Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: EG
Program Code: EG021532A
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00:00 (MUSIC)
00:09 >>SO WHAT IS THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT IN THE WORLD? 00:12 WELL, NATURALLY, YOU'D SAY THE SUN, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 00:14 BRIGHTEST MAN-MADE LIGHT IN THE WORLD. 00:17 IT'S THE LIGHT THAT SHINES OUT OF THE ROOF OF THAT 00:19 PYRAMID-SHAPED HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS CALLED THE LUXOR. 00:23 THERE, IN THE CAP OF THAT HOTEL, THERE'S A ROOM THAT CONTAINS 39 00:27 WASHING-MACHINE SIZED XENON BULBS; AND EACH OF THOSE BULBS 00:31 REQUIRES ABOUT 7,000 WATTS. ALTOGETHER, THEY PRODUCE ABOUT 00:35 40 BILLION CANDLE POWER OF LIGHT. 00:39 CAN YOU IMAGINE GETTING THAT ELECTRIC BILL AT THE LUXOR HOTEL 00:42 EVERY MONTH? THAT LIGHT IS SO BRIGHT THAT 00:44 PLANES CAN SEE IT 250 MILES AWAY. 00:48 THEY'RE SHOOTING LIGHT TEN MILES UP INTO SPACE, MEANING, IF YOU 00:52 HAPPEN TO BE FLOATING BY, YOU COULD READ A NEWSPAPER UP THERE. 00:56 AND, AS YOU MIGHT HAVE GUESSED, THAT BRIGHT LIGHT HAS BECOME THE 00:59 WORLD'S BEST BUG ATTRACTOR, BRINGING IN MOTHS, BATS, AND 01:03 OWLS - CREATING ITS ON ECOSYSTEM THERE AT NIGHT, ABOVE 01:06 THE HOTEL. BUT THE SAD THING ABOUT THE 01:08 BRIGHTEST LIGHT IN THE WORLD IS ESPECIALLY WHEN THE NIGHT AIR IS 01:12 CLEAR - WITHOUT ANY PARTICLES - THE LIGHT DOESN'T HIT 01:14 ANYTHING AND IT'S INVISIBLE. IT SHOOTS UP INTO EMPTY SPACE. 01:20 THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT IN THE WORLD ILLUMINATES NOTHING. 01:23 YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THERE'S ANOTHER GREAT 01:25 WASTED LIGHT, AND THAT'S THE LIGHT OF GOD'S WORD. 01:29 IT SAYS IN PSALM 119, VERSE 105, "THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET 01:34 AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH." AND YET, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE WALKING 01:37 IN DARKNESS. FURTHERMORE, JESUS SAID, IF YOU 01:40 DO HAVE THAT LIGHT, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T PUT IT UNDER A BUSHEL, 01:43 BUT YOU LET IT SHINE AND ILLUMINATE THE LIVES OF OTHERS. 01:47 JESUS SAID, IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 5, 'SET YOUR LIGHT UP ON A HILL, 01:50 LIKE A CITY, SO THAT ALL MIGHT SEE IT.' LIGHT ONLY BENEFITS 01:54 OTHERS WHEN IT REFLECTS OFF OF SOMETHING. GOD WANTS OUR LIGHTS 01:58 TO ILLUMINATE THE LIVES OF OTHERS. 02:01 SO, ARE YOU GLOWING FOR GOD? 02:03 REMEMBER, JESUS SAID, 'LET THERE BE LIGHT.' (MUSIC) 02:12 >>DID YOU KNOW THAT NOAH WAS PRESENT AT THE BIRTH OF ABRAHAM? 02:16 OKAY, MAYBE HE WASN'T IN THE ROOM, BUT HE WAS ALIVE AND 02:20 PROBABLY TELLING STORIES ABOUT HIS FLOATING ZOO. 02:23 FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD TO THE LAST-DAY EVENTS OF 02:26 REVELATION, 'BIBLEHISTORY.COM' IS A FREE RESOURCE WHERE YOU CAN 02:30 EXPLORE MAJOR BIBLE EVENTS AND CHARACTERS. 02:33 ENHANCE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE AND DRAW CLOSER TO GOD'S 02:37 WORD. GO DEEPER. VISIT THE AMAZING BIBLE TIME 02:41 LINE AT 'BIBLEHISTORY.COM'. (MUSIC) 02:59 >>I REMEMBER AN OLD SAINT IN THE CHURCH THAT I WOULD 03:03 SEE FROM TIME TO TIME, AND WHENEVER I SAW HIM, HE WOULD 03:07 UTTER ONE WORD TO ME - COURAGE. WE MAY NOT HAVE SEEN EACH OTHER 03:13 FOR MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS ON SOME OCCASIONS, BUT WHEN HE'D SEE ME, 03:17 THE FIRST THING HE'D DO IS HE'D STICK OUT HIS HAND, HE'D SHAKE 03:19 MY HAND, HE'D LOOK ME IN THE EYE AND HE'D SAY, 'COURAGE' AND 03:26 THAT ALWAYS IMPRESSED ME. I THOUGHT, 'WELL, OF ALL THE 03:29 THINGS YOU COULD SAY, WHY THAT WORD? 03:33 AND, YOU KNOW, AS TIME GOES BY YOU CAN REALIZE THAT 03:38 DISCOURAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE SPECIAL TOOLS THAT THE DEVIL HAS 03:43 IN HIS BOX TO TRY TO NEUTRALIZE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND THE HOPES 03:48 OF GOD'S PEOPLE. DISCOURAGEMENT'S REALLY THE 03:51 OPPOSITE OF FAITH AND WITHOUT FAITH IT'S IMPOSSIBLE 03:54 TO PLEASE GOD. AND THAT'S WHY THE MESSAGE 03:57 TODAY, WE'VE TITLED COURAGE IN THE FACE OF DISCOURAGEMENT . 04:02 YOU KNOW, RIGHT ON THE BORDERS OF THE PROMISED LAND, THERE IN 04:05 JOSHUA CHAPTER 1. FIRST, BEFORE HE EVEN DIED MOSES 04:11 TAKES JOSHUA ASIDE AND HE SAYS, 'BE COURAGEOUS.' AND THEN WHEN 04:17 THEY GET TO THE BORDERS OF THE PROMISED LAND, GOD GIVES THAT 04:20 MESSAGE WE JUST HEARD IN OUR SCRIPTURE READING, JOSHUA 04:23 CHAPTER 1, AND HE SAYS FOUR OR FIVE TIMES, 'BE COURAGEOUS.' 04:28 'BE COURAGEOUS.' 'DO NOT FEAR. 04:31 BE COURAGEOUS.' AND THEN, HERE WE ARE, AS GOD'S PEOPLE, ON THE 04:36 BORDERS OF THE PROMISED LAND, AND I'M WONDERING IF GOD IS 04:39 TELLING US THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO REMEMBER 04:45 IS, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED AND BE COURAGEOUS. 04:50 NOW, WHENEVER YOU HEAR GOD SAY 'BE' - THAT ALWAYS JUMPS OUT AT 04:55 ME - IT'S A SHORT WORD. IT'S A TWO-LETTER WORD, BUT IT 04:59 REMINDS ME OF CREATION WHEN GOD SAID, 'LET THERE BE LIGHT' AND 05:05 'LET THERE BE LAND' - 'LET THERE BE VEGETATION' AND 'LET THERE BE 05:10 HUMANS.' GOD SPOKE THINGS INTO EXISTENCE, SO IF GOD SAYS, 'BE 05:16 COURAGEOUS' THAT MEANS IT'S POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE 05:19 WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE. NOW, EVEN BELIEVERS CAN 05:25 STRUGGLE WITH DISCOURAGEMENT. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW THAT 05:28 DISCOURAGEMENT IS THE OPPOSITE OF COURAGE. 05:31 MATTER OF FACT, IT MIGHT NOT HURT FOR ME TO JUST GIVE YOU A 05:34 COUPLE OF MORE PRECISE DEFINITIONS. 05:36 WHAT IS COURAGE? COURAGE IS 'THE STATE OR QUALITY 05:40 OF MIND OR SPIRIT THAT ENABLES ONE TO FACE DANGER, FEAR, 05:45 OR VICISSITUDES WITH SELF-POSSESSION, CONFIDENCE, 05:48 RESOLUTION AND BRAVERY.' GOOD DEFINITION. 05:53 DISCOURAGEMENT, OF COURSE, IS THE ANTITHESIS OF THAT: 'TO 05:56 DEPRIVE OF CONFIDENCE, HOPE, OR SPIRIT; TO HAMPER BY 06:01 DISCOURAGING; TO DETOUR; TO CAUSE DOUBT' - OR TO CAUSE ONE 06:07 TO LOSE FAITH, YOU MIGHT SAY. SO IF WE CAN'T BE SAVED WITHOUT 06:10 FAITH, THEN WE NEED TO BE ON OUR GUARD AGAINST DISCOURAGEMENT AND 06:15 WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO GATHER COURAGE. 06:21 NOW, BELIEVERS SOMETIMES STRUGGLE WITH THOSE THINGS. 06:26 THAT'S WHY JESUS TOLD US, JUST BEFORE HE WENT TO THE CROSS - 06:29 AND THIS IS JOHN 16:33, 'I HAVE SAID THESE THINGS TO YOU THAT 06:34 YOU MIGHT HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE 06:37 TRIBULATION;' - WHICH IS PRONE TO DISCOURAGE US - 'BUT TAKE 06:41 HEART,' - YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS WHEN JESUS SAYS, 'TAKE HEART'? 06:45 BE ENCOURAGED BECAUSE I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD - IN THE 06:50 WORLD YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DISCOURAGING THINGS HAPPEN. 06:53 >>AMEN. >>BUT JESUS SAYS, 'BE COURAGEOUS 06:56 BECAUSE I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.' AND THAT'S WHY IT TELLS 06:59 US IN REVELATION, SPEAKING OF THE REDEEMED, 'HERE IS A CALL 07:04 FOR ENDURANCE OF THE SAINTS; THOSE WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS 07:07 OF GOD AND THE FAITH OF JESUS. HERE IS THE COURAGE 07:11 OF THE SAINTS. WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED. 07:14 YOU KNOW, I READ IN THE BIBLE ABOUT SOME OF THE HEROES THAT WE 07:18 HAVE AND IT'S AMAZING HOW OFTEN THEY BECAME UTTERLY DISCOURAGED, 07:25 WHICH IS ENCOURAGING TO ME WHEN I GET DISCOURAGED THAT THEY GOT 07:29 DISCOURAGED. I KNOW THAT YOU WOULD WONDER WHY 07:31 I WOULD BE ENCOURAGED THAT THEY GOT DISCOURAGED - BECAUSE THEY 07:33 GOT OVER IT AND THAT MEANS EVERYBODY GRAPPLES WITH IT AND 07:38 YOU MIGHT FEEL DOWN BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY DOWN. 07:41 ELIJAH, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A GREAT PROPHET - HE'S 07:44 LIKE EXHIBIT A. I MEAN, HOW MANY PEOPLE GO TO 07:46 HEAVEN IN A FIERY CHARIOT? YOU THINK ABOUT THE COURAGE OF 07:50 ELIJAH, WHERE HE STANDS ALONE ON THAT MOUNTAINTOP WHERE HE'S 07:55 SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO JUST KILL HIM RIGHT AWAY - 07:58 AGAINST ALL THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, AGAINST THE KING, AGAINST 08:03 THE CHURCH - AND HE STANDS UP AND HE JUST - HE THROWS THE 08:07 GAUNTLET DOWN AND GOD SENDS FIRE FROM HEAVEN. 