Hello and welcome to 3ABN Worship Hour. 00:00:25.85\00:00:29.02 We thank you for taking the time to tune in, 00:00:29.06\00:00:31.49 in our attempt to encourage 00:00:31.53\00:00:33.46 and strengthen your walk with Christ. 00:00:33.50\00:00:35.50 We have put together programs 00:00:35.53\00:00:37.07 that we believe is a source of strength, 00:00:37.10\00:00:39.80 especially in this time where the world 00:00:39.83\00:00:42.34 is going through quite a crisis. 00:00:42.37\00:00:44.47 Today, the message is entitled Inseparable. 00:00:44.51\00:00:48.31 Inseparable, addressing the questions 00:00:48.34\00:00:51.25 of the socially separated society, 00:00:51.28\00:00:54.28 but before we go to the word and prayer, 00:00:54.32\00:00:56.58 right now Tim Parton 00:00:56.62\00:00:57.95 is going to encourage our hearts 00:00:57.99\00:00:59.35 through words of inspiration 00:00:59.39\00:01:01.52 and also songs to prepare the soil 00:01:01.56\00:01:04.13 for the receiving of the Word of God. 00:01:04.16\00:01:06.23 Tim. Thank you, Brother John. 00:01:06.26\00:01:09.40 I'm here to remind you that 00:01:09.43\00:01:12.67 We serve a risen Savior. 00:01:12.70\00:01:16.14 He loves you, And He is worthy of our praise. 00:01:16.17\00:01:20.58 So worship Him. 00:01:23.68\00:01:27.98 For above His name there is no other name 00:01:28.02\00:01:32.09 The one who is eternally the same 00:01:35.29\00:01:40.00 There is no other name 00:01:40.03\00:01:45.93 The first and last, 00:01:50.04\00:01:52.67 Beginning and the end 00:01:52.71\00:01:56.64 He was the King 00:01:56.68\00:01:59.21 who made the common man His friend 00:01:59.25\00:02:03.08 There is no 00:02:03.12\00:02:06.62 Other name, 00:02:06.65\00:02:10.46 let every tongue proclaim 00:02:10.49\00:02:15.23 And sing the name of Jesus 00:02:15.26\00:02:20.64 Magnify and praise the name of Jesus 00:02:23.64\00:02:30.41 No other name 00:02:30.45\00:02:33.68 but Jesus 00:02:33.72\00:02:37.59 There is power 00:02:37.62\00:02:39.29 In the precious name of Jesus, 00:02:39.32\00:02:45.89 Jesus Messiah, 00:02:45.93\00:02:50.33 King of Kings 00:02:50.37\00:02:52.00 And Lord of Lords, 00:02:52.03\00:02:56.91 Jesus 00:02:56.94\00:02:59.31 You created all there is 00:03:03.65\00:03:06.48 With Your own hands 00:03:06.51\00:03:10.42 And yet the smallest need 00:03:10.45\00:03:14.49 You understands 00:03:14.52\00:03:16.93 There is no other name 00:03:16.96\00:03:21.70 The one who said, 00:03:26.84\00:03:28.80 "I am the great I am" 00:03:28.84\00:03:32.21 And then You gave Yourself, 00:03:32.24\00:03:35.71 The sacrifice for men 00:03:35.74\00:03:39.18 There is no 00:03:39.21\00:03:42.12 Other name, 00:03:42.15\00:03:46.22 Let every tongue proclaim 00:03:46.25\00:03:51.06 And sing the name of 00:03:51.09\00:03:54.80 Jesus 00:03:54.83\00:03:58.47 O I magnify the precious name of Jesus 00:03:58.50\00:04:05.07 No other name 00:04:05.11\00:04:08.28 But Jesus 00:04:08.31\00:04:11.61 There is power 00:04:11.65\00:04:13.28 In the precious name of Jesus, 00:04:13.31\00:04:19.52 Jesus Forever 00:04:19.55\00:04:23.73 He shall reign as King of Kings, 00:04:23.76\00:04:28.96 And Lord of all and every living thing 00:04:29.00\00:04:32.70 From now on we'll worship Him 00:04:35.80\00:04:39.64 And praise the name of 00:04:39.67\00:04:45.71 Jesus 00:04:45.75\00:04:51.65 I praise you, Jesus 00:04:51.69\00:04:57.96 Lord, I worship Your name 00:04:57.99\00:05:03.90 You're King of Kings 00:05:03.93\00:05:06.74 And Lord to me 00:05:06.77\00:05:12.97 And Lord, I thank You for being my Savior, 00:05:13.01\00:05:17.01 My Redeemer. 00:05:17.05\00:05:20.45 Thank You that every need is supplied by You. 00:05:20.48\00:05:27.16 And I worship You, O Lord Jesus. 00:05:27.19\00:05:30.53 You are Jesus 00:05:30.56\00:05:33.90 Thank you, Tim. Appreciate that so much. 00:05:44.21\00:05:46.91 What other name is there? 00:05:46.94\00:05:50.31 There is no other name above the name of Jesus. 00:05:50.35\00:05:53.08 And we have to remember that because in this time, 00:05:53.11\00:05:57.19 we are calling on friends and family, 00:05:57.22\00:06:00.66 we're calling on governors and senators 00:06:00.69\00:06:03.93 and leaders of nations and medical professionals 00:06:03.96\00:06:07.80 but in the gamut of life surrounds, 00:06:07.83\00:06:10.77 the daily rounds of life, the only name that 00:06:10.80\00:06:13.94 we need to call on that can bring us the answers 00:06:13.97\00:06:18.07 to our perplexions of life is the name of Jesus. 00:06:18.11\00:06:21.84 Thank you so much for that song, Tim. 00:06:21.88\00:06:24.15 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 00:06:24.18\00:06:25.85 Heavenly Father, 00:06:25.88\00:06:27.22 as we bow our hearts in Your presence. 00:06:27.25\00:06:30.55 In this generation, where it seems as 00:06:30.59\00:06:33.15 though the world has been unplugged, 00:06:33.19\00:06:36.09 and the power of our societies is draining, 00:06:36.12\00:06:41.40 almost apparently without any notice. 00:06:41.43\00:06:44.60 We pray that we can make decisions 00:06:44.63\00:06:47.97 in this time of separation to determine 00:06:48.00\00:06:51.47 not to be separated from You. 00:06:51.51\00:06:54.61 Take Your Word now, Father, 00:06:54.64\00:06:56.88 and speak to the hearts of Your people that 00:06:56.91\00:06:59.61 they may address the urgencies, 00:06:59.65\00:07:02.82 and the decisions necessary to make it 00:07:02.85\00:07:05.72 not only through this COVID time 00:07:05.75\00:07:08.86 but in preparation for eternity. 00:07:08.89\00:07:11.69 I ask in Jesus' name that 00:07:11.73\00:07:13.06 You speak to Your people's hearts 00:07:13.09\00:07:14.43 even now, in Jesus' name I pray. 00:07:14.46\00:07:17.87 Amen. Inseparable. 00:07:17.90\00:07:22.54 You know, I must confess 00:07:22.57\00:07:23.91 where I got the inspiration for the title. 00:07:23.94\00:07:27.24 I looked at the world that we are facing today. 00:07:27.28\00:07:30.95 And the thought came to me that 00:07:30.98\00:07:33.08 we are living in a world that is, 00:07:33.11\00:07:35.35 as it were socially separated. 00:07:35.38\00:07:39.19 And I asked myself the question, 00:07:39.22\00:07:40.66 what do I see? 00:07:40.69\00:07:42.32 And what are the implications? 00:07:42.36\00:07:44.29 My wife and I have been married for more than 35 years. 00:07:44.33\00:07:47.73 And she often says to me, 00:07:47.76\00:07:49.53 don't tell the exact amount of time, 00:07:49.56\00:07:51.87 but God has blessed us 00:07:51.90\00:07:53.44 with a long and successful marriage, 00:07:53.47\00:07:55.74 but you don't get to 35 plus years 00:07:55.77\00:07:58.01 without having to decide that 00:07:58.04\00:08:00.74 you're going to stick together 00:08:00.78\00:08:02.54 through thick and thin, through ups and downs, 00:08:02.58\00:08:06.31 through the good days and the bad days, 00:08:06.35\00:08:08.82 through the trials and the triumphs. 00:08:08.85\00:08:11.25 And years ago 00:08:11.29\00:08:12.62 when we were courting or dating, 00:08:12.65\00:08:15.86 as two young people in New York City, 00:08:15.89\00:08:17.53 we heard this song 00:08:17.56\00:08:19.09 by a young lady who's now passed away. 00:08:19.13\00:08:22.70 The daughter of the famous Nat King Cole, 00:08:22.73\00:08:26.00 her name was Natalie Cole. 00:08:26.03\00:08:28.17 And we heard the lyrics and we said, 00:08:28.20\00:08:30.44 "This is our song, inseparable." 00:08:30.47\00:08:33.07 So when we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, 00:08:33.11\00:08:36.64 this was a focal point of our song inseparable. 00:08:36.68\00:08:40.72 We are like flowers to a tree, like words to a melody. 00:08:40.75\00:08:45.39 And the Lord has, praise God, 00:08:45.42\00:08:47.69 kept us together because we have determined that 00:08:47.72\00:08:50.69 come what may in Christ, we will remain inseparable. 00:08:50.73\00:08:55.66 You know, friends, this fits the society 00:08:55.70\00:08:57.60 we're in today because we are living in a time 00:08:57.63\00:09:00.27 where the phrase 00:09:00.30\00:09:01.90 of the pandemic is a coined phrase. 00:09:01.94\00:09:05.71 It is the phrase that we hear more often 00:09:05.74\00:09:08.01 than not as the citizens of the world community 00:09:08.04\00:09:10.81 have been directed to socially separate, 00:09:10.85\00:09:15.08 countries have followed suit. 00:09:15.12\00:09:16.95 They have closed their borders to other parts of the world, 00:09:16.99\00:09:20.76 instead of welcoming travelers, 00:09:20.79\00:09:23.06 travelers are now called outsiders. 00:09:23.09\00:09:26.19 "You don't belong here. 00:09:26.23\00:09:27.56 You may be dangerous to our community." 00:09:27.60\00:09:30.90 And with the highest number 00:09:30.93\00:09:32.27 of coronavirus cases in the United States, 00:09:32.30\00:09:34.57 the United States is quickly becoming 00:09:34.60\00:09:36.64 the divided states. 00:09:36.67\00:09:39.27 You listen to the news, depending on where you live, 00:09:39.31\00:09:42.78 you may not be allowed to enter other states, 00:09:42.81\00:09:45.81 maybe neighboring states or states far away, 00:09:45.85\00:09:48.95 as with varying state restrictions. 00:09:48.98\00:09:51.95 The question is, is America still 00:09:51.99\00:09:56.22 one nation under God, socially separated? 00:09:56.26\00:10:01.13 You know, friends, our world has become a place 00:10:01.16\00:10:04.57 where we are sequestered behind our masks. 