Participants:
Series Code: TWH
Program Code: TWH180811A
|
00:30 Today we're going to go on a different journey.
00:32 I'd like you to open your Bibles with me 00:34 to Revelation 1. 00:37 Revelation 1:7. 00:43 Revelation 1:7, 00:47 "Behold, He is coming with clouds, 00:51 and every eye will see Him, 00:54 even those who pierced Him. 00:57 And all the tribes of the earth 01:00 will mourn because of Him. 01:04 Even so, Amen. 01:08 Let us pray. 01:10 Father in heaven, bless this message now 01:13 for the glory of Your name. 01:16 In Jesus' name I pray, 01:19 amen. 01:21 It was 1983, when my wife and I 01:24 were living in Orlando, Florida, 01:27 we decided to move down there shortly after we got married. 01:30 We moved down three months after we were married. 01:33 We got married in May, June, July, August, 01:37 found us in Orlando, Florida. 01:43 Still finding out more about the terrain, 01:45 we decided to take a short journey to Miami. 01:48 And at the time I still had my Toyota Corona, 01:51 the station wagon I've spoken so much about 01:53 that had cancerous fenders that were already 01:59 rusted at the very base. 02:02 And that car had gone through many changes. 02:04 But this particular day, 02:06 we were on our way to Miami, Florida. 02:09 And I don't remember 02:10 how far outside of Orlando we were, 02:12 but before us we saw 02:16 the most frightening 02:20 apparition 02:22 if I could use that word to describe what we saw. 02:24 We saw the darkest clouds 02:29 that up until that point 02:31 I had ever remembered seeing. 02:34 It looked as though it was a wall of night 02:38 waiting in front of us. 02:40 Well, since we were going south, 02:42 it was inevitable that we're going to meet these clouds, 02:44 and we met them head on, 02:46 and when we drove into these clouds 02:48 we experienced the rainstorm of our lives. 02:52 It maybe rains like this in Texas or maybe Florida, 02:54 or sometimes we get them here. 02:56 But this is the first time, 02:58 I was ever in a rainstorm where it was raining so hard 03:02 that the rain actually found a way 03:04 in through closed windows, 03:08 raining tenaciously. 03:11 So hard that we decided to pull over under an overpass 03:15 just to wait until the rain had stopped, 03:18 where motorcyclists had pulled over, 03:20 it was so intense, the clouds were so dark 03:23 that I almost hit a motorcyclist as I pulled over 03:26 because the clouds had barred my vision 03:29 to that degree. 03:31 But there was a very amazing lesson 03:32 that the Lord taught me about those clouds, 03:35 that heavy rain, the dark ominous clouds 03:38 that waited ahead of me 03:40 is after we went into those dark clouds 03:43 which we could not see beyond 03:46 and experience the most tenacious rainstorm 03:48 up until that point 03:51 that I had ever experienced with my wife 03:55 is there was not a speck of dust 04:00 on our vehicle. 04:02 It looked as though it had just come out of the showroom 04:06 because anything that was on that car 04:08 was blasted away 04:11 by the tenacity of the rain 04:14 that was wrapped in those dark ominous clouds. 04:19 Have you ever been there before 04:21 driving into an ominous scene wondering what to expect. 04:25 But coming through it 04:28 with whatever you took into it 04:30 cannot be found on that vehicle. 04:32 When we pulled over eventually, had stopped at a rest area, 04:35 I looked at my vehicle, and although at that time 04:37 it had been very old, it looked like 04:39 it had just gone through a brand new paint job, 04:42 no dirt on the windshields, no dirt to be found anywhere. 04:47 The darkness of the clouds had brought to us a rainstorm, 04:52 but had cleansed everything that we took into the clouds. 04:57 And when I thought about the sermon for today, 04:59 the Lord has been taking my wife and I 05:03 on a very beautiful journey. 05:07 So today, what we're going to do is 05:09 I'm going to invite you to go 05:11 with us, with me on a journey 05:15 where clouds are dominant. 05:18 I'm going to invite you to revisit 05:21 the clouds of your past so that you can discover... 05:28 that in every cloud you have ever faced, 05:31 they were not only ordained, and aloud, 05:35 and permitted by God. 05:38 But God used those clouds to reveal, 05:43 and to allow you to discover that even in the clouds, 05:48 God's greatest blessings can be realized. 05:53 But showers cannot come 05:56 unless they are preceded by clouds. 06:00 And I'm going to say to you today in many ways, 06:02 in different tones, and do various scenarios 06:05 that the clouds of God 06:08 are the precursor of the blessings of God. 06:12 And I'm sure that every one of us in here today 06:16 has had cloudy moments in our lives 06:18 where God had seemed to be absent, 06:21 where God seemed to be contradictory, 06:24 where it didn't make sense as to why as His children 06:27 He allows us to go through the things 06:29 that we have been confronted with or faced with. 06:33 But remember, this is very important, 06:36 showers don't fall on cloudless days. 06:40 They don't fall on cloudless days. 06:42 Showers don't produce showers, clouds do. 06:46 The meteorologists call it precipitation. 06:49 Have you heard the word before, precipitation probability? 06:52 And I try to educate myself just recently, you know, 06:56 we pastors like to sound like we know what we're saying 06:59 when in fact we're just communicating 07:00 somebody else's data or data, where you're from data, data. 07:05 But I was listening to a meteorologist 07:07 explain how rain is produced. 07:08 And he says in certain environments, 07:13 he says, especially 07:14 where large bodies of water or water at all exist 07:19 in something called condensation the water rises 07:23 and the clouds begin to receive the rising water 07:29 and because of the temperature in the clouds 07:32 being lower than the temperature on the ground 07:37 depending on the other extenuating circumstances, 07:41 the clouds begin to turn the water colder, 07:45 it begins to crystallize the water. 07:48 And if it's the colder time of the year, 07:51 it can crystallize it so much so to the time 07:54 that when it returns it to the ground, 07:56 it comes down in snowflakes. 