Good evening and welcome
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to our Wednesday
night Bible study
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here at
Thompsonville Adventist Church.
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This is a program
called A Sharper Focus,
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and we just...
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At first, I want to
welcome you who were here
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for the live part.
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And for those of you who
are watching by television,
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or internet, or
listening on the radio,
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we are very glad that
you can join us as well.
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Tonight we're going
to take a little sidestep
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from the regular study.
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Pastor Lomacang is not
here. I'm Shelley Quinn.
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I'll be hosting
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and I just have
to tell you up front.
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I'm kind of operating from a...
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Whatever you might say,
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a physical disadvantage
with the lack of sleep.
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But we are going to
talk about something
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that the Lord
impressed upon my heart
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just a couple of hours ago.
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We lost one of our own today.
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And it's not an easy
thing to think about,
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but precious Michael
Berry has gone to rest.
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And, when I heard,
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he has had such a long struggle.
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And it has been
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such a faith building thing
for us to watch this family.
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They are so inspiring
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because their faith is so great.
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The Lord says or the
Bible says in Psalm 116:15,
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"Precious in the
sight of the Lord
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is the death of His saints."
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So I thought what
we would do tonight
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is let's go to Scripture
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for
understanding and encouragement
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so that we will know
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how to be a
source of encouragement
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to those who are sick
and praying for healing.
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And to those who
are the loved ones
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who've been left
behind and had lost someone.
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Let's start with prayer.
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Heavenly Father,
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we come to You in
the name of Jesus.
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And, Lord, we
know that right now
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You are with our
dear Sister Celestine
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and her two
precious young daughters,
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Sphera and Nana.
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Father, we ask
in the name of Jesus
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that You will be the
lifter of their heads.
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We ask in the name of
Jesus that You will comfort them
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as only You can.
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And, Lord, I know
that there are people
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who are listening
to my voice right now,
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who are going through
the same type of grieving,
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and suffering, and wondering.
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And, Lord, tonight, I
pray in the name of Jesus
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that You'll get
me out of the way
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that You'll speak to us
through Your scriptures.
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And that, Father,
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You will show us
in the Scripture,
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Your precious plan
for all of Your children,
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in Jesus' name, amen.
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Before we actually get
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into the part of
praying for the sick.
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What I thought we'll do is
let's turn to 1 John Chapter 5
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and we'll begin with verse 14.
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1 John Chapter 5 and
let's begin with verse 14.
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I think it is important
when we're talking about prayer
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to set the foundation
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to know how the
Bible instructs us to pray,
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and the Bible has a
lot to say on prayer.
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So let's look
at 1 John Chapter 5
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and we'll look
at verse 14 and 15.
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John writes,
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"Now this is the
confidence that we have in Him,
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that if we ask
anything according to His will,
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He hears us.
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And if we know that He
hears us, whatever we ask,
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we know that we
have the petitions
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that we have asked of Him."
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So basically
what he's saying here
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is this is the confidence,
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the communication confidence
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that when you are
praying according to God's will
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you have absolute assurance
that God is going to hear you,
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and He is going to
respond and grant your request
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if you're praying
according to God's will.
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How do we know though?
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JD was telling us a story
right before we began tonight.
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How do we know
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if we are praying
according to God's will?
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The first point
that I want to make
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is that God
commissioned the Holy Spirit
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to be our divine
instructor in prayer.
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In Romans 8:26,
let's look at that.
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Romans 8:26
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because it is important
as we come before the Lord
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that we look to the
Holy Spirit for guidance."
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Romans 8:26 says this,
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"Likewise the spirit
also helps in our weaknesses.
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For we do not know
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what we should
pray for as we ought,
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but the Spirit Himself
makes intercession for us
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with groanings
which cannot be uttered."
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You and I, when we are praying
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for ourselves or
for someone else,
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we have a tendency to
pray what we think is best,
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don't we?
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We're praying for what we want.
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What we need to
do is seek the spirit
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as we go before
the throne of grace,
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seek his guidance
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and commit your
prayer time to his leading
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with entire
dependence upon him to guide.
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And I'm going to
share a few things
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in just a few
moments that will show you
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how important that is.
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But how do we know
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if we're praying
according to God's will?
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This is His revealed will.
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I'm holding the Bible.
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This is God's revealed will.
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This tells us about
the character of God,
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it tells us about
His plan for you, for me,
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for our loved ones.
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So if we know
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that we are praying
with the spirit's guidance.
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First of all, we
must know we will...
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He will never
lead us in such a way
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or have us pray anything
that is contrary to Scripture.
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I have to tell quick story here.
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I had a college roommate,
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who was a part in the
young Republican Party.
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And she worked for a
Senator in New Mexico
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and became absolutely convinced
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that it was God's will
that she marry this man.
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There was only one problem.
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He was married.
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Now, here is a woman
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who was a godly
woman in many ways,
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but very confused
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because she had
emotions for this man.
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And her will was that
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he should divorce
his wife and marry her.
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And so she is
saying no, it's God's will.
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God will never,
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the Holy Spirit will
never lead us in any way
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that does not agree
with His written word.
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Now turn to Luke 22:42.
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So first we need to be praying
in accordance with God's will
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being led by His Spirit.
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In total dependence
upon the spirit and the word,
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but we also need to pray
in submission to God's will.
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In Luke 22:42,
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Christ is praying in
the Garden of Gethsemane.
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And what he says is this,
"Father, if it is Your will..."
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Let me put the emphasis.
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Father, if it is Your will,
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take this cup away from Me."
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What cup is He talking about?
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This cup of death
that He's about to drink.
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"Nevertheless not My will
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but Yours be done."
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Christ total focus
when He was on the earth
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was to do the Father's will.
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And now He is facing a
very real personal struggle
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before He goes to the cross.
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Here is the divine Son of
God who is also the Son of man,
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come in His humanity,
He's facing this struggle
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before He goes to the cross.
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He's thinking about the
shame of hanging there naked.
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You know we always do...
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If you see pictures
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or you see statues or anything
with Christ on the cross,
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we always see Him draped.
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But that's not the
way they crucify people.
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They did everything they
could to denigrate the soul,
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to bring total shame on them.
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So they crucified them naked.
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Here's the Lord of glory
about to face crucifixion
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where He will
be crucified naked.
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But more than a shame,
He's thinking about the agony
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of being
separated from His Father.
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And He is about to
be completely separated
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even though it was for
only a short period of time.
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But He's about to be
separated from His Father,
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and the thought of
the shame and the agony
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was overwhelming to Him.
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Now, something that I like
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is that it tells me,
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it is never wrong
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to express your
personal feelings in prayer.
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When we're praying, you
know, there are some times...
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if I'm upset with God.
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Have you ever
been upset with God?
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Nobody's ever
been upset with God?
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Okay. Now, I'm
seeing a few heads.
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If things aren't going
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like you think
they're supposed to be going
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and you're upset with God,
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you may as well
tell Him because He knows
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that, you know, you can't go
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do your sweet
little patty cake prayer.
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Now I lay me down to
sleep and hide it from the Lord
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because He knows everything
that's going on in your heart,
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doesn't He?
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So it is okay to
express your personal feelings,
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but we have to be like Jesus
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and have absolute trust
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and total
dependence upon the Father.
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And we also have to be ready
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to have an absolute yielding
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of our will to do
the Father's will.
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If this was Jesus' attitude
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that He was completely
willing to do the Father's will.
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Should ours be anything less?
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Nah, I don't think so.
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So Christ lived in a
state of absolute humility
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from His humble birth
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in the stable.
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He lived to fulfill
the Father's pleasure
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and become obedient
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even to the
humiliation of death on a cross.
00:11:01.62\00:11:06.23
And I want to say this,
God doesn't cause suffering
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even though He
sometimes allows it.
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And the reason He
allows it is because
00:11:13.97\00:11:16.40
some of the
greatest life lessons
00:11:16.44\00:11:19.04
we will ever learn are learned
in the crucible of suffering.
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Turn to Hebrews Chapter 2.
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Hebrews Chapter 2.
00:11:26.85\00:11:29.48
And as we go there,
think about that thought
00:11:29.52\00:11:32.59
that it isn't God who is causing
00:11:32.62\00:11:36.09
the pain and the suffering.
00:11:36.12\00:11:38.09
But why does He allow it?
00:11:38.13\00:11:40.56
There's a scripture in
Peter that we'll look at
00:11:40.60\00:11:42.76
in just a moment.
00:11:42.80\00:11:44.13
But right now we want
to look at Hebrews 2:8-10,
00:11:44.17\00:11:49.04
because this is
speaking of our Lord.
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And it says in verse 8,
"You have put all things
00:11:52.31\00:11:56.61
in subjection under his feet..."
00:11:56.64\00:11:58.78
Speaking of Jesus.
00:11:58.81\00:12:00.72
"For in that He put all
in subjection under him,
00:12:00.75\00:12:03.92
He left nothing that
is not put under him.
00:12:03.95\00:12:07.66
But now we do not yet
see all things put under him.
00:12:07.69\00:12:12.89
But we see Jesus,
00:12:12.93\00:12:14.90
who was made a little
lower than the angels,
00:12:14.93\00:12:17.53
for the suffering of death
crowned with glory and honor,
00:12:17.57\00:12:22.87
that He, by the grace of God,
00:12:22.90\00:12:26.34
might taste death for everyone."
00:12:26.37\00:12:29.81
Now look at verse 10
00:12:29.84\00:12:31.18
because this is
where it really is amazing.
00:12:31.21\00:12:34.68
Verse 10, "For it
was fitting for Him,
00:12:34.72\00:12:37.95
for whom are all things
and by whom are all things,
00:12:41.16\00:12:45.23
in bringing many sons to glory,
00:12:45.26\00:12:47.83
to make the
captain of their salvation
00:12:47.86\00:12:51.43
perfect through sufferings."
