WEBVTT - Have No Fear, God Is Here, Part 3 0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:03.119 When you understand that there's significance in your suffering, it'll 0:00:03.120 --> 0:00:07.360 turn fear into faith. It'll turn sighing into singing. It'll 0:00:07.360 --> 0:00:11.920 turn doubting into dancing. It'll turn worrying into worship. It'll 0:00:11.920 --> 0:00:18.040 turn trying into trusting. You will know what God is doing. 0:00:25.120 --> 0:00:28.120 Welcome to Treasure Truth with pastor and author James Ford, 0:00:28.120 --> 0:00:31.080 junior senior pastor of Christ Bible Church in Chicago. I'm 0:00:31.080 --> 0:00:33.800 Steve Hillard. Glad that you've joined us today as we 0:00:33.840 --> 0:00:37.960 continue a message. Have no fear. God is here. Pastor, 0:00:38.000 --> 0:00:39.800 want to pick up on something you said a moment ago? 0:00:39.840 --> 0:00:44.199 You said when you understand that there's significance in your suffering, 0:00:44.360 --> 0:00:47.760 it will turn fear into faith. When we're in the 0:00:47.760 --> 0:00:50.680 midst of suffering, though, it can be hard to see 0:00:50.720 --> 0:00:54.360 any significance in that because it just hurts. So how 0:00:54.360 --> 0:00:57.960 do we find significance in the midst of suffering? 0:00:58.840 --> 0:01:01.440 Well, we have to believe, first of all, in the 0:01:01.440 --> 0:01:06.520 sovereignty of our God, that God never allows anything to 0:01:06.520 --> 0:01:10.880 happen to us. That is not going to benefit some 0:01:10.880 --> 0:01:14.399 kind of way, that it will benefit us, it will 0:01:14.440 --> 0:01:19.040 benefit him, it will benefit somebody else. We never know 0:01:19.080 --> 0:01:21.800 until he reveals it to us. But we have to 0:01:21.800 --> 0:01:25.640 have that mindset that says, I know that God is sovereign. 0:01:25.640 --> 0:01:29.640 So job one and two, the devil comes and wants 0:01:29.640 --> 0:01:33.440 to destroy him, and God puts limits on him. And 0:01:33.440 --> 0:01:36.759 so he puts a restraining order on the devil. He 0:01:36.760 --> 0:01:40.199 puts an ankle bracelet around him and says, you can 0:01:40.200 --> 0:01:43.679 only go this far. You can only do this. That's 0:01:43.680 --> 0:01:46.560 the sovereignty of God in the midst of our suffering. 0:01:46.720 --> 0:01:51.160 And whenever we we begin to understand that, we know 0:01:51.200 --> 0:01:53.920 that what the Bible says is true. James says it 0:01:53.920 --> 0:01:57.120 this way. He says, my brethren, count it all joy 0:01:57.120 --> 0:02:00.680 when you fall into divers temptations. Knowing this, there's the 0:02:00.800 --> 0:02:05.320 understanding that the trying of your faith works. Patience. But 0:02:05.320 --> 0:02:08.000 let patience have her perfect work that you may be 0:02:08.000 --> 0:02:12.959 complete and entire, lacking nothing. See, he's saying, listen, God's 0:02:12.960 --> 0:02:16.639 not wasting anything. He's kind of like my mama was. 0:02:16.680 --> 0:02:21.760 You know, she would make chicken and peas and carrots. 0:02:21.880 --> 0:02:25.280 And then the next day, you know, the leftovers. She 0:02:25.280 --> 0:02:28.720 put some cream over them and say, mama, what's this? 0:02:29.280 --> 0:02:34.160 This is chicken classic or chicken a la king. She'd 0:02:34.160 --> 0:02:36.720 always put some kind of big name on it, you know, 0:02:36.880 --> 0:02:41.080 and we realize it's just leftovers from yesterday. And God 0:02:41.120 --> 0:02:45.519 takes that pain, that suffering, the leftover things in our life. 0:02:45.520 --> 0:02:50.040 And he makes them supreme, Allah king. And we can 0:02:50.040 --> 0:02:53.200 go back because hindsight's 2020. We can go back and 0:02:53.200 --> 0:02:56.639 look at certain areas, things that we went through, the 0:02:56.639 --> 0:02:59.760 pain and all those things we didn't like. Right. But 0:02:59.760 --> 0:03:03.110 we'd have to admit the only reason we are where 0:03:03.110 --> 0:03:06.390 we are is because of what God allowed us to 0:03:06.430 --> 0:03:08.750 go through, and where he brought us from. 0:03:08.790 --> 0:03:12.429 Yeah, very often it is the most painful circumstances of 0:03:12.430 --> 0:03:15.109 life where we recognize the fact that we truly do 0:03:15.110 --> 0:03:17.710 need God. That maybe we've been trying to do things 0:03:17.710 --> 0:03:20.269 in our own power, and we've got to totally turn 0:03:20.270 --> 0:03:21.990 it all over to him. 0:03:22.150 --> 0:03:24.470 Yeah, well, what do you do when you're like Joseph? 