God's gifts are real.
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We want to talk
about His gifts today.
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And maybe explain
and illustrate that
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through something that happened
in a beautiful, beautiful hotel.
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One of the most
beautiful hotels in Europe.
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This took place
in Bern, Switzerland.
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We'll be right back.
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God's gifts are
real and they're great.
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They're huge. It's amazing.
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The Holy Spirit
gives us gifts to live
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as Christians and to be useful.
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Here's something that is so big.
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In Ephesians 3, He says,
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he wants us to
comprehend with all the saints,
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something about
the width, and length,
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and depth of His love.
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He wants us have the
ability to comprehend,
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to have the
capacity to understand that.
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To know the love of
Christ, which passes knowledge
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that you maybe filled
with all the fullness of God.
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What an amazing
gift, His presence,
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His goodness, His love.
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And then the 20th and
21st verses of Chapter 3,
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"Now to Him who is able
to do exceeding abundantly
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above all that
you can ask or think."
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No matter what you imagine,
no matter what you ask for?
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God says, I have
something better.
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Is that all you can ask
for? I have something bigger.
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You're still coming to
the ocean with a teaspoon.
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I have something great.
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Bigger than we can ask or think
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according to the power of
the Holy Spirit working in us.
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To Him be glory in the church
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by Jesus Christ
through all ages.
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He is a God of
love. He's a God of power.
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And of great
and wonderful gifts.
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In the fourth
Chapter, it says that,
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"To each of us grace was given
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according to the
measure of Christ's gift.
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Therefore he says,
When he ascended on High,
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He led captivity captive,
and He gave gifts to men."
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It is His nature to give
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and His glory to
bless, that's our God.
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It's His nature to give.
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And that last verse
was Ephesians 4:7, 8.
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Our special guest today is
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Pastor Roy Rugless from Alabama,
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and you're also our
Director of Prayer Ministries
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in the five states.
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And let's see if I
can remember all those.
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Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Part of Florida, Mississippi.
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You got it.
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I was counting on my
fingers. You have it.
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So, Roy, how
does it make you feel
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when you read
verses like this about
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God's enormous
gifts for His people?
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The first question
that comes to my mind is,
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why do we need the gifts?
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There maybe people who are
listening out and says, okay.
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He gives gifts, so what
difference does it make?
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Do I really need
it? Do I really need it?
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And my response to that is this,
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if you
understand that God is love.
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And if you understand that
part of His love is giving.
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And if you look at
the Ten Commandments.
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And this is really,
really important, Ruthie,
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because there has
been a misconception
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about the Commandments.
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I believe that.
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People have said
that the commandments
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have been done away with.
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That's the Jewish tradition,
that's Old Testament stuff.
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We're not living under the law.
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We're living under grace.
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But if they really
understand the commandments,
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the commandments are
nothing more than love.
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Love to God, love to your
fellowman, that's all it is.
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If you look at the
first four commandments,
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if you love God, you won't
have any other Gods before Him.
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If you love God,
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you will not take His
name in vain and it goes on.
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And actually I believe
that the Ten Commandments
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are like a safety net or like
a fence at the top of a cliff.
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Okay. If we live by
those then the Lord,
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we understand the
character of God better,
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we understand Him
because he is speaking to us
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through that and
that's His character.
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That's His character
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and we are supposed to
assimilate His character.
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All right, so the
first four commandments
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deal with Love to God.
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The last six commandments
deal with love to our fellowman.
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If we love our fellowman,
we won't steal from him.
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If we love our fellowman,
we won't lie about him.
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And it goes on.
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Love to God,
love to our fellowman.
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And if we're
supposed to be like God,
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if we're
supposed to be with God,
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then we're
supposed to be like God,
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therefore I love
God, and I love fellowman.
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How do I demonstrate my
love then to my fellowman?
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By ministering to Him.
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Let me tell you
something, Ruthie.
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There is no way
that we can be like God
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or be with God
without doing God things.
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By that I mean, and by the way,
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I'm not talking about this
being a matter of salvation.
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I'm not talking about you
have to do things to be saved
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because we're saved--
that would never work,
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we're saved by
faith, grace in Christ.
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All right. That's bottom-line.
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We don't do things to be saved.
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We do things
because we are saved.
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That's right. If
we're saved individual,
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automatically love bounces
out of us in loving acts.
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There is no way, and
this is the first point
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that I want to make.
