Hello, friends,
welcome to 3ABN Worship Hour.
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I'm Pastor John Lomacang.
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And I want to thank you
for taking the time to join us
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for a very
thought-provoking topic
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entitled, "The Faith of Jesus."
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Before we go into the Word,
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I'd like to encourage you
to maybe invite your friends
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and if you're
watching from home,
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just pray for
the Lord's presence
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to be with you,
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but if you're with
the group of individuals
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gathered together
now as we open God's Word
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to find in it the message
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and the courage that we need,
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Let's bow our heads
and ask for God's guidance
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and for the Holy
Spirit's presence.
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Precious Father in heaven,
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we put our lives in Your hand
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and now as You become the power,
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the active
energy, the active agent,
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we pray that You will
send Your Holy Spirit, Lord,
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to speak to me and through me.
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And I pray that You'll
bring Your Word to life
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to find fertile soil
in our hearts and minds
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of those who are listening.
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I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
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The faith of Jesus,
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let's catapult into the topic
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with a scripture
in Revelation 14:12,
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a very familiar scripture,
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but a very
timely one describing.
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If I were to
summarize the sermon,
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it is about what kind of faith
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that the people of
God are going to need
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to face the
challenging times ahead of us.
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And after we read the scripture,
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I'll describe briefly
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what kind of
world we're living in,
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unless you've been
living under a rock,
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you know, the world
is changing rapidly.
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But let's begin by
looking at Revelation 14:12.
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John the Revelator
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starts with these very startling
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and direct words.
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He says, "Here is the
patience of the saints,
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here are those who
keep the commandments of God
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and the faith of Jesus."
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My brethren, these
times are not ordinary times.
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The COVID-19 climate
has drastically altered
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the routines of our lives.
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Normalcy has been
deleted as it were.
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The world as we know it
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is being
reconstructed to re-enslave
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the population of humanity.
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And like a frail,
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distracted child
playing in the path
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of a vicious stampede.
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The world is asleep to
its approaching destruction.
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If you stop and pause
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and think about
what's happening,
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you will discover that religious
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and political leaders
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are activating demonic
measures to cripple humanity.
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They are devising ways
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to become the
conscience of the world.
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That's why John
the Revelator says,
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the patience of the saints.
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In times like these,
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the people of God are
going to need patience
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to make it
through the atmosphere
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and the society
that's being reconstructed
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as we breathe.
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The monetary system,
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the monetary leaders
of the world are merging.
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And they are merging
to snatch away the things
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that we have
labored hard to secure.
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Financially, economically,
politically and religiously,
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the world is being
barbed wired together.
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And I can tell you
today that the intentions
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are anything but pure.
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Conventional
attitudes, my friends,
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and established customs
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that created in us
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a sense of
uninterrupted security
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have given way to
pandemonium and uncertainty.
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That's the kind of
world we're living in today,
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a world that's
uncertain on every side,
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a world that does not
gift us with faith and trust,
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a world that says to us,
whatever world you came from,
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you're not heading to
the same kind of world.
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It calls once
again for the patience
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and the faith of the saints.
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You find also,
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just recently the
political intensity
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that was
displayed on America stage.
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Then you add to that
the unyielding pandemic
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challenging world leaders.
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Then you add to that,
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the religious lockdown
that has arrested the world,
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each of these
independently but together
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are omens of a prophetic tsunami
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that's on the
horizon of humanity.
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But I believe
sometimes God gives disaster
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and turmoil permission,
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so that it can reveal to us
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the kind of faith that we need.
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It can reveal to us
the arsenal of the earth
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that's marshaled against us.
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And God is saying
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through these
disasters and turmoil,
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the church has to wake up
to the times in which it lives.
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When I think
about the atmosphere
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that's being constructed,
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I believe that somewhere written
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in the eschatological agenda,
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there is a divine recommendation
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from heaven.
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And heaven is saying,
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it's time to intensify
the training of the saints.
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It's time to
get the saints ready
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for what's coming.
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And I'll tell you, friends,
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as we were told by inspiration,
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the final movements
that are coming together
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are going to be rapid ones.
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Wake up to the
times in which we live.
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When I think about it,
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the only
evidence that I can cite
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for these ancillary disasters
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are found in
the often overlooked
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and ignored words
of the Apostle Peter.
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We read in 1 Peter 4:12-13.
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Notice what Peter contributes
to the times in which we live.
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He says, "Beloved,
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do not think it strange
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concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you,
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as though some strange
thing happened to you."
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But then he adds in verse 13,
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"But rejoice to the extent
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that you partake of
Christ's sufferings,
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that when His glory is revealed,
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you may also be
glad with exceeding joy."
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You see, the
Apostle Peter reminds us
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that exceeding joy
is the finished product.
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Notice what he
says, exceeding joy.
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He says, "You're
going through fiery trials.
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But don't forget,
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exceeding joy is
the finished product."
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But exceeding joy
is being developed
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amidst its fiery
trials and strange things.
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And only those that
endure the fiery trials
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and the strange things
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will one day experience
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the finished
product of exceeding joy.
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And I can say with certainty,
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2020 has been a
year of fiery trials
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and strange things.
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In the minds of so many of us,
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the phrase six feet
has been heard and echoed
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and advertised and publicized
six feet apart we are told,
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social distancing at a time
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when we must be drawing
nearer and nearer to the Lord.
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2020 has been a year
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of fiery trials
and strange things.
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And that's why I
say only by God's grace,
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are we still alive today,
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to listen to
God's urgent message,
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calling us to be
ready for what lies ahead.
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We find in the
writings of the Apostle Paul,
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he talks about not
only what's coming,
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but he talks about
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how God is still
sustaining His people
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in trouble sometimes like these.
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Listen to His words.
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2 Timothy 4:8-9, he
says, and I apply this to 2020,
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"We are
hard-pressed on every side,
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yet not crushed,
we are perplexed,"
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and yes we are,
"but not in despair,
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persecuted, but,"
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thank God, "not
forsaken, struck down,
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but not destroyed."
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Notice the contrast.
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We are hard
pressed on every side,
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yet by God's
grace, we are not crushed.
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We are perplexed
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but, brethren, by
God's faith in His Word
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that we can rely on.
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We are not in despair.
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There's persecution on
the left and on the right,
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but God has not forsaken us.
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And sometimes we
feel struck down,
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but praise the Lord,
we are not destroyed.
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Then we listen to
the Apostle James,
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as he also reveals
that in this quagmire,
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in this vortex
of a changing world,
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there is a
method to the madness.
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There's a reason why
God is allowing the world
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to be in the swirl that it's in,
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you notice
hurricane season more active
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than ever before
in recorded history.
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The rising
crime rates in cities,
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people losing grip on life,
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many people not able to cope
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with the environment
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that they're forced
to be sequestered in.
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Some people
locked in their homes
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becoming voluntary prisoners,
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because they just can't fit.
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They just can't make sense
of how the world is changing,
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and how it's
locking us down to something
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that is now being
termed the new normal,
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even with phrases such
as the political phrases
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build back better.
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Many people don't understand
that those three words mean
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that the world is
being reconstructed
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whether we know it or not.
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And we are being
placed on a conveyor belt
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to a destiny that's
outside of our control.
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The Apostle James says to us,
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there's something
behind all of that.
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He says in James 1:4,
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"But let patience
have its perfect work,
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that you may be
perfect and complete,
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lacking nothing."
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James is saying, be patient,
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because there's some
place where there's still order.
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There's some place
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where there is
still reliable promises
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that we can trust
that's in the kingdom of God.
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That's in the Word of God.
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While the world is
crumbling in heaven,
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God is still in control.
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When you think about it,
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in the
examination of God's Church,
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God sees something in
His people that are lacking.
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That's why I believe
He allows fiery trials.
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That's why I believe
He allows strange things.
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That's why with
His hand on the cord,
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God is still holding
back the winds of strife.
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He is saying to His people,
feel the intensifying winds,
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it's time to not
play church any longer.
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Feel the intense
changing political climate,
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feel the closing in
financial markets around us,
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it is time to wake up
00:11:01.26\00:11:02.82
and fully dedicate
our lives to Christ.
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God is examining His church,
00:11:05.93\00:11:07.73
and He's wanting His
people to be on target ready
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for what is about
to break upon the world
00:11:12.20\00:11:13.97
as an overwhelming surprise.
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Through the
words of inspiration,
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God's servant, Ellen
White says to us in the book,
00:11:19.77\00:11:21.91
Testimonies for the
Church, volume six and page 14,
00:11:21.94\00:11:25.88
she says the following words.
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Listen to these words.
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She says, "Events are changing
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to bring about the day of
God which hasteth greatly.
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Only a moment of time,
as it were, yet remains.
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But while already
00:11:42.46\00:11:43.80
nation is rising against nation,
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and kingdom against kingdom,
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there is not now a
general engagement.
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As yet the four winds are held
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until the servants of God
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shall be sealed
in their foreheads.
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Then the powers of earth
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will marshal their forces
for the last great battle."
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What battle is that?
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The Battle of Armageddon.
00:12:09.16\00:12:11.03
The final battle
between light and darkness,
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between truth and error.
00:12:13.83\00:12:15.70
It is being constructed today.
00:12:15.73\00:12:17.73
The stage is being built.
00:12:17.77\00:12:19.63
The final forces
are coalescing together.
00:12:19.67\00:12:22.74
The forces of hell
and the forces of earth
00:12:22.77\00:12:25.37
are looking at
each other's agendas,
00:12:25.41\00:12:27.21
trying to figure
out what measure is best
00:12:27.28\00:12:30.45
to shake the
faith of God's people.
00:12:30.48\00:12:33.08
But, my brethren, the
day that is approaching
00:12:33.11\00:12:36.79
is a day when
the forces of earth
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will meet in the
final confrontation
00:12:39.35\00:12:42.16
with the forces of heaven.
00:12:42.19\00:12:43.66
I praise God that
I can read God's Word
00:12:43.73\00:12:45.53
and know how it's going to end.
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I praise God that I can
pick up the Bible and say,
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I don't have to guess
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how the story is
going to wind up.
00:12:50.70\00:12:52.03
I've read the back of the book,
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and it ends with
two words, Jesus wins.
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Now He's already
won at the cross.
