(gentle music) (upbeat music) Good morning church. Welcome to First Baptist Church livestream worship. We're so glad you joined us today. Why don't you sing with us? ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ Giving Him honor and praise ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ Lifting His holy name ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ All of His people rejoice ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ Everyone lifting their voice ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth, rise up and sing your praise ♪ ♪ Let the nations rejoice ♪ ♪ Nations rejoice, lifting Your holy name ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth ♪ ♪ Rise up and sing Your praise ♪ ♪ Let the nations rejoice ♪ ♪ Nations rejoice, lifting Your holy name ♪ ♪ Now let's sing to the Lord ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ Giving Him honor and praise ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ Lifting His holy name ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ All of His people rejoice ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ Everyone lifting their voice ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth ♪ ♪ Rise up and sing Your praise ♪ ♪ Let the nations rejoice ♪ ♪ Nations rejoice, lifting Your holy name ♪ ♪ Sing that again ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth ♪ ♪ Rise up and sing Your praise ♪ ♪ Nations rejoice, lifting Your holy name ♪ ♪ Now let's sing hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, sing ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, sing ♪ ♪ Sing it again ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, sing ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, sing ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, sing ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, sing ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth ♪ ♪ Rise up and sing Your praise ♪ ♪ Nations rejoice ♪ ♪ Nations rejoice, lifting Your holy name ♪ ♪ Sing that again, heaven and earth ♪ ♪ Heaven and earth ♪ ♪ Rise up and sing your praise ♪ ♪ Let the nations rejoice ♪ ♪ Nations rejoice, lifting Your holy name ♪ ♪ Come on now, sing to the Lord ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ Giving Him honor and praise ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ Lifting His holy name ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ All of His people rejoice ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord a new song ♪ ♪ Everyone lifting their voice ♪ ♪ Everyone lifting their voice ♪ ♪ Sing to the Lord ♪ (gentle music) Oh one of these days, one of these glorious days we're going to sing to the Lord for all eternity. Who knows, it might even be today. (gentle music continues) Oh, you sing with us at home. ♪ He's coming on the clouds ♪ ♪ Kings and kingdoms will bow down ♪ ♪ And every chain will break ♪ ♪ As broken hearts declare His praise ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord Almighty ♪ ♪ Our God ♪ ♪ Our God is the Lion ♪ ♪ The Lion of Judah ♪ ♪ He's roaring with power and fighting our battles ♪ ♪ And every knee will bow before Him ♪ ♪ Our God is the Lamb ♪ ♪ The Lamb that was slain ♪ ♪ For the sin of the world ♪ ♪ His blood breaks the chains ♪ ♪ And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb ♪ ♪ Sing it again ♪ ♪ Every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb ♪ ♪ Ladies, you sing this part ♪ ♪ So open up the gates ♪ ♪ Make way before the King of Kings ♪ ♪ Our God who comes to save ♪ ♪ Is here to set the captives free ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord Almighty ♪ ♪ Our God ♪ ♪ Our God is the Lion, the Lion of Judah ♪ ♪ He's roaring with power and fighting our battles ♪ ♪ And every knee will bow before Him ♪ ♪ Our God ♪ ♪ Our God is the Lamb ♪ ♪ The Lamb that was slain ♪ ♪ For the sin of the world ♪ ♪ His blood breaks the chains ♪ ♪ And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb ♪ ♪ Sing it again ♪ ♪ Every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb ♪ ♪ Ladies ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord Almighty ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord Almighty ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord Almighty ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord Almighty ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord Almighty ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord Almighty ♪ ♪ Come on, now ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord Almighty ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord ♪ ♪ Who can stop the Lord ♪ ♪ Our God is the Lion ♪ ♪ The Lion of Judah ♪ ♪ He's roaring with power and fighting our battles ♪ ♪ And every knee will bow before Him ♪ ♪ Our God is the Lion ♪ ♪ The Lion of Judah ♪ ♪ He's roaring with power and fighting our battles ♪ ♪ And every knee will bow before Him ♪ ♪ Our God is the Lamb ♪ ♪ The Lamb that was slain ♪ ♪ For the sin of the world ♪ ♪ His blood breaks the chains ♪ ♪ And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb ♪ ♪ Every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb ♪ (gentle music) Oh I don't know about you today but when I think about the Lion and the Lamb, oh it makes me wanna shout hallelujah. Worship at home this morning as we sing together ♪ When I think about the Lord ♪ ♪ How He saved me, how He raised me ♪ ♪ How He filled me with the Holy Ghost ♪ ♪ How He healed me to the uttermost ♪ ♪ When I think about the Lord ♪ ♪ How He picked me up and turned me around ♪ ♪ How placed my feet on solid ground ♪ ♪ Sing it again ♪ ♪ When I think about the Lord ♪ ♪ How He saved ♪ ♪ How He saved me, how He raised me ♪ ♪ How He filled me with the Holy Ghost ♪ ♪ How He healed me to the uttermost ♪ ♪ When I Think about the Lord ♪ ♪ How He picked me up and turned me around ♪ ♪ How placed my feet on solid ground ♪ ♪ On solid ground ♪ ♪ Now sing it ♪ ♪ It makes me wanna shout ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, your worthy of all the glory and all the honor ♪ ♪ And all the praise ♪ ♪ Sing it gain ♪ ♪ It makes me wanna shout ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, your worthy of all the glory and all the honor ♪ ♪ And all the praise ♪ ♪ When I think about the Lord ♪ ♪ How He saved ♪ ♪ How He saved me, how He raised me ♪ ♪ How He filled me with the Holy Ghost ♪ ♪ How He healed me to the uttermost ♪ ♪ When I Think about the Lord ♪ ♪ How He picked me up and turned me around ♪ ♪ How placed my feet ♪ ♪ Oh on solid ground ♪ ♪ On solid ground ♪ ♪ It makes me wanna shout ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, your worthy of all the glory and all the honor ♪ ♪ And all the praise ♪ ♪ Oh, it makes me wanna shout ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, your worthy of all the glory and all the honor ♪ ♪ And all the praise ♪ ♪ He saved me, oh yes He did ♪ ♪ He raised me, thank you Lord ♪ ♪ He filled me ♪ ♪ Oh, and He healed me ♪ ♪ He healed me ♪ ♪ Sing it with us ♪ ♪ He saved me ♪ ♪ He reached out and He raised ♪ ♪ He raised me ♪ ♪ Oh, yes Lord thank you ♪ ♪ He filled me ♪ ♪ He healed me ♪ ♪ He will do the same for you today ♪ ♪ He'll save you ♪ ♪ He'll raise you ♪ ♪ He'll fill you ♪ ♪ He'll heal you ♪ ♪ He'll keep you ♪ ♪ Never leave you ♪ ♪ It makes me wanna shout ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, your worthy of all the glory and all the honor ♪ ♪ And all the praise ♪ ♪ Oh, yes ♪ ♪ It makes me wanna shout ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, your worthy of all the glory and all the honor ♪ ♪ And all the praise ♪ ♪ It makes me wanna shout ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, your worthy of all the glory and all the honor ♪ ♪ And all the praise ♪ ♪ It makes me wanna shout ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Thank you Jesus ♪ ♪ Lord, your worthy of all the glory and all the honor ♪ ♪ And all the praise ♪ ♪ It makes me wanna ♪ ♪ Shout ♪ This morning, our message will be brought by Dr. Stanley. This message was recorded by the In Touch Film Crew in Dr. Stanley's home the week before last. And although the message is only nine minutes in length, Dr. Stanley stipulated that this message is the only message that is to be shared today. I know you're going to be blessed by it. So I'm going to have prayer and then the worship team will share another special song and then we'll feature Dr. Stanley's message and our livestream will conclude with Dr. Stanley's prayer at the end. Father, we thank you that we can gather together and worship you. And I personally thank you that you gave me the privilege to get some time away to pray, to clear my head, to hear your voice. I thank you for the joy of serving here and I thank you for such a wonderful church family. Today I lift up everyone who is hurting, everyone who has a broken heart for whatever reason. As the death count continues to rise from the Coronavirus and as there other things that are causing us to fracture as a society, how we pray for healing, how we pray for restoration, how we pray for Your love to prevail over hatred and evil and bitterness. And may we as Christians realize that we can be a witness just by being peaceful. We can be a witness just by being