00:10:04.60\00:10:08.47 When you go to the grocery store masks, 00:10:08.50\00:10:11.47 when you talk to people maybe in the same space, 00:10:11.51\00:10:14.01 six feet, six feet, six feet apart. 00:10:14.04\00:10:16.91 We don't shake hands anymore. 00:10:16.95\00:10:18.75 Hugs are at an all-time low. 00:10:18.78\00:10:21.42 We say hello from a distance as we gather in our computer 00:10:21.45\00:10:25.45 and digital cathedrals. 00:10:25.49\00:10:27.99 That's why today, in this environment, 00:10:28.02\00:10:30.69 we have to determine that as the world 00:10:30.73\00:10:32.89 is metamorphosizing and changing 00:10:32.93\00:10:34.63 and the way we do life is quite different, 00:10:34.66\00:10:36.77 we've got to determine that 00:10:36.80\00:10:38.20 as we are separating from the things 00:10:38.23\00:10:41.27 that we were so connected to, we must determine 00:10:41.30\00:10:43.81 not to be separated from Christ. 00:10:43.84\00:10:45.97 You've heard it, six feet is no longer 00:10:46.01\00:10:48.11 just your height, 00:10:48.14\00:10:49.54 but it is the regulation of separation 00:10:49.58\00:10:52.68 in most of the stores in our country 00:10:52.71\00:10:55.45 and I hate to say around the world. 00:10:55.48\00:10:58.05 This is the hour of masks and face shields. 00:10:58.09\00:11:02.66 These are the days of separation. 00:11:02.69\00:11:06.70 In times of separation, the question I ask, 00:11:06.73\00:11:09.63 how does the prayer of Jesus Christ 00:11:09.66\00:11:13.30 remain relevant today? 00:11:13.34\00:11:15.40 In John 17:20 and 21, we read the words of Jesus. 00:11:15.44\00:11:19.54 And here's what He says. 00:11:19.57\00:11:21.11 He says, "I do not pray for these alone, 00:11:21.14\00:11:24.38 but also for those who will believe in Me 00:11:24.41\00:11:26.55 through their word, that they all may be," 00:11:26.58\00:11:29.95 notice, "one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, 00:11:29.98\00:11:35.86 that they also may be one in Us, 00:11:35.89\00:11:39.19 that the world may believe that You sent Me." 00:11:39.23\00:11:43.73 One, think about that word, one nation under God, 00:11:43.77\00:11:47.97 one community, one society, are we still that way today 00:11:48.00\00:11:53.17 in this socially separated environment? 00:11:53.21\00:11:57.48 But Jesus prayed the prayer. 00:11:57.51\00:11:59.11 And so the dilemma today is we've got to figure out 00:11:59.15\00:12:01.72 in some artistic and creative way. 00:12:01.75\00:12:04.29 And I would say by the leading of the Holy Spirit 00:12:04.32\00:12:06.39 by the study of God's Word, we've got to figure out a way 00:12:06.42\00:12:10.23 that while the world is socially separated, 00:12:10.26\00:12:14.03 as my good friend, my mayor, 00:12:14.06\00:12:15.66 my Governor of New York City said, 00:12:15.70\00:12:18.10 "We can be socially separated, 00:12:18.13\00:12:20.27 but we must remain spiritually connected." 00:12:20.30\00:12:24.11 But if you think about the environment that we have, 00:12:24.14\00:12:27.54 separation is not a new thing. 00:12:27.58\00:12:29.78 The product of separation 00:12:29.81\00:12:31.98 started with the introduction of conflict. 00:12:32.01\00:12:35.98 And the product of conflict always is separation. 00:12:36.02\00:12:40.12 Notice, Revelation 12:7-9, as I read this, 00:12:40.16\00:12:43.56 consider the following thought, we are where we are today, 00:12:43.59\00:12:48.03 not because of what happened last year 00:12:48.06\00:12:50.80 but because of what started in heaven. 00:12:50.83\00:12:53.03 Revelation 12:7-9, the Bible says, 00:12:53.07\00:12:56.30 "And war broke out in heaven, Michael," 00:12:56.34\00:12:59.24 that is Christ, "and his angels fought 00:12:59.27\00:13:01.41 with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, 00:13:01.44\00:13:06.31 but they did not prevail," praise God for that, 00:13:06.35\00:13:09.72 "nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer." 00:13:09.75\00:13:13.36 Notice, separation. 00:13:13.39\00:13:15.36 "So the great dragon was cast out, 00:13:15.39\00:13:18.09 that serpent of old, 00:13:18.13\00:13:19.49 called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, 00:13:19.53\00:13:25.10 he was cast to the earth, 00:13:25.13\00:13:27.10 and his angels were cast out with him." 00:13:27.14\00:13:30.61 When you think about it, friends, separation begins 00:13:30.64\00:13:33.61 when opposing principles collide. 00:13:33.64\00:13:36.51 When truth collides with error 00:13:36.54\00:13:38.91 and light collides with darkness, 00:13:38.95\00:13:40.85 conflict begins and the end result 00:13:40.88\00:13:43.72 is always separation. 00:13:43.75\00:13:45.89 I cited Revelation 12:7-9, 00:13:45.92\00:13:48.46 Satan oppose the principles of God. 00:13:48.49\00:13:51.86 He campaigned among the angels 00:13:51.89\00:13:54.36 and successfully led one third of heaven's host 00:13:54.40\00:13:58.13 to separate from their former home, 00:13:58.17\00:14:00.87 to separate from their allegiance to God. 00:14:00.90\00:14:04.47 That's why in this COVID-19 environment, 00:14:04.51\00:14:07.24 it is imperative, I say that again, 00:14:07.28\00:14:10.45 it is imperative that Christians maintain 00:14:10.48\00:14:14.72 an inseparable connection with a reliable source. 00:14:14.75\00:14:20.06 And I say reliable source because I'm gonna include 00:14:20.09\00:14:22.66 not only an inseparable connection to God, 00:14:22.69\00:14:26.39 but we also must find an inseparable connection 00:14:26.43\00:14:32.03 with reliable sources. 00:14:32.07\00:14:33.97 And what do I mean by that? 00:14:34.00\00:14:35.47 You know, today we can turn to CNN, ABC, NBC, Fox News, MSNBC, 00:14:35.50\00:14:41.24 we can go on the Internet and peruse 00:14:41.28\00:14:43.55 until our fingers turn red. 00:14:43.58\00:14:45.38 We can turn the BBC or Al Jazeera, 00:14:45.41\00:14:47.75 we can read the conspiracy theories. 00:14:47.78\00:14:50.35 And the theories, believe me, are flying everywhere. 00:14:50.39\00:14:52.92 Everybody has a reason 00:14:52.95\00:14:54.56 why the COVID-19 virus came to the forefront. 00:14:54.59\00:14:57.63 That's why today in this separated society, 00:14:57.66\00:15:01.16 we must remain inseparably connected 00:15:01.20\00:15:04.47 with reliable sources. 00:15:04.50\00:15:06.13 Let me suggest the words of Christ. 00:15:06.17\00:15:08.54 In John 17:17, Jesus introduces that reliable source. 00:15:08.57\00:15:13.71 He says, "Sanctify them by Your truth. 00:15:13.74\00:15:18.55 Your word is truth." 00:15:18.58\00:15:22.32 Now think about that for a moment. 00:15:22.35\00:15:24.39 God's Word is truth. 00:15:24.42\00:15:25.85 In this generation of separation, in this... 00:15:25.89\00:15:30.49 Let me use a term here, in this busy environment, 00:15:30.53\00:15:34.36 where so many theories are coming to the forefront. 00:15:34.40\00:15:37.40 You know what you peruse Facebook, 00:15:37.43\00:15:39.20 you look at the Internet, 00:15:39.23\00:15:40.57 everybody wants to know how the COVID-19 virus starts. 00:15:40.60\00:15:44.34 Some people are blaming 5G, some people saying, 00:15:44.37\00:15:47.81 "Well, it's the certain diet of certain people 00:15:47.84\00:15:50.25 in a certain location." 00:15:50.28\00:15:52.01 All kinds of amazing theories. 00:15:52.05\00:15:54.25 That's why we must begin 00:15:54.28\00:15:56.25 by saying regardless of how it began, 00:15:56.28\00:15:59.42 the only way that 00:15:59.45\00:16:00.79 we can be sustained in this time of separation 00:16:00.82\00:16:04.73 is to remember that sanctification 00:16:04.76\00:16:07.50 can only occur... 00:16:07.53\00:16:08.90 And by the way, the word sanctification means 00:16:08.93\00:16:11.83 separated for a divine purpose. 00:16:11.87\00:16:15.24 The Lord wants to separate 00:16:15.27\00:16:16.60 his people for a divine purpose. 00:16:16.64\00:16:18.61 And the only way that 00:16:18.64\00:16:19.97 that separation is accomplished 00:16:20.01\00:16:21.51 is by the truth of God's Word. 00:16:21.54\00:16:23.48 Consider the following. 00:16:23.51\00:16:25.05 Truth is a shelter from acrimonious opinions. 00:16:25.08\00:16:29.08 Acrimonious, diverse opinions. 00:16:29.12\00:16:31.12 Everybody has an opinion. 00:16:31.15\00:16:32.89 Truth is a fortification against media and social bias. 00:16:32.92\00:16:37.76 You know, still today, in this environment, 00:16:37.79\00:16:40.90 I find it strange that 00:16:40.93\00:16:42.70 while people are suffering from no food, 00:16:42.73\00:16:45.43 medical supplies are dwindling, 00:16:45.47\00:16:47.77 people are terrified about their jobs. 00:16:47.80\00:16:49.90 Even medical professionals 00:16:49.94\00:16:51.37 are becoming hesitant to show up at work. 00:16:51.41\00:16:54.38 I received a story from someone recently, 00:16:54.41\00:16:57.08 they decided, "Well, I have six weeks' vacation 00:16:57.11\00:17:01.05 as a medical professional, 00:17:01.08\00:17:02.75 I'm gonna take my six weeks' vacation 00:17:02.78\00:17:05.42 and hope that in six weeks 00:17:05.45\00:17:07.16 the COVID-19 virus passes over." 00:17:07.19\00:17:10.29 Truth is a fortification against media and social bias. 00:17:10.33\00:17:13.83 Truth also keeps the mind unblemished. 00:17:13.86\00:17:18.13 When our eyes are distracted, 00:17:18.17\00:17:20.64 we've got to determine where to continue to look. 00:17:20.67\00:17:24.17 We can't look in every direction. 