1 00:00:30,019 --> 00:00:31,139 The book of Hebrews. 2 00:00:36,019 --> 00:00:37,699 Let me see if I can get out of this. 3 00:00:41,219 --> 00:00:45,099 You glad you came so far okay. 4 00:00:45,099 --> 00:00:45,939 That's a good sign. 5 00:00:52,659 --> 00:00:56,339 You know, Jesus said there would be wires and rumors of wires. 6 00:00:58,359 --> 00:00:59,799 That's why I got hung up there. 7 00:01:01,319 --> 00:01:02,839 Are you in the book of Hebrews? 8 00:01:04,039 --> 00:01:07,999 Well, this is a verse that you know and you heard and you've read 9 00:01:07,999 --> 00:01:09,079 so many, many times. 10 00:01:09,079 --> 00:01:12,439 Chapter 4 and verse 16. 11 00:01:12,678 --> 00:01:14,359 We'll read that in just a moment. 12 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:23,529 Most of us, if we heard someone right now, maybe behind the 13 00:01:23,529 --> 00:01:28,449 baptistry wall or the door or by that door, someone stuck their 14 00:01:28,449 --> 00:01:31,249 head in there and said, help, please, somebody help. 15 00:01:32,769 --> 00:01:35,809 Most every one of us would turn right. 16 00:01:37,009 --> 00:01:39,489 Some of you men that would jump up immediately. 17 00:01:40,129 --> 00:01:44,529 Some of you ladies would help me, please. 18 00:01:49,179 --> 00:01:54,739 Most of us would stop whatever we're doing and run to see who needed 19 00:01:54,739 --> 00:01:55,019 help. 20 00:01:57,259 --> 00:01:59,659 God does that too, with his children. 21 00:02:01,419 --> 00:02:02,659 God listens. 22 00:02:02,659 --> 00:02:04,059 And you know, it's interesting. 23 00:02:04,059 --> 00:02:05,659 I did a lot of reading today. 24 00:02:05,659 --> 00:02:09,219 I went through all the Bible where you find the word help a lot 25 00:02:09,219 --> 00:02:09,739 of times. 26 00:02:10,779 --> 00:02:14,229 But there were several times in prayer. 27 00:02:14,229 --> 00:02:17,509 One of them, David was praying and said, he didn't say, dear Heavenly 28 00:02:17,509 --> 00:02:18,389 Father, thank you. 29 00:02:18,469 --> 00:02:20,229 He said, help, Lord. 30 00:02:22,069 --> 00:02:23,669 You ever prayed a prayer like that? 31 00:02:24,309 --> 00:02:25,109 I have too. 32 00:02:26,069 --> 00:02:26,949 I have too. 33 00:02:27,909 --> 00:02:29,269 I mean, what else could you say? 34 00:02:29,349 --> 00:02:29,749 Help. 35 00:02:32,389 --> 00:02:37,509 Sometimes God doesn't help us the way we expect him to help us. 36 00:02:39,439 --> 00:02:43,759 His ways, as we know in Isaiah, are higher than our ways 37 00:02:46,559 --> 00:02:48,239 and wiser than our ways. 38 00:02:49,119 --> 00:02:51,039 And the Bible says he giveth grace. 39 00:02:52,239 --> 00:02:56,159 In Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 16, it says, Let us therefore come 40 00:02:56,159 --> 00:03:02,799 boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and 41 00:03:02,799 --> 00:03:05,849 find grace to help. 42 00:03:08,889 --> 00:03:16,969 Mercy and grace to help in time of need. 43 00:03:20,168 --> 00:03:21,489 God never needs our help. 44 00:03:21,489 --> 00:03:22,649 I'm glad about that. 45 00:03:23,609 --> 00:03:28,409 Sometimes I am tempted to help him and plan and do some things the 46 00:03:28,409 --> 00:03:30,969 way I think they ought to be done and then ask God to bless it. 47 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:33,879 I'm probably the only one in here that does that. 48 00:03:33,879 --> 00:03:39,319 But I confess that to you, God doesn't really need ever need our 49 00:03:39,319 --> 00:03:39,599 help. 50 00:03:41,279 --> 00:03:44,719 He can use us, but if he can't, he'll use somebody else. 51 00:03:46,399 --> 00:03:51,119 All he wants from us is those two words we sing in the hymn book, 52 00:03:51,119 --> 00:03:52,079 trust and obey. 53 00:03:53,199 --> 00:03:56,559 Trust me, I can do anything but fail. 54 00:03:56,559 --> 00:04:02,289 God says, I just want you to trust me and obey. 55 00:04:04,849 --> 00:04:13,169 Follow, There's a text that I, or actually a quote that I was sharing 56 00:04:13,169 --> 00:04:13,969 today with someone. 57 00:04:13,969 --> 00:04:17,649 And it goes like this, and I think you may have heard it. 58 00:04:17,649 --> 00:04:24,689 When we get to the place where God is all we have, only then will 59 00:04:24,689 --> 00:04:27,919 we realize that God is All we need. 60 00:04:29,759 --> 00:04:33,839 We know God's all we need, but we don't realize it until we get 61 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:35,839 to the place that he's all we have. 62 00:04:36,879 --> 00:04:38,319 It's called our wit's end. 63 00:04:41,199 --> 00:04:48,799 We've been through all of our hoarded resources, and a lot of times, 64 00:04:50,559 --> 00:04:54,619 a lot of the problems and troubles in testing that we go through 65 00:04:54,619 --> 00:04:57,059 is God trying to get us to that place. 