God's Help in Times of Trouble

Your refuge is in God with the absolute surety of the promise of Christ to help us!

(Psalm 91)

Fred R. Coulter—September 12, 2020

 - Video |  - PDF | Audio | [Up]

Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Sabbath services! Today we ask:

• What on earth is going on?
• What happens when the world has forgotten God?

But God remembers the righteous!

There are a lot of things going on and taking place that we need to understand that we have to be strong in the Lord!

Before we get into anything else in the message, let's come to Psa. 91, and this is important for us to always keep in mind because of the difficulties that are coming. We are told in Matt. 24, Luke 13 and also Dan. 12 that the worst times have been since the creation are coming!

How are we going to stand for it? In that mix, as we have covered on Church At Home {churchathome.org} there will be false prophets and false Christs. Did you know that there is a false Christ out there now who says that he's the Messiah? Watch the latest Church at Home, and he has thousands of followers, 300 study centers. It's amazing what's going on! Here's what we need to understand:

• we don't need to be afraid; we need to be careful
• we don't need to be boastful; we need to be humble

Here's the reason: we have until the time of the martyrdom, the protection of God!Even when that comes, the next thing that we will be is resurrected from the dead. Remember what we covered about how God the Father has called us, drawn us, the Father and the Son spiritual are in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 91:1: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High… [that's us] …shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

When there's a shadow and you're looking perpendicular to it, you can't see it. But the shadow is there, so God is always there.

• Is He in us? Yes!
• Will He watch over us? Yes!

Verse 2: "I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I will trust.'" Trusting God is the most important thing!

Prov. 3:5 also fits in; this is how we are to trust and this is how God deals with us:

Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding."

What is it that we pray every day? That God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven!

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

Psalm 91:3: "Surely… [for sure] …He will deliver you from the fowler's trap and from the destroying pestilence."

• Have any of you suffered from the Wuhan virus? No!
• Have we worn any masks in our assembly? No!

Verse 4: "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge. His Truth shall be your shield and buckler."

• That starts with Jesus Christ: 'I am the Way, the Truth and the Life!'
• It's with the commandments: 'All Your commandments are true! All Your precepts are true!

Every way of God is true, because He cannot lie and there is no lie with God!

Verse 5: "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night…" Look what is happening in the cities by night! Isn't that terror?

Look at all the forest fires that are going on! A lot of them are set by the evil ones. Why are there evil ones? We will see that they don't come just out of nothing! There's a reason for it all. Go back and read what God did to Solomon's son Rehoboam and also to Solomon. When Solomon started going astray, God sent Hadad the Syrian and his terrorist gang to plague Israel.

• Does that sound similar to what's happening today. Yes, indeed!
• Why? As a warning that you can't live in sin and be successful! Never works!

"…nor for the arrow that flies by day, nor for the plague that walks in darkness, nor for the destruction laying waste at noonday" (vs 5-6).

Think of that! This is a guarantee from God. I talked to a woman who said that every day when she starts her prayers, she reads Psa 91. I thought that was very interesting. Notice what will happen:

Verse 7: "A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand; it shall not come near you." That's why we're to always trust in God! Is He stronger than we are? Yes, indeed!

Verse 8: "Only with your eyes you shall behold and see the recompense of the wicked." We will see that at the resurrection!

We may see some recompense with some wicked sometime, but not always, there's so much evil. We in the United States have no idea how corrupt the governments are, from the Federal Government to the local governments. Right here in small Hollister they are lusting after tax money to try and develop all of the area around like a big city, and they've given no thought to where the water is coming from. I think about that every time I turn on the faucet.

Verse 11: "For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways."

Look at that statement! Have you ever experienced something where an angel has been with you to save you? I did! That's was probably about 1996, I was coming up Hwy. 5 and the sun was beating in on me so I was trying to stuff a shirt in the window to block the sun. The front tire went over the edge of the pavement and my car did a complete 360 and landed right on the wheels, and I didn't have my seatbelt on. I sat in the car, dust and everything, and the first thing I said was, 'Thank You, God!'

