music
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There is a higher throne
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Than all this world has known,
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Where faithful
ones from ev'ry tongue
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Will one day come.
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Before the Son we'll stand,
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Made faultless through the Lamb
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Believing hearts
find promised grace--
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Salvation comes.
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Hear heaven's voices sing
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Their thund'rous anthem rings
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Through em'rald
courts and sapphire skies.
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Their praises rise.
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Hear heaven's voices sing
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Their thund'rous anthem rings
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Through em'rald
courts and sapphire skies.
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Their praises rise.
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All glory, wisdom, pow'r,
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Strength, thanks, and honor are
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To God our King, who
reigns on high Forevermore.
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music
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And there we'll find our home,
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Our life before the throne
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We'll honor Him in perfect song
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Where we belong.
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He'll wipe each tear-stained eye
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As thirst and hunger die.
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The Lamb becomes
our Shepherd King
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We'll reign with Him.
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Hear heaven's voices sing
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Their thund'rous anthem rings
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Through em'rald
courts and sapphire skies.
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Their praises rise.
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All glory, wisdom, pow'r,
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Strength, thanks, and honor are
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To God our King, who
reigns on high forevermore
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To God our King, who
reigns on high forevermore
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Praise the Lord. Amen.
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Good evening.
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This evening's
our scripture reading
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is in Joshua Chapter
1 verses 6 through 9.
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"Be strong and
of a good courage,
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for to this
people you shall divide
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as an inheritance the
land, which I swore to their
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fathers to give them.
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Only be strong
and very courageous,
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that you may observe to
do according to all the law,
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which Moses my
servant commanded you,
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do not turn from it to
the right hand or to the left,
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that you may
prosper wherever you go.
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This book of the
law shall not depart
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from your mouth, but
you shall meditate in a day
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and night, that you
may observe to do according
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to all that is written in
it, for then you shall make
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your way prosperous,
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and then you will
have good success.
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Have I not commanded you?
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Be strong and of a good
courage, do not be afraid,
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nor be dismayed for the
Lord your God is with you
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wherever you go." Amen.
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music
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Good afternoon,
evening everybody.
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And thank you for
inviting me to share with you
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for this opening
meeting of the ASI.
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And I'd like to welcome you,
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if you've not been
welcome to Sacramento.
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And in behalf of
Sacramento Central Church,
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and Amazing Facts,
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we're so glad to have
ASI here in Sacramento.
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You've picked the
good time to come.
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This has been historically
one of the best years
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for weather that we've had
in probably half a century,
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while much of the
country is sweltering,
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it's just been beautiful here.
00:10:07.80\00:10:09.10
And if you have a break
in your busy schedule at some
00:10:09.10\00:10:13.23
point tomorrow, we'd
invite you to come by
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and take a little tour
of the Amazing Facts office.
00:10:15.40\00:10:17.96
We love to just to
give you a little tour,
00:10:17.96\00:10:20.03
show you what we
do at the Bible school
00:10:20.03\00:10:21.83
in the median and so forth.
00:10:21.83\00:10:22.90
So glad to have you
in Sacramento, welcome.
00:10:22.90\00:10:26.30
And I'm thankful
to be here to open
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the word of God with you.
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And talk with you, about
this very important theme
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this week a "Finishing Strong."
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And if you would,
could I invite you to join me
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for a moment as we bow
our heads and just invite
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the Lord to speak to us,
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through His word at this time.
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Heavenly Father, Lord
we desperately need you.
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We pray right now not because
we deserve any goog thing.
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But we're coming to
you and we're pleading
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the merits of your son
Jesus and His blood. Amen.
00:11:02.90\00:11:06.83
We ask that you would
evict anything that might
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distract us from
hearing you speak through
00:11:09.66\00:11:12.86
Your word to our hearts
or speak to Your people.
00:11:12.86\00:11:16.33
We believe we are on the
borders of the Promised Land,
00:11:16.33\00:11:19.90
and yet there is a
struggle before us.
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Please give us your spirit,
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courage and
inspire through your word,
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in Jesus name we ask, amen.
00:11:28.96\00:11:35.20
In our
scripture reading tonight,
00:11:35.20\00:11:36.93
you notice that we
chose a passage from the
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1 Chapter of Joshua.
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And one reason that
I pick that is because,
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there is some similarities.
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We're right now
00:11:50.60\00:11:51.56
I believe in a
similar situation to Joshua.
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In that we as God's
people had been wondering
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and we're at the
borders of the Promised Land.
00:11:59.73\00:12:03.80
And I think it's
significant that three times
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more than any
other time in the Bible,
00:12:07.20\00:12:09.50
God challenges and admonishes
Joshua to have courage.
00:12:09.50\00:12:17.86
Matter of fact,
I'd like to read verses
00:12:17.86\00:12:19.93
1 Joshua Chapter 1,
if you have your Bibles,
00:12:19.93\00:12:23.03
verses 1 through 9, and
notice the emphasis here.
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"After the death of
Moses the servant of the Lord,
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it came to pass,
the Lord spoke to Joshua
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the son of Nun,
Moses' assistant saying,
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Moses my servant is
dead, now therefore arise,
00:12:38.63\00:12:44.73
go over this Jordan,
you and all this people,
00:12:44.73\00:12:48.20
to the land
that I'm giving them,
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the children of Israel.
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Every place that the sole
of your foot will tread upon,
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I have given to
you, as I said to Moses.
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From the wilderness
of this Lebanon as far as
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the great river,
the river Euphrates,
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and all the
land of the Hittites,
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and to the great sea
towards the going down
00:13:05.63\00:13:07.53
of the sun, shall
be your territory."
00:13:07.53\00:13:09.93
Here Joshua was
given a great challenge
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and after Moses died
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and they completed
the time of morning.
00:13:16.66\00:13:18.83
God said to Joshua,
arise and go, be courageous,
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be courageous, be courageous.
00:13:24.23\00:13:27.66
Why would He say that?
00:13:27.66\00:13:29.50
You know I like
history, and I was doing some
00:13:31.20\00:13:34.33
reading on the Civil
War not too long ago.
00:13:34.33\00:13:40.16
And quite an amazing
study and the north never really
00:13:40.16\00:13:46.20
believed that the
south was actually gonna turn
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to violence until
the Battle of Buron
00:13:48.60\00:13:50.40
caught them off guard.
00:13:50.40\00:13:51.90
They thought it was all
saber rattling and Lincoln
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realized, he needed
to help organize an army
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in the north to not
only defend the north,
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but to advance into reclaim
the union, to go forward.
00:14:01.16\00:14:06.86
So they searched and
they found what they thought
00:14:06.86\00:14:09.03
was the sharpest brightest mind
00:14:09.03\00:14:10.90
in the military graduated
00:14:10.90\00:14:12.26
second in his class at
West Point, George McClellan.
00:14:12.26\00:14:17.93
And this man was meticulous,
00:14:17.93\00:14:21.66
he studied battle,
his uniform was always
00:14:21.66\00:14:25.13
spotless, he was
a great organizer.
00:14:25.13\00:14:27.30
He carried himself with
00:14:27.30\00:14:28.93
an air of
confidence and success.
00:14:28.93\00:14:31.93
And first thing he
said is we need more men.
00:14:31.93\00:14:35.60
So they send some
spies from the north off
00:14:35.60\00:14:39.03
to the south to look at
their forces and spies kept
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coming back and reporting
numbers much bigger than
00:14:41.86\00:14:44.10
they really were, they
were frightened evidently.
00:14:44.10\00:14:47.03
And they said, oh,
they have got thousands
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of soldiers, Rober E.
Lee's got thousands of soldiers.
00:14:48.40\00:14:51.53
And so McClellan, he
said, we need a bigger army
00:14:51.53\00:14:55.53
and so Lincoln, they
did all the recruiting
00:14:55.53\00:14:57.23
they could and all
the drafting they could,
00:14:57.23\00:14:58.80
and they were even
paying soldiers to come
00:14:58.80\00:15:02.40
and eventually
they amassed an army,
00:15:02.40\00:15:05.63
it was the biggest army
in the world at the time.