08:10 THEN HE PRAYS AND, I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT TO DELIVER. 08:13 AFTER HE HAD THAT BIG SHOWDOWN HE SAYS, 'GOD'S GOING TO SEND 08:15 THE RAIN.' THEN HE PRAYS AND THE RAIN COMES AND, WOW, WHAT A 08:19 VICTORY ON THE MOUNTAINTOP. BUT, YOU REALIZE, WITHIN A FEW 08:22 HOURS HE WAS COLD AND HE WAS TIRED AND HE WAS HUNGRY AND A 08:28 MESSAGE CAME FROM THE QUEEN SAYING, 'YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEAD 08:31 BY TOMORROW.' AND THIS MAN WHO WAS ABSOLUTELY UNDAUNTED, 08:37 FEARLESS, NOTHING SHOOK HIM, HE GOT UP AND RAN FOR HIS LIFE. 08:46 AND YOU FIND HIM, HE'S SHIVERING UNDER A BROOM TREE. 08:50 AN ANGEL HAS TO COME AND FEED HIM AND HE STILL GETS UP AND HE 08:52 RUNS. AND HE'S GOING FURTHER AND 08:55 FURTHER AWAY FROM WHAT GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO DO UNTIL FINALLY 08:58 HE FINDS HIMSELF UP IN A CAVE IN THE MOUNTAIN. 09:01 IT SAYS - IN 1 KINGS 19 IS WHERE YOU FIND THIS STORY - HE WENT A 09:06 DAY'S JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS AND SAT DOWN UNDER A 09:09 BROOM TREE AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE PRAYED? 09:11 HE SAID, 'LORD, IT'S ENOUGH. 09:13 TAKE MY LIFE FOR I'M NO BETTER THAN MY FATHERS.' 09:16 IT SAYS HE PRAYED THAT HE MIGHT DIE. 09:20 A DAY BEFORE HE'S UP ON THE MOUNTAIN IN GLORY. 09:23 HE'S PRAYING AND FIRE'S FLASHING FROM THE HEAVENS. 09:26 I MEAN, HE'S THE EPITOME OF A SUCCESSFUL PROPHET - BRINGS A 09:30 GREAT REVIVAL - 24 HOURS GO BY - DO I MENTION IT WAS THE 09:36 INTIMIDATION OF ONE WOMAN THAT DID IT? 09:38 (LAUGHTER) AND HE'S PRAYING HE MIGHT DIE. 09:43 THEN HE GOES FROM THERE - AN ANGEL COMES TO FEED HIM - HE'S 09:46 STILL DISCOURAGED AND HE KEEPS RUNNING THE WRONG WAY AND HE 09:49 GETS TO A CAVE - GOES TO MOUNT SINAI BUT HE'S IN A CAVE. 09:53 THERE IN THE DARK OF THE CAVE THE WORD OF THE LORD COMES TO 09:55 HIM AND SAYS - YOU KNOW, YOU WONDER, DOES GOD EVER CLEAR HIS 09:58 VOICE BEFORE HE SPEAKS? AND THE LORD SAYS, (CLEARS THROAT) 10:03 'ELIJAH, I KNOW WE HAD THIS GREAT EXPERIENCE UP ON THE 10:06 MOUNTAIN, BUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?' 10:10 YOU SEE, GOD HAD TOLD ELIJAH, 'I WANT YOU TO GO TO THE BROOK 10:12 CHERITH' - AND HE DID AND GOD TOOK CARE OF HIM. 10:15 HE SAYS, 'I WANT YOU TO GO UP TO ZEREPHATH' - AND THE WIDOW - 10:17 MIRACLES - GOD TOOK CARE OF HIM. THE BIRDS FED HIM ONE TIME - 10:20 WIDOW FEEDS HIM - GOD SAYS, 'I WANT YOU TO GO MEET WITH 10:22 AHAB.' HE WAS THERE. GOD CAME THROUGH. 10:25 HE NEVER SAID 'NOW I WANT YOU TO RUN FOR YOUR LIFE INTO THE 10:27 WILDERNESS.' AND HE WENT 300 MILES BECAUSE HE WAS 10:33 DISCOURAGED. HE ENDS UP IN A CAVE. 10:36 YOU EVER BEEN IN THAT CAVE BEFORE? 10:39 THE CAVE OF DISCOURAGEMENT? AND EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE HAD 10:43 MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES WITH GOD, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE 10:46 NOT GOING TO PRAY THE NEXT DAY THAT YOU MIGHT DIE. 10:51 HE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE: JOB, A MAN WHO FEARED GOD, LOVED THE 10:56 LORD, AND "JOB OPENED HIS MOUTH" - JOB CHAPTER 3, VERSE 1 - "AND 10:59 CURSED THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH." YOU EVER DONE THAT? 11:04 I REMEMBER GOING WAY BACK IN MY YOUTH AND I CAN REMEMBER 11:06 THINKING, 'WHY DID I HAVE TO BE BORN?' 11:08 WHENEVER YOU GO THROUGH ANY KIND OF TRIAL OR PAINFUL EXPERIENCE, 11:11 I'D THINK, 'NO ONE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO BE BORN.' THAT REALLY 11:16 BOTHERED MY FATHER WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT ONE DAY. 11:18 I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME. I SAID, 'NO ONE EVER ASKED ME, 11:22 AND HERE I AM HAVING ALL THESE TROUBLES. 11:24 AND WHY WASN'T I CONSULTED FIRST? 11:26 I DIDN'T WANT TO BE BORN. IF YOU HAD ASKED ME BEFORE I WAS 11:28 BORN, 'DO YOU WANT TO BE BORN?' I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SAID 'NO.' 11:30 (LAUGHTER) JOB PRAYED THAT HE MIGHT DIE. 11:37 JEREMIAH - GREAT PROPHET - GOD SPOKE THROUGH HIM. 11:41 20, VERSE 14 - JEREMIAH 20:14 - "CURSED BE THE DAY IN WHICH I 11:45 WAS BORN!...THE DAY...IN WHICH MY MOTHER BORE ME!" 11:48 'LET IT NOT BE BLESSED.' JONAH, 'THEREFORE, NOW, O LORD, PLEASE 11:55 TAKE MY LIFE FROM ME FOR IT'S BETTER FOR ME TO DIE THAN TO 11:58 LIVE.' I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE DEPRESSING, BUT THE 12:02 REASON I MENTION THAT IS IT SHOULD ACTUALLY GIVE YOU HOPE 12:04 BECAUSE I EXPECT TO SEE ALL OF THEM IN HEAVEN AND, IN SPITE OF 12:11 THAT, THEY REALLY GOT DISCOURAGED AT TIMES. 12:15 SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAUSE DISCOURAGEMENT? 12:18 NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO COVER - THIS IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE - I'M 12:20 NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE LIST. 12:21 DON'T RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY, 'DOUG, YOU LEFT SOMETHING OUT. 12:23 I'VE GOT SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAUSES DISCOURAGEMENT.' BECAUSE 12:26 IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST, BUT WHAT ARE 12:29 SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAUSE DISCOURAGEMENT? 12:32 WELL, FOR ONE THING, IT MIGHT BE PHYSICAL. 12:35 SOMETIMES, YOU MIGHT JUST BE SICK AND TIRED - OR BOTH - AND 12:40 THAT CAN BE DISCOURAGING. 12:42 JOB, WHO WE JUST MENTIONED, WHEN HE WAS, YOU KNOW, COVERED WITH 12:46 BOILS AND HE FELT PRETTY SICK, AND HE PRAYED AND SAID, 'WHY DID 12:52 I NOT PERISH AT BIRTH AND DIE AS I CAME FROM THE WOMB?' 12:57 HEZEKIAH WAS SICK - HAD A BOIL AND A FEVER, EVIDENTLY, AND IT 13:01 WAS TERMINAL UNTIL GOD WORKED A MIRACLE AND HE TURNED HIS FACE 13:06 TO THE WALL AND HE WEPT. HE WAS FEELING PRETTY LOW. 13:11 EVEN ESAU, NOW I DON'T KNOW WHETHER ESAU WILL BE IN THE 13:15 KINGDOM, BUT IT DOES TELL US HE GOT PRETTY DEPRESSED WHEN HE GOT 13:19 HUNGRY. AND ESAU SAID TO JACOB, 'LET ME 13:22 EAT SOME OF THAT RED STEW FOR I'M EXHAUSTED.' THAT'S WHY HIS 13:26 NAME'S CALLED 'EDOM' AND JACOB SAID, 'SELL ME YOUR BIRTHRIGHT 13:29 NOW.' AND ESAU SAID, 'I'M ABOUT TO DIE. 13:33 WHAT GOOD IS THE BIRTHRIGHT TO ME?' 13:35 HE WAS JUST HUNGRY. MAKES YOU WORRY THAT MAYBE SOME, 13:38 IN THE LAST DAYS, COULD BE AT RISK OF DOING THE SAME THING. 13:42 SO ONE THING IS IT MIGHT BE PHYSICAL. 13:44 IT MIGHT ALSO JUST BE BECAUSE YOU'RE CONJURING IN YOUR MIND 13:50 THE WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO. PEOPLE GET DISCOURAGED BECAUSE 13:53 THEY LISTEN TO THE SUGGESTIONS OF THE DEVIL THAT EVERYTHING 13:57 IS GOING TO GO WRONG. GOD TELLS JONAH, 'I WANT YOU TO 14:00 GO TO NINEVEH.' AND JONAH, IN HIS MIND, HE FIGURES, 'OH MAN, 14:05 I'M GOING TO GO TO NINEVEH AND I'M GOING TO TELL THOSE PEOPLE 14:07 ABOUT THEIR SINS AND THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE ME AND THEY'RE 14:09 GOING TO PUT ME ON THE RACK AND THEY'RE GOING TO PEEL OFF MY 14:11 SKIN AND THEY'RE GOING TO WHIP ME AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO SAY 14:14 MEAN THINGS ABOUT ME AND THEN IT'LL GET REALLY BAD AFTER THAT. 14:18 AND HE'S THINKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GO 14:20 WRONG AND HE JUST TALKED HIMSELF UP INTO THINKING THAT HE JUST 14:26 NEEDED TO RUN FOR HIS LIFE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. 14:28 THAT IF HE DID WHAT GOD WANTED HIM TO DO - IN HIS MIND IT WAS 14:31 MUCH WORSE - ACTUALLY, WHEN JONAH FINALLY DID WHAT GOD TOLD 14:35 HIM, IT TURNED INTO THE BEST AND THE BIGGEST REVIVAL IN THE LAND 14:40 - IN THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE, ACTUALLY. 14:42 THERE'S NO BIGGER REVIVAL THAN WHAT HAPPENED UNDER JONAH. 14:45 AND HE WAS SO SURE IT WAS GOING TO BE A DISASTER. 