Participants:
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000150S
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00:38 Hello and welcome to Behold the Lamb Presents.
00:41 I'm Chris Shelton your host, 00:42 I want to thank you for joining us. 00:44 Our message for today 00:45 is the second message in a two part series 00:48 that we have entitled 00:49 "How to survive the time of Jacob's trouble." 00:52 In today's world, 00:53 there is a tremendous climate of uncertainty, 00:56 which has led Christians back to the Word of God, 00:59 back to prophecy, 01:00 and the realization 01:02 that the signs of our Lord's Second Coming 01:04 are indeed being fulfilled. 01:07 Prophecy forewarns us 01:09 that we are to go through a little time of trouble 01:12 as well as a big time of trouble. 01:14 It is during this big time of trouble 01:17 that the impending Sunday law 01:19 that we are now hearing spoken of in the news 01:23 will be passed, 01:24 and that God's people will experience what is called 01:27 "The time of Jacob's trouble." 01:30 So it only makes sense that 01:31 we do our due diligence to study 01:34 all that we can about this prophecy 01:36 in order to not be a part of the group 01:39 that is referred 01:43 as being destroyed for a lack of knowledge. 01:46 God wants us to study. 01:48 He wants us to gain knowledge that he has left for each of us 01:51 so that we will not be deceived by the enemy and lost. 01:56 Therefore it is our privilege 01:59 and working for the Lord 02:00 to bring you this timely message 02:02 with Pastor Kenny Shelton 02:04 that is again entitled 02:06 "How to survive the time of Jacob's trouble." 02:08 But before Pastor Kenny Shelton presents his message, 02:12 let's take a few moments to visit 3ABN 02:15 and listen to a song entitled "I will go" 02:18 as sung by Ashley Sabol. 02:49 Give me ears to hear Your Spirit 02:56 Give me feet to follow through 03:01 Give me hands to touch the hurting 03:07 And the faith to follow You 03:16 Give me grace to be a servant 03:23 Give me mercy for the lost 03:28 Give me passion for Your glory 03:34 Give me passion for the cross 03:40 And I will go where there are no easy roads 03:46 Leave the comforts that I know 03:52 I will go and let this journey be my home 03:58 I will go 04:02 I will go 04:20 I'll let go of my ambitions 04:27 Cut the roots that run too deep 04:32 I will learn to give away 04:38 What I cannot really keep 04:44 What I cannot really keep 04:51 Help me see with eyes of faith 04:58 Give me strength to run this race 05:06 And I will go where there are no easy roads 05:13 Leave the comforts that I know 05:19 I will go and let this journey be my home 05:25 I will go 05:28 I will go 05:31 I will go 05:33 Lord where Your glory is unknown 05:37 I will live for You alone 05:44 I will go because my life is not my own 05:50 I will go 05:54 I will go 05:58 I will go 06:18 Hello and welcome once again to Behold the Lamb Ministries. 06:20 We appreciate you so very much. 06:23 We're gonna be on part number two. 06:24 So if you've got something, you're jotting it down, 06:26 and you remember the first part. 06:28 And now I'm going to say this quickly, 06:29 if you didn't get the first part, 06:31 you might they say, 06:32 kind of be a little bit in the dark 06:33 of what we're talking about, 06:35 because we're talking about 06:36 "How to survive the time of Jacob's trouble," 06:39 how to survive it. 06:41 And I tell you, if we are here and alive, 06:43 as it were, we want to be able to survive this time. 06:46 We want to be counted righteous, 06:48 because of the blood of Jesus Christ 06:50 to go through this time. 06:51 It's a time, it's very troublesome 06:54 to even think about, 06:55 but by the grace of God we're going to go through it. 06:57 And you will see by the grace of God, 06:58 how we need to match up with this. 07:01 We read this last time, 07:03 and I'm gonna do this before we have prayer. 07:06 We read the passage of scripture in Daniel 12:1, 07:09 so we're not going to read that again. 07:10 But it talks about a time of trouble of what? 07:12 That this world has never seen 07:14 that we're going to be going through. 07:15 No one wants the time of trouble. 07:18 No one wants trouble. 07:19 We want to think peace and safety. 07:21 But there's going to be a time that's coming on this world. 07:23 So I'm saying this, if you can't make it now, 07:26 you will not make it in the near future 07:28 of what's all going to bust loose on this world. 07:31 That's not to discourage anyone. 07:33 That's simply to say, "Oh, I need more help." 07:35 And then we can go through the very throne room of God. 07:39 How to survive, we're going to have prayer, 07:40 then I'm gonna come back and read a quote 07:42 that we read last time on part one, 07:44 so but this is part two, 07:46 but I think it's very, I think it's essential that we read it. 07:48 But first of all, let's have prayer. 07:50 Thank you for praying with us. 07:51 Thank you for support of Behold the Lamb Ministry, 07:53 as the gospel goes into all the world, 07:55 we appreciate partnering up with you. 07:57 May God bless now in His Word. 07:59 And may it be, you know, something that we need to hear. 08:02 And then by God's grace to do. Let's pray, shall we? 08:06 Loving Father in heaven, 08:07 we thank You for the privilege of prayer. 08:08 We thank You that we can call You our Father, 08:10 bless now we pray, 08:11 with thy power of thy Holy Spirit, 08:12 oh, Lord, we need to hear from heaven. 08:14 Equip now we pray our hearts and our minds in our life. 08:17 Lord help us to realize this is life and death issue. 08:20 There's no time to come to church 08:21 to rest and to setback, 08:23 we need to be as it were on guard right now. 08:26 We need to be wide awake 08:27 to what God is going to say to us today 08:29 in Jesus' name, amen. 08:33 From the book, Early Writings, 08:34 I love that book, Early Writings, page 282. 08:37 Here's how it starts out. 08:39 Now notice I read it before 08:40 but I think it's very interesting that we do. 08:43 It said, "Many of the wicked were greatly enraged 08:46 as they suffered the effects of the plagues." 08:50 Did you notice where that puts us? 08:52 That puts us after what? 08:53 The close of probation. 08:55 Remember, God's people don't know probation is closed, 08:57 they don't know that they're sealed, 08:58 they don't know they have the mark of God. 09:00 You see, 09:01 and so they're going through this time of Jacob's trouble 09:04 that we're going to have to go through 09:06 and they're going to be relying upon God 09:08 and we pray God, 09:09 there's enough time at the end that we can look at the, 09:11 how time of Jacob's trouble and the time of the saints. 09:14 The parallels there. There's a lot of them. 09:17 But notice, 09:18 "It was a scene of fearful agony." 09:20 Why? 09:21 "Because parents were bitterly reproached by their children, 09:28 and children by their parents, brothers and sisters, 09:31 sisters their brothers and so on. 09:33 Loud wailing cries were heard in every direction," 09:36 notice this, 09:38 "it was you who kept me from receiving the truth, 09:43 which would have saved me from this awful hour." 09:47 As a end result, you say, 09:48 "Well, the children don't want to hear from me. 09:50 They don't want to hear what truth is right now." 09:51 Listen, if you don't and you don't make it 09:53 and they don't make it 09:54 and you're going through this time, 09:55 they're going to turn on you 09:57 and you're going to turn on them. 09:59 And you're going to realize at that point in time, 10:01 I could have made it. 10:02 I don't have to be going through this hour 10:04 that we're going through right now, 10:05 except what you kept me from following the truth. 