Please stay with us,
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3ABN presents
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this closed captioned program.
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Praise God. My
name is Roland Nwosu
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pastor of the Salt
Lake City Central SDA Church
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in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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We're glad you
joined the program today.
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You see everything
today has a "how-to" resource.
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How to cook, how
to do-it-yourself,
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how to garden or
how to remodel yourself.
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But, why not?
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How to stay in
church and not stray out,
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Why not?
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How to stay
connected with Jesus.
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So, in today's sermon
we want to explore with you
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how we as Christians
who want to believe in God
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who have believed in God,
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people who want
to have their lives
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connected with Almighty God
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how we can do that.
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How to stay connected
to Jesus. Let us pray.
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Father, we are willing right now
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Pull us to You,
plug us in to You,
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let's be connected to You,
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and when we are we ask that you
give us the power that we need
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to live the life,
power to be active,
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power to shine,
power to be alive,
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in the name of Jesus
Christ our Lord we pray.
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Amen.
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The Christian journey
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is one that requires
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a disciplined life.
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I want to share with you 10 ways
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we can stay connected with Jesus
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especially in a world that
is so distracting, so confusing,
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a world filled with distractions
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and all kinds of concerns and
issues that tend to pull us away
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from the way that
God wants us to walk in.
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Ten ways to stay
connected with Jesus
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and to stay
connected continually.
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First is to pray, you
see, prayer is something
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that is indispensible
in the Christian life.
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Point # 1: Pray in
good and bad times.
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If we must stay
connected to Jesus
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we cannot afford not to pray.
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King David said that he
prayed, he cried unto the Lord
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in the morning, at noon
time and in the evening.
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Prayer is a key that unlocks
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Heaven's
storehouse we have been told.
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Prayer is a strong resource.
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It is the key in
the hand of faith
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to reach the
storehouse of God our Father.
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You see, Paul tells
us not to stop praying
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but for us to continually pray,
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he says, "Pray
without ceasing. "
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What does it mean
to have a prayer life,
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to never cease
practicing the presence of God?
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It does not mean
to kneel down and pray
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every day or to close your
eyes and pray while driving,
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better not do that
because that would not be right.
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It means actively
living in the presence of God
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regardless of what we are doing.
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It means having a prayerful
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life, having a life of prayer,
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practicing God's presence,
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acting as if God is
there with us... with us
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seeing Him face to face,
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because He is there
with us all the time.
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In Mark 11:24 we are told to
believe when we pray and have
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faith, explicit faith in God.
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You see, we have to believe
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not based on a lack
of understanding in God.
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It's a belief that He who
has said it is faithful and sure
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to accomplish what He has said.
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Believe God in
every circumstance,
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believe in His leading,
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believe that His
Word will come true.
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2nd Point: If we must
stay connected to Jesus
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and connected to Him all
the time we must study His Word.
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You see, the Bible is
Jesus in a written form,
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God has communicated to us
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through the written Word.
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We love to read
letters from our loved ones.
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We like to
communicate with our loved ones,
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God has communicated
to us through the Bible,
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through His Word.
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To stay connected with Him
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we are to be in
touch, in constant contact
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with the Word,
searching the Scriptures
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knowing what God's
will and plan is for us.
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You see, God has revealed
His will in the Scriptures.
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We are told that we must
study to show ourselves approved
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unto God.
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Paul told
Timothy, "do your best,
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do your best to present yourself
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to God as one
approved as a workman
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who does not need to be ashamed
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rightly dividing
the Word of Truth. "
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God's Word is
sure, it's a sword,
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it's a weapon that we can
use in our spiritual fight.
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Studying God's Word
is indispensible as well,
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if we must connect
ourselves with the Savior,
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if we must stay
connected to Jesus
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we cannot but study His Word.
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Studying daily,
reading inspirational books,
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there are many that
we have, many men and
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women of God have
written, have been inspired,
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encourage yourselves
reading the Word of God.
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In the book of Acts 17:11,
we are told that the Berean's,
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after hearing the sermon,
after hearing the Bible studies,
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Even Jesus Himself told us that
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man shall not live by
bread alone but by every Word
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but by every Word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
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So we know that
the Word of God is food
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for our spiritual bodies.
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It's more than necessary food.