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There is no way that
we're going to be with God
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without doing things like God.
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Therefore we
have, we have a mission
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to do what God would have us
to do to reach out to others.
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I want to make that very clear
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because people
wants to think that, okay,
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all I have to do is accept
Christ as my personal Savior.
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And come to church,
get baptized and that's it.
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That is not it.
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We have been saved
to save. That's right.
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We have a
responsibility to reach...
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That's just the beginning.
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Beginning, it's
the commencement.
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We have been saved to save.
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And so therefore, I
have a responsibility
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and God understands that.
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And so when we go to our
word, why do we need gifts?
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Because God has a
work for me to do.
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That's right. All right.
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Now I don't know
how to do this work,
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don't worry about doing it.
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I will give you the
gift that enables you
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to be able to, isn't God good?
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And he matches the gifts
with our own personalities,
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he gives us things that
we are comfortable with.
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He doesn't want us to
stay in our comfort zone.
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He wants us to move
out of our comfort zone.
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And depend on him,
but he matches the gifts
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with something that
brings us fulfillment,
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and satisfaction, and joy.
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I want to tell you
story about a friend of mine.
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Something that happened
this was Dr. Michael Hussle,
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when he was 17, he had
family living in Europe,
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and so he went over there
at 17 and got a summer job.
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This was in Bern, Switzerland,
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the capital of
Switzerland and he said,
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I got a job at the hotel
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which is the most prestigious
in that whole country.
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It was right close to
the parliament buildings,
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and he said, if you
looked at the title of my job,
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it actually
translated only meant shoe.
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In other words he was a courier,
he just delivered things.
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But he got to wear a tuxedo,
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and he said, I
really felt at 17,
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like I was
having a fun summer job,
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because he said, I even
had a Swiss bank account.
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And, but one of the first things
that he discovered in this job
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at the very hotel was
that he had a supervisor
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who could be a
little overbearing.
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And one-- in
his first week there
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he called him into his
office, close the door.
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He said, do you see
that big stack of newspapers?
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I want to you to
carry them to all the guests
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and then there will be
about ten maybe left over.
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He said I want you to
give those to my friends
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down in the food
service department.
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He said the chef
expects this everyday
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and his assistants
and there are people there
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that just they're my friends.
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And I want you to be sure that
they get that those newspapers.
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Michael looked at him and
he said sir, I can't do that.
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I have just come
from an orientation class
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given by your superior,
who told us do not ever
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confuse the
amenities that are intended
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for the guests
with the employees.
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There is a big difference,
the employees are paid,
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the guests are given free
amenities, don't confuse those.
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So he said, I will
not be able to deliver
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these newspapers to
your friends, I'm sorry.
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Well, he looked at his boss,
who was getting angrier at,
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you know, every second.
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You could see the veins
sticking out on his neck,
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he was just you know, ready
to show Michael, who was boss.
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And Michael took the newspapers,
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smiled and walked
out of the office.
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He delivered the
papers came back with a stack
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and left them in the lobby.
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So he knew, I
mean, the boss knew
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because he could
see what he had done.
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Next day the same
thing happened, he said,
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Michael, you
disobeyed me deliberately,
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I want you, you know,
what you're supposed to do
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with those newspapers.
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Michael said, I know what
you want me to do with them
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but sir I can't do that.
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I cannot do that.
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I was told and I understand
my job by your superior,
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I can't do that.
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He smiled he walked
out, this happened Monday,
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Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, on Friday
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he called him
into his office again.
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And he said Michael, be
sure the door is closed.
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He said, now I
have a new position,
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a new job for you to do today.
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This afternoon I want
you take this envelope put it
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in the inside of
your coat and walk across
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the street to the
hotel, to the bank.
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He said it will have hundreds of
00:11:01.81\00:11:04.15
thousands of
dollars equivalent in U.S.
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And that is our
deposit I want you to do that.
00:11:08.55\00:11:11.09
That's your job
now every Friday.
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He said, there was
somebody from one of -
00:11:13.94\00:11:19.62
I think it's some
place in Saudi Arabia,
00:11:19.63\00:11:21.72
who had come with his family
00:11:21.73\00:11:23.49
and some of the
people on his staff
00:11:23.50\00:11:25.68
and they had rented a suite
of rooms and he told Michael,
00:11:25.69\00:11:31.43
he said, this would be
equivalent in your money.
00:11:31.44\00:11:35.05
He said they left this morning
and they paid their bill.
