Wonderful and Awesome Days Ahead — Ben Crandall

Since I've been here two weeks ago. I was here and awesome things have happened in the world the president Mubarak of Egypt has Been dethroned and taken out of office and the world is shaking tonight.

The Middle East is shaking tonight and In reading listening to some commentators and reading the New York Times and some other papers the Wall Street Journal and other things. They don't know what's going on the thing that impressed me with the newspapers they don't understand it and Our politicians were so confused when this happened.

I'm sure you understood you got that at least that they were given mixed messages and not knowing how to respond and the world is shaking tonight and Awesome things are coming. No one knows what this means.

The Gospel Reaching a Shaking Middle East

Israel is afraid. They've been a 30-year truce with Israel from Egypt and God is Moving in this world. We're in an awesome hour and Some tremendous things are going to happen. I don't know how this is going to work.

I'm praying and I'm sure Millions of God's people are praying worldwide for the gospel to get to the Middle East at this time. The gospel has been closed and It has been closed and No, did you know that?

I didn't know that until recently. They're not they don't allow any Jews in Saudi Arabia. There's not one Jew in that country. I didn't know that till recently not one Jew allowed and The gospel is not there and they don't allow it.

They kill you if you're converted. But let me tell you we've got a God in heaven. That's bigger than any power on this earth and any opposition and God's people. And Jesus said and he said in the last days He said this the gospel would go in in Matthew's gospel to the 24th chapter.

He said and then many false prophets will will rise up and deceive many. That's the last days and we're living in those days, too and Because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

And this is the verse. I'm anxious to get out and this gospel of the kingdom Will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations. That includes the Middle East that includes Saudi Arabia that includes Egypt that then there's been some gospel in Egypt and but not like it ought to be and in those other countries and now in Iran and Iraq in those countries all of them and then then the end will come.

The gospel is going to get and I believe that God is shaking this world tonight. And I know that and he's going to shake this city is going to shake America. Great things are going to happen to the wonderful news is that is going to be a great revival.

Hallelujah, and this gospel is going to reach to the ends of the earth and God is going to pour out. He said Joel said in the last day saith God I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and there's going to be a great revival in this city.

There's coming destruction, but there's coming a revival and and I know that and there's no doubt about it there's going to be a great revival, but along with the great revival is going to be great destruction and What pastor Dave saw is absolutely going to happen, but there's something else going to happen.

There's going to be a great revival and God is going to reach the ends of the earth in this last hours. Now let me let me let me speak out of my heart to you tonight listen, this is an outstanding Church.

There's not many churches like this God Almighty Set this church right here on Broadway. Right here at Times Square in the heart of this city the heart of this nation. This and and one of the most famous spots in the world.

He set this church here and he is doing a great work in this church. But there's something he's doing that I hope that and I want to help you to be aware of. He is getting people ready. Now you're shouting tonight and you're just Receiving the blessing and it's remarkable and unusual, but God is getting you ready to be a witness for him.

It's it's gonna be like this forever. This is remarkable time right now. And God is doing something that I want he wants you to be aware of he's preparing people in this church that when the time of Shaking comes and many of you will be driven out of this city for whatever reasons or won't be able to be here God is going to use you to spread the gospel.

He's preparing you now for a few for the near future to be great Witnesses and he will use people you least expect but he's getting you ready get ready. This is unusual. This is remarkable and God is not just Blessing you and he's not just here to give you a blessing.

He wants to get you ready to be a witness in the most challenging hour of human history. The Middle East is shaken our own country doesn't know how to respond. I don't know what's going to happen but I do know this is going to happen.

The gospel is going to go to the ends of the earth and he's going to Use people to do it and he's going to use people right out of Times Square to be part of it. Hallelujah. Let's give him a praise to him.

Persecution, Scattering, and Witness

He wants to get you ready. The way it happens hallelujah the way it happens is is is found in the book of Acts. It's you can see it in the eighth chapter of the book of Acts gives you an idea of how this works.

