Music...
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Acts of the Apostles
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chapter 11,
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page 105
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talking about
persecution that is arising
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and the danger that
was approaching the church
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there was danger that the
disciples would linger there
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in Jerusalem too long
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not just
persecution but also success
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unmindful of the
Savior's commission
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to go to all the world
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are you awake tonight?
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Audience: Yes.
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Listen to this,
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"Forgetting that
strength to resist evil
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is best gained by
aggressive service. "
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I heard one "Amen. "
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Audience: Amen.
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"Forgetting that
strength to resist evil
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is best gained by
aggressive service. "
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They began to think that
they had no work so important
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as that of shielding
the church in Jerusalem
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from the attacks of the enemy.
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Pause...
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Another gem here,
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this gem... one of the
brethren shared with me
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Christ's Object
Lesson, page 384,
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"The completeness of
Christian character... "
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hooo... ooo...
help us Holy Ghost.
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"The completeness
of Christian character
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is attained when the
impulse to help and bless others
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springs
constantly from within... "
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Man! did you hear that?
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Pause...
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more pause...
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"The completeness of
Christian character is attained
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when the impulse to
help and bless others
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springs
constantly from within...
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when the sunshine of
heaven fills the heart
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and is revealed
in the countenance. "
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Lord, have mercy,
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so, I'm not crazy after all.
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Pause...
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more pause...
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This...
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seemingly strange concept
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that the things that
God wants us to achieve
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and in fact, God has purposed
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that we would attain and achieve
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are not always
necessarily gained
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by continuously
focusing on those things.
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Jesus taught, I believe
and lived this principle,
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in Matthew chapter
23 verses 11 and 12,
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the Bible says,
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"But he that is greatest
among you shall be your servant.
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And whosoever shall
exalt himself shall be abased;
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and he that shall humble
himself shall be exalted. "
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That's backwards, isn't it?
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No one thinks that the way
to the top... is by going down.
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You didn't get on the elevator
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if you stayed in one
of the hotels around here
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and you stayed on the 15th,
18th, 19th, 20th floor and said,
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"Well, let me go
down to the 1st floor. "
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You expected to go
up in order to get up
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but in the kingdom
of God, Jesus says,
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"If you want to be great,
you must be a servant... slave"
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pause...
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this...
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concept, huh,
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is expressed not only
in the words of Christ
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but all through
Scripture, one more time,
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Matthew chapter
16, verses 24 and 25,
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"Then said Jesus
unto His disciples,
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'If any man will come
after Me, let him deny himself,
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take up his
cross, and follow Me.
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For whosoever will save
his life shall... lose it:
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and whosever will lose his life
for My sake shall find it. "
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Pause...
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Jesus always
agrees with Scripture
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or Scripture
always agrees with Jesus
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either way you look at it.
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In the 21st chapter of
Numbers, you remember the story,
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the Israelites began to
complain about God's guidance.
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He was taking too long to
get them to their destination
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or so they believed
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and they began to
murmur and complain
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about God's
guidance and His goodness
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and so, God says,
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"Okay, you want to see
what it's like without me?"
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So, He removes the
protective covering
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that rested over
the children of Israel
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and danger that existed
but had been kept at bay
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by unseen forces,
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was at once allowed
to come into the camp.
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Fiery serpents begin to bite the
individuals there in the camp
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and the solution seemed
to be completely illogical.
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Pause...
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"Moses, get
a... an enormous pole
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and make a serpent out of brass
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and put that serpent on the pole
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and then allow the word
to go out through the...
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through the camp that
whoever looks will live.
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Pause...
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Now, if you sit here tonight
and say that that was reasonable
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and logical, I
know you're lying.
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Pause...
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Let some snakes
up in here tonight...
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pause...
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and nobody will be
concerned with the message.
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Everybody will be
concerned with getting up...
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out of here as
quickly as you possibly can
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and if a snake is
hanging on your leg,
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your attention will
be fixed on that serpent
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and trying to relieve yourself.
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Is that true, yes or no?
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Pause...
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And yet, God asked the children
of Israel to do something
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that was completely illogical...
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listen to me tonight my friends,
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stop looking at
what is attacking you...
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what is hurting you,
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what is perhaps
going to take your life
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stop looking at that which is...
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which is killing you
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and instead... look and
live at this serpent on a pole.
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Pause...
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Many of us are like...
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I've... I've got to believe some
of the children of Israel were
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you've got to be
out of your mind.
00:08:08.52\00:08:09.85
Pause...
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I'm looking for
where the serpents are.
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"If I can just stop
these snakes from biting me,
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my life will be all right. "
00:08:18.96\00:08:20.46
"If I can just put
down the pornography,
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everything will be all right. "
00:08:23.50\00:08:24.83
"If I can just
leave the alcohol alone,
00:08:24.87\00:08:27.17
everything will be fine. "
00:08:27.20\00:08:28.54
"If I can just
get this better job,
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everything will... will...
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will flow in the
proper direction. "
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If I can just get
this sin out of my life,
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then everything
will be all right. "
00:08:37.71\00:08:40.12
But Jesus says, "Stop
fixating on your problem
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and start fixating on me. "
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Pause...
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Joshua and the
children of Israel
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have entered
into the Promised Land
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and the fortress
city of Jericho was there
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and the Bible tells the
story... you remember it,
00:09:02.14\00:09:07.11
that Joshua gets a
group of soldiers together
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and they go up to the wall
00:09:12.15\00:09:13.48
and they measure the
length... the width...
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the breadth of the wall
00:09:16.89\00:09:19.52
and they get some
mathematicians together
00:09:19.55\00:09:21.29
and they began to calculate
just at what points they can...
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they can apply pressure
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so that they will be
able to break through,
00:09:27.76\00:09:29.76
you remember that story, right?
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You're like, "No, we
never heard that one. "
00:09:31.17\00:09:33.74
Pause...
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That's because that's
not how it went, Beloved,
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God said, "I want you
to march around the city. "
00:09:40.44\00:09:44.18
Laughter...
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woooo...
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"I want you to
march around the city. "
00:09:48.62\00:09:50.65
"You want me to do... what?"
00:09:50.69\00:09:52.09
"March around the city... "
00:09:52.12\00:09:53.49
"But Lord, we're
going to be sitting ducks...
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pause...
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we're going to be
bait... target practice. "
00:09:59.56\00:10:02.56
God says, "Don't worry,
00:10:02.60\00:10:04.70
just do what I'm
asking you to do. "
00:10:04.73\00:10:06.27
"But how is this helping us
00:10:06.33\00:10:09.07
towards our end and
our desire... goal...
00:10:09.10\00:10:12.84
it doesn't make sense. "
00:10:12.87\00:10:14.54
"Just do what I'm
asking you to do... day one...
00:10:14.58\00:10:16.95
day two... day
three... day four... day five...
00:10:16.98\00:10:19.31
day six... day seven...
00:10:19.35\00:10:21.32
and you remember
the song that all the...
00:10:21.35\00:10:24.22
of the little children sing,
00:10:24.25\00:10:26.39
"The walls came... " what?
00:10:26.42\00:10:28.76
they came tumbling down
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not because Israel
focused on the wall
00:10:31.06\00:10:36.23
but because
Israel did what God asked
00:10:36.26\00:10:41.40
as improbable as it seemed.
00:10:41.44\00:10:44.24
Pause...
00:10:44.27\00:10:46.21
The story of Jehoshaphat
00:10:46.27\00:10:48.44
and the innumerable
foes that he was facing...
00:10:48.48\00:10:52.25
Israel at the Red Sea...
00:10:52.28\00:10:55.25
Gideon with 300 men...
00:10:55.28\00:10:58.15
over and over
again these stories
00:10:58.19\00:11:01.12
are trying to impress
a most powerful lesson
00:11:01.19\00:11:04.89
upon our hearts and
upon our minds, Beloved,
00:11:04.93\00:11:08.63
and the lesson is
00:11:08.66\00:11:10.47
that the way to
accomplish that which we desire
00:11:10.50\00:11:14.17
is not always going to
be the way that we think.
