1 00:00:29,859 --> 00:00:34,019 I'm thankful Calvary covers it all just again. 2 00:00:34,179 --> 00:00:40,539 So appreciate the music this morning and again, part of preparing 3 00:00:40,539 --> 00:00:41,979 our hearts for the word of God. 4 00:00:41,979 --> 00:00:44,339 So if you would in your Bibles this morning, turn to Hebrews 13, 5 00:00:45,459 --> 00:00:47,739 not in Joshua this morning. 6 00:00:47,739 --> 00:00:53,219 But this will be connected, if you would, to the story that we're 7 00:00:53,219 --> 00:00:54,739 covering in the book of Joshua. 8 00:00:56,829 --> 00:01:00,509 As you think about God leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, 9 00:01:01,309 --> 00:01:05,029 bringing them to the Jordan river, and then because of their 10 00:01:05,029 --> 00:01:10,709 lack of faith, trust in him, they did not cross over the first 11 00:01:10,709 --> 00:01:13,069 time and they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. 12 00:01:14,029 --> 00:01:17,709 The second time they come to the River Jordan, God does some great 13 00:01:17,709 --> 00:01:18,749 miracles for them. 14 00:01:19,469 --> 00:01:24,679 As the entrance generation, the former generation had died off 15 00:01:24,679 --> 00:01:27,919 and the new generation had risen. 16 00:01:27,919 --> 00:01:32,999 And God parted the waters of the Jordan river so they could walk 17 00:01:32,999 --> 00:01:34,279 across on dry ground. 18 00:01:35,399 --> 00:01:38,479 When they got to the other side, they encamped for a few days 19 00:01:38,479 --> 00:01:43,839 and as we have covered, did several things to prepare for the 20 00:01:43,839 --> 00:01:45,079 battle that was before them. 21 00:01:45,799 --> 00:01:49,779 And it was going to be, it's going to be a long 15 to 20 years 22 00:01:49,779 --> 00:01:56,099 of army and fighting that would take place. 23 00:01:57,139 --> 00:02:01,739 But one of the things I want to cover a little more than we have 24 00:02:01,739 --> 00:02:04,819 is the promise that God made to the children of Israel. 25 00:02:05,859 --> 00:02:09,059 That promise is found in Deuteronomy chapter 31. 26 00:02:09,059 --> 00:02:14,799 But let's look at it from Hebrews 13, because here Paul, who 27 00:02:14,799 --> 00:02:19,799 I believe wrote Hebrews, quotes Deuteronomy 31. 28 00:02:20,599 --> 00:02:22,759 So look with me, Hebrews 13, verse 5. 29 00:02:23,799 --> 00:02:26,359 Let your conversation be without covetousness. 30 00:02:26,759 --> 00:02:29,679 Now the word conversation there means your lifestyle, your 31 00:02:29,679 --> 00:02:34,399 life, be without covetousness and be content with such things as 32 00:02:34,399 --> 00:02:34,919 you have. 33 00:02:35,799 --> 00:02:36,519 Here it is. 34 00:02:36,519 --> 00:02:38,519 For he hath said so. 35 00:02:38,519 --> 00:02:42,119 Here it is, they're quoting Deuteronomy 31:6. 36 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:47,679 For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, so that 37 00:02:47,679 --> 00:02:52,719 we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what 38 00:02:52,719 --> 00:02:54,639 man shall do unto me. 39 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:55,199 Let's pray. 40 00:02:55,199 --> 00:02:59,079 Heavenly Father, again we come to you, come to the throne, Lord, 41 00:02:59,079 --> 00:03:02,879 asking this morning for your strength and guidance and wisdom 42 00:03:02,879 --> 00:03:08,319 as we preach your word, Lord, may you again receive the glory and 43 00:03:08,319 --> 00:03:09,079 honor from it. 44 00:03:09,369 --> 00:03:14,809 And Lord, may we again see you as the God of the universe, the God 45 00:03:14,809 --> 00:03:18,729 of all creation, the all powerful God whose promise to never 46 00:03:18,729 --> 00:03:19,969 leave us nor forsake us. 47 00:03:19,969 --> 00:03:22,569 We thank you for that wonderful truth with that wonderful 48 00:03:22,569 --> 00:03:24,889 promise in Jesus name, Amen. 49 00:03:25,289 --> 00:03:29,769 God promised to Israel that going forward, that he would be with 50 00:03:29,769 --> 00:03:30,089 them. 51 00:03:30,329 --> 00:03:34,089 And we know from Exodus where Moses said, hey, God, if you're not 52 00:03:34,089 --> 00:03:34,689 going to be with us. 53 00:03:34,689 --> 00:03:35,449 We don't want to go. 54 00:03:36,039 --> 00:03:38,279 And God finally said, hey, I will be with you. 55 00:03:38,279 --> 00:03:42,439 After they had murmured and complained so much that God had said, 56 00:03:42,439 --> 00:03:43,519 I am not going with you. 57 00:03:43,519 --> 00:03:44,119 I'm done. 58 00:03:44,759 --> 00:03:46,519 And God said, I'll be with you. 59 00:03:46,839 --> 00:03:50,759 In Deuteronomy, Moses again is preaching to the entrance generation. 60 00:03:50,839 --> 00:03:55,639 Remember now, Moses, who led them for 40 years, is now not going 61 00:03:55,639 --> 00:04:00,119 to be allowed to go into the promised land because of his disobedience 62 00:04:00,359 --> 00:04:02,199 and some other things. 63 00:04:02,599 --> 00:04:06,269 But in light of that, he preaches to them. 64 00:04:06,269 --> 00:04:10,389 So the whole book of Deuteronomy is a sermon by Moses 65 00:04:10,469 --> 00:04:15,269 to the generation that's going to cross over into Canaan land, into 66 00:04:15,269 --> 00:04:16,149 the promised land. 67 00:04:16,389 --> 00:04:19,589 And he's reminding them of where God had brought them. 68 00:04:19,989 --> 00:04:21,949 He's reminding them of the God of creation. 69 00:04:21,949 --> 00:04:25,829 He's having again them to focus on God who had done all these 70 00:04:25,829 --> 00:04:26,869 great things for them. 71 00:04:27,669 --> 00:04:29,909 And then he preaches to them to encourage them. 72 00:04:30,589 --> 00:04:32,589 He preaches to them to get onto them as well. 73 00:04:32,589 --> 00:04:38,349 But here he's reminding them, he said in Deuteronomy 31:6, Be strong 74 00:04:38,349 --> 00:04:39,389 and of good courage. 75 00:04:39,869 --> 00:04:42,269 Fear not, nor be afraid of them. 76 00:04:42,509 --> 00:04:45,309 Talking about those that are in the land of Canaan. 