Breath Of Life
Ministries Presents:
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Sermon B587  "Let
the People Rejoice"
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[Breath of Life Theme Music]
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PB:  First Thessalonians
chapter 5:15, I read,
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"See that none render
evil for"--what, everybody?
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Aud.:  Evil.  PB: 
"Evil for evil unto any man;
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but ever follow that which
is good, both among yourselves,
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and to all men.
Rejoice"--what? Aud.:  Evermore.
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PB:  Come on, rejoice
what? Aud.:  Evermore.
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PB:  Pray without
what?  Aud.: Ceasing.
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PB:  "In every thing
give thanks: for this is the
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will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you.
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Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings.
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Prove all things; hold
fast that which is good.
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Abstain from all
appearance of evil. And the very
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God of peace sanctify
you wholly; and I pray God
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your whole spirit and
soul and body be preserved
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blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ."
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Today we challenge you in
the subject, "let the people
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rejoice." Father, bless us now
for the next couple of moments
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as we dig into this text.
God, as we dig into this text
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and as we seek to make it
applicable to our everyday life,
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we pray Your power, we pray
Your Holy Ghost in this place.
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God, I don't know how
this is gonna end. I don't know
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which way Your Spirit
will lead, but I promise You,
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I will be obedient to
You. Move by Your power.
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Sprinkle out Your grace,
and God, may Your Spirit move,
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particularly when we
get to the appeal. We give
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You the praise, the
honor, and every single bit
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of the glory. In
Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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Let the people rejoice.
Have you noticed that many
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people now refer to
Thanksgiving Day as Turkey Day?
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But don't act like you don't
know what I'm talking about.
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All of you all did not dinner
roast or tofurkey on Thursday.
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Come on, say amen. Let's
get that out. Come on, say amen.
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All right, turkey, turkey,
turkey. It's all people talk
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about on Thanksgiving.
Baked turkey, fried turkey,
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smoked turkey, barbecued turkey,
jerk turkey, sliced turkey,
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turkey soup, turkey sandwiches.
In fact, society talks
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more about turkey on
Thanksgiving than they do
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Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving.
And because they talk
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more about turkey on
Thanksgiving instead of
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thanksgiving on Thanksgiving,
Thanksgiving has become a day
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when people worship a created
thing--turkey--rather than
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the Creator. People
value the creature more than
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they value the Creator.
Remember, I preached a couple
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of weeks ago that this dates
back to the Garden of Eden,
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when Eve, after being
deceived Satan, she confronts
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Adam with the fruit from
the tree of knowledge of good
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and evil. Adam had a decision
to make. Do I go with the gift,
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Eve, or the giver, God. Do
I go with the creature or the
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Creator. And because he chooses
to be with her rather than to be
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with God, Adam chooses death
and that choice brings about the
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fall of man, and
because he fell, we all fell.
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So now we live in a
world where creation is valued
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more than the Creator.
Where physical and material
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blessings are valued
more than spiritual blessings.
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And while we ought to be
thankful for physical and
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material blessings, we
ought to be more thankful for
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spiritual blessings,
because every good and perfect
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gift comes from above. Do I
have a witness in this place?
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All right, so then, Thanksgiving
yes, is a day of fun,
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food, family and football.
But it's just not a holiday
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every fourth Thursday of
November. Thanksgiving is a
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distinctive holiday. It
doesn't commemorate a battle.
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It doesn't celebrate
someone's birthday, but
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Thanksgiving is a day
set aside to express our
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thanks to God. That's
what it is: a day to express
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our thanks to God. The
pilgrims did it. Our nation's
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forefathers did it. Our
parents did it. And we do it.
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Thanksgiving is not
turkey day; Thanksgiving is
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thank God day. Heh,
heh, heh. [Aud. reaction]
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PB:  Now, this is best
illustrated in the text,
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First Thessalonians chapter
5. Now, please understand,
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I can choose a bunch of other
texts on Thanksgiving Sabbath,
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including Psalm 95:2, "Let
us come before his presence
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with thanksgiving and make
a joyful noise until him with
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psalms." I could choose Psalm
100, "Make a joyful noise unto
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the Lord, all ye lands. Serve
the Lord with gladness. Come
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before his presence with
thanksgiving." I could choose
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Psalm 105:1, or Psalm 106:1,
Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:1, or
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Psalm 136:1, where they all say
the same thing: O give thanks
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unto the Lord for he is good
and his mercy endureth forever.
