Hello, friends grab
your Bible and a friend
00:00:01.98\00:00:02.95
and sit back as we
explore God's word together
00:00:02.96\00:00:05.47
on this edition
of "House Calls."
00:00:05.48\00:00:07.62
Welcome to another exciting
program of "House Calls."
00:00:21.94\00:00:24.96
My name is John Lomacang
00:00:24.97\00:00:26.26
and I have John
Stanton with me my good friend.
00:00:26.27\00:00:28.17
It's good be here John.
00:00:28.18\00:00:29.53
And we are here friends
to open and share with you
00:00:29.54\00:00:33.50
the best loaf of bread
ever made on the planet,
00:00:33.51\00:00:37.13
the word of God,
the living word of God.
00:00:37.14\00:00:39.33
And we thank you for tuning
in because this is the place
00:00:39.34\00:00:41.95
that we believe God
wants you to be right now
00:00:41.96\00:00:44.37
so get your
Bibles, get your notebooks,
00:00:44.38\00:00:46.55
get your pens and
if you really want
00:00:46.56\00:00:47.97
to save all that
time go and hit record
00:00:47.98\00:00:50.78
and just sit down and
enjoy this program with us.
00:00:50.79\00:00:53.39
We are talking about
the attitude of gratitude,
00:00:53.40\00:00:55.40
or gratitude in general
00:00:55.41\00:00:57.26
something that
everyone of us should have.
00:00:57.27\00:00:58.94
So if it's raining,
00:00:58.95\00:01:00.32
let's think we
would have gratitude,
00:01:00.33\00:01:01.48
if it's nice and sunny
send us a picture to it,
00:01:01.49\00:01:04.03
so we could have
more gratitude here.
00:01:04.04\00:01:05.82
And God's got a
Blessing in store for you today.
00:01:05.83\00:01:08.15
So stay tuned.
00:01:08.16\00:01:09.70
But before we even
open the word of God
00:01:09.71\00:01:11.37
or go to our questions,
00:01:11.38\00:01:12.63
John, have prayer
for us. Let's do that.
00:01:12.64\00:01:14.88
Dear Father in
heaven we again come
00:01:14.89\00:01:17.04
before Your throne of grace,
seeking help in time of need.
00:01:17.05\00:01:21.70
And in this case
we need Your help
00:01:21.71\00:01:23.45
with walking through Your word.
00:01:23.46\00:01:24.91
We pray that Your Holy Spirit,
00:01:24.92\00:01:26.23
will guide, will lead,
00:01:26.24\00:01:27.71
will instruct in
righteousness here
00:01:27.72\00:01:29.55
as we look to
know more about You
00:01:29.56\00:01:31.74
and what it
means in our own hearts
00:01:31.75\00:01:33.52
to have that attitude
and gratitude within us,
00:01:33.53\00:01:35.98
in Jesus name amen. Amen.
00:01:35.99\00:01:37.87
John this is a program
that we really like questions
00:01:39.59\00:01:43.18
to come in from and our viewers
00:01:43.19\00:01:44.50
and listeners have
been Faithful in that.
00:01:44.51\00:01:46.61
And we thank you for
making this an exciting program.
00:01:46.62\00:01:49.61
I have in my right hand a
letter that somebody sent,
00:01:49.62\00:01:52.04
which in the form of questions
00:01:52.05\00:01:54.94
that come through
the mail, with a stamp.
00:01:54.95\00:01:57.63
In my left hand I
have one of the download
00:01:57.64\00:01:59.70
from the internet, we expect,
00:01:59.71\00:02:01.78
we accept both of them
00:02:01.79\00:02:03.19
so thank you for sending them.
00:02:03.20\00:02:05.44
And I'm going to let John
00:02:05.45\00:02:07.05
go ahead and take us to
first question for today.
00:02:07.06\00:02:10.14
What do we have?
00:02:10.15\00:02:11.44
Well, John this
question is from Kwan.
00:02:11.45\00:02:14.40
And he says
here, dear House Calls,
00:02:16.86\00:02:19.31
when I was a young
kid my parents told me
00:02:19.32\00:02:21.97
that prior to the Lord's coming,
00:02:21.98\00:02:23.69
there will be a false Christ
00:02:23.70\00:02:25.30
who will reveal
and exult himself.
00:02:25.31\00:02:28.63
Will he be in the heavens
00:02:28.64\00:02:30.43
and if so will he be
actually touching the ground?
00:02:30.44\00:02:35.12
My parents say
that the true Christ
00:02:35.13\00:02:37.28
won't be touching the ground.
00:02:37.29\00:02:39.23
Wow. Please help.
00:02:39.24\00:02:41.64
There is a
reason why his parents
00:02:41.65\00:02:43.12
told him that Christ,
00:02:43.13\00:02:45.23
the real Christ will
not touch the ground,
00:02:45.24\00:02:48.20
and that is found in
First Thessalonians Chapter 4.
00:02:48.21\00:02:51.90
That's right.
00:02:51.91\00:02:53.18
And so I make sure I
pick the right verse,
00:02:53.19\00:02:55.53
I believe it's 16
but let's make sure.
00:02:55.54\00:02:58.18
That's right First
Thessalonians Chapter 4.
00:03:00.52\00:03:02.59
First Thessalonians 4, verse...
00:03:02.60\00:03:05.08
it looks like its verse 17,
00:03:05.09\00:03:09.54
but I will start
with 16. All right.
00:03:09.55\00:03:12.19
For the Lord
Himself will descend
00:03:12.20\00:03:13.59
from heaven with a shout,
00:03:13.60\00:03:15.82
with the voice of the archangel
00:03:15.83\00:03:17.28
and with the trumpet of God,
00:03:17.29\00:03:19.18
and the dead in
Christ will rise first.
00:03:19.19\00:03:22.13
Then we who are alive and remain
00:03:22.14\00:03:23.94
will be caught up
together with them in the clouds
00:03:23.95\00:03:27.68
to meet the Lord
where? In the air!
00:03:27.69\00:03:30.31
In the air, and thus we
shall always be with the Lord.
00:03:30.32\00:03:35.61
So the Lord will meet his people
00:03:35.62\00:03:37.88
whether they are
resurrected from the grave
00:03:37.89\00:03:40.83
or whether they are alive
to meet Him when He comes,
00:03:40.84\00:03:42.91
He will raise them up together
00:03:42.92\00:03:44.20
to meet Him for a
grand reunion in the air.
00:03:44.21\00:03:47.28
That's right.
00:03:47.29\00:03:48.33
He will not touch the
ground during the Second Coming.
00:03:48.34\00:03:50.47
There is no need to.
He is not coming to stay.
00:03:50.48\00:03:53.92
Keep point brothers and sisters,
00:03:53.93\00:03:55.70
Jesus when He comes
again He is not coming to stay.
00:03:55.71\00:03:58.15
He is not setting
up a thousand year
00:03:58.16\00:03:59.53
kingdom to stay.
00:03:59.54\00:04:01.27
He is meeting us in the
air to take us back to heaven
00:04:01.28\00:04:04.04
with him to live for
a thousand years. Yeah.
00:04:04.05\00:04:07.27
And so anyway
that's the reason why,
00:04:07.28\00:04:09.47
Kwan your parents said that
he will not touch the ground.
00:04:09.48\00:04:12.06
There is other
very strong indications
00:04:14.80\00:04:17.65
about the false Christ
00:04:17.66\00:04:19.78
who will not
necessarily be in the air,
00:04:19.79\00:04:22.43
because that was other
questions we had here John,
00:04:22.44\00:04:24.03
He will be in the air as well.
00:04:24.04\00:04:25.95
He will not be able
to manufacture that.
00:04:25.96\00:04:27.97
That's right.
00:04:27.98\00:04:29.21
But he will be in
this place and that place
00:04:29.22\00:04:32.26
in the words of
Christ from Matthew 24.
00:04:32.27\00:04:35.15
Hey, I was thinking of that one.
00:04:35.16\00:04:36.68
In Matthew 24 the air, go from.
00:04:38.39\00:04:41.25
And starting with
verse 23, Matthew 24:23,
00:04:41.26\00:04:46.12
"Then if anyone says to
you, 'Look, here is the Christ!'
00:04:46.13\00:04:49.14
or 'There!' do not believe it.
00:04:49.15\00:04:52.89
For false Christ's and
false prophets will rise
00:04:52.90\00:04:55.74
and show great signs
and wonders to deceive,
00:04:55.75\00:04:58.63
if possible, even the elect.
00:04:58.64\00:05:01.68
See I have told you beforehand.
00:05:01.69\00:05:03.42
Therefore if they
say to you, 'Look,
00:05:03.43\00:05:05.97
He is in the
desert!' do not believe it,
00:05:05.98\00:05:08.32
'Look, He is in
the inner rooms!'
00:05:08.33\00:05:09.95
do not believe it.
00:05:09.96\00:05:11.17
For as the
lightning comes from the east
00:05:11.18\00:05:13.20
and flashes to the west,
00:05:13.21\00:05:14.80
so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be."
00:05:14.81\00:05:17.55
And so if Jesus were on earth
00:05:17.56\00:05:20.45
we would know
where he would show up.
00:05:20.46\00:05:23.48
But they said if he is
say he is in the desert
00:05:23.49\00:05:24.96
or the inner room
or the secret chambers,
00:05:24.97\00:05:26.88
don't believe it.
00:05:26.89\00:05:27.91
That means
00:05:27.92\00:05:28.95
he is not gonna be
anyplace on this planet. Right.
00:05:28.96\00:05:31.34
That's exactly what it means.
00:05:31.35\00:05:32.93
And to even add to that
00:05:32.94\00:05:35.34
the promise that Jesus
made is not that I will come
00:05:35.35\00:05:38.32
to be with you where you are,
00:05:38.33\00:05:40.49
but I will come again
to receive you that where
00:05:40.50\00:05:42.56
I am there you many
also be. That's right.
00:05:42.57\00:05:45.77
It's not coming down here.
00:05:45.78\00:05:47.29
Who is to come down here?
00:05:47.30\00:05:48.42
Right. You know
its strange John.
00:05:48.43\00:05:49.69
I need to say this and
may bring a smile or so.
00:05:49.70\00:05:52.19
We talk about UFOs.
00:05:52.20\00:05:54.74
I don't think
aliens wanna come down here
00:05:54.75\00:05:56.67
even if they do exist.
00:05:56.68\00:05:58.54
I don't believe they exist,
00:05:58.55\00:05:59.82
I wanna make that clear
so you don't say me all this,
00:05:59.83\00:06:01.84
you know, star
wars mails and all that.
00:06:01.85\00:06:03.93
I don't believe
that aliens exist.
00:06:03.94\00:06:05.61
I believe the devil
plays games with our minds.
00:06:05.62\00:06:08.31
But who wants to come down here
00:06:08.32\00:06:10.94
on a planet with
death and devastation,
00:06:10.95\00:06:12.92
in crime and
violence and pain and death,
00:06:12.93\00:06:15.39
who wants to come down here?
00:06:15.40\00:06:16.57
Let alone, those if there
are aliens they'd be unfallen,
00:06:16.58\00:06:21.81
'cause sin is
constructing this world.
00:06:21.82\00:06:23.75
That's right. This is what sin.
00:06:23.76\00:06:24.89
Out there is no
evidence necessarily,
00:06:24.90\00:06:28.84
okay no proof that
there are other worlds
00:06:28.85\00:06:31.37
from the scriptures although
00:06:31.38\00:06:32.45
we believe it
alludes to the fact
00:06:32.46\00:06:33.83
that God has
created other worlds.
00:06:33.84\00:06:35.27
So, I will say that we
do believe that as Adventist
00:06:35.28\00:06:37.70
that there is a
great controversy
00:06:37.71\00:06:39.84
that includes
unfallen inhabitants
00:06:39.85\00:06:41.92
of other worlds out
there. That's right.
00:06:41.93\00:06:43.74
But, they have no
interest in visiting here
00:06:43.75\00:06:45.77
as you are saying and... Yeah.
00:06:45.78\00:06:48.05
Why would you come to
a place that's in a mess?
00:06:48.06\00:06:50.99
So the promise is,
remember Jesus says,
00:06:51.00\00:06:53.63
I go to prepare a place for you.
00:06:53.64\00:06:56.97
Not I'm coming to the
place that you prepared for me.