00:12:57.51\00:12:59.64
But, my brethren,
00:12:59.67\00:13:01.01
the faith and the patience
of the saints is needed.
00:13:01.04\00:13:04.68
The faith of the
saints is needed.
00:13:04.71\00:13:07.42
The patience of the
saints is needed to hold on.
00:13:07.45\00:13:10.79
As Jesus says in Matthew 24,
00:13:10.82\00:13:12.92
"He that endures to
the end shall be saved."
00:13:12.95\00:13:16.66
These times, these present times
00:13:16.73\00:13:20.20
will separate the committed
from the non-committed.
00:13:20.23\00:13:23.40
The church, I believe,
00:13:23.47\00:13:25.10
is going through
a time of sifting.
00:13:25.13\00:13:28.07
You know, I'm like,
I like to read books,
00:13:28.10\00:13:29.54
I like to begin to add
components into a message
00:13:29.57\00:13:33.38
that gives us a
sharpening understanding
00:13:33.41\00:13:36.21
of how God sees His people.
00:13:36.24\00:13:39.05
I studied that
during World War II,
00:13:39.08\00:13:41.45
a special grade of soldiers
were being developed by NATO,
00:13:41.48\00:13:45.32
the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization.
00:13:45.35\00:13:47.72
These were
specifically designated,
00:13:47.76\00:13:51.06
they were
organized, they were trained,
00:13:51.09\00:13:53.50
they were equipped
00:13:53.53\00:13:54.86
with the most
unconventional tactics,
00:13:54.90\00:13:57.77
techniques and mode
of military employment.
00:13:57.80\00:14:00.87
Integrated in their
training was a curriculum
00:14:00.94\00:14:04.11
that was intended to develop
00:14:04.14\00:14:06.17
the following areas
of military exploits.
00:14:06.21\00:14:09.54
They were taught
about airborne operations,
00:14:09.58\00:14:12.08
counter
insurgency, counter terrorism,
00:14:12.11\00:14:15.88
foreign internal defenses,
00:14:15.92\00:14:19.02
covert
operations, direct action,
00:14:19.05\00:14:21.66
that's hand to hand
combat, hostage rescue,
00:14:21.69\00:14:24.96
high value targets,
intelligence operations,
00:14:24.99\00:14:28.90
which God wants His
people to be intelligent,
00:14:28.93\00:14:31.37
mobility operations,
how to keep moving with God,
00:14:31.40\00:14:34.94
but never become disconnected
00:14:34.97\00:14:37.41
and also unconventional warfare,
00:14:37.44\00:14:39.74
understanding
00:14:39.77\00:14:41.11
that these are
unconventional times,
00:14:41.14\00:14:43.21
but God still has in His armor,
00:14:43.24\00:14:45.28
the armor sufficient for
the days in which we live.
00:14:45.31\00:14:48.72
If you glance at
those terminologies
00:14:48.75\00:14:51.49
that we use
00:14:51.52\00:14:52.85
in the United
States Armed Forces,
00:14:52.89\00:14:54.96
you may have heard of
these specialized forces.
00:14:54.99\00:14:57.66
On one side they
will call the Navy SEALs
00:14:57.69\00:15:00.33
commonly known simply as SEALs.
00:15:00.40\00:15:03.23
They were expertly trained
to deliver highly specialized,
00:15:03.26\00:15:08.74
intensely
challenging warfare capabilities
00:15:08.77\00:15:12.04
that were beyond the means
00:15:12.07\00:15:13.41
of the standard military forces.
00:15:13.48\00:15:16.61
Then on the other side,
there were the Delta forces,
00:15:16.64\00:15:19.18
also known as special forces
involved in special operations.
00:15:19.21\00:15:24.39
Now, the Supreme function
of these soldiers as it were,
00:15:24.42\00:15:27.66
were to defend and
protect the interest
00:15:27.69\00:15:30.13
of the United States of America
through unconventional means.
00:15:30.16\00:15:35.96
Well, the reality about
both of these forces is this.
00:15:36.00\00:15:39.33
Members of both units
were known as, get this,
00:15:39.37\00:15:43.24
quiet professionals
00:15:43.27\00:15:46.07
that were notorious for
being massively secretive.
00:15:46.11\00:15:51.05
They were known as
the ever-ready soldiers.
00:15:51.08\00:15:55.22
Now I like to dabble
into military language.
00:15:55.25\00:15:57.85
But when I discovered something,
00:15:57.89\00:15:59.69
I discovered that
in the preparation
00:15:59.72\00:16:01.86
for the Battle of Armageddon,
God has ever-ready soldiers.
00:16:01.89\00:16:08.83
God has specialized forces.
00:16:08.86\00:16:12.93
God has people
00:16:12.97\00:16:15.07
that He's getting ready
for unconventional warfare
00:16:15.10\00:16:19.37
against the forces of darkness.
00:16:19.41\00:16:21.11
And, my brethren, let me say
00:16:21.14\00:16:22.48
the best way to
get ready for that
00:16:22.51\00:16:23.85
is to study God's Word.
00:16:23.88\00:16:25.38
God's Word is
like a two-edged sword.
00:16:25.41\00:16:28.18
And there is not a
weapon that was ever created
00:16:28.22\00:16:31.22
that can withstand the power
00:16:31.25\00:16:33.25
of the two-edged
sword of God's Word.
00:16:33.29\00:16:35.49
Specialized forces, God
has ever-ready soldiers.
00:16:35.52\00:16:40.50
These men and women
are no ordinary Christians.
00:16:40.53\00:16:44.07
And their primary purpose
00:16:44.10\00:16:45.70
is to defend and protect
00:16:45.73\00:16:47.90
the interests of
the kingdom of heaven
00:16:47.94\00:16:50.94
through spiritual measures,
00:16:50.97\00:16:54.21
not military
measures, spiritual measures.
00:16:54.28\00:16:57.08
What kind of spiritual measures
do you mean, Pastor John?
00:16:57.15\00:16:59.48
By an act of prayer
life, by a study life,
00:16:59.51\00:17:02.88
by a witnessing life,
00:17:02.92\00:17:04.85
by a life
dedicated to being on target,
00:17:04.89\00:17:08.49
to being focused,
00:17:08.52\00:17:09.86
to understand
that this here and now
00:17:09.89\00:17:11.79
is not all that there is,
00:17:11.83\00:17:13.19
to understand
that beyond the fight
00:17:13.23\00:17:14.83
there is a victory,
00:17:14.86\00:17:16.20
to understand beyond the
valley of the shadows of death,
00:17:16.23\00:17:18.80
there's the kingdom of God,
00:17:18.83\00:17:20.17
the house of the Lord
waiting for us forever.
00:17:20.24\00:17:22.50
These are soldiers
that are determined
00:17:22.54\00:17:24.94
not to bow to the forces
that call for compromise.
00:17:24.97\00:17:28.61
These men and
women have a relationship
00:17:28.64\00:17:31.65
that in shaking
times, they remain unmoved.
00:17:31.68\00:17:34.75
God is calling for
ever-ready soldiers.
00:17:34.78\00:17:38.79
But right now,
00:17:38.82\00:17:40.76
since you can't
know who they are,
00:17:40.79\00:17:42.69
to you, they may be
quiet professionals.
00:17:42.72\00:17:45.19
They may be individuals
that you have not met,
00:17:45.23\00:17:47.73
but God is
holding them in reserve.
00:17:47.76\00:17:50.57
And when all of
the forces of darkness
00:17:50.60\00:17:53.44
are marshaled
against the forces of light,
00:17:53.47\00:17:56.81
these will step to the forefront
00:17:56.84\00:17:58.87
because they are being
trained in Bible study,
00:17:58.91\00:18:01.71
trained in their
daily prayer life,
00:18:01.74\00:18:04.41
trained in
their devotional life,
00:18:04.45\00:18:07.02
trained in their
commitment to Christ,
00:18:07.05\00:18:10.19
they are being trained
for the most intense battle
00:18:10.22\00:18:14.56
of the ages,
00:18:14.59\00:18:15.92
the battle
that's just ahead of us.
00:18:15.96\00:18:19.46
You see, friends,
it's Satan's purpose
00:18:19.49\00:18:21.90
to keep Christians
00:18:21.93\00:18:23.30
from developing
the faith of Jesus.
00:18:23.37\00:18:25.50
It is Satan's highest priority
00:18:25.53\00:18:28.27
to keep us
unprepared for what lies ahead.
00:18:28.30\00:18:32.11
It is Satan's determination
00:18:32.14\00:18:34.48
to create Christians
00:18:34.51\00:18:35.88
that intentionally
ignore the commandments of God,
00:18:35.91\00:18:39.05
hoping that
they'll still be ready.
00:18:39.08\00:18:41.25
But according to the passage,
00:18:41.28\00:18:43.92
you've got to be
obedient to be ready,
00:18:43.99\00:18:46.76
to be a patient saint,
to be a faith filled saint,
00:18:46.79\00:18:50.96
you also have to
be an obedient saint.
00:18:50.99\00:18:53.33
When I look at what's happening,
00:18:53.40\00:18:54.93
I was reminded
00:18:54.96\00:18:56.77
that no matter
what's taking place
00:18:56.80\00:18:58.30
around the world,
00:18:58.33\00:18:59.67
no matter what's happening
in politics in America,
00:18:59.70\00:19:01.60
or in Europe, or in
Asia, or in the Caribbean,
00:19:01.64\00:19:04.34
or in Australia,
00:19:04.37\00:19:05.71
no matter what's
happening around the world,
00:19:05.74\00:19:07.18
God reminds us
00:19:07.21\00:19:09.48
that His purposes
still will be accomplished.
00:19:09.51\00:19:14.95
Look at Isaiah 46:9-10.
00:19:14.98\00:19:17.29
God always has the final say.
00:19:17.32\00:19:20.06
He says to us
through the Prophet Isaiah,
00:19:20.09\00:19:23.22
"Remember the
former things of old,
00:19:23.26\00:19:25.56
for I am God, and
there is no other,
00:19:25.59\00:19:28.40
I am God, and
there is none like Me,
00:19:28.43\00:19:32.33
declaring the end
from the beginning,
00:19:32.37\00:19:35.70
and from ancient times
00:19:35.74\00:19:37.61
things that are not yet
done, saying," I love this part,
00:19:37.64\00:19:41.68
"'My counsel shall stand,
00:19:41.71\00:19:44.51
and I will do
all My pleasures.'"