00:17:24.21\00:17:26.54 As the ones, very famous racing driver 00:17:26.57\00:17:29.21 who ripped off his rear-view mirror said, 00:17:29.24\00:17:31.31 "What's behind me is not my concern." 00:17:31.35\00:17:33.38 We've got to keep our eyes fixed in the right direction. 00:17:33.42\00:17:36.58 Something else truth does, 00:17:36.62\00:17:38.02 truth aligns us with the unwavering God 00:17:38.05\00:17:41.39 and not with vacillating man because on any given day, 00:17:41.42\00:17:45.89 the opinions are going to change 00:17:45.93\00:17:47.63 on every news network. 00:17:47.66\00:17:49.36 Truth creates a unity with those that 00:17:49.40\00:17:52.20 maintain a divine focus. 00:17:52.23\00:17:54.67 That's why I've been encouraging 00:17:54.70\00:17:56.04 my church members. 00:17:56.07\00:17:57.41 I try my best to send out daily devotionals 00:17:57.44\00:17:59.67 to my Church members and scripture readings 00:17:59.71\00:18:01.71 to keep them connected spiritually 00:18:01.74\00:18:04.41 because I know that we can maintain a unity 00:18:04.45\00:18:08.85 if we all maintain a divine focus. 00:18:08.88\00:18:11.29 The focus should be the Word of God. 00:18:11.32\00:18:13.59 Another benefit of truth. 00:18:13.62\00:18:15.02 Truth is not preoccupied by one chapter in man's history. 00:18:15.06\00:18:18.96 Truth keeps us dedicated to God. 00:18:18.99\00:18:21.13 And here's why because God has shown us 00:18:21.16\00:18:24.63 how this story is going to end. 00:18:24.67\00:18:27.17 Not just the COVID-19 story, but every story that 00:18:27.20\00:18:30.31 has ever impacted humanity on a grand, momentous, 00:18:30.34\00:18:33.74 and pandemic scale. 00:18:33.78\00:18:35.44 Every story in the course of human history, 00:18:35.48\00:18:39.08 get this, has a beginning, and it has an end. 00:18:39.11\00:18:43.42 Even the worst storms, one person once says, 00:18:43.45\00:18:46.99 "It has to pass over." 00:18:47.02\00:18:48.36 And I know what that's like. 00:18:48.39\00:18:49.72 My wife and I were driving to Orlando, Florida, 00:18:49.76\00:18:52.26 on our honeymoon many years ago 00:18:52.29\00:18:53.86 and from Orlando, 00:18:53.90\00:18:55.23 we decided to drive to Miami, Florida, 00:18:55.26\00:18:57.43 and we drove into, 00:18:57.47\00:18:59.37 what I'd refer to is a dark wall. 00:18:59.40\00:19:02.67 For my very first introduction to rain in Florida, 00:19:02.70\00:19:05.57 I saw before us a dark wall, 00:19:05.61\00:19:07.78 an ominous wall, black with clouds. 00:19:07.81\00:19:10.41 And I said to myself, "What is that?" 00:19:10.45\00:19:12.21 And my wife said, "That's a storm." 00:19:12.25\00:19:14.28 We had an old 1976 00:19:14.32\00:19:15.78 Toyota station wagon pretty criticaty 00:19:15.82\00:19:18.79 and not in the best of shape. 00:19:18.82\00:19:20.56 When we drove into that storm, 00:19:20.59\00:19:22.69 the rain was falling so intensely that 00:19:22.72\00:19:24.69 it was leaking in through the seals of our car. 00:19:24.73\00:19:28.46 But the one good thing about that storm 00:19:28.50\00:19:30.03 is when we came out on the other side, 00:19:30.07\00:19:31.90 I couldn't find a speck of dust on my vehicle. 00:19:31.93\00:19:35.20 You know, sometimes we've got to go through storms 00:19:35.24\00:19:37.77 for the Lord to clean up our lives. 00:19:37.81\00:19:39.84 So not every storm is prevented by God because in these storms, 00:19:39.87\00:19:43.51 the things that dirty up our lives, 00:19:43.55\00:19:46.78 God sometimes allows the storm 00:19:46.82\00:19:49.42 to blast those things and separate them 00:19:49.45\00:19:52.59 from our Christian journey. 00:19:52.62\00:19:54.92 When we think about 00:19:54.96\00:19:56.29 why we must maintain our connection with God, 00:19:56.32\00:19:58.89 God showed us how the story is going to end. 00:19:58.93\00:20:00.90 Notice Isaiah 46:9-10. 00:20:00.93\00:20:03.47 This is the dedicated commitment of God. 00:20:03.50\00:20:06.63 Here's what He says to us. 00:20:06.67\00:20:08.47 "Remember the form of things of old, 00:20:08.50\00:20:09.94 For I am God, and there is no other. 00:20:09.97\00:20:12.11 I am God, and there is none like Me, 00:20:12.14\00:20:14.21 declaring the end from the beginning, 00:20:14.24\00:20:16.61 and from ancient times things that are not yet done." 00:20:16.64\00:20:20.22 And here's what God says, 00:20:20.25\00:20:21.68 "Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, 00:20:21.72\00:20:25.42 and I will do all My pleasures.'" 00:20:25.45\00:20:29.32 That's right, friends, 00:20:29.36\00:20:30.69 the COVID-19 virus new story is dominating every network. 00:20:30.73\00:20:37.07 The reality is below the surface 00:20:37.10\00:20:38.73 of every news broadcast is man's frailty, 00:20:38.77\00:20:41.70 but when you turn to God, when we consult God's Word, 00:20:41.74\00:20:45.74 we won't suffer from 00:20:45.77\00:20:47.91 what I call pandemic distraction. 00:20:47.94\00:20:51.21 It's a disease, in the midst of a disease. 00:20:51.25\00:20:53.45 Pandemic distraction 00:20:53.48\00:20:55.38 is the product of a pandemic without answers. 00:20:55.42\00:20:58.35 That's why the only thing worse than the pandemic, 00:20:58.39\00:21:00.79 in my opinion, is pandemic distraction. 00:21:00.82\00:21:04.26 Sometimes we don't understand 00:21:04.29\00:21:05.63 what to do when difficult times hit. 00:21:05.66\00:21:09.03 I heard a story about a little boy 00:21:09.06\00:21:11.57 who was leading his sister up a mountain path. 00:21:11.60\00:21:15.30 And the way was not easy. 00:21:15.34\00:21:18.57 When she began to travel 00:21:18.61\00:21:19.94 with her brother holding her hand, 00:21:19.97\00:21:22.94 she said to her brother, "This is not a path at all. 00:21:22.98\00:21:26.51 It's all rocky and it's bumpy." 00:21:26.55\00:21:29.22 And her little brother just kept on walking, 00:21:29.25\00:21:31.52 kept on leading his sister up the mountain, 00:21:31.55\00:21:34.26 and he stopped long enough to say to her sister, 00:21:34.29\00:21:36.22 "Of course, it's rocky and bumpy." 00:21:36.26\00:21:38.43 The bumps are what we are to climb on. 00:21:38.46\00:21:42.60 The bumps are a part of the journey. 00:21:42.63\00:21:45.57 The rocky path in front of us is a part of our journey. 00:21:45.60\00:21:49.64 Friends, we are living in rocky times. 00:21:49.67\00:21:51.91 And Jesus never said the road would be smooth, 00:21:51.94\00:21:54.71 bump or no bump. 00:21:54.74\00:21:56.95 Jesus said, "With God all things are possible." 00:21:56.98\00:22:02.58 So if you're suffering 00:22:02.62\00:22:03.95 from a lack of financial stability, 00:22:03.99\00:22:06.15 if you cough and you wonder 00:22:06.19\00:22:07.69 where it's leading, if there are people around you 00:22:07.72\00:22:11.16 that seem to be tired and you're wondering, 00:22:11.19\00:22:13.29 are they coming down with something? 00:22:13.33\00:22:15.96 If you are losing out on your supplies 00:22:16.00\00:22:18.13 and don't know where to find 00:22:18.17\00:22:19.53 the necessities of life, remember this, friends, 00:22:19.57\00:22:22.10 with God all things are possible, 00:22:22.14\00:22:24.34 I encourage you to hold on to the hand of God 00:22:24.37\00:22:27.74 because only He can lead us through 00:22:27.78\00:22:32.01 the rough terrain of COVID-19. 00:22:32.05\00:22:35.08 Furthermore, it's not possible to walk 00:22:35.12\00:22:38.02 in the light of God's Word, 00:22:38.05\00:22:39.45 and stumbled on the bumps of the world. 00:22:39.49\00:22:41.32 And notice, how David the Psalmist says it 00:22:41.36\00:22:45.09 in Psalms 119:130. 00:22:45.13\00:22:47.60 Here's what he says. 00:22:47.63\00:22:48.96 And this is what we need in this COVID-19 environment. 00:22:49.00\00:22:51.90 He says to us, "The entrance of Your word gives a light, 00:22:51.93\00:22:56.37 it gives understanding to the simple." 00:22:56.40\00:22:59.37 It gives understanding to the simple. 00:22:59.41\00:23:01.78 There are people trying to figure out what to do next. 00:23:01.81\00:23:05.68 Friends, don't wrack your brains by sitting down, 00:23:05.71\00:23:08.95 trying to write down your plan A and your plan B. 00:23:08.98\00:23:12.25 As one person once says, 00:23:12.29\00:23:14.02 "You don't need a plan B if your plan A is God." 00:23:14.06\00:23:17.83 Don't need a plan B if your plan A is God, 00:23:17.86\00:23:20.43 when we consult God's Word. 00:23:20.46\00:23:22.16 That's why my wife and I, in the morning, 00:23:22.20\00:23:26.30 begin our day by reading God's Word, 00:23:26.33\00:23:27.94 in the evening, either a devotional 00:23:27.97\00:23:29.60 or end the day by reading God's Word. 00:23:29.64\00:23:32.01 And it gives us a light. 00:23:32.04\00:23:33.61 In this dark environment, it gives us light, 00:23:33.64\00:23:36.51 it gives us hope because the COVID-19 00:23:36.54\00:23:38.91 is a massive rock, 00:23:38.95\00:23:41.05 but God is still the Rock of Ages. 00:23:41.08\00:23:46.02 Notice how Isaiah the Prophet establishes that 00:23:46.05\00:23:48.92 in Isaiah 44:8, 00:23:48.96\00:23:50.79 look at the question Isaiah opposes. 00:23:50.83\00:23:52.33 He said, "Is there a God beside Me?" 00:23:52.36\00:23:55.36 God is saying through Isaiah the Prophet, 00:23:55.40\00:23:57.30 "Is there a God beside Me? 00:23:57.33\00:23:59.60 Indeed there is no other Rock, I know not one." 00:23:59.63\00:24:04.51 You know what I've discovered? 