0:03:24.590 --> 0:03:27.669 He didn't suffer for his sake. He suffered for whole 0:03:27.669 --> 0:03:30.950 nations sake, right? Yeah. So, you know, we focus on 0:03:30.990 --> 0:03:34.589 the palace when we should be focusing on the purpose. 0:03:34.750 --> 0:03:38.590 God says I sent him ahead and they hurt him. 0:03:38.630 --> 0:03:42.190 Put him in chains. But he preserved my people. 0:03:42.230 --> 0:03:45.150 Yeah, well, as you pointed out just a few moments ago, 0:03:45.150 --> 0:03:47.670 at the beginning of this conversation, we really have to 0:03:47.710 --> 0:03:50.870 believe and trust in that sovereignty of God. And when 0:03:50.870 --> 0:03:54.310 we do, we can see the significance in that suffering. 0:03:54.310 --> 0:03:56.190 We're going to look at that a little bit further 0:03:56.190 --> 0:03:59.670 in today's message. So join us in Isaiah 43 as 0:03:59.670 --> 0:04:04.190 we continue. Have no fear. God is here. Here's pastor Ford. 0:04:05.510 --> 0:04:12.870 Everything that happened to you. God allowed it for a purpose. Amen. 0:04:12.910 --> 0:04:15.630 Wait a minute. You. You're. Rape. Murder. I didn't say 0:04:15.630 --> 0:04:18.270 he did it because he didn't do it. The devil 0:04:18.270 --> 0:04:21.510 did it. Yeah. No, no, no, God does not do evil. 0:04:21.510 --> 0:04:25.390 James 113. But he does allow it. Why? Because he's sovereign. 0:04:25.550 --> 0:04:29.830 So everything that happens, God allowed it. He has a purpose. 0:04:29.830 --> 0:04:32.270 And we need to go through the pain trying to 0:04:32.270 --> 0:04:35.270 find the purpose. Why God? Or what are you trying 0:04:35.270 --> 0:04:38.270 to do in this situation? Now get this. Let me. 0:04:38.270 --> 0:04:40.950 Let me show you real quick. Use myself as an example. 0:04:41.710 --> 0:04:45.590 I have two boys. They got nine kids, and both 0:04:45.589 --> 0:04:50.470 of my boys take care of their children. And, uh, 0:04:50.589 --> 0:04:54.030 I began to say, okay, God, what's the outcome of 0:04:54.029 --> 0:04:56.750 this thing? Because one of the things that that I 0:04:56.750 --> 0:05:00.150 really grew very belligerent about is that I didn't have 0:05:00.150 --> 0:05:03.190 a dad. In hindsight, I share some of that stuff 0:05:03.190 --> 0:05:04.909 with you. Uh, you know how I beat up a 0:05:04.910 --> 0:05:07.830 guy who had his father at the parent teacher meeting 0:05:07.830 --> 0:05:10.430 and and don't know why? And then later on, I 0:05:10.430 --> 0:05:13.190 realize it's because his dad was always there for him, 0:05:13.190 --> 0:05:15.030 and I didn't have one. And I was jealous of 0:05:15.029 --> 0:05:18.750 the fact that he had a father, and I didn't. And, uh, 0:05:18.790 --> 0:05:22.190 I began to say, okay, look at what God did. 0:05:22.390 --> 0:05:25.710 Because I didn't have a father, because I didn't have 0:05:25.710 --> 0:05:28.349 a father. I got saved because my oldest son became 0:05:28.350 --> 0:05:31.550 the catalyst to my salvation. When my wife said to me, okay, 0:05:31.550 --> 0:05:34.150 what about Jay? And I had said I'd never abandon 0:05:34.190 --> 0:05:36.350 my children. Now, here I was, getting ready to do 0:05:36.350 --> 0:05:38.430 the same thing to my son that my dad did 0:05:38.470 --> 0:05:40.390 to me, and God used it to bring me under 0:05:40.390 --> 0:05:42.870 conviction and to bring us to Jesus Christ, both on 0:05:42.870 --> 0:05:43.710 the same night. 0:05:44.070 --> 0:05:45.510 Wow. Amen, Amen. 0:05:45.830 --> 0:05:48.190 And then I raised my boys, and I was with them. 0:05:48.190 --> 0:05:49.830 And and she she didn't have to go to school. 