This message is one of the Times Square
Church Pulpit Series.
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I believe that the Lord has given me
this message, and it's for some people in
particular here today.
You have a question in your mind.
You brought that question to the house of
God.
It's a question that, as of yet, you've
not been able to resolve.
But today the Lord is going to give
you an answer, and it's not going to
be an ambiguous answer.
It's going to be a definitive answer.
You're going to leave this house knowing the
answer to this question.
And the question is this, if God could
keep me from trouble, then why doesn't he?
Psalm 125, they that trust in the Lord,
verse 1, shall be as Mount Zion, which
cannot be removed, but abideth forever.
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so
the Lord is round about his people from
henceforth even forever.
For the rod of the wicked shall not
rest upon the lot of the righteous, lest
the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
Do good, O Lord, unto those that be
good, and to them that are upright in
their hearts.
And as for such as turn aside unto
their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them
forth with the workers of iniquity.
But peace shall be upon Israel.
Father, I bow my head and heart and
hand and everything that I am to you.
And God, I ask you now to empower
me to be able to speak this in
the manner that you want it to be
spoken.
I yield as a vessel to you, and
Lord, acknowledge that I have nothing without you.
Everything I have, every resource that enables me
even to understand your word has come from
your hand.
All ability to speak it comes from you,
Jesus.
Now, Lord, I ask you to quicken me,
Holy Spirit, quicken my mind, heart, body.
Quicken our hearts in this house and give
us all an answer to this question today.
Let it be conclusive, definitive, answered once and
for all.
I ask, O God, that this question after
today never again return unanswered to any seeking
heart.
Anyone who loves you and seeks you in
truth.
I ask you to destroy the arguments of
the devil.
All the reasonings of the wicked one who
tries to build a case against the faithfulness
of God in the minds and hearts of
God's people.
Lord, we come to do warfare against the
lies of the devil.
And I thank you that your word is
quick and powerful, sharp.
And God, you will smite the enemy.
I believe it, I know it.
In Jesus' name.
Psalm 125 verse 1 begins with the verse,
They that trust in the Lord shall be
as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but
abideth forever.
The word trust in the Hebrew text means
to attach oneself to something or someone.
To confide in, to feel safe, to be
confident, secure, to be without care.
They that trust.
In other words, I guess the easiest way
to say it is, They that abandon themselves
completely.
Attach themselves to God.
Their confidence is in God.
They feel safe in his presence.
They are secure.
And they have really embraced the words of
Jesus when he said, don't worry about tomorrow.
He said it clearly.
There's enough evil today to occupy your time.
Let tomorrow.
I'm already there.
Don't worry about it.
I'll take care of you.
I'll feed you.
The sparrows.
Father and I look after them.
We look after you.
Don't worry about those things.
And they have come to this place.
They that trust in the Lord.
And the Bible says they shall be as
Mount Zion.
They shall be as the place where God
has determined to dwell.
Jerusalem.
They shall be as this Mount Zion.
This special apple of God's eye.
It will abide.
No matter how many kings and kingdoms have
tried to overrun Jerusalem.
It will abide.
The temple of God.
The new temple, of course, which is God
Almighty himself.
Will be there.
There will be a kingdom there.
It will abide.
It cannot be removed.
And the devil has tried and is trying
today still to remove Mount Zion.
And cannot remove it.
Isn't it amazing?
Everything we see is an absolute war against
the word of God.
But it abides forever.
The Hebrew word is Olam.
It means from time past to time forever.
It's hidden.
It's concealed.
It's without end.
It will forever endure.
It was destined to be held in this
place from time past.
I mean, there is no beginning.
It was in God's mind.
If we can even fathom or even understand.
The fact that the thoughts of God are
preexistent from time.
Even as we know it today.
They've always existed.
It was determined in the mind of God.
And there really was no beginning to it.
It was always there.
That this is going to be my place.
These are going to be my people.
They're going to be secure in me.
Not only from time conceived in the past
as it is.
But forever.
My people are going to be concealed.
They're going to be hidden.
They're going to endure.
Without end.
It's amazing.
Those who trust in God.
We have an incredible future ahead of us.
We are going to go through this world.
And yes, in this world.
Jesus said you shall have tribulation.
It's going to come our way.
But it's only for a moment.
It's only for a time.
It's going to pass away.
Yes, in that time of tribulation.
The devil will come against you with the
full.
Demented argument of hell that's in his mind.
And he will try to convince you.
Time and again of the unfaithfulness of God.
But God is faithful.
God will not fail you.
When he comes back riding from heaven.
As the scripture says in Revelation on a
white horse.
There is a name inscribed on him virtually.
And it's faithful and true.
That's all he can be.
Because that's who he is.
He cannot say something and lie.
He cannot say he's going to do something
and not do it.
He cannot tell you that if you trust
in him.
That you will be established and unmoved.
If it's possible that you could be moved.
While trusting in him.
The only time we can really be moved.
From our foundation as it is.
Is when we have cast off our confidence
in the Lord.
And we've cast off our trust in him.
David said in Psalm 32 verse 7.
Thou art my hiding place.
Thou shalt preserve me from trouble.
Thou shalt compass me about with songs of
deliverance.
And David surely knew what he was talking
about.
Goodness sakes he was surrounded by a despotic
army.
That led by a demon possessed king at
this point.
And he had to hide in caves.
And it was amazing.
Saul and his army would come around one
side of the mountain.