00:24:04.54\00:24:06.11 When you're walking on the Rock of Ages, 00:24:06.14\00:24:08.34 when your house is established on the rock, 00:24:08.38\00:24:11.41 the waves are going to come and they have come. 00:24:11.45\00:24:13.88 The trials have come and they will come. 00:24:13.92\00:24:16.48 The storms are going to intensify. 00:24:16.52\00:24:18.55 We look at the rising death toll, 00:24:18.59\00:24:20.36 and I'll be honest with you, 00:24:20.39\00:24:21.72 sometimes it brings tears to our eyes. 00:24:21.76\00:24:23.69 My wife sometimes sits down, 00:24:23.73\00:24:25.19 and I see tears running from her eyes, and she said, 00:24:25.23\00:24:27.53 "John, look, today 800 more people died. 00:24:27.56\00:24:30.40 Look in Italy 900 more people died. 00:24:30.43\00:24:32.23 Look at the rising death toll." It's a sad fact. 00:24:32.27\00:24:36.37 The statistics of this disease 00:24:36.40\00:24:38.01 are saddening and heart wrenching. 00:24:38.04\00:24:42.41 That's why this is the environment 00:24:42.44\00:24:44.41 that we must look to the only one 00:24:44.45\00:24:46.41 that can make a difference. 00:24:46.45\00:24:47.78 That's why God instructs us in Isaiah 45:22. 00:24:47.82\00:24:51.72 Here's His instruction. 00:24:51.75\00:24:53.09 He says to us, "Look to Me, 00:24:53.12\00:24:55.26 and be saved, all you ends of the earth! 00:24:55.29\00:24:58.59 For I am God, and there is no other." 00:24:58.63\00:25:03.80 No other. 00:25:03.83\00:25:05.50 I have people that I respect in the industry of media, 00:25:05.53\00:25:08.87 on different news networks. 00:25:08.90\00:25:10.37 I tend to look at those, and I think that well, 00:25:10.41\00:25:12.07 this is a credible source 00:25:12.11\00:25:13.48 or the ABC or NBC or CBS or Fox, 00:25:13.51\00:25:16.01 we look at for our favorite anchor persons 00:25:16.04\00:25:19.85 or favorite news representatives, 00:25:19.88\00:25:22.88 and we say, "Well, I could trust what he says. 00:25:22.92\00:25:25.22 Well, I can trust what she says." 00:25:25.25\00:25:27.06 But in this environment, 00:25:27.09\00:25:29.42 when they don't even have the answers, 00:25:29.46\00:25:31.13 the only one that we can trust is Christ. 00:25:31.16\00:25:33.19 Indeed there is no other rock. 00:25:33.23\00:25:35.33 There's only one God. 00:25:35.36\00:25:36.80 Which brings me to my first point 00:25:36.83\00:25:38.27 in this message, I only have two. 00:25:38.30\00:25:40.17 The first point is choose the Word of God 00:25:40.20\00:25:44.04 as your reliable source of truth. 00:25:44.07\00:25:47.08 Choose the Word of God, 00:25:47.11\00:25:48.44 make the Word of God your reliable source of truth. 00:25:48.48\00:25:51.45 You know what I like about the Bible today, 00:25:51.48\00:25:54.08 unless yours is electronic, that the Bible 00:25:54.12\00:25:56.69 never loses power because not only is it inspired 00:25:56.72\00:26:00.76 by the presence of God 00:26:00.79\00:26:02.32 and in divinely guided inspirationally 00:26:02.36\00:26:05.36 by the Holy Spirit, but it is a place 00:26:05.39\00:26:07.76 where you can find refuge, you can find hope, 00:26:07.80\00:26:10.40 you can find strength, you can find understanding. 00:26:10.43\00:26:13.03 That's why I like this quotation 00:26:13.07\00:26:16.20 about the necessity of having God's Word, 00:26:16.24\00:26:18.64 especially in these last days. 00:26:18.67\00:26:20.91 Great Controversy, page 593, paragraph 1, 00:26:20.94\00:26:24.41 look at this quotation. 00:26:24.45\00:26:26.31 It says, "None but those who have fortified the mind 00:26:26.35\00:26:31.09 with the truths of the Bible 00:26:31.12\00:26:33.62 will stand through the last great conflict. 00:26:33.66\00:26:38.13 To every soul the searching test. 00:26:38.16\00:26:41.96 Shall I obey God rather than man? 00:26:42.00\00:26:45.30 The decisive hour is even now at hand." 00:26:45.33\00:26:48.80 And that's the decision 00:26:48.84\00:26:50.17 that we have to make, who am I going to obey? 00:26:50.21\00:26:51.97 Who am I going to serve? We'll look in the Bible. 00:26:52.01\00:26:54.54 Who does Elijah serve? Who did Isaiah serve? 00:26:54.58\00:26:57.25 Who did Jeremiah serve? 00:26:57.28\00:26:58.61 Who did John the Baptist serve? Look at the apostles. 00:26:58.65\00:27:01.62 They said, "We ought to obey God rather than man." 00:27:01.65\00:27:04.95 And the reason why this point 00:27:04.99\00:27:06.32 is so vitally important is because 00:27:06.35\00:27:08.26 while we have been so distracted 00:27:08.29\00:27:09.86 by the COVID-19 statistics, 00:27:09.89\00:27:12.39 we are sometimes not taken into consideration, 00:27:12.43\00:27:14.96 the environmental metamorphosis taking place before our eyes. 00:27:15.00\00:27:19.30 I decided to go ahead and look at 00:27:19.33\00:27:21.10 what other impact rather than just social 00:27:21.14\00:27:24.51 and financial and political and religious... 00:27:24.54\00:27:28.58 I decided, "Lord, is there any other impact 00:27:28.61\00:27:31.11 that's taking place around us whether positive or negative?" 00:27:31.15\00:27:34.45 And I discovered there's a fifth component, 00:27:34.48\00:27:36.55 environmental. 00:27:36.58\00:27:37.92 Listen to this. 00:27:37.95\00:27:39.29 I copied a few of these articles down 00:27:39.32\00:27:41.09 just to give you an idea 00:27:41.12\00:27:42.46 of what's taking place around our world. 00:27:42.49\00:27:44.43 Although positive, the enemy can use 00:27:44.46\00:27:47.63 for negative implications, India's environmental impact. 00:27:47.66\00:27:52.87 The article says, 00:27:52.90\00:27:54.54 "The Himalayas can be seen from parts of India 00:27:54.57\00:27:57.54 for the first time in 30 years after pollution dropped 00:27:57.57\00:28:02.88 due to the 21-day coronavirus lockdown." 00:28:02.91\00:28:06.45 The article continues, 00:28:06.48\00:28:07.98 "The mountains can be seen 125 miles away. 00:28:08.02\00:28:12.29 The 21-day lockdown 00:28:12.32\00:28:14.52 to stop the spread of COVID-19 pandemic 00:28:14.56\00:28:17.73 also cleared the shuttering factories 00:28:17.76\00:28:21.40 and pollution from 00:28:21.43\00:28:22.76 traffic jammed streets in India." 00:28:22.80\00:28:26.27 People in India are saying, "I can't believe it, 00:28:26.30\00:28:28.57 the Himalayas actually does exist." 00:28:28.60\00:28:31.17 They often had to get very close to it to find it, 00:28:31.21\00:28:34.11 but now from 125 miles away, 00:28:34.14\00:28:36.04 the pictures are beginning to pollute the internet, 00:28:36.08\00:28:38.65 to populate the internet I should say. 00:28:38.68\00:28:41.25 The Himalayas, people are saying, 00:28:41.28\00:28:43.05 "Wait a minute, a terrible disease, 00:28:43.08\00:28:45.65 but look at the environmental impact," 00:28:45.69\00:28:48.12 not only in India, but look at Italy. 00:28:48.16\00:28:50.96 I read the article again. 00:28:50.99\00:28:52.39 "The COVID-19 pandemic has crippled Italy, 00:28:52.43\00:28:55.50 but amid the fears and sickness, 00:28:55.53\00:28:57.90 Italy's countrywide quarantine 00:28:57.93\00:29:01.34 has had at least one uplifting consequence. 00:29:01.37\00:29:05.07 Venice's usually dark murky waterways 00:29:05.11\00:29:08.51 have turned noticeably clearer. 00:29:08.54\00:29:10.85 Since the canal motorboats are not running. 00:29:10.88\00:29:13.45 The air is also clear." 00:29:13.48\00:29:16.28 Pictures of Italy, clear waterways, 00:29:16.32\00:29:19.09 you can actually see through the water, 00:29:19.12\00:29:20.92 it's still, and it has been 00:29:20.96\00:29:22.86 still ever since this COVID-19 virus 00:29:22.89\00:29:26.43 has metamorphosized and prevented 00:29:26.46\00:29:28.60 all movement on those precious waterways in Venice, Italy. 00:29:28.63\00:29:32.97 But what about home? 00:29:33.00\00:29:34.34 What about here in the United States? 00:29:34.37\00:29:36.07 Los Angeles, California 00:29:36.10\00:29:39.37 is experiencing the environmental impact. 00:29:39.41\00:29:42.18 Very short sentence. 00:29:42.21\00:29:43.58 "Los Angeles skies are smog free 00:29:43.61\00:29:47.02 and atmospheric pollution is down 00:29:47.05\00:29:49.55 due to the statewide lockdown." 00:29:49.58\00:29:52.62 Well, if planes aren't flying 00:29:52.65\00:29:54.96 and cars are not on the roadway, 00:29:54.99\00:29:56.96 if trucks are to the minimum 00:29:56.99\00:29:58.69 in their transportation of goods 00:29:58.73\00:30:00.76 from one location to the next, 00:30:00.80\00:30:02.43 if motorcycles are down to a minimum, 00:30:02.46\00:30:05.57 the pollution is beginning to dissipate. 00:30:05.60\00:30:08.14 People are beginning to see 00:30:08.17\00:30:09.60 the mountains in Southern California. 00:30:09.64\00:30:12.44 And planes that are descending minimally 00:30:12.47\00:30:15.61 into that area are beginning to say 00:30:15.64\00:30:18.18 this is what California should have 00:30:18.21\00:30:20.08 looked like a long-time ago. 00:30:20.12\00:30:22.32 Positive environmental impacts, but you'll see in just a moment 00:30:22.35\00:30:25.49 how these things that are positive 00:30:25.52\00:30:27.42 can be twisted to accomplish negative purposes. 00:30:27.46\00:30:30.43 In Beijing, China, NASA satellite took a picture 00:30:30.46\00:30:33.80 of the skies above Beijing, China. 00:30:33.83\00:30:36.46 And it says, "NASA satellite imagery shows 00:30:36.50\00:30:38.97 clear skies above the normally 00:30:39.00\00:30:41.14 smog-filled city of Beijing, China." 