Participants:
Series Code: WHO
Program Code: WHO200007S
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00:26 Hello and welcome to 3ABN Worship Hour.
00:28 We thank you for taking the time 00:30 to tune in to a program 00:32 that we believe will encourage you, 00:34 will awaken you, 00:36 will calibrate your thoughts in this new environment 00:38 that we are all finding ourselves 00:41 having to exist, 00:42 as some call it the new normal, 00:44 and we're praying that this is not the way 00:46 it's always going to be. 00:48 But until that time changes, 00:49 3ABN has taken the time to produce programming, 00:52 particularly Sabbath morning programming 00:55 to encourage your heart and keep you focused 00:57 in these dizzying and troublesome times. 01:00 Today's message is entitled Coronavirus Aftermath. 01:04 What's going to happen after? 01:06 What is the Coronavirus environment, 01:09 laying the groundwork for? 01:11 Well, that I'll address today in God's Word. 01:13 But before we go any further, 01:15 Tim Parton is here to lead us in prayer 01:18 and meditative thoughts, 01:19 preparing our minds 01:21 for what God has in store for us. 01:23 Let's turn the time over to Tim. 01:28 I want to encourage you today that God is still on the throne 01:32 and He always will be. 01:34 And we should sing our praises to Him. 01:37 Sing to the king 01:40 Who is coming to reign 01:44 Glory to Jesus 01:47 The Lamb that was slain 01:51 Life and salvation 01:54 His empire shall bring 01:57 Joy to the nations 02:00 When Jesus is King 02:06 So come, let us sing a song 02:09 A song declaring We belong to Jesus 02:15 He is all we need 02:19 Lift up a heart of praise 02:22 Sing now with voices 02:25 Raised to Jesus 02:28 Sing to the King 02:34 Zephaniah 3:17 says, 02:37 "The Lord your God in your midst, 02:40 the mighty one will save, 02:43 he will rejoice over you with gladness, 02:46 he will quiet you with his love, 02:50 he will rejoice over you with singing." 02:55 Dear Lord, 02:57 I'm so grateful that You are my Lord God. 03:03 You are the powerful, 03:04 powerful one who wins my battles. 03:09 You are happy to be with me. 03:12 You pour Your love into me and you give me new life. 03:16 You sing with joy over me because I am Yours. 03:22 Father, for those who are watching, 03:25 Lord, You know the needs 03:26 that are represented around this world. 03:32 They're not just virus related. 03:39 They're physical, mental, emotional, 03:42 financial, spiritual. 03:48 Lord, as long as we live on this earth, 03:49 we'll have needs, we will be in need of You. 03:55 So Father, I pray in Jesus' name 03:58 as we cry out to You 04:00 that You will hear our hearts and hear our prayers, 04:03 hear our cries. 04:05 Lord, heal our land. 04:09 Do what only You can do. 04:14 And we anticipate Your return, Lord. 04:18 We long for the day. 04:22 For His returning 04:25 We watch and we pray 04:29 We will be ready 04:32 The dawn of that day 04:36 We'll join in singing 04:39 With all the redeemed 04:42 For Satan is vanquished 04:45 And Jesus is King 04:50 So come, let us sing a song 04:54 A song declaring 04:55 We belong to Jesus 05:00 He is all we need 05:04 Lift up a heart of praise 05:07 Sing now with voices Raised to Jesus 05:13 Sing to the King 05:19 Sing to your King 05:26 Sing to the King 05:39 Thank you, Tim. 05:41 Thank you so much for that. 05:43 Let us bow our heads as we go to the Lord in prayer. 05:47 Our loving Father in heaven as we now open the message 05:50 Coronavirus Aftermath. 05:53 Lord, continue to send Your Holy Spirit 05:55 to speak to our hearts. 05:57 Those watching, 05:58 thank you for the words of encouragement 06:00 through song to soften the human heart. 06:04 And we pray now that your Holy Spirit 06:06 will do the work 06:08 that will open the minds of your people. 06:10 And for those that don't know you 06:12 that they will hear the invitation extended to them 06:16 in this crisis hour 06:18 to come into the place of peace. 06:20 In Jesus' name, I pray, amen. 06:25 Coronavirus Aftermath. 06:27 You know, friends, we live in an environment now 06:30 where two components exist side by side. 06:35 On one side, you have the component of fear. 06:39 Let me give you an example. 06:40 If you ask the politician today 06:42 how he feels he would say, 06:44 "I feel helpless. 06:47 I don't know what to do for my constituents. 06:50 I'm looking for answers to calm their fears, 06:53 but I feel helpless." 06:55 If you ask the medical professional 06:57 how they feel, 06:58 they would say they feel terrified, 07:01 they feel at the point 07:03 where their lives are on the line. 07:05 They don't know what to do. 07:07 And they go to work with this fear 07:09 and this terror in their hearts 07:11 as they too try to find answers 07:13 to this devastating invasion called the Coronavirus. 07:17 If you ask the business owners how they feel, they would say, 07:22 I feel like my business is going to crumble. 07:25 My future is going to crumble. 07:26 I have no answer for the dilemma of my employees 07:31 for the information 07:33 that I can give to the community 07:35 for the services I provided. 07:37 They feel very unstable. 07:39 Fear is the environment that the world finds itself in, 07:43 but the danger is to make decisions 07:45 based on fear rather than on the second component. 07:50 You see in every crisis, there is fear, 07:53 but there is truth. 07:54 Fear is a variable, truth is a constant. 07:58 And when you study God Word, 08:00 you find that the Lord never wanted His people 08:03 to make a decision based on fear, 08:06 but always on truth. 08:08 That's why you find in the Book of Joshua 24:15, 08:12 I lay the foundation with this scripture. 08:14 Listen to what God's Word says to us. 08:16 The Bible says, 08:18 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, 08:22 choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, 08:25 " notice, 08:26 "whether the gods which your fathers served 08:29 that were on the other side of the River, 08:32 or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell." 08:36 But notice what he goes on to say. 08:38 "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 08:45 Notice the decision. 08:47 "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 08:51 Joshua is saying to his people, 08:53 we are on the other side of the river now 08:55 and, friends, I can say to you, 08:56 we are on the other side of the river. 08:59 On one side was peace and financial security. 09:02 On one side was a predictable future, 09:04 pleasure, comfort, 09:06 all of the accouterments of life, 09:08 all of the things that we love to indulge in. 09:11 But now we're on the other side of the river. 09:14 And on this side is fear and uncertainty. 09:16 People are not sure. 09:18 We are in a new set of circumstances. 09:20 And Joshua refers to it here 09:23 as the gods in whose land you now dwell. 09:26 What are the gods? 09:27 Fear, financial insecurity, uncertainty, 09:31 and unstable future, politicians, business owners, 09:35 and medical professionals. 