1 00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:04,500 Good evening to our U EC church family and to anybody else that 2 00:00:04,500 --> 00:00:06,400 might be joining us on this live stream. 3 00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:10,100 We trust that you are in the comfort of your homes and that 4 00:00:10,100 --> 00:00:14,500 you are safe and well, in Jesus name, I'm standing where we 5 00:00:14,500 --> 00:00:19,800 usually have our Friday night bible study, but with one big 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,400 difference. You're missing. 7 00:00:24,100 --> 00:00:28,300 I'm standing in an empty room staring into a lens, and this is 8 00:00:28,300 --> 00:00:30,600 quite an experience for myself so far. 9 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,700 And I want to emphasize that tonight, you are greatly missed. 10 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,000 There is an absence of the voices, of wholehearted 11 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,700 worshipers of God, who sing unto the Lord tonight. 12 00:00:43,700 --> 00:00:47,300 There is missing the sound of the collective pages of Bibles 13 00:00:47,300 --> 00:00:52,000 being flipped back and forth. And there will not be a time of 14 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,700 face-to-face Fellowship. Like we are used to even into 15 00:00:54,700 --> 00:00:59,100 the late hours of the night. I don't say this to discourage 16 00:00:59,100 --> 00:01:02,000 you, or to add sorrow to the situation. 17 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,600 I just want to be clear that although we are thankful for The 18 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,800 Graces that are offered via technology. 19 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,200 It will never replace the blessing that comes from 20 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,400 gathering together in the presence of the Lord seeing his 21 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,100 face together. We cherish the memories that 22 00:01:18,100 --> 00:01:22,000 we've had in the sanctuary and we pray that we will be again 23 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,700 together sooner than later. If you were here last Sunday, 24 00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:27,200 you remember that? We took a pause. 25 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,800 On our Series in the book of 1st Timothy, to talk about the 26 00:01:30,808 --> 00:01:32,700 crisis that we are facing together. 27 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:39,200 Between that morning and this evening a lot has changed 28 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:43,100 restrictions have been set to a greater degree. 29 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,800 There is an uncertainty that has been heightened and quite 30 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,100 frankly. This pandemic has infiltrated 31 00:01:50,100 --> 00:01:55,400 our lives in a way and at a rate that is almost unbelievable. 32 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,800 I want you to think about this for a moment, despite our 33 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:05,800 Advanced Technologies. And despite our achievements, in 34 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,500 modern science. What the coronavirus has done in 35 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:14,200 our day? Has almost made our generation 36 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,400 blush. A common phrase that I've heard 37 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:23,000 from believer and non-believer alike, and maybe you've heard 38 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,400 this and maybe you've said this. Something along the lines of I 39 00:02:26,408 --> 00:02:29,000 can't believe this is actually happening in our day. 40 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:35,800 This virus has taken almost every aspect of life as a 41 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,900 hostage. Maybe that's how you feel 42 00:02:38,900 --> 00:02:40,600 tonight. Maybe not physically, but 43 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:46,000 perhaps emotionally. And perhaps in your thoughts. 44 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,500 That's why I want to take the opportunity to pause. 45 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:55,500 Also on are studying the Book of Joshua to speak to at least 46 00:02:55,500 --> 00:02:57,300 three different groups of people. 47 00:02:58,700 --> 00:03:01,300 In this time. Number one. 48 00:03:01,300 --> 00:03:04,400 I want to speak to those who are genuine followers of Jesus 49 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,000 Christ. You love him. 50 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:07,900 You serve him. You've given your life to him. 51 00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:12,300 Secondly, I want to speak to those who make a profession of 52 00:03:12,300 --> 00:03:15,800 faith and perhaps, at one point. You did have a Zeal for Christ. 53 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,200 But let's just be honest. You're lukewarm. 54 00:03:21,100 --> 00:03:24,400 You're cold. You love the world. 55 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,500 You love the things of this world. 56 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,000 And there is no sense of desire to fellowship with God, to know 57 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,900 his word. There's something to be said for 58 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:38,500 you tonight as well. and lastly, I want to speak to those who 59 00:03:39,700 --> 00:03:44,500 Frankly don't have any faith. And you maybe don't believe in 60 00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:46,100 God. Maybe you believe in a different 61 00:03:46,100 --> 00:03:50,200 God, but not the true God in the person of Jesus Christ. 62 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,400 I encourage you, if you're clicking here out of curiosity, 63 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,700 stick around, you're not going anywhere anyway. 64 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,400 Now, there's so many ways. To go about this subject. 65 00:04:03,300 --> 00:04:04,900 There's so many angles to touch on. 66 00:04:06,300 --> 00:04:09,100 But I would just want to speak from the heart and not my own 67 00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:11,100 opinion or thoughts. I want to speak from God's word 68 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,000 and I wanted to reach your heart tonight. 69 00:04:16,899 --> 00:04:19,100 And I'm sure you've learned a lot of things this past few 70 00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:22,300 days, and I want to be transparent with you and maybe 71 00:04:22,300 --> 00:04:24,500 just give you a little glimpse of my world in my mind, in my 72 00:04:24,500 --> 00:04:28,200 heart and these past few days myself. 73 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:29,900 Here's one thing that came to my mind. 74 00:04:31,100 --> 00:04:34,500 Just meditating on how things swiftly changed for me. 75 00:04:34,500 --> 00:04:37,300 Personally, the thing that I've learned the most. 76 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,800 Out of many things, is this? You never know when you're going 77 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,800 to get a chance to preach again. Last Sunday morning, we were 78 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,900 hearing these pews were filled with people and this morning. 79 00:04:48,900 --> 00:04:51,000 It's empty and I'm speaking to a camera. 80 00:04:52,100 --> 00:04:53,400 I don't know what next week will bring. 81 00:04:54,900 --> 00:04:56,700 And so, if you're hearing me tonight. 82 00:04:58,300 --> 00:05:03,300 Hear my voice. Knowing that there is a heart 83 00:05:03,300 --> 00:05:07,300 posture of maybe. This is the last time to preach. 84 00:05:08,300 --> 00:05:11,100 I'm not saying that things are going to go south. 85 00:05:11,100 --> 00:05:13,600 And in the sense that we don't know if we're going to meet 86 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,500 again. I'm not saying that at all. 87 00:05:15,900 --> 00:05:19,600 I'm taking the principle that we've all adopted through this. 88 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,700 That things can change quickly. So don't take a moment for 89 00:05:23,700 --> 00:05:26,400 granted and that's what this is about. 90 00:05:27,100 --> 00:05:29,100 Now. Let's speak to the first group 91 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:34,000 of people tonight, the followers of Jesus Christ, those who are 92 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,700 truly blood-bought. Those who have put their faith 93 00:05:37,700 --> 00:05:43,300 and trust in the gospel. I want to comfort you and then 94 00:05:43,300 --> 00:05:47,400 offer a challenging word. I don't want to go through this 95 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:52,600 without first touching on encouragement. 96 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:58,900 There are some of you out there who might be unease by the 97 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:04,100 uncertainty of our future and your future, your job may be at 98 00:06:04,100 --> 00:06:08,200 risk of being lost. You might fit the demographic 99 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:13,100 that is at most risk in relationship to this virus. 100 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:17,200 And there is a genuine fear. No matter what your situation 101 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,900 is. I want you to know that this 102 00:06:20,900 --> 00:06:25,800 sense of The unknown is, in fact, something that's tangible 103 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,900 in the air. And what's may be more troubling 104 00:06:29,100 --> 00:06:31,000 to all of us. Is that as we turn on our 105 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:32,800 televisions or go on our social media? 