God didn't say that He would remove all evil; He said that He would deliver you! He delivered me! If that car had gone another 15 feet it would have been a head-on collision with something come south at 70-80 mph. When it was over the highway patrol came and he saw that I wasn't hurt. I had a little gash from the rearview mirror, it didn't hurt anything. Of course, I was shaking. The tow-truck came and he wanted to tow the car down to Bakersfield. I was way north of Bakersfield, so the highway patrolman said to put some air in the tires and see if it will hold. It held! He said to drive 20 miles north and go into this gas station and he'll fix your tires so that they will have a good bead and lock onto the wheel. So, I drove covered in this white dust! I got up there and got that taken care of. Then I got home.

While I was there getting my tires fixed I used a cell phone that someone had and I called Dolores and said, 'I had a little accident, I'll be a little late coming home. So, she was waiting for me and standing up on the deck looking down, because that's over the garage, and here I drive up in my little white Isuzu and I get out of the car and I'm covered with all of this white dust. She broke out laughing because I looked like a ghost out one of the movies. Nevertheless, God did that!

Verse 12: "They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and asp; the young lion and the jackal you shall trample underfoot" (vs 12-14).

This is showing that David fighting his enemies, but it also gets into us when we come back to the earth with Christ. We're going to take care of everything on the earth. Here's the reason, and here's why the most important thing for us every single day is prayer and study! You've heard that how many times? This is so important, because this is your connection to God, and that you realize that everything you have comes from God, every single thing!

Verse 14: "Because he has set his love upon me… [this is actually David setting his love upon the Lord] ….therefore, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble… [How is that? Through the Holy Spirit in you, and he angels alongside of you!] …I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life… [the resurrection; you can't get any longer life than eternal life] …I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (vs 14-16).

Now I understand why this woman reads it every day with all the troubles going on. We find a lot of these things already there in the Psalms, because we're not the first things to experience trouble. Sometimes we do like here:

Psalm 10:1: "Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" He's not hiding Himself! He will protect those who are His! There are calamities and things coming upon the world because of sin!

Notice how this describes what's going on today. It's happened in every society and this ties in with what we have with the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread: A little leaven leavens the whole lump!

Let's just take the entertainment industry, but it's true in education, government, personal relationships, everything. When they had the movie Gone with the Wind with Clark Gable, he said 'damn' and that was the first drop of leaven, because they had a standard for the movies then. Look where it is today! There's an uproar about 11-year-olds being trained to be little sex objects. What do we have underground? Sex trafficking that reaches to the highest levels! They've even found on the registration of flights to Epstein Island: John Roberts, the Supreme Court Justice! Does that tell us why he flip-flops? I don't know!

Verse 11: "He has said in his heart, 'God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see!'" God knows everything! Because God is going to judge not just your actions, but the thoughts of your heart!

Verse 12: "Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the humble. Why do the wicked spurn God? He has said in his heart, 'You will not call into account.'…. [yes He is; it's coming right now] …You have seen it, for You behold mischief and vexation to repay it with Your hand. The poor commits himself to You; You are the Helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and the evil one; seek out his wickedness until You find none" (vs 12-15).

Psa. 9 has an awful lot, too; I'll just leave you to read that. Psa. 12 also describes this generation, as well.

Psalm 12:1: "Help, O LORD…" That's what we need, God's help! We will see when we get to the end of the message the absolute surety of the promise of Christ to help us.

"…for the Godly man ceases; for the faithful disappear from among the children of men" (v 1).

What is the plague of the Church today? Laodiceanism! The Church is being shaken up because of that, and oppression; God is not done with it!

Sidebar: On the Sabbath before atonement I'm going to give another message on oppression within the Churches of God. That is going to be astonishing, I guarantee you! {this will be live stream}

Verse 2: "They speak falsehood each one with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak."

Doesn't that sound like what's happened to President Donald Trump how many times? Now they're finding out that the leading generals—beginning with Mattis—were in on coup to get rid of Trump! Think about that! There are a lot of people who don't like Trump. I had one man in the Church tell me that if you say anything about Trump I don't trust you anymore. Well, go ahead and trust MSNBC and CNN and see what happens.