00:11:14.20\00:11:17.84
Pause...
00:11:17.87\00:11:21.58
Just think about the disciples.
00:11:21.64\00:11:24.18
Pause...
00:11:24.21\00:11:25.68
Acts chapter one,
00:11:25.71\00:11:27.72
"Are you now going to
restore the kingdom to Israel?"
00:11:27.78\00:11:30.49
"Jesus, you're going to
set up an earthly kingdom... "
00:11:30.52\00:11:33.22
beside the fact that
was twisted theology.
00:11:33.25\00:11:36.39
Pause...
00:11:36.42\00:11:39.09
Jesus said, "I am going to
set up an everlasting kingdom
00:11:39.13\00:11:43.10
and you know how
I'm going to do it?"
00:11:43.13\00:11:45.17
They said, "Yes,
yes, tell us Jesus. "
00:11:45.23\00:11:47.67
"I'm going to go to
the cross and die. "
00:11:47.70\00:11:50.14
Pause...
00:11:50.17\00:11:54.41
Judas probably voiced
what everyone was thinking,
00:11:54.44\00:12:00.22
"You must be out of Your mind,
00:12:00.25\00:12:03.75
pause...
00:12:03.79\00:12:05.45
how on earth can
going to the cross
00:12:05.49\00:12:08.52
establish an
everlasting kingdom?"
00:12:08.56\00:12:11.56
Pause...
00:12:11.59\00:12:16.00
Someone may be
asking themselves tonight,
00:12:16.03\00:12:18.63
"Well, okay Conway,
I'm listening to you...
00:12:18.67\00:12:21.27
I'm listening...
00:12:21.30\00:12:22.80
I'm looking at you cross-eyed
00:12:22.87\00:12:28.44
and I don't know but, tell me,
00:12:28.48\00:12:29.98
if I'm not supposed
to focus on my problems
00:12:30.01\00:12:35.35
and if I'm not supposed
to focus and be consumed
00:12:35.38\00:12:38.95
with my problems and my
desires or even my destination,
00:12:38.99\00:12:44.33
then what, pray
tell, am I to focus on?"
00:12:44.36\00:12:48.66
Pause...
00:12:48.70\00:12:51.97
1st Kings chapter 3...
00:12:52.00\00:12:54.60
the Bible says in 1st
Kings chapter 3 verse 5,
00:12:54.64\00:13:02.88
"In Gibeon the LORD appeared
to Solomon in a dream by night:
00:13:02.91\00:13:09.12
and God said, 'Ask
what I shall give thee. '"
00:13:09.18\00:13:14.09
Oh, don't you like that?
00:13:14.12\00:13:15.92
How many of you like God
to come and say that to you?
00:13:15.96\00:13:19.46
Pause.
00:13:19.49\00:13:21.20
"Ask what it is
that I shall give thee. "
00:13:21.23\00:13:25.23
Pause...
00:13:25.30\00:13:27.94
Verse 6, "And Solomon said,
00:13:27.97\00:13:29.60
'Thou has
shewed unto thy servant
00:13:29.64\00:13:32.11
David my father great mercy,
00:13:32.14\00:13:34.08
according as he
has walked before thee
00:13:34.14\00:13:36.61
in truth, and in righteousness,
00:13:36.64\00:13:37.98
and in uprightness
of heart with thee;
00:13:38.01\00:13:40.18
and thou has kept for
him this great kindness,
00:13:40.22\00:13:45.15
that thou has given him
a son to sit on his throne,
00:13:45.19\00:13:48.59
as it is this day. "
00:13:48.62\00:13:50.63
I want to paint the
picture for you a little bit,
00:13:50.66\00:13:53.60
Solomon was a
king, he was a... what?
00:13:53.63\00:13:56.87
He was a king.
00:13:56.93\00:13:58.73
Now, who was the
first king of Israel?
00:13:58.77\00:14:01.60
Audience: Saul.
00:14:01.64\00:14:03.57
Saul...
00:14:03.61\00:14:05.17
and how did that
work out for him?
00:14:05.21\00:14:07.28
Pause...
00:14:07.34\00:14:09.91
Very shortly after
Saul was anointed...
00:14:09.94\00:14:13.08
perhaps, just a few years
00:14:13.11\00:14:15.65
Saul proved that he
was unworthy to be king
00:14:15.68\00:14:18.62
and David was anointed as king.
00:14:18.65\00:14:21.42
My suspicion is
that the word got out,
00:14:21.46\00:14:25.79
somehow that
God's hand was on David
00:14:25.83\00:14:30.20
and even if no
one said anything,
00:14:30.23\00:14:34.54
it was evident to
everyone including Saul
00:14:34.57\00:14:38.01
that God's hand was on David
for a unique and special work
00:14:38.04\00:14:42.88
that work would be to
replace him one day as king.
00:14:42.91\00:14:47.05
Pause...
00:14:47.08\00:14:49.08
David becomes king
00:14:49.12\00:14:51.19
and David's...
00:14:51.22\00:14:53.22
David's reign endured a coup.
00:14:53.25\00:14:57.73
David's kingdom
was stolen from him
00:14:57.76\00:15:03.73
at the hands of
his own son, Absalom.
00:15:03.77\00:15:09.70
Pause...
00:15:09.74\00:15:12.27
Murder and intrigue...
00:15:12.31\00:15:14.24
Saul's attempted
murders of David...
00:15:14.28\00:15:17.65
Absalom's
attempted murder of David...
00:15:17.68\00:15:20.95
Absalom's murder
of his oldest brother
00:15:20.98\00:15:24.25
who stood in line to the throne,
00:15:24.29\00:15:26.22
Solomon, even
before he was anointed,
00:15:26.25\00:15:29.59
had his older brother
to proclaim himself king
00:15:29.62\00:15:33.90
before David persuaded...
urged by Bathsheba and Nathan
00:15:33.93\00:15:39.13
that something strange
was going on in the nation,
00:15:39.17\00:15:42.70
David rushes and
places Solomon on the throne
00:15:42.74\00:15:46.27
and has him anointed
and declared to be king.
00:15:46.34\00:15:49.84
All of this, Beloved, simply
to say that Solomon's throne
00:15:49.88\00:15:56.35
was not secure
00:15:56.38\00:15:58.49
humanly speaking,
are you with me tonight?
00:15:58.52\00:16:02.32
His throne was most
certainly not secure
00:16:02.36\00:16:06.09
and so, it would have
been a reasonable request
00:16:06.16\00:16:11.23
for Solomon to say,
"Establish my throne... "
00:16:11.27\00:16:15.94
based on what had
happened to his father,
00:16:15.97\00:16:20.58
and based on what had
happened to Saul before him,
00:16:20.61\00:16:23.91
it would have
been a logical request.
00:16:23.95\00:16:26.61
"Lord, I want to do Your will
00:16:26.65\00:16:29.48
and I understand
what You have prophesied,
00:16:29.52\00:16:31.85
but I can only walk in Your will
00:16:31.89\00:16:34.09
if You establish and
secure my throne... "
00:16:34.12\00:16:37.16
but Beloved, tonight,
that's not what Solomon asked.
00:16:37.19\00:16:40.13
Pause...
00:16:40.16\00:16:42.30
more pause...
00:16:42.33\00:16:44.90
verse 7, "Now, O LORD my God,
thou has made thy servant king
00:16:44.93\00:16:49.70
instead of David my father:
and I am but a little child:
00:16:49.77\00:16:54.51
I know not how to
go out or come in.
00:16:54.54\00:16:57.58
And Thy servant is in
the midst of Thy people
00:16:57.65\00:17:00.42
which Thou has
chosen, a great people,
00:17:00.45\00:17:03.02
that cannot be numbered
nor counted for multitude. "
00:17:03.05\00:17:06.59
Verse 9,
00:17:06.65\00:17:07.99
"Give therefore Thy
servant an understanding heart
00:17:08.02\00:17:12.29
to judge Thy people,
00:17:12.33\00:17:14.90
that I may discern
between good and bad:
00:17:14.93\00:17:17.67
for who is able to judge
this Thy so great a people?"