00:15:05.63\00:15:07.93
The army of the north 100,000
00:15:07.93\00:15:09.40
soldiers on the border
ready to go into the south
00:15:09.40\00:15:12.70
to preserve the
Union of the United States.
00:15:12.70\00:15:17.46
But General George
McClellan was so meticulous,
00:15:17.46\00:15:23.13
he kept organizing and
drilling and practicing.
00:15:23.13\00:15:27.30
He wrote books on battles.
00:15:27.30\00:15:29.83
He had studied
battles in Europe,
00:15:29.83\00:15:32.46
and everything
was about preparation
00:15:32.46\00:15:35.53
and logistics and details.
00:15:35.53\00:15:38.70
Until Lincoln
became so exasperated,
00:15:38.70\00:15:41.20
there is a few
little scaramouches
00:15:41.20\00:15:42.90
that he retreated from.
00:15:42.90\00:15:44.50
He had a 100,000 soldiers
and he was afraid to go forward.
00:15:44.50\00:15:50.63
He was afraid to advance.
00:15:50.63\00:15:53.66
Lincoln finally
said, I begin to believe
00:15:53.66\00:15:56.20
that we will never
get ready to go forward.
00:15:56.20\00:15:59.83
They were forever getting ready.
00:15:59.83\00:16:04.63
And never he
retreated from a battle,
00:16:04.63\00:16:07.03
he said I did it so
we can fight another day.
00:16:07.03\00:16:10.80
And he didn't want to put
his soldiers and arms away.
00:16:10.80\00:16:13.36
So they loved him for it,
00:16:13.36\00:16:15.00
but you don't
win a war that way.
00:16:15.00\00:16:18.26
To win a war, you got to
have courage to go forward.
00:16:18.26\00:16:20.80
Why do you think God
said three times to Joshua,
00:16:20.80\00:16:25.96
be courageous, be very
courageous, be courageous.
00:16:25.96\00:16:33.10
Why three times to
him more than anyone else?
00:16:33.10\00:16:37.50
Because Joshua had been
there before and because
00:16:37.50\00:16:42.00
the other people lost
courage they wandered long time.
00:16:42.00\00:16:47.43
Could that
happen to God's people
00:16:47.43\00:16:49.00
again near the end of time?
00:16:49.00\00:16:50.20
Maybe it already has happened
00:16:50.20\00:16:52.60
and we're at the Jordan now.
00:16:52.60\00:16:55.13
Do we need courage?
00:16:55.13\00:16:57.93
Do we need to go forward?
00:16:57.93\00:17:00.46
What is courage?
00:17:00.46\00:17:03.16
Courage is the
state or quality of mind
00:17:03.16\00:17:05.53
or a spirit that
enables one to face danger,
00:17:05.53\00:17:09.30
fear of vicissitudes
with self-possession,
00:17:09.30\00:17:12.20
confidence,
resolution and bravery.
00:17:12.20\00:17:15.50
Andrew Jackson,
use to say one man
00:17:15.50\00:17:18.30
and courage is a majority.
00:17:18.30\00:17:22.36
How do God's
people need courage?
00:17:22.36\00:17:25.30
Why do we need courage?
00:17:25.30\00:17:28.06
At the borders of
the Promised Land,
00:17:28.06\00:17:29.46
he told them to go forward
once before and they didn't.
00:17:29.46\00:17:33.73
They were intimidated
by the size of the enemy.
00:17:33.73\00:17:38.80
Could we be intimidated?
00:17:38.80\00:17:41.56
Have we ever been
frightened by the odds
00:17:41.56\00:17:44.26
of reaching the
world with a message?
00:17:44.26\00:17:47.00
Now I don't want to, last thing
00:17:47.00\00:17:48.76
I want to do is discourage you.
00:17:48.76\00:17:51.16
But some times the
task before us is daunting.
00:17:51.16\00:17:56.13
Now I like being
real, I hope you don't mind.
00:17:56.13\00:17:59.73
But I'm always
excited, when I think about
00:17:59.73\00:18:04.10
how our church has grown.
00:18:04.10\00:18:07.33
I'm encouraged, I
like telling people.
00:18:07.33\00:18:10.26
We have a million
members in North America
00:18:10.26\00:18:12.26
and a 17 million
plus around the world.
00:18:12.26\00:18:14.93
And that's
exciting, that's significant,
00:18:14.93\00:18:17.83
considering we
started from nothing.
00:18:17.83\00:18:21.93
But then you
realize at every year,
00:18:21.93\00:18:23.73
80 million new
people, after you even factor
00:18:23.73\00:18:29.23
in all those who have
died, 80 million new people
00:18:29.23\00:18:33.86
are added to the
world's population.
00:18:33.86\00:18:38.00
And that means every
80 days approximately,
00:18:38.00\00:18:41.40
there as many people
added to the world's population
00:18:41.40\00:18:43.43
as we have in the world church.
00:18:43.43\00:18:46.46
Could that make your
knee shake on the borders
00:18:46.46\00:18:48.56
of the Promised Land?
00:18:48.56\00:18:51.53
That's a daunting
task, Jesus has told us to go
00:18:51.53\00:18:54.00
into all the world.
00:18:54.00\00:18:56.70
But what did God tell Joshua?
00:18:56.70\00:19:00.60
He said as I was with Moses,
00:19:00.60\00:19:04.70
so I'll be with you.
00:19:04.70\00:19:07.03
What do you think
Moses odds look like when he
00:19:07.03\00:19:09.30
first went to pharaoh,
who had completely subjugated
00:19:09.30\00:19:13.13
these people,
and said let them go?
00:19:13.13\00:19:16.90
And then all pharaoh
did was tighten his grip
00:19:16.90\00:19:19.06
and make them
produced bricks without straw.
00:19:19.06\00:19:22.93
It didn't look very hopeful.
00:19:22.93\00:19:25.86
But they
probably hadn't factored
00:19:25.86\00:19:27.46
in the miracle power of God.
00:19:27.46\00:19:30.20
And within a matter of weeks,
00:19:30.20\00:19:31.66
we don't know the exact time
00:19:31.66\00:19:32.63
but it was a matter of weeks.
00:19:32.63\00:19:33.90
God had completely
turn things around,
00:19:33.90\00:19:36.20
the Egyptians not
only said you can go free,
00:19:36.20\00:19:38.63
they said here take our
silver and gold as you leave.
00:19:38.63\00:19:43.83
And God potted an ocean
00:19:43.83\00:19:46.10
and fed them with
bread from heaven,
00:19:46.10\00:19:47.53
and give them
water from the rock
00:19:47.53\00:19:48.96
and delivered them
from their enemies. Amen.
00:19:48.96\00:19:51.93
And there was no man like Moses.
00:19:51.93\00:19:53.70
So when God says to
Joshua be courageous, why?
00:19:53.70\00:19:56.53
As I was with Moses, I
will be with you. Amen.
00:19:56.53\00:20:00.30
Well, He was
certainly with Moses.
00:20:00.30\00:20:02.03
And who had a better view of God
00:20:02.03\00:20:06.63
being with Moses than Joshua.
00:20:06.63\00:20:10.26
Joshua had a front row
seat as the assistant of Moses.
00:20:10.26\00:20:13.96
Not when they were
down making the golden calf,
00:20:13.96\00:20:15.83
Joshua didn't even
notice, he was right up there
00:20:15.83\00:20:18.10
with Moses on the mountain.
00:20:18.10\00:20:20.70
He saw Moses face
shining as he came
00:20:20.70\00:20:22.83
from the presence of God.
00:20:22.83\00:20:23.80
He went with Moses
into the tabernacle,
00:20:23.80\00:20:26.33
when God spoke to him.
00:20:26.33\00:20:29.20
And he said as
God was with Moses,
00:20:29.20\00:20:31.43
so I will be with you.
00:20:31.43\00:20:33.20
Well, that would encourage me.