09:37 But then he says this, 09:38 regardless of the environment that we're in, 09:41 as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 09:45 Let me make it very clear, friends, 09:47 we have collectively arrived at the most intense season 09:50 in modern history. 09:52 We are facing a non dimensional monolith 09:56 of unpredictable proportions. 09:59 We don't really know what to do next. 10:01 But God is not asking us 10:03 to make decisions based on fear. 10:05 God is asking us to consult His Word. 10:07 In this environment, 10:09 the greatest of the minds of the world 10:12 are grappling with an elusive enemy. 10:14 One that metamorphosizes, 10:16 continue to change the way it attacks. 10:18 And Wuhan, and Italy, and Spain, and America, 10:22 and various parts of the world, 10:23 this virus is mutating and changing 10:26 in the sense of the way that life is expected to be. 10:30 People don't know what to do in this new environment. 10:33 But today, allow me to summarize 10:35 the intersection 10:37 at which the world is assembled. 10:38 Notice, non essential stores 10:41 and businesses are mandated close. 10:43 Water and power is being shut off to businesses 10:47 that disobey the compliance orders. 10:49 Disneyland closed indefinitely. 10:51 The entire Las Vegas Strip closed. 10:54 Panic buying has set in, bottled water, 10:57 toilet supplies, disinfectant supplies, 11:00 paper supplies and hand sanitizer 11:02 are now finally more desirable than gold. 11:07 Shelves are bare. 11:08 People are fighting and stealing other's supplies. 11:12 Many schools, 11:13 I would say most schools are mandated to be closed 11:16 for the rest of the school year 11:17 and, friends, that's world over. 11:19 Self distancing measures are on the rise. 11:23 When you go to grocery stores, 11:24 you find tape on the floor of the grocery stores, 11:26 keeping people six feet apart. 11:28 And the checkout counters, 11:30 you find that there are sneeze bags 11:32 and some of the cashiers have on protective gear, 11:35 gloves and in some extreme cases, 11:37 face mask. 11:38 But isn't that really extreme 11:40 considering the environment today? 11:42 Store hours are now limited from 8 am to 8 pm. 11:45 Our local Walmart that used to be 24 hours 11:48 is simply now having to close to restock the shelves 11:52 and prevent the indulge of the crowds when they come. 11:56 You find when the stores open, 11:57 even now a limited amount of people 12:00 are allowed in the stores at one time. 12:02 But let's expand the horizon, parks, trails, 12:05 beaches are closed. 12:06 Entire cities are under lockdown. 12:09 This is the new environment that stimulating fear. 12:12 All sporting events and seasons are canceled. 12:15 All concerts, tours, festivals, entertainments canceled. 12:20 All weddings, family celebrations, 12:22 holiday gatherings, 12:23 and sadly enough 12:25 in the atmosphere of all this death, 12:26 even funerals are canceled. 12:29 All dine in only restaurants 12:31 are closed indefinitely until further notice. 12:35 And when you look at the highways 12:37 like New York City, 12:38 and Los Angeles, major cities, not like our small town, 12:41 but there are some impacts there too. 12:43 You'll find that the highways are bare, 12:46 mostly trailer trucks, 12:48 trying to keep the commerce and food 12:49 getting to their desired destinations. 12:52 Barely anyone on the roadways. 12:54 I had a chance a few days ago 12:55 to look at Time Square in New York City. 12:58 A city that never sleeps is finally forced to sleep. 13:03 And air travel is at an all time minimum. 13:07 Citizens are now being highly encouraged 13:10 to self quarantine 13:11 only leaving their homes for the essential supplies. 13:14 And they're saying wear the masks 13:15 and the gloves when you're outside. 13:17 Essential service workers 13:19 are also terrified to go to work. 13:21 Medical field workers are afraid 13:23 to even go home to their families. 13:25 And as of today, 13:26 more than a million global cases 13:29 of COVID-19 have been confirmed. 13:32 But the question we must ask ourselves 13:33 is why are the highest cases of COVID-19 showing up 13:38 in certain major cities like Wuhan, China, Italy, 13:40 and Spain, and New York City? 13:42 Well, I would suggest to you the groundwork is being laid 13:44 for something that I call the aftermath. 13:47 In the United States, 13:49 there are more than 250,000 confirmed cases. 13:52 And just think about it. 13:54 Not too long ago, just March 11, 2020, 13:57 was when the World Health Organization 14:00 officially declared 14:01 the COVID virus to be a pandemic. 14:05 But now, friends, 14:06 instead of looking for the light 14:07 at the end of the tunnel, 14:09 people are now asking the question, 14:10 how long are we going to be in this tunnel? 14:13 The question is, how long, that repetitious, 14:16 reverberating question, how long. 14:18 Consider, how long will it be 14:21 before we get back to life as normal? 14:23 How long will it be before we can go back to work? 14:26 How long will it be before we can touch again? 14:30 How long will it be 14:31 before COVID-19 is finally gone? 14:35 And I can say once again, 14:37 we are living at a time with more questions 14:40 than answers, more than ever before. 14:43 The important questions are not, 14:46 when will the stock market level off, 14:48 although many asked that question, 14:50 or what team will win the next championship? 14:52 Or where can we go on the next cruise? 14:55 I think right now, 14:56 a cruise is the last thing that will enter anyone's mind. 15:00 And allow me to borrow a phrase 15:02 from America's one of most 15:04 of the addictive magazines in America, 15:07 The Enquirer, 15:08 inquiring minds want to know the answers. 15:11 Well, friends, now let's look at the Bible 15:13 to find the answers to these perplexing questions. 15:16 Turn with me 15:17 to one of the most relevant questions of the hour 15:21 that was asked by the disciples of Jesus 15:24 after He finished outlining to the multitude, 15:28 the signs of the end. 15:29 He took His disciples apart, 15:32 and began to reveal to them 15:33 something even deeper than the multitude knew. 15:36 Notice what the Bible says in Matthew 24:3. 15:39 It says, "Now as he sat on the Mount of Olives, 15:42 the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 15:46 'Tell us, when will these things be? 15:49 And what will be the sign of Your coming, 15:51 and of the end of the age?' 15:54 " Tell us, when will these things be? 15:56 We want to know, 15:58 but I want to point something out. 15:59 The Lord did not let the general majority know. 16:03 He didn't reveal it to everyone, 16:04 the politicians, and the leaders, 16:06 and the teachers, and the financial directors. 16:09 He only told His disciples. 16:12 The Bible says the secret things belong to us 16:15 and to our children. 16:17 But the things revealed, 16:18 the secret things belong to God. 16:20 And so He chooses 16:22 to whom He reveal those secrets. 