Participants:
Series Code: CR
Program Code: CR001734A
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00:01 I'm John Carter in Moscow...
00:02 Now in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. 00:04 I'm John Carter in Petra... 00:06 Reporting from India... 00:08 In Columbia... 00:09 I'm John Carter. 00:11 Today on the Carter Report, 00:12 John Carter lets us know that we are "Never Alone." 00:21 Welcome back. 00:24 So here I am, I'm stuck in a Russian hospital. 00:28 The economy has collapsed, there are no medicines. 00:32 All right, it's about two or three in the morning, 00:34 my blood pressure has dropped to a dangerous level. 00:40 Somehow I can get the doctor to come 00:42 but the doctor is completely drunk. 00:46 And I thought to myself, 00:48 "Well, we're all gonna die one day. 00:53 So this may be it." 00:56 My blood pressure is so low, 00:57 they've given me this medication. 01:01 But I had a friend, I had my Bible. 01:05 And I turned to Psalm 23 01:07 and I want you folks to turn to Psalm 23. 01:10 I'm gonna read it to you. 01:11 I'm going to read to you what I read. 01:14 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 01:19 He makes me to lie down in green pastures, 01:23 He leads me beside the still waters. 01:28 He restores my soul, 01:30 He leads me in the paths of righteousness 01:33 for His name's sake..." 01:34 Here it is, "Yeah, though I walk 01:37 through the valley of the shadow of death, 01:41 I will fear no evil, For You are with me. 01:47 Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 01:50 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, 01:54 You anoint my head with oil, My cup runs over. 02:00 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 02:02 All the days of my life, 02:04 And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever." 02:10 My neighbor came in and told me an experience in Thousand Oaks, 02:16 in Los Robles Hospital, he had open heart surgery. 02:22 Good doctors. 02:24 He was frozen, of course, couldn't move, 02:29 couldn't cry out, 02:31 totally conscious, 02:35 he was totally conscious but he could feel the pain. 02:41 I said, "Roy... 02:43 Dr. Roy, what did you do?" 02:44 He said, "I repeated Psalm 23 over and over again." 02:49 "Even though I walk 02:51 through the valley of the shadow of death, 02:55 I will fear no evil for You are with me." 03:00 We're talking today, our topic is "Never Alone." 03:05 The presence of God is all you need. 03:07 So here I am in this Russian hospital. 03:10 I somehow get a message out to the person 03:13 in the corridor 03:15 who can speak English, young lady. 03:19 She gets on the phone, calls the hotel, 03:21 soon my family come, everybody comes 03:24 and I'm surrounded and I'm okay. 03:28 But I want you to know this. 03:30 Even in a hospital or in Zimbabwe, 03:34 walking down a jungle track 03:37 with a machine gun in your back, 03:39 I've had all those things 03:41 or in Siberia with a person 03:43 who is drunk pointing a gun at you, 03:48 we're never alone. 03:51 His presence is all that we need. 03:54 I want you to come over here to Matthew 28:18-20, 03:58 the words of our Lord. 03:59 Matthew chapter 28:18-20. 04:04 Now, folks, I'm not an armchair theologian, 04:07 I've been to places, I've seen stuff. 04:10 "Jesus came and spoke to them, 04:12 saying, 'All authority has been given to Me 04:15 in heaven and on earth. 04:17 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 04:21 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son 04:25 and of the Holy Spirit, 04:26 teaching them to observe all things 04:28 that I have commanded you, 04:30 and lo, I am with you always, 04:36 even to the end of the age." 04:41 Jesus never said you are gonna have 04:44 a life of contentment and ease, 04:47 everything is going to be great all the time. 04:50 But no, He said, "I'm going to be with you to the end." 04:55 When I studied for the ministry at Avondale College, 05:00 I was poor, not a poor student I hope 05:03 but poor in this world's goods. 05:05 We didn't have people giving us money. 05:08 My parents could not afford to give me any money. 05:11 Every vacation I went 05:12 from door to door selling books. 05:16 Every person who wants to be a minister ought to do it, 05:20 it develops tenacity and courage. 05:26 I felt the presence of God as I went selling books. 