08:01 In those times of the year 08:02 when storms begin to be prevalent, 08:04 it sometimes will send it down in larger droplets 08:08 as these smaller droplets when they begin to fall 08:11 from higher altitudes, Cumulonimbus clouds... 08:15 Do I sound educated? 08:17 We call them thunderheads. 08:19 That's why pilots when they fly, 08:22 they go around the thunderheads because many of us 08:24 don't know that in those thunderheads 08:27 there can be small crystals of ice, 08:31 there can be golf ball size ice, 08:35 tennis ball size ice, or ice as large 08:38 and as heavy as a bag of sugar. 08:41 So pilots are very leery 08:43 about going through Cumulonimbus clouds 08:45 especially in the storm. 08:47 You've heard the phrase downdrafts and updrafts, 08:49 that's what happens. 08:51 It's just waiting for us, in the clouds ice is waiting. 08:54 But on warm days or tropical days 08:56 because the surface is warmer as those snowflakes fall 08:59 even over St. Thomas 09:02 in the Virgin Islands, those snowflakes 09:05 as they get close to the ground, 09:07 they defrost and come down 09:10 as showers of blessings. 09:13 Here in the Midwest, we've had both. 09:14 We've had showers of blessings and we've had those days 09:17 where the Cumulonimbus clouds produce 09:19 what is called as golf ball size hail. 09:23 But showers never come on cloudless days. 09:28 And I've had to learn that in a very real way 09:30 because without clouds the grass will wither, 09:33 without clouds the earth will suffer and die 09:36 from thirst. 09:38 Without clouds rivers becomes parched and dry up. 09:41 Without clouds flowers bow their heads 09:44 in defeat and the harvest is delayed. 09:49 And so today come with me on this journey 09:51 where clouds are dominant. 09:53 Come with me today as I introduce to you 09:56 the beauty of the darkness 10:00 and the ominous nature of clouds. 10:03 And today I guarantee you, when the sermon is over, 10:06 you gonna say, Father in heaven, 10:08 thank You for the clouds 'cause I've learned 10:10 that God will never send to His children 10:12 what they are not by His loving hand 10:16 ready and willing to receive. 10:18 Come with me to the first attention 10:20 of clouds in Genesis 7:4 10:23 because it was through clouds that rain introduced 10:25 God's judgment to our world hardened by sin. 10:28 We read the record in Genesis 7:4. 10:32 And I believe it's on the screen, 10:33 thank you for that. 10:36 In antediluvian environment, the Lord spelled 10:39 of the becoming judgments 10:41 and He says as Moses recorded these words, 10:44 "For after seven more days," how many days? 10:48 "Seven more days I will cause it 10:50 to rain on the earth 10:52 forty days and forty nights, 10:58 and I will destroy from the face of the earth 11:00 all living things that I have made." 11:04 Now when the clouds begin to gather, 11:07 to Noah and his family 11:09 the clouds were a confirmation of the promises of God. 11:13 Did you hear what I just said? 11:15 When the clouds began to gather, 11:17 they were a confirmation that what Noah was preaching 11:21 was in fact the words of God that we can lean on, 11:26 that we can trust in Noah, 11:29 when the clouds began to gather, 11:31 there were two reactions. 11:33 Noah said, "Lord you are right." 11:38 And the evil antediluvians came to the conclusion, 11:46 "Lord you were right." 11:51 I want the Lord's realization. 11:56 I want that realization that the Lord is right 11:59 to come to me 12:01 as one on the inside of God's blessings 12:04 not on the outside of God's blessing. 12:07 Did you get what I'm saying? 12:09 When the clouds of God's judgments come 12:12 and they are coming, 12:15 we must come to the realization 12:17 that clouds are a precursor 12:21 to the promises of God. 12:23 Say that with me clouds are a what? 12:26 Precursor to the promises of God. 12:29 When those clouds came and brought with them 12:32 40 days worth of rain, 12:36 Noah knew 12:39 that preaching the Word of God, 12:41 he had done it faithfully, and God was affirming 12:44 Noah's faithfulness by bringing the rain. 12:47 Noah got to the place, "Lord, send the rain, " 12:50 and God sent the rain. 12:52 It was showers of blessing to those who trusted God. 12:57 It was showers of the judgment, doom to an obstinate world. 13:01 A confirmation to Noah 13:04 of the validity of God's promises. 13:06 Today, clouds are a precursor 13:09 to the promises of God. 13:12 You see when we live by the promises of God, 13:15 our reaction to clouds that gather 13:18 ought to be different 13:21 than the one that does not know God. 13:24 I want to say that again. 13:26 When things come into our lives that we cannot understand 13:31 because we have a connection with God, 13:33 there should be a different reaction in us 13:37 than the person that doesn't have a connection with God. 13:40 You know that very statement has allowed me recently 13:43 to understand that I no longer... 13:47 And you might get there with me, 13:48 that I no longer crave 13:51 the lifestyle of the rich and famous. 13:56 'Cause I listen to their junk. 13:59 And I say this, you know, 14:03 killing themselves at 49 years old, 14:06 overdosing on drugs, 14:08 in the hospital and they are atheists 14:10 and they have nobody to call on. 14:11 The worst position to be in is to be an atheist 14:16 when you're on your deathbed. 14:18 Can I get an amen? 14:19 You've got nobody to call, nobody to say help me, 14:23 nobody to turn to. 14:26 And I've seen in such a clear and stark way 14:28 those who are surrounded... 14:30 That's why Asaph, 14:31 the Lord had to send Asaph a letter 14:34 in the 73rd division of the Psalms, 14:36 He had to send Asaph the letter to clear up 14:39 Asaph's misunderstanding of God. 14:41 Asaph thought he served God for no reason 14:44 because the clouds that came into his life, 14:46 it was not until he stepped into the sanctuary of God 14:49 that he understood the end of those 14:52 that seem to have enough to buy their way to heaven. 14:55 But I say today, I'm so glad, 14:57 I rather go through clouds with God 15:01 than be caught in a storm without it. 15:05 There's so many wealthy people and we get, 15:07 we kind of sometimes get inoculated by the draw 15:12 of how much money they have 15:15 and what kind of car... 15:17 Now you know, I wouldn't hurt... 15:20 I mean I wouldn't lose sleep, if I woke up tomorrow 15:23 and there was a Lamborghini in my driveway. 