Participants:
Series Code: WHO
Program Code: WHO210078S
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00:29 Hello, and welcome to 3ABN Worship Hour.
00:33 The message is entitled today, God is our Refuge and Strength. 00:37 My name is John Dinzey, 00:39 and it is a blessing for me to be with you 00:41 during this hour to study God's Word together. 00:45 And recently I was asked to present a message 00:49 in the local church here 00:50 in Thompsonville, Illinois. 00:52 And I was praying and working on a message 00:56 dealing with the end time, 00:58 how to know 00:59 that Jesus Christ is coming soon 01:01 and that we're living in the last days. 01:03 And as I was preparing that week, 01:05 it seemed a thought came to my mind 01:09 that said, comfort ye, comfort ye, My people. 01:13 And thinking about that I understood that 01:15 I was supposed to present a message 01:17 on God is our refuge and strength. 01:20 So this is what we're going to be studying today, 01:23 and I want to invite you to join me in prayer, 01:27 as we ask the Lord to bless each and every one of us. 01:32 Our loving Heavenly Father, 01:34 we thank You for Your goodness and Your mercy. 01:37 We come before You in Jesus' name 01:40 to ask for Your blessing 01:42 that Your Holy Spirit may be poured out. 01:44 I step aside, Lord, and I ask You to bless me 01:47 with Your Holy Spirit, 01:49 that every word may come from Your throne of grace. 01:52 And, Lord, there are people 01:53 from different walks of life all over the world 01:57 that may listen to this message. 01:59 I ask of You to speak to them, according to their need. 02:03 And we pray that in all things, 02:05 Your name will be honored and glorified. 02:09 I ask it for these blessings 02:11 in the holy and blessed name of Jesus. 02:14 Amen. 02:15 Amen. 02:17 Jesus was preaching to the multitude. 02:20 And as He preached to the multitude, 02:23 the time came when it seemed that people were hungry. 02:28 And Jesus asked His disciples, "Do you have any food?" 02:32 They had no food and a miracle was performed that day. 02:35 There were several thousand people there, 02:38 and Jesus parted bread and fish. 02:42 And the Bible says in Matthew Chapter 14, 02:47 that 5000 men were able to eat 02:50 without counting women and children. 02:53 Soon thereafter, 02:55 Jesus told the disciples to get into the boat 02:58 and go to the other side, 02:59 and He will meet them there. 03:02 The disciples set out on the boat. 03:04 And as they went out on this boat, 03:07 something happened to them. 03:10 It seemed that a storm was against them. 03:16 And the storm was coming upon them, 03:19 and they were toiling as hard as they could, as far, 03:23 hard as they understood. 03:25 There were some fishermen there, 03:27 and they knew what to do in storms. 03:29 And these disciples were doing all they could. 03:32 And it seemed that time was just coming 03:35 and water was coming into the boat. 03:36 They were afraid. 03:39 And in Matthew Chapter 14, 03:42 beginning in verse 25, the Bible says, 03:44 "Now in the fourth watch of the night 03:50 Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 03:54 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, 03:57 they were troubled, saying, 'It is a ghost!' 04:00 And they cried out for fear. 04:04 But immediately, immediately, 04:06 Jesus spoke to them saying, 'Be of good cheer! 04:11 It is I, 04:12 do not be afraid.'" 04:17 Praise the Lord. 04:19 And now, as we look at verse 28, 04:23 the Bible says, 04:25 "And Peter answered him and said, 'Lord, 04:29 if it is You, 04:31 command me to come to You on the water.'" 04:35 And Jesus told the answer that 04:38 Peter was hoping he would hear. 04:41 "So He said, 'Come.' 04:44 And when Peter had come down out of the boat, 04:46 he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 04:49 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, 04:53 he was afraid, 04:55 and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 04:58 'Lord, save me!' 05:01 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand 05:05 and caught him and said to him, 05:08 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" 05:14 Wow, this is an amazing story 05:20 of what took place that night. 05:22 I'm sure that the other disciples 05:23 were looking on 05:24 as Peter was walking towards Jesus, 05:27 and Jesus walking on the water. 05:29 I'm sure they were probably thinking, 05:31 "Man, why didn't I ask that? 05:33 I could have been walking underwater myself." 05:35 But the Bible said that 05:38 Peter started looking at the wind, 05:41 and the wind was boisterous. 05:42 He became afraid and started to sink. 05:45 And as he began to sink, 05:47 he realized he was in great danger. 05:49 Now, please understand Peter was a fisherman. 05:52 I'm sure he was a great swimmer. 05:54 But this storm seemed to want to swallow him. 05:58 It's like the waters were his enemy, 06:00 and it's like they wanted to swallow him. 06:03 And he cried out for help. 06:05 And immediately, 06:07 Jesus stretched out His hand and saved him. 06:10 Now notice what it says in verse 32. 06:13 "And when they got into the boat, 06:16 the wind ceased." 06:18 They walked together towards the boat, 06:20 it says, "And the wind ceased. 06:22 Then those who were in the boat 06:25 came and worshiped Him saying, 06:27 'Truly, You are the Son of God.'" 06:32 Praise the Lord. 06:34 What a scene. 06:35 What a terrifying experience 06:38 these disciples were going through 06:40 as they realized their lives were in danger. 06:43 We're going to die. 06:45 And just then they saw Jesus walking on the sea, 06:48 but first they're thinking this is an enemy. 06:50 This is a ghost. 06:53 But it was Jesus 06:54 that came to give them the help they needed. 06:57 This was nighttime when it happened. 07:00 It was the fourth watch of the night, 07:02 somewhere between what we call midnight and daybreak. 07:06 This is when Jesus came up on the scene. 07:09 In the book Desire of Ages, 382, 07:12 we have this interesting message for us. 07:16 When trouble comes upon us, how often we are like Peter. 07:22 We look upon the waves. 