¤¤
00:00:00.03\00:00:06.90
>> ¤ I want to walk
as a child of the light ¤
00:00:11.91\00:00:18.08
¤ I want to follow Jesus
00:00:18.08\00:00:24.99
¤ God set the stars to give
light to the world ¤ ¤ The star
of my life is Jesus
00:00:25.15\00:00:39.63
¤ In him there is no darkness
at all ¤ ¤ The night and the day
00:00:39.63\00:00:49.04
are both alike ¤ ¤ The Lamb is
the light of the city of God ¤
00:00:49.04\00:01:01.32
¤ Shine in my heart, Lord
Jesus ¤ >> ¤ I want to see
00:01:01.32\00:01:13.34
the brightness of God ¤
00:01:13.34\00:01:17.61
¤ I want to look at Jesus
00:01:17.77\00:01:25.75
¤ Clear Sun of righteousness,
shine on my path ¤ ¤ And show me
00:01:25.91\00:01:36.29
the way to the Father ¤ >> ¤ In
him there is no darkness at all
00:01:36.29\00:01:46.27
¤ ¤ The night and the day are
both alike ¤ ¤ The Lamb is the
00:01:46.27\00:01:54.51
light of the city of God ¤ ¤
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus ¤
00:01:54.51\00:02:09.29
¤ I'm looking for the coming
of Christ ¤ ¤ I want to be with
00:02:09.29\00:02:22.14
Jesus ¤ When we have run with
patience the race ¤ ¤ We shall
00:02:22.14\00:02:30.78
know the joy of Jesus ¤ ¤ In him
there is no darkness at all ¤
00:02:30.78\00:02:42.39
¤ The night and the day are both
alike ¤ ¤ The Lamb is the light
00:02:42.39\00:02:52.57
of the city of God ¤ ¤
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus ¤
00:02:52.57\00:03:14.92
[ "Your Love Oh Lord" plays ] ¤¤
00:03:19.36\00:03:29.57
¤¤ >> God of wonders.
00:04:47.65\00:04:52.75
I want you to take a
moment and look around.
00:05:39.20\00:05:43.84
I see so many different people
here, so many different cultures
00:05:43.84\00:05:47.04
represented, so many different
generations represented.
00:05:47.04\00:05:50.15
We all come from different
places, and we have different
00:05:50.31\00:05:54.68
backgrounds. But that also means
we hold a lot of different
opinions, and we hold a lot of
00:05:54.68\00:05:59.29
different standards, and
sometimes, we let that get in
the way of everything.
00:05:59.29\00:06:04.09
But we have one thing in common.
And that's we were all made in
00:06:04.09\00:06:12.93
the image of God. And God is a
God that is ours, and He's never
gonna leave us, and He's never
00:06:12.93\00:06:18.54
gonna forsake us. So this next
song is a song that's actually
originally in Portuguese.
00:06:18.54\00:06:24.55
But even though it's in a
different language and it's from
a different culture, it speaks
00:06:24.55\00:06:28.95
of the same thing. God is our
God. The first verse, I'm gonna
00:06:28.95\00:06:37.29
sing in Portuguese, and if you
know it, please join and sing
00:06:37.29\00:06:40.66
with me. But the rest of the
song has been translated so that
we can all sing it together.
00:06:40.66\00:06:44.67
¤¤ ¤¤
00:06:44.67\00:06:58.91
Please join in singing
the next few verses. ¤¤
00:07:31.91\00:07:41.19
¤¤ Now is a time that I invite
you to come before the Lord to
00:10:21.15\00:10:29.66
bring all of your petitions, to
bring your burdens, and to bring
your praises, as well.
00:10:29.66\00:10:35.10
Please come to the
front and join us. ¤¤
00:10:35.10\00:10:39.70
>> Good morning, boys and girls.
Nice to see you out on this --
Is this really the first day of
00:12:47.66\00:12:52.43
September? Yep.
Labor Day weekend.
00:12:52.43\00:12:55.84
And on God's great non-Labor
Day Sabbath. Thank you, Deacon
00:12:55.84\00:13:03.18
Jones. And nice to see all of
you. Have you gotten off to a
good start in school?
00:13:03.18\00:13:07.45
Things kind of going okay? Good.
00:13:07.45\00:13:10.29
I got the perfect school
-- perfect story, rather, for
00:13:10.45\00:13:13.96
school's beginning from my
friend Sherry Davis, who spotted
00:13:13.96\00:13:17.59
this story from Omaha, Nebraska.
Hey, guys, have a seat.
00:13:17.59\00:13:23.33
Nice to have you. There you
go. So, I want you to see the
00:13:23.50\00:13:26.60
picture. We're gonna start with
the picture, 'cause here's the
00:13:26.60\00:13:29.47
picture on the screen. I need
you to guess, what are those on
00:13:29.47\00:13:34.34
the tree? What are those? >>
Squirrels! >> You can recognize
00:13:34.34\00:13:38.21
a squirrel? Okay, let's count
them together. How many
squirrels are there? 1, 2, 3, 4,
00:13:38.21\00:13:48.76
5, 6. Six little baby squirrels,
just eight weeks old. And look
00:13:48.76\00:13:53.93
at them. They're just hanging
together. They must about --
They must all be brothers and
00:13:53.93\00:13:56.93
sisters. Isn't that brothers and
sisters do, just kind of stick
00:13:56.93\00:14:01.14
together? Look at them. Although
something very interesting that
00:14:01.14\00:14:05.37
we can't see in this picture --
keep the picture up, please. We
can't see this, but their
00:14:05.37\00:14:09.44
tails -- their tails are all
knotted with each other's tails.
Can you believe that?
00:14:09.44\00:14:18.45
Their tails all got knotted.
You know why? Because the tree
00:14:18.45\00:14:22.76
they're playing in has sticky
sap on it. And as they were
running around on the tree
00:14:22.76\00:14:29.46
together, they dragged their
tails in the sap, and when their
tails touched, it's just like
00:14:29.46\00:14:33.20
magnets, just chkk, chkk, chkk!
Unbelievable. Craig Luttman, in
00:14:33.20\00:14:38.91
whose yard this tree grows, when
he saw that, he thought they
were just having fun, but then
00:14:38.91\00:14:43.95
he noticed, everyone's pulling a
different direction but nobody
moves. Isn't that sad?
00:14:43.95\00:14:49.52
So he calls the Nebraska
Humane Society, they send some
00:14:49.52\00:14:55.42
veterinarians out, they put a
towel over the squirrels, they
put the squirrels to sleep, and
00:14:55.42\00:14:59.76
it took about an hour -- snip,
snip, snip, cut, cut, cut, ooh,
00:14:59.76\00:15:03.43
ooh, ooh! Just like a ball of
rope. They were all stuck. And
were they happy when they
00:15:03.43\00:15:10.01
were unstuck? Oh, my. The
good news is, they are doing
00:15:10.01\00:15:13.41
just fine. What a way to
begin life, stuck together.