106 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,700 We are looking at people who should have answers and they're 107 00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:38,300 not giving us answers. People that should be giving us 108 00:06:38,300 --> 00:06:41,900 an idea of how long this should take and what the should produce 109 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:45,200 in the long term, but it's not coming to us, but here's the 110 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,700 encouragement. There is someone who has an 111 00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:52,500 answer for your life. There is someone who has a 112 00:06:52,500 --> 00:06:56,900 clear-cut understanding of every detail of this virus and its 113 00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:02,600 impact in your life, and around the world, read with me, Isaiah 114 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,800 44, and if you can't turn their, listen to this very carefully 115 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:11,100 and Isaiah chapter 44, verse 7. God says, through the prophet. 116 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:16,300 Who is like me? Let him Proclaim it. 117 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:19,900 Let them declare and set it before me. 118 00:07:20,100 --> 00:07:23,300 Since I appointed an ancient people now, paid chant, pay 119 00:07:23,300 --> 00:07:25,700 attention. Let them declare. 120 00:07:25,700 --> 00:07:29,500 What is to come? And what will happen? 121 00:07:31,500 --> 00:07:32,900 Do you see what's happening here? 122 00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:39,300 God is putting himself and comparison to every other 123 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:44,500 creature and he is highlighting an aspect of who he is. 124 00:07:44,500 --> 00:07:48,400 That is incomparable. He is the only person that can 125 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,900 declare what is to come before it happens. 126 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:55,600 And it actually happening. We see that in biblical 127 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,800 prophecy. We see that in what is to come 128 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,200 concerning his return. We see it in the purse. 129 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,500 Jesus Christ. In his ministry being for told 130 00:08:03,500 --> 00:08:07,600 hundreds of years before his time, but is not limited to that 131 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:10,700 it is. It is completely trustworthy in 132 00:08:10,700 --> 00:08:12,500 every aspect of Our Lives as well. 133 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,600 I want you to know something very carefully that before the 134 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:21,900 world was even created. God knew about the Coronavirus. 135 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,100 God knew where it was going to come from. 136 00:08:27,500 --> 00:08:30,100 God knew what nations? It would impact. 137 00:08:30,900 --> 00:08:32,900 God knew the people it would kill. 138 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,299 God knows how long this thing will keep us in our homes. 139 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:42,000 God knows every detail. He's not unaware. 140 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,500 Nor is he surprised? But what's the point of that? 141 00:08:46,500 --> 00:08:49,100 If you believe in God, you must believe in that concept. 142 00:08:49,100 --> 00:08:51,100 You must believe in that understanding of who he is. 143 00:08:51,100 --> 00:08:55,300 He is all-knowing, but it's not. It's not limited to that. 144 00:08:56,500 --> 00:08:59,000 Although he is all knowing. We have to also understand that 145 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,600 he is at the same time all loving. 146 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,300 So when Isaiah tells us this about God and when God speaks 147 00:09:06,300 --> 00:09:08,500 through Isaiah this way, it doesn't end there. 148 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:13,100 He presents this truth about God and then in verse 8 is the 149 00:09:13,100 --> 00:09:15,800 application. So look at verse 8 of Isaiah 44, 150 00:09:16,300 --> 00:09:21,800 you're not Fear not. Nor be afraid. 151 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,800 Have I not told you from of old and declared it. 152 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,900 And you are my Witnesses. Is there a god besides me? 153 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:35,200 There is no Rock. I know not any. 154 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,100 So you take the truth that he knows all things. 155 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:45,100 And then you rest in that truth. So, as much as he knows about 156 00:09:45,100 --> 00:09:47,100 this disease and the impact it will have globally. 157 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:50,700 You are his child. You know what? 158 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:53,000 That means. It means that he knows how this 159 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,600 will impact your life. He knows what it will do to your 160 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:58,300 finances. He knows what it will do to your 161 00:09:58,300 --> 00:09:59,800 health. He knows what it will do to your 162 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:01,500 future. And here's the thing. 163 00:10:01,500 --> 00:10:04,300 He's all-knowing, but he's all loving and he's your father. 164 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:09,200 If you put your faith in him. Therefore, you must rest on the 165 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,800 Rock. And the only one that is stable. 166 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:16,200 And the only one that has a sure Foundation is him. 167 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:22,200 What a display that we've seen that, even our government and 168 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,900 authorities are shaken by this yet. 169 00:10:24,900 --> 00:10:28,000 There is one on the throne. The only one upon the throne 170 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:31,500 that is unmoved, and he is the one who possesses a clear-cut 171 00:10:31,500 --> 00:10:34,400 understanding, and you are in the palm of his hand. 172 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,500 You are his. You are not left outside of his 173 00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:43,200 influence or his protection. I want you to be at rest 174 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:44,600 tonight. And for the rest of this whole 175 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,500 ordeal God is for you, and God is with you. 176 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:52,300 Be encouraged by that truth. Your family, your children, your 177 00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:54,200 health. Your future is not dependent 178 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:58,900 upon a virus. Is dependent upon your 179 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:04,000 Sovereign, God and him alone. Rest in that truth. 180 00:11:04,300 --> 00:11:06,300 We are praying for you as a church. 181 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,000 And as the leadership of this church, we are here for you 182 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,800 throughout all of this, no matter how it might affect you 183 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:16,700 be comforted tonight. Now, with that being said, I 184 00:11:16,708 --> 00:11:20,600 want to present a challenge. To my fellow believers. 185 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,700 And I want to specifically preach to my generation. 186 00:11:27,300 --> 00:11:29,700 Those that might fit my age bracket. 187 00:11:30,900 --> 00:11:34,600 But it's not limited to that. If you have your bibles, if 188 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:37,800 you're sitting there with your Bible open, go to a well-known 189 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,400 verse in 2nd Timothy Chapter 2 Verse 3. 190 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:44,500 And here's what Paul tells Timothy, a young man who was a 191 00:11:44,508 --> 00:11:48,200 pastor? He said, Sharon suffering, as a 192 00:11:48,208 --> 00:11:53,600 good soldier of Christ, Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in 193 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,600 civilian Pursuits. Since his aim is to please the 194 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:01,900 one who enlisted him. If you're listening tonight, and 195 00:12:01,900 --> 00:12:05,400 you're a Believer, I want you to be reminded of this that when 196 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:10,600 Jesus Christ saved you. He did he did not just save you 197 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:15,100 from something concerning hell and God's Wrath. 198 00:12:16,100 --> 00:12:21,300 He saved you for something. God did not save you when you 199 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,200 Proclaim faith and unwrapped you to heaven. 200 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,100 God kept you in this broken world. 201 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:29,400 Because he has a purpose for your life. 202 00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:34,500 And the description that we have here, is that of a soldier? 203 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:40,100 I want you to know. That your life is much more than 204 00:12:40,100 --> 00:12:46,300 about you having a nice house. Your life is much more than 205 00:12:46,300 --> 00:12:50,900 about you getting married. Life is bigger than about. 206 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:54,100 You being entertained and life is much larger than you, making 207 00:12:54,100 --> 00:12:56,800 sure that you live comfortably throughout your existence. 208 00:12:58,700 --> 00:13:01,800 You are not only a child of God. If you signed up to follow Jesus 209 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,500 Christ, you sign up to be in an army. 210 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,500 You are a soldier for the kingdom of God. 211 00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:15,000 What describes a soldier? When you see a soldier or when 212 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,900 you think of the word Soldier, what comes to mind, surely the 213 00:13:17,900 --> 00:13:23,600 word discipline? Surely the word Mission minded. 214 00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:30,200 Surely strategic life, a Warfare mentality and above all a 215 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:36,600 soldier is one who lives under the commanding orders of his 216 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:41,500 enlisting officer. A soldier does not have the same 217 00:13:41,500 --> 00:13:44,500 perspective as a civilian. He sees the world differently. 