05:30 Just before my last year, 05:32 my dear old dad gave me his Harley Davidson, 05:36 even then back there, 05:39 even then it was an antique. 05:44 It was a 1942-44 05:48 World War II Army bike, police bike. 05:52 They still look pretty much the same today. 05:56 I rode that thing all around western New South Wales 06:01 going from farm to farm, from station to station, 06:04 that means from ranch to ranch selling books. 06:09 Now you may wonder 06:11 what does a skinny boy without any money, 06:16 "What does he do when the sun goes down? 06:21 Where do you stay?" 06:22 Every night, this is true, 06:25 this is why I have faith in God, 06:27 I've seen the hand of God. 06:29 A farmer, or farmer's wife would say, 06:31 "Were you staying tonight, boy?" 06:34 "Have you eaten recently?" 06:36 "You look pretty skinny." 06:38 Every night, I lived like a king. 06:44 God took care of me but I'll tell you something 06:47 I'll never, never, never, never forget. 06:50 One day on a deserted stretch of road, in Australia, 06:55 Australia is almost as big as the United States of America 07:00 but American population is 15 times bigger. 07:04 So you can go in Australia and ride a Harley all day 07:09 and only see kangaroos. 07:12 One day on a deserted stretch of road, 07:14 I stopped to eat and when I'd finished eating, 07:20 I walked around the back of my bike 07:22 which I loved, 07:24 there's nothing better, my friend, 07:25 than being on a Harley, 07:28 on the outback and you feel that motor, 07:31 you know, thumping along, you know. 07:34 It's almost getting to heaven but it's not. 07:36 But in the back tire 07:40 there was a nail this long. 07:43 I had no tools, 07:45 except a pair of pliers, nothing else. 07:48 What does a boy do? 07:50 I was 20 years of age. 07:53 I pulled it out 07:55 but not before I'd gotten down in the dust. 07:59 In those days, people used to wear suits, 08:03 like they do, like the news casts still do, 08:06 like the people who read the news, 08:08 they read suits. 08:10 Only people who don't read suits 08:11 when they go informally are people who go to church. 08:16 So I knelt down and I prayed in my suit. 08:19 I said, "God, I don't know what I'm gonna do, 08:24 'cause I'm pulling out this nail." 08:28 I don't have any tools. 08:29 I said, "God, please, keep the tire up." 08:35 I pulled it out, 08:37 I rode that bike thousands of miles after that, 08:41 the tire never went down. 08:43 Listen, I want you to know this. 08:46 I want you to know this. 08:47 "We are never alone. 08:50 His presence is all we need." 08:53 Come to Philippians 4:19. 08:58 The Bible says, 09:00 "And my God shall supply all your need 09:05 according to His riches in glory 09:09 by Christ Jesus." 09:11 He doesn't say He will supply all of our wants, 09:14 but God says, "I will supply all of your needs. 09:19 I'm here to testify." 09:22 We are never alone 09:24 and the presence of God is all we need. 09:26 I know it is true, have faith. 09:30 Now the time at Avondale College, 09:32 I had a full work load, 09:34 I was working 24 hours a week to get money, 09:37 so I could pay my fees. 09:39 I had a full study load, I was doing a degree. 09:43 I couldn't afford to eat too much 09:45 because I didn't have enough money for eating, 09:48 a lot at least. 09:49 During winter it was very cold, 09:53 sometimes I would freeze at night time. 09:55 People think Australia never gets cold, it gets freezing. 10:00 But one night when the burden was so heavy, 10:06 I went out under the stars on the Avondale campus 10:10 and this boy who is 20 years of age 10:14 got down on his knees 10:15 and I looked up in to the stars 10:17 and when I looked up in to the stars, 10:20 I looked up in to the face of God 10:24 and I felt an irresistible conviction 10:28 that I was not alone, 10:31 that God would meet all of my needs 10:35 that He'd help me to pay for my fees, 10:38 that He'd would give me the money 10:40 so I get to buy toothpaste and food. 10:50 So I want you to know this, we are never, never alone. 10:55 I would hitchhike home. 10:58 My home was in Brisbane. 11:00 I was so poor 11:02 because I was studying full-time 11:05 and when I wasn't studying, I was out selling books. 11:10 I couldn't afford the train fare home. 11:13 So you know how I got home? 11:15 I walked, I hitchhiked. 11:20 I remember one time when I was going home, 11:24 it was winter time 11:26 and I went up the New England Highway, 11:29 which is one of the most beautiful parts of the world. 