07:24 In other words, 07:25 instead of looking at the problem, 07:27 instead of keeping our eyes fixed upon the Savior, 07:31 our footsteps slide 07:32 and the proud waters go over our souls, 07:36 that means the problems overtake us and overwhelm us. 07:39 "Jesus did not bid Peter to come to Him, 07:42 that he should perish. 07:44 He does not call us to follow Him, 07:47 and then forsake us. 07:49 Fear not, He says, for I have redeemed thee, 07:52 I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. 07:57 When thou passest through the waters, 07:59 I will be with thee, and through the rivers, 08:02 they shall not overflow thee: 08:04 when thou walkest through the fire, 08:06 thou shalt not be burned, 08:08 neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 08:10 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, 08:16 thy Savior," quoting from Isaiah 43:1-3. 08:21 And I just read to you from the book Desire of Ages, 08:23 page 382. 08:26 Now I want to talk to you for a moment 08:28 because the message is entitled, 08:31 God is our Refuge and Strength. 08:34 You know, it seems to me that 08:36 people are in need of knowing that God is with us. 08:40 God is our refuge and strength. 08:43 Well, we've been going through pandemics, 08:46 we've been going through difficulties. 08:48 Some people have lost their jobs. 08:50 Some people have lost loved ones. 08:53 Some people are facing other difficult situations. 08:56 They're looking upon what's happening in the world, 08:58 and there's fear. 09:01 And we need to understand that God is still God, 09:04 and that He's still on the throne, 09:06 and that He is going to be with us, 09:08 even until the end of the world. 09:11 And that's why this message is important 09:14 and I hope you are encouraged to know 09:16 that God is with us. 09:19 Psalm 46:10-11 tells us, 09:22 "Be still and know that I am God. 09:28 I will be exalted among the nations. 09:30 I will be exalted in the earth. 09:32 The Lord of hosts is with us. 09:36 The God of Jacob is our refuge." 09:39 Yes, God is our refuge and strength. 09:43 If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 09:46 you should face the future. 09:48 You should face the situations that you're going through, 09:51 not looking at the situation, not looking at the problem, 09:54 the difficulty, how hard it is. 09:58 Even though it may be hard, 10:00 we must understand God is with us. 10:02 He is our refuge and strength. 10:06 And yes, maybe some of you listening, 10:09 perhaps have faced a time of sorrow. 10:12 A time when you're wondering, how could this be? 10:16 How can this be? 10:18 How could this be happening? 10:21 But know that whatever situation 10:23 you're going through, 10:25 Jesus does not leave you alone. 10:28 In Isaiah 63:9, the Bible says, 10:34 "In all their affliction he was afflicted, 10:37 and the angel of his presence saved them: 10:41 in his love and in his pity he redeemed them, 10:45 and bore them and carried them all the days of old." 10:50 Praise God. 10:52 You see, God has felt 10:55 every single pain 10:57 since the beginning. 10:59 Since Adam and Eve, He has felt every single pain. 11:03 Every suffering, every tear, He has noticed. 11:07 And He has been near His children 11:08 to comfort them. 11:10 You see, God is a God of comfort, 11:12 a God that provides refuge a God that provides strength, 11:16 a God that provides wisdom, guidance, 11:20 and He has delivered some of you listening to me 11:24 from death itself, 11:26 just like the disciples were delivered from death 11:29 in this horrible storm. 11:31 And I don't know what kind of storm 11:32 you're going through, 11:34 what kind of difficulty you are facing, 11:36 but just like Jesus went to the disciples, 11:40 He comes to your side. 11:42 And I encourage you to trust in Him, 11:44 no matter what the situation you are going through. 11:50 Throughout the Bible, 11:52 we see the message that God has for His children, 11:55 I love you, I want to take care of you, 11:58 I want to provide for you, I have a way of escape for you, 12:02 I have a plan of salvation for you, 12:04 I want to give you peace, 12:06 I want to give you strength, 12:08 I will provide for your needs. 12:12 Now notice that throughout the Bible, 12:14 God has tried to help us understand this. 12:16 In Exodus Chapter 13, we have a message 12:19 that we should consider for us today. 12:22 Beginning in verse 21, the Bible says, 12:24 "And the Lord went before them by day 12:27 in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, 12:30 and by night in a pillar of fire 12:32 to give them light, 12:34 so as to go by day and night. 12:37 He did not take away the pillar of cloud 12:40 by day or the pillar of fire by night, 12:43 from before the people." 12:45 Praise the Lord. 12:47 The people had a visible sign that God was with them. 12:52 A cloud was with them 12:54 during the day and a pillar of fire by night. 12:58 And I don't know 13:00 how God has tried to let you know, 13:02 I am there with you. 13:04 I will be with you. 13:06 I will not leave you nor forsake you. 13:09 Somehow, someway, He has let you know, 13:12 and I encourage you to hold on to those things 13:15 that the Lord provides for you. 13:18 And when you're going through trouble, 13:19 I encourage you to consider 13:22 what has God done for me in the past? 13:25 He has saved me from this, from this, 13:27 from this, from that, from this, of this. 13:29 He has provided for me, 13:30 and I am talking to people that perhaps 13:33 you have never gone through one day 13:36 without having the food that you need for that day. 13:40 God has provided 13:41 and we should be grateful and thankful. 13:44 So I encourage you, trust in the Lord. 13:49 In Psalm 34:18, 13:53 Psalm 34:18, 13:56 the Bible has a clear message for us. 14:01 And it says there in verse 18, 14:02 "The Lord is near 14:04 to those who have a broken heart, 14:09 and saves such as have a contrite spirit." 14:13 The Lord is near to those that have a broken heart. 14:16 If you have a broken heart, 14:17 understand that the Lord is near to you. 14:22 And so now I go to Psalm 42. 