00:20:33.20\00:20:35.33
Matter a fact, you and
I in some ways should be
00:20:35.33\00:20:37.86
more encouraged than Joshua,
00:20:37.86\00:20:39.43
because Joshua could look
back at the leading of God
00:20:39.43\00:20:42.70
through Moses as an example.
00:20:42.70\00:20:45.10
How many heroes can we look out?
00:20:45.10\00:20:47.56
I mean can't the Lord say
to us as I was with David,
00:20:47.56\00:20:51.20
as I was
Gideon, as I was Elijah,
00:20:51.20\00:20:55.20
as I was with Moses,
so I'll be with you. Amen.
00:20:55.20\00:20:59.93
Is he saying that to us?
00:20:59.93\00:21:01.23
Do we have the history an
example in the word of God?
00:21:01.23\00:21:05.56
That He is gonna be with us.
00:21:05.56\00:21:09.36
That should be encouraging.
00:21:09.36\00:21:11.30
Why do we need courage?
00:21:11.30\00:21:13.80
But one thing we
got to keep in mind,
00:21:13.80\00:21:16.73
fear is contagious.
00:21:16.73\00:21:19.90
Once a person
starts to shake and sweat,
00:21:19.90\00:21:23.53
everybody around them starts
to get little bit nervous.
00:21:23.53\00:21:27.76
God had told Moses,
that when you gather
00:21:27.76\00:21:30.66
for battle with your enemies.
00:21:30.66\00:21:32.03
He never said they
are going to be battles.
00:21:32.03\00:21:33.26
Matter of fact, the
law is given assuming
00:21:33.26\00:21:36.16
there are going to be battles.
00:21:36.16\00:21:38.96
God doesn't say come to me
00:21:38.96\00:21:40.80
and I'll save
you from the battles.
00:21:40.80\00:21:42.80
He says I'll give you
courage for the battles.
00:21:42.80\00:21:45.30
They are gonna be
battles everybody.
00:21:45.30\00:21:48.53
It says when you
gather them for battle,
00:21:48.53\00:21:50.16
Deuteronomy 20 verse
8, "The officer will speak
00:21:50.16\00:21:53.03
further to the people, and say,
00:21:53.03\00:21:54.80
What man is there who is
fearful and fainthearted?
00:21:54.80\00:21:57.70
Let him go and
return to his house,
00:21:57.70\00:22:01.00
lest the heart of his brethren
00:22:01.00\00:22:02.86
faint like his heart."
00:22:02.86\00:22:04.83
It's contagious, we
don't need you to be spreading
00:22:04.83\00:22:07.73
fear among God's
people just go home,
00:22:07.73\00:22:11.23
we are better off without you.
00:22:11.23\00:22:14.13
God is looking for a people
00:22:14.13\00:22:15.50
who are courageous
that believe in Him.
00:22:15.50\00:22:19.20
Same thing happened with Gideon.
00:22:19.20\00:22:20.46
God says Gideon, I
want you to go fight
00:22:20.46\00:22:22.30
the Midianites, you
know, tells us they were like
00:22:22.30\00:22:24.40
the sand of the sea these armies
00:22:24.40\00:22:26.20
that I want you to go fight him.
00:22:26.20\00:22:27.86
So Gideon blows the trumpet,
00:22:27.86\00:22:30.53
and he blows it among his tribe
00:22:30.53\00:22:31.83
and they get about 32,000 men,
00:22:31.83\00:22:34.83
who kind of comes
slinking out of their ranches
00:22:34.83\00:22:38.00
and their homes to go fight
00:22:38.00\00:22:39.80
this army that's
spread out like an ocean
00:22:39.80\00:22:44.53
in the Valley of
Jezreel there, Megiddo.
00:22:44.53\00:22:51.86
And God said you
got too many people
00:22:51.86\00:22:54.40
and Gideon goes what, too many.
00:22:54.40\00:22:57.40
Make an
announcement, Judges 7 verse 3.
00:22:57.40\00:23:02.03
"Proclaim in the
hearing of the people saying,
00:23:02.03\00:23:03.96
Whoever is afraid, let him turn
00:23:03.96\00:23:06.80
and departed once
from mount Gilead.
00:23:06.80\00:23:09.33
And out of 32,000,
22,000 of the people returned."
00:23:09.33\00:23:15.03
Well if I was courageous
before that announcement,
00:23:15.03\00:23:17.73
I don't know how courageous
00:23:17.73\00:23:18.93
I would havebeen after
two-thirds of the army left.
00:23:18.93\00:23:23.90
And you know what God said,
00:23:23.90\00:23:26.76
you still have too
many, because while the first
00:23:26.76\00:23:29.96
group may have been fearful,
00:23:29.96\00:23:32.36
you've got a
bunch in your group now
00:23:32.36\00:23:34.10
that aren't fearful,
but they are full hearty.
00:23:34.10\00:23:37.96
They are reckless, so
we've got to weed them out.
00:23:37.96\00:23:43.23
So they went down to
a broken he said look
00:23:43.23\00:23:45.00
whoever drinks water
by bringing it to his face
00:23:45.00\00:23:47.20
and lapping it like
a dog, set him aside,
00:23:47.20\00:23:49.16
hang on to him.
00:23:49.16\00:23:50.23
Those who are so thirsty,
they put their faces right
00:23:50.23\00:23:52.00
down in the
water, let them go home.
00:23:52.00\00:23:56.43
Out of that 10,000
that remain only 300
00:23:56.43\00:24:00.33
were courageous
but also prudent.
00:24:00.33\00:24:05.73
And they looked
around for the enemy
00:24:05.73\00:24:07.83
and they brought the
water to their mouth.
00:24:07.83\00:24:10.13
And God said to Gideon,
here is what I'm looking for.
00:24:10.13\00:24:14.03
People who are
courageous and wise,
00:24:14.03\00:24:17.30
not brave and reckless.
00:24:17.30\00:24:21.00
You probably heard the
expression before there
00:24:21.00\00:24:22.96
are old pilots and
there are bold pilots,
00:24:22.96\00:24:26.40
but there are no old
bold pilots and God wants us
00:24:26.40\00:24:31.56
to have that balance.
00:24:31.56\00:24:35.00
So we got to be courageous,
00:24:35.00\00:24:36.66
because fear is contagious
and it spreads not only
00:24:36.66\00:24:41.03
is fear contagious,
courage is contagious too.
00:24:41.03\00:24:47.96
You know, we can be courageous
00:24:47.96\00:24:49.33
when we remember
that God is with us. Amen.
00:24:49.33\00:24:52.70
That we're not alone.
00:24:52.70\00:24:54.43
I think that makes all
the difference in the world.
00:24:54.43\00:24:58.00
He gives us the, a
promise of His presence.
00:24:58.00\00:25:04.16
You notice in verse
5, "As I was with Moses,
00:25:04.16\00:25:07.10
so I will be with you." Amen.
00:25:07.10\00:25:11.10
That's a wonderful promise,
00:25:11.10\00:25:12.36
the Bible ends with the promise
00:25:12.36\00:25:13.93
God himself will be with them.
00:25:13.93\00:25:17.10
And he was with
Moses, no question about it,
00:25:17.10\00:25:19.46
Exodus 33:14, "My
presence will go with thee,
00:25:19.46\00:25:24.00
and I'll give the rest."
00:25:24.00\00:25:25.00
Was God with the
children of Israel
00:25:25.00\00:25:26.90
through the wilderness?
00:25:26.90\00:25:29.10
Did they have
visible evidence that
00:25:29.10\00:25:31.26
He was with them.
00:25:31.26\00:25:33.06
Do we have evidence
that God is with us?
00:25:33.06\00:25:37.46
Well, I think we do friends.
00:25:37.46\00:25:38.96
We've seen such wonderful
examples of God's blessing
00:25:38.96\00:25:42.20
and evidence of His
presence, Joshua 1 verse 9.
00:25:42.20\00:25:47.53
"Have I not commanded thee?
00:25:47.53\00:25:50.70
Be strong and be of
good courage, be not afraid,
00:25:50.70\00:25:55.13
neither be dismayed,
for the Lord your God
00:25:55.13\00:25:58.23
is with thee wherever you go."