00:30:41.17\00:30:45.07 Business Insider magazine, 00:30:45.11\00:30:46.47 look at this quotation I have for you. 00:30:46.51\00:30:48.61 They said, "Social distancing 00:30:48.64\00:30:51.45 might not just slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, 00:30:51.48\00:30:55.48 it might also give the environment 00:30:55.52\00:30:57.49 a break from the pollution of modern life. 00:30:57.52\00:31:01.49 Cities across the globe have reported reductions 00:31:01.52\00:31:05.09 in air pollution as daily life has come to a grinding halt 00:31:05.13\00:31:10.37 because of the pandemic." 00:31:10.40\00:31:13.67 All positive things, but the positive impact 00:31:13.70\00:31:18.57 of the climate by COVID-19 lockdown 00:31:18.61\00:31:22.01 has not been missed by scientists, climatologists, 00:31:22.04\00:31:27.92 environmentalists, and religionists. 00:31:27.95\00:31:32.59 Wow, I added that fourth category 00:31:32.62\00:31:35.16 because there's about to be a shift in this message. 00:31:35.19\00:31:37.86 Scientists have noticed, climatologists have noticed, 00:31:37.89\00:31:41.60 environmentalists are applauding 00:31:41.63\00:31:43.67 they have noticed, 00:31:43.70\00:31:45.27 but religious leaders have also noticed. 00:31:45.30\00:31:49.20 You may not have known this, but Pope Francis from 2015 00:31:49.24\00:31:54.31 to the present has been campaigning for Sunday 00:31:54.34\00:31:57.41 to be a day of environmental restoration 00:31:57.45\00:32:01.58 and worship for Sunday to be a day 00:32:01.62\00:32:04.25 of environmental restoration and worship. 00:32:04.29\00:32:07.36 He says, "We owe it to our children 00:32:07.39\00:32:10.96 to pass on to them a planet 00:32:10.99\00:32:13.19 in the best condition possible." 00:32:13.23\00:32:15.46 I don't disagree with that at all. 00:32:15.50\00:32:17.57 But when you begin to build into your ideologies, 00:32:17.60\00:32:22.04 in your campaign, the opinion that 00:32:22.07\00:32:25.31 you can decide how and who 00:32:25.34\00:32:28.31 and when we worship, it begins to be skewed 00:32:28.34\00:32:31.88 in the direction of not the minority, 00:32:31.91\00:32:35.62 but oftentimes the majority. 00:32:35.65\00:32:37.72 On the heels of the present climate, 00:32:37.75\00:32:40.42 it is just a matter of time before Sunday. 00:32:40.46\00:32:44.66 The universally honored day is the legislatively recognized 00:32:44.69\00:32:49.03 and religiously endorsed as the nationally 00:32:49.06\00:32:52.63 agreed upon day of rest and worship. 00:32:52.67\00:32:55.30 You heard me correctly. Who questions? 00:32:55.34\00:32:58.07 Whether or not Sunday has been internationally 00:32:58.11\00:33:00.54 agreed upon as the day of rest and worship, 00:33:00.58\00:33:03.31 think about all the sales. 00:33:03.35\00:33:04.91 Number of years ago, my wife and I, 00:33:04.95\00:33:06.28 when we lived in California, we went to Macy's as it were, 00:33:06.31\00:33:10.95 and we want to buy a vacuum cleaner. 00:33:10.99\00:33:13.02 Well, the vacuum cleaner 00:33:13.05\00:33:14.39 was gonna go on sale on Saturday, 00:33:14.42\00:33:17.03 between 10 and 2 o'clock, 00:33:17.06\00:33:18.96 the time that we were gonna be in church 00:33:18.99\00:33:20.83 honoring God's Bible Sabbath. 00:33:20.86\00:33:22.93 And I walked up to the counter, and I said to the salesperson, 00:33:22.96\00:33:25.07 I said, "Now we'd like to buy that vacuum, 00:33:25.10\00:33:27.44 but we understand it's gonna be going on sale tomorrow. 00:33:27.47\00:33:29.94 And tomorrow, I'm gonna be in church." 00:33:29.97\00:33:31.84 And they said, "On Saturday, why not Sunday?" 00:33:31.87\00:33:35.88 I said, "Because I honor the Bible Sabbath." 00:33:35.91\00:33:38.45 They said, "Sorry, sir. 00:33:38.48\00:33:40.15 We can't give you that sales price until tomorrow 00:33:40.18\00:33:42.58 between 10:00 and 2:00." 00:33:42.62\00:33:44.22 And I said, "Think about it. 00:33:44.25\00:33:45.69 You are ostracizing not only my church 00:33:45.72\00:33:48.32 and my parishioners, 00:33:48.36\00:33:49.86 but Seventh-day Adventist community over, 00:33:49.89\00:33:52.36 and the entire Jewish community that honors the Sabbath. 00:33:52.39\00:33:55.36 Do you realize that..." The Lord impressed me. 00:33:55.40\00:33:57.53 I said, "Do you realize how much income 00:33:57.57\00:33:59.97 you're losing by ostracizing those that wanna buy it today?" 00:34:00.00\00:34:04.87 Well, like any person that believes in capitalistic 00:34:04.91\00:34:07.84 advancement, they said, "Well, that's a good idea. 00:34:07.88\00:34:10.28 I'll go ahead and sell it to you today." 00:34:10.31\00:34:12.11 And the good news, I bought my vacuum cleaner 00:34:12.15\00:34:13.92 for the sales price that would be implicated 00:34:13.95\00:34:16.72 or would be applied on Saturday, 00:34:16.75\00:34:20.96 but there's a general acceptance 00:34:20.99\00:34:22.56 that Sunday is the internationally 00:34:22.59\00:34:25.49 agreed upon day of rest and worship. 00:34:25.53\00:34:28.40 And COVID-19 has a march, 00:34:28.43\00:34:31.17 and it has set a cadence for final movements. 00:34:31.20\00:34:34.10 Think about the stages. 00:34:34.14\00:34:35.47 Stage one, the social impact, stage two, the economic impact, 00:34:35.50\00:34:39.21 stage three, the political impact. 00:34:39.24\00:34:42.58 But like a table with four legs, 00:34:42.61\00:34:44.21 you know that without the fourth leg, 00:34:44.25\00:34:46.55 the table won't stand. 00:34:46.58\00:34:47.98 And that fourth leg is the leg of the religious impact. 00:34:48.02\00:34:52.95 Now I live here in America, 00:34:52.99\00:34:54.89 and I understand Bible prophecy very well. 00:34:54.92\00:34:58.03 I've been studying the Bible for a number of years. 00:34:58.06\00:35:00.46 And when you study Daniel and Revelation, 00:35:00.50\00:35:02.36 these two sister Books of Prophecy, 00:35:02.40\00:35:04.43 and then you begin to include the Minor Prophets, 00:35:04.47\00:35:06.97 but then you include the other Major Prophets 00:35:07.00\00:35:08.64 like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, 00:35:08.67\00:35:11.71 you begin to understand and see that 00:35:11.74\00:35:13.71 there is a landscape developing in America. 00:35:13.74\00:35:17.18 And Revelation 13 sharpens the point of the pencil, 00:35:17.21\00:35:20.68 that America is going to play 00:35:20.72\00:35:22.48 a pivotal and major role and what happens 00:35:22.52\00:35:26.59 when it comes to establishing Sunday as a nationally, 00:35:26.62\00:35:31.63 and then gifting it to the world 00:35:31.66\00:35:33.46 to be an international day of rest, 00:35:33.50\00:35:35.93 environmental rest, and also worship. 00:35:35.96\00:35:39.47 That's why the people of God must be clear 00:35:39.50\00:35:42.50 about where we are headed. 00:35:42.54\00:35:43.91 Consult God's Word because Sunday worship 00:35:43.94\00:35:46.88 will unite the evangelical community of America 00:35:46.91\00:35:51.41 and the catholic community of America. 00:35:51.45\00:35:54.12 I speak about these two sects 00:35:54.15\00:35:56.69 as individuals or groups of people 00:35:56.72\00:35:58.85 that love the Lord, but for whatever reason, 00:35:58.89\00:36:02.46 are not clear about the implications 00:36:02.49\00:36:04.56 when the majority decides 00:36:04.59\00:36:07.06 how the minority should worship, 00:36:07.10\00:36:09.33 when my opinions of worship 00:36:09.36\00:36:11.47 begin to impose on your practices of worship, 00:36:11.50\00:36:14.84 then I become the dominant power 00:36:14.87\00:36:16.87 and eventually a persecuting power. 00:36:16.91\00:36:19.14 We must allow our ideology to govern our own practices 00:36:19.17\00:36:24.55 because Revelation makes the picture clear 00:36:24.58\00:36:27.02 as to the role that America 00:36:27.05\00:36:28.62 is going to play in the final rollout 00:36:28.65\00:36:31.79 of religious practices in America, 00:36:31.82\00:36:33.76 and then also eventually the world. 00:36:33.79\00:36:36.29 Look at Revelation 13:11-12, the religious impact. 00:36:36.32\00:36:42.30 Speaking about America, 00:36:42.33\00:36:43.67 the Bible speaks about this country coming up 00:36:43.70\00:36:45.57 in a time of persecution. 00:36:45.60\00:36:47.34 "I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, 00:36:47.37\00:36:51.14 and he had two horns like a lamb 00:36:51.17\00:36:52.94 and spoke like a dragon. 00:36:52.97\00:36:55.48 And he exercised all the authority 00:36:55.51\00:36:59.18 of the first beast in his presence," 00:36:59.21\00:37:01.82 and look at this, "and causes the earth 00:37:01.85\00:37:05.05 and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, 00:37:05.09\00:37:08.82 whose deadly wound was healed." 00:37:08.86\00:37:11.89 Notice the worship. 00:37:11.93\00:37:13.70 America, a nation raised by God to be a place 00:37:13.73\00:37:16.67 where we have religious freedom. 00:37:16.70\00:37:18.73 Well, we can make decisions about how we worship. 00:37:18.77\00:37:21.40 You know, in America, 00:37:21.44\00:37:22.77 you could be whatever religion you want to be, 00:37:22.80\00:37:24.91 but nobody could infringe on 00:37:24.94\00:37:26.31 how you want to practice your faith. 00:37:26.34\00:37:28.54 However, this text says, in just a matter of time, 00:37:28.58\00:37:32.58 the focus of America is not just gonna be 00:37:32.61\00:37:34.48 political and economic 00:37:34.52\00:37:36.28 and social, but it's also gonna be religious. 