Full transcript
0:00To pay attention to your word , Lord , my
0:02beloved and dear Father . To take off
0:04the sandals from our feet , for the
0:06place where we stand is holy . Lord , my
0:08beloved and dear Father , God , I ask you
0:10, Lord , use your son with power , with
0:13grace , with authority . Holy and mighty
0:15God . May it be nothing of himself , but
0:18only Your Holy Spirit speaking to us ,
0:20Father . And I ask you , break , Lord , our
0:23hearts , Father . Cast down everything
0:26that does not come from you , Lord .
0:27Everything that might steal our
0:29attention from your word , Father . May
0:31we have ears attentive to the voice of
0:34Your Spirit , for it is He who speaks
0:36from this place , oh God . And may we ,
0:39Lord , treasure your word in our hearts
0:42so that , in no way , we may sin against
0:44you , oh God . That is what I ask and
0:47thank you for in the name of the Lord
0:49Jesus . Amen . And thanks be to God . I
0:58greet the brothers with the peace of
1:00the Lord Jesus . Amen .
1:02Thanks be to God . Thank you . Brothers
1:05who have your Bibles , let us open them
1:07to Psalm 42 . Psalm 42 . We will be
1:25reading the first verse , then verse 5 ,
1:346 and 7 . Psalm 42 which says : " As the
1:48deer pants for the water brooks , so
1:52pants my soul for you , O God . " Verse 5 .
2:02Why are you cast down , O my soul ? And
2:06why are you disquieted within me ? Hope
2:10in God , for I shall yet praise Him . He
2:15is my help and my God . My soul is cast
2:21down within me . Therefore I will
2:25remember you from the land of the
2:27Jordan , and from the heights of Hermon ,
2:30and from the Hill Mizar . Deep calls
2:34unto deep at the noise of your
2:37waterfalls . All your waves and billows
2:40have gone over me . Up to this point ,
2:44brothers , you may take your seats . My
2:58brothers , this psalm is a psalm that
3:04speaks deeply to us , because each one
3:15of us needs , at every moment , at every
3:21phase of our journey here on earth , the
3:24presence of this Almighty God . And it
3:28is not because God is our God and we
3:34declare our devotion and faithfulness
3:38to Him , that this exempts us from
3:41facing problems and wars along our
3:47journey . Psalm 42 was composed by one
3:53of the sons of Korah , where this
3:58psalmist was probably far from his
4:01homeland , far from the temple , deprived
4:07of doing the things he was accustomed
4:10to doing in the presence of the Lord .
4:15He was facing internal problems ,
4:18external problems , atrocious
4:21difficulties , but he shows his trust in
4:25the God of provision , the Almighty God .
4:31And in this text , we observe that any
4:36one of us , regardless of your level of
4:40spirituality or the closeness you may
4:44have with the Almighty God , sooner or
4:48later you will go through circumstances
4:52, difficulties , problems , loneliness ,
4:55trials . Sometimes many even face
5:01depression , but our Almighty God , He
5:06has the solution to all our problems .
5:11The psalmist says here , drawing an
5:13analogy with the deer , he says : " As the
5:16deer pants for the water brooks , so
5:19pants my soul for You , O God . " He was
5:24longing for the waters . Which the deer
5:29actually longs for literally , because
5:34to escape predators , the deer needs to
5:39bathe so that its scent is dispersed
5:43and the predator loses its trail .
5:49Within this analogy , the psalmist says
5:54that so are we in the presence of the
5:59Lord . Every time we bathe in the water
6:04of the Lord's word , we are cleansed and
6:07purified . We are strengthened by this
6:13Almighty God , through the water of the
6:16Word . And thus the adversary cannot
6:21accuse us or even reach us . So , my
6:27beloved , I see the importance , the
6:30importance of us always keeping our
6:33trust in the Almighty God , our faith
6:36well-grounded in the Almighty God .
6:42Because if you anchor your faith in a
6:45specific religion or place your trust
6:47in a specific person who is not the
6:50Lord Jesus , you will certainly
6:52shipwreck in the turbulent waves of
6:55life . We all face problems . The
7:00disciples faced them even with Jesus in
7:02the boat . The waves tossed the vessel
7:05from one side to the other , even with
7:08Jesus inside . But when Jesus is inside
7:11the boat , nothing can happen to you .