10:08 Do you realize there's millions today? 10:11 There's millions today that they're not following truth 10:13 because a husband doesn't want them to, 10:15 or wife doesn't want them to, 10:16 or their family doesn't want them to, 10:18 or you're afraid you're going to be counted 10:19 as a strange thing. 10:23 Do you realize that in this article, 10:24 it talks about here there was a loud cries being heard. 10:29 And notice this, 10:30 they said the people even turned on their ministers. 10:33 You see, at that point time, why? 10:35 They're going to say to the minister, what? 10:36 "You knew these things, you should have known them, 10:39 but you didn't warn us." 10:40 So we have many ministers 10:42 that are playing in the pulpit today. 10:44 They're worried more about the ice cream socials 10:48 than they are right the coming of Jesus Christ. 10:50 The word and more I see signs all time out here 10:52 through these plays. 10:54 I'm not saying all this is always wrong. 10:55 But sometime it's a priority. 10:57 And it should not be for us right now. 10:59 You know, hellfire is very close around us, 11:01 it's going to melt the ice cream. 11:04 We need to pay close attention to what we're doing 11:07 and what's going on right now. 11:09 The world is fast coming to an end, 11:11 there's no doubt about it. 11:12 How to survive the time of Jacob's trouble? 11:14 I'm going to read Great Controversy, 622, 11:17 notice the words. 11:18 Great Controversy, 622, 11:21 "It says the time of trouble 11:22 such as never was is soon to open up. 11:26 We should need an experience which we do not now possess." 11:31 This is either true or it's not true. 11:33 If you look at your own life, and you examine right now, 11:37 faith, again, 11:38 you might have fooled yourself 11:40 not talking about anybody necessarily here, 11:41 I'm just, I'm just throwing this out. 11:43 Because I've talked to an individual 11:45 even last night, 11:46 who thinks by the grace of God, I just kind of believe, 11:48 and if I should die, I'm definitely going to heaven. 11:51 But after talking with and you see the what? 11:53 The commitment is just not there. 11:56 There's not even faith in the Word of God. 11:57 There's no standard of righteousness 12:00 in which we can study together to find out what truth is. 12:04 And they're picking 12:06 what they think is right in truth 12:08 and what is not truth in the Word of God. 12:10 Dare any of us think this is truth 12:12 and this is not truth? 12:14 When I explained to him 12:16 all scripture is given by inspiration of God. 12:17 No, it's just men, holy men of God wrote, 12:20 you see, but it takes faith to believe that. 12:24 And some time we fooled ourselves, 12:26 oh, we're ready to meet. 12:27 Are we really ready to meet God? 12:30 He said we shall need. 12:32 I took in my own life and say I need more, 12:34 because it's difficult to go through 12:36 what we're going through right now. 12:37 Is it not, just a COVID-19? 12:40 It's difficult here. 12:42 But it's nothing like 12:43 it's going to be a time of trouble 12:44 that's not been on this world before. 12:46 And you can look in history. 12:47 And there's things even destruction of Jerusalem 12:49 in AD 70, 12:50 where mothers boiled and ate their own children. 12:52 It says it's going to be worse than that. 12:55 I don't like to have to talk about it. 12:56 I don't want to. But you know what? 12:58 They took their shoes, right? 12:59 And they heated them up and they boiled the leather 13:02 and they chewed on the leather, 13:03 they screamed and cried out, 13:05 they were so hungry. 13:07 And then kill your own children. 13:08 It's awful time. 13:11 Time during the Dark Ages, 13:12 our children were fed to the lions 13:14 and so on and so forth, torn limb from limb. 13:17 That just makes us think, oh, awesome time. 13:21 But the Bible said, 13:22 "There's time coming that's worse than that." 13:25 I need more. 13:27 It says here, "An experience which we do not now possess, 13:30 and which many are too indolent to obtain." 13:34 It simply means we're too lazy. 13:36 Remember, the lukewarm church, 13:38 they were too lazy to obtain it. 13:39 We'd rather obtain the knowledge 13:41 and the things of this world 13:42 rather than the knowledge and the wisdom of God. 13:46 See, I'm not trying to school people. 13:47 I just want you to think, 13:49 I want to agitate you in a good way. 13:51 I agitate myself when I study this 13:54 to make me want to think 13:56 how am I in my relationship with Christ? 14:00 Am I lazy? Am I indolent? 14:02 Notice this, this article is very clear, 14:05 "It is often the case 14:06 that trouble is greater in anticipation." 14:08 Have you found that just in life? 14:11 You worry about a court case, you worry about going here. 14:13 You worry about this, you worry about that. 14:16 But says then, you know, 14:18 all of a sudden after it takes place. 14:19 Oh, it wasn't that bad. 14:20 But notice, in this case, the time of Jacob's trouble. 14:23 Notice this. 14:25 "But this is not the case in the crisis before us. 14:29 The most vivid presentation 14:31 cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal. 14:35 In the time of trial, 14:36 every soul must stand for himself before God." 14:40 Every what? 14:42 Every soul. 14:43 So you're not going to rely upon this one or that one 14:45 to stand in your place. 14:47 You're going to have to take a stand. 14:50 Now notice what is the final test 14:53 that comes and when does it come? 14:55 Now again, we've covered all in the first part here, 14:57 we talked about the Sabbath. 14:59 We talked about the importance 15:00 that the seventh day Sabbath is playing in the end time 15:03 because it's going to be the great test. 15:05 And I said, right? 15:07 Many or most Seventh-day Adventists 15:08 are going to fail it. 15:10 Is it okay for me to say that? 15:11 We will fail it. Why? 15:13 Because we do not observe the Sabbath 15:14 the way God said to observe it. 15:16 If you observe the Sabbath the way you want to observe it, 15:18 you're going to fall short and I'm going to fall short. 15:21 God tells us exactly 15:22 how we are to observe the Sabbath. 15:24 Didn't what He said? 15:26 He said, "Not speaking your own words," 15:27 Isaiah 58:13-14, 15:30 not doing your own pleasure on My holy day, 15:31 and we think nothing about doing, 15:33 we just say we want to do. 15:34 Yeah, you have that right if you want to do it, 15:36 but there's a price to pay. 15:38 We look at Jeremiah 17 and Nehemiah. 15:41 These were men of God, 15:44 who stood up when all was going on, 15:46 they stood up. 15:47 And they said, listen here, 15:48 "What some of you doing on the Sabbath?" 15:50 God is going to punish 15:51 and He did to Jerusalem and so on and so forth. 15:53 Because they did not observe the seventh day Sabbath 15:56 the way they were supposed to. 15:58 And there was a fire kindle in the gate, you remember? 16:01 What happened in Jerusalem? 16:02 One stone left upon the other, 16:04 because they wouldn't change their way. 16:06 What were they were doing? Just good. 16:07 Let's just, I think it's important 16:09 that we put this in our mind again, 16:11 the people were coming to church, right? 