14:25 Let's go to Psalm 42:11. 14:28 Notice the questions that the psalmist is asking, 14:33 "Why are you cast down, O my soul? 14:37 And why are you disquieted within me? 14:41 Hope in God, 14:43 for I shall yet praise Him, 14:45 the help of my countenance and my God." 14:50 Do not give way to discouragement. 14:53 You see, God wants to help you through this difficulty 14:57 you're going through and give you strength. 15:00 The devil, on the other hand, wants to discourage you, 15:03 lead you to depression and keep you press down, 15:07 moaning, groaning and complaining 15:11 and looking at the situation, 15:13 instead of trusting in the Lord and understanding 15:16 that whatever way 15:18 God will see fit for the situation 15:21 you are facing, 15:22 God will use a way to help you 15:25 and deliver you and strengthen you, 15:27 and encourage you. 15:29 Trust in the Lord, no matter what is happening. 15:33 There's a song that as I begin reading it, 15:38 I am not going to sing it. 15:39 I'm going to just read a certain portion of it, 15:41 and you will know this song. 15:44 And it says just these words, 15:47 why should I feel discouraged? 15:50 Why should the shadows come? 15:52 Why should my heart be lonely, 15:55 and long for heaven and home 15:58 when Jesus is my portion? 16:00 My constant friend is He. 16:04 His eye is on the sparrow, 16:07 and I know He watches me. 16:09 His eye is on the sparrow, 16:12 and I know He watches me. 16:16 And this is why the chorus is important. 16:18 I think because I'm happy. 16:20 I think because I'm free, 16:23 for His eye is on the sparrow. 16:26 And I know He watches me. 16:30 Please understand that He, 16:33 just as God takes care of the animals 16:35 out in the forest, 16:37 He will take care of you. 16:39 He will not leave you to yourself to suffer 16:43 without giving you the help you need. 16:47 I am now going to Joshua Chapter 1. 16:52 And in Joshua Chapter 1, 16:54 I want to read there are a couple of verses 16:57 that it is my hope and prayer will encourage you. 17:02 In Joshua Chapter 1, 17:03 I'm reading to you from the book, 17:07 Joshua 1:8-9. 17:09 And this is what the Bible says, 17:10 "This Book of the Law 17:12 shall not depart from your mouth, 17:14 but you shall meditate in it day and night, 17:17 that you may observe to do 17:19 according to all that is written in it." 17:22 Likewise, we should be reading The Holy Scriptures, 17:27 and meditate upon it, 17:29 and know it, and look at the promises of the Lord, 17:33 that we may be encouraged. 17:35 Notice, "For then you will make your way prosperous." 17:39 Yes. 17:40 Look at the scriptures, study God's Word, 17:43 look at the promise, memorize them, 17:45 for then you will make your way prosperous, 17:48 and then you will have good success. 17:51 This is God talking to Joshua. 17:53 This is God talking to you and me. 17:56 And notice what He says in verse 9, 17:58 "Have I not commanded you? 18:00 Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, 18:06 nor be dismayed, 18:08 for the Lord your God 18:10 is with you wherever you go." 18:15 This is God talking to you and talking to me. 18:19 Why be discouraged? 18:21 Why be dismayed? 18:23 God is our refuge and strength. 18:27 Praise the Lord. 18:29 So what should you do 18:31 when you're facing difficulties? 18:33 It's very strange. 18:34 When I read this in the Bible many years ago, 18:35 I said, "Wait a minute. 18:37 There doesn't seem to be something right here." 18:40 But this does make sense. 18:43 As we look at the bigger picture, 18:46 James Chapter 1. 18:49 James Chapter 1, beginning in verse 2, 18:51 "My brethren, count it all joy 18:56 when you fall in various trials." 18:59 What? What do you mean? 19:01 James, why are you writing this? 19:04 "Knowing," verse 3, 19:05 "that testing of your faith produces patience. 19:10 But let patience have its perfect work, 19:12 that you may be perfect and complete, 19:15 lacking nothing." 19:17 Praise the Lord. 19:19 If He allows something to come to you, 19:22 it is for your benefit somehow, some way. 19:25 You see when we give ourselves to the Lord, 19:29 when we ask the Lord to be in our lives, 19:33 God does marvelous things for His children. 19:37 And He does not allow anything to come to you 19:41 unless it has been measured, weighed 19:45 and considered carefully, 19:48 because the Lord will not allow you 19:50 to go through anything 19:52 that will not be for your benefit. 19:54 Now please understand that sometimes 19:56 we make trouble for ourselves 19:59 and I don't know if you've made trouble for yourself. 20:01 Well, how do you make trouble for yourself? 20:04 Well, you can make trouble for yourself 20:06 by making bad decisions. 20:08 God shows you the way, 20:10 you know what's in the Bible 20:11 and you do something else. 20:13 And some of us have decided, well, I'm going to eat this, 20:18 or I'm going to smoke that, or I'm going to take this drug, 20:21 or I'm going to drink this alcohol, 20:24 knowing that it is not good for us. 20:27 And we bring trouble upon ourselves, 20:29 we bring suffering, we bring pain, 20:32 and even sickness. 20:34 So upon these things, 20:37 we have to understand that you have made a decision 20:40 to walk away from the ways of the Lord, 20:42 and the Bible says that you may be allowed to reap 20:48 from what you sowed. 20:50 So please, follow the Lord, 20:53 do His will and you will be blessed 20:57 more than you can ask or think. 21:00 Notice here in the book, 2 Corinthians. 21:04 In the book, 2 Corinthians, 21:06 we have a message that we need to consider. 21:09 2 Corinthians 7:4, 21:15 the Bible says the following, 21:18 "Great is my boldness of speech toward you, 21:21 great is my boasting on your behalf. 21:23 I am filled with comfort. 21:25 I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation." 21:28 Why is that? 21:30 Because he knew, 21:32 he understood that these things, 21:37 the Lord allow for his benefit. 21:39 So please understand that God means 21:44 things that He allows for your good. 21:46 It's interesting that in a translation 21:49 called the Moffatt translation, 21:51 it says, "I am overflowing with delight 21:53 for all the trouble 21:55 I have to bear." 21:57 Isn't that interesting? 