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But I like what Brother Paul
said in First Thessalonians 5.
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In this text, Paul was en
route to Rome with a layover in
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Corinth when he wrote this
letter to the young church at
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Thessalonica. In this text,
Paul offers eight principles.
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How many principles,
everybody? Aud.:  Eight.
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PB:  Eight principles
on Christian etiquette,
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and how Christians ought
to act towards one another.
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So let me remind you how we
ought to act towards each other.
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Are you hearing what I'm saying?
First, Paul say in verse 15,
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"Don't render evil"--for
what, everybody?  Aud.:  Evil.
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PB:  In other words, you
can't live the Christian life
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based on the pay back
mentality. You can't go around
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trying to get even with
folk who have wronged you.
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Two wrongs never make a
right. God's Word said vengeance
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is mine, which means if you
kick my dog, then that doesn't
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give me license to kick your
cats. Christianity is not an eye
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for an eye, or a tooth for a
tooth, because an eye for an eye
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and a tooth for a tooth will
leave everybody snaggletoothed
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and blind. [Aud. reaction]   PB:
 If you're a follower of Christ,
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you must return good for
evil. Number two, another
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principle he gives us. He
says "rejoice." He says what,
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everybody? Aud.:  Rejoice.  PB: 
Come on, he says what,
everybody?  Aud.: Rejoice.
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PB:  Rejoice evermore.
Now, I don't know about you-
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-and I'm excited about
this Thanksgiving Sabbath.
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Missed you last Sabbath. God has
blessed us with Thanksgiving.
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I'm glad to be here this
Sabbath. And I don't know about
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you, but I don't have time
for a religion that won't let me
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rejoice. [Aud. reaction] 
PB:  So when I come to church, I
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don't come for foolishness. When
I come to church, I don't come
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for mess. When I come to church,
I don't come to get down,
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defeated or despondent. I get
enough of that during the week.
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Does anybody else know what
I'm talking about? When I come
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to church, I come to rejoice. I
was glad when they said unto me,
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let us go into the house of
the Lord. He woke me up this
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morning, started me on my way,
put food on my table, clothing
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on my back. When I come to
church, I come to rejoice that
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God raised me, that God saved
me, that God delivered me, that
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God res cued me. This is the day
the Lord hath made, let us
rejoice. Do what, everybody?
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Aud.:  Rejoice.  PB:  And be
glad in it. I come to praise the
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name of Jesus. I come to lift
the name of Jesus. I come to
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magnify the name of Jesus. If
God's been good to you, somebody
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oughta say something. If God has
blessed you, somebody oughta say
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something. If God has been your
bridge over troubled waters,
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somebody oughta say something.
If God has helped you raise
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those children by yourself and
pay that tuition, somebody
oughta say something.
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Let the redeemed of the
Lord say so. Paul said rejoice.
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He said what,
everybody?  Aud.: Rejoice.
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PB:  Evermore. I'm coming
back to rejoice I a minute,
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'cause that's the name of
the title. But let's go to
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principle number three.
Paul says pray. He says what,
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everybody? Aud.:  Pray.  PB:
 Pray without ceasing. And if
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there's something that life has
taught me, it's taught me how to
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pray. Somebody knows, if you're
a child of God, you will learn
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how to pray. You see, the devil
is always busy. I said, the
devil is always busy.
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When you're asleep, the devil
is busy. When you're a wake,
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the devil is busy. When you
think you're at your spiritual
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best, the devil is busy. When
you're at your spiritual worst,
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the devil is busy. When you've
got your guard up, the devil is
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busy. When you've got your guard
down, the devil is busy. What am
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I trying to say? The
devil is busy. Ha ha.
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Satan is on the loose. The devil
is never satisfied for peace
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to travail. Satan is
the author of confusion,
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and whenever he can
get his foot I your life,
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he will. That's why Paul
says pray without ceasing.
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Pray without what,
everybody? Aud.:  Ceasing.
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PB:  That means don't
stop praying. Old folks,
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you say where there's much
prayer, there's much power.
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A little prayer, a
little what, everybody?
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Aud.:  [indiscernible]  PB: 
No prayer, no what, everybody?
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Prayer still--I believe
it--prayer still changes things.
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I still believe prayer changes
situations. I still believe
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prayer changes people. Pray
for your family. Pray for your
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children. Pray for your
grandchildren. Pray for this
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church. Pray for this
ministry. Pray for the elders,
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pray for the deacons,
pray for the deaconesses,
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and God knows,
pray for the pastor!
