? (Theme Song) ?
? Jesus is worthy ?
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? oh yes, he's worthy
? ? worthy of all... ?
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? all the praise
? Pastor Byrd: Today
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our subject is entitled
"The Second Time Around."
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God bless us now.
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Hide us behind your
cross, and when the appeal time
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comes, move in this place.
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Individuals might
give their lives to thee.
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Now, give me clarity of thought,
articulation of word, and give
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thy people receptivity of heart.
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In the name of Jesus we pray.
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Let everyone say Amen.
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And Amen.
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The story of Jonah is something
that we are all very familiar
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with.
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Everybody in this
place has heard about Jonah.
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We all know the story.
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The story goes like
this: In Jonah, chapter 1,
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God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh
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and to preach the Word.
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But Jonah doesn't
want to go to Nineveh.
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He doesn't want to go, why?
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Because Nineveh was the
place that they sent preachers
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to punish them.
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Nineveh was the place
where preachers went to die.
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Nineveh was the district
that nobody wanted to go to.
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Because most preachers want to
go to places where the ground is
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fertile, where there are many
people to convert, where there
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are praise teams
and choirs and money.
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That's where they want to go.
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But they don't realize that the
blessings of God are on people
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and not places.
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Which means that God then can
send you to the toughest place
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to preach his Word, and
God can still bless you.
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Do I have a
witness in this place?
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God says to Jonah, go to
Nineveh, preach the Word.
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Now, remember, this is the same
God who told brother Ezekiel to
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preach to some dry dead bones.
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Now, I must admit, it's
very hard to preach to those who
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move, and those who will
stir around a little bit.
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But to preach to that which
is dead and dry can be an awful
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thing.
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My travels have taken me
to some dry, dead audiences.
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Because, you see, I've
learned, it's tough to preach to
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Christians who are like wheel
barrels--no good unless pushed.
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It's tough to preach, better
yet, to canoes, that they want
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the people to be paddled.
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Or kittens; they are
more content when petted.
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Or some are like footballs;
you can't tell which way they're
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going to bounce next.
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Some are like balloons; full
of wind and ready to blow up.
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Some audiences are like lights;
they keep going on and off.
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But God says, preach the Word.
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God sent Jonah to the most
despicable, most cruel, most
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evil, most
idolatrous city in the world.
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The historical record says
that the Ninevites would cut
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the heads off enemy
soldiers and stack them up
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outside of the city.
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The record says they would then
mutilate the bodies and stack
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them in huge piles.
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They would then skin their
enemies and hang the skin on the
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city walls.
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They would torture their
prisoners of war by cutting off
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hands, yanking out
organs, and gutting them.
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They would even burn
women and infants alive.
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And to this vile
city God would send Jonah.
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Now, God could have sent anyone
else, for when it's a tough area
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you would think God would
send somebody with extraordinary
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gifts and talents,
because that's what man does.
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That's what the
conference office does.
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Send the best preacher.
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Send the best teacher.
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Send the best singer.
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Send the best administrator.
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Send the best fund-raiser.
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Send the best evangelist,
send the best pastor.
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Go turn that thing around.
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But God is sovereign,
which means God is God
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all by himself, and God
can send who he wants to send.
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God wants in this instance
to send Jonah and sometimes I've
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learned that God sends people
to certain churches, not so much
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because he's trying to save the
people, but he's trying to save
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the preacher.
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God says, go to
Nineveh, go to that city
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and preach the Word.
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That's what he
told Brother Jonah.
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Go and preach the Word.
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Sometimes in life's journey God
sends us and leads us one step
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at a time without
telling us about the next steps.
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And he doesn't tell us what's
going to happen until we get to
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our destination, because if
he told you right now, you might
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abandon the journey, because
you don't want to go through any
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pain.
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But somebody knows that when
you're on God's path, God will
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protect you, because God never
sends you anywhere where God's
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not God enough to keep you.
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When God sends a preacher
to a city, God doesn't tell the
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preacher exactly what's
going to happen in the city.
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God just tells the preacher
what to say in the city.
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That's why you've
gotta have faith, my friends.
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You gotta believe
what you cannot see.
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Without faith it is
impossible to please God.
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God told Jonah what to say in
Nineveh, but Jonah rejects the
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call.
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Jonah runs to Tarshish.