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The equivalent in your money
would have been about $40,000.
00:11:38.50\00:11:43.74
And he said so
the amount of money
00:11:43.75\00:11:46.42
that you've in
this envelope is huge.
00:11:46.43\00:11:48.83
We're trusting you
because I've discovered
00:11:48.84\00:11:51.71
that I can trust you.
00:11:51.72\00:11:52.78
Wow! I've discovered that you're
honest and you've integrity.
00:11:52.79\00:11:58.01
I believe Roy, that, that
is one of the gifts of God.
00:11:58.02\00:12:03.25
When you're being--when
you've given him your life.
00:12:03.26\00:12:08.07
And you've said,
Lord, I need you.
00:12:08.08\00:12:10.33
I need your Holy Spirit.
00:12:10.34\00:12:12.14
I need to be the kind of person
that will reflect who you are.
00:12:12.15\00:12:17.68
And I just need to
have you here with me,
00:12:17.69\00:12:21.33
to make me strong,
to give me the strength.
00:12:21.34\00:12:24.08
One of the gifts, I
believe that God gives
00:12:24.09\00:12:27.81
is strength of
character, honesty, integrity.
00:12:27.82\00:12:31.82
Let me take it a step further,
00:12:31.83\00:12:32.82
I want to piggy
back on that story.
00:12:32.83\00:12:34.85
Michael had valuables that
he was to take it to the bank.
00:12:37.70\00:12:42.81
That's right.
00:12:42.82\00:12:44.13
The Bible says that we
have this sacred treasure.
00:12:44.14\00:12:49.26
In earthen vessel.
In earthen vessels.
00:12:49.27\00:12:51.10
Clay vessels. Now,
watch this, watch this.
00:12:51.11\00:12:55.53
The sacred
treasure is the good news
00:12:55.54\00:13:00.98
that goes to the world
that tells people God loves you.
00:13:00.99\00:13:05.75
He demonstrated
that love on Calvary.
00:13:05.76\00:13:08.04
Amen. And He wants you saved.
00:13:08.05\00:13:09.85
Now think about
that, think about that.
00:13:09.86\00:13:13.97
These finite vessels of
ours that are laced with sin
00:13:13.98\00:13:19.74
and we are so inadequate.
00:13:21.05\00:13:24.69
That there is no way, we
could do this without Him.
00:13:24.70\00:13:26.98
So inconsistent. That's right.
00:13:26.99\00:13:29.24
So unreliable that He
would trust us to carry
00:13:29.25\00:13:34.72
such a valuable
and expensive mission.
00:13:34.73\00:13:39.66
A gift. I was
reading another quote,
00:13:39.67\00:13:41.96
where it was said that
God could have called angels,
00:13:41.97\00:13:47.12
true to the work
of giving this message
00:13:47.13\00:13:50.31
and it would have
been done years ago.
00:13:50.32\00:13:52.70
Sure. But he left.
00:13:52.71\00:13:53.82
And better. And better.
00:13:53.83\00:13:55.57
But left up to
us faulty, finite,
00:13:55.58\00:14:00.99
sinful, messed up human beings
00:14:01.00\00:14:03.96
on such an expensive errand
00:14:03.97\00:14:07.61
that we fumble over,
stumble over, refused to do.
00:14:07.62\00:14:11.92
We have a responsibility
and it just blows my mind
00:14:11.93\00:14:15.75
how God with such
a valuable treasure
00:14:15.76\00:14:19.79
of a message leaves it with us.
00:14:19.80\00:14:23.63
Amazing. It's amazing.
00:14:23.64\00:14:25.88
You know, there is another
little story in Allegory.
00:14:25.89\00:14:30.13
That says this, when
Jesus went back up to earth
00:14:30.14\00:14:34.27
after his resurrection,
after the ascension
00:14:34.28\00:14:38.05
that we see
take place in Acts 1.
00:14:38.06\00:14:41.96
The angels are there to
greet him and to meet him
00:14:41.97\00:14:45.35
and they're saying,
Jesus, what is your plan?
00:14:45.36\00:14:49.09
Now, you've given your life,
00:14:49.10\00:14:52.42
you've just done an
amazing thing on earth,
00:14:52.43\00:14:55.89
but what is your plan just
to carry on in your absence.
00:14:55.90\00:15:01.23
And Jesus smiles and
says, I've got the disciples,
00:15:01.24\00:15:05.79
I've got the people.