00:19:44.55\00:19:48.38
Whenever I read that
passage, it says to me,
00:19:48.42\00:19:50.89
no need to worry.
00:19:50.92\00:19:52.59
No worries, as
they say in Australia,
00:19:52.62\00:19:54.69
no need to be concerned,
God is still in charge.
00:19:54.72\00:19:57.23
Amen to that.
00:19:57.26\00:19:58.59
God is not able to be voted out.
00:19:58.63\00:20:01.56
Nobody's going to take His seat
00:20:01.60\00:20:03.40
because He sits
high and looks low.
00:20:03.47\00:20:05.60
He is on the
throne that is eternal.
00:20:05.63\00:20:08.94
But He sets men up
and He brings them down.
00:20:08.97\00:20:11.41
But I want to say today,
00:20:11.44\00:20:12.77
it is completely
beyond Satan's pay grade
00:20:12.81\00:20:16.14
to prevent God's
plans from being fulfilled.
00:20:16.18\00:20:19.91
You may have missed
that. Let me say it again.
00:20:19.95\00:20:21.85
Satan is not capable.
00:20:21.88\00:20:24.45
There's nothing that he can do
00:20:24.49\00:20:26.35
to prevent the plans of
God from being fulfilled.
00:20:26.39\00:20:30.23
When you think about God's word,
00:20:30.26\00:20:32.03
the many statements
of Jesus confirm the fact
00:20:32.06\00:20:34.93
that Satan cannot
prevent heavens agenda
00:20:34.96\00:20:37.93
from being accomplished,
00:20:37.97\00:20:39.77
because God will
finish what Satan has started,
00:20:39.80\00:20:44.31
God will always
have the last word.
00:20:44.34\00:20:49.74
Let's look at some
reasons why I know that.
00:20:49.78\00:20:52.38
Let's go back to the time
00:20:52.41\00:20:53.75
when Jesus was
unjustly being interrogated,
00:20:53.82\00:20:56.62
and He was standing
before the high priests.
00:20:56.69\00:20:58.65
And Matthew 26:63 tells us
00:20:58.69\00:21:00.56
that the high priest demanded
00:21:00.59\00:21:02.56
that Jesus respond to Him.
00:21:02.59\00:21:04.53
He said to Jesus,
"If you are the Christ,
00:21:04.56\00:21:06.53
are you the Christ,
the Son of the living God."
00:21:06.56\00:21:08.86
And Jesus said in Matthew 26:64,
00:21:08.90\00:21:11.90
listen to the words of Jesus,
00:21:11.93\00:21:13.27
as He was being interrogated
00:21:13.34\00:21:15.07
to confirm whether
or not He is the Christ.
00:21:15.10\00:21:17.41
Look at what He
said in Matthew 26:64,
00:21:17.44\00:21:20.58
"Jesus said to him,
00:21:20.61\00:21:22.31
'It is as you said.
00:21:22.34\00:21:24.05
Nevertheless, I
say to you, hereafter,"
00:21:24.08\00:21:27.42
notice the next two words,
00:21:27.45\00:21:28.78
"you will see the Son of Man
00:21:28.82\00:21:30.89
sitting at the
right hand of the Power,
00:21:30.92\00:21:33.02
and coming on the
clouds of heaven."
00:21:33.05\00:21:34.89
Notice the words.
00:21:34.92\00:21:36.32
How do I know that
Satan cannot prevent
00:21:36.36\00:21:38.36
God's agenda from
being accomplished?
00:21:38.39\00:21:40.30
The words that Jesus
said in that passage,
00:21:40.33\00:21:43.10
you will, you will,
00:21:43.13\00:21:45.13
meaning I may look arrested now,
00:21:45.17\00:21:47.24
but the day is coming,
00:21:47.27\00:21:48.60
when there will be
no shackles on my hand,
00:21:48.64\00:21:51.11
there'll be no
thorns of crown on my brow.
00:21:51.14\00:21:54.21
There'll be no
nails through my hand,
00:21:54.28\00:21:56.75
I'm going to be free.
00:21:56.78\00:21:58.11
And you will see
00:21:58.15\00:21:59.51
the other side of this scenario.
00:21:59.55\00:22:01.45
So, my brother and sister,
00:22:01.48\00:22:03.02
when the days come
00:22:03.05\00:22:04.39
that your faith
is being challenged,
00:22:04.42\00:22:07.46
when the days come
that it doesn't seem like
00:22:07.49\00:22:09.36
there isn't any end in sight,
00:22:09.39\00:22:11.43
or that the world is
squeezing your faith out.
00:22:11.46\00:22:14.03
Remember that Jesus said,
beyond the cross is the crown,
00:22:14.10\00:22:18.07
beyond the
persecution is the preparation
00:22:18.10\00:22:20.97
for the celebration of the ages,
00:22:21.00\00:22:22.97
beyond His trial is a triumph.
00:22:23.00\00:22:25.71
And the same is
true for every one of us.
00:22:25.74\00:22:27.58
But you have to hang in there.
00:22:27.61\00:22:28.94
You got to pray and work,
00:22:28.98\00:22:30.35
and study and commit yourself
00:22:30.38\00:22:32.48
to hold on to
the faith of Jesus.
00:22:32.51\00:22:34.95
And why does He call
it the faith of Jesus?
00:22:34.98\00:22:36.92
Because it's not humanly
born, it is divinely born.
00:22:36.99\00:22:40.76
It is a faith that does not come
00:22:40.79\00:22:43.86
from having a good diet.
00:22:43.93\00:22:46.80
As good as a good diet is,
00:22:46.83\00:22:48.90
this faith is not
developed by a good diet.
00:22:48.93\00:22:51.87
It's not developed by
a great exercise program,
00:22:51.90\00:22:54.40
although it's
good and very necessary
00:22:54.44\00:22:57.41
to have a good exercise program.
00:22:57.44\00:22:59.14
This is a faith that's
born through the trials of Jesus
00:22:59.17\00:23:03.65
that He is willing to
impart to His children
00:23:03.68\00:23:07.22
to get them
ready for what's ahead.
00:23:07.25\00:23:09.05
I know that the
Lord will come back,
00:23:09.08\00:23:10.99
I know that He will
finish what He promised
00:23:11.02\00:23:13.12
because He said
to His persecutors,
00:23:13.15\00:23:15.76
you will see.
00:23:15.79\00:23:17.26
But let's look
at another example.
00:23:17.33\00:23:19.16
Looking down to the time
00:23:19.19\00:23:20.53
when Jesus will
reward His saints
00:23:20.60\00:23:23.57
with that eternal compensation.
00:23:23.60\00:23:25.97
Listen to what He
said in Matthew 25:23.
00:23:26.00\00:23:30.01
Look at what He says,
00:23:30.04\00:23:31.41
"Well done, good
and faithful servant,
00:23:31.44\00:23:34.41
you have been
faithful over a few things,"
00:23:34.44\00:23:38.61
look at the next two words,
00:23:38.65\00:23:40.02
"I will make you
ruler over many things.
00:23:40.05\00:23:45.15
Enter into the
joy of your lord."
00:23:45.19\00:23:48.99
Notice again,
00:23:49.02\00:23:50.36
He said to His
persecutors, you will.
00:23:50.43\00:23:52.86
He said to those who
are being faithful, I will.
00:23:52.89\00:23:55.46
That is a
forward-looking statement.
00:23:55.50\00:23:58.00
In spite of what
it looks like now,
00:23:58.03\00:23:59.57
those of you in
the crowded cities
00:23:59.60\00:24:01.07
that are
congested in traffic jams,
00:24:01.10\00:24:04.21
congested wondering how and when
00:24:04.24\00:24:07.38
and if you're
going to catch COVID-19,
00:24:07.41\00:24:09.61
those of you that are terrified
00:24:09.64\00:24:11.08
when you see people coming
00:24:11.11\00:24:12.45
that are coughing and sneezing,
00:24:12.48\00:24:14.38
God is saying, hold on.
00:24:14.42\00:24:15.95
It's not always
going to be that way
00:24:15.98\00:24:17.95
because the greatest
blessing is yet to come.
00:24:17.99\00:24:20.39
I will make you
ruler over many things,
00:24:20.46\00:24:24.46
if you just
simply hang in there.
00:24:24.49\00:24:26.59
You also find that when
Jesus was sealed in the tomb,
00:24:26.63\00:24:30.07
and His
executioners were quite sure
00:24:30.10\00:24:32.50
that He would not come
out, notice what they said.
00:24:32.53\00:24:36.24
This is an amazing statement.
00:24:36.27\00:24:37.74
Matthew 27:63.
00:24:37.77\00:24:40.21
Another
statement of confirmation.
00:24:40.28\00:24:42.51
They said, "Sir,
00:24:42.54\00:24:44.71
we remember while
He was still alive,
00:24:44.75\00:24:47.65
how that deceiver said,
00:24:47.68\00:24:50.49
'After three
days, I will rise.'"
00:24:50.52\00:24:55.06
Look at that. What
a powerful statement.
00:24:55.09\00:24:57.69
Sometimes your
enemies will testify
00:24:57.73\00:25:00.73
to the certainty of
your approaching victory.
00:25:00.80\00:25:04.47
They crucified
Jesus, but they could not,
00:25:04.50\00:25:07.34
they could not
dismiss the possibility
00:25:07.37\00:25:10.01
that He's not in
there permanently.
00:25:10.04\00:25:12.27
He's going to come out
somehow, someway or another.
00:25:12.31\00:25:16.04
He said He will rise again.
00:25:16.08\00:25:17.71
And I want to tell you today,
00:25:17.75\00:25:19.08
we know that what
Jesus said is true.
00:25:19.11\00:25:20.95
He ever lives
00:25:20.98\00:25:22.35
to make
intercession for you and me,
00:25:22.38\00:25:23.99
He did rise again, praise God,
00:25:24.02\00:25:26.15
and He is our intercessor
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:25:26.19\00:25:30.93
But notice the two words
00:25:30.96\00:25:32.29
that we continue
to see coming back,
00:25:32.33\00:25:33.80
you will, I will, I will.