16:25 David the Psalmist says, 16:27 "The fear of the Lord and the secrets of God 16:29 are with those who fear Him." 16:32 So the Lord in this private environment 16:34 began to unfold to the disciples the atmosphere 16:38 and all the signs leading to the coming of the Lord. 16:41 Notice Matthew Chapter 24. 16:43 Let's go once again verses 4-7, 16:46 "And Jesus answered and said to them:" 16:48 Notice what he said, 16:49 "Take heed that no one deceives you. 16:52 For many will come in My name, saying, 16:54 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. 16:58 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. 17:01 See that you are not troubled," he said, why? 17:06 "For all these things must come to pass, 17:09 but the end is not yet." 17:11 And he continues, 17:13 "For nation will rise against nation, 17:16 and kingdom against kingdom. 17:17 And there will be famines, 17:20 pestilences, and earthquakes in various places." 17:24 He said, "When you look around, you're going to find famines, 17:27 earthquakes, pestilences, COVID-19 pestilences, 17:32 pandemic size diseases, you will find it everywhere. 17:37 Now we know this is not the first time 17:39 a disease ever rose to the surface. 17:41 But this is the first time the entire world 17:44 has been put on pause by a disease, the entire world. 17:50 And some people might say, 17:51 we've been preaching about wars 17:53 and rumors of wars for, 17:54 it seems like maybe hundreds of years. 17:57 But look at how Jesus described these things. 17:59 Matthew 24:8, He says these words, 18:04 "All these are the beginning of sorrows." 18:08 Notice, the beginning of sorrows, 18:11 meaning Jesus said, 18:12 "This is how it's going to start. 18:14 This is not how it's going to end." 18:16 Notice, wars and rumors of wars, 18:18 all these things must come to pass, 18:20 but the end is not yet. 18:21 It goes from the end is not yet 18:23 to the beginning of sorrows. 18:24 And we are living in an environment 18:26 where I can say unequivocally, 18:29 that the beginning of sorrows has begun. 18:32 But I want you also to know that even though the world 18:35 is suffering from sorrow 18:36 that no balm can heal right now, 18:38 there is a purpose behind this. 18:41 You see, it's in this environment 18:43 that Jesus still wants to save His people. 18:47 And you might think, "Well, why is He taking so long?" 18:50 Well, let me make it very clear. 18:52 The repetition of our preaching about the signs 18:54 are not irrelevant. 18:56 But the reason why the Lord hasn't come yet 18:58 is because He's showing us that He's patient. 19:00 He is unwilling to turn His back 19:02 on those that He died for. 19:04 He wants to save humanity. 19:06 So let me make an appeal before I read the next text. 19:08 If you don't know the Lord, 19:10 this is the time to get to know Him, 19:11 because this is just a test 19:14 of the emergency broadcast system 19:16 or can I say, 19:18 of the way the world responds in times of crisis? 19:20 This is only a test. 19:22 But how does the Apostle Peter describe the heart of God? 19:25 Listen to his words. 19:27 In 2 Peter 3:9, we read these words. 19:29 He said, 19:31 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promises, 19:34 some count slackness, 19:36 but is long-suffering toward us, 19:38 not willing that any should perish, 19:40 but that all should come to repentance." 19:43 Notice he said, to repentance. 19:45 Do we need to repent? 19:46 Friends, if ever there was a time 19:48 that we need to repent, it's now, 19:51 because no one has any guarantee. 19:53 Have you seen the news? 19:55 Have you seen all the refrigerated trucks 19:56 in New York City? 19:58 And now we know that this virus 19:59 does not just inflict 20:01 those who are a certain age and older, 20:03 but even the young now are susceptible to it. 20:05 That's why in many of the states, 20:07 in the United States 20:08 they're shutting down the beaches. 20:10 And in New York City, as my sister shared with me, 20:13 even the young people that want to go to the park 20:15 and play basketball, they are so recalcitrant, 20:18 so determined to follow their own way 20:20 that the city has gone to extreme measures 20:22 by taking down basketball rims. 20:25 Why? 20:26 To prevent even the young 20:28 because this disease is no respecter of person. 20:32 But now when you begin to look at it, 20:34 Jesus adds to it the intensity, the intensity is continuing. 20:38 There's an atmosphere growing, and He says to us, 20:41 while all these things are happening, 20:42 learn the reason for them. 20:45 Look at Matthew 24:32-34. 20:49 The Lord says, 20:50 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: 20:53 When its branch has already become tender 20:55 and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 20:58 So you also, when you see all these things, 21:03 he said, 21:04 know that it is near at the doors!" 21:07 And then he says in verse 34, 21:09 "Assuredly, I say to you, 21:11 this generation will by no means pass away 21:15 till all these things take place." 21:18 This generation is not going anywhere, 21:21 wars, rumors of wars, 21:23 nations rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, 21:27 famines, pestilences, diseases, 21:29 and earthquakes in various places, 21:31 even in Idaho. 21:33 Even in places 21:34 where earthquakes are not prevalent 21:36 and not regular, they're happening everywhere. 21:39 He's saying, these things must take place. 21:41 And the generation that witnesses 21:43 all of this collectively, just like the fig tree growing, 21:46 showing us the summer is coming. 21:48 All these collective signs indicate 21:51 that the coming of the Lord is near. 21:53 This is a wake-up time, but follow me carefully 21:56 because I'm speaking about the aftermath today. 21:59 Now notice in Matthew 24:9, 22:03 when people ask what's happening next? 22:05 Well, we don't have to guess, 22:07 because the Bible makes it clear. 22:10 And I believe you might be startled 22:11 by the very next statement of Jesus, Matthew 24:9. 22:15 And here are the words of Christ. 22:17 He says, look at the next chapter, 22:19 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you." 22:26 What? 22:27 "And you will be hated by all nations, 22:31 for My name's sake." 22:33 All nations. 22:35 For the first time in recorded history, 22:38 not only just modern history, 22:40 for the first time in recorded history, 22:42 all nations are drinking from the same flask. 22:46 All nations are standing on the same uncertain foundation, 22:50 all nations. 22:51 There is going to be an environmental shift. 22:54 I like to call it a radical paradigm shift 22:57 that will result in the followers of Christ 23:00 being hated by all nations for the sake of Christ. 23:05 But before the Bible identifies 23:06 where the shift is going to occur, 23:08 the Bible also identifies 23:10 why the shift is going to occur. 