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

Verse 5: "'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, I will now arise,' says the LORD. 'I will set him in safety from him who puffs at him.'"

Here is how that's going to happen, because everything about the Word of God is true; everything that He has said is going to take place; not just in the minimum, but in the maximum.

Verse 6: "The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times…. [you can't get it any better than that] …You shall keep them, O LORD; You shall preserve them from this generation forever…. [this describes this generation completely]: …The wicked walk on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men" (vs 5-8).

Isn't that true? Yes, it is! So, it's no mystery as to what is going on! Let's see what else God tells us. It's almost like—in reading these verses and preparing this message—I took it off the news. It will be fulfilled! I've read this before, but it's good to read it again and go through it and understand it even more.

Isaiah 1:4: "Ah, sinful nation… [Isn't that what we are? Yes, indeed!] …a people burdened with iniquity…"

What does that mean? You have so many penalties because of sin, you're burdened down! Look at:

• New York City
• Chicago
• San Francisco

The whole west coast is on fire! How much more can they take?

"…a seed of evildoers…" (v 4)—all of those who think that they are righteous, they're not! They may in this society be good and upright people, but how does God judge them? Whether they keep His commandments in the letter of the Law or not! That's how He judges them!

"…children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD…" (v 4). When you forsake God penalties are going to come! He'll give a space of repentance, but it will come!

"…they have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger; they have gone away backward" (v 4).

So, God asks, 'What are you doing with all this trouble, and everything going on?'

Verse 5: "Why should you be stricken any more? You will revolt more and more; the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the top of the head there is no soundness in it; only wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they have not been closed, nor bound up, nor soothed with ointment" (vs 5-6).

Think about this, add it all up: floods, hurricanes, tornados, fires, heat, cold, crime, corruption! Add it all together!

Verse 7: "Your country is a desolation, your cities are burned with fire…. [Is that not true?] …Strangers devour your land right in your very presence…"

We're overrun with drugs. And even building the wall, they're now taking boats around in coming along the coast of California bringing all kinds of drugs. They jump out of the boat and carry all the stuff, run onshore and leave the boat. Think about a 1200-mile coast to California, with all the little inlets, bays and everything. How are they going to stop that? You can't build a wall all along there! That is to get people to wake up and turn to God!

Verse 8: "And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, like a hut in a garden of cucumbers… [just all overgrown with all kinds of things] …like a besieged city."

• Isn't that interesting?
• How many cities are besieged today?

And all by one of the excessively evil parties, the Democrat Party! The most evil are ANTIFA and Black Lives Matter, and the ones who are going out saying that they're working for black people are white people going against anyone who gets in their way!

Here's some good news, because there is a Church of God, and there are the people of God in amongst all of this:

Verse 9: "Except the LORD of hosts had left us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom; we would have become like Gomorrah."

Isa. 5 is quite a chapter. Just for information on study, in the book of Isaiah there are 19 woes! Probably you thought there were a lot in Revelation, but there are a lot in Isaiah. Let's look at it from God's point of view, from an historical point of view for America and Britain. We're going to see a verse a little later that singles out Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. Who are they? They are the descendants of Joseph with his beloved wife!

Tie in Matt. 21 about the vineyard that Christ talks about to the scribes and Pharisees.

Isaiah 5:1: "Now, I will sing to my Beloved a song of my Beloved concerning His vineyard. My Beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. and hewed out a wine vat in it; and He looked for it to produce grapes. But it produced worthless fruits" (vs 1-2).

God says, v 3: "And now, O people of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, I ask you to judge between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it?" (vs 3-4).

Look at all the blessings that He's poured out upon Israel; all the blessings that He's poured out upon this country. We say that it's the greatest country in the history of the world, and that probably is true. But that didn't happen because we're diligent and good people. That happened because of the blessing of God!