And David and his men would be going
around the other side.
And never the two could meet.
The enemy could pursue but he could never
catch him.
And he says you are my hiding place.
And you will keep me from trouble.
And you will surround me with songs of
deliverance.
In other words you will surround me with
songs.
About your faithfulness and your power.
Your ability.
How you will confound my enemies.
And David said this will be my strength.
I will not cast off my confidence.
And my worship will be full of an
understanding.
Of the fact that you are God.
And the things that you say are going
to happen.
You just spoke a word and the universe
came into existence.
Nothing can stop what you have spoken.
And so you have spoken words of deliverance
to me.
And David says I'm going to take my
instrument of ten strings.
And I'm going to put them to music.
And I'm going to start singing these songs
of deliverance.
All about you.
And you know folks I truly believe that's
what made the men mighty.
That were around him.
His confidence in God.
Confidence in God is contagious.
Do you know that?
As much as a murmuring spirit can be
contagious.
If you hang around it.
A complaining spirit.
Can just literally pull the spiritual plug out
of your life.
And drain all your hope.
You hang around people that are full of
faith.
And it's contagious.
His confidence in God.
Walking through the midst of the fire.
Not being burned.
Through the midst of the flood.
Not being drowned.
As Psalm 23 says.
Walking through the middle of the valley of
the shadow of death.
Confident.
Yes it doesn't mean we don't go through
sorrow.
Or have times of difficulty.
But there's that abiding confidence.
That what God has promised to me.
He's going to do.
I'm walking.
Not into.
But I'm walking through the valley of the
shadow of death.
I'm here.
And it's difficult.
But I'm not staying here.
Because God is with me.
And he has promised to bring me through
to victory.
Hallelujah.
Now if you go to 1 Peter.
Keep a marker in Psalm 125.
And go into the New Testament.
You got Hebrews James.
Somewhere around there.
And then you got 1 Peter.
Chapter 1.
Now Peter.
Spoke of this incredible place.
Of security for the believer.
You are secure if you are a believer.
I mean.
You are as secure as you're ever going
to be.
As long as your confidence is in Christ.
You trust in him.
You're not believing the devil's argument.
The Lord's hand is on you.
And he will keep you.
And Peter talks about this.
In 1 Peter chapter 1.
Verse 3.
He says.
Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Which according to his abundant mercy has begotten
us again.
Unto a lively hoper.
That means a living hope.
By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead.
To an inheritance.
Incorruptible.
Undefiled.
That fades not away.
In other words.
It's not a mystic illusion.
There is really an inheritance in Christ.
There is really a place that we're going
to.
It doesn't fade away.
It is reserved in heaven for you.
Isn't that amazing?
We could stop and maybe have a little
bit of a shouting time right now in
the house of God.
No matter where we are today or what
we're going through.
There is a place.
It is reserved for me.
It's got my.
I don't know exactly what it looks like.
If it had a door.
My name is on the door.
It is reserved for me.
It is not fading away.
It is not being taken away by my
struggle.
The devil cannot argue it out of my
life.
I have trusted in Christ.
I'm holding fast to that trust.
And because of that trust, I am secure
in every promise that God has ever given
me.
I might have to fight battles that are
humanly impossible to go through.
And I thank God that there's a recognition
in my heart that they are humanly impossible
to get through.
But all things.
There are many things that are impossible to
men.
But Jesus said to his disciples with God,
all things are possible.
I can do all things.
Paul says to Christ who strengthens me.
I have learned that in whatever state I
am there with to be content.
I've learned to have all things.
I've learned to have nothing.
Paul had come through such tremendous adversity as
a sign to everyone who would ever follow
in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
That life or death, no power, no principality,
circumstance, situation, no demonic power, nothing that comes
against the believer can separate us from the
life and the love of God that is
ours in Jesus Christ.
Nothing can take it away from you.
That's why Paul says don't cast away your
confidence in times of trial and difficulty when
they come to everyone.
We have a place in heaven reserved that
doesn't fade away.
Verse 5, he says we are kept by
the power of God through faith.
We are kept as we trust, as we
believe, as we read this book, as the
Holy Spirit quickens it to our heart.
As we trust in these promises that God
has given to us, we are kept by
the power of these promises through the Holy
Ghost in us.
Unto salvation ready to be revealed in the
last time wherein you greatly rejoice.
And I thank God for it with all
of my heart, don't you?
I thank God for the hope that I
have for today and for tomorrow.
I thank God for the knowledge that this
life is going to pass and I'm going
to live with Christ for all of eternity.
I only know a few things as if
I see them through a glass darkly.
But Jesus said one day there's going to
be an explosion of knowledge come into you.
And you're going to know even as you
are known.
It's going to be beyond any learning that
could ever come into the mind or the
hand of man or the heart of man
rather.
He says wherein you greatly rejoice though now
for a season.
If need be, you are in heaviness through
manifold temptations or that word means trial.
So here we have all of these incredible
promises through Peter.
All of this thing about God keeping us,
begetting us to a living hope, an inheritance
that cannot fade away, reserved.
We're kept by the power of God.
It's ready to be revealed.
We greatly rejoice though now for a season
if need be.
This incredible promise is strangely coupled with the
words if need be.
If need be.
You will go through, he says in verse
7, difficulties, even trying your trust in God
as if by fire.
If need be, you're in heaviness through manifold
temptations.
