Participants:
Series Code: HC
Program Code: HC190004A
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00:49 Good morning and welcome to Fall Camp Meeting!
00:52 How are you this morning? 00:53 Fine! 00:55 I asked everyone here if they slept well 00:57 and there was kind of a mixed "Yeah, I don't really know. " 01:01 Then I asked them "How was breakfast? " 01:03 And they said? "Yes! " 01:06 Yes! We thank Melody and her crew. 01:08 We've been fed physically this morning. 01:10 We're looking forward to being fed spiritually all day today, 01:13 aren't we? Amen! This morning I have the privilege 01:16 of introducing my dear wife Jill. 01:19 She's going to be the speaker for this hour. 01:22 And I have to say I'm very blessed to be married to her. 01:25 We've been married... we just passed our 01:27 17th wedding anniversary just last week. 01:31 So I am so blessed. 01:32 She's a woman of the Word. She loves the Lord, 01:35 and as you see Jill up front it's who she is also at home. 01:39 She loves people; she loves studying the Word of God. 01:42 I don't know... how many of you watch Sabbath School Panel? 01:45 Quite a few of you? OK. 01:47 Well, those that are on the panel: they study very hard 01:50 and Jill is one of those. 01:51 She loves studying the Word of God. 01:53 She'll spend the weekend just studying and immersed. 01:56 She's like: "Greg, guess what? Wow! This is amazing. " 01:59 She's telling me all these neat tidbits. 02:01 But the Word of God feeds her. 02:03 And I just pray today that the Word of God feeds you 02:05 as well. You know, you can listen to the Word 02:07 but make it part of you, right? That's the key. 02:10 Today she's going to be sharing When God Is Silent. 02:14 But before she comes we're going to be blessed by 02:16 a beautiful song by Celestine Barry-Dickens. 02:19 And it's entitled Were It Not For Grace. 02:22 And accompanying on the piano is Farrah Barry, her daughter. 02:55 Time measured out my days... 03:02 life carried me along. 03:09 In my soul I yearned 03:14 to follow God 03:17 but knew I'd never be 03:21 so strong. 03:24 I looked hard at this world 03:28 to learn how heaven 03:31 could be gained 03:37 Just to end where I began: 03:42 where human effort 03:46 is all in vain. 03:53 Were it not for grace 04:01 I can tell you where 04:05 I'd be: 04:08 Wand'ring down some pointless road 04:12 to nowhere 04:15 with my salvation up to me. 04:21 I know how that would go... 04:29 the battles I would face 04:36 Forever running 04:39 but losing the race 04:43 were it not for grace. 04:51 So here is all my praise 04:58 expressed with all my heart 05:05 Offered to the Friend 05:09 who took my place 05:12 and ran a course I could not even start. 05:19 And when He saw in full 05:23 just how much His love 05:27 would cost 05:32 He still went the final mile 05:36 between me and heaven 05:40 so I would not be lost! 05:47 Were it not 05:49 for grace 05:55 I can tell you where 05:59 I'd be: 06:02 wand'ring down some pointless road 06:06 to nowhere 06:09 with my salvation up to me. 06:15 I know how that would go... 06:22 the battles I would face. 06:29 Forever running 06:32 but losing the race 06:36 were it not 06:38 for grace... 06:44 forever running 06:47 but losing the race 06:52 were it not 06:55 for 06:58 grace. 07:09 Amen! Thank you so much Celestine and Farrah. 07:12 Where would we be without the grace of God? 07:17 Were it not for grace. Good morning! 07:20 Good morning. You all rest well? 07:23 Did my husband Greg just ask you that? 07:27 We think alike. After 17 years of marriage 07:30 you start to think alike, right? 07:32 The message this morning 07:35 is entitled When God Is Silent. 07:39 Not If God Is Silent 07:43 because if you live long enough 07:45 and you experience life 07:48 you will experience at some point or another 07:52 the silence of God. 07:56 My cell phone here is my trusty companion. 07:59 I told you last night - I think it was last night - 08:01 that I'm always with my phone. So I thought I'd better 08:04 bring it up with me here today. 08:06 This phone... I am guilty of... sometimes in meetings 08:12 looking at it. I might be in a meeting 08:14 and all of a sudden my boss calls... Danny calls. 08:17 "Oh, excuse me... I need to get the phone. " 08:19 You're distracted, right? Have you ever talked to someone 08:22 and you're visiting with them 08:24 and instead of them focused like this gentleman right here 08:28 looking you in the eye, paying attention 08:30 they're: "Oh yeah... uh-huh... uh-huh. " 08:34 Does that bother you? Yes! 08:37 You feel like there's no sort of connection, right? 08:41 God desires - He has always desired - 08:45 to be in connection with us as His people. 08:49 Think about Adam and Eve. All the way in the beginning 08:52 back in Genesis God created them 08:55 to live in connection with Him. 08:59 What happened every evening in the cool of the day? 09:03 God came and He talked with them. 09:07 But we know that sin entered this world and sin created 09:10 a disconnect. Sin broke that connection 09:15 between us and the Father. 09:18 All throughout the Bible we see this incredible promise 09:22 that God wants to dwell with us... His people. 09:26 He wants to establish - re-establish - that connection 09:31 with us. Exodus 25 verse 8. The Israelites 09:35 He said: "Let them make Me a sanctuary 09:39 that I may... " What's that word? 09:41 Dwell. "dwell among them. " 09:43 You go over a couple more chapters: Exodus 29 verse 46. 09:47 "They shall know that I am the Lord their God 09:50 who brought them out of the land of Egypt 09:52 that I may dwell among them. " 09:56 I Kings 6 verse 13: 09:59 "I will dwell among the sons of Israel 10:03 and will not forsake My people Israel. " 10:07 Zechariah 2 verse 10... I love this scripture: 10:10 "Sing for joy, O daughter of Zion 10:13 for I am coming and I will dwell in your midst. " 10:19 God has always wanted to dwell with us as His people! 