00:15:13.41\00:15:18.18
What a way to begin a new year,
stuck to someone you don't want
to be stuck with -- stuck to
00:15:18.18\00:15:22.95
something you don't want
to be stuck with. I'm think--
00:15:22.95\00:15:26.42
Can you spell this word?
Can you read this word? S-I-N.
00:15:26.42\00:15:32.39
>> Sin. >> Sin -- you got
it. Go to the head of the class.
00:15:32.39\00:15:35.23
I'm thinking about little sins
that get stuck to us, like kind
00:15:35.23\00:15:40.17
of sassing mommy. "No, Mommy,
I'm not gonna do that! No, I
00:15:40.17\00:15:42.90
will not!" Or borrowing your
little friend's toy next door
and never returning it.
00:15:42.90\00:15:47.61
That would be stealing. Or
telling teacher -- "Did you just
00:15:47.61\00:15:51.51
do that?" "No, I didn't do that,
teacher." And that would be
lying. Those little sins that
00:15:51.51\00:15:57.25
stick to us -- oh, we don't
begin a new year with that.
Jesus said, "If the Son sets you
00:15:57.25\00:16:02.39
free, you are free, indeed." And
guess who can cut us free from
everything that sticks to
00:16:02.39\00:16:07.50
us. Who do you
think could cut us free?
00:16:07.50\00:16:09.50
The Lord Jesus himself. Snip,
snip -- oh, there goes that.
00:16:09.50\00:16:13.27
Snip, snip. The secret is --
shh, shh, shh! The secret is,
00:16:13.27\00:16:20.14
you have to pray this prayer.
Can I teach you a prayer? It
00:16:20.14\00:16:23.68
goes like this. Lord Jesus, I
want you to live with me, and I
want to live with you.
00:16:23.68\00:16:31.75
Ooh! That's a great prayer. Can
you pray it out loud with me?
00:16:31.75\00:16:34.49
Lord Jesus, I want you to live
with me... No, I need to hear
00:16:34.49\00:16:40.36
you now. Let's do it again. "I
want you to live with me" -- Let
me hear you say it.
00:16:40.36\00:16:43.73
>> "I want you to live with
me." >> "And I want to live with
00:16:43.73\00:16:48.04
you." Let me hear you say it. >>
"And I want to live with you."
00:16:48.04\00:16:52.04
>> Lord Jesus... live with
me, and let me live with you.
00:16:52.04\00:16:56.68
Then, we connect with the right
person, and all the rest of the
00:16:56.68\00:17:01.75
stuck is gone. Hallelujah.
Anybody want to thank Jesus for
00:17:01.75\00:17:07.06
cutting us free? Young man,
you come right here. Come on up.
00:17:07.06\00:17:11.19
Cutting us free. Let's thank
Jesus for being the one who just
cuts us free and is the one we
00:17:11.19\00:17:16.20
want to stick with all this new
year. Come on up. Let me grab a
00:17:16.20\00:17:18.80
microphone. What's your
name? >> Haseo. >> Haseo.
00:17:18.80\00:17:21.34
Okay, guys, let's -- let's --
let's close our eyes and fold
our hands as Haseo thanks Jesus.
00:17:21.34\00:17:27.88
>> Dear Jesus, thank you for
this beautiful day, and help us
to learn more all about you, and
00:17:27.88\00:17:34.88
we can thank you for doing
everything for us and preparing
00:17:34.88\00:17:40.79
us things. Amen. >>
Amen. Thank God, Haseo.
00:17:40.79\00:17:42.86
Beautiful prayer. As you go
quietly and reverently back to
your seats, it's what
00:17:42.86\00:17:46.33
Haseo prayed. Thank you, Jesus,
for being my savior and cutting
00:17:46.33\00:17:53.23
me free. ¤¤ ¤ When I am gone
00:17:57.01\00:18:03.91
¤ Don't you cry for me ¤
Don't you pity my sorry soul
00:18:03.91\00:18:22.83
¤ What pain there might
have been ¤ ¤ Will all be past
00:18:23.00\00:18:33.44
¤ Soon my spirit will be
made whole ¤ ¤ I'll be on my way
00:18:33.44\00:18:54.13
¤ I'll be on my way ¤ God will
lift my feet of clay from off
00:18:54.13\00:19:14.18
the ground ¤ ¤ I will be
glory-bound ¤ I'll be on my way
00:19:14.18\00:19:32.47
¤¤ ¤ When I am gone ¤ Don't you
cry for me ¤ Don't you pity my
00:19:32.47\00:19:41.34
sorry soul ¤ What pain there
might have been ¤ ¤ Will all be
00:19:41.34\00:19:46.01
past ¤ Soon my spirit will be
made whole ¤ ¤ I'll be on my way
00:19:46.01\00:19:54.42
¤ I'll be on my way ¤ God will
lift my feet of clay from off
00:19:54.42\00:20:04.47
the ground ¤ ¤ I will be
glory-bound ¤ I'll be on my way
00:20:04.47\00:20:13.64
¤¤ >> ¤ When I am gone ¤ Please
forgive the wrongs ¤ That I
00:20:13.64\00:20:20.65
might have done to you ¤ ¤
There'll be no room for regrets
00:20:20.65\00:20:27.36
up there ¤ ¤ High above, way
beyond the blue ¤ >> ¤ I'll be
00:20:27.36\00:20:33.60
on my way >> ¤ I'll be on my way
>> ¤ I'll be on my way >> ¤ I'll
00:20:33.60\00:20:41.10
be on my way >> ¤ I'll have laid
my frown ¤ And all my burdens
down ¤ I'll be puttin' on my
00:20:41.10\00:20:48.44
crown ¤ I'll be on my way >>
¤ When I am gone, don't you look
00:20:48.44\00:20:56.99
for me ¤ ¤ In the places I have
been ¤ Oh, someday soon, I'll be
00:20:56.99\00:21:06.86
alive ¤ ¤ I'll be on my way
again >> ¤ I'll be on my way >>
¤ I'll be on my way
00:21:06.86\00:21:17.97
>> ¤ I'll be on my way >> ¤ I'll
be on my way ¤ I will lift my
00:21:17.97\00:21:25.85
wings ¤ And soar into the air
¤ There'll be glory everywhere ¤
00:21:25.85\00:21:32.95
I'll be on my way >> ¤ I'll be
on my way >> ¤ I'll be on my way
>> ¤ I'll be on my way
00:21:32.95\00:21:40.53
>> ¤ I'll be on my way >> ¤ I'll
have laid my frown ¤ And all my
00:21:40.53\00:21:47.94
burdens down ¤ I'll be puttin'
on my crown ¤ I'll be on my way
¤ God will lift my feet
00:21:47.94\00:21:55.61
of clay from off the ground ¤ ¤
I will be glory-bound ¤ I'll be
00:21:55.61\00:22:10.86
on my way [ Applause ] >>
Amen. Oh, thank you, Joshua.