00:25:58.23\00:26:00.93
You know that
sounds strangely familiar.
00:26:00.93\00:26:02.93
Notice what he says,
"Have I not commanded thee,
00:26:02.93\00:26:06.23
God is with thee."
I'm reading Joshua 1:9.
00:26:06.23\00:26:09.66
Now I want you to read
another Joshua speaking,
00:26:09.66\00:26:12.33
except the Greek
pronunciation is Jesus.
00:26:12.33\00:26:15.96
Jesus says in Matthew
28, "Teaching them to observe
00:26:15.96\00:26:19.33
all things that I've
commanded you, and lo,
00:26:19.33\00:26:22.23
I'm with you."
00:26:22.23\00:26:23.43
Christ is basically
quoting the words that He
00:26:23.43\00:26:26.26
spoke to Joshua
2000 years earlier.
00:26:26.26\00:26:31.80
So as God was with Moses,
and as God was with Joshua.
00:26:31.80\00:26:36.20
And as the
Father was with Jesus.
00:26:36.20\00:26:38.86
Jesus said I'm with you.
00:26:38.86\00:26:42.00
Has his promise
changed, or do we still have
00:26:42.00\00:26:45.30
grounds to be
courageous these days.
00:26:45.30\00:26:47.76
When we consider
that He is with us.
00:26:47.76\00:26:50.83
And having God with us,
should we expect less than
00:26:50.83\00:26:56.20
Joshua experienced. Should we?
00:26:56.20\00:27:01.20
You know, it's amazing to me,
00:27:01.20\00:27:03.56
when the angel
first appeared to Gideon.
00:27:03.56\00:27:06.36
Now you got to keep in mind,
00:27:06.36\00:27:07.36
Gideon lived after Joshua.
00:27:07.36\00:27:10.26
And Gideon said to the
angel, if God is with us,
00:27:10.26\00:27:12.96
the angel said to
Gideon, man of valor,
00:27:12.96\00:27:15.23
the Lord is with you.
00:27:15.23\00:27:16.20
He said, God's with us really.
00:27:16.20\00:27:17.46
It doesn't look
like He is with us.
00:27:17.46\00:27:19.33
We're being
beaten on every side.
00:27:19.33\00:27:21.50
We are overwhelmed,
how can God be with us?
00:27:21.50\00:27:26.66
And you know what, Gideon said.
00:27:26.66\00:27:28.73
What about all the
miracles we used to hear about?
00:27:28.73\00:27:31.46
We don't see
God's power anymore,
00:27:31.46\00:27:33.23
the days of miracles are over.
00:27:33.23\00:27:36.50
Isn't that strange
that Gideon would say that.
00:27:36.50\00:27:39.50
That's Gideon who
lived before Elijah fire
00:27:39.50\00:27:41.50
coming down from heaven.
00:27:41.50\00:27:43.73
That's Gideon who
lived before Daniel
00:27:43.73\00:27:46.00
and Shadrach, and
Meshach, all those miracles.
00:27:46.00\00:27:48.53
Gideon said looks like
the days of miracles are over.
00:27:48.53\00:27:51.20
It doesn't look
like God's with us.
00:27:51.20\00:27:54.23
Well did God then start new
ways of miracles with Gideon?
00:27:54.23\00:27:58.13
That He do
wonders of deliverance.
00:27:58.13\00:28:01.93
And that's same
way He'll be with us.
00:28:01.93\00:28:04.86
Is God's work going
to finish with less power
00:28:04.86\00:28:07.40
than it started with?
00:28:07.40\00:28:08.96
We're on the
banks of the Jordan.
00:28:08.96\00:28:10.43
Or should be by
faith anticipate that God
00:28:10.43\00:28:13.20
is gonna move again.
00:28:13.20\00:28:14.30
How we can ever reach
Him to world where 80 million
00:28:14.30\00:28:18.76
new people are added
to the account every year
00:28:18.76\00:28:23.30
without the power of
God and without courage.
00:28:23.30\00:28:28.93
He wants us to finish strong.
00:28:28.93\00:28:31.06
I don't think the
days of miracles are over.
00:28:31.06\00:28:33.00
Let me read
something to you from the book
00:28:33.00\00:28:34.50
"Great Controversy"
speaking of last days, page 6,
00:28:34.50\00:28:37.23
12 if you're taking notes.
00:28:37.23\00:28:40.33
"Servants of God, with
their faces illuminated
00:28:40.33\00:28:43.13
in shining with
holy consecration,
00:28:43.13\00:28:45.93
will hasten from
place to place to proclaim
00:28:45.93\00:28:49.10
the message from
heaven by thousands of voices,
00:28:49.10\00:28:53.36
all over the earth."
00:28:53.36\00:28:56.36
Many of them ASI
members, I threw that in,
00:28:56.36\00:29:00.26
did you noticed.
00:29:00.26\00:29:03.70
The warning will be the
given, I'm still reading.
00:29:03.70\00:29:06.23
"Miracles will be wrought,
the sick will be healed,
00:29:06.23\00:29:10.66
signs and wonders
will follow the believers."
00:29:10.66\00:29:15.66
As God was with
Moses, have you ever read
00:29:15.66\00:29:17.93
the last thing that
Moses, well actually Moses
00:29:17.93\00:29:20.13
didn't write
because he was dead.
00:29:20.13\00:29:21.36
But the last
thing in Deuteronomy,
00:29:21.36\00:29:23.33
which is the last book of Moses.
00:29:23.33\00:29:24.80
Turn to the last
Chapter of Deuteronomy.
00:29:24.80\00:29:28.60
And I want you
to notice something,
00:29:28.60\00:29:29.60
talking about the power of God.
00:29:29.60\00:29:31.86
Deuteronomy Chapter 34 verse 10.
00:29:31.86\00:29:36.10
Matter of fact,
scholars pretty much agree
00:29:36.10\00:29:40.06
that the last Chapter
of Deuteronomy is really
00:29:40.06\00:29:42.10
the 1 Chapter of Joshua.
00:29:42.10\00:29:44.73
Because Joshua probably
wrote it because Moses was dead.
00:29:44.73\00:29:49.06
Verse 10, "But since
then there has not a arisen
00:29:49.06\00:29:53.00
in Israel a prophet like Moses,
00:29:53.00\00:29:55.13
whom the Lord knew face to face.
00:29:55.13\00:29:57.50
In all the
signs and the wonders,
00:29:57.50\00:30:01.23
which the Lord sent him
to do in the land of Egypt
00:30:01.23\00:30:04.03
before Pharaoh,
and all his servants,
00:30:04.03\00:30:05.73
and an all his land,
all of the signs wonders
00:30:05.73\00:30:08.30
and miracles before Pharaoh."
00:30:08.30\00:30:09.60
Verse 12 "And by
all that mighty power,
00:30:09.60\00:30:12.63
and all the great
terror which Moses performed
00:30:12.63\00:30:15.40
in the sight of all Israel."
00:30:15.40\00:30:17.60
In the sight of the government
00:30:17.60\00:30:19.90
and the appraisers, in
the sight of his own people,
00:30:19.90\00:30:22.46
signs and wonders on
power and terror and miracles
00:30:22.46\00:30:25.73
through Moses
as they left Egypt.
00:30:25.73\00:30:28.36
Will we expect less
going into the Promised Land?
00:30:28.36\00:30:32.86
Or is God gonna do
something and pour out
00:30:32.86\00:30:35.43
His spirit and raise up an army,
00:30:35.43\00:30:37.33
that will go
everywhere, preaching the word
00:30:37.33\00:30:41.20
fearlessly on the tomb
00:30:41.20\00:30:45.70
of Lord Lawrence
in Westminster Abbey.
00:30:45.70\00:30:49.33
It simply says that
he feared no man because
00:30:49.33\00:30:55.03
he feared God so much.
00:30:55.03\00:30:58.26
And I think God is looking
for people that loved Him
00:30:58.26\00:31:01.10
and feared Him so
much that they are not
00:31:01.10\00:31:03.43
afraid of anything else.