218 00:13:45,700 --> 00:13:49,600 A soldier realizes that there is an enemy who is constantly 219 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:54,100 planning and lurking. Attempting to attack. 220 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:57,600 A soldier has written on his heart. 221 00:13:59,900 --> 00:14:04,100 That he will live and die for the sake of the protection and 222 00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:08,500 the advancement of his kingdom. That is how a soldier lives. 223 00:14:10,100 --> 00:14:13,200 And that's important because no General would ever take it 224 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,700 lightly to see his troops undisciplined. 225 00:14:16,900 --> 00:14:23,600 Unconcerned unmoved. Moved about the protection. 226 00:14:24,700 --> 00:14:28,600 And the advancement of the Kingdom that they represent. 227 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:35,900 And yet the Bible. Commands us to live like 228 00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:38,100 soldiers in the context of our faith. 229 00:14:39,300 --> 00:14:43,700 Here is my fear and worry. That this generation of 230 00:14:43,700 --> 00:14:47,000 Christians. Especially in the West. 231 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,000 Do not have this kind of mindset in relationship to their Walk 232 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:57,600 With Jesus Christ. They are too entangled. 233 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:03,200 With civilian affairs. Not that they do not 234 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,700 participate, not that they have to do practical things. 235 00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:06,900 We are not talking about those things. 236 00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:09,500 Nor are we talking about even enjoyment of physical things? 237 00:15:09,500 --> 00:15:12,400 I'm talking about entanglement. The very thing that Paul warns 238 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:14,500 Timothy about, they're too wrapped up in it. 239 00:15:14,900 --> 00:15:16,800 They're too consumed by it to the point. 240 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,700 Listen, very carefully that there is little to zero desire. 241 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:29,000 Of any contribution or concern about how their lives can be an 242 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,100 impact for the Gospel of Jesus Christ? 243 00:15:33,700 --> 00:15:39,000 That is a concerning thing. And I say, all of this might be 244 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:40,800 wondering, what does that have to do with what we're dealing 245 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:44,700 with? I say all of this to you that 246 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:48,500 you may view this pandemic. As a soldier. 247 00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:52,400 This is not the time to fear, nor. 248 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:58,000 Is it the time to be passive? This is the time for you to 249 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,000 really take your faith. Seriously. 250 00:16:01,100 --> 00:16:03,500 Listen, if the only thing that you're concerned about through 251 00:16:03,500 --> 00:16:05,900 this whole thing is that you can't hang out with your friends 252 00:16:05,900 --> 00:16:07,600 and that you can't go to your favorite restaurants. 253 00:16:07,900 --> 00:16:12,500 You're missing the point. Look at the bigger picture here. 254 00:16:12,500 --> 00:16:17,500 Christian, zoom out a little bit and see what this is implying. 255 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:24,200 We Are Soldiers for an eternal Kingdom that God will Usher in 256 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:28,400 one day and God has left you and me here to do something about 257 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,000 it. And I want to encourage you as 258 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:35,600 you sit in your homes for the next few weeks, as a soldier to 259 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:39,700 inquire, you're enlisting officer and to something along 260 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:41,900 the line. Say Lord. 261 00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:46,200 The battlefield has shifted tremendously. 262 00:16:47,900 --> 00:16:51,000 What do we do here? What do I do here? 263 00:16:52,500 --> 00:16:56,500 What do I as a believer? Have to do. 264 00:16:57,500 --> 00:17:00,700 In order for me to be effective For Your Glory in this time. 265 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:06,099 We are living in an age and we are seeing things unfold at a 266 00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:08,599 rate. That is almost breathtaking. 267 00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:13,400 Don't fear. But here's the challenge, don't 268 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,099 be passive and you might be sitting there thinking that's 269 00:17:16,099 --> 00:17:19,200 easy for you to say. We can't go to church. 270 00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:25,200 We can't even go to the streets that freely and in fact, you 271 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,800 might be even saying my Ministry has been Stripped Away From Me 272 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,100 temporarily. I was a Sunday school teacher. 273 00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:32,300 I was involved in active evangelism. 274 00:17:34,300 --> 00:17:35,900 I was a part of the youth ministry. 275 00:17:36,900 --> 00:17:39,400 I could evangelize at work. And here I am. 276 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:44,100 I'm stripped of all of that. Think like a soldier now. 277 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,800 Don't give up and think and pray fully think what is at your 278 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,900 disposal? What is before you? 279 00:17:52,900 --> 00:17:55,800 You might feel limited, but I want to present to you a case 280 00:17:56,100 --> 00:18:00,100 where a man in the scriptures which was much more limited than 281 00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:04,400 you and I could imagine. You feel stuck at your home with 282 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,000 your smartphone and that's one thing. 283 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,300 But there's a man in the scriptures that was taken from 284 00:18:08,300 --> 00:18:12,000 his home taken from his family taken, from the temple taken 285 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:16,200 from his land and brought into a foreign Place surrounded by an 286 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:19,900 overwhelming number of pagan worshippers and stuck in a place 287 00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:23,000 where he was being trained to worship these gods and represent 288 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:27,400 these gods. And from his teenagers all the 289 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,700 way to his elderly years. This man has been in that kind 290 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:34,100 of environment. And even at one point in his 291 00:18:34,100 --> 00:18:37,200 life, there was a regulation set that is much more intense in the 292 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,000 regulations that you and I are facing. 293 00:18:39,100 --> 00:18:40,900 Here's the regulation that this man face. 294 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,700 If you pray. If you pray. 295 00:18:46,100 --> 00:18:49,700 To anyone else, except the emperor for the next 30 days. 296 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:55,000 It's the death penalty for you. I think about that kind of a law 297 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,100 being established. Think about that kind of a 298 00:18:58,108 --> 00:19:01,500 limitation. And you're hearing this 299 00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:04,600 description and you know, very well who I'm speaking about the 300 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,900 Prophet Daniel. And this man, Daniel when he 301 00:19:08,900 --> 00:19:13,100 heard this news, it tells us in Daniel chapter 6, verse 10, 302 00:19:13,100 --> 00:19:15,400 listen carefully. When Daniel knew that the 303 00:19:15,408 --> 00:19:20,700 document has been signed, he went to his house where he had 304 00:19:20,700 --> 00:19:23,200 windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. 305 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:27,100 He got down on his knees, three times a day and prayed and gave 306 00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:30,600 thanks before his God as he had done previously. 307 00:19:32,700 --> 00:19:36,300 Every time I read about Daniel, my heart is always stirred at 308 00:19:36,300 --> 00:19:40,300 this part of his story. It's stirred because when this 309 00:19:40,300 --> 00:19:43,300 regulation, which was set, it was a temporary one. 310 00:19:43,700 --> 00:19:47,900 It was for 30 days. There was no, there was no 311 00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:50,800 legalizing of prayer to any other deity. 312 00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:55,100 Except to the leader of their land. 313 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,400 You know what, Daniel could have done, just 30 days. 314 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:05,400 Can't wait. I can just do some other things. 315 00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:09,300 God will understand. I'll have a better chance of 316 00:20:09,300 --> 00:20:12,300 living and glorifying God longer, if I just keep it safe. 317 00:20:13,500 --> 00:20:15,000 But that doesn't what? That's not what the text says. 318 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:18,000 As soon as he heard. You know, what he does, he goes. 319 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,700 And he prays. That's challenging because I 320 00:20:21,708 --> 00:20:25,300 look at this man and I think to myself it's just 30 days. 321 00:20:25,300 --> 00:20:29,200 You can wait a month without prayer but this posture that 322 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:34,600 Daniel takes this response of this, man tells us so much about 323 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:37,200 something that is at your disposal and mind something that 324 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,200 is available to you. And to me it is the power of 325 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,700 Prayer. So, powerful was prayer to 326 00:20:43,700 --> 00:20:47,100 Daniel that he could not even give it up that for him. 327 00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:51,600 It was better. To pray and die. 328 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:58,200 And to live without prayer. You know, when I was thinking 329 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,100 about how this world is literally being shut down. 330 00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:06,500 This visual came to mind. Imagine yourself at a top of a 331 00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:09,600 hill and you're looking out into the City and you see what you 332 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,700 usually see in a major city with the skyline and all the lights 333 00:21:12,900 --> 00:21:15,500 and as you're standing there at the top of that Hill. 334 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:19,900 If you get to see lights, shut off. 335 00:21:21,100 --> 00:21:22,800 You begin to see sports stadiums. 