.91\00:21:55.88
when you can't
allow other people
00:21:55.91\00:21:57.38
to come around you,
00:21:57.41\00:21:58.75
this is a time that
the Lord is creating
00:21:58.78\00:22:01.08
in this disastrous
setting, a time for just you
00:22:01.12\00:22:05.05
and Jesus quarantined together.
00:22:05.09\00:22:08.02
John the Revelator encouraged us
00:22:08.06\00:22:10.63
with these words
in Revelation 22:17,
00:22:10.66\00:22:14.36
quarantine kind of like words.
00:22:14.40\00:22:16.43
Here's what he says,
00:22:16.46\00:22:18.10
"And the Spirit
and the bride say,
00:22:18.13\00:22:20.57
'Come!'
00:22:20.60\00:22:21.94
And let him who
hears say, 'Come!'
00:22:21.97\00:22:24.77
And let him who thirsts come.
00:22:24.81\00:22:27.71
Whoever desires," notice,
00:22:27.74\00:22:30.21
"let him take the
water of life," how?
00:22:30.25\00:22:34.32
"Freely."
00:22:34.35\00:22:35.68
The Lord is
saying, "This is a time
00:22:35.72\00:22:37.35
I'm not going to charge
you for being in My presence."
00:22:37.39\00:22:39.95
You know, you have to pay
to go to the movie theaters.
00:22:39.99\00:22:41.76
You got to pay
to go to the clubs
00:22:41.79\00:22:43.12
and the amusement parks.
00:22:43.16\00:22:44.49
And today, I tell you, you pay,
00:22:44.53\00:22:46.36
if I could use a phrase loosely,
00:22:46.39\00:22:47.96
you pay large sums of money
00:22:48.00\00:22:50.60
for something that
only lasts for a short time
00:22:50.63\00:22:54.10
and it vanishes away.
00:22:54.14\00:22:55.57
But the Lord is
saying today, there's water.
00:22:55.60\00:22:57.91
Think about it, water.
00:22:57.94\00:22:59.51
Take of the
water of life freely.
00:22:59.54\00:23:01.68
My wife and I went to the store,
00:23:01.71\00:23:03.58
we have Walmart,
we have other stores,
00:23:03.61\00:23:05.91
Kroger and some of
the smallest stores
00:23:05.95\00:23:07.85
in our community.
00:23:07.88\00:23:09.28
But water, something that
seems to be always available,
00:23:09.32\00:23:13.02
people can't find water.
00:23:13.05\00:23:14.96
And in some cases,
00:23:14.99\00:23:16.32
no matter how
much money you have,
00:23:16.36\00:23:17.69
you can't buy water.
00:23:17.73\00:23:19.19
But Jesus says,
"Come and take of the water
00:23:19.23\00:23:21.96
of life freely."
00:23:22.00\00:23:23.57
I'm telling you today, friends,
when money can't buy it,
00:23:23.60\00:23:26.20
because it's not available,
when you can't find it
00:23:26.23\00:23:28.64
because the
stores don't have any.
00:23:28.67\00:23:30.27
Jesus is saying to us,
00:23:30.31\00:23:31.64
"Come and take of the
water of life freely."
00:23:31.67\00:23:34.38
And the water
00:23:34.41\00:23:35.74
that Jesus gives us
is purer than any water
00:23:35.78\00:23:39.65
that the world has
ever attempted to make,
00:23:39.68\00:23:42.15
no matter the
company, no matter the bottle.
00:23:42.18\00:23:44.62
The water that Jesus gives you
00:23:44.65\00:23:46.29
will quench your soul and
wash away all your despair.
00:23:46.32\00:23:49.82
This is the hour to take
of the water of life freely.
00:23:49.86\00:23:53.90
When all that you had is gone,
00:23:53.93\00:23:56.16
you will discover
that Jesus is all you need.
00:23:56.20\00:23:59.67
Think about it.
00:23:59.70\00:24:01.50
Let me ask a very
pertinent question.
00:24:01.54\00:24:03.54
Do you miss Jesus as
much as you miss the mall?
00:24:03.57\00:24:08.31
Do you miss Jesus as much as
00:24:08.34\00:24:09.94
you miss the clubs
and the movie theaters?
00:24:09.98\00:24:13.01
Is your time with
Jesus more precious
00:24:13.05\00:24:16.08
than your time with the videos,
or Facebook, or Instagram?
00:24:16.12\00:24:20.46
If you can't
catch what's happening,
00:24:20.49\00:24:22.02
the Lord is shutting
the world down to say,
00:24:22.06\00:24:24.29
"This is the time to
seek Me while I can be found,"
00:24:24.33\00:24:26.90
because, friends, one day,
00:24:26.93\00:24:29.66
one day people are
going to look for Christ,
00:24:29.70\00:24:31.77
and they won't find Him.
00:24:31.80\00:24:33.90
He's saying to us,
00:24:33.94\00:24:35.27
"Let go of the
world and hold on to Me."
00:24:35.30\00:24:38.17
I remember growing up
when I had my first bike,
00:24:38.21\00:24:42.18
I was a little guy,
I had my first bicycle,
00:24:42.21\00:24:44.25
was a lot larger than I was.
00:24:44.28\00:24:46.38
And I tried my best with my,
00:24:46.41\00:24:48.58
if you could imagine I
had short legs at one time.
00:24:48.62\00:24:51.49
I stood on that bicycle
tried to pedal as best I can.
00:24:51.52\00:24:54.69
And I can hear my father
in the background saying,
00:24:54.72\00:24:56.73
"Don't forget, hold
on to the handlebars
00:24:56.76\00:24:59.19
and you won't fall."
00:24:59.23\00:25:00.96
All in my fear, I
let go and I fell.
00:25:01.00\00:25:03.80
Well, friends, Jesus is saying,
00:25:03.83\00:25:05.60
"This is the hour
to hold on to Him."
00:25:05.63\00:25:08.10
If we hold on to
Christ and not let go,
00:25:08.14\00:25:11.21
we will not fall.
00:25:11.24\00:25:12.91
But on the other
side, He's saying,
00:25:12.94\00:25:15.08
"Don't hold on to the
world, it's going down.
00:25:15.11\00:25:17.41
It's going to be
shut down permanently."
00:25:17.45\00:25:19.45
I'm a New Yorker.
00:25:19.48\00:25:21.28
It always startles me
when I look at the news,
00:25:21.32\00:25:22.92
and I listen to
Governor Cuomo in New York City,
00:25:22.95\00:25:25.32
and he shows Time
Square like a ghost town,
00:25:25.35\00:25:28.26
the freeways,
hardly a car to be found.
00:25:28.29\00:25:32.19
I received a phone call
from a friend in Los Angeles.
00:25:32.23\00:25:35.33
She said, if you
could imagine as my wife
00:25:35.36\00:25:37.20
and I are
talking to her, she said,
00:25:37.23\00:25:38.57
"If you can imagine
the Los Angeles freeway,
00:25:38.60\00:25:41.34
hardly any cars to be
found, the malls are shut down.
00:25:41.37\00:25:45.14
And people are now
making large circles
00:25:45.17\00:25:48.74
around their neighbors fearing
that somehow in some way,
00:25:48.78\00:25:53.52
they may be affected
by the COVID-19 virus.
00:25:53.55\00:25:57.15
But this is the hour
the Lord is saying to us,
00:25:57.19\00:25:59.35
let go of the world
00:25:59.39\00:26:00.72
because the world is going down.
00:26:00.76\00:26:02.32
Notice the words of Christ
in the Book of 1 John 2:15-17.
00:26:02.36\00:26:07.96
Look at what he says.
00:26:08.00\00:26:10.07
He says, "Do not love the world
or the things in the world."