14:48 MATTER OF FACT, HE WAS DISAPPOINTED IT WASN'T A 14:49 DISASTER. >>AMEN. 14:51 >>YOU EVER MEET ANYONE LIKE THAT? 14:54 THEY'RE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE THEY HAVE IMAGINED THINGS ARE GOING 14:59 TO BE SO BAD. A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT WORKS FOR THEM. 15:04 DISCOURAGEMENT HAPPENS RIGHT HERE. IT'S NOT REALITY. 15:07 THEY JUST ARE IMAGINING SOMETHING TERRIBLE IS GOING TO 15:10 HAPPEN AND THEY TALK THEMSELVES INTO IT. 15:12 I KNOW PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN CONSTANT FEAR THAT EVERYTHING'S 15:18 GOING TO GO WRONG. YOU PROBABLY KNOW PEOPLE - SOME 15:21 PEOPLE LIVE IN - THEY'RE AFRAID TO LEAVE THEIR HOME. 15:24 THEY'RE SEIZED WITH PANIC - AND IT'S NOT A REALITY, IT'S JUST 15:28 THAT THEY'VE BEEN SO DISCOURAGED BY THIS COUNTERFEIT IDEA OF 15:32 WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THAT THE DEVIL HAS PUT IN THEIR MIND. 15:35 DISCOURAGEMENT CAN COME FROM REAL PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT BE 15:39 RELATED TO FINANCES, MIGHT BE RELATED TO YOUR WORK, MIGHT BE 15:46 RELATED TO FAMILY. YEAH, EVEN IN THE BIBLE. 15:51 JOB'S WIFE COMES TO HIM AND SAYS, AFTER HE GOES THROUGH ALL 15:54 OF HIS DISASTERS SHE SAYS, 'DO YOU STILL HOLD FAST YOUR 15:56 INTEGRITY? CURSE GOD AND DIE.' NOW HE MIGHT 15:59 HAVE BEEN ALRIGHT AND THEN AFTER SHE TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS 16:03 STARTING TO PRAY THAT HE MIGHT DIE. SHE ACTUALLY SAYS THAT 16:05 BEFORE HIS PRAYER WHERE HE CURSES HIS LIFE. 16:08 DEUTERONOMY 20, VERSE 18 - BEFORE A SOLDIER WENT INTO 16:12 BATTLE, THEY WERE COMMANDED TO SPEAK TO THE SOLDIERS AND SAY, 16:16 'IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO IS FAINTHEARTED?' 16:20 - IF YOU'RE DISCOURAGED, IF YOU'RE FEARFUL, JUST GO HOME, 16:24 BECAUSE THERE'S A CHANCE THAT YOU MIGHT DISCOURAGE YOUR 16:27 COMPANIONS. DISCOURAGEMENT CAN BE CONTAGIOUS 16:31 AND COURAGE CAN BE CONTAGIOUS TOO. 16:34 I WISH WE'D START AN EPIDEMIC - SPREADING THE COURAGE OF THE 16:38 LORD. SOMETIMES IT CAN COME FROM 16:41 FAMILY - DAVID'S BROTHER TRIED TO DISCOURAGE HIM. 16:45 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?' HE'S GETTING READY TO KILL A 16:47 GIANT AND THEY'RE TRYING TO DISCOURAGE HIM. 16:49 JESUS' BROTHERS, THEY SAID, 'ARE YOU BESIDE YOURSELF? 16:52 YOU'VE GONE CRAZY.' THEY WERE TELLING HIM, 'YOU'RE DOING IT 16:54 ALL WRONG.' IT COMES FROM THE OWN - YOUR OWN FAMILY SOMETIMES. 17:00 WHAT YOU LISTEN TO - THE MESSAGES. 17:05 NOW, YOU KNOW THAT WHEN SAUL LISTENED TO THE RIGHT KIND OF 17:08 MUSIC, IT DROVE THE DEVIL OUT. YOU LISTEN TO THE WRONG KIND OF 17:12 MUSIC, IT MIGHT OPEN THE DOOR AND LET THE DEVIL IN. 17:16 AND, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW IT, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN SAPPY 17:19 SENTIMENTAL MUSIC THAT'S MELANCHOLY AND IT WILL ACTUALLY 17:23 DEPRESS YOU. IN THE SAME WAY THAT GOD HAS 17:25 MUSIC THAT CAN INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE, DON'T DOUBT FOR A 17:28 MINUTE THAT THE DEVIL HAS HIS MUSIC TOO - AND 17:31 THERE ARE MESSAGES. AND IT CAN BE TALK RADIO THAT'LL 17:36 TELL YOU HOW BAD THE WORLD IS AND THERE'S ALL THESE 17:38 CONSPIRACIES AND EVERYTHING'S FALLING APART. 17:40 THE EVENING NEWS CAN DISCOURAGE YOU. YOU KNOW, THE HEADLINES - 17:46 THEY DON'T EVER BREAK INTO THE STORY TO TELL YOU THAT FLOWERS 17:49 ARE SPROUTING. WHEN THEY'VE GOT A NEWS FLASH - 17:52 THAT'S USUALLY GOOD NEWS OR BAD NEWS? 17:55 CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO HAVE GOOD NEWS FLASHES, RIGHT? 17:58 BUT IN THE WORLD, 'OH, THIS JUST IN! 18:01 WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY BAD NEWS! THIS IS EXCITING!' 18:04 THAT'S HOW IT OPERATES IN THE WORLD. 18:05 SO YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU LISTEN TO. 18:07 ECCLESIASTES 7:21. SOME PEOPLE ARE DISCOURAGED BY 18:12 WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THEM. 18:15 "ALSO DO NOT TAKE TO HEART EVERYTHING PEOPLE SAY, LEST YOU 18:18 HEAR YOUR SERVANT CURSING YOU. FOR MANY TIMES, ALSO, YOUR OWN 18:21 HEART HAS KNOWN THAT EVEN YOU HAVE CURSED OTHERS." 18:24 I KNOW THIS ONE PASTOR, HE - HE JUST WAS CONSTANTLY GOING AROUND 18:28 AND HE WAS A MEGAPHONE OF ENCOURAGEMENT ALL THE TIME. 18:32 HE'D WALK THROUGH CRADLE ROLL AND HE'D SEE THE KIDS COLORING 18:35 AND HE'D SAY, 'GREAT COLORING!' AND THEY'D START 18:37 COLORING MORE FURIOUSLY. HE WAS JUST A GREAT ENCOURAGER. 18:41 WE OUGHT TO BE THAT WAY. PROVERBS 25, VERSE 11, "A WORD 18:48 FITLY SPOKEN IS LIKE APPLES OF GOLD IN SETTINGS OF SILVER." 18:52 WHAT YOU SAY CAN BE THE SOURCE OF GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO 18:55 SOMEBODY. NOW THE OTHER THING - ACTUALLY, 18:58 I WAS JUST - TOOK A LITTLE DETOUR - I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 19:01 TALKING ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS CAUSING 19:04 DISCOURAGEMENT. I JUST WANTED TO DROP THAT IN WHEN I TALK ABOUT 19:07 WHAT YOU LISTEN TO. JOB 4:3, 4, "SURELY YOU HAVE INSTRUCTED 19:13 MANY, AND YOU HAVE STRENGTHENED WEAK HANDS. 19:15 YOUR WORDS HAVE UPHELD HIM WHO WAS STUMBLING, AND YOU HAVE 19:20 STRENGTHENED THE FEEBLE KNEES;" SO THE WORDS THAT PEOPLE SPEAK 19:24 CAN BE EITHER A SOURCE OF DISCOURAGEMENT OR ENCOURAGEMENT. 19:28 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SOMETIMES DISCOURAGES US - AND I DON'T 19:31 KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, WHEN YOU FAIL, 19:35 WHEN YOU SIN, WHEN YOU FALL DOWN, IT CAN BE VERY 19:38 DISCOURAGING. DAVID FELL BIG TIME. 19:42 YOU READ IN PSALM 32, "WHEN I KEPT SILENT, MY BONES GREW OLD 19:46 THROUGH MY GROANING ALL THE DAY LONG." 19:49 - NOW DOES THAT SOUND LIKE DISCOURAGEMENT? 19:51 - "FOR DAY AND NIGHT YOUR HAND WAS HEAVY UPON ME; MY VITALITY 19:54 WAS TURNED INTO THE DROUGHT OF SUMMER." PETER, WHEN HE DENIED 19:59 CHRIST, HE WENT OUT AND HE WEPT BITTERLY. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN 20:03 DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF A FAILURE THAT YOU MADE? 20:07 YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG - MAYBE YOU DID IT WRONG MORE THAN ONCE. 20:11 MORE THAN TWICE - AND YOU SAY, 'OH MAN, I'M SUCH A MESS. 20:17 I KEEP MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE. I'M NEVER GOING TO GET THERE. 20:19 I'M NEVER GOING TO BE LIKE JESUS.' AND YOU CAN JUST SAY, 20:22 YOU KNOW, 'LORD, WHAT GOOD IS MY LIFE? 20:28 I'M JUST FAILING.' SO OUR FAILURES CAN BE DISCOURAGING. 20:33 SO, WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT BRINGS COURAGE? 20:38 WHERE DOES COURAGE COME FROM? WELL, FOR ONE THING, IT HELPS TO 20:42 HAVE COURAGE TO HAVE A MISSION - TO KNOW WHAT YOUR 20:45 PURPOSE IN LIFE IS. WHEN GOD TOLD JOSHUA, 'BE VERY 20:50 COURAGEOUS', HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. 20:52 HE SAID, 'BE COURAGEOUS BECAUSE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO LEAD THIS 20:54 PEOPLE INTO THE PROMISED LAND.' DO WE HAVE A SIMILAR MISSION? 20:59 WE NOT ONLY WANT TO GET TO THE PROMISED LAND, BUT OUR MISSION 21:02 IS TO BRING AS MANY INTO THE PROMISED LAND WITH US AS WE 21:05 POSSIBLY CAN. AND SO, DO YOU HAVE A PURPOSE? 21:09 WHEN DAVID WENT AGAINST GOLIATH AND HIS BROTHERS SAID, 'WHAT ARE 21:12 YOU DOING HERE?' YOU KNOW WHAT DAVID SAID? 21:13 'IS THERE NOT A CAUSE? 21:16 ISN'T THIS SOMETHING WORTH TALKING ABOUT? 21:20 TO TAKE ON THE GIANT?' SO WE NEED TO HAVE A MISSION. 21:24 YOU KNOW, GOD HAS GIVEN US A MISSION - TO REACH THE WORLD. 21:28 JESUS SAID, 'GO INTO ALL THE WORLD.' JOHN 14:12, 'VERILY I 21:33 SAY UNTO YOU, 'HE THAT BELIEVES IN ME, THE WORKS THAT I DO, HE 21:37 WILL DO ALSO AND GREATER WORKS THAN THESE WILL HE DO BECAUSE I 21:41 GO TO THE FATHER.' GOD HAS GIVEN US A MISSION TO GO TO THE WORLD. 21:43 HE SAID, 'AS THE FATHER SENT ME, SO SEND I YOU.' AND SO THERE'S A 21:50 - WE ALL HAVE A MISSION. IT'S ENCOURAGING. 21:52 YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE GET DISCOURAGED BECAUSE THEY DON'T 21:54 HAVE ANYTHING TO DO. AND IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU 21:56 HAVE A PURPOSE, YOU CAN START GETTING DEPRESSED. 