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Job said, "I have not departed
from the commands of His lips
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I have treasured
the Words of His mouth
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more than my daily bread. "
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There is another
point, Point # 3:
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If we must stay
connected to Jesus,
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faithful church
attendance is necessary,
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it's not just on
the day of worship but
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when the church
doors are open for worship.
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The Bible tells
us in Luke 4:14-16
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that Jesus went to church.
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So here we see
that Jesus of Galilee,
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regularly, His custom
was to go to church service.
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Why did Jesus need
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to attend church?
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He needed to be encouraged,
He needed to be supported,
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He needed to keep in
contact with His Father
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knowing that He
Himself came from Heaven.
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If Jesus needed to go to church,
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if Jesus needed to keep
in touch with His Father
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how much more us today.
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We are told not to neglect
the assembly or meeting together
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of the brethren, as some
have formed a habit of doing,
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let us encourage one another
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and all the more as you
see the day approaching.
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Point # 4:
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If we must stay
connected to Jesus,
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if we must stay in
church and not stray out
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or backslide we must
trust in God and God alone,
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we cannot trust in friends.
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Micah the
prophet said in Micah 7:5
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Even your own spouse, don't
put your confidence in them,
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God is the One in
whom we can trust.
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Yes, the Bible does not
say, don't trust your spouse,
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in the sense of
when they say something
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to you in
relationships, yes trust them,
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but when it comes
to spiritual matters,
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when it comes to moral matters,
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where only God
Himself is the Arbiter,
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is the ultimate authority,
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God is the ultimate
authority and not your spouse.
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So we cannot trust anyone
else in matters of spirituality.
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King David says, "Do not
put your trust in princes
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not in mortal man
who cannot save. "
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King Solomon says,
"He who trusts in himself
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is a fool. " And who is a fool?
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A fool is someone who
has denied there is no God,
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And if we don't
trust God and God alone
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then we run the risk
of being disconnected.
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You see, we cannot
trust in ourselves either
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because, the
prophet Jeremiah tells us
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that the heart of man
is desperately wicked,
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no one can understand it.
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Don't trust in
yourself, trust in God.
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The prophet Isaiah says,
"Trust in the Lord forever
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for the Lord Himself
is God; He is eternal
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He is the Rock,
Eternal, the Immovable Rock. "
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Trust in the Lord.
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Point # 5:
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If we must stay
connected with Jesus,
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if we must stay in
church and not stray out
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if we must keep our
faith active and alive,
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we must mind our own business,
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mind your own business,
let other people alone.
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Mind your business
because it is your business
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between you and your God
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and between them and their God.
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And Paul makes it very clear
to us in 1 Thessalonians 4:11
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So the Bible tells
us to live a quite life,
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we can stretch it
out and include that,
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there are some people
who study to make noise,
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who study to cause
confusion in a group,
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in the church, among
their associations at work
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at school, I
don't know, wherever!
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But, the apostle Paul
says make it your business
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to stay to yourself
and mind your own business
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and work with your hands
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just as the Gospel
has been entrusted to us.
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You see, the devil always
finds work for idle hands,
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idle hands, empty
drums make the most noise.
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Those who complain most are
the ones who don't do anything,
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but when we mind our business
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certainly God will
fill us up with His Spirit.
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You know there is something else
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that the apostle
Paul told Timothy once
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he should take
care of the tale bearers
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and busy bodies in church.
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Have you made some
calls you weren't supposed to?
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Christian friend, if we
must stay connected with Jesus
00:14:54.59\00:15:01.31
we must mind our business,
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we must stay off the phone,
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we must stay off the couch,
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and do things we are
supposed to be doing,
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calls that we
ought not be calling,
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visits that we
ought not be making,
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tale bearers and busy bodies,
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you know the church grapevine.
00:15:21.77\00:15:25.77
If we must stay
connected, mind your business,
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follow Christ and not others.
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You see, apostle
Peter had that problem.
00:15:34.83\00:15:38.24
Jesus was sharing
with His disciples one day
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when He was telling
Peter how he would be dying,
00:15:42.99\00:15:50.33
how he'd die when he gets old,
00:15:50.36\00:15:52.04
and John came by
and apostle Peter said
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"How about him... "
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Mind your business, why do
you care, what is that to you?