Now Saul was consenting to his death. Saul was consenting to the death of Stephen at that time a great persecution arose against the church, which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samaria except the Apostles a Great persecution and they were scattered.

Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation and great wailings and sorrows over him as for Saul. He made havoc of the church entering every house dragging off men and women and committing them to prison.

Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. There was a great revival prior to this incredible revival and then a great persecution and it says there was a great persecution and they were Scattered and the people were scattered.

God Intended for them to go out and preach. He didn't intend for them to stay there and he sent this because listen to me the gospel has to get out. God is preparing people that he wants to use you. Some of you are going to be sent to places you never dreamed of God.

The situation is going to demand it some of you whatever the reasons it isn't going to be like it is tonight. There's going to be a great revival and there's going to be a great Shaken and we're going to be shaken up and people won't be just like it is tonight.

This is remarkable what we're experiencing right now. But God is getting you ready because he's going to use people out of this church to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth and Not only in missionary trips, that's wonderful.

But some of you're going to get driven out some are going to go voluntarily and some are going to go not voluntarily. They didn't go voluntarily, but they went amen you go Hallelujah, and we're gonna go and this won't stay like this and and Absorb everything while you can get this is remarkable.

And this is unusual and this is an unusual presence here. And this is an unusual church and God wants to get you ready. Don't take it for granted. Don't take it for granted. Absorb it get it into you.

You're gonna need it. You are going to need it. There's coming a shaken this what Dave brother Dave saw is going to happen folks. This city is going to see it the country is going to get shaken. But we're going to see a mighty move of God and he's going to use people as two things going to happen.

And you've got to be ready. You've got to get a hold of God get get into God get the Word into you. Absorb what your what God is saying and doing here get it into you get a hold of God. Get into the Bible studies get into those Bible studies get into everything get the Word into you.

And so that nothing can shake you nothing can shake you. You've got to be unshakable. Hallelujah, you've got to know God the world you can stand up in the name of Jesus. He wants to prepare you to stand up in this last hour.

Whatever comes he wants you to be able to stand up and to be a witness. Hallelujah. God is going to do an awesome thing in this world. He's not just shaking the Middle East. He's gonna shake it. He's gonna shake the nation's trim.

Unbelievable things are coming and I know that and I know there's going to be a great revival and God wants to use you. And he wants to use this church. He wants you to get a hold of him and he wants you to be able.

Whenever you leave here whenever God takes you out of this place and sends you some worse. Always listen folks get into the Word that you never deceived. Jesus said false prophets. Paul said he knows he.

Paul the Apostle in the book of Acts says it so clearly and I might as well just read it to you just. Because it'll help you in the over the last part of the book of Acts Paul Paul speaks and he says in his in his words he says.

He says Praise God book of Acts. For I know this that after my departure Savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up speaking perverse things to draw them away after themselves.

And it goes on to say that they'll be doing it for money. I have not coveted. I have never cut it and coveted anyone's silver or gold or apparel. So he's talking about the wolves coming because of money for money you've got to watch out when you leave here you in a you know wonderful church.

The church that God has raised up with honest people brother Dave the founder of this church and pastor Carter exceptional this is an exceptional church and exceptional men when you leave here and God takes you out or you get driven out and Something happens to you.

Always look for a church where the word is preached but if you don't know the word you won't know when they're doing it when they're tricking you when they're twisting it because Simon Peter wrote this to his people.

He said this Praise God. He says it in in his third chapter. Therefore beloved looking forward to these things be diligent and to be found in him in peace without spot and blameless. And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation as also our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom giving to him has written to you as also in all of his epistles.

Speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to understand. Which those who are untaught? Who don't know the word and are unstable they twist to their own? Destruction as they do also the rest of the scripture.

You therefore beloved since you know. These things beforehand beware lest you fall from from your steadfastness. Being led away by the error of the wicked and by folks that twist the book. That twist it for their own personal use for their own gain.

And if you don't know it they sound great. They can really sound good. But you've got to know the rest of the book. You've got to know the word that you don't even say. Paul is saying it Peter is saying it.