00:25:33.83\00:25:35.83
The certainty that
what Jesus started,
00:25:35.86\00:25:39.50
He will finish.
00:25:39.53\00:25:41.97
One more example.
00:25:42.00\00:25:43.44
Finally, when
Jesus successfully rose
00:25:43.51\00:25:46.47
from the tomb on the third day,
00:25:46.51\00:25:48.54
and He was
preparing to ascend to heaven,
00:25:48.58\00:25:50.95
His words once again
confirmed Satan's inability
00:25:50.98\00:25:55.08
to prevent heaven's
agenda from being fulfilled.
00:25:55.12\00:25:58.15
Look at John 14:3, the words,
00:25:58.19\00:26:01.42
the forward-looking
words of the promises of Jesus.
00:26:01.46\00:26:04.89
He said to His disciples,
00:26:04.93\00:26:07.30
"And if I go and
prepare a place for you,"
00:26:07.33\00:26:10.97
here it is again,
00:26:11.00\00:26:12.33
"I will come again
and receive you to Myself,
00:26:12.37\00:26:16.17
that where I am,
there you may be also."
00:26:16.20\00:26:20.08
Notice, you will, I will, I
will, I will continuously...
00:26:20.11\00:26:24.35
What are we saying?
00:26:24.38\00:26:25.71
The Lord is saying,
00:26:25.75\00:26:27.12
when He makes a
statement, I will,
00:26:27.15\00:26:29.12
that is a
forward-looking statement.
00:26:29.15\00:26:31.45
He is saying,
00:26:31.49\00:26:32.82
regardless of the
fact that I'm leaving,
00:26:32.85\00:26:34.86
I will come again,
regardless of my persecution,
00:26:34.89\00:26:38.03
I will rise again,
regardless of my accusations,
00:26:38.06\00:26:41.03
I am the Son of God,
00:26:41.06\00:26:42.40
and you will see me
00:26:42.43\00:26:43.77
coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.
00:26:43.80\00:26:46.67
You see, brethren,
those with the faith of Jesus
00:26:46.74\00:26:49.07
are not looking for
some new political agenda
00:26:49.10\00:26:52.94
that's being surmised or
created by earthly powers.
00:26:52.97\00:26:56.75
We put our faith and trust
in the unwavering Word of God.
00:26:56.78\00:27:03.49
I know that we just
came through an election
00:27:03.52\00:27:05.39
that just caused some
people's face to twist
00:27:05.42\00:27:08.66
and their hearts to stutter.
00:27:08.69\00:27:10.36
Some people got
rashly angry on one side,
00:27:10.43\00:27:13.80
and people were
bewildered on the other.
00:27:13.83\00:27:16.10
People were putting their
hope in one man or the other.
00:27:16.13\00:27:19.27
But I wanna tell you today,
00:27:19.30\00:27:20.64
I put my hope in
nobody but Jesus Christ.
00:27:20.67\00:27:23.07
I put my hope in nobody,
but the one who has never lost.
00:27:23.10\00:27:25.71
Why?
00:27:25.74\00:27:27.08
He says to me,
00:27:27.11\00:27:28.44
make your calling
and your election sure.
00:27:28.48\00:27:31.91
The only election
00:27:31.95\00:27:33.31
that the saints need
to be concerned about
00:27:33.35\00:27:35.75
is making sure
that they are a part
00:27:35.78\00:27:37.89
of the election of grace,
00:27:37.92\00:27:39.89
that when the time comes,
00:27:39.92\00:27:41.36
you must know that Jesus Christ
00:27:41.39\00:27:44.49
has cast a vote
00:27:44.53\00:27:46.26
in favor of having you
in His kingdom eternally.
00:27:46.29\00:27:49.66
That is the election
00:27:49.70\00:27:51.57
that causes you to
embrace the faith of Jesus.
00:27:51.60\00:27:56.37
So, friends, today,
00:27:56.40\00:27:58.57
we stand on the
unstoppable declaration
00:27:58.61\00:28:02.18
of Jesus and what is that?
00:28:02.21\00:28:03.88
I will come
again, I will rise again.
00:28:03.95\00:28:08.22
Praise God for that.
00:28:08.25\00:28:09.95
But the Apostle Paul,
00:28:09.98\00:28:11.85
he could not keep himself
outside of this scenario.
00:28:11.89\00:28:14.89
Notice what he
says in Philippians 1:6,
00:28:14.92\00:28:17.63
he also contributes
to the faith of Jesus.
00:28:17.66\00:28:21.00
He says, my
brethren, in Philippians 1:6,
00:28:21.03\00:28:23.77
"Being confident
of this very thing,
00:28:23.80\00:28:27.54
that He who has
begun a good work in you,"
00:28:27.57\00:28:31.44
notice a
forward-looking word again,
00:28:31.47\00:28:33.38
"will complete it until
the day of Jesus Christ.
00:28:33.41\00:28:38.21
Oh, I love that phrase.
00:28:38.25\00:28:39.58
You see,
00:28:39.61\00:28:40.95
sometimes we
don't look like Christ.
00:28:40.98\00:28:43.28
Some days, we
don't sound like Christ.
00:28:43.32\00:28:45.99
Some days, we don't
behave like Christians.
00:28:46.02\00:28:49.12
Some days we don't
talk like Christians,
00:28:49.16\00:28:51.96
or maybe do things
as a Christian should.
00:28:51.99\00:28:54.63
But the Lord is saying,
I'm not done with you yet.
00:28:54.66\00:28:57.17
The work that I began
in you, I will complete it,
00:28:57.20\00:29:00.34
because I've got
a day of completion
00:29:00.37\00:29:02.27
that I focused on.
00:29:02.30\00:29:03.81
It's called the
day of Jesus Christ.
00:29:03.84\00:29:06.51
As the Apostle John says,
00:29:06.54\00:29:08.21
it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be.
00:29:08.24\00:29:10.55
But we do know that
when He is revealed,
00:29:10.58\00:29:13.55
we shall be like Him.
00:29:13.62\00:29:15.32
I want to tell
you, even as a pastor,
00:29:15.35\00:29:17.09
those words encouraged my heart.
00:29:17.12\00:29:19.65
Because no matter how
many sermons I preach,
00:29:19.69\00:29:21.89
I can't preach my
way into the kingdom.
00:29:21.92\00:29:24.46
I've got to get
under the grace of Christ.
00:29:24.49\00:29:26.63
I too must hold on
to the faith of Jesus.
00:29:26.70\00:29:29.43
I cannot rely on
the things of earth.
00:29:29.46\00:29:31.60
I too must walk the same path
that you walk with the patience
00:29:31.63\00:29:35.80
and the faith of the saints.
00:29:35.84\00:29:37.31
But I too must be obedient
to the commandments of God
00:29:37.34\00:29:40.51
because they are not separated
from patience and faith
00:29:40.58\00:29:43.98
connected to the saints
of God in the last days.
00:29:44.05\00:29:46.92
The Apostle Paul
continues to remind us
00:29:46.95\00:29:49.88
that the work
that Christ has started
00:29:49.92\00:29:51.75
will be completed.
00:29:51.79\00:29:54.06
Look at Romans 9:28.
00:29:54.09\00:29:56.49
Romans 9:28.
00:29:56.52\00:29:58.33
He says to us today,
00:29:58.36\00:30:00.10
"For He will finish the work
00:30:00.13\00:30:03.57
and cut it short
in righteousness,
00:30:03.60\00:30:06.84
because the Lord will make
a short work upon the earth."
00:30:06.87\00:30:12.37
I read that passage and
I said, "Thank You, Lord."
00:30:12.41\00:30:15.38
I couldn't take 200
more years of this stuff,
00:30:15.41\00:30:17.78
even though I
can't live for 200.
00:30:17.81\00:30:20.42
How much more can
you take, my brother?
00:30:20.45\00:30:23.25
How much more can
you take, my sister?
00:30:23.28\00:30:25.75
Find your comfort
00:30:25.79\00:30:27.46
in the words of
the Apostle Paul,
00:30:27.49\00:30:29.26
the Lord will make a
short work upon the earth.
00:30:29.29\00:30:33.70
It's going to get rough,
00:30:33.73\00:30:35.10
but the roughness
is going to be short,
00:30:35.13\00:30:37.27
the joy is
going to be permanent.
00:30:37.30\00:30:38.93
The joy, the blessings
are going to be eternal.
00:30:38.97\00:30:41.54
The rescue from
this planet in rebellion
00:30:41.57\00:30:44.71
is going to be
forever and forever.
00:30:44.74\00:30:48.11
God's going to finish
the work that He began,
00:30:48.14\00:30:50.38
He's going to cut it
short for righteousness sake,
00:30:50.45\00:30:53.45
and the Lord is going to make
a short work upon the earth.
00:30:53.52\00:30:56.89
That's why, friends, the
faith that resides in Jesus
00:30:56.92\00:31:00.76
will also reside in
His end times people.
00:31:00.79\00:31:04.03
Only the faith of
Jesus can sustain us
00:31:04.06\00:31:08.16
up to and through
the final conflict.
00:31:08.20\00:31:12.43
How do I know that?
00:31:12.47\00:31:13.84
There're lot of people
that have doctrinal integrity,
00:31:13.87\00:31:16.17
but let me make
it very clear today.
00:31:16.20\00:31:17.64
Doctrinal integrity is
not enough to sustain us.
00:31:17.67\00:31:21.11
We are not sustained
by academic attainments.
00:31:21.14\00:31:24.25
We are not sustained by
intellectual stimulation.
00:31:24.28\00:31:27.68
We are saved by
spiritual transformation.
00:31:27.72\00:31:31.79
And that only comes
through the faith of Jesus.
00:31:31.82\00:31:35.96
How does that happen?
00:31:35.99\00:31:37.96
Colossians 1:27
gives us a glimpse
00:31:37.99\00:31:41.83
into how
spiritual transformation
00:31:41.86\00:31:45.63
can get us ready for
the days that lie ahead.
