>>BILL: AS A THIRD CENTURY MAN WAS ANTICIPATING 00:00:02.90\00:00:03.90 DEATH, HE PENNED THESE LAST WORDS TO A FRIEND. 00:00:03.90\00:00:05.76 "IT'S A BAD WORLD, AN INCREDIBLY BAD WORLD BUT I 00:00:05.76\00:00:11.53 HAVE DISCOVERED IN THE MIDST OF IT, QUIET AND 00:00:11.53\00:00:12.50 HOLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEARNED A GREAT SECRET. 00:00:12.50\00:00:16.96 THEY HAVE FOUND A JOY WHICH IS A THOUSAND TIMES 00:00:16.96\00:00:22.60 BETTER THAN ANY PLEASURE OF OUR SINFUL LIFE. 00:00:22.60\00:00:23.53 THEY ARE DESPISED AND PERSECUTED BUT THEY CARE 00:00:23.53\00:00:28.00 NOT. THEY ARE MASTERS OF THEIR OWN SOULS. THEY HAVE 00:00:28.00\00:00:33.23 OVERCOME THE WORLD. THESE PEOPLE ARE THE CHRISTIANS 00:00:33.23\00:00:34.26 AND I AM ONE OF THEM." 00:00:34.26\00:00:41.10 (MUSIC) 00:00:42.20\00:00:50.90 >>ANNOUNCER: IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME . . . 00:00:52.23\00:00:54.50 GOD'S BOOK, THE BIBLE. 00:00:54.76\00:00:57.00 STILL RELEVANT IN TODAY'S COMPLEX WORLD. 00:00:57.23\00:01:01.53 IT IS WRITTEN . . 00:01:01.83\00:01:02.23 . SHARING MESSAGES OF HOPE AROUND THE WORLD. 00:01:02.23\00:01:08.26 (MUSIC) 00:01:08.96\00:01:26.26 THE APOSTLE PAUL LISTED NINE DIMENSIONS OF THE 00:01:27.50\00:01:28.50 FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN GALATIONS 5 IN VERSES 22 00:01:28.50\00:01:30.80 AND 23. JOY WAS PLACED SECOND IN THE QUALITIES 00:01:30.80\00:01:36.36 THAT COMPRISE THE HARDEST OF THE SPIRIT. IT FOLLOWS 00:01:36.36\00:01:37.50 LOVE AND IT PRECEEDS PEACE. WILLIAM MORRIS SAYS 00:01:37.50\00:01:41.93 THAT THE FACT THAT JOY COMES SECOND IN THE LIST 00:01:41.93\00:01:46.66 SHOWS THE PROMINENT PLACE THAT IT HAD IN THE THOUGHT 00:01:46.66\00:01:47.73 OF THE APOSTLE PAUL WITH REGARD TO THE 00:01:47.73\00:01:52.13 CHRISTIAN PERSONALITY 1CORINTHIANS:13 MAKES IT 00:01:52.13\00:01:57.10 CLEAR THAT LOVE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE GIFTS 00:01:57.10\00:01:58.03 OF THE SPIRIT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. AND IN GALATIONS 00:01:58.03\00:02:01.63 5, LOVE COMES FIRST AMONG THE ASPECTS OF THE FRUIT 00:02:01.63\00:02:06.36 OF THE SPIRIT. FRUIT IS A PRODUCT OF GROWTH. LOVE 00:02:06.36\00:02:07.40 GROWS, JOY GROWS, PEACE GROWS. THE HOLY SPIRIT 00:02:07.40\00:02:14.30 ENERGIZES AND OVERSEES THIS GROWTH PROCESS IN THE 00:02:14.30\00:02:20.16 LIVES OF CHRISTIANS. I WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF OUR 00:02:20.16\00:02:21.20 VIEWERS TO THIS WEEK'S "IT IS WRITTEN" PROGRAM. 00:02:21.20\00:02:28.03 I WANT TO WELCOME THE TWO GUESTS THAT I HAVE INVITED 00:02:28.03\00:02:33.56 TO JOIN ME HERE AS WE STUDY THE FRUIT OF THE 00:02:33.56\00:02:34.53 SPIRIT. WE'RE ON TO THE SECOND ONE, JOY. JOINING 00:02:34.53\00:02:37.96 ME HERE IS PASTOR GERARDO OUDRI AND DR. ERROL 00:02:37.96\00:02:47.10 LAWRENCE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND LET'S START 00:02:47.10\00:02:48.26 WITH - NOW, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE PROGRAM BEFORE AND, 00:02:48.26\00:02:51.93 BUT JUST A SHORT BIO ON WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU 00:02:51.93\00:02:57.46 SERVE TODAY. >>PASTOR GERARDO: WELL, IT'S A 00:02:57.46\00:02:58.43 PLEASURE TO BE HERE AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING 00:02:58.43\00:03:01.73 ME. I'M PASTOR GERARDO OUDRI AND I PASTOR THE 00:03:01.73\00:03:05.50 BRONTE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH IN 00:03:05.50\00:03:06.36 OAKVILLE. SO, WE HAVE A WEBSITE, IF I 00:03:06.36\00:03:11.33 MAY? >> BILL: ABSOLUTELY. 00:03:11.33\00:03:11.83 >>PASTOR GERARDO: THAT IS BRONTESDA.ORG AND PEOPLE 00:03:11.83\00:03:14.16 CAN VISIT US THERE >>BILL: IT'S A WONDERFUL 00:03:14.16\00:03:18.26 CHURCH. I USED TO ATTEND THERE REGULARLY. AND FINE, 00:03:18.26\00:03:19.30 FINE PEOPLE. >>PASTOR GERARDO: VERY FRIENDLY 00:03:19.30\00:03:23.43 CHURCH, ABSOLUTELY >>BILL: THANK YOU PASTOR. 00:03:23.43\00:03:25.53 DR. LAWRENCE WELCOME TO THE "IT IS WRITTEN" 00:03:25.53\00:03:26.46 PROGRAM. >>DR. LAWRENCE: THANK YOU FOR HAVING 00:03:26.46\00:03:29.33 ME BILL. WONDERFUL TO BE HERE. >>BILL: WELL, WE'RE 00:03:29.33\00:03:31.83 THRILLED THAT YOU ACCEPTED OUR INVITATION TO JOIN US 00:03:31.83\00:03:32.90 I KNOW YOU'RE A BUSY MAN AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. 00:03:32.90\00:03:35.43 DR. LAWRENCE IS IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY, 00:03:35.43\00:03:39.86 TODAY, AT THE ONTARIO HEADQUARTERS OF THE 00:03:39.86\00:03:40.80 SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH. MINISTERIAL 00:03:40.80\00:03:44.53 DIRECTOR, RIGHT PASTOR WHICH REALLY IS THE PASTOR 00:03:44.53\00:03:47.86 TO THE PASTORS. >>DR. 00:03:47.86\00:03:48.46 LAWRENCE: THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL ME. >>BILL: THAT'S 00:03:48.46\00:03:51.10 RIGHT. AND SO YOU HAVE ONE OF YOUR STAFF SITTING 00:03:51.10\00:03:52.10 NEXT TO YOU HERE. >>DR. 00:03:52.10\00:03:55.26 LAWRENCE: MY GOOD FRIEND GERARD, YES. >>BILL: 00:03:55.26\00:03:56.30 PASTOR, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, A LITTLE 00:03:56.30\00:03:59.36 BIT ABOUT YOU. DR. ERROL LAWRENCE. >>DR. LAWRENCE: 00:03:59.36\00:04:05.50 WELL, I'M A PASTOR. I LOVE THE LORD. I'M FROM JAMAICA 00:04:05.50\00:04:06.60 ORIGINALLY BUT I LIVE NOW IN CANADA IN OSHAWA, WORK 00:04:06.60\00:04:11.73 IN OSHAWA. I'VE LIVED IN MANY PLACES, ENGLAND AND 00:04:11.73\00:04:14.80 AFRICA, UNITED STATES AND SO FORTH BUT I JUST LOVE 00:04:14.80\00:04:15.80 MY NEW HOME, CANADA. AND I WORK FOR THE ONTARIO 00:04:15.80\00:04:22.20 CONFERENCE WITH OVER 120 PASTORS AND WE WORK 00:04:22.20\00:04:26.06 TOGETHER WELL. I THANK GOD FOR ALL THAT HE IS DOING 00:04:26.06\00:04:27.10 >>BILL: WONDERFUL. YOU KNOW PASTOR, WE'RE OFF 00:04:27.10\00:04:30.50 THE HOOK BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A BIBLICAL SCHOLAR HERE 00:04:30.50\00:04:34.43 SO.