11:33 It's beautiful but it's up a few thousand feet 11:37 and it snows 11:39 and it gets something worse than snow, 11:41 it gets sleet. 11:45 And I got stuck in Guyra 11:47 for a full day and two nights 11:52 and I start freezing 11:54 'cause I didn't own an overcoat, 11:58 I owned just a suit and one shirt. 12:04 I stepped, I stayed 12:08 and slept inside the phone booth 12:13 but I was not alone. 12:16 I think every young man who studies for the ministry 12:20 to toughen your up, 12:21 or to go through experiences like this. 12:26 The next day I went out on the freeway 12:28 and I continued to try to get a ride home 12:32 and a big semi trailer did come along 12:34 and he stopped and he opened the door 12:37 and I was greeted with a blast of hot air. 12:39 I thought, you know, so nice. 12:43 He put me inside and he said to me, 12:47 "When did you eat last?" 12:50 I said, "I am doing fine." 12:52 When we got... I should be home in a day. 12:54 He said, "Well, we are gonna stop at a place where we stop." 13:00 And he said, "I just want you to be my guest 13:04 and he fed me scrambled eggs and toast." 13:07 He supplied my need. 13:10 I serve a God 13:11 who is continually supplied my needs. 13:14 There are many people who say, 13:16 "I will serve God when everything is clear." 13:18 That day will never come. 13:21 That day will never come. 13:22 I want you to come over here to Acts 27: 23, 24. 13:27 These are wonderful words, Acts 27. 13:31 Paul says, "For there stood by me this night 13:35 an angel of the God 13:37 to whom I belong and whom I serve, 13:43 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul, 13:46 you must be brought before Caesar, 13:48 and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.'" 13:53 He said this angel, the angel of God 13:58 whose I am stood beside me 14:02 and he said, "Do not be afraid, Paul." 14:06 I have had that voice talk to me on many occasions. 14:10 In 1995, we ran an evangelistic campaign in Kiev. 14:14 People wonder why do you run evangelistic campaigns? 14:21 You are a pastor, you can pastor a church. 14:24 I have been a pastor for more than 50 years. 14:27 Pastored the biggest churches and the smallest. 14:30 Why do I run evangelistic campaigns? 14:32 Because God tells me to. 14:34 He's taught and He tells you to also, 14:37 it is taught in the Bible, 14:41 it is apostolic, it is Christ centered. 14:44 So we were in Kiev and we did not have success, 14:48 we had extraordinary success, 14:51 we had more than a 100,000 people 14:54 turned away from the opening meeting. 14:56 The biggest crowds that they had ever seen 14:59 in that part of the world. 15:01 And when you have success, 15:03 you will also have persecution 15:06 and I was called down 15:08 by the Kiev government to City Hall. 15:14 All the church leaders came with me, 15:16 they were not allowed to come in with me. 15:18 I had to go in by myself and a translator. 15:22 And the leader of the Kiev government said, 15:25 "Close down the meetings, this is an order!" 15:32 And I said to them a word they have seldom heard before, 15:36 I said, "No." 15:40 "What do you mean no? N-O? 15:43 "Yeah! What don't you get about that?" 15:46 They said, "We will throw you into prison." 15:49 I said, "Go ahead, be my guest." 15:55 I was not doing this presumptuously, 15:59 I was standing up for God 16:02 and I felt the presence of God, I felt a holy boldness 16:08 because I felt the presence of God. 16:11 And when I got outside, 16:12 I am almost ashamed to tell you this, 16:15 the leaders of the church, 16:16 the brave leaders who had been in jail 16:18 for their faith said to me, "What did you do? 16:21 Did you say you would close down? 16:23 Did you sell us out?" 16:27 I said, "No." I said, "No. 16:29 They can throw me into prison 16:30 but I will not close down the meetings." 16:32 They said, "We were afraid that seem you came from overseas, 16:37 you would have given in." 16:42 They were people who had been thrown in to prison 16:44 on many occasions 16:46 but they knew what it was to stand for God, 16:49 we are never alone. 16:51 The angel of the God 16:53 I serve and worship stood by me. 16:56 His presence is all you need. 16:58 And come over here to the Book of Joshua please. 17:01 Joshua 1:5-7. 