Sidebar on what's going on today: You've heard of 1619 about slaves coming to the continent. It wasn't Americans that did that! The United States of America was not founded until about 150 years later! It was the British and the Africans that sold Africans! So, if you think there are any reparations go talk to Queen Elizabeth.

"…Who knows? I looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. And now I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard; I will take away its hedge, and it shall be consumed; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down" (vs 4-5).

People don't understand God! There's a consequence for sin, and it's that however deep the sin is, and whether there is repentance or not!

Verse 6: "And I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor dug; but briers and thorns shall come up. And I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it."

What do we have with rain? Lot of rain here, no rain there! Look at what happened to the corn crop this year in Iowa. They had a blasting wind way above 100 mph and it knocked down fully 50% of the corn crop. I don't know if they were able to save any of that or not. I couldn't tell you, I haven't heard.

Then look what happened in China with all the floods. We've already covered that. The farmland was covered with nine feet of water. They couldn't plant any crops this year! So, what are they doing? Coming to America—'our enemy'—and buying from us! Does that not fulfill a prophecy that 'your enemy will eat your food'? If they didn't buy it, famine would set-in in China! They've got 1.4-billion mouths to feed every day!

Verse 7[transcriber's correction]: "For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant; and He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress!" Isn't that exactly what's going on?Now begins the first of the woes!

Verse 8: [#1]"Woe to those who join house to house, that lay field to field, until there is no place left, and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land!"

Think about it! What were they running on television on 9/11? They were showing all the things on the history channel what happened when the enemy crashed into the twin towers! Then later the Pentagon and Pennsylvania. But in New York City they showed the mass of people running, 50% of them completely unfit, weak, overweight standing there looking up into the sky seeing those buildings burning. They watched and watched, and the people gathered around, and it was hard to get the firemen in there. Then they got in there and the firemen starting going up to try and rescue people. You know what happened, the whole thing collapsed, both buildings.

• Was that enough to turn people back to God? Maybe a few! But they didn't learn the lesson with that!
• Will they learn the lesson now with what's happening in the cities?
• Will they learn the lesson with all the murders and drugs?
• Will they?

So, WOE, we created our own problems!

Verse 11: [#2]"Woe to those who rise up early in the morning to go after strong drink; who continue late into the night while wine inflames them!" You can add drugs into that, as well!

• Are there troubles with it?
• Do people have difficulties?
• Yes, indeed!

We are now dealing with young people who have been on marijuana, which is now 20-times stronger than it was when they first started smoking 30 years ago. And magic mushrooms!

What happens? Their brains are all scrambled! The connections in the brain are all messed up and they hear voices! They don't know what to do. Well, we pray for them, we anoint them, and what they need to do is concentrate on getting their brain re-programmed so the synapses work right, because they have destroyed with the drugs.

I recommend, and I've done this with several, and it's really helped: study the book of Proverbs over and over and over, because you need to learn to think correctly. Then whatever problems that people have done to you, you forgive them whether they ask for it or not!

If you don't—especially if there's been sexual problems, drug problems and things like this—that will always be there unless you forgive.

Verse 12: "…they do not regard the work of the LORD. Yea, they do not see the work of His hands. Therefore, My people are gone into exile… [captivity, which is coming] …because they have no knowledge, and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude is dried up with thirst" (vs 12-13)—both physically and spiritually!

Verse 18: [#3]"Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity…" That includes all entertainment, government, corporations, and individuals!

• How many are hacking on line?
• How many are stealing?

"…and sin with cart ropes…" (v 18). In other words, it's like he has a whole cart full of sin, and you have a rope towing it behind you!

And they mock God, v 19: "Who say, 'Let Him hurry and hasten His work, so that we may see it; and let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, so that we may know!'"

'If there's a God let Him show Himself!' He is! With all the danger that's coming along!

Verse 20: [#4]"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"

I need to mention something here that is not talked about very much, but it happens, and that is:

• What happened to the missing children?
• Where do they go?
• Why can they not be found?

Because those who worship Satan directly sacrifice them and drink their blood! You won't hear this on the news, but you go online and see how many missing children there are, and:

• why they have not found their bodies
• why they cannot find out what happened to them

Don't you think that God is judging for that? Yes, indeed!