00:22:10.86\00:22:23.30
Thank you, Stephen. Thank you,
University singers. We needed
that for this opening
00:22:23.30\00:22:28.54
moment. I'll be on my
way. That's the good news.
00:22:28.54\00:22:34.58
That's the good news. We're not
stuck here. You may look for me.
00:22:34.58\00:22:40.62
I may look for you. Can't find
us. One day, we'll be on our
00:22:40.62\00:22:51.57
way. Oh, God. That's the
lift of the everlasting gospel.
00:22:51.57\00:22:59.64
It's not over. There's a
place... a destination at the
00:22:59.64\00:23:07.95
end of this journey. But here
we are at the beginning of a new
00:23:07.95\00:23:10.02
year. We're ready to go. God, do
whatever it takes this new year.
00:23:10.02\00:23:16.29
The best year we've ever lived
on this planet. That's what
we're humbly asking.
00:23:16.29\00:23:21.43
In Jesus' name, amen.
00:23:21.43\00:23:24.70
Like to introduce to you a
friend of mine that I have been
00:23:24.87\00:23:27.70
carrying in the wallet of
my mind since I was a kid.
00:23:27.70\00:23:32.44
It's a picture. First time I saw
this picture, I said, "That's
00:23:32.61\00:23:37.15
it. That is our man, Noah." Look
at him. Don't you just love that
00:23:37.15\00:23:41.95
picture? Beard 3 feet long, his
hands tense, his fingers curled.
00:23:41.95\00:23:50.23
And notice the reaction he's
getting from everybody around
00:23:50.23\00:23:53.53
him. Yeah, everybody's just
laughing, just mocking him. You
00:23:53.53\00:24:01.10
know why? Because for 120 years,
he's been preaching to everybody
that the end of the world is
00:24:01.10\00:24:06.34
coming. "Get up. You see the
sunshine? You think we have a
00:24:06.34\00:24:11.78
hundred years of sunshine left?
You don't have a hundred years
00:24:11.78\00:24:15.08
of sunshine left. This baby's
comin' to an end. Don't be
foolish. Don't be a fool.
00:24:15.08\00:24:21.32
God has told me to tell you
we're near the end. I'll be on
my way one of these
00:24:21.32\00:24:27.86
days, and you must be, too.
00:24:27.86\00:24:32.97
Why would a kid choose
Noah to be a childhood hero?
00:24:33.13\00:24:37.14
Well, I suppose, it's just
the chutzpah of the moment.
00:24:37.14\00:24:40.48
The guy that has guts.
Doesn't care who you are or what
00:24:40.48\00:24:45.91
you stand for, he's
gonna tell it like it is.
00:24:45.91\00:24:49.72
Unafraid of a message entrusted
to him. "The world's coming to
00:24:49.88\00:24:56.59
an end. Get ready." It's the
Noah generation. And I've been
00:24:56.59\00:25:03.40
thinking, "How many Noahs do we
have?" I sat behind the
President. Boy, did she do a
00:25:03.40\00:25:07.47
great job this last Thursday,
opening convocation. And I
looked out over this sea
00:25:07.47\00:25:12.91
of young faces -- handsome
faces, beautiful faces. And I
wondered to myself, "Are
00:25:12.91\00:25:18.48
there any Noahs in this
generation?" You know what?
00:25:18.48\00:25:26.19
Please, let's be honest.
Countercultural. Hoo, way
00:25:26.19\00:25:29.96
countercultural. Doom and gloom.
"Ew! Who wants to be a part of
00:25:29.96\00:25:33.33
that?" And yet somebody --
somebody -- has to tell the
world, "I'll be on my way soon."
00:25:33.33\00:25:40.67
And you can be, too. Noah.
Ah, we all know the story of
00:25:40.67\00:25:46.27
Noah and how it begins. Few of
us know how the story ends, and
so here's what we're
00:25:46.27\00:25:50.05
gonna do. We're gonna push --
We're gonna get the bookends of
00:25:50.05\00:25:52.91
his life, we're gonna push them
right up smack dab against each
00:25:52.91\00:25:56.22
other. Take one line from the
beginning, one line from the
ending, there will be a sweet,
00:25:56.22\00:26:00.49
short, but stunning truth
that emerges. Check it out for
00:26:00.49\00:26:04.29
yourself. Open your Bible with
me, please. Genesis 6. Book of
Beginnings, Genesis 6.
00:26:04.29\00:26:10.53
Let's go. Just one
line from the beginning.
00:26:10.53\00:26:12.90
We'll pull another line out
of the ending. Let's ask the
00:26:12.90\00:26:16.44
question. Then what does this
mean? Genesis 6. If you didn't
00:26:16.44\00:26:20.34
bring a Bible, grab the pew
Bible in front of you. You know
where Genesis is, and
00:26:20.34\00:26:22.74
you can find 6. Now, I'm gonna
be in the NIV, so that's what's
00:26:22.74\00:26:26.92
gonna be on the screen. Genesis
6, the beginning. Just one line
00:26:26.92\00:26:31.25
will do. Verse 8.
00:26:31.25\00:26:33.15
The old King James reads, "Noah
found grace in the eyes of the
00:26:37.76\00:26:41.53
Lord." You ever hear that
spiritual? Have you guys sung
00:26:41.53\00:26:44.60
that spiritual? ¤ Noah found
grace in the eyes of the Lord ¤
¤ Noah found grace in the eyes
00:26:44.60\00:26:47.77
of the Lord ¤ ¤ Noah found
grace in the eyes of the Lord ¤
00:26:47.77\00:26:50.21
¤ And he landed high and
dry You know that one? Good.
00:26:50.21\00:26:55.44
[ Laughter ] No-- No-- Noah
found grace in the eyes of the
00:26:55.44\00:27:00.98
Lord. You know what? It's a
good thing that line is at the
00:27:00.98\00:27:04.05
beginning. If there's gonna be
any hope for Noah in the ending,
it's gonna be that line.
00:27:04.05\00:27:07.62
Put it up one more time
on the screen for us, please.
00:27:07.62\00:27:10.79
Now let's go to the ending. Come
on. I said two bookends, short
00:27:14.56\00:27:17.20
and sweet and stunning. Here
comes the end bookend. Just a
00:27:17.20\00:27:21.27
line from that. Just turn a
page. Now you're in Genesis 9.
00:27:21.27\00:27:24.57
Good. Genesis 9:20.
00:27:24.57\00:27:29.11
You say, "Dwight, what's the big
deal about that? Is there
something wrong with
00:27:38.05\00:27:42.52
planting a vineyard?" No,
there's nothing wrong at all.