22:00 AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR MISSION IS. 22:04 WHEN GEORGE WASHINGTON AND HIS SOLDIERS WERE STUCK, ONE WINTER, 22:09 IN VALLEY FORGE, IT BECAME VERY DEPRESSING. 22:12 EVERYTHING WAS FROZEN AND COLD AND, WHEN IT WASN'T COLD, THE 22:16 ICE WOULD MELT AND EVERYTHING WAS WET AND GEORGE WASHINGTON 22:22 TOLD THE TROOPS - HE SAID, 'YOU KNOW, WORD IS OUT THAT WE COULD 22:25 BE ATTACKED BY THE BRITISH AT SOME POINT DURING THE WINTER. 22:28 WE NEED TO BUILD A FORT.' AND HE KNEW THAT THEY PROBABLY WEREN'T 22:34 GOING TO BE ATTACKED WHERE THEY WERE, BUT HE KNEW THAT THE MEN 22:38 NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING AND HE GOT THE MEN ALL BUSY GOING OUT 22:41 IN THE WOODS, CHOPPING DOWN POLES, BUILDING ONE OF THOSE OLD 22:45 FORTS, AND IT KEPT THEM FROM BEING DEPRESSED. 22:50 AND FINALLY, WHEN IT CAME TIME TO ADVANCE, THEY SAID, 'WELL, 22:52 WHAT ABOUT OUR FORT?' AND HE SAID, 'WELL, YOU JUST 22:54 NEEDED SOMETHING TO DO.' AND SOME PEOPLE GET DEPRESSED 22:59 BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR MISSION IS. 23:01 THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR VISION IS. 23:02 THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IS. 23:04 THEY'RE JUST TREADING WATER AND READY TO GIVE UP. 23:08 SO YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A WORTHY MISSION. 23:10 ANOTHER THING THAT BRINGS GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT IS THE ASSURANCE 23:15 OF GOD'S PRESENCE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE 23:18 ALONE, YOU CAN GET DISCOURAGED. WHEN YOU KNOW THAT GOD IS 23:22 WITH YOU IT BRINGS GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT. 23:25 SO THE ASSURANCE OF GOD'S PRESENCE. 23:27 EXODUS 33:14 - NOTICE THESE PROMISES - GOD SAYS, "MY 23:30 PRESENCE WIll GO WITH YOU, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST." 23:35 JOSHUA 1:5, "AS I WAS WITH MOSES, SO I WILL BE WITH YOU." 23:41 THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING THINGS HE COULD HAVE 23:43 SAID TO HIM. JOSHUA 1:9, 'HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU? 23:47 BE STRONG AND BE OF GOOD COURAGE; DO NOT BE AFRAID, NOR 23:50 BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU 23:54 GO." HAS JESUS MADE SIMILAR 23:56 PROMISES TO HIS PEOPLE? MATTHEW 28:20, "...LO, I AM WITH 24:01 YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE." DID THE LORD TAKE AN 24:05 INTERMISSION OR IS HE STILL WITH US? 24:07 WAS GOD STILL WITH JOSH - WITH ELIJAH WHEN HE WAS RUNNING TO 24:10 THAT DARK SPOT OUT IN THE WILDERNESS? 24:14 GOD SAID, 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?' 24:16 WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, BECAUSE THEY LOST COURAGE AT THE 24:20 BORDERS OF THE PROMISED LAND, BACK WHEN JOSHUA WAS THERE THE 24:23 FIRST TIME, THEY HAD TO WANDER FOR FORTY YEARS IN THE 24:27 WILDERNESS. THEY FAILED. BUT WHEN THEY WENT TO WANDER, 24:31 DID GOD GO WITH THEM? HE DID. 24:35 AND SO SOMETIMES, YEAH, YOU'RE TAKING A DETOUR 24:37 GOD DID NOT PLAN, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN HE'S FORSAKEN YOU. 24:41 PSALM 23, "YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW 24:45 OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL;" - WHY? 24:48 'BECAUSE I'M WITH YOU.' DOESN'T THAT ENCOURAGE YOU TO 24:51 THINK THAT GOD PROMISES TO BE WITH US? 24:54 I MEAN, WHAT COULD BE MORE ENCOURAGING THAN TO HAVE GOD AS 24:57 YOUR COACH? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN, YOU KNOW, 25:00 COACHES GIVE A PEP TALK BEFORE THE PLAYERS GO OUT ON THE 25:02 FIELD FOR SOME IMPORTANT GAME? AND THEY'RE THERE TO INSPIRE 25:06 AND MOBILIZE AND MOTIVATE THEM. AND WE'VE GOT GOD AS OUR COACH. 25:11 MAYBE THAT'S NOT A GREAT ANALOGY. 25:13 BUT THAT OUGHT TO ENCOURAGE US THAT HE IS WITH US. 25:17 THE SAME GOD THAT LED THE PEOPLE OUT OF SLAVERY INTO THE PROMISED 25:20 LAND IS THE SAME GOD THAT WAS WITH DAVID AND GIDEON AND 25:25 ELIJAH. HE'LL BE WITH US. HE SAYS, 'I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU 25:28 AND I WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU. ANOTHER THING THAT BRINGS 25:31 ENCOURAGEMENT ARE THE PROMISES IN GOD'S WORD. 25:35 1 CHRONICLES 22:13, "THEN YOU WILL PROSPER, IF YOU TAKE CARE 25:41 TO FULFILL THE STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS WITH WHICH THE LORD 25:43 CHARGED MOSES CONCERNING ISRAEL. BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE; 25:49 DO NOT FEAR NOR BE DISMAYED." IF WE ARE ALLOWING THE WORD OF 25:53 GOD TO BE OUR GUIDE, THEN WE KNOW WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK 25:57 AND THAT SHOULD BE A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO US. 25:59 HE SAYS, 'IF YOU'LL TAKE HEED, BE STRONG AND BE OF GOOD 26:03 COURAGE, DO NOT BE CONFUSED. 26:05 DO NOT BE DISMAYED.' BUT HE SAYS, 'TAKE HEED' TO THOSE 26:08 STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US. 26:11 2 CHRONICLES 20:20, "...AND AS THEY WENT OUT, JEHOSHAPHAT STOOD 26:15 AND SAID," - THEY'RE GETTING READY TO GO TO BATTLE - HE SAID, 26:18 "'HEAR ME, O JUDAH AND YOU INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM: 26:21 BELIEVE IN THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND YOU SHALL BE ESTABLISHED; 26:24 BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS, AND YOU SHALL PROSPER.'" NOW, YOU MAY 26:30 NOT KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO UNFOLD FROM DAY TO DAY, BUT IF YOU'RE 26:32 ALLOWING THE WORD OF GOD TO BE YOUR COMPASS, YOU'RE GOING TO 26:35 GET THERE. AND SO, FOLLOWING THE WORD 26:38 SHOULD BE A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT. 26:39 JESUS SAID - LUKE 16:31 - "IF THEY DO NOT HEAR MOSES AND THE 26:43 PROPHETS, NEITHER WILL THEY BE PERSUADED THOUGH ONE RISE FROM 26:46 THE DEAD." NOTHING ELSE IS GOING TO WORK IF 26:49 THE WORD OF GOD DOESN'T DO IT. LOVE INSPIRES COURAGE. 26:56 WHEN YOU KNOW THAT GOD LOVES YOU AND WHEN YOU LOVE GOD THAT 27:00 INSPIRES COURAGE. I READ A FEW YEARS AGO, ABOUT 27:05 A WOMAN THAT WAS IN HER CAMPER IN SOUTH DAKOTA 27:08 WITH HER FAMILY - HER NAME WAS MR. - MRS. PETER UNDERHALL - 27:12 AND, WHILE SHE WAS GETTING SOME LUNCH READY, THEY HAD A WINDOW 27:15 OF THE CAMPER OPEN AND A FULL-GROWN MOUNTAIN LION JUMPED 27:19 THROUGH THE OPEN WINDOW OF THE CAMPER AND GRABBED HER 27:23 18-MONTH-OLD GRANDSON, JASON COWDEN, AND BEGAN TO MAUL HIM 27:29 AND TRY AND DRAG HIM OUT OF THE CAMPER, OSTENSIBLY, FOR LUNCH. 27:34 SHE SAW THAT - AND THIS IS A FULL-GROWN MOUNTAIN LION - 27:36 WITHOUT HESITATION, FORTUNATELY SHE HAD A BUTCHER KNIFE NEARBY 27:39 BECAUSE SHE WAS PREPARING LUNCH, SHE WENT AFTER THE MOUNTAIN 27:41 LION. NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU LADIES OUT 27:43 THERE WOULD GO AFTER A MOUNTAIN LION IF IT HAD YOUR 27:47 CHILD OR YOUR GRANDCHILD? OTHERWISE, WOULD YOU GO AFTER A 27:50 MOUNTAIN LION, OR WOULD YOU JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE? 27:54 WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU DO THAT? LOVE? 27:58 LOVE INSPIRES COURAGE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DO IT. 28:05 SAUL TOLD DAVID, 'WOULD YOU LIKE TO MARRY MY DAUGHTER?' 28:09 'OH, YEAH, I'D LOVE TO MARRY' - 'UH, YOU NEED TO GO KILL A 28:13 HUNDRED PHILISTINES.' DAVID SAID, 'ONLY A HUNDRED? 28:16 OH, FOR HER, I'LL KILL TWO HUNDRED.' THAT GAVE HIM COURAGE. 28:23 LOVE INSPIRES COURAGE. ABRAHAM FOUGHT AGAINST A VAST 28:27 ARMY WITH THREE HUNDRED MEN TO SAVE LOT. IT WAS OUT OF LOVE FOR 28:32 HIS FAMILY. NOW, DOES THE LORD WANT US TO 28:34 FIGHT SOME BATTLES OUT OF LOVE FOR OTHERS? 28:37 YOU SEE, WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT GOD IS TELLING US TO BE 28:40 COURAGEOUS NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES. 28:43 NOT ONLY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE COURAGEOUS TO SAVE YOU. 28:49 YOU NEED TO BE COURAGEOUS BECAUSE GOD WANTS YOU TO FIGHT 28:51 BATTLES TO DELIVER OTHERS. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE 28:55 THAT - THAT DETERMINATION. ANOTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT 29:00 IN COURAGE IS TO HAVE BRAVE LEADERSHIP. 29:04 I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN ANY OF THESE FILMS, THESE NATURE 29:06 FILMS FROM AFRICA, WHERE ALL THESE WILDEBEESTS ARE - THEY'RE 29:12 MARAUDING - MILLIONS OF THEM - THEY'RE MARAUDING ACROSS THE 29:15 GREAT PLAINS AND THEY COME TO THIS MASSIVE RIVER THAT IS 29:21 FILLED WITH CROCODILES AND THEY STAND THERE ON THE BORDERS OF 29:24 THE RIVER AND THEY - THEY CAN SEE THE CROCODILES ARE THERE, 29:27 YOU KNOW, THEY JUST GET DOWN LOW AND SOME OF THEM ARE STILL ON 29:29 THE BANKS. THEY KNOW THEY'VE 29:31 GOT TO GET ACROSS. THEY CAN EASILY OUTRUN A 29:33 CROCODILE, BUT IN THE RIVER, CROCODILES CAN OUT SWIM THEM. 29:37 AND SOME OF THOSE CROCS ARE LIKE TWENTY FEET LONG. 29:39 I MEAN, THEY'RE ENORMOUS. 29:41 AND ALL OF THE WILDEBEESTS KIND OF GET UP THERE NEAR THE EDGE 29:44 AND THEY SNORT AND THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S DANGER AND, 29:48 EVENTUALLY, THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT ONE OF THEM. 29:52 ONE OF THEM - ONE OF THEM DESIRES TO BE BRAVE OR DUMB, 29:56 WE'RE STILL NOT SURE. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A GOOD 29:57 INTERVIEW YET FROM THE WILDEBEESTS. 30:00 BUT ONE OF THEM FINALLY DECIDES, 'ENOUGH OF THIS!' 30:03 AND HE JUMPS OFF IN THE RIVER. THE FIRST ONE USUALLY 30:06 MAKES IT ACROSS. THE FIRST ONE IS SORT OF THE 30:08 SIGNAL FOR THE CROCS - 'OKAY, HERE THEY COME.' BUT IT TAKES 30:13 ONE TO PLUNGE IN AND THEN THE OTHERS ALL BEGIN TO FOLLOW. 30:17 AND, OF COURSE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM MAKE IT JUST 30:18 FINE. A FEW OF THEM GET PICKED OFF. 30:20 BUT YOU ALWAYS THINK, 'WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT ONE THAT'S 30:24 DIFFERENT?' BUT THEY ALL WAIT FOR ONE 30:26 OF THEM TO BE THE FIRST. YOU KNOW, GOD, I THINK, LOOKS 30:31 DOWN SOMETIMES AND HE WONDERS, 'WHO DOWN THERE IS WILLING TO 30:35 LET ME USE THEM TO TAKE THE RISK OF STANDING OUT - TO TAKE THE 30:40 RISK OF BEING A SPECTACLE - TO TAKE THE RISK OF FAILURE. 30:46 I THINK IT WAS THOMAS EDISON THAT SAID, 'HE THAT IS AFRAID TO 30:50 FAIL IS AFRAID TO SUCCEED.' AND YOU ALL HAVE HEARD THE STORIES 30:53 ABOUT HOW MANY EXPERIMENTS - WE THINK OF ALL OF HIS WONDERFUL 30:56 INVENTIONS, BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY FAILURES HE HAD. 31:00 BUT SOMEONE HAS TO HAVE THAT LEADERSHIP. YOU REMEMBER 31:06 WHEN JONATHAN WENT WITH HIS ARMOR BEARER, AND JONATHAN SAID 31:10 TO THE YOUNG MAN THAT BORE HIS ARMOR, 'COME, LET US GO OVER TO 31:12 THE GARRISON OF THE PHILISTINES, IT MIGHT BE THAT THE LORD WILL 31:15 WORK FOR US.' THERE IS NO RESTRAINT TO THE LORD TO SAVE BY 31:19 FEW OR MANY.' AND WHEN HIS ARMOR BEARER SAW HIS COURAGE, HE SAID, 31:23 'DO ALL THAT IS IN YOUR HEART. BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ACCORDING 31:27 TO YOUR HEART.' THE YOUNG MAN WAS INSPIRED BY THE COURAGE OF 31:32 JONATHAN WHEN HE SAID, 'YOU KNOW, IF GOD'S WITH US IT 31:34 DOESN'T MATTER THAT THERE'S ONLY TWO OF US AND THIRTY OF THEM. 31:37 HE CAN GIVE US DELIVERANCE JUST AS EASILY. 31:40 LET'S GO.' YOU KNOW WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR 31:44 SOLDIERS IN THE FIELD? IT'S MORALE. 31:49 WHEN SOLDIERS BECOME DISCOURAGED, THEY CAN'T FIGHT. 31:54 ONE OF THE REASONS THAT JERICHO FELL SO EASILY TO JOSHUA AND HIS 31:57 FORCES? YOU READ THAT STORY THERE IN 32:00 JOSHUA CHAPTER 2 AND JOSHUA CHAPTER 6. 32:04 IT SAID THE PEOPLE OF - THE MEN - THE SOLDIERS OF JERICHO WERE 32:07 FAINTHEARTED. THERE WAS NO STRENGTH 32:09 LEFT IN ANY OF THEM. THEY COULD NOT FIGHT. 32:11 AND EVEN THOUGH THE WALLS FELL, THAT DIDN'T KILL ALL THE 32:13 SOLDIERS. THE SOLDIERS OF ISRAEL STILL NEEDED TO GO IN AND FIGHT, 32:17 BUT IT WAS A COMPLETE ROUT. THE SOLDIERS - THEY COULDN'T 32:20 FIGHT BECAUSE THEY WERE DEMORALIZED. 32:23 I COULD TELL YOU A STORY FROM HISTORY, ONE AFTER THE OTHER, 32:26 HOW THE KEY TO TURNING A BATTLE WAS WHO WOULD BE INSPIRED WITH 32:31 COURAGE AND WHO WOULD BE DEMORALIZED. 32:34 AND WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE HAD COURAGE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE 32:38 TO THOSE THAT BELIEVE. ON THE BORDERS OF THE PROMISED 32:41 LAND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO STAY IN AN ATTITUDE OF DISCOURAGEMENT. 32:47 EVEN WHEN DISCOURAGING THINGS ARE HAPPENING ALL AROUND US. 32:52 AND ARE THERE SOME DISCOURAGING THINGS HAPPENING? 32:56 YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEWS AND WITH THE GOVERNMENT 32:58 AND SUPREME COURT SPOKE AS A DRAGON A FEW MONTHS AGO. 33:07 YOU SEE THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPENING. 33:09 NOW OUR COUNTRY - TWO HORNS LIKE A LAMB - STARTED OUT GODLY AND 33:13 IT ENDS UP SPEAKING LIKE A DRAGON. 33:16 AND YOU JUST WONDER AT THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON. 33:20 IT COULD DISCOURAGE YOU IF YOU FOCUS ON THAT. 33:22 BUT THE NICE THING ABOUT THE BIBLE IS IT STARTS IN A GARDEN. 33:27 IT ENDS IN A GARDEN. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF DISCOURAGING 33:29 THINGS THAT HAPPEN BETWEEN THOSE TWO PICTURES OF 33:32 THE TREE OF LIFE. YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER HOW IT 33:34 ENDS AND THAT KEEPS YOU UP. NEED GODLY LEADERSHIP. 33:44 2 CHRONICLES 32 - KING HEZEKIAH SET MILITARY CAPTAINS OVER - 33:49 THEY WERE SURROUNDED BY THE ASSYRIANS - THE ASSYRIANS HAD 33:52 JUST CONQUERED ALL THESE OTHER KINGDOMS AROUND THEM. 33:54 THEY'D FALLEN LIKE DOMINOES. AND NOW THEY'VE COME TO 33:56 JERUSALEM, WHICH IS SO SMALL COMPARED TO THE ASSYRIAN ARMY, 34:01 BUT HEZEKIAH DOESN'T GET DISCOURAGED. 34:03 HE GATHERS THE PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THE SQUARE OF THE CITY AND HE 34:06 GIVES THEM ENCOURAGEMENT AND HE SAYS, 'BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. 34:11 DO NOT BE AFRAID OR DISMAYED BEFORE THE KING OF ASSYRIA, NOR 34:14 BEFORE ALL THE MULTITUDE THAT IS WITH HIM'' - VAST ARMY - ''FOR 34:18 THERE ARE MORE THAT ARE WITH US THAN WITH HIM. 34:23 FOR WITH HIM IS AN ARM OF FLESH, BUT WITH US IS THE LORD GOD TO 34:27 HELP US FIGHT OUR BATTLES.' AND THE PEOPLE WERE STRENGTHENED BY 34:30 THE WORDS OF HEZEKIAH.' IT'S LIKE WHEN ELISHA'S SERVANT WENT 34:33 OUT IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF DOTHAN ONE MORNING TO GET SOME WATER 34:36 FROM THE WELL AND HE LOOKED AND LO AND BEHOLD, THE WHOLE CITY 34:39 WAS SURROUNDED BY THE ENEMY ARMY. 34:42 AND HE RAN BACK TERRIFIED - DISCOURAGED - AND HE SAID TO 34:46 ELISHA, 'MASTER, ALAS, WHAT SHALL WE DO?' 34:49 AND ELISHA GOT UP, HE WALKED OUT AND HE LOOKED AT THE GLITTERING 34:52 ARMOR AND SAW THE HORSES OF THE ASSYRIAN ARMY - THAT IT 34:55 SURROUNDED THIS LITTLE TOWN - AND HE SAID, 'DON'T BE AFRAID. 34:58 LORD, OPEN HIS EYES.' AND GOD OPENED THE EYES OF THE SERVANT 35:02 OF ELISHA AND HE SAW THAT IN THE MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING THE LITTLE 35:05 TOWN WERE GOD'S ARMY WITH CHARIOTS AND HORSES OF FIRE. 35:10 THAT'S WHY HEZEKIAH COULD SAY, 'THOSE THAT BE WITH US ARE MORE 35:14 THAN THOSE THAT BE WITH THEM. ANDREW JACKSON USED TO SAY, 'ONE 35:18 MAN WITH COURAGE IS A MAJORITY.' AND HE KNEW SOMETHING 35:21 ABOUT WINNING BATTLES. BUT, ACTUALLY, IT'S YOU AND 35:27 GOD ARE ALWAYS THE MAJORITY. AND SO, YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER, 35:31 IF HE SAYS, 'I AM WITH YOU' THEN WE DON'T NEED TO BE DISCOURAGED. 35:36 NEHEMIAH WAS A GREAT LEADER THAT INSPIRED HIS PEOPLE. 35:40 IT SAYS IN NEHEMIAH 4:14, "AND I LOOKED, AND AROSE AND SAID TO 35:43 THE NOBLES, TO THE LEADERS, AND TO THE REST OF THE PEOPLE, 35:45 'DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM. 35:47 REMEMBER THE LORD, GREAT AND AWESOME, AND FIGHT FOR YOUR 35:50 BRETHREN,'" - SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT GOD IS STANDING 35:52 RIGHT BESIDE US AND WE DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID - "'REMEMBER 35:56 THE LORD, GREAT AND AWESOME, AND FIGHT FOR YOUR BRETHREN, YOUR 35:59 SONS, YOUR DAUGHTERS, YOUR WIVES, AND YOUR HOUSES.'" 