1 00:00:00,460 --> 00:00:02,260 To be with you brothers and sisters here 2 00:00:02,260 --> 00:00:06,580 in Richmond, and to remember the Lord together, 3 00:00:07,380 --> 00:00:09,020 and to worship Him. 4 00:00:10,700 --> 00:00:14,520 That's why I was sitting there and meditating 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:20,260 the goodness of the Lord, how He removed 6 00:00:21,100 --> 00:00:26,050 our stony hearts and gave all of us 7 00:00:26,530 --> 00:00:30,330 a heart of flesh that we can respond 8 00:00:30,330 --> 00:00:30,770 to Him. 9 00:00:35,530 --> 00:00:40,570 Our unclean lips He touched, and of His 10 00:00:40,570 --> 00:00:45,970 lips of clay we can sing praises, songs 11 00:00:45,970 --> 00:00:49,750 unto Him that we know by faith are 12 00:00:49,750 --> 00:00:52,010 acceptable in His sight. 13 00:00:56,300 --> 00:00:59,160 Only He can do it, and He done 14 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:03,040 it, because our God has faith in Himself, 15 00:01:04,060 --> 00:01:05,220 and He did it. 16 00:01:06,580 --> 00:01:11,440 Therefore, we can respond, we can sing, and 17 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:13,900 we can rejoice together in Him. 18 00:01:15,100 --> 00:01:16,080 Sweet power in it. 19 00:01:21,020 --> 00:01:25,380 Lord, we are so thankful that we are 20 00:01:25,380 --> 00:01:27,440 not alone here by ourselves. 21 00:01:30,540 --> 00:01:31,980 We are so thankful to You. 22 00:01:33,340 --> 00:01:36,520 It is Your longing to be with Your 23 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:36,880 people. 24 00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:40,260 We thank You. 25 00:01:41,700 --> 00:01:44,060 By faith we know You are with us. 26 00:01:45,740 --> 00:01:47,040 You are our portion. 27 00:01:48,220 --> 00:01:49,060 You are everything. 28 00:01:52,300 --> 00:01:53,680 And when we know You are with us, 29 00:01:55,570 --> 00:01:56,970 we say, it is enough. 30 00:01:58,230 --> 00:02:00,530 And to You, give all the praise and 31 00:02:00,530 --> 00:02:01,070 all the glory. 32 00:02:01,990 --> 00:02:03,450 We ask it in Lord Jesus. 33 00:02:04,690 --> 00:02:05,010 Amen. 34 00:02:09,650 --> 00:02:12,590 When I was here last time, a few 35 00:02:12,590 --> 00:02:16,170 weeks ago, I shared this matter of faith. 36 00:02:18,170 --> 00:02:20,410 And as I told you, every time I 37 00:02:20,410 --> 00:02:23,770 come to visit Richmond, I always get caught 38 00:02:23,770 --> 00:02:24,210 up here. 39 00:02:26,390 --> 00:02:27,530 But thank the Lord. 40 00:02:28,110 --> 00:02:32,130 Every time I am given an opportunity to 41 00:02:32,130 --> 00:02:35,010 serve the Lord, I always consider it as 42 00:02:35,010 --> 00:02:40,790 a learning situation to experience the Lord in 43 00:02:40,790 --> 00:02:41,570 a fresh way. 44 00:02:42,810 --> 00:02:44,870 And thank the Lord for such opportunity. 45 00:02:46,010 --> 00:02:48,210 Well, last time we mentioned this faith. 46 00:02:48,210 --> 00:02:51,150 And faith is the foundation of our Christian 47 00:02:51,150 --> 00:02:52,230 life or Christian living. 48 00:02:53,950 --> 00:02:56,750 If we look through the whole Bible, it's 49 00:02:56,750 --> 00:02:59,230 full of this word belief and trust. 50 00:02:59,710 --> 00:03:00,110 Faith. 51 00:03:02,260 --> 00:03:03,320 It's just full. 52 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,320 The Gospel of John, that they might believe. 53 00:03:07,580 --> 00:03:08,860 Even the Book of Romans. 54 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:10,600 Faith and belief. 55 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:12,100 Almost in every page. 56 00:03:13,220 --> 00:03:14,720 And throughout the whole Epistles of Paul. 57 00:03:16,420 --> 00:03:19,380 And the Bible begins with this wonderful statement 58 00:03:19,380 --> 00:03:20,060 or announcement. 59 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:21,440 In the beginning, God. 60 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:23,300 It is a statement of faith. 61 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:26,540 Not for our faith in Him. 62 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:28,620 But He has faith in Himself. 63 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:31,500 And that's what Brother Sparks says. 64 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,000 Because He has faith in Himself, therefore He 65 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,340 did what He did. 66 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:41,980 And that's what we are today. 67 00:03:42,220 --> 00:03:44,440 Because God has faith in Himself. 68 00:03:44,820 --> 00:03:46,500 And He will redeem us if He transforms 69 00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:46,840 us. 70 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:48,700 And He will keep us to the end. 71 00:03:50,300 --> 00:03:52,000 Because God has faith in Himself. 72 00:03:54,260 --> 00:03:58,580 That's why this faith, this matter of faith, 73 00:03:58,640 --> 00:03:59,400 is so rare. 74 00:04:01,300 --> 00:04:04,680 And God is for ever looking this faith 75 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,760 in mankind. 76 00:04:07,260 --> 00:04:08,600 So I share last time with the Lord. 77 00:04:08,660 --> 00:04:10,940 He has found His faith in the people. 78 00:04:11,460 --> 00:04:12,940 He was greatly rejoiced. 79 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:15,140 You remember the centurion's faith. 80 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:17,779 The Lord falls and He looks around. 81 00:04:19,079 --> 00:04:21,540 And He says, I have never seen such 82 00:04:21,540 --> 00:04:24,340 great faith even in Israel. 83 00:04:25,380 --> 00:04:27,980 And the Lord called that faith a great 84 00:04:27,980 --> 00:04:28,460 faith. 85 00:04:29,260 --> 00:04:34,780 Because that faith released the great God to 86 00:04:34,780 --> 00:04:36,320 speak His word. 87 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,540 To express His love. 88 00:04:40,380 --> 00:04:42,120 And to accomplish His work. 89 00:04:43,700 --> 00:04:46,420 So faith is the link to heaven. 90 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:51,180 Faith is the way by which you appropriate 91 00:04:51,180 --> 00:04:53,420 or enter into all of His hours in 92 00:04:53,420 --> 00:04:53,940 the Lord Jesus. 93 00:04:55,620 --> 00:04:57,520 So without faith there is nothing. 94 00:04:58,260 --> 00:05:00,060 Without faith there is nothing. 95 00:05:00,280 --> 00:05:02,860 But with faith there is like everything. 96 00:05:04,810 --> 00:05:06,070 So shall we just look at a few 97 00:05:06,070 --> 00:05:06,790 verses of Scripture. 98 00:05:07,650 --> 00:05:08,050 Brothers and sisters. 99 00:05:08,210 --> 00:05:09,690 Let's first turn to the book of Hebrews 100 00:05:09,690 --> 00:05:10,250 11. 101 00:05:10,550 --> 00:05:11,970 We will read that portion. 102 00:05:21,140 --> 00:05:22,180 Hebrews 11. 103 00:05:22,180 --> 00:05:33,880 And we will read verse 1, 2 104 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:34,500 and 3. 105 00:05:35,260 --> 00:05:37,960 Now faith is the substance of things hoped 106 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,320 for and the evidence of things not seen. 107 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,500 For by it the elders obtained a good 108 00:05:45,500 --> 00:05:46,200 testimony. 109 00:05:47,580 --> 00:05:50,440 By faith we understand that the worlds were 110 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,700 framed by the word of God. 111 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:56,640 So that the things which are seen are 112 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,440 not made of things which are visible. 113 00:06:01,540 --> 00:06:02,620 And verse 6. 114 00:06:04,540 --> 00:06:06,900 But without faith it is impossible to please 115 00:06:06,900 --> 00:06:07,260 God. 116 00:06:07,420 --> 00:06:09,720 For he who comes to God must believe 117 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:11,640 that He is and that He is the 118 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:16,660 rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 119 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:19,280 And let's turn to 1 Peter. 120 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:23,980 Read a few verses from 1 Peter. 121 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:26,580 This is Peter 1. 122 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:33,520 We will read from verse 3. 123 00:06:34,980 --> 00:06:36,580 Peter 1 verse 3. 124 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,380 Blessed be the God and the Father of 125 00:06:40,380 --> 00:06:43,280 all Jesus Christ who according to His abundant 126 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:47,060 mercy has begotten us again to a living 127 00:06:47,060 --> 00:06:52,760 hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 128 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:57,860 the dead to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled 129 00:06:58,900 --> 00:07:02,260 and that does not fade away reserved in 130 00:07:02,260 --> 00:07:03,540 heaven for you. 131 00:07:06,250 --> 00:07:08,630 You are kept by the power of God 132 00:07:08,630 --> 00:07:12,650 through faith for salvation ready to be revealed 133 00:07:12,650 --> 00:07:13,830 in the last time. 134 00:07:16,730 --> 00:07:20,230 In this you greatly rejoice though now for 135 00:07:20,230 --> 00:07:23,230 a little while it may be you have 136 00:07:23,230 --> 00:07:26,530 been grieved by various trials. 