The Immutable Anchor

I appreciate those who work in our sound and

media. It's not always an easy job. Amen. Brethren,

we appreciate you. Thank you so much. No stones

can be cast in any direction because if I went

back there, it would be bad. I am thankful for

the Lord who gives and gives talents. Amen. So

thank you, brethren, and just keep it working,

and it'll be just fine. Amen. If you have your

Bibles, and I trust you do, turn with me to Psalm

119. I'm going to read one verse there, and then

we're going to read out of Isaiah 40, and we're

going to read verse 8. Psalm 119, 89, and Psalm

40 in verse 8. Amen. God's good, isn't he? Hallelujah.

One thing I have determined. You think we need

to preach all six pages or just two or three?

I'm sorry, there's seven. We could be a while.

I think the Lord, I don't think, I know. I know

the Lord is mindful of us. Amen. There's a lot

to be praying about in the kingdom today. You

know, we've all got our own dilemmas and situations.

I was reminded of another again this morning,

Pastor Gan from the Prospect Church. Well, looky

here. Don't hold this against me. That was my

page holder opening my Bible while I was studying.

I'm sorry. That could have got dangerous in a

little while. An open blade. Well, it is a two

-edged sword. But I forgot and left my pocket

knife laying there. I'm sorry. Could have been

a nine. Psalm 119, verse 89 reads, Forever, O

Psalms 119:89

Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. In my margin

it reads, stands firm. Isaiah 40, verse 8 reads,

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the

word of our God shall stand forever. Just for

a little while, I think the Lord, I hope this

blesses you, but I actually think this is for

me today. I want to preach to us concerning the

immutable. Anchor. The immutable anchor. Now,

some of you say, well, what's that mean? Well,

that word immutable. Unchanging over time. Or

unable to be changed. Forever, oh Lord, thy word

is established. Forever. It's immutable. You

can't change it. And it doesn't vary. It will

never change. The grass withers, right? The flower

fades. But the word of our God shall stand forever.

His word is not fleeting. Man, I feel our help

showing up today. His word is not fleeting. Amen.

It's not variable. It is stable. And if we ever

need stability, we need it today. Father, I love

you. Add the richness of your grace to our heart

and life this morning. Lord, that liberty that

makes it easy to preach, that's where your spirit

resides. And we're here to glorify you this morning,

Lord, and you alone. But as we glorify you and

we declare this unchanging word, speak to the

hearts and minds of your people. Empower us all

today with the richness of your grace. In Christ's

name. And the church said, amen. Tell your neighbor,

it's immutable. Immutable. With everything that

is going on in our culture and in our society,

we do see things shaking. We do see things very

unstable. Amen. Highly volatile around the world.

Truly, we're living out those latter scriptures

of that 24th chapter of Matthew's gospel. Those

last days, nations are rising, wars all across

the landscape, and the intensity of the demonic

warfare that's going on in the heavens is increasing

as well. Amen. Not only are men's hearts being

stirred and calls to rise up, but I believe there

is a battle in the spiritual realm taking place

as well. The enemy knows that his time is drawing

near to its end, that his free reign is going

to be over. Amen. And I don't know about you,

but that really does excite me. And in the process

of trying to live through, you know, we have

to live through these things, right? We have

to live through and beyond the effects of war,

and they are great. Amen. There may be even those

in this room today who still suffer from some

of those effects emotionally. Psychologically,

spiritually, we fight those battles daily, amen,

because there's an unleashing of the enemy against

all of humanity. He is just unleashed, and he's

trying his very best to steal, kill, and to destroy

everyone and everything because he knows what

his destiny is. You do realize that, right? That's

the reason the enemy is so intently trying to

set against us. I know what's helping me right

now is that I am reminded that God is still God,

and that God is still in charge, and that God

is still in control, that the throne of eternity

has not been moved by the will of man, nor the

whims of man, nor the power -hungerness of man,

nor the strive for fame. God still sits high

above it all, and he is still exalted above the

heavens, and he's still exalted above... No matter

what transpires in the, when you start coming

from heaven downward, you see just how small

a fear that you and I, a sphere that we live

in. It's a very small order. And when you see

how God sits above it all and how that he is

concerned even with what's going on in my and

your sphere of life, he is very concerned. And

I am reminded today that the word of God is unchanging.

