Trust in the LORD with all your heart lean not to your own understanding

Fred R. Coulter—November 7, 2020

computer - Video | pdfIcon - PDF | Audio | [Up]

Track 1 or Download

Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services!

What an election this has been! Everyone wants to know what's going to happen. Well, the happiest man in the world is George Soros, because his plan of stealing the election worked. We will have to see what happens. The only thing standing between that and Biden being President is Judge Alito intervening in the counting of the ballots in Pennsylvania.

But remember this: It is never over until it is certified! What a thing that would be if Biden actually lost—which he did—and Trump remains President. Look at all that they have done; they were so confident in their plan in stealing the election that they were jubilant in it.

That's why Biden didn't have to get out and campaign.

  • he's not capable
  • they had it all rigged

You know who tipped that? Nancy Pelosi!

Let's think about what's happening, and take good overview. This is not the first time in the history of the world that things have gone from good to bad.

  • Why do these things occur?
  • What is the sole cause of why these things take place?

Maybe it's more than what people have figured! Or what they had planned on.

Let's see what Hosea says about Israel. Israel has always had:

  • we're with God/we're against God
  • we're for God/we're not for God

God has been there to forgive them when they have repented! Their repentance is not the kind of repentance that we need for eternal life. Their repentance is to do justice and do what is right.

Hos. 13—here is the cause; we know that we are Manasseh in the end-time, with all the rest of the 12 tribes scattered in it.

Hosea 13:6: "When they were fed…"

  • Is that what we have today?
  • Everything we need?
  • Everything we want?

"…they became full. They were filled and their heart was exalted…." (v 6).

  • how good we are
  • how great we are
  • what we've accomplished
  • what we have done

They push God way in the back of their mind! Here's what happens:

"…Therefore, they have forgotten Me. Therefore, I will be as a lion to them; as a leopard by the way I will watch. I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear open their chests. And there I will devour them like a lion—as the wild beast would tear them. O Israel, you… [not God] …have destroyed yourself; but in Me is your help" (vs 6-9).

Let's look another reason why these things take place.

  • How have they forgotten God? Yet, we're the most 'religious' people in the world!
  • How does that happen?
  • How can you say that you're a Christian nation, but you have forgotten God?
  • Where does that responsibility fall?

That's the same way with the Churches of God!

If the ministers and teachers in the Churches of God do not do what they're supposed to do, what happens? That's the way that God deals!

If you say you believe in a conspiracy, you're labeled as a 'nut'! But who is the greatest conspirator of all? Satan the devil! So, when you ignore that there could be conspiracies, you open yourself up to being deceived!

Ezekiel 22:25: "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst… [we'll see what they do] …like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have done violence to My Law…" (vs 25-26).

Isn't that true? Every Christian leader violates the Law of God! They say, 'Well, they believe in some of them.' But:

  • What did James write about breaking the Law? If you break one, you've broken them all!
  • Doesn't that happen when you live with breaking one law? Another one comes along and another comes along and pretty soon you're so far from God…

"…and have profaned My Holy things. They have put no difference between the Holy and the profane, and have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean…" (v 26).

Look at all the health problems we have because they say you can eat anything you want to.

"…and they have hidden…" (v 26)—deliberately, absolutely deliberate! If you hide your eyes, you've done it deliberately!

"…their eyes from My Sabbaths…" (v 26).

That's why we have the book: God's Plan For Mankind Revealed by His Sabbath and Holy Days. We're revising it, expanding it, and it's going to be the one single best book in the world to tell you what God is doing!

All the Protestants believe that if you just say the little prayer of Franklin Graham and attend church, your sins are forgiven. They deliberately neglect to tell you that's the first step! If you're going to run a race and you take the first step, and someone says that it's over, you're finished and there's nothing you need to do, how can that be so? But that's what they have done! Here's the result:

"…and I [God] am profaned among them. Her rulers in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood and to destroy souls, to get unjust gain" (vs 26-27).