00:27:42.52\00:27:44.96
God invented vineyards. In fact,
if you live here in Southwestern
Michigan, as we all
00:27:44.96\00:27:51.03
do right now, there's no more
glorious place on Earth than
this little swath of rich,
00:27:51.03\00:27:57.74
succulent -- ahh -- vineyards.
You know the story. But we need
obviously more than
00:27:57.74\00:28:05.55
that one line, so let's add one
more line to it. Okay, let me
00:28:05.55\00:28:08.32
read verse 20 again.
00:28:08.32\00:28:10.22
Go figure. Uncovered
-- euphemism for naked.
00:28:21.10\00:28:26.67
Drunk. Soused. Because
that's precisely what's
00:28:26.67\00:28:33.27
going on here. And by the way,
yes, this is the great man of
God who found grace
00:28:33.27\00:28:38.18
in the eyes of the Lord and was
raised up by God to save the
human race by preserving just,
00:28:38.18\00:28:43.79
please, a sample of them,
because the universal flood will
destroy this entire planet, and
00:28:43.79\00:28:48.49
we're gonna begin this whole
experiment all over again, and
00:28:48.49\00:28:52.93
you're my man. This is the same
Noah. Naked and drunk in a tent.
The last line of his life.
00:28:52.93\00:29:01.44
This is it. There's no
other story to him. This is it.
00:29:01.44\00:29:06.78
Man. Victim of alcohol
consumption. The first victim in
00:29:06.78\00:29:10.88
the Bible of alcoholic
inebriation. In other words, the
Bible's first drunk.
00:29:10.88\00:29:16.32
And he ends up -- get this -- he
ends up in the Bible Hall of
Faith, Hall of Fame,
00:29:16.32\00:29:20.22
Walk of Fame, whatever you want
to call it. He has a star in it.
00:29:20.22\00:29:23.86
Hebrews, chapter 11. In fact,
Hebrews 11, here's the line.
00:29:23.86\00:29:26.66
Put it on the screen here.
00:29:26.66\00:29:28.53
Keep reading.
00:29:35.30\00:29:37.21
This same Noah, the drunk in
the tent. Peter comes along and
00:29:46.18\00:29:53.86
immortalizes him with a
description there in 2 Peter 2.
00:29:53.86\00:29:59.59
"Noah, preacher of
righteousness." Can you believe
that? Naked and drunk in his
00:29:59.59\00:30:07.00
tent. Now, listen, before we
jump too hastily to conclusions
-- and, by the way, that's the
00:30:07.00\00:30:13.41
only exercise some people get,
jumping to conclusions. But
before we do, we need to go
00:30:13.41\00:30:19.15
deeper into this vineyard, okay?
Let's dig a little deeper.
Jacques Doukhan, our friend,
00:30:19.15\00:30:26.79
professor, seminary, in his new
commentary on the Book of
Genesis, makes a point I had
00:30:26.79\00:30:30.99
never seen before. I'm gonna
flip it up on the screen for you
00:30:30.99\00:30:34.36
'cause I want you to see it,
as well. Noah's first act -- get
00:30:34.36\00:30:37.07
this. "Noah's first act outside
the ark connects him to Adam."
00:30:37.23\00:30:41.14
Well, he had the altar, but
after the altar, just a normal
00:30:41.14\00:30:43.91
day of life, he
plants a vineyard.
00:30:43.91\00:30:45.67
That's his first
act. Now keep reading.
00:30:45.67\00:30:47.81
"For Noah's story of planting
a vineyard contains numerous
00:30:47.81\00:30:51.78
parallels with the story of
Adam in the Garden of Eden."
00:30:51.78\00:30:54.05
Watch this. I put
the little numbers in.
00:30:54.05\00:30:55.95
Here comes parallel number one.
"Like Adam, Noah eats of the
00:30:55.95\00:30:59.02
fruit." True or false?
00:30:59.02\00:31:00.96
True. Okay, here
comes number two.
00:31:00.96\00:31:02.82
"And as a result of his actions,
Noah's nakedness, of which he is
00:31:02.82\00:31:06.43
not aware, is revealed."
Was Adam naked and then he found
00:31:06.43\00:31:09.63
out he was naked? Yep, okay.
00:31:09.63\00:31:11.43
Parallel number three.
"And a covering is provided."
00:31:11.43\00:31:14.80
Oh, yep. We had
that in both stories.
00:31:14.80\00:31:16.54
And, finally, number 4, "Both
stories end the same way, with a
00:31:16.54\00:31:19.51
curse and a
blessing." Isn't that something?
00:31:19.51\00:31:22.88
Adam and Noah.
The point is profound.
00:31:22.88\00:31:26.61
Moses, the writer of Genesis, is
carefully constructing Noah's
fall into drunkenness to
00:31:26.78\00:31:32.39
parallel Adam's fall into sin.
Which is a huge hint how God
regards Noah's alcoholic
00:31:32.39\00:31:41.50
consumption. S-I-N --
the kids can spell it -- sin.
00:31:41.50\00:31:46.47
Jacques Doukhan
again, on the screen.
00:31:46.47\00:31:49.47
And guess what, so is the second
drinking in the Bible, because
00:32:06.89\00:32:10.63
there we had the two daughters
of Lot, who get him drunk with
00:32:10.63\00:32:13.50
wine.
00:32:13.50\00:32:14.36
They get him drunk with wine so
that the girls can sleep with
their daddy one at a time and
00:32:14.56\00:32:20.57
both, through incest, give birth
to two little boys. And it all
00:32:20.57\00:32:27.11
started with drinking. That's
the second drinking in the
00:32:27.11\00:32:31.11
Bible. Stuff happens when your
mind is under the influence.
00:32:31.11\00:32:37.32
Listen carefully. Statistics
show that most date rapes happen
under the influence.
00:32:37.32\00:32:44.96
And wouldn't you know it, just
this week, the famed British
medical journal, The Lancet,
00:32:44.96\00:32:51.37
comes out with a study that
stuns the world. I'll put the
00:32:51.37\00:32:55.97
BBC headline for
this study on the screen.
00:32:55.97\00:32:57.87
BBC headline -- "No alcohol
safe to drink, global study
00:32:58.04\00:33:02.11
confirms." And then,
here's the subtitle --
00:33:02.11\00:33:05.01
"Bad news for those who enjoy
what they think is a healthy
00:33:05.01\00:33:08.78
glass of wine a day." [ Scoffs ]
00:33:08.78\00:33:12.89
On the screen
again, take a look.
00:33:12.89\00:33:15.16
"A large new
--" This is BBC now.