16:14 I'm gonna call him Seventh-day Adventist, 16:15 is it okay? 16:17 They observe the Sabbath. 16:18 And certainly they believe in the Second Coming, 16:20 isn't that right? 16:21 That's what Seventh-day Adventist means. 16:23 So you're already halfway there. 16:24 You believe in the Second Coming, 16:26 do you not? 16:27 Then we believe in keeping the Sabbath. 16:29 But what were the church members doing? 16:31 They were bringing their food, 16:33 they were bringing stuff out of the garden as it were, 16:35 the burdens what, how Jeremiah 17 talks about. 16:39 They're bringing their burdens, 16:40 those things that they made a living with, 16:42 they were bringing them to the very gate of the temple, 16:45 and they were buying and selling 16:46 on God's seventh day Sabbath. 16:51 And then when they got done buying and selling, 16:52 and so on and so forth, 16:54 then they went and had church service. 16:56 You see, God said, "Don't do that." 17:01 Jeremiah said, "Don't do that." 17:03 God said, "If you do it, 17:04 I'm gonna kindle a fire in the gate. 17:05 And nobody's going to be able to put it out." 17:07 And that's exactly what happened 17:09 because they continued to do it. 17:10 I like what Nehemiah, whoo, glory. 17:12 Nehemiah said, 17:13 if you read Nehemiah, it was awesome. 17:15 He said, he gave him a warning first. 17:17 Then said, "Don't be bringing your burdens here. 17:18 Don't be buying and don't be selling. 17:20 And don't be doing this before you go to church." 17:22 That's what the Bible says. 17:24 You can honor that if you want to, 17:25 or you can just discredit if you want to. 17:27 But there's going to be a price to pay 17:29 as there was in times past. 17:33 But how awesome 17:35 I think as we think about these things in God's way, 17:38 Nehemiah brought it to the point, 17:39 he warned them, 17:40 he said, "Look," 17:42 I guess I want to call him church member, 17:43 he called them, 17:45 you guys come here and you bring your burdens 17:46 right before right here. 17:48 And he said, he warned them. 17:50 He said, "Don't do it again." 17:52 And they did it once and they did it twice. 17:55 Basically, I want to say it this way, the third time, 17:57 you know what he said? 17:59 He said, "Next time you bring that stuff here, 18:00 I'm gonna lay hands on you." 18:02 Isn't that interesting? 18:05 I guess you'd love a pastor that would say that, 18:07 isn't that right? 18:08 Do it again, I'm gonna lay hands on you. 18:10 Most would get up and walk out and say, 18:11 "Man, I'm not going." 18:13 But you know what the Bible says? 18:15 Once he said that, not a person ever did it again. 18:20 God's gonna lay hands, you see. 18:22 Oh, absolutely. 18:24 A time of trouble this world has never known. 18:29 Review and Herald 12-18-1888 says this. 18:33 "The rulers of our nation will, by legislative, 18:36 notice this, enactments, enforce Sunday law," 18:39 we know that. 18:40 "Thus God's people will be brought into great peril." 18:44 God's last day people is going to be brought where? 18:47 In what kind of peril? 18:49 See great peril, 18:50 but we said I lay by, we set like a... 18:52 Can I say dummies? 18:53 I'm gonna say it, 18:54 sometime we sit like dummies and we just, 18:56 you know, the world, not necessarily anybody here. 18:57 But we just sit and we hear it, 18:59 and then we just let it roll off our shoulders like 19:01 it's not going to happen. 19:02 The Word of God says it's going to happen. 19:05 And there has to be a preparation for it 19:07 or we will not make it. 19:09 You think you're gonna repopulate heaven. 19:12 We're gonna repopulate heaven, 19:14 then we have to be like 19:15 the angels of heaven, do we not? 19:16 We have to gain victory over sin 19:18 if heaven is going to be our home. 19:19 Some of us got a long way to go. 19:22 But by the grace of God, we can reach that, 19:23 we can have the mind of Christ. 19:26 When the Sunday law is passed, 19:27 there's going to be a great period of trouble here. 19:30 And it should concern us right now 19:32 as far as I'm concerned. 19:35 Remember the third angel's message, 19:36 you remember that? 19:38 What does the third angel's message say? 19:40 I'm gonna read it for you right in case we've forgotten. 19:42 I know there's so, 19:43 a lot to cover here 19:44 and very little time it seems like. 19:46 But Revelation Chapter 14, the Bible said in 9-10, 19:51 Revelation Chapter what? 19:52 14:9-10, here is a warning. 19:56 People, you know what? 19:57 Most people in the world, Brother Jen, 19:59 most people in the world don't know this passage. 20:01 They're not reading this passage 20:02 and I can't figure out why. 20:03 Or when they read them, they don't care. 20:09 I'm not mad as just like, you're hurt, you're frustrated. 20:11 You're saying, oh, righteous indignation. 20:13 Why won't people listen? 20:16 The Bible says, Revelation 14:9, 20:19 it said, "The third angel," did what? 20:21 "Followed them saying" with what kind of a voice? 20:25 "If any man worship the beast and his image, 20:28 receive his mark in their forehead, 20:30 or in his hand, 20:32 the same shall drink of the wine 20:34 of the wrath of God, 20:35 which is poured out without mixture, 20:37 no grace, no mercy, 20:38 into the cup of his indignation, 20:40 and he shall be," 20:41 notice this, 20:43 "he shall be tormented with fire 20:44 and brimstone in the presence of," what? 20:47 "In the presence of the holy angels, 20:49 and in the presence of the Lamb." 20:52 What a warning that we see. 20:54 I mean, surely we can see there's something to this. 20:58 Third angel follow with loud voice, 21:00 if any man worship the beast, 21:01 first thing, I would say it mean, 21:03 God's wrath is going to be poured out on me 21:05 if I worship the image or the beast, 21:07 and so on and so forth. 21:09 First question I say is, who's the beast? 21:11 What's the image to the beast? 21:12 I want to know what it is so that I can avoid it. 21:15 But most people don't want to. 21:16 They're stumbling around in the dark, 21:18 and they're looking about some, 21:19 something written on a can 21:21 or something is written in a newspaper, 21:22 or something's gonna be plastered on your head. 21:25 This has to do with worship. 21:28 That's what it says over and over. 21:30 It has to do with who we give our allegiance to, 21:33 who we worship. 21:36 And again all we have to do is study the Scripture, 21:38 don't let them say, 21:39 "Oh, we always thought what, we thought there's gonna be." 21:41 They're getting people down there, 21:42 they're putting something on their hand, 21:44 they're putting in the mind, 21:45 the devil is going to have his counterfeit. 21:47 This is spiritual battle that is going on. 21:51 God is asking us to see that what is, you know, 21:53 really when I look at all this stuff, say, wow. 21:57 Surely we want to know. 22:02 I mean, we look at the work of... 22:04 To me, the Holy Spirit, when I read this, 22:05 it's saying something, angel said with a loud voice. 22:10 Third angel embraces the first and second messages also 22:15 which is so very important to him. 22:18 And is represented as we read it 22:19 giving with a loud voice is what the Bible said here, 22:23 that by the power of the Holy Spirit 22:25 that people will be wide awake. 