Verse 7, the trial of your faith being
much more precious than of gold that perishes,
though it be tried with fire, might be
found unto praise and honor and glory at
the appearing of Jesus Christ.
If need be, Peter says you will go
through seasons of difficulty which will try your
trust in God as if it's being tried
by fire.
If need be.
The Greek definition of this particular passage, if
need be, says if it becomes necessary by
the nature of things.
If it is unavoidable.
If it is an urgent thing.
If it is a compulsory necessity.
And we look at these things and say,
God, you've given me all these promises of
keeping my life.
But what could possibly make it necessary for
me to go through trial?
What could be unavoidable?
Now, God, help me understand this.
What could be unavoidable if you can keep
me?
If my trust in you makes me like
Mount Zion that cannot be moved.
If you surround me with songs of deliverance
and you are God and almighty and able
to do all things.
Then what kind of situation could arise where
it is unavoidable that you have to let
me go through trial?
Unavoidable.
Or urgent.
What could be so urgent?
Why can't you just keep me?
If you could keep me from trouble, then
why don't you?
Why don't you just stop this?
It's the question that comes into the heart
that is maybe yet fully established in the
understanding of God's ways.
It says, Lord, like Paul, if I were
Paul, all the things that Paul went through
on a slave ship and down in the
bowels of that ship where it would be
just unspeakable stench and squalor and poverty and
all of the things that go on, the
humiliation.
And then to have to go through a
storm and have to come up on the
deck.
All of this is in the service to
God.
And then to tell the people that the
ship is going to break apart and swim
in a very probably fairly cold watered sea
at that time.
Hanging on to a piece of board.
I think he said he was three days
and three nights or something like that in
the deep.
And then finally get to shore.
He's cold like everybody else.
He starts gathering wood and puts it on
the fire and a snake comes out and
bites his hand.
I don't know about you, but there's just
a time.
There's a time in everybody's life.
God, just really, I appreciate the fact of
you.
You allow me to go through trial, but
can we just take a break for a
while from some of the trial?
But you see, God says your faith is
going to be tried by fire if it
becomes necessary, unavoidable, urgent, compulsory.
You might say like Paul.
Second Corinthians 180 said we were pressed out
of measure above strength in so much that
we despaired even of life.
I'm sure that Daniel, the prophet in the
Old Testament at 80 years of age may
have thought, will this ever end as he
was being lowered into the lion's den simply
because of his stand for truth among wicked
men.
He had not enough that he was taken
away from his home.
Not enough that he was led on these
forced marches that the Babylonians would do to
those that they'd captivated.
And in some cases, very extremely cruel treatment.
Many people would die along the way.
Not enough that he's taken into a foreign
king's court, perhaps never to see his family
again.
And then he's made a eunuch, which means
he's castrated.
He'll never have a family.
He's given to the prince of the eunuchs
to stand before the king.
And then goes through all types of difficulties
through his life and finally gets to the
age of 80, where you think God might
be willing to give him a break from
his trial.
And it's at the age of 80 years
old that he's finally with a rope being
lowered down into a lion's den.
And you think, God, you could deliver me
from this.
Is there a reason why you're letting this
happen into my life?
Will it ever end?
Only because I stand for truth among wicked
men.
You see, but like Paul and like Daniel,
you and I must come to realize that
oftentimes we are all that stands between the
souls of the godless and eternity in hell.
We are all that stands between them and
hell.
You and I.
Now go with me very quickly, keeping that
thought in mind to go backwards to the
book of Luke, chapter 22.
Just keep the thought in mind that you
and I are oftentimes, we're the only Bible
that people are ever going to read.
Your wicked boss is never going to read
the Bible.
Never going to turn on the televangelist.
Of course, it may not help anyway, but
never going to turn on any kind of
a Christian message or radio.
The only thing that stands between his wicked
soul and hell is you.
You are the only Bible that he will
ever read.
You are the only testimony of the strength
of God he will ever see.
You are the only living proof that God
lives that will ever stand before him.
It might be necessary for you to go
through trial.
It might be necessary to have to endure
his scorn.
It might be necessary to have to be
falsely accused and mocked and spit on and
slapped, spiritually speaking, in your face for your
stand for God.
It might be necessary.
In Luke, chapter 22, in verse 63, the
Bible says, And the men that held Jesus
mocked him and smote him.
The Gospel of Matthew says they spit in
his face.
Others say that the soldiers put a crown
of thorns and pressed it into his head
and put a mock robe on his back
that would have stuck to the congealed blood.
And they hit him on the head.
And every time they hit him, of course,
the thorns would be driven deeper into his
brow.
And they mockingly bowed and said, Hail, King
of the Jews!
Before God, Almighty God!
Nothing more graphically illustrates the condition of fallen
men.
That they would spit in the face of
God.
That they would mock God.
The God of mercy.
The God who created them.
The God who literally stands before them in
human form.
Who has the power to speak a word
and kill them right on the spot.
Who has the power to grab them in
his hand and cast them into eternal darkness
forever.
At the very moment they're spitting in his
face, he has the power.
But his love causes him.
He's the only one at that moment standing
between their wicked soul and eternity in hell.
It says, when they had blindfolded him, they
struck him on the face and asked him
and said, Prophesy!
Who is it that smote thee?
And many other things blasphemously spake they against
him.
You see, beloved, the love of their souls
caused him to stand there.
Knowing their future, if he should falter.
If he should turn away.
If he should change his mind.
If he should call out to his father
and say, Deliver me.