00:12:51.47\00:12:54.20
Wow!
00:12:54.24\00:12:55.67
This is talking about Jesus.
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It was fitting for Him
00:12:57.41\00:13:00.18
that He might be made perfect
00:13:00.21\00:13:03.98
through suffering.
00:13:04.01\00:13:07.05
Have you ever felt
00:13:07.08\00:13:09.82
that God isn't
hearing your prayers?
00:13:09.85\00:13:13.46
Anybody here ever
experienced that part?
00:13:13.49\00:13:17.16
You know, our
struggle will only be resolved
00:13:17.19\00:13:19.66
when we like Christ
00:13:19.69\00:13:22.23
are willing to
come before the Lord,
00:13:22.26\00:13:24.40
and we are willing
to humble ourselves
00:13:24.43\00:13:28.14
and to yield to God's will.
00:13:28.17\00:13:30.91
We have to pray with
reverent submission to God
00:13:30.94\00:13:35.08
willing to do what He wants.
00:13:35.11\00:13:37.35
And our prayers are often simply
00:13:37.38\00:13:39.31
only the vain babblings
00:13:39.35\00:13:40.68
of our own
imagination if you will,
00:13:40.72\00:13:42.75
our poor selfish hearts
00:13:42.78\00:13:44.72
because we're
seeking our own pleasures
00:13:44.75\00:13:48.49
rather than the will of God.
00:13:48.52\00:13:50.46
Now, let me give
you some examples here.
00:13:50.49\00:13:52.99
If we are
praying for the unsafe...
00:13:53.03\00:13:57.37
Let's say we've got
an unsaved family member,
00:13:57.40\00:14:00.37
an unsaved friend
or an unsaved relative.
00:14:00.40\00:14:04.87
Can we pray with
absolute assurance
00:14:04.91\00:14:08.58
asking God to save that person?
00:14:08.61\00:14:11.81
Do we have to say,
"Thy will be done."
00:14:11.85\00:14:15.68
You know, did you know that
the Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:4
00:14:15.72\00:14:20.42
that it is God's will
that all men be saved.
00:14:20.46\00:14:25.16
So when I'm praying
for someone's salvation,
00:14:25.19\00:14:27.70
I mean, I've got a
scripture to stand on that says,
00:14:27.73\00:14:30.90
this is God's will.
00:14:30.93\00:14:32.87
So I don't feel
like I have to say,
00:14:32.90\00:14:35.70
"Thy will be done."
00:14:35.74\00:14:37.34
What I'm praying for
is, Lord, whatever it takes.
00:14:37.37\00:14:41.28
And sometimes you
have to be careful
00:14:41.31\00:14:42.64
when you're
praying whatever it takes.
00:14:42.68\00:14:44.35
But whatever it
takes, Lord, you know,
00:14:44.38\00:14:46.92
and I pray that
Father, open their eyes,
00:14:46.95\00:14:49.35
turn them from darkness to light
00:14:49.38\00:14:51.35
from the power of Satan to you
00:14:51.39\00:14:53.05
that they might
receive salvation.
00:14:53.09\00:14:57.06
And an inheritance among those
00:14:57.09\00:14:59.39
who are sanctified by
faith in Christ Jesus.
00:14:59.43\00:15:03.60
So as we're praying for
them, I even pray sometimes,
00:15:03.63\00:15:07.10
Lord, let there be
angels on, bring angels unaware,
00:15:07.14\00:15:09.97
you know, bring
Christian workers
00:15:10.01\00:15:11.34
across their path
00:15:11.37\00:15:12.71
or angels unaware if
that's what it takes.
00:15:12.74\00:15:14.98
And I pray
fervently and earnestly
00:15:15.01\00:15:17.05
when I'm praying for someone.
00:15:17.08\00:15:19.21
If they're paying
for their salvation,
00:15:19.25\00:15:21.12
but I don't say,
00:15:21.15\00:15:22.48
"Thy will be done"
because His will is that all,
00:15:22.52\00:15:27.52
my prayer is that
Lord, let them work in You
00:15:27.56\00:15:31.83
that Your will be done.
00:15:31.86\00:15:33.76
But what about healing?
00:15:33.80\00:15:37.97
When we're
praying for healing...
00:15:38.00\00:15:40.00
You know, the Bible
says in Ephesians 1:11
00:15:40.04\00:15:42.07
that we have been given
every spiritual blessing
00:15:42.10\00:15:47.08
in heavenly realms
through Christ Jesus.
00:15:47.11\00:15:49.94
Every spiritual blessing
is yours through Christ Jesus.
00:15:49.98\00:15:54.18
But it makes no such
claim for physical healing.
00:15:54.22\00:15:59.05
Physical
blessings aren't promised.
00:15:59.09\00:16:02.99
We are promised
in John 10:10 that
00:16:03.02\00:16:04.93
"Christ came to
give us an abundant life,
00:16:04.96\00:16:08.06
and even though many
were restored to health
00:16:08.10\00:16:12.50
through the prayer of faith."
00:16:12.53\00:16:15.07
The evidence is overwhelming
00:16:15.10\00:16:17.41
that not all are
restored to health, are they?
00:16:17.44\00:16:20.84
Even in the Bible.
00:16:20.88\00:16:22.74
I want to point to,
turn to 2 Corinthians 12.
00:16:22.78\00:16:28.25
2 Corinthians 12,
00:16:28.28\00:16:30.72
and we're going to look at
00:16:30.75\00:16:36.29
beginning with verse 8.
00:16:36.32\00:16:38.69
2 Corinthians 12
beginning with verse 8.
00:16:38.73\00:16:42.93
2 Corinthians 12:8,
00:16:47.24\00:16:49.80
you guys are
gonna beat me there.
00:16:49.84\00:16:51.21
Paul is praying for himself,
00:16:54.64\00:16:57.55
and let's see
what God's answer is.
00:16:57.58\00:16:59.48
2 Corinthians 12:8,
00:16:59.51\00:17:02.38
"Concerning this thing
I pleaded with the Lord"
00:17:02.42\00:17:05.79
how many times?
00:17:05.82\00:17:07.42
"Three times that it
might depart from me.
00:17:07.46\00:17:11.39
And he said to me" what?
00:17:11.43\00:17:14.86
"My grace is sufficient for you,
00:17:14.90\00:17:17.77
for my strength is
made perfect in weakness."
00:17:17.80\00:17:22.94
Paul prayed three
times for healing.
00:17:22.97\00:17:26.61
God says, no.
00:17:26.64\00:17:29.01
I'm not healing you,
00:17:29.04\00:17:30.38
but it's for a bigger cause
00:17:30.41\00:17:33.11
because my grace
00:17:33.15\00:17:35.78
is made perfect in weakness.
00:17:35.82\00:17:40.39
My strength is made
perfect in weakness.
00:17:40.42\00:17:42.39
My grace is
sufficient and he goes on,
00:17:42.42\00:17:45.59
and here's what
Paul's response is,
00:17:45.63\00:17:48.13
"Therefore most gladly I
will boast in my infirmities,
00:17:48.16\00:17:52.50
that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
00:17:52.53\00:17:56.50
Therefore I take pleasure
in infirmities, in reproaches,
00:17:56.54\00:18:01.68
in needs, in
persecutions, in distresses,
00:18:01.71\00:18:05.41
for Christ's sake.
00:18:05.45\00:18:07.08
For when I am
weak, then I am strong."
00:18:07.12\00:18:12.05
Well, I don't
know about you, but...
00:18:12.09\00:18:14.39
I don't know that I
take pleasure in infirmities,
00:18:14.42\00:18:16.93
and reproaches, and needs,
00:18:16.96\00:18:18.36
and
persecutions, and distresses.
00:18:18.39\00:18:21.26
But when we're going
through these sufferings,
00:18:21.30\00:18:23.57
if we would think about it,
00:18:23.60\00:18:25.90
we can look to the
Lord and say, Father,
00:18:25.93\00:18:27.90
thank You that Your
grace is sufficient.
00:18:27.94\00:18:31.81
Thank You that Your power
is made perfect in my weakness.
00:18:31.84\00:18:35.91
Paul through whom God
performed miracles of healing,
00:18:35.94\00:18:40.72
even using his
handkerchief, mind you.
00:18:40.75\00:18:43.89
A handkerchief of
Paul's to heal people
00:18:43.92\00:18:47.39
did not heal Paul.
00:18:47.42\00:18:49.66
And he also...
00:18:49.69\00:18:51.73
Turn to 2 Timothy 4: 20,
00:18:51.76\00:18:53.96
I want to show you something.
00:18:54.00\00:18:56.06
2 Timothy 4:20.
00:18:56.10\00:19:00.70
Paul also
00:19:03.64\00:19:06.74
had to leave his
companion Trophimus
00:19:06.78\00:19:09.94
behind sick.
00:19:09.98\00:19:12.81
Look at this.
00:19:12.85\00:19:14.38
2 Timothy 4:20.
00:19:14.42\00:19:17.82
Here is the
miracle working Paul.
00:19:17.85\00:19:20.16
God used him to
perform so many miracles.
00:19:20.19\00:19:23.32
But here's what he
says in 2 Timothy 4: 20, "
00:19:23.36\00:19:26.90
Erastus stayed in Corinth,
00:19:26.93\00:19:30.47
but Trophimus
00:19:30.50\00:19:32.00
I have left in Miletus," why?
00:19:32.03\00:19:36.71
"He was sick.
00:19:36.74\00:19:38.37
Paul's traveling
companion was sick.
00:19:38.41\00:19:41.41
Paul, the mighty warrior of God,
00:19:41.44\00:19:44.75
the man through whom
God had, had healed so many
00:19:44.78\00:19:48.85
couldn't heal his
traveling companion.