  • Joe and Hunter Biden, where did you get all your money?
  • Barak Hussein Obama and wife, where did you get all money?

Let me tell you how they do it. They get the money, which is called 'dark money,' which means that they have done it in such a way that you can't trace it. So, Michelle Obama writes a book and she gets $45-million in advance, because they know that she can't write, and the book will be one of the worst sellers in the world.

But that's the way of getting the money to them that they shouldn't get. That's how all politicians who come to Washington, D.C., or even those who come to Sacramento, CA, they get their money that way!

Verse 28: "And her prophets have covered themselves with whitewash, seeing false visions and divining lies unto them, saying, "Thus says the Lord GOD," when the LORD has not spoken." Jesus said::

You've heard it said in ancient times, remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy, and My Holy Days and keep them Holy…

When did Jesus—Who told how the Law was to be done—ever say:

You've heard it said this in the past, but I say to you it's okay to keep Sunday and all the pagan days'

That's the initial blame for it all! Then:

  • the politicians
  • the teachers
  • the whole educational system

Verse 29: "The people of the land have used oppression and committed robbery, and they have troubled the poor and needy. Yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them who should build up a wall for the land, and stand in the breach before Me, so that I should not destroy it. But I did not find one" (vs 29-30).

He did for a while, and his name was Donald Trump! He was undoing many of these things that we are reading here.

Let's see what happens and we'll ask and answer: Why do we have trials? Everyone likes to have everything run smooth, never any problem, everything is perfect. But have you ever seen that anywhere? Think about it! You can't even do a simple little chore, and maybe something goes wrong.

Deut. 8 is going to teach us a lot. Remember what we read in Hosea, that when they got rich and trusted in their wealth they turned their backs on God!Now, this is a warning before they went into the 'promised land':

Deuteronomy 8:1: "All the commandments which I command you this day shall you be diligent… [not ignore, not put it behind you] …to observe and to do that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land, which the LORD swore to your fathers." Think about that in relationship to America!

Verse 2: "And you shall remember all the way, which the LORD your God led you these forty years in the wilderness in order to humble you, to prove you, to know what is in your heart…"

That's why we have trials individually, collectively and nationally. God wants to know! The goal that you have to do whatever you want is not the important thing! God wants to know what's in your heart! Will you follow Him under all circumstances?

I imagine that there were a lot of people who thought they were Christian and praying for Trump that he would win.

  • What if he doesn't win?
  • Are you going to give up on God?

Maybe you better look at all of your Sunday-keeping, Christmas-keeping and all of that. You better open the Bible and turn to that, and start doing the will of God; instead of what you choose from the Word of God that you agree with to do!

Verse 3: "And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger, and then He fed you with manna, which you did not know, neither did your fathers know it, so that He might make you know…"

Here is the key for everything. As we look at all the troubles that we see around us, this is the most important thing for us, plus one other that we will see in a little bit.

"…man does not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD does man live" (v 3).

When trials and difficulties come, and things work out that you don't want them to work out:

  • What do you do?
  • Blame God?

OR

  • Look to God for what this means in our lives?
  • And where do we go from here?

IF we can't get through this:

  • What are we  it really gets tough?

Because there was no JC Penny's, Macy's shoe stores out in the desert, God took care of it:

Verse 4: Your clothing did not wear out on you… [40-year-old clothing] …nor did your foot swell these forty years."

That should convince somebody of something! Here comes a teenager and he's handed a pair of shoes. 'What are these?' These are your father's shoes! 'They look almost new.' No, they're 40-years-old! How many pair of shoes do you have in your closet? Amelda Marcos was the 'queen of shoes'!

  • What are you to do when this happens?
  • When troubles comes?

Verse 5: "And you shall consider in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you." Tie in Heb. 12!

  • Why?
  • Are we perfect? No!
  • Do we need to change? Yes!
  • Do we need correction? Yes!
  • What's the easiest way to do it?