There was no chance that they would ever
find eternity.
Unless he was willing to stand and trust
that the plan of his father for his
life would bring about your redemption and mine.
It was the love of God that caused
him to stand there.
The love of God that allowed you and
me to slap his face.
Spit on him, mock his name.
I did these things before coming to Christ.
I'd curse his name continuously.
Matthew 10, 24, let me just read it
to you.
In 25, Jesus said, The disciple is not
above his master, nor the servant above his
Lord.
It is enough for the disciple that he
be as his master, and the servant as
his Lord.
If they have called the master of the
house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call
them of his household?
You see, beloved, it is the truth.
You are the only Bible that many of
the godless will ever read.
And when God allows you to stand and
face the onslaught of their accusations, if need
be, you will be the only visible evidence
they will ever see of his power and
mercy to keep those who trust in him.
You'll be the only evidence.
The whole time they are mocking you, they
are wondering in their heart, How come this
person is able to stand?
How come they don't respond with a like
spirit?
How come as I am backstabbing him or
her, especially in the workplace.
And beloved, let me tell you, as the
days go on, it's going to get worse.
It's not going to get better.
Evil is going to abound.
They're going to hate the righteous.
The scripture says so.
So determine in your heart that God may
allow you for a season, if need be,
to go through, as some are even today,
some very, very difficult times in the public
square as it is.
But you'll be the only evidence.
They look and they mock your name and
they mock your God and they mock what
you stand for.
But as you stand, kept by the power
of God, even though the wicked are on
all sides, God says, I will compass you
around with songs of deliverance.
There will be something in your heart and
something in your head that says, Oh God,
thank you for the privilege of standing in
this place.
Thank you for the privilege and following in
the footsteps of my master, Jesus.
Thank you, God, that you've counted me worthy.
There's something in me that you've counted me
worthy to suffer shame for your namesake.
Oh God, your word says that when the
world speaks evil of me, I'm to go
home and rejoice.
For so did the godless of the false
of those of the prophets that have come
before me.
You cannot be moved.
You have to trust that.
God says, I've stood you there.
I've put you there in a specific place
as a testimony, as a living Bible.
I am written on your heart.
You are the only Bible they're going to
read.
You are the only strength they're ever going
to see.
You are the only evidence of my keeping
power they're ever going to know.
Some who are here today, you had a
Christian before you came to Christ, I'm sure,
in your family.
Perhaps on the workplace.
And you know the mockery that happens to
these people.
I remember when I was a young police
officer, there was a Christian man who used
to read his Bible in the lunchroom.
And the incredible abuse he took.
And I used to wonder, I was curious,
how can he stand this?
Why doesn't he fight back?
I'm telling you, if they would have said
things like that to me, there'd be fur
and feathers all over the lunchroom.
And this man would smile.
This man would say, God loves you.
God will keep me.
God will protect me.
And I used to go to him and
ask him, why don't you fight back?
Why do you sit there like this and
take this abuse from all these people?
And he'd just look at me and say,
God will take care of me.
God will look after me.
And it used to so provoke me.
Because I knew I didn't have that kind
of strength.
I could definitely out-muscle him.
I mean, if it got a one-to
-one, I'd wipe the floor with this guy
at that time.
But I didn't have the strength that he
had.
I didn't have the strength of character to
stand in that kind of a storm.
And it would provoke me to righteousness, the
Scripture says.
It would provoke me to want to know
what is the source of that strength.
And that was the beginning, I believe, of
a seeking of God that began to come
into my heart.
Back in Psalm 125, verse 3.
Now, here's what the Lord says to you
today.
Now, the rod of the wicked may be
allowed to touch your life for a season.
Remember, the rod of the wicked was allowed
to hit the head of Christ.
But in verse 3, he says, for the
rod of the wicked shall not rest.
And that word rest is very, very important.
Upon the lot of the righteous, lest the
righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
And here's what it says.
The rod of iniquity, that means that the
wicked can touch, but cannot rest on your
life.
Hallelujah.
In other words, the wicked, for a season,
can seemingly have power over you, but they
don't have power over you.
You see, God is ultimately in control.
The rod of the wicked can seem to
prosper momentarily, even in the workplace, but it
cannot rest on you.
God says, I will not let it stay
there.
I will let it go for a season
if need be.
And in that season, I will establish a
testimony to them of who I am through
you.
You will become a living Bible to them.
But I will not let the rod of
the wicked rest upon you.
You can take that to the spiritual bank
today.
God says, I will not let it rest
upon you.
Lest you be forced, it says, to take
matters into your own hands and do wrong.
That's what it means.
The rod of the wicked shall not rest
upon the lot of the righteous, lest the
righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
God says, I will not let you be
tested above that you are able.
I will make a way for you to
escape that you may be able to bear
it.
I will not let you be tested in
this above that you are able to bear.
Hallelujah.
You cannot be removed.
My hand is on you.
You will abide forever.
And then he goes on, he says, do
good, O Lord, unto those that be good,
and to them that are upright in their
hearts.
Beloved, the hour of your deliverance will come.
I want you to go ahead to Daniel.
Jeremiah, I think it's Ezekiel, Daniel.
At least I hope it is, or then
I've got the Bibles and books in wrong
order.
Daniel chapter 6.
Remember, Daniel is lowered down into the lion's
den just because he chose to maintain his
relationship with God in the court of wicked
men, in the court who tried to find
cause against him.