00:15:05.80\00:15:07.78
And the angels say to
him, what if they mess up?
00:15:07.79\00:15:11.73
And he says, I'm
giving them gifts.
00:15:11.74\00:15:15.31
That's my plan, I
have nothing else.
00:15:15.32\00:15:19.49
That's it. Isn't that something?
00:15:19.50\00:15:21.31
He trusts us. He trusts us.
00:15:21.32\00:15:23.45
And I believe he
gives us experiences
00:15:23.46\00:15:26.26
like Michael, had at the hotel.
00:15:26.27\00:15:28.78
Because that's
something tangible
00:15:28.79\00:15:32.18
and that is something that helps
us to see the greater things,
00:15:32.19\00:15:37.76
the spiritual lessons
that we can draw from this.
00:15:37.77\00:15:41.27
But Michael
couldn't have even done that,
00:15:41.28\00:15:43.53
without the power of the Lord.
00:15:43.54\00:15:46.68
But I don't want
us to miss the point
00:15:46.69\00:15:48.88
and this is what
also blows my mind
00:15:48.89\00:15:50.60
is that God has commissioned us.
00:15:50.61\00:15:54.02
Yes. To tell it. Yes.
00:15:54.03\00:15:56.38
Matthew 28 verses 18, 19, 20,
after Jesus, went up to heaven.
00:15:56.39\00:16:01.37
Just as he was
ascending he says,
00:16:01.38\00:16:03.30
all power I'm
going to give to you,
00:16:03.31\00:16:06.20
go, tell, baptize, that's
what we're supposed to do.
00:16:06.21\00:16:11.45
So how can we do this thing?
00:16:11.46\00:16:12.64
I don't know how to preach?
00:16:12.65\00:16:14.29
I don't how to teach?
I don't know anything?
00:16:14.30\00:16:16.13
And will give you
a gift. That's right.
00:16:16.14\00:16:17.83
Now the one thing we don't miss.
00:16:17.84\00:16:19.65
Two things I don't want to miss.
00:16:19.66\00:16:21.99
Everybody has a responsibility
to tell somebody about Jesus.
00:16:22.00\00:16:26.90
We may not be able to
tell it in the same way.
00:16:26.91\00:16:29.17
We may not be able
to use same vehicle.
00:16:29.18\00:16:31.25
But everybody
has a responsibility.
00:16:31.26\00:16:33.74
That's why when
you go to Ephesians 4,
00:16:33.75\00:16:36.25
it talks about how we
have the various gifts,
00:16:36.26\00:16:38.65
not everybody is
called to preach.
00:16:38.66\00:16:40.13
But there are some preachers,
there are some teachers.
00:16:40.14\00:16:42.92
The gift of honesty, it goes on.
00:16:42.93\00:16:45.63
What we need to do now, Ruthie,
00:16:45.64\00:16:48.06
is ask God, okay now God,
00:16:48.07\00:16:49.83
after we become
connected with him.
00:16:49.84\00:16:51.79
All right now,
God, show me my gift.
00:16:51.80\00:16:56.49
That's right. That's right.
00:16:56.50\00:16:58.50
Show me my gift?
00:16:58.51\00:16:59.99
And then after he shows you,
then empower me to use my gift.
00:17:00.00\00:17:05.14
I want to let you know,
there was a statement made
00:17:05.15\00:17:07.57
that there will be no
starless crowns in heaven.
00:17:07.58\00:17:10.26
I believe that.
00:17:10.27\00:17:11.24
Everybody's going to
have to trust somebody.
00:17:11.25\00:17:13.58
That's right.
00:17:13.59\00:17:14.78
And you know, Roy,
I have some friends
00:17:14.79\00:17:17.54
and you may know them too.
00:17:17.55\00:17:19.56
They're right here in
the State of Illinois.
00:17:19.57\00:17:22.35
Rod and Donna
Willey, he's a dentist,
00:17:22.36\00:17:25.22
but he's also a
pastor because he started
00:17:25.23\00:17:28.78
giving Bible
studies and then the,
00:17:28.79\00:17:32.02
he planted a church
because of his Bible studies.
00:17:32.03\00:17:36.27
But the Lord led
him to do something
00:17:36.28\00:17:40.28
that I think is
inspired, tremendous idea.
00:17:40.29\00:17:44.66
When they baptized people
and now they have a church
00:17:44.67\00:17:47.91
of about a hundred people.