10:24 It transfers over into the New Testament. 10:26 John chapter 1 verse 14: "And the Word was made flesh 10:32 and dwelt among us. As we beheld His glory 10:37 as of the only begotten from the Father 10:40 full of grace and truth. " 10:41 Now remember, all the way back at the beginning 10:43 in Genesis God had wanted that connection with His people. 10:48 And all throughout Scripture - the Old Testament 10:51 into the New Testament - we see God desiring 10:55 to dwell with His people. 10:57 We get all the way to the last book of the Bible: 11:01 Revelation chapter 21 and verse 3. 11:05 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: 11:08 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men 11:13 and He will dwell with them. 11:16 And they shall be His people and God will be among them. ' " 11:21 So from the beginning before Eden was lost 11:24 God wanted to dwell with His people. 11:27 And all throughout history He still desires 11:31 a connection with us as His people. 11:35 And in Eden restored God will dwell with us again. 11:41 God has always had a people with whom He had a special 11:44 relationship. Think about Enoch. 11:46 He walked with God so closely that what happened? 11:50 God "took" him. 11:52 Think about Abraham being called out of the land of the Chaldees 11:56 to a land that he didn't even know where he was going. 12:01 Why? Because God wanted to establish a special relationship 12:06 with Abraham and by extension his descendants. 12:11 God has always desired relationships with His people. 12:14 But what if you can't find Him? 12:17 What if you can't feel His presence? 12:21 What if you can't sense His favor? 12:25 What happens then? 12:27 Let's pray. 12:28 Father, we come before You just now. 12:31 I am nothing, 12:34 and I ask right now for a coal from off Your altar. 12:38 I pray that Jesus would be lifted up and seen 12:42 and glorified here today. That Your Word 12:47 and Your Spirit would go forward with power. 12:51 And we thank you in Jesus' name, Amen. 12:56 Greg and I were in Phoenix, Arizona 12:58 just about a year and a half ago. 12:59 3ABN was doing evangelistic meetings from Phoenix 13:03 and we brought our trucks and did a live broadcast. 13:08 After church I was kind of at the back of the church 13:11 and a lady came up and approached me. 13:13 She said: "Hey Jill, I want to talk to you. " 13:15 And I said: "Oh, great! " 'cause I love to meet people. 13:19 And I love to meet people especially who are part 13:22 of the 3ABN family. 13:24 And so I said: "Oh, that's wonderful. " 13:26 And she said: "I read an article that you wrote 13:28 in the Adventist Review. " 13:30 She said: "It was about your journey with infertility. " 13:35 And as soon as she said that my little antennas went up 13:38 because... I'm going to tell you a little secret today. 13:42 When you choose to be open with people 13:46 about what goes on in your life 13:49 it gives people the opportunity 13:53 to speak into your life. Is that not true? 13:56 If you're open then other people can be open back with you. 14:00 Now this is a double-edged sword 14:03 because there are many people... 14:05 Greg and I have been very open about our journey 14:07 with infertility. There are many people 14:09 that would come up and say: "Oh, we're praying for you" 14:12 or "Have you considered adoption? " 14:14 or "Maybe you should consider this certain thing. " 14:17 Which is wonderful. We love to hear suggestions and ideas 14:20 and thoughts from people. 14:22 But there are certain people who maybe take that a little bit 14:26 farther. I received a phone call in the office one day 14:30 and I just want you all to know I'm just sharing this with you 14:32 right here in this group. We don't want anything to go out 14:35 on air about this or anything like that. So... 14:37 this is a private thing that I'm sharing with you right now. 14:41 So just so you know: don't really make a big issue 14:43 out of this, OK? This is just between us right here. 14:46 So this lady called me, and I won't tell you the city 14:49 but it was from a large metropolitan city in the US. 14:53 And she called and she said: "Jill, I understand 14:56 you don't have kids. " And I said: "Yes ma'am that's right. " 14:59 She said: "Well I want you to know 15:00 if you make my recipe for beef stew... " 15:08 "you will have a baby. " 15:10 Now I just want you all to know I'm a vegetarian. 15:13 I have never eaten meat in my life. 15:16 I'm not saying it's right or wrong, it's just my 15:18 personal choice. And I thought: "Well, bless her heart. 15:21 It's very kind. " So she said: "I'm giving you the recipe. " 15:25 I said: "Yes ma'am... I will write it down. " 15:27 So I'm taking notes. Two pounds of beef and so many onions 15:31 and so much... She's giving me the recipe. 15:33 I'm writing it down. 15:35 And she said: "Are you writing this down? " 15:37 And I said: "Yes, I am. " 15:39 And then she said: "Well I am going to be watching on 3ABN 15:43 and if in three months you don't start to develop a little tummy 15:48 I'm coming to 3ABN and I will cook beef stew for you. " 15:54 So when this lady in Phoenix 15:57 said: "I read your article about your journey with infertility" 16:01 I thought: "Please, God... not beef stew! " 16:04 "I'm just... I'm just not ready to deal with beef stew 16:07 at the moment, you know? " 16:08 But that was not at all what she had in mind. 16:11 She said: "I want to share with you my own journey. " 16:16 And she told me about she and her husband. 16:18 Married. Tried for kids for 10 years. 16:21 That's a long time. She said that they couldn't. 16:24 They decided to adopt... which is a beautiful thing. 