You see, he had been promoted over them.
Now, folks, listen to me carefully, because I
know that people here today in the workplace
are going through this.
The Holy Spirit has clearly made this clear
in my heart.
You're working hard, you're diligently doing your business,
then somebody, perhaps your equal or under you
or whatever, has all of a sudden come
up with a huge lie about you.
And that's exactly what happened to Daniel.
After he had stood against Belshazzar and declared
the end of his kingdom, then, of course,
the Medes and Persians took over, and the
interim leader, or it could have been Cyrus
by another name, but his name is Darius
in the Scriptures, found this man who had
stood against Belshazzar's kingdom, and he found favor
with the new ruler.
And the new ruler, the Scripture says, sought
to set him over the whole kingdom.
Now, there were other men under there, it
says like, Hey, we've been here longer, we
deserve it more.
Who is this guy coming in from the
outside that is going to now be second
in authority of the whole kingdom?
And so they sought an occasion of offense
against him.
And when they could not find it, the
only way they could accuse him is they
accused his relationship with God.
It's an amazing thing, and that's exactly what
will happen to you.
Oh, you can't trust these Christians.
They're sneaky, they're double standards, and they will
expose things in the company that maybe are
not above board.
You have to be very careful with these
people.
They don't obey our rules and our laws.
Have you ever heard that in the Scripture?
You remember in the book of Esther?
They live by another standard.
They don't do things the way we do.
They don't falsify the records.
They don't backstab.
They're just not into the company standard.
And so Daniel is lowered down into the
lion's den.
And God, you know, that's a type of
the fact the devil is trying to tell
you, I'm going to devour you.
You're standing for Christ, I'm going to devour
you.
But yet the Word of God says, you
will abide forever.
The Lord says, I'm round about you.
I will not let the rod of the
wicked rest upon you.
It can touch you, but not rest there.
Get that deep in your spirit.
The lion comes to say, I'm going to
devour you.
And the devouring in a Christian is he's
coming after your confidence in God.
He's coming after you to take away that
steadfastness.
That Bible, as it is, is being written
in your life.
You're standing.
And whether you know it or not, you're
being a testimony to people all around you.
You are testifying, as Stephen did, as he
stood and was about to be killed by
an angry mob.
There was a young man called Saul there
that was witnessing this.
And you can't tell me for five seconds
that didn't trouble his conscience.
There was a living Bible before him who
stood there and said, I see heaven open
and the Son of God standing at his
right hand.
I see it!
You can't tell me for five minutes that
Paul was not troubled by that.
How could this young man die with such
integrity, with such strength?
How could he have such an open heaven
in the midst of the terrible persecution he
was suffering?
And Daniel finally is lifted out of the
lion's den.
And you will escape.
You will not be left in the jaw
of the lion.
It may look for a season like you've
been overpowered, but you've not been overpowered whatsoever.
Daniel chapter 6 and verse 23, it says,
Then was the king exceeding glad for him,
and commanded that they should take Daniel up
out of the den.
So Daniel was taken up out of the
den, and no manner of hurt was found
upon him because he believed in his God.
You are going to come out in victory.
You are.
Though for a season, if need be.
You're going to be in difficult times, because
you are a testimony to those around you
who will never read a Bible.
You're the only Bible.
You've got to get that in your spirit.
You're the only Bible they're ever going to
read.
They're going to be in hell soon, if
they don't have a chance to know there's
a living God.
You are the only Bible.
They will come against you.
They will speak against you.
They will slander you.
But God Almighty will empower you and cause
you to stand.
God will give you hope.
God will give you a song.
God will put light in your eyes.
God will put gentleness in your voice.
God will keep you.
No manner of hurt was found upon him
because he believed in God.
Verse 25.
Then King Darius wrote unto all the people
and nations.
Now here's a king who was so stupid
he thought he was God.
He was tricked into thinking he was God.
Nobody was to pray to anybody for 30
days but him.
I mean you don't get any dumber than
that in the scope of humanity.
Then King Darius wrote to all the people.
Why?
Why the change in his life?
Why could somebody so spiritually dark and all
of a sudden see light?
Because God found a man.
A woman.
It could have been a woman but a
person who would stand in the midst of
this adversity.
And say I will not bow to all
of the ways of this kingdom.
I will not defile myself with what the
people around me are doing.
I will serve the living God.
I will go on my knees three times
a day.
I will open my windows towards Jerusalem.
I will fast.
I will pray.
I will walk with integrity before God.
I had a supervisor so mad at me
one time when I was a policeman for
things that I refused to do.
That he walked in the office in front
of all my peers.
Pointed his finger at me.
And he said you are gone.
You are out of here.
You're history.
You're finished.
Five years later I was there.
Everybody else was gone.
Then King Darius wrote to all the people.
Verse 25.
Nations and languages that dwell in all the
earth.
Peace be multiplied unto you.
This is a king who thought he was
God.
And there are people in the workplace.
They think they are God.
Don't they?
He said I make a decree.
That in every dominion of my kingdom.
Can you imagine the heads of some corporations
in New York City.
Dentists office.
School systems.
Everyone in my kingdom.
Men tremble in fear before the God of
Daniel.
For he is the living God.
And steadfast forever in his kingdom.
And that which shall not be destroyed.
And his dominion shall be even unto the
end.
Now where did he get this revelation?
He got it because it was a man
who would not bow.
And all of a sudden the revelation.
When he saw he didn't fall before the
power of accusation.