15:24 I mean I wouldn't lose sleep. 15:26 I probably would be able to afford the insurance 15:28 and return it for that very reason. 15:32 God is not a God who cannot bless us. 15:35 But I'd rather have little in this life 15:38 and look forward to everything than have all that I can desire 15:44 in this corrupt world 15:45 and miss out on what is to come. 15:48 And so sometimes God has to bring the clouds to us 15:53 so that when we get into the valley, 15:54 we can remember 15:56 that it's not the phone call you make, 15:57 it's not the friends you have, it's not your bank account, 16:00 but it is you and God. 16:01 That's why the Psalmist David said, 16:04 "Yea, though I walk through the valley 16:07 of the shadows of death," what else did he say? 16:10 "I will fear no evil," why? 16:12 Not because of my bank account, but because You are with me. 16:17 And I've learned, 16:19 I'm getting old and I can say that, 16:21 I just had a birthday. 16:23 I hit a number. 16:26 That's all I'm telling you. 16:30 I hit a number. 16:32 I didn't play the numbers, it just showed up. 16:35 And I said there it is I embraced it. 16:38 JD, I embraced it. 16:41 I now know what it feels like to be another number. 16:46 So I'm not saying. 16:49 I'm not saying what the number is. 16:52 But I'm learning that it's okay to add another number to life 16:57 'cause God has taken my wife and me through cloud 17:01 after cloud, after cloud, after cloud. 17:06 Can I get an amen? 17:07 Has He taken you through clouds? 17:10 And you come out on the other side 17:11 and you wonder how because in the clouds, 17:14 He says, don't fear any evil, for I'm with you. 17:18 My rod and my staff, rod and staff, 17:21 rod to keep the devil as far away from us as He can 17:26 and staff to keep us from running away. 17:29 Thy rod and thy staff... 17:33 they come for me. 17:36 Had to learn that in the hard way. 17:38 You see one of the most beautiful promises of God 17:41 was also ratified on the heels of the destruction 17:45 of the antediluvian world. 17:47 Let's look at some more clouds. 17:48 Genesis 9, look at me to verse 12-15, 17:51 the most beautiful promises of God. 17:53 We think of God's promises, 17:55 we wake up on a beautiful bright blue day and we say, 17:59 "God is on the throne." 18:01 And when the clouds are gathering, we say, 18:03 "Where is God?" 18:05 While I want to let you know as you turn to Genesis 9:12-15, 18:09 I want you to know 18:11 that when Jesus was on the cross, 18:13 the reason why there was darkness 18:15 on Mount Calvary, 18:17 the reason why there was darkness 18:18 on the hill called Golgotha 18:20 is because the Father was closer to His Son 18:23 than ever before 18:26 and His visitation had to be introduced by clouds 18:30 or He would have consumed everyone 18:33 on that mountain by His glory. 18:36 So clouds are a precursor to the promises of God. 18:39 Look at Genesis 9:12-15. 18:42 "This is the sign of the covenant 18:43 which I make between Me and you." 18:47 Remember, the clouds are a covenant, 18:49 in the clouds God's covenant is revealed. 18:52 And he says, "And every living creature 18:54 that is with you, for a" what? 18:57 "Perpetual generations. 19:00 I set my rainbow, together, in the cloud, 19:04 and it shall be for the sign of the covenant 19:06 between Me and the earth. 19:08 It shall be..." 19:10 Come on, here we go now. 19:11 "When I bring a cloud over the earth, 19:16 that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud, 19:19 and I will remember my covenant which is between Me and you 19:23 and every living creature of all flesh, 19:25 the waters shall never again become a flood 19:29 to destroy all flesh." 19:31 Amen? 19:32 Now here's the blessing. 19:34 We love rainbows, 19:35 but rainbows don't come without clouds. 19:40 No clouds, no rain. 19:43 No rain, no rainbows. 19:44 No rainbows, no reminder 19:49 that God will never destroy the earth 19:52 by a flood again. 19:54 So that when we forget God's promises here it is my... 19:57 When we forget God's promises, God sends the clouds. 20:08 I was thinking, would you want to get some clouds this week. 20:12 You say amen today. 20:14 Say amen on Monday. 20:16 Say amen on Thursday. 20:18 Say amen when your paycheck don't get deposited 20:20 when you want it to be set. 20:22 Say amen when your car breaks down 20:25 two miles short of your destination, clouds. 20:29 I'm convinced that some of us won't even have a prayer life 20:34 unless God send some clouds. 20:39 I'm convinced that unless our children 20:42 mess up over and over again, 20:46 we won't understand where in the house our Bible is, 20:49 clouds. 20:53 I'm convinced that this new number... 21:02 That God... 21:07 is the best 21:10 evaluator of where I am 21:14 and what I need to get me back to where I need to be. 21:20 He says, "Is Pam on track?" 21:25 Nah, see some clouds. 21:29 So he sent some clouds and Pam says, 21:32 "Mike, I'm going to church with you." 21:34 Amen. I'm messing with Pam. 21:38 When God knows that we are not where we need to be. 21:44 Hear me today, 21:46 He's going to send you some clouds 21:51 because there's a profound truth 21:52 about God that many have not yet learned. 21:57 Let's go to one of your favorite books Nahum, 22:00 if you could find it. 22:02 Come with me to Nahum. 22:05 Nahum 1:3, I'm just going to read the last part of Nahum. 22:08 It's amazing how God shows himself, 22:12 just the last part. 22:13 I'm going to read just the last part. 22:15 It said, "The Lord is slow to anger and great in" what? 22:19 "Power. 22:20 And will not at all acquit the wicked. 22:24 The Lord has his way 22:26 in the whirlwind and in the storm..." 22:29 And look at the last part, this will blow you away. 22:32 "The clouds are the dust of His feet." 22:37 So if your life gets dusty... 22:43 If there are clouds in your life, 22:47 God's in your neighborhood. 22:48 Come on, help me out somebody. 22:51 If there are clouds in your life, 22:52 the Lord is saying, "I got to go visit Luis again. 22:57 Got to go see Jenny again." 