36:05 KNOWING THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS WITH YOU CAN MAKE YOU FEARLESS. 36:08 HOW COULD DAVID GO AGAINST A GIANT? 36:10 DID HE THINK HE WAS GOING BY HIMSELF AGAINST A GIANT? 36:13 NOT FOR A MINUTE. YOU LISTEN TO HIS WORDS. 36:15 HE KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING WITH THE LORD AND IT DIDN'T MATTER 36:20 WHAT GOLIATH HAD WITH HIS ARMOR. THAT'S WHY THE LORD TELLS 36:24 US, 'THEREFORE, LIFT UP YOUR DROOPING HANDS AND STRENGTHEN 36:28 YOUR WEAK KNEES.' HEBREWS 12:12 - YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT. 36:33 'STRENGTHEN YOUR WEAK KNEES, DROOPING HANDS, SLUMPING 36:35 SHOULDERS, SHUFFLING STEPS. MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS FOR YOUR FEET SO 36:43 THAT WHICH IS LAME WILL NOT BE PUT OUT OF JOINT, BUT RATHER, 36:46 HEALED.' HERE PAUL IS SAYING, 'WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED. 36:48 GOD IS WITH US.' JESUS SAID, 'DON'T WORRY IF THE WORLD HATES 36:51 YOU. IT HATED ME. 36:52 BUT I WON.' DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE POPULAR. 36:55 YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE POPULAR IN THE WORLD, BUT THAT'S - WE'VE 36:58 GOT A BIGGER GROUP IN HEAVEN THAT'S WATCHING. 37:01 WE WANT TO BE POPULAR WITH GOD, RIGHT? 37:03 THE WORLD - THE DEVIL AND ALL HIS FORCES IN THE WORLD ARE THE 37:06 MINORITY OF GOD'S CREATURES. AND OUR WORLD, AND YOUR LIFE, IS 37:11 A SPECTACLE THAT IS OPEN TO THE UNIVERSE RIGHT NOW. 37:15 SO DON'T WORRY IF THIS IS NOT IT. 37:17 DON'T WORRY IF YOU'RE INTIMIDATED AND YOU'RE JEERED 37:20 AND MOCKED BY THOSE THAT ARE HERE BELOW. 37:24 'THESE THINGS,' - HE SAYS - 'I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU THAT YOU 37:27 MIGHT HAVE PEACE. BE OF GOOD CHEER, FOR I HAVE 37:30 OVERCOME THE WORLD.' YOU NEED TO ASK GOD - I'M NOT SAYING 37:34 THAT WE'RE SAVED BY POSITIVE THINKING, BUT WE'VE 37:36 GOT TO STAY POSITIVE. YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT THE 37:41 LORD STILL HAS GREAT THINGS IN STORE FOR YOU. 37:44 DON'T UNDERESTIMATE WHAT GOD CAN DO. 37:46 I HEARD ABOUT A MAN THAT WAS WATCHING THIS LITTLE LEAGUE GAME 37:50 AND HE WENT UP AND HE NUDGED ONE OF THE PLAYERS - IT WAS IN THE 37:52 DUGOUT - AND HE SAID, 'WHAT'S THE SCORE?' 37:54 AND A YOUNG GUY, WITH A BIG SMILE ON HIS FACE, SAID, 'WE'RE 37:56 LOSIN' - 14 TO NOTHING.' AND HE SAID, 'WELL, YOU DON'T LOOK VERY 38:02 DISCOURAGED BY THAT.' AND HE SAID, 'OH, WHY WOULD I BE 38:04 DISCOURAGED? WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN TO BAT 38:05 YET.' JOHN PAUL JONES - YOU KNOW 38:13 THAT STORY. IT'S A TRUE STORY, OF COURSE. 38:15 SEPTEMBER 23, 1779 - BEING ATTACKED BY A BRITISH MAN-O-WAR 38:21 AND HE'S ON A SHIP CALLED THE BONHOMIE RICHARD AND THE CAPTAIN 38:25 OF THE BRITISH MAN-O-WAR THAT THEY'RE - JOHN PAUL JONES' SHIP 38:29 - THE AMERICAN SHIP'S ON FIRE AND THE SERAPIS , WHICH WAS THE 38:33 BRITISH SHIP, THEY CALLED OUT AND THEY SAID, 'DO YOU SURRENDER 38:38 NOW?' AND JONES SAYS, 'SURRENDER? WE HAVEN'T EVEN 38:41 STARTED TO FIGHT!' AND THAT SO ENCOURAGED HIS MEN 38:45 THAT THEY ENDED UP TAKING THE BRITISH SHIP AND, OF COURSE, 38:49 THEY WON THAT BATTLE THAT HAS BECOME BIGGER THAN LIFE. 38:54 DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL? 38:57 COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. YOU WANT TO BE ENCOURAGED? 39:01 CATCH YOURSELF - ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP YOU CATCH 39:05 YOURSELF WHEN THE DEVIL IS SUCKING YOU INTO SOME OF THAT 39:08 WHAT ZIG ZIGLAR USED TO CALL 'STINKIN' THINKIN''. 39:12 WHEN WE START TO THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT IS BAD AND AWFUL 39:16 AND TERRIBLE AND SOUR, PAUL SAYS, 'WHATEVER THINGS ARE TRUE 39:20 AND HONEST AND JUST AND PURE, THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.' 39:25 AND WE WILL BE TRANSFORMED EVEN BY WHAT WE THINK ABOUT. 39:29 YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING THAT REALLY HELPS WITH ENCOURAGEMENT, 39:34 GET OUT OF YOURSELF AND TRY AND HELP SOMEONE ELSE. 39:37 AND WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING - YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST 39:40 TELL YOU, IT WAS REALLY FUN - GOING ON THE MISSION TRIP DOWN 39:43 IN MEXICO - THE MORALE OF THE GROUP DOWN THERE WAS SO HIGH - 39:48 AND I THINK ONE REASON IT WAS SO HIGH IS THAT THEY WERE ALL 39:51 INVOLVED IN THE PURPOSE OF DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR SOMEONE ELSE, 39:55 WITH NO PERSONAL BENEFIT. AND THE CHURCH DOWN THERE, WHEN 39:59 THEY HEARD WE WERE HOPING TO BUILD A CHURCH UP HERE THEY 40:01 SAID, 'WE CAN'T BELIEVE IT. YOU CAME DOWN HERE AND YOU 40:04 HELPED US BUILD A CHURCH DOWN HERE AND YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY 40:07 HOPING TO BUILD A CHURCH UP THERE? 40:08 WHAT IN THE WORLD WOULD MAKE YOU DO THAT? 40:10 WHY WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR MONEY TO HELP US BUILD A CHURCH WHEN YOU 40:12 HAVEN'T GOT THE MONEY TO BUILD YOUR CHURCH?' 40:15 AND I REMEMBER THE PASTOR SAID, 'THE LORD'S GOING TO WORK A 40:17 MIRACLE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU WOULD DO THAT. 40:19 HE'S GOING TO HELP YOU BUILD YOUR CHURCH.' 40:20 I THOUGHT, 'WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP A LOT OF OTHER 40:23 LITTLE CHURCHES BEFORE WE GET - BEFORE WE GET ENOUGH TICKETS AND 40:27 POINTS TO BUILD OUR CHURCH.' BUT THERE'S A PRINCIPLE THERE, 40:31 WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE, IT CAN BE 40:34 ENCOURAGING FOR YOU. HELP SOMEONE ELSE. 40:37 GET OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF. AND THEN PRAY. 40:43 WAIT ON THE LORD - PSALM 27:14, "WAIT ON THE LORD" - THAT'S 40:46 TALKING ABOUT SPENDING TIME IN PRIVATE DEVOTIONS WITH GOD. 40:49 BE OF GOOD COURAGE. SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET ON YOUR 40:52 KNEES DISCOURAGED AND - YOU SPEND ENOUGH TIME ON YOUR KNEES 40:54 COMMUNING WITH GOD AND, IT'S NOT THAT GOD HAS CHANGED YOUR 40:58 CIRCUMSTANCES, HE CHANGES YOU SO YOU'RE NOT DISCOURAGED 41:02 BY YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. PRAYER, YOU'VE HEARD IT ALL YOUR 41:06 LIFE, BUT IT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE DO IT. 41:09 SOMETIMES WE DON'T PRAY LONG ENOUGH. 41:10 WE MIGHT NEED TO WAIT ON THE LORD. 41:13 LUKE 18:1, "THEN HE SPOKE A PARABLE TO THEM, THAT MEN 41:17 OUGHT TO PRAY AND NOT LOSE HEART" - NO, I LEFT A WORD OUT - 41:22 LUKE 18:1, IT SAYS HE SPOKE A PARABLE TO THEM THAT "MEN ALWAYS 41:25 OUGHT TO PRAY AND NOT LOSE HEART." 41:29 YOU KNOW WHAT 'LOSE HEART' MEANS? GET DISCOURAGED. 41:32 YOU SEE THE CONNECTION JESUS MAKES? IF GOD COULD ANSWER 41:37 JONAH'S PRAYER, AND JONAH WAS IN A CAVE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE 41:42 MOUNTAINS, THEN HE CAN HEAR OUR PRAYERS, RIGHT? 41:46 JONAH HAD ABSOLUTELY HOPELESS CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT HE PRAYED 41:49 FROM THAT DARKNESS AND GOD TURNED IT AROUND AND HE GAVE 41:52 THEM A MISSION AGAIN AND HE GAVE THEM A PURPOSE. 41:55 1 SAMUEL 36, DAVID - YOU READ THIS STORY - HE'D BEEN CHASED 42:01 OUT OF THE COUNTRY BY KING SAUL, HE WAS LIVING AMONG THE 42:05 PHILISTINES, THEN THE AMALEKITES CAME WHILE HE AND HIS SOLDIERS 42:08 WERE OUT OF TOWN, THEY ATTACKED HIS FAMILY, THE TOWN - BURNT IT 42:12 WITH FIRE - TOOK ALL OF THEIR FAMILY, AND NOW HIS OWN SOLDIERS 42:15 ARE READY TO STONE HIM. 42:17 I MEAN, IT LOOKED LIKE EVERYTHING - HIS OWN KING AND 42:20 NOW HIS OWN SOLDIERS - HIS FAMILY'S GONE, HIS STUFF IS 42:23 GONE, HIS TOWN IS BURNED, AND, INSTEAD OF BECOMING DISCOURAGED, 42:27 IT SAYS, 'DAVID ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD - THAT'S 1 42:30 SAMUEL 36. SOMETIMES YOU WILL NOT FIND ANY 42:34 OUTSIDE EVIDENCE TO ENCOURAGE YOU. 42:38 DAVID COULD LOOK AROUND, THERE WAS NOTHING WHERE HE COULD SAY, 42:41 'OH, BUT THERE'S THIS AND THAT.' EVERYTHING LOOKED PRETTY BAD. 42:44 BUT HE ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD AND, YOU KNOW WHAT? 42:47 GOD GAVE HIM VICTORY, HE GAVE HIM EVERYONE BACK, AND HE GAVE 42:49 HIM THE KINGDOM. EVERYTHING THAT IT LOOKED LIKE 42:51 HE HAD LOST THAT DAY, HE GOT BACK. 42:54 IT DIDN'T LOOK - JOB - HOW DO YOU THINK HE FELT? 42:57 HE LOST EVERYTHING. WOULD YOU HAVE EVER DREAMED, 42:59 WHEN YOU SAW JOB ON A DUMP PILE SCRAPING HIS BOILS, FAMILY'S 43:05 DEAD, POSSESSIONS ARE GONE - YOU READ THE END OF JOB AND IT SAYS 43:09 GOD GAVE HIM EVERYTHING BACK DOUBLE. 