23:13 But let me describe what a paradigm shift is. 23:15 Because somebody might say, I never heard that phrase. 23:17 A paradigm shift arises when the dominant model, 23:21 when the dominant model 23:23 under which normal functions operate 23:25 is rendered incompatible. 23:27 Let me explain 23:28 before I finished the definition. 23:30 You see, so many of us are, 23:31 are used to getting up in the morning, 23:33 going on the train, getting in our cars. 23:35 So many people are used to buying a ticket, 23:36 going to the airport and traveling. 23:38 But when all of a sudden, the dominant model, 23:42 the regular rounds of life 23:43 is all of a sudden rendered incompatible 23:46 with the present set of circumstances. 23:49 A paradigm shift means, 23:51 they've got to look for a new model 23:53 to operate in this new environment, 23:55 because you can't go to the airports. 23:57 Nobody wants to fly. 23:58 Nobody wants to be on the train. 24:00 Nobody wants to stand shoulder to shoulder, 24:02 on any plane or any train with anybody 24:04 in this new environment. 24:07 So the paradigm shift says, 24:10 "New circumstances will facilitate 24:12 the adoption of a new model or a paradigm." 24:17 We can't live the way we did before. 24:19 So we got to put a new model together 24:22 to operate in this new environment. 24:25 You've heard the idiom before, 24:26 desperate times call for desperate measures. 24:29 That means when we face 24:31 extreme and undesirable situations, 24:34 it is something necessary 24:36 sometimes to take extreme actions, 24:38 but there's a danger. 24:40 There is a danger. 24:41 Let me share the danger before I tell you 24:43 the reason why this paradigm shift 24:45 is taking place. 24:46 There is a danger. 24:47 Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson 24:50 said these following words, listen carefully. 24:53 He says, "One of the dangers we face 24:56 is to know enough about a subject 24:59 to think that we are right, 25:01 but not enough about that same subject 25:03 to know that we are wrong." 25:05 Let me repeat that one more time. 25:07 One of the dangers we face as a people 25:10 is to know enough about a subject 25:12 to think that we are right, 25:14 but not enough to know that we are wrong. 25:20 And today, in this environment 25:23 where new information is being sought, 25:26 people are seeking information contemporarily, 25:29 information politically, financially, socially, 25:32 economically. 25:34 But very few people 25:35 are seeking information scripturally. 25:38 You see, to find stability in this environment, 25:41 we've got to find that the only place 25:43 were stable information 25:45 that can prevent fear from setting in, 25:47 that can prevent us from making decisions 25:49 based on fear is in God's Word, the only reliable information. 25:54 And that's why Jesus said, 25:57 "You shall know the truth 25:58 and the truth shall make you free." 26:00 Free from what? 26:01 Free from fear and manipulation. 26:04 Free from wanting to just give up life, 26:08 to merge with society's norms. 26:10 Free from anything happening around you 26:13 to challenge your commitment 26:15 that is taking place within you. 26:18 But when you look at the paradigm shift 26:19 that's coming, 26:21 the Lord is saying, 26:22 "This climate will be of such a gratitude, 26:24 such a gravity, 26:26 that people will think 26:27 that they need to eliminate those that serve God." 26:30 Now before I talk about where it's going to happen, 26:33 Jesus identifies 26:34 why the environment is going to change 26:37 where the people of God are going to be facing threat, 26:40 even of their lives. 26:42 Look at John 16:1-3. 26:46 Here's what the Bible says, 26:47 we'll start with verses 1 and 2. 26:50 And the Bible says, 26:51 "These things I have spoken to you, 26:54 that you should not be made to stumble." 26:56 Verse 1. 26:57 Now verse 2, 26:59 "They will put you out of the synagogues, 27:02 yes, 27:03 the time is coming that whoever kills you 27:06 will think that he offers God service." 27:09 Now follow this for a moment. 27:11 He'll think that he's offering God service. 27:13 Is there any example 27:15 in the Scripture of this happening? 27:16 Yes, the three Hebrews in the courts of Babylon. 27:20 Nebuchadnezzar appear to be the friends of Shadrach, 27:22 Meshach, and Abednego 27:23 until he decided that this is the way 27:26 that we must worship from this point on. 27:29 And then the lives of those three Hebrew worthies 27:33 that seemed to have been in favor 27:35 with Nebuchadnezzar prior to that moment, 27:37 when the paradigm shifted, 27:39 and a new political situation was arising, 27:42 and worship was now being urged on the entire world. 27:45 And these three Hebrews decided not to follow, 27:48 their lives were being put at threat of danger. 27:52 You heard the story. 27:53 The furnace was heated seven times hotter. 27:56 So the scenario is not unusual. 27:58 What about Daniel in the Medo-Persian Empire. 28:01 When an edict was passed that no one should worship 28:04 outside of the Medo-Persian regulations, 28:07 Daniel ended up in the lions' den 28:09 because his fear of God 28:12 was greater than his fear of the political 28:15 and religious environment. 28:16 But God delivered him and God delivered the Hebrews. 28:20 What about the apostles? 28:21 When Paul and Barnabas were preaching, 28:24 and the apostles did not succumb to the pressure 28:26 of the modern society? 28:28 When the Jews and the Romans merged 28:30 to control the growth of the New Testament Church? 28:33 The apostles ended up on numerous occasions in jail, 28:36 and Paul the Apostle on several occasions, 28:38 and Peter the Apostle for preaching the truth. 28:42 But why did they end up in these situations? 28:44 Here's the reason. 28:45 Because they decided that serving God 28:49 even at a time of fear 28:51 was far more beneficial than serving God 28:56 insisting that fear 28:57 not be a part of the environment. 28:59 In other words, saying that again. 29:01 Fear should never alter the way that we serve God. 29:05 But the Apostle Paul said this in 2 Timothy 3:12. 29:09 He said, "Yea, 29:10 and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus." 29:13 Notice the Word of God. 29:14 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus 29:18 shall suffer persecution." 29:20 How many, friends? All. 29:23 But they decided, 29:24 it's better to serve God in an atmosphere of fear 29:28 than allow an atmosphere of fear 29:29 to take away my service to God. 29:32 But if you decide to serve God, 29:34 there will be fearful times. 29:36 And the Bible says your dedication and commitment 29:39 to Christ can put your life on the line. 29:41 And when you look at the Dark Ages, 29:43 millions of Christians lost their lives. 29:46 But there's a resurrection day coming. 