00:31:03.43\00:31:05.10
You know, when you come
to Christ and you take up
00:31:05.10\00:31:07.50
your cross and you
are crucified with Christ,
00:31:07.50\00:31:09.16
you don't have to
be afraid of death,
00:31:09.16\00:31:10.40
because you've already died.
00:31:10.40\00:31:12.50
Did that make sense?
00:31:12.50\00:31:14.73
You know unless you
didn't keep killing the horse
00:31:14.73\00:31:17.96
over and over again.
00:31:17.96\00:31:19.96
When you've been
crucified with Christ,
00:31:19.96\00:31:22.96
and you've died,
then you are dead.
00:31:22.96\00:31:28.60
And you don't need to fear him,
00:31:28.60\00:31:29.60
who can hurt your body
00:31:29.60\00:31:30.76
because they can't
touch your soul. Amen.
00:31:30.76\00:31:33.10
And that gives you courage.
00:31:33.10\00:31:36.53
He says I'll be with
you as I was with Moses.
00:31:36.53\00:31:39.40
You know, I love
that story in the Bible
00:31:39.40\00:31:42.30
of Jonathan, 1
Samuel Chapter 14.
00:31:42.30\00:31:46.10
We've got a brave example.
00:31:46.10\00:31:47.70
Why should we be courageous,
00:31:47.70\00:31:49.53
because we're not alone?
00:31:49.53\00:31:53.76
You remember the story.
00:31:53.76\00:31:54.76
Jonathan said to these
young man that bare his
00:31:54.76\00:31:57.33
armor, "Come, and let us
go over unto the garrison
00:31:57.33\00:32:00.60
of these uncircumcised,
and it might be that the
00:32:00.60\00:32:03.73
Lord will work for us,
for there is no restraint to
00:32:03.73\00:32:07.00
the Lord to save
by many or by few."
00:32:07.00\00:32:09.53
And his armor
bearer said to him,
00:32:09.53\00:32:12.60
" Do all that is
in your heart, behold,
00:32:12.60\00:32:15.20
I am with thee
according to thy heart."
00:32:15.20\00:32:17.56
The armor bearer of Jonathan
00:32:17.56\00:32:19.90
went around with
that young prince.
00:32:19.90\00:32:21.90
Jonathan was he
was quality stuff.
00:32:21.90\00:32:24.53
He was a good man.
00:32:24.53\00:32:25.70
David just love
Jonathan, because he had such
00:32:25.70\00:32:28.93
courage and love for God.
00:32:28.93\00:32:30.80
So humble, Jonathan said
to David when he first met
00:32:30.80\00:32:34.60
him and saw him go
out against the giant,
00:32:34.60\00:32:36.20
says he loved him.
00:32:36.20\00:32:37.33
Jonathan took off
his armor and he gave him
00:32:37.33\00:32:40.56
his belt and he gave him
his sword and he gave him his
00:32:40.56\00:32:42.36
bow, and later
he told him I know
00:32:42.36\00:32:43.86
you're gonna be
king in my place.
00:32:43.86\00:32:45.83
You've been chosen by God,
00:32:45.83\00:32:46.83
and that's good enough from me.
00:32:46.83\00:32:48.06
What kind of man would do that?
00:32:48.06\00:32:50.56
Just say, you've been
called to the Lord to do
00:32:50.56\00:32:53.20
what you are
doing and I accept that.
00:32:53.20\00:32:57.16
He was quality material.
00:32:57.16\00:33:00.06
He said there is no
restraint with the Lord
00:33:00.06\00:33:03.26
to deliver by few or many.
00:33:03.26\00:33:05.63
I've a feeling that
Jonathan was inspired
00:33:05.63\00:33:09.46
by the story of Gideon,
and through the example of God
00:33:09.46\00:33:13.60
delivering with
few through Gideon.
00:33:13.60\00:33:16.43
He said, you know,
we don't have to wait
00:33:16.43\00:33:19.93
because Saul and the people
of Israel were all gathered
00:33:19.93\00:33:23.53
together
trembling, you remember that.
00:33:23.53\00:33:27.86
Jonathan said, look if
we wait for them to advance,
00:33:27.86\00:33:32.20
the war is never gonna start,
00:33:32.20\00:33:34.23
maybe we can start something.
00:33:34.23\00:33:37.20
There was no
restraint with the Lord
00:33:37.20\00:33:39.10
to deliver by few or many.
00:33:39.10\00:33:40.40
You know, Saul kept
having committee meetings.
00:33:40.40\00:33:44.20
So we're gonna
have a committee study.
00:33:44.20\00:33:47.00
And they weren't going forward
00:33:47.00\00:33:48.36
against the Philistines.
00:33:48.36\00:33:50.66
It's really easy sometimes
for us to get involved in
00:33:50.66\00:33:53.83
and I believe in preparation,
00:33:53.83\00:33:56.36
I believe in training,
you know, the AFCOE program,
00:33:56.36\00:33:59.06
we believe in training.
00:33:59.06\00:34:01.26
We believe in seminars
and study in evangelism.
00:34:01.26\00:34:05.93
We're gonna be doing an
AFCOE to go program next week,
00:34:05.93\00:34:08.43
we believe and all that.
00:34:08.43\00:34:10.50
But you can't forever be
studying how to go forward,
00:34:10.50\00:34:13.40
and never going forward.
00:34:13.40\00:34:15.70
And finally Jonathan
said look enough is enough,
00:34:15.70\00:34:18.00
let's get out of
this committee meeting,
00:34:18.00\00:34:19.36
let's go fight
some in Philistines.
00:34:19.36\00:34:22.53
And he said, there is
no problem with the Lord,
00:34:22.53\00:34:24.13
maybe we haven't
got everybody organize
00:34:24.13\00:34:26.30
and ready yet, but
let see what we can do.
00:34:26.30\00:34:30.86
Sometimes I think we're
so afraid that we're gonna do
00:34:30.86\00:34:32.73
something wrong
in our witnessing,
00:34:32.73\00:34:34.80
instead we do nothing very well.
00:34:34.80\00:34:39.46
And he said let's go
and his armor bearer was
00:34:39.46\00:34:43.60
so inspired by his
courage, it was contagious.
00:34:43.60\00:34:49.03
He said wow!
00:34:49.03\00:34:51.10
I can follow a God
like that in the battle.
00:34:51.10\00:34:54.23
My heart is with
you as your heart.
00:34:54.23\00:34:58.00
Your faith and your
God is inspiring me,
00:34:58.00\00:35:01.40
and I'm willing to
follow you just the two of us,
00:35:01.40\00:35:04.70
against the
garrison of the Philistines.
00:35:04.70\00:35:06.70
Not only that,
they strategically bad
00:35:06.70\00:35:09.56
position, they were
gonna fight their way up hill.
00:35:09.56\00:35:14.13
And he said I'm with you.
00:35:14.13\00:35:16.63
And they went, and they won.
00:35:16.63\00:35:21.83
Matter a fact, I think
the Philistines were so
00:35:21.83\00:35:23.66
surprised they said,
Oh look the Israelites
00:35:23.66\00:35:25.70
are coming out of the holes
where they have been hiding,
00:35:25.70\00:35:27.53
come on up, we want
to show you something.
00:35:27.53\00:35:30.63
And they probably didn't even
00:35:30.63\00:35:32.03
have their bows strung up yet.
00:35:32.03\00:35:34.26
They just weren't
prepared for a fight.
00:35:34.26\00:35:36.63
And they were so
taken by the surprise
00:35:36.63\00:35:39.70
by the courage, standing
like the religious leaders
00:35:39.70\00:35:43.56
back in the days of the
apostles when they beheld,
00:35:43.56\00:35:47.13
the boldness of Peter
and John the audacity.
00:35:47.13\00:35:52.00
God wants His people
to have a wholly audacity
00:35:52.00\00:35:55.26
to share the truth. Amen.