21:58 It brings a different perspective 22:00 when we understand 22:02 that if the Lord allows something to come to us, 22:05 it is somehow for our benefit. 22:08 And yes, I know that as we're going through this, 22:11 we may experience pain, perhaps sorrow, 22:16 but the end of these things is a benefit to us 22:19 in somehow some way. 22:22 I'm reading to you from a book called Ministry of Healing, 22:25 and there we have a message 22:28 that I want to share with you on page 488. 22:32 It says, "The Father's presence encircled Christ, 22:36 and nothing befell him, 22:38 but that which infinite love permitted 22:42 for the blessing of the world." 22:44 Here was His source of comfort 22:47 and it is for us. 22:49 He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ 22:53 abides in Christ. 22:54 Whatever comes to him comes from the Savior 22:58 who surrounds him with His presence. 23:01 Nothing can touch him, 23:03 except by the Lord's permission. 23:06 All our sufferings and sorrows, all our temptations and trials, 23:11 all our sadness and grieves, 23:14 all our persecutions and privations, in short, 23:18 all things work together for our good. 23:22 All experiences and circumstances 23:25 are God's workmen 23:27 whereby God is brought to us." 23:31 You see, when God's people face difficulties, 23:35 and they understand they're going through a trial, 23:38 what do they do? 23:40 You have the option of looking at the situation, 23:43 the difficulty, 23:44 and sinking into despair and discouragement, 23:47 or you have the option of facing it, 23:50 looking unto Jesus, knowing that He is with you. 23:54 And you will go to the Lord in prayer to help you 23:57 face that difficulty 23:58 and you are drawn closer to the Lord. 24:02 Your faith will grow, 24:04 and you at times will have a sensing 24:08 of the presence of the Lord. 24:11 Praise the Lord. 24:13 He is good to us more than we understand, 24:16 more than we can even consider. 24:19 In 2 Corinthians 4:6-9, 24:24 we have the following words. 24:25 "For it is the God who commanded light 24:28 to shine out of darkness, 24:30 who has shown in our hearts 24:32 to give the light of the knowledge 24:35 of the glory of God 24:36 in the face of Jesus Christ. 24:39 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels 24:42 that the excellence of the power 24:44 may be of God and not of us. 24:47 We are hard-pressed on every side, 24:50 yet not crushed. 24:52 We are perplexed, but not in despair, 24:56 persecuted, but not forsaken, 24:59 struck down, but not destroyed." 25:02 Why? 25:03 Because God sends His angel to help us and protect us 25:08 from the harm that devil wants to do to us. 25:11 You see, the devil would love to destroy you. 25:15 The devil would love 25:17 to just blot you out of existence, 25:21 kill you as soon as possible, but God has said, 25:25 no, no, you're not allowed to do this. 25:27 And you do not know it. 25:29 But you have no idea how many times 25:31 the devil has said, 25:33 now let me have him now, and Lord has said no. 25:36 No, you cannot do that. 25:38 Praise the Lord for that. 25:41 I'm reading to you from an article 25:45 found in a very old publication 25:47 called Youth Instructor, 25:49 December 20, 1894, 25:53 by Sister Ellen G. White. 25:55 Notice what is written here. 25:57 "It is as essential that Christ 25:59 should touch our hearts now by his Holy Spirit, 26:04 as that he should redeem our souls 26:07 by his most precious life. 26:10 To every Christian comes the word 26:12 that was addressed to Peter, 26:14 'Satan hath desired to have you, 26:18 that he may sift you as wheat.'" 26:20 But notice what Jesus said to Peter 26:23 and says to you and to me, 26:25 "But I have prayed for thee, 26:27 that thy faith fail not. 26:30 Thank God we are not left alone. 26:32 This is our safety. 26:34 Satan can never touch with eternal disaster 26:38 one whom Christ has prepared for temptation 26:42 by his previous intercession, 26:46 for grace is provided in Christ for every soul, 26:50 and a way of escape has been made, 26:54 so that no one need fall 26:56 under the power of the enemy." 27:00 Praise the Lord. 27:02 Oh, God is good. 27:04 God is more wonderful than 27:07 we can even describe, 27:10 and project or even imagine. 27:14 And God has been good to each and every one of us. 27:17 In Romans 8:28, the Bible says, 27:22 and I know some of you will know it 27:23 by memory as I begin, 27:25 "And we know that all things work together 27:30 for good to those who love God, 27:32 to those who are the called according to His purpose." 27:37 Praise the Lord. 27:39 God is marvelous. 27:41 All things work together for those who love God. 27:45 Now I am going to the book, 27:47 2 Corinthians Chapter 1, 27:51 and I am reading from verses 3 to 5. 27:55 Notice what the Bible says, 27:58 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 28:03 the Father of mercies, 28:06 and God of all comfort. 28:08 This is God, our Creator, He is a God of mercies, 28:12 and a God of all comfort, 28:14 who comforts us in all our tribulation, 28:19 that we may be able to comfort 28:22 those who are in any trouble. 28:25 Praise God, 28:27 with the comfort with which we ourselves 28:30 are comforted by God. 28:32 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, 28:36 so our consolation 28:39 also abounds through Christ." 28:42 Marvelous. 28:44 You see, God's angels are with His people. 28:50 God's angels are with His children, 28:52 protecting them, delivering them. 28:55 You see, like I mentioned before, 28:57 the devil would love to destroy you. 29:00 But understand that angels 29:02 even fight back the forces of evil. 29:06 They try to come against God's children. 29:08 There are battles unseen that angels fight for us, 29:13 and we don't even have a clue 29:16 that God is doing this for us. 29:19 So every day, we should be thankful 29:22 that we have life 29:24 and that we are able to live and breathe 29:28 and have our being. 