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Jonah runs from responsibility.
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Jonah runs from what
God has called him to do.
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Look at Jonah, chapter 1,
and look at verse number 3.
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The Word of God says
in Jonah 1:3, "But Jonah
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rose up to flee unto Tarshish."
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He rose up to flee
from where, everybody?
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Come on, he rose up po
flee from where, everybody?
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Aud: Tarshish.
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PB: From the presence of
the Lord, and then the Bible
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says that Jonah went where?
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Come on, Jonah
went where, everybody?
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Jonah went down.
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That's my first point today.
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Whenever you run from
God, you're going down.
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Whenever you run from God, you
will always be on a trip down.
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You're wondering what's wrong in
your life, you're wondering why
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things won't look up and why
things won't go up, why things
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aren't going right,
why there is trouble
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after trouble in your life.
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It's because you're running from
God, and anytime you run from
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God, it's always a trip down.
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Look at verse 3 again.
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The Word of God continues and
says, "And [he] went down to"
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where?
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Come on, he went
down to where, everybody?
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"Joppa; and he found a" what?
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Come on, he found
a what, everybody?
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All right, number two.
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Any time you run from God,
not only will you go down, but
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anytime you run from God
you will always find a ship.
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Everybody say ship.
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Aud: Ship.
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PB: What do you
mean, Pastor Byrd?
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There's always a willing vessel
that's trying to move you from
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the presence of God.
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Aud: Amen.
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PB: When you're running from
God, isn't it amazing how quick
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you can get into a relationship?
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Aud: (unintelligible)
PB: When you rum from God,
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isn't it easy how you can
get into certain friendships,
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certain fellowships?
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There's always a ship that's
trying to move you from the
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presence of God.
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You all don't hear me today.
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And I don't know about you,
but I don't want any ship that's
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going to take me from
the presence of God, because
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not only will you find
a ship, but number three,
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you have to pay a fare.
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Anytime you run from God, it's
going to cost you something.
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It's expensive; there's a price
you're going to have to pay.
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I wish you were
listening to me today.
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I don't care how good the
relationship is, I don't care
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how good the friendship
is, I don't care how good the
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fellowship is, if you're running
from God, it's going to cost you
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something.
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Somebody knows what I'm talking
about, because you've been in
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some relationships
that cost you something.
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A relationship
that was expensive.
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Jonah went down in a ship
and it cost him something.
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Now, my question is, why are you
going to get into a ship to make
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your life go down?
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Here you are,
you've got good credit.
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Got a good job.
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Got a good mind.
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And you're going to get in some
ship that's going to pull you
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down.
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Here you are, you've got a
house with your name on it.
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A car with your name on it.
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Bills that come with your name
on it, and you sacrifice all
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that and get with somebody that
doesn't have a thing with their
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name on it.
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You're going down.
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Don't forget reciprocity.
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If I bring the ice cream,
you bring the what, everybody?
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Number four.
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Verse 4 says, "But the Lord sent
out a great wind into the sea,
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and there was a mighty tempest
in the sea, so that the ship was
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like to be broken." Number four.
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After you go down, after you
get in a ship, after you pay the
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fare, be sure to know
you're going to face a storm.
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When you run from God, a
storm will always follow you.
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That's why you gotta be
careful what ship you get in.
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That's why you gotta be careful
who you get involved with.
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Because if folk are running from
God and they're in your ship,
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they're in your circle, you
better get ready for a storm.
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I don't care how good the
relationship is, the fellowship
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or the friendship,
you will face a storm.
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Be careful today
of your friendships.
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Be careful of
whom your friends are.
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A friend is not somebody
who talks about somebody else.
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Because if they talk about
somebody else, get what they're
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doing when you're not around?
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They're talking about you.
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If outsiders know all of your
business, then you need to check
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your insiders.
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But not only that.
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Be careful of
your relationships.
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Some of you are on
a ship that's broken.
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Don't fall in love with somebody
so much that you let them have
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your space in time with God.
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Some folk are mad today, upset
today and feel their lives are
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messed up forever because
you let people in place of God.
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And when people let you
down -- and they will -- you're
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frustrated because they
didn't come through for you.
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But friends of mine, as long as
you know that people are people,
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people are going to do people
things, and people are going to
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fail you.