23:00 Isn't that powerful? 23:02 The clouds are the dust of His feet. 23:05 I mean, you've seen people 23:07 with these tractors around here, 23:08 the reason why I know some of the farmers at work 23:11 is I see what? 23:13 Dust clouds. 23:15 When God is at work, don't forget this. 23:18 When God is at work, clouds follow the track 23:24 that God makes on His way to our situation, 23:30 clouds. 23:32 Secondly, clouds are an indication 23:35 of the presence of God. 23:37 So don't be upset when the clouds come 23:39 because it means God is walking where you are, 23:42 so that you can see. 23:43 if God wasn't walking where you are, 23:45 then you wouldn't see the clouds 23:47 which are in fact just the dust of His feet. 23:51 Secondly, clouds are an indication 23:53 of the presence of God. 23:54 Exodus 33:9 and 10. 23:56 Exodus 33:9 and 10. 24:01 Clouds are an indication of the presence of God. 24:03 Verse 9 says, "And it came to pass 24:05 when Moses enter the tabernacle 24:08 that the pillar of cloud descended, 24:11 and stood at the door of the tabernacle, 24:14 and the Lord talked with Moses, and all the people 24:18 saw the pillar of clouds, 24:20 saw the pillar of cloud standing 24:22 at the tabernacle door..." 24:24 And what did they see when they saw the cloud? 24:27 "And all the people rose and worship each man 24:31 in his tent." 24:34 This is powerful. 24:40 If the cloud didn't show up, 24:44 the people wouldn't rise up and worship. 24:52 Which means when God knows that you're worshiping Him... 25:02 He's going to send you a cloud. 25:09 Some of us don't like to worship God. 25:14 So God's got to come to you in a pillar of a cloud 25:19 in our suffering, and our disappointments, 25:21 and our trials, and tribulations. 25:23 God's got to manifest a call. 25:24 When they saw the cloud, if you follow this carefully, 25:28 it's the Shekinah Glory. 25:30 What is it I said it again? 25:32 The Shekinah Glory, 25:33 the clouds that come into your life 25:37 is the presence of God coming to us saying, 25:40 my brother, my sister, 25:42 you're not shipping Me the way you ought to, 25:44 so I've got to bring clouds in your life 25:47 to get you to rise up and worship Me. 25:52 And I'm going to tell you in my own experience, 25:54 I don't know about you, 25:55 and it's not necessary that I do. 25:58 But I'm going to tell you the sweetest Bible studies 26:01 that I've had, my wife and me 26:03 have been when the deepest and darkest clouds 26:05 have been in our lives. 26:09 Right, Tita? 26:11 When you don't even want to pick up the phone 26:13 and call anybody, 26:16 because you don't know who's going to understand 26:17 what you're going through. 26:19 It's those moments where God said, 26:20 "Hey, forget the phone, 26:22 let's worship, let's worship, let's worship." 26:27 So he comes to us in clouds, 26:30 but the clouds have a dual purpose. 26:33 Let's go to Exodus 14:9 and 10. 26:36 The clouds have a dual purpose. 26:39 You see God uses clouds to bring us to the place 26:42 where we worship Him. 26:44 So when there are clouds in your life, don't forget it, 26:48 as you turn to Exodus, 26:49 when there are clouds in your life 26:51 nothing matters more than your special private time 26:56 where you are in worship with God. 26:59 Are you listening? 27:01 Amen. 27:02 When the clouds come, it's time to worship, 27:05 nothing will remedy that moment, but worship. 27:07 And if God sees you haven't understood it, 27:10 get this, God doesn't want to teach you anything, 27:15 He wants you to unlearn something. 27:19 We think, what God, 27:20 what's God's trying to teach me. 27:21 No, He's trying to get you to unlearn something 27:23 because you've been trying to find God other places, 27:25 you've been trying to find God 27:26 in the balance bank account, and a good working car, 27:28 and a wonderful family, and a nice secured job. 27:30 But God is saying, no, you're too snug, 27:32 you're too snug and you do not worship me. 27:34 You see when success is pouring into our lives, 27:37 when everything is working 27:38 when the cylinders are hitting all together 27:40 and the car is brand new, 27:41 we don't find our need. 27:43 That's why Asaph said, 27:45 "Lord, they have more than their eyes can wish 27:48 that even in their death there is abundance, " 27:51 speaking about the wealthy, speaking about those 27:53 that have all these things. 27:54 That's why when we travel around the world, 27:56 this is context to our travel. 27:58 When we travel, we go to New Guinea 28:02 where they don't have two outfits, 28:05 but when they sing, you got to come tonight, 28:08 but when they sing, they didn't come to church 28:10 in a brand new car, 28:12 they walked six miles with the peer sandals. 28:16 One day we were in India and the Hindu women heard 28:20 that a Christian pastor was there, 28:23 they told me I was blown away by it. 28:25 They said, the Hindu women 28:27 started walking from 1 o'clock today 28:30 to get here at 7 o'clock in the evening 28:31 because they heard a Christian man was here 28:34 and they came to hear about Jesus. 28:38 They walked for six hours. 28:42 But those of us who could drive to church 28:44 don't even drive to church. 28:48 I'm not telling you to drive to church. 28:50 If you don't want to drive to church, 28:51 you don't have to drive to church. 28:52 You can walk, if you don't want to walk you could stay home. 28:54 But I'm telling you 28:56 where abundances are lacking, 28:59 worship is abundant. 29:00 Come on, say amen. 29:02 You've got to travel to understand that. 29:04 We went to New Guinea. 29:07 One day when we were walking into the place, 29:11 when we were walking in, they're sitting down... 29:15 Excuse me for being kind of hard on the camera guy, 29:17 they are sitting down like this and somebody starts singing 29:19 To God, nobody up front leading us, 29:23 to God be the Glory. 29:25 And like a barrel that has 29:28 just exploded 29:29 with praise gas, 29:33 everybody just starts singing and you walk into a tent, 29:37 you're walking through a cloud of praise 29:40 as you get to the front. 29:43 They're singing, they're not singing 29:44 because somebody is telling them to sing, 29:47 they're singing because God is near to them. 29:50 And they sit there in reverence singing. 