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Israel was in a hopeless predicament. They were trapped, with the Red Sea before them and the mountains on their left and right. An angry Pharaoh and his iron chariots were closing in on them from behind.

This is a very familiar story, one you’ve heard your whole church life. The children of Israel were led by God into a horrible crisis where they were surrounded by a fierce enemy. Incredible as it seems, the Lord had purposely led his people into this precarious spot. I believe it is a story with great importance for the church today, indeed at this moment in history.

 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).

 This nation is fast becoming a sodden society of too many intoxicated citizens. Alcohol is now the modern golden calf, and millions of people, young and old, male and female, have been seduced by it.

Our ministry has held many conferences for pastors over the past several years, but I have purposely never taught on how to preach. I struggle enough with my own preaching, let alone would want to advise someone else how to do it.

I vividly recall times during my fifty-plus years of preaching when the word that came out of me stirred and penetrated my own soul. I knew as I delivered those sermons that a spiritual authority accompanied the message. There simply was no mistaking the Lord’s touch.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).

For years I’ve claimed to be filled with the Spirit. I have testified that I’ve been baptized in the Spirit. I’ve preached that the Holy Spirit empowers me to witness, and that he sanctifies me. I’ve prayed in the Spirit, talked to the Spirit, walked in the Spirit and heard his voice. I truly believe the Holy Spirit is the power of God.

Isaiah 16 vividly describes what happens to a proud nation that falls under God's judgment. Isaiah is prophesying here about Moab, an enemy to Israel: "We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so" (Isaiah 16:6).

"According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him" (Ephesians 3:11–12). God's children have one of the greatest privileges ever bestowed on humankind. We have the right, the boldness and the freedom to break in on our Lord at any time.

On the day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter declared to the crowds in Jerusalem, "Jesus of Nazareth being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (Acts 2:22-23).

What did Peter mean by saying this? One Greek dictionary translates his words this way: "Jesus was handed over to enemies, given over to death according to the determined plan of God."

There has been a lot of talk in recent years about great conspiracies - schemes purportedly aimed at destroying both democracy in America and Christianity. These stratagems have included the Trilateral Commission, Communism, the New Age movement, Secular Humanism, the Illuminati and cults. Yet I believe none of these conspiracies has ever troubled the heart of God. With just one tiny whiff of his divine breath, he could blow them all into oblivion!

The Psalmist writes, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes" (Psalm 119:71). You may wonder, as I have — what kind of theology is this? Is it actually good for me to be afflicted?

"Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe..." (1 Thessalonians 2:10).

That's a pretty powerful statement to make — to call on God as a witness to your holiness! Yet, without flinching, Paul boasted to the believers in Thessalonica:

"I and my co-workers lived blamelessly before you and before God. Our conduct was righteous and pure. God is witness to our holy behavior — yet you also are witnesses. You saw that we walked holy and blameless before God and men!"