22:27 It's of the highest importance. 22:29 It is life and death issue. 22:31 People don't want to hear that. 22:33 And I'm trying to say why not? 22:34 Why not? 22:35 I want to hear, 22:37 then you can decipher if it is truth or not. 22:39 You can study to show yourself approved. 22:41 We've talked to people, 22:43 and I just talk to some here this week to somebody, 22:44 they don't want to have a standard, 22:47 look, the standard of righteousness. 22:49 This is the standard for all of us. 22:51 This is it. 22:53 If you don't use this, 22:55 you cannot ever come into harmony. 22:57 Does that make sense? 22:58 This is it. 23:00 But when I'm trying to study with somebody, Will, 23:01 and they won't let me use this, how can we ever come in unity? 23:05 They'll say, "Well, no, I think this. 23:07 Well, I think that." 23:08 But what does God say? 23:10 And why do you come up with what you come up with? 23:12 Because God has said line upon line, 23:13 precept upon precept, 23:15 here a little and there a little 23:16 for what is truth. 23:19 This is the standard of righteousness. 23:21 God means what He says. 23:25 He said, "No work on the Sabbath." 23:27 That's exactly what He means. 23:30 And you have audacity or I have audacity, 23:32 if I say I know what He says, but I'll just do it anyway. 23:35 Really? 23:39 I mean, please think about that. 23:41 Either means, now how can you choose that and say, 23:44 "Well, you know, He doesn't mean this." 23:45 And over here, you say, 23:46 "Well, He means it here. 23:48 But over here, He doesn't mean it." Why? 23:49 Because that doesn't what? 23:50 Go along with your lifestyle. 23:53 Yeah, this is what it boils down to 23:55 is I want and I think it ought to be this way. 23:58 And God said, "No, I don't want it that way." 24:08 You know, when this final test comes. 24:11 And what is the final test? 24:12 I'm going to read Manuscript 118, 1899. 24:15 Manuscript 118, 1899. 24:20 It says, "Sunday-keeping 24:22 is not yet the mark of the beast." 24:24 Are we still clear on that? 24:25 I bring it up from time to time, 24:27 and I'm going to continue to bring it up 24:28 because I want you to know. 24:31 I don't want when probation closes 24:32 that you turn and you say, 24:34 "Pastor should have told us and he didn't tell us." 24:37 If you don't do it, 24:39 because you've chosen not to do it. 24:41 You've chosen another leader. 24:45 I mean, the audacity of us to think that 24:47 God has said it in a certain way. 24:49 And this is the way He said it, 24:50 but we're going to change it to accommodate our lifestyle. 24:55 You know, that's no different than Isaiah 14, 24:58 about the devil says I'm going to do what? 25:01 "I'm going to sit on the throne of God." 25:04 He's going to be higher than God. 25:06 Other words, what he's saying is, 25:07 I take God off the throne, I'm going to sit on it. 25:09 Are we not doing that in a sense? 25:11 If we try to change His Word, or say it doesn't matter, 25:15 can anyone come in and say 25:16 anything in this book doesn't matter? 25:19 No one can say, can you? 25:20 Everything matter. 25:22 The Bible said, Jesus said, what? 25:23 "Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God," 25:26 Matthew 4:4, isn't that right? 25:30 I mean, this is such a time that we're living in. 25:32 "Sunday-keeping is not now yet the mark of the beast, 25:35 and will not be until the decree goes forth, 25:38 causing men to worship the idol Sabbath." 25:43 Did you get that? Is what it says? 25:45 Revelation, 13:16, and he causes all. 25:49 He causeth all is what the Bible said, 25:52 legislative action. 25:53 And man, if you can't see today, 25:55 what they're doing 25:56 in the legislative halls right now, 25:57 we are blind. Can I say as bats? 25:59 We're blind as bats. 26:02 And I'm not trying to hurt anybody. 26:04 I just like why can't we see this? 26:06 Maybe because spiritual things are spiritually discerned. 26:10 And many people who profess to be spiritual 26:12 are not spiritual at all possibly. 26:14 If they were spiritual, 26:15 they would understand these things. 26:18 They could see it's life and death issue. 26:20 And you would approach it as such, 26:22 and you would live it out in your life as such. 26:25 The Bible said, notice this, the idol Sabbath, 26:27 that's Sunday, we know that. 26:30 Notice it, the article goes on, 26:31 "The time will come when this day will be the test. 26:36 This day will be the test. 26:40 But that time has not yet come." 26:42 But let me just make it clear, 26:44 at least in my studies right now. 26:45 If you have studied 26:46 and you understand the seventh day Sabbath, 26:48 and the abidingness of it from God's law right here, 26:51 you don't have to wait until the Sunday law is passed. 26:54 If you turn and go the other way, 26:56 you follow me? 26:58 Why? 27:00 What is it, James 4:17? 27:01 "To him that knoweth to do good, 27:03 and doeth it not. 27:04 To him, it is sin." 27:07 So once we say I know, and I accept the Sabbath, 27:09 and I say, see, 27:10 this is what we need to be talking about all the time, 27:12 so we have it clear in our minds. 27:14 Is somebody's home? 27:16 This is what we need to be doing 27:17 so that we can make up our mind what we want to do. 27:20 Make these choices, 27:22 the Sabbath, seventh day Sabbath, 27:24 Lord thy God. 27:27 Remember, it becomes a test 27:28 when the laws of the land say now you must, 27:32 but it is a test for the people of God right now, 27:35 they say I am a Sabbath keeper. 27:37 And when you turn away from it, 27:39 I'm gonna read something in a moment, 27:40 blow your socks right off. 27:42 If you got socks on today, fasten them down. 27:45 I'm talking about fasten them down. 27:51 This is an issue 27:52 when the decree goes or the laws are passed. 27:56 And sufficient light is going to be given to everyone. 27:59 That's the good news. 28:00 God is good, 28:02 so that they can make an intelligent decision. 28:06 God wants you to make an intelligent decision. 28:10 And so He's going to give you the information. 28:12 So therefore you can't say, 28:13 "Well, I didn't know, I didn't hear. 28:15 The Holy Spirit's going to make sure 28:17 that you've heard these beautiful truths. 28:20 Great Controversy, 605, notice what it says. 28:23 Just what I was talking about. 28:24 "Not one is made to suffer the wrath of God 28:26 until the truth has been brought home 28:29 in his mind and conscience 28:31 and then he's rejected it." 28:33 Isn't God merciful? 28:35 Every person is going to have the opportunity. 28:36 Oh, they didn't know, right now they say, oh, they didn't know. 28:38 Why doesn't people know? 28:40 Part of the reason is because they don't know 28:41 it's because they're not in the Word of God. 28:43 Isn't that right? 28:44 They're not studying the Word of God, 28:46 that's why they don't know. 28:48 They're studying the world. 28:49 They're studying baseball players 28:50 and basketball players 28:52 and carrying on like, oh, boy, calm down. 28:57 Carrying on. 28:58 Yeah, that we've got to have our football. 29:00 We've got to have our basketball. 29:01 I like football. I like basketball too. 29:03 I like baseball too. I like sports too. 29:05 But it's not at all in, it's over here somewhere. 29:08 Why don't people get on air and say, I want God back. 29:11 I want this nation to be what it needs to be. 29:16 Yeah, but you know what? 29:17 Other people, 29:19 Adventist many times are not saying diddly-squat. 