0:05:49.830 --> 0:05:52.070 I went to school, and she didn't have to do any. 0:05:52.110 --> 0:05:56.350 I did, I did, I did, I did it, and 0:05:56.550 --> 0:05:58.630 I tell her, my boys, I said, you know what? 0:05:58.630 --> 0:06:05.550 I really admire you as fathers? You guys are good fathers. And, uh, 0:06:05.589 --> 0:06:08.789 my youngest baby boy, y'all know it. It ain't no secret. 0:06:08.830 --> 0:06:11.750 He he got four baby mama. And then he finally 0:06:11.750 --> 0:06:14.270 got his life together and said, I'm going to marry 0:06:14.270 --> 0:06:18.909 the one I love. But all through coming up, even 0:06:18.910 --> 0:06:21.950 when he didn't have a job, he borrowed money to 0:06:21.990 --> 0:06:25.029 make sure his children were taken care of. And I 0:06:25.029 --> 0:06:28.070 said to him, I said, I said, I admire you 0:06:28.070 --> 0:06:29.950 because you went to school. You went to. And he 0:06:29.950 --> 0:06:32.029 wrote me a letter that brought me to tears every 0:06:32.070 --> 0:06:34.270 time I read it. It reduces me to tears. And 0:06:34.270 --> 0:06:37.070 he just basically said, dad, you always telling me I'm 0:06:37.110 --> 0:06:39.870 such a wonderful father. He said, dad, the bottom line 0:06:39.870 --> 0:06:42.790 is the reason I'm a wonderful father and the reason 0:06:42.790 --> 0:06:44.950 I went to school with all of my children, because 0:06:44.950 --> 0:06:47.870 you came to school for us. The reason why I 0:06:47.910 --> 0:06:50.510 do what I do is because of the example that 0:06:50.510 --> 0:06:53.109 you set as a father, and then he would always 0:06:53.110 --> 0:06:56.790 put a caveat. He said he said dad. And and 0:06:56.790 --> 0:06:59.350 always both of them have said it to me and 0:06:59.350 --> 0:07:05.110 it always just I, I am asking God, make me 0:07:05.110 --> 0:07:11.310 as much man as my father. And I go back 0:07:11.310 --> 0:07:13.830 and I have to say, in the midst of everything, 0:07:13.830 --> 0:07:16.390 I give thanks. I hated the fact that I didn't 0:07:16.390 --> 0:07:19.270 have a father. I wanted a father so bad that 0:07:19.270 --> 0:07:21.790 every man that would show me attention, I would cling 0:07:21.830 --> 0:07:23.990 to him like he was my father. And they would say. 0:07:23.990 --> 0:07:25.270 Would you leave me alone? 0:07:28.630 --> 0:07:32.910 And now I realize that the lack of a father 0:07:33.470 --> 0:07:38.310 spurred me on to salvation and to be a good father. 0:07:38.670 --> 0:07:42.989 And now I see my children loving their children like 0:07:42.990 --> 0:07:44.030 I love them. 0:07:44.190 --> 0:07:44.710 Yeah. 0:07:45.590 --> 0:07:48.190 I don't know what you're going through. I don't know 0:07:48.190 --> 0:07:52.150 who this is for. I just came to tell you. 0:07:52.590 --> 0:07:55.790 All things work together for good to those who love 0:07:55.790 --> 0:07:59.030 the Lord and those who are the called according to it. 0:07:59.030 --> 0:08:01.830 Are you going through it right now. You don't think 0:08:01.830 --> 0:08:05.510 that God is with you, but God hasn't abandoned you. 0:08:05.550 --> 0:08:09.390 Because even when you don't walk faithful with him, he says, 0:08:09.390 --> 0:08:13.310 yet I remain faithful. I will never leave you nor 0:08:13.310 --> 0:08:17.270 forsake you. Lord, I'm with you always, even until the 0:08:17.270 --> 0:08:21.310 end of the age. Thank God, thank God, thank God. 0:08:24.950 --> 0:08:25.870 Thank God. 0:08:28.230 --> 0:08:29.030 Amen, Amen. 0:08:29.030 --> 0:08:31.310 For somebody who loves me with a. Never tell them 0:08:31.310 --> 0:08:35.590 I'm with you. I'm there with you I formed you. 0:08:35.630 --> 0:08:37.390 Now I know what you're thinking. Why does he use 0:08:37.390 --> 0:08:42.110 Jacob in Israel? It's very simple. Jacob is his old name. 0:08:42.110 --> 0:08:45.950 Israel is his new name. Jacob is his name. Under justification. 