Bill Federer, silence equals consent. It's really, it's a very important book for the time in which we're living right now. And I know I always say that I always say that phrase for the time in which we're living. And I just want you to understand that, that, uh, you know, we do need to realize that our God is in control and you know, it's a constant everyday learning process, understanding that God is sovereign and he does control what's going on in the world. Well, another one of our popular guests and, um, you know, we get this all the time. Uh, Paul Scharf, Paul, welcome back to the program today. Hey, Jimmy, great to be back with you. Yes, sir. And I just saw an article from you that talks about an anniversary that we're coming up on the 80th anniversary of the heroes of D-Day and commemoration of that event. So let's talk about that. And I want to get your thoughts on the times in which we're living. Well, yes, Jimmy, this coming week. we know it's going to be the eightieth anniversary on thursday of operation overlord uh... what we commonly refer to as d-day and uh... really a day that was so instrumental in really saving the world from tyranny rescuing europe from the clutches of the nazi rule uh... certainly ultimately rescuing the jewish people who were taken captive and jimmy uh... i'd just It's indescribable, the sacrifices that were made by so many, many of our young men back in 1944 on D-Day. We see those pictures of them leaving the landing craft, going into the ocean toward the beach, knowing that many of them, their lives would end that day. And that was really a moment in history, and you know we talk about, and I started out the program today, Paul, talking about, you know, it seems like our world is spinning out of control. Certainly at that time in history, in 1944, it was the same feeling. the world was spinning out of control. How do we draw these two together? As we are thinking about that day in 1944, the 80th anniversary, how do we make a comparison to what we are thinking about today? Well, Jimmy, our times are vastly different, we know that. History has moved far along since 1944. We're facing a lot of different challenges and I know you and I believe that we're we're seeing the stage being set for the prophetic future in a way that uh... people back then may have thought they were seeing but uh... couldn't have comprehended some of the challenges we see before us now but we know it's the same lord god who as the apostle paul describes it in if the his writing to the effusions chapter one verse eleven he is working all things according to the council of his own will He is in control. He is sovereign above history. He allowed for those soldiers on D-Day against all human odds, really, to have success, to preserve freedom for the generations to come, to rescue us from the throes of tyranny. They put their lives on the line. Many of them, I'm sure, were true believers in the Lord God. i might say they were there were many many jewish soldiers are right about that in my article uh... it's called when freedom skilled the cliffs that's on uh... apple i dot org running this weekend and it'll be running other places as well lord willing talking about the heroes of d-day you know i i know there were many there probably that were not saved among those that that parish and uh... yet even then, many of those probably had a more God-centered view of the world than many people in our time do. And there was a general sense that God was guiding, that there was a reliance upon the one true God for help, as the only ultimate source of help. And as we saw Paul tell us in Ephesians chapter one, that he is working all things after the counsel of his will, you know paul so rates at the end of romans eleven this great section about israel in romans nine through eleven he asks the the question her rhetorical question quoting from the prophets uh... he says who is known the mind of the lord or who has become his counselor and someone said you know uh... how many of you have ever wanted to be god's counselor But the fact is he doesn't need any counselors, does he? He doesn't need our counsel. We certainly are in need of his guidance, direction, strength, and help. But he doesn't need or receive counsel. No one has been his counselor. But he's working all things after the counsel of his will. And we can rest in him. We can trust in him, the God who is above history, even as those soldiers on D-Day 80 years ago this week. I'm reminded of what Isaiah said in Isaiah chapter 14 the Lord of hosts has sworn saying surely as I have thought So it shall come to pass and as I have purposed So it shall stand nothing is random Or comes by chance, especially not in the lives of believers. He purposed it that means to deliberately resolved to do something. God has resolved to do what he will do and nothing and no one stands in his way. And I think about this, I think about Isaiah chapter 46, verse 10. I make known the end from the beginning from ancient times, what is still to come. I say my purpose will stand and I will do all that I please. This is very powerful, purposeful God who is in control of everything. That should bring us great comfort and help to alleviate our fears as we're trying to help people in these days where it seems like the world is spinning out of control. And just like 1944 and other times in history, we can even go back into the history of the Jewish people. God is sovereign and he's in control, correct? Well, Jimmy, I'm thinking of the prophet Daniel, who at his first encounter with Nebuchadnezzar, remember Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, which God revealed to him really the future of the times of the Gentiles. Gentile rule over the world all the way through the end times before Christ returns to establish his kingdom. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, and future revived Rome. And when Daniel interpreted this message for Nebuchadnezzar, this is in Daniel 2, 47, Daniel's presentation was so powerful that the king answered Daniel and said, truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret. And then, Jimmy, it was probably, well, over 30 years later when in chapter four near the end of his rule of forty three years near the end of his life nebuchadnezzar remember uh... our listeners could go back and check daniel four search the scriptures to see this tremendous trial he went through because the lord god humbled nebuchadnezzar and uh... for seven years he lived in a justin indescribably horrible state that uh... daniel prophesied uh... really weeping with him that this would come upon him because of his refusal to repent and trust in the Lord God of Israel and it was at the end of that time Daniel 4 beginning in verse 34 I, Nebuchadnezzar, he records, lifted my eyes to heaven and my understanding returned to me and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever for His dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom is from generation to generation all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing he does according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth no one can restrain his hand or say to him what have you done nebuchadnezzar came to understand the power of god in his sovereign rule above the world and as the one who designs and directs all of history. And it was only then that God allowed him to have his reason return and his kingdom return to him for the last years of his rule. I believe we'll see Nebuchadnezzar in heaven, in fact, that through the witness of the prophet Daniel, his life was changed forever. And he came to understand the necessity of trusting in the one true God. Wow. And that should be our prayer for all of our world leaders today. You know, and I like what you said, searching the scriptures, if we drink deeply of his word and let it fill our minds and hearts, the sovereignty of God will become very clear to us. And we can rejoice in it because we know intimately and trust completely the God who controls all things for his perfect purpose. Amen. Amen. Absolutely. Yes, whatever happens, Jimmy, we can't control the political winds, and we can get very discouraged looking at things that happen moment to moment, day to day, week to week, even year to year. But God has a plan. He knows the end from the beginning, and He's working history according to a plan. And here's the exciting thing, Jimmy. He's placed us here for such a time as this. He's allowed us to live at this absolutely awesome moment in history in which so many things are happening. And that's going to be part of the stewardship that we return when we stand before Christ to receive a reward or to receive a loss of reward. is how have we handled this momentous time which God has placed us here to serve Him. Wow, wow, great challenge. Great article on D-Day, Paul. People can go to foi.org, the Friends of Israel website, take a look at that, look at your stuff on Sermon Audio, as you've given us that information before. But very good words, Paul. For folks that are listening today, don't be discouraged by what's happening in the world. We know that our God is sovereign and he's in control. Paul Scharf, thank you so much for being with us today. And Lord bless you and your ministry. Keep serving him. And I look forward to the next time that we'll have you on, Paul. Thank you so much, Jimmy. Everyone stay focused in the Lord and praise the Lord for those brave soldiers back on June 6th, 1944. Well, we've got to take a break, and when we come back, the legacy series continuing in the book of Zechariah, right here on Prophecy Today Weekend.