00:37:36.32\00:37:39.22 First instituting here in America 00:37:39.25\00:37:41.32 and then suggesting to the world 00:37:41.36\00:37:43.09 as there is a coalition 00:37:43.12\00:37:44.46 between Rome and the United States 00:37:44.49\00:37:46.90 that the entire world should follow suit. 00:37:46.93\00:37:49.76 That's why this positive impact on the environment 00:37:49.80\00:37:52.87 is not missed by the environmentalists 00:37:52.90\00:37:55.40 and is surely not missed by the papacy. 00:37:55.44\00:37:59.07 The social, financial, and political unity 00:37:59.11\00:38:02.21 will be the platform that builds a bridge 00:38:02.24\00:38:05.25 to the outside world. 00:38:05.28\00:38:07.08 That's why the title of this message is inseparable. 00:38:07.12\00:38:09.78 You see, friends, God's people 00:38:09.82\00:38:11.15 are about to go through a test far greater, 00:38:11.19\00:38:14.32 far more expansive than the COVID-19 virus 00:38:14.36\00:38:17.19 can ever be because right now, it's about medical supplies, 00:38:17.23\00:38:22.00 it's about food and water, it's about toilet paper. 00:38:22.03\00:38:26.27 It's about whether or not 00:38:26.30\00:38:27.64 I can find the necessities of life, 00:38:27.67\00:38:29.94 but these small irritations, and they are very real, 00:38:29.97\00:38:34.11 these small irritations are going to dissipate 00:38:34.14\00:38:36.85 in just a matter of time. 00:38:36.88\00:38:39.25 People are gonna go back to work. 00:38:39.28\00:38:40.92 It may not be as strong as it was before, 00:38:40.95\00:38:43.05 but there'll be an eventual growth 00:38:43.08\00:38:44.55 and an eventual rise, 00:38:44.59\00:38:46.76 but I can say safely and unequivocally the world 00:38:46.79\00:38:49.19 is not gonna be the same again, 00:38:49.22\00:38:51.36 but this is the time where the people of God, 00:38:51.39\00:38:54.00 and I reiterate, 00:38:54.03\00:38:55.36 those who trust their lives to Christ, 00:38:55.40\00:38:57.20 those who know Him as their Lord and Savior. 00:38:57.23\00:38:59.30 And this is not a narrow statement, 00:38:59.33\00:39:02.97 regardless of your denomination, 00:39:03.00\00:39:04.54 regardless of what faith you practice. 00:39:04.57\00:39:06.78 If you are not informed about what God's Word predicts, 00:39:06.81\00:39:11.58 you can fall into the category of becoming 00:39:11.61\00:39:13.65 a victim of the aftermath of the environment of COVID-19. 00:39:13.68\00:39:18.32 That's why you have to decide that 00:39:18.35\00:39:20.29 whatever is coming, you must remain inseparable. 00:39:20.32\00:39:22.79 The Bible gives us 00:39:22.82\00:39:24.16 another picture of how this power, 00:39:24.19\00:39:27.03 this Roman power will lead to religious globalization. 00:39:27.06\00:39:31.90 And the Bible describes this power 00:39:31.93\00:39:33.64 as the system of Babylon. 00:39:33.67\00:39:36.10 Look at Revelation 18:3, and it talks about the impact. 00:39:36.14\00:39:40.91 Here's what the Bible says, "For all nations have drunk," 00:39:40.94\00:39:45.91 all nations, "of the wine 00:39:45.95\00:39:48.25 of the wrath of her fornication, 00:39:48.28\00:39:51.99 the kings of the earth 00:39:52.02\00:39:53.36 have committed fornication with her, 00:39:53.39\00:39:55.99 and the merchants of the earth have become rich 00:39:56.02\00:39:59.19 through the abundance of her luxuries." 00:39:59.23\00:40:03.43 I am an individual that likes to do research. 00:40:03.47\00:40:05.53 I like to do homework. I like to be informed. 00:40:05.57\00:40:07.64 I like to be on the cutting edge 00:40:07.67\00:40:10.11 so that nothing sneaks up on me. 00:40:10.14\00:40:12.34 That's been the pattern of my life. 00:40:12.37\00:40:14.34 And I've been asking myself the question, 00:40:14.38\00:40:16.81 "Are there any side issues connected to this COVID-19? 00:40:16.85\00:40:20.92 What's coming down the pipe?" 00:40:20.95\00:40:23.08 And I've been noticing that we live in a country 00:40:23.12\00:40:25.65 where we're about to get a stimulus, 00:40:25.69\00:40:27.06 praise the Lord for that. 00:40:27.09\00:40:28.42 Everybody needs money, 00:40:28.46\00:40:30.66 but how can we pour trillions of dollars into an economy 00:40:30.69\00:40:34.93 that's already trillions of dollars in debt? 00:40:34.96\00:40:37.47 Where is the money coming from? 00:40:37.50\00:40:40.14 And then I begin to look at the world community. 00:40:40.17\00:40:42.40 We live in a world of instability 00:40:42.44\00:40:44.01 when it comes to financial stability. 00:40:44.04\00:40:46.24 We live in a world where people are not sure 00:40:46.27\00:40:47.94 about how to coalesce the world together 00:40:47.98\00:40:50.85 and how to be a world community. 00:40:50.88\00:40:53.01 And many suggestions have been made by economists 00:40:53.05\00:40:56.42 and religionists alike, 00:40:56.45\00:40:58.42 that if we had a one world currency, 00:40:58.45\00:41:01.62 then all these deficits would be immediately erased, 00:41:01.66\00:41:06.09 we can put into place 00:41:06.13\00:41:07.46 an easy financial digital system 00:41:07.50\00:41:10.43 that everybody can use for their conveniences. 00:41:10.47\00:41:13.40 And I'd say while it may sound good, 00:41:13.44\00:41:15.90 there are some negative implications to it. 00:41:15.94\00:41:18.44 Now many of you watching this broadcast, 00:41:18.47\00:41:20.28 have a phone, a cell phone, or maybe just a computer, 00:41:20.31\00:41:22.94 or maybe an iPad, 00:41:22.98\00:41:24.31 or whatever device you might have. 00:41:24.35\00:41:26.08 And some of you like me may do your banking 00:41:26.11\00:41:29.12 and many of your things rounds of life 00:41:29.15\00:41:31.09 on these digital devices. 00:41:31.12\00:41:33.66 Think for a moment. 00:41:33.69\00:41:35.69 What would you lose 00:41:35.72\00:41:37.29 if all of a sudden by not agreeing 00:41:37.33\00:41:39.53 with the direction the world is taking? 00:41:39.56\00:41:41.56 You are immediately disconnected, 00:41:41.60\00:41:44.87 unplugged, no access to your bank account, 00:41:44.90\00:41:47.70 no access to the basic necessities 00:41:47.74\00:41:49.97 that keep you going from day to day, what would you do? 00:41:50.01\00:41:53.07 But the Bible makes it clear. 00:41:53.11\00:41:55.41 That the powers that are in place 00:41:55.44\00:41:57.15 when the Bible speaks of her in Revelation 18, 00:41:57.18\00:42:00.38 it's referring to the resurging 00:42:00.42\00:42:03.02 resurrected religious political system 00:42:03.05\00:42:05.05 of the Dark Ages known as the Church of Rome. 00:42:05.09\00:42:07.79 And when you think about Rome's impact in the world 00:42:07.82\00:42:10.03 financially and economically, 00:42:10.06\00:42:12.76 environmentally, socially, and surely religiously, 00:42:12.79\00:42:16.53 no other system on earth 00:42:16.56\00:42:19.47 has the allegiance of world leaders 00:42:19.50\00:42:22.44 like the Church of Rome, and that has been the fact 00:42:22.47\00:42:26.51 since the resurgence and the growth of Rome 00:42:26.54\00:42:29.94 coming out of the Dark Ages. 00:42:29.98\00:42:32.01 Rome has a platform that no other Church on earth has. 00:42:32.05\00:42:36.38 Political and religious leaders of our world 00:42:36.42\00:42:40.06 will coalesce to commence the final movements. 00:42:40.09\00:42:43.73 Notice what Evangelism page 234 tells us about 00:42:43.76\00:42:47.10 how this is going to happen. 00:42:47.13\00:42:48.80 Listen to the quote. 00:42:48.83\00:42:51.10 "When Protestant churches shall unite 00:42:51.13\00:42:54.80 with the secular powers 00:42:54.84\00:42:56.77 to sustain a false religion, 00:42:56.81\00:43:01.71 for opposing which their ancestors 00:43:01.74\00:43:04.78 endured the fiercest persecution, 00:43:04.81\00:43:08.42 then will the papal sabbath be enforced 00:43:08.45\00:43:11.92 by the combined authorities of church and state. 00:43:11.95\00:43:15.26 There will be a national apostasy, 00:43:15.29\00:43:18.99 which will end only in national ruin." 00:43:19.03\00:43:23.70 Did you get that? 00:43:23.73\00:43:25.07 National apostasy, a false religious implication, 00:43:25.10\00:43:29.70 the papal sabbath enforced in the combination 00:43:29.74\00:43:33.58 and the coalescing of church and state together. 00:43:33.61\00:43:36.54 And when you look at history, every time church and state 00:43:36.58\00:43:39.81 has merged the implication have been devastating. 00:43:39.85\00:43:43.79 The implications have been life threatening, 00:43:43.82\00:43:46.29 and in many cases, I can't even surmount 00:43:46.32\00:43:51.96 how implicating those practices were. 00:43:51.99\00:43:56.26 People's lives were lost. 00:43:56.30\00:43:58.97 Their livelihood was taken from them. 00:43:59.00\00:44:01.64 But America, could that possibly happen 00:44:01.67\00:44:04.41 in modern America? 00:44:04.44\00:44:06.21 Could our world possibly go in that direction? 00:44:06.24\00:44:09.48 So you see, friends, the danger we face 00:44:09.51\00:44:12.21 is not just social separation, it is separation from God. 00:44:12.25\00:44:17.45 When the tide turns, your well-being 00:44:17.49\00:44:20.16 and your life is gonna be at stake. 00:44:20.19\00:44:22.12 And you've got to ask the question, very pertinent, 00:44:22.16\00:44:24.86 you've got to ask the question, what then? 00:44:24.89\00:44:29.16 What am I gonna do next? 00:44:29.20\00:44:30.60 What decision am I going to make? 00:44:30.63\00:44:32.33 Where am I going to stand? 