00:19:48.88\00:19:54.66
So when it comes to healing,
00:19:54.69\00:19:58.23
Christ did not
authorize us to demand healing.
00:19:58.26\00:20:02.73
We must be
submissive to the will of God,
00:20:02.76\00:20:05.17
asking the Holy
Spirit to guide us in prayer,
00:20:05.20\00:20:08.27
and God will
reveal His mysteries to us
00:20:08.30\00:20:11.47
by His Spirit.
00:20:11.51\00:20:12.84
You know, I've
just got to give you
00:20:12.87\00:20:16.28
something from Christ
Object Lessons, page 129.
00:20:16.31\00:20:19.58
You want to listen to this.
00:20:19.61\00:20:20.95
Christ Object Lessons, 129.
00:20:20.98\00:20:24.22
She writes,
00:20:24.25\00:20:25.59
"Our prayers will take the
form of a conversation with God
00:20:25.62\00:20:29.09
as we would talk with a friend.
00:20:29.12\00:20:30.83
He will speak His
mysteries to us personally."
00:20:30.86\00:20:36.46
When you're praying
and asking for the guidance
00:20:36.50\00:20:38.80
of the Holy Spirit,
00:20:38.83\00:20:40.24
you can count on God
leading us by His Spirit,
00:20:40.27\00:20:44.97
never conflicting with the Word.
00:20:45.01\00:20:46.84
The Spirit will
never say anything
00:20:46.88\00:20:48.31
that conflicts with God's Word
00:20:48.34\00:20:50.25
because this Word was
inspired by the Spirit, right?
00:20:50.28\00:20:54.02
Holy men wrote
00:20:54.05\00:20:55.38
as the Holy
Spirit inspired them,
00:20:55.42\00:20:57.72
but you can count
on God to speak to you.
00:20:57.75\00:21:01.72
But now this brings us...
00:21:01.76\00:21:03.22
Turn please to John Chapter 5.
00:21:03.26\00:21:07.66
Excuse me, James Chapter 5.
00:21:07.70\00:21:10.10
Let's look at James Chapter 5.
00:21:10.13\00:21:13.54
Now, we're going to get
into the meat of the matter
00:21:13.57\00:21:18.51
for tonight.
00:21:18.54\00:21:20.31
James Chapter 5.
00:21:20.34\00:21:22.24
If God did not promise us
00:21:22.28\00:21:27.32
physical blessings,
00:21:27.35\00:21:29.98
physical healing I should say,
00:21:30.02\00:21:31.72
he does bless us
physically and spiritually.
00:21:31.75\00:21:35.16
How are we going to
explain this scripture?
00:21:35.19\00:21:39.56
James 5:14.
00:21:39.59\00:21:43.47
James 5:14,
00:21:43.50\00:21:46.74
"Is anyone among you sick?
00:21:46.77\00:21:50.37
Let him call for the
elders of the church,
00:21:50.41\00:21:52.11
and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil
00:21:52.14\00:21:56.95
in the name of the Lord."
00:21:56.98\00:21:59.78
I believe in
anointing with all of my heart.
00:21:59.81\00:22:03.42
And I'm going to tell
you a few stories about that.
00:22:03.45\00:22:07.66
But what we need to think about
00:22:07.69\00:22:10.53
when severe and
sudden illness hits us,
00:22:10.56\00:22:14.06
whether it's an
injury, or an illness,
00:22:14.10\00:22:16.97
or if we've had
a prolonged period
00:22:17.00\00:22:20.84
like Michael, a
prolonged period of illness.
00:22:20.87\00:22:25.91
We become physically distressed.
00:22:25.94\00:22:29.28
And if you're
physically distressed,
00:22:29.31\00:22:30.75
very long, you can be
emotionally depressed.
00:22:30.78\00:22:34.95
And then if you
get into that state,
00:22:34.98\00:22:37.52
you can become
spiritually oppressed.
00:22:37.55\00:22:41.32
So we need to always be
praying for people who are ill,
00:22:41.36\00:22:46.80
especially if
you've got someone you know
00:22:46.83\00:22:48.73
who is a shut in.
00:22:48.76\00:22:50.10
Pray for them that God
will keep their spirits up
00:22:50.13\00:22:53.17
that they won't get
depressed and they won't
00:22:53.20\00:22:55.90
because it's easy,
00:22:55.94\00:22:58.01
and I've been there
myself when I've been sick
00:22:58.04\00:23:01.81
for a long period of time.
00:23:01.84\00:23:04.05
Praising God at
first, thanking Him that,
00:23:04.08\00:23:06.68
you know, this was
time He's sitting me down
00:23:06.72\00:23:08.78
that maybe I was gonna...
00:23:08.82\00:23:10.22
He's gonna speak to
me more or something.
00:23:10.25\00:23:12.55
But after a while
you start feeling like,
00:23:12.59\00:23:14.82
"I'm no use, I'm this and that."
00:23:14.86\00:23:17.09
You start feeling down,
00:23:17.13\00:23:18.69
and it can even get to the point
00:23:18.73\00:23:20.23
if it goes on long enough
00:23:20.26\00:23:21.60
where somebody
doesn't even feel like
00:23:21.63\00:23:22.96
picking up their Bible.
00:23:23.00\00:23:24.73
So we all need the encouragement
00:23:24.77\00:23:29.24
that the power of
prayer will bring,
00:23:29.27\00:23:31.74
but we need to pray
to understand God's plan
00:23:31.77\00:23:34.11
and seek to
cooperate with His will.
00:23:34.14\00:23:37.61
Now, I want to
point out here as well.
00:23:37.65\00:23:39.91
When it says
anointing him with oil,
00:23:39.95\00:23:42.75
is there any
00:23:42.78\00:23:44.12
sacramental efficacy in the oil?
00:23:44.15\00:23:49.59
Is the oil
something that's magic
00:23:49.62\00:23:51.96
that you put on someone's head?
00:23:51.99\00:23:53.33
No. What is the oil a symbol of?
00:23:53.36\00:23:56.20
The oil is
symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
00:23:56.23\00:23:59.73
You know, this whole
idea of holy oil began...
00:23:59.77\00:24:05.31
Well, it began
and it was kind of
00:24:05.34\00:24:07.64
to overcome the
idea of a magic potion,
00:24:07.68\00:24:11.08
you know, that the
pagans had these magic potions
00:24:11.11\00:24:13.52
so suddenly it was a holy well,
00:24:13.55\00:24:15.28
like there's
some magic in the oil,
00:24:15.32\00:24:16.65
but that's not what it is.
00:24:16.69\00:24:18.22
Now let's look at verse 15.
00:24:18.25\00:24:21.69
James 5:15,
00:24:21.72\00:24:24.19
"And the prayer of
faith will save the sick,
00:24:24.23\00:24:26.39
and the Lord will raise him up."
00:24:26.43\00:24:28.70
What?
00:24:28.73\00:24:30.07
I just got through saying,
00:24:30.10\00:24:31.63
we can't demand,
physical healing,
00:24:31.67\00:24:34.60
but the prayer of
faith will save the sick,
00:24:34.64\00:24:36.50
and the Lord will raise him up.
00:24:36.54\00:24:38.01
And if he has committed
sin, he will be forgiven.
00:24:38.04\00:24:40.91
Confess your
trespasses to one another,
00:24:40.94\00:24:42.91
pray for one another
that you may be healed.
00:24:42.94\00:24:45.61
The effective fervent
prayer of a righteous man
00:24:45.65\00:24:49.12
avails much.
00:24:49.15\00:24:51.89
I have been the recipient
00:24:51.92\00:24:56.39
of an instantaneous
and miraculous healing.
00:24:56.42\00:24:59.93
My husband has
been the recipient
00:24:59.96\00:25:03.47
of an instantaneous
and miraculous healing.
00:25:03.50\00:25:08.24
There is no doubt
that God intervened.
00:25:08.27\00:25:12.27
And we see this around the world
00:25:12.31\00:25:14.61
that the prayer line gets,
00:25:14.64\00:25:16.85
3ABN prayer
line gets many calls.
00:25:16.88\00:25:19.11
I believe that God is
still in the healing business.
00:25:19.15\00:25:22.75
But as I said,
00:25:22.78\00:25:25.05
"When we think of the
miracle of restored faith,
00:25:25.09\00:25:28.86
it's like the miracle
of forgiveness of sins."
00:25:28.89\00:25:32.03
It's in the name of...
00:25:32.06\00:25:33.76
The power of the name
of Jesus Christ, right?
00:25:33.80\00:25:36.26
But we cannot demand it.
00:25:36.30\00:25:39.40
Anointing must be done
according to God's will.
00:25:39.43\00:25:42.54
I believe that
what it is saying here,
00:25:42.57\00:25:45.24
the prayer of
faith will save the sick,
00:25:45.27\00:25:47.14
the Lord will raise him up
00:25:47.18\00:25:49.24
if He sees that
it is best for him.
00:25:49.28\00:25:53.15
Let me give you an
example of what I'm saying.
00:25:53.18\00:25:56.18
The first time that JD
was healed miraculously.
00:25:56.22\00:26:00.96
This goes way back.
00:26:00.99\00:26:02.96
We'd only been
married a couple of years
00:26:02.99\00:26:05.53
when suddenly
00:26:05.56\00:26:06.90
my precious husband
has some kind of condition.
00:26:06.93\00:26:09.63
He has strep B that
is resident in his body,
00:26:09.66\00:26:12.37
it hides, and it has popped up
a number of times, five times,
00:26:12.40\00:26:16.60
and he's nearly died each
time because he gets septicemia,
00:26:16.64\00:26:20.28
and they can't figure
out where the source is.
00:26:20.31\00:26:23.35
He's had surgeries,
he's had all kinds of things.
00:26:23.38\00:26:25.65
But two years after we
married, he is in the hospital.