kind, just by offering words of encouragement rather than criticism. And although everywhere we go we we're wearing masks, may the people we encounter see a smiling through our eyes. And I pray dear God now, that through our livestream that someone's heart will be touched, someone's life will be blessed, and how we pray that if there is anyone out there who has never been saved, that they'll be saved today. Father, I wanna take this opportunity to thank you for the faithfulness of the First Baptist Atlanta Church family in giving their tithes and offerings. So many of our people are giving on the website. I praise you for that, heavenly Father. And there are still many who are putting their offerings in envelopes and putting stamps on them and mailing them to the church. I'm humbled by the generous faithfulness of this church in giving now through these 19 weeks of being furloughed as a congregation. Please bless everyone who is a faithful giver. We pray now that you will bless the music that Pastor Brooks and the worship team will share; "Oh, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing." And God we pray that you will use the remarks of our pastor to bless and encourage a weary heart along his or her way today. In Jesus name, amen. (gentle music) ♪ Glory to the Lamb ♪ ♪ Whose throne forever reigns ♪ ♪ God in the highest ♪ ♪ Worthy to merit our praise ♪ ♪ Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing ♪ ♪ Praises unto Thee ♪ ♪ Oh, for a thousand hands to raise ♪ ♪ In honor to the King ♪ ♪ We crown You with singing ♪ ♪ Our lips will utter Your praise ♪ ♪ In humble adoration ♪ ♪ In endless refrain ♪ ♪ Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing ♪ ♪ Praises unto Thee ♪ ♪ Oh, for a thousand hands to raise ♪ ♪ In honor to the King ♪ (gentle music continues) ♪ Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing ♪ ♪ Praises unto Thee ♪ ♪ Oh, for a thousand hands to raise ♪ ♪ In honor and glory ♪ ♪ In honor and glory ♪ ♪ In honor to the King ♪ ♪ The King ♪ Hi, this is Charles Stanley and I want to ask you a question. Is our present suffering just another disease or a divine plague? The first mention of a plague in Scripture is found in Genesis 12. "But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house "with the great plagues because of Sarah, Abram's wife." A plague sent by God in the household of Pharaoh as a result of his relationship with Abraham's wife. The second mention, Exodus 9, God's purpose to reveal Himself as the one true God to Pharaoh. "But this time I will send all my plagues on you "and your servants and your people "so that you may know that there is no one like Me "in all the earth." It was the plague sent by God that finally motivated Pharaoh to free the Israelites. The plagues ranged from turning the Nile River into blood. The final plague resulted in the death of Pharaoh's son and the release of the Israelites from bondage. It took 10 plagues before Pharaoh got the message. Israel's God, Jehovah, was and still is the God of the universe. And like the Egyptians, we have not acknowledged our sinfulness and continue in our rebelliousness and wicked ways. What will God have to do to get our attention? For us to realize this is more than a physical problem. He says in Psalm 103, He's established His throne on the heavens and His sovereignty rules over all. God is in charge. Here is a question we need to consider seriously. 2 Chronicles 7, why has the Lord done this to this land? And they will say, because they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them from the land of Egypt and they adopted other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore, He has brought all this adversity on them. The wickedness in our land has reached unbelievable proportions. Murder, drunkenness, rioting, immorality, burning churches, places where we worship God, Holy Father, Creator, our Judge. We have slapped God in the face. The judgment of God often comes as a storm. What anchors us when the storms come? Our faith in God. Past experiences of God's help and protection in storms. Our view of God as a loving Heavenly Father, our determination to trust Him even in the midst of grave danger and loss. Our personal concern for others also in the storms, continual recalling and repeating of a favorite verse of Scripture in which God promises to help us, the continuing assurance we have in the midst of the storms, listen to this, God knows where we are. God knows the danger we are facing. God knows I'm gripped with fear. God knows how helpless I feel. God will somehow turn this for my good, Romans 8:28. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. God is always there to help us in times of storms. And when you read through the Psalms and through Proverbs especially and you see how God makes one promise after the other, that no matter what we're going through, no matter what the cause, no matter what the source, our Heavenly Father says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Now sometimes we don't feel that that's true. Sometimes we feel like well, Lord, if you really love me, you wouldn't let this happen, that's not necessarily true. Sometimes it's because He loves us that He allows things to happen and we can't understand. We can't trace the origin. We don't think we really and truly deserve. It's not a matter sometimes of deserving. It's a matter of, why does God allow these things to happen? And if we stop and think and ponder in our heart and seek the Lord's guidance and His wisdom, what we'll have to admit sometimes is, Lord, you were looking out for my best interest. You had my best interest in mind. You knew that I needed this calamity in my life to get me to open my eyes to Your presence and Your power and Your love for me. We can always make excuses for denying the presence of God in our lives or sinning against Him. But there's no excuse for sin. There are times when we are weaker than others. But remember this, no matter what you're facing in life, once you made this decision, to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you can rest on this; I will never leave you nor forsake you is the promise of Almighty God. Never leave you nor forsake you no matter what. Whether it's a disease, some national calamity, whatever it might be. The right response is, Lord, what would You have me to do? Lord, what are You saying to me in all of this? And all the things that we have just mentioned, all are a part of our thinking. And if our heart is right with God, here's we'll do; we will ponder why, wonder why, blame or whatever it might be, then we will finally come to the conclusion well God, You loved enough to not let me get by with this. You loved me enough to help me to understand why this is going on in my life. You loved to me enough not to let me escape chastisement that You knew I needed to experience. I would just say, Father, thank you, thank you, thank you for loving us. And at this time in our lives when we're all suffering, we're all going through it time after time, all we need to do is to look up and remember and remind ourselves, our heavenly Father said, I'll never leave you nor forsake you. Now listen carefully. No one else can promise you that. I will never leave you nor forsake you, no one else can promise you that. And He intends for us to continually, unendingly, without exception, depend upon Him, cry out to Him, trust in Him, and then ask Him Lord, what am I to learn in this calamity? God will show you because He loves you. And it is my prayer that as you have listened to this brief message, the Spirit of God will come into your life in a special way. You will find yourself confessing the fact that you have not prayed right, or prayed often enough. You've not read the Word of God as you should have. You've not spoken to others about their relationship to the Lord. You've not said to others, we need to pray during this time. Maybe you've been looking for some easy way out. Would you not agree, this pandemic has no easy way out? We are trusting, we're believing, we're waiting, we're searching, most of all, we're turning our eyes upon You, Lord, and we're believing with all of our heart that every promise You ever made You'll keep. You said You cause all things to work together for good for our best interests. No matter what it might be, Lord, some of us will have to admit that we've complained, moaned and groaned, and we've quoted that verse and said, but Lord, what about this? No. You can rest assured of this, the love of God is absolutely, unequivocally, unendingly true. If He's allowed things to happen in your life that you don't understand, remember this, our God is a loving God who allows whatever He allows for a purpose, that is divine, supernatural, awesome and always for our eternal good. May that be true in your life at this time, that all of us are facing difficulty hardship, pain, but also knowing we have a heavenly Father Who will never leave us nor forsake us. Father, we thank you for this time together. I pray for those who are doubting Your presence and Your power, speak to their hearts and remind us that Your love never ceases and never wavers, is always there because Your love is unending. In Jesus name, amen.