7:15Your faith is strengthened , your faith
7:17becomes more robust . You gain more
7:21experience and more confidence in the
7:24God who called you in a powerful way to
7:27serve Him . And we understand that all
7:31this contributes so that the grace of
7:34God may be manifested in our lives to
7:36the point of us becoming more seasoned
7:39and strengthened on the battlefield . So
7:44here , my beloved brothers , I observe
7:47that problems can happen to anyone .
7:51Amen ? People who are right with God ,
7:56very deep in the word , but it can
7:59happen to any individual . In Psalm 40 ,
8:05it is a psalm of David . He said : " I
8:08waited patiently for the Lord , and He
8:10inclined to me and heard my cry . When I
8:15cried for help , He brought me up out of
8:18a horrible pit , out of the miry clay . "
8:22He set my feet upon a rock and made my
8:25footsteps firm , and he put a new song
8:28in my mouth , a hymn of praise to our
8:31God . Many will see these things , they
8:34will fear and trust in the Lord . So ,
8:39the secret , the secret in moments of
8:41hardship and difficulty is to trust .
8:45Amen . It is to trust and remain .
8:49Because just because things at times
8:51are not working out in your favor , it
8:53does not mean that God is not hearing
8:56you . It does not mean that God is not
8:58answering you . It does not mean that He
9:01is not watching and analyzing
9:02everything you are going through . So we
9:05must trust in this almighty God ,
9:06because in the middle of the process ,
9:08God will bring you out of the desert .
9:11Amen . There is a time for everything in
9:14life . There is a time for us to pass
9:16through the deserts of life . Just like
9:19Moses , fleeing from Pharaoh , he crossed
9:22the desert and arrived at the region
9:25that would later become his
9:27father-in-law's home . And there for 40
9:32years , he stayed shepherding sheep ,
9:34until the Lord called him for a
9:36magnificent and powerful work , but He
9:39had to work on Moses ' life and turned
9:41Moses into the meekest man on earth . I
9:45want the brothers to understand that
9:48the processes that God allows us to
9:50face throughout our lives serve for
9:53your own maturity , for your own growth ,
9:55for your own spiritual foundation .
10:00Because being a believer , when
10:02everything is flowing wonderfully in
10:04our favor , is very easy . But I believe
10:08that the almighty God , when we place
10:11ourselves before the almighty God , this
10:14awesome God , He reveals Himself just as
10:16He revealed Himself to Moses , when He
10:19said to him one day : " Moses , take your
10:21sandals off your feet , for the ground
10:24you are treading on is holy ground . "
10:27Moses .
10:30And at that moment , the invisible God ,
10:32God spirit , almighty God reveals
10:35Himself to him , the immortal God , the
10:37God who became man to communicate with
10:40us . And yes , thank God , because if God
10:44had not done so , we would never know
10:46Him or know who He is . So , there the
10:51almighty God talking to Moses , He said :
10:53" Who is talking to you ? " Moses . It is
10:57the I AM
10:59He is the one who has all power .
11:02But Lord , what if Pharaoh asks me , is
11:04this really your name ? My name to you
11:07is : I am the God of Isaac , I am the God
11:10of Abraham . I am the God of Jacob . But
11:13for that man there in Egypt , I am , I am
11:16. The I AM has sent you . He will ask
11:18you who sent you here . Tell him : " The
11:21one who sent you here is the Creator of
11:23the heavens and the earth , the
11:25sustainer of the entire universe , the
11:27creator of all things . He who commands
11:30the great leaders , He commands
11:31everything . He is known as King of
11:34Kings and Lord of Lords . It is He who
11:36sent you here . And it is this God who
11:40sent me here tonight to tell your heart
11:43that many times we will go through
11:45struggles and hardships , dark moments ,
11:48where our soul screams and cries .
11:52Sometimes you might leave a wonderful
11:54service where your soul left trembling
11:56at the presence of God . And then , once
12:00you step out the door , reality becomes
12:03even more real : continuing to face your
12:13fears , your doubts , your uncertainties ,
12:17while believing that God's word is
12:20faithful , knowing that our God never
12:23abandons us , knowing that this almighty
12:27God helps us in our most difficult
12:30moments .
12:32Amen . In Psalm 43 , there is a great
12:35harmony between them here . Psalm 43
12:38says : " Vindicate me , O God , and plead
12:41my cause against an ungodly nation .
