HopeLives365

Guest (Male): I know that everything I have is a gift of God, and one day Christ is going to come and redeem me, and I'm going to live in a land of plenty and abundance where there is no economic privation.

Guest (Male): This is Hope Lives 365 with Pastor Mark Finley. Today’s message: How to Survive When the Economy Collapses, Part Two. Enjoy and remember you can always catch up with past messages and stay up to date with Hope Lives 365 and Pastor Mark by going to hopelives365.com. And now, Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: COVID-19 has not erased the assurance of God's eternal word. The coronavirus need not cause us a crisis of confidence in God's ability to solve our problems or provide for our needs. It can lead us to deeper faith, to greater trust, and to more secure confidence in God amid our greatest challenges.

Now look, my brother, my sister. Does the Bible predict in the book of Revelation, Chapter 13, verse 17, that a time is coming when we cannot buy or sell? Is that in the Bible? Is it there in Revelation 13? Will there be a group of people that live just before the coming of Jesus, who will be translated from Earth to Heaven without seeing death, who face the greatest time of trouble in the history of the world? Will that happen? It will.

Do you think that God is going to get us ready for that just with a snap of the finger? You don't become a world champion Olympic weightlifter by lifting one-pound weights once a year. That doesn't happen, right? These guys are learning to press their weights and press their weights. If you are going through a challenge now economically, if you are facing difficult financial times, God is preparing you to have deeper faith and greater trust for the times ahead.

Now I can assure you that God comes through in the times of crisis. I have seen that in our own family. I was not brought up in a Seventh-Day Adventist home. My mother was a Catholic, my father was a Protestant, but my father became a Seventh-Day Adventist. He was the first in our family when he was 33 years old.

At that period of time, Dad lost his job because he decided to keep the Sabbath. In addition to that, he was making in those years—which is very little today and so it’s hard for you to compute, but in those years, which was 70 years ago for Dad when he became an Adventist—Dad was making $160 a week. He lost his job, got three part-time jobs, and was making $80 a week. He decided to be faithful to God not only in the Sabbath, the gift of time, but in tithe, and he began returning tithe.

Now, we did not have very much growing up as a family. We did not have the luxuries of other families, but I did have a father who had confidence in God. I can often remember Dad quoting Philippians 4:19. We wondered how we would survive, and Dad would quote, "My God shall supply all your need according to the riches in glory." He's dead now, but I can still remember. He would quote Matthew 6:33. He’d say to me, "Mark, seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."

The very essence of Christian life is trust. It’s trusting God with our finances, trusting God with our health, trusting God with our time, trusting God with our very lives. It is faith that the living Christ who has provided salvation through His grace and power and through His Holy Spirit will fulfill His promise to meet our needs. It is trusting even in a global pandemic that He’ll touch our lives with the grace of His love. We trust God in trying times, and it gives God the ability to do what He promises to do in Ephesians chapter 3, verse 20. Take your Bible, please, and turn to Ephesians chapter 3, verse 20.

When we trust, it gives God the opportunity to work a miracle. When we trust, it gives God the opportunity to do the extraordinary. When we trust, it gives God the opportunity to fulfill His promise in Ephesians 3, verse 20: "Now unto Him who is able." What is He, everybody? He is what? He is able. "Now unto Him who is able." What does it say to do? To do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think."

"Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think." The Bible makes some remarkable predictions about an economic crash in the last days of Earth’s history, but we serve a God who is able to do above what we could ask or think and take His children through crisis.

Now here's the third principle. The third principle is this: choose to reorder your priorities in view of the coming of Jesus. Now what was the first principle? Number one, acknowledge that you’re a steward, that He’s the owner, that He’s the creator and redeemer, the world and everything in it is His. Number two, believe. Believe that the creator and redeemer of the universe can care for you. Number three, choose to reorder your priorities in the light of the coming of Jesus Christ.

As I mentioned, the Bible makes some incredible predictions about the last days of Earth’s history. Now the greatest treasure that we can have is the pearl of great price. That’s the greatest treasure. Jesus offers us abundant joy, inner peace, lasting satisfaction. The fleeting pleasures of this world are soon to pass away.

When our happiness, contentment, or security comes from our material possessions, when coming calamity takes place, when there's a sudden economic collapse, we're left discouraged and downhearted, depressed because we lose what we put our life into. But when our faith is anchored in Jesus and our eternal treasures are in His word, we are secure. The Apostle James reveals this coming crisis in the last days economically. James, the fifth chapter. James chapter 5.

Now notice what the Bible says. The Bible predicts a coming economic collapse. I will show you that both in the book of James and in the book of Revelation. We’re looking first at James. We’re looking at the fifth chapter of James, starting with James chapter 5 and verse 1. "Come now, you rich, weep and howl." The weeping and howling, that doesn't sound very pleasant, does it? Why? Rich people shouldn't be weeping and howling, they should be happy.