>>PASTOR GERARDO: THAT'S IT. >>BILL:.WHEN 00:04:34.43\00:04:35.40 THINGS GET TOUGH I'M JUST GOING TO LOOK, I'M JUST 00:04:35.40\00:04:39.76 GOING TO LOOK TO HIM AND THAT WILL BE THE CUE FOR 00:04:39.76\00:04:41.40 HIM TO GIVE US THE ANSWER. 00:04:41.40\00:04:41.96 >>PASTOR GERARDO: I'LL FOLLOW YOU. >>BILL: WOW, 00:04:41.96\00:04:43.80 WE'RE, WE'RE, WE DECIDED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WE 00:04:43.80\00:04:44.80 WOULD DO THIS STUDY ON THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AND 00:04:44.80\00:04:52.93 THESE QUALITIES THAT BEGIN TO BE MANIFESTED 00:04:52.93\00:04:57.13 EXTERNALLY WHEN THE SPIRIT HAS DONE SOMETHING INSIDE 00:04:57.13\00:04:58.20 IN FACT, WE HAVE DONE A WHOLE STUDY OF THE BOOK 00:04:58.20\00:05:02.83 OF GALATIONS BUT THIS KIND OF JUMPS OUT BECAUSE, YOU 00:05:02.83\00:05:08.20 KNOW, PAUL HERE IS SAYING YOU CAN EITHER HAVE THE 00:05:08.20\00:05:09.23 DEEDS OF THE FLESH WHICH ARE PROBABLY THE THINGS 00:05:09.23\00:05:14.56 THAT COME MORE NATURALLY TO US. YOU KNOW, ENVY AND 00:05:14.56\00:05:20.36 JEALOUSLY AND ANGER BUT THEN HE SAYS YOU, WHEN YOU 00:05:20.36\00:05:21.53 WALK WITH THE SPIRIT THERE IS FRUIT. AND THERE'S 00:05:21.53\00:05:27.30 THESE QUALITIES AND JOY IF ANYBODY ON THIS PLANET 00:05:27.30\00:05:34.00 SHOULD BE JOYFUL IT SHOULD BE THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS 00:05:34.00\00:05:35.20 CHRIST. >>PASTOR GERARDO: ABSOLUTELY. >>BILL: 00:05:35.20\00:05:38.86 SHOULDN'T IT? >>DR. 00:05:38.86\00:05:39.30 LAWRENCE: I AGREE WITH THAT. I AGREE WITH THAT. 00:05:39.30\00:05:40.90 >>BILL: AND, YOU KNOW, I'M A REALIST. I'LL TELL YOU, 00:05:40.90\00:05:46.46 I GET TO VISIT A LOT OF CHURCHES AS DR. LAWRENCE 00:05:46.46\00:05:47.46 YOU DO, ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD. 00:05:47.46\00:05:52.43 I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE PHILLIPIANS. AND ON 00:05:52.43\00:05:54.90 OCCASION I WILL GO INTO SOME CHURCHES AND I WILL 00:05:54.90\00:05:55.90 NOT SEE A WHOLE LOT OF SMILES. AND THAT'S, 00:05:55.90\00:05:59.66 THAT'S, THAT'S TOUGH. 00:05:59.66\00:06:00.20 IT'S TOUGH FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND. WE SHOULD 00:06:00.20\00:06:04.93 BE THE MOST JOYFUL OF ALL PEOPLE. >>PASTOR GERARDO: 00:06:04.93\00:06:07.80 ABSOLUTELY. >>BILL: SHOULDN'T WE? >>PASTOR 00:06:07.80\00:06:08.73 GERARDO: ABSOLUTELY. 00:06:08.73\00:06:10.16 >>BILL: I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL IS 00:06:10.16\00:06:11.13 SAYING HERE, ISN'T HE? 00:06:11.13\00:06:12.06 >>PASTOR GERARDO: YES. 00:06:12.06\00:06:12.56 ABSOLUTELY. I STARTED READING THESE ADVENTIST 00:06:12.56\00:06:14.30 TRIBUTES AND I DON'T FIND THE WORD TRUTH IN 00:06:14.30\00:06:15.23 HERE AND I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF 00:06:15.23\00:06:20.60 TRUTH BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL LEAD 00:06:20.60\00:06:24.16 PEOPLE INTO TRUTH. BUT I THINK THAT WE'RE LOOKING 00:06:24.16\00:06:25.20 AT THE SIGNS OF THOSE THAT FOLLOW CHRIST, THAT HAVE 00:06:25.20\00:06:30.43 CHRIST IN THEIR HEART, AS YOU WERE SAYING I WAS 00:06:30.43\00:06:35.20 THINKING THE SAME THING. 00:06:35.20\00:06:35.70 JOY IS ONE OF THOSE. 00:06:35.70\00:06:36.13 >>BILL: YES. >>PASTOR GERARDO: I THINK FOR 00:06:36.13\00:06:38.80 CENTURIES WE'VE HAD, AS CHRISTIANS, THIS IDEA THAT 00:06:38.80\00:06:41.60 IF WE FOLLOW GOD WE HAVE TO BE REALLY SERIOUS, YOU 00:06:41.60\00:06:42.60 KNOW. AND YET THE SECOND ATTRIBUTE IS JOY. SO I 00:06:42.60\00:06:49.53 AGREE WITH YOU. WE HAVE TO BE JOYFUL. >>DR. LAWRENCE: 00:06:49.53\00:06:53.16 ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES IS THAT WE TRY TO INTEGRATE 00:06:53.16\00:06:54.13 JOY WITH HAPPINESS. AND HAPPINESS COMES WITH 00:06:54.13\00:06:58.76 HAVING THIS AND HAVING THAT AND IF WE DON'T HAVE 00:06:58.76\00:07:03.06 THEN WE'RE NOT HAPPY. 00:07:03.06\00:07:03.56 WHEREAS JOY IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT THAT COMES 00:07:03.56\00:07:07.70 FROM GOD WHERE IN SPITE OF WHAT WE GO THROUGH WE CAN 00:07:07.70\00:07:08.76 BE JOYFUL. AND THE CONTEXT OF THE TEXT HERE IN 00:07:08.76\00:07:13.33 THE SCRIPTURE, EVEN AS PAUL WRITES TO THE 00:07:13.33\00:07:17.33 THESSALONIANS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH ROUGH 00:07:17.33\00:07:18.26 TIMES.>>BILL: YES. YES. 00:07:18.26\00:07:20.73 >>DR. LAWRENCE:.BUT HE'S SAYING, YOUR JOY IN THE 00:07:20.73\00:07:21.73 LORD. THAT'S THE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS 00:07:21.73\00:07:26.16 CHRISTIANS. SO NO MATTER WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH 00:07:26.16\00:07:30.00 WE CAN BE JOYFUL. 