0:08:45.950 --> 0:08:48.470 He needs to be saved. Uh, but how many know? 0:08:48.470 --> 0:08:52.189 Just being saved, is not it? You gotta surrender. And 0:08:52.190 --> 0:08:56.030 so Israel is the name of surrender. So remember what happened? Uh, 0:08:56.070 --> 0:08:59.990 he wrestled with God all night, and and everybody thought. Hey, 0:08:59.990 --> 0:09:03.300 you walking with a limp? And he's saying, no, that's 0:09:03.300 --> 0:09:07.660 not my limp, that's my pimp. It's the battle that 0:09:07.660 --> 0:09:11.420 you want to lose. Yeah, it's the battle where he 0:09:11.420 --> 0:09:15.380 broke my stubborn will and I submitted to him. And 0:09:15.380 --> 0:09:18.620 so this just means the transition has been made. Now, 0:09:18.620 --> 0:09:21.700 I'm not perfect, but the transition has been made. I've 0:09:21.700 --> 0:09:27.020 moved from justification to sanctification. And so this pimp is 0:09:27.020 --> 0:09:30.579 a symbol of the fact I wrestle with God and lost. 0:09:30.620 --> 0:09:33.780 He broke my will like he broke my limb. And 0:09:33.780 --> 0:09:34.780 he gave me a. 0:09:34.820 --> 0:09:35.340 Limp. 0:09:35.660 --> 0:09:41.859 So that I would always remember that God is in control. 0:09:41.940 --> 0:09:43.460 Amen, amen, Amen. 0:09:45.100 --> 0:09:48.900 Uh, and so Jacob, that's my name in salvation. Israel, 0:09:48.900 --> 0:09:51.980 that's my name in sanctification. So, Jacob, I was free 0:09:51.980 --> 0:09:54.900 from the penalty of sin. Uh, so Israel, I was 0:09:54.900 --> 0:09:57.700 free from the power of sin. Uh, so, Jacob, that 0:09:57.700 --> 0:10:00.500 took me out of sin. Uh, Israel that takes sin 0:10:00.500 --> 0:10:03.380 out of me. Uh, Jacob, I'm free from the damnation 0:10:03.380 --> 0:10:06.179 of the devil. Uh, Israel. I'm free from the domination 0:10:06.179 --> 0:10:10.060 of the devil. Uh, Jacob. He opened the door of 0:10:10.059 --> 0:10:13.580 the sheep gate. Uh, Israel. Uh, I'm able to graze 0:10:13.580 --> 0:10:19.300 in green pastures, huh? Yeah. And then he says I 0:10:19.340 --> 0:10:25.300 redeemed you. I've redeemed you. Remember Harry Connick Jr. Anybody 0:10:25.300 --> 0:10:28.179 know him? Harry Connick Jr is the heir apparent to 0:10:28.179 --> 0:10:32.380 Frank Sinatra. And during Hurricane Katrina, he left his mansion 0:10:32.380 --> 0:10:36.380 in New York and went down to New Orleans. And 0:10:36.380 --> 0:10:38.740 when he got down there, he was being interviewed in 0:10:38.740 --> 0:10:42.780 a boat. And they said to him, they said, uh, listen, uh, 0:10:42.820 --> 0:10:44.620 we want to get this interview, blah, blah, blah, blah. 0:10:44.620 --> 0:10:46.579 All of a sudden he saw a movement on a 0:10:46.580 --> 0:10:48.540 porch that was like a third story porch, but the 0:10:48.540 --> 0:10:51.180 other two were underwater and the roof. And he said, 0:10:51.179 --> 0:10:53.380 there's movement over there. Take that boat over there. So 0:10:53.380 --> 0:10:55.340 they said, well, we want to finish the interview. He said, 0:10:55.340 --> 0:10:56.819 take the boat over there. So the boat he was 0:10:56.820 --> 0:10:58.579 in went over there and the boat with the camera 0:10:58.580 --> 0:11:00.660 just followed him. When he got over there, there was 0:11:00.660 --> 0:11:04.380 a man who was an elderly black man who was 0:11:04.780 --> 0:11:07.100 crippled and had been there. He said, how long have 0:11:07.100 --> 0:11:09.420 you been there? Three days. He said, I'm so weak, 0:11:09.420 --> 0:11:12.540 I can't even holler. When people go by. I just 0:11:12.540 --> 0:11:15.900 wave and hoping somebody would notice. And you notice everybody else. 0:11:15.900 --> 0:11:17.740 I've been here three days and I just said, I'm 0:11:17.740 --> 0:11:19.900 just going to die here. And so he was naked 0:11:19.900 --> 0:11:21.740 and they they put the things on the camera so 0:11:21.740 --> 0:11:24.900 you couldn't see anything personal. And so Harry Connick Jr 0:11:24.940 --> 0:11:28.300 pulled off his coat, wrapped it around that naked black man, 0:11:28.340 --> 0:11:31.219 lift that old man up and then put him in 0:11:31.220 --> 0:11:34.780 the boat, and then took him to his trailer house, 0:11:34.940 --> 0:11:38.180 and then clothed that man and fed that man and 0:11:38.179 --> 0:11:41.820 took care of that man. I said, that's redemption. That's 0:11:41.820 --> 0:11:45.540 what God did for you and I. Jesus left the 0:11:45.540 --> 0:11:49.180 mansion of heaven. It wasn't black white, it was deity 0:11:49.179 --> 0:11:52.540 and humanity. And he came down to the vestiges of 0:11:52.540 --> 0:11:55.939 a hurricane of sin. And he saw us dead in 0:11:55.940 --> 0:12:00.500 trespasses and sin, unable to help ourselves. So he clothed 0:12:00.500 --> 0:12:04.020 us in his righteousness. And then he lifted us up. 0:12:04.059 --> 0:12:07.260 Underneath are the everlasting arms. Then he took us into 0:12:07.260 --> 0:12:10.060 the ark of safety. And then he blessed us with 0:12:10.059 --> 0:12:14.220 all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. That's our Jesus. He 0:12:14.220 --> 0:12:16.540 ought to get praise and glory in the house of 0:12:16.540 --> 0:12:17.100 the Lord. 0:12:17.460 --> 0:12:18.020 Yeah. 0:12:20.100 --> 0:12:23.500 Yeah, that's what he did. He took us from devastation 0:12:23.500 --> 0:12:27.540 to restoration. He says you're mine. I created you, formed you, 0:12:27.540 --> 0:12:34.780 redeemed you and called you by my name. Call somebody 0:12:34.780 --> 0:12:38.020 by his name. Say Christian. Say you. Christian you. 0:12:42.220 --> 0:12:45.260 You're listening to Treasure Truth with pastor and author James 0:12:45.260 --> 0:12:47.540 Ford Jr. And we're going to get back to this 0:12:47.540 --> 0:12:50.220 message in just one moment. Well, if you're ever on 0:12:50.220 --> 0:12:52.820 the go and you want to hear treasure truth, but 0:12:52.820 --> 0:12:55.380 you're not near your radio, you can always listen with 0:12:55.380 --> 0:12:58.340 the Moody Radio mobile app. It's available for the iPhone, 0:12:58.380 --> 0:13:01.500 the iPad, or your Android phone or tablet. The best part? 0:13:01.540 --> 0:13:04.380 It's free. Not only can you listen to Treasured Truth 0:13:04.380 --> 0:13:06.620 on Demand, but there are also many other moody radio 0:13:06.620 --> 0:13:10.580 programs and streaming music stations available there. You can go 0:13:10.580 --> 0:13:13.660 to our website treasure. Truth. Org and click on the 0:13:13.660 --> 0:13:16.500 app button at the bottom of the homepage for more info. 0:13:16.700 --> 0:13:18.500 Or you can also go to your favorite app store 0:13:18.500 --> 0:13:21.699 and search for Moody Radio. You'll find it on iTunes, 0:13:21.700 --> 0:13:23.980 the Amazon App Store, and Google Play. Or again, if 0:13:23.980 --> 0:13:26.059 you just want to link to it, come to our website. 0:13:26.340 --> 0:13:30.540 It's Treasure Truth radio.org. Another way you can listen is 0:13:30.540 --> 0:13:33.059 to come to the website and listen online. You can 0:13:33.059 --> 0:13:36.340 stream programs through your computer or mobile device. You can 0:13:36.340 --> 0:13:40.819 also download mp3's or order copies of this broadcast on CD. 0:13:41.220 --> 0:13:42.860 You'll find all the info you need when you come 0:13:42.860 --> 0:13:47.060 to treasure Truth Radio. Let's get back to the message. 0:13:47.100 --> 0:13:50.260 Have no fear. God is here. Again, here's Pastor Ford. 0:13:51.059 --> 0:13:55.700 Secondly, preservation. Let me hasten. Let me hasten preservation. Verse two. 0:13:55.740 --> 0:13:59.700 He says, don't be scared. Why? Because of the preservation 0:13:59.740 --> 0:14:04.060 of God, the protection of God. Now notice, when thou 0:14:04.059 --> 0:14:06.060 pass through the waters, I will be with thee. And 0:14:06.059 --> 0:14:08.980 through the rivers they shall not overflow thee. When thou 0:14:09.020 --> 0:14:11.580 walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither 0:14:11.580 --> 0:14:14.460 shall the flame kindle upon thee. Notice, he says, when, 0:14:14.500 --> 0:14:18.260 not if. Notice he says, when? Not maybe. Notice. He 0:14:18.260 --> 0:14:22.340 says when. Listen. Verse one. Uh, people may think because 0:14:22.340 --> 0:14:26.020 of verse one that salvation is a trouble exempt card. Uh, 0:14:26.020 --> 0:14:29.660 you know, it's like some, some people think that. Listen, 0:14:29.660 --> 0:14:34.060 don't believe the hype you hear about the Christian walk 0:14:34.100 --> 0:14:38.500 is all all flowers and no bees and no work 0:14:38.500 --> 0:14:40.860 and all ease. That's a lie from the pit of hell. 0:14:40.900 --> 0:14:43.340 It smells like smoke. You say? How do you know that? 0:14:43.340 --> 0:14:46.740 Because John 1633 Jesus said, in the world you shall 0:14:46.740 --> 0:14:49.980 have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome 0:14:49.980 --> 0:14:52.980 the world. Because he said in James one two he says, 0:14:52.980 --> 0:14:56.300 my brethren, count all joy when you fall into divers temptation. 