77 00:04:45,389 --> 00:04:50,189 For the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee. 78 00:04:50,669 --> 00:04:53,949 He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 79 00:04:54,429 --> 00:04:59,819 And then in verse 8 of that same chapter, Moses repeats the same 80 00:04:59,819 --> 00:05:04,819 promise from God that he would be with them, that he would not fail 81 00:05:04,819 --> 00:05:07,739 them, nor would he forsake them. 82 00:05:08,859 --> 00:05:12,819 So as Israel crossed over Jordan, as we studied just a week 83 00:05:12,819 --> 00:05:16,459 ago, and they crossed over Jordan again, they encamped for a 84 00:05:16,459 --> 00:05:16,939 few days. 85 00:05:17,179 --> 00:05:19,579 We have the 12 stones that they erected. 86 00:05:19,579 --> 00:05:25,179 We have them cutting away the flesh and putting sin aside and dealing 87 00:05:25,179 --> 00:05:27,259 with their own sinful condition. 88 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:29,719 And then they come to Jericho. 89 00:05:30,759 --> 00:05:33,319 An amazing, amazing miracle takes place. 90 00:05:34,199 --> 00:05:37,159 They march around it once a day. 91 00:05:37,319 --> 00:05:41,239 Then they march around it, you know, seven times on the last day. 92 00:05:41,559 --> 00:05:45,559 They march around it 13 times as they march around it. 93 00:05:45,559 --> 00:05:49,919 As I said to you or alluded to last week, can you just imagine the 94 00:05:49,919 --> 00:05:52,759 taunting they were receiving from those on the wall? 95 00:05:52,919 --> 00:05:53,099 Those. 96 00:05:53,249 --> 00:05:55,569 What are you guys doing walking around the wall? 97 00:05:56,049 --> 00:05:57,329 Where's your ladder at? 98 00:05:57,809 --> 00:05:59,169 Where's your catapults at? 99 00:05:59,969 --> 00:06:04,289 Where is the ram that's gonna ram and knock the doors open and 100 00:06:04,289 --> 00:06:04,969 the gates open? 101 00:06:04,969 --> 00:06:06,369 No, they didn't have any of those things. 102 00:06:06,529 --> 00:06:08,489 They didn't have any of the normal military things. 103 00:06:08,489 --> 00:06:11,769 They would need to get over the walls, through the walls, whatever 104 00:06:11,769 --> 00:06:12,369 it would take. 105 00:06:12,929 --> 00:06:17,089 They were just Walking around the wall, not saying a word, all 106 00:06:17,089 --> 00:06:18,289 you would hear is trumpets. 107 00:06:18,969 --> 00:06:19,529 It's it. 108 00:06:20,409 --> 00:06:24,609 And as they walked the walls, I believe that God did that for a 109 00:06:24,609 --> 00:06:24,889 reason. 110 00:06:24,889 --> 00:06:30,849 To show them again that there was no way humanly possible that 111 00:06:30,849 --> 00:06:36,249 they could defeat Jericho, that it wasn't Israel that was going 112 00:06:36,249 --> 00:06:40,289 to do the great miracle that's going to take place, but God was 113 00:06:40,289 --> 00:06:41,689 going to do a great miracle for them. 114 00:06:42,249 --> 00:06:44,569 God was going to prove his presence once again. 115 00:06:44,729 --> 00:06:47,689 He'd already proved it by parting the waters of the Jordan 116 00:06:47,689 --> 00:06:48,009 river. 117 00:06:49,189 --> 00:06:53,469 And now he's going to prove it once again by knocking the walls 118 00:06:53,469 --> 00:06:54,229 down flat. 119 00:06:55,909 --> 00:06:57,509 Amazing thing, isn't it? 120 00:06:58,869 --> 00:07:01,669 God promised them his presence. 121 00:07:01,669 --> 00:07:07,789 And God made that presence evident by an impossible feat of 122 00:07:07,789 --> 00:07:08,869 the walls coming down. 123 00:07:09,669 --> 00:07:13,749 And that he proved to them that God indeed was going to fight 124 00:07:13,749 --> 00:07:14,389 for them. 125 00:07:14,979 --> 00:07:17,779 He told the children of Israel, I will give you the land. 126 00:07:18,019 --> 00:07:19,619 He didn't say they'd have to earn it. 127 00:07:20,659 --> 00:07:21,179 No, no. 128 00:07:21,179 --> 00:07:22,459 He said I would give it to you. 129 00:07:22,459 --> 00:07:24,979 I will fight the enemy for you. 130 00:07:24,979 --> 00:07:25,699 I will fight. 131 00:07:25,699 --> 00:07:26,699 I will be before you. 132 00:07:26,699 --> 00:07:29,419 He even used the illustration that I'll be like the bees in front 133 00:07:29,419 --> 00:07:32,739 of you, like bees in front of you, and I'll take care of your enemies. 134 00:07:33,459 --> 00:07:34,339 And he did. 135 00:07:35,059 --> 00:07:36,259 And he proved that. 136 00:07:36,659 --> 00:07:39,939 He proved his presence by the miracle he performed. 137 00:07:40,699 --> 00:07:42,379 And God has promised the same to us. 138 00:07:42,939 --> 00:07:45,819 He's promised his presence with us. 139 00:07:46,139 --> 00:07:49,059 If you're here this morning and you're a child of God and you're 140 00:07:49,059 --> 00:07:49,379 saved. 141 00:07:49,379 --> 00:07:49,899 You know. 142 00:07:50,219 --> 00:07:51,059 You know that. 143 00:07:51,059 --> 00:07:51,619 You know that. 144 00:07:51,619 --> 00:07:53,619 You know that if you were to die today, that heaven would be your 145 00:07:53,619 --> 00:07:53,819 home. 146 00:07:53,819 --> 00:07:56,619 You've put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, his life, 147 00:07:56,619 --> 00:07:59,499 death and resurrection as your only means of salvation. 148 00:07:59,499 --> 00:08:00,299 I'm so thankful. 149 00:08:00,299 --> 00:08:02,379 Jesus Christ came to this world. 150 00:08:02,379 --> 00:08:06,299 He came to this earth to rescue us from our sinful condition, 151 00:08:06,299 --> 00:08:07,859 to rescue us from. 152 00:08:08,089 --> 00:08:09,289 From the death of sin. 153 00:08:10,889 --> 00:08:13,929 He died on the cross and paid the price for our sins. 154 00:08:13,929 --> 00:08:16,169 He paid our sin debt on the cross. 155 00:08:16,169 --> 00:08:17,209 He shed his blood. 156 00:08:18,089 --> 00:08:20,649 The blood of Jesus speaks for me. 157 00:08:21,769 --> 00:08:24,569 For without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. 