00:07:30.00\00:07:30.40 >>BILL: YOU KNOW, IN THE INTRODUCTION I TALKED 00:07:30.40\00:07:32.26 ABOUT THE THIRD CENTURY NOTE THAT SAID THEY'RE 00:07:32.26\00:07:33.40 GOING THROUGH PERSECUTION, THEY'RE HATED, THEY'RE 00:07:33.40\00:07:37.80 THIS BUT THEY HAVE FOUND THIS JOY. THEY HAVE FOUND 00:07:37.80\00:07:43.03 THIS, THIS - I MEAN, AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT THIS, 00:07:43.03\00:07:44.03 ALL OF THESE, SORT OF, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED 00:07:44.03\00:07:48.03 FRUIT OF THE, THEY ALL SORT OF BLEND, YOU KNOW, 00:07:48.03\00:07:51.00 TOGETHER. I SEE JOY AND PEACE BEING VERY 00:07:51.00\00:07:51.90 MUCH TOGETHER, RIGHT? A CONTENTMENT, A PEACE, 00:07:51.90\00:07:58.03 A TRANQUILITY. I SEE YOU SEARCHING THERE.>>PASTOR 00:07:58.03\00:08:01.20 GERARDO: YES. IT JUST SORT OF REMINDED ME AS 00:08:01.20\00:08:02.16 DR. LAWRENCE MENTIONED THESSALONIANS, 00:08:02.16\00:08:04.03 IN 1THESSALONIANS 21 IN VERSE 6 PAUL WRITES TO THE 00:08:04.03\00:08:08.30 CHURCH AND HE SAYS, "YOU BECAME FOLLOWERS OF US 00:08:08.30\00:08:09.26 AND OF THE LORD HAVING RECEIVED THE WORD IN MUCH 00:08:09.26\00:08:13.03 AFFLICTION". AND THEN THE NEXT PHRASE SAYS, "WITH 00:08:13.03\00:08:16.73 JOY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT". 00:08:16.73\00:08:17.23 >>BILL: WOW. >>PASTOR GERARDO: HOW CAN YOU PUT 00:08:17.23\00:08:20.50 THOSE TWO TOGETHER? YOU KNOW, MUCH AFFLICTION, 00:08:20.50\00:08:21.50 PERSECUTION BUT WITH JOY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. >>DR. 00:08:21.50\00:08:25.13 LAWRENCE: AND JOY COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. 00:08:25.13\00:08:28.40 >>PASTOR GERARDO: ABSOLUTELY. >>DR. 00:08:28.40\00:08:29.30 LAWRENCE: SO HERE PAUL IS SAYING NO MATTER WHAT 00:08:29.30\00:08:31.16 YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, YOU'VE GOT GOD ON YOUR 00:08:31.16\00:08:33.80 SIDE. AND IN SPITE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE 00:08:33.80\00:08:34.86 HAD YOU HAVE THIS QUALITY THAT SAYS GOD GIVES ME 00:08:34.86\00:08:38.76 PEACE AND JOY. >>PASTOR GERARDO: AND ALSO IN THIS 00:08:38.76\00:08:43.93 TEXT WE SEE THE WORD FOR JOY HERE IS "HADA" WHICH 00:08:43.93\00:08:44.90 IS RELATED TO HADIES, WHICH IS GRACE. SO I THINK 00:08:44.90\00:08:50.73 THAT THOSE TWO ARE CLOSELY RELATED. WE HAVE JOY BUT 00:08:50.73\00:08:55.43 WE HAVE RECEIVED THE GRACE OF GOD. IT'S THROUGH HIS 00:08:55.43\00:08:56.46 GRACE THAT WE EXPERIENCE JOY. >>DR. LAWRENCE: 00:08:56.46\00:08:59.63 BECAUSE HAPPINESS COMES AND GOES, DOESN'T IT? YOU 00:08:59.63\00:09:02.70 KNOW, AND THIS GRACE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STAYS, 00:09:02.70\00:09:03.86 IT'S GODLY, IT'S ETERNAL. 00:09:03.86\00:09:08.03 IT DOESN'T WAIVER. AND SO, WE NEED TO SEEK THAT FROM 00:09:08.03\00:09:09.10 GOD ALL THE TIME AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE 00:09:09.10\00:09:14.23 IS TRYING TO GET AT HERE LET'S FIND THIS HADES OF 00:09:14.23\00:09:17.80 GOD, THIS PEACE. >>BILL: SO, YOU SAID SOMETHING 00:09:17.80\00:09:18.76 INTERESTING HERE. 00:09:18.76\00:09:19.90 HAPPINESS COMES AND GOES. 00:09:19.90\00:09:20.43 SO, IS IT THAT, WHAT I HEAR FROM THAT IS THE 00:09:20.43\00:09:26.60 SUGGESTION THAT HAPPINESS IN LARGE PART IS DUE 00:09:26.60\00:09:27.56 TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CONDITION WE HAPPEN TO 00:09:27.56\00:09:31.26 FIND OURSELVES IN. WHEREAS JOY/GRACE REMAINS. SO, ARE 00:09:31.26\00:09:39.63 YOU SAYING I MAY BE T A FUNERAL- I WAS JUST A THE 00:09:39.63\00:09:40.66 FUNERAL OF A FRIEND'S DAD AND YOU'RE NOT HAPPY AT A 00:09:40.66\00:09:47.13 FUNERAL BUT IS IT POSSIBLE TO STILL HAVE JOY? >>DR. 00:09:47.13\00:09:53.06 LAWRENCE: JOY. >>PASTOR GERARDO: I BELIEVE SO. 00:09:53.06\00:09:54.06 >>DR. LAWRENCE: THERE'S A FAMOUS TEXT THAT SAMUEL 00:09:54.06\00:09:56.66 SAYS, "WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT BUT JOY COMES 00:09:56.66\00:10:00.06 IN THE MORNING". THERE'S SOMETHING BEYOND THIS 00:10:00.06\00:10:01.13 AND THERE'S A BETTER DAY COMING AND THE CHRISTIAN 00:10:01.13\00:10:06.46 HAS THAT HOPE SO THAT KEEPS US LOOKING UP. IT 00:10:06.46\00:10:10.80 BUOYS OUR SPIRITS UP BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE 00:10:10.80\00:10:11.80 PASSINGTHROUGH HERE AND WE WILL HAVE TRIALS. YOU 00:10:11.80\00:10:15.76 KNOW, IN JOHN16:33 JESUS SAYS, "IN THIS WORLD 00:10:15.76\00:10:20.20 YOU'LL HAVE TROUBLE BUT CHEER OR BE JOYFUL BECAUSE 00:10:20.20\00:10:21.40 I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD". >>PASTOR GERARDO: 00:10:21.40\00:10:25.93 I THINK FOR ME ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING IN THIS 00:10:25.93\00:10:32.66 TEXT AND THIS WORD 'JOY' IS HOW SPIRITUALITY AND 00:10:32.66\00:10:33.66 OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AFFECTS OUR WHOLE BEING. 00:10:33.66\00:10:37.90 NOT JUST OUR INTELLECT BUT OUR EMOTIONS AND OUR 00:10:37.90\00:10:44.46 ATTITUDES TOO. AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE 00:10:44.46\00:10:45.46 OUR INTELLECTUAL EXERCISES AND TRUTH AND KNOWING, 00:10:45.46\00:10:51.90 KNOWLEDGE BUT IF WE FOLLOW CHRIST EVERYTHING IS 00:10:51.90\00:10:57.73 EFFECTED BY THAT. 00:10:57.73\00:10:58.26 AND SOMEONE SAID, "JOY IS FEELING WHAT WE BELIEVE". 