29:48 There's a better resurrection coming, 29:50 and that first resurrection 29:52 will yield a harvest of those who will have eternal life. 29:55 So don't allow the atmosphere of fear 29:58 to rob your atmosphere of dedication 30:00 to an unchanging God. 30:01 That's why Jesus made it clear 30:03 when He talked about those that are going to kill you. 30:05 He also later unfolded 30:07 the true nature behind those 30:09 that threatened death to the true followers of God. 30:12 And by the way, 30:13 I read verse 3 and 4 of John Chapter 16. 30:16 Keep this in mind 30:17 as we enter the first part of John Chapter 16. 30:20 It said that when they kill you, 30:21 they would think 30:22 that they're offering service to God. 30:24 But notice the words of Christ. 30:25 John 16:3-4, 30:28 "And these things they will do to you 30:31 because they have not known the Father nor Me. 30:35 But these things I have told you 30:37 that when the time comes, 30:40 you may remember that I told you of them. 30:43 And these things 30:45 I did not say to you at the beginning, 30:47 because I was with you." 30:49 In other words, when I was with you, 30:50 I didn't have to warn you of this. 30:52 But now that I'm leaving, I need to let you know. 30:54 Those who desire to take your life 30:57 and restrict your liberties, they don't know who I am. 31:00 They have no connection to Me, 31:02 although they think they're offering God service. 31:04 And so what He's saying is, 31:05 there's a pseudo-religious environment. 31:08 There's a plastic religious environment, 31:11 religious minded people, 31:12 but not followers of Christ 31:14 will think that the best thing to do 31:16 in a time of crisis 31:17 and at the time of paradigm shift 31:18 is eliminate those 31:20 whose allegiance to God is unshakable. 31:23 And Jesus said, "They're going to do this, 31:25 because they have not known Me, 31:27 and they have not known the Father." 31:30 That's why it's critically important 31:31 to understand that we are not Christians 31:34 because of what we do, 31:35 but because of what we are willing to do, 31:38 that is, 31:39 if we are willing to follow what God requires. 31:42 Our Christianity is defined on a higher level, 31:45 not because we do Christian things, 31:47 but because we're willing to follow 31:49 what God requires. 31:50 Notice Matthew 7:21-23. 31:53 Here's what Jesus said. 31:55 He said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 31:57 'Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 32:00 but he who does 32:01 the will of my Father in heaven." 32:03 And notice this, 32:04 the pseudo Christian environment. 32:06 "Many will say to Me in that day, " 32:08 that's when the Lord comes, 32:09 "'Lord, Lord, 32:11 have we not prophesied in your name, 32:13 and also cast out demons in Your name, 32:17 and done many wonders in Your name?' 32:20 And then I will declare to them, 32:22 'I never knew you, depart from Me, 32:26 you who practice lawlessness.'" 32:29 Notice what Jesus pointed out. 32:31 He said, "There is a lawless generation 32:33 that's being developed." 32:35 And Isaiah Chapter 24 talks about it, 32:37 Psalms talks about it, 32:38 the New Testament talks about it. 32:40 The devil does not like the law of God. 32:42 And He's saying in a lawless generation, 32:45 in a generation that turns away from God, 32:48 they will ignore the will of God. 32:50 But those who refuse to ignore the will of God, 32:52 there's a particular description 32:54 the Bible gives about them. 32:55 In the Book of Psalms 40:8, 32:58 notice what David aligns 33:00 with being allegiant to the will of God. 33:02 Here's what he says in Psalms 40:8. 33:05 He says, "I delight to do Your will, O my God, 33:10 and Your law is within my heart." 33:13 Well, now get that. 33:15 How can you do God's will and ignore God's law? 33:18 Jesus is saying it. 33:20 The Psalmist David is saying it, 33:22 and they are in harmony with each other. 33:23 He's saying, "There is coming in the last days a generation 33:26 that pushes out the law of God." 33:28 And the Lord knew this would come. 33:30 He predicted this 33:32 in the Book of Daniel Chapter 7, 33:34 "Men will think to change times and laws." 33:37 So we're living in this lawless environment, 33:40 pushing out God's law, 33:42 but feeling that their works of preaching and casting out 33:46 demons and doing many wonderful things 33:48 is a substitute. 33:49 Friends, it's important to understand 33:52 that those who claim to know God, 33:55 Jesus was, Jesus will say to them, 33:57 "I never knew you." Now, here's the question. 34:01 How can we know whether or not we know Christ? 34:05 Let's read 1 John 2:3-4, 34:08 the Bible makes it very clear 34:09 how we can know that we know Christ. 34:12 And here's what the Bible says. 34:14 "Now by this we know that we know Him, 34:17 if we keep His commandments." 34:20 That's what the Bible says. Look at verse 4. 34:23 "He who says, 'I know Him,' 34:25 and does not keep His commandments, 34:28 is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 34:32 Let me make a statement. 34:34 When it comes to being identified with Jesus, 34:37 the one thing more important than saying, 34:39 I know him, is Jesus saying, I know you. 34:43 You see, friends, 34:45 that's why the Lord made it clear in John 14:15. 34:47 If you love Me, 34:49 notice what He says in His words. 34:50 If you love Me, do what, friends? 34:52 Keep My commandments. 34:54 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." 34:57 Which brings me to a point I must ask 34:59 or statement I must make. 35:01 If we don't love Jesus and His commandments 35:05 more than we love the act of worship, 35:08 we can easily fall into the category 35:10 when the pressures of society, and politics, 35:14 and the normal opinions begin to mold us 35:17 in a different direction. 35:18 When the paradigm shift 35:20 begins to be impacting our lives, 35:22 we can easily fall into the category 35:27 when we begin to persecute those who love Jesus, 35:30 and keep His commandments. 35:33 And so, friends, the time is near. 35:35 The reason I titled this message, 35:38 Coronavirus Aftermath. 35:41 Now, I'm going to show you how the paradigm shift 35:44 is going to come. 35:45 Jesus said, "The time is near, 35:47 that the true followers of God will have to decide 35:50 whether to acquiesce to the norms 35:53 or continuing following the Lord." 35:55 Look at John 4:23-24. 35:58 Look at the shift and what's going to take place. 36:01 It's going to take place on an amazing scale. 36:04 Jesus said, "But the hour is coming, 36:06 and now is, when the true worshiper," 36:11 notice what kind of worshiper? 36:12 "True worshiper will worship the Father in spirit and truth, 36:18 for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." 36:21 He goes on to say the words of Christ. 36:24 "God is Spirit, 36:26 and those who worship Him 36:28 must worship in spirit and truth." 36:33 Look at the two, spirit and truth. 36:36 Let me make it very clear. 36:39 When we claim to be led by the Holy Spirit, 36:42 the Holy Spirit never leads us away from truth. 36:45 John 16:13 says, "He will lead us. 36:48 The Spirit of Truth will lead us 36:50 and guide us into all truth. 