Everyone wants it easy! They want it defined in short sentences! So, we'll accommodate you with this. When you pray every day, you ask God to:

  • help you
  • lead you
  • guide you
  • give you understanding
  • give you forgiveness of sins

Not only the exterior ones that you have done, but the ones up here in your mind! Those are the ones, as well!

Verse 6: "And you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to fear Him, for the LORD your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley and vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey, a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness.…" (vs 6-9).

  • Have you missed a meal because your cupboards were empty?
  • Have you gone to the store and there was nothing at the store?

No! You can go to the store, and if you're wise, you'll be like an ant and you'll be storing up some things for times of trouble. Everything is there, and you can get it from anyplace in the world shipped there and you can buy it.

  • food
  • clothing
  • shoes
  • furniture

Whatever!

"…You shall not lack any thing in it. It is a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper" (v 9)—and oil, gas, coal!

Now, here comes the problem, and it helps answer why we are where we are today:

Verse 10: When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land, which He has given you."

What do most people do? They forget and reject God! So, the next time you open your cupboard and there's everything there that you need; or the next time you open our closet full of clothes and you say, 'I have nothing to wear.' Remember that and thank God!

Here's what happens; you get busy and you have important things to do: work, housework, all of these important things to do that takes time. Maybe it takes so much time that you forget God! Beware! Beware!

Verse 11: "Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command you today." That's what's happened!

People are so busy that the only time they have for God is go to church for 20 minutes on Sunday, and go and lead their lives they way they want to lead them. God says to remember the Sabbath Day! That's from sunset to sunset! It takes a whole day! Why? Because the human mind is designed by God that we must—with God's Word and God's Spirit—have the Sabbath so that we can learn God's way!

  • Isn't that what God says that we are to do?
  • Isn't that the most important thing we need to do? Yes!
  • Why? He's offering us something so vastly superior: eternal life!

Read Rev. 21 about New Jerusalem, and think about how absolutely fantastic that is, and God has called you to live there!

It's going to mean that you desire it. You don't do it just because God says so; you do it because you desire to do so! We'll see what that leads to.

Verse 12: "Lest when you have eaten and are full and have built goodly houses and lived in them…"

Do we have that? Do a flyover some time! Houses, cities, tall buildings, rivers, lakes, parks, every wonderful thing that you would imagine. Mountains that are glorious!

Verse 13: "And when your herds and your flocks multiply… [your 401K, bank account, etc. has increased] …and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied."

We've been trying to get everything arranged since the passing of Dolores. Guess what we have found? Many, many things! She remembered God, but she had a full life and had everything that she needed. But she will be in the Kingdom of God, and it's up to me to make it, too!

Verse 14: "Then you become haughty of heart…"—lifted up in pride and think how good you are; that's exactly where this nation is. There are a lot of people who want prosperity, who want the jobs, who want all of these things, but all of those are secondary in really keeping the commandments of God.

There are other people out there who are evil and want to enslave the nation, and they are the punishers sent against us as a nation because we have forgotten God!

Just as Satan deceived a third of the angels to follow him in rebellion, that's exactly the same plan that they used to steal the election. They are so good at it that they may not be able to reverse it. Now what are you going to do? We have to keep on!

"…and you forget the LORD your God Who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage" (v 14)—and led you through all of this!

Now here's what happens when you become prideful and haughty of heart. You look around at everything that you have. Just like Job, who is an interesting study. He had everything, but his sons and daughters didn't. He thought that he was so righteous that he would offer up sacrifices for them in case they sinned; in the letter of the Law. Job was taking pride in himself instead of God, though he kept God in mind somewhat.

When you read the book of Job carefully, when you get to the important places you find that he says 'I, I, I, I' and 'my righteousness is more than God's.' that's a lesson for all of us!

Verse 17: "Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.' But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, so that He may confirm His covenant, which He has sworn to your fathers as it is this very day. And it shall be if you do at all forget the LORD your God and walk after other gods serving them and worshiping them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish—yes, perish. As the nations whom the LORD destroys before your face, so you shall perish because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God" (vs 17-20).