12:45Rescue me from the deceitful and wicked
12:47man , for You are the God of my strength
12:50. Why do You reject me ? " It is
12:53interesting because Psalms 42 and 43
12:56are very similar . So , my beloved
12:59brothers , it is normal that many times
13:02we question the Almighty God . Wait a
13:05minute , what is happening ? It seems
13:07that the unjust prosper . It seems that
13:11the things spoken against me are
13:13becoming more consolidated and Your
13:16defense never comes in my favor . It
13:20seems that things have conspired
13:23against my faith and I have not seen
13:26Your hands working effectively in my
13:30life . Look , look at Psalm 42 , verse 7 ,
13:32which I made a point to read . It says : "
13:35Deep calls unto deep . All Your
13:38waterfalls , all Your waves and billows
13:40have gone over me . " What he is saying
13:43is that one struggle is coming upon
13:45another , one wave upon another . It’s
13:48as if he were trying to get out of the
13:50breaking surf , you understand ? But when
13:52he tries to get out of one problem ,
13:54another problem comes . And when he gets
13:56out of that problem , another problem
13:58comes . And when he tries to get out of
14:00one wave , another wave comes and
14:02crashes over him , and he goes back to
14:04square one again . It seems like things
14:06are not flowing in his favor . It seems
14:08like everything is conspiring against
14:10him . And the psalmist here in 43 , he
14:14says : " How long ? How long do You reject
14:18me ? " Why do you reject me ? Because I go
14:21about mourning because of the
14:23oppression of my enemies . Look , he was
14:26serving God with sincerity , with
14:28integrity . He wasn't perfect , but he
14:30had a clear conscience . He was serving
14:33God with devotion , but it seemed his
14:36enemies were prevailing . There was
14:39pressure , there was oppression , there
14:41was a struggle , there were the
14:42tormentors of the conscience there ,
14:44saying : " Look , you are a sinner , you
14:46are a wretch , you have no dignity , you
14:48cannot pray , you are not that perfect .
14:51" And at the same time the Holy Spirit
14:53saying , say : " I can do all things
14:54through Him who strengthens me . " He who
14:57is weak , he rises because God sustains
15:00him with His hands . So , my beloved
15:03brothers , we are serving a God who
15:06knows us perfectly . The God who called
15:09you is the God who will also be your
15:11sustainer until you reach your final
15:13land . You have to trust in this . There
15:17are people living on a tightrope ,
15:20walking on narrow footbridges , right ?
15:23Walking along a path full of thorns . It
15:25is not easy . But you have to understand
15:27that the God who called you is the God
15:29who will also guide and sustain you .
15:32Even when you don't see Him , even if
15:35you don't feel Him , even when you pass
15:38over a narrow , swaying bridge , know
15:41that the hands of God and the wind that
15:44shakes that bridge will not be powerful
15:47enough to take you to the bottom of
15:49that abyss . It is God who guards us .
15:54Amen . So , discouragement , difficulty ,
15:59problems can happen in anyone's life .
16:04Amen ?
16:05In anyone's life , in the life of any
16:08person . We are all susceptible to
16:12facing this type of problem . David , a
16:16man after God's own heart , also faced
16:19enemies , hardships , contrary winds , but
16:22the secret is to remain . Speak with me ,
16:26please . Remain .
16:28Do not give up . Amen . Do not give up ,
16:32but have faith and courage , because
16:35this Almighty God , He is with us
16:37tonight .
16:41I see in the second point of our
16:43observation , in the text in focus , I
16:45observe that he finds his solution in
16:48God . The solution is not in psychiatric
16:55or psychological care . Not that this is
17:00not important . The solution is not in
17:04politics or any other device , but our
17:07solution is in God .
17:10Who understands me here tonight ?
17:12Amen .
17:14Our solution is in God . How many times
17:19have I heard people say : " Look , I went
17:21to preach and I didn't even think I was
17:23in a condition to preach because I was
17:26so fragmented by problems . " I said : " Oh
17:29, Lord , I don't even have anything to
17:30say . " And when they step up to the
17:32pulpit , God takes over the preacher's
17:33mouth , they start to preach , and they
17:35leave there better than they entered .
17:37Only God can do something like that .