Jesus said it and we're saying it tonight. But grow in the grace and knowledge. Grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to him be the glory but now both now and Forever you must know this book for yourself.

You must not just go by feelings and we love things. I need them and I love them. I love the feeling I felt it here tonight and God wants you to feel it. But you've got to know the book. So when somebody stands up and twist it and you're not in this church and you're somewhere else.

You've got to be able to know when it's right and when it's wrong. And when they're saying it the way it ought to be said and when they're not saying it the truth. Know the book know the Lord know him in prayer.

Take time get into the Bible study get into the Word of God and build a foundation. That when the shaking comes that you'll stand true to the end. Hallelujah, and that you will be a light and that you can shine and hallelujah that you can speak up.

Don't be taken in when they twist the word and they say it force and Wolves come and say it to gain and to get money for themselves and it's tragic what goes on. There's wolves out there today and and they're everywhere there always have been and you've got to know the difference and Be in God in the name of Jesus get full of the Holy Spirit.

Grasp the Word get into God and get into these meetings and when the hour comes and a Signal sound comes go you out you're going to be ready not only for the coming of the Lord. But you're ready to be a light and to stand up and shine for the Lord Jesus Christ when the shaking comes.

Hallelujah, hallelujah get your people ready in the name of Jesus. Be get into God get into the Spirit. Get into the Word of God take time. Not only the word but into prayer into seeking God. We're so busy and life is so just demand so much of us.

But put priority in prayer put priority in the Word of God take time. To read and to pray and to seek God that God will prepare you for the great days ahead. Now one great illustration in the in the Old Testament of this.

Seeking God in Hard Places

That is so wonderful. It's found in 2nd Chronicles now the great lesson of Kings and Chronicles is. One is putting in simple words. Is this? The kings of Israel Judah Israel they didn't seek God. The kings of Judah were every time they were in a hard place.

Difficult terrible situations and they cried out to God every time God heard of every time. Every time one of the Kings and that's what the lessons teach you the those books. Because every time any of the Kings ever got in a hard place and they sought God With all their heart humbled themselves and prayed the miracle came.

God will do the same for you every time you get in a hard place if you will turn to God with all your heart. Every single time God will deliver you will answer your prayer bring you out and you'll be a greater person than you were Before you'll be stronger.

You'll be you'll be you'll become more every trial. It comes God wants it to turn it into a blessing and to lift you up with it. So the hard places you go through God doesn't allow them that you might go under.

Satan would like to take you under but he can't do that. If you'll do what the book says if you'll humble yourself and seek God wherever you are. Seek God now just one example of this is King Aza that's one of the great examples and he reigned for for 41 years and 36 of the 41 were outstanding and He began to seek God now in the situation here.

Is that A's of? The army of the Is coming against him with a million men of Ethiopia. They're coming against him with 1 million men and he seeks God. It's in the it's it's here in the 14th chapter of the 2nd Chronicles and He's they're coming against him.

Zira from the Ethiopians are coming with 1 million men 300 chariots and Aza is coming against him with the with his army. But it's just a little over half of what his is and A's Cries out to the Lord his God and says Lord it is nothing for you to help.

Listen to this now. Whether with many or with those who have no power God can give the victory and we'll do it with with no it doesn't matter who it is. He says and you can use people that don't have anything.

You can use people that have no power. You don't need a powerful army to win. You just need committed people to win and he's telling he's preaching an eternal lesson. God Wins when you seek him, he's not looking for great people.

He's looking for committed people. He's not looking for rich people. He's looking for committed people that will turn to him. Oh Lord our God for we rest on you and in your name we will go against this multitude.

Oh Lord, you are our God. Do not let man prevail against you. So the Lord Struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah and they fled and they took in tremendous spoil. He can save he. God is looking for you he's looking for whoever is Humble and willing to be used of him.

He will use you and he will touch you praise God. So then Asa failed God In the in the next chapter and makes a treaty with Syria and God is so disappointed because he didn't look to him. Rather than looking to the to the to the Assyrians to Syria.