00:26:25.68\00:26:29.82
He's at the point of death.
00:26:29.85\00:26:31.79
And finally, I mean
it is getting so bad,
00:26:31.82\00:26:34.26
his hematocrit was so
low that they tell me,
00:26:34.29\00:26:39.29
we don't know what to do,
00:26:39.33\00:26:41.20
you know, we're not,
it could be leukemia,
00:26:41.23\00:26:44.77
acute leukemia.
00:26:44.80\00:26:46.13
But it's not got
00:26:46.17\00:26:47.50
all the markers
of acute leukemia.
00:26:47.54\00:26:48.87
They were
scratching their heads.
00:26:48.90\00:26:51.87
He was getting to
that point of talking.
00:26:51.91\00:26:54.44
This is a young man.
00:26:54.48\00:26:55.84
And he's talking
about, I need to get my will,
00:26:55.88\00:26:58.01
I need to do
this, I need to do that.
00:26:58.05\00:27:00.02
And I'm thinking,
00:27:00.05\00:27:01.38
uh, I can see that his emotions,
00:27:01.42\00:27:04.12
you know, his attitude
was depressed and coming down.
00:27:04.15\00:27:08.72
So I talked with
the doctor, and I said,
00:27:08.76\00:27:11.63
you know, he'd
already been in the hospital
00:27:11.66\00:27:12.99
couple of weeks.
00:27:13.03\00:27:14.36
I said, "Can you send him
out? Can we do home health care?
00:27:14.40\00:27:16.60
You know, let's do the
IV antibiotics at home."
00:27:16.63\00:27:19.73
So they send him home.
00:27:19.77\00:27:21.60
And the nurse would come out
twice a week to take his blood.
00:27:21.64\00:27:25.64
He'd been home just two weeks.
00:27:25.67\00:27:28.28
There's no change
in his hematocrit.
00:27:28.31\00:27:30.45
I mean, he is...
00:27:30.48\00:27:32.31
You know, they're telling
me he could go at any time.
00:27:32.35\00:27:35.05
Well, she came
out on a Wednesday.
00:27:35.08\00:27:37.39
She took his blood and left.
00:27:37.42\00:27:40.49
And that evening,
00:27:40.52\00:27:42.66
I've missed
Wednesday night prayer meeting.
00:27:42.69\00:27:45.33
But as Wednesday night,
00:27:45.36\00:27:46.90
right before Wednesday
night prayer meeting happened,
00:27:46.93\00:27:49.73
I was praying so
earnestly to the Lord.
00:27:49.76\00:27:52.20
And I said,
"Father, Lord, heal him."
00:27:52.23\00:27:54.57
And all of a sudden it
was like call the elders
00:27:54.60\00:27:58.21
have them come tonight,
00:27:58.24\00:28:00.04
and anoint him and pray for him.
00:28:00.08\00:28:03.01
Okay.
00:28:03.04\00:28:04.38
I called the church and
get a hold of the elders.
00:28:04.41\00:28:06.01
And they said, "Yeah,
we'll come do an anointing."
00:28:06.05\00:28:08.18
Now, we weren't
Adventist at the time.
00:28:08.22\00:28:09.65
But, anyway, they said,
"We'll come do an anointing."
00:28:09.68\00:28:12.45
And then they said, "How
about tomorrow afternoon."
00:28:12.49\00:28:14.16
I said, "No, the Lord
said it had to be tonight."
00:28:14.19\00:28:17.13
And you know
something, they came that night.
00:28:17.16\00:28:19.46
It was like when they
got there after church,
00:28:19.49\00:28:22.00
and we anointed him.
00:28:22.03\00:28:24.07
And I knew that I
knew, that I knew,
00:28:24.10\00:28:28.07
God had healed him.
00:28:28.10\00:28:29.67
I mean, it was
just that clear to me,
00:28:29.70\00:28:33.51
God had healed him.
00:28:33.54\00:28:34.88
When they
finished with the prayer,
00:28:34.91\00:28:37.11
they're all standing around
talking about the weather,
00:28:37.15\00:28:39.28
and I'm thinking,
"What's wrong with you people?
00:28:39.31\00:28:41.68
Don't you know
what God just did?
00:28:41.72\00:28:44.02
We need to be
praising the Lord."
00:28:44.05\00:28:46.29
I didn't say it, but
that's my thought was.
00:28:46.32\00:28:48.69
So I called the
doctor the next day.
00:28:48.72\00:28:52.29
And I say, "Can you
send out the nurse today
00:28:52.33\00:28:55.50
to take a
sample, a blood sample."
00:28:55.53\00:28:58.73
And they said, "No."
00:28:58.77\00:29:00.74
He said no
00:29:00.77\00:29:02.10
because your
insurance won't cover it
00:29:02.14\00:29:03.51
because she was
just there yesterday.
00:29:03.54\00:29:04.87
I said, "That's
okay, send them out.
00:29:04.91\00:29:06.84
We'll pay for it."
00:29:06.88\00:29:08.21
So finally the doctor calls me,
00:29:08.24\00:29:10.51
and he was hard to get hold off,
00:29:10.55\00:29:11.88
but he calls me.
00:29:11.91\00:29:13.25
He says, "I'm not
sending the nurse out."
00:29:13.28\00:29:14.62
I said, "Yeah, you've got to
00:29:14.65\00:29:15.98
or else someone
have to go and do x-ray."
00:29:16.02\00:29:17.49
I said, "I'm going to
get his blood taken today."
00:29:17.52\00:29:19.75
So finally, he humored
me, he sent the nurse out.
00:29:19.79\00:29:23.36
She took his blood.
00:29:23.39\00:29:25.79
The results,
00:29:25.83\00:29:27.16
the day before his
hematocrit was so low,
00:29:27.20\00:29:29.86
he was at death's door.
00:29:29.90\00:29:32.53
Now, she takes his blood,
00:29:32.57\00:29:34.07
and that evening the
doctor calls me back,
00:29:34.10\00:29:36.57
and he says, "Mrs. Quinn,
00:29:36.60\00:29:39.07
I may have to send the
nurse out again tomorrow
00:29:39.11\00:29:41.24
to retake this blood work."
00:29:41.28\00:29:44.48
And I said, "Yes, and
you've got the results."
00:29:44.51\00:29:47.25
He said, "Well, I'm
going to have to send her out
00:29:47.28\00:29:49.25
to take the
blood again tomorrow."
00:29:49.28\00:29:50.62
I said, "You've got the results.
00:29:50.65\00:29:51.99
What are they?"
00:29:52.02\00:29:53.36
He said, "Ma'am,
you're not listening to me,
00:29:53.39\00:29:54.72
I'm sending her out tomorrow."
00:29:54.76\00:29:56.09
So we're going back
and forth like this.
00:29:56.12\00:29:58.09
And finally, he says to me,
00:29:58.13\00:30:00.33
"Yes, we got the results,
but they got to be wrong.
00:30:00.36\00:30:03.57
This is absolutely
medically impossible.
00:30:03.60\00:30:06.53
It is scientifically impossible
00:30:06.57\00:30:08.44
because his
hematocrit is totally perfect."
00:30:08.47\00:30:11.67
I mean, they were
doing bone marrow tests,
00:30:11.71\00:30:13.38
bone, and you know,
this is a kind of miracle
00:30:13.41\00:30:15.84
that a bone marrow transplant
00:30:15.88\00:30:18.01
you would only
hope could perform.
00:30:18.05\00:30:20.42
And so he sends the
nurse out again the next day.
00:30:20.45\00:30:23.99
His hematocrit was perfect.
00:30:24.02\00:30:26.76
They took him off
the IV antibodies,
00:30:26.79\00:30:29.02
and he was healed.
00:30:29.06\00:30:31.13
Now, just 20
years later I guess,
00:30:31.16\00:30:35.40
I was in Birmingham.
00:30:35.43\00:30:36.77
We were at Birmingham.
00:30:36.80\00:30:39.23
And I was doing a series
on faith, on faith, mind you.
00:30:39.27\00:30:43.91
A whole series at a church.
00:30:43.94\00:30:46.21
And doing five
different sermons on faith.
00:30:46.24\00:30:50.01
JD get sick Friday night.
00:30:50.05\00:30:53.28
He comes Sabbath
morning to church with me.
00:30:53.31\00:30:55.72
But he says,
00:30:55.75\00:30:57.09
"If I have to leave in
the middle of the service,
00:30:57.12\00:31:00.12
don't be surprised
because I'm not feeling well."
00:31:00.16\00:31:03.56
And I said, "Okay."
00:31:03.59\00:31:05.59
He said, "Can
you get a ride home?"
00:31:05.63\00:31:06.96
I said, "I'm sure
somebody will take me
00:31:07.00\00:31:08.33
back to the hotel."
00:31:08.36\00:31:09.70
I saw him leave in
the middle of the service.
00:31:09.73\00:31:12.37
At lunch, the potluck,
there was a lady there,
00:31:12.40\00:31:15.27
actually it was
Jennifer LaMountain sister.
00:31:15.30\00:31:17.71
And she said, "I'm
a home health nurse.
00:31:17.74\00:31:20.01
I'm actually on duty today.
00:31:20.04\00:31:21.38
But I came to hear
you speak this morning.
00:31:21.41\00:31:23.21
I got off for this morning."
00:31:23.24\00:31:24.98
And I told her about JD.
00:31:25.01\00:31:27.48
She said, "Why
don't I run by the hotel?
00:31:27.52\00:31:29.78
I'll check on him."
00:31:29.82\00:31:31.15
And she said,
00:31:31.19\00:31:32.52
"If there's
anything up, I'll call you."
00:31:32.55\00:31:34.32
We go through
lunch, finished launch.
00:31:34.36\00:31:36.69
I'm doing my next series,
00:31:36.73\00:31:38.83
the next part lesson.