00:06:56.98\00:07:01.37
One of the problems today John
00:07:01.38\00:07:02.76
is that people
think that the reason
00:07:02.77\00:07:04.28
why they have to
get all the laws right,
00:07:04.29\00:07:06.65
stop all the crimes
and all the violence,
00:07:06.66\00:07:10.28
straighten out
all the governments
00:07:10.29\00:07:11.53
and get into all
politics and religion,
00:07:11.54\00:07:14.36
is because they getting
the world ready for Jesus
00:07:14.37\00:07:16.70
to reign down here
for a thousand years.
00:07:16.71\00:07:20.04
And like we used to
say and ain't gonna happen.
00:07:20.05\00:07:24.54
That's not what
the Bible teaches us.
00:07:24.55\00:07:25.83
Its not gonna happen down here.
00:07:25.84\00:07:27.79
Jesus is not coming to establish
00:07:27.80\00:07:30.05
a Millennial Reign on the earth.
00:07:30.06\00:07:33.02
We are gonna be with Him,
00:07:33.03\00:07:34.84
reign with Him
a thousands years.
00:07:34.85\00:07:37.35
And that's not down here
00:07:37.36\00:07:39.40
on this earth that's in heaven.
00:07:39.41\00:07:40.81
And if you want to
know where that is,
00:07:40.82\00:07:41.97
it's Revelation
Chapter 20. That's right.
00:07:41.98\00:07:45.57
And so you want to add
anything more that question?
00:07:45.58\00:07:49.31
No, I think that's
what we need to cover there.
00:07:49.32\00:07:51.94
Satan will be
down to run this earth.
00:07:51.95\00:07:54.02
He can't mimic,
Christ coming in the clouds.
00:07:54.03\00:07:56.85
So if we hear
that Christ is here
00:07:56.86\00:07:58.42
and you haven't seen Him
00:07:58.43\00:07:59.48
and you know that's
not the real Christ.
00:07:59.49\00:08:01.98
And matter of fact, there
is a text that Jesus says,
00:08:01.99\00:08:04.39
and I will find in
just a moment here,
00:08:04.40\00:08:06.47
He says "Come, you
blessed of My Father,
00:08:06.48\00:08:08.73
inherit the
kingdom prepared for you
00:08:08.74\00:08:11.54
from the
foundation of the world."
00:08:11.55\00:08:13.29
So Lord is not preparing
that kingdom down here,
00:08:13.30\00:08:16.88
and He even said
to his disciples,
00:08:16.89\00:08:19.76
my kingdom is not of this world.
00:08:19.77\00:08:22.75
If it were,
wouldn't my disciples fight?
00:08:22.76\00:08:25.61
So the kingdom that He says
00:08:25.62\00:08:27.37
the Kingdom of
God is within you,
00:08:27.38\00:08:29.52
He is meaning simply
Jesus has established
00:08:29.53\00:08:31.46
on your heart His thrown.
00:08:31.47\00:08:34.91
Not, He is gonna
hangout in your heart
00:08:34.92\00:08:36.90
when He comes down here.
00:08:36.91\00:08:38.28
He should be
living in your heart
00:08:38.29\00:08:39.35
through the Holy Spirit now.
00:08:39.36\00:08:41.07
So when that's what the mean
00:08:41.08\00:08:42.09
the Kingdom of
God is near to come
00:08:42.10\00:08:44.39
when Jesus preached
00:08:44.40\00:08:45.44
the Kingdom of God is at hand,
00:08:45.45\00:08:46.92
the Kingdom of
Heaven is at hand,
00:08:46.93\00:08:48.21
He was talking about
00:08:48.24\00:08:49.21
the kingdom coming
to be in our hearts.
00:08:49.22\00:08:51.68
That's why He said pray,
00:08:51.69\00:08:53.60
thy kingdom
come thy will be done
00:08:53.61\00:08:56.08
on earth as it
is in heaven. See.
00:08:56.09\00:08:58.80
But He is not coming down here
00:08:58.81\00:08:59.95
to hang out on the earth.
00:08:59.96\00:09:00.93
He came down here to redeem us.
00:09:00.94\00:09:03.12
But He is coming back to
take us were He presently is.
00:09:03.13\00:09:06.90
That was good question John.
00:09:06.91\00:09:07.99
It opened so many
doors for me. Yeah.
00:09:08.00\00:09:09.68
It kind of got carry away
there, thank you for that.
00:09:09.69\00:09:12.11
I forget to give
the email address
00:09:12.12\00:09:13.78
if we can do that right now.
00:09:13.79\00:09:15.16
I want to remind our
viewers and listeners that
00:09:15.17\00:09:17.35
you know, you
maybe thinking right now
00:09:17.36\00:09:18.72
and you want to shot us an email
00:09:18.73\00:09:20.15
when thoughts come to your mind.
00:09:20.16\00:09:21.38
If you have any emails to send,
00:09:21.39\00:09:22.88
you can send those
to housecalls@3abn.org
00:09:22.89\00:09:26.50
that's housecalls@3abn.org.
00:09:26.51\00:09:28.99
It came to my mind when I was,
00:09:29.00\00:09:30.92
when I turned it over to you
00:09:30.93\00:09:32.38
but thank you so much
for that, I appreciate that.
00:09:32.39\00:09:35.38
This one John brought a
smile to me when I read it.
00:09:35.39\00:09:38.72
And I like that the
person even gave me the date
00:09:38.73\00:09:41.91
that they wrote this,
00:09:41.92\00:09:43.48
and I won't really give the date
00:09:43.49\00:09:44.56
because it maybe a give away.
00:09:44.57\00:09:45.75
Let me get down to
the just of it. PS.
00:09:49.13\00:09:53.21
Now I'm gonna broaden
this because not just the SDA
00:09:55.54\00:09:57.35
Christian says that,
00:09:57.36\00:09:58.60
but this is from
the US Caribbean.
00:09:58.61\00:10:00.72
That's where the
person wrote this letter from.
00:10:00.73\00:10:03.62
Why do SDA Christian
say "when I was a kid."
00:10:03.63\00:10:09.57
Isn't a kid an animal
or I have two or four kids?
00:10:09.58\00:10:14.26
People have said
that I don't say that
00:10:15.85\00:10:17.16
because I don't have any kids,
00:10:17.17\00:10:18.69
I'm sorry, I
don't have any children.
00:10:18.70\00:10:20.75
See I fell right in the trap.
00:10:20.76\00:10:23.31
And he says, and they says
00:10:23.32\00:10:26.48
if you read
Genesis 21:25, 21 to 25
00:10:26.49\00:10:30.63
I see that cannot happen.
00:10:30.64\00:10:32.90
That sounds like my
mother used to call,
00:10:32.91\00:10:35.75
used to say fire in one
hand and water in the other.
00:10:35.76\00:10:38.39
We know there
wasn't fire in one hand
00:10:38.40\00:10:40.27
and water in the other.
00:10:40.28\00:10:41.66
So for the most
part it was the saying,
00:10:41.67\00:10:44.18
I hope you
understand what I meant to say.
00:10:44.19\00:10:48.79
In other words the person ends,
00:10:48.80\00:10:51.02
we Christians shouldn't
mix evolution with creation.
00:10:51.03\00:10:54.85
I like this.
00:10:54.86\00:10:55.90
I like that question
00:10:55.91\00:10:57.16
because when you
look at the phrase kid
00:10:57.17\00:10:59.65
and I wanna a kind to go
to Genesis and point out,
00:10:59.66\00:11:03.43
so we could help those
who are stuck on the word kid.
00:11:03.44\00:11:07.92
You know, your
kid is behaving bad.
00:11:07.93\00:11:09.61
In essence the word kid
is only used in the Bible
00:11:11.73\00:11:15.48
as it pertains to a goat.
00:11:15.49\00:11:18.12
Here it is, Genesis
37:31 was the first one.
00:11:18.13\00:11:22.47
"So they took Joseph's tunic,
killed a kid of the goats,
00:11:22.48\00:11:28.60
and dipped the
tunic in the blood."
00:11:28.61\00:11:31.19
And Leviticus 4:23,
00:11:31.20\00:11:34.45
"Or if his sin
which he has committed
00:11:34.46\00:11:37.23
comes to his knowledge,
00:11:37.24\00:11:38.88
he shall bring as an
offering a kid of the goats,
00:11:38.89\00:11:42.36
a male without blemish."
00:11:42.37\00:11:44.24
And you know when
you speak biblically
00:11:44.25\00:11:47.78
it's important to keep
it in the right context
00:11:47.79\00:11:50.23
because back then
the neighbor could say,
00:11:50.24\00:11:52.99
hey I killed a kid
00:11:53.00\00:11:55.04
and he didn't
mean the child. Right.
00:11:55.05\00:11:57.11
So now-a-days we
say I killed a kid,
00:11:57.12\00:12:00.03
you know, that could
cause somebody to be startled.
00:12:00.04\00:12:01.95
You did what? I killed a kid.
00:12:01.96\00:12:04.37
If you put that in the
right context you should mean,
00:12:04.38\00:12:07.35
I killed a goat.
00:12:07.36\00:12:09.02
But if you say you killed a kid,
00:12:09.03\00:12:10.59
well that's a more
serious situation all together.
00:12:10.60\00:12:13.82
And finally I think that saying,
00:12:13.83\00:12:18.11
using the word kid often,
and I got a look that one up
00:12:18.12\00:12:21.14
because I'm of those guys
John I would like to find out
00:12:21.15\00:12:23.37
where these words come
into different new meaning.
00:12:23.38\00:12:26.47
Look that one up
but that will give
00:12:26.48\00:12:29.14
a whole new meaning to
Matthew Chapter 25 verse 33
00:12:29.15\00:12:32.16
and listen to it.
00:12:32.17\00:12:33.77
"And He will set his
sheep on the right hand,
00:12:33.78\00:12:36.01
and the kids on the left."
00:12:36.02\00:12:40.24
Because the goat is a kid,
and the word there is goat.
00:12:40.25\00:12:44.23
If a goat is a kid
then we should say kid,
00:12:44.24\00:12:47.63
young one, a goat
young one is a kid.
00:12:47.64\00:12:51.15
But let's try to
keep a kid as a kid
00:12:51.16\00:12:53.22
and a child as a child.
00:12:53.23\00:12:54.34
And that's what that person
00:12:54.35\00:12:55.39
who sent this
letter is requesting.
00:12:55.40\00:12:57.43
So if you can do that
00:12:57.44\00:12:58.98
it will help make
it very, very plain.
00:12:58.99\00:13:00.77
All right. Good one.
00:13:00.78\00:13:03.61
Let's finally read some
of the different questions
00:13:03.62\00:13:05.17
we running out of times.
00:13:05.18\00:13:07.18
Here is one question
that was written by Thayer.
00:13:07.19\00:13:12.88
And it says, I have a question
00:13:14.36\00:13:16.23
about the people that
are not going to heaven
00:13:16.24\00:13:18.00
when the Lord Jesus Christ
comes back, a second time.
00:13:18.01\00:13:22.10
Why is it that Jesus is
going to resurrect these people
00:13:22.11\00:13:25.23
from the dead to judge them
00:13:25.24\00:13:27.84
if they're going to be destroyed
00:13:27.85\00:13:29.31
and not
tormented in hell forever.
00:13:29.32\00:13:32.06
Is he going to judge
them to show that He's just?
00:13:32.07\00:13:35.34
Also don't you think the
idea of total destruction
00:13:37.63\00:13:39.84
of the unbelievers
after the judgment,
00:13:39.85\00:13:43.60
like they never
exist in this life
00:13:43.61\00:13:45.06
will not scare
people to come back
00:13:45.07\00:13:47.68
to the repentance of God?
00:13:47.69\00:13:49.71
Most people are
afraid of the idea
00:13:49.72\00:13:51.39
between the torment and hell.
00:13:51.40\00:13:53.20
And when you torment
they will just cease to exist.
00:13:53.21\00:13:56.25
They will say I will
enjoy my life on this earth
00:13:56.26\00:13:58.33
anyway I please and just
cease to exist when I die.
00:13:58.34\00:14:01.64
You know, they make a
lot of stuff up in there.
00:14:02.74\00:14:04.71
It is, but you
know, we all run to get it
00:14:04.72\00:14:06.33
because I do know that argument.
00:14:06.34\00:14:08.77
You know, one of the arguments
00:14:08.78\00:14:11.99
against the
teaching of the annihilation
00:14:12.00\00:14:14.40
which is what we support,
00:14:14.41\00:14:15.86
you know, that you will,
00:14:15.87\00:14:17.43
the wicked will in the
end of time burn up and die.
00:14:17.44\00:14:20.50
They will be
gone forever. Right.
00:14:20.51\00:14:23.23
And cease to exist.