29:29 Praise be to God for His goodness 29:32 to all His children. 29:35 In Isaiah 26:3-4, 29:38 the Bible has a message for you and for me. 29:42 The Bible says, 29:44 "You will keep him in perfect peace 29:47 whose mind is stayed on you, 29:51 because he trusts in you. 29:55 Trust in the Lord forever, for in Jehovah, 29:59 the Lord is everlasting strength." 30:03 Do you want everlasting strength? 30:06 Then you must trust in the Lord. 30:10 He will be with you no matter what the situation is, 30:15 no matter what difficulty you may be facing, 30:18 and that's why I say to you what is written in Psalm 34. 30:23 And I'm going to read Psalm 34, 30:26 and I'm going to begin reading 30:28 in verse 3 of Psalm 34, 30:33 and I'm going to read all the way to verse 10. 30:35 Notice Psalm 34. 30:36 This is one of my favorite psalms, 30:38 and it says the following, 30:40 "Oh, magnify the Lord with me, 30:44 and let us exalt His name together. 30:47 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, 30:50 and delivered me from all my fears. 30:53 They looked to Him and were radiant, 30:56 and their faces were not ashamed. 30:58 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, 31:02 and saved him out of all his troubles." 31:05 Call upon the Lord to save you from your troubles. 31:09 Notice, the angel of the Lord encamps all around those 31:13 who fear Him and delivers them. 31:16 "O taste and see that the Lord is good. 31:20 Blessed is the man and woman who trust in Him, 31:24 or fear the Lord, you His saints, 31:27 there is no want to those who fear him. 31:30 Young lions do lack and suffer hunger. 31:34 But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing." 31:39 Praise God. 31:41 Praise the Lord. 31:42 I encourage you to memorize God's promises. 31:45 Look at the scriptures. 31:47 Study the scriptures daily. 31:48 And as you do this, 31:50 not only will you be encouraged, 31:51 you will be blessed and these things help us 31:55 face the difficulties of life that we face. 31:59 So now I have a question for you. 32:01 How did they do it? 32:05 How did they do it? 32:06 I'm referring to individuals, 32:09 people that face difficult times. 32:12 We read of them in the Bible. 32:14 I'm quoting to you from one of them. 32:16 Psalm 23:4, this is David, he said, 32:19 "Yo, yea, though I walk through the valley 32:24 of the shadow of death, 32:25 I will fear no evil." 32:28 Why? 32:29 "For you are with me, 32:31 Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." 32:33 How did David do this? 32:35 He walked with the Lord daily. 32:38 He walked with the Lord, he prayed, 32:41 he sang, he studied the scriptures. 32:45 Once he had up to that time, 32:47 or the ones he heard up to that time in his life, 32:51 and his faith became stronger and stronger 32:55 as he faced difficulties in life. 32:57 And that's why when the time came 32:59 that he saw difficulties so large, so big, 33:03 that he was able to say, 33:04 "Yea, though I walk through 33:06 the valley of the shadow of death, 33:07 I will fear no evil." 33:08 Why? 33:10 Because he knew, You are with me O Lord, 33:12 Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 33:15 Job 13:15. 33:17 How did he do it? 33:19 He said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. 33:24 Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. 33:27 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. 33:30 Do you trust the Lord that way? 33:32 If you don't right now, 33:34 I encourage you to come close to Him 33:36 and trust Him day by day, 33:38 moment by moment. 33:39 How did they do it? 33:41 Daniel, Meshach and Abednego 33:45 answered and said to the king, 33:46 in Daniel Chapter 3, beginning in verse 16, 33:49 "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego 33:51 answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, 33:55 we have no need to answer you in this matter.'" 33:58 What was going on there before King Nebuchadnezzar? 34:02 This is after the time came 34:04 because you remember Nebuchadnezzar 34:06 had a statue built huge, 34:09 pure gold. 34:11 And he said, "When the instruments play, 34:14 everybody bows down before this statue 34:17 that I have built," 34:18 because he wanted this statue to represent him. 34:23 And so the instruments were played, 34:25 and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 34:28 as you looked all around, were the only ones standing. 34:33 So they were brought before the king. 34:36 And so Nebuchadnezzar said, "Is it true 34:39 that you did not bow down before my image?" 34:44 "And so," this is what they said. 34:47 He says, "You're going to be thrown 34:48 into the fiery furnace." 34:52 Notice what happens. 34:54 And the king threatened them 34:55 that if they don't bow down, 34:57 they're going to play the instruments again, guys, 34:59 if you don't bow down you're going in there. 35:02 And he asked for the furnaces to be made ten, 35:07 seven times hotter. 35:10 Notice what happens. 35:12 "If that is the case, our God," said they, 35:16 "whom we serve is able to deliver us 35:19 from the burning fiery furnace. 35:22 And He will deliver us from your hand, O King." 35:26 Verse 18 of Daniel Chapter 3, 35:28 "But if not, let it be known to you, O King, 35:32 that we do not serve your gods, 35:34 nor will we worship the gold image, 35:38 which you have set up." 35:41 Wow! 35:42 How could these guys do that? 35:44 How could it be? 35:46 They were threatened 35:47 to be thrown into a fiery furnace. 35:49 How could they do that? 35:51 How could they stand there and say to the king, 35:53 we're not going to bow down to your image. 35:54 God deliver, will deliver us. 35:56 And if He doesn't, 35:57 we still will not bow down to your image. 35:59 Oh, it was marvelous what happened? 36:02 They threw those guys in there, 36:04 and you know the story. 36:06 They threw them in there 36:08 and as they expected them to be screaming 36:12 from the burning fiery flames, 36:14 they heard no screaming. 36:16 They heard no such thing. 36:20 And the king said, "Wait a minute, 36:22 didn't we throw three guys in there? 