So this is what the Lord said. And the Prophet said this to Asa for the eyes of the Lord Run to and fro throughout the whole earth. To show himself Strong on behalf of those who heart is loyal to him.

In this you have done foolishly therefore from now on. You will have wars and I will not hear. God will not be with you. He said God's eyes Run to and fro and that that is the that's the night the ninth verse of the 16th chapter.

God's eyes run to and fro all the time night tonight, right tonight. God's eyes are going all over this world. He's looking at Times Square. He's looking at every person in here and he's looking can I find a man or a woman?

Somebody older young richer poor greater small white or black. Whatever it doesn't means nothing. It's somebody That will trust him that will put him in and believe in him. Praise God that he can show himself strong and mighty and it's gonna be an hour.

He's gonna raise he's gonna find you there's people right here. He's gonna find he's got a plan and he's put this together. And he's gonna pour out his spirit in a mighty way and God and then things are gonna happen.

I don't know how it's going to come whether. Whether the destruction comes usually the revival comes first. But then God sends a since something to send us out so that we get spread out. We don't let us stay together because the gospel has to get out to the ends.

God is always Interested in the gospel going to the ends of the earth. Then Jesus can come and he isn't going to come. He said the end is not going to be and And he's we're not going to leave here till this gospel gets preached.

The gospel is going to get preached. I know there are prophetic folks that are talking about that. The Jews are going to spread the gospel. No, I I think we're going to spread the gospel. Hallelujah. We're gonna spread it Amen, and I'm sure they're gonna they're gonna come in but right now people God is looking to pour out his spirit in a great revival.

It's gonna be and he's gonna send you some are going to go voluntarily and some Situations are gonna make you go somewhere and the situation whatever happens here God wants you to be ready to be a Person that he can use that he can talk his eyes are running.

He is preparing people. He's looking at your heart and he's saying could I use that person? Can they take the pressure? Can they stand up under the pressure now? It can they. Will they speak for me. Will they be caught trapped.

Will they turn aside. Will they go after money? Will they go after fame? Will they will they turn aside for other reasons? God wants people that are after him. That will not turn aside to the right nor to the left that you're gonna do the will of God.

That you're gonna do what God tells you to do. You're gonna be ready. Hallelujah for he has not only worked in the past. He is not a God just of the past. He is a God of the present and of the future and what he has done He is able to do his arm is not Shortened that it cannot save and his ears are not dull that they cannot hear he is the same yesterday Today and forever and he's calling out of people getting ready.

People ready for this last great hour this last great move of God. He is raising up an army and he wants to raise up an army out of Times Square Church Hallelujah that will touch the ends of the earth.

Hallelujah he's sending people here from all over the world and let's believe God to fill them with the spirit and fill them with the word and Send them out with the anointing of the Holy Spirit to shake the kingdom of darkness.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. The Muslim world is not too hard for God. There's nothing too hard for God. There's no Situation that's too much for our God and he will do what he is planning to do and he's looking.

Can he find you will you listen to him? Will you turn loose of the things of this life and put everything down below him and let him become the center of your life? That you can be a voice and that you can be a light in this greatest hour of human history.

He's calling young. He's calling old. He's calling whoever will listen his eyes. He really don't care what you've got. He don't need a thing. You've got man. God's got it all what he needs is willingness.

He needs commitment. He needs humility. He needs someone and it's willing to be small that he can be big. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. This is remarkable. Don't take this church for granted. Don't do that.

Don't think this is just something Unusual, it's nice. It's great. No, this is a move of God he's preparing you and talking to you and Inviting you get it get that spirit get this anointing get this word into you get solid.

Get straight with him and walk with him and listen and when the hour comes Praise God, you'll be ready. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah now. One one last word. Don't ever ever let trouble put you down.

Persevering Through Failure and Opposition

Whatever happens in your life in the days ahead. I don't care how it looks never surrender. Let me preach the old sermon. I always preach never give up never never never give up never. When you fail. When you make a mistake, don't you ever give up.