00:17:17.73\00:17:24.64
Verse 10,
00:17:24.67\00:17:26.37
"And the speech
pleased the Lord,
00:17:26.41\00:17:31.41
that Solomon had
asked Him this thing.
00:17:31.45\00:17:36.45
And God said unto
him... " verse 11,
00:17:36.48\00:17:40.89
"Because thou
has asked this thing,
00:17:40.92\00:17:45.26
and has not asked
for thyself long life,
00:17:45.29\00:17:49.03
neither has asked
riches for thyself,
00:17:49.06\00:17:52.47
nor has asked the
life of thine enemies;
00:17:52.50\00:17:55.70
but has asked for
thyself understanding
00:17:55.74\00:17:58.91
to discern judgment; Behold... "
00:17:58.94\00:18:01.71
Verse 12, "I have done
according to thy words:
00:18:01.74\00:18:04.68
lo, I have given thee a
wise and an understanding heart;
00:18:04.71\00:18:08.32
so that there was
none like thee before thee,
00:18:08.35\00:18:10.79
neither after thee shall
any arise like unto thee.
00:18:10.82\00:18:14.39
And I have also given thee
00:18:14.42\00:18:19.19
that which thou hast not asked,
00:18:19.23\00:18:22.60
both riches, and honor:
00:18:22.66\00:18:26.50
so that there shall
not be any among the kings
00:18:26.53\00:18:30.77
like unto thee all thy days. "
00:18:30.81\00:18:35.94
Pause...
00:18:35.98\00:18:39.31
Friends, I'd
like to refer to this
00:18:39.35\00:18:41.52
as the "Solomon Principle"
00:18:41.58\00:18:44.05
the what?
00:18:44.09\00:18:46.22
The Solomon Principle.
00:18:46.25\00:18:47.66
Pause...
00:18:47.69\00:18:49.46
Solomon asked God for something
that would benefit others
00:18:49.49\00:18:55.73
when it would have
been reasonable for him
00:18:55.76\00:18:58.73
to ask God for something that
would purely benefit himself.
00:18:58.77\00:19:03.41
Solomon's request pleased God
00:19:03.47\00:19:08.24
because at the heart
of Solomon's request,
00:19:08.28\00:19:11.18
were the people of God
00:19:11.21\00:19:13.18
and the Bible says that
the thing pleased the Lord,
00:19:13.21\00:19:18.15
oh, tonight, would that
our prayers would please God.
00:19:18.19\00:19:23.06
Pause...
00:19:23.09\00:19:25.59
Would that God would
have a smile on His face
00:19:25.63\00:19:29.66
when He listens to our prayers.
00:19:29.70\00:19:32.43
Pause...
00:19:32.47\00:19:35.54
How do your prayers sound?
00:19:35.57\00:19:36.91
Think about it.
00:19:36.94\00:19:40.14
How do they sound?
00:19:40.18\00:19:43.35
I'm going to
suggest something to you
00:19:43.38\00:19:47.08
but I want to
help you to understand
00:19:47.12\00:19:50.79
what I'm going to suggest.
00:19:50.82\00:19:52.15
Pause...
00:19:52.19\00:19:55.69
The Bible tells us...
Jesus says that we should ask.
00:19:55.72\00:19:59.06
We should do what?
00:19:59.09\00:20:01.53
We should ask,
00:20:01.56\00:20:03.97
when we have a
request, we should ask.
00:20:04.00\00:20:07.50
I'm not saying,
"Don't ask God. "
00:20:07.54\00:20:11.31
But what I'm suggesting tonight
00:20:11.34\00:20:15.38
is that, after
you have asked God,
00:20:15.44\00:20:19.41
you trust that He will
do what He has promised
00:20:19.45\00:20:23.28
that He would do for you,
00:20:23.32\00:20:24.65
pause...
00:20:24.69\00:20:27.52
and I am
challenging you tonight,
00:20:27.56\00:20:29.89
to turn the focus of
your prayers off of yourself
00:20:29.92\00:20:35.30
pause.
00:20:35.33\00:20:39.40
There are parents who are
praying for their children
00:20:39.43\00:20:42.54
Pause...
00:20:42.57\00:20:45.01
God has heard your prayer,
00:20:45.04\00:20:46.68
please Him by praying
for someone else's children.
00:20:46.71\00:20:51.15
Pause...
00:20:51.18\00:20:54.82
There are some who are
praying for their marriages,
00:20:54.85\00:20:57.75
God has heard your prayer.
00:20:57.79\00:20:59.99
Please Him by praying
for someone else's marriage.
00:21:00.02\00:21:05.53
Pause...
00:21:05.56\00:21:07.90
I want you to think
about this and consider this,
00:21:07.93\00:21:09.66
dear Brothers and Sisters,
00:21:09.70\00:21:11.23
pause...
00:21:11.27\00:21:13.70
what is the key to God
opening heaven's windows
00:21:13.74\00:21:18.57
was if we were to pray
as fervently and earnestly
00:21:18.61\00:21:23.41
for others as we
have prayed for ourselves.
00:21:23.45\00:21:28.52
Pause...
00:21:28.55\00:21:31.95
What if I am praying
for someone else's...
00:21:31.99\00:21:34.62
listen to me...
00:21:34.66\00:21:36.59
what if I'm praying
for someone else's victory
00:21:36.62\00:21:39.59
as passionately as I
have prayed for my own.
00:21:39.63\00:21:43.60
Pause...
00:21:43.63\00:21:47.14
Are you with me tonight?
00:21:47.17\00:21:48.74
Pause...
00:21:48.80\00:21:52.37
what if I place my
desire in the hands of God
00:21:52.41\00:21:58.55
and then say, "Lord, give me
that which will benefit others"
00:21:58.58\00:22:03.35
or better yet,
00:22:03.39\00:22:04.79
"Lord, give Bob that which I
have requested for myself... "
00:22:04.82\00:22:09.56
"Lord, I know that I'm praying
00:22:09.59\00:22:11.36
and I'm asking that you
would work my job situation out,
00:22:11.39\00:22:14.93
but work Jack's job
situation out as well, Father. "
00:22:14.96\00:22:18.33
Pause...
00:22:18.37\00:22:20.34
"Lord, I know that I'm
praying that you would...
00:22:20.37\00:22:22.90
you would recover
and you would heal me,
00:22:22.94\00:22:24.91
but Father, I'm also
praying that you would heal
00:22:24.94\00:22:27.91
Brother Jerry. "
00:22:27.94\00:22:31.25
Pause...
00:22:31.28\00:22:32.91
more pause...
00:22:32.95\00:22:36.02
Philippians chapter 2 verse 3,
00:22:36.05\00:22:37.99
"Let nothing be done
through strife or vain glory;
00:22:38.02\00:22:41.86
but in lowliness of mind
00:22:41.89\00:22:44.63
let each esteem others
better than themselves. "
00:22:44.66\00:22:50.77
Pause...
00:22:50.80\00:22:53.64
Verse 4, "Look not
every man on his own things,
00:22:53.67\00:22:58.77
but every man also on
the things of others. "
00:22:58.81\00:23:03.88
Pray Beloved,
00:23:03.91\00:23:07.52
for the good of others
becomes key to our good.
00:23:07.55\00:23:13.82
seeking victory for others
becomes the key to our victory.
00:23:13.86\00:23:22.06
Pause...
00:23:22.10\00:23:24.30
In fact, I
believe that in Scripture,
00:23:24.33\00:23:26.87
Jesus
demonstrated this principle...
00:23:26.90\00:23:29.40
not just in Scripture but even
beyond in the great controversy
00:23:29.44\00:23:34.34
listen to me,
00:23:34.38\00:23:37.65
"God's method of
securing His throne
00:23:37.71\00:23:42.35
was to step out of His throne. "
00:23:42.38\00:23:46.99
Pause...