00:26:10.10\00:26:13.67
Why?
00:26:13.70\00:26:15.04
"If anyone loves the world,
00:26:15.07\00:26:17.51
the love of the
Father is not in him."
00:26:17.54\00:26:20.38
He continues in verse 16,
"For all that is in the world,"
00:26:20.41\00:26:24.98
and notice the three categories,
00:26:25.01\00:26:26.51
"the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes,
00:26:26.55\00:26:30.29
the pride of life
is not of the Father
00:26:30.32\00:26:33.99
but is of the world."
00:26:34.02\00:26:35.42
And then he says,
00:26:35.46\00:26:36.79
"And the world is passing away."
00:26:36.83\00:26:38.99
There's going to be a
funeral for the world one day,
00:26:39.03\00:26:41.23
"and the last of it,"
00:26:41.26\00:26:42.76
but here's the good news,
00:26:42.80\00:26:44.13
"but he who does the will of God
00:26:44.17\00:26:46.37
abides forever."
00:26:46.40\00:26:48.94
Do you want to
live forever? I do.
00:26:48.97\00:26:51.67
I hear about people
that are dying young.
00:26:51.71\00:26:54.64
We got some sad news
that a friend of ours
00:26:54.68\00:26:57.11
lost her
brother-in-law to COVID-19.
00:26:57.15\00:26:59.78
A gentleman, a man
that sought to bring relief
00:26:59.81\00:27:02.95
to so many of his
patients during therapy.
00:27:02.98\00:27:05.79
And they estimate that possibly
00:27:05.82\00:27:07.72
one of the
patients he cared for,
00:27:07.76\00:27:09.52
maybe caused him
to get contagious.
00:27:09.56\00:27:12.19
And he passed
away, lost his life.
00:27:12.23\00:27:14.76
But because he knew the
Lord, he fell asleep in Jesus.
00:27:14.80\00:27:18.43
Friends, this is the
time to let go of the world.
00:27:18.47\00:27:21.30
I know there's some
people watching that are saying,
00:27:21.34\00:27:23.14
"Well, I'm not a Christian.
00:27:23.17\00:27:25.44
He really doesn't matter to me.
00:27:25.47\00:27:26.91
Soon this storm
is gonna pass by,
00:27:26.94\00:27:29.18
and I'll be able to
get back to life as normal.
00:27:29.21\00:27:32.41
I'll be able to
go back to the park.
00:27:32.45\00:27:34.32
We'll go back to the mall.
We'll go back to the clubs."
00:27:34.35\00:27:37.39
I've even heard of people,
00:27:37.42\00:27:39.29
in spite of all
the prohibition saying,
00:27:39.32\00:27:41.62
"I'm going to have
a party at my home."
00:27:41.66\00:27:43.86
Friends, this is not the
time to take this hour lightly.
00:27:43.89\00:27:47.43
Because the cities of
today, the world of today
00:27:47.46\00:27:50.53
is not where the
answers are found.
00:27:50.57\00:27:52.30
The answers are found in Jesus.
00:27:52.33\00:27:54.74
Notice in the book
Christ Object Lessons, page 54.
00:27:54.77\00:27:59.07
We get a
glimpse of what the Lord
00:27:59.11\00:28:01.28
showed His servant
about the cities of our world.
00:28:01.31\00:28:04.08
Here's what she said.
00:28:04.11\00:28:05.51
She said, "The cities
of today are fast becoming
00:28:05.55\00:28:09.42
like Sodom and Gomorrah.
00:28:09.45\00:28:11.85
The many holidays
encourage idleness.
00:28:11.89\00:28:15.42
The exciting sports,
theater-going, horse-racing,
00:28:15.46\00:28:19.39
gambling, liquor-drinking,
00:28:19.43\00:28:22.23
and reveling,
that means partying,
00:28:22.26\00:28:24.77
stimulate every
passion to intense activity,
00:28:24.80\00:28:28.90
and the youth are swept
away by the popular current."
00:28:28.94\00:28:32.84
Now, if Ellen
White wrote this today,
00:28:32.87\00:28:34.94
she would include all
the other media vices,
00:28:34.98\00:28:37.55
Facebook and Instagram.
00:28:37.58\00:28:39.61
Not that these things in
and of themselves are evil
00:28:39.65\00:28:42.05
because I post
things about Christ.
00:28:42.08\00:28:44.15
I try to put encouraging words,
00:28:44.19\00:28:45.85
but there are some people
00:28:45.89\00:28:47.22
that are
addicted to these stimuli.
00:28:47.26\00:28:49.76
And they can't
really tell about the things
00:28:49.79\00:28:52.26
that really matter for eternity.
00:28:52.29\00:28:54.66
They're not investing in
anything beyond the moment.
00:28:54.70\00:28:57.53
What would happen
if all of a sudden
00:28:57.57\00:28:59.63
all the electricity in the world
00:28:59.67\00:29:02.47
all of a sudden stopped working.
00:29:02.50\00:29:05.37
And we are plunged back
into a primitive society.
00:29:05.41\00:29:08.81
I believe that will
be one more indication
00:29:08.84\00:29:10.85
that God is trying desperately
to get our attentions.
00:29:10.88\00:29:14.55
But, friends, don't
wait for any other change
00:29:14.58\00:29:17.92
before you decide to
give your life to the Lord.
00:29:17.95\00:29:21.16
And I want to say again,
00:29:21.19\00:29:22.99
COVID-19 is not
the end of the world,
00:29:23.02\00:29:25.23
but it is a
reminder of our frailty.
00:29:25.26\00:29:30.13
It's a reminder of how mankind
00:29:30.17\00:29:32.60
really is not
fit to face anything
00:29:32.63\00:29:34.60
that's ahead of him.
00:29:34.64\00:29:35.97
It is a glimpse
00:29:36.00\00:29:37.34
of the growing
intensity of events
00:29:37.37\00:29:40.01
that are on the horizon.
00:29:40.04\00:29:42.34
You know, when COVID-19 pass
00:29:42.38\00:29:44.28
and I'm praying
that it does soon,
00:29:44.31\00:29:46.98
something else is going to come.
00:29:47.02\00:29:48.78
We've had wars
and rumors of wars,
00:29:48.82\00:29:50.49
we've had World War I,
00:29:50.52\00:29:52.12
World War II, we've
had the Vietnam War,
00:29:52.15\00:29:54.46
we've had the Gulf War.
00:29:54.49\00:29:56.76
We've had clashes
00:29:56.79\00:29:58.16
between nations and governments.
00:29:58.19\00:30:00.06
And in our own country,
we have our own problems.
00:30:00.10\00:30:03.57
And if you're in
the United States,
00:30:03.60\00:30:04.93
you understand what I mean.
00:30:04.97\00:30:06.30
But if you're in Great Britain,
you have your issues there.
00:30:06.33\00:30:08.60
In these islands of the sea,
you've got your issues there.
00:30:08.64\00:30:11.84
If you're in Asia,
you've got your issues there.
00:30:11.87\00:30:14.28
Everywhere in the
world there's some issue,
00:30:14.31\00:30:17.21
somebody is struggling with.
00:30:17.25\00:30:19.28
But there's something
coming still on the horizon.
00:30:19.31\00:30:22.42
Another storm is
coming with greater intensity
00:30:22.45\00:30:25.69
than what we're facing today.
00:30:25.72\00:30:27.46
In Evangelism, page 361,
notice these inspired words.
00:30:27.49\00:30:32.43
We are told
"The storm is coming,
00:30:32.46\00:30:35.66
the storm that will try
00:30:35.70\00:30:37.03
every man's faith
to what sort it is.