00:17:47.92\00:17:49.48
And they have
spawned other churches
00:17:49.49\00:17:51.80
and planted other churches.
00:17:51.81\00:17:53.76
But when they baptize someone
00:17:53.77\00:17:55.79
and someone wants
to join the church.
00:17:55.80\00:17:57.98
He says, I'm going to
ask you two questions.
00:17:57.99\00:18:01.39
One is why do you want to
become a member of this church.
00:18:01.40\00:18:06.71
Do you love the
Lord? Do you know the Lord?
00:18:06.72\00:18:09.08
Do you understand what
it means to be his child?
00:18:09.09\00:18:12.68
And to be member of his body.
00:18:12.69\00:18:14.71
And the second question is what
are you going to do for him?
00:18:14.72\00:18:20.28
What is the gift that you're
going to give back to him?
00:18:20.29\00:18:24.49
Very important question.
00:18:24.50\00:18:25.68
He has given you gifts.
00:18:25.69\00:18:27.11
What gift of
service and ministry
00:18:27.12\00:18:29.70
are you going to
give back to him?
00:18:29.71\00:18:31.40
There was one
woman her name was Robin,
00:18:31.41\00:18:35.13
she was baptized and
she weighed 300 pounds
00:18:35.14\00:18:39.84
and she was in a wheelchair.
00:18:39.85\00:18:42.08
They said what gift
are you going to the Lord.
00:18:42.09\00:18:45.75
What ministry is
he calling you to do?
00:18:45.76\00:18:48.28
She said, I'm going to
begin a community service center
00:18:48.29\00:18:52.66
because you
aren't doing that here.
00:18:52.67\00:18:54.60
And they wondered they said,
00:18:54.61\00:18:56.03
this is impossible
for you in your condition.
00:18:56.04\00:19:00.07
But she said watch me,
she had been hospitalized
00:19:00.08\00:19:02.71
thirteen times the year before
00:19:02.72\00:19:04.40
because she really had
some serious health issue.
00:19:04.41\00:19:07.33
But she got
teenagers to help her,
00:19:07.34\00:19:09.68
they started a
community health service.
00:19:09.69\00:19:12.07
They've had many
baptisms because of that
00:19:12.08\00:19:15.26
and then her doctor
came to Dr. Rod Willey,
00:19:15.27\00:19:18.37
the dentist and he said
what are you teaching Robin,
00:19:18.38\00:19:21.69
changed her life.
00:19:21.70\00:19:22.89
She's lost a 100 pounds,
she is healthy, she is happy.
00:19:22.90\00:19:26.65
I want to know what
you are teaching her.
00:19:26.66\00:19:28.95
See how God's
gifts snowball. Yes.
00:19:28.96\00:19:32.21
But something else we
don't to miss, Ruthie.
00:19:32.22\00:19:35.21
Is that there are three integral
parts to our spirituality.
00:19:35.22\00:19:41.17
There is prayer. There
is a study of the word.
00:19:41.18\00:19:45.97
But it's also
witnessing. That's right.
00:19:45.98\00:19:47.77
And they cannot be
separated. That's right.
00:19:47.78\00:19:50.02
We can pray and we can
study. But if we don't witness.
00:19:50.03\00:19:55.52
We're missing all,
as a matter of fact,
00:19:55.53\00:19:57.26
if we don't
witness, we're not growing.
00:19:57.27\00:20:00.05
When one exercises,
he becomes stronger.
00:20:00.06\00:20:03.69
When you stop
exercising, you become weaker.
00:20:03.70\00:20:06.62
And so what needs to happen
is an exercise of our gift.
00:20:06.63\00:20:09.22
The mistake that
many churches make is that
00:20:09.23\00:20:12.61
when people
come into the church.
00:20:12.62\00:20:14.63
They sit, they
don't do anything.
00:20:14.64\00:20:16.84
That's why I like
what Dr. Willey is doing.
00:20:16.85\00:20:19.91
He is saying I want you know,
00:20:19.92\00:20:21.93
and when you have
to think that through,
00:20:21.94\00:20:23.88
this is why I
want to be a member
00:20:23.89\00:20:26.08
and this is what
God is leading me to do.
00:20:26.09\00:20:28.36
I like that, I
like that, I like that.
00:20:28.37\00:20:29.34
So what we do is that we
make people spiritually weak
00:20:29.35\00:20:33.10
because we don't
put them to work.