But wait a minute. "The miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches are corrupted." In other words, a sudden economic collapse. "Your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded." Put very simply, your riches are corrupted. All the material things that you spent your wealth on, they are gone. Sudden collapse. "Your garments are moth-eaten." All your fancy clothes are gone. "Gold and silver." All your investments are gone. "Their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped up treasure for the last days."

Now notice what the Bible says. It says that the things that you have placed your emphasis on, all of these material possessions, are gone. If life teaches us anything, it teaches us that our material possessions do not produce happiness. I read an article on people who have won the lottery. Now have you ever thought, "Lord, if I could only win the lottery"? I hope you are not buying lotto tickets. But have you ever thought, "If I just could win that thing, man, there goes my Visa bill, there goes my house payment, I'm rid of that, there goes my car payment. Just think of what I could do." And I would give a little bit to the church if I won that lottery.

Look, there's an article that was written just November 19, 2020. It's called "The Lottery Curse Victims: Seven People Who Won Big but Lost Everything." Now that title really attracted me. It describes the devastating results to seven entire families who have won the lottery. Family relations deteriorated, number one. Lavish spending replaced frugal living. Greed consumed their joy, and very often drug or alcohol abuse followed.

The story is told of one family who won the Irish sweepstakes. Dad was a steamfitter, he worked in a factory. Johnny was 26 years old, he loaded crates on docks, and Tim was going to night school. So when Dad won this lottery, he split the money with his kids. Within one year, one of his boys spent their money on racehorses and betting on the racehorses, lost it all, and became an alcoholic. Within that first year, the second boy spent his money on parties and women and so forth, and he became an alcoholic.

The father and mother argued over the money, and she accused her husband of not giving her her fair share. They went to divorce court, and she then labeled this money—let me read to you what she said about this money—she said, "It's the devil's own money." There's nothing wrong with having money, but when money has you, there is something wrong. You missed it. There's nothing wrong with having money, but when money has you, there is something wrong.

There's nothing wrong with having wealth. If you look at the Bible, there were some very wealthy people. Abraham was a very wealthy man in the Bible. Joseph had unusual responsibilities and controlled a lot of wealth in scripture. There are wealthy people who use their money for the advancement of God's cause, in order to understand that it’s a gift of God. But when that becomes your obsession, when that becomes that for which you live, then that strangles you.

Guest (Male): We'll be right back with Pastor Mark Finley. We thank you for listening and hope you're enjoying today's message. Our mission is to attractively present the Christ-centered biblical truths of scripture in a practical, relevant way to people around the world so that they may experience the abundant life that Christ offers and effectively share with confidence His life-changing truths with others. You can support this ministry and help us reach even more by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now, back to Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: Now the book of Revelation describes a coming economic collapse. We read that in Revelation the 18th chapter. Revelation chapter 18. We want to spend a little time this morning on Revelation the 18th chapter. In Revelation chapter 18, the Bible says starting with verse 1, "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven." Now this is the fourth angel that joins the messages of the three angels that are given in Revelation 14 to prepare a people for the coming of Jesus Christ.

"After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven having great authority"—that's great power—"the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice saying, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen.' It’s become the habitation of demons and a prison of every foul spirit." In the last days of Earth’s history, the Holy Spirit will be poured out with Pentecostal power again. God's people will indeed be transformed by His very grace to give His message to the world.

Now look at Revelation the 18th chapter, verse 17. So this loud cry message goes out to the ends of the entire earth. As this message goes out to lead men and women, boys and girls to Christ, there is a triple union: an economic union, a political union, a spiritual union of falsehood to enforce the mark of the beast. But the wealth and lavishness that takes place, the Bible says in Revelation 18, verse 17, "one hour is great riches come to nothing." One hour.

In other words, here's what Revelation 18 predicts: that in the last days of Earth’s history there will be a union of political, religious, and financial powers. This great triumvirate of error led by Satan will try to enforce a unified world government, it’ll try to enforce an economic boycott on the people of God, it will try to enforce a single common day of worship on the first day of the week under the sun god. All that’ll take place, but God will act, and that which man tries to accomplish will not be accomplished. In one hour, great riches come to nothing.

What is God showing us in all this? Our only security is in Jesus Christ. Our only security is in the word of God. Our only security in times of difficulty, in times of trouble and times of hardship, our only security is absolute trust. So if God is leading you to deeper trust, if God is leading you to deeper confidence in Him now, it’s because He’s getting you ready for a crisis that is going to break upon the world.