And the lies and the lions around him.
He began to understand something.
He said he delivers.
Verse 27.
And rescues.
And he works signs and wonders in heaven
and the earth.
And who has delivered Daniel from the power
of the lions.
Now he came from thinking he is God.
To an incredible revelation about God.
Amazing.
And he made a decree.
And of course wouldn't that be lovely to
see that in some of the places where
all have to work today.
And then a verse.
So some will be saved through your testimony.
The story of Daniel really clearly illustrates this.
That some will be saved.
And because of your testimony they will come
out.
And the decree might not be for the
corporation.
Or the building wherever you work.
But the decree will be at least for
themselves.
For their family.
For their children.
He said I saw a man.
He was delivered.
He had a power upon him.
That nothing that I had ever experienced.
Even becoming a king.
I had ever seen.
He serves a God who delivers and rescues.
And he does wonders and signs.
This man was able to withstand the power
of the lions.
He was able to withstand the power of
those roaring mouths.
That the devil uses to try to devour
every true saint of God.
The power of the lion.
And some will be judged.
You are going to stand in the marketplace.
And your testimony is going to be real.
And some will be saved.
But others, some will be judged.
In verse 24 it says.
And the king commanded.
And they brought those men which had accused
Daniel.
And they cast them into the den of
lions.
Them and their children, their wives.
The lions had the mastery over them.
And broke all their bones in pieces.
Wherever they came at the bottom of the
den.
Somehow, I don't think Daniel was rejoicing over
this.
I want you to picture for a moment
your boss.
Being cast into hell and his children.
Or her children.
Family members.
I want you to picture them.
The devouring power of the devil.
His rage against even those he uses to
attack the children of God.
His violent rage.
Scripture says their bones were smashed before they
even touched the bottom.
And it's a type of the rage of
the enemy.
And yes, we have to endure difficult things.
But think of the end result.
That's why Jesus stood.
That's why he did not move when he
was slapped.
That's why he did not.
Scripture says he was reviled.
But he reviled not back in return.
Because he knew that if he could be
removed.
From the conscience of those who were doing
these things.
That they would be smashed to pieces forever.
They would one day be in the hand.
The grip of a darkness.
That would be destructive for eternity.
Where the Bible says the weeping and the
wailing never ceases.
The conscience never dies.
The gnashing of teeth never goes away.
The anger, the regret, the lack of comfort
and consolation.
The indescribable pain that is in this place.
Where people who are cast away from God
go forever.
The only thing that I think the Bible
could even describe it as.
That we would understand is a lake of
fire.
There's nothing else that we would really comprehend.
That would give us an understanding of how
deep and intense this pain really is.
Some will be saved and some will be
judged.
And ultimately you will stand.
Verse 28 says, So this Daniel prospered in
the reign of Darius and in the reign
of Cyrus the Persian.
He prospered.
In times of persecution we must ask ourselves
the question.
How much do I love a soul?
How much is Christ's desire for them formed
in me?
Do I love people enough to let God
make me a living example of his love
for them.
And his power to keep those who trust
in him.
See this is the ultimate question.
God doesn't keep me in a bubble.
Because people around me would never know who
he is.
He allows me as my master to stand.
He allows me to face incredible opposition.
He allows me to be confronted by the
roaring of the lion.
Because he loves them.
And really that's the issue.
God loves your boss.
God loves those workers that are trying to
slander you to take your spot.
Or just because you're a Christian.
God loves them.
And the question I have to ask my
own heart.
I don't probably live in the degree of
persecution now that some of you do.
Obviously I don't.
But I used to.
I know what it's like to go through
these things.
But the question I have to ask my
own heart if I were in your position
today.
Would be how much is the desire of
Jesus for their salvation in me?
How much do I represent my master?
And it's not just gritting your teeth and
standing.
It's a step beyond that.
It's actually loving them.
It's actually loving your enemies.
It's doing good to those who despitefully use
you.
It's praying for those that persecute you.
That you may be children of your father
which is in heaven.
For he sends rain on the just and
on the unjust.
It's a step beyond just enduring.
It's a step beyond saying okay well I
just won't talk to them.
They come left I go right.
They go here I go there.
They go to the lunchroom I go grab
a broom and I go.
No it's a step beyond that.
It's returning evil with kindness.
That we may be the children of our
father.
And this is why.
This is why.
If God could keep me from trouble that
he doesn't.
David said though I walk through the midst
of trouble.
Thou wilt revive me.
Thou wilt stretch forth thine hand against the
wrath of mine enemies.
And thy right hand shall save me.
I'm going to have to walk through it.
But God you will revive me.
You will save me from their wrath.
And your right hand.
Will save me.
Hallelujah.
Lord I do pray.
That through the preaching of your word today
you have dissolved.
This doubt.
About your faithfulness.
That you have put to flight.
The powers of the devil.
The arguments of the evil one.
Oh I thank you for the simplicity of
truth.
I thank you for the greatness of the
cross.
And the wonderfulness of the call of our
God.
Lord you will make us stand.
Help.
All of us help me to be a
testimony to a wicked generation.
Help me God.
To love people the way you love them.
It's not about just enduring.
It's about loving.
Help me to follow in your footsteps.
Blessed Savior.
Now for those.
Who'd like to respond to this altar call
today.
I want you to come with your Bible.
In your hand.
Because I have a little lesson for you
at this altar today and then we're going
to pray together.