16:28 She said they decided on a foreign adoption 16:31 and they paid a great deal of money 16:36 to do this foreign adoption. 16:38 They were supposed to get 2 little girls. 16:40 They named them. 16:42 They got their pictures. 16:44 They were due to get the girls very soon. 16:49 And then she said: "We got the news 16:53 that the girls who were supposed to be ours 16:57 had been sold in the sex traffic trade. " 17:03 She said: "Jill, every day 17:06 I live with the knowledge 17:10 that those pictures on the fridge 17:12 that were supposed to be my girls 17:15 and they're not. And not only that 17:18 they might be dead today, Jill. It's been several years. 17:22 Or even worse, we don't know what's going on with them. 17:28 But if you cry out to God 17:31 and it appears that He is silent... " 17:35 The children of Israel experienced the silence of God. 17:39 Turn with me to Exodus. Exodus chapter 1. 17:44 Exodus chapter 1 verse 7 describes the supernatural 17:50 multiplication of the children of Israel. 17:54 Exodus 1:7: "But the children of Israel 17:57 were fruitful and increased abundantly 18:00 multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty. 18:04 And the land was filled with them. " 18:08 So you see all those verbs there? 18:09 They were fruitful, they increased, 18:11 they multiplied, they grew. 18:13 "And the land was filled with them. " 18:16 But then a new king came up and he didn't really know about 18:20 Joseph and maybe he didn't really like Joseph. 18:23 And maybe he really didn't like the way that the children of 18:26 Israel were multiplying. 18:30 And so he forced them to become slaves. 18:34 They were forced to do service in the field to make bricks. 18:39 And when that didn't work so well 18:41 he instituted a new law that the midwives 18:45 were supposed to kill the firstborn... the new baby boys. 18:50 Were supposed to kill all newborn baby boys. 18:57 They were in 400 years of slavery and bondage. 19:02 God had promised to deliver them 19:04 and yet for 400 years 19:07 it appeared as if God was silent. 19:11 Now a side note. It's interesting to me 19:13 400 years is kind of significant in the Bible. 19:16 We have 400 years of slavery. 19:18 400 years of the times of the judges. 19:21 400 years of the times of the kings 19:24 and 400 years of the inter-Testamental period. 19:28 That's between the book of Malachi and Matthew 19:32 when Jesus comes on the scene. 19:33 So the end of the prophets to Matthew 19:37 is another 400 years. 19:40 I want to tell you today: when it seems God is silent 19:44 He is not absent. 19:46 When it seems He is silent He is not still. 19:50 When it seems He is silent He is not finished. 19:54 Job also experienced the silence of God. 19:58 Turn with me to Job... Job chapter 30. 20:01 Now Job lost a great deal in his life. 20:05 What did he lose? He lost his livelihood, did he not? 20:09 And his herds and his cattle and his servants. 20:12 He lost his children, did he not? All ten of them? 20:16 And to be honest he really lost his wife, too, 20:19 because she kind of turned against him in the midst of this 20:23 and he lost his health. 20:26 We're in Job chapter 30 verse 20. 20:29 Job chapter 30 verse 20. 20:31 Job says: "I cry out to You... " meaning God. 20:36 "but You do not answer me. 20:38 I stand up and You regard me. " 20:42 The New Living Translation says: "I cry to You, 20:45 O God, but You don't answer. 20:47 I stand before You and You don't even look at me. " 20:53 Jesus experienced the silence of God. 20:58 Psalm chapter 22 verses 1 and 2. 21:01 This is that Messianic psalm. 21:05 He says on the cross: "My God! My God! 21:08 Why have you forsaken Me? 21:11 What are You so far from helping me 21:13 and from the words of my groaning? 21:16 O my God! I cry in the daytime but You do not hear. 21:22 I cry in the night season and am not silent. " 21:26 When it seems that God is silent we are called to trust 21:30 the promise not the perception. 21:34 We are called to walk by faith not by sight. 21:38 We are called to trust Him in the storm 21:41 as well as the sunshine. 21:43 Called to trust Him by faith... not our feelings. 21:48 Now this morning I want to talk to you about seven things 21:53 that God is doing when it appears that He's silent. 21:57 So when we think in our journey, in our walk with God, 22:01 and you're praying and it feels like your prayer hits 22:04 the ceiling and it bounces back and tumbles down 22:07 around your shoulders and "Where are You, God? " 22:10 In the midst of this when it seems that God is silent 22:14 there are seven things that He is doing 22:18 even in the midst of that silence... 22:21 seven things He's doing. 22:23 Number one: He hears. 22:26 He's still listening. 22:28 It might seem that He is silent but He's still listening. 22:31 Turn back to the children of Israel. 22:33 We're going back to Exodus. 22:36 Exodus chapter 2 verse 23. 22:41 Remember they'd been 400 years in bondage 22:45 wondering: "God, where are You? It seems that You're silent. " 22:48 It says: "Then the children of Israel groaned 22:50 because of the bondage and they cried out. 22:54 And their cry came up to God because of the bondage. " 22:58 Verse 24: "So God heard their groaning... " 23:01 You hear that word? "God heard their groaning 23:05 and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. " 23:10 Jump over to Exodus 3 verse 7. 23:13 The Lord said: "I have surely seen the oppression 23:16 of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry 23:19 because of their taskmasters. " 23:22 So does it seem right now that you are walking 23:25 in a dry desert place? Does it seem like you are walking 23:29 in the silence of God? 23:31 God hears you right now. 23:34 In the midst of whatever you deal with, in the midst of 23:37 whatever you are going through 23:40 God is listening... God hears you. 23:45 Psalm 34:15: "They eyes of the Lord are 23:47 upon the righteous and His ears are open unto their cry. " 23:52 Number two. What's the second thing God is doing 23:55 when it APPEARS that He's silent? 