00:16:30.79\00:16:34.46
"Follow Me Peter,
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it is not your business if
I want him to live forever.
00:16:35.80\00:16:39.70
How does that matter to you?"
00:16:39.73\00:16:43.59
Some of us as Christians
because we are supposed
00:16:43.62\00:16:47.21
to love one another, we are
supposed to care for one another
00:16:47.24\00:16:49.39
we get into people's business,
00:16:49.42\00:16:51.21
and it discourages some people,
00:16:51.24\00:16:54.03
it burns some people.
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We say things we
are not supposed to say,
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people are hurt,
00:16:58.52\00:17:02.52
and they don't feel that church
is a place to come and share
00:17:02.81\00:17:06.81
their inmost
concerns and problems.
00:17:07.54\00:17:11.48
That is not the will of God,
00:17:11.51\00:17:15.51
mind your business,
00:17:15.74\00:17:19.07
and talk to the
Lord about it in prayer.
00:17:19.10\00:17:23.10
I want to share
with you the # 6 Point:
00:17:23.43\00:17:26.59
If we must stay connected
to Jesus and stay in church
00:17:26.62\00:17:29.95
and not stray out
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we must be witnesses of Christ
00:17:33.41\00:17:40.87
because that is our first job.
00:17:40.90\00:17:43.20
You see, in Acts 1:8 we're told
the reason the Holy Spirit gives
00:17:43.23\00:17:51.47
us power is to energize us
00:17:51.50\00:17:54.27
to do the work of the ministry.
00:17:54.30\00:17:56.86
"But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes upon you"
00:17:56.89\00:18:00.89
and Jesus said,
"You will be My witnesses
00:18:01.05\00:18:04.42
in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and in Samaria
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and to the ends of the earth."
00:18:10.02\00:18:13.43
So the purpose
of the Holy Spirit,
00:18:13.46\00:18:17.11
the reason why Jesus
gives us the Holy Spirit
00:18:17.14\00:18:23.55
is to do the
work of His ministry,
00:18:23.58\00:18:26.52
to do the work of the church.
00:18:26.55\00:18:28.36
So when we
receive the Holy Spirit
00:18:28.39\00:18:31.57
we receive power
to do God's work,
00:18:31.60\00:18:34.40
because that is
the purpose for which
00:18:34.43\00:18:36.16
the Holy Spirit
has been given to us.
00:18:36.19\00:18:39.15
Point # 7:
00:18:39.18\00:18:42.02
Don't be deceived,
00:18:42.05\00:18:44.60
don't be a fake, be real,
00:18:44.63\00:18:50.00
be a real Christian.
00:18:50.03\00:18:51.29
As my friend told me
this afternoon, she said,
00:18:51.32\00:18:55.10
"We should not be
afraid as Christians",
00:18:55.13\00:19:00.61
because God has not
given us a spirit of fear
00:19:00.64\00:19:03.60
but God has given us
a spirit of strength,
00:19:03.63\00:19:07.29
fearlessness, and boldness
00:19:07.32\00:19:09.50
before His presence.
00:19:09.53\00:19:11.27
Don't be deceived
God is not mocked.
00:19:11.30\00:19:15.30
Love of the brethren is
essential for we know that
00:19:15.61\00:19:19.61
for we know that we have
passed from death to life
00:19:21.23\00:19:23.02
because we love our brothers.
00:19:23.05\00:19:24.59
And anyone who does not love
00:19:24.62\00:19:27.71
remains in death.
00:19:27.74\00:19:29.40
Now some of come
walking into a church
00:19:29.43\00:19:33.35
and we act like we are so
holier than all the people.
00:19:33.38\00:19:37.38
We smile but inside we don't
have the love for one another.
00:19:38.13\00:19:42.13
Be real.
00:19:42.54\00:19:45.02
If we must stay connected
00:19:45.05\00:19:46.96
we must be genuine.
00:19:46.99\00:19:50.04
In 1 John 1:8
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Point # 8:
00:20:07.69\00:20:09.60
Love, love one another.