137 00:07:27,830 --> 00:07:31,330 Let the genuineness of your faith be much 138 00:07:31,330 --> 00:07:35,950 more precious than gold that perishes though it 139 00:07:35,950 --> 00:07:38,470 is tested by fire may be found to 140 00:07:38,470 --> 00:07:41,310 praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of 141 00:07:41,310 --> 00:07:48,500 Jesus Christ whom heaven not seen you love. 142 00:07:49,980 --> 00:07:52,260 Though now you do not see Him yet 143 00:07:52,260 --> 00:07:57,700 believing you rejoice with joy in the unexpressible 144 00:07:57,700 --> 00:08:02,180 and full glory receiving the end of your 145 00:08:02,180 --> 00:08:05,980 faith the salvation of your soul. 146 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:08,600 And let's just turn to one more portion 147 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:10,280 because when we talk about this man of 148 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:12,340 faith we can't get away from Abraham, can 149 00:08:12,340 --> 00:08:12,580 we? 150 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:14,940 He's the father of faith. 151 00:08:15,060 --> 00:08:17,120 He's the father of the circumcised as well 152 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:17,860 as the uncircumcised. 153 00:08:18,220 --> 00:08:19,760 So let's turn to Romans 4. 154 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,740 Let's read a few verses from Romans 4. 155 00:08:27,740 --> 00:08:34,659 Romans 4, 16. 156 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:36,740 We'll begin with 16. 157 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:38,220 Romans 4, 16. 158 00:08:40,260 --> 00:08:44,640 Therefore it is faith that it might be 159 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:48,500 according to grace so that the promise might 160 00:08:48,500 --> 00:08:51,180 be true or certain to all that see. 161 00:08:52,460 --> 00:08:54,840 Not only to those who are of the 162 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,620 law but also to those who are of 163 00:08:57,620 --> 00:09:00,840 the faith of Abraham who is the father 164 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:01,580 of us all. 165 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,680 As it is written I have made you 166 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:10,660 a father of many nations in the presence 167 00:09:10,660 --> 00:09:15,060 of him whom he believed even God who 168 00:09:15,060 --> 00:09:17,980 gives life to the dead and causes those 169 00:09:17,980 --> 00:09:20,680 things which do not exist as though they 170 00:09:20,680 --> 00:09:20,960 did. 171 00:09:24,580 --> 00:09:27,640 That is the foundation of Abraham's faith. 172 00:09:30,140 --> 00:09:31,920 The God who gives life to the dead 173 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,580 and causes those things which do not exist 174 00:09:35,580 --> 00:09:37,240 as though they did. 175 00:09:39,630 --> 00:09:45,410 Who contrary to hope in hope believed so 176 00:09:45,410 --> 00:09:47,250 that he became the father of many nations 177 00:09:47,250 --> 00:09:49,350 according to what was spoken. 178 00:09:50,010 --> 00:09:52,610 So shall your descendants be. 179 00:09:54,050 --> 00:09:57,850 And not being weak in faith he did 180 00:09:57,850 --> 00:10:01,210 not consider his own body already dead since 181 00:10:01,210 --> 00:10:03,850 he was about a hundred years old and 182 00:10:03,850 --> 00:10:05,410 the deadness of Sarah's womb. 183 00:10:06,330 --> 00:10:10,710 He did not waver at the promise of 184 00:10:10,710 --> 00:10:16,560 God through unbelief but was strengthened in faith 185 00:10:16,560 --> 00:10:22,660 giving glory to God and being fully convinced 186 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:29,800 that what he had promised he was also 187 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:30,960 able to perform. 188 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,080 So we will end our reading there. 189 00:10:37,860 --> 00:10:41,000 So we shared last time faith is really 190 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,200 faith in a God who is faithful to 191 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,860 himself or God who is full of faith 192 00:10:45,860 --> 00:10:46,540 in himself. 193 00:10:48,740 --> 00:10:51,240 Now when we discover that is true and 194 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:56,000 that is fact we can be at rest. 195 00:11:02,850 --> 00:11:04,490 We don't need to struggle anymore. 196 00:11:06,780 --> 00:11:10,840 Faith brings us to a real rest in 197 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:11,340 our soul. 198 00:11:13,580 --> 00:11:15,320 And the problem with many of the believers 199 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:21,000 is that we don't really have that pure 200 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,340 faith in a great God. 201 00:11:23,940 --> 00:11:31,220 Therefore we have so many anxieties agitation, restlessness 202 00:11:31,220 --> 00:11:37,040 in our soul because we fail to see 203 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:37,820 who he is. 204 00:11:40,340 --> 00:11:44,860 Once we discover who he is then we 205 00:11:44,860 --> 00:11:46,840 enter into rest. 206 00:11:50,510 --> 00:11:54,230 Well this morning when it comes to this 207 00:11:54,230 --> 00:11:57,670 matter of faith the way the Lord teaches 208 00:11:57,670 --> 00:11:59,970 this matter of faith he often brings us 209 00:11:59,970 --> 00:12:08,230 into impossible situations to test our faith, to 210 00:12:08,230 --> 00:12:11,190 try our faith whether the origin of our 211 00:12:11,190 --> 00:12:14,330 faith is from ourselves or the origin of 212 00:12:14,330 --> 00:12:15,470 our faith is from God. 213 00:12:16,890 --> 00:12:19,390 If the origin of that faith is from 214 00:12:19,390 --> 00:12:20,830 ourselves it will be what? 215 00:12:20,830 --> 00:12:22,730 It can easily be shaken. 216 00:12:24,010 --> 00:12:26,290 But if the origin of that faith is 217 00:12:26,290 --> 00:12:29,230 based on God God is the foundation of 218 00:12:29,230 --> 00:12:30,510 faith and God is the one who gives 219 00:12:30,510 --> 00:12:33,710 that faith then we are on a solid 220 00:12:33,710 --> 00:12:34,130 rock. 221 00:12:35,710 --> 00:12:38,790 Then our life as the Lord's people will 222 00:12:38,790 --> 00:12:39,870 not be easily shaken. 223 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,800 So oftentimes the Lord is always oftentimes he 224 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:49,340 brings us to a situation that seems impossible. 225 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:52,060 In other words, he wants us to believe 226 00:12:52,060 --> 00:12:52,900 the unbelievable. 227 00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:58,700 Do we dare to believe him? 228 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:08,140 You know, believing God is an unbelievable thing. 229 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:10,840 Have you ever witnessed people asking to believe? 230 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:12,900 Have you? 231 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:13,760 I am sure you have. 232 00:13:14,140 --> 00:13:16,780 And you discuss how impossible for them to 233 00:13:16,780 --> 00:13:17,260 believe. 234 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:19,120 How hard? 235 00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:21,480 How impossible? 236 00:13:26,620 --> 00:13:28,620 So when we ask people to believe in 237 00:13:28,620 --> 00:13:30,860 the Lord Jesus we are asking them to 238 00:13:30,860 --> 00:13:32,120 believe in the unbelievable. 239 00:13:37,220 --> 00:13:39,820 If it is believable, I mean they will 240 00:13:39,820 --> 00:13:40,640 all believe in him. 241 00:13:44,530 --> 00:13:48,770 So unless God does something that's why Paul 242 00:13:48,770 --> 00:13:52,770 says faith comes from hearing and hearing comes 243 00:13:52,770 --> 00:13:53,190 from what? 244 00:13:53,890 --> 00:13:54,690 The Word of God. 245 00:13:55,410 --> 00:13:58,350 The Word of God generates faith in us 246 00:13:58,350 --> 00:13:59,290 to believe God's Word. 247 00:14:00,490 --> 00:14:01,490 Faith unto faith. 248 00:14:04,350 --> 00:14:06,990 So, you know, that's how when we have 249 00:14:06,990 --> 00:14:09,170 a gospel meeting and witnessing and try to 250 00:14:09,170 --> 00:14:12,310 reach out and sometimes we face impossible situations. 251 00:14:13,850 --> 00:14:15,690 You know, some people they are so almost 252 00:14:15,690 --> 00:14:20,920 to the on the verge of believing and 253 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:22,520 yet somehow they still are not able to 254 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:22,880 make it. 255 00:14:27,350 --> 00:14:34,080 And so faith is believing the unbelievable. 256 00:14:39,390 --> 00:14:41,350 And God wants us to God wants us 257 00:14:41,350 --> 00:14:42,930 to exercise that kind of faith. 258 00:14:43,170 --> 00:14:44,390 Now I will give you an example. 259 00:14:44,550 --> 00:14:51,600 We know in the scripture how the Lord 260 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,880 brings us to impossible situations to discover our 261 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:56,740 faith and at the same time for us 262 00:14:56,740 --> 00:14:58,040 to know that he is faithful. 263 00:14:59,700 --> 00:15:01,740 What he has promised he will what? 264 00:15:02,260 --> 00:15:02,560 Do. 265 00:15:07,450 --> 00:15:12,070 Now the 400 years of the Israelites in 266 00:15:12,070 --> 00:15:16,090 Egypt we know it was predicted way back 267 00:15:17,530 --> 00:15:21,050 that they will be taken into Egypt and 268 00:15:21,050 --> 00:15:21,430 so forth. 269 00:15:21,430 --> 00:15:23,270 But you remember the Lord sent Moses to 270 00:15:23,270 --> 00:15:24,890 Egypt to deliver the Israelites out. 271 00:15:26,530 --> 00:15:28,790 You read those accounts. 272 00:15:29,170 --> 00:15:32,970 It was an impossible situation. 273 00:15:35,370 --> 00:15:42,860 There were slaves in Egypt under bondage and 274 00:15:42,860 --> 00:15:44,200 Pharaoh was their what? 275 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:46,440 Their master, their king. 276 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:47,700 He would not let them go? 277 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:54,940 He said no. 278 00:15:55,900 --> 00:15:57,840 And you know how they argue how they 279 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:03,180 try to how Pharaoh tries to negotiate with 280 00:16:03,980 --> 00:16:04,700 Moses. 