  • As we look at the nation and the election, what was the most important thing to happen? A lot of people are going to miss this!
  • What was the one most important thing that happened?

It had nothing to do with electing people! It happened in the state of Oregon! They voted to decriminalize hard drugs! In small amounts, of course, but remember the principle: A little leaven leavens the whole lump! This is the first leaven of that!

Remember what we have discussed, what they must implement before the mark of the beast can be fully implemented is you must legalize hard drugs! First step! Remember when some states started to open it up? What did we discuss here in church? The politicians will legalize it because they want the tax money! They care nothing about the population!

Watch! State after state—just like with marijuana legalized here and there—they will do with hard drugs! I will be doing some Church at Home on hard drugs: churchathome.org

Have you heard of 'krokodil,' which is substitute heroine that is so devastating to the body that it eats away the blood vessels, nerves and flesh from the inside. I was watching this on NatGeo Drug Inc. and it showed this poor woman with an arm—she was still alive—but there was no flesh and you could see the bone!

When you think that you can start out with a little bit sin and you're successful with it, Satan is going to get you and he is going to pull you into the vortex of his power. If you get into drugs, sex, etc., he is going to tear you apart!

That's what's going to happen! It's not pleasant to talk about things like this, but it's the reality of the world. Those of us in the Church cannot close our eyes to the reality of the world in thinking that 'we're God's people and we are going to escape the Tribulation.'

  • Do you forget where it says that others are going to be martyred as well?
  • Are you capable of facing that?

That's what we have to ask ourselves! I'm not just saying it to say something to you. I'm telling you that it's going to come! Just like years ago, they had to legalize hard drugs. The first one came through. We're going to have troubles in the future if we're not close to God, and how are we going to stand?

Jeremiah 2:7—God says to Israel: "And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled My land and made My inheritance an abomination." How did that happen?

Verse 8: "The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?'…."

I haven't answered Franklin Graham's little prayer thing that he had, where you call this number if you accept Jesus in your heart. But I imagine that when they call they're also going to ask for money. They have merchandized the people. They have given into the sin of the people.

"…And they who handle the Law did not know Me…" (v 8).

  • they have the Bible
  • they say to 'know the Lord'

But they don't know Him!

"'…the rulers also rebelled against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit. Therefore, I will contend with you,' says the LORD, 'and against your children's children I will contend'" (vs 8-9). Then He says to go this nation and take a look!

Verse 11: "Has a nation changed their gods who are yet no gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit."

This is why we have the election where it is, and the problems we're going to face. Don't you think that if by some slim chance the Supreme Court puts Donald Trump back in the White House, you better believe every city in America is going to be set on fire!

Verse 12: "'Be amazed, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be utterly desolated,' says the LORD, 'For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and hewn out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water'" (vs 12-13). That's because of the priests and the prophets!

Jer. 17—let's see that God always gives this example; this is much the same way with us today. Take a look at:

  • the drug problem
  • the health problems
  • the homeless problem
  • the political problems

of lying, cheating, stealing and taking tax money!

There's a woman on Fox News Channel—Judge Jeanine Pirro—and she wrote a book: Don't Lie to Me. A very interesting title, but what have we done as a nation? We have lied to God! It's even affected the Churches of God!

Jeremiah 17:1: "The sin of Judah is engraved with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond; it is carved upon the tablet of their heart and upon the horns of your altars; while their children remember their altars and their Asherim beside every green tree on the high hills. O My mountain in the field, I will give your wealth and all your treasures for spoil, and your high places because of sin, throughout all your borders" (vs 1-3).

  • Could that happen?
  • If Biden wins what happens to the United States? We become the Western Colony of China!

Look at how many things are being done in America exactly as they're done in China! All you have to do is look at hi-tech: Twitter, Facebook, Google, etc. They are so entrenched and powerful that they can willfully take what the President writes and remove it! The President has no recourse!

Think about us! If they have the power to do that to the President, think what they're going to do to us down the road! It's going to take a lot for us to be strong!

Verse 4: "And you, even of yourself, have let go of the inheritance, which I gave you…" How do we do that?