336 00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:26,500 Shut off. You look over and you see the 337 00:21:26,500 --> 00:21:27,900 airport. Shut down. 338 00:21:27,900 --> 00:21:30,200 You look over to another place and movie theaters are being 339 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:33,200 closed. You look over again, and you see 340 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:37,700 restaurants closing their doors. And as you're looking out from 341 00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:39,700 the top of that hill, all you're seeing is the city. 342 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:42,500 Get darker and darker, and darker and you keep looking. 343 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:45,700 Schools. Shut down. 344 00:21:47,100 --> 00:21:51,700 Churches, shut down. And darkness seems to come over 345 00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:55,100 the land. And as you look closely, you see 346 00:21:55,100 --> 00:21:59,800 another light. It's a small light but it it's 347 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,600 there and it it stirs you to inquire. 348 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,200 So you run off that hill and you make your way towards Allah. 349 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:09,200 And as you approach that light, you begin to see that it's a 350 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:13,600 familiar place. And you realize in that moment 351 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,500 as you approach, that light coming from a specific place. 352 00:22:17,700 --> 00:22:20,100 That nothing could ever shut this door. 353 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:24,400 Nothing could ever close this opportunity, not even app 354 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:29,200 endemic would shift the possibility of you entering into 355 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:33,700 this place. And it Dawns on you though, 356 00:22:33,700 --> 00:22:35,700 everything else around, maybe shutting down. 357 00:22:35,700 --> 00:22:39,100 There is one place that remains open and that's your prayer 358 00:22:39,100 --> 00:22:43,400 closet. You look, horizontally, you look 359 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,900 to the left, right? Forward backward, you realize 360 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,800 that the world has turned off the lights, but may encourage 361 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,400 you tonight to look up and see that there's access to the 362 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:59,700 throne of grace. There is access into the 363 00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:04,200 presence of God. There is an availability to you. 364 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:09,100 Like Daniel think about Daniel. He was taken from his Temple. 365 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,900 He was taken from the opportunity to celebrate the 366 00:23:11,900 --> 00:23:14,300 feasts of Israel. He was taken from the 367 00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:16,600 opportunity to sit down and hear from the Torah. 368 00:23:17,300 --> 00:23:20,300 But Daniel knew something that even in Exile could not take 369 00:23:20,300 --> 00:23:25,200 from him. His ability to get on his knees. 370 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:32,800 Seek God and be in his presence. And you read about Daniel's 371 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:35,600 life, and you know what? You see, you see, a man that his 372 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:38,500 posture himself in such a way that he received, great 373 00:23:38,500 --> 00:23:42,000 Revelations from God. I want to tell you something 374 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,700 that when you, and I take prayer seriously, things begin to 375 00:23:44,700 --> 00:23:48,100 happen in our lives as well. Things begin to open up to us 376 00:23:48,100 --> 00:23:51,100 truths from the scripture truths about ourselves opportunities. 377 00:23:51,100 --> 00:23:52,900 Wonderful things begin to unfold. 378 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:59,000 Believer. Bible-believing gospel, 379 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:03,900 saturated God-fearing disciple of Jesus Christ. 380 00:24:05,900 --> 00:24:09,900 If there is any time to pray. It's now. 381 00:24:14,100 --> 00:24:16,800 Take this as an invitation from your God. 382 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:23,800 To seek his face. To be in his presence. 383 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,200 To let them melt you and mold you and shape you. 384 00:24:29,300 --> 00:24:32,000 So that by the end of this ordeal, you will come out with 385 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:38,900 greater faith in greater power. What would happen if the Church 386 00:24:38,900 --> 00:24:40,800 of Jesus Christ in our generation? 387 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:46,000 With simply see what is happening and take it to the 388 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:50,200 heart and to collectively cry out to the Lord. 389 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,300 Listen. Cry out to the Lord in such a 390 00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:55,500 way that he would send something from heaven. 391 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:01,800 And that we would not only say about what's happening. 392 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,500 I can't believe this is happening in our day. 393 00:25:05,700 --> 00:25:10,000 We would Echo that statement, but in light of facing a move of 394 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:12,800 God, by the power of His, holy spirit, like we have never seen 395 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,300 before. As you're sitting there and 396 00:25:16,300 --> 00:25:18,800 you're hearing me talk. Do you see the opportunity here? 397 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:25,300 Do you see the opportunity here? Look around you just for a 398 00:25:25,308 --> 00:25:26,700 second. Just pause. 399 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,800 Put things away and just think for a moment. 400 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:31,900 Do you see what's available to us? 401 00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:38,900 I believe it's time to pray and see God's face. 402 00:25:39,700 --> 00:25:43,300 I encourage you. I challenge you specifically to 403 00:25:43,300 --> 00:25:46,600 my generation. I'm challenging you to view this 404 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:53,500 as a soldier. And to think strategically and 405 00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:59,800 to implement whatever you need to implement in order to please 406 00:26:00,500 --> 00:26:04,800 you enlisting officer. Now, I want to speak to another 407 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:09,400 group of people. You might be watching tonight. 408 00:26:12,100 --> 00:26:14,300 Maybe not out of a desire to hear from God's word, but 409 00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:15,600 because you have nothing else to do. 410 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,600 You may be a Christian by name and perhaps. 411 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:24,200 At one point. You can even remember a segment 412 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:28,800 of your life for you. Loved God, not just in word, but 413 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,500 In Deed. But, if you're honest with 414 00:26:31,500 --> 00:26:33,200 yourself, as you sitting there tonight. 415 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:39,900 Your heart is calloused. You don't remember. 416 00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:43,400 You don't remember being stirred by the things of God. 417 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,900 You don't remember the last time you really saw his face. 418 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:52,800 In fact, if you're honest, you love this world. 419 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:57,600 And you love the things that would grieve the Holy Spirit. 420 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:04,600 I just have one question for you tonight. 421 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:10,200 In love. Does God have your attention 422 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:16,600 yet? There's a book in the Bible that 423 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:18,800 speaks about how God was trying to get the attention of his 424 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:23,000 people at one point. This is an interesting book 425 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:27,700 because it speaks of a time where Israel was not wholly 426 00:27:27,700 --> 00:27:32,600 devoted to the Lord. And God, love them enough. 427 00:27:33,900 --> 00:27:37,400 To get their attention again so that he can win their hearts 428 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:43,000 back to him and you would be amazed to know how God, how God 429 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:47,100 manifested his wooing to a people who have become 430 00:27:47,100 --> 00:27:51,400 indifferent towards him and it's a book that's not very popular. 431 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,600 It's a book that's not reference to very much. 432 00:27:55,300 --> 00:27:58,000 But oh how we can relate to this book tonight. 