00:14:23.24\00:14:25.41
Some will say,
well then what is that?
00:14:25.42\00:14:27.05
Where is the fear
then in coming back to God?
00:14:27.06\00:14:31.02
I will suggest you that
if someone comes to the Lord
00:14:31.03\00:14:34.27
because of being afraid of Him,
00:14:34.28\00:14:37.49
that there's still a
lot of growing to do.
00:14:37.50\00:14:39.42
I don't think we ever
stay connected with the Lord
00:14:39.43\00:14:41.78
or have a close relationship,
00:14:41.79\00:14:43.60
a Trusting relationship with Him
00:14:43.61\00:14:45.50
if we were fearful of Him.
00:14:45.51\00:14:47.66
When the Bible
says fear the Lord
00:14:47.67\00:14:49.24
it's saying more out of respect,
00:14:49.25\00:14:51.95
out of love, out of commitment,
00:14:51.96\00:14:53.92
all those things that
going to a healthy fear.Right.
00:14:53.93\00:14:56.88
Not an unhealthy fear
00:14:56.89\00:14:58.39
because we know that
perfect love the Bible says
00:14:58.40\00:15:00.24
"cast out fear."
00:15:00.25\00:15:02.81
So in fact you will find
over and over again in the Bible
00:15:02.82\00:15:06.17
when the Lord appeared
to different men or women.
00:15:06.18\00:15:09.42
He always said,
do not be afraid.
00:15:09.43\00:15:12.10
Or the angels
appeared, do not be afraid.
00:15:12.11\00:15:14.74
He doesn't want
you to be afraid.
00:15:14.75\00:15:18.45
So I don't believe He
wants us to be afraid,
00:15:18.46\00:15:21.80
or to use fear
as a way of bringing
00:15:21.81\00:15:24.37
or drawing people to Him.
00:15:24.38\00:15:26.02
And a lot of fire
and brimstone preachers,
00:15:26.03\00:15:27.67
you know will use that
00:15:27.68\00:15:28.65
you know, you will
burn in hell forever
00:15:28.66\00:15:29.85
if you don't
come back to the Lord.
00:15:29.86\00:15:31.44
I don't believe,
in fact I do believe
00:15:31.45\00:15:33.70
that's a serious
misrepresentation
00:15:33.71\00:15:35.84
of God's character.
00:15:35.85\00:15:37.57
Because God to allow someone
to burn eternally in fire
00:15:37.58\00:15:44.10
means that you have to
as a God keep them alive
00:15:44.11\00:15:48.94
to experience pain forever,
which makes you a torturer.
00:15:48.95\00:15:52.62
And we know how we
feel about torturers, right.
00:15:54.40\00:15:56.65
I mean this world doesn't
00:15:56.66\00:15:57.67
think too highly of torturers.
00:15:57.68\00:15:59.62
Even as America or
a while they are got
00:15:59.63\00:16:01.59
caught up in this thing of,
00:16:01.60\00:16:02.66
you know,
torturing those in Abu Ghraib
00:16:02.67\00:16:05.19
and the prison in Guantanamo Bay
00:16:05.20\00:16:07.45
and there is stuff, we
were just beside ourselves
00:16:07.46\00:16:10.55
that Americans
would actually stoop
00:16:10.56\00:16:12.31
to that level of
behavior and yet we assign God,
00:16:12.32\00:16:17.70
that kind of
character a torturer
00:16:17.71\00:16:19.60
that wouldn't keep
people alive to bring them
00:16:19.61\00:16:21.80
and torment forever.
00:16:21.81\00:16:23.78
No, that's not
really what it is saying,
00:16:23.79\00:16:25.32
what the word of
God says by any means.
00:16:25.33\00:16:27.34
So, I don't think
and I would suggest
00:16:27.35\00:16:30.54
that God would probably say
00:16:30.55\00:16:31.64
if you don't want any
relationship with Him,
00:16:31.65\00:16:33.44
if you don't choose life,
00:16:33.45\00:16:35.86
He would at least
respect your decision
00:16:35.87\00:16:38.98
and He does
respected by freedom of choice
00:16:38.99\00:16:41.38
that you live it up
until you die. That's right.
00:16:41.39\00:16:43.79
And by all means I as a
preacher would advocate,
00:16:43.80\00:16:47.00
if you are not going to,
00:16:47.01\00:16:48.79
if you have no
interest in heaven,
00:16:48.80\00:16:51.50
you might as well live
it up here on this earth
00:16:51.51\00:16:53.28
because that the
only time you got.
00:16:53.29\00:16:54.72
I mean right John?
I'm just flying over here.
00:16:54.73\00:16:59.38
I wouldn't want to
live miserably here
00:16:59.39\00:17:02.61
caught on the fence
and then end up in hell.
00:17:02.62\00:17:05.25
I would rather
live great, live in sin,
00:17:05.26\00:17:08.41
go with my nature and then die.
00:17:08.42\00:17:11.40
Oh, I'm all done. I'm done.
00:17:11.41\00:17:14.16
So God allows that choice
00:17:14.17\00:17:16.79
that freedom to choose which way
00:17:16.80\00:17:19.17
that you seek to live.
00:17:19.18\00:17:20.94
But before I turn
over to you here John,
00:17:20.95\00:17:24.19
smoke coming out of your ears.
00:17:24.20\00:17:25.56
I'm on fire over
here, in the right way.
00:17:26.79\00:17:29.83
But the question is,
00:17:29.84\00:17:32.19
does Jesus just
resurrect them to judge them?
00:17:32.20\00:17:36.21
That's was most important
that's being asked here.
00:17:36.22\00:17:38.22
And the answer is
yes. That's right.
00:17:38.23\00:17:40.58
Because God judges everyone
according to their works,
00:17:40.59\00:17:45.38
and I will read two
texts for you very quickly,
00:17:45.39\00:17:48.19
and 13,
00:17:48.20\00:17:50.76
"I saw the
dead, small and great,
00:17:50.77\00:17:53.02
standing before God,
and the books were opened.
00:17:53.03\00:17:55.71
And another book was opened,
which is the Book of Life.
00:17:55.72\00:17:58.34
And the dead were judged
00:17:58.35\00:17:59.37
according to their
works." That's right.
00:17:59.38\00:18:02.46
By the things which
were written in the books.
00:18:02.47\00:18:04.94
That is what the angels
recorded about their life
00:18:04.95\00:18:07.79
in their own book.
00:18:07.80\00:18:10.78
Each had a book by the way.
00:18:10.79\00:18:12.90
"The sea gave up
the dead who were in it,
00:18:12.91\00:18:15.15
and Death and Hades
delivered up the dead
00:18:15.16\00:18:16.82
who were in them.
00:18:16.83\00:18:17.99
And they were
judged, each one again
00:18:18.00\00:18:19.77
it says according to his works."
00:18:19.78\00:18:23.43
So that is the reason why
the wicked are resurrected
00:18:23.44\00:18:26.34
so that they could see,
00:18:26.35\00:18:28.91
their life
played out before them
00:18:28.92\00:18:31.06
to see they God in
fact was just, was good,
00:18:31.07\00:18:34.55
John, did everything He
possibly good to save them
00:18:34.56\00:18:37.75
yet they chose death.
00:18:37.76\00:18:39.12
They did not choose life
00:18:39.13\00:18:40.74
and they would be a very
accepting of that judgment
00:18:40.75\00:18:43.88
because it's fair.
00:18:43.89\00:18:45.34
You know, John I,
let me slow down here.
00:18:45.35\00:18:49.04
It's the smoke here.
00:18:51.06\00:18:52.82
let me break it down
00:18:54.96\00:18:57.34
and everything you said
is just right on target.
00:18:57.35\00:19:01.31
There are two possibilities
everyone is confronted with.
00:19:01.32\00:19:09.01
Let me show you the one that
we are incapable of escaping
00:19:09.02\00:19:14.57
and therefore we've
got to make a choice
00:19:14.58\00:19:16.44
to do something about
what we cannot escape.
00:19:18.18\00:19:21.29
The wages of sin is death,
00:19:23.01\00:19:24.77
but the gift of
God is eternal life.
00:19:24.78\00:19:27.00
Because of sin, Hebrews 9:27
00:19:27.01\00:19:31.93
exists listen to this.
00:19:31.94\00:19:34.00
Hebrews 9:27, I just
read Romans 6 verse 23
00:19:34.01\00:19:37.57
the wages of sin is death.
00:19:37.58\00:19:38.77
I'll read the second
part of the passage later.
00:19:38.78\00:19:42.02
Because of the fact
that the wages of sin
00:19:42.03\00:19:47.32
has passed upon all of
us it says, Romans 3:23,
00:19:47.33\00:19:51.73
all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God.
00:19:51.74\00:19:54.44
Okay, death has passed
upon all of us that is a fact.
00:19:54.45\00:20:00.34
So what do we do because
the wages of sin is death?
00:20:00.35\00:20:04.58
Here is what the Bible
says about that Hebrews 9:27,
00:20:04.59\00:20:07.63
"it is appointed
for men to die once,
00:20:09.23\00:20:15.05
but after that the judgment."
00:20:15.06\00:20:17.45
Okay because of sin,
00:20:17.46\00:20:19.33
because sin came into the world,
00:20:21.02\00:20:23.15
Romans 5 verse 12,
00:20:23.16\00:20:25.89
Wherefore by one man
sin entered the world,
00:20:25.90\00:20:28.53
and death through sin,
00:20:28.54\00:20:30.76
and thus death has
passed upon all men.
00:20:30.77\00:20:35.19
Romans 5 in verse 12 by
one man that man is Adam.
00:20:35.20\00:20:38.69
As an Adam all will die
making it very, very clear.
00:20:38.70\00:20:41.25
All right because
we all must die once
00:20:41.26\00:20:45.10
the first one is an appointment.
00:20:45.11\00:20:48.57
It is appointed on
to man to die once.
00:20:48.58\00:20:52.06
That's an appointment.
00:20:52.07\00:20:53.66
Every one of us from
Adam up until the present day
00:20:53.67\00:20:57.70
I got a news for
you outside of Enoch
00:20:57.71\00:20:59.66
and Elijah and
Noah, well Noah died.
00:20:59.67\00:21:02.64
Enoch work with God and was not
00:21:02.65\00:21:04.78
Elijah was swept
away in the chariot fire.
00:21:04.79\00:21:06.75
Everybody has experience
death, even Jesus himself.
00:21:06.76\00:21:09.93
But he came forth
00:21:09.94\00:21:10.98
and that was a
different at all together.
00:21:10.99\00:21:12.75
He came forth to win
over death in the grave.
00:21:12.76\00:21:15.70
But because every one of
us is appointed to death,
00:21:15.71\00:21:20.06
we are not appointed to
eternal death. You get that.
00:21:20.07\00:21:24.06
The first death
is an appointment.
00:21:24.07\00:21:25.81
The second death is
a choice. All right.
00:21:25.82\00:21:29.41
That's why Revelation 20:6 says,
00:21:29.42\00:21:32.78
look at it really
quickly for me John
00:21:35.11\00:21:36.15
I don't want to misquote it.
00:21:36.16\00:21:37.35
Blessed and holy. Good read it.
00:21:37.36\00:21:39.40
"Is he who has part
in the first resurrection
00:21:39.41\00:21:43.10
over such the
second death has no power,
00:21:43.11\00:21:45.34
but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ,
00:21:45.35\00:21:47.41
and shall reign with
Him a thousand years."
00:21:47.42\00:21:49.02
Okay see you are right there,
00:21:49.03\00:21:50.04
you knew exactly
where it was going,
00:21:50.05\00:21:51.11
is amazing how
God connects that.
00:21:51.12\00:21:53.44
You see, "blessed and holy
00:21:53.45\00:21:55.35
is he who has part in
the first resurrection
00:21:55.36\00:21:57.52
over such the
second death has no power."
00:21:57.53\00:22:00.13
Here is we got
to get this fixed.
00:22:00.14\00:22:02.16
Everybody is gonna die once.
00:22:02.17\00:22:03.99
But you don't die once in
just escape God's judgment
00:22:04.00\00:22:08.16
because we must all appear
00:22:08.17\00:22:09.65
before the
judgment seed of Christ,
00:22:09.66\00:22:11.89
that we will all given account
00:22:11.90\00:22:13.06
for the things done in the body.
00:22:13.07\00:22:15.01
Everybody has got
to give an account,
00:22:15.02\00:22:16.09
and you know what, you
know that's so important John.
00:22:16.10\00:22:18.88
I have heard, you know,
these stories that I hear
00:22:18.89\00:22:20.87
sometimes on the news
just really sadden my heart.