23:57 He not only hears... He cares. 24:01 You know, you can really listen to someone 24:04 and not focus or put your full attention or really care. 24:08 Is that true? I remember growing up 24:11 as a kid. My sister and I used to tease my Dad 24:14 a great deal because whenever he got involved in reading 24:17 everything else would kind of shove aside 24:20 and he wouldn't even pay attention. 24:22 So we would come and say: "Daddy... " 24:24 and we'd ask him a simple question. 24:27 And he'd say: "Uh-huh. " 24:29 And then we'd say: "Oh, he wasn't really paying attention. " 24:32 Right? So he heard us enough to say: "Uh-huh. " 24:35 Right? But it didn't seem like he was really invested 24:37 at that point. So then we would say: 24:39 "Oh, Daddy, can... can we go get some ice cream? " 24:43 "Uh-huh. " Now if you knew my parents 24:45 you'd know that was kind of a no-no 24:47 so you know he's not listening. 24:48 Then we'd say: "Daddy... " This is always how we ended it... 24:52 "is your head chopped off? " 24:53 "Uh-huh. " 24:56 So that tells you 24:58 you can hear but not really pay attention. 25:03 Is that true? But God not only hears 25:06 He cares. 25:08 He is invested; He is interested 25:12 in what happens to you and to me. 25:14 Matthew 10, Jesus speaking, talks about "not a sparrow 25:18 falls to the ground without the Father's notice. " 25:23 Now I don't know if you like birds. 25:25 Greg and I like birds. Some of my favorites are the bluebirds. 25:29 They're so pretty. Aren't they pretty? Oh! 25:31 And the cardinals are so bright and vibrant in their red. 25:36 And then there's the sparrows. 25:40 They're common. Would you say that? 25:42 There's a lot of sparrows. They're brown, kind of motley, 25:47 which is no issue... except they kick my bluebirds 25:49 out of the bluebird house and THAT I take issue with. 25:54 But regardless of whether they're a bully or not, 25:57 regardless of whether they're very attractive, 25:59 regardless of whether there's a lot of them 26:01 or a few of them God says: "Even the sparrow 26:06 does not fall to the ground 26:08 and I pay attention. I notice; I see. " 26:12 So God hears us in the midst of seemingly silent times. 26:17 God cares. Number three: He understands. 26:22 He understands. 26:25 When you're going through a difficult time 26:27 do you want someone who understands you? 26:30 Someone who can be there? Who can empathize? 26:33 The story is told of a teenager 26:36 who always read bedtime stories to his little sister. 26:41 And he got kind of tired every night the same bedtime story. 26:46 You know, couldn't she get a new story? 26:48 And he read it over, and the next night he read it again. 26:51 And then the next night he read it again. 26:54 Over and over and over. 26:57 So then he got the bright idea and he said: 26:59 "I'm going to record myself on a tape player 27:02 reading the bedtime story 27:04 so any time she wants to hear my voice 27:06 and she wants to listen to the story 27:08 she just turns on the tape. " 27:09 So he gave it to her. "I've got a present for you. " 27:12 And he's thinking: "Whew! I'm kind of free of my 27:14 little kid sister and I don't have to worry about this 27:16 every night. " 27:18 So he gave her... "Here is the little tape player 27:20 and any time you want to hear a story 27:23 you just turn the button on and you can listen to it. " 27:26 She said: "But I don't want that 27:28 'cause it doesn't have a lap. " 27:32 "It doesn't have a lap. " 27:34 So her favorite part was the fact that 27:37 she could be with him and she could sit on his lap 27:41 when he read the bedtime stories. 27:44 We all need... it's an inherent need 27:47 in all of us... to be understood. 27:49 To know that someone - God - understands 27:54 what you are going through in the midst of that silent time. 27:58 Jesus understands. Hebrews 4:14-16. 28:02 "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest 28:06 who has passed through the heavens - 28:08 Jesus, the Son of God - let us hold fast our confession 28:13 for we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize 28:17 with our weaknesses. " Other translations say 28:20 "We don't have a High Priest who cannot understand 28:24 our weaknesses. " "But He was in all points 28:27 tempted like as we are yet without sin. 28:31 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace 28:35 knowing that we may obtain mercy 28:37 and find grace to help in our time of need. " 28:42 Jesus understands. 28:44 What does He understand? 28:45 He certainly understands temptation... 28:47 would you say that's true? 28:48 Luke 4:1-2. 28:50 "Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from 28:53 Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 28:56 being temped for 40 days of the devil. " 28:59 Forty days... consistent. He understands 29:02 what it feels like to be tempted. 29:05 He understands hunger. 29:06 Luke 4:2: "And those days He ate nothing, 29:11 and afterward when they had ended He was hungry. " 29:14 Now I don't know about you but fasting is not my gift. 29:19 Right? So you need to pray for me. 29:21 I need to work on that more. But fasting is a difficult 29:23 thing. No food? Wow! 29:26 Jesus understands hunger. 29:29 He understands poverty. 29:31 Matthew 8 verse 20: 29:33 "Jesus said to him: 'Foxes have holes 29:36 and the birds of the air have nests 29:37 but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. ' " 29:43 Jesus understands weariness. 29:46 Have you ever been weary? 29:47 John 4:6: "Now Jacob's well was there. 