00:11:33.10\00:11:34.10
But whK] you keep people in
their proper place, you will
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learn to love them
without worshiping them.
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Jonah faces a storm.
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Jonah's life is in danger.
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But the Word of God says, as
we move now to Jonah, chapter 2,
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verse 1, that Jonah prayed.
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Jonah did what, everybody?
00:11:52.16\00:11:52.70
Aud: Prayed PB:
Somebody knows what happens,
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hallelujah, when you pray.
00:11:55.06\00:11:56.60
Somebody knows that
prayer time is high time.
00:11:56.60\00:11:59.80
But some of us have gotten
so busy that we don't even take
00:11:59.80\00:12:03.63
time personally to pray.
00:12:03.63\00:12:05.93
We've got people who
now intercede on our behalf,
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and they intercede for us
when we ought to be praying
00:12:07.43\00:12:10.80
for our own selves.
00:12:10.80\00:12:13.53
Nothing wrong with your prayers
for me, but I've got to pray for
00:12:13.53\00:12:16.86
my own self.
00:12:16.86\00:12:17.86
Let me tell you something: you
can't beat me praying for me.
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I don't think you heard me.
00:12:21.40\00:12:24.73
You can help me pray for
me, but you can't beat me
00:12:24.73\00:12:29.23
praying for me.
00:12:29.23\00:12:30.16
Because I have a vested
interest in praying for me.
00:12:30.16\00:12:33.30
I know what's wrong with me.
00:12:33.30\00:12:35.66
I know what God
needs to do to me.
00:12:35.66\00:12:38.66
I know what it's going to
take to straighten me out.
00:12:38.66\00:12:41.36
I can tell me some stuff about
me that I can't tell you about
00:12:41.36\00:12:45.66
me, so you can help me
pray, but you can't pray for me,
00:12:45.66\00:12:48.10
because I've got some stuff
to tell God that I don't trust
00:12:48.10\00:12:51.46
you enough to say to God for me.
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The Bible says Jonah prayed.
00:12:57.13\00:13:01.16
Jonah did what, everybody?
00:13:01.16\00:13:02.26
Aud: Prayed.
00:13:02.26\00:13:03.26
PB: Now, the fact that he
prayed, listen to me good, is
00:13:03.26\00:13:06.23
significant.
00:13:06.23\00:13:07.63
But what's more
significant is where he prayed.
00:13:07.63\00:13:13.63
He prayed in the
belly of the fish.
00:13:13.63\00:13:18.73
How did he get there?
00:13:18.73\00:13:19.73
Jonah 1:7 says, "Now the
Lord had prepared a great fish
00:13:19.73\00:13:22.30
to swallow up Jonah."
00:13:22.30\00:13:23.46
Which means God personally
put Jonah in this situation
00:13:23.46\00:13:27.03
in order that Jonah
might come to know who God was
00:13:27.03\00:13:30.90
for himself.
00:13:30.90\00:13:31.96
And that's what God will do.
00:13:31.96\00:13:33.40
That's another
lesson for us today.
00:13:33.40\00:13:35.50
God will put you
in a particular place.
00:13:35.50\00:13:38.50
God will put you in a peculiar,
strange and even uncomfortable
00:13:38.50\00:13:40.46
place, in order that you might
come to know who you're dealing
00:13:40.46\00:13:43.13
with.
00:13:43.13\00:13:44.20
God will purposely
let you hit rock bottom.
00:13:44.20\00:13:48.70
Let me say that one more time.
00:13:48.70\00:13:49.90
God will purposely
let you hit rock bottom.
00:13:49.90\00:13:56.26
Quit blaming the man.
00:13:56.26\00:13:59.06
Quit blaming your background.
00:13:59.06\00:14:01.66
Quit blaming how you grew up.
00:14:01.66\00:14:03.86
Quit blaming somebody else.
00:14:03.86\00:14:05.50
You've got in your situation,
and when God has dealt with you,
00:14:05.50\00:14:09.23
you'll start taking
responsibility for your
00:14:09.23\00:14:11.40
situation and
you need to thank God
00:14:11.40\00:14:13.60
-- listen to me good --
you in this life have to
00:14:13.60\00:14:15.83
learn how to thank God
for the time when you're
00:14:15.83\00:14:18.60
in the belly of a fish.