66 00:04:58,179 --> 00:05:02,219 You just say, okay, Lord, I'm out of time, out of money, out of 67 00:05:02,219 --> 00:05:03,539 help, out of this, out of that. 68 00:05:04,419 --> 00:05:05,179 Here I am. 69 00:05:05,179 --> 00:05:09,779 God says, took you a while to get to that place. 70 00:05:11,219 --> 00:05:12,579 We all need to get to that place. 71 00:05:12,579 --> 00:05:13,859 Preachers need to get to that place. 72 00:05:13,859 --> 00:05:18,059 And even churches, church families need to get to the place 73 00:05:18,059 --> 00:05:19,219 and say, Lord, we've. 74 00:05:19,869 --> 00:05:21,389 We've done everything we know to do. 75 00:05:24,349 --> 00:05:29,469 God is always testing and he's always teaching and he's training, 76 00:05:29,869 --> 00:05:30,829 preparing us. 77 00:05:31,549 --> 00:05:35,349 I think we're gonna even see greater things because he's preparing 78 00:05:35,349 --> 00:05:36,949 us for the last days. 79 00:05:36,949 --> 00:05:39,709 Now, I don't believe the Bible teaches that we're gonna go through 80 00:05:39,709 --> 00:05:40,869 the tribulation period. 81 00:05:40,869 --> 00:05:43,949 I believe we're going up out of the tribulation period before 82 00:05:43,949 --> 00:05:46,229 the tribulation starts pre rapture. 83 00:05:46,229 --> 00:05:46,989 I believe that. 84 00:05:49,789 --> 00:05:53,549 But when things get out of hand in this nation and in this world, 85 00:05:54,349 --> 00:05:56,269 it's not gonna happen overnight. 86 00:05:56,589 --> 00:06:00,989 We're not gonna wake up in the morning and see everything in a mess. 87 00:06:00,989 --> 00:06:02,189 It's gonna be gradual. 88 00:06:02,189 --> 00:06:05,069 And we've seen that for many years in our lifetime. 89 00:06:05,069 --> 00:06:08,309 Things we thought we would have never believed if somebody had 90 00:06:08,309 --> 00:06:08,909 told us. 91 00:06:10,429 --> 00:06:15,439 And God's preparing us, and God prepares churches because churches 92 00:06:15,439 --> 00:06:20,199 are going to be tested in the last days. 93 00:06:24,039 --> 00:06:29,559 Jesus one time had a lot of people leave when he was preaching. 94 00:06:29,559 --> 00:06:33,359 They kind of crowded in on the miracles, but when it came to preaching, 95 00:06:33,359 --> 00:06:34,999 they kind of scattered. 96 00:06:34,999 --> 00:06:38,679 And Jesus said to Peter, will you also go away? 97 00:06:40,289 --> 00:06:42,369 And he said, lord, to whom shall we go? 98 00:06:44,929 --> 00:06:46,129 You ever thought about that? 99 00:06:46,129 --> 00:06:47,849 If you didn't have God, where would you go? 100 00:06:47,849 --> 00:06:53,249 Who would you go to if you didn't have the Lord? 101 00:06:58,449 --> 00:07:04,569 I Remember in Matthew 14 when Jesus walked on the water and Peter 102 00:07:04,569 --> 00:07:10,029 wanted to walk on the water, and so he did for a little while, 103 00:07:10,909 --> 00:07:14,989 and then he began to look around and, man, this is bad water. 104 00:07:14,989 --> 00:07:15,949 This was rough. 105 00:07:17,309 --> 00:07:19,869 And the Bible says he began to sink. 106 00:07:21,549 --> 00:07:22,989 It doesn't say he sank. 107 00:07:23,069 --> 00:07:24,749 Oh, yeah, that's when Peter sunk. 108 00:07:24,749 --> 00:07:26,029 No, he didn't. 109 00:07:26,509 --> 00:07:27,629 He began to. 110 00:07:28,429 --> 00:07:29,389 There's a lot of people. 111 00:07:29,389 --> 00:07:31,069 Sometimes pastors can watch. 112 00:07:31,389 --> 00:07:37,259 They see things and they see people and they see a change, and 113 00:07:37,259 --> 00:07:41,259 they say, you know, it looks to me like they're beginning to sink. 114 00:07:44,619 --> 00:07:47,499 But the Bible says that Jesus took him by the hand. 115 00:07:49,179 --> 00:07:51,179 Simple thought, isn't it? 116 00:07:51,819 --> 00:07:52,539 He didn't. 117 00:07:52,699 --> 00:07:53,499 Peter didn't. 118 00:07:53,739 --> 00:07:57,299 I don't think Peter hesitates, said, well, Lord, let me pray about 119 00:07:57,299 --> 00:07:57,659 this. 120 00:07:58,469 --> 00:08:04,189 I think he grabbed his hand, but he held out his hand because 121 00:08:04,189 --> 00:08:06,309 he was beginning to sink. 122 00:08:06,309 --> 00:08:09,789 You remember I preached, I think, a month or so ago about staying 123 00:08:09,789 --> 00:08:10,309 the boat. 124 00:08:11,109 --> 00:08:11,989 The boat. 125 00:08:12,229 --> 00:08:14,589 In Acts 27, Paul was a prisoner. 126 00:08:14,589 --> 00:08:17,669 And there was a great, great storm. 