0:14:56.300 --> 0:15:00.250 Because Peter said in first Peter chapter one, verse seven, Beloved, 0:15:00.290 --> 0:15:04.250 don't think it's strange. The fiery trials that test you. 0:15:05.810 --> 0:15:06.450 Hallelujah! 0:15:06.450 --> 0:15:10.090 It's part and parcel of it. Listen, people kill me. 0:15:10.250 --> 0:15:12.410 But here's what I found. Even the song we sing. 0:15:12.770 --> 0:15:15.690 It's not right. Is it banned? Here's the song. They said. 0:15:15.690 --> 0:15:17.850 What's the song? What's the song? Pastor, here's the song. 0:15:18.330 --> 0:15:20.890 I looked at my hands and my hands looked new. 0:15:21.090 --> 0:15:23.610 And I looked at my feet. And they did too. 0:15:25.770 --> 0:15:31.690 No they didn't. My hands didn't change. I looked at 0:15:31.690 --> 0:15:34.450 my feet and they were the same old crusty, rusty, 0:15:34.490 --> 0:15:37.490 dusty feet that if I didn't put lotion on them. 0:15:39.330 --> 0:15:40.930 See some of you light skin, people can get away 0:15:40.930 --> 0:15:45.930 without wearing lotion. Us dark people, we got to wear lotion. 0:15:47.050 --> 0:15:47.650 It show. 0:15:47.650 --> 0:15:48.010 Up. 0:15:49.010 --> 0:15:50.490 My wife will tell me in a minute. Put it. 0:15:50.530 --> 0:15:55.210 Put a lotion on, baby. Put lotion on. You know 0:15:55.250 --> 0:15:58.690 that that that ash gray shows up real good, don't it? 0:15:58.690 --> 0:15:59.410 Go on. Going dark. 0:15:59.410 --> 0:15:59.970 Come on. 0:16:03.330 --> 0:16:06.650 Yeah. So. No no no no no no no no 0:16:06.650 --> 0:16:09.250 no no no no. Listen, if you were a poor 0:16:09.290 --> 0:16:11.890 cook before, you get saved, after you get saved, you're 0:16:11.890 --> 0:16:15.250 going to be a poor saved cook. If you had 0:16:15.250 --> 0:16:18.130 an empty bank account before you got saved, when you 0:16:18.130 --> 0:16:19.770 get saved, you're going to have to be a saved 0:16:19.770 --> 0:16:25.010 person with an empty bank account. Okay, Imma leave it alone. No. 0:16:25.050 --> 0:16:28.010 Same old hands. But they didn't do the stuff that 0:16:28.010 --> 0:16:30.850 they used to do. Same old feet. But they didn't 0:16:30.890 --> 0:16:33.850 take me to the places I. Same old mouth. But 0:16:33.850 --> 0:16:36.010 the stuff that came out of it. Then don't come 0:16:36.010 --> 0:16:38.610 out of it now. Same old body, but it don't 0:16:38.610 --> 0:16:40.890 sleep where it used to sleep. It don't do the 0:16:40.890 --> 0:16:43.050 things with the people. It used to do the things 0:16:43.050 --> 0:16:44.050 with the people it. 0:16:44.050 --> 0:16:44.730 Did with. 0:16:45.450 --> 0:16:46.290 Greece, man. 0:16:54.050 --> 0:16:56.250 Let me go ahead and and tell you this and 0:16:56.250 --> 0:16:58.730 just pick it up where we leave off. But listen, 0:16:59.370 --> 0:17:02.490 I Listen to Moody all the time. And they had 0:17:02.490 --> 0:17:07.490 soldiers coming back from Desert Storm. And the testimony was this, uh, 0:17:07.490 --> 0:17:11.810 the first in battle? Who's the first in battle? Marines. Hurrah. 0:17:12.210 --> 0:17:12.730 Hurrah! 0:17:13.530 --> 0:17:17.929 Semper fi till we die. Amen. Marines. And so these Marines, 0:17:17.930 --> 0:17:21.330 they're going to go in first. And so, uh, the 0:17:21.369 --> 0:17:23.890 believers get together and pray, Lord, this is not just 0:17:23.890 --> 0:17:27.730 about America. This is about your glory. These individuals believe 0:17:27.730 --> 0:17:30.770 in Muhammad and all this. And we believe in Jesus. 0:17:30.770 --> 0:17:34.210 We believe we're fighting for a just cause. And, uh, 0:17:34.250 --> 0:17:38.930 please give us bright sunshine on the day of the attack. Well, 0:17:38.930 --> 0:17:40.570 the day of the attack, it had to be cancelled 0:17:40.570 --> 0:17:43.210 because it rained cats and dogs, and it rained for 0:17:43.210 --> 0:17:46.570 three days. And these believers got together each day, and 0:17:46.570 --> 0:17:49.409 they were praying and they were saying, wait a minute. 0:17:49.410 --> 0:17:52.050 What's going on? God, we're asking you. We're doing this 0:17:52.050 --> 0:17:55.490 for your glory. And one astute believer said, well, let's 0:17:55.530 --> 0:17:57.889 wait and see what happens, because maybe he's answering our 0:17:57.890 --> 0:18:00.050 prayer and we don't know it. No, we prayed that 0:18:00.050 --> 0:18:02.810 it wouldn't rain. And it's raining cats and dogs. What? 0:18:02.810 --> 0:18:05.570 A third day it stopped raining. And here was his testimony. 0:18:05.570 --> 0:18:07.970 I wrote it down. I said, oh, that'll preach anywhere. 0:18:08.250 --> 0:18:12.690 He said. That day it stopped raining. We came to 0:18:12.730 --> 0:18:16.490 the field, we looked across that desert and the sunlight 0:18:16.490 --> 0:18:21.410 was hitting these hundreds of thousands of objects, and gleam 0:18:21.410 --> 0:18:24.290 was coming off of them. And we realized they had 0:18:24.290 --> 0:18:27.690 mined the whole desert, that a lot of us would 0:18:27.730 --> 0:18:32.490 have lost our lives had we not had the rain. 0:18:32.650 --> 0:18:35.770 Yeah. Good stuff. That'll. 0:18:39.050 --> 0:18:41.209 Tell your tell, tell, tell your neighbor there's purpose in 0:18:41.210 --> 0:18:44.610 your problems. Come on. Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. Tell them 0:18:44.609 --> 0:18:49.129 there's significance in your suffering. Yeah yeah yeah yeah. You 0:18:49.130 --> 0:18:51.730 remember what happened with Joseph in the pit? He was 0:18:51.730 --> 0:18:55.330 forsaken by his family. He was abused in Potiphar's. He 0:18:55.330 --> 0:18:59.210 was falsely accused by his foes. He had accusations in 0:18:59.210 --> 0:19:02.530 the prison. He was forgotten by a friend. He was abandoned. 0:19:02.570 --> 0:19:05.609 I'd like to say it this way. He succeeded on 0:19:05.609 --> 0:19:06.250 his back. 0:19:06.490 --> 0:19:06.970 Yeah. 0:19:07.690 --> 0:19:15.730 That his problems were platforms to take him to the palace. Hmm. 0:19:16.450 --> 0:19:19.730 And so what did he name his children? Manasseh and Ephraim. 0:19:19.730 --> 0:19:23.530 Manasseh means forgetting. You know what he's saying? He's saying, uh, yeah. 0:19:23.530 --> 0:19:27.610 I went through hell, but it don't affect me because 0:19:27.609 --> 0:19:29.810 of where God brought me. Because if I hadn't have 0:19:29.810 --> 0:19:31.170 gone to the pit, there never would have been a 0:19:31.170 --> 0:19:32.570 part of her. And if I had gone to Potiphar, 0:19:32.570 --> 0:19:34.210 there had never been a prison. But if I'd never 0:19:34.210 --> 0:19:36.129 gone to the prison, there'd never be a palace. Do 0:19:36.130 --> 0:19:39.290 you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth? 0:19:40.010 --> 0:19:41.369 I know you're tired. I ain't even going to get 0:19:41.369 --> 0:19:42.930 to the third one. I'm just going to go ahead. 0:19:42.930 --> 0:19:46.010 So when you understand it, well, what happens, pastor Ford? 0:19:46.010 --> 0:19:48.689 What was the other one twice blessed. How was he? 0:19:48.690 --> 0:19:52.450 Twice blessed because he saved all his people. And then 0:19:52.609 --> 0:19:55.290 he got blessed to become a prince of Egypt. 0:19:55.450 --> 0:19:55.930 Yes. 0:19:56.730 --> 0:19:58.930 So if you know that, what will happen? What will happen, 0:19:58.930 --> 0:20:02.170 pastor Ford, when you understand that this significance in your suffering, 0:20:02.170 --> 0:20:06.490 it will turn fear into faith. It'll turn sighing into singing. 0:20:06.490 --> 0:20:10.649 It'll turn pouting into praising. It'll turn doubting into dancing. 0:20:10.650 --> 0:20:16.530 It'll turn worrying into worship. It'll turn trying into trusting. 0:20:16.810 --> 0:20:23.130 You will know what God is doing. Hmm. Hmm. Here 0:20:23.130 --> 0:20:27.170 it is. God says I protected you. Now think about this. 0:20:27.410 --> 0:20:34.170 Who has been the most despised nation in history? The Jews. Israel. 