17:05 And when your courage is falling away, 17:08 when you are just sort of welting, 17:11 read this text. 17:13 "No man shall be able to stand before you 17:16 all the days of your life, 17:19 as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 17:23 I will not leave you nor forsake you. 17:27 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people 17:30 you shall divide as an inheritance 17:32 the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 17:36 Only be strong and very courageous, 17:39 that you may observe to do according to all the law 17:42 which Moses My servant commanded you, 17:45 do not turn from it 17:47 to the right hand or to the left, 17:50 that you may prosper wherever you go. 17:53 Have I not commanded you? 17:56 Be strong and of good courage, 17:59 do not be afraid, do not be dismayed 18:03 for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." 18:09 I testify that this is true. 18:15 I have seen it in my own life. 18:18 I know the presence of God. 18:25 Let me tell you about 18:28 purchasing the Arcadia building. 18:32 We had started up a church in Glendale 18:34 because there was no place we could take the new converts. 18:38 So we started up the Community Adventist fellowship, 18:42 but we were using this building 18:44 that belonged to another denomination 18:47 and they did not liked what I preached, 18:49 they wanted to get rid of us. 18:51 And then I heard there was 18:53 a building for sale in Pasadena. 18:55 Now I went over to Pasadena by myself to see this building 19:00 but when I got to Pasadena the realtor came along 19:02 and he had forgotten to bring the key 19:07 that was in the provenance of God. 19:09 I said, "You want to sell it?" 19:10 He said, "I don't have the key." 19:12 But he said, "There is a building over in Arcadia 19:17 but it is too expensive for you." 19:20 I said, "Too expensive for me?" 19:24 He said, "Do you want to see it?" 19:25 I said, "Yes, indeed." 19:27 We went across 19:28 and we saw the building in Arcadia 19:30 and I said, "This is exactly what the doctor ordered." 19:35 He said, "Do you have 19:37 a million dollars for the deposit?" 19:39 In fact $1.1 million and I said to him in faith, 19:46 "We will have it." 19:48 I said, "How long are we got?" 19:50 He said, "A few weeks." 19:55 And within a few weeks 19:57 people across America and Australia 20:00 had sent us $1.1 million 20:04 because God owns everything 20:08 but then we had to get a loan 20:10 for the rest of million dollars. 20:14 A famous bank in this part of the world 20:17 met with me and gave us a written guarantee 20:21 that they would lend us the money. 20:26 And two weeks before we were due to close, 20:30 they sent back our papers and they cancelled the loan. 20:35 A certain organization that shall remain silent 20:39 had put pressure upon them to, 20:42 not to give us the loan 20:43 so we couldn't buy the building. 20:45 But there's a judgment day. 20:49 So we didn't know what we're gonna do. 20:54 But then, a bank heard about us, 20:57 Banco Popular, can you believe it? 21:00 And they sent up one of their managers, 21:03 Ken Wespi who was a Canadian. 21:08 When he met me he said, "I want to give you my calling card." 21:12 He passed me his card, 21:13 didn't say Vice-President of the bank, 21:17 it was his seat ticket to a Billy Graham campaign 21:21 where he had come as an atheist 21:24 and where he had been converted to Christ. 21:27 And he said, "If you get this building, 21:30 Christ will be preached in this building 21:32 and Christ hasn't been preached here." 21:35 He said, "How much do you need?" 21:36 I told him. 21:37 He said, "We will get it for you." 21:39 He said, "It's impossible, we can't do it in two weeks 21:42 but we will get it." 21:44 And in two weeks he called me and I went to the bank 21:47 and as I came to the door, 21:49 he cried out to me, "Come thou, in thou blessed of the Lord." 21:53 Here is the check. 22:02 Purchasing this building here... 22:05 Well, we had to sell that building 22:07 and then we had to move here. 22:10 When I came to look at this building here, 22:13 this building was owned by the bank, a bank. 22:17 And the bank sent down one of the representatives, 22:19 they had an offer on this building 22:21 which was more than we were prepared to pay. 22:25 I gave him the offer. 22:26 He said to me, "I believe God wants you to get it." 22:32 And we got it." 22:37 Because, my friend, we're never alone 22:41 and the presence of God is all we need. 22:45 Look at Psalm 91:11-12. 