36:52 The spirit is not opposed to the truth. 36:54 And the truth 36:56 is not an opposition to the spirit. 36:57 Both are harmonious 36:59 because this is the Holy Spirit, 37:01 He will never impose upon the truth of God's Word. 37:05 He will never impress our minds 37:06 to do something other than God's Word 37:10 has already established. 37:13 So don't be comfortable 37:14 with just religion or good songs, 37:16 or good music, or good feeling 37:18 because feelings are changeable with the environment. 37:22 Prime example 37:24 is the environment we're in right now. 37:25 How do you feel right now? 37:27 The environment has changed the way you feel 37:29 because we can't even get together 37:31 and worship to keep those feelings going. 37:35 Let me go back for a brief moment 37:36 to the environment. 37:38 All churches in the world are closed. 37:41 All churches for sure in America are close. 37:45 Curfews are being enacted in many cities. 37:49 Fines are being established for those breaking these rules. 37:52 Presently, though, 37:53 there's a general agreement 37:55 as to why churches should be closed. 37:58 There's a general agreement. 37:59 Large gatherings, 38:01 no one wants to be in a large gathering 38:03 where they can risk 38:05 becoming infected by the COVID virus 38:07 that has devastating after effects. 38:10 So when we say, well, we all agree right now, 38:12 but the question I must ask you is, 38:15 consider this. 38:18 When the prophetic picture changes, 38:21 and it's going to change drastically. 38:23 Right now we see that we don't disagree 38:26 that churches should be closed. 38:27 I've closed mine, 38:29 not because I want to 38:30 but because, watch this, the law says, close it. 38:34 And the law closed our churches, 38:36 not for religious reasons, but get this, friends, 38:40 for the betterment of the multitude. 38:44 So when the rights of the minority 38:48 infringe on the privileges of the majority, 38:52 the majority will always win. 38:55 The prophetic picture that is painted in Scripture 38:58 is far more impacting 39:01 than we understand to this very point. 39:03 Let's go ahead and see what the prophetic picture 39:05 about America is, 39:07 as it relates to the Book of Revelation. 39:09 Revelation 13:11-12. 39:12 I'm going to read this to you, actually just verse 11. 39:16 Revelation 13:11, and the Bible says, 39:20 "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, 39:26 he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon." 39:30 Now, let me break this down briefly for you. 39:33 Lamb, dragon, two horns. 39:36 What does that really mean? Two horns. 39:39 How does a lamb have two horns? 39:42 Well, little tiny stubs. 39:44 But let's go and describe this. 39:45 Let's begin with the word lamb. 39:47 When John speaks about lamb, 39:50 a lamb is a fitting symbol of Christ, 39:52 the Lamb 39:53 slain from the foundation of the world. 39:56 When Jesus told Peter to preach, He said, 39:58 "Feed My lambs." 40:00 So the picture of a lamb, 40:02 a nation coming up out of the earth, 40:05 a nation that exalts the lamb, 40:08 it describes a Christian like nation, 40:10 a nation based on Christian principles. 40:13 And I can tell you, friends, 40:15 that's an easy one to figure out. 40:16 There's only one nation in the world 40:17 that unequivocally fits this description, 40:20 and that is the United States of America. 40:21 When you study 40:23 the Revelation Chapter 13 scenario, 40:24 you find that there was a beast 40:26 before the United States, 40:28 the church of Rome of the Dark Ages, 40:31 for 1260 years control the dictates of man, 40:35 the conscience of man, the worship of man, 40:37 the way that men thought, the places that they went, 40:40 how they were to worship, what they were to believe, 40:44 and Christians sought refuge. 40:46 And the Bible says that God opened 40:48 the mouth of the earth to help the woman, 40:51 that is the church, and the earth opened his mouth. 40:54 That's why when you read Revelation Chapter 13, 40:56 the beast coming up 40:58 out of the earth is the United states, 41:01 a sparsely populated area offering two advantages. 41:06 Let's talk about the two horns. 41:07 What are these two horns? 41:09 You see in Europe, 41:10 it was a top down system during the Dark Ages, 41:13 the church said it and the people did it. 41:15 The powers were from the top, the people had no power. 41:18 But in America, it's the other way around. 41:20 A government called a republic, by the people, for the people. 41:25 It's a grassroots movement. 41:27 And secondly, another thing that these two horns represent, 41:30 one is a republic, 41:32 which is based on a democracy that people are deciding. 41:35 And slowly but surely, we even losing that. 41:38 But what's the second horn? 41:39 Religious liberty, religious freedom. 41:43 As it stands right now, 41:45 for a long time in America 41:47 we have been able to worship according to our conscience. 41:50 But notice what recently happened 41:53 with the institution 41:56 or the invasion of the COVID-19 virus? 42:00 Even the way we worship has been altered. 42:05 Now, a lot of people say, well, 42:06 what's happening to our churches? 42:08 Why are bars, not bars, 42:11 but why are liquor stores still open? 42:14 That's not an essential service. 42:16 Some people say, the church is an essential service. 42:18 But at the present time, I agree with the government, 42:21 that we should keep our churches close. 42:23 But I also suggest 42:24 that they should close liquor stores 42:25 because that's not an essential service. 42:28 But the point I'm making is right now, 42:30 in America, we have liberty of conscience, 42:33 freedom of speech, freedom of religion, 42:35 that's that one horn. 42:37 We also have a republic where we can decide and vote 42:40 on who the next presidents going... 42:41 Who the next leaders are going to be. 42:44 But the scenario is going to change. 42:47 The scenario is going to change drastically because America, 42:50 as one writer said years ago, 42:53 "When America sneezes, 42:55 the rest of the world catches a cold." 42:59 Now, America is going to play a pivotal role 43:02 according to Bible prophecy 43:05 in the direction that the world is going to take. 43:09 Just read the Revelation scenario. 43:11 America is going to cause the earth 43:12 and those who dwell in it to worship 43:15 as they build an alliance with the powers of Rome 43:19 that dominated the world during the Dark Ages. 43:22 And, friends, right now 43:23 in the environment that we're in, 43:25 I could suggest to you mark the prophetic page. 43:28 I will suggest to you 43:29 based on the authority of God's Word 43:31 that here is the future. 43:32 Here is where this COVID-19 Aftermath is developing. 43:37 When the world begins to come out of this 43:40 in a completely different setting, 43:42 it's already being suggested. 43:44 It's already being said 43:45 that we should find a common day 43:47 that the entire world could rest together. 