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And while you sayin' amen
to pray for everybody else,
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pray for yourself. Do I
have a witness in this place?
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[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
Number four principle,
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Paul says, in
everything. In what, everybody?
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Aud.:  Everything.  PB: 
Give what?  Aud.:  Thanks.
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PB:  Thanks. For
this is the will of God in
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Christ Jesus concerning
you. Now, when I was a child,
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I was taught to say
"thank you." When somebody
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did something for
you, you said "thank you."
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And if you didn't say
"thank you," it was a reflection
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on your upbringing
and your home training.
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Does anybody know
what I'm talking about?
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[Aud. reaction]  PB:  See,
we got too much entitlement
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goin' on around here. We gotta
teach people, young people,
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how to say "thank you." Is
anybody listening to what I'm
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saying? You use, if I didn't
say "thank you" in my house, my
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daddy- -he's sitting right here,
on the second row. My daddy
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didn't believe in being
embarrassed. So I had better say
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"thank you" in response to
people's kindness. Does anybody
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know what I'm talking
about?  [Aud. reaction]
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PB:  You see, back
when I was growing up,
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there was not all this
time out like we have today.
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A hard head made a soft
bottom. Does anybody know what
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I'm talking about? All
this time out. I'ma ca--I told
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my daddy one day,
"I'ma call DHR." He said,
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"I'll dial the number
for you." [Aud. reaction]
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PB:  Now, that was real
parenting. Does somebody
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know what I'm talking
about? You may not have money,
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but you could have
manners. You may not be reach,
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but you don't have to be rude.
You may not--you may be poor,
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but you can be polite.
Everybody can say "thank you."
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[Aud. reaction]  PB:  Principle
number five, the text says,
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"Quench not the spirit."
Quench not the what, everybody?
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Aud.:  Spirit.  PB:  In
other words, don't suppress
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God's Spirit. When God's Spirit
is moving in somebody's life;
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when God's Spirit
is moving in the room,
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don't quench God's Spirit.
That's why we were taught,
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back in the day, that
during the appeal time in the
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sermon you didn't
move. It was God's time.
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Does anybody know what I'm
talking about?  [Aud. reaction]
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PB:  It was Holy Ghost time.
That's why we're tal--don't
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move. It's God's time. The
only movement in the appeal
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should be somebody
moving to the front.
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I'm reminding and
educating at the same time.
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You don't want a distraction.
Quench not the spirit.
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Number six principle:
despise not prophesyings.
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In other words, don't
despite those who have a
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word from the Lord. That word
might be a blessing for you.
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Are you hearing what I'm
saying? But then, number seven:
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prove all things. Hold
fast that which is good.
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Really clarifies number
six, because while you don't
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want to despise
prophesyings. On the other hand,
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Paul is saying, don't
be gullible. Paul said,
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check everything out.
Keep only what is good.
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Don't believe
everything you hear. Are ya--are
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you hearing what I'm
saying? Don't believe everything
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you see on the Internet.
Check it out. There are
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four tests to a true
prophet. Number one, a true
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prophet will speak
according to the Word of God;
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Isaiah 8:20. Are you
hearing what I'm saying?
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Number two, a true
prophet--whatever he or she
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prophesies- -will come to pass,
Jeremiah 28:9. Number three, a
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true prophet, by their fruit
you gonna know 'em. So you can't
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tell me you do one thing but you
live in another. Are you hearing
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what I'm saying? That's
Matthew 7:20. Then number four,
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you gotta test the spirits.
Everybody talkin' about they
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have spirit, you'd better
test 'em.  First John 4:1,
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try the spirits. Every
spirit is not from God.
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That's why I don't ask
everybody to pray for me.
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Are you hearing what
I'm saying? People try to
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challenge me on that
statement, but if you're not
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praying to the same
Spirit of God I'm praying to,
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I don't need you
praying over me. Are you hearing
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what I'm saying? A true
prophet will confess that
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Jesus Christ is Lord. 
Number eight, abstain from
00:13:35.31\00:13:39.98
all appearance of evil.
In other words, avoid the
00:13:40.02\00:13:43.89
appearance of what, everybody?
Aud.:  [indiscernible]
00:13:43.92\00:13:45.89
PB:  All right, so
the old saying says,
00:13:45.92\00:13:47.46
if it looks like a
duck, swims like a duck,
00:13:47.49\00:13:50.83
quacks like a duck, it
must be a what, everybody?