00:10:58.26\00:11:04.60 AND I LIKE THAT. ALTHOUGH, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S 00:11:04.60\00:11:05.66 A FEELING WE ARE SAYING, IT'S NOT JUST AN EMOTION, 00:11:05.66\00:11:10.10 IT'S PROBABLY AN ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE. BUT I THINK 00:11:10.10\00:11:14.83 THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH EMOTIONS TOO AND 00:11:14.83\00:11:15.80 EXPRESSING OUR EMOTIONS POSITIVELY FOR GOD. >>DR. 00:11:15.80\00:11:19.10 LAWRENCE: AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, GOD IS 00:11:19.10\00:11:22.06 PRESENT WITH US, OR HIS GRACE. HE IS PRESENT 00:11:22.06\00:11:23.10 WITH US. HE NEVER LEAVES. 00:11:23.10\00:11:27.46 >>BILL: RIGHT. >>DR. 00:11:27.46\00:11:28.06 LAWRENCE: THEREFORE, JOY NEVER LEAVES. >>BILL: 00:11:28.06\00:11:30.26 RIGHT. >>DR. LAWRENCE: SO WE CONTINUE TRUSTING HIM 00:11:30.26\00:11:31.26 AND WE'RE HAPPY IN HIM. 00:11:31.26\00:11:34.13 EVEN WHEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, GOD 00:11:34.13\00:11:35.16 IS THERE. >>BILL: JOY IS NOT A WORD THAT WE USE 00:11:35.16\00:11:38.90 VERY MUCH ANYMORE IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. >>PASTOR 00:11:38.90\00:11:42.00 GERARDO: NO. >>BILL:..IS IT? WE TEND TO USE 00:11:42.00\00:11:42.90 HAPPINESS AND WITH THAT, AS YOU SAID EARLIER, THAT 00:11:42.90\00:11:45.80 ALWAYS COMES ASSOCIATED WITH SOMETHING. HAPPINESS 00:11:45.80\00:11:48.50 ALWAYS COMES FROM HAVING A LOT OF MONEY, HAPPINESS 00:11:48.50\00:11:49.50 COMES FROM HAVING A LARGE HOME, YOU KNOW, THE 00:11:49.50\00:11:52.83 LATEST MODEL CAR. >>PASTOR GERARDO: OR WINNING A 00:11:52.83\00:11:56.20 GAME... >>BILL: WINNING A GAME.>>PASTOR GERARDO:.OF 00:11:56.20\00:11:57.23 RACKETBALL, LIKE I DID LAST NIGHT. >>BILL:.THAT'S 00:11:57.23\00:11:59.53 RIGHT. >>PASTOR GERARDO:.SO I WAS VERY 00:11:59.53\00:12:01.50 JOYFUL. >>DR. LAWRENCE: YOU WERE JOYFUL. WHAT A 00:12:01.50\00:12:02.53 JOY. >>BILL: BUT WE DON'T HEAR THE WORD JOY. IT'S 00:12:02.53\00:12:04.20 NOT SOMETHING THAT IS CAUGHT IN OUR VOCABULARY 00:12:04.20\00:12:08.80 ANYMORE. AND I THINK THE MEANING OF IT IS A LITTLE 00:12:08.80\00:12:09.90 BIT FOREIGN BUT THIS IDEA THAT IT REMAINS AND 00:12:09.90\00:12:15.30 IF GOD IS WITH US AND HE'S THE SOURCE OF JOY AND HE'S 00:12:15.30\00:12:19.16 NEVER GOING TO LEAVE US, THEN JOY.>>PASTOR 00:12:19.16\00:12:20.10 GERARDO THERE IS A PHRASE.>>BILL:.THEN WE 00:12:20.10\00:12:23.00 SHOULD ALWAYS BE JOYFUL >>PASTOR GERARDO:.YES. 00:12:23.00\00:12:26.93 THERE IS A PHRASE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT APPEARS 00:12:26.93\00:12:27.96 OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND THAT IS 'THE JOY OF THE 00:12:27.96\00:12:32.96 LORD'. NEHEMIAH TALKS ABOUT IT AND DAVID TALKS 00:12:32.96\00:12:36.30 ABOUT IT, ISAIAH AND MANY OTHER WRITERS. AND I THINK 00:12:36.30\00:12:37.36 THAT WE GO BACK TO THAT IDEA OF GOD BEING THE 00:12:37.36\00:12:43.50 SOURCE OF TRUE JOY. 00:12:43.50\00:12:43.93 AND EVENTHOUGH WE ARE COMPARING JOY TO 00:12:43.93\00:12:48.40 HAPPINESS, I WOULD ALSO SAY TRUE HAPPINESS COMES 00:12:48.40\00:12:53.23 FROM GOD. SO, IT'S THAT DEEP SENSE OF JOY COMES 00:12:53.23\00:12:54.26 FROM GOD. >>BILL: YES. 00:12:54.26\00:12:59.83 >>DR. LAWRENCE: AS YOU SAID, NEHEMIAH SAID, "THE 00:12:59.83\00:13:00.90 JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH. AND EVEN AS YOU 00:13:00.90\00:13:03.36 LOOK AT JESUS'S LIFE, HE WAS ABLE TO, AS THE TEXT 00:13:03.36\00:13:07.46 SAYS, ENDURE THE CROSS BECAUSE THE JOY SET BEFORE 00:13:07.46\00:13:08.50 US.>>PASTOR GERARDO: EXACTLY. >>DR. 00:13:08.50\00:13:11.46 LAWRENCE:.SO IT'S NOT JUST A PRESENT THING BUT IT'S A 00:13:11.46\00:13:13.43 PRESENT AND A FUTURE. 00:13:13.43\00:13:13.93 AND SO, YOU CAN SEE THERE YOU HAVE SOMETHINGTHAT IS 00:13:13.93\00:13:17.96 HAPPENING RIGHT NOW BUT SOMETHING MORE IN THE 00:13:17.96\00:13:19.06 FUTURE SO YOU CAN REJOICE AND THAT'S WHERE YOU 00:13:19.06\00:13:23.60 GET THE WORDS.>>BILL: SO FIXING OUR EYES ON WHAT IS 00:13:23.60\00:13:25.56 TO COME ALLOWS US TO GET THROUGH THE TRIALS AND 00:13:25.56\00:13:26.53 TRIBULATIONS NOW.>>DR. 00:13:26.53\00:13:30.93 LAWRENCE: RIGHT. 00:13:30.93\00:13:31.30 >>BILL:.WHILE STILL BEING JOYFUL. >>DR. LAWRENCE: 00:13:31.30\00:13:35.20 RIGHT. >>PASTOR GERARDO: AND BY THE WAY, THIS WORD 00:13:35.20\00:13:36.20 JOY APPEARS OVER AND OVER AGAIN THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE 00:13:36.20\00:13:37.73 SO, IT SHOULD BE A COMMON THEME FOR THE CHRISTIAN. 00:13:37.73\00:13:43.33 SOMETHING, AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST A FEW TIMES HERE IN 00:13:43.33\00:13:44.36 GALATIONS AND ONE OR TWO TIMES - IT'S OVER AND OVER 00:13:44.36\00:13:49.63 AGAIN. I WAS THINKING OF ONE OF JESUS' PARABLES IN 00:13:49.63\00:13:54.76 MATTHEW 13 WHEN JESUS' MEN FIND A HIDDEN TREASURE AND 00:13:54.76\00:13:55.86 HE TALKS ABOUT THE JOY OF FINDING THAT TREASURE. 00:13:55.86\00:14:03.03 AND THEN, OF COURSE, HE'S TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE FIND 00:14:03.03\00:14:07.60 GOD, WE TRULY HAVE THAT ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS. THAT 00:14:07.60\00:14:08.66 IS A SOURCE OF TRUE JOY. 00:14:08.66\00:14:11.96 SO, AGAIN, THE HOLY SPIRIT MAINTAINS AND HELPS 00:14:11.96\00:14:12.96 UP GROW THAT JOY BUT ALSO ENCOUNTERING GOD AND 00:14:12.96\00:14:19.56 HAVING THAT AND I WISH THAT FOR ALL OUR VIEWERS. 00:14:19.56\00:14:25.43 >>BILL: SO, WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THEN THAT IF 00:14:25.43\00:14:26.56 I'M A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST AND I'M NOT 00:14:26.56\00:14:28.43 EXPERIENCING JOY THEN I DON'T HAVE THAT REAL 00:14:28.43\00:14:32.06 RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. >>DR. LAWRENCE: THE 00:14:32.06\00:14:33.06 RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT. 00:14:33.06\00:14:34.80 THAT'S RIGHT. BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP 00:14:34.80\00:14:35.83 KNOWING, YOU KNOW, KNOWING, TRUSTING THE 00:14:35.83\00:14:37.90 ONE THAT YOU BELIEVE IN SO MUCH, SOMETHING WILL SHOW. 00:14:37.90\00:14:40.20 AND IT HAS TO BE REAL. 00:14:40.20\00:14:40.70 OVERWISE, WE'RE BEING PHONIES. >>BILL: YEAH. 00:14:40.70\00:14:47.23 >>DR. LAWRENCE: AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, C.S. 00:14:47.23\00:14:48.20 LEWIS SAYS THAT JOY IS THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF 00:14:48.20\00:14:50.93 HEAVEN. WHEN YOU THINK OF IT, THAT'S ALL HEAVEN IS 00:14:50.93\00:14:56.80 ABOUT, IS JOY. THE BIBLE SAYS THERE'S JOY IN 00:14:56.80\00:14:57.73 HEAVEN, ONE SHOULD SHOW REPENTENCE, REJOICE 00:14:57.73\00:15:02.16 IN THE LORD NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. IF A 00:15:02.16\00:15:06.40 CHRISTIAN HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THEN 00:15:06.40\00:15:07.33 HE OR SHE CAN BE JOYFUL. 00:15:07.33\00:15:12.10 BUT LACK OF THAT RELATIONSHIP THEN SAYS, 00:15:12.10\00:15:12.96 WELL I'M NOT SO SURE. 00:15:12.96\00:15:15.56 >>BILL: RIGHT. 00:15:15.56\00:15:15.93 >>DR. LAWRENCE: AND THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE DEPEND 00:15:15.93\00:15:18.00 ON MORE THINGS, YOU KNOW, MAKING US HAPPY HERE 00:15:18.00\00:15:18.96 AND THERE. >>BILL: RIGHT. 00:15:18.96\00:15:21.26 >>DR. LAWRENCE: BUT TRUSTING IN GOD AND HAVING 00:15:21.26\00:15:22.26 THAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM SAYS, HEY, I KNOW 00:15:22.26\00:15:24.53 WHATEVER I'M GOING THROUGH HE'S THERE WITH ME. 00:15:24.53\00:15:26.86 >>PASTOR GERARDO: JUST, IF I MAY.>>BILL: ABSOLUTELY. 00:15:26.86\00:15:27.93 ABSOLUTELY. >>PASTOR GERARDO:.WE'RE TALKING 00:15:27.93\00:15:30.40 ABOUT JOY BEING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AND IN JOHN 00:15:30.40\00:15:36.43 15 JESUS GIVES A WONDERFUL ILLUSTRATION. HE SAYS, 00:15:36.43\00:15:37.56 "I AM THE TRUE VINE; MY FATHER IS THE VINE DRESSER 00:15:37.56\00:15:41.76 AND EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT". 00:15:41.76\00:15:46.63 HE'S TALKING ABOUT FRUITS AGAIN AS REMAINING 00:15:46.63\00:15:47.56 IN HIM AS BEING THE BRANCHES.>>BILL: RIGHT. 00:15:47.56\00:15:49.36 >>PASTOR GERARDO:.HE'S THE VINE. BUT THEN FURTHER 00:15:49.36\00:15:51.43 DOWN, I'M READING JOHN 15, AND VERSES 9 AND 10 HE 00:15:51.43\00:15:52.46 SAYS, "AS THE FATHER LOVED ME I ALSO HAVE LOVED YOU. 00:15:52.46\00:16:00.36 ABIDE IN MY LOVE". LOVE FIRST AND THEN HE SAYS, 00:16:00.36\00:16:06.23 "IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS YOU WILL 00:16:06.23\00:16:07.16 ABIDE IN MY LOVE JUST AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER'S 00:16:07.16\00:16:10.13 COMMANDMENTS AND ABIDE IN HIS LOVE". THEN IN VERSE 00:16:10.13\00:16:13.33 11, "THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU, THAT MY JOY 00:16:13.33\00:16:14.36 MAY REMAIN IN YOU AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL". SO 00:16:14.36\00:16:19.56 WE WILL HAVE COMPLETE JOY AS WE ABIDE IN HIM AND IN 00:16:19.56\00:16:25.80 HIS LOVE. >>DR. LAWRENCE: YOU READ IN THE NEW 00:16:25.80\00:16:26.76 TESTAMENT, I'M LOOKING AT AN OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGE 00:16:26.76\00:16:32.60 IN THE PSALMS, PSALMS 16 AND VERSES 8 AND 9, THE 00:16:32.60\00:16:36.80 PSALMIST SAYS, DAVID SPEAKING, "I HAVE SET 00:16:36.80\00:16:37.73 ALWAYS THE LORD BEFORE ME BECAUSE HE IS AT MY 00:16:37.73\00:16:40.90 RIGHT HAND. I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. THEREFORE, MY 00:16:40.90\00:16:45.63 HEART IS GLAD AND MY TONGUE REJOICES. MY BODY, 00:16:45.63\00:16:46.60 ALSO, WILL REST SECURE." 00:16:46.60\00:16:52.60 AND THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT GOD 00:16:52.60\00:16:53.66 WILL NOT ABANDON HIM AND SO ON AND SO ON. SO, HERE 00:16:53.66\00:16:56.86 AGAIN, RESTING IN GOD, TRUSTING IN GOD, HAVING 00:16:56.86\00:17:00.46 THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WHATEVER HAPPENS 00:17:00.46\00:17:01.53 REJOICE. >>BILL: OKAY. 00:17:01.53\00:17:04.80 PAUL TALKS ABOUT CONTENTMENT, RIGHT? AND 00:17:04.80\00:17:05.80 BEING ACCEPTING. I THINK THAT ALL FACTORS INTO THIS 00:17:05.80\00:17:11.00 WHOLE THINKING OF JOY. YOU KNOW, AS YOU WERE TALKING 00:17:11.00\00:17:15.16 ABOUT JOY IN THIS RELATIONSHIP AND 00:17:15.16\00:17:15.96 UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE RELATIONSHIP, THAT 00:17:15.96\00:17:18.10 WHEN YOU HAVE THIS TRUE RELATIONSHIP YOU CAN'T 00:17:18.10\00:17:20.90 HELP BUT BE JOYFUL. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DR. KNIGHT, 00:17:20.90\00:17:21.93 DR. GEORGE KNIGHT, WHO, IN FACT, DID A SERIES ON 00:17:21.93\00:17:26.96 GALATIONS AND HAS WRITTEN MANY THINGS. YOU KNOW, 00:17:26.96\00:17:31.03 WE'RE ALL SABBATH KEEPERS AND HE POSED A QUESTION 00:17:31.03\00:17:32.06 ONE TIME THAT I THOUGHT WAS VERY INTERESTING. 00:17:32.06\00:17:35.66 HE SAID, 'AS A SABBATH KEEPER, WHEN IS A SABBATH 00:17:35.66\00:17:39.26 KEEPER MOST JOYFUL? AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SABBATH 00:17:39.26\00:17:40.30 OR AT THE END OF THE SABBATH?' >>PASTOR 00:17:40.30\00:17:46.80 GERARDO: AT THE END. 00:17:46.80\00:17:47.23 >>BILL: AND THAT SHOULD BE A JOYFUL TIME SHOULDN'T 00:17:47.23\00:17:50.30 IT? >>PASTOR GERARDO: ABSOLUTELY. >>BILL: THAT 00:17:50.30\00:17:53.26 GOES TO SHOW THAT WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A PROPER 00:17:53.26\00:17:54.33 RELATIONSHIP OR A PROPER UNDERSTANDING WE'RE NOT 00:17:54.33\00:17:58.16 EXPERIENCING THE JOY. AND THAT'S WHAT GOD WANTS. HE 00:17:58.16\00:18:02.06 WANTS HIS CHILDREN TO BE JOYFUL IN THE SAME WAY 00:18:02.06\00:18:03.06 THAT WE'RE PARENTS AND WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO BE 00:18:03.06\00:18:05.56 JOYFUL. >>PASTOR GERARDO: ABSOLUTELY. >>BILL: HE 00:18:05.56\00:18:07.40 SAYS, JUST COME TO ME, ABIDE IN ME. >>PASTOR 00:18:07.40\00:18:08.33 GERARDO: ABSOLUTELY. >>DR. 00:18:08.33\00:18:09.16 LAWRENCE: WHAT BOTHERS ME SOMETIMES IS THAT YOU HAVE 00:18:09.16\00:18:10.23 CHRISTIANS THAT ARE VERY SULKY AND THEY SAY, WELL, 00:18:10.23\00:18:13.80 I'M HAPPY IN MY HEART BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT 00:18:13.80\00:18:17.50 TO SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR FACE EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. 00:18:17.50\00:18:18.53 >>BILL: SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR FACE. THAT'S 00:18:18.53\00:18:20.23 RIGHT. >>PASTOR GERARDO: SO I.>>BILL: GO AHEAD. 00:18:20.23\00:18:21.70 >>PASTOR GERARDO:.WAS GOING TO SAY THAT THERE 00:18:21.70\00:18:22.70 ARE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, AS I LOOK IN SCRIPTURE, 00:18:22.70\00:18:27.10 NUMBER ONE AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING AS CHRISTIANS WE 00:18:27.10\00:18:32.83 SHOULD BE THE MOST JOYFUL PEOPLE ON PLANET EARTH 00:18:32.83\00:18:33.83 AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT REASONS WHY WE ARE 00:18:33.83\00:18:38.36 JOYFUL. THE FIRST IS THAT WE ENCOUNTER JESUS AND THE 00:18:38.36\00:18:42.00 BEAUTIFUL NEWS, GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL. THAT IS A 00:18:42.00\00:18:43.13 GREAT SENSE OF JOY. THEN AS WE ABIDE IN HIM HE 00:18:43.13\00:18:46.06 COMPLETES THAT JOY. AND THEN PAUL TALKS IN ROMANS 00:18:46.06\00:18:51.46 12 ABOUT THE REJOICE IN YOUR HOPE. SO WE ENCOUNTER 00:18:51.46\00:18:52.53 JESUS, GREAT NEWS, JOY, WE GROW IN HIM AND HE 00:18:52.53\00:19:04.03 COMPLETES THAT HOPE BUT THEN WE LOOK FORWARD TO A 00:19:04.03\00:19:07.80 GREAT FUTURE AND THAT IS ALSO A SOURCE OF HOPE AND 00:19:07.80\00:19:08.80 JOY, YOU KNOW. THAT HOPE FEEDS OUR JOY, I THINK. WE 00:19:08.80\00:19:13.86 LOOK FORWARD TO SOMETHING GREAT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE 00:19:13.86\00:19:20.20 ALL HAVE AND WHEN THEY EXPECT SOMETHING GREAT - 00:19:20.20\00:19:21.16 WE WENT CAMPING, YOU KNOW, LAST WEEKEND AND OUR 00:19:21.16\00:19:27.13 DAUGHTER WAS SO EXCITED AND SAID, 'WHY IS IT THAT 00:19:27.13\00:19:32.80 WE WAIT AND TIME NEVER GOES BY WHILE WE ARE 00:19:32.80\00:19:33.83 WAITING FOR SOMETHING GREAT BUT THEN WHEN THE 00:19:33.83\00:19:38.23 TIME COMES THINGS PASS BY SO QUICKLY AND THEN IT'S 00:19:38.23\00:19:41.56 OVER'. WELL GUESS WHAT? 00:19:41.56\00:19:42.10 WHEN WE, THE HOPE THAT HAVE FOR THE FUTURE IS 00:19:42.10\00:19:45.36 SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER END AND THAT BRINGS JOY 00:19:45.36\00:19:46.40 TO OUR HEARTS. >>BILL: THE SAME PAUL THAT SAID, 00:19:46.40\00:19:50.66 YOU KNOW, WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR HIS CHILDREN THE 00:19:50.66\00:19:53.76 EYE HAS NEVER SEEN, NOR EAR HAS EVER HEARD, 00:19:53.76\00:19:54.73 OR HAS ENTERED INTO THE IMAGINATION OF ANYONE. 00:19:54.73\00:19:57.43 >>PASTOR GERARDO: EXACTLY. 00:19:57.43\00:19:57.96 >>BILL: THAT'S WHAT HAS SUSTAINED CHRISTIANS SINCE 00:19:57.96\00:20:01.50 THE BEGINNING OF TIME >>DR. LAWRENCE: YES. ONE 00:20:01.50\00:20:07.33 OTHER THING THAT I FIND ABOUT CHRISTIANS IS THAT 00:20:07.33\00:20:08.33 WE ARE ALL SINNERS AND WE COME AND PRAY TO GOD 00:20:08.33\00:20:12.33 AND ASK HIM FOR HIS FORGIVENESS BUT WE 00:20:12.33\00:20:15.23 SOMETIMES FORGET THAT HE'S FORGIVENESS AND SO, 00:20:15.23\00:20:16.20 THERE'S NOT THAT JOY OF FORGIVENESS. AND WE DREAD, 00:20:16.20\00:20:20.03 OH I'M SO BAD I'M NOT SURE IF I'M RIGHT WITH GOD. 00:20:20.03\00:20:24.26 AGAIN, THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WOULD HELP US 00:20:24.26\00:20:25.33 TO SEE THAT HEY, IT'S ALL GONE. I'VE FORGIVEN YOU. 00:20:25.33\00:20:28.63 REJOICE. >>PASTOR GERARDO: YES. >>DR. LAWRENCE: THAT 00:20:28.63\00:20:30.83 WOULD MAKE US HAPPIER PEOPLE AS WE GO ALONG 00:20:30.83\00:20:31.80 >>BILL: YOU KNOW, PAUL HAD BEEN PART OF THAT, HE HAD 00:20:31.80\00:20:33.60 BEEN STRESSING THAT HERE IN GALATIONS THAT WHY ARE 00:20:33.60\00:20:37.36 AS SOME WERE SAYING THAT YES IT'S GRACE BUT THERE'S 00:20:37.36\00:20:38.50 THE WORKS PART, YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART. PAUL IS 00:20:38.50\00:20:44.73 STRESSING THE FACT THAT SALVATION IS GRACE. 