00:31:38.86\00:31:43.50
They wait till after
that to hand me this note
00:31:43.53\00:31:47.00
from her saying,
00:31:47.04\00:31:48.37
"He needs to go to
the hospital immediately."
00:31:48.40\00:31:51.11
We go to the hospital.
00:31:51.14\00:31:53.51
He is at death's door.
00:31:53.54\00:31:56.28
Now, everyone is calling me,
00:31:56.31\00:31:58.58
and I'm trying to
compress the story.
00:31:58.61\00:32:02.58
For eight days the
doctor, infectious disease,
00:32:02.62\00:32:05.42
doctor is coming in, saying,
00:32:05.45\00:32:08.52
"He could die
any day, any moment.
00:32:08.56\00:32:09.89
Do you realize
how serious this is?"
00:32:09.92\00:32:11.26
And it's like, "Yes, I do.
00:32:11.29\00:32:12.73
We do realize."
00:32:12.76\00:32:14.10
I heard JD on the
phone with his brother say,
00:32:14.13\00:32:17.50
"If it's my
time, I'm ready to go.
00:32:17.53\00:32:19.37
I've never been
closer to the Lord."
00:32:19.40\00:32:21.97
And I'm
thinking, "I'm not ready.
00:32:22.00\00:32:25.61
I'm not ready."
00:32:25.64\00:32:28.54
And I'm like this little robot
00:32:28.58\00:32:30.65
trying to be really quiet
in the room but do everything.
00:32:30.68\00:32:33.48
And I'm holding everything
together for his sake,
00:32:33.52\00:32:37.05
because I thought
if I ever let go...
00:32:37.09\00:32:39.85
Once the dam breaks,
that's going to be it.
00:32:39.89\00:32:41.96
So I'm not praying long pressing
00:32:41.99\00:32:44.49
in kind of prayers to God.
00:32:44.53\00:32:46.80
What I'm praying are
these little gas be prayers,
00:32:46.83\00:32:50.17
"Help, help, Lord."
00:32:50.20\00:32:51.97
All day long, just
little gas be prayers.
00:32:52.00\00:32:55.77
The eighth night,
00:32:55.80\00:32:57.14
I went back to the
hotel about midnight.
00:32:57.17\00:33:00.08
And finally,
00:33:00.11\00:33:02.78
I pressed into the
presence of the Lord.
00:33:02.81\00:33:06.01
And sure enough just
as I knew would happen,
00:33:06.05\00:33:08.15
when I did, the dam broke.
00:33:08.18\00:33:10.59
I mean, the tears were
flowing, and I'm begging God,
00:33:10.62\00:33:15.39
begging God to save my husband.
00:33:15.42\00:33:18.59
Now people have been calling me,
00:33:18.63\00:33:20.13
and texting me, and
emailing me, saying,
00:33:20.16\00:33:22.76
"Oh, God's not
through with JD yet.
00:33:22.80\00:33:26.07
You know, he's doing
too great of a work."
00:33:26.10\00:33:28.34
I've been praying
with a young pastor's wife,
00:33:28.37\00:33:31.97
whose husband was
doing an incredible work,
00:33:32.01\00:33:35.08
writing books,
00:33:35.11\00:33:36.44
taken a church from 50
to 250 in like three years.
00:33:36.48\00:33:40.78
He was doing an
incredible work for God.
00:33:40.82\00:33:43.99
And we're praying for
his healing and he died.
00:33:44.02\00:33:46.59
So when people are telling me,
00:33:46.62\00:33:48.49
oh, you know, I didn't
know what God's will was
00:33:48.52\00:33:53.76
at this time.
00:33:53.80\00:33:55.16
And as I am praying, and crying,
00:33:55.20\00:33:57.87
and weeping before the
Lord, pleading with God,
00:33:57.90\00:34:01.87
I suddenly hear myself say this,
00:34:01.90\00:34:05.47
"Father, You are God.
00:34:05.51\00:34:08.31
You know the end from
the beginning, I don't.
00:34:08.34\00:34:11.91
If you know that
You could raise him up,
00:34:11.95\00:34:15.32
and he might turn away from You,
00:34:15.35\00:34:18.79
then Lord, I know you've
got his eternal benefit in mind.
00:34:18.82\00:34:24.59
And suddenly
00:34:24.63\00:34:26.09
when I decided
to let God be God,
00:34:26.13\00:34:28.60
to trust God's will, suddenly
00:34:28.63\00:34:32.70
I had perfect peace.
00:34:32.73\00:34:35.44
My eyes were
focused on the Lord.
00:34:35.47\00:34:37.54
And as Isaiah 26:3 says,
God says, "I'm righteous.
00:34:37.57\00:34:42.71
If you will keep your eyes
focused on Me, trusting in me,
00:34:42.74\00:34:47.82
I promise you perfect peace."
00:34:47.85\00:34:50.42
That's Isaiah 26:3.
00:34:50.45\00:34:53.42
So we have to
remember that God says,
00:34:53.46\00:34:57.36
"I'm God, there's
no other one like me.
00:34:57.39\00:34:59.49
I'm the one
00:34:59.53\00:35:00.86
who declares the
end from the beginning."
00:35:00.90\00:35:02.60
And God is the
one who will lead us
00:35:02.63\00:35:07.07
to help us understand
00:35:07.10\00:35:09.60
when someone might be
healed and when they might not.
00:35:09.64\00:35:12.81
Now I want to share
one more quick story
00:35:12.84\00:35:14.28
before we get
back into scripture.
00:35:14.31\00:35:16.78
I was in New Zealand doing a...
00:35:16.81\00:35:20.62
We were doing some women's,
00:35:20.65\00:35:22.98
it's was women's ministries
where this happened at.
00:35:23.02\00:35:26.82
And in Christchurch
a woman came up to me
00:35:26.86\00:35:30.03
at the beginning of the weekend.
00:35:30.06\00:35:31.39
And you know
what she said to me?
00:35:31.43\00:35:33.13
She came up and she said,
00:35:33.16\00:35:34.56
"I know you're always
touting the power of the Word.
00:35:34.60\00:35:40.40
You're always talking about
how powerful God's Word was.
00:35:40.44\00:35:43.44
She said, "My son,
00:35:43.47\00:35:46.27
my 11 year old son
just died of leukemia."
00:35:46.31\00:35:50.85
And she said, "Did we
not have enough faith?
00:35:50.88\00:35:55.42
We prayed the
Word of God over here.
00:35:55.45\00:35:58.32
We prayed so hard for him.
00:35:58.35\00:36:00.76
And we thought that we
believe that God would heal him
00:36:00.79\00:36:05.99
if we would just
have enough faith."
00:36:06.03\00:36:09.10
And I was just
getting ready to speak,
00:36:09.13\00:36:10.67
so my answer to her was this.
00:36:10.70\00:36:13.47
It was the
beginning of the week.
00:36:13.50\00:36:14.84
And I said, "I'm going to
give the eight presentations
00:36:14.87\00:36:18.27
during this weekend.
00:36:18.31\00:36:19.64
And I said,
00:36:19.67\00:36:21.01
"If you don't have the
answer to your question,
00:36:21.04\00:36:23.11
come, sit and talk with
me at the end of this time."
00:36:23.14\00:36:27.78
Because I knew God
00:36:27.82\00:36:29.15
was going to give her
the answer in everything.
00:36:29.18\00:36:31.35
But it's hard
00:36:31.39\00:36:32.72
when someone's
emotionally overwrought,
00:36:32.75\00:36:35.42
it's hard to just give
them a couple of scriptures
00:36:35.46\00:36:37.93
and say, this is what happened.
00:36:37.96\00:36:39.46
And she did come up at the end.
00:36:39.49\00:36:41.46
And she said,
"I understand now."
00:36:41.50\00:36:43.97
You see what she
and her husband had
00:36:44.00\00:36:47.24
was faith in faith.
00:36:47.27\00:36:50.27
Do you know what I'm saying?
00:36:50.31\00:36:51.67
Sometimes, and there are,
00:36:51.71\00:36:53.34
I mean, I was once
caught up in this myself
00:36:53.38\00:36:56.75
when I first heard,
"the faith message."
00:36:56.78\00:37:00.78
What I was taught
00:37:00.82\00:37:02.68
was if you only
had enough faith,
00:37:02.72\00:37:05.35
God had do whatever it
was you were asking of Him.
00:37:05.39\00:37:09.02
That's what some people
are being taught out there
00:37:09.06\00:37:11.56
really.
00:37:11.59\00:37:12.93
So my faith was
in faith, not in God.
00:37:12.96\00:37:16.33
But if we will
remember that when we pray,
00:37:16.36\00:37:21.24
we've got to come to God
00:37:21.27\00:37:22.67
with absolute
trust in His divine love,
00:37:22.70\00:37:27.01
His perfect power,
His wisdom and His will
00:37:27.04\00:37:31.48
because "precious in
the sight of the Lord
00:37:31.51\00:37:36.42
is the death of His saints."
00:37:36.45\00:37:37.89
He is not going
to let someone die
00:37:37.92\00:37:41.56
unless He knows it is
for their greater benefit.
00:37:41.59\00:37:44.93
Does that make sense?
00:37:44.96\00:37:46.90
So what do we do?
00:37:46.93\00:37:48.46
Now, we're looking at
00:37:48.50\00:37:51.00
what's going on
here in our own family.
00:37:51.03\00:37:54.97
You know, a lot of
people are not here tonight
00:37:55.00\00:37:57.11
because they're with
Celestine in St. Louis.
00:37:57.14\00:38:00.68
And this is a tragic case,
00:38:00.71\00:38:02.24
when a father dies
leaving a young wife,
00:38:02.28\00:38:06.15
two young daughters, it
touches all of our hearts,
00:38:06.18\00:38:10.59
and Michael was such
a breath of sunshine,
00:38:10.62\00:38:13.92
wasn't he?