29:20 Can I say that too? 29:26 I'm not happy about that. 29:27 I'm not trying to be mad or you know upset. 29:29 But it's just that why are we, 29:31 but there are other people who are saying, 29:33 right now other religions we need to get back to God. 29:36 That's good. 29:38 They don't realize 29:40 what all is going to take place but you do. 29:42 We have a battle to fight. 29:47 Oh, my. 29:51 But what about those now before this law is passed? 29:58 What about those now before the law is passed 30:00 when it becomes a great test. 30:02 Who have, we talked about at once they knew the truth. 30:06 They knew it. They observed it. 30:08 They went to church on the Sabbath. 30:10 And then for some reason 30:11 they turn from their obedience to God. 30:14 From God. 30:17 They turn from this testing truth. 30:20 Let me read something from Early Writings, page 37. 30:23 It's heavy. 30:24 If you can't take heaviness, then do something, 30:27 close your ears do something. 30:29 You shouldn't do, you should have them wide open. 30:31 It's a warning for those who have once, 30:35 well, wants to believe the seventh day Sabbath, 30:38 and they've given it up. 30:40 Those who once believed it, and now they've given it up. 30:44 You have family and friends 30:45 just like we do that believed it. 30:48 Now they've given it up. 30:52 Listen, seventh day Sabbath is the fourth commandment 30:54 is just as important to me 30:56 more than all of the rest, they're all. 30:57 If you offend in one point, James 2:10, 30:59 you're guilty of all. 31:02 We talked about stealing right now, 31:03 everybody be shouting and running about. 31:05 We talked about adultery, 31:07 we'd be jumping up and down shouting. 31:08 We say seventh day Sabbath and we go, hmm. 31:15 This is heavy. 31:16 Warning for those who wants to believe 31:19 in God's seventh day Sabbath. 31:22 Remember, you may have given it up. 31:25 You may have given it up because of your job. 31:29 But you know, it's interesting. 31:30 I never have read that in Scripture 31:33 that you may give it up 31:34 because your job demands you give it up. 31:36 I'm not trying to pick on anybody or hurt anybody. 31:38 The shoe fits, wear it. 31:39 If it don't, then don't worry about it. 31:42 But I've never read that. 31:44 Man, I just talked to him today. 31:45 He's putting all these things. What if? 31:47 But there's nothing else in there in Scripture. 31:49 He just said, you know, do or don't. 31:52 And we try to put these things. 31:55 Maybe you've given up the seventh day Sabbath 31:57 because your husband told you, you can't observe it anymore. 32:01 We know people like that. 32:03 Or your wife said you can't keep, 32:04 husband or wife whatever it might be said no. 32:06 Or maybe it's because you lost your first love. 32:10 Is it possible to lose your first love? 32:12 Absolutely, it is. 32:14 And you want to go out and taste the world again. 32:19 The world seemed 32:21 seems like a better place to you evidently. 32:24 You looked at the world of God 32:26 and the Scripture and it wasn't beautiful enough 32:28 or wasn't powerful enough, 32:30 something was wrong 32:31 and you just wanted to give it up. 32:35 I want the world is what maybe you're saying? 32:37 I'd rather have the world than I'd rather have heaven. 32:42 No, you wouldn't want to say that, would you? 32:46 The world seems a better place than heaven. 32:50 Or maybe the friends in this world 32:52 maybe you think more of than you do the friendship of God. 32:57 Well, that's a challenge. 32:58 You're going to make one decision the other. 33:00 Early Writings, 37 says this, notice this, 33:02 "I was shown a company who were howling in agony." 33:05 Hello, somebody. 33:07 I was shown what? 33:08 "I was shown a company who were howling in agony." 33:12 You either believe it or you don't believe it. 33:18 I was shown what? 33:21 A company who were howling in agony. 33:24 Notice we talked about before, 33:25 it was a little group over here. 33:27 It's a little group here 33:28 who are howling a little company. 33:29 Then I'm saying, 33:31 "Where did everybody go 33:33 when it came down to the bottom line?" 33:34 There's a very few, it's very small remnant, 33:37 that's going to be, you know, stay with God. 33:41 Because the times get too tough, 33:42 and we think if we give up 33:43 and we just kind of join the world, 33:45 they'll leave us alone, they will not. 33:49 Notice, 33:50 "On their garment..." 33:52 And I'm glad Brother Mark told a story today. 33:57 Because, 33:58 "On their garment was written in large characters, 34:02 'Thou art weighed in the balance, 34:06 and found wanting." 34:09 Daniel 5:27, you're found what? 34:13 You're weighed in the balances and your... 34:15 You know, people say, well, I don't believe it. 34:17 Bible said, "By your deeds you shall be jarring, 34:19 you're gonna be judged by your deeds 34:20 whether they be good or bad." 34:28 "I saw some howling in," what? 34:30 "In agony on their garments was written," 34:32 notice this, 34:33 "with large characters or letters here say, 34:35 'You're weighed in the balance and found wanting.'" 34:38 I asked the company," 34:40 who is this company 34:42 that has this written on their garments, 34:43 the angel said. 34:46 They, listen church. 34:49 Are we listening? 34:54 "The angel said, 34:56 'These are they who have once kept the Sabbath, 35:00 and have given it up.'" 35:04 The ones who are weighed in the balances 35:06 and found wanting. 35:07 These are the ones who once kept the Sabbath, 35:09 but they gave it up. 35:12 Many, many who once kept, 35:14 they don't realize the importance of it, 35:16 they've lost their first love. 35:18 They've lost their relationship with Christ. 35:20 And they'd rather have the world than Jesus. 35:25 They kept it but now they've given up. 35:27 "I heard them cry with a loud voice. 35:31 Oh, and this is what? 35:33 Oh, we believe, we believe in thy coming. 35:37 We've taught it with energy. 35:40 And while they were speaking, notice, 35:42 their eyes would fall upon their garments, 35:46 and see the writing, they would well aloud. 35:51 I saw that they had drunk of the deep waters 35:54 and foul the residue with their feet." 35:56 Notice, 35:58 "They have trodden down the Sabbath underfoot. 36:02 And this was why 36:04 they were weighed in the balances 36:06 and found wanting." 36:08 See the Sabbath issue is the big test. 36:12 It's going to be the big final test. 36:14 How will you, you know, how you? 36:17 What kind of stance are you going to take? 36:19 What kind of stance are you taking right now? 36:24 Are you trampling upon the Sabbath? 36:27 See, are you trampling upon it? 36:29 Or are you saying by God's grace, 36:31 I want to observe what He says in His Word. 36:36 This is what it's going to boil down to. 36:37 Because remember, 36:39 the time's coming and we realize 36:40 what happens when we're talking about 36:42 this time of Jacob's trouble. 36:43 It is a time when probation has closed. 36:46 Did you get it? 36:48 So there must be a preparation 36:49 that we must have in our hearts in life 36:51 before this time. 36:53 That means it needs to be taking place now 36:55 because it's very clear in Revelation 15:8, 36:58 the Bible said, "And the temple was filled with," what? 37:01 "With smoke from the glory of God and His power. 