00:20:33.11\00:20:35.92
They don't
actively involve themselves.
00:20:35.93\00:20:39.38
So they're not
growing, they're not growing.
00:20:39.39\00:20:43.01
I was reading a quote in
one of my favorite books.
00:20:43.02\00:20:46.26
It was entitled "The Desire of
Ages" and the author says this.
00:20:46.27\00:20:50.45
When there is no active
labor for others, watch this.
00:20:50.46\00:20:55.79
Love wanes, our love decreases
00:20:55.80\00:21:00.06
and our
spirituality decreases as well.
00:21:00.07\00:21:02.25
So you're actually,
if you're not exercising,
00:21:02.26\00:21:05.45
if you're not ministering,
if you're not serving,
00:21:05.46\00:21:08.57
doing something for others.
00:21:08.58\00:21:09.67
You are depriving
yourself of spiritual strength.
00:21:09.68\00:21:13.25
Exactly. As well
as depriving others.
00:21:13.26\00:21:15.49
And let me tell
you something else.
00:21:15.50\00:21:17.32
We're gonna be held accountable
for what we could have done,
00:21:17.33\00:21:22.00
but failed to do.
00:21:22.01\00:21:23.90
Now God is not asking us to
do some insurmountable thing.
00:21:23.91\00:21:27.54
He is asking us to do
whatever He needs done
00:21:27.55\00:21:30.49
within our
parameter of influence.
00:21:30.50\00:21:33.30
That's right, that's
right. I believe that.
00:21:33.31\00:21:35.09
He doesn't ask us for more than
our five loaves and two fish.
00:21:35.10\00:21:39.30
Exactly.
00:21:39.31\00:21:40.28
He doesn't ask you to give
him something you don't have.
00:21:40.29\00:21:42.25
But use what you
have. That's right.
00:21:42.26\00:21:43.75
The little boy only
had five loaves, two fish,
00:21:43.76\00:21:45.94
that's what, that's all he had.
00:21:45.95\00:21:47.07
That's all God
needed. That's right.
00:21:47.08\00:21:48.65
But it was
multiplied. That's right.
00:21:48.66\00:21:50.61
And the more you use it.
00:21:50.62\00:21:52.36
The more becomes
stronger and it multiplies.
00:21:52.37\00:21:55.81
I like the thought
that we, He calls us to work
00:21:55.82\00:21:59.31
and we have to be
diligent and faithful
00:21:59.32\00:22:02.39
as if it all depended on us.
00:22:02.40\00:22:04.95
Yes. But knowing that
it all depends on Him.
00:22:04.96\00:22:08.16
That's what prayer goes.
00:22:08.17\00:22:09.55
You work as though
everything depends on you
00:22:09.56\00:22:12.50
but you pray as though
everything depends on him.
00:22:12.51\00:22:15.00
And you know, it
really does. Yeah.
00:22:15.01\00:22:16.09
But let me tell you this.
00:22:16.10\00:22:17.84
The devil knows
how important it is.
00:22:17.85\00:22:20.73
Once again I got to
get back to that statement
00:22:20.74\00:22:22.99
about the sacred
treasure in earthen vessels.
00:22:23.00\00:22:26.85
The devil knows how important it
is to get this sacred treasure,
00:22:26.86\00:22:30.94
this Gospel of the
good news out to others.
00:22:30.95\00:22:34.31
So what he does,
00:22:34.32\00:22:35.79
he tries in a variety
of ways to float back.
00:22:35.80\00:22:38.95
And one of the
things that he does to float
00:22:38.96\00:22:41.12
that is to put fear in hearts.
00:22:41.13\00:22:42.83
That's right. I'm
afraid to witness.
00:22:42.84\00:22:45.41
I'm afraid to testify.
I'm afraid to use my gift.
00:22:45.42\00:22:49.67
I've got to tell you something
00:22:49.68\00:22:50.74
because you have just
given me a perfect opportunity.
00:22:50.75\00:22:55.85
And you'll like this.
00:22:55.86\00:22:57.28
A friend of mine who
is a pastor in Tampa,
00:22:57.29\00:23:00.13
does all kinds of
things to reach out
00:23:00.14\00:23:02.41
into the
community and meet people.
00:23:02.42\00:23:04.77
And he said, so many times
people come into his office
00:23:04.78\00:23:08.36
and they'll say, Pastor
Steve, I'm afraid, I'm scared,
00:23:08.37\00:23:13.21
I just can't do this.