00:31:45.67\00:31:48.90
The Apostle Paul
says in Colossians 1:27,
00:31:48.94\00:31:52.34
speaking about
the saints, He said,
00:31:52.37\00:31:54.48
"To them," notice the two words,
00:31:54.51\00:31:56.31
"God willed to make known
00:31:56.34\00:31:58.98
what are the riches of the glory
00:31:59.01\00:32:01.98
of this mystery
among the Gentiles,"
00:32:02.02\00:32:04.65
what is it,
"which is Christ in you,
00:32:04.69\00:32:08.19
the hope of glory."
00:32:08.22\00:32:10.13
I love that.
00:32:10.16\00:32:11.49
Not money in the
bank is our hope of glory,
00:32:11.53\00:32:14.40
not a stable paid
off real estate lot,
00:32:14.43\00:32:17.50
not a solid education,
00:32:17.57\00:32:19.23
or possessions
that we don't even have
00:32:19.27\00:32:21.50
the ability to keep track of.
00:32:21.54\00:32:22.97
What is it?
00:32:23.00\00:32:24.34
Christ in us is
the hope of glory.
00:32:24.37\00:32:26.31
Christ in your life,
Christ in your daily life,
00:32:26.34\00:32:29.98
Christ in your thoughts,
Christ in your actions,
00:32:30.05\00:32:33.11
Christ in the transformation
of your character.
00:32:33.15\00:32:35.85
And I know that we are not yet
00:32:35.88\00:32:37.22
where God knows
we're going to be,
00:32:37.29\00:32:38.82
but praise the Lord, we
are not where we used to be.
00:32:38.85\00:32:42.09
The faith of
Jesus is unrelenting,
00:32:42.12\00:32:45.36
is looking into the nooks
and crannies of our thoughts
00:32:45.39\00:32:47.70
and lives and actions
00:32:47.73\00:32:49.43
into our words
and deeds and saying
00:32:49.46\00:32:51.50
that we still
need to be chiseled,
00:32:51.53\00:32:53.64
we still need to be sanded down,
00:32:53.67\00:32:56.27
we still need to get ready
to one day look like Jesus.
00:32:56.30\00:33:01.08
In the book Desire of
Ages, page 677, paragraph one.
00:33:01.11\00:33:05.48
Notice these encouraging words.
00:33:05.51\00:33:07.92
We are told,
00:33:07.95\00:33:09.75
"The life of Christ in you
00:33:09.78\00:33:11.92
produces the
same fruit as in Him.
00:33:11.95\00:33:15.59
Living in Christ,
adhering to Christ,
00:33:15.62\00:33:19.23
supported by Christ,
00:33:19.26\00:33:21.43
drawing nourishment from Christ,
00:33:21.46\00:33:24.20
you bear fruit
00:33:24.27\00:33:25.60
after the similitude of Christ."
00:33:25.63\00:33:27.94
Notice, notice that statement,
00:33:27.97\00:33:30.24
adhering to
Christ, living in Christ,
00:33:30.31\00:33:32.41
supported by Christ,
00:33:32.44\00:33:33.78
drawing nourishment from Christ.
00:33:33.81\00:33:35.71
If Christ is your source,
00:33:35.74\00:33:38.45
it is impossible to have fruits
that's different from Christ.
00:33:38.48\00:33:42.12
If you are connected to Jesus,
00:33:42.15\00:33:43.82
it's impossible to be
anything but like Jesus.
00:33:43.89\00:33:48.19
That's where the
faith of Jesus is formed.
00:33:48.22\00:33:50.66
The faith of Jesus
is not formed in ease.
00:33:50.73\00:33:53.80
It was chiseled
through unjust accusations.
00:33:53.83\00:33:57.63
Jesus became pure
00:33:57.67\00:33:59.67
through the
furnace of affliction.
00:33:59.70\00:34:02.24
And the reality is,
00:34:02.27\00:34:03.91
some of us are
going to have to go
00:34:03.94\00:34:06.34
through the
furnace of affliction.
00:34:06.37\00:34:08.14
But don't fear the fire.
00:34:08.18\00:34:09.54
Just pray that
on the other side,
00:34:09.58\00:34:10.95
you come out like purified gold.
00:34:10.98\00:34:13.01
As one writer said,
00:34:13.05\00:34:14.42
"The refiners fire
00:34:14.45\00:34:16.15
has now become
my soul's desire."
00:34:16.18\00:34:18.85
And God has said
00:34:18.89\00:34:20.26
He's going to purify His church.
00:34:20.29\00:34:21.69
He's going to purify us
in the furnace of affliction,
00:34:21.72\00:34:24.59
not that He wants to burn us up,
00:34:24.63\00:34:27.33
but He wants to
ignite our lights.
00:34:27.40\00:34:29.23
He wants to clean us up.
00:34:29.26\00:34:30.80
He wants to remove from
us every sense of impurity,
00:34:30.87\00:34:34.40
getting ready to
exhibit to the world,
00:34:34.44\00:34:37.34
the faith of Jesus.
00:34:37.41\00:34:40.98
That's why on the heels
00:34:41.01\00:34:42.34
of the most urgent
messages to humanity,
00:34:42.38\00:34:45.45
the three angels' messages,
00:34:45.48\00:34:47.05
Revelation
paints a vivid picture
00:34:47.12\00:34:49.12
of those that stand on
the podium of the victory.
00:34:49.15\00:34:53.19
Those that gain victory
over the mark of the beast,
00:34:53.22\00:34:57.06
over his name, over his number.
00:34:57.13\00:34:59.83
Those that gain the
victory over everything
00:34:59.86\00:35:03.60
that Satan has thrown their way.
00:35:03.67\00:35:06.07
How do they gain victory?
00:35:06.10\00:35:07.44
Because they have on
the whole armor of God.
00:35:07.47\00:35:10.24
How did they gain the victory?
00:35:10.31\00:35:11.64
Not because they
fought their way through,
00:35:11.67\00:35:13.14
but they put themselves
in the presence of Christ
00:35:13.17\00:35:16.04
and every battle
that the saint go
00:35:16.08\00:35:18.41
through the battle
belongs to the Lord.
00:35:18.45\00:35:21.42
But when we stand
00:35:21.45\00:35:22.78
on the podium of
the final victory,
00:35:22.82\00:35:24.92
you will find standing there
00:35:24.95\00:35:26.76
those that are resolute
in a vacillating society.
00:35:26.79\00:35:30.53
Today, they are a
vivid representation
00:35:30.56\00:35:34.43
in a vacillating society.
00:35:34.46\00:35:36.53
They are a vivid representation
00:35:36.56\00:35:38.27
of those that are
sold out to Jesus Christ.
00:35:38.30\00:35:40.94
They are categorically
00:35:40.97\00:35:42.64
and undeniably
soldiers of an eternal kingdom,
00:35:42.67\00:35:47.28
unashamed of the
gospel of Jesus Christ,
00:35:47.31\00:35:50.35
unapologetic for the
truth as it is in Jesus Christ,
00:35:50.38\00:35:55.42
undaunted by the heckling
of Satan's fiercest allies.
00:35:55.45\00:36:01.52
One day, friends, reverberating
00:36:01.56\00:36:03.63
through
limitless space and time,
00:36:03.66\00:36:05.96
you'll find a description
of God's elite soldiers
00:36:05.99\00:36:11.10
covered by the faith of Jesus.
00:36:11.13\00:36:13.64
Come with me.
00:36:13.67\00:36:15.00
Let's peek behind the curtain
00:36:15.04\00:36:16.37
and see how the
Bible introduces them.
00:36:16.40\00:36:19.24
Revelation Chapter 14,
00:36:19.27\00:36:21.24
we find verse 4 and 5
gives us a description
00:36:21.28\00:36:24.25
of God's elite soldiers.
00:36:24.28\00:36:26.05
"These are the ones
00:36:26.08\00:36:27.68
who were not defiled with women,
00:36:27.72\00:36:30.02
for the Bible says,
for they are virgins.
00:36:30.09\00:36:32.25
These are the ones who follow
the Lamb wherever He goes.
00:36:32.29\00:36:36.56
These were
redeemed from among men,
00:36:36.59\00:36:39.76
being firstfruits
of God and to the Lamb.
00:36:39.79\00:36:44.00
And in their mouth
was found no deceit,
00:36:44.07\00:36:48.27
for they are without
fault before the throne of God."
00:36:48.30\00:36:53.88
What does all that mean?
00:36:53.91\00:36:56.28
What does that mean?
00:36:56.31\00:36:57.65
These are the ones
heaven's quiet professionals
00:36:57.68\00:37:02.42
that are quiet no longer.
00:37:02.45\00:37:04.62
Their lives and their
lips reveal and proclaim
00:37:04.65\00:37:08.36
the faith of Jesus
to a crumbling world.
00:37:08.39\00:37:11.03
You know what, friends,
I want to be in that group.
00:37:11.06\00:37:13.60
I want to be a part of those
00:37:13.63\00:37:14.96
when the world is
looking for light,
00:37:15.00\00:37:16.50
that they can turn to my life
00:37:16.53\00:37:17.87
and see that
God's light is shining
00:37:17.90\00:37:20.34
through my actions,
00:37:20.37\00:37:21.70
that God's light is
shining through the way I live,
00:37:21.74\00:37:24.64
through the things I say,
00:37:24.67\00:37:26.78
through the way
that I exemplify myself
00:37:26.81\00:37:29.21
in a shaking society,
00:37:29.24\00:37:30.75
that I will remain
unmoved in an unstable world.
00:37:30.78\00:37:35.32
No longer quiet,
00:37:35.35\00:37:36.79
but looking for opportunities
00:37:36.82\00:37:38.62
to proclaim
goodness to the Lord.
00:37:38.65\00:37:40.86
Recently, I was on the elevator.
00:37:40.89\00:37:43.09
In a town, I won't
tell you exactly where.
00:37:43.12\00:37:46.16
But I was going to meet my wife
who was getting her hair done.
00:37:46.19\00:37:50.47
And as I entered the elevator,
00:37:50.50\00:37:52.27
there was a young
lady on the elevator.
00:37:52.30\00:37:54.60
And I was singing a song
00:37:54.64\00:37:56.40
in preparation for
my sermon that night.
00:37:56.44\00:37:58.54
But I was singing I
guess a little loudly
00:37:58.57\00:38:00.38
and people that
were waiting in the foyer
00:38:00.41\00:38:01.81
for the elevator heard it.