43:12 YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. 43:14 IF YOU HAD TOLD JOB, 'DON'T WORRY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TWICE 43:16 AS MUCH BACK.' IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD FOR HIM TO PICTURE 43:18 THAT. BUT WE'VE GOT TO ENCOURAGE 43:21 OURSELF IN THE LORD AND SAY, 'WITH GOD, HOW 43:23 MUCH IS POSSIBLE?' JESUS REFUSED TO BE DISCOURAGED 43:30 AND HE HAD GOOD REASON TO BE DISCOURAGED. 43:33 HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN - HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT, BETRAYED BY 43:37 HIS OWN PEOPLE, JUST TORTURED BY THE ONES HE CAME TO SAVE. 43:42 ISAIAH 42 - THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROPHECY ABOUT THE MESSIAH, 43:46 "BEHOLD MY SERVANT WHOM I UPHOLD, MY CHOSEN IN WHOM MY 43:49 SOUL DELIGHTS. I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM. 43:53 HE WILL BRING FORTH JUSTICE TO THE NATIONS. 43:55 HE WILL NOT GROW FAINT OR BE DISCOURAGED TILL HE HAS 43:59 ESTABLISHED JUSTICE IN THE EARTH. 44:03 PAUL TELLS US TO REMEMBER CHRIST - HEBREWS 12:3 - "FOR CONSIDER 44:07 HIM THAT ENDURED SUCH CONTRADICTION OF SINNERS AGAINST 44:11 HIMSELF, LEST YOU BE WEARIED AND FAINT IN YOUR MINDS." 44:15 WHEN YOU'RE TEMPTED TO BE DISCOURAGED, WHAT DOES HE SAY? 44:17 CONSIDER HIM. THINK ABOUT WHAT 44:20 JESUS WENT THROUGH. IF ANYBODY HAD A REASON TO THROW 44:23 THEIR HANDS IN THE AIR AND RUN, JESUS DID. 44:27 IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE HE SAID, 'LORD,' - HE'S SUBMITTED 44:29 COMPLETELY TO GOD - 'NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE.' AND 44:32 AREN'T YOU THANKFUL THAT HE DIDN'T GET DISCOURAGED RIGHT AT 44:37 THE BORDER OF GETHSEMANE? WE MUST NOT GET DISCOURAGED 44:40 RIGHT AT THE BORDERS OF ETERNITY. 44:43 DURING WORLD WAR I - I READ ABOUT THIS SOLDIER THAT - IN 44:46 WORLD WAR I, IF YOU'VE DONE ANY STUDY ON IT, WAS PRETTY BLEAK. 44:51 I MEAN, IT WASN'T WHERE THEY HAD DRONES THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, 44:54 OPERATED BY SOMEBODY RUNNING A COMPUTER IN ANOTHER PART OF THE 44:57 COUNTRY, THEY WERE LITERALLY IN THE TRENCHES, IN THE WINTER, 45:01 FILLED WITH MUD, AND THE TRENCHES WERE NOT MUCH BETTER 45:05 THAN SEWERS. I REMEMBER HAVING A MEMBER, 45:07 HENRY SCADSHEIM - I WAS HIS PASTOR - HE WAS AN OLD MAN, BUT 45:11 HE HAD A CLEAR MIND, AND HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE TRENCHES IN WORLD 45:14 WAR 1 AND HOW BAD IT WAS. IT WAS LIKE LIVING IN A SEWER 45:19 AND AS SOON AS YOU STUCK YOUR HEAD UP THEY'D 45:22 TRY AND SHOOT YOU. AND THEY WOULD FIGHT AND 45:25 SACRIFICE THOUSANDS OF MEN FOR A HUNDRED OF YARDS OF MUD. 45:29 AND THEN THEY GOT - THEY FOUGHT BACK AND THEY'D LOSE IT ALL 45:32 AGAIN. AND THIS ONE SOLDIER JUST THOUGHT, 'I CAN'T TAKE IT 45:36 ANYMORE.' AND ONE NIGHT HE SLIPPED OUT OF THE TRENCHES AND 45:40 BEGAN TO HEAD BACK - HE WAS AN ENGLISH SOLDIER AND BEGAN TO 45:43 HEAD BACK ACROSS FRANCE TO THE ENGLISH CHANNEL - HE WAS GOING 45:46 TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND A BOAT AND JUST ROW BACK. 45:49 HE WAS READY TO GO AWOL. AND, DURING THE NIGHT, AS HE'S 45:52 TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE HE WAS - 45:54 IT WAS VERY DARK - HE GOT MIXED UP ON THE ROADS AND WASN'T SURE 46:00 WHICH DIRECTION WAS WEST - TO THE COAST - CAME TO A FORK IN 46:04 THE ROAD AND HE COULD JUST SEE A LITTLE GLITTERING OF THE 46:09 COBBLESTONES AND THEN HE SAW THE VAGUE OUTLINE OF THE STREET SIGN 46:13 AND HE THOUGHT, 'WELL, THIS SIGN OUGHT TO TELL ME WHERE IT IS, 46:14 BUT HE COULDN'T SEE WHAT THE SIGN SAID. 46:17 HE THEN - 'WELL, I'LL JUST CLIMB UP. 46:18 I'LL WRAP MY LEGS AROUND IT, I'LL LIGHT A MATCH, AND I'LL 46:21 READ THE SIGN. WELL, HE GOT - SHIMMIED UP THE 46:24 SIGN POST AND HE WENT TO LIGHT THE MATCH AND SUDDENLY HE FOUND 46:29 HIMSELF STARING INTO THE FACE OF JESUS. 46:31 WELL, WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A SIGN WAS ACTUALLY A CROSS. 46:35 IT WAS ONE OF THESE FRENCH ROADSIDE CROSSES THAT THEY HAD. 46:39 IT WAS A CRUCIFIX WITH THE STATUE OF JESUS, ON THE SIDE OF 46:43 THE ROAD, AND HE SAW HIMSELF LOOKING INTO THE FACE OF JESUS 46:47 AND HE THOUGHT, 'WOW, HERE'S JESUS ON THE CROSS. 46:51 I'M GETTING DISCOURAGED AND I'M RUNNING, AND HE DIDN'T RUN.' AND 46:55 THAT'S ALL IT TOOK FOR HIM TO MUSTER THE COURAGE TO GO BACK TO 46:59 THE FRONT LINES. AND HE SURVIVED THE WAR. 47:02 AND SOMETIMES WE NEED TO CONSIDER JESUS AND JUST REMEMBER 47:06 WHAT HE WENT THROUGH. HE WOULD NOT BE DISCOURAGED. 47:08 A CHRISTIAN IS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST. 47:12 AND THE LORD IS THE ONE WHO SAID TO JOSHUA, 'BE COURAGEOUS. 47:17 BE' - YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID? 47:18 - 'VERY COURAGEOUS.' IF JOSHUA NEEDED IT ON THE BORDERS OF THE 47:22 PROMISED LAND, WE NEED IT TODAY, AMEN? 47:26 >>CAN'T GET ENOUGH AMAZING FACTS BIBLE STUDY? 47:28 YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK TO ENJOY MORE 47:31 TRUTH-FILLED PROGRAMMING, VISIT THE AMAZING FACTS MEDIA LIBRARY 47:35 AT 'AFTV.ORG'. AT 'AFTV.ORG' YOU CAN ENJOY 47:41 VIDEO AND AUDIO PRESENTATIONS AS WELL AS PRINTED MATERIAL ALL 47:45 FREE OF CHARGE, 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK, RIGHT FROM YOUR 47:49 COMPUTER OR MOBILE DEVICE. VISIT 'AFTV.ORG'. 47:56 >>DID YOU KNOW THIS BOAT COULD SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH 20,000 47:59 PEOPLE? (BIRDS SQUAWKING) OR A CAR LIKE 48:01 THIS ONE COULD REACH 10,000 SOULS SEEKING HOPE IN JESUS. 48:05 (HORN HONKING) IF YOU HAVE A VEHICLE YOU'RE NOT USING AND 48:08 WOULD LIKE TO REACH HEARTS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD, PRAYERFULLY 48:11 CONSIDER DONATING YOUR VEHICLE TO AMAZING FACTS TODAY. 48:15 IT'S EASY TO TURN YOUR UNNEEDED CAR, BOAT, RV, MOTORCYCLE - EVEN 48:20 ATVS AND JET SKIS - INTO A SOUL-WINNING VEHICLE FOR CHRIST 48:24 AND GET A TAX DEDUCTION. 48:27 AMAZING FACTS WILL ARRANGE TO PICK UP YOUR VEHICLE AND PROVIDE 48:30 YOU WITH A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT. 48:32 THE PROCEEDS FROM THE RESALE WILL BE USED TO SHARE GOD'S 48:35 TRUTH WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. 48:38 DON'T LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE COLLECTING DUST. 48:42 USE IT TO TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH AMAZING FACTS. 48:46 CONTACT US TODAY AND LET US HELP TURN YOUR CAR, BOAT, RV, OR 48:49 MOTORCYCLE INTO LIVES SAVED FOR CHRIST. 48:59 >>AMAZING FACTS, CHANGED LIVES. >>I FELT LIKE I WAS RECEIVING 49:10 SOME ANGEL MESSAGES, IN AND AROUND MY SON'S DEATH. 49:13 MY SON JESSIE WAS JUST 31 YEARS OLD, SO I DIDN'T EXPECT HIM TO 49:17 DIE BEFORE I DID, BUT IN NOVEMBER OF 2009, WE DECIDED TO 49:24 HAVE THANKSGIVING WITH HIM AND - WHEN WE NORMALLY GO TO A FAMILY 49:28 TO HAVE THANKSGIVING. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS GOING 49:30 TO BE THE VERY LAST TIME THAT I WOULD SEE MY SON ALIVE. 49:34 AND IN APRIL OF 2010, I WAS URGED TO CALL HIM ON THE DAY 49:38 THAT HE DIED. I DIDN'T MAKE THAT CALL. 49:42 I WAS TOO BUSY. I THOUGHT I HAD TILL THE NEXT 49:44 MORNING TO CALL HIM AND IT TURNS OUT THAT I DIDN'T. 49:49 AND THEN, MY HUSBAND'S FATHER WAS PASSING AWAY IN A NURSING 49:51 HOME, SLOWLY, NOT EATING, TAKING HIS MEDICINE, JUST WASTING AWAY. 49:59 >>WE WERE PUTTING OUT AMAZING FACTS BIBLE STUDY GUIDES AND WE 50:06 HAD SENT OUT CARDS AND WE HAD THIS CARD, BUT WHEN I KNOCKED ON 50:12 SUE AND KIRK'S DOOR BY MISTAKE - >>AND WE WERE CONVINCED THAT 50:18 THIS WAS THE RIGHT HOUSE AND IT OBVIOUSLY TURNED OUT, TO OUR 50:22 SURPRISE, TO BE THE WRONG HOUSE. >>WHEN HE CAME BY, WE 50:25 WEREN'T EXPECTING THEM. HE TOLD ME ABOUT THESE PAMPHLETS 50:31 - THESE AMAZING FACTS THAT EXPLAIN THEIR DOCTRINE. 