00:38:13.96\00:38:15.29
Any no matter how sick he
was, he was always smiling.
00:38:15.32\00:38:17.69
He always was saying...
00:38:17.73\00:38:19.83
He was always up.
00:38:19.86\00:38:21.76
His attitude was one
of total faith in God.
00:38:21.80\00:38:25.60
What do you do
00:38:25.63\00:38:27.37
when someone has
lost a loved one?
00:38:27.40\00:38:30.94
Let's look at some
simple steps that we could do.
00:38:30.97\00:38:34.68
First pray,
pray for that person.
00:38:34.71\00:38:38.61
They need your prayers
more than at any other time
00:38:38.65\00:38:42.98
when you're going
through the grieving process.
00:38:43.02\00:38:46.32
You can share
scriptures of encouragement.
00:38:46.35\00:38:50.46
One of my favorite
to share is Psalm 3:3
00:38:50.49\00:38:55.40
that says,
00:38:55.43\00:38:56.93
"You, oh, Lord
are shield for me,
00:38:56.97\00:39:00.64
my glory and the one
who lifts up my head."
00:39:00.67\00:39:06.11
I was praying with a
lady who lost her sister.
00:39:06.14\00:39:09.84
And as we were praying,
00:39:09.88\00:39:11.28
I prayed that
scripture over her.
00:39:11.31\00:39:13.82
And I said, "Father,
00:39:13.85\00:39:15.75
You are the lifter of our heads.
00:39:15.78\00:39:17.99
And I pray right now
00:39:18.02\00:39:19.35
that You would cup
Your hand under her chin
00:39:19.39\00:39:22.76
and just lift her eyesight,
00:39:22.79\00:39:26.59
lift her vision, lift her face,
00:39:26.63\00:39:28.93
so that she's
looking directly unto You."
00:39:28.96\00:39:33.00
And as I'm praying for,
00:39:33.03\00:39:34.44
all of the
sudden she's giggling.
00:39:34.47\00:39:37.31
And I said, "What's going on?"
00:39:37.34\00:39:39.51
And she said, "Just
before you said that"
00:39:39.54\00:39:42.94
she said, "I felt
this stranger's pressure
00:39:42.98\00:39:45.61
under my chin, "
00:39:45.65\00:39:46.98
and she said, "I was already
beginning to tip my head up
00:39:47.02\00:39:49.22
and then you're praying this."
00:39:49.25\00:39:51.99
So she really believed God
was the lifter of her head.
00:39:52.02\00:39:56.42
Another good one
to share, Psalm 34:18.
00:39:56.46\00:40:01.23
Psalm 34:18,
00:40:01.26\00:40:03.97
"The Lord is near
00:40:04.00\00:40:06.33
to those who
have a broken heart.
00:40:06.37\00:40:08.77
He saves such as
have a contrite spirit."
00:40:08.80\00:40:12.81
Sometimes people
feel so very much alone
00:40:12.84\00:40:18.11
when they're grieving.
00:40:18.15\00:40:20.22
I lost my sister last July.
00:40:20.25\00:40:23.12
And, well, a year ago, July.
00:40:23.15\00:40:25.29
And it's an interesting thing.
00:40:25.32\00:40:29.39
Even though I mean, I
was at peace with her death.
00:40:29.42\00:40:32.66
When we got the autopsy report,
00:40:32.69\00:40:35.23
she simply went to bed
for a nap and never got up.
00:40:35.26\00:40:40.84
And I could actually say,
00:40:40.87\00:40:42.54
"I praise God for letting her go
00:40:42.57\00:40:45.24
in such a gentle way."
00:40:45.27\00:40:47.04
Because the
autopsy report showed that
00:40:47.08\00:40:49.38
she could have had a
major stroke at anytime.
00:40:49.41\00:40:51.75
She had liver problems.
00:40:51.78\00:40:53.42
There were a lot of a
number of things going on
00:40:53.45\00:40:55.82
that were conflicting.
00:40:55.85\00:40:57.19
She couldn't have
had treatment for one
00:40:57.22\00:40:58.95
without ruining her, the other.
00:40:58.99\00:41:01.69
So, but when I was
going through this grieving,
00:41:01.72\00:41:05.29
she was my last living relative,
00:41:05.33\00:41:07.10
and she was like my baby.
00:41:07.13\00:41:08.93
I was always more her
mother than her sister.
00:41:08.96\00:41:12.13
And it was such
an interesting thing
00:41:12.17\00:41:14.00
because
sometimes we get so busy.
00:41:14.04\00:41:16.34
I don't know if y'all do this,
00:41:16.37\00:41:18.24
but for me, I
compartmentalize things.
00:41:18.27\00:41:21.11
I'll put things over
here in a little box.
00:41:21.14\00:41:23.51
And it's kind of like
Scarlett O'Hara when she said,
00:41:23.55\00:41:26.38
"I'll worry about that tomorrow.
00:41:26.41\00:41:28.08
I'll get busy."
00:41:28.12\00:41:29.52
And I just, you know,
00:41:29.55\00:41:30.89
and then it takes
that moment of silence
00:41:30.92\00:41:33.12
where, whoops, the lid
on that box comes open,
00:41:33.15\00:41:36.56
and it's kind of
like the Jack in the box
00:41:36.59\00:41:38.29
where it rears its head.
00:41:38.33\00:41:40.06
And then this
grieving is coming back.
00:41:40.10\00:41:42.36
But, you've got to remember,
00:41:42.40\00:41:45.03
even if you don't feel
like God is close to you.
00:41:45.07\00:41:47.50
The Lord is close to
those who have a broken heart.
00:41:47.54\00:41:51.44
Psalm 147:3, we'll
just make a list here
00:41:51.47\00:41:55.51
because we need to go on.
00:41:55.54\00:41:56.88
Psalm 147:3,
00:41:56.91\00:41:59.51
"He heals the brokenhearted,
00:41:59.55\00:42:01.92
He binds up their wounds."
00:42:01.95\00:42:04.65
He's curing their
pains and their sorrows.
00:42:04.69\00:42:08.22
And then here's
one of my favorites.
00:42:08.26\00:42:10.56
Deuteronomy 33:27.
00:42:10.59\00:42:15.03
Deuteronomy 33:27,
00:42:15.06\00:42:18.63
"The eternal God is your refuge,
00:42:18.67\00:42:22.34
and underneath are
the everlasting arms."
00:42:22.37\00:42:26.24
We've all seen.
00:42:26.27\00:42:27.64
I won't say we've all seen,
00:42:27.68\00:42:29.01
but most of us have
seen footprints in the sand,
00:42:29.04\00:42:31.98
the poem.
00:42:32.01\00:42:33.35
And it goes on talking about,
00:42:33.38\00:42:35.88
I thought you'd never
leave me or forsake me,
00:42:35.92\00:42:37.89
but I can see these
footprints in the sand.
00:42:37.92\00:42:40.52
And here we are,
00:42:40.56\00:42:41.89
there's two pairs of footprints.
00:42:41.92\00:42:43.26
And all of a sudden,
00:42:43.29\00:42:44.63
there's just one
pair of footprints.
00:42:44.66\00:42:47.33
What's up, Lord?
00:42:47.36\00:42:50.57
And the Lord
answers, He responds.
00:42:50.60\00:42:52.97
And He says,
00:42:53.00\00:42:54.34
"The time that you only
saw the one pair of footprints
00:42:54.37\00:42:58.44
is the times when
I was carrying you."
00:42:58.47\00:43:01.48
So we've got to
remember that God is with us.
00:43:01.51\00:43:04.88
Another thing that you can do
00:43:04.91\00:43:06.95
is share your personal testimony
00:43:06.98\00:43:10.75
with someone who is just lost,
00:43:10.79\00:43:12.69
if you've
experienced the same loss.
00:43:12.72\00:43:15.52
I believe with all of my
heart that I'm not the person
00:43:15.56\00:43:20.26
who can give a grieving widow
00:43:20.30\00:43:23.80
the best comfort.
00:43:23.83\00:43:26.40
You know why?
00:43:26.43\00:43:27.77
I've never lost my husband.
00:43:27.80\00:43:30.37
You cannot, someone
cannot give a mother
00:43:30.41\00:43:34.01
who's just lost her
child the greatest comfort
00:43:34.04\00:43:37.28
if they've never lost a child.
00:43:37.31\00:43:40.85
2 Corinthians
1:3 and 4 says this.
00:43:40.88\00:43:43.92
Just write this one down too.
00:43:43.95\00:43:46.35
"Praise be to the God
and Father of our Lord,
00:43:46.39\00:43:49.06
Jesus Christ, the
Father of compassion
00:43:49.09\00:43:51.33
and the Lord of all comfort
00:43:51.36\00:43:53.16
who comforts us
in all our troubles,
00:43:53.19\00:43:57.77
so that we can comfort those
00:43:57.80\00:44:01.64
in any trouble with the comfort
00:44:01.67\00:44:04.14
we ourselves have
received from God."
00:44:04.17\00:44:09.21
So God comforts us,
00:44:09.24\00:44:11.55
but He expects us to be
that channel of blessing
00:44:11.58\00:44:15.08
and to let that
comfort pour from us to them.
00:44:15.12\00:44:19.12
So if anyone is, if
someone has been widowed,
00:44:19.15\00:44:22.72
we all want to try to comfort,
00:44:22.76\00:44:24.79
but the one who will get through
00:44:24.83\00:44:28.93
to that widow will be the one
00:44:28.96\00:44:31.87
who has walked that
journey with the Lord
00:44:31.90\00:44:35.60
where the everlasting
arms have been beneath them.
00:44:35.64\00:44:39.24
So that's what's important.
00:44:39.27\00:44:41.38
Another thing that we can
do is just be there to listen.