00:13:50.86\00:13:55.00
[Aud. reaction] 
PB:  It must be a duck.
00:13:55.03\00:13:56.77
So if you don't
wanna be a duck, don't look
00:13:56.80\00:13:59.10
like a duck,
don't act like a duck.
00:13:59.13\00:14:03.07
The seasoned saints
used to say, shun the very
00:14:03.10\00:14:06.91
appearance of evil.
See, I grew up at home,
00:14:06.94\00:14:10.01
representing my
parents. I grew up in a home,
00:14:10.05\00:14:11.68
and my parents told
me, "If someone asks you to
00:14:11.71\00:14:14.88
go to the party, you
gonna say no. If somebody
00:14:14.92\00:14:19.99
asks you to go to the
party, you're gonna say no."
00:14:20.02\00:14:22.42
But then, you ought to
be living your life in such
00:14:22.46\00:14:25.43
a way that people don't even
feel comfortable asking you-
00:14:25.46\00:14:30.97
-Are you hearing what I'm
saying?--to go to the party.
00:14:31.00\00:14:34.84
You should be living your
life in such a way that people
00:14:34.87\00:14:38.51
don't even feel comfortable
coming to you with mess and
00:14:38.54\00:14:43.14
confusion. Are you hearing
what I'm saying? Avoid the
00:14:43.18\00:14:46.28
very appearance of evil. 
But remember I said, this is
00:14:46.31\00:14:50.95
thanksgiving text. So though
I've given you eight principles
00:14:50.99\00:14:53.05
that Christian etiquette
is all about, two principles
00:14:53.09\00:14:57.76
specifically, principles  
two and four, deal directly with
00:14:57.79\00:14:59.53
thanksgiving. Principle
number two: rejoice. Do what,
00:14:59.56\00:15:03.43
everybody? Aud.:  Rejoice.  PB:
 Evermore. And then principle
00:15:03.47\00:15:05.33
number four: In everything give
what, everybody?  Aud.:  Thanks.
00:15:05.37\00:15:07.67
PB:  Now, we always
preach principle four on
00:15:07.70\00:15:10.44
Thanksgiving Sabbath.
Verse 18. We always preach it:
00:15:10.47\00:15:13.41
In everything give thanks,
for this is the will of God
00:15:13.44\00:15:16.44
in Christ Jesus concerning
you. But today, in the couple
00:15:16.48\00:15:19.61
of minutes I have left, I
want to emphasize and speak
00:15:19.65\00:15:21.42
specifically to principle
number two. Rejoice evermore
00:15:21.45\00:15:26.55
for thanksgiving. I told
you I was coming back to this.
00:15:26.59\00:15:30.66
Rejoice evermore. Now,
this principle, this verse,
00:15:30.69\00:15:36.50
verse 16, rejoice
evermore, is two words.
00:15:36.53\00:15:41.77
How many words,
everybody? Aud.:  Two.
00:15:41.80\00:15:44.41
PB:  Two. Now, do
you know the shortest
00:15:44.44\00:15:47.18
verse in the Bible?
Uh-huh, I thought you,
00:15:47.21\00:15:50.11
somebody was gonna
shout that. John 11:35 says
00:15:50.15\00:15:53.21
Jesus what,
everybody?  Aud.: Wept.
00:15:53.25\00:15:54.95
PB:  But that's only
true as it being the shortest
00:15:54.98\00:15:57.65
verse in the Bible,
in the English version.
00:15:57.69\00:15:59.72
As you study the Greek
text, rejoice evermore is
00:15:59.75\00:16:04.83
the shortest verse. And
in case you didn't know,
00:16:04.86\00:16:08.03
short verses in the Bible
say a lot. It's not always the
00:16:08.06\00:16:13.60
quantity but the quality,
because it doesn't have to be
00:16:13.64\00:16:17.17
everlasting to be eternal.
Are you hearing what I'm saying?
00:16:17.21\00:16:21.68
One verse, two
words: rejoice evermore.
00:16:21.71\00:16:28.12
Now, the verb here is rejoice.
00:16:28.15\00:16:30.49
The verb here is what,
everybody?  Aud.:  Rejoice.
00:16:30.52\00:16:32.49
PB:  and rejoice is
imperative in nature.