0:20:34.210 --> 0:20:37.410 You know what they did in 1948 became a nation. 0:20:37.450 --> 0:20:40.370 You know what they did in 1963 had a six 0:20:40.410 --> 0:20:44.600 day war where they were outnumbered as high as 30 0:20:44.600 --> 0:20:49.609 to 40 to one, and whipped three different armies in 0:20:49.609 --> 0:20:56.130 three different directions in six days because God protects them. 0:20:56.490 --> 0:21:00.199 America is a unique entity in the history of the world. 0:21:00.200 --> 0:21:04.640 Read history. No nation ever rose to prominence as quickly 0:21:04.640 --> 0:21:07.879 as America, even though it was on the backs of slaves. 0:21:08.440 --> 0:21:13.000 No country has lasted in power as long as America, 0:21:13.000 --> 0:21:17.640 even though it's diminishing now. You want to know why? 0:21:17.800 --> 0:21:23.560 One of the reasons is Israel was always protected by America. 0:21:24.840 --> 0:21:30.520 That's why God said, I'm gonna protect my people. Now, 0:21:30.520 --> 0:21:32.760 I know what you're thinking, but let me ask you 0:21:32.760 --> 0:21:43.520 some questions. Seeing any Philistines lately, how about Jebusites, Moabites, ammonites, Canaanites, 0:21:43.840 --> 0:21:53.160 mosquito bites, termites. We've seen the Shi'ites. You get my point. 0:21:53.200 --> 0:21:59.520 God protected them. God sustained them. God did what only 0:21:59.560 --> 0:22:01.480 God could do for them. 0:22:02.960 --> 0:22:06.040 You're listening to Treasure Truth with Pastor Ford. A message 0:22:06.040 --> 0:22:09.240 called have no fear. God is here. And I hope 0:22:09.240 --> 0:22:11.840 that as you've been listening to this broadcast today, you've 0:22:11.840 --> 0:22:15.679 been encouraged just being reminded of that truth. Well, Pastor 0:22:15.680 --> 0:22:18.600 Ford is still hanging out in the studio with me here. And, pastor, 0:22:18.840 --> 0:22:21.960 one of the things that I know across the board 0:22:21.960 --> 0:22:24.440 at Moody Radio, we try and do and specifically on 0:22:24.440 --> 0:22:29.080 this program with our Ask Pastor Ford programs, is answer 0:22:29.080 --> 0:22:31.719 listener questions about how the Bible applies to their lives. 0:22:31.720 --> 0:22:34.280 Amen. And, you know, it's really interesting that the word 0:22:34.280 --> 0:22:39.200 application literally means to fold together. And so what do 0:22:39.200 --> 0:22:41.639 you do? You take a piece of paper and fold 0:22:41.640 --> 0:22:46.119 it together. And the two ends represent two things. One 0:22:46.119 --> 0:22:49.399 end represents the word of God and the other end 0:22:49.440 --> 0:22:52.960 represents the lives of people. So application is when you 0:22:52.960 --> 0:22:57.480 bring the Word of God and the lives of people together, 0:22:57.480 --> 0:23:02.040 because it's God's Word that gives us the power to 0:23:02.040 --> 0:23:05.600 be able to live the Christian life and listen. Life 0:23:05.600 --> 0:23:09.679 is complicated, but I love what the venerable scholar Doctor 0:23:09.720 --> 0:23:13.400 Warren Wiersbe said. He's with the Lord now. But he said, 0:23:13.400 --> 0:23:16.480 when I open the Bible, God opens his mouth. And 0:23:16.480 --> 0:23:19.320 when I close the Bible, God closes mouth. And I 0:23:19.320 --> 0:23:21.760 need to let you know if you're listening today, uh, 0:23:21.760 --> 0:23:24.360 the reason you listen to Moody Radio and to treasure 0:23:24.359 --> 0:23:29.280 truth is because God never opens his secrets to a 0:23:29.280 --> 0:23:31.040 Christian with a closed Bible. 0:23:31.440 --> 0:23:35.000 Well, you can help open those secrets, open those Bibles 0:23:35.000 --> 0:23:37.359 to those who tune in to this radio program as 0:23:37.359 --> 0:23:41.000 you give. Give your gift online at Treasure Truth radio.org. 0:23:41.040 --> 0:23:43.240 Thanks for doing that. And thanks to our producers, Ryan 0:23:43.240 --> 0:23:46.160 and Amy for Pastor Ford, I'm Steve Ehler treasure truth 0:23:46.160 --> 0:23:49.159 is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody 0:23:49.160 --> 0:23:50.160 Bible Institute.