00:20:09.63\00:20:13.63
If we must stay
connected with Jesus
00:20:14.24\00:20:17.40
If we must stay
connected to Jesus
00:20:17.43\00:20:20.26
and stay plugged in
to Him, the power source
00:20:20.29\00:20:24.29
of our spiritual life
00:20:24.52\00:20:26.55
we must love one another.
00:20:26.58\00:20:28.84
Yes the Bible says,
"Love your enemies. "
00:20:28.87\00:20:31.94
Love one another.
00:20:31.97\00:20:34.85
And don't show favoritism.
00:20:34.88\00:20:37.57
In 1 John 4:20, 21
00:20:37.60\00:20:41.60
Love is primary,
00:21:13.96\00:21:17.41
love is essential
in the church of God.
00:21:17.44\00:21:21.44
Oh, how many have
left the church because
00:21:22.34\00:21:26.34
they complained or they
felt they were not loved.
00:21:26.43\00:21:29.41
We must love one another,
00:21:29.44\00:21:36.49
support one another,
00:21:36.52\00:21:39.15
encouraging one another,
00:21:39.18\00:21:40.84
exhorting one another,
00:21:40.87\00:21:43.81
sharing with one another,
00:21:43.84\00:21:45.48
that brotherly
kindness that God has given us
00:21:45.51\00:21:49.39
within His household.
00:21:49.42\00:21:50.39
Let me share the #
9th point with you.
00:21:50.42\00:21:53.37
The Bible tell us
that helping others
00:21:53.40\00:21:59.58
through unselfish service
00:21:59.61\00:22:02.80
is one essential
purpose for which
00:22:02.83\00:22:05.21
the church was established.
00:22:05.24\00:22:08.67
Galatians 6:9
00:22:08.70\00:22:11.99
Let's not be
weary in well doing,
00:22:24.74\00:22:27.33
because at the proper time,
00:22:27.36\00:22:29.05
when He that
shall come shall come
00:22:29.08\00:22:31.98
we will reap the harvest
00:22:32.01\00:22:34.09
if we have done faithfully.
00:22:34.12\00:22:37.01
Jesus told a
story in Matthew 25.
00:22:37.04\00:22:40.60
He told a story about
the sheep and the goats,
00:22:40.63\00:22:43.56
the ones that will
be on the right hand
00:22:43.59\00:22:45.63
and the others that will
be on the left hand side.
00:22:45.66\00:22:47.83
There is a
difference between the sheep
00:22:47.86\00:22:50.46
that will be on the right.
00:22:50.49\00:22:52.60
They were the ones who served
00:22:52.63\00:22:56.63
with faithful,
unselfish service.
00:22:56.90\00:23:00.90
They fed the hungry,
00:23:02.65\00:23:05.92
they gave drink to the thirsty,
00:23:05.95\00:23:08.26
they clothed the
naked, they visited the sick,
00:23:08.29\00:23:12.29
and those in prison,
00:23:12.34\00:23:13.78
that was
unselfish service at work.
00:23:13.81\00:23:16.79
At that time when
the King shall come
00:23:16.82\00:23:22.57
He will reward us beyond
what we have spent on others,
00:23:22.60\00:23:27.35
that is His promise.
00:23:27.38\00:23:29.96
There is nothing that
we have spent on others
00:23:29.99\00:23:33.30
that will go unrewarded.
00:23:33.33\00:23:36.20
Jesus calls for our
unselfish service to people,
00:23:36.23\00:23:39.94
and it's through
service to other people,
00:23:39.97\00:23:45.57
and for other people,
00:23:45.60\00:23:46.86
that we ourselves
receive the greatest blessings.
00:23:46.89\00:23:52.55
It is through giving
00:23:52.58\00:23:54.62
that we ourselves as Christians
00:23:54.65\00:23:57.78
as children of God
00:23:57.81\00:23:59.65
receive blessings from the Lord.
00:23:59.68\00:24:02.61
Let me share with
you the # 10th point:
00:24:02.64\00:24:06.45
which I believe is
the most important,
00:24:06.48\00:24:08.64
because there are
so many things that are
00:24:08.67\00:24:10.84
so distracting and
confusing in our world today.
00:24:10.87\00:24:14.87
The # 10th point
is that we must focus.
00:24:16.49\00:24:20.49
If we must stay
connected to Jesus,
00:24:20.79\00:24:23.54
if we must remain plugged in
00:24:23.57\00:24:25.91
to that Power Source,
Jesus Christ our Savior
00:24:25.94\00:24:29.48
we must focus on Him.
