Triumphing Through Adversity: The Power of the Gospel

"nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day hold fast the form of sound Words which thou Hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus that good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us" [00:02:06]

"the Christian message is a message that is offered to us to enable us to live this isn't something theoretical not just some philosophy up in the sky somewhere there's nothing in the whole world that is more practical than this Christian message this Christian Gospel it isn't the theoretical view of Life the great thing about this is that it has proved in practice to be a mighty power enabling men to live in a worthy Manner and especially to enable them to do what it did to the Apostle here to enable them to become more than conquerors" [00:04:20]

"the gospel provides answers to life's fundamental questions, asserting that the world is a creation of God with a purpose and plan. It challenges us to examine our lives and question whether we are living as conquerors or merely surviving. Man, made in God's image, is more than an animal; he possesses a soul, intellect, and moral nature. Our happiness is not determined by circumstances but by our relationship with God, which is the essence of the biblical diagnosis of man's troubles." [00:08:52]

"man is a contradiction look at this very Century in which we live and you see the whole thing quite plainly on the one hand you have these phenomenal achievements of Modern Men these amazing scientific discoveries and the development of them this Century has been an tremendous Century an astounding Century in man revealing the greatness of his power and his understanding but remember it's also been the century of buen and of other concentration camps it's the century of the boms and of the two most devastating Wars that the world has ever known" [00:21:20]

"man has got a religious nature now the Bible says that he has all this because he has been made in the image and the likeness of God and the thing that makes man man is this particular thing or if you like it in other language man is Body Soul Spirit or if you prefer it men is body and soul you may say that the spirit is a section of the Soul I'm not concerned to quel about that tonight all I'm here to say is this that man has an animal part of his nature the body the body is very similar to that of the animals but you see what makes men men is this other aspect this power and capacity that he has not only for self-reflection and communication with others but above all his capacity for God" [00:29:42]

"the gospel calls us to recognize our fallen state and our need for salvation, which is found in Jesus Christ. It asserts that man is not just an animal and that death is not the end, but that there is an eternity beyond, determined by our relationship with God. True peace and rest come from being delivered from ourselves and our circumstances, finding rest in God. This is the hope offered by the gospel, which calls us to believe in Jesus Christ, who offers life abundantly and the assurance of eternal life." [00:46:53]

"the Apostle says here I know whom I have believed and I'm persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day that day what's this well this is the end of the world this is the end of History this is God's final Judgment of all men that day the Apostle you see he lives in terms of his soul and life and death and that day that which lies Beyond and this is the biblical view everywhere that man is not just an animal that man is a living soul that death is not the end that it is appointed unto all men once to die and after death the judgment and Beyond the judgment and Eternity that the soul doesn't end and that there are just two possibilities with regard to that eternity and that is either in describable bless and happiness and joy or else Indescribable misery and despair and an eternity of useless remorse" [00:46:53]

"the heart of men is desperately wicked and deceitful who can know it a man himself can't he's on his own side he can always make himself appear better than he is he can criticize the other he defends himself on the same point man is not honest he can't know himself he knows he's a biased witness he's a fool though the human heart is desperately wicked and deceitful who can know it and the answer is there is only one who knows it thou Lord triest the heart and knowest the Reigns so we come back to this you see that in the words that are used by the great Apostle what a man needs is to be saved who hath saved us says the Apostle and called us with an holy calling man needs to be saved he'll never have peace and rest he'll never be able to say as he faces life at its worst nevertheless I am not ashamed until he's been delivered from himself delivered from the throm of circumstances delivered from the World the Flesh the devil delivered by God to God for God and finds his rest and peace in the arms of God" [00:52:46]

"the Apostle talks about our Lord and savior Jesus Christ who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light there it is you see it comes back to that there is only hope for men when realizing the truth about himself and his final impotence and incompetence he just cries out unto the Lord just where he is and the Lord will hear him the Lord Who Came From Heaven and lived and died and rose again he will hear his cry he has said him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out he stands and he cries to the world in its tragedy and shame and misery and failure tonight come unto me all ye that labor under heavy laden and I will give you rest he says I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly" [00:52:46]

"the only hope my friends that God doesn't abandon the world but God so loved the world and rebellious sinful self-centered Mad Men God's so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life and be unable to say whatever happens to him nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know him in whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep them that which I have committed unto him until against that day" [00:55:21]

"the Christian message is a message that is offered to us to enable us to live this isn't something theoretical not just some philosophy up in the sky somewhere there's nothing in the whole world that is more practical than this Christian message this Christian Gospel it isn't the theoretical view of Life the great thing about this is that it has proved in practice to be a mighty power enabling men to live in a worthy Manner and especially to enable them to do what it did to the Apostle here to enable them to become more than conquerors" [00:04:20]