00:16:32.52\00:16:36.09
The subject is
understood: You rejoice.
00:16:36.12\00:16:40.50
Are you hearing what I'm
saying? It's an imperative verb,
00:16:40.53\00:16:43.16
"rejoice." Who?
You. Subject understood,
00:16:43.20\00:16:46.27
imperative verb "rejoice."
But only is the verb imperative,
00:16:46.30\00:16:49.27
but it's also in the
present tense. Which means,
00:16:49.30\00:16:54.74
it's neither past nor
future. Somebody's gonna
00:16:54.78\00:16:57.81
get this in a minute.
Paul's not saying you should
00:16:57.85\00:17:01.38
have rejoiced in times
past. Neither is Paul saying,
00:17:01.42\00:17:04.75
you should rejoice in times
future. But Paul is saying,
00:17:04.79\00:17:08.69
rejoice right now.
And not only is he saying
00:17:08.72\00:17:12.79
rejoice right now, but
he's saying rejoice and
00:17:12.83\00:17:16.63
keep on rejoicing. Don't
stop rejoicing. Rejoice always.
00:17:16.67\00:17:21.34
Continually rejoice. Be
cheerful, no matter what.
00:17:21.37\00:17:25.41
Be full of joy all the
time. Rejoice evermore.
00:17:25.44\00:17:30.51
Now somebody should be excited.
Let me go a little deeper.
00:17:30.55\00:17:33.55
This simple command
reveals the true life-changing
00:17:33.58\00:17:37.15
power of Jesus. When
Christ enters your life,
00:17:37.19\00:17:41.46
He changes you from
the inside out so that you
00:17:41.49\00:17:45.73
have both the power and
the desire to rejoice even
00:17:45.76\00:17:49.66
in the worst moments
of your life. So then,
00:17:49.70\00:17:52.50
joy then--because it's
inside out--is something
00:17:52.53\00:17:56.24
that is internal and
based on a revelation.
00:17:56.27\00:17:59.14
Joy is not based
on external stimuli.
00:17:59.17\00:18:02.78
When then I know
who God is, when I know
00:18:02.81\00:18:06.61
what God has done
in my life, it doesn't
00:18:06.65\00:18:09.52
make a difference what
happens on the outside.
00:18:09.55\00:18:12.49
But it's all about
based on Who I know and
00:18:12.52\00:18:14.62
what I know, on the
inside. Joy works from
00:18:14.66\00:18:18.69
the inside out.
Somebody's still not getting it.
00:18:18.73\00:18:22.46
Let me help you. 
Joy then doesn't depend
00:18:22.50\00:18:25.00
on whether I have a job or not.
00:18:25.03\00:18:27.27
Joy does not
depend on whether I have a
00:18:27.30\00:18:29.90
paycheck or not.
Joy does not depend on
00:18:29.94\00:18:32.91
how many coworkers
or so-called friends,
00:18:32.94\00:18:35.08
how they've treated
me. Joy doesn't depend
00:18:35.11\00:18:37.71
on my health. Joy
doesn't depend on the
00:18:37.75\00:18:40.25
state of my
family or my children.
00:18:40.28\00:18:42.52
Joy doesn't depend on
who's in the White House;
00:18:42.55\00:18:45.55
who's in the Senate;
who's in the House of
00:18:45.59\00:18:48.06
Representatives, who
sits on the Supreme Court.
00:18:48.09\00:18:50.49
Joy doesn't depend on
who my favorite NBA team is.
00:18:50.53\00:18:55.06
[Aud. reaction]  Joy
doesn't depend on what the
00:18:55.10\00:18:57.07
stock market is doing.
Joy is not based on some
00:18:57.10\00:18:59.73
external reality, but joy is
based on an internal reality.
00:18:59.77\00:19:03.27
[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
Joy doesn't' depend on my
00:19:03.30\00:19:06.74
circumstances, but on a living
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:19:06.78\00:19:09.24
If you don't have--listen
to me good--if you don't
00:19:09.28\00:19:12.28
have joy right now,
don't blame your circumstances.
00:19:12.31\00:19:16.15
Let me say that one more
time. If you don't have joy
00:19:16.18\00:19:18.55
right now, don't
blame your circumstances.
00:19:18.59\00:19:22.39
Your circumstances were
never meant to bring you
00:19:22.42\00:19:24.59
joy in the first place. If
you build life on circumstances,
00:19:24.63\00:19:28.10
you're gonna be miserable
just as often as you're happy.