00:23:47.02\00:23:48.79
It makes sense...
00:23:48.82\00:23:51.06
seeking the good of humanity
00:23:51.09\00:23:54.86
was the way that God established
before the entire universe,
00:23:54.90\00:23:59.80
that He is worthy...
00:23:59.83\00:24:01.94
pause...
00:24:01.97\00:24:04.14
some more pause
00:24:04.17\00:24:09.64
I said it the other night...
00:24:09.68\00:24:11.78
when we are concerned
for the welfare of others,
00:24:11.81\00:24:15.95
that's, I believe,
when we're most like Jesus.
00:24:15.98\00:24:17.92
Pause...
00:24:17.95\00:24:21.26
How can we have this experience?
00:24:21.29\00:24:24.33
Pause...
00:24:24.36\00:24:27.00
Number one, know
your limitations.
00:24:27.03\00:24:32.63
What's number one?
00:24:32.67\00:24:34.00
Pause...
00:24:34.04\00:24:36.07
In 1st Kings chapter 3 verse 9,
00:24:36.10\00:24:39.91
Solomon says,
00:24:39.94\00:24:42.78
"Who is able to judge
this thy so great a people?"
00:24:42.81\00:24:48.58
In other words, Friends,
00:24:48.62\00:24:51.15
Solomon acknowledges
00:24:51.19\00:24:54.46
that the task
that lays before him...
00:24:54.49\00:24:57.46
he, in his own
strength, is unable to perform.
00:24:57.49\00:25:03.13
Are you with me tonight?
00:25:03.16\00:25:04.50
Pause...
00:25:04.53\00:25:07.44
We must acknowledge
our own limitations,
00:25:07.47\00:25:12.44
we must know our limitations
because when we are aware,
00:25:12.47\00:25:15.84
when we acknowledge...
00:25:15.88\00:25:17.21
when we know our limitations,
00:25:17.25\00:25:18.71
then, Beloved, we can lean
on the hand of Almighty God.
00:25:18.75\00:25:24.05
We can depend on Him to
do what only Divinity can do.
00:25:24.09\00:25:29.32
Pause...
00:25:29.36\00:25:33.09
I've got to say this,
00:25:33.13\00:25:34.96
because I know at this movement,
we don't talk about failure
00:25:35.00\00:25:43.51
pause...
00:25:43.54\00:25:47.41
we don't talk about...
00:25:47.44\00:25:49.91
when I was at the first GYC,
Pine Springs Ranch, California,
00:25:49.94\00:25:56.99
we don't talk about
the people who were there,
00:25:57.02\00:26:00.09
who are not even
in the church anymore,
00:26:00.12\00:26:04.16
pause...
00:26:04.19\00:26:07.40
we don't talk about
the leaders who have fallen
00:26:07.43\00:26:11.20
pause...
00:26:11.23\00:26:16.50
I won't even say their names,
00:26:16.54\00:26:18.97
because we want to disassociate
ourselves from that failure,
00:26:19.01\00:26:26.21
that's not what we're about,
00:26:26.25\00:26:27.98
we're about victory
but failure is real.
00:26:28.02\00:26:31.62
It's real...
00:26:31.65\00:26:36.36
and knowing our limitations...
00:26:36.39\00:26:40.60
knowing our
limitations is not a bad thing,
00:26:40.63\00:26:43.70
we always talk about
being able to accomplish
00:26:43.73\00:26:47.57
that which is impossible
00:26:47.60\00:26:48.94
and that's good
and I believe that,
00:26:48.97\00:26:51.07
but we also ought to know
00:26:51.11\00:26:52.91
that we are
erring, mortal human beings
00:26:52.94\00:26:56.34
and that we need the
power of Almighty God
00:26:56.38\00:26:59.58
for with God all
things are possible.
00:26:59.61\00:27:02.95
Pause...
00:27:02.98\00:27:05.35
Beloved, Jesus did not
say when He was preaching,
00:27:05.39\00:27:08.96
"Remember Lot's wife"
because He didn't love her,
00:27:08.99\00:27:13.36
He didn't say,
"Remember Lot's wife"
00:27:13.40\00:27:16.13
because He
wanted her to become...
00:27:16.16\00:27:20.50
or the people's minds
to become fixated on her,
00:27:20.54\00:27:22.30
He said, "Remember Lot's wife"
00:27:22.34\00:27:24.14
as a warning...
00:27:24.17\00:27:25.54
her eyes were
fixed on the wrong thing.
00:27:25.57\00:27:30.28
Pause...
00:27:30.35\00:27:32.28
Learn from her mistake.
00:27:32.31\00:27:34.58
Pause...
00:27:34.62\00:27:39.45
Some of us are here tonight
and you're uncomfortable.
00:27:39.52\00:27:43.56
Pause...
00:27:43.59\00:27:45.26
Nobody knows
you're uncomfortable
00:27:45.29\00:27:47.30
but you do.
00:27:47.33\00:27:49.26
You're uncomfortable
because you have a persona
00:27:49.30\00:27:54.27
and everybody sees you
00:27:54.30\00:27:56.07
and everybody thinks
a certain way about you
00:27:56.10\00:27:58.64
and your greatest fear
is that you would lose that.
00:27:58.67\00:28:03.24
Pause...
00:28:03.28\00:28:05.31
What happens if
people know my weaknesses?
00:28:05.35\00:28:08.72
What happens if people know
00:28:08.78\00:28:10.55
I'm not the person I
project myself to be,
00:28:10.59\00:28:13.25
will they still love me?
00:28:13.29\00:28:15.19
And I've got to
say tonight beloved,
00:28:15.22\00:28:17.23
that the way we have
treated those who have fallen
00:28:17.26\00:28:20.30
says, "no. "
00:28:20.33\00:28:21.76
Pause...
00:28:21.83\00:28:25.33
So, we've got young
people who crave authenticity...
00:28:25.37\00:28:29.64
who are playing roles
00:28:29.70\00:28:31.94
because you are afraid that
you will lose your community.
00:28:31.97\00:28:38.18
Pause...
00:28:38.21\00:28:40.12
Afraid that people
would turn their backs on you,
00:28:40.15\00:28:42.58
your phone won't ring anymore,
00:28:42.62\00:28:44.69
you won't be asked
to volunteer at GYC,
00:28:44.72\00:28:47.89
or serve in a position anymore.
00:28:47.92\00:28:50.33
Pause...
00:28:50.36\00:28:53.09
Something is wrong with that.
00:28:53.13\00:28:56.26
Pause...
00:28:56.30\00:28:59.53
We need to be a people
who understand our limitations
00:28:59.57\00:29:03.97
not so that we can
glory in our weaknesses,
00:29:04.01\00:29:06.88
but rather, that we may
glory in the power of Christ
00:29:06.91\00:29:10.38
who was able to
deliver us from our weaknesses.
00:29:10.41\00:29:13.55
"I've been wrestling with
this thing called 'pornography'
00:29:13.62\00:29:16.25
and I'm going to... I'm
going to link all of my...
00:29:16.28\00:29:20.26
my... my
electronic devices... my...
00:29:20.29\00:29:22.66
my computer at home...
00:29:22.69\00:29:24.26
my laptop... my phone...
00:29:24.33\00:29:25.86
I'm going to link
them up to a service
00:29:25.89\00:29:27.76
and every week, it's going
to print out in your e-mail
00:29:27.80\00:29:31.67
and it will tell
you what I've been doing
00:29:31.73\00:29:33.74
because I
understand my limitations,
00:29:33.77\00:29:37.87
I understand my weakness
00:29:37.91\00:29:40.24
and I need divine power
00:29:40.28\00:29:42.54
but I also need to
know that there's someone
00:29:42.58\00:29:45.05
who loves me in
spite of my weakness
00:29:45.11\00:29:48.75
not just the
God Who I cannot see
00:29:48.78\00:29:52.39
but a brother or a
sister who I can. "
00:29:52.42\00:29:54.42
Pause...