00:22:20.88\00:22:23.62
Or somebody
would kill, like this
00:22:23.63\00:22:26.49
recently this was on the news,
00:22:26.50\00:22:27.69
somebody would kill
a whole group of people
00:22:27.70\00:22:30.28
and then he would
take their own lives.
00:22:30.29\00:22:32.66
And if you went through that,
00:22:32.67\00:22:33.86
you know, all they get
is just, they are gone.
00:22:33.87\00:22:36.38
Then that would
be seemingly unjust.
00:22:36.39\00:22:39.01
At the same time if they think
00:22:39.02\00:22:40.99
they can take their
lives and escape God's judgment
00:22:41.00\00:22:43.46
that would also be unjust.
00:22:43.47\00:22:45.01
Because then how would it be
00:22:45.02\00:22:46.53
that each of us
will give an account,
00:22:46.54\00:22:48.10
how would it be that each of us
00:22:48.11\00:22:49.44
will be rewarded
according to our works.
00:22:49.45\00:22:53.29
We really wouldn't be.
00:22:53.30\00:22:54.44
If I kill nine people
00:22:54.45\00:22:55.60
and didn't have to serve life,
00:22:55.61\00:22:56.59
or didn't have to
go to the death chamber
00:22:56.60\00:22:57.71
and I just took
my life and I'm done
00:22:57.72\00:22:59.52
and I'll escape
God's wrath, fine.
00:22:59.53\00:23:01.64
But we don't want
to minimize it friends.
00:23:01.65\00:23:04.31
But at the same time,
we don't want to maximize
00:23:04.32\00:23:06.81
something that's not real.
00:23:06.82\00:23:08.80
On the flip side of that,
00:23:08.81\00:23:11.07
there's judge
and there's judgment.
00:23:11.08\00:23:13.02
Jesus is the judge,
therefore the judgment,
00:23:13.03\00:23:16.22
and after we die
then the judgment.
00:23:16.23\00:23:18.40
So the judgment day
is coming for everybody.
00:23:18.41\00:23:20.38
But there is eternal punishment,
00:23:20.39\00:23:24.88
but do not get it mixed up
with the eternal punishing.
00:23:24.89\00:23:28.00
And let me tell you, a
person that takes his life
00:23:28.01\00:23:30.67
is not taking his
life all for eternity.
00:23:30.68\00:23:34.43
But he has killed
himself and his life is ended.
00:23:34.44\00:23:36.47
Now let's go
back to Romans 6:23,
00:23:36.48\00:23:38.52
the wage of sin is death.
00:23:38.53\00:23:40.11
Now here is what I'm
gonna throw back to you John,
00:23:40.12\00:23:42.12
I will set it up.
00:23:42.13\00:23:45.13
In order for us to be punished
00:23:45.14\00:23:47.61
to be in the state of
burning in hell forever,
00:23:47.62\00:23:51.01
punishing forever,
writhing in flames forever,
00:23:51.02\00:23:56.28
that will be a
miscarriage of God's justice.
00:23:56.29\00:23:59.11
It's like putting a person
00:23:59.12\00:24:00.54
who just stole a
candy bar in jail forever,
00:24:00.55\00:24:03.66
and the person who killed
400 people in jail forever.
00:24:03.67\00:24:07.34
That's a miscarriage
because there is no difference.
00:24:07.35\00:24:09.47
You know, our justice system
00:24:09.48\00:24:10.82
says the punishment
fits the crime. Okay.
00:24:10.83\00:24:13.06
So in the same sense,
00:24:13.07\00:24:16.09
is there anybody
worthy of being punished
00:24:16.10\00:24:19.35
in the flames of
hell forever? No.
00:24:19.36\00:24:22.48
But the reason why
they are destroyed forever
00:24:22.49\00:24:26.33
is because they never
made a choice to choose life.
00:24:26.34\00:24:29.75
Let me throw it back to you.
00:24:29.76\00:24:30.95
Eternal life, is it
a gift to the wicked
00:24:32.79\00:24:35.19
or the righteous?
It's to the righteous.
00:24:35.20\00:24:38.36
Okay, so the
wicked can't burn forever,
00:24:38.37\00:24:41.39
if they are not
able to live forever.
00:24:41.40\00:24:42.92
They have to have eternal life.
00:24:42.93\00:24:43.94
They have to have eternal life.
00:24:43.95\00:24:45.35
So now here is end of my point.
00:24:45.36\00:24:48.84
Deuteronomy
30:19, "I call heaven
00:24:48.85\00:24:50.79
and earth as a
witnesses today against you,
00:24:50.80\00:24:53.47
I have set before
you life and death,
00:24:53.48\00:24:56.13
Blessing and cursing;
therefore choose life."
00:24:57.57\00:25:01.21
Okay, we can't choose
to avoid the first death
00:25:01.22\00:25:04.42
but we can choose to
avoid the second death,
00:25:04.43\00:25:07.04
by choosing life.
00:25:07.05\00:25:08.59
You know, the other
misnomer here is that,
00:25:08.60\00:25:11.94
you know, is
not that all of them
00:25:11.95\00:25:14.56
that are going to burn are...
in an instant. Not at all.
00:25:14.57\00:25:18.11
And it's not that they're
gonna burn eternal either.
00:25:18.12\00:25:20.96
It's that the judgment,
00:25:20.97\00:25:23.08
the executive judgment of God,
00:25:23.09\00:25:26.17
in that lake of fire
you cause some to burn
00:25:26.18\00:25:30.04
and maybe suffer
longer than others
00:25:30.05\00:25:31.82
because of their crimes.
00:25:31.83\00:25:33.91
That's what it means
judged according to their works.
00:25:33.92\00:25:37.03
This is an executive
judgment speaking off.
00:25:37.04\00:25:39.01
It's not a conclusion
00:25:39.02\00:25:41.13
because the conclusions
are already been made.
00:25:41.14\00:25:42.81
The righteous are in heaven,
00:25:42.82\00:25:44.42
now they are in the
kingdom here set on earth
00:25:44.43\00:25:46.67
and the wicked are, they
have no hope. That's right.
00:25:46.68\00:25:51.36
So that's not the judgment,
00:25:51.37\00:25:52.67
that's already
been made. That's right.
00:25:52.68\00:25:53.96
That judgment here is executive,
00:25:53.97\00:25:55.76
it's a
conclusion. It's the sentence.
00:25:55.77\00:25:57.56
It's not only the sentence
00:25:57.57\00:25:58.54
it's the carrying out
of sentence. That's right.
00:25:58.55\00:26:00.59
So they will
either, some of them
00:26:00.60\00:26:02.93
such as maybe a Hitler
00:26:02.94\00:26:04.12
which is a common
example because he was,
00:26:04.13\00:26:05.94
he committed such heinous crimes
00:26:05.95\00:26:07.85
against six million plus Jews.
00:26:07.86\00:26:11.38
He will burn longer
00:26:11.39\00:26:13.14
than someone who
has refused Jesus,
00:26:13.15\00:26:15.02
but isn't a murderer
00:26:15.03\00:26:16.00
and hasn't killed anybody and,
00:26:16.01\00:26:17.91
you know, has lived
a pretty decent life
00:26:17.92\00:26:19.59
but just has rejected Christ.
00:26:19.60\00:26:20.91
Right, and haven't
chosen life anyway.
00:26:20.92\00:26:22.73
So, yeah that's where
people go too far on one side
00:26:22.74\00:26:27.02
and too far on the other. Right.
00:26:27.03\00:26:28.42
It's the middle.
00:26:28.43\00:26:29.60
God knows and he is just
00:26:29.61\00:26:31.89
and he will determine
the punishment for each.
00:26:31.90\00:26:34.52
Each person
will receive a reward
00:26:34.53\00:26:36.12
according to their works.
00:26:36.13\00:26:38.63
It's not gonna be approved
when you are out of here,
00:26:38.64\00:26:41.00
and it's not gonna be
you're burning in hell forever,
00:26:41.01\00:26:43.19
because they
won't be forever hell.
00:26:43.20\00:26:45.40
The last enemy that
shall be destroyed is death.
00:26:45.41\00:26:48.32
And death and hell will
be cast to the lake of fire,
00:26:48.33\00:26:50.90
so how could death and the grave
00:26:50.91\00:26:52.10
be caste to the lake of fire.
00:26:52.11\00:26:54.16
And there is not
gonna be a new hell.
00:26:54.17\00:26:55.85
There is not a new hell.
00:26:55.86\00:26:56.83
God is not creating a new hell.
00:26:56.84\00:26:58.25
He is creating a new
heaven and a new earth. Right.
00:26:58.26\00:27:01.17
So you won't find
a new hell to exist.
00:27:01.18\00:27:03.62
Hell is gonna be
destroyed itself,
00:27:03.63\00:27:05.02
Praise God for that. Amen.
00:27:05.03\00:27:06.88
Anyway I think we got to
transition now to our topic,
00:27:06.89\00:27:09.28
let's get away from that,
00:27:09.29\00:27:10.79
and let's go back to gratitude.
00:27:10.80\00:27:12.59
And we are Grateful
that we are not going
00:27:12.60\00:27:14.13
to be in the lake
the fire. Exactly.
00:27:14.14\00:27:16.89
If you have any
questions you like to send to us
00:27:16.90\00:27:18.55
because we have kind,
00:27:18.56\00:27:19.95
maybe stirred up
something in your mind,
00:27:19.96\00:27:21.24
you can send those
to housecalls@3abn.org,
00:27:21.25\00:27:24.26
that's housecalls@3abn.org
and we will be glad
00:27:24.27\00:27:28.06
to point you to the word of God
00:27:28.07\00:27:29.47
the only source we
believe are the answers.
00:27:29.48\00:27:31.28
Thank you so much
for your questions.
00:27:31.29\00:27:33.58
John dive into the
topic of gratitude.
00:27:33.59\00:27:35.28
We did some great analysis
00:27:35.29\00:27:38.31
of what the Bible
says about gratitude
00:27:38.32\00:27:39.58
and you gave some great reasons,
00:27:39.59\00:27:40.79
but I think you
gonna expand on those.
00:27:40.80\00:27:42.42
Yeah, and we gave the background
00:27:42.43\00:27:44.33
of how important
is to be Grateful.
00:27:44.34\00:27:46.37
You know, to
show God our gratitude
00:27:46.38\00:27:47.96
and to be thankful to Him
00:27:47.97\00:27:49.82
and to bless Him in
how we live our lives
00:27:49.83\00:27:53.09
and how we tell Him
how thankful we are.
00:27:53.10\00:27:55.94
But I think today
what we like to do
00:27:55.95\00:27:58.19
is finish up this
topic of gratitude by showing
00:27:58.20\00:28:01.17
what a Grateful
life looks like. Okay.
00:28:01.18\00:28:04.04
Someone that has an attitude
of gratitude in their heart,
00:28:04.05\00:28:08.46
their living a life of being
Grateful to God constantly,
00:28:08.47\00:28:11.46
what does that look like?
00:28:11.47\00:28:13.22
Because then we can
measure to see whether or not
00:28:13.23\00:28:15.30
we measure up against
that or not. That's right.
00:28:15.31\00:28:17.86
And so I have put
down several things here.
00:28:17.87\00:28:20.16
And we may find some
others as we go along.
00:28:20.17\00:28:22.00
But, you know, pastors
like to do list for sermons,
00:28:22.01\00:28:25.61
you know, five
things or seven things
00:28:25.62\00:28:28.42
and I came up in this case.
00:28:28.43\00:28:30.71
I came up with the see
one, two, three, four, five,
00:28:30.72\00:28:34.43
five different
things that we can,
00:28:34.44\00:28:37.78
ways that we can live our life
00:28:37.79\00:28:39.12
that show that we
are Grateful to the Lord.
00:28:39.13\00:28:41.33
Okay, I like that.
00:28:41.34\00:28:43.17
And maybe I will
mention each one of them
00:28:43.18\00:28:45.41
and then we will
start at the beginning.
00:28:45.42\00:28:46.50
The first one is a
life of Faith and Trust,
00:28:46.51\00:28:50.18
secondly a life of
patience, third of Contentment,
00:28:50.19\00:28:55.03
fourth of Praise, and
fifth of Blessing others.
00:28:55.04\00:29:00.10
Those are five different ways
00:29:00.11\00:29:01.36
that we can show that
we are Grateful to the Lord
00:29:01.37\00:29:04.16
for all that He has done
for us. Okay, I like that.