36:25 Why are they four?" 36:27 Why were there four? 36:29 Because Jesus was with them. 36:32 And so Nebuchadnezzar had to tell them, 36:34 "Come on out, guys. 36:35 Come on out." 36:38 And the three guys came out 36:39 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 36:41 And the Bible says 36:43 that not even their clothing smelled like smoke. 36:48 The only thing that burned were the ropes 36:53 that bound them. 36:54 Praise the Lord. 36:56 And so, this is an interesting story. 36:59 But in this fiery furnace, 37:02 which we could say could represent trouble 37:04 and tribulation and problems, 37:06 Jesus was with them. 37:08 Likewise, when you're facing 37:10 the burning fiery situations that come your way, 37:15 please understand, Jesus will be with you. 37:20 Praise the Lord. 37:23 In Psalm 46:1-3, 37:26 from which comes the title for this message, 37:30 "God is our refuge and strength, 37:33 a very present help in trouble. 37:38 Therefore we will not fear 37:40 even though the earth be removed, 37:43 and though the mountains be carried 37:46 into the midst of the sea, 37:48 though its waters roar and be troubled, 37:52 though the mountains shake with its swelling. 37:56 Selah." 37:58 God promises to be your refuge and strength. 38:04 Won't you allow Him? 38:05 Won't you allow God to be your refuge 38:10 and strength? 38:13 In the year 2017 of October 2017, 38:17 my wife and I were in Michigan, 38:19 and after getting done 38:21 presenting a message there, 38:26 our journey began. 38:28 We were going to drive for about 38:29 nine hours to Southern Illinois. 38:33 And we began this journey by car and a van 38:38 and as we were traveling, 38:39 we didn't travel maybe two or three miles. 38:43 When crossing an intersection, 38:45 we were hit by another vehicle, my wife and I. 38:50 And some people that have looked at the picture say 38:56 how did you survive that? 39:00 And I can tell you, 39:01 God was our refuge and strength. 39:05 The moment I realized we were alive. 39:09 I praise the Lord. 39:11 Now I want to back up a little bit. 39:13 My wife had 10 broken ribs, 39:16 a dislocated elbow and several scratches. 39:20 For me, my knees 39:24 were banged into one another. 39:27 It seemed like I could not walk for a short time very easily. 39:31 I was limping. 39:33 I had to use a cane for a while. 39:36 And even for a while it was just painful walking. 39:38 I had to be on a wheelchair 39:39 until strength and I recovered a little bit. 39:42 But I want to back up a little bit and tell you 39:44 what happened that night. 39:47 You see that night, I dreamed 39:49 that I was walking down a hallway 39:55 and as I was walking down this hallway in the dream, 39:58 it was so impressive to me that as I woke up, 40:02 after dreaming this, I said to myself, 40:05 well, I seemed like I was walking in the hallway, 40:09 as if it was a hospital, or if it was a funeral home. 40:13 So when I woke up, I told my wife, "Honey, 40:16 I dreamed that I was walking in a hospital 40:20 or in a funeral home." 40:21 And she said, "Oh, it was probably, 40:23 it's probably my funeral." 40:26 And I, when she said that, I was like, 40:29 that's strange that she would think that. 40:32 That same day, about two or three hours later, 40:35 we had this accident. 40:37 And so when I realized we were alive, 40:41 I said, praise the Lord. 40:43 Praise God. 40:45 Well, they had two ambulances came to get us. 40:50 In fact, the door on my wife's side, 40:52 they could not even open. 40:54 They had to use some machines to get the door open. 40:56 She could hardly move. 40:58 She could hardly breathe, 10 broken ribs. 41:00 And when I later found that it was 10 broken ribs, 41:03 I said, "Wait a minute," 41:05 I even forgot, "How many ribs do we have?" 41:08 I couldn't remember if it was 14. 41:10 And it turns out, they're about 22, 24 ribs. 41:13 But I said, "Wow, she broke almost every rib." 41:18 And it's by God's grace that we are alive today. 41:21 Now I have to tell you that 41:22 there were about two or three times 41:25 that the situation got so difficult, 41:27 because my wife had a time 41:29 when because of fluid 41:32 building up around the walls of the lungs, 41:35 made it hard for her to breathe. 41:37 Her lung couldn't fully expand 41:39 and it was painful to breathe out. 41:41 And she would cry out in pain. 41:44 And it seemed like the doctors 41:46 couldn't do anything at that moment to help her, 41:48 they give her pain medication, 41:50 they will try to help her to relax, 41:51 and it seemed like nothing could help, 41:53 we passed several hours. 41:55 And I had to ask myself, 41:57 "Is it going to be true what I dreamt in the dream? 41:59 Could it be that it was not a hospital hallway, 42:01 but a funeral home?" 42:03 And I had to put my trust in the Lord, oh, Lord, 42:06 You brought up this, You brought us this far, 42:08 it cannot be that she will pass away. 42:12 And the interesting thing is that 42:14 after I had settled this in my mind, 42:16 I don't know how many minutes have passed, 42:18 that my wife said, 42:20 "Do you think I am going to die?" 42:24 And I was able to say, with a small smile, 42:28 "No honey, you're not going to die. 42:31 God has brought us this far. 42:33 And He is going to heal you and bring you out of this." 42:36 And I praise the Lord that He delivered us. 42:40 When you go through trial, 42:41 understand that God is with you. 42:44 God is your strength. 42:47 Now I have to tell you that 42:49 we are looking at the situations in the world 42:51 and see that signs are indicating 42:54 even with the movements of the nations, 42:56 decisions they are making 42:58 is bringing us closer and closer to the things 43:01 described in the Book of Revelation 43:03 Chapter 13. 43:06 We're facing challenges and we must be prepared 43:08 for what is coming upon the earth. 43:10 You need to build your strength on the Lord, 43:14 you need to rely completely on the Lord, 43:17 because times are going to get 43:18 even more difficult. 43:20 I'm reading to you from Prophets and Kings, 43:22 page 720, which says, 43:24 "Christ has made every provision 43:29 that His church shall be a transformed body, 43:33 illuminated with the light of the world, 43:37 professing the glory of Immanuel. 