127 00:08:17,989 --> 00:08:20,869 In fact, they even named that storm in the Bible. 128 00:08:22,069 --> 00:08:24,109 And everything was really looking bad. 129 00:08:24,109 --> 00:08:28,479 And Paul said, except ye abide in the ship, you cannot be saved. 130 00:08:28,879 --> 00:08:31,039 He wasn't talking about salvation. 131 00:08:31,839 --> 00:08:34,159 He was talking about being saved from drowning. 132 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:41,519 He was talking about, help, help. 133 00:08:42,879 --> 00:08:49,439 I am his, the Bible says, because he bought me and he is mine. 134 00:08:49,439 --> 00:08:50,639 He's my Savior. 135 00:08:52,019 --> 00:08:52,979 What more do we need? 136 00:08:55,939 --> 00:09:00,179 The psalmist said, why art thou cast down, O my soul? 137 00:09:01,139 --> 00:09:03,699 And why art thou disquieted in me? 138 00:09:04,019 --> 00:09:10,339 Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his 139 00:09:10,339 --> 00:09:10,979 countenance. 140 00:09:12,259 --> 00:09:13,259 Psalm 46. 141 00:09:13,259 --> 00:09:14,979 God is our refuge and strength. 142 00:09:15,379 --> 00:09:17,869 A very present help in trouble. 143 00:09:19,149 --> 00:09:22,989 Not down the road, not the other side of town, but a very present 144 00:09:23,069 --> 00:09:24,509 help wherever you are. 145 00:09:26,909 --> 00:09:27,909 Psalm 63. 146 00:09:27,909 --> 00:09:29,469 Because thou hast been my help. 147 00:09:30,349 --> 00:09:33,469 Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I Rejoice. 148 00:09:35,389 --> 00:09:36,469 Psalm 79. 149 00:09:36,469 --> 00:09:42,269 Help us, O God, of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name, 150 00:09:42,269 --> 00:09:45,879 and deliver us in Psalm 119. 151 00:09:46,039 --> 00:09:52,679 Let thine hand help me, for I have chosen thy precepts. 152 00:09:54,839 --> 00:09:59,359 I think maybe in one or two times in all of my ministry have 153 00:09:59,359 --> 00:10:01,279 I preached an acronym. 154 00:10:01,279 --> 00:10:02,759 You know what an acronym is? 155 00:10:03,719 --> 00:10:04,679 Most of you do. 156 00:10:06,119 --> 00:10:10,189 A little girl came home one time and asked her daddy, he says, 157 00:10:10,189 --> 00:10:13,789 or told her dad, he said, we learned synonyms today. 158 00:10:14,109 --> 00:10:14,509 No. 159 00:10:15,949 --> 00:10:18,189 How is it the opposite? 160 00:10:18,829 --> 00:10:19,469 Antonyms. 161 00:10:19,469 --> 00:10:20,349 Yeah, antonyms. 162 00:10:20,669 --> 00:10:22,349 And he said, well, how many did you take? 163 00:10:24,269 --> 00:10:25,589 He said, like vitamins. 164 00:10:25,589 --> 00:10:26,509 He didn't know what they were. 165 00:10:28,189 --> 00:10:30,109 But she said, no. 166 00:10:30,109 --> 00:10:34,429 It's when you say one thing, you know, deep, shallow, black, white, 167 00:10:34,589 --> 00:10:35,629 up, down, down. 168 00:10:35,949 --> 00:10:36,989 The opposites. 169 00:10:37,949 --> 00:10:42,829 And the little girl said, what's the opposite of loss? 170 00:10:42,829 --> 00:10:44,429 And she said, saved. 171 00:10:46,829 --> 00:10:50,869 And the teacher said, no, honey, no, that's not true. 172 00:10:50,869 --> 00:10:52,669 The opposite of lost is found. 173 00:10:55,709 --> 00:10:59,789 And she said, well, my daddy said, when you get saved, you've 174 00:10:59,789 --> 00:11:00,349 been found. 175 00:11:01,709 --> 00:11:02,269 Amen. 176 00:11:03,409 --> 00:11:04,169 But an acronym. 177 00:11:04,169 --> 00:11:04,649 And I want to. 178 00:11:04,649 --> 00:11:05,689 It's very simple tonight. 179 00:11:05,689 --> 00:11:09,849 But if you take notes and an acronym, you want to put your first 180 00:11:09,849 --> 00:11:12,249 letters up and down, not sideways. 181 00:11:12,249 --> 00:11:13,649 We're just going to take the word help. 182 00:11:14,369 --> 00:11:19,729 So put an H, an E and an L and a P. And then I want you to connect 183 00:11:19,969 --> 00:11:21,969 those as we go along. 184 00:11:23,489 --> 00:11:27,049 And the first one is so simple, but yet sometimes we overlook 185 00:11:27,049 --> 00:11:27,329 it. 186 00:11:28,119 --> 00:11:28,679 If we want help. 187 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:29,879 I'm talking about help. 188 00:11:31,399 --> 00:11:31,799 Help. 189 00:11:34,519 --> 00:11:38,279 When's the last time you said, lord, help, Help us. 190 00:11:38,839 --> 00:11:39,799 What are we gonna do? 191 00:11:39,799 --> 00:11:40,119 Help. 192 00:11:42,119 --> 00:11:42,919 And the first. 193 00:11:42,919 --> 00:11:44,919 The letter H stands for him. 194 00:11:45,319 --> 00:11:50,599 H, I, M, M. Him and him alone. 