Hallelujah. else around me is changing, when

everything in our culture and society is moving

and changing. Even in the church world today,

if you will, it is evolving. I don't necessarily

like everything that it's evolving into and growing

into because we have to be careful that we grow

beyond what God has for us, amen? And we have

to take very close care that we guard the things

of the Lord and that the things that are being

moved. around us should not move us amen and

I know how hard trust me I know how hard it is

to say that and I don't just say that on a whim

but you and I can remain anchored in the hope

of the word of God when everything around you

is shaking and everything in our society and

culture seems to be coming down around us one

thing I do know is that God is still sitting

above it all. And one thing I am concerned about

is this, knowing that my concern toward him remains

immutable as his is toward me, that I remain

unchanged in my faith, that I remain unmoved

in my faith and the stability that I have in

God's grace and the sufficiency that meets me

every single day of my life. It is a reminder

to me that all I have to do is simply stop. and

lift up my eyes and join with the word and begin

to declare, O Lord, that thou wouldst come down

and let your glory one more time cover and fill

this earth. I need it, amen. I long for it and

I'm yearning. And the immutable anchor of our

life is the word of God. When we understand that,

that miracles are not ceased today, that God

still works his mighty deeds among humanity,

God can. bring healing and wholeness to our life

this very day. God can change our circumstances

this very day. God can perform a miracle in our

life right now. Hallelujah. Because the Word

of God, when it is read and when it is studied,

gives us one variable that we must hold to, and

that is that the Word never changes. Amen. My

life goes up and down. My faith goes up and down.

But one thing that doesn't move in me, me is

the throne of God upon my heart. It remains sure.

He remains firm. My God, if I could get a good

grip on him as he's got on me, hallelujah, life

would even get more better and more better and

more better no matter though all hell assail

me. I shall not be moved. Hallelujah. Why become

we? We are the tree that becomes planted by the

rivers of the living water. 2 Timothy 2 and 15,

study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman

that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing

the word of truth. That immutable word of God

in our life, that unchanging stable factor, when

we understand it to its core. Psalm 107 verse

Psalms 107:20

20 declares that his word heals us. He sent his

word and healed them, and not only healed them,

but there's always a, you get a bonus with God,

amen. When you go over and you read in James

where it said, if any sick among you, let him

call on the elders of the church, anointing them

with oil and praying a prayer of faith, and they

shall be healed, and the bonus, if they've committed

any sins, they shall be forgiven unto them. He

sent his word, and he healed them, and he delivered

them from all their destructions. Aren't you

glad that the Lord gives? you the bonus every

time you come to him. The word will make us free

according to John 8, 32. And you shall know the

truth and the truth shall make you free, not

set you free. A lot of times we'll quote it there.

Oh, the word will set you free. No, the word

of God will make you free. Lord, I begin to think

about that. He begins to make things happen.

He don't just sit. He don't just break a chain.

He comes in. and transforms, and he makes me

free. He creates me free if necessary. He enters

into my situation by the accordance and the power

of his word, and he comes into my dilemma, and

he makes me free. Why? Because of the established

truth, and he is truth, and his word is true.

Jesus declared it of himself. I am the way and

the truth. And aren't you so glad that truth

enters in and makes you free? I'm glad to know

the devil don't want to let me go, but he has

no choice in the matter. Hallelujah. He makes

me free. He comes in and forces the enemy away.