17:40It's just God , right ? Sometimes we are
17:43almost dragged by the Spirit of God . to
17:47be at church . Am I the only one who has
17:49ever gone through this ? Isn't it ? We
17:53are almost dragged , right ? Because of
17:57problems , because of so many problems
18:00that we face . Spiritual warfare is no
18:03joke , but the Holy Spirit , He fights
18:05tirelessly on our behalf . Like that
18:09song , right ? The one about walking on
18:11the sand . When the individual observed ,
18:14" Oh Lord , you promised me you were
18:16walking , walking with me the whole time
18:18, but notice that your footprints are
18:20no longer with me . " It's when you
18:22realized that your — my footprints were
18:24not with you , that's when you couldn't
18:26bear to walk anymore and I carried you
18:28in my arms .
18:30When you don't realize that God is with
18:32you , sometimes He is holding you ,
18:35He is carrying you in His arms and you
18:37aren't even noticing . It's like the
18:41disciples on the road to Emmaus , they
18:43only realized it because their hearts
18:45burned , because the word being spoken
18:47was the Word made flesh himself ,
18:49speaking to them after the resurrection
18:51. We realized it , because our hearts
18:54burned when He spoke and opened the
18:56scriptures before us . So , my beloved
18:59brothers , the almighty God , He
19:00manifests Himself and He is manifesting
19:02Himself here tonight to tell your heart
19:04that He has not given up on you .
19:07Amen .
19:08Glory to God . And here the psalmist , he
19:11says something very interesting . He
19:16says it wasn't the first time he was
19:19facing a problem . Amen . It wasn't the
19:23first time . He tells his experience
19:26very well here . Very interesting ,
19:29because the psalmist , he said , why are
19:31you downcast , my soul ? Here he begins
19:35to have a dialogue , a monologue with
19:36himself . I was talking to a guy the
19:39other day over in Furtado de Campos . He
19:42said : " Pastor , no , it seems like I'm
19:44getting a little crazy , but don't mind
19:46that , because I have a habit of talking
19:48to myself . " I said : " There's no problem
19:51with that at all , because I've been
19:52studying and I like to study this field
19:54, and in psychology and psychiatry ,
19:56they say it's normal for a person to
19:57talk to themselves , to communicate
19:59alone , you're communicating with
20:00yourself . There is no problem at all ,
20:02go ahead and talk . " Here the psalmist
20:04is saying the following : " Why are you
20:07downcast , my soul ? He is talking to his
20:09own soul . Why are you downcast ? Do you
20:11not know the God you serve ? Have you
20:15not already contemplated the miracles
20:17and deliverances that God has given us
20:19throughout this dark phase you have
20:21already passed through ? So he says here
20:24: " Why are you downcast , my soul ? Why
20:27are you disturbed within me ? Put your
20:30hope in God , for I will yet praise him ,
20:32my Savior and my God . " Amen . So , my
20:38beloved , this almighty God wants to
20:40tell your heart tonight , look , it won't
20:43be the first time , nor the second time ,
20:46as long as we are here in this life , we
20:48will go through problems . A word , what
20:53word , what word is this that doesn't
20:56encourage us , doesn't bring much cheer ?
20:59I cannot lie to you . Jesus did not lie .
21:02He said : " In this world you will have
21:04trouble , but take heart . " Amen .
21:07Problems serve to strengthen you , as
21:09you have always heard me say here . Amen
21:13. Difficulties , struggles , problems .
21:16God will not spare any of us . He did
21:20not spare his own Son , he will not
21:21spare us . Because if he spares us , he
21:25is hindering our growth . We are a
21:29vessel in the hand of the potter . If
21:31it's not good , he breaks it , makes it
21:33again , takes it to the shop , and puts
21:34it in the fire . And you will be in
21:37accordance with what God designed for
21:40you to be in his presence .
21:43Amen . Don't give up . Amen . There are
21:47many people giving up , there are many
21:49people getting discouraged , discouraged
21:51from the faith . I want you to
21:53understand that more important than the
21:55blessings of God is the blesser .
21:58Do not idolize the blessings of God ,
22:00but idolize the blesser . Seek the
22:03blesser because he has more value .
22:07Because the blessings , the blessings
22:09that echo for this life are all
22:11transitory , but what God promised us
22:14echoes for eternity .
22:17Amen . So , may we , in the name of the
22:20Lord Jesus , strengthen ourselves in
22:22faith and trust more in God . The
22:25struggle will come , yes , the problem
22:27will happen , surely there will be
22:30moments when no one will call you .