158 00:08:25,209 --> 00:08:29,049 Jesus shed his blood on Calvary for the remission of sin. 159 00:08:29,449 --> 00:08:30,089 He died. 160 00:08:30,089 --> 00:08:32,569 He was buried in three days. 161 00:08:32,569 --> 00:08:36,499 He rose from the dead, having paid for our sins in full. 162 00:08:36,499 --> 00:08:39,019 And if you're here this morning and you're saved, you've 163 00:08:39,019 --> 00:08:40,579 put your faith and trust in Him. 164 00:08:40,979 --> 00:08:43,059 He's promised his presence with you. 165 00:08:43,939 --> 00:08:45,699 He's promised to not fail you. 166 00:08:45,699 --> 00:08:47,859 He's promised to never forsake you. 167 00:08:47,859 --> 00:08:51,739 We see this here in Hebrews 13 a repeat of the promise given to 168 00:08:51,739 --> 00:08:52,059 Israel. 169 00:08:52,059 --> 00:08:53,139 It's repeated to us. 170 00:08:53,699 --> 00:08:59,779 For us, we think of Israel as they go into the promised land. 171 00:08:59,779 --> 00:09:04,119 As the waters of the Jordan parted, the walls of Jericho came 172 00:09:04,119 --> 00:09:04,439 down. 173 00:09:06,279 --> 00:09:07,239 God was with them. 174 00:09:08,839 --> 00:09:10,359 God is everywhere, by the way. 175 00:09:11,959 --> 00:09:16,679 God is everywhere with his whole being at all times. 176 00:09:18,999 --> 00:09:23,359 First Kings 8:27 says, Behold the heaven, and the heaven of heavens 177 00:09:23,359 --> 00:09:25,159 cannot contain thee. 178 00:09:25,719 --> 00:09:29,519 I think about Solomon as he is praying there in 1 Kings chapter 179 00:09:29,519 --> 00:09:29,799 8. 180 00:09:30,379 --> 00:09:32,859 They had just built the temple in Jerusalem. 181 00:09:33,419 --> 00:09:35,819 When they completed the temple, there was a big dedication 182 00:09:36,459 --> 00:09:37,499 of that temple. 183 00:09:37,499 --> 00:09:41,419 And at that temple dedication, Solomon prays. 184 00:09:42,219 --> 00:09:43,739 And this is his prayer. 185 00:09:43,899 --> 00:09:48,779 Part of his prayer was that the heaven of heavens, of heavens 186 00:09:49,099 --> 00:09:50,859 cannot contain God. 187 00:09:51,179 --> 00:09:56,539 He was saying, lord, a temple cannot hold you. 188 00:09:57,589 --> 00:09:59,109 We've built this beautiful temple. 189 00:09:59,269 --> 00:10:01,029 We built this beautiful temple for you. 190 00:10:01,909 --> 00:10:05,269 But we understand and know that the heavens of heavens can't 191 00:10:05,269 --> 00:10:05,749 hold you. 192 00:10:06,469 --> 00:10:10,069 In other words, a building cannot contain the Lord. 193 00:10:11,509 --> 00:10:14,549 God does not dwell in temples. 194 00:10:15,269 --> 00:10:18,989 We think about the Greek gods, the Roman gods, and they built these 195 00:10:18,989 --> 00:10:21,709 temples for them, and they were dwelling in those temples. 196 00:10:21,709 --> 00:10:23,189 No, God doesn't dwell in temples. 197 00:10:24,859 --> 00:10:30,179 We know this from the book of Acts, in which Paul says, there he 198 00:10:30,179 --> 00:10:30,939 came to Athens. 199 00:10:31,339 --> 00:10:37,139 And as he came into Athens, he saw all of these little gods along 200 00:10:37,139 --> 00:10:37,779 the streets. 201 00:10:37,779 --> 00:10:41,459 So along the streets, the historians tell us there were thousands 202 00:10:41,459 --> 00:10:43,499 of gods lining the streets. 203 00:10:43,499 --> 00:10:48,139 And you know, here's the statue to Zeus, and here's the statue 204 00:10:48,139 --> 00:10:52,219 to whomever but one of the statues read to the unknown God. 205 00:10:54,289 --> 00:10:55,249 Want to leave anybody out? 206 00:10:56,289 --> 00:10:57,169 They were scared. 207 00:10:58,769 --> 00:11:00,449 And Paul gets up and he preaches. 208 00:11:00,449 --> 00:11:04,689 And he says to them, on Mars hill, men of Athens, I perceive that 209 00:11:04,689 --> 00:11:06,529 in all things you're too superstitious. 210 00:11:06,529 --> 00:11:10,609 He said, for as I passed by and beheld your devotion, he beheld 211 00:11:10,609 --> 00:11:12,049 all the devotion to all these gods. 212 00:11:12,049 --> 00:11:16,209 He said, I found an altar with this inscription to the unknown God. 213 00:11:17,169 --> 00:11:19,489 He says to him, I give you. 214 00:11:19,489 --> 00:11:22,639 He says, I'm going to tell you who he is, God that made the world 215 00:11:22,639 --> 00:11:26,279 and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth. 216 00:11:26,439 --> 00:11:30,359 Notice what he says dwelleth not in temples made with hands. 217 00:11:32,919 --> 00:11:37,718 He said, all those philosophers in Athens, all those 218 00:11:38,119 --> 00:11:42,199 wise men in Athens, all those who came to seek understanding and 219 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:44,559 to trade wisdom. 220 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:49,969 And he says to all of them, God does not dwell in temples as 221 00:11:49,969 --> 00:11:51,329 though he needed anything. 222 00:11:51,729 --> 00:11:53,249 God doesn't need anything from us. 223 00:11:54,689 --> 00:11:55,769 God is independent. 224 00:11:55,769 --> 00:11:57,089 He is Jehovah. 225 00:11:57,089 --> 00:11:59,889 He is wholly other. 226 00:12:02,768 --> 00:12:08,689 God is transcendent and again, not limited to spatial limitations. 227 00:12:11,169 --> 00:12:14,489 He cannot be contained or localized. 228 00:12:15,849 --> 00:12:16,209 Why? 229 00:12:16,209 --> 00:12:17,449 Because God is Infinite. 230 00:12:19,289 --> 00:12:25,129 There's no limit in his being, therefore he is present everywhere. 231 00:12:29,529 --> 00:12:30,809 Not talking about pantheism. 232 00:12:32,649 --> 00:12:34,969 So Hinduism says that God's in everything. 233 00:12:34,969 --> 00:12:36,809 We're not saying God is in everything. 234 00:12:37,529 --> 00:12:41,109 A tree cannot contain God, by the way. 235 00:12:41,109 --> 00:12:42,709 There's no God in a tree. 236 00:12:43,589 --> 00:12:44,549 It's a tree. 237 00:12:48,069 --> 00:12:51,749 One of the most beautiful things I ever purchased in the last 238 00:12:51,749 --> 00:12:55,829 couple of years is an electric chainsaw. 