If God arises within us and he is the hope within

us, then the enemies that are against us shall

scatter. according to Psalm 119 and 130. It becomes

a light and a lamp. A light to the path and a

lamp to your feet. Amen. According to John 20

and 31, he'll bear witness. The word, this immutable

word, bears witness. These things are written.

that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ,

the Son of God. Hallelujah. The Word will produce

faith in our heart and life. Have you ever gotten

to a place where your faith level's been going

low? Your faith's been draining. You've had so

much against you that your faith seems to be

diminishing, and you begin to worry about yourself

and your faith. Well, don't do that. Get in the

Word. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by

the Word of God. When you begin to feel weak

in faith, just get in the word. Why? It's like

plugging in a hybrid to an outlet. Hallelujah.

You plug in and you've got a direct connection

to the source of your power and the source of

your strength. Hallelujah. And you get charged.

Hallelujah. It gets you built up. It provides

strength for your life. According to 2 Timothy

3, 15 through 17, it'll cause one to be wise.

In 2 Timothy, Paul writes to him in that second

letter, and he says, preach the word. Preach

the word. Be instant in season. Reprove, rebuke

with all own suffering, but preach the word.

According to Jeremiah 15 and 16, it causes the

heart to rejoice. James 1 and 18, it'll cause

one to be regenerated. The Word of God is no

dead letter. You understand that, right? The

Word of God is not some dead letter. But as the

Word of the living God, it cannot itself fail

to be living. Why? Oh, how did John record it

in John 1? In the beginning was. The Word, and

the Word was God, the Word was with God, and

the same was in the beginning. Skip down to verse

14, and the Word was made flesh. You go to the

end of every gospel, and you'll see the crucifixion

of the Christ, but you'll also not be left at

Calvary's hill. It'll walk you through, amen,

an empty tomb scene, and it'll take you to the

next 40 days, and after those 40 days, it'll

introduce you into Acts 1, that while they are

yet assembled and they are talking, While they

were talking, he began to ascend into the heavens.

And as he is gone before their very eyes on that

40th day, the angel stood beside him and said,

Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye here gazing?

This same Jesus in like manner. Here I am trying

to describe to us this morning this living word.

And he sits at the right hand of the Father forever

and ever. ways remain living as the living word

it continues through each age immutable with

compelling relevance late in the 19th century

Gypsy Smith the British evangelist man who said

he had received no inspiration from the Bible

was speaking to him Told him, said, I've not

received anything inspirational from the Bible.

He said that he had gone through it many times

to no avail. And he told him in response, he

said, well, if you'll let it go through you one

time, it will make the biggest difference in

your life. You let it go through you once. Then

you will tell a different story. I'm here to

declare to you and I today it doesn't matter

the hardships of life and you think you've been

in the Bible, but let the Bible get in you. Amen.

I've been in there and I've found no relief.

Well, let it. get in your heart and relief finds

itself towards you. Amen. If you'll let the word

of God in and the power of its existence in your

life, the living nature of the word that calls

you to rise up, it falls into the category of

Hebrews 4 and 12. For the word of God is quick

and powerful and sharper than any two -edged

sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow

and is a discerner of them that have its intent.

of the heart. For the word of God is quick means

it's alive. The word of God is living. The word

of God, the Bible, unlike any other book. The

brag of the congressional library of Congress

is that there's nothing written that they don't

have at least a copy of. 178 million written

items. Over 500 miles of bookshelves in distance.

Collection includes over 38 .6 million books

and other printed materials, 3 .6 million recordings,

15 .7 million photographs, 5 .8 million maps.

78 .3 million manuscripts. Yet among all those

millions of volumes, there's none alive but one.

There's none living but one. There's not one

literary article that you can read that will

have a transforming effect on your life. You

can read Longfellow. You can read any of the

poets, and it may stir you for a moment. But

when you get in to read the Psalms. It begins

to transform your life. Hallelujah. It's the

only written literature that is alive and well.