00:14:18.60\00:14:21.30
You need to thank
God for the time when you
00:14:21.30\00:14:22.93
hit rock bottom.
00:14:22.93\00:14:24.70
You have to
learn how to thank God.
00:14:24.70\00:14:27.10
Because how would you ever come
to know God like you know him
00:14:27.10\00:14:29.90
had you not hit rock bottom?
00:14:29.90\00:14:32.16
How would you know that
God could pay your rents if you
00:14:32.16\00:14:36.06
never had rent due?
00:14:36.06\00:14:37.53
How could you come to know that
God can heal your body if you've
00:14:37.53\00:14:41.26
never been sick?
00:14:41.26\00:14:42.76
How would you know if God
is a Friend above all friends
00:14:42.76\00:14:45.70
if all your friends had
never walked out on you?
00:14:45.70\00:14:48.36
Somebody today ought to thank
God for the time you were in the
00:14:48.36\00:14:52.20
belly of the fish.
00:14:52.20\00:14:53.40
Aud: (applause)
PB: Lord, I thank you
00:14:53.40\00:14:56.03
for that experience,
because now I know who you
00:14:56.03\00:14:58.10
really are.
00:14:58.10\00:14:59.46
God, I thank you for those
friends that ran out on me,
00:14:59.46\00:15:02.00
because now I know
who my real friends are.
00:15:02.00\00:15:04.13
Lord, I thank you
that you're a healer,
00:15:04.13\00:15:06.10
I think you that you're a
provider, I thank you that
00:15:06.10\00:15:09.90
you're a way-maker, I thank you
that you're a shelter, I thank
00:15:09.90\00:15:13.83
you for your mercy, I thank
you for your loving kindness, I
00:15:13.83\00:15:16.76
thank you for waking me up and
starting me on my way, I thank
00:15:16.76\00:15:20.33
you for food and
clothing, shelter above my head.
00:15:20.33\00:15:23.93
God, I thank you.
00:15:23.93\00:15:25.43
Lord, I thank you,
because you're on my side.
00:15:25.43\00:15:29.40
Because if it had not
been for the Lord on my side,
00:15:29.40\00:15:32.80
where would I be?
00:15:32.80\00:15:33.80
God put Jonah in a
place where Jonah couldn't do
00:15:33.80\00:15:38.03
anything but pray.
00:15:38.03\00:15:39.56
Anybody ever been there?
00:15:39.56\00:15:42.03
Where you couldn't
do anything but pray?
00:15:42.03\00:15:46.03
Anybody know
what I'm talking abt?
00:15:46.03\00:15:48.30
Oh, keep living, sometimes
God will put you on your back
00:15:48.30\00:15:51.10
where all you can
do is look up and pray.
00:15:51.10\00:15:53.53
God will put you in situations
where you can't do anything else
00:15:53.53\00:15:56.90
but call his name.
00:15:56.90\00:15:57.90
God says, I'll fix it so you
won't have anyone calling you.
00:15:57.90\00:16:00.63
I'll fix it that your
best friends walk out on you.
00:16:00.63\00:16:02.96
I will navigate your
circumstances to a point where
00:16:02.96\00:16:05.76
you can't see anything but me.
00:16:05.76\00:16:07.70
You can't hear anything but me.
00:16:07.70\00:16:09.90
As a matter of fact, God says,
I'll you so deep down into the
00:16:09.90\00:16:13.40
belly of a fish that you'll
realize that you can't survive
00:16:13.40\00:16:16.30
without me.
00:16:16.30\00:16:18.50
If you're going to
eat, I've gotta feed you.
00:16:18.50\00:16:22.36
If you're going to drink,
I've gotta give you some water.
00:16:22.36\00:16:25.33
God says, if you're going to
have clothes, you'll learn that
00:16:25.33\00:16:27.33
I have to clothe you.
00:16:27.33\00:16:28.36
God will put you in the belly of
a fish, and then God will say,
00:16:28.36\00:16:32.66
now I've got your attention.
00:16:32.66\00:16:34.63
You see, when you're lying on
your back and you have to call
00:16:34.63\00:16:39.63
on the name of the Lord
in prayer, let me tell you
00:16:39.63\00:16:41.63
something:
you'll learn something.
00:16:41.63\00:16:44.40
Growing up as a child,
there's always been some God.