  • by leaving God
  • by forgetting God

Look at it!

"'…and I will cause you to serve your enemies in a land, which you do not know. For you have kindled a fire in My anger, which shall burn forever.'…. [here's another principle, because this is what has happened politically]: …Thus says the LORD, 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD'" (vs 4-5).

Yet, a lot of those people think that they're the elite, the smart, the wise, and these 'stupid people out there who believe in the Bible and God…' Well, the 'stupid people' better wise up and not be stupid according to the Word God!

Verse 6: "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes. But he shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land that is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose hope is the LORD" (vs 6-7).

That is in the middle of all of these other things going on around. Remember what God told Elijah when Elijah said that 'they've all deserted You, Lord, there's only me' God says, 'Now, there, there, Elijah, there are 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' We need to remember that!

Verse 8—this is spiritual: "For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters; it sends out its roots by the river, and it shall not fear when the heat comes, but its foliage shall be green; and he is not worried in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (vs 8-9).

We've heard that how many times? Look at it when you see what's going on!

Verse 10: "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."

God is there; He hasn't left! We need to realize the times that we're living in will be difficult, we will see what we need to do so we can survive in all of these difficult trying times!

(break)

  • What do we do?
  • What is the most important thing in our lives?
  • Stay close to God!
  • How do we do that?

From this comes everything in our lives! Remember:

  • God loves us!
  • He's called us!
  • He wants us to succeed!

Trials bring us closer to God! Why? Because we realize that there are many things that only He can take care of that we can't control!

Mark 12:28: "And one of the scribes who had come up to Him, after hearing them reasoning together and perceiving that He answered them well, asked Him, 'Which is the first commandment of all?'"

What is the most important? 'first'—Greek: 'protos'—primary!

Verse 29: "Then Jesus answered him, 'The first of all the commandments is, "Hear, O Israel…."'"—put your name there!

I'll tell you this one thing: all of us in all of our prayers every day need to pray this: Help me, Lord, to really love you the way that You have said! Because the love of God is so deep and profound that that is the way that we draw close to God. What else does it do? It helps us to understand that our own ways and our own schemes are not going to accomplish what God wants! Here's what God desires

Verse 30: "'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…"

Remember, whatever is in our heart, God looks to that. What do we have in our heart that replaces God? We've got to get rid of it! To love God "…with all your heart…" means with all your emotions!

"…and with all your soul… [everything about your being] …and with all your mind… [that's where conversion is] …and with all your strength.'…." (v 30)—a full time spiritual operation between us and God every day!

"…This is the first commandment. And the second is like this: 'You shall love your neighbor…'" (v 31).

The next one, which most important for us, love one another!You can't love one another unless you love God first! There are a lot of people who you come across or meet in the Church who are not like you. That's why God called them; you're not like them. What's the first thing we need to get along with each other?

You've heard it many times that true Christianity is a way of life! Christ in John 15 talks about the vine and the branches: Christ is the vine and we're the branches:

John 15:4: "Dwell in Me, and I in you…." Think of that!

God the Father and Jesus Christ are dwelling in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to love God in return so that we're dwelling in Him and He is dwelling in us.

"…As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, but only if it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you are dwelling in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who is dwelling in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; because apart from Me you can do nothing" (vs 4-5).

You can do some things physically, but spiritually is what He's talking about. In order for you to love God the way that He wants you to, you must have the Spirit of God.

Here's the contrast; v 6: "If anyone does not dwell in Me, he is cast out as a branch, and is dried up; and men gather them and cast them into a fire, and they are burned."

These next few verses are something you need to remember all the time. This is putting the love of God and toward God into practice!

Verse 7: "If you dwell in Me, and My words dwell in you…"

  • What does this tell us? We need to study!
  • How can the words of God dwell in us unless we study the Word of God? And go over and over!

"…you shall ask whatever you desire… [if it's the will of God] …and it shall come to pass for you. In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me…" (vs 7-9).