22:48 Psalm 91:11-12, "For He shall give His angels 22:51 charge over you, 22:52 To keep you in all your ways in their hands 22:56 they shall bear you up, 22:57 Lest you dash your foot against a stone." 22:59 I was working, working some recent time over in Australia. 23:05 People say, "I can't believe all of these stories." 23:09 There was a rock wall 23:10 at the bottom of my property, 20 feet. 23:14 I was working there, 23:15 I lost my footing, I fell headfirst, 23:20 it's volcanic country, there are these vast rocks. 23:24 I fell down 20 feet on my head, I knocked myself unconscious 23:30 and I fell into a three foot space 23:34 in the fetal position in the very spot, 23:38 the only place where I didn't fall on rocks. 23:41 I missed the rocks by this much here. 23:43 When I came to... 23:45 I've been knocked unconscious, I felt I'm still alive. 23:51 People say, "It's impossible." 23:53 Look at Hebrews 13:5-6 again. 23:56 "Let your conduct be without covetousness, 23:59 be content with such things as you have. 24:01 For He Himself has said, 24:03 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" 24:09 Therefore, my friend, from my heart to yours, 24:13 I invite you to receive Jesus into your heart 24:16 and make Him your Lord and your Savior. 24:19 Then you will say, "I'm never alone, 24:22 His presence is all that I need and I have His presence today." 24:27 Remember, the words, the stuttering King George VI 24:33 quoted in his new year's address. 24:36 "England stood alone 24:40 against the might of the Nazis. 24:43 Things were desperate. 24:45 England was unprepared, stood alone in the world. 24:51 It looks like freedom would dies, 24:53 the New Year was born." 24:55 Said the king quoting many Haskins. 25:00 "I'm stuttering, "I said to the man 25:04 who stood at the gate of the year, 25:07 'Give me a light that I may tread safely 25:10 into the unknown.'" 25:13 And he replied. 25:15 'Go out into the darkness 25:18 and put your hand into the Hand of God. 25:22 That shall be to you better than light, 25:28 and safer than a known way.'" 25:34 Great Britain with God beat back the forces of evil 25:40 and won the victory. 25:44 Remember this. 25:46 "Never, never, never..." 25:50 As Churchill said, "Never, never, never give up." 25:56 You know why? 25:58 Because you are never alone 26:04 and His presence is all you need. 26:11 In Jesus name, amen... 26:17 and amen. 26:21 Time, it takes only a minute to have eternal life. 26:25 How can you get saved in a minute? 26:27 It's simple. 26:28 First, believe that Jesus was the Son of God. 26:31 Second, accept His free gift of eternal life 26:34 and then you're saved. 26:36 It's not hard, it doesn't take any time. 26:39 You can be saved in a minute right now. 26:42 Pray with me, "Lord God, I realize that I am a sinner. 26:46 My sin has separated me from You. 26:48 I accept that Your Son Jesus Christ died for me. 26:51 I ask Jesus into my heart." 26:53 If you prayed this prayer, you are saved. 26:56 The next thing to do is tell someone, 26:59 fellowship with other followers of Jesus, 27:02 get baptized, read your Bible and pray. 27:05 Choices, we make them every day, all day. 27:09 The most important choice you'll make in your life 27:12 is whether to choose eternal life 27:14 or let it pass you by. 27:16 If you would like more information 27:17 about your new life, 27:18 call the number and visit our website. 27:25 God has got a time and a place for everything, 27:28 nothing happens by chance. 27:32 In spite of the past of darkness, 27:35 nothing can destroy the Church of God. 27:40 And I'm not ashamed 27:42 of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 27:47 That the gospel is not about you and me, 27:50 it is the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ. 27:56 What and where is heaven? 28:03 This DVD series from John Carter will be yours 28:06 with a gift of $50 US or $70 Australian. 28:09 Write to us at the address on the screen. 28:11 Shipping is free in the US and Australia. 28:14 Visit carterreport.org, 28:16 your home for inspirational teaching. 28:26 For a copy of today's program, 28:28 please contact us at PO Box 1900, 28:31 Thousand Oaks, California 91358. 28:35 Or in Australia, contact us at PO Box 861, 28:41 Terrigal, New South Wales 2260. 28:45 This program is made possible 28:47 through the generous support of viewers like you. 28:50 We thank you for your continued support. 28:53 May God richly bless you. |
Revised 2018-03-15