00:24:29.51\00:24:32.49
Focusing means
refusing to be distracted.
00:24:32.52\00:24:38.27
Though the things
around our world, around us,
00:24:38.30\00:24:42.26
around our
homes, around our work
00:24:42.52\00:24:45.22
might shake us,
might try to test our faith
00:24:45.25\00:24:48.33
through trials and difficulties,
00:24:48.36\00:24:51.70
through sufferings and pains,
00:24:51.73\00:24:53.92
keep focused, children of God.
00:24:53.95\00:24:56.83
We must focus on Jesus
if we must stay connected.
00:24:56.86\00:25:00.71
10 Points: why and how we
must stay connected with Jesus.
00:25:00.74\00:25:06.72
We must focus on Him.
00:25:06.75\00:25:08.79
Hebrews 12:2
00:25:08.82\00:25:12.82
So you see, Jesus was focused.
He refused to be distracted.
00:25:39.92\00:25:45.82
You see, He had a
mission to save souls,
00:25:45.85\00:25:48.75
mission to bring
back His lost world,
00:25:48.78\00:25:52.78
He stayed
focused on His mission.
00:25:52.85\00:25:56.41
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
00:25:56.44\00:25:58.59
let us focus on Him,
00:25:58.62\00:26:00.37
let us not fix our eyes
on the leaders of the church,
00:26:00.40\00:26:03.65
let us take our eyes
away from the pastor,
00:26:03.68\00:26:06.85
or from the elders
or from the deacons
00:26:06.88\00:26:08.95
but let Jesus be our example.
00:26:08.98\00:26:12.02
Apostle Peter says, "To
this we have been called "
00:26:12.05\00:26:16.05
because Jesus
suffered and He suffered
00:26:16.25\00:26:20.25
leaving an example for us
00:26:20.77\00:26:23.23
that we should
follow in His footsteps.
00:26:23.26\00:26:25.67
He committed no sin,
00:26:25.70\00:26:27.82
our elders have committed sins,
00:26:27.85\00:26:29.72
and we are sinners
saved by the grace of God.
00:26:29.75\00:26:33.00
No one in the church
ought to be the focus
00:26:33.03\00:26:36.51
of any member of the church.
00:26:36.54\00:26:38.56
So, Jesus committed no sin
00:26:38.59\00:26:40.68
and no deceit was
found in His mouth.
00:26:40.71\00:26:43.51
When they hurled insults at Him
00:26:43.54\00:26:45.97
He did not hurl back,
00:26:46.00\00:26:47.27
He did not retaliate,
00:26:47.30\00:26:48.64
when He suffered
He made no threats,
00:26:48.67\00:26:51.35
instead He entrusted Himself
00:26:51.38\00:26:53.77
to the One who judges justly,
00:26:53.80\00:26:57.22
so follow the steps of Jesus,
00:26:57.25\00:27:01.23
focus on Jesus.
00:27:01.29\00:27:04.69
For He is the One
who has walked that way,
00:27:04.72\00:27:08.53
that path before us,
leaving us that example,
00:27:08.56\00:27:12.17
"For we have such a High Priest
00:27:12.20\00:27:14.57
who has gone on to Heaven
00:27:14.60\00:27:17.08
to the right hand throne of God,
00:27:17.11\00:27:18.92
having suffered all the
things that we have suffered,
00:27:18.95\00:27:22.95
having been tempted in all
ways that we have been tempted."
00:27:23.63\00:27:26.88
So we have such a High Priest
00:27:26.91\00:27:30.91
who Himself understands us,
00:27:30.95\00:27:33.22
be encouraged and
stay connected with Him.
00:27:33.25\00:27:38.71
Plug into that life source
00:27:38.74\00:27:41.19
that only Jesus can sustain
00:27:41.22\00:27:44.47
and keep us alive.
00:27:44.50\00:27:46.64
May the Lord
bless you and keep you.
00:27:46.67\00:27:48.30
May the Lord make His
wonderful face to shine upon you
00:27:48.33\00:27:52.07
and give you
peace now and forever.
00:27:52.10\00:27:56.08