00:35:55.26\00:35:58.76
Not be afraid and be in
courageous for God doesn't
00:35:58.76\00:36:03.73
mean you are never
afraid of anything.
00:36:03.73\00:36:05.06
Matter a fact,
00:36:05.06\00:36:06.03
I think in order to
be courageous for God,
00:36:06.03\00:36:07.66
you need to have a
certain amount of normal fear.
00:36:07.66\00:36:12.66
I don't reach
out for rattlesnakes.
00:36:12.66\00:36:16.80
I'm not afraid of rattlesnakes,
00:36:16.80\00:36:18.23
but you know, I
don't reach out for them
00:36:18.23\00:36:19.63
because I'm afraid of that.
00:36:19.63\00:36:22.30
You know what I mean?
00:36:22.30\00:36:24.90
And I think we've got to
have that same kind of balance.
00:36:24.90\00:36:30.10
Today our glass door
broke, and we're spoiled,
00:36:30.10\00:36:34.23
we've one of this
automatic garage door opners
00:36:34.23\00:36:35.96
and I often having to
get out and lift up by hand.
00:36:35.96\00:36:39.90
So we call the
repairman, and he came over
00:36:39.90\00:36:42.83
and they had installed this,
he repaired the garage door
00:36:42.83\00:36:45.80
and Karen takes you
about, five minutes to know
00:36:45.80\00:36:50.26
everything about a person.
00:36:50.26\00:36:52.50
And so she began
to mix up with the guy
00:36:52.50\00:36:54.00
and talk to him
and chat make friends
00:36:54.00\00:36:55.86
and try to get them
the lower the price, and--
00:36:55.86\00:36:59.06
Amen, amen.
00:36:59.06\00:37:00.76
There are
advantages to witnessing.
00:37:00.76\00:37:05.36
And as were
bidding him farewell,
00:37:05.36\00:37:08.76
it only took him about
ten minutes to fix it garage.
00:37:08.76\00:37:11.73
He took him about half an hour
00:37:11.73\00:37:13.10
to get out of our living room.
00:37:13.10\00:37:17.60
I said Karen, give him a book.
00:37:17.60\00:37:20.13
And I was
thinking about, you know,
00:37:20.13\00:37:21.13
you don't want to say,
are you ever been afraid,
00:37:21.13\00:37:23.06
say something like
that to someone or to say,
00:37:23.06\00:37:25.10
would you like this
track or can I give you a tape,
00:37:25.10\00:37:27.30
or do you like to read
and you are always kind,
00:37:27.30\00:37:29.90
you know, sometimes a
devil will try to intimidate us.
00:37:29.90\00:37:33.66
And he frightens us
about sharing our faith.
00:37:33.66\00:37:37.93
And so she said
hey, do you read.
00:37:37.93\00:37:41.36
And once a guy
said, no I'm illiterate.
00:37:41.36\00:37:46.70
She said here is
the book and look here
00:37:46.70\00:37:49.43
is my husband's picture,
oh he wrote the book she says.
00:37:49.43\00:37:53.60
No you know, you
don't know what will happen,
00:37:53.60\00:37:55.30
but you do that
enough of the time
00:37:55.30\00:37:57.66
and you might see
somebody in the kingdom. Amen.
00:37:57.66\00:38:01.43
You know another
reason we need courage
00:38:01.43\00:38:03.70
or what gives us courage
00:38:03.70\00:38:05.73
I should say is
having a mission,
00:38:05.73\00:38:09.20
having a reason to fight.
00:38:09.20\00:38:11.46
If someone says I want
you to go out in the battle,
00:38:11.46\00:38:13.70
be brave fight and you
say what am I fighting for it,
00:38:13.70\00:38:16.00
nothing important but
you are willing to die.
00:38:16.00\00:38:19.26
And you go out, I'm not so
courageous about that, right.
00:38:19.26\00:38:22.63
If you gonna be courageous,
00:38:22.63\00:38:24.40
you need a cause,
you need some reason.
00:38:24.40\00:38:30.86
When David went to deliver
his brothers their cheese
00:38:30.86\00:38:34.50
and food from the
vittles from home.
00:38:34.50\00:38:37.33
And while he was out
there on the frontline,
00:38:37.33\00:38:39.00
like any young man, you know,
00:38:39.00\00:38:40.50
he is out there
with the grown soldiers,
00:38:40.50\00:38:42.10
and he is looking at them
00:38:42.10\00:38:43.06
and pretty soon
he sees the enemy,
00:38:43.06\00:38:44.16
oh there's
enemy frontlines, wow.
00:38:44.16\00:38:45.46
And outcomes Goliath,
and then when Goliath began
00:38:45.46\00:38:50.23
the mock the God of Israel,
00:38:50.23\00:38:51.86
and mock the armies of
Israel and to blaspheme
00:38:51.86\00:38:54.60
God's name, the blood
rose up in David's heart.
00:38:54.60\00:38:59.76
And he said is nobody
gonna answer that challenge.
00:38:59.76\00:39:04.26
I've killed a lion
and a bear together,
00:39:04.26\00:39:06.30
they are about as big as him.
00:39:06.30\00:39:08.70
I'll do it if no
one else is gonna do it,
00:39:08.70\00:39:10.33
and he started talking
like that and pretty soon
00:39:10.33\00:39:11.86
his brother got wind of it.
00:39:11.86\00:39:15.13
And you know what happened?
00:39:15.13\00:39:17.96
Eliab 1 Samuel 17:28,
"Eliab his eldest brother
00:39:17.96\00:39:23.10
heard when he spoken to the men,
00:39:23.10\00:39:24.53
and Eliab's anger was
kindled against David,
00:39:24.53\00:39:27.26
he said his brother,
He said why have you come
00:39:27.26\00:39:30.13
down here to the frontlines?
00:39:30.13\00:39:31.90
And who did you
leave those few sheep
00:39:31.90\00:39:34.70
within in the wilderness?
00:39:34.70\00:39:36.16
I know the pride, and the
naughtiness of your heart,
00:39:36.16\00:39:38.60
you're just
curious, you came down here,
00:39:38.60\00:39:40.73
so that you can see the battle."
00:39:40.73\00:39:42.16
And then write a song about it.
00:39:42.16\00:39:45.43
I added that part.
00:39:45.43\00:39:46.46
Isn't that interesting
that the discouragement
00:39:51.03\00:39:55.20
from David
going against Goliath,
00:39:55.20\00:39:58.93
did not come
from the Philistines.
00:39:58.93\00:40:01.60
It came from his own family.
00:40:01.60\00:40:06.16
Sometimes Jesus is
going to die for our sins
00:40:06.16\00:40:09.70
and Peter says
that's a bad plan.
00:40:09.70\00:40:11.60
You don't want to do that Jesus.
00:40:11.60\00:40:14.03
Jesus said get behind me Satan.
00:40:14.03\00:40:17.00
From your own family
Mary Magdalene pores out
00:40:17.00\00:40:22.53
that gift and the Lord
says, shall be remembered
00:40:22.53\00:40:24.26
everywhere where the
gospel is preached for
00:40:24.26\00:40:26.00
what she has done and
Judas says what a waste,
00:40:26.00\00:40:28.43
how reckless from
among the apostles.
00:40:28.43\00:40:34.56
And sometimes a
person gets inspired,
00:40:34.56\00:40:37.30
they want to do something
for God and the family says,
00:40:37.30\00:40:40.26
are you out of your mind.
00:40:40.26\00:40:41.90
You really think
that's gonna work.
00:40:41.90\00:40:45.86
We need to encourage each other
00:40:45.86\00:40:48.03
and our exploits forgot.
00:40:48.03\00:40:49.36
What gives us
courage, having a mission,
00:40:49.36\00:40:52.10
having a cause?
00:40:52.10\00:40:54.53
Is there not a purpose,
did Joshua have a cause.
00:40:54.53\00:40:59.63
Listen to what he said?
00:40:59.63\00:41:00.76
Joshua Chapter 1, God is
speaking to Joshua verse 2.
00:41:00.76\00:41:03.73
"Moses my servant is dead
now therefore arise, and go."