50:38 >>WELL, TO OUR SURPRISE, WHEN THEY ANSWERED THE DOOR, THE 50:42 GENTLEMAN, WHEN HE SAW WHAT WE WERE DOING, HE SAID, 'WELL, WE 50:46 WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THESE STUDIES.' 50:48 >>ANYTHING ABOUT THE LORD THAT INCREASES MY FAITH, IT'S ALWAYS 50:53 OPEN. >>THESE LESSONS CAME AT A TIME 50:58 WE DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE SEARCHING. 51:00 WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE NEEDED. 51:02 WE WERE JUST HURTING FROM THE GRIEF WE'D BEEN THROUGH. 51:05 WHEN I SAW THE STUDIES BY AMAZING FACTS, ABOUT THE 51:09 SABBATH, IT STRUCK A CORD WITH ME BECAUSE I REMEMBERED WHEN I 51:15 HAD TALKED TO MY MOTHER, AS A CHILD, ABOUT THE SABBATH - ABOUT 51:20 SEEING THAT TRUTH WHEN I WAS ONLY EIGHT YEARS OLD AND ASKING 51:23 HER WHY WE DIDN'T HONOR THE SABBATH DAY. 51:27 AND SHE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS JUST NOT THE WAY THAT THEY DID 51:31 THINGS. WELL, THAT - THAT WASN'T A GOOD 51:34 ENOUGH EXPRESSION - A GOOD ENOUGH EXPLANATION. 51:37 THERE WAS NO SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR WHAT SHE TOLD ME. 51:40 SHE JUST SAID TO FORGET IT. 51:41 AND I WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE STUDIES THAT WE HAD GOTTEN - AND 51:45 I WANTED MORE - SO I DECIDED THAT, 'WELL, IF THEY PUT OUT 51:49 THESE AMAZING FACTS BIBLE STUDIES, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING 51:54 ONLINE ABOUT THEM, SO I DECIDED TO CHECK IT OUT. 51:56 I WENT ON THE COMPUTER TO AMAZING FACTS - AND IT SAID IT 52:00 RIGHT DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BIBLE STUDIES, AMAZINGFACTS.ORG . 52:04 CHECKED IT OUT AND THERE WERE FREE BIBLE STUDIES THERE. 52:06 IT WAS THE VERY SAME ONES THAT WE HAD BEEN STUDYING. 52:09 AFTER FINDING THE AMAZING FACTS BIBLE STUDIES ONLINE - AND I DID 52:13 THEM ALL - I THINK THERE WERE 27 - 28 BIBLE STUDIES, I FELT LIKE 52:18 I WAS FINALLY SEEING THE TRUTH AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. 52:22 WE ORDERED THE AMAZING FACTS DVDS LIKE THE COSMIC CONFLICT , 52:28 AND THE FINAL EVENTS , PROPHECY FOUNDATIONS , AND DIFFERENT 52:33 MATERIALS LIKE THAT, WENT THROUGH THEM - ENJOYED ALL OF 52:37 THEM - AND THEY IMPACTED OUR LIVES EVEN MORE. 52:42 >>WELL, I WORKED AT THE POST OFFICE. 52:43 I KNEW KIRK AND SUE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. 52:46 AND I WASN'T ALLOWED TO TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND BIBLE 52:52 STUDIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THEY TOLD US NOT TO. 52:55 BUT ANYWAY, WHEN SUE CAME IN AND TALKED ABOUT IT, SHE TALKED 52:58 ABOUT THE SABBATH. AND I TOLD HER, 'WELL, SUE, I GO 53:01 TO CHURCH ON SATURDAY.' >>SO I INVITED MYSELF. 53:04 SHE WAS EXCITED, OF COURSE, TO HAVE ME GO. 53:06 MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH STARTED GOING THAT VERY NEXT SABBATH. 53:10 AND IT WASN'T BUT JUST FOUR MONTHS AFTER THAT THAT WE WERE 53:14 BAPTIZED INTO THE CHURCH - AND IT FELT LIKE THE MOST GLORIOUS 53:18 EXPERIENCE I COULD HAVE EVER HAD. 53:21 >>THE THING THAT TOUCHES MY HEART THE MOST IS MERWYN AND I 53:25 HAD BEEN DOING THIS FOR OH, THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR TWO 53:28 YEARS, AND SUE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS RESPONDED TO 53:32 AMAZING FACTS. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OTHERS THAT 53:35 HAVE RESPONDED AND HAD BEEN BAPTIZED, SO THIS - THIS IS 53:39 WHAT REALLY MAKES IT EXCITING. THERE'S TIMES IT'S DISCOURAGING, 53:43 BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, EVERY TIME YOU SEE SOMEBODY IN THE 53:46 WATER BEING BAPTIZED, IT'S A THRILL. 53:49 >>I KNOW THAT JESUS LOVES ME. AFTER ALL OF THE TRAGEDY THAT 53:52 I'VE BEEN THROUGH, HE MADE SURE THAT THE TWO MEN CAME AND 53:56 BROUGHT THE AMAZING FACTS BIBLE STUDIES TO ME AND MY HUSBAND. 54:01 MY LIFE'LL NEVER BE THE SAME. IT IS FOREVER CHANGED. 54:06 AND I AM FOREVER PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD. 54:28 >>HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A MOUSE HOWL LIKE A WOLF? WELL, WHAT 54:32 WOULD YOU EXPECT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN A CREATURE CHANGES ITS 54:35 DESTINY FROM THE HAPLESS PREY TO THE MIGHTY PREDATOR? 54:39 FROM THE OUTSIDE THEY LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE AN OVERSIZED FIELD 54:43 MOUSE - CUTE BROWN FUR, WHITE ON THE UNDERBELLY, NICE LITTLE 54:47 BEADY EYES - BUT THAT'S WHERE THE SIMILARITIES STOP. 54:50 GRASSHOPPER MICE ARE VERY UNUSUAL, MAKING THEM THE OBJECTS 54:54 OF GREAT INTEREST FOR ANIMAL RESEARCHERS. 54:57 THESE FURRY LITTLE CREATURES ARE FOUND IN THE HARSH DESERTS OF 55:01 NORTH AMERICA. THEY'RE VERY TERRITORIAL IN 55:03 NATURE AND THEY WILL MONOPOLIZE AND FEND OFF 25 ACRES. 55:08 THEY DON'T BUILD THEIR OWN HOMES, BUT SORT OF CONFISCATE 55:10 THE BURROWS AND THE HOMES OF OTHER CREATURES. 55:13 THEY'RE NOT CALLED GRASSHOPPER MICE BECAUSE THEY HOP AROUND, 55:17 BUT IT'S BECAUSE THEY EAT A LOT OF GRASSHOPPERS. 55:19 IN FACT, SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED THAT GRASSHOPPER MICE 55:21 ARE THE ONLY MICE THAT ARE PURELY CARNIVOROUS. 55:25 THEY HUNT MUCH LIKE CATS OR WEASELS, STALKING THEIR PREY IN 55:29 A PREDATORY FASHION AND WHEN THEY POUNCE, THEY ARE FEROCIOUS, 55:33 SOMETIMES EVEN TAKING ON SNAKES AND SCORPIONS AND CENTIPEDES. 55:37 WHEN A GRASSHOPPER MOUSE GETS INTO A FIERCE BATTLE WITH A 55:41 SNAKE OR A SCORPION OR A CENTIPEDE, THEY MAY BE BIT OR 55:44 STUNG SEVERAL TIMES. BUT WHAT IS AMAZING TO 55:47 RESEARCHERS IS THEY'VE NOTICED WHEN THEY ARE BITTEN, THEY 55:51 SOMEHOW SHAKE IT OFF BECAUSE THEY CONVERT THE TOXIN IN THE 55:54 VENOM TO PAIN KILLER. I THINK YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY 55:59 THIS INFORMATION WOULD BE A SPECIAL INTEREST TO SCIENTISTS 56:02 THAT ARE TRYING TO DISCOVER NEW WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH 56:05 CHRONIC PAIN. ONE OF THE MOST INTRIGUING 56:09 CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE LITTLE CREATURES IS, WHEN THEY'RE 56:12 DEFENDING THEIR TERRITORY OR CELEBRATING A VICTORY OVER SOME 56:15 ADVERSARY, THEY'LL THROW BACK THEIR HEAD AND LET OUT THIS 56:19 EARTH-SHAKING HOWL - IT'S A MOUSY HOWL - CHECK IT OUT. 56:30 THE GRASSHOPPER MOUSE IS NOT THE ONLY MEMBER OF CREATION THAT CAN 56:33 SURVIVE ENCOUNTERS WITH VENOMOUS PREDATORS. 56:36 IN LUKE 10:19 IT SAYS, "BEHOLD, I GIVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO 56:41 TRAMPLE ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS, AND OVER THE POWER OF 56:45 THE ENEMY, AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU. 56:49 WE DON'T HAVE TO BE THE BIGGEST AND THE STRONGEST TO DEFEAT OUR 56:51 ENEMY AND LET OUT THAT VICTORY ROAR. WHEN GOD CALLED DAVID TO 56:55 BE KING, NO HUMAN WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT HE HAD IT IN HIM. 56:58 HE WAS YOUNG AND INSIGNIFICANT. FROM THE OUTSIDE HE LOOKED LIKE 57:02 THERE WAS NO GREATNESS IN HIM, BUT WHEN GOD LOOKED AT HIS 57:05 HEART, HE SAW COURAGE, HUMILITY, COMPASSION, AND LOVE. 57:09 DAVID WASN'T PERFECT, AND HE MADE MISTAKES, BUT THROUGH GOD'S 57:12 POWER HE WAS ABLE TO CONQUER GIANTS. 57:15 FRIEND, GOD DOES NOT INTEND THAT YOU LIVE OUT THE REST OF YOUR 57:18 LIFE COWERING AND TREMBLING LIKE A LITTLE FIELD MOUSE. 57:22 IF GOD CAN TAKE THE GRASSHOPPER MOUSE AND GIVE HIM COURAGE SO 57:25 THAT HE FIGHTS SNAKES AND SCORPIONS AND CENTIPEDES, IF GOD 57:29 CAN PUT IN THE HEART OF DAVID THE COURAGE TO FIGHT GIANTS LIKE 57:32 GOLIATH, THEN HE CAN GIVE YOU THAT SAME COURAGE. 57:36 THE SCRIPTURES SAY GOD HAS NOT GIVEN YOU THE SPIRIT OF FEAR, 57:39 BUT OF POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND - AND YOU CAN HAVE THAT 57:43 PEACE IN YOUR HEART WHEN YOU INVITE THE PRINCE OF PEACE INTO 57:47 YOUR HEART. WHY DON'T YOU DO THAT RIGHT NOW? (MUSIC) 57:54 >>FOR LIFE-CHANGING CHRISTIAN RESOURCES, VISIT 57:56 AFBOOKSTORE.COM . 58:00 (MUSIC) |
Revised 2016-06-14