00:33:15.16\00:33:16.69
"A large new global study --"
It's called the Global Burden of
00:33:16.69\00:33:19.23
Disease Study, "published in the
Lancet has confirmed previous
00:33:19.23\00:33:22.56
research which has shown
that there is no safe level for
00:33:22.56\00:33:27.34
alcohol consumption. The
researchers admit moderate
00:33:27.34\00:33:31.21
drinking may protect against
heart disease, but they found
00:33:31.21\00:33:34.58
that the risk of cancer and
other diseases outweighs these
00:33:34.58\00:33:38.01
protections. A study
author said its findings
00:33:38.01\00:33:40.55
were the most significant
to date because of the range of
00:33:40.55\00:33:43.85
factors considered."
The Global Burden of Disease
00:33:43.85\00:33:47.32
study. Started in the U.K., the
00:33:47.32\00:33:49.79
United Kingdom. They
studied 195 different
00:33:49.79\00:33:52.69
nations between 1990 and
2016. They analyzed data from
00:33:52.69\00:33:58.40
15-year-olds to 95-year-olds,
and then the researchers
00:33:58.40\00:34:02.54
compared people who did not
drink at all with those who had
00:34:02.54\00:34:05.57
one alcoholic
drink a day." Amazing.
00:34:05.57\00:34:10.95
Conclusion -- no amount
of alcohol is a safe amount.
00:34:10.95\00:34:17.19
Lest we make an unwarranted
conclusion, this new series
would begin right now, "Tales
00:34:24.56\00:34:30.57
from a Vineyard," is hardly
advocating that we all make the
tragic mistake Noah did of
00:34:30.57\00:34:34.77
drinking fermented grape juice.
But, apparently, one of Noah's
boys found it rather funny to
00:34:34.77\00:34:43.85
see his daddy there, lying,
sprawled, drunk, and naked, and
with a sneer, went and found his
00:34:43.85\00:34:50.85
two older brothers -- that would
be Ham looking for Shem and
Japheth -- and telling them.
00:34:50.85\00:34:56.99
I want you to read that story.
Because it's right here -- verse
00:34:56.99\00:35:00.76
21. We'll read it again.
00:35:00.76\00:35:01.63
"And when he, Noah, drank some
of its wine, he became drunk,
00:35:01.80\00:35:04.33
and he lay
uncovered inside the tent."
00:35:04.33\00:35:06.07
Now verse 22 -- "Ham, the father
of Canaan, saw his father naked
00:35:06.07\00:35:10.51
and told his two
brothers outside.
00:35:10.51\00:35:12.81
But," verse 23, "Shem and
Japheth took a garment and laid
00:35:12.81\00:35:15.71
it across their shoulders.
Then they walked in backward and
00:35:15.71\00:35:19.08
covered their
father's naked body.
00:35:19.08\00:35:21.55
Their faces turned the other way
so that they would not see their
00:35:21.55\00:35:24.62
father naked." Verse
24 -- "But when Noah awoke
00:35:24.62\00:35:28.59
from his wine and found out what
his youngest son had done, he
00:35:28.59\00:35:31.93
said, 'Cursed be Canaan!
The lowest of slaves will he be
00:35:31.93\00:35:36.63
to his brothers!'" We
cannot let this moment --
00:35:36.63\00:35:39.27
This is as close as we'll ever
get, and we cannot let it slip
without correcting a tragic
00:35:39.43\00:35:44.31
misunderstanding of Noah's
curse after he awakens from his
00:35:44.31\00:35:49.94
stupor. Through centuries,
Christians have seized this very
passage to justify the slave
00:35:49.94\00:35:55.72
trade in Africa, who are
descendants of Ham. Most of them
00:35:55.72\00:35:59.19
will migrate. Or the practices
of apartheid in South Africa.
But there is not a shred of
00:35:59.19\00:36:05.23
biblical support for such racist
views. In fact, let me show you
00:36:05.23\00:36:09.46
what's going on here. You'll --
You'll see it in a split second.
00:36:09.46\00:36:12.60
Jacques Doukhan on the screen
again. "Our failure to honor the
00:36:12.60\00:36:16.94
past that produced us..." You
see, he didn't honor his father.
00:36:16.94\00:36:21.54
He did not honor his father. He
mocked his father. Don't you
ever mock your mother.
00:36:21.54\00:36:27.85
Don't you ever mock your father.
I don't care how they treated
00:36:27.85\00:36:31.62
you. Honor your father and
mother. It's one of the eternal
Ten. Ham broke the law.
00:36:31.62\00:36:42.73
"Our failure to honor the past
that produced us --" oh, this is
dynamite -- "affects the future
00:36:42.73\00:36:48.84
that we shall produce." In other
words, Ham dishonored his
father, and Noah awakens,
00:36:48.84\00:36:57.08
and, prophetically, like all the
patriarchs can do, Noah peers
into the future, and he sees
00:36:57.08\00:37:02.55
that Ham's son, Canaan, would
repeat the sin of his father and
would have dishonor until,
00:37:02.55\00:37:12.49
finally, Canaan, in
spades, throws the eternal law
00:37:12.49\00:37:20.47
completely out. Some of the
worst practices of the
then-known world came out of the
00:37:20.47\00:37:27.18
land of Canaan. And the writer
of -- the writer of Genesis is
wanting the reader to know,
00:37:27.18\00:37:32.41
"Lookit, this is where it
starts." But the curse is on
Canaan. And he stayed in
00:37:32.41\00:37:40.62
Palestine. Now,
Jacques Doukhan, one more line.
00:37:40.62\00:37:43.12
Just read the Book of
Genesis beyond Genesis 9.
00:38:03.78\00:38:06.85
You'll see exactly what's up.
00:38:06.85\00:38:11.59
Terrible injustice in the name
of a total misunderstanding of a
00:38:11.75\00:38:20.90
biblical passage. That's the
life of Noah. We took the
bookend from the beginning, we
00:38:20.90\00:38:25.43
slid it up close to the bookend
at the end. What's the bookend
00:38:25.43\00:38:28.10
at the beginning? Noah found
grace in the eyes of the Lord.
What's the bookend at the end?
00:38:28.10\00:38:31.64
And he became drunk and lay
uncovered inside his tent. So,
here's the question -- how
00:38:31.64\00:38:36.71
shall we resolve this
contradiction? Could it be that
00:38:36.71\00:38:43.92
the answer is found in the
vineyard Noah planted? Noah, who
loved the feeling --
00:38:43.92\00:38:48.82
the chalky feeling of dirt
beneath his fingernails. You're
00:38:48.82\00:38:52.53
a city slicker. You have
absolutely no concept of that.
00:38:52.53\00:38:56.00
Neither do I. Noah, who planted
this vineyard and then strolled
the aisles. City slickers, as we
00:38:56.00\00:39:02.37
are, who here's walked down an
aisle, rolling aisle of a
vineyard? I have never been
00:39:02.37\00:39:07.28
close to a vineyard until we
moved to this beautiful corner
of Southwestern Michigan.