00:44:41.41\00:44:47.02
Don't do all the talking.
00:44:47.05\00:44:49.48
Be there to listen
00:44:49.52\00:44:52.42
and mourn with them.
00:44:52.45\00:44:55.96
You know,
sometimes we think that...
00:44:55.99\00:44:57.89
We try to cheer people
up from their mourning.
00:45:02.20\00:45:05.33
We need to
encourage them to mourn.
00:45:05.37\00:45:08.24
Grief is a very natural
thing and people can feel guilty
00:45:08.27\00:45:13.88
when they're going
through the grieving process.
00:45:13.91\00:45:16.44
They feel like
they have to put on,
00:45:16.48\00:45:19.05
you know, the verbal camouflage
00:45:19.08\00:45:21.38
and act like,
yes, I'm doing fine.
00:45:21.42\00:45:24.05
There's different, everybody do,
00:45:24.09\00:45:26.62
everybody grieves differently.
00:45:26.65\00:45:28.89
And there's
different stages to grief.
00:45:28.92\00:45:31.39
So we've got to
be there to support,
00:45:31.43\00:45:33.70
to mourn with them and
let them go through it.
00:45:33.73\00:45:36.97
Another thing,
00:45:37.00\00:45:38.33
be careful what you say
to someone who is grieving.
00:45:38.37\00:45:43.91
If you don't know what to say,
00:45:43.94\00:45:46.61
put a guard at the
doorpost of your lips, hush.
00:45:46.64\00:45:49.91
Just don't talk.
00:45:49.94\00:45:51.95
The worst thing
that you can do is
00:45:51.98\00:45:53.72
go up to someone and say,
00:45:53.75\00:45:55.48
"I know what
you're going through."
00:45:55.52\00:45:57.65
No, you don't, even
if you've lost a mother,
00:45:57.69\00:46:01.82
and they've just lost a
mother or you've lost a child,
00:46:01.86\00:46:04.49
and they've just lost a
child or you've lost a wife,
00:46:04.53\00:46:07.20
and they've just lost a wife.
00:46:07.23\00:46:08.86
You don't know what
they're going through.
00:46:08.90\00:46:11.53
And it is, you
talk to so many people,
00:46:11.57\00:46:14.74
I talk to so many people
00:46:14.77\00:46:16.97
who will say that people
00:46:17.01\00:46:18.94
who said that to them that
in the midst of their grief
00:46:18.97\00:46:21.54
they felt to thank her.
00:46:21.58\00:46:23.24
In the midst of their grief,
it was like, no, you don't.
00:46:23.28\00:46:26.98
And another thing.
00:46:27.02\00:46:28.35
We were in England,
00:46:28.38\00:46:29.72
I was doing a
series at a church.
00:46:29.75\00:46:34.16
Well, it was a
major church retreat.
00:46:34.19\00:46:36.52
There were probably
700-800 people there.
00:46:36.56\00:46:40.00
And I said,
00:46:40.03\00:46:42.86
"What would you do?"
00:46:42.90\00:46:46.37
And this is, you know,
00:46:46.40\00:46:47.74
let's say that a mother
has just lost her husband
00:46:47.77\00:46:51.11
and her two
children in a car wreck.
00:46:51.14\00:46:53.51
And someone comes up to them,
00:46:53.54\00:46:55.84
some well-meaning soul and says,
00:46:55.88\00:46:58.25
"Oh, sister, don't worry
because Romans 8:28 says,
00:46:58.28\00:47:04.05
'All things work
together for the good of those
00:47:04.09\00:47:06.25
who love the Lord
00:47:06.29\00:47:07.62
and are called
according to His purpose.' "
00:47:07.66\00:47:09.89
What would you do
00:47:09.92\00:47:12.19
if someone came up
and said that to you
00:47:12.23\00:47:15.30
if you were grieving,
00:47:15.33\00:47:16.67
all things work
together for good?
00:47:16.70\00:47:18.83
I mean, how is
we even understand
00:47:18.87\00:47:21.10
that scripture in
the light of great loss.
00:47:21.14\00:47:25.01
I'll tell you how.
00:47:25.04\00:47:26.47
You can't disconnect Romans 8:28
00:47:26.51\00:47:30.25
from Romans 8:29,
00:47:30.28\00:47:32.31
the way it should read
is the two of them together,
00:47:32.35\00:47:35.28
so that it sounds like this.
00:47:35.32\00:47:37.09
"All things work
together for good for those
00:47:37.12\00:47:38.99
who love the Lord
00:47:39.02\00:47:40.36
and are called
according to his purpose,
00:47:40.39\00:47:42.49
for those He foreknew,
00:47:42.52\00:47:44.36
he also
predestined to become conformed
00:47:44.39\00:47:49.90
to the image of His Son."
00:47:49.93\00:47:52.43
The way in which God
works something for our good
00:47:52.47\00:47:55.57
when we're going through
00:47:55.60\00:47:57.84
a horrible, grieving process
00:47:57.87\00:48:00.64
is He makes us a little
more like the man of sorrows,
00:48:00.68\00:48:03.58
Jesus Christ.
00:48:03.61\00:48:05.08
He makes us,
00:48:05.11\00:48:06.82
He makes our hearts a
little more malleable.
00:48:06.85\00:48:09.78
We become a little more humble.
00:48:09.82\00:48:11.89
We become more sensitive
to the needs of others.
00:48:11.92\00:48:16.79
So now another thing
that we can do to help people
00:48:16.83\00:48:21.66
is do acts of kindness.
00:48:21.70\00:48:24.90
If someone has lost a loved one,
00:48:24.93\00:48:27.50
you can mow their lawn,
00:48:27.54\00:48:29.47
take them some food,
do something for them,
00:48:29.50\00:48:32.47
find out what they need.
00:48:32.51\00:48:34.61
And if you can't
help them financially
00:48:34.64\00:48:36.71
and they're in financial need,
00:48:36.75\00:48:38.08
find a way to
get people together
00:48:38.11\00:48:40.25
to help them financially
00:48:40.28\00:48:41.98
because sometimes
people don't have enough money
00:48:42.02\00:48:44.39
to even bury a loved one.
00:48:44.42\00:48:46.69
And we need to be
able to help them.
00:48:46.72\00:48:50.09
Here's the good news.
00:48:50.13\00:48:51.46
Let me go back.
00:48:54.70\00:48:56.83
I don't want to skip this.
00:48:56.87\00:48:58.70
I thought, I
looked at the clock wrong.
00:48:58.73\00:49:01.50
Sometimes, this
is not the good news.
00:49:01.54\00:49:04.71
Sometimes people who
have lost a loved one
00:49:04.74\00:49:08.34
are very fearful of the future.
00:49:08.38\00:49:11.71
When you have a young
mother and two young daughters
00:49:11.75\00:49:16.22
who've lost
their source of income,
00:49:16.25\00:49:18.72
you can become very
fearful of the future.
00:49:18.75\00:49:21.26
How will God provide for me?
00:49:21.29\00:49:23.36
How are we going to
make it in other words?
00:49:23.39\00:49:27.60
When people are
in that, as I said,
00:49:27.63\00:49:29.70
we need to be
there to help to be...
00:49:29.73\00:49:31.63
We don't need to just
pray that God will help
00:49:31.67\00:49:33.60
because
sometimes the way He helps,
00:49:33.64\00:49:35.07
He uses our hands
to dip into our pockets
00:49:35.10\00:49:38.87
to help, right?
00:49:38.91\00:49:40.28
But let me give you a
couple of promises there
00:49:40.31\00:49:44.25
that you can share with someone.
00:49:44.28\00:49:46.51
Psalm 32:17.
00:49:46.55\00:49:49.75
I love this one.
00:49:49.78\00:49:52.55
When you're
fearful of the future,
00:49:52.59\00:49:54.86
Psalm 32:17 says this,
00:49:54.89\00:49:58.23
"You are my hiding place.
00:49:58.26\00:49:59.89
You shall
preserve me from trouble.
00:49:59.93\00:50:02.46
You shall surround me
with songs of deliverance."
00:50:02.50\00:50:07.24
God is my hiding place.
00:50:07.27\00:50:10.87
He's a strong
tower to which I run,
00:50:10.91\00:50:14.58
but if we get to that point,
00:50:14.61\00:50:16.88
I love this song
00:50:16.91\00:50:18.25
that was written
using this scripture.
00:50:18.28\00:50:22.22
This is something to
remember to share with people.
00:50:22.25\00:50:25.32
And then Isaiah 43:1-3.
00:50:25.35\00:50:32.29
Isaiah 43:1-3.
00:50:32.33\00:50:36.26
The Lord says,
00:50:36.30\00:50:37.77
"Fear not, for I
have redeemed you."
00:50:37.80\00:50:41.54
I've ransomed
you by paying a price
00:50:41.57\00:50:43.77
instead of leaving you captives.
00:50:43.81\00:50:46.17
"I have called you by your name,
00:50:46.21\00:50:50.65
you are Mine.
00:50:50.68\00:50:52.08
Renese, God has
called you by your name.
00:50:52.11\00:50:56.85
Isn't that...?
00:50:56.89\00:50:58.22
I love it when you know
that God knows your name.
00:50:58.25\00:51:02.89
I love that scripture.
00:51:02.92\00:51:05.43
He says," When you
pass through the waters,
00:51:05.46\00:51:07.50
I will be with you..."
00:51:07.53\00:51:09.20
When you at home or in your
car who are listening to this.
00:51:09.23\00:51:13.54
If you're going through
a great grieving process,
00:51:13.57\00:51:16.40
if you're going
through fiery trials,
00:51:16.44\00:51:18.74
just know that
God is there with you.
00:51:18.77\00:51:22.28
He says," When you
pass through the waters,
00:51:22.31\00:51:24.35
I will be with you
through the rivers.