29:50 Jesus, therefore, being weary from His journey 29:54 sat by the well. " 29:56 He understands weariness. 29:58 He understands disappointment. 30:01 Luke 13 verse 34. 30:04 This is when He's overlooking Jerusalem. 30:07 He says: "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem! 30:09 The one who kills the prophets 30:12 and stones those who are sent to her. 30:15 How often I wanted to gather your children 30:19 together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings 30:23 but you were not willing. " 30:25 He loves His people. 30:28 He came to die for His people 30:32 and yet they didn't care. 30:35 They didn't want to be gathered. 30:37 They didn't want to be saved. 30:40 They didn't want what He had to offer. 30:44 Jesus understands disappointment. 30:47 He understands rejection. 30:49 John 6:66-67 30:52 says: "From that time many of His disciples 30:56 went back and walked with Him no more. " 31:00 "Then Jesus said to the twelve: 31:02 'Are you going to leave me too? ' " 31:04 "Will you also go away? " 31:07 Jesus understands rejection. 31:09 He understands sorrow. Matthew 26... 31:13 this is the Garden of Gethsemane. 31:15 He's falling prostrate on the ground. 31:19 "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful... even unto death. " 31:24 He understands death. John chapter 11. 31:27 Remember? The death of His friend Lazarus. 31:30 And the Bible tells us that "Jesus wept. " 31:33 He also understands the silence of God. 31:38 Matthew 27 verse 46. 31:41 "At the ninth hour Jesus cried out: 'My God! My God! 31:45 Why have You forsaken Me? ' " 31:48 Now that's just a few things that Jesus understands. 31:50 We know He understands us completely because He walked 31:54 this earth as a human: 31:57 fully divine... fully human. 32:00 He walked this earth and He understands. 32:03 So when we experience the silence of God 32:08 we know that He hears. 32:10 We know that He cares. 32:12 We know that He understands. 32:14 Number four: He comforts. 32:17 Have you experienced the comforting power of God? 32:20 How does He comfort? 32:22 He comforts us by His Word. 32:24 Psalm 119:49-50. 32:27 "Remember the Word to Your servant upon which You have 32:30 caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction 32:35 for Your Word has given me life. " 32:38 What gave comfort in the midst of the affliction? 32:43 His Word. God's Word has incredible power! 32:47 The promises contained in this Word... we know all His promises 32:51 are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. 32:56 I love to pray the Word of God back to Him. 32:59 That revolutionized my prayer life 33:02 when I understood that I could claim these promises 33:06 and I could call those things that are not 33:09 as though they already were. In other words, 33:12 it says: "I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. " 33:15 Well, do I feel new today? No. 33:16 Do I act new? You could ask my husband. 33:19 He'd probably say: "Well, I'm not so sure, Jilly. " 33:21 So the truth is that in Christ I can claim them. 33:27 I can pray that back to God and say: "Thank you 33:31 God that in You You can make me a new creation 33:36 and You have made me a new creation. " 33:39 We experience comfort by His Word. We experience comfort by 33:42 His Spirit. We experience comfort by His presence. 33:48 Psalm 23:4: "Yea, though I walk 33:50 through the valley of the shadow of death 33:53 I will fear no evil... " And why? 33:55 Because He is with us. 33:59 His presence brings us comfort. 34:02 Number five: He accompanies. 34:04 Turn with me to Isaiah. 34:06 Isaiah is probably one of my favorite Old Testament books. 34:10 And it's kind of divided into two sections. 34:13 You have the first section of Isaiah 34:15 called the Book of Judgment. 34:17 And it's a little harsh you could say. 34:21 The people were turning their back on God. 34:23 They had forsaken Him; they were worshiping idols. 34:27 And so the message is a strong one. 34:30 It's a message of judgment: to turn from what they were doing. 34:35 The second half of the book of Isaiah 34:37 is a message of comfort. 34:40 Isaiah chapter 43. 34:43 Isaiah 43. God wants us to turn back to Him. 34:47 He wants to redeem us and restore our relationship 34:52 with Him. Isaiah chapter 43 verse 1: 34:55 "Now thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob. " 34:59 In the Hebrew the word for create means to form 35:02 or shape. I imagine God - 35:08 Adam and Eve in the very beginning - forming them 35:12 from the dust of the ground. 35:14 "Now thus says the Lord who created you. 35:17 He formed you, O Israel. Fear not 35:22 for I have redeemed you. " 35:27 He bought us back. 35:28 He made us in the beginning 35:30 and then we turned our back on Him. 35:34 We said: "We don't want anything to do with You. 35:36 We choose our own way. " 35:38 And then He, by the power of His Spirit 35:41 and by the blood of Jesus at the cross 35:44 He bought us back. 35:46 "I have called you by your name... you are Mine. " 35:49 Here's the promise, verse 2: 35:50 "When you pass through the waters I will be with you 35:54 and through the rivers... they shall not overflow you. 35:58 When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned 36:00 nor shall the flames scorch you. 36:02 I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, 36:06 your Savior. " 36:09 He walks with us in the midst of the fire. 36:13 He walks beside us as we go through the raging stream. 36:19 We do not walk alone. 36:21 Hebrews 13 verse 5 He says: "Never will I leave you; 36:26 never will I forsake you. " 36:28 We are not alone. 36:31 Twenty years ago my Mom had some serious health challenges. 36:35 And even though it's been 20 years I can remember it 36:38 as if it were yesterday. 36:40 I remember the doctor visit after doctor visit. 