00:30:37.07\00:30:40.84
Believers must now be
firmly rooted in Christ
00:30:40.87\00:30:45.07
or else they will be led astray
00:30:45.11\00:30:48.98
by some phase of error."
00:30:49.01\00:30:52.11
Think about it.
00:30:52.15\00:30:54.15
Not only storms
that are cataclysmic,
00:30:54.18\00:30:57.05
storms that are filled
with disease and pestilence,
00:30:57.09\00:30:59.99
storms that bring in war
and strife and bloodshed,
00:31:00.02\00:31:02.89
but there are
all kinds of storms.
00:31:02.92\00:31:04.69
And we've got to
focus and understand
00:31:04.73\00:31:06.36
where this is coming from.
00:31:06.39\00:31:07.73
Let me give you an idea.
00:31:07.76\00:31:09.56
There is a
satanic demolition team
00:31:09.60\00:31:11.77
well organized
00:31:11.80\00:31:13.23
and they are
committed to one goal.
00:31:13.27\00:31:15.67
They are
strategically, listen to me,
00:31:15.70\00:31:17.97
and methodically
mapping out our destruction.
00:31:18.01\00:31:21.44
They're thinking of ways
to bring about our demise.
00:31:21.48\00:31:25.01
They are painstakingly examining
00:31:25.05\00:31:28.68
the lives of
their intended victims,
00:31:28.72\00:31:30.52
you and me, the
worst is yet to come.
00:31:30.55\00:31:33.52
These masters of destruction
00:31:33.56\00:31:35.62
are looking for our
most vulnerable points.
00:31:35.66\00:31:39.69
Something that's not
talked about on the news.
00:31:39.73\00:31:42.13
The Satanic component
is not even talked about.
00:31:42.16\00:31:45.13
ABC, NBC, CBS,
Fox, Al Jazeera, BBC,
00:31:45.17\00:31:48.94
they're not saying
that the devil our adversary
00:31:48.97\00:31:52.84
is behind this.
00:31:52.87\00:31:54.21
He's looking to
sweep away humanity
00:31:54.24\00:31:56.54
in his web of destruction.
00:31:56.58\00:31:58.21
He is examining the weak
places in our characters.
00:31:58.25\00:32:02.18
And unless we wake up,
00:32:02.22\00:32:03.92
Satan and his evil forces
00:32:03.95\00:32:05.59
will reduce us
to a pile of dust.
00:32:05.62\00:32:08.76
That's why when the Apostle Paul
00:32:08.79\00:32:10.69
was in his journey, in
his journey of freedom,
00:32:10.73\00:32:13.29
he appealed to the
powers in the city of Rome.
00:32:13.33\00:32:17.50
And the weather began,
00:32:17.53\00:32:19.27
the weather
began to be beautiful
00:32:19.30\00:32:21.04
when he began his journey,
00:32:21.07\00:32:22.40
but suddenly the
environmental pressures changed.
00:32:22.44\00:32:25.07
And something happened that
he was not looking forward to.
00:32:25.11\00:32:28.31
In the Book of Acts 27:4,
we think about these words,
00:32:28.34\00:32:32.41
as the Bible gives us a glimpse
00:32:32.45\00:32:34.42
of the journey
of the Apostle Paul.
00:32:34.45\00:32:36.32
Notice what he talks about
when he started his journey
00:32:36.35\00:32:39.52
from where he was
appealing to Caesar in Rome,
00:32:39.55\00:32:43.06
and the Bible says
in Acts 27:4, he said,
00:32:43.09\00:32:46.90
"When we had put
to sea from there,
00:32:46.93\00:32:49.96
we sailed under
the shelter of Cyprus,
00:32:50.00\00:32:52.70
because the
winds were contrary."
00:32:52.73\00:32:56.00
The winds were,
notice, contrary.
00:32:56.04\00:32:58.67
Friends, we're
living in contrary times.
00:32:58.71\00:33:01.34
We cannot tell where
the winds are coming from,
00:33:01.38\00:33:03.88
we can't tell where
the winds are going.
00:33:03.91\00:33:05.95
We can't tell
where the next disease
00:33:05.98\00:33:07.62
is going to come from.
00:33:07.65\00:33:09.02
We can't tell what
country, what city, what form,
00:33:09.05\00:33:12.49
and for the first time,
at least in my lifetime,
00:33:12.52\00:33:16.16
I'm listening to
people that I thought
00:33:16.19\00:33:17.73
are great medical professionals
and they're saying,
00:33:17.76\00:33:19.93
"We don't have an
answer for this virus."
00:33:19.96\00:33:22.90
We're seeking tirelessly.
00:33:22.93\00:33:24.70
Billions of
dollars are being plunged
00:33:24.73\00:33:27.04
into finding an
answer for the COVID-19.
00:33:27.07\00:33:30.34
The winds are contrary,
we cannot control the winds.
00:33:30.37\00:33:33.58
Every one of us is
victims of the contrary
00:33:33.61\00:33:37.41
winds of our time.
00:33:37.45\00:33:39.05
But, friends,
God never said that
00:33:39.08\00:33:40.42
they would not
be contrary winds.
00:33:40.45\00:33:42.75
But He always said, "I
am the master of the sea.
00:33:42.78\00:33:46.55
I am the master of the winds."
00:33:46.59\00:33:48.72
There's no wind blowing that
can ever catch Jesus off guard.
00:33:48.76\00:33:53.50
I'll say amen for myself.
00:33:53.53\00:33:55.26
There is no wind blowing,
00:33:55.30\00:33:56.63
no storm that ever arises
that the Lord cannot handle.
00:33:56.67\00:34:00.47
But some of the same challenges
00:34:00.50\00:34:02.00
that confronted the
people in Christ's day
00:34:02.04\00:34:04.77
are the challenges
that confront us today.
00:34:04.81\00:34:07.84
Now, I want to make a point.
00:34:07.88\00:34:09.54
When Paul began his journey,
the winds were lightly blowing,
00:34:09.58\00:34:13.35
then the winds became contrary.
00:34:13.38\00:34:16.89
But as I read
this next scripture,
00:34:16.92\00:34:18.55
you'll notice how
things change drastically,
00:34:18.59\00:34:20.76
not for the better,
but often for the worst.
00:34:20.79\00:34:23.43
Acts 27:14. Notice these words.
00:34:23.46\00:34:27.10
And the Bible says,
"But not long after,
00:34:27.13\00:34:30.70
a tempestuous head wind
arose, called Euroclydon."
00:34:30.73\00:34:36.60
Euroclydon.
00:34:36.64\00:34:37.97
Now you know very well,
00:34:38.01\00:34:39.37
when you give a name to a storm,
00:34:39.41\00:34:41.18
it's either a
typhoon or it's a hurricane.
00:34:41.21\00:34:44.55
Euroclydon, Euroclydon,
that means it went from
00:34:44.58\00:34:47.92
soft blowing
winds to contrary winds
00:34:47.95\00:34:51.29
to a full blown storm.
00:34:51.32\00:34:54.26
Let me make application.
00:34:54.29\00:34:56.16
As bad as things
are at the present,
00:34:56.19\00:34:59.89
I'm not fearmongering,
00:34:59.93\00:35:01.26
I'm being clear with you.
00:35:01.30\00:35:02.96
I'm being direct.
00:35:03.00\00:35:04.33
As bad as it is,
there's a storm on the horizon
00:35:04.37\00:35:08.80
with a name a Euroclydon coming.
00:35:08.84\00:35:12.21
But praise the Lord,
00:35:12.24\00:35:13.71
He has not allowed
the worst to come yet.
00:35:13.74\00:35:16.71
He's still holding
back the winds of strife.
00:35:16.75\00:35:20.15
Heaven is completing its work.