00:44:32.37\00:44:34.04 That's why I titled this message Inseparable. 00:44:34.07\00:44:38.07 Today, as I'm communicating this message, 00:44:38.11\00:44:41.78 I have determined in my life, 00:44:41.81\00:44:43.51 that I'm not going to let anything 00:44:43.55\00:44:45.08 separate me from God, from His truth, from His Word, 00:44:45.11\00:44:49.62 from following what He is established in the Bible 00:44:49.65\00:44:53.49 to be the practices of my life. 00:44:53.52\00:44:54.89 Perfect? 00:44:54.92\00:44:56.26 Absolutely not, but when we determined by 00:44:56.29\00:44:58.49 God's grace to remain connected to God, 00:44:58.53\00:45:01.23 when we determined by God's grace 00:45:01.26\00:45:03.16 and by the Holy Spirit's power to remain dedicated to Him, 00:45:03.20\00:45:06.57 nothing will be able to separate us. 00:45:06.60\00:45:09.60 Look at what Paul the Apostle asks, Romans 8:35. 00:45:09.64\00:45:14.31 Here's what he says, and how fitting for today. 00:45:14.34\00:45:17.95 He says, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 00:45:17.98\00:45:22.45 Shall tribulation, or distress, 00:45:22.48\00:45:25.99 or persecution, or famine, 00:45:26.02\00:45:29.49 or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" 00:45:29.52\00:45:33.80 Wow, how many categories that he just covered. 00:45:33.83\00:45:36.33 Notice, tribulation or distress. 00:45:36.36\00:45:39.77 We are going through tribulation 00:45:39.80\00:45:41.14 on some level, people are distressed. 00:45:41.17\00:45:44.41 People are persecuted with the thoughts 00:45:44.44\00:45:46.41 of what's going to happen tomorrow. 00:45:46.44\00:45:47.84 How long will it be before the bottom drops out 00:45:47.88\00:45:50.71 in the economy 00:45:50.75\00:45:52.08 of what my bank account can sustain? 00:45:52.11\00:45:53.92 Famine? 00:45:53.95\00:45:55.28 Wow, it may appear that way because some people 00:45:55.32\00:45:57.25 are just storing and stacking of food 00:45:57.29\00:45:59.65 like there's no more grocery stores. 00:45:59.69\00:46:01.62 Nakedness or peril or the sword, 00:46:01.66\00:46:04.23 these are the questions that we must ask ourselves 00:46:04.26\00:46:07.36 because I tell you from the time that 00:46:07.40\00:46:08.73 Satan led one-third of heaven's angels 00:46:08.76\00:46:11.23 to be separated from God, his focus for humanity 00:46:11.27\00:46:15.17 has been the same to try to find a way 00:46:15.20\00:46:18.64 to separate us from God. 00:46:18.67\00:46:22.04 Now I'm gonna share with you a very long quotation, 00:46:22.08\00:46:23.85 but I want you to follow me carefully 00:46:23.88\00:46:26.68 because changing seasons, I'll say that again, 00:46:26.72\00:46:29.72 changing seasons reveals something about 00:46:29.75\00:46:32.62 the fabric of our dedication, our walk with Christ. 00:46:32.65\00:46:35.62 It's easy to say I love the Lord, 00:46:35.66\00:46:38.63 when the church is full, when the pews are full, 00:46:38.66\00:46:42.80 when the offering plate is full, 00:46:42.83\00:46:45.03 when everything is flowing, 00:46:45.07\00:46:46.40 and we can feel the energy of corporate worship, 00:46:46.43\00:46:49.30 what happens when the separation comes, 00:46:49.34\00:46:53.34 when things begin to go downhill 00:46:53.38\00:46:54.91 where do we stand? 00:46:54.94\00:46:56.41 I'm gonna tell you right now when the summer comes, 00:46:56.44\00:46:58.71 we always praise the Lord forward, 00:46:58.75\00:47:00.72 but the winter reveals the true condition 00:47:00.75\00:47:02.78 and nature of the trees around us. 00:47:02.82\00:47:05.29 Notice this quotation from the Book 00:47:05.32\00:47:07.39 Darkness Before Dawn, page 39 and paragraph 3. 00:47:07.42\00:47:13.36 We are told by inspiration, 00:47:13.40\00:47:15.36 "When the testing time shall come, 00:47:15.40\00:47:18.57 those who have made God's Word 00:47:18.60\00:47:20.44 their rule of life will be revealed. 00:47:20.47\00:47:24.47 In summer there is no noticeable difference between 00:47:24.51\00:47:28.38 evergreens and other trees, 00:47:28.41\00:47:30.38 but when the blasts of winter come, 00:47:30.41\00:47:32.95 the evergreens remain unchanged," 00:47:32.98\00:47:35.38 wow, "while other trees are stripped of their foliage. 00:47:35.42\00:47:39.89 So also, the falsehearted professor 00:47:39.92\00:47:43.73 may not now be distinguished 00:47:43.76\00:47:45.33 from the real Christian, but the time is just upon us 00:47:45.36\00:47:49.26 when the difference will be apparent." 00:47:49.30\00:47:52.50 Here's how the difference will be revealed. 00:47:52.53\00:47:55.50 "Let opposition arise, 00:47:55.54\00:47:57.51 let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway, 00:47:57.54\00:48:00.81 let persecution be kindled, and the halfhearted 00:48:00.84\00:48:04.71 and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith, 00:48:04.75\00:48:08.68 but the true Christian will stand firm as a rock, 00:48:08.72\00:48:14.59 his faith stronger, his hope brighter, 00:48:14.62\00:48:19.53 than in days of prosperity." 00:48:19.56\00:48:22.76 What a quotation. 00:48:22.80\00:48:24.30 You know, friends, prosperity is a wonderful thing, 00:48:24.33\00:48:27.07 but you never know who your friends 00:48:27.10\00:48:28.44 until if you don't have any money. 00:48:28.47\00:48:29.87 You never know how undesirable you really are 00:48:29.90\00:48:33.11 until all the things that people were attracted 00:48:33.14\00:48:35.21 to you in your life are no longer there. 00:48:35.24\00:48:38.31 And we are most vulnerable when we are most successful. 00:48:38.35\00:48:41.58 Just look at the cadence of history. 00:48:41.62\00:48:43.72 It's the wealthy individuals at the height of their success. 00:48:43.75\00:48:46.89 They for whatever reason, passed off the scene, 00:48:46.92\00:48:50.23 only to be a memory in just a matter of a moment, 00:48:50.26\00:48:53.50 the vapor of life. 00:48:53.53\00:48:55.03 In this time of separation, 00:48:55.06\00:48:57.47 we must remain spiritually connected to Christ. 00:48:57.50\00:49:01.47 It is now that we are to make our commitment 00:49:01.50\00:49:04.07 as concrete and permanent as the foundation on 00:49:04.11\00:49:07.78 which the Lord has established His Word. 00:49:07.81\00:49:10.75 I ask you the question once again, Romans 8:37. 00:49:10.78\00:49:14.58 Look at the question with me. 00:49:14.62\00:49:17.05 "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors 00:49:17.09\00:49:19.89 through Him who loved us." 00:49:19.92\00:49:21.62 That's the Paul the Apostle says, 00:49:21.66\00:49:23.53 "We are more than conquerors, 00:49:23.56\00:49:25.09 in all these things we are more than conquerors 00:49:25.13\00:49:27.50 through Him who loved us." 00:49:27.53\00:49:29.46 What does he mean? 00:49:29.50\00:49:30.93 In the time of famine and distress and persecution 00:49:30.97\00:49:35.00 and nakedness and the sword and pestilence and disease 00:49:35.04\00:49:39.04 and war and worry and financial collapse, 00:49:39.07\00:49:42.41 in Christ, we are still more than conquerors. 00:49:42.44\00:49:45.05 Why? Through Him who loved us. 00:49:45.08\00:49:50.59 Do you love the Lord as much as He loves you? 00:49:50.62\00:49:53.42 Are you making your decision to serve Christ? 00:49:53.46\00:49:55.92 Are you waiting for this pandemic to be over 00:49:55.96\00:49:58.73 only to go back to life we once knew it? 00:49:58.76\00:50:01.56 Well, friends, the days that have come 00:50:01.60\00:50:03.63 are not going to come again, not the same way. 00:50:03.67\00:50:06.20 We have entered a paradigm shift 00:50:06.23\00:50:08.24 where the world is forever changed. 00:50:08.27\00:50:09.94 We are not going back to America as usual. 00:50:09.97\00:50:12.81 We're not going back to the way of life, 00:50:12.84\00:50:14.48 as we often thought it would be. 00:50:14.51\00:50:15.84 We are going back to an environment where right now, 00:50:15.88\00:50:19.28 my brother, where right now, my sister, 00:50:19.31\00:50:23.18 you've got to make a decision 00:50:23.22\00:50:24.69 where you're going to stand on the other side. 00:50:24.72\00:50:27.66 Is your lifestyle more important 00:50:27.69\00:50:29.19 than your salvation? 00:50:29.22\00:50:30.73 I hope the answer is no. 00:50:30.76\00:50:32.76 Is worldly acceptance more important 00:50:32.79\00:50:35.86 than being identified with Jesus? 00:50:35.90\00:50:38.90 I hope the answer is no. 00:50:38.93\00:50:42.10 Will you surrender to the powers of earth 00:50:42.14\00:50:45.44 or will you commit your life to Christ? 00:50:45.47\00:50:47.31 Let me encourage you, young man, young lady, 00:50:47.34\00:50:49.51 let me encourage you, 00:50:49.54\00:50:50.88 you might enjoy your iPad and your iPod 00:50:50.91\00:50:52.71 and your Instagram and your Facebook 00:50:52.75\00:50:54.08 and whatever else you're connected to, 00:50:54.12\00:50:55.75 but when the power is cut off, the only power that 00:50:55.78\00:50:57.99 will still be on is the power of Christ. 00:50:58.02\00:51:00.99 When the world goes dark, the only place that 00:51:01.02\00:51:02.89 we can find life 00:51:02.92\00:51:04.26 that we can find life and light is in Christ. 00:51:04.29\00:51:07.20 Don't make a mistake and sell out to the things 00:51:07.23\00:51:10.57 that are temporary. 