God doesn't give up. Don't you ever let Satan tell you that's all over you fall on you measurement messed it up. No, you may mess it up, but God can give take you back and forgive you and straighten you out.

Don't you ever throw in the towel? You stay with him when you fall get up and repent and keep on going. He won't give up on you and see the victory. He's the same God. He loves you with an everlasting love.

Hallelujah, don't ever let the devil decide you you quit throw in the towel you've messed it up. No, no, no, you don't ever throw in the towel. You don't ever quit. You don't ever give up. You never run you never turn around you stand and win for Jesus Christ.

Amen, praise. God bless you pastor. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you. Thank you Jesus. I'd like to give an altar call this evening for those who can hear this word and You're sitting here at tonight and you're saying I really hear God calling me.

An Altar Call to Courageous Obedience

To something of courage something that takes his life. Being lived out through me and in me something I can't do of myself. But I know in my heart that if I will surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ He is well able to do this through me to stand in times.

That might be very difficult. And to have the courage that only God can give which comes really from the compassion. That God was willing to put in our hearts for every person ever created in his image the power to even love our enemies.

Is ours in God? He's willing to do whatever it takes and whatever has to happen that you and I are going to be able to stand. The Holy Spirit is clearly speaking to us. Time after time service after service meeting after meeting about the days that we're about to face as a people.

But it's not so much just about the days. It's about the strength that God wants to give us the fact that he wants to enable us to stand that we can truly be like Paul in Acts chapter 27 who Came out after long Abstinence onto the deck of that ship and he had the Word of God.

He had the courage of God. He had the love of God for the even his captors. He had the love of God in his heart for them. He had the word that was able to direct people In this collapsing vessel moment to a place of safety.

A Vision of Ordinary Witnesses in New York City

This is what the Lord wants to do in prayer about two weeks or so ago. The Lord gave me a very clear picture. I saw it in my prayer time and it was a church somewhere down on Parker Madison. That's very close to Central Park West and It's it's a church.

That's probably not very much used anymore, but I saw just an ordinary person. I couldn't tell if it was a man or woman but it was just an ordinary person standing on the steps of that church about the second or third step up and there was a crowd of about 60 or 70 people gathered in a semicircle and This person wasn't preaching he or she was just telling the story of what God had done on Calvary and how That person had been sustained by the grace and the power of God and folks people were listening.

And I don't know why they were listening. I don't know what has happened to make them listen, but I do know that a season's coming where people are going to listen. They're listening now folks. It's starting to happen now.

There's there's something in the hearts of people in New York City for those of us who are starting to speak. You're beginning to realize that people have been waiting for this word. They are they're not angry about the things of God anymore.

There's there's an absolute open heart for the things of Christ and a young lady was sharing at a prayer meeting last Thursday night. That she just felt moved to share The Lord with a couple of thugs on the train.

It was just her and and they were she said they were thugs. She says I know thugs. They were thugs on the train and she said I went over to them and I started to speak to them. And and she said their their entire countenance changed.

They wanted to know about the church. They wanted to know how they could get here. What kind of a life it was that God had for them and then after she had finished sharing Christ with this. Two young men and found they were so open to the gospel.

She said there's another guy in the platform. He looked like he was high and it was the only one in the platform I'm getting off the train and she thought I'm this guy is going to steal my iPod and She got off the train and in boldness walked right up to him and started to talk to him about Jesus Christ.

And he just melted right before her. Found out that he was longing for something of life that was that was going to give him direction and hope for the future. There's a cry in people in New York City and it's not as it appears anymore they're the outside might still look the same but the inside has changed people are hungry for the things of God and God has to give us the courage that the best time to learn to stand is now.

Like we can have this euphoric. I'm going to stand one day somewhere sometime and wow, it's going to be great. But I really believe you have to learn to stand now. If you and I have to start speaking now, we have to we have to Ask God for the grace to love people now, it can't be all just about some other day somewhere.

It has to be now and for those that are willing. That's what this altar call is all about to to say Lord. Here am I send me you may feel like Isaiah felt. You may feel like the most undone person in the entire place, but still in your heart.