00:35:20.18\00:35:22.45
There are people to be saved.
00:35:22.48\00:35:24.42
Friends, I appeal to you.
00:35:24.45\00:35:25.92
If you don't know Christ,
00:35:25.95\00:35:27.32
this is the hour to
give your life to Christ.
00:35:27.36\00:35:29.72
This is the moment to say,
Lord, I'm afraid right now.
00:35:29.76\00:35:33.93
I received a phone call
from a young lady in Minnesota.
00:35:33.96\00:35:37.83
On the phone, she's crying.
00:35:37.87\00:35:39.20
She says, "I watch
your message on television,
00:35:39.23\00:35:42.20
but I don't know what to do.
00:35:42.24\00:35:43.57
I know that my
life is in trouble.
00:35:43.61\00:35:45.77
I'm facing difficulty.
00:35:45.81\00:35:47.14
I know the devil is
after me. What do I do?"
00:35:47.18\00:35:49.61
And my wife and I
sought to console her
00:35:49.64\00:35:51.51
and pray with her.
00:35:51.55\00:35:52.88
People are filled with fear.
00:35:52.91\00:35:54.55
But as bad as it
is, praise the Lord,
00:35:54.58\00:35:58.02
He's holding the doors open.
00:35:58.05\00:35:59.55
So that may you or somebody else
00:35:59.59\00:36:01.66
can come into that
relationship with Christ
00:36:01.69\00:36:03.96
before it is ever too late.
00:36:03.99\00:36:05.63
It may be a frightening horizon,
00:36:05.66\00:36:07.96
but there is no fear in love
00:36:08.00\00:36:09.43
because perfect
love casts out all fear.
00:36:09.46\00:36:13.87
But let me
calibrate your thinking
00:36:13.90\00:36:15.40
with another quotation
from the book Education,
00:36:15.44\00:36:18.34
page 179 and paragraph 6.
00:36:18.37\00:36:21.71
Notice what we are told.
00:36:21.74\00:36:23.85
"Angels are now
restraining the winds of strife,
00:36:23.88\00:36:28.08
that they may not
blow until the world
00:36:28.12\00:36:30.49
shall be warned
of its coming doom,
00:36:30.52\00:36:33.32
but a storm is gathering,
00:36:33.36\00:36:36.62
ready to burst upon the earth,
00:36:36.66\00:36:39.66
and when God shall bid
His angels loose the winds,"
00:36:39.69\00:36:44.47
notice this, "there will
be such a scene of strife
00:36:44.50\00:36:49.00
as no pen can picture."
00:36:49.04\00:36:51.27
Wow!
00:36:51.31\00:36:52.64
Think about that for a
moment, as no pen can picture.
00:36:52.67\00:36:54.64
That means, if you
try to write it down,
00:36:54.68\00:36:56.31
you couldn't come
up with an explanation
00:36:56.34\00:36:58.11
as no pen can picture.
00:36:58.15\00:37:01.55
So, friends, why would we wait
00:37:01.58\00:37:03.92
until the uncontrollable grips
the entire world as it is now,
00:37:03.95\00:37:09.16
but this is just a
build up to what's coming.
00:37:09.19\00:37:12.39
That's why this is the hour,
00:37:12.43\00:37:13.76
my brother, this is
the hour, my sister.
00:37:13.80\00:37:16.13
This is the hour young
lady and young men to say, Lord,
00:37:16.16\00:37:19.10
I need to find a place to
hide in the times of storm.
00:37:19.13\00:37:22.60
I need to know that
with Christ, there is hope,
00:37:22.64\00:37:25.47
there is
courage, there is faith.
00:37:25.51\00:37:26.91
I don't need to be afraid.
00:37:26.94\00:37:28.91
I don't need to look at the news
00:37:28.94\00:37:30.55
and go to bed tonight
trembling in my shoes.
00:37:30.58\00:37:33.52
I need to be able to
lay down my head and say,
00:37:33.55\00:37:36.02
if I don't make it
till tomorrow morning,
00:37:36.05\00:37:38.62
I have the assurance
that when Jesus comes,
00:37:38.65\00:37:41.36
I will be in that
first resurrection.
00:37:41.39\00:37:43.53
You know, Paul makes it clear.
00:37:43.56\00:37:45.19
His journey went from
soft winds to contrary winds,
00:37:45.23\00:37:49.46
and then a
strong storm Euroclydon,
00:37:49.50\00:37:51.67
the hurricane hit.
00:37:51.70\00:37:53.37
But there's something
Paul did that we must also do.
00:37:53.40\00:37:56.34
Look at Acts 27:15 with me.
00:37:56.37\00:37:59.87
The Bible says, "So
when the ship was caught,
00:37:59.91\00:38:04.81
and could not
head into the wind,
00:38:04.85\00:38:07.58
we let her drive."
00:38:07.62\00:38:10.29
Oh, this is a
powerful application.
00:38:10.32\00:38:12.49
Paul says, "We let her drive.
00:38:12.52\00:38:14.06
When we could no longer control
00:38:14.09\00:38:15.66
what was taking
place, we let her drive."
00:38:15.69\00:38:17.89
Wow! What is it
saying to us today?
00:38:17.93\00:38:20.50
It's saying to us today that
00:38:20.53\00:38:21.90
we are going to
face circumstances
00:38:21.93\00:38:24.23
that we cannot control.
00:38:24.27\00:38:26.30
It's at that moment
that we have to let the Lord
00:38:26.33\00:38:28.60
lead the way.
00:38:28.64\00:38:29.97
We have to let the
Lord guide His church.
00:38:30.01\00:38:32.47
We have to let the
Lord open the passage
00:38:32.51\00:38:34.68
before us because, friends,
00:38:34.71\00:38:36.54
as great as we
are in the country,
00:38:36.58\00:38:38.38
as advanced as we
are technologically,
00:38:38.41\00:38:41.42
we have found something
that we just have no idea
00:38:41.45\00:38:44.79
how to control, how to curtail,
00:38:44.82\00:38:47.29
how to prevent
and how to slow down.
00:38:47.32\00:38:49.59
But the Lord is saying to us,
00:38:49.62\00:38:51.06
"When you face circumstances
like that, let her drive."
00:38:51.09\00:38:55.30
And why did Paul say,
they let the ship drive?
00:38:55.33\00:38:57.87
You know why?
00:38:57.90\00:38:59.23
Because God is the God of
the ocean and His precious,
00:38:59.27\00:39:03.61
faithful servant,
00:39:03.64\00:39:04.97
the Apostle Paul
was on that ship.
00:39:05.01\00:39:06.88
And he would
not allow any danger
00:39:06.91\00:39:08.78
or harm to come
to the Apostle Paul.
00:39:08.81\00:39:10.88
What am I saying to you?
00:39:10.91\00:39:12.25
If you give your
life to the Lord, friends,
00:39:12.28\00:39:14.12
you have to simply
someday just let go,
00:39:14.15\00:39:16.18
stop trying to
control everything
00:39:16.22\00:39:18.09
and put your life
under the control of Christ.
00:39:18.12\00:39:20.79
He is the only
one. I say that again.
00:39:20.82\00:39:23.19
He is the only
one that can bring us
00:39:23.22\00:39:26.29
through the
troublesome times ahead of us.
00:39:26.33\00:39:28.63
Jesus can save us.
00:39:28.66\00:39:30.40
But there's
something we have to do.
00:39:30.43\00:39:31.77
We got to let go and
let the Lord control.
00:39:31.80\00:39:35.07
I heard something today
from one of my governors
00:39:35.10\00:39:38.21
when I was in New York City.
00:39:38.24\00:39:39.57
I was born and
raised in New York City,
00:39:39.61\00:39:41.18
but I like what New York
City Governor Cuomo said,
00:39:41.21\00:39:44.98
and it just thrilled my soul.