00:19:28.13\00:19:31.30
You need a source of joy
that does not change; an eternal
00:19:31.33\00:19:35.80
perspective that comes only
from knowing Jesus. My joy today
00:19:35.84\00:19:40.58
is not based on you all; my joy
is not based on building that
00:19:40.61\00:19:44.38
family life center; my joy is
based on knowing Jesus Christ,
00:19:44.41\00:19:48.82
and this joy that I
have, the world didn't give it,
00:19:48.85\00:19:52.09
and the world can't take
it away.  [Aud. reaction]
00:19:52.12\00:19:55.32
PB:  Back in the
day, back in the day.
00:19:55.36\00:20:00.20
I don't know if you
all remember or not,
00:20:00.23\00:20:02.76
but we used to sing
a certain song a lot.
00:20:02.80\00:20:06.70
Back in the day, we
used to sing hymn 340 a lot.
00:20:06.74\00:20:11.01
We have heard a
joyful sound: Jesus saves,
00:20:11.04\00:20:17.35
Jesus saves. Spread
the gladness all around.
00:20:17.38\00:20:22.82
Je--does anybody
remember that song?
00:20:22.85\00:20:25.05
[Aud. reaction]  PB:  Anybody
know what I'm talking about?
00:20:25.09\00:20:28.26
Let me tell you something.
Whenever the gospel is preached;
00:20:28.29\00:20:32.16
whenever Jesus the Christ
is preached, friends of mine,
00:20:32.19\00:20:36.30
it's a joyful sound. It's a
joyful sound to those who hear
00:20:36.33\00:20:41.47
it. And I believe--listen
to me good--one of the reasons
00:20:41.50\00:20:43.97
why evangelism is waning
and its interest declining
00:20:44.01\00:20:48.41
is because we've lost that
sense of joy in the gospel.
00:20:48.44\00:20:55.08
[Aud. reaction]  PB:  We're
not excited like we used to be.
00:20:55.12\00:20:57.45
We're not
enthusiastic like we used to be.
00:20:57.49\00:21:00.42
We're not on fire
like we used to be.
00:21:00.46\00:21:01.52
Some of us think that our
sacred duty is to be gloomy,
00:21:01.56\00:21:06.23
to be sad, frozen chosen,
first church of refrigeration,
00:21:06.26\00:21:13.34
dill-pickle Christians who
go through life acting like
00:21:13.37\00:21:17.61
smiling is a sin and
laughter is an abomination.
00:21:17.64\00:21:22.01
Preach, Pastor Byrd.
I'm doing the best I can.
00:21:22.04\00:21:24.25
[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
Some of us will sit in service
00:21:24.28\00:21:26.65
all day long, never smile,
never sing, never pat our feet,
00:21:26.68\00:21:33.39
never moan, never groan,
never nod, never say amen,
00:21:33.42\00:21:39.09
never do anything. But
when I think of the goodness
00:21:39.13\00:21:41.83
of Jesus and all He's
done for me, my soul cries out
00:21:41.86\00:21:46.94
hallelujah! Thank God for
saving me.  Can I be real?
00:21:46.97\00:21:52.77
[Aud. reaction]  PB:  I
couldn't go anywhere and sit
00:21:52.81\00:21:55.98
for three or four
hours and do nothing.
00:21:56.01\00:21:58.78
[Aud. reaction]  PB:  And when
we present our faith as dull,
00:21:58.81\00:22:02.95
dry and boring; when we
give the impression that
00:22:02.98\00:22:08.62
knowing Christ means
becoming a dull, dry, boring,
00:22:08.66\00:22:13.23
religious person,
who can blame the younger
00:22:13.26\00:22:16.20
generation for
rejecting the gospel?
00:22:16.23\00:22:18.87
[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
Let me tell you something-
00:22:18.90\00:22:21.07
-can I be real
today?  [Aud. reaction]
00:22:21.10\00:22:22.60
PB:  I've seen
enough joyless Christians.
00:22:22.64\00:22:26.34
Sometimes, I'll
admit, I prefer a company
00:22:26.37\00:22:29.91
of friendly
unbelievers, because at least
00:22:29.94\00:22:34.12
with them I can
introduce them to Jesus,
00:22:34.15\00:22:36.79
and they'll be
excited that Jesus was born
00:22:36.82\00:22:39.95
for them, that He
died  to save them,
00:22:39.99\00:22:42.99
and that He's
coming back to get them.