433 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:04,100 It's in the Book of Amos. The Book of Amos chapter 4, the 434 00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:07,500 whole book of Amos is about a man who was a prophet. 435 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:13,000 And he was God's representative. To let Israel know. 436 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,800 That he wants them back. He wants them back. 437 00:28:18,300 --> 00:28:21,300 And if they would not respond to that ultimately, there would be 438 00:28:21,300 --> 00:28:23,400 a consequence. That would be severe to them. 439 00:28:24,500 --> 00:28:27,400 I want you to hear these verses from The Book of Amos and 440 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:31,200 understand something very interesting concerning God's 441 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,200 dealings. Listen to this and Amos chapter 442 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:40,300 4 verse 6 down. God says, I gave you cleanness 443 00:28:40,300 --> 00:28:45,400 of teeth in all your cities and lack of bread and all your 444 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:50,300 places it, you did not return to me declares the Lord. 445 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,600 I also withheld the rain from you. 446 00:28:54,500 --> 00:28:57,800 When there are yet three months to the Harvest, I would send 447 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,200 rain on one city and send no rain on another city. 448 00:29:01,500 --> 00:29:04,700 One field would have rain and the field on which it did not 449 00:29:04,700 --> 00:29:08,700 rain would wither so two or three cities would wander to 450 00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:12,500 another city to drink water and would not be satisfied yet. 451 00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:15,000 You did not return to me declares the Lord. 452 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:22,300 I struck you with blight and mildew your many Gardens and 453 00:29:22,300 --> 00:29:26,000 your Vineyards, your fig trees and your olive trees, the Locust 454 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,000 devoured. Yeah, you did not return to me. 455 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:35,700 Declares the Lord. I sent among you a pestilence. 456 00:29:36,900 --> 00:29:41,000 After the manner of Egypt. I killed your young men with the 457 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,600 sword and carried away your horses, and I made this stench 458 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,500 of your Camp, go up into your nostrils. 459 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:52,000 Yeah, you did not return to me declares the Lord. 460 00:29:53,700 --> 00:29:57,200 What's going on? Here is very basic. 461 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:00,000 God is saying through the prophet. 462 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:03,200 Listen, I cut off all your supplies. 463 00:30:05,700 --> 00:30:08,700 I specifically would make one area. 464 00:30:08,900 --> 00:30:13,000 Fruitful. And I would make it very clear 465 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:16,300 that another area would not be touched by natural provision and 466 00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:19,900 I would cause a disturbance so that you would have to travel 467 00:30:19,900 --> 00:30:24,200 from one place to another so that you could survive, I 468 00:30:24,208 --> 00:30:28,700 destroyed your fields. I made your Vineyards in your 469 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:32,400 Gardens rot outside of your control. 470 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:37,400 And I even went to the extent of sending a pestilence like I did 471 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,400 in Egypt. And you hear these things and 472 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:41,900 you wonder, well, what's God's motive? 473 00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:44,600 Why was he? Why was he piling up one thing 474 00:30:44,600 --> 00:30:49,000 after the other in the lives of his people and over and over? 475 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,000 You heard the repeated phrase yet. 476 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:53,400 You did not return to me. So what's the, what's the 477 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:56,800 purpose that he was trying to get their attention? 478 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:02,900 God in this context was squeezing his people. 479 00:31:04,800 --> 00:31:09,100 Was bringing him almost to a corner, so they would give up 480 00:31:09,100 --> 00:31:13,300 resisting him and that they would fall at his feet. 481 00:31:14,700 --> 00:31:18,800 What you see here is a disturbance being caused by God 482 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:22,700 in the day-to-day Affairs of his people. 483 00:31:23,900 --> 00:31:26,800 So that they could analyze and reflect on where they're at with 484 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:30,800 their God and begin to ask some serious questions. 485 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:37,000 They were literally stripped. From all angles until they 486 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:40,800 realize that they do not possess The Sovereign power over their 487 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,200 existence that belongs to God Alone. 488 00:31:45,700 --> 00:31:49,800 And so everything about what you just heard in these verses comes 489 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,500 from a heart of throbbing love from a loving God. 490 00:31:55,100 --> 00:32:02,200 I'm not here tonight to attempt to even, Convey, what I believe 491 00:32:02,300 --> 00:32:05,700 God's mind is behind what is happening in our, in our day? 492 00:32:07,300 --> 00:32:10,400 But I look at a text like this and I wonder and I'm sure you 493 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:13,800 wonder. That this could possibly be a 494 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,400 facet in light of a specific group of people. 495 00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:22,500 Again, let me reiterate the fact that I'm sure you are equally as 496 00:32:22,500 --> 00:32:26,200 amazed As I Am by seeing how literally everything around us 497 00:32:26,700 --> 00:32:33,400 has been put on pause. And there's only one place to 498 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,900 really look now. And that's to look up. 499 00:32:40,100 --> 00:32:42,700 And if you read these verses carefully, you know what you 500 00:32:42,700 --> 00:32:45,700 see. It's an amplification of 501 00:32:45,700 --> 00:32:50,300 intensity. God seems to in these verses, 502 00:32:50,500 --> 00:32:53,700 take it up a notch more and more and more. 503 00:32:56,100 --> 00:33:00,200 So that he can. He can prick the stubborn heart 504 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:06,200 of his own. You know, I wonder even in light 505 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:07,900 of all that we're experiencing today. 506 00:33:09,900 --> 00:33:13,400 At this coronavirus might not be soul-shaking enough for you. 507 00:33:15,900 --> 00:33:20,500 That you are unmoved, that you are just casually, you're not 508 00:33:20,500 --> 00:33:22,300 even thinking about eternal things. 509 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:25,300 You're not even thinking about your relationship with God. 510 00:33:25,300 --> 00:33:30,100 You're just concerned about you. And that's what happened with 511 00:33:30,100 --> 00:33:31,900 Israel. So God says, let me turn it up a 512 00:33:31,900 --> 00:33:34,000 notch. Let me turn it up a notch and 513 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:35,300 you might be saying, okay. Listen, hold on. 514 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:41,300 You don't know me. I sing, I come to church. 515 00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:43,500 I listen to sermons and let me impress you now. 516 00:33:43,500 --> 00:33:45,100 I actually give to the church from time to time. 517 00:33:47,900 --> 00:33:53,400 Do you realize the audience? That Amos was speaking to. 518 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:56,400 We have this impression by reading this that they were 519 00:33:56,400 --> 00:34:00,500 completely turned away from God and they were just full-fledged 520 00:34:00,500 --> 00:34:04,800 worshipping false Idols. They were but look at chapter 5 521 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:07,200 and see description of the people and it gives us another 522 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:12,600 insight to who this audience is, look at chapter 5 verse 21. 523 00:34:14,100 --> 00:34:16,600 Look What God Says to the same group that he spoke to 524 00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:19,100 concerning sending things to get their attention. 525 00:34:19,100 --> 00:34:23,100 He says, I hate I despise your feast. 526 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:27,699 And I take no Delight in your solemn assemblies, even though 527 00:34:27,699 --> 00:34:30,600 you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings. 528 00:34:31,300 --> 00:34:36,199 I will not accept them. And the peace offerings of your 529 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:38,699 fan animals. I will not look upon them. 530 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,800 Take away from me, the noise of your songs to The Melody of your 531 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:45,300 Harps. I will not listen. 532 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:50,300 But let Justice roll down like Waters and righteousness like an 533 00:34:50,300 --> 00:34:53,900 ever-flowing stream. Do you see? 534 00:34:55,400 --> 00:35:00,500 The very same group that God was trying to get to see him. 535 00:35:02,900 --> 00:35:06,000 Was a group of people that were coming to the temple. 536 00:35:07,300 --> 00:35:11,000 And they were singing songs and they were worshipping and they 537 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:13,300 were giving sacrifices, they were honoring. 538 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:19,800 The feast, and God says, At this, I mean anything. 539 00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:28,800 See, so many people soothe. Their religious conscience by 540 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:33,400 occupying their lies. With religious activities. 541 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:38,000 God is not after your attendance in church. 