43:41 It is His purpose that every Christian 43:45 shall be surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere 43:49 of light and peace." 43:51 He desires 43:53 that we shall reveal His own joy in our lives. 43:58 And so I tell you, 44:00 take this opportunity to prepare 44:03 for what is coming upon the world. 44:05 We are facing difficult times. 44:07 We need to put our eyes on Jesus 44:09 and face the situations of life looking unto Jesus. 44:13 And that's why I'm going to read to you 44:15 from Review and Herald, 44:17 December 27, 1898, 44:18 an article written by Ellen G. White. 44:21 Notice the message. 44:23 "This is the day of the Lord's preparation. 44:29 He says, 'Behold, I come as a thief. 44:33 Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, 44:36 lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.' 44:40 The great work from which the mind 44:43 should not be diverted is the consideration 44:47 of our safety in the sight of God. 44:50 The storm is coming relentless in its fury. 44:55 Are we prepared to meet it? 44:57 Are our feet on the rock of age? 45:00 Are we one with Christ, as He is one with the Father?" 45:06 Oh, I encourage you to stay close to Jesus, 45:09 understand that He is your refuge and strength, 45:12 there will be false christs and false prophets. 45:17 And some false prophets are already arising. 45:20 I have seen some of them. 45:22 I've heard them not in person, 45:24 but on YouTube and other videos, 45:27 individuals claiming to be Jesus. 45:30 And you look at them and you hear them and you say 45:32 how in the world 45:34 could you think that you are Jesus? 45:37 The Bible says that when He comes, 45:41 He shall come with great power and glory. 45:44 Every eye shall see Him. 45:47 It's not that you're going to see Him 45:48 in a video on YouTube 45:50 or, some other video somebody shared with you. 45:52 Your own eyes will see Jesus face to face. 45:58 And so I encourage you to be ready 46:00 for what is coming upon the world. 46:02 There have been some false christs. 46:04 I mentioned one of them to you. 46:06 Jose Luis Miranda claimed to be Jesus from Florida. 46:10 There was an individual several years ago, 46:12 in Waco, there are a few others. 46:15 I think there's one in Australia 46:16 currently that claims to be Jesus Christ. 46:19 But believe what the Bible says. 46:21 Matthew 24 tells us 46:23 that there will be false christs 46:24 and false prophets, 46:27 and we should read the scriptures, 46:29 become acquainted with them so that we are not deceived. 46:33 And in those difficult times that are coming, 46:36 God will continue to be our refuge and strength. 46:41 So it is time. 46:42 This is the time of preparation. 46:46 This is the time of preparation. 46:48 Understand that soon and very soon, 46:51 we're going to see difficulties. 46:53 And I want to encourage you to stay close 46:56 to the Lord at all times. 46:58 The time is coming, when we will see the things 47:02 described in the scriptures being fulfilled. 47:06 And they will see and we will understand 47:08 that we are definitely closer than we think we are. 47:12 In 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10, the Bible says, 47:17 "And when shall, 47:19 and then shall that wicked be revealed, 47:21 whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, 47:25 and shall destroy 47:26 with the brightness of His coming. 47:28 Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan 47:31 with all power and signs and lying wonders, 47:34 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness 47:37 and then they perish 47:38 because they received not the love of the truth, 47:42 that they might be saved." 47:43 Those difficult times are coming, 47:45 and we need to have our eyes on Jesus Christ, 47:48 who is the author and finisher of our faith. 47:52 The deceptions in the earth will be such 47:55 that darkness will cover the earth 47:57 and deep darkness the people. 47:59 And we need to have our eyes on Jesus at all times. 48:04 Isaiah 60:1-2 48:07 declares a message that we need to hear, 48:10 "Arise, shine, for your light has come 48:14 and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 48:18 For behold the darkness shall cover the earth 48:20 and deep darkness the people, 48:22 but the Lord will arise over you 48:24 and His glory will be seen upon you." 48:29 Understand that Jesus 48:32 is concerned for His children. 48:34 We should be better prepared now 48:37 than we really are. 48:39 And so this message I hope will not only encourage you 48:43 but help you to understand. 48:44 You need to prepare 48:46 for what is coming upon this world. 48:50 Jesus Christ is coming soon. 48:54 I read to you from Matthew Chapter 14, 48:56 Matthew 5:14, 48:58 "You are the light of the world. 49:02 A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." 49:06 So as a light of the world, it is time to shine. 49:11 It is time to shine 49:13 and let Jesus be seen and heard in you. 49:18 So that's why I also read Matthew 5:16, 49:22 "Let your light so shine before men, 49:25 that they may see your good works 49:28 and glorify your Father in heaven." 49:31 So this is the way we should be living our lives. 49:34 Let your light so shine, 49:36 that they may see your good works 49:37 and glorify your Father in heaven. 49:41 Jesus Christ wants to shine through you, 49:45 that the words people hear you speak 49:48 may glorify the Lord, 49:49 that the things people see you do 49:52 may glorify the Lord, 49:53 that your thoughts may be thoughts 49:56 that draw you close to the Lord. 49:59 I'm reading from a book called 50:01 Christ's Object Lessons, page 419. 50:05 "It is the privilege of every soul 50:08 to be a living channel 50:10 through which God can communicate 50:13 to the world, 50:14 the treasures of His grace, 50:16 the unsearchable riches of Christ. 50:19 There's nothing that Christ desires so much 50:22 as agents who will represent to the world 50:26 His spirit and character. 