Verse 21: [#5]Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! [#6]Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink… [add in the drugs] …who justify the wicked for a bribe…" (vs 21-23).

Why haven't they indicted any of these people they know everything about, every sin that they have done against the government and the people? Because they've been bribed!

"…and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him" (v 23)—like this false shutdown! You can't have any religious meetings, but you can have a 'protest'! One church was very smart, they had a lot of people there for services, and the officials came and said, 'What are you doing?' We're planning a protest! 'Oh, okay!'

Here's the reason, v 24: "Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame burns up the chaff; their root shall be like rottenness, and their blossoms shall go up like dust because they have cast away the Law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel."

Isn't that true? If you want a summary action, go up to someone you don't know and say, 'What do you think is wrong with the world today?' They'll probably say this, that or the other' and some will say, 'I don't know.' Then you look them right in the eye and say, 'Don't you know that it's because of the sins of the people, and your sins, too!' Then you better get ready to run! But it's true! That is true!

(break)

Advertisement: Not for sale!

• Book: God's Plan for Mankind, Revealed by His Sabbath and Holy Days!

That's the key to understanding God. If you're talking to anyone concerning that, tell them that the Sabbath is the first step for you to take to understand the Word of God!

• Catalog of Christian Biblical Church of God Literature

We have 135 Transcript Books with CDs, which is the greatest way to learn.

I talked to a woman recently who called to thank me for them, because what happens when you take those Transcript Books is you read it as you hear it and vocalize it yourself in your own mind. So, you're getting triple input into your mind and that helps you understand things quicker.

• Booklet: Offenses: Ordinances of God by Steven Greene

Because there's so many troubles between brethren and ministers, here's the cause and the cure, and you have to use the ordinances of God to do it.

*****

Jer. 2—as I read this, I want you think about how this nation—America—came about, and everyone says that God gave it to us, which is right.

Sidebar: Why did God have them really drive out the Indians? Because they are Satan-worshippers and cannibals!

That has been proven time and again! Those remnants that are left, they don't do that. But God took it from them because of how they sinned against Him, and gave it to us! It was a beautiful land from sea to shinning sea! So, keep that in mind as I read this:

Jeremiah 2:1: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, "Thus says the LORD, 'I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothals, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was Holiness to the LORD, and the firstfruits of His increase. All that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come on them,' says the LORD"': (vs 1-3).

Verse 4: "Hear the Word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the LORD, 'What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me and have walked after vanity, and have become vain?'" (vs 4-5).

• Why would you leave God?
• Why would you reject His Word?

After all that God gave! Look at one of the great miracles that happened in developing America: The Louisiana Purchase! It was purchased for pennies!

Verse 6: "'Nor did they say, 'Where is the LORD Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of dry places, and of deep darkness, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man lived?' And I brought you into a plentiful country…'" (vs 6-7).

When they first came on the east coast, there were so many fish they couldn't understand how there were that many fish. You drop in a net and it's full! An amazing thing! Then there was a lot of wildlife. A deer would come through their property and they needed some meat, they were able to get it. They planted vineyards, orchards, everything.

"…to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled My land and made My inheritance an abomination…. [over a period of time; look at what it is right now] …The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?'.…" (vs 7-8),

The leaders of Protestantism are the ones responsible for the beginning of all of this against us, because they have said that 'the Law is done away, and the Old Testament has been fulfilled.' They lie! That's how God looks at it. Don't get mad at me, you go read what the Word of God says.

"…And they who handle the Law did not know Me… [Why? Because they didn't read it!] …the rulers also rebelled against Me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and walked after things that do not profit" (v 8).

What are the things that do not profit? Sunday, Christmas, Easter, Halloween; those things don't profit!

Verse 9: "'Therefore, I will contend with you,' says the LORD, 'and against your children's children I will contend.'" Is that not happening today? Yes, indeed!

See how the Word of God applies down through time in history over and over again.

Verse 11: "Has a nation changed their gods who are yet no gods?…."