00:39:45.01\00:39:46.58
I was working on my
message and my wife said,
00:39:46.61\00:39:48.62
"Did you just hear that?"
00:39:48.65\00:39:49.98
And I heard it. She
said, "You heard that?"
00:39:50.02\00:39:52.55
Well, with the size of ears
I have, I can hear anything.
00:39:52.59\00:39:56.46
But he said these words.
00:39:56.49\00:39:59.26
He said, "We must
be socially distanced,
00:39:59.29\00:40:02.96
but spiritually connected."
00:40:03.00\00:40:05.17
I'll say that one more time.
00:40:05.20\00:40:06.77
Governor Cuomo of New York City,
00:40:06.80\00:40:08.14
he said, "We must
be socially distanced,
00:40:08.17\00:40:12.57
but spiritually connected."
00:40:12.61\00:40:14.74
And then he said,
00:40:14.78\00:40:16.34
"I don't have the
answer on how to do that."
00:40:16.38\00:40:19.11
And I thought, "Wow,
what a great statement,
00:40:19.15\00:40:21.35
Governor Cuomo."
00:40:21.38\00:40:23.08
But why make
such a great statement
00:40:23.12\00:40:25.15
and not know how
to accomplish it?
00:40:25.19\00:40:26.89
Well, friends, I'll give you
00:40:26.92\00:40:28.26
four ways to be
socially distanced
00:40:28.29\00:40:32.53
and spiritually connected.
00:40:32.56\00:40:34.50
The Lord has a formula.
00:40:34.53\00:40:36.90
When governors
don't have the answer,
00:40:36.93\00:40:39.10
the Word of God has the answer.
00:40:39.13\00:40:41.77
Here's the first answer.
00:40:41.80\00:40:43.37
Uncluttered your life.
00:40:43.41\00:40:48.54
Look at Acts 27:19.
00:40:48.58\00:40:52.38
As Paul was in the midst
of the storm of his life,
00:40:52.41\00:40:56.18
notice what he did.
00:40:56.22\00:40:57.72
In the midst of the
storm, the Bible says,
00:40:57.75\00:41:00.06
"On the third day we
threw the ship's tackle
00:41:00.09\00:41:04.33
overboard with our own hands."
00:41:04.36\00:41:08.13
Oh, I got to make application.
00:41:08.16\00:41:10.67
In other words, nobody came
00:41:10.70\00:41:12.77
and lightened the ship for Paul.
00:41:12.80\00:41:14.74
Paul had to do it himself.
00:41:14.77\00:41:16.71
You know,
friends, you know very well
00:41:16.74\00:41:18.74
as I'm speaking
to you right now.
00:41:18.77\00:41:20.11
You know there's
something in your life
00:41:20.14\00:41:21.78
that the Lord is saying
to you in this crisis hour,
00:41:21.81\00:41:24.08
you got to throw it overboard.
00:41:24.11\00:41:25.78
You got to get rid
of your entertainment,
00:41:25.81\00:41:28.05
get rid of your cigarettes,
get rid of your addictions.
00:41:28.08\00:41:31.62
You got to get
things out of your life
00:41:31.65\00:41:33.12
that are
blocking your relationship
00:41:33.15\00:41:34.86
with you and Christ.
00:41:34.89\00:41:36.22
Paul says, "They
threw them overboard."
00:41:36.26\00:41:39.26
They decided there's no
room in the midst of the storm.
00:41:39.29\00:41:42.83
There should be no place
in our lives for the things
00:41:42.86\00:41:46.27
that can cause us
to lose our lives.
00:41:46.30\00:41:48.37
They threw it overboard.
00:41:48.40\00:41:50.01
They lightened their load.
00:41:50.04\00:41:52.17
This is the load lightning hour.
00:41:52.21\00:41:55.34
This is the
time to lay down that
00:41:55.38\00:41:57.71
very thing that
causes you to sin
00:41:57.75\00:42:00.65
and fall so easily.
00:42:00.68\00:42:02.82
It may just be your temper.
00:42:02.85\00:42:04.55
It may be an
addiction in your life.
00:42:04.59\00:42:06.42
But this is the time to say,
00:42:06.45\00:42:07.79
"Father, I want You
to give my hand the power
00:42:07.82\00:42:09.96
that I need to
throw it overboard.
00:42:09.99\00:42:11.83
I want to have a relationship
with You that's pure,
00:42:11.86\00:42:15.30
that's holy, that's based on
the solid counsel of Your Word.
00:42:15.33\00:42:20.30
I don't want anything
to be between me and You.
00:42:20.34\00:42:23.24
Lord, give me the wisdom to know
00:42:23.27\00:42:25.74
what to throw overboard."
00:42:25.77\00:42:27.44
And I tell you, friends,
when you pray that prayer,
00:42:27.48\00:42:29.54
Father, show me
what to throw overboard.
00:42:29.58\00:42:31.85
You'll all of a sudden
start noticing in your house,
00:42:31.88\00:42:34.52
in your car, on
your iPad, on your iPod,
00:42:34.55\00:42:38.35
on your Android device,
00:42:38.39\00:42:39.72
you will start noticing
what you need to delete,
00:42:39.75\00:42:42.49
what you need to
get out of your lives,
00:42:42.52\00:42:44.29
the
relationships you need to end,
00:42:44.33\00:42:46.36
God will give you wisdom
00:42:46.39\00:42:48.16
to throw those things overboard.
00:42:48.20\00:42:50.63
There's something
else you got to do,
00:42:50.67\00:42:52.60
the second point.
00:42:52.63\00:42:55.40
You got to nourish
yourself spiritually.
00:42:55.44\00:42:57.57
I'll say that again.
00:42:57.61\00:42:58.94
You have to nourish
yourself spiritually.
00:42:58.97\00:43:02.14
That's right,
spiritual nourishment.
00:43:02.18\00:43:04.51
Now where do you get that from?
00:43:04.55\00:43:06.38
Let me encourage you right here.
00:43:06.41\00:43:08.02
The best meal in
town, restaurants are close.
00:43:08.05\00:43:11.25
But I got the best meal in town,
00:43:11.29\00:43:12.99
the living,
thriving Word of God.
00:43:13.02\00:43:15.22
The Apostle Paul says,
00:43:15.26\00:43:16.59
"The Word of God
works effectively
00:43:16.62\00:43:18.79
in those who believe it."
00:43:18.83\00:43:20.26
In other words,
00:43:20.30\00:43:21.70
if you look at television
on Thanksgiving or any holiday,
00:43:21.73\00:43:24.77
when there's food on television,
00:43:24.80\00:43:26.13
you'll get
absolutely no nourishment.
00:43:26.17\00:43:28.14
You'll see a great picture.
00:43:28.17\00:43:29.64
But there is no nourishment
of just look at God's Word.
00:43:29.67\00:43:32.41
This is the hour that
we have to open God's Word
00:43:32.44\00:43:35.61
and get into it ourselves.
00:43:35.64\00:43:37.95
My wife and I have
made that daily commitment.
00:43:37.98\00:43:40.12
We're now in the Book of Psalms.
00:43:40.15\00:43:42.12
We finished the Book of Job,
00:43:42.15\00:43:43.49
a book where
God reminded us that
00:43:43.52\00:43:44.85
when trials come, He
is the ever present help
00:43:44.89\00:43:48.26
in time of need.
00:43:48.29\00:43:49.72
You got to nourish yourself.
00:43:49.76\00:43:51.69
You can't wait for something
that's flipping and something
00:43:51.73\00:43:54.50
that's transient to nourish you,
00:43:54.53\00:43:56.26
you got to nourish yourself.