195 00:11:51,479 --> 00:11:54,199 Alone is not him. 196 00:11:54,199 --> 00:11:58,489 Plus vain is the help of man. 197 00:11:58,489 --> 00:12:02,009 The Bible says, you know, I need. 198 00:12:02,009 --> 00:12:02,689 I'm like you. 199 00:12:02,769 --> 00:12:04,409 I need all the friends I can get. 200 00:12:04,409 --> 00:12:06,769 But sometimes my friends can't help me. 201 00:12:08,689 --> 00:12:09,729 But God can. 202 00:12:11,969 --> 00:12:14,969 Sometimes we may need money, but there's some things money can't 203 00:12:14,969 --> 00:12:15,569 help with. 204 00:12:16,369 --> 00:12:17,489 Money can't fix. 205 00:12:19,409 --> 00:12:19,969 Amen. 206 00:12:21,579 --> 00:12:24,459 I remember show you how old I am. 207 00:12:24,539 --> 00:12:25,899 Some of you know how old I am. 208 00:12:26,539 --> 00:12:31,979 But I remember back when I was a little boy, the Texaco gas stations 209 00:12:31,979 --> 00:12:37,819 and the attendants wore hats and it said Texaco and it had a star. 210 00:12:38,859 --> 00:12:40,059 They had a whole uniform. 211 00:12:40,059 --> 00:12:41,499 And they waited on you. 212 00:12:41,739 --> 00:12:42,619 They did everything. 213 00:12:42,699 --> 00:12:44,539 Polished the windshield and all that. 214 00:12:45,419 --> 00:12:46,899 And that commercial, I remember. 215 00:12:46,899 --> 00:12:47,899 I could see it now. 216 00:12:48,059 --> 00:12:48,929 Trust me. 217 00:12:49,239 --> 00:12:49,799 Your car. 218 00:12:50,039 --> 00:12:52,679 To the man who wears the star. 219 00:12:54,759 --> 00:12:58,519 Well, I want to tell you tonight, trust your life to the one 220 00:12:58,519 --> 00:12:59,879 who made the stars. 221 00:13:02,919 --> 00:13:04,199 He made everything. 222 00:13:04,439 --> 00:13:05,959 And he's holding us together. 223 00:13:06,999 --> 00:13:08,559 The Bible says He's holding us. 224 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,479 Did you know that if he let go, we'd all fly apart? 225 00:13:14,929 --> 00:13:16,049 We're in his hands. 226 00:13:18,289 --> 00:13:20,009 And sometimes we feel alone. 227 00:13:20,009 --> 00:13:21,169 But we're never alone. 228 00:13:22,369 --> 00:13:23,729 Alone, but not alone. 229 00:13:24,849 --> 00:13:27,929 And that's why the Bible says that we're to endure hardness as 230 00:13:27,929 --> 00:13:28,729 a good soldier. 231 00:13:28,729 --> 00:13:33,929 Because he doesn't just send us into battle, he leads us into 232 00:13:33,929 --> 00:13:34,529 battle. 233 00:13:36,209 --> 00:13:39,369 I was sharing this with somebody a while ago. 234 00:13:39,369 --> 00:13:40,209 I forgot who it was. 235 00:13:41,549 --> 00:13:43,069 I was reading in the Scriptures today. 236 00:13:43,069 --> 00:13:43,589 Was it you? 237 00:13:43,589 --> 00:13:47,789 I was talking to Daniel this morning, and it was a battle going 238 00:13:47,789 --> 00:13:48,909 on with Israel. 239 00:13:48,909 --> 00:13:55,829 And I don't remember who the other the adversary was, but it said 240 00:13:55,829 --> 00:14:01,469 of Israel, it says, faint yet pursuing. 241 00:14:03,469 --> 00:14:06,549 Faint yet pursuing. 242 00:14:06,549 --> 00:14:07,799 You ever feel faint yet? 243 00:14:08,429 --> 00:14:08,989 Feel tired? 244 00:14:08,989 --> 00:14:10,029 Feel a little wobbly? 245 00:14:11,149 --> 00:14:13,949 Maybe not in your legs, but maybe in your heart. 246 00:14:15,869 --> 00:14:17,389 Sometimes you feel that way. 247 00:14:18,749 --> 00:14:20,109 Faint yet pursuing. 248 00:14:20,989 --> 00:14:24,269 A lot of times we get to the place, well, now what do we do? 249 00:14:25,229 --> 00:14:26,909 Faint yet pursuing. 250 00:14:28,269 --> 00:14:29,549 Faint yet pursuing. 251 00:14:30,429 --> 00:14:33,909 So when Christ comes, we're doing exactly what it told us to 252 00:14:33,909 --> 00:14:34,189 do. 253 00:14:35,109 --> 00:14:37,749 You see, everything must revolve around him. 254 00:14:39,429 --> 00:14:42,629 And one of the greatest challenges is to not be distracted. 255 00:14:42,629 --> 00:14:46,949 The world is very distracted, of course, but don't Be distracted. 256 00:14:46,949 --> 00:14:49,429 Satan is a deceiver, we know that. 257 00:14:49,829 --> 00:14:53,669 But one of his most effective tools is to distract us. 258 00:14:55,349 --> 00:14:58,389 That's why I like that hymn, Jesus, keep me near the cross. 259 00:14:59,029 --> 00:15:01,909 I've never got discouraged near the cross it's when I get away 260 00:15:01,909 --> 00:15:07,149 from the cross I never have doubts at the cross it's when I get 261 00:15:07,149 --> 00:15:12,269 away from the cross the devil is constantly distracting you from 262 00:15:12,269 --> 00:15:15,909 the Bible, from the prayer, from the church, all kinds of things. 263 00:15:15,909 --> 00:15:18,229 If he can just get you to look over here for a moment. 