00:29:54.46\00:29:59.26
Beloved, we must
know our limitations.
00:29:59.29\00:30:01.16
Pause...
00:30:01.20\00:30:04.83
Number two,
00:30:04.87\00:30:08.44
We must target the invisible.
00:30:08.47\00:30:13.98
We must do... what?
00:30:14.04\00:30:15.84
Pause...
00:30:15.91\00:30:18.38
Solomon's prayer, my
friends, dealt with his heart.
00:30:18.41\00:30:27.39
It dealt with his... what?
00:30:27.42\00:30:29.19
Pause...
00:30:29.22\00:30:32.06
I want you to
think with me tonight,
00:30:32.09\00:30:34.30
when you pray, are your
prayers focused on your heart
00:30:34.33\00:30:40.60
or are your prayers focused on
what issues out of your heart?
00:30:40.64\00:30:45.67
There is a difference.
00:30:45.71\00:30:48.88
We can pray and say,
00:30:48.91\00:30:51.98
"Lord, help me not to be
short with my children. "
00:30:52.01\00:30:55.48
"Lord, help me to speak
kind words to my spouse. "
00:30:55.52\00:30:58.92
"Lord, help me to be patient. "
00:30:58.95\00:31:01.92
I want to
suggest to you tonight,
00:31:01.96\00:31:04.86
pause...
00:31:04.89\00:31:08.13
that our prayers
must mature beyond that.
00:31:08.16\00:31:10.90
What do I mean?
00:31:10.93\00:31:12.27
We must learn to pray
towards the invisible.
00:31:12.30\00:31:16.30
"Lord, fix my heart. "
00:31:16.34\00:31:20.08
My impatience is a symptom
of the brokenness of my heart.
00:31:20.11\00:31:27.25
Pause...
00:31:27.28\00:31:29.45
"Lord, I'm speaking unkind words
00:31:29.48\00:31:32.05
because there is
unkindness in my heart...
00:31:32.09\00:31:36.83
pause...
00:31:36.86\00:31:39.26
fix my heart, Lord,
00:31:39.29\00:31:40.70
transform me, change
me at the heart level.. "
00:31:40.73\00:31:45.40
and when our prayer is
focused on the invisible,
00:31:45.43\00:31:50.04
we... we... we graduate beyond
praying about our behaviors
00:31:50.07\00:31:55.31
to praying about what
flows... or what... what...
00:31:55.34\00:31:59.98
we graduate to praying
about the... the very source
00:32:00.02\00:32:04.62
from which all of the
issues of life flow. "
00:32:04.65\00:32:07.59
Beloved, I hope you
understand the difference
00:32:07.62\00:32:10.53
between those prayers.
00:32:10.56\00:32:11.89
Pause...
00:32:11.93\00:32:15.43
And I believe
tonight that it is in service
00:32:15.46\00:32:18.37
that God reveals to us
00:32:18.43\00:32:21.57
that we need
heart-level transformation
00:32:21.60\00:32:25.04
not merely an
adjustment in behavior.
00:32:25.07\00:32:28.44
You know, patchwork religion.
00:32:28.48\00:32:31.45
Pause...
00:32:31.48\00:32:33.52
Beginning by
changing this or that habit,
00:32:33.55\00:32:35.95
pause...
00:32:35.98\00:32:38.22
but all the while,
beginning in the wrong place,
00:32:38.25\00:32:41.36
what we need is a
radical transformation of heart
00:32:41.42\00:32:44.49
and here's what
I've got to say, Beloved,
00:32:44.53\00:32:46.63
there are two ways that we
come through this experience,
00:32:46.70\00:32:50.30
one of them is
through our failures
00:32:50.33\00:32:52.77
where God reveals our brokenness
00:32:52.80\00:32:55.14
because He reveals and
exposes our weaknesses.
00:32:55.20\00:32:58.27
Number two is, through
looking into the face of Jesus.
00:32:58.34\00:33:02.11
Pause...
00:33:02.14\00:33:05.21
The more we look at Jesus,
00:33:05.25\00:33:07.18
the more undone we
see ourselves as being...
00:33:07.22\00:33:10.92
the more unlike Him...
00:33:10.95\00:33:13.92
the closer we come to Jesus,
00:33:13.96\00:33:15.89
the more unChrist-like
in our own eyes we become
00:33:15.92\00:33:19.19
and we fall down and
say, "Lord, help me. "
00:33:19.23\00:33:22.06
And the work
that God wants to do
00:33:22.10\00:33:24.63
is at the heart level, are
you listening to me tonight?
00:33:24.67\00:33:28.17
Pause...
00:33:28.20\00:33:31.21
more pause...
00:33:31.24\00:33:35.14
some more pause...
00:33:35.18\00:33:40.58
I'm going to ask my
musicians to come on out.
00:33:40.62\00:33:44.02
Pause...
00:33:44.05\00:33:50.23
One night... I like
to try my hand at cooking
00:33:50.26\00:33:57.63
my family says... I'm
the best cook in the family.
00:33:57.67\00:34:02.80
Pause...
00:34:02.84\00:34:06.04
I like that
00:34:06.07\00:34:08.51
and I like the
exercise that every now and then
00:34:08.54\00:34:11.21
and so, sometimes
as the day is going on
00:34:11.25\00:34:14.58
and I'm in the
office... I'm visiting...
00:34:14.62\00:34:18.45
I'm doing
whatever responsibilities
00:34:18.49\00:34:20.76
fall for that day and
I get an idea in my mind,
00:34:20.82\00:34:26.23
I'm going to...
00:34:26.26\00:34:27.66
I'm going to make a
special recipe for the family,
00:34:27.70\00:34:31.03
something we've
never had before,
00:34:31.07\00:34:33.03
we like to try new things
00:34:33.07\00:34:34.50
and so I find out
where I'm going to pick up
00:34:34.54\00:34:38.27
all of my necessities
00:34:38.31\00:34:40.01
in order to... to make
this particular recipe and...
00:34:40.08\00:34:44.25
and then I'll drive to
a particular grocery store
00:34:44.28\00:34:47.98
that... that has these
particular ingredients.
00:34:48.02\00:34:51.65
You know, you can't just
go to Walmart for everything,
00:34:51.69\00:34:55.29
you got to go to
some specialty stores
00:34:55.32\00:34:59.19
and so, so, I find
myself in these grocery stores
00:34:59.23\00:35:02.90
and I'm picking up all of
these... these unique and...
00:35:02.93\00:35:05.83
and special ingredients
00:35:05.87\00:35:07.20
and as I'm
gathering them together
00:35:07.24\00:35:09.34
all the while I'm thinking...
this is going to be great
00:35:09.37\00:35:12.34
when I'm cooking this up,
00:35:12.37\00:35:16.41
no matter where my
family is in the house,
00:35:16.44\00:35:19.35
they're going to smell it,
they're all going to come down,
00:35:19.38\00:35:22.35
they're going to
say, "Dad, what is that?"
00:35:22.38\00:35:23.92
My daughter Abigail is going
to come and take the lid off
00:35:23.95\00:35:27.72
and smell, "Oooh,
Dad, that smells good!
00:35:27.76\00:35:29.76
What did you put in it?"
00:35:29.79\00:35:31.13
Then we're all going to sit
down around the dinner table
00:35:31.16\00:35:34.80
and I'm going to...
00:35:34.83\00:35:36.16
you know, it's
not just the meal...
00:35:36.20\00:35:37.73
it's the presentation, right?
00:35:37.77\00:35:39.10
So, I'm going to plate
everything just nice and...
00:35:39.13\00:35:43.91
we're all going to
sit down around the table
00:35:43.94\00:35:46.11
and as we are seated
there around the table,
00:35:46.17\00:35:48.28
they will take bite after bite
and everybody's going to say,
00:35:48.31\00:35:51.98
"Mmmmm... Dad, this is so good,
00:35:52.01\00:35:54.58
pause...