Wasn't that the most perfect love you could possibly have, between the Father and Christ/Christ and the Father? Yes, indeed!

Verse 9: "As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; live in My love." That's how we are to live!

Where does that come from? From the words of God and the Spirit of God!

Verse 10: "If you keep My commandments, you shall live in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and live in His love."

That's how this love of God develops. We grow in it all the time. When we have trials and difficulties, those are to drive us to our knees to pray to God, because we can't handle them ourselves. But that draws us closer to God!

If a trial comes and you're worried and upset, which you may be initially, but then you understand that you need to come to God and really pray to Him, and ask Him to help you understand it! If some desires come into your mind that are not right, that are very strong but you know are not right, you've got to ask God to help you get it out of your mind. That can only come with prayer and study!

That's why if you're living in His love and keeping His commandments, and the Father and Christ are dwelling in us, that's the whole core of our relationship with God! That's something that we need to work on every day! That's why we need to pray every day: O Lord, help me to love You with all my heart, mind, soul and being!

  • God will help you!
  • He will bless you!

The blessings will not necessarily be material! What is the greatest blessing that you can receive? Peace of mind! And that only comes from God!

This kind of living in love, and loving God, helps us to trust God. There is faith, hope and love, and love is the greatest! But trust is living faith, because you're trusting in God to lead you in spite of all the difficulties that are around. To give you peace of mind and understanding so that you can fight off all the things of Satan and the world, and there's going to be a lot of that coming around!

Now we're going to focus on trusting God! Trusting:

  • in Him
  • in His name
  • in His Spirit
  • in His Truth
  • in His Word

Notice how love ties in with trusting God:

Psalm 118:1: "O, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good because His steadfast love endures forever."

He's not like some human beings who IF you love them they love you. But if you don't love them…

  • Have you ever had that happen to you? I have!
  • Have you ever had a best friend betray you? I have!
  • What did those things do? At the time they occurred it was tough to take!

But if they come and we resolve to draw close to God and to do His will, He will be there to help us! He can take care of the enemy!

Verse 2: "Let Israel now say that His steadfast love endures forever. Let the house of Aaron now say that His steadfast love endures forever" (vs 2-3).

We can say—put your name where Israel is, and every elder and minister in the Church put your name there, because you can't preach the Truth and love of God with conviction and belief unless you have that loving relationship with God. Too many ministers who speak do it nomenclature. They do it by reading the Bible, but their reading of the Bible lacks the heart and conviction of the Spirit of God when they do it! I'm talking about ministers in the Churches of God!

Not that they aren't preaching the Truth, they are, but there's more to the Truth than that. There has to be love, the heart, conviction and you yourself are living it!

Remember what happened when the #2 man got all caught up in all of his philandering and adulteries, what happened to his preaching? Everyone was wondering what happened to him! What happened to him was he was living a double life. He was trying to preach the Truth of God, but live in sin! It won't happen! So, all who are elders and ministers, listen to what the Word of God says. Draw close to God and let His Spirit lead you!

Verse 4: "Let those who fear the LORD now say that His steadfast love endures forever." What are you going to do when trouble comes?

Since I've been a minister and I went against all of the hierarchy and everything like that, we've had a lot of trials! But God has seen us through them. When you think that you're suffering, go read about what Christ suffered. Read Isa. 52 and Psa. 52 on your knees! Read it right on your knees! Pray about it, then you will see that all of the great trials—that you think are so great—are miniscule when God is there to help you!

Verse 5: "I called upon the LORD in distress…"

A lot of people quit praying and studying when trouble comes. That's the opposite of what you need to do!

"…the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side…" The way it works is:

You get on God's side, and then He's on your side. God doesn't come to your side your way, unless your way is God's way!

"…I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (v 6).

What is the worst thing that anyone can do to you? If you get your feelings hurt, if you lose a best friend, if someone steals from you… What's the worst thing that can happen? And it's going to happen to some of us, because Jesus said that it would! We're going to lose our lives standing for God!