264 00:15:20,629 --> 00:15:24,949 Isn't it amazing sometimes how when you're driving along, you can. 265 00:15:24,949 --> 00:15:27,589 I mean, in less than a second you'll look over and see something. 266 00:15:27,909 --> 00:15:30,389 And when you look back, you're either off the road or fixing to 267 00:15:30,389 --> 00:15:32,149 run right back into the back of a car. 268 00:15:33,709 --> 00:15:36,749 It still amazes me how quickly that can happen. 269 00:15:37,309 --> 00:15:40,589 I mean, I always thought I was a pretty good driver and keeping 270 00:15:40,589 --> 00:15:42,509 the distance and all that kind of stuff. 271 00:15:43,309 --> 00:15:47,709 But you just get distracted just like that. 272 00:15:49,709 --> 00:15:50,829 And you got a problem. 273 00:15:52,189 --> 00:15:55,149 Now I want you to take the letter E, H is him. 274 00:15:55,229 --> 00:15:59,579 H, I, M. And the letter E. Expectation. 275 00:16:01,739 --> 00:16:02,539 Expectation. 276 00:16:02,539 --> 00:16:04,139 What do I mean by that? 277 00:16:04,459 --> 00:16:08,779 Well, faith is expecting God to do what he said he would do. 278 00:16:09,339 --> 00:16:12,299 That's what faith is, expecting it. 279 00:16:13,499 --> 00:16:14,059 Amen. 280 00:16:15,819 --> 00:16:19,579 We talk about faith so much and we sing faith about faith and 281 00:16:19,819 --> 00:16:20,939 all that kind of stuff. 282 00:16:20,939 --> 00:16:24,139 But write this down. 283 00:16:24,139 --> 00:16:28,659 Faith is a refusal to panic. 284 00:16:31,059 --> 00:16:34,939 Faith is a refusal to panic. 285 00:16:34,939 --> 00:16:38,819 Things can happen so quickly and you can get a little panicky. 286 00:16:39,859 --> 00:16:43,459 Oh, no, Are you kidding? 287 00:16:44,979 --> 00:16:45,379 What? 288 00:16:47,459 --> 00:16:48,819 You know what I'm talking about. 289 00:16:51,069 --> 00:16:58,069 But faith, your faith, if it's tied to Christ, you see, it's not 290 00:16:58,069 --> 00:17:01,069 so much the size of your faith, it's the object of your faith. 291 00:17:01,869 --> 00:17:04,349 You can have a little faith in a big God. 292 00:17:05,149 --> 00:17:07,549 You don't have to have a big faith in a little God. 293 00:17:07,629 --> 00:17:08,749 Cause God's not little. 294 00:17:08,749 --> 00:17:11,909 Okay, But a lot of people don't know what God can do. 295 00:17:11,909 --> 00:17:12,829 Cause they don't read the Bible. 296 00:17:12,829 --> 00:17:16,029 They don't know a lot about God's attributes and how much he 297 00:17:16,029 --> 00:17:16,469 loves us. 298 00:17:16,469 --> 00:17:20,529 And promises and cares and protects and provides, and on and 299 00:17:20,529 --> 00:17:21,129 on and on. 300 00:17:23,289 --> 00:17:28,369 I was reading in Romans 4, it says he, speaking of Abraham, staggered 301 00:17:28,369 --> 00:17:33,129 not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong 302 00:17:33,129 --> 00:17:39,529 in faith, giving God the glory and being fully persuaded that what 303 00:17:39,529 --> 00:17:47,778 he had promised, he was also able to perform what he has promised. 304 00:17:50,018 --> 00:17:53,058 Could you write down 10 of the promises of God? 305 00:17:54,498 --> 00:17:56,978 I mean, just immediately, without having to think about it. 306 00:17:57,538 --> 00:17:58,818 Could you write down 20? 307 00:18:03,218 --> 00:18:04,098 Expectation. 308 00:18:04,258 --> 00:18:05,738 Expecting God. 309 00:18:05,738 --> 00:18:07,138 This is not presumption. 310 00:18:08,658 --> 00:18:13,949 It's just saying, lord, if you said it, it's gotta happen, whether 311 00:18:13,949 --> 00:18:16,909 it happens, when we want it or how we want it. 312 00:18:18,749 --> 00:18:21,949 But to live on the promises of God. 313 00:18:23,549 --> 00:18:27,509 Do you expect God to help Heritage Baptist Church? 314 00:18:27,509 --> 00:18:28,589 Do you expect it? 315 00:18:28,989 --> 00:18:31,949 Or are you just hoping there's a difference? 316 00:18:32,989 --> 00:18:34,189 Do you expect it? 317 00:18:34,909 --> 00:18:38,129 After all the things that already we've been through and who 318 00:18:38,129 --> 00:18:39,889 knows, God still may not be through. 319 00:18:40,529 --> 00:18:41,969 But are you expecting. 320 00:18:43,969 --> 00:18:49,849 It's his church, and he's sovereign and he's in control and 321 00:18:49,849 --> 00:18:51,409 he cares and he loves us. 322 00:18:52,529 --> 00:18:56,849 Do you expect him to give the victory over the devil? 323 00:18:56,849 --> 00:18:59,009 Boy, we've seen a lot of the devil, haven't we? 324 00:19:00,209 --> 00:19:02,859 Do you expect eventually. 325 00:19:03,099 --> 00:19:04,619 I'm not talking about the end of the world. 