542 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:44,400 Nor is God after your money. Nor does God after your gift of 543 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:48,600 service to him. Make the connection between God, 544 00:35:48,600 --> 00:35:51,600 wanting them to return to him in the midst of. 545 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:55,500 Not just their sin, but their religious activities. 546 00:35:55,700 --> 00:35:58,200 God is not after that. He wants your heart. 547 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,300 He wants your heart. He wants your love your 548 00:36:02,300 --> 00:36:05,100 adoration. He wants your passion. 549 00:36:05,300 --> 00:36:08,900 He wants your devotion. He wants to have a relationship 550 00:36:08,900 --> 00:36:12,100 with you. I've used this illustration so 551 00:36:12,100 --> 00:36:15,300 many times and it helps understand what God is after I 552 00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:18,800 hope. None of you would want to be in 553 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:22,100 a relationship with somebody who just meets the standard of what 554 00:36:22,100 --> 00:36:25,300 they should give as a spouse. None of you would want that. 555 00:36:25,300 --> 00:36:28,700 None of you would want to come home to a wife that makes dinner 556 00:36:28,700 --> 00:36:30,600 and does a laundry. And looks at you in the eyes, as 557 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:32,600 I did what you wanted me to do. I'll see you later. 558 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,500 None of you would want a husband who comes home and pays the 559 00:36:36,500 --> 00:36:40,600 bills and never looks at you with adoration, never speaks to 560 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:42,900 you and spends time with. Nobody will want that kind of a 561 00:36:42,900 --> 00:36:46,900 husband who fulfills duties of a husband, but has no sense of 562 00:36:46,900 --> 00:36:48,900 connection. Nobody would want that. 563 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:51,400 And let me tell you tonight. God doesn't want that from you. 564 00:36:54,700 --> 00:36:57,200 Perhaps you're a little less distracted tonight. 565 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:59,400 So this will come a little louder and clearer. 566 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,600 If you're not walking full heartedly with the Lord. 567 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:08,200 What are you waiting for? What are you looking for in 568 00:37:08,200 --> 00:37:11,300 life? The things that in a moment can 569 00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:14,900 be flicked off. The things that can be stripped 570 00:37:14,900 --> 00:37:22,900 from you in a moment. And if your joy and happiness is 571 00:37:22,900 --> 00:37:25,400 gone, in this moment that says something about where you're out 572 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:27,900 with the Lord because it's dependent upon things and not 573 00:37:27,900 --> 00:37:32,900 dependent upon him. I'll never forget the day. 574 00:37:32,900 --> 00:37:38,500 I one time. That I was at a youth 575 00:37:38,500 --> 00:37:45,500 conference. and on the first meeting, I looked around and I 576 00:37:45,500 --> 00:37:48,000 realized how distracted these young people are this. 577 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,500 This was like early high school late Middle School, kind of 578 00:37:50,500 --> 00:37:54,300 group. And I looked around, I realized 579 00:37:54,300 --> 00:37:57,700 how distracted these people from from all aspects of the meeting. 580 00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:03,700 And then the next day it was in earlier service. 581 00:38:03,700 --> 00:38:08,800 It was in the morning, but when we conducted the service. 582 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:13,000 I'm telling you every single one of those kids. 583 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:20,600 Maybe with the exception of one was hanging on every single word 584 00:38:20,700 --> 00:38:25,200 without moving an inch. And I was standing there, 585 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:29,400 wondering what was going on. And so I look to the youth 586 00:38:29,400 --> 00:38:33,500 leader at the end of the meeting and I made that observation of 587 00:38:33,500 --> 00:38:36,900 the contrast between the night before and the morning service. 588 00:38:37,300 --> 00:38:40,700 And I've made the observation of what he had done prior to that 589 00:38:40,700 --> 00:38:43,400 morning service, but I had asked him just to confirm and he 590 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:45,300 looked at me with a smile on his face, and you know what? 591 00:38:45,300 --> 00:38:47,200 He said. Yeah, you know the difference, I 592 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,100 said, what was the difference? He says, I took their phones 593 00:38:49,100 --> 00:38:51,100 away, and I put them all in the basket before the service 594 00:38:51,100 --> 00:38:52,700 started this month. This morning service. 595 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:56,100 And I looked and I said, well that makes sense. 596 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:02,200 And take that little illustration and apply it to 597 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:04,100 your life. Now with distractions at least 598 00:39:04,100 --> 00:39:06,400 to a greater degree being stripped from your life. 599 00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:13,800 Most likely, temporarily. Examine yourself. 600 00:39:15,500 --> 00:39:21,600 Ask yourself some questions. Come before the Lord. 601 00:39:22,500 --> 00:39:26,400 He's not angry with you. He's not mad at you. 602 00:39:27,300 --> 00:39:29,400 Do you see that? Even when he was causing a 603 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:32,200 ruckus and Israel's, they was all for one purpose that you 604 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:33,900 would come back into my open arms. 605 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:38,500 Man, if this whole thing is not stirring you even one bit. 606 00:39:38,500 --> 00:39:43,300 Maybe it will in a week or two. But some of, you know, very well 607 00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:45,600 that you are not fully surrendered to the Lord. 608 00:39:48,900 --> 00:39:51,200 I want to let you know and I want to take this opportunity to 609 00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:57,100 challenge you in love. Look at how fickle life is. 610 00:39:59,500 --> 00:40:01,000 And live for what really matters. 611 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:06,700 I have one more segment to speak to another group and my last 612 00:40:06,700 --> 00:40:10,100 group of people here. Spoke the Believers in. 613 00:40:10,100 --> 00:40:13,800 Jesus Christ spoke to those who might profess faith in Christ. 614 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:16,900 Or not fully walking with the Lord. 615 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:22,200 Lastly, I want to speak to those who maybe you're joining us 616 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:25,400 right now, or maybe you'll click on this link later on when it 617 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:29,300 once it is uploaded, but you do not identify as a person of 618 00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:32,400 faith. And you might be traditionally a 619 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:36,000 Christian, or you might be of some other belief system. 620 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:39,800 Just wait for the next few minutes. 621 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:43,300 And here these truths for your life. 622 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:46,300 Earlier this week. I heard a term that the 623 00:40:46,300 --> 00:40:49,500 president used to identify this coronavirus and I thought it was 624 00:40:49,500 --> 00:40:51,200 interesting. You've probably heard it too. 625 00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:57,400 And one of his briefings. He said that this virus is our 626 00:40:57,400 --> 00:41:01,300 invisible enemy. That was an interesting term. 627 00:41:02,400 --> 00:41:04,900 Invisible. Because obviously it is 628 00:41:04,900 --> 00:41:08,100 invisible to the naked eye as a virus and invisible also, 629 00:41:08,100 --> 00:41:12,500 because it is known that. If you are a person who carries 630 00:41:12,500 --> 00:41:15,900 this virus, you do not necessarily show any symptoms. 631 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:20,600 And so he repeated this term. We're dealing with an invisible 632 00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:23,700 enemy. And without disrespecting the 633 00:41:23,700 --> 00:41:27,300 president. Without undermining the dangers 634 00:41:27,300 --> 00:41:29,700 of the coronavirus. I want to let you know that 635 00:41:29,700 --> 00:41:32,400 there is a greater invisible enemy that you and I are facing. 636 00:41:35,500 --> 00:41:38,300 This invisible enemy is much more unpredictable. 637 00:41:38,300 --> 00:41:43,600 He is deadlier and he is not at all. 638 00:41:43,600 --> 00:41:46,800 Merciful. To you or to me. 639 00:41:48,300 --> 00:41:51,400 The Bible identifies this invisible enemy as Satan. 640 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:57,900 The enemy of your soul. And he has a worldwide 641 00:41:57,900 --> 00:42:02,300 influence, by the way. Listen to First, John chapter 5 642 00:42:02,300 --> 00:42:06,200 verse 19. We know that we are from God. 643 00:42:06,300 --> 00:42:09,600 John says, we know that we are from God. 644 00:42:11,500 --> 00:42:18,200 And the whole world. Lies in the power of the evil 645 00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:23,300 one. Do you know what that means? 646 00:42:23,500 --> 00:42:24,700 Let me tell you what it doesn't mean. 647 00:42:25,100 --> 00:42:28,300 It doesn't mean that God is all-powerful all-knowing, all 648 00:42:28,300 --> 00:42:32,500 present and Satan is an equal enemy with the same abilities 649 00:42:32,500 --> 00:42:34,100 and attributes. Absolutely not. 650 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:39,400 He's a created being he is less. He is a supernatural Force. 651 00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:44,200 He is a spiritual person, but he is not on the same level of 652 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:48,300 influence as our God, but what this verse does tell us, is this 653 00:42:48,500 --> 00:42:51,900 is that he has full Reign and he has the ability to influence. 