Over 1 ,500 years in expanse by 40 different

authors, but yet by one divine inspiration. It

was breathed upon old men in days gone by. By

the Holy Spirit, he breathed on him. And the

word of God was transcribed to you and I. I don't

know about you, but I am so grateful. Even as

archaeology is. beginning to confirm. They thought

they had some of the oldest scrolls and then

they found those old clay jars in those Qumran

hills and they dug them up and they began to

go through them and what they have found is the

accuracy one more time confirmed. I don't know

about you, but it makes my heart happy. You get

a newer copy, but when you find the older copy,

it's still the same. Hallelujah! It lets me know

that the word of God is consistent throughout

the ages and that the spirit of God still inspires,

renews, refresh, restores, and delivers. Any

who will dare to read it. The word of God is

not only a living word. It's quick. It's alive.

But it's a powerful word. Amen. Living and powerful.

That word. Powerful, translated from the Greek,

is the word used for which we get our energy

and energetic. The word literally means at work.

Woo, the word is at work. Not just at work, but

powerfully at work. Amen. There's no other creative

literary around than the word of God. In the

beginning. Amen. Aren't you glad that he was

there? His word reveals to us the power, the

energy of his being at work. Charles Swindle

once said this, news articles may inform us,

novels may inspire us, poetry may enrapture us,

but only the living, active word of God can transform

us. There's just some times in life when I just

need a reminder to know that what we're doing,

we're not doing in vain. Aren't you? It helps

me to know that the life that I'm living out

day in and day out is not in vain. But it's by

design. It's by design. The steps of a good man

are ordered. Amen? We may step sometimes. Like

Brother Stephen, I stepped into the bathroom

there just a minute ago, and he was wiping off

his shoes. I said, if you're doing a shine. He

said, oh, I stepped in some mud. Don't want to

track it in. Sometimes in life, even on the designed

pathway, we step in a little mud. Huh? We slip,

we slide. Don't we? I said it was designed. I

didn't say it was totally just divine. Because

a designed pathway leads you to Calvary. But

it doesn't leave you at Calvary. The steps of

a good man are ordered of the Lord. We are walking

out the designed pathway for our life. But what

has comforted my heart to know is every step

I pick up my foot and put down in faith, it is

held by faith. Why? Because he is faithful who

has promised. Amen. So every day that you live,

every day you get up, it doesn't mean there's

not some mud along the way. You're going to step

in some mud along your way. But you know what

happens to the mud? We talked about it a little

bit ago. He'll pick us up out of the mud. I reclaim.

He'll put us on the rock. He'll establish our

going. Why? Because that's his word and the promise

of God to you and I no matter what transpires.

It's wonderful by design itself the word. There's

so many descriptions throughout scripture. You

can hold within one hand a hammer and pick one

up another hand. You've got a sword. That two

-edged sword of Hebrews 4 and 12, the hammer

of Jeremiah 23 and 29, breaks into pieces the

resistant heart. Jeremiah 23, 29, and 20 and

9 declares it's a fire. It's a refiner's fire,

but it's also a passion that burns within the

depths of one's soul. In the midst of despair,

in the midst of disgust, you may be standing

in a mud puddle of life and you want to pout

and sit down on the stump. But the longer you

sit, if the word of God's in you, it begins to

burn, burn, burn. Amen. And you're standing there

and then you leap to your feet and you begin

to declare, it's like fire shut up in my bones.

How can I hold my peace? I'll speak thus saith

the Lord as the spirit moves on me. I'll proclaim

the word of the living God. Hold on. is a little

inspiration. Amen. And life is the inspiring

factor. I get it every single day. I'm inspired

to trust. I'm inspired to believe. I'm inspired

to keep going. I'm inspired to praise him. I'm

inspired to pray to him. My Lord, I'm inspired

to proclaim his everlasting goodness and the

forever comfort of his word that wraps the bosom

of my soul because when I would hush, it begins

to break. to the occasion, to know that by design.

Whoo! Well, hallelujah. Mm. The wonder of its

power. The Word of God has a power to change.

It's the only thing that has the power to change.

Change what? Lives. It has the power to pick

a drunkard up out of a gutter and put him behind

a pulpit. Huh? It has the power to take sinners

and transform them into saints. To take a lying

tongue to be converted and yielded to be a tongue

of prophetic utterance. Woo! Power to restore

broken images. Broken vessels. Hallelujah. It

has the power to give hope to a murderer on murder's

row. Yes, they may have to pay the consequence

of society. That's the law. But there is one.