326 00:19:04,619 --> 00:19:06,259 I'm talking about right now. 327 00:19:06,259 --> 00:19:07,659 Do you expect a victory? 328 00:19:09,019 --> 00:19:15,099 Do you expect God to glorify himself through this church in spite 329 00:19:15,099 --> 00:19:15,659 of everything? 330 00:19:17,019 --> 00:19:20,779 Can God bless and help this church even without a school? 331 00:19:21,819 --> 00:19:23,019 Is that even possible? 332 00:19:24,619 --> 00:19:26,939 Or are we down for the count? 333 00:19:30,789 --> 00:19:35,429 I'm just asking because that's part if we want God's help, we got 334 00:19:35,429 --> 00:19:36,109 to look to Him. 335 00:19:36,109 --> 00:19:39,349 Only vain is the help of man. 336 00:19:39,829 --> 00:19:46,869 And then we've got to expect God to work it out. 337 00:19:47,829 --> 00:19:48,949 A new beginning. 338 00:19:50,549 --> 00:19:51,629 Are we the remnant? 339 00:19:51,629 --> 00:19:52,469 I don't know yet. 340 00:19:53,279 --> 00:19:56,919 Are we a remnant who choose to believe God and press on regardless 341 00:19:56,919 --> 00:19:57,759 of the cost? 342 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,599 Are you willing to suffer for the cause of Christ? 343 00:20:04,799 --> 00:20:10,239 Are you willing to take the mockery and the disdain of the general 344 00:20:10,319 --> 00:20:10,719 public? 345 00:20:12,239 --> 00:20:13,519 Do you think you're ready for that? 346 00:20:13,519 --> 00:20:14,799 Can you do that, you say? 347 00:20:14,799 --> 00:20:15,759 Well, so far. 348 00:20:17,679 --> 00:20:19,759 Do you expect God to step in? 349 00:20:20,979 --> 00:20:21,859 What do you expect? 350 00:20:24,419 --> 00:20:27,379 The Bible says, where two or three are gathered together in my 351 00:20:27,379 --> 00:20:31,859 name, there am I in the midst, in the middle of it all. 352 00:20:34,099 --> 00:20:38,819 Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb? 353 00:20:39,859 --> 00:20:44,899 And shall I fear to own his cause or blush to speak his name? 354 00:20:46,909 --> 00:20:51,829 Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease While others 355 00:20:51,829 --> 00:20:55,469 fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas? 356 00:20:56,909 --> 00:20:58,829 Are there no foes for me to face? 357 00:21:00,029 --> 00:21:01,789 Must I not stem the flood? 358 00:21:03,229 --> 00:21:10,389 Is this vile world a friend to grace to help me on To God Sure I 359 00:21:10,389 --> 00:21:15,369 must fight if I would reign Increase my courage, Lord, I'll bear 360 00:21:15,369 --> 00:21:21,369 the toil Endure the pain Supported by Thy word. 361 00:21:22,569 --> 00:21:32,809 Hymn E Expecting God to move and to work and then the l look up, 362 00:21:33,609 --> 00:21:35,489 you say, well, that's for first graders. 363 00:21:35,489 --> 00:21:36,729 We all know how to look up. 364 00:21:36,969 --> 00:21:37,769 No, we don't. 365 00:21:38,919 --> 00:21:40,759 Things go wrong, we start looking down. 366 00:21:41,479 --> 00:21:42,839 Then we start looking around. 367 00:21:42,919 --> 00:21:43,879 Who can we blame? 368 00:21:45,079 --> 00:21:47,399 And very few even go. 369 00:21:47,399 --> 00:21:48,879 The third one is to look in. 370 00:21:48,879 --> 00:21:50,039 Is it me, Lord? 371 00:21:50,919 --> 00:21:54,959 But it seems like we don't look up until we're either flat on 372 00:21:54,959 --> 00:21:58,119 our back or we can't look anywhere else. 373 00:21:59,479 --> 00:22:03,399 Or God gets our attention and we get alone with him. 374 00:22:06,709 --> 00:22:09,989 Not the last resort to look up, but the first response. 375 00:22:10,709 --> 00:22:14,029 The psalmist said, I will look unto the hills from whence cometh 376 00:22:14,029 --> 00:22:18,469 my help, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 377 00:22:21,589 --> 00:22:23,749 You know, the Bible talks about banners. 378 00:22:24,869 --> 00:22:28,789 They were banners in battle, the flags, the. 379 00:22:29,919 --> 00:22:31,679 The ensigns that they would carry. 380 00:22:32,719 --> 00:22:36,359 And I was reading In Psalms chapter 20, I don't know how quickly 381 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:37,119 you can get there. 382 00:22:37,919 --> 00:22:42,199 You can jot it down on your notepad maybe, but it's interesting. 383 00:22:42,199 --> 00:22:48,199 In psalms chapter number 20, it says, in verse five, we will rejoice 384 00:22:48,199 --> 00:22:53,559 in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our 385 00:22:53,559 --> 00:22:54,079 banners. 386 00:22:55,589 --> 00:22:59,109 The Lord, fulfill all thy petitions. 387 00:22:59,189 --> 00:23:00,309 Set up the banners. 388 00:23:02,309 --> 00:23:07,589 In psalm chapter number 64. 