00:29:04.17\00:29:06.06
So, let's talk
about these, John,
00:29:06.07\00:29:07.73
let's kind a go
back and forth here,
00:29:07.74\00:29:08.90
Faith and Trust. Okay.
00:29:08.91\00:29:10.94
Now I think I put
that first because I think
00:29:10.95\00:29:12.77
that's where our
relationship with God starts.
00:29:12.78\00:29:14.97
That, you know,
those who come to God
00:29:16.41\00:29:19.60
must first believe that He is
00:29:19.61\00:29:21.90
and is a rewarder of those
00:29:21.91\00:29:23.55
who diligently seek Him, okay.
00:29:23.56\00:29:26.93
So when we give
our life to the Lord,
00:29:26.94\00:29:30.05
and we put our Faith
in Him that's one thing.
00:29:30.06\00:29:33.16
But notice I added
the word here, Trust
00:29:33.17\00:29:35.72
and I did that not because
00:29:35.73\00:29:37.00
Faith is so much
different than Trust
00:29:37.01\00:29:38.73
but I think Trust
expands a little bit on Faith.
00:29:38.74\00:29:43.37
In that Faith isn't just
an awareness that God exists,
00:29:43.38\00:29:48.23
a life of Faith is a
constant walk with God,
00:29:48.24\00:29:51.51
trusting Him
with every decision,
00:29:51.52\00:29:54.53
every challenge
that comes your way,
00:29:54.54\00:29:57.08
everything that
comes out through the day,
00:29:57.09\00:29:59.67
that you are putting your
trust and confidence in God.
00:29:59.68\00:30:02.91
And I say, I put that
one first as living a life
00:30:02.92\00:30:06.17
of Gratitude
that you be like that,
00:30:06.18\00:30:08.42
because I believe that
when you are Grateful for Him,
00:30:08.43\00:30:11.06
when something comes along
00:30:11.07\00:30:12.20
that is challenging to our life,
00:30:12.21\00:30:13.48
the first thing you
think about is my God,
00:30:13.49\00:30:16.14
my God is with me.
00:30:16.15\00:30:17.94
And that's the
aspect of Faith and Trust
00:30:17.95\00:30:19.75
that I'm talking about here.
00:30:19.76\00:30:20.89
Yeah, I remember a story
years ago and somebody may,
00:30:20.90\00:30:22.84
this may spark
an interest in them.
00:30:22.85\00:30:24.49
And I tried to find
another way to communicate,
00:30:24.50\00:30:26.42
but I think the story fits well.
00:30:26.43\00:30:28.22
The story of a
person who wanted to perform
00:30:28.23\00:30:31.44
a tremendous feat by
crossing Niagara Falls.
00:30:31.45\00:30:35.40
And but he didn't
want to just do by himself,
00:30:35.41\00:30:38.35
he wanted to push a
barrel across Niagara Falls
00:30:38.36\00:30:41.23
with a person in it.
00:30:41.24\00:30:43.24
Faith would say the
person on the other side
00:30:43.25\00:30:46.05
of the Falls say I
know you could do it.
00:30:46.06\00:30:49.91
Trust would be that same person
00:30:49.92\00:30:51.61
getting in the barrel, right.
00:30:51.62\00:30:52.89
Okay, that's trust.
00:30:52.90\00:30:55.46
I have such faith
that you will do it
00:30:55.47\00:30:58.03
I'm willing to trust you
00:30:58.04\00:30:59.86
and I put my life in the barrel.
00:30:59.87\00:31:01.36
In the same way, we can
say we have faith that God
00:31:01.37\00:31:04.14
can provide for us but
until we get in the barrel
00:31:04.15\00:31:06.77
and allow him to effectively
00:31:06.78\00:31:09.00
and without any error carry us
00:31:09.01\00:31:11.06
across the precipitate
and difficulties of life
00:31:11.07\00:31:14.08
then there is
really no trust in God.
00:31:14.09\00:31:16.02
And let me tell
you something John,
00:31:16.03\00:31:17.91
that text in
Proverbs 3, verse 5 and 6,
00:31:17.92\00:31:19.95
you know, "Trust in the Lord
you got with all your heart,
00:31:19.96\00:31:22.53
is gonna take all your heart
to climb into that barrel."
00:31:22.54\00:31:25.28
It's my favorite
text. Isn't that wonderful?
00:31:25.29\00:31:27.35
If somebody
said they can push me
00:31:27.36\00:31:28.92
across the
waterfalls on a thin wire
00:31:28.93\00:31:32.12
and they could make it as
I have faith you can do it
00:31:32.13\00:31:35.14
and they say okay
now get in the barrel.
00:31:35.15\00:31:36.33
And see God wants us to
get in the barrel with Him
00:31:37.52\00:31:39.70
because He has
never dropped anyone
00:31:39.71\00:31:41.21
and Praise God for that. Amen.
00:31:41.22\00:31:42.86
We have evidence on that note.
00:31:42.87\00:31:43.86
So that's the
Faith and Trust factor.
00:31:43.87\00:31:45.27
You know, and there is
a direct connection here
00:31:45.28\00:31:46.49
between Trust and Faith,
that's right, and Gratitude.
00:31:46.50\00:31:51.05
And you would think
that maybe that's not
00:31:51.06\00:31:52.57
so much the case, but
look... put it this way,
00:31:52.58\00:31:57.20
I'm trying to
think what it says.
00:31:57.21\00:31:59.45
Put your imagination
00:31:59.46\00:32:00.57
until you see it
for a just minute.
00:32:00.58\00:32:02.61
I'm gonna read Philippians 4:6,
00:32:02.62\00:32:05.38
and I'm gonna
read from the NIV here.
00:32:05.39\00:32:08.74
"Do not be
anxious about anything,
00:32:08.75\00:32:12.77
but in every thing,
by prayer and petition,
00:32:12.78\00:32:15.92
with thanksgiving,
00:32:15.93\00:32:18.56
present your requests to God."
00:32:18.57\00:32:21.31
There is connection here
for with not being anxious
00:32:21.32\00:32:26.34
and putting your trust in God
00:32:26.35\00:32:28.01
to handle your matter
00:32:28.02\00:32:30.12
and then with thanksgiving
sealing in it. Yeah.
00:32:30.13\00:32:34.07
Thanksgiving is
almost a seal on that trust.
00:32:34.08\00:32:37.33
It's like Lord
I'm gonna trust you.
00:32:37.34\00:32:40.30
I'm putting my faith
in You for this issue,
00:32:40.31\00:32:43.13
and you know what,
thank you in advance
00:32:43.14\00:32:46.69
for what you gonna do.
00:32:46.70\00:32:48.49
Because you know
what, you've already done
00:32:48.50\00:32:50.15
so much for me in the past.
00:32:50.16\00:32:51.23
I know you are
taking care of me,
00:32:51.24\00:32:52.95
that's he adheres the
life of gratitude part.
00:32:52.96\00:32:54.65
You've already
taking care of me.
00:32:54.66\00:32:56.49
You've taken care of so much
in my life. You've saved me.
00:32:56.50\00:32:58.84
You've redeemed me
from the life of sin.
00:32:58.85\00:33:00.82
I can put my trust
in you in this matter.
00:33:00.83\00:33:02.72
I'm not being
anxious about it, it's yours.
00:33:02.73\00:33:04.96
Thank you for what are
going to do in the situation.
00:33:04.97\00:33:07.54
That's right.
00:33:07.55\00:33:08.96
To think... we
wouldn't normally think
00:33:08.97\00:33:10.97
of that connection
but it truly is connected
00:33:10.98\00:33:13.37
to our gratitude
for what God has done
00:33:13.38\00:33:15.20
and will do and
just standing down
00:33:15.21\00:33:17.82
and letting by faith,
00:33:17.83\00:33:18.90
letting Him know
that I trust you.
00:33:18.91\00:33:21.83
Yeah, and you know,
when you trust somebody,
00:33:21.84\00:33:24.86
I go back to that story again.
00:33:27.34\00:33:29.12
You know, as the door has
been closed on the barrel,
00:33:29.13\00:33:32.46
you see, thank
you for getting me
00:33:32.47\00:33:34.34
over the other side safely.
Including the question mark.
00:33:34.35\00:33:37.41
Definitely, kind
of that last push
00:33:37.42\00:33:41.13
to make sure
that his mind is set.
00:33:41.14\00:33:43.54
This is not just a
barrel, I'm in here.
00:33:43.55\00:33:46.54
And you know friends
the Lord loves us so much,
00:33:46.55\00:33:51.20
He is able to do exceedingly,
00:33:51.21\00:33:54.18
abundantly above all that we ask
00:33:54.19\00:33:55.96
or think according to the power
00:33:55.97\00:33:57.27
that is at working us.
00:33:57.28\00:33:59.11
What do you think that power
00:33:59.12\00:34:00.09
that is at working us really is?
00:34:00.10\00:34:02.05
It's not just a
power of the Holy Spirit,
00:34:02.06\00:34:04.33
but it's the power of a change
00:34:04.34\00:34:05.64
heart through the attitude
we believe of gratitude.
00:34:05.65\00:34:08.72
It makes a difference
when a person is thankful,
00:34:08.73\00:34:10.64
as a mater of fact,
John I add this point to it.
00:34:10.65\00:34:13.24
When we run into
somebody that's thankful,
00:34:13.25\00:34:16.79
it activates our giving.
00:34:16.80\00:34:18.68
I think that
Lord, oh okay great,
00:34:18.69\00:34:21.13
Praise the Lord.
00:34:21.14\00:34:22.23
God loves a cheerful giver.
00:34:22.24\00:34:24.10
It's more blessed to
give than to receive.
00:34:24.11\00:34:26.02
If with gratitude we extend
what God has extended to us,
00:34:26.03\00:34:28.91
He always makes
sure that we have.
00:34:28.92\00:34:30.98
If it's finance, it's fine.
00:34:30.99\00:34:32.08
But if there is anything else,
00:34:32.09\00:34:33.17
He always makes sure we
have because we are so excited.
00:34:33.18\00:34:35.87
When the Bible says
God loves a cheerful giver,
00:34:35.88\00:34:38.86
it means God loves a
person that is so excited
00:34:38.87\00:34:41.66
about giving you
just make some giggle.
00:34:41.67\00:34:44.04
Not if you see, but
just I'm so happy to give.
00:34:44.05\00:34:49.03
God says I'm just gonna
00:34:49.04\00:34:50.03
increase your happiness here.
00:34:50.04\00:34:51.02
I'm gonna make you
the funnel and the channel
00:34:51.03\00:34:53.41
and the tunnel through
which these blessings flow.
00:34:53.42\00:34:55.48
You know, I was thinking of
when I hear that verse? Who?
00:34:55.49\00:34:58.78
Dr. Giomi. Oh!
00:34:58.79\00:35:01.00
Dr. Giomi because, you
know, we used to stand there
00:35:01.01\00:35:03.01
and he says, you know,
what a cheerful giver Hilarity.
00:35:03.02\00:35:06.10
He talked to us
and say Hilarity,
00:35:06.11\00:35:07.43
that's where
the word comes from,
00:35:07.44\00:35:08.47
it's been how
long that? Opon Giomi.
00:35:08.48\00:35:11.42
Yeah, I used to love you
say the word. Opon Giomi.
00:35:11.43\00:35:16.37
Here is one other text,
I mentioned this last...
00:35:16.38\00:35:18.45
Don't even know who that
is, but that's the member of...
00:35:18.46\00:35:20.09
The church, they were
from some form of church.
00:35:20.10\00:35:21.92
Exactly. Fairfield.
00:35:21.93\00:35:23.05
In Fairfield.
00:35:23.06\00:35:24.32
Here listen to
this, Colossians 3:17,
00:35:24.33\00:35:26.75
"whatever you do,"
00:35:26.76\00:35:29.49
now that's pretty
much everything right.
00:35:29.50\00:35:31.13
I think that's everything.
00:35:31.14\00:35:32.28
"Whatever you
do, in word or deed,
00:35:32.29\00:35:34.98
do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus giving thanks.
00:35:34.99\00:35:38.96
So here it is the doing,
00:35:38.97\00:35:40.14
whatever we are doing in life
00:35:40.15\00:35:42.68
our thankfulness back to God
00:35:42.69\00:35:44.68
is showing that we
are in fact Trusting Him
00:35:44.69\00:35:50.63
in everything that He
is going to do for us.
00:35:50.64\00:35:54.36
And just I don't
know, how better to say it
00:35:54.37\00:35:58.41
It may wonderful
that you could say
00:35:58.42\00:35:59.80
the text better the text says,
00:35:59.81\00:36:01.84
but truly in
everything whatever you do,
00:36:01.85\00:36:06.36
sometimes we are
critical of people
00:36:06.37\00:36:08.76
when we go to restaurants.