If on whom they are drawn and fall and cry out,

he will hear their cry. Amen. And deliver their

soul. Hence where the word begins to give comfort

even to a... A sinner on murder's row who's been

transformed by the power of the living God. He

can also know there is therefore now no condemnation.

Yes, he's condemned by society and rightly so.

If heinous crimes have been committed, he has

to pay the price. But one thing he can go in

with is the hope of knowing that that's the last

of his punishment. If he's redeemed by love divine.

If his sins are washed away and he's totally

converted. trusting in God for his everlasting

soul. He may die consequent as a murderer in

this world, but he can open his eyes in a realm

of glory knowing that he had been forgiven. Oh,

it's not just the murderer forgiven. It's the

adulterer. It's the fornicator. Amen. It's those

who are caught up in the bondage of an LGBTQ

lifestyle that has been delivered. It doesn't

matter the sin. We quit categorizing that. It's

not that. We've missed the mark. We've missed

the mark. But one thing I know is through the

promises in the living word of God, all those

that call upon the name of the Lord shall be

saved. For we are saved by grace through faith.

Well, hallelujah. Woo. Isaiah 55 and 11. So shall

my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth.

It shall not return unto me void. But it shall

accomplish that which I please. I am so glad

it's not your pleasure or mine. I'm glad it's

his pleasure. Which I please. And it, what is

it? The declaration of his voice. That's what

it is. His word, whatever he sends it out, it'll

prosper in the thing. There's our tie to a new

thing. That object that you choose not to or

cannot have a descriptive or rather not have

a descriptive on. Whatever thing that he so chooses

and pleases, it'll prosper in your life. Aren't

you glad? It's going to prosper where into he

sends it. Someone once asked old Charles Spurgeon

one time if he was prepared to defend the word

of God. To which Spurgeon replied, I would as

soon try to defend a lion. God's word doesn't

need defending, just preach it. Let it out of

its cage and it will defend itself. You don't

have to defend the word. Just let it out. Unloose

it. That's the reason that the three occasions

in the wilderness that the devil come up to Jesus.

Not an imp, not a demonic force, but old slew

foot himself showed up tempting the Lord. It

is written. I think we really need to take in

deep what that means. It is written. And how

the enemy is refuted by what is written here.

The living word. And is put to flight. Amen.

The wonder of its message. Again, 1500 years,

40 authors. They all begin to point toward the

preeminence of the Messiah. Who is Jesus the

Christ. I don't know that I have time nor the

energy to do what I'm about to embark on, but

we're going to try. In order to see the landscape

of the preeminence of Christ, you must see him

in the revelation of the entirety of the book.

He is there. He is there. Those Old Testament

volumes hold within him the types and the shadows.

Twenty -odd books of the New Testament give you

the revelation of everything that was typed and

shadowed out. It's the Christ. Amen? In Genesis,

he is that 315 seed of the woman. Exodus, he

is the Passover lamb. Amen? He is. It's his blood.

Leviticus, he is our high priest. Amen? In Numbers,

he is the star of Jacob. In Deuteronomy, he is

the rock. In Joshua, he is the champion of the

Lord's host, and yet it is his blast from his

voice that the walls of Jericho fall flat. They

don't fall inward. They fall outward. Come on,

somebody. I read a little archaeological discovery

on that the other day, and it amazed them that

the walls of Jericho had actually fallen out.

Why? It just made a ramp and a rampart for God's

army to get in. That's why. Hallelujah! When

we begin to think about the revelation, he is

the captain of the host of the Lord's army. Amen.

In Judges, he is the sword of Gideon, but he's

also the strength of Samson. My God. Hey! When

we begin to see the Lord, it's through his strength.

In Judges, the sword of Gideon. In Ruth, he is

the kinsman redeemer, and I am so glad. Amen.