37:05 No man was able to do," what? 37:07 "No man was able to enter the temple 37:09 until the seven plagues 37:10 of the seven angels were fulfilled." 37:12 What does that mean? 37:14 When the seven last plagues are poured out, 37:15 probation is already what? 37:17 Has already closed, 37:18 but God's faithful people will go through that time. 37:21 That's an awesome time. It's a heavy duty time. 37:24 But probation of God, Christ stands up, 37:26 there's no more intercessor. 37:31 No one will have access to the mercy seat anymore. 37:36 Praise God. 37:38 We have access now for the mercy. 37:40 God showing mercy. 37:41 People say some time, 37:42 God ought to strike us all dead. 37:46 I know that's heavy duty. 37:48 But we've rebelled against Him in so many ways and so often, 37:52 but because of His mercy, praise God, 37:54 and His love for us. 37:56 He's reaching out one more time. 38:00 But the time will come, no forgiveness of sins, 38:04 the time has passed. 38:06 No mediator anymore. 38:08 Now it's time for the seven angels 38:09 to go forth and pour out the seven vials, 38:11 the plagues on earth. 38:13 God's wrath is going to be poured out. 38:16 Early Writings 36 says this, 38:18 "When he has finished his work in the sanctuary." 38:21 Where is Christ right now? 38:24 He's in the Most Holy Place. Is He not? 38:26 What is He doing? 38:28 Praise God. 38:30 He's standing up in your behalf right now. 38:33 He's making atonement for us. 38:35 He's saying what? 38:36 Father, My blood 38:38 when your name comes up in the judgment. 38:41 Remember, you, all we're gonna stand and I'm gonna tell God, 38:43 how come I didn't because the pastor did this 38:45 and the elders did that. 38:47 You're not going to stand before God, 38:48 your life goes beforehand. 38:50 When your name comes up in the judgment, 38:52 Christ must stand in the most, 38:54 He does in the Most Holy Place right now. 38:56 And when He says, Kenny Shelton, 38:58 I have to have Christ as my Lord and my Savior. 39:00 And He says "My blood Father." 39:02 And God says, "Oh, that's good enough." 39:05 Think about it. 39:06 But what if you haven't accepted Him? 39:08 There's no one to plead your case. 39:10 Heaven can't possibly be your home. 39:12 It's more than I believe in Christ. 39:14 Are we living for Him? 39:16 Has He changed our heart and changed our life? 39:19 Or like the devils who believe and tremble. 39:24 Another couple of lines 39:25 from Early Writings 36 says this, 39:27 "The plagues now as they're being poured out 39:29 enraged the wicked against the righteous." 39:32 Because why? 39:33 Oh, we've talked about it so many times, 39:35 "Because they thought that 39:36 we had brought the judgments of God upon them. 39:39 And if they could rid the earth of us, 39:42 the plagues would be stayed." 39:45 They're going to be, would be blamed. 39:47 See most of us can't take any kind of blame right now. 39:49 Somebody says something about us that we fall apart. 39:54 I wasn't greeted at the door the way I should be greeted. 39:57 I'm not going back anymore. 39:59 Somebody with me? 40:02 I mean, really, it's sad, but I mean, it's true. 40:06 I've heard it too often. 40:08 Well, I think I should be really. 40:12 Yeah. Wow. 40:15 "If they could rid the earth of us, 40:17 the plagues would be what? 40:18 Be stayed. 40:19 And then that decree goes forward to slay," the what? 40:22 "The saints which caused them to cry 40:24 day and night for deliverance." 40:27 Revelation 13:15. That's what it says. 40:32 But remember, even after probation is closed, right? 40:35 People are sealed, mark of God. 40:37 God said, they're mine. 40:40 Still yet, the people of God don't know that. 40:42 And so they're still pleading with God. 40:44 Is there anything that needs to go in my life? 40:47 Is there anything? 40:49 Notice what it says, 40:51 continuing on with Early Writings 36. 40:52 It says, "A decree went forth to slay the saints, 40:55 which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance." 40:58 Listen, "This is the time of Jacob's trouble." 41:04 And it happens because the sins of the world 41:07 have reached into heaven. 41:10 When the law of God is made void in the land, 41:13 when the Sabbath has been trampled underfoot. 41:16 Remember, doesn't take the Sunday law now, 41:17 we can take the Sabbath and trample underfoot 41:19 and observe it the way we think we want to observe it 41:21 rather than the way God said. 41:23 If you want to be faithful, we must do what God has said, 41:25 let's remember. 41:26 When Jesus finishes His work in the Most Holy Place, 41:31 as our mediator, He then leaves the sanctuary. 41:35 We have that clear. He leaves. 41:37 Great Controversy, 614 says this. 41:41 Wow, that means it's over, isn't it? 41:43 He leaves, puts on His garment. 41:45 He said, "In the fearful time, 41:48 the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God 41:52 without an intercessor." 41:53 What does that mean? 41:55 Can you think about right now living right now today, 41:58 in the sight of a holy God 42:00 without Christ being our mediator? 42:02 We couldn't make it, we'd be struck dead, 42:04 would we not? 42:05 We couldn't live. 42:07 We couldn't make it because there's sin. 42:09 Sin can't stay in the presence of God. 42:11 You take sin with you unconfessed sin. 42:13 Listen, unconfessed sin 42:15 you won't be going through this time. 42:18 Just food for thought 42:19 because time is just running away from us right now. 42:24 Spirit of God has been withdrawn, 42:26 you know, that from the earth. 42:27 Why? 42:28 Because we've rejected His mercy. 42:30 We've rejected His power, His victory, His love, His law. 42:34 The angel ceased to hold back the winds of strife. 42:37 The world is in... 42:39 I mean just, it's involved in and ruin more 42:41 right than anybody's ever experienced in this life. 42:45 The destiny of the world has been forever fit. 42:47 You realize that time is coming. 42:50 One of these days 42:52 destiny of this world will be fixed 42:53 and it will not ever be changed. 42:55 And then the spirit of the enemy, 42:57 notice this, 42:59 then the spirit of the enemy will be coming in 43:01 because God's Spirit is withdrawn. 43:03 And notice this here, what he wants to do, 43:05 he wants to see a little semblance 43:07 for the zeal of God. 43:09 The enemy wants you to believe that he's going to, 43:11 God's still working. 43:14 Man, what a time. 43:16 Great Controvert, 616, 43:17 "The people of God will be plunged 43:18 into the scenes of affliction 43:20 and distress described by the prophet 43:23 as a time of Jacob's trouble." 43:27 Our text we read, 43:28 we won't have time now to read, 43:29 it was Jeremiah 30:5-7. 43:32 It talks about there's a voice of trembling, 43:34 the time of Jacob's trouble. 43:38 To be able to go through that time, 43:41 but God said 43:42 there's going to be people saved on earth. 43:46 That's a time. 43:47 The Jacob's trouble, 43:48 remember was a time when he rassled in prayer 43:51 with Jesus or with an angels, isn't that right? 43:55 He rassled there because for his very life. 43:59 Yeah. Genesis 32. 44:00 Read that when you have the opportunity 44:02 verses 24 and 30. 44:03 Genesis 32:24-30. 44:06 Now remember here in this article, what it says, 44:10 "This represents the experience of God's people 44:15 in the time of trouble." 44:17 This does what? 44:19 Listen to what Jacob went through, 44:20 with him and Esau and fighting of the angel. 