00:43:56.30\00:43:57.93
Here's what we are
told in Acts 27:34.
00:43:57.97\00:44:01.84
Notice what Paul writes.
00:44:01.87\00:44:03.64
Notice what he says, as
Dr. Luke writes these words.
00:44:03.67\00:44:06.98
He says, "Therefore I
urge you to take nourishment,"
00:44:07.01\00:44:11.18
and this is powerful,
00:44:11.21\00:44:13.25
"for this is for your
survival, since not a hair
00:44:13.28\00:44:18.69
will fall from the
head of any of you."
00:44:18.72\00:44:21.99
What a word of encouragement.
00:44:22.02\00:44:24.29
The Lord says,
"When you take My Word
00:44:24.33\00:44:27.40
and you make it your daily diet.
00:44:27.43\00:44:30.13
You are quarantined
with just Me and My Word,
00:44:30.17\00:44:34.04
there's nothing that's
going to come near you."
00:44:34.07\00:44:36.47
You won't have to worry about
a hair from your head falling.
00:44:36.50\00:44:39.47
You don't have to worry
about trials and tribulations
00:44:39.51\00:44:41.64
or supplies drying up.
00:44:41.68\00:44:43.65
Absolutely not.
00:44:43.68\00:44:45.01
The Lord will provide,
00:44:45.05\00:44:46.38
but you got to nourish yourself.
00:44:46.41\00:44:48.05
I was mindful of the fact
00:44:48.08\00:44:49.42
that it's hard to
find food on the shelves,
00:44:49.45\00:44:52.22
but there's food on this shelf.
00:44:52.25\00:44:53.79
It's hard to find
water, but there's water here
00:44:53.82\00:44:56.42
because Jesus is
the living water.
00:44:56.46\00:44:58.66
This is the hour, friends,
to start nourishing yourself.
00:44:58.69\00:45:01.83
I noticed something that
00:45:01.86\00:45:03.63
the weakest point
in my walk with Christ,
00:45:03.67\00:45:06.50
even as a pastor,
00:45:06.53\00:45:07.87
the times that I
was at my weakest point
00:45:07.90\00:45:10.21
was when I was using the
Bible just to find sermons.
00:45:10.24\00:45:13.68
I wasn't feeding myself.
00:45:13.71\00:45:15.51
And I've learned, friends,
00:45:15.54\00:45:16.98
you can be the
best cook in the world
00:45:17.01\00:45:20.38
and you could be
starving yourself.
00:45:20.42\00:45:22.52
Pastors, let me encourage you.
00:45:22.55\00:45:24.79
You might have great sermons,
00:45:24.82\00:45:26.55
but if you're not
reading the Word of God
00:45:26.59\00:45:27.96
for your own
personal nourishment,
00:45:27.99\00:45:30.43
your
congregation may be well fed,
00:45:30.46\00:45:33.26
but you can be
starving to death.
00:45:33.29\00:45:35.53
Nourish yourself spiritually.
00:45:35.56\00:45:38.20
It's for your survival.
00:45:38.23\00:45:40.64
The third thing.
00:45:40.67\00:45:42.64
Be a spiritual example.
00:45:42.67\00:45:48.21
What do I mean by that?
00:45:48.24\00:45:49.84
You know, people
are looking for places
00:45:49.88\00:45:51.91
where they can find courage.
00:45:51.95\00:45:53.35
Somebody is saying,
"What's Pastor John doing?
00:45:53.38\00:45:55.95
What's my president doing?
00:45:55.98\00:45:57.72
What is my premier doing?
00:45:57.75\00:45:59.55
What is the
Queen of England doing?
00:45:59.59\00:46:01.32
What are my governors
and captains and mighty men,
00:46:01.36\00:46:03.53
what are they doing?
00:46:03.56\00:46:04.89
Somebody is looking to
someone to find encouragement.
00:46:04.93\00:46:08.40
So you have to be an example.
00:46:08.43\00:46:10.00
But what kind of
example should you be?
00:46:10.03\00:46:12.43
Look at Acts 27:35.
00:46:12.47\00:46:15.74
It makes it clear as
to what kind of example
00:46:15.77\00:46:18.97
the Lord wants us to be
in this very trying hour.
00:46:19.01\00:46:23.41
The Bible says,
00:46:23.45\00:46:24.81
speaking about the Apostle Paul.
00:46:24.85\00:46:26.72
"And when he had
said these things,
00:46:26.75\00:46:30.19
he took bread and
gave thanks to God
00:46:30.22\00:46:34.72
in the presence of them all,
00:46:34.76\00:46:37.33
and when he had
broken it, he began to eat."
00:46:37.36\00:46:41.50
Notice what he did.
00:46:41.53\00:46:43.03
He took the bread,
he thank God for it.
00:46:43.06\00:46:47.27
He began to eat so
that the other soldiers
00:46:47.30\00:46:49.90
could watch him eat.
00:46:49.94\00:46:51.84
And when the
soldiers watched him eat,
00:46:51.87\00:46:53.58
that's an amazing story.
00:46:53.61\00:46:54.94
You should read it in
the Book of Acts Chapter 27.
00:46:54.98\00:46:56.64
It's a very long story,
00:46:56.68\00:46:58.18
but what a powerful
example of endurance
00:46:58.21\00:47:01.08
and a time of trial.
00:47:01.12\00:47:02.45
That's what we need.
00:47:02.48\00:47:03.85
The sailors lost
all hope of being saved.
00:47:03.89\00:47:07.29
They lost their appetites.
00:47:07.32\00:47:09.12
They couldn't think about food.
00:47:09.16\00:47:10.99
The winds were contrary,
00:47:11.03\00:47:12.73
the hurricane was
at its full force.
00:47:12.76\00:47:14.86
The ship was
being tossed to and fro.
00:47:14.90\00:47:17.07
And for 14 days straight,
there was no light of the sun.
00:47:17.10\00:47:22.30
They couldn't even see the moon.
00:47:22.34\00:47:23.74
They couldn't
even guide their ships.
00:47:23.77\00:47:25.37
They had no GPS then.
00:47:25.41\00:47:27.01
They relied on the
stars to guide them by night,
00:47:27.04\00:47:30.05
and the sun to
guide them by day, 14 days
00:47:30.08\00:47:32.98
they couldn't see
sun, but torrential rains,
00:47:33.01\00:47:36.28
ship rocking
winds, just like the time
00:47:36.32\00:47:38.69
in which we live today.
00:47:38.72\00:47:40.09
They couldn't find courage,
00:47:40.12\00:47:41.46
and Paul as a prisoner
with chains on his hand,
00:47:41.49\00:47:45.19
stood up in the
midst of that rocking ship,
00:47:45.23\00:47:48.50
and said to the
sailors and the captain.
00:47:48.53\00:47:50.97
He opened his own bread.
00:47:51.00\00:47:54.37
He began to eat as they watched,
00:47:54.40\00:47:57.01
and with their dry
and thirsty tongues
00:47:57.04\00:47:59.97
with lives losing all energy,
with people losing all hope,
00:48:00.01\00:48:04.41
their appetites
were almost dried up.
00:48:04.45\00:48:07.18
But he started to eat,
00:48:07.22\00:48:09.12
he started to eat in
the presence of them all.
00:48:09.15\00:48:12.75
And when they saw Paul eat,
00:48:12.79\00:48:15.32
they decided to
also follow his example.
00:48:15.36\00:48:19.49
That is a very
powerful lesson here.
00:48:19.53\00:48:21.40
When Paul broke
the bread and ate,
00:48:21.43\00:48:23.53
they decided, we'll
follow Paul's example.
00:48:23.57\00:48:26.37
Be an example, friends,
00:48:26.40\00:48:28.17
be the person that
studying his or her Bible.