239 00:12:59,029 --> 00:13:03,069 I don't know how many times I've gone out to get my gas powered 240 00:13:03,069 --> 00:13:05,189 chainsaw and it would not start. 241 00:13:06,729 --> 00:13:14,569 Those tiny bitty carburetors and the government's ethanol catastrophe. 242 00:13:16,249 --> 00:13:17,489 Some of y' all know what I'm talking about. 243 00:13:17,489 --> 00:13:24,689 The men are going, yeah, ladies, some of you are going, but 244 00:13:24,689 --> 00:13:27,129 that battery powered chainsaw starts every time. 245 00:13:27,929 --> 00:13:32,179 And I can cut 16 inch DeWalt. 246 00:13:33,459 --> 00:13:34,739 They make them bigger than that. 247 00:13:35,379 --> 00:13:39,219 Now if I was doing it for a living, if I was, you know, cutting 248 00:13:39,219 --> 00:13:42,979 wood for a living, I would buy a gas powered one probably. 249 00:13:42,979 --> 00:13:46,019 But man, you can cut through a tree. 250 00:13:48,179 --> 00:13:49,459 Tree come tumbling down. 251 00:13:50,979 --> 00:13:53,299 Ah, you're cutting me, don't cut me. 252 00:13:53,379 --> 00:13:55,859 No, there's nothing in that tree. 253 00:13:56,179 --> 00:13:57,379 That tree is dead. 254 00:13:58,499 --> 00:13:59,619 No being in that tree. 255 00:13:59,619 --> 00:14:00,899 That tree was made for me. 256 00:14:01,699 --> 00:14:03,699 It was made to heat my house. 257 00:14:04,819 --> 00:14:06,419 It's made to build my house. 258 00:14:07,779 --> 00:14:09,619 You can replant trees. 259 00:14:11,219 --> 00:14:13,139 You can treat trees like a garden. 260 00:14:13,299 --> 00:14:17,859 Now it takes a few more years than it does to wind up with a harvest, 261 00:14:17,859 --> 00:14:21,139 but it may take 20 or 30 years to have a new harvest, but they are 262 00:14:21,779 --> 00:14:23,699 able to replenish trees. 263 00:14:24,539 --> 00:14:25,419 Can I get a witness? 264 00:14:26,059 --> 00:14:29,019 I just kind of wanted to stomp all over the environmental people. 265 00:14:30,779 --> 00:14:32,579 There are no God in a tree. 266 00:14:32,579 --> 00:14:35,099 The tree God cannot be contained by a tree. 267 00:14:36,299 --> 00:14:40,219 God has no spatial, spatial limitations. 268 00:14:40,779 --> 00:14:41,899 Can't contain him. 269 00:14:42,539 --> 00:14:44,739 That's what Solomon was saying, dedicated the temple. 270 00:14:44,739 --> 00:14:47,739 He said, God, we understand and know that this temple cannot 271 00:14:47,739 --> 00:14:48,539 contain you. 272 00:14:48,779 --> 00:14:49,459 And I love it. 273 00:14:49,459 --> 00:14:50,459 He says, the heaven. 274 00:14:50,849 --> 00:14:53,729 And then he says, the heaven of heavens can't contain you. 275 00:14:54,529 --> 00:14:56,849 In other words, he's saying the universe can't contain you. 276 00:14:59,249 --> 00:15:00,369 God is infinite. 277 00:15:01,649 --> 00:15:02,689 God is everywhere. 278 00:15:03,809 --> 00:15:07,169 It's really hard for our finite minds to comprehend. 279 00:15:07,169 --> 00:15:09,889 And I've heard it illustrated many different ways. 280 00:15:09,889 --> 00:15:13,489 But one of the best ones is found by AW Tozer in the Knowledge 281 00:15:13,489 --> 00:15:13,969 of the Holy. 282 00:15:13,969 --> 00:15:16,609 And I'd encourage you if you've never read the Knowledge of 283 00:15:16,609 --> 00:15:17,409 The Holy by A.W. 284 00:15:17,409 --> 00:15:18,009 tozer. 285 00:15:18,009 --> 00:15:20,859 What a great book on the attributes of God. 286 00:15:22,539 --> 00:15:27,299 His illustration was that God is everywhere as the ocean is to 287 00:15:27,299 --> 00:15:31,019 the fish, as the sea is to the fish. 288 00:15:31,899 --> 00:15:33,739 The water surrounds every fish. 289 00:15:35,018 --> 00:15:39,979 He Said God is like the air is to a bird. 290 00:15:41,819 --> 00:15:43,019 The air is everywhere. 291 00:15:44,139 --> 00:15:48,039 And again, it's so hard for for our finite minds to understand 292 00:15:48,439 --> 00:15:49,639 an infinite God. 293 00:15:52,599 --> 00:15:54,039 God is present everywhere. 294 00:15:55,319 --> 00:15:57,559 Then secondly, his presence is made evident. 295 00:15:57,799 --> 00:16:01,399 We see when the children of Israel came to the Jericho and they 296 00:16:01,479 --> 00:16:04,559 marched around it once, marched around it twice, and I again 297 00:16:04,559 --> 00:16:08,479 could see the ridicule and the taunts coming from the crowd on top 298 00:16:08,479 --> 00:16:09,039 of the wall. 299 00:16:09,039 --> 00:16:11,159 And why are you guys walking around this wall? 300 00:16:11,239 --> 00:16:12,759 Where is your military equipment? 301 00:16:13,839 --> 00:16:16,159 But God did a great miracle for the children of Israel. 302 00:16:17,279 --> 00:16:18,439 The walls came down. 303 00:16:18,439 --> 00:16:20,719 His presence was made evident. 304 00:16:21,759 --> 00:16:27,119 Now I'm thankful that God has said, for a church or for God's people 305 00:16:27,119 --> 00:16:29,959 where two or more gather together, there am I in the midst 306 00:16:29,959 --> 00:16:30,399 of Thee. 307 00:16:30,799 --> 00:16:33,759 God has promised his presence not only individually, but he's also 308 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:38,639 promised it to his churches when we gather together to pray. 309 00:16:39,699 --> 00:16:40,739 So thankful for that. 310 00:16:41,459 --> 00:16:45,379 But just simply because God's presence is there does not mean that 311 00:16:45,379 --> 00:16:47,699 God necessarily makes Himself evident. 312 00:16:48,579 --> 00:16:52,259 In other words, that God doesn't necessarily manifest himself. 313 00:16:54,179 --> 00:16:58,259 I also want to remind you that God manifesting himself in one location 314 00:16:58,259 --> 00:17:01,499 versus another location does not imply that he is more there than 315 00:17:01,499 --> 00:17:02,419 he is anywhere. 316 00:17:05,709 --> 00:17:06,509 He's everywhere. 317 00:17:08,189 --> 00:17:11,349 He is simply manifesting himself or making Himself evident 318 00:17:11,349 --> 00:17:12,749 more in one place than another. 