00:36:08.77\00:36:09.74
And I mean when I
say critical of people,
00:36:09.75\00:36:11.85
I don't know about you
00:36:11.86\00:36:12.85
but, sometimes I
go to restaurants
00:36:12.86\00:36:14.69
and the person
that I'm there with
00:36:14.70\00:36:17.40
pay such close
attention to how the waiter
00:36:17.41\00:36:20.10
or waitress handles our table.
00:36:20.11\00:36:23.90
And they determine
that the end result, the tip
00:36:23.91\00:36:28.06
is gonna be proportionate
to the treatment that they got.
00:36:28.07\00:36:32.51
In the same sense,
00:36:32.52\00:36:35.92
God if He were to
give us a blessing
00:36:35.93\00:36:40.63
proportion to the
treatment that He got,
00:36:40.64\00:36:44.39
we were really get
tinny little blessing.
00:36:44.40\00:36:46.67
Yeah, He will give us
a tip according to our,
00:36:46.68\00:36:49.21
thankfulness, now what
is the word our performance.
00:36:49.22\00:36:53.01
Oh! Our performance!
00:36:53.02\00:36:55.47
It has to be Christ performance.
00:36:55.48\00:36:56.91
It would be
an.... Imputed to us.
00:36:56.92\00:36:59.06
It will be an Zambian Kwacha,
00:36:59.07\00:37:03.08
which is to every
dollars like $4,600.
00:37:03.09\00:37:07.18
You know and the point
of the matter of fact is
00:37:07.19\00:37:09.23
God blesses us a
whole lot more than
00:37:09.24\00:37:13.09
we even show
our gratitude. Yeah.
00:37:13.10\00:37:16.33
Sometime, that's
why we are talking about
00:37:16.34\00:37:17.62
this topic of gratitude,
00:37:17.63\00:37:18.73
but now what's the next thing
00:37:18.74\00:37:20.22
you think that
gratitude does to us.
00:37:20.23\00:37:21.91
The next thing is, you know,
00:37:21.92\00:37:24.32
having that
heart full of gratitude
00:37:24.33\00:37:26.89
is revealed in our patience.
00:37:26.90\00:37:30.21
Our patience! And the scripture
00:37:30.22\00:37:32.07
I chose for this one is
James 1, verse 2 through 4,
00:37:32.08\00:37:37.14
"My brethren, count it all joy
00:37:37.15\00:37:40.40
when you fall
into various trials,
00:37:40.41\00:37:42.83
knowing that the testing of
your Faith produces patience.
00:37:42.84\00:37:47.13
But let patience
have its perfect work,
00:37:47.14\00:37:50.17
that you may be
perfect and complete,
00:37:50.18\00:37:52.18
lacking nothing."
00:37:52.19\00:37:53.73
And you know, I
think so many times
00:37:56.40\00:37:59.91
we were impatient.
00:37:59.92\00:38:02.00
We are not considering
how God has blessed us,
00:38:02.01\00:38:04.48
and how we should
be grateful for to him.
00:38:04.49\00:38:07.04
Yeah and we lack, and we lack,
00:38:07.05\00:38:11.33
because we don't
see that situation.
00:38:11.34\00:38:14.51
When you start reading
text, read that one more time
00:38:14.52\00:38:17.66
just the first verse, verse 2.
00:38:17.67\00:38:20.16
"My brethren, count it all joy
00:38:20.17\00:38:21.97
when you fall
into various trials."
00:38:21.98\00:38:24.43
They counted all joy
00:38:24.44\00:38:25.73
when you fall
into various trials.
00:38:25.74\00:38:28.28
How could you counted all joy
00:38:28.29\00:38:29.51
when you fall
into various trials
00:38:29.52\00:38:30.99
unless you know
that trial is still,
00:38:31.00\00:38:34.47
is still measured by God?
00:38:34.48\00:38:38.05
I heard the statement
I have to trace it again.
00:38:38.06\00:38:41.31
The blessings of
God are always greater
00:38:41.32\00:38:46.48
than the trials He allows.
00:38:46.49\00:38:48.64
He doesn't
measure His love to us,
00:38:48.65\00:38:51.16
but He sure does
measure the trials.
00:38:51.17\00:38:53.63
He will not allow
us to be tempted beyond
00:38:53.64\00:38:55.75
which we are able,
but with every temptation
00:38:55.76\00:38:57.70
make a way of escape.
00:38:57.71\00:38:59.06
So truly you can count a joy
00:38:59.07\00:39:01.51
when you fall
into various trials
00:39:01.52\00:39:02.94
because you know that
trail, if God allows it to come,
00:39:02.95\00:39:05.61
here is what the
gratitude comes in
00:39:05.62\00:39:07.03
and I wanna measure
that and put in that context.
00:39:07.04\00:39:10.29
The gratitude comes
in because we know that
00:39:10.30\00:39:12.37
if God allowed to come
our way is not gonna crush us.
00:39:12.38\00:39:16.02
You see, anymore than,
00:39:16.03\00:39:18.28
if you go into a gym
the weights are measured
00:39:18.29\00:39:22.22
at whatever stage you
are in your building process.
00:39:22.23\00:39:25.57
And in the same
way God would not put
00:39:25.58\00:39:28.28
you know
11-year-old boy in the gym
00:39:28.29\00:39:29.74
and say Bench Press
300 pounds and do it now
00:39:29.75\00:39:32.76
or he would lame on the bench
00:39:32.77\00:39:33.76
and drive 300
pounds on his arms and say,
00:39:33.77\00:39:35.86
hey you came here in the gym.
00:39:35.87\00:39:37.06
You are in the gym you
should be able to lift that.
00:39:37.07\00:39:40.10
You know, in the same
way we measure the weights
00:39:40.11\00:39:42.48
that we lift
until we get stronger.
00:39:42.49\00:39:44.05
God measures the
way through trial
00:39:44.06\00:39:46.29
and He knows at what stage
00:39:46.30\00:39:47.39
we can lift the
greater things by His grace.
00:39:47.40\00:39:50.40
And so that gives us
reason to be thankful.
00:39:50.41\00:39:52.33
If somebody gives me weights,
00:39:52.34\00:39:53.71
I'm saying thank
you for not giving me
00:39:53.72\00:39:56.86
more than I can lift. Yes, yeah.
00:39:56.87\00:39:59.48
That's the gratitude.
00:39:59.49\00:40:00.53
Yes and here is
another part of it too. Okay.
00:40:00.54\00:40:02.67
I wrote here, try to
write down a few things
00:40:02.96\00:40:05.54
just my thoughts
ahead of time to make sure
00:40:05.55\00:40:07.06
if you can express
them, one thing I wrote here
00:40:07.07\00:40:09.60
was with patience
we show confidence
00:40:09.61\00:40:12.49
in the benevolence of God.
00:40:12.50\00:40:14.32
So when we are
patience were confident
00:40:16.20\00:40:19.02
that God is gonna
come through for us.
00:40:19.03\00:40:20.92
Okay, I'm glad you explain that
00:40:20.93\00:40:22.47
because some people may
say, what is benevolence?
00:40:22.48\00:40:24.19
Yeah, we show confidence
to God, will come through.
00:40:24.20\00:40:27.57
Patience exudes a thankful heart
00:40:27.58\00:40:30.23
in advance of the blessing.
00:40:30.24\00:40:32.37
That's right.
00:40:33.84\00:40:34.84
It you showing you thankful,
00:40:34.85\00:40:36.26
even before the
blessing comes because you trust
00:40:36.27\00:40:38.80
and you're
confident in His benevolence
00:40:38.81\00:40:41.00
or in His what is
going to be coming from Him
00:40:41.01\00:40:46.41
to get you through it.
00:40:46.42\00:40:48.28
It tells God we are
willing to wait on His goodness
00:40:48.29\00:40:51.63
which we know will come.
00:40:51.64\00:40:54.45
Yeah.
00:40:54.46\00:40:55.75
There is a text here, I
just, some of you may wonder
00:40:55.76\00:40:58.33
how we so fast on this.
00:40:58.34\00:41:00.34
We are in fast because,
you know, we have all this....
00:41:00.35\00:41:02.10
Computers.
00:41:02.11\00:41:03.08
All this modern technology.
00:41:03.09\00:41:04.75
The Bible talks about when
we pray in Faith believing,
00:41:04.76\00:41:10.35
He says you will have,
not might have but will have,
00:41:10.36\00:41:16.32
and as anybody who
exercises discretion
00:41:16.33\00:41:20.79
and measures what comes
our way God is not going
00:41:20.80\00:41:23.45
to say ask Me for just anything
00:41:23.46\00:41:25.16
and I'm gonna give it you.
00:41:25.17\00:41:26.70
He is not that kind of parent.
00:41:26.71\00:41:28.29
In the same way you are
not that kind of parent,
00:41:28.30\00:41:29.95
you are not that
kid of family member.
00:41:29.96\00:41:31.09
You don't you know,
somebody, since somebody
00:41:31.10\00:41:33.58
something that's
gonna injure them.
00:41:33.59\00:41:35.29
We gonna degrade
their experience.
00:41:35.30\00:41:37.50
So, but that will have.
00:41:37.51\00:41:39.03
Now was a good text there
that the way you said that,
00:41:39.04\00:41:41.83
a benevolence, confidence,
in the benevolence of God
00:41:41.84\00:41:44.69
because God always provides.
00:41:44.70\00:41:47.03
You know, we could
never as the Psalm says,
00:41:47.04\00:41:48.73
we could never be
God's giving and...
00:41:48.74\00:41:51.66
And so if all the
sudden I'm anxious
00:41:51.67\00:41:54.36
and I oh I try to work
this out myself and I'm just,
00:41:54.37\00:41:56.86
I can't stand or
wait, I'm just impatient.
00:41:56.87\00:41:59.88
It shows that I'm not grateful
00:41:59.89\00:42:02.92
for what God is going
to be bringing in my life.
00:42:02.93\00:42:07.13
And so how did we
expect to be blessed by God,
00:42:07.14\00:42:10.65
in response to our
gratitude and confidence
00:42:10.66\00:42:12.99
that He is going to work it out
00:42:13.00\00:42:14.99
if we are constantly impatient?
00:42:15.00\00:42:17.65
I like this next statement
that you brought out here.
00:42:17.66\00:42:20.51
The next point, I
want to set it up because,
00:42:20.52\00:42:22.30
go ahead, we have to be patient
00:42:22.31\00:42:24.01
but this is amazing,
you know, sometimes...
00:42:24.02\00:42:26.23
This is very close to patience.
00:42:26.24\00:42:27.31
Oh, it is.
00:42:27.32\00:42:28.29
Sometimes people
have said, you know,
00:42:28.30\00:42:30.20
what I'm gonna give you.
00:42:30.21\00:42:31.68
You have everything.
00:42:31.69\00:42:32.87
Well you know
that's not really true,
00:42:32.88\00:42:35.76
because if you met
somebody that had everything,
00:42:35.77\00:42:38.28
the question is
where they would put it.
00:42:38.29\00:42:39.63
Yeah.
00:42:39.64\00:42:40.61
Okay I've heard that before,
00:42:40.62\00:42:41.97
but why is it John
then you will answer.
00:42:41.98\00:42:44.60
This text is just so
perfect, we often over look it.
00:42:44.61\00:42:47.68
Why is that
sometimes a person with a lot,
00:42:47.69\00:42:52.34
doesn't have as much as,
00:42:52.35\00:42:53.54
don't have as much gratitude
as a person with little?
00:42:53.55\00:42:56.56
You know, I do know that person
00:42:59.80\00:43:01.41
with a lot always wants more.
00:43:01.42\00:43:02.97
Okay, the
answer is in this text.
00:43:02.98\00:43:06.90
Well, 1 Timothy, yeah,
00:43:06.91\00:43:08.06
because we are transitioning
to Contentment now.
00:43:08.07\00:43:10.92
Oh yeah, okay.
00:43:10.93\00:43:12.22
Which is tied to patience,
00:43:12.23\00:43:13.20
but Contentment
is little different.
00:43:13.21\00:43:14.60
First Timothy six through eight,
00:43:14.61\00:43:16.35
I want you read that one John.
00:43:16.36\00:43:17.50
I'm gonna read the
various ways that people often,
00:43:17.51\00:43:21.14
okay, now Godliness, 1
Timothy 6, verse 6 to 8,
00:43:21.15\00:43:25.25
"Now Godliness with
Contentment is great gain.