00:35:54.62\00:35:56.69
oh! you are such a
wonderful cook... "
00:35:56.72\00:35:59.22
and my wife is going
to say, "Thank you, honey,
00:35:59.25\00:36:01.52
I really had a long day,
00:36:01.56\00:36:04.36
I'm just so glad
that you came home
00:36:04.39\00:36:06.59
and you prepared
dinner for everyone,
00:36:06.63\00:36:08.80
thank you so very much... "
00:36:08.83\00:36:10.17
and I'm going to smile,
and I'm going to say, "Yes!"
00:36:10.20\00:36:13.13
Ding...
00:36:13.17\00:36:15.97
Audience: Laughing.
00:36:16.00\00:36:19.81
I pull up into the driveway
00:36:19.84\00:36:22.04
it's dark now,
the... the lights are on
00:36:22.08\00:36:25.18
and I'm still rolling
this picture around in my mind
00:36:25.21\00:36:28.58
and I... I get out of the
car and I grab the grocery bags
00:36:28.62\00:36:32.12
and I come to the
door, I put the key in the...
00:36:32.15\00:36:34.82
in the door knob, I
turn it, I open the door,
00:36:34.86\00:36:37.49
I come in,
00:36:37.53\00:36:38.86
and my children are
hanging on the walls
00:36:38.89\00:36:41.40
there is peanut-butter-and-
jelly-sandwich crust
00:36:41.43\00:36:46.37
on the floor that
I have to step over,
00:36:46.40\00:36:49.00
just to make it
inside of the house,
00:36:49.07\00:36:52.44
dishes all
piled up on the table,
00:36:52.47\00:36:55.74
dishes are piled up in the sink,
00:36:55.78\00:36:58.98
there's stuff from
yesterday that's on the stove
00:36:59.01\00:37:02.25
and I'm wondering,
"What on earth is going on?"
00:37:02.28\00:37:05.49
Sounds like a
zoo, feels like a zoo,
00:37:05.52\00:37:10.06
"Where is your mom at?"
00:37:10.09\00:37:12.66
"Well, mom is upstairs,
00:37:12.69\00:37:15.23
she's been
upstairs for a while. "
00:37:15.26\00:37:16.67
"Have you guys eaten?"
00:37:16.73\00:37:18.07
"Yeah, we had peanut butter. "
00:37:18.10\00:37:19.43
"Peanut butter and jelly?
00:37:19.47\00:37:20.80
Pause...
00:37:20.84\00:37:22.30
I have some
gourmet-level stuff for you
00:37:22.34\00:37:25.14
and you have
peanut butter and jelly?"
00:37:25.17\00:37:27.94
I'm upset.
00:37:27.98\00:37:30.61
The Spirit of God
says, "Calm down...
00:37:30.65\00:37:35.78
have prayer with the
children because it's late,
00:37:35.82\00:37:40.22
make sure they
brush their teeth,
00:37:40.26\00:37:43.26
make sure they
lay down in their beds
00:37:43.29\00:37:47.30
then come
downstairs and clean...
00:37:47.36\00:37:51.30
pick up the peanut
butter and jelly crust,
00:37:51.33\00:37:54.87
wash the dishes... "
00:37:54.90\00:37:57.61
and I began to do this
00:37:57.64\00:38:00.34
pause...
00:38:00.38\00:38:01.84
the kitchen is sparkling clean
00:38:01.88\00:38:04.61
and the... the house is clean
00:38:04.68\00:38:07.35
and the
groceries are seated there,
00:38:07.38\00:38:09.48
are... are... are
setting there on the table
00:38:09.52\00:38:12.09
and I sit down
and I take a breath,
00:38:12.12\00:38:14.26
after I finish
everything, oh, I'm exhausted,
00:38:14.29\00:38:17.13
this night did
not go like I planned.
00:38:17.16\00:38:20.30
My wife comes down and now
I got to look really tired,
00:38:20.36\00:38:26.07
"Huh, ah... " pull out a chair,
00:38:26.13\00:38:32.41
throw up a leg, "Ah... "
00:38:32.44\00:38:34.28
pause...
00:38:34.31\00:38:35.81
"Oh honey, thank you... "
00:38:35.84\00:38:37.61
I'm "huh... it was a long day. "
00:38:37.65\00:38:39.81
I want some sympathy now,
00:38:39.85\00:38:43.35
but all the while I'm upset
00:38:43.39\00:38:46.79
because this didn't go
quite the way I planned
00:38:46.82\00:38:50.03
and... and my
wife begins to say,
00:38:50.06\00:38:51.89
"Honey, I was just on
the phone with so-and-so... "
00:38:51.93\00:38:54.30
someone that our family
has been ministering to,
00:38:54.33\00:38:56.63
that we'd been working with,
00:38:56.67\00:38:58.00
"I was on the phone for
the last two-and-a-half hours
00:38:58.03\00:39:01.40
ministering to them
in a time of crisis... "
00:39:01.47\00:39:04.11
and my balloon is deflated.
00:39:04.14\00:39:05.67
I felt bad, I
was... I was disturbed
00:39:05.71\00:39:12.58
but when I find out
that my wife was in ministry
00:39:12.61\00:39:17.15
I am deflated...
00:39:17.19\00:39:18.79
you had no right to feel
and think the way that you did
00:39:18.82\00:39:22.79
and then I'm wrestling with God,
00:39:22.82\00:39:26.19
"What is it that's...
that's taking place here?
00:39:26.23\00:39:28.50
What's this feeling
00:39:28.53\00:39:29.86
that I'm experiencing
deep down in my heart?
00:39:29.90\00:39:32.40
And God says,
00:39:32.43\00:39:33.77
"Steven, you wanted to be
treated like a king tonight,
00:39:33.80\00:39:36.97
but I wanted your
wife and your family
00:39:37.01\00:39:39.27
to be treated
like royalty tonight. "
00:39:39.31\00:39:41.58
Pause...
00:39:41.61\00:39:44.35
"You wanted to be
served by your family
00:39:44.38\00:39:46.98
telling you how
wonderful of a chef you are
00:39:47.02\00:39:49.55
and how
thankful for you they are
00:39:49.58\00:39:51.55
but I needed you to
serve your wife tonight. "
00:39:51.62\00:39:54.32
Pause...
00:39:54.36\00:39:57.16
I said, "Lord,
am I that selfish?"
00:39:57.19\00:40:03.10
And God says, "Yes, you are. "
00:40:03.13\00:40:07.10
Piano.
00:40:07.14\00:40:10.34
"But Lord, it wasn't a bad thing
00:40:10.37\00:40:11.71
to want the family to sit around
the table and have dinner. "
00:40:11.74\00:40:14.58
"No, no, no, I'm not
saying it was a bad thing,
00:40:14.64\00:40:17.01
but Steven, in
order for me to reveal
00:40:17.05\00:40:19.51
what's lurking in
the depths of your heart
00:40:19.55\00:40:22.18
I had to use this
experience to show you yourself.
00:40:22.25\00:40:27.12
It was only through
performing these acts of service
00:40:27.16\00:40:31.59
that I could reveal to you
what was lacking in your life
00:40:31.63\00:40:36.00
so that you would
turn to me and say,
00:40:36.03\00:40:38.87
"Father, take it out of me. "
00:40:38.90\00:40:40.80
Take it out of me...
00:40:40.84\00:40:45.81
Pause...
00:40:45.84\00:40:52.38
Beloved, this type of
service that reaches the heart
00:40:52.41\00:40:59.35
is what each and
every one of us needs
00:40:59.39\00:41:02.72
so that we can hear the
voice of God speaking to us,
00:41:02.76\00:41:06.39
pause...
00:41:06.46\00:41:10.40
not about merely
changing behaviors
00:41:10.43\00:41:13.40
but about radically
transforming our hearts
00:41:13.44\00:41:16.71
piano...