43:51 Did you see the news in Italy now, 43:53 where the COVID virus has made a significant impact? 43:57 I cannot forget on the news 43:58 where they looked at the waterways 44:00 in Venice, Italy. 44:02 And they said for the first time, 44:03 it seems though in decades, where all those nice, 44:07 I'm going to call them boats for lack of better terminology. 44:10 Where all those robots 44:11 that are continually going up and down 44:13 the cities of Venice, the waterways. 44:15 They said for the very first time, 44:17 you can see clearly through the water, 44:19 because there is no movement in the water. 44:22 In other words, they're saying, 44:23 the environmental impact is in our favor. 44:28 If we now do things to begin to stabilize our environment, 44:33 then we can look forward to a more stable future. 44:35 And, friends, that's where the paradigm is headed. 44:38 But there's something else 44:39 that you can find in this paradigm. 44:41 There are two other players. 44:42 You find that on one side, 44:45 Satan is seeking to institute 44:47 the plan that he has been working on 44:49 for millennia, 44:50 for thousands of years, but on the other side, 44:53 God is still in control. 44:55 God has not lost control. 44:58 Praise the Lord for that. 44:59 He is still going to decide 45:02 what's going to happen in the future. 45:04 God has a grand plan 45:06 that's far greater than any manipulation 45:09 that the kingdom of darkness can bring to the forefront. 45:11 But the Bible shows us now, the players behind the scene. 45:15 And once again, don't miss the idea 45:17 that when I read this next passage, 45:19 it's going to bring to you the broad climate, 45:22 the broad environment, 45:24 and all the players in this scenario. 45:27 Look at Revelation Chapter 16. 45:29 We're going to read verses 13 and 14. 45:30 Here's what the Bible says. 45:32 "And I saw three unclean spirits 45:34 like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, 45:38 out of the mouth of the beast, 45:40 and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 45:43 For they are the spirits of demons, 45:45 " notice what they're doing, "performing signs, 45:49 which go out to the kings of the earth 45:52 and of the whole world, 45:54 to gather them to the battle 45:56 of that great day of God Almighty." 45:59 Wow! 46:00 Think about that. 46:02 Three unclean spirits out of the mouth of the dragon, 46:05 that Satan, out of the mouth of the beast. 46:08 That's the powers of Rome during the Dark Ages. 46:10 Out of the mouth of the false prophets. 46:12 That's those who claim to be following God's Word, 46:15 but they are not really 46:17 because the Bible describes them 46:18 as false prophets. 46:20 And then it says that these spirits 46:22 are going out to the kings of the earth, 46:24 the leaders of all the national communities, 46:27 the leaders of all the nations. 46:29 You see, this virus has an aftermath. 46:32 Because if you are awake 46:33 and listening to the news broadcasts, 46:35 and following the cadence, 46:37 following what's happening around us, 46:40 it's not happening by coincidence, 46:43 or by happenstance, or by accident. 46:47 There's a cleverly devised plan in place, 46:50 and the Bible is describing what's behind it. 46:53 Satan is working on the plan 46:55 that he has been working on for millennia. 46:57 He's working on the final stages of his plan 47:01 that I call the grand design. 47:03 But Christ says in Isaiah 46:9-10, 47:07 "Remember the former things of old, 47:08 for I am God and there is no other. 47:10 I am God and there is none like me, 47:12 declaring the end from the beginning, 47:14 and from ancient times things that are not yet done." 47:18 Let me make a point right here, friends. 47:20 This is the hour to make decisions 47:22 not based on fear, but on truth. 47:24 This is the hour to say, 47:25 I want my life to be in the hands of a Savior, 47:27 who when all the troubles 47:29 that are coming will finally pass. 47:31 I can have confidence and security. 47:34 I can really have freedom, freedom to worship my God, 47:38 according to His Word. 47:41 No longer fear. 47:42 No longer devastation, or manipulation, or disease, 47:45 or war, or famine, 47:46 but I can worship God according to my own dictates. 47:49 Right now, the whole world is going through a fire drill. 47:54 A few weeks ago, my sister-in-law 47:55 gave me that term, 47:57 we were talking on the Zoom platform 47:59 this digital community where we can stay connected. 48:03 And she said this, 48:04 and it just stuck in the back of my mind. 48:06 The whole world is going through a fire drill. 48:09 Remember, the fire drill growing up? 48:12 The fire drill, the siren in the schools would sound 48:14 and we will all file out, 48:16 as they said, file out in order. 48:19 Don't run over each other, file out in order. 48:22 When the sound is heard throughout the school, 48:25 let's all go outside and stand up. 48:27 We are being tested. 48:28 We are being examined 48:30 to see how we are going to react 48:32 when our political leaders, when the financial leaders, 48:35 when the military leaders, 48:38 when those controlling the world, 48:40 and those who are planning this new world order, 48:44 begin to marshal 48:45 those of the societies of the world. 48:48 We are being tested 48:49 to see what our reaction to the real crisis will be. 48:53 That's why if you want to pass the test, 48:55 the best time to decide how you're going to do it 48:58 is respond to the plan 49:00 that God already has put in place, 49:02 the plan of salvation, the plan of financial security, 49:06 the plan of freedom from fear, 49:08 the plan where there'll be no more disease, 49:09 no more suffering, no more sorrow, 49:11 no more crying, no more death, and there'll be no more pain. 49:14 But right now, 49:16 we cannot dismiss the Revelation scenario. 49:19 We cannot dismiss that God has made it clear 49:23 where we are headed. 49:26 So let me ask you the question. 49:28 What would you do if political leaders agree 49:30 with religious leaders that turning to God, 49:33 as a nation, will end this pandemic? 49:36 Well, the Bible suggests that, 49:38 "If we who are called by his name, 49:41 will humble ourselves and pray 49:43 and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, 49:46 then God will hear from heaven, 49:48 He'll forgive our sins and He'll heal our land." 49:51 Satan remembers that 49:52 and he'll use that very power that God wants to use for good 49:57 to manipulate and massage us into saying, 50:00 "All we've got to do as a world and as a nation 50:02 is unite religiously and politically, 50:05 and God will respond to our unity." 50:08 Would you be willing to give up 50:10 what God has established for your worship? 50:13 Would you be willing to stand with the majority 50:15 against those who truly worship God? 50:18 And when you think about the scenario 50:19 in the Bible, that's not unusual, 50:21 because that's exactly what happened to Jesus. 