00:43:25.26\00:43:30.73
For we brought
nothing into this world,
00:43:30.74\00:43:32.70
and it is certain
we carry nothing out.
00:43:32.71\00:43:36.36
And having food and clothing,
00:43:36.37\00:43:37.95
with these we shall be content."
00:43:37.96\00:43:41.14
Notice it
doesn't say a great gain
00:43:41.15\00:43:44.82
with Contentment is Godliness.
00:43:44.83\00:43:48.02
It doest say Contentment
with great gain is Godliness.
00:43:48.03\00:43:51.66
Right.
00:43:51.67\00:43:52.64
It doesn't say Godliness
with great gain is Contentment.
00:43:52.65\00:43:56.05
Right.
00:43:56.06\00:43:57.03
It says
Godliness with Contentment
00:43:57.04\00:43:59.02
be contently to be Godly
and the great gain will come.
00:43:59.03\00:44:02.95
Boy, people with a whole lot,
00:44:02.96\00:44:08.27
I think worry more than
people with a whole little,
00:44:08.28\00:44:11.28
if I'm using the
comparisons there.
00:44:11.29\00:44:12.99
But Contentment is
a thing, be Content.
00:44:13.00\00:44:15.75
When Paul was in prison,
when Paul was being lashed,
00:44:15.76\00:44:19.44
when Paul was being maligned,
00:44:19.45\00:44:21.70
he came up with this
phrase that is now a scripture.
00:44:21.71\00:44:24.45
And I believe God
inspired him to say that,
00:44:24.46\00:44:26.50
he says I have
learned in whatever state
00:44:26.51\00:44:30.38
or whatever
condition I'm in to be content.
00:44:30.39\00:44:33.92
Because in fact if
you are alive, you know,
00:44:33.93\00:44:36.56
we have Larry McLucas
always says, you know,
00:44:36.57\00:44:38.47
thank God for
another beautiful day.
00:44:38.48\00:44:40.37
And you know John
it took me a while
00:44:40.38\00:44:41.69
to get use to him saying that.
00:44:41.70\00:44:43.34
But that's the truth.
00:44:43.35\00:44:45.04
If you all have has
another beautiful day,
00:44:45.05\00:44:48.41
which means you
are above that ground,
00:44:48.42\00:44:50.14
that's a whole lot
to be thankful for it
00:44:50.15\00:44:51.89
and that's a lot of Contentment.
00:44:51.90\00:44:53.16
Yeah.
00:44:53.17\00:44:54.14
When you are
content, you are so much more
00:44:54.15\00:44:55.74
prone to being thankful.
00:44:55.75\00:44:57.98
Yeah! Because Contentment,
00:44:57.99\00:44:59.54
it comes from the
gratitude in the heart.
00:44:59.55\00:45:03.06
I put here Contentment
00:45:03.07\00:45:04.70
is the foundation
of happiness as well.
00:45:04.71\00:45:07.68
Now some people
try to find happiness
00:45:07.69\00:45:09.52
but I would say find Contentment
00:45:09.53\00:45:11.45
and you will be happy.
00:45:11.46\00:45:14.15
And it's also
Contentment is also
00:45:14.16\00:45:15.96
the antidote for complaining.
00:45:15.97\00:45:19.54
That's the good one,
that's the good one, boy.
00:45:19.55\00:45:23.92
Someone can always tell that,
00:45:23.93\00:45:25.51
we can always tell when
someone is unhappy when,
00:45:25.52\00:45:30.38
or bring the complaining
obviously they are unhappy,
00:45:30.39\00:45:32.81
but when they are doing
that they are unthankful.
00:45:32.82\00:45:37.02
You know, typically the
first thought you think of is,
00:45:37.03\00:45:40.24
boy they complaining a lot.
00:45:40.25\00:45:41.22
They are just not
thankful for anything.
00:45:41.23\00:45:42.54
Nothing goes
right in their lives.
00:45:42.55\00:45:44.24
I remember
going to the mall once
00:45:44.25\00:45:46.05
with somebody that
found fault in everything
00:45:46.06\00:45:49.33
and for the
record it is not my wife.
00:45:49.34\00:45:52.05
We enjoy
ourselves with the mall,
00:45:52.06\00:45:53.36
that's not who
I am referring to,
00:45:53.37\00:45:54.53
but I'm not gonna be specific.
00:45:54.54\00:45:56.55
It, John, was probably one
of the most difficult days,
00:45:56.56\00:46:02.36
I like going to the mall.
00:46:02.37\00:46:03.62
I'm one of those guys
that like going to mall.
00:46:03.63\00:46:05.93
But it was so
difficult that person
00:46:05.94\00:46:07.92
was critical about everything.
00:46:07.93\00:46:10.12
If somebody would
buy something to eat
00:46:10.13\00:46:11.88
they will complain
that they should need that
00:46:11.89\00:46:14.31
because of all the ingredients.
00:46:14.32\00:46:15.76
If somebody passed
by and had on something
00:46:15.77\00:46:18.39
they didn't like
that they complain
00:46:18.40\00:46:20.07
and it was like they were
analyzing the entire world,
00:46:20.08\00:46:23.76
and it was like they had no
00:46:23.77\00:46:25.85
spiritual mirrors of their own.
00:46:25.86\00:46:27.63
And I thought to
myself, you need,
00:46:27.64\00:46:29.96
you know, you need,
00:46:29.97\00:46:30.94
I don't know if you
have one of these or not
00:46:30.95\00:46:32.28
but you need a tape
recorder to carry around
00:46:32.29\00:46:34.21
with you all day long and
at the end of the play it.
00:46:34.22\00:46:37.84
And then this
is the only example
00:46:37.85\00:46:39.75
that you'll get of
what people have to deal
00:46:39.76\00:46:41.39
with that are around you.
00:46:41.40\00:46:43.23
You know, some people
need spiritual tape recorders
00:46:43.24\00:46:45.93
to hear themselves
complain, complain,
00:46:45.94\00:46:48.10
complain, complain,
because they are not
00:46:48.11\00:46:51.92
examining themselves,
and they are not looking
00:46:51.93\00:46:54.13
at the goodness of God.
00:46:54.14\00:46:55.49
So they are not content.
00:46:55.50\00:46:57.32
People that are not
content, like you said,
00:46:57.33\00:46:59.57
it's the end for
complaining, okay.
00:46:59.58\00:47:02.02
You know, anything to,
I just jotted down here
00:47:02.03\00:47:04.14
really quickly my notes.
00:47:04.15\00:47:05.35
We need to be content.
00:47:05.36\00:47:08.21
Let me say this,
we need to be thankful
00:47:08.22\00:47:10.15
and this is where
Contentment comes in.
00:47:10.16\00:47:11.40
We need to be thankful
00:47:11.41\00:47:12.38
for what God does not
give to us in our prayers.
00:47:12.39\00:47:16.92
Okay, I could shake your
hand, that's a great one.
00:47:16.93\00:47:19.72
Do you know what I'm
hearing, what I'm saying?
00:47:19.73\00:47:21.11
We need to be not
only content with that
00:47:21.12\00:47:23.87
but we need to be thankful
00:47:23.88\00:47:25.46
that God has not
given us things we ask for.
00:47:25.47\00:47:28.68
That's right.
Billy Graham's wife said
00:47:28.69\00:47:30.45
I'm thankful that God doesn't
always answer our prayers
00:47:30.46\00:47:33.18
because I would be
married seven times
00:47:33.19\00:47:34.64
before I married Billy Graham.
00:47:34.65\00:47:36.59
So you are right.
00:47:36.60\00:47:37.57
I mean that's very
good if God gave us
00:47:37.58\00:47:40.82
everything we ask for,
we would be in trouble,
00:47:40.83\00:47:45.10
because He sees
what we don't see.
00:47:45.11\00:47:47.34
Sometimes He says
don't worry about it
00:47:47.35\00:47:48.87
I will let you go
ahead and cry and might
00:47:48.88\00:47:50.29
that you don't get it.
00:47:50.30\00:47:51.63
But we are to thank God
00:47:51.64\00:47:53.20
for what we
don't have sometimes.
00:47:53.21\00:47:55.09
That's right, that's right.
00:47:55.10\00:47:56.07
We content that we don't
have it and thank Him for it.
00:47:56.08\00:47:58.36
That's right.
00:47:58.37\00:47:59.34
That's where
they both go together.
00:47:59.35\00:48:00.32
That's a good one.
00:48:00.33\00:48:01.73
All right, there is couple more.
00:48:01.74\00:48:03.00
Here, number four is Praise.
00:48:03.01\00:48:06.33
And I'm not, we are not
talking about coming to church
00:48:06.34\00:48:08.57
and praising God once a week.
00:48:08.58\00:48:10.74
That's right.
00:48:10.75\00:48:11.72
I'm talking about
living a life everyday
00:48:11.73\00:48:13.66
where you're praising God.
00:48:13.67\00:48:15.83
You know, I mean I'm
sure you've done this John.
00:48:15.84\00:48:18.81
I don't know where the
thought comes in the mind,
00:48:18.82\00:48:21.19
but I'm up there,
I'm on the platform
00:48:21.20\00:48:23.71
and I'm enjoying
the team or individual
00:48:23.72\00:48:26.81
whoever is leaving
out in the opening hymn
00:48:26.82\00:48:28.47
or the pray songs,
and I'm looking out there
00:48:28.48\00:48:31.60
and some people are
just singing on autopilot.
00:48:31.61\00:48:34.11
I like that.
00:48:34.12\00:48:36.00
It is... it's just the words.
00:48:36.01\00:48:39.61
There is feeling and emotion.
00:48:39.62\00:48:40.73
And then you see some
00:48:40.74\00:48:41.71
they just get,
their faces lit up.
00:48:41.72\00:48:45.56
They are praising God. Okay.
00:48:45.57\00:48:48.47
And now we can talk about that,
00:48:48.48\00:48:50.70
but let's go a step
further in that our life itself,
00:48:50.71\00:48:54.69
I think continually needs
to be a life of Praise to God.
00:48:54.70\00:49:00.42
There are times when
my wife or I would just,
00:49:00.43\00:49:03.93
in the moment somebody
pointed out Lord teach us
00:49:03.94\00:49:10.02
to live in the
moment, not for the moment.
00:49:10.03\00:49:14.27
But teach us to
live in the moment.
00:49:14.28\00:49:16.29
It makes a difference.
Some people are planning.
00:49:16.30\00:49:18.78
They are
planning, they are planning,
00:49:18.79\00:49:19.83
and when the
moment comes... ah, man,
00:49:19.84\00:49:22.27
if I can go back to yesterday.
00:49:22.28\00:49:23.83
Oh no, no, no don't sequester
00:49:23.84\00:49:27.07
your happiness to
yesterday or plan your happiness
00:49:27.08\00:49:29.94
for tomorrow live in the moment.
00:49:29.95\00:49:31.71
You can enjoy the
moment of planning,
00:49:31.72\00:49:34.04
because you won't get to
chance to plan for it again
00:49:34.05\00:49:36.03
and again they won't be
ahead of you this event again.
00:49:36.04\00:49:38.40
So enjoy the moment before it
actually happens even in time.
00:49:38.41\00:49:41.34
You can really, you are
right, enjoy the moment,
00:49:41.35\00:49:44.88
not looking for
the moment coming up.
00:49:44.89\00:49:48.56
Paul and Silas,
00:49:48.57\00:49:50.27
what were they doing
at midnight in prison?
00:49:50.28\00:49:52.78
They were praising God.
00:49:52.79\00:49:54.21
Praising God in prison!
00:49:54.22\00:49:57.43
That was probably one
of the first establishments
00:49:59.42\00:50:01.62
of prison ministry,
you know, praising God.
00:50:01.63\00:50:05.66
When Paul was, when
Peter was in prison,
00:50:05.67\00:50:10.29
he was there just
sleeping, not in anxiety.
00:50:10.30\00:50:13.95
But he knew
that there was prayer
00:50:13.96\00:50:15.37
being offered in his behalf
00:50:15.38\00:50:16.99
and God answered those prayer
and I have often talk about,
00:50:17.00\00:50:20.97
I will sometime
criticize the prayer
00:50:20.98\00:50:23.14
that the church offered
because they didn't believe
00:50:23.15\00:50:24.95
that God could
really let him out.
00:50:24.96\00:50:26.58
It was finally he
got to rode his house
00:50:26.59\00:50:27.94
they didn't believe it was him.