00:22:43.02\00:22:44.76
If the gospel is
Good News--we have heard a
00:22:44.79\00:22:48.16
joyful sound--we ought
to rejoice and be glad.
00:22:48.20\00:22:52.00
The Bible says the joy of
the Lord is your strength.
00:22:52.03\00:22:56.40
The Bible says a cheerful
heart doeth good like medicine.
00:22:56.44\00:23:00.18
Paul says rejoice!
Let the people rejoice!
00:23:00.21\00:23:04.55
God desires that
people should be joyful.
00:23:04.58\00:23:07.55
As Christians, we
oughta be the happiest
00:23:07.58\00:23:09.38
people in the
world.  [Aud. reaction]
00:23:09.42\00:23:11.12
PB:  Christians
should not have long faces.
00:23:11.15\00:23:13.62
Christians should not
have mean dispositions.
00:23:13.66\00:23:16.42
Christians shouldn't
have cruel characters.
00:23:16.46\00:23:19.86
Rejoice in the Lord
always, and again I say rejoice!
00:23:19.89\00:23:23.16
Let the people rejoice!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
00:23:23.20\00:23:27.20
and all that is within
me bless His holy name.
00:23:27.24\00:23:29.84
I will bless the Lord
at all times, His praise
00:23:29.87\00:23:32.44
shall continually be
in my mouth. My soul shall
00:23:32.47\00:23:35.08
make her boast in the
Lord. The humble shall hear
00:23:35.11\00:23:37.48
thereof, and be glad.
O, come and magnify the
00:23:37.51\00:23:39.65
Lord with me and let us
exalt His name together.
00:23:39.68\00:23:42.62
O give thanks unto
the Lord, for He is good.
00:23:42.65\00:23:45.99
Rejoice
evermore.  [Aud. reaction]
00:23:46.02\00:23:49.52
PB:  Today I'm
thankful. I said, I'm thankful.
00:23:49.56\00:23:53.76
I'm thankful. Anybody
else thankful?  [Aud. reaction]
00:23:53.80\00:23:56.87
PB:  You weren't
supposed to be here today,
00:23:56.90\00:23:58.97
you should have died this
year. But you're here today.
00:23:59.00\00:24:01.00
You ought to be thankful.
I'm thankful. I'm thankful
00:24:01.04\00:24:04.71
for my wife; I'm
thankful for my children;
00:24:04.74\00:24:07.68
I'm thankful for my church;
I'm thankful for my ministry;
00:24:07.71\00:24:11.28
I'm thankful for being
alive. I'm thankful for the
00:24:11.31\00:24:14.62
faculties of my mind.
I'm thankful for the movement
00:24:14.65\00:24:17.45
of my limbs. I'm thankful!
 And because I'm thankful,
00:24:17.49\00:24:23.69
I've got joy. God has
called us to be grateful.
00:24:23.73\00:24:29.66
He's called us to be what,
everybody?  Aud.:  Grateful.
00:24:29.70\00:24:33.30
PB:  And not grumble.
We grumble when the air
00:24:33.34\00:24:37.67
goes out in our homes;
but what about those who
00:24:37.71\00:24:40.88
have no home? We
grumble when we have a cold or
00:24:40.91\00:24:44.11
a sore throat, but what
about those dying with cancer?
00:24:44.15\00:24:47.65
We grumble when the
kids mess up the house,
00:24:47.68\00:24:50.62
but what about those
people who wish they could
00:24:50.65\00:24:52.49
have children? We
grumble when the sermon
00:24:52.52\00:24:55.06
Pastor Byrd preaches is
too long. But what about
00:24:55.09\00:24:58.83
those who have never
heard the precious promises
00:24:58.86\00:25:01.13
of Jesus Christ?  So
when people talk about you,
00:25:01.16\00:25:05.13
don't grumble.
Don't grumble. Thank God.
00:25:05.17\00:25:10.54
Now you know who your
real friends are. Ha ha.
00:25:10.57\00:25:13.51
When you have a bad
day at work, don't grumble.
00:25:13.54\00:25:16.01
Be thankful. At least
you have a job. When you
00:25:16.04\00:25:20.15
can't pay your
bills, be thankful.
00:25:20.18\00:25:22.55
At least you're not
of your bill collectors.