36:43 I remember wondering what's going to happen. 36:47 What's the diagnosis going to be? 36:50 Scared! And there was a certain scripture that 36:53 I claimed: Psalm 112 verse 7. 36:56 "You shall not be afraid of evil tidings. 37:00 His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. " 37:05 Now I had misinterpreted that scripture. 37:09 I thought it meant nothing evil will come to me 37:12 as long as my heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. 37:15 Well that's not what the scripture says at all 37:17 but that is what I was claiming. 37:19 "So God, as long as I have enough faith, 37:22 as long as my heart is fixed firmly enough on You, 37:27 as long as I keep that 37:29 we're going to have a good outcome for my Mom. " 37:32 So I remember sitting in the doctor's office. 37:34 My Mom's on the table here in the middle; 37:37 my Dad's on this side. 37:39 I can still remember him leaning against the wall 37:41 arms folded across his chest. 37:43 I'm over here on this side leaning up against the wall 37:46 over here arms across my chest looking. 37:49 Here comes the doctor and I'm just claiming: 37:51 "You shall not be afraid of evil tidings. 37:53 His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord God. " 37:55 "You've got this, God. It's going to be a good report. " 37:58 "God, I'm claiming that. " 38:00 The doctor comes in. 38:02 He says: "I'm so sorry 38:05 but the diagnosis isn't good. 38:11 She's diagnosed with MS. " 38:14 And I remember it was quiet in the room. 38:19 The doctor left. I remember my Mom crying. 38:23 And I remember I was MAD at God. 38:26 "But God... " You remember I had misinterpreted the scripture. 38:30 Remember that? So I'm saying: "But God... 38:32 as long as I claim this, as long as I had enough 38:36 faith, You said nothing evil was going to happen. " 38:39 And then I looked at the scripture again 38:41 and realized that's not at all what it says. 38:44 It said not that evil wouldn't come - 38:47 we know the rain falls on the just and the unjust - 38:50 we know that trials and tribulations come to those who 38:53 walk with Jesus and those who have turned their back on Him. 38:57 It doesn't matter... we know that. 38:59 It is because we live in a world of sin. 39:04 BUT the promise in that scripture 39:07 is that God will be with us through anything. 39:12 God will be with us in the midst of the storm. 39:17 He hears; He cares; He understands; He comforts; 39:21 He accompanies. Number six: He answers. 39:25 Now you might be saying: "Wait a minute, Jill. 39:27 I've asked for an answer and I didn't get it. " 39:30 "I asked for an answer and it did not come 39:34 the way I wanted. " 39:36 You know, we're taught as kids... at least I was taught 39:38 as a kid... there are three answers to prayer. 39:40 Were you ever taught that? 39:42 Yes... no... and what's this one? Maybe. 39:47 Yes! That's what I was taught. 39:49 I think there's actually four. 39:52 First one over here says: "No... not yet. " 39:57 Now that's the one that would be what we'd consider the maybe, 40:00 right? "No... not yet. " 40:03 You know, they say on average people are going to spend 40:05 six months of your lifetime waiting in line for something. 40:11 Whoo! Forty-three days on hold with automated customer service. 40:16 Twenty-seven days waiting at the bus platform. 40:20 Nine years of the average person's life is spent on the 40:23 cell phone... and for my assistant LaDonna over here 40:25 and myself... we probably would spend at least eighteen years 40:27 of our life on our cell phones. 40:30 No, those are just... We say: "OK... I don't like to wait. " 40:34 But what if it's a more difficult waiting time? 40:37 What if you're waiting for the result of a biopsy 40:39 or the nurse's voice after surgery? 40:41 Or the door to open for the job you always wanted 40:44 or the home you want or the ministry that doesn't 40:46 seem to open. Or finances for school or loans 40:50 or retirement. Or maybe you just want God to provide you 40:54 with a friend or a child 40:57 or a soulmate. 41:00 What do we do in the midst of that waiting time? 41:03 So that is a subject altogether for another time. 41:06 We won't get into that. But the first 41:09 answer is "No, not yet" meaning it might be coming 41:13 but not at this time. 41:15 Second answer is "No... because I love you too much. " 41:20 Now how in the world could love be a "no? " 41:25 Wouldn't you think if you love someone you want to 41:28 give them good things? 41:34 How can love be a "no? " 41:36 This is a deep subject. 41:38 Could take a very long time. 41:40 I can think of at least three ways - three reasons - 41:43 that love is a "no" 41:44 because love is protection. 41:47 Boundaries are for our safety. 41:51 You think about you have a kid and they go to touch 41:53 the hot stove and what do you say? 41:55 "Oh yes, honey, 'cause Mommy wants to say yes. " 41:57 No! Right? You say: "Don't touch that stove! " 42:00 Why? Because love is protection. 42:04 What if they run out in the street? 42:05 You would run and grab your kid - wouldn't you? - 42:07 and pull them back from danger 42:10 because love is protection. 42:13 Love is also ownership. 42:17 When you belong to someone - 42:20 and we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ - 42:23 He has a Godly jealousy over us. 42:27 Now there's a big difference be- tween being jealous for someone 42:31 or being jealous of someone. 42:34 If you are jealous for someone that's like coveting, right? 42:37 That's the wrong kind of jealousy. 42:39 "I wish I could have their car or their spouse 42:44 or their bank account or their position. " Right? 42:46 That's a wrong type of jealousy. 42:49 This jealousy - jealous of something - 42:52 is what I call this love means ownership. 