29:55 And when they sing, they sing. 30:00 And when you talk to them 30:02 as I talk to some of these students. 30:05 Two students came to me and said, 30:07 "Pastor, what do we do, we have a hard time 30:09 staying awake through your classes 30:13 and where we live is a long way away 30:14 and the people that house us 30:17 they sometimes they don't feed us breakfast." 30:20 And I said, "Well, do you eat lunch? 30:22 They said, "No." 30:24 I said, "Then when do you eat your first meal?" 30:26 They said, "About 7 or 8 o'clock in the evening." 30:29 I said, "No wonder you can't stay awake 30:30 in your classes." 30:31 And Lord impressed me 30:33 take the money out of your pocket, 30:34 make sure they're eating. 30:36 And I took the money out of my purse, 30:38 you gonna eat today and they were so desirous, 30:41 they found four other students, and took them all to lunch, 30:46 and they all ate. 30:47 They didn't have much, 30:49 they didn't have anything to be specific. 30:54 And I went back to the room and told my wife. 30:57 She said, "No, no, no, no, we've got to bless them more. 31:00 What do you have? How much you have?" 31:02 I said, "Here." She said, "No, no, more." 31:05 She said, "How we're going to find them? 31:07 I don't know but they're on the campus somewhere. 31:09 God sets appointments. 31:10 We walked out of our place 31:13 that we're staying there in New Guinea. 31:15 And as we walked out there were the two ladies walking by 31:18 not too far away, an appointment of God. 31:20 Amen somebody. 31:22 And when we put that money on their head, 31:24 they don't know how to react, but you know what? 31:26 God said to us 31:29 when people are in their own cloud 31:32 and we can lighten their burden, 31:34 let us come to them with the blessings of God 31:37 letting them see that if God can bless us, 31:40 we ought to be willing to bless somebody else in New Guinea, 31:46 in places in the Pacific, in the islands where praise is 31:50 most abundant is where 31:52 materials are most scarce. 31:57 But it said, in the places where materialism 31:59 is most abundant that praise is scarce 32:03 'cause we are distracted. 32:07 The clouds have a dual purpose. 32:10 Exodus 14:19 and 20, 32:13 "And the angel of God went before the camp of Israel 32:15 moved and went behind them, 32:17 the angel that went before moved and went behind them, 32:20 and a pillar of cloud went from before them 32:22 and stood behind them, 32:24 the cloud moved from before them 32:26 and went behind them. 32:27 Look at the dual purpose of the clouds. 32:30 Verse 20, "So it came between the camp of the Egyptians 32:32 and the camp of Israel, 32:34 the cloud separated the Egyptians 32:36 from the Israelites. 32:37 Thus it was a cloud of darkness to one 32:42 and it gave light by night to the other. 32:44 So that the one did not come near the other all that night." 32:49 The clouds that were darkness to the enemies was light 32:52 to the children of God. 32:54 Can somebody say amen? 32:55 Now here's a reason I asked for an amen. 32:56 Your clouds, you ought to react differently as a child of God 33:01 to clouds than the nonbeliever. 33:05 I don't know how many times I hear people complain 33:07 and this is perfect timing 33:09 because the school year is starting, 33:10 and some of you are going to have more check book 33:13 than you gonna have money. 33:16 But if God open the door for your children 33:18 to go to a school, the Lord will provide, 33:24 the Lord will provide, 33:28 but don't forget to be faithful, 33:30 and I'm convinced that in eternity 33:32 when the rest of the story is revealed, 33:34 God will disclose to us 33:37 that when clouds appeared in our lives, 33:41 they were not necessarily a sign of God's disapproval, 33:45 but a sign of God's protective care. 33:50 We think of clouds... 33:51 Oh, it's cloudy outside, we don't want to do anything, 33:54 but God would say, wait a minute, 33:55 I'm offended by that. 33:57 I'm in your neighborhood 33:58 and you don't want to go outside 33:59 because clouds are the dust of His feet. 34:03 He came to visit us. 34:05 God will never visit us without clouds 34:08 because we couldn't handle it. 34:11 I tell you why in a moment. 34:13 When God frees us, He inserts a cloud between us 34:16 and our adversary. 34:18 I say that again because you didn't catch it. 34:20 When God frees us, He inserts a cloud between us 34:24 and our adversary. 34:26 The cloud in our lives are intended 34:30 to trouble the enemy, but not to trouble us. 34:34 Look at Exodus 14:24. 34:39 Why am I preaching the sermon to you, 34:41 because I'm telling us as children of God, 34:43 stop allowing the clouds that God allows to trouble us, 34:48 they should strengthen us. 34:49 Look at the reason why. 34:51 Verse 24, 34:52 "Now it came to pass in the morning watch 34:55 that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians 34:59 through the pillar of fire and cloud, and get this, 35:02 and he troubled the army of the Egyptians." 35:05 He didn't trouble the children of Israel, 35:08 He troubled the army of the Egyptians. 35:10 The clouds were trouble to the Egyptians, 35:12 not to the children of Israel. 35:16 How are you going to react this week when clouds come? 35:24 But don't forget, God cannot come to us 35:26 except through clouds. 35:28 If He comes to us through any other method, 35:31 we will cease to exist because the Bible says, 35:35 "Our God is a consuming" what? "Fire." 35:39 He always shields His glory. 35:42 We can't handle His glory. 35:45 That's why we have to cease to ask the question 35:49 as Moses did, show me Your glory. 35:53 Now when I was putting this message together, 35:56 Karen, this came to me. 35:58 When I was putting this message together, 36:00 the Lord revealed to me something that is profound. 36:04 You see, we often say, Lord, You need to show me Your glory 36:06 because I need to see Your glory right now. 36:08 And I came to discover as Moses said, 36:11 Lord please, show me Your glory and the Lord responded 36:14 in Exodus 33:20 says, 36:15 "But you cannot see my face, 36:17 for no man shall see me and live." 36:20 So the Lord chose not to reveal His glory to Moses 36:23 because He would have ceased to exist. 