281 00:16:05,300 --> 00:16:10,660 He said well okay the men can go. 282 00:16:13,020 --> 00:16:13,840 And you know the story. 283 00:16:14,860 --> 00:16:17,480 And it took ten times for Moses to 284 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:18,640 confront Pharaoh. 285 00:16:19,260 --> 00:16:20,520 Finally Pharaoh gave in. 286 00:16:23,370 --> 00:16:24,630 Impossible situation. 287 00:16:27,740 --> 00:16:32,220 And that's why that's why because through all 288 00:16:32,220 --> 00:16:35,340 this and through Pharaoh the Lord's name was 289 00:16:35,340 --> 00:16:35,580 what? 290 00:16:36,740 --> 00:16:37,340 Magnified. 291 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:39,900 And glorified. 292 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,140 So faith is not something for people to 293 00:16:44,140 --> 00:16:44,520 boast. 294 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:55,550 Faith is simply a opportunity for God 295 00:16:55,550 --> 00:16:59,210 to manifest who He is and what He 296 00:16:59,210 --> 00:16:59,550 can do. 297 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,400 Now when they came out of Egypt now 298 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,020 there are other ways for them to get 299 00:17:08,020 --> 00:17:08,420 out. 300 00:17:09,540 --> 00:17:11,819 And they somehow they circle around and they 301 00:17:11,819 --> 00:17:13,900 get stuck in front of the Red Sea. 302 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:16,760 Not only in front of the Red Sea 303 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,200 but when they look back in front of 304 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:20,540 them was the Red Sea and when they 305 00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:21,540 look back what they saw? 306 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:23,339 The troops what? 307 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:24,500 Of Pharaoh. 308 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,760 The best equipped troops of Pharaoh. 309 00:17:28,020 --> 00:17:29,260 And they were caught in between. 310 00:17:33,860 --> 00:17:34,580 What can they do? 311 00:17:36,360 --> 00:17:37,320 Impossible situation. 312 00:17:38,740 --> 00:17:40,340 They met the Lord Himself. 313 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:42,300 The Lord was faithful to Himself. 314 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:42,820 That's all. 315 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,200 The Lord was responsible for bringing them out 316 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,220 of Egypt and the Lord ultimately was responsible 317 00:17:50,220 --> 00:17:51,600 for bringing them into what? 318 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:52,540 The land. 319 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,860 The Lord was faithful in spite of the 320 00:17:56,860 --> 00:17:58,120 unfaithfulness of His people. 321 00:18:03,100 --> 00:18:06,720 Now in the New Testament we encounter this 322 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:11,120 problem too with regard to the Lord Jesus. 323 00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:13,100 The question is how can it be? 324 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:15,580 How is it possible? 325 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:17,520 You remember Nicodemus came to the Lord by 326 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,320 night and the Lord talked about being born 327 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,120 from above without being born by the Spirit 328 00:18:23,120 --> 00:18:25,140 you cannot enter into the kingdom. 329 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:27,480 And what was Nicodemus response? 330 00:18:29,410 --> 00:18:30,730 Born again, born from above. 331 00:18:31,010 --> 00:18:32,650 He said how can this what? 332 00:18:33,110 --> 00:18:34,270 How can these things be? 333 00:18:37,540 --> 00:18:39,820 See the Lord wants you to believe that 334 00:18:39,820 --> 00:18:40,000 what? 335 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:41,180 The unbelievable. 336 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:43,520 That's all. 337 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:45,060 It's impossible. 338 00:18:46,700 --> 00:18:47,800 He's had a reason now. 339 00:18:48,180 --> 00:18:48,940 Forget it. 340 00:18:53,110 --> 00:18:55,050 And then the next chapter, the fourth chapter 341 00:18:55,050 --> 00:18:57,590 of the Gospel of John with the Samaritan 342 00:18:57,590 --> 00:18:57,930 woman. 343 00:18:58,050 --> 00:18:58,990 You remember the Samaritan woman? 344 00:18:59,850 --> 00:19:01,230 And the Lord said, now if you know 345 00:19:01,230 --> 00:19:03,270 who is talking to you if you ask 346 00:19:03,270 --> 00:19:04,450 him, he will give you what? 347 00:19:05,470 --> 00:19:06,210 Living water. 348 00:19:06,490 --> 00:19:08,050 And once you drink that water you will 349 00:19:08,050 --> 00:19:08,650 never what? 350 00:19:09,010 --> 00:19:10,010 Be thirst again. 351 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:13,700 Then she looked at him. 352 00:19:13,700 --> 00:19:16,820 She said sir, you have nothing to draw 353 00:19:16,820 --> 00:19:21,540 the water with and yet the well was 354 00:19:21,540 --> 00:19:21,840 what? 355 00:19:22,340 --> 00:19:22,680 Deep. 356 00:19:23,940 --> 00:19:26,540 Nothing and yet the well was what? 357 00:19:27,180 --> 00:19:27,520 Deep. 358 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:30,080 How is that possible? 359 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,080 And he said, this well that our father 360 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:34,200 Jacob give it to us. 361 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:36,660 Are you greater than what? 362 00:19:37,100 --> 00:19:38,100 Our father what? 363 00:19:38,660 --> 00:19:39,080 Jacob. 364 00:19:40,220 --> 00:19:40,900 Unbelievable. 365 00:19:44,260 --> 00:19:46,980 And the Lord wanted the Samaritan woman to 366 00:19:46,980 --> 00:19:47,700 believe they what? 367 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:48,540 The unbelievable. 368 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:50,840 Believe the impossible. 369 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:52,340 Now did she believe? 370 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:54,140 She did. 371 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:55,380 Because she what? 372 00:19:55,820 --> 00:19:56,640 She heard the word. 373 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,800 The living word was communicated to her. 374 00:20:06,180 --> 00:20:06,860 And she believed. 375 00:20:09,020 --> 00:20:10,600 Now Nicodemus heard the word. 376 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:12,820 Did he believe? 377 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:15,440 Yes he did. 378 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:17,120 And he became a what? 379 00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:20,860 He became a secret follower of the Lord. 380 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:21,140 Do you remember? 381 00:20:21,860 --> 00:20:24,300 You cannot come to Lord Jesus yet not 382 00:20:24,300 --> 00:20:25,400 something happens to you. 383 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:27,660 So Nicodemus believed. 384 00:20:27,900 --> 00:20:29,880 Do you remember when the Lord was crucified 385 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:31,080 and was to be buried? 386 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,320 He was the one who brought the ointment 387 00:20:35,020 --> 00:20:36,240 for the burial. 388 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:38,280 He was a secret follower. 389 00:20:39,380 --> 00:20:41,560 So the Lord Jesus always wants us to 390 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:42,540 believe the unbelievable. 391 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:51,040 And we cannot do it. 392 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,240 He can do it. 393 00:20:56,170 --> 00:21:03,140 Now we cannot talk about this matter of 394 00:21:03,140 --> 00:21:05,400 faith without mentioning the father of faith Abraham. 395 00:21:08,580 --> 00:21:12,520 Now did Abraham have that great faith all 396 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:13,360 throughout his life? 397 00:21:16,170 --> 00:21:16,610 No. 398 00:21:18,290 --> 00:21:21,570 In fact on many occasions Abraham was what? 399 00:21:21,770 --> 00:21:23,470 Was utterly faithless. 400 00:21:26,740 --> 00:21:27,760 So that gives us hope. 401 00:21:30,220 --> 00:21:31,020 You see? 402 00:21:31,020 --> 00:21:32,680 That's why he's the father of faith. 403 00:21:32,780 --> 00:21:33,460 It gives us hope. 404 00:21:34,920 --> 00:21:36,720 Do you remember a couple of times he 405 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,920 told the people that he was sojourning with 406 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:41,520 he said, Now Sarah, my wife, he said 407 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:44,320 she's not my wife but really it's my 408 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:44,740 sister. 409 00:21:47,790 --> 00:21:49,950 Now when he said those things he was 410 00:21:49,950 --> 00:21:50,990 just completely unbelief. 411 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:57,520 Faithless. 412 00:21:59,820 --> 00:22:02,020 And you remember the trouble he got himself 413 00:22:02,020 --> 00:22:02,340 into? 414 00:22:03,500 --> 00:22:05,840 Not only himself but the people involved. 415 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:09,600 See what unbelief did to a person and 416 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:10,920 not only to a person but all those 417 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:11,960 who were involved with him. 418 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:15,240 He did it twice. 419 00:22:15,980 --> 00:22:17,320 And twice he went south. 