319 00:17:14,109 --> 00:17:15,229 God can do anything. 320 00:17:18,749 --> 00:17:22,949 One of the greatest verses in the Bible is found three verses before 321 00:17:22,949 --> 00:17:30,669 John 3:16, John 3:13, in which Jesus said, and no man hath ascended 322 00:17:30,669 --> 00:17:34,589 up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven talking about himself, 323 00:17:34,989 --> 00:17:37,709 even the Son of Man, which is in heaven. 324 00:17:38,509 --> 00:17:39,829 You may want to write that down. 325 00:17:39,829 --> 00:17:42,589 Go look it up yourself, read it about 25 times. 326 00:17:42,909 --> 00:17:46,389 Make sure you understand and get what Jesus is saying. 327 00:17:46,389 --> 00:17:47,589 These are Jesus words. 328 00:17:47,589 --> 00:17:52,749 And he says that I came down from heaven, but I am still in heaven. 329 00:17:54,189 --> 00:17:57,669 When God was manifest in the flesh, the Bible says, and we beheld 330 00:17:57,669 --> 00:18:00,629 his glory, the glory of the only begotten, the Father, full of 331 00:18:00,629 --> 00:18:01,389 grace and truth. 332 00:18:02,059 --> 00:18:03,379 Great is the mystery of godliness. 333 00:18:03,379 --> 00:18:05,019 God was manifest in the flesh. 334 00:18:05,499 --> 00:18:07,659 Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. 335 00:18:08,139 --> 00:18:11,299 When the disciples and the apostles bumped into him, they bumped 336 00:18:11,299 --> 00:18:11,859 into God. 337 00:18:11,859 --> 00:18:15,099 Jesus said, when you've seen me, you've seen the Father. 338 00:18:15,659 --> 00:18:17,499 He said, I and my Father are one. 339 00:18:18,859 --> 00:18:20,619 He was God in the flesh. 340 00:18:22,219 --> 00:18:26,459 And yet he said, while I am here in the flesh, I am still in 341 00:18:26,459 --> 00:18:26,859 heaven. 342 00:18:28,329 --> 00:18:31,369 When Jesus came to this earth, he did not lay aside his deity. 343 00:18:32,569 --> 00:18:35,329 Some people preach that and teach that it's not found in the 344 00:18:35,329 --> 00:18:36,089 Scriptures anywhere. 345 00:18:36,089 --> 00:18:39,129 He laid aside his glory and every once in a while that peeked 346 00:18:39,129 --> 00:18:40,889 out peek. 347 00:18:42,809 --> 00:18:45,929 The apostles saw it on the mount, you know of. 348 00:18:46,569 --> 00:18:48,089 Yeah, the Mount of Glory. 349 00:18:48,089 --> 00:18:49,049 They saw it. 350 00:18:49,129 --> 00:18:50,809 They saw a little bit of his glory. 351 00:18:51,209 --> 00:18:52,729 But he didn't lay aside his deity. 352 00:18:53,419 --> 00:18:56,219 Jesus Christ was just as much God as though he'd never been man. 353 00:18:56,459 --> 00:18:58,259 Just as much man as though he'd never been God. 354 00:18:58,259 --> 00:18:59,419 He was the God, man. 355 00:19:00,059 --> 00:19:03,339 Can I tell you this morning that God died on the cross? 356 00:19:03,339 --> 00:19:06,459 The Creator of the universe died for his creation. 357 00:19:07,019 --> 00:19:07,699 What love. 358 00:19:07,699 --> 00:19:08,939 What matchless grace. 359 00:19:08,939 --> 00:19:09,419 What love. 360 00:19:09,419 --> 00:19:10,539 He took my place. 361 00:19:11,019 --> 00:19:13,179 It was for me that he died on Calvary. 362 00:19:13,819 --> 00:19:14,859 God in the flesh. 363 00:19:16,939 --> 00:19:20,339 Just because he was here on earth in a body does not make him 364 00:19:20,339 --> 00:19:22,699 any more or less there than he is anywhere else. 365 00:19:23,559 --> 00:19:26,279 He's everywhere at once, man. 366 00:19:26,279 --> 00:19:27,799 It's hard to understand, isn't it? 367 00:19:28,999 --> 00:19:29,719 But he is. 368 00:19:31,479 --> 00:19:34,679 If he's everywhere at once, then how do we experience his presence? 369 00:19:35,159 --> 00:19:37,399 Well, we see this in the children of Israel. 370 00:19:39,078 --> 00:19:43,239 And I don't want to go a step forward without really understanding 371 00:19:43,239 --> 00:19:45,559 that the children of Israel were disobedient. 372 00:19:46,279 --> 00:19:50,119 When that first generation came to the Jordan river, they, because 373 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:51,919 of their lack of faith, did not cross over. 374 00:19:52,719 --> 00:19:56,279 But when the second generation came to the River Jordan, they did 375 00:19:56,279 --> 00:19:56,879 cross over. 376 00:19:58,079 --> 00:19:59,199 They did obey. 377 00:20:00,079 --> 00:20:05,318 They did trust the promise of God that He would be with them, that 378 00:20:05,318 --> 00:20:08,399 he would fight their battles, unlike the previous generation. 379 00:20:09,599 --> 00:20:14,559 Can I tell you one of the ways in which we can experience the manifestation 380 00:20:15,519 --> 00:20:20,399 that we can experience the glory of God is through obedience. 381 00:20:21,679 --> 00:20:24,239 Through obedience, Israel was obedient. 382 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,999 May we yield to God. 383 00:20:28,079 --> 00:20:30,319 May we yield to his word. 384 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:35,359 May we understand and know that the word of God is a lamp unto 385 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:36,719 our feet and a light unto our path. 386 00:20:36,719 --> 00:20:40,479 And may we follow the direction that God gives us. 387 00:20:42,889 --> 00:20:45,809 Lean not unto your own understanding in all thy ways. 388 00:20:45,809 --> 00:20:47,689 Acknowledge him and he'll direct thy paths. 389 00:20:48,809 --> 00:20:51,169 In other words, we are to experience the manifestation of the 390 00:20:51,169 --> 00:20:53,369 presence of God, we need to be obedient. 391 00:20:54,969 --> 00:20:57,209 He wants to reveal Himself to us by the way. 392 00:20:57,209 --> 00:20:58,489 He does so through creation. 393 00:20:58,489 --> 00:21:00,089 He does so through the Bible. 394 00:21:00,089 --> 00:21:02,449 He does so through His Son, Jesus Christ. 395 00:21:02,449 --> 00:21:03,769 He does so through providence. 