00:23:13.22\00:23:14.77
I am fearful.
00:23:14.78\00:23:16.29
And he says, I'm scared too.
00:23:16.30\00:23:18.58
Let's all go and
be scared together.
00:23:18.59\00:23:21.81
But let's do it.
Let's do it, let's do it.
00:23:21.82\00:23:24.30
So prayer.
00:23:24.31\00:23:27.65
First of all, if we recognize
that we have a responsibility
00:23:27.66\00:23:30.47
to our neighbor that God
has commissioned us to go.
00:23:30.48\00:23:34.75
That he has
given us gifts to go.
00:23:34.76\00:23:37.41
We've a responsibility
and he enables us.
00:23:37.42\00:23:41.65
Yes. He is with us. Yes.
00:23:41.66\00:23:43.10
And I like the
quote from the same book,
00:23:43.11\00:23:45.47
Desire of Ages,
that says angels rejoice
00:23:45.48\00:23:49.29
that they can use your lips.
00:23:49.30\00:23:50.47
Oh yes. Angels rejoice.
00:23:50.48\00:23:52.28
Yes. So you're not going alone.
00:23:52.29\00:23:53.95
Yes. And it's a privilege.
00:23:53.96\00:23:55.80
But now you put all
that together now and then
00:23:55.81\00:23:58.25
the devil comes in
with fear or doubt.
00:23:58.26\00:24:01.36
Just like Moses, when God
told him to go to Pharaoh,
00:24:01.37\00:24:04.76
God, Moses said, I
don't how to speak?
00:24:04.77\00:24:07.77
I don't know what to say?
00:24:07.78\00:24:09.08
I don't think
that made God happy.
00:24:09.09\00:24:10.74
I don't think that
made God happy, either.
00:24:10.75\00:24:12.52
He said well, you can have
Aaron, but that's not plan A.
00:24:12.53\00:24:15.30
I want to use you. That's right.
00:24:15.31\00:24:16.80
I want to use you.
00:24:16.81\00:24:17.81
And you know, later, you
look through the Book of Exodus,
00:24:17.82\00:24:21.83
the Lord gave Moses a backbone.
00:24:21.84\00:24:25.66
He gave-- Because you don't see,
00:24:25.67\00:24:27.62
you don't read any big
speeches being made by Aaron.
00:24:27.63\00:24:30.50
That's right. Moses
is the spokesperson.
00:24:30.51\00:24:32.69
Moses is the one that
steps forward. That's right.
00:24:32.70\00:24:35.12
And I think he is the
one who was the leader
00:24:35.13\00:24:37.67
that God ordained and appointed.
00:24:37.68\00:24:39.52
But let me show you,
00:24:39.53\00:24:40.51
let me show you the
other prayer thing now.
00:24:40.52\00:24:42.38
Once we realized
our responsibility.
00:24:42.39\00:24:44.88
Once we
understand our venerability
00:24:44.89\00:24:47.67
and our inability to do
what God has commissioned us
00:24:47.68\00:24:50.55
to do to save others, then
we go to our knees and pray.
00:24:50.56\00:24:55.88
We go to our knees
and praise him, my Lord.
00:24:55.89\00:24:58.45
I'm like a little child, I
don't how to go out or come in.
00:24:58.46\00:25:03.18
I don't how to do this stuff.
00:25:03.19\00:25:04.82
But I know that
you want me to do it.
00:25:04.83\00:25:07.18
And the love that
I have in my heart.
00:25:07.19\00:25:09.42
I want to go and help
others but you have to help me.
00:25:09.43\00:25:12.62
Yes. And as we pray
this, I guarantee you,
00:25:12.63\00:25:15.12
if you pray this
prayer sincerely.
00:25:15.13\00:25:16.56
I got to say this too.
00:25:16.57\00:25:19.64
I teach a seminar
on the Lord's prayer,
00:25:19.65\00:25:21.89
and part of the
seminar when I get,
00:25:21.90\00:25:24.67
deal with, give us
this day our daily bread.
00:25:24.68\00:25:27.09
We should be asking for
bread to give to others.
00:25:27.10\00:25:29.99
Yes. All right.
00:25:30.00\00:25:31.02
Now, I tell my
participants this.
00:25:31.03\00:25:34.16
I dare you to ask the Lord.
00:25:34.17\00:25:36.65
Lord, show me who You
want me to witness today.