420 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:19,120 The scripture he said he went south. 421 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:20,880 And once he went into Egypt. 422 00:22:21,940 --> 00:22:23,840 And because there was no food what? 423 00:22:24,540 --> 00:22:25,480 In the land. 424 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:29,300 The law called him into what? 425 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:30,760 The land. 426 00:22:30,980 --> 00:22:32,640 And that was promised to him and to 427 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:33,200 his seed. 428 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:33,800 Right? 429 00:22:34,300 --> 00:22:35,340 To be his possession. 430 00:22:37,060 --> 00:22:41,560 And then he went to Egypt for food. 431 00:22:43,140 --> 00:22:44,080 Now that's unbelief. 432 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:45,620 The law sends you to that place don't 433 00:22:45,620 --> 00:22:46,900 you think he will provide for you? 434 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:49,920 If he sends you there he will be 435 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:50,140 what? 436 00:22:50,300 --> 00:22:53,160 He will be fully responsible for you. 437 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:55,520 But Abraham was weak in faith. 438 00:22:55,660 --> 00:22:56,380 You know, weak in faith? 439 00:22:56,660 --> 00:22:57,920 Several times he was weak. 440 00:22:58,680 --> 00:22:59,900 Many times he was what? 441 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:00,220 Weak. 442 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:03,540 Very many times weak. 443 00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:08,800 So Abraham was actually before he had faith 444 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,200 he was up he was faithless. 445 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:13,060 He was faithless. 446 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:14,460 What does that give us for brothers and 447 00:23:14,460 --> 00:23:14,560 sisters? 448 00:23:16,820 --> 00:23:19,320 Well, faithless. 449 00:23:21,570 --> 00:23:24,630 Now this matter of faith, hope and love 450 00:23:25,490 --> 00:23:26,490 always go together. 451 00:23:29,710 --> 00:23:31,390 Faith will generate hope. 452 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,420 Hope we can possess because there is love 453 00:23:36,420 --> 00:23:36,740 there. 454 00:23:38,940 --> 00:23:40,080 Something propels. 455 00:23:40,340 --> 00:23:41,680 Love is a powerful thing. 456 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:43,920 You know, powerful. 457 00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:46,580 I always think that faith is the foundation 458 00:23:46,580 --> 00:23:50,540 and hope is the superstructure and love is 459 00:23:50,540 --> 00:23:50,880 the what? 460 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:54,120 The roof. 461 00:23:54,780 --> 00:23:55,200 The cover. 462 00:23:55,820 --> 00:23:56,500 That's right. 463 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,160 So we need all those three things. 464 00:24:00,220 --> 00:24:01,700 We need the foundation of faith. 465 00:24:02,140 --> 00:24:04,980 We need hope as our superstructure and we 466 00:24:04,980 --> 00:24:06,420 need the covering what? 467 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:07,760 Of love. 468 00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:16,650 So in Hebrews in Romans 4 it says 469 00:24:16,650 --> 00:24:21,910 He believed even God who gives life to 470 00:24:21,910 --> 00:24:24,770 the dead and calms those things which do 471 00:24:24,770 --> 00:24:26,810 not exist as though they did. 472 00:24:27,330 --> 00:24:32,010 That was Abraham's foundation for faith. 473 00:24:33,230 --> 00:24:34,230 God himself. 474 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:40,940 Now many of us we put our foundation 475 00:24:40,940 --> 00:24:42,620 of faith in God's promises. 476 00:24:46,700 --> 00:24:48,740 There's a difference between putting our faith in 477 00:24:48,740 --> 00:24:51,120 God's promises and in God himself. 478 00:24:56,140 --> 00:24:59,900 God's promises is always linked with God himself. 479 00:25:00,100 --> 00:25:00,860 It's his word. 480 00:25:02,140 --> 00:25:04,560 Now if we take it we take God's 481 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,720 word out of God's mouth and make it 482 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:08,440 our own. 483 00:25:08,620 --> 00:25:09,980 God said I'll not back it up. 484 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:12,880 It's not my word anymore. 485 00:25:13,260 --> 00:25:14,300 It's your word now. 486 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:20,120 But if it's God's word spoken by God 487 00:25:20,120 --> 00:25:24,020 to Abraham's arm that's my foundation of faith. 488 00:25:24,020 --> 00:25:25,180 You saved it Lord. 489 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:27,820 You saved it. 490 00:25:29,460 --> 00:25:32,640 So Abraham's faith his foundation is God himself. 491 00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:35,800 The word that God has spoken to him. 492 00:25:37,580 --> 00:25:40,420 So for instance I believe our foundation for 493 00:25:40,420 --> 00:25:42,620 faith is this matter of knowing God. 494 00:25:44,540 --> 00:25:46,420 It's when you know a person you can 495 00:25:46,420 --> 00:25:47,420 have faith in that person. 496 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:50,560 You don't trust a person you don't even 497 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:51,400 know about, do you? 498 00:25:52,620 --> 00:25:53,420 How can you? 499 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:59,620 So Abraham's faith was because he knew God. 500 00:26:01,580 --> 00:26:02,800 He communed with God. 501 00:26:03,740 --> 00:26:05,980 God revealed himself to him and that's why 502 00:26:05,980 --> 00:26:08,580 Abraham was called a friend of us, of 503 00:26:08,580 --> 00:26:08,880 God. 504 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:10,040 They knew each other. 505 00:26:12,310 --> 00:26:14,490 So that was Abraham's foundation for faith. 506 00:26:17,250 --> 00:26:18,950 So for instance I believe we have to 507 00:26:18,950 --> 00:26:20,330 know God if we are going to have 508 00:26:20,330 --> 00:26:21,190 any faith at all. 509 00:26:22,010 --> 00:26:24,170 Because our faith is none other than him 510 00:26:24,170 --> 00:26:25,230 God himself. 511 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:30,980 Now one of the things that happened to 512 00:26:30,980 --> 00:26:33,420 us when we put our faith and trust 513 00:26:33,420 --> 00:26:38,220 in him is that we he humbles us. 514 00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:41,900 You know people try to live a humble 515 00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:43,920 life you try, it's very difficult. 516 00:26:45,540 --> 00:26:48,200 You try, you can try but you will 517 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:48,740 not succeed. 518 00:26:49,460 --> 00:26:51,860 But when you come to an impossible situation 519 00:26:51,860 --> 00:26:54,380 and all you have is your naked faith 520 00:26:54,380 --> 00:26:59,460 in an invisible God and think that that 521 00:26:59,460 --> 00:27:00,320 will humble you. 522 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:03,360 That will humble you. 523 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:07,400 You see the reason why people are not 524 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,100 willing to believe is because they are not 525 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,160 they don't have any spirit of humility they 526 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,100 are not humble there is still something in 527 00:27:15,100 --> 00:27:15,740 them they can do. 528 00:27:18,430 --> 00:27:19,590 That's why they don't believe anyone. 529 00:27:19,830 --> 00:27:20,810 They believe in themselves. 530 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,160 But when you come to an impossible situation 531 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:28,740 you are completely exhausted with all that is 532 00:27:28,740 --> 00:27:30,520 in you and all you have to do 533 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:32,220 is just cast and pick upon God. 534 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:33,420 That humbles you. 535 00:27:34,300 --> 00:27:35,760 Because God brought you what? 536 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:37,040 To zero. 537 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:40,160 And to be brought to a place of 538 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:42,080 zero is to discover Him. 539 00:27:42,900 --> 00:27:44,660 And faith becomes a living faith. 540 00:27:46,100 --> 00:27:47,360 Without zero. 541 00:27:50,820 --> 00:27:53,480 So that will bring us to a true 542 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:54,380 spirit of humility. 543 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:58,000 To know that we cannot trust ourselves we 544 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,720 cannot trust anyone and God alone is enough. 545 00:28:04,710 --> 00:28:05,550 That humbles us. 546 00:28:06,970 --> 00:28:07,910 That humbles us. 547 00:28:10,220 --> 00:28:14,240 So Abraham's faith was based on his personal 548 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:16,580 living knowledge of a living God. 549 00:28:16,940 --> 00:28:18,980 A God who has faith in himself. 550 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,660 That was the foundation of Abraham's faith. 