654 00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:56,200 Every aspect of our world. And as much as you see in the 655 00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,100 physical sense, you better believe that it is paralleled 656 00:42:59,100 --> 00:43:02,300 with the spiritual world. And as much as all these things 657 00:43:02,300 --> 00:43:07,500 are happening, please understand this, that there is a greater 658 00:43:07,700 --> 00:43:11,000 deal about all of this. Not just the virus, but about 659 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:14,200 life itself. This world is a battlefield for 660 00:43:14,200 --> 00:43:19,100 your soul. Do you want to know the 661 00:43:19,100 --> 00:43:21,200 strategy? And do you want to know the 662 00:43:21,200 --> 00:43:24,400 deadly force of this invisible? Enemy? 663 00:43:24,900 --> 00:43:25,400 Here? It is. 664 00:43:25,400 --> 00:43:28,400 Here's his main goal. Here's his number one, purpose. 665 00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:34,700 To make sure. That you do not. 666 00:43:36,100 --> 00:43:40,600 Hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and more importantly respond to 667 00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:44,900 it by believing in it. He will distract you. 668 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:48,700 He will present pleasure to you. He will give you your dreams, 669 00:43:48,700 --> 00:43:53,000 your desires. He will make sure that you will 670 00:43:53,000 --> 00:43:57,900 not make that decision that will affect your Eternal state. 671 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:02,000 That is evil. Is it not? 672 00:44:03,900 --> 00:44:06,700 Maybe think about it this way. Imagine with me tonight that 673 00:44:06,700 --> 00:44:09,700 there are some scientists out there who at this moment right 674 00:44:09,700 --> 00:44:11,700 now has discovered a cure for the coronavirus. 675 00:44:11,700 --> 00:44:16,800 He found out a way that a person can inject some kind of a thing 676 00:44:16,800 --> 00:44:19,800 in them and that they can receive instant recovery from 677 00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:23,200 sickness and it can put this whole thing to rest once. 678 00:44:23,200 --> 00:44:25,700 And for all, can you imagine that somewhere somehow a 679 00:44:25,700 --> 00:44:27,500 scientist? Discovers that kind of a thing? 680 00:44:29,700 --> 00:44:33,600 But you also know that while this is a truth that is out 681 00:44:33,600 --> 00:44:36,400 there, the media and the government, which I do not 682 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:39,000 believe they are doing. This is just an illustration, 683 00:44:39,400 --> 00:44:43,300 the media, and the government are doing everything to silence 684 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:47,400 and to distract, and to keep your eyes and your ears away 685 00:44:47,500 --> 00:44:51,300 from that wonderful truth that there's a cure. 686 00:44:52,900 --> 00:44:56,300 You would be frustrated. And if you had enough boldness 687 00:44:56,300 --> 00:44:59,100 and you, not only would you be frustrated, you would do 688 00:44:59,100 --> 00:45:02,900 whatever you had in your power to make sure that there is 689 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:06,000 deception going on. There's a cure out there and you 690 00:45:06,008 --> 00:45:08,400 want to make sure that people get the Cure. 691 00:45:11,700 --> 00:45:13,500 That's why I'm standing here tonight. 692 00:45:15,300 --> 00:45:18,900 Because I want to let you know tonight that there is something 693 00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:20,200 more dangerous than the coronavirus. 694 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:23,300 There is a sickness that is much deadlier. 695 00:45:23,300 --> 00:45:27,500 It has implications that are much longer than your life on 696 00:45:27,500 --> 00:45:30,900 this Earth. It's called sin. 697 00:45:32,600 --> 00:45:35,300 And every human is infected with this sickness. 698 00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:39,600 And it is very real. It finds ourselves. 699 00:45:39,600 --> 00:45:42,200 If finds itself in our hearts. It's a part of who we are. 700 00:45:42,200 --> 00:45:45,800 We were born in sin. We are wrapped up with flesh. 701 00:45:46,200 --> 00:45:48,700 That is in Rebellion against God, that doesn't want to serve 702 00:45:48,700 --> 00:45:52,000 God, that does not want to submit to his lordship. 703 00:45:53,100 --> 00:45:55,600 But I also want to let you know, as severe as this sickness may 704 00:45:55,600 --> 00:46:01,500 be and though it is a pandemic. Universally from the first 705 00:46:01,500 --> 00:46:04,800 people that ever existed all the way to this point. 706 00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:07,800 It is something that no person has been able to escape. 707 00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:11,600 There is listen carefully. There is a cure, there is a 708 00:46:11,607 --> 00:46:14,700 cure, and it is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 709 00:46:14,700 --> 00:46:18,000 What? I mean, I mean this That there 710 00:46:18,000 --> 00:46:23,000 is a truth that is to be embraced and this truth has the 711 00:46:23,000 --> 00:46:28,100 ability to save you from this sickness from its influence over 712 00:46:28,100 --> 00:46:30,900 your life. And listen from the punishment 713 00:46:30,900 --> 00:46:35,200 that is going to be Unleashed upon us for our sin. 714 00:46:37,100 --> 00:46:39,800 Realize this. If you don't believe it here it 715 00:46:39,800 --> 00:46:41,000 and I trust that you'll believe it. 716 00:46:46,100 --> 00:46:48,400 One day Jesus Christ is coming back. 717 00:46:51,100 --> 00:46:55,800 And when Jesus returns, he has a goal of full Redemption that he 718 00:46:55,800 --> 00:46:59,100 wants to make all things new that there's going to be a new 719 00:46:59,100 --> 00:47:01,000 heavens and there's going to be a new Earth. 720 00:47:02,500 --> 00:47:06,800 And this new realm? That the person of Jesus Christ 721 00:47:07,600 --> 00:47:10,100 will Implement is going to be free from sickness. 722 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:16,700 Free from disease, free from Pain, free from Death, all the 723 00:47:16,700 --> 00:47:19,800 things that are result of sin. Therefore also world. 724 00:47:19,800 --> 00:47:25,200 I will be free from sin. But if he's going to create a 725 00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:28,000 world that's going to be free from sin. 726 00:47:28,300 --> 00:47:33,500 He has to eliminate sin. The issue is sin, is wrapped up 727 00:47:33,500 --> 00:47:35,200 in you and me. So he's going to have to 728 00:47:35,200 --> 00:47:41,300 eliminate and eradicate us. As a consequence. 729 00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:48,700 That's the bad news. But here's the good news. 730 00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:55,900 That because he loves us. He made sure. 731 00:47:57,200 --> 00:48:01,000 That he himself, made the payment for sin that you and I 732 00:48:01,000 --> 00:48:03,900 could never pay. And in doing. 733 00:48:03,900 --> 00:48:10,000 So he offers you and me a chance to have this in our lives 734 00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:13,900 erased, and to have our position before God change, as though we 735 00:48:13,900 --> 00:48:17,000 have, never sinned. So that we can be a part of that 736 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:20,000 full Redemption, that will come one day, and I, we can be in his 737 00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:24,500 presence forever and we can stand in glory for all eternity 738 00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:28,400 and Noah, joy, and ablis that you cannot even imagine. 739 00:48:29,900 --> 00:48:32,400 I want you to understand that everything in this world, the 740 00:48:32,400 --> 00:48:37,800 pain, it chaos, the confusion, the frustration, the selfishness 741 00:48:37,800 --> 00:48:42,700 that we're seeing. This is a sign and this is a 742 00:48:42,700 --> 00:48:47,200 manifestation of the Brokenness that you and I are a part of But 743 00:48:47,200 --> 00:48:49,700 here's the good news. There's a cure and it's 744 00:48:49,700 --> 00:48:51,900 available to you. If you would just receive it. 745 00:48:52,600 --> 00:48:55,700 And what you need to do is realize that you are indeed. 746 00:48:55,700 --> 00:48:58,500 A person has been infected by sin and that you yourself have 747 00:48:58,500 --> 00:49:03,000 sinned against God and now you want to be cured and you see 748 00:49:03,000 --> 00:49:06,200 that Jesus Christ is the only answer for you. 749 00:49:06,300 --> 00:49:08,000 You can't find it in another religion. 750 00:49:08,000 --> 00:49:09,600 You can't find it in, Good Works. 751 00:49:09,700 --> 00:49:13,000 You can't find it. Another way. 752 00:49:14,400 --> 00:49:18,300 It's only him. And you don't need to come to 753 00:49:18,300 --> 00:49:20,100 church. You don't need to go to a 754 00:49:20,100 --> 00:49:24,600 priest. You can do what I'm asking you 755 00:49:24,600 --> 00:49:28,500 to do right there in your room and seek God's face. 756 00:49:29,500 --> 00:49:33,000 And acknowledge in your heart that God raised him from the 757 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:36,400 dead and confess with your mouth, that he is. 758 00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:38,600 In fact, Lord. And he's in fact, the only 759 00:49:38,600 --> 00:49:41,700 Savior. And when you choose to do that, 760 00:49:41,700 --> 00:49:44,900 he will save you, he will save you. 761 00:49:45,300 --> 00:49:48,500 And I, you will indeed have hope not just in the next life, but 762 00:49:48,500 --> 00:49:52,400 in this life, I come to you tonight without an ounce of 763 00:49:52,400 --> 00:49:53,800 fear. In my heart. 764 00:49:54,200 --> 00:49:56,000 I don't say that to boast. I don't say that's my 765 00:49:56,000 --> 00:49:57,800 personality type. I don't say that. 766 00:49:57,800 --> 00:50:00,400 I have some kind of a knowledge of Going to come that you don't 767 00:50:00,400 --> 00:50:02,700 have. I have an anchoring truth. 768 00:50:05,000 --> 00:50:08,800 That Jesus Christ is my Lord and he's my savior. 769 00:50:08,900 --> 00:50:11,800 This is not my home. This isn't where it ends. 770 00:50:12,100 --> 00:50:15,400 Let me dive a disease. Let me die of persecution. 771 00:50:15,500 --> 00:50:22,000 This is not the end point. It might be for you though. 772 00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:25,900 In fact, it will only get worse from here. 773 00:50:26,300 --> 00:50:30,000 I cannot believe that a virus has put the world in such a pain 774 00:50:30,200 --> 00:50:32,300 in such a panic. I understand the reason why eyes 775 00:50:32,300 --> 00:50:36,300 and I understand that we need to take it seriously, but the fear 776 00:50:36,300 --> 00:50:39,500 of this. Says so much of the lack of 777 00:50:39,500 --> 00:50:43,600 assurance in people's hearts. It says something about where 778 00:50:43,600 --> 00:50:49,000 they put their trust. And I want to let you know. 779 00:50:51,100 --> 00:50:55,000 By God's grace. If you choose to receive Jesus 780 00:50:55,000 --> 00:50:59,000 Christ as Lord, not only, can you face Coronavirus? 