Now we can learn from crises in the Bible. There are times in the Bible where there were great crises and God sent us a message. The Bible says that the lessons in the stories in the Old Testament are examples written for us upon whom the ends of the world are going to come. So if there is an economic crisis coming in the future, if there's a time of church and state coming in the future, if there's a time when the enemies of God's people rally around to destroy God's people in the future, where can we find in the Old Testament a lesson of a time of peace, then a great time of conflict when God's people shook because there was trouble, disaster coming that would destroy everything that they had built up?

Isaiah the sixth chapter. Take your Bible please and turn to Isaiah chapter 6. A marvelous illustration of the last days of Earth’s history. To understand Isaiah chapter 6, I must give you a background. Isaiah the sixth chapter. It is the year when King Uzziah reigned. And as King Uzziah reigned in Isaiah chapter 6, Uzziah had reigned for 52 years.

Notice Isaiah chapter 6, verse 1: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple." Look friend, this Isaiah had reigned during his reign the nation had prospered. During his reign, desert areas were reclaimed. During his reign, Jerusalem's walls were fortified. The nation expanded its territory. Judah’s prosperity was largely due to Uzziah’s faithfulness to God, but Uzziah died.

Now get the picture. There's a period of peace, there's a period of wealth, but then Uzziah dies, and as Uzziah dies, the enemy is approaching and the enemy is going to destroy everything that Uzziah built up for 52 years. But as the enemy approaches, all of Israel shakes, all of Israel trembles. Death is certain for them.

But Isaiah chapter 6, verse 1 says, "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple." What is Isaiah the prophet saying at the time of Uzziah’s death? God is still on the throne. God still reigns. God still is in control. God still is sovereign.

In a time of COVID-19 pandemic, God is still on the throne. At a time of coronavirus, God is still on the throne. What is God's appeal to you? God's appeal to me now: first, accept the fact that He is creator and redeemer. Accept the fact that everything you have is a gift of grace. Secondly, believe. Believe that He’ll care for you. Believe that He’ll never let you down. Believe that He will supply your needs. Thirdly, choose to reevaluate your priorities because we are going into the deep waters as we prepare for eternity.

We are coming to a period of time in Earth’s history where every earthly support will be cut off, where we’ll have to trust God and trust Him implicitly. Reevaluate your priorities, reevaluate your finances, reevaluate your time in the light of the coming of Jesus, recognizing that according to Revelation chapter 18, in one hour their riches come to naught. Know for sure that the God that redeemed you, the one that created you, the one that is with you today will be with you tomorrow and the next day after that, and the next day after that, and forever.

This is a call to our hearts. It's a call to recognize that this world is His. It's a call to recognize that He is our creator. He is our redeemer. He gives us the ability to have a job. He gives us the ability to make money, and when there is an economic collapse, He is the one that will provide. He is the one that’ll never let us down. We may need to go through some hardship and difficulty, but He is there because God has an ultimate goal, and His ultimate goal is to get us ready for Heaven. And whatever it takes for God to get us ready for Heaven, whatever that takes, He’s willing to do it because it’s more than our temporal prosperity. It’s our eternal salvation.

There is a time coming when riches will come to naught, but at that time we will have the pearl of great price, the greatest treasure of all. He’ll fill our hearts, He’ll strengthen us for the time ahead. Reach out just now to Him. Wherever you are, reach out to him. Do you need to reevaluate your priorities? Do you need to reevaluate your time? Do you need to reevaluate how you spend your money? Do you need to reevaluate where you place your priorities and what's important to you? As we pray now, why not bow your head and say, "Jesus, I trust you. I trust you."

Let's pray. Father in Heaven, teach us deeper trust. Teach us greater faith. Help us to know that you are creator and redeemer, that you’ll supply our needs, and help us to know that all eternity we have to be with you to enjoy the riches of Heaven. Help not the tawdry pleasures and the cheap imitations of this world to be so attractive to us that we miss eternity. Thank you, Lord, that you’re by our side, that you’ll take us through not only this pandemic but the coming time of difficulty, that one day we can see your face. In Christ's name we believe it. Amen.

Guest (Male): You've been listening to Hope Lives 365 with Pastor Mark Finley. We hope you've enjoyed today's message and remind you that you can find more in our many ministry resources at hopelives365.com. And you can support this ministry by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now, a final thought from Pastor Mark.

Mark Finley: The Bible presents eternal financial principles that make sense. It reveals financial secrets that the world does not know. It encourages us to reevaluate our priorities, to seek the eternal rather than the earthly. God's word leads us to make investments that will pay off in the long run. Whether you have much or little, you will rejoice in God. Whether you have wealth or poverty, you will learn to be at peace where you are. Philippians 4:19 is a traveler's check on the road of life that is backed up not by the Bank of America, but by all the riches in glory. Hear Philippians chapter 4, verse 19: "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory."