Participants:
Series Code: IAA
Program Code: IAA000412
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00:01 Are you a single person,
00:03 and desire to surrender to God? 00:04 Stay with us, we'll be right back. 00:32 Welcome to Issues and Answers. 00:33 My name is J.D. Quinn. 00:36 We're gonna take our scripture today 00:37 from Colossians 2, 8 through 10. 00:40 "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy 00:44 and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, 00:47 according to the basic principles of the world 00:50 and not according to Christ. 00:52 For in Him Christ dwells 00:55 all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, 00:57 and you are complete in Him, 01:00 who is the head of all principality and power." 01:03 As I mentioned earlier we're gonna be talking about 01:05 the single person and surrendering to God. 01:09 Our expert guest today is Pastor Greg Jackson. 01:14 Welcome to "Issues and Answers." 01:15 Thank you, good to be here. 01:17 Tell our audience a little bit 01:18 about yourself, Pastor Greg. 01:21 I have been in the ministry for 31 years. 01:24 I'm Adventist educated, 01:27 graduated from Oklahoma College in 1978. 01:30 I'm married to Marilyn Jackson for 14 years. 01:33 We have five children, five grand children. 01:36 I'm now pastoring the Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church 01:39 in the Allegheny West Conference. 01:42 And I think that pretty much covers it. 01:44 Amen, amen. 01:47 Do you know that you're a busy man, 01:48 because not only do you have your church 01:50 that you pastor, but you're also put on retreats, 01:54 seminars, camp meetings and et cetera. 01:56 Yes. So busy, busy, busy. 01:58 And you have found time to read, 02:00 to write a couple of books. 02:02 One of the books that you have written is 02:03 "How surrender makes marriage happier, 02:06 divorce a blessing, the single life fulfilling." 02:09 And I've read most of these book 02:10 and I did really enjoy it. 02:13 Now according to your book and one of these chapters, 02:16 you talk about is, you talk about the hope and the comfort 02:20 that the people that are single can have. 02:24 Can you go more into that? 02:26 Well, the hope and the comfort basically comes from, 02:28 what-- you know what I see it in the text 02:31 that you read in Colossians 2:8 through 10, 02:34 where it says, you know, don't be spoiled, 02:37 or fooled by the philosophy of this world traditions 02:41 and the rudiments of this world, 02:43 the teachings in the way even the way we feel. 02:46 As if we can find fulfillment 02:49 and anything other than Christ. 02:51 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. 02:54 And in Him we are complete, 02:55 and basically we have been spoiled or fooled 02:58 or duped by the traditions of this world 03:01 and by our nature, human nature. 03:06 That, you know, it's we're always looking 03:12 for fulfillment in someone or some human being 03:18 or some activity or some material thing. 03:22 And the fulfillment that we're looking for, 03:25 the completeness that we're looking for is in Jesus. 03:27 And we're even told, even sometimes 03:30 a church backs it up-- if not directly 03:35 in the way we imply, that unless you're married 03:39 or in a relationship with some other person 03:44 you're really not complete. 03:45 You really can't be complete that way. 03:48 And even though that's the way we feel naturally, 03:55 it's not the truth and when we step out of faith 03:58 we can really find that in Christ 04:01 and in Him alone, Him alone. Amen. 04:04 Can we find the fullness of all our needs 04:09 and desires met, that we can be complete in Him, 04:12 is this hard for us as humans to grasp that? 04:16 Yes. So a person can be single 04:19 as Paul was. Yes. 04:22 You know, a person can be single 04:24 and if Jesus is the sinner of their life, 04:26 the focal point of their life, 04:29 then there can be completeness there. 04:31 That's right. 04:32 Or during your walk on this earth, 04:35 you find someone that their priorities 04:38 and your priorities are the same through Jesus Christ. 04:41 Then you could be happy there. 04:43 The key is, is that you're in God's will. 04:48 And God, that is not to say God doesn't want 04:51 all of us to have a mate, because God is the one 04:52 that came up with the concept of marriage 04:55 and the institution of marriage. 04:56 But because of sin everybody's not gonna get married. 05:00 And what makes marriage happy? 05:03 That's why I say in my book, 05:05 what really what gives the married couple 05:09 the ultimate happiness is they're being in Christ will 05:13 and the Christ in them, 05:16 and they share that one with another. 05:17 That's the same thing that it's true 05:20 for the single person. 05:22 The key to my happiness and my wife knows 05:25 this and it doesn't take offense 05:26 and the key to her happiness. 05:27 My wife found her happiness in the Lord 05:31 before she knew me. Amen. 05:33 I found my happiness in the Lord before I knew her. Amen. 05:36 And it was the Lord's will that we come together 05:37 and because we're in that will, 05:39 we're enjoying each other's company. 05:42 If we were not in the will, 05:45 I'll come in together wouldn't be happy 05:47 even as many marriages testify to 05:51 the majority of marriages end in failure 05:53 and those that are together 05:55 most of them are very unhappy. 05:57 So marriage is not the key to our happiness 06:00 and our fulfillment, Jesus Christ is. 06:04 And when we have that, then marriage is beautiful 06:08 just as well as any other existence, 06:10 as Paul says, "I've learned 06:12 how to be content in whatever state 06:14 I found myself for in Christ, 06:16 I can do all things." Amen, amen. 06:19 I know that in your book you talk about 06:22 that it's hard for us humans to accept the truth 06:28 about being single and about being 06:31 what the Lord is saying here 06:33 that we're complete in Him. 06:36 So can you go into that a little bit? 06:38 Yes, because I tried to be as practically as possible, 06:42 because there is one thing to say, 06:44 you know, we can be complete in Christ. 06:47 And, you know, I've had to deal with that myself, 06:50 having gone through a divorce 06:53 and having been singled before being married. 06:57 And being single during the marriage 07:00 and maybe we can get into that to some degree 07:02 because, you know, that's the worst way to be single, 07:05 while you're still married. 07:08 And then I've been single after divorce. 07:11 So I know how that single, that single loneliness 07:16 and other issues of singleness can be. 07:18 And I've also found that in Christ, 07:22 truly we can be complete. 07:23 And that's something that's hard because 07:28 we are not born connected to Jesus Christ. 07:33 We're born disconnected, that's what sin is. 07:38 And so those needs that Jesus only can meet, 07:44 we don't realize that because 07:47 we've never experienced it like that. 07:49 All we've ever experienced is 07:51 a human being meeting those needs.S 07:53 When we came to this world, 07:54 our mother was the first one, 07:56 you know, most times 07:57 that we receive that nurturing form, 08:00 but if we look back on it, 08:02 the more the mother was in contact with God, 08:04 the better the nurture. Amen. 08:06 So the nurture that really was God 08:09 nurturing us through our parents. 08:12 And we receive the love of God. 08:15 And the goodness of God through people, 08:20 and I put it like here's one of the sayings that I have. 08:25 "Everybody enjoys the love of God, 08:30 whether they know God or not. 08:32 They enjoy and are benefited by the love of God. 08:37 Because the things we enjoy through people 08:41 are really the image of God on married in people. 08:44 What I enjoy about my wife is the love 08:49 that is pure from God that's-- 08:54 and what you enjoy for me is that kind of love. 08:55 When myself interest love 08:57 comes in me, that hurts here. 08:59 You know, 'cause I'm getting what I can out of it. 09:02 What really blesses her is that image of God 09:07 that is still there that ministry, 09:10 and more that image's restored, 09:14 the more she is blessed and vice versa. 09:18 So what we really enjoy is God's love through people 09:22 even when we enjoy them is really God's love. 09:25 And what I've come to find 09:28 that if I can enjoy the love of God 09:32 through faulty vessels. 09:35 How much more can I enjoy God as love? 09:39 That means, go straight to the source 09:42 and receive it untainted. 09:44 And that's the learning process was because 09:47 we're not born with that. 09:49 And we don't know that, that's the step 09:50 and a leap of faith really. 09:54 And so when we first hear that kind of thing, 09:58 it's hard for us to relate to, 10:01 hard for us to accept because we don't feel it, 10:05 it is not natural for us. 10:07 We've never experienced it, we haven't seen it, 10:09 I have not seen, you have not heard 10:12 neither has it entered into our mind. 10:14 What God can do for us 10:16 and what He has prepared for us? 10:17 But if, and that's the quote 10:19 from First Corinthians 2 Chapter, 10:23 but it says in verse 9, but in verse 10 it says, 10:28 "But He reveals it through His Spirit." 10:30 And so what I deal with is the things that will help us 10:37 begin to relates spiritually 10:39 because the Bible says, 10:40 "Spiritual things are spiritually discerned." 10:43 To the natural man it's foolishness. 10:46 You know, that sounds good, 10:49 but that's not real, you know, 10:52 and I'm a realist, that's, you know, 10:54 and that's natural, that's true 10:55 when you're natural. 10:56 It is only as you deal with the spirit 10:59 that you can experience it. 11:01 So I deal those practical things 11:03 that help us to get spiritual, 11:06 that help us grow in the spirit 11:09 and so I have four things that, 11:12 I say we must do 11:13 and I talk about in that chapter 2, 11:14 really began to experience that the four-- 11:17 And what are those four things? 11:19 The four things are, first of all accept the truth. 11:24 Then the second thing is fight the fight of faith. 11:28 The third thing is be patient. 11:32 And the fourth thing is put first things first. 11:35 And I'll go through each one of those, 11:37 you know, and that is accept the truth, 11:41 that's the first thing. 11:43 The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6, 11:47 "Without faith it's impossible to please God." 11:49 And then it defines what faith is, 11:51 it says, for He that come as a God 11:53 must believe that He is. 11:56 And very seldom do we really break that down. 11:59 Believe that He is, so we often times 12:02 believe that this person is, the situation is, 12:07 I am, I know what's best for me 12:10 and if I can just get this, Lord, 12:12 you know we believe we know what's best 12:14 and we believe that somebody else has, 12:16 but we must believe that He is. 12:19 He's the source. 12:20 He knows what it is if we just get to Him. 12:24 If we can just get in 12:25 connection with Him, we'll find it. 12:28 When we believe that we seek Him 12:29 with all our heart, mind, body, and soul, is not. 12:34 You see when I believe that only in Jesus 12:37 I'm gonna find what I'm looking for, 12:39 then I seek Him with intensity. 12:41 When I think I can find that in any other source, 12:43 that's what I seek out. 12:44 I may pray to God, but I'm not praying to God 12:46 to get close to Him. 12:47 I'm not praying to God to get His will. 12:49 I'm praying for God to use His power to do my will. 12:54 And we call that faith. 12:56 And we call that surrender, but it really isn't that. 12:59 It is only when we believe that He is, 13:03 and that He is a rewarder of them 13:06 that diligently seek what they think they need. No. 13:11 That diligently think what they think 13:12 that the promise in the Bible said, 13:15 well, that's almost here, but no, 13:17 because often times we misinterpret. 13:20 But diligently seek Him because 13:22 we're convinced that He knows me 13:24 better than I know myself. 13:26 He knows not only best from me, 13:28 but He knows how to satisfy the desires of my heart. 13:31 And if I just seek His will 13:33 and get in His will, I'm gonna find 13:35 the desires of my heart satisfy 13:37 that's what He promise us. 13:39 And if we believe that, 13:41 then we seek Him like that and that's when we find Him. 13:45 You know, and truth is different things 13:47 for different people. 13:49 You know what I mean, 13:51 to some people truth is not centered on, 13:55 focused on Jesus. Yes. 13:57 How would you, in 25 words or less, 13:59 tell someone that was not satisfied with their life? 14:06 But there is another truth in them. 14:09 You know, in the name of Jesus, 14:11 and do they get on to their knees, 14:12 do they ask Him to come into their life, 14:13 what do they do? 14:15 I'm not quite sure if I understand 14:16 that question, but I tell you this. 14:18 If a person doesn't believe in Jesus, 14:23 there's not too many things you can tell Him, 14:25 because you don't have a common base. 14:27 I don't try to convince people 14:28 who don't believe in Jesus, 14:29 the best thing I can do for them is live it. 14:32 When they see my life, and they see you see, 14:35 you can argue with facts. 14:39 I make a difference between facts and truth. 14:41 Fact is the Seventh-Day of the Sabbath. 14:43 The truth is that you can only find 14:45 rest in Jesus Christ, 14:46 that that day is a symbol of and a sign of. 14:49 But, you know, 14:50 that's another whole issue right there. 14:52 Many people have facts, but they don't know truth. 14:55 People can argue with facts, 14:57 but they don't want to argue with a lie. 14:59 And if your life shows the goodness of God. 15:04 They can't refute that, and most times don't want to. 15:07 When they see that, that breaks down every barrier, 15:09 then they begin to open up and ask you. 15:12 And then they hear him because 15:13 they've already seen it. 15:15 And that's it, so I don't try to convince people. 15:18 I just live it. Amen. 15:20 Number two is fight. The fight of faith. 15:24 First of all let me just go back to accept the truth. 15:29 You know, that seems like a elementary thing, 15:31 but most time we don't wanna accept the truth. 15:33 To accept the truth that I can 15:35 find my full completeness in Jesus Christ 15:37 is not a truth that we really by nature want to accept. 15:41 I remember when God first put that to me 15:43 when I was going through my process of divorce, 15:46 when I was still in the marriage 15:47 and I felt that this is wrong 15:49 and this person never is gonna make me happy, 15:52 I need to get out of this 15:53 if I'm gonna find happiness, 15:54 but I can't get out of it 15:55 'cause that does not please the Lord. 15:57 And, you know, I was just in a cycle of misery. 16:00 And when, and I asked the Lord 16:03 is there any out of this. 16:05 And He say, "Yes," and I say what? 16:08 I mean, now I said He said, 16:09 I mean not like it, He's the thoughts in my mind. 16:11 And so how do know that's God? 16:12 Because I don't think like this. 16:14 My mind says, get out and get out now. 16:17 You know, but the Lord was saying, 16:19 you know, I'm the way out. 16:21 I said, well, Lord now, you know, 16:22 I know you, I serve you, I love you, 16:25 I'm ready to be a minister, I know, 16:27 but I'm still hurting. 16:28 So it's got to be more than that. 16:32 And that's why I wrote this book on surrender, 16:34 because he let me know. 16:35 No, Greg, not to the depth 16:37 that I'm talking about. 16:40 You really have been depending on me, 16:42 you've been depending on her. 16:44 And, you know, he had to turn 16:45 that and so-- I don't have time, 16:47 I meet, or we'll have time 16:48 to get in that another time. 16:49 But basically, bottomline I had to 16:51 come to the point where I accept it, 16:52 because first I didn't want to accept it? 16:54 I said, no, I don't want it like that. 16:56 I don't want it from you, 16:57 I want it from another human being. 16:59 Because, you know, I said it to Lord, 17:01 I don't want you to be my woman. 17:03 I don't want that, I want a real woman. 17:06 And I can understand that and I can't explain 17:09 how God can be that to you 17:10 because and God didn't try to explain it to me. 17:12 All I had to be is wiling to accept it. 17:15 And so that was a big hurdle for me 17:17 and I had to pray, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. 17:21 Help me because I don't believe it 17:24 and I don't want to believe it, 17:26 because I could see myself being by myself 17:28 for the rest of my life, 17:29 we get all these connotations. 17:30 But I came to realize, you know what, 17:32 as I found living Christ, 17:34 He really wouldn't have matter. 17:35 But God is good God, 17:37 He's a prodigal Father and He says, 17:38 Greg, the whole reason I won't do it 17:39 is because I can't find anybody 17:41 that's really gonna make you, give to you, 17:44 but if I can find that, we're gonna hook it up 17:46 because that's my desire for you. 17:48 So you don't have to be afraid of that, 17:50 but what he does is empower you to find happiness 17:52 in whatever state until and unless you can do that. 17:55 So I don't have to be miserable 17:57 wanting for more while he's working it out. 18:01 I can satisfied and if it never happens so what? 18:04 But if it does, beautiful. 18:05 And he has and so I'm enjoying it, 18:08 but I got to the place where I say, Lord, 18:10 I can do this till you come, I'm good. 18:13 Matter of fact he had to talk to me 18:14 and convince me after I get out, 18:15 when we brought that message in 18:17 that I needed to do it again. 18:19 And I say, well, Lord, I'm pretty, 18:20 I don't want to, you know, 18:21 if-- well, the Lord said okay, 18:23 we can work with this and you know. 18:24 So we worked that, sort of accepting that, 18:26 then fighting the fight of faith 18:27 because your human nature everyday, says, "No," 18:31 and you have to fight that. 18:32 And fight it with prayer, 18:33 the fight of faith to continue to believe 18:35 and so you keep going back to the Lord. 18:36 Every time that feeling comes back, 18:38 because I don't care 18:39 if you're in a good relationship, 18:40 you're gonna feel unloved sometimes. 18:43 You're going to feel unhappy sometimes. 18:46 I don't care how well you-- 18:47 how good your marriage is, you're gonna feel 18:49 that because that's our human flesh. 18:52 So you have to do that whether you're married 18:53 or whether you're single, it doesn't matter. 18:56 So when that feeling comes, it's a lie. 18:58 And I have to fight the fight, 18:59 so I'll go with, I'll fight it through prayer. 19:01 Lord, you know how I'm feeling, 19:02 work with me, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. 19:05 Be patient is the next thing. 19:07 Because it tells in Galatians 6, 19:12 "Be not deceived, God is not mock" 19:15 you know, if you've been sowing to the flesh, 19:17 you reap of the flesh, 19:18 so of speech reap everlasting life. 19:20 Now all these years have been sow into the flesh, 19:21 because I've been depending on flesh to satisfy. 19:24 I've been believing that for years and years 19:26 and so I was deep in, within my pores, 19:30 it's in my nature. 19:31 So I start sowing to the spirit by faith 19:35 believing that He can do it. 19:36 Well, you know, what happens is God says, 19:39 "Okay, you keep on sowing," 19:40 and the process works much faster going to, 19:44 but it doesn't, it's not like 19:47 Dorothy's shoes in the Oz, 19:48 when she click them together 19:50 now you're in Kansas, you know, 19:51 everything is beautiful. 19:53 When you start, it gets better immediately, 19:55 but it's still, you know, 19:56 you've been sowing to that fresh for years. 19:58 So you know I started off praying away 20:01 and I had peace but it will leave, 20:04 it wouldn't last as long 20:05 and I had to pray a little longer again. 20:07 But the more I did it. 20:09 I had to pray less long and my peace lasted longer, 20:12 you know. And I like I say 20:14 even when you're-- even when you are marriage, 20:18 you're gonna have to do this even in your marriage. 20:20 That's why unless and until 20:22 you deal with surrender you're really not, 20:24 you're really not really ready 20:26 to be the kind of meet that person needs. 20:29 And that God wants you to be. 20:30 So, so, so as I did that more and more, 20:34 I found God's peace more, 20:35 I grew more and more in the spirit 20:37 and after awhile, to God I said, 20:39 you know what, Lord, if you want me to stay 20:41 in this marriage for the rest, I can do this. 20:44 If not, you know, and He saw 20:46 fit to end it in His time, His way. 20:49 But I was good whatever way he wanted to go. 20:52 And that's one thing I would like to say 20:53 to people who are in the throws of divorce 20:58 and the process of divorce 20:59 something I dealt with in another setting 21:02 we had previously. 21:05 I would like to let them know that, 21:07 really the answer God may work it, 21:10 but don't think the solution is divorce. 21:13 Because even if that works out, 21:15 if you haven't really dealt with the Lord, 21:17 you're still in problem, you're still in pain. 21:19 And you're just going to be in pain 21:21 and take that to the next relationship, 21:23 that's gonna to be more problems. 21:24 Just take that baggage to the next level. 21:25 You have to, that's right. 21:26 So you need to deal with that regardless. 21:30 And so you know, what I encourage people do, 21:33 is deal with that before you make 21:34 a decision on divorce. 21:35 Because you're getting ready to make 21:36 one of the important decisions 21:38 that will impact your life in such a powerful way. 21:41 You're gonna make that decision 21:42 while you're hurting. 21:43 You need some healing, you know. 21:45 And you're gonna have to do this anyway. 21:47 So do it before and if you feel like that, 21:49 you know as you beginning every year, 21:51 and as you're going along, you feel like. 21:52 Then didn't make it, you know, 21:53 that's between you and the Lord. 21:55 But do this and, and because 21:58 that is really what you need. 21:59 We think, if I'm just get out of this divorce, 22:03 my pain, I get out of the misery, 22:04 no you can't, no you won't. 22:07 You'll create a new set of pain, 22:08 a new set of miseries that you're going to 22:11 have to go to the Lord to dissolve anyway. 22:14 And God may-- you may not have to even deal with that 22:18 if you go to Him now. 22:20 And then even if you do, 22:21 if you go to Him now you'll be ready for what. 22:24 And you know, of course 22:25 when the Lord ended my first marriage, 22:27 or allowed it to come to an end, 22:30 I was at peace to the whole process 22:32 and that's what I shared in the book. 22:33 I was at peace, because I had 22:35 surrendered to the Lord and I said, Lord, 22:37 I will stay in this thing until-- 22:39 and I even and for me that was a huge step, 22:41 I even grew to the place where I worked to save it. 22:48 And I have to even, I was the first one 22:49 to want it out, and help get my wife to where she was. 22:53 Because of where and I, you know, 22:55 like I say, hopefully we'll be able to 22:59 get to my testimony on that. 23:01 But the key was I had to 23:05 fight the fight of faith and I had to be patient 23:07 and I saw it going. 23:08 And then last thing, put first thing first. 23:13 The Lord says, "Seek first the kingdom of God 23:15 and His righteousness." 23:16 And all these other things 23:17 you're worried about I add them to you. 23:20 As I got busy just doing the Lord's will, 23:23 focusing on being what he really wanted me be-- 23:27 instead of focusing on trying to be happy, 23:31 trying to be fulfilled. 23:33 I focused on just Lord, what is it you want, 23:36 and I want it today, I wanna do your will. 23:39 God makes us happy, God makes us fulfilled. 23:44 And the Bible says, 23:45 and this is the conundrum that we face. 23:48 And this is one of the spiritual things and so. 23:49 Because they're just the opposite 23:51 from what we are naturally, 23:52 because we're sinful naturally, He's spiritual. 23:55 And spiritual things are foolish, 23:57 because they're totally different. 23:59 Sin has reversed everything. 24:02 To us, righteousness is reversed 24:05 but it's true, it's the truth. 24:06 We're the ones that are whack. 24:09 And it tells us that he that seeks happiness shall lose it. 24:16 But he that lose it for my sake shall find it. 24:19 When I try and my focus is, 24:21 I want to be happy and I seek that, 24:26 because self is in the way, 24:28 flesh is in the lead, the way I feel, 24:31 the way I see things, the way I understand 24:33 and the way, you know, all of that is leading 24:36 and I pray and we think that's spiritual. 24:37 We think, well I've been praying about it. 24:39 I ask the Lord, this sinner, 24:41 I asked the Lord to guide me 24:43 but did you surrender to that. 24:45 Did you say Lord, look I want your will, 24:49 now I true, I want the mate, 24:52 but if that's not in your will for me, 24:54 I'm going to, help me to accept 24:55 whatever your will is. 24:57 It's true I wanted it at a certain time. 24:59 But if not, as Jesus said. 25:02 If you even take the cup, you just say, 25:03 this is the way I feel, but if not. 25:06 The prayer is not to convince or fit God into our will. 25:11 The prayer is to ask God to work with us 25:15 so that we can fit in His will. 25:17 So we have to, we have to, 25:18 we have to accept the truth, 25:19 we have fight the fight of faith, 25:21 we have to be patient and we have to put 25:23 first things first, and when we stop putting God first, 25:26 His work first, the Lord says, 25:28 "I'll take care for all that, 25:29 all you do is be an ambassador for me, 25:32 I will take care of all that you're concerned about." 25:35 And I find that the Lord 25:36 can take care, better care of me 25:37 than I can ever take care of myself. 25:39 And truly I'm finding that he knows 25:41 how to satisfy the desires of my heart. 25:42 I've just had to learn to trust Him. 25:44 And depend on and surrender this flesh to Him, 25:47 because this flesh does not trust God. 25:49 This flesh does not believe, 25:50 I don't care how many sermons I hear, 25:52 I don't care how many sermons I preach, 25:53 I don't care how many songs I've sung, 25:55 I don't care believe how many Bible studies I gave. 25:56 This flesh is the flesh it will always be the flesh, 25:59 that which is born of the flesh is flesh. 26:01 It has to be crucified, it has to die. 26:04 And only Jesus can crucify it, 26:06 so I have to go to Him on a daily basis, 26:08 that's what surrender is about. 26:09 It's not, it's not self, it's not suicide. 26:13 It's going to Jesus and surrendering. 26:15 As you know we say, that's a bad word 26:18 and that's a-- to us that's a bad connotation. 26:21 Again we're all screwed around. 26:23 The very thing that will bless us, 26:24 we're afraid of, it sounds negative. 26:26 But we surrender to people all the time. 26:29 We surrender to the boss and they mistreat us. 26:32 We surrender to the so and so 26:33 and we're miserable because 26:35 we're surrendering to these people and these things. 26:37 We're human and faulty like us and they misuse that. 26:41 The one person we need to surrender 26:43 to is the one we're afraid to do it. 26:45 And if we just learn to trust Him, 26:47 we'll find that all that we're seeking, 26:49 we'll find stop trying to finding, 26:52 because the flesh will seek it the wrong way. 26:54 Trust God and go to Him, 26:57 for He that believe that He is. 26:59 And He's gonna want of them that diligently seek him. 27:02 And without that faith, 27:04 it's impossible to please God 27:06 and if it's impossible to please God, 27:08 it's impossible to find the joy of the Lord. 27:10 And that's what we really want 27:12 and that's what we truly desire. 27:13 And that's what we're really looking for 27:15 and only God can give it. 27:16 Exactly, you know. 27:18 And so in five words or less, 27:22 a single person can also be a nurturer. 27:24 Is that right? That's correct. 27:25 I'm glad you did it, 27:26 because I can't do it in five words or less. 27:28 Well, you know, I just know that 27:33 whenever the Lord becomes the focal point of your life. 27:35 Yes. Everything changes. Yes. 27:38 Because a whole different love comes out it, 27:41 a love for your fellow man 27:43 and people are attracted to that. 27:46 I, you know, sometimes people think that I think-- 27:49 after saying these things that I've arrived 27:51 or I think I've arrived, and the fact is I haven't, 27:54 I realize I haven't, I have a long ways to go. 27:56 But God is good and He's be what I am, 27:59 I thank Him, I love it. Amen. 28:01 I wanna thank you for being with us today, Pastor Greg. 28:05 I wanna thank each one of you 28:06 for sharing your time with us. 28:08 We love you here at 3ABN. God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17