00:38:01.84\00:38:03.55
And when she
stepped on the elevator,
00:38:03.58\00:38:04.91
she says was that you
singing and I caught myself.
00:38:04.95\00:38:07.52
I thought I had
gotten to the ground floor.
00:38:07.55\00:38:08.98
But I just gotten to one floor
below where I was standing.
00:38:09.02\00:38:12.22
And she said that
was a lovely song.
00:38:12.25\00:38:14.79
What song was that?
00:38:14.82\00:38:16.16
And I said, well, it's a song
I wrote entitled, never alone.
00:38:16.19\00:38:18.59
And tonight I'm
going to be talking
00:38:18.63\00:38:20.10
to young people,
00:38:20.13\00:38:21.46
encouraging them to
give their lives to Jesus.
00:38:21.50\00:38:24.27
And she looked at me
and I had my glasses on.
00:38:24.30\00:38:26.23
She said, "Oh, the
moment I looked at you,
00:38:26.27\00:38:28.64
I realized I forgot my glasses."
00:38:28.67\00:38:30.31
And when she turned,
00:38:30.34\00:38:32.07
I saw printed on her
mask on her COVID mask,
00:38:32.11\00:38:36.58
Church of Satan on her mask.
00:38:36.61\00:38:41.58
And I said,
00:38:41.62\00:38:43.49
"Does it say
agnostic Church of Satan
00:38:43.52\00:38:46.25
on your mask?
00:38:46.29\00:38:47.66
She said, "Yes."
00:38:47.69\00:38:49.02
She says, "I'm a member
of the Church of Satan."
00:38:49.06\00:38:50.56
And immediately in
my mind, I said, boom,
00:38:50.63\00:38:53.80
witnessing opportunity,
witnessing opportunity.
00:38:53.83\00:38:56.90
And I said to her,
00:38:56.97\00:38:58.30
"How can I find out
more about what that means?"
00:38:58.33\00:39:00.97
And she said,
"You want to find out?"
00:39:01.00\00:39:02.34
I said, "Well,
how can I find out?"
00:39:02.37\00:39:03.71
Well, we made it
to the ground floor.
00:39:03.74\00:39:05.64
And I said, "What's your email?"
00:39:05.67\00:39:07.01
I got an email.
00:39:07.08\00:39:08.71
"What's your
name?" I got her name.
00:39:08.74\00:39:10.88
And I spoke to the local pastor,
00:39:10.95\00:39:12.28
a good friend of
mine, Pastor John Stanton.
00:39:12.31\00:39:14.32
And I said, I
got an email for you
00:39:14.35\00:39:15.68
and I got a name.
00:39:15.72\00:39:17.09
I believe that that young lady
00:39:17.12\00:39:18.62
became a member of
the Church of Satan
00:39:18.65\00:39:20.49
because she had never
had an encounter with the man
00:39:20.56\00:39:22.76
called Jesus.
00:39:22.79\00:39:24.16
You see,
friends, in the last days,
00:39:24.23\00:39:26.53
God does not
need quiet soldiers.
00:39:26.56\00:39:29.83
God is not looking
for quiet professionals.
00:39:29.86\00:39:32.93
God is looking for those
that are willing to speak up
00:39:32.97\00:39:36.37
and to speak up
for the kingdom of God
00:39:36.40\00:39:38.67
to know that in this war,
00:39:38.71\00:39:41.21
in this final battle,
00:39:41.24\00:39:42.78
there are those that
still need to be rescued.
00:39:42.81\00:39:47.02
Satan is trying to
claim precious lives.
00:39:47.05\00:39:50.32
And God is saying,
00:39:50.39\00:39:51.72
"Let my faith in
your life means something.
00:39:51.75\00:39:54.72
Don't be ashamed of the gospel."
00:39:54.76\00:39:56.62
What does it mean when it says
00:39:56.66\00:39:57.99
they were not
defiled with women?
00:39:58.03\00:39:59.79
That means they
were not corrupted
00:39:59.83\00:40:01.20
by false doctrines.
00:40:01.23\00:40:02.83
They were not corrupted
00:40:02.86\00:40:04.20
by those who aim for
popularity and financial gain.
00:40:04.27\00:40:07.84
They were a part of the remnant.
00:40:07.87\00:40:10.14
They take their
stand with a message
00:40:10.21\00:40:12.21
that infuriates and
frustrates Satan's dark kingdom.
00:40:12.24\00:40:17.05
That's why they
are virgins, undefiled.
00:40:17.08\00:40:19.48
The Bible says
00:40:19.51\00:40:20.85
they were not
defiled with women.
00:40:20.92\00:40:22.45
But it also says
for they are virgins,
00:40:22.48\00:40:23.99
what does that mean?
00:40:24.02\00:40:25.85
They are true to one man alone.
00:40:25.89\00:40:29.89
They remain loyal to
no one other than the man,
00:40:29.92\00:40:33.29
Christ Jesus.
00:40:33.33\00:40:34.73
They are impenetrable.
00:40:34.76\00:40:37.07
They have on armor that
cannot be broken through.
00:40:37.10\00:40:39.20
Why?
00:40:39.23\00:40:40.57
Because the faith of
Jesus is their shield.
00:40:40.64\00:40:44.31
They are virgins,
00:40:44.34\00:40:46.71
meaning they
have been undefiled.
00:40:46.78\00:40:49.04
They listen to a
thus saith the Lord,
00:40:49.08\00:40:51.18
they trust God's
Word and God's Word alone.
00:40:51.21\00:40:54.05
Their minds are
not a dumping ground
00:40:54.12\00:40:56.08
for philosophy and ideologies
00:40:56.12\00:40:58.75
that conflict with
a thus saith the Lord.
00:40:58.79\00:41:02.29
But to understand what's ahead,
00:41:02.32\00:41:05.86
we've got to look
at what's behind us.
00:41:05.89\00:41:07.70
You see, the faith of
Jesus is the ingredient
00:41:07.73\00:41:10.87
that separates
failure in our past
00:41:10.90\00:41:13.94
from success in our
present and in our future.
00:41:13.97\00:41:16.81
But how do we get that success?
00:41:16.84\00:41:18.54
Where do we find that success?
00:41:18.57\00:41:20.48
How does that success lead us
to develop the faith of Jesus?
00:41:20.51\00:41:24.15
Notice the words
of the Apostle John
00:41:24.18\00:41:26.25
in 1 John 5:4,
00:41:26.28\00:41:28.08
notice what he says.
00:41:28.12\00:41:29.95
"For whoever is
born of God," John says,
00:41:29.98\00:41:33.36
"overcomes the world.
00:41:33.39\00:41:35.76
And this is the victory
that has overcome the world,
00:41:35.79\00:41:40.13
our faith."
00:41:40.20\00:41:41.53
Wow, did you get that?
00:41:41.56\00:41:42.90
The victory that
overcomes the world,
00:41:42.93\00:41:45.80
simply two words, our faith.
00:41:45.83\00:41:48.74
I've been talking
about the faith of Jesus.
00:41:48.77\00:41:50.61
But how does the faith
of Jesus become our faith?
00:41:50.64\00:41:54.18
Simply put, we
become His children.
00:41:54.21\00:41:56.95
If He is our Father,
and we're His children,
00:41:56.98\00:41:59.48
we become instant inheritors
00:41:59.51\00:42:01.28
of what
rightfully belongs to Christ.
00:42:01.32\00:42:04.42
We become instant
inheritors of His righteousness.
00:42:04.45\00:42:07.26
So therefore, His
faith now removes our faith,
00:42:07.29\00:42:10.03
our faith is
replaced by His faith.
00:42:10.06\00:42:13.13
And that is an overcoming faith
00:42:13.16\00:42:15.76
because those in
the hall of faith
00:42:15.80\00:42:18.20
were members of
these special forces.
00:42:18.23\00:42:20.97
When you read the Bible,
00:42:21.00\00:42:22.34
you discover that
throughout the ages,
00:42:22.37\00:42:24.61
from the beginning
of time to the present,
00:42:24.64\00:42:26.61
there are those that
chose not to be sold out,
00:42:26.68\00:42:29.98
there are those that said
00:42:30.05\00:42:31.38
regardless of
the call of the wild,
00:42:31.41\00:42:34.12
regardless of the
call of the enemy,
00:42:34.15\00:42:36.35
regardless of the
agenda of society,
00:42:36.38\00:42:38.75
I'm going to stand firmly.
00:42:38.79\00:42:40.86
And heaven introduces
these unvacillating soldiers
00:42:40.89\00:42:46.03
in a single statement
00:42:46.06\00:42:47.43
in the Book of
Hebrews Chapter 11.
00:42:47.50\00:42:49.33
Let's look at verse
1, the hall of faith,
00:42:49.36\00:42:52.23
the members of
the special forces,
00:42:52.27\00:42:54.24
the faith of Jesus, the
Bible says, who are they?
00:42:54.27\00:42:57.41
"Now, faith," Hebrews 11:1,
00:42:57.44\00:43:00.51
"is the substance
of things hoped for,
00:43:00.58\00:43:02.91
the evidence of
things not seen."
00:43:02.94\00:43:06.92
Let me make it very
clear, my brothers and sisters.
00:43:06.95\00:43:09.18
Faith is not
developed in the checkout line.
00:43:09.22\00:43:12.12
It is developed by
daily training your mind
00:43:12.15\00:43:14.86
in God's Word.
00:43:14.89\00:43:16.22
As Romans 10:17,
says, look at what it says.
00:43:16.26\00:43:19.43
"So then faith comes by hearing,
00:43:19.46\00:43:22.20
and hearing by the word of God."
00:43:22.23\00:43:24.37
You cannot have faith
without studying God's word.
00:43:24.40\00:43:26.97
You cannot be
ready for what's coming
00:43:27.04\00:43:28.47
unless your mind is
being molded by a plain
00:43:28.50\00:43:31.24
thus saith the Lord.
00:43:31.27\00:43:32.84
And finally,
00:43:32.87\00:43:34.21
when everything else
around us is failing,
00:43:34.28\00:43:35.81
only the
authenticity of God's Word,
00:43:35.84\00:43:39.51
the veracity of God's Word,
00:43:39.55\00:43:41.62
the surety of God's
Word will sustain us
00:43:41.65\00:43:44.75
through the
trials and the battles
00:43:44.79\00:43:46.12
just ahead of us.