00:16:44.40\00:16:46.83
For all of us growing
up, we've heard about God.
00:16:46.83\00:16:50.76
Whether we wanted to believe in
God or not, we have heard all of
00:16:50.76\00:16:53.76
us about God.
00:16:53.76\00:16:54.76
But when you got a little older,
you wanted to live like you
00:16:54.76\00:16:57.76
wanted to live.
00:16:57.76\00:16:58.76
You wanted to have a good time,
you wanted to "experience life."
00:16:58.76\00:17:01.80
You're good ol' Adventist, you
feel you've been sheltered all
00:17:01.80\00:17:03.80
your life.
00:17:03.80\00:17:04.80
You wanted to
experience some things.
00:17:04.80\00:17:06.80
But God says, I'll take you
to a place where you'll have to
00:17:06.80\00:17:09.80
remember.
00:17:09.80\00:17:10.80
I'll take you to a place where
you'll have to remember what
00:17:10.80\00:17:12.80
your mama taught you, remember
what your daddy taught you,
00:17:12.80\00:17:14.96
remember what Grandma taught
you, remember what you learned
00:17:14.96\00:17:17.53
in Sabbath School.
00:17:17.53\00:17:18.63
You'll have to remember
from whence cometh your health.
00:17:18.63\00:17:20.83
You can act a fool all you want,
but God says, I'll show you you
00:17:20.83\00:17:25.80
have to remember.
00:17:25.80\00:17:26.80
Let's be real.
00:17:26.80\00:17:28.30
I got my suit on, it's tailored,
got my shirt on, my bowtie,
00:17:28.30\00:17:31.30
clean-cut.
00:17:31.30\00:17:33.03
All of us looking good on a
Sabbath day, praise be to God.
00:17:33.03\00:17:36.63
But the reality is that
some of us have forgotten
00:17:36.63\00:17:39.30
where we come from.
00:17:39.30\00:17:41.26
We haven't always
lived where we now live.
00:17:41.26\00:17:45.33
We haven't always
driven what we now drive.
00:17:45.33\00:17:49.26
We haven't always been
able to shop how we now shop.
00:17:49.26\00:17:51.60
Some of us, if we're real, used
to have just one Sabbath suit.
00:17:51.60\00:17:56.93
One Sabbath dress.
00:17:56.93\00:17:59.43
We had shoes that were are
Sabbath shoes, they were shiny
00:17:59.43\00:18:03.00
on the top but had
holes on the bottom.
00:18:03.00\00:18:05.96
Some of us remember the days
when we didn't have a car, but
00:18:05.96\00:18:09.30
we walked.
00:18:09.30\00:18:10.30
It trips me out how these young
people today say, I don't want
00:18:10.30\00:18:12.33
to walk from Harland
Hall to the BT Building.
00:18:12.33\00:18:15.33
When I was at Oakwood,
all we could do was walk.
00:18:15.33\00:18:18.50
Some of us remember when
there was no air-conditioning.
00:18:18.50\00:18:22.33
You all know what
I'm talking about?
00:18:22.33\00:18:26.20
I love these students.
00:18:26.20\00:18:27.20
You know, I look at them today,
I see, they don't realize, I'm
00:18:27.20\00:18:29.20
old.
00:18:29.20\00:18:31.06
I was at AY last night, church
packed full of young people, I
00:18:31.06\00:18:33.43
said, praise God.
00:18:33.43\00:18:34.43
They don't realize, 24 years
ago we used to be in Mirren Hall
00:18:34.43\00:18:37.43
with no air-conditioning.
00:18:37.43\00:18:40.33
Packed.
00:18:40.33\00:18:42.36
Still no air-conditioning.
00:18:42.36\00:18:43.70
Aud: (laughs) PB:
Packed, but we were just
00:18:43.70\00:18:47.56
as fine, we were having
ourselves a good ol' time,
00:18:47.56\00:18:50.73
singing God is, and
I shall wear a crown,
00:18:50.73\00:18:53.40
but I'm so glad
that it's 24 years later.
00:18:53.40\00:18:57.76
Come on, say Amen.
00:18:57.76\00:18:58.76
God heard my cry, and he opened
up the windows of heaven, poured
00:18:58.76\00:19:04.73
us out a blessing, and
now there's not room enough
00:19:04.73\00:19:07.00
to receive it.