Who gives us the strength to do that? God! We don't do it on our own! Peter thought that he could do it on his own when Jesus told what was going to happen to Him, be crucified and so forth. Peter said, 'Lord, that will never happen to You! I'll go to the death for You!'

What did Jesus tell Peter? Before the cock crows twice tonight, you're going to deny Me three times! That's to show that:

  • you cannot substitute physical strength for spiritual strength
  • you cannot substitute physical means of answering a problem, you must have spiritual means as the foundation first

Verse 7: "The LORD is for me as my Helper…"

When you're going through a trial, sometimes you think that God is against you. No! He's never against you! It doesn't matter how difficult and sore the trial is. That's why it says to trust in the Lord, my Helper!

"…therefore, I will look in triumph upon those who hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to trust in princes: (vs 7-9).

Prov. 3 is very instructive and this is what we need to do with all the troubles and distress that's coming on. We can think about this and that, what's going to happen with this one and that one politically. But watch the morals of the nation go down, that's the major thing that's going to happen.

Then the next major thing is they're going to try and clamp everybody's mouth shut who doesn't agree with them. That means, don't shut up! Speak out! But we do it this way, and tie this together with Mark 12:28 abut loving God and so forth. The same thing; the same thing applies here:

Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart… [WARNING!]: …and lean not to your own understanding." That's how mistakes come about!

Example: there was a time when we bought a wagon; a metal wagon that you use in the yard to put stuff in. I looked at what it was like on the outside of the box. I looked at the parts and thought I could put it together. I didn't read the instructions! I put it together and when I got to the finish, it couldn't fit. So, I had to take it apart and follow the plans.

Likewise God's Word is the plan! That's what we follow, not our own understanding!

Verse 6: "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil" (vs 6-7).

The first nine or ten chapters of Proverbs are written by David to Solomon.

Proverbs 4:20: "My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart… [the Word of God] …for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh" (vs 20-22)

Now here's what we need to do today; this is really important especially since we have television. Every home has the world invited into their home on 150 channels. If you would tell that to people 200 years ago, they would haul you off to the insane asylum! But there it is! So, here's what we need to do:

Verse 23: "Above all guard the door of your mind… [or heart, both] …with diligence, for out of it are the issues of life" (v 23).

That's what we need to do! You have to be actively doing that, especially in today's world the way things are. Everything we are doing is part of the issues of life. That's why the Sabbath is important! The Passover and the Holy Days are important! These are things that keep us in connection with God with His Spirit.

Verse 24: "Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and devious lips put far from you. Let your eyes look right on…"

In other words, the main thing that is always said, 'Keep your eyes on the goal!'

"…and let your eyelids look straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left; remove your foot from evil" (vs 24-27).

That's what we're to do in the days that we're facing right now, and what's going to happen.

Titus 1—this is what God has set before us and it is sure! It will always be true! This is one of the last epistles that Paul wrote. This is what is called a pastoral epistle: 1st & 2nd Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

Titus 1:1: "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the Truth that is according to Godliness."

Always remember what we need: The Truth, the Truth, the Truth! Sometimes because there are little hang-ups, the Truth hurts a little bit. Go repent! That's what to do! If it's true, it's true!

Verse 2: "In the hope of eternal life… [that's where we're destined to] …which God Who cannot lie promised before the ages of time."

When you keep your eye on the goal and realize that we're all called of God for what He thought of and planned before there was any world or solar system like we have. We're part of that!

  • that's why God loves you
  • that's why you're important to God
  • that's why we need to look to God's Word
  • to help us
  • encourage us

and His Spirit to lead us and guide us so we can go through whatever takes place!

Verse 3: "But revealed in its own set time in the proclamation of His Word, with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior."

All of us now have a Bible, whether it's one without batteries, or one with batteries. I don't know which is better. Some will say that the digital is better because they can get their faster. I would say the paper is better, because you can see four columns at once.