36:25 He hid him in the cleft of the rock 36:28 and he said, "Now when I pass by just peek." 36:39 So when the glory of God 36:42 seems to be absent from your life. 36:44 God is not absent, 36:46 but He's coming to you in clouds. 36:50 He's shielding His glory. 36:54 He cannot come to us any other way 36:56 other than through clouds. 36:58 That's why my third point today is clouds are a preparation 37:04 for the revelation of the glory of God. 37:07 I'm going to say that again. 37:09 Clouds are a preparation for the revelation 37:13 of the glory of God. 37:15 Now, clouds are a preparation for the revelation 37:20 of the glory of God, meaning, when clouds show up, 37:24 God is about to reveal His glory. 37:28 But I just said you a moment ago, 37:30 don't ask for God to reveal His glory, 37:32 but it now seems like I'm contradicting myself 37:34 by saying that when cloud show up, 37:36 God is about to reveal His glory. 37:38 1 Peter 4:12 and 13, go there quickly with me. 37:42 I just have 20 minutes left. 37:48 1 Peter 4:12. 37:50 We are told in God's Word, "Beloved, do not think it, " 37:55 what? 37:56 "Strange, concerning the fiery trial 37:59 which is to try you 38:01 as though some strange thing happened to you." 38:03 Don't think it's strange, but rejoice to the extent 38:06 that you are partaker of Christ suffering. 38:09 Now what does that mean you're partaker 38:11 of Christ suffering? 38:12 When Christ was suffering at the highest level... 38:19 what was the circumstances? 38:22 There was a cloud above His head. 38:26 It was the darkest part of the day 38:29 when Christ was suffering the most. 38:33 It was the darkest part of the day 38:36 when Christ was suffering the most. 38:38 The Apostle Peter who knows that, 38:41 he says when Christ 38:42 was at his highest point of suffering, 38:45 He was overshadowed by clouds. 38:48 When we are sometimes 38:49 at the highest point of our suffering, 38:51 we will be overshadowed by clouds, 38:54 but here is the purpose of the clouds. 38:56 The clouds were not to hide Jesus from His Father, 39:00 but in His humanity just like in our humanity we say 39:05 what He said. 39:07 And He said, 39:09 "My God, My God," come on, 39:12 "why has Thou forsaken Me? 39:15 Was God absent? 39:17 No. 39:18 Spirit of Prophecy said, Ellen White says, 39:20 He was nearer to His Son than at any other moment. 39:24 Had the clouds not accompanied that moment, 39:28 everyone on that mountain would have ceased to exist. 39:31 So when the clouds are darkest in your life, 39:35 listen to the rest of the text. 39:38 But rejoice to the extent that you are partaker 39:40 of Christ suffering that when His glory is revealed, 39:43 you may also be, what? 39:45 Glad with what kind of joy? 39:47 Exceeding joy. 39:49 Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest, July 29th,. 39:53 He says, "What a revelation it is to know that sorrow, 39:56 bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds 40:01 that come along with God." 40:07 So when God comes to us, 40:10 He'll choose when to bring blessings, 40:12 but for the most part when sorrow, bereavement, 40:15 and suffering come, those are the clouds 40:18 that actually come along with God, you know why? 40:21 Because that's how we interpret clouds. 40:24 That's how we interpret them. 40:26 But I would from now on interpret them differently. 40:30 I would be able to say, Lord, I'm glad You're here. 40:36 I'm glad You're here. 40:41 I'm glad You're here. 40:43 When I see those clouds, 40:45 Lord, I'm glad You're here, I need You right now. 40:48 And like He did 40:50 to the faithful man called Moses, 40:52 He spoke to him through the clouds, 40:54 He speaks to us through the clouds. 40:57 The greatest blessing I want you to get this now 41:01 because this if you forget everything else 41:03 in the sermon, 41:04 this is something you cannot miss. 41:06 The greatest blessing is not that the glory of God 41:10 is revealed to us. 41:13 You ready for the rest. 41:16 And I know Donna would like this 41:18 because she studies righteousness by faith. 41:21 The greatest blessing is not that the glory of God 41:24 is revealed to us, 41:26 but that the glory of God is revealed through us. 41:32 Did you get that? 41:35 Look at the confirmation, Romans 8:18. 41:37 Romans 8:18. 41:39 I think the guy's putting it on the screen. 41:43 Paul the Apostle says, 41:44 "For I consider that the sufferings 41:47 of this present time, 41:48 that the sufferings of this," what? 41:50 "Present time here and now 41:52 this earth, this life are not worthy to be compared 41:57 with the glory that shall be revealed," where? 42:01 "In us." 42:02 Not to us, but in us. 42:05 You see if the Lord... 42:07 Let's put it together. 42:08 The Lord comes with clouds to shield His glory 42:12 so that He can step out of the clouds into us 42:16 and reveal Himself not to us, but through us. 42:20 Christ in you, the hope of glory. 42:25 He doesn't reveal Himself to us, that's easy. 42:28 The sun and the rain, 42:30 shine and fall on the just and the unjust. 42:32 They see the sunlight we see the sun, 42:34 but the difference between the unjust and us 42:37 is in the moments of suffering, 42:40 the Lord wants His glory to be reveal through us. 42:45 That's why more people are not what we are 42:47 because we are not what we should be. 42:49 If more of us were what we should be 42:52 in times of suffering, a person would say, 42:55 I want to be that 42:57 when my tough times come. 43:05 I want to be that when my tough times come. 43:08 1 Peter 1:6 and 7. 43:11 I'm on a mission, 43:12 1 Peter 1:6 and 7. 43:14 God uses clouds to reveal the genuineness of our faith. 43:19 You might think it's a title of a point, 43:20 but you going to get it later. 43:21 God uses clouds 43:23 to reveal the genuineness of our faith. 43:27 Look at Peter what he says. 43:29 1 Peter 1:6 and 7, 43:32 "In this you greatly rejoice, 43:37 though now for a little while," for how long my friends, 43:42 "a little while," if you think your trials along 43:44 is just a little while, 43:47 "though now for a little while 43:50 if need be you have been grieved 43:53 by various trials. 