50:24 When Jesus was being led to the cross, 50:26 when Jesus was being led 50:28 before those who had the power in their hands, 50:31 they decided the following. 50:32 Listen to John 11:50, they decided the following. 50:37 Here's what the Bible says about the strange act 50:40 concerning Christ. 50:42 "Nor do you consider that it is expedient for us 50:47 that one man should die for the people, 50:50 and not that the whole nation should perish." 50:53 Now, think about it, 50:55 "Then shall they deliver you up 50:57 and you shall be hated of all nations 51:00 for my name's sake." 51:01 These three unclean spirits are going 51:03 to all the nation's leaders, 51:05 the kings of the whole world. 51:09 And in the very same environment, 51:11 in the very same environment, 51:13 the test is going to come to those who say, 51:16 you know what? 51:17 Here's this small group that's refusing to acquiesce. 51:22 It's better that they perish. 51:25 It's better that they would die, 51:27 and that the whole nation perished. 51:29 If they did this to Jesus, 51:31 His followers are also on the cutting board. 51:35 So I say once again, 51:36 and this is a powerful quotation 51:38 that I want you to hear again. 51:39 Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson said, wow! 51:44 "One of the dangers we face 51:47 is to know enough about a subject 51:49 to think we're right, 51:51 but not enough about that subject 51:52 to know we're wrong." 51:54 Here's the important thing, friends. 51:57 There are a lot of people making decisions today 51:58 that are not well informed. 52:00 But here's what God has promised. 52:02 Amos 3:7. 52:04 Here's what God has promised. 52:06 He says in Amos 3:7, 52:08 "Surely the Lord God does nothing 52:13 unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets." 52:16 I like that word, surely. 52:18 Can you say it with me? Surely. 52:21 Surely, God is not going to do anything. 52:25 until He says to His servants, the prophets, 52:28 this is what's going to happen. 52:29 And then His servants, the prophets, 52:31 can say to those listening, this is what's going to happen. 52:34 And then we can begin to make decisions 52:36 not based on fear, 52:38 or society, or politics, or religion, 52:41 or the norms that are developing around us. 52:44 But we can make decisions about our future 52:45 in serving God based on the truth of His Word. 52:48 And this environment of fear is massaging us 52:51 to move in the wrong direction. 52:54 It's massaging us to make wrong decisions. 52:57 That's why in every crisis you find these four components. 53:00 In every crisis you find these four components. 53:02 The first one is the social impact. 53:05 We can see the social impact. 53:06 There's fear, there's death. 53:09 The social impact is clear. 53:11 Every day we hear about the social impact. 53:14 Then the second impact is financial. 53:16 Businesses are closing, bankruptcy is rising, 53:19 deficits are falling. 53:21 People don't know 53:22 where their next dollar is coming from. 53:24 Thirdly, we find the political impact. 53:27 Political leaders are looking for answers. 53:29 They feel helpless. 53:31 They don't know what to do next. 53:33 But here's the part that concerns me the most, 53:35 and God's Word makes it clear. 53:38 The religious impact. 53:40 Friends, it's always the last thing that is enacted, 53:44 the social, the financial, the political, 53:47 and then the religious. 53:49 The religious impact 53:50 always manifests itself last 53:53 before any major event occurs. 53:57 That's a cadence throughout all Scripture. 53:59 In the days of Mordecai, it was there. 54:00 In the days of Egypt, it was there. 54:02 In the days of Christ, it was there. 54:04 Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, 54:06 and the list goes on and on. 54:08 The last impact was always of religious nature. 54:11 That's why today, 54:12 the religious nature of this COVID-19 virus 54:16 is laying the foundation for the aftermath. 54:21 But God has revealed to us what's going to take place. 54:24 We can be prepared to stand 54:26 against the opposition that's developing. 54:29 Those of us who have been warned 54:31 of the things that are coming 54:32 should not sit by idly thinking 54:34 that God is going to take care of us 54:36 and we do nothing. 54:37 We've got to be people of the hour. 54:39 We have to know 54:40 that the Lord will only shelter those who stand with Him. 54:43 Let me say, my brother, my sister. 54:45 Let me say, my pastor and my leader. 54:47 Maybe let me say to the community 54:49 person that can make a decision and everyone follows. 54:52 In this COVID-19 Coronavirus atmosphere, 54:57 there is an aftermath that's developing. 55:00 And today, 55:01 we must do as they did in the days of Joshua. 55:05 In the days when God led the children of Israel 55:09 from that long awaited place of bondage, 55:12 that place where they were in bondage 55:14 as a generation, 55:16 as a people for generations and generations, 55:18 400 years, they were held bondage. 55:21 They were held bound. 55:22 They did not know what to do. 55:24 But God had the final say. 55:26 This is the generation while men are sleeping, 55:30 Satan is arranging matter 55:33 so that the people of God will not have mercy. 55:35 But I thank the Lord today. 55:38 I thank the Lord today, and you can thank Him too. 55:42 You can thank Him also, 55:43 that in spite of how challenging 55:46 the present crisis is, 55:48 in spite of how devastating 55:50 the social and financial and political impacts are, 55:54 we don't have to give up serving the Lord. 55:59 That's why the words of Joshua fit today. 56:02 And so, I end with these words that Joshua said to a people 56:05 that were on their way to the Promised Land. 56:08 Friends, we are on our way to the Promised Land. 56:11 As was the case here, 56:12 the Israelite's already crossed the Red Sea, 56:14 but they had one more river, and they finally crossed it. 56:18 And here's what he said to them. 56:20 Joshua 24:15, 56:22 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, 56:25 choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, 56:29 whether the gods which your fathers served 56:32 that were on the other side of the River, 56:34 or the gods of the Amorites, 56:37 in whose land you dwell. 56:38 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 56:44 Friends, the choices you make now 56:47 in this COVID environment 56:49 will determine where you stand in the aftermath. 56:53 The choices you make now 56:55 and the questions you answer now 56:57 will determine how you worship in the aftermath. 57:01 This is the hour of choice. 57:04 The aftermath is coming. 57:06 Make your choices now. 57:09 Choose today regardless of what comes, 57:12 I am going to say, I choose to serve the Lord. 57:17 My family chooses to serve the Lord. 57:19 3ABN will continue to serve the Lord. 57:22 Friends, this is the hour of choice. 57:24 Why? 57:26 Because the aftermath is coming. 57:28 Make a decision now. 57:30 God bless you. |
Revised 2020-05-29