100%, 00:20:44.73\00:20:49.56 100% GRACE. AND I THINK THAT, RIGHT, IF WE DON'T, 00:20:49.56\00:20:50.70 WE DON'T ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT OUR LOVING FATHER 00:20:50.70\00:20:57.63 CAN BE AS LOVING AND AS FORGIVING AS HE IS. AS HE 00:20:57.63\00:21:03.60 IS. THAT DOES, THAT DOES DRAW AWAY OUR JOY, YOU 00:21:03.60\00:21:04.56 KNOW, RIGHT? HOW COULD HE, HOW COULD HE FORGIVE 00:21:04.56\00:21:12.50 ME? HOW COULD HE BE THAT LOVING TO ME? BUT HE IS. 00:21:12.50\00:21:20.43 >>DR. LAWRENCE: THAT'S RIGHT. >>BILL: HE IS. WE 00:21:20.43\00:21:21.40 CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. WE CAN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND 00:21:21.40\00:21:23.66 IT SOMETIMES BUT HE IS >>PASTOR GERARDO: AND I 00:21:23.66\00:21:25.46 THINK THAT, I'M THINKING THAT PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, WE 00:21:25.46\00:21:26.50 HAVE SOME VIEWERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH SOME ROUGH 00:21:26.50\00:21:32.53 TIMES.>>BILL: NO QUESTION. 00:21:32.53\00:21:33.06 >>PASTOR GERARDO:.AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, FACING 00:21:33.06\00:21:35.53 DEPRESSION OR DIVORCE OR EVEN WE MAY HAVE SOME 00:21:35.53\00:21:40.06 PEOPLE CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE. WHO KNOWS? I 00:21:40.06\00:21:41.00 WOULD REALLY LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO CONSIDER 00:21:41.00\00:21:44.36 TRYING JESUS AND GIVING HIM A CHANCE. BECAUSE I 00:21:44.36\00:21:52.13 ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST THEORY, 00:21:52.13\00:21:53.13 IT IS A REALITY. AND WHEN WE TRUST HIM AND WE 00:21:53.13\00:21:57.56 GIVE OUR LIVES TO HIM WE EXPERIENCE THE REALITY OF 00:21:57.56\00:22:03.10 THE SPIRIT AND ONE OF THEM IS JOY. IT'S A REALITY NOT 00:22:03.10\00:22:04.20 JUST A THEORY. >>BILL: IT ACTUALLY CHANGES PEOPLES 00:22:04.20\00:22:07.96 LIVES. >>PASTOR GERARDO: YES, AND PERSPECTIVE ON 00:22:07.96\00:22:14.06 LIFE. >>BILL: YEAH, FOLKS WOULD SOMETIMES SAY, WHAT 00:22:14.06\00:22:15.10 YOU GUYS ARE TALKING - WE GET WRITERS, PEOPLE WRITE 00:22:15.10\00:22:18.36 INTO US AND SAY THAT'S JUST A FAIRY TALE. BUT 00:22:18.36\00:22:21.53 WHEN YOU SEE IT PLAYED OUT IN SOMEONE'S LIFE,YOU 00:22:21.53\00:22:22.53 KNOW, AND THEY STAND BEFORE YOU OR BEFORE A 00:22:22.53\00:22:29.93 CONGREGATION AND SAY THIS WHAT I WAS AND THIS IS 00:22:29.93\00:22:32.50 WHAT I NOW AM, BOY, I TELL YOU, I'VE NEVER SEEN 00:22:32.50\00:22:33.50 A FAIRY TALE LIKE THAT. 00:22:33.50\00:22:36.46 THAT'S JUST THE POWER OF GOD. DR. LAWRENCE WE'VE 00:22:36.46\00:22:37.46 GOT ABOUT TWO MINUTES LEFT. ANY CLOSING GEMS, 00:22:37.46\00:22:41.03 PEARLS OF WISDOM. >>DR. 00:22:41.03\00:22:41.53 LAWRENCE: I WAS JUST THINKING AS WE TALKED 00:22:41.53\00:22:48.76 ABOUT JOY. I REMEMBER YEARS AGO WE HAD A FAMILY 00:22:48.76\00:22:50.96 WITH US. WE WERE HAVING, JUST, WORSHIP ONE EVENING 00:22:50.96\00:22:51.96 THERE WITH US AND THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL ABOUT 00:22:51.96\00:22:56.13 FOUR AND WE ASKED HER, WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE 00:22:56.13\00:22:58.06 SONG? AND SHE SAID 'JOY'. 00:22:58.06\00:22:58.70 J-O-Y, J-O-Y, SURELY IT MUST BE JESUS FIRST, 00:22:58.70\00:23:02.63 YOURSELF LAST, AND OTHERS IN BETWEEN. AND TO ME 00:23:02.63\00:23:03.80 THAT'S REAL JOY, ISN'T IT? 00:23:03.80\00:23:09.50 AND THAT IS WHY WE DON'T EXPERIENCE THE JOY, 00:23:09.50\00:23:10.43 BECAUSE WE'RE FIRST. WE NEED TO PUT JESUS FIRST, 00:23:10.43\00:23:13.60 YOURSELF LAST, AND OTHERS IN BETWEEN. AND WHEN WE DO 00:23:13.60\00:23:16.70 THAT WE EXPERIENCE REAL JOY. >>BILL: PASTOR OUDRI. 00:23:16.70\00:23:17.76 >>PASTOR GERARDO: PERHAPS I'M THINKING OF PAUL'S 00:23:17.76\00:23:22.16 WORDS IN PHILLIPIANS, "REJOICE IN THE LORD, 00:23:22.16\00:23:29.16 ALWAYS". ALWAYS REJOICE. 00:23:29.16\00:23:29.66 HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? 00:23:29.66\00:23:30.13 HUMANLY SPEAKING, I BELIEVE IS IMPOSSIBLE 00:23:30.13\00:23:36.13 BECAUSE WE ALL FACE TRIALS. WE CAN BE SMILING 00:23:36.13\00:23:39.66 HERE OR WE GO TO CHURCH AS CHRISTIANS, FOR THOSE OF 00:23:39.66\00:23:40.70 US WHO GO TO CHURCH, AND PUT A SMILE AND SAY I'M 00:23:40.70\00:23:44.56 GREAT, HOW ARE YOU DOING BUT WE - IT IS A REALITY 00:23:44.56\00:23:49.03 WE FACE CHALLENGES. 00:23:49.03\00:23:49.63 HOWEVER, I ALSO BELIEVE IT IS TRUE AND IT IS REAL 00:23:49.63\00:23:54.30 THAT WE CAN REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS. BUT THAT TRUE 00:23:54.30\00:23:55.40 JOY ONLY COMES FROM GOD. 00:23:55.40\00:24:01.36 AND SO, IT IS ONLY AS I ABIDE IN HIM THAT I CAN 00:24:01.36\00:24:02.40 EXPERIENCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN MY LIFE. AND 00:24:02.40\00:24:07.26 AGAIN, I THINK THAT FOR ME IT IS SO, SO KEY THAT 00:24:07.26\00:24:13.73 THESE ATTRIBUTES ARE UNIVERSAL. WHO DOESN'T 00:24:13.73\00:24:14.66 WANT TO EXPERIENCE JOY.>>BILL: ABSOLUTELY. 00:24:14.66\00:24:18.66 >>PASTOR GERARDO:.IN LIVES? SO, WE'RE NOT 00:24:18.66\00:24:21.00 TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENCE IN DOCTRINES OR 00:24:21.00\00:24:22.10 THIS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL THINGS THAT WE CAN 00:24:22.10\00:24:25.73 EXPERIENCE IN OUR LIVES SO I LEAVE THAT CHALLENGE 00:24:25.73\00:24:28.90 AS I SAID BEFORE, TRY GOD, TRY IT, YOU KNOW. >>BILL: 00:24:28.90\00:24:29.96 THANK YOU. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. YOU KNOW, MEN 00:24:29.96\00:24:33.53 HAVE PURSUED JOY IN EVERY AVENUE IMAGINEABLE. SOME 00:24:33.53\00:24:38.60 HAVE SUCCESSFULLY FOUND IT WHILE OTHERS HAVE NOT 00:24:38.60\00:24:39.70 PERHAPS IT WOULD BE EASIER TO DESCRIBE WHERE JOY 00:24:39.70\00:24:44.76 CANNOT BE FOUND. NOT IN UNBELIEF. VOLTAR WAS AN 00:24:44.76\00:24:50.53 INFIDEL, THE MOST PROFOUND TYPE AND HE WROTE, 'I WISH 00:24:50.53\00:24:51.63 I HAD NEVER BEEN BORN'. 00:24:51.63\00:24:55.40 IT'S NOT FOUND IN PLEASURE. LORD BYRON LIVES 00:24:55.40\00:24:56.33 A LIFE OF PLEASURE, IF ANYONE DID AND HE WROTE, 00:24:56.33\00:25:00.36 'THE WORM, AND CANKER, AND GRIEF ARE MINE ALONE'. NOT 00:25:00.36\00:25:03.96 FOUND IN MONEY, JAY GOULD, THE AMERICAN MILLIONAIRE 00:25:03.96\00:25:05.00 HAD PLENTY OF MONEY. WHEN HE WAS DYING HE SAID, 00:25:05.00\00:25:09.86 'I SUPPOSE I AM THE MOST MISERABLE MAN ON EARTH'. 00:25:09.86\00:25:13.83 JOY IS NOT FOUND IN POSITION AND FAME; LORD 00:25:13.83\00:25:14.80 BEACONSFIELD ENJOYED MORE OF HIS FAIR SHARE OF 00:25:14.80\00:25:18.60 BOTH. HE WROTE, 'YOUTH IS A MISTAKE, MANHOOD A 00:25:18.60\00:25:21.70 STRUGGLE, OLD AGE A REGRET'. JOY IS NOT 00:25:21.70\00:25:22.56 FOUND IN MILITARY GLORY. 00:25:22.56\00:25:25.83 ALEXANDER THE GREAT CONQUERED THE KNOWN WORLD 00:25:25.83\00:25:26.90 IN HIS DAY. HAVING DONE SO HE WEPT IN HIS TENT BEFORE 00:25:26.90\00:25:31.16 HE SAID, 'THERE ARE NO MORE WORLDS TO CONQUER'. 00:25:31.16\00:25:37.20 THEN WHERE IS REAL JOY FOUND? THE ANSWER IS 00:25:37.20\00:25:38.10 SIMPLE, MY FRIEND. IT IS FOUND IN CHRIST AND IN HIM 00:25:38.10\00:25:43.13 ALONE. PASTOR OUDRI, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN PRAYER? 00:25:43.13\00:25:48.20 >>PASTOR GERARDO: SURE. 00:25:48.20\00:25:48.73 LET US BOW OUR HEADS. 00:25:48.73\00:25:49.20 HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT WHEN WE 00:25:49.20\00:25:55.26 COME TO YOU WE EXPERIENCE TRUE JOY IN OUR LIVES. NOT 00:25:55.26\00:26:01.66 JUST SUPERFICIAL HAPPINESS BUT TRUE JOY. AND AS WE 00:26:01.66\00:26:02.73 CLOSE I WOULD LIKE TO PRAY FOR OUR VIEWERS. 00:26:02.73\00:26:09.46 ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE FACING A CHALLENGE IN 00:26:09.46\00:26:15.50 THEIR LIVES, STRUGGLING WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES, I 00:26:15.50\00:26:16.50 PRAY THAT YOU WOULD WORK IN THEIR HEARTS SO THAT 00:26:16.50\00:26:18.03 TODAY AS THEY WATCH, THAT THEY CAN BEGIN TO 00:26:18.03\00:26:20.90 EXPERIENCE A WALK WITH YOU AND BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE 00:26:20.90\00:26:21.96 TRUE JOY. >>BILL: YES. 00:26:21.96\00:26:25.93 >>PASTOR GERARDO: WE ASK AND WE PRAY IN 00:26:25.93\00:26:26.80 JESUS' NAME, AMEN. 00:26:26.80\00:26:29.00 (music) 00:26:29.60\00:26:44.56 >>BILL: IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE 00:26:45.80\00:26:46.80 BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HOW YOU CAN EXPERIENCE JESUS 00:26:46.80\00:26:49.86 CHRIST AND TRUE JOY, ONE OF THE WAYS OF DOING THAT 00:26:49.86\00:26:54.13 IS THROUGH THE DISCOVER BIBLE STUDY GUIDES. A 00:26:54.13\00:26:55.13 GREAT WAY TO LEARN THE BIBLE IN YOUR HOME AT YOUR 00:26:55.13\00:26:59.00 PACE. IT IS A GIFT FROM 'IT IS WRITTEN'. HERE IS 00:26:59.00\00:27:04.66 THE INFORMATION YOU NEED IN ORDER TO GET 00:27:04.66\00:27:05.56 YOUR FIRST STUDY GUIDE. 00:27:05.56\00:27:09.33 >>BILL: GENTLEMEN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME 00:27:42.96\00:27:44.13 AND BEING WITH US ON THE 'IT IS WRITTEN' PROGRAM. 00:27:44.13\00:27:46.96 >>PASTOR GERARDO: THANK YOU. >>BILL: I WANT TO 00:27:46.96\00:27:49.46 THANK OUR FAITHFUL VIEWERS THAT TUNE IN EACH AND 00:27:49.46\00:27:50.50 EVERY WEEK. REMEMBER THE WEBSITE, 00:27:50.50\00:27:52.36 ITISWRITTENCANADA.CA THERE YOU CAN PRE-ORDER 00:27:52.36\00:27:56.03 THIS SERIES ON DVD. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE 00:27:56.03\00:27:57.23 AT THE END OF THE SERIES. 00:27:57.23\00:28:01.16 WE'D BE HAPPY TO SEND THAT TO YOU FOR A DONATION 00:28:01.16\00:28:02.20 OF $40 TO HELP KEEP THIS MINISTRY ALIVE. YOU CAN 00:28:02.20\00:28:07.00 ALSO SEND US YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS AND FIND OUT 00:28:07.00\00:28:11.26 WHERE THE 'IT IS WRITTEN' TEAM WILL BE APPEARING 00:28:11.26\00:28:12.26 ACROSS THIS GREAT NATION. 00:28:12.26\00:28:15.03 YOU CAN WATCH THE PROGRAMS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL 00:28:15.03\00:28:16.06 AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER. UNTIL NEXT WEEK, 00:28:16.06\00:28:19.06 BE THE GOOD LORD WILLING, WE WILL BE HERE AGAIN. I 00:28:19.06\00:28:23.80 HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US. 00:28:23.80\00:28:24.30 REMEMBER, IT IS WRITTEN; MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY 00:28:24.30\00:28:28.66 BREAD ALONE BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS 00:28:28.66\00:28:29.56 FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD. 00:28:29.56\00:28:34.50 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 00:28:35.13\00:28:37.63