You're saying God What I have I'm bringing it to you. And if you're willing to empower me, I'm willing to go and you're gonna have to put the love in my heart. You're gonna have to give me the words to speak.

You're gonna have to Clearly speak to me to where I'm to go and who I'm to speak to but Lord I'm willing to do it and that's when the miraculous begins to happen when you and I have a willing heart. Remember the scripture tonight that the Lord's eyes are are scanning to and fro throughout the earth to show himself strong.

On behalf of those whose hearts are right towards him and the right heart tonight is just Lord. I will obey you God. I will obey you Jesus. I will speak your name. I'm not going to be ashamed of you in this generation and I will not be triumphed over no matter what comes our way.

I will not be run over by it. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God. I will stand by the grace of my God and if it's in your heart tonight. This is in measure I suppose an ordination service. For some this evening that as you get out of your seat and you come to this altar Pastor Crandall is going to come back and pray for you.

And I'm believing that God is supernaturally going to give you courage to start standing for truth. Now father we thank you for this this evening. Thank you for this word. Thank you for the ability to respond to it Lord Jesus Christ.

All that we ask is that through our lives and in this time that you be honored and you be glorified. We thank you for it in your precious name. Let's stand please and if God's drawing you to Receive this word.

I'm just gonna ask you in the balcony and slip out wherever you are in the main sanctuary. Just make your way down to the front of the sanctuary. If you're a backslider get right with God, please tonight.

Just just come forward and trust the Lord for the strength to begin to walk with him. Let's just put our hands up tonight and surrender just lift our hands in surrender to God. We surrender to you. Hallelujah, we thank you God that you called us.

We thank you that we've heard your voice. We thank you that of all of earth's millions that you chose me to call me to serve you. We thank you tonight now God. We ask you tonight to fill us with your spirit fill us with the anointing and let us say yes to you God let us make ourselves available to you.

Take us God take every person standing here to let us give us give ourselves Holy to you. Hallelujah. God, we give our talent. We serve surrender our time. We surrender our lives. We surrender to you.

We want you God. Hallelujah. Hallelujah now, we thank you Jesus. We thank you God. Thank you for putting your spirit upon us. Thank you for leading us. Thank you for guiding you. Let's thank him right now.

Just put your hands up and thank him. Thank you for guidance. Thank you for guiding me. Thank you for taking me taking my offer. Hallelujah for taking it God. Hallelujah. Thank you Lord that you eyes are running to and fro through the whole earth and thank you God that you're going to see Me tonight that I'm going to be that one.

You're going to see me along with these others. You're going to see me tonight. He sees you tonight. Hallelujah, and we ask him tonight now. Thank him for blessing you. Thank him for calling you. Thank him for giving you this opportunity.

That he's placed you here and he's brought this word to you. And he's giving you the Word of God and is providing the Holy Spirit for you. Ask him to fill you with the Spirit ask God fill me with the Spirit and let me be Guided by you and let me let you direct my life and let me yield to you.

And when God says speak to somebody. Speak to them hallelujah when he says pray for somebody pray for him when he says give somebody something give it to him. Hallelujah make yourself available. Praise you Jesus praise you God God.

Being Ready When God Gives an Opportunity

We ask you to so bless these people in witnessing that this building cannot hold the people God. We ask you Lord touch these people in the name of Jesus. Touch my brother touch my sister. Hallelujah. God you see the hungry people out there you see this city you see this, New Jersey, Long Island.

Wherever we come from you see the hungry people, you know the house. They live in you know the door there in you know how to bring us across their paths and speak to us God and let Us hear your voice.

Hallelujah, it should not just be two or three people hearing God. God wants an army. He wants an army and he wants you in that army. Hallelujah. Hallelujah volunteer for his army tonight in this last hour.

We thank you God. We ask you now Lord. Impart your spirit and give guidance to these people and Lord let them listen to your voice. Let them listen to your voice. God lead us to the hungry. Lead us to the hungry lead us to the people that need you and God.