42:57 In other words, God says "I love you so much 43:01 that if you have something in your life - 43:03 if there is an idol - if there is something in your life 43:07 between Me and you... " Me and you, I apologize... 43:12 God and us... If there's something in our life 43:15 He says: "I want that to go. " 43:18 "Because I love you so much I want you to only belong 43:23 to Me and to nobody else. " 43:26 Love is protection; love is ownership; 43:29 love is also salvation. 43:32 I think about Jesus when He experienced the silence of God. 43:37 He said: "God, if it's possible, 43:40 please... " What'd He say? "let this cup pass from Me. " 43:44 "I don't want to go to the cross... 43:47 I don't think I can experience that. " 43:49 "I cannot walk through that. " 43:52 "In My flesh I cannot do that. " 43:55 And yet, God said: "No. " 43:57 And why is that? So that you and I could be saved. 44:01 Sometimes the answer is a "no" and it has nothing to do with 44:06 protection and nothing to do with ownership 44:08 and everything to do with the salvation of someone else. 44:12 Maybe someone else in your life, 44:14 someone else in your neighborhood, someone else 44:17 in your community. 44:18 So the first answer is: "No, not yet. " 44:21 Then we have: "No, I love you too much. " 44:23 Then we have: "Yes! I thought you would never ask! " 44:28 Think of James chapter 4 verse 2. 44:30 What does the Bible tell us? "You have not... " What? 44:32 "because you ask not. " 44:35 Philippians... Philippians? Psalm 2:8. 44:38 "Ask of Me, and I'll give you the heathen for your inheritance 44:42 and the uttermost parts of the world for your possession. " 44:46 What do we ask for? The conversion of our family, 44:49 friends, neighbors, enemies... the world. 44:51 The outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 44:54 We ask for revival and reformation to spring forth. 44:57 A new heart... the heart of flesh that He has promised us 45:01 in Ezekiel 36. We ask for God to write His law 45:04 in our heart and on our mind 45:07 that we could become a new creation in Christ Jesus. 45:10 That He could be glorified in our life. 45:13 We ask for spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, 45:16 that His name would be written on our forehead, 45:19 that our name would be written in the Lamb's Book of Life. 45:22 That we could be transformed into His image. 45:24 We ask for strength to endure and grace to overcome 45:27 and victory from sin, deliverance from bondage, 45:31 freedom in Christ, peace that passes all understanding. 45:34 And then we thank Him that His promises are yes and amen 45:40 in Christ Jesus. 45:42 And the final answer over here is another yes. 45:45 Yes and so much more. 45:49 God wants to do "exceedingly abundantly 45:53 above all that we could ever ask or think. " 45:57 Ephesians 3 verse 20. 46:00 So God hears us... even when it seems like He's silent 46:04 in your life He's listening. 46:07 When it seems like He's silent He cares for you. 46:10 When it seems like He's silent He understands what you're 46:15 going through. When it seems like He's silent 46:18 He comforts you. 46:21 When it seems like He's silent He accompanies 46:25 or He walks with you through the fire. 46:29 When it seems like He's silent He answers. 46:33 And sometimes - I don't even understand - 46:36 the answer is not what we asked for. 46:40 I know some of you here in this room. 46:42 Some of you I haven't met yet. 46:45 I know a few of your stories. 46:47 Some of you have lost children to death, 46:50 spouses to death... divorce. 46:54 Some of you your children have walked away from God 46:57 and you just want them to come back. 47:00 We all have an experience, a time when we are walking 47:06 through that silent time... 47:09 that time of pain. 47:11 And yet number 7, the final thing that God does. 47:15 Always happens. And that is that He delivers. 47:21 He delivers. 47:22 We started with the children of Israel; I want to end with them. 47:25 Go back to Exodus... Exodus chapter 3. 47:30 Exodus 3 verses 7 and 8. 47:32 We read 7 already at the beginning, but let's 47:34 read it again. "The Lord said: 'I have surely seen 47:37 the oppression of My people who are in Egypt 47:41 and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters 47:45 for I know their sorrows. ' " 47:47 God knows, sees, and under- stands your sorrows today. 47:52 "So I have come down to... " What's that word? 47:55 "deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians 48:00 and to bring them in from that land to a good and large land, 48:03 to a land flowing with milk and honey. " 48:06 Now it might seem like the deliverance is not coming 48:10 in your life but it will come. 48:13 God will bring that deliverance. 48:17 John 8:36: "If the Son makes you free, 48:20 you shall be free indeed. " 48:25 What does He deliver us from? 48:26 He delivers us from bondage. The children of Israel 48:29 were in bondage for 400 years. 48:33 Entrapped, enslaved... and yet God by the power 48:36 of His Spirit delivered them. 48:39 Broke those bands of slavery and He delivered them. 48:43 He delivers us from trouble. Psalm 34:17: 48:46 "The righteous cry and the Lord hears 48:49 and delivers them out of all their trouble. " 48:53 He delivers us from fear. 48:55 Psalm 34:4: "I sought the Lord 48:59 and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears. " 49:03 Are you afraid today? 49:04 Are you going through something that makes your heart tremble? 49:07 Are you going through something that you feel like you are in 49:10 the midst of bondage and addiction? 49:13 Do you feel like you are in trouble and there is no way out? 49:17 God wants to deliver you today. 