00:41:16.74\00:41:20.04
and then, we can surrender
as we never have before
00:41:20.08\00:41:24.11
we can pray as we
never have before,
00:41:24.15\00:41:27.32
and when we pray
00:41:27.35\00:41:30.85
we can trust that
God will do for us
00:41:30.89\00:41:33.82
what we could
never do for ourselves
00:41:33.86\00:41:36.96
because without Him
00:41:36.99\00:41:38.33
we would not have
even known ourselves.
00:41:38.36\00:41:40.90
Piano...
00:41:40.93\00:41:44.47
more piano...
00:41:44.50\00:41:51.17
We want to ask the
Saint Martine's to sing a song
00:41:51.21\00:41:55.91
and then I'm going to
make a very specific appeal,
00:41:55.94\00:42:00.62
please listen to
the words of this song.
00:42:00.68\00:42:04.55
Piano...
00:42:04.59\00:42:15.50
Violin and piano...
00:42:15.53\00:42:26.37
more violin and piano...
00:42:26.41\00:42:43.69
Here our earnest prayer O Lord,
00:42:43.73\00:42:51.97
Hear our humble cry
00:42:52.00\00:42:59.51
Precious loving caring, Lord,
00:42:59.54\00:43:08.12
On Whom we rely
00:43:08.18\00:43:15.62
Ever loving, ever living, God,
00:43:15.66\00:43:23.63
Of Whom no one can compare
00:43:23.67\00:43:31.51
All we ask is that You hear
00:43:31.57\00:43:39.41
our prayers.
00:43:39.45\00:43:46.42
Give us strength most Holy Lord,
00:43:46.45\00:43:54.86
Strength to meet this day
00:43:54.90\00:44:02.10
Lead us by Your Holy Word
00:44:02.14\00:44:09.44
Guide us in Your way
00:44:09.48\00:44:15.88
For our life is
filled with winding turns
00:44:15.92\00:44:23.93
We have often lost our way
00:44:23.96\00:44:31.97
All we ask is that You lead
00:44:32.00\00:44:39.44
today.
00:44:39.47\00:44:43.45
Piano...
00:44:43.48\00:44:47.38
Give us love
that's true, O Lord,
00:44:47.42\00:44:54.69
Trusting as a child
00:44:54.72\00:45:01.56
Love for all we see O Lord,
00:45:01.60\00:45:09.74
Pure and undefiled
00:45:09.80\00:45:16.64
But to heal the heart
00:45:16.68\00:45:19.75
and not turn away
00:45:19.81\00:45:24.42
Anyone who is in need
00:45:24.45\00:45:32.39
All we ask is teach us love
00:45:32.43\00:45:39.63
indeed.
00:45:39.67\00:45:45.74
Oooo oooo ooooo oooo
ooo oooo oooo ooo ooo
00:45:45.77\00:45:54.68
ooo oooo ooo ooo
ooooo ooo ooooo...
00:45:54.75\00:46:02.46
hmmm... hmmmm... hmmm...
hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... hmmm
00:46:02.49\00:46:09.93
hmmm... hmmmm...
00:46:09.96\00:46:17.14
When you take me home my Lord,
00:46:17.17\00:46:25.28
When this life is through
00:46:25.31\00:46:31.89
Let me bring
Your children, Lord,
00:46:31.92\00:46:39.06
To their home with You
00:46:39.09\00:46:43.83
When I stand with You
00:46:43.87\00:46:48.37
May they be there too
00:46:48.40\00:46:52.81
Give me love for them in love...
00:46:52.84\00:47:02.62
All I ask is that you say,
00:47:02.65\00:47:11.43
"Well done"
00:47:11.46\00:47:19.60
Lord, please
let me hear You say,
00:47:19.63\00:47:27.34
"Well done. "
00:47:27.38\00:47:35.45
Violin...
00:47:35.48\00:47:39.22
Amen.
00:47:39.25\00:47:42.92
How many of you want to
hear the words, "Well done... "
00:47:42.96\00:47:46.70
pause...
00:47:46.76\00:47:48.70
Oh, I do... I do...
00:47:48.73\00:47:51.87
We cannot reach
the ends of the earth
00:47:51.90\00:47:56.77
until we have first
reached the end of ourselves
00:47:56.81\00:48:00.48
and I'm so glad tonight
00:48:00.51\00:48:02.38
that there is a Savior Who
is gracious and patient enough
00:48:02.44\00:48:05.98
to work with us...
00:48:06.01\00:48:07.82
He gives us a path to trod,
00:48:07.85\00:48:14.26
they're going to put something
up on the screen tonight,
00:48:14.29\00:48:16.26
tonight's appeal
is very specific,
00:48:16.29\00:48:20.00
it's for those who want
to give a year of service,
00:48:20.03\00:48:27.10
piano...
00:48:27.14\00:48:31.31
I'm not saying
it has to be 2019...
00:48:31.34\00:48:33.58
ah, I don't know when
the Lord will prompt you
00:48:33.64\00:48:37.45
but tonight you feel,
00:48:37.48\00:48:38.81
"Lord, I need to experience this
radical heart transformation,
00:48:38.85\00:48:45.05
and I need to
experience victory in my life
00:48:45.09\00:48:48.32
the way that I never have
00:48:48.36\00:48:50.23
through aggressive service,
00:48:50.26\00:48:52.96
Lord, I'm willing to set aside
00:48:52.99\00:48:55.63
the things that I've set
up... priorities, perhaps,
00:48:55.66\00:49:00.74
and I want to give
myself to this one year. "
00:49:00.77\00:49:05.44
The General
Conference has a program called,
00:49:05.47\00:49:10.15
"One Year in Missions"
00:49:10.18\00:49:11.51
and I'm excited to say that
here in North American Division,
00:49:11.55\00:49:15.28
there are several
Unions that have adopted this
00:49:15.32\00:49:18.35
and the Conferences in
those Unions, by God's grace,
00:49:18.42\00:49:21.02
are adopting this
00:49:21.06\00:49:22.42
but if you are
interested tonight,
00:49:22.46\00:49:24.23
we normally don't say,
"Pull out your cell phones... "
00:49:24.26\00:49:30.53
we tell you, "Turn
them off and put them away"
00:49:30.57\00:49:32.97
but what we want you to do
00:49:33.00\00:49:34.94
because we want to be sure that
we can chronicle your commitment
00:49:35.00\00:49:39.71
yes, the angels in heaven will
00:49:39.74\00:49:42.14
but we want to be
able to encourage you.
00:49:42.18\00:49:45.11
If God is calling you to
give one year in Missions,
00:49:45.15\00:49:51.25
one year towards
aggressive service,
00:49:51.29\00:49:54.76
and I'm going to
make this appeal too,
00:49:54.79\00:49:58.19
we need missionaries to go
overseas... the 10/40 Window,
00:49:58.23\00:50:02.13
yes, all of that but we
also need urban missionaries.
00:50:02.16\00:50:06.00
We need those who
are willing to sacrifice
00:50:06.03\00:50:09.90
and go into the inner cities.
00:50:09.94\00:50:12.11
Do you know that
there are children
00:50:12.14\00:50:14.08
starving in the inner cities?
00:50:14.11\00:50:16.18
Piano.
00:50:16.21\00:50:21.88
One year... one year
00:50:21.95\00:50:26.69
to experience God in
ways that you never have,
00:50:26.72\00:50:30.66
one year to completely
lay it all on the line
00:50:30.69\00:50:34.56
for the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:50:34.60\00:50:36.00
music...
00:50:36.03\00:50:38.17
now I want to ask you if
that's your heart's desire
00:50:38.20\00:50:40.70
aggressive service
00:50:40.74\00:50:42.50
so that I can
experience the loving...
00:50:42.54\00:50:45.34
the loving Lord
Jesus as I never have
00:50:45.37\00:50:48.08
and so that I can have
things exposed in my life
00:50:48.11\00:50:52.01
that I would never have exposed
00:50:52.05\00:50:54.72
without this type of service.
00:50:54.78\00:50:57.39
Now, I want to ask
you to come down front...