Because there are days when I want to cry like

Naomi. Oh, don't call me Naomi anymore. Call

me Mara for my life. Life has grown bitter. But

don't call me that. Call me blessed. Hallelujah.

Because I know that my Redeemer lives when we

see him throughout. He is the seed of David,

but he's the voice that still calls the prophet.

Hallelujah. And he is the laser force that guides

the stone of David, who each of us have to face

down our own Goliath. He is with you in the kings,

the Lord God of Israel. In Chronicles, the king

of kings and Lord of lords. And Ezra, he is the

Lord of heaven and the Lord of the earth. In

Nehemiah, he is the restorer of broken down lives.

He is the one who is empowered to raise the gate.

and to open up access into the glory of God for

each of our life. When we see in Esther, oh,

we've just heard a little about Esther's celebration.

He is the God of providence. Hallelujah. He's

watching over our life. In Job, he is the redeemer

that lives forevermore. Though the skin worms

devour this whole body, yet with these eyes I

shall see him. Hallelujah. We hear that declaration

in knowing that his redeemer forever lives. In

the Psalms, the king of glory. The shepherd on

the hillside. Hallelujah. In Proverbs, he is

the wisdom of God. In Ecclesiastes, he is the

creator. In the Song of Solomon, he's altogether

lovely. He's the rose of Sharon and the lily

of the valley. And he is more fair than the breast

of the turtle dove. Hallelujah. He is the one

who loves our soul. Isaiah, he is the wonderful

counselor, the mighty God, the Prince of Peace,

the everlasting Father. And yes, firmly upon

his shoulders is the government of the world.

He has broad soldiers to hold it up. Amen. Jeremiah,

yeah, he is the Lord of our righteousness. Lamentation,

he is the weeping prophet. But yet his mercy

is new every morning. Amen. And Ezekiel, he is

the power that drives the wheel within the wheel.

And the radiance of the glory. And Daniel, he's

the pillow in the cave where the lions are licking

their chops. But he's also the fourth man that

walks within the realms of the fiery furnace.

Who is there to lead you, guide you, deliver

you, empower you, and give you hope in a hopeless

situation. And Hosea, he is the Lord God. And

Joel, he is the hope of his people who becomes

the baptizer in the Holy Ghost and fire. And

Amos, he is the God of hosts. And Obadiah, he

is the destroyer of the proud. And Jonah, he

is the God of the second chance. Amen? And Micah,

he's the God that pardons. And Nahum, he is the...

avenging God and Habakkuk he is the everlasting

glorious God who is the glory of the temple that

is to come which is greater than the former that

might not have done a lot for you but that one

hit me really good matter of fact he is the revelation

of the vision that was written plainly In Zephaniah,

he is the king of Israel. In Haggai, he is the

desire of all nations. In Zechariah, he is the

one pierced in the house of his friends. In Malachi,

he is the lord of remembrance, but he's also

the keeper of the windows of grace. What does

that mean? That means he's the one that opens

the window from whom all good things come. Prove

me, says the Lord. Prove me. me and see if I

won't open up the windows of heaven and pour

you out blessing which you are unable to get.

That's him, the tender and the keeper of the

window of heaven. Matthew, he's the revelation

of the four -faced beast. In Matthew, he is the

lion, the king of the Jews. In Mark, he is the

ox, the servant. In Luke he is the son of man

and therefore the face of the four -faced beast.

In John he is the eternal. Therefore he is the

expanse of the winged eagle that is sawn with

the other three faces. He is the lion. He is

the ox servant. He is the son of man. And he

is risen with healing. In his wings. And he is

the one that causes you and I to mount up with

him on wings of eagles. We can run. We can walk.

We're not going to faint. You're not going to

grow weary. Why? Because we wait. We wait. We

wait. We wait upon the Lord. In Acts, he is the

ascended Lord. It is he who baptizes in the Holy

Ghost. Remember what John would say? Behold the

Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the

world. Truly indeed, I baptize you with water,

but he that's coming after me is mightier than

I, whose shoes I'm not even worthy to latch.