00:19:07.00\00:19:08.00
And when you really understand
prayer, it doesn't make a
00:19:08.00\00:19:10.23
difference what
situation you find yourself in.
00:19:10.23\00:19:12.43
Because when you really,
sincerely pray to God, your
00:19:12.43\00:19:15.66
prayer will reach God.
00:19:15.66\00:19:16.66
And let me
throw this in quickly.
00:19:16.66\00:19:19.46
Prayer cannot change things
if prayer doesn't change you.
00:19:19.46\00:19:25.56
Aud: (applause) PB: Because of
prayer changes things, and you
00:19:25.56\00:19:32.73
go back doing the same things,
you're going to mess the things
00:19:32.73\00:19:37.96
up that prayer just changed.
00:19:37.96\00:19:42.66
Don't unearth
what's already been buried.
00:19:42.66\00:19:46.43
Don't dig up
what's already been done.
00:19:46.43\00:19:49.76
Some folk try to dig
up stuff on other folk.
00:19:49.76\00:19:52.76
I got something on her, I got
something on him, he dumped me
00:19:52.76\00:19:56.03
20 years ago.
00:19:56.03\00:19:56.70
Let it go.
00:19:56.70\00:19:58.16
Aud: (unintelligible) PB:
He dumped me 10 years ago,
00:19:58.16\00:20:01.40
she told me you were
this, he told me you were that.
00:20:01.40\00:20:03.76
If it's dead and buried,
let it go, earth to earth,
00:20:03.76\00:20:09.30
ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
00:20:09.30\00:20:12.70
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:20:12.70\00:20:14.36
Let me go on and finish this.
00:20:14.36\00:20:15.36
In Jonah, chapter
1, Jonah runs from God.
00:20:15.36\00:20:18.86
In Jonah, chapter 2, finds
himself in the belly of a fish.
00:20:18.86\00:20:23.10
But then toward the end of
the chapter, the Bible says
00:20:23.10\00:20:26.53
he has a change of heart.
00:20:26.53\00:20:27.56
He says, Enough is enough.
00:20:27.56\00:20:31.40
He says, I'm tired of running,
I'm tired of doing it my way,
00:20:31.40\00:20:36.50
and it's gotten me nowhere.
00:20:36.50\00:20:37.76
I'm going to do
it now God's way.
00:20:37.76\00:20:40.53
Now, Jonah 2:9 says, "But I will
sacrifice unto thee with the
00:20:40.53\00:20:44.40
voice of Thanksgiving."
00:20:44.40\00:20:48.43
The Word of God says
that Jonah says, "I will pay
00:20:48.43\00:20:50.16
that that I have vowed;
salvation is of the Lord."
00:20:50.16\00:20:54.50
In other words, Jonah
says, I will pay what I said
00:20:54.50\00:20:58.10
I will pay.
00:20:58.10\00:20:59.63
Lord, I will do
what I said I'm gonna do.
00:20:59.63\00:21:03.26
Don't you know, friends of mine,
there's a danger of making a vow
00:21:03.26\00:21:07.26
to God and not keeping it.
00:21:07.26\00:21:08.26
Don't aXay with God.
00:21:08.26\00:21:09.66
I said, don't play God.
00:21:09.66\00:21:11.26
The very thing you said you were
going to do, you better do it.
00:21:11.26\00:21:14.26
God is tired of inconsistent
Christians making promises
00:21:14.26\00:21:16.43
they can't keep and
they don't want to keep.
00:21:16.43\00:21:18.63
Here we go: Lord, I lost my job.
00:21:18.63\00:21:22.30
I need employment.
00:21:22.30\00:21:23.30
I don't know, God, what I'm
going to do, but I know that,
00:21:23.30\00:21:27.00
God, you own the
cattle on a thousand hills.
00:21:27.00\00:21:29.93
Hallelujah, God.
00:21:29.93\00:21:31.70
And God, I worship you.
00:21:31.70\00:21:32.76
So God, if you just get
me this job, God, I promise
00:21:32.76\00:21:39.16
I'll serve you.
00:21:39.16\00:21:40.16
And just as soon
as you get a new job,
00:21:40.16\00:21:42.50
you're too busy for God.
00:21:42.50\00:21:43.50
Lord, I'm tired of
being in the world.