Isn't that what's happening? There are more witches than there are Presbyterians! How many satanist that there are, we don't know!

"'…But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit…. [Isn't that true?] …Be amazed, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be utterly desolated,' says the LORD, 'For My people have committed two evils; [#1]they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters… [the Holy Spirit] …[#2]and hewn out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water'" (vs 11-13)—the Protestant and Catholic religions!

Jer. 9—here's what it is today; think about that! This was written in the 500sB.C., so that means it's 2500-years-old. But it's true as if it were written yesterday. Why? Because the Word of God is spiritual and it is true! It applies over and over again. Why? Because God is the same yesterday and forever and He changes not!

Jeremiah 9:3: "'And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies. But they are not valiant for the Truth… [looking for way to get around it] …on the earth; for they go from evil to evil, and they do not know Me,' says the LORD. 'Everyone beware of his neighbor… [Isn't that true?] …and do not trust any brother! For every brother will supplant his neighbor, and will walk with slanderers. And everyone will deceive his neighbor and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and they weary themselves to commit iniquity'" (vs 3-5). That's quite a thing!

It's described in Isa. 43 what they have done; I want you to think about this. People wonder why things don't work out. Well, they don't work out because they're not trusting in God! You can't have your own way. You can be successful for a while. But sooner or later you're going come across things that are going to topple you down. That's just the way it is. Think about when this Wuhan plague came. Look at how many people it affected! The greatest catastrophe to hit America.

Isaiah 43:21: "This people that I formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Not yet, but that's what they should do!

Verse 22: "Yet, you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; much less have you troubled yourself about Me, O Israel." What did they do?

Verse 24: "You have bought Me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices…"

Now notice this; this is absolutely a description of Protestantism today:

"…but you have made Me serve with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities" (v 24). Quite an amazing thing indeed!

That's why all of these things are coming upon us! Here's God offering repentance:

Verse 26: "Put Me in remembrance; let us plead together; declare yourself, that you may be justified"—return to God!

I want you to go to Church at Home {churchathome.org} The Melting Pot of Sin and watch it.

Ezekiel 24:5: "Take the choice of the flock, and also burn the bones under it; make it boil well, and let them boil its bones in it.' Wherefore, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Woe to the bloody city…'" (vs 5-6). Think about how many bloody cities we have today! Add in there all the abortions.

"…to the pot whose scum is in it, and whose scum has not gone out of it! Bring it out, piece by piece; without casting lots for them" (v 6).

In other words, bring out their sins for everyone to see one at a time, with all the scum and all the sin to see.

Verse 7: "'For her blood is in her midst; she set it upon the top of a rock. She did not pour it on the ground, to cover it with dust… [didn't do that] …that it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance. I have set her blood on top of a shining rock, that it should not be covered.' Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Woe to the bloody city!….'" (vs 7-9).

Think about that! What city could you say that is today? We have a whole lot of them! New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and there will be more! What did Kamala Harris say? These will not stop during the election nor after the election—all the rioting going on! So, you better pray for the President if you want some relief from this, that he will act in such a way to bring law and order. If he doesn't, you better prepare for the worst!

I'll tell you what happen just this week: here in California they have rolling blackout—shutdowns—because of the fires. In the heat of the summer, they shut it down; no air-conditioning! No electricity! Well, so far Hollister has not had to have that problem.

But all of a sudden, on Thursday, the electricity goes out. I thought, we're on the rolling blackout! But it wasn't, it was only for one hour. I thought to myself: What do those people do when it's shut off for 15-18 hours in this heat.

Stop and think of the Proverb that you could put over all the things that are going on! There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death! Isn't that what's happening today? And they think they're doing right! Those who try to do what is really right, what is really good, and even honoring God to the point that they use His name and praise Him! I don't know if that's enough flattery to God that He will hold back or not!

But I do know this: the only saving grace that there is, is that this Gospel has got to go out to the whole world, and it has to come from the Churches of God! Maybe that's why God is shaking up some of the Churches of God, because they've been asleep! They need to wake up!