00:25:22.58\00:25:25.55
Ha ha. When you're in
church, sitting with somebody
00:25:25.59\00:25:27.92
who can't sing, be
thankful. At least you've got
00:25:27.96\00:25:30.93
ears to hear. When you
realize how much work it
00:25:30.96\00:25:34.23
takes to take care
of a house, be thankful.
00:25:34.30\00:25:36.90
At least you have a
house. When you have to walk
00:25:36.93\00:25:39.43
a long distance from
your car, and you have to park
00:25:39.47\00:25:42.17
and walk up to the
Oakwood Church, be thankful.
00:25:42.20\00:25:45.01
At least you can walk. Are
you hearing what I'm saying?
00:25:45.04\00:25:48.01
When you get irritated
by other people's anger,
00:25:48.04\00:25:50.98
ignorance, bitterness or
insecurities, be thankful.
00:25:51.01\00:25:54.98
At least you're not one
of them. When you think of
00:25:55.02\00:25:58.69
everything in your
life that is terrible,
00:25:58.72\00:26:01.42
and you want to give
up, think about all the
00:26:01.46\00:26:05.63
people who have been
told that they only have
00:26:05.66\00:26:08.63
a certain amount of
time to live. They don't
00:26:08.66\00:26:11.70
want to give up. Be
thankful. Ellen White says
00:26:11.73\00:26:16.57
in "The Ministry of
Healing"--I love this quote-
00:26:16.60\00:26:18.47
-she says that "even
those things which appear
00:26:18.51\00:26:22.48
to be against us
may work for our good,"
00:26:22.51\00:26:26.85
because she says--I love
this quote--because she says
00:26:26.88\00:26:29.82
"God would not ask us
to be thankful for that
00:26:29.85\00:26:33.22
which would harm us."
Rejoice! Let the people rejoice!
00:26:33.25\00:26:41.73
Be thankful! Stop
whining. Stop complaining.
00:26:41.76\00:26:46.50
Stop grumbling, and don't
hang around other grumblers,
00:26:46.53\00:26:52.77
because sooner than
later, you will start grumbling.
00:26:52.81\00:26:55.58
Birds of a feather
flock, what? Aud.:  Together.
00:26:55.61\00:26:58.65
PB:  Together. I'm
almost done, but let me give
00:26:58.68\00:27:00.82
you three ways how
you can spot a grumbler.
00:27:00.85\00:27:04.02
Can I tell you how
you can spot a grumbler?
00:27:04.05\00:27:08.52
[Aud. reaction]  PB: 
Number one, a grumbler
00:27:08.56\00:27:15.10
is never satisfied with
what he has. If it's money,
00:27:15.13\00:27:21.77
he never has enough.
If it's his home, somebody
00:27:21.80\00:27:26.14
else has a nicer one. A
grumbler is an expert in
00:27:26.17\00:27:29.91
criticism and has a
Ph.D. in nit-picking. Nothing
00:27:29.94\00:27:35.32
is ever really enough.
Number two, how do you spot
00:27:35.35\00:27:40.19
a grumbler. A
grumbler always has an excuse.
00:27:40.22\00:27:43.59
Ask him, why don't you
buy a new car? He says,
00:27:43.63\00:27:47.03
the interest rates are
too high. Ask him again,
00:27:47.03\00:27:50.83
he says, well, cars
cost too much. Ask him again,
00:27:50.87\00:27:54.34
he says, new cars are
rip-offs. So then you ask him,
00:27:54.37\00:27:57.91
why doesn't he buy a
used car, and he says you're
00:27:57.94\00:28:01.01
just buying
somebody else's problems.
00:28:01.04\00:28:02.88
"Thank you very
much for tuning into this
00:28:02.91\00:28:05.55
week's Breath of Life Broadcast.
00:28:05.58\00:28:07.48
We hope and pray
that you have been blessed
00:28:07.52\00:28:09.55
by Dr. Byrd's
inspirational message.
00:28:09.58\00:28:12.29
If you would like
to hear this sermon in
00:28:12.32\00:28:13.79
its entirety, please
feel free to visit us at
00:28:13.82\00:28:16.62
www.breathoflife.tv or
call us at 256.929.6460.
00:28:16.66\00:28:26.07
Again, thank you
very much for joining us,
00:28:26.10\00:28:27.90
and please tune in
next week for another
00:28:27.94\00:28:29.74
powerful message from Dr. Byrd."
00:28:29.77\00:28:31.34
[end]
00:28:31.37\00:28:46.39