22:32There will be moments when there will
22:34be many people , many people by your
22:35side . There will be moments when many
22:37people will applaud you . And often ,
22:40those who applauded you before will
22:42point the finger at you . Why , pastor ,
22:45does God allow this ? To sometimes
22:48deflate you . Amen , everyone . Sometimes
22:53we get very inflated , our ego becomes
22:55gigantic , and God uses a small needle
22:58to deflate it and bring you to the
23:00field of humility , the field of
23:01simplicity , the field where God
23:03operates in an individual's life to
23:05transform them into the image of His
23:07Son .
23:10Jesus said : " Learn from me , for I am
23:12gentle and humble in heart . "
23:14Amen .
23:15Amen . In Psalm 121 , Psalm 121 , he said ,
23:22the psalmist , he said , I lift up my
23:25eyes to the hills , from where does my
23:27help come . Amen .
23:31Where do you have to lift your eyes to ?
23:35To the mountain , to heaven , to the
23:38Almighty God .
23:39Amen . Ecclesiastes chapter 5 , the Bible
23:43says , when you speak to the Lord , use
23:48few words , speak little , because it is
23:51not in the much speaking , because you
23:54are on earth , but God is in heaven .
23:59Who understands me here tonight ?
24:01Amen .
24:02Where is God ? In heaven .
24:06Glory to God . This wonderful God , He
24:11wants to do a new thing in your life
24:14today .
24:16Who believes this , say : " Glory to God ! "
24:18Glory to God .
24:20He wants to do a new thing , because
24:22when God works , who can stop it ? Amen ?
24:27The Bible says here , my help comes from
24:30the Lord , who made heaven and earth .
24:32Hallelujah !
24:34He will not let your foot slip , He who
24:36keeps you will not slumber . Brothers ,
24:39as long as you think you can , the
24:41miracle does not happen . As long as you
24:43think you have strength , the true
24:45strength does not come in your favor .
24:51When Esther , when Mordecai were facing
24:54a huge problem , they called upon the
24:57Almighty God , they consecrated
24:59themselves to the Lord , they fasted for
25:02three days , and God moved things , He
25:05saved an entire nation .
25:10Amen . Do not stop . Continue .
25:13Talk to me . Do not stop .
25:15Do not stop .
25:16Continue .
25:17Continue .
25:18Nehemiah , come down from there because
25:21we want to talk to you . Sanballat .
25:24Tobiah is here too . We want to discuss
25:27this work . We we do not agree . And he
25:31was up there working on the
25:33construction of the wall . And Nehemiah
25:36looked , and said : " Who ? What ? Tell them
25:39I am a working man . I am doing a great
25:42work and I cannot stop . God .
25:45Amen . There are people stopping on the
25:47journey . Ah , pastor , there are people
25:49speaking ill of me , criticizing me .
25:52Brothers , as the saying goes , while the
25:54parade passes by , the dogs keep barking
25:56.
25:58A dog only howls when the moon is full .
26:02No one throws stones at a tree that
26:03bears no fruit .
26:05Don't worry . The more they talk about
26:08you , the more you grow .
26:11An omelet only turns out well after
26:12being beaten enough .
26:15God's way of defending you isn't by
26:17killing your adversary , it's by
26:19blessing you .
26:22Because David said : " You prepare a
26:24table before my enemies so they know
26:26the Lord is with us . " Amen . The more
26:29you are persecuted , the more you grow .
26:32The more they talk , the more God
26:34blesses .
26:35Amen .
26:36So , my beloved brothers , thank God for
26:38the enemies ,
26:39because they are used by God's hand so
26:41that His name may be glorified . Because
26:44God catches the wise in their own
26:45craftiness , He catches the adversary in
26:47their own trap and defends His children
26:49at the moment He chooses to do so . If
26:53there are no real men to take a
26:55spiritual stand , God raises up women .
26:57Are there women here ?
27:00There really are , aren't there ? The "
27:02glory to God " here is strong .