• What are you doing with the money that God has sent?
• What are you doing with all the facilities that you have?
• What are you doing in understanding the Word of God?
• Do you not have blame in what's going on?

As well as the Protestants!

I'm going to talk about that on the 26th of Sept. {live stream} and I'm not going spare, because God says, 'Cry aloud and spare not; show My people their sins!' Why? So that they may repent!

Verse 8: "That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance. I have set her blood on top of a shining rock, that it should not be covered.' Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Woe to the bloody city! I will even heap greatly on the pile for fire. And heap on the wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and mix in the spice, and let the bones be burned. Then set it empty on its coals, so that its bronze may be hot and may glow, and that its uncleanness may be melted in it, that the scum of it may be burned away" (vs 8-11).

That's not the way to get rid of sin, but that's the way that God is going to get rid of it unless there's repentance!

Verse 12: "She has frustrated all efforts; her heave deposit has not been removed, not even by fire. In your defilement is lewdness. Because I tried to purge you, but you would not be purged of your impurity, you shall not be purged from your defilement any more, until I have caused My fury to rest on you" (vs 12-13). These are words of warning from God! A lot of people don't like to read these things!

Sidebar: I mentioned that there's one man out there who says that he's the Messiah. They did a thing on asking the people, 'What do you think?' they said it's a very positive message. 'What was the message?' You're cleansed from all your sins and whatever you do is not sin!

What's going to happen?

Verse 14: "I the LORD have spoken it…." When God says that He has spoken it, that means it is coming!

"'…It shall come to pass and I will do it. I will not hold back, nor will I spare, nor will I repent. According to your ways, and according to your doings, they shall judge you,' says the Lord GOD" (v 14).

Psalm 9:1—here's what we are to do, like David: "I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart…"

If there's anything you need from all of the people in the Church, all the ministers in the Church, is that you come to God with your whole heart! The only thing that's going to hold back what we have read, even for a short period of time, is whether the Churches of God will repent or not! Then learn to love Him with the whole heart, whole mind and all your strength!

"…I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High" (v 1-2).

Notice what will happen if that were to occur, because God always honors repentance! There must be repentance first with the people of God. I don't know what kind of repentance there can be with the Protestants; I have no idea! But somehow these messages have got to get to them! A lot of them are well-intended, and they think they are doing good when compared to the evil in the world. Someone has got to tell them:

• repent of your Sunday-keeping
• repent of your holiday-keeping
• come to God in Truth

If that happens:

Verse 3: "When my enemies have turned back, they shall fall and perish before You… [because God will then fight the battle] …for You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat upon the Throne giving righteous judgment. You have rebuked the nations… [that's what's going on] …You have destroyed the wicked… [that's going to come] …You have blotted out their name forever and ever" (vs 3-5).

Doesn't this describe what has been taking place, v 6: "Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy, You have uprooted the cities, the memory of them has perished." If we don't repent, that's going to happen to us!

Verse 7: "But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His Throne for judgment. And He shall judge the world in righteousness; He shall govern the people with justice" (vs 7-8). That's the whole goal of what God is going to do!

• What do we have coming up? Trumpets, Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles!
• What are all those days about? How God is going to rescue the world!

But in order to rescue it, He must absolutely destroy:

• the wicked
• the wicked things
• the wicked ways

And institute His Kingdom of God with the saints ruling under Christ!

Psalm 11:1: "In the LORD I have taken refuge; how then can you say to me, 'Flee like a bird to your mountain'?"

In other words, it's not going to do any good to try and find some mountain retreat someplace and think you're going to get away from it! Your refuge is in God!

Verse 2: "For lo, the wicked bend their bow; they make ready their arrow on the string, so that they may secretly shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (vs 2-3).

What is our foundation? Jesus Christ! He is the Rock!On that are

• the apostles, their teachings
• the Prophets, their teachings
• Moses, his teaching

Altogether!

Verse 4: "The LORD is in His Holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven. His eyes behold; His searching gaze tests the children of men." No one thinks of it that way!