43:55 That the genuineness of your faith 43:58 being much more precious than gold that perishes, 44:04 though it is tested by fire, 44:07 may be found to," what? 44:09 "Praise, honor, and glory" when? 44:14 "at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 44:18 Apostle Peter says, 44:20 if you've got to suffer a little bit Matthew, 44:23 if you've got a little bit Philis. 44:29 Chris, if you got to suffer a little bit for a short while, 44:34 hang on 44:36 'cause this fire is getting you ready 44:37 for the Revelation of Jesus. 44:39 Amen, Tracy? 44:41 I'm just getting you ready for the revelation. 44:45 So I got to let some fires come in to test, 44:48 to see are you ready for the revelation, 44:51 give him some more clouds, give him some more fire, 44:54 test him are you ready for the revelation. 44:56 You see, this is powerful because when clouds come, 45:00 many of us change our view of God. 45:09 Numbers 21:5, 45:11 when clouds come, we change our view of God. 45:15 And I'm going to go fast now. 45:17 "And the people spoke against God and Moses 45:20 in their wilderness journey, 45:22 the one who freed them, 45:23 the one who broke the bondage 45:25 of the Egyptian slave taskmasters." 45:28 When God brought them out, the Bible says, 45:31 "In their clouds and the people spoke 45:33 against God and against Moses and they said, 45:36 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die 45:38 in the wilderness?' 45:41 For there is no food and no water, 45:42 and our souls loath this worthless bread." 45:45 Oh, my friends, I'm going to blow you away right now. 45:49 Is this worthless bread... 45:54 then why when it's being broken 45:56 there are not enough people getting together to eat it? 46:01 This is the bread that was successful with Christ 46:05 in His wilderness temptations. 46:07 He said, "It is written." 46:08 He didn't say it is sung, He didn't say it is performed, 46:10 He didn't say it is act out, He said, it is written. 46:12 Amen somebody? 46:14 But when you don't have, 46:15 when your view of God is altered 46:17 by the trials of life, 46:19 the bread of God seems to be worthless 46:21 because your desire for something 46:23 other than God's Word. 46:26 Who wants this worthless bread, I need some money, 46:28 I need a new car, my kids are acting up, 46:30 get him to psychiatrist. 46:32 I don't need bread. 46:34 He's said, get back to the bread. 46:36 Listen what Ellen White says, In Signs of The Times, 46:38 December 4, 1884. 46:39 Powerful. 46:41 She says, "Do not compare notes 46:43 to see how sorrowful a story you can tell. 46:47 There is enough to talk about 46:48 without raising one unhappy strain, 46:53 when we are willing to come as little children 46:55 conscious of our own weaknesses 46:58 and willing to be instructed by the divine teacher, 47:01 our hearts will be filled with the love of Jesus 47:04 and we shall long to speak of his matchless worth. 47:09 We shall cease to talk of self. 47:12 Our trials will look so small 47:16 that we will forget to mention them. 47:20 We have many blessings. 47:21 Let us cultivate gratitude 47:23 and talk of the goodness of God. 47:25 Amen. 47:27 You see, it is not important to know 47:28 where the clouds are coming from, 47:30 but it is important get us not to damage God's character 47:35 when the clouds come. 47:38 We damage His character. 47:40 We get mad at Him. 47:42 I've heard Adventists 47:44 say the dumbest things about God 47:47 when they don't have money. 47:50 You don't care about me. 47:52 Where is He now? 47:54 Oswald Chambers said in July 29th, 47:56 My Utmost for His Highest, he says, 47:57 "Until we come face to face 47:59 with the deepest darkest fact of life 48:02 without damaging our view of God's character, 48:05 we do not yet know Him." 48:16 That's why Job said, 48:18 Job didn't know where the trials came from 48:20 and he said in his humanity, though He slay me. 48:23 It wasn't God slaying Job. 48:25 He let the devil beat Job up. 48:28 But he said, God didn't do this 48:30 so though He slay me yet will I. 48:34 Oh, my brothers and sisters, when your clouds come, 48:38 do you still trust God, 48:39 no matter the size of your boils... 48:44 because if the last message 48:46 is a revelation of the character of God's love 48:50 as revealed in His people, the question is, 48:54 when will it be revealed in His people? 49:00 It's got to be before that last message 49:03 because the last message is not a preached message, 49:07 the last message is a testimony message. 49:12 They overcame Him by the blood of a lamb 49:13 and by the word of their testimony. 49:16 The world's falling apart, 49:18 but there's a peace that passes all understanding 49:20 because God's people know that 49:22 it's just a couple more plagues and we're out of here. 49:26 Amen? 49:27 Family ain't acting right, 49:29 kids on drugs, spouse messing up. 49:33 I just got fired, 49:35 but a couple more trials like this, 49:37 I'm out of here. 49:39 Amen. 49:43 Oswald says, 49:45 "There is a connection between the strange 49:47 providential circumstances allowed by God 49:50 and what we know of Him 49:52 and we have to learn to interpret 49:54 the mysteries of life 49:56 in the light of the knowledge of God. 49:59 When we can understand it, you got to say, okay, 50:02 what do I know about God. 50:04 Now you don't follow me, 50:05 I'm gonna hit this real quick and then drop it. 50:08 What do we know about God? 50:10 Let's ask Isaiah. 50:11 Isaiah 41:10. 50:12 What did Isaiah know about God when the difficulty come? 50:15 He said, "Fear not, for I am with you, 50:19 be not dismayed, for I am your God, 50:22 I will strengthen you. 50:24 Yes, I will help you. 50:26 I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." 50:31 That's God. Somebody say, amen. 50:33 That's the God that you got to see, 50:35 and remember when the clouds come, 50:37 it's not where is God, but who is God. 50:41 We think where is He? No, who is He? 50:44 God is stuck in traffic somewhere, 50:48 He said, "I will never leave you." 50:50 Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters," 50:53 come on now church, "I will be with you, 50:56 and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you." 50:59 Let me pause, that's why I'm still here. 51:03 I don't mean physically, 51:05 I don't mean location or GPS coordinates, 51:07 I mean that's why I'm still alive 51:11 'cause I've been through waters, 51:12 but they have not over flown me. 51:14 When you walk through the fire, 51:15 you shall not be burned 51:17 nor shall the flame scorched you, 51:19 praise God. 51:23 I wish I was talking to people 51:24 that know that phrase, "praise God." 51:30 We don't give Him enough praise. 