00:41:03.73\00:41:09.63
Did our Joshua tell us to go?
00:41:09.63\00:41:12.90
Jesus is Joshua,
in Hebrew Yeshua.
00:41:12.90\00:41:17.60
Yeshua is Jesus,
you all know that.
00:41:17.60\00:41:20.00
I remember
first time I heard it,
00:41:20.00\00:41:21.30
it was new from me, some
of you heard it many times.
00:41:21.30\00:41:24.96
Our Joshua, Jesus
has told us to go.
00:41:24.96\00:41:28.76
He said "Arise and go
over this Jordan, you,
00:41:28.76\00:41:31.33
and all this people, unto
the land that I do give them,
00:41:31.33\00:41:35.20
even the children of Israel."
00:41:35.20\00:41:36.73
Is there a greater
mission than leading people into
00:41:36.73\00:41:41.30
the Promised Land?
00:41:41.30\00:41:42.36
Who has a greater cause
than God's people to bring
00:41:42.36\00:41:45.63
folks from death to
life, from sickness to health,
00:41:45.63\00:41:48.93
from being blind to
sight, from being dead to alive,
00:41:48.93\00:41:53.16
I mean please help me.
00:41:53.16\00:41:55.00
Name a greater
cause than that cause.
00:41:55.00\00:41:58.36
Fighting and dying for a
peace of dirty real estate
00:41:58.36\00:42:03.76
or for the Promised Land?
00:42:03.76\00:42:06.33
People will be patriotic
and pour out their lives
00:42:06.33\00:42:10.13
and their blood
for their homeland,
00:42:10.13\00:42:12.16
and the soil and
these people dying in Libya.
00:42:12.16\00:42:17.23
And I admire their patriotism,
00:42:17.23\00:42:19.60
but then you look at the
ground they are dying for.
00:42:19.60\00:42:24.20
And here the Lord is
telling us to be brave
00:42:24.20\00:42:26.36
and to be courageous for
the land flowing with milk
00:42:26.36\00:42:30.46
and honey that God has prepared.
00:42:30.46\00:42:31.70
Is that a cause with
living for and fighting
00:42:31.70\00:42:35.10
for and dying for? Amen.
00:42:35.10\00:42:37.20
To help people, lead
them into the Promised Land,
00:42:37.20\00:42:40.26
that's what He
has called us to do,
00:42:40.26\00:42:41.70
to lead people
into the Promised Land.
00:42:41.70\00:42:46.26
And you know, you might
have to saw a lot of seed
00:42:46.26\00:42:48.20
and something will spring up.
00:42:48.20\00:42:50.33
But can you imagine when
you get across to Jordan,
00:42:50.33\00:42:53.60
and you meet people.
00:42:53.60\00:42:54.60
You are so afraid
00:42:54.60\00:42:55.70
and you didn't
know whether to ask him
00:42:55.70\00:42:56.96
if they want the DVD, or
the book, or the Bible study.
00:42:56.96\00:43:02.43
And you gave it to
them, and you get there
00:43:02.43\00:43:05.13
and they are there. Amen.
00:43:05.13\00:43:08.63
Will you ever
have doubts then that
00:43:08.63\00:43:10.33
it was a cause
worth fighting for?
00:43:10.33\00:43:15.96
You know another reason
that we need to be courageous.
00:43:15.96\00:43:20.70
Why did God tell
Joshua, be courageous,
00:43:20.70\00:43:22.86
be courageous, be courageous,
00:43:22.86\00:43:24.90
be very courageous,
because they had failed before.
00:43:24.90\00:43:31.76
Did they have some
failures in the wilderness?
00:43:31.76\00:43:36.50
Can you get discourage and
stop fighting when you fail?
00:43:36.50\00:43:40.80
Sometimes a boxer
will go out in a ring
00:43:40.80\00:43:42.80
and early in the
fight he gets punched,
00:43:42.80\00:43:44.53
and sent to the mat.
00:43:44.53\00:43:47.00
And if he
struggles back to his feet,
00:43:47.00\00:43:48.73
there is a chance that
he from then on can just try
00:43:48.73\00:43:52.80
to protect himself
and run from the opponent
00:43:52.80\00:43:57.13
and hangout in the corner.
00:43:57.13\00:44:00.83
His courage can be dampened.
00:44:00.83\00:44:04.80
And he gets in the
corner between rounds
00:44:04.80\00:44:07.06
and the coach is gonna
say, what's the matter with you.
00:44:07.06\00:44:09.40
You are a
fighter, you are a winner.
00:44:09.40\00:44:10.73
So he hit you once, get
in there, start swing in.
00:44:10.73\00:44:15.43
When you've been
knocked out once or twice,
00:44:15.43\00:44:17.00
you can loose your courage.
00:44:17.00\00:44:21.40
Have you ever fallen?
00:44:21.40\00:44:24.13
Have you ever been
overcome by the enemy?
00:44:24.13\00:44:28.23
Gotten discouraged,
you fought and resisted
00:44:28.23\00:44:32.03
temptation and you failed.
00:44:32.03\00:44:33.26
So next time you just don't
have much fight left in you.
00:44:33.26\00:44:39.23
As we're here in on the borders
00:44:39.23\00:44:40.40
of the Promised
Land is there a chance,
00:44:40.40\00:44:42.70
that some of God's
people could be saying.
00:44:42.70\00:44:46.56
You know, the enemy is
kind of beat me up a little bit.
00:44:46.56\00:44:50.46
I don't have that
much courage left.
00:44:50.46\00:44:53.60
Who was it Thomas Edison said,
00:44:53.60\00:44:54.93
"He that's afraid to
fail, is afraid to succeed."
00:44:54.93\00:44:58.76
You can scarcely
show me an example
00:44:58.76\00:45:01.03
of a hero in the Bible,
00:45:01.03\00:45:02.13
that didn't fall
somewhere along the way.
00:45:02.13\00:45:05.00
Peter, went out
and wept bitterly
00:45:05.00\00:45:07.83
after denying Christ.
00:45:07.83\00:45:09.86
But you can hardly
tell when he stands up
00:45:09.86\00:45:13.43
on the day of
Pentecost that he ever failed.
00:45:13.43\00:45:16.56
He stood there with
boldness and courage,
00:45:16.56\00:45:20.10
and then later stood, he
puts his life on the line,
00:45:20.10\00:45:22.36
they commanded him do not
preach in Jesus name anymore.
00:45:22.36\00:45:25.50
There they will
all sitting up elevated
00:45:25.50\00:45:27.76
glaring down at him,
fisherman in his rags.
00:45:27.76\00:45:31.83
And he looked up
but the austere leaders
00:45:31.83\00:45:35.03
of the church at that time.
00:45:35.03\00:45:36.46
And he said we ought to
obey God rather than men. Amen.
00:45:36.46\00:45:40.76
Yeah, Peter had fallen before,
00:45:40.76\00:45:43.80
but God gave him courage.
00:45:43.80\00:45:46.70
We need the kind of
courage John the Baptist had.
00:45:46.70\00:45:51.36
Out there in the
wilderness, dress funny,
00:45:51.36\00:45:56.50
eating funny things,
00:45:56.50\00:46:00.53
preaching spiritual messages.
00:46:00.53\00:46:06.43
And you know why Jesus
said there is no prophet
00:46:06.43\00:46:08.33
that's ever arisen
greater than John the Baptist.
00:46:08.33\00:46:11.26
Because John the Baptist
00:46:11.26\00:46:12.23
wasn't afraid to
call sin what it was.
00:46:12.23\00:46:15.80
He was able to go right
up to the king and said, no,
00:46:15.80\00:46:17.80
you're not supposed to
have your brother's wife.
00:46:17.80\00:46:19.53
That's not politically correct,
00:46:19.53\00:46:21.10
you're not gonna get
anything from the government
00:46:21.10\00:46:23.13
when you tell the King that.
00:46:23.13\00:46:25.66
Except in prison and beheaded,
00:46:25.66\00:46:28.63
and John the Baptist
had the spirit of Elijah,
00:46:28.63\00:46:31.16
Elijah who told Ahab,
it's you and your father house.