396 00:21:03,769 --> 00:21:06,409 I'm thankful I can look back and see the providence of God in 397 00:21:06,409 --> 00:21:06,969 my own life. 398 00:21:06,969 --> 00:21:09,409 But I can also look back through history and see the providence 399 00:21:09,409 --> 00:21:09,849 of God. 400 00:21:10,489 --> 00:21:12,569 In the history of the United States of America. 401 00:21:13,209 --> 00:21:17,689 There's so many things you can read and know that only by way of 402 00:21:17,689 --> 00:21:20,169 God's intervention could that have happened. 403 00:21:20,249 --> 00:21:24,369 And so many times we have seen the providence of God and reminding 404 00:21:24,369 --> 00:21:27,849 us that God is there, that he manifests Himself to us. 405 00:21:27,849 --> 00:21:31,569 He desires for us to know him, if we will seek to know Him. 406 00:21:31,569 --> 00:21:32,569 And that's really it. 407 00:21:33,209 --> 00:21:35,289 You understand that God can be studied. 408 00:21:37,369 --> 00:21:38,569 I've said this before. 409 00:21:39,369 --> 00:21:40,609 I like Abraham Lincoln. 410 00:21:40,609 --> 00:21:42,749 I just think he's interesting to read about him. 411 00:21:42,749 --> 00:21:44,469 A lot of things you learn about him. 412 00:21:44,469 --> 00:21:46,669 One of the things I learned about him when he was very young, 413 00:21:46,749 --> 00:21:50,429 by the way, he was tall and he was taller than most people. 414 00:21:51,069 --> 00:21:53,949 He was like 6, 4, and he was bigger than most people. 415 00:21:53,949 --> 00:21:56,749 And he was the wrestling champ of his county. 416 00:21:57,389 --> 00:21:59,669 And not only the wrestling champ of his county, but of like 417 00:21:59,669 --> 00:22:01,069 two or three counties around him. 418 00:22:01,389 --> 00:22:02,949 It's an amazing, amazing thing. 419 00:22:02,949 --> 00:22:05,869 Just interests me, somebody, a president who. 420 00:22:06,029 --> 00:22:09,559 Anyway, you can learn about Abraham Lincoln. 421 00:22:09,559 --> 00:22:10,759 You can learn about his character. 422 00:22:10,759 --> 00:22:11,719 You can study him. 423 00:22:11,719 --> 00:22:13,039 You can read books about him. 424 00:22:13,039 --> 00:22:13,759 But can I tell you? 425 00:22:13,759 --> 00:22:15,159 You can learn things about God. 426 00:22:16,279 --> 00:22:17,799 You've got the Word in front of you. 427 00:22:18,279 --> 00:22:20,599 And God's desire for us is to know Him. 428 00:22:20,839 --> 00:22:22,599 He seeks for us to know Him. 429 00:22:22,839 --> 00:22:24,479 He wants us to draw near to him. 430 00:22:24,479 --> 00:22:28,119 And if you want to see and experience the evidence of God in 431 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:31,759 your life, then draw near to him spiritually. 432 00:22:31,759 --> 00:22:32,679 Draw near to him. 433 00:22:34,249 --> 00:22:35,609 Because he hasn't moved. 434 00:22:36,169 --> 00:22:39,889 And he doesn't move because he's promised to never leave us nor 435 00:22:39,889 --> 00:22:40,569 forsake us. 436 00:22:41,049 --> 00:22:42,169 He's always there. 437 00:22:43,529 --> 00:22:44,609 Draw near to him. 438 00:22:44,609 --> 00:22:45,369 Walk with him. 439 00:22:45,449 --> 00:22:46,169 Yield to him. 440 00:22:46,169 --> 00:22:49,289 Respond to that knocking of the Holy Spirit at your door. 441 00:22:49,849 --> 00:22:52,129 When you feel that conviction in your life, when you're reading 442 00:22:52,129 --> 00:22:55,209 your Bible or when you hear preaching or even a song and you 443 00:22:55,209 --> 00:22:58,889 feel that Holy Spirit speaking to you in that still small voice, 444 00:22:59,659 --> 00:23:01,419 yield to it. 445 00:23:02,619 --> 00:23:04,539 Yield to the voice. 446 00:23:06,539 --> 00:23:08,339 Acknowledge the voice and yield to it. 447 00:23:08,339 --> 00:23:09,259 Respond to it. 448 00:23:09,979 --> 00:23:11,819 We can know God increasingly. 449 00:23:12,139 --> 00:23:15,899 In other words, by degrees, through faith and love and patience, 450 00:23:16,139 --> 00:23:18,219 we can understand and know God more. 451 00:23:19,979 --> 00:23:22,659 What was the difference between us and D.L. 452 00:23:22,659 --> 00:23:25,299 moody, one of the great evangelists of the late 1800s? 453 00:23:25,299 --> 00:23:28,399 What is the difference between us and Billy Sunday, one of the great 454 00:23:28,399 --> 00:23:31,039 evangelists of the early 1900s? 455 00:23:31,039 --> 00:23:33,439 What is the difference between us and Charles Haddon, Spurgeon and 456 00:23:33,439 --> 00:23:37,639 I could go on and on, Lee Roberson and even some of our generation. 457 00:23:37,639 --> 00:23:38,439 What is the difference? 458 00:23:38,439 --> 00:23:41,679 Why is God manifesting in their life and making themselves 459 00:23:41,679 --> 00:23:43,839 evident in their life, but maybe not as much in our life? 460 00:23:43,839 --> 00:23:46,079 And it's because they have drawn near to God. 461 00:23:47,039 --> 00:23:49,839 They've come in obedience and faith and trusting in Him. 462 00:23:49,839 --> 00:23:51,959 They've grown in their knowledge of Him. 463 00:23:51,959 --> 00:23:54,619 Paul said, grow in grace and what? 464 00:23:54,939 --> 00:23:57,579 And the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 465 00:23:58,299 --> 00:24:00,539 You want to experience God's Presence. 466 00:24:00,539 --> 00:24:03,659 You want to experience the manifestation of God in your life 467 00:24:04,379 --> 00:24:07,899 as Israel experienced that manifestation, then draw near to 468 00:24:07,899 --> 00:24:08,299 God. 469 00:24:08,859 --> 00:24:09,499 Seek him. 470 00:24:11,099 --> 00:24:11,899 Seek him. 471 00:24:12,859 --> 00:24:14,899 Well, I heard you can't seek him. 472 00:24:14,899 --> 00:24:15,579 God seeks you. 473 00:24:15,579 --> 00:24:16,259 No, no, no, no. 474 00:24:16,259 --> 00:24:20,209 The Bible says, though he be not far from us, so seek him. 475 00:24:20,209 --> 00:24:21,129 Acts chapter 17. 476 00:24:24,969 --> 00:24:27,609 Israel's faith and trust brought about the manifestation of 477 00:24:27,609 --> 00:24:28,329 his presence. 