00:48:28.20\00:48:31.47
Be the young lady that
carries her Bible with her.
00:48:31.51\00:48:34.78
Be the young man that's sitting
in the park reading his Bible.
00:48:34.81\00:48:37.45
In troublesome
times, be an example.
00:48:37.48\00:48:40.48
Don't wait for the multitude.
00:48:40.52\00:48:41.92
Don't wait for the
crowd. The crowd is never right.
00:48:41.95\00:48:44.65
Be an example. Let
somebody see in you.
00:48:44.69\00:48:48.16
In this COVID-19 environment,
let somebody see in you,
00:48:48.19\00:48:52.06
this person is not afraid.
00:48:52.09\00:48:53.73
Why are they not afraid?
00:48:53.76\00:48:55.10
Because they're reading
the promises from God's Word.
00:48:55.13\00:48:57.17
Why do they look happy
00:48:57.20\00:48:58.87
when everybody
else seems to be sad?
00:48:58.90\00:49:00.77
Because they know this
is not how the story ends.
00:49:00.80\00:49:03.91
Be an example, nourish yourself,
00:49:03.94\00:49:06.68
be a person who
unclutters his life.
00:49:06.71\00:49:09.31
Because I tell you one thing
I've learned in this crisis,
00:49:09.34\00:49:13.01
it's hard to
find food and water.
00:49:13.05\00:49:15.62
It's hard to find good food.
00:49:15.65\00:49:18.42
It's hard to find
the things that we need.
00:49:18.45\00:49:21.12
But, friends, let
me warn you right now.
00:49:21.16\00:49:23.56
There's something else
coming that's a lot worse
00:49:23.59\00:49:26.80
than just not
having bread and water.
00:49:26.83\00:49:29.20
There's a
spiritual famine coming.
00:49:29.23\00:49:31.23
That's why if
ever there was a time
00:49:31.27\00:49:33.27
to pick up God's Word
and read it, the time is now.
00:49:33.30\00:49:36.97
Notice in the Book
of Amos 8:11 and 12,
00:49:37.01\00:49:40.84
we get a glimpse of
what's on the horizon.
00:49:40.88\00:49:44.58
The Prophet Amos
says these words,
00:49:44.61\00:49:46.65
"Behold, the days are coming,'
00:49:46.68\00:49:49.25
says the Lord God,
00:49:49.28\00:49:51.02
'That I will send
a famine on the land,
00:49:51.05\00:49:54.32
not a famine of bread,
nor a thirst for water,
00:49:54.36\00:49:59.36
but of hearing the
words of the Lord.'"
00:49:59.39\00:50:02.46
And notice
what's going to happen.
00:50:02.50\00:50:04.40
"They shall
wander from sea to sea,
00:50:04.43\00:50:07.34
and from north to east,
00:50:07.37\00:50:09.70
they shall run to and fro,
seeking the word of the Lord,
00:50:09.74\00:50:15.48
but they shall not find it."
00:50:15.51\00:50:19.01
Friends, if
ever there was a time
00:50:19.05\00:50:21.48
to get into it with God's Word,
00:50:21.52\00:50:23.18
the time is now.
00:50:23.22\00:50:24.55
Seek the Lord
while He may be found,
00:50:24.59\00:50:26.02
but not only that,
seek the bread of life
00:50:26.05\00:50:29.02
while it's still available.
00:50:29.06\00:50:30.53
Drink the water of life
00:50:30.56\00:50:32.43
while still
quench your thirsty soul.
00:50:32.46\00:50:35.76
Don't spend a ton of
time looking at the bad news.
00:50:35.80\00:50:38.80
I know that every time
00:50:38.83\00:50:40.17
my wife and I
turned on the news,
00:50:40.20\00:50:41.84
we sit there spellbound
00:50:41.87\00:50:43.20
because we're
hoping for some good news,
00:50:43.24\00:50:45.34
but it's still bad.
00:50:45.37\00:50:47.01
But here's the good thing.
00:50:47.04\00:50:48.38
The Gospel of
Christ is good news.
00:50:48.41\00:50:50.95
No matter what
happens around us,
00:50:50.98\00:50:52.91
it's always good news,
00:50:52.95\00:50:55.32
which brings me
to my fourth point.
00:50:55.35\00:50:58.62
No one can force feed
you, you got to feed yourself.
00:50:58.65\00:51:01.42
The fourth point, believe God.
00:51:01.46\00:51:03.73
Say that with me, believe God.
00:51:03.76\00:51:06.59
Now notice what I didn't say.
00:51:06.63\00:51:08.63
I didn't say believe in God.
00:51:08.66\00:51:10.97
I didn't say believe about God.
00:51:11.00\00:51:13.97
I didn't say believe doctrines
that tell you about Jesus.
00:51:14.00\00:51:18.04
I said, believe God.
00:51:18.07\00:51:20.68
You know, friends,
right now people say,
00:51:20.71\00:51:22.71
"Well, do you believe
the Republicans or Democrats?
00:51:22.74\00:51:25.25
Do you believe
people that are atheists?
00:51:25.28\00:51:27.08
Do you believe
people that are agnostics?
00:51:27.12\00:51:28.72
Who do you believe?" I
wanna tell you, friends?
00:51:28.75\00:51:31.42
I believe God, I
can trust His Word.
00:51:31.45\00:51:34.52
Acts 27:25 says it this way,
00:51:34.56\00:51:38.13
"Therefore take heart, men,
00:51:38.16\00:51:41.50
for I believe
God that it would be
00:51:41.53\00:51:46.33
just as it was told me."
00:51:46.37\00:51:49.70
Friends, I believe
God that it's going to be
00:51:49.74\00:51:52.67
just as it was told to me.
00:51:52.71\00:51:55.41
You know, right now
the world is in crisis.
00:51:55.44\00:51:57.21
Somebody watching right now
may have lost their loved one.
00:51:57.25\00:52:00.45
We're praying for you.
00:52:00.48\00:52:01.98
Somebody right now
may have heard the news
00:52:02.02\00:52:03.89
that a friend or family member
00:52:03.92\00:52:06.49
may have just
contracted the virus.
00:52:06.52\00:52:08.76
We are now afraid if
somebody around just cough.
00:52:08.79\00:52:12.49
If somebody
says, "My chest hurts
00:52:12.53\00:52:13.90
where I feel flu like symptoms."
00:52:13.93\00:52:15.80
We're filled with fear.
00:52:15.83\00:52:17.33
It is in this trying
hour that I'm saying to you,
00:52:17.37\00:52:20.10
my brother and my
sister, believe God.
00:52:20.14\00:52:22.90
The story end so beautifully,
one day Jesus is going to come,
00:52:22.94\00:52:26.34
believe God.
00:52:26.37\00:52:28.01
He says in the Word,
one day I'm going to come,
00:52:28.04\00:52:30.71
but not your heart be
troubled, my brother, my sister.
00:52:30.75\00:52:33.72
You believe in God, Jesus
said, "Believe also in Me."
00:52:33.75\00:52:37.19
While the hospitals are filled,
he says, "In My Father's house,
00:52:37.22\00:52:40.96
there's many mansions.
00:52:40.99\00:52:43.19
There's a mansion with your name
00:52:43.22\00:52:44.89
on the front porch.
00:52:44.93\00:52:46.26
There's a mansion that
God is building for you.
00:52:46.29\00:52:49.30
There's a role that's
being put together for you.
00:52:49.33\00:52:52.37
But in this quarantine time,
00:52:52.40\00:52:54.60
you got to find that
there's no better place
00:52:54.64\00:52:56.81
to be than with a
Jew, you and Jesus.