551 00:28:28,230 --> 00:28:30,350 Then the next thing we notice is that 552 00:28:34,140 --> 00:28:37,960 contrary to hope in some translation against all 553 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:42,270 hope when all hopes are gone when your 554 00:28:42,270 --> 00:28:47,750 last hope is gone I mean there's nothing 555 00:28:47,750 --> 00:28:47,990 now. 556 00:28:48,930 --> 00:28:51,830 When the last is gone it's gone. 557 00:28:52,650 --> 00:28:55,550 But with Abraham who knew God when the 558 00:28:55,550 --> 00:28:57,270 last is gone it's not gone. 559 00:28:58,670 --> 00:29:00,470 When all hopes are gone he said I 560 00:29:00,470 --> 00:29:01,170 still have what? 561 00:29:01,770 --> 00:29:02,210 Hope. 562 00:29:02,490 --> 00:29:05,050 Not his hope in himself but God's what? 563 00:29:05,910 --> 00:29:06,550 God's hope. 564 00:29:07,010 --> 00:29:10,090 That's why later on in Romans 15 we 565 00:29:10,090 --> 00:29:12,850 come to a verse we'll quote later on 566 00:29:12,850 --> 00:29:14,650 God is called the God of what? 567 00:29:14,650 --> 00:29:15,630 Of hope. 568 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:24,180 So when human hopes are all gone then 569 00:29:24,180 --> 00:29:25,480 God's hope comes in. 570 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:30,260 That's what Abraham was experiencing. 571 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:34,560 When man's hopes are all gone and God 572 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:36,060 becomes the God of all hope. 573 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:38,260 And his hope comes in. 574 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:41,200 And that's what Abraham can say when all 575 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:46,440 hopes are gone against all hope yet in 576 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,080 hope he what? 577 00:29:48,700 --> 00:29:49,080 Belief. 578 00:29:49,940 --> 00:29:52,620 So you can say in God again he 579 00:29:52,620 --> 00:29:52,880 what? 580 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:53,760 Belief. 581 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:55,060 Because God is the God of what? 582 00:29:55,300 --> 00:29:55,600 Of hope. 583 00:29:56,740 --> 00:29:57,440 It's God again. 584 00:30:00,340 --> 00:30:00,680 You see. 585 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:03,560 Now with most of the people of the 586 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:06,980 world when your last hope is gone how 587 00:30:06,980 --> 00:30:07,740 can you smile? 588 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:11,300 How can you? 589 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:14,800 You might as well as this. 590 00:30:16,140 --> 00:30:17,940 What's the use for living? 591 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:19,300 What's for? 592 00:30:19,980 --> 00:30:22,160 When your last hope is gone you just 593 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:23,120 say well that's it. 594 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:23,600 I'm finished. 595 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:26,580 But when the last hope was gone with 596 00:30:26,580 --> 00:30:27,820 Abraham it was not finished. 597 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:29,220 It was what? 598 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:30,620 A new beginning for him. 599 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:36,660 God is the God of hope. 600 00:30:39,330 --> 00:30:46,200 There's one verse in Romans 8 says hope 601 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,380 that is seen is not hope. 602 00:30:52,870 --> 00:30:55,770 For why does one still hope for what 603 00:30:55,770 --> 00:30:56,590 he sees? 604 00:31:01,780 --> 00:31:04,000 Now when Abraham when he looks around and 605 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:07,520 he sees nothing is happening yet he can 606 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:09,300 maintain that hope in God. 607 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:13,260 That hope is not Abraham's hope. 608 00:31:13,860 --> 00:31:15,880 That hope is God's hope in Abraham. 609 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:18,840 Praise God for that. 610 00:31:21,060 --> 00:31:25,040 Let's return to Romans 5 This is a 611 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:26,500 very interesting verse there. 612 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:39,740 Romans 5 5 Now hope does not disappoint. 613 00:31:40,820 --> 00:31:41,920 Now whose hope is that? 614 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:45,340 I mean if you hope for something and 615 00:31:45,340 --> 00:31:47,640 then you will ultimately be disappointed. 616 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:50,900 Have we encountered that before? 617 00:31:51,100 --> 00:31:51,860 Many of us did. 618 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:56,000 We hope and in the end we're so 619 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:56,780 disappointed. 620 00:31:57,080 --> 00:31:58,020 Just so disappointed. 621 00:31:59,460 --> 00:32:00,780 It didn't turn out to the way we 622 00:32:00,780 --> 00:32:01,280 expected. 623 00:32:01,820 --> 00:32:03,120 Many things in this life. 624 00:32:03,780 --> 00:32:05,820 This life in fact is a life of 625 00:32:05,820 --> 00:32:06,320 disappointment. 626 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,700 You know, excuse me for saying this. 627 00:32:11,700 --> 00:32:15,920 I mean in all the world I would 628 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:17,680 believe our government is one of the best 629 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:18,580 governments in the world. 630 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:20,340 There's no question about it. 631 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:22,880 There is some decency and there's some fairness. 632 00:32:23,300 --> 00:32:25,560 There's some God-fearing people in our government. 633 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:27,200 And thank God for that. 634 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:33,140 Now don't we often very disappointed with our 635 00:32:33,140 --> 00:32:34,200 government that thinks they do? 636 00:32:35,980 --> 00:32:37,400 The best in the world! 637 00:32:37,940 --> 00:32:39,840 And people are flocking into this country. 638 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:41,300 They think this is a canine. 639 00:32:43,610 --> 00:32:44,170 They do. 640 00:32:44,170 --> 00:32:46,210 They think this is paradise on earth. 641 00:32:49,620 --> 00:32:51,840 And some of them can get disappointed. 642 00:32:55,500 --> 00:32:57,000 We have the best government. 643 00:32:58,140 --> 00:32:59,960 And then we're disappointed. 644 00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:01,540 Some of the laws they enacted. 645 00:33:02,420 --> 00:33:03,540 We're disappointed. 646 00:33:05,220 --> 00:33:08,640 And it says here now faith does not 647 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:11,540 disappoint because the love of God has been 648 00:33:11,540 --> 00:33:15,420 poured out in our hearts by the Holy 649 00:33:15,420 --> 00:33:18,220 Spirit who was given to us. 650 00:33:18,500 --> 00:33:18,980 There's something. 651 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:20,020 The hope is within. 652 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:23,960 The spirit is the seal of God's promise. 653 00:33:24,100 --> 00:33:24,540 Isn't that true? 654 00:33:25,420 --> 00:33:26,220 The down payment. 655 00:33:27,500 --> 00:33:28,200 God's guarantee. 656 00:33:29,100 --> 00:33:30,660 So how can you be disappointed? 657 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:32,740 It's already in you. 658 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:37,560 Beautiful. 659 00:33:37,980 --> 00:33:38,300 Amazing. 660 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:43,160 And so Abraham can hope because he knew 661 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:44,660 his hope would not be disappointed. 662 00:33:45,460 --> 00:33:45,720 Why? 663 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:50,480 Because behind it is the Almighty God who 664 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:51,500 is faithful to himself. 665 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:04,240 Then we'll look at this verse. 666 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:07,360 Romans 15. 667 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:10,060 The God of hope. 668 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:11,719 Let's look at that. 669 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:20,699 Romans 15, 13. 670 00:34:25,850 --> 00:34:29,750 Now may the God of hope fill you 671 00:34:29,750 --> 00:34:32,150 with all joy and peace. 672 00:34:33,350 --> 00:34:33,949 In what? 673 00:34:34,409 --> 00:34:40,139 In believing that you may abound in hope 674 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:41,699 by the power. 675 00:34:43,810 --> 00:34:45,770 The power of hope is in the Holy 676 00:34:45,770 --> 00:34:46,130 Spirit. 677 00:34:50,280 --> 00:34:53,960 The strength to endure in that hope is 678 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:54,560 in the Spirit. 679 00:34:55,699 --> 00:34:57,100 And the Spirit, as I say, is the 680 00:34:57,100 --> 00:35:01,360 down payment of God's guarantee that he will 681 00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:02,820 accomplish and endure. 682 00:35:03,420 --> 00:35:04,160 We have assurance. 683 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:07,080 So our hope is not a vain hope. 684 00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:08,420 Our hope is what? 685 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:09,760 It is a sure hope. 686 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:15,180 Ernie Howard came to us and he also 687 00:35:15,180 --> 00:35:15,980 mentioned this hope. 688 00:35:16,340 --> 00:35:18,420 In this country we use this hope, the 689 00:35:18,420 --> 00:35:19,800 word hope, very carelessly. 690 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:22,800 Or I hope so. 691 00:35:25,260 --> 00:35:28,300 Or I hope it will be this way. 692 00:35:28,480 --> 00:35:29,320 I hope it will be that way. 693 00:35:30,500 --> 00:35:31,840 But that's not God's hope. 694 00:35:32,540 --> 00:35:34,940 God's hope comes with certainty. 