00:21:43.50\00:21:46.36
I'm tired of all the drama in
the world, I'm tired of people
00:21:46.36\00:21:48.36
breaking my heart.
00:21:48.36\00:21:49.36
I'm ready to give
my life to you, God.
00:21:49.36\00:21:51.40
Jesus, I don't want a man.
00:21:51.40\00:21:52.56
Jesus, I don't want a woman.
00:21:52.56\00:21:53.70
Jesus, I just want you.
00:21:53.70\00:21:55.43
And two weeks later, you meet
somebody else and you're gone.
00:21:55.43\00:21:58.70
Lord, if you just
help me pass this test.
00:22:00.66\00:22:09.06
Aud: (unintelligible)
PB: I know I didn't study.
00:22:09.06\00:22:14.36
Aud: (laughter) PB:
But this is what I like.
00:22:14.36\00:22:21.40
God, if you will
direct my pencil to circle
00:22:21.40\00:22:24.66
the right answer.
00:22:24.66\00:22:25.66
Aud: (cheers, applause)
PB: I promise you, God,
00:22:25.66\00:22:33.43
I won't miss church anymore.
00:22:33.43\00:22:36.60
And the moment you pass the
test, hallelujah, thank God.
00:22:36.60\00:22:43.13
And you're nowhere to be
found on Sabbath morning.
00:22:43.13\00:22:46.10
Amen, somebody.
00:22:46.10\00:22:48.76
Lord, I've got cancer.
00:22:48.76\00:22:51.56
But if you just heal my body
this one time, I promise you,
00:22:51.56\00:22:55.23
God, I'll serve you till I die.
00:22:55.23\00:22:58.96
But the moment that cancer goes
in remission, your service to
00:22:58.96\00:23:06.06
God goes into remission too.
00:23:06.06\00:23:09.36
Don't play with God.
00:23:09.36\00:23:13.56
Prayer is not for emergency use
only, just like heaven is not
00:23:13.56\00:23:18.03
a fire escape from hell.
00:23:18.03\00:23:21.46
God needs committed Christians,
not inconsistent opportunists.
00:23:21.46\00:23:27.73
Let me tell you something.
00:23:27.73\00:23:30.56
Some of us have been out
there doing some foolishness.
00:23:30.56\00:23:33.70
Some of us have been diagnosed
with a terminal illness.
00:23:33.70\00:23:37.83
But today you can come into the
house of God and say, God healed
00:23:37.83\00:23:43.70
me.
00:23:43.70\00:23:45.00
God saved me.
00:23:45.00\00:23:47.13
God rescued me.
00:23:47.13\00:23:49.03
Somebody ought to thank God,
because today you would not be
00:23:49.03\00:23:53.10
here if it were not for God.
00:23:53.10\00:23:55.46
Aud: Amen.
00:23:55.46\00:23:56.46
PB: Oh, yes, somebody ought to
testify of the goodness of God.
00:23:56.46\00:24:01.26
God, I wouldn't have the
job if it weren't for you.
00:24:01.26\00:24:04.20
Some of you know God, I wouldn't
have a degree if it weren't for
00:24:04.20\00:24:07.33
you.
00:24:07.33\00:24:08.33
I wouldn't have this
car if it weren't for you.
00:24:08.33\00:24:11.00
God, we wouldn't have this
church if it weren't for you.
00:24:11.00\00:24:13.86
God, I wouldn't be back in
school, if it weren't for you.
00:24:13.86\00:24:21.03
My marriage wouldn't be
together if it weren't for you.
00:24:21.03\00:24:24.03
My tumor wouldn't be
benign if it weren't for you.
00:24:24.03\00:24:26.40
God, I wouldn't have
anything if it weren't for you.
00:24:26.40\00:24:29.40
If it had not been
for the Lord on my side.
00:24:29.40\00:24:32.90
That's why on Sabbath morning
I enter into his gates with
00:24:32.90\00:24:36.13
thanksgiving.
00:24:36.13\00:24:37.13
I enter his courts with praise.
00:24:37.13\00:24:38.83
I'm thankful until him.
00:24:38.83\00:24:40.20
I don't have to
wait on the praise team.
00:24:40.20\00:24:42.33
I don't have to
wait on the choir.