50:28 There's nothing so much as the manifestation, 50:32 through humanity of the sake. 50:34 There's nothing that the world needs 50:35 so much as the manifestation, 50:37 through humanity of the Savior's love. 50:39 All heaven is waiting for channels 50:44 through which can be poured out the holy oil 50:47 to be a joy and blessing to human hearts." 50:50 Oh, yes. 50:52 God wants to through you shine His love 50:57 and His message of mercy to others. 50:59 And I want to encourage you to believe in the Lord. 51:04 Trust in the Lord. 51:05 There are people around you 51:07 that are also facing difficult times. 51:10 And you may be the person 51:12 that God may use to bring them comfort, 51:15 to bring them encouragement, 51:16 and to lead them to God that can be for them 51:20 a refuge and strength. 51:26 There are works of mercy that can be done for people. 51:30 Prophets and Kings, page 718 says, 51:34 "This is the work 51:35 which the prophet Isaiah describes 51:37 when he says, 51:38 'Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, 51:42 and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to my house? 51:46 When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, 51:48 and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 51:52 Then shall thy light break forth 51:54 as the morning, 51:55 and thy health shall spring forth speedily, 51:58 and thy righteousness shall go before thee, 52:00 the glory of Lord shall be thy rearward," 52:04 as it is written in Isaiah 58:7-8. 52:07 Thus in the night of spiritual darkness, 52:10 God's glory is to shine forth through His church 52:14 in lifting up the bowed down 52:16 and comforting those that mourn. 52:19 Yes, Jesus Christ is coming soon, 52:24 very soon. 52:26 And I am going to read to you 52:27 from a song very famous that says, 52:32 soon and very soon, 52:35 we are going to see the King. 52:38 Yes, soon and very soon, 52:40 we are going to see the King. 52:43 Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King. 52:46 Hallelujah, hallelujah, we are going to see the King. 52:51 No more crying there, we are going to see the King. 52:55 No more crying there, we are going to see the King. 53:01 No more crying there, we are going to see the King. 53:06 Hallelujah, hallelujah, we are going to see the King. 53:10 So, my friend, I encourage you to as it says 53:14 in the other song. 53:18 Also, are you weary and troubled? 53:21 Nor light in the darkness you see? 53:23 There's light for a look at the Savior 53:27 and life more abundant and free. 53:30 Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 53:33 look for in His wonderful face, 53:37 and the things of earth will grow strangely dim 53:41 in the light of His glory and grace. 53:46 I encourage you to turn your eyes toward Jesus. 53:49 And as you look toward Jesus, the things of earth, 53:53 those things that may even attract you 53:55 to separate yourself from the Lord, 53:58 will lose their interest. 54:00 They will lose their interest and value in your eyes. 54:03 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 54:05 Now is the time to be fully given, 54:09 fully surrendered to the Lord. 54:11 And so I read to you from Matthew Chapter 28. 54:15 No, Matthew Chapter 11, I'm sorry, verses 28 to 30. 54:19 Matthew 11:28-30. 54:21 The Bible says, "Come to Me, 54:24 all you who labor and are heavy laden, 54:28 and I will give you rest." 54:31 Do you have the rest of Jesus in your heart? 54:35 Jesus is inviting you to come to Him 54:39 that you may have that rest. 54:41 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 54:44 for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 54:47 and you will find rest for your souls. 54:50 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 54:55 When Jesus is with you, 54:58 when you are following Him with all of your heart 55:01 and you take the yoke that He says is easy, 55:04 and when you learn to trust in Him 55:06 for in Him is everlasting strength. 55:09 You will know, you will see that His yoke is easy, 55:13 and a yoke is something that unites two to carry a burden. 55:17 Jesus will carry the burden with you. 55:21 So I encourage you, 55:22 take the yoke of Jesus and learn of Him. 55:25 If you're going through difficulties 55:27 and trouble, 55:29 turn your eyes upon Jesus. 55:32 I would like to pray with you. 55:33 And I encourage you to join me in this prayer 55:36 and ask the Lord to help you, 55:39 forgive you for your sins, 55:40 and help you face 55:42 the difficulties you're facing now. 55:44 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 55:46 Our loving Heavenly Father, 55:49 we come before You in Jesus' name. 55:53 And all around this world, 55:54 Lord, there are people suffering. 55:56 There are people in sorrow. 55:58 There are people that are discouraged, 56:00 depressed. 56:01 There are people that do not know what to do. 56:04 People have lost jobs, people have lost loved ones, 56:09 and some are sinking into despair 56:12 as Peter was sinking in that water. 56:16 We pray, Lord, that they will say to Jesus, 56:19 Lord, save me. 56:21 And we pray that just as it was for Peter, 56:24 Jesus will stretch out His hand and save them. 56:28 And, Heavenly Father, I pray for those 56:31 also that at this moment 56:32 are taking the opportunity 56:35 to ask for forgiveness of sins. 56:37 So I ask that Your promise will be fulfilled 56:39 in 1 John 1:9, 56:42 that if we confess our sins, 56:43 You are faithful 56:45 and just to forgive us for our sins, 56:47 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 56:50 We pray that it will be so. 56:51 We pray for cleansing, forgiveness 56:54 and the peace of Jesus to abide in their hearts. 56:56 We ask for these blessings 56:58 in the holy and blessed name of Jesus. 57:01 Amen and amen. 57:04 I hope you have made a decision to follow Jesus. 57:09 I hope you decide to turn your eyes upon Jesus 57:13 and look for in His wonderful face. 57:16 And as you do this, 57:18 the things of earth will grow strangely dim 57:22 in the light of His glory and grace. 57:26 God bless you. 57:27 We'll see you next time on 3ABN Worship Hour. |
Revised 2022-02-10