00:43:46.15\00:43:47.49
In Great
Controversy, 1888 edition,
00:43:47.56\00:43:50.36
page 593, paragraph 2,
00:43:50.43\00:43:52.29
listen to what Ellen White says.
00:43:52.33\00:43:54.03
She says, notice,
00:43:54.10\00:43:55.70
"None but those
who have fortified
00:43:55.73\00:43:58.67
the mind with the
truths of the Bible
00:43:58.70\00:44:00.94
will stand
00:44:00.97\00:44:02.30
through the
last great conflict."
00:44:02.34\00:44:04.81
Notice she says none.
00:44:04.84\00:44:06.57
But those who
have fortified the mind
00:44:06.61\00:44:09.04
with the truths of
the Bible will stand
00:44:09.08\00:44:10.95
through the last great conflict.
00:44:10.98\00:44:12.98
Notice what she didn't say.
00:44:13.01\00:44:14.35
She didn't say none, but
those who own a Bible, no.
00:44:14.38\00:44:17.62
You can have a box of
cereal and starve to death
00:44:17.65\00:44:20.16
if you don't eat it.
00:44:20.19\00:44:21.52
You can have
nutritious food surrounding you
00:44:21.56\00:44:24.23
and die emaciated,
00:44:24.26\00:44:26.63
because you
refuse to allow your body
00:44:26.70\00:44:28.63
to be affected
00:44:28.66\00:44:30.00
by ingesting that
which will give you strength.
00:44:30.07\00:44:32.50
What am I saying?
00:44:32.53\00:44:33.87
When God's Word is studied,
00:44:33.94\00:44:35.67
you begin to develop a
faith and a walk with God
00:44:35.70\00:44:38.17
that will not be
developed any other way.
00:44:38.21\00:44:40.68
That's why the Book of
Hebrews is the hall of faith.
00:44:40.71\00:44:43.58
It talks about those
whose faith carry them
00:44:43.65\00:44:46.95
through the most trying times.
00:44:47.02\00:44:48.45
Now why do I
think that's important?
00:44:48.48\00:44:50.79
Because there were
difficulties in the past.
00:44:50.82\00:44:53.36
When we look
00:44:53.39\00:44:54.72
at the
determination of their faith,
00:44:54.76\00:44:56.19
we find courage for those things
00:44:56.22\00:44:57.86
that are yet ahead of us.
00:44:57.89\00:44:59.23
Look at Hebrews 11:32-40,
00:44:59.26\00:45:02.13
what a powerful retinue
00:45:02.16\00:45:03.77
of those who stood firmly
00:45:03.80\00:45:05.23
and they had the faith of Jesus.
00:45:05.27\00:45:07.64
The Bible says,
"What more shall I say?
00:45:07.67\00:45:10.91
For the time would fail me
00:45:10.94\00:45:12.51
to tell of Gideon and
Barak and Samson and Jephthah,
00:45:12.54\00:45:15.51
also of David and
Samuel and the prophets:
00:45:15.54\00:45:18.51
who through
faith subdued kingdoms,
00:45:18.55\00:45:20.95
worked righteousness,
obtained promises,
00:45:20.98\00:45:24.19
stopped the mouths of lions."
00:45:24.22\00:45:26.25
Verse 34, "Quenched
the violence of fire,
00:45:26.29\00:45:29.49
escaped the edge of the sword,
00:45:29.52\00:45:31.26
out of weakness
were made strong,
00:45:31.29\00:45:33.19
became valiant in battle,
00:45:33.23\00:45:35.43
turned to flight the
armies of the aliens."
00:45:35.46\00:45:38.10
Verse 35,
00:45:38.13\00:45:39.47
"Women received their
dead raised to life again.
00:45:39.50\00:45:42.90
Others were tortured,
00:45:42.94\00:45:45.71
not accepting deliverance," why?
00:45:45.74\00:45:48.04
"That they might
obtain a better resurrection."
00:45:48.08\00:45:51.18
But it keeps going.
00:45:51.21\00:45:52.55
Verse 36,
"Still others had trial
00:45:52.58\00:45:54.78
of mockings and scourgings, yes,
00:45:54.82\00:45:57.19
and of chains and imprisonment.
00:45:57.22\00:45:58.95
They were stoned,
they were sawn in two,
00:45:58.99\00:46:01.92
were tempted and
slain with the sword.
00:46:01.96\00:46:03.86
They wandered about in
sheepskins and goatskins,
00:46:03.93\00:46:06.93
being destitute,
afflicted, tormented."
00:46:07.00\00:46:10.67
Verse 38,
00:46:10.70\00:46:12.03
"Of whom the
world was not worthy.
00:46:12.07\00:46:14.27
They wandered in
deserts and mountains,
00:46:14.30\00:46:16.50
in dens and caves of the earth."
00:46:16.54\00:46:18.74
And finally, verse 39,
00:46:18.77\00:46:20.91
"And all these,
00:46:20.98\00:46:22.31
having obtained a good testimony
00:46:22.34\00:46:24.71
through faith,
00:46:24.75\00:46:26.08
did not receive the promise."
00:46:26.11\00:46:27.65
And look at verse 40.
00:46:27.68\00:46:29.45
"God having promised
something better for us,
00:46:29.48\00:46:33.66
that they should not be
made perfect apart from us."
00:46:33.69\00:46:37.89
What a list.
00:46:37.93\00:46:39.69
What a list of people
that went through stuff.
00:46:39.73\00:46:43.03
Now get this.
00:46:43.06\00:46:44.40
If they can go through that,
00:46:44.43\00:46:46.60
and wait for a
better resurrection,
00:46:46.63\00:46:48.37
my brethren, you
haven't seen anything yet.
00:46:48.40\00:46:50.51
You haven't been sawn into,
00:46:50.54\00:46:51.87
you haven't been
imprisoned and chains and stoned
00:46:51.91\00:46:54.54
and walking around in
goatskins and destitute,
00:46:54.58\00:46:58.25
we haven't seen anything yet.
00:46:58.28\00:46:59.71
But God is saying,
00:46:59.75\00:47:01.22
if you can look
back and find soldiers
00:47:01.25\00:47:03.69
that endured the
things of the past,
00:47:03.72\00:47:05.72
oh, my brother, the same God,
00:47:05.75\00:47:07.56
they trusted in the
same God you can trust
00:47:07.59\00:47:09.62
and the same one
00:47:09.66\00:47:10.99
that gave them
strength to hang on
00:47:11.03\00:47:12.99
is the same Christ
00:47:13.03\00:47:14.36
that could give you
strength to hang on today.
00:47:14.40\00:47:16.36
What kind of
faith that they have?
00:47:16.40\00:47:17.93
A faith that look
00:47:17.97\00:47:19.30
beyond the trial to the triumph.
00:47:19.33\00:47:21.57
A faith that look
beyond the persecution
00:47:21.60\00:47:24.31
to the
preparation of the celebration
00:47:24.34\00:47:26.34
of faith that
refuse to lay down,
00:47:26.37\00:47:28.41
they stood up
00:47:28.44\00:47:29.78
in spite of what
could happen to their lives.
00:47:29.81\00:47:33.72
But in the closing
scenes of the kingdom,
00:47:33.75\00:47:36.55
Jesus is looking for that group,
00:47:36.58\00:47:38.39
once again,
00:47:38.42\00:47:39.75
those that refuse to turn back
00:47:39.79\00:47:41.69
in the face of
sacrifice and challenge.
00:47:41.72\00:47:45.59
Those that know
00:47:45.63\00:47:47.00
that beyond the
valley of shadows,
00:47:47.03\00:47:48.93
awaits the house of the Lord,
00:47:48.96\00:47:51.60
where we will
have joys forevermore,
00:47:51.63\00:47:54.80
those that realize
00:47:54.84\00:47:56.17
that hardship is a short season.
00:47:56.20\00:47:59.14
But heavenly joy is eternal.
00:47:59.17\00:48:02.18
Praise God for that.
00:48:02.21\00:48:03.55
I'm looking
forward to those days.
00:48:03.58\00:48:04.98
I'm looking forward
to the greater thing
00:48:05.01\00:48:07.02
that's on the horizon.
00:48:07.05\00:48:08.55
I'm telling you today.
00:48:08.58\00:48:10.22
Yes, there's COVID-19.
00:48:10.29\00:48:12.02
Yes, there is
instability in the economy.
00:48:12.05\00:48:15.19
Yes, in the minds of
some they still don't know
00:48:15.22\00:48:18.09
who the next president is.
00:48:18.13\00:48:19.46
But I want to tell you today,
00:48:19.49\00:48:20.83
I know who's on the
throne of the kingdom of God.
00:48:20.90\00:48:23.16
I know who's
interceding for me today.
00:48:23.20\00:48:25.30
And His name will never change.
00:48:25.33\00:48:27.64
He is the only victorious one
00:48:27.67\00:48:30.71
that I need to
remain connected to.
00:48:30.74\00:48:33.14
And I find these words
00:48:33.17\00:48:35.14
in a very inspired
text from Ellen White,
00:48:35.18\00:48:39.08
she says in the book
Bible Training School,
00:48:39.11\00:48:40.98
March 1, 1909, paragraph three.
00:48:41.02\00:48:43.89
Listen to what she
says. Paragraph three.
00:48:43.92\00:48:46.29
She says, "I am sure
00:48:46.32\00:48:48.82
Satan with his hellish agencies,
00:48:48.86\00:48:51.23
is striving his best to
dishearten and discourage,
00:48:51.26\00:48:55.20
but we must not be discouraged,
neither must we fail.
00:48:55.23\00:49:00.14
We must suffer loss
and be spoken against,
00:49:00.17\00:49:03.44
and have false
witness born against us,
00:49:03.51\00:49:06.34
and take it
patiently for Christ's sake.
00:49:06.37\00:49:09.78
One thing is sure,"
she says, "God is true."
00:49:09.81\00:49:13.72
Amen for that.
00:49:13.75\00:49:15.18
"We may lean heavily upon Him,
00:49:15.22\00:49:17.39
and we shall not become confused
00:49:17.42\00:49:19.22
amid the Babel of voices.
00:49:19.25\00:49:21.42
We must put on
armor, and keep it on.