00:24:42.33\00:24:44.33
I don't have to wait on the
elders and the pastors and the
00:24:44.33\00:24:46.33
musicians.
00:24:46.33\00:24:47.33
But I will bless the Lord at
all times, and His praise shall
00:24:47.33\00:24:51.86
continually be in my mouth.
00:24:51.86\00:24:53.66
But then the Bible says in
Jonah, chapter 2, verse 10, "And
00:24:53.66\00:24:57.33
the Lord spake unto the fish."
00:24:57.33\00:25:02.80
Let's try that again.
00:25:02.80\00:25:07.73
Verse 10 of chapter 2: "And
the Lord spake until the fish,"
00:25:07.73\00:25:16.90
comma.
00:25:16.90\00:25:19.00
You know, when you come
to Oakwood, you have to learn
00:25:19.00\00:25:20.93
how to read the bulletins.
00:25:20.93\00:25:21.63
You've got to know
when the commas are there
00:25:21.63\00:25:22.96
and the periods are there.
00:25:22.96\00:25:24.23
"And the Lord spake
to the fish," comma.
00:25:24.23\00:25:29.70
You mean to tell me the Lord
had a conversation with a fish?
00:25:29.70\00:25:34.10
Picture that.
00:25:34.10\00:25:36.30
God talking to a fish.
00:25:36.30\00:25:39.00
But notice, if you look at
the text carefully, this is why
00:25:39.00\00:25:41.46
you've got to really
look at the Word of God.
00:25:41.46\00:25:44.13
Notice, we don't know
what God told the fish.
00:25:44.13\00:25:49.06
The only thing the Bible says
is, "God spoke to the" what,
00:25:49.06\00:25:53.36
everybody?
00:25:53.36\00:25:54.60
It does not say
what God told the fish.
00:25:54.60\00:26:00.43
>: The Breath of Life gift
offer this week is "Surprised
00:26:01.03\00:26:03.40
by Love," by pastor
and international speaker
00:26:03.40\00:26:06.36
Elizabeth Viera Talbot.
00:26:06.36\00:26:07.50
Find out how people in the Bible
were suradised by God's love.
00:26:07.50\00:26:10.16
Adam and Eve were surprised.
00:26:10.16\00:26:11.50
The deceitful serpent and
the Pharisees were surprised.
00:26:11.50\00:26:14.10
It surprised the disciples
and even the heavenly angels.
00:26:14.10\00:26:17.73
And God's surprises of love
continue all around us today.
00:26:17.73\00:26:21.46
Join with Elizabeth as you
get a fresh view of the greatest
00:26:21.46\00:26:24.36
story ever told.
00:26:24.36\00:26:25.90
From the kidnapping of
God's children to the rescue,
00:26:25.90\00:26:30.66
from the ransom to the reunion.
00:26:30.66\00:26:31.66
"Surprised by Love" is
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Just call our toll
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00:26:34.73\00:26:37.10
That's 877-265-6333.
00:26:37.10\00:26:41.90
Please have your credit
card ready when you call.
00:26:41.90\00:26:44.00
Or you may write us
to request your copy.
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Just send your check to
Breath of Life, P.O. Box 340,
00:26:46.13\00:26:48.13
Newbury Park, California 91319.
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Get your copy of
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Be encouraged and
touched by the unexpected rescue
00:26:55.53\00:26:58.66
of God's children.
00:26:58.66\00:26:59.66
PB: Are you
hearing what I'm saying?
00:26:59.66\00:27:02.50
>: To order a DVD or CD copy
of this Breath of Life broadcast
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with Carlton Byrd, just call our
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00:27:05.46\00:27:10.90
That's 877-265-6333.
00:27:10.90\00:27:11.90
Please visit us online at
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God bless you.
00:27:28.56\00:27:29.56
PB: We want you to know that
any and all donations, small or
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great, they are sincerely
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00:27:34.36\00:27:38.13
To contact us or to make your
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That's 877-BOL-OFFER.
00:27:46.83\00:27:52.86
Or you may write to us at
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00:28:02.53\00:28:07.90
or log on to our
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00:28:07.90\00:28:13.06
Because of prayer changes
things, and you go back doing
00:28:16.93\00:28:22.06
the same things, you're
going to mess the things up that
00:28:22.06\00:28:26.50
prayer just changed.
00:28:26.50\00:28:29.63