00:50:57.42\00:51:00.76
one year...
00:51:00.79\00:51:03.22
just one...
00:51:03.26\00:51:05.63
to serve the Lord...
00:51:05.66\00:51:08.00
dedicate yourself
completely to Him,
00:51:08.03\00:51:10.90
for some it may be overseas,
00:51:10.93\00:51:13.34
for others, it
will be right here
00:51:13.37\00:51:15.84
in the urban
jungles of North America
00:51:15.87\00:51:18.27
where men and women,
00:51:18.31\00:51:19.64
boys and girls
are dying every day
00:51:19.67\00:51:22.28
without knowing
this precious message
00:51:22.31\00:51:25.01
that the loving Jesus
Christ has given to us.
00:51:25.05\00:51:29.22
I just spoke with my
brother the other day
00:51:29.25\00:51:33.86
and he told me that 25
people here in America,
00:51:33.89\00:51:38.26
25 people are dying because
of Opioid overdoses... 25 a day.
00:51:38.29\00:51:44.90
That's one person every hour
00:51:44.93\00:51:48.30
who's dropping dead
because of addiction.
00:51:48.34\00:51:51.14
Piano...
00:51:51.17\00:51:54.84
Can God count on an army
of young people here at GYC...
00:51:54.88\00:51:59.65
can God count on
some people who say,
00:51:59.71\00:52:02.18
"Lord, I'm willing
to give one year... "
00:52:02.22\00:52:04.65
one year.
00:52:04.69\00:52:07.26
Piano...
00:52:07.29\00:52:09.76
You've been
focused on your studies,
00:52:09.79\00:52:11.79
you've been focused
on climbing the ladder,
00:52:11.83\00:52:14.36
in terms of...
in terms of your job
00:52:14.40\00:52:16.97
and you've been focused on
doing a whole lot of things
00:52:17.00\00:52:20.27
but perhaps the
way to fulfillment
00:52:20.30\00:52:22.57
and perhaps the way
to experiencing life
00:52:22.60\00:52:25.21
the way God intended
you to experience it,
00:52:25.27\00:52:27.84
is not in those endeavors alone
00:52:27.88\00:52:30.55
but it's in radical
and aggressive service
00:52:30.58\00:52:33.21
for the Lord Jesus Christ
00:52:33.25\00:52:34.58
and you can experience
purpose and fulfillment
00:52:34.62\00:52:37.69
by giving yourself away,
00:52:37.72\00:52:39.22
that's what Jesus meant
00:52:39.25\00:52:40.69
when He said that the one
who loses his life for My sake
00:52:40.72\00:52:44.39
will find it.
00:52:44.43\00:52:46.23
Piano...
00:52:46.26\00:52:49.70
One year
00:52:49.73\00:52:53.13
one year...
00:52:53.17\00:52:56.07
I've talked to young people
00:52:56.10\00:52:58.17
who have already
made decisions like this,
00:52:58.21\00:53:01.24
their parents
did not understand...
00:53:01.28\00:53:04.48
in fact, their parents
thought that they were crazy
00:53:04.51\00:53:06.92
but you know what? God provides.
00:53:06.95\00:53:08.78
God takes care of the things
that you cannot take care of
00:53:08.82\00:53:14.76
and I cannot take care
of in our own strength,
00:53:14.79\00:53:18.23
God steps in and He
does what we can't...
00:53:18.26\00:53:20.90
can't do on our own
00:53:20.93\00:53:22.63
and what God does
is, He convinces those
00:53:22.66\00:53:26.03
so that they take note
that we have been with Jesus.
00:53:26.07\00:53:29.27
They understand that we
are not out of our minds
00:53:29.30\00:53:32.47
but in fact, we are, for
the first point in our lives
00:53:32.51\00:53:35.71
entered into our right minds
00:53:35.74\00:53:37.61
because we are giving
ourselves to the King of kings,
00:53:37.65\00:53:40.82
to the Lord of lords.
00:53:40.85\00:53:44.99
One year... one year...
00:53:45.02\00:53:49.06
in the Bible there's a principle
00:53:49.12\00:53:52.16
that... where God asks for a
part that symbolizes the whole,
00:53:52.19\00:53:57.30
one year... just a small portion
but it symbolizes so much more
00:53:57.37\00:54:02.44
it symbolizes, "Lord,
I'm willing to lay self aside
00:54:02.47\00:54:07.71
and I'm willing to
put You first in my life.
00:54:07.74\00:54:11.08
One year... one year...
00:54:11.11\00:54:16.22
if the Spirit of
the Lord is calling you,
00:54:16.25\00:54:19.65
then come and join
us here down front...
00:54:19.69\00:54:23.06
one year... just one...
00:54:23.12\00:54:29.03
Jesus has given so
much for us, Beloved,
00:54:29.36\00:54:34.27
and He continues to give
00:54:34.30\00:54:37.91
what would keep you
from giving just one year?
00:54:37.94\00:54:43.75
Every head is bowed
and every eye is closed,
00:54:43.78\00:54:49.55
"Loving Father and our God
00:54:49.58\00:54:53.15
You and You
alone know our hearts.
00:54:53.19\00:54:58.66
Piano...
00:54:58.69\00:55:02.03
You know our hearts
and you know the work
00:55:02.06\00:55:05.07
that needs to be
done on the heart level
00:55:05.10\00:55:08.04
for each and every one of us
that's in this place tonight.
00:55:08.10\00:55:11.37
Piano...
00:55:11.44\00:55:14.08
You also have a
purpose and a plan
00:55:14.14\00:55:16.34
for each and
every one of our lives
00:55:16.38\00:55:18.55
but if we neglect to pick
up the blood-stained banner
00:55:18.58\00:55:23.32
of Prince Immanuel,
00:55:23.35\00:55:24.69
if we neglect to enter
into this type of service,
00:55:24.72\00:55:28.12
then, Father, it's
possible for us to live
00:55:28.16\00:55:32.19
without having
ever really lived...
00:55:32.23\00:55:38.63
it's possible for us to
exist here on this earth,
00:55:38.70\00:55:40.97
without ever
discovering our purpose,
00:55:41.00\00:55:44.01
Lord, tonight, our prayer
00:55:44.04\00:55:46.51
is that You would
reveal these things to us
00:55:46.54\00:55:49.64
as we yield ourselves to You
00:55:49.68\00:55:52.68
just as surely as
there is a place in heaven
00:55:52.71\00:55:57.65
for each and every one of us,
00:55:57.69\00:55:59.02
we are told that there is
a place here on this earth
00:55:59.05\00:56:03.59
in your vineyard
where we can labor for you
00:56:03.63\00:56:07.23
I pray that you would
take the decisions of those
00:56:07.26\00:56:10.90
who are standing here
00:56:10.93\00:56:12.87
and the decisions of
those who have texted tonight
00:56:12.90\00:56:16.57
and I pray that you would
seal those decisions, Father,
00:56:16.60\00:56:20.51
I pray that you would
now prepare the places
00:56:20.54\00:56:26.41
where each one of us will go,
00:56:26.45\00:56:28.72
prepare the souls that each
and every one of us will reach
00:56:28.75\00:56:32.42
piano...
00:56:32.45\00:56:35.86
thank you for your grace,
00:56:35.89\00:56:37.66
and it's our prayer that
when you look at us tonight,
00:56:37.69\00:56:41.50
you will be pleased as you
were when you looked at Solomon
00:56:41.56\00:56:44.53
that you will give us...
00:56:44.57\00:56:47.67
because we have
a heart for others
00:56:47.70\00:56:51.57
all that we
could have asked for,
00:56:51.61\00:56:55.44
thank you dear Lord
00:56:55.48\00:56:59.58
for hearing and
answering this humble request,
00:56:59.61\00:57:02.85
for we ask all of these things
in the precious name of Jesus,
00:57:02.88\00:57:08.69
let all of God's
people say, 'amen. '"
00:57:08.72\00:57:12.36