00:50:27.95\00:50:29.56
But the point of the matter
is Praise God in the moment,
00:50:29.57\00:50:32.77
not for the
moment, not Praise God
00:50:32.78\00:50:35.17
because the moment is coming,
00:50:35.18\00:50:36.61
but Praise God in the moment.
00:50:36.62\00:50:37.81
In the moment!
There are few verses here.
00:50:37.82\00:50:40.03
One from Hebrews 13:15,
00:50:40.04\00:50:43.27
"Therefore by Him
let us continually offer
00:50:43.28\00:50:47.07
the sacrifice of
Praise to God, that is,
00:50:47.08\00:50:50.51
the fruit of our lips,
giving thanks to His name."
00:50:50.52\00:50:54.31
Interesting, Praise is the food
00:50:54.32\00:50:55.94
of our lips giving thanks.
00:50:55.95\00:50:57.78
So there is a connection there.
00:50:59.43\00:51:00.99
A Grate from the
Grateful heart comes the praises
00:51:01.00\00:51:04.08
that we have to God, which
should be continually offered
00:51:04.09\00:51:07.53
as a sacrifice to Him.
00:51:07.54\00:51:09.07
It says in Hebrews 13:15.
00:51:09.08\00:51:11.94
And when you think
about Hebrews 13:15,
00:51:11.95\00:51:14.96
David, the Psalms talks about,
00:51:14.97\00:51:19.54
before I read what
he says in Psalms 100,
00:51:19.55\00:51:22.21
one of the
favorite Psalms of praise,
00:51:22.22\00:51:24.41
I try to figure
out why sometimes
00:51:28.11\00:51:30.80
people that are
locked in tradition
00:51:30.81\00:51:33.82
and understand
me as I set this up.
00:51:34.63\00:51:35.81
There are some
people who are content,
00:51:35.82\00:51:38.62
John I'm gonna, and
I'll get later on this
00:51:38.63\00:51:40.97
and I welcome that.
00:51:40.98\00:51:42.46
There are some people that
are content with just hymns
00:51:42.47\00:51:47.80
and they are
fearful of Praise music.
00:51:47.81\00:51:51.89
And they say hymns
and anthems is enough.
00:51:51.90\00:51:54.33
When you look at the
Bible and you look at the Psalms
00:51:56.86\00:51:59.26
all throughout the Praises
00:51:59.27\00:52:00.55
that are all
throughout scripture
00:52:00.56\00:52:02.27
Praises are
abundant in scripture,
00:52:02.28\00:52:04.71
and the children
of Israel Praised God.
00:52:04.72\00:52:07.15
They Praised Him
with strong voices.
00:52:07.16\00:52:09.93
They Praised Him
with instruments.
00:52:09.94\00:52:11.36
They Praised Him
with the symbols.
00:52:11.37\00:52:13.64
And they Praised Him with dance,
00:52:13.65\00:52:16.31
but not the kind of dance
that people get thrown off
00:52:16.32\00:52:18.53
track with, and
so don't, you know,
00:52:18.54\00:52:20.53
I understand what
they Praise meant.
00:52:20.54\00:52:22.04
It was not in church.
They won't dance in church.
00:52:22.05\00:52:24.71
But I tell you what, when
God delivers you some times,
00:52:24.72\00:52:28.89
you won't standstill
and say well, you know,
00:52:28.90\00:52:30.74
thank you Lord for
delivering me from that fire.
00:52:30.75\00:52:34.50
I think it was
gonna be kind of hot.
00:52:34.51\00:52:36.39
You know, you find
all the reasons to rejoice
00:52:36.40\00:52:38.41
and praise the Lord.
00:52:38.42\00:52:39.52
So let us and here is the
point that I want to make.
00:52:39.53\00:52:42.94
There are time Psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs
00:52:42.95\00:52:46.70
and praise songs, it's good.
00:52:46.71\00:52:50.12
And Ellen White says,
for those of you who know,
00:52:50.13\00:52:52.74
Ellen White, the
God's messenger says we must
00:52:52.75\00:52:55.53
educate our lips to Praise God.
00:52:55.54\00:52:59.17
It's okay in the
sermons sometimes
00:52:59.18\00:53:00.46
to say Praise the Lord.
00:53:00.47\00:53:02.35
Don't just limit
that to amen. Yeah.
00:53:02.36\00:53:04.03
Because there is
lot to Praise God for
00:53:04.04\00:53:05.57
and when we praise Him,
the blessings flow even more.
00:53:05.58\00:53:07.97
We are gonna try and wrap
this up really quickly here,
00:53:07.98\00:53:10.14
'cause we've got
one another one to do.
00:53:10.15\00:53:11.51
Just a couple of
thoughts, really quick,
00:53:11.52\00:53:12.96
Psalm 100 verse 4,
00:53:12.97\00:53:14.85
"Enter His gates
with thanksgiving,
00:53:14.86\00:53:16.25
and His courts with Praise,
00:53:16.26\00:53:17.54
Be thankful to Him,
and bless His name".
00:53:17.55\00:53:19.81
Okay read Psalm 30 verse 4.
00:53:19.82\00:53:21.22
Psalm 30, verse 4,
"Sing Praise to the Lord,
00:53:21.23\00:53:23.36
you saints of
His, and give thanks
00:53:23.37\00:53:25.17
at the
remembrance of His holy name."
00:53:25.18\00:53:27.44
Notice it's connecting
praise and thanks together.
00:53:27.45\00:53:29.49
That's right.
00:53:29.50\00:53:30.54
Frequently. I
like this thought here.
00:53:30.55\00:53:32.71
This is from
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing,
00:53:32.72\00:53:35.68
a guy who had a
lot of deep thoughts,
00:53:35.69\00:53:38.71
kind of spiritual
thoughts and he said,
00:53:38.72\00:53:40.15
a grateful thought toward
heaven is of itself a prayer.
00:53:40.16\00:53:43.93
I think that was kind of a
neat thought. It was sweet.
00:53:45.14\00:53:47.39
A grateful thought towards
heaven is itself a prayer.
00:53:47.42\00:53:51.96
Yeah. Now
something to think about.
00:53:51.97\00:53:54.35
The last one here
that we have in the five,
00:53:54.36\00:53:56.62
is Blessing
Others, Blessing others.
00:53:56.63\00:54:00.36
God intends His blessings
the ones He bestows upon us
00:54:00.37\00:54:03.40
to be passed on to others.
00:54:03.41\00:54:05.21
And I think the gratitude
we have for His blessings
00:54:05.22\00:54:07.70
is revealed in how we pour out
00:54:07.71\00:54:09.52
those blessings
back upon others.
00:54:09.53\00:54:11.63
I'm gonna read the scripture
to, from 2 Corinthians 9,
00:54:11.64\00:54:15.92
verses 9 to 12,
As it is written:
00:54:15.93\00:54:18.73
"He has scattered
abroad his gifts to the poor,
00:54:18.74\00:54:21.03
his
righteousness endures forever.
00:54:21.04\00:54:23.57
Now he who
supplies seed to the sower
00:54:23.58\00:54:26.12
and bread for
food will also supply
00:54:26.13\00:54:28.03
and increase your store
of seed and will enlarge
00:54:28.04\00:54:30.94
the harvest of
your righteousness.
00:54:30.95\00:54:32.79
You will be made
rich in every way
00:54:32.80\00:54:35.64
so that you can be
generous on every occasion,
00:54:35.65\00:54:38.61
and through us your generosity
will result", in what?
00:54:38.62\00:54:41.79
Thanksgiving to God.
00:54:41.80\00:54:44.67
This service that you
perform is not only supplying
00:54:44.68\00:54:47.37
the needs of God's
people but is also overflowing
00:54:47.38\00:54:49.71
in many
expressions of thanks to God.
00:54:49.72\00:54:52.95
Notice that by
giving, by blessing others
00:54:52.96\00:54:55.92
what's the result?
00:54:55.93\00:54:57.52
Many thanksgiving to God.
00:54:57.53\00:55:00.07
That's right, and you
know John when the Bible says
00:55:00.08\00:55:03.24
it's more blessed to
give than to receive.
00:55:03.25\00:55:05.24
I think one of the
reasons why we don't give
00:55:05.25\00:55:07.20
as much as we do
because we don't realize
00:55:07.21\00:55:09.06
how much God has given to us.
00:55:09.07\00:55:10.98
Just recently we had a
visitor at our congregation
00:55:10.99\00:55:14.09
in our church and we
blessed him with a gift
00:55:14.10\00:55:17.24
and he was
reluctant to receive the gift
00:55:17.25\00:55:20.49
and one of our
elder said, oh no, no, no
00:55:20.50\00:55:23.00
we are not gonna let
you rob us of our blessing.
00:55:23.01\00:55:25.30
Because it's more
blessed to give than to receive,
00:55:26.27\00:55:28.55
and here is the principle.
00:55:28.56\00:55:29.73
It is more blessed to
give, that's the fact,
00:55:29.74\00:55:31.99
but here is what the Lord says.
00:55:32.00\00:55:33.24
When you are person that
is so anxious to bless others
00:55:33.25\00:55:36.49
here is the promise, Luke 6:38,
00:55:36.50\00:55:40.53
"Give and it shall
be given on to you:
00:55:40.54\00:55:43.16
good measure, press
down, shaken together,
00:55:43.17\00:55:47.45
and running over will
be put into your bosom.
00:55:47.46\00:55:50.33
For with the same
measure that you use,
00:55:50.34\00:55:53.44
it will be
measured back to you again."
00:55:53.45\00:55:55.90
Amen. However you bless others.
00:55:55.91\00:55:58.40
God is gonna bless
you proportionately
00:55:58.41\00:56:00.65
and so you know, never worry.
00:56:00.66\00:56:02.22
If you wanna make
great returns make great
00:56:02.23\00:56:05.46
investments, but not
for the sake of the returns.
00:56:05.47\00:56:07.91
That's right.
00:56:07.92\00:56:08.89
Give out of a cheerful heart,
00:56:08.90\00:56:10.00
give expecting
nothing in return.
00:56:10.06\00:56:11.92
Ellen White calls that
Disinterested Benevolence.
00:56:11.93\00:56:14.79
The greatest blessing
comes when you give to somebody
00:56:14.80\00:56:17.04
who cannot afford
to give back to you.
00:56:17.05\00:56:19.28
And I think the gratitude
fits in there, in that.
00:56:19.29\00:56:22.07
You are grateful
for what God's given you
00:56:22.08\00:56:23.79
and you couldn't
allow someone else,
00:56:23.80\00:56:25.33
not also someone else
to not give that gratitude
00:56:25.34\00:56:28.28
back to God as well.
00:56:28.29\00:56:29.29
That's why, you know,
Paul speaks of by giving,
00:56:29.30\00:56:32.13
it multiplies thanksgiving.
00:56:32.14\00:56:34.50
That's right.
00:56:34.51\00:56:35.76
And I think when we hoard
it shows we are not thankful.
00:56:35.77\00:56:38.63
Yes, if you sow sparingly
you shall reap sparingly.
00:56:38.64\00:56:43.08
If you sow bountifully
you shall reap bountifully.
00:56:43.09\00:56:46.79
God loves the cheerful giver.
00:56:46.80\00:56:49.14
And so these five
points John, were great.
00:56:49.15\00:56:52.38
If you hear them real
quick what are they again,
00:56:52.39\00:56:54.71
Faith and Trust,
Patience, Contentment,
00:56:54.72\00:56:58.25
Praise, and Blessing Others.
00:56:58.26\00:57:01.26
Thank you for
putting this together.
00:57:01.27\00:57:02.42
This is wonderful
studying on Gratitude.
00:57:02.43\00:57:03.90
Praise the Lord.
00:57:03.91\00:57:04.88
Something we are not
often to think about.
00:57:04.89\00:57:05.98
Friends and you know,
we thank you for being
00:57:05.99\00:57:08.77
a supporter and
person who tunes into 3ABN.
00:57:08.78\00:57:11.81
We thank you for
giving the way that you have.
00:57:11.82\00:57:13.93
We thank you for
causing this ministry
00:57:13.94\00:57:16.98
and the word of God to
go throughout the world.
00:57:16.99\00:57:19.01
So today the
blessings you have received,
00:57:19.02\00:57:22.36
now turn around and
give those blessings
00:57:22.37\00:57:24.08
to somebody else and
whatever you have done
00:57:24.09\00:57:26.42
for other will be coming
back to you in great measure,
00:57:26.43\00:57:29.53
may God bless you as you
00:57:29.54\00:57:30.94
become a cheerful
giver in Christ. Amen.
00:57:30.95\00:57:34.43