00:46:31.16\00:46:36.93
That's a kind of courage God's
00:46:36.93\00:46:38.20
people need in the last days.
00:46:38.20\00:46:40.06
Not only to live
victorious lives,
00:46:40.06\00:46:42.40
but to speak the
truth with love and kindness
00:46:42.40\00:46:46.16
intact, but for
heaven sake be bold. Amen.
00:46:46.16\00:46:50.80
People are looking
for people in the world,
00:46:50.80\00:46:53.76
who know what they believe.
00:46:53.76\00:46:55.46
And yes, you're
gonna be ridiculed.
00:46:55.46\00:46:59.66
People find out
here in this century,
00:46:59.66\00:47:04.90
how can anybody educated believe
00:47:04.90\00:47:08.30
that the Bible is literal?
00:47:08.30\00:47:10.90
How can anybody
educated, believe that God made
00:47:10.90\00:47:14.26
the world in six literal
days, you'll be laughed at.
00:47:14.26\00:47:19.10
But I believe
what the Bible says,
00:47:19.10\00:47:20.26
even more than that.
00:47:20.26\00:47:21.26
I think that a
person is drowning in a sea
00:47:21.26\00:47:23.30
of absurdity to
believe that everything,
00:47:23.30\00:47:25.76
everywhere all the organization
00:47:25.76\00:47:27.56
and design that you see
came from nothing nowhere. Amen.
00:47:27.56\00:47:31.60
That's your alternative.
00:47:31.60\00:47:34.60
But you say that and
people look at you narrowly.
00:47:34.60\00:47:40.86
Let him look. Amen.
00:47:40.86\00:47:43.03
Because we're living
lives before the King.
00:47:43.03\00:47:47.10
And before David
died, he called Solomon in,
00:47:47.10\00:47:50.66
says Solomon God has
told me that you are supposed
00:47:50.66\00:47:53.50
to build a house for him.
00:47:53.50\00:47:57.30
And he said, be
courageous and build it.
00:47:57.30\00:48:01.03
God has called us to build
up a house for him, hasn't he?
00:48:01.03\00:48:03.30
What gives a person courage?
00:48:03.30\00:48:07.43
Cause, a good example. Love.
00:48:07.43\00:48:12.50
When Abraham's family
was kidnapped by the enemy,
00:48:12.50\00:48:15.23
he got an army together and
he went after him, didn't he?
00:48:15.23\00:48:19.16
Also an
Abraham, who is a farmer.
00:48:19.16\00:48:21.50
He is a shepherd.
00:48:21.50\00:48:24.43
He goes out with 300 men
and a few additional ones,
00:48:24.43\00:48:28.13
and he fights against
five kings, that takes courage.
00:48:28.13\00:48:32.60
What made him so brave?
00:48:32.60\00:48:34.30
He said they have got my nephew,
00:48:34.30\00:48:36.60
they have got his family.
00:48:36.60\00:48:37.86
A love will make you courageous,
00:48:37.86\00:48:41.50
1973 some
people in South Dakota,
00:48:41.50\00:48:44.00
in a motor home that
was part taking pictures,
00:48:44.00\00:48:48.30
a mountain lion manage to
jump though an open window
00:48:48.30\00:48:50.83
and grab an 18 month
old that was in there.
00:48:50.83\00:48:55.16
Grandmother took a butcher knife
00:48:55.16\00:48:58.70
and killed the
mountain lion. Amen.
00:48:58.70\00:49:01.63
Now do you normally
see grandmothers chasing
00:49:01.63\00:49:03.80
mountain lions
with a butcher knife?
00:49:03.80\00:49:07.80
What would give them
that kind of courage, love?
00:49:07.80\00:49:13.70
Do we have reason to
be courageous for Jesus?
00:49:13.70\00:49:17.50
Has He shown His love for us?
00:49:17.50\00:49:19.96
He has given us an
example of courage.
00:49:19.96\00:49:23.90
He has given us
promises that he'll be with us.
00:49:23.90\00:49:27.33
And we've a great mission
friends to go to the world.
00:49:27.33\00:49:30.00
It's gonna take a
miracle of God's power.
00:49:30.00\00:49:31.93
But I believe that we're
on the borders of the Jordan,
00:49:31.93\00:49:34.30
and we should
expect miracles again,
00:49:34.30\00:49:36.03
what do you say? Amen.
00:49:36.03\00:49:37.63
Would you like to pray with me
00:49:37.63\00:49:38.63
and ask Him
again for that power?
00:49:38.63\00:49:41.36
Let's borrow our heads.
00:49:41.36\00:49:44.93
Father we're
inspired by Your word.
00:49:44.93\00:49:48.80
By the truth that
You have not changed.
00:49:48.80\00:49:51.40
The same way you were
with Moses and David and Elijah
00:49:51.40\00:49:54.43
and others, you'll be
with your people today.
00:49:54.43\00:49:58.10
Lord, we ask that
you pour out Your spirit,
00:49:58.10\00:50:00.60
be with everybody.
00:50:00.60\00:50:02.13
Sometimes we failed, but
we pray that You bless us
00:50:02.13\00:50:05.46
and dust us off
and lift us up again.
00:50:05.46\00:50:07.40
Send us into the
battle, knowing we're not alone.
00:50:07.40\00:50:10.56
But we're fighting
along side of thee.
00:50:10.56\00:50:14.16
And I just pray You'll
blessed all of this people
00:50:14.16\00:50:16.00
and give us victory
that we may finish strong.
00:50:16.00\00:50:19.33
We ask in Jesus name, amen.
00:50:19.33\00:50:22.13
Write what you
want from me and store
00:50:47.93\00:50:55.10
Are we fraction of
your character alone
00:50:55.10\00:51:02.56
So I try to keep
your laws without regret
00:51:02.56\00:51:10.26
But I'm easily
distracted and forget
00:51:10.26\00:51:15.90
So write them on my heart
00:51:15.90\00:51:20.00
Fill them in my mind
00:51:20.00\00:51:25.43
The beauty of your
love and grace combined
00:51:25.43\00:51:32.90
Remind me just how
lucky your commandments are
00:51:32.90\00:51:40.33
And write them on
the tablet of my heart.
00:51:40.33\00:51:47.70
There's only one
desire inside of me
00:51:59.60\00:52:06.00
It's to be
everything, you created me to be
00:52:06.00\00:52:13.70
And I know the
only way that I can grow
00:52:13.70\00:52:21.00
It's for you to come
inside and take control
00:52:21.00\00:52:26.90
So write them on my heart
00:52:26.90\00:52:30.73
Feel them in my mind.
00:52:30.73\00:52:36.30
The beauty of your
love and grace combined
00:52:36.30\00:52:43.43
Remind me just how
lucky your commandments are
00:52:43.43\00:52:51.16
And write them on
the tablet of my heart.
00:52:51.16\00:52:58.16
Your love reflect your goodness
00:52:58.16\00:53:02.00
The class reveals your grace
00:53:02.00\00:53:06.03
Love's the motivation,
behind your perfect ways
00:53:06.03\00:53:16.73
So write them on my heart
00:53:16.73\00:53:20.56
Fill them in my mind.
00:53:20.56\00:53:25.96
The beauty of your
love and grace combined
00:53:25.96\00:53:33.60
Remind me just how
lucky your commandments are
00:53:33.60\00:53:40.80
And write them on
the tablet of my heart
00:53:40.80\00:53:46.63
And write them on my heart
00:53:46.63\00:53:50.46
And pray them in my mind
00:53:50.46\00:53:55.76
The beauty of your
love and grace combined
00:53:55.76\00:54:03.43
Remind me just how
lucky your commandments are
00:54:03.43\00:54:11.23
And write them on
the tablet of my heart
00:54:11.23\00:54:19.10
Remind me just how
lucky your commandments are
00:54:19.10\00:54:26.86
And write them on
the tablet of my heart.
00:54:26.86\00:54:40.16