695 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:44,320 That's why in the hopelessness we still have 696 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:48,020 hope because we have that inward rest and 697 00:35:48,020 --> 00:35:48,620 certainty. 698 00:35:49,300 --> 00:35:51,160 And that's why because we have that rest. 699 00:35:51,820 --> 00:35:53,720 Because who he is and what he promised 700 00:35:53,720 --> 00:35:54,420 he will perform. 701 00:35:54,940 --> 00:35:57,500 Therefore we can rejoice in hope and have 702 00:35:57,500 --> 00:35:58,340 peace in hope. 703 00:36:01,450 --> 00:36:04,870 How people are so frustrated and sickened in 704 00:36:04,870 --> 00:36:06,190 their heart when their hope is gone. 705 00:36:08,670 --> 00:36:09,970 When your hope is gone you have no 706 00:36:09,970 --> 00:36:10,330 joy. 707 00:36:11,130 --> 00:36:12,390 When your hope is gone you have no 708 00:36:12,390 --> 00:36:12,670 peace. 709 00:36:12,790 --> 00:36:13,370 How can you? 710 00:36:16,590 --> 00:36:18,730 But this hope that we have from God 711 00:36:18,730 --> 00:36:20,750 brings not just rest but what? 712 00:36:20,750 --> 00:36:23,670 Joy and what? 713 00:36:27,250 --> 00:36:32,160 Because we have that assurance that what he 714 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:36,580 has promised he will also perform it. 715 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:48,560 And then the next of this Abraham's life 716 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:51,920 it says he was not weak in faith. 717 00:36:53,220 --> 00:36:56,880 Verse 19 in chapter 4 of Romans. 718 00:36:58,580 --> 00:37:01,040 It says he was not weak in faith. 719 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:04,280 Let's read that verse again. 720 00:37:04,940 --> 00:37:07,300 I'm reading from the new King James Version. 721 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:10,460 And not being weak in faith he did 722 00:37:10,460 --> 00:37:14,160 not consider his own body already dead. 723 00:37:14,620 --> 00:37:16,980 Since he was about 100 years old. 724 00:37:17,780 --> 00:37:20,340 And the deadness of Sarah's womb. 725 00:37:22,220 --> 00:37:26,160 Now my footnote here says this was not 726 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:28,560 in some of the manuscripts. 727 00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:33,520 If you have the NIV translation I think 728 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:37,900 it says that not being weak in faith 729 00:37:37,900 --> 00:37:39,180 he faced what? 730 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:43,140 He faced what? 731 00:37:43,940 --> 00:37:44,500 The fact. 732 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:49,000 Recognizing knowing that he was as good as 733 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:50,420 what I did. 734 00:37:52,060 --> 00:37:55,640 Now that fact when he looked at himself 735 00:37:57,020 --> 00:38:00,320 and he faced the fact and knowing that 736 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:02,780 he was almost 100 years old and his 737 00:38:02,780 --> 00:38:05,160 body and the womb of his wife Sarah 738 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:07,460 as both were as good as dead. 739 00:38:08,140 --> 00:38:10,520 Now those facts are human facts. 740 00:38:11,980 --> 00:38:12,820 You see? 741 00:38:13,380 --> 00:38:15,340 Now they are facts but they are what? 742 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:17,080 They are human facts. 743 00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:19,280 They are not God's facts. 744 00:38:20,900 --> 00:38:24,860 Now brothers and sisters quite often we dwell 745 00:38:24,860 --> 00:38:28,040 on human facts or on God's facts. 746 00:38:30,930 --> 00:38:32,290 We dwell on human facts. 747 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:39,600 But Abraham did not look at himself that 748 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:39,820 way. 749 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:42,980 He looked at it from God's point of 750 00:38:42,980 --> 00:38:44,760 view, from God's fact. 751 00:38:45,940 --> 00:38:50,240 So Abraham did not look at the look 752 00:38:51,620 --> 00:38:53,580 to God through certain senses. 753 00:38:56,720 --> 00:39:03,460 He looked the certain senses through God. 754 00:39:07,260 --> 00:39:09,980 And if you look at if you look 755 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:17,090 through God then you have a different thing 756 00:39:17,090 --> 00:39:17,330 out there. 757 00:39:17,390 --> 00:39:18,950 But if you look at certain senses it 758 00:39:18,950 --> 00:39:20,030 will take you to something. 759 00:39:20,150 --> 00:39:20,750 It goes all together. 760 00:39:21,610 --> 00:39:22,910 It's two sets of facts. 761 00:39:27,470 --> 00:39:29,450 Abraham was not denying that he was not 762 00:39:29,450 --> 00:39:30,370 as good as dead. 763 00:39:31,530 --> 00:39:33,890 He was confessing that yes I am as 764 00:39:33,890 --> 00:39:34,510 good as dead. 765 00:39:34,690 --> 00:39:35,530 That is a fact. 766 00:39:36,230 --> 00:39:38,230 But God's fact is above what? 767 00:39:38,230 --> 00:39:39,430 Human fact. 768 00:39:39,610 --> 00:39:40,430 Now can we take that? 769 00:39:42,780 --> 00:39:43,320 It's true. 770 00:39:43,560 --> 00:39:45,240 On a human level you are as good 771 00:39:45,240 --> 00:39:45,680 as dead. 772 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:50,270 But God says that I am the God 773 00:39:50,270 --> 00:39:50,630 who what? 774 00:39:50,750 --> 00:39:51,190 Quickens. 775 00:39:52,390 --> 00:39:53,130 And gives life. 776 00:39:53,590 --> 00:39:55,210 I am the one who engulfs things that 777 00:39:55,210 --> 00:39:56,870 does not exist into what? 778 00:39:57,310 --> 00:39:57,850 Into being. 779 00:39:58,790 --> 00:39:59,630 That's God's fact. 780 00:40:02,110 --> 00:40:04,570 What I promised I will what? 781 00:40:05,290 --> 00:40:05,510 Perform. 782 00:40:05,970 --> 00:40:06,950 Those are God's facts. 783 00:40:09,820 --> 00:40:12,580 So in our view he looked at himself 784 00:40:12,580 --> 00:40:14,980 in fact he faced the fact and knowing 785 00:40:14,980 --> 00:40:15,660 all that. 786 00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:18,340 But by New Translation he did not look 787 00:40:18,340 --> 00:40:19,720 as though they were dead. 788 00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:21,900 I think both translations in a way is 789 00:40:21,900 --> 00:40:22,340 accurate. 790 00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:24,200 All depends how you put it. 791 00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:26,400 On the human fact, yes. 792 00:40:27,060 --> 00:40:28,320 But the divine fact, no. 793 00:40:30,970 --> 00:40:31,810 Thank God for that. 794 00:40:34,220 --> 00:40:36,420 And then it says that he did not 795 00:40:36,420 --> 00:40:36,700 waver. 796 00:40:40,170 --> 00:40:42,750 Now when we encounter impossible situations the first 797 00:40:42,750 --> 00:40:46,690 thing we our mind, our brain begins to 798 00:40:47,970 --> 00:40:48,410 turn. 799 00:40:50,490 --> 00:40:52,810 Is it or is it not? 800 00:40:55,530 --> 00:40:58,130 Is it God's fact or human fact? 801 00:40:58,770 --> 00:41:01,310 We try to work things out. 802 00:41:02,730 --> 00:41:04,090 But it says he did not what? 803 00:41:05,490 --> 00:41:06,530 He did not waver. 804 00:41:08,410 --> 00:41:10,990 Because our faith is based on God's fact. 805 00:41:11,110 --> 00:41:12,850 It gives us an inward stability. 806 00:41:16,220 --> 00:41:19,080 It brings into our being a real unity. 807 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:22,700 Spirit, soul, and body. 808 00:41:24,950 --> 00:41:26,370 In that proper order. 809 00:41:26,810 --> 00:41:28,610 So in other words, Abraham was not a 810 00:41:28,610 --> 00:41:29,850 divided person anymore. 811 00:41:33,730 --> 00:41:36,930 His thinking and his conviction are now what? 812 00:41:38,110 --> 00:41:38,510 What? 813 00:41:39,890 --> 00:41:42,530 Many of us we are convicted in our 814 00:41:42,530 --> 00:41:44,330 heart but we dare not to say it. 815 00:41:45,450 --> 00:41:48,390 Just in case it didn't turn out to 816 00:41:48,390 --> 00:41:49,670 be quite what it ought to be. 817 00:41:49,730 --> 00:41:51,310 So we say, I believe, but I think 818 00:41:51,310 --> 00:41:51,930 I better not say it. 819 00:41:51,950 --> 00:41:53,110 Just in case it turns out the other 820 00:41:53,110 --> 00:41:53,350 way. 821 00:41:54,410 --> 00:41:56,190 It will bring shame into the world one 822 00:41:56,190 --> 00:41:56,630 day. 823 00:41:56,910 --> 00:41:59,430 Until it happens, then I'll say, okay, I 824 00:41:59,430 --> 00:41:59,730 believe. 825 00:42:01,150 --> 00:42:04,090 Anytime we try to say something, we don't 826 00:42:04,090 --> 00:42:04,510 have a what? 827 00:42:05,090 --> 00:42:06,990 We don't really quite believe it. 828 00:42:07,050 --> 00:42:09,050 We don't have a deep conviction about it. 829 00:42:09,270 --> 00:42:10,470 So we are a divided what? 830 00:42:11,270 --> 00:42:11,650 Person. 831 00:42:11,930 --> 00:42:14,350 Our conviction and our thinking, they are not 832 00:42:14,350 --> 00:42:15,050 synchronized. 833 00:42:16,890 --> 00:42:17,570 A divided person. 834 00:42:17,670 --> 00:42:18,570 And that's what James says. 835 00:42:18,690 --> 00:42:19,630 A divided heart. 836 00:42:20,330 --> 00:42:20,930 Double-minded. 837 00:42:21,550 --> 00:42:21,790 Doubt. 838 00:42:21,790 --> 00:42:21,950 Doubt. 839 00:42:23,330 --> 00:42:26,330 And because everyone's faith was raised on God's 840 00:42:26,330 --> 00:42:28,510 path and God himself, who he is, what 841 00:42:28,510 --> 00:42:30,890 he says, what he says he performs, and 842 00:42:30,890 --> 00:42:35,990 that stabilizes and brings in such tranquility, oneness 843 00:42:35,990 --> 00:42:36,770 within himself. 844 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:40,840 So there was no doubt in his mind. 845 00:42:41,120 --> 00:42:42,660 So he was not a divided person. 846 00:42:44,880 --> 00:42:46,680 His mind and his heart are one. 847 00:42:49,050 --> 00:42:50,450 What he says is what he believes. 