00:39:07.28\00:39:12.15
And then, I had the joy of
walking up and down these
aisles, and I'm telling you
00:39:12.15\00:39:15.38
what, guys, we're just days away
from rolling down your car
window and smelling it all over
00:39:15.38\00:39:19.65
Berrien County. It will be the
smell of Concord grapes who have
00:39:19.65\00:39:24.13
hit their peak. There's nothing
like it in the world. We took
our cameras and our crew
00:39:24.13\00:39:28.40
to one of the vineyards here
in Berrien County. 88 acres of
00:39:28.40\00:39:34.14
vineyard, I might add. And
there, we met my friends Robin
and Maryann, who live
00:39:34.14\00:39:38.31
nearby, and here's a portion of
our conversation with Jose, the
master gardener of the vineyard,
00:39:38.31\00:39:46.72
and Robin. We'll roll it on
the screen for you right now.
00:39:46.72\00:39:52.09
you right now. ¤¤ ¤¤
00:39:52.09\00:40:04.07
We are standing in what has to
be one of the most beautiful
spots here in Southwestern
00:40:04.07\00:40:08.54
Michigan. I'm standing here
with my friends Robin and Jose.
00:40:08.54\00:40:12.47
And, gentlemen, we are in the
midst of a vineyard. This is a
real, live vineyard.
00:40:12.47\00:40:17.45
>> That's right. >> Most
of us have never lived near a
00:40:17.45\00:40:20.72
vineyard. and every year,
the university harvests this. >>
00:40:20.72\00:40:23.82
Right. >> And who picks up the
grapes? >> Well, the university
harvests, and all the grapes go
00:40:23.82\00:40:28.99
to Welch's, so... >> You're
talking about Welch's, the juice
00:40:28.99\00:40:32.46
company. >> The juice company
that was actually started by a
pastor to create juice for
00:40:32.46\00:40:37.93
communion. >> So, Welch's gets
all of this. >> Mm-hmm. >>
Andrews University's
00:40:37.93\00:40:42.17
vineyard. Really, this
is God's vineyard, right?
00:40:42.17\00:40:44.51
>> It is, it is. >> This is
God's vineyard, because the
produce all goes for
00:40:44.51\00:40:47.38
God's mission. >> Amen.
>> Now, we're standing by a
00:40:47.38\00:40:49.71
vine, Jose. >> Right here, yeah.
>> Yeah. And you just told me
00:40:49.71\00:40:52.95
the age. I couldn't believe
it. How old is that vine?
00:40:52.95\00:40:55.58
>> This portion is like 60 years
old. >> We have a gnarly old
00:40:55.58\00:40:59.39
vine. This is not really an
attractive picture. >> No, no,
00:40:59.39\00:41:02.36
it's not. >> Show us where the
branches come out of the vine.
>> Like, right here.
00:41:02.36\00:41:05.46
>> That's a branch. >>
Yeah, it's a branch, you know?
00:41:05.46\00:41:07.73
>> Oh, this is a
branch up here, as well. Okay.
00:41:07.73\00:41:09.76
And what are these? >> Well,
this is a runner. So, we look
for the good runner
00:41:09.76\00:41:13.80
just to leave with the unit
for next year. Prune it, and
00:41:13.80\00:41:18.07
produces good fruit. >> So, in
this juncture, we've got
branches coming together.
00:41:18.07\00:41:23.51
But the vine -- how essential
is that vine? >> It's very
00:41:23.51\00:41:27.88
essential. >> A branch can
survive on its own? >> No, if we
00:41:27.88\00:41:31.75
cut it open the ground, this,
for sure, is gonna die. Needs to
be connected with the
00:41:31.75\00:41:36.19
plant just to survive. >> That's
amazing to me that God takes
this -- this plant, and He
00:41:36.19\00:41:44.87
makes the points all the way
through scripture. Vine, branch,
00:41:44.87\00:41:53.04
vineyard, and fruit. >> There's
also we have to stay connected
00:41:53.04\00:41:56.28
with that. >> Ooh, I like that.
>> Otherwise, we cannot make it.
Spiritual things, you know?
00:41:56.28\00:42:00.38
Needs to be connected with that.
Otherwise, we cannot make it
00:42:00.38\00:42:03.85
here. >> Yeah, amen.
Thank you, Jose. >> Yeah.
00:42:03.85\00:42:06.02
>> You're not only a gardener.
You're a good preacher. >> Oh,
00:42:06.02\00:42:10.06
man. ¤¤
00:42:10.06\00:42:13.76
>> I want you to show -- I want
to show you what he's referring
00:42:18.67\00:42:21.27
to. We'll go to the New
Testament now. I want you to
00:42:21.27\00:42:24.71
find John 15, 'cause he's gone
straight to John 15. John 15,
00:42:24.71\00:42:29.88
red letters in my red-letter
Bible. In less than 24 hours --
When Jesus speaks these words
00:42:29.88\00:42:33.31
found in John 15, when he speaks
these words, in less than 24
hours, he's dead and gone.
00:42:33.31\00:42:37.49
"I'll be on my way." He's gone,
he's dead. He slipped out of
00:42:37.49\00:42:42.86
Jerusalem with 11 disciples that
are left, and it's always full
moon at Passover, so in the
00:42:42.86\00:42:47.50
light of that silver moon, he
stops by a trellis, and he says,
"Hey, guys, look at this."
00:42:47.50\00:42:51.87
And his hand reaches over, and
in the light of the full moon,
00:42:51.87\00:42:56.50
they get it. So, this
is John 15. John 15:1.
00:42:56.50\00:43:03.68
Lookit, guys. I'm this.
That gnarly vine, that's me, and
00:43:08.18\00:43:12.12
my father is Jose. "Yeah,
but where are we in this story?"
00:43:12.12\00:43:15.89
I'll drop down to verse 5.
00:43:15.89\00:43:17.79
"I am the vine." Put that on the
screen, please. "I am the vine,
00:43:27.80\00:43:33.91
and you are the branches." And
that was the point Jose the
gardener was making.
00:43:33.91\00:43:38.18
The only way for a branch to
fulfill its destiny is to stay
connected to the vine.
00:43:38.18\00:43:42.42
The only way for a branch to
produce this luscious, juicy
fruit is to remain connected
00:43:42.42\00:43:48.72
with the vine. I'm the
vine. You're the branches.
00:43:48.72\00:43:52.03
If you abide in me and I in you,
guess what -- we got it, man. We
00:43:52.03\00:43:56.70
got it, girl. We got fruit. And
that's the whole purpose of a
00:43:56.70\00:44:00.30
vineyard. You got to have fruit.
"I promise you," Jesus says to
00:44:00.30\00:44:07.21
us. "Yo, Dwight, question,
okay?" What? "Well, Noah.