44:23 And what Jacob experience 44:24 is exactly what God's last day people will experience. 44:31 So it would behoove us to say, what did Jacob go through. 44:36 How was he? 44:37 Yeah, how was he equipped to go through this time? 44:42 When he should have been 44:44 if things weren't taken care of, 44:45 he would be struck dead. 44:48 When the angel just simply said, 44:50 we'll talk about a little more in a minute. 44:51 When the angel said, 44:52 "Let me go." 44:55 And Jacob said, "I'm not gonna let you." 44:57 Right then would have been enough 44:58 if Jacob's life had not been right with God. 45:01 How many sins does it take to miss heaven? 45:03 You better think about it. 45:05 Oh, I'm a pretty good person, I do most of these things. 45:06 Really? 45:08 How many sins did it takes to get Adam and Eve 45:09 thrown out of the garden? 45:11 Satan in heaven, I think you can see, just, 45:16 so we have to make sure that every sin is confessed 45:18 and forsaken, 45:20 that we might go through this time of purification 45:23 to be able to live in the sight of a holy God 45:25 without a mediator as it were, the way what? 45:28 We get to heaven. 45:30 You don't need it, won't need a mediator. 45:36 Jacob practiced deception and we know that. 45:39 And there's people 45:41 who are practicing deception today, 45:42 but be sure your sins will find you out. 45:47 As he practices deadly deception, as it were, 45:50 Esau got pretty mad, didn't he? 45:52 Esau was going to try to kill Jacob. 45:54 He wanted back and know what Jacob do? 45:56 We know he ran and he hid for many years. 45:58 But notice, God wanted to get things all squared away. 46:01 And he told Jacob what? 46:02 "I want you to go back. Go back to your homeland." 46:04 And he knew if I went back to the homeland, 46:06 I'm going to be killed by my brother. 46:08 There's no doubt about it. 46:09 Go to your country, said, 46:11 let's look at quick at some similarities 46:13 in these last few moments that we have, 46:15 few minutes we have. 46:16 Listen carefully, 46:18 we're talking about how we're going to survive 46:19 time of Jacob's trouble. 46:21 Notice number one, Jacob, notice this, was reaching, 46:25 you notice this, as he was reaching the borders 46:27 as he was traveling 46:28 and coming to the borders of the land, 46:31 he was filled with fear. 46:33 Remember, his company was unarmed. 46:38 They had no defense at all. 46:40 And he knew he was soon to be killed 46:42 and everything he had taken from him. 46:45 How does that relate notice to God's people? 46:49 Notice, 46:50 God's people are just about to reach the Promised Land. 46:53 We're on the borders of it right now. 46:56 But you know what? We are fearful. 46:59 No doubt we're unarmed. 47:01 We can't handle this situation on our own. 47:03 Oh, how we need God, 47:04 how we need the spirit of the living God, 47:06 how we need the angels of heaven 47:08 to be with us now? 47:09 Because we know during this time, 47:10 we're soon to be killed, 47:12 just like Jacob. 47:15 But notice the people of God did not fear at this time, 47:19 the death as it were just death. 47:20 They feared that their sins had not gone 47:23 beforehand into judgment and been forgiven. 47:25 But you see what? 47:27 Most of us here we're, "Oh, am I saved?" 47:29 Man, somebody needs to get serious. 47:31 Do we see it serious with God 47:33 when you get down on your knees, 47:34 spend some time down there. 47:36 Then when you get up that you know 47:37 that your sins have been forgiven. 47:38 And you know you're not going to go back there again. 47:41 Man, this is heavy duty time. 47:44 Number two, Jacob. 47:46 It was a crushing weight 47:48 that he held on his shoulder 47:50 because it was his sin 47:52 that caused this time of trouble. 47:54 Did you get it? 47:57 His only hope is in the mercy of God. 48:02 He must do his part and ask for forgiveness. 48:07 How about God's people? 48:10 They realize that is their sins 48:13 that has caused this brutal time. 48:16 They brought it about this danger, 48:19 they realized this was our only hope 48:21 was in the mercy of God. 48:23 Their only hope was to go to Him 48:27 to make everything right, 48:28 what we have time 48:30 with our fellow man, and with God. 48:32 Make sure all sins are confessed 48:34 and sent up to the judgment beforehand, 48:36 that they're taken care of. 48:38 Great Controversy, 616 says, quickly, 48:41 "So should the followers of Christ 48:42 as they approach," 48:44 notice, "as they approach the time of trouble, 48:46 make every exertion 48:48 to place themselves in proper light 48:50 before the people, to disarm prejudiced, 48:53 and to avert the danger 48:55 which threatens liberty of conscience." 48:57 Everything we possibly can not to try to stir 48:59 and call in trouble in this line here, 49:01 but make sure everything is right between you and God 49:04 and your fellow man. 49:06 Point number three, Jacob's time has come. 49:09 Notice this, 49:10 everything is at stake for Jacob. 49:14 What does he do? 49:15 He humbles himself before God, he prays to God. 49:20 He confesses his sins, 49:22 and he's thanking God for His mercy 49:24 and His long suffering. 49:25 And then he comes to the point, 49:26 "I'm not going to let you go until you bless me." 49:29 Man, if the people of God right now realize 49:31 that we're in this hour and you're praying right now. 49:33 "I'm not going to let you go until you bless me, God." 49:36 Make sure your life is hid in Christ. 49:37 Don't do that, 49:39 you may not be living much longer. 49:40 Did you get it? 49:42 If Jacob's life was not hid in Christ 49:44 and his sins taken care of beforehand, 49:47 he would have been struck dead by that. 49:49 Presumptuous sin. 49:53 I'm telling you, God's people. 49:56 I'm telling you now, God's people, 49:57 everything is at stake now. 50:00 Everything is on the line. 50:02 We need to be praying just like Jacob 50:04 and humbling ourselves 50:05 before God, confessing our sins, 50:09 confessing our unworthiness, our dirtiness, our weakness, 50:13 we're not good. 50:14 We know that we're not good. 50:16 But we're still going to claim the mercies of your covenant. 50:19 See, we can still claim His promises in His Word, 50:22 recognizing that we're not good, 50:23 no, not one. 50:25 We're not worthy of heaven, but we want heaven. 50:27 We're not worthy of Christ. 50:29 Right? But we want Christ. 50:31 We're not worthy. 50:33 He keep forgiving us over and over and over 50:34 for the same things. 50:35 But His mercy is so big, so great, so wonderful. 50:38 I'm claiming the mercy of a covenant keeping God 50:42 and then I say to Him, and I want you to say to Him, 50:45 I'm not gonna let you go God until you bless me. 50:49 Number four, Jacob sins were confessed, 50:51 and they were forgiven. 50:53 What? 50:54 Or else he would have died instantly 50:56 when the angel urges him. 50:58 "Jacob let me go." 51:03 But notice, this is what we have to have, 51:04 you want to go through time of Jacob's trouble, 51:07 we're gonna have to have the faith and perseverance 51:09 that God had given to Jacob. 51:11 Faith and what? 51:13 Perseverance to stay in there, firmness. 51:17 Jacob clings to Christ 51:19 and His promises and His righteousness. 51:23 God's people, number four, they've confessed every sin. 51:27 God has forgiven them, 51:29 or else they too would be destroyed. 