781 00:51:00,400 --> 00:51:05,600 With a face, Like Flint. In the days of head of God, 782 00:51:05,600 --> 00:51:09,600 gives you a days from this time on, you'll be able to face every 783 00:51:09,600 --> 00:51:13,000 circumstance with certainty. That there is a God in heaven, 784 00:51:13,100 --> 00:51:16,300 who loves you, because he sent his son to die for you. 785 00:51:18,500 --> 00:51:20,300 So I encourage you in this moment. 786 00:51:20,400 --> 00:51:23,300 If you're going to think about anything, maybe your life was 787 00:51:23,300 --> 00:51:25,700 wrapped up in your job. Maybe your life was wrapped up 788 00:51:25,700 --> 00:51:28,100 in entertainment. Maybe your life was wrapped up 789 00:51:28,100 --> 00:51:31,700 in some future goal. Now, everything is put on pause. 790 00:51:31,900 --> 00:51:34,900 Can I ask you as a friend? Can I ask you as a brother and 791 00:51:34,900 --> 00:51:39,900 Humanity to consider where your Eternal destination will be? 792 00:51:43,900 --> 00:51:46,000 And if you've realized and you're honest with yourself that 793 00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:49,800 you are indeed a person. That if you stand before a, holy 794 00:51:49,800 --> 00:51:53,100 God will be judged for all eternity know this. 795 00:51:54,300 --> 00:51:59,200 There's a cure. And if you receive him, you will 796 00:51:59,200 --> 00:52:01,600 be healed of your sickness. Meaning you'll be healed from 797 00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:04,700 sin from what it will do when you stand before, God to its 798 00:52:04,700 --> 00:52:06,800 influence in your life. God will give you the Holy 799 00:52:06,800 --> 00:52:09,500 Spirit to live a life of victory over transgression. 800 00:52:11,500 --> 00:52:14,600 Receive it today. It's a free gift. 801 00:52:16,200 --> 00:52:18,500 I conclude with this leave. Her. 802 00:52:19,400 --> 00:52:20,500 Don't fear. Don't worry. 803 00:52:20,700 --> 00:52:24,300 God has your life in the palm of his hand, but also believer. 804 00:52:25,400 --> 00:52:28,400 It's time to take up arms and be serious about our faith. 805 00:52:29,600 --> 00:52:33,200 If not now then when let me say this, remark, the reason why we 806 00:52:33,200 --> 00:52:36,900 are not meeting here tonight, pay close attention is because 807 00:52:36,900 --> 00:52:41,700 the government has implemented regulations, so that the spread 808 00:52:41,700 --> 00:52:44,400 of the virus would not continue, right? 809 00:52:44,400 --> 00:52:45,700 That's why we're not here tonight. 810 00:52:47,200 --> 00:52:52,300 Let me ask you this question. What will happen in a day when 811 00:52:52,300 --> 00:52:54,800 the government institutes regulations. 812 00:52:54,900 --> 00:52:57,200 Not because he doesn't want the virus to spread, but because he 813 00:52:57,200 --> 00:52:59,200 doesn't want the message of Christianity spread. 814 00:53:01,600 --> 00:53:02,700 Are you going to take your faith more? 815 00:53:02,700 --> 00:53:05,100 Seriously, then I highly doubt it. 816 00:53:08,100 --> 00:53:12,100 This is the time to realize that there are souls at stake. 817 00:53:12,500 --> 00:53:14,800 Your left at this time in history. 818 00:53:14,800 --> 00:53:16,900 And God has a plan and a purpose for you. 819 00:53:17,800 --> 00:53:20,300 I can say with great encouragement of my heart, just 820 00:53:20,300 --> 00:53:22,800 going through my social media feed, that people are taking 821 00:53:22,800 --> 00:53:27,000 that seriously, not being overwhelming, not being unwise, 822 00:53:27,100 --> 00:53:29,100 but just giving a flicker of Hope. 823 00:53:29,500 --> 00:53:32,600 And I know that there are people around the world that are 824 00:53:32,600 --> 00:53:35,800 praying seriously. And who knows? 825 00:53:35,800 --> 00:53:37,300 What will come by the end of this? 826 00:53:37,300 --> 00:53:41,300 Who knows the mission movement that Will Blast From America and 827 00:53:41,300 --> 00:53:46,000 from different places, who knows what will happen to the local 828 00:53:46,000 --> 00:53:49,700 church when people realize that their Ministries can be stripped 829 00:53:49,700 --> 00:53:53,500 from them in a moment. I am so excited to see how God 830 00:53:53,500 --> 00:53:55,000 is going to use this for his glory. 831 00:53:55,100 --> 00:53:58,000 But here's my encouragement. Don't you want to be a part of 832 00:53:58,000 --> 00:54:00,200 that? Don't miss out by standing on 833 00:54:00,200 --> 00:54:03,200 the sidelines. Take this seriously and ask, God 834 00:54:03,200 --> 00:54:05,700 sit at his feet and say, Lord. Use my life. 835 00:54:05,700 --> 00:54:09,000 I see how it is, like a vapor. I see how on one weekend. 836 00:54:09,000 --> 00:54:11,500 I was doing one thing and now I'm trapped in my home for 837 00:54:11,500 --> 00:54:14,500 weeks. I see now that this is not a 838 00:54:14,508 --> 00:54:16,500 light thing. Life is not a joke. 839 00:54:16,600 --> 00:54:18,400 Life is not something that I have control over. 840 00:54:18,400 --> 00:54:20,800 So Lord, use my day. Secondly, if you are not walking 841 00:54:20,800 --> 00:54:22,900 with the Lord time to walk with the Lord. 842 00:54:23,200 --> 00:54:25,800 He loves you. Let this be a sign of his 843 00:54:25,800 --> 00:54:31,600 getting attention of you and let you embrace the message of Grace 844 00:54:31,600 --> 00:54:32,800 that he has for you. And lastly. 845 00:54:33,800 --> 00:54:36,000 If you're not a person that knows Christ. 846 00:54:39,400 --> 00:54:41,900 Consider this livestream. Consider this video that you'll 847 00:54:41,900 --> 00:54:45,800 see later on. As a manifestation of his Mercy 848 00:54:45,800 --> 00:54:50,700 in your life, to sit you down in your home, the say to your 849 00:54:50,700 --> 00:55:01,200 heart, receive my son. with all that being said, Would you bow 850 00:55:01,200 --> 00:55:04,600 your head with me as we pray? When I pray for you? 851 00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:09,100 We're going to collectively. Pray for this whole pandemic. 852 00:55:09,400 --> 00:55:12,000 Let's bow, our hearts and our heads together. 853 00:55:25,700 --> 00:55:28,700 Father, in Jesus name, we pray for the three different groups 854 00:55:28,700 --> 00:55:30,500 of people that we address tonight. 855 00:55:35,100 --> 00:55:39,600 And we ask Lord. That for those who are 856 00:55:39,600 --> 00:55:42,000 Faithfully following you who are genuinely fearful of their 857 00:55:42,000 --> 00:55:43,700 future. God let the truth of your 858 00:55:43,700 --> 00:55:48,900 Sovereign power rest, upon them tonight, let husbands, and 859 00:55:48,900 --> 00:55:54,600 fathers and mothers and wives be at peace to know that you are in 860 00:55:54,600 --> 00:55:56,300 control. You have their future figured 861 00:55:56,300 --> 00:55:59,700 out. Lord, for those. 862 00:56:01,700 --> 00:56:03,700 Who don't see how they can be used by you? 863 00:56:04,700 --> 00:56:09,200 For those who might not see the implications of this whole thing 864 00:56:09,200 --> 00:56:12,100 concerning the kingdom of God. Let's something resurrect and 865 00:56:12,100 --> 00:56:16,800 their lives. Even now, let there be a posture 866 00:56:16,800 --> 00:56:21,600 of prayer, let there be a creative stirring by your 867 00:56:21,600 --> 00:56:25,000 spirit. To know how to make the most of 868 00:56:25,000 --> 00:56:28,400 this. Lord for those who have gone 869 00:56:28,400 --> 00:56:32,200 cold in their hearts, they've been listening to this and maybe 870 00:56:32,200 --> 00:56:35,400 they've been convicted. Let them know that all they need 871 00:56:35,400 --> 00:56:38,800 to do is go back to where they used to find themselves and seek 872 00:56:38,800 --> 00:56:41,100 your face in that. Everything can change from this 873 00:56:41,100 --> 00:56:44,100 moment on that. They can know your will and 874 00:56:44,100 --> 00:56:45,400 purpose for their lives. Again. 875 00:56:47,500 --> 00:56:50,000 And lastly, we pray for the person who might watch this, who 876 00:56:50,000 --> 00:56:53,200 doesn't know you, who is a false confidence of their Eternal 877 00:56:53,200 --> 00:56:56,400 destination, who doesn't know Jesus Christ. 878 00:56:56,400 --> 00:57:01,400 Personally, Lord, let your Holy Spirit fled their homes even now 879 00:57:01,900 --> 00:57:07,200 and let them sense the pressing Finger of God until they 880 00:57:07,200 --> 00:57:13,100 surrender in faith to you. Well, we pray for United 881 00:57:13,100 --> 00:57:16,300 Evangelical Church. We asked our that you protect 882 00:57:16,300 --> 00:57:18,700 this family from any sickness or disease. 883 00:57:18,700 --> 00:57:21,300 Unnecessary evils. We pray. 884 00:57:21,300 --> 00:57:24,600 Lord, that you would connect us in a way like we've never felt 885 00:57:24,900 --> 00:57:27,000 we pray. Lord that you would amp up our 886 00:57:27,000 --> 00:57:29,400 faith and you would amp up our Ministries. 887 00:57:29,600 --> 00:57:33,000 And you would amp up our gifts for the glory of God. 888 00:57:34,200 --> 00:57:36,600 We ask Lord as sooner than later. 889 00:57:36,600 --> 00:57:43,000 We would be reunited again. Father, we pray, lastly, that 890 00:57:43,000 --> 00:57:48,100 you would guide our government to know how to navigate this 891 00:57:48,100 --> 00:57:51,300 situation. We pray that the enemy would not 892 00:57:51,300 --> 00:57:54,400 take advantage of this to keep people in fear, or to keep 893 00:57:54,400 --> 00:57:58,100 people in distraction so that they would not draw near to you 894 00:57:58,100 --> 00:58:00,200 as a result. Lord. 895 00:58:00,200 --> 00:58:04,000 We just pray that as a result of this Friday night message. 896 00:58:04,600 --> 00:58:07,700 There would be a sharpening to our Eternal perspective and that 897 00:58:07,700 --> 00:58:10,200 we would live more passionately in. 898 00:58:10,200 --> 00:58:13,100 Joyfully for your kingdom and For Your Glory. 899 00:58:13,700 --> 00:58:18,000 We pray these things in the mighty saving name of Jesus 900 00:58:18,000 --> 00:58:20,800 Christ. Amen. 901 00:58:21,900 --> 00:58:23,600 Thank you for joining us in this live stream. 902 00:58:24,000 --> 00:58:27,600 We wish you were here. But until then, we will see you 903 00:58:27,600 --> 00:58:31,700 this Sunday morning at 10 a.m. As we open up God's word 904 00:58:31,900 --> 00:58:33,300 together. God bless you. 905 00:58:21,900 --> 00:58:23,600 Thank you for joining us in this live stream. 906 00:58:24,000 --> 00:58:27,600 We wish you were here. But until then, we will see you 907 00:58:27,600 --> 00:58:31,700 this Sunday morning at 10 a.m. As we open up God's word 908 00:58:31,900 --> 00:58:33,300 together. God bless you.