478 00:24:29,209 --> 00:24:32,009 And then in verse 6, it says that he's our helper. 479 00:24:32,169 --> 00:24:36,009 In other words, you don't have to fear because God is our helper. 480 00:24:36,009 --> 00:24:38,569 I don't know about you, but I've been the. 481 00:24:39,129 --> 00:24:41,049 Yeah, the gopher for many a boss. 482 00:24:42,489 --> 00:24:43,289 The helper. 483 00:24:44,409 --> 00:24:46,729 Everybody, you know, kind of get that stage in life when you're 484 00:24:46,729 --> 00:24:49,289 a teenager and your job is to go for it. 485 00:24:49,309 --> 00:24:50,179 You know, go for it. 486 00:24:51,379 --> 00:24:52,739 Glorified gopher. 487 00:24:53,459 --> 00:24:54,659 You're just the helper. 488 00:24:55,459 --> 00:24:56,459 You're helping your boss. 489 00:24:56,459 --> 00:25:00,139 I worked in the cabinet shop for many years, and again, it took 490 00:25:00,139 --> 00:25:02,779 me a long time before I could do things on my own. 491 00:25:02,779 --> 00:25:04,659 And when I did things on my own, I messed up a lot. 492 00:25:04,739 --> 00:25:08,339 But I was just to do this and do that and do that. 493 00:25:08,339 --> 00:25:11,419 I was a helper, and a limited one at that. 494 00:25:11,419 --> 00:25:16,679 But can you imagine God, Christian child of God. 495 00:25:16,679 --> 00:25:18,119 God is your helper. 496 00:25:19,399 --> 00:25:21,479 Could you have any better helper? 497 00:25:22,839 --> 00:25:23,759 That's what it says. 498 00:25:23,759 --> 00:25:24,839 Is that not what it said? 499 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:27,559 Do we need to go back and read it? 500 00:25:27,559 --> 00:25:28,039 Look at that. 501 00:25:28,039 --> 00:25:28,919 Hebrews 13. 502 00:25:29,559 --> 00:25:32,279 Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content 503 00:25:32,599 --> 00:25:33,959 with such things as you have. 504 00:25:34,039 --> 00:25:36,599 For he hath said, God hath said, I will never leave thee nor 505 00:25:36,599 --> 00:25:39,839 forsake thee, so that we may boldly say. 506 00:25:39,839 --> 00:25:43,289 In other words, God has promised to never leave us nor forsake 507 00:25:43,289 --> 00:25:43,529 us. 508 00:25:43,529 --> 00:25:48,969 So now we can boldly say, we can say without any, any, any, any 509 00:25:48,969 --> 00:25:54,489 pause, any lack of faith that the Lord is my helper and I will 510 00:25:54,489 --> 00:25:56,449 not fear what man shall do unto me. 511 00:25:56,849 --> 00:25:59,729 I don't have to fear because God is my helper. 512 00:26:01,089 --> 00:26:02,769 Amazing truth, isn't it? 513 00:26:04,049 --> 00:26:08,999 Hebrews 4:16 says that we can pray that God would give us grace 514 00:26:08,999 --> 00:26:10,399 to help in our time of need. 515 00:26:10,719 --> 00:26:12,559 God gives us grace when we need it. 516 00:26:12,639 --> 00:26:13,559 He is our helper. 517 00:26:13,559 --> 00:26:14,319 He is with us. 518 00:26:14,479 --> 00:26:16,559 We could boldly say, God is my helper. 519 00:26:16,799 --> 00:26:17,919 No need to fear. 520 00:26:18,879 --> 00:26:21,999 By the way, he didn't give you the spirit of fear, but of love and 521 00:26:21,999 --> 00:26:23,119 the joy and a sound mind. 522 00:26:23,439 --> 00:26:25,759 If you have fear today, it's not coming from God. 523 00:26:27,919 --> 00:26:29,199 It's coming from the devil. 524 00:26:29,919 --> 00:26:30,759 Satan hates you. 525 00:26:30,759 --> 00:26:31,919 He wants to discourage you. 526 00:26:32,319 --> 00:26:32,579 He wants. 527 00:26:32,649 --> 00:26:34,569 He wants to knock you down and Keep you down. 528 00:26:35,849 --> 00:26:37,529 Maybe you're afraid this morning. 529 00:26:38,009 --> 00:26:40,049 Maybe there's something that's coming into your life and you're 530 00:26:40,049 --> 00:26:40,329 afraid. 531 00:26:40,329 --> 00:26:41,449 Oh, don't be afraid. 532 00:26:43,049 --> 00:26:45,249 He is near, by the way. 533 00:26:45,249 --> 00:26:48,968 He is near, and he's as real as I am standing up here. 534 00:26:50,569 --> 00:26:54,249 I don't think sometimes we just don't make that connection. 535 00:26:55,209 --> 00:26:56,009 He is near. 536 00:26:58,899 --> 00:27:00,419 No one can escape his presence. 537 00:27:00,499 --> 00:27:02,419 I haven't talked about the negative side of it. 538 00:27:03,299 --> 00:27:05,379 No one can escape his presence. 539 00:27:06,739 --> 00:27:11,979 Psalm 139 says, you can go in the dark or in the light. 540 00:27:11,979 --> 00:27:13,379 You can go the depths of hell. 541 00:27:14,178 --> 00:27:17,059 You can go anywhere you want, but God is there. 542 00:27:18,259 --> 00:27:25,229 Will remind you that God can see in the dark, that God sees every 543 00:27:25,789 --> 00:27:32,029 thing, every movement that you've ever made. 544 00:27:34,909 --> 00:27:35,949 Maybe you're here this morning. 545 00:27:35,949 --> 00:27:37,549 You've never accepted him as Savior. 546 00:27:38,349 --> 00:27:40,189 There is no escape of his presence. 547 00:27:42,029 --> 00:27:43,149 We need him today. 548 00:27:44,269 --> 00:27:45,309 You need the Lord. 549 00:27:46,429 --> 00:27:48,269 Behold, today is the day of salvation. 550 00:27:48,749 --> 00:27:50,669 No man knows what tomorrow may bring forth. 551 00:27:51,949 --> 00:27:53,949 I don't know what I would do in life without Jesus. 552 00:27:55,949 --> 00:27:57,549 Certainly I would be afraid. 553 00:27:58,429 --> 00:28:02,269 But I'm thankful that is God is my helper. 554 00:28:03,309 --> 00:28:07,869 I don't have to be afraid that he saw me and yet he loves me. 555 00:28:08,829 --> 00:28:10,109 He saw every deed. 556 00:28:10,109 --> 00:28:12,989 He's seen every deed that I've ever done, and yet he loves me and 557 00:28:12,989 --> 00:28:13,949 gave his life for me. 558 00:28:13,949 --> 00:28:14,589 He is near. 559 00:28:14,989 --> 00:28:17,549 What great comfort we can take in knowing that he is near. 560 00:28:17,789 --> 00:28:21,429 What peace we can take and understand and know knowing that 561 00:28:21,429 --> 00:28:23,149 he is near, that he is our helper. 