27:05There are situations where men cower
27:07before struggles , before oppression ,
27:09before trials , before threats . There
27:13are men who cower . If you , wife , are
27:16more spiritual than your husband , take
27:18the lead spiritually . Not taking the
27:20lead in an ungracious way , but
27:23spiritually , positioning yourself as a
27:25more mature person before Almighty God ,
27:28because certainly , at the right time ,
27:31he will develop . But the Bible says
27:35that in the time of Jabin , when Jabin
27:38oppressed the people for 7 years ,
27:40oppressed God's people , Barak did not
27:43have enough courage to face Jabin's
27:46great army , which in turn was a very
27:48imposing , very strong army . In Jabin's
27:53time , there were 900 iron chariots of
27:55war . Only Solomon surpassed this number
28:00with 100 [ more ] iron chariots of war .
28:04But Jabin oppressed . Jabin put
28:07oppression , fear , and terror into the
28:09hearts of the people . Amen . And what
28:13did the people live like ? Oppressed in
28:14the mountains . The people lived
28:16oppressed . They were afraid to walk
28:18through the valleys . Everything they
28:21planted , the oppressors would snatch
28:23away , wouldn't they ? But the Bible says
28:28that a woman named Deborah , who lived
28:30under the palm trees , took a spiritual
28:33stand , and there she took her position
28:35and put all the people at the front of
28:38the battle . And God gave the victory
28:41through the hands of a woman .
28:44Who understands me here tonight ? Oh ,
28:46glory to God .
28:47Even a General Sisera , God placed him
28:50in the hands of Jael , a woman who took
28:53a tent peg and drove it into his head .
28:58Brother , there are courageous women ,
28:59there are right here .
29:00Glory to God .
29:02There are courageous women who aren't
29:03afraid of human generals , but they fear
29:05the General of the armies , because He
29:06has all the power .
29:08Amen . But I believe tonight is a night
29:11for us to take a stand and fight
29:13against our true enemy .
29:16Amen . Our true enemy is not the one
29:19sitting beside you , nor the neighbor
29:21who oppresses you , nor the one working
29:24with you at your job . Our true enemy is
29:27invisible , and he uses people's bodies
29:30and minds to hinder your journey . We
29:34must be spiritual and behold the God of
29:36our provision , because He has
29:38deliverance for those who trust in His
29:40word .
29:46Who keeps you ?
29:48Let's go . What does the Bible say ? The
29:51Lord is the one who keeps you . The Lord
29:54is your shade at your right hand . Oh ,
29:57glory !
29:59Do you bless it ? Because He is spirit .
30:01He is by my side , but I don't see Him .
30:03But He is here , He is with us . The
30:06Bible says the angel of the Lord
30:07encamps around those who fear Him . Of
30:09course , this word doesn't apply to
30:11everyone here . I don't know , maybe it
30:14does , but I don't know the spiritual
30:16life of all of you . For those who fear
30:19the Lord , God walks with them . Those
30:20who do not fear the Lord , do not have
30:21it . It's as simple as that . But the
30:25Bible says , the Bible says , the Lord is
30:27your shade at your right hand . By day ,
30:30the sun will not strike you .
30:34Talk to me . By day ,
30:36By day ,
30:36the sun will not strike you .
30:38The sun will not strike you .
30:39What application does this have when we
30:42speak of sun , heat , psychological
30:44pressure , battle , many overwhelming
30:46things on our minds , you know ? Thinking
30:49of a thousand things at once . That
30:51pressure , that feeling , you know ? The
30:54sun , too much sun brings vertigo .
30:59People crossing desert areas seeing
31:01things that don't exist . Amen . When you
31:07cross , go through phases like this , God
31:09is saying : " By day the sun will not
31:12strike you , nor the moon by night . " In
31:16other words , you will not be caught by
31:19the darkness of the night , but God will
31:22light the path you are to walk .
31:26Amen . He will be your north star . Amen .
31:32He will be the true star that will
31:34guide us along the path we need . The
31:37Lord will keep you from all evil ; He
31:39will keep your soul . The Lord will
31:43watch over your coming and your going .
31:46From now and forevermore . Amen .
31:49Amen , everyone .
31:50Amen .
31:52Give up .
31:55Never give up . Amen , everyone .