I have to tell you that I've graduated from sandbox to kindergarten: Jonathan helped me and set me up so I could order something online. I ordered from Costco three shirts, and I ordered it when he wasn't there. When he came into the house last night, he saw the package sitting up on the rail and he said, 'Oh, your shirts came!' Yes, they did! I got my three shirts!

Let's hope we all graduate spiritually! Psa. 11—here we are, this fits into the time in which we're living.

Psalm 11:1: "In the LORD I have taken refuge…"

That means that when troubles or difficulties come along, you go straight to God!

"…how then can you say to me, 'Flee like a bird to your mountain'? For lo, the wicked bend their bow; they make ready their arrow on the string, so that they may secretly shoot at the upright in heart" (vs 1-2). That's what they're going to try and do! They're going to try and come after us!

Verse 3: "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

What are the foundations? Christ, God the Father, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and we have the whole Bible. Think about what a blessing that is! Think about if you lived back before the days of the New Testament. It's amazing!

Verse 4: "The LORD is in His Holy Temple; the LORD'S Throne is in heaven. His eyes behold; His searching gaze tests the children of men. The LORD tries the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone; and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup" (vs 4-6).

That's a prophecy clear back here of the Lake of Fire, but also of the things in warfare that God was behind when He was destroying some of those nations.

Verse 7: "For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face."

  • When will that be? When we're resurrected!

What's it going to be like:

  • to see God?
  • to see Christ?
  • to see all the Holy angels?

And on the Sea of Glass:

  • to see all the saints?

Talk about a day of triumph! The Pentecost of the resurrection is the greatest day of triumph for all the people of God down through history!

Psalm 12:1—this is what we're going to enter into: "Help, O LORD, for the Godly man ceases; for the faithful disappear from among the children of men. They speak falsehood each one with his neighbor… [Isn't that true today? Yes, indeed!] …with flattering lips and a double heart they speak" (vs 1-2). We're going to see a lot of that!

Verse 3: "The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said, 'With our tongue we shall prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?'" (vs 3-4). God knows the hearts of all!

Verse 5: "'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, I will now arise,' says the LORD. 'I will set him in safety from him who puffs at him.' The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times" (vs 5-6).

Remember that we read, it is impossible for God to lie! You can trust His Word! Christ! the Father! the Spirit!

Verse 7: "You shall keep them, O LORD; You shall preserve them from this generation forever. The wicked walk on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men" (vs 7-8).

There is a perfect description of the extremes that we're going to be living in. That's quite a thing when we understand it!

Psa. 1 is also a summary of the whole Bible and conversion. Quite interesting; one short, little Psalm.

Psalm 1:1: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD; and in His Law does he meditate day and night" (vs 1-2). Is that not conversion with God's Spirit? Yes, indeed!

Verse 3: "And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, and its leaf shall not wither, and all that he does shall prosper"—spiritually!

You're never going to be deprived, necessarily, physically. This is spiritually!

Verse 4: "The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff, which the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish" (vs 4-6).

We just need to commit ourselves to God, trust in Him with all of our heart, love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and being! Ask these things every day! That's how we're going to make it to the end of whatever it's going to be for us!

  • keep the faith
  • stay strong in the Lord

Remember that you:

  • stand in grace
  • walk in faith
  • believe in hope
  • live in love

Scriptural References:

  • Hosea 13:6-9
  • Ezekiel 22:25-30
  • Deuteronomy 8:1-14, 17-20
  • Jeremiah 2:7-9, 11-13
  • Jeremiah 17:1-10
  • Mark 12:28-31
  • John 15:4-10
  • Psalm 118:1-9
  • Proverbs 3:5-7
  • Proverbs 4:20-27
  • Titus 1:1-3
  • Psalm 11:1-7
  • Psalm 12:1-8
  • Psalm 1:1-6

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

  • Hebrews 12
  • Revelation 21
  • Isaiah 52
  • Psalm 52

Also referenced: Books:

  • God's Plan For Mankind Revealed by His Sabbath and Holy Days by Fred R. Coulter
  • Don't Lie to Me by Jeanine Pirro

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 11/11/20

Copyright 2020—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.

Books