562 00:28:23,789 --> 00:28:27,709 There's comfort today in knowing that he's promised to never 563 00:28:27,709 --> 00:28:29,069 fail us nor forsake us. 564 00:28:30,349 --> 00:28:31,469 Comfort in sorrow. 565 00:28:31,789 --> 00:28:32,589 And we did. 566 00:28:32,829 --> 00:28:37,389 Brother, Ms. Clem's funeral on Friday, On Thursday. 567 00:28:38,829 --> 00:28:45,029 Just praying and seeing the comfort and the peace in that family's 568 00:28:45,029 --> 00:28:45,309 life. 569 00:28:45,469 --> 00:28:50,719 What an amazing thing it is to witness the grace of God on a family's 570 00:28:50,719 --> 00:28:50,999 life. 571 00:28:52,199 --> 00:28:53,799 Oh, listen, there'll be detours. 572 00:28:54,519 --> 00:28:56,519 You ever been on a detour that was a little sketchy? 573 00:28:58,759 --> 00:28:59,799 I have one time. 574 00:28:59,959 --> 00:29:01,919 It's even recently we got turned around. 575 00:29:01,919 --> 00:29:05,399 Was going the opposite way, on a detour, going the wrong way. 576 00:29:06,279 --> 00:29:07,999 I said, well, they should have made the signs better. 577 00:29:07,999 --> 00:29:14,439 But TxDOT, you know, not a lot of smart people in that organization. 578 00:29:16,009 --> 00:29:16,529 I'm sorry. 579 00:29:16,529 --> 00:29:17,849 That was online, isn't it? 580 00:29:17,849 --> 00:29:19,609 Probably some TxDOT people here this morning. 581 00:29:19,609 --> 00:29:20,569 Like to talk to you. 582 00:29:23,529 --> 00:29:25,449 It's kind of like the RIS now, hasn't it? 583 00:29:25,609 --> 00:29:26,889 You know how we feel about the RIS. 584 00:29:27,049 --> 00:29:28,569 Kind of feel about TxDOT too. 585 00:29:30,169 --> 00:29:35,889 Love you if you work for them, but no no, you can get on a detour 586 00:29:35,889 --> 00:29:38,409 and sometimes, well, you can certainly get turned around if you're 587 00:29:38,409 --> 00:29:38,849 not careful. 588 00:29:38,849 --> 00:29:42,809 But I'm so thankful that in every detour of my life, God's presence 589 00:29:42,809 --> 00:29:43,369 is there. 590 00:29:44,299 --> 00:29:47,019 God is my helper and God is there. 591 00:29:47,019 --> 00:29:48,819 He'll never forsake me nor fail me. 592 00:29:48,819 --> 00:29:50,139 He's always near. 593 00:29:51,259 --> 00:29:53,739 Well, that brings assurance in life's trials. 594 00:29:54,379 --> 00:29:58,459 That brings assurance in the tests that we experience in life. 595 00:29:58,459 --> 00:30:01,099 By the way, God brings things into our lives sometimes just to 596 00:30:01,099 --> 00:30:03,419 test us so that we grow in our faith. 597 00:30:04,859 --> 00:30:06,059 He's always with us. 598 00:30:06,139 --> 00:30:07,179 He's always there. 599 00:30:08,219 --> 00:30:08,939 Acts 17. 600 00:30:09,019 --> 00:30:12,219 That same sermon that Paul preached on Mars Hill in Athens, 601 00:30:12,859 --> 00:30:15,879 he said to that crowd, he said, for in him that is in God, 602 00:30:15,879 --> 00:30:17,559 we live and move and have our being. 603 00:30:18,679 --> 00:30:19,559 He's in control. 604 00:30:19,559 --> 00:30:22,039 He holds our very breath in his hands. 605 00:30:25,559 --> 00:30:26,279 Romans. 606 00:30:26,439 --> 00:30:28,199 I read this at the funeral on Thursday. 607 00:30:28,199 --> 00:30:29,319 Romans, chapter 8. 608 00:30:30,839 --> 00:30:33,359 Understand that we are more than conquerors through him that 609 00:30:33,359 --> 00:30:33,879 loved us. 610 00:30:34,519 --> 00:30:37,159 And that nothing can separate us from the love of God. 611 00:30:38,599 --> 00:30:43,619 Not angels, no principalities, nor powers, nor anything, not even 612 00:30:44,019 --> 00:30:47,539 death can separate us from God. 613 00:30:48,099 --> 00:30:53,339 And from the love of God, understand this morning, if you're 614 00:30:53,339 --> 00:30:56,019 saved and you're born again, you're a child of God. 615 00:30:57,299 --> 00:30:58,418 You're never alone. 616 00:30:59,699 --> 00:31:01,219 You're never alone. 617 00:31:02,579 --> 00:31:08,979 One of the biggest emotions that someone who loses a loved one 618 00:31:09,799 --> 00:31:14,519 experiences, especially in their older years, if they be a widower 619 00:31:14,519 --> 00:31:17,879 or a widow, is loneliness. 620 00:31:19,639 --> 00:31:21,959 I can't imagine Brother Clem this morning. 621 00:31:22,359 --> 00:31:25,559 They were married for 73 years. 622 00:31:27,959 --> 00:31:33,079 73 years with your wife and then you lose them. 623 00:31:36,369 --> 00:31:40,849 The loneliness that takes place in the life of those who experience 624 00:31:41,089 --> 00:31:41,809 such a loss. 625 00:31:43,649 --> 00:31:49,169 But what great assurance there is in knowing that we are never alone. 626 00:31:50,449 --> 00:31:51,729 We are never alone. 627 00:31:53,249 --> 00:31:56,809 We claim the promise of God this morning that he will never leave 628 00:31:56,809 --> 00:31:57,969 us nor forsake us. 629 00:31:58,929 --> 00:32:02,549 I don't know what you may be going through, maybe a detour that's 630 00:32:02,549 --> 00:32:04,069 got you turned completely around. 631 00:32:05,589 --> 00:32:06,549 But God is there. 632 00:32:07,669 --> 00:32:09,309 You say, well, I don't feel Him. 633 00:32:09,309 --> 00:32:14,429 Well, draw near to him, and the Bible says he'll draw near to 634 00:32:14,429 --> 00:32:14,709 you. 635 00:32:15,669 --> 00:32:19,269 Seek him and he'll draw near to you. 636 00:32:21,429 --> 00:32:24,189 You want the manifestation of God in your life, the evidence of 637 00:32:24,189 --> 00:32:25,589 God in your life. 638 00:32:26,069 --> 00:32:26,709 Obey. 639 00:32:28,639 --> 00:32:30,919 Pray boldly for grace to help in your time of need. 640 00:32:30,919 --> 00:32:34,639 And he will give you grace because he said he'll never leave 641 00:32:34,639 --> 00:32:35,399 us nor forsake us. 642 00:32:35,399 --> 00:32:36,399 We are never alone. 643 00:32:36,559 --> 00:32:37,999 No, never alone. 644 00:32:38,959 --> 00:32:43,839 I would sing the hymn, but we'll let's all stand.