31:59Trust . With money in your pocket ,
32:02without money in your pocket , in
32:03sickness or in health , in struggle or
32:05out of struggle , with money or without
32:07money . And often , most of the time , the
32:10moment of comfort is more dangerous
32:11than the moment of trial . Because the
32:17moment of trial often has the power and
32:20the functionality to draw us into His
32:23presence , while too much comfort leads
32:26us to drift away and slack off
32:29spiritually . Notice that when
32:34everything was organized for David , his
32:36armies — there was the best active army
32:39in the world : Benaiah , Jashobeam , Adino
32:42, Joab , the army general , Abishai , the
32:48leader of the three . There were the
32:52Thirty , the best warriors out of
32:541,400,000 soldiers . There were the best
32:58captains in the world , David's
33:00immensely powerful army . When David’s
33:03warriors went into battle , the
33:05adversary would shake like a leaf . Who
33:08is in the battle ? Abishai . Oh my God ,
33:10they are doomed . Jashobeam killed 800
33:13men in one battle . He killed 600 men in
33:16a battle . The sword stayed stuck to his
33:19hand . Benaiah , the captain , killed a
33:22lion in a pit , killed an Egyptian over
33:25two meters tall , and took the spear
33:27from his hand with a stick . But in that
33:34moment of reliability , of that comfort ,
33:36what did David do ? Instead of going to
33:39battle , he went for a walk in the
33:41palace ; he walked on the terrace and
33:42did not watch there . He coveted what he
33:47should not have coveted , he took what
33:49he should not have taken , he did what
33:52he should not have done , he committed a
33:55murder , a homicide and an adultery that
34:00brought disastrous consequences upon
34:02him . So , my beloved , comfort is
34:06dangerous . I remember something George
34:12Whitefield said in one of his books
34:15regarding a morning service where a
34:18young man asked the church for prayer .
34:23He said , " Mr. George Whitefield , I
34:25would like to ask you for a prayer ,
34:27because I have received a very large
34:29inheritance and I really need your
34:32prayer and that of the whole church . "
34:35Whitefield made a perfect reading of
34:37that situation , saying : " This young man
34:40has a great perception of the danger ,
34:43and therefore he truly is in need of
34:45our prayers . " Because with comfort and
34:49much wealth in hand , often there are
34:51people who get ahead of themselves ,
34:54forget the God of provision and start
34:56to worship sometimes the provision , the
34:59blessing , and cast aside the blesser .
35:03And may you have an altar in your heart
35:05, and may this altar be your soul , your
35:07heart , that it may come only to worship
35:09the Almighty God .
35:11Amen . God will never abandon you . Your
35:15pastor may even abandon you — he
35:17wouldn’t be acting correctly , he
35:19wouldn't be acting right — but that can
35:21happen in any sphere . You may be
35:24abandoned by your father , by your
35:26mother , you may be abandoned by your
35:28so-called best friends , but God will
35:30never abandon you . Many people come
35:34near you because of what you have , the
35:36influence you possess , the money you
35:38have saved , the connections , etc. But
35:40God looks at you and looks at me ,
35:42regardless of what we have to present
35:45to Him , because we have nothing ; He
35:47loves you just the way you are . With
35:50money or without money , with illness or
35:52without illness , with beauty or without
35:54beauty , with status or without status .
35:56God loves us unconditionally . Amen . And
36:00this God promises us : " I will never
36:02abandon you . " So you can have one
36:04certainty and conviction . We have this
36:07powerful God walking with us all the
36:09time . Most of the time I don't feel Him
36:12. Most of the time I cannot see Him .
36:16Most of the time I cannot perceive Him .
36:18But I have the certainty , a very great
36:21trust . God is with me at every moment .
36:24Amen . Because His Spirit is within me .
36:27That is why Paul said : " Examine
36:29yourselves every day to see if the Holy
36:31Spirit is within you , because if He is
36:32not , then you have already failed the
36:34test . " So , do a test , conduct a
36:37spiritual experiment , have daily
36:40communication with God , draw near to
36:42God , have a personal relationship with
36:45this Almighty God , stop being religious
36:47, stop being nailed to the church sign ,
36:50and stop worshiping and idolizing
36:52pastors . " If the pastor isn't there , I
36:56won't be either . " How many times have I
36:59seen people arriving at church and
37:00saying , " The pastor isn't preaching
37:02today ? " The person leaves the church ;
37:04they are anchored to the pastor . If the
37:06pastor slips , if the pastor makes a
37:08mistake , if the pastor disappoints , if
37:10something happens along the way , you
37:11give up on the faith . Because their
37:14faith is in men , not in God . The gift
37:17is not mine , it is his . The power is
37:19not mine , it is his . The word is not
37:21mine , it is his . Everything is his .