And he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost. Y

'all had to pardon me this morning. I thought

I could make it with these breeches without my

spenders, so I took them off right before I left.

That was a mistake. These fit pretty good, and

I thought I was going to be in good shape. Not

so. In Romans, I've become conscious now because

I don't normally have to do this. In the book

of Romans, he is the Lord of our righteousness.

In Romans, he reveals who gets in and who don't.

There's a list. There's a list. There's a list.

And if you've committed any of these things,

you shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

It's righteousness. And we are not made righteous

nowhere nearby the law. Can't do it, won't do

it, couldn't do it then, and can't do it now.

So if you're trying to dwell in the law, get

out of that. Because if you're going to try to

keep one part, you've got to keep it all. And

you can't keep it because you don't have access

to a red heifer and some ashes and all that other

stuff. And you couldn't do it anyway unless you're

of Levi's family. In Corinthians, he is the sufficiency

of grace in our everyday life. But he's also

the personification of love as revealed in Galatians.

He is our liberator, but he's also the manifestation

of the fruit which comes from above. Love, joy,

peace, and on. In Ephesians, he is the head of

the church, but he also becomes the armament

of the believer. If I get started there, we're

done. Let me move on. Philippians, he is our

strength. Colossians, he is the preeminent one.

He is the fullness of the Godhead. In Thessalonians,

he is the coming Christ. Timothy, he is the mediator

between God and man. Titus, he is the great God

and Savior. Hebrews, he's the captain of our

salvation. James, great physician. And Peter,

the unblemished lamb. John, he becomes our advocate.

And Jude, he is the Lord that cometh with 10

,000. Of his saints. And what's to say about

the revelator? He is the alpha. He is the omega.

He's the beginning and the end. He was, is, and

is to come. It is he who stands. Whose blood.

So vesture. Had been presented. It is he who

becomes the light of the city. That John saw

coming down. That's the revelation of the Christ.

That's who he is. That's the wonder of this word.

The wonder of its promises. The promises of God

of salvation. Stand with me. I'm closing. The

promise of forgiveness of sins. The promise of

eternal life. The promise of heaven. The promise

of Jesus' very own coming again. And the ultimate

promise of hope. The word of God is all about

hope. In and to a hopeless world. The immutable

anchor. The word of God. The son of God. So the

next time the adversarial winds of this life

almost have you blown over and uprooted, hang

on to his word. Because his word will hang on

to you. I know looking around sometimes we scratch

our head, or I do. And I don't know about what

you've been praying, but I find myself just joining

with that little prayer of old John on Padmas.

Even so, Lord, come quickly. Come quickly. Get

us out of this mess. Till the storm passes by.

Passes over. Keep me safe till the storm passes

by. Simple question. Anybody in a storm? Anybody

in a storm? He's got you. Amen, he's got you.

If you're in a storm, come and let's pray it

away together. I heard a song one time that really

touched me. It said, sometimes he calms the storm

and then sometimes he calms me. Either way, there's

a calm. Till the storm passes over. There's no

more. Oh, hold me fast. Let me stand in the.

Keep me safe. Till the storm. He passes by. Heavenly

Father, we stand today. Would you just lift your

hands this way, would you? Father, over each

of us as we stand here today. The all -stabilizing

power of your word in your hand. Keep us safe.

Keep us safe. Keep us safe in the hollow of your

hand. Keep us safe, oh Lord. Hold us fast. The

thunder's rumbling and the waves are raging high

and life's tossed up and life's in a turmoil.

But I know, God, you are mindful of each of us.

I know that you are mindful of each of us, Lord.

I know it. I know it. I know you are. And to

know that from glory you know the small sphere

of my life. Lord, you're mindful of it. Every

trouble, every trial, every problem, every effect,

you, oh Lord, are mindful. Thank you for your

word today. Thank you for your word this morning,

oh God. I just need a reminder every now and

then that you've got me, that you've got me,

that you've got me, that you've got me. You've

got us in your hand, oh Lord. You've got us in

your hand. You are healer. You are healer. You

are deliverer.