00:44:07.21\00:44:11.81
Was Noah connected to
the vine?" Answer. Of course.
00:44:11.81\00:44:16.12
Noah found grace in the eyes of
the Lord. "Yeah, but question.
00:44:16.12\00:44:20.32
Question, question, question.
Can there be grace when you have
fallen in a drunken stupor like
00:44:20.32\00:44:26.16
Noah did?" Answer -- yes.
"Question -- can you prove it?"
00:44:26.16\00:44:30.13
Answer -- yes, I can. Put it
on the screen for you, Romans 5.
00:44:30.13\00:44:34.50
Look at this, verse 20. Oh,
that's a great line. In fact, I
wish we'd read this
00:44:34.50\00:44:39.31
out loud together. Come
on, Romans 5:20. "But where sin
00:44:39.31\00:44:45.25
increased, grace increased all
the more." Where there's sin,
00:44:45.25\00:44:49.15
there's grace. Now lookit in the
King James. "Where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound."
00:44:49.15\00:44:55.99
"Oh, good, Dwight. Question.
Then we can just -- we can just
00:44:55.99\00:44:59.09
go on drinking and sinning all
we want, can't we?" Answer --
00:44:59.09\00:45:03.60
no. Look at the very
next line, Romans 6:1.
00:45:03.60\00:45:07.07
"Yeah, but, Dwight, question
again, please. Then why did Noah
00:45:13.78\00:45:18.55
fall if he's connected to the
vine?" Answer -- because he
allowed himself to become
00:45:18.55\00:45:24.92
disconnected to the vine. That's
the only way you fall. You see,
Noah, in you and I, we
00:45:24.92\00:45:34.66
have a mutual enemy. His name is
Satan, and he is 24/7, with all
00:45:34.66\00:45:41.50
his hellish fury, trying to find
a way -- severe, cut, cut, cut,
cut, cut, dis-, dis-, dis-,
00:45:41.50\00:45:46.24
disconnect, disconnect,
disconnect. That's all he wants.
He spends his whole life trying
00:45:46.24\00:45:50.61
to disconnect a friend of
Jesus from the vine. Pfft.
00:45:50.61\00:45:56.12
That's why Paul, in fact, admits
as much -- you can never go on
vacation from Jesus, even for a
00:45:56.12\00:46:01.52
night, even for a weekend.
You can say, "Okay, Jesus, I'm
00:46:01.52\00:46:06.39
disconnecting." You can't
disconnect and live. Listen to
Paul. That's his point right
00:46:06.39\00:46:13.60
here. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27. He
takes the sports metaphor.
"Therefore," he says, "I do not
00:46:13.60\00:46:19.91
run like somebody running
aimlessly," in the Olympics. "I
00:46:19.91\00:46:24.31
do not fight. I do not box like
a man beating the air. No, I
discipline my body and I
00:46:24.31\00:46:29.22
make it my slave so that after I
have preached to others, I
myself will not be disqualified
00:46:29.22\00:46:36.19
for the prize." Isn't that
amazing? The greatest Christian
00:46:36.19\00:46:39.69
who ever lived says, "No, man,
it's full-court press the whole
way. I can never back out.
00:46:39.69\00:46:44.67
I can never let down." You're
never on vacation from Jesus.
00:46:44.67\00:46:49.17
Disconnect is death. Connect
is life. Now I'm gonna make a
00:46:49.17\00:46:56.38
point. Some of you are a little
bit older in this room, and I
want you to get it, please.
00:46:56.38\00:47:02.52
Noah, near the end of his life,
down. Moses, right near the end
00:47:02.52\00:47:08.26
of his life, down. Elijah, near
the end of his ministry, down.
00:47:08.26\00:47:14.30
John the Baptist, near his
beheading, down. What's going
00:47:14.30\00:47:19.07
on? Somebody, 24/7, is waiting
for you to step out with nothing
on, just naked you, pssh!
00:47:19.07\00:47:27.38
"Gotcha!" And Noah, that
day, was naked, spiritually.
00:47:27.38\00:47:34.02
No armor. No protection. I
want to say to those of you
00:47:34.02\00:47:40.06
who have earned the right to
have white hair or a bald head,
just because you followed Jesus
00:47:40.06\00:47:47.66
all these years doesn't mean now
you could become careless in
your pursuit of holiness, now
00:47:47.66\00:47:54.04
you can become careless in your
connection with Jesus. Are you
00:47:54.04\00:47:57.21
kidding? The closer you get to
what Joshua just sang a moment
ago -- Josh, didn't you sing it?
00:47:57.21\00:48:01.58
"Well, I'm on my way"? I'll be
on my way. The closer you get to
00:48:01.58\00:48:05.48
being on your way, the tighter
you need to be. I'm telling you
00:48:05.48\00:48:08.95
the truth. The tighter you have
to be with Jesus. He's not gonna
00:48:08.95\00:48:13.15
force you into some kind of
half-nelson lock. It'll be free
choice. You'll choose to stay
00:48:13.15\00:48:20.96
connected with him. You can
never take a vacation. "Oh,
Dwight, this is such --
00:48:20.96\00:48:27.94
this is such rotten news." It's
not rotten. It's the facts of
00:48:27.94\00:48:34.18
life, guys. You just can't take
a vacation. You got a problem
with that? Actually, it's the
00:48:34.18\00:48:39.05
very best news you can imagine.
The very goodest news that Jesus
could give us is found right
00:48:39.05\00:48:43.75
here. Put the word on --
Put the line on the screen again
00:48:43.75\00:48:46.59
from Noah's beginning.
00:48:46.59\00:48:48.49
One blotch, one blotch, one
letting your guard down, and
that stays with your story.
00:48:52.96\00:48:59.23
I understand that. Noah's
ending. Nobody papered over it.
00:48:59.23\00:49:04.27
And, by the way, if you want to
know the authenticity of the
word of God, it's because it
00:49:04.27\00:49:08.01
does that. No whitewashing in
this book. It always exposes the
00:49:08.01\00:49:15.02
reality. But the very good news,
in spite of that blotch, Noah
found grace in the eyes of the
00:49:15.02\00:49:19.72
Lord. You know why? Because
if you look at the vine --
00:49:19.72\00:49:21.79
Did you notice that a moment
ago? We were looking at the
00:49:21.79\00:49:23.99
vine. I always thought these
vines -- Seriously, I thought
they were just these nice little
00:49:23.99\00:49:27.23
rolling... You know, you
weave it into a little bit of
00:49:27.23\00:49:30.83
tapestry, and the grapes grow.
No, no, no. Did you notice how
00:49:30.83\00:49:34.04
gnarly, how ugly that wood was?
It's dry. 60 years that vine has
00:49:34.04\00:49:38.37
been growing.
00:49:38.37\00:49:39.67
Nothing pretty about that wood.