49:21 He wants to deliver you from bondage 49:23 and from trouble and from fear and from sin. 49:27 Matthew 1:21: "He shall save His people 49:31 from their sin. " 49:36 I stepped out of our kitchen into the garage 49:41 and the heat just hit me full in the face. 49:45 Hundred degrees. 49:47 Flat 100 degrees in the garage. 49:49 Greg and I were headed out and the garage door opened up 49:54 and all of a sudden... I was just getting in the car 49:56 and Greg said: "Jilly look up. " And so I looked up 50:00 and there was a humming- bird at the peak of the roof. 50:04 Little itty bitty. 50:06 Now it was 100 where I was standing 50:08 so it was probably I don't know, 110... 115? It was hotter 50:12 up there in the rafters. 50:15 And I said: "Well it needs to come out. " 50:19 The garage door was open so I said: "Come, come! " 50:22 It's not going to listen to me but I thought maybe 50:24 if the door's open it would know safety is outside. 50:28 It's going to die at the peak of the roof. 50:30 "Come out! " But it didn't. 50:33 I ran and I got our humming- bird feeder. It's red. 50:35 And I thought maybe it'd be attracted to the red 50:37 and it would come down. That didn't do anything. 50:41 So Greg put on some old work gloves. 50:44 He got a ladder. 50:46 And I held my breath as he climbed up the ladder 50:49 and then stepped onto the trusses... the rafters. 50:53 And he stepped from one to the other to the other 50:57 till he was right underneath where the hummingbird was. 51:01 And he reached up and he grabbed it 51:05 in his gloved hands, and it began to squawk 51:08 in a way that I have never heard a hummingbird squawk before. 51:12 I'm sure it said: "What do you think you're doing? 51:14 Are you trying to kill me? " 51:16 And then he gingerly stepped from rafter to rafter 51:20 and then walked down the ladder. 51:23 And we went outside and he opened up his hand 51:26 and it was so weak that it couldn't even fly. 51:32 And so I held the hummingbird feeder there 51:35 and it picked up its little beak and it began to drink. 51:39 And then pretty soon it got enough energy 51:43 and it lifted off and it flew away. 51:48 And it reminded me of how many times 51:51 I have walked in a way of my own choosing. 51:55 I have refused to do things God's way. 52:00 And I got "enwrapped" in bondage and slavery. 52:04 I became in trouble. 52:07 I was surrounded with fear and didn't even know how to get out. 52:12 Didn't know where to go or what to do. 52:16 God opened the door 52:17 and said: "Why don't you come? " 52:20 And I was too afraid. 52:22 I preferred to stay at the roof 52:26 where I would die. 52:28 And then Jesus climbed the ladder of my own stubbornness 52:34 and pride and He reached up scarred hands 52:39 to hold me. And then He walked back down 52:45 and went outside the garage - 52:49 outside of my prison home, 52:52 outside of where I had been trapped in bondage - 52:55 and He opened up His hands 52:59 setting me free to choose again. 53:01 Because our God never forces. 53:04 Our God says: "I love you. " 53:07 "I died for you! " 53:09 "I want to set you free, 53:12 and even when it feels that you are walking in a silent time 53:17 I am right there 53:19 and I want to bring you deliverance... 53:24 but it's up to you. 53:25 You can turn back around and fly into the garage 53:31 or you can be free. " 53:34 Do you want to be free today? 53:37 Listen as Tim ministers. 53:42 How great 53:45 is our God! 53:47 Sing with me: how great 53:52 is our God! 53:55 I know you'll see how great... 53:59 how great 54:02 is our God! 54:08 Sing it with me. 54:09 How great is our God! 54:15 Sing with me: how great 54:18 is our God! And all will see 54:21 And all will see how great... 54:25 how great 54:28 is our God! 54:32 Name above all names! 54:34 Name above all names! He is worthy... 54:40 He is worthy of all praise. 54:45 And my heart... and my heart 54:48 will sing how great 54:52 is our God! 54:59 How great is our God! 55:04 Sing with me: how great 55:08 is our God! 55:11 And all will see how great, 55:16 how great 55:19 is our God! Have you experienced 55:23 the greatness of God in your life? 55:25 Amen! Do you want to experience His greatness 55:27 in a way that you never have before? 55:29 If you are walking in a dark place, 55:32 if you are experiencing it seems like the apparent 55:35 silence of God, if you want special prayer 55:39 today why don't you stand. 55:40 I want to pray for you. 55:42 I know that God wants to bring us deliverance 55:46 because He hears, because He cares, 55:50 because He understands, because He comforts 55:54 and walks with us through that. 55:59 Because He wants to bring us deliverance. 56:03 And at home: I just want to make a special appeal 56:05 to you as well. God wants to deliver you 56:09 from bondage, from addiction. 56:11 God wants to deliver you from trouble. 56:13 He wants to set you free. 56:16 Will you make a decision right now? 56:18 Open up your heart to the Lord Jesus. 56:22 Allow Him access. Allow Him to come in 56:25 and to change you forever. 56:28 Father, we come before You and we're standing 56:30 before You as Your children just now 56:33 thanking You for the gift of Jesus. 56:38 Thanking You that in our dark moments, 56:41 in those barren places, 56:43 in the midst of addiction and struggle and stress 56:47 thanking You that You have come to set us free. 56:52 That You have come that we would have life 56:55 and have it more abundantly. 56:58 So God, thank you for reaching out those nail-scarred hands 57:02 and for bringing us out into victory. 57:05 For bringing us out into freedom. 57:08 And we choose You. We open up our hearts 57:12 to receive Your love, Your life, 57:16 Your peace, Your anointing. 57:20 And we thank You for what You are going to do 57:23 and how You can hear and answer the prayer of faith. 57:27 And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Amen! |
Revised 2019-12-31