51:31 They cling to Christ, they cling to His Word. 51:36 There's no place else they can go, 51:37 there's no other help. 51:39 It's Christ and Christ only. 51:43 Five, Satan, and notice this, 51:45 Satan influenced Esau 51:47 to march against Jacob and take his life. 51:50 Who was it? Satan. 51:54 He pressured Esau, 51:57 notice the people of God 51:58 saw the wicked will be stirred up by the enemy 52:02 to destroy God's people 52:04 by making a law death 52:08 to the people of God. 52:09 Six, Jacob's faith does not fail 52:11 because his prayers are not immediately answered. 52:16 See, we pray, Jan, 52:17 we want our prayers be answered 52:19 right then and right there. 52:20 God says you're gonna get, 52:22 there's a test 52:24 and he knows whether you should answer Him 52:26 right then right there or should wait for a while, 52:27 He will answer your prayer. 52:30 But God's people during this time, 52:31 their faith does not, right, it prevails. 52:34 They stand strong. 52:36 But man, let's go through the Great Controversy quickly, 52:38 just a couple minutes left. 52:40 Great Controversy, 620 says this, 52:41 "In the time of trouble," 52:43 notice, "In the time of trouble," 52:44 listen church, 52:46 "In the time of trouble 52:47 the people of God had unconfessed sins 52:51 to appear before them, they would be overwhelmed, 52:55 despair would cut off their faith. 52:58 But their sins have gone beforehand into the judgment. 53:01 They've been blotted out, 53:04 and they cannot bring them to remembrance." 53:06 Praise God. 53:07 See, couple of times they are covered 53:09 by the blood of the Lamb. 53:10 They're there, but they remain until the final blotting out 53:13 that we can't remember him anymore. 53:14 We can't even bring him to mind anymore, we don't know. 53:17 What a time? 53:20 God shows in His dealing, remember this, 53:22 oh, it's so important with Jacob. 53:24 "He will not sanction or tolerate evil or sin." 53:29 God just won't do it. 53:30 Not going to be the head unless we, 53:31 all we have to do is ask Him to forgive us. 53:33 Is that right? 53:34 And He's willing to do that. 53:36 But let me tell you, 53:38 if God's people all endeavor to excuse 53:40 or conceal their sins, 53:42 and permit them to remain upon the books of heaven, 53:45 unconfessed and unforgiven will be overcome by Satan. 53:50 See, my thought is, 53:52 why would we want to leave them on the book? 53:54 Why would we want to leave when every day 53:55 we can come boldly to the throne 53:56 and ask God to forgive us of our sins? 53:58 Cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 54:00 He said, I'll do that. 54:02 What do we need during the time, 54:05 during the time of trouble? 54:07 Great Controversy, 621 says, 54:09 "The season of distress and anguish, 54:10 anguish before us will require a faith, 54:13 notice that, can endure weariness, 54:16 and delay and hunger, 54:19 a faith that will not faint though severely tried. 54:23 A period of probation is granted to all 54:26 to prepare for the time of trouble." 54:29 Are we willing to deny self? 54:31 Are we willing to agonize before God, 54:34 earnestly for His blessing? 54:35 If you do, you will receive it. 54:38 And I encourage you right now 54:39 we'll pray even when time goes off, 54:41 40 some seconds left. 54:42 But notice Great Controvert, 623. 54:43 "Now while our High Priest is making atonement for us, 54:47 we should seek to become perfect in Christ." 54:53 The enemy just needs one little avenue 54:55 to get to you and get to me. 54:58 But we need to come to the point, John 14:30, 55:00 where Jesus said, 55:02 "The enemy comes against me and he finds nothing in me." 55:05 And notice what Great Controversy, 623 says. 55:07 "This is the condition 55:09 in which those who must be found 55:11 will stand in the time of trouble." 55:13 Notice. 55:14 "This is a condition that we must be found 55:16 in the time of trouble," what? 55:17 The enemy comes against you, he can't find nothing in you. 55:20 That's my prayer. That's my encouragement. 55:22 And I hope today you want to go through that time of trouble. 55:24 We must depend upon Christ and depend upon Him right now. 55:27 Shall we just pray together quickly. 55:30 Merciful Father in heaven, 55:32 thank You for Your precious Word. 55:33 Thank You for reminding us 55:34 that we need this close relationship with You. 55:37 We need not let anything get in our way. 55:40 We need to make sure that we are in focus with You 55:43 and what You've asked us to do. 55:45 And You give us a strength in which to do it 55:46 is simply cast our cares on You because You care for us. 55:50 Confess our sins, 55:51 You're faithful and just to forgive us. 55:53 We are in that time of the judgment hour. 55:56 Jesus is soon to come. 55:57 Probation is soon to close. 55:58 Sunday laws are just around the corner. 56:00 The great tests are coming upon us right now. 56:03 Lord, help us to be faithful. 56:04 And I thank you in Jesus' name, amen. 56:08 Hello and welcome back, friends. 56:10 It is our sincere prayer 56:12 that this message has laid 56:13 a firmer foundation in your heart 56:16 to stand for Christ 56:17 in the midst of the upcoming storms 56:19 and tremendous trials 56:21 that lay before us in this life. 56:24 Trials of which most of us have never before endured. 56:27 The good news is that 56:29 Christ has promised to equip those 56:31 who are but willing to study 56:33 and to show themselves approved unto God. 56:36 His desires to write his words in our hearts and in our minds 56:41 that we might not fall prey to sin or to sinners. 56:45 He wants us to live fully His Word 56:48 in order for our faith 56:50 to just basically literally kick in 56:53 when our sight is lost. 56:55 His desire is to place His seal 56:58 upon each and every one of us for eternity. 57:01 Friends, we want you to have this message. 57:05 We want you to have it for your own study library 57:08 or to share it with others, 57:09 "How to survive the time of Jacob's trouble," 57:12 is a two hour series 57:14 that we are offering to you for a love gift 57:16 of just $15 or more. 57:19 I'd like to pause for just a moment. 57:21 I want to thank each and every one of you 57:23 for your support 57:24 of the work that we are doing here 57:26 at Behold the Lamb Ministries 57:27 from the very bottom of all of our hearts here. 57:30 BTLM for short is a supporting ministry 57:34 with a wonderful godly staff 57:36 that has a tremendous desire for the saving of souls. 57:40 And it is only through God's working 57:42 in and through each of you 57:44 that we are able to reach literally around the world 57:48 with these messages via 3ABN's family of networks 57:52 along with the Internet with our website, 57:55 our YouTube channel and our Facebook page. 57:58 So if you would like to order this series 58:01 or if you feel impressed of the Lord to donate 58:04 and support Behold The Lamb Ministries, 58:06 would just stop for a moment, 58:09 pick up that phone and give us a call now. 58:11 Here in the United States, 58:13 our number is (618) 942-5044, 58:17 that's Central Time 58:19 or mail your support to Behold The Lamb Ministries, 58:21 PO Box 2030 Herrin, Illinois 62948 58:26 or you may email us 58:27 at BeholdTheLambMinistries @yahoo.com 58:30 or donate on our website at BeholdTheLambMinistries.com. 58:35 Please join us again here next time. 58:37 But until then, may our Precious Lord continue 58:39 to richly bless you and yours. |
Revised 2021-01-22