51:31 Do you know the Lord inhabits the praises of His people? 51:34 You know the devil gets in his car and leaves 51:37 when you start praising God? 51:40 He said to Joshua, "Have I not commanded you, 51:42 be strong and of good courage. 51:45 Do not be afraid nor be dismay," why? 51:48 "For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." 51:53 They told us in New Guinea when we were down there. 51:58 They said every time we have a week of prayer, 52:03 the devil shows up in some demonic manifestation, 52:08 somebody gets possessed, 52:09 some demonic display happens every time, 52:14 but when they were on the way taking us to the airport, 52:16 then they tell us. 52:18 But I like what they said they said, 52:20 "This is the first time it never happened." 52:23 You know why? 52:24 Because my wife and I were in our room prayed up, 52:28 studied up 52:29 before we stepped out of the door every night. 52:32 Come on now, Ferrin, start. Playing softly for me. 52:35 Before we stepped out of that door every night, 52:39 we said, Father, 52:41 go ahead of us." 52:44 You see I'm convinced that clouds do come, 52:47 difficulty does arise, 52:49 hardships do manifest themselves, 52:53 but when trials come, 52:56 it's not important to know where they come from 52:59 or where God is, 53:01 it's important to remember who He is. 53:07 And finally, 53:08 which is probably the most powerful one 53:10 of the entire sermon. 53:12 Lastly clouds are employed to get us 53:15 to focus on Jesus alone. 53:19 Zephaniah the prophet describes a day that's coming, 53:23 it's on the horizon, it's not yet arrived yet 53:25 that will affect the entire world, 53:27 but spiritually that day has already come to many of us. 53:31 Zephaniah 1:15, it's on the screen, 53:33 you won't find Zephaniah in enough time, but here it is. 53:38 Zephaniah 1:15. 53:40 Speaking of the day of the Lord, 53:42 "That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, 53:46 a day of devastation and desolation, 53:49 a day of darkness and gloominess, 53:51 a day of clouds and" what kind of darkness? 53:54 "Thick darkness." 53:58 A day of trouble and distress, 54:00 a day of devastation and desolation, 54:02 a day of darkness and gloominess, 54:04 a day of clouds, and thickened darkness. 54:07 Now, that's on the way, 54:08 but let me make a point, 54:11 to many of you, those days have already come. 54:16 And when they came to the disciples, 54:18 my last text Mark 9:7and 8, 54:21 when they came to the disciples 54:23 on the Mount of Transfiguration, 54:25 the Lord allowed Elijah and Moses 54:27 to be transfigured there and he said to the disciples, 54:29 there is some of you standing here today 54:31 that will not taste the death 54:32 until you see the Son of Man coming in the clouds. 54:36 You see, my brethren, 54:38 this message is not about the clouds 54:41 that will one day welcome the return of Jesus. 54:45 This is about the clouds that introduce us every day 54:51 to the person of Jesus. 54:55 What happened in Mark 9, look at it, verse 7-8. 54:59 After Elijah and Moses 55:02 and they had the transfiguration 55:03 and then all of a sudden they're gone. 55:05 And the Bible says, 55:07 "And a cloud came and overshadowed them, 55:09 and a voice came out of a cloud saying, 55:12 'this is my beloved Son," what? 55:15 "Hear him. 55:17 Suddenly, when they looked around, 55:20 they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus.'" 55:25 I got to ask you the question today as I close. 55:34 Is there anyone except Jesus in your clouds? 55:38 It's a powerful question. 55:41 Because if there's somebody else 55:43 in your clouds except Jesus, 55:45 they're going to get darker, and gloomier, 55:47 and thicker, and more devastating, 55:50 and more filled with wrath. 55:51 The Lord allowed clouds 55:54 to obscure the sight of everybody else 55:57 except Himself. 56:03 Do you see Jesus in your clouds is my question today? 56:14 Because my appeal is this, 56:18 and clouds are going to come. 56:22 If it is your determination today, 56:24 listen me carefully, 56:26 that when the clouds come that you only see Jesus, 56:32 if you only want to see Jesus, 56:34 if you want the clouds to obscure everything, 56:36 but Jesus, why don't you stand right now. 56:54 My heavenly Father, 56:56 we've got clouds, 56:59 the clouds of wrath fighting in our families. 57:04 Distress, and gloominess, 57:05 and darkness, and thick darkness. 57:10 We've got clouds of disappointment, 57:12 distresses of financial instability, 57:17 we have clouds, 57:20 a broken relationships, 57:22 we've got clouds of wayward children, 57:24 we've got clouds of distractions, 57:27 we've got clouds of success that has caused our view of You 57:31 to be obscured 57:32 and our understanding of You to be damaged. 57:37 But You said to us today, 57:39 "Behold, I'm coming with clouds." 57:42 And so Lord Jesus, 57:44 when the clouds begin to be manifested 57:47 in our lives. 57:49 We pray that we can see no one, 57:53 but Jesus alone. 57:59 Who will deliver us? 58:01 Who will strengthen us? 58:04 Who will provide? 58:06 Who will help us? 58:07 Who will uphold us? 58:09 Who will be with us in the fire and the flood of life? 58:14 Who will be there 58:16 when the road is too difficult for us 58:18 to travel any more. 58:19 Today, Lord help us to see You in our clouds. 58:25 And when the clouds of this life 58:28 have transformed us, 58:30 one day we will see you 58:33 in the clouds of glory. 58:37 Hold us and get us ready for that day 58:40 and may when that day comes we say, today, 58:44 tomorrow, Monday, Tuesday, 58:46 every other day it is well, it is well, it is well. 58:51 I see the clouds, Father, but it is well with my soul. 58:56 And I pray this in Jesus' name, amen. |
Revised 2018-09-24