848 00:42:52,250 --> 00:42:53,190 So he was not going to... 849 00:42:53,190 --> 00:42:55,150 So brothers and sisters, that faith will bring 850 00:42:55,150 --> 00:42:56,690 into our lives stability. 851 00:42:57,510 --> 00:43:01,670 Not just rest, joy, and peace, but what? 852 00:43:02,050 --> 00:43:02,470 Stability. 853 00:43:03,350 --> 00:43:05,070 Now what if one thing is lacking among 854 00:43:05,070 --> 00:43:05,770 God's people? 855 00:43:06,950 --> 00:43:08,230 Is this matter of stability? 856 00:43:09,590 --> 00:43:12,170 In every fellowship, we need brothers and sisters 857 00:43:12,170 --> 00:43:13,910 that are stable in the Lord. 858 00:43:17,190 --> 00:43:19,310 Let the Lord Jesus rock and shake. 859 00:43:19,770 --> 00:43:23,170 No matter what, stable. 860 00:43:23,950 --> 00:43:26,330 Now, we experience some measure of rest. 861 00:43:26,910 --> 00:43:29,450 Once we know our sins are forgiven, we 862 00:43:29,450 --> 00:43:31,030 know we have peace, we have rest, we 863 00:43:31,030 --> 00:43:31,310 have joy. 864 00:43:31,970 --> 00:43:35,130 But sometimes, we're still living a up-and 865 00:43:35,130 --> 00:43:35,670 -down life. 866 00:43:36,190 --> 00:43:39,150 We are not stable in this matter of 867 00:43:39,150 --> 00:43:42,590 faith, on God's path, not on our feelings. 868 00:43:44,030 --> 00:43:45,010 So we need to handle it. 869 00:43:47,560 --> 00:43:51,650 And then, let me just say something on 870 00:43:51,650 --> 00:43:52,670 the lighter side for you. 871 00:43:53,370 --> 00:43:58,290 You remember in Genesis 17 and 18, we 872 00:43:58,290 --> 00:44:02,250 have two of the accounts of the Lord 873 00:44:02,250 --> 00:44:02,970 came to Abraham. 874 00:44:03,510 --> 00:44:05,250 In 17, the Lord came and said, Now 875 00:44:05,250 --> 00:44:08,830 I want you to circumcise all the males 876 00:44:08,830 --> 00:44:09,450 in your household. 877 00:44:09,850 --> 00:44:12,070 And then Abraham's name was changed from Abraham 878 00:44:12,070 --> 00:44:12,670 to Abraham. 879 00:44:13,470 --> 00:44:14,610 Sarah was also changed. 880 00:44:14,790 --> 00:44:14,890 Remember? 881 00:44:15,530 --> 00:44:19,110 And the Lord said, Now I'll give you 882 00:44:19,110 --> 00:44:19,510 a son. 883 00:44:21,230 --> 00:44:23,990 That time Ishmael was already born. 884 00:44:25,310 --> 00:44:27,650 And when the Lord told Abraham that he 885 00:44:27,650 --> 00:44:30,330 and Sarah were going to have a son, 886 00:44:30,790 --> 00:44:32,450 you remember Abraham what? 887 00:44:32,750 --> 00:44:34,710 He fell down and worshipped the Lord, and 888 00:44:34,710 --> 00:44:35,610 yet he was what? 889 00:44:35,730 --> 00:44:36,230 He laughed. 890 00:44:41,270 --> 00:44:43,210 Now I don't know whether that laugh is 891 00:44:43,210 --> 00:44:46,330 a laugh on belief, or that laugh is 892 00:44:46,330 --> 00:44:47,130 a laugh of belief. 893 00:44:47,770 --> 00:44:49,310 He said, Lord, I laugh because I know 894 00:44:49,310 --> 00:44:51,630 it's impossible, but I believe what? 895 00:44:52,050 --> 00:44:53,270 It's going to be possible. 896 00:44:53,730 --> 00:44:54,250 He laughed. 897 00:44:56,310 --> 00:44:57,870 I believe when we go to heaven, we're 898 00:44:57,870 --> 00:44:58,270 going to laugh. 899 00:44:58,390 --> 00:44:59,930 God said we will have a feast for 900 00:44:59,930 --> 00:45:00,550 a thousand years. 901 00:45:01,190 --> 00:45:02,550 I think that thousand years we'll have a 902 00:45:02,550 --> 00:45:03,150 big laugh. 903 00:45:03,790 --> 00:45:07,130 Because all the impossibles down here, we know 904 00:45:07,130 --> 00:45:07,610 they are what? 905 00:45:07,750 --> 00:45:09,090 All possible up there. 906 00:45:10,070 --> 00:45:11,310 That will blow our minds. 907 00:45:15,340 --> 00:45:20,280 And then chapter 18 of Genesis, and you 908 00:45:20,280 --> 00:45:22,440 remember just before the destruction of Sodom and 909 00:45:22,440 --> 00:45:24,960 Gomorrah, the three names came, and Adam received 910 00:45:24,960 --> 00:45:27,220 them with such warmth and hospitality. 911 00:45:29,000 --> 00:45:31,660 And then the Lord said, now where is 912 00:45:31,660 --> 00:45:31,920 Sarah? 913 00:45:33,700 --> 00:45:36,000 And he said, she's in a tent. 914 00:45:36,500 --> 00:45:38,120 And the Lord said, by next year, this 915 00:45:38,120 --> 00:45:39,520 time, you're going to have a baby. 916 00:45:40,960 --> 00:45:44,760 And what Sarah was doing, she was laughing. 917 00:45:45,560 --> 00:45:48,100 And interesting, the Lord said, now Sarah was 918 00:45:48,100 --> 00:45:48,440 laughing. 919 00:45:49,400 --> 00:45:50,380 Sarah said, no. 920 00:45:51,580 --> 00:45:53,560 How can you say no to the Lord? 921 00:45:53,840 --> 00:45:55,040 He knew everything. 922 00:45:55,040 --> 00:45:55,320 You know? 923 00:45:56,960 --> 00:45:59,460 So I don't know whether to laugh or 924 00:45:59,460 --> 00:46:03,040 no, I didn't laugh, whether it's really unbelief 925 00:46:04,120 --> 00:46:07,160 or fair to believe. 926 00:46:11,580 --> 00:46:13,480 The Lord says, okay, I'll believe. 927 00:46:14,380 --> 00:46:16,680 But as for me, I don't think it's 928 00:46:16,680 --> 00:46:16,960 possible. 929 00:46:17,100 --> 00:46:19,080 But if he says so, okay, I believe. 930 00:46:19,220 --> 00:46:19,700 And you laugh. 931 00:46:20,840 --> 00:46:22,460 Because he says so, because you laugh at 932 00:46:22,460 --> 00:46:24,800 yourself, it's impossible, but he says it's possible. 933 00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:41,020 So I don't know whether 934 00:46:41,020 --> 00:46:43,140 to laugh or really that I'm believing laugh. 935 00:46:43,220 --> 00:46:44,720 I think those things just happen. 936 00:46:46,980 --> 00:46:48,020 It's impossible. 937 00:46:49,240 --> 00:46:51,100 The Lord says so, so it must be 938 00:46:51,100 --> 00:46:51,260 what? 939 00:46:52,200 --> 00:46:53,300 It must be possible. 940 00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:55,300 They laugh. 941 00:46:56,320 --> 00:46:58,200 So I think we should be laughing Christians, 942 00:46:58,360 --> 00:46:59,120 not just rejoicing. 943 00:46:59,280 --> 00:47:01,860 Because things are not possible, and the Lord 944 00:47:01,860 --> 00:47:02,240 says what? 945 00:47:03,000 --> 00:47:03,980 It's possible. 946 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:05,260 You have a big laugh. 947 00:47:07,440 --> 00:47:08,500 How can it be? 948 00:47:08,620 --> 00:47:09,900 And it is happening. 949 00:47:09,900 --> 00:47:10,480 Right. 950 00:47:11,500 --> 00:47:13,980 Well, one brother said it this way, he 951 00:47:13,980 --> 00:47:15,820 came to talk, he said, when the Lord 952 00:47:15,820 --> 00:47:17,540 told Abraham, he said, now by this time 953 00:47:17,540 --> 00:47:18,720 next year you're going to have a baby, 954 00:47:19,560 --> 00:47:21,680 Abraham in his faith, he got so excited, 955 00:47:21,780 --> 00:47:24,340 he said, Eliezer, that's his steward, he said, 956 00:47:24,660 --> 00:47:25,660 gas up the camel. 957 00:47:28,040 --> 00:47:30,840 He said, the Lord told me that Saturday 958 00:47:30,840 --> 00:47:32,560 night we should go for our second honeymoon. 959 00:47:37,880 --> 00:47:38,500 Don't laugh. 960 00:47:39,000 --> 00:47:39,820 Abraham believed. 961 00:47:40,240 --> 00:47:41,060 That's what he did. 962 00:47:42,740 --> 00:47:45,020 And next year, they had a son. 963 00:47:45,460 --> 00:47:46,440 And they called him what? 964 00:47:47,020 --> 00:47:47,300 Isaac. 965 00:47:47,460 --> 00:47:48,460 Now what does Isaac mean? 966 00:47:49,120 --> 00:47:49,620 He laughed. 967 00:47:50,540 --> 00:47:54,400 The father laughed, the mother laughed, and the 968 00:47:54,400 --> 00:47:55,360 son, the baby what? 969 00:47:55,880 --> 00:47:56,380 Laughed. 970 00:47:56,660 --> 00:47:58,500 And I did, the whole house of Abraham, 971 00:47:58,640 --> 00:47:59,140 they all what? 972 00:47:59,540 --> 00:48:00,140 Laughed. 973 00:48:00,660 --> 00:48:02,700 Because impossible now has what? 974 00:48:03,340 --> 00:48:03,740 Happened. 975 00:48:06,980 --> 00:48:07,500 Thank God. 976 00:48:10,430 --> 00:48:14,090 And not only give us rest, peace, joy, 977 00:48:14,090 --> 00:48:15,110 stability. 978 00:48:16,990 --> 00:48:19,550 And it says, Abraham strengthened in his faith, 979 00:48:22,560 --> 00:48:23,820 and give glory. 980 00:48:26,790 --> 00:48:30,550 So now rest, joy, peace, stability, and worship. 981 00:48:32,940 --> 00:48:34,600 Give glory to God. 982 00:48:38,250 --> 00:48:40,750 Well, lastly, brothers and sisters, let's turn to 983 00:48:40,750 --> 00:48:44,670 a quick concluding portion of Scripture. 984 00:48:45,630 --> 00:48:46,970 Listen to Joshua 14. 985 00:49:11,300 --> 00:49:13,800 Now we mentioned, faith will give us rest, 986 00:49:14,160 --> 00:49:17,880 faith will give us joy, peace, stability, and 987 00:49:17,880 --> 00:49:18,480 worship. 988 00:49:19,500 --> 00:49:21,200 And finally, brothers and sisters, faith will give 989 00:49:21,200 --> 00:49:21,980 us courage. 990 00:49:23,480 --> 00:49:26,640 And from courage, we experience the victory that 991 00:49:26,640 --> 00:49:27,360 thousands will see. 992 00:49:28,500 --> 00:49:33,080 Faith does not spring back from impossible situations. 993 00:49:34,340 --> 00:49:35,120 That's courage. 994 00:49:39,680 --> 00:49:40,720 Well, you know the story. 995 00:49:41,800 --> 00:49:44,100 I will not read the whole passage. 996 00:49:46,140 --> 00:49:50,900 This is from 11 on. 997 00:49:54,390 --> 00:49:59,970 Joshua 14 11 As yet I am as 998 00:49:59,970 --> 00:50:02,570 strong this day as I was on the 999 00:50:02,570 --> 00:50:04,590 day that Moses sent me. 1000 00:50:05,930 --> 00:50:09,490 Just as my strength was thin, so now 1001 00:50:09,490 --> 00:50:13,010 is my strength for war, both for going 1002 00:50:13,010 --> 00:50:14,710 out and coming in. 1003 00:50:15,490 --> 00:50:18,330 What power, what strength, what courage. 1004 00:50:20,610 --> 00:50:21,670 And then verse 12. 1005 00:50:23,130 --> 00:50:29,120 Now therefore, give me this mountain of which 1006 00:50:29,120 --> 00:50:30,820 the Lord spoke in that day. 1007 00:50:31,700 --> 00:50:34,480 For you heard it, for you heard in 1008 00:50:34,480 --> 00:50:38,220 that day how the Arnachins were there, and 1009 00:50:38,220 --> 00:50:40,460 that the cities were great and fortified. 