I want to give an altar call for
everybody who's going through the things.
That the Lord the Holy Spirit has had
me speak on today.
Education annex you'll probably have to go between
the screens.
I don't think there'd be enough room here.
But as we stand balcony.
Main sanctuary.
Balcony you can make your way to either
exit.
You can go ahead and stand now.
And take your Bible and ladies bring your
purse.
Make your way to the altar.
Bring your Bible in your hand.
And we're going to have.
A little bit of a Bible study here.
Hallelujah.
Isn't God good?
He delivers.
He sends his word and he sets us
free.
Everyone that's going through this times of persecution.
It could be in your family.
It could be in your neighborhood.
Could be in your marriage.
It could be on your job.
But you're going through an incredible time.
It's very hard for you to stand right
now.
But the Lord is going to keep you.
Do you believe that today?
He's going to keep you.
And it's not going to get easier.
I wish I could give you those words
of comfort today.
But I can't.
It won't.
It will not get easier.
Based on your circumstance.
It will get easier based on your knowledge
of God.
That's the only way it's going to get
easier.
Because outwardly.
Clearly the scripture tells us.
It's going to get more difficult as the
days unfold.
We're entering into a very anti.
Christian time.
You have your Bibles.
I want to give everybody a chance to
get down here.
Who's coming.
And the education and next YouTube.
Right where you can still see the screen.
And I'm going to show you what the
Lord says.
I've done this before here at Times Square
Church.
But it's Psalm 37.
If you go there with me.
Just will take five minutes to get through
this.
Psalm 37.
People are still coming.
I want you to see it for yourself.
Psalm 37.
Beginning at verse 1.
We'll still wait.
There's still people coming.
Fret not.
Thyself because of evildoers.
Neither be envious.
Against the workers of iniquity.
You see that?
Verse 1.
Let's read it together.
Fret not thyself because of evildoers.
Neither be thou envious.
Against the workers of iniquity.
Now, let me stop there.
Do not fret.
Means don't worry.
Don't get yourself in a knot.
Don't go home.
And have to take alkyl seltzer at the
end of the day.
Because of evildoers.
And don't be envious.
Don't let their spirit get into your spirit.
That's your part.
Verse 1.
Verse 2 is God's part.
For they shall soon be cut down like
the grass and wither as the green herb.
Your part is not to fret.
And not be envious.
God's part.
Is they will either be saved or cut
down.
God says I will deal with it.
I will deal with it.
I know where you are.
I know your name.
I know what you're going through.
And I've established you there for a purpose.
Verse 3.
Again.
Now my part.
Trust in the Lord.
And do good.
Say that with me.
Trust in the Lord.
And do good.
Okay.
So now.
Do good.
Look for opportunities to do good.
You see the guy that's trying to stab
you in the back.
Saying has anybody got a pen?
Say here you can have mine.
Keep it.
Do good.
Now God's.
Part.
That's your part.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
God's part is so shalt thou dwell in
the land.
And verily thou shalt be fed.
In other words.
I will establish you.
In the place where you are.
And feed you.
Feed you.
They're all starving around you.
But I will feed you.
Everybody's worried.
Finally one day the company is falling apart.
And.
And everybody comes in.
And they're just all.
Shaken to the core.
And you're just.
Nothing has changed.
You walk in you're fed.
Oh God.
You're so good to me.
You so keep me.
Again.
Verse 4.
My part.
Your part rather.
Delight thyself.
Also.
In the Lord.
Now say that with me.
Delight thyself.
Also in the Lord.
Now.
OK.
I want to I want to just repeat.
From the beginning.
Don't fret.
Because of evil doers.
Don't be envious.
Trust in the Lord.
Do good.
Delight yourself.
Also in the Lord.
And now this is God's part.
And he.
Shall give thee.
The desires.
Of thine heart.
Now the desires of your heart.
Could be that this person.
Persecuting you be saved.
But if they will not be saved.
The desire could conceivably be.
That God will remove them.
As well.
My part.
Verse 5.
Commit thy way unto the Lord.
Trust also.
In him.
Let's say that with me.
Commit thy way.
Unto the Lord.
Trust also.
In him.
In other words.
Every day.
God.
Order my steps.
Mighty God.
Help me.
Help my tongue.
Oh God.
Bolt it.
To the roof of my mouth.
If you have to.
But help me God.
Help me to trust you.
And then he says.
And he.
This is God's part.
Shall bring it to pass.
He will bring it to pass.
In other words.
His plan.
Will unfold.
What he has for you.
And verse 6.
Let me read it to you.
This is God's part.
Continue.
And he shall bring forth.
Thy righteousness.
As the light.
And thy judgment.
As the noon day.
In other words.
You have walked right.
Before God.
And they have tried to extinguish.
That righteousness.
But God says.
I will bring it forth.
Just as the light of the day.
There's nobody can stop.
The sun from rising.
Try as they may.
They cannot stop.
And God says.
They cannot stop.
The evidence.
That I'm about to bring into that.
Situation through your life.
And I will bring out your.
Your.
Your innocence.
As it is.
Just like the noon day.
I will show.
That you are righteous.
And bring out your innocence.
It may be.
Today.
It may be tomorrow.
It may be at the judgment seat.
But wherever it happens.
God says.
It's going to happen.
You will be vindicated.
Trust in your heart.
That it will be shown.
That you are righteous.
And it will be shown.
Either before.
Your office staff.
Or before the whole world.