But that wood produces a red
00:49:39.84\00:49:46.78
liquid, and the red
liquid is what everybody wants.
00:49:46.78\00:49:53.19
Jesus stops in that silver
light, and he says, "Hey, guys,
00:49:53.19\00:49:57.83
I'm the vine.
You're the branches.
00:49:57.83\00:50:01.33
You'll see the red tomorrow.
She who abides in me, he who
00:50:01.33\00:50:06.90
abides in me -- I don't care
what your life has been -- I
00:50:06.90\00:50:11.34
promise you
fresh, new beginning.
00:50:11.34\00:50:16.75
Scars forever."
00:50:16.75\00:50:19.98
It's the gospel. It's
Calvary. That's this vine.
00:50:20.15\00:50:24.69
Jose the gardener is absolutely
right. We must remain --
00:50:24.69\00:50:28.09
His last words -- "We must
remain connected to Jesus." We
must remain connected to the
00:50:28.09\00:50:33.56
vine. And so that the Savior,
your Savior right now, with nail
00:50:33.56\00:50:37.53
scars in his hands, stands
in front of you -- Pretend like
00:50:37.53\00:50:41.20
there's nobody sitting in front
of you. It's just the Savior
00:50:41.20\00:50:43.41
standing there. He stands with
his nail-scarred hands
outstretched in front of you,
00:50:43.41\00:50:47.31
and you know what he's saying?
He's speaking the truth of the
vine -- "I am the vine.
00:50:47.31\00:50:52.58
You are the branch. You
abide in me, and I abide in you.
00:50:52.58\00:50:58.89
And you will bring forth much
fruit." So, the question to be
00:50:58.89\00:51:06.03
asked on this launching of
the new year is this. Are you
00:51:06.03\00:51:11.53
connected? Are you connected to
the vine? Are you connected to
Jesus? Some of you have never
00:51:11.53\00:51:16.20
been connected to him, not in
any sort of official, "I'm
telling myself I'm connected to
00:51:16.20\00:51:20.31
Jesus" sort of way. Some of
you, it's been an up-and-down,
00:51:20.31\00:51:24.81
up-and-down, in-and-out,
off-again, on-again... Would you
00:51:24.81\00:51:31.82
like to just stay? Would you
just -- Would you like to just
00:51:31.82\00:51:35.36
stay connected? I'm gonna give
you a way, and then I'll sit
down. It's a simple way.
00:51:35.36\00:51:40.06
You'll first brush it off as,
"Ah, too simple." No, it's not
00:51:40.06\00:51:44.73
too simple. Here's the -- Here's
the way. Every day, every
morning, when you start the day,
00:51:44.73\00:51:49.84
every morning, a simple prayer.
I'm gonna put the prayer on the
00:51:49.84\00:51:56.24
screen for you. Isn't that
simple? I'm gonna invite you to
say it out loud with me, will
00:52:05.05\00:52:08.92
you, please? Let's do it out
loud. Lord Jesus, I want you to
00:52:08.92\00:52:13.66
abide in my, and I want to abide
in you." It's such a simple
00:52:13.66\00:52:19.30
prayer. You pray in the morning,
pray it at noon -- when you're
at the cafeteria, pray it at
00:52:19.30\00:52:22.80
noon, eating at a restaurant,
eating at home, not eating at
all, at noon, pray the same
00:52:22.80\00:52:27.68
prayer. Lord Jesus, I want you
to abide in me, and I want to
abide in you, please.
00:52:27.68\00:52:34.55
Three times a day -- morning,
noon, and then, at night, before
going to bed, no matter how the
00:52:34.55\00:52:38.49
day has gone -- Lord Jesus, you
abide in me, and I abide in you.
That's what I want.
00:52:38.49\00:52:47.36
Every day. Do you know what?
When you pray that prayer --
00:52:47.36\00:52:51.37
Listen, when you pray that
prayer, you are asking for the
baptism of the Holy Spirit on
00:52:51.37\00:52:57.94
the spot. Because that's
the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:52:57.94\00:53:00.84
When he shows up, do you think
he talks about himself? Are you
00:53:00.84\00:53:03.85
kidding? When he shows up in
your heart and your mind, the
immediate sense you have is that
00:53:03.85\00:53:08.65
Jesus is connected. "Jesus
has just connected with me.
00:53:08.65\00:53:11.12
I am connected to Jesus right
now." Holy Spirit never says,
00:53:11.12\00:53:14.59
"Look at me." He always
says, "Keep your eyes on Jesus.
00:53:14.59\00:53:18.26
Just keep your eyes on Jesus."
Lord Jesus, I want you to abide
in me, and I want to abide in
00:53:18.26\00:53:27.54
you. You pray that prayer daily,
you will experience the daily
00:53:27.54\00:53:30.81
baptism of the Holy
Spirit. Daily. It's that simple.
00:53:30.81\00:53:35.51
It's the gospel truth. It's this
simple. So, this new year, why
00:53:35.51\00:53:45.05
not pray that prayer? ¤¤
00:53:45.05\00:53:53.63
¤¤ ¤¤
00:55:06.97\00:55:19.38
¤¤
00:56:52.07\00:57:01.92
>> Think of the last time
someone said, "I'm praying for
00:57:08.36\00:57:11.36
you." Didn't it
give you a sense of
00:57:11.36\00:57:13.40
peace and reassurance
that, "Somebody cares for me"?
00:57:13.40\00:57:16.43
I know how I feel when I get an
e-mail from one of our viewers
saying, "Yo, Dwight, I've been
00:57:16.60\00:57:20.57
praying for you lately." There's
nothing like knowing someone is
praying for you, so I
00:57:20.57\00:57:24.27
want to offer you an opportunity
to partner -- let me, let us,
partner with you in prayer.
00:57:24.27\00:57:28.64
If you have a special
prayer request or a praise of
00:57:28.81\00:57:31.28
thanksgiving you'd like to share
with us, I'm inviting you to
00:57:31.28\00:57:34.18
contact one of our
friendly chaplains.
00:57:34.18\00:57:36.12
It's simple to do.
You can call our toll-free
00:57:36.12\00:57:38.35
number -- 877-- the
two words -- HIS-WILL.
00:57:38.35\00:57:40.66
877-HIS-WILL. That
friendly voice that
00:57:40.66\00:57:44.39
answers, you tell him, you tell
her what your prayer need is,
00:57:44.39\00:57:47.56
and we'll join with
you in that petition.
00:57:47.56\00:57:49.80
And may the God who answers
prayer journey with you these
00:57:49.80\00:57:52.77
next few days until we're right
back here together again next
00:57:52.77\00:57:55.94
time.
00:57:55.94\00:57:56.91
¤¤ ¤¤
00:58:01.01\00:58:18.83
¤¤
00:58:18.83\00:58:27.57