37:23Everything comes from him . Without him
37:25we can do nothing . Oh .
37:28We are just clay that God chose and
37:30chose to carry out his designs . We are
37:34just a megaphone that God uses to make
37:36us his instruments . So , worship only
37:39the Lord . Once , men looked at Peter and
37:43knelt at his feet . And he said , get up ,
37:46get up , what are you doing ? I am a man
37:49just like you . Amen , everyone .
37:53This almighty God brought you here
37:55tonight to tell you that he has not
37:57left you and will never abandon you .
38:00You may go through problems , he will
38:02understand your problem , he has the
38:04solution to your problems , he will lead
38:07you to safe pasture and will lead you
38:09to the heavenly kingdom . And nothing
38:11will stand in the way of that .
38:14Whoever understands , say glory to God .
38:16So let us pray . So
38:19as Ecclesiastes said , it is not by much
38:21speaking . Let us pray , let us cry out
38:25to our God , because this night is a
38:28night of strengthening . This night is a
38:31night of victory . I heard two , two
38:34glory to God's here . But it will get
38:36better
38:36by the end . It will get better . I
38:38believe in the name of Jesus . Amen ,
38:40everyone .
38:42Let us pray at this moment . Place your
38:45hand over your heart . Let us cry out to
38:48the God of provision now , because he
38:50will help you in your moment of
38:51affliction .
38:54Amen . I greet everyone with the peace
38:56of the Lord Jesus .
38:57With your eyes closed , with your hands
38:59over your heart , let us cry out . Lord
39:02my God and my Father , Father of my Lord
39:05and Savior Jesus Christ , your word
39:07comes to meet , in fact and in truth ,
39:10our hearts , our yearnings , our
39:12struggles , the persecutions , my Father ,
39:14the deserts , whatever name we give them
39:17, my Father , to the giants and the
39:19battles of life . Lord God , we need your
39:24support , we need your , your love , my
39:27Father ; we need , my Father , your
39:29presence . And tonight , my Father , you
39:33revalidate , Lord , your presence and
39:36your love , my Father , telling us that
39:38you have not lost sight of us , my
39:41Father , telling us that you are , my
39:43Father , in our midst , my Father .
39:45Telling us that you are a strong tower
39:48and the righteous will run there , my
39:50Father . Tonight we feel renewed , my
39:53Father . Tonight we feel , my Father ,
39:56revived by the power of Your Spirit ,
39:58Lord , because You are in this house .
40:01You are with us . Greater is He who is
40:04with us than he who is in the world , my
40:06Father . You are the strong God , the
40:09almighty God . And You have never , my
40:11Father , lost sight of us . The crisis
40:14exists , my Father . The pain is real , my
40:17Father . We will , my Father , sometimes
40:19be burned , my Father , frustrated , my
40:21Father , but what You have promised
40:23still stands , my Father . Often we place
40:27our expectations on ourselves , my
40:29Father , but we need to place our
40:31expectations , my Father , on You , on
40:33Your promises , on Your word ; because
40:36Your word , my Father , O God , heaven and
40:38earth will pass away , but Your word
40:40will never pass away , my Father . That
40:44is why we are here tonight , my Father ,
40:47and we want to glorify Your holy name ,
40:49my Father , because despite the crises ,
40:51You are a strong God , a powerful God , a
40:53God who loves us , a God who sustains us
40:55, my Father . If , my Father , we have not
40:58fallen until today , it is because Your
41:00hand has held us , my Father . If we have
41:02not broken until today , it is because
41:04Your hand , my Father , sustains us , my
41:06Father . You , my Father , are worthy of
41:08all honor , all glory , and all praise ,
41:11my Father . O God , continue warming the
41:13heart of this man , the heart of this
41:16woman , my Father . Continue , my Father ,
41:18being with this person , my Father , and
41:20showing that You , my Father , O dear ,
41:22beloved God , are present , my Father ,
41:24are active , my Father , in the midst of
41:27crises and processes , my Father . O God ,
41:29bless every man , every woman , every
41:31person who is here tonight . And may
41:34they leave , my Father , more believing ,
41:36more revived , my Father , renewed by the
41:39power of Your Spirit . That is what we
41:41ask of You tonight . Sure of this , we
41:43glorify You in the name of Jesus . And
41:45whoever believes in this powerful God ,
41:47say amen .
41:47Amen . Yeah .