00:51:24.38\00:51:25.95
They will not overwhelm you.
00:51:25.98\00:51:28.08
When you walk through the fire,
00:51:28.12\00:51:29.65
you will not be
burned or scorched,
00:51:29.68\00:51:31.85
nor will the
flames kindle upon you,
00:51:31.89\00:51:34.29
for I am the Lord, your God,
00:51:34.32\00:51:36.46
the holy One of
Israel, your Savior."
00:51:36.49\00:51:39.76
God is always there.
00:51:39.79\00:51:42.36
He will give you His peace
00:51:42.40\00:51:44.50
if you will keep
your eyes focused on Him,
00:51:44.53\00:51:48.04
trusting in Him.
00:51:48.07\00:51:49.64
Let me give you those
two scripture references
00:51:49.67\00:51:51.57
for those who are taking notes.
00:51:51.61\00:51:53.24
Isaiah 26:3 says,
00:51:53.27\00:51:56.01
"You will keep
him in perfect peace
00:51:56.04\00:51:57.81
whose mind is stayed on
You," because he trusts in You.
00:51:57.85\00:52:02.52
And Philippians 4:6 and 7,
00:52:02.55\00:52:05.35
"Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer
00:52:05.39\00:52:09.52
and supplication
with thanksgiving
00:52:09.56\00:52:11.39
let your request
be made known to God.
00:52:11.43\00:52:14.23
And the peace of God
00:52:14.26\00:52:15.60
which surpasses
all understanding
00:52:15.63\00:52:18.33
will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ.
00:52:18.37\00:52:21.00
Jesus.
00:52:21.04\00:52:23.37
Now, the good news.
00:52:23.41\00:52:25.51
Here's the good news.
00:52:25.54\00:52:27.98
Even though we know
00:52:28.01\00:52:29.88
our precious friend
is suffering greatly,
00:52:29.91\00:52:32.71
she and her daughters right now.
00:52:32.75\00:52:35.12
We absolutely are convinced
00:52:35.15\00:52:38.09
from the
fruitage of Michael's life
00:52:38.12\00:52:41.96
that he will be in
that first resurrection.
00:52:41.99\00:52:45.39
When Jesus said,
00:52:45.43\00:52:46.76
"All who are in their
grave will hear My voice."
00:52:46.80\00:52:50.27
We believe he will be
00:52:50.30\00:52:51.63
in the
resurrection of the righteous,
00:52:51.67\00:52:54.47
lest he's going to...
00:52:54.50\00:52:56.47
We look for the blessed hope
00:52:56.50\00:52:58.27
in the glorious
appearing of our God
00:52:58.31\00:53:00.41
and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:53:00.44\00:53:02.68
Look at Isaiah 25,
00:53:02.71\00:53:04.41
we're going to look at
00:53:04.45\00:53:05.78
just a couple of
scriptures quickly.
00:53:05.81\00:53:07.72
Isaiah 25.
00:53:07.75\00:53:10.99
And let's look,
we'll begin with verse 8.
00:53:11.02\00:53:16.79
Isaiah 25:8.
00:53:16.83\00:53:21.86
There's so many
wonderful promises
00:53:21.90\00:53:25.33
in the Bible about
the coming of the Lord.
00:53:25.37\00:53:28.90
Isaiah 25:8,
00:53:28.94\00:53:32.71
"He will swallow
up death forever."
00:53:32.74\00:53:35.54
Hallelujah.
00:53:35.58\00:53:36.95
"And the Lord God
00:53:36.98\00:53:38.31
will wipe away all
tears from all faces.
00:53:38.35\00:53:43.35
The rebuke of His
people He will take away
00:53:43.39\00:53:45.52
from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken,
00:53:45.55\00:53:48.26
and it will be said in that day,
00:53:48.29\00:53:50.23
'Behold, this is our
God, we have waited for Him,
00:53:50.26\00:53:54.66
and He will save us.' "
00:53:54.70\00:53:56.90
This is the Lord.
00:53:56.93\00:53:58.70
We have waited for Him.
00:53:58.73\00:54:00.07
We will be glad and
rejoice in His salvation.
00:54:00.10\00:54:05.61
The joy of knowing
that your loved one
00:54:05.64\00:54:10.35
is sleeping in Christ
00:54:10.38\00:54:12.51
when someone passes
is the joy of knowing,
00:54:12.55\00:54:16.69
you're gonna get to
spend eternity with them,
00:54:16.72\00:54:20.76
even in the midst of the sorrow,
00:54:20.79\00:54:23.06
that is the joy.
00:54:23.09\00:54:24.43
Now, I also must say this.
00:54:24.46\00:54:26.70
There are sometimes
people who aren't sure.
00:54:26.73\00:54:29.96
They're thinking,
00:54:30.00\00:54:31.33
"I don't know if
my loved one is safe"
00:54:31.37\00:54:32.93
and it torments them.
00:54:32.97\00:54:34.80
First of all we can't judge...
00:54:34.84\00:54:36.97
We can tell by the fruit,
00:54:37.01\00:54:38.74
but we can't always know
00:54:38.77\00:54:40.34
what happened in
that person's heart
00:54:40.38\00:54:42.94
right before the end.
00:54:42.98\00:54:45.31
You only hope if
they weren't walking right
00:54:45.35\00:54:47.35
that they had time
to respond to the Lord.
00:54:47.38\00:54:50.75
Now, let's look
at 1 Peter Chapter 3.
00:54:50.79\00:54:55.09
1 Peter Chapter 3.
00:54:55.12\00:54:57.66
And we're going to look...
00:55:00.20\00:55:01.83
Excuse me, let's
look at 1 Peter 1:3.
00:55:01.86\00:55:05.57
1 Peter 1:3.
00:55:05.60\00:55:08.24
We're actually going to
read down through verse 9.
00:55:14.64\00:55:17.28
"Blessed be the God
00:55:17.31\00:55:18.78
and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ,
00:55:18.81\00:55:22.22
who according to
His abundant mercy
00:55:22.25\00:55:24.55
has begotten us
again to a living hope
00:55:24.59\00:55:27.72
through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead,
00:55:27.76\00:55:31.43
to an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled
00:55:31.46\00:55:35.76
that does not fade away,
00:55:35.80\00:55:37.40
reserved in heaven for you,
00:55:37.43\00:55:39.60
who are kept by the power of God
00:55:39.63\00:55:42.40
through faith for
salvation ready to be revealed
00:55:42.44\00:55:46.57
in the last time."
00:55:46.61\00:55:48.38
Hallelujah.
00:55:48.41\00:55:49.74
I just love the
fact that we are kept
00:55:49.78\00:55:51.38
by the power of God
through faith for salvation.
00:55:51.41\00:55:54.58
But He's going to raise
us up to this inheritance
00:55:54.62\00:55:56.95
that is
incorruptible and unreserved.
00:55:56.99\00:55:59.72
Verse 6 says this, "In
this you greatly rejoice,
00:55:59.75\00:56:04.79
though now for a
little while, if need be,
00:56:04.83\00:56:08.83
you have been
grieved by various trials,
00:56:08.86\00:56:11.90
if need be,
00:56:11.93\00:56:13.80
you have been
grieved by various trials,
00:56:13.84\00:56:15.67
that the
genuineness of your faith,
00:56:15.70\00:56:17.84
being much more precious
than gold that perishes,
00:56:17.87\00:56:20.78
though it is tested by fire,
00:56:20.81\00:56:22.81
may be found to
praise, honor, and glory
00:56:22.84\00:56:25.45
at the
revelation of Jesus Christ,
00:56:25.48\00:56:27.42
whom having not seen you love.
00:56:27.45\00:56:30.49
Though now you do not
see Him, yet believing,
00:56:30.52\00:56:33.36
you rejoice with
joy inexpressible
00:56:33.39\00:56:37.26
and full of glory,
00:56:37.29\00:56:38.66
receiving the end of your faith,
00:56:38.69\00:56:41.43
the salvation of your souls."
00:56:41.46\00:56:43.47
So when does this happen?
00:56:43.50\00:56:47.37
When do we get
00:56:47.40\00:56:50.44
this eternal life, this gift?
00:56:50.47\00:56:53.88
Turn to 1
Corinthians Chapter 15.
00:56:53.91\00:56:56.68
1 Corinthians Chapter
15, and we're going to begin
00:56:56.71\00:57:01.38
with verse 51.
00:57:01.42\00:57:04.19
1 Corinthians 15:51.
00:57:04.22\00:57:11.16
1 Corinthians 15:51 says this,
00:57:13.50\00:57:19.47
"Behold, I tell you a mystery:
00:57:19.50\00:57:23.54
We shall not all sleep..."
00:57:23.57\00:57:26.17
What is a sleep referring here?
00:57:26.21\00:57:28.38
The death.
00:57:28.41\00:57:29.74
"We shall not all sleep,
00:57:29.78\00:57:31.35
but we shall all be
changed in a moment,
00:57:31.38\00:57:34.72
in the twinkling of an eye,
00:57:34.75\00:57:37.05
at the last trumpet."
00:57:37.09\00:57:38.89
When is this going to happen?
00:57:38.92\00:57:40.82
At the last trumpet,
00:57:40.86\00:57:42.62
for the trumpet will sound
00:57:42.66\00:57:44.33
and the dead will be
raised incorruptible.
00:57:44.36\00:57:47.63
Finally we're going
to reach that perfection.
00:57:47.66\00:57:50.33
And we shall be
changed, for this corruptible
00:57:50.37\00:57:54.20
must put on incorruption
00:57:54.24\00:57:56.44
and this mortal
must put on immortality.
00:57:56.47\00:58:01.88
So then death
will be swallowed up.
00:58:01.91\00:58:04.91
Hallelujah.
00:58:04.95\00:58:06.28