00:49:21.46\00:49:25.36
Then what?
00:49:25.39\00:49:26.73
Fight manfully," she
says, "the battles of the Lord,
00:49:26.80\00:49:30.30
and having done
all," I love this,
00:49:30.37\00:49:32.53
"stand ready for
another conflict.
00:49:32.57\00:49:35.84
We must keep in harmony,
taking the whole armor of God.
00:49:35.87\00:49:40.88
We must have increased
faith and move forward,
00:49:40.91\00:49:46.72
carrying this banner
of truth," and what is it?
00:49:46.75\00:49:50.49
The commandments of God
and the faith of Jesus."
00:49:50.52\00:49:55.89
Boy, that's a mouthful,
but I hope you didn't miss it.
00:49:55.92\00:49:59.33
What are we being told
00:49:59.36\00:50:00.70
is these are not ordinary times.
00:50:00.73\00:50:03.50
These times call for a
faith far beyond ordinary faith.
00:50:03.57\00:50:08.67
These times call
00:50:08.70\00:50:10.04
for the
calibration of our mission,
00:50:10.11\00:50:12.17
for the
sharpening of our vision,
00:50:12.21\00:50:14.08
for the recommitment
00:50:14.11\00:50:15.54
to an agenda
that will never fail.
00:50:15.58\00:50:17.91
These are not ordinary times.
00:50:17.95\00:50:20.05
But neither is
Jesus an ordinary God.
00:50:20.12\00:50:22.88
He is the same
yesterday, today and forever.
00:50:22.92\00:50:25.65
And when we think about Christ,
we can say, in Christ alone,
00:50:25.69\00:50:30.83
I place my trust,
00:50:30.86\00:50:32.59
in Christ alone I have
that blessed assurance.
00:50:32.63\00:50:36.46
No other one but Jesus.
00:50:36.50\00:50:38.77
Friends, the day is coming,
00:50:38.80\00:50:40.84
when we are going to be
able to stand before Christ
00:50:40.87\00:50:42.90
and say thank you for
fighting the battle for me.
00:50:42.94\00:50:45.87
I'm going to invite Tim to come
00:50:45.91\00:50:47.71
and I'm going to
invite Ryan to come.
00:50:47.74\00:50:49.51
And as you're listening
to the song, in Christ alone,
00:50:49.54\00:50:52.78
I pray today that
you will be thinking,
00:50:52.81\00:50:55.12
what can I do?
00:50:55.15\00:50:56.89
How can I find my
anchor in the faith of Jesus?
00:50:56.92\00:51:00.86
How can the Spirit of
God move me to be obedient
00:51:00.89\00:51:05.19
to the cross of Christ?
00:51:05.23\00:51:06.80
In Christ alone,
00:51:06.83\00:51:08.96
that's the only
place that we will find
00:51:09.00\00:51:12.07
the victory that is awaiting us.
00:51:12.10\00:51:13.97
Listen to the words of the song
00:51:14.04\00:51:15.97
and after the song
00:51:16.00\00:51:17.34
I'm going to have an
appeal for you stay by.
00:51:17.41\00:51:19.61
I want you to know that
before this broadcast is done,
00:51:19.64\00:51:22.51
there's something
today that you must do.
00:51:22.54\00:51:25.01
Listen to the words of the song,
00:51:25.05\00:51:26.95
"In Christ Alone."
00:51:27.02\00:51:28.35
In Christ alone will I glory
00:51:33.46\00:51:38.06
Though I could pride
myself in battles won
00:51:38.09\00:51:44.43
For I've been
blessed beyond measure
00:51:44.47\00:51:48.74
And by His strength alone
00:51:48.77\00:51:51.57
I overcome
00:51:51.61\00:51:56.11
Oh, I could stop
and count successes
00:51:56.14\00:52:00.95
Like diamonds in my hands
00:52:00.98\00:52:06.25
But those
trophies could not equal
00:52:06.29\00:52:10.03
To the grace by which I stand
00:52:10.06\00:52:16.50
In Christ
alone, I place my trust
00:52:16.53\00:52:23.51
And find my glory
00:52:23.54\00:52:25.71
In the power of the Cross
00:52:25.74\00:52:30.75
In every victory,
00:52:30.78\00:52:34.72
Let it be said of me
00:52:34.75\00:52:38.95
My source of strength
00:52:38.99\00:52:42.36
My source of
hope is Christ alone
00:52:42.39\00:52:49.33
In Christ alone will I glory
00:52:52.57\00:52:57.01
For only by His grace
00:52:57.04\00:52:59.94
I am redeemed
00:52:59.97\00:53:03.65
Only His tender mercy
00:53:03.68\00:53:07.75
Could reach beyond my weakness
00:53:07.78\00:53:10.69
To my need
00:53:10.72\00:53:15.06
Now I seek no greater honor
00:53:15.09\00:53:20.10
Than just to know Him more
00:53:20.13\00:53:25.10
And to count my gains and losses
00:53:25.13\00:53:28.80
To the glory of my Lord
00:53:28.84\00:53:35.41
In Christ alone
00:53:35.44\00:53:38.98
I place my trust
00:53:39.01\00:53:42.62
And find my glory
00:53:42.65\00:53:44.79
In the power of the Cross
00:53:44.82\00:53:49.76
In every victory
00:53:49.79\00:53:53.80
Let it be said of me
00:53:53.83\00:53:57.90
My source of
strength, my source of hope
00:53:57.93\00:54:04.24
In Christ alone
00:54:04.31\00:54:08.11
I place my trust
00:54:08.14\00:54:11.78
And find my glory
00:54:11.81\00:54:13.75
In the power of the Cross
00:54:13.82\00:54:18.99
In every victory
00:54:19.02\00:54:23.02
Let it be said of me
00:54:23.06\00:54:27.40
My source of strength
00:54:27.43\00:54:30.87
My source of hope
00:54:30.90\00:54:33.67
Is Christ alone
00:54:33.74\00:54:38.11
My source of strength
00:54:38.14\00:54:41.74
My source of hope
00:54:41.78\00:54:45.75
Is Christ alone.
00:54:49.02\00:54:55.99
Amen.
00:55:01.00\00:55:02.33
What a powerful
testimony, in Christ alone,
00:55:02.36\00:55:06.03
my brothers and sisters.
00:55:06.07\00:55:09.14
Thank you, Ryan. Thank you, Tim.
00:55:09.17\00:55:11.84
That's our declaration.
00:55:11.87\00:55:13.61
How are you going to
have the faith of Jesus?
00:55:13.68\00:55:16.11
The answer was in the song,
the answer was in the message,
00:55:16.14\00:55:19.35
in Christ alone.
00:55:19.38\00:55:22.75
I want to say that again.
00:55:22.78\00:55:24.99
Because in this nation
00:55:25.02\00:55:26.35
that still split
on so many levels,
00:55:26.39\00:55:28.99
it has even affected the church
00:55:29.02\00:55:30.36
where people and the environment
00:55:30.43\00:55:33.29
that has shaped the
way that society thinks,
00:55:33.33\00:55:36.67
has poured also in the minds
00:55:36.70\00:55:38.27
of many of our
church attending members.
00:55:38.30\00:55:41.70
They've lost their
compass, they are angry,
00:55:41.74\00:55:45.44
they're frustrated,
00:55:45.47\00:55:46.81
because they have forgotten
00:55:46.88\00:55:48.31
that there's only one agenda
that we must remain true to.
00:55:48.34\00:55:50.85
That's the agenda of Christ.
00:55:50.88\00:55:52.78
The unchanging Word of God.
00:55:52.81\00:55:55.35
It's time to put down politics.
00:55:55.38\00:55:58.15
It's time to put down
the things of the world
00:55:58.19\00:56:00.76
that are designed to do nothing,
00:56:00.79\00:56:02.52
but distract us
00:56:02.56\00:56:04.69
and give our hearts
and minds to Christ again.
00:56:04.73\00:56:07.50
It's time to be a
people of reconciliation,
00:56:07.53\00:56:10.27
to not be a person on the
left, or person on the right,
00:56:10.30\00:56:14.40
but to recognize that
on the wings of the eagles,
00:56:14.44\00:56:17.11
both wings are
needed for us to soar
00:56:17.14\00:56:21.54
on the glory of the
righteousness of Jesus.
00:56:21.58\00:56:26.11
I was listening
recently about an article
00:56:26.15\00:56:28.15
that one pastor said,
00:56:28.18\00:56:30.39
I'm a purple pastor,
the Christian color purple,
00:56:30.42\00:56:33.86
a purple pastor
preaching to blue Christians
00:56:33.89\00:56:36.46
and red Christians.
00:56:36.49\00:56:37.89
He says, "What can I do?"
00:56:37.93\00:56:40.00
And the thought came to my mind,
00:56:40.03\00:56:41.86
well, if the color of
Christianity is purple,
00:56:41.90\00:56:45.30
and the color of
one party is blue,
00:56:45.33\00:56:47.04
and the color of
the other party is red,
00:56:47.07\00:56:48.94
if you merge
blue and red together,
00:56:48.97\00:56:51.14
you get the color purple.
00:56:51.17\00:56:53.98
What am I saying?
00:56:54.01\00:56:55.34
My brothers and sisters,
abandon the left and the right,
00:56:55.38\00:56:58.05
and stand with
the man in the middle.
00:56:58.08\00:56:59.85
His name is Jesus.
00:56:59.88\00:57:01.35
These are not ordinary times,
00:57:01.38\00:57:03.89
but we don't
serve an ordinary God.
00:57:03.92\00:57:05.89
In Revelation 14:12
reminds us once again,
00:57:05.92\00:57:08.26
when it's all over and
it's all said and done,
00:57:08.29\00:57:11.16
here is the
patience of the saints.
00:57:11.19\00:57:13.60
Here are they that
keep the commandments of God
00:57:13.63\00:57:15.83
and the faith of Jesus.
00:57:15.86\00:57:17.47
May you pray for
the faith of Jesus
00:57:17.50\00:57:20.34
and do your part,
00:57:20.37\00:57:21.70
that when Jesus comes
you will be in the armor
00:57:21.74\00:57:25.04
of none other than
the faith of Jesus.
00:57:25.07\00:57:28.74
God bless you.
00:57:28.78\00:57:30.15