00:52:56.84\00:52:58.84
You know, friends,
00:52:58.87\00:53:00.21
I could preach a
message of peace and safety,
00:53:00.24\00:53:02.14
but I know better.
00:53:02.18\00:53:03.58
In the words of
the Apostle Paul,
00:53:03.61\00:53:05.48
I believe God that it should be
00:53:05.51\00:53:10.02
just as it was told me,
00:53:10.05\00:53:11.55
I can tell you that one day
00:53:11.59\00:53:13.02
the world's economy
is going to stabilize
00:53:13.05\00:53:15.29
and there'll be
jobs for everyone.
00:53:15.32\00:53:18.36
But, friends, I believe God,
00:53:18.39\00:53:20.40
that it will be
just as it was told me.
00:53:20.43\00:53:23.97
I can also report
that political leaders
00:53:24.00\00:53:26.03
and doctors and nurses
will finally find an answer
00:53:26.07\00:53:28.27
to the COVID-19.
00:53:28.30\00:53:29.64
And they may and then terrorism
00:53:29.67\00:53:32.14
and hunger and crime and war
00:53:32.17\00:53:34.81
and disease would forever cease.
00:53:34.84\00:53:37.08
But, friends, until Jesus comes,
00:53:37.11\00:53:39.11
I believe God,
00:53:39.15\00:53:40.85
that it will be
just as it was told me.
00:53:40.88\00:53:44.99
To the skeptic that doubts
that Jesus is going to return.
00:53:45.02\00:53:48.46
I believe God.
00:53:48.49\00:53:49.99
He said, He's
going to come again.
00:53:50.03\00:53:51.69
And all the signs
around us are indicating that
00:53:51.73\00:53:56.13
the coming of the
Lord is not far distance.
00:53:56.16\00:53:58.57
If you can tune your ears,
00:53:58.60\00:53:59.93
you can hear the angels
rushing from earth to heaven.
00:53:59.97\00:54:03.97
If you can open God's Word,
00:54:04.01\00:54:05.57
you can hear names
00:54:05.61\00:54:06.94
being added to the book of life.
00:54:06.98\00:54:09.44
That's why in this trying
hour, I want to continue to pray
00:54:09.48\00:54:12.71
for all of those
on the front lines,
00:54:12.75\00:54:14.82
the medical professionals,
the doctors, the nurses.
00:54:14.85\00:54:18.99
There's some people
that are quarantined
00:54:19.02\00:54:20.56
from their family members,
00:54:20.59\00:54:21.92
because they're trying to find
an answer for you and for me.
00:54:21.96\00:54:24.59
It's in this hour
that I want to say to you,
00:54:24.63\00:54:26.59
it looks hopeless.
00:54:26.63\00:54:28.30
It looks like this
cloud would never lift,
00:54:28.33\00:54:31.03
but one day we're
going to see joy forevermore.
00:54:31.07\00:54:33.30
Why?
00:54:33.34\00:54:34.67
Because I believe God
00:54:34.70\00:54:37.27
that it will be just
as His Word has said,
00:54:37.31\00:54:40.81
to the atheists that
doubt that God exists.
00:54:40.84\00:54:43.68
Oh, my brother, you
may be swallowed philosophy
00:54:43.71\00:54:47.18
and vain deceit.
00:54:47.22\00:54:48.55
Somebody told you that
you are a biological accident.
00:54:48.58\00:54:51.39
But I'm gonna tell
you that's not the truth.
00:54:51.42\00:54:53.46
You are a son of God.
00:54:53.49\00:54:55.22
You are created
in the image of God.
00:54:55.26\00:54:57.13
Young lady, you didn't
come into the world by accident.
00:54:57.16\00:55:01.06
You came into the
world by a divine plan.
00:55:01.10\00:55:03.70
And God is saying this
is the hour young lady,
00:55:03.73\00:55:06.17
that you need to give
your life to the Lord.
00:55:06.20\00:55:08.20
Young folk, you're
waiting for a faster internet.
00:55:08.24\00:55:12.07
Well, there is no
greater internet connection
00:55:12.11\00:55:14.11
than the connection
between you and Christ.
00:55:14.14\00:55:16.75
Call on His name, He says,
before you call, I will answer.
00:55:16.78\00:55:21.55
And while you're still speaking,
00:55:21.58\00:55:24.32
I will hear.
00:55:24.35\00:55:25.69
To the Christian that thinks
that Jesus has forgotten you,
00:55:25.72\00:55:31.33
my brother and my sister,
00:55:31.36\00:55:32.69
the church may be
closed but heaven's still open.
00:55:32.73\00:55:36.93
You may only be
by yourself at home,
00:55:36.97\00:55:40.00
you may be just,
00:55:40.04\00:55:41.37
you can't even pick up the phone
00:55:41.40\00:55:42.74
because you
don't know who to call.
00:55:42.77\00:55:44.11
But if you get on your
knees, you can call on Jesus.
00:55:44.14\00:55:47.48
He has not forgotten us.
00:55:47.51\00:55:49.34
He has not forsaken us.
00:55:49.38\00:55:52.08
He has not left
us to our own demise.
00:55:52.11\00:55:55.12
In this time of quarantine,
00:55:55.15\00:55:58.05
it's time to
just be you and Jesus.
00:55:58.09\00:56:00.52
In prayer, you and
Jesus, talk to Him.
00:56:00.56\00:56:04.26
You don't have
to close your eyes.
00:56:04.29\00:56:05.63
You can say, "Father, I
need You in my life right now
00:56:05.66\00:56:08.26
more than ever before."
00:56:08.30\00:56:10.93
Recently I saw a caption,
00:56:10.97\00:56:12.30
my wife
actually showed it to me.
00:56:12.33\00:56:14.74
I don't remember where it was,
but it said these finely words,
00:56:14.77\00:56:17.31
it said, it
said, "We used to sing,
00:56:17.34\00:56:20.61
side by side we stand.
00:56:20.64\00:56:23.11
But in this time of quarantine,
00:56:23.14\00:56:25.11
now I sing, I come
to the garden alone."
00:56:25.15\00:56:30.75
Let me tell you, friends,
when you come to the garden,
00:56:30.79\00:56:32.65
in these times of
quarantine, you're not alone.
00:56:32.69\00:56:36.22
On a day by day
basis, you're not alone.
00:56:36.26\00:56:38.49
You can find
courage, hope and strength
00:56:38.53\00:56:41.66
in that garden with
Christ in that time of prayer.
00:56:41.70\00:56:46.47
When you live
your life with Jesus,
00:56:46.50\00:56:48.17
you are never alone.
00:56:48.20\00:56:50.31
But think about this.
00:56:50.34\00:56:51.91
What has God allowed
this hour to teach us?
00:56:51.94\00:56:55.38
Quarantine.
00:56:55.41\00:56:56.91
Yes, think about it, quarantine.
00:56:56.95\00:56:59.78
You're not alone, but
this is a time for you
00:56:59.81\00:57:02.98
to be alone with Jesus.
00:57:03.02\00:57:04.95
This is the time for you
to be shut in with Christ
00:57:04.99\00:57:09.06
if you're hoping to
find hope in the future.
00:57:09.09\00:57:11.99
If you're
praying to find relief,
00:57:12.03\00:57:14.93
we are praying for you.
00:57:14.96\00:57:16.77
Here at 3ABN we are praying that
00:57:16.80\00:57:19.13
in this time of quarantine,
00:57:19.17\00:57:21.67
you will discover
the secret is just you
00:57:21.70\00:57:24.61
and Jesus alone.
00:57:24.64\00:57:26.88
May you find
courage and faith in Christ
00:57:26.91\00:57:29.51
until we see you again.
00:57:29.54\00:57:31.35