389 00:23:08,069 --> 00:23:12,989 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee that it may be 390 00:23:12,989 --> 00:23:17,749 displayed because of the truth. 391 00:23:19,749 --> 00:23:23,549 There's a royal banner given for display to the soldiers of the 392 00:23:23,549 --> 00:23:23,909 king. 393 00:23:24,579 --> 00:23:26,779 As an ensign fare we lift it up today. 394 00:23:26,779 --> 00:23:31,859 And as ransomed ones we sing Marching on, marching on for Christ 395 00:23:32,019 --> 00:23:35,499 Count everything but loss to crown him King. 396 00:23:35,499 --> 00:23:39,859 Toil in sing neath the banner of the cross. 397 00:23:41,219 --> 00:23:47,379 Last of all is the letter P. I want you to write down the word priority. 398 00:23:48,979 --> 00:23:52,739 Now, I need to remind us all tonight that we are his priority. 399 00:23:55,199 --> 00:23:56,639 But is he your priority? 400 00:23:59,599 --> 00:24:00,439 Is he first? 401 00:24:00,439 --> 00:24:02,399 Matthew 6:33, if you know it. 402 00:24:04,159 --> 00:24:05,839 Matthew 6:33. 403 00:24:07,199 --> 00:24:08,239 Seek ye first. 404 00:24:10,079 --> 00:24:13,879 First the kingdom of God. 405 00:24:13,879 --> 00:24:16,879 That means if there's a kingdom, there's a king. 406 00:24:18,649 --> 00:24:22,729 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. 407 00:24:23,369 --> 00:24:28,009 Do the right thing, even if you're the lone ranger. 408 00:24:34,009 --> 00:24:35,209 And his righteousness. 409 00:24:35,209 --> 00:24:38,009 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. 410 00:24:38,569 --> 00:24:43,449 And all these things shall be added unto you. 411 00:24:45,859 --> 00:24:50,419 Keep Christ first and everything else will fall into place. 412 00:24:51,539 --> 00:24:52,499 Let me say that. 413 00:24:52,899 --> 00:24:54,259 Let me add something to that. 414 00:24:54,979 --> 00:25:01,859 Put Christ first in every single thing you do, and he. 415 00:25:01,939 --> 00:25:06,819 Everything will fall into place that's important to him. 416 00:25:08,739 --> 00:25:12,219 Everything may not fall into place the way we thought it would 417 00:25:12,219 --> 00:25:13,139 or the way we. 418 00:25:13,379 --> 00:25:16,759 Oh, we love it when everything falls into place the way we wanted 419 00:25:16,759 --> 00:25:25,919 it, and we can smile and breathe, but our things we put in 420 00:25:25,919 --> 00:25:27,759 place may be out of place to God. 421 00:25:29,519 --> 00:25:31,999 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. 422 00:25:32,079 --> 00:25:33,839 All these things shall be added unto you. 423 00:25:34,719 --> 00:25:39,519 Help will come for thy name's sake. 424 00:25:39,519 --> 00:25:41,039 O Lord, help us. 425 00:25:42,489 --> 00:25:43,769 Robert Louis Stevenson. 426 00:25:43,849 --> 00:25:45,969 Most of you have heard that name. 427 00:25:45,969 --> 00:25:53,569 A great author of late 1800s, author of Treasure island and think 428 00:25:53,569 --> 00:25:58,009 of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and, oh, there were several others, 429 00:25:58,009 --> 00:26:02,729 I can't remember them, but Robert Louis Stevenson, the author 430 00:26:02,809 --> 00:26:08,809 was traveling with his father aboard a sailing vessel back in the 431 00:26:09,499 --> 00:26:10,699 late 1800s. 432 00:26:12,139 --> 00:26:15,419 And as was pretty common, a storm came. 433 00:26:15,419 --> 00:26:17,899 But this was a little more than common. 434 00:26:17,899 --> 00:26:21,539 It was a treacherous, life threatening storm. 435 00:26:21,539 --> 00:26:26,579 Robert Louis Stevenson, the author, with his father and all the 436 00:26:26,579 --> 00:26:31,419 passengers huddled together below deck and praying and crying 437 00:26:32,219 --> 00:26:33,499 for fear of their life. 438 00:26:35,909 --> 00:26:39,029 And Robert Louis Stevenson clinging to his father. 439 00:26:40,949 --> 00:26:44,709 He said, daddy, are we going to die? 440 00:26:47,269 --> 00:26:50,709 His father put his son's hand in another person's hand that was 441 00:26:50,709 --> 00:26:52,709 beside him and he said, I'll be right back. 442 00:26:55,429 --> 00:27:00,189 And he climbed up the stair to the deck and he fought his way through 443 00:27:00,189 --> 00:27:04,789 the wind and the waves and the lightning and the thunder and to 444 00:27:04,789 --> 00:27:11,149 the captain who was standing at the helm and he shined his lantern 445 00:27:11,949 --> 00:27:19,149 in the captain's face and he immediately ran back down below deck, 446 00:27:19,549 --> 00:27:23,989 took his son in his arms and he said in a loud voice so that everybody 447 00:27:23,989 --> 00:27:27,709 could hear, no, son, we're not gonna die. 448 00:27:29,639 --> 00:27:34,679 I just looked into the captain's face and he was smiling. 