00:51:10.60\00:51:12.13 Are you ready for the greater test? 00:51:12.17\00:51:14.57 Or are you still ignoring the call of God? 00:51:14.60\00:51:17.57 Friends, these are not just the days of separation. 00:51:17.61\00:51:22.34 These are the days of Elijah, the days of Elijah. 00:51:22.38\00:51:26.92 "Well, Pastor John, why would you institute Elijah? 00:51:26.95\00:51:29.95 In the closing moments of your sermon?" 00:51:29.98\00:51:31.55 Friends, the days of Elijah 00:51:31.59\00:51:33.32 are greater than the days of separation 00:51:33.36\00:51:35.46 and the days of the COVID virus. 00:51:35.49\00:51:37.43 The days of Elijah, there is a message that 00:51:37.46\00:51:40.20 God has given to us today to prepare the world 00:51:40.23\00:51:44.30 as Elijah prepare the way, 00:51:44.33\00:51:46.17 as John the Baptist prepare the way, 00:51:46.20\00:51:48.07 as Jesus said in the days of John the Baptist 00:51:48.10\00:51:50.51 if you accept the message he is preaching, 00:51:50.54\00:51:53.01 he is the Elijah to come. 00:51:53.04\00:51:55.68 This is the hour that the three angels' messages 00:51:55.71\00:51:58.55 come to the forefront. 00:51:58.58\00:51:59.91 This is the hour that God 00:51:59.95\00:52:01.28 is calling us back to true worship. 00:52:01.32\00:52:02.68 This is the hour that God is calling us away 00:52:02.72\00:52:05.89 from financial and political and social, 00:52:05.92\00:52:09.79 all the things that are going to change 00:52:09.82\00:52:11.86 and one day be no more. 00:52:11.89\00:52:13.33 He's calling us to the constant foundation. 00:52:13.36\00:52:16.36 And the Bible says in Malachi 4:5, 00:52:16.40\00:52:18.70 what about Elijah? 00:52:18.73\00:52:20.07 Here's what the Bible says, 00:52:20.10\00:52:21.44 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet 00:52:21.47\00:52:24.17 Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." 00:52:24.21\00:52:27.01 Some have read the passage and think, 00:52:27.04\00:52:28.44 "Well, is Elijah really coming back? 00:52:28.48\00:52:30.48 Is there going to be a resurrection of Elijah?" 00:52:30.51\00:52:32.78 No. 00:52:32.81\00:52:34.15 The Elijah message to an old king 00:52:34.18\00:52:37.12 named Ahab was this. 00:52:37.15\00:52:39.59 You know, Elijah was so dedicated to God. 00:52:39.62\00:52:42.29 Ahab was so rebellious and so compromised in a stand 00:52:42.32\00:52:45.99 as a king, as a leader of Israel. 00:52:46.03\00:52:48.90 And when he finally was confronted by Elijah. 00:52:48.93\00:52:52.27 He said to Elijah, "You're the one 00:52:52.30\00:52:53.64 causing all the trouble, 00:52:53.67\00:52:55.00 your dedication to God is causing all the trouble. 00:52:55.04\00:52:57.87 And we got to find a way to get rid of you." 00:52:57.91\00:53:00.08 But Elijah was only standing firm. 00:53:00.11\00:53:02.01 Elijah refused to be separated from God. 00:53:02.04\00:53:05.25 Elijah stood on a foundation that cannot be separated. 00:53:05.28\00:53:09.68 Elijah made his decision, 00:53:09.72\00:53:11.25 no matter what's taking place around us, 00:53:11.29\00:53:13.25 no matter what's going on, 00:53:13.29\00:53:14.62 "Ahab, I have made my decision." 00:53:14.66\00:53:16.62 And so he stood firmly looking Ahab in the face. 00:53:16.66\00:53:19.56 He said, "I'm not the one 00:53:19.59\00:53:20.93 that's causing trouble in the church. 00:53:20.96\00:53:23.06 I'm not the one 00:53:23.10\00:53:24.43 that's making life difficult for you, 00:53:24.47\00:53:26.17 Ahab, but you have. 00:53:26.20\00:53:29.57 Ahab, God has called you as a spiritual leader 00:53:29.60\00:53:32.11 to lead your people to a higher place, 00:53:32.14\00:53:34.21 but you have forsaken the commandments of God. 00:53:34.24\00:53:37.38 You have linked yourself up to a woman named Jezebel, 00:53:37.41\00:53:39.75 a one who is distorting your commitment to Christ." 00:53:39.78\00:53:43.15 Friends, the picture of Ahab 00:53:43.18\00:53:45.02 and Jezebel there in the Book of Kings 00:53:45.05\00:53:47.22 is saying to us, it is too late for the church 00:53:47.26\00:53:50.39 to find allegiance in the wrong place. 00:53:50.43\00:53:53.13 It is too late for the church to lean on any other power 00:53:53.16\00:53:55.46 than the power of Christ. 00:53:55.50\00:53:57.00 It is too late for the Christian to say, 00:53:57.03\00:53:59.27 "I've got to finances in the bank 00:53:59.30\00:54:01.44 and my job and the economy on the foundation 00:54:01.47\00:54:04.71 of political reasoning," Elijah made the right choice. 00:54:04.74\00:54:08.38 And the Lord is saying these are the days of Elijah 00:54:08.41\00:54:11.08 because the world will only get more dreadful. 00:54:11.11\00:54:13.78 The return of Jesus Christ is near. 00:54:13.82\00:54:16.18 The world may be on lockdown, 00:54:16.22\00:54:18.45 but the good news is sin is about to be locked up. 00:54:18.49\00:54:22.12 I say, amen myself. 00:54:22.16\00:54:23.83 The doors of the church may be closed, 00:54:23.86\00:54:26.19 but as I speak to you right now, my friends, 00:54:26.23\00:54:28.13 the doors of salvation are still open. 00:54:28.16\00:54:30.33 God is saying to us, 00:54:30.37\00:54:32.03 don't just lament the COVID deaths. 00:54:32.07\00:54:34.84 Don't just be feel sorrow for those who have passed away, 00:54:34.87\00:54:39.17 and what a sad story it is, 00:54:39.21\00:54:41.34 but answer the call for eternal life for yourself. 00:54:41.38\00:54:46.31 In this time of separation, God is calling us to be firm. 00:54:46.35\00:54:51.22 God is calling us to stand on 00:54:51.25\00:54:52.62 a foundation that will not shake, 00:54:52.65\00:54:54.86 a foundation that will not crumble, 00:54:54.89\00:54:56.99 a foundation that will not erode, 00:54:57.03\00:54:58.99 a foundation that is sure as the name of God, 00:54:59.03\00:55:03.30 that is as eternal as His character, 00:55:03.33\00:55:07.20 that is as immutable as His law. 00:55:07.24\00:55:10.37 That's the foundation that God is saying. 00:55:10.41\00:55:12.31 This is the foundation on which the church 00:55:12.34\00:55:15.14 will remain inseparable but make no doubt about it. 00:55:15.18\00:55:20.42 It is time to separate from the world and its vices. 00:55:20.45\00:55:23.22 It is time to separate from the life 00:55:23.25\00:55:25.75 that drags you down. 00:55:25.79\00:55:27.96 Young man, are you tired of the life 00:55:27.99\00:55:29.42 that's dragging you down? 00:55:29.46\00:55:30.96 Are you tired of your addictions? 00:55:30.99\00:55:32.89 Are you tired of false promises? 00:55:32.93\00:55:34.66 Young lady, are you tired of broken dreams? 00:55:34.70\00:55:37.53 Are you chasing a rainbow that keeps moving every time 00:55:37.57\00:55:40.14 you arrive at the location 00:55:40.17\00:55:41.50 where you thought it will bring you joy? 00:55:41.54\00:55:44.84 Husbands and wives, is your marriage strong? 00:55:44.87\00:55:49.14 Well, are you being shaken by this COVID-19 virus? 00:55:49.18\00:55:53.95 Mothers and fathers, 00:55:53.98\00:55:55.35 God is calling you to that unshakable foundation. 00:55:55.38\00:55:58.09 It's time to separate 00:55:58.12\00:55:59.59 from the pleasures that tear us down. 00:55:59.62\00:56:01.72 There are those that say, 00:56:01.76\00:56:03.09 "Well, the movie theaters are closed, 00:56:03.12\00:56:04.46 but I got Netflix, I got Hulu." 00:56:04.49\00:56:06.36 Friends, that's a fleeting, that's a pacifier. 00:56:06.39\00:56:09.76 It cannot ever bring the joy that Christ promises 00:56:09.80\00:56:12.93 that He will give to us, 00:56:12.97\00:56:14.54 but on the other side of that was Jesus. 00:56:14.57\00:56:18.84 Let me encourage you, remain inseparable 00:56:18.87\00:56:21.61 with His Word, remain inseparable. 00:56:21.64\00:56:25.81 And when we make up our minds to do that, 00:56:25.85\00:56:28.18 when we determined by God's grace, 00:56:28.22\00:56:29.95 that we're not going anywhere, 00:56:29.98\00:56:31.55 it's gonna get worse before it gets better. 00:56:31.59\00:56:33.15 Oh, yes, that's a fact, but I'm not waiting 00:56:33.19\00:56:35.62 for what the world's gonna do. 00:56:35.66\00:56:37.63 I know what Christ is going to do. 00:56:37.66\00:56:39.43 I know that I can trust Him unequivocally. 00:56:39.46\00:56:41.63 I know that He is the foundation 00:56:41.66\00:56:43.16 that will not fold under my feet. 00:56:43.20\00:56:45.47 And when I pray, He answers my prayer. 00:56:45.50\00:56:47.97 This is the time to pray. 00:56:48.00\00:56:49.37 This is the time to turn your life over to Christ. 00:56:49.40\00:56:51.54 This is the time to know that 00:56:51.57\00:56:52.91 the foundation of God stands sure. 00:56:52.94\00:56:55.34 As Romans 8:38-39 says to us, 00:56:55.38\00:56:57.98 when we do that we can certainly say, 00:56:58.01\00:56:59.95 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, 00:56:59.98\00:57:03.08 nor angels nor principalities, 00:57:03.12\00:57:05.35 nor things present nor things to come, 00:57:05.39\00:57:07.46 nor height nor depth, nor any other creative thing, 00:57:07.49\00:57:11.06 shall be able to separate us from the love of God 00:57:11.09\00:57:14.60 which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 00:57:14.63\00:57:18.07 My friends, remain inseparable, dedicate your life to Christ, 00:57:18.10\00:57:23.00 today is gonna get worse but when it gets better, 00:57:23.04\00:57:26.24 it will be better eternally 00:57:26.27\00:57:27.94 as you remain inseparable in Christ. 00:57:27.98\00:57:31.08 God bless you. 00:57:31.11\00:57:32.45