00:25:36.66\00:25:40.89
Send someone my way. Yes.
00:25:40.90\00:25:42.86
I dare you to pray
that prayer. You know, why?
00:25:42.87\00:25:45.12
Because invariably if
you ask God to send somebody
00:25:45.13\00:25:48.70
your way who needs your mission
00:25:48.71\00:25:50.62
and your witness, he'll do it.
00:25:50.63\00:25:52.13
He will. Every time. He will.
00:25:52.14\00:25:54.38
Now Roy, I want to ask
you a personal question.
00:25:54.39\00:25:57.27
Yes, Ma'am. I want
to ask you a question.
00:25:57.28\00:25:59.80
We've been
talking about giftedness,
00:25:59.81\00:26:03.29
it's His nature to
give and His glory to bless.
00:26:03.30\00:26:08.53
What gifts has God given
you that you can identify
00:26:08.54\00:26:14.47
and know that those are
gifts from the Holy Spirit.
00:26:14.48\00:26:18.76
One gift that comes to my
mind is the gift of teaching.
00:26:18.77\00:26:21.48
Yes. I love to teach.
00:26:21.49\00:26:23.20
And I've seen that here today.
00:26:23.21\00:26:26.11
You're teaching us
all, that's a gift.
00:26:26.12\00:26:28.42
Another gift is the
gift of preaching. Yes.
00:26:28.43\00:26:30.71
Oh, I love to preach.
You're a good preacher.
00:26:30.72\00:26:32.87
I've heard you preach.
You never heard me preach?
00:26:32.88\00:26:35.34
I did. I did.
00:26:35.35\00:26:36.78
You heard me preach? I did.
00:26:36.79\00:26:38.77
You preached at
the prayer retreat
00:26:38.78\00:26:41.00
we had down in Mississippi.
00:26:41.01\00:26:43.86
Did I preach there? Oh,
you preached. I tell you.
00:26:43.87\00:26:46.62
And that was just a seminar.
00:26:46.63\00:26:47.88
Oh, you were
preaching up a storm.
00:26:47.89\00:26:50.48
I tell you, it was good.
00:26:50.49\00:26:52.12
Another gift is the
gift of administration.
00:26:52.13\00:26:54.70
Organizing. I like organizing.
00:26:54.71\00:26:56.34
You're, yes, you're
organized. I try to do that.
00:26:56.35\00:26:58.92
And the list goes on.
00:26:58.93\00:27:00.53
But here is the
ultimate thing would be,
00:27:00.54\00:27:02.20
here's the ultimate thing.
00:27:02.21\00:27:04.63
The ultimate thing is that with
the gifts that God has given us,
00:27:04.64\00:27:10.47
ultimately it goes
back to God. That's right.
00:27:10.48\00:27:13.85
He wants us to use our gifts
for his honor and glory. Amen.
00:27:13.86\00:27:17.92
So all of the things
that I just enumerated to you.
00:27:17.93\00:27:20.52
If I'm able to
preach, if I'm able to teach,
00:27:20.53\00:27:23.40
if I'm able to administrate,
whatever that maybe,
00:27:23.41\00:27:26.54
I give it all back to him.
00:27:26.55\00:27:28.09
Amen. Amen.
00:27:28.10\00:27:30.18
Well, Roy, it has been
so good to have you here.
00:27:30.19\00:27:33.14
My pleasure, my pleasure.
Thank you for being here.
00:27:33.15\00:27:35.30
And I want to say, it's
been good to be with you too.
00:27:35.31\00:27:38.39
And it's true.
00:27:38.40\00:27:39.78
When use your
gifts, God surprises you,
00:27:39.79\00:27:43.13
he gives you such
joy and such excitement,
00:27:43.14\00:27:46.52
and everyday is
a new fulfillment
00:27:46.53\00:27:49.67
of the out working
of his Holy Spirit.
00:27:49.68\00:27:52.68
Because his, he tells you,
I've plans and they're good.
00:27:52.69\00:27:56.06
A woman in California tells
us that she goes out everyday
00:27:56.07\00:27:59.67
and her life has become
so full and so exciting.
00:27:59.68\00:28:03.19
So I just want to challenge
you, pray, ask the Lord,
00:28:03.20\00:28:06.15
show me my gifts and use me.
00:28:06.16\00:28:08.20
God bless you.
00:28:08.21\00:28:09.81