449 00:27:39,639 --> 00:27:42,359 When's the last time you looked into the face of God? 450 00:27:44,758 --> 00:27:45,959 God never panics. 451 00:27:47,559 --> 00:27:49,639 God never frowns on when he. 452 00:27:49,639 --> 00:27:50,599 I mean, he's in control. 453 00:27:50,679 --> 00:27:51,199 Amen. 454 00:27:51,199 --> 00:27:52,759 We know that, everybody knows that. 455 00:27:53,399 --> 00:27:54,759 But we don't live like it. 456 00:27:56,699 --> 00:27:57,739 Now what are we going to do? 457 00:27:58,299 --> 00:27:59,059 God's control. 458 00:27:59,059 --> 00:28:01,939 Oh, I know he's in control, yeah, but now what are we going to 459 00:28:01,939 --> 00:28:02,219 do? 460 00:28:07,659 --> 00:28:08,939 God is in control. 461 00:28:10,698 --> 00:28:16,299 And I believe God is getting ready soon to wrap this thing up 462 00:28:16,299 --> 00:28:19,259 in the world and everything. 463 00:28:20,709 --> 00:28:21,909 I think it's getting close. 464 00:28:23,909 --> 00:28:29,829 I think Jesus seated at the father's right hand is getting ready 465 00:28:29,829 --> 00:28:36,629 to stand up and his father's going to say, it's time, it's close. 466 00:28:40,949 --> 00:28:42,469 He's going to come to help. 467 00:28:43,829 --> 00:28:45,909 And he's helped us this far, hasn't he? 468 00:28:47,909 --> 00:28:48,869 Have you been helped? 469 00:28:50,629 --> 00:28:55,109 Sometimes we forget kind of quickly what happened last year or 470 00:28:55,109 --> 00:28:59,429 three years ago or five years or ten years when God helped. 471 00:29:01,908 --> 00:29:04,949 Nobody understood it as much as you understood it because it was 472 00:29:04,949 --> 00:29:10,629 you that he helped and nobody else could do it but you. 473 00:29:13,759 --> 00:29:15,359 Well, we got to live that way. 474 00:29:17,439 --> 00:29:22,079 We got to live by faith in the promises of God. 475 00:29:22,799 --> 00:29:24,559 I never get tired of that song. 476 00:29:25,199 --> 00:29:30,319 Standing on the promises I cannot fall Standing on the promises 477 00:29:31,119 --> 00:29:36,559 I cannot fail I feel like I'm failing I feel like I'm falling. 478 00:29:36,799 --> 00:29:42,249 I. I feel sometimes confused and afraid and worried. 479 00:29:43,529 --> 00:29:45,129 But I have to remind myself. 480 00:29:45,369 --> 00:29:50,889 Feelings come and feelings go, but God never changes. 481 00:29:52,489 --> 00:29:54,729 We live by faith, not by feeling. 482 00:29:56,329 --> 00:29:58,889 Would you stand with your heads bowed and eyes closed for just 483 00:29:58,889 --> 00:29:59,449 a moment? 484 00:30:03,779 --> 00:30:04,499 There's a hymn. 485 00:30:04,499 --> 00:30:05,739 We're not going to sing this hymn. 486 00:30:05,739 --> 00:30:06,699 They got a hymn ready. 487 00:30:06,699 --> 00:30:11,659 But I think I mentioned this not too long ago because I'd been 488 00:30:11,659 --> 00:30:13,939 in the hymn book forever and I never saw. 489 00:30:13,939 --> 00:30:20,699 Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply for mirth and 490 00:30:20,699 --> 00:30:27,059 song when the burdens press and the cares distress and the way 491 00:30:27,059 --> 00:30:33,839 grows weary and long oh, yes, he cares I know he cares his heart 492 00:30:33,839 --> 00:30:39,759 is touched with my grief when the days are weary and the long night 493 00:30:39,759 --> 00:30:49,439 dreary I know my Savior cares We're gonna have some music and just 494 00:30:49,439 --> 00:30:54,159 sing for a verse or two and invite you to come. 495 00:30:54,579 --> 00:30:58,259 And I'm still hoping that you're praying for the revival. 496 00:30:58,259 --> 00:31:06,499 And maybe you would want to come tonight and pray for the revival. 497 00:31:08,979 --> 00:31:15,179 Maybe you just say, lord, I sometimes forget that you're the 498 00:31:15,179 --> 00:31:17,299 one and the only one who can help. 499 00:31:18,419 --> 00:31:23,109 Sometimes I think I can help or somebody else can help, or the 500 00:31:23,109 --> 00:31:25,469 preacher can help, or my best friend can help. 501 00:31:27,149 --> 00:31:32,029 And Lord, I pray you'd help us to recognize and realize and understand 502 00:31:33,469 --> 00:31:34,989 that we can only go so far. 503 00:31:34,989 --> 00:31:40,829 But you are unlimited and your love is unlimited and your grace 504 00:31:40,829 --> 00:31:43,229 is unlimited and your mercy is unlimited. 505 00:31:44,349 --> 00:31:46,909 And so, Lord, help us to be touchable tonight. 506 00:31:48,509 --> 00:31:49,709 Draw us closer to you. 507 00:31:49,709 --> 00:31:52,429 I pray in Jesus name.