One day.
Before all of creation.
Will finally know.
That you were innocent.
In what you were accused of.
Hallelujah.
Evil doers.
Will be cut off.
But those that wait.
Upon the Lord.
They shall.
Inherit the earth.
From the earth.
For yet a little while.
Verse 10.
And the wicked shall not be.
Thou shall diligently.
Consider his place.
And it shall not be.
Just a little while.
God says.
Just a little while.
And you look around.
And you say.
Where have my enemies gone?
Where did all my accusers go?
What happened to them all?
All of those.
That were building their kingdom.
Over the top of my ashes.
As they thought.
But I rise.
And where do they go?
What happened to them?
Beloved.
I've seen this.
I've seen this over the years.
Wicked.
Rising up.
Says.
But the meek.
Shall inherit the earth.
And delight themselves.
Verse 11.
In the abundance of peace.
God says.
I have an inheritance.
Can't be taken away from you.
And you're going to have.
An abundance of peace.
When everyone around you is.
Is dying of ulcers.
And various things.
Because of the turmoil.
In their heart.
You're going to be walking.
In the peace of God.
Verse 23.
David says.
The steps of a good man.
Are ordered by the Lord.
And he delights in his way.
And though he fall.
And this is another.
Message I had.
For those who come to the altar.
Today.
Though he fall.
Though he.
He has fallen.
Though he has failed.
Though he has responded.
In unkindness.
Though he has.
Taken on that spirit.
Of the work environment.
Though he has.
Murmured and complained.
Though he has gone.
Into the back room.
And.
Been part of the plots.
And such like thing.
He shall not be utterly.
Cast down.
For the Lord upholds him.
With his hand.
God says.
I'm aware of the feelings.
Of your infirmities.
And you can come.
To the throne.
To find grace.
To help in your time of need.
And then verse 25.
David says.
I've been young.
And I've been old.
Yet I've not seen.
The righteous forsaken.
Nor is seed.
Baking bread.
I'd never seen before.
I'd never understood.
That that's in the context.
Of standing against.
Your enemies.
If you really look at it.
It's not about.
Physical bread.
And food.
He says.
David says.
I've never seen the righteous.
Forsaken.
I've never seen.
Those that trust in God.
Begging as it is.
For strength.
Because God.
Is their strength.
Verse 35.
And this.
Will be closing.
With a few verses.
I want you to read.
Right through.
From 35 to 40.
With me.
I have seen.
The wicked.
In great power.
And spreading himself.
Like a green.
Bay tree.
Yet he passed.
Away.
And low.
He was not.
Yay.
I sought him.
But he could not be found.
Mark.
The perfect man.
And behold.
The upright.
For the end.
Of that man.
Is peace.
But the transgressors.
Shall be destroyed.
Together.
And the end.
Of the wicked.
Shall be cut off.
But the salvation.
Of the righteous.
Is of the Lord.
He.
Is their strength.
In the time.
Of trouble.
And the Lord.
Shall help them.
And deliver them.
He shall deliver them.
From the wicked.
And save them.
Because.
They trust.
In him.
From the wicked.
Now.
We've settled that.
And now our prayer.
Is going to be God.
Save the wicked.
Amen.
I want you to pray with me today.
And lift up the name.
Of whoever the person.
Of persons are.
That are causing you.
This grief.
And ask God for the strength.
To be a living Bible.
Before them.
Lord Jesus.
I come to you today.
Trusting.
That you have allowed me.
To go into this fire.
For a purpose.
And this purpose.
Is that your glory.
Your mercy.
And your love.
Through my life.
To the wicked.
Who are around me.
I don't pray.
For judgment.
Now I'm going to ask you to say
their names.
I ask you Lord to be merciful.
Whether it's Bob.
Or Jim.
Or Tom.
Or my husband.
My wife.
My uncle.
My cousin.
My brother.
My boss.
Just ask the Lord now.
To be merciful.
Ask oh God.
That they be forgiven.
Their sin.
That they be provoked.
To righteousness.
They be turned.
From iniquity.
They be turned.
To the strength.
And the life.
Of the living God.
Pray that God.
Make you a hedge.
Now.
Pray make you a hedge.
To stand in the gap.
For them.
To not falter.
On your watch.
For them.
To not.
Cave in.
Under pressure.
For their souls sake.
Now.
Praying with me now.
Lord Jesus.
Give me strength.
To stand.
In the gap.
Between these people.
And an eternal Hell.
Strengthened me.
Settled my mind.
Settled my thoughts.
Help me.
To rejoice.
In the understanding.
That you have.
Counted me worthy.
To stand up.
before them and be a living expression of
the Christ who died for them and loves
them and lives for them.
Help me to forgive them as you God
are willing to forgive when they call out
to you.
I don't pray for their destruction.
I pray for their salvation.
Oh God thank you for sending your word
today and delivering me from the snare of
the lion, from the fear of my enemies.
I am like Mount Zion.
I trust in you oh God.
I abide.
I will never be moved.
Oh God thank you.
Oh God hallelujah.
Thank you Jesus.
Hallelujah.
Mighty God we praise you.
We bless you Jesus.
We bless you God.
We bless you Lord.
We bless you God.
We praise you.
Surround us with songs of deliverance oh God.
Hallelujah Lamb of God.
Hallelujah.
We will stand.
We will stand by the grace of our
God.
We believe in God with all our heart.
Hallelujah.
This is the conclusion of the message.