• How does God do that?
• Is He sitting on the Throne just doing it Himself? No!

As we find in the book of Revelation, He has seven eyes that are constantly going around the earth to see who is seeking after Him!

Verse 5: "The LORD tries the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone… [a prophecy of His return, first and then the Lake of Fire] …and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup, for the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face" (vs 5-7). That's quite a thing for us to contemplate and understand!

Psalm 94:11: "The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity."

Now you know why we need to have the laws and commandments written in our heart and mind. Why? Because man at his very best state altogether—the very best he can be without God—is vanity! So, that's why our thoughts are vain!

Verse 12: "Blessed is the man whom You chasten… [that's what we receive, chastening from God. It's more mild when you repent everyday] …O LORD to teach him out of Your Law that You may give him rest from the days of trouble until the pit is dug for the wicked… [tie in with Psa. 91] …for the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance" (vs 12-14).

That's us! We joint co-inheritors with Christ! Think about what God is going to do! It's awesome! It's absolutely beyond belief what He's going to prepare for us, and make us spirit beings! This is what we need to keep in our mind so that we're not overwhelmed with all this stuff that's going on.

Verse 15: "But judgment shall return unto righteousness; and all the upright in heart shall follow it."

Now, we'll read Psa. 91 again, to finish where we began! Think about this:

• Don't be worried
• Don't be fretful
• These things are going to happen

You're going to see on TV the new and all kinds of things. It may even come right near you, wherever you may be. But notice, you are on God's side! Most people want God to come to their side, but God won't do it until there's repentance! But we are on God's side!

Psalm 91:1: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High…"

Who in the world knows that we are on God's side? They don't!

"…shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress… [What do you need a fortress for? To hold back the efforts of sin and destruction!] …my God, in Whom I will trust.' Surely He will deliver you from the fowler's trap and from the destroying pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge…. [the unseen protection from God] …His Truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flies by day, nor for the plague that walks in darkness, nor for the destruction laying waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand; it shall not come near you" (vs 1-7).

Verse 8: "Only with your eyes you shall behold and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, Who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling… [quite a promise] …for He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways" (vs 8-11). That's a real blessing!

Verse 12: "They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and asp; the young lion and the jackal you shall trample underfoot. 'Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known My name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation'" (vs 12-16).

Hebrews 13:5: "Do not allow the love of money to influence your behavior, but be satisfied with what you have; for He has said, 'In no way…'"—in the Greek this is a double negative: 'oo me':

• 'oo' means the reality that He would leave you will never happen
• 'me' means don't let it enter into your mind

"…'In no way will I ever leave you; no—I will never forsake you in any way'" (v 5)—'oo me oo den' So, there are three clarifications of Christ, plus two, making five altogether that:

• He will never leave you
• He will never forsake you

Verse 6: "So then, let us boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper…'"

Tie in Psa. 91; God will help you. What did He say? He will be with you in trouble!

"'…and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" (v 6).

So, when you see all of these things coming about in the world:

• trust God
• look to Him
• put yourself in His hands

and He will bless you and protect you! Keep that in mind with what's happening in the world today!

Scriptural References:

• Psalm 91: 1-2
• Proverbs 3:5-7
• Psalm 91:3-8, 11-16
• Psalm 10:1, 11-15
• Psalm 12:1-8
• Isaiah 1:4-9
• Isaiah 5:1-8, 11-24
• Jeremiah 2:1-9, 11-13
• Jeremiah 9:3-5
• Isaiah 43:21-22, 24, 26
• Ezekiel 24:5-9, 8-14
• Psalm 9:1-8
• Psalm 11:1-7
• Psalm 94:11-15
• Psalm 91:1-16
• Hebrews 13:5-6

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Matthew 24
• Luke 13
• Daniel 12
• Matthew 21

Also referenced:

• Book: God's Plan for Mankind, Revealed by His Sabbath and Holy Days by Fred R. Coulter
• Booklet: Offenses: Ordinances of God by Steven Greene
• Church at Home {churchathome.org} The Melting Pot of Sin

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 9/16/20

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