1010 00:50:41,100 --> 00:50:43,360 It may be that the Lord will be 1011 00:50:43,360 --> 00:50:45,860 with me, and I shall be able to 1012 00:50:45,860 --> 00:50:49,060 drive them out as the Lord says. 1013 00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:52,960 And Joshua blessed him, and gave him Hebron, 1014 00:50:54,040 --> 00:50:57,840 Caleb, and the son of Jephiel as inhabitants. 1015 00:50:59,040 --> 00:51:02,020 Hebron therefore became the inhabitants of Caleb, the 1016 00:51:02,020 --> 00:51:05,880 son of Jephiel, the penitent to this day, 1017 00:51:05,940 --> 00:51:10,260 because he wholly followed the law of Israel. 1018 00:51:10,820 --> 00:51:12,880 For instance, there we have a mountain, and 1019 00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:13,780 there are giants there. 1020 00:51:15,540 --> 00:51:18,760 And Caleb, because of his experience in the 1021 00:51:18,760 --> 00:51:20,700 law, because of his knowledge of the law, 1022 00:51:21,680 --> 00:51:23,400 he said, give it to me. 1023 00:51:26,610 --> 00:51:27,670 And he took it away. 1024 00:51:28,250 --> 00:51:30,070 And that place became Hebron. 1025 00:51:31,410 --> 00:51:36,140 For instance, oftentimes we have obstacles, like a 1026 00:51:36,140 --> 00:51:36,420 mountain. 1027 00:51:37,160 --> 00:51:40,280 We go around it to avoid it. 1028 00:51:40,960 --> 00:51:42,660 He dared not to say this, but Caleb 1029 00:51:42,660 --> 00:51:44,360 said, I'll take it. 1030 00:51:45,720 --> 00:51:50,250 And that's courage, and that's victory. 1031 00:51:51,210 --> 00:51:55,690 Because he said, I'll be able to drive 1032 00:51:55,690 --> 00:51:58,710 them out, as what the law says. 1033 00:51:59,690 --> 00:52:00,330 And he took it. 1034 00:52:00,730 --> 00:52:02,110 He did not take it for himself. 1035 00:52:04,760 --> 00:52:07,600 So what happens is that faith, ultimately, is 1036 00:52:07,600 --> 00:52:11,870 a triumphant faith for the Lord. 1037 00:52:12,510 --> 00:52:14,890 There's one quotation I just want to read 1038 00:52:14,890 --> 00:52:17,870 somewhere in connection with Joshua and Caleb. 1039 00:52:19,250 --> 00:52:23,370 It says, Faith directs the vision of the 1040 00:52:23,370 --> 00:52:23,610 soul. 1041 00:52:25,910 --> 00:52:27,310 Faith directs the vision of the soul. 1042 00:52:27,810 --> 00:52:29,370 It does not reason. 1043 00:52:31,090 --> 00:52:32,150 Faith does not reason. 1044 00:52:32,830 --> 00:52:35,270 It does not ask for evidence. 1045 00:52:36,270 --> 00:52:38,570 In fact, all the evidences are contrary. 1046 00:52:38,950 --> 00:52:40,330 When they went into the land to explore, 1047 00:52:40,570 --> 00:52:41,730 all they saw were what? 1048 00:52:42,130 --> 00:52:42,610 Giants. 1049 00:52:43,950 --> 00:52:45,630 Of course, they bought some good food. 1050 00:52:46,830 --> 00:52:48,470 But the rest, they saw giants. 1051 00:52:48,830 --> 00:52:50,190 So it does not rely on evidence. 1052 00:52:51,350 --> 00:52:55,190 It does not seek the collaboration of sides. 1053 00:52:56,790 --> 00:52:58,630 Send forward to explore the land. 1054 00:53:00,330 --> 00:53:01,870 Because eight of them said, it's no good, 1055 00:53:01,930 --> 00:53:02,670 we cannot go in. 1056 00:53:02,830 --> 00:53:03,370 Two said, what? 1057 00:53:04,030 --> 00:53:04,650 We are able. 1058 00:53:05,670 --> 00:53:06,610 They did not collaborate. 1059 00:53:07,990 --> 00:53:09,310 Those who said no, they said no. 1060 00:53:09,390 --> 00:53:11,250 Those who said yes, they said yes. 1061 00:53:12,110 --> 00:53:13,530 So faith does not collaborate. 1062 00:53:15,370 --> 00:53:17,950 Because faith is based on aspect, not on 1063 00:53:17,950 --> 00:53:18,430 human feelings. 1064 00:53:19,550 --> 00:53:21,630 So send the Lord as we are approaching 1065 00:53:21,630 --> 00:53:22,230 this conference. 1066 00:53:24,090 --> 00:53:28,090 We have been praying much in our fellowship. 1067 00:53:29,290 --> 00:53:31,210 And I think we have to pray in 1068 00:53:31,210 --> 00:53:32,170 faith believing. 1069 00:53:33,630 --> 00:53:36,570 Since God is going to bring so many 1070 00:53:36,570 --> 00:53:39,370 for the first time, we should not just 1071 00:53:39,370 --> 00:53:41,490 have faith believing that God will meet somehow 1072 00:53:41,490 --> 00:53:43,290 those who are seeking Him. 1073 00:53:44,190 --> 00:53:46,470 Those who come with a longing, they will 1074 00:53:46,470 --> 00:53:47,330 be met by the Lord. 1075 00:53:47,970 --> 00:53:49,670 We have to enlarge our faith. 1076 00:53:50,030 --> 00:53:53,810 Even those who come casually, out of curiosity, 1077 00:53:54,010 --> 00:53:56,130 not looking for anything, and yet the Lord 1078 00:53:56,130 --> 00:53:56,970 somehow will meet them. 1079 00:53:58,130 --> 00:53:59,390 That should be our faith now. 1080 00:53:59,850 --> 00:54:01,010 I don't know why the Lord sent over 1081 00:54:01,010 --> 00:54:01,790 a thousand to us. 1082 00:54:01,890 --> 00:54:02,170 Why? 1083 00:54:04,070 --> 00:54:04,470 Why? 1084 00:54:04,870 --> 00:54:05,930 There must be a purpose. 1085 00:54:06,690 --> 00:54:08,010 We may not know what we are doing, 1086 00:54:08,310 --> 00:54:09,710 but we have to believe He knows what 1087 00:54:09,710 --> 00:54:10,130 He is doing. 1088 00:54:13,000 --> 00:54:15,060 So don't say, okay, those who come with 1089 00:54:15,060 --> 00:54:16,660 a heart, the Lord will meet them for 1090 00:54:16,660 --> 00:54:16,840 sure. 1091 00:54:16,840 --> 00:54:19,620 But can we believe God that everyone who 1092 00:54:19,620 --> 00:54:22,220 enters, comes to this conference, the Lord somehow 1093 00:54:22,220 --> 00:54:22,660 will meet them. 1094 00:54:24,670 --> 00:54:25,390 We have to do that. 1095 00:54:26,050 --> 00:54:27,890 We have to believe that God will supply 1096 00:54:29,750 --> 00:54:31,850 abundantly, fully, give us an open heaven, so 1097 00:54:31,850 --> 00:54:34,890 our three brothers will have the anointing I 1098 00:54:34,890 --> 00:54:36,110 have never experienced before. 1099 00:54:37,590 --> 00:54:41,550 Something will change all of us, make us 1100 00:54:41,550 --> 00:54:42,890 a new creature all over again. 1101 00:54:43,490 --> 00:54:44,190 We need that. 1102 00:54:45,010 --> 00:54:46,610 We need to pray for those three brothers 1103 00:54:46,610 --> 00:54:48,830 and pray for the others, ministering to the 1104 00:54:48,830 --> 00:54:49,090 young people. 1105 00:54:49,170 --> 00:54:50,190 They are no less important. 1106 00:54:53,260 --> 00:54:55,480 And I believe the next two weeks we 1107 00:54:55,480 --> 00:54:57,140 have to pray, believe Him. 1108 00:54:57,920 --> 00:54:59,360 Not look at human facts. 1109 00:55:00,180 --> 00:55:02,880 They hint some of the rooms will have 1110 00:55:02,880 --> 00:55:03,700 no air conditioning. 1111 00:55:04,480 --> 00:55:06,080 We don't know where are going to have 1112 00:55:06,080 --> 00:55:06,280 things. 1113 00:55:06,360 --> 00:55:07,880 We don't know all these human facts. 1114 00:55:08,200 --> 00:55:09,300 Yes, there are facts. 1115 00:55:09,880 --> 00:55:10,280 It's true. 1116 00:55:10,500 --> 00:55:11,380 We have to face them. 1117 00:55:12,540 --> 00:55:13,120 It's true. 1118 00:55:14,500 --> 00:55:16,000 But we are going to look at a 1119 00:55:16,000 --> 00:55:17,020 different set of facts and put it all 1120 00:55:17,020 --> 00:55:17,440 together. 1121 00:55:18,020 --> 00:55:18,940 It's God's fact. 1122 00:55:19,400 --> 00:55:21,620 God said, they come because I brought them 1123 00:55:21,620 --> 00:55:24,780 here and they brought here our real response 1124 00:55:24,780 --> 00:55:25,640 for today's meeting. 1125 00:55:26,400 --> 00:55:27,540 Every one of them. 1126 00:55:28,300 --> 00:55:29,280 And that should be our faith. 1127 00:55:30,080 --> 00:55:32,580 That's why this conference is God's conference. 1128 00:55:33,420 --> 00:55:34,980 Not our conference. 1129 00:55:35,240 --> 00:55:37,320 It's God's drawing of His people. 1130 00:55:37,680 --> 00:55:39,020 God wants to say something to them. 1131 00:55:39,640 --> 00:55:42,400 Not just to a small portion, but to 1132 00:55:42,400 --> 00:55:44,000 everyone who comes. 1133 00:55:45,860 --> 00:55:47,000 And thank God. 1134 00:55:47,480 --> 00:55:50,740 What is impossible is what is possible. 1135 00:55:50,980 --> 00:55:53,320 And God wants us to be unbelievable. 1136 00:55:53,880 --> 00:55:56,060 When I heard from the brothers talking over 1137 00:55:56,060 --> 00:55:58,940 the phone, 900, oh, I said, oh no. 1138 00:56:00,040 --> 00:56:00,980 Then a thousand? 1139 00:56:01,920 --> 00:56:02,440 Unbelievable! 1140 00:56:03,500 --> 00:56:04,080 But it was. 1141 00:56:04,680 --> 00:56:05,400 It's true. 1142 00:56:06,560 --> 00:56:08,980 And the Lord will meet all our needs. 1143 00:56:10,280 --> 00:56:13,050 He will meet our needs. 1144 00:56:13,070 --> 00:56:14,250 More than what we need. 1145 00:56:14,250 --> 00:56:15,350 So let's look to the Lord. 1146 00:56:15,490 --> 00:56:22,070 Our Father, we are so thankful that we 1147 00:56:22,070 --> 00:56:26,130 do not need to look at our circumstances. 1148 00:56:27,290 --> 00:56:29,370 We don't even need to look at ourselves, 1149 00:56:29,490 --> 00:56:29,990 our feelings. 1150 00:56:30,550 --> 00:56:32,050 What we know, what we don't know. 1151 00:56:33,210 --> 00:56:34,050 The Lord, we thank You. 1152 00:56:34,170 --> 00:56:35,690 We can turn our hearts just to You. 1153 00:56:36,650 --> 00:56:38,730 Lord, You know all about us. 1154 00:56:39,610 --> 00:56:42,690 You know everything about us. 1155 00:56:43,350 --> 00:56:45,490 So we do pray for the local brothers 1156 00:56:45,490 --> 00:56:49,010 and sisters that are responsible for this conference. 1157 00:56:49,850 --> 00:56:50,770 Give grace. 1158 00:56:51,530 --> 00:56:53,170 Give grace, give strength. 1159 00:56:53,590 --> 00:56:54,590 Above all, give faith. 1160 00:56:55,250 --> 00:56:59,170 Lord, to believe that what is impossible with 1161 00:56:59,170 --> 00:57:01,330 us is possible with You. 1162 00:57:02,330 --> 00:57:05,750 You always say, if we only believe, all 1163 00:57:05,750 --> 00:57:07,370 things are possible. 1164 00:57:08,250 --> 00:57:09,